Newberg Church History

 Written in 1909
Arthur unknown, but believe it was George C Carl  

  August 12^th 1899. The Coquille Valley Church, working with the District Mission Board, decided to send Elder George C. Carl and sister Nellis Carl, his wife as Missionaries into the Northwestern part of the State, a large field of seven counties, at which time there was not a member, so far as is known, living in all this part of the State.  Sunday, September 17^th, 1899, Brother Carl preached his farewell sermon in the Home congregation, that was assisting in sending Brother and Sister Carl out on their second Missionary Journey (the other journey being four years previous when they were sent to Western Washington).  On the next day Brother and Sister Carl, with their four children started on their journey of about 240 miles by private conveyance, Brother Carl furnishing his own team, harness, and wagon with camping outfit.

October 2nd, at the close of the District Meeting, held in the Lebanon Church the last part of the journey was entered, with instructions from the District Board to cross the Willamette Rive into a land they had never seen and among people with whom they had never met.  To find a location some where in Yamhill, or Washington Counties, and or then to use their own judgment, under Prayerful direction of God, to choose the location, and commence the founding of a Brethren Church in the Northwestern part of the State.  Late in the evening of October 5^th, Brother Carl pitched his tent in the Town of Newberg under a couple of large apple trees.  On the next day a little cottage was rented in the southwestern part of town but as possession could not be had until some two weeks later, a journey was made to Klickitat County, Washington, to assist Brother D. B. Eby in Church Work.   October 19^th returned, and moved into cottage, and with saw and hammer some furniture was provided, until better conditions could be had.

  Brother Carl at once set about to find opportunities for preaching the WORD, and at once was able to succeed in learning that a Baptist minister had announced to preach in the Cheehalim Center School House the next evening but was unable to fill his appointment, giving Brother Carl the service.  At the close of the service, a request was made for regular services twice each month, which at once was established.  The next Sunday, October 29^th, Brother Carl preached at 11 A.M. in the School House on Cheelhalim ridge four miles north of Newberg, at 3 P.M. in the Cheehalim Center School house, and in the evening at 7:30.  Brother Carl was able to preach the first Sermon in Newberg, in the Presbyterian Church.  Three appointments of preaching were now established, and in a short time, three other appointments were established, one at Grange Hall 5 miles west of Newberg, one in the little town of Dundee 2 ½ miles south of Newberg, and on 3 ½ miles east of Newberg in what was know as the Union Church.

  The following month Brother and Sister Carl, at their request, were shipped over 600 copies of the Doctrinal Number of the Gospel Messenger from the Brethren Publishing House, to be used in distribution among the people.  Sister Carl carried the messengers to the homes in Newberg, Brother Carl in the surrounding country, also taking in the towns of McMinville, Dayton, and Layfette, requiring about three weeks to complete the work.  In many homes, the Messenger was welcomed, and in not a few, as soon as it was discovered that a Doctrine was taught, that condemned secret societies, and Church Fairs, and the Divorce evils, and other evils of the present day, the paper was not wanted.  Nevertheless, the Doctrine of Christ was presented to many home in this manner, that otherwise could no have been reached.

Brother and Sister Carl soon gained the confidence of the people and all the appointments of preaching were well attended, and number could have been added to the Church if our Missionaries would have received them, by allowing then, some to retain life insurance, others their secret orders, and with others, it was the divorce trouble.  But the work was becoming established.

  The following year, Brother E. L. Withers, a Young Deacon from the Coquille Valley Church located at Newberg, at which time Brother Carl held a series of meetings in Newberg.  Brother M. F. Woods and Family from Virginia, but who had spent a short time in Washington located at Newberg, and Brother Ira Wakefield, and Family, were added to the number.  Later in season Brother William Let and Family, and Brother M. M. Carl and Family located with the little membership at Newberg.  At the District meeting of this year, held at Damascus, Oregon, the Elders advised that Brother Carl organize at Newberg in the near future.

  Not long after the District Meeting Brother M. M. Eshelman come to Newberg and held a short series of Meetings, at which time Bro. S. E. Decker was also present on a visit.  Brother Carl, believing that the time had come for the Organizing of the Newberg, by the instructions of the Elders of the District, called the little membership together in council in the Presbyterian Church house, located on First Street on the 20^th day of October, 1900, and the 13 members present without a dissenting voice declared their Loyalty to all the Doctrines of the Church of the Brethren.  And the Newberg Church was organized, with 13 members.  The official Body of the Church was as follows: Brother Carl, Elders of the new Church, Brother M. F. Woods, a Minister in the second degree, Brethren Ira Wakefield, E. L. Withers, and M. M. Carl, Deacons.  Brother Withers was chosen Clerk, and Brother William Lett Treasurer, and Sister Nellie Carl, Agent for Brethren Literature and Church correspondent.

  The first Love Feast was held November 23.  The first applicant for Baptism was Baptized Nov. 26^th, in the Cheehalim Creek near the old Flooring Mill.  Brother F. J. Wakefield was the person Baptized.

  First regular Quarterly Council was held January 15^th, 1901. Second Regular Council was held April the 19^th at which time a Sunday School was Organized with Brother Woods as Superintendent.  The School continued for a time, and then on account of the Presbyterians wanting to use their own House, the Sunday school had to be discontinued.

  Brother Carl and Brother Wood were chosen by the new Church as delegates to the District meeting held in the Salem Church.  The first petition to go from this new Church to District Meeting was a plea for some system, by the District, to care for the poor and Orphans.  On February 7^th, 1902, the church met in Council to consider plans submitted by Brother Carl.  Church approved the plan, and appointed a committee to assist Brother Carl.

     During the year of 1902, the Church increased in number by Baptism, and letters. Sister Nellie Carl, and Sister Anna Lett were chosen as Delegates to District Meeting.  A call was made for the District Meeting of 1904 to come to Newberg.  At the District Meeting of 1902, after Bother Carl had made a report of the work at Newberg, and the needs of the Newberg church, there was a strong sentiment among those at the meeting to assist the new church, but as the District Board was without funds to help in building a house, Brother Michael Rothrock prepared a subscription appeal, and headed the same with a good offering, and by the time the meeting was over, he presented to our Missionaries the sum of nearly four hundred dollars.  It was then decided to ask the General Mission Board for two hundred and fifty dollars, which amount was also promptly granted by them.  In the early part of 1902, Brother Carl was able to secure an option on two very excellent lots, that could be purchased for three hundred and fifty dollars.  At the council of September 23, 1902, Brother Carl reported that the lots had been purchased.

Sister Nellie Carl who had been appointed to solicit funds to help build the Newberg Church had received in one offering three hundred dollars form Brother and Sister Parrett who had recently moved into the new church from California.  The people of Newberg were also liberal in support of the work.  Brother Carl, under the instruction of the District Mission Board and the new church proceeded to build the Church.  Work was stared in November.  The members helped in the work as much as was possible, so that the funds could mostly be used to purchase material.  By faithful efforts, on February 20, 1903, the house was finished.  Saturday, Feb. 21^st at a called council a number of church letters were read, and the membership strengthened by the addition of six members living at Independence, about 36 miles south of Newberg.

February, Sunday, the 22nd, Elder D. B. Eby of Sunnyside, Washington, Chairman of the District Mission Board, preached the dedicatory sermon to a packed house, in fact not near all the people could get into the house.  Material was very reasonable in price at the time of the building of the church, and by very judicious management, a most excellent house was the result, at the cost of about one thousand three hundred dollars.  The Sunday School was again organized with Sister Nellie Car. As Superintendent, and it was not long until a good live evergreen Sunday School was the result of the new effort.  The Love Feast of this year was held July 2^nd, and a call for a District Evangelist, and a change in the time of District Meeting to a more convenient time of the year, and also renewal for the District Meeting of 1904 to the held in the Newberg Church  were the papers from this church to D. M. this year.  Elders George C. Carl, and John Bonewitz were the delegates this year.

  Nine members were received into the church by Baptism since the Organizing of the Church to the present date.  The next year, January 16^th, Brother J. S. Secrist commenced a series of meetings that continued with good interest for over three weeks closing with a Love Feast. As a result of the meeting were received into the Church by baptism.  Shortly after this meeting a Bible reading class was organized, and conducted by the members one hour each Sunday evening before preaching.  Later in the fall of this year a Christian Works to take the place of the Bible Class.  Brother Lea Dadisman was the first president of the Christian Workers.

  Brother George C. Carl, and Sister Ella Moomaw were the delegates to the District Meeting this year, also a petition was sent to the meeting, asking that a Mission be started in Portland, also a petition through District Meeting to Annual Meeting for a more advanced Sunday School paper for the Brotherhood.

  During the year 1904, Elder John Bonewitz, and others moved from Newberg to Weston to Organize a Church at that place.

  The Church also asked for the District meeting of 1905, as the church did not get the meeting of 1904.  During the year of 1904 a number were received by baptism, and letter, and several letters were granted.  Among the number received by letter was Elder D. A. Norcross, and sister Norcross, and Son Homer.

  On the night of June the 4^th, of this year, Bro. Carl discovered his barn on fire.  The fire had gained such headway when discovered that all was a total loss.  About a year before this time Bro. Carl had to dispose of one of this missionary horses, as it had become crippled.  The other one that he had used in his first Missionary Journey to Washington and that the missionary wagon harness, also a single buggy and harness, and other property, causing a loss of about five hundred dollars.  This loss fell heavily upon them, and the shock especially upon sister Carl, their youngest daughter then being only 4 days old.

  1905 was a busy year for the Newberg Church.  Early in the year, Bro. J. H. Graybill of Nampa, Idaho, came and held a two weeks meeting, and (   ) were received into the Church by baptism on the 2nd day of April, three of the number being our Elder’s children.  A Baptistery was built in the Church at the beginning of the year, and also preparations for the District Meeting to be held during the month of July.

  The district Meeting was well attended, and those in attendance received good accommodations.  Bro. Norcross, and Sister Moore were the delegates to the Meeting, and Bro. Carl local delegate to Annual Meeting.  At the District Meeting of this year the Mission Board decided that the Church was old enough to carry on the work, and also decided to send Bro. and Sister Carl to Portland to help establish a Mission, and Church in Portland.  Bro. Carl moving to Portland in October, resigned as Elder, and Bro. Norcross was chosen as Elder.

  During the last of July Bro. Andrew Hutchinson held a series of meetings.  On the 28^th of July a Council meeting was held, and the Church again chose Bro. Carl as Elder.  Bro. S. P VanDyke was appointed foreman on the departure of Bro. Norcross.  The Church at this meeting called Bro. William Moomaw to the Deacon’s Office and Bro. Lea Dadisman and Bro. Milton R. Weaver to the Ministry, and all were duly installed into office by Bro. Carl officiating.  This meeting closed with Love Feast.

  February 20^th, 1907, Bro. D. Whitmore commenced a series of meetings that closed with a Love Feast on March 9^th.  Sister Mary Brooks was delegate to Annual Meeting, and Sister Myra Welch to District Meeting.  During the month of October Bro. Honberger held a series of meetings that closed on the 19^th with a Love Feast.  Bro. Howard Kreps was with Bro. Carl, returning occasionally to fill appointments as Bro. Norcross was in poor health.  At the last Council in this year a boundary line was established between the Powel Valley Church (now know as the Portland church) and the Newberg Church.

  During the first few weeks of 1906, Bro. L. E. Keltiner of Idaho held a series of meetings in the Newberg Church, as a result three more were added to the Church by Baptism.

  During the first part of this year Bro. S. P. Van Dyke, a minister in the second degree of the Ministry moved into the Church, the church being in much need of a help in the ministry at this time.  Bro. and Sister VanDyke received a hearty welcome.  At the Council of March, the 2^nd, Bro. Norcross and Family called for their Church letters to return to California.  Bro. Brunton, a Minister, also moved into the Church giving additional help to the Ministry in the second degree. Bro. Brunton was chosen delegate to District Meeting for this year.

Late Elder Archie VanDyke and wife of Indiana located in the Newberg Church.  His coming and presence were much appreciated by the Church.  The Church hopes that their last few years on earth way be pleasant and profitable.

    During the year 1908 Bro. S. P. Van Dyke was chose delegate from the Newberg Church to Annual Meeting, and Sister Mary Brooks and Liza Moore delegates to District Meeting.  September 20^th, Bro. J. S. Secrist commenced a series of meetings, which closed with a Love Feast October 3 with (    ) added to the Church by baptism.

  May 1^st, 1909, at a Love Feast held in the Newberg Church, with Bro. Carl officiating, Bro. Lee Dadisman was advanced by the Church to the second degree of the Ministry, and Bro. Ottis Welch was called to the Deacon’s Office.  In the January Council of this year Bro. D. E. Fox and family established their membership, Bro. Fox holding the Office of Deacon.

  Several have been received by letter, two dear souls have lately been baptized.  The Newberg Church is out of debt, have a good house of Worship, with regular preaching services, and a good evergreen Sunday School with sister Sarah VanDyke as Superintendent.

  Sister Bessie King is President of the Christian Workers Meeting.  The Church also enjoys a mid-week Prayer meeting.  The Newberg Church stands united on the Doctrines taught, and practiced by the Brotherhood.  Bro. S. P. VanDyke, Forman, and Bro. George C. Carl of Portland, presiding Elder of the Congregation.