Page 150 - United Brethren Virginia Conferences 1800-1946
P. 150
Volume 7 History of Virginia Conferences of United Brethren December 26, 2024
Staunton Station: Staunton—Paid about $400 on its debt.
Toms Brook Circuit: Bethel church—pulpit chairs, cost, $22. Shiloh Church—New carpet and
new fence, cost, $80. Toms Brook church—new fence, $63.43.
West Frederick Circuit: Crabbottom church—Bought out the interest of the M.E. church for
$180. Laurel Hill, painted, cost, $45. Mt. Olive church—painted, cost, $42.82.
Westernport Church: Church—New organ, cost, $75, and natural gas put into the church.
Winchester Circuit. Fairview church—New organ, $35. Red Bud Church—New roof, $100.
License Granted. Two young men were granted quarterly conference license during the year.
Charles Gladwell, of Keyser, W.Va., was licensed, August 12, 1907. He is now in Union Biblical
Seminary. W. L. Showalter, of Dayton, Va., was licensed, February 17, 1908, and he is now in
Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music—he purposes to take a thorough English and
Theological course. A number of other young men are turning their thoughts and attention toward the
Ministry of the Church. One young man was recommended to this Conference for membership in this
body.
Revivals. While there have not been the revivals that have resulted in large numbers being
converted, yet most all the charges had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and the results
of these special and constant efforts to deepen the religious lives of God’s dear children and to save the
lost will show 1,100 additions to the Church. While these figures are not large, they are good when we
consider the great number received last year. The loss in membership, while it does not equal our gain,
is simply appalling. Surely something must be done to prevent these awful losses.
Different Departments of Church Work. I think the Sunday schools, Young Peoples’ Societies,
Woman’s Missionary Associations, and Ladies’ Aid Societies are more thoroughly organized than
before and, therefore, better results obtain. The men’s movement in the Sunday school is receiving
much attention and argues great things. So far as I now know Berkeley Springs leads the Conference in
this department, they having 84 members in the class. Many of the Sunday schools and Young Peoples’
Societies are contributing regularly to the cause of Christian mission. The literature in these two
departments will be found to be equal to that of last year, if not indeed a substantial increase. Several
new Young Peoples’ Societies and Woman’s Missionary Associations were organized during the year.
Missions and Church Extension. These twin interests are vital to the very life and perpetuity of
the Church. The needs and opportunities of Home and Foreign missions should be equally presented to
the people, and they taught and invited to contributed as much to the one interest as to the other. We
should have a definite standard for Home missions as well as Foreign missions. There are six classes
studying Home missions. Along by the side of these two interests must go Church Erection. They
cannot accomplish the best results without the aid and cooperation of church erection. A more careful
and systematic effort was made to get these great interests intelligently before the people than ever
before. Training classes should be organized to study the needs and conditions of these departments.
Our Missions. Keyser, Roanoke, and Cumberland are in a prosperous and hopeful condition. Good
work has been done at all of these places. Keyser has reduced its debt to $1,000, and has made
provision for that. Roanoke and Cumberland must have some immediate help, especially Roanoke.
There is no more inviting field in this church than Roanoke, but material help must be given now. At
the very least, $1,000 or $1,500 should be provided by this Conference to give immediate aid to these
places. Staunton is another church that should have favorable consideration at the hands of the
Conference. But the needs and opportunities of these churches will be presented by their
representatives.
1908 Reports 140
Staunton Station: Staunton—Paid about $400 on its debt.
Toms Brook Circuit: Bethel church—pulpit chairs, cost, $22. Shiloh Church—New carpet and
new fence, cost, $80. Toms Brook church—new fence, $63.43.
West Frederick Circuit: Crabbottom church—Bought out the interest of the M.E. church for
$180. Laurel Hill, painted, cost, $45. Mt. Olive church—painted, cost, $42.82.
Westernport Church: Church—New organ, cost, $75, and natural gas put into the church.
Winchester Circuit. Fairview church—New organ, $35. Red Bud Church—New roof, $100.
License Granted. Two young men were granted quarterly conference license during the year.
Charles Gladwell, of Keyser, W.Va., was licensed, August 12, 1907. He is now in Union Biblical
Seminary. W. L. Showalter, of Dayton, Va., was licensed, February 17, 1908, and he is now in
Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music—he purposes to take a thorough English and
Theological course. A number of other young men are turning their thoughts and attention toward the
Ministry of the Church. One young man was recommended to this Conference for membership in this
body.
Revivals. While there have not been the revivals that have resulted in large numbers being
converted, yet most all the charges had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and the results
of these special and constant efforts to deepen the religious lives of God’s dear children and to save the
lost will show 1,100 additions to the Church. While these figures are not large, they are good when we
consider the great number received last year. The loss in membership, while it does not equal our gain,
is simply appalling. Surely something must be done to prevent these awful losses.
Different Departments of Church Work. I think the Sunday schools, Young Peoples’ Societies,
Woman’s Missionary Associations, and Ladies’ Aid Societies are more thoroughly organized than
before and, therefore, better results obtain. The men’s movement in the Sunday school is receiving
much attention and argues great things. So far as I now know Berkeley Springs leads the Conference in
this department, they having 84 members in the class. Many of the Sunday schools and Young Peoples’
Societies are contributing regularly to the cause of Christian mission. The literature in these two
departments will be found to be equal to that of last year, if not indeed a substantial increase. Several
new Young Peoples’ Societies and Woman’s Missionary Associations were organized during the year.
Missions and Church Extension. These twin interests are vital to the very life and perpetuity of
the Church. The needs and opportunities of Home and Foreign missions should be equally presented to
the people, and they taught and invited to contributed as much to the one interest as to the other. We
should have a definite standard for Home missions as well as Foreign missions. There are six classes
studying Home missions. Along by the side of these two interests must go Church Erection. They
cannot accomplish the best results without the aid and cooperation of church erection. A more careful
and systematic effort was made to get these great interests intelligently before the people than ever
before. Training classes should be organized to study the needs and conditions of these departments.
Our Missions. Keyser, Roanoke, and Cumberland are in a prosperous and hopeful condition. Good
work has been done at all of these places. Keyser has reduced its debt to $1,000, and has made
provision for that. Roanoke and Cumberland must have some immediate help, especially Roanoke.
There is no more inviting field in this church than Roanoke, but material help must be given now. At
the very least, $1,000 or $1,500 should be provided by this Conference to give immediate aid to these
places. Staunton is another church that should have favorable consideration at the hands of the
Conference. But the needs and opportunities of these churches will be presented by their
representatives.
1908 Reports 140
