Rare WCTU "White Ribbon" Window at Wesley UMC

All of the glass windows of Wesley features scenes from the life of Christ rather than scenes from throughout the Bible.  The exception is this small window along the south cloister. It is called "The Tie Around the World" and was dedicated "For God, Home, and Every Land." by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, of which many members called Wesley home.  A more correct title would be the "White Ribbon Around the World" as the white ribbon was the symbol of the WCTU. It symbolized for the people who memorialized it a pledge that members of the WCTU made to pray for members around the world each day at noon. In this way they kept their concerns always before God. The WCTU was specifically concerned about the devastation resulting from alcohol abuse in homes and society. The campaigned to educate youth, change laws, and influence their society. Their zeal stemmed from a strong conviction that the promotion of temperance was a part of their response to the Great Commission.

Is this the only window its kind?  Attempts to locate and identify similar memorial windows has been unsuccessful so far.

PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday
I give thanks for that one day,
That one day that Jesus had--
For that shining Sabbath morn,
For that Triumph. I am glad
That the crowd acclaimed Him there
As 'Hosannas' filled the air
In that happy episode
(Ere betrayal saddened Him)
On that crowded entry-road
To Jerusalem.

I give thanks for those who went;
For the ones who waved the palms,
For the ones who spoke His praise,
For the ones who sang the psalms,
All along the thoroughfare,
On the flowers scattered there,
For the donkey that He rode
(Showing their concern for Him)
On that crowded entry-road
To Jerusalem.

On March 8, 1978 Billie Menifee of Oklahoma City wrote this poem and sent it to Wesley.  "Since Palm Sunday and Easter are almost here I wish to share this poem with you. I wrote it right after Easter last year. If it can be of any use to you (in the church paper, or any other capacity)please feel free to use it."

 

The notations on the copy indicate it was used for a church paper column in 1982 and then again in 1996.  Introductory material included reading Matt.21:1-11 and John 12:13).  A prayer was added as a conclusion: "O God, help us to see Him as The King of our lives. Amen."

A Trio of Church Women: Paul, Rhodes, Hilborne

 

Wesley Women:   Left to Right: Charter Member, Mrs. A.G. Paul (Anna Belle) b. 1877. She was married to Albert George Paul (b.1871) who was a real estate salesman in Oklahoma City. ; Lydia Wilhelmina Wahl Rhoades (1889-1980), whose parents had been L.G. and Sophia Classen Wahl ; Mrs. Parker Hilborne or a Mrs. Wier

Pastor Nuel C. Crain

Dr. Nuel C. Crain was born January 14, 1905 in Vandervort, Arkansas.  He attended school at Hatfield, Arkansas. He attended Hendrix College, Conway Arkansas earning the A.B. degree in 1929. In 1933 he had received a B.D. and a M.A. degree at Southern Methodist University in Texas and in 1952 a D.D. from Oklahoma City University.  Additionally, he did graduate study at Union Seminary in New York City.   

In 1934, he married Catherine Culbertson of Dallas, Texas. They had children: Bill Crain (Dallas), Mrs. Mary Catharine Ward (Garland, TX) and Mrs. Ann Foor (Norman, OK).

 

His experiences included serving as a high school principal and basketball coach in Delight, Arkansas 1927-1929.  He served notably as delegate to two (2) General Conferences of the Methodist Church, four (4) Jurisdictional Conferences of the Methodist Church and as delegate to the 1966 World Methodist Conference in London, England.  He also served for many years on the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City University, and The Methodist Home of Tahlequah (OK)  and Western Methodist Assembly in Fayetteville, Arkansas,

 

He traveled extensively as a member of the Sherwood Eddy Study Seminar visiting six western European countries (1952), the Holy Land with his wife as members of an American party in 1966, visited with his wife four countries behind the Iron Curtain and other lands in 1970.  He also studied at St. Andrews University, Scotland attending the American Summer Institute there summer of 1972 (with his wife).  In 1973 he helped organize and direct with his wife a party to the Holy Land, spring 1973.  While living in Chickasha, Oklahoma he was a member of the Lions Club, the Four C's Council, and President of the Chickasha Ministerial Alliance.

 

He served appointments in the following Oklahoma churches : Alluwe, Purcell, St. John's in Oklahoma City, Marlow, Wesley Church in Oklahoma City (13 years), St. Paul in Muskogee, Will Rogers in Tulsa, Epworth United Methodist  in Chickasha.  He also served as District Superintendent of the Norman and the Bartlesville Districts.

He died in June of 1997 in Dallas, Texas. And his wife Catherine died in 2003 in Texas.

[This information came from a bio sheet sent to Wesley when Dr. Crain was invited to speak for an event at Wesley. WUMC Archives. Biographical Data. Speakers.]

The Four Steps to Discipleship

The Four Steps to Discipleship: The Holy Season of Advent 1996

Dr. John C. Ogden, Senior Minister, Dec. 1996

 After some careful reflection I would like to suggest that there are four simple steps to being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

Of course, much could be written and said about the role of the Christian disciple. The popularity of The Discipleship Bible Study, which some of you have experienced recently, is but one example of one way in which you can strengthen your spiritual life, so you can become a more well informed disciple.

STUDY.  At the top of my list, I would have to put the role and the place of careful study of the Holy Scripture.  What do we learn when we study both the Old and the New Testaments? Going back to the Book for reading, study reflection, and careful listening is for me the very first step of being a good disciple.  There is an obvious need to know what God has said and such knowledge can only come through personal study.

ACTION. Then, I must find certain ways to put my faith in Jesus Christ to work in the world. Caring for those persons whose personal needs are so obvious, reaching out to all kinds of people daily, and being a witness is crucial. I must find different and unusual ways each day to put into practice what I think/preach/teach, so my faith can take on some kind of form. What I think and what I do must join hands.

COMPASSION. In my study of the New Testament, I quickly discover the great compassion of Jesus Christ. He loved all kinds of people. He cared for everyone.  He was a very good friend to those who had no friends. He always had the time to stop and listen to someone tell their life story.  Remember the woman at the well?? What a story! He invited the little children to come to him.

PRAYER. I must find time during the week to be in prayer. Praying for the world, praying for those whose needs I know, praying for direction and guidance as I move from day to day. Just being in the Presence of God, so I can hear what I need to hear and be aware of the great power and the reality of the God of the Universe is for me a great joy.

[“Then and Now Disciples.” Charge Conference Report, Wesley United Methodist Church, Dec. 4, 1996]

Long time member David Hoke crafted the logo for the charge conference report of 1996.

The Forgotten Loop of Route 66

Historic Route 66 - where you can get your 'kicks' according to an old pop song, is commonly known for the major points along its route from Chicago to Los Angeles. Usually those points are known because of that popular song and just as it says, Oklahoma City is very pretty and in the days of the major use of Route  66 (pre Interstate) travelers would have passed by Wesley United Methodist Church.  The light shining through its stained glass windows in the evening just might have been what was in mind when the city was declared to be pretty.  This small loop in and around the area of NW 23rd and Classen Blvd. is a largely overlooked source of history in relation to the "Mother Road." (A previous entry looked at some of the other interesting sights at  http://mystorical.blogspot.com/2013/06/historic-route-66-in-oklahoma-city.html )

Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the home of Mrs. A.H. Tyler, 1220 NW 29th, on November 10, 1910. In the meeting were the first 28 charter members of the nascent church.  The first pastor was the Rev. F.A. Colwell appointed by Bishop Quayle of the Oklahoma Methodist Episcopal Conference.

The first church location was a simple structure with a sawdust covered floor.  The "Tabernacle", as it was then called, was located at 32nd and Military (32′ x 70′ ). The 1910 Journal of Methodist Episcopal Church, newspapers, and other documents indicate the Conference held at Alva, Oklahoma assigned the first pastor.  In October of 1910,  Frank A. Colwell as appointed pastor and  D. G. Murray was District Superintendent of this district.

In 1911, the congregation moved to NW 25th and Classen and in 1928 dedicated the lovely Gothic sanctuary with its large organ and many stained glass windows. A triangle of land in front of the church was deeded and developed by early Oklahoma pioneer business leader, Anton H. Classen and his wife.  In 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal, South and the Methodist Protest Church formed a union to become the Methodist Church.  In 1968, the Methodist Church allied with the Evangelical and United Brethern churches to form the new United Methodist Church.

Today, the church is nestled in an area poised to experience a rennaissance in business, residences, and community.  A newly identified "Asian District" highlights the presence and contributions of Asians in Oklahoma City and the Paseo Art District.  Nearby are several historic residential areas: Edgemere and Crown Heights, Gatewood, Military Park, Mesta Park, Heritage Hills.  

Just a block west of Wesley is Oklahoma City University and the two have enjoyed a close relationship since the school relocated to Oklahoma City in 1919 from Guthrie.  The music department at OCU and the music program at Wesley have enjoined a special relationship as Deans of that department and faculty there have frequently served as Music director for Wesley.  The worship arts of music, choir, organ, drama, and speech have been enriched by this tie and Wesley was often viewed as a 'university church.'

Anyone traveling the old road in the heyday of the route would have passed this church, seen it's windows, and probably heard its organ or choir singing.  Yes, Oklahoma City was indeed very pretty....on Route 66.

Select Biographies: Dr. William Forney Hovis

William Forney Hovis was born in 1872 in Wesley, Pennsylvania.  He married Aimee Parry in 1902 and pastured in Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Minnosota.  He retired in 1938 to devote himself to his writing.  After the death of his first wife he remarried Ina and had children Willliam Jr (1914) and Keith (1916).

Hovis published numerous works from an early date in his ministry.  Some titles are:

• Quality Folks: Practical Meditations (Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham, 1908).
• My Words: As Reported by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul. (Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham, 1911).
• Heart Sonnets. (Boston: R.G. Badger, The Gorham Press, 1913).
• Poetic Sermons. (NY: Revell, 1932).
• Consolation. (Indianapolis: Cornelius, 1935).
• Sin and Salvation: A Study in Origins. (Nashville: Tidings, 1954).
• A periodical in the 1930's called, The Reveille.

Hovis home circa 1928

He served as the pastor of Wesley Methodist Church 1925-1928 during a crucial building program that added educational space and a new sanctuary.

Wesley Methodist Church, ca 1930

Select Biographies: Rev. Frank A. Colwell

From Wesley Church history files

The summer of 1910 Bishop Quayle contacted an old friend who pastored in northestern Kansas to come to Oklahoma City and help develop a new church in the growing northwest section of the city. Methodist minister Frank A. Colwell packed up his family and moved to the bustling and booming city of this new state.  He immediately set to work meeting with individuals from two otehr Methodist churches who had promised to help with the new work and soon a snug wooden structure was in place and by the annual conference that November the church in the "cow shed" on NW 32 and Military would be formally organized  with some 132 members and named Wesley Methodist Church.

He was born Jun. 16, 1860 in Henry County, Missouri and died Nov. 26, 1937 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

"F.A. COLWELL, CITY CHURCH'S FOUNDER, DIES - Heart Disease Is Fatal To Contractor Here." 

From Wesley Church History files

F.A. Colwell, 77 years old, retired contractor and former minister who founded the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church here in 1910, died of heart disease Friday at his home, 1213 Northwest Twenty-first street. Twice in the last 47 years he left the ministry to enter the business world. For the last five years he had been inactive because of ill health except for a brief entrance into politics in 1934 when, as Republican candidate for county commissioner, he was defeated by Mike Donnelly, Democrat.

In 1904 he founded the Grace Methodist church, Shawnee, now known as the Draper Avenue Methodist church. As a contractor here, he built many homes and apartment houses in the northside of the city.

Native of Missouri

Colwell was born in Henry county, Mo., June 16, 1860. In his youth, his family moved to Wellsville, Kan., where Colwell was engaged in the hardware and lumber business until he was 30 years old. The he entered Baker university, Baldwin, Kan., to study for the ministry. He was pastor to several western Kansas churches in the northwest Kansas Methodist conference until 1903 when he moved to Shawnee, abandoning the ministry to enter the piano business.

In 1904 he organized and became pastor of Grace Methodist church, serving five years until he left the ministry once more and entered the real estate business in Oklahoma City.

Funeral Set Monday

A clergyman again, he established the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church at Northwest Thirty-second street and Military avenue, later moving to the present site at Northwest Twenty-fifth street and Douglas avenue.  Ill health forced him into temporary retirement in 1911 after he had

brought 100 persons into the church congregation. Two years later, he entered the contracting business.

His wife, Mrs Mary J. Colwell, whom he married in Lebo, Kan., Feb. 1886, survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Miss Isa Colwell, of the home; Miss Blanche Colwell, Los Angeles; a son, Luke A. Colwell, a real estate salesman, also of the home; and two sisters, Mrs Alta Stewart, 4301 North Butler place, and Mrs Molly Husselman, Fort Smith, Ark.

Funeral will be conducted in Wesley Methodist church at 4 p.m. Monday by Rev. Hugh B. Fouke, pastor. Burial will be in Memorial Park cemetery. The Street and Draper funeral home is in charge of arrangements. (Oklahoman, obituary, 11-27-1937, P.14/14/with photo)