Although from a New Church point of view Halloween is a purely secular celebration, New Church congregations, schools, and families have been having Halloween parties together for more than 100 years.

Chicago-Glenview, Illinois, 1898:

“On Halloween a ‘sheet and pillowcase’ party was given in the city, which was attended by a large delegation from Glenview. The mysterious gowns were carefully arranged so as to hide the identity of the wearers, and in this array a ceremonious grand march was executed through the hall, which had been especially decorated by the ladies. After several dances there was a general unmasking and a skurry to get back to the dress of civilization once more. Then followed more dancing, recitations, and refreshments, and the new month was ushered in with considerable jollity” (New Church Life 1898, p. 15).

Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, 1899:

“The lines of distinction drawn this year between the society and the school as to social life do not seem to have acted as a damper, as was evidenced, for instance, by the merry Halloween Party of the Society on October 31st; and by the zest which the pupils show in their own socials. One of the features of the party was a nail-driving contest by the married ladies of the society. Great amusement was excited by one gentleman expert with the hammer, challenging his wife to a contest, and getting beaten!” (New Church Life 1899, p. 190).

Glenview, Illinois, 1900:

“The Mens Meeting took place at the Club House October 30th and the ladies gathered at Mrs. Paul Synnestvedt’s for a Halloween party on the same evening. The program included a ‘Heart Hunt,’ where each guest, armed with a little red bag, searched through the parlors for hidden candy mottoes. This game was followed by ‘Indoor Football’ and this in turn by ‘Fortunes.’ This being the event of the evening we venture a description. Apples, with candles and matches stuck in the sides, were placed in saucers and one handed to each guest. The top of the apple came off like a lid, and snugly hidden underneath was a small folded white paper, apparently blank. The candles were lighted and letters appeared on the papers as they were passed to and fro over the flames. The writing had been done in milk and on each paper was a poetical prophecy in the form of an acrostic. The bright faces and gay candles of the guests as they sat in a circle, each intent on her own fortune, made a picture” (New Church Life 1900, p. 673).

Huntingdon Valley (Bryn Athyn), Pennsylvania, 1900:

“On Halloween there was a dance at the Club House for the ‘Society’ young folks (one o’clock), a candy pull at one of the homes for the younger young folks—known by some as the ‘school crowd’ (ten o’clock)—but sad to say the candy was not faithful to the ’10 o’clock rule,’ as were the young folks; it was not done till 11. There were also two children’s parties (half-past eight). As if four were not enough, there was a fifth party, mysterious, uncanny, descending from no one knows where, with deeds of derring-do, calling down the wrath of the righteous on the heads of the innocent and vanishing into the night” (New Church Life 1900, p. 670).

The photograph of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn with trick-or-treaters at Halloween time was taken in Glencairn’s Great Hall in 1958, shortly before election day. The New Church community of Bryn Athyn was predominately Republican, and the pretzels held up by those in the photograph are a show of support for the candidacy of Arthur T. McGonigle. (McGonigle, the Republican candidate for governor, owned the largest pretzel manufacturing company in the country.) Photo: Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn Archives.