Our Boys
Vol. XI, No. 4, April, May, June, 1938
By Rev. Richard N. Edwards
Mr. George W. Albaugh's Conversion
About a year and a half after Mr. George W.
Albaugh had given the lovely farm for the Strawbridge Home for Boys, and several weeks
after the dedication of the remodeled farm house and the entrance of our first group of
boys, a most interesting event occurred in the life of the writer.
Mr. Albaugh's heart had been greatly tendered by his interest in
the Home, and by his association with Bishop McDowell, Rev. Thomas S. Long, and others in
seeing his own and Mrs. Albaugh's dream realized. About eight o'clock one Sunday
morning he called at the Westminster parsonage to give the following eager words to his
pastor: "Mr. Edwards, I want to join your church this morning. I haven't told
Betsy (Mrs. Albaugh); I want to surprise her. Now, I'm not afraid of the mourner's
bench. I'm ready to do whatever is necessary."
He was so prompt with his statement, that I had not the
opportunity to invite him further into the house than just inside the door. So I
replied, "Brother Albaugh, we do not need to wait for the church service. Come
into the parlor and we'll take this matter right to the Lord." And, kneeling
there, we had a real prayer service together, and Mr. Albaugh gave himself to God.
He later brought his family to the church service without
revealing to them what he had planned to do. I also kept the secret from the
congregation until the time arrived to receive Mr. Albaugh into the church. All who
know the place Mr. Albaugh had filled in Westminster and Carroll County for many years,
and what his attitude towards religion had formerly been, can easily imagine the hushed
silence and tense spirit of the entire congregation as, in response to the pastor's
announcement, Mr. Albaugh arose from his pew, came forward with childlike humility,
responded earnestly to the questions asked, and knelt for prayer before the altar.
It was a melting time, and I cannot write this simple story of it without feeling again
much of the thrill it gave me to have that honored Privilege. Much as it meant to
have had a share with others in securing from Mr. Albaugh the gift of the farm for this
noble purpose, it meant even more in spiritual joy to help him give himself to God and the
Church. And if the telling of this simple story may but help every Strawbridge boy
to follow the impressive example set by Mr. Albaugh on that Sunday morning, the writer's
joy will abound.
The Strawbridge Home is a fine monument to the memory of Mr.
Albaugh, but every converted boy from that Home will be in a very real sense a living
memorial to him, and to those fine workers who are instrumental in thus saving "our
boys" and setting their feet in the Pathway of Peace.
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The article in this issue on the conversion of George W. Albaugh was requested by the Executive Secretary as a contribution to the historical records of the Home. Brother Edwards is Vice-President of the Board of Trustees, and was our first Treasurer. He also was among the group of men who helped select the present farm as the location of the Strawbridge Home for Boys.
(Submitted by Sue Billings)