USA > Ohio > Lorain County > Lorain > History of the First Methodist Church, 1856-1956 > Part 6
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Do "niceties and refinements" block our Spiritual vision?
Baptism symbolizes purification. Have you heard many people say that they have never been baptized?
A book entitled "Methodism" contains a chapter entitled "Methodist Worship: Practices and Ideals," written by Nolan B. Harmon, Jr. He tells of the abridgement of the Church of England Prayer Book by John Wesley, for use by the Methodist Society Reading these things helps us to realize how our top church men do struggle with the changes that seem to lead to improvement and better understanding of the several church offices. The chapter writer asks, "Did he (Wesley) think that baptism was the gate to the church and that only?"
Anna and Carrie Vorwerk of the early C. S. Vor- werk family of our church, were among those who chose to be immersed in the lake.
There are two Baptismal Fonts in our church. The one in the Sanctuary at the west end of the Chancel was the gift of the Cradle Roll Dept. of the Sunday School when it was in charge of Mrs. Vernon Tippet, mother of Mrs. Rehyma Tippet Burge.
The second Font is in Dodge Memorial Chapel. It was the gift of Mr. Rowe Little and family in memory of Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Little and Miss Noreen Little.
Do you have a record of your baptism?
Is it important to you?
Have you, if you are parents, followed through faithfully on your commitment given when your chil- dren were blessed and given a name in the church of your choice?
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REV. MILLS AND FAMILY IN FRONT OF OLD METHODIST PARSONAGE
Northwest Corner of W. Erie and Washington Ave. Sometime in 1880's.
Note "Freeway," W. Main St., now W. Erie Ave., looks rather primitive.
METHODIST SLEIGH RIDE
Went in two parties and this party's sleigh turned over, so they all came back and had their pic- tures taken. The other sleigh reached its destination.
Back Row: Mrs. Ed Smith, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Sam Butler, Burt Nichols.
Second Row: T. R. Bowen, Phoebe Sutliff, Mrs. John Pierce, Georgiana Reid, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Chapman.
Front Row: Cora Wilford, Joseph Didero, Photographer, Anna Vor. werk, Emma Vorwerk.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS 1910
First Row, L. to R .: Raymond Nichols, Carl Kishman, Ralph Bar- tholomew, Mr. Radecy, Frank Ayres (teacher), Frank Ramser, Ellsworth Sabin.
Second Row, L. to R .: Willis Gove, Richard Fauver, Frank Gilbert, Wm. MacPherson, Lewis Heft, Charles Rader, Forrest Carver, LeRoy Mills, Henry McHenry, Wilford Bartenfeld.
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MISS ELIZABETH TRISTRAM'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS CIRCA 1900
Top Row, L. to R .: Leola Sheridan, Mary Lyons, Ola Braun, Edith Little. Middle Row, L. to R .: Margaret King, Edna Whitehouse, Carol Thew, Laura Jaycox, Maude Pierce, Fern Stewart, Gertrude Reamer.
Bottom Row, L. to R .: Lou Garver, Harriet Davidson, Kate Utterback, Lou Braun, Hattie Green.
,
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WOMENLESS WEDDING 1925
Top Row, L. to R .: George Green. wood, Alfred Sharp, Percy Scisco, Unknown, Unknown, H. H. Neptune, C. E. Doane, Samuel Wire, LeRoy Mills, Frank Ayres, Richard Fauver, H. E. Hageman, Eugene Goodrich.
Middle Row, L. to R .: George An- thony, M. H. Romoser, M. N. Eldred, C. S. Kelser, J. C. Standen, Custer Snyder, C. P. Dodge, W. W. White. house, V. E. Tippett.
Bottom Row, L. to R .: W. H. Hamilton, R. C. Hicock, H. I. Scott, Charles Cleveland.
YE OLD FOLKS CONCERT FIRST M. E. CHURCH CHOIR MARCH 13, 1936
Top Row, L. to R .: Jimmy Black. ann, Bob McGill, Chas. Bartenfeld, . Frederick Johnson, Earl Pietch.
Second Row, L. to R .: Alice Janette Smith, Gordon Garber, Glenn Hawley, Leo Allwine, Raymond Curtis, John Humphrey, Howard Radabaugh, Clif- ford Buda, Richard Creamer, M. N. Eldred.
Third Row, L. to R .: Mary Van. Sickel, Jean Mills, Marie Gray, Miss Roehr, Edna Ayres, Evelyn Mills, Caroline Procter, Mrs. Warren Pape, Mrs. Vera V. Luttrell, Marie Blackann.
Fourth Row, L. to R .: Rachel Mc- Caskey, Irma Askew, Dorothy Wor. cester, Dorothy Sabin, S. Norman Park, Alice Peasegood, Phyllis Mills, Phyllis Burke, Stella Wickens, Mar. cella Smith.
Front Row, L. to R .: Joan Luttrell, Phyllis Luttrell, Janice VanSickel, Phyllis Proctor.
Ye Old Folks Concert Given by First M. E. Church Chair Friday, March 13, 1936 - Lorain,
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LITTLE BRICK CHURCH - 1872
IST M.E. CHURCH
SECOND BRICK CHURCH Built in 1892, destroyed by tornado in 1924.
TEMPORARY CHURCH - 1891
This building stood on the south side of W. Erie Ave., near Wickens Place.
The first floor was occupied by Geo. Wickens Furniture Store.
The second floor was called Bowen's Hall, where First Methodist Church held services while old brick church was torn down and new brick church was being built on corner of Bank St. (6th St.) and Reid Ave.
Third floor was for living quarters.
Notice initials I.O.O.F. in the gable, Independent Order of Odd Fellows met here.
Mr. T. R. Bowen owned the building.
IST M.E. NULKA
INTERIOR AFTER TORNADO - 1924
FIRST M.E CHURCH
LORAIN, O. TORNADO
6/8/24
AOB R.C. W HAR)
#59
EXTERIOR AFTER TORNADO - 1924
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1
LAYING CORNERSTONE 1892
First Methodist Episcopal Church Corner Bank and Reid Ave.
House next to church used as parsonage.
RESETTING CORNERSTONE of First Methodist Church, de- stroyed in the tornado of 1924, into the northwest corner of the new church at 6th St. and Reid Ave.
Appearing in the picture, left to right, are Mr. Harry Naylor, Mr. Samuel Butler, Mr. Fred Pierce, Mrs. W. W. Whitehouse, Mr. W. W. Whitehouse, Mr. Edward Smith, Mr. Thomas R. Bowen.
PRESENT FIRST METHODIST CHURCH - BUILT IN 1926
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BEREAN SUNDAY SCHOOL, CLASS - 1945
First Row, L. to R .: Mrs. Ida Mar- tin, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Smathers, Mrs. Earl Herron.
Second Row, L. to R .: Mrs. Rose Longwell, Mrs. Mary Whitehouse (teacher), Mrs. Ella Alexander, Mrs. Geo. Mowery, Mrs. Cora Bartenfeld, Mrs. Jennie Dodge, Mrs. Schwan, Mrs. J. J. Ewers, Mrs. Frank Klair, Mrs. Anna Chapman, Mrs. S. S. Cox, Mrs. Rose Homen.
BROTHERHOOD CLASS 1927 - 1928
Front Row, L. to R .: Harry Naylor, Chas. Bartenfeld, Chas. Dodge, El- more Richards, John Ewers, Chas. Hartz, A. S. Gregg, James Dutton, Carlin Doane.
Back Row, L. to R .: Chas. Smith, Mr. Adams, Conde Doane, Frank Ayres, Rev. J. H. Smith, Rev. Elmer Smith, Custer Snyder, Ben Meachem, John Fisher, Fred Johnson, Alan Thurston, C. E. McIlvane, Mr. Adams, Clayton Standen, Unknown, Chas. Tope, Ezra Waugh, Floyd Moulton.
LORAIN'S "FIRST" M. E. CHURCH - 1872
From a pencil sketch by Geo. B. Wickens in 1891. The figure of the man leading a cow to the street from "City Hall Place" is his brother, William, who died in 1905. The building at the far left is the church parsonage. The house nearest the man and cow is the old Wickens home. An enlarged copy of his picture now hangs in Walter Frey's Funeral Home.
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Communion
A BORROWED PHRASE, "ascending scale," referring to our progress in mode of worship, could no doubt be applied to our manner of observance of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Can you visualize the Communion services in the early church? One cup was used by all the partici- pants. The minister in charge carrying a linen napkin in his hand to wipe the cup as it was passed on from one person to another. I have heard people say that they "just couldn't" partake of Communion that way. The Church must have wrestled a long time before giving up the Biblical way. Now, for health measures, we are privileged to have individual cups.
The first Communion set used in the little old church consisted of a plain, white china pitcher and two glass goblets.
The story is told of the young girls in that early church forming a Juvenile Society which met on Sat- urday afternoons - no refreshments. They cut quilt patches, raiding mother's "piece" bag for materials, then made quilt blocks and sold them. The girls worked a long time but finally had enough money - $25.00 reported - to buy a Silver Communion Service, consisting of a pitcher and two gold lined cups. They also bought a baptismal bowl and a linen cloth for the Communion table.
The town silverware and jewelry merchant, Mr. George Clark, must surely have been generous to have sold so much for so little money. Being a member of the church they showed their good will.
The white linen cloth, not ready made then, surely, had to be hemmed, maybe threads drawn first, and
we wonder who the kind merchant was who sold them the cloth. Perhaps S. L. Burgett who lived next door to the little brick church and operated a dry goods store.
The names of the girls we do know Nettie Root (Mrs. Walter Goodell, mother of Bessie Healy and Lewis Goodell), Ollie Showalter and Jessie Showalter (sisters of Mrs. Blanche Gemeiner), Emma Vorwerk (Mrs. Kochenderfer), Anna Vorwerk (now one of our oldest members, 1956), Georgie Reid (Mrs. Ed. Lane), Kittie Cowley (Mrs. Sam Wire), Cora Wilford (Mrs. Chas. Bartenfeld), Alice Holt (Mrs. Robinson), Ella Thompson (Mrs. Moore), Ella Bowers, Laura Watkins (Mrs. F. A. Rowley). Two of the above number were Negro girls. There were several Negro families who belonged to our church.
All but one of those girls have passed on.
It is said that the silver baptismal bowl is in the safe at First Church now. I have seen the bowl but it has no marking on it to indicate time of purchase, etc.
Have you ever given a thought to the Communion Steward who prepares the elements used for our Lord's Supper? It is a task that should be lovingly performed. We believe that to be true when we consider that Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hurst performed that service for 39 years. Mrs. Betty Wood Barnes is now faithful to that office.
The book, "The Silver Chalice," would interest you. Learn the importance of the ownership of that first Communion Cup. The chalice (ancient name) is the attribute of St. John the Baptist.
Women's Foreign Missionary Society
THE WOMEN'S FOREIGN Missionary Society was more than a local organization. The church at large had long sponsored such groups, following the Biblical command, "Go ye into all the world
Women believed that there were many phases of the necessary work where women missionaries were more acceptable than men. The W.F.M.S. at home sup- ported with money and material things many strong women who felt called to go to the foreign field. These women opened up a new life for the women of many countries, by establishing schools and hospi- tals. Who among you can remember the Missionary Barrels sent to foreign lands? Those barrels probably held many things impractical for use in heathen countries. The Missionary who received such things could only pray that the women back home would come to realize the real needs. Do you recall the times when some of these missionaries on leave would come to speak for one of our services? Their stories were long and we became restless. Their faces were long, too, burdened with the seriousness of the facts they presented.
The local society was given an opportunity every year to take over one church service and receive the collection for the society work. Our home loyalty was put to a severe test many times. Many were not in sympathy with the foreign work.
Elsewhere in this history the statement was made that the women who carried the torch for the Foreign Society were usually the older ones. "Certain age" groups just do set themselves or are set apart often times.
The W.F.M.S. sponsored two groups of the young- er women and girls.
In 1924 we still find the "Young Women's Foreign Missionary Society" which was made up principally of school teachers who were not free to attend the afternoon sessions of the older group. Miss Helen Mills, a Lorain High School teacher, was listed as president that year (1924).
Then there were the "Standard Bearers," a bit younger, high school girls perhaps. In 1924 Miss Barbara Stewart was president.
A still younger group, "The King's Heralds," was guided by Mrs. C. B. Hess, the wife of the minister at that time.
In the foreign field our church has been proud of the work of Bishop Ralph Ward .. His chosen field was China. The story of his devotion and service is long and full of evidence that he really felt called to his work and loved the people of China. He suffered with them and bore the burden of being imprisoned for his loyalty to the church.
Bishop Ward spent some of his boyhood in Lorain.
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His father, F. D. Ward, was superintendent of our public schools for 15 years. His mother was a teach- er in the Sunday School and one of the women who gave her time to help organize the East Side Sunday School, which later grew to be Gawn Ave. Church, now Delaware Ave. There were four Ward boys, Ralph, Gleason, Grant and Lucius.
Another Lorain boy who entered Foreign Mission- ary work was John Irish, whose home was on W. 8th St., near Brownell Ave. John was a member of our Sunday School but he seemed to stand alone in his family as far as service to our church was concerned. Much credit is due him to think that, under those circumstance, he was strong enough in his conviction concerning Christianity to give his life to the Church. He served in China.
In the general reorganization of the church, this society, W.F.M.S., was incorporated into the new look of the church at large. Now foreign studies are conducted in and funds collected from the Women's Society of Christian Service, W.S.C.S.
Again it would be wonderful to be able to list the names of all the faithful women who sang "From Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand," with full belief in their idea of foreign missions. Space will not permit.
Now the approach to the "icy mountains" and the "coral strand" must be from a different angle. That hymn is not even in our hymn book any more.
Reginald Heber, author of the words, was Bishop of Calcutta, 1823, sent from England.
Writing of India reminds me that we were privi- ledged to have in our church Rev. Ira A. Richards and family who had been missionaries in India. Rev. Richards went out as a missionary in 1879 and Ellen
Cornelia Smith went in 1880. These two people had met at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea. They were married in India and some of the Richards children were born there. Because of Rev. Richards' health they returned to the United States but after a fur- lough went to India again. The family came to Lorain in 1900 and the children were regular attendants of our Sunday School. Mrs. C. E. Van Deusen is the only one in Lorain now. She has always been an ardent worker for foreign missions.
A year book of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of this church states that we celebrated the Golden Jubilee year in 1919. That sets the founding date as 1869, a few years preceeding that of the Home Missionary Society.
The "Mite" Boxes of the Foreign Missionary Society became the "mighty" boxes for they brought con- siderable sums to help further the work around the world. The society pledged itself to support Bible women under the direction of the missionaries in many lands. They were native women who were often more favorably received by other natives than were the white missionaries.
Scholarships were awarded to those young people of Asia, Africa and South America who showed promise of being able to carry on the church's work for the welfare of their people. Many such young people came to U.S.A. for education in medicine, etc.
Our church magazines are full of accounts of the progress of these people. The same Mrs. Henry Pfeif- fer mentioned in the Home Missions article, is found in a story of a Methodist Medical missionary to Bolivia, South America, in September, 1956, Reader's Digest. We hope you read it and were proud to think that your "Mite" Box, plus much, much more, had helped the great cause of Missions.
Women's Home Missionary Society
THE WOMAN'S HOME Missionary Society, as its name indicates, confined its work to the Home Field within the United States and its territories. The members supported schools, hospitals and deaconess work in the less favored districts of large cities, in backward rural areas and mountain districts, in Indian reservations and Negro sections.
In any church group you could usually raise an argument as to the respective merits of home and foreign work. A strictly Home Missionary lady would sit and listen to a returned Foreign Missionary, but would sooner or later burst forth with, "Yes, but why worry so much about the heathen, when you have misery right here on your own doorstep?"
A glance at a Home Missionary Yearbook of 1930, shows that the society was celebrating the golden anniversary, which would indicate the year 1880 as the founding year. Other yearbooks show these topics, among many, for discussion: Trend of the Races, Barriers Between Neighbors, Racial Understanding, Home Missions and Prejudice, The Slave in America, The Orientals in America.
Some of our women belonged to both Missionary Societies, which meant two sets of dues and twice the number of meetings each month. They were proving that their hearts were big enough to see the need for
all missionary work. It seemed such a fine way of leveling off when finally all women's activities were merged into the Women's Society of Christian Service.
In this era of being able to travel about so easily, all the world is really our neighbor. Many of those whom we term foreign are here with us, aiming to be our home folks. However, there is still plenty left "over there" and our W.S.C.S. aims to give assistance everywhere possible.
There have been two women brought up in our church who were attracted to Home Missionary work.
Miss Ethel Chapin, who had been an enthusiastic Sunday School pupil and a tireless Epworth League worker, was for nine years superintendent of Mitchell Home in Meisenheimer, North Carolina. Previous to that she had taught in Boylan Home, Jacksonville, Florida, and Harwood Home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. All of these were under the jurisdiction of the general Home Missionary Society.
Miss Chapin told of the two disastrous fires that came upon Mitchell Home after it was moved down out of the mountains. The second fire occurred at the end of her first year there and some of those in charge of the home felt that too many odds were against them. They wanted to abandon the school. Miss Chapin's enthusiasm for the work of Home Missions gave her
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the conviction that the Home should be rebuilt and she so persuaded those in power.
Mitchell Home finally became an accredited high school and later, with help from Mrs. Henry Pfeif. fer of the Hudnut family, a wealthy woman who used her money well, the Home became a junior col- lege with one of the finest physical plants in the south.
All of these homes mentioned were carried on through the self help plan and every pupil worked his way. Only those who have been close to that kind of school can give you the story of the wonderful results accomplished and the thankful hearts made among those young folks fortunate enough to attend such schools.
Miss Ethel Chapin is now Mrs. Charles Morgan. She returned to Lorain a year or so ago to make her home.
Miss Evelyn Weaver, another daughter of the church, has written for us an account of her decision to become a deaconess of the Methodist Church. Her paper is part of our historical data and will appear in this series of articles. She is now in Pakistan.
At one time a deaconess wore a distinguishing cos- tume, a plain black dress with small white collar and cuff trimming and a small black bonnet with wide white ties. This style of dress made it easy for people to recognize her as a church worker doing missionary work, and it was thought that she would be safe in some of the districts of the city where she might otherwise be in danger. Most every class of people respects such a worker. The wearing of that costume was dropped some years ago and a deaconess may now dress as she chooses.
The Home Missionary Society sponsored three young groups:
The Queen Esther organization was privileged to have, in 1924, Miss La Verne Stone (Mrs. Harry Sny- der) as president. Several members of the Stone fam- ily have been valued workers in our church. The mother, Mrs. Tyna Stone, gave a great deal of time and thought to our church. Mr. John Stone, La Verne's brother, and his family, also give freely of their time.
The Home Guards and Mother's Jewels were pre- sided over by Mrs. E. M. Love. She has stated that one of her special concerns was to teach these children to pray aloud and to learn many Bible verses. She tells some cute stories about these experiences with the younger set. Mrs. Love gave of her time and talent to District and Conference work as well as locally. She was the first president of the W.S.C.S. after the reorganization.
An interesting Home Missionary who spent his last years in the Lorain church was Rev. John H. Pitezel. He lived with his daughter, Mrs. Carrie Painter, the wife of one of our former pastors who also came to Lorain to spend his remaining years. Lorain must be a nice place!
The book "Lake Superior" gives considerable space to the work of Rev. Pitezel both among the Indians and the miners. The author of the book, Grace Lee Nute, gives over one chapter of this book to "Carriers of the Cross" and says that the literary remains of these devoted explorers are enormous and fascinating. Rev. Pitezel began his work in 1843. His diaries are in the Carnegie Public Library at the Sault. He died May 4, 1906, during the pastorate of Rev. E. D. Barnett.
The Goodwill Industries, a national project, was started under the auspices of the Methodist Church. The Methodist ministers in any city in which Good- will Industries is set up, are automatically on the board of directors and many of our Methodist women also serve. It is really a missionary project of the church but has become a Civic responsibility also.
Mrs. Marjorie Willis Wright, the very able director of Goodwill, is the daughter of Mr. Vernie Willis, who was an enthusiastic worker in our church.
Miss Sina Evans, the director of Neighborhood House at South Lorain, is a member of First Church. Two of her assistants, Miss Mildred Bond and Mrs. Hattie Green Salisbury are also Methodists. Mrs. Salisbury was a long-ago faithful member of our Sun- day School.
And so the missionary work continues.
Young People's Organizations
THE NAME "CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR" ap- pears to be the first one used for the Youth Group organization of our church. A letter from Mrs. C. F. Bartenfeld (Cora Wilford) states that when it was suggested that the Methodists use the name "Epworth League," there was much discussion and dissatisfaction. Isn't that the usual procedure when changes seem about to happen?
The name "Epworth" has a distinct meaning and significance in Methodism. It was in Epworth, Eng- land, that John Wesley was born.
There had been six different young people's societies throughout Methodism, with as many different names. It seemed best to combine the plans of those societies under one head. That union was accomplished in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1889 and the name "Epworth League" chosen, and the motto, "Look Up and Lift Up," seemed most fitting as a guide.
The Lorain group adopted the new name on Aug. 27, 1889, with 77 members enrolled. Rev. Robert McCaskey was pastor at that time.
A very old book in possession of the Historical committee gives the Constitution and the By-laws of the early "Young People's Society of Christian En- deavor of the Methodist Church of Lorain, Ohio." The requisites for membership seem to us as very exacting. Have we lost that necessary something ?.
There have been many pages cut from this old record book. Of course, we wonder why. There are several lists of names of members.
Toward the end of the book we find the Constitu- tion and By-laws of the newer "Epworth League of the M. E. Church of Lorain, Lorain County, Ohio." Here the date is given Aug. 20 instead of 27. A week can get out of hand just like that.
I would like to pass on to you "Article II-Object,"
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because you are going to forget to ask the committee to loan the book to you so you can read and digest everything in it. This quotation is worth your time now:
"The object of this organization is to promote an earnest, intelligent, practical and loyal piety in the young members and friends of the church, to aid them in constant growth in grace and in the attainment of purity of heart." Think on these things.
There is a priceless enclosure in this book, written by Elizabeth Wallace Wickens, May 17, 1914, on the occasion of the League's 25th (Cleveland) Anni- versary. It give the names of about thirty people who were charter members. About five of them are still with us (1956). They are Anna Vorwerk, Rusha Reid (Fauver), James Lyons Bowen, Bert Nichols (J. B.), Arthur Pierce (Elyria) .
She writes of meetings on Tuesday evenings, a de- votional service, "witnessing for the Master," she puts it.
Quote: "We all did our part to make the meetings helpful and no time was lost waiting for one another, though some of us stammered a good deal in witness- ing for the Master."
Besides this prayer meeting, a social was held once a month in homes of members.
The mark of the Methodists, "Take a collection," was a part of these social affairs too. The League pledged $500 toward a new church (1892) and these collections paid some of the pledge. Elizabeth Wallace (Mrs. Gco. Wickens, Sr.) was the first president. In her account of the League she writes that there were six departments: Spiritual, Mercy and Help, Literary, Social, Correspondence, and Finance.
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