[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



                       DR. JULE AYERS REMEMBERED

                                 ______


                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 1994

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, on August 3, 1994, northeastern 
Pennsylvania suffered a great loss upon the passing of an extraordinary 
man, an unequaled community leader and dear friend, the Reverend Dr. 
Jule Ayers. It is my distinct privilege to place into the permanent 
Record of the U.S. Congress my tribute to this distinguished man.
  Although I had known Dr. Ayers for many years as a leader in 
northeastern Pennsylvania, it was not until I was elected to Congress 
that I came to fully appreciate the depth of his wisdom and his 
tireless passion for justice. He often shared with me copies of his 
sermons, excerpts from meaningful books he was reading, and wide-
ranging letters outlining his thoughts and concerns about the issues of 
the day. I value those timeless words of wisdom now that he is gone, 
and I will greatly miss his thoughtful perspective.
  No matter how unpopular an issue was with the general public, Dr. 
Ayers' advice was always to do what was morally right, and his 
determination of what was right was unerring. He never feared to take 
on controversial causes; he led the Wyoming Valley into a better 
understanding of racial and religious tolerance.
  Dr. Ayers served as pastor, and then upon his retirement, pastor 
emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre for 44 years. 
He was respected and loved by all generations of the congregation he 
served at First Presbyterian, however his ministry there was only a 
fraction of his life's work. Dr. Ayers' life work was to bring greater 
understanding and tolerance to the community at large, to further 
social justice and to help house the elderly and poor. From serving 
Christmas dinner to hundreds of area homeless people, to serving as a 
founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee for Social Justice, 
Jule Ayers was a central figure in our lives and in our neighborhoods 
for almost half a century.
  He actively supported and worked for the causes that most of us never 
found the time in which to take part. He was seen walking the hospital 
halls to bring comfort to the ill at all hours and his door was always 
open to anyone in personal or professional crises. His congregation was 
humanity and he made improving the human condition his mission in life.
  Not long before he died, I had the opportunity to spend some time 
with Dr. Ayers. Although his health was failing, his mind was focused 
on the needs of others. Always conscious of the many problems facing 
our society, Dr. Ayers was nevertheless eternally optimistic, always 
seeing the essential good in humanity. I came away from our last 
meeting with renewed inspiration. Dr. Ayers' constant support and 
encouragement was a gift I will never forget and could never adequately 
repay.
  Mr. Speaker, the passing of this great humanitarian will be felt in 
the Wyoming Valley for a long time. His passing created a void which 
may never be filled. However, Jule Ayers would want us to remember him 
by carrying on his mission of building bridges, mediating and 
reconciling our differences, fighting injustice, and helping those less 
fortunate. To Dr. Ayers, the people of the Wyoming Valley say simply, 
``Thank you for walking among us.''

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