USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of 1892 > Part 32
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Pleasant Hill Sunday School .- The Baptists having completed their church building, in 1885 they organized a Sunday school with Rev. C. T. Floyd as superintendent. He has been followed in the superintendency by W. W. Lewellen, - Witt, H. J. Schock, and Mrs. A. Austin.
Parsons .- This school was first organized in the city hall in 1874, with J. B. Stilwell superintendent, and an attendance of about ten scholars. During the year it disbanded, and was not reorganized till about 1878. when J. W. Fee was elected superintendent. The school at this time numbered about 50. W. W. Neighbour succeeded Mr. Fee, and was suc- ceeded by C. F. Hodgman, and he by I. J. Uzzell. W. C. Main has su- perintended since Sept. 1886. The average attendance is now about 140.
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
Mound Valley .- The Baptists of Mound Valley worked in the union school until the erection of the church, in 1882, since which time they have had a school of their own. Among the superintendents have been H. W. Savage, P. G. Shanklin, J. H. Elmore, William Wilson.
Edna .- In the spring of 1883 the Baptists organized a Sunday school at the Hawkins school-house, in District No. 92, where it was conducted until their church building was erected at Kingston, when it was removed to that place. In 1887 the church was moved to Edna, and of course the Sunday school with it. The school has had the following superintend- ents : J. Reasor, Rev. G. H. Goodwin, Julius Goodwin, J. W. Reasor, J. Reasor, Rev. T. M. Cooper, G. W. Reasor, and Lewis Goodwin. The last report showed 4 officers, 5 teachers, 55 scholars, average attendance 30.
CHRISTIANS.
Chetopa .- Until 1883 the Christians had united with the Baptists in holding a Sunday school. In March, 1883, a Christian school was or- ganized, with W. J. Latta superintendent.
Parsons .- Organized 1879, with C. R. Millard superintendent.
Central .- Upon the organization of the Central Christian Church in Parsons, in 1890, a Sunday school was also formed, which has been maintained ever since.
Oswego .- The Christian Sunday school was organized in the court- house, in the spring of 1876. Superintendents : 1876-77, John Overdeer ; 1878-81, D. H. May ; 1882-85, H. C. Draper ; 1886-92, David Jennings.
Mound Valley .- The Christians have had a Sunday school for several years, but I have been unable to learn any particulars of its work.
CONGREGATIONAL.
Ostrego .- Organized January 23, 1870, and maintained most of the time since. However, there have been two or three occasions when for several months at a time no school has been maintained. The school has no continuous record, and I find no one who remembers definitely who its officers have been, but the following list of superintendents is proba- bly nearly complete : Dr. W. S. Newlon, Dr. W. E. Austin, W. M. John- son, Dr. W. S. Newlon, Dr. H. J. Martin, O. Whitney, C. U. Dorman, Mrs. Louise Morrison, Burton Thorpe, J. D. H. Reed, Rev. Park A. Bradford and wife, C. E. Coleman.
Parsons .- Organized July 20, 1873. Superintendents : P. M. Griffin, A. H. Ayers, I. Dickson, A. P. Wilson, E. C. Ward, J. H. Mosic, G. W. Ragland.
Deerton .- On the completion of the church, in 1880, a Sunday school was organized, which was maintained until the church was moved to Valeda, in 1886. Rev. James Cooper superintended it while he was pastor.
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
UNIVERSALIST.
During the time the Universalists had an organization and sustained preaching services in Oswego, they also maintained a Sunday school, of which John F. Hill was superintendent.
UNITED BRETHREN.
Parsons .- Organized 1876, with Abraham Cary superintendent. Since that, W.F. Grierson, - Butler, A. B. Hacker, and Mrs. Sandercook.
Union District, No. 69 .- Organized in 1870, with Joseph Vance super- intendent, and maintained until 1874.
Dennis .- The United Brethren Sunday school was organized in 1882, and came mainly from the Sylvan Dale and Four-Mile schools ; Alvin Miller was its first superintendent. It is maintained with a fair degree of prosperity. J. D. Mckeever and Noah Huff are reported as having superintended since Mr. Miller.
EVANGELICAL.
A Sunday school was organized by this denomination in the spring of 1886, in its church in Dennis. W. W. Blake was superintendent for sev- eral years. William Dick was one of the workers as long as he was able to be around. Jacob Eisenhood and B. F. Dienst have also superin- tended.
METIIODIST EPISCOPAL.
Oswego .- The first denominational Sunday school to be organized in the county was the First Methodist Episcopal Sunday School of Oswego. In the summer of 1868 the Methodists first organized a school, of which Ansel Gridley sr. was superintendent. This, like all the other Sunday schools of that time, was run only during the warm weather; it closed before the cold weather of winter came on. This school as now conducted claims an existence only from Sunday, April 9, 1869, when it was again organized, since which time it has had an uninterrupted existence, and since the time when Mr. Case took the superintendency the school has not missed a single session. It is by over a year the oldest school that now has an existence in the county. At the organization of the school, on April 19, 1869, Ansel Gridley sr. was again elected superintendent ; he served as such till September 18, 1870, when Nelson Case, having been elected superintendent, first took charge of the school. Mr. Case then served continuously a little over fifteen years; he tendered his res- ignation on September 28, 1885, and it was accepted on October 5. The pastor, Rev. J. A. Hyden, superintended from this time till the close of the year. W. F. Thorne superintended during 1886, and Rev. J. B. Ford, the pastor, during 1887. At the close of 1887 Nelson Case was again elected superintendent, and since January 1, 1888, has continued in that position .- The school was organized in Crouse's Hall, on lot 5 in
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
block 39, where it held its sessions during the summer of 1869; the fol- lowing winter it met in two or three different places -a part of the time in Wells's Hall. In the summer of 1870 the new church building was erected, and as soon as it was inclosed the school commenced meeting in it. In the fall of 1870 the superintendent instituted a teachers' meeting, which has been maintained weekly since. Normal classes have also been conducted in connection with the school work for several years.
Chetopa .- Organized July 17, 1870, with J. M. Cavaness superintend- ent, who served until July, 1872, when W. W. Sweet was elected super- intendent. In January, 1873, L. J. Van Landingham was elected, and served three years; he was followed by S. B. Sloan. In 1877 Mr. Cav- aness was elected, and served, with the exception of a year or two when D. O. Ditzler superintended, till 1886, when he went into the ministry. Following him B. S. Edwards superintended until 1889, when Mr. Cav- aness was again placed in charge, since which time he has held the position.
Montana .- The Presbyterians having organized their school upon the completion of their church, in 1878, the Methodists then organized a de- nominational school, the two having theretofore been conducted as a union school in the school-house.
Altamont .- Organized in 1884. Superintendents: O. P. Van Slyke, J. O. King, Arthur J. Rust, W. J. Lough, P. H. Riepie, E. D. Keinze.
Parsons .- In the summer of 1873 a Methodist Sunday school was or- ganized, with the pastor, Rev. C. R. Rice, superintendent. Owing to the straitened circumstances and unorganized condition of the work, the school did not maintain a continuous existence, but part of the time united with other workers in carrying on a union school. Besides Rev. C. R. Rice, the early superintendents were : M. Wallace, M. G. Brown, and J. W. Cowles. In January, 1876, T. H. Cunningham was elected superintendent, and continued to act as such until the close of 1890. In January, 1891, J. L. Kennerer was elected superintendent, and in Janu- ary, 1892, M. E. Wolf was elected, and is now serving.
Center Chapel .- Upon the completion of this church building, in the spring of 1887, a Sunday school was at once organized therein. It was conducted as a union school until the close of 1890, with the following superintendents : Mrs. M. E. Casky, A. W. Meador, and F. M. Morrison. In January, 1891, it was organized as a Methodist school, with F. M. Morrison superintendent ; in January, 1892, W. E. Snyder succeeded him.
Labette .- Organized in 1876. Superintendents: 1875, J. K. Sipple ; 1877-84, J. B. Payne; 1885, J. E. Williams; 1886, J. B. Payne ; 1887-92, A. C. Lamm.
Dresser District, No. 51 .- The Methodist school at this point was or- ganized in the spring of 1883, and was maintained until the fall of 1886,
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
at which time the class was changed from this to Valeda. W. J. Mil- likin was superintendent the first two years, after which a man with the same name, excepting that his name is spelled with an "e" instead of an "i" in the last syllable (W. J. Milliken ), superintended.
Mound Valley .- Organized in the fall of 1880, by E. A. Graham. Superintendents : J. J. Decker, A. B. Hammer, R. W. Simpson, O. B. Moore, Isaac Hill, Alexander Moore, and E. A. Graham.
Fletcher Chapel .- When this church was inclosed, in the fall of 1883, the Sunday school was moved from the Breese school-house to it. Solo- mon Pearson was first superintendent. Of those who have succeeded him I have not been furnished a list, but understand that among them have been Fannie Kirby and R. A. Hill.
Hopewell .- This school has ever been known as the "Evergreen," from the fact that while most of the schools in the country closed during the winter months, this was kept running the year round, from its first or- ganization. It was organized in April, 1871, in a granary on the place of James Beggs, and was afterward held in a dwelling-house until the Henderson school-house was completed, when it was removed to that building, where it was held until Hopewell church was completed, since which time its home has been in that structure. From its organization until 1884, James Beggs was its superintendent, with the exception of one year, when George McDole filled that place. Since 1884 it has had several superintendents, among whom have been L. C. Masters, W. T. Beggs, M. Daniels, and James Monroe.
Pleasant Hill .- Organized in 1890, and has had for superintendents James Woodyard, Mrs. Barker, and James Venable.
Excelsior .- Organized in 1892.
Edna .- Almost from the first organization of Sunday-school work in Edna it was largely under the control of the Methodists; but it was not till they went into the new church, in the spring of 1883, that the Meth- odists organized a distinctively denominational school. The following persons have superintended the school : E. B. Baldwin, L. Powell, H. S. Wimmer, Charles Long.
Cecil .- As soon as the Methodist church at Cecil was inclosed, the Sunday school which had been previously conducted at the Liggett school-house was moved to the church; this was done in March, 1883. J. N. Thompson was its first superintendent, and since then there have been J. D. Lombard, J. P. Lewman, Lydia A. Owens, Noah E. Barrick, Elizabeth Laman.
PRESBYTERIAN.
Mound Valley .- Organized December 7, 1884; Dr. L. D. Strother, superintendent ; 48 scholars, divided into eight classes. The school has been maintained ever since. C. M. Brown superintended for a year or two.
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
Chetopa .- Organized July 17, 1870, with C. S. Montague superintend- ent, and on August 25, 1872, Dr. C. Humble was elected superintendent. He continued to serve till he went away, in 1877. Following him the school has been superintended by C. H. McCreery, S. O. Barnes, Fred. Allen, Jesse M. Morgan, Julia R. Knight, and Arnold D. Robison.
Parsons .- Organized in December, 1872, with Harry L. Gosling super- intendent. Succeeding him there have been the following superintend- ents: M. B. Park, I. N. McCreery, G. C. Hitchcock, S. M. Cambern, Frank Mulford, S. A. Scott, F. L. Schaub, W. H. Martin, J. L. Morrison.
Oswego .- Organized in May, 1870, with Cornelius V. Monfort superin- tendent. He was followed by J. J. Browne, J. W. Monfort, E. B. New- ton, Alexander Mackie, Chas. Coit, Andrew Mackie, Albert A. Smith, R. P. Carpenter, Fred. C. Wheeler, Henry L. McCune, Fred. W. Keller, E. P. Mossman, and J. M. Berry.
Montana .- When the Presbyterian church was built at Montana, in 1878, the Sunday school was at once organized therein, with James Morning superintendent, since when it has been maintained only a part of the time.
Lake Creek .- The Lake Creek Presbyterian church having been built, the Sunday school which had been maintained at the school-house was removed to it, in 1884, where it was opened as a Presbyterian school, and the union school was discontinued. Since removing to the church, its superintendents have been : A. D. Robison, Thomas E. Baty, Mrs. J. H. Sellers, Irwin A. Robinson, and again Thomas E. Baty.
Edna .- This school was organized in their church in Kingston, in 1879, where it was continued until the church was moved to Edna, in 1887. John T. Watt was superintendent while the school remained at Kingston and for a year after it was moved to Edna. In 1889 H. Allen was superintendent. No school was maintained during 1890 and 1891. It. was reorganized in January, 1892, with J. T. Watt as superintendent.
The Chetopa United Presbyterian Sunday School was organized in Thomas's Hall in May, 1871, and on the completion of the church build- ing in the fall of that year, the Sunday school there found its home, where it has had a continuous existence to the present time, meeting in the morning before preaching, except for a short time, when it was held immediately after preaching. Two features of this school are worthy of special commendation, the first being the fact that nearly all the congre- gation is in the Sunday school, thus giving it probably the largest per cent. of adult attendance of any school in the county; the other item re- ferred to is a mission collection on nearly every Sunday. Rev. J. C. McKnight has continuously served as Bible-class teacher from the organ-
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
ization of the school. John Torrence and William Wade have been suc- cessful teachers respectively of the classes for young men and young women. T. J. Calvin was the first superintendent, and held the position for ten years, from 1871 to 1881. Succeeding him were the following parties : Samuel Wade six months, I. N. Anderson three years, John Torrance five years, David Burnside one year, Mrs. Robert McCaw one. year, and Mrs. R. J. Stewart is the present superintendent.
COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
In the spring of 1872 several of the Sunday-school workers of Chetopa joined in issuing a call for a meeting to form a county Sunday school as- sociation. Pursuant to this call, quite a number met in the Presbyterian church in Chetopa, on March 21, 1872, and effected a temporary organiza- tion by electing J. M. Cavaness temporary president and C. S. Montague temporary secretary. A constitution was adopted, and the following officers elected : President, I. W. Patrick ; secretary, C. S. Montague ; treasurer, T. J. Calvin ; executive committee, J. M. Cavaness, Nelson Case, J. F. Hill, Amy B. Howard. Meetings have been held annually, with two exceptions, and several years two or more meetings have been held. No meeting was held in either 1888 or 1890. The annual meet- ings have been held as follows: Oct. 15, 1872, Oswego; Oct. 21, 1873, Chetopa ; Sept. 23, 1874, Oswego ; Sept. 26, 1875, Chetopa ; Sept. 27, 1876, Parsons; Sept. 19, 1877, Oswego ; Sept. 18, 1878, Mound Valley; Sept. 22, 1879, Labette ; Sept. 21, 1880, Montana ; Oct. 6, 1881, Oswego; March 21, 1882, Chetopa ; May 3, 1883, Mound Valley ; May 7, 1884, Altamont; May 21, 1885, Labette ; May 12, 1886, Altamont ; Oct. 5, 1887, Mound Valley ; Jan. 3, 1889, Edna; March 17, 1891, Oswego; Feb. 29, 1892, Mound Val- ley ; Dec. 13, 1892, Chetopa. Presidents : March 21, 1872, to Oct. 22, 1873, I. W. Patrick; 1873-77, Nelson Case; 1877-79, Rev. F. L. Walker; 1879, D. G. Brown; 1880, Rev. R. M. Scott; 1881-83, Rev. C. H. McCreery ; 1883-86, J. M. Cavaness ; 1886, Rev. J. B. Ford ; 1887-SS, J. H. Elmore ; 1889, John Slaughter; 1890-92, F. L. Schaub; 1892-93, Agnes Baty. Secretaries : 1872, C. S. Montague; 1872-73, Rev. J. H. Metier ; 1873-77, C. Humble; 1877, Nelson Case ; 1878, L. J. Van Landingham ; 1879, G. K. Sipple ; 1880-85, Charles T. Carpenter ; 1885-87, William Paramore ; 1887-88, Hattie Beggs; 1889-92, Agnes Baty : 1892-93, Nellie Harrison.
TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATIONS.
Before even the county association had been formed, the Sunday- school workers in Oswego met on September 26, 1869, and formed a local organization, of which Nelson Case was elected president. This was the first association organized in the county, After the formation of the
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
county association, the cities organized or reorganized their associations on a basis uniform with the township associations. At the annual con- vention of the county association in October, 1875, it was resolved to try and secure the organization of the several townships as fast as possible, and within the next two years an organization was effected in each town- ship and city in the county. Many of these associations, however, were short-lived. Their original organization was the result of visits and work by one or more of the officers of the county association, and when these visits ceased most of the township associations ceased to hold meetings. Two or three townships have maintained their organizations, and have regularly held conventions, among them North and Osage ; and in all of the townships quite an amount of local work has been done.
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
A few families holding the belief of this denomination early settled in Osage township, and soon commenced to hold meetings in private houses, occasionally going to the different school-houses to hold their services. About 1880 they bought from the Christians the church building the latter had erected on section 26, in which they have since continued to hold meetings. In the fall of 1869 John Madison commenced preaching in William Logan's log house on section 9, in Fairview township, and ever since that time they have maintained regular services in the Stover school-house. J. H. Cook, H. C. Blanchard and L. D. Santee have been among those who have preached at this point. For some ten years past services have been held with a good deal of regularity in the southwest part of the county : Valeda is now the center of that work. Services are held occasionally at Chetopa, Parsons, Oswego, and probably other points.
CHURCH OF GOD.
Zion Hill .- This church was organized in the fall of 1883, by Mrs. Clara Utsey, with 15 members. Services were conducted by her in the Stover school-house until the completion of their church building. The church was erected in the fall of 1884, on the northwest corner of section 10, in Fairview township. Besides Mrs. Utsey, Rev. Mr. Barterbaugh and Rev. Mr. Cross have preached for this congregation. It has for some time been without a pastor.
Center Bethel was organized about the same time as Zion Hill. A church house was erected in the spring of 1884, on the northwest corner of section 21, in Liberty township. The same ministers who have sup- plied Zion Hill have also preached for this congregation.
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
Janes .- An organization of this church was effected at the Janes school- house, in District No. 95, in the fall of 1884. It has had the same minis- ters as Zion Hill church.
MORMONS, OR LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
Quite a number of this persuasion were among the first settlers along Pumpkin creek, in the southern part of Mound Valley and Canada town- ships. Among those who were prominent were the families of Hart, Richard and Benjamin Davis, Phineas and Charles Fultz. There were several among them who were recognized as preachers. Services were held from house to house quite regularly. When the school-house was built, in 1877, in District No. 94, they organized, and removed their ser- vices to that place, where they have since been regularly continued.
UNIVERSALISTS.
In January, 1883, an organization of this denomination was effected at the home of Rev. J. Davis, in Oswego. Meetings were conducted in the court-house, and part of the time in Liggett's Hall. Rev. J. Davis was elected pastor, and continued to serve as such till about the middle of April, 1885, when the organization was practically disbanded. Services were not maintained regularly, however, during all of that time.
BROTHERHOOD OF HUMANITARIANS.
January 13, 1884, an organization taking this title was formed in Lig- gett's Hall, in Oswego, as follows: Mrs. E. Smith, president; Mrs. I. C. Pierce, vice-president ; Mrs. M. A. Hurlbut, secretary ; Dr. R. W. Wright, treasurer. I do not know to what extent they maintained meetings.
THE SALVATION CHURCH OF CHRIST
Was formed by Thomas D. Bickham as a new religious organization, in Chautauqua county, in 1880, and the following year a class was organized at Rose Hill school-house, in District No. 91, which has been maintained since then. This is the only class in the county belonging to this organ- ization. Since the death of Thomas D. Bickham, in 1889, his son, Ezra E. Bickham, has been the leading spirit in this church.
NEOSHO VALLEY CHURCH.
The southwest corner of section 33, township 32, range 21, was deeded to F. Swanwick and Randall Bagby, for the use of all religious denomi- nations. The neighbors contributed work and logs, and in January, 1870, a log church was erected upon this ground, and a cemetery was also started thereon. Nearly all denominations at one time or another held services here : possibly the preachers of the Methodist Church South used it as much as any other. The building was used for both school and church purposes until the new school-house was built in District 24, after which the building was torn down. The burying-ground is still used.
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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
CHURCH OF WILSONTON.
This church professed to be organized on the plan of the old apostles, of having one church in a place. The first meeting looking toward its organization was held October 27, 1889, in the hall at Wilsonton. Rev. George E. Thrall was elected chairman and Mrs. Ella B. Wilson secre- tary. A constitution was adopted and officers elected.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Chetopa .- Father Schoenmaker and other priests had visited along the Neosho as soon as settlers had commenced to arrive, and had done con- siderable religious work ; but no church was organized by them till 1871. On July 16, 1871, Father Dougherty took charge of the work, and began holding services in Drake's Hall. A building was erected, and on May 31, 1874, dedicated by Rev. E. Bononcini, pastor, and Rev. F. Swemberg, of Emporia. Father Bononcini had charge of the work for some time prior to December, 1880, when he was succeeded by C. Haspenthal.
Oswego .- Priests from neighboring parishes visited Oswego from time to time and held services. In 1878, largely through the instrumentality of F. Beyle, a building was erected, which was dedicated October 13th of that year, by Rev. Paul M. Ponziglioni. A priest has supplied this in connection with other points.
Parsons .- St. Patrick's congregation was organized by Father Philip G. Calloten, in the summer of 1872, and lots 1 and 2 in block 122 were secured on which to commence the erection of a frame church. In De- cember, 1876, he was succeeded by Father Joseph Dreason, who served till August, 1881, when Father Rose took charge. Under his direction the property at the head of Central avenue was secured and converted into a convent. Five sisters from St. Agnes convent at Osage Mission were secured to conduct the school. Changes were also made in the church building and grounds. Fathers Hodgden, Reil, and Ward, the latter now in charge, have been successors of Father Rose. Under the management of Father Ward work has commenced on a large new cathe- dral, which will be a fine building when completed.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
Oswego .- In 1870, and for a year or two thereafter, Episcopal services were held now and then at Oswego, and some steps were taken towards organizing a parish. If it was accomplished at all, it did not live long nor show many signs of life.
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Chetopa .- During 1871 the Episcopalians held occasional services in some of the churches in Chetopa, and gathered together some strength that naturally tended to that body. In May, 1872, St. Paul's parish was formed, with Rev. Thomas L. Smith as rector. The church never devel- oped much strength.
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
Parsons .- St. John's Memorial Church was organized in June, 1874, as a memorial to Ezra Williams Howard, of Providence, R. I., whose widow, through Bishop Vail. gave $2,000 towards its erection. The first board of trustees consisted of Angell Matthewson, W. C. Holmes, J. R. Brown, James Barton, George Thornton, S. O. Fletcher, and Wil- liam Horsefall. Dr. J. B. Lamb was the first senior warden. Rev. Benjamin Mower was at once secured as the first rector, and he continued to act as such for something over a year. He immediately commenced raising money for the erection of a church. On Sunday, September 27, 1874, the corner-stone was laid, under the direction of the Masons and Odd Fellows, and on April 4, 1875, the church was opened by Bishop Vail. Prior to the completion of their own church they had held ser- vices in the Methodist tabernacle. Mr. Gay, D. W. Cox, Mr. Talbot, W. T. Bowen and C. W. Harris are among those who have served as rectors.
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