OCCASIONAL PAPERS THE UNITED METHODIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ARKANSAS, INC.

___________________________________________________________________________

“World War I was a global war originating in Eu-rope that lasted from July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918. The Allies included Russia, France, Britain, Ire-land, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States against The Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. The war was driven by revolutionary sentiment, strikes, fascism and nationalism. European alli-ances had been under great stress for dec-ades.

The United States reluctantly entered Eu-rope's "Great War" on April 6, 1917, and tipped the balance to Allied victory. In part the nation was responding to threats to its own economic and diplomatic interests. But it also wanted, in the words of President Woodrow Wilson, to "make the world safe for democracy." The Unit-ed States emerged from the war a significant, but reluctant, world power.”

-www.worldwar1centennial.org

On Thursday, April 12, 1917, the Arkan-sas Methodist reported that “our President and Congress are making due preparations so that we may be ready for emergency. The construction of every element of the navy will be speeded up, an ar-my will be collected and trained, and all kinds of sup-plies will be produced and utilized both at home and among all allies.

...To promote this movement, President Wilson has sent out Mr. Carl Vrooman, first assistant Secretary of Agriculture, with a ‘Message from the President to the State of Arkansas,’ which was delivered in person to a great audience in Little Rock Monday night…. ‘The greatest assistance which we can render to our allies overseas is to finance and to feed them.…. The Na-tion that can feed its population the longest will win.’

Emphasizing the President’s appeal, Governor [Charles H.] Brough has issued a call to the citizens of Arkansas to do their duty now. He appeals to every

worker who owns or controls land to devote a reason-able part to the production of food.”

July 1, 1917, was designated as Patriotic Sunday by President Woodrow Wilson. A week earlier on

Sunday, June 24, Warren Mill Camps celebrated accordingly at their third quarterly conference with a basket dinner. “After noon came the patriotic occasion. Invocation by Brother Davidson, our P.E., a quar-tet by four men expected soon to be at the front, on the altar of sacri-fice for their country. Then, an ad-dress by Hon. F.L. Pursell, pressing the Red Cross claims and work in the army. Quartet, ‘America.’ Then a stirring patriotic address by Hon. D.A. Bradham, ‘The World Condi-tion and Our Part in It.’ Then, as we

all tried to sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ Mr. Ab Smith hoisted our flag, the Stars and Stripes, on a pole 65 feet high, while tears flowed freely from many eyes.

Then, we repaired to the church and engaged in sing-ing praises to God for his benefits to us.” T.M. Apple-white, P.C., Arkansas Methodist, July 5, 1917.

The early July 1917 meeting of the Woman’s Mis-sionary Society Crawfordsville in central Crittenden County reflected the activities and concerns of the Arkansas Methodist Church as well as its women’s society. “A community meeting was held at the club house under the leadership of Mrs. Peebles, our ca-pable superintendent of Social Service, who brought us a message full of love, hope, and cheer to stimu-late us to greater efforts for the betterment of social conditions. Mesdames Mosby and Hare gave inter-esting talks on the Red Cross work, as to materials and garments to be made, and shipment of canned goods The amount raised in our town for Red Cross work was over $4,000…. National prohibition as a

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World War I: Arkansas Methodists Compiled by Virginia White

Lest We Forget:

VOLUME 29 NUMBER 1 Winter2017

OCCASIONAL PAPERS THE UNITED METHODIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ARKANSAS, INC.

A.C. Millar, Editor-in-Chief of the

Arkansas Methodist, 1914-1940

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war measure was freely discussed, and it was voted that a petition be sent to Congress from the different

town organizations asking for national prohibition.* An appeal was made by Mrs. Whitmore for the Ameri-can Bible Society that we supply our home boys with khaki testaments before leaving for war.” Superinten-dent Study and Publicity, Arkansas Methodist, July 12, 1917.

*Editor’s note: Arkansas already had prohibition because “in 1915, the Arkansas General Assembly passed the Newberry Act, effectively banning the man-ufacture and sale of alcohol in the state. The Arkansas State Liquor Law of 1917 passed in January 1917 and outlawed ‘the transportation, delivery, and storage of liquor, excepting only alcohols used for scientific, reli-gious, and medical purposes.’" FranaWiki-UCA Honors College. The Arkansas Methodist had numerous arti-cles in 1917 and 1918 promoting the passage of na-tional prohibition. Among the reasons then were for using the grain for food instead of alcoholic drinks and for having sober soldiers.

Following draft registration, the draft lottery began by selecting 1,374,000 men for examination to provide 687,000 for first increment troops. Secretary of War Baker drew the first number on July 20, 1917. The Washington Post, July 21, 1917-GG Archives.

.Some Methodist preachers’ families that received commissions at the close of the Officer Training Camp at Fort Roots: Carter Jenkins, son of Rev. A. D. Jen-kins, Galloway Harrison, son of Rev. W. R. Harrison; Herman Gossett, son of Rev. J. T. Gossett; James J. Harrison, son of Rev. W. R. Harrison; and Stanley Ha-nesworth, son of Rev. Henry Hanesworth, were admit-ted to the second Officers’ Training Camp at Leon Springs, Texas. A ministerial student who has just been commissioned at Fort Roots is G. S. Powledge. Arkansas Methodist, August 30, 1917.

Rev. C.M. Revis of First Church, Helena, was ac-cepted and commissioned as a chaplain in the army. Arkansas Methodist, September 13, 1917.

Rev. and Mrs. A. M. Robertson of Sheridan had a message from their son, Hugh W., that he was now an ensign in the U.S. Navy, having volunteered a few week earlier. Hugh is a graduate of Hendrix College and Columbia University, and for three years has been on the editorial staff of the New York Herald. His new work is in connection with information transmission. Arkansas Methodist, November 1,1917.

The year 1917 ended with these three reports from the December 20th Arkansas Methodist: “As revealed at the last sessions of our conferences, Arkansas Methodism is sound and aggressive. Under war pres-sure, many at first feared that church activities would slacken. Instead, all redoubled diligence and pro-

duced results…. While there were liberal responses to appeals for Red Cross, Y.M.C.A., and other war inter-ests, still there was no slackness in church finances.”

“The following Hendrix men won officers’ commis-sions in the National Army at the end of the Officers’ Training Camp at Leon Springs, November 27: Cap-tain— James J. Harrison, Infantry. First Lieutenants—Wm. H. Harton, Field Artillery; Joe R. Holmes, Field Artillery; Jesse Noble Legg, Infantry; Thomas Comp-ton, Infantry. Second Lieutenants—O. C. Landers, Field Artillery; R. L. Hiles, Infantry; F.A. Parke, Field Artillery; W.C. Sinclair, Infantry.”

“The local Red Cross Committee on Hospital Activi-ties of the Woman’s Missionary Society will carry cheer to the sick soldiers at Camp Pike. There will be little gifts for the men and the hospital will be decorat-ed with flowers and plants….holly wreaths, Southern smilax, poinsettias, carnations, and potted plants.”

“Rev. and Mrs. T. M. Applewhite of Snyder [Ashley County] are bereaved in the death of their son. W. M. Applewhite, who, while in training for the U.S. Navy, died at Portsmouth, Virginia, January 21.” Arkansas Methodist, February 7, 1918.

Arkansas Methodist, May 9, 1918, reported that Rev. J. W. Jenkins of Conway was to take four weeks’ preliminary training in Army Y.M.C.A. work in San An-tonio, Texas.

Rev. John W. Harrell, new minister at Benton, had letters from his son in aviation service in France. An-other son is at Newport, R.I., in the navy. Arkansas Methodist, June 13, 1918. [NOTE: Further research revealed that one of Rev. Harrell’s sons who was a World War I veteran, Rev. Van Wesley Harrell, be-came a well-known Arkansas Methodist minister.]

Private William “Arthur” McGuire, the first Hendrix student casualty, died on June 3, 1918, in France of pneumonia. In a letter, Pvt. McGuire stated, “The ar-my is a great place to study human nature. One meets with men of all nationalities and creeds.” Arkan-sas Methodist, June 27, 1918.

“Rev. E. K. Sewell, pastor at Wynne, has been ac-cepted for overseas Army Y.M.C.A. work, and will leave July 9.”

“Rev. Jesse Galloway, pastor of Benton circuit, who is of draft age, but exempt from military service on ac-count of membership in the Little Rock Conference, has waived his privilege and going into the army…. ‘I can fight and fight I will…. I love humanity and go where I can do my best to champion it.’” Arkansas Methodist, July 11, 1918.

President John Hugh Reynolds of Hendrix College “has appointed the following to go into training at Fort Sheridan in preparation for military instruction at Hen-drix College: G. H. Lackey, Mt. View; I. P. Daniel, Con-

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way; C. A. Stuck, Jonesboro; C. E. Nesbitt, Calico Rock; Caruth Owen, Fordyce; Autrey Young, Nash-ville; W. H. Holmes, Ashdown; Marvin Graham, Fordyce; Clyde McDonald, Weldon; and E. W. Martin, Texarkana. They are to be there from July 18 to Sep-tember 16.” Arkansas Methodist, July 16, 1918.

President Reynolds announced that “Hendrix Col-lege has been officially designated by the War Depart-ment as a Students’ Army Training Corps College [S.A.T.C.]…. All men over eighteen and physically fit will receive the pay of a private, $30 a month.” Arkan-sas Methodist, Aug 29, 1918.

“Word has been received from the Chicago repre-sentative of Henderson-Brown College that the college will have a students’ army training corps for boys of 18 and over. A committee of Arkadelphia citizens is plan-ning the erection of barracks to house the students.” Arkansas Methodist, September 5, 1918.

President J. M. Workman of Henderson-Brown Col-lege reported that “the large gymnasium with new ap-paratus and the spacious shower baths are accepted by the army officers…. Many boys and young men are preferring Henderson-Brown for training so that they can be with their sisters…. The one hundred S.A.T.C.

boys will give a good patriotic balance. Arkansas Methodist, September 19, 1918.

Commanding officer of the Hendrix College S.A.T.C., Lieutenant Winston [of Addison, New York], assisted by Lt. Bambarger of Cincinnati and Lt. Lingle of Mississippi, “has been on the ground for two weeks arranging for the corps. Nine of the ten Hendrix men who were at Fort Sheridan this summer will be on hand to assist in drilling the students. One of the ten, Mr. Wain Martin of Texarkana, made such a record that he won lieutenant's commission and goes into the regular army at once.” Arkansas Methodist, October 3, 1918.

“Many college students enrolled in the Students’ Army Training Corps, and more than two hundred of these men were housed at Hendrix College. Tempo-rary barracks were erected on the campus.” Two Cen-turies of Methodism in Arkansas 1800-2000, Nancy Britton.

“On the eleventh day of the eleventh month at elev-en o’clock, French time, began an armistice of thirty days which is hoped to bring the world war to an end. With her armies falling back every day and internal dissentions constantly growing, deserted by her former allies, Germany was forced to accept the terms of the Entente Allies. Arkansas Methodist, November 14, 1918.

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From left: Private William “Arthur McGuire; Rev. Van Wesley Harrell; Third Camp Pike Soldier from left—Sherman

Swain, Marcia Crossman’s grandfather; Brothers John Hunter Walker and Robbert Sidney Walker, grandsons of Rev.

John Wesley Walker, a Methodist circuit rider in the Dallas County area. Both died of respiratory illnesses.

In November 1920, a memorial sculpture was placed on the Hendrix

campus of a life-size statue of an American doughboy in full battle dress.

The names of six alumni who died while in service were listed. Two of

the men, Tabor Bevens of Booneville, brother of Rev. M. C. Bevens, and

James L. Craddock of England, died on campus of influenza. Robert W.

Young of Okolona was killed in action in France. The other names are

those of James Dowdy of Clarksville, William A. McGuire of Mountain

Home, and Joseph Reynolds of El Dorado. Two Centuries of Methodism

in Arkansas 1800-2000, Nancy Britton.

Contact Your Archivists:arkmethodist@hendrix.edu

Marcia Crossmanmcrossman@conwaycorp.net

Carole Teaguecarole.teague77@gmail.com

235 pages of stories from the heart!JoAnn Miles 2006 book is also on this CD

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THE UNITED METHODIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ARKANSAS, INC.

Attention: Mark your calendars and cell phones now to attend Annual Spring Meeting and Luncheon of the

Arkansas Methodist Historical Society,

April 8, 2017, 12 noon,

at the First United Methodist Church,

723 Center Street, Little Rock, AR

The program is about the upcoming 200th Anniversary Celebration of Methodism in Arkansas.

Use the form below to register so that we can plan for you.

See you there. Joe M. Guenter, Society President

Please detach and mail to:

Barbara Clark, treasurer

2605 Normandy Drive, Newport, AR 72112

Phone: 870-523-6187 Or E-mail to: jbarb@suddenlink.net

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

__ I/we will attend the lunch April 8. Enclosed in $10.00 each

__ I/we are also sending annual dues of $10.00 per family.

__ Donation _________ Total enclosed __________

Name(s)____________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________

City _______________________State______ Zip___________

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MEETING OCTOBER 30, 2014

United Methodist Museum of the

Arkansas Conference

~ N E W S ~ I am happy to announce we have hired a wonderful

new person to be our curator:

Shakeelah Rahmaan. She is planning to open the

Museum Wednesday's. Stop by and say hello to

Shakeelah!

~ Candace Barron, Senior Pastor

Location: 723 Center Street, Little Rock, AR (inside First UMC)

Arkansas Conference Ministries

United Methodist Historical Society of Arkansas

800 Daisy Bates Drive

Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3770

Virginia White, Editor

vabew@sbcglobal.net

Message from Editor

While I was researching and writing the article, “World War I, Arkansas Methodists,” I soon

found more material than our newsletter could handle! There are many more names, events, and

subjects that could have been included. As a result, I tried to provide both highlights and variety.

Because there could be an additional newsletter with the same subject, I invite you to share

your World War I stories and photographs!

I am also grateful to Marcia Crossman and Carole Teague, Archivists at Winfred D. Polk Ar-

chives for The Arkansas Conference, United Methodist Church, for the wonderful work that they are doing

by scanning and putting the Arkansas Methodist newspaper on their website! Beginning with 1884,

they have already reached 1922, along with recent years. That is why so many of my references are

the Arkansas Methodist. The good news is that you can read them easily, too!

Virginia White, vabew@sbcglobal.net

William C. Martin was a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, The Methodist

Church, and the United Methodist Church. He distinguished himself in military service during

World War I. He graduated from Hendrix College in 1918.

~Wikipedia