Part 23 Long-term Ministerial Concerns/ 75th Anniversary of the Church
According to the written records very little had been provided for pastors who actually reached retirement age before the late 1920’s. Certainly that was also the case for people who worked in the business and service world as well. No Social Security existed before 1935 and very few companies had provided any savings opportunity for their employees before this time. The only companies that seemed to do relatively well in that category were the railroads since some railroads had experienced some rather violent strikes that led to significant railroad management/labor negotiations earlier in the century.
It was not uncommon for ministers to not even think of retirement since they expected to preach until the Lord called them home. Life expectancy for all was much shorter than it is today, but it is known that there were some pastors that seemed to defy age and continue in their role of shepherd of their flocks until well into their 70’s and sometimes beyond.
The concern of extended age led the Maine Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to place more emphasis on the aging issue and the need to provide Ministerial Support on a more formal basis than had been the case. It was not exactly easy on a salary of $2000 and an additional sum of money of $200 for housing expense for a pastor to save for a future retirement. The above figures were approved at a meeting of the Official Board in June 1927. At a Special Meeting called by the board on September 12, 1927. District Superintendent A. E. Goddard addressed members of the congregation in attendance about the need to support the Ministerial Retirement Fund of the Maine Conference. Peoples Church was commended by DS Goddard when Mr. John Woodbury said that this church was already building a fund that would help to pay our portion of that fund. Our portion over a six-year period would be $2000.00, which as might be noted was equal to the present salary of the minister. Later it would be necessary to extend the payments over a longer period of time it seems due to the effects of the Great Depression that hit locally in the early 1930’s.
Before the Depression hit as a result of national and international economic chaos beginning in 1929, again it was time for the people of Peoples to celebrate. 1928 was to be celebrated as the 75th anniversary of the church. October was chosen as the month for the actual celebration. Repairs to the auditorium including a new floor, a new lighting system and general redecorating were completed by that time. A banquet, pageant and public speakers would be a part of the celebration. President Marsh of Boston University was the primary speaker at this major fete. Etta Robinson was in charge of preparing the meal and the room. The floor of the auditorium was covered with “Brown Jasper” battleship grade linoleum. This was laid at a cost of .$25 a square foot. The total cost of redecorating the auditorium authorized was not to exceed $1000. Lighting added
an additional $150. Alterations were also to made at the back of the auditorium to accommodate three additional classrooms. Mr. Tenny had been placed in charge of coordinating the event of the celebration and passed on the message to Mrs. Robinson that good judgement be used in selecting the food for the event, as if Mrs. Robinson would use anything but “good judgement”!
The celebration, which began in October of 1928, was used as a launching pad for an Evangelistic Crusade, which would follow over the next several weeks. Dr. Frederick Winslow Adams and Rev. Lewis Smith were the two Methodist Evangelists that made themselves known to the community during this period of time. To pay for the expenses of the Crusade a silver collection became a part of each service that was held. The church committee also sold 75th Anniversary calendars to help defray the costs incurred during the Crusade. Eventually in 1929, the pastor did publish an anniversary booklet including the names of parishioners, significant events in the history of the church among other memorabilia.
Pastor Brooks perhaps was the first pastor who had an automobile. In 1929 the trustees voted to purchase or build a garage. Since barn or stable was not used in the description of this item we can assume an auto was what needed to be housed. The house behind the parsonage on Grand Street had a wooden garage that they were willing to sell for $75. The trustees voted to buy the garage and pay a professional to move it on to the parsonage property. The records indicate that the total cost of buying and moving the garage was $325. The trustees voted to pay $5 a month to the mover until it was paid for.
A practice established either by Pastor Brooks or the Maine Conference was that the Pastor would head the Official Board. John Woodbury who had been the elected President or Chair of the Board became Vice Chairman. Many of the meetings continued, however, to be lead by Mr. Woodbury. This practice continued when Pastor Brooks left and he was succeeded by Reverend Leonard March.
One of the innovations in soliciting funds that was proposed by Pastor March in February 1930 was the introduction of an Every Member Canvas. This was approved by the Official Board with the intent that “when the weather improved” that teams of parishioners would go to each of the homes of members talking about the church and its needs and then asking for an annual pledge of money from each. The feeling was that with pledges church officers would have a more accurate method of determining what the possibilities were for meeting an annual budget.
Shockingly, Pastor March resigned abruptly before October of 1930 and left the parish. For several weeks supply pastors served the church. That stretched the supply account to the limits.
In November it was noted at an Official Board meeting that it was presided over by Pastor Charles O. Perry. Whether he came as an interim or not Pastor Perry would serve Peoples until 1938. This was the most tumultuous period in American History regarding financial disaster and impending war elsewhere in the world. A degree of that chaos could be felt among the members of Peoples as well. This time called for a strong, loving, caring and understanding pastor. It appeared that Pastor Perry fulfilled those needs at Peoples at this time. Pledgers had failed to meet their financial responsibility. Extra letters were sent out requesting payment. The amount of indebtedness had risen to over $5000. Those who were faithful givers were asked to give more. For a few years before the onset of war there just wasn’t anything to give in some people’s pockets. Those that still were living financially comfortable lives gave more and Peoples continued to serve its members without looking down on those who just couldn’t make the financial obligations they had pledged.
Tough times often lead to people more willing to ask for the Lord’s help for themselves and for others. The Lord often provides in rather interesting ways. A prayer/praise service was started on Sunday evenings and was well attended. Since a silver collection was always taken, additional monies for church operation were found. While money isn’t all-important having it certainly allows for more activities to continue. A long-standing member, L.C. Martin, died leaving a gift of $2000 to the church. Another piece of property was deeded to the church by the Brett family and two properties, one at 55 High Street and another at Pine Point in Scarborough also became the property of the church.
Some might think that these monies and property values were an answer to the prayers and praise that had been started in 1931 but we will tell you more about the complications that come from these types of inheritance in the next edition of Roots.
According to the written records very little had been provided for pastors who actually reached retirement age before the late 1920’s. Certainly that was also the case for people who worked in the business and service world as well. No Social Security existed before 1935 and very few companies had provided any savings opportunity for their employees before this time. The only companies that seemed to do relatively well in that category were the railroads since some railroads had experienced some rather violent strikes that led to significant railroad management/labor negotiations earlier in the century.
It was not uncommon for ministers to not even think of retirement since they expected to preach until the Lord called them home. Life expectancy for all was much shorter than it is today, but it is known that there were some pastors that seemed to defy age and continue in their role of shepherd of their flocks until well into their 70’s and sometimes beyond.
The concern of extended age led the Maine Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to place more emphasis on the aging issue and the need to provide Ministerial Support on a more formal basis than had been the case. It was not exactly easy on a salary of $2000 and an additional sum of money of $200 for housing expense for a pastor to save for a future retirement. The above figures were approved at a meeting of the Official Board in June 1927. At a Special Meeting called by the board on September 12, 1927. District Superintendent A. E. Goddard addressed members of the congregation in attendance about the need to support the Ministerial Retirement Fund of the Maine Conference. Peoples Church was commended by DS Goddard when Mr. John Woodbury said that this church was already building a fund that would help to pay our portion of that fund. Our portion over a six-year period would be $2000.00, which as might be noted was equal to the present salary of the minister. Later it would be necessary to extend the payments over a longer period of time it seems due to the effects of the Great Depression that hit locally in the early 1930’s.
Before the Depression hit as a result of national and international economic chaos beginning in 1929, again it was time for the people of Peoples to celebrate. 1928 was to be celebrated as the 75th anniversary of the church. October was chosen as the month for the actual celebration. Repairs to the auditorium including a new floor, a new lighting system and general redecorating were completed by that time. A banquet, pageant and public speakers would be a part of the celebration. President Marsh of Boston University was the primary speaker at this major fete. Etta Robinson was in charge of preparing the meal and the room. The floor of the auditorium was covered with “Brown Jasper” battleship grade linoleum. This was laid at a cost of .$25 a square foot. The total cost of redecorating the auditorium authorized was not to exceed $1000. Lighting added
an additional $150. Alterations were also to made at the back of the auditorium to accommodate three additional classrooms. Mr. Tenny had been placed in charge of coordinating the event of the celebration and passed on the message to Mrs. Robinson that good judgement be used in selecting the food for the event, as if Mrs. Robinson would use anything but “good judgement”!
The celebration, which began in October of 1928, was used as a launching pad for an Evangelistic Crusade, which would follow over the next several weeks. Dr. Frederick Winslow Adams and Rev. Lewis Smith were the two Methodist Evangelists that made themselves known to the community during this period of time. To pay for the expenses of the Crusade a silver collection became a part of each service that was held. The church committee also sold 75th Anniversary calendars to help defray the costs incurred during the Crusade. Eventually in 1929, the pastor did publish an anniversary booklet including the names of parishioners, significant events in the history of the church among other memorabilia.
Pastor Brooks perhaps was the first pastor who had an automobile. In 1929 the trustees voted to purchase or build a garage. Since barn or stable was not used in the description of this item we can assume an auto was what needed to be housed. The house behind the parsonage on Grand Street had a wooden garage that they were willing to sell for $75. The trustees voted to buy the garage and pay a professional to move it on to the parsonage property. The records indicate that the total cost of buying and moving the garage was $325. The trustees voted to pay $5 a month to the mover until it was paid for.
A practice established either by Pastor Brooks or the Maine Conference was that the Pastor would head the Official Board. John Woodbury who had been the elected President or Chair of the Board became Vice Chairman. Many of the meetings continued, however, to be lead by Mr. Woodbury. This practice continued when Pastor Brooks left and he was succeeded by Reverend Leonard March.
One of the innovations in soliciting funds that was proposed by Pastor March in February 1930 was the introduction of an Every Member Canvas. This was approved by the Official Board with the intent that “when the weather improved” that teams of parishioners would go to each of the homes of members talking about the church and its needs and then asking for an annual pledge of money from each. The feeling was that with pledges church officers would have a more accurate method of determining what the possibilities were for meeting an annual budget.
Shockingly, Pastor March resigned abruptly before October of 1930 and left the parish. For several weeks supply pastors served the church. That stretched the supply account to the limits.
In November it was noted at an Official Board meeting that it was presided over by Pastor Charles O. Perry. Whether he came as an interim or not Pastor Perry would serve Peoples until 1938. This was the most tumultuous period in American History regarding financial disaster and impending war elsewhere in the world. A degree of that chaos could be felt among the members of Peoples as well. This time called for a strong, loving, caring and understanding pastor. It appeared that Pastor Perry fulfilled those needs at Peoples at this time. Pledgers had failed to meet their financial responsibility. Extra letters were sent out requesting payment. The amount of indebtedness had risen to over $5000. Those who were faithful givers were asked to give more. For a few years before the onset of war there just wasn’t anything to give in some people’s pockets. Those that still were living financially comfortable lives gave more and Peoples continued to serve its members without looking down on those who just couldn’t make the financial obligations they had pledged.
Tough times often lead to people more willing to ask for the Lord’s help for themselves and for others. The Lord often provides in rather interesting ways. A prayer/praise service was started on Sunday evenings and was well attended. Since a silver collection was always taken, additional monies for church operation were found. While money isn’t all-important having it certainly allows for more activities to continue. A long-standing member, L.C. Martin, died leaving a gift of $2000 to the church. Another piece of property was deeded to the church by the Brett family and two properties, one at 55 High Street and another at Pine Point in Scarborough also became the property of the church.
Some might think that these monies and property values were an answer to the prayers and praise that had been started in 1931 but we will tell you more about the complications that come from these types of inheritance in the next edition of Roots.
posted by Arthur Tordoff | 6:00 PM
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