History

Lebanon Cleveland Lebanon Evangelical Lutheran Church is today fifty years and two days old. It was organized Sunday September 17, 1893. The organization took place under the pastoral care of the late Rev. B. W. Cronk in a nearby school house known as the Barber School. The organization was the outgrowth of a community Sunday School which had for years before been conducted in this school house, and Rev. Cronk, who was at the time pastor of St. Luke’s and Salem churches, had for some time, perhaps from 1890, been giving these people regular service in connection with the Sunday School. At the organization of the congregation there were eight Charter members: Eli Powlas, John W, Powlas, Maggie V, Powlas, Fleming W. Cauble, George H. Waller, Sarah L. Waller, Joseph T. Carson, and Martha L. Carson. Then in the early part of 1894 three other names were added to the roll: Catherine Walton, J. D. Cline, and his wife C. L. Cline. Since these three persons were added to the congregational roll before the congregation was received into the synod, their enrollment also makes them Charter Members, and thus brings the number from eight to eleven Charter members. Mrs. Cline, above mentioned, soon afterward departed this life, and was the first to be buried in the church cemetery. Even before the organization of the congregation much work had been done for the building. Eli Polwas had given the lot and almost all, if not all of the timber, and the other members and friends of the congregation had logged and prepared this timber for use. The BailyBrothers of Woodleaf, who were not members of the congregation, but friends, did the sawing of the material free of charge. With this good beginning a building committee of three was appointed to carry on the work. This committee was: Eli Powlas, Fleming W. Cauble, and Joseph T. Carson. The first congregational meeting was held February 5, 1894, and elected the first council: Eli Powlas, elder and G. H. Waller and W. F. Cauble, deacons. John W. Powlas seems to have been secretary and perhaps treasurer from the organization. This council and their successors were to be the trustees of the church property. Returning to the church building---among those doing the work special mention should be made of George H. Waller, a carpenter by trade, who was a charter member and member of the first council and I trust of the congregation. Mr. Waller did much of the work and oversight of the building. Also special mention should be made of Mr. Waller’s cousin T. J. Waller, who at the time was not a member of the congregation, but, like his cousin, was a carpenter, and did much of the work and oversight. And while Mr. T. J. Waller at the time was not a member of the church, he was confirmed October 25, 1896, and has ever since remained most faithful to his vows and has been one of its most useful members. Today he is one of the three living members who has reached the ripe age of 80 years and above the other two being J. D. Cline and Stokes H. Barger. For almost 50 years these three men lives have as members of the congregation run parallel with almost the entire history of the congregation. Like trees they have planted in this “House of the Lord to flourish in the courts of our Lord”, and during this time they have “Flourished like palm trees and grown like cedars of Lebanon”. May they still long live and “Bring forth fruit in old age and be fat and flourishing”. As to church fixtures, Mr. James Owens, a cabinet make of Woodleaf (he is still living0 mad the pulpit and lectern still in use, and an altar which has since been superceded by the present altar, which is more beautiful and more churchly. For this furniture, Mr. B. T. Thompson, a good friend of the congregation, gave a fine walnut log, which was sawed and placed in a dry kiln, but was accidentally burned. The material was then donated by Mr. T. J. Waller. Owing to Pastor Cronk’s resignation in the early part of 1894 there was no pastoral care until the arrival of the second pastor, the Rev. V. Y. Boozer, who began serving July 15, 1894. At the annual meeting of the North Carolina Synod, held in Organ Church in May, 1894 the congregation mad application for membership and was received into the Synod, being placed in a pastorate with Salem and Grace Congregations. Indeed so earnestly and so zealously did the little congregation and its friends work, event the greater part of the without pastoral oversight, that when their new pastor arrived July 15, the church was so nearly completed as to enable the congregation to hold the first service in the same. September 30, 1894, the first class was confirmed and the first communion administered. Those who were confirmed at the time were: Stokes H. Barger, Rosa Irene Powlas, Margaret Elizabeth Powlas, and Ola Overcash. The members of this confirmation before the congregation were received into the synod. Since they were confirmed and partook of the first communion, may they not also be considered charter members? During these fifty years of congregational history the church has been served by fourteen regular pastors, together with varied supply service at intervals. The Rev. B. W. Cronk, its organizer and first pastor, resigned soon after the organization in the very early part of 1894. There followed a vacancy of several months without any pastoral oversight. The second pastor, the Rev. V. Y. Boozer, was called and began his services July 15, 1894 and served the congregation one year. He in turn was succeeded by the third pastor, the Rev. H. N. Miller, Ph.D., who probably began his pastoral services the middle or latter part of the summer 1895 and served until perhaps May or June of 1897 when he relinquished to become president of Mont Omeona Seminary. It was during Pastor Miller’s pastorate that the church was dedicated, Sunday November 22, 1896, about three years and two months after its organization. After Pastor Miller’s resignation the church was supplied during the summer by theological student W. W. J. Ritchie. The Rev. H.A. Trexler was called and entered the work as the fourth pastor probably in September, 1897 and served until November, 1904. In the meantime Grace and Salem required the full time pastor at the annual spring meeting of the synod in 1904 Lebanon was taken out of the pastorate and placed in a newly formed pastorate with Providence Church of Rowan County and St. Matthew’s of Davie County and was named the Lebanon Pastorate. However, as the newly formed pastorate did not succeed in getting a pastor until the middle of November, Pastor Trexler by special arrangement continued to serve until the arrival of the new pastor, who was the writer of this sketch, the Rev. L.P. Boland. Pastor Boland arrived November 17, 1904 and served until January 31, 1908. It was during his pastorate that the parsonage was built. Eli Powlas, in his 81st year, again had given the lot and enough timber--------- something like 15,000 feet-----for the framework. He gave the deed June 14, 1904 about one month after synod formed the new pastorate, and then passed on his eternal reward on June 26, just twelve days after signing the deed. When the writer arrived November 17 the members of the congregation and friends had already logged, sawed, and placed the material on the grounds apparently several months before. As the lot and framing material were furnished by Lebanon, Providence, and St. Matthew’s gave the siding ceiling, flooring, windows, and doors. Special mention should be made of Rev. W. R. Kethchie, a retired minister of Providence, and his son, Hubert, of St. Matthew’s who did all the sawing and nearly all, if not all the kiln drying and dressing free of charge. Also special mention should me made of Mr. Starret of Providence who made and gave the sashes. Most of the work was again done by members and friends of the pastorate, and the necessary money needed was raised proportionately by the three congregations. Special mention should again be made of G. H. Waller who did practically all of the framing and much of the other carpenter work free of charge. Pastor Boland was succeeded by the Rev. T. C. Parker perhaps in March or April, and not later that May, 1908, and served until February or March, 1913. It was during his pastorate that the church was recovered and possibly repainted. After Pastor Parker’s resignation a vacancy occurred that lasted for more two years. During this time the congregation was supplied by theological students, nearby pastors, and such other services as could by secured. Theological student H. S. Petrea supplied the summer of 1913. Student John L. Morgan supplied in the summer of 1914. From the record, Rev. O. W. Aderholdt must have supplied March and April of 1913. Rev. I. E. Long from Mooresville evidently supplied in 1914. Also Rev. G. O. Ritchie of Salem and Grace served the latter part of 1914 and the greater part of 1915. Besides these men the treasurers’ report shows that Rev. J. L. Yost, J. K. Efird, W. C. Buck and Rev. Mr. Zambeck must have preached at least one each. In the very latter part of the year 1915 the Rev. V.R. Stickley became the regular pastor and served until the latter part if not the whole year of 1920. Then again another prolonged vacancy of five and one half or six years occurred from the latter part of 1920 to the first of June, 1926. This vacancy was again filled by theological students and nearby pastors and such other service as could be produced. Such theological students as Oscar F. Blackwelder, S. White Rhyne and others preached at least once each in the early part of the vacancy. From the treasurer’s report, the Rev. H. E. Shenk must have preached at least once or more the latter part of 1920. Rev. Clarence Fox must have supplied January, February, and perhaps March of 1921, and Rev. George H. Cox, D. D. supplied for April, 1922. From what we glean from the presidents report in the 1923-1926 minutes of Synod the Rev. J. L. Yost supplied the congregation almost all the year of 1923, and Rev. W. G. Cobb all the year of 1924 and part of 1925. The remainder of the year 1925 was supplied by the Rev. John L. Morgan of Troutman and during the summer by theological student H. C. Castor, at which time the church was again repainted. It was June 1, 1926 that the prolonged vacancy was broken by the call and acceptance of the Rev. E. F. Troutman who served from June 1, 1926 to April 1, 1929. Pastor Troutman was succeeded by the Rev. C. F. Kyles who served from June 1, 1929 to May 15, 1932. Pastor Kyles was succeeded by the Rev. R.H Kepley, who served from June 1, 1932 until April 30, 1935. It was he as a cabinet maker as well as a good pastor, who made and donated to the congregation the beautiful and churchly altar and hymn board our good member, Mr. W. D. Myers having donated the material. Then it was also during Pastor Kepley’s pastorate that the church celebrated its 40th anniversary—just ten years ago at this time. This anniversary was preceded by a five day service each evening services being by the Rev. E. F. Troutman, C. F. Kyles, V. Y. Boozer, and L. P. Boland, all former pastors, and Rev. W. G. Cobb, a supply pastor. It is because of such service that it is eminently appropriate to have Pastor Kepley with us today to bring us his able message for this occasion. Pastor Kepley was succeeded by the Rev. Olin G. Swicegood, who served from June 1, 1935 until June 1, 1937. It was during his pastorate the church was again covered. Pastor Swicegood’s successor was the Rev. H. A. Kistler PhD who served from September 1, 1937 until his Lord and Master called him up higher on May 7, 1938. Pastor Kisltler was succeeded by the Rev. C. A. Misenheimer, who served from June 15, 1938 until April 1, 1937, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. D. Stoner, who became pastor June 1, 1939, and who is still serving at the present time. Of these fourteen pastors four— the Reverends Cronk, Miller, Stickly, and Kistler—have passed from death unto life. Pastors Stickly and Kistler received their calls to the higher and better life in the nearby parsonage. Four of the others—The Reverends Boozer, Trexler, Boland and Parker—are retired ministers Rev Trexler being the oldest ordained minister and probably the oldest living minister of the United Evangelical Lutheran Synod of NC. His ordination dates back 57 years to 1886. Of the remaining 6, the Reverends Troutman, Kyles, Kepley, Swicegood, Misenheimer and Stoner, all are still in the service and promise many others years of service. Some great author perhaps Shakespeare, once said “he was a part of all he ever met”. If this is true and I believe it is, then how great should the lives of this congregation be with all its regular pastors and supply and other sermons preach on special occasions from this pulpit. During the 50 years the growth of the church has been slow her battles between life and death have been many and hard. Her location on the border of Lutheranism, with so many nearby congregations’ older and stronger and more influential has been to her disadvantage. So have the old and strong churches of other denominations such as the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians. But by the grace of God she has lived and still lives and serves. Her present confirmed membership of active and inactive is 119. During her history she has served around 275 members and her infant baptism from Cronk to Stoner has been 195. In educational advantages her children have availed themselves of all that the common and high schools give, and at least 25 have taken advantage of higher institutions. At least 8 have graduated from colleges and two have taken training in nursing. Today 10 of her sons are in the service of their country, and the 11th has his summons to go. The congregation has given no sons to the ministry, but two of her daughters have gone to the foreign fields as missionaries. Five of her daughters have married Lutheran ministers. The congregation has with joy looked forward to this year, and especially to this day and this celebration. For this day and for the years to come we gave the mother a white dress last year, both within and without. In the early part of this year we gave a new carpet. Some time since Misses Maude and Annie Powlas gave the congregation 30 copies of the word edition of the Common Service in memory of their mother, Mrs. Maggie V. Powlas. The congregation itself has recently purchased 35 copies of the Parish School Hymnal. The Powlas children have given a brass cross for the altar in memory of their grandfather Eli Powlas, and two vases in memory of their mother, Maggie V. Powlas. Pastor Stoner has given a new altar antependium in memory of his father J. K. Stoner. Some time since Pastor Stoner also gave a bulletin board for the vestibule. W. D. Myers has given a new pulpit antependium for the church in memory of his father and mother, B.D. and Sarah E. Myers. The J. D. Cline children have given a new antependium for the lectern in honor of their father J. D. Cline and in memory of their mother, Laura A. Cline. Mrs. W. A. Cauble and children have given new book marks for the Bibles on the pulpit and lectern in memory of their husband and father, W. A. Cauble. H. J. Thompson and children have given a new Bible for the lectern in memory of their wife and mother, Sarah Eliza Thompson. With these and other birthday gifts for the spiritual mother to follow we bring this sketch to a close with the prayer and best wish of the congregation and friends that this dear mother may ever live and faithfully serve her Lord and Master in the future as she has so humbly and quietly and faithfully done in the years gone by. Pastors 1890-1894 B. W. Cronk 1894-1895 V. Y. Boozer 1895-1897 H. N. Miller 1897-1904 H. A. Trexler 1904-1908 L. P. Boland 1908-1913 T. C. Parker 1915-1920 V. R. Stickley 1926-1929 E. F. Troutman 1929-1932 C. F. Kyles 1932-1935 R. H. Kepley 1935-1937 Olin G. Swicegood 1937-1938 H. A. Kistler, PhD 1938-1939 C. A. Misenheimer 1939-1943 J. D. Stoner 1948-1950 Luther Sloop