Number 168 October, 2015 Historic Washington, DC because a dramatic thunderstorm sent British troops hastening back to their ships before they reached congregations to commemorate Georgetown. Foxall built Foundry Church as an act of 200th anniversaries in 2016 thanksgiving to God for preserving his livelihood. Two of Washington, D.C.’s historic United Methodist The year’s celebrations for both congregations congregations will celebrate the 200th anniversary of began on September 26 with the Baltimore-Washington their founding in the coming year, Mount Zion UMC Conference Historical Society and CAH annual meeting, and Foundry UMC. held at Asbury UMC in downtown Washington. Asbury is an early DC African American congregation that Mount Zion UMC, split from Foundry UMC in 1836. The meeting hosted in the Georgetown the premiere of “Building the Beloved Community: neighborhood, Race, Reconciliation, Reconnection,” produced by John is the oldest Wesley Coleman, the communications director for the African-American Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and a native of the congregation of any Baltimore-Washington Conference. denomination in the capital city. The land on which its As you plan for the 2016 annual meeting was purchased in by Phil Lawton first1813 chapelby the was trustees built of the Montgomery referred to the Delmarva Peninsula Street Church (now as “the garden of the Lord.” In 2016 members of the Dumbarton UMC) Historical Society of The and the NEJCAH will be invited to spend some time Present day Mount Zion UMC, because of restrictions Washington DC on property ownership exploring that garden, as they hold a joint meeting by African Americans. in Dover, Delaware on May 24-26. Details and registration materials will appear in the January NEJ current congregation plans a series of events in 2016 CAH Bulletin, but please note two things which may Worshipto commemorate in that firstits history. chapel dates to 1816, and the impact travel plans. First, as this is a joint meeting of two organizations, the sessions will begin earlier than Foundry UMC was established by Henry Foxall, a usual, at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Second, the meeting is member of that same Montgomery Street Church and scheduled for the last week of May so that we can meet one of the trustees who held the land on which Mount the week after the conclusion of General Conference. In Zion was built. Foxall made a fortune casting cannon 2012 the last General Conference passed legislation– and shot for the U.S. Navy and War Departments later declared unconstitutional by the Judicial during the War of 1812. When the British burned the Council – which would have drastically changed the U.S. Capitol and way historical work is done in The United Methodist White House in Church. Similar proposals are expected to come before Washington in next year’s General Conference. By the time we gather August 1814, in Dover, we could be dealing with major changes in Foxall’s cannon foundry west on Thursday morning will include an open forum in of Georgetown, thewhich structure historians of thefrom denomination. all over the country The final will session have a target of the the opportunity to talk together about whatever is invaders, was done at General Conference. not attacked Present day Foundry UMC Letter from the President The Northeastern United Greetings to all of my friends in Methodist Historical Bulletin Archives and History! Published 4 times a year by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Commission on Archives and I hope that you are doing well and had a good summer. History of the United Methodist Church I traveled to Evanston, Illinois in July for meetings of the Editor: General Commission on Archives and History. It was Jane Donovan good to gather with friends from across the country and 3710 Swallowtail Drive other parts of the world. We met at Garrett Evangelical Seminary on the Morgantown, WV 26508-8821 campus of Northwestern University and had the chance to see several 304-594-3914 (home) historical sites around Chicago. I found it especially interesting to visit [email protected] First United Methodist Church of Chicago, also called Chicago Temple. All items for publication should be sent to the Editor. The church is in a downtown office building and there is a small chapel Subscription requests or address manyworld floorsrelative up. to We street got therelevel. byThis taking small an chapel elevator hosts and worship then walking services up changesSubscriptions should be Office: sent to: severaland also flights an Easter of stairs. sunrise It is service. billed as I thoughtthe highest about place what of worshipit must be in likethe J. Leonard Bachelder to gather in this worship place on Easter Sunday morning as the sun is 37 School Street rising. In Psalm 148 it is written, “Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Merrimac MA 01860-1907 him in the heights above.” This is a verse that will always come to mind 978-346-8410 [email protected] when I think of that worship space. It reminds us that we should always Subscribers requesting change of address should give both old and new addresses be praising God in all of the different places that we find ourselves. I hope with zip code. If possible, please return May God bless all of you, your old address label with your request. that all of you will find time to praise God until I see you again. Matthew Loyer DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE BULLETIN: December 1, 2015 Notes from the General Commission on Archives and History meetings in July: Northeastern Jurisdictional Items that may be of interest to local church historians and archivists were Commission on Archives and History discussed at the GCAH annual meeting at Evanston, Illinois in July 2015: Officers for the 2009-2012 • One annual conference Commission on Archives and History reported Quadrennium Executive Committee: President: Matthew Loyer anniversary of their ordination. The commemoration is inexpensive and Vice President: Gary Dickson thatrecipients it is mailing are pleased certificates with theto clergy recognition. who are As celebrating we do everything the 50th possible or 25th Secretary: Joseph DiPaolo Treasurer: Philip Lawton General Conference, this might be an idea worth considering. Bulletin Editor: Jane Donovan to • raise The the Mississippi profile of archivesand Eastern and historyPennsylvania ministries annual before conferences the 2016 ImmediateArchivist: Past President: Barb Duffin Janice Ulmer have instituted programs through which baptismal fonts, altarware At-Large Members: and communion ware from closed churches are donated to new church Janet A. Mills and Donald DeGroat starts or churches in Africa. Commissions on Archives and History and Historical Societies may want to consider creating a plan in your annual conferences for repurposing altarware when a church closes.

From the General Secretary Traveling the circuit of a General Secretary offers the opportunity to be in many different local churches for Sunday worship. Opening a church bulletin recently, I was greeted with these words: Thank you for coming to Trinity Church. We extend a welcome to those who are single, welcome to those who are crying newborns, broken-hearted or in need of a safe place. We married,welcome divorced, you if you gay, can straight, sing like filthy Andrea rich, Bocelli dirt pooror like or many no habla of us Ingles.’ who can’t We carryextend a tunea special in a bucket. You’re welcome if you are here “just browsing,” just woke up, or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you believe in God of if you’ve never been to church. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving cont. on page 3 cont. from page 2 artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians and junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you are having problems, down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion.” We’ve been there too. If you blew you offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We offer a special welcome to to those those who who could think use the a earthprayer is right flat, worknow, hadtoo hard,religion don’t shoved work down at all, your can’t throat spell oras becausea kid or welcome tourists, seekers, and doubters, bleeding hearts . . . and you! We here at Trinity Church are a community of Christian people seeking the love of God with all of our gothearts, lost souls, in traffic minds and and wound strengths up here and by to mistake. love our We neighbors as ourselves. I have never read a more open and embracing welcome on a printed page. This particular congregation was Episcopalian. Visiting was good preparation for an Episcopal-Methodist Theology Day I’ll participate in at Drew Theological School in September as the talks between denominations move our two traditions with a common source toward full communion. Trinity’s welcoming word and spirit are quite Wesleyan, from the open-air, catholic-spirited preaching of John Wesley to Charles’s hymnody, in which saying or singing “all” meant ALL. In the early years our societies grew because they welcomed “seekers” more than the traditionally-churched. Our camp meetings were a phenomenon that captured the interest of “outsiders” as much as “insiders.” To coin a contemporary phrase, the Methodist “desired outcome” was more experiential than doctrinal. What then is the mark? Who is a Methodist, asked Father John. I answer: A Methodist is one who has “the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him;” one who “loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, and with all his strength. God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul; which is constantly crying out, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee! My God and my all! Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever!” (The Character of a Methodist, 1742) United Methodists have a wonderful tradition to offer Episcopalians and the whole Church: a passion for warming the hearts of people whose faith has cooled because of our fervor for people coming to experience amazing grace for themselves. If other Episcopal Churches (or any Churches for that matter!) can articulate welcome and openness as well as Trinity, then full communion is just a formality. Of course, clever words of welcome are only words. Oh, for the day when the whole Church, whatever the brand, will walk the talk. Fred Day, General Secretary The excommunication of Martin Boehm

Pa., was a in the Mennonite Church. In about 1775, the Lancaster Mennonite ConferenceMartin Boehm, excommunicated whose home himwas thefrom first their site fellowship,of Methodist in worship large part in Lancaster because County, of his interactions with the Methodists. The Rev. Joe Garber, pastor of Byerland Mennonite Church, and Boehm’s Chapel Society vice president Matthew Buckwalter have asked the to reconsider Boehm’s exclusion in light of his influence on the Mennonite Church. Boehm continued preaching to and ministering with people without regard to their church affiliation, and became one Boehm descendants ofcame the outfirst of the Mennonites of the United and wasBrethren initially in Christ, connected a predecessor with the Brethren of the United in Christ. Methodist attended Boehm’s Chapel Church.Research He was conducted also a significant by Garber influence and Buckwalter on the River led Brethren, them to an petition old order the group Lancaster that Heritage Day in June Mennonite Conference to reinstate Boehm. They reported to the June 28 Boehm’s Chapel Heritage Day gathering about their work. Several Boehm (or Böhm) descendants were present to hear the report, including sisters Evelyn Chaffer and Dorothy Jones of New York State; Catherine Tribit, Janet Wilson and her daughter Dolores Myers, all of Lancaster County, Pa.; and Lawrence Beam of Ontario, Canada.

The Flat Wesleys In 1965, children’s author Jeff Brown created the character of Stanley Lambchop.

His brother Arthur discovered that Flat Stanley could be mailed in an envelope Stanleyto visit his became friends “Flat and Stanley” a series whenof books a bulletinchronicled board his accidentadventures. “flattened” In 1995, him.Flat Stanley stepped out of his books and entered into a new series of adventures. An elementary school class who participates in the Flat Stanley project reads one or

Chuck and Jean Yrigoyen with the Flat Wesleys cont. on page 4 The Northeastern Non-Profit Org. United Methodist Historical Bulletin US Postage PAID c/o WV Annual Conference of UMC Clarksburg WV P. O. Box 2313 26301

Permit #87

Charleston WV 25328

[email protected] to Lawrence Beam at P.O. Box 83, Stevensville, Ontario LOS 1SO LOS Ontario Stevensville, 83, Box P.O. at Beam Lawrence to [email protected]

to Evelyn Chaffer at P.O. Box 264, Rush, New York 14643-0264. Canadian orders should go to to go should orders Canadian 14643-0264. York New Rush, 264, Box P.O. at Chaffer Evelyn to

. To order a copy, contact [email protected] or write write or [email protected] contact copy, a order To . Immigration to Canada, 1788-2000 Canada, to Immigration

Boehm’s Chapel announces the release of Lawrence Beam’s new book, book, new Beam’s Lawrence of release the announces Chapel Boehm’s o Beam/Boehm Family Family Beam/Boehm

contact Dolores Myers at 717-872-4133 or [email protected] or 717-872-4133 at Myers Dolores contact

shown. Admission and parking are free of charge. For more information, information, more For charge. of free are parking and Admission shown.

highlighting the history of the chapel and of the Boehm family, will be be will family, Boehm the of and chapel the of history the highlighting

crafts, and luncheon fare. The DVD, “More than just a Chapel on a Hill,” Hill,” a on Chapel a just than “More DVD, The fare. luncheon and crafts,

apple butter, apple dumplings, baked goods, children’s games, homemade homemade games, children’s goods, baked dumplings, apple butter, apple

West Boehms Church Road, Willow Street PA. There will be homemade homemade be will There PA. Street Willow Road, Church Boehms West

from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., rain or shine, on the campus of Boehm’s UMC, 13 13 UMC, Boehm’s of campus the on shine, or rain p.m., 3 until a.m. 9 from

The 30th annual Boehm’s Chapel Apple Festival will be held October 10 10 October held be will Festival Apple Chapel Boehm’s annual 30th The o

oe n h Fa Wses se http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/flat-wesleys-help-children-learn- see Wesleys, Flat the on more

practice-intentional-discipleship

them to church, and then take them along as the children participate in acts of service in their communities. For For communities. their in service of acts in participate children the as along them take then and church, to them

the country have participated in the Flat Wesleys project in which children create their own Flat Wesleys, take take Wesleys, Flat own their create children which in project Wesleys Flat the in participated have country the

Does Flat Stanley have other flat friends? At the GCAH meeting in Evanston in July, Commission members members Commission July, in Evanston in meeting GCAH the At friends? flat other have Stanley Flat Does teaching United Methodist history and covenant discipleship to children. More than 700 congregations around around congregations 700 than More children. to discipleship covenant and history Methodist United teaching

were introduced to the “Flat Wesleys,” a project of the United Methodist Discipleship Ministries aimed at at aimed Ministries Discipleship Methodist United the of project a Wesleys,” “Flat the to introduced were

another class. Thus Flat Stanley facilitates literacy and teaches geography, all in one fun and charming project. charming and fun one in all geography, teaches and literacy facilitates Stanley Flat Thus class. another

where that Flat Stanley originated, add an entry to his journal about his visit with them, and then mail him on to to on him mail then and them, with visit his about journal his to entry an add originated, Stanley Flat that where

Flat Stanley and his journal to another class participating in the project, who learn about the state or country country or state the about learn who project, the in participating class another to journal his and Stanley Flat

more of the Flat Stanley books, then create its own Flat Stanley and begins a journal for him. They mail their their mail They him. for journal a begins and Stanley Flat own its create then books, Stanley Flat the of more cont. from page 3 page from cont.