Articles
of incorporation were drawn on June 4, 1895, under the tit1e "Macedonia
Christian Church" to be located within the School District No.4 Morgan
Township, Butler County, Ohio.
The
corporation was formed to procure the necessary site to erect and maintain
thereon a proper church building to be used and occupied for religious and other
purposes of worship. These articles were signed by George Smith, A. J. Shupp,
Perry Clawson, Benjamin Oyler and Amos P. Clawson, acting for the congregation.
Arrangements
were made to secure title to a small tract of land on the East, which had
formerly been used and maintained as a public school. M. M. Clawson, who had
received title to this tract in exchange for another plot of land to be used for
a school, transferred it as a gift to the church board of trustees.
The
New Brick Church
A
brick church building was erected at this newly-acquired location at the
intersection of the old Biddinger Free Turnpike, now known as California Road,
and Okeana-Drewersburg Road. Dedication services were held in 1896. This
building is still being used as the church sanctuary. Regular church services
have been enjoyed since that date.
Times
were not always easy at the little church at the cross- road. One account of an
officers' meeting of August 4, 1920, it was decided to make up the
deficit from years 1918 and 1919 of $75. First, to "accept $25 offered by
the Willing Workers; then, each member of the board were to give $5 to raise the
remaining $50." The clerk was asked to write up subscriptions, and be
placed in the hands of. the treasurer by August 29, 1920. This was the first
time the Willing Workers were mentioned in church records. The group was
organized in 1920 and has taken an active part in all activities of the church
since that day.
In the early 1900's, the minister came by train to
Okeana or to Harrison from Cincinnati. He would be met there by a member of the
congregation, taken to the church for the morning service, be entertained at
dinner and supper by one of the church families, and returned to the church for
evening services. Afterwards, taken to Harrison to catch the train back to
Cincinnati again. In 1908 church
services were held only every other Sunday.
Ministers
listed in the records after the present church was built and dedicated in 1896
were: Rev. Allen Wilson (1898); Rev. J. A. Roberts (1905); Rev. H. A. .Davis
(1907); Rev. Walter Mill (1908-1927); it should be noted that M.E. Walker held
services for a short time in 1918; Rev. Charles Smith (1927); Rev. Joe Hosking
(1928); Rev. Ira Allamong (1929); Rev. J. Stuart Mill (1931-1955); Rev. Paul
Hartenberger (1955); Rev. James Landes (1957); Rev. J. Stuart Mill (1959 until
his death in 1985); Rev. Bill Arthur (1985 to 1996); Rev. Elliot Kennel (1996);
Rev. Steve Tossey (1997); Rev. Ben Strasser (1997); and Rev. Steve Jerles (1997
to ??????); and Rev. Jerold Jensen (????? to present)..
In
the depression years in the 1930's, the church had a hard time meeting expenses
and faced the possibility of having to close its doors. It was at this time that
Rev. J. Stuart Mill was hired. The church continued to serve the needs of the
people of the community; however, there were many times when there was not
enough money to pay both a preacher and a janitor. Rev. Mill, being young and
living with his parents, chose to have the janitor paid instead of himself,
since the janitor had a family to support.
During
the first 17 years of Rev. Mill's ministry, Sunday services were alternated with
churches in Oxford, Miamitown, Piner, Kentucky, and Bright, Indiana.
World
War n touched the lives of the Macedonia Church Family with many of the youngm~n
leaving home to serve in the Armed Services. One of those, James Gilbert of
Okeana, left, never to return.