Sunday School Rally Service Invitation, First Reformed Church, Carlisle, Pa., Oct. 7, 1906

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of an arch.

This is a real photo postcard that served as an invitation for a Sunday School Rally Service held at the First Reformed Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Among the various interesting details in the photo, note the pipe organ on the left and the arched alcove in the middle.

A Rally Service or Rally Day is a special celebration held by some Protestant churches in September or October to promote family attendance at church services and encourage children's participation in Sunday school.

Although the date—October 7—is incomplete, I was still able to use the other information on the postcard to determine the year that the Rally Service took place.

Robert James Pilgrim, whose name is listed on the card, served as minister at the First Reformed Church from 1906 to 1911, according to The History of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States (1920), by David B. Lady, p. 246. During those years, the only time that October 7 fell on a Sunday was in 1906, so Pilgrim must have held the Rally Service that year.

For a similar photo of a church interior, see Where Shall I Spend Eternity?

Sunday School Rally Service, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m.

You are cordially invited and urged to be present.

Robert J. Pilgrim, minister. Chas. T. Corman, superintendent.

First Reformed Church, Carlisle, Pa.