Mr. Russell Weidenbacker once lived in Ardmore, a pleasant suburb on the Main Line – west of Philadelphia, PA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardmore,_Pennsylvania
It appears that Russell had been affiliated with the Sabbath School of the First Presbyterian Church of Ardmore.
This congregation had been organized in 1907, and completed the erection of the lovely church in 1910.
https://www.history.pcusa.org/blog/2012/07/1907-first-presbyterian-church-ardmore-pa
In September of 1910, Mr. Weidenbacker received a postcard invitation to the “first session of our School in the new CHAPEL”.
The invitation bore the headline of RALLY DAY, and was signed by T. Edward Ross – Superintendent.
The postcard had been addressed to Russell in Ardmore, but the line was crossed out and the place, “Haverford”, is written in pencil.
Haverford is another prosperous and picturesque suburban village, about 2 and a half miles west of Ardmore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haverford,_Pennsylvania
Haverford is the home of a renowned Liberal Arts college founded by the Quakers in 1833.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haverford_College
It is possible that Russell had begun a career in college.
(The Genealogical Note, below, shows that this is not possible.)
Amid bunches of colored leaves on the face, the text announces that the Rev. Alexander Henry, D.D.- Secretary of the Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work“ is expected to make an address”.
We know from other postcard stories that the Presbyterian Sunday School Board was headquartered in Philadelphia.
The Westminster Press, which published this colorful announcement, was also located in Philadelphia.
It is not known if the prospect of a learned address by a Doctor of Divinity was expected to arouse the interest of boys and girls who were undecided about attending the Sabbath School.
On the reverse, there is no personal inscription – all the relevant details have been printed on the face.
We see that the postcard invitation was mailed from Ardmore on September 12.
The stamp is missing – but it appears to have fallen off and not been torn off.
One hopes that Russell was able to attend the Sabbath School in Ardmore, that he enjoyed the Rally Day celebration, and that he remained in communion with First Presbyterian.
GENEALOGICAL NOTE
On September 16, 1895, Russell Asa Weidenbacker was born in Haverford, Pa.
He was the son of George Washington Weidenbacker (1854-1923) and Mary Weeder (1859 -1941)
George and Mary had been married at the Philadelphia Friends Monthly Meeting in 1887.
Russell had two brothers and a sister – both brothers died relatively young, at 37 and 41 years of age.
Russell never married; he lived in Montgomery County (containing both Ardmore and Haverford) throughout his life.
He died just before his 81st birthday – in September of 1976.
Russell would have been turning 15 when he received the invitation to Rally Day.
