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Methodist Church Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Its Organization

The Ganado Methodist Church celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of its organization Sunday morning at the regular 11 o’clock service. The worship service of song, Scripture and prayer was on the theme, The Church. A quartette composed of Mrs. Forest Knudsen, Mr. Roy Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Whyman, sang "The Church By the Side of the Road.” A letter from Bishop Frank Smith, addressed to Dr. Olin Nail was read. The bishop commended
the church for its long period of usefulness in the community and expressed his wish for its continued success.

A brief history of the church was given by M. R. Whyman, as follows:

The Methodists of the Ganado community worshipped at different places before the founding of the church near Ganado. Rev. S. C. A. Rogers was the founder of Methodism in Jackson County. He was what was called a ’circuit rider’, going on horseback to hold services at different places, He would ride a horse and his wife and baby would ride along on another horse.

John S. Menefee, in his diary mentioned having service in his new home during the year 1854 with Rev. S. C. A. Rogers and Rev. Cotlingham doing the preaching. The home is the one in which the Henry Mercer family now lives. History records the Quarterly Conference of June 10, 1870 at Texana. It seems the Ganado Methodists attended there.

The time came when a few faithful Christians decided to organize a Methodist Church near Ganado. Following is an article copied from the Texana Clarion of May, 1880. “Rev. Mr. Black informs us that he, assisted by Rev. T. R. Stewart and Rev. S. C. A. Rogers, organized a Methodist Church at Rogers Prairie on Sunday the 16^th inst., and called it Rogers Chapel in honor of our old friend, ‘Uncle Sam.’ The organization has commenced under very favorable auspices and has a membership of seventeen persons.”

The names of those charter members are J. L. Dickie, S. J. Dickie, A. B. Evans, M. B. Evans, C. J. Evans, Nancy Evans, Sally Evans, M. Grimes, J. F. Harper, C. M. Thompson, R. R. Witt, L. L. Rogers, S. C. A. Rogers, and M. E. Rogers (parents of Mr. C. O. Rogers), W. P. Jackson and M. C. Jackson (parents of Mrs. Homer Anderson and Mrs. Rose McCulloch), Paul Mercer (uncle of Mr. Henry Mercer). The building where these people worshipped was located just near Rogers Cemetery just back of the Fowler place. It was used for both school and church. Later a school building was built near Devers Creek where the Mizell Camp is now located.

The first Methodist church building was erected in 1895 on the corner lot just east of our present church. The building cost $1000, and when the building was ready for use, they paid for it in full and were ready to dedicate it. The present church building was erected in 1928. Since there was an indebtedness it was not dedicated until June 23, 1936. The church has gone forward in a very fine way and we are now have 238 members. Plans are being made and funds are being raised for the erection of a chapel. When this is completed, the present church building will be used as an educational building for the use of the Church School which has outgrown its present equipment.

There are some interesting facts found in an old Quarterly Conference Record of October 20, 1899. At that time there were four preaching places on the circuit: Ganado, Red Bluff, El Toro, and Buhler. There were 234 members in four places, 51 additions by profession of faith that year. The membership was assessed $365 for the preacher in charge, $206 for missions and all other purposes.

The Sunday School was organized on May 24, 1896, with Mr. J. C. Crawford as the first superintendent. He consented to take the office until they could find someone else, but proved so efficient that he served in this position for twenty years. The Missionary Society and the Epworth League were organized in 1899.

Those who has been members of this church for more than thirty years are: Mr. Henry Mercer, Mrs. Forest Knudsen, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Koonce, Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Cherry, Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Whyman, Mrs. J. W. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Koonce.

Those who have been members for forty years and more are: Mrs. Nellie Ratliff, James Strauss, Mrs. Sallie Christ, Russell Whitmire.

Special recognition was given those who have been members for more than fifty years: Mr. C. O. Rogers, Mrs. Irene Pierce, Mrs. Homer Anderson, Mrs. Rose McColloch, Mrs. Willie Roseborough, Mrs. Ethel Lancaster and Mr. Joe Heard. Five more Ganado Methodist Church of these were present and as their names were called, each lady was given a white carnation corsage and each man a carnation boutonniere. Mrs. Rose McColloch is church historian and has been very helpful in keeping the old records and history. She was asked to say a few words and expressed appreciation for the sacrificial service the pioneers had given to our church and the hope that the coming generations would be as loyal. She introduced Mrs. A. S. Dwigans who is a visitor in Ganado. Mrs. Dwigans joined this church more than fifty years ago. She now lives in El Paso. The congregation stood in respect for Mr. C. O. Rogers who is now 92 years of age and still able to attend the services of the church.

Dr. Nail, in his sermon, brought some interesting information about the first Methodist Church and College in Texas. He spoke of the difficulties and hardships the early settlers endured and the debt we owe to those who paved the way of progress for us.

Edna Herald, Thursday, May 19, 1955