The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-11-19
RE- Opening u. B. CHURCH
A BRILLIANT SUCCESS

of cheer to the congregation. Rev.
William Williamson, one of the for"
mer pastors present, delivered few
reminiscent remarks, giving a brief
synopsis of his experiences in connec-
tion with the local church.
The evening services were held un-
der the auspices of the local branch
of the Woman's Missionary associa-
ton, Rev. U. l.. Fry. of Louisville,
pronounced the invocation, and much
of the remainder of the evening was
occupied by lecture by w. r. Funk,
upon his travels and work as a mis-
sionary in Africa. He has just re-
Gently returned to this county, and
was able to recount in a graphic man
ner, by his fresh memory, his adven-
lures in the jungles of the dark con-
tinent, charming his listeners for sew
eral hours by his delightful talk. The
United Brethren church maintains a
church on the west coast of Africa,
which was established over fifty years
ago. DR.. Funk told of the WILDER
Force, native who several years ago
was given great publicity In this coun-
try by story that having been once
baptized into Christianity, he had re-
verted to canabalism. The speaker
denied the truth of this stating that
the native in question was as strong
In his belief in the doctrines of
Christianity, as ever in his career.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
After g number of efforts to estab-
lish United Brethren church in this
city, the annual Mushingum confer
ence when it convened at Louisville,
o., in 1868, recognized the need of
branch of the denomination in Can
ton and appointed Rev. ]. Cecil, as
the first regular pastor to the Can
ton work. Rev. Cecil began his work
energetically, and in the fall of 1869,
after year or more of tireless effort,
he succeeded in erecting the little
brick church still standing on Charles
street. 1t was formally dedicated late
in the fall of 1869 by Bishop Weaver.
Rev. Cecil served for one year as
pastor of the new church, and then
half dozen pastors served the church
in rapid succession. Rev. S. w. Koontz
served three years; Rev. R. Rock, two
years; Rev. ]. Oswalt, one year; Rev.
G. N. Queen, one year; Rev. H. A.
Bowling, one year, and after the de-
parture of the Rev. Bowling, Rev.
Queen was again assigned to the pas
torate.
In the fall Of 1886. Rev. William
Williamson was assigned to the Can
ton work. Warmers chapel had been
assigned to the Canton work, or per-
haps more properly one should say
that Canton had been annexed to the
Warner chapel, for Rev. Queen in his
report at the close OF the work In
1885, used these significant words:
-"The membership of the Warner
church Is real substantial member
ship, while that of Canton is largely
nominal"
1t seems that this aff1liation with the
Warmers chapel continued at least one
year after Rev. Williamson assumed
his duties in the Canton church. His
pastorate continued for ten years, and
became the foundation of the church
as it stands today. The first two
years of his administration were un-
doubtedly the darkest and most un-
promising in the history of the church
Rent within by dissention and strife
bred secret order controversy, with
unenviable reputation and standing in
the community, with total member
ship of less than two hundred, heavily
encumbered with debt, and with but
little incentive to stimulate enthus-
iasm and concerted effort, the outlook
indeed was anything but hopeful. At
ter several years split occurred in
the secret order question in the Unit
ed Brethren church as it did later in
the other churches of the city, and
with the withdrawal of a number OF
the brethren, the membership was re-
duced almost to the one hundred
mark
If the membership of the church was
reduced, the vitality of those who re-
mained, was as substantial as ever
BY heroic effort the gallant little band
not only succeeded In causing the in
debtedness to vanish, but also fur
nished the church to a degree that
seemed elegant compared to its for
mer state. The better days began to
come after the utter depression of the
years previous to 1890, and in the
winter of 1890-91 successful revival
meetings were held which were instru.
mental in materially increasing the
membership.
Then Rev. Williamson put the
proposition before his people that Q
church, larger and with an uptown
location would have to be built tc
insure permanent success. In 1891
the purchase of the site at the corner
of Cleveland avenue and Tenth street
was made for $4,000, and in the fol.
lowing year the congregation adopted
plans for building and authorized
the board of trustees TO let the con,
tract. The building of the church
was marked by great hardship, diff.
Guilty. and days when the aspect was
blue" To begin with the actual to-
tai of the entire amount subscribed