USA > Kansas > Stafford County > Stafford > A brief historical statement of the founding and development of the First Christian Church and Stafford, Kansas with illustrations > Part 2
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HOME MISSIONS
Home Missions spread the influence of our Lord and Master throughout our nation. The gospel is preached, by
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means of this Board, in several languages in our country. Its ministry includes the Indian, the Japanese, the Mexican, the Negro, our brethren of the mountains, the mines, the coke regions, and the rural areas. Two hundred and ten home missionaries, evangelists, teachers and workers serve with devotion and consecration to the Christ and His Church.
NATIONAL CITY CHURCH
National City Church, high and commanding on Thom- as Circle in Washington, D. C., is a Brotherhood enterprise .. Besides its great membership, over 15,000 visitors worship there annually. Dr. Raphael Harwood Miller has been the Minister of this church for the past three years, succeeding H. H. Harmon, now deceased.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The Board of Higher Education maintains the coordin- ation of the Brotherhood's thirty-two institutions of higher learning. It gives administrative and curricular counsel to these institutions if and when requested. It also maintains and administers a student loan fund and a student advis- ory bureau.
PENSION FUND
Pension Fund is a protective institution for the Broth- erhood's ministry. It operates on the Government Actuarial Basis with a capital of over $2,000,000.00, created largely by the gifts of the churches, ourselves one of the donors. Membership is optional and is negotiated by the payment of dues by both church and minister.
NATIONAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
National Benevolent Association is the Board that cares for the Brotherhood's homeless children and aged. It main- tains twelve "homes" with total assets of $4,137,773.77 (1936). Last year there were no deaths among the 800 children in these homes, which suggests the high standard of Christian care they received. Of course such a record among the aged cannot be realized.
Believing that the Father's will and the Master's trust would be profaned in merely a "local" program our Staf- ford congregation has realized some of its noblest achieve- ment in the above and other unnamed services, beyond the borders of its own community.
OUR MINISTRY ABROAD TIBET
INDIA
Bible Woman
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon M. Newland, Melvin Merle and Marcia Mae
Native Evangelist
Laura Lee
AFRICA
U. S.
FIRST ELDERS nd PREACHER
E.S. HADLOCK
S.K. WILHITE
Rev.C.L. MILTON
OUR FIRST MISSIONARY SOCIETY President
Mrs. J.N.ROSE
Mrs. ROBERT MILTON
Mrs.G.W. ALFORD Secy - Treas.
Mrs. A.ASHER
V. President
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MINISTERS
D.Seavy - G. Andrey
E. Purlee - E.M. Carr
B.E.Parker - G.W.Alford
MINISTERS
J.W. Babcock-Ben Gillespie
F.J.Stinson-Chas. Purlee
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Fred Goff - F.D. Macy
MINISTERS
R.S. Grubb - G. Anderson
J.T. Wheeler-Dan Smith
P.O. Davis - H.D. Combs
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
On a Sunday afternoon in October of 1886 Robert Mil- ton, who had just arrived in Stafford that week with his new bride, met Arthur Asher. Two months later Charles L. Milton, Robert's brother, came to Stafford, having com- pleted his course of study in The College of the Bible at Lexington, Kentucky. He soon became acquainted with Mr. Sanford Wilhite. This quartette of faithful disciples of Christ were to play an important role in the beginning and . development of The First Christian Church of Stafford, Kansas.
One December afternoon in 1886 C. L. Milton and Sanford Wilhite were seated on the platform at the Santa Fe depot, located where the present new structure stands. They talked about the possibilities of establishing a Chris- tian Church. Among the problems they discussed was the then current one about instrumental music but they decided they would not mention it in the organizing of the new work but, in the spirit of those first disciples, to let the Lord lead in this new work.
Later C. L. Milton received letters of recommendation from three of the professors of Livingston College and, with his new found friend and Christian co-laborer Sanford Wilhite, went to talk with Mr. E. S. Hadlock. Thus a fifth was drawn into the circle whose tireless labors should bear such worthy fruit. In Hadlock's shop the letters were read and Mr. Hadlock remarked, "They are fine. I will see if we can secure the M. E. church for services and you can preach for us." Arrangements were made with the Metho- dist people for the use of their building, and once every two weeks on Sunday afternoon a little band of faithful disciples gathered for worship.
The earliest roll of members that could be found was dated March of 1887 which follows: "Roll call of male mem- bers of The First Christian Church at Stafford, Kansas: Sanford K. Wilhite, E. S. Hadlock, James Phillips, Frank J. Chambers, A. E. Asher, C. L. Milton, R. L. Milton, C. F.
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Jackson; Roll call of female members of The First Chris- tian Church at Stafford, Kansas: M. Phillips, Mattie Phil- lips, Cora Phillips, L. Cruzen, Druce Wilhite, Sunie Milton, Martha Asher, A. J. Chambers, M. Ardrey, Mollie Stute, Edith Kerr, Adelia Webber, Heathey E. Jackson."
In the fall of this year, 1887, a Brother Gad held a ten days meeting but with no additions. In the fall of the next year, 1888, Brother J. C. Seavy came and held a two or three weeks' meeting with good results. He was highly praised for his oratorical ability. This Bro. Seavy was our Frank McComb's grandfather.
On July 29, 1889, a charter was granted and filed in the Secretary of State's office at Topeka, Kansas by the First Christian Church of Stafford, Kansas, creating a corpora- tion which was to exist ninety-nine years. Those names ap- pearing on the charter are : E. S. Hadlock, S. K. Wilhite, C. L. Milton, Elders; and Eli Mead, E. D. Woolsey, J .G. Mc- Comb, M. Asher, Frank J. Chambers, and Wm. Price, Deac- ons. These men composed our first official board.
The hall over what was then Cline's store, now the Harrison building known as the First State Bank building, was rented and Brother Seavy was engaged to come and preach once a month for twelve months at the stipulated salary of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per year which amounted to about 10.50 per trip. This occa- sional preaching of the gospel in the simple New Testament style and with the New Testament power caused many to turn from the darkness to the light and the work thrived.
During the pastorate of Brother Seavy the brethren decided to erect a church building. The east half of Lot 1, Block 5, O. S. Stafford, and the east half of Lot 3, Block 5, O. S. Stafford were purchased from Mrs. S. E. Bristol and husband for three hundred dollars. These are the same lots as those on which our present building stands. Mr. Meade ordered the lumber from a member of the Christian Church at Louisiana, Mo., and Mr. Asher superintended the erection of the building. The building was completed at a cost of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Although the list of sub- criptions to this building fund totalled 119 (some people subscribed more than once) the total subscriptions was not enough to clear the building of debt.
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The building was dedicated on January 26, 1890, by F. M. Rains of Cincinnati, Ohio. $1,205.50 more money was raised on this occasion; (pledges to be paid in two equal in- stallments, the first by January 1, 1891 and the second by January 1, 1892.) Still there was not enough to free the building of debt. So, through Mrs. J. A. Garvin and A. E. Asher, a loan of $400.00 was obtained from the Brother- hood's Board of Church Extension on January 2, 1892. The congregation then began directing its efforts toward paying off this loan which, in those raw pioneering days, was no easy matter. Records show that the last payment on this loan was made seven years to a day later, January 2, 1899, for $83.94.
Never can we adequately repay the debt of gratitude we owe these sturdy pioneer Christians as they jointly rent- ed land, sowed wheat, planted broom corn, worked in many other ways and experienced self denial that this first Sanc- tuary of God might be erected and dedicated to the procla- mation of His Divine Gospel.
By the end of 1889 the membership had grown to a list of 76 people which was the membership to move into the first church building. The following year 27 more were added to the roll but in the meantime 12 had been lost by moving, death, etc., which left a congregation of 91 dis- ciples.
The bell was purchased from the school board and C. L. Milton lowered it from the belfry of the old frame building and instaleld it. One dollar donations from Mrs. Robert Milton's Kentucky friends aided in its purchase.
Other leaders of these early years besides those men- tioned were: Coplingers, Phillips, Bosslers, Browns, Forts, Days, Crouches, Roses, and the ministers who shepherded the group.
The lights were first the coaloil lamps then later the acetylene. The first pews were home made ones and very uncomfortable. Two of these first pews still may be viewed and "tried" at the Frank McComb home where they are being preserved. Robert Garvin, who came to Stafford in 1905, led in a movement to purchase new pews and as a result beautiful oak pews adorned the sanctuary. They were installed only after a genuine "house-cleaning" however.
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MINISTERS IN FIRST BUILDING
Brother C. L. Milton preached at regular intervals dur- ing the years of 1887 and 1888 and thereafter when the church was without a minister or during changes of pas- torates. Sometime during the year of 1889 Brother George Ardrey persuaded Rev. D. Seavy, who had temporarily re- tired from the ministry, to come hold a meeting. Rev. Seavy was regarded as an outstanding orator and preacher of those days and his meeting was blessed with additions to the Church and kindled enthusiasm to its members. Rev. Seavy was then engaged as regular preacher and . came once a month, preaching Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and Sunday nights. The top story of Cline's store, now the Harrison building, was rented and used for their meeting place until they could complete a building of their own, which took them the remainder of that year to do.
While the reconstruction of this period is not possible in all details, especially concerning dates, it was in late 1891 or early 1892 that Brother George Ardrey became our Minister, Brother Milton filling the pulpit during much of the preceeding year. Rev. Ardrey was the father of our Elder R. C. Ardrey and Deacon P. B. Ardrey. He moved here from Burrton, Kansas, where he had been Minister for some time and made Stafford his permanent home, building and occupying the house still standing on the corner of Buck- eye and Crawford streets. He was Minister here for ap- proximately three years.
Rev. Ellis Purlee followed in a Ministry of something over a year in length during the years of 1894 and 1895. His main attention was directed toward the paying off of the indebtedness to the Board of Church Extension but these were lean years and less than a hundred dollars was raised toward that end. Following him came Rev. E. M. Carr as the next regular Minister but in between them some time elapsed in which men of the public school filled the pulpit. These were S. P. Nold, W. Endifer and a Mr. Nichol- son.
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E. M. CARR
Rev. E. M. Carr is the first one of these earlier labor- ers who still lives in this world, the rest having gone on to know in truth Him whom they served in faith. Now at seventy-seven years of age Brother Carr is ministering to a small congregation in East Oakland, California. Brother Carr was called to Stafford from the work of Reno County Evangelist; residing in Hutchinson and conducting revivals throughout this section of Kansas. He began his pastorate here in June, 1895, serving here half-time and Liberal, Kansas, half-time, both churches prospering from his evan- gelistic fervor. His zeal for evangelism may be recalled to mind by his experience in an evangelistic meeting in a school house a few miles east of town, in the Zenith neighborhood. The song leader became so impressed with the sermon that she forgot the number of the invitation song and turned to and led out in "America." Five people came forward to make the good confession. Evangelist O. L. Cook came and helped him in a meeting here that some have remembered through the years. While here the church building, which was now five years old, was completely redecorated, pap- ered, and painted inside and out. After a successful pastor- ate of over three years in length he accepted the call to the Pratt church for half-time, continuing half-time with Liberal.
After the passing of considerable time Rev. B. E. Par- ker was called and began his Ministery on June 20, 1901. Brother Parker was the first "Full" time preacher to be called to the field and with him came a "Full" time program with keen interest and packed houses. Brother Parker, him- self gifted in music, made much of the musical talent in the congregation and community, organizing choirs and quar- tettes of outstanding merit. Numbered in the roster of faith- ful leaders of this time are : the Miltons, Andersons, Browns, Garvins, Carys, Figgerses, McCombs, Roses, Kellys, Cop- lingers, Wilhites, and others whose services were no less efective if less conspicuous. He terminated his services here on November 1, 1902 and has continued his work of King- dom building until at the present he is our neighbor to the northwest, ministering to our church at Pawnee Rock.
Rev. G. W. Alford, now deceased, came to the field
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and immediately identified himself as a fatherly type of pastor with deep spiritual insight. He was liked not only by the people in the church but by the citizenry as a whole, his popularity extending even beyond Stafford community. After something like three years of ministering to the church here he was elected County Attorney of Stafford County.
J. W. BABCOCK
Leaving a fruitful ministry at Florence, Colorado, Rev. J. W. Babcock accepted the call to Stafford. In this period of social development when all Christendom thought in terms of evangelism, Brother Babcock fitted well. Many additions were garnered for the kingdom. In one meeting southwest of Stafford about five miles, twenty-five people made the Good Confession and were added to the Church. The congregation had outgrown its building and they began talking about a new one.
They say it takes a woman to start things. Well, the woman that started this was a widow with five children who, hearing of the talk through a letter, sent the first cash donation of five dollars. Mrs. Laura Zollar's picture appears on the page of snap-shots, having the added distinction of being our first Cradle Roll Superintendent. Brother Bab- cock and a "gratis" crew razed the old building and exca- vated the basement. During this time the ever-resourceful preacher had improvised a meeting place between two store buildings on Main street with a canvas top and rough fur- nishings and meetings were held regularly. However it was right in the midst of this construction work that Brother Babcock received a call to Mankato, Kansas and the care of an estate there made it expedient for him to go. From here Brother Babcock's life continued to stretch out and bless until at present he serves The First Christian Church at Sacramento, California, in the capacity of Supply Pastor. He is seventy-four years old and just a few days ago, March 10, 1937, he and Mrs. Babcock celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. It is fitting that this should happen on the eve that we who are wedded to the Lord should celebrate our Golden Anniversary in the building that he started.
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MINISTERS IN THE NEW BUILDING
There came to the field at this time a man of executive ability and keen foresight who took the situation in hand and managed it well. Rev. Ben D. Gillispie came to the field on October 1, 1908, from Cherryvale, Kansas. Pre- vious to his coming the Ladies Aid had met at Robert Mil- tons and on April 30, 1908, discussed plans for the base- ment which was to be under only two small north rooms. They voted to apply three hundred dollars, then on hand, to the extension of the basement under the entire building which was done immediately. This left only the super struc- ture to be completed under Brother Gillispie's pastorate. This was done at a surprising speed for that day, and on February 7, 1909 the building was dedicated by Rev. Geo. L. Snively.
That dedication will long be remembered by those pres- ent as a lesson that the "impossible" can be done. Five thousand dollars remained unpaid on the building. Brother Snively called the building committee together at the zero hour, the day before dedication, and told them that al- though they had already subscribed liberally as had other leading members, they would have to subscribe a large part of the remainder if it was all to be raised the follow- ing day. This they did in a noble way, setting the example for 202 people who made subscriptions totaling $5,335.50, raising the total receipts to $8,980.50, oversubscribing the cost of the building which was $8,156.38.
Brother Gillispie worked hard in two special fields: Bible School attendance and Evangelism. Then the all high record of 200 attendance on May 1, 1910 was an esteemed victory and a contest with Nickerson also served to keep attend- ance up. In the two years and over of his pastorate here two good evangelistic meetings added to his own work brought in 151 new members. However 72 had been lost during that period by removals, death, etc., which left a net increase of 79 and a membership of 237. The Martin family held the meeting in 1909 with seventy-three additions for that year, and the Dorris-Ridenour meeting, with O. L. Cook substitut- ing for Dorris at the end, brought the total additions for that year up to sixty-six.
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This period before, during, and after the erection of the new building is regarded as one of the most successful, financially speaking, of the Church's history. Members and leaders of that period attribute this success to the fine lead- ership of R. L. Milton and the Official Board. Those com- posing the Board were : Elders : G. W. Ardrey, W. S. Crouch, Frank Stevens, R. L. Milton; Trustees: J. N. Rose, W. H. Milton, John McComb, R. A. Lenegar; Deacons: W. H. Mil- ton, R. A. Lenegar, G. W. Anderson, E. F. Stevens.
Brother Gillispie received a call to Beloit, Kansas, and closed his work here the latter part of 1910. Rev. Stinson was called from our church at Eldorado for a year's pastor- ate. This year was marked with two events, one a fire in the church which, though not serious nor very expensive, caused a great deal of excitement. The other event was the J. E. Dinger-Dougherty meeting held the last days of his pastorat here. The local paper giving an account of the meeting described the evangelist, "Elder J. E. Dinger is a preacher of great power and magnetism." Among others re- ceived into the church were five men who, because of their great wealth, caused some to pronounce the meeting one of their most successful. Brother Stinson was called by the American Christian Missionary Society to help save the church at Harrisburg, Pa., so terminated his work here. Since leaving us he has done great works, acquired the hon- orary degree of Doctor of Divinity, and continues his fruit- ful career at the present with the Church of Christ at Waynesboro, Pa.
Rev. C. D. Purlee's first introduction to Stafford was during a revival when his brother, Ellis, was our Minister twenty years previous to his own pastorate. Charles Purlee left a six years' ministry at Siloam Springs, Arkansas, early in 1913 for a brief ministry here only to return to Siloam Springs in 1914 where he has been ever since, going on his thirtieth year's work there. Church bulletins of that time show that attendance ran around 100 and finances $50.00 per Sunday ; also that R. L. Milton, Dr. Crouch, D. L. Buckles, W. H. Milton, Will Hamlin, E. H. Kelly, Arthur Long, A. W. Spickard, G. W. Anderson, L. G. Scott, Riley Brown, Willie Brown, and Plumb Ardrey composed the Of- ficial Board.
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FRED M. GOFF
In May, 1914, Fred M. Goff came to Stafford Church from Rocky Ford, Colorado, and blessed us with three years of his life. He spent most of his energy on evangelism and Bible School promotion which flourished under his at- tention. Two effective "Home Force" meetings were held using local talent, one of our own young men leading the singing and supplying special music, David Gay with Mrs. Gay at the piano. Evangelist W. H. Pinkerton also held a meeting with his daughter, Gertrude, as singer, having a good spirit and several additions.
PIPE ORGAN
One of the achievements of the Church during Brother Goff's ministry was the purchasing of the pipe organ in 1916. This was made possible by a grant of $750.00, ap- proximately 1/4 the total cost, from the Carnegie Pipe Organ Fund which was the last gift made from this fund. Added to this inducement was the aggressive leadership of A. W. Spickard and his gift of $500.00. The total cost of the organ was $2,775.00 less the Carnegie gift of $750.00 or $2,025.00 which was oversubscribed and according to receipt was paid on December 4, 1916 to the George Kil- gen and Son Pipe Organ Co.
The organ was presented in a formal recital on Mon- day evening, November 20, 1916, by Dr. Frederic Rogers, a concert organist, and the Church choir. The organ was built by George Kilgen and Son and is about twelve feet wide, eight feet deep and sixteen feet high. It has two manuals with a compass from CC to c4, with 61 notes each. The pedals, concave and radiating, have a compass from CCC to F, 30 notes. It has 19 stops, 640 pipes, 4 combina- tion pistons and 3 pedal movements.
Brother Goff left Stafford in May, 1917 to take some post graduate work in Phillips University at Enid, Okla- homa. At present he is in his seventh year of service in the Church at Fredericktown, Missouri.
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F. D. MACY
Rev. F. D. Macy was called to the field in June of 1917 from an active work in district missionary evangelism. He later established the Church at St. John. His quiet, un- assuming, deeply spiritual but friendly attitude quickly won for him a prominent place in Stafford. His work in the church was one combining executive ability and spirit- ual development to a degree that assured progress. He was called from his work here to assist Phillips University in their Endowment Crusade but his family remained in Staf- ford for some time afterwards. Brother Macy heard his Master's voice saying, "Come up higher," and on August 17, 1931, he entered into the rest that remains for the people of God.
Following Brother Macy in another brief pastorate was Rev. Russell S. Grubb wo came from Summitville, In- diana, on Nevember 2, 1919. He was a respected Bible teacher and preached expositorial sermons largely. After seven months here they went back to their home state, lo- cating at Converse, Indiana, where they are at the pres- ent time.
Another short pastorate followed from June 13, 1920 to June, 1921, with Rev. George M. Anderson in the pulpit. He was a young enthusiastic college man, fresh from Drake University with both an A. B. and a B. D. degree. His evan- gelistic zeal brought 111 additions into the church that year, having 38 for one baptismal service. He accepted a call to Whiting, Indiana, and has continued to climb until now he ministers to our fine Central Church of Christ in Portsmouth, Ohio, with Bible School attendance hitting the 1,000 mark occasionally.
J. T. WHEELER
Rev. J. T. Wheeler came to Stafford in the autumn of 1921 from Coldwater, Kansas, and launched a ministry that was long enough and deep enough to leave some perm- anent results. The evangelists that held meetings during these years were Art Zimmerman, E. B. Pratt, W. G. Walk- er, and Chas. Steward, all with good results. Many things of inspiration and interest are easily recalled by your his- torians and other members of this period.
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During this time we shared our preacher, money, and leaders in helping Brother Macy to establish the Church in St. John. Then there was the graduating class with four preacher's sons in it. Bernard Macy, J. Vernon Wheeler, Robert Reed, son of the Covenanter Minister, and Raymond Dobbins, son of the U. P. Minister. Again there was the Mexican service when these bronze brethren were invited in from laying steel on the Santa Fe track to a patriotic- religious service. Around three hundred of them attended the service and showed manifest interest in our God and our country. Our C. E. hit its peak with average attendance of 60 and state-wide popularity. It was during this time too that our Bible school hit its highest attendance as the result of a thirteen weeks' contest with St. John. The big day established the high mark of 669 as the record attend- ance. Having received a call from the Church at Alva, Ok- lahoma, Brother Wheeler closed his work here an March 1, 1925. Brother Wheeler is now in his seventh year with the Church at Canon City, Colorado, and is serving the state as its 1937 convention president.
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