01. In the Beginning Excerpts

                                     

The Excerpts

-a source of and companion to From the Archives

            In researching the first 80 years of Bethany history, I tried to read whatever materials were available from a variety of sources but primarily from recorded minutes of the Ladies Aid Society, of Church Council meetings and of Annual Congregational Meetings.  Gatherings from these sources were often sporadic, at times missing completely for varying periods of time.  Possibly group secretaries may have kept official minutes at home and never placed them in a central church file.

            From these various sources I have selected only those notations which stood out to me.  At times they seem to indicate personalities.  At other times they reveal a reaction to a situation.  In all cases they present a historical vignette in the life history and routine of Bethany Lutheran Church.

            Other writers might have chosen other excerpts.  I apologize for bypassing those excerpts that they feel should have been included.  I expect that my own biases will be evident in these choices but I have avoided most of my personal observations…and what I have selected, I have selected.

 

 

                                     Excerpts- In the Beginning

 

*”The first meeting of the Bethany English Lutheran Ladies Aid was held on [January 31, 1935] with Rev. G.W. Orth acting as chairman.”

*Ladies Aid : Jan., 1935.  “The first item for discussion was regarding a monthly fee...the members voted that a fee of 10 cents per month be charged.”

*Ladies Aid:  Jan., 1935.  “Another [fundraising] suggestion was to hold monthly  ‘Thimble Teas’ at the various homes of the members.”

*Ladies Aid: March 27, 1935.          Each month, a ‘Birthday Box would be present at the meeting.  “...the meeting ladies having birthdays in that  month are asked to deposit  an amount of money  [in pennies] equalling their age...”

*Ladies Aid: July 3, 1935.        “Mrs. Orth asked the Altar Guild to have flowers on the altar on Sunday, July 7.  This being the first Anniversary of the Bethany
English Lutheran Church in Woodstock.”

*Ladies Aid:  Sept. 24, 1935.  A fund-raiser      200 tickets to be printed for a Harvest Home Supper to be held on Oct 21.  Cost of the ticket: 25 cents

Sept. 25, 1935. “...Ever since our organization as a congregation we have looked forward to this day of rejoicing when we would have our own mimeograph machine. ...”

Nov. 10, 1935.  “A word to our members regarding those merchants and men who have so kindly taken an ad on these [weekly] bulletins...Patronize them whenever possible.”

Nov. 10, 1935.  “Sunday, Nov. 10^th, there shall be only one service.  That shall be at 11 a.m.  There shall be no evening service.  May you surprise the pastor by attending this service.”

Dec. 15^th, 1935.  “Christmas morning the pastor will give to each and every member and friend present a Christmas gift.  These gifts shall only be given to those present at the Christmas morning service. ...

*Ladies Aid:  January 22, 1936.     “It was decided  to celebrate the first anniversary of the organization by reserving a table at the Sauerkraut Supper being put on by the Men’s  Club on February 17 in the Woodman’s Hall.”

*Ladies Aid:  January 22, 1936.  “It was moved and seconded that the Ladies Aid give five dollars towards the rent of the Chapel  [the Grey Memorial Chapel, 526 Princess Street].

*Ladies Aid:  February 5, 1936.  A Fund-Raiser         “It was decided to have a ‘Clouds’ and ‘Sunshine’ contest during Lent.  Mrs. Young was chosen captain for the ‘Clouds’ and Mrs. Cowing for the ‘Sunshine’.

On a cloudy day each person on the clouds would put a penny in the collection bag and on a sunny day each member of the ‘Sunshine’ group would donate a penny.

*Ladies Aid:  May 6, 1936.   “Carl Volmershausen ...brought forth the suggestion that a congregational picnic take the place of the separate ones for the different organizations of the church.”

*Ladies Aid:  June 3, 1936.  “It was moved and seconded that the society [Ladies Aid of the Bethany English Lutheran Church] pay their share towards the [first congregational] picnic.  The sum mentioned was five dollars.”

June 28^th, 1936.   Parish Notes  “Gifts received the past week are as follows: a beautiful crucifix and offering plates were presented by the church in  Baden and by a friend of the pastor’s [Rev. George Orth].”

July 19^th, 1936.  “Indeed it would seem to the author of this bulletin [Rev. George Orth] that many people do not read it.  If they do, they cast it afterwards and forget all that is stated therein...”

July 19^th, 1936.  Parish Notes  “Sunday morning service shall be held at the usual hour, 11 a.m.  May we see some of those who have not been to service for some time. ...The heat wave has subsided and may we therefore look for a better attendance  “

August 2^nd, 1936  Parish Notes  “Let me remind you of our slogan  : ‘The Church Where You Are Only a Stranger Once’.  Are we upholding this banner?  If not, why not?”

August 30, 1936.  Parish Notes  “Sept. 6^th, Sunday, there shall be no Sunday School or Church service.  This is your holiday, you who have been faithful during the summer.”

September 13, 1936.  Parish Notes  “Sept. 16^th at 8 p.m.  The Ladies Aid are inviting all ladies of the church to a social held at the home of Mrs. W. Krug...May they count on every one of you.  Ladies this is your night out.  Husbands will  aid you by looking after the children.”

November 22, 1936.  Parish Notes  “All services will be held henceforth  [in the new Parish House-62 Graham Street].”

November 29^th, 1936.   Parish Notes    Rev. George Orth   “On Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s supper in our new parish home, at the morning service.  We know that you are greatly interested in your new home by the manner in which you turned out last Sunday.  We hope, therefore, that you will turn out for the Lord’s supper also.  Particularly those who have not as yet attended our communion service the entire year.”

*Ladies  Aid:  January 7, 1937.  “The Secretary read a letter from the Church board in which they ask if the Ladies Aid would help pay for the fuel for the Parish House.  A motion was made that a cheque for twenty-five dollars be given to the treasurer of the church board.”

*Ladies Aid:  February 4, 1937.  “Rev. Orth was authorized to buy twenty more chairs for the Chapel.  It was moved and carried that the Ladies Aid pay the electric light bill for the Chapel.”

*Ladies Aid:  March 4, 1937.  “Rev. Orth reported that folding chairs were $1.95 each.  It was decided not to purchase any.”

*Ladies Aid:  May 6, 1937.  “Rev. Orth offered to lacquer the windows [of the Parish House 62 Graham St.] if the Ladies would purchase the lacquer.”

*Ladies Aid:  June 3^rd, 1937.  “The President [Mrs. F. Krug] read an address and Mrs. Roi presented Rev. & Mrs. Orth with the quilt the ladies had made during the winter.”