USA > Kansas > A history of Methodism in northwest Kansas > Part 27
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In March 1913 H. P. Basquin stated that the church had progressed since the debts were paid. The every member canvass and the duplex envelops had been a success. W. C. Littell reported in March 1914,
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that there had been steady growth in all departments. This was attested by good congregations and large at- tendance on prayer and class meetings. At the last quarterly meeting the Love Feast was well attended.
Statistics for 1917 give the following: Church, $2,- 300; parsonage $2000; Exp., $170; full members, 74; Prep., -; pastor, $750; D. S., $48; bishop, $12; C. C's., $30; F. Ms., $21; H. Ms., 19; Gd. total, $251; 1 S. S. O's. & T's., 19; Enrl., 144; Av., 75; Exp., $87; Ep. L. Sr., 22; Jr., 15.
Mt. Hope.
Nothing is known of this charge save what has been gathered from the minutes of the Conference. It first became a charge in the spring of 1911. The re port made the next year shows that there was a church valued at $3500, a membership of 40 and a Sunday School in which there were 12 officers and teachers and 60 scholars, and they paid the pastor $200.
The membership gradually increased. The second year there were 44 members and 13 probationers, the third year there were 59 members and 10 probation- ers, the next year there were reported 66 full mem- bers and 16 probationers, the next year the number of members was not recorded, but in 1917 there were 67 members. The report shows a like improvement in other respects. The enrollment in the Sunday School for the several years is 60, 75, 108, 120, 120 and 178. It should be noted, however, that two schools were re- ported the last year.
In the matter of ministerial support there was a corresponding increase excepting one year, when there was quite a falling down. The first two years the al- lowance was $200, the third year it was $225, the fourth it was $231. The next year for some unexplain- ed reason there was quite a slump. The pastor was paid only $42; but in 1917 he was paid $356.
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It is gratifying to note that although the charge was so weak financially they did not neglect the bene- volences, but were quite liberal with them considering the feebleness of the work. The first year the total paid for benevolence was $50. The next year they paid but $3; but the next year they redeemed themselves in a measure, paying $55. The next year they paid $44; but the next year there was no report of bene- volence.
1917 the charge is Mt. Hope and Mt. Zion and it reports two churches, $3000; current Exp., $20; sup- port pastor, $356; D. S., $12; bishop, $7; C. C's., $5; F. Ms., $7; H. Ms., $7; Gd. total, $68; 2 S. S. O's. & T's., 16; Enrl., 178; Av., 100; Exp., $44; Ep. L. Sr., 20.
Munden.
The first gospel sermon preached in Republic Coun- ty was by a Methodist named Harshberger, in March 1862. In October of the same year R. P. West also preached in the community. In the summer of 1870 E. R. Brown who had been regularly appointed to the work, organized the Bethel class, in the home of Joseph Northrop. It consisted of Jos. Northrop and wife, Sophrona, Amy, Sweedland and Martha North- rop. (The girls afterward married Messrs. McNeil, Munson and Thompson) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Calvert, Reuben and Hester Templin, Grandma See; Phila and Mary See, Adrian and Amanda Canfield. Robert Cal- vert was the first leader. He served two years when R. T. Templin was appointed and served till his death in 1889.
The pastors who served the charge were Levan, Ford, Winterbourne, Price and See. See baptized and received into the church a class of young men, five of whom later entered the ministry, viz .; A. C. North-
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rup, J. N. See, F. L., H. M. and J. A. Templin. Fol- lowing A. N. See were S. Brooks, G. W. Winterbourne, W. H. Williams, D. A. Allen, Ryan, Rhodes, Bailey. During Bailey's pastorate the parsonage was built at Munden and the churches at Pleasant View and Spring Hill. He was followed by Burch. Vandervort, Mayer, Sexton, W. A. Phillippee, Mckean and Samuel Bar- ber, who served the charge three years and built the present church. Following him were Semans, Misel and A. C. Henslee. No pastor was appointed in 1915. C. C. Cox, the evangelist, served the church during the summer and S. Barber finished the year. D. H. Colvin was appointed in 1916-17.
The name of the charge has been changed many times, and the points that have been grouped together to constitute the charge, have been changed as well as the name.
The faithful historian has followed up the changes and given the names as well as named the different places where services have been held, with marked fidelity. To those who have been connected with this work, at different times, all of this would have a de- gree of interest, but this editor does not believe it will hold enough interest for the general reader, to justify the repeating of these names, some of which appear but once, and some are no longer known. Munden does not appear in the list of appointments till 1889. That year the appointments were Munden, Star, Ida, and Albian. At the first quarterly Conference held at Ida in 1891 the appointments were Munden, Spring Hill, Beucamp, Eureaka, Ida and Star. Eureka was drop- ped in 1892 and Star and Beucamp united that year and built a church, naming it Pleasant View. In 1906 Ida was placed with Narka and Munden, Spring Hill and Pleasant View constituted the charge, as it is to- day.
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The first property owned by the church on this charge, was in 1881 when a good house was purchased at Ida, for a parsonage. The next was the Bethel church. The services at Bethel continued to be held in the home of Joseph Northrop till the school house was built near by, when they were taken to it. The thing that gave the initial impetus for the building of the Bethel church may be taken as an illustration of how "God may make the wrath of man to praise Him."
When the people assembled at the school house one Sunday morning for Sunday School, they found it locked and a notice on the door, that it could not be used anymore for church purposes, signed by one Blockinger, director. The notice was published in the Belleville Telegram the next week and the order was revoked by the county superintendent, and the services continued in the school house. But the desire for a church had been quickened to new life. J. Northrop gave the site and under the leadership of Winter- bourne, the pastor, $2000 were raised and a neat church built 28x45 feet, with a 20 foot ceiling which was dedicated by H. D. Fisher, assisted by C. L. Shackelford and J. H. Lockwood.
In 1888 the Bethel church was moved to Munden and served the community till 1910, when it was torn down and the new church built at a cost of $10,000. It is 56x68 feet with basement complete. It was dedi- cated Oct. 9, 1910 by Dr. T. C. Iliff, assisted by L. E. Rockwell, D. S., S. Barber, pastor, S. A. French Evan- gelist, and E. C. Rath and Narka.
The Sunday School record has not been faithfully kept, but as far as known the superintendents have been Joseph Northrop, F. P. McNeal, B. U. Elliott, Charles Parks, H. M. Templin, R. T. Templin, O. R. Morey, C. E. Stephens, Mrs. Ramsbottom, Miss Luella Stevens, Mrs. Josie McNeal, A. E. Striker, Susie Grif- fin. Some of these were reelected time and again.
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In 1909 the Graded Lessons were introduced and Blanche Kinnison, a deaconess, secured, who continued with the school for a year and thoroughly organized it. She gave the Graded Lessons a good start, and they have been successfully used ever since. Mr. Ona Mil- likin was elected in 1915 and is the present superin- tendent. The charge has three Sunday Schools which report 36 officers and teachers and 225 pupils.
A Ladies' Aid was organized in 1900 of which Mrs. H. M. Stevens was elected, president; and has been continued in the office ever since and has been the in- spiration of the society. Since 1905 they have raised and expended for the church $1400. The Epworth League was organized in 1893 and was given the char- ter number 11250. W. Canfield was the first presi- dent. The society maintained its existence through the years with varying success.
The presidents have been as follows: C. E. Step- hens, Arthur Canfield, J. A. Templin, F. D. Vanden- burg, Emma Adamson, May Stephens, Florence Throne, Lois McCall, Mrs. Willian Hill, Miss Nora Mulch. The league was very active in its support of the pastor while the church was building; and raised $500 for it.
In 1911 they won the District Banner and in 1912 entertained the convention ; but the league became neg- ligent and for several years there is no report. They reorganized with W. H. Strand, president with 20 members and are doing good work.
Pleasant View and Spring Hill each had a league for a number of years, but both have died. A. J. Wilks, Myrtle Canfield, Mark Bernell, Lynn Canfield, David Dury and Albert Northrup were some of their presidents.
The recording stewards of the charge have been: G. T. McIntire, C. A. Northrup, J. W. Taylor. M. L. Stephens was elected recorder in 1884 and was re-
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elected year by year, till his death in 1907. His son H. M. Stephens was then chosen to the place, thus putting the records of the society in the hands of this faithful father and son for 32 years.
Unquestionably the faithfulness and fidelity of these two men, in keeping and preserving the records of the society, through all these years, has made it possible for the historian to submit this, the most complete report that has come into this editor's hands. Since the wife and mother has been set down as the inspiration of the Aid Society, it is easy to guess what family constituted a large portion of the bone and sinew of the Munden charge. Another family named in these pages, evidently deserves special mention, is that of Joseph Northrup, in whose home the first class was organized.
Once when the Bethel church was in great financial straights Northrup mortgaged 80 acres of land to save the church. When so many are indifferent to- ward the cause of God, and the work of the church, it is refreshing to find such as the Stevens and North- rups who, like the Corinthians of old, first give them- selves to the Lord "and unto the church by the will of God." If such do not realize the hundred fold in this life, in the world to come, they shall not miss the ever- lasting life.
Some items gathered from the Central through the years may be of interest. July 20, 1892 M. J. Bailey reported Children's Day observed at Spring Hill, Ida and Munden. Every one was pleased. Collections $9.00. March 22, 1893 he reported the dedication of the church at Pleasant View on February 26. G. H. Woodward preaching the sermon. The church cost $2400; $550 were needed to clear the building. Six hundred and twenty-two dollars pledged. E. P. Mich- ener had charge of the collection. This was the second church built on the charge that year. A parsonage
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was also built at a cost of $650. The charge now has four churches.
May 3rd the pastor reported six additions since Conference. Sixty people spent a day at the parson- age, grading the lots and building a walk. They left gifts for the pastor.
November 15 of the same year a meeting lasting more than a month was held by pastor, Henry Wil- liams, of the U. B. Church assisting. There were 37 conversions. A meeting was also held at Pleasant View in which 44 were converted and 36 joined the church, most of them were young men and boys, from 15 to 30 years old.
The paper of September 25, 1901 reported a meet- ing during which 18 joined by letter and 8 on proba- tion. The pastor and evangelist, W. H. Williams, visited every family within 3 or 4 miles of the church.
H. M. Templin contributes this incident; "At the Gleason school house, near Munden, before it had been seated, and people had to use boards and wagon seats the best they could, Tom Maxfield, a man who seldom came to church brought in a flat stone and put it down in the corner of the house and sat on it. After a while he went to sleep. The preacher that day was Father Marks, an eccentric Free Will Baptist preacher, who had a habit of speaking in a moderate tone for some- time, then suddenly roar out and fairly make the shingles rattle. That day his subject was "Doubting Thomas". In a moderate tone he followed Thomas through his doubts and into his triumphant faith, then suddenly he roared out in a tremendous voice : "Thomas, where art thou now?" Maxfield awakened from his sleep, rose from his seat and opening his sleepy eyes said, "What?" At the laughter which fol- lowed, he slumped down on his rock cushion. It was with difficulty that he was ever induced to come to another service. The laugh produced may, possibly,
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have given the preacher some satisfaction, but, if the "Great Day" shall reveal that, that laugh was a pebble that turned the current of Maxfield's life into the wrong channel, how awful was the consequences.
It is a serious thing to make sport of sacred things at any time. Three churches, $12,500; parsonage, $750; expenses, - -; full members, 113; prepara- tory, -; salaries, pastor, $880; district secretary, $64; bishop, $15; Conference claimants, $40; benevol- ences foreign missions, $61 ; home missions, $40; total, $588; 3 Sunday schools, officers and teachers, 36; en- rollment, 221; average, 160.
Narka.
Narka was named as a charge first in 1889. How long .the class had been organized, this writer is not able to say, nor is he able to name any of the charter members, or of the other points that were associated with Narka to constitute a circuit. In absence of a report of a work the Conference Minutes give the only information which this writer has at his com- mand. By studying these year by year it has been ascertained that the following have served Narka since it was made the head of a charge. Who may have been pastor when it was a part of another circuit he has no means of knowing.
1889, D. A. Allen; '90, J. B. Lewis; '91, W. M. Sedore; '92-3, J. W. Adams; '94, G. B. Warren; '95-6, W. B. Keeley; '97-1901, G. P. Miller; '02, C. H. Muse ; '03, S. Barber; '04, G. H. Christenberry; '05, W. M. Shuler; '06, R. J. Myers; '07, E. Turrentine ; '08-09, J. H. Craven; '10-11, E. C. Rath; 12, W. N. Clark; '13, C. W. Ivie; '14-15, J. F. Johnson ; '16-17, C. E. Tinker.
Church, $4,000; parsonage, $1,500; members, 64; expenses, $100; pastor, $950; district secretary, $64; bishops, $14; conference claimants, $40; foreign mis- sions, -; Sunday school officers and teachers, 16;
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enrollment, 100; average, 75; expenses, $60; Epworth League, Sr., 60.
Otego.
In 1889, Rev. J. C. Walker, pastor of Burr Oak charge at the request of a committee consisting of Mrs. A. T. Jordan and Mrs. E. T. Shirtcliff, established regular preaching appointment at the Presbyterian church in Otego. This was continued till 1892, when it was discontinued.
In 1894, Burr Oak was made a station and the Burr Oak circuit was organized and Walker was ap- pointed pastor. At the request of the same committee a service was again arranged for in the Presbyterian church. In the fall of that year a Methodist society was organized consisting of J. M. and Eva Burt, Mary Butts, Sarah Totten, Phebe Lewis, Allen and Martha Cummings, Melvin and Viva Pangburn, Jerome and Mrs. Day, and Mary Belsford. J. M. Burt was ap- pointed class leader and Mary Butts, steward.
In May, 1897, the services were changed from the Presbyterian church to the school house and were con- tinued there for sixteen months. In October a Board of Trustees was elected and plans were made for build- ing a church the next spring. The trustees were S. S. Bennett, A. H. Butts, D. J. Kiser, I. N. Modlin, S. K. Lamb, Melvin Pangborn, Alvin Cummings, Jerome Day, Thomas Buffington. The first three named were made the building committee. The church was styled the Otego chapel, and cost $2,200. It was dedicated October 2, 1898.
The name Otego does not appear in the list of ap- pointments till 1906. L. A. Dugger was the pastor. A parsonage was built that year at a cost of a thousand dollars. A Ladies' Aid was organized in 1898. Mrs. Mary Butts was the first president. The organization has been kept up through the years and has been the
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means of doing much good. Mrs. Alice Fogo is the president this year, 1916 and the society is doing well under her leadership.
In the fall of 1914 a class of young people was organized as the Otego Teacher Training Class. They are now completing Barclay's First Manual of Teachers Training. January 14, 1914 C. E. Tinker reported through the Central that the parsonage had been re- paired and a good list of subscribers secured for the Herald; that an every member canvas was in progress and that the Sunday school and League were growing.
In July, 1915, W. S. Chandler was given license as an exhorter by his pastor, A. M. Misel. The young man is looking forward to the ministry. This is as it should be. It is from such classes that the ministers of the future are to come.
List of pastors, date of appointment and years of service: 1889, J. C. Walker, 3 years; 1892-3, no ap- pointment; 1894, J. C. Walker, 5 years; 1899, W. T. Allison, 1 year; 1900, J. M. Willis, 4 years; 1904, Guy Winslow, one-half year; 1904, W. C. Whippo, one and one-half years; 1905, W. C. Green, one-half year; 1906, L. A. Dugger, 3 years ; 1909, Harry Fleisher, one year; 1910, A. L. Carlton, 2 years; 1912, C. E. Tinker, 2 years ; 1914, A. M. Misel; 1916, W. A. VanGundy.
Statistics for 1917: Church, $1,700; parsonage, $800 ; expenses, $110 ; foreign mission, 64; preparatory, 2; salaries pastor, $800; district secretary, $56; bishop, $14; conference claimants, $40; benevolences, foreign missions, $45; home missions, $40; total benevolences, $272; Sunday school officers and teachers, 22; enroll- ment, 138; average, 80; expenses, $80.
Phillipsburg.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Phillipsburg in July, 1874. The first quarterly confer- ence was held in August of the same year in a dugout
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on the banks of Big Creek. Rev. W. J. Mitchell was the presiding elder. The class at Phillipsburg at first consisted of seven members: Mrs. Lucinda Albaugh, Mr. and Mrs. William Bissell, Mrs. W. B. Booze, Mrs. William McIlvain and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Boughton. The two last named were the only ones living in 1916. Allen Enyart, the efficient local preacher, who organ- ized so many societies in N. W. Kansas was the first pastor at Phillipsburg. His circuit included the fol- lowing points: Big Creek, Marvin, Bethel, Woodruff and Phillipsburg. He served two years, 1874-6. J. S. Horner succeeded him, serving 1877-8.
The first member of conference to serve in Phillips- burg was E. H. Fleisher. He was appointed in March, '77 and remained three years. During his pastorate three rooms of the parsonage were built. James Boi- court was the next pastor and served till '83. The church was built during his pastorate and was dedi- cated in 1882, free of debt, by Rev. H. D. Fisher.
The successive pastors were as follows: W. R. Allen, '83-6; O. J. McFadden, 85-7; I. S. Hall, 88-9; A. D. Beckhart, 90; E. H. Fleisher, 91; in a second pastorate, J. P. Allen, 91-3 ; D. J. Strving supplied from June, '93 till conference in '94. A. N. See, 94-96; dur- ing See's pastorate there were forty additions to the church. G. L. Rarick, 96-9; P. Smith, W. K. Loof- borrow and H. P. Mann served the charge from '99 to 1901. Brother Mann had his home in Phillipsburg, where he resided till his death in 1912. He was a man after God's own heart. Was beloved by all. His widow, now well advanced in years, lives in this town, and is an honored member of this church. Their son, Grant, is pastor of the Glade church. J. O. Osman, 1901-2; W. H. Woodward, '02-04; L. W. Kemp, '04 to Septem- ber, '05. He was succeeded by R. S. Rutledge, till March, 1907. E. V. Allen succeeded him. He organ- ized a class at Gretna which was added to the charge.
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Special services were held by evangelist, E. F. Miller. J. A. Green was appointed pastor in March, 1908 and served two years. He reorganized the league with 20 members. 74 members were received into the church during the two years of Green's pastorate. At the first quarterly conference of Green's second year, Gretna was transferred to the circuit, since which time Phillipsburg has been a station. F. N. Cox was ap- pointed in 1910 and was reappointed the next spring, but owing to failing health gave up the charge in May and Harry Glazier was secured to supply till the close of the year. He was reappointed in 1912, but for some unknown reason did not return. W. J. Ward was secured by the presiding elder to take charge of the work and was reappointed the next year and remained in the work three years. A. W. Dick was appointed in 1916 and W. J. Meredith in 1917.
Phillipsburg has been served by 23 different pas- tors. Five served three years each; one, three and a half; three stayed two years; four, one year and three remained less than a year.
The trustees at present are A. F. Walker, E. C. Whitten, T. N. Keeten, J. J. Stoneman and George Stormfels. The property is free from encumbrance and $1,200 are pledged for a basement. A new church is being agitated. A. D. Beckhart reported a revival in 1889 with good results. Pastor was assisted by a number of the brethren; E. Goodrich, W. R. Pierce, E. H. Fleisher, G. W. Morley, G. L. Tennant, S. A. Green and W. J. Meredith each helped in the meeting. Twenty subscribers were secured for the Central.
In the fall of 1893, the Sunday school undertook to answer the question: How may evenings be spent profitably? A course of lectures was arranged. D. McGurk, E. H. Fleisher, Hon. C. D. Jones and J. C. Horn lectured and Rev. Mayor gave a concert, all of which was well received. March 11, 1893, A. N. See
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reported that he had received 16 on probation and R. L. McNabb had delivered a lecture on Missions which helped the cause. An Epworth and Junior League had been organized which were proving helpful. The county treasurer was superintendent of the Sunday school and was making it a success. D. E. French re- ported in December, 1901, that revival services began at Labell, October 3 and had continued almost con- stantly since. Thirty had been converted. Two socials had been held at country appointments which netted $43. June 15, 1904, a tabernacle meeting of 26 days closed resulting in 20 conversions. L. W. Kemp, pas- tor. James Kerr, conference evangelist, assisted in the meeting.
Statistics of 1917 give the following: Church, $1,500 ; parsonage, $1,500 ; full members, 120; prepara- tory, 1; expenses, $150; support pastor, $1,020; dis- trict superintendent, $72; bishop, $18; conference claimants, $36; benevolences, foreign missions, $57; home missions, $40; grand total, $546; Sunday school officers and teachers, 20; enrollment, 120; average, 80; expenses, $60; Epworth League, Sr., 20; Jr., 25.
Phillipsburg Circuit.
At present this charge consists of but two appoint- ments, Labelle and the Iowa Union school house. Spring Creek and New Bethel were formerly attached to it, but have recently been discontinued. B. C. Wherry is the class leader at Labelle and T. W. Ellis is the leader at Iowa Union. The stewards at the former are B. D. Fogleman and G. C. Goddard. At the other point they are Harry Drake and Wilbur Ellis.
The first class was organized in 1885. The charter members were Mrs. Zella Fogleman, Mrs. Lizzie God- dard, Jewell and Mary Higley, John and Ethel Ham, Martin and Mary Kemper, James and Mary Murphy, Mary McFall, Kate Morgan, M. M. and Rhoda Phillips,
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Milton, Martha and E. Latta, M. and Mara Phillips, Alma and Fannie Whitney, Kate and Harry Whitney, T. W. and Julia Ellis, Albert and Emily Hillard.
The Sunday school superintendent at Labelle is Howard Vanderwater, at Iowa Union is S. A. Hapson. The enrollment in the former school is 90, in the other it is 100. The church membership at Labelle is 58 and at Iowa Union it is 45.
Phillipsburg circuit appears in the list of appoint- ments first, in 1888 and Thomas Muxlow was appointed pastor. Since that date the following men have been appointed : '89, E. Goodrich; '90, no pastor; '91-3, J. H. Hoff; '94, W. O. Allen; '95-99, H. P. Mann; '99, D. E. French ; 1900-01, J. A. Green; '02-3, W. C. Henslee; '04, J. D. Baker; '05-6, P. R. Harbold; '07-8, J. H. Summer; '09-10, J. K. Hunter ; '12, F. D. Funk; '13, C. Kolsky; '14, W. W. Hurlbut; '15, F. W. Withany ; '16, F. D. Funk; 17.
J. H. Hoff reported that the four classes held a Union service. The pastor preached and baptized five adults and two children and received eight into full membership. This report was in the Central of November 18, 1893. The third quarterly meeting was held November 18-19 of that year at Hillside. Presid- ing elder E. W. Allen preached three times and pre- sented the claim for mission. Eleven had joined the church during the quarter. December 20th of the same year the Bethel class surprised the pastor and left the larder well supplied. March 28, '94, the pastor re- ported that 25 had been received into the church. All probationers came into full membership except three. The church was repainted in 1916 and the parsonage the next year.
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