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Houser Editorial
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From the Williamsport Gazette & Bulletin August 6, 1954: To a New Challenge
Announcement that one of Williamsport’s most prominent clergymen is leaving the city to assume new and greater responsibilities at Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, shocks a great number of people. It shocks them because they have come to know, respect and love the man, the Rev, Dr. J. Ray Houser, pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. But these same folks, as well as the 1,600 members of Dr. Houser’s church are glad for him for they know he is capable of handling the new position to which he is going. They know he is peculiarly equipped to meet the challenge of the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary whose task it is to help supply the demands for more Lutheran ministers in Canada. Dr. Houser will be president and dean of men at the seminary. It’s a compliment to Dr. Houser that so very, very many citizens here called him Ray. Those who did meant no disrespect to him. The informal greeting so frequently heard as Dr. Houser passed friends on the street, fished with fellow sportsmen and took part in countless civic activities denotes the close tie he has with many folks in and out of his church. That Dr. Houser has served his church and people well is clearly evident in figures alone. The membership of his church has doubled since he has been here. There is no measure, however, of the service he has been to hundreds of his parishioners in a personal way and the scope of his work outside his church. Figures and statistics for such are simply inadequate. Dr. Houser’s departure from the community creates a void for Williamsport had come to know and accept him as part of its life. In fact there will be those who will be surprised to learn now that Ray has not always been a Williamsporter and that a portion of his earlier ministry was elsewhere, Despite the regret many will fret over his leaving, St. Mark’s pastor may look forward to his new position at Waterloo with the blessing of folks here and the knowledge that countless prayers a n d good wishes go with him to help him in his new surroundings to meet the challenge which Williamsporters are sure he will meet head-on and overcome. You see, Ray knows the ropes when it comes to overcoming challenges. |