While the history of our society cannot be said to be very eventful, neither can it be said to have been entirely uneventful. There has been times when its tide of prosperity seemed to be at very low ebb and, times when it appeared to have rushed to the high water mark. But whatever has been the outward semblance, we believe that at times, God has been present, shaping our history, according to its divine plan. Our society was organized on the 19th. of Dec., 1885, through the efforts of Rev. Cutler, our pastor at that time. It was the first society, for young people, organized in this place. Various were the comments passed upon it. Some of these were not very flattering or encouraging. Such a the following, which I think many of the older members will readily recollect:
I don't think much of this idea of a prayer meeting for young people. It is only an occasion for the boys and girls to meet and have a good time.Well, they were right about the good times, were they not? Some of the very best times the boys and girls ever have had were spent at these same C.E. meetings. Only there was a different kind of time meant in the comment. The young people readily saw that the C.E. society would give them just what they needed, to keep alive and strengthen that resolve, which many had just made, to henceforth live for "Christ and the Church". The more they saw the results of the society, the more intensely alive they became to the fact that, the society was a grand movement.
A roll was taken at the first meeting which resulted in the following names being inscribed thereon: Nellie Sipe, Cyrena Wolford, Rhetta Sowers, Mary Custer, Nellie George, Ella Hill, Jessie George, Lizzy Finney, Millie Carr, Amanda Miller, Lena Wirt, Mary Cockley, Mattie Wirt, Blanche Heskett, Flora Jackson, Isa George, Maggie Fike, Cora Denius, Neller Holler, Carrie Hill, John Cook, Chas. Carey, Frank Cook, Dick Custer, Harry McClurg, R.H. Custer, Rheuben Shaffer, Will George, R.B. Andrews, Wm. Berry, Arthur Lindsey, Charlie Shaffer, John Wirt, Olivan Denius; 34 names in all. No distinction was made between active and associate members.
The following officers were elected: Pres., John Cook; Vice Pres., Rhetta Sowers; Sec., Cyrena Wolford; Treas. Dick Custer. Two committees were appointed: Look Out and Prayer-meeting. Wm. Berry was chairman of the Look Out committee and Dick Custer of the Prayer-meeting. No topic cards were used, so one of the most important duties of the Prayer-meeting committee was to select and announce the subject for each following meeting. A record of these subjects has been kept and in reviewing our history it is quite interesting to review this list and see with what subjects we wrestled.
The meetings continued in the interest manifested in the beginning. Three names were added to the roll and one dropped for non attendance. The society as time went on became more cognizant of its duties. During the following three years 1887, 88, 89, the interest and the prosperity of our society was on the decrease. More names were dropped from the roll than were added to it. Two of the principal reasons for this being the formation of a Young People's Society in the Presbyterian church and the removal of a number of our members to other cities. The distinction between active and associate members was made at this time.
Music and Social committees were added to the list of committees. On the third of March, 1887, an event occurred which cast a gloom of sadness over the entire society. It was the death of Rheuben Shaffer. The society showed its respect to his memory by passing a series of resolutions to that effect. Topic cards were adopted in 1888. The office of Pres. was filled during these three years by R.H. Custer, Rena Wolford, Chas. Carey, Olivan Denius; the pastorate by Rev. Cutler succeeded by Rev. Ludwig who was in turn succeeded by Rev. Edmonds.
In July 1889 on account of the discouraging state of the society, a vote was taken to reorganize. This resulted in the following roll: Grace Miller, Ella Hill, Jennie Sowers, Isa George, Kate Davis, Flora Heyser, Carrie Shafer, Mattie Heyser, Nellie George, Jessie George, Effie Heyser, Rena Wolford, Gertie Maxwell, Carrie Hill, Chas. Carey, John Cook, Arthur Lindsey, Frank Cook as active members and Lucy George, Victor Sowers as associate members. A total membership of 20. In 1890 and 91, the meetings were very interesting the greater part of the time. New ideas were successfully introduced. A missionary and Sunday School committee was affixed to the list of committees. Chas. Carey, Kate Davis and Frank Cook acted as Pres. of the society. Rev. Edmonds was succeeded by Rev. Davies.
In August, 1890, our society joined the County Union now known as the N.C.O.Y.P.C.U.
At the beginning of 1892 we find the roll to be largely increased compared with the roll at the beginning of 1891. It was increased principally through associate members. Frank Cook officiated as President throughout this year. The plan was adopted of holding union meetings with the Presbyterian C.E. society on the first Sunday evening of each month. This was done to promote socialibility between the two societies. Although the work done in 1892 was not all we could have wished it to be, it was in the main satisfactory.
We started in the present year with a membership of thirty-five; sixteen active and nineteen associate. There was no noticeable gain in attendance or interest, on the preceding year until the latter part of January and the first of February, at which time a series of revival meetings were conducted by our present pastor, Rev. Kaley, successor of Rev. Davies. The fact of these meetings was very marked; one of the grand results being the removal of thirteen names from the associate list to the active. A local pledge was adopted; each signer pledges himself to take part, in at least every alternate meeting, by prayer or speaking. Its adoption was occasioned by the impression that more interest in the meetings would be had by more personality. This pledge as 18 signers.
On the fifteenth of July, 1893, death again visited our society, taking for its victim Miss Rena Wolford, an earnest active member. Her name was one of the first enrolled in 1885.
Our society has sent delegates to the following conventions: Mt. Vernon, 1888; Tiffin, 1889; Dayton, 1890; Toledo, 1891; Akron, 1892; Cincinnati, 1893. The reports given by these delegates have been very helpful to the society, giving them many ideas which they could not have gained otherwise. The meetings of our society were held on Sunday evening of each week in the Winter, and Tuesday evening in the Summer, up to the time of 1892, since which time they have been held exclusively on Sunday evenings.
Our society has always contributed to the church treasury.
Comparing the present year with the first, we surely can, with all due humility, take pride in the progress which our society has made. New ideas introduced from time to time have done much to improve the manner of conducting the meeting. We have four committees and the work done by them is more satisfactory. More attention is bestowed upon the pledge and its compliance.
Despite the ups and downs we have experienced our present roll shows a gain of 16 members on the roll in 1885, and a gain of 30 names on the roll of at the reorganization in 1889. The following names comprise our present roll: Jennie Sowers, Ella Hill, Nellie George, Grace Miller, Nellie Sipe, Jessie George, Minnie Dickson, Carrie Shafer, Ora Denius, Isa George, Cora Denius, Edith Yarger, Gertie Maxwell, Grace Woods, Carrie Fry, Lucy George, Edith Shepard, Jessie Sowers, Laura Johnson, Pearl Woods, Orpha Yarger, Edith Williams, Harriet Delamater, Anna Hill, Blanche Heskett, Carrie Hill, Frank Cook, David Williams, Harry Sowers, Arthur Sowers, George Hill, John George, Victor Sowers, Williard Swartz, Rev. Kaley, John Ward, Thomas Miller, Smith McCowan, 40 active members; and associate members: Will Thuma, Encil Doudna, John Streby, Ralph Lindsey, Bessie Boggs, Arthur Shuler, Dwight Maxwell, May McClure, Mary Streby, Arthur Fry, in all 10.
Our present outlook for the future is quite hopeful and we trust that God will go with us on our onward march blessing, and prospering us. We realize that it is only when our endeavors have been made in His spirit that they have prospered. So in our history we give unto Him all honor and glory for what ever good has been accomplished. The blessing is ours.
-- Carrie Hill
