Segment X of Centennial History Manual
LONG planning, careful preparation and a happy choice of leaders and committee personnel combined to make the Centennial program an outstanding success.
As long before hand as the Annual Meeting on May 15, 1940, it was voted that a Centennial Committee be appointed. Thus plans were slowly but steadily maturing for almost two years before the final celebration.
The Centennial program really opened with the Woman's League meeting on February 24th. Mrs. Thomas De Swarte and Mrs. Vernon Kinney wrote and directed the program presented. In Mrs. De Swarte's words, "This was an historical sketch of a woman's meeting in the church about 75 years before. The facts given were true facts taken from records. Ladies gathered at the meeting were twelve in number. The river was high but women came in spite of difficulties. Mary (Hart) had crossed the bridge and succeeded in reaching the church in her husband's boots. Docia (Barber) rode in with her husband on a load of wood . . . The president spoke of the gratitude and satisfaction of the entire church in raising and giving $700 to extend the building of Beloit College. The treasurer announced $95.50 in the treasury, $46.00 of which was raised at the State Fair dinner served by the members. $40.00 of this was voted to help pay for fuel and kerosene for the church . . . Docia Barber (Mrs. Kinney), reported on the Donation Party for the minister. It was explained that whatever was brought was counted as a part of the minister's salary of $600 a year. "If was estimated that a total of $56.00 worth of stove wood, oats, beef, soft soap, lard, yard goods and home-made goodies were brought to the party."
About 150 women who attended this first meeting in recognition of the approaching Centennial, were served an old fashioned baked bean luncheon.
On Sunday, March 1st, just one hundred years to the date from the founding of the church, a Centennial Service of Worship was held. Mr. Lee preached on "Spiritual Pioneers," his text being Hebrews 11:13. He brought to the congregation a stirring resume of the birth and life of the church. He spoke of the eleven spiritual pioneers who founded our church and pointed out that they were the descendants of spiritual pioneers through the ages, --- Abraham, Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, and John Robinson, the pastor of the Mayflower group. He said, "Not one century, but all the centuries of the human quest for, God, twenty Christian centuries, look down upon us as we celebrate the Centennial of Wauwatosa Congregational Church. And he closed with these words, "The quality of the next hundred years is being determined by the earnestness and sacrificial devotion of the membership of Wauwatosa Congregational Church today. Will 2042 thank God for 1942 as 1942 is grateful for 1842?" The service closed with the singing by the congregation of a hymn written for the fortieth anniversary by Father Clapp, slightly revised by Mr. Lee to fit the Centennial.
"With Reverent Praise" (Tune: Italian Hymn No. 10)
With reverent praise we meet
This hallowed day to greet
This gladsome hour;
With memories of the past
Are crowding thick and fast,
Of vict'ries gained at last
Of God's own power.Along our pathway bright
Hath shown celestial light
These hundred years.
Though oft with tempest tossed,
Our courage well-nigh lost,
God spared no pains nor cost
To quell our fears.With gladness then we sing
And thankful offrings bring,
With one accord.
For countless gifts of love,
Unfailing from above,
Let all Thy children serve
And praise the Lord. Amen.
The Centennial program was held in the church on the evening of March 4th. The auditorium was filled to capacity.
After short greetings from representatives of various church groups, a Centennial Pageant, written by Mrs. B. F. Reed, Mrs. S. L. Wheeler and Mrs. Arthur Flory, was unfolded. It was impressive and beautiful. Once again Father Clapp, Richard Gilbert, the Warrens, the Maynards, the Potters and the Morgans lived for a few brief moments. James Stickney once more led the choir and Docia Barber was comforted by Father Clapp, when she heard of the death in Andersonville prison of her brother Edward. And again Mr. Davies presented his earnest plea, to the Woman's League for their support of the new church building program as they met during the war year of 1917.
Then Rev. Lee called to the platform the officers and leaders of the church today, a group which stirred the audience to pride, and to a feeling of confidence in their ability as worthy successors of the sturdy, devout pioneers whom they followed.
The program closed with the burning of the mortgage. Mr. William Grede, chairman of the debt retirement committee turned over to Mr. William Nethercut, chairman of the Board of Trustees, the mortgage release and surrendered mortgage, and Mr. Nethercut thereupon burned it before the assembled audience. Following the benediction, a reception was held in the church parlors. Not the least interesting feature of the evening was the historical exhibit arranged by the history committee under Mr. S. G. Horton, chairman. A fitting close to the account of the Centennial are the following inspiring quotations from Mr. Grede and Mr. Nethercut: In presenting the mortgage, Mr. Grede said in part:
"In any group as large as ours, there are differences of interest and opinion --- that is democracy working. A common sorrow or adversity, a common enemy, a common joy or success unites us as it does any family, nation, or even group of nations. This has been one of the accomplishments of this celebration --- A Singleness of Purpose.
"In our service Sunday and in our program tonight we have recognized 100 years of glorious history. We have blended into one company under God the old and the new. We have submerged our differences, regardless of which side of the tracks we live, regardless of our relationship with the past. 'Oldtimers' and 'new timers,' all generations have nobly joined in our common celebration.
"Ours is a Christian civilization upon which democracy, as we understand it, is founded --- recognizing the personality of the individual, who with his privileges accepts his responsibilities --- moral and material.
"We must appreciate that the debt retirement program has been going on a long time. A part of the current income has consistently been applied to debt retirement. Friends have from time to time made specific contributions to the debt. By their generous response in this current campaign, in many instances at some sacrifice, 'old timers' have demonstrated their desire to deliver to the generation of the new century this beautiful church property without encumbrance.
"Therefore, on behalf of all of you, I reverently say thanks to our Heavenly Father for His bounteous goodness and with sincere congratulations to you, and to all friends of this church through the century, I deem it an honor and a privilege to turn over to Mr. Nethercut, chairman of the Board of Trustees, the legal mortgage release and the surrendered mortgage."
Mr. Nethercut concluded his acceptance with these words, "Possibly it is not inappropriate for the great-grandson of two of the founders of this church to have the privilege of burning the mortgage, which symbolizes the accomplishments of the past one hundred years and clears the decks for an increased measure of service during the century ahead. In performing this act I am representing not only all of you, but also all of the builders of this church from 1842 on down through the years."
Church Auditorium, 7:30 P.M.
INVOCATION—THE LORD'S PRAYER Rev. Samuel M. MacNeill
GREETINGS
REV. WILLIAM NIBBLING, Pres. Wauwatosa Ministers' Federation
DR. THEODORE FAVILLE, Superintendent Wisconsin Congregational Conference, Madison
MRS. VERNON KINNEY, member of this Church since 1880
MR. JAMES D. GODFREY, member of this Church since 1893
CHARLES H. HAWKS III, representing the youth of this Church
MR. LAWRENCE S. BRODD --- Messages
PAGEANT The Story of One Hundred Years
Narrators: Granny Mrs. B. F. Reed Abby Sally Hammond
Sally Barbara Hodgson Nancy Sally WoodSCENE 1 --- 1842
The Founding of the First Wauwatosa Congregational Church
NANCY GILBERT........................... Mrs. Grace W. Spalding
SYLVIA GILBERT .......................... Mrs. Gladys Edwards
EPHRAIM GILBERT ....................... A. L.Riemer
HEZEKIAH GILBERT ..................... Lester 1. DuMez
RICHARD GILBERT ....................... Loring T. Hammond
JONATHAN MAYNARD ............... Karl A. Hauser
EMERSON MAYNARD ................. Hugo A. Kurowske
MARCIA MAYNARD .................... Mrs. Frederick Winding
FANNY MORGAN ........................ Mrs. Ralph P. Hammond
DAVID MORGAN .......................... E. O. Kuenzli
LAVINIA WARREN ....................... Mrs. D. C. Jacobus
SCENE 2 --- 1844 The Hunting Minister
REV. KITCHELL ............................. Mr. Graydon Swan
OLIVER DAMON ........................... Mr. E. H. Zentner
SCENE 3 --- 1852 Two "Maternal Association" Members Go a-Marketing
MRS. POTTER ................................. Mrs. E. C. McElvain
son ............................................... David Ernch
MRS. WHEELER .............................. Mrs. N. L. Dittmer
daughter ....................................... Suzanne Jacobus
SCENE 4 --- 1860 The Underground Railway}
BETSY .............................................. Mrs. Eben E. Born
ENOCH ............................................ Mr. Arthur Kehoe
RICHARD ......................................... Mr. Harold Garvens
NEGRO SLAVE ................................ Bruce Thomas
SCENE 5 --- 1863 Choir Rehearsal in Civil War Days
DOCIA BARBER .............................. Mrs. R. T. McVeety
MARY ANN SWAN .......................... Miss Isabel Skinner
MR. LOVELAND ............................... Mr. Robert Lewis
MR. STICKNEY ................................ Mr. Charles Borgwardt
REV. FATHER CLAPP ...................... Mr. Kenneth LambMembers of Choir --- Hillary Williams, David Dimberg, Mrs. E. S. Terry, Mrs. T. M. Hammond, Miss Carolyn Turner, Mr. A. Oberndorfer, Mr. B. H. Eilert.
SCENE 6 --- 1883 Calling on the Parish by Bicycle
REV. NELSON ................................... Mr. S. L. Wheeler
MISS BENSON .................................. Mrs. S. L. Wheeler
SCENE 7 --- 1917 Woman's League Discusses a Momentous Question
PRESIDENT ........................................ Mrs. W. R. Nethercut
REV. H. D. DAVIES ............................ Mr. Douglas CarmanMembers of League --- Mrs. Kenneth Lamb, Miss Carol Clapp, Mrs. C. Ray Cook, Mrs. A. S. Krenz, Mrs. M. J. Tonsor, Mrs. E. J. Schickel, Mrs. E. W. Lyman, Mrs. C. D. Waugh, Mrs. R. C. Newhouse, Mrs. E. C. Haasch, Mrs. Allan Hall.
SCENE 8 — 1942 The Church Today
REV. HENRY JAMES LEE and representatives of Church organizations and Church officers.
SCENE 9 --- 1942 Burning the Mortgage
Wm. J. Grede, chairman. Debt Retirement Committee;
Wm. R. Nethercut, chairman, Board of Trustees.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Authors --- Mrs. B. F. Reed, Mrs. S. L. Wheeler, Mrs. Arthur Flory
Costumes --- Miss Alberta Johnson, Mrs. Karl Hauser, Mrs. W. R. Nethercut
Director --- Miss Marjorie Colton
Lighting --- Mr. Wm. A. Heth
Music --- Mrs. H. D. Rosendale
Properties --- Mrs. Loring T. Hammond
Ushers --- Nancy Edwards, Janice Garvens, Donnell Kraemer, Dorothy Paull, Patience Thompson, Nancy Wheeler
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Wm. J. Grede, Chairman; W. R. Nethercut, Walter Gerlinger, Loring Hammond, Mrs. J. A. McCormick, Mrs. H. L. Jackson
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Mr. and Mrs. L. S, Brodd, Chairipen; Mr. and Mrs. Guy V. Aldrich, Mrs. D. G. Jacobus, Mr. and Mrs. Van Cortright Mekeel, Mrs. John Walecka, Mrs. Gladys Edwards, Mrs. Wm. J. Grede, Mrs. H. L. Jackson, Mrs. J. A. McCormick
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Walter Gerlinger, Chairman; Delmar D. Wensink, A. L. Riemer, John Baker, L. 1. Du Mez, Mrs. Richard M. Forester, Mrs. Harold Garvens
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Allan E. Hall, Chairman; Harvey Karnopp, Mrs. Eraser Jeffrey, Fergus R. Ellsworth, Mrs. Carl Hase
HISTORY COMMITTEE
S. G. Horton, Chairman; Mrs. T. M. Hammond, Mrs. Vernon Kinney, Mrs. E. L. Walker, Mrs. C. D. Waugh, E. O. Kuenzli
DEBT RETIREMENT COMMITTEE
Wm. J. Grede, Chairman; Wm. G. Schrubb, Ralph P. Hammond, F. C. Bandelin, Arthur D. Kehoe, Mrs. W. R. Tanner
CHURCH DIRECTORY
MINISTER --- REV. HENRY JAMES LEE
CLERK and FINANCIAL SECRETARY --- Mrs. Grace W. Spalding
TREASURER --- Lewis M. Hammond
DEACONS --- Philip W. Emley, Walter Gerlinger, A. H. Hebenstreit, Hugo A. Kurowske, Kenneth E. Lamb, Lyman E. Wheeler
DEACONESSES—Mrs. Gladys Edwards, Mrs. Howard E. Hodgson, Mrs. Harry L. Jackson
TRUSTEES—William A. Nethercut, Chairman; Frank C. Bandelin, Delwin C. Jacobus, Mrs. Elsie G. Kappelman, Van Cortright Mekeel, Mrs. William R. Tanner, Sylvester V. Williams
SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
General --- Loring T. Hammond
Cradle Roll --- Mrs. Henry J. Fuldner
Kindergarten --- Mrs. Donald C. Marshall
Lower Primary --- Mrs. R. Clifford Hamilton
Upper Primary --- Mrs. Raymond J. Perry
Junior --- Norbert L. Dittmer
Young People --- Mrs. Elsie G. KappelmanWEEK DAY BIBLE SCHOOL Principal --- Mrs. L. S. Brodd
YOUNG PEOPLE'S COUNSELLOR AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR --- John P. Michael
WOMAN'S LEAGUE
President --- Mrs. James A. McConnick
First Vice-President --- Mrs. Harry L. Jackson
Second Vice-President --- Mrs. H. J. Lee
Recording Secretary --- Mrs. W. O. Pflaum
Corresponding Secretary --- Mrs. Edward J. Potter
Treasurer --- Mrs. Fraser JeffreyCircle I --- Mrs. S. V. Williams Circle VI --- Mrs. G. H. Luedeking
Circle II --- Mrs. W. F. Blersch Circle VII --- Mrs. C. J. Engelhardt
Circle III --- Mrs. 0. W. Wierdsma Circle VIII --- Mrs. Fred Winding
Circle IV --- Mrs. W. B. Law Circle IX --- Mrs. Theodore Stein
Circle V --- Mrs. Loring T. Hammond Circle X --- Mrs. 0. W. Bow
Daughters of Tabernacle --- Miss Hazel AndersonMEN'S CLUB --- Chairman --- Walter Gerlinger; Secretary --- Mr. Edw. J. Potter
GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Troop No. 241
Committee Chairman --- Mrs. N. L. Dittmer
Leader—Mrs. Robert Hael
Troop No. 153
Committee Chairman --- Mrs. E. Porter
Leader --- Mrs. Randolph Klokner
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Troop No. 47
Committee Chairman --- Kenneth E. Lamb
Scoutmaster --- Lawrence J. Brodd
Cub Pack No. 47
Committee Chairman --- George Burrington
Leader --- Howard Jameson
CHIEF USHER --- Paul H. Houtkamp
BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT --- Dean Josephson