A Look At FPCG History: Thomas Mac Kellar
Remembering Our Past Members
One of the most prominent members of this church during the nineteenth century was the man who wrote the bible on typography.
Thomas MacKellar was born in New York City on August 12, 1812, of Scots and Dutch heritage. He began his career at the age of 14 as a proofreader for Harper Brothers in Manhattan.
In 1833, he moved to Philadelphia and before long was made foreman of the composing room and the stereotype foundry of the Johnson Type Foundry; twelve years later he became a member of the firm. While there, he was editor of the “Specimen Book” which contained 600 pages showing at least 1100 different configurations of type. His later book ”American Printer” went through at least 13 printings and for years was the book on printing.
While in Philadelphia and rearing 10 children with his wife, he was an early advocate and practitioner of urban ministry as he went into the poorest sections of the city to try and alleviate some of the conditions of poverty.
For 25 years he was the corresponding secretary of the Philadelphia Bible Society. He was also a ruling elder in the Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church. In 1856, he moved to Germantown and immediately united with the First Presbyterian Church where he was an active elder for almost 40 years.
During most of his adult life, MacKellar wrote poems and hymns, often setting the type himself for the books. In 1844, he published a volume of poems, "Droppings from the Heart." Other of his works appeared in 1847, 1853 and 1872. Many of the hymns he wrote were included in hymnals well into the twentieth century, but scarcely any can be found in current hymnbooks. Thomas MacKellar died in 1899.
An example of the hundreds of hymns he penned is this:
In the Vineyard of Our Father
In the vineyard of our Father
Daily work we find to do;
Scattered fruit our hands may gather,
Though we are but weak and few;
Little clusters
Help to fill the basket, too.
Toiling early in the morning,
Catching moments through the day,
Nothing small or lowly scorning,
So we work, and watch, and pray;
Gathering gladly
Free will offerings by the way.
Not for selfish praise or glory,
Not for objects nothing worth,
But to send the blessèd story
Of the Gospel o'er the earth,
Telling mortals
Of our Lord and Savior's birth.
Up and ever at our calling,
Till in death our lips are dumb,
Or till, sin's dominion falling,
Christ shall in His kingdom come,
And His children
Reach their everlasting home.
Steadfast, then, in our endeavor,
Heavenly Father, may we be;
And forever, and forever,
We will give the praise to Thee;
Alleluia!
Singing, all eternity.