THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

In July the committee got down to work, for some time holding meetings one evening each week. The Centennial Committee expanded the original plan to spread the celebration over an entire week, with speakers and special music each night followed by a fellowship time with light refreshments. Plans wee also made for a Homecoming on Saturday afternoon. The week was originally to start on Monday, 12 October, but was soon extended to include Sunday, 11 October also.

Just abut everyone in the church had some part in making the arrangements and preparing the church for its 100th birthday. The church was much in need of cleaning and repair. The old electrical wiring was replaced, new lighting was installed, and the interior was painted; various members spent many hours cleaning up the premises in general. The doors in the educational building were varnished, the room dividers were painted, and George R. Grove put a coat of paint on all the plaster board in the new addition.

The Records and History Committee arranged a display of the old communion sets, the old Bible, the other historical church articles in a display case that Mr. and Mrs. Landon Reeve loaned us for an indefinite period.

An exhibit of pictures and snapshots ranging from the Corbett School of 1899 to the September Sale of 1970 graphically displayed the development and activities of the church.

Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Clawson prepared a booklet containing a historical sketch of the church, its membership roll, the church officials, a list of ministers who had served from 1870 through 1970, a map showing the location of the church, and the program for the week of the Centennial. Other members helped to fold and staple the booklets together.

Wendall Hartley arranged for Monkton's share of the music and Mrs. Robert L. Curley played theorgan for most of the services. Rev. Whalen arranged for special vocal and instrumental music for each service. mrs. Elmer R. Harvey and mrs. George W. Grove were responsible for each evening's refreshments. Mrs. Allen Ruhl of Ruhl's Nursery furnished fresh flowers for all the services. Baby sitters took care of the young each night. Ushers for the various services included Walter Billingsley, Richard Cook, Howard Fridinger, George Heaps, Clarence Clemens, and Bosley Wilhelm. Miss Dixie Cook registered the guests at each service.

Mrs. George Heaps, general chairman, Mrs. Frack, and Mrs. W. Bosley Wilhelm planned the menu of open-faced sandwiches, mints, nuts, cake, coffee, and punch for the Homecoming buffet on Saturday. Mrs. Heaps' sister-in-law, Mrs. Kinnear, directed the making of the sandwiches. Others involved in the arrangements were Mrs. Walter Billingsley, Miss Dixie Cook, Mrs. Richard Cook, Mrs. George W. Grove, Mrs. Elmer Rush Harvey and Mrs. Lester Heaps.

Mrs.Noris Billingsley, Sr., and Mrs. Richard Cook were in charge of orders for the Centennial Memorial Plate.

The week's program was as follows:

Sunday, Oct. 11, Rev. Clarence Whalen, speaker; Clynmalira Choir, music.

Monday, Oct. 12, Dr. William A. Keese, speaker; Mr. Earl Keese, Director of Music for North Avenue U. M., in charge of music, which consisted of trombone solo by Mr. Keese and vocal solos by Mrs. Wilmer S. Davison. Accompanists for the entire service were Mr. John Hatcher at the organ and Mrs. John Hatcher at the piano.

Tuesday, Oct. 13, Rev. William J. E. Apsley, speaker; special music by Isaiah Baptist Choir and a duet by Rev. and Mrs. John Ford of Hereford United Methodist.

Wednesday, Oct. 14, Mrs. Walter Wicklein, President of the Women's Society of Christian Service, speaker; Monkton Choir, music.

Thursday, Oct. 15, John Bayley Jones, D.D., speaker; Dr. Ernest P. Clark; soloist, Mrs. Ernest Clark, accompanist.

Friday, Oct. 16, Rev. Robert H. Reichard, speaker; Mr. Jacob Sheets, soloist, Mrs. Clarence Whalen, accompanist.

Saturday, Oct. 17, Homecoming Day, an informal program under the direction of Rev. Whalen, including hymn singing and recognition of special guests. Among those who were recognized for having contributed to the church's past were Rev. Apsley and Rev. Dewhirst and their families; Mrs. Wilbur Winstanley, the oldest member present; Mrs. Clarence Smith and Mrs. Charles Lintz, the oldest former members present; William D. Parry, the son of an early minister; and Mrs. Raymond Manley, an outstanding leader of youth while at Monkton, represented her husband, Rev. Raymond Manley, the oldest living former minister of Monkton. The honored guests were given crosses made from original church timbers that wee removed when the doors were placed in the northern wall of the church. The honored ladies were also given corsages of yellow chrysanthemums. Luncheon followed the program.

Sunday, Oct. 18, Rev. Allan Gillis, speaker; Miss Sally Stallings, violin soloist, Mrs. Mary Stallings, accompanist, and the combined Monkton and Clynmalira choirs. The Clynmalira congregation joined with the Monkton congregation and their guests for the Sunday morning service. Afterwards, coffee, donuts, cake, and punch were served.

The attendance at the Centennial Week Celebration ranged from 59 to 139, over 100 being present for four of the services. Financially, generous offerings and donations paid for all of the week's expenses and left some for the church itself. Thus the Centennial Celebration was the success the church deserved, thanks not only to all the work of those who planned and prepared for it but also to former members and community residents who attended. To all go the church's thanks.