Robert Isaac Giering

016_200

As of November 29, 2003 (Go To Index of Names)

SOURCE

Date of Action What or Who is reported upon. What is the source(s) - From Where does the Information come. 1985 Initial Basic Information Personal Knowledge plus conversations with both children July 24, 1997 (info) & March 12, 1998 (posted) Marriage Information Page 11, Emmaus Moravian Church Records, Volume V (Aug 1913 to Jan, 1949) November 2, 2001 Renumbered worksheets (from 17_1 to 16_200) Author

Date of Action What or Who is reported upon. What is the source(s) - From Where does the Information come. November 29, 2003 50th Anniversary news report and photos Information from Son John June 30, 2013 Added photo of Harold and Robert E-Mail From Andrew Kerstetter, Emmaus Historical Society

OCCUPATION:Minister, Moravian Church

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:The following is quoted from a document prepared by Rev. Giering:

Robert Isaac Giering

Born March 15, 1897, at Emmaus, Pa. (second house East from Macungie Avenue on Chestnut street) ... Note: Very few houses on Chestnut street in those days.

Son of Edgar Warren and Daisy Irene Giering.

In 1901, family moved Green street between 2d and 3rd streets. Note: Third street North was a deadend street at Green in those days.

In 1903, age 6, entered first grade of Public School, Emmaus, Pa.,Old Central Building, Miss Christ, teacher.

In 1905, family moved to East Main Street (East of Keystone street). Entered Public School, East Main street, behinf Emmaus Moravian Church. Teachers, Miss Emily Kratzer, Miss Roxella Weiller (Married name Higgins).

In 1908, family moved to New Street (later known as Broad street). Returned to Old Central School Building.

In 1911, at age of 14 (in those days it was the expected thing to quit school.) Quit School and went to public factory. In thise days you went to work at 6:00 a.m. and worked to 6:00 p.m. with as half hour at noon for lunch. Started at Keystone Silk Mill, and later at D.G.Derry Silk Mill, and a factory at Mountainville, Pa.
    At about this time, and for some seven years studied the guitar with Oto Wolf at Allentown. Studied the violin for a brief period.

In 1913, attended Night School at O.C.Dorney Commercial School above the YMCA at Allentown Centre Square.

In 1914, learned the Ribbon weaving trade at Allentown, Pa.

In 1914, became interested in a call to the Christial ministry. Had been active in church work, servng as Sunday school teacher, and as church school superintendent at the age of 17 ([also] a member of the Church Board of Trustees. Sang on the church choir and took part in Christian Endeavor youth work. Was president of the Old Moravian C.E. Union of the Eastern

Studied privately with the Rev. Robert H. Brenneck, then pastor at Emmaus Moravian, and with Dr. Charles H. Rominger at Bethlehem, Pa. (Then superintendent of MPS).

Entered Moravian Preparatory School in 1915 and continued there for two years, i.e. to the spring of 1917.

Note: The decision to prepare for the ministry was a serious one, but then came World War I...It was time of prayerful, earnest and serious heart searching. As the arly church fathers resorted to the Lot whenever difficult decisions loomed, the mater of whether or not duty to country to country should come first at that time was submitted to ???. The Lot (one "yes", one "no", one blank) indicated enlistment in the Medical Department of the U.S. Army. Enlistment took place at Allentown on May 3 with induction on May 9, 1917 at Columbus, Ohio.

In U.S. Service - assigned to the U.S.Army Chartered Transport Service from June, 1917 after training at Fort Wadsworth, N.Y. (The Army chartered ships from coastal service because the U.S.Navy was not yet prepared to take over). assigned to U.S.A.T. ships Lenape, and later Cauto, and later Buford.. The ship Lenape at that time had a mixed crew of army personnel civilians, Portugese, Swedes, Spaniards, Norwegians, and fifty navy personnel. What a training center fror preparation to the Christian Ministry! How paryers were answered!. Went to France on June 15th, 1917 with the first full contingent of U.S.troops. Landed at St Nazaire, France near the end of 1917. Crossing thr Atlantic had a formation of sixteen troop ships (four abreast). There were two destroyers on each side of the formation, and two destroyers in the rear, and one cruiser at the front.

In 1919, July 3rd, was discharged from the Army. Took part in those early days in organizing the Emmaus Charles Henry Schaeffer Post of the American Legion. Because of the need of entering Moravian College in the fall of 1919 interest in the Legion had to be abandoned for the more important work of preparation for the Christian Ministry. This interest was renewed later while at Easton, Pa.

Took employment during the summer of 1917 at the Donaldson Iron Works, Emmaus.

Entered Moravian College and Theological Seminary in the fall of 1919. Was graduated with A.B. degree in 1923 and in 1925 with the B.D degree. While at Moravian was active in baseball, Literary Society, Glee Club, Quartet, String Trio and instrumental groups. Went on tour with glee club to Wisconsin.

On June 10, 1923, was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Buss, a registered nurse at Allentown Hospital and organized of the social service program at that institution after special training in Social Service at University of Pennsylvania. The Rev. Paul T. Shultz of Emmaus Moravian Church performed the marriage. The following children blessed their union; Mary-Jane wife of Ferree LeFevre at Chambersburg, Pa., and Dr. John E. Giering husband of Lesle Quick of Muncie, Ind.

Was called to supply pastorate at Schoeneck Moravian Church, Northampton Co.,on January 18, 1925, and received a permanent call to Schoeneck on March 11, 1925. Was ordained on May 3, 1925 (before graduation) by the Rt. Rev. J. Taylor Hamilton, at the Emmaus Moravian Church.

Served the following pastorates:

• Schoeneck Moravian Church 1925 to January 1928. (3 yrs)
• Easton Pa., First Moravian, January 15, 1928 to January 10, 1937 (9 yrs) New church built during this period.
• Dover, Ohio., First and Second, January 13, 1937 to february 13, 1944 (7 yrs) (World War II period. Served on red Cross drives, etc.) Mrs. Giering trained almost one hundred Nurses' Aides for the Red Cross, and Home Nursing Courses for the Red Cross.
• Nazareth Moravian, february 20, 1944 to March 3, 1957. (13 yrs). Here came five years of difficult preparation toward construction of a new, much needed, church plant.
• Utica, N.Y. Trinity Church (now Good Sheperd)March 17, 1957 to May 13, 1962. (5 yrs) This was the difficult preparation years for the merging Utica First, and Trinity, and Hilltop Mission to be disignated later as the Good Sheperd Moracian Church, Utica (now Hartford, N.Y.)

May 17, 1962, Retirement, and residence th helen Bell Cottage, Nazareth,Pa., thanks to the help of Bro. F. P. Stocker and the Church Boards, and te special interest of Bro. William Henry of SPG, and the Nazareth Congregation.

In Retirement -

• Pulpit Supply,
  York First, Pa. February 3, 1963 to May 26, 1963
  Easton First Church, January 12, 1964 to June 21, 1964.
  Graceham Maryland, January 10, 1965 to May 30, 1965.
  Utica Church of the Good Sheperd, Oct 6, 1966 to Nov 27, 66.
  
  Also brief periods at Canadensis, Schoeneck, Coopersburg, Emmaus, Nazareth, Edgeboro Moravian, Bethlehem, Pa. and again Easton First.
  4 1/2 months, St. JOhns U.C.E., Nazareth, Pa in pastoral position.

  In the Ministry: -

• Served on the Board of Christian Education for three synodial periods, i.e. fifteen years. As chairman of the early Eastern Commission of the B. of C.E. wrote the first report for the Eastern District Synod (before it became the Eastern District Conference.) Original membership was on the Board of Religious Education.
  While at Easton, was the earliest influence for a Moravian Home for the aged. became first member (by appointment of P.E.C.) to the first board leading to the board of directors for the Moravian Manors, Inc.
  Served on the inter-provincial Board of Christian Education, meeting at Winston Salem, when such projects as The Moravian Travel Guide, and the need for youth leadership in provincial program were approved and acted upon.

It should be noted that the subject of this biographical sketch was not only devoted to each congregation he served, but likewise in his denomination and to each community he served. For example, he was a Rotarian at Diver, Ohio, Nazareth, Pa. and Utica N.Y., serving as President at Nazareth, 1947-1948.

It should be noted that nothing has been stated as to the nuber of sermons preached, and addresses given. Nor has any mention been made of the catechetical clases conducted, or the confirmations, or marriages, or baptisms, or installations, etc. performed.

In humble gratitude, we praise and give thanks to our ever faithful Guide, and Confort, and Strength, the heavenly Father who loved and sustained and blessed.

Additional Notes:

• Active - Diver Post #205, Dover, Ohio. Commander of the Post, 1940.
• At Nazareth, Pa. - First President of the Memorial Library of Nazareth, Pa.
• Became a mason at Dover, Ohio (Lodge #59) and a member, together with his wife Mabel, and Daughter Mary-Jane in the Order of Eastern-Star, Dover, Ohio (Chapter nbr 164)
• Memberships include Masons and BPS(??) continued to present- 1980, more than 35 years.

PRESS RELEASE-GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY:The release include picturesd

The Rev. and Mrs. Robert I. Giering, retired, 202 East Center Street, Nazareth, Pa. are observing their Golden Wedding Anniversary on June 10. They were married June 10, 1923 at the Emmaus (Pa.) Moravian Church by the Rev. Paul T. Shultz. It was within the walls of the Emmaus Moravian Church that Mr. Giering was baptised as an infant, confirmed, married and ordained. It was in that church that he officiated at the wedding of his own Daughter Masry-Jane to Mr. Ferree LeFevre of Chanbersburg, Pa.

Mrs. Giering, the former Mabel Buss, is a native of Catasauqua. She was baptised and confirmed in St. Paul's Luthern Church, Catasauqua, by the late Rev. Dr. James Lambert. As a teenager she moved to Emmaus with her widowed mother the late Mary (Kiechel) Buss and her brothers Edwrad and Leon. She entered Nurses Training at Allentown General Hospital and was graduated in 1919 from Allentown Hospital School of Nursing. She received a scholarship from the hospital for study at the Pennsylvania School of Social Service, Philadelphia. Under the leadership of the late Dr. Robert Schaefer and Miss Alma Viedorfer, R.N. Director of Nursing, she the honor of inaugrating the Department of Social Service at Allentown General and had the privilege of working with such men as the late Dr. Warren Butz and the late Dr. Elmer Bausch.

Before retirement in 1962 the Gierings served Moravian congretgations in Pennsylvania, at Schoeneck, Northampton County, and at Easton First, and at Nazareth. At Dover, Ohio, they served First and Second Churches during World War II participating in parish and special community programs. Mr. Giering served as Chaplain and as Commander of Dover Post # 205, American Legion and in community War Projects. Mrs. Giering, as a registered Nurse, and as a volunteer, participated in the Red Cross Nurse Training Program of Diver Chapter, training almost one hundred women in Home Nursing Courses, and as Nurses Aides. Thess ladies gave many hours of volunteer service as Aides at Union Hospital, Dover-New-Philadelphia, Ohio. Both Mrs. Giering and her husband hold special citations from Dover Chapter, American Red Cross, and the community of Dover for their War Service in the area.

While serving at Easton, Pa.,the new Moravian Church at Tenth and Bushkill Streets was built. At Easton, Mr Giering served as Chaplain of Brown and Lynch post no. 9, American Legion. He took part in the various financial campaigns for ther new Easton Hospital and the new Easton Nurses Home. Those projects have since grown in a rapidly expanding community into a great hospital service agency. While at Nazareth and later at Utica, both Gierings took an active part in the Rotary Clubs and their Rotaryians. Mr. Giering is a Mason and a member of Tuscarawas Lodge No. 59, F. and A.M., Dover, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs Giering have continued membership[ in the Tuscarawas Chapter No. 164, Order of the Eastern Star, Diver.

The Gierings have two children. Mary-Jane is married to Ferree LeFavre who is in the area Senior High School, Chambersburg, Pa. Both are active muscally and in the community and in the Central Presbyterian Church of which he is organist and director of music. Their son John holds a Ph.D. degree from Purdue University and is in research in Rochester, N.Y. He and his wife Lesle Alice reside at West Bloomfield, N.Y. and are very active in their area. There are three Grandchildren; Alison, an accomplished horsewoman, Jane Elizabeth and Robert William.

For health reasons the Giering celebration must be limited to home and family.

PRESS CLIPPING: The following was published on page D-3 of the Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio Times-Reporter, Sat., Jun 9, 1973 (see an image of the actual clipping below):

Former area Couple
married 50 years ago
    Rev. and Mrs.Robert I. Giering of Nazareth, Pa., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday. Because of health reasons, the celebration will be limited to family.

Mrs. Giering, daughter of the late Oliver Busses of Catasauqua, Pa., and Giering, son of the late Edgar W. Giering of Emmaus, Pa., were married June 10, 1923 in Emmaus Moravian Church by Rev, Paul T. Schultz, now desceased.

The Gierings served at Dover during the World War II period and retired at Utica, N.Y. and returned to Nazareth where they have resided since 1962.

The couple's children are Mrs. Ferree (Mary-Jane) LeFevre of Chamberberg, Pa., and John E. of Rochester, West Bloomfield, N.Y.. Three grandchildrencomplete the family.

Rev. Giering is a member of Tuscarawas Lodge 59 F. & A.M. at Dover, and past commander and past chaplain of Dover Post 205. He is a former chaplain of District 10 American Legion, Department of Ohio.

During World War II, Mrs Giering served as a Red Cross Nurse for Diver Chapter of the American Red Cross and trained almost 100 in home nursng and nurses' aides courses.

ADDRESS:Last (Prior to Death) with Daughter: Mary-Jane LaFevre
539 High St.
Chambersburg, Pa 17201

EDUCATION:

MEDICAL INFORMATION:

MILITARY INFORMATION:WW I, Medical Corps

COMMENTARY:Confirmed into Emmaus Moravian Church, Mar 16, 1913

PHOTOGRAPHS

To view one of the photos, click on it and, when finished, click BACK
The Ed Giering Family circa 1918/1919. Back row, from left: Robert, Father, Edgar; Brother, Harold; Front row from left: Sister, Evelyn; Brother, Martin; and Mother, Daisy.	Harold and Robert in WW I Uniforms	Robert at Feb 14, 1944	Mabel at Feb 14, 1944
The Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio Report.	Major Gravstone for Robert and Mabel