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Title
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Young, Welcome H.
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extracted text
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REV,
~/ELCOME
HARRY YOUNG
1886 -
I
Welcome Harry Young was born on a farm in Waterford township, Oakland County, Michi gan. Feb. lJ,
1886.the son of Welcome H. a nd Martha J. Osmun
Young. The parents were active in a Methodist outappointment, meeting in a school house in Waterford
Center and there in due time I entered Sunday School
In 1891 their home burned a nd they moved to
Pontiac and affuiated with the First Methodist
Episcopa l Church where I was baptized by Dr. Wilbur
F. Sheridan a nd f ather became superintendent of the
large Sunday school,
~se·r,v.ing_;
for several years.
The Epworth League added its at trac ti on to me and
furnished new outlet s for activity under Rev. George
w.
Jenning s, a nd l a ter Dr .
~~ther
E. Lovejoy .
During hi gh school years t he family transferred
to the new Centra l Meth odist Episcopal Church i n
Pontiac.
Dr. David H. Glass gave opportunity to
serve as an off icer in the Sunday School and l a ter,
on the offical board during the pl anning and erect-
I
ion of the new church with its l a r ge gymnasium and
social hall.
In 1909 attendance at the University of Michigan
presented, in addition to lt D
~lass,
the inspira tion
of g ree t preach ing by Dr . Arthur W. Stal ker of the
2
First Meth odist Episcopal Church. Coming home for
summe r vacation an opportunity
I
ope ~ ned
in the office
of the Oakl a nd Motor Company which proved too
Rttra ctive to a llow return to the Uni versity.
In 1 910 marriage to Elsie A. Rofe, wh o g rew up
amid the activities of t he First Methodist Episcopaul Church and transferred to the new Centra l :
Church ,
brought help and inspiration.
Later we moved t o a farm north of Holly a nd became a ctiv e in the Meth odist
EpiGc~pal
Church under
Rev . J . T. M. Stephens. He took several occa sions
to induce me to supply the pulpit for him, thus
starting an interest tha t slowl y continued to grow.
During 1915 it seemed best to return to th e old
homestead in Waterfo ttrd Township and b ecame a c tive
in the Commerce o ut appointment, meeti ng in Webste r
school house, and a l so with a g roup i n another
school ho us e in Whitelake Township.
1 915 under Rev. Charles
w.
On Dec. 10 ,
Bal dw in the Commerce
Quarterly Conference granted a local prea cl.er 's
license which was renewed from year to year.
I
A new presiding elder Dr . E. J. Warren suggested
taking part ti me work at Walled Lake to help close
out the year, the work there seemed unwilli ng to
close up and I was asked to continue there full timee
J
At the Detroit Annua l Conference a t Detroit I was
I
received on trial in 1919 and appo inted to Walled
Lake and sta rted on the conference course of study.
We sold our home and moved by team and wagon to the
parsonage at Walled Lake. The ne xt year we were re-.
turned with the hope of adding Novi as the out
appointment.
This sta rted stra ngely by doubling
the attendance every Sunday f or four weeks. It
really started very slowly with 0, 1, 2, 4, 8,
but has kept on growing ever since.
During the year Dr. Charles W. Baldwin pointed out the a dvant ages of semina ry training. At the
conference in Adrian Sept. 18 , 1921 I wa s ordained
dea con by Bishop Theodore Henderson and left wi th out
appointment to attend school
Members received 47, Baptisms 22.
We moved to Drew Theologica l
Seminary, Madisor.
New J ersey. The r e were many new and revealing experiences, includi ng student appointme nts a t Dover,
a nd Ea st Slo e Terra ce, Peterson, New Jersey.
In 1 922 mother's sickne s s bro ught us ba c k to
I
Mi c hi ~a n
just i n ti me to have Dr. William
MacClenthen direct us to Elkton, in the thumb of
Mi chi ga n.
Then a hurri ed use of the Conference
Course of Study made it pos s ible to be orda ined
4
elder, Sept. 23, 1923 by Bishop Theodore Henderson,
and returned to the old frame church a t Elkton.
I
The out a ppointment Wesley church east of town
merged with Elkton a nd a Presbyterian church north
of town did likewise, making a much stronger station.
Part of one year Pinnebog was added to the work when
a pa stor f a iled t o rema in there. Frequently we visited Huron City Methodis t Church during the summer
vacation services led by Dr. William Lyon Phel ps
of Yale Univeristy.
The congre ga tion purcha sed a fine brick hotel
on ma in stre et and economically tra nsformed it i n to
a church with sanctuary, separa te cla ss rooms,
ha ll, and k itchen.
soci ~ l
This waa dedi ca ted by Dr. Mertonu
S. Rice, wi th all obli gat ion provided fo r.
Members received 37, baptisms J3
In 1 926 Dr. D.
wards Morenci.
c.
L1 ttlejohn di rected us to-
Their very l arge furnace was unable
to heat the church with any satisfaction until the
men joined in a do-it-yo urself installa tion of a return a ir duct which solved the problem nicely . Here
I
the bea utiful stained glass windows were a real i npiration.
The church a t Weston was added to the work
part of the second year, the added responsibility of
being conference treas urer was assumed and carried on
for several years.
5
Members received 28, baptisms 14
I
In 1928 Dr . John E. Ma rtin directed us to
Trenton where a new sanctuary andplans for educational unit had loaded a small congrega tion with such a
de ~t
tha t we s e emed to spend almost as much time at
the Detroit b a nk as a t the chu r ch.
All this was
just prior to and through the depths of the depression.
The willing ness a nd a bility of these g ood people
to just keep on keeping on, revealed a spirit to
arouse the highest admira tion and provide continued
inspi ra tion. Here we were so near the Catholic
Church t ha t we could cooperate by chang ing our progra m to bring the more quiet moments to match their
needs . Also a wonde r fu l fellowship developed wi t h
the historic Episcopa l
Church then located across
the corner.
Members rec ei ved 59, bapti sms
In
1933
63.
Dr . John E. Martin direct e d us to Adrian
with its fine sanctuary so hi gh a nd lif t e d up
I
tha~
it broug ht a se nse of awe b ut t hey had a furnace
f an with more noise than the sho ut of any preacher,
a nd a church opera ting debt so g reat t ha t it made
repairs seem imposs ible.
The care taker was too
see
ill td his duties a nd the church was so far be-
6
hind with his salary tha t they could not pay him
up and replace him. Clo s e fellowship with Adrian
I
college and vacation inter-change with the Methodist
Protestant church helped prepare the way for the
uniting conference of the denominations a little
later.
Members received 73, baptisms 120.
In 1937 Dr. J. A. Halmhuber directed us to
Wayne where the church had a heavy debt
1vil1ty amid a "recession" •
respons ~
The long stairs down
to the basement gymnasium and social hall will be
remembered for the rest of life. A new pipe organ
was built, installed, a nd paid for under the inspiring leadership of Dr. Albert R. Parker without
slowing the other financial payments.
Here Mrs.
young s uffered a severe heart attact requiring
long a nd complete rest under the skilful care of Dr.
Albert R. Parker.
The wonderful long continued
kindness of Sunda y School class and the women of
the church was mos t heartening.
We can never repay
such a phySUduan and congregation.
I
Member s received 101, bap tisms 79
In 1941 Dr. William E. Harrison directed us
to Howell where our reception was most warm and
considerate, The work demanded less strain and
hurry though community war effort kept everyone busy
7
The great advance here was in the Sunday School
and in world service giving.
I
Members recived
In
64, baptisms 56
1944 during April Dr. Luther Butt sug-
gested that we complet the year at the bea utiful
stone church and parsonage of Hudson.
The condition of Mrs. Young's health induced us to move to Melvindale and at conference
asked to be granted a sabbatlcal year followed by
leave of absence.
These t wo years were spent in
new and very interesting work at cost accounting
with the Fisher Body Company in Detroit then
building wings for army bombers.
In
1946
found ~
us directed to Stockbrodge
where we were warmly received. A Hamm ond Organ
with chimes was installed and pa id for, a new
roof on the church a nd the tower removed from t h e
p a rs ona ge, a new movie projector was added to t h e
equi pment.
The fellowship with Presbyt eri a n a nd
Ba ptism churches wa s very fine, a nd we were in
clos e conta ct with Greg ory a nd Mun ith.
I
Members received
In
64, b a p tisms 56
1951 Dr. Fra nk L . Fitch directed a move
to nei ghbo r ing Manch ester. Th e front e n trance of
t he chu r ch was ch a n ged to prov ide more uniform
a nd e a s ily us ed s t eps. Hea ti n g of the parsonage
8
wa s g rea tly improved a nd attached garage added to the
parsonagr.
I
Members received
In
65, b a ptisms 41.
1955 Dr. Fra nk L. Fitch d i. r e cted us t to
West Mound Church wes t of Wyand oote where a fine new
pa rsonage was being built by dona ted l a bor
~f
hi gh
quality. Many delays required l iving in v a rious
homes of members while they were on v a cation and then
in a garag e house for some time, but the new
parsona g ~
was worth a ll the wa iting. It was an une xpe cted
plee.sure to see the mortg age burning whi le yet there.
Me mbers
In
re~ved
11) b a ptisms
121
1957 Dr. Laverne Finch agreed that time had
rushed upon u s until it was a llowable t o retire and
we moved to a home of our own in Dearborn. Here we
joined a nd b e came a ctive in the Stephens Me morial
Church n a med in honor of the pas tor wh o usshered u s
into this work a t Holly a nd who was retired a nd
living in Dearborn.
In
1959 Dr. Willi a m E. Harrison asked u s to
a ssist at t he first Methodist Church in setting up
I
a g roup fellowsh i p pl a n.
Thi s re\"larding work con-
tinued under Dr. Frederick C. Vosburg, compl e ting
seven years , unt il a t the conference of 1~5~ we were
a llowed to retire from re tirement and tried to l earn
how to rest.
9
In a ll these J6 and J/4 years of act i ve
connection wi th the Detroit Annua l Conference of the
I
Method i s t
Church we note, members received 642 and
baptisms 65~.
These statistics seem · distressingly
small to summa rize so many yea rs of s ervice and hi gh
hopes of accompolishment.
But there are other con-
siderations tha t cannot be ta bula ted.
abl e hours of kind l y sacrifical
T~c
unaccount-
he lpfi~~service
by
the ma ny people represented is a tribute t o the
lea ding of the spirit in the ir lives.
I t h as been a
privi l edg e to witness a mar ked growth in gra ce in
many of these individuals.
The great number of
children growing up in these surroundings and g o ing
out to render their own s a crifical c ontributi on to
the g ood of all is most encouraging. Some have been
led into the Christi a n ministry and ma ny into Christian Educa tion l e a dership.
The surprizing tota l of world service and
other benevole nt g iving helps s p re a d t he g ood news
f ar and wide .
Every charge h a s continued to g row
a nd b e come strong er to minister among the increasing
I
n e ed of their communiti e s through all these yea rs .
We clos e the record with pra ise and
tha nk s g iving to Hi m who is a ble to do f a r more
a bundantl y th a n a ll tha t
~1e
a sk or think.
MINIS TERIAL BIOGRAPHICAL BLA~~
...1 9 50
DETROIT METHODIST CONFERENCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Date . Sep . 15, 1~
. w.
Name :
Harry
(Middle)
(First)
(Last)_.
Feb. 13 , 1886
(Date )
.
Personal Appearance :
6 - 0
Birth:
Wat er fo rd Township, Oakland County, Mich.
(Place )
Gray- Brown
1 90
"Blue
-T,cr=
1e~i~g~h~
t~)----~(~
w~
el~.g~h~t~)----------~(~H~
a~i-r~)-------r.(Ey
~e-s~)--------
Family Background:
1.
F~ther 1 s
Name in Full
Date of Birth
Welcome Henr y Young
.Place
----------------------
New York State
--------------------------
____Am
__e_r_i _
c a_n______________ Occupation
. Nationality
____________
--~~
M_
e_
r_
ch~a
_n
_t
Extent of Education ----------~--C_o~l_l_e~g~e-------------------------------Death; Date
-------------------------
2. Mother's Maiden Name
Date: of Birth
Marjma J. Osmun
5.
•
6.
Woman ' s Semina ry
----------~----~~~------~--------~----------
----------------------- Place
3. Marriage of Parents; Date.
4.
Ne;y York St a t e
---~--------~------------
American
Extent of Education
Date
Place
--------------~~------
Nationality
Death;
Place
. Place
--------------~·
Places of Residence
Brothers and Sisters
Name
~ s tingui she d
Address
Present Occupa tion
Services f or Wnich Members of Fami l y Are Known
Personal History:
l.
Educa.tion :
Schools and Degrees
Pontiac High Schaal
Universi t y of Mi chigan - Engineering
Drew Theolop,ica l Seminary
2.
Notewor t hy Experiences of
3.
Marria ge : !)ate
4.
By Whom ~----------·~--------------------------~-----------------Wi;f~ 1 s Mai den Nam~ :
El si e A. Rofe
C~1ild..l-}_ood
and Yo:1th.:
1910
Place
-----------------------------------
Pont iac
_. Educati on _______Y~p~
s~~
-l=a=n
=t~n~S~t~a~t~e~N~o~r=m=
a=l~--------~------------------
S.
Children :
(Date of .f31rth) -
(Name)
.(Occupation)
Willard H. Young
6.
Careers , Fosi tions , .. Offices , etc; .of Children.
7. Religious Experience and Church Work Before Entering Ministry.
8.
Call to the Chris tian Ministry:
9.
Admitted on Trial and Ordinations :
Sept.
1919.
(When)
Detroit Conference a t Owosso
(Wher e )
•
10.
OfficE::s Hel d i n the Church:
ll.
Appointments
Conference Tr easurer
Se!.:~~d v2:~h ...!~0-.~·~~p Wall~
Lake
-...::1:.::9:.: 1:.9,: :..__________
Pat ter s on N. J .
1921
El ktan- ·-·---·---.- - - - -19a2 - - ·- ------- - - - -Morenci ___ ---------·- 1926__________
··- - -·-----rfienton _ __ ------- - i92_s______ ·
----------
---- AdrTa n- ---¥layne_ _ _
Howell
Hudson
,__Stockbr·Ldge
12.
Military Record: None
13.
Public
14.
Favorite Recr eations , HC':_bb:}.es ., ~'CC)
1935
1957 ·-- - 1941
1944
· · 1946
Of~ices :
t
•
• , •
lS.
Author of ·what Books and .?ubl:!.c aU.om·?:
16.
Clubs and Fraternal
O~~~nizations :
1 7. _Any Additional Informa tion of Interest :
~~-ac__e -~~~~~n~i~o-~
~--------------_ Pl,.ce c·f
fu~~-al
- - ------- - - -- -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- -----------. · t·
r•· · t
OfflC1
? ·::..r f_S .tmJ.s ers - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - -- - - - - - - -- - -- - -
•
L
--Additional Biographical
ExperiE::n~ea,
Episodes or Further Comment on
Back~
Obituaries
1/5/7/
1/17/fJtJ
· ·-~ --··~....
MRS. ELSIE A. YOUNG,
~dow of
the late Rev . W. Harry Young, died in
Fenton on December 26, 1979. She wa s born
in Southfield to George and Emma Rofe.
A fter g raduation from Ypsilanti State
Normal College she taught in Southfield a nd
Birmingha m. After their marriage in 191 0
the Youngs lived in Pontiac. Mr. Young was
received into the Detroit Conference of the
• Methodist Episcopa l Church in 1919 and
served churches in southeast Michigan until
retirement in 1957. They moved to their
present home in Fenton in 1967. A daughter
died in infa ncy; and a son, Willard, also
preceded her in death. Survivors include two
grandsons, two great-gra ndda ughters, one
grea t-grandson and a daughter-in-law.
Memoria l services were conducted by Rev.
Ja mes L. Hynes with buria l in Oak Hill
Cemetery, Pontiac.
(3:
MR. WILLARD H. YOUNG, 51, son of
Rev. W. Harry Young, retired member of
the Detroit Conference, and Mrs. Young,
die d July 20 after a prolonged illness.
Funera l services were held July 23 at the
Graham Funeral Home in Fenton, Dr.
G. H. Kellermann officiating. Interment
was in Perry Mount Park, Pontiac. Surviving are his wife, H artans ; two sons,
Richard A. and Ronald H.; and a stepdaughter, Donna Scherer.
NO MRS. W .H. YOUNG o f Fe~ton
qu~:tY~ ib:i~ r~~~~h~~ ~~~;~~~~eg 2~~n~~~~
1
:-1'\sary In \ d e with deep appreciation the
.\\:acknow e g man cord ial greetings. Special
~flowekrs tantdh e Fen~on and Stockbridge United
:'t than s o
~Methodist churches. and the group from W est
·
Mound. Mr . Young is a retired member of the
D etroit Annual Con ference .
......,....
.... -
RRY YOUNG, 91 , of
REV. W · HA
b of the Detroit
Fenton, a reftired me~ie~ on November
Annual Con e re n c~,
were held on
d
I
11 · Funeral serv·tces
h
R
Theo ore .
November 2. 1 : ~tt T~~ · son of WeiHastings otftclatmg .
he was born in
come and Martha ~oun~d was educated
Wate rfor~ To"':'nship, ~chigan and Drew
at the Untverslty .o f M He married the
The ologi c~ l Semtn!~~ survives. He was
former Elste Rofe, 0
't Annual Con. d · to the detrolved in par1s
.h
rece 1ve m
es
. 919 an ser
.
teren ce 1n 1
•M1
'chigan until h1s rein southe?st~~
An infant daughter
tirement m W 'll · d preceded him in
and a son •. . 1 a.r a' ddition to his wife ,
m
d
d ea th · surv 1vtng,
d
three great-gran are two gran sons, hter-m. Iaw .
children , an d a d a Ug
57
November 18, 1977
Word has been received of the death of Rev. W. Harry
. Young of Fenton, ,Michigan . Rev. Young, a retired
member of the Detroit Annual Conference, passed
away on Thursday, November 17, 1977 .
Futeral Services will be h eld at the Graham ~uneral
Home, 115 W. Shiawassee St., Fenton on Monday, Nov . 21
at 2:30 p.m .
Rev. Young is survived by his wife who resides at
700 N. Leroy St., Fenton, Michigan 48430.
Young, Welcome H.