Emerson once said, "There is properly no history, only biography." History might be defined as the composite biography of leading men, or as a record of men and their events. The movements which make up much of history are made by the men who have sponsored them. Likewise many men have been made by the movements to which they have given their lives. Contributions of individuals in life are made to count most when affiliated with such eternal movements as the Kingdom of God and the Church of Jesus Christ. The burden of history today is the need of common folk for good leaders. There is a pathos in the pages of history in the unsatisfied and unrealized longings of the common folk. There is tragedy in history in the instances where men have betrayed the trust shown in them, and then failed in the opportunities which God has given. There is glory in history where God's elect have held power as a sacred trust, and thereby have been true to the higher ideals of life. We commend this volume to you as a phase of history in which we are greatly interested and vitally concerned. No one man in our Eldership could be better qualified to give this resume of this period of our history than Brother J. L. Updegraph. His broad experience, his faithful leadership in our Eldership has made him familiar with much that otherwise would have been lost. We are sure that from your reading and studying this volume a greater appreciation of the work of the West Pennsylvania Eldership will be felt by all. May it result in renewed efforts, more extensive programs, and greater faithfulness on the part of us all. [5]

[OSHC 5]