The Pulpit Committee chosen on September 12, 1897, (William Nightingale, Chairman, Mrs. Jennie Curtis and Guilbert Tripp) led the search for a new Pastor. They turned again to the Hamilton Theological Seminary for a candidate. In the fall of 1897
Ernest E. Ford, a Seminary student, may have filled the pulpit on a part time basis or at least preached a sermon or two as a candidate. On Sunday, January 9, 1898, during a business meeting after the Church Service, the Congregation voted to extend him a call to serve as Pastor. Reverend Ford accepted the call. Reverend Ford lived in Hamilton, while he was completing his Seminary studies, and he commuted to Manlius to accomplish his pastoral work here on the weekends. According to the 1915 Church history written by Yettie Harris, Reverend Ford moved his family to Manlius and into the new parsonage (which would not have been ready until the late summer or fall of 1900.) On Sunday, March 6, 1898, Reverend and Mrs. Ford were accepted as members from the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In our letter to the Onondaga Baptist Association Meeting of September, 1898, the Clerk William Nightingale lamented the loss of our Shepherd, James H. Benedict, but now know our prayers have been answered for we have a faithful, earnest, and loving Pastor (Ernest Ford) and wife to lead us on to greater victories.
Reverend Ford was the pastor mentioned by Mary Avery Woodworth when she had the old parsonage prophesy, "with a Pastor filled with the spirit, consecrated to his work, able to Ford you over all of the difficulties of your Church life and a boy preacher, your success will be assured."
In 1898 one of Reverend Ford's earliest duties was to conduct a Baptism for nine candidates on Sunday, May 8. Although cool May weather had not deterred previous ministers and candidates from a trip to Limestone Creek, the Deacons and Reverend Ford decided to use instead the inside baptistry of the Fayetteville Baptist Church. The Manlius delegation must have been impressed for within the year the Manlius Baptists built their own inside baptistry.
(Ernest E. Ford was born in Newark Valley, New York, on August 27, 1865. At the age of 28 he entered Kalamazoo College in Michigan (1893-1897). He graduated with a Ph.B. (Bachelor of Philosophy) in 1897. He was associated with the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo at least part of this time as he was ordained by that Church in July 1897. Graduation and ordination have frequently been followed by marriage for several of our young Pastors, and with Ernest E. Ford there was no exception. He married Kathryn Bissell in 1897. Although already an ordained minister, he entered the Hamilton Theological Seminary in the fall of 1897, and from there became associated with the Manlius Baptist Church. He graduated from the seminary in the early summer of 1900. In the same year a son was born, Robert M. Ford.)
The Trustees met on August 15, 1898, and discussed the possibility of installing electricity in the church. Frank Barton, Herbert Ransier, and William Nightingale were chosen a Committee to get the lowest figures from Mr. Phillips for its installation. (The church was electrified in 1903.) At the same meeting the Trustees voted to recommend to the Church the building of a new parsonage.
While the Church was busy planning and building, many other important things were happening. On November 25, 1898, Reverend Ford and an Advisory Committee (Sisters Allen and Harris, Brothers Perkins and Nightingale) put into place a plan to divide the village into five areas each to be headed by an appointed brother and two sisters (plus the outlying areas of Eagle Village, Watervale and Oran.) Presumably the appointees were to watch over the Baptists in their assigned areas. This was the first of several plans that have been instituted during the second hundred years of the Church.
The phonograph, invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison and still a curiosity to most people, was exhibited by Reverend Ford at the church on 4 P.M. Saturday, April 7, 1899. A ten cent tea was served at the close of the entertainment.
After much study the Trustees made their recommendation to the Congregation on August 22, 1899 to build a new parsonage. The Church voted to use money in the bank and the "Bond" to partially finance the project and to raise the balance by subscription. The Trustee Board was named the Building Committee and was given "full power" to build a parsonage, the cost not to exceed $1500.00. Light refreshments were served after the business had been transacted.
In September of 1899, Reverend and Mrs. Ford and son returned to his school duties at Hamilton. They commuted to Manlius on the weekends.
On October 6, 1899, the Trustees nominated Frank Barton a Committee of one to sell the old parsonage and barn. W. W. Cheney bought the buildings for the lumber, which he intended to use for repairs on his farm in Oran. There is a photograph of the partly demolished building in the Onondaga Historical Society file on Manlius Baptist Church.
While busy with the work of planning for and supervising the building of a parsonage, the men continued their tradition and prepared a fourth annual Men's Supper to be served to the public at the local Opera house on November 19, 1899. It was pronounced a decided success, both socially and financially. The net proceeds were approximately $150.00.
Reverend Ford apparently was favored with a good singing voice (tenor). During the late 1890s the second Sunday of each month was devoted to a special music program instead of the usual preaching service. Among the choir members (eight) were Yettie Harris and her sister Mrs. F. H. Broadfield (sopranos), Reverend E. E. Ford and Mr. F. H. Broadfield (tenors) and William Nightingale (basso). They performed on December 5, 1899 and on many other occasions.
The Spanish American War, fought in 1898, was still in the minds of the American people (we were still trying to pacify the Philippines) and on December 17, 1898, the Evening Service was devoted to a talk by Reverend Mr. Hyde on YMCA missionary work during the war in Puerto Rico.
A new century began on January 1, 1900, but there was no information given that the Church recognized this event or celebrated it in any manner. In January of 1900 the Church voted to pay Reverend Ford $10.00 per week until July 1, and at that time to increase the amount to $12.00 per week or $624.00 per year, and provide a parsonage or equivalent. (Elder Morton was getting $550 a year and a parsonage in 1838.) The extra money apparently coincided with Reverend Ford's start as a full-time pastor in Manlius. In the letter to the Association Meeting in Baldwinsville on September 27-28, 1900, the Clerk, William Nightingale reported that "the Pastor has completed his studies and will henceforth devote his entire time to building the kingdom in our midst."
On January 18, 1900, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, William Nightingale, was authorized to use his judgment in purchasing a book of plans for the new parsonage to be submitted to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Early in 1900 Pastor Ford sent out a letter inviting Fellow Christians to the Fourth Annual Roll- Call of the Manlius Baptist Church to be held Friday, March 2, 1900, and Sunday, March 4, 1900. Reverend Barber was called back to participate. With a "Roll-Call" the Church hoped to bring in most of the members of the Church to answer the "Call", and renew their acceptance of the Church Covenant.
The Trustees were concerned about paying for the new parsonage, and at their meeting on May 16, 1900, decided to sponsor a Strawberry and Ice Cream Festival for the Church and community. The Trustees did not report on the amount of the proceeds but we can be assured that a good time was had by all who participated.
The Trustee's Building Committee was working diligently and on July 2, 1900, its report was presented to the Church. Then the Trustees resigned as the Building Committee and a new Committee consisting of H. E. Ransier, Chairman, Frank Pervis and F.A. Barton was chosen. They were commissioned to draft plans, seek estimates, and report to the Church within two weeks. On July 24, 1900, plans for the parsonage were submitted. Two bids of $1700.00 and $1750.00 were received. We do not know which bid was accepted, but on July 31, 1900, the Trustees were authorized to borrow $500.00 so that the Building Committee could contract a party to build the parsonage.
Our letter to the Onondaga Baptist Association Meeting of September 28-29, 1900, stated that "the Pastor (Ford) having finished his studies is constantly with us." In another version, "The Pastor has completed his studies and will henceforth devote his time to building the kingdom in our midst." The Clerk did not report on the exact time that the Parsonage was ready, or if there was some kind of dedication or open house but it appears that the Fords moved in sometime in the fall of 1900.
On April 25, 1901, the Church elected two new Deacons to replace Deacons Perkins and Dunham, who recently died. The new Deacons were Frank Barton and William Nightingale.
On May 8, 1901, The Trustees voted for a second mortgage on the property to be assigned to the Trustees of the Horatio Chapman estate to secure said Trustees' loan for the $500.00 advanced by the estate to help pay for the parsonage. The mortgage was due in ten years.
On October 10, 1901, Mr. William Nightingale resigned his office of Clerk. Mrs. Yettie Harris was appointed to take his place. On December 9, 1901, the Trustees resolved to ask the Supreme Court to allow them to mortgage the parsonage property to H. E. Ransier, Treasurer, to secure a loan of $500.00 to aid in paying for the new parsonage.
In December of 1901 the envelope system was introduced for collecting money and the Church voted its adoption. No samples of envelopes have survived but they were likely much like the present day variety with numbers to identify the giver and spaces to record the amounts given for the different needs of the Church.
On December 8, 1901, after the morning sermon, the Clerk, Mrs. Yettie Harris, was called to read to the stunned Congregation a communication from Reverend Ford announcing his resignation:
To the Manlius Baptist Church and Society.
My dear people.
Four years ago you called me, under the direction of God, to become your Pastor. I feel that my coming to you was not your doings or mine, but His alone. He has blessed our union in the saving of souls and I trust in the strengthening of some Christian lives. The years have been freighted with many blessings to me. They have been the happiest, brightest best years of my life thus far. Twice I have had the opportunity to go elsewhere to larger fields, each time I refused because I did not hear the voice of God. This call comes as did the other two, without the slightest effort on my part. I have never wished to go from you. I do not now. My own heart says stay, but if my Master calls, I must obey. I therefore with heavy heart, resign my honored place as pastor of this Church, asking that I be released at the close of this year. I pray that our Father may send you an undershepherd who shall lead you wisely and be more worthy in every way to be Pastor of so loyal a people. Rejoicing that I have for four years been and am now your Pastor.
E.E.Ford
On December 15, 1901, after the morning sermon the Pulpit Committee made a report to the Congregation.
Last Sunday (December 8, 1901) immediately after learning of Brother Ford's resignation as Pastor, this Pulpit Committee held a meeting to discuss the matter and decide upon plans. A Conference was arranged to be held after the evening service at which Brother Ford and all the Committee were present. We regret to report that after conferring at some length that we saw no way of retaining him as Pastor, for he was called by a large (335 members) and wealthy Church, which is able to offer inducements quite beyond the ability of our own Church. Therefore, we are committed to recommend to the Church and Society that his recommendation be accepted.
W.H. Nightingale
H.E. Ransier
G.H. Tripp
The report was read and accepted. Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Moore and Mr. George Butts were appointed a committee to draw up a suitable resolution. The resolutions were read and adopted at a Church Meeting on December 22, 1901:
Manlius would only be the beginning of Rev. Ford's ministry. From 1901-1906, he served in Interlaken, New York, and then started work around the country. His responsibilities included: Associate Pastor, San Diego, California (1906-7) Pastor, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1907-9) State Secretary of BYPU, Oklahoma (1909-11) (Baptist Young Peoples Union) Pastor, Escondido, California (1912-15) Pastor, Los Angeles, California (1916-19) Pastor- First Baptist, Glendale, California (1919-27) Associate Secretary, Los Angeles Baptist and City Missionary Society (1927-29) Pastor, Chevy Chase Baptist Church, Glendale, California (1929-36) On February 13, 1933, Reverend Ford received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from his Alma Mater, Kalamazoo College, during its Centennial Celebration. He died in Glendale, California, February 3, 1938, at age 72. (It is noted in his seminary alumni record that he had been a member of the Glendale California Rotary Club and Chevy Chase Golf Club.)
It has seemed best to our Pastor, the Rev. E.E. Ford, to sever the pleasant relations existing for four years between himself and the Church. Therefore, be it so.
Resolved: That his going from us is not of our doing nor according to our desires and not without sorrow do we contemplate the parting of Pastor from people,
Resolved: That we bear joyful testimony to his ability in this pulpit as an eloquent and gifted preacher of the Word; that we are witnesses to his zeal in all good works; to his fearless words denouncing all manner of evil among us; and that we recognize the uniform love and respect he has won among us and in the community as a minister of Christ.
Resolved: That a copy of these resolutions be presented our Pastor and also spread upon the Church records.
Reverend Ford led his last Covenant Meeting on January 2, 1902, and talked on a timely subject, "Go Forward." There were 35 members present. After prayer and testimony Mr. Barton was called to the chair. Reverend Ford asked for letters for Mrs. Ford and himself to unite with the Baptist Church of Farmer, NY. The letters were granted and it was voted that the Deacons have charge of the Prayer Meetings until this Church secure a Pastor.
The September letter to the Onondaga Baptist Association reported that we bade farewell to our Pastor Rev. E. E. Ford with heavy hearts. Concerning the parsonage "it had been painted, the grounds graded and a fine lawn adds beauty to the place."
