Glance at the past

​We left our church family last month, celebrating Christmas of 1942, 75 years ago. I have noted in previous months that some of the material presented here is found in our church Archives. I also check out the Girard News, our town’s weekly newspaper from that time frame, available on microfilm at Girard Free Library.
 
The previous month of December had marked the first full year of our country being in World War II, which had begun for us on December 7, 1941 with the surprise attack on our Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, described as a “date that will live in infamy” by our President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
 
Now we were entering the second year of wartime.  Many Girard boys were in battle zones, including some from our church family. Wartime rationing included sugar, meat, gasoline (four gallons per week) and, beginning January 1st, shoes.
 
Still, church life went on as usual. On Wednesday January 6th, the Women’s Society of Christian Service met at the Church in the evening.   The Devotionals were conducted by Miss Mary Frack and Miss Ella Geiss conducted the study in “Training For Christian Leadership”.
 
The next evening, the 7th, the Official Board met in the Church at 7:30 pm. Rev. Maly opened the meeting by leading all in the Lord’s Prayer. The minutes of the last meeting and the Financial Report were read and approved.
 
Mrs. Powers reported for the Membership Committee, that 20 callers were making calls on the membership and that 12 of the 20 had met with each person on their list and turned in the results. The remaining 8 would be finished shortly. The Janitor Committee reported that beginning January 1st, the new Janitor is Mr. Blossom who replaced Mr. Crum, the previous janitor. Mr. Teeter reported for the Sunday School. He stated that attendance was about the same as the previous year and that the Sunday School had donated $400 to the Church Building Fund. Mrs. Burtsfield reported on WSCS activities and Rev. Maly reported on his pastoral activities. Mr. Crider asked Rev. Maly to look into purchasing Church Letterhead paper and report back to the Board. (You may remember in December “Glance” I reported that Rev. Maly had to ask the Board’s permission to order special bulletins for the Christmas Eve service because printing was a significant expense at the time.) The Board then adjourned.
 
On the following Wednesday evening, the 13th, the Friendly Class met at the church for their monthly dinner meeting. A group of High School studendts provided entertainment after the meal. The next day, the 14th, Groups 1, 4 and 5 of WSCS met at member’s homes-group #1 at Mrs. Kendall’s home on Ward Ave, group #4 at the home of Mrs. Russell Swegan on Trumbull Ave., and Group #5 at the home of Mrs. John Buckley of W. Liberty St.  Also on the 14th, the Alethia Class met a the home of Miss Joesephine Didier on E. Wilson Ave.  Miss Mary Franck spoke on “Methodists in Africa”.
 
Then on Sunday morning, after the conclusion of services, at 11:40 am, the official board held a special meeting. Rev. Maly asked permission of the Board to attend the Ohio Pastors’ Convention from Feb. 1st to Feb. 4th.  Permission was given. Although the price was not mentioned in the minutes, Rev. Maly was also given permission to order 1000 Church Letterhead Stationery and 1000 envelopes.
 
Meanwhile, there was a war on.