Compiled and written by Mrs. Fred L. Cagwin

Contents of Part I:

The Second Century Begins

The Japan Mission in War

The Methodist Church Unites

The Church Societies

The Second Century Begins

There is a saying that the "first hundred years are the hardest," so with a century of splendid achievement behind us we looked forward to the second hundred years with great enthusiasm and hope.

This second century had a most auspicious beginning with the visit to Carbondale on December 1, 1932 of that amazing woman, Helen Keller, accompanied by her life-long friend and companion, Anne Sullivan Macy, and her secretary, Miss Polly Thompson. This meeting, which was sponsored by the Carbondale Kiwanis Club and the Federated Women's Clubs in behalf of the American Foundation for the Blind, was held in our church and was a thrilling experience for all who attended it.

The organ which had done good service for over 30 years was beginning to need too much attention, so the choir loft was remodeled and a new $10,000 instrument was installed, the chimes being given by Miss Harriet Pascoe in memory of her father, Alfred Pascoe. A brilliant organ recital by several local organists was given on Friday night, October 19, 1934, and the organ formally dedicated the following Sunday morning, October 21st.

In January, 1935 vandals broke into the church one night and did hundreds of dollars worth of damage, although they found no money; but there was not a lock or cupboard they did not smash in their search for it.

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The Japan Mission in War

In November, 1937, Helen Couch came home from Japan on one of her furloughs, and brought us the inspiration of her experiences in fine public addresses and many private conversations. She returned to Japan in February, 1939, to Kwassui Women's College, where she taught, altogether, for 25 years. Kwassui means "living water" and at graduation the senior class had a Ceremony of passing on the "living water" to the lower classes.

At the onset of war, she was evacuated from Japan to this country and had lived at Robincroft, Pasadena, since then. She died December 27, 1953, and after cremation her remains were brought to Carbondale, where a Memorial Service was held in the First Methodist Church with Rev. Clarence R. Hickok of Clarks Summit officiating in the absence of the pastor, Rev. Charles C. Chayer. It was a great heartbreak to us all when the second A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and our beloved Kwassui was practically destroyed and some of our girls lost in that terrible disaster.

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The Methodist Church Unites

On May 10, 1939, a very momentous event in the history of Methodism occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, when the three main branches of American Methodism---The Methodist Episcopal Church, The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church---were merged into one church called The Methodist Church. This had a very important effect on our church work, as it meant reorganization in all departments.

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The Church Societies

On September 11, 1940, all women's societies of the church were United in one society, the Woman's Society of Christian Service, with an Evening Society for those who preferred an evening meeting. This later became the Wesleyan Service Guild which continued until December 31, 1954, when it disbanded and became a part of the WSCS. Another society called The Methodist Guild retried its separate identity as The Friendship Circle, continuing to raise money and work for the church in every way. It is utterly impossible to name all the magnificent women who have been officers and have been so loyal and unselfish in giving their all to these societies in various capacities; the women who prepare with loving care for the Communion Service. the women who come so faithfully, week after week, to quilt and do other sewing, the women in the kitchen who really get those suppers ready by the sweat of their brows! We can mention only a few.

Presidents of the Friendship Circle since 1940 have been, Mrs. D. W. Kemble, .Mrs. S. T. Burnard, Mrs. George Filer, Mrs. Nelson Watkins, Miss Maude Stephens, Mrs. Rex Bell, Miss Florence Weidaw, Mrs. Ernest Cornell and Miss Grace Powell.

The presidents of the WSCS since the merger have been, Mrs. H. F. Clark, Mrs. Medford Crocker, Mrs. J. L. Varker, Mrs. Morgan Patten, Mrs. Edmund Lewis, Mrs. Harold N. Lake, Miss Mary Hall---the present incumbent being Mrs. Gerald Alexander, who as Vice President stepped in when Miss Hall was obliged to resign last fall. In these 17 years, one of the main sources of income, besides pledges and suppers, has been the annual bazaar, the most recent one, in December, 1956, having cleared over $1,800. In this connection, we must name Several women who have borne the burden of the bazaars and money-raising events as Secretary of Local Church Activities since 1940 - Mrs. Idwal Jones, Mrs. Arthur Emmett, Mrs. Everett Stephens, Mrs. Edmund Lewis, Mrs. Raymond Eathorne and Mrs. H. N. Lake, who has been General Chairman of the bazaar for the past several years, and is also at present a District officer. Only 3 treasurers have served the Society since the merger, Mrs. Glenn Ball, Mrs. Henry Tonkin and at present Mrs. David Stephens who has been assistant to the others practically all that time. Mrs. F. L. Cagwin has been pianist of the Women's Societies for 29 years.

Other groups, such as the Children's groups and Methodist Youth Fellowship, were reorganized according to age, the former up to 12 years of age and the M.Y.F. from 12 to 24. In this group are the Junior High, boys and girls, 12 to 14, and the Senior High, boys and girls, 14 to 18.

The Methodist Men were organized on September 13, 1940, later becoming the Men's Forum. It became somewhat inactive in more recent years, but was re-activated and obtained a new charter on October 19, 1956, with David Stephens as president and Robert Vandenberg as vice president. The presidents since 1940 have been Roy Lewis, John Goodwin, Edison Giles, Ralph Dunn, Carl Camin, Rollin Foster and Clifford Phillips. This Men's Society has become famous for its pancake suppers with Alvin Roberts as the Chief Pancake Maker! Alvin was also head usher for 10 years until May, 1951, when he was succeeded by Willis Snedeker, in charge at present.

A recently organized group called the Triple M's---Mr., Mrs. and Miss---is made up of young married couples and single young people. It is really an outgrowth of the Couples' Sunday School Class and they are very active in church work, their present objective being a new Parish House. Their very efficient president is Waldred Pugh, whose fine tenor voice adds much to our choir, he is also Chairman of the Music Committee.

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