Dublin Core
Title
1935 UMC 50th Anniversary History, March 1935, Rossville, Kansas
Description
History of the Church
Methodists Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Fifty years ago, March 1, 1885, marked the dedication of the local Methodist church, and last Sunday the congregation and pastor, Rev. Wright Horton sponsored the celebration of the anniversary. A large crowd was present and enjoyed the splendid program. Dr. J. R. McFadden, District Superintendent, presided at the morning worship. At the noon hour an elaborate dinner was served in the church dining hall, and four long tables would not accommodate the huge crowd of members and guests.
The afternoon program included a fine talk by Mr. George Hoyes of Topeka; son of Rev. Frank Hoyes. Rev. Hoyes was the first Methodist minister sent out to Rossville conference. He was a Circuit rider and covered all the territory between Rossville and Kansas City. In his talk Sunday afternoon Mr. Hoyes was able to review in a most interesting way his boyhood days in Rossville as a minister's son; and told of their joys and sorrows revealing their spiritual life and willingness to accept the sacrifice involved in building a better world.
Rev. Horton conducted the evening worship as a closing service, ending his years work.
The special music furnished by the choir including anthems, solos, and duets was an outstanding feature of the anniversary program, throughout the day.
The Rossville charge was organized in the James school house west of Rossville, in 1872. A class was started there that year by the Rev. Paul Strimple, a local preacher. A class was started in Rossville, also, sometime after the founding of the town in 1871. It was decided to build a church in the new town, but due to the small membership and financial weakness, this was not attempted for a number of years. Services were held in the school house until Feb. 29, 1880, when the Baptists dedicated their new church on the site now occupied by the Joe Navarre residence on Spruce street. For two years after that Baptist, Christian, Presbyterian and Methodist shared this building, each having the use of it one Sunday a month morning and evening; Methodists having such use the fourth Sunday of each month. By 1884, Christians and Presbyterians having built their own churches, the Methodists and Baptists were each using the building half time.
The Methodist church was chartered in 1881, the charter being registered with the Secretary of State June 13. The legal name is "The Board of Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Rossville, Kansas." The purpose is stated to be "to promote the moral and religious welfare of the community where located, and to hold and dispose of such property as may come into its lawful possession, provided the holding and disposal of such property is done in conformity with the provisions of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the U. S. of A." The first trustees and signers of the charter were W. G. Gilbert, Isaac Lawrence, Jos. Andrews, J. W. Miller, A. E. Strimple, J. T. Heslet, and T. M. Attebury.
Though considered earlier, nothing was done about building a church until after the coming of the Rev. J. W. Clock as pastor in March, 1884. Lots 55, 57, 59, Pearl street, were purchased, the deed being dated June 24. 1884, and the Trustees being W. G. Gilbert, J. W. Miller, Jos. VanVleck, John Heslet and John Weseloh. Another lot, No. 61, was added to the property later. The work of building was started in the late summer, carried thru the fall, and completed early in 1885.
The dedication of the church took place on March 1, 1885. Dr. H. D. Fisher, editor of the Kansas Methodist, preached the dedicatory sermon at the morning hour. Rev. C. Holman former pastor, then located at Silver Lake, gave the evening sermon. No statement is available, but it was all in hand except $500-$600 and this was pledged on the day of dedication. A note from September, 1886 expresses the thanks of the Trustees and the Ladies Aid society to Mrs. Dr. Mclntire for aid in lifting the last note and freeing the
Methodists Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Fifty years ago, March 1, 1885, marked the dedication of the local Methodist church, and last Sunday the congregation and pastor, Rev. Wright Horton sponsored the celebration of the anniversary. A large crowd was present and enjoyed the splendid program. Dr. J. R. McFadden, District Superintendent, presided at the morning worship. At the noon hour an elaborate dinner was served in the church dining hall, and four long tables would not accommodate the huge crowd of members and guests.
The afternoon program included a fine talk by Mr. George Hoyes of Topeka; son of Rev. Frank Hoyes. Rev. Hoyes was the first Methodist minister sent out to Rossville conference. He was a Circuit rider and covered all the territory between Rossville and Kansas City. In his talk Sunday afternoon Mr. Hoyes was able to review in a most interesting way his boyhood days in Rossville as a minister's son; and told of their joys and sorrows revealing their spiritual life and willingness to accept the sacrifice involved in building a better world.
Rev. Horton conducted the evening worship as a closing service, ending his years work.
The special music furnished by the choir including anthems, solos, and duets was an outstanding feature of the anniversary program, throughout the day.
The Rossville charge was organized in the James school house west of Rossville, in 1872. A class was started there that year by the Rev. Paul Strimple, a local preacher. A class was started in Rossville, also, sometime after the founding of the town in 1871. It was decided to build a church in the new town, but due to the small membership and financial weakness, this was not attempted for a number of years. Services were held in the school house until Feb. 29, 1880, when the Baptists dedicated their new church on the site now occupied by the Joe Navarre residence on Spruce street. For two years after that Baptist, Christian, Presbyterian and Methodist shared this building, each having the use of it one Sunday a month morning and evening; Methodists having such use the fourth Sunday of each month. By 1884, Christians and Presbyterians having built their own churches, the Methodists and Baptists were each using the building half time.
The Methodist church was chartered in 1881, the charter being registered with the Secretary of State June 13. The legal name is "The Board of Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Rossville, Kansas." The purpose is stated to be "to promote the moral and religious welfare of the community where located, and to hold and dispose of such property as may come into its lawful possession, provided the holding and disposal of such property is done in conformity with the provisions of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the U. S. of A." The first trustees and signers of the charter were W. G. Gilbert, Isaac Lawrence, Jos. Andrews, J. W. Miller, A. E. Strimple, J. T. Heslet, and T. M. Attebury.
Though considered earlier, nothing was done about building a church until after the coming of the Rev. J. W. Clock as pastor in March, 1884. Lots 55, 57, 59, Pearl street, were purchased, the deed being dated June 24. 1884, and the Trustees being W. G. Gilbert, J. W. Miller, Jos. VanVleck, John Heslet and John Weseloh. Another lot, No. 61, was added to the property later. The work of building was started in the late summer, carried thru the fall, and completed early in 1885.
The dedication of the church took place on March 1, 1885. Dr. H. D. Fisher, editor of the Kansas Methodist, preached the dedicatory sermon at the morning hour. Rev. C. Holman former pastor, then located at Silver Lake, gave the evening sermon. No statement is available, but it was all in hand except $500-$600 and this was pledged on the day of dedication. A note from September, 1886 expresses the thanks of the Trustees and the Ladies Aid society to Mrs. Dr. Mclntire for aid in lifting the last note and freeing the
Creator
The Rossville Reporter, Rossville, Kansas
This work is copyrighted; the copyright holder has granted permission for this item to be used by the Rossville Community Library. This permission does not extend to third parties.
This work is copyrighted; the copyright holder has granted permission for this item to be used by the Rossville Community Library. This permission does not extend to third parties.
Date
March 1935
Rights
All rights reserved
Identifier
RCL0619
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