USA > Ohio > Butler County > Middletown > A history of the life and work of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, Ohio (Dayton Presbytery) from its foundation in 1819 to 1919 > Part 5
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During the World War forty-seven of our men and boys were enrolled in the service of our country. We were more fortunate than most churches and communities, as all but one came back to us. Raymond Alvin Pinkerton was called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. He died in France in July, 1918, as a result of wounds received in battle in Sois- sons. Nine of our younger boys were enrolled in the Stu- dents' Auxiliary Training Corps and were ready for the call had it been necessary. The members of our Church share with the other citizens of Middletown a most gratifying war record in all the activities of those trying times.
The close of the first century of its history finds our Church in all its various branches well organized and with bright prospects for a most successful future. Our heritage is a noble one. May we not fail it.
We have endeavored in this story to show the growth of our church during the years that have passed. There are many things that we would like to say but they cannot be said. A book would not hold the mere mention of the deeds of sacrifice and love that have been done and are still being done in this church in the service of the Master. Time, ef- fort and money have been given freely to the church and its different organizations. Some have taken a special interest in the Sunday School work, others in the Christian En- deavor Society, others in making the church and Sunday School rooms pleasing in appearance, comfortable and invit- ing. Time and space forbid further enumeration. That the words that have been written will increase our love for our church and our devotion to His cause and will encourage us to go forward to meet the new responsibilities that will arise, is the prayer of the writer.
THE SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
The following account of the organization and work of the Woman's Missionary Society was prepared by Mrs. Car- rie Thomas Woodward, President of the Society.
66 "A ND on the Sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spake unto the women that were come together.
"And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things that were spoken by Paul."
This meeting of Paul with the women of Philippi by the river side occurred almost two thousand years ago, and yet in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-nine the desire to spread the Gospel was deep in the hearts of the women of the Presbyterian Church of Middletown. The command of Christ, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every living creature," had not been heard in vain, and had influenced our women to take an active stand for missions.
Previous to 1879 the church had been developing its own organization, yet missionary offerings had been collected by the women, the contributions passing through the channels of the church into its missionary work. About this time a new pastor, Rev. Thomas H. Hench, was called to the Pres- byterian Church. Mrs. Hench, being interested in mission- ary work, spoke to Mrs. Charles Margerum and drew her at- tention to the fact that she was interested in the missionary cause. Mrs. Margerum was somewhat surprised, as it was a latent interest of which she was not aware; and let it be said here, Mrs. Hench showed wisdom, as Mrs. Margerum has proved to be a worker along this line from then until the present time.
Mrs. Hench drew together Mrs. Charles Margerum, Mrs. William Reed, Mrs. John Hill, Mrs. Montgomery Patton, Mrs. Irene Dickey and Miss Jennie Marston, and the first Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church of Middle- town was organized by these women. Mrs. Hench was the
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first President. The meetings of this new society were held in the evenings four times a year and called Missionary Teas.
Almost all of the original members of that first organiza- tion have passed on before, and a record of the early church work done for missions is not extant in this world. Let us hope that a work humbly begun in His name has been far more reaching in its results than we can realize and that the words "Well done, good and faithful servant" may be spoken to those early organizers of our Missionary Society.
It is to be regretted that there are not early records to assist the historian in giving definite detail of the mission - ary work. It would be interesting could the work done un- der each pastorate be recorded, but there being no data from which to draw, we have depended on the memory of some of the women of the church.
In eighteen hundred and eighty-two, while Mrs. Hench was still President, our society, although but three years old, had grown to such strength that the Dayton Presbyterial was entertained by it at the annual meeting held in Middle- town.
About eighteen hundred and eighty-five Miss Jennie Marston became President and served in that capacity until her marriage to Mr. W. C. Beale, of Westerville. She was an excellent worker, doing a great deal for the missionary cause and working actively up to the very day of her mar- riage.
Dr. S. F. Hershey was at this time pastor of the church. After Miss Jennie Marston's marriage Mrs. Charles Mar- gerum, being Vice President, succeeded to the presidency.
About this time Rev. J. S. Simonton was called to the pastorate and he advised a change in all the organizations of the church. The Missionary Society, the Ladies' Aid So- ciety and other societies were made merely departments, each department having its own chairman, while over all the departments was a General President, Secretary and Treas- urer. The societies thus merged did not prove to be a suc- cess, and between the time that Mr. Simonton left and Rev. G. W. McCampbell took up his pastorate the societies of the church resumed their former plan of organization.
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The numbers attending the Missionary Society at this time were very small, and after the arrival of Mr. McCamp- bell two of our ladies, Mrs. Charles Margerum, President, and Mrs. Morris Renick, Secretary-Treasurer, having the interest of the society at heart, and feeling greatly discour- aged over the lack of interest shown, carried their burden to the new pastor. Mr. McCampbell suggested that they adopt the envelope system, thus securing both members and means to support the cause. He also advised monthly instead of quarterly meetings.
Mrs. Margerum and Mrs. Renick stood at the top of the high flight of stone steps that led into the old church and as the ladies entered Sunday morning they were handed en- velopes for the Missionary Society. All our ladies accepted them, thus establishing their membership in the Missionary Society.
Miss Letitia McCampbell, daughter of our pastor, hav- ing been accepted by the Foreign Missionary Board of New York, was making her home here with her father until de- parture for her work in the foreign fields. The interest in our society had increased with our membership and more frequent meetings. Miss McCampbell's arrival added a new interest, and since she was soon starting to assume her mis- sionary work in Teheran, Persia, it was suggested that the Missionary Society furnish her wardrobe. Money was so- licited, material purchased, and the time was set for sewing, at which gathered old and young in large numbers. This was the beginning of the annual sewing days which still continue. Mrs. Thornton was President at this time.
During Dr. Scott's ministry, Mrs. Scott being deeply in- terested in missionary work, our society prospered and large numbers attended the meetings.
Mrs. Thornton at this time was honored by being ap- pointed District President. Her daughter, Nellie, was ap- pointed Secretary of Literature of the Dayton Presbyterial. In 1909 Miss Thornton resigned from this position and a tribute was paid to her fine work by the Dayton Presbyterial. Both Mrs. Thornton and Nellie were workers faithfully help- ing spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
About this time we began holding the meetings in the
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homes. Mrs. Geo. Jacoby was President. An editor was ap- pointed who prepared a budget of news for each meeting. An increased interest and attendance were noticeable, so much so that both Dayton and Hamilton sent a delegation to investigate the cause of such marked interest that they might profit by our experience. At the Troy Presbyterial meeting in 1908 our society was mentioned as ranking sec- ond in increased membership.
During the ten years that Mr. and Mrs. Shields were with us they were actively interested in the work and the progress of the society, and it was through the efforts of Mr. Shields that the church helped support Mr. Street, a mission- ary in China, and later Mr. J. D. Flemming, a missionary in india. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shields attended the society, both being well qualified to help advance the interest in the meet- ings.
Alfred Moore, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Mars- ton, through the influence of Mr. Shields, entered Wooster College. He became interested in missionary work and for a short time went into the West as a Home Missionary. After his graduation in 1911 he went to India as an Evan- gelistic Missionary. While he did not take up this work in the Middletown Church, but under our Presbyterian Board, we feel a personal interest in him and have remembered him in some of our missionary work.
On May 30, 1910, it is recorded that a committee was appointed to write a letter of appreciation of Mrs. Shields from our society to the ladies of the Hillsboro Church with which Mr. and Mrs. Shields were then identified.
In the closing year of Mr. Shields' pastorate we were ap .. portioned as follows :
General Home Fund $25.00
Cortland, Ky. 5.00
Puria and Papago Indians 25.00
Sitka Equipment 2.00
Foreigners in United States 19.00
Laura Sunderland School 50.00
General Freedmen 2.00
Mrs. Carr (colored) 15.00
Danville Industrial Teacher 1.00
Freedmen Special
15.00
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General Foreign 17.00
Mrs. Carleton 30.00 Lahore Station 10.00
Lodiana 10.00
Contingent Tax 5.00
Rev. David Garrett Smith and his wife became identified with our church in 1910 and Mrs. Smith at once took her place in the Missionary Society as an earnest, efficient worker.
In 1913 the great flood swept down over the Miami Val- ley doing damage to our church and manse and leaving death and destruction in its wake. It was after the church was re- paired and the manse had been converted into the Westmin- ster House that the Missionary meetings were held in the parlors of the Westminster House in place of the homes.
Mrs. Smith often added to the interest of the meeting by lending her soprano voice in a devotional solo. Although coming from the East, she soon so closely identified herself with the interests of this locality that she had conferred on her the great honor of being appointed President of the Day- ton Presbyterial, where she was held in such high esteem that others hesitated to accept the appointment after her resignation, made necessary by Mr. Smith's war work with the Y. M. C. A. Mrs. Smith's efficient work in our local so- ciety and as President of the Dayton Presbyterial proved that she was equal to a business position during the war, when efficient women were so much needed, and such a posi- tion was offered to her at the Presbyterian Headquarters, New York City, which place she faithfully filled until Mr. Smith's return some months after the armistice.
In the fall of 1915 at the Executive Meeting of the Day- ton Presbyterial, Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick was appointed Synodical Promoter of the School of Missions of Wooster, Ohio.
Mrs. Homer Long, of this Society, has for the last two years been Secretary of Educational Work in the Dayton Presbyterial and has filled this office with much credit.
In the year 1918 and 1919, the first year of Mr. Brinke- ma's pastorate and Mrs. Brinkema's identification with the Missionary Society, the terrible scourge of influenza swept the country. Schools and churches were closed and the Mis- sionary Society felt the depressing influence.
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The missionary circles in different parts of the town, which were introduced into the working program of the Missionary Society by Mrs. David Garrett Smith and Mrs. Homer Long, proved helpful, and this year, 1919, Mrs. D. D. Lefferson, our competent and faithful treasurer, who has filled this office for fifteen years, was assisted by the circles in collecting our apportionment, which had been increased by the war, the urgent need of our Missionaries and the greater work to be undertaken here in our own country, known as the New Era Movement and the Golden Jubilee.
The work of our society has followed the lines laid down by our Missionary Board to a great extent, the society feel- ing that it is quite important to meet its obligations in every way. We have sometimes added to that work when interest or sympathy drew us toward some special object.
We have shown some civic as well as charitable interest in sewing for the needy of our town and the children in the Home at Hamilton.
Boxes and barrels have been sent long distances and these gifts were often the means of establishing an interest be- tween people who were not acquainted but were friends in the household of faith.
The following report of the Treasurer, accepted in Jan- uary, 1919, shows a marked increase over that of 1910 :
Amount of money received for year :
By envelopes
$263.00
Mite boxes
105.00
Special campaign
119.00
Total amount received 487.00
Dispersed as follows :
Paid to Board of Home Missions 275.00
Home War Special 42.00
Paid to Board for Foreign Missions. . 111.00
War Emergency 34.00
Total for Missions 462.00
Contingent Tax 7.00
Thank offering 10.00
Grand Total
479.00
Balance in Treasury $ 8.00
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We had 102 contributing members, 17 more than last year. We also gave to Rev. Alfred Moore, $10.00.
The gifts to the Lord's work seem small indeed, espe- cially when we compare them with money spent lavishly in other directions. But since faith as a mustard seed may grow to huge proportions, so may seed humbly sown for Our Father in heaven be increased by His loving care until the seed becomes a sheaf, and the words to His faithful fol- lowers, down through the one hundred years and even unto the end of time, may be, "Well done, good and faithful ser- vant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many."
Mrs. H. H. Goldman and Mrs. E. W. Gunckel prepared the following account of the organization and work of The Woman's Society of the Church. Mrs. Goldman is President and Mrs. Gunckel is Secretary of this Society at the present time.
T HE first records we have of any organization among the women of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown date back in the annals of the Church when the church building was located on South Broadway about where the Lutheran parsonage now stands. It was then the aim of' The Woman's Society, as it is now, to devise ways and means for promoting the mission activities of the Church, to attend the poor, to provide for any social entertainment to be held and to help in the upkeep of the church, Sunday School and manse, whenever duty made the call. In those early days it was, to be sure, only a small band of women who met to- gether to perform these many duties, but they were always found faithful to the work before them.
In 1875, while the late Rev. Joseph W. Clokey was the pastor, the society as then existing was reorganized and was named "The Ladies' Guild." The organization was known by this name until during the pastorate of Rev. George M. McCampbell, when a motion was carried to the effect "that the society change the name to a more digni- fied one," and from that time it has been known as "The Woman's Society."
Through all the years the ladies of this society have
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worked diligently, in summer and in winter, giving fairs, art loans, festivals, dinners, socials and various forms of entertainments in order to make money to carry on the im- portant work before them and to maintain a social atmos- phere in the Church. Several ladies have made liberal dona- tions to the society and have in this way aided very mate- rially. As each year came around the demands were greater. The ladies of the church from an early date have been in charge of the interior decorations of the church and the Sun- day School rooms and have provided all linen, silver and china and have equipped the kitchen with all furnishings and necessary articles. The Woman's Society now has the above matters of business to look after, not only in the church itself, but also in the Westminster House, which was formerly the manse, and in the new manse on Yankee Road. After the flood of 1913 it became necessary to refurnish the church and manse and the burdens were heavy for a time. The late war also made great demands, but the ladies were never found wanting, and during these trying times the so- ciety did much work for the Red Cross as well as kept up its usual work for the Middletown Hospital, the County Chil- dren's Home and for the sick and needy in our own town.
It seems only fitting that we should mention that Mrs. Charles S. Barnitz was the first President of The Woman's Society after it was regularly organized and that she held that office for many years. From some records kept by Mrs. Barnitz, together with the minutes of the society, it is possi- ble to make up almost a complete list of the ladies who have served as President of the Society since 1860. Following is the list of names of those who have been honored by being given the privilege of serving in this capacity since that date :
Mrs. David Mumma, Mrs. Mary Furman, Mrs. Peter Butler, Mrs. Stephan Brown, Mrs. J. B. Morton, Mrs. Joseph Hilt, Mrs. Eliza Wampler, Mrs. Thos. Wilson, Mrs. Mary Hilt, Mrs. Alonzo Brown, Mrs. David Heaton, Mrs. Geo. Ja- coby, Sr., Mrs. Thomas A. Hench, Mrs. Thos. Wilson, Mrs. Chas. B. Oglesby, Mrs. Geo. C. Jacoby, Mrs. E. L. McCallay, Mrs. J. M. Iseminger, Mrs. W. H. Todhunter, Mrs. May Renick, Mrs. Myrtle Stahl, Mrs. J. L. Roney, Mrs. C. E. Margerum, Mrs. R. L. McCoy, Mrs. O. F. Kendle, Mrs. Chas.
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Shartle, Mrs. Albert Pardonner, Mrs. F. W. Becker, Mrs. H. H. Goldman.
Mr. R. C. Phillips, who has been closely connected with the work of the men of the Church for several years, pre- pared the following paper on the Men's Organizations of the Church.
There are no records showing men's separate organiza- tions in the church prior to 1905, but it is a matter of history that there has always been a Men's Bible Class in the Sunday School. Many of the older members will recall Dr. J. L. Thornton's class, taught by him for many years preceding 1905. He was a very able, scholarly gentleman and knew the Bible thoroughly.
During the winter of 1905 the Men's Bible Class was re- organized with a very devoted and efficient corps of officers that soon built the class up to an attendance of between forty and fifty members regularly attending.
Bi-monthly meetings of a social character were held, but the main reason for the success of the class at that time was the splendid spiritual teaching of the leader of the class, Prof. Geo. G. Stahl-who knew his Bible and loved it, and who had a strong desire at all times to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ among men. For three years Prof. Stahl taught the class up until the time he left his position as Principal of the Middletown High School to go to the Chicago Univer- sity, where, after a service of one year, he passed on to the Higher Life. His memory remains with the members of the class as a delightful reminder of what one man can ac- complish by consecration and what ali may do by co-opera- tion.
Among the members who always were in attendance was Samuel Davis Long, a dear old man of near eighty years, who never missed a meeting, who became so infirm that he neither saw nor heard much of what was going on, but whose regular attendance and presence alone was an in- spiration.
The Men's Class grew in numbers until some definite plan of men's work in the Church outside of the Bible Class at- tendance was called into action by the organization of the
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Presbyterian Brotherhood on January 24, 1907, following the National Convention at Indianapolis. At a meeting held in the dining rooms of the Church on that date, with sixty charter members present, Mr. R. C. Phillips was elected President. Following very soon after the Junior Brother- hood was organized with R. C. Todd as leader.
These two organizations grew until in 1909 the united membership was about two hundred and fifty, and the de- mand came for something more definite in the way of boys' work, and, through the generosity of some of the men in the class, the lower floor of the old Y. M. C. A. building, at Sec- ond and Broadway, was secured and a very successful year's work was inaugurated. It was a pretentious thing for a sin- gle church to attempt, but success crowned our efforts.
The Junior Brotherhood had as its President at this time Homer Edson, now of Washington, D. C. Other boys promi- nent in the work at this time were Harry Elwood, Wm. Hoover, Paul Ford, Paul Banker, Percival Johnson and about all the boys of the Sunday School between the ages of twelve and eighteen years.
During the year 1911 the boys published a very creditable monthly magazine, "The Fellow."
The Presbyterian Brotherhood about this time began to attract the attention of the other Protestant churches of Middletown, and in 1912 we turned over to the churches of Middletown the fruit of our five years of denominational work and opened the doors of the association to all the men and youth of our city of the Protestant faith, and the Pres- byterian Brotherhood Association became the Brotherhood Association of Middletown.
The purpose of the organization was at all times to be as helpful and as useful as possible to men and the youth of our city and all matters pertaining to the proper upbuilding, moral, social and educational, of the city.
The motto of the old organization was as follows: "I ex- pect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness that I can show or any good thing that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not neglect it or defer it for I shall not pass this way again."
In February, 1917, the Brotherhood Association was
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merged in the present Y. M. C. A., with the first President of the old Presbyterian Brotherhood Association as Chair- man of the Board.
The men of our church may always look back on the years intervening between 1907 and 1912 as very profitable, fruit- ful years.
During the spring of 1919 The Westminster Club, a sep- arate men's organization in our Church, was effected, with the co-operation of the present pastor, Rev. Bernard J. Brinkema. Calvin W. Verity was chosen President, John T. Williamson, Secretary ,and Paul D. Silveus, Treasurer. The Westminster Club hopes to continue and extend the works of the old Presbyterian Brotherhood, and cordially invites every man in the Church to become a member of this organization and do his part in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the men of Middletown.
The following brief account of the Sunday School is sub- mitted by the History Committee.
The Sunday School has very properly been called the "Church in action." It is the source from which comes the inspiration for much of our Church work and the recruit- ing field for "Soldiers of the Cross." Since this is true we re- gret that we cannot give a connected history of our Sunday School from its foundation to the present day, showing its growth and naming those who in years gone by have labored and sacrificed for its welfare. The records kept by the Sun- day School in the past consist only of the attendance, collec- tion and like statistical information. Although these num- bers are interesting, yet they do not indicate the real work of the Sunday School, for figures are, after all, so meaning- less, especially when applied to spiritual work. There has been given in the story of our Church those facts concerning the Sunday School of which note was made in the records of the Session and of the Congregational meetings. In the Church Organization has been printed the present officers and teachers of the various departments and classes of the Sunday School.
However, it seems fitting that something more be said of those men and women who labored so zealously and consci-
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entiously in our Sunday School in past years, even if we must rely on memory alone and cannot name all who deserve recognition.
Among the Superintendents of the School of an earlier day were Horace P. Clough, Alexander Hill, Sr., and James Hill, all of whom were men of firm religious convictions and whose lives had a permanent influence on the boys and girls of their day. Their efforts in behalf of the School were very successful. At a later date Mr. Murray Schenck was for several years the Superintendent. He put into the work the vigor of his young manhood and succeeded in building up the School. Mr. Schenck is now living at Artesia, New Mex- ico. In his work in our School some of his able assistants were Miss Jennie Marston, Assistant Superintendent, Mr. J. K. Thomas, Musical Director, and Mrs. Irene Dickey, Or- ganist. In a Church Bulletin, published at that time, 1887, mention is made of the death of Miss Nellie Gardner, and it was said of her that in the eleven years during which she had been a teacher in the Sunday School, she had never re- mained away from the School without providing a teacher for her class or sending a note explaining her absence, and that when one of her class was absent for two successive Sundays she never failed to visit that member to find out the reason for the absence and to endeavor to get him back into the class.
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