1901

Pastor Isaiah J. Delo, conducting services in the new church building (the present one) on Mill Hill Road in the village. (To enlarge the picture, just click it.) According to church historians Magda Moseman and Mark Anderson(1),

The new church building was illuminated by a large, ornate chandelier hanging in the center of the chapel. It was balanced by a counterweight. Miss Florence Peper recalls helping her mother light the circle of kerosene lamps. The chandelier was pulled down with a long hook and the task took about ten minutes.

It was perhaps this year (1901) that Mrs. Delo, the pastor's wife, donated a little reed organ for the Sunday School room (click it to enlarge). Here is how a later pastor described this gift:

The value of this little organ in service has far exceeded the monetary cost. Not a few children many of whom have come to mature years have gathered around this little organ to join their voices in melodies of praise to our heavenly Father. Adults, too, in mid-week devotional services and members of the Missionary Society in the monthly meetings have been guided by its sweet tones as hearts have been united in fellowship with God.(2)

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Quoted from Frederick, Rev. Walter, "Historical Address, Woodstock, N.Y., May 3, 1931," p. 14, itself citing, without attribution, Traver, Charles H., D.D., of West Camp, "History of Christ's Lutheran Church, Woodstock, N.Y., 1806-1906," an earlier source from the centennial, when Reverend Frederick was pastor. (Close)

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Council Meeting. May 8th--1901-- The council was organized by the appointment of Edgar Shultis, Chairman, and Elder N. M. Nash, Secty. The business seems to have been the informing of the Pastor that he is no longer wanted. The Reason given being that the cong. could not afford to lose a certain family, offended by the Pastor. The Pastor Resigned! I. J. Delo, Pastor.(3)

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From Anderson, Mark J., For All the Saints: Christ's Lutheran Church, Woodstock, New York, 1806-2006 [Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006], p. 70, citing the church records. (Close)

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A special meeting of the council held in session room of the church, 3 elders and 2 deacons present, took the following and final action in regard to the severances of the Pastoral relation of Rev. I J. Delo with this church, viz.

To whom it may concern: Greeting-- We the council of Christ's Lutheran Church of Woodstock, N.Y., hereby bear cheerful testimony to the manly Christian character and life of our Pastor, the Rev. I J. Delo, who has for the past six years faithfully preached the Gospel of Christ to our people, "rightly dividing the word of Truth, a workman that need not be ashamed." Signed: N. M. Nash, Edgar Shultis, Elders-- Dewitt H. Crosswell, Henry Peper, Geo. Shultis, Deacons-- Hiram Cramer, Myron L. Shultis, Trustees.

Whereas, We the council of Christ's Lutheran Church did not give our Pastor, the Rev. I. J. Delo, the legal notice required for the closing of his pastoral services; Therefore, Resolved; that we request him to close his services Sept. 8th 1901. Resolved; that we pay him his salary to the end of this pastoral year. (Oct, 27th 1901.) Edgar Shultis, Chairman. N. M. Nash, Secretary.

Today closed my relations with Christ's Lutheran Church of Woodstock, N.Y. A sad day to us, but I fear it will prove a sadder day for the church. I have not found the honorable Christian manliness in some of these people I had hoped for, and hence I am not surprised that I am thrust out by them that they might retain a disreputable character and his family in their church. And hence, again, in all these years, my work in this church has been so barren in results. The same spirit of arbitrariness caused the division and alienations which existed when I came here. And it continued then to the serious [?] of the usefulness and welfare of the church. I am most heartily sorry for the Church. I. J. Delo

Above is a view looking up Mill Hill Road just after our new church was built. It is in the distance on the left of the road. (To enlarge the view, click it.) There is no Joyous Lake or Denny's or CVS (Grand Union) to interrupt the view.

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William McKinley (Republican) was President, succeeded during this year by his Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt. The newly elected 57th Congress was in session.A dollar in that year would be worth $22.57 in 2006 for most consumable products.

Immigrants from the British Isles and western Europe (especially Great Britain, Ireland, and Germany)--the so-called "Old Immigrants," most of them boasting a comparatively high level of literacy and accustomed to some level of representative government, who were either Protestant (most of them) or Catholic, were arriving during this decade at an average annual rate of 106,900. The "New Immigrants," those from southern and eastern Europe (especially Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia), largely illiterate and impoverished, who tended to be either Catholic, Orthodox, or Jewish and who had little experience with representative government, were arriving at an annual rate of 578,900--five and a half times as much as the Old Immigrants' rate, more than a threefold proportionate increase from a decade earlier and more than a threefold increase in raw numbers. The New Immigrants huddled together in large cities, such as New York City and Chicago.

Roughly 25 million tons of shipping--mostly wheat and iron ore--passed through the "Soo" (Saulte Ste. Marie) canal between Lakes Superior and Huron, a fiftyfold increase in little more than three decades.

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