The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 38, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 October 1980 — Page 14

14

THE M AIL-JOURNAL — Wed., October 8,1980

J 30th anniversary for Milford United Methodist Church

From almost the time the first settlers in this part of Indiana there were set up Methodist circuits and circuit riders traversed the wilderness to perform marriage ceremonies and establish Methodist classes. None of the names of these pioneer preachers serving Milford have been preserved. It is known that when S. J. North, early member of the Milford United Methodist Church, came to the area in April 1852, there was a small Methodist class established,' meeting in homes or stores. Mrs. Henry Day is known to have organized the first Methodist Sunday School, the exact date is unknown. So very much of the early history of the Methodist Church is unknown, because all of the records were lost in the fire which destroyed the second church building. First Church Building On July 11, 1866, a deed was drawn giving land to build a church by Edward S. Higbee and his wife, Clarissa, to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Milford. This land at the southeast comer of Catherine and West Streets, was conveyed for SIOO, but had provisions that the place be kept open and free for all Orthodox Christian denominations when not used by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The provisions also stated that the premises never be sold and proceeds used for any other purpose than the erection of another place of worship subject to the same provisions. W In 1865 a subscription was started to build a church. At that time Milford was part of the Leesburg charge. William Banford took the contract for a building 40x60 feet, at the cost of $3,000. Nathaniel Cline of North Webster was the builder. The low frame building, with a spire, was on th£s*»ite of the present church, facing north? Banford and his wife were early members and were thought to have contributed at least a third of the cost, while other members and non-members contributed to the building fund. It wasn’t until 1877 that an organ was used in the church for services. However, an organ was used in the Sunday School for seven or eight M ears Some of the members oppposed its use in church. In 18t}0 the first parsonage was built on land conveyed in the 1866 deed. This was south of the present church building facing west. The building was used until the present parsonage was built in 1924. During the years the members met in this church there were

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three large revivals: In 1879, which added to the membership; 1883-1884; and 1885-1886. Second Church Building While the second building was being built, for one year the congregation met in the Opera House on South Main Street. When the new church was completed, it contained opera seats instead f pews. This church building was dedicated on July 22, 1900. The large * brick building used the foundation of the first church and had a bell tower over the comer entrance. Un 1917 the church doubled its ministerial support and became a station. Under the leadership of Rev. A. A. Turner, the church became strong and self-sufficient during these years. On Saturday, May 8, 1920, about 3:30 p.m., the cry of “Fire” was heard and the Methodist Church was on fire. No fire had been in the building since the previous Sunday and the origin of the fire was a mystery. The building was not saved, although firemen made a valiant effort. The organ was brought out of the building, but was burned beyond repair. A pulpit Bible was saved by someone from the large crowd which had congregated. The bell fell from its post in the belfry and cracked. Third Church Following the fire, Rev. C. E. Kolb, pastor of the Progressive Brethren Church, invited the Methodist congregation to worship with them the following day and that day, at 4 p.m., at the Farmers State Bank, the board met and passed to rebuild the church. The pastor. Rev. True S. Haddock, then appointed a finance committee. On May 16, upon the invitation of Milo Malloy, school trustee, the church held Sunday School and church services in the Milford High School auditorium. On September 26, 1920, acting on invitations by members of the Christian Church, members started holding services in that church and worshiped there until they could move into the new building. After more than a year of planning and working and the high prices of materials, the contract for the new church was given on August 24, 1921. The Doty brothers, masons, actually began work on the new church September 13, 1921. Charles Hollar and Clyde McDonald were the carpenters. On Sunday afternoon, October 29, 1921, the cornerstone laying took place. The copper box was laid in the stone by Dr. A. G. Neal, district superintendent and contained the following items; a

copy .of The Milford Mail, Western Christian Advocate, Northwesteren Christian Advocate, 1920 Discipline, a New Testament, a copy of Indiana Area Herald, a copy of Conference Minutes 1920-1921, a combined folder containing a list of pastors of the church since organization, names of all official members, names of contributors to the subscription fund, names of all persons who gave money on “Cornerstone Day,” a Methodist Hymnal, picture of the old church, picture of the pastor and family, also an envelope containing a few trinkets taken out of the old cornerstone. Almost a year later, on September 24, 1922, the new church, costing $23,307, was dedicated. The Milford church was the first one in the district to reach its goals that year. Dr. A. F. Hughes, president of Evansville College, was the speaker at the dedication. Women’s Society Before the 1900 s there were two ladies’ groups in the Milford

1 A w a vM Era fptIIRW 9HR HHllßKlmili® 4 JMi DESTROYED BY FIRE — This church, which was dedicated on July 22, 1900, was destroyed by fire on May 8, 1920. This was the second church built by the members of the United Methodist church and had the foundation of the first church. In the fire, only a pulpit Bible could be saved and the bell in the belfry fell and cracked. The present church was built in the 19205.

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GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH LEESBURG Ralph Burns, Pastor Sunday School 9:30-10:30 am Morning Worship 10:45-11:45 a m. Evening Worships 7 p.m. Prayer Service. Thursday 7-8 p.m. SYRACUSE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH (Corner Harrison & Pearl St.) David Hudson, Pastor Sunday School 10a.m Praise and Worship, Sunday 7:30 p.m. Youth Service, Tuesday 7 p.m. Bible Study. Thursday 7:30 p.m. WAWASE E LAKESIDE CHAPEL Harlan Steffen, Pastor Gary Moore, S.S. Supt. Worship Service 10a.m. Sunday School 11 a m. CLUNETTE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Ken Fast, Pastor Worship Ser vice 9 am. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. BARBEE COMMUNITY CHURCH (Kuhn Drive, Little Barbee Lake) John Petgen, Pastor Sunday School 9 a m. Worship Service 10a.m. Sunday Evening 7 p.m. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday 7p.m. MORRIS CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST (County Roads ISON And37sE) Charles Taylor, Pastor Don Conley, Supt. Sunday School 9:30a m. Worship 10:30a.m. SAINT ANDREW'S UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH SYRACUSE Rev. Philip Frew, Pastor Church School 9:15 am. Worship Hour 10:30a.m. UMYFdp.m. ZION CHAPEL U.B. CHURCH (Corner Syra-Web. Rd. And 1000 N) Rev. Hubert Schmucker Bernard Roberts, S.S. Supt. Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. Evening Worship? p.m. GOSHEN FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST Service 10:30am. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Service 7:45 p.m.

Methodist Church: The Women’s Home Missionary Society and the Ladies’ Aid Society These two organizations united in the 1940 s to be called the Womens Society of Christian Service known by the acronym of WSCS. The name of the WSCS was changed again in 1971 to the United Methodist Women following the merging of the Methodist Chruch and the Evangelical United Brethern Church. These organizations have done much toward the improvement of the physical church buildings. Following are some of the gifts they have presented to the church: $2,000 toward the new church building, contribution toward the Art Glass Memorial Windows, 94 church hymnals in 1961, a set of ministerial stolls for all church seasons in memory of past presidents of the Women’s Society and a complete new kitchen in 1979. The church parsonage has been the exclusive responsibility of the organizations down through the

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH (Armstrong Road) OSWEGO Dale W. Parker, Pastor » Sunday School 9:30a m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6 p m Thursday Prayer Meeting 7 p m SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES CATHOLIC CHURCH SYRACUSE Father Robert Hammond Sunday Mass 7:15 a.m.; andll:lsa.m. Saturday Mass6:3op.m. Confession Before Masses Holy Days 7 a m. and 7 30p.m. HASTINGS ISLAND CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH David Widmoyer, Pastor Mike Zimmerman, Jr., Supt. Kendall Biller, Supt. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30a.m. Prayer Meeting Thursday 7:30p.m. APOSTOLIC CHR ISTI AN MILFORD Theo Beer, Henry Beer, Jesse Beer. Elmer Hartter and Walter Steffen, Ministers Morning Worship 10 a.m. Afternoon Worship 12:30 p.m. CHRISTIAN CHURCH MILFORD Carl Shearer, Minister Fred Walls, Associate Minister Bible School 9:30 am. Worship 10:30a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m. TURKEY CREEK CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN GRAVELTON Olden Mitchell, Pastor Church School 9:30 am. Worship 10:30a.m. CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH CROMWELL (111 W. Orange St.) Frank Barcus, Pastor Sunday School.9:3oa.m. Worship Service 10:45a.m. NEW SALEM CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN (900NA200E) Irvin Miller, Pastor Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30a.m x Evening Worship 7 p.m. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NORTHWEBSTER Rex Lindemood. Pastor WorshlpS:3oa.m. and 10:45a.m. Church School 9:30 a.m.

years. All major appliances and renovations have been updated regularly. Monies for these goals have been obtained through fund raising activities. Youth Fellowship The Epworth League, which changed its name in the 1940 s to the Methodist Youth Fellowship, started in the 1890 s or before. This was a county-wide organization for Methodist boys and girls which met in the various towns during the early 19405. This group shares responsibilities for the church fellowship activities such as the annual church ice cream social and all-church Chrismtas caroling. In 1980-1981 the Milford Methodist Youth Fellowship is joining with nearby church youth groups, which make up the consolidated school district, for bi-monthly meetings. Record Os Pastors The following is a list of pastors at the Milford United Methodist Church and the years they served:

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BIBLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH NORTHWEBSTER Larry Zimmerman, Pastor Donny Guy, S.S. Supt Sunday School9:3oa.m. Worship 10:30a.m — 6p.m. Wednesday Services 7 p.m. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD LIGONIER Vicar Norman "Red" Schell Church Service 9 a m. Sunday School 10:15a.m. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH (41h And Main Streets) MILFORD Rex. Maximilian Korecki, O.F.M , Conv? Spanish mass noon Doctrina (CCD) Sunday 10:30a m. CHURCHOF GOD SYRACUSE Rev. Michael Murrell, Pastor Roger Kern, S.S. Supt. Sunday School 9 30a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a m. FIRSTBRETHREN CHURCH MILFORD PaulTiokel, Pastor Jerry Leiter, Supt. Church School 9:30a m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m BYC Sunday 6:30p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. BETHEL CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN MILFORD Roger Eberly, Pastor Delbert Moneyheffer, Bd. Chm. ’Sunday School 9:30a.m. Worship 10:30a.m. BETHANY CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN (U.S. 6) F. Wayne Lawson, Pastor Morning Worship 9:30 am. Sunday School 10:30a.m. CHURCHOFTHE BRETHREN SYRACUSE John McFarland, Pastor Howard Wenger, Supt. Sunday School 9:30 a. m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Sunday' Bible Study 7 p.m. GRACE BIBLE CHURCH SYRACUSE Dr. David R. Haifley, Pastor Robert F. Graft, Assoc. Pastor Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Evening Service 7 p.m. Wednesday Evening Service?p.m.

J. W. Bradshaw, 1861-1862; Sylvanus Davisson, 1863; E. M. Baker, 1864-1865; E. P. Church, 1866; W. J. Bernard, 1867-1868; J. W. Miller, 1869; J. M. Mann, 1870; A. C. Gerard, 1871; A. H. Nafzger, 1872; J. S. McElwel, 1873; W. B. Graham, 1874-1875; F. A. Sale, 1879; A. C. Pattel, 1877; A. J. Kerwood, 1878; P. S. Cook, 1879; William Lesh, 1880-1882; J. S. Cain, 1883-1884; G. M. Carpenter, 1885-1886; C. H. Murray, 1887-1889; J. M. DeWeese, 1890; and J. I. McCoy, 1891 Also Millard Pell, 1892-1893; J. G. A. Martin, 1894: W. P. Herron, 1895-1896; J. D. Belt, 1897; A. A. Turner, 1898-1901; Arthur Caes, 1902; W. F. Dingel, 1903; Arthur Cates, 1904-1905; J. F. Bailey, 1906-1907; M. L. Fansher, 1908; A. W. Griggs, 1909; R. T. Leaslie, 1910-1911; C. A. Cloud, 1912; W. F. Buckner, 1913-1914; A. L. Leamport, 1915-1916; R. V. Johnson, 1917-December 1919; True S. Haddock, February 1920December 1922; Noah E. Smith, February 1923-1925; and Fred R. Hill, 1925-1938 And Claude Garrison 1928-1931; E. S. McKee, 1931-1937; Walter W. Krider, 1937-1942; Marion O. King, August 1942-1946; L. Lyle Case, July 1946-1948; Robert J. Spoolstra, 1948-1949; Charles W. Ballard, 1949-1953; Kenneth Overmyer, 1953-1954; Robert D. Wall, 1954-1957; L. E. Clayton, 1957-1960; L. E. Thompson, 19601963; Richard Summer, 1963-

It's time to celebrate

By REV. PAUL FULP Milford United Methodist Church For at least 130 years, that we know of, Methodism has been part of the life of Milford. The records do not give any exact dates or details, but we can determine that there was a group of Methodists meeting in the area prior to 1850. After all those years, it seems time to celebrate. Ulis summer we have had an innovative Church School program which w-e called “Celebration ’Bo’’ both to 1 celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Church School and to celebrate our own history. “Celebration ’80” has emphasized learning in intergenerational groups, celebrating our faith and learning about our world. In a sense that seems to capsulize the life of our church through the years. It was said of the early Christians, “Look how they love one another. ” That is very true of

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS KINGDOM HALL (East Papakeechie Lake Drive) Sunday: Public Lecture9:3oa.m. Watchtower Study 10:30a.m. Tuesday, Study of Prophecy 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Ministry School 7 p.m. SALEMCOMMUNITY CHURCH (iv 2 Mile Southeast Os Wilmot) Pastor E Imer Miller Sunday School 9:30a.m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Sunday Evening Service 7 p.m Prayer Bible Study Wednesday 7 p.m. GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH SYRACUSE (200 E. Main St.) Frank Barcus, Pastor Worship 9:15 am. Sunday School 10:15 am. CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE SYRACUSE Harold Barton. Pastor Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. CHURCHOFTHE BRETHREN NORTHWEBSTER Paul F. Shrider, Pastor Morning Worship 9:30 am. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. BURROAK UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH Lawrence Byrnes, Pastor Sunday School 9:30a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH LEESBURG Ross Richey, Pastor Bill Smith, Supt. Morning Worship 9:30 a. m. Church School 10:30a.m. ALL SAINTS'CHAPEL (Episcopal) LAKE WAWASE E Vicar : Rev. David L-Hyndman Holy Eucharist9a.m. NORTHWEBSTER CHRISTIAN CHURCH Sunday School 9:30 a.m Worship 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Services 7 p.m.

1969; Ralph Karstedt, 1969-1974; James Alt, 1974-1975; Everett

♦ Isa g ? 3 i W 52* — ' <■■■■■■ FIRST CHURCH FOR THE MILFORD UNITED METHODISTS — This 40x60 feet church was built in 1866 on the corner of Catherine and West Streets. The land was deeded to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Milford by Edward S. Higbee and is wife, Clarissa, on July 11.1866 for SIOO. Services were held in this church until the 1900 s.

this church. It is clear that there is care for one another, an enjoyment of each other s company. We have many activities as a church family for fellowship and fun. There is a strong sense of fellowship among those involved. This is a church of eager minds. I have been glad for the remarkable readiness to encounter ideas and lifestyles and learn in light of the Christian Taith. People are open to fresh approaches to the Christian life and ways to blend it with the everyday agenda People of the kinds and conditions are known to be welcome here. It is a friendly church which extends open arms to people of any station and persuasion. United Methodists are involved in every area of community life — service organizations, literary clubs, local government and community projects. The people who worship and learn here go

QUAKER HAVEN FRIENDS (500E And9ooN) DEWART LAKE Quaker Hall — 10 a m. CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Paul Fulp. Pastor Worship 9:15 a.m. Church School 10:15a m. WAWASEE HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH (Across From High School) Norman D McVey, Pastor Larry Renner, S.S. Supt Sunday School 9 30 a m Worship 10:30a.m andlpm Mid Week Wed 7 p.m AWANA Clubs Thurs. 6:30p m. CALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (SR 13 South) SYRACUSE Paul Steele, Pastor Donald Sheline, Assoc Church School 9 30 a m. Morning Worship 10:40 a m Jr 8. Sr Y F 6:30 p.m. Sunday UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MILFORD Paul Fulp, Pastor Robert Cline, Lay Leader Church School 9 30 a m Worship 10:30a.m. UMY F Sunday 6p m LAKELAND COMMUNITY CHURCH, OSWEGO Rev. Roy Mickley, Pastor Sunday School9:3oa.m Worship Service 10:30a.m. Evening Service 7 p.m. SOLOMON'S CREEK UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH F. Hazen Sparks, Pastor Worship9:3oa.m. Sunday School 10:30a.m. MILFORDCHAPEL (Beer Road) Ben Shirk, Pastor Dale Schertz, Supt. Sunday School 10a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Wednesday Service 7 p.m. CHURCH OF GOD NORTHWEBSTER Brice Casey, Pastor Henry McCrey, Associate Pastor Worship9:3oa.m. Sunday School 10:40 a.m. Evening Service 7 p.m. Family Night, Wednesday 7 p.m.

Owens, 1975-1979; and Paul Fulp, 1979.

out to express their own spirit for life and faith in God We believe that church in the community ought to be cooperative, rather than competitive. Therefore, the United Methodist Church has been a force behind the churches joining hands in common causes Through the years the church has been fortunate to have good pastoral leadership But just as importantly the lay people have contributed their good leadership, their talents and support, their interest in the work of the United Methodism throughout the world and their convictions about what it means to be the People of God. With a proud heritage reaching back to the 1840 s, back to the earliest days of Milford and the township and continuing as a strong and active force today — this is the Milford United Methodist Church.

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