The original of the following historical account was written in 1932 in dialogue form for the Centennial Pageant presented on April 13 and 14 of that year. Mrs. G. B. Samson, Miss Gladys Gunsauls, and Mrs. Fred L. Cagwin were co-authors. This present prose form is an adaptation of the Pageant. It has been written by Mrs. Cagwin this year, 1957, for the 125th Anniversary to be observed May 2, 3, and 5. It is to be read as of the year of its original writing, 1932.

Contents of Part II:

The White's Crossing Chapel

The Foreign Missions

The Music of the Church

The Young Lady Workers

The Home Missions

The White's Crossing Chapel

In 1874, a chapel costing $600 was built at No. 4, just above White's Crossing, as a mission of the Carbondale Church, and continued as such for many years. Here Mr. Pierce Butler worked untiringly a great deal of his time. He considered no effort too great, and each week, after services in the Mother Church, he made his way to No. 4 Chapel. Other pioneer spirits of that day who also worked at the Chapel were Alderman Williams and James Robinson, father of Mrs. David Maxwell and Mrs. Fred Wilson. Mr. Robinson came to America in 1868 and became a faithful member of the Carbondale M. E. Church until his death in 1905. He led the Thursday night prayer meeting as well as the Sunday morning class meeting at 9:30. He was given an Exhorter's license from the Wyoming Conference for his faithful service, which he prized very highly. Taking his lantern, he would meet Brothers James Place and Pierce Butler and together they would wend their way, in all sorts of weather through the mud or deep snow, to the little chapel on the hill, where they sang and preached God's Word.

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The Foreign Missions

A church is not complete without the Ladies Aid, so a society was started here in 1874, although available records only go back to 1882, with Mrs. Alfred Pascoe as president. Through the years the Martha Washington suppers were their greatest source of income, as well as the usual quilting. In later years, the Methodist Guild, organized in 1917, with Mrs. Ed Maze as the first president, worked in conjunction with the Ladies Aid, helping with the suppers and beautifying the church with flowers.

In 1874, according to the "Heathen Women's Friend," a few women, inspired by missionary zeal, met at one of their homes and organized a Women's Foreign Missionary Society with Mrs. C. E. Gardner as president, Mrs. H. B, Jadwin, Jr., as secretary, and 40 women enrolled as members. After several years it dropped from sight, but was reorganized in 1882 with Mrs. Pierce Butler as president. Six presidents who have served the Society are still here, Miss Pascoe, Mrs. A. E. Tiffany, Mrs. G. B. Samson, Mrs. W. G. Scurry, Mrs. F. C. Leonard and Mrs. Harvey Williams. Nineteen countries have been touched by this Society and Carbondale is valiantly doing her share toward promoting Christian work throughout the world.

In 1916, Helen Couch went to Japan as a missionary and has been a great inspiration to us at home. One day Miss Pascoe received a letter from Helen, telling of the great need of a kindergarten for the poor children from the slums of Hakodate. In September, 1918, Miss Augusta Dickerson, a missionary from Hakodate and a friend of Helen's, came to Carbondale to address the Society. She had lunch with Miss Pascoe and over the teacups the kindergarten became a reality, probably the most outstanding work done by this Society. It took several years to raise the necessary money, but the school was finally built and dedicated in 1925. Because of her large initial gift, Miss Pascoe was given the privilege of naming the building, so made it a memorial to her mother," THE ELIZABETH PASCOE MEMORIAL LOVE KINDERGARTEN."

In addition to the Women's Society, the Young Women's Foreign Missionary Society organized by Helen Couch is making substantial contributions to the cause of missions and furnishing much needed help to Helen Couch who has been transferred to a teaching position in the college at Kwassui. Other active societies working under the mother society are the Standard Bearers, the King's Heralds and the Little Light Bearers.

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The Music of the Church

While most churches of that day had only congregational singing, this church had a choir and a little reed organ, not much like the fine instrument we enjoy today. But the music was just as beautiful then, for people worshipped more in song than they do now. The first choir of which we have a record was the one led by George Rowley, leader from 1878 to 1882. He was a sawyer for the D & H Co. and was killed by the bursting of a saw while at work in 1882, closing a useful and devoted life to his Lord and his Church. The beautiful memorial window facing Church Street was the gift of his daughter, Olive Rowley Shiffer, in memory of her father and mother.

In the next 10 years there were several leaders, Prof. H. D. Guernsey (during whose term W. R. Moon joined the choir) Gibson Stuart, A. W. Bailey, with Miss Rose Strickland and Mrs. G. H. Ackerman as organists. In 1892, W. D. Evans---father of our present organist, John Evans--- was elected, serving for a number of years, during which John probably played the organ some of the time.

Of all who have come and gone, few served so long and faithfully at the King of Instruments as Mrs. Harry Hiller who left us for the Heavenly Choir on May 9, 1929, having been very ill for the greater part of a year. She gave unstintingly of her fine talent and beautiful personality for over 22 years. Between the time of her being stricken and the election of John B. Evans, in the fall of 1929, Mrs. Fred L. Cagwin filled the position of organist for about 8 months.

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The Young Lady Workers

In 1890, the younger women, feeling that they could be of greater help in working for the church if they were organized, formed a society called the Young Lady Workers, with Mrs. Robert Blair as the first president, and during the 42 years of its existence it has been served by 22 presidents. A large Fair was held in the tabernacle and by the time the church was dedicated, the society had earned $2,325 for the organ which was to be their contribution to the new church. But about this time Alice Morse died, and her mother, Mrs. D. K. Morse, wished to give the organ as a memorial to her daughter. Although the Young Lady Workers had worked pretty hard to earn that money, they sacrificed their own feelings and turned the money into the general fund.

A few years after the Young Lady Workers was started, Mrs. A. W. Reynolds, President, suggested publishing a cookbook, and after much work in collecting well tested recipes, the first edition of 500 copies was published in 1898. There have been 7 editions, each one improved and enlarged, in all 18,500 books having been printed, realizing a total of $11,000. Mrs. Reynolds, known as the "Cookbook Lady," had almost the entire task of preparing all 7 editions, and parts of this book have been translated into Chinese.

The Young Lady Workers later changed their name to the Methodist Auxiliary, and it has been a flourishing society all these years, of which Miss Etta Felts has been a most efficient Treasurer for 30 years.

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The Home Missions

The candle that shines farthest gleams most brightly at home, so it was not surprising that a Women's Home Missionary Society was organized 13 years after the Women's Foreign Missionary Society, and their work has been very far-reaching and effective. In 1895, 14 women organized themselves into a Society with Mrs. William Edgar, the Pastor's wife, as president. During the 37 years of its existence, this society has had but 5 presidents, Mrs. William Edgar, Mrs. F. E. Kilpatrick, Mrs. Whitelock, Miss Pascoe and Mrs. H. F. Clark, who at present is also Conference President. Mrs. W. Gray Jones, wife of our Pastor, is District President.

Even before the organization of a society, Home Mission work was being carried on by a Mission Band under the supervision of Miss Pascoe and Mrs. McNulty, the Pastor's wife. They supported a negro girl in school, gave a scholarship to a Navajo Indian boy, did work among the girls of our Southern Mountains and also among the Spanish girls of the Southwest. Our missionary societies are splendidly organized for all ages from the Mothers' Jewels, up through Home Guards, Queen Esthers and Young Women.

Probably no work has been dearer to our hearts than the Wyoming Conference Children's Home at Binghamton, New York. Work began as a Deaconess Home in 1914 and grew rapidly until a new building became necessary. This was completed in 1921, for which our people gave most generously, windows in the buildings and many of the furnishings being memorials to loved ones from this church.

In 1897, a house and lot at 114 Belmont Street was purchased for use as a chapel, where weekly prayer meetings were held and where, as at No. 4 Chapel, Pierce Butler worked devotedly.

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