hurch Celebrates Silver Annivers
“THE DALLAS POST. DALLAS, 2 FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1936.
v
ar
“Travelled Alon
200. Mile Circuit
mi Charge Men-
tioned First In Records
Of 1814
"PIONEER CHURCH
Although the influence of Metho-
Fr has been strong in Trucksville al-
most from the time the first settlers
toted their humble belongings to their
rough log cabins along Toby’s Creek,
Trucksville M. E. Church had i its offi-
rial beginning i in 1814, when as “Trux-
ville” ', it is first mentioned as a preach-
ing place.
In those days the hardy man of God
bd Tol carried the spiritual message to
pioneering men and women had to ride
200 miles to cover the circuit in which
* Trucksville was included.
For many years services were held
~ in the school house or in private dwell-
ings but in 1853 the growing congre-
ation decided it had reached a point
in its evelopment where it needed a
gular ‘meeting place. So, on July 22
that year, Jacob Rice, one of the
£ most prominent of the early settlers
1
deeded three-quarters of an acre to
Jacob Rice, John P. Rice, William
Booth, Asa Rice, Daniel Harris, ' John
“Wall and W. C. Hageman, trustees of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Trucksville. The land cost $100.
adh at; Built On Present Site
SPng: onion was built where the
present church stands, one of the first|
churches on this side of the King-
ston Mountain. It was about thirty feet
i ‘wide by forty feet long, with an addi-
tion for a porch, and modelled after a
church which had been built shortly
before on the plains above Wilkes-
~ Barre.’
ald ‘Some changes were made in 1880—
certain pillars which obstructed the
view being‘removed—and a short time
later the old-fashioned wooden blinds
\
~ Conyngham gave a bell,
“3
4
donors,
were removed and larger window panes
built in. A few years later, a bell was
placed on the church. In 1907, during
the pastorate of the late Rev. Wi. H.
Stang, whose widow still lives in
Trucksville, extensive renovations,
costing $3,026 dollars, were made to
~ the, church, and it was valued at about
$5, 000, x
Church Burns
Early in the morning of January 3,
1910, the church burned to the ground.
~~ While plans for rebuilding were be-
ing started,* Mrs. ‘W. L. Conyngham
-offeréd to build a church, as a gift
from her and her two sons.
Mrs. Conyngham’s contribution of
“more that $11,000 to rebuild and to
provide furnishings for the church was
unusually fine, because she was not
‘a member of the Trucksville church,
attending services at St. Stephen's
Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre.
” Spurred by Mrs. Conyngham’s offer,
the congregation swiftly completed
plans for the new building. Others
helped with inspiring spirit. Mrs. John
> in memory of
her brother, Mr. Robinson. A splendid
reed organ was the gift of Mrs. Louisa
Norris. Toby Creek Lodge of the I. O.
0. F. contributed a striking memorial
~ window. Members of the congregation
“had only the pews to purchase, al-
though many contributed to a fund.
"The new church. was dedicated on
January 26, 1911. A program still ex-
ists, and from it older members of the
congregation may draw stirring mem-
ories.
Audience Changed
Many of the people who took part
in that ceremony twenty-five years
~ ago are dead. The district superinten-
‘dent, Dr. H. C. McDermott; two of the
Mrs: W. L. Conyngham and
John N. Conyngham, the Rev. H. L.
Jones, D. D. rector of St. Stephen’s
Church, who preached the dedi-
catory sermon; Rev. W. T. Blair, ther
pastor of Plymouth ,M. E. Church,
who preached the evening sermon;
three members of the Board of Trus-
tees, William C. Johnson, Everett Be-
steder and Asa Wardan, have answer-
ed the inevitable summons.
f
But many more live to celebrate the
Silver Anniversary of that dedication,
among them Rev. J. L. Thomas, who
was pastor of the church then; Rev. J.
S. Crompton, who preached the first
sermon in the church at the morning
service on the day of dedication. Dr, J.
Fowler Richardson, who directed the
' musical program at the afternoon ser-
vice; W. H. Conyngham, one of the
‘donors, and four members of the board
of trustees, Archie Wiolbert, John
Benning, James Perrego and William
nafus.
Local Methodism B
loading rifle balanced across the saddle.
religion with them. .
Dei about his neck. While Brule was |
explaining the meaning of the’ medal |
a fierce storm broke, and the’ Indians, |
convineed 'of the power of his God, fell |
to their knees and allowed him to go.
* The first known visit of a Christian
minister to Wyoming Valley was in
1741, when Rey. John Sargeant, M. D.
(Yale, 1729) founder of the Indian
training school at Stockbridge, Mass.,
came to preach. He was not well re-
ceived and returned home,’ disappoint-
ed. }
During the Wyoming Massacre in
1778 Anning Owen, one of the early
settlers, had a miraculous escape from ;
death at the hands of the blood-hungry
savages. While the Redmen were
sweeping through the valley after the
battle, scalping refugees and burning
dwellings, Owen found his way to the
river with another man and laid in the
water sunder some bushes. From their
hiding place they saw one of their
neighbors brained by an Indian’s toma-
hawk.
As he laid there, scarcely Firing to
breathe, Owen vowed he would conse-
crate his life to God. When the cloud
of death and vengeance lifted from
the valley, Owen kept his promise.
A’ man of little learning, Anning
.
Had Etienne Brule, the first explorer,
have lived to relate his adventures along the Susquehanna early in the Seven-
teenth Century. When Indians were about to kill him they discovered an Agnus
orn O f Vow
i
been less religious he would’ not
Owen had unbounded spiritual zeal.
{His dark, almost hypnotic glance,
would hold an audience enrapt while
he preached. He has been ,called “the
unlettered crusader of Methodism on
the Western frontier” for during the
years after his conversion he travelled
a territory extending from the Hudson
to the Genessee River and from Lake
Ontario to Chesapeake Bay.
His humble home was on Wiyoming
Avenue, Kingston, until 1810, “when he |.
moved to Cayuga County, N. J. where
he died in 1814, at the age of 63, worn
cut by his stupendous labors.
The little Bible class which he or-
ganized in Kingston grew into the
Kingston Methodist Episcopal Church
and became finally the nucleus of the
Wyoming Conference of today.
When families began to settle on this
side of Kingston Mountain, services
were held at the homes of Gilbert Car-
penter and Charles Harris. }
As early as 1799 a class of forty
members was organized on Harris Hill,
where Charles Harris, known affec:
‘tionally as “Father Harris”, led meet-
ings.
From this root the Methodist church-
es of Dallas, Carverton, Lehman, Sha-
vertown and Trucksville sprang.
Pageant Depicts
Church’s History
Trucksville Groups To Give
Pastor’s Production
January 26
“Like A Mighty Army .. .”, an his-
torical pageant ‘written by Rev. J.
Rolland Crompton, pastor of Trucks-
ville M. E. Church, especially for the
Silver Anniversary of that church, will
be presented on Sunday night, Janu-
ary 26, as the climax of Anniversary
Week.
Mrs. J. Rolland Crompton is serving
as general chairman of the production.
The costumes and properties will be
in charge of Miss Doris Chapman, Miss
Marion Olver and William Hewitt.
Sheldon Bennett will have charge of
lighting. Mrs. B. Aubrey Ayre will
direct the music.
Scene 1 is laid in 68 A. D. in Philippi,
as word comes of the martyrdom of
Paul in Rome. Julius is talking of Paul
and his work to the little group which
meets, secretly. “Doubtless” he says,
“martyrdom awaits others of us. But
we shall go on until the banner of
Christ shall proclaim His kingdom as-
tablished in the world.”
In the second scene John Wlsley,
founder of Methodism, appears, attend-
ing a quarterly meeting to receive re-
ports from class leaders. Each in turn
gives news of the spread of Methodism
and in the end Wesley gives them his
blessing and sends them forth to their
task.
Scene IIT shows the influence of
John Wesley and his followers in
America and the need for a church or-
ganization in this country. The action
depicts the consecration of Francis As-
bury as Bishop and the organization of
the Methodist Episcopal Church as a
denomination.
In scene IV Rev. Mr. Crompton
shows the establishment of Methodism
in Wyoming Valley, with consequent
beginning of Methodism in Trucksville,
its development, the building of the
first church at Trucksville and§ as the
scene closes, a tableaux represents the
burning of the church in the early
morning of January 3, 1910.
Scene V, titled “The Dedication”, is
based upon the fact that God often
uses seemingly disastrous circum-
stances for the working out of His
purposes. The burning of the church is
followed by the building of a new and
finer structure, a gift of generous
benefactors, and the action gives a
glimpse of the scene of the dedication
twenty-five years ago, with cost of
characters made up largely of those
who were present on that day.
Scene VI, “The Church Today and
Tomorrow”, reviews the progress of
the church in twenty-five years, em-
phasizing the congregation’s responsi-
bility, and calling for a new consecra-
tion. As representatives of all organi-
zations and groups within the church
go to the platform pledging their loy-
alty the congregation arises ang all
join in singing a hymn which was used
in the dedicatory services, and now
becomes the theme hymn of the pag-
eant, “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.”
The cast of cnaracters includes the
following:
DEBT TO PAST GREAT; VISION
- OF FUTURE NEEDED-CROMPTON
By J. ROLLAND CROMPTON
Pastor, Trucksviile M. E. Church
The occasion of the Twenty-fifth
Anniversary of the dedication of the
Trucksville Methodist Episcopal Church brings an opportunity for the Pastor
to bring greetings to his many friends in this an& surrounding communities,
He counts it a privilege that he has been permitted to serve this church and
community over a period of nearly five years.
they rejoice and weep with them when
they weep: to enter into the varied ex-
periences of community life over a
period of years is a privilege not to
be considered lightly,
The church occupies an indispens-
able position in community life. It
stands for the best. It comforts the
sorrowing, sustains the discouraged,
lightens the burdens of the oppressed,
and points men and women from that
which is sordid to the noblest and best
that human life can know. It stands
with the home and school as one of
‘the great character building agencies
which guarantee the progress of civi-
lization and safeguard the interests of
society.
To rejoice with people when
The church has come to us as the
result of the tireless labors and sacrifi-
cial devotion of many men and women
who have used their talents in unsel-
fish ways. So must the church con-
tinue. It will be able .to contribute to
our communities in proportion to the
way in which we support its work.
This anniversary should remind us
that “we are treading where the saints
have trod.” Our debt to the past is
great. Our responsibility to the present
and the future is just as great. While
we rejoice in this occasion, we must
also catch a new vision of our task and
unite in our efforts for the welfare of
[Peck Heads Roll
Of 34 Preachers
Trucksville Church Pastors
For 118 Years Are
Listed
Thirty-four pastors have served the
Trucksville Methodist Episcopal Con-
gregation during the last 118 years,
during which time the church = has
grown from a minor charge on a 200-
mile circuit to an independent congre-
vice of one pastor.
In the list of clergymen who have
served the charge there is a gap be-
tween 1822 and 1843 for which no rec-
ords exist.
The official list of pastors
Trucksville M. E. Church follows:
George Peck... ui. vii, 181821822
Elisha Pibins 1822
1843-1844
1844-1850
1850-1853
1853-1858
1858-1860
1860-1861
1861-1863
1863-1865
1865-1866
1866-1870
1870-1872
1872-1875 |
1875-1878
1878-1882
1882-1885
1885-1888
. Gendall 1888-1891
W. Rawlings ....... Jess. 1891-1892
Clark Callendar 1892-1895 .
N. J. Hawley 1895-1897
J. Wl Price 1897-1899
Philip Houck 1899-1901
L. T. Van Campen 1901-1903
W. H. Stang 1903-1908
J. R. Warner 1908-1909
*J. L. Thomas 1909-1913
fA. 0: Willlams ). 4.0.0 1913-1917
*J. R. Austin 1917-1923
*J. Arthur Jones 1923-1926
*Harry M. Kelley 1926-1928
Albert J. Chapman 1928-1930
* Living
Rev. J. Rollang Crompton has been
pastor of the Trucksville M. E. Church
since 1931.
\ for
: E aii
. Perkins
. I. xr
. C. Smith
A. J. Van Cleft
J. LaBar
J. Madison
Isaac Austin
. Elwell
Scene I:
Baker, Harry Keller, Warren Woolbert,
Cleopas Piatt, Stewart Yorkes, Betty
Palmer, Susan Palmer, Grace Morris,
Marion Finnev and Rebecca Piatt.
Scene II: Fred Tinney, Richard
Cease, Sherman ’/Harter, Robert Bach-
man, Wilbur Gemmel. {
Scere III: Fred Finsey,
Bachman, Clarence Jones,
Gemmell; Willard Woolbert,
Scene IV: Group watchin
fire,
Scene V: Rev. John L. Thomas, Rev.
J. S. Crompton and group of worship-
ers.
Scene VI: Senior and Junior choirs,
ministers, active and retired, repre-
sentatives of official board, Ladies’ Aid
Society, Epworth League, church school
classes, (organized), and The Church
of Tomorrow, represented by a church
Robert
‘Wilbur
on
g church
school teacher with a class of children.)
OFFICIAL FAMILY
Willard Wjoolbert, James!
- Made During Indian Massacre!
ANNING OWEN KEPT PLEDGE AFTER ESCAPE
Methodism rode into this section with a Bible under one arm and a muzzle-
It was a wild, unspoiled area, held by proud natives who could Be horribly
savage on occasion. The first white men who came brought a living, personal
| Methodist preacher. In 1916
| CHURCH TWENTY: Five YEARS orp <
Twenty-five
Years Ago, After
“Flames Had
Levelled The Old
Building, This
Church Was Built
"5 -For The
Congregation Of
Trucksville
By The Conyngham
Family.
Although It Has
Been Enlarged
Since To Provide
For A Growing
Congregation
The Church Retains
The Southern
Appearance *
Which The Donors
Suggested,
Inside And Out.
N
“
Township’ s Birth Postdates
Revolution 1 By Twelve Years
REGION HAS DEVELOPED FR FROM WILD FRONTIER.
Cegdvlly Kingtion Township fncluded not only most other towhibip in
the vicinity,
Valley.
but inclosed within its boundaries a great portion of Wyoming
Hundreds of square miles of rolling walls and fertile isadows fell
within the original boundaries when they were established by authority of Con-
necticut and the Susquehanna Land Co. It was one of the eleven of the Sus-
‘quehanna Townships into which Luzerne County was divided in 1790. Within
its sprawling borders centered some of the most tremendous events of the
Colonial era.
Pastor Has Served
Charge Five Years
Biographical Sketch Of Pres-
ent Pastor At Tencksville
Church
The Rev. J. Rolland Crompton, pres-
ent pastor at Trucksville, was appoint-
ed to the local charge at the annual
session of Wyoming Conference held
at Wilkes-Barre five years ago. next
April.
Rev. Mr. Crompton was born in Un-
adilla, N. Y., in 1899, the son of a.
he ‘was
gradutted from the College Entrance
Course of Binghamton Central High
School and in the fall of that year
entered Dickinson College at Carlisle.
He transferred to Syracuse University
in 1919 aad was graduated with a de-
gree of Bachelor of Arts in January,
1921.
He joined Wyoming Conference in
1920 and after some time in active
work requested a leave of absence to
take further Theological training. He
entered Drew Theological Seminary,
graduating in 1927 with the degree of
Bachelor .of Divinity. He also won the
‘| John Heston Willey prize of the Sem-
inary for pulpit oratory and manner.
Rev. Mr, Crompton and his father
began their ministry in Wyoming
Conference in the same churce, Kirk-
wood, N. Y, as his father and lived
in the same parsorage. Rev. Mr.
Crompton’s pastoral record follows:
1920—XKirkwood, 1921-22, Apalachin;
1923-at school; 1924-27, Bradly Mem-
orial, Scranton; 1928.30, Meshoppen;
1931-35, Trucksville,
In 1921 Rev. Mr. Crompton was
united in marriage with Miss Ruth
Andrus of Binghamton, N. Y., who has
been extremely helpful to him in his
ministerial work. They have three
children, Richard Edgar, Wesley Rol-
land and Patricia Ruth.
‘When he came to the Trucksville
charge in 1931 he found the work li-
mited by lack of space and facilities in
the church building. During the pas-
torate of his immediate predegessor,
Rev. A. J. Chapman, a new pipe
organ had been promised as a
gift from the Conyngham family
After consideration of the problems an
architect was secured, a contract ‘was
let and work was started to increase
the size of the building, a program
which was completed in November,
1932.
Rev. Mr. Crompton is president of
the Syracuse University Alumni As-
sociation of Wyoming Conference,
secretary of Mt. Greenwood Kiwanis
Club, secretary-treasurer of the Meth-
odist Social Union of Wilkes-Barre
District, past-president of the Drew
Alumni Association of ‘Wyoming Con-
ference and a member of Franklin
Lodge, No. 263, F. & A. M.
¥
OF THE TRUCKSVILLE M. E. CHURCH
MINISTER
J. ROLLAND CROMPTON
33 Harris Hill Road
CHURCH OFFICERS:
RETIRED MINISTERS
JOHN L. THOMAS
JOSHUA BRUNDLE
Official Board Secretary
Financial Secretary
Current Expense Treasurer ..
Benevolence Treasurer
Building Fund Secretary
Recording Steward
District Steward
Reserve District Steward .
Communion Steward
ORGANIST AND
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
MRS. B. AUBREY AYRE
Thomas Carle, Jr.
Dana L. Edwards
. George J. Reynolds
Fred Turner
Thomas H. Ayre
George Kulp
Dana L. Edwards
J. P. Benning
Mrs. Archie Woolbert
TRUSTEES:
W. E. Bennett
Archie Woolbert
George W. Reynolds
Thomas Carle, Jr.
* Dr. G. L. Howell
J. P. Benning
Brice Long
the community and the well-being of
humanity everywhere.
ii
So
CE 2 iS wid hy
During the nineteenth cehtuly the
township changed from a frontier de-
velopment to a scattered collection of
thriving communities. ‘One by ' one,
these communities broke away from
the township to establish separate
towns. In this way Dallas, Lake and
Franklin Townships and Luzerne,
Dorranceton and Kingston Boroughs
were formed. 2
Early Days
In the early days only the most ad-
venturous settlers visited the section
West of Kingston Mountain. Occasion-
ally a hunter would spend a day here
and in the early spring small groups
would venture into the territory to es-
tablish sugar camps, maple sugar Toes
ing used then in vlace of cane sugar,
which was too expensive for the or-
dinary Colonial family. x
About 1777 ar man by the name of
Parker Wilson settled for a short time
in the territory now known as Dallas
Township, He survived one attack by
Indians but was killed in the Battle of
wyoming. vi
Charles Harris was the first perma-
nent settler on this side of the King-
ston Mountain and many of his des-
cendants live here today. He opened
the way for farmers and for many
years Kingston Township continued to
be an agricultural area,
Soon after 1787 a little village grew
up about the mills in what is now
Trucksville, and which was named for
William Trucks, one of the first set-
tlers. Mr. Trucks built a saw mill be-
side the falls at the terminus of the
road. He moved to Wayne, Ohio, in
1811.
Shavertown, which was unsettled in
early times, was named for Philip
Shaver, an Austrian who located first
at Forty Fort, then moved in 1813 to
what was then Kingston Township and
is now Dallas. Philip Shaver, who pur-
a saw mill and his family was engag-
ed in lumbering in this section for a
century.
>So many slaughter houses were
erected along Toby’s Creek at one time
that the section was known as ~Bloody
Run,
Gradually, as the township’s boun-
daries shrank, the population grew.
The greatest stimulus came after the
turn of the Twentieth Century, parti-
cularly during the post-war. boom
vears, when houses were erected al-
most as rapidly as families moved into
them. The population jumped from
1,467 in 1920 to 38,434 in 1930.
Several attempts to change the
township into a borough have been
made. In 1932 a group of citizens filed
a petition for the incorporation of the
“Borough of Shavertown”. Nothing de-
finite was accomplished,
Church tramped through the snow to
together for Good”.
After the service, the audience filed
slowly out, stopping briefly to con-
gratulate Rev. Mr. Thomas upon his
powerful sermon. Then they went
home and went to bed.
Early in the morning most of them
were awakened by the panic- strickeh
cries of “Fire” which were carried on
the crisp, cold air. Outside, the low
clouds shone red with the reflection of
flames, leaping from their church.
They dressed hurriedly, and tried to
help, but there was nothing to do but
to stand by and watch the devasta-
tion of their Sanctuary.
Only three years before the church
had been rebuilt at a cost of more
than $3,000. There was still $300 debt.
The insurance was only for $2,000. For
the first time since 1854, Trucksville
was without a Methodist church,
“And we know that to them that
love God all things work together for
; Helped Dedicaio
Church; Observe
Anniversary Now
Pastor Of Church Tontyn,
Five Years Ago Has
Home Here
| CROMPTON RETU RN Ss
——
The man who was pastor of Teruel
ville M. E. Church when the present
building was dedicated Dent fe
years ago and the man who preache
the first sermon in that church wi
have parts in the ‘Silver Spsiversuy
program next week. :
Rev. J. 1. Thomas, who was past
(When the old chur ch burned and whtn
the ' present structure was built na
dedicated, retired in 1925 and
Trucksville.
Rev. John S, Crompton, who Brenan,
ed the first sermon in the church on
the morning of. its dedication, is ‘the
father of the present pastor, Rev. i
Rolland Crompton, ang lives ‘mow op
Mehoopany.
Rev. Mr. Thomas was Appa 3
the Shavertown charge, voli hn
Trucksville was then a part, i) 00
and served there until 1912. To hin,
anniversary celebration recalls on. £03
the most dramatic incidents in his
|ministry, the tragic ‘burning of his
church and the joyful rebuilding with
| the aid of kind ‘benefactors. Ne 18
Eighty- One Next Month
Mr. Thomas will be eighty- ong. years
village of Illogan Highway, Cornwall,
England. He came to this country in
1865 and joined the Methodist Epi
copal church in Succasuna, New Jer
sey. Soon after he received an “exhor
er’'s license, and later a local prea
er’s license. Tn 1885 he Joined the Wve
ming Conference. fa
He has served at Forest City, ‘West
Nicholson, Union Center, Fly Creek,
Sanitaria Springs, Afton, Sidney Ce
ter, Parsons, Bennett Memorial- Wilkes-
Barre, Shavertown, Askam, ‘West
Nanticoke, Lehman and Glen Lyon.
Rev. Mr. Thomas, as a retired mi
ister of Trucksville M. E. Church, h
been extremely helpful in the work of
the local church, and the congregation
rejoices that he has lived to partict-
pate in the week of anniversary. Y
Will Preach Sunday
Rey. Mr. Crompton has always been
a close friend of Rev. Mr.
2 dis
Mr. Crompton to deliver the dedica-
tory sermon. Many still living © in
Trucksville remember his
sermon that morning. 7
Rev. Mr. Crompton was born at Me- ;
for over forty-two years. He professed
conversion in the Mehoopany M. E.
Church in 1885. He received an exhort
er’s license, and a local preacher's lic-
was appointed to supply © work at
Avoca. Later he entered Wyoming
Seminary and in 1891 he joined Wyom-
ing Conference.
He has served as pastor at Kirkwood
Hawleyton, Great Bend,
Bainbridge, Jermyn,
Scranton, High Street, Binghamton;
Dunmore, Honesdale, Waverly, Rit
ton. ’
pieces of work was his @ successf
campaign to establish an Endowmen
Fund out of the income of: which th
retirement allowance of retired Mi
isters of Wyoming Conference is paid
By request of the committee in
charge of arrangements for the Anni-
chased a large tract of land, also built
good.”
uary 19.
Church Enlarged
Three Years Ags
Shortly after Rev. J. Rolland Cromp-
ton became pastor of Trucksville M.
E. Church it was cenlarged to accomi-
modate its growing congregation. tik
Without altering the traditional lines
of the building, te length was ‘in-
creased, permitting an extension to the
auditorium and two new rooms; the
IL-0. O. F. Memorial art glass window
was illuminated, the chance? was com-~
pletely rearranged and a new pulpit
and lecturn were installed. Larger and
better church school facilities were
provided and an excellent kitchen,
with ample light and ventilation, and
large serving counters was provided.
In all, - these and the other renovations,
equipped the building to minister to
social, educational and. recreational.
day, November 13, 1932.
RISING FROM ASHES, CHURCH
FULFILLED PROPHETIC SERMON
On Sunday evening, January 2, 1910, the congregation of ‘Trucksville M. E.
hear its pastor, Rev. John IL. Thomas,
preach from the text, “And we know that to them that love God all thingy work
‘lives in N
ense in 1887, and in the same year he
old next month. He was born in the =
Thomas.
‘When the present building was ready pl
to be dedicated, the pastor invited Rev,
splendid :
hoopany in 1867 and was a minister ;
One of Rev. Mr. Crompton's’ fin t 5
versary Celebration he will preach the |
sermon at the morning service on Jan
ai
the needs of the community, religious, :
The rededication took place on Suns
It was a sorrowful group tit gath-
ered next day to discuss what could
be done about rebuilding. Then, from
Mrs, W. L. Conyngham came a sum-
mons. She wanted to build a new
church for the congregation, a gift:
from her and her sons, John N. and
William H. Because she had spent her
youth in the South she wanted the new
church to be of Southern architecture.
In addition, she wanted the congrega-
tion to establish a fund of $2,500 for
maintenance and © insurance. Aside
from those provisions, there were no
restrictions to the offer. Overjoyed,
the congregation accepted Mrs. Cony-
ngham’s offer and work of Tebulloing,
began.
One year later, on January 26, 1911,
a new church rose from the ashes of
the old and was dedicated .
“And we know that to them = that
love God all things Work together for
good.” :