East Maple Grove Church

(1896-1929?)

The Gospel Messenger Feb. 29, 1896 page 139 Vol. 39 No. 9

From Gardner, Kansas

  Feb. 8 the Olathe church met in council, and, by a vote, decided to cut our territory in two. The west end retained the old name. They have about sixty members, including the Kansas City Mission. The undersigned was relaxed from the charge of the Olathe church, and Eld. G. E. Wise chosen.  Bro. S. R. Riffey was elected Treasurer and Lillin Riffey, Clerk.  They have a good meetinghouse in Olathe, with four ministers and four deacons, though much scattered.  They are leaving the principal burden if the ministry on Eld. Wise.

  After completing the joint work of the church, including the cancellation of all church debts, we then appointed a council in the west part of the church for Feb. 15.  At that time, a vote on a name for our church, Maple Grove was chosen.

  We have a meetinghouse four miles west and one mile north of Gardner, and four miles north of Edgerton.  We have a membership of fifty-eight, four ministers and four deacons. Maple Grove has in her territory the former elder, Treasurer and Clerk. No officers were elected, but Bro. J. E. Crist was advanced to the second degree of the ministry.  Brethren H. F. Crist and Samuel Frantz were elected delegates to our District Meeting, and Bro. H. F. Crist was chosen to represent our church at Annual Meeting.

  Feb. 9 I held three meetings in Kansas City and found the future prospects encouraging.  There are now several applications awaiting baptism.  Feb. 12 I was called Media to visit and anoint an old sister who was baptized a few months ago in here eighty-sixth year.  While there we held a Communion for her benefit.  Sixteen members of outsider were present, who seemed to enjoy it much.  After the services the old sister said: “This was the happiest hour of my life and I now feel ready to depart and be at rest.”  She had been a member of the M. e. church for sixty-five years.”  I. H. Crist.  Feb. 18.

The Gospel Messenger Sept. 19, 1903 p 604

East Maple Grove.—A cyclone visited our community Tuesday evening about six o'clock, completely destroying our churchhouse and furnishings, leaving little more than kindling wood; also the large grove and barn just south of the church. The house also was considerably damaged but no lives reported lost so far. Our love feast for Sept. 10 is recalled for the present. Arrangements for rebuilding will be made and the work begun as soon as possible. — Bettie Root. Eudora, Kans., Sept, 11.