Indian Pioneer Papers - Index

Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: March 1, 1938
Name: Mary Brenner (Mrs.)
Post Office: Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Place of Birth:
Information on father:
Mother:
Place of birth:
Information on mother:
Field Worker: Ella Robinson

Very early in the 1895, an interesting article appeared in the Globe-Democrat of St. Louis concerning the election of the Reverend Francis Key BROOKE by the Episcopal Church to be Bishop of Indian Territory and Oklahoma, and his consecration to that office. That work had been until then under the Bishop of Arkansas (Bishop PIERCE), who had a large Missionary Diocese or district of his own and who was, moreover, an old man and too feeble to give his strength to any outside work.

This article about Bishop Brooke attracted the attention of a family recently arrived in Muskogee, Indian Territory, from New York State. The head of the family, Mr. Fred MORRIS, had gone to Pawhuska, Capital of the Osage tribe of Indians, in 1889 as clerk at the Indian Agency. He had been transferred to Muskogee to serve in the same capacity in the Agency of the Five Civilized Tribes. A year previously, he had brought to Muskogee his bride, Miss Florence MILLER, from Saranac Lake, New York, and a sister who was advised to live in a warmer climate. She, being too ill to travel alone, had committed the atrocity of traveling with the bride and groom. This circumstance gained her the sobriquet from her brother’s friend in Muskogee of the “Tag.” And probably because it was thoroughly apropos, it was universally accepted. The writer of this account of the beginning of the church in Oklahoma is that “Tag” and will use that name.

In 1889 when part of the Indian Territory was opened to settlement for white people, the church papers had written a great deal about the loss of the church occasioned by its neglect to keep pace with the rapid movement of settlers to the West, and much was said about beginning work in the new towns of Oklahoma, especially Guthrie, which had 10,000 inhabitants after the run.

The “Tag” reading that Bishop Brooke would soon visit his new field of labor and remembering that a priest of the church was stationed at Guthrie wrote the letter, asking him when he saw Bishop Brooke to please tell him there was a family in Muskogee, who would be glad of a church service whenever he could give it.

Bishop Brooke being at Guthrie when the letter arrived and learning its contents, wrote immediately that he was going to Tahlequah, and would stop in Muskogee at a given date and hold evening service.  After diligent inquiry three communicants of the church were discovered besides the Morris family, two daughters of Judge and Mrs. SHACKLEFORD, and a Mrs. PEARSON, an earnest Christian woman, who, despairing of having an opportunity to worship with the Episcopalians, had been associated with the Methodists. The Reverend M. L. BUTLER, Pastor of the Methodist Church, kindly offered their building for our evening services. The “Tag”, who had been active in choir work in her own state as singer or organist, enlisted the services of the two Misses Shackleford and Mrs. Morris; and augmented this church group by the Methodist choir of which Mr. and Mrs. A. E. BONNELL were members. They prepared the chant and hymns for the service. There were a few whose families at their former homes were communicants of the church. These were interested and the Baptismal service was arranged for the afternoon, at which, several children were to be presented for Baptism.  As all the church members were in the choir except Mr. Morris, some of the young men who had promised to come were instructed in making responses and leading the psalms. The service was printed in leaflets and distributed through the church. The Bishop was to stop with the Morris family, and his arrival was awaited with the greatest interest.

Bishop Brooke was in his early forties, a man of fine intellectual power, endowed with a keen sense of humor, impressing those who knew him with his perfect sincerity of work and deed. His simplicity of manner put people at ease and he quickly won the deepest affection and also the admiration and respect of all with whom he came in contact.

Bishop Brooke worked amid great difficulties and to a great extent, alone, at first and even later had for the most part inexperienced assistants serving the missions he established. There were no public schools and a man with a family naturally hesitated to rear his children where they had to leave home at an early age for education. There was, of course, always a financial shortage and shifting population which caused many disappointments as the Bishop might organize what seemed a promising mission on one visit, and the next time find the members scattered to other towns.

The Bishop performed the services of the Priest as well as Bishop; baptizing, marrying, and burying, often traveling long distances to visit the sick and give them the comfort of the offices of the church.

He often endangered his own life by encountering the swollen creeks which had become rivers after a heavy rain, and, in almost every instance, had to be forded. In addition, the church was very little understood in this section of the country, and was positively disliked by many of the new settlers.

To return to the visit of the Bishop to Muskogee. He held a baptismal service in the afternoon, at which the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. F. N. MORRIS was the first to be baptized. The two children of Mr. and Mrs.  Phillip FORD, and the son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill DOREN(?) were also baptized at that time. The evening service at the Methodist Church was attended by as many as could find places in the building. The Bishop had a very fine voice, of sympathetic quality. The impromptu choir had practiced the chants and sang them lustily, together with familiar hymns known to the congregation. We felt that a good start had been made. The Bishop organized a mission at once, which has resulted in one of the strongest parishes in the districts. A woman’s guild was organized. A young Deacon came soon to take charge, but promptly became a convert to Roman Catholicism and was sent to Rome, Italy, where his father was studying painting. He was succeeded by Reverend Henry TUDOR. Under Mr. Tudor the little church was built. The congregation had hitherto met in the G. A. R. Hall, which was not very convenient. When the church was partially completed the contractor decamped, having drawn on our funds to pay bills of his own, and leaving us stranded. As we had no more resources, Mr. Charley MOORE, of Muskogee, a painter and decorator, but not a church member, volunteered to finish the work as a gift to the church, which he very generously did. One rather amusing incident not amusing at the time, however, occurs to me. Someone, without much sense of the fitness of things, built a livery stable close by the side of the church nearer town and so much nearer the street that the church was entirely hidden from view. As the “Tag” was picking her way along the unpaved street with a friend to attend services and as there were no sidewalks at that time, she said; “Straight is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to my church”. “Yes,” the friend replied; “And few there be, who find it”.

The little church was moved later, and still later, as Muskogee grew, it was replaced by a very churchly building, which was later moved again and enlarged and the parish house and cloister built in connection.

In 1894 Mr. Morris, with his wife and child, removed to Pawhuska, the “Tag” remaining in Muskogee as a teacher of piano and organist of the church until July ‘95. In June of that year, a second son was born to the Morris’s and Bishop Brooke decided to pay his first visit to Pawhuska and christen the child. He could not do this until August, as Pawhuska was remote from any railroad point. But he traveled from Ponca City to Gray Horse, where a friend kindly undertook to drive him the remaining 25 miles. On his arrival he found the young mother almost at the point of death after an illness of six weeks. He stayed at the home of Major FREEMAN, an officer in the regular army, detailed to act as agent for the Osages. In the morning he held a communion service at the bedside of the mother and christened the child, whose mother had named him Herbert Brooke. That child was the first to be baptized by an Episcopal Clergyman in the Osage Nation, which is now Osage County.

He is now a Priest of the church and Archdeacon of Western Oklahoma, with headquarters at Clinton. The mother died a few days later, leaving the two little boys motherless, and the “Tag” followed her brother to Pawhuska, to remain permanently. About two years later Bishop Brooke held an evening service in Pawhuska in the little church building which was a community building, originally intended for the use of any Christian body, but appropriated by the Methodists. At this time, and for almost another decade, Pawhuska was simply a tiny hamlet in a valley surrounded by hills, 28 miles from the nearest railroad, inhabited by a few Indian traders who secured license from the U. S. Government to sell, a few mixed blood Indians, two or three small hotels, the Indian Agent, and clerks, and the employees of the Indian school living on the hill. There was a Methodist church, a Roman Catholic Church, with a day school, and a boarding school for girls.

As the income of the Osage Indian was only about $43.00 each quarter, the agent and two clerks were sufficient for the clerical work. Their office was situated in the valley as were also the two houses for the clerk and another for the physician also appointed by the Government. On the hill were the Agent’s house, the boarding school for girls, a stone chapel two stories high, with recitation rooms and their hall, where the children assembled for entertainment, a small hospital, a power house and one or two other small buildings. Only one dwelling house existed on the hill at that time other than the Agent’s. In the Fall of 1900 several of the personnel of the Government school were members of or interested in the Episcopal Church, beside a few living in town. When the Bishop arranged for a visit to us he organized a Mission calling it St. Thomas. There was a Bishop’s committee, Guild, and a Sunday School, as we called it in those days. We could have no services except when the Bishop came as we were too far away from any other mission.

The “Tag,” who was married by this time, as was her brother, also, was appointed Superintendent of the Sunday School and licensed to lead such services as a layman may conduct. We had an average attendance of thirty-five children including, besides our own little group, Presbyterian, Baptists and Christians. We used the room then occupied by the Masonic Lodge, almost under the hill, and situated where the American National Bank now stands. Sometimes the janitor would forget to build our little wood fire. Then the children and teacher would gather such bits of wood as could be secured and soon have a comfortable fire.

The Guild took upon itself to furnish whatever would be required for the work of the Sunday School. A small organ was purchased and hymn and prayer books furnished at once. Our first Guild President was Mrs. LOOMER. Our charter members were; Mrs. MITCHER, whose husband was agent for the Osages at that time, Mrs. Fred MORRIS, Mrs. CLAY, Mrs. Elsa BRUCE, Mrs. HAYES, Mrs. George SINCOOK, Mrs. GRAVIT, Mrs. DANIELS, Mrs. OWENS, and the “Tag.” Mrs. Harry WALKER, whose husband was appointed Government Surgeon, came later and joined our Guild; also about a year later, Mrs. RUBLE came and soon after Mrs. STRUILL, Mrs. TOLSON, Mrs. COSS, Mrs. Harry MCLAUGHLIN and Mrs. SHINN.  Many others were active members later. When statehood came and Pawhuska came to be a thriving little city and the population increased; those mentioned were the pioneers who worked under difficulties common to frontier towns.

As the Guild played such an important part in the establishment and continuance of St. Thomas Church, I would like to mention the names of different Presidents who have served, some of them several terms. Mrs.  LOOMER, now of Tulsa, was our first President; Mrs. O. A. MITCHER; Mrs.  Harry WALKER, who also served several times and has been for many years choir mother and for a time a member of the Bishop’s Committee; Mrs.  RUPLE; Mrs. SHINN; and Mrs. GIVEN, who as a young girl was a member of our first Sunday School, and who has served on the Bishop’s Committee, and who is now Treasurer of the Guild; Mrs. J. B. TOLESON served several terms; Mrs. Harry MCLAUGHLIN; Mrs. WISE; Mrs. Charles PRENTICE; Mrs.  Frank MCCULLOUGH; Mrs. Lusk COLVILLE; and Mrs. SCHREDEER.

At first there were several women of other faiths working with us because of the children being in our Sunday School. All was so harmonious that it seemed possible to dream of one city as least which could boast of one strong, active, Christian body, instead of the usual spectacle of several weak ones struggling to maintain themselves. The time soon came, unhappily, as Pawhuska grew in population, when other churches were organized. Pawhuska today, a city of five or six thousand people, is endeavoring to support eight different churches.

The Bishop visited us four times each year, always having Baptisms and Confirmations. We used for these services a room in the Indian Council House, which is the building on Main Street now owned by Pawhuska, and used for Municipal offices. A large desk served for lectern; it was fitted up to be as seemly as possible and generally there were flowers donated by the Mill. I wish it were possible to mention the names of the little children who were brought to the Bishop for Baptism and of the adults who sought Confirmation. Their names are, of course, on our parish record.

In 1903 with the Bishop’s approval, we decided to build a Parish House, as such a building could be used for secular purposes and also for our occasional services; whereas a consecrated church building could be of no service for many of our needs. The Indian Agent, Mr. MITCHER, gave us a lot on the corner of what is now Fifth and Leahy Avenue. There were no railroads there and as we had no sidewalks, pavements, or city lights, it was desirable to have public buildings as close at hand as possible.  Mr. Lloyd, who had been coming every fifth Sunday in the month, to hold services, furnished a plan for a building of English style which later could be converted into a church, if we desired, by adding a tower and building a chancel at the rear. The few who were interested donated what they could, the Bishop gave us some money, and the Guild did the rest.  It was paid for entirely when completed. However, we had used it only a short time when we realized that it was regarded and spoken of as the Episcopal Church, and it seemed best to cease using it as a parish house. We had a permanent altar and a lectern made by a friendly carpenter. The Guild bought the pews and the choir stole and the necessary linens and hangings, and lo! we had a church. In order to earn money to complete our parish house the Guild resorted to various entertainments and schemes known to Guilds the world over. One was a dinner. When one considers the size of the city, then boasting a population of 500 and the small number of workers, was a wonderful success. It netted nearly three hundred dollars, but it entailed an enormous expenditure of time and strength. It was given in the Council House and any housekeeper can imagine what was involved by the lack of the modern conveniences. For instance, there was no water power. All water had to be carried in and out by hand, necessitating continued going up and down a flight of steps leading from the street. As we had some remnants of food left, Mr. Mitcher, the President, decided the serve lunch the next day.

Another effort was the presentation of the Cantata “Ruth” in dramatic form in the Methodist Church. The “Tag”, in her capacity of organist, had charge of the music, playing the accompaniments. We had our own choir to take solo parts and several others sang with us, but even so we had just enough people to sing if the soloists sang in the choruses.  When the time had almost arrived at which the Cantata was to be given, our tenor soloist, Dr. Harry WALKER, was ill from poison ivy, and the event was postponed, pending his recovery. Different committees from the Guild prepared the costumes and scenery. It happened that the instruction in the book suggested that Ruth should appear lying under a tree in “Boaz” field. One of our helpers, more Victorian than usual even for those days, felt that it was not mete that Ruth’s feet should be disclosed to the audience and insisted on having a fence in front of the scene. In spite of representations that the fence in “Boaz” wide field would be an anachronism, our friend insisted. The fence hastily constructed, did not stand the jar of the moving curtains, and fell at the most inopportune moment. Also the flashlight was carefully timed but was flashed a little too early and choked the singers in the final chorus. However, on the whole, the Cantata was a success, and netted $250.00.

After our Parish House was finished we gave the “Old Maid’s Convention,” which furnished as much enjoyment to those who took part as to the audience. Later we had more conventional amusements as facilities increased, but the early ones still furnish pleasant memories.

In 1904 a young man studying for the Ministry, Mr. SIMMONDS, was placed in charge of this mission. He never completed his Theological work and remained with us a year only. In 1905 Mr. WATTS, a convert from Methodism came for a year. In 1906 Mr. Harold HENNESSEY came. He was a student, who stayed in Pawhuska for two years and was sent at that time to Bartlesville. Succeeding him in 1907 came Mr. SPROAT, a Lay Missionary. It was while he was with us that the Junior Choir which had been in training for a year, together with the quartet of adults, was vested. Mr. Sprout was succeeded by Mr. John MITCHELL in the spring of 1909. Mr. Mitchell was a Scotchman, whose brother was Bishop of Aberdeen. He had been a missionary in the Anglican Church in Africa, and had been compelled to leave that climate because of Africa fever. He was far from recovered from that illness when he came but worked most earnestly and unselfishly among us. He was interested in civic as well as church work. He was the founder of the Boy Scouts movement and did such good work that it went on steadily after Mr. Mitchell left Pawhuska. This Scout Movement initiated by Mr. Mitchell was started a year earlier than that started by the United States. Mr. Mitchell was called to Illinois in 1911; he spent sometime in Chicago; and eventually went to New York City where he served in different churches, one being the well known “Little Church Around the Corner”.

In February of 1910, while Mr. Mitchell was in charge of our mission the death of Mr. Fred Morris occurred. He not only assisted the Bishop in organizing the church in Muskogee, but had been active in various ways in the Pawhuska mission. He had always been [a] member of the Bishop’s committee and had acted as warden part of the time. Until his illness became too serious, he had served as secretary and treasurer. His was the first funeral in the church building. Dr. COSS, an old resident and devoted member of the church, was warden at that time. Mr. J. George WRIGHT succeeded Dr. Coss and later Mr. Charles Mcdonald, who, with his family, is an ardent supporter of the mission.

In the Fall of 1911, Mr. METCALF, a devoted Englishman, came. He was our first minister in charge to bring a family with him. He also was an earnest worker and it was with great regret we had to lose him. He was transferred to Bartlesville, because that was a larger field with Dewey included. While Mr. Metcalf served this charge, he appointed Mrs. H. H. BRENNER and Mrs. A. A. RUBLE as President and Secretary respectively of a woman’s Auxiliary, and assigned to them the duty of collecting twice each year the woman’s thank offering and sending it to the district auxiliary. These offerings were always generous and continued whether we had church services or not. Under the different arrangements made by the National Council, the Woman’s Auxiliary ceased to exist, but the offerings are still made semi-annually and turned over to the present custodian, Mrs. Frank MCCOY. These offerings are presented twice each year at a corporate communion.

About this time the Diocese was divided, and Bishop THURSTON, who had been for several years a much beloved rector in Minneapolis was consecrated and given charge of Western Oklahoma. Again, we were most fortunate that the choice fell on a man of such personality and attainments as Bishop Thurston while our love for Bishop Brooke and our association with him for so many years full of pleasant memories, naturally caused deep regret in losing him. Bishop Thurston won the affection of his own people and seemed to appeal very strongly to the members of other Christian bodies, who were always glad to be present whenever the Bishop visited us.

Bishop Thurston sent Mr. DOWIE, a son of Alexander G. Dowis, of Zion City fame, to us to succeed Mr. Metcalf in 1913. Mr. Dowie had taken orders in the Episcopal Church almost immediately after his father’s death. After spending a year or so ministering to the alien section of Chicago, he came to Pawhuska. In 1914, there as an agitation to move the church building from its first location because of the annoyance of the Midland Valley trains. The railroad had been built with the station across the street from the church in 1905. A large lot on Lynn Avenue, in what was known as the Prudon Addition, had been donated to us, but it seemed too far removed from the majority of the congregation.

Soon after oil and gas had been discovered in Osage County, Congress granted the permission to plat the towns. It was legal for white people to own their lots, which in turn made improvements feasible. After Statehood, schools were built, sidewalks laid, streets paved, water and lights furnished, and water and gas piped into town for fuel. As the building of homes multiplied trees were planted. Altogether, Pawhuska presented a different appearance than when Bishop Brooke first visited it in 1895. Our church lot on Lynn Avenue was later sold to the Santa Fe Railroad. But in the meantime, the present site at the corner of Leahy Avenue and Ninth Street was chosen for a permanent location, and the church building moved in the summer of 1914. A small rectory was moved to the adjoining lot and repairs were made on both buildings. Mr. Dowie remained until February, 1915.

After his departure we had services once in three weeks by Archdeacon MILLER, whose headquarters were in Muskogee. Although our services were held only once in three weeks our choir practiced every week as usual. The Guild purchased a new organ and the choir gave Cantata for Palm Sunday “Victory Divine” which required much work and was exceedingly well rendered. The church school was continued under the superintendancy of F. M. Morris, son of Mr. Fred Morris, who as a child had been christened by Bishop Brooke on his first visit to Muskogee in 1893. He was a licensed Lay Reader and, until his removal from town, was treasurer of the Bishop’s Committee. Mr. Miller found us with no Alter Guild, and at once appointed Mr. A. H. RUBLE and Mr. John L. BIRD to act in that capacity. For many years they took entire charge of the altar with reverence and intelligence. They were very generous also in supplying flowers and linens and the necessary hangings for the altar and lectern. Mr. Miller returned to New York in 1917 to take charge of the church in his native village, Saranac Lake.

Archdeacon SPENCER-MOUNSEY succeeded Mr. Miller and gave us one service each month, until he was obliged to give up his work in Oklahoma.

Bishop Brooke, after the division of the Diocese, continued his labors, although much broken in health, until a long and serious illness in 1917.  The following year in February, he was invited to officiate at a double wedding when two sisters, daughters of Mrs. BRUCE, were to be married in the church at Pawhuska. He had by no means recovered his strength, but accepted the invitation, and in spite of his physical weakness seemed very happy to be here again. He had always been very kind to us and had on several occasions expressed his interest in this little mission. He attended all the social functions given the bridal party, and lent such dignity and solemnity to the service itself, that many guests remarked on the effect of his voice and earnestness. We never saw him again, as he died the following summer. His life was a literal interpretation of those words to which every community subscribes at each celebration of the Eucharist, “We offer and present unto thee our souls and body, a living sacrifice unto thee.” Though his life was too short for him to enjoy the fruition of his labors, we who benefited by them can not allow them to go for naught.

After the resignation of Archdeacon Spencer-Mounsey, we were desirous of having once more a resident Priest. Our irregular services had caused our people to lose interest and strangers, of whom there were many at this time, were not certain of finding the church open on any particular Sunday. Accordingly, Bishop Thurston sent to us Reverend JAMISON, who had formerly been pastor of a Methodist Church. He remained with us a few months to be succeeded in the summer of 1920, by Reverend Sherrill SMITH. Mr. Smith had been reared a Congregationalist, but while studying music in Boston, he decided to prepare for the Ministry of the Episcopal Church and had been ordained to the Priesthood.  He had been recently married and began his work with much enthusiasm. He was warmly received and accorded a hearty cooperation.

That year proved a banner for St. Thomas Mission in several respects.  There were several young men and women who had been considering confirmation and at the Bishop’s first visitation there were more than twenty presented for confirmation. The choir had reached a high point in excellency and regularity of attendance for both practice and services.  Mr. Smith was a trained director and at times, when it seemed desirable, took full charge of the choir.  We had fifteen or sixteen singers and every member of the choir was a communicant.  The Guild and Church School were well organized and a Man’s Club was formed, which took the responsibility of building our long desired and much needed Parish House.

In 1923 the first ordination class was held in this church when Herbert D. Morris was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Thurston.  Mr. Morris who was christened by Bishop Brooke at the time of the Bishop’s first visit to Pawhuska, was the first native Oklahoma to be received into the Ministry of the church in this state.  We had a gala day, a large congregation and a number of visiting Clergy and special music.  Mr. Smith left Pawhuska almost immediately after this service to accept a call from Massachusetts Parish, and Reverend Mr. MILLS had charge for a few months.  After another interval during which we were for the first time in our history, without a church school, Reverend Mr. John GARDNER came in 1925.  During these years we have suffered severely from one serious handicap.  We could make no permanent plans because we had no permanent leadership.  There were no ties formed between the ministers in charge and the children growing up.  There was no continuity in their education and no standards were set up for the proper conduct of church services and the pupils’ part in them.  These and other evils are perhaps inherent in the condition attending pioneer work, but they are very serious and require a long time to be remedied.

However, at this time, we made a long step in advance from a material standpoint.  The status of the Osage Indian had changed marvelously since the early years of the century, and instead of the three officials of early days the government had for a long time maintained a large force at the Agency to handle the enormous and important business of the tribe. At the head of this force was the Superintendent Mr. J. George WRIGHT, who was a communicant and serving at the time of Mr. Gardner’s regime on the Bishop’s Committee.  Mrs. Wright was for a time President of the Woman’s Guild and was anxious to have the debt on the Parish House paid and repairs made on the church and if possible to have a new rectory built.  Through the generosity of the Osage Indians to a very large extent, this work was accomplished.  Mr. H. H. BRENNER, who has resided here since 1886 and has many friends among the Indians, and who, although not a member himself, was related by marriage to the church, was asked to solicit funds.  It was fully explained to the Indian what the object of their contributions was and only allowed by the Indian Office when each affirmed it was his or her wish to contribute.  A large number very willingly made donations.  The church and parish were repaired and improved.  The building was stuccoed.  A recess chancel was added, as deep as could be made, by taking some space from the Parish House behind it.  This made more room for the choir.  A new entrance, colored glass windows, and lineoleum, together with fresh stands for the wood work and new electric fixtures, made an attractive interior.  Our own Bishop Thurston, deeply to our regret was compelled to resign because of ill health.

 In the Fall of 1926, the mission sustained another heavy loss in the death of Mrs. John L. BIRD.  She had continued her work for the alter Guild until a few months prior to her death, and her place was not filled for some time.  In April of 1927, another active and efficient member of our Guild was taken from us by the death of Mrs. Elsa BRUCE.  As mentioned before Mrs. Bruce was one of the first group of women which formed the Guild and had always been a devoted, efficient worker.  She sent her children regularly to the church school and attended services with them.  She had been very generous in contributing money to both the Guild and the Bishop’s Committee, in addition to her regular pledges wherever there was special need.  She left a bequest for the benefit of the church in her will, and as it seemed desirable that this last gift should be for something permanent, it was decided, in consultation with her children, to purchase a new alter.  Eventually a beautiful hand-carved, oaken alter, a chancel rail, a Bishop’s chair, and an alter desk, all of a shade to match the new organ, were purchased with the money bequeathed.  Then Mrs. Bruce’s children, Mrs. George LEBABIE, Mrs. Harold HURLEY, Mrs. James BALL, and Ray BRUCE, added a new lectern of a style which could be used as a pulpit.  There was not space enough for both lectern and pulpit.  The Guild gave a prayer bench and a stall, and Mrs. GIVENS, a credence table.  We had for many years a brass alms basin in memory of Mr. Fred Morris, and brass candle-sticks presented by Mrs. NELSON.  About this time Mr. J. George WRIGHT presented a very beautiful flag for the processional in memory of Mrs. Wright’s brother, a soldier, who died in the World War.  An Architect, employed at that time by the Indian Agency, had been of great assistance in our repairs and gave us a new cross for the processional.  Mr. STECKLES, also a government employee, made two beautiful iron gates to be used in the arch between the Sacristy and the church.

Mrs. Harry WALKER, who had made or assisted in making the different vessels required with our first alter, which had no re-does, made a beautiful set of red chancel draperies.  As the Guild had furnished material for the white and we had the green, Mrs. BYRD had given material for the purple hanging, we were well supplied with the suitable colors.  Mrs. L. F. ROBERTS had recently embroidered new linen pieces.  In June, 1927, Mr. GARDNER accepted a call to act as assistant in Trinity Church, Tulsa, and in response to the urgent desire of the congregation, Mr. A. H. WIDDOWS became Superintendant of the Church School.  He was remarkably successful in this undertaking and did splendid work among the children until he moved to Tulsa.  On June 18, 1927, Reverend Mr. HAGEN arrived with his family.  They also were enthusiastic about schools and enlisted teachers who were able to make it a success.  We had by this time nearly completed a new rectory, which was ready for occupancy the following September; it was built like the church, in the English type of architecture, and the group of buildings is very attractive.  The grounds were already set with shrubbery and trees which make rapid growth in this mild climate.  That same year the Woman’s Guild under Mrs. WRIGHT gave a bazaar, and each member undertook to earn as much money as she could with her so-called talent bag, with which each woman was supplied.  The talent bag alone netted eight hundred dollars, and this money, together with the proceeds of the bazaar, was used to purchase a car for the vicar.

In the meantime, a new Bishop had been consecrated and assumed charge of Oklahoma.  We were again made happy in the choice of Bishop CASSADY, who has given the missionary work a fresh impetus, and filled vacant stations with a fine type of men and is trying to arouse us to our own part in attaining the dignity of a diocese instead of a missionary Bishop.  Mr. HAGEN left in June, 1930, and immediately Bishop Cassady secured the services of Reverend Mr. KELLUM, who is still with us.

Perhaps this is a suitable place to pay tribute to the choir, which has a high reputation, at least in this community, that it well deserves.  From the first we had enough talent to furnish good music, even though the choir might be only a quartet.  Later, a large choir was formed of our Church School children with a quartet to lead them.  The children were taught music for all the church services, with special anthems for Holy Days, and in 1906 the choir was vested for the first time on Christmas day.  They continued to sing regularly until they went away to school.  The same choir practically, with the loss of two or three but the addition of several others, were the ones who attained such excellence under Mr. Sherrill SMITH; and the same with only one or two changes are singing at the present time.

In the early days we had in this choir Mrs. John EVANS, Mrs. yates, Mrs. George SIMCOCK, Dr. Harry WALKER, Mr. Mckinney, Mr. and Mrs.  GIBSON, (Now of Barnsdall); Mrs. TOLESON was our leading soprano for many years and always present.  Mr. NELSON from Philadelphia sang tenor for two or three years until his return to that city.  Delos and Joe WALKER, Don OWEN, Frederick MORRIS, Herbert MORRIS, Jack RUBLE, four small Presbyterian boys who later went to their own church; Elizabeth RUBLE, Antigene and Sappho CONSTANTINE, Sarah and Jack HATCHINS, Ralph TOLSOS, all these sang in the Junior choir.  Under Mr. Smith these children had grown up and some were permanently located elsewhere, but those who were here still sing.  We had several sopranos.  Mrs. TOLESON, Mrs. Irene BOLTZ, Mrs. B. COSS, (now Mrs. Eugene SMITH, of Sapulpa), Mrs. WHITLOCK, whose husband was a government employee and was transferred to South Dakota and many others whom I might mention.  Since we have had some losses and some recruits but it is these who have voluntarily furnished the Mission with a high class of music.  The “Tag” was organist much of the time, combining that with the office of director, with two or three exceptions for a brief period of time.  There has been no money paid to the choir, the work having been done by volunteers.

Submitted to OKGenWeb by Roberta Duvall Hammer <kdhx6@swbell.net> 10-1999.