Creator/Author: Rev Donald K. Dobbs

Date: 1962 

Publisher: Vernon Center Methodist Church

Citation:  

Holding Institution/Physical Location: Vernon Historical Society

Text: 

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Vernon Center

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l Property Public Libra{Y’

Dedication

It is with deep gratitude and sincere thanks that I dedicate this book to Mrs. Fred Jacobs who worked diligently and faithfully with me in writing this church history of Vernon Center.

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Acknowledgment

I would like to expres_s my thanks to all who helped me with their knowledge and materials in this study with special recognition of the efforts of Dr. Harry F. Jackson, Associate Professor of Social Studies at Utica College.

In the year 182.6 a few families in the community of Vernon Center formed a small society called “The Vernon Methodist Episcopal Society” and held preaching services.l The Reverend Elias Bowen served as the pastor from 182.6 to 1828.2
The Methodist growth and expansion was exceedingly great during the latter eighteenth: and early nineteenth centuries. It was said that “more than any other single factor, 1itineracy’ was responsible for the rapid spread of Methodism through-out the United States, .. 113 The ‘itineracy’ dates back to the early frontier days of the circuit rider in which one man served several communities throughout the year.
This meant he was constantly traveling. By 1830 this 1itineracy’ was beginning to mean that a man was placed in a locality, a one-point charge, and then was moved to another locality every two or three years. 4 This was true of the ministry and the growth of Methodism in Vernon Center .5
In 182.8 Reverend Henry Halstead was appointed by the conference to serve Vernon Center.6 It was during this year the present frame church–the earliest Methodist Church in the vicinity of Vernon1–was erected and located on the green, which is now the present Vernon Center Park.8 This worship house was dedicated_ in 1829.9 The land on the green was given to the Protestant Churches for the pur-pose of worship. The following paragraph is a portion taken from the deed.

Huet Hills
Deed of the Centre to Christian Societies
Whereas Huet Hills, Le.vi Shrall, Horace Higley & Wait Hill did in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred ninety- eight by the agency Huet Hills purchase of Thomas L. Ditbeck a certain piece of landconta.ini� six acres of land called the Centre for the purpose of a public square in the now Green of Vernon, county of Oneida, and State of New York to be & remain solely for public use forever (viz) for the equal use of all denominations of Protestant Christians

Clerks office� Oneida County .
I Fees 6/6

Recorded the tenth day of May 1822 at three O’clock P. M. in Book E. E. of Deeds pages 393-394.
Eliasaph Dorchester, Clk. lO

The church was a one-roomed wooden structure with plain-glassed windows. The seats were movable benches as it was the custom to hold ‘New England’ type suppers from time to time. The pulpit was a movable, upright pedestal which still remains in the hall of the Sunday School Room, 11 This pulpit was refinished in 1959 by Theodore Turk, a member of the church at that time and was used by the minister in the spring of 1962 in conducting a series of Sunday night Bible Studies during the Lenten Season. The first musical instrument used in the church, when it stood on the green, was a melodion owned by Mrs. Henry Beken, grandmother of the late Oliver H. Buss, which was carried from the home and back after each service.12
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The group’s next step was to legalize the organization. According to·the records of that time, the members totaled eighteen. This core of membership combined with a few interested supporters called a meeting at which the society was named Vernon Methodist Episcopal Church. The minutes by the secretary, Samuel Cody, stated it was voted that three trustees be elected: Daniel Pettibone, Jr., to serve for one year; Josiah Eaton, two years; and Gideon Todd, for three years .13 The membership continued to increase. In 1830, The Reverend Robert Fox reported sixty-seven members.14 By 1845, The Reverend John H. Hall re-ported one hundred sixteen members .15
In 1850 the spire was demolished by a lightning bolt, but has since been rebuilt.16 The church building was moved from the park to its present place in 1858.
About eight years later, Warren Griswold (who was later to become the father-in-law of Rev-erend I. P. Richmond- -a minister who served the Vernon Center charge from 1897-1904) took out the high gallery and changed the pulpit from the front of the church to the rear. The seats were necessarily changed to face the pulpit.
Again in 1870 or 71 still more extensive repairs were made at which time an addition of twelve feet was placed on the north end of the building.17

It was remodeled and enlarged in 1880 and at this time some interior decorating was done .1 The floor was completely carpeted, and the walls were wainscoted for three feet. The rest of the walls were plastered with a frescoed edging of
floral design with a peach background color which bordered the wainscoting.19 The cost of the frescoing was one hundred twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents.20 Two kerosene bracket-lamps hung in each window and a matching chandelier was suspended from the ceiling in the center of the church. The present day pews
were placed in position and numbered21 at a cost of ten dollars.22 Stained-glassed windows replaced the old plain glass. The two in front and the smaller two in back cost one hundred eighty-eight dollars.23 Individual families dedicated the rest of the windows:
In memoriam Johnathan Barber
In memoriam George·& Mary Ashforth In memory of our mother Phebe F. Cody In memoriam Henry Balmer
Presented by the Sabbath School
In memory of our mother Emily Church In memoriam Charlotte B. Churton
In memoriam Joel & Hannah Ashforth In memoriam Josiah Eaton 24
On December 29, 1880, Bishop Peck presided at the· dedication of the remodeling.25

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In 1889 a new parsonage was built. The old one was placed behind the church and was used for Sunday School classes and Epworth League meetings (a young
people’s group).2 There is no account of where the old parsonage came from or
how it was acquired, but it was located on the same spot as the present parsonage.27 The money was beginning to be raised for this new parsonage as far back as 1885, the quarterly conference of January 1885 reporting that fifteen dollars had been raised for improvements and repairs of the parsonage and the church.28 By February, 1886, the report indicated an additional amount of twenty-five dollars.29 In 1889 twenty-two more was added.30 The report of March 14, 1890 showed that one thousand thirty-five dollars had been raised.31 On February 21, 1891 the report was read and one hundred forty-five dollars more was added.32 An itemized account of subscriptions and labor shows that one thousand one hundred fifty-nine dollars and seventy cents was raised from subscriptions; three hundred twenty dollars and fifty cents was figured in the labor furnished; and a balance of forty dollars and nineteen cents was yet to be raised.33 The responsibility and management for this building project was placed in the hands of the trustees.
There are notations of their written reports having been given but because the
separate reports have since been lost a true accounting cannot be given.34
It is not certain when the different societies in the church were formed, but mention of the Ladies’ Aid meetings are noted as far back as 1884. The Epworth League was meeting in 1889 and in 1892 Reverend Brown reported in the Fourth Quarterly Conference that this group was one of the· most promising organizations of the church with a membership of fifty persons. These groups lifted the church’s morale spiritually as the church seemed to have witnessed a slump in attendance and church activities in the previous five to ten years. The Reverend Brown stated in his report that the deep religious interest of the Epworth League’s Sunday evening meetings was very gratifying. Improvements were continually made from year to year. In 1892 a sidewalk was laid in front of the parsonage and church.
A pump and curb was placed on the well. The grounds surrounding the parsonage were graded. Some of the rooms in the parsonage were papered. The total cost was reported to be three hundred twenty-five doilars.35 The membership at this time was reported by Reverend S. E. Brown to the quarterly conference in February to have been eighty-three.36
A new nine-hundred-pound bell was purchased and placed in the tower of the church in 1899.at a cost of three hundred forty-five dollars.37 The sanctuary of the church also received some changes about this time. In 1902 Mr. William
Rooney paid two hundred fifteen dollars for a metal ceiling; the Farrier family gave twenty-six dollars and seventy-eight cents for some paper which was put back of the pulpit; Celia Parks paid one hundred twenty five dollars for a new carpet; Reverend and Mrs. Richmond gave the curtain which cost nine dollars (this was a short skirt which went around the bottom of the choir loft); the Ladies Aid placed matting (aisle runner) between the pews which cost thirteen dollars and ninety-three cents; pulpit and other expenses of seven dollars was paid by Royal Van
Swall and his wife. Cash donations and labor was provided by other people and all of this totaled seven hundred fifty dollars and twenty-three cents.38 In 19QS a chimney was built from the cellar to the roof and a furnace was installed in the parsonage.39 In 1926, Reverend C. E. Henry’s report to the conference indicated that the board voted to wire the parsonage for electricity.40
Reverend Peck’s conference report of 1923 tells about the authorization of a troop committee and the organization of a troop of boy scouts which was done at a

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•

regular meeting of the Official Board in May. Those appointed were �· JH Russell, chairman; I. B. M. Enos, Secretary, E.W. Bennett, John T. Dapson, •.• Shafer,
Clayton Earley, w. J. Burne, and Howard A. Dorn. There were seventeen boys
who became members of ‘this: troop. Two patrols were formed, The Flying Eagle,
with Willie Dorn Patrol Leader and Jesse DeLand, Assistant, and the Stag Patrol with Robert Jones leader and Hilbert Shafer Assistant. Reverend Peck and H. H. Barnard were designated by the troop committee for commissions as scoutmasters, with Frederick Rice and Seth Lyon as assistants and Willis Dorn as Senior Patrol Leader: At this time the Camp Fire Girls were also in process of _organization
with Miss Caroline Ames and Mrs. w. J. Russell as guardians. Since this time
the Century Club has sponsored an Explorer Troop. Thie troop was forced in
December of 1957 and the following May the club received the charter which has been renewed each year since.41

. .A paper called The Methodist, which reported news of Herkimer and Utica Districts, carried an article in the September issue of 1909 of the revival of the Women• s Foreign Missionary Society which had lapsed in Vernon Genter several years before. This society was reinstated with an initial membership of fourteen after an address on “Mohammed” by Mrs. I. D. Brainard of Waterville at a regular Sunday morning service. This missionary branch of the Ladies’ Aid remained
until 1939 when the name of the women’s group was changed to Woman’s Society o! Christian Service. At this time there were forty-five charter members with Mrs. Lord, wife of the minister at that time, as the president of the group. In 1924 Reverend Peck reported in the Fourth Quarterly Conference of the thriving groups of the church among which were The King Herald Society, Little Bearer Society, and Standard Bearer Society. These societies with the women’s groups supported missionary work of which one project was a scholarship in Baroda, India. Each year a Silver Tea and a Mother and Daughter Banquet were held and the money raised at these functions was given to this scholarship. It is believed at this time because of the stress on missionary projects since the turn of the century that five young men from Vernon Center were inspired to enter into God’s work. 42 The first of these was William J. Ashforth who received his ‘Local Preacher’s License’ and joined the Northern New York Conference while in his second year of college in Syracuse University in the spring of 1911. At this time he was assigned to the Knoxboro church where he served two years. In 1913 he entered Boston School of Theology and was graduated in 1915, He joined the New York East Conference where he was to enjoy a short ministry. While in his last year of seminary he served an Italian Mission in Massachusetts and a church in Greenland, New Hampshire. His other appointments in this conference were: 1915-16, North Canton; 1917-18, Waterbury, South Church; 1919, New Haven, East Pearl Street, which were all in the state of Connecticut. He died in February of 1920 and was buried in Skinner cemetery in Vernon Center.43 Harold H. Barnard was next to enter the ministry. In 1925 he was a mail-carrier in Vernon Center when he received his license. His first charge was at Ava, New York, and he is now serving a church in Adams, New York. The last three men to be licensed from this area were reported at the Fourth Quarterly Conference of 1927: Stanley Skinner, went to Syracuse University and Harvard Seminary and is now in Ithaca serving as
chairman of the Rural Church Institute; C, Stanton Williams, a graduate of Syracuse
University and Boston School of Theology, is now. District Superintendent of the Mohawk District and living at Proctor Boulevard in Utica, New York; Robert D. Jones, a graduate of Syracuse University and Auburn Seminary, is now serving the
Asbury Methodist Church in Watertown, Naw York.44

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In October of 1926 the people made plans to observe the occasion of the Centennial of their church. On Friday evening, October 29th, they had what they called “Neighbor Night”. All the churches surrounding the community were cordially invited and a chicken supper was served. A program followed the
supper. Saturday evening a play was presented in Enos Hall called “The Minister’s Wife’s New Bonnett”. Sunday there were three services: 10:30 A. M.; 2:30 P. M.; and 7:30 P. M. In the morning service, the guest minister was Dr. C. E. Hamil-ton, president of Cazenovia Seminary. In the afternoon several talks were gjven by different laymen and preachers and greetings were read. The evening program
was a rededication service at which Dr. Albert G. Judd, the District Superinten-dent, delivered the sermon. A lunch was served in the church parlors to those who came for all day. At this time the officials of the church were sponsoring a task of raising five hundred dollars to cover a debt incurred by putting in electric
lights, painting of the buildings, and some other needed repairs. 45
A new parish house was built in 1929. The chairman of the building committee was Reverend Henry A. Friesen; secretary, Miss Jennie Griswold; treasurer, John T. Dapson; and Mrs. E. W. Bennett, Mrs. William Jones, Miss Estella Wright, John R. Risley, Willis Dorn, and I. B. Enos as members of the committee. -16 At the First Quarterly Conference, May 27, 1929, it was voted that the committee should be given authority to determine upon plans of repairs
on building and that the cost would not exceed five thousand dollars. This was to begin when two-thirds of the estimate cost was in cash or pledges.47 Mr. Oscar
F. Law, carpenter, builder, and contractor, was hired to build the parish house
which cost four thousand fourteen dollars and sixty cents. Further expenses of repairs, installations and painting were as follows:

pipe organ
exterior painting & labor interior painting & labor metal on sides of church foundation (repair)
fir flooring, put in sanctuary of church
garage
bath room & sink put in parsonage

$ 420. 00
200..00
207.00
260.00
500.00
214.00
100.00
506.00
$2407.0048

The work was completed and the dedication was held on Sunday, October 27, 1929. There was a morning worship at 11:00 A. M. at which time the Reverend Albert
G. Judd, D. D., now Superintendent of Ontario District, Oswego, New York, delivered the sermon. In the afternoon at 2:30 P. M. the dedication was given by the Reverend Judd; and Reverend Charles E. Hamilton, D. D. , LL. D. , President of Cazenovia Seminary, delivered the sermon. That evening at 7:30 P. M. Reverend George F. Shepherd, D. D., Superintendent of the Mohawk District, delivered the sermon. A program of special services followed this dedication for the next five days. Monday, October 28, 1929, at 7:30 P. M. they held a “Good Neighbors Night” at which four men spoke. They were all from Vernon Center area–one from Vernon Center, Reverend L. D. Jarrard, the Presbyterian minister; the other three were from Vernon–Reverend Eugene C. Platner, a Baptist minister, Reverend Walter C. Cansdale, a Presbyterian minister, and Reverend R. W. Scouten, a Methodist minister. Tuesday evening was “Old Home
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Night” and some men from this vicinity came back to speak. They were Reverend Robert D. Jones from Emboy Center, New York; Reverend Stanley E. Skinner from Fernwood, New York; and the Reverend John W. Laird, D.D., LL. D. , from Rochester, New York, who delivered a message based on the subject: “The Challenge of Our Timee–and The Mento Meet It”. On Wednesday at 5:00 P. M. they had a chicken pie supper–the first supper held in the new dining room. A musical entertainment was held on Thursday which comprised talent of Vernon Center and outside communities, Friday evening was called the Young People’s Conference and at 7: 30 P. M. an illustrated lecture of six reels was shown of the
International Boy Scouts Jamboree and the Delegation of the American Boy &outs.49

Maroon rubber runners were placed down the aisles in the sanctuary on July 12, 1932 which cost fifty-five dollars.SO The following year at the Fourth Quarterly Conference of March 17, 1933, Miss Ruama Ashforth was granted an Exhorter’s License. She is the daughter of the first manto enter the ministry from Vernon Center which was mentioned earlier in this paper. At this time, she was enrolled
as a freshman in Syracuse University. After graduating she served churches in Quaker Settlement and Cortland. She was married in 1937:
Miss Ruama Desire Ashforth, daughter of Mrs. Charlotte M. Ashforth and the late Reverend William J. Ashforth was married to Harold Leslie Noakes in the Vernon Center Methodist Church on August 14, 1937. This was the first public ceremony in the edifice in fifty years. (she now lives in Guilderland Center and teaches in Albany schools. )Sl
At this conference, Reverend H. A. Friesen reported one hundred ten members.52
The women’s missionary work had continued to flourish. In 1937 the Standard Bearer Society combined with the Queen Esthers in furthering their missionary projects. They sold products and put on programs to raise money to send to the Erie School, Olive Hill, Kentucky, for the missionary education of those people.
They also sponsored a program of sending girls to Dempster Camp at vacation time.53
In May, 1939, the Uniting Conference met in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Declaration of Union was adopted. Whereas, before this date, there were three distinctive churches–Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church–now these became combined into one name The Methodist Church. I will refer to the church from this point on by its
new adopted name.54
Further improvements in 1939 was a new sidewalk in front of the church and parsonage replacing the one laid in 1892. This project was directed by Reverend William Lord and the cost of thirty-nine dollars and twenty-six cents was paid by
Mrs. Dora Roberts. 55 Further needs of repairs, changes, and new equipment
were beginning to be noticed and on November 7, 1946, an official board meeting was held at the parsonage, It was approved and granted that Mr. Champion would make over the garage into a two car garage, the cost of which he would defray.
The reason for this was that half of the garage would be rented. A sum of six hundred and fifty dollars for an oil furnace to heat the parish house was decided

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upon and one hundred eleven dollars for insulation of the room. Also the canvassers
were to iee how much money could be raised for redecorating the auditorium of the church.5 The building committee was appointed on December 10, 1946, with
Carl Wenham as Treasurer, andthe other members were Eugene Bennett, Fred
Rice, Louis Wood, Howard Clinch1 Dr. John Deal, and Barrington Gilmore.57 At this time a Hammond organ was given by Mr. and Mrs. John Black and family in memory of their son and brother, Robert, who was killed in action over Ger•
many on April 19, 1945; a communion table and reredos given by the Kupples Klub; silver-plated cross, made and donated by Robert Stewart; silver-plated candle-sticks by Mr. and Mrs. John Black and family; light fixtures in the ante-rooms and on the pulpit and lectern by Intermediate Youth Fellowship, and offering plates by the Senior Youth Fellowship.58 A report of the remodeling and furnace fund was given by Carl Wenham, Treasurer:

Actual cost:
Receipts to date:
Individual pledges paid
Reserve of church
Sale of organ Sale of
Communion table WSCS furnace fund
Amount of unpaid

$3688.68 1000.00
200.00
15. 00
113. 76
5017. 44

$6228.78

pledges

Amount yet to be subscribed

774.32
5791. 76
437.02

In the afternoon of November 2, 1947, the church was opened for a dedication and thanksgiving of the remodeling of the interior. The invocation was given by Reverend Henry Friesen, a former pastor of the Vernon Center Parkside Church, and at this time serving the Utica Centenary Church. The sermon of dedication was given by Bishop W. Earl Ledden of the Syracuse Area of Methodist Churches, who spoke on church symbols as we interpret them for life. The Reverend C. Stanton Williams of Frankfort led the responsive reading and made the dedicatory prayer, reading an “Airman’s Prayer” sent by Robert Black, pilot in World War II, when he was stationed at Punta Gorda, Florida. The Scripture Lesson was read
by the Reverend John W. Warren, Utica District Superintendent. The evening program opened at 7:00 P. M. with an organ recital. The invocation was given by the Reverend Walter B. Brock, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Reverend Williams gave the Scripture Reading, and the prayer was made by Reverend Kendall Scouten of Newport. The Reverend Harold H. Barnard, who at this time was serving a charge at Carthage, delivered the sermon and used for his topic “The Transfer of Beauty”. 60
Reverend Lester J. Start reported to the quarterly conference in March 21, 1952 a membership of one hundred forty-one. He also stated the main concern in

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regard to the property was the repair and upkeep. Extensive repairs were made including painting of the church and parsonage, and installing a new ri�f on the church at a cost amounting to one thousand five hundred forty dollars. . The following year a ninety-three foot well was drilled with a pump installedm the cellar of the parsonage which cost about five hundred dollars.62 A roof was put
on the parish house in 1955 costing three hundred ninety dollars. Also a new garage was built and attached to the parsonage and the following year a cement floor was laid- -a total cost of four hundred dollars. Several men of the church worked on
this including Carl Wenham, Vincent Hunt, Clifford Kitchen, Sr. , Warren Chandler, Lyle Wenham, and Reverend Lord. 63
In 1956 Mr. Arthur Langford sanded the floor in the sanctuary of the church and Mrs. Dora Roberts paid five hundred six dollars and forty cents for the cost and installation of a carpet which was placed down the center aisle and down both sides, across the church in front of the altar and across the back of the church behind the pews.64 The interior of the parsonage was completely painted by Reverend Robert C. Murphy in 1957,65 The treasurer’s report of March 27, 1957, showed that two heater units were installed, one in the basement of the sanctuary of the church and the other, a conversion burner, in the basement of the parsonage at the cost of one thousand six hundred fifty dollars. This conversion burner did not supply the parsonage with sufficient heat and the following year a new furnace was installed at a cost of four hundred dollars. A new roof was P,Ut
on the parsonage this same year at an expense of three hundred sixty dollars.66
In August of 1960, Mrs. Maud Ashforth presented the church with chimes valued at four hundred fifty dollars in memory of her late husband, Reverend William J. Ashforth. The speakers with drivers were installed in the church belfry with a cable leading to the study o’f the parsonage. This cable was connected to a turntable and amplifier on which records are played P,roducing the chime
music effect and amplified over the loud- speaker system.6 7
The parsonage was painted one coat in the same summer by some of the men of the church which cost about fifty dollars.68 A portion 0£ the sidewalk in front
of the church needed repairing and Robert Chandler, Lay Leader of the church, was put in as chairman for the project. A new walk was laid in this section cost-ing about sixty dollars. Mr. Chandler was also elected chairman in remodeling the basement of the parish house to be used for Sunday School classes and a recreation room. The project had been started several years ago but had been abandoned for some time. Thefoundation of stone had been laid and in 1961 Arthur Langford laid a cement floor. Several people of the church helped seal the walls, install wiring with outlets and light fixtures, and paint the entire surface–walls, ceiling, and floor. The Century Club donated the money for a rest room with modern fixtutes. The total cost of the basement project was about one thousand dollars. 9 Mr. Langford also contracted to resurface the hall upstairs, a back bedroom, and the vestibule of the parsonage, and to change the entrance into the kitchen. Considerable wiring was done by John Schlick. The total cost at this time was seven hundred thirty dollars and eighty-six cents.70 The following
winter the kitchen was remodeled which consisted of built-in birch cabinets, work-space-counter top, a block .vinyl flooring, new windows, doors and a double stainless steel sink. This work was done by Charles Schenk of Augusta Center
with Kenneth Clinch, elected chairman of the project, helping with the work when he could between chores on his farm. The cost was a little over one thousand dollars. The Quarterly Conference report of April, 1962, showed a membership

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o! one hundred thirty-seven persons.71
The church has always had public socials, suppers, and programs. These were usually sponsored by the different groups of the church such as the Standard Bearers and Sunday School Classes. The Epworth League, formerly known as the
F. B. Stanford Chapter No. 6, sold ice cream every Saturday night in what used to be a tin shop at the home of Celia Parks dating back as far as 1900. Later the ice cream socials were held in Enos Hall and in the park. Each summer the woman’s society plan to have one or two ice cream socials in the park which tends to bring the people of the community together to have a good time.
The Century Club was formed about 1955 with an open membership to all people of the church. Reverend Wetherell was the minister at the time and he read the aims of the club at the initial meeting which stressed four main purposes:
1) to have a concern for the local church’s needs;
2) to be community minded;
3) to have a time set aside for Bible study at each meeting;
4) to serve as a fellowship gathering for the group;
Prior to this there was another group that couples attende� called the Kupples Klub which was formed in 1945 when Reverend Williams was the minister. The Century Club meets once each month for a fellowship gathering and from time to time have money making projects which support the needs of the local church.
At the present time there are two women’s groups that meet regularly each month- -the Woman’s Society of Christian Service and the Martha Circle. This circle was formed in 1961 as a supporting branch of the other woman’s society, meeting at night rather than in the afternoon for the convenience of those who· could not meet in the daytime.
The Methodist Youth Fellowship, composed of teen-age youth, meet on Sun-day evening for their owndevotions and business meetings. They are part of a larger group which is District and Conference wide.
The men have a group which is active and meet with the men of the Knoxboro church each month. There was a men’s group which met regularly as early as 1920, but this group disbanded later andwas not revived until Vernon Center combined with Knoxboro in 1960.
Since 1960 the Vernon Center church has also combined with the Knoxboro church for a joint Sunday picnic and service. In 1960 the picnic was held at Hatch’ s Lake with Reverend C. Stanton Williams, our District Superintendent, as the guest speaker. In 1961 the picnic was again held at Hatch’s Lake with Mrs. Harold Noakes, the former Miss Ruama Ashforth, as our guest speaker.
The church’s emphasis on missionary work has always been maintained. In addition to the World Service item established in the compendium on a conference basis, our church supports several advance specials and many local and national missionary projects. They are supported in our church budget and by the woman’s

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society. In addition the Sunday School collection for the first Sunday is used for missionary work which is turned over to the benevolence treasurer an� �uppor.ts our unified budget. Some of these special givings are Folts Home, W1lhamsvi1Ie Home, Wenda Carter Fund, Alaska Methodist College, Overseas Relief, World Wide Communion, Race Relations, Methodist Student Day, and the local Migrant School support. The woman’s society supports through Supply Work Missionary teaching in Tennessee, the Alaskan College and the Neighbor Center in Utica.
The Vernon Center Methodist Church has prospered and grown each year since 1826 both spiritually and financially. The Church has been strengthened not only in numbers but also in its position in the conference. With the same con-fidence, before God, as the men in the past have had this church will ever thrive and advance God’s work on earth. May the words of I John 3:19-24 inspire each person presently working and all who may ever be connected with this church:

And hereby we know that we are the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.

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APPENDIX
THE PASTORS WHO HAVE SERVED THE VERNON CENTER r-ETHODIST CHURCH
REVEREND ELIAS BOt/EN 1826-8 REVEREND JQ-N H. HALL 1859-60

REVER8’0 L. At-DERSON REVER8’0 ‘C. W. Loa-11S

1838-9

REVERENDS. M, CRCMFOOT 1877-80
REVEREf’,O JOSEPH BAIRD 1880-2
REVEREND EBENEZER ARK>LD 1882-3

REVERaD J� LOVEJOY 1839-40
REVEREND B. WEED GORHAM 1840-2
REVEREN:> A. J. DANA 1842-3

REVEREf'{) J. Zltt-1E� 1883-4
REVEREND T. H. MCCLENTHEN 1884-7
REVEREND F. B. STANFORD 1887-91

REVEREI\O ALBERT WARNER 1858-9 R�VERENDC. J. PERRY 1915-17

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REVEREr-F1.> G.CURTIS 1917-18

REVEREr-M1.> H.000
REVEREND F• M. HARVEY 1918-19
1919-21
REVEREM> C. L. PECK 1921-24
REVEREt-1> C. E. HENRY 1924-28
REVEROO SAMJEL TRUSCOTT 1928-29
REVEREr-1> HENRY A. FRIESEN 1929-34
REY,ERENO·\f1.LORD
1934–45
REVEREND C. STANTON WILLIPNS 1945-6
REVEREt-1> ALLISON WOOD 1946-49
REVEREND HONARD CR/IJ,£R 1949-50
REVEREND LESTER START 1950-3
REVEREND \f1. LORD 1953-5
REVEREND STERLING WETI-ERELL 1955-6
REVEREND ROBERT C. t1.IRPHY .�956-9
REVEREND DONALD K. 0000S 1959-

• ·PICTURES � TI£SE PAGES COJRTESY �

t,RS. FRED JACOBS
�. MAUD ASHFORTH
t-RS. WILLIAM LAN>SIEDEL
t-R. ANTHCNf LUTCMSKI
I t,R. ROBERT FORSYTI£
I I I I I I I I

An outside front view of the church and par-sonage as it looked after the new parsonage was built in 1889.
(see page 3)

An outside front view of the church and parsonage at the present time. The front porch on the parsonage was removed in 1924.

I
A view of the sanctuary and altar. This picture shows how it looked after the change in 1902 until it was changed again in 1947. (see page 3)

This picture shows how the sanctuary and altar looks at the present time. It has been this way since 1947.
(see page 7)

I

The pulpit as it looks today. This pulpit has been in use since 1828. The picture was taken in the Sunday School Room.

An outside view of the Parish House. This picture shows how the church and Parish House has looked-since 1929. (see page 5) The iron stairs, serving as a fire-escape, was purchased from D. B. Case of Vernon for two dollars in 1930,

The first musical instrument, a melodion, originally owned by Mrs. Henry Beken and now in the home of Mrs. William Landsiedel, (see page 1)

FOOTNOTES

1Me.thodu,t Ep«c.opa..l Chwt.c.h, Ved.lc.a.Uon 06 the Pa.Jt..Uh HoU6 e (Veil.non Cent.ell., Su.nda.y, Oc.tobeJr. 27, 1929).
2Ib.ld.
3wil.Uam Wa1LJL.en SWee,t, ReLi.g.ion on the Ame/l..ic.an F1r.ont.iell.–1783-1840 (Chic.a.go, 1946), p. 42.
4Ib.ld.
5A�peitcU� �ee. the Wt 06 ,xutoM who �e/l.ved the VVUton Cent.ell. Ch.wt.ch 6Jt.Om
1826 to 196.
6
Ve.cllca:Uon 06 the. Pair.Uh HoU6e.
7
MM. Lynn Salm, C.Upp.ing.
8
EveJLU & FaJr.U�, H-Utoll.y 06 One..lda. County, New Yoll.k 1667-1878 (Ph-Uadel.ph-i.a, 1878), p. 574.
9
Ve.JI.non Cent.ell. Pa11.kl,.lde Me.thodl6t Chwt.c.h, Repoll.t Book–1884-19 39, p. 113.
10
� Hue.t H.UU, to Chll.«:tia.n Soc..ie.t.iu, Ma.q 10, 1822.
11
MM. F1r.e.d Ja.c.ob4, Pe.Monai.. 1nteJr.v-lew, Ve1tnon Ce.ntelt, New YoJtk, Apltil 11, 1962.
12
MM. Lqnn Salm, C.Upp,lng.
13VeJr.non CeJtteJr. Pa11.fu,.lde Me.thodu,t Chwt.c.h, Rec.olr.d Book–1826-1912, M.i.nu.tu glued t:o .in.6.lde o6 61l.ont cove.JI..
14Me.tho�t Ep«c.opa.l Chwt.c.h, Mi.nu.tu 06 the Annual Con6ell.eitc.u, Vol. II, 1829-1839 (New Yoll.k, 18481, p. 71.
..u4., Vo.(.. 111, 1839-1847, p. 631.
16Po,nlLO!f Jonu, A� and Rec.oU.ec.t.ioM 06 One..lda. County {Rome, 1857), p.646. 11Repoltt Book–1884-1939, p. 114.
18MM. Fll.e.d Ja.c.ob4, Sc.ll.a.pbook.
19Mll..6. FJl.e.d,Ja.c.ob4, ,Pe.Monai.. InteJr.v.iew, Ve1tnon Centelt, New YoJtk, AplL,U., 11, 1961. 20
VeJr.nOn Cent.ell. Pa11.kA.lde Me.tho�t Chwt.c.h, CoMtlutcti..on Book, 1880, p. 29.
21
MM. Fll.e.d Ja.c.ob4, Pe.Monai.. lntell.v.iew, Ve1tnon CenteJt, New Yoll.k, AplL,U., 11, 1962.
I 22coMtlutcti.on Book, 1880, p. 30.
231bid., p. 29.
24
Veil.non Ce.ntell. Pa11.fu,.lde Me.tho�t Chwt.c.h, Wll.U.ing4 ta.ken 61l.om the 4ta..ln-
gla4�e.d-w.uu:LoW•6•
25MM. Fll.e.d Ja.c.ob4, Sc.ll.a.pbook.
26MM. Lynn Salm, Pe.Monai.. 1 nte1r.v.lew, Ve1r.non Centelt, New Yoll.k, AplL,U., 18, 1962.
I

27Mu. FM.d Ja.cob4, P.i.c.tu,te.,
21Re.po.U Bcok–1884-1939, P• 13,
t9lb.id,, p, I”‘•

JBB1,

3olbid., p, 31.
31r�u., p. 44.
32rb.id., p. 58,
331Md,, p. 62.
34veM01t Cu1teA PMluide. Mtthodu.t Clwltch, Re.colt.dlng st� Book, lUJi
35Re.pcltt Book, p. 64,
3611!Ji,, p. 68.
37.Ib.id., p. 95,
38zb.i.d., p, 116,

39-=
�-,
40

p, 135,

lbi.d,, P, 177, a 4epa1Ul.te. pa.pelt glued to :thi6 page.
41
lbi.d,, p, 168,
4%lbi.d.
43Ne;oYoltk Ea.st Con6e1tw.e, /.U.nu.te.6 06 the New YoJr.k Ea.lit Annual Con6�
Seu.ion oa 1920, .the 4eve.nt.y-4ec.ond &ic.kley Numbe1t, p. 137,
44
Re.poll.t Book, p. 184,
� .
Cwtton E. He.My, Letwr. to the People, dated Oc.tobeJt 22, 1926.
t
46
Vedicathn 06 .the Pa11,Uh Hau4e; M.i.64 Jennie Gwwol.d, SeCJtetaJL.y Boos.
Me.thowt fp.UC.Opal Chwr.c.h, VeJtnon Cent.ell, New YoJtk.
47Repo-tt Book. p, 195,
481,1,u, WUllam W,ugkt, V,io.Ji.q. p, 147. 49ve.cU.cation 06.the Pait.Uh HoU6e,
50
Mu, WilUam fJIJU.gkt, V,io.Ji.y, p, 147,
51Repo-tt Bo k 20 M-‘L4
Nw Yo,tk, Aph)J, 29 196�: 11.�; 11 ,Maud A4h6oltth,. PCfMonal Inte1tv.lew, Ve1tnon CenteA,
52 ‘ 1 “”i.o• 111audA4h6ollth, CUpp,tng,
RepoJt.t Boof1 p, 208,

53
lb.id.
54
Nofu B. HaNnon, Undw.tancUng The. Me&Jwcli.4t Chwr.clt (�hv.u..tt, n.d. ), p.24.
55
M.u_ Vo.ta Rob�, Pe1L6onal lnteA.v.lew. Vwwn. Nei.o Yoltb…
56
‘””t –<.M!ft p. 22. 51 lb.id., p. 26. SB Mu. fJr.e.d 1a.c.ob6, SCMpbook. 59 Vt,\lt0,t c� PcVllu.idt Me.tltodut Cltwtch, M.i.nute.4 06 Fol.lltth � Con6vc.e.nce., Ma.\cll 19, 1948. 60 M-'l6. f Jte.d la.cob,,, SeJUtpbook. 61M.ututu 06 FoWt.thQWVt.te/1.ly Con6eA.e.nce, Malt.c.h 21, 1952. 62 Mt. CU660Ju1 Kltc.he.n, S't., TJte46Wte/l. Book. 63 Mt. V.utcent Hunt, Pruonal lnte,tvigw, Vwwn Ce.nttlt, Nei.o Yo,tlz, Mag 2, 1962; Mu. C4.tl WtllMJtl, Pwonal Inte,tv.lew. Veil.non CtnteJt, New Yo,tlz, Apllil.. 16, 1962. 64Mt. CUHoJtd Kltclte.n, S't., TJte46Wte/l. Book; M.u. Volta Robe,c,t.6, Pe..uo,r,al. lnu,tv.itM; M4y 1, 1962. • 65 Vvuion CVtttJL Palllu-ide. Me:thocli.4t Chwtc.h, Se.CltWVL!{ M.uw.te. Book. 66CUHoJtd Wclte.n, S't., TJte46Wte/l. Book. 61"""6.MaudA4h6olttlt, Pe1L6onal InteA.v.lew, Vvc.non CtnteJt, NeJAJ YoJLll, Maq 2, 1962. 68A11t.. RobtJLt Cho.ndl.eJt, Pvuonal InteA.v-lew. Vwwn Cui.tell, NeJAJ Yo.u, Maq 2, 1962. 69-zb.ld.; C.U66oJtd Kite.hen, S't., TJtWWte/l. Book. lOEdna. We.nham, TJte.tUWttJL Book 06 Woman'.\ Sode.ty 06 C�.tian StJLv«e.. 71Allt.. Ke.Me.th CUnc.h, Pe1L6ona.l Inte/Lv.lew, Ve/l.lt0lt CtnteJt, New Yo.u, Maq 1, 1962; � ALi.rw.U. Book. BlBLlOGRAPHY Mh6oltth, Mu. Maud. Pe,yomtl lntVLV.le.w. VeJLnon Ctn.tell, NW Yo.tk, Ap!Lil. 29, 1962. cha.ndlvi. MIL. R�be,U. PVL4omtl lnte11.v.lw, Ve/I.non Ctn.tell, NW You, Ma.y 2, 1962. clwl!c.h Re.coltd.6, VVLnon Ce..itvi. P4/tlu.lde. Me.thod.ut Chwtc.h. - Located .ln the. 44,e .ln the. pa,uonage. 4t Vvi.non CtnteJL. cwc.h, MIL. KVUte.th. PWoMl ln,teJtv.lew. VeJLnon Ctn.tell, NeJC1 Yo.tk, Ma.y 1, 1962. Cti.ppbtS, Mu. Maud A4h6o.tth. cu.p,,.uig�, Mu. Lynn S4lm. Con.6.tJwc..t.lon Ac.c.ou.nt BOOB-, 1880, Ve/I.non Ctn.tell. Paltlu.ide. Me.thoclut Chwtc.h. Located .ln the. �46e. .ln the pa,uonage 4t Ve11.non CtnteJL. Ve.di.�t' • MethocLUt E .Ve..tnon Ce.,z.wt, ell 27, 1929 pamp • � Hue.t H.i1.l.4 tc C�.tian Soc..let.lu, May 10, 1822. Loc.a.te.d .ln the. �a.6e. 06 MIL. Ca/Ll We.nham. V.laluj, Miu E6te.U.e. WILlght, Located .ln the. home on Miu. F.te.d Jae.ob�. I � Mu. Willi.am Wlught. Located .ln the. home. on Miu. F.1ted Jae.ob�. Eveltt4 8 F��. H�tc.1ty o6 One..ida. County. Nw Yoll.k 1667-1878. PhU.ad.e.tphl.a.: P.1tu� on J. B. Upp.lnc.ott S Co., 1818. Halunon, Nol.an. B. Und�� the. Me.thocLUt Chwtc.h. . P.le..1tc.e. S CAkuha.ba.ugh. Na.6hville.: The Mitho • t PubU4ki..ng Ho�e, 1955. Hunt., MIL. V.uic.e.nt. Peyomtl Inte11.v.lw. Ve/I.non CtnteJL, Nw Yoltk, Ma.y 2, 1962. Ja.c.oN, Mu. Fltt.d. P�onal lnte11.v.lw. Ve..tnon Ce.nteJL, Nw Yoltk, Ap!t).1, 11, 1962. Jonu, Porwwy. A� and Re.c.oUe.c.tioM 06 One.lda. County. Rome, 1851. J Le.tteJt. to the People, Clinton E. He.My, Oc.tobe11. 22, 1926. Loc.ated .ln the. Re.po.ltt Book. Ma.c.Cle.nthe.n, W. H. 8 Va.v.id F. P.le11.c.e, V. V., EcU • The. Me.thcd,y.t, Me.thocll6t Publuhlng Co., Ma.n.lon stoc.k, HeJtlwneJL, New Yo.1tk, Vol. Ill, No. 1 (Se.ptembeJL, 1909), 11. M-i.nutu 06 the. Annual Con6e11.e.nc.u, Me.thocLUt Ep.,Uc.opa.(. ChuJtc.h. Vol. ll -- 1829-18 39. New Yo.ltk, 1840. Muwted 06 the Annµa.t Con6µencu. Me..thocUl,.t Epuc.opal Chu!tch. Vol. 111 -- 1839-1841. New YOJtil» 1848. � 06 .the New YoJtk EtUt Annual Con6eAenc.� Su1>-lon 06 1920, the �evtl!ty
– Buclley Wumbe/1.. -�
Pic.twt!, Mu. Filed Jacobi>.
R co11.dht� st� Book, June. 140 1881, VeAnon Ce.n.te.Jt Pa1t.k6.lde. Me.thodi6.t c�…
– ocite.d ln the. U6e. in the. palt6onage. in Ve1tnon CentVt. ·�
RtPQU Book–1884-1939. VeJtnon Ce.n.teJt Me..thocUJ,.t Ep.l&c.opal Chwtc.h.
– Ve/tPlOlt Ce.n.teJL,Nw YoJtk. Located in the. 1>a6e. in the pa!l.,60n.age .(it vtb
CuteJt. :r.
RobVt-U, Mu. Vo.\4. Pell6onal ln.teAv-le.w. VeAnon, New Yo1tk, May 1, 1962. Salm, Mu. LyM. Pwonal ln.teAv-lew, VeJtnon CenteJL, New Yoltk, Ap!til, 18, 196t
I

Se1tapbook, �. F.11.ed Jacobi>.
Se.cAe.talu{ Boo� �6 Jenn.le. GwwoU., Me..thod.l&t Ep.l&copa.l Clwltc.h, Vt/Uf.O.C cw-b
Nw Yollk. Located in the. 1>a6e. in the paMonage. in VeJtnOn Ce,n.telt. ‘
.s«e..t, wuu.a,,, Wcvvten. ReUg-lon on the Amvucan F1tonti.e11.–1783-1840. td.
S«ii.6t Halt. Vol IV. Chic.ago: The Unlvw.ity 06 Chica.go PJte..U, 1946,
TJl&¥Ull.ell Book, Mlt. CU66olt.d Kltche� Sit. Located -ln the home 06 M-t. CU66DM
K.i.U.hen, SIL.
T.U.CUUll.ell Book 06 Women’!>Society 06 Ch/u,6.tla.n SetLv.ic.e. /.U.66 Edna. Wenham• Loeilted.in the home 06 M.i66 Edna Wenham.
wtnham, Mu. Calli.. PeMonal InteAv.lews VeAnon Cente1t, New YoJtb..
Ap!li..l 16, 1962.
WJLltingh t.akdJ1om the 6ta-ln-gla.66ed wlndoW6. Ve1tnon CenteA P�i.de.
Me.tho t chuiich.

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