The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-31

&. V. Wilson. of Niles. o.
=. John Tribby, ,Ravenna. o.
"a Caleb Brown, Deerfie!d, o.
- w. ID. Stevens, Cleveland, o..
Samuel Foliambe, Cleveland, o.
Elisha B. Howe, Grand Rapids, Mich.
On Friday evening Rev. Thomas
Siubbs preached sermon of great |
beauty and power.
On Saturday, after day devoted
10 visiting, the church and congrega-
ton, with the invited guests gathered
in the church for a supper and social
reunion. One OF the pleasantest eve
nings of lifetime was spent there.
After the elegant supper which the
ladies had furnished, the following
toasts were read and responded to:
THE PIONEER PREACHERS OF THE WESTERN
RESERVE.
Response by Rev. b. o, PLIMPToS.
THE WOMEN OF METHoDIsM-
Response by Rev. w. ID. STEVENS.
THE CLASS OF 1851
Response by SAMUEL FoLJAMBE, Esq.
TIE MLTuoDIsM OF To-Day.
Rcspo: So bp Rev .DR. CLARKE.
CHRISTIAN UNITY.
Response by Rev. Z. J. L BAKER.
THE LADIES OF OUR CHURCH.
Response by Rev. Z. V. WILSON 80
THE SISTER CHURCHES OF OUR TowN.
Response by Rev. 4. NJ, HILLS.
The first service on Sunday was de-
voted TO an historical paper by A. B.
Griffin, Esq, giving the records of
church struggles and successes for the
fifty years from Sunday, March 9th,
1881. The paper was qaite long, bat
was listened to with undivided atten-
ton to the last, and the ripples of
laughter which passed through the
audience, or more frequently the
moistened eyes of the listeners, show
ed how thoroughly the happy hits and
touching incidents of the paper were
responded to.
The following is synopsis of this
valuable paper:
The church was organized March 81,
1881, Dennis Sutlitf, Edwin Bostwick,
Darius Ely, Hannah and Sarah Sapp,
Samuel Foljsmbe and wife, and Mrs.
Susan Brown, being the eight persons
who constituted the Church. RavenDa
thus became a station of the Ohio Dis
trict. .Deerfield Circuit. Cornelius Jones
and John NJ offet, preachers.
The Church was formed in q log
school house, two miles north Of the
present village, on the occasion of one
of Mr.. Jones monthly visits. The
meetings were continued in the log
tipllN and then
transferred to brick school house in
the village, there being at that time no
church buildings in Ravenna. The
first Sunday School was organized on
September Is, 1881, SaTnuel Foljanl be,
Superintendent The first meeting
Gouse was completed and dedicated
December 10, 1882, on the site of the
present brick editice, which was dedi-
Gated January 30, 1857, by Bishop
Simpson. In 1882 the RayeDna and
Deerfeld Circuit was constituted, with
Ira EDDY, John w. Hill, and Peter d.
Horton, preachers. In 1888 Rsvenna
| was made a Station, Rev. John Nc
Lean, Pastor. The claim for that year
was: PASTORS. all told, $500; Elders,
SIG; total, $2l6. TEis amount was
paid in full. Some of the items to
make this amount, furnished by differ
ent individuals, are as follows: sc
lbs. fresh pork, at 81 per lb.; 20 lbs
lard, at G14c per 10. !; 3 bu. wheat. al
13c per bu.: corn, potatoes, and order
on store, 81 81 school bill, 81 %, etc
| We might inter from these records
hat the preacher had q family. Again
Z bushels oats, at 25c per bushel. We
infer fl ON this that tie preacher haC
a horse. Two hundred dollars carried
them all through the year, of course
In 1884 Rev. a. Collendar seryed al
Pastor; 1885, Rev. Hiram Gilmore.
| In August, 1886, Ravenua was raised
from the dignity OF a Station to the
head center of circuit, around which
revolved Franklin. Briintield, Caya
hoga Falls, and Northampton. Th,
Circuit Preachers were Revs. VIM
Stevens and w. 5. Warweli; Rev
Isaac Winins. L. E. Our neighbor
Cleveland, tried the experiment o
sustaining a S alton in 1880, but held
out one year only. We tried in 1888
and held out three years. Cleveland
tried it again in 1881, and made sue
cess of it. In speaking of the early
history of Methodism in Cleveland
Griggs makes this statement: "lr
the year 1926, gentleman residing In
one of the Eastern States and owning
real estate in Cleveland, being anxious
to see the Methodist Episcopal Churci
established there at the time the Pres
byterian and other Caurches were be
ing orgonized, sent to young person
residing in the place decd OF the 10
on the corner OF ontario and Rock
well Streets, which would have been
the best location in the city tor {
Methodist Church; but no one coult
be- found WHO was willing TO pay tht
postage on the package, or the Re
corders fee for recording the deed
and il had to be returned to its geuer
oGs donor. Oaly four yeas after the,
felt strong enoughto sustain areslden
PASTOR
In 1887 Rev. William Stevens served
the Ravenna Church; i'll 1888. Revs
A. q. S.urges ana T.. j. l.. Baker; il
1889 Sturges continued, with w. +
WIl-ou; in 1910 l.. ID Mix and ID, NJ
Stearns were on the Circuit. In lSi
Rayenna again became Il Station, witt
l.. d. Mix, Pastor. In this year Il grea
revival occurred, eighty Joining OF
probation, and saventy-tour OF tn,
eighty becoming members in tull con
nection. In 1912 Rev. Wm, Hun,e
was Pastor; 1913, Rev. John Mclean
Nc Lean was the first stationed preach
er of the Cnurch-1S33-his salarl
then 5000. This year he was pait
$406, as follows: Quarterage, $500
table expenses, $95: one child over
years, S24; two children under
years, S32; house rent, $55; total
$406. In 1914 Rev. B. X. Maltby wa
Pastor; 1915, Rev. Samuel Gregg
1916 and 1917, Rev. S. G. Thomas
| 1878. Rev. John Balm: 1919 and 1880