Church History - Part 5
In This Century
1915
On May 9th the church celebrated the 25th anniversary of Beaver Memorial. Reports on that occasion say that friends of the Board of Stewards gave $2,000.00 toward the Trustee endowment funds. The Trustees record receiving only $1,561.00 on this occasion. The Rev. J. B. Brenneman, Minister.
1945
The church, under the chairmanship of Mr. R. N. Parker, and in honor of its 84 men in service in World War II, oversubscribed by $800.00 its quota of $2,600.00 for the postwar Crusade for Christ Fund, for the general church. Rev. C, Gail Norris, Minister.
1948
Under the chairmanship of Dr. D. M. Griffith, the Methodist Men excavated the church basement and built the Men’s Fellowship Room. The heating plant was changed from coal to oil. The Trustees reported a total of $7,581.00 in endowment funds, and $11,000.00 in investments. Rev. Andrew Bixler, Minister.
1955
Under the chairmanship of Dr. D. M. Griffith, the membership of 511 raised $125,000.00 for the renovation of the Sanctuary. This same committee did the detailed planning for the whole project. The Robert L. Matz family gave $25,000.00 for the new Kilgen organ. At this time the choir was moved from the south transept to the front. The Remembrance Chapel window, installed at this time, was a memorial from Mrs. Dorothy McCormick on behalf of the Walls family. Rev. Frank W. Ake, Minister.
1960
The Robert N. Parker Church School unit was built, under the chairmanship of Mr. Robert Webster, at a cost of $100,000.00. The Central Pennsylvania Conference Contributed $7,500.00 toward the Student Center. Rev. Victor Meredith, Minister.
1961. Beaver Memorial was requested to raise $17,592.00 for “The Methodist Progress Fund” over a period of 5 years. This quota was met. Mr. Malcolm Bromfield was Treasurer.
1962
The 150th anniversary of Beaver Memorial was celebrated. The pastor was the Rev. Victor Meredith, and the guest speaker Bishop Middleton. Dr. John W. Rice had collected and put on display many items of historical interest in connection with the church. At this time the Trustees estimated the replacement cost of the building to be $865,000.00.
1968
The Margaret A. Walls Memorial Library was authorized and opened, being financed by a Trust Fund whose resources became available in 1960. The Rev. Ned E. Weller, Minister.
1969-1970
The Youth Division was renovated at an approximate cost of $2,500.00, provided by friends and the Trustees. Rev, James H. Zeisloft, Minister.
Some Observations
Many changes have taken place over the years, even in names. We have moved from being the Methodist Episcopal Church to being just “The Methodist Church”, and now “The United Methodist Church” The former Ladies Aid and the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies are now incorporated as The Women’s Society of Christian Service.
Although the town has grown much within the last eighty years, our membership is only 100 more than when the new church was built. We do not need to struggle quite so hard, perhaps, to make ends meet, but our small membership is hardly equal to meeting the coming maintenance costs of our beautiful church and required parsonage renovations. This will require some planning and generosity.
Lewisburg is becoming both a transient and a retirement community, as well as a more active industrial one. Our church has a history of involvement with student work. Our membership of 450 becomes more diversified. With 37% of the present members in the youth category we are presented with additional challenges. Any review the history should give us the inspiration to meet new challenges which include new styles of living and thinking.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1
Bibliography
Historical materials, including special printed programs, from the Archives of the Church.
This abbreviated history of Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church is presented with the hope that it may acquaint our current generation with the heritage of our Church. This is not a record of the organizations, the program, the preaching or the service ministries which would require further volumes. We are each acquainted with what these are now.
This record owes its content largely to the work of the Committee on History and Records, until recently chained by Dr. John W. Rice, and currently by M. William C. Davis. This committee has saved from oblivion irreplaceable records and reports. These should be consulted for details.
James H. Zeisloft, Pastor, Mrs. Anna L. Painter, Secretary, Forrest D. Brown, Editor, Mrs. Elizabeth Bates Hoffman, Consultant, Raymond P. Pottios, Chairman, Administrative Board, W. Murray Remer, Chairman, Board of Trustees
1915
On May 9th the church celebrated the 25th anniversary of Beaver Memorial. Reports on that occasion say that friends of the Board of Stewards gave $2,000.00 toward the Trustee endowment funds. The Trustees record receiving only $1,561.00 on this occasion. The Rev. J. B. Brenneman, Minister.
1945
The church, under the chairmanship of Mr. R. N. Parker, and in honor of its 84 men in service in World War II, oversubscribed by $800.00 its quota of $2,600.00 for the postwar Crusade for Christ Fund, for the general church. Rev. C, Gail Norris, Minister.
1948
Under the chairmanship of Dr. D. M. Griffith, the Methodist Men excavated the church basement and built the Men’s Fellowship Room. The heating plant was changed from coal to oil. The Trustees reported a total of $7,581.00 in endowment funds, and $11,000.00 in investments. Rev. Andrew Bixler, Minister.
1955
Under the chairmanship of Dr. D. M. Griffith, the membership of 511 raised $125,000.00 for the renovation of the Sanctuary. This same committee did the detailed planning for the whole project. The Robert L. Matz family gave $25,000.00 for the new Kilgen organ. At this time the choir was moved from the south transept to the front. The Remembrance Chapel window, installed at this time, was a memorial from Mrs. Dorothy McCormick on behalf of the Walls family. Rev. Frank W. Ake, Minister.
1960
The Robert N. Parker Church School unit was built, under the chairmanship of Mr. Robert Webster, at a cost of $100,000.00. The Central Pennsylvania Conference Contributed $7,500.00 toward the Student Center. Rev. Victor Meredith, Minister.
1961. Beaver Memorial was requested to raise $17,592.00 for “The Methodist Progress Fund” over a period of 5 years. This quota was met. Mr. Malcolm Bromfield was Treasurer.
1962
The 150th anniversary of Beaver Memorial was celebrated. The pastor was the Rev. Victor Meredith, and the guest speaker Bishop Middleton. Dr. John W. Rice had collected and put on display many items of historical interest in connection with the church. At this time the Trustees estimated the replacement cost of the building to be $865,000.00.
1968
The Margaret A. Walls Memorial Library was authorized and opened, being financed by a Trust Fund whose resources became available in 1960. The Rev. Ned E. Weller, Minister.
1969-1970
The Youth Division was renovated at an approximate cost of $2,500.00, provided by friends and the Trustees. Rev, James H. Zeisloft, Minister.
Some Observations
Many changes have taken place over the years, even in names. We have moved from being the Methodist Episcopal Church to being just “The Methodist Church”, and now “The United Methodist Church” The former Ladies Aid and the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies are now incorporated as The Women’s Society of Christian Service.
Although the town has grown much within the last eighty years, our membership is only 100 more than when the new church was built. We do not need to struggle quite so hard, perhaps, to make ends meet, but our small membership is hardly equal to meeting the coming maintenance costs of our beautiful church and required parsonage renovations. This will require some planning and generosity.
Lewisburg is becoming both a transient and a retirement community, as well as a more active industrial one. Our church has a history of involvement with student work. Our membership of 450 becomes more diversified. With 37% of the present members in the youth category we are presented with additional challenges. Any review the history should give us the inspiration to meet new challenges which include new styles of living and thinking.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1
Bibliography
Historical materials, including special printed programs, from the Archives of the Church.
- The Story of a County, Union County Sesquicentennial, 1963
- Evangelical Centennial Celebration, 1816-1916
- A Portion of The Plan for Union of the Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church, 1966
- My Pennsylvania, State Historical and Museum Commission, 1946
- History of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Vol. II, 1886
- History and Genealogy of the Bieber-Beaver Family, Rev. I. M. Beaver, 1939
This abbreviated history of Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church is presented with the hope that it may acquaint our current generation with the heritage of our Church. This is not a record of the organizations, the program, the preaching or the service ministries which would require further volumes. We are each acquainted with what these are now.
This record owes its content largely to the work of the Committee on History and Records, until recently chained by Dr. John W. Rice, and currently by M. William C. Davis. This committee has saved from oblivion irreplaceable records and reports. These should be consulted for details.
James H. Zeisloft, Pastor, Mrs. Anna L. Painter, Secretary, Forrest D. Brown, Editor, Mrs. Elizabeth Bates Hoffman, Consultant, Raymond P. Pottios, Chairman, Administrative Board, W. Murray Remer, Chairman, Board of Trustees