December 16 Today in OPC History

On December 16, 1939, the students at Westminster Seminary were finishing up an exciting three-week period. Snowbound on the Lord’s Day of November 27 because of a blizzard, the students and the Rev. John Murray, who lived on the campus, gathered for worship with Mr. Murray preaching from 2 Corinthians 4 on the Christian ministry.

The next week the students under the leadership of John Gray, head of the athletic committee for the student body, were still celebrating their victories over two rival Philadelphia seminaries in touch football games.

On the week of the 16th, John Hills, head of the social committee for the student body, organized a Christmas party with a makeshift Santa Claus handing out gifts. The students, however, were not content with simply a party as they also joined together to present Mr. Murray a gift in person. Mr. Murray happily received the students into his room, told some Scotch jokes, and made sure that everyone had ice cream and ginger ale to spare.

Picture: John Murray