USA > Ohio > Lorain County > Lorain > History of the First Methodist Church, 1856-1956 > Part 11
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The dignity of their labor was often lost on us.
Church temperature too hot, church temperature too cold, drafts, dust in the corners, moths in the carpet smoke from the registers, snow not shoveled, shrubbery un trimmed, doors left un locked. Poor janitor had to have a thick skin to take all the blame.
In the line of progression, a house committee was appointed and many men and women have helped take over the responsibility of good housekeeping for the church. Many interviews and consultations were held to find the right man of good habits and plenty of energy. However, we still sing "The Church Kitchen Blues" and the caretaker is the friend we
need in adjusting this and that. To be sure the present day custodians do have the privilege of eating good dinners when the women are preparing a banquet, but we would not begrudge that slight in- crease in pay.
From boy to janitor to caretaker to custodian. The title changed as our financial status grew, I guess. Today there are more conveniences for the man of all work to use but the job still goes begging at times.
When the parsonage was next door to the church, the minister's sons, if he had some, were persuaded to look after the cleanliness and comfortableness of the church building. If the Markham boys, Grant and William or the Stroup boys, Philip and John, were here they could probably testify that cleanliness and godliness were not always following each other around.
Do we stop to get acquainted with the man who would gladly give up a dollar of his salary for a dime's worth of our consideration or a pat on the back?
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The Reeve Sisters
A DEFINITE CHILDREN'S worship center was the desire of two of our faithful church members, Misses Edna and Sarah Reeve. They were both teachers in Primary grades in our public schools and were noted for their excellency in teaching, not just routine work, but a way of living. They began their public school service soon after their graduation from high school. Miss Edna graduating in 1896 and Sarah in 1900. They labored long and effectively with the new foreign groups in this city.
They loved their work in day school and in Sunday School and the children who came under their care in Sunday School were given lasting im- pressions of the meaning of the altar and the cross. After setting up the children's worship center in the new church they worked together eleven years, 1928 - 1939. Miss Sarah's record of Sunday School teaching totals 48 years.
Miss Edna died in 1939. Miss Sarah is now (1956) on the retired list at Shield's Rest Home, Oberlin Ave., Lorain. We owe them many thanks.
Mrs. Caroline Ulrich Proctor, Mrs. Martha Coates and Mrs. Nellie Albaugh have carried on the work begun by the Reeve sisters, using the same altar and cross that they used. Mrs. Proctor has been of service in many positions in the church. She served so well in the choir.
Mrs. Coates sets a wonderful example in her quiet, efficient way. Beside being faithful to Sunday School work she has served as treasurer of the Women's Society for quite some time. Mrs. Albaugh is taking her leisure now after many years of service in Grace Church and First Church.
Mrs. Earl Morse is superintendent of Children's work and is tireless in her efforts to promote a definite attitude of worship among the children. Even through severe physical difficulties she has carried on.
When the children become old enough to attend and enjoy the regular church service, they will be able to appreciate and take part in our churchly procedures, even to the hymns.
How I Became a Deaconess
By EVELYN WEAVER
IN 1940 I felt a great need and urge to associate myself with the fellowship of the church. There were a few in particular who gave me that "belonging" feeling. The post graduate youth fellowship, quite small at the time singled me out for one of its depart. ment leaders. This gave me a sense of feeling my importance within the church.
Certain folks of the church challenged me to greater fields and greater thinking. They knew I enjoyed sports of all kinds, better perhaps, than anything else. La Donna Bogardus, deaconess of this church at that time, informed me that her alma mater, the National College for Christian Service in Kansas City, Missouri, would train me in recreational work with a more Christian emphasis.
At the college which I attended four years and received my diploma, I received not a career but a life, the life of living as a Christian which is the life of love, fellowship and service.
The year, 1945, was a great year for me-I was graduated from the college and was then commis- sioned deaconess in New York City. Before being commissioned, I filled out some 20 pages of appli-
cation blanks and appeared before a jurisdictional and a general board for approval.
On the night of commissioning service, in which some 25 foreign and home missionaries were also commissioned, I received my appointment. I was sent to Harwood Girl's School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Harwood school is a mission school under the Women's Society and is truly a mission field. It is a school, a boarding school, for children and youth who want more of a Christian emphasis to their education or who do not have the opportunity to attend any school. It is a standard school in its physical education.
In 1946-7, I attended the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California. There, I was conferred my Bachelor of Arts Degree. Now, I am returning to Harwood Girl's School to teach U. S. History, Civics and coordinate the physical education program.
My year, 1947-8, should be very challenging. I am looking forward with great delight in planting the seed of Christian love and service in a world of hate, jealousy and racial suicide.
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Praying Christians
Written in 1878 by Mrs. H. D. Root
I AT A PUBLIC MEETING long since, we heard it remarked that ten years ago (1868) there was not a Christian in town to pray with a dying man and we thought the person that made the remark had been misinformed, or did not know the past of the town.
If we remember 41 or 42 years ago there was a Baptist church organized here and there were per- sons in the church that claimed to be Christians and could pray.
Thirty or more years ago, the Presbyterians organ- ized a church and for a few years had a pastor, Father Betts.
After his death the Methodists formed a society 22 years ago this Winter (1856). They repaired the old church and occupied it until the new brick was built, some seven years ago, (1870-71).
Twenty two years ago Rev. Hard and Griffin held a meeting of some length at which 99 persons were converted and added to the society and many of those were grand examples of the saving power of Christ.
Of this number were the venerable Father Gillmore and wife whom all knew and loved, who have passed over the river of death. Mrs. W. A. Jones, Sr., also Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Silverthorne, Mrs. A. Bridge, Mrs. Adams and Mr. and Mrs. R. Osgood, who joined the society by letter.
It was at this meeting that Father Standen and wife were converted and he will tell you that he has been a praying man ever since, only too happy to be per- mitted to pray with the sick or dying.
Fourteen years ago, 1864, Rev. Z. A. Hughes held a meeting in the old church at which there were 40 more added and a goodly number remain today. In all these years of ups and downs, there never was a time when there was not earnest, praying people in Lorain.
Sister Jones lived a noble, praying life, ready always to visit and pray with the sick and dying and there were others who were known to be living, praying Christians, even when there was only one Protestant church in the place.
Mrs. Root's daughter, Mrs. Walter Goodell, added the following on April 6, 1924 -
I would like to give you a pen picture of a few of the people in the church in the late 70's that some
here can remember when we were children.
Father Standen, spoken of in the above article, stands out in our memory as a character never to be forgotten, was hard of hearing. He always sat on the platform in a big easy chair beside the pulpit so he could hear the sermons, leaning on his hands on his cane and what he lacked in hearing, he made up in seeing everything that went on, as Mr. Bowen can tell you when he told him to put his dog outdoors and we children got a hard look sometimes when we didn't behave, but for all that he was a good praying man.
J. J. Nichols and his good wife living out on the West shore where the Country Club is today were living examples of praying Christians. The good wife was kept at home a good deal but Mr. Nichols was always at his post in all kinds of weather and his children always went to church as three of them can tell you if they are here today.
T. R. King was another in those old days. We children thought his prayers oft times were too long. They always began - "this blessed even', as it were," -- didn't make any difference what time of day it was.
Another, Mrs. T. A. Burton, always a timid retiring person and when she made a prayer, it was very short but it was said of her the few words she did say went closer to the throne of God than lots of flowery, long drawn out prayers.
Mr. and Mrs. Vorwerk were also in those early days of church life.
Mrs. G. B. Carney who always made our Easter bonnets in her millinery store.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jones - faithful.
Also --
Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Gregg, Mr. and Mrs. Gorie Baldwin, Mrs. Thomas Gawn, Capt. Alexander Mc- Phail, Capt. and Mrs. R. J. Cowley, Capt. and Mrs. Thos. Wilford, Mr. and Mrs. T. R Bowen, Mrs. Lydia Jones.
Mr. Bowen came to Lorain in 1874, was one of the leading lights, always working, praying, giving. He gave his untiring devotion to the project of building the new church (1892).
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The Historical Committee
1839: The first organized body of Christian Wor- shipers in the village of Charleston, now Lorain, de- cided their church to be Presbyterian on May 8, 1839.
1856: The first Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Lorain. The Presbyterian Church at this time united with the more numerous Methodists in the organization of a Methodist Church.
1872: The erection of a new Methodist Episcopal Church on northwest corner of Washington and West Eries Ave., across from what is now Hotel Antlers. The membership now is 99.
1875: The Lorain Methodist Episcopal Church be- comes a station. Previous to this Lorain was a part of the North Amherst Circuit. Rev. A. P. Jones was the first pastor of the Lorain station.
1890: Membership has grown to 280 in the church, and 274 in the Bible School.
1892: The erection of a splendid new brick church on the corner of Reid Ave. and Sixth St. Rev. J. Frank Smith, pastor; H. C. Lindsey, Zanesville, O., architect, and Fred W. Pierce, Lorain, contractor.
1893: Dedication of the new church on Jan. 8, by Bishop Isaac W. Joyce. The trustees in charge were as follows: T. R. Bowen, Mark Jones, Thomas G. Chapman, W. B. Thompson, M. H. Lampman, Dr. A. N. Garver, George Wickens and Dr. C. W. Purcell.
1906: March 30, the present parsonage property was purchased from Frank Floding.
1923 : Sept. 18, Rev. C. B. Hess, D. D., the present pastor, was appointed to First Church.
1924: June 28, the church was destroyed by a tor- nado, the parsonage was seriously damaged, and a large section of our city was laid waste with injury and great loss to 75 percent or more of our membership.
1924: Dec. 15-22 Financial campaign in which $115,000 was pledged for the new church.
Sept. 21, 1925: Reclaimed cornerstone from the destroyed church laid the second time, resting in the northwest corner as lasting memorial to our pioneer Methodists.
Oct. 11, 1925: The cornerstone of the new church placed in the southwest corner by Bishop Theodore S. Henderson.
Dec. 5, 1926: Dedication of the new church by Bishop Theodore S. Henderson.
Sept. 18-24, 1926: Northeast Ohio Annual Confer. . ence.
Dec. 4, 1927: Pastorate of Rev. Elmer S. Smith, Ph.D., established the tradition of our annual Joash Chest for financial offerings.
May 10, 1939: The Methodist Church is the eccle- siastical and lawful successor of the three uniting churches, namely, the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the
Methodist Protestant Church. This reorganization effected every local church. The pastorate of Rev. Alva I. Cox brought this reorganization to First Church.
April 17, 1941: Purchase of parsonage, 1134 6th St., cost $8,500. Sale of old parsonage, $4,100.
Feb. 3, 1946: Dedication of Dodge Memorial Chapel by Bishop Raymond J. Wade. Rev. Charles F. Jones, minister. Gift of $2,000 from Mrs. C. P. Dodge.
Dec. 21, 1947: Dedication of Deagan Cathedral Chimes and their amplification. Donation of $3,000 by Mrs. C. P. Dodge.
Sept. 19, 1948: Burning of church mortgage. Rev. Charles F. Jones, minister.
Nov. 4-11, 1956: Centennial Celebration.
AT THE 4TH Quarterly Conference, May 6, 1946, the following members were appointed as an Historical Committee-
Mr. Frank Proctor, Chairman
Mrs. Mary Whitehouse
Mrs. Ralph Hurst
Mr. Ralph Hurst, appointed later
Miss Maude Johnson, Church Sec'y.
Miss Anna Vorwerk Rev. Charles F. Jones
There had been historical material collected pre- vious to this. Some of it was lost at the time of .the tornado.
The above committee started with what was available and collected much material of interest. Some of them went back in memory many years to recall the old way of doing things.
Mr. Proctor spent many hours going through piles of old newspapers at the Lorain Journal and Times Herald office and then arranged and wrote many articles. His sudden death, and the failing health of some of the older members of the committee put an end to historical business for a while. Dr. Green turn- ed the collected material over to Mrs. Edna White- house Ayres, one born into the church, as it were, and the research and writing was on its way again. Miss Catherine Gregg, a great, great, granddaughter of the church, was asked to assist in the writing and worked willingly and vigorously on her assignment.
Catherine and Edna have been dubbed the "nosey gals" many times but have gone on interviewing, digging, pieceing things together and have come up with words, words, words, hoping to create in your mind a picture of the ways things were done during our century of church growth and progress. If you are not completely satisfied with what you read, remember that is exactly our position also. If there is such a thing as a labor of love, this is it.
During her research, Mrs. Ayres discovered the
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ancient record of a law suit tried in the Lorain County common pleas court in 1885 in which leaders of the community gave their testimony and recollection as to early life in Lorain and the origin and beginning of the First Methodist Church in 1856.
Recollections of the witnesses went back into the era when Black River, as Lorain was then known, was but a fishing village on the edge of a swamp with building of wooden ships cut from the adjoining forests as its only industry.
A record of the testimony was preserved in the court archives and was recently discovered stored away in the attic of the Lorain County Jail building in Elyria.
The stenographic record was transcribed in long hand and occupied more than 80 pages in the records of the court. It presents a new and fresh account of life in Lorain 100 years ago.
Would you like to take over the next hundred years?
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AUTHOR History of the First TITLE Methodist Church, 1856-1956 POWER'S NAME
FIRST UNITED METHODIST COLTON 559 RED AVENUE LORAIN, OHIO 44052
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