The subject of this sketch, Edgar Schaff Hassler, was born at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. His parent were Jacob Hassler, D. D., and Matilda Hassler. After attending the public schools in the various places where his father was pastor, he, in September, 1874, became a student of Mercersburg College during the presidency of Dr. E. E. Higbee. He graduated in 1878, and in 1881 from the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For one year he taught school connected with St. Paul’s Orphan Home, then located at Butler, Pennsylvania, and for two years following he taught in the Butler High School. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by Mercersburg Classis on May 13, 1881, and ordained to the Holy Ministry by Juniata Classis, at St. Clairsville, Pennsylvania, when he began his ministry in his first Charge at this place, April 25, 1884. The fields of labor served by him have been as follows: St. Clairsville, Pennsylvania, 1884 – 1888; Braddock and Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, 1888 – 1893; Wilhelm Charge, Pennsylvania; 1893 – 1903; Grove City, Pennsylvania, 1903 – 1914; Uniontown, Ohio, 1914 – 1919; Shelby Ohio, 1919 - .

While at St. Clairsville, Pennsylvania, Mr. Hassler was married to Rilla J. Prugh, of Dayton, Ohio. Their children are six sons and two daughters. The four oldest boys served in the late war, the oldest as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Department of the A. E. F., France, for two years; the second as a first Lieutenant in the 127^th Spruce Squadron at Camp Lewis, Washington, for 18 months; the third for 18 months in France as Sergeant in Base Hospital, No. 27’ and the fourth for 19 months in the Navy, stationed at the U. S. Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.

Rev. Mr. Hassler, besides always working actively and faithfully for the many interest and the progress of the churches of which he was pastor, has invariably been interested in the general work of the church. He served as President of Classis three terms; as President of Pittsburg Synod one year; as Stated Clerk of Somerset Classis 1895 to 1903, and again 1913 to 1914. While at Grove City he held various offices in the Mercer County Sunday School Association, being for three years its Field Secretary. He has also always identified himself intimately and enthusiastically with the community life where he lived. While pastor at Wilhelm, and also at Grove City and Uniontown, he served on the Public School Board of Education. He was secretary of the Board at the two first named places, and President at the last named. He was for many years corresponding secretary of the Pennsylvania State School Directors Association, and one year President. At Uniontown, Ohio, during the late war he was President of a patriotic men’s league, and took a leading and influential part in Prohibition, Y. M. C. A., Red Cross and Liberty Loan Campaign work.

During his pastorates at Wilhelm, of which this history speaks, his work, particularity at first largely constructive. He was fist pastor after the division was made in1893, separating the St. Paul and Grantsville congregations from those at Salisbury and New Germany. For the new charge to support a pastor, which was done by a charge over twice as large before, required real missionary work. Many members had up to this time never been called upon to contribute to the support of the church. Now it became necessary for everyone to be made feel the privilege and duty of having a share in the work of the church at home and aboard. But the people responded to the efforts of pastor and consistory most nobly and contributions gradually increased from year to year. The new charge had no parsonage, and to provide one was the first special work to be done. $350 was realized as Wilhelm’s share in the parsonage at Salisbury, and the work was begun. A strip of ground was purchased from the McClure farm as then known, which made the present location possible, and in the summer of 1894 the present commodious and comfortable house for the pastor was finished at the coast of about $3,000. Following this, besides the regular work of the church, special and important projects entered into and successfully completed were as follows.

Among them may be mentioned:

• The purchase of the dwelling and lots south of the Church.
• The installing of hot air furnaces in the Church and Parsonage.
• The placing in the Church of a large Frink Reflector to replace the small and ineffective Chandelier.
• The purchase of additional ground to enlarge the Cemetery
• And finally the installing of Electricity for Lighting the Church and Parsonage.

Each one of these in its own time filled a real need, and was a forward step for the cause at Wilhelm. The money needed for one and all was always cheerfully and liberally given. And with these material improvements the work of the Church advanced along all others lines. Attendance at service of the Church was always splendid and gradually grew. The Sunday School particularly made progress in numbers, attendance and activity. An Organization of young people, called the Willing Workers Society, was of great use in binding many young people to the Church. For many years its Sunday Evening meetings were well attended and very interesting.

In 1896, during his first pastorate, Rev. Mr. Hassler began publishing a monthly parish paper. It was called "The Wilhelm Evangel", and met with universal favor in the families of the Charge as a very successful medium of communication between pastor and people. After a few years it was merged in with "The Classis Visitor" which ever since has had an honored and useful existence.

The subject of this sketch has the most pleasant memories of his pastorates in the Wilhelm Charge. It adds greatly to his pleasure to know of the continued excellent condition of the Charge, and the large and influential work it is doing for the Kingdom of God and the Church of Christ both at home and abroad.

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