First Baptist in war and peace

This week we’ll continue looking back at the First Baptist church as it endures the hardships of World War II and the beginning of yet another war.

As we left off last week, the congregation was celebrating Christmas 1944. During a Christmas party at Jack Heaston’s home, members of the Sunday school played a Bible quiz game put on by Kenneth Don Fleming and sang familiar Christmas carols.

In the 1930s, the sounds of church bells meant coming together on Sunday to listen to God’s Word.

By 1945, the peal of those bells meant something else ? the announcement from the pulpit of yet another young son killed in action.

Rev. Luther A. Arthur and many in the congregation had witnessed the birth and the growing into manhood of boys in the service, only to now see the tears of loved ones and an empty space in the pews.

Since 1921, Rev. Arthur had stood before this congregation, with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Aimee “Peaches” Arthur sitting in the pews.

William Somers Preston had been attending the church since 1906, and for many years he served as official greeter on Sunday morning.

The night of Jan. 12, 1945, the church celebrated its 40th annual dinner with guest pastor Rev. Earl M. Stigers of the First Baptist church of Long Beach. There were over 150 members attending this dinner, which honored Rev. Arthur and Mrs. Arthur.

Presiding over this affair was Melvin Avants, who asked Stuart Price to sing several baritone solos before bringing the Stigers to the platform. In March 1945 the Mens Brotherhood held a painting party to do work in the interior of the church sanctuary. Some of those present included Joe Perry, Lee and Bob Sowers, Jim Ranney, Herbert Preston, Melvin Avants, Ralph Weinheimer and Wendell and Donald Robinson. It would be 11 p.m. that evening before Eber Flaws finished applying the first coat of paint.

But let’s not forget the wives who brought in food for those hungry painters ? Hazel Ranney, Christine Avants, Edna Flaws and Ruth Sowers.

Rev. Arthur relinquished his pulpit at the March 11 service to former pastor Rev. C. Carey Willit, who was visiting from his home in Paw Paw, Mich. Many older members saw not a frail 90-year old but the vibrant man who had led them some 24 years earlier.

One of Rev. Arthur’s duties was to officiate at memorial services, and one of these was for 20-year old William Henry Jr. He was killed in action in 1944, but his parents were not notified of his death until a year later.

As Easter approached and the war was closing, the members presented an Easter cantata titled “The Glorious Galilean.” Included in the choir were Jane Weinheimer, Nina Robinson and Elizabeth McCoy.

In June 1945 more than 60 children enrolled in the three-week vacation Bible school program. Teaching classes were Edna Flaws, Mildred Hawes and Mrs. Si Rothfuss.

The Baptist Youth Fellowship elected Kenneth Fleming as president, Bob Sowers as vice president and Elizabeth McCoy as secretary and treasurer at its June 19 meeting.

A special service was held on Aug. 12, 1945, for servicemen and women. Rev. Arthur spoke on the timely message, “Will the Atomic Bomb Destroy the World?” It’s a question we are still asking ourselves some 60 years later.

The church was nearing its golden anniversary in the 1950s, and again Rev. Arthur would be called on to officiate at more memorial services, this time for the boys killed in Korea.

Next week we’ll continue looking back at a hundred years of First Baptist history.