Rahn, Clarence Raymond (1898-1977)

Rev. Rahn was the son of James and Maggie (Miller) Rahn. He was born July 17, 1898, in Temple, Berks county. Early in life he decided to become a teacher, and entered into Kutztown Normal School, the forerunner of Kutztown State College. He graduated in the spring of 1918, and intended to teach at Richlandtown near Quakertown. However, he was approached to teach at the Allegheny Preparatory School on the Muhlenberg College campus. While teaching there, he took courses at the college. He enlisted in the armed forces during World War I. He remained on the Muhlenberg campus with the Student Army Training Corp. and was scheduled to report to the Officers' Training School in Carlisle when the armistice was signed. After the war, he undecided whether to continue his career as a teacher, or whether to change to some different occupation. He had always felt a strong liking for mechanical engineering. On the other hand, as a result of the war, he also felt inclined to enter the ministry. In 1920 he enrolled at Schuylkill College in Reading, which later became Albright College, and eventually entered the Lancaster Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1923. The pastor at the Reformed Charge at Jacksonville resigned to go to another call. A committee was chosen to go to Lancaster Seminary, to find a student pastor who would be interested in supplying the Charge, and, eventually become its pastor. He must have one very important decision, the committee decided. He must be able to "talk Dutch" if he was to feel at home in the Pennsylvania German community. The Seminary thought that Rev. Rahn, who had already done some student supply work at Hagerstown, Maryland and Shamokin, Pennsylvania would be a good choice. He accepted, and in February of 1922 began his services. He continued to supply the charge as a student until June 17, 1923, when he was ordained and installed as the regular pastor of the Charge. On June 7, 1927, he was married to Catharine Hain. They had one daughter, Ruth. He was elected president in 1941 of the Lehigh Synod of the United Church of Christ, the Rev. Mr. Rahn was a past grand chaplain of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a past district deputy grand master of the Lehigh County organization. Rev. Rahn was a man of many talents. On several occasions, he returned to his original profession of teaching, although still continued to preach. He taught at the Hahn School in Muhlenberg Township and at the Kempton School, another at Steinsville. His avocations included farming, wood-working, and construction of radio and sound equipment. Clarence Rahn wrote all but the first five scripts for the popular radio show "Asseba un Sabina Mumbauer Im Eihledaahl (Asseba and Sabina Mumbauer of Owl Valley)." This show was broadcast over WSAN, Allentown, every Sunday from January 16, 1944 until June 27, 1954.