Horace McKinney

HORACE MC KINNEY 

PASTOR [of the First Methodist Church, Sharon], 1906-1909

Those were revival days and one revival in particular stirred the souls of men and women during the winter of 1908. All of the Protestant Churches of Sharon and the surrounding area of Shenango Valley united in bringing the ardent evangelist "Billy" Sunday to Sharon for a series of revival meetings. A "Tabernacle" having a seating capacity of several thousand was erected on the present site of the United States Post Office on the corner of Vine Avenue and Silver Street. The wonderful magnetism of "Billy'' Sunday and the tremendous drawing power of his singing companion, Homer Rodeheaver, with his slide trombone, spiritual songs and "Songs of the Sawdust Trail" appealed to men and women of all ages. The "Tabernacle" was filled to capacity for every meeting and as many as a hundred at a time marched forward on the ''sawdust trail'' and were converted to the Christian faith. Out of such enthusiasm and public response there were, of course, tangible results. Of the man hundreds who were converted a goodly portion joined the First Methodist Church.

While Mr. McKinney gave his whole-hearted support to the various organizations of the church his work was also, to a large extent devoted to the young people with whom he was widely popular and from them received harmonious cooperation. He organized a Methodist Boys' Club and aided in their training for debates, sword drills using canes, and
summer camps at Orangeville and Conneaut Lake on the island. Every Sunday "rain or shine" he was leader in the Men's Bible College (later to become the Men's Bible Class) that met in the church sanctuary.

During his pastorate at Sharon, First Church, the Sunday School prospered tinder the superintendency of Mr. M. V. DeForeest; the Ladies' Aid under the presidency of Mrs. Amanda E. McFarland, and the Pastor's Helpers, headed by Mrs. Elizabeth DeForeest, gave full support to the minister; Home and Foreign Missions were well handled under the able leadership of the respective presidents, Mrs. Martha B. Clark and Mrs. Halcyon McKinney; and a lively and sincere interest was shown in the work of the Epworth and Junior Leagues under W. Edward Bailey and Miss Grace Jones (later Mrs. I. E. Abernathy). Then too, during this period, the sterling work of Deaconess Flora McDowell was appreciated. Her salary and expenses were being taken care of through the general fund of the church.

Rev. Horace McKinney was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from Allegheny College in 1895 and also took a course in the theological department of Boston University. He was licensed to preach in 1889; admitted on trial in 1895; secured full connection in 1897; and was made an elder in 1899. He served as pastor at Cooperstown, Conneaut Lake, and Westfield before his appointment to Sharon, First Church. In the Fall of 1910 he was appointed to serve at Punxsutawney.

While on a fishing excursion in August, 1911, Mr. McKinney and several friends were caught in a severe storm. At that time he contracted a severe cold which gradually grew worse despite the best of medical care. On November 5 he was taken to the hospital where he passed on to his reward on Sunday morning December 30. Mrs. McKinney and children were at the bedside when the end came. He was about 40 years of age.
The remains were taken to the First Methodist Church of Punxsutawney at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning where he lay in state until 1 o'clock. During that time hundreds of friends of the deceased filed past the casket and took final leave of him whom every citizen in Punxsutawney regarded as an ideal man and minister. Following the service the body was shipped to Meadville for the final funeral service.

The following accounts of the funeral are taken from the Meadville Tribune-Republican and the Punxsutawney Spirit:
"The services in Meadville were conducted at the home of the parents Wednesday morning and were participated in by the following ministers: Rev. William Irwin, Rev. S. G. Abriel, Rev. Norris A. White, Rev. J. Bell Neff, Rev. J. C. MacDonald. Rev. C. E. McKinley, and Rev. Thompson W. McKinney.

"The high esteem in which Rev. McKinney was held in his pastorates was attested by the many expressions of sympathy from persons in various creeds and persons of no pronounced creed. In Punxsutawney, Protestants and Catholics, and men of no church affiliations united to do him honor.

"The large number of friends attending included a delegation of 49 members of First Methodist Church, Sharon. The Sharon delegation made the journey in a special coach attached to the Erie train."

One Hundred Fifty Years of Methodism by Roscoe C. Wilson, pages 70-72