New Century Pastors
Rev. Fred W. Burnham was called to the pulpit as minister on May 1, 1901. He was born in Chapin, Illinois, where his father practiced medicine. After finishing his public school education, he entered the local office of the Wabash Railroad where he learned telegraphy and the work of a station agent. After working for the Wabash and Northern Pacific Railroads, Mr. Burnham entered Eureka College taking the full course load, graduated in 1895, and accepted his first call to a church in Carbondale. Following a brief pastorate there, he spent five years at a new church in Charleston. In 1901, he accepted a call from the Edward Street congregation. On October 6, 1901, the name of the Edward Street Christian Church was officially changed to the Central Church of Christ of Decatur, Illinois. F.P. Howard, J.H. Myers, and John T. Howell were trustees. Rev. Burnham concluded his pastorate at the Central Church of Christ in 1907. At the annual meeting in January 1907, he reported a gain of 130 members with a total membership of 566. Sunday school attendance averaged 171 with a total yearly collection of $340. The Social Helpers raised $864.52, $250 more than the previous year. Rev. Fred Burnham was followed in 1907 by Rev. Ora Woodford Lawrence who came to Decatur from Rockford, Illinois. He was born in Payson, Illinois, and educated at Drake University. In his first year, Rev. Lawrence reported 21 new members, 82 sermons preached, and a new year begun without debt. During Rev. Lawrence's tenure, a new parsonage was built south of the church facing Edward Street. For reasons of ill health, Rev. O.W. Lawrence resigned from Central on October 2, 1911. Many who knew him in the community felt that his physical breakdown was due to overwork. He died suddenly of pleuro-pneumonia at his new home in North Yakima, Washington, in late November 1911. During his ministry in Decatur he doubled Central's membership and reduced the debt. Rev. Burnham came from Springfield to deliver a funeral tribute to Rev. Lawrence on Sunday, December 3, 1911. E.W. Allen served as the next pastor of Central from 1912 to 1913. In his first ten months, 78 new members joined the church. Clerk of the Church in 1912 was C.G. Auer with J.B. Good as treasurer and M.E. Clifton, J.S. Sweeney, and F.J. Walter serving as trustees. Elders were L.B.C. Leffingwell, Edgar March, Dr. J.F. Mittan, F.J. Parr, J.H. Pritchett, and F.P. Howard. Superintendent of the Bible school was A.O. Key and pianist was Miss Grace Wandel. During Rev. Allen's pastorate the cornerstone was laid for Decatur and Macon County Hospital. A parade of sixty automobiles from downtown Decatur went down an unpaved Edward Street to the new building for the celebration. W.H. Cannon replaced Rev. Allen in the fall of 1913. The membership of the church grew to 1,120 by 1915 with 94 new members added in one year and $4,000 being raised for local expenses. On March 24, 1916, after assembling for supper, the members witnessed the burning of the mortgage with the property now valued at more than $40,000. The church received a letter of congratulations from former pastor Fred Burnham on this occasion. Rev. Burnham was serving as president of the American Christian Missionary Society of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Social Helpers were very active during these years sponsoring a banquet for the Rural Mail Carriers in the spring of 1914. On December 31, 1915, Mrs. John Barnett was elected president of the Social Helpers; Mrs. J.R. Pogue, first vice president; Mrs. John Diller, second vice president; Mrs. H.E. Lampkin, secretary; and Mrs. W.L. Hull, treasurer. John R. Golden began as minister of the Central Church of Christ of Decatur in December 1916, replacing W.H. Cannon. Rev. Golden maintained his residence at the parsonage at 236 N. Edward with his church office telephone being Main 1539 and his residence Main 6102. Missionary activity continued as an important part of the congregation's commitment to the brotherhood. Offerings were accepted on Missionary Sundays designated for Christian Education, Foreign Missions, National Benevolence (Easter Sunday); American Missions, Church Extension, Illinois Missions (first Sunday in November); and Christian Women's Board of Missions, and Ministerial Relief Fund (third Sunday in December). Missionary treasurer was Miss Nannie Odor and Miss Nannie Parr served as president of the Christian Women's Board of Missions in 1917. Elder chairman for 1917-18 was Edward March. G.W. Lipscomb lead the deacons and Mrs. A.O. Key the deaconesses. The living link for which the Christian Women's Board of Missions provided support was Dr. E.A. Lines, who was in charge of clinics and Bible teaching at Piedras Negras, Mexico. The annual report for 1917 showed 63 new members with a total membership of 883. The congregation raised $7,041.01 for the year with $1,231.26 for missions and benevolence. [Christian-Evangelist, 122,23] Following World War I, Decatur witnessed a number of growth changes. The Comet Manufacturing Company and Pan American Motors Corporation began assembling cars at plants on Garfield Avenue and North Charles Street. Wagner Castings began its foundry operations by supplying castings to Caterpillar's predecessor, Holt Mfg. Co. of Peoria. The Hi-Flier Mfg. Co. produced and distributed kites beginning in 1921. Lake Decatur was completed and filled in 1923, and a four day celebration was held beginning on July 4. Buses and streetcars were owned by Illinois Power and Light Corp. formed in 1923. First known as Lincoln Square, Decatur's Lincoln Theater was built in 1916. The Decatur City Council was interested in using wood blocks as street paving material and in 1919, 3.6 miles of blocks were laid on Prairie and Park Streets. Decatur had 627 Boy Scouts by 1922 making the program one recognized for excellence by Columbia University. One of the finest leaders of the Boy Scouts was Mr. Howard Lancaster, a true Christian who helped shape the lives of many young men of Central. Central Church continued its growth into the 1920's under Reverend Golden's leadership. The church spent $7,000 building an assembly room, classrooms, and rooms for the Boy Scouts and Junior department in 1921. During that year, 121 new members were added, and $9,362.64 was raised for local expenses. [Evangelist, 822] A large, county-wide evangelistic campaign was held at Central in the spring of 1922 led by Brother Charles Reign Scoville of Chicago. All of the denomination's churches in the county were in attendance with most experiencing additions. Central alone had 160 confessions and 94 received by letter. Other county churches showed a total of 77 confessions and four by letter. [Evangelist, 823] In 1922, the first soybeans were processed in the U.S. at A.E. Staley Co. in Decatur. The First Christian and Central Christian's boards met at a luncheon in the basement of First Christian in April of that year. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss co-operative efforts toward a local missionary program. Together a decision was made to establish a local mission church. Thus, the Decatur Christian Missionary Society was formed. The Society purchased a lot at the southeast corner of Prairie Avenue and Seventh Street (now 22nd Street) in July, 1924, and plans were drawn for the completion of a new building. On September 9, 1924, 75 volunteers worked 12 hours to complete the building, and a service was held in it that night. The Prairie Avenue Christian Church grew, but in 1949 it was completely destroyed by fire. A new church was built from the ashes, and under the capable leadership of Rev. James L. Van Lear the church prospered and expanded in the 1950's. The annual meeting of the Central Church of Christ in January 1926 heard reports that the total membership was at 1,022 with 53 added to the cradle roll and not a single death in the cradle roll during the year. After a basket dinner held in the Sunday School room with 200 in attendance, the congregation moved to the auditorium for the meeting. A musical program was provided with solos by Maxine Smoek, Helen Chodat, and a vocal duet by Roy Biddle and Mr. Maxey. Officers elected at this meeting were elders Charles Gillespie, I.L. Curry, and C.H. Kinaman; deacons Ray Lighthall, C.M. Postlewaite, J.W. Marshall, J.J. Burkholder, A.P. Cummings, O.A. Sanks, and Walter Flora; deaconesses Mrs. Sever, Mrs. Charles Pritchett, Mrs. Whalen, Mrs. Ray Adams, Mrs. Hull, Mrs. H. Averitt, Mrs. C. Calver, Mrs. Eva Dickson, and Mrs. Roy Adams; trustee Fred Walters; missionary representative Chester Gillespie; missionary treasurer Miss Gertrude Phillis; church clerk Mrs. Ruth Sweeney; moderator Mrs. Cora B. Ryman; and committee members Elmer Good, Roy Adams, Charles Auer, Mrs. Cora B. Ryman, and O.O. Stanley. The projected church budget for 1926 called for the following estimates:
In 1925, the first airport was built (a canvas hangar) at Wyckles Corner and the first radio broadcast, WJBL, made the news. On November 28, 1926, a celebration was held at the church to recognize the tenth anniversary of Rev. Golden. His was the longest pastorate served to this date. Speeches were given by Roy Adams from the board of elders and Martin Fields from the deacons. At a dinner following the afternoon service, many of the county church pastors and the mayor of Decatur praised Rev. Golden's leadership of the Central Church of Christ. [Evangelist, 1927,20] A service of appreciation and farewell was held at the church on February 27, 1927 for Rev. Golden. He had accepted the secretarial position of the United Christian Missionary Society in St. Louis, Missouri. On behalf of the Decatur ministerial association, Dr. G.E. Papperman of Westminster Presbyterian Church praised Rev. John Golden's service. Rev. Golden's new tasks and responsibilities included the work of evangelistic missions. The membership of Central was at 1,008 on January 1, 1927. With Rev. Golden leaving the church, a new minister was sought. Rev. Carrel W. Flewelling came to Decatur and delivered his first sermon on March 6, 1927. Soon after, the congregation met and unanimously approved a motion to call Rev. Flewelling as Central's new pastor. He answered the call on March 27, 1927 and moved his wife, Winifred, and children, Philip and Margaret, to Decatur in June. |
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Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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