Presbyterians 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. TU J.4404
i i :
miuAtinr Turin
UIMIYIUIIklJM. iiibiix
wer so far out of town thatmunity t nnstma programs ne.ci
many considered them worthless, in tlie first edifice when people
QUALITY & PRICE
First Church of. Christ, Scientist
A Branch of Tht Mothar Church,, Tha Fift Church af Chriit,
Sotntitr in Boiron, Mati. 10th and Woihinaton
Srvict: Sunday Srvica 11 00 a.m.
Sunday ScKnol 1100 a.m.
Widnaiday tnma Teit-mony Mettmfl 8 00 0'C1ok
Lenon. Sermon Subject June 2, 1963
"ANCIENT AND MODERN NECROMANCY,
ALIAS MESMERISM AND HYPTNOTISM, DE
NOUNCED" Golden Tcit: Iteioh 59:19. When tha tnemy ihall coma in
lika a flood, tha Spirit of tht Lord ihall lift ua itandard
aaamtr him.
Nw nery facilities available duri no. church tervicot
i'Y
!
?
A
ii
Omi th variation lk mlitii of COLOR, PlftFIC
TION, CUTTING ana CARAT WIIGHT o tha itamoni
dtttrmioa hr a Vi caret N,i!wnd may k worth S1S0.00
or H00 00? Tho limplo truthful ntr it Y . . . OUR
STRENGTH IS OUR WIAKNf SS FOR EXPLAINING AND
SHOWING QUALITIES IN DIAMONDS.
Wt offer . . . Ttrmi for ony budget.
J. C. RENIE JEWELERS
A fruited Jeweler It Your Beit Adviier A
t1
t
A Trusted Jeweler It Your Beit Adviier
1021 Moln TU 4-4606
! i VA!ov.?l?
FOR GRADS WITH A FUTURE .
MM
WITH A
FUTURE!
Joncj' Office Supply It Headquarter! For
Portable Typewriters
Jonet ft Heodquortert
for all famous, ft
lioblo brands in
eluding tha superb
Olympta and Olivet,
tl. Each carries a
full 2.yaor ftuaron
r and you
con noma your awn
terms!
Priced
From
Just
OLIVtTTI
79
95
OLYMPI A
REMEMBER fioturo complete irvite department,
too. Wo eorvice oil model ond models ot typewriters nd
oil offico mochtnes!
Artist Supplict
Desk Sett
Notebooks
Many Other Gifts With A Future .
Leather Goods
Pen & Pencil Sett
Drafting Supplict
FREE IMPRINTING!!
Yes! Your C rod's nama Imprinted in Gold Letters on any
graduation fift! No aitra chorga!
"Your Typtwriftr Hcodquartcri"
jon&A ' Office Supply
629 Main
Ph. TU 2-4408
Looking for quality...
(lit OF
Valiant is quality-engineered by Chrysler Corporation.
Tight, tough and strong, this lively car is put together to
stay together for a good long time.
Looking for low price...
nrtTPP
A
lfiTlTr F
TTO
u
1
For '63, Valiant prices start lower than nine out of ten
American compacts. Come in and let us prove that
Valiant is the best all-around valuel
Looking for a deal...
1791
'PlUl'
And how! We're selling new cars so fast we can afford
to pass our success on to you in extra savings, higher
trades. Prove it to yourself by stopping in to see us soon.
JIM OLSON MOTORS
ii nrr
522 So. 6th St.
Klamath Folic, Ore.