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Compiled and written by Mrs. Fred L. Cagwin
Many of those who built this beautiful church, who were mentioned in the 100 year history, have gone on to their reward. but we are happy to have some of them still with us. However, to name ALL those who have given so many years of faithful, devoted service and loyalty to this church and Sunday School would take a whole book in itself, so can only mention a few. Miss Jane Butler, now in her 91st year, whose parents were so much a part of the earliest days, and who herself has given her entire life to this church, is the only survivor of the women who organized the Women's Foreign Missionary Society. She is also the oldest member of the congregation in point of membership, having joined the church in 1881, 76 years ago. In age, the oldest member is Mrs. Alice Atno who will be 95 on October 22, 1957. What would this church be without the Hubert F. Clarks? Mrs. Clark (80 this June) taught a Sunday School class for just short of 50 years; she was president of the Women's Home Missionary Society at the time of the merger and had been for about 25 years; also concurrently with this she was president, first, of the Scranton District and then the Wyoming Conference in this Society for 12 years. She was president of the WSCS the first year, also. Mr. Clark (86 in April) taught Sunday School for 35 years and has sung in the choir 61 years---it surely would not look right without him! He was the first Conference lay member after the merger for 13 years and is now president of the Board of Trustees. These are merely the high-lights in the lives of these two wonderful people, for they have filled countless other important positions during the 55 years of their marital partnership, and even long before that. |
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In the work of the Sunday School, probably no one in its entire history has given more of her time and ability than Mrs. Clarence Drake. She has spent 35 years in teaching Sunday School, 25 of that in a supervisory capacity as well. Outside of Sunday School, she spent 15 of these years in missionary education among the children. When the Vacation Bible School was started, she assisted Mrs. Harvey Williams who served 3 years as Superintendent; then Mrs. Drake supervised it for 28 years. During these years she also filled various District offices, besides serving 2 terms of 4 years each in the District and the Conference as Secretary of Children's Work. As vice president of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society she took Mrs. Harvey Williams' place as president when she became too ill to serve; then was elected president filling out a term of 8 years. Mrs. Drake was one of those who put the "released time" plan into operation in 1946; taught Freshmen and Sophomores and was supervisor until 1956 when Miss Etta Fey, the present supervisor, took charge. Another couple whose lives have been given devotedly to this church are the Henry S. Lees. Mrs. Lee gave most unstintingly of her time as Superintendent of the Primary Department for 13 years, besides adding the beauty of her voice to the choir for many years; she also was District president of the WSCS. Henry Lee was Sunday School Superintendent 14 years; Charge lay leader about 9 years; Conference lay member 3 years; and is Custodian and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. One very important section of our Sunday School is the Primary Department and the women who give years of patient, loving work among the small ones deserve a great deal of praise and gratitude. Mrs. Lela Curnow worked with the children as teacher and Superintendent for 25 years. Mrs. John Stouffer took up Mrs. Claude Olver's work and served 19 years assisted much of that time by Miss Florence Wedeman. Others are Miss Alma Munson, 22 years; Mrs. Hayden Llewellyn, 20 years; Mrs. Mabel Mumford, 16 years; Mrs. Fred Swingle, 12 years; Miss Florence Pethick, 10 years; Miss Ruth Masters, having taught over 12 years, is now Superintendent, succeeding Mrs. Lee. Sorry we cannot name them all. Mrs. John Stoddard has been a Sunday School teacher for 27 years and has also worked untiringly with the Youth Groups not only since the merger but even before that. Although Augustus A. Brunner---better known as Gus---is no longer with us, having collapsed and died on his way to a Y.M.C.A. Directors' meeting on November 14, 1955, he was treasurer of the Sunday School for about 40 years, treasurer of the Teachers' Association for many years and taught a Class over 35 years. Claude Olver has been treasurer of the church for about 40 years, and gave generously of his fine voice in the choir from about 1898. Other teachers with long records are H. 0. Shankweiler, 41 years, and Grace Powell, 41 years, both of whom also sang many years in the choir. Mr. Shankweiler and William E. Phillips spent their Sunday afternoons for about 12 years visiting the hospitals and in this work distributed 12,000 copies of St. John's Gospel and The Upper room. David Stephens is the new Conference lay member succeeding Henry Lee to whom he had been Alternate for 3 years. Henry Tonkin has been Charge lay leader for about 5 years and is now Alternate Conference lay member to David Stephens. Miss Olive Pengelly was a most efficient financial secretary, a very exacting position, for 6 years, following Mrs. Carrie Swingle who had served long and faithfully. Miss Pengelly died on April 6, 1955, and her sister, Miss Jane Pengelly, was elected on April 15th to fill her place which she is doing most capably. In every organization there's a "forgotten man" without whose help folks would find it tough going sometimes, but who very seldom gets the commendation he really deserves. He is the sexton, over-all caretaker and man-wanted-everywhere combined. Following Theodore Sperl, Austin Barrows and Morgan Thomas---who died suddenly upon reaching home from the church on November 28, 1947-our present very efficient Lewis Roberts has been doing yeoman service for 10 years. These are but the high spots in the lives of a FEW of the scores of folks who have built their lives into The First Methodist Church of Carbondale; they have all filled many other very important positions. We crave your indulgence and understanding that we could not possibly include everything and everybody who so richly deserved to be mentioned. The rocking chair mentioned in the earlier history is now 127 years old and still in constant use, its everlasting qualities symbolizing the work those hardy souls established so long ago. The present owner is Mrs. Morgan Patten, Miss Pascoe's niece, and also the daughter of Mrs. A. W. Reynolds, the "Cookbook Lady." Mrs. Patten took up where they left off and sold the last of the cookbooks several years ago.
"Great oaks from little acorns grow!" What a magnificent structure has grown out of that little white church of long ago! How little we realize what a stupendous undertaking it was to carry on the work through all these years. It is a far cry from the circuit-riding preacher making his rounds on horseback to the preacher of today reaching millions on television without leaving his office, so a few comparisons might be interesting. The little white church of 1850 cost $4,000; the church built in 1902 cost $40,186, or about 10 times as much; recently our church has been re -valued, with its furnishings at nearly $400,000, or about 100 times as much. The beautiful stained glass windows in the Sanctuary which cost about $3,000 each in 1902 are now, valued at $10,000 apiece. But what about the congregation? Have we increased in value, also? We have tried to teach our children and proclaim the Gospel, both at home and abroad; we have met our expenses (local and World Service) ; we have taken care of the "poor and needy" of our parish; we have responded generously to all calls of distress and disaster, and have always more than met the quotas assigned to us in special campaigns. But are we 100 times as enthusiastic, energetic and generous in the Lord's work as those who gave us this wonderful heritage? As we close this first quarter of the second century of our existence, let us measure up to opportunities and privileges greater than the wildest dreams of those pioneers. Let us rededicate ourselves to increasing our efforts in spiritual development in the Kingdom of God in proportion to the material value of this earthly cathedral. I would like to close with a personal word of thanks to all who have so kindly helped me in gathering information which we have tried to make as accurate and authentic as possible. Also to the Anniversary Committee for their fine suggestions, guidance and encouragement. I could NEVER have done this without all these people. Elisabeth H. Cagwin April 4, 1957
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