History of the Fabius Methodist Church

Transcription

1 History of the Fabius Methodist Church Fabius was originally part of Pompey, a section of the new country established by Legislature of New York State as a military tract land as payment to veterans of the American Revolution. In 1798 the Town of Fabius was sectioned off from the Town of Pompey. Within two decades, Fabius had grown to include a small business district, three inns, a saw mill, grist mill, and a tannery -- the result of a new turnpike and the improvement of roads between Fabius and the city of Syracuse. During that same period, the population grew from 844 to 2,494. (U.S. n.d.) In the beginning, Fabian Methodists met in a local school house and formed a class. Methodist classes typically consisted of individuals led by a lay person as class leader with support from a circuit preacher who was assigned by the Conference to make regular visits. In 1821 a few citizens, including Anson and Sally Cadwell, David and Daniel Porter, Carlson Hodgson, and Catherine Hubbard, formed a Methodist society. (Bruce 1896) Some records indicate this as the first official Methodist Church in Fabius. However it is more likely that this group remained as a class until 1826, when the Fabius Methodist Church was organized in a meeting at the school house in District No. 9. Five trustees were appointed: John Daniels Jr., John Cadwell Jr., Reynold Wilson, Daniel Smith, and Horace Fuller. (Kutscher 2008) This society collected $700 to build a church 48 ft x 36 ft with gothic windows and handsome belfry which may have been located on Keeney Rd, possibly near the present [2011] site of the Evergreen Cemetery. With a growing congregation, larger resources, and urgency for more prominent placement in the village, the Methodists purchased property on Main Street from Hiram Bailey at a cost of $185 and moved their beloved church to the center of Fabius, across from The Baptist Church and Society of Fabius. (Kutscher 2008) Church records indicated 157 members, 8 stewards, 4 class leaders, and one exhorter. The Digest of Methodist Law (c ) defines the exhorter as: the helper of the preacher-in-charge. He is licensed by him, and is subject to his direction. It is the exhorter s duty to hold meetings for prayer and exhortation wherever opportunity is afforded.his accountability is that of a private member of the Church. (Merrill 1912, 87) to read scriptural lessons and make practical application of their truths to the public congregation. (Hudson 1889, 154)

2 The Fabius Methodist Episcopal Church was poised to join another movement in American religious history -- the Sunday School Movement. Sunday schools were an important source of prospective members for the church and a means to extend Christian education. In its 1841 Report of the Committee on Sabbath Schools [Cazenovia District of the Oneida Conference], Fabius Methodist Episcopal Church declared its active contribution to this effort with a Superintendent of Sunday School, nine teachers, 50 students, and 100 volumes. (Church, Methodist Collection, Oneida Conference, Box 4 n.d.) Membership in the church grew steadily and in 1858 E.C. Brown reported baptizing 17 adults who joined 132 members in two Methodist churches in the Town of Fabius. (Church, Methodist Collection, Oneida Conference, Box 4 n.d.) The location of the second Methodist church might be attributed to a class that met in Keeney Settlement. A year before the start of the Civil War, Fabius Methodists rebuilt their church and exhibited their values of thrift, hard work, entrepreneurship, private philanthropy, and civic righteousness. Like their Baptist neighbors, they struggled with their neighbors on the topic of temperance. This oath found in reports of the Cazenovia District of the Oneida Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church -- reflects earnest sentiments: I do solemnly promise that I will not use, make, buy, sell, furnish, or cause to be furnished to others as a beverage any spirituous or malt liquor, wine or cider and that in all honorable ways I will discountenance their use in society. (Church, Methodist Collection, Oneida Conference, Box 3 n.d.) Under the supervision of Preacher Benjamin F. Barker, lay preacher-in-charge H. Fox claimed [on behalf of the Fabius & Keeney Settlement report to Methodist Oneida Conference] 108 members, two local preachers, and six adults baptized during Membership climbed to 137 in 1867, then dropped to 105 in Perhaps we might attribute this fluctuation to the founding of Syracuse University [1870] and other demographic changes in Onondaga County? Regardless of the size of the membership, Fabius Methodists maintained their church at a cost of $2,500, recorded in 1883 for the addition of a partition in the front entry, removal of the choir loft, re-arrangement and removal of seating, plastering, painting, and a new furnace. In 1896 new carpet was laid and a metal ceiling was installed in the sanctuary. (Kutscher 2008) By the start of the twentieth century, Fabius Methodist Episcopal Church looked very much like the image in this post card, dated prior to (the original steeple was removed in 1924).

3 During most of the church s history, the term of its pastors typically lasted a year, with the longest term being three years. In 1946, Reverend Edgar Leo Kinner [and his wife, Martha Kinner] started service that would last a decade and provide a constancy of leadership. The image [below] shows the church as it appeared in the Anniversary Banquet Program, August 14, Significant remodeling of the sanctuary that year included a new platform and additional rooms constructed near the rear of the sanctuary, repair of the belfry, interior and exterior painting; installation of an archway and installation of stained glass windows created by Keck Studio. The extraordinary cost of each window ($90) was borne by dedication of members to beloved family members. Upgrades of bathrooms, a modern kitchen and new lighting system came from rental fees from the public school, that required temporary classroom space during its own expansion -- a result of the post-war baby boom. Two years later, members raised funds to install a new organ. In preparation for the 125 th anniversary celebration, new carpets were laid and The Methodist Church published The Church Messenger. The church celebrated completion of each renovation with re-dedication ceremonies that coincided with anniversaries of the church s foundation in Fabius. In 1953, following a year and a half of construction, the church welcomed members back into the sanctuary with a rededication of the Fabius Methodist Church. Rev & Mrs. Kinner served another three years and with their departure came the next phase in the church history. Donald W. Romlein ( ) was the pastor when this image was taken [c1957]. Note the small evergreen trees planted in the front and the elms that shaded the sidewalk.

4 Rev. Norman Morris succeeded Pastor Romlein and it was during Rev. Morris term that the Methodist Church (U.S.) merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form The United Methodist Church. The following image was taken while the congregation was still known as the Fabius Methodist Church, perhaps just a few years because the evergreen trees were still small [circa 1961?].

5 Although the church was an impressive building in the village, some members of the congregation longed to restore the steeple. With a generous gift from the Skeele family, Fabius United Methodist Church was crowned with a new steeple in Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. [Matthew 18:19, 20] Regrettably, two millennia after the birth of Christ, the congregation of the Fabius Methodist Church could not sustain the cost of maintaining the historic building. Following much discussion and consideration, by separate votes of the members of the Fabius United Methodist Church and the Fabius Baptist Church, a new church was created Fabius Christian Church. Leaders of the congregations agreed to that the Baptist Church building would become the home for the merged congregations. With God there are no endings, only endless beginnings So read the cover of the program for the farewell and deconsecration of the Fabius United Methodist Church on June 28 th, As members departed the building, they gathered cherished symbols of their faith and transferred them to the Baptist church building.

6 The Methodist church building in 2011 serves as the Wesleyan Center and home to the Time to Grow Nursery School. The image below shows the church in February Bibliography Beauchamp, William M. Past and Present of Syracuse and Onondaga County. New York: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,, Bruce, Dwight H. Onondaga's Centennial. Boston History Co., Church, Methodist. Methodist Collection, Oneida Conference, Box 3. Syracuse University Archives Collection, Syracuse: Methodist Church. Church, Methodist. Methodist Collection, Oneida Conference, Box 4. Syracuse University Archives Collection, Syracuse: Methodist Church. Clayton, W.W. History of Onondaga County, New York. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co.,, Fabius Central School, 8th Grade Social Studies Class. Fabius n History. Class project, Fabius, NY: Fabius Central School, 1939.

7 Greig, Gary S. "The History of Seminary Education and Theological Education." Communion With God Ministries. June 10, (accessed February 19, 2011). Hudson, Hilary T. The Methodist Armor. Nashville, TN: Publishing House of the M.E. Church South, Kutscher, Chuck. "History of the Fabius Methodist Church." Merrill, Stephen Mason. A Digest of Methodist Law. Cincinnati, OH: The Methodist Book Concern, U.S. "Federal Census."