USA > Missouri > St Charles County > New Melle > Historical document : the Peniel Methodist Church, New Melle, Missouri, 1869-1960 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
In 'the old days' The Methodist Publishing House sent to Sunday school superintendents a small pocket notebook. Only Sunday dates were given in these books. On the Sundays when services were held the report would be recorded in this way ---- envelopes loose total
Paid above amount to Rev date and then the initials, of the treasurer For August 7, 1949, we found this notation: 'No collection. Only one present beside the minister and wife. 1 May 2, 1948 (Rural Life Sunday), this comment was made : ' Had no services on May 2, as Rev. Kiker got his time mixed up with Day Light Saving Time. " September 5, 1948, carried this notation: 'No services on September 5. Rev. Kiker was not able and had gone on vacation. " ..... Old receipts were found too from Central Wesleyan Orphans' Home, bearing the signatures of saintly men long gone to glory land.
There also were a few 'Waisensache' -- in which offerings were placed. Sometimes a small sum of money was loaned by a member to a student- preacher. A note (receipt ) on Central Wesleyan College stationery, dated December 31, 1918 was written as follows : 'Received from E.K. the sum of $17.00 as a loan, to be repaid at the earliest possible moment. Signed, E.S., Minister
German Methodist Episcopal Church, New Melle, Missouri
SOME RANDOM NOTES FROM OUR RESEARCH: There may be errors in these statements-if there are, you will please forgive us. They were not in- tentional.
---- The first confirmands were Alvina Hackman (mother of Mrs. Victor Heuman) and Frank Sudbrock, according to Mrs. Victor Heuman, nee Broeker. Her grand-parents Mr.& Mrs. Hohn H. Hackman came from St. Louis and settled three miles" cast of New Melle. Since , they were driving six miles one way to Cappeln to attend services, they sent a request to The Evangelical Synod for a minister in Now Melle promise- ing $400.00 salary and free living. The Synod refused the request. They then appealed to the German Methodist Episcopal Conference whok sent preachers from Warrenton, Missouri, We have made comments earlier in our document about this appeal.
-- The bricks for the church building were made in Now Molle by Sam Stalhuth. Tho bricks cost $1,700.00%
---- An 1885 History of St. Charlos County states that the congregation organized in 1871 with the following as charter members : was Honry Hackman Joseph Gieseman
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Joseph Sudbrock Joseph Reiske Henry Welker Present membership in 1885-
Frank Sudbrock William Nievey J.W. Karrenbrock -- 43 and 35 in Sunday School. "
----- The house in which Mro. , Bertha (David) Hommes lives is the old parsonage which was sold to, her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Dickman, in 1918 (NOTE: The dates below the pictures should be changed to 1918.) -- The fold church' was standing in Mrs. Hommes present garden plot when her parents came to New Melle This was in the year 1890. and Mrs Hommes remembers seeing the old church building; it was small and' was no longer used by the congregation. In fact, the 'Brick Church! had been in use 12 years.
---- The wash-house used by Mrs. Hommes was the old German School Building used by the congregation for the instruction of the children. There are persons still living who went to school in that building. - In "the school days" it stood on the little hill just North of the Cemetery. Though small it served its purpose well. Its fine walnut timbers inside still bear the initials and names carved by the school children. Mrs. Hommes states that when she came to New Melle the "brick church was up and used by a large congregation."
---- According to Henry J.Aulbert, his father John H. Aulbert, born September 1, 1871, was the first infant baptized in the Methodist. building on October 6, 1871 by Reverend William Fros-g-ner. (Sp. ) Henry gave us the following statement: "Dad told me he was the first infant baptized in the new Methodist Church of New Melle, Missouri .;
STATISTICS OF NEW MELLE CHURCH AS TAKEN FROM OLD . CONFERENCE MINUTES by The Reverend Oscar Kettelkamp of Warrenton, February 1960:
Year : Pastor: Ch. Mom. ; S.S. Enrll ; Min. . Suppt. ; Givet for Given for & off.& T. Includos D. Missions; Conf." Claimants Proba .. S. & Bishops.
1875 -- J.H.Asling
38
43"
350
17.05
1876 .H. Hankemeyer 64
101
450
16.05
-189 ?-- Wm. Schmidt 70
54
381
1893 -- Wm . Schmidt
61
48 .
A
308
4.00
4.00
1894 -- David Froesch
le66
52 !
458
30.00
5.00
1095-David Froesch
le 65
65
428
29.00
6.00
1896-Hy. Floreth
69
64
434
1 30.00
6.00
1897-Hy. Floreth.
68
64
433
23.00
5.00
1898-Hy. Floreth
70
74.
398
20.00
5.00
1899-Hy Floreth
66
.74
368
19.00
5.00
1901-Chas. Neumeyer
60
25
329
23.00
2.00
1902-Chas Neumeyer
50
20
331
18.00
2.00
1904-L.W.Diederich
56
36
328
23.00
2:00
1905-L.W.Diederich
57
34
329
31.00
3.00.
1906-R.D.Winker
57
36
329
12.00
3.00
1907-R.C. Lücke.
51
36
329
31.00;
2.00
1908-A.F.Daschler
57
36
329
28.00
4.00
1.
i
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Year : Pastor : Ch. Mem. ; S. S. Enrll. ; Min, Suppl. ; Given for- Given for Conf & off.& T. - includes D. Missions; Claimants'
Proba.
S,& Bishops;
7.00
1909-A. F. Daschler 51 31
331
40.00
10.00
1910-Phil Deschner 51 38
331
34.00
10.00
1911-Phil Deschner 57 42
51 48
306
22.00
5.00
1912-
47 .42
330
39.00
20.00
1913-F.Munz
1915-G. H. Woestemeyer 57
45
331
43.00
It. was Friederick Munz, mentioned above, who wrote the following re- port -- Probably in 1913 --- he may have written it in 1912.
"REPORT OF' PREACHER IN CHARGE ( NEW MELLE)
"In compliance with the request f Brother Piehker, the District Superintendent, I undertook the oversight of this charge. It has been possible for mo up to now to visit New Melle three times. I always 'en- joyed myself and the trips were both enjoyable and blessed experiences. Instruction of the children was begun at the outset and about eighteen" scholars are participating each Sunday. Three of these children will be examined and received into full membership on Easter Sunday. I shall also advise that two others be received without public examination as soon as possible, because they are hardly able to pass the examination, but are otherwise prepared for full membership. Roception into church membership after all is not dependent upon public examination but rather upon the sincere desire to serve God and become a Christian person.
"The . Epworth- League also has had anothor public service and spent a pleasant ovening. I advise the good Brethren to have another such service soon after Christmas and thus help the young people keep the Epworth Loaguo alive. The choir has also been revived and with the . help of Brother Paustian rendered beautiful service at the Christmas festival.
"It is hardly possible for me to arrange to have the same Brethren to come, regularly since evory one has so much school work to do. As for myself, I can hardly risk coming out in cold weather because. I am so easily bothered with rheumatism, and I do not dare to permit my school work. to suffer under this arrangement. But up to now it has been -| possible to supply tho pulpit adequately. .
"As regards Pastor's salary, nono has come in during the quarter. Up to now I havo paid out of my own pockot tho following Brethren $2.00 each to help dofray their exponsos: Wolfe $2.00; Helmers $2.00; Lotz $2.00; Woestemoyor $2.00; Paustian $2.00; Knehans $2.00; a total of $12.00. It would please me vory much if the brethren wero to make pro- vision so that I could rogularly pay the Brothron their expenses.
"On November 17, I baptized Edward William, child of Br. William Geldner. Brothor Elger officiated at the funoral service for the son of Sister Blumhof. .-
1.
328
37.00
.
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Arrangements have been made to have the Brethron Woestemoyor and Wolfe supply the pulpits the next Sundays. I am thankful to these Brethren for their willingness to go out and I hope that the membership @will be satisfied with theuarrangements'
"It was impossible for me to hold this Quarterly Conference since" had promised some months ago to conduct a Bible study for a Mennonite congregation in Ohio during the holiday season.
"Wishing you as blessed Quarterly Conference, and thanking Brother Elger for his service , I am i Respectfully Signed, Friederick Munz
Translated from the German in February 1960 by The Reverend Oscar Kettelkamp
Another report, unsigned and which apparently came from the same period in the history of the church, was also translated by Brother Kettelkamp. This is the report: and the year may have been 1913-1914
REPORT OF THE PREACHER IN CHARGE, AT THE FOURTH QUARTERLY CONFERENCE OF THE NEW MELLE CONGREGATION HELD ON JULY, 10:
"Dear Brethren: We are rapidly approaching the end of the year"
"We have had Sunday school every Sunday during the quarter, and each Sunday, with the exception of the last two, we have had religious in- struction. For several weeks we had school, but because of the rainy weather we were compelled to discontinue. Because of the excessive rain, folks got behind with their work, which made; the help of the children at home necessary. In this school we gave instruction in the catechism, Bible stories, roading, writing, and some German grammar There are about nine children enrolled in catechism. The average attendance at Sunday School Is about 26.
II. Since the last Quarterly Conference two have been received into church membership : Br. Ritter and Sister Anna Klausmeyer
III.I have called on every family and have been in most homes more than onco
'We havo had both morning and evening services hore each Sunday except when the Epworth League gave a program, in which case we had no evening. preaching service. Brother William Meyer, served here on May 2, and Bro Woestemeyer on May 16, With those exceptions I was here each Sunday
Beginning with the Conference Journal of 1914 wo have selected the following information from the Annual Conference reports:
1914-St. Louis District-G. H.Woestemayor, Pastor-Salary 300-total 3385 47 In Sunday school, 20 in Epworth League-Church valued at 2000 and a parsonage at 700. 3 1915-G. H. Woostomoyon, Pastor on a salary of 300 -- total contributions 338. Deficit 16. 39 in Sunday school; 57 members.
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1917 -- St. Louis District-no pastor named-salary claim 285-paid, 1495 doficit 136-total paid for ministerial support 177 Deficit 172 42 in S.S., average attendance 30. -- 56 members, 2000. church parsonage value 700; 35 total benevolence's
1918 -- P. Bocaschu was pastor on a claim of 285; rental value of par sonago 30. Total paid for all ministerial support 260 -- total "deficit 88. 51 members; S.S. enrollment 40" average, 30 15 for exponses.
1919- Erwin Schulz tho pastor on a salary of 285; total Min. support 299; deficit 50. 60 members; 65 onrolled in S. S. -- 35 for. current church oxponse's
1920 -- St. Louis District-H. E. Roose pastor on a salary of 456; total ministerial support 506, 59 members ; 44 in S.S. - 15 Junior League curront church oxponses 10; Disciplinary Benevolences 364 %total benevolences. 431.
1921 -- St. Louis District, W. O. Schulz pastor ona salary of 500, Conf Claimants 50, D.S. 30 -- total paid 558. Total deficit reported 29; 1 child baptized, 1 death -- 58 mombors -- 8 teachers-28 scholars-Il on cradle roll-total 47-expenses. 47.00
1922 -- W. O.Schulz pastor on a salary of 500-total mini support 552-30 deficit -- 60 members-total enrolled in S. S. 47- average 38- Icurrent expenses, 15- value of church 2600.
1923 -- Pelleville District, G. A. Priotz pastor on a salary of 500; total paid on min" support-deficit 26; 58 members; 49 s. S. - current exponso -40 S.S. expenses -- value : of church 2600.
1924 -- F.A. Schulze pastor on a salary of 500-total min. support pd. 565 deficit 45. 57 members; 55 in S. S. average 38-expenses 43- current expenses 40.
1927 -- Warrenton District-Oscar Bollman student pastor from OrW. C. on a salary of 500 -- pa. 444 1 infant baptized-50 active members -25 non-resident-total( 75; 45 S. S., average 25, 2500 value of church 900 other property-current expenses 15.00.
1928- Warrenton District, Oscar Bollman student pastor-pd. 350 on a claim of 500, total paid/min support 407, deficiency 21; 24 for W.S. - 86 total Ben. 1 baptism-1 received-50 members 43 in S. S 25 average, value of church 1000.
1929 -- Elmer Wood, student pastor-Warrenton District-paid 260 on a claim of 500. None for D. S. Bishops, Conference Claimants: 50 members; 43 in S. S. - 25 for expenses.
1930 -- Warrenton District-Pastor not named-Claim on pastor's salary, 168-sem amt. pf . D. S. paid 25 on a claim of 17-139 total, pd deficit 39. -- 50 members-42 resident, 8 'non-resident. No report on S. S. etc.
1931 -- Warrenton District -- H, L. Janvrin, student pastor; pd. 225; def . 31. 6 pd. on a conference claim of 40. 50 members. I Bldg. value 7.000; no S.S. report etc.
1935-Kirksville District- J. Allan Webb Pastor-Wright City Circuit no separate report, 1936 -- Kirksville District, Wright City & New Melle-J . Allan Webb- no separate report.
1937-Wright City & New Melle; J. Allan Webb, not separate.
1938-Wright City & Now Melle,Kirksville District-E. C. Morgan, Pastor no separate report.
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1939 -- Kirksville District, J.L. Nickerson, Pastor, Wright City and; Now Melle, no separate report.
1939 -- UNIFICATION -- Kirksville District, Methodist Episcopal Church, Wright City & New Melle, J. L. Nickerson, Pastor, No Sunday School; could not separate roports.
1940 -- Wright City & New Melle, J. L. Nickorson, no separate report. 1941 -- -? 1
1942 -- Wright City &
1 Now Melle -- J.W. Borah, pastor -- REPORTS SEPARATED --
! Began with 83 members-received 2 -- removed 22 -- ended with 63;
35 in S. S., average 20 -- Paid Pastor 340 -- total pd. 564. 1944 -- Wright City & New Melle -- 61 members-no change-3 infants bap- tizod -- 12 in S.S., average' 10; paid pastor 360 -- total paid 557. 1945 -- C.A.Waters, Pastor, Wright City, New Melle, and Market Street at Warrenton; 61 members, recd. P.F .-- total 62. 45 S.S. average 30; Paid Pastor . 360-total pd. 595.
1946 -- Wright City, New Melle and Market Street at Warrenton-C. A. Waters, pastor, 62 members -- none received-pd. pastor 360 -- total pd. 552.
. 1947 -- Meramec Circuit-J. H. Kern, Pastor -- Cedar Grove, Defianco, Fair View, Lewis Chapel, Mt. Olive and Now Melle. Began with 62, 1 by C.T. --- Removed by death & C.T .-- Ll -- total members 22.
(This is a significant year. )
Paid Pastor 360 -- total paid -- 663 -- 115 on Missouri Debt retirement. value of Property 5,000.
1948 -- Wright City Circuit -- R. J. Kiker, 22 members at beginning of yr. 1 C.F. 2 by. C. T. -- no baptisms-L deaths-closed with 21 members paid Pastor 360 -- total budget 523.
1949 -- (Another significant year ) -- Wright City Larger Parish -- Charles Miller in charge and serving Now Melle, O'Fallon, Shiloh, Smith Crock, Wentzville, Wright City, with Andrew Bullmer preaching at Defiance, Carlton Barton at Foristell, and Robert Mordt at Marthasville. Paid pastor 300 -- total budget 542. 21 members- 2 removals -- membership at 19-value of property 5000.
1950 -- Wentzville-Wright City Largor Parish, Now Melle, O'Fallon, Olney, Shiloh, Smith Creek with Charles Miller in charge --- and, Andrew Bullmor preaching at Dofianco, Carlton Barton at Foristell, and Robert Mordt at Market Street in Warrenton. Now Melle bogan the yoar with 19 mombers-2 removals, ended with 17 members. Salany paid 300 -- total budget at 535.
1951 -- Bellflower Circuit with Ted Matkin in charge -- included Bell- flower, Buell, Defiance, New Molle. Property value 5000; paid pastor 300 -- 50 to world service-total budget 502 -- 2 subscribers .to the Christian Advocate -- 17 members -- none received and none dismissed.
1952 -- Defiance and New Melle with Donald Dalton in charge -- 17 members 5 removals -- left 12-salary 300 -- total paid 426 -- 2 subscribers to the Christian Advocate.
1953 -- Reported 12 members-apparently no pastor-value at 5,000. AND THIS WAS .THE END.
1954 -- New Melle -- all "O" in the conference report -- all the way. 1955 -- New Melle blank.
1955 -- 1960 under Wentville Quarterly Conference for disposition of property.
1960 -- Ninety-one years of church history is brought to an end in. New Melle Methodism.
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We asked Andrew Bullmer for a report and an evaluation of the work at New Melle. In part this is his statement :"I served New Melle from Oct. 1948 to Oct. 1950. .. The Church at New Melle was not at all well attended and when Mrs. Edward Karrenbrock fell on the icy ground and fractured a bone in her hip early in 1950 it was just about enough to write 'finis' to the services there .. .For a while we had prayer and short dovotions in her home and then the services in the church, but it soon developed that our services in New Molle were limited to those held in the Karrenbrock home,,,,,,, Our report to Conference in Oct. ' 1950 was thus :--
Removed by death 1, Removed by transfer 1,' Total membership remaining 17; total monies raised $535.00.
"In Oct. 1950, The Larger Parish Plan was discontinued and the Rev. Ted Matkin was sent to Defiance and New Melle along with the churches
- in Bellflower and Buell, So far as I know he did not get the New Melle work beyond the devotional services held in the Karrenbrock home (Needless to say, Mr.& Mrs. Karrenbrock were the prime support of the) church. ) His report to conference that year was still 17 members Total monies raised $502.00.
"In Oct., 1951, Rov. Matkin was succocded by Donald Dalton and the circuit was changed to where he had Dofiance and Now Molle churchos . by themselves. I do not know the' dotails, of anything that transpired that year but in his roport to Conforonce he reported: Removed by
death 2, Removeu by transfer or otherwise 3, leaving a membership,of /12; and the monios raised that year $426.00.
"I' find no further roport from the later Conference Minutos and must concludo that the Peniel Methodist Church in Now, Melle was closed at the end of the Conference year October: 1952."
This statement was written on July 22, 1959, at his home -- 6018 Margaretta Ave., St. Louis 20, Missouri.
In the years 1904-1906 an important change was made in the church structure. We have not been able to find some of the resolutions in regard to these changes. We have, however, an old envelope bearing a two cont stamp and postmarkod November 3, 7 p.m. 1904. This envelope' was sent from The Cincinnati Bell Foundry Company to the Rev. L.W. Diederich, Pastor of The German Methodist Episcopal Church, New Melle Missouri. This onvelope contains a 5 year Warranty on a 42 inch
"Blymor Bell." This bell has a beautiful tone and is equippod for regular ringing and for tolling. .... We do not have any record of the. developments between the purchase of the bell and the building of the new towor. ... Tho boll must have boon installed in the old tower. Mr. Kettelkamp has translated for us 9 resolutions which were approved on' April 2, 1906. These are the resolutions :
"1. Resolvod: That we the mombers of the Quarterly Conference agree unanimously to rescind our action of March 18, 1906, favoring the re- pair of the church tower.
'2. Resolved: That instead wo have a now towor built.
"3. Rosolved : That the tower be built on the northeast corner of the church.
"4. Rosolvod: That a committee of three members be elected to supervise
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the building of the tower. "5. Resolved: That Richard Winker, G. W. Karenbrock, Sr., and K.J. Borgman constitube that committee --- They were elected.
."6. Resolved: That this committee have full authority as regards ways and means of building the tower with the best interests of the congree gation in mind.
"7. Resolved: that the interior of the church be papered and painted "8. Resolved that a committee of the Epworth League be named to over see the work of papering and painting.
"9. Resolved: That the President of the Epworth League shall name a. Committee of three to undertake the responsibility of supervising this interior decorations .:
We shall not try to reconcile these 2 dates -- 1904-1906. We simply shall say this --- We have been informed that William Brauckesieker and his sons, George and Henry, built the tower in 1904. Wo do not know how it. was financod.
We have been told by Paul Brockfeld of Truesdale, Mo. that somowhene; in the years 1914-1915 his father, his brother Rudolph , Paul, and a crew of men redecorated the church building. The wage scale was 15¢ an hour. Insido the church there are two paintings worked into the wall plaster. Mr. Brockfeld the oldor who was trained in Germany in all kinds of skillful plaster work, did these paintings which are still in a good state of repair. In the balcony there is a painting of CHRIST BEARING HIS CROSS. Back of the Pulpit is a painting of CHRIST ASCENDING INTO HEAVEN. This picture also shows four men and 2 women at the tomb, with Peter having a key. -
There are many things we would like to know about the history of The. New Mello Methodist Church. One that has puzzled us a great deal and for which wo do not yot have the answer is this- WHERE IS THE CORNER STONE? -
Several things interosted the congregation: catechism classes and - day school; revivals and camp meetings -- socials on the lawn and picnics on the Lutheran grounds.
The Now Molle Congregation was a singing people. In 1907 thore was : a choir of 14 voices, directed by Pastor Lucka who also was a bass ginger. The Pianist was Eliza Karronbrock. Other bass singers were George Karrenbrock, Ed. Karrenbrock, Frank Brauckesieker, Elmer Meyer. Tenor singers included Tato Karronbrock, Emil Holt and Bruno .. Meyer. Tho alto was carried by Magdalene Karrenbrock ( Mrs. ) and' Mrs. Emil Holt. Soprano singers wore Sarah Karronbrock, Lulu
Brauckesickor, and Lydia Brauckosioker. When . the old records and materials wore cleaned out of the building we found a great variety . of choir material in both the German and English language-all of it excellent in taste and appeal. -
In the year 1937 Miss Ida Schierbaum loft a bequest of one thousand dollars for the upkeep of The Methodist Cemetery. A meeting was call- ed on September 18,1937, to consider the management of this bequest.
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i
Charles H. Borgman was elected Chairman and Fred Hoefner was named Secretary. "After due consideration Edward Karrenbrock, Henry Koehler, and Charles Borgman were elected trustees of the fund.
This is the only minute on the cemetery fund we have been able to find to this date, March 18, 1960- -"New Melle, Missouri, October 16, 1937
"At a meeting held in The Methodist Church of New Melle, Missouri, the Rev. J. Allan Webb acted as temporary chairman and Fred Hoefner as secretary. .This meeting was called by a board of trustees , con- sisting of Edward Karrenbrock, Henry Koehler, and Charles Borgman who were elected at a previous meeting to draft a constitution and by- laws for a cemetery organization
"Attthis meeting it was decided to call it --- "The Peniel Cemetery Organization. '
"A constitution consisting of a preamble, eleven: articles, and eleven by-laws was adopted,
"According to this constitution the following officers were elected -- Charle Borgman, president, for a term of three years --- Edward Karrenbrock, vice-president, for a term of two years, and Fred Hoefner, secretary for a term of one year.
"Various matters were discussed and it was decided to repair the old fence around the cemetery with new cedar posts and some new boards.
"There being no other business the meeting adjourned. "Signed, Fred Hoefner, Secretary."
For an carlior date on cemetery work wo found this statement in a Quarterly Conference Minute for June 26, 1921:"A motion was passed that a new fence be built around the cometery -- the trustees to act as committee. "
An old account book shows that on November 9, 1937, Fred Hoefner deposited in The Wentzville State Bank the sum of $1,000.00 roceived from the estate of Ida Schierbaum.
On August 27, 1938, the first payment of $175.00 was paid to the Stewart Iron Works Company of Cincinnati , Ohio, with another payment of #436.03 made to the same firm on September 28, 1938. Then other payments followed in 1938-1939 for labor, cement, and paint. In the meantime $250.00 was loaned to. Oberdiek Bros. on Jan. 12, 1939. The note was paid in full with $4.20 in interest on May 13, 1939. On November 15, 1939, Walter Schmidt was paid $43.00 for hauling 43 tons of crushed rock. Twolve days later 0'Fallon Quarry was paid $54.95 for 43 and 1/10 tons of crushed rock at $1.25 per ton ... Arnold Dieckman was paid for painting the fence and Clemonoe Brakensiek and Pat Johnson received payment for digging a trench for the cemetery
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"rock walk."
A lawn mower was purchased from Schlueter and Vogler on September 14, 1940, for the sum of $5.50. Edwin Thiemann "cut the weeds and mowed the grass" in 1940, and part of 1941. August Meier received his first payment "for cutting weed and grass on cemetery," on July 23, 1941. Thereafter payments are made to him for the same kind of labor from time to time. A late payment was made to him on October 17,1953, for "cutting grass." Now the weeds are not mentioned. The sum was $28.46 and on November 3,1953, the treasurer of The Pentel Cemetery Fund wrote in his account book -- "no Balance." The next payment to August Meier of which we have found record was February 21, 1955 -- "for clean- ing cemetery." This was for $13.00.
CEMETERY ASSOCIATION MEETS: On Sunday afternoon, March 27, The New Melle Methodist Cemetery Association held a meeting in The Wentzville Methodist Church. The Board of Directors olected the following officers: President, Henry Aulbert; Vice-president, Roy Borgman; and, Secretary-treasurer, Irene Rickmers. Judge Webster Karrenbrock stated that the Charter had been received from the Secretary of State. By- la ws were adopted. Any interested adult may become a member of the association by paying the annual dues of $2.00. The annual meetings will be held the first Sunday in June each year. The local board of Trustees in charge of Methodist interests at New Melle cleared the bank balance of the old Freie Peniel Cemetery account and gave a check for the balance of $275.83 to Miss Rickmers. We are indebted to Mrs. Melva M. Mennemeier, Attorney at Law, and her secretary, Mrs. Eli Douglas, for courtesies granted in the preparation of a Quit-Claim deed which is recorded in St. Charles, Book 342, page 129. This was ro- corded on April 6 and on April 9, 1960, was put into the hands of Henry J. Aulbort. By this deed we surrender all interest and rights in said Cemetery to The New Melle Methodist Cemetery Association.
CONCLUSION: These words are being written on Thursday, afternoon, May 12, 1960. The final pages are being turned in the history of the New Molle Methodist Church} the last sentences remain to be written. The last legal procedures are now being followed to sell the church 'sl .n to the Louisiana Divisional Mission Board, Southorn Baptist Convention, ' for $1,000.00. A down payment has been mado of $100.00. As soon as the logal papers aro ready the final $900.00 will be paid, and our Baptist. friends will begin work in, the New Molle community. Presently we will also sign an agreement with Mr. A.W. Moollinger of Moallinger Electronics for the salo of the Church boll.
And thus we bring to an end the ninety-ono years of history for the Now Mello Methodist Church. Founded on March 31, 1869 its requiem will be sung in the summer of 1960. Blessed will be its memory among those who learnod to lovo God at its altar and hear'd His word pro- claimed from its pulpit. In the sanctuary of the Lord they sang his praises in two tongues; Their bodios have now returned to dust-but the faith lives in the hearts of their descendants. May tho hallowed walls of the old building take on new vibrancy and now boauty as now voicos take up the song of redemption which softly faded away on the lips of the dying. So may God grant pouco to all who love . His Church.
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