William Etridge McLennan, D.D.: (7 July 1861 – 25 September 1940) was Minister of Social Services from October 1909 until 15 February 1932. William E. McLennan was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada on 7 July 1861. In 1883 he attended Northwestern University and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, while there he was also a member of the university lifeguard unit where he was credited with saving many lives. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1887 with a BA degree and then received his MA degree there in 1889. Between December 23, 1889 and April 10, 1891 Dr. McLennan and his wife at that time, the former Lila Fame Keely, travelled as missionaries to Mexico. Following almost two years in Mexico, Dr. McLennan returned to the United States and served as pastor of the Milburn Memorial Chapel (later called the St. Paul's Church) in South Bend, IN, then at a Methodist Church in Berwyn, IL, followed by Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Chicago, IL, then Emmanuel Methodist (Episcopal) Church in Evanston, IL, and then to Belden Avenue Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL before coming to Buffalo as Director of Welcome Hall in 1909. In 1903, he was awarded his Doctorate of Divinity degree from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. During a year when he was book editor for the Chicago Tribune, Dr McLennan conducted a survey of the forces in American cities that "make for good and for evil" a survey that eventually resulted in his coming to Buffalo, NY as Director of Welcome Hall. Sometime before he arrived here, he married the former Isabel Pattison who was a native of Northern Ireland and a graduate of Normal College in Chicago, IL. Dr. McLennan had two children, a son Donald, and a daughter, Mrs. Frank H. Trembley.
During WWI Dr. McLennan was granted a one year leave of absence from First Presbyterian Church and his duties at Welcome Hall to perform duties with the War Camp Community Service. He was assigned duties supervising amusements and recreation for soldiers, and sailors on leave in Cape May, NJ. He described his experiences as being "a novel and interesting experience", adding that his duties made him "a hotel keeper, a dance hall proprietor and impresario of plays." During this time his wife Isabel McLennan, carried on the work at Welcome Hall. Following Dr. McLennan retirement, he was bestowed the title of "Minister Emeritus of Social Services", the only pastor to be bestowed that honor. Dr. McLennan and his wife remained in the Buffalo area following retirement and were active members in church as Sunday school teachers. Following her husband's death, Isabel McLennan remained active in First Presbyterian and during the 1940's was named as the Director of the Sunday School. Dr McLennan was the author of many books, including "In His Footsteps" (1896), "Souvenir of Bishop Merrill" 1897 (with Rev. C.M. Stuart), "Epworth League Bible Studies" and also numerous pamphlets.
In 1928 the Arts & Crafts lodge at the Angola-on-the-Lake Camp was dedicated as McLennan Hall in his honor. The plaque to that still standing cabin can be found in the Historical Hall. Rev. William E. McLennan, whose name became universally connected with Welcome Hall over the years, announced his retirement and resigned as Director of Welcome Hall on February 15, 1932. Following his retirement, which was made effective May 1st, the settlement facility was turned over to the City of Buffalo to be run as a community center, although for a time the First Presbyterian Church remained active in its mission and retained the title to the property. Thus with his retirement, he completed over 22 years service as Director of Social Services and head of Welcome Hall, and he has the distinction of being the longest serving non- head-of-staff pastor in our church history. Dr. McLennan died on September 25, 1940 at his home on Sisson Hwy in Elma, NY at the age of 79 years. His remains were cremated here in Buffalo and he was buried in Chicago, IL.
Author of several books, some online, but also available in the Library of Congress
In His footsteps; a record of travel to and in the land of Christ with an attempt to mark the Lord's journeyings in chronological order from His birth to His ascension (1896)
Comfort for the sick ... (1892)
Comfort for the bereaved (1894)
Lord's supper... (1903)
His activity in the Settlement Movement is often referenced in histories about the movement, and he also lectured about it, and testified before Congress about it.
During WWI Dr. McLennan was granted a one year leave of absence from First Presbyterian Church and his duties at Welcome Hall to perform duties with the War Camp Community Service. He was assigned duties supervising amusements and recreation for soldiers, and sailors on leave in Cape May, NJ. He described his experiences as being "a novel and interesting experience", adding that his duties made him "a hotel keeper, a dance hall proprietor and impresario of plays." During this time his wife Isabel McLennan, carried on the work at Welcome Hall. Following Dr. McLennan retirement, he was bestowed the title of "Minister Emeritus of Social Services", the only pastor to be bestowed that honor. Dr. McLennan and his wife remained in the Buffalo area following retirement and were active members in church as Sunday school teachers. Following her husband's death, Isabel McLennan remained active in First Presbyterian and during the 1940's was named as the Director of the Sunday School. Dr McLennan was the author of many books, including "In His Footsteps" (1896), "Souvenir of Bishop Merrill" 1897 (with Rev. C.M. Stuart), "Epworth League Bible Studies" and also numerous pamphlets.
In 1928 the Arts & Crafts lodge at the Angola-on-the-Lake Camp was dedicated as McLennan Hall in his honor. The plaque to that still standing cabin can be found in the Historical Hall. Rev. William E. McLennan, whose name became universally connected with Welcome Hall over the years, announced his retirement and resigned as Director of Welcome Hall on February 15, 1932. Following his retirement, which was made effective May 1st, the settlement facility was turned over to the City of Buffalo to be run as a community center, although for a time the First Presbyterian Church remained active in its mission and retained the title to the property. Thus with his retirement, he completed over 22 years service as Director of Social Services and head of Welcome Hall, and he has the distinction of being the longest serving non- head-of-staff pastor in our church history. Dr. McLennan died on September 25, 1940 at his home on Sisson Hwy in Elma, NY at the age of 79 years. His remains were cremated here in Buffalo and he was buried in Chicago, IL.
Author of several books, some online, but also available in the Library of Congress
In His footsteps; a record of travel to and in the land of Christ with an attempt to mark the Lord's journeyings in chronological order from His birth to His ascension (1896)
Comfort for the sick ... (1892)
Comfort for the bereaved (1894)
Lord's supper... (1903)
His activity in the Settlement Movement is often referenced in histories about the movement, and he also lectured about it, and testified before Congress about it.
William Etridge McLennan, D.D.: (7 July 1861 – 25 September 1940) was Minister of Social Services from October 1909 until 15 February 1932. William E. McLennan was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada on 7 July 1861. In 1883 he attended Northwestern University and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, while there he was also a member of the university lifeguard unit where he was credited with saving many lives. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1887 with a BA degree and then received his MA degree there in 1889. Between December 23, 1889 and April 10, 1891 Dr. McLennan and his wife at that time, the former Lila Fame Keely, travelled as missionaries to Mexico. Following almost two years in Mexico, Dr. McLennan returned to the United States and served as pastor of the Milburn Memorial Chapel (later called the St. Paul's Church) in South Bend, IN, then at a Methodist Church in Berwyn, IL, followed by Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Chicago, IL, then Emmanuel Methodist (Episcopal) Church in Evanston, IL, and then to Belden Avenue Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL before coming to Buffalo as Director of Welcome Hall in 1909. In 1903, he was awarded his Doctorate of Divinity degree from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. During a year when he was book editor for the Chicago Tribune, Dr McLennan conducted a survey of the forces in American cities that "make for good and for evil" a survey that eventually resulted in his coming to Buffalo, NY as Director of Welcome Hall. Sometime before he arrived here, he married the former Isabel Pattison who was a native of Northern Ireland and a graduate of Normal College in Chicago, IL. Dr. McLennan had two children, a son Donald, and a daughter, Mrs. Frank H. Trembley.
During WWI Dr. McLennan was granted a one year leave of absence from First Presbyterian Church and his duties at Welcome Hall to perform duties with the War Camp Community Service. He was assigned duties supervising amusements and recreation for soldiers, and sailors on leave in Cape May, NJ. He described his experiences as being "a novel and interesting experience", adding that his duties made him "a hotel keeper, a dance hall proprietor and impresario of plays." During this time his wife Isabel McLennan, carried on the work at Welcome Hall. Following Dr. McLennan retirement, he was bestowed the title of "Minister Emeritus of Social Services", the only pastor to be bestowed that honor. Dr. McLennan and his wife remained in the Buffalo area following retirement and were active members in church as Sunday school teachers. Following her husband's death, Isabel McLennan remained active in First Presbyterian and during the 1940's was named as the Director of the Sunday School. Dr McLennan was the author of many books, including "In His Footsteps" (1896), "Souvenir of Bishop Merrill" 1897 (with Rev. C.M. Stuart), "Epworth League Bible Studies" and also numerous pamphlets.
In 1928 the Arts & Crafts lodge at the Angola-on-the-Lake Camp was dedicated as McLennan Hall in his honor. The plaque to that still standing cabin can be found in the Historical Hall. Rev. William E. McLennan, whose name became universally connected with Welcome Hall over the years, announced his retirement and resigned as Director of Welcome Hall on February 15, 1932. Following his retirement, which was made effective May 1st, the settlement facility was turned over to the City of Buffalo to be run as a community center, although for a time the First Presbyterian Church remained active in its mission and retained the title to the property. Thus with his retirement, he completed over 22 years service as Director of Social Services and head of Welcome Hall, and he has the distinction of being the longest serving non- head-of-staff pastor in our church history. Dr. McLennan died on September 25, 1940 at his home on Sisson Hwy in Elma, NY at the age of 79 years. His remains were cremated here in Buffalo and he was buried in Chicago, IL.
Author of several books, some online, but also available in the Library of Congress
In His footsteps; a record of travel to and in the land of Christ with an attempt to mark the Lord's journeyings in chronological order from His birth to His ascension (1896)
Comfort for the sick ... (1892)
Comfort for the bereaved (1894)
Lord's supper... (1903)
His activity in the Settlement Movement is often referenced in histories about the movement, and he also lectured about it, and testified before Congress about it.
During WWI Dr. McLennan was granted a one year leave of absence from First Presbyterian Church and his duties at Welcome Hall to perform duties with the War Camp Community Service. He was assigned duties supervising amusements and recreation for soldiers, and sailors on leave in Cape May, NJ. He described his experiences as being "a novel and interesting experience", adding that his duties made him "a hotel keeper, a dance hall proprietor and impresario of plays." During this time his wife Isabel McLennan, carried on the work at Welcome Hall. Following Dr. McLennan retirement, he was bestowed the title of "Minister Emeritus of Social Services", the only pastor to be bestowed that honor. Dr. McLennan and his wife remained in the Buffalo area following retirement and were active members in church as Sunday school teachers. Following her husband's death, Isabel McLennan remained active in First Presbyterian and during the 1940's was named as the Director of the Sunday School. Dr McLennan was the author of many books, including "In His Footsteps" (1896), "Souvenir of Bishop Merrill" 1897 (with Rev. C.M. Stuart), "Epworth League Bible Studies" and also numerous pamphlets.
In 1928 the Arts & Crafts lodge at the Angola-on-the-Lake Camp was dedicated as McLennan Hall in his honor. The plaque to that still standing cabin can be found in the Historical Hall. Rev. William E. McLennan, whose name became universally connected with Welcome Hall over the years, announced his retirement and resigned as Director of Welcome Hall on February 15, 1932. Following his retirement, which was made effective May 1st, the settlement facility was turned over to the City of Buffalo to be run as a community center, although for a time the First Presbyterian Church remained active in its mission and retained the title to the property. Thus with his retirement, he completed over 22 years service as Director of Social Services and head of Welcome Hall, and he has the distinction of being the longest serving non- head-of-staff pastor in our church history. Dr. McLennan died on September 25, 1940 at his home on Sisson Hwy in Elma, NY at the age of 79 years. His remains were cremated here in Buffalo and he was buried in Chicago, IL.
Author of several books, some online, but also available in the Library of Congress
In His footsteps; a record of travel to and in the land of Christ with an attempt to mark the Lord's journeyings in chronological order from His birth to His ascension (1896)
Comfort for the sick ... (1892)
Comfort for the bereaved (1894)
Lord's supper... (1903)
His activity in the Settlement Movement is often referenced in histories about the movement, and he also lectured about it, and testified before Congress about it.
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