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The Previous Celebration
In 1909, the church celebrated the Semi-Centennial of the present edifice
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A week long celebration occurred. The Executive Committee
included Frederick Bellows, Burton C. Meighan, Reuben G. Brewer,
Bradford Rhodes, and Rev. Burdette B. Brown. Monday, December 13th was "Sunday School
Night" which included "exercises by members of the school" and addresses by Rev. Dr. James E.
Holmes and Rev. Dr. Elbert C. Hoag. Tuesday, December 14th was "Pastor's Night";
Wednesday, "Prayer Meeting Night" with a sermon by Rev F. B. Upham from Brooklyn;
Thursday was "Music Night"; Friday was "History and Anecdote Night" with Mr. Burton C.
Meighan, presiding. Sunday December 19th had a sermon by Rev. Thomas Nicholson,
Secretary of the Board of Education of New York City and the evening service had Rev. William
Arnold Shanklin, President of Wesleyan University preaching.
Burdette B. Brown
Pastor 1909-1913
 The Rev. Burdette B. Brown was pastor here for the
1913 Centennial of the church
celebrating 100 years since incorporation. A booklet of that was the basis for many of these
words, based on the writings of Mr. Charles Holden who wrote the Historical Remembrance.
Reverend Brown writes in the forward of that book:
"Somewhere between the past which we may know and the future which we cannot
know is a realm teeming with living activity which we call the present---partly known and
partly unknown...As the Mamaroneck Church enters the second century of her history may she
also enter into a broadening influence for good...faith, hope, charitable love, sacrifices,
benevolence, ministries will abound in the developing church. A few score loyal, devout,
soul-visioned workers are of more value than many hundreds without such qualities."
The Pastor was paid $1,900 and the Organist $275
for the year. This year
celebrated the addition of a new organ for $3,100 and the toilets in the basement of the parlors
were added for the cost of $1,500. The Ladies Aid society contributed $1,200 to the
Trustees for this special fund and a Mr. Andrew Carnegie contributed $1,400 toward the
purchase of this new organ.
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The 1913 Organ Committee:
(1st row, l-r) Elisha H. Gedney; Robert C. Gedney; (2nd row, l-r) R. P. Brewer, Alfred C. Delanoy
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The Music committee (1913-1915) l-r
A.C. Delanoy; Mildred Thomas,organist, Chas. R. Ross, Pastor; Alma Harriot;Mrs.
B.C. Meighan; R.P. Brewer
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The World Wars
The advent of World War I saw service by many in the community. A Service flag
was purchased by the official board to hang in the church. When a young person from the
congregation in Mamaroneck went off to fight in the war a star was added to the flag. When
a person "made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our country" a gold star was add to the
flag. 
There were 37 stars on the flag from WWI. Colonel Fred T. Wilson, a member
of this church who led troops in both WWI and WWII was called upon to assist in retiring the
service flags of both WWI and WWII in 1947. He presented them to Burt C. Meighan Jr.
who also served in WWI, to be placed in the Church Archives. David Potts Jr., was
remembered by a Gold Star from World War I. The WWII Service flag had 126 stars, two of which
were Gold in memory of Clarence Bull and Edward Miller who gave their lives during
WWII.
Another concern in the late teens was the issue of prohibition. At a special
meeting of the official board on May 25, 1919, based on the issues addressed by the
District Superintendent and the Anti-Saloon League, it was moved and passed that the Pastor
"send a telegram to our Senators and representatives in Congress expressing the attitude of this
church as regards prohibition." No opinion is expressed, but one would assume it was within the
Methodist doctrine and principles to favor prohibition
The 1920's & 30's
From the Mamaroneck Paragraph we learn that during a thunder and lightning storm
in early August of 1942, the steeple of the church was struck by lightning and caught
fire. All five companies of the Mamaroneck Volunteer fire Department responded.
Damage was slight because of the prompt action of firemen. Somehow, a portion of
the steeple was damaged and also a portion of the pulpit. An insurance claim of $750 was
received and Mr. Brewer arranged for temporary coverings to the holes in the roof.
Repairs would amount to $658 without the repairs of the lighting system.
The 1930's began with the depression in full swing. However, right before
the depression the Samuel Johnson house had been purchased. This property, which bordered the
west side of the church, allowed space for the future building of the Education complex. The
Johnson house was used for Sunday School class rooms and offices at first. It was financed in a
unique way. Members of the church purchased bonds and then the church took out insurance
policies on the members. The purchase was completed in 1928 before the stock market fall.
It was in 1941 that the pastor decided to switch from the church house to the present
parsonage.
In 1935 a grand refinancing project was undertaken in the same way as the
Johnson House was financed. Members loaned the church $500 each and an insurance policy was
purchased. Members were to be repaid in 20 years.
The Junior Choir
In
of 1942, the Choir sang for the first time. There were thirty-five members under the
direction of Mrs. Clara Brooks. The choir grew and grew.
Junior Choir at Christmas, circa 1950's.
It was estimated that there were
over 600 members over the life of the choir. Margaret F. Donaldson assumed the leadership
of the choir in 1944. Her untiring dedication brought much success and great reputation
to this choir of 100 children during its glorious days. They appeared on national television at
least three times. They were on the radio a number of times also. Many of that generation still
talk of the great enthusiasm and love of Peggy in their choir lives. Peggy wrote in the
fifteenth anniversary booklet:
"It has been pointed out that for musical purposes and in the interest of good
discipline, the choir is too large. There have been suggestions that membership be limited only
to children with superior voices who would make a full contribution to the tone and volume. The
director might at one time have agreed with this but now and then something happens to the
spirit of a child which seem to justify our flexible entrance requirements. A mother telephoned
one day weeping with gratitude. Her son had never been able to for a place on a team or in any
musical group in school. She said 'You accepted him, so now he belongs to something and his
whole attitude toward life has changed.' One morning last Spring, we were in the middle of an
anthem, about the sheep and lambs going safely home while Jesus, the Lamb of God, was taken to a
hill to be crucified. I looked up from the piano into a face of a little girl whose eyes were
filled with tears of compassion."
The memories of the Junior Choir and Margaret Donaldson will never fade from the
history of the church.
Wartime Correspondence
During WWII, a Miss Elizabeth Moore faithfully wrote all the service men
and women of this congregation. According to her own journal over 130 members of this church
who served in the armed forces. The service men and women faithfully replied to her letters
and bulletins from home. Many postcards and letters remain. If only we had the pages to
print them all!
James A. Jackson wrote on one note “Just a card to let you know that I’m
fine in every way and that the Army and I still seem to agree. The people in St. Louis and
USO’s are grand to all of us.”
A letter from Sgt. Howard Barker said, “Thank you for the lovely picture
of our church. I have that picture placed against the wall in front of me now for it brings
back such fond memories. Am certainly glad to know that you and the members had it painted
although I know I’d like it just as much even if it hadn’t been painted.”
Florence Boak wrote from Naval Training School: “I just want to thank
you for sending these and tell you how much closer they bring me to home. It is a wonderful
feeling to read about all the people I knew as a civilian and find out what they are doing.”
George Langerfeld wrote in 1945 from Saipan, M.I.: “You can bet your
boots that I’ll be there back in our regular pew starting with the first Sunday I’m home, and
from there on out. I don’t know just why, but that little church of ours sure makes me
homesick. We have chapel service here and I go every Sunday…but we sing those old familiar
hymns (sic.), it sure brings me right back home there. About the biggest thing missing in our
services out here is the presents (sic.) of women. Every once in a while we have a Red Cross
girl or nurse sing a solo. It sure will be nice to get back home and hear our choir sing
again.”
The Growing Years
The end of the war brought a renewal and revival to the church. Many returning
veterans felt as George Langerfeld that church was a good place to be. All of the
Protestant denominations experienced tremendous growth during the post-war boom.
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Dr. Edgar Jackson, Pastor (1951-1961)
has his tie adjusted by Frances Larmon,
founder and editor of “The Messenger”
as they prepare to mark the centennial
celebration of this 1859 church building.
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A pre-nursery
group in the livingroom of the parsonage. Teacher, Mrs. Frank S. Rathbone, Jr. (right),
Assistants Mrs. Sam Davis (Left) and Mrs. George Langerfeld (center). This photo was used
in the promotion of the education building.
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The 1950’s in the Mamaroneck Church is associated with the name Dr. Edgar
Jackson, who served this congregation for 14 years. The church grew by leaps and bounds
during the Jackson era. It was during this time that the building of the Educational Wing
took place as well as a major renovation of the sanctuary.
When Dr. Jackson retired, official board adopted the following
resolution:
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“His reputation as a preacher, a counselor, a lecturer at Pastor’s
schools, as the writer of many widely read books, has brought honor not only to our
church but entire Methodist church. But his nationwide reputation means less to us
than the personal relationship we have had with him. Only he and God know of the
accumulation of hours spent with us individually – in his office and in our homes –
giving us insights into our own natures, marshalling our resources for solving our
problems, enlarging our concepts of religion and the nature of God, teaching that
unless life is a spiritual experience, it is meaningless. His sermons have extended
the horizons of our minds. He has brought us truth about the spiritual nature of man
that most of us could not have discovered for ourselves. Our sorrow to lose him will
be shared by the entire community which holds him in high esteem not only because of
his professional reputation but also because he has consistently stood for the worth
of every human being in the sight of God and for the freedom to every one to express
his beliefs and opinions.”
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At the age of 29, I arrived in the winter of 1961 as the Associate
Minister to work with Dr. Edgar Jackson, Sr. Those five years were truly the
high point of my ministry. The spiritual life of this church was something special
then. Dr. Jackson, with his discussion and prayer group cells, had established a unique
ministry for those who participated in it. Every Wednesday morning, there was an early
morning service with the “laying on of hands.” Spiritual energy flowed. Two youth
groups were formed. Their meetings on Sunday evenings attracted 50 to 75 young people.
There were retreats at Shelter Island, Easter sunrise services, joint meeting with
Jewish youth and a special tie with a black church in Queens. The voices that were in
the choir became the nucleus of a spiritual folk singing phenomenon! We opened a
coffeehouse in the church house basement; hundreds of teenagers came. I ministered, and
I was ministered to. I taught, and I learned. I counseled, and I was counseled, I
prayed for, and I was prayed for. The awareness of the presence of the Spirit was so
strong!
---Richard E. Stout
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