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T-KUP
(Trinity, Kline Memorial, Union, Pleasanthill) |
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A Brief History of the United Brethren Church of Logan, Ohio Copied from Souvenir Edition The Democrat-Sentinel, Logan, Ohio 1934 Shortly after 1800, pioneer United Brethren preachers came into Hocking County and established a number of preaching places. Today there are thirteen United Brethren churches in the county with a total membership of two thousand. Until 1891 the church was entirely rural. In that year it was decided to organize a church in Logan to take care of the many members who were moving to the city. In 1891 Rev. G. W. Deaver, then presiding elder of the conference, organized a board of Trustees for the new enterprise. The following men were chosen: W. P. Mathias, T. J. Brown, W. W. McDonald, Rev. Jeremiah Iles, William Iles, William Lemon and Isaac Mathias. In the same year (1891) a class was formed. There were thirteen members, one of which number, Mrs. Ida Mathias, still lives. The first sermon was preached in the old courthouse by the presiding elder, Rev. Deaver. Rev. J. H. Dickson was chosen pastor of the new organization and services were held in the hall over the Rempel Bank. The following year a church building was begun. The trustees purchased the old Tan Yard lots, Corner of Hunter and Spring Streets. Here was erected the first United Brethren church in Logan. The corner stone was laid in May 1892 by Bishop N. Castle at which time $800 was raised. The building was completed and on August 30, 1892, was dedicated by Bishop E. B. Kephart. This building was a brick structure consisting an auditorium and a side room for Sunday School use. The building served its purpose well until 1909 when it became apparent that more room must be provided for this rapidly growing congregation. The following ministers served the church in this first building and in this order of succession: J. H. Dickson, C. Laughlin, J. M. Martin, W. H. Wright, reared in Hocking County, G. F. Hughes, N. E. Cornetet, W. S. Baker, F.P. Sanders, J. U. Brown, E. E. Burtner, R. A. Powell, J. W. Willis and O. L. Barngrover, who was on the job when the second building was erected. On the coming of Rev. Barngrover to the pastorate of the church, steps were at once taken preparatory to the erection of a larger building. In 1909 the board of trustees, T. J. Brown, Rev. Jeremiah Iles, M. B. Brown, Henry Trimmer, H. G. Hansel, Otto Iles, W. C. Reasoner, E. E. Stiverson, and J. S. Cherrington had the plans for the present building drawn. Work was begun in the spring of 1910 and on May 10, of that year a rally was held with Dr. J. M. Phillipi, editor of the Religious Telescope, as the guest speaker. Pledges to the sum of $11,700 were secured for the new enterprise. The work began and in August of that year the cornerstone was laid. The building was completed in the spring of 1911. The first preaching service was held in this building on March 19, 1911. The new building was dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1911, by Bishop W. M. Bell. Easter Sunday has since been observed as Anniversary Day with attendance ranging from 850 to over 1100. The offerings on that day, even in these depression times usually approached $1,000. The ministers who have served the church since the erection of the new church are, W. L. Barngrover, 1909-1916; W. E. Reibel, 1916-1919; J. G. Spears, 1919-1924; T. C. Harper, 1924-1928; E. H. Daily, 1928-1929; B. C. Peters, 1929-1934. Rev. John Amos Toy is the present pastor, coming here from the Fifth Avenue church in Columbus, following the last conference. He exchanged pulpits with Peters. The present board of trustees is comprised of H. G. Hansel, Dr. J. S. Cherrington, Judge H. M. Whitcraft, S. T. Lyke, W. C. Reasoner, D. M. Heft, E. M. Godfrey, J. A. Vickel, Wm. Loomis. In 1922 during the pastorate of J. G. Spears, the brick parsonage located at 144 West Hunter Street was erected at a cost of $14,000. The old parsonage which was bought quite early in the career of the church in this city, still stands just west of the church and is occupied by Mrs. Wm. Coulthard. This congregation which began with 13 members, has grown to nearly 800 members. When the present building was built, many thought it was entirely too large and never would be needed, but time has proven the contrary. At the present and for some years, the present building has been too crowded for the best of work. If it were half again larger it would about fit the present needs. The average Sunday morning attendance two years ago was 404 and the average for the last year was 397. The growth of this congregation has been gradual in the main but there have been several outstanding revivals which added large numbers to the membership. While Rev. Barngrover was pastor, two great revivals were held netting upwards of 100 members each to the church. During the pastorate of J. D. Spears, he conducted a meeting that resulted in 175 conversions, also during the same pastorate, Dr. W. A. Knapp held a meeting that resulted in more than 100 conversions. Later a meeting conducted by Bishop W. M. Weakley netted more than one hundred and the meeting held in January, 1931, by W. L. Whitwell resulted in 127 conversions. There are at least 100 United Brethren living in Logan who hold their membership in the rural churches around Logan who look to this church for spiritual care. From the beginning the strength of this church was its Sunday School. There are no records of who all the superintendents were but since the erection of the present building, Judge H. M. Whitcraft has been the almost continuous superintendent. He was elected about the time of the dedication of the new church and with the exception of the two years when Judge Stoughton was elected and one year when H. G. Hansel was chosen, he has held that placed, making about twenty years the Judge has been the leader of this Sunday School. In February 1931 this church tried the unified church program. It was announced to be tried for a month and if liked would be continued but if not to return to the old way of Sunday School followed by the worship service. The experiment was so satisfactory that it was continued and is now the regular order of Sunday morning service. The combined serve begins at 9:00 a.m. and dismisses at 10:30 a.m. lasting just one and one-half hours. There are three divisions, amounting to three churches in session at the same time, the adult church, the children’s church and the beginner’s church. The Beginner’s church has its own opening service and its own independent program. The Children’s church and the adult church have their opening worship service together. At 9:20 the members of the Children’s church go to their class rooms for the study of the Sunday School lessons, while the Adult church has its sermon. At 9:50 the Adult church goes to class for class study and the Children’s church has its worship service. Twice each month the pastor conducts the children’s worship, the rest of the time it is in the care of the Children’s Superintendent, Miss Madge Wright. The Missionary societies furnish a missionary story once each month. Mrs. Ida Mathias is superintendent of the Beginners and has been for many years. They have an interesting little church all to themselves, except for the closing when all three churches come together for reports, announcements, and closing song and prayer. This church has always been interested in the world wide spread of the gospel. There are three missionary societies, the Women’s Missionary Society, the Vera Blinn chapter and the Otterbein Guild Chapter. For about ten years this church has maintained a foreign missionary Living Link in the persons of Rev. and Mrs. G. T. Rosselot, missionaries in Free Town, Africa. Three ministers have gone out from this church. Rev. Carl M. Sweazy, now preaching for the Baptist church in Los Angeles, California; Rev. Earl Barthelow, now preaching for the Presbyterians in northern Ohio, and Rev. C. L. Yochum of Columbus, Ohio. |