Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current, May 31, 1963, Image 7

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Herald and news., May 31, 1963, Page 7, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextPresbyterians Pioneer Religious Movement (0t (yuhffiutJtek$-. HKIt.U.D AM) NKWS, Klamath Falls, Ore. Friday. .May 31, 13 PAGE 7 A - SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS In 1921 the First Presbyterian Church, in its 37th year, boasted a large Sunday School as evidenced by this pic ture of Sunday School members taken in March of that year. The church building in the background, built at a cost of $19,000, was then' two years old. The Sixth and Pine landmark was torn down in 1956 to make room for the present sanctuary which is the third edifice built by the church. WSCS Dates Installation Chmrh fWnc Fnrnllmpnt VIIHI VII WfWlleJ bill VlllliVIII For Bible School Classes The new officers of the Wom en s Society ot iiinstian service of the Chiloquin Methodist Church will be installed during the morn ing worship service on Sunday. Rev. Albert E. Place, minister, will conduct the installation. The officers are Mrs. Friedman Kirk, president; Mrs. Elmer Hcg lund, vice president: Mrs. Paul Hcrron, secretary; Mrs. Earl Hall, treasurer and supply secretary; Mrs. Ilai'ley Zeller. spiritual lire secretary; Mrs. Walter Timm, promotion secretary; Mrs. Albert Place, missionary education secre tary, and Mis. Walter Zimmer man, Christian social relations. In the evening, the Chiloquin High School baccalaureate serv ices will be held in the church, with Rev. Place as the guest speaker. The church's summer schedule of services will begin on June 2. Through tlic month of August, wor ship services will begin at 8 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. By JUNE A. JOHNSON The first ladies of the" church in Klamath Falls, representing 116 years of active membership have witnessed the growth of the town and its religious groups since the early 1900s. The oldest living members of the oldest church in the county. First Presbyterian, are Mrs. Gre ta McMillian Brewhaker, w h o joined in 1904, and Mrs. Minnie Slater Grizzle, wlio Became member, in 1906. Roth attended services in the1 first church building constructed in Linkville, a quaint w hite frame structure built in 1885, They sup ported the church in its early lean years and participated in the wave of progress which re sulted in a rapidly growing con gregation and construction of a larger sanctuary in 1919 and again in 1956, Church Organized Tile pioneer denomination of Klamath Falls, the First Presby terian Church, was established not too many years after the original pioneers settled the area and began with a Presbyterian Sunday School. Sunday Schools had been occa sionally held in the county, but the first permanent one in what was then Lake, later Jackson, and now Klamath County, was or ganized in 1880. William A. Wright, a local druggist, served as su perintendent, and meetings were conducted in an old one - room schoolhouse standing on what is now Ninth, between Main and Tine streets. Later the school was moved to the G. W. Smith building at South Payne and Main streets, near the Link River Bridge. The upstairs room was sparsely furnished, but at that time it served adequately if not luxuriously, os a Sunday School classroom and a com munity meeting room. After four years it was evident that a stable religious movement could he supported, so the Sunday School was carried a step fur- tiler. The official records of the church. Presbytery, and Synod indicate that the organization of a congregation took place on Feb. 27, 1884. The original charter roll shows seven names: William A. Wright and his wife. Mrs. Jennie Wricht; R. T. Baldwin and his daughter. Mrs. Harriet Roberts Miss Mercedes Campoto; Mrs Lucy McClean; and A. P. Ball. Shortly aflcr. four additional members were received and are usually referred to as charter members. They are A. F. Bou ton. Mrs. Rebecca Boutnn, C. N Gordon, and Mrs. Lucy M. Sears. The following year a Presbyteri an lavman from Philadelphia Bayard Henry, passed through Linkville and had an opportuni ly to become briefly acquainted with the new church organization He was so impressed with the work heing carried on by a derli caled few of the approximate 4O0 population that he offered to donate one-half the amount need ed for the election of a small church building. Tlie balance of the money was raised hy local residents, who canvassed for subscriptions, plus several conlnbutions by inter ested persons in other towns. The larzest outside donations came from H W. Corbett and W. S. Laifd of Portland. Land for the building was given hy Mr. and Mrs. W. .1 Nichols.! who platted the Nichols addition In Linkville in 1RR5. Although the' lots were gratefully accepted hy the small group of members, thev For many years afterward, the church on the hill marked the! farthest extent of the city's growth. The small white church, built on Ewauna Heights at the present location of 219 Pine Street, was the only church building in Linkville until 18!7 when the Con gregational Church erected a building on Main Street. Dedicated on Nov. 15. 1885, at a cost of $2, 810.79, the first church stood nestl ed against the hill with the Ankeny Canal winding around the hill in front of it. The picturesque scene was completed by a footbridge spanning the canal and a nar row path leading across the hill to the village. After the church and its tower were completed, a bell was or dered which was to he the first large bell in Klasiath County A short delay in installation re sulted when it was discovered that workmen had boarded up the ceiling and tower room, but the problem was quickly solved by cutting a hole. For several months the ringing of the bell was a novelty to the adults and amazed the young people who had heard only, the small hand rung school bell. First Minister Tile first minister to the con gregation was Rev. Robert Mc Clean, who was also instrumental in organizing the First Presby terian Church. He is listed in the official records as the stated sup ply in charge when the charter was drawn up in 1884. and the charter member, Lucy McClean, was his wife. Reverend McClean was a zeal ous pioneer missionary who suf fered ill health while serving on the foreign mission field in Chili Returning to the United States, he settled on a homestead near the present site of Algoma and continued his ministry. With his four - horse team. Reverend McClean made the trip from the lake to Linkville every Sunday to preach in private homes, the hotel office, and oc casionally in the schoolhouse He rode horseback during bad weather, rarely missing an op portunity to speak to those in terested in his stirring messages Backed by a handful of people. he finally moved to organize the church, becoming the first pastor luamatn loumy, ana served the congregation for sev eral years in that capacity. After leaving Klamath. Falls Reverend McClean went to Grants Pass where he preached for 11 years. Later he went to reside with a son in Los Angeles and died there in the early 1930s, Sorial Center The establishment of the church gave Linkville resident. tne means (or carrying on their con structive endeavors. The building was not only a religious center. but a social center as well In the early days, the church had 'the only organ in the coun ty, so it served as the hall for community parties and all high school programs, debates, and recitations. The first public school commencement ever held Klamath Countv was staged in the church building, and it con tinued to be held there several vears afterward. The Presbyterian Church also offered its building for the serv ices of other denominations with-! out regular meeting places and even assisted in their organiza tion, contributing from its own membership many of the lead ers of later sister congregations. Mrs. Grizzle recalls the com- from miles around would come by wagon, sled, horseback, and on foot lo observe the season to gether, regardless, of religious af filiation. "There would be a large tree erected, and the young folks would meet in the evenings to pop corn and everyone would help string it. Tile tree was very pretty with long strings of while corn and glowing with small can dles," she said. On Christmas Eve. it was the custom for families to put a pies ent on the tree for each of their children and then meet for program. She said that at the end of the evening "tlie sleigh bells would start ringing and in would dash old Mr. Santa dressed as he is today. He would tell the children about the hard trip he had coming down from the north- land and hand out candy and nuts in red and green mosquito net bags." The departure of San ta Claus always signified the close of the program. Karly Struggle The First Presbyterian Churchl suffered the usual hardships of a young organization in an unde veloped area. The population of Linkville remained almost at standstill for the first 15 to 20 years, and although the pioneer church gained many more mem-j bers, it, like the town, failed to' prosper for some lime. In its early history, many min istcrs served tlie home mission church, but none served long enough to establish the work. Few pastors remained over a year, and several stayed less than a year. In 19 years, from 1884 to 1903, the church had been led by 15 ministers and engaged numbcri 16 near the end of 1903. For more than 20 years the church received money from the Presbyterian Board of Home Mis sions to support il.s work and pay the salary of its ministers. The board invested approximate ly $10,000 in the church, prov ing ils faith in the town and the Presbyterian movement. When ministers began to stay for a longer period of time, the church began to show a degree of progress. An upward trend was noticed around 1903, and in 1907 the church, under the leadership! ol Kov. w. G. bmith who served tor lour years, decided it no longer needed the assistance of the Home Mission Board. Since that time it has been entirely self-supporting. In 1909 the Southern Pacific Railroad entered the town which had become known as Klamath Falls on Feb. 7, 1893, almost a year after the post office official-! ly changed its name from Link ville. With the addition of the, railroad, the town rapidly increased in population and the first church building became in adequate. The local newspaper, the Morn ing Express, fisted the church's membership as 115 in December of 1909. The small sanctuary was never intended to hold a con gregation of that size. The movement for a new church started early in 1910 under Rev. George T. Pratt, but an almost insurmountable barrier arose. The only site then available was on the hanks of the old Ankeny Canal which ran through what is now one of the main residential sec lions of the city. The canal in front of the church property could wi ... i ..I VV l,rf.yJ.,t-Mi.'i nrti.v I, m'ii. ..it , .&V.Ai h i . m-j-MiJu. ; Zion Lutheran Confirms Eight The Confirmation Day service w as held at Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 26. Junior confirmands, wearing tra ditional white robes while con firming their baptismal covenant, were Ncal Glen Buchanan, Joan Sharon Glawe, Steven Alan Glawe, Kenneth Chris Luft. and Duane Lester Vaubel. Adults confirmed were Carol Lorraine Eberlein Myrna Maureen Green, and Gwynn James. inc conlirmands will rcceivel their first Holy Communion dur ing the Pentecost worship service on Sunday, June 2. The service will begin at 10 a.m. on the sum mer schedule. Sunday school classes will start at 8:45 a.m. throughout the summer, beginning Sunday. OLDEST CHURCH MEMBERS The distinction of being the oldest living members of the pioneer denomination in Klamath County is shared by Mrs, Greta McMillian Brewbaker, left, and Mrs. Minilie Slater Grizzle, riqht, Mrs. Grizzle painted the pic ture of the first church building in Klamath Palls in 1942. Both women joined the First Presbyterian Church when services were held in the picturesque white frame structure. not be filled, so the project was! abandoned for almost 10 years, In 1919, during the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Lawrence, the pres ent sile at Sixth and Pine was purchased and the historic Third and Pine property was sold. On Aug. 22. 1919, the cornerstone was laid lor tlie erection ot handsome brick structure. Thei new $19,000 church was dedicat ed on April 19. 1920. Third Church Continuing lo prosper, the church membership rolls reached about 500 in the early 1940s, and plans were again made to con struct larger and more mod ern facilities to accommodate the congregation. Tlie building pro gram was drafted in three parts lo be completed over a period of x years. Rev. David Barnett accepted the pastorate in 1944. and under his guidance, the ground wasl turned for tlie lirst unit of the present church on Sunday, Nov 1950. Construction of tlie educa tional wing began the following morning and the overcrowded Q Is Jrsuv Christ mentioned In the Old Testament of the Bl- ble? A No, only to the coming of the Messiah. Q The name of what biblical character has come to symbolize shame and wantonness? A Jezebel. Sunday School classes were soon relieved. With the first phase of the program completed, the tower section was built in 1953. By the spring of 19. it was necessary to tear down the old brick landmark to build the new- sanctuary wing. The cornerstonej laying ceremony was Tieid in November of the same year. and workmen rushed to complete the sanctuary so the first service in the new edifice could be held on Christmas Sunday, Dec. 23. Tlie initial plans were for the church to cost around (fiO.000, but the final total of expenses reached a figure exceeding $300,000. After 79 years of operation, the First Presbyterian Church has grown to approximately 750 mem bers, standing ns a monument to the small band of pioneers who prayed and labored for a strong church end a religious civiliza tion in the Klamath Basin. Rev. Noibcrt E. Dey has an nounced that registration for Va cation Bible School at the Zion Lutheran Church is now open mid parents are invited to enroll Iheir children early. Walking With God" will be the I home of the Vacation Bible School, with classes and lesson materials geared to the age and thilily of the children. There will lie a social class for high school youths in which they will partici pate in class work of their own. as well as assisting in the teach ing and learning procedures. Tlie Bible school, which will be held from June 10 through June' 21, will have 10 morning sessions. Monday through Friday, from 9i a.m. to 12 noon. The classes will consist of stories, singing, handi craft, recreation, and worship for boys and girls from age four to high school age. Mrs. Aimer Wallenbiirn will be in charge of the nursery-kinder garten department for 4. 5, and O year-olds. Mrs. Wayne Blair will lie in charge of the primary group for second and third grade stu dents. The junior department, for fourth, fifth and sixth graders, will be conducted by Mrs. Glen Happel, and the junior high depart ment for seventh through twelfth graders will be lead by Mrs. Her man Wolf. The singing sessions will be 'di rected by Mrs. Robert Dunlap, who will also play the organ for the Bible school. Olher teachers and assistants will be Mrs. Don Thomas, Mrs. Allen Reeder, Mrs. Thomas Case. Mrs. John Mathes, Mrs. Carl Sharp, Mrs. Richard Johnson. Mrs. Carol Klcpper, Mrs. Charles Comp- ton, Mrs. Philip Marks. Mrs. Har old Eberlein, Mrs. Alexander Luft. Mrs. Jim Hasskamp, Mrs. Harold Weber, Mrs. Jesse Anderson, Mrs. Norbert Dey Sr., Mrs. Violet Mes ner. and Mrs. Don Whitwer. Additional information may be obtained by calling the church ol- nco at TU 4-6793. 10:10 A.M. SUNDAY KFLW 14S0 Ke Methodist To Meet More than 3(H) ministers and lay men will be delegates to the an Dual session of the Oregon Annua Conference meeting on the cam pus of Willamette University and at the First Methodist Church of Salem, June 4-7. The presiding of. ficer will be the Portland area bishop, Bishop A. Raymond Grant. Attending from Klamath Falls will he Rev. Ralph Richardson. and Wilbcr Womer, lay delegate! from the First Methodist Church. SUNDAY SCHOOL It for peopU - Not Juir Chil dren . . . Not juir adulti. Bring tho wholt family rt Sunday of 9:45 a.m. Wt havt a clou for toch ont. IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH 11 lh l H.qh - Klamath Fold FRIENDLY HELPFULNESS To Every Creed and Purse WARD'S Klamath Funeral Home Marguerite Ward and Sons MS Milk Tk. 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