USA > Kansas > A history of Methodism in northwest Kansas > Part 34
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Osborne.
A cyclone in 1875 destroyed the home of the record- ing steward, L. A. Weeks, and with it the earliest records of the church, but W. H. Mize learned the facts from the early settlers and has so faithfully recorded them in connection with the subsequent history of the charge that it is a pleasure to peruse the history and to transcribe the facts.
The first class at Osborne was organized by Rev. Atkin early in the year 1872.
Atkin was a local preacher, who served the charge for a short time on his own initiative and responsi- bility, but not even his initials have come down to us.
Osborne was reported to the conference at Emporia in March of that year and one hundred dollars of mis- sionary money were appropriated to the charge, but in the making of appointments Osborne was left to be supplied. Jared Copeland was appointed by the pre- siding elder and served the charge till December, when he was relieved by death. From December to March, 1874, the charge was served by A. B. Conwell, R. S. Osborne and W. N. Kenyon, but the time of service of each is unknown. James Lawrence was the presiding elder in charge.
From 1874 to 1876 the work was supplied by Rev. J. C. Ayers, a superannuate member of the Upper Iowa Conference. Several classes were organized in the country around Osborne about the same time, so that at its first appearance in the Conferene Minutes it was the head of a circuit. During the pastorate of Rev. Ayers several new appointments were added. These were Corinth, Lawrence Creek, Indian Creek, Delhi, Wolf Creek and Covert.
The society was incorporated as the First Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Osborne, Kansas, October first, 1878. The first board of trustees was composed
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of the following persons: Josiah Brobst, J. W. Mc- Intyre, R. C. Joy, H. C. Noland, L. C. Barton, L. D. Honn, Henry Roerig, J. W. Addison and S. L. Walrond. They qualified and held their first meeting as a chart- ered body October 12, 1878.
The parsonage was purchased in 1882 during the pastorate of Rev. E. H. Fleisher. At the time the society felt quite elated that they had a home for their pastor, though, if standing now, it would appear quite in contrast with the elegant home which the present pastor enjoys. It cost $350 and consisted of a single room sixteen feet square. The church services were first held in the school house until the congregational church was built, after which they were held in it, jointly with the Congregational and Baptist societies, till 1882, when the court house was secured and was occupied by the Methodists till the church was built.
The three societies had maintained a Union Sunday school while they occupied the same building, but on moving into the court house, the Methodists at the earnest suggestion of Mrs. W. H. Mize organized their own school, with L. A. Weeks superintendent and W. H. Mize assistant and teacher of the Bible class. Mrs. L. A. Weeks, Mrs. Mize, T. E. Fultz, Miss Alice Fultz, Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Rice were other teachers. The Bap- tists united with the Methodists and once a month held a service. Soon after the Congregationalists organ- ized their own school. Osborne was a circuit until 1884, when under the pastorate of R. A. Caruthers, D. D., it was made a station. During that year the move- ment was set on foot for the building of a church, though it was not done till the next year during the pastorate of M. S. McCoy. The building was 28 x 54 feet and cost $2,200. It was dedicated by Rev. H. D. Fisher of Topeka. The opening prayer on this occasion was offered by Rev. J. C. Ayers. It is remembered by those who heard it as one of the most eloquent that
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was ever heard in Osborne. The amount of money needed to clear the church of debt was $600.
Dr. Fisher first asked for fifty dollar subscriptions, but not receiving any response, quickly dropped to $25. A number of these were given, then dropped to smaller figures till $5 was reached, when he remarked, "Any- body can give five dollars." But he added, "Wait, I must tell you a little story. Once I knew a schoolma'am who was soon to be married. Her school was out and her money all spent, but five dollars, which she had saved for ribbons and gloves and such little things as all young ladies think they must have when they get married. One day she attended a missionary meeting and was made to feel that she ought to give that five dollars; but if she did, how could she get married? She could not get away from the thought that the call was from God and she could trust Him. So the mis- sionary society got the five dollars. On her way home she met a member of the school board and stopping he said to her, 'the board had a meeting yesterday and in view of the faithfulness and efficiency with which you had served us, we voted you an additional five dollars and here is the money'." So the Doctor added, "She got married after all, and best of all was, she married me."
In a very short time enough $5.00 pledges were given to bring the amount to over $600 and the church was dedicated in due form. Notable revivals were en- joyed in the Osborne church in the years 1886 and '88, the first during the pastorate of L. V. Morton and the second during that of O. J. McFadden. Sixty-six pro- fessed conversion at the first and one hundred eighty- five at the second. In 1886 Osborne was greatly stirred by a camp meeting held by the Seventh Day Advent- ists. They came from far and near and their tents covered one city block. Not only were they present in great numbers, but their strongest men from all over
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the country were present. Every text in both the Old and New Testament bearing on the Sabbath they had knowledge of and put them before the people in the most plausible way to prove their point. Two preach- ers, one Presbyterian and the other Methodist, de- livered discourses in reply to the argument that had been presented, but in the judgment of the people both failed entirely to meet the case. Many honest laymen began to question very seriously : "Are the Adventists right and have we been violating God's law all these years ?"
One Sunday morning it was announced that on next Sababth morning Dr. Caruthers will preach in this house on "The Christian Sabbath." As might be ex- pected, the house was packed. The discourse was two hours long ; a hundred or more stood through the whole of it. The Adventists were there with note books. When the Doctor saw them begin to take notes, he said to them: "That is right, take all the notes you want and I'll promise to give you all you need before I am through with you." He surely did.
He made it clear that there have been three Sab- baths: Creation Sabbath, the Jewish Sabbath, fixed on Sinai, and the Christian Sabbath. His closing flight of oratory was superlatively sublime. I have often wished I could give it in full. The following will give an idea of it, but falls very far short of the summit reached. "The last Jewish Sabbath was the darkest, saddest, most dismal the world ever knew for on that day, Jesus lay in Joseph's tomb; but the first Christian Sabbath was the brightest, grandest, most glorious day that ever dawned on the world, for on that day Jesus the crucified one burst the bands of death, brought life and immortality to light and became the first fruits of them that slept."
That sermon did up the Adventists in Osborne. The next morning W. W. Watson, then a merchant and
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banker, in Osborne, now and for years past, a whole- sale merchant in Salina, was standing in his store door and noticed Dr. Caruthers across the street when an Advent preacher passed by with his Bible under his arm as was his want. Watson said to him, "Do you see that old man across the street?" The preacher re- plied : "Yes, what about him?" Watson replied : "That's that man that spiked your cannon last night."
After that sermon they could not get a corporal's guard out to hear them. In a few days they struck their tens and have never "tried out" Osborne since.
The church which was dedicated this year, 1886, was damaged by a wind storm in December and was repaired the next summer by an outlay of $250.
In 1897 the old parsonage was sold and the pastor, E. P. Michener, purchased a property consisting of a story and a half house and four and a half lots at a bargain for $1,100, the property having sold at one time for $2,200. Concerning this deal, Rev. Michener made the following note in the record: "In Novem- ber, 1897, we took steps to secure our present elegant parsonage which was all paid for in a few weeks' time. We now have one of the best, if not the best, parson- age in the conference."
Near the close of the pastorate of Rev. C. W. Wyn- ant, steps were taken for the erection of a larger and more modern church. Work was begun in the sum- mer of 1905 and the corner stone was laid November 22d of that year. The trustees pushed the work as rapidly as possible. It was completed early in October and a series of dedicatory services was planned, be- ginning October 9th and continuing till Sunday the 14th. W. L. Cannon was the pastor. T. C. Iliff had been secured for the occasion. The sermon as might be expected was one of the greatest ever heard by an Osborne audience.
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$5,000 were needed to clear the property of debt which was pledged in about half an hour. Those pres- ent on this occasion who had witnessed the similar service in 1885 could not but note the contrast between the two. The first building cost about $2,200, this more than $14,000. The sum needed then on the day of dedication was $600, that needed at the second was $6,000. The largest subscription given then was $25. Three $500 pledges were given for this, four for $250 each and about twenty for $100 each; so that less time was required to raise the larger amount than had been needed to secure the smaller sum in 1885. Then the pastor was living in a parsonage that cost $360, now he occupies a palatial dwelling costing $6,000. Well many the members of this church say: "The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad."
W. H. Neil followed W. L. Cannon, 1907. In the Central of January 1, 1908, the following may be found: "Revival meetings were held by the pastor. 103 conversions and reclamations were reported. 60 united with the church. Women's Home Mission states reported the meeting and added this statement: "I have been connected in a humble way with every re- vival in Osborne for the past 25 years and have never seen a deeper work of grace."
Report of Osborne in 1917: Church, $16,000; par- sonage, $6,000; expense, $419; full members, 228; preparatory, -; salaries: pastor, $1,500; district superintendent, $96; bishop, $22; conference claim- ants, $44; benevolences, foreign missions, $300; home missions, $152; grand total, $1,789; Sunday school officers and teachers, 27 ; enrollment, 287; average, 150; expenses, $115; Epworth League, Sr., 30; Women's Foreign Mission Society, $50; Women's Home Mission Society, $131.
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Portis.
The Portis M. E. church was organized in the Portis hotel by A. T. Riley, in 1881. The charter members were J. Cross and wife, J. Pain and wife, Frank Judson and wife, W. E. McDowell and wife, James McDowell and wife, J. W. McDowell.
James Cross was the class leader. The hotel was the first building used as a house of worship and this was used till the school house was built which was re- tained as the place of meeting till the church was built in 1886.
Uncle Jimmie Cross as he was familiarly called, often expressed a desire to see a new Methodist church in Portis before he died and his wish was gratified. The Sunday school was organized soon after the church was founded and has been maintained ever since. W. C. Smith was the Sunday school superin- tendent from 1885 to 1916. The class leaders have been James Cross, W. C. Smith, Daniel Wadsworth, C. E. Cramer, Mrs. M. L. Smith.
Portis did not become the head of a charge until 1893; the historian is therefore dependent on the record of the local church for the names of pastors up to that date. The following is the list: '81, A. T. Riley; '83, J. M. Allen; '91, J. H. Armitstead; '92, J. M. Allen; March, '92-Dec., '92, E. Mathews; Dec. '92 to Aug., '93; Sept., '93 to April, '95, Charles Trueblood ; '95, J. M. Allen ; '97, C. A. Davis; '98, B. F. Rogers; '99, C. A. Davis; 1901, J. D. Harris ; '02, W. C. Harris; '04, M. G. Terry; '05, F. N. Cox; '09, A. C. Henslee; '13, J. L. King; '17, J. Winters.
In 1884 a church 28 x 40 was built. Times were hard but with the aid of a loan of $250 from the Church Extension Society, a building costing $1,400 was erected free of debt, other than that to the Church Extension Society.
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In 1895 this building was removed from its founda- tion by a cyclone. It was then moved to a better loca- tion one block south of the original site and repaired; but it always bore the marks of the cyclone. However, it served as a house of worship till 1914. On Novem- ber 23, 1914 ground was broken for the new church. It was finished in about a year from that date. It was 28 x 40 feet with an annex 20 x 26, and an alcove 6 x 14 for pulpit and choir, with a ten foot basement under the entire building. This was finished in good style and the building equipped with furnace and electric lights. The auditorium seats 300; the cost of the structure was $5,500. It was dedicated January 30, 1915. $1,688 were needed on the day of dedication. John F. Harmon, president of the Kansas Wesleyan University, had charge of the service. After the ser- mon he stated the amount necessary to clear the in- debtedness and in a few minutes nearly $200 more than was needed were pledged. The church was dedicated, L. A. Mckeever of Downs and J. L. King, pastor at Portis, assisting in the service. Dr. Harmon preached both in the afternoon and evening. The singing of the day was led by a large chorus choir directed by Pro- fessor Curtis, superintendent of the schools of the town. The trustees at the time were S. Palmer, J. G. Rube, A. H. Bartlett, T. W. King and A. Tingley. The building committee were W. C. Smith, T. W. King, J. G. Rube, G. H. Lattin and Arch Tingley.
An Epworth League was organized years ago and has been maintained through the years. It has been a great benefit to the young people of the town and sur- rounding country.
In 1905, M. G. Terry, the pastor, reported that the church had been improved by an expenditure of $225. Ninety dollars had been raised for missions and in the canvas for 25 cents per member for the Kansas Wes- leyan, $32 had been raised. A mission library of 29
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volumes had been purchased and used. A band of 13 Epworth Guards had been formed and were studying the Life of Christ. The next year Terry reported that gas lights had been put in the church and a side walk had been put around.
In 1911, A. C. Henslee reported a three weeks' re- vival. A. J. Fitt assisting resulted in 23 conversions and 12 accessions to the church. In January, 1915, J. L. King reported a good addition had been made to the parsonage and the new church would be completed by Conference time. The following are the official mem- bers at present : Stewards: T. W. King, Mrs. W. C. Smith, C. H. Lattin, W. E. Kaup, J. Rube, Arthur Jones, Charles Hammond. Mrs. T. W. King, president Ladies' Aid; Mrs. C. H. Lattin, president Women's Foreign Mission Society ; J. E. Kissell, president Board Stewards ; George Frank, recording steward; J. E. Kis- sell, president Epworth League.
The 1917 statistics give the following: Church, $5,000 ; parsonage, $1,000 ; expense, $177 ; membership, 182; pastor, $1,000; district superintendent, $72; bishop, $14; conference claimants, $30; foreign mis- sions, $73; home missions, $63; grand total, $503.
Roxbury.
The date of the organization of this class is not known, neither have the names of any of the charter members been given. The appointment was served by the Mentor pastor for a time. In 1896, both Roxbury and Hope were detached from the Mentor circuit and attached to the Roxbury charge.
For a number of years the Methodist society occu- pied the Presbyterian church on alternate Sundays. In 1910 the church was built at a cost of $4,000 during the pastorate of E. W. Bridwell. The Hope church on this charge was built by brother Harry Tolle. It was dedicated as a Methodist church, but the deed was
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in Tolle's name. He was a good man and doubtless meant to do good things for the community ; but it was known as Harry Tolle's church and the society never prospered as it doubtless would have done if the build- ing had been owned and controlled by trustees chosen by the members. In 1914 through the influence of the pastor, E. W. Bridwell, the property was deeded to the church. In the winter of 1914 a revival was held in which eight persons were converted and joined the church. One of these, H. C. Marston, is now preach- ing and is a member of the Annual Conference.
Changes in the community and the use of auto- mobiles have so affected the church attendance at Hope that the services were discontinued. The church build- ing still stands but it is unoccupied. There were four- teen names on the roll when the services were discon- tinued.
The Roxbury charge was formed in 1915, consisting of the two points, Roxbury and Hope. W. H. Mathie was the first pastor. His salary was fixed at $800, of which Roxbury paid $650. Hope was to have paid $150, but fell short $12.
James Lawrence, an old resident at Roxbury, had long desired to see a Methodist church built there. In 1910 this was done, he contributing $3,000 and the society paid $1,000. In his will he made provision that $2,000 should go to the society for the purpose of build- ing a parsonage. This has been built and provides the pastor a home.
In September, 1917, a Union revival service was held, at the close of which 39 members were received into the Methodist church. There are three organized classes in the Sunday school. The Wee Brothers with 22 members, the Forward Class, 28 members and the "Advance Guards," 14 young men. There is also a Standard Bearers Society of 22 members and a Junior League of 18 and an Epworth League of 25.
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The statistics of 1917 give the following: 2 churches, $5,000; parsonage, $1,800; membership, 101; preparatory, 6; expense, $125; support pastor, $950; district superintendent, $64; bishops, $15; conference claimants, $32; benevolences, foreign missions, $60; home missions, $30; grand total, $423; Sunday school officers and teachers, 18; enrollment, 143; expense, $74; Epworth League, 15; Jr., 18; Women's Foreign Mission Society, $12.
Grand Avenue (Salina.)
The Grand Avenue M. E. church was organized in the spring of 1917 and was made a pastoral charge and W. C. Green was appointed pastor. The trustees chosen were T. W. Roach, president of board, Erve Sey- mour, secretary, F. C. York, C. E. White, W. L. Nesmith, J. L. Sherwood. Erve Seymour was class leader. The stewards, Mrs. Emma Shipe and Mrs. Nellie Shipe, Mrs. C. B. Hull; J. L. Sherwood, Sunday school superintendent; Mrs. C. B. Hull, president of the Ladies' Aid.
Prayer meetings were held three years ago in a cot- tage on North 10th street and a Sunday school was begun about the same time. Two years ago Rev. M. L. Kerr took charge of the work. He held his first service in June, 1915. In the fall of 1916, the old Baptist church was purchased and moved to its present site, 306 W. Grand avenue. The people were encouraged and the Sunday school grew. Teachers came from the Wesleyan for some of the classes. Misses Vesta Jones, Lora Smith, Mildred Glendhill and Edna Kirk were faithful helpers. Mrs. J. L. Sherwood was appointed Cradle roll superintendent and has done excellent work.
W. C. Greene was appointed pastor in 1917. The Sunday school increased both in interest and attend- ance. Special efforts were made for the boys. As a result, the attendance of boys from 8 to 15 increased
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from 5 to 40. A similar effort for the girls brought like results. On December 23, the attendance was 113, of whom 102 were children under 15. The attendance at the church service has increased but is still small. There are 19 full members, eleven officers and teachers and a Sunday school enrollment of 225. There are 81 on the Cradle roll.
James Kerr assisted four weeks in revival services, in October and November. There were twelve children and two adults took a stand for Christ.
Oakdale Church (Salina.)
At the session of the W. Kansas Conference held at Ellsworth, 1917, Rev. Edward L. Hutchins was ap- pointed to take charge of a mission to be organized in East Salina, known as East Chapel. There was no organized church or Sunday school and no church building; but there was a community of two thousand people and through the efforts of Drs. A. G. Bennett, J. F. Harmon and the district superintendent, G. R. Hall, a lot had been secured in a good location.
There being no organization, the pastor occupied himself the first three or four weeks calling on the people and getting acquainted. The first service was held in a rented cottage on May 14th. There were eight persons including the pastor's family. The at- tendance increased from Sunday to Sunday. In three months it had reached thirty-five or forty. The furni- ture for the use of the school including organ, song books, chairs, table and blackboard, were loaned by the other M. E. churches of the city. The pastor acted as superintendent and Bible class teacher; his wife was organist and teacher and their daughter, Bessie, taught the primary class. Others who came and assisted in the work and took charge of classes as the attendance increased were Mrs. E. B. Lewis, Mrs. L. E. Ginder, Vernon Spear, John Hutchins, A. P. Stafford, Mrs.
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Frank Blaylock and Mrs. Armstrong. Services had been held but a short time when this cottage was sold. Fortunately another vacant cottage was near by and the services were transferred to it, which was used for a few Sundays, when it too was sold and notice was served that the house must be vacated the next morn- ing. There being no other vacant house near and none could be secured, so the furniture was stored in a store building near by. It was a serious question what could then be done, but the people had become interested and were not willing that the services should be discon- tinued, so an invitation was extended to the pastor to bring the services to their homes. The invitation was gladly accepted and from that time until the church was completed services were held in the homes of Edgar Miller, H. E. Woods, L. E. Ginder, Mrs. John Province and Mrs. Grace Walker.
The church was formally organized in September, at the home of C. E. Ginder. The following persons were charter members: E. L. Hutchins, pastor, Mrs. Hutchins, Bernice Hutchins, Raymond Hutchins, John W. Hutchins, Hattie Hutchins, Lucille Hutchins, L. E. Ginder and wife, H. E. Woods and wife, Mrs. B. F. Coburn, Emmet Coburn, Della Coburn, Edgar Miller, Fern Bennet, Cecil Miller, Irene Miller, Mrs. John Province, Mrs. Grace Walker, Loene Simmons, Lurella Knowls, Vernon Spear.
On motion, the name East Chapel, which had been given the charge was changed to Oakdale M. E. Church. Plans for building were immediately set on foot and late in September the new building was begun. This was put on the parsonage lots and built bungalow style, the thought being that when the society is able to build a church this building will be remodeled and serve as the parsonage. It is a frame structure with concrete basement and is equipped with water and lights. The total cost of building and lots was $4,000.
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It was ready for occupancy at Thanksgiving. The occasion was celebrated by a Rally Day program. The growth of the organization has been remarkable under the circumstances. At the close of the Conference year, 150 had been enrolled in the Sunday school with an average attendance of 75 and a church membership of 31. The trustees are T. W. Roach, J. C. Wakefield, Edgar Miller, A. P. Stafford and H. E. Woods. The Sunday school was organized the second Sunday in May, 1918. There were twelve present. We were cheered by the injunction: "Despise not the day of small things."
Salina First Church.
This is one of the oldest Methodist organizations in the bounds of the Northwest Kansas Conference, but probably is not the oldest since it is known that a Meth- odist service was held in the vicinity of Clyde as early as 1862, while the oldest member of the Salina class, Mrs. Elizabeth Conrad, came to the state in 1866. She says they attended services in a small room over a blacksmith shop, between Iron avenue and Ash street. The blacksmith was so industrious that many times his noisy anvil interfered with their Sunday devotions. Mrs. Bryce Muir and Royal Calkins were also members of that early organization.
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