At Pastor John Baker’s last Official Board Meeting on November 1, 1956, and after Reverend Baker’s explanation of his call to Rome, New York (“God directed him”), the church went directly to the business of selecting a Pulpit Committee to find a new leader. This time the Official Board decided to send each one of its members a letter with a list of the eligible Board Members (Associate Members were excluded) and each person was asked to select five members who would best serve on the Pulpit Committee. The results were presented to an Official Board Meeting on Sunday, November 18, 1956, for further discussion and action.
The five leading vote-getters were (in order of votes received):
They became the Pulpit Committee.
The selection of an Interim Pastor was not mentioned in the Church Clerk’s minutes, but according to the records of the Pulpit Committee, they discussed with Reverend Russell Raker Jr. conditions for his employment on November 29, 1956. They found he would be able to preach every Sunday except for one a month, and would make hospital calls. His salary was to be $25.00/week. His appointment was announced on December 20, 1956, and his pay was raised to $45.00/week.
At the January 14, 1957, Annual (159th) Meeting of the church, the congregation voted that five members of those present be nominated to form a committee to study the Constitution and By-Laws of the church and present their findings at the 1958 Annual Meeting. Reverend Russell Raker Jr., Herbert Meyer, Marjorie Lincoln, , Spencer Greene and Kenneth Phelps were appointed. A suggestion was made to have a box placed in the church for members to put suggestions in for the committee to consider and this was done.
The brochure contained information that we have for no other pastor. Reverend Guckert was 5’11” tall and weighed proximately 165 pounds.
After an intensive effort to find, interview and assess several possible candidates, the Pulpit Committee brought their choice, Reverend Harry E. Guckert, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of San Anselmo, California, to the First Baptist Church of Manlius as guest preacher and candidate on February 14, 1957. A special brochure continuing a biography of Reverend Guckert and featuring a picture of the Guckert family was distributed to the congregation.*
Reverend Harry E. Guckert, who comes to us from the First Baptist Church of San Anselmo, California, is forty-two years of age, five feet eleven inches tall and weighs approximately one hundred and sixty-five pounds. He graduated as valedictorian from Pompey Academy and received his Bachelor of Theology degree from the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1939. He then completed two years of post-graduate work at the International School of Languages.
Reverend Guckert, a native of Central New York, has served in five churches in the areas of Central New York, Pennsylvania, and California. He was ordained in 1939 into the Onondaga Baptist Association at Tully, New York. His successful ministry in California includes the Bronze Achievement award for his present church, with a significant increase in Missionary giving to the Unified Budget of the American Baptist Convention every place he has served. During the last ten years he has received over one thousand persons into church memberships. His two years at San Anselmo saw a greatly expanded youth program, the starting of two Guilds, and the Choirs increased from one choir to four.
Mrs. Guckert has been a school librarian, a church secretary, a secretary for the Christian Education Department of the Southern California Baptist Convention. She is particularly interesting in theWomen’s Mission Society, and Guild, and instituted and supervises the nursery at San Anselmo. We understand she is a most gracious hostess, a prime requisite for the First Lady of Manlius Baptist Church.
The Guckerts have two lovely girls, Karen and Stephanie- ages 5 and 6 ½ .
After the service the congregation (325 people were present) remained. The Pulpit Committee announced that Reverend Guckert, if called, would be paid $5,600.00. He would be provided housing (the parsonage), full M&M payments, all utilities, $500.00 car expense, and all moving expenses ($1,400.00). The congregation voted unanimously to call Reverend Guckert, who then came to the meeting to tell them that a decision would be made as soon as possible and that he was very much interested.
The Trustee’s minutes contained many references to the work done to keep the parsonage in good condition. By 1957, however, the need for repairs apparently outdistanced the ability of the Trustees (and the Treasury) to keep up. On February 17, 1957, a special Trustee’s meeting was called for the purpose of obtaining the views of the Board concerning the possibility of building a new parsonage. The Trustees voted to recommend to the next Official Board Meeting that, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, “We should take necessary steps to buy a plot of ground and erect a new parsonage.”
On Sunday, February 24, 1957, a special Official Board Meeting was called (30 members present) to decide if a new parsonage were needed. Lloyd Slentz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, led the discussion. Kenneth Phelps moved that the Planning Committee meet with the Trustees and decide the important needs and bring a plan to the next Official Board Meeting for discussion. The motion was seconded and carried.
On February 27, 1957, another Trustee meeting was held to set up a proposal for a new parsonage to present to the Congregation at the Family Night Supper on February 28, 1957. The Trustees went to the parsonage to investigate possible remodeling for renting or occupation by the pastor and decided that minor repairs ($3,750-$4,000), a significant amount for a house valued at approximately $15,000-$20,000 at the time, were required for continued pastoral use or use as classrooms. On Thursday, February 28, 1957, Mr. Meyer, from the Board of Trustees, presented the need for a new parsonage to the congregation and asked everyone to be thinking about it. He also suggested that church members inspect the parsonage so as to be more familiar with its condition.
On March 14, 1957, the Official Board met after Prayer Meeting for their first quarterly meeting of the year. Herbert Meyer presented for the Trustees the reasons for the need for a new parsonage. An important factor other than the condition of the parsonage and not mentioned in the minutes was that a parsonage next to the church, while being convenient in some ways, left the Pastor and family on constant call to unlock the doors for someone, to turn off forgotten lights, to furnish information for a meeting, to supervise and unsupervised activity, etc, which resulted in a lack of privacy and time to get away from church problems, if only for an evening. After much discussion, Charles Cathers moved that we secure a parsonage not to exceed $24,000 and recommend this to the Congregation. Carl Christensen seconded the motion, and the majority of the Official Board was in favor.
Each member of the congregation was to be informed by letter of this recommendation, and it was also to be announced in the Sunday Bulletin. On March 24, 1957, after the church service, the congregation met to vote on the parsonage. Herbert Meyer again presented the plan. After a discussion, Sid Mawson moved acceptance of the recommendation of the Official Board and that the Trustees be empowered to proceed in that direction. Ray Heller seconded the motion. Donald Jenks moved that we vote by ballot, a motion which Mildred Dopp seconded and which was carried. The vote on building a parsonage was 61 for and 58 against. The whole procedure from the Trustee’s suggestion to affirmative vote took only thirty-five days and six meetings.
At the March 28, 1957, Official Board Meeting, the Building Committee members were announced: Jean Clausen, Esther Lamoreaux, Ray Heller, Robert Lyon, Charles Stark and Archie Adsit. Early pledges of $6,350 had been received and it was suggested that a letter be sent to each church family with a pledge card enclosed. Because of the closeness of the vote, the response was to be voluntary with no calls involved.
In the spring of 1957, the Prayer Meetings were held weekly in Member’s homes and were called Cottage Prayer Meetings. Thursday night Family Suppers were held monthly with special programs.
The third of the American Baptist Quarterly offerings appeared. (The first was America for Christ and the second the World Fellowship Offering.) the Ministers and Missionaries Board asked churches to give one Communion offering a year to those retired Ministers and Missionaries who had not been able to participate in the new Baptist Retirement Plan and the church agreed. Later it became the offering for the fourth quarter of the year and became known as the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO).
In March, 1957, the Diaconate adopted the Parish Zone Plan. The areas in which the members lived were to be divided into zones, each containing 6-8 church families. Each zone would have a leader (about 30 were hope for) who would call on the families quarterly to bring them up to date on the affairs of the church and keep the church informed of the concerns of the families as well. Robert Vermilya was the leader. The Diaconate was concerned about the possible need for a minimum age for baptism. They decided to let the Pastor decide whether or not the child was ready.
In the late winter or early spring of 1957, Reverend Guckert accepted his call. He began his ministry in Manlius on May 12, 1957. An installation ceremony and welcoming reception were held on Sunday evening, May 19, 1957, at 7:30 in the church.
Reverend Guckert and his wife, Marjorie, were received by letter from the First Baptist Church of San Anselmo, California, in May, 1957. The new parsonage was not ready and the Guckerts with their two daughters Karen and Stephanie occupied for a few months the old parsonage on Pleasant Street.
Harry Edwin Guckert was born on September 17, 1914. He was raised in the home of U. S. Representative Walter Riehlman of Tully, New York. He graduated from The Pompey Academy as valedictorian. He attended Eastern Baptist College for two years and the Eastern Theological Seminary for three years, graduating in 1939 with a Bachelor of Theology Degree. He was ordained in June 1939 by the Baptist Church of Tully, New York, in the Onondaga Baptist Association. He then took a two year course at the International School of Languages. He served five churches before coming to Manlius:
Mrs. Marjorie Guckert was a school librarian, a church secretary, and a secretary of the California Baptist Convention, where she and Reverend Guckert met.
In early 1957, Helen (Mrs. Donald) Jenks, the Church Organist and Choir Director, resigned and she and Mr. Jenks left the church. Mrs. Jenks was also active in Women’s Groups and the Christian Education Committee and was leading the Released Time Weekly Church School. We are indebted to Mr. Donald Jenks for the excellent photographic record of the church and its activities during the time of their membership.
Doreta Chapman (who had resigned the position in 1951 after fourteen years of service) became the new organist and Rhoda Edwards became the new choir director. The Trustees voted to have the organ (deemed in poor condition) repaired by the Estey Organ Co. The cost was to be $375.00 and the repair could take 32-34 weeks.
At the Official Board Meeting of July 11, 1957, two new committees were formed, the Music Committee and the Church Service Committee, which because of their usefulness still exist today. (the Church Service Committee, whose purpose was to provide food for families in distress because of illness or death in the families is now part of the Diaconate function.)
The Board of Deacons reported that the Church Covenant had been printed and placed in the new hymnals (Christian Worship-a Hymnal). There was no mention of a change in Covenants,. The Covenant in use from 1939-1957 was replaced with the Covenant used before 1939, which contained the admonitions to avoid all tattling, backing and excess anger, and to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks.
Lloyd Slentz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, reported that the Board recommended a unified treasury for the Church and Sunday School for 1958, and that the Sector Plan be used again for the Financial Campaign for 1958. The Official Board voted its approval
The 160th Anniversary of the church was to be December 7, 1957. Both the Deacons and Trustees were interested in a celebration. The question was asked, “Should we celebrate in some way?” A committee with members from each Board and headed by Doug Clausen was appointed to answer the question. (Unfortunately, the answer turned out to be no. At least there was no mention of any celebration in the church records.)
The new Manlius Baptist Church parsonage was dedicated on Sunday, September 22, 1957. On December 30, 1957 the church obtained a mortgage on the house and lot from the Marine Midland Bank for $10,300.00 at 5% interest.
In the Fall of 1957, the Baptist Youth Fellowship was divided into three groups: Junior Boys and Girls, Junior High Youth and Senior High Young People. They met every Sunday from 6:30P.M. to 8:00 P.M. There was some serious study or discussion, recreation and refreshments. According to the 1957 report, there were over 60 young people in attendance each Sunday Evening.
The Released Time School, for which Reverend and Mrs. Guckert took responsibility for the remainder of the 1956-1957 school year, was discontinued in the Fall of 1957 because of the difficulty in providing leadership.
At the Third Quarterly Meeting of the Church on October 23, 1957, the starting time for the Sunday Morning Service was moved from 10:30 to 10:45 A.M. to permit a full hour of Sunday School and to eliminate “unnecessary commotion” prior to the service.
The Church decided to renovate the old parsonage for the Pastor’s Study, the Church office and a Nursery and classrooms for the younger children. Lloyd Slentz reported on the renovations to the old parsonage. Furniture for offices and the library had been purchased. The Christian Education Committee reported an average attendance of 128 at the weekly Leader’s Training Classes. The Released Time enrollment was 125 students. There were now three Guild Girl Groups, each with 8-10 girls attending weekly. Plans for the Annual Harvest Supper were underway by the Baptist Women’s Fellowship.
A Motion was made, seconded and carried that beginning in January, 1958, the Sunday School Budget and monetary needs were to be unified with the regular budget. Changing the name of the church legally was discussed. The legal name in 1958 was still The Baptist Church and Society of Pompey and Manlius. The unofficial name used was The Manlius Baptist Church. The Trustees proposed to have the church name legally changed to the First Baptist Church of Manlius and purchase a seal with the new name that could be used to mark church records and official documents.
The Trustees were asked to present their reasons for the change to the various chairmen of the Boards of the church so that the change could be discussed and understood before any action was taken at the next Annual Meeting in January. However, at a Family Night Supper on December 21, 1957, the change of name was explained by the Trustees and the church voted for the new name without opposition.
At the January 13, 1958, Annual Meeting, the 161st, the Constitution Committee reaad the present Constitution (The first church Constitution was adopted for trial on December 3, 1938,m during Reverend Wheaton’s Pastorate), and then the proposed new Constitution. Many questions were asked by the members and further changes were proposed. People with suggestions were asked to write them down, sign their names and give them to the Constitution Committee within ten days. The meeting was extended to January 30, 1958, and at that meeting, the new Constitution was accepted by a vote of the congregation. Since the new Constitution required more officers, the Nominating Committee was given until the first Quarterly Meeting (April 24, 1958) to recruit new people. The Official Board was now and Advisory Council with much the same duties, the Diaconate was split into the Board of Deacons and Board of Deaconesses (no reason was given) and the Christian Education and Missionary Committees were given Board status. The Sunday School was no longer a separate entity with its own constitution but became part of the responsibility of the Board of Christian Education.
At the April 14, 1958, Trustees meeting, the status of the organ was discussed (again). Despite the 1951 repairs, the organ was again found to be in poor condition and this time the repairs were expected to cost $2,600.00.
At the April 24, 1958, Quarterly Business Meeting, the church voted to adopt a 12 month program for the church and Sunday School by a vote of 21-19, and to enlarge the Board of Deacons by three members (from 6 to 9), as recommended by the April 23, 1958, Advisory Council meeting. In addition, the slate of officers for 1958 approved by the April 23, 1958, Advisory Council was elected at the Quarterly Business Meeting. The Boards were very slow in getting started in 1958.
Herb Meyer gave a thorough report on the status of the organ to both the Advisory Council (April 23, 1958) and the Quarterly Business Meeting (April 24, 1958). Then, at a Family Night Supper in May, the Quarterly Business Meeting was continued and the members present voted to purchase a Conn Classic Model organ. A Trustees Committee (Lloyd Slentz, Robert Lyon and Treasurer Kenneth Phelps) was appointed to investigate the financing of the $4,500.00 organ. Letters were sent to the membership explaining the problem and the need for pledges. Dr. Laura Harris read the letter and decided to present the organ to the church as a memorial for her mother, Mrs. Yettie Harris, who had served for many years as the church organist. Another letter had to be sent to others who had already pledged to tell them that their pledges would not be needed. The organ was dedicated with a concert on November 9, 1958, followed by a reception in Loomis Hall.
The Trustees had a lot of work to do to get ready for the new electric organ. There was no mention of the disposition of the old organ, but it had to be removed as well as the organ pipes from the room above the choir loft. A new door was cut into the north side of the choir loft to improve access for the choir. Wall panels behind the old organ had to be replaced, the old organ console platform removed and a new one built on the sanctuary floor for the new organ. The blower room was converted into a storage room for the custodian. If you look closely at the back of the choir loft you will notice that the two sides are not symmetrical because of the need for a passageway for the air from the pump in the basement, one reminder we have left of the old pipe organ.
The Sunday School celebrated Christmas as usual with a Sunday School Party on the Sunday preceding Christmas, this time on December 321, 1958. After a family buffet supper, the “Surprise Package” program was presented by the children. Santa Claus was welcomed and brought a gift of a “beautiful plastic star” for each child to put on the family Christmas tree at home. Many brought mittens for “children with cold hands” and gift of food for the less fortunate in the community.
After a discussion in their May 28, 1958, Board of Deacon’s meeting, the Deacons announced at the 2nd Quarterly Meeting of the church on July 24, 1958, that the church would participate in the Baptist Jubilee Advance and the CHEC (Christian Higher Education Challenge) program. Little information was given concerning the BJA program but CHEC was a three year American Baptist Convention program to raise several million dollars on a national scale for a national program to improve Baptist Colleges and Seminaries. Ray Heller was to be on a committee to promote the CHEC program in our church. Previous ABC programs in which the Manlius church participated were the World Emergency Fund, World Mission Crusade and Churches for New Frontiers. There was no mention of a formal campaign with an organized attempt to obtain pledges. However, the 1962 financial report indicated that the congregation pledged $8,262.00 to CHEC.
The Trustees continued their efforts to save the elm trees which rose majestically around the front of the church and made a perfect setting for the colonial steeple. The trees were sprayed and pruned, but in the end succumbed to the Elm Beetle Disease.
The Christian Education Board reported that for the first time in many years, Sunday School and Junior Church continued through the summer of 1958 and that the attendance of teachers and pupils was very good. The director of the Vacation Bible School, Esther Lamoreaux, reported on another successful Vacation Bible School and was commended for the fine job she had done as Director during the last five years.
At the July 24, 1958, Quarterly Business Meeting, the Trustees requested permission to use the Sector Plan for raising money for the 1959 budget. Many people suggested trying other plans but the vote was 14 to 6 in favor of the Sector Plan. The proposed budget for 1958 was $35,813.00 for the local church and $7, 040.00 for World Missions. A second professionally printed budget with special photographs (this time showing Reverend Guckert and his family) was distributed.
Robert Vermilya reported from the Board of Deacons that there would be a Bingo Referendum on July 29, 1958, and that the Protestant churches were very much in opposition. He urged church members to vote no. On September 28, 1958, the Deacons held open house (in their own homes) for members of the church. The attendance was disappointing and was blamed on poor weather. The Deacons planned on visiting all those who did not come.
On December 2, 1958, Rhoda Edwards asked to be relieved of her duties as Choir Director as of June 1959. On February 1, 1959, Abdiel Lorente, our Cuban student making his home with the Lynn Mapstones “brought our Communion meditation” and on February 8, 1959, a new Cable Studio Model piano was dedicated in memory of Fred J. Goddard, Harry Goodfellow and Nevin Shankweiler.
At the April 15, 1959, Quarterly Business Meeting, the Board of Christian Education reported that a scholarship fund had been established for Abdiel Lorente’s college education and that “all contributions are welcome.” The Board of Christian Education also announced that a full Christian Education Program would continue through the summer of 1960, in addition to the usual Vacation Bible School.
Ray Heller, a staunch supporter of the Sector Plan, made a presentation for the Plan. He noted that of the nineteen Baptist Churches in the Onondaga Baptist Association, the Manlius Church was first on the list in per capita giving to the United Budget and 25th in the state. He reported that the Trustees have checked out other plans but that the Sector Plan best answered the needs of the church.
At the same meeting, Sid Mawson was commended for his faithful attention and service regarding the tape recorder by Mrs. Goodfellow, who had been privileged to hear the services every week through the recordings. The recorder was purchased in May 1953 by the J.B. Sunday School Class and installed between then and October 1953. In 1954 the J.B. Class note reported that “the recorder is very much appreciated by all who use it and listen to it.” Five to eleven people a week were said to listen to the tapes. Sometime after 1954 Sid Mawson took over making the tapes and continued to do so for many years. (Sid sat in the balcony tending the tape recorder and Gertrude sat next to or at the piano. She and the organist would actionably the hymns together and sometimes would play memorable duets.)
At the May 11, 1959, Trustees’ Meeting, Lloyd Slentz moved that the Sector Plan be used for raising money for the 1960 budget. The motion was seconded and carried. Robert Lyon was chosen chairman of the Sector Plan for the 1960 Budget and asked the Trustees to prepare their 1960 budget by May 30, 1959, a very early date. A problem came up with the rental payment for the rental annex. The Trustees voted to sue the recalcitrant renter. Failure of tenants to pay the rent was a recurring problem with the Phofl house and later with the Newall house.
At the July 16, 1959, Quarterly Business Meeting (conducted after a family picnic on the annex lawn,) it was announced that Mrs. Rhoda Edwards had withdrawn her resignation request and would conduct all four choirs in the fall of 1959 (Cherub, Carol, Concord and Adult).
The church was advertising its Services in the Post Standard on Saturdays. On September 9, 1959, Mrs. Marjorie Guckert was honored at a Stork Shower (planned by the Board of Deaconesses) in Loomis Hall. Eighty-five women attended. On October 6, 1959, David Jeffery Guckert was born.
A planning retreat was held on September 19, 1959, for 30 church officers in Tully, New York. During the morning the Boards met in the Tully Baptist Church for program planning sessions. After a lunch served by the women of the Tully church, the group “retreated” to Congressman Walter Riehlman’s camp on Tully Lake for “a time of relaxation and fellowship.” The programs planned earlier were approved and placed in the church calendar for 1960. The day ended with a dinner also served by the ladies of Tully Church with their Pastor, Reverend Peacock “bringing us an inspiration in the thoughts he shared with us.”
At the September 28, 1959, Deacons’ Meeting, the Baptism and Worship Committee complained of an “improper atmosphere” in the sanctuary between 10:30 and 10:45 A.M. because of “talking and gossip.” The proposed remedy was to have the Minister mention the situation from the pulpit, to put a notice in the Bulletin and to have Sunday School Teachers and BYF leaders talk to the young people.
At the Advisory Council Meeting on October 8, 1959, the Trustees reported that the church, the education annex (old parsonage) and the rental annex were to be painted at a cost of $620.00, $550.00 and $225.00 respectively with the church furnishing the paint. Also, in 1959, the Trustees arrange to have a dual heat control system installed in the church to conserve fuel at a cost of $325.00 (one zone for the sanctuary, a second for Loomis Hall and the class rooms.)
The Deacons were concerned about the BYF program as well as with a lack of reverence in the congregation on Sundays and at their October 28, 1959, meeting, they decided to take turns attending the BYF meetings “to be aware of church life and the nature of the religious concepts being presented to the youth of our church,.” At the February 2, 1960 Deacon’s meeting, Gamble Huffaker reported on the activities of the Junior and Senior BYF, After a discussion a committee of three Deacons was appointed to investigate in more detail the program problem and leadership of the BYF. On March 1, 1960, the committee reported to the Board. Apparently things were not too bad because the Deacons disbanded the committee and charged existing committees to be more aware of possible problems of this nature in the future.
The 162nd Annual Meeting of the First Baptist Church of Manlius was held on January 21, 19660. Gamble Huffaker, chairman of the Board of Deacons, reported that the Secret Place was to be sent to all church families. It was reported that contributions for CHEC had reached $9,180.00.
The Trustees reported removing a partition between two small rooms in the Junior Department to make one “useable room.” This was the first of what would be the removal of many of the small cubicles in the education annex. (Small rooms connected to a larger assembly room for each department was the favored style of division of classroom space in the 1920-1930s when the church was built.)
At an Advisory Council meeting on July 14, 1960, the Trustees reported n the project of providing shade screens for the three south sanctuary window. Enough screen was purchased to cover the lower square windows next to the organ which Charles Stark installed. The company that made the shade screens either stopped making them or went out of business. Comstock Lincoln, who was in the business of building supplies, searched all over he country but no more of the screen was available.. That is the reason only one window is partially covered.
At the same meeting, the Board of Deacons presented a resolution that “A Building Program Committee be appointed to make a survey to determine the advisability of immediate expansion of the existing Church and Church School facilities.” In addition, they recommended that the church appoint a Pastoral Relations Committee with members chosen from various groups and Boards of the church. The Advisory Council approved of both resolutions but was very slow to fill the new positions. The establishment of a Pastoral Relations Committee was one of several recommendations to come out of the Baptist Jubilee Advance Program.
At the 2nd Quarterly Meeting on July 21, 1960, held after a picnic supper, plans for the Fall campaign to raise money for 1961 were discussed. Lloyd Slentz made a motion, seconded by Thomas Clute and carried, to prepare an adequate plan other than the Sector Plan for money raising in October. In addition, as recommended by the preceding Advisory Council, the congregation voted to establish a Building Program Committee and a Pastoral Relations Committee.
The Board of Christian Education reported on a Teacher’s Appreciation Dinner held on May 20, 1960, at Lake Meadows for Teachers in the Church School and their spouses. It was also reported that 348 children attended the Vacation Bible School headed by Mrs. Shirley Radley.
The choirs were reported as doing well:
| Services | Average Attendance | |
| Sanctuary Choir | 11 | 22 |
| Concord Choir | 3 | 15 |
| Carol Choir | 3 | 36 |
| Cherub Choir | 3 | 17 |
At the Advisory Council meeting On October 20, 1960, the Board of Trustees reported that the resignation of Margaret Vermilya as Church Secretary was regretfully accepted. Beryl Grubel was hired to fill the position. (The pay was $1.375 an hour for 20 hrs/week.)
The Every Member Enlistment Committee for the 1960 fall financial campaign was announced:
During Youth Week members of the BYF were appointed Junior Members of all the Boards and were invited to join their meetings during the month of February. For March 22-24, 1961, a preaching Mission for the church was arranged by the Board of Deacons. The Reverend Leo Peacock, pastor of the Tully Baptist Church, was the preacher and the meetings were “well attended.” On April 2, 9, 16 and 23, the usual School of Mission was held and was “very successful.”
A new Boy Scout Troop (Troop #215) was organized with the Board of Christian Education as the sponsor and Louis Nash as Scoutmaster. The Troop started meetin on April 24, 1961.
It as safe to say that William Nightingale’s record of service to the Church has not been matched by any other member. William Nightingale and his wife, Fannie, were received into the church by experience on October 17, 1894. Nr. Nightingale was baptized on October 21, 1894. He was Church Clerk from 1896-1901, Sunday School Superintendent from 1898-1928, a member of the Board of Trustees for 51 years from 1894-1945 (many as chairman) and a Deacon from April 25, 1901, to December 5, 1938, approximately 37 years. He also taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and served on pulpit Committees and other committees of the church. The most important job of all was as Chairman of the Building Committee which planned and directed the construction of the new Pleasant Street Church. On December 5, 1938, Mr. Nightingale was made a Deacon Emeritus and on December 3, 1945, a life Honorary Trustee. In addition to his church duties, he served as a civic leader. He was elected President (an early name for Mayor) of the Village of Manlius in 1913 and from 1928 to 1931. According to Reverend John Baker, Mr. Nightingale suffered financial losses during the depression and was forced to become Custodian for the church in order to make ends meet and to continued in that job through most of the years Reverend Baker was pastor. Reverend Baker stated that in his later years, Mr. Nightingale was physically unable to do all of the work and that the congregation was “most generous in its assistance and support.” (Reverend Baker didn’t say so, but it seems that one of Mr. Nightingale’s most loyal helpers was Reverend Baker himself.) If there ever was a person whose church was indeed his family (his only child, a son, died at age 20, his wife Fannie in 1951, and according to his obituary he had no known survivors), it was Mr. Nightingale. To show their gratitude for his lifetime of service, and in recognition of their responsibilities for a fellow member, the church voted to assume Mr. Nightingale’s funeral expenses.
William Nightingale died on July 25, 1961. Services were held in the Manlius Baptist Church and burial was in the Manlius Cemetery. He had fallen in his home on 517 E. Seneca Street in the village and was taken to the University Hospital for a short time and then brought to the Maple Lawn Nursing Home where he died. Nr. Nightingale was 92, the oldest member of First Baptist church in both age and years of membership. He was also a charter member of the Manlius Senior Citizens.
Harry Guckert read a letter to those present at the Weekly Prayer Service on August 17, 1961, announcing his resignation effective on September 10, 1961. The letter was also read at the Second Quarterly Business Meeting on August 17, 1961, and the congregation voted its acceptance. (The church does not have a copy of the letter.) The church voted to give letters of dismissal to Reverend and Mrs. Guckert and daughters Karen and Stephanie to join the First Baptist Church of Paradise, California. The Deaconesses sponsored a farewell party for the Guckerts in September, 1961.
On Thursday evening, August 24, 1961m a special meeting of the Advisory Council was called for the purpose of nominating a Pulpit Committee. The procedure was different this time. Eleven people were nominated by the Advisory Council. Each Advisory council member present voted for five choices, and the five people with the highest number of votes were to be presented to the next church Business Meeting (with the sixth and seventh persons as alternates).
The five nominees with the highest number of votes were:
On August 31, 1961, following the Prayer Meeting, a special Congregational Meeting was called for the final election of the Pulpit Committee. Thirty-three church members present were qualified to vote (associate members were not qualified).
Ralph Grubel was nominated from the floor to be added to the five members nominated by the Advisory Council. The following five received the most votes and were elected as the Pulpit Committee:
On September 6, 1961, the group organized and elected Gamble Huffaker as their Chairman and Mrs. Burl Ferguson as their Secretary.
This time the records of the Pulpit Committee were not saved, which is partly why the group was later humorously referred to by Reverend Charles Schmidt, our Interim Pastor, as the “Secret Service.” Later in the Fall of 19671, the Committee reported having met regularly and that they had completed their background work prior to visiting and interviewing candidates. They were also working to establish what the church needed in a minister and were looking for an Interim Pastor.
Ray Laning, from the Board of Deacons, reported that Reverend Peacock, Pastor of the Tully Baptist Church, would take care of our Thursday Evening Prayer Service until an Interim Pastor could be found. The Deacons were also responsible for supplying the Pulpit on Sundays.
In a letter dated November 9, 1961, the Pulpit Committee announced to the congregation the selection of the Reverend Doctor Charles H. Schmidt D.D., as our Interim Pastor.
Reverend Schmidt had been for the past ten years Radio and Television Broadcast Training director for the National Council of Churches. He was Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Syracuse from 1944-1951. He also wrote two books, “Windows Toward God” and “Security From Above.” Reverend Schmidt died in November 19, 1995, at the age of 91 in Syracuse, NY.
The congregation was asked to meet Reverend and Mrs. Schmidt at a tea sponsored by the Board of Deaconesses and the Social Committee in Loomis Hall on Sunday, November 19, 1961, from 3 to 5 P.M.
Reverend Schmidt was not the usual interim pastor whose duties would have been limited mostly to preaching on Sunday and visiting the sick. In the beginning, he was hired to spend three days a week with the Church (Friday through Sunday evening after the BYF meetings). Later this was increased to full time one week, half time the next. Besides preaching on Sunday, he now led the Prayer Meeting, attended Church meetings, some Board meetings and had regular office hours. He made a great many useful suggestions to the various Boards and spent a lot of time on Saturdays on the phone talking to church members and urging them to attend church on Sunday,. As one might expect from his background, he was a dynamic speaker and set a high standard for the Pulpit Committee in its search for a Pastor.
In November, 1961, Reverend Schmidt recommended to the Trustees that the front of the church be lighted at night and that we install a lighted bulletin board that would tell the public who we were, who the Pastor was, and the times and topics of the sermons. Both of these suggestions were accepted and implemented. The church has been lighted ever since and the bulletin board is still in use. Another one of Reverend Schmidt’s major concerns was that the area was growing rapidly with people moving into the suburbs and he wanted the church to be concerned about reaching out to the new people. A Constitution Committee was also working with Reverend Schmidt to determine, what , if any, changes were needed to improve the new 1958 Constitution.
In the Fall of 1961, Doris Dudley, a member of the Board of Christian Education, organized an Adult Forum, a group that would periodically meet on Sunday evenings to discuss community and international issues with new Baptist Frontier Magazine as their guide.
The 164th Annual Meeting was held on January 18, 1962. In its report, the Pulpit Committee listed their qualifications and requirements for a pastor:
They reported having received 24 names of pastors to be considered from the membership, the New York State Baptist Office, former Pastors and Seminaries. Each suggestion was prayerfully considered.
Interviewing and visiting began on October 8, 1961. Eleven pastors were visited. The Committee expected to reach a final decision and present a candidate “in the near future.”
At the Annual Meeting, a letter to the church considering the licensing of Raymond Heller and Robert Vermilya as Lay Preachers was read. The church responded by voting that the licenses should be granted in accordance with State office Regulations. The encouragement of church members to achieve lay Preacher status was part of the Program of the Baptist Jubilee Advance (BJA).
On January 28, 1962, the Pulpit Committee announced the selection of a candidate. They told us when the candidate would be presented but not who he was. The suspense mounted. Then, on February 4, 1962, the Committee announced that the candidate was the Reverend Kurt Klingbeil from the first Baptist Church of Goversvile, NY. Reverend Klingbeil, his wife Lois, and daughters, Carol Ann, Beth Ann and Barbara Kay were to be our guests at a Family Night Supper on February 8, 1962. Preceding the supper a brochure was sent to the membership with information concerning the candidate and his family. (The church does not have a copy of the brochure.)
The dinner proceeded as planned with Reverend Klingbeil preaching his sermon as a candidate to the congregation afterwards. Fortunately, for some reason, the usual custom of voting directly after the candidate’s worship service was not followed.
The congregation instead met to vote on Reverend Klingbeil’s candidacy on Sunday, February 11, 1962, after the church service. The vote was not recorded, but in a rare show of rebellion, the congregation voted no to the Committee’s choice. The congregation, used to an Interim Pastor who was a dynamic speaker with excellent sermons, apparently found the candidate wanting.
The Committee, probably surprised and disappointed, had the unenviable task of informing Reverend Klingbeil of the negative result. (In addition, Moderator Lloyd Slentz made a trip to Utica shortly afterward to apologize for the action of the congregation.)
Reverend Schmidt found it necessary to report in the February 18, 1962, bulletin that “I am definitely not a candidate to be Pastor of this Church. I will serve you as Interim Pastor, such service to be terminated at a time mutually acceptable to all concerned.” (A rule had been cited that Interim Pastors were not to be considered for the permanent job, but in the Baptist scheme of independent churches, who would enforce such a rule (and how) if the church insisted on breaking it?)
The Pulpit Committee was undaunted, at least publicly, and cheerfully went on with their task. They put a notice in the February 25, 1962, bulletin reiterating their requirements for a pastor and assured the congregation that “we do not plan to bring a ‘second choice’ for your consideration.”
Reverend Charles Schmidt preached his last sermon as Interim Pastor on April 19, 1962. He was allowed to store his belongings in the parsonage until June 1, 1962. The Trustees then redecorated the parsonage for its next occupants. Reverend Schmidt thanked the church “for the privilege of being your Interim Pastor for six months. It has been a good and meaningful experience.”
The pulpit was filled with a variety of preachers including our own newly licensed Lay Preacher, Robert Vermilya, and a visitor from California and recent pastor, Reverend Harry Guckert.
In April of 1962 the Advisory Council voted to approve the appointment of a Church Historian and expected to make the position an addition to our list of elected officials. Mabel Richburg was appointed, but didn’t feel well enough to serve and was replaced by Leah Stark. The duties of an Historian were to display pictures, document books, literature, etc., keep and provide proper protection for these items, bring together and keep items of current interest and provide simple chronicle records. The office was never made an elected or appointed one, however.
A Growth and Development Committee was also appointed:
The job of the Committee was to look into the growth of the surrounding area and determine how the church could take part in that growth.
In May, 1962, the monthly newsletter was revived as recommended by the Board of Trustees in an effort to bring about closer harmony and cooperation between the church membership by keeping them fully informed of the happenings of the church and the church family.
Beryl Grubel, Secretary, with Lydia Doubleday and Dorothy White acting as the Publicity Committee, published the First Edition in May 1962. Ken Phelps volunteered to be the “Complaint Editor.” The motto for his section of the newsletter was “He has a right to criticize who lends a hand to help.” (Abraham Lincoln.) The new newsletter was in part an answer to the Baptist Jubilee Advance Program’s emphasis on Christian Social Relations in the Church Community in the year 1962. In the June newsletter the results of a contest to produce a distinctive name for the “newsletter” was announced. “The Christian Carrier” was submitted as a name by Lynn Gaudio, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Gaudio. The name is still with us today.
On June 25, 1962, Mrs. Beryl Grubel, Church secretary, submitted to the Trustees her resignation as Church Secretary, but softened the blow by offering to stay until September with Mrs. Kuhneman filling in during Mrs. Grubel’s vacation period. The Trustees’ Committee (Elwin Richardson, Burl Ferguson and Comstock Lincoln) interviewed at least 14 candidates and chose Mrs. Bahner, who immediately, because of health, declined to serve. On September 10, 1062, after a further search, the Committee hired Molly Cordes, wife of Arthur Cordes, a lawyer who worked with the church on legal affairs for many years.
By June, 1962, the Pulpit Committee had reached a conclusion in the second phase of its search for a Pastor. In a letter of June 21, 1962, the congregation was asked to reserve Saturday evening, June 30, 1962, to hear the Reverend Hammond conduct the worship service. A meeting after the service was called for the purpose of hearing the report of the Pulpit Committee and to vote on their second candidate for Pastor.
A second letter followed containing information concerning Reverend Hammond’s birth, education, churches served and offices held. Reverend Hammond met the people, preached his sermon, and the congregation, pleased with the results, overwhelmingly voted 147 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention, to accept the candidate of the Pulpit committee.
The congregation also approved the arrangements for salary and other benefits that the Pulpit Committee had tentatively made with reverend Hammond:
After the business was concluded, the Hammonds were told the results of the meeting and they returned to the congregation to accept the call.
Reverend Hammond preached his first sermon on September 2, 1962. The Advisory Council wrote a letter to the congregation to make certain that the entire church body was aware of the arrival of the Hammond Family, and Reverend Hammond’s assumption of his pastoral duties.
The Hammonds wrote a note of appreciation to the congregation in the September 2, 1962 Sunday bulletin. “The whole Hammond Family would like to express their delight and gratitude for the beautifully redecorated parsonage. I wish you could have seen the little boys, Stephen and George, when they found the food shower you had assembled in the kitchen shelves. Thank you.” Reverend Hammond was installed on September 23, 1962, at 7:30 P.M. followed by a reception in Loomis Hall.
In the fall of 1961 (October 6, 1962), the Hammonds celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. The church gave an open house for them in the parsonage with “all the trimmings.” Glenna remembers that she and George were presented by the church a Paul Revere bowl with the name of the church and the date. In all of their moves she made sure the bowl was with them and she still has it in her room in Landsdale.
At the November 27, 1962, meeting of the Board of Trustees, Reverend Hammond recommended that Miss Lynnette Martin from the State Office be hired to make a survey of our church and office building to determine if they were being used to our best advantage. The Trustees voted to authorize Reverend Hammond to hire Miss Martin(who was to be pain on a donation basis).
There was, in 1963, a growing momentum toward some kind of building program that was not to be stopped. The Growth and Development Committee which started meeting in 1962 was now known as the Long Range Planning Committee and was chaired by Reverend Russell Raker. One of the Committee’s first suggestions was for the Board of Trustees to look into purchasing adjacent properties for possible expansion. The Trustees ad already discussed the need, however, and on February 26, 1963, Comstock Lincoln was asked to report on the owners of the houses on the East and South sides of the church. The owners of the properties directly to the East were Robert Davison (previous owner William Nightingale) and Mrs. Dorothy Goodfellow, and one of the owners to the south was Mr. Hall, whose house was second from the east of the Episcopal Church on Seneca Street and formerly known as the Newell House. It was found that only Mr. Hall’s house was available, but it would be an important acquisition because the lot was long and extended between the church property and that of Mrs. Goodfellow (and part of Mr. Davison’s lot). This end of the Hall lot later became the basis for a large part of what is now the church playground, and the Hall “summer house” moved slightly to the north became the church storage shed.
In February, 1963, Lynette Martin from the Baptist Stat Office visited the Sunday School to evaluate our present facilities. The Board of Christian Education found her visit most helpful and was able to make several useful changes based on her recommendations.
On March 10, 1963, the Trustees were asked by Rev. Raker, the Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, to pay the Sweeny and Burden Architectural Firm $25.00 for a survey of our church facilities on Saturday AM March 16, 1963, a survey meaning to take a general view of, or to appraise). The Trustees agreed.
The Long Range Planning Committee:
The committee met on march 11, 1963. They discussed topics such as a Sunday School Membership Contest, a Sunday School Class in the summer for college students, a request for the Boy Scouts to make a map of the vicinity with markers for church members, etc., but would soon be spending much of their rime on serious discussions on expanding our church facilities.
At the Quarterly Business Meeting on May 2, 1963, the Long Range Planning Committee made its first report to the church and it was said to have been enthusiastically received. The congregation gave the plans a unanimous vote of approval.
The church then requested the Advisory Council to meet on Thursday evening, May 16, 1963, to appoint a Building Committee.
On May 16, 1963, the Building Committee was appointed by the Advisory Council. The Building committee met on May 23, 1963, for the first time for organization. Robert Lyon was elected Chairman, JoAnne bock, Secretary.
The Committee was charged by the Advisory Council to begin implementing the recommendations of the Long Range Planning Committee which was to secure and work with an architect in the remodeling and enlarging of the church.
Bob Lyon was an excellent choice for Chairman of the Building Committee. He was a Chief Mechanical Designer for Bristol Laboratories and had a wealth of experience in preparing plans and working with contractors. He spent many hours with the Building Committee in the planning stage and when that was completed, took most of the responsibility of watching over the construction and making sure that everything was done properly, according to plans. There were many letters to write, calls to make, and conferences held with the architects and builders.
During the first meeting the Building Committee discussed remodeling the old Sunday School rooms, moving the old parsonage (now the Educational and Office annex) to another lot for possible sale, buying land for expansion and asking the congregation for their ideas about architects to interview.
At the second meeting of the Building Committee, on June 6, 1963, the Committee looked over the blueprints of the present church building and projected plans by Sweeney-Burden Architects who prepared them for the Long Range Planning Committee. (A comment was made that the drawings were much more extensive than expect for a $25.00 fee. Reverend Russell Raker indicated to Mr. Lyon later that Burden had not been asked for such extensive plans.)
Reverend Hammond was looking ahead to financing the new addition and suggested that the church adopt the rigorous full 8 step Sector Plan for the Fall campaign in 1963 to help discipline the congregation towards giving to a Building Fund. He also suggested we start on a five year tithing program. Reverend Hammond asked the Building Committee members who were members of various Boards to emphasize that this might be the one time in a lifetime we will be called on to build. About the building, the consensus of the Committee was that we should retain the attractiveness of the church, i.e., any addition should be architecturally in harmony with our present building.
In the beginning, there were thoughts about expanding the sanctuary as well as providing for an educational wing, but later it was felt that having two services was a more practical solution than the very difficult problems involved in an actual auditorium enlargement.
The Building Committee decided to send letters to various architects who had been suggested, telling them that we had some preliminary sketches and asking them if they were interested in the project. Appointments were made with those who responded favorably.
At the fourth meeting on June 14, 1963, the Building Committee discussed the process for interviewing architects. Different members of the group wee to interview different architects. The Chairman and the Secretary (who took excellent notes) interviewed all of the candidates.
Those individuals or firms to be interviewed were:
Mr. Burden and Mr. Sweeney told the group that they thought they had been talking to the Building Committee when they met with the Long Range Planning Committee and that they had in good faith sent to Mr. Raker a contract for his signature but he had not returned it. Mr. Lyon explained that only this Building Committee had the authority to sign a contract (and then only by prior vote of the church).
Mr. burden felt that our church was “nice on the outside” but on the inside “a disgraceful hodgepodge” (a statement that didn’t win him any friends on the Committee) and that the sanctuary was much too small. (By “hodgepodge” he apparently meant the condition of the Sunday School rooms with each department consisting of several small rooms adjoining a larger room used as a meeting room for the entire department. This was, we were assured by the Baptist architects in 1925, the only intelligent way to design classroom space.)
On July 16, 1963, with Reverend William Keyes, the summer youth director sitting in, the Building Committee asked the Secretary to read the reports of all of the meetings with the architects. The Committee than discussed the merits of each firm, and compared the services each firm offered in relation to the needs of our church. In this light, four firms were chosen from the seven investigated. The Committee’s choices were: McKnight & Kirmmse, Burden & Sweeney, Gordon Schopfer and Sargeant-Webster.
The next step was for members of the building Committee to visit churches the four surviving firms had designed and report on July 30, 1963. There are no minutes available from that meeting, but it appeared that the results of inspections led to the elimination of two more architects, Gordon Schopfer and Sargeant-Webster.
On September 3, 1963, the Committee was given a list of Proposed Building Committee Objectives to arrange in priority, and the results were as follows:
The Building Committee’s final and unanimous choice of architect was McKnight and Kirmmse.
On September 15, 1963, the members of the Building Committee met with Pastor Hammond, Mrs. Helen Fardig, Mrs. Doris Dudley and Mrs. Margaret Vermilya. The group first discussed ideas gleaned from a tour in June of Christian Education Additions in various Syracuse and Dewitt churches. The placement of rooms was discussed and areas for the crib room, the 2 year old room, bathrooms, choir and Boy Scouts were determined. Mrs. Dudley commented that we want Sunday School Classes out of the gymnasium, the coal room and the kitchen.
At a special Congregation Business Meeting on September 22, 1963, the church voted to accept the recommendation of the Building Committee and hire McKnight and Kirmmse as architects. Mr. Robert Lyon then invited Mr. Kirmmse to meet with the Building Committee in the Church office on September 30, 1963. Mr. Kirmmse agreed to have the first schematic drawings ready for the church by January 3. 1964. The architects’ fees were discussed as well as building costs. Mr. Kirmmse felt that with building costs ranging from $15.00-$17.00 a square foot and our estimates for an 8000 square foot building (4000 sq.ft/floor), the cost should be in the $150,000 to #180,000 range, tentative limit’s the Committee had already set. Mr. Kirmmse requested from the Committee information concerning the desired arrangements of classrooms and other rooms and a meeting for Mr. Kirmmse to meet with the Board of Education was arranged.
It appears that when Burden and Sweeney got their “we are sorry but” letter from the Building Committee, their answer was to send the church a bill for $1,429.65 for the work they had done. Burden and Sweeney had prepared a set of schematic drawings so that a fairly accurate estimate of costs could be presented to a congregation. The problem was that neither the church, the Building Committee nor the Long Range Planning Committee had asked for the drawings.
On October 7,m 1963, the problem was discussed at a special Trustees meeting. The Building Committee was concerned that without a release from Burden and Sweeney, a contract couldn’t be signed with McNight and Kirmmse. A meeting was held with Reverend Raker but no satisfactory explanation for what had happened was given.
The Trustees sought legal advice from Arthur Cordes who met with the Board and suggested that the church return the sketches to gether with a check for $44.65 and a letter from Mr. Cordes, and await the outcome. At the next Trustee’s meeting a letter was read from Reverend Raker notifying the Board that he had arranged for a settlement with Burden and Sweeney and asked that the matter be closed. Reverend Raker and his wife Elmina then withdrew their membership from the church.
Two of the Building Committee’s objectives had been taken care of: architect selection and approval and arranging for a gathering of thoughts and ideas of interested Boards and Committees. (The latter objective would be an ongoing process and would continue until plans were finalized.) The third objective, to arrange for a topographic map of the church property, was to be done personally by Robert Lyon with the help of Richard Waterman.
On December 3, 1963, the Building Committee met again. Mr. Kirmmse gave the group four sets of preliminary sketches to study, i.e., ABCD. Plans C & D were eliminated as they did not meet the Committee’s favor “at all.” Plan B was most like what the Committee had in mind and the architect was asked to develop Plan B further with a rough sketch to show what the exterior would look like.
The Year of 1963 was a remarkably busy one for the church in addition to all of the planning activities. The church had a choir for everyone to participate in. Mrs. Doreta Chapman was organist and Mrs. Rhoda Edwards led the Sanctuary and Chapel Choirs. Mrs. Jessie Mapstone led the High School Choir and Mrs. Shirley Mapstone the Cherub and Carol Choirs. (On rare occasions, the Men’s Choir would sing.)
On March 10, 1963, the church started holding two services on Sunday, one at 8:30 A.M., the second at 10:45 A.M., with Sunday School in between from 9:30-10:30. On march 17, 1963, a group of Cadets in their colorful uniforms from the Manlius Military School worshipped with the church. This happened frequently until the school was merged with the Pebble Hill Day School in 1971.
In the April 21, 1963, bulletin, the congregation was informed that Reverend Hammond was a surgical patient in the Syracuse Memorial Hospital (for arthritis) and hoped to be home by midweek. Reverend Russell Raker filled the pulpit for three Sundays, April 21, 28 and May 5, 1963. Reverend Hammond was to have serious problems with arthritis (of the knees) during his stay in Manlius.
The School of missions was held in March to keep the congregation informed on what was happening in the Mission Fields. In March, 1963, “Rim of East Asia” was the subject for study, Esther Lamoreaux was the leader, and “the excellence of the program was indicated by record attendance.” On April 7, 1963, Palm Sunday, the entire church service at the Rescue Mission was conducted by the Senior High BYF with the help of Raymond Heller who preached the sermon).
During the summer, we joined as usual with the Methodists for a 9:45 A.M. service, five Sundays in the Baptist Church and five in the Methodist Church. The Baptist Sunday School was in session again all summer from 8:45 to 9:30 A.M. In July, the Vacation Bible School was in session for two weeks. It was led by Mrs. Dorothy Whit “very successfully.”
In the summer of 1963, the church was given the opportunity to rent its chapel to Wilbur Newell, undertaker, to use for funeral services if he should need to have two services in one day. Because he also wanted to include calling hours the Trustees voted no.
The highlight of the summer (and the year) for the Senior High BYF was a trip to Green Lake, Wisconsin, for eight of the members to attend a Mission Conference there. Bill Burt, Doug Lamoreaux, jean O’Brien, Gail Bock, John and Ruth Huffaker, Ruth Davies and Kay Brown were privileged to go. Mrs. Charles (Dorothy) White and Mrs. Leslie (Reva) Burt were chaperones and counselors. The younger groups were attending church camps as well. Eighteen Guild Girls went to Keuka College, 11 of the Junior BYF went to pathfinder and 2 attended a BYF Training Conference.
Reverend William Keyes was here for seven weeks to take charge of the Summer Youth Program. Under his leadership, the Senior BYF continued meeting during the summer. He helped the group plan for the coming year’s programs and showed them ways to improve.
In the fall (September 22-27, 1963) the Deacons and the Evangelical Commi8ttee sponsored series of six nightly meetings with Reverend Paul Jackson, a Preacher and Biblical Impersonator. Reverend Jackson first preached on scriptural background for his portrayal and the message which was in it for each one present. Then with his wife helping with the sound and lighting effects, impersonated several characters from the Bible, including the Blind Beggar, Pontius Pilate, the Scribe, Herod Antipas, Thomas and a Tomb Guard. The Deacons prepared for the special presentation with an intensive calling program. Each member of the church received a personal call by another church member. This was followed by another series of calls on non-members and inactive members of the church.
The series of performances were also well advertised and readers of the Bulletin in September were treated to some original “poetry.”
Come September’s Autumn Hue
Rev. Jackson will be due.
Be patient, watch and pray,
And hold vigil until that day.Or
Opportunity is knocking, it has beckoned
And will arrive in September the twenty-second.
Impersonations such as few in the land,
Will bring alive the Bible word.
Be on Hand.
An invitation was given each night of the performances to the members of the audience to give their lives to Christ. Although there was no response to the invitations, the Deacons felt that the effects of the program would be “far-reaching and beneficial to the Spiritual Life of our church.”
Attendance was 304 the first night and averaged 162 for the five following performances. People from many other churches attended.
October 20, 1963, was Laymen’s Sunday, with Ray Heller preaching at the 8:30 service and Robert Johns at the 10:45 service. In October, an improved Reverend Hammond was in Philadelphia for the major part of a week to attend to his duties as part of the General Council of the American Baptist Churches. The Baptist Women’s Fellowship served their Annual Harvest Supper on November 6, 1963 (all you could eat for $1.50!). The Sunday School celebrated Christmas in a more traditional manner this year. There was a program by the youth choirs followed by a light sandwich supper, community carol singing, and Santa, after a few years absence, was invited back.
June 26, 1962
Dear Friends:
On Sunday, July 1, 1962, the Reverend George L. Hammond will be presented as a candidate, recommended by the Pulpit Committee, to be the Pastor of our church. At the morning Worship Service, he will preach the sermon. On Saturday night, a picnic will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Greene at 6:00 P. M. so that all members may be able to meet Rev. and Mrs. Hammond.
Rev. Hammond was born June 9, 1914 in Presque Isle, Maine. He was graduated in 1936 from Gordon College of Theology and was ordained in Haynesville, Maine. The membership in the Baptist churches he has served has grown from 18 in the Haynesville Baptist Church to 1400 in his present church, the First Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.
From 1935 t 1945, he served Baptist churches in Haynesville, Main, Mars Hill, Maine and Fairfield, Maine. He then became District Secretary of the united Baptist Convention in Maine. In 1947 he was made Director of Promotion for the Pennsylvania Baptist Convention. For eight years he served as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, where the membership of 820 built a new church at a cost of $555,000. While minister at Lansdale, he was elected President of the Pennsylvania State Baptist Convention. Since 1959 he has been Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. During the past two years, he has helped that church reduce its indebtedness $100,000.
Rev. Hammond has held the following offices: Board Member of Philadelphia Association; Chairman of Evangelism from 1951-1956; Chairman of Stewardship and Missionary Promotion Board from 1957-1959; Vice-President of Pennsylvania Baptist Convention for two years and Board Member of the General Council of the American Baptist Convention. His community interests have included Rotary, Board Member of Community Nursing Service, and Boy Scout Director of God and Country Awards District.
The Pulpit Committee first heard Rev. Hammond speak to the Pennsylvania State Baptist Youth Convention at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on April 28. During the interview with him, he placed strong emphasis on pastoral calling. He feels that the total membership should be covered each year. Individual counseling is also of deep concern to him. His interest in youth is reflected by the fact that 35 young people from his previous pastorate in Lansdale attended the youth convention at Harrisburg.
Rev. Hammond feels that his service can be most effective in a church whose membership is similar in number to ours. After being shown the surrounding residential areas, schools, and villages, he forsees the possibility of our church doubling its membership in ten years. Your committee entertained Rev. and Mrs. Hammond May 27 and 28 at which time they were shown Manlius and the surrounding area and at that time met with the church boards and committee chairmen.
Mrs. Hammond is a graduate of Richer Classical Institute, one of our Baptist Schools in Maine. In addition to he family, she enjoys singing and shares in the work of the church.
The Hammonds have five children: Nancy, who graduated from college in May; Scott, who has attended college one year; Jeremy, who graduated this spring from high school; Stephen, 12 years old; and George, Jr., who is 6 years old.
The Moderator has called a special meeting to be held at the close of the Worship Service on July 1, 1962 for the purpose of voting on the candidate.
THE PULPIT COMMITTEE
Mr. Gamble Huffaker, chairman
Mr. Kenneth Greene
Mr. Ralph Grubel
Mrs. Carl Lamoreaux
Mrs. Burl FergusonP.S. For the picnic at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Greene, Fayetteville-Manlius Road, just north of the village limit, Saturday at 6:00. P.M., each family will be expected to bring cooked chicken for their own family, table service, rolls, children’s beverage and a dish to pass. In case of rain, the picnic will be held at the church.
On January 9, 1964, the Building Committee met with Mr. Kirmmse and Mr. Houseworth to look at a revised Plan “B” with a sketch of the exterior. Mr. Kirmmse estimated the cost at $154,000.00. Mr. Lyon was to show the exterior sketch to the Annual Meeting on January 23, 1964. There were four more informative meetings held before the Annual Meeting to inform Church boards, the Sunday School Superintendent and her teachers, and Helen Fardig with mothers and helpers.
At the Advisory Council Meeting of January 14, 1964, preceding the Annual Meeting, the Capital Funds Committee was officially recognized and was appointed to serve until the Building project was completed.
At the Annual Meeting of January 23, 1964, there were questions concerning the Union Services with the united Methodist Church during the summer. For information on how the congregation felt, a questionnaire was sent to the members. (While we are presently in 1999 meeting with our Methodist neighbors two times in the summer, in 1963 there were ten union services.) The members were asked, among other things, if they wanted to continue the Union Services. Those who were not on vacation said they enjoyed the Christian Fellowship and worship together. In the summer of 1964 there were 8 Union Services.
In February and March, Mrs. Dorothy White headed the annual School of Missions with India as the subject of discussion. The average attendance was 153 “which was an indication of the interest and enthusiasm with which the congregation responded to the subject and the presentation.”
The Board of Trustees members for 1964 were:
On March 10, 1064 a special meeting of the Board of Trustees was called by the Chairman, Elwin Richardson, to approve suggested plans for remodeling the Sunday School rooms on the second floor of the church. The Trustees voted to accept the plan, to proceed with the renovations, and to pay the amount over and above the $1,000.00 on hand to complete the project. (Herbert and Edna Lang had inherited money from her parents and wrote to the Trustees on January 12, 1964: “Realizing that the church is going through a period of growing pains…we would like to contribute the enclosed check for $1,000.00 in memory of my late parents, Mr. & Mrs. Henry G. and Marie K. Lang. We designate the money to be used to help in the renovation of the upstairs Sunday School Classrooms.”)
Remodeling the old Sunday School Rooms was the first phase of what was soon to be known as the Program for Progress. The project was strongly backed by the Board of Christian Education and the Building and Long Range Planning Committees. The renovation was to be done mainly by volunteer help. The rooms had been built in 1927 but the design recommended by Baptist architects in 1927 was now outmoded. The first task was to remove the unwanted walls. They were thick and the plaster was backed by a heavy steel mesh. Their removal was a back-breaking and dirty job. The Trustees hired the services of the Dempster Dumpster Company to haul away the debris. In the beginning the capacity of the Dumpster (weight-wise) was over-estimated and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Pastor George Hammond (despite his arthritis problems) could be seen inside the dumpster shoveling out the excess load.
With the unwanted walls and doors removed, the more skilled workers repaired the existing walls, ceilings and woodwork, and then the painters took over. The last two projects were the tiling of the entire floor and the installation of 54 new fluorescent light fixtures.
Trustee Tony Gaudio was in charge of the floor installation and Perry Burne, an electrician, was in charge of the electrical work. We were also fortunate in having two carpenters, Charles Stark (Trustee) and Archie Adsit (past and future Trustee) to do carpenter work and one gentleman who knew how to plaster.
The fluorescent light fixtures were paid for by donations from the congregation. A poster with 54 rectangles representing light fixtures was prepared and families were asked to adopt a light at $15.00 each. All were paid for in that manner.
The last call for workers to complete the project was given to the congregation on the June 28, 1964, Bulletin. Chairman Richardson asked for 30 men to help on June 29th and 20 for July 1st, 1964. The total cost of the project was $3,1129.00 with only $1,265.00 coming from the general fund of the church.
There were 35 scheduled work nights (and many more unscheduled). Ninety different people participated, eight of whom spent more than 20 nights each. Peter Seibel, custodian, not only ad extra work to do in cleaning up the mess but spent many extra hours, especially in helping to lay the new tile floor. Mr. Doris Dudley and a crew of women did a final cleanup of the rooms.
Reverend Hammond wrote enthusiastically about the project in his report for 1964 and called the renovation of the Sunday School facilities a major achievement and one which should go down in church history as the most important forward step of the year. “The fact that we completed the reconstruction of seven rooms and increased our useable space by such a large percentage, and paid for the project in the same year without a separate fund drive indicates the soundness of our finances and the wisdom of the Trustees.” The project did get many of the church people working together, and its successful completion played an important part in giving the congregation confidence and enthusiasm for tackling the bigger project to come.
On March 3, 1964, Reverend Hammond expressed to Charles and Addie Cathers our deep appreciation for their faithful service in our church (51 years for Addie, 48 for Charles). “They have not only contributed their talents and their tithes but have brought to us a spirit of devotion and of deep Christian commitment that has inspired and blessed the whole congregation.”
On March 15, 1964, the Superintendent of the Sunday School, Sarah Beams, reported that on Sunday, March 8, 1964, the Sunday School attendance was 221, the best ever on record. (The weather must have been better than usually expected for a day so early in March.) On March 29, 1964, Easter Sunday, the Men’s Fellowship served breakfast after the Sunrise Service (for $0.75).
On May 31, 1964, Reverend Harry Guckert was in town and preached the morning sermon. According to the June 28, 1964, Bulletin, the Vacation Bible School was having a good year with 290 registered children. The dates were June 22- July 2, 1964. Featured was Clementine, an amazing chicken (a product of the ingenuity of Mrs. Robert Lyon) that could lay 15 eggs at a time. (The Heifer Project for 1964 was to raise money for the children to send 40 chicks overseas.)
On August 20, 1964, the Capital Funds Committee and the Building Committee met with Mr. Richard Ice, the Home Missionary Society Director of Loans, one of seven divisions of the Church Extension and Loan Department of the American Baptist Convention in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, who explained various means of financing a building program.
Mr. Ice offered to double-check our preliminary plans free for us, as a full time architect was to be available in Valley Forge in the fall of 1964. During a discussion of finances, Mr. Ice told the group that the ABC felt a church should have at least 25% of the money required for a building on hand at the start of construction. He suggested that a Capital Fund pledging drive should be an intensive 2-4 weeks in duration with most other church functions suspended during this time.
He noted that a three year pledge with the average family pledging $400.00 was the national average. This church with 230 families could then expect to raise $92,000.00 such a campaign would stress “over and above” pledging and a strong follow up to make sure pledges were honored. For us he estimated the following financial requirements.
| $154,000.00 | New Building Cost |
| $7,500.00 | Reserve Fund |
| $1,000.00 | Loan cost, Search Fee. Etc. |
| $3,000.00 | Interest during construction |
| $16,000.00 | Furnishings |
| $181,500.00 |
After hearing Mr. Ice’s talk, the group felt that the church should secure outside help to conduct its campaign.
On Sunday, September 13, 1964, Reverend Hammond and Reverend Baker exchanged pulpits. Reverend Hammond preaching at the First Baptist Church in Rome and Reverend Baker in Manlius. On September 15, 1964, the Building Committee met and discussed the location of rooms and offices. Mr. Lyon felt that he could take the results to the architect so that he could start on detailed drawings.
While the attention of the congregation must have been focused on what was happening in the old Sunday School rooms and on the plans of the Building Committee, the church functioned normally in almost all respects which meant that money had to be raised to pay the bills in 1965. In 1964 the finance campaign was called a Tithing enlistment Program and was led by Ray Heller.
In December 1964, the Building Committee met to look at the latest architectural drawings by Mr. Kirmmse. The layout of the Sunday School rooms, the chapel, and the pastor’s study and church office had been completed and were sent to Valley Forge for perusal by the ABC consulting church architect, who approved them.
The Committee was worried about a current lag in Sunday School attendance and how it might affect the attitude of the congregation toward building. The Building and Finance Committees got together just after Christmas and decided to recommend to the congregation the Denominational Program for the Capital Fund Campaign, a six week program beginning after Easter of 1965.
While the Building Committee had been worried about lower Sunday School attendance, the combined groups were worried that the appearance of a half-filled church during the early church service could have a poor psychological effect on people asked to support a building campaign. The group asked Lloyd Slentz to talk to the Deacons about this problem. (The early service was dropped January 24, 1965, and was resumed at Easter time.)
Pastor Hammond reported that in November he and the congregation had a special reason to be thankful. For the first time in his ministry he had no hospital calls to make for a month.
Dr. and Mrs. David Mason and sons Jeffrey and William joined the church in December 1964. Dr. Mason was Executive Secretary for the Lauback Literacy Foundation and an excellent speaker. He would preach to the congregation on many occasions during the next few years.
On January 19, 1965, and February 2, 1965, the Building and Capital Funds Committees got together to work on details for the presentation of the building plan to the congregation for a vote. They decided on flip charts with information on the need for expansion and the latest plans, both building and financial. These could serve for presentations which were planned for area home meetings, meetings of established groups, and finally the Advisory Council and Congregational Meetings. A small pocket size version of the flip chart was prepared for each member.
The leadership was concerned with the wording of the motion to proceed with the building plans .Arthur Cordes was enlisted to make certain that the motion was legal. Leah Stark, as historian, was asked to look into the historical background of the Church in regard to previous fund drives for building projects.
The Moderator, Gamble Huffaker, stated that his interpretation of the Church Constitution was that the calling of a special Congregational Meeting should be initiated by the Advisory Council. The presentation was accordingly made to the Advisory Council on February 18, 1965. There are no minutes of the meeting but they obviously approved that the vote of the congregation proceed as planned.
On February 25, 1965, the presentation was made to the congregation at a Family Night Supper. The purpose of the meeting was explained by Moderator Gamble Huffaker,. A program of short supporting talks followed:
The vote was not to take place that night but during a four hour period in the Church Chapel on Friday, March 5, 1965 (4:00 P.M. -9:00 P.M.) The church was kept open all day for meditation and prayer. Members had to sign their names and use paper ballots to indicate their approval or disapproval of the plans. Poll officials took care of the voting and tellers came at 9:00 P.M. to count the ballots. Absentee ballots were available.
The vote was officially announced to the congregation in a letter written jointly by Robert Lyon and Robert Vermilya. One hundred twenty four (124) people voted and the result was 83 yes, 41 no. Although the vote was low for a 500+ member congregation, and the no vote weas substantial, the Committee Chairmen did what they had to do. They declared a victory and continued planning to build and pay for a Christian Education Wing for the Church.
While a majority no vote would have killed the project for the time being, a yes vote didn’t necessarily mean that the building would be constructed. There were several financial restrictions in the resolution that would give the Building Committee and the Capital Funds Committee problems in the future.
The next step was to raise money. Members of the Building Committee and the Capital Funds Committee met with Reverend Mould on March 15, 1965. Rev. Mould was a Capital Fund Raising Director for the Church Extension and Edifice Funds Division of the American Home Mission Societies.
Reverend Mould discussed some of the points the church would have to consider in a general fund campaign.
The cost for Reverend Robert Mould’s services would be $1,450.00 for a three week campaign and a follow-up period of up to three years if necessary. The whole procedure was familiar to the church members as the Sector Plan which had been used for several yeas by the Trustees to raise money to meet the Annual Budget.
Reverend Mould emphasized publicity, the need for a dignified and attractive brochure, posters, newspaper articles, church bulletin notes, and three minute speeches by respected church members. Reverend Mould left the room for a brief time. The committee members discussed Reverend Mould’s merits, and agreed that he seemed qualified to conduct the type of campaign that they wanted for the church. Reverend Mould was hired for the job.
It is interesting to compare Reverend Mould with our first fund raiser, Reverend Devine. Reverend Mould worked for the Denomination, Reverend Devine has his own Agency. Both knew exactly what they wanted done and insisted on their procedures being carried out. The outside fund raises have an advantage over local church leaders, in that they are highly experienced, paid professionals, and have a reputation to sustain, they have more authority over the campaign workers and the congregation and are better able to achieve the desired results. Reverend Mould was hired and was to arrive April 22, 1965, to direct the intensive phase of the campaign. In the meantime, a General Campaign Committee was established.
| General Chairman | Robert Vermilya |
| Advance Gifts Chairman | Raymond Heller |
| Committee |
|
| General Gifts Chairman | Elwin J. Richardson |
| Division Chairmen |
|
| Co-Chairmen Loyalty Dinner |
|
| Building Fund Treasurer | Herbert Long |
Campaign Director Robert Mould keep in touch with all of the Committee Chairmen by letters with written instructions until his arrival.
There was an amazing effort to assure good communication among the leaders, the workers, and ultimately the congregation. A church member who was not going to be part of the organization received as many as nine letters (from Reverend Hammond, from Sara Beams, Sunday School Superintendent, Robert Mapstone, Board of Deacons, etc.,) Other publicity included notices in the bulletins and the church newsletter and the local newspapers. The workers got at least seven more letters. There was an impressive brochure given to everyone, entitled, The First Baptist Church Building Fund and at the Loyalty Dinner guests were also given a special program for the dinner.
Reverend Mould could not be in Manlius until April 22, so when the leaders of various tasks were chosen he wrote each one a letter with specific tasks to accomplish. Reverend Hammond reported back to Reverend Mould on progress made. (One of the instructions to the Publicity Chairman was to keep a scrapbook for the Campaign which would contain letters, newspaper clippings, brochures, i.e., everything connected with the fund raising activities. The Committee did and the result has been very helpful in compiling the history of the Program for Progress Campaign.)
Reverend Mould arrived on April 22, 1965, and the activities went into high gear,. The Loyalty Dinner was scheduled for May 1, 1965. The dinner was prepared for the church by the Methodist women. To make certain that people attended the Loyalty Dinner, the Dinner Chairmen, Marjorie Lincoln and Elsie Bex, had recruited 17 Dinner Hostesses, whose printed instructions told exactly how to call church members ( be friendly and cordial, don’t discuss pros and cons, provide for transportation if necessary, tell about the arrangements, invite the people to sit at her table, etc.) On the night of the Loyalty Dinner, the hostess was to arrive early, to introduce her guests to each other if necessary, and to report the attendees to the Hostess Chairman. Each hostess was expected to provide a simple inexpensive centerpiece for her table.
A program followed the dinner. Ten minute speeches on various topics concerning the building plan and fund raising were given.
| Our History | Leah Stark |
| Our Need | Ray Heller |
| Our Plan of Campaign | Elwin Richardson |
| The Way to Victory | Reverend Mould |
| Program for Progress | Reverend Hammond |
In the mean time, Division Leaders of the calling campaign had chosen nine captains, and each captain had recruited five workers. As a result, a crew of 45 callers (already called upon for their contributions) were ready to call on the general congregation, after two training sessions and a dedication ceremony.
Many of the church organizations made pledges to the Building Fund. One pledge that was memorable was that made by the Junior High BYF. The young people voted to raise $150.00 (in addition to their own personal pledges) over three years. One third was already raised in 1965 by selling corn from Sid Mawson’s garden and peddling flyers for Ken Greene’s hardware store. The Senior High Group, not to be outdone, was cited in the October 1965 Baptist Crusader for their support. Reverend Mould was quoted as saying, “I have never seen a finer, more dedicated group of young people.” Twenty young people pledged $600.00 to their church’s building program (over and above $2,026 in personal pledges from 41 of the youth.)
It is interesting to note that more than fifty families were directly involved with the campaign and the Loyalty Dinner, and, of course, this would have been part of the plan, i.e. to get as many as possible of the congregation involved and interested in a successful outcome.
In addition to the listed adult callers, the High School Youth voted to enter a team of canvassers in the Program for Progress Campaign. They were briefed and trained along with the adult canvassing team. They were: Ruth Huffaker, Captain; Joyce Heller, Greg Bock, Doug Lamoreaux, Fred Goddard, Ken Phelps, Carol Heller, David Vermilya. Just as the contributions of Mrs. Yettie Harris and her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Broadfield, were crucial to the success of the 1925 campaign to raise money to build the Pleasant Street Church, so were the contributions of Dr. Laura Harris, daughter of Yettie Harris, a significant factor in building the Educational Annex.
The callers for pledges were asked to attend two training sessions with Reverend Mould. The first was a dessert meeting on April 23, 1965, for all campaign personnel, and the second, on Sunday, May 2, 1965, a final briefing session before the beginning of calling in the afternoon. On Sunday, April 25, during the Morning Service, the Canvassers were commissioned by Reverend Mould and Pastor Hammond.
On May 11, 1965, Reverend Hammond wrote a letter to the congregation reporting on hand $87,000.00 in cash and pledges. He saw Victory in sight and appealed to people who had not yet pledged to make an “act of faith” and change a “no” pledge to an act of positive commitment. To those who had already pledged he asked for increases to express a real sense of responsibility and a conviction that such an important venture had a rightful claim to more of their resources.
A Victory Report dinner was arranged for Thursday, May 13, 1965. This was to be a regular Family Night Supper sponsored by the Board of Christian Education, to be followed by the Quarterly Business Meeting. (Apparently at one time the law of averages broke down, and at a Family Night Supper there were too many salads and not enough main dishes, or vice versa. Families whose names began with A-K were asked to bring salads, L-Z main dishes.)
After dinner, Reverend Robert Mould spoke on “This is the victory.” It was a happy night. The goal of $100,000.00 was met with $105,000.00 reported in pledges. The challenge goal of $115,000.00 was not met but not all of the pledge cards had been returned.
The Bible tells us to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” and that is what the congregation did that night. The highlight of the evening was the march to the balcony to ring the church bell to let the whole village know that the church had gone over the $100,000.00 victory goal.
A picture used to publicize the event shows Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cathers and Peter Seibel (church custodian) ringing the bell. It was said that they were present and ringing the same bell at a Victory Rally in the Seneca Street Church 41 years ago to celebrate the success of the fund drive to build the new Pleasant Street Church.
It was the same bell in a new setting. Although the police had been told about the bell ringing and gave not objection, one irate parent (a church member) came to complain that the noise woke up his children. According to another newspaper account, “the jubilant Baptists took turns to signify a startled community that the goal of $100,000.00 had been reached by ringing the church bell.”
Between the joint meeting of February 2, 1964, with the Capital Funds Group, there were no minutes of further Building Committee meetings until November 4, 1965.
Most of the Building Committee members were deeply involved with the Program for Progress drive for funds, and the architects were busy working on the blueprints for the new building.
The last meeting was with Mt. French, a new member of the newly named firm McNight, Kirmmse and French. The Committee studied the latest blueprints and was given the latest cost estimates. They had been revised upward to $214,506.00, a large increase which was explained by the architects as due to higher building costs. This was the beginning of a dilemma for the Committee. The church had voted for expenditures not to exceed $180,000. The only way to move forward would be for the church to vote to remove or revise upward restrictions.
Many other things of note happened in 1965 besides the financial campaign for the Program for Progress. The women were pleased that Mrs. Glenna Hammond was serving as the President of the Onondaga Council of American Baptist Women. The School of Mission was held on March 14, 21, 28 and April 4. The theme was Spanish Speaking Americans and “was very ably” carried out by Mildred Dopp.
The Trustees were coping with their usual problems with tenants in ythre two rented houses (the Pfohl house and now the Hall house). On April 24, 1965, they found it necessary to inform the occupants of one of the apartments (Pfohl house) that the insurance company would not honor their claim for damages incurred when they left food in the oven with the heat turned on and the outside door locked. The firemen, notified of the smoke, had to break a window to gain entry to the apartment. The Trustees denied responsibility and told the tenants they would be responsible for the cleanup and repair.
Children’s Day was celebrated in a different manner in 1965. Instead of a program put on by the children in the Sanctuary, the Sunday School held an “Open House” and parents visited their children in their classrooms to learn more about the teachers and their programs.
An exciting event for Reverend Hammond was a trip to Kenya with the Laubach Literary Foundation, whose headquarters were in Syracuse,. On July 12, 1965, Dr. Frank C. Laubach, Dr. David E. Mason, and 30 dedicated Christian Ministers and Laymen departed from new York City bound for Nairobi, Kenya, in East Africa, to spend their time “preaching, teaching, and witnessing the love of our Savior.” “Each one will teach one” to read in his own language with the understanding that the chain of teaching would never be broken. Reverend Hammond returned on July 29, 1965, with the knowledge of a peaceful Christian Mission “well done.” The cost was $1,400.00 and the Deacons invited the congregation to help defray the expenses. Reverend Hammond reported on his experiences as part of a Second School of Missions held in the Fall from October 17-November 7m 1965. The subject was “Emerging Nations.”
There was no Vacation Bible School in 1965. The Board of Christian Education blamed the late school closing date of the Elementary School, the early start of Summer School, competition from local recreation programs and plant vacation schedules that made it difficult to secure and train teachers for a really effective two week Vacation Bible school.
The church joined with the Methodists again in the Summer for 8 services. The Baptist Sunday School was open every Sunday from 10:00 to 10:45, Church Services were at 8:45 and 11:00 A.M.
Early Church Services were discontinued on November 7, 1965. At Christmas time the Sunday School celebrated Christmas with a sandwich supper followed by a “Hanging of the Greens” ceremony in the sanctuary with Margaret Vermilya in charge. The Baptist Youth Fellowship prepared a Nativity Tableau for Christmas Eve. Santa Claus (portrayed for years by Sid Mawson in his own Santa Claus suit) was not welcome at the Christmas Party. The Board of Christian Education wanted to emphasize giving instead of getting (but gave the children their usual Christmas tree ornament anyway).
On January 18,1966, the Building Committee met for the first time in the new year. The latest blue-prints were reviewed, floor by floor, to determine if any further changes or improvements were needed. One change was to add windows to the east side of the chapel “for a more pleasing look.” The architects had submitted their bill for $4,166.10 (60% of the total) and the Committee agreed it should be paid. The Committee then discussed what to say to the congregation about the increases in construction costs and the consequent rise in the estimate of the cost for our new addition.
On April 2, 1966, the Trustees, the Building Committee and the Continuation Committee (formerly the Capital Fund Commi8ttee) met to discuss several topics of joint interest:
Perry, Burne, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, informed the meeting that
Charles Stark was in the process of determining a cost for the restoration of the Pfohl house and would have the answer in three weeks. Reverend Hammond moved that the Trustees should make the decision on the Pfohl house when the estimate is received. The motion was seconded and carried.
Tony Gaudio reported that he and Perry Burne found that the Hall Property could be purchased for $19,000.00. The group voted for the Trustees to make a purchase offer but the actual purchase would require the approval of the congregation. Charles Stark, Chuck Marris, Lloyd Slentz and Tony Gaudio were to look into the purchase of the Robert Davison property, but Mr. Davison had not been interested before and had not changed his mind.
The Continuation Committee met briefly after the combined session to discuss the procedure to follow regarding calls to be made on delinquent pledges. It was estimated that $7,500.00 might be lost. Eleven callers were available and were to be trained before making the calls.
In their investigation of the possibility of restoring the Pfohl house, the Trustees found that the cost would be prohibitive and voted to demolish the house and make the area part of the parking lot, which would be a welcome increase of 25% more parking spaces. On July 5, 1966, the Trustees reported to the Advisory Council their decision on the Pfohl house and recommended to the Advisory Council and the Congregational Meeting that the Hall house be purchased. There were no notes of the meetings but the congregation must have approved since the Pfohl house was torn down and the Hall house was purchased.
In the first year of church ownership the church had the Hall house painted and sewers installed. (The house was rented in September 1966, and by November the tenant was already one month behind in paying the rent and had not paid his utility bills.) A mortgage had to be taken out but details were not mentioned. The Trustees depended on the rent to make the mortgage payments.
By September 28, 1966, the Building Committee was satisfied with the blueprints for the new Education Wing and asked for bids for the work. A fact sheet was prepared for an October 6, 1966, informative meeting for the congregation and included the following bids which were those preferred by the building Committee.
| General Contractor | Dygert Construction | $161,511.00 |
| Electrical Contractor | Jaquin Electric | $12,099.00 |
| Plumbing Contractor | Redmond and Harte | $12,990.00 |
| Heating & Ventilating Contractor | Raymond Heller | $11,399.00 |
| Demolition | $1,000.00 | |
| $199,099.00 |
This was almost $20,000.00 over the previously stipulated limit of $180,000.00. At the October 6, 1966, meeting, the congregation approved a resolution which was to be voted on by the church members on October 13, 1966. The resolution read:
“Resolved: The First Baptist Church of Manlius, New York, will proceed with the building of an educational addition as proposed by the Building Committee.”
The congregation was told that a vote in the affirmative would rescind the previous stipulation that the building cost be limited to $180,000.00 and that $45,000.00 in cash be received and deposited in the bank prior to initiating building. Members of the congregation were sent an explanatory letter and a fact sheet showing current bids for the construction. The balloting took place on October 13, 1966, between the hours of
4:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. in the Chapel and Absentee Ballots were available as before. The vote was 67 for, 35 against. Although the vote was small and the against vote was significant, the majority voted to move forward and now the process was irreversible.
The Building Fund Treasurer, Herbert Lang, who made the original motion with the restrictions, felt the church was acting irresponsibly, and he and his family left the church. In his letter of resignation, he brought up an interesting fact concerning our handling of money in the 1950-1960 period. The church in earlier years, as has been mentioned before, often ran out of money during the year and borrowed from the bank to pay the bills. Usually giving would pick up and the bank note could be paid by the end of the year. In the 50s and 60s, when Mission giving became more significant, it was the custom for the Treasurer to borrow from the Mission Fund to pay current expenses, if necessary. Of course, the money was paid back before the end of the year so that the Mission commitments could be met. This upset the Mission Board, however, and they insisted on monthly contributions to the ABC Missions Board so there would be little money on hand to be borrowed. The same thing was happening to the Building Fund money as it was being accumulated.
The bulletin for October 16, 1966, reported that the Building Committee, the Trustees and our attorney, Arthur Cordes, were busy finalizing contracts for immediate action. The first step in the construction was the removal of the old parsonage (educational annex). The Christian Education Board was busy evacuating the old building and finding room in the already crowded main building. The Church Office and the Pastor’s Study had to moved as well.
The Trustees reported accomplishing the demolition of the old parsonage and thanked those (Red Chapman) who loaned equipment and those who worked on the project. An unforgettable set of pictures published in the Eagle Bulletin showed the destruction and one Senior Citizen’s distress in seeing the old house destroyed.
On October 17, 1966, after reading the Lang letter of protest and resignation, the Trustees took their own secret ballot on “a vote for acceptance or refusal of entering into a mortgage agreement for the construction of an addition to the present church.” The Trustees voted by secret ballot “to authorize a mortgage on the above mentioned church property for the purpose of financing a new education win as proposed by the Building Committee. “ The vote was 6 yes, 3 no. One Trustee, Bruce Peterson, wanted his name on record as opposing the mortgage under present circumstances.
Late in the fall construction was about to begin and it was time for the ground-breaking ceremony. On November 20, 1966, after church, the congregation met on the lawn on the east side of the present church to do some ceremonial digging with two gold plated trowels purchased for the occasion. Mayor Morgan of Manlius was there to represent the Village. The architects and the builders were also represented and Clarence Pease came from the Marine Midland Bank. A number of representatives from the church family also took part in the ceremonial ground-breaking:
Reverend Hammond gave the benediction and the group sang “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.” The construction (excavation) began soon after, even as winter was approaching,.
If anyone from the congregation really wanted to get involved in the construction, a notice in the November 27, 1966, bulletin announced that “our builder, Mr. Dygert, will be employing help in the immediate future and has asked that any members of the congregation who would like to work to see the foreman.” On December 15, 1966, at a special meeting of the Advisory Council, Kenneth Phelps was appointed Treasurer of the Building Fund to replace Herb Lang.
As always, the church was busy on other fronts as well as working on the building program. On January 23, 1966,m the church congratulated two of its young men. Bill Burt, a student at Morrisville, who recently received a scholarship, and Doug Greene, who received an award for being “Soldier of the Month” in his company.
In February of 1966, Dorothy White started a series of monthly newsletters to young people from the church who were now in college or the armed forces. The first for February, 1966, contained a list of 28 young people. This was the time of the great blizzard and Mrs. White told about her experiences. She also included news of the church, of other young people, and like a good Sunday School teacher, a “lesson.” She wrote, “I hope you won’t mind if the Sunday School teacher in me overflows into our letters.” The church has a copy of the first letter, one for April 24, 1966 (written by JoAnn L,. Bock), and one for May 1966 (now called the “Christian Global Newsletter”) by Dorothy White. Circulation grew to as many as 80 copies. The papers were apparently discontinued after 1968.
On March, 1966, the Board of missions invited Reverend and Mrs. John Baker of Rome to bring the cast of their School of Missions play, “Between Yesterday and Today,” for presentation in our sanctuary.
In May the Trustees announced plans to paint the gymnasium. The Greene Sentry Hardware offered discontinued paint at $1.00/gallon. In the May 1, 1966, bulletin, Perry Burne, Chairman of thre Board of Trustees, asked for volunteers to paint during the week of May 9-14 when scaffolding would be available. Those who helped were thanked in the following bulletin. The gym was described as looking “so clean and fresh.” On May 29, 1966, Mr. Barbara Richardson was thanked for the bed of tulips at the end of the gymnasium. (Tulips and other flowers are still blooming there in 1998.)
According to the bulletin of June 5, 1966, “Your pastor is a patient at the New England Baptist Hospital where he is undergoing a series of tests.” These were for the Pastor’s arthritis. He was back in the pulpit on June, 19, 1966.
June 20, 1966, was Graduation Day in the Public Schools and 18 of our youth graduated from High school. On July 10, 1966, a Combined Summer Service with the Methodist Church started and continued for seven additional Sundays. In June and July of 1966, the Hammonds made a family project out of painting the parsonage. The Trustees furnished the paint and were very pleased and thankful for the effort.
The Vacation Church School was re-instated in 1967. The time was August 15- August 26, 1966, sponsored by the Protestant Churches of Manlius and Oran. There was more Methodist input this year as Mrs. E. Clayton Comstock, wife of the Methodist Pastor, was the leader. The opinion of the Christian Education Board was that the later time resulted in more interest and better attendance.
In the summer of 1966, the Trustees were confronted with the costs of a number of projects which were not provided for in the 1966 budget.
The Trustees felt that $5,000.00 extra money was required for these projects and on august 4m 1966, at 7:30 P.M., asked the Advisory Council to approve a three year $5,000.00 bank loan. Although there is no record, the congregation must have also approved the loan because all the projects were completed.
In the fall the church social action committee brought in a speaker to talk about the proposed Lottery for new York state. Dr. Robert Grim spoke on Sunday night, October 30, 1966, at 7:30 p.m. on “The Lottery and Your responsibility,” The speaker and the church were against the Lottery but apparently the general public was not. The BYF was busy raising money to pay its Building fund pledge and on October 30,m 1966, took (in Gordon Jackson’s truck) 7600 lbs of paper to the paper mill in Fayetteville.
At Christmas time, the Junior BYF (with sponsor help from Bob and Margaret Vermilya) came up with the special project of decorating the pine tree to the north of the sanctuary with 200 lights to be known as the Blessing Tree. Church members were asked to count their blessings and for each to contribute 25 cents to purchase a light for the tree. “May the Light of the Blessing Tree serve to remind us of the many blessings we enjoy this Christmastide.” This tradition was continued for several years. Christmas was observed by the Sunday School with another hanging of the Greens service, preceded by a sandwich supper and a Nativity Tableau.
In November, 1966, Glenna Hammond spent some time in the hospital. The bulletin of November 6, 1966, reported that she was in the Community General Hospital making good progress, and in the November 13, 1966, bulletin it was reported that “the men who reside at the parsonage are exceedingly grateful for the wonderful cooks and helpers of First Baptist and the neighborhood who have done so much during Mrs. Hammond’s hospitalization.”
Reverend Hammond, in his Annual Report for 1966, wrote that he had been handicapped with arthritis and said that “much of the church activity had been carried on by the officers and members in such an efficient manner that we were able to show both growth and, during January and November, a decided increase in church attendance.”
The major decisions had been made for the new building, the plans settled, the financial campaign over (for the time being) and the congregation could relax and observe the construction. In the words of Robert Lyon, Chairman of the Building Committee, “We watched our building advance from a hole in the ground to a nearly completed building.” The contractors had provided a Construction Schedule of events for the Bulletin Board and invited everyone to join the contingent of Sidewalk Superintendents who were keeping watch over the proceedings.
The Building Committee met regularly each month in 1967 (although there are no available meeting notes) along with the Chairman and the Treasurer of the Capital Funds Committee to review Contractors’ bills and make decisions regarding construction problems. A Color Coordinating Committee consisting of Peter Mudge, Helen Fardig and Alice Mapstone, cooperated with the architects on finish details. Most of the burden of the church involvement, However, fell on the shoulders of Bob Lyon. He was in constant contact with the contractors and the architects and had to make many “on the scene” visits to keep close watch on the construction.
Reverend George Hammond was serving his second term on the General Council of the American Baptist Church and attended a meeting of the group in January, 1967. He returned on February 2, 1967, with the firm belief that God speaks more clearly in the local church than he does in the Councils of the Denomination. In April, 1967, the pulpit was filled for four weeks by guest speakers (two times by Dr. Mason). Reverend Hammond was having trouble again with arthritis and it was difficult for him to stand during a sermon and to get in and out of his car.
On May 23, 1967, Niagara Mohawk turned the power off at the recently purchased Hall house and on June 27, 1967, our lawyer, Arthur Cordes, helped us to evict the tenant. The Trustees had reported that rent payments would carry the mortgage and decided to rent again. On August 25, 1967, the Merton Ladd family moved I and it appeared that this time the Trustees had found an ideal tenant.
On May 21, 1967, Reverend Wheaton visited Manlius and preached to the congregation on “Great Faith.” On June 4, 1967, Abe Lorente, the Cuban student the church had “adopted,” graduated from the Temple University Medical School. Reverend Hammond celebrated his 53rd birthday on June 9, 1967, and the 31st anniversary of his ordination and thanked the church for their kind remembrances.
The church met again with the Methodists for eight weeks in the summer. There were two services each Sunday. Reverend Hammond recruited Reverend Raker, Dr. Mason, Robert Vermilya and Ray Heller to preach four of the Baptist services. For the first time in many years there was no Baptist Summer Sunday School, not only had attendance been diminishing lately but there was a space problem because of the construction. Union Vacation Church School was conducted during the period of August 14-25, 1967, led by Mrs. Mary Squire of the Baptist Church, but had to be limited to the parlor because of the construction. Attendance was good, increasing daily to 153.
In the American Baptist Churches around the country, the newest nation-wide drive for funds was in progress. The latest was the World Mission Campaign, the funds to be used to enhance the Denomination’s missionary work around the globe. Because we were in the midst of raising money for the Building Fund, there was no formal drive to meet a quota in the Manlius church. A letter was sent to members explaining the need and an Advance Gifts Committee (Reverend George Hammond, Dr. David Mason and Mr. Lloyd Slentz) did some calling. As a result, the church members pledged $7,178.00 (of which $1,764 was already received in 1967.)
The church had a new organist in 1967. The Davenports moved away and Mrs. Linda Davenport was replaced by Mrs. Bertha Strauss.
During 1967, the Methodist, Episcopal and Baptist Churches conducted a census of the Manlius area and as a result found eight prospective new Baptist families (and hopefully for the other participants, new Episcopalians and Methodists as well).
The Sunday School fond 1967 an eventful year watching the new building grow and planning for its use and making adjustments as former classrooms disappeared or were made unusable by construction.
The pillars of the church had begun to deteriorate and the Trustees hired Gordon Noble to sand, point and paint them in 1967. The minutes said that he was the same fellow who painted the steeple in 1966.
Our original three year Program for Progress fund drive would be completed in 1968. It was part of the plan so it should have been no surprise to anyone that another campaign for three more years of payments would be necessary. The leaders of the church had liked the way Reverend Mould conducted the first campaign and decided to try to hire him for the second. Reverend Hammond wrote Dr. Mould requesting a meeting with him in January to discuss plans for a second campaign. Reverend Mould replied on December 11, 1967, that although it was unusual to work with the same church a second time “I feel honored to be asked to return to Manlius and will do everything possible to make this a meaningful experience.”
At the end of the second full year of collecting pledges, the Building Fund Treasurer reported on the financial status of the Program for Progress:
| Checking Account: | Amount deposited | $208,241.14 |
| |
Amount spent | $191,762.16 |
| Balance CA | $16,478.98 | |
| Savings Account | $608.86 | |
| Securities | $5,674.16 | |
| Balance | $22,76200 |
Our church was mortgaged (the closing was on December 15, 1967) for $150,000 at 5 ¾% interest and our payments each month were $1,246.00 or $14,952.00 per year.
From the pledging standpoint:
| Total pledged through December 1967 | $97,044.80 |
| Paid through December 1967 | $72,814.95 |
| % of payment | 75.3% |
The Youth of the church were disappointed to find that with all of the new space available, they were relegated to the old parlor as their headquarters. They rebelled and wrote a convincing letter to the Board of Christian Education on October 16, 1967. The letter was written for the BYF by Elaine Fardig, The Habitation Committee that made the decision on space assignments was headed by Mrs. Helen Fardig, mother of Elaine. The Habitation Committee and the Board of Christian Education responded favorably to the BYF request and unanimously voted that the room in question (now the King’s Kid’s office) be granted to the 11 & 12 grade Sunday School class and the BYF. The Senior High group volunteered to paint the walls and to lay tile to make the room functional.
The Christmas program for the Sunday School was “A Christmas Crib,” a tableau with music by the cherub and Carol Choirs. The Sunday School reported 258 people present, the highest number ever for a Christmas party.
Robert Vermilya, Chairman of the Continuation Committee, wrote a letter to the membership on January 10, 1968. He reported that the Reverend Mold had been approved by the American Baptist Convention o direct our campaign and had met with the Finance committee to establish preliminary plans for the first debt reduction campaign, June 6 to June 26, 1968, all subject to approval of the congregation.
In the Annual Meeting of January 25, 1968, the budget for 1968 was presented by Lloyd Slentz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, for approval. There was a discussion regarding the omission of raises for the Pastor during the last few years. (Reverend Hammond had adamantly refused to let the Trustees raise his salary for 1996 and 1967. He felt that it was not proper for him to receive a raise when he hoped people would give sacrificially to the Building Program.) Helen Fardig moved that Reverend Hammond receive a $500.00 for 1968. Dorothy Griffin seconded the motion and the meeting voted in favor of the raise.
Also in the Annual Meeting, the question about what had been done about the next phase of funding for the new building was asked. Reverend Hammond moved that Reverend Mould be retained to lead the second debt-reduction campaign. Ray Heller seconded the motion and it was carried.
Mr. Vermilya also stated that “the building has become a reality through our love and sacrificial giving to further the Lord’s work in our church and community.” He asked people to check their building fund records and reminded them that “their commitment is made to the Lord.”
In late January or early February, 1968, a car crashed into the front of the church and damaged the first step, a railing and one of the columns. Ernst and Cooper, our insurance agents, were taking care of the problems incurred.
On Thursday, February 1, 1968, at 7:30 P.M., the church celebrated the end of the first phase of the Program for Progress which began in 1963. The new Educational wing was dedicated in a special service in the Sanctuary. Reverend Baker came from Rome, New York, to preach the sermon. Dr. David Mason assisted in the service of Dedication led by Reverend Harry Guckert (then pastor of the Tully Baptist Church.) After the dedication, there was a processional to the new addition led by Robert Lyon, Chairman of the Building Committee. A special eight page brochure was prepared. Although it was discussed, there was no cornerstone or special plaque prepared to commemorate the new building. (In 1986 a plaque was installed in the new entrance. It reads: “1986 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.)
On Sunday, February 4, 1968, the celebration continued with a special morning service of personal re-dedication and communion served by another former pastor, Reverend Lawrence A. Wheaton. Reverend Raymond Beaver brought greetings from the American Baptist Convention. A special feature of the program was the presentation to Reverend Beaver of an original letter written by Adonirum Judson, a famous Baptist Missionary to Burma.
Adonirum Judson’s mother spent some time in Cazenovia visiting her sister when she received a letter from her son. In the letter he told her about arrangements with Luther Rice and the Baptists. Several years later the family discovered the letter and, recognizing its historic value, gave it to Mrs. Yettie Harris of Manlius, who was deeply interested in missionary work. Mrs. Yettie Harris, a member of the First Baptist Church of Manlius, decided the letter really belonged to the whole Baptist Church Family and presented it to the church with the understanding that it would be given to the Foreign Mission Society.”
(From the New York Baptist News Section of the Baptist Crusader of April 1968.)
Sometime, and somehow, in the next few years the framed letter made it way into the famous Baptist Basement Room known as the Glory Hole, where things not wanted were stored before eventual disposal, A Trustee noticed the letter, recognized the name, and brought it to the attention of Reverend Hammond, who arranged for its gift to the Foreign Missionary Society of the American Baptist Church.
On Sunday afternoon, the Sunday School held an open house in the new facilities from 3 to 5 P.M., with the Building Committee providing tours through the new wing. On Sunday Evening at 7:30 P.M. the Eastern Baptist College Choir presented a concert of excerpts from Handel’s Messiah.
On February 8, 1968, the church hosted an Evangelical Conference. Meals were to be served at the church but overnight accommodations (and breakfasts) had to be provided for 25 preachers. The church families evidently rose to the occasion and al of the visitor had a place to stay.
On February 18, 1968, the Unity Fellowship gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mapstone for a Soup and Slipper Party. (The name leaves out an important part of the evening which was a wide variety of home-made pies for dessert.) The cost was 50 cents/person. The outing was also called “February on the Farm.” this is another candidate for the “Things Never Change” Department as the party was still a favorite Unity Fellowship function in 1999.
The School of Missions was held on four Sundays in March for a study of Japan. The Carol Choir led by Mrs. Robert Mapstone sang for the group. A picture of the choir showing the children in their Japanese costumes was printed in the NYS Baptist magazine “The Crusader.”
Prayer meetings were sill being held on Thursday nights, but as noted in the mid-March 1968 newsletter, interest and attendance was lagging. To try to correct the problem, the format was changed with the leadership being transferred to different groups of the church (on March 14, 1968, the Achaean Class, March 21 the Unity Class, and on March 28 the BYF) in hopes that the group responsible would at least show up in full attendance.
On April 7, 1968, former Pastor Harry Guckert was installed as Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Tully, New York, after serving 6 ½ yeas as the Pastor of the Baptist Church of Paradise, California. Also in April, it was announced in the Church Bulletin that Dr. and Mrs. Abe Lorente would move to the area in July. Dr. Lorente would begin a four year residency in surgery at the Upstate Medical Center.
The Growth and Development Committee met to organize in April. One accomplishment was to recommend to Reverend Hammond that he take a week off. He took their recommendation and spent a week in Maine.
In the May 12, 1968, Bulletin, the church began to hear about the war in Vietnam. The Senior High Group was working for a county-wide project to contribute items needed by the soldiers (shaving equipment, insect repellent, writing materials, etc.)
By May, 1968,m the last payment on the Parsonage Mortgage had been paid and the Hammonds helped the church celebrate by holding an open house at the Parsonage on May 19, 1968, from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. the mortgage was ceremonially burned, either at the morning church service or during the open house.
The Bulletins for Spring of 1968 instructed the congregation to “Enter in silence, Wait on Prayer, Worship in Reverence, and depart to Serve.” On June 1, 1968, the Board of Christian Education organized a Pie Day to show appreciation for the Sunday School Teachers. The members baked 37 pies for the teachers and their families. In June, 1968, twenty seniors from the church graduated from High School. (Pie Day is another tradition that has not outlived its usefulness.)
In the summer of 1968, we participated in 6 union services (as recommended by the Advisory Council) with the Methodist Church. There were two services each Sunday and this year there was a Sunday School for the Baptists. Mr. Leslie Strader, now pastor of the Methodist Church, was the summer Youth Pastor for the Methodists. A Vacation Bible School was held in 1968 in the Baptist Church starting on June 24th for two weeks, led by Mary Squire. The children’s offerings of $110.00 were used to send 11 hives of bees to India.
In August, Reverend Derwood Smith came east for a visit and stayed with Mr. Rose Dando. Reverend Wheaton also came and stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Murdock.
In August, Molly Cordes resigned as Secretary effectie august 23, 1968, after nearly 6 years of “successful and cheerful” service to join the staff of the Manlius School. Sara Beams was hired to take her place.
On Sunday October 13, 1968, Abe and Pam Lorente came forward to unite in fellowship with the First Baptist Church of Manlius. The newsletter of mid-October, 1968, commented that by hard work and great determination this young man has made great accomplishments, that Pam, a graduate nurse, shared with her husband great skills in the art of healing, and that a great part of both Pam and Abe’s skills stemmed from their warm Christian love of people.
At their October 15, 1968, meeting, the trustees discussed the possibility of selling the Hall house (minus its backyard). There was some thought of it use as a house for an Associate Pastor. No action was taken at the meeting. Reverend Hammond talked about his arthritis problem and the need to let up on some of his calling. He had written the Ministers and Missionaries Board concerning his condition but had not heard from them as yet. There was a discussion of having the Laymen doing more of the calling. It was also noted that Reverend A. Wayne Dexter, a member of our church who was on the staff of the ABC of New York State, had offered to help.
On October 29, 1968, the Trustees met with Mr. Calender from the Missionary and Ministers Board to discuss Reverend Hammond’s condition. He felt that the church might improve if Reverend Hammond taught the members to do the calling and take care of other responsibilities. Another alternative was to hire an Associate Pastor to work with the youth and do calling. Reverend Hammond would preach most of the time. The Trustees assured Mr. Calender that they wanted Reverend Hammond to continue as Pastor if he would slow down and take care of his health.
In 1968, the Baptist Women’s fellowship joined with the women’s organization of the United Church of Fayetteville to compile a Fayetteville-Manlius directory to be published in the spring of 1969. The Baptist women were to canvass each home served by the Manlius Post Office (approximately 2500 families) to obtain the information needed. Mrs. C. Winslow Skeele, President to the BWF, appointed Mrs. C. Comstock Lincoln chairman for the Manlius area, Mrs. Leonard Kuhnemann as chairman of the canvassers assisted by Mrs. John Ammann, Mrs. Melvin Benedict, Mrs. Robert Bullard, Mrs. L. Gordon Jackson, Mrs. Paul Watson and more than 50 members of the congregation. Advertising was solicited by members of the Fayetteville church.
The major event of 1968 was the Program of Progress: The Next Step. The financial campaign was run in about the same manner as was the First (except for fewer letters, less publicity and probably less anxiety since the congregation had already responded well to the first campaign, the building was built and in use, and everyone knew that it had to be paid for.)
Lou H. Billet, Jr. “(Bill, who had not been a member during the first campaign) was chosen as the Chairman for the second phase or the “Next Step” of the program of the Progress Campaign. In the May12, 1968, he announced his executive committee:
| Publicity Chairman | Mrs. Arthur Mapstone |
| Hostess Chairman | Mrs. Kenneth Bex |
| Building Fund Treasurer | Mr. Kenneth Phelps |
| Advance Gifts Chairman | Mr. Raymond Heller |
| Youth Chairman | Mr. Fred Goddard |
| Division Chairmen |
|
The first meeting of the Committee with Reverend Mould was on May 3, 1968, for an evaluation survey. Reverend Mould asked Mr. Billet to carefully select 12-15 people to assist in a survey of the ability of church members to pledge. The results would give Reverend Mould a basis to recommend a goal for the Campaign. His next meeting was to be with all the Campaign leaders to distribute manuals and information kits and to firm up dates for the events in the Campaign presentation and intensive phase. The important dates were set for the Campaign:
The goal for the Campaign was set at $75,000.00 for a victory goal and $90,000.00 as a challenge goal. Speakers were selected to make short presentations during the church services. Those chosen were Robert Vermilya, Raymond Heller, Paul Watson and Sara Beams.
Tuesday, June 11, 1968, the callers were to meet for a general briefing. The Loyalty dinner was scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, 1968, for a time of fellowship, information and inspiration. There was a new brochure entitled “Program of Progress- Our Next Step.” A victory service was held on Wednesday, June 26, 1968, in the Sanctuary. Reverend Robert B Mould gave the message and a report on the Campaign.
On September 19, 1968, Bill billet sent to members of the church a report on the Campaign. While the victory goal was $75,000.00, the pledges equaled $65,421.00. Mr. Billet was not terribly discouraged, because he felt more pledges would come in later. He described the goal as ambitious and above the minimum needed to meet our mandatory requirements, i.e., meet the mortgage payments.
The Building Committee made one last report for 1968. All final payments were made to the contractors. The original contracts totaled $199,734.00. The total payments to the contractors were $200,025.22, an increase of $291.22. Most of the extra costs were for changes in sewer construction when existing lines were not where they were expected. The report concluded with the statement: “May 24, 1969, will be the end of the guarantee period for construction on that date the duties of the Building Committee will end.”
In January of 1969, Reverend George Hammond went to the Robert Brigham Arthritic Clinic in Boston for more tests and treatments. His doctors were to change his medicine from pain killers to something that might improve his condition. The Trustees were considering hiring an Associate Pastor to help with the calling and the youth work. It was noted that Reverend Hammond had already had help in calling from the Deacons, Deaconesses and Mrs. Hammond. The treatment must have been helpful. In his Annual Report for 1969, Reverend Hammond wrote that January, 1969, was a turning point which brought improvements “for which I praise God and thank you who bore me p in prayer and helpfulness.”
February 9, 1969, was Youth Sunday, and the youth led the entire service. Some of the Youth Services were not so pleasant in the Vietnam War years with the adults in the congregation being blamed for all that was not well with the world. On March, 2, 1969, the School of Missions began with a four week study of Southeast Asia, appropriate because of our country’s involvement in the Vietnamese War. The church had young men involved in the fighting and the unrest among students and other groups in the country was having an effect on our church as well.
The Christian Carrier frequently requested that readers with favorite thoughts, laughs, sermons or challenges bring them to the church office for inclusion in the newsletter. Poetry by Lucille Foote and Lydia Doubleday often appeared. In the mid-April 1969 issue, the oldest member of the church, John Chappell, was mentioned as having been hospitalized and listed some of his work for the church (he was a carpenter and President of the Village of Manlius, 1914-1915, 1921-1922 and 1924-1925) and whether coincidental or not, there was a poem “Age” included in the newsletter which is worth repeating.
AGE
No one is ever too old!
Remember age is a quality of mind
If you have left your dreams behind
If hope is cold,
If you no longer look ahead,
If your ambitions’ fires are dead--
Then you are old.But if from life
You take the best
And in life you keep the jest,
If love you hold
No matter how the years go by,
No matter how the birthdays fly
You are not old!
(Taken from the Fairport Baptist Home News, April, 1969)
April 13, 1969, was another special day for the youth of the church. Reverend Robert Huff, a pastor-at-large in neighborhood Elmira, whom the youth had heard and admired at the youth Convention there, came to Manlius to preach at the morning service. He ate lunch with the youth of our church and surrounding churches, and spent the afternoon with them. There was a program of singing, worship and discussion.
In April, 1969, the Christian Carrier newsletter commented on the death of President Eisenhower. His claim to greatness was said to be in the quiet Christian applications of his faith. His death elicited “precious memories of trust and mutual care of the holiness of home and the sacredness of family. Just plain goodness seems to be the most fitting description of this man, President Dwight David Eisenhower, Ambassador of Goodness.”
There was “Music in the Air” at the Mother and Daughter Banquet on May 6, 1969. Mrs. R. Dean Schick talked about bells and displayed her private collection. The cost of the meal was $1.00 for adults, 50 cents for children. The women cooked the meal and the men of the church served.
In June 1969, the Christian Carrier editor commented on Sgt. Bruce F. Jamison, service man of the month, who went back to Thailand to marry a girl he met on his first tour of duty in that country. The editor went on to say that in spite of our current thoughtlessness, we are at war, our own boys are dying, suffering and fighting. It is high time we made a Christian’s recognition of such matters. Too long we have tried to ignore the facts and forget the frightful cost. Let us pray for these young men. They need our prayers, cards and letters.
On June 17, 1969, Mrs. Shirley Mapstone talked to the Trustees about Mrs. Rugh’s need for one large classroom for her morning nursery school (pre-schoolers). She had been renting space at Christ church but had run into problems and might need different quarters. Questions that the Trustees asked Mrs. Mapstone were for particulars about the current problem . They wondered if the church was willing to rent out space for outside use, and if this would over-burden the custodian, Pete Seibel. (By August 26, 1969, the word got back to the Trustees that Mrs. Rugh and the Episcopal Church had worked out their problems and that the school would not need a new home.) On August 26, 1969, the Trustees announced that the $5,000,00 bank loan borrowed in 1966 for the purpose of paying for several urgent repair projects was repaid.
Union services were again held in the summer with the Methodists, this time for eight weeks. Sunday School was held in our church as well as the Vacation Bible School. (The Bible School was for one week only in 1969.) There was only one service each Sunday. Ray Heller substituted for Reverend Hammond for one Sunday. The Bulletin noted that Ray had been away from church for the last few months supplying the pulpit in the Georgetown Baptist Church.
The Baptist Women’s Fellowship was continuing its work on the Fayetteville-Manlius Directory. The project would be completed in 1970. The BWF had also been guiding the re-decoration of the Harris Memorial Chapel. Shelves had been installed by Archie Adsit, the ceiling had been repaired, furniture and carpeting were put in, and “a lovely room for receptions and meetings resulted.”
On August 25, 1969, the church was taken by surprise when Dorothy White, a staunch member of the church, deeply involved in Christian Education, truly a “Pillar of the Church,” wrote a letter of resignation to the Board of Christian Education. She wrote, in part, that she “had been searching for eternal truths, had a deep longing for more light, read avidly, prayed searchingly and found what she wanted in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.” She felt that “the Mormon Church offered more than a religious faith… but a daily way of life that leads back to God’s presence, which I feel, I can follow more knowledgeably, more challengingly and more joyously.” Charles, Dorothy, son Greg and daughter Caroline left the church.
In 1969, parking was becoming a problem. The Trustees were upset with neighborhood people using the church parking lot but not coming to church services or moving their cars on Sunday morning. Warnings were printed and attached to the cars. (This is an item for the Things Never Change Department as this is still a problem in 1999.)
In late November, 1969, Robert Vermilya promoted a “Clean Plate Club” for the Manlius Church. In December, those people who had paid their pledges in full for 19659 would have their names printed on large clean paper plates which would be displayed in the Narthex For people who were considering how much to pledge to the church for the new year, a recent newsletter had some good advice. “Give according to your income lest your income be according to your giving.”
On December 24, 1969, Bulletin listed 15 of our young men who were serving in the armed forces, some of them in Vietnam. (All returned safely.)
In his report to the congregation Reverend Hammond wrote, “This (the year 1969) was a time of crisis for every family in our congregation. Not one of them is untouched by the shifting morals of our day.” He wrote of the problems of student revolt in schools and colleges and youth rebellion. He found war’s ominous clouds overshadowing everything we do and the very foundations of our society shaken. He felt that nothing short of a world awakening to real Spiritual Values could save man from self destruction.
In 1970 the health of Reverend Hammond improved measurably. In his report for the year, he said he was able to expand his personal effort in reaching out to the community. “I am so grateful for the measure of health and strength God has given to me.” He reported that at present (December 1970) he was making 25 calls a week and planned to increase the number when the weather got warmer. He reported being able to sit through a whole meeting and being comfortable to go home after it was over.
On January 25, 1970, the church welcomed Reverend and Mrs. John Baker back into the fellowship. Reverend Baker retired from full time ministry after serving the First Baptist Church in East Aurora, New York, for ten years and came back to live in Dewitt.
In the Trustees meeting of January 20, 1070, Reverend Hammond made a request that the Trustees consider new carpeting for the sanctuary and the choir loft (only the aisles were then carpeted) and new hymnals for the church services. The Trustees also considered carpeting for the Pastor’s office, the Secretary’s office, the Narthex, the old Chapel (soon to balled the Library) and the Youth Room.
Bill Billet was put in charge of a carpet committee. The Music Committee (appointed by the Advisory Council) was looking into new hymn books. They wanted a better liturgy, tune selection and Bible readings. A new Baptist Hymnal was to be out on March 1, 1970. They considered the Methodist Hymnal but to leave the Methodist name off the cover would cast $1.00 extra per book.
Since there wasn’t enough money in the Treasury for the carpets, the Trustees adapted the “buy a light” campaign (used to buy new lights for the remodeled Sunday School Rooms) to the carpet. Jerry Hammond made a poster for the rug campaign. The Trustees were asking for $2,000.00 (200 square yards at $10.00 a yard.)
On February 165, 1970, Youth Sunday was once again observed with the youth preparing the whole service. Lois Vermilya preached the sermon. Beginning February 22, 1070, and continuing through March 15, 12970, the Mission Board led the School of Missions. The topic was the very timely subject of ‘Reconciliation in a Broken world.” Part of the program for the first evening was a ministers panel with Reverend George Hammond, Reverend Jack Buskey, Reverend Morgan Silbauh, with Reverend Peter Winnewisser leading the discussion. On March 25, 1970, the Chancel Players of the Drama department of Easter College presented “The Terrible Meek,” a production of an imaginary conversation at the foot of the cross.
On April 5, 1970, there was an ecumenical service in the Baptist Church (with no explanation) and with all local ministers (priests) taking part.
Part of the Prayer for a Universal Church given by Reverend Silbauh stated that “in God’s earthly family there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, bond nor free, but only children standing in equal need and equally sharing thy fatherly care.”
The first Lay Witness Mission (sometimes called Macedonian Ministries) for the Manlius Baptist Church was planned for May 1-3, 1970. The forty members of the Mission included Methodists and Baptists, with both youth and adults participating. A covered dish supper was planned for Friday, May 1, 1970, for the congregation to meet the visitors. Later the young people would get together for their own introductory meeting.
On Saturday, May 2 at 10:00, there were coffee hours at individual homes with visiting witnesses as guests. At 12:30 there was a luncheon at Stonecrest, at 2:00 a Pizza Party for the Senior High, at 7:30 P.M. an evening service for all at the Methodist Church. On Sunday, May 3, witnesses visited the Sunday School Classes and participated in the morning service. In the evening, there was an evaluation and discussion of the Lay Witness Mission. Several people from our church were deeply involved in the Lay Mission Program and were part of teams that went to several churches in central New York State. Ray Heller, Robert Vermilya and Millie Skinner were some of the early participants.
The Prayer Meeting n May 7, 1970, was visited by Ann Lamoreaux, one of the younger members of the church. She made a plea for us to write our government officials, expressing our feelings with regard to the Vietnam situation, so that they be certain of the feeling of their constituencies.
Another one of the concerns of the church in the 1970s was the opening of stores on Sunday. The Christian Carrier for may 1970 carried a condensed version of a speech given to a Lord’s Day Alliance meeting by a Mr. James J. Bliss, president of the National Retail Merchant’s Association, who urged the members of the religious community to express their dismay and disapproval of the spread of commercialism on Sunday.
In the June 21, 1970, Bulletin, it was reported that Mrs. Hammond suffered broken ribs from a bad fall and was a patient at the Community Hospital. She was home in a few days and “doing well.”
In June, 1970, the Trustees voted to order carpet for the Library, office rooms and the Narthex. The cost was $1,224.00. The Trustees were also concerned with meeting the mortgage payments for the new building. The second three year pledging period would be up in June 1971. In 1968 it was thought that a third intense pledging campaign might be held. This was not now seriously considered. The consensus of the Trustees in 1970 was that pledging for the new building mortgage should be included with the Every Member Canvass for 1972.
The church continued its summer services with the Methodists in 1970. There was one 10:00 service with 5 services held at the Methodist Church and 5 services at the Baptist Church. Vacation Bible School was held for 8 days in 1970. This year it was truly ecumenical as the children from St. Ann’s Church joined the group. As a result, there was a record enrollment of 312 children. (176 came from St. Ann’s.*)
A Manlius Protestant Christian Education Committee made up of representatives of the Baptist, Episcopal and Methodist Churches, was set up to make decisions regarding such ecumenical undertakings as the Daily Vacation Church School, Baccalaureate Services and Graduates’ Luncheons. The purpose was to promote Christian Fellowship and cooperation among the Protestant Churches as well as to promote Christian Education. Shirley Mapstone was chairman of the group for 1968-69 and Paul Watson, Dorothy White, and Reverend Hammond also represented our church. In 1970 the group invited St. Ann’s Church to join. They accepted and the name was changed to The Christian Education Organization of Manlius and Vicinity. The Catholics agreed to join the Protestant Churches in sponsoring the 1970 Vacation Church School.
On June 21, 1970, one of the highlights of the church service was the dedication of four babies: Trent Addison Dwelly (son of Mr. & Mrs. Richard W. Dwelly, Nancy Jean Ferris (daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Erman Ferris, Amy Christine Lorente (daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Abdiel Lorente, born Thursday, May 21, 1970), and Derrick Duane Marris (son of Mr. & Mrs. Claude Marris.)
On July 3, 1970, the Lorentes were driving home after eating supper with the Mapstones and were involved in a serious automobile accident. According to Ramona B. Bowden, a resident of Fayetteville who wrote religious news for the local newspaper, the two young people, Abe and Pam, lay torn and mangled in the road and their thirty-three day old baby was dead.
Although Dr. Lorente tried very hard to get his parents, the Reverend doctor and Mrs. Pascal Lorene (a retired Baptist Preacher) and his sister, Hulda, out of Cuba, the Cuban officials refused permission. Later, after the Lorentes experience their tragic accident, the attending physician telephoned the Cubans to explain the urgency of the situation. Dr. and Mrs. Pascal Lorente and their daughter, Hulda, were allowed to come to the United States, but they had to leave all of their belongings behind. Reverend Hammond was in contact with the Ministers and Missionaries Board to try to get help for the Reverend Lorente and his family. An apartment was found for them in Syracuse, and the Manlius Baptist Church members were asked to help furnish the rooms.
There were approximately 2,000 Spanish speaking people in Syracuse at the time. Although the large majority were Catholic, there were enough Protestants for Reverend Lorente to start services for them in Spanish. The First Baptist Church opened its doors to them for a series of services from October 4, 1970, to December 27, 1970. Bulletins were printed in Spanish, and advertisements for the services were placed in the Syracuse newspapers. A total of 45 people attended the first service.
The Trustees chose to repeat the PGP (Percentage Giving Participation Campaign) used in 1969 again. The Committee was:
On August 9, 1970, Mrs. Gordon Henderson, daughter of Charles and Addie Cathers, announced that there would be a reception for her parents on August 20th, 1970, at the church to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. On October 9, 1970, Charles Cathers died. A memorial service was held on October 31, 1970, in the church. In the Sunday Bulletin for November 1, 1970, it was mentioned that Mr. Cathers had held every office in the church and had endeared himself to the whole community. Reverend Baker said in 1998 in commenting on people he remembered in the church: “I would like to mention Charles, Cathers, who could qualify as ‘Mr. Baptist.’ He never missed anything going on in the church. Even when it was occasionally necessary to have two Sunday morning services, Charles would attend both. No visitor in church would ever escape Charles’ warm welcome. His hobby was raising beautiful roses. From late spring until well past Thanksgiving , Charles would appear each Sunday morning at the parsonage with a gorgeous rosebud for the pastor’s lapel.”
The recovery of the Lorentes was slow. Pam recovered first from her injuries. It was not until November 8, 1970, that Abe was able to join Pam and his family for a weekend at home away from the hospital.
Reverend Lorente continued his Spanish Mission in the Manlius church until February 1971, and then moved its activities closer to its people in the Delaware Street Baptist Church, which “received us lovingly and with open arms.” He was appreciative of the help of Reverend Hammond, Robert Vermilya of the Board of Deacons, and Ellen Mapstone, who played the organ.
In their February 3, 1971, meeting, the Trustees discussed the use of our new Education Facilities for a play school. Mrs. Rugh, who had been using the Episcopal Church for her Hillside School, was about to sell. Mrs. Shirley Mapstone and Mrs. Doris Dudley were among those interested in buying the school for the church. The Trustees Board voted its approval and asked some of the interested women to investigate further and bring a report back to the Trustees. The Board of Christian Education also discussed School. They hoped the school would be a service to the community. Mrs. Irene Whittington was appointed their representative for the project. On February 9, 1971, Mrs. Shirley Mapstone and Mrs. Doris Dudley presented their plan to the Trustees, and the Board was “in agreement.” Ray Heller was asked to contact Arthur Cordes for legal advice and to investigate any added insurance costs.
A major event was planned for the church for the weekend of February 19-21, 1971. It was to be a trial of the new Discipline and Discovery Program, patterned after the Lay Witness Program but to “reach a much deeper depth.” Erman Ferris was the over-all chairman, assisted by Ray Heller and Bob Vermilya. Unlike the Lay Witness Program all of the leadership came from our own church.
The Program included training for team members, a 24 hour prayer vigil, a Friday Night all-church dinner, a Saturday morning mini-breakfast and coffee hour, a women’s luncheon, a Saturday evening meeting, a Sunday service, and a Sunday evening evaluation session. The Program was intended to help each of our members grow spiritually by the development of a deeper awareness of God through a new dimension of Christian Commitment.
From March 7 to 18, 1971, the Board of Missions presented another School of Missions. The title was “The Americans: How Many Worlds.” On March 14, 1971, Dr. Abdiel Lorente and his sister, Hulda, spoke to the church about “Cuba, The Revolution and What the Revolution has Meant to the People.” Abe Lorente must have taken leave from the hospital for his talk. (The April 25, 1971, Church Bulletin reported that he was now home from the hospital, and getting more active each day.)
A special meeting of the First Baptist membership was called for March 18, 1971. The first item of business was to discuss the purchase of Mrs. Rugh’s Nursery School for $850.00 (to be paid out of tuition fees when the school becomes operative). The church voted to purchase the school.
The church also voted to accept the recommendations of the Trustees to handle the next phase of debt reduction without professional help. They also voted that the building fund pledges should be continued for the remainder of 1971, and that a way should be found to incorporate the payments into the annual budget for 1972.
The Advisory Council and the Quarterly Business Meeting also endorsed the plan of the New York Baptists to raise money to refurbish and expand the Pathfinder and Vick Summer Camps. It was called the Camps, Conference Center and Church Extension Campaign. Their challenge goal was $400,000.00. Our share of the challenge goal was $8,580.00. Robert Lyon and Ellen Mapstone were selected as Co-chairmen to raise money from the Manlius congregation. It as a low key campaign because of the large Building Fund debt but the church did raise $2,122.00 for the cause.
During the last weekend of March (26, 27, 28), 1971, a group of nine members of our church journeyed to the Baptist Church in Pleasant Valley, Connecticut, for a Lay Witness Mission. Robert and Margaret Vermilya, Glenna Hammond, Erman Ferris, Ellen Mapstone, Margo Marris, Mitch Marris, Gordon Adams and Barbara Foringer were the participants. Later, on April 25, 1971, several of the witnesses spoke in the morning service of their experiences.
On May 23 and 24, 1971, Reverend Hammond wrote letters to the congregation telling them that he was submitting his resignation to become effective on June 27, 1971. He was to begin a new ministry with “Help Line,” a New York City Telephone Ministry. The Constitution requires an acceptance by the church of the resignation; therefore, Reverend Hammond called a congregational meeting on June 6th after the church service for that purpose. Reverend Hammond first preached on the theme:; “God takes care of His people and His plans for our church will be carried out.” The people in his previous churches had been well led after his work with them and he was confident that we would be also. After the service a “most thoughtful” congregation met to regretfully accept Reverend Hammond’s resignation. On June 20, 1971, Reverend Hammond preached his last sermon as Pastor. On June 1245, 1971, Reverend and Mrs. Hammond were given a farewell reception at the church.
In the mid-June Christian Carrier, Reverend Hammond wrote a farewell message to the congregation.
“We wish to express our great appreciation to this Church and its officers. These have been nine years filled with many experiences; the memories of which we shall cherish. We fully expect God to direct you to the kind of leadership and singleness of purpose which shall make Manlius first Baptist the most outstanding church in New York. Thank you for your loyalty. May God bless you and prosper you in all things spiritual.”
George L. Hammond.
Mrs. Hammond was presented with a beautiful oil painting of the church, painted by Alice Mapstone, as a going away gift from the Women’s Fellowship. Later she wrote to Dorothy Ammann:
“Will you say many, many thanks to the girls of Women’s Fellowship for this beautiful painting by Alice? It is truly wonderful and we shall treasure it all of our lives. Thanks, too, for the nine years I have been a part of the fellowship with each of them. I know I will miss the life of the church but feel confident I will find a place somewhere to serve. God grant you the joy and peace you so generously give to others.
Sincerely, Glenna.
After leaving the First Baptist Church of Manlius, Reverend Hammond served as a Counselor for the Marble Collegiate Dutch Reformed Church in New York City and was Supervisor of their Help Line Telephone Ministry, which involved the scheduling of
telephone conversationalists, personal direct contact with persons heading up the Service Agencies, and the follow-up on individuals seeking help. Over 90% of the people asking for help were unchurched. A real effort to help these people identify with a church was indicated. It was an entirely new ministry with need of the development of new skills,and offered a wide range of additional opportunities.
The letter for Reverend Hammond was transferred to the Marble Collegiate Church. He later became pastor of the United Baptist Church of Ellsworth, Maine, and retired from the ministry as their Pastor Emeritus. Reverend and Mrs. Hammond moved to Lansdale, Pennsylvania, where they again became members of the Lansdale Baptist Church.
Reverend and Mrs. Hammond celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on October 6, 1998. Reverend Hammond died on November 2, 1998. He was survived by Mrs. Glenna Hammond, daughter Nancy, sons Scott and Stephen, and nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, Reverend Hammond died before the history of his pastorate was written. It would have been illuminating to have been able to share his memories of his years in Manlius, but that was not to be.
Mrs. Glenna Hammond wrote that the new educational building was probably the high point of their pastorate. “The good that the building has and will accomplish toward the Christian training and fellowship of the church members will last for years.” A member of the Building Committee agrees and remembers that no one worked harder for the dream of an Educational Building to come true than Reverend George Hammond. Glenna also wrote about George’s illness (arthritis) and remembered “how good the people were to us, helping me especially to care for him.”
Reverend Kenneth E. Phelps, in a letter written on the occasion of the Homecoming Celebration of 1993, was asked to share some thoughts about the influences that the Manlius Church had on his life. Part of his memories were of the ministry of Reverend Hammond during his “formative years.”
“I remember will his vivid illustrations involving people and situations here in Maine. While sitting in the last seat of the Balcony, ‘the Phelps’ seats, I heard many stories of people from Mars Hill, Maine. The place took on an almost mythical quality as George made the people and the place come alive. Little did I know that some day I would be the Chaplain of the Hospital/Nursing home in Mars Hill, Maine.”
On June 2, 1971, the Church Moderator, Sidney Mawson, the Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Robert Vermilya, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Elwin Richardson, sent a letter to the members of the Advisory Council asking them to convene after the Church Business Meeting on June 6, 1971, for a short meeting. On Thursday evening, June 10, 1971, at 8:30, the Advisory Council met again to appoint a Pulpit Committee. Those appointed were:
The Moderator, Sidney Mawson, then called another Church Business Meeting for June 20, 1971, after the church service to elect the Pulpit Committee. On the same day Peter Seibel, custodian since 1960 or 1961 (the records are not clear), announced his resignation in the Sunday Bulletin:
Dear Friends: My sincere thanks and deepest appreciation for all the kindness and thoughtfulness you’ve shown me during the years I have served as your custodian. I especially wish to thank Reverend Hammond and the Board of Trustees for their help and understanding. It is my desire to continue to worship with you each Sunday. You’ve become very much a part of my life. Very Sincerely, Peter Seibel
Peter Seibel was a very special custodian. He helped build the new church in 1927 as an electrician and therefore knew all about the electrical system. This was very helpful at times. He attended church services and sang in the choir, and was very much a part of church life. (You have already read about his work far beyond his custodial duties in remodeling the old Sunday School Rooms.) The new addition and its daily use by the new Hillside Play School added greatly to his work load and Peter found this a good time to retire. He was missed.
In 1971, Margaret Vermilya came up with a plan in which women of the church were to cooperate in sharing, in some way, their time one day each month with one of their favorite senior members, Foster Mudge. She called it the “Foster Plan.” (It was similar to a plan devised for William Nightingale. For him the plan was to give him a Sunday Dinner and an automobile ride around town, and preferably, past a farm he once owned south of Manlius.)
In 1971 there must have been stories going around about alcoholic beverages being allowed in the Keuka College dormitory (a Baptist College). The Advisory Council voted to send a resolution to the Baptist State Office stating the church’s disapproval.
On June 23, 1971, the Moderator called the first meeting of the Pulpit Committee to order and they elected Ray Heller Chairman and Cathy Lyon Secretary.
Reverend Robert Williams attended the meeting representing the State Office (Baptist) to give advice and counsel to the Committee. The group mailed a questionnaire to each family of the congregation on Friday, June 25, 1971, to determine what the church was looking for in a Pastor. The Committee asked for the continued prayers of the congregation so that they might have Divine guidance and direction.
On Sunday, June 27, 1971, Reverend John Baker preached the sermon. It was announced that for the present Reverend Baker would make pastoral calls, and if Reverend Baker was not available, Reverend Raker would take his place.
In the summer of 1971 we closed our Sunday School and again held church services with the Methodists for 10 Sundays in July, August and September with Reverend Buskey preaching for the Methodists and a variety of preachers for the Baptists. Vacation Bible School was to be ecumenical again in 1971, with the Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal and Catholic churches participating. Sister Stephanie of St. Ann’s Church was director. Sessions were held in all four churches. The dates were August 16-19 and 23-26, 1971.
In the July Trustee’s meeting a motion was made for Lloyd Slentz to make an informal offer for a small piece of property on our south border which would straighten out our south property line. The motion was seconded and passed. Mr. Slentz found that Mrs. Ryan would sell the land for $1,000.00. The land was eventually purchased but not from Mrs. Ryan. A survey of the property involved is reproduced in the appendix.
The church family in 1971 made a three year pledge of $2,879.00 to the Home Mission Board project to provide funds for Camping, Conferences, and Church Extension (CCC). Robert Lyon was the Chairman for the church.
On July 25, 1971, Mrs. Robert Mapstone, Director of the Cherub Choir and the Youth Choir, was in Green Lakes, Wisconsin, attending the American Baptist Music Conference. On August 8, 1971, the Pulpit Committee engaged Reverend Clarence B. Gilbert, a former Executive Minister of the New York State Baptist Convention, to start as the Interim Pastor on Sunday, September 12, 1971.
The Hillside Play School Day Care Center, Inc. was opened in September 1971 in the educational wing of the church. There were forty 3 & 4 year olds enrolled (full enrollment) and the school was directed by Mrs. Elizabeth Squires, with two full-time teachers and one full-time teacher’s aid assisting. The Incorporation papers were filed in Albany on October 4, 1971.
On October 17, 1971, the Trustees launched the Every Member Canvas Campaign for 1972 with Mr. George Davenport as the leader of a team of 15 men and women. As in the 1970 campaign, money had to be raised for the Building Fund Mortgage as well as for the regular programs and upkeep of the church.
In the Bulletin for October 24, 1971, the Pulpit Committee announced that they had found a candidate for Pastor of the church. “He will lead in the morning worship (October 31, 1971) and preach the sermon. Following the worship service, a special meeting of the church will be held to vote on issuing a call to the candidate.” The Pulpit Committee sent to the members of the congregation a very long resume which included facts concerning Reverend Clayton’s education, his service, his attributes, his attitudes and a summary of appraisals of Reverend Clayton by others. The resume is reproduced in the appendix.
The Board of Deacons arranged for a 24-hour prayer vigil from Friday, October 29, 1971, thru Saturday, October 30, 1971. They asked the congregation to “please sign up for the time of your choice and pray for guidance as we prepare for and decide upon a new pastor of our church.” This was to precede a get-acquainted informal reception on Saturday evening, October 30, 1971, for the congregation to meet Reverend Frank Clayton, his wife, Jean, and daughter, Lori. (Son Philip was in college and not available that weekend.)
On Sunday morning, October 31, 1971, Reverend Clayton visited with the Sunday School and then preached on “Called to Relationships” as his candidating sermon. After the service the congregation met and voted to extend Reverend Clayton a call. Reverend Clayton was “duly elected to the Pulpit” (134 voted yes, 5 no) and was to begin his pastorate in Manlius on January 30, 1972. (January 30 was a special day for Reverend Clayton. It was his birthday as well as the anniversary of his ordination.)
A vote of thanks was extended to the Pulpit Committee for their many hours of service and for bringing Reverend Clayton to us. (In order for the ladies who would ordinarily be working in the nursery or with the younger children during the service to hear Reverend Clayton, women came from Eastern Hills, Christ Church and the Music Department of the Fayetteville-Manlius Elementary School to take their places.)
Reverend Gilbert became hospitalized in late November or early December, 1971, and was no longer able to act as Interim Pastor. A “beautiful” nativity set was given to the church by the Davison family and has been enjoyed every Christmas since. At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on December 5, 1971, it was announced that the church had received a purchase offer of $17,500 for the Seneca Street property. The Trustees voted to accept the offer. On December 12, 1971, a Special Meeting of the church was called by the Moderator, Sid Mawson, to ratify the decision of the Trustees. There is no record of the meeting but the house was sold. The church retained the playground area and the garden house. The garden house had to be moved several feet to the north to remain on church property.
In the January 16, 1972, Bulletin, the women of the church announced that they were sponsoring a pantry shower for the Claytons. “Please bring non-perishable items to the church by Thursday, January 20.” The Mid-January Christian Carrier reported that the parsonage was ready for the new pastor and family to move in. “The Trustees have been busy putting it in good shape.” The outside was repainted in the fall. Inside, all the hardwood floors were sanded and varnished, and all rooms painted. Members of the Unity Class painted the cellar walls and new tile was laid on the kitchen and bathroom floors.
Reverend John Baker, Dr. Calvin Thompson, former pastor of the Delaware Baptist Church, and Reverend Harrison Williams, Executive Minister of the New York State Baptist Convention, filled the pulpit until Reverend Clayton arrived to preach his first sermon on January 30, 1972, on “Responsible Membership.”
Since January 30 was also Reverend Clayton’s 44th birthday, a Birthday Dinner was served for the congregation after the church service. Mrs. Robert Lyon and helpers prepared the meal and Mrs. Bud Hapeman provided the table decorations. (Mrs. Hapeman had a special talent for making decorations and they were appreciated on many occasions.)
Reverend Clayton’s Installation Service was scheduled for February 13, 1972, at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Thorwald Bender, Dean of the Faculty of the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (and Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Theology) delivered the Charge to the Ministers. (He also preached the sermon at the morning service.) Others attending the Installation were Keith Morgan, Mayor of Manlius, Holland Maughn, representing the Iroquois Association, Robert Williams representing the New York State Convention, and Reverend J.R. Buskey representing the local clergy. A reception in the Chapel followed the Service of Installation.
Reverend Clayton introduced himself to the congregation in his Pastor to People Column which would be a feature of every Christian Carrier published during his stay in Manlius. His first introductory column was sub-titled “I Am a Person” and answered some questions typically asked a new pastor.
“ I Am A Person”
Usually the arrival of a new pastor to a church brings a little uneasiness on the part of some members. “Am I going to like him?” “Will he recognize me or will he cater to a special few?” “What shall I call him?” “Can I confide in him?” On and on go the questions in our minds.
Let me set you at ease in regards to some of your questions. First of all whatever makes you the most comfortable in addressing me will be accepted. But I am a person and I do have a name. So please do not just refer to me as Reverend. If you want to use this at least attach Frank or Clayton on to it to identify me as a person. My preference would be to address me just as Frank.
Secondly, you can be assured that whatever is spoken to me in confidence shall remain in confidence by me. I have been trained as a counselor and will be happy to counsel with anyone at anytime about any personal problems.
Thirdly, I am different than any previous pastor of this church. I am a different person. So please do not expect me to be like your previous ministers. There will be things that I do differently. I will make changes from time to time. But I will seek out the counsel and guidance of all church boards in any changes that are made.
Fourthly, I am open to any suggestions, comments, or criticism from anyone at anytime. Please feel free to come to me with your feelings and express them openly. Together we can work them out and be closer because of them.
Fifthly, I will try my best to be impartial in my relationships to each person. But remember that I also am human and just as you become more closely attached to a special friend even so I may become a little more closely attached to a few members.
I seek your prayers as I begin my pastorate with you. You can be assured that my prayers will also be with you and I will try to give my best effort on your behalf.
Frank E. Clayton
In the same newsletter, Reverend Clayton introduced his Five Sweet P’s which describe a good church member. They were:
The School of Missions followed on Sunday nights from February 27, 1972, to March 19, 1972. Computers were making their mark in modern civilization and the topic of discussion for the School was “Missions in the Computer Age.” Among the leaders were Dr. Abe Lorente, who spoke on the Biological Revolution, and Reverend Clayton, who spoke on “Technology in the New Age.”
In February of 1972, the Board of Deacons and the Board of Deaconesses, separated since 1958, were combined into a single Diaconate Board as recommended by Reverend Clayton and supported by both Boards. For the first year Robert Vermilya and Anna Slentz were elected co-chairmen but for the second and ensuing years, only a chairman (later to be known as a chairperson) was elected.
In the Bulletin of March 19, 1972, the Trustees announced plans for the complete redecoration of the Sanctuary to take place shortly after Easter. It was to be a “do it ourselves” project and the Trustees asked for the help and cooperation of the whole congregation. They wanted the church to look its best for the 175th anniversary.
The project started on May 8, 1972. The walls and ceiling and the woodwork were painted, carpeting was installed, the oak pews stripped and re-finished (a major undertaking led by Frances Davison and Mrs. Charles Whittington), the pulpit furniture was upholstered and the chancel was given a brand new look with draperies, blue velvet, and a cross made of white ash by Lynn Mapstone. In the rest of the church, the “old” Sunday School Rooms, hallways, parlor, the church office, and the Pastor’s study were painted by the custodian.
It was “Show and Tell Time” on April 23, 1972, for the Mother and Daughter Banquet. Margaret Vermilya asked the women to bring handmade items for a Fashion Show, and desserts, also homemade, for a Bakery Window Display. (The desserts were to be eaten at the dinner.)
In the summer of 1972, the Baptists and Methodists met together for 9 Sundays. The Baptists held Summer Sunday School all summer long for all ages in the “air conditioned” chapel at 9:00 a.m. (Church at 10:00 a.m.). Vacation Bible School was held for one week only in 1972, sponsored by the Baptists and Methodists with very little fanfare.
The Church was to be 175 years old in December 1972. It was disappointing that other anniversaries (100, 150, 160) came and went with little notice. For the 175th things were to be different. A 175th Anniversary Committee was chosen by the Advisory Council:
They met first on June 7, 1972, to elect a Chairman (Raymond Laning) and Secretary (Leah Stark). Program, Publicity, Hospitality and Transportation Committees were also appointed.
In his Pastor to People column for the Mid-June 1972 Christian Carrier, Reverend Clayton made sure that the church knew it was not just celebrating a birthday but an anniversary. “A birthday comes about because a person has been able to live that long, but an anniversary comes about because people have learned to live together in mutual respect and trust - loving and being loved - forgiving and being forgiven; sharing our sorrows and joys - our failures and successes; and, fulfilling each other as we mature in Christ’s likeness.”
The immediate task of the Committee was to compile the data for a Pictorial Directory. This was a first for the church. 20th Century Publications, Inc., took pictures of the church members. They made money by selling enlargements to those who wanted them. The church received a ten page letter size directory with several pages devoted to church history, complete with pictures, and a pictorial directory of all the members who had pictures taken.
The Committee also decided to have commemorative tiles made with a picture of the church to sell to all who wanted one. The profits would be used to defray expenses of the Celebration. Eighteen dozen (216) were ordered.
In the summer of 1972, the First Baptist Church, The United Methodist Church and Eastern Hills Bible Church arranged for a series of six Sunday evening ecumenical “Community Campfires for Christ.” The services were directed toward the youth and designed for family participation. The programs featured special musical groups, personal testimonies from prominent people as well as local people, and group singing. According to the Deacons, the services “served to foster a spirit of fellowship with other Christians in our community and to bring Christ to the attention of those who may not have met Him.” Rain was at times a problem but the estimated total attendance for six nights was 2,800 people.
Everybody was invited to the Baptist Sunday School, starting July 2, at 9:00 Sunday mornings, to be held in the air-conditioned Baptist Chapel. (“Big ones, small ones, everybody come to the Baptist Sunday School. We’ll have lots of fun.”)
The Lorente Funds obtained from gifts of church members and friends of the Lorentes were used at their request to start a Scholarship Fund and the Deacons were to establish guidelines for its use. (The Fund is still in existence in 1999.)
On August 27, 1972, at the morning worship service Ann Mapstone was commissioned by the First Baptist Church of Manlius as an Ambassador for Christ in Haiti. In September, Ann flew to Haiti to spend a year serving as a practical nurse for the Good Samaritan Hospital in Limbe, Haiti. The Board of Missions set up a fund to aid in her support ($75.00 a month was needed.)
On September 15 and 16, 1972, Reverend Clayton, Norma Dougherty, Robert Vermilya and Charles Beams attended the Key ‘73 Planning Retreat in Marcy, New York. (Key ‘73 was an Evangelical endeavor led by the American Baptist Churches to bring the gospel of Christ to the attention of every person in North America in 1973.)
After the inside redecoration was completed the Trustees turned to the outside of the church. Gordon Noble was hired to paint the steeple, and the east half of the roof on the gymnasium was reshingled. On September 24, 1972, it was reported in the Bulletin that the parking lot had been resurfaced and that Art and Bob Mapstone had removed most of our dead Elm trees. The Trustees moved the garden shed and finished roofing the Parsonage.
On September 29 and 30, 1972, the Board of Christian Education sponsored a retreat for members, Sunday School Teachers and any other interested persons at Vanderkamp on Lake Oneida. Nineteen persons attended this “significant” event. The attendees considered their concerns for the church and Christian Education and explored ways in which they could be more creative in their planning and teaching.
The opening event for the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the church in 1797 was scheduled for Sunday, October 15, 1972. The Committee started at the top in New York State with their invitations and invited Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Reverend Norman Vincent Peale, Congressman James M. Hanley, and County Executive John Mulroy to participate. The invitations were sent rather late for busy people like the Governor and Reverend Peale, and both sent their regrets because of previous commitments. Fortunately, Congressman Hanley was able to accept. All of our living former pastors were invited. Reverend James MacPherson (Pastor 1923-1928), who was instrumental in building this present church, could not attend, nor could he send a vocal message because he had lost his voice. His grandson, Ronald MacPherson came and read a message from his grandfather. This event, and many other happenings in the church, were well publicized, thanks to Mrs. Ramona Bowden, neighbor of our Secretary Sara Beams and Religion Editor for the Post Standard and its Sunday Empire Magazine.
The 175th anniversary celebration continued on Thursday, October 19, 1972, at the Anniversary Family Night Supper. The program was “In This Our Church,” a play and picture presentation. Mr. Britton Van Auken, Town Supervisor, was a special guest. On Sunday, October 22, 1972, former Pastor and Mrs. Reverend Lawrence A. Wheaton (1938-1945) were guests of the church and Reverend Wheaton spoke on “Joy in Religion.” The Hammonds sent regrets that they could not be part of the celebration on Sunday, November 5, 1972, as planned, but sent best wishes and love to everyone and flowers to the Church Family for the Sunday Service.
On November 19, 1972, a “Thanksgiving For Our Heritage” dinner was served to the church family following the morning service at which Reverend Russell Raker spoke of his association with our church as Interim Pastor and member. Reverend Robert Williams, Area V Minister of the New York State Baptist Convention preached the morning sermon.
The new hymnbooks were in the pews and the Church Family expressed its thanks to the family and friends of the late Charles Cathers for “the lovely new hymnals.” “They will long be a source of joy and inspiration as was the one whose memory we are commemorating.” The hymnals were the New Baptist Hymnal, published in 1972. The Deacons revised the Covenant and it was added to the Hymn Book. The new covenant did not contain the admonition against tattling and gossiping and use and sale of alcoholic beverages.
The year 1972 was a time to reflect on our long history and the members of the church enjoyed looking back at our past and marveling that our church’s ancestors had endured and accomplished such great things. Pastor Clayton’s message in the report for 1973 referred to Paul’s message to the Christian Church in Phillipi, “I leave this part behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead, I go straight for the goal - my reward, the honor of being called by God in Christ.” Reverend Clayton wrote that “It is very easy to become tied down to the past with its memories. It is necessary that we accept the advice of Paul and meet the demands and challenges of today and look forward to new victories tomorrow.” And so the church moved on.
There was one more Sunday of “looking back” on January 28, 1973. It was the last of the planned events for the 175th anniversary Celebration and Reverend John Baker tied it all together in his sermon “By Hook or by Crook.” (This was to have taken place in December, 1971, but because of the illness of Reverend Baker’s wife, Lucy, it was postponed.)
At the January 18, 1973, annual meeting, Robert Vermilya, representing the Diaconate, asked that the arrangement for one Diaconate Board be continued even though the constitution had not yet been revised to accommodate the reunion. The congregation approved. There was no record of the church being asked for its approval or disapproval but on one of the Communion Sundays in 1973 the women joined the men in serving communion, for the first time in 176 years. There had also been an experimental reduction of the Advisory Council (from a possible 45 members) to a much smaller group which included the Chairman and Vice-chairman and representatives to the Iroquois Association from the four Boards (Trustees, Deacons, Christian Education and Missions), the Moderator, the Church Clerk, and the Pastor (a 15 member Advisory Council). The idea was to make the Advisory Council more efficient and to give more importance to the Iroquois Association, but some members were reluctant to have membership representation vested in a group of 15 which did not include youth and women’s groups. The congregation voted for the Advisory Council to revert to its former configuration.
Another motion was made, seconded, and carried, at the Annual Meeting, that was to reactivate the Constitution Committee. The original Committee members were:
They had made some recommendations at the Annual Meeting in January 1963, but there was no action at that time. The Committee regrouped with Al Fowler and Irene Whittington replacing Reverend Hammond and providing a fifth member. Ray Heller was retained as Chairman.
In the January newsletter the women of the church were told that the Fayetteville Manlius Directory was ready for delivery. Each woman was to be asked to deliver books to a street or block. Delivery dates were to be on two weekends, January 12-14 and 19-21, 1973.
In the same January, 1973, Newsletter, Reverend Clayton used his Pastor to People column to expand the meaning of his 5 Sweet P’s:
At the beginning of a new year it would be helpful for us to be reminded of our responsibilities as members of 1st Baptist Church. I call these responsibilities the 5 sweet P’s of church membership.
- We expect that you will be praying members. Prayer is the life & strength of every Christian. Therefore it is necessary for us to cultivate our prayer life. Pray for your needs & needs of others. Pray for your church.
- We expect that you will be present members. Your presence is needed at every worship service & activity of our church. We need you & you need what we have to offer.
- We expect that you will be participating members. Each of us has some talent to offer in the service of Christ. We can serve on a Board; or just call on newcomers & shut-ins.
- We expect that you will be paying members. The sharing of our income in the work of the church is vitally important to the kinds of programs & activities we can offer. Every Christian ought to accept, as the minimum standard of giving, 10% of all income. If we all gave a tithe, or 10%, there would never be any financial problems in the church.
- We expect that you will be peaceful members. That you will work at maintaining the unity of our fellowship. Under no circumstances will you stir up trouble in order to divide or fragment our church into friction. But will always be forgiving & patient looking to Christ for strength and guidance. If we all would strive to adopt these five P’s of church membership - what a great church we would be!
While some of the best words to describe a good church member begin with the letter P, it is equally true for words describing bad behavior, and some of the people’s imagination went so far as to make a list of sour P’s. Some examples were:
There is one kind of member we should all strive to be, but of course won’t succeed in being, and that is a Perfect member.
On February 11, 1973, the Coffee Hour was invented in our church and the members and visitors were advised that starting on February 18, 1973, coffee would be served in the church kitchen from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. on Sundays for all who would drop in. Weren’t the people supposed to be in Sunday School classes?
Ann Mapstone sent many interesting letters describing her work and life in Haiti and these were published frequently in the Christian Carrier. With her letter for February she sent a poem:
When you get to Heaven
You will likely view
Many folks whose presence there
Will be a shock to you.
But be very quiet
Don’t even stare
Doubtless there will be many folks
Surprised to see you there.
On March 4, 1973, the School of Missions began its 4 week study of “India, One Sixth of All the World’s Peoples.” March 11, 1973, was Youth Sunday with 24 of our BYF presenting the program “Praise the Lord.”
Many people, at various times in 1973, continued to be active in the Lay Witness Program and groups from our church went to the Central United Methodist Church of Utica, New York, to the First Baptist Church of Kingston, New York, the United Methodist Church in Greenville, New York, and the United Methodist Church in Verona, New York. Among the participants were Robert Vermilya, Norma Dougherty, Sue Mapstone, Abe and Pam Lorente, Barbara Forringer, Ray Heller, Fred and Roger Strauss, Erman Ferris, Betsy Siegenthaler, Bill Billet, Bill Burt, Helen Fardig and Ann Mapstone.
On April 22, 1973, an offering was taken in the morning service to provide an electric generator for Haiti. The generator was to be dedicated at a service in Hinche, Haiti, and Bob and Shirley Mapstone, visiting their daughter, Ann, were to deliver the money as our representatives.
On May 13, 1973, it was announced that Mrs. Frank Clayton had been named as Chairman of Special Interest Missionaries for the American Baptist Women of New York State. On June 17, 1973, sixteen of our young people graduated from high school.
The Constitution Committee met several times in the Spring of 1963. They divided the Constitution and By-Laws into separate sections and each Board and Committee of the church was asked to review and revise, if desired, the part that came under its jurisdiction. Questionnaires were also sent to interested members of the congregation. From the information gathered, a rough draft was assembled, which was reviewed by legal counsel and executive members of the State Convention.
A final draft was prepared and made available to the membership. The revised Constitution and By-Laws were presented on June 21, 1973, to fifty members at a special 4-hour Business Meeting. This was an unusual meeting with Kenneth Phelps as Moderator and Reverend Clayton as Parliamentarian. There was much discussion and further amending. Many votes were taken and some amendments passed and others were discarded. In the end the congregation approved a revised constitution which with the Trustees’ approval was printed and mailed to all church families.
Several of the major changes (already suggested by the 1963 Committee) were:
1. Separation of the Constitution and By-Laws. New rules made it easy to amend the By-Laws but difficult to amend the Constitution.
2. Associate members were no longer described as such. He or she could now serve on the Diaconate Board but could not serve on a Pulpit Committee or vote on matters pertaining to the church’s relationship with the denomination.
Apparently Article 5 on membership created the most discussion. There were some in favor of excluding the classification of associate membership and others in favor of leaving it. Several amendments were proposed and voted on with almost a 50-50 division on each amendment. It appeared that a stalemate had occurred and the constitution might not be passed. The Pastor asked for a little compromise on both sides so that harmony and unity could prevail. A substitute amendment was proposed and after discussion it passed by the necessary 2/3 vote, and then the revised By-Laws and Constitution, as amended, also passed.
The amendment read:
By letter a person who is in substantial accord with the faith and principles of this church as taught in the pastor’s Class, may be received by letter from any Christian Church; it being understood that any person not being baptized by immersion shall be so noted on the official membership records of the church and he/she shall be ineligible to serve on a pulpit committee to call a new pastor, or vote on matters pertaining to the church’s relationship to its denomination.
Reverend Clayton felt that this was a worthy compromise and to those not satisfied he made assurances that he would faithfully present our Baptist views and principles (especially believer’s baptism by immersion) to every person desiring membership in the church. He also promised to challenge those who have not been immersed to seriously consider immersion before bringing their letter from another Christian church. At least they would understand our Baptist beliefs and practices.
Reverend Clayton asked the congregation to now lay aside its differences and to fully cooperate and work together for the cause of Christ in this community. (One member, Lou H. “Bill” Billet, whose wife was apparently an associate member, felt that she had somehow been insulted by some of the comments made. The Billets left the church and we lost a devout, hard-working family.)
The Baptists and Methodists got together again for ten Sundays of joint worship with Reverend Buskey preaching in the Baptist Church and Reverend Clayton in the Methodist Church. There was a Cooperative Vacation Church School for one week held in the Baptist Church from August 20-24, 1973. There were 160 students, plus 30 teachers and helpers. Shirley Mapstone was the director. The school raised $95.00 to send 380 baby chicks to Haiti for the Heifer Project International.
The First Baptist Church of Manlius cooperated again with the Methodists, the Eastern Hills Bible Church and the United Church of Fayetteville for special outdoor services (near the former American Legion Hall Building back of the Fire House) from 7:45 - 9:00 p.m. on July 22, 29 and August 5 and 12, 1973. A choir sang and a special band played music for each night of activity.
“Foster Care” wasn’t enough to take full care of Foster Mudge and he left Manlius on August 22, 1973, for the Fairport Home. Forty friends gave him a farewell dinner before he left. He was to celebrate his 84th birthday on September 11, 1973.
Limestone Gardens was called “a dream about to come true.” It was announced in the Bulletin for August 22, 1973, that there was to be a ground breaking for Limestone Gardens on July 31, 1973, at 10:00 a.m. near the Manlius Fire Barn. Limestone Gardens was to be a non-profit housing complex for the well-elderly. (Several of our church members in 1999 live in Limestone Gardens.)
On October 1, 1973, Ann Mapstone spoke to the congregation regarding her work at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Limbe, Haiti. In the Fall, new Pew Bibles were purchased and placed in the Sanctuary. They were purchased with Tom Clute Memorial Funds and dedicated to his memory. There was no Every Member Canvass in the Fall of 1973, in that none of the members were canvassed, but were instead mailed their pledge cards. The members were expected to fill them out generously and send them back to the church without being cajoled or prodded, and for the most part they cooperated.
In October of 1973, the Diaconate instituted a program of communication and fellowship involving every family of the church called The Undershepherd Program (very similar to the Parish Zone plan set up in 1957 for the same purpose). The basic unit was a group of eight families with one family as group leader (called the undershepherds). A group of 5-6 undershepherds would report to a shepherd who would report to Robert Vermilya, the Coordinator. (The Shepherds were usually designated are couples.) We did not have a prayer chain at the time. Any concerns or announcements could be sent up and down through the system. The undershepherd groups were encouraged to meet together at times for a covered dish supper or a picnic or for Bible Study. The program was dropped in the spring of 1974 with no reason given.
Early in 1974 Pastor Clayton, in his People to People article in the mid-February Christian Carrier, wrote about “loosening up” the worship service “a bit.” He felt the Baptists had gone through an evolution from a very informal type of worship experience to a very formal-structural type of worship. He thought we needed a blending of the two. It seemed to him to be necessary for an opportunity to be allowed for spontaneous expressions of joy and concern as well as an opportunity for formal expressions of love and devotion. As a starter, he suggested that we use the time before the service begins to quietly and reverently talk with our neighbor or to go to someone whom we know is a visitor and welcome him and introduce ourselves to him (before the organ prelude).
In 1974, for the first time in many years, there was no School of Missions. A long-standing tradition and by all accounts, a highly successful one, came to an end. The Mission Board intended to extend their efforts at educating the congregation throughout the year. They brought Reverend and Mrs. Harold Heneise to the church on March 3, 1974, to talk to the Sunday School and to lead the morning service. They were given a reception in the church. The Heneises had given 22 years of dedicated service as Missionaries in Limbe, Haiti.
In the mid-April 1974 newsletter, the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering was taken for the first time. It was described as a “special” offering taken by all Christian Churches to alleviate hunger around the world, and became the fourth of the major American Baptist Quarterly Offerings (America for Christ, The World Mission Offering and the M & M Offering).
During the weekend of April 26, 27, 28, 1974, the church was privileged to have Mr. Galo Viteri, a student at the Baptist Judson College in Elgin, Illinois, with us to present three concerts. On April 26 he presented to the congregation a concert of sacred music, on April 27 he sang to the combined Unity and Achean Fellowship, and on April 27 he sang during the worship service and gave a personal testimony.
April 28, 1974, was Bertha Strauss’s last day as church organist. She had served faithfully since 1967. Andrea Knapp was hired as the new organist to begin on Sunday, May 5, 1974.
In May Bob and Margaret Vermilya invited the whole church to attend their daughter Lois’ wedding on Sunday, June 9, 1974, at 2:00 p.m. in the Merril House on the Colgate University Campus in Hamilton, New York, and to the buffet picnic on the lawn after the ceremony. Also in May word reached the Manlius Church that Reverend James MacPherson, pastor of the First Baptist Church from 1923-1928, died on May 7, 1974, in Denver, Colorado.
May was declared Upstate Home Month and church members were asked to donate to the Upstate Home Capital Funds Drive. They were asking for $500,000.00 for a new facility to house and educate retarded children at the home. A May 19, 1974, family night supper was scheduled as an informational meeting. Church members were to receive materials in the mail and were asked to pledge “as the Lord leads you.”
In the mid-May 1974 Christian Carrier the church was introduced to a new neighbor, the ABC (A Better Chance) House at 411 E. Seneca Street (formerly Jo Ryan’s home). The ABC offered ten students, economically disadvantaged but academically motivated, an opportunity to attend the Fayetteville-Manlius High School. ABC was a national program with a 10 year history of giving more than 1300 boys and girls the stimulation of learning in highly motivated environments not normally available to them. (The church has supported the ABC House since its beginnings through the Mission Funds.)
Mrs. Squires resigned as Director of the Hillside Play School effective July 1, 1974. In the mid-June Christian Carrier the new Hillside Play School Director was introduced. Mrs. Julia Tien was born in Shanghai, China, coming to the USA in 1958. She received her BS and MS in Elementary Education with concentration in Early Childhood from Eastern Michigan University. She had been head teacher at the First Presbyterian (Syracuse) Nursery School and a Sunday School Teacher for five years at the University Methodist Church. Her husband was Dr. Chi Tien, Chairman and Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Syracuse University. Their two daughters, Anita 12 and Ellen 9, attended Manlius Pebble Hill School. Mrs. Tien was interested in reading, music, sports, politics, science, arts and crafts, but “above all, children.”
During May Reverend Frank Clayton was in Atlanta, Georgia, attending a Basic Skills Training Conference (Lay Witness Program). The Vietnam War was over but the wounds were not healed. The F-M Churches sponsored a Week of Reconciliation, Amnesty and Returned Veterans’ Programs. On May 17, 1974, at the United Church in Fayetteville, there was to be a film, “Amnesty in Exile.”
On Children’s Day, June 6, 1974, the Carol Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Robert Mapstone, sang the musical “It’s Cool in the Furnace.” On June 16,1974, to celebrate the beginning of the Summer Season, the church families enjoyed a Chicken Barbecue on the lawn after the church service.
It was noted in the June 16, 1974, Christian Carrier that Foster Mudge, now a resident of the Fairport Home, had written a book, The Rocking Chair Ramblings of an Octogenarian. Copies could be bought from the Church office for $3.00 each. On several occasions excerpts from his writings were published in the Christian Carrier.
On June 30, 1974, the church said goodby to the now Major Abe Lorente, wife Pam and their two children, Miguel and Christine. Abe was serving in the Air Force Hospital in Honshi, Japan, for two years. Abe and Pam were commissioned by Reverend Clayton as missionaries from our congregation to the Japanese. That evening, at 7:30, Leah Stark gave a reception at her home for the Lorentes (and the Andersons, another church family moving away at that time).
From August 5-9, 1974, there was another Ecumenical Vacation Church School sponsored by the Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran and Baptist Churches, led by Mrs. Shirley Mapstone, and with all of the classes at the Baptist Church. The theme was “Market Time” with a Palestinian market place featured as the center of student activities. There was a special program in the evening for the older children in the 8-12 grades led by Father Armani of St. Ann’s and Reverend Silbauh of the Christ Episcopal Church.
On September 8, 1974, the worship service was definitely out of the ordinary and would involve quite a bit of moving around. At 10:45 the congregation met at the church for communion, then moved to Beard park in Fayetteville for an Ecumenical outdoor worship service. After the service, the Baptists gathered at Pratts’ Falls for an all-church picnic.
A Meal-on-Wheels program was established in 1974 for the Fayetteville-Dewitt area. The program was to be supported by the Fayetteville, Manlius and Dewitt churches. It was a program designed to feed people in their homes (lunches and dinners) who were unable to prepare meals by themselves and would either suffer from poor nutrition or would have to leave their homes for a nursing facility.
The meals were to be prepared in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church by volunteers under the direction of a paid supervisor and delivered to the homes daily by volunteer drivers. The recipients of the food paid a modest fee for the service. Comstock and Marge Lincoln represented our church at the formation meetings, with many of our church volunteering time once the program was underway in the fall of 1974. Some of the early helpers were Margaret Vermilya, Beth Greene, Katherine Jackson and Doris Dudley.
In the September 1974 newsletter, Reverend Clayton announced to the congregation that September 8, 1974, marked his 20th year in the pastorate. He said that one of the priorities he had set for himself was that he would keep his mind alert to the advances of knowledge and had tried to do that through continuing education, reading and listening. He announced that he felt a need to take another step in sharpening his mind and accumulating a little more knowledge and was entering a program of study leading to a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Drew Theological Seminary. It was to be done mostly in addition to his duties as minister, but at times would require extra time away from his duties. The schedule was:
Fall & Winter 1974-1975 Weekly 4 Hour Seminars/30 Weeks
January 1975 & February 1975 1 Week each Month at Drew Theological Seminary
in Madison, New Jersey
Summer 1975 6 Weeks at Drew Theological Seminary in
Madison, New Jersey
The degree would take 2 years minimum. After the class work, he would have to write a professional project paper of 125 pages in length.. He hoped the church would bear with him the next two years “as I strive to further equip myself for a more effective ministry.” The Diaconate Board and the Advisory Council supported Reverend Clayton in this endeavor.
On October 9, 1974, the Sunday School Teachers were honored at an all-church Breakfast. The teachers were all given apple pies to take home after the church service.
The Financial Campaign for the 1975 Budget began in earnest on October 10, 1974. The theme was “Getting the Message Through,” devised and carefully thought out by our Circuit Riding Preacher Frank Clayton. The dinner and collection of pledge cards centered around the techniques used in 1860 to get the mail delivered between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, via the Pony Express. Chester Griffin, who owned and raised horses, rode up to the church (but not in) on Sunday morning on his favorite horse, dressed as a cowboy. His saddle bags were full of messages (pledge cards) for the congregation. Of course, the children (and even the adults) loved to see the cowboy and the horse.
Mr. Griffin delivered the “mail” to eight Circuit Riders (Myrna Benedict, Irene Whittington, James Dopp, Gordon Jackson, Douglas Greene, John Bock, Glen Schmidt and Bill Croshaw, who successfully dropped the mail through their two circuits. Those who got the “mail” were supposed to fill out their card and send the “mail” on to the next people on the list within one hour. Theoretically, the whole church should have been covered before the afternoon was over (if everyone had stayed at home to receive the mail).
In 1974, Dr. Harris gave a fire-proof file cabinet to the church in which to keep its priceless old records, some dating back to the early 1800s. Also in 1974, the Unity Class announced that it had adopted a “son,” K. Jonathon, who lived in the ABC orphanage in Kavail, India. They sent $12.00/month for his support and various members wrote him letters monthly.
In January and February 1975, Reverend Clayton began his new educational experiences by studying one week in January and one in February at the Drew Theological Seminary in New Jersey as requirements for his Doctor of Ministry Degree.
In the Spring of 1975, small groups were being emphasized by the Diaconate for the Lenten Season. Evangelistic Life Style was the Denomination’s 3 year program and the Diaconate organized three study groups. These were:
1. Monday Sermon Study (This must have been Reverend Clayton’s favorite group.)
2. Wednesday Bible Study
3. Sunday Prayer Group
For Holy Week the Diaconate planned a Festival of Life with special programs every weekday evening, Monday through Friday.
Monday - Work and Leisure Fair - Members would provide displays showing what they do at work or at home with their hobbies.
Tuesday - Fun and recreation with games for all ages.
Wednesday - Music Night - all who had musical talents were asked to perform (an earlier version of the Coffee House)
Thursday - A night for the congregation to eat together (although the theme “Eat Less, Enjoy It More” didn’t sound like it was to be like a normal church supper). Communion followed the supper.
In March the Youth For Christ organization (our custodian, Frank Bishop, was the Area Supervisor) requested the use of one of our rooms for office space from the Trustees. Permission was granted. In the Quarterly Report for the church it was noted that the church facilities have had an increase in use and seem to be performing a Christian service for our community.
The BWF women were planning a Bazaar for the fall. It would be called “The Bountiful Barrel Boutique” featuring handmade items. In April the women were already working on items to be sold. Each Thursday evening they met for a workshop to do sewing and patchwork. For the summer, the women were asked to make a few extra jars every time they made preserves or pickles. They were also asked to start small house plants so they would be ready in the fall. (The last Harvest Supper, or Turkey on the Table Supper, as a fund raiser for the BWF was served in 1966.
In May the Diaconate discussed how to provide substitutes for Reverend Clayton during his absence while attending the Drew Theological Seminary for 6 weeks in the summer and during his regular vacation. Erman Ferris reminded the Diaconate that pastors improving their skills and knowledge spending time in school should not have to use their vacation for that purpose.
The Trustees arranged for a covered entry way for the southwest entrance to the Educational Wing of the church (Dick Forringer and Chuck Skinner did most of the work). Frank Bishop resigned as custodian.
One of the major events of 1975 was the ordination of Kenneth Earl Phelps as an American Baptist Minister on June 15, 1975. He was born on July 24, 1950, in Syracuse to Kenneth and Ada Phelps. He was dedicated in the First Baptist Church of Manlius, was baptized and became a member in 1960. Ken was educated in the Fayetteville-Manlius Schools, Eastern Baptist College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He was to graduate from Seminary in May 1975 and asked to be ordained in his home church. Mr. Phelps met on Saturday, April 5, 1975, with the Iroquois Baptist Association Ordination Committee, and on Sunday, May 17, 1975, with the Ordination Council of the Iroquois Association. (After the Council meets with a candidate it deliberates and votes. While the public is invited to the meeting, only the Pastor and one lay representative from each church can vote. Reverend Clayton and Robert Vermilya represented First Baptist Church of Manlius.) After deliberating and voting the Council unanimously recommend Mr. Phelps to the church for ordination. A Service of Ordination was scheduled for Sunday, June 15, 1975, at 3:00 p.m. Mrs. Robert Davies, Church Clerk, read the Statement of the Council on Ordination, Reverend Clayton preached on the subject “A Genuine Ordination,” Reverend Paul Thompson, Area V Executive Minister, gave the Charge to the Candidate, and Reverend Jerry Miller, Moderator of the Iroquois Association welcomed Reverend Kenneth E. Phelps to the Ministry. Reverend Phelps closed the meeting with the Benediction. A reception followed.
Although the church had ordained at least two other ministers (Charles C. Morton in 1827 and G.W. Devoll in 1854) Kenneth Phelps was the first to have been born to church members and to have been a part of the Manlius church since birth.
In the summer, because of Reverend Clayton’s absence, we reverted to a full 8 weeks of union services with the Methodists. The Vacation Bible School, again ecumenical with the Catholic Church participating, was held from August 4-8, 1975. Mrs. Robert Mapstone was again the Director. The sessions were split again with younger children coming in the morning and Junior and Senior High young people coming in the evening. The theme was “Jesus and His Followers.”
In the summer of 1975 the Trustees received an evaluation statement from the Town Assessor’s Office. The value of the church, including the educational wing, was set at $493,920.00 and the parsonage at $34,125.00.
In September Sandra Walton began her duties as Director of Music. The Music Committee reported that the organist, Millie Becker, was having problems with the organ. (In their yearly report for 1975 the Music Committee informed the congregation of the debilitated state of the Sanctuary Organ and warned them of the upcoming need for a replacement.)
In the fall, the Unity Class became the Unity Fellowship. Since members enjoying the “Fellowship” meetings were coming from more than one adult Sunday School class, to call the group a class was no longer appropriate.
The American Baptist State Convention was attempting to raise $7,500,000.00
from New York State Baptist Churches to be used for the education of minority groups. Because of the Mortgage Reduction Program, the church decided not to make a commitment but would send a letter to the congregation explaining the program and those who felt able to give extra were urged to participate.
Preparations were underway for the “Faith Alive” weekend scheduled for September 17-19, 1975. Erman Ferris had to be away and Ken Bex was added as a third co-chairman along with Leah Stark. A brochure was prepared and people invited from other churches far and near to participate.
There were at least 25 of our church members who were responsible for parts of the program and the brochure, Faith Alive listed 25 adults and 2 youth who came from Kerhonkson, Greenville, Perry, Greene, Schenectady, Oakdale, Mass., Carlisle, Pa. and from the Methodist Churches in Manlius and Fayetteville to lead and participate in the three day program. The themes were:
Friday - Getting to Know You - Family Night Covered Dish Supper
Saturday - We Really Do Need Each Other - Coffee Hour, Men & Women’s Luncheon, Visitation to Shut-ins, Family Night Supper
Sunday - We Need Jesus Christ - Sunday School, Church, Evening Evaluation.
The Church Clerk, Gene Davies, judged the weekend to be a “real success.”
On Sunday, November 16, 1975, in the morning service, Rhoda Edwards was honored for her 18 years of service as Director of the Sanctuary Choir. There was a reception for her in the Fellowship Room for the congregation and friends after church.
The women of the church brought their handiwork and plants and baked goods to the church for sale to the public late in the fall of 1975. The Bountiful Barrel Boutique was a resounding success. The women raised $1,172.66 for the Upstate Children’s Home Building Fund. (The profit from the sale of food went to the Kitchen Fund.)
Foster Mudge died in 1975. His personal creed was published in the 1975 Annual Report of the Church.
My Desire Perfection
My Regret Human Frailty
My Fault Fear
My Realization Others Love Me
My Peace Acceptance
Reverend Clayton gave some illuminating statistics in his annual report to the congregation, which was unusual for a pastor but a good idea. Most members of the congregation (except for his wife) have no idea of the number of calls, the number of meetings and activities that a conscientious pastor is involved in.
1975: Hospital Calls 142
Counseling Sessions 136
Home Visits (Members) 120
(Visitors) 35
Bible Study Groups 38
Sermons 43
Baptisms 14
New Members Received 18
New Members Attending 18
Weddings 7
Funerals 7
Church Meetings Attended 98
Outside Meetings Attended 78
Hours in Office-Study 830
Reverend Frank Clayton designed the cover of the Annual Report for 1975. He used the symbol of a butterfly, once a lowly caterpillar, now beautiful, now free to fly wherever it wanted. Looking at the butterfly from a Christian perspective he saw it “as a live symbol of the Christian life. Birth from captivity to sin and self. Here is symbolized the change, the miracle of new birth, that the Christian experiences in Christ.” He asked that these symbols of the Butterfly, ie.,
Freedom
New life
Love
Growth
Witness
Peace
Liberty
Joy and
Service
be our experience as we celebrate the bicentennial of our nation and the one hundred and seventy-ninth anniversary of our church.
The Christian Carrier thought for the New Year was: If at first you don’t recede, diet, diet again. The Trustees, on January 27, 1976, authorized the Kitchen Committee to start remodeling the kitchen. The women had already earned $2,000.00 toward the project. The consensus of the Trustees was that the work should progress as far and as fast as the funds would permit. On February 15, 1976, Ethel Lyon reported to the Trustee Board (she was a member) that about $1,500.00 more was required. The Trustees voted to guarantee the payment for the work, anticipating reimbursement from the congregation and/or the BWF. Chuck and David Skinner did the work. On its completion the kitchen was called a “beautiful and functional room.”
The men of the church were meeting for breakfast each Wednesday morning at 6:30 (15 men were present the 2nd weekend in March). The cooks were said to be “the best.”
The Trustees were working on purchasing a Fire and Smoke Alarm system for the church and were given $1,000.00 from the Hillside Playschool to help defray the cost. (The alarm system was required for the school to become accredited.)
The Trustees were still negotiating for the purchase of a small piece of land now owned by the ABC Board. The eight member Organ Committee, with the Choir Director and Organist as ex-officio members and chaired by Erman Ferris, was looking for a replacement for the 18 year old Conn organ which was showing its age and requiring an unusual amount of service to be kept functioning. The Choirs were re-organized. Sandra Walton, Choir Director, led the Sanctuary and Chapel (grades 6-12) Choirs, Shirley Mapstone, the Junior Choir (grades 2-5).
On April 15, 1976, Maundy Thursday, the Family Night Supper was a celebration by the church family in remembrance of the bi-centennial of our nation (and the 179th anniversary of the church) and in thankfulness for God’s love which made it all possible. The meal was to include foods found on the tables of our forefathers at the beginning of our nation.
Work was already in motion for the 2nd annual Bountiful Barrel Boutique (Nov. 13, 1976). Ethel Lyon was the general chairman. Weekly work nights to prepare items for the sale started in April 1976.
In the May Christian Carrier, Reverend Clayton announced that he had completed all the requirements for his Doctor of Ministry degree with the acceptance of his Project Paper by the Drew Theological Seminary. He graduated on May 29, 1976. Reverend Clayton expressed his thanks to the congregation for the permission to pursue his Doctorate and to all who helped in his professional project. On Sunday, June 27, 1976, Darrel Walton presented Dr. Clayton with a check from the church family to be used to buy a new robe and hood.
In the mid-May Christian Carrier, the BWF reported on their White Cross Work, a vital part of the mission of the American Baptist Women. In early 1976 the National and International Ministries made their wants known and quotas were given to the churches. In 1976 the Manlius women sent overseas five blankets, rolled bandages and money for medical supplies. In the USA and Puerto Rico, they furnished baby layettes, dresses, tee shirts, material, 8 hand puppets, 11 boxes of clothing and money for two blankets.
On June 12, 1976, the Village sponsored a Bicentennial Historic Walking Tour. Our church and its historical artifacts were part of the tour, and the Women’s Fellowship was to serve lunch for whoever would require it. The ladies served chicken salad, a hot roll and a drink for $1.00, pies at 75 cents/slice, or a hot dog, chips and punch for 60 cents. The women served over 300 people and made $327.00 for their projects.
The Diaconate planned a very special service for Sunday, July 4, 1976. The service was patterned after those of the early days of the church. Men and women sat separately. The hymns were sung without music. The words were read one line at a time by Darrel Walton, and the congregation sang one line at a time. The congregation stood for prayer, and an appropriate sermon was followed by “A Bicentennial Proclamation.” Pictures were taken on the steps after the service of those who attended in appropriate 1776 costumes. At two o’clock in the afternoon our church bell was rung, joining others around the nation to let the sound of freedom ring and signify our nations unity.
The New York State Legislature appointed a New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution. One of the Commission’s concerns was the preservation of historically significant records from New York’s Colonial, Revolutionary and early Statehood years. As part of its work, it sponsored a program to microfilm all significant historical records. Barbara Rivette, Manlius Town Historian, brought the program to the attention of Leah Stark, Church Historian. As a result, many of our old records were microfilmed and the film is on file at the New York State Library in Albany. An attractive feature of the program was that the filming was done on the premises and the old documents didn’t have to be sent away.
In the fall of 1976 the women again met for weekly workshops to prepare items for the Bountiful Barrel Boutique. They earned $1,072.94. Half of the proceeds went to complete the payments for the new kitchen and the other half went to an Agricultural Project in Thailand.
The Hillside Play School was in its 6th year with 82 children enrolled (62 in five morning sessions, 20 in three afternoon sessions). Julia Tien was in her third year as director.
In the fall, Reverend Clayton started an eight week course study for the congregation on Theology and Christian Experience. There was to be a formal presentation each week, after which small groups would discuss, question and evaluate their theology, followed by a whole group summation. In addition, there was to be an afternoon Women’s Bible Study Group, a morning Women’s Prayer Fellowship Group, and on Thursday afternoon, a Bible Study and Prayer Group for men and women.
The Board of Christian Education sponsored Single Parent Group Meetings two times a month in 1976. There was a Summer Sunday School Program in 1976 and the 21st annual Vacation Church School. The theme was “Save a Sheep” and the offerings were to be used to send a sheep overseas through the Heifer Project International.
The Financial Campaign in the fall was headed by Ken Bex. He and his committee were said to have had “a good degree of success.” The church was continuing to meet its mortgage obligations for the new educational annex. At the end of 1976 the church still owed $62,666.19, but the end was in sight. The final payment was to be made October 1, 1981.
Christmas was celebrated with a Plum Pudding Festival at 7:00 p.m. on December 5, 1976, with all choirs participating. The Sunday School also celebrated Christmas with a party for all members and families with a short play, refreshments and presents for the children.
On January 23, 1977, Reverend Baker and wife Lucy left for a one month mission tour of South India with stopovers in Greece and Egypt. They shared their experiences with the congregation on Mission Emphasis Sunday, March 27, 1977.
At the Annual Meeting on January 20, 1977, the Diaconate recommended a change in the time of worship from 10:45 to 11:00 to give more time between church and Sunday School. It was decided to try the change on a trial basis through Easter. The vote was a close 22 for, 21 against. In the March 6, 1977, Bulletin, the congregation was invited to a fellowship time in the library for a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa between church and Sunday School. On April 21, 1977, the church voted to change back to the normal 10:45 starting time.
In the February 2, 1977, meeting of the Diaconate, the women were concerned with the communion service. They did not ask to help serve communion but wanted to share in the practical arrangements, before and after the service. It was not too long before the women were doing most of the arranging and helping to serve as well.
For a brief time in 1977, when Dorothy Griffin was secretary for the Board of Trustees, the Trustees became gender neutral. Charles Skinner became the Trustee’s Chairperson and Larry Schemmerhorn Vice-Chairperson. The change was apparently a difficult one to make and within a very short time the Chairperson became a Chairman again.
In May 22, 1977, Dr. and Mrs. Abdiel Lorente were back for a visit. They told of their experiences in Bangladesh and Japan at a Sunday Evening dessert meeting.
The Trustees needed help in painting the trim of the church and had the following notice printed in the Bulletin: The Good Book does not say “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the freshly painted house of the Lord.” But the Board of Trustees would like to think it would be more inviting to newcomers if it were touched up a bit. The Trustees made paint and brushes available to anyone who would like to “buddy up” with one or two others to do some outside trim painting on their own time.
The June 5, 1977, Bulletin included a Psalm of Summer:
Forget not thy church in the days of summer, when the road doth beckon and miles flit by, and new vistas all pleasant before thee; when the sun and the light, the moon and the stars shine with brilliance, and the clouds pass over thy picnic witholding their rain. Let thy heart cheer thee in these days and remember that thy God doth provide all that maketh thee feel glad. Remember also thy covenant with the church not only to be faithful in divine worship but with joy and regularity to make thy contributions to its good work all seasons, yea, even in summer.
Selah.
On June 19, 1977, the Music Committee brought the organ that they were recommending for purchase to the church so that the congregation could see and hear the new instrument, an Allen 301 Digital Computer Organ. After the morning service the congregation met and voted, 72 yes, 4 no, to purchase the new organ at a cost of $10,500.00 with the trade in of the old Conn organ. Raising the money was no problem. It was reported that several large gifts were made for the purpose as well as a matching funds gift for moneys raised from within the congregation. In fact, the organ fund was over- subscribed and the excess funds were used to buy a two octave set of Schulmerich Bells. They arrived in time to be played at the Christmas Eve service.
Also in the June 19, 1977, Bulletin, the congregation received an invitation from the United Church of Ellsworth, Maine, to attend a reception on July 1, 1971, to celebrate Reverend Hammond’s 40th year in the ministry and the Hammonds’ 40th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Marjorie Guckert visited from California from July 2 -15, and on Sunday afternoon on July 10, 1977, the Slentzes invited the church to an open house in her honor at their camp on DeRuyter Lake.
On August 14, 1977, Enos Heisey, an ordained minister in the Church of the Brotherhood and a member of our church and Diaconate Board, preached the sermon. On October 2, 1977, there was a “walk for money” drive, one of the first “walks” our church was involved in. The “Walk with the Hungry” was an “opportunity to share our plenty with 1/2 billion hungry people,” a predecessor to today’s CROP Walk.
While Reverend Clayton in 1974 advised the congregation to “loosen up a bit” the worship service, and to talk quietly and reverently with neighbors and visitors before the service, the congregation may have gone too far. In September 1977, the Diaconate was making suggestions to stress quiet in the sanctuary before services.
On October 16, 1977, Ed Doubleday completed 11-1/2 years as Church Treasurer and he was honored at a dinner in Loomis Hall. On February 27, 1977, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chuck Skinner, reported that the piece of land that the church had been trying to buy for several years, first from Mrs. Ryan, then from the ABC Board, finally belonged to the church. The cost was $1,000.00.
Reverend Clayton reported having made 157 home calls, 274 counseling sessions and 185 hospital calls among his activities for 1977. He also had completed a three year term as director for the Fairport Home (Baptist) and was elected to serve another three years. He was also Chairman of the Evangelical Committee for the New York State Baptist Church. The Trustees and the Church Treasurer were pleased that 1977 was the sixth straight year in which the church had ended in the black with all its bills paid.
There were changes in the Music Department in 1977. In October, Sandra Walton resigned as Director of Music, and later Millie Becker resigned as Organist. Charles Struwing was hired as Director of Music and Charles, wife Arlene and daughter Katrina were welcomed at a reception on November 17, 1977. On December 18, 1977, another Plum Pudding Festival was the Christmas program. All choirs participated and plum pudding was served.
By January 15, 1978, the organ had been installed and was ready to be dedicated. At 3:30 in the afternoon, Theodore J. Purchla demonstrated what the organ could do, and afterward Geoffry S. Waite, organist and Choir Director for the Redeemer Covenant Church in Liverpool, New York, gave a concert. The organ was paid for by June 1978. Beginning February 9, 1978, nine different Lenten Bible Study Groups met in the homes for a five-week study, sponsored by the Diaconate Board.
On February 19, 1978, the church welcomed Kyle Denzer as the new church organist. Kyle was a student at LeMoyne College, majoring in Political Science. He had studied piano for 11 years. During the past year he had served as substitute organist for five area churches. The Music Committee, in their introduction of the new organist to the church wrote: “You will find Kyle to be a very personable young man who will work hard at developing his skill at the organ.”
On February 24-26, 1978, the highly promoted Young Adult Weekend called Christ Jesus 1978 took place. Friday night at 8:00 there was a volleyball game, on Saturday from 2:00 - 5:00 the First Annual Snow Sculpture Contest (also for the children). At 6:00 in the gym there was a pot luck supper for the Young Adults and the children. And at 8:00 in the library (the children went home to babysitters) the theme was Christ Jesus of 1978. A fire in the fireplace was promised and participants were asked to bring favorite records, tapes and musical instruments.
Sunday morning was Breakfast Time, 9:30 Sunday School, 10:45 Church with young adults participating and at 6:00 Dinner again, this time with the members of the Gordon College Choir who presented a concert at 8:00 p.m. Leah Stark was chosen to be the mother and the hostess for the dinner. The Young Adult Committee was Jill Davis (now Mrs. Robert Doss). Nancy Verro, David Skinner, Robin Schermerhorn and Carol Bellefeuille.
The trips to the Mission Fields continued and on March 14, 1978, Elmina and Russ Raker talked to the Family Night Supper sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship about their trip to Haiti. The women were supposed to wear peasant type dresses.
On Sunday, March 5, 1978, the guest speaker was Reverend Bill Brown, who brought with him a musical group called “The Now Dimension.” Reverend Brown stayed all day and had a “rap session” with the youth at 2:00 and an adult session at 4:00. All participants were asked to bring an uncooked casserole, which would be cooked in the church kitchen for a covered dish supper at 6:00. At 7:30 the “Now Dimensions” gave a concert in the sanctuary.
In March part of the old church ceiling was insulated and eight people helped. The committee noted that “There are many awards for doing work for the Lord.” (The work was completed on December 30, 1978.)
In April and May of 1978, the Salt City Playhouse was featuring Bob Brown as the lead in their presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar. This was mentioned in the church bulletin because Bob Brown grew up in this church and sang or played for many special programs in our sanctuary.
At the May 16, 1978, Diaconate meeting, plans were discussed for two wheelchair ramps for the handicapped, disabled and elderly of our congregation and community.
Many feelings were expressed pro and con on the clapping of hands during the service. Other channels for expressing thanks and gratitude were mentioned, such as saying Amen, Praise the Lord, Alleluia, etc. It was agreed that no single plan would make everyone comfortable and it was decided to give the matter more thought and much prayer.
The Trustees were conscious of the need to save energy and having added insulation above the sanctuary and old Sunday School Rooms were now desirous of supplying storm windows for all of the windows of the old church (except for the large sanctuary windows). They asked for donations and received $945.00 by May 14, 1978. The windows were installed by Bob Siegenthaler.
The Board of Education had been interested in a Christian Education Director for years. In the May 14, 1978, bulletin there was a large “legal sized” copy of an interview with Joe Nichols who had apparently been hired to work with the youth of the church, for three months in the summer of 1978.
In May 1978 it was announced that John Baker had retired again, this time as Interim Executive Minister for the New York State American Baptist Churches. On June 11, 1978, Reverend John Baker accepted a position as Associate Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Syracuse, effective June 20, 1978. The Manlius Church offered “our love and best wishes to Reverend Baker and Mrs. Baker as they begin this new stage of their lives.”
On June 11, 1978, the Carol and Cherub Choirs, directed by Shirley Mapstone, presented a musical for the celebration of Children’s Day called Jonah’s Tale. Helen Fardig created the whale and the boat. The women were making plans (and things for sale) for the fourth annual Bountiful Barrel Boutique scheduled for November 4, 1978.
The Baptist Women’s Fellowship had been, during the last two years, babysitting for the Fayetteville-Manlius Welcome Wagon Club, not only to raise money for their projects but to possibly interest some of the newcomers in our church. The Welcome Wagon Club leaders expressed their delight in the quality of care given the children.
In June the Board of Trustees hired David Skinner to be the new custodian. This was the beginning of a long period of dedicated and conscientious service to the church by one of its younger members. Also in June, 1978, the Diaconate was making preliminary plans to install wheel chair ramps for two entrances of the church for the handicapped, disabled and elderly of our community.
In the July 1978 Christian Carrier, Reverend Clayton announced a plan to organize the congregation into a Caring, Ministering, Congregation Model. Reverend Clayton’s role was to be preacher, teacher, trainer and equipper of lay persons for this ministry.
Reverend Clayton, assisted by three lay leaders, Ray Heller, Enos Heisey, and Bob Vermilya, would have twelve lay persons reporting to him. They were to be well trained in twelve sessions and a weekend retreat. Each lay person was to be in charge of 3-4 communicators, each communicator to be responsible for four church families. The lay assistants were to be the contact persons for those families assigned to them and to be responsible for helping them to receive ministry. When the plan was first announced from the pulpit, the 12 lay persons mentioned were exclusively male. One of our active, outspoken and very capable younger members, Doris Dudley rose from her seat in the congregation and voiced her displeasure with the exclusion of women from the list of 12. Reverend Clayton heard the message and in the Christian Carrier announcement listed 5 men and 5 women as lay leaders, later increased to 6 men and 6 women. Each lay leader was to have four lay assistants and each lay assistant was to be responsible for four church families. The lay assistants were to be the contact persons for those families assigned to them and to be responsible for them to receive ministry. It was hoped that every family of the congregation would be in personal touch with the church in some way. This was similar to previous plans (The Parish Zone Plan and the Shepherding Plan) which were of very short duration, probably because there were too many layers between the families and the pastor (licensed lay leaders, lay leaders and assistant lay leaders). In most cases of need, families want a direct contact with the pastor. (This brings to mind a favorite game of those years when pieces of information were sent verbally but quietly from one person to another around a circle. The message is usually garbled in a hilarious fashion when the last circle member repeats it vocally.) From this plan did come the telephone prayer chain where news of our members (misfortunes usually) would be disseminated by telephone to interested members. Even this chain was not totally effective because people involved in the chain were not always home to receive the calls and pass the information to others. Now, with the computerized system devised by Dave and Sandy Haase, and the proliferation of message recorders in the homes, the system works very well.
Reverend Clayton set up a School of the Bible to provided training for Christian Leaders in the fall of 1978. It was an ambitious program with 52 sessions (two 55 minute sessions each Sunday evening) for the fall, winter and spring terms. There were to be courses in Bible and Doctrine, Practical Christian work, Systematic Theology, Biblical Language, and more. Examinations would be given and certain combinations of courses would be required to earn a Certificate of Learning. It sounded like college but there was no tuition. There was no mention of the number of students involved. The school was apparently not resumed in September 1979.
Lucia Ernst took a trip to Pakistan in the summer of 1978 to visit her daughter’s family (she had married a Pakistani). Lucia came back to tell of her adventures as “a pampered American in Pakistan” to the BWF meeting on September 12, 1978.
The old boiler failed and, in September 1978, Lloyd Slentz and his crew broke it up into manageable pieces so that it could be taken out on the street for disposal. A new boiler was promised in time for cold weather. Finishing touches were done on a Saturday, and that night, Lloyd Slentz and Ray Heller kept watch all night to be sure the church would be warm for Sunday morning services. Since the cost of the new boiler had not been budgeted, prayerful contributions to a boiler fund would be “most appreciated” by the Trustees.
On September 17, 1978, the Diaconate discussed the use of wafers for the Communion Service instead of bread. Reverend Clayton brought some samples of wafers to the meeting (cost $8.50/1000). In their October 17, 1978, meeting the Diaconate voted unanimously against using wafers.
In October the women were warned not to let Jack Frost “get” the plants they were raising for the Bountiful Barrel Boutique. In the Diaconate meeting of October 17, 1978, it was reported that Evangelist Larry Taylor from Texas was to conduct a campaign in our church from Sunday morning, September 16 to Friday night, September 21, 1979.
The congregation responded to the call of the Trustees for help, and by October 22, 1978, $3,023.25 had been donated to the Boiler Fund. (The congregation was very generous in 1978. The organ, the storm windows, and the boiler, all special projects, were paid for by extra giving.)
Friends from the First Baptist Church painted the home of Mrs. Rena Sutliff on November 11, 1978. She was grateful to know that there are those who still care for their fellow man and who show their love for God through their love for others. She wrote that she “would never forget your concerns and actions.”
On Sunday, November 18, 1978, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the Board of Christian Education extended an invitation to the parents of Middle School and Senior High Sunday School students to lock themselves in with their children for
It was to be an opportunity for families to “Lock IN” their hearts, actions and thoughts together with Christ Jesus for a day of commitment, reflection and love.
In their November 21, 1978, meeting, Reverend Clayton introduced “Ritual of Fellowship” pads to the Diaconate. “What Ritual of Fellowship” had to do with people registering their attendance was not explained. The Diaconate voted to give them a trial. They have been used at different times since then, but considered a nuisance and ignored by many of the congregation.
The women’s Bountiful Barrel Boutique was another success. They reported a profit of over $1,200.00. Their report for 1978 did not mention how the money was to be used.
In the 1978 Annual Report the Board of Christian Education reported on a ministry to a group of retarded boys. Linda MacLennan was employed as house-mother for these boys living in a neighborhood home. Linda, with the assistance of Caroline Wenck, brought the boys to part of several church services and introduced them to the Sunday School atmosphere. The Board of Christian Education felt that this was a good experience for the boys and helped make them feel wanted again.
The church started the New Year with a Family Fun Night Supper on January 10, 1979. Families brought chili for the pot and a salad to pass. For entertainment the families had a choice of volleyball in the gym or a fire-side song fest in the library.
The wooden frame for the bell was broken and our church bell could not be rung for a time. Lynn Mapstone repaired it and the bell was ringing again on Sunday mornings.
Reverend William Carlsen and his wife Gail and sons Mark and Andy joined the church. Reverend Carlsen was in the Field Counselor Division, World Mission Support, Syracuse office, ABC, USA.
On March 4, 1979, the Sunshine Award was given to Don Ebersol. In the citation written in the March newsletter quotes from seventeen different unnamed people testified concerning his character. He was “gentle,” “giving,” “quiet and compassionate,” “there when needed,” “a Christian at work,” has an “interest and concern for other,” “he radiates God’s love around him” and “he does things quietly” were several of the reasons people felt strongly that Don Ebersol was a deserving recipient of the award.
It was announced that Marjorie Guckert had been accepted for missionary service with the Mission Aviation Fellowship at the home office in Fullerton, California, as Manager of General Services. MAF provided air transportation for missionaries serving in remote parts of the world.
Sunday, May 12, 1979, was designated Blanket Sunday. Four dollars would provide a blanket for people in need overseas. (Blanket Sunday has been observed ever since.)
In June, 1979, the church received notice that it would be receiving $20,000.00 from the Lucretia Davis Jephson Estate. $15,000.00 was set aside for church projects and $5,000.00 given to the Mission Board for use in support of mission.
The 23rd annual Vacation Church School was held August 13-17 with the Christ Episcopal, United Methodist, First Baptist and St. Ann’s churches participating. Shirley Mapstone and Pat Connor were co-directors. The mission project was to send 10 rabbits to Central America (Heifer Project, Int.) The children, with their contributions, had over the years sent sheep, bees, heifers, rabbits and goats overseas.
The Every Member Canvass Committee for 1979 was chaired by Carol Bellefeuille, with Ray Heller, Robin Schermerhorn and Charles Skinner on the Committee. The level of pledges obtained was the highest in the history of the church.
At some time during Reverend Clayton’s ministry (the minutes available have not yet revealed the exact year), he sent all of the members a round TUIT, a wooden disk the size of a silver dollar with TUIT printed on one side and First Baptist Church of Manlius, NY on the other. Reverend Clayton explained what it was for:
[TUIT Piece here] TODO
Reverend Clayton defined “revival” as a stirring up of religious faith among those who have become indifferent. The Diaconate Board provided the church with an opportunity for having its faith revitalized during the week of September 16-21, 1979. The church was to hold a Crusade For Christ with Reverend Larry Taylor of San Antonio, Texas, as guest preacher. To prepare for the revival, the church was open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. every day for prayer in the Sanctuary from August 27, 1979, until the time of the revival. Cottage prayer groups were also set up two weeks before the Crusade and there was to be a 24 hour prayer vigil starting on September 14th at 6:00 p.m.
Reverend Taylor spoke at the morning service on September 16 on “The Road to Revival” and every evening from Sunday to Friday at 7:30. By Thursday night 30 first-time decisions for Christ had been made, and 22 people came forward for assurance of salvation and rededication.
In 1979, a fire alarm system with a direct line to the Police Department was installed. The Hillside Play School contributed $1,500.00 and $3,000.00 was used from the Jephson Estate. On November 4, 1979, a Certificate of Recognition was awarded to Lloyd Slentz at the annual meeting of the Iroquois Association for 25 years of faithful service. On Saturday, November 10, 1979, the lid came off the Bountiful Barrel Boutique and it was a success again with $1,051.97 profit to be used for missions, local needs and the Bacone College Rehabilitation Fund. (Bacone is the Baptist Indian School in Muskegee, Oklahoma.)
In the 70’s and 80’s, the church lost many of its retired members to the South because of better weather and lower taxes. Among those leaving were Bob and Jean Davies, Chet and Dorothy Griffin, Bob and Ethel Lyon, Charles and Sara Beams, Bill and Betty Croshaw, Enos and Jane Heisey (south to Pennsylvania), Stan and Lydia Olsen, and John and Lucy Baker. They were all very active members and were missed.
Christmas in 1979 was celebrated with all of the church choirs participating in the traditional Plum Pudding Festival. This was to be the last in a series that started in 1976.
On January 27, 1980, the First Baptist Church of Manlius celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ordination of Dr. Frank Clayton. The sermon for Sunday morning was delivered by Reverend Dr. Arthur L. Whitaker, Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of New York State. After a reception in the Chapel, Loomis Hall was filled to overflowing for the dinner and program. Dr. Clayton was presented with a “Memory Book” of letters of congratulations, a “wishing well” offering from the Sunday School children, and a purse from the church families. Member of Reverend Clayton’s family were here, including brothers, sisters and his father. According to the January newsletter: “It was a day of joy, pride, fellowship and sharing.” Carol Bellefeuille, chairman of the committee wrote a poem commemorating the occasion.
[POEM HERE] TODO
Carol also wrote a “Portrait of a Pastor” for the occasion which gave a little more personal information about Frank Clayton than was given in his resume presented to the congregation by the Pulpit Committee in 1972. She reported that Reverend Clayton had ten brothers and sisters: Minnie Jane, Marie, William J., Martha, Mary Louise, Charles, Ethel, John, Robert and Henry L., a twin to Reverend Clayton. Carol also wrote that some of Reverend Clayton’s favorite past-times were golfing, oil painting, woodworking, scuba diving, canoeing and camping.
Congressman James Hanley was responsible for the insertion of a tribute to the First Baptist Church of Manlius and its Pastor, Frank Clayton into the Congressional Record. There is a copy of his remarks in the Historical Collection of the church. This was on the occasion of celebrating Reverend Clayton’s 25 years in the pastorate. Congressman Hanley made the interesting observation that it was in 1927 that the cornerstone of the new Baptist Church in Manlius was laid, and that in 1927 Frank Clayton was born. Congressman Hanley remarked that while this could be called a mere coincidence, an examination of the love and admiration which the church flock and pastor have for one another today, it seems they were made for each other. (It was this kind of attention to the interests of his constituents that made the Democratic Congressman Hanley invincible in this usually Republican Congressional District.)
In his People to People column in the February 1980 Christian Carrier, Reverend Clayton reminded us of his 5 P’s of church membership and suggested 5 F’s of “Christian Maturity” for helps in this decade of the 80’s.
They were:
Hillside was taking steps to have its legal name changed from Hillside Play School Center, Inc., to Hillside Nursery School, Inc., a name which more correctly described the Hillside program. According to Millie Skinner, a Christian Day Care Center was in its formation stages and the congregation was asked to fill out information sheets.
In March, the BWF provided the food service for the annual Manlius Historical Society Antique Show of March 29-30, 1980. This was a fund-raising project for the BWF. Women were already preparing items for sale at the 1980 Bountiful Barrel Boutique. Edith Laning recaned some of the church’s old caned chairs. Catherine Sperry celebrated her 97th birthday. Peter Seibel, former custodian, was found dead in his home early in March. Sara Beams (Church Secretary) wrote that “Peter went to work at the age of 12, knew hard times and worked hard all his life. He saved his money by doing plumbing, electrical work and carpentry. His values and standards were high.” She learned to admire and feel very close to this “sometimes gruff, critical but kindly old gentleman.” “After retiring Peter seemed to withdraw - would not come back - several of us kept in touch. He lived alone many years but I do not feel he was lonely. I sensed contentment and a biding of time. I feel the loss of a good friend.”
In the spring of 1980 window boxes for the front of the church were made and installed by David Skinner. They were a memorial given by the Unity Fellowship for Comstock Lincoln who died in May of 1979.
In June 1980 it was announced that the United Methodist Church and the Baptists would share Sunday School as well as ten worship services during the summer. The 24th annual Ecumenical Vacation Bible School was held for two weeks in August 1980, with Shirley Mapstone as the director and 181 students and teachers participating.
The church was still concerned about its early history and it was noted in the Christian Carrier that Mr. Stillwell was nominated and elected unanimously Superintendent of the Sabbath School The first time Sunday school was mentioned in the church minutes was on August 5, 1848, 132 years ago.
The Trustees came forward with plans to replace the floor in the gym, install new lighting fixtures and paint the walls and ceiling. The projects were to be paid for from their $15,000.00 share of the Lucretia Davis Jephson legacy that was received in 1979.
For several months preceding the Diaconate meeting of November 10, 1980, the Diaconate Board and Pastor Frank Clayton had been in agreement about the value of having some directional signs erected in the village to let visitors know just where the church was located. By November 10, 1980, the Village Board had not yet responded to the request of the church for permission to erect the signs. Reverend Clayton was upset with the lack of response and indicated to the Diaconate that he would advise the Mayor that the church intended to put the signs in place in the absence of an official denial. In December the Diaconate Board decided to go ahead with the procurement and erection of two signs at the corner of Pleasant Street and Route 92.
In December Reverend Frank Clayton received the Silver Beaver award from the Hiawatha Council of Boy Scouts. This is the highest award a local Council gives. He also received a pin the same week from the Red Cross for donating a total of 9 gallons of blood.
Douglas Cunningham, a student at Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, was voted by the church a Certificate to Preach the Gospel at the October Business Meeting. He was to deliver the sermon on January 11, 1981, while Reverend Clayton was away on vacation.
By February of 1981, Reverend Clayton had received a letter from the Mayor of Manlius, “Arkie” Albanese, denying the church permission to erect a sign (more than a year after the request was made). Reverend Clayton reported to the Diaconate on February 9, 1981, that he had written a reply to the Mayor, informing him that the church had already ordered a signs and when they came the church would put them up and if the Village took them down the church would bring suit against the Village for discrimination and an unlawful interpretation of Department of Transportation regulations.
On March 9, 1981, it was reported that the signs had arrived. Lloyd Slentz was to put them up on a post already in place at the corner of Pleasant and Fayette Streets. The last report was that the signs were not yet in place on June 8, 1981. This is a story that we don’t have an ending for, although the signs were likely put up and at some time rusted away and were removed.
On Boy Scout Sunday, February 8, 1981, the Charters for Troop and Pack 215 were presented to the church and then Mr. James Dopp, Commissioner for the Limestone
District, called on Mr. David Wendel, Executive Director of the Hiawatha District, Mr. David Tessler, Cub Master of Pack 215, and Elwin Richardson, member-at-large of the Limestone District of the Hiawatha Council, to assist him in presenting the Good Shepherd Award (given to Baptist clergy or lay-persons for distinguished service and leadership in physical, spiritual and moral programs of Scouting) to Reverend Frank Clayton. (Reverend Clayton was an earlier recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and had been active in Scouting since 1939.) He was described as “a man who cares, who is concerned, who is sharing, and truly evident of all the principles of Scouting.”
In February 1981 the Rescue Mission held its annual Pie Festival. Over 100 men and women enjoyed homemade pie after their prayer service. Women from the First Baptist Church of Manlius contributed 22 homemade pies.
A Macedonian Ministry weekend was held March 6,7, & 8, with the theme (borrowed from the Telephone Company) “Reach Out and Touch Someone.” Coordinators for the weekend were Ruth and Ward Bailey of Schenectady, New York. General Chairpersons were Garry Roorda and Bill Lyon. Dr. Laura C. Harris was honored on April 24, 1981, by the award of an honorary degree from her alma mater, Dennison University in Granville, Ohio, on the occasion of Dennison’s 150th anniversary.
In April of 1981, after 12-1/2 years of service, Sara Beams decided she would like freedom from the commitment of a working week and resigned as Church Secretary. (This was a long time. While she was secretary she worked with two ministers, an interim pastor, three choir directors, four organists and seven custodians.) Sara wrote that the church had been a very special part of her life and that there was no way she could tell us how much the church meant to her. She wrote movingly about the special place that is the church on weekdays when it is alone.
”If you really want to know your church, drop in some bright, sunny morning - walk into the Sanctuary and listen - it talks to you - tells of memories of those who worshipped long ago - it breaths - it sighs, creaks and groans. I love sounds - and know most of them in the building - like listening to the water fill the baptistry in preparation for a service, hearing the muffled sounds of the pastor counseling with a bride and groom, the sound of the floor polisher, the basket ball bouncing, the organist practicing, Hillside children singing, the aroma of good food from the kitchen - this is part of the church to me - it’s the feeling that God lives here and so do I. It’s the people - it’s my home. I have given you my talents and my love - but have received so much more - so much more. It is part of my life that I will always cherish.”
Sarah Poff was hired as Church Secretary. Like Sara Beams, the new Sarah was from the south and also retained a bit of Southern accent in her speech.
On Sunday, May 24, 1981, Reverend Clayton announced his resignation as pastor to become the Minister of Evangelism and Churchmanship for the American Baptist Churches of Maine. According to Carol Bellefeuille, Reverend Clayton, in a voice broken with emotion, said simply to the congregation: “On September 1st I leave you to follow His will in my life. I love each one of you and because of this love it will be hard to leave you.” He followed up his verbal resignation with a letter in the Christian Carrier:
[first letter here.] TODO
He followed that letter with a message in the August Christian Carrier in which he told about some of the strengths of growth in the last 9-1/2 years.
[2nd letter here] TODO
Reverend Clayton preached a farewell sermon on August 9, 1981, on “Objectives in Christian Living.” The church programs continued during the summer. Combined services were held with the Methodists during July and August, an ecumenical Vacation Church School, the 25th annual, was held for one week. Shirley Mapstone was again the director. The project was to send pigs to Central and South America.
The August 1981 Christian Carrier noted that a Christian Day Care Center was to open in the Community Covenant Church beginning on September 1, 1981. The seed for this school was said to have been planted by Millie Skinner and she worked and prayed for its establishment.
On August 13, 1981, the congregation gathered for a Clayton Recognition Dinner. The Claytons were given an original oil painting of the church as a farewell gift.
| Church Members | Average Church Attendance | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1972 | 463 | 191 |
| January 1977 | 481 | 170 |
| January 1981 | 490 | 177 |
*included Jephson Legacy In addition, the congregation met its $14,952.00 yearly payment for the mortgage.
| General Fund | Missions | |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 91.31 | 33.87 |
| 1977 | 101.13 | 39.59 |
| 1981 | 131.09 | 53.80* |
| ABC Basic Missions | $10,585.80 |
| Iroquois Association | 500.00 |
| NYS Council of Churches | 100.00 |
| Protestant Community Ministry | 100.00 |
| Psalm | 500.00 |
| Bacone College | 100.00 |
| Benedict Mather | 100.00 |
| Eastern Seminary | 350.00 |
| Fairport Home | 800.00 |
| Upstate Children’s Home | 500.00 |
| Rescue Mission | 600.00 |
| Local Missions | 50.00 |
| Women’s Love Gift | $338.66 |
| America for Christ | 811.58 |
| World Fellowship | 978.00 |
| One Great Hour | 759.35 |
| Unity Fellowship - Orphan | $130.00 |
| Haiti - Rev. Heneise | 103.15 |
| Upstate Home Appeal | 159.00 |
| Jamestown Flood | 5.00 |
| Fund of Renewal | 80.00 |
| Tab Magazine | 260.00 |
| Haiti | 440.00 |
| Eastern College Choir | 135.00 |
| Thailand | 557.85 |
| TOTAL | $19,043.89 |
|---|
| ABC Basic Missions | $12,000.00 |
| Psalm Fund | 1,200.00 |
| Tab Magazine | 315.42 |
| Rescue Mission | 520.00 |
| Iroquois Association | 260.00 |
| 87.00 | |
| ABC House | 173.79 |
| Contact Counseling Ministries | 173.79 |
| Bacone College | 173.00 |
| Benedict Mather College | 173.00 |
| Eastern Seminary | 347.00 |
| Fairport Home | 694.00 |
| Upstate Home | 433.00 |
| America for Christ | 938.08 |
| One Great Hour | 826.65 |
| World Fellowship | 1,644.47 |
| Thank You Offering - M&M | 772.04 |
| Women’s Love Gift | 340.40 |
| Haiti | 240.00 |
| Mission Care | 555.00 |
| Evangelical Seminary, P.R. | 1,000.00* |
| Camping ABC/NYS | 2,408.55* |
| Bibles - Zaire | 500.00* |
| Pastors, E.Europe, Books | 500.00* |
| TOTAL | $26,362.19 |
|---|
There was a gap of approximately four and one-half months between Reverend Johnson’s surprising announcement on May 16, 1988, of his impending resignation as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Manlius, and his departure from Manlius on September 26, 1988. This unusually long time gave the Church a head start in its efforts to find a new Pastor to succeed Reverend Johnson.
The transition process began very early with Sumner Grant of the Baptist State Office in Syracuse attending a May 26, 1988, meeting of the Church Advisory Council. He offered to consult with and guide the Church in forming a Pulpit Committee and to help them begin their search for an interim Pastor, and ultimately a full time Pastor.
The By-laws of the First Baptist Church of Manlius directed that the Search or Pulpit Committee be comprised of one member chosen from each of the four Boards (Diaconate, Trustees. Christian Education, and Mission) by the members of each Board, and three from the Church-at-large, to be chosen by the Advisory Council.
In order to enable the choice of effective Pulpit Committee members, the Boards and the Advisory Council were asked to consider how the prospective members measured up to the following criteria:
The Committee should include the following:
The Boards had anticipated these requirements and had already chosen their representatives, however, one can be assured that the members chosen readily met all of the proposed standards. The members chosen by the Boards as their representatives were:
In addition to the Board members the Constitution required that three at-large members be chosen by the Advisory Council to complete the seven member Committee. Ray Heller moved (Lloyd Slentz seconded) that a Sub-committee comprised of the Church Moderator and the Chairs of each Board be appointed to receive and screen the at-large nominations for the three vacancies. The motion was carried. Six names were eventually submitted to the Sub-committee. Three were rejected: Rick Heller because his father was already a Committee member, and two others because they asked to have their names withdrawn. The remaining three, Ross Binder, Betsy Burt and Sandra Haase, were unanimously selected to complete the membership of the Pulpit Committee.
| RAYMOND HELLER | TRUSTEES- CHAIRMAN |
| KEN WALES | DIACONATE |
| GRACE SHORT | MISSIONS |
| KATHY CLEMENTS | CHRISTIAN EDUCATION |
| ROSS BINDER | AT-LARGE |
| BETSY BURT | AT-LARGE |
| SANDRA HAASE | AT-LARGE |
There were several optional pathways available for the Church to take in choosing its new leadership, but the first step was to choose an interim Pastor. The traditional method was to find a free-lance Baptist Pastor (usually retired) from the area. The other possibility was to join the Ministry-at-Large program of the ABC/NYS. He or she would be provided housing by the local Church and would lead the Church until a permanent replacement could be found. The salary and conditions of employment would be arranged by the ABC/NYS. The Manlius Baptists were fortunate to be able to hire a local retired Baptist Pastor, who would not have to be moved to the area and provided housing, and with whom the local Church could make its own financial arrangements.
The next step was to search and find a candidate who would serve as a full-time and, hopefully, a long term Pastor. A new procedure developed by the Denomination involved gathering data, arranging the data in a format which placed the needs of the Church next to the gifts of the candidate being considered. This would be done under the guidance of Sumner Grant.
Another alternative was to work with Hazel Roper in a longer process involving a series of Church Group Meetings and Workshops. The history of the Church would be considered as well as the identity of the Church. Both procedures would require from the Committee Members and the Church much time, patience and prayer.
In discussing the options it was apparent that the Church was anxious to proceed as rapidly as possible. One comment made was that “the First Baptist Church of Manlius is of significant worth and would not want for Pastoral Candidates. Our only problem will be narrowing down the possible candidates to the one most appropriate candidate.” The Committee chose to pursue the option of working with Sumner Grant.
The first major effort of the Pastoral Search Committee was to engage an Interim Pastor to serve the Church while the search for a full-time Pastor continued. The Committee was successful and announced in the October 30, 1988, Bulletin that the Reverend Kenneth Hardy was given the approval of the Advisory Council to serve as Interim Pastor, starting on Sunday November 17, 1988. (Reverend Hardy actually began his service to the Church on November 10, 1988.) Reverend Hardy was well known as Staff Director for Youth Work and Camping for the American Baptist Churches (New York). After retiring from that position he served as Interim Pastor for several area Baptist Churches before coming to Manlius.
In the January, 1989 Christian Carrier, the Pulpit Committee reported on their efforts thus far. The Committee had met every Wednesday evening since its inception and most Sundays after Church also. Sumner Grant provided 34 profiles of possible candidates for the Committee to evaluate. The Committee narrowed the list down to eight “highly qualified” finalists, and asked the Lord’s guidance and direction for their final choice. The Committee promised great things in store for the Church in the coming year. “Our prayers will be answered.”
While the Search Committee was busy looking for a new Pastor, activity in the Church continued unabated. The Sunday School teachers met in the Chapel in February, 1989. Unfortunately, the heat in the room had been shut off and some of the teachers referred to the meeting as an re-enactment of Valley Forge. In April, 1989 the old gas stove in the kitchen was removed and replaced by a new Garland Gas Stove, given in memory of Elizabeth Benedict by her daughter Myrna. This was a very appropriate dedication as the efforts of her mother in the church kitchen to help prepare food for Church Dinners (especially for the Harvest Dinners to which the community was invited and participated in large numbers) were legendary.
Reverend Hardy wrote about his first few weeks in Manlius for the 1988 Annual Report of the Church. He thanked the Church for its welcome, said his life was enriched by ”getting to know so many of you...saints, prophets, angels; that the community is enriched by the Christian programs and services you provide, and the ministry of mission is strengthened by your concern and generosity.” He ended his report with a quote, “For I am a stranger and a pilgrim, I can tarry but a night.”
In early 1989 the Pulpit Committee became aware that the Reverend Paul Bailey might be interested in a call to another Church and traveled to Sand Lake Baptist Church in Averill Park, New York, to hear him preach and to confer with him. The Committee was impressed with Reverend Bailey and he apparently became interested in the possibilities in Manlius.
As a result, Reverend Bailey agreed to visit the First Baptist Church of Manlius as a candidate for Church Pastor from March 31-April 2, 1989. A full weekend of activities was planned. A brochure with pertinent information concerning the Bailey’s was mailed to the Congregation. Members were enlisted to take part in a Prayer Clock extending from March 31 to April 2 with a different member scheduled every half hour to pray for the success of the Search Committee’s efforts.
Reverend Bailey may have been able to receive some advance information concerning the Manlius Church from his parents Ward and Ruth Bailey as they had served as coordinators for a weekend of a Macedonian Ministry at the Manlius Baptist Church on March 6 to 8, 1981. The theme was borrowed from the Telephone Company, i.e., Reach Out and Touch Someone.
On Friday night, March 31 during Reverend Bailey’s first evening in Manlius, he was to meet with the Manlius First Baptist Executive Committee at its regular meeting. According to Jean Jurick, Church Clerk, Reverend Bailey witnessed a complete meeting of twelve members of the Executive Committee representing all of the Boards of the Church (Diaconate, Trustees, Christian Education and Missions) and leaders of the King’s Kids and Hillside Committees, Men’s and Women’s Fellowship, the Church Treasurer and the Financial Secretary. The Executive Committee went through the usual agenda, replete with a discussion of the problems facing a normal, active Church. At the conclusion of the Business Meeting, Reverend Bailey was introduced by the Search Committee. Reverend Bailey asked about the accomplishments of the Church and different members responded. They spoke of the number of children for whom we have programs, the extensive use of the building, the services rendered to the youth of the community including Kings Kid’s Latch Key Program, Hillside Pre-School, Boy Scout Troop, basketball, the ministry of music, use of church for music lessons, strong missionary works, the sponsorship of Cuban and Cambodian families- all a “tangible expression of the love and sense of belonging which flows forth to both the stable and transient members of the community.” Reverend Bailey asked questions concerning the vision which the Church has for itself during the next eight years, leading up to the two hundredth anniversary of the Church. The response from Baptist Church leaders included the statement that theirs was an innovative congregation, willing to try new things. The Committee wanted to attract more young adults to its membership; to take time to reach out to new people, and , concerning the long time necessary to solve the problems of the Church at the current meetings, restructure the by-laws of the Church to make Boards and their meetings less cumbersome.
On Saturday evening the Church planned a Family Night Supper in the gym where Church families could eat with and become better acquainted with the Bailey family. On Sunday morning, April 2, 1989, Reverend Bailey met the combined Adult Sunday School Classes in the Chapel, after which he preached to the Congregation at the Church Service. The prayers of the Pulpit Committee and very likely of most Church members had been answered. The Church members were pleased with Reverend Bailey’s personality, his preaching ability, the content of his sermon, and his family. In a Congregational Meeting after the service they voted unanimously to call Reverend Bailey to serve as their Pastor (a quorum of 75 people voting and 55 aye votes was required to call a minister.) The call was accepted enthusiastically by Reverend Bailey and a very important new chapter in the history of the First Baptist Church of Manlius had its beginning.
In the May, 1989 Christian Carrier the Search Committee sent its final message to the Congregation:
“We here at the First Baptist Church are about to embark on a new venture. In June we will welcome our new Pastor, Reverend Paul Bailey and his family to our midst. It will be exciting, stimulating and interesting to become a part of the changes that will be inevitable. But are we ready? We are certainly ready! We have been waiting for many months for this... We can hardly bear the waiting any longer. What then do we expect from this Pastor? Miracles? Wait- we can have miracles; but they come from Heaven, not from Reverend Bailey. They come from all of us working and praying together to find out God’s will for us, the First Baptist Church, and doing it.. All of us together.
What is the specific thing God has in mind for you to do? Are we ready? Let’s each do our part to be sure that we are!
The Search Committee
On July 1, 1955, Paul Lawrence Bailey was born to Ruth and Ward Bailey in Schenectady, New York. Paul was joined two years later by his new brother James.
Paul’s father was a design engineer for General Electric. His paternal grandparents were American Baptist Missionaries to Western China. At one time the Bailey family lived in Syracuse where Paul played the trumpet in the West Genesee Junior High School Marching Band. The family then moved to Scotia, New York, where Paul graduated from the Scotia-Glenville High School in June, 1973. During his teen years Paul experienced a “lightning bolt” type conversion which was to shape his life for years to come. Paul was a member of the Boy Scouts and achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
After High School Paul attended Eastern College in St. Davids, Pa., where he studied Sociology and Religion under Dr. Anthony Campolo. It was during his college years that he met Phyllis Holbrook, courted her for two years and married her during his Junior year. Phyllis had already graduated in her chosen profession of nursing. Paul graduated from Eastern College, St. Davids, Pa., with a BA in sociology and religion in May 1977. He then entered the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass. and graduated in 1980 with a Masters of Divinity Degree. While in the Seminary he was at times Director of Youth Work at the Kittery Point Baptist Church in Maine, part of the Field Education Staff at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and was said to have preached in churches and nursing homes, visited patients and participated in worship services for the Home for Incurables in Philadelphia.
After graduating from the Seminary in 1980 Paul was called to Pastor his first Church, the Sand Lake Baptist Church in Averill Park, New York. He became ordained by the Emanuel Baptist Church in Schenectady on June 29, 1980. He was welcomed into the Christian ministry and presented a Certificate of Ordination by Reverend Wesley Smith. Both Paul’s father, Ward Bailey, and his brother James participated in the service with Ward administering the vows of ordination and James relating his personal experiences with Paul as brothers growing up together.
Reverend Bailey had many things to accomplish before he could fully take over his new responsibilities in Manlius. He needed to inform the Church in Sand Lake of his plans and say his farewells to a Congregation he had been close to and an important leader of from 1980 to 1989., find a place to live in Manlius, move his family and belongings, and to consider his plans and goals for his new Congregation.
Reverend Bailey was one of the new breed of ministers who became aware of the value in owning their own homes. Protestant Church owned parsonages were becoming rare. Reverend Bailey and his family did live in our Baptist Parsonage for a short time until they could find a suitable home to purchase. (The Parsonage was listed with Coldwell Bankers at $107,900.00 on September 25, 1989. An offer of $96,000.00 from Mr. and Mrs. S. Pratt was accepted. Net proceeds were $88,000.00, for which a special bank account was opened. The Trustees were happily relieved of their major responsibility of maintaining a parsonage in good condition.)
Reverend Paul Bailey returned to Manlius on May 31, 1989, for a short time to meet with the Board of Deacons and to look into purchasing a home for his family. He was a guest at the home of Ken and Beth Greene.
The Church experienced a very full schedule of events to celebrate and people to thank in the spring and summer of 1989. Jan Green, our former assistant pastor, was ordained. Bill Carlsen celebrated with the Church the twentieth anniversary of his ordination at a Church dinner on May 7, 1989. Reverend Hardy preached his last sermon as interim pastor on June 4, 1989, and was honored at a farewell reception by the Church. Reverend Kenneth Phelps, son of Ken and Ada Phelps, received a Doctor of Ministry from the Gordon Conwell Seminary.
Reverend Bailey returned to Manlius and lived alone in the Parsonage until his children finished school and his wife completed family business in Maine. In the meantime Reverend Bailey hopefully ate well as Church Members were given the special opportunity to invite him to dinner and to get to know each other better. Trudy Siegenthaler, Hospitality Chairperson for the Diaconate Board signed up interested Church Members.
Reverend Bailey preached his first sermon after accepting his call to the Church on June 11, 1989. His topic was the very appropriate, “It’s Time For a Change.”
Mrs. Bailey and the children and their furniture and belongings soon joined Reverend Bailey in the Parsonage. They found a suitable house for sale at 124 Vanida Lane in Fayetteville and purchased it. The Baileys were helped by many Baptists to move their belongings from the Parsonage to their new home.
An early request of Pastor Paul to the Diaconate Board was that full Church Services be conducted in the Baptist Church in the summer of 1989. For several years the Baptists and Methodists had combined services for July and August, with each Church being closed for a month on Sundays for the summer. Both Reverend Bailey and Reverend Courtney (Methodist Minister) realized that closing either Church for a month in the summer was not in the best interests of either congregation and the Churches agreed on a compromise where the combined services were held for one Sunday only in each Church. (This agreement was still being honored in the summer of 2005.)
In his first weeks as Pastor, Reverend Bailey shared with the Congregation some of his plans and hopes for our first year together. He said he needed to watch how the Church was run, learn its traditions, get to know the people and get settled. He wanted to know the needs we had, as a Congregation and as a part of the Manlius community. A question he sometimes asked was, “Who in the Church has the power to get things done?” He wanted to organize a group of men with whom he could meet weekly for thinking and praying, to encourage and maintain a strong lay leadership, to be able to reorganize the worship service, to make the Church and its programs more inviting, and to establish weekly evening programs for all ages. He also became interested in our by-laws and eventually proposed several changes to bring them up-to-date and more applicable to changing conditions.
Ellen Everly, our Church Secretary for five years and sometimes called our Secretary-Pastor by Reverend Bailey because of her knowledge of the Church and its members, resigned on June 30, 1989, to become a teacher in the Fabius-Pompey School District. Ellen attended the Green Lakes Leadership Conference with Sandy Haase in August 1989. The Church as a farewell thank you helped to pay her expenses. Ellen Everly was replaced temporarily by Linda Martin, and permanently by Lorraine Hall in October, 1989. In the fall of 1989 the Church office was brought into the Computer Age with the help of Erman Ferris.
As the public schools closed during the summer, now also did the Baptist Sunday School. For many years, however, a great effort has been made by Baptist women for the success of the week long Vacation Bible School, which was, and continues to be, a very popular program for the young children of the Church and community. In 1989 the VBS leader was Betsy Burt. The school was open from August 14-21 and a total of 85 students, teachers and helpers were involved.
Reverend Bailey was a firm believer in good planning. He had arranged for the Church Officers to meet at the Federated Church of New Woodstock from 2:30- 8:30 P.M. on August 27, 1989, to get better acquainted with their new Pastor and to set goals and programs for the 1989-90 Church year.
The King’s Kids Latch Key Program reported a good year in 1989 with enrollment growing to 65 children. The King’s Kids Committee credited this to their “wonderful Director Sue Crayton and her staff.”
The Sin family was still in Manlius making good progress. The parents were working; the children were in school. The Church remained concerned for their welfare and well-being and Gertrude Mawson and Barbara Richardson continued to work with
them as needed.
Bible Study remained important with many members of the Congregation. Three groups met most Wednesday nights led by Gordon and Ginny Noble, Millie Skinner and co-led by Sandy Haase and Betsy Burt. They were joined by Pastor Paul for four weeks in December, 1989, who led the groups in a teaching of the Messianic prophecies. Some of the women of the Church met Friday mornings in the church library to study the Bible and its application to their lives. The Church actively supported the Fayetteville-Manlius Meals on Wheels program with financial contributions and volunteers to work in the kitchen and to deliver the meals. Boy Scout Troop 215 sponsored by the Church, met in the Church weekly and enjoyed an active program.
Although our new pastor preached regularly after Reverend Hardy left, Reverend Paul Bailey was not installed as our 37th Pastor until September 24, 1989, at 3:00 P.M. In the first part of the Installation Service, the Pulpit Committee made its recommendations for Reverend Bailey, which was followed by the litany of installation and a prayer of installation. The newly installed Pastor Bailey was welcomed by the Iroquois Association, the area clergy, and by the community leaders of Manlius. The Installation Service was concluded with three dramas. “Picking a Pastor” was followed with a charge to the Pastor. “Choosing the Perfect Church” was followed by a charge to the congregation, and “A Church for the Whole Family” was followed by a meditation. After the service the participants and audience were invited to the gymnasium for a time of greeting and an Ice Cream Social.
On November 22, 1989, our Church Clerk wrote a letter to the Sand Lake Baptist Church requesting Paul and Phyllis Bailey’s membership be transferred to the First Baptist Church of Manlius. It was reported done in a letter from the Sand Lake Baptist Church dated December 27, 1989, to Jean Jurick, Church Clerk.
The Hillside PreSchool reported a full enrollment and a continuing harmony between the Hillside Board and its Director, Mrs. Julia Tien (completing her fifteenth year.) Her philosophy was to “teach only what the child is ready to learn on an individual basis. The most important ingredient is “love.” The annual report tried to answer a growing criticism from some Church members that the Christian religion was not emphasized. The Hillside Board stated in their annual report that “we trust the Lord will continue to lead the school in the direction He would have the school go.....We do make impact on the community and although the school is not religious, the good will and love generated speak for itself.” Since Mrs. Tien’s arrival, the enrollment of the school had doubled. The problem of religion was due to the fact that many of the children were from Jewish families who would not approve of the Christian religion being taught or exposed to their children. The removal of pictures of Jesus from the Sunday School rooms used weekdays for Hillside was particularly offensive to some of the Church members.
In 1985 the Trustees were becoming concerned with access to all parts of the church for people with physical disabilities. Andy Burt, son of Bill and Betsey Burt, and wheelchair bound, was a special concern, but older members were also having difficulties in attending meetings and dinners on the basement floor. The Trustees looked into the idea of purchasing a stair climber to move wheelchairs and their occupants up and down stairs in the Educational Wing of the Church but did not follow through with this possibility.
In November of 1989 the Diaconate Board was planning START (Sharing Together A Round Table) Dinners for the congregation.
The dinners were given for small groups of people in a Church Member’s home. The Diaconate arranged the gatherings so that new members could get to know better some of the established members of the Church.
In Pastor Paul’s 1989 annual report to the Congregation (his first), he humorously reported that it was his tradition to use his section of the Annual Report to review a list of goals that were supposed to have been achieved in 1989, but since he was not here to have announced them, he claimed a 100% success in meeting the non-existent goals. He then listed goals that he might have accepted for 1989 if he had been our minister for a full year:
Many of these goals were fulfilled in the Pastoral year of 1989; others were reached later.