History of Ebenezer Church Butler County Kansas

Taken from Chapter 12 of "Days to Remember: The Burns Community. 1964-1970,"
By Hazel C. Bruner, Mennonite Press, North Newton, Kansas 1970

Transcribed & Submitted by: Mark Zieman

The Ebenezer Church

The Ebenezer Methodist Church, near Burns celebrated its sixtieth anniversary May 10, 1959, and a history of the church was compiled. The following material was gathered by Mrs. A. G. Zieman, Mrs. Carl Noell, Mrs. Katherine Gfeller, Mrs. T. F. Knaussman and Miss Emma Gfeller.

"In the spring of 1888, several German and Swiss families settled in this community. Since the English language was foreign to them, they felt the need to worship in their native tongue. Some of the leaders of the West German Methodist Conference heard of this, and sent a minister over here from Newton. He came several times and held services in the homes. An old diary mentions the names of Knauss, Brenzikofer, Wagner, John Frey, Schubach, and Heymann homes.

In the fall of 1888, they started having worship services at the schoolhouse which was located one mile north of De Graff. Those who lived near enough, walked. Some came in lumber wagons for ten miles or more, for not many of them even had buggies at that time. The church was organized in 1889, and the Rev. C. Steinmeyer from Wichita came by train once a month to preach. The records show that there were eighteen members, but we were unable to find a list of names.

Later, when more people came into the community, the Prairie View schoolhouse was built. Then the worship services were held alternately, first at one schoolhouse and then the other. The Sunday School was organized and the congregation grew in size.

In 1894, the church was affiliated with Newton and the minister came over every other Sunday, driving over here with a horse and buggy. On alternate Sundays the pulpit was filled by George Knauss, the local preacher.

Then for five years, 1898-1903, the Conference put Burns and Canada, Kansas, together as a circuit. The minister was Rev. C. L. Koerner from Canada and he drove here in a two-wheeled cart. He started an Epworth League for the young people and before long he got the congregation interested in building a church. The George Knauss family furnished the plot of ground for the church and the cemetery. The record at the Register of Deeds Office shows that it was deeded to the Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church on Feb. 12, 1900. Since Rev. Koerner was also a carpenter, he moved here with his family and they lived in the Karl Knaussman home while the church was being built. Although the minister was the chief builder, he was very ably assisted by the two local carpenters, Gottfried Notz and John Frey. Also, all the people of the congregation helped wherever they could. The young folks, too, were ready to lend a hand. Herman and Ed Gfeller were among those who helped quarry the rock for the foundation. Herman drove a wagon to Florence to get the brick for the chimney and the plaster for the walls as they ere unavailable in Burns. With the united effort of one and all, the church was soon finished. Rev. Koerner made the pulpit and the pews which are still in use here. The bell which rings every Sunday morning was given by the Karl Knaussman family. The Schwartz family donated the organ which was used for many years. The entire cost of the church building was $866.04. Though this is small in comparison to what it would cost today, the amount meant sacrifice and hardship to people then. But they managed to pay it all, and dedicate their church free of debt. In fact, they had a "nest egg" of twenty-five cents left over.

The new church building was dedicated at an all day meeting on May 7, 1899. The congregation met at the Prairie View schoolhouse. From there, they marched in a body the half mile to their new church home. Many united with the church that day. Less than a month later there was a severe hailstorm which broke all the north windowpanes, since the screens had not been made.

The name "Ebenezer" based on I Samuel, 7:12 - "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" was suggested by George Knauss. According to a report received from the Kansas State Historical Society, a charter of incorporation was issued on July 7, 1899, to the Ebenezer Methodist Church near Burns, Kansas. The trustees were listed as Fred Wagner, Jacob Oberst, Gottfried Dauber, John Hessenthaler, and John Heymann. There was no list of the charter members recorded at Topeka and we also failed to find it here.

The first wedding in the new church was on Christmas day of that year, 1899, when George Haymann and Katherine Schwartz were united in marriage. At the first baptismal service there were five children baptized. Sam Spinden was the first, and the others were: Ed Dauber, Albert Brenzikofer, Marie Brenzikofer Sayer and Anna Brenzikofer Ammeter. The first burial in the cemetery was the little Mock girl, a niece of Frank Brenzikofer, and the second was Frank's mother.

Rev. Koerner left in 1900 and for the next three years, Rev. G. Paustian of Canada was our minister. He came by horse and cart on Saturday afternoons.

In 1903, our church was again united with Newton and for eight years we were served by Rev. A. P. Becker. Many couples were married during his ministry. He was interested in music and a ladies' quartette, composed of the Schwartz and Knauss sisters, was organized. He also started a catechism class. A "Souvernir der West Deutschen Konferenz" published in 1906 lists the following as officers of our church: The local preachers were Jacob Schwartz and George Knauss; the Sunday school superintendent, John Frey; president of Epworth League, A.P. Becker; trustees were Jacob Schwartz, George Knauss, Karl Knaussman, John Hessenthaler, and Fred Vogelman. During Rev. Becker's ministry, Ebenezer was host to the West German Annual Conference and all the people opened their homes to the ministers who came.

From 1911 to 1917 Rev. H. S. Humfeldt from Newton was our minister. He brought one of the first automobiles to make the trip over here. Some of the older people, including the District Superintendent, thought this was rather foolish. During the summers Rev. Humfeldt would come and stay for several weeks to conduct catechism and a German school for the children.

Rev. C. C. Mier was with us one year. This was during World War I and some of the boys whose fathers had come to this country to gain freedom from military training were drafted into the army to go and fight against Germany.

In 1918, Ebenezer was given a full-time minister. He was Rev. A. J. Ross and he and his family lived in Burns. The members of the church took turns transporting them and entertaining them at Sunday dinners.

In 1919, all the men joined forces and built a parsonage north of the church. This was during the ministry of Rev. Carl Ross. In March 1921, the organ was replaced by a piano. That was the year Rev. A. M. Goepfert became our minister. He served here ten years, which is the longest period of time that any minister has ever been at Ebenezer. During this time for many years, Ralph R. Gfeller was the lay leader of Ebenezer. He also was the treasurer, the choir director, the Adult Bible Class teacher, and he did a great deal of work with the youth. Quite a few changes were made in our church while Rev. Goepfert was here.

For years the women had had a Ladies Aid Society, but at this time they organized the Foreign Missionary Society. The church building was enlarged, a basement added and a furnace was installed in place of the two old-fashioned heating stoves. Then Ebenezer held a rededication of the church on Nov. 28, 1925. Up until this time, all the services had been in German but now Rev. Geopfert began preaching part of each sermon in English.

Our church was thirty-two years old in 1931 when Rev. Geopfert left us. Ebenezer had grown in many ways, but looking back over those years we believe that her spiritual growth in large measure was due to the many revivals which the ministers held there.

The year 1931 marks the time when Ebenezer was transferred into the English Conference for West German Conference merged with the South West Conference at that time. After that, of course, all our services were in English. Ebenezer and Burns were put together to form one charge - both churches maintaining their separate organizations but having the same minister. Rev. D. R. Miller held the first pastorate under this arrangement.

In 1940 the Foreign Missionary Society became known as the Woman's Society of Christian Service.

The Society celebrated the 25th Anniversary of their organization May 4, 1966, at the Ebenezer Methodist Church. A memorial service was held for all former members who had passed away. Mrs. Ethel Spinden gave a history of the WSCS. Mrs. Pearl Notz, the first president, was present.

With the merger of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches April 28, 1968, the church became the Ebenezer United Methodist Church, and the Society became the United Methodist Women's Society of Christian Service.

The 70th Anniversary of the Ebenezer United Methodist Church was celebrated May 18, 1969. Mrs. Ethel Spinden, Secretary of Records, completed the history since the 60th Anniversary and the complete history was compiled in an attractive booklet that was given to each one present. Mrs. Katherine Gfeller is the oldest member in years of service, joining the church in 1900.

Mention is given to the faithful years of service given by Mary Vogelman as custodian of the church from Jan. 1935 to Nov. 1968. She was truly a "doorkeeper in the house of the Lord."