After Reverend Macpherson left, the Manlius Baptists turned to Dr. Albert Sears, a retired minister from Syracuse, to fill the pulpit until a new pastor could be found. (The Church was closed during the month of August.) There is no record of the number of candidates who preached to the Manlius Church, but apparently when the Church heard Reverend Derwood L. Smith of Malone, New York, the Congregation had found its candidate of choice. On October 29, 1928, at a special meeting, the Congregation met to take some action in regard to calling Rev. Smith. Mr. Nightingale, Chairman of the Pulpit Committee, explained to the Congregation that Reverend Smith would have to give thirty days notice to his Congregation in Malone, and that his salary there was approximately $2000.00 per year. After a question and answer period, a motion was made, seconded and carried to call Reverend Smith. His salary was to be $2000.00 per year with parsonage, garage, vacation and $100.00 for moving expenses. Reverend Smith wrote the Congregation accepting the call. The letter is reproduced in the Appendix.
Reverend Smith began his pastorate in Manlius on December 9, 1928, one day before his 30th birthday. Reverend Smith and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) were received by letter from the Malone Baptist Church on December 20, 1928. The Church in Malone, New York, regretted the loss of the Smiths. He left their Church “in good condition financially and (with) a harmonious spirit pervading. His work with the young people had been a marked success.”
Reverend Derwood Lester Smith (our second pastor named Smith) was born in Ballston Spa, New York, on December 10, 1898. He graduated from High School at the Troy Conference Academy of Poultney, Vermont, and received his Bachelor of Theology Degree from, the Colgate Theological Seminary in 1925.
Reverend Smith, like Reverend Macpherson, was not the showman that Reverend Rand was. There was only one series of meetings led by an outside evangelist. These special services appeared to have lost their appeal for the Churches. Evening Services were now mainly shorter versions of the Morning Services. There were no more slide or movie shows or special series of topics.
The midweek Devotional Services continued (Prayer Meetings). Morning Services were at 10:30 followed by Sunday School at 12:00. the Senior Christian Endeavor Society was strong and active. (There was no mention of Junior Christian Endeavor Meetings in 1928.) The girls were active in the World Wide Guild (a successor to Worthwhile Girls). The women divided their time between the Ladies Aid Society and the Women’s Missionary Society, and the men joined the “Brotherhood” (long before the days of the Mafia.) The Trojan Class for older women,. the Baraca-0Philathea Class for men and women, (which met separately on Sunday, but together for social times,) the Round Table Class (whose students met around a round table), and the Busy Bees were some of the Sunday School Classes available in 1929. The men and women still met separately.
During Holy Week in 1919, the Protestant Churches of Manlius joined for special observances on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Communion) and Friday. On Easter Sunday the Christian Endeavor Society took charge of a Sunrise Prayer Service held at 7:15 in the Church auditorium. After the service breakfast was served. Sixty-five CE members were present.
Reverend Smith enjoyed acting and when the Baraca Class (men) of the Sunday School entertained the Philathea Class (women) at a business and social meeting, they presented a short play,” The District School.” Reverend Smith portrayed a red-headed school marm and the men from the class played the scholars, four girls and four boys. Not to be outdone, the Busy Bee Class of the Sunday School (young people) later presented a comedy, “The Voice of Authority,” to an audience of the Congregation and Towns People and raised over $45.00.
As usual the Children’s Day Exercises were a major highlight of the year and the children of the Onondaga Home (orphans) were again invited to attend and participate in the program. A collection was taken for the benefit of the Home.
The Daily Vacation Bible School originated with the Epiphany Baptist Church of New York City in July, 1898.
The newest development in Christian Education was the Vacation Bible School. The Fayetteville Protestant Churches were organizing their first for 1929 as were the Churches in Manlius. The teachers were trained at a Vacation Bible Training Institute in Oneida on June 28, 1929. The Vacation Bible School opened at the Baptist (classes for children) and Methodist (Kindergarten sessions) Churches on July 8, 1929, for a two week session with over 100 children regularly attending. The classes for older children involved lessons in crafts (chair caning, basket weaving, coping saw work, painting, soap modeling, paper cutting, etc.) The craft work was said to benefit the children in that it taught them to think for themselves and work out each problem as they came to it. “They instill in the minds of the pupil habits of building and improvement which hold them in good stead later in life.” In the study of the Bible every Protestant denomination was represented in the teachers’ group. It was carefully pointed out that the subjects selected for the children’s discussions were not contradictory or offensive to any denomination. It was not all work. There was supervised play on the church grounds, story-telling, flag salutes, music, drills, marches, etc. The children were kept all day and the younger children were served lunch.
In June the Church sent Reverend Smith on a two week trip to Denver, Colorado, to attend the yearly meeting of the Northern Baptist Convention. he gave an “excellent” report to a “large and appreciative” Congregation on Sunday, June 23, 1929, that “warmly greeted him” on his return.
Sometimes the advertisers used the names of local people in their front page ads in The Fayetteville Bulletin. In the August 22, 1929 edition, the ad involved Reverend Smith: “Speaking about beverages, the Reverend Derwood L. Smith, pastor of the local Baptist Church, when officiating at a funeral up in the north country got to a place in the service where he announced: `We will now pass the bier!’ Chairs and tables were overturned and several were trampled on in the rush of thirsty mourners.” The advertiser went on to extol the virtues of the need for pure water in plentiful supply which could be furnished in the home or barn with a Meyers electric automatic water pressure system from Couden’s Hardware in Manlius. There was no recorded comment on Reverend Smith’s reaction to the advertisement. It is not known if Reverend Smith was amused or offended.
On July 24, 1929, the Baptists and Methodists enjoyed their annual Union Sunday School Picnic at Scott Noose Park on Oneida Lake. Trucks were provided for those who needed transportation but most people now had their own cars. (People were advised to go by way of Minoa to avoid very poor roads elsewhere.) Picnicking, swimming, organized games and fellowship were to be the activities of the day. About 300 members and friends. attended.
The Church was closed for one month in August while Reverend Smith and his family were on vacation. All of the Church activities resumed in the fall. The Church marked the beginning of the Manlius Public School year by inviting the Faculty of the Manlius High School to a reception on September 17, 1929, in Loomis Hall (decorated with lamps, rugs, easy chairs and flowers for the occasion.) “A general good time” and games to get acquainted followed, after which ice cram and cake were served.
The week of October 8, 1929, was Convocation or Rally Week in the Church with a program each night given by various Church Societies, a Church School Supper on Friday night, culminating on October 13, 1929, with special services on Rally Sunday.
In the October 8, 1929, newspaper the headline read, “Methodist and Baptist Men in Joint Meeting.” The Methodist men were to be the guests of the Baptist Brotherhood in Loomis Hall. A feature of the evening was to be a volleyball contest between picked teams from each Brotherhood. (The week before the Baptists, handicapped with two members crippled physically and two crippled mentally- all in jest, of course- defeated the Methodist, who were anxious to wipe out the stain on their reputation.) Games of “water polo” (in which contestants with water on the brain played polo), checkers, and quoits were played, also.
In November, Reverend Smith began a series of Fireside Sermons in the Sunday Evening Services. “is Love blind?,” “Chips from the Old Block,” “Till Death Do Us Part,” and “Journey’s End” were among the subjects on which he preached. Every month, one Sunday evening was devoted to a Union Service with the Methodist Church. The Union services were found to be very satisfactory with capacity audiences.
The 132nd Annual Meeting was held on December 2, 1929. It was reported that t the $15,000.00 mortgage held by Mrs. Harris and her brother-in-law, F. H. Broadfield, had been reduced by them to $7500.00. It was customary to praise the Pastor at the Annual Meeting and Louise Davis made the comment that “the name Smith means work and the Church could not help but advance under his (Reverend Smith’s) leadership.” It was noted by Mrs. Hefti and Reverend Smith that June 1, 1930, would mark the end of the five year building fund campaign program. Mrs. Hefti hoped the Church could have a dinner and at that time unveil the tablet that was to designate the Social Hall as the Loomis Memorial Hall.
On December 10, 1929, the Brotherhood of the Church sponsored a Father and Son Banquet to which 70 men and boys attended. They were entertained by the Church orchestra and “appropriate” songs were sung. Alfred Smith (no relation to the famous Al Smith or to Rev. Smith) was President of the Society for 1929.
Christmas in 1929 was celebrated “as was the first Christmas” with a glorious outburst of song. On Sunday evening, December 21, 1929, the 20 member choir sang and Reverend Smith told the Baptists stories of some of the well known Christmas hymns. On Monday the Sunday School held its Christmas Program and on Christmas Eve the young people went carol singing.
An inter-denominational Pulpit Exchange was in its third year in the Syracuse area. On Sunday, January 26, 1930, Reverend Smith preached in the Lafayette Avenue Church and the Manlius Baptists heard Reverend John R. Woodcock, Pastor of the Genesee Street Church.
On June 12, 1930, Mrs. Hefti’s hopes were fulfilled when a Fellowship Banquet was enjoyed by the Congregation in Loomis Hall. Five years after the laying of the cornerstone, a tablet was installed in memory of the Loomis Family, who had done so much for the Church for many years. The Treasurer reported that $90,000.00 had been paid to the Building Fund during the five years and that there was only a small debt left. (A newspaper account of the ceremony is reproduced in the Appendix.)
On September 25-26, 1930, the 105th session of the Onondaga Association of Baptist Churches met in the Manlius Baptist Church. The Church was proud to show the Association its new building. Mrs. Hefti described the meetings as “unusually good” and stated that our Church “responded in every way” to make the meeting a success. The Ladies Aid served all the meals and earned over $100.00 for their projects.
Radio was becoming an important means of disseminating information and entertaining its listeners. Reverend Smith was an enthusiastic participant in radio broadcasts of religious material. On November 6, 1930, he was in charge of a devotional broadcast from WSYR.
At the Annual Business Meeting on December 8, 1930, the Treasurer noted that while the mortgage had been paid, $6859.00 in pledges for the new Church remained outstanding. Some of them were probably never paid for the “Great Depression” hit the country in 1929 . Many people in Manlius were affected as well.
Jessie Hefti, Church Clerk, in her Annual Report to the Onondaga Baptist Association for the 1931-1932 Associational Year mentioned the hard times. She wrote “although we hear the word `Depression’ on every side, it has no place in our Church. The work has been carried on with gratifying results. The Church is in good condition financially.”
In January, 1931, one hundred Bibles were placed in the pews of the Church. On Easter Sunday, April 5, 1931, the Choir appeared for the first time as a vested Choir.
Sports were a very important factor in the Baptist Youth Program, made possible in part by the building of Loomis Hall. In March of 1931 the Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Catholic Churches got together for a Basketball Tournament. The admission to the games was ten cents per person. The outcome of the League play was not available. The games were played in the Methodist and Baptist Church gyms.
In 1931 the Protestant Churches were h olding monthly Sunday Evening Union Services. In May 1931 the Baraca-Philathea Chasses cooperated with the Manlius Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to beautify the Village of Manlius with attractive flower gardens. A plant and food sale was held on May 16, 1931, where plants were placed on sale at reasonable prices.
On May 28, 1931, the Masons met in the old Baptist Church on Seneca Street for their annual meeting and supper. On June 15, 1931, the 50th Semi-Annual Meeting of the Women’s Missionary Society of the Onondaga Baptist Association was hosted by the Manlius Baptist Women.
In 1931 it was still proper for public high schools to sponsor Baccalaureate Services for graduating classes and on June 21, 1931, Reverend Smith delivered the sermon to the Manlius High School graduating class and their parents and friends in the Manlius Baptist Church. On July 17, 1931, the first wedding in the new Baptist Church occurred when Leora Van Brocklin and Harold Wright were married by Reverend Smith. The wedding supper was served in Loomis Hall.
In July 1931 the Manlius Baptists held their third Vacation Bible School. It was said to have been the most successful so far with over 100 children enrolled. It is not clear if it was sponsored by all of the Protestant Churches or just the Baptist Church, but, of course, all children were welcome. July 24, 1931, was the day set for the annual Union Sunday School Picnic at Scott Noose Park, now attended only by Baptists and Methodists. About 225 people sat down to the picnic dinner, but an unexpected rainstorm dampened the afternoon activities.
September 27, 1931, was Rally Day at the Baptist Sunday School. A special program featured songs and recitations by the students, music by the Church orchestra, and remarks by Pastor Smith.
In 1931 the old church building on Seneca Street still belonged to the Baptists. The Masons in Manlius had been interested but apparently could not raise the money needed. The Manlius Chamber of Commerce and the Library Board were investigating the possible rental of the old church for a library. William H. Nightingale speaking for the Church told the Chamber that the Church would be willing to make several improvements to the old church building: i.e., two coats of paint, a lowered ceiling in the main room and adequate heating and toilet facilities. The library would only be charged a nominal rent, enough to defray the expense of the improvements and fixed charges such as fire insurance, etc. Nothing further was reported concerning the Chamber’s response.
In the November 11, 1931, issue of The Weekly Recorder, it was reported that the Manlius Baptist Church won second prize of $15 in a contest in which judges from “The Baptist,” the denominational paper of the Northern Baptist Convention, picked the most attractive Baptist Church in communities of less than 2000 population. First prize went to the First Baptist Church of Groton, New York. The contest was created to quicken interest in the beautification of small town churches.
The effects of the Depression were now being felt by many people in small villages like Fayetteville and Manlius. Apparently the people in small towns and villages had to help themselves. In Manlius, Mayor Nightingale, in 1931 appointed a Committee to raise money for the distressed and unemployed in the village. They were also to direct the collection of clothing, food and fuel and to assume charge of its disposition. The Committee met every Sunday afternoon in the Baptist Church. One of the early projects was to sponsor a benefit performance in the local Seville Theater.
On March 24, 1932, H. E. Ransier, from the Manlius Baptist Church, gave one of his illustrated Travel Talks to the community in the high school auditorium. Attendees were asked to make a donation to the Welfare Committee for funds to aid families in need. Reverend Smith took part in the appeal. The Committee had helped over 40 families whose heads were still unemployed or working only part time.
The summer of 1932 was made complete with the annual Vacation Bible School, running for eight days with enrollment of 125 children, and the Union Sunday School picnic held July 29, 1932, as usual, at Scott Noose Park on Lake Oneida with transportation in trucks and cars. The Church was closed, as usual, for the month of August. Reverend Smith and his family enjoyed their vacation.
In the fall of 1932, the Manlius Library had apparently decided against the Baptist offer to use their old church. The American Legion became interested and at a special meeting voted to acquire the old church as a permanent club-house. They intended using the Sunday School rooms as the actual club room and the main hall for meeting, dances, parties and large assemblies.
Earlier we reported on Reverend Smith’s name being used in an advertisement for beer. In the September 8, 1932, Fayetteville Bulletin the readers were told, “Next time you go by the Manlius Baptist Church take particular notice of the white paint on it. We want you to notice that this paint is just as glossy as glass and as white as the driven snow..... This paint was furnished by Paint Headquarters, which is Couden’s Hardware, Manlius....”
In the Fayetteville Bulletin for September 29, 1932, it was reported that “Legion Closes Deal for Clubhouse” and that the lease was already signed. The Baptist Church Trustees were relieved, but only for a short time. The Legionaires did accomplish the renovation of the kitchen and the lavatories, rewired the building and installed a new furnace. The Legion offered to make the rooms available for community affairs at very reasonable rates.
The Curb Market run by the Ladies Aid Society seems to have been replaced by a “Harvest Supper,” which was served every year as a major source of money for their causes. The 1932 dinner was held on October 11.
In November of 1932 the Presbyterian Church Body in Manlius dissolved as ordered by the Syracuse Presbytery. The 117-year old Congregation passed into oblivion. “Unable to support the expenses of an active existence, the old church has been dormant since last spring.” This was a sad time for the Manlius Baptists. The two Congregations had always worked closely together, at times joining together for Sunday Evening Services, Prayer Meetings, youth meetings and picnics. The possibility that the “magnificent old colonial building may be destroyed has spread consternation in the village.” There was also concern about the “fine old clock in the steeple tower which has served for many years as the village criterion of the passing of time (although on occasion it has been known to disagree with itself on its several faces.)” While the Presbyterian Church was lost to Manlius, the Baptist Church remained strong and on December 7, 1932, celebrated it 135th anniversary with special services and events.
On Sunday morning, December 4, 1932, the Reverend John W. Smith DD, Secretary of the New York Baptist Convention, was the guest preacher. In the evening the Reverend Derwood Smith preached his fourth Annual Anniversary Sermon. On Monday, December 5, 1932, the Church members gathered in Loomis Memorial Hall for its 135th annual business meeting. Reports were read and the 99 present responded to a Roll Call of Members. Many out-of-town members responded with letters of well wishes. Reverend Rand came back from Albany to give the major address of the evening. “His talk proved very interesting and brought back memories of his previous service here. Then were letters read from former Pastors E. E. Ford, C. J. Barton, E. H. Conrad, D. J. Bloxham and J. Macpherson commemorating the occasion.” The letters apparently were not saved.
The year 1933 was, as usual, a busy time for the Church. The Manlius Baptist Church held its fifth annual Vacation Bible School with Reverend Smith in charge, assisted by 18 teachers and helpers for two weeks in july. There were 110 children from all local churches registered. Reverend and Mrs. Derwood L. Smith entertained a group of friends at the parsonage on July 4, 1933. Among the guests were Reverend and Mrs. Lawrence A. Wheaton and family and children of Oneida ( Reverend Wheaton was to be our next pastor after Rev. Smith in 1938.) The Summer Baptist and Methodist Sunday School Picnic was held locally this time in Green Lakes Park on August 23, 1933, Wednesday afternoon and evening. The dinner was held this year in the evening, which meant working adults could participate.
One of the major events of 1933 took place at the Annual Meeting of the Church on December 4th. Reports were read, new officers selected, and the treasurer, Mr. George Reeves, announced that through the generous gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Broadfield and Mrs. Y. R. Harris, the mortgage on the new church had been paid, leaving the Church free from debt. Following the business session, Pastor Reverend Derwood L. Smith presided over the program in recognition of the generous donors. The mortgage was burned and the people sang the Doxology and a prayer of thanksgiving was offered. William Nightingale delivered a brief history of the building of the new church, speaking in behalf of the men. Mrs. H. E. Ransier spoke for the women of the character and friendship of the three donors. Leslie Burt spoke for the youth. He acknowledged the great debt the youth owed those who made the new church possible. The Pastor spoke of the privilege that had been his for the past five years of working in such a beautiful church with people whose faith in the future was so far reaching.
In the Fall Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Ransier took over the reorganized Junior Christian Endeavor (now called the Junior League) and conducted the meetings every Sunday afternoon. Their Christmas program featured children bringing gifts, not for each other but for the children of the Bethany Sunday School in Syracuse. There were dolls, toys and games of every kind in perfect condition from over 50 children.
In May of 1934 Reverend and Mrs. Derwood L Smith, Charles Bowman, Florence Burt, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hale and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fillmore attended the Northern Convention in Rochester, New York. July 9, 1934, was opening day for the Sixth Annual Vacation Church School. In August the Church was closed as usual and the pastor took his vacation.
On Sunday, December 9, 1934, the Church commemorated the end of Pastor Smith’s sixth year as pastor. He was said to have served his Church well, that his sermons were always spiritual and showed careful preparation and study. He was also to celebrate his 36th birthday the next day and the Church presented him with 36 beautiful roses. He responded with the information that during those six years he had made 550 house call, conducted 50 funerals, 35 weddings, and baptized 65 people (12 more joined by letter). At the December 10, 1934, annual meeting, Clerk Jessie Hefti presented her history of the Church for the record. The reports showed the Church free of all debts.
In early 1935 the topic for discussion in the Village of Manlius was the fate of the Presbyterian Church property. The Village Board scheduled a poll of the taxpayers for February 5, 1935, to ascertain whether or not the village should buy the property for use as the site for a firehouse, village hall or library. There was no more talk of the loss of an historic old building which would later be razed to build the Municipal Building. The Eagle Bulletin urged everyone eligible to vote “yes” for the proposition with no reservations and apprehensions for the welfare of the community after doing so. The vote on February 5, 1935, was 51 for and 22 against.
Children’s Day was celebrated on June 9, 1935, with a group from the Onondaga Orphans’ Home assisting. The Baptists and Methodists joined forces again on July 29, 1935, for the annual Church Picnic, this year back at Scott Noose Park on Oneida Lake. The Seventh Annual Vacation Bible School was held at the Church from July 8-19 with a closing picnic on July 20th. The enrollment was 110 children. The Church was closed for the Pastor’s vacation again in the month of August.
In September of 1935, the Church was saddened by the death of Frank B. Fillmore. He was born 81 years earlier on the farm on which he died. He and Mrs. Fillmore left the Fayetteville Baptist Church when it joined with the Presbyterian Church. He had been a Deacon of the Manlius Church since 1919. In an impressive and moving service on November 23, 1935, Harry Fillmore, the son of Frank, was installed as Deacon to take his father’s place.
In the Fall of 1935 Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Ransier took charge of the Children’s Hour, later known as Junior Church. The children of the Congregation were allowed to leave the regular Church service following the Pastor’s Children’s Sermon to meet with the Ransiers where Biblical instruction by means of Pictures, stories, and songs was given and many valuable lessens were learned.
Rally Day in 1935 was planned for September 29th. Mrs. Derwood L. Smith was the director of the program. Parts in the program were taken by the Pastor, members of the Church School with music furnished by the Junior Choir.
In October 1935 the Baptist notes, as printed in The Fayetteville Bulletin, indicated that the Third Annual School of Missions would begin and continue for six consecutive Thursday evenings. Each evening a covered dish supper was followed by a devotional period and mission study. (Although this was the third annual school, there was nothing in the records available that indicate two previous schools.) Mrs. Derwood Smith and Mrs. Thomas Cleveland had charge of the Mission Study Books for the adult and young people’s classes. Attendance was nearly 100 at each meeting.
In 1935 the Church seemed to have largely abandoned the Sunday Evening Services. On October 24, 1935, it was announced that the Church was inaugurating a special Sunday Evening Service once a month, the first to be a Candle Light Communion Service.
On October 22, 1935, Miss Sarah H. White died at the age of 83. She was the oldest member of the Manlius Baptist Church. A small headline in the November 20, 1935, Fayetteville Bulletin read, “Manlius Church is Willed large Sum.” Miss White bequeathed $500.00 to the Manlius Baptist Church, $200.00 to the Oran Church and $5.00 to the Pompey Center Cemetery.
In a November 14, 1935, Church Meeting some members voiced a concern for elderly people who might want to join the Church but were physically unable to be baptized into full membership. It was proposed that they would be considered under the watchcare of the Church, but not members of the Church. On January 9, 1936, Mary Smith was voted to be accepted under the watchcare of the Church.
The 138th Annual Meeting was held on December 2, 1935. (In early days the meeting was held on December 8th to commemorate the beginning of the Church on December 8, 1797, regardless of the day of the week. In the 1900s the Church began to meet on the Monday after the first Sunday in December.) Everyone coming to the Annual Meeting was asked to bring a penny for each year of his age as a building offering. the gifts would be used to purchase a name plate for the outside of the building. $228.08 was collected.
To close the year 1935, the Manlius Baptist Church planned a watch night celebration for Tuesday night, December 31st beginning at 8:30 P. M. and lasting until midnight. The events opened with a program of music and drama provided by the young people. the Round Table Class presented “The Coming of Light,” a drama commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Miles Coverdale Bible. There were games to play, refreshments and at 11:30 Reverend Derwood Smith spoke on “A Spirited New Year” at the devotional service in the chapel (now the library).
The yer 1936 was a relatively quiet year with no new events planned. All of the Church organizations, i.e. Christian Endeavors, Baracas, Philatheas, World Wide Guild, Round Table Class, Ladies Aid, missionary Society, were active and meeting. There were Senior Choirs and a Junior Choir, Junior Church and Prayer Meetings. The Sunday Evening Service was mostly defunct and seemed to be the major casualty of the Church program. In retrospect it appears that Reverend Smith was winding down his leadership of the the Church.
Special Evangelistic meetings, although not as prevalent as they once had been, were being held occasionally and a series of six meetings with out-of-town speakers was held prior to Easter of 1936. “These meetings were well attended and a spiritual help to the Church.”
In 1936 our Church became a Forward Fund Church, which meant we had over subscribed our quota for mission-giving. In 1935-36 our quota was $1100.00. The Church gave $1300.00.
In the summer of 1936 the Church decided to put into effect the Unified Church Service and Sunday School Plan of the Baptists. It would start on Children’s Day, June 14th, and continue to Rally Day in September with the Church closed as usual in August. There was to be a combination of worship and study by the adults and the children. The sermon and the Sunday School lesson would be based on the same subject and material. The worship service was to start at 10:30. The children were to be dismissed for Junior Church after the Children’s Story at 11:00. Preaching would be for one half hour. At 11:30 the Congregation would proceed directly to their Sunday School classes for the study of the lesson. All classes would be dismissed at 12:15. (The usual schedule was 10:30-12:00 Church, 12:00-1:00, Sunday School.) The Eighth Annual Vacation Bible School was held in July and was, as always, very successful with 132 children enrolled in the program.
The Annual Union Sunday School Picnic with the Methodist was held on July 29, 1936, at Scott Noose Park. Trucks with fitted seats were provided for those without means of transportation.
In August Reverend and Mrs. Derwood Smith and daughter Ruth (and Mrs. Jessie Hefti) left by motor for Washington D. C. for a sightseeing trip of three weeks. the remainder of their vacation was spent at Lake George.
The beginning of the Fall Church Season was celebrated with Home Coming day on Sunday, September 27, 1936. Mrs. Charles Stark was a member of the Program Committee in charge. Although there was a member of the Program Committee in charge. Although there was no attempt a reviving the Sunday Evening Services, the Church planned for monthly Vesper Services to be held at 5:30. This would be a special music service with a short sermon by the Pastor.
On Tuesday, November 10, 1936, the Ladies Aid served their annual Harvest Supper to the public. It was advertised that the ladies had made their price so very reasonable that all can afford to attend. “Everyone is invited.”
On Tuesday, November 17, 1936, the Men’s Council (a new name for the men’s organization) met at the home of Harry Fillmore. The speaker was Reverend Lawrence Wheaton, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oneida. Reverend Wheaton (our next pastor) was becoming well acquainted with many members of the Manlius Church.
In an unusual move Reverend Smith arranged a “beautiful” service for Christmas Day, December 25, 1936, at 6:00 P.M. in the church auditorium to which the entire community was invited. The object of the service on Christmas Day was to exemplify the real spirit of Christmas, that of seeking new blessings and power from the radiance of the Christ Child message, “Glory to God in the Highest, on Earth Peace, Good Will towards Men.”
The Church year of 1937 was a typical year to expect under the leadership of Rev. Derwood L. Smith. In general all of the Church programs that had worked well for several years were continued. The two week daily Vacation Bible School was in its ninth year with Reverend Smith still the general superintendent. There were 35 teachers and 135 children taking part. The annual Union Sunday School picnic with the Methodists was held on July 29 in Madison Lake, said to be an admirable place for bathing with an excellent beach. In the fall Reverend Smith organized a Boy’s Chub for boys 11 years and up. The girls had enjoyed their own organizations for years (World Wide Guild) and now the young men had one of their own.
On Sunday, December 5, 1937, Reverend Smith read his resignation to the Congregation. He announced that he had felt called to a larger field and accepted the call to the First Baptist Church of Vineland, New Jersey. The Annual Meeting was held on December 6, 1937. A motion was made, seconded and carried at that meeting to accept Reverend Smith’s resignation with regret. Reverend Smith replied to the acceptance with “words of comfort and encouragement to us all.”
The Junior Church was still going strong. In their report to the Annual Meeting the group represented by one of its members, Norma J. Richburg, mentioned that the Junior Church was in it third year and that the average attendance was 45. The group took part in the School of Missions and gave $45.00 to the Church. She invited “you older folks to come upstairs and visit our Junior church when you get tired of sitting through the preaching service down stairs and we will give you an interesting program.” The group had a new picture machine that “we are all enjoying” and wanted to share with the adults.
One of the last duties of Reverend Smith as pastor of the Manlius Baptist Church was to baptize his daughter, Ruth Frances Smith, along with ten other people on December 26, 1937. On Sunday evening, January 9, 1938, Reverend Smith preached his farewell sermon. It was a special union service and all of the Baptist Choirs sang. “Many voiced regrets at their leaving and yet all wished them success in their new field of labor.”
At a Prayer Meeting February 4, 1938, the Church voted to grant letters to Reverend Smith, Mrs. Smith and their daughter Ruth from the Church to unite with the First Baptist Church of Vineland, New Jersey. The Smiths left on January 12, 1938, for their new home in New Jersey. (On January 24, 1938, Reverend Smith rushed back to Manlius to officiate at the funeral of Mrs. Gertrude Ferguson who died suddenly.)
