Rev. Charles Evers

REV. CHARLES EVERS was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 6, 1865 to Thomas Evers Jr. and the former Sarah Wilson. His father passed in 1880. On July 25, 1888 Charles Evers married Maria Hummel in Philadelphia at Siloam Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

A glassblower by trade, he was called to the ministry late in life. He was ordained as a minister in 1913 and served for several years in Bridgeton. Rev. Evers and family were living at 605 Belgrade Street in Philadelphia when the Census was taken in January of 1920. The following month he came to Camden, where he served as pastor of Woodland Avenue Presbyterian Church for the rest of his days. By 1923 the family had moved to 806 Morgan Street. When the 1924 City Directory was compiled the Evers family had moved to 829 Morgan Street.

Rev. Evers died of a heart attack on Sunday, January 27, 1946 at his home at 829 Morgan Street. Services were held on January 30 and he was interred at North Cedar Hills Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A city park at Morgan Boulevard and Fairview Street was named in his memory.

Fifth Anniversary of Rev. Whitney’s Pastorate to Be Observed

The fifth anniversary of the pastorate of Rev. Augustus D. Whitney, Jr., of First Presbyterian Church, Fifth and Penn streets, will be observed tonight at a dinner in honor of the pastor and his wife. It will begin at 6:30 o’clock in the church.

Rev. Alexander Mackie, pastor of Tully Memorial Church, Sharon Hill, will be toastmaster. Guests will be Rev. William Chalmers Covert, former moderator of the General Assembly; Rev. Thurlow G. Cole, professor of religious education, Crozer Seminary; Rev. William R. Rearick, of North Mutchmore Church, Philadelphia; Rev. J. Shackleford Dauerty, Moorestown Presbyterian Church; and Rev. Charles Evers, Woodland Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Patronesses are: Mrs. Mary Crawford, Miss Lillian Craig, Miss Etta Duncan, Mrs. Frank Fithian, Mrs. F. B. Garrison, Mrs. S. Russell Greene, Mrs. Joshua C. Haines, Miss Hannah Hood, Mrs. Eva H. Harkness, Mrs. Sarah M. Lacy, Mrs. Robert W. Montgomery, Mrs. Louise B. Marchant, Mrs. Elizabeth McPherson, Mrs. Sarah J. Mechling, Mrs. Benjamin G. Mickle, Mrs. Anna C. Preisendanz, Miss Ellen Plant, Mrs. Louisa B. Reeves, Miss Edith Rogers, Miss Kate Reed, Mrs. Edwin L. Seabrook, Mrs. Chester D. VanDuyne, Mrs. Lucy F. VanSciver and Mrs. William Walker.

Life of Rev. Charles Evers

Born on June 6, 1865 in the vicinity of Third and Girard Ave., Philadelphia of American born parents, who were of Scotch and Irish ancestry.

When a small boy, his parents moved further into Kensington and he started attending a Sunday School and church, which was founded by the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington, and in due time became known as the Beacon Presbyterian Church.

At an early age he was left fatherless — his education was cut short and he became an apprentice in a glass blowing factory. His boyhood and early manhood were spent in learning the trade of glass blowing in which he became very proficient.

The factory closed down for the summer months, the heat from the furnaces being too intense for the men to work. During these leisure months he had time to reflect on the fact that his education had been neglected and he started to read any study.

He also had a great fondness for music and had a fairly good voice. He played the French horn and became a member of a brass band. They played at Civil War veterans’ funerals and on other occasions in the neighborhood. Some time during this period he met a young girl of the neighborhood, Miss Maria Hummell, who like girls of today, fell in love with the man in a uniform.

In due time, they married and had five children, three boys and two girls. The first girl died while still a baby.

During his early fatherhood, he was still fired by the ambition for more education and attended classes in a preparatory school — all the while playing his trade as a glass blower. All his spare time at home and in the factory was devoted to study.

For a time, he felt that medicine was the field for him and followed along that line of study, but all the while he was becoming more active in Sunday School work. From teaching he became Superintendent of the Sunday School. The teaching of children and young people seemed to hold more interest for him than anything else and for many years he held this position. From a very small group this became known as the largest and finest Sunday School in the community.

In the mean time, still working at the trade of glass blowing — and his summers, as usual, being open — he became interested in evangelistic work. There being a scarcity of Presbyterian churches in the upper part of Kensington, during the summer months a large tent was erected and church services were held there. He was put in charge of this movement which also included Vacation Bible School and handicraft school for children. There was a movement of this kind in the down town section of the city and from these beginnings — are the Daily Vacation Bible Schools which are held in most communities today.

Summer after summer, these tent church services in upper Kensington were held — until the need was felt of an all year round church — and from that tent a Presbyterian Church materialized.

During all these years, he was still studying and fitting himself for the work he loved. He helped younger men to get an education that they might go on to college and seminary and follow a life of service too.

Then came an opportunity for him to enter the ministry and he became an ordained minister in the State of New Jersey, passing the examinations very creditably. For a few summers, he preached at the Presbyterian Church in Cape May Point and finally was installed as Pastor of the Irving Ave. Presbyterian Church in Bridgeton, N. J., where he served faithfully for six or seven years.

Then he became Pastor of the Woodland Avenue Presbyterian Church of Camden, N. J., which in those days was a humble, frame building: He inspired the people with the idea of a building more fitting for the House of God and a place of worship — and with the aid of the people and his friends and his own energies — the present edifice, which is a credit to the community, was erected. Here he has served faithfully and well for the past 24 years — ministering not only to the members of his own congregation but to all others seeking help.

During all these years, he has had many joys and many sorrows. A few years ago he lost his life’s partner, whose loving help and encouragement made it possible for him to realize his boyhood dream — a life of service, and more recently his oldest son.

And now in the 79th year of his life, still young in heart and spirit, he lives each day, as he has from early manhood, rendering loving service to God and mankind.

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS — Psalm 116:15.

IT IS with deep sorrow the Session announces the passing away of our Beloved Pastor. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. II Cor. 5:8. We thank God for his 26 years of ministry and pastorship in our midst. We can faithfully apply Matthew 5:16:— His light so shown that men saw his good works for which we glorify our Father which is in Heaven. And he entered into the joy of his Lord.

THE FAMILY of Rev. Charles Evers wishes to express their gratitude for the many kindnesses and expressions of sympathy from the members of the congregation and friends of the community.

Thanks to Bill Zeltman for his help in creating this page.