"The American Methodist" Published in Stroud, Oklahoma

 

The Rev. J.H. Hubbard  served as editor and publisher of this weekly publication that began in 1905 and may not have survived past 1906 (most holdings are only of the 1906 issues).  The editor, who also worked for the local newspaper entity, published under the 'Methodist Mission Press Publishing' or the "Mission Press Publishing' title.

The masthead identified as editor the Rev. J.H. Hubbard (editor and proprietor). Assistant editors were Rev. A.M. Virden (Edmond), Rev. R.A. Barnes (Oklahoma City), and Rev. J.A. Ferguson (Garber).  The Clegg and Oden work Oklahoma Methodism in the Twentieth Century lists a "John H. Hubbard" as a Methodist Episcopal minister who transferred into Oklahoma from another Methodist Conference in 1904 and who died in 1954. Virden was also a M.E.C. minister who transferred into the Oklahoma area in 1904 and who died in 1927. Barnes was Roscoe A. and was a M.E.C. minister who transferred into the area in 1904 and out again in 1908. Ferguson was a M.E.C. minister who transferred into Oklahoma in 1895 and died in 1917.

Rather unique to the time and group was a statement of their premises or "Our Platform" as they termed it.

"1. Genuine repentance and faith toward God

 2. Regeneration that transforms men,

 3. The Witness of the Spirit for every child of God.

 4. Entire Sanctification - the happy privilege of every believer."

For searchable issues visit the Oklahoma Gateway.

Some History of the Methodist Church in Stroud, Oklahoma

Stroud, Oklahoma was settled  in 1892 and by February of the next year a Methodist group was forming. At that time individuals began formalizing meetings and services. These included a "Methodist minister" named Dell Nichols, a Rev. from Guthrie named Walter Bilby, and soon after a  Rev. J.C. Parker (who entered the Territory by transfer in 1892 and died in 1933 as a Methodist Episcopal Church minister). From this information is probable the first congregation in Stroud was a Methodist Episcopal Church (sometimes called the Northern branch to differ it from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The two had diverged in the 1840's over slavery).

About 1900 a church building was under construction on West Fifth in Stroud. Locals had hoped to ring the bell there for New Year's that year but construction problems prevented that.

The Clegg and Oden history of the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church lists the pastors for Stroud for both denominations.

Methodist Episcopal Church Pastors, Stroud, Oklahoma

1907 -S.K. Jewell

1908- N.E. Wood

1909- G.W. Green

1910-11 -E.F.S. Darby

1912-13 - G.T. Andrews

1914- - D.T. Morton

1915 - Harry Royce

1916 - H.E. Brill

1918 - J.T. Riley

1920 - FEDERATED [A system introduced to allow churches to unite and an early movement prior to the 1939 union of the two denominations as the Methodist Church]

1922 - A.W. Faucett

1923-24 - H Ivan Byrd

1925 - F.W. Galyon

1926-29 - F. Singer

1930 - L.L. Brown

1931-32 - H.F. Draper

1933-34 - T. Parker Hilbourne

1936-39 - Paul E. Osman

Information concerning the location and services of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (M.E.C.,S) is less available. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, South Pastors

1907 - George W. Lewis

1908 - S.M. Sartin

1909 - H. K. Monroe

1910 - W.D. Sasser

1911 - W.T. Ready

1912-13 - U.G. Reynolds

1914 - A.M. Dupree

1916 - J.R. Hardin

1917 - G.E. Ryan

1919 - R.J. LaPrade

1920-21 - J.C. Crowson

1926 - C.N. Smith