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Title
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Clayton, John S.
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extracted text
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Rev. John
s:
Clayton.
Mlnister·s Record- Michigan Conference
This information ia being g3thered for historical purpoau
~-Name .. ~.<?Jm....~~,!g!A~..Y- ..QJ..~Y-t.Q.tJ.. ................. (a)
If deceased, date .of. death ... ·-----------------· (c)
2-Father's name ....J.Q.e.~ph.__ Q;I,~Y-t!;m ._ .............. (a)
(b)
3--Mother's name
Date, place of birth ..I:I.~m.i. l~Q!"b...Qnt.w..i 9_, ___f_~~-J,2_,_ __ J~8
Place of burial
Birth, date, place .. oog:lM9..•...~1~Y.. 3., .. J.800........................
_!!!U&!l..'ffx.~g_Q.~ ..QlgytQIL.Ja) Birth, date, place
.~Z~-~-l]..Q..s ...~g_.__J.].l...!§{3.} _____________ ... ..
If father or mother w.:r.e prominant give information ou aeparate $hrct
4-Brothers____f.'J:~J:<i~.:.. ..S.t.• ._..Q.~.thexin~~~ - -Qntar.io. •.....~l.b.~.r.t.~ .. Ea.at ..R~t.r.9..it.,.. J1i.<;hi&~JL .................- .
.5-Sisters ..... lli.ld.a . .B.adake~ ..e.nd.. ..Mary.. .HarY!jy._~--Eaat. ..Oe.tr.o.i.t., .. M:i.chA.... Ell en,.. ..F..e.r.nd.ele., .. Mich ........
Namt~
a nd plac~s of re•idenc~, if Jivin~:. will be a ppreciated
6-Marriage, date, place .......P.~.9-~J!l.l?.~r .. ?.:?.1... ;1,9.32.....Qill-.9.f?.&.Q.,: ..uJ.:!.n.2~~---····················-·-··········-·····-··-····-···
(a)
Wife's maiden name, birth, place ..!Y.:~--~~!--~J~.:f.:f.z..!:r~~~-<?~~~!:!..Y 1__ _9E:~_<?_~..X.~."?.~ .. gg_,__ J9. ~9. .............
If thtre were subsequent marriages, pltase gi"e information
7-Children, names, date and place of birth , vocat-ion, names of married daughters
(a) .................................................................... Residence
(b) .................................................................... Residence............................................................ _...............
(c) _,.. . . ............. --- .................... -............... -........ ...... - ...................... ....................... -----.. -· Residence . ...... ·------·---- ................ -- ... . ........................ ........... ............. ...... ---·--.... ... ................ ....
~
Residence
(d)
" '"''""T"''"""' t' • •'"' •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • t' "' • • "' • • • - • • .,
.;.
.... --- --· ...... ......... · - - ................................................................................................. -=- ,. .................. · -
(~)
Residence ·- ----------... --. ..... ---·-----·--·------------·...................._______________ _
................................................ ---------- --- .. -- .... -......... ----- ... ---- .. -...
(f)
·---------.. ----. --.... --.- ... -.. ... .. -.... . -. ............ -------- ...... -----... --- ...... -.Residence ·----- ------- .. ---- .... -· .... --.---.. -.... ----·------ ---....................................... --.
~ - -
~
It chilt\rt:n have att:\ined prominence, plea»e give iuforn.ation and any other information of interest
~-Education-schools
attended. Give names and locations
(a)
Rural schools____ Hamilt.o.n, .. O.nt.ario......... (b)
(c)
College
High schools ..... Qh~9-~$.9.. J~~Y-~Wb,eJifJti~ .. lna'titute
.~h~-~?-_g 9___~Y-~l]..K~.U-~~~~--Jn~t..~... (d) University--·······----········----··------·······---·~-~-~~-=~--···-"-
(e) Seminary...................................
(g) Correspondence courses
............. (f)
D<'p;rccs held ................................. - ..................... : ......
.9 .-Christian expe:rienco and training
(p.)
Conversion, when, where, under whose labors__}1.~_cb... l23,., ...S..... JJ~tr. Ri1< ..Ev..~ •...C.hr...., .. J....... S '!.~~hiefe l e
(b) Religious training .....3..F.~-~--.?~J?.l:~--~~;l, ;J,~g~ ....... . __ .......................................... _............... ____ ---•---- ,..
(c)
United with church, when, where ----~~n--~ --~2~~_,__._!!,;,!_P.~t.r.9J.t...~Y-1ID&.~.l i9.ti.L ....................................
(d) Offices held in local church··--··--···-----~~~~~~ ~--~f--~9:.l::l~t:l.& ..~~E1-~-~---?-~~~~--~~§l:~~------·····--····-··········-1Q-Ministry
(a)
Vocation before entering the ministry_________~~-~_!!l!l_l-~!....~~ --~~~P.~~~~!: 1 .•.~-~-~~~--!1~'!-.9.:r...9.~X...9<?.•..... ..
(b)
Call to ministry, ~hen, where experienr<·---------~~!Y.: .. ~?.:?.~--- --~-1:1:~-~-~--~-<?!.!<:?:~g __ ?:~..~h~...:f.~~;t.~X.Y___ __
·------------------------------------------------ - .. -----------------.. -------------.. -------------- -·- ---. ---- .. -.. .... ....... ----------'· -- .. .. ---------------------------.. . .
U sc acldit ional >hcct of pa pe r if necessary
(c)
Recommended by Congregation ___ !i;~li3.'t.. J;>.~_i;.);'_Q_it................... pastor_____ ..Re.Y: •.. .M....\iilla.rd ............ ,
(d)
Licensed, when, where, Conference ..... !1~ . J~,__ J_5(_4-}_~_._!3._~-~~-- Q~~Y-.l. ..M~&h~Zf?..!l . 9.9.IJ,;f.~);'.§l1-_g~ ---------
(e)
Ordination, Deacon!................................ Elder~-----·--------- ................. Itinerancy_____ .......................... .
(f)
Credentials, from
Give d:l tes
D enomination, to ....... ... .. ....................................... .
A l.o Confe rence
1 t - Pastorates held, when, wherc___ _____~9.~-~--:-~.?. ___ f.!.~~~~~,_ --~~~J_Igl_~_ -~5'-! ...~.~~t...G.U_f;}_~4., .. Mi~higan .......
~
12-0ffices held in Conference
(n.) P. E . or D. S., (daters)
-----------"A-Isooiile_r_
ae-nc,·m-hi~iloii5; iriiii
'· ,
____ _-------- ---------------------
---------------- - ----- A"Jsodi~"t~i~i~ ·~~ ;~e~ ., ·-·---------------------------------------- ----· ---------------------·--------..
(b)
Delegate to Gen. Conf., (dates)·
(c)
Other offices held, name, date
. ------- ---- ..
.A
W'
--- .. -- .. ----------------------------------------------------------.------------------------------·
·-------------·--------------·cive·ruii
-~1~i5-- ----------- ~ -------------
---------------------------------·--------·
.--------------- .... -- ...... --------- .. -- .. ------------.. -----...... --.. ----- ....... -.... ----... -.. --------.-- .. -.. -........... ------ .. -.... --- .... ------------- --------·__ ......... ------------- ":
·----
13-Literary productions, books written
------------ ..................... ----------------- -.--··--·.
-.. --- .... -.. -- .. -- .. ---.. ----------- .. --- .. ------------ ---· .. ----------- ................ ·----------- ......... --- .......... ---------14-Political affiliations and offices held ......... --- .... ----- ------ .. -.... -...... -- .... --- .. - --- ................ ----------- ................. --------------- .................. --- .... -.. -............ . .
(a)Paniphlets and other productions
15-0ther information that will be appreciated ~f available
(n) Number of miles traveled
500 miles
------.... -----.-.. -- ........ -.. --- .... -.... -.- ........ -- ... (b)
Sermons preached
24
.. .. --------------------------------
(c)
Conversions----------------(d) Baptisms·----------------(e) . W eddings_______ l __________(f)
(g)
Members received into the church...................................
Funerals
··-~--- "' · .
----------------------
16-Salary, highest amount receive.d, ........................ __Ye~r ___________________lowest ······-·-···------------_.!ear___________________ _
17-Fraternal relations
·'
.--------·- ----- ---------·-------------------· -............ -- ...... -------- .. ------·---------.-·----··--·-·---------............................................................. .
18-Interesting -experiences....................... ... ----- ... --- -- .---- .. -·-- ·----------.----.
_.,
___________ _- ·- ...... ··- ... .. . . . ·-- ----·----------- .. ··· · ·--- ------ -------- ... .
------·-----------------------------.. ---.... --------------.. -------..... ------------------:.- -------.--.-......-·: . . . . . . --.. ........ . .-. -----------------------· ........... -------~=
- - - - - - - - - .... - - .............. . - - - .. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . .. . - -
- - - - - .. - - - - - - - - - .. - - - - - - - - ..
- ~ -: .
•\o . . . . .. - . . . . . - - - .. _.... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ........ - - - ·
• • - - - - - - - : . - ...... - - - - - - .. .... .. ..
... --.. ------- ... -------------------------------·---..... --- .. ----- -----.. --.- --· ------------.. ----- ---. ------ .......... -.. ----- .. ------------ ·-.- ---. ---- .. -·-... -- :_... ·• -·- -.----------------
----- .. ---- -- .. .. -. . ............ --:.------ -- --- .. -·- --- --.. ----------------------·-------------------------- .. ----- .. -- -...... -.. .. ---______ ___
19- Remarks -----------------.. ------- -... -- .. - .. ------________ .. -- -·-----· -- . -....... - ... ---------------- .. ------------- ....... -------.... -... ------·--- --- .. : ---- .... -.... -------
. ------ ---- ... -... . --- ----- ... -----------........ -
":.
:
,:. ~
·- -- ---- -~--- ---
--- .... .. ---...... -.. .... --- .... ------- .... ------------- .. .. -- .. . -- ·--· ....... ~ . .............. - ...... ------------- -----------------.- ·---- --- .... --~ ------------ .... .. ------· ·-----------
---- ...... ----.. -- ---------------------- ............ ----------. ---- . ·- ...... -- .. ----- .--------------- .- --...... ---. --- ------ -- ...... ---------------- ...... ..... ., .... - ; - .. -.----- -....... -.-- -------:· .. ..
20 - This blank was fill ed out, date .....J:u.ly_ ..28., ..19~l __,Plac;e;· ·...El:emo.nt.,_..!n.Q.i~n~ --- - - ------ ------· ____ _'_____ __-~- -- --;
By whom __ J.ahn_S.._.alaytoiL - ---- ·-·-·--··- ·
Note:We are desirous of securing for the Histo!·ical files of the Michigan Conference complete and detaHed
information concerning all ministers who bavG served and are now serving in the Conference. · The above outline
is intended to assist in securing such information in more or less uniform outlines. We urge the addition on a
separate sheet, of such other important and interesting information as cannot be conveniently plar.ed on this blank.
In t he case of men now living, t he information can, of course, be only up to date. Photographs of living and
decrased ministers, diaries, let ters and documents of historical intr.rest are earnestly solicited. Your co-operation
in behalf of the Conference Historical work will be greatly appreciated. Kindly return the blank to the Conference .Historian, W. H. Watson, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
).1
r
-·e
71 jlc?
A UTO B IOG RAPH Y
I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, of Eng lish parents in 1908.
I
attended the grade schools there, and began factory work at the age of
fourteen years.
,
I
t
In May, 1923 I came to the United States with
where I had various kinas of employment until 1935 .
my
parents
Then , after nine
years of service, I resigned my position with the Hudson Motor Car Company
in Detroit to enter the Chicago Evangelistic Institute , where I finished
the High School cours e and have c ompleted almost three years of work toward the Bachelor of Sacred Literature degree.
As a boy I was encouraged to attend Sunday School and church, my
parents for the larger part of my life being church attenders, but at the
--
age of thirteen I
bec &~e
l ax in my attendance and wayward in my conduct.
This condition prevailed until I was about eighteen when I took a more
interesting attitude
t ~•ard
church attendance.
I found that when I wanted
to be more enthus i astic i n church work I was under deep conviction , not
having been converted and having ac qui r ed s uch habits as the use of tobacco,
profai n
lang~ag e,
etc ., and y et I did not heed the exhortations of the
Methodist mini s ter and yield to the Holy Spi r it.
Rather I tried i n my own
str ength to reforn1 my life and be what God would have me to be .
It r·wa s during this period tha t I r ealized t he pla ce in life for me was
'\
I
.\
I
in t he
Christi~n
ministry .
This t hought, while not alt ogether new to me,
was a very dist ressi ng and discourag i ng one in the l ight of the fac t that
I had only t he equival ent of an e i ght h gr ade educ ati on a nd v er y little
prosp ects of ever get t i ng any more.
I di d not enj oy the t hought of havi ng
to start and take the f our years High School trai ni ng.
I had s tudied in a
general way but had not fol l owed the outlined course of a Hi gh School student.
It was not long unt i l I dropped my connection with the church and my
life gradually became more and more worldly until in 19 33 while living
with my parents in East Detroit, Michigan, I come to the pl ace of the
Prodigal Son and decided I should do something about my condition before it
was too late.
My younger sister, who had started to attend the Evangelical
church, invited me to go with her to a revival service whi ch was being held
in the church under the Rev. Scheifele as pastor.
John Thomas, the famous
Welsh evangelist, was the preacher.
I went with her to the service, the
first I had attended in that church.
I was under deep conviction and it
seemed the evangelist was preaching just at me and f or me alone, but my
mind was made up before I went to the service that if God spoke to me I would
respond.
When the call was given I responded and went forward to the altar.
It was the first time I had ever gone forv1ard in any church.
After a short
session of prayer I went away feeling I had done what God would have me do,
and with a confidence that He would help me to be in the future what He
wanted me to be.
I gave up all the habits which I had acquired and in which I knew I
could not indulge and be a Christian, and for nearly a week had complete
victory over tham all.
On the following Friday night I attended a large
labor union meeting of which I was a member.
There were over 1000 men present
using tobacco, etc., and it was duri ng this hour that I succumbed to the
temptation to smoke, which I did; then feeling discouraged I went to a beer
garden but on the second glass of beer I was so convicted that I felt sick
and excused myself and left.
After I got out of there I prqyed the Lord to
forgive me which He graciousl y did , and I continued my attendance to the
revival services.
On the following Friday evening the evangelist preached a consecration
or holiness message and said that it was possible to be delivered from all
carnal nature.
He described this as a deeper work of grace and gave the
r
altar call that any who wantea that experience should come
impressed of the Hol y Spirit to go forward and did.
I
fo~vard.
pr~yed
I felt
but did not
seem to make much headway, but as I was not looking for any great emotional
sign I simply said I believed the Lord sanctified me.
From that time forth
I felt a deepBr concern that my life should be utterl y abandoned to God.
I
felt His presence in a more real way and He started to lay on me conviction
to make apologies and restitutmons.
It was not long until I sensed that while
I had deep concern I did not have a great deal of assurance that I was sanctified and I began to yearn for the joy that was described and peace that was
promised.
I became very anxious that I might have t h i s experience before the
revival closed.
It was on Sunday morning while the Rev. Thomas was preaching
that my heart seemed to be literally cleansed and from that time forth I
have felt the presence of God with me in a richer and more blessed way than
ever before or .than I had ever believed possible.
I enjoyed telling others of the joy I had found.
It was about six
months after my conversion that I was faced with the challenge that the Lord
was
ca~ling
me to Christian service, and that which I had refused to believe
before I was converted and sanctified now was the decision I felt I must
make, if I were to continue in the grace Which God had g iven me .
I tried to
silence the call again thinking it was temptation as I could see no way for
a man twenty-five years old to get sufficient education to be a minister,
but to no avail, and eighteen months after my conversion in September 1935
I set out for Chicago and school expecting, if I had made a mistake, I would
be able to surely find out; but instead the Lord blessed and helped me until
in five years
I was able to cover the work which ordinarily takes six
years of study.
While in East Detroit I had taught a young men's class in the Evangelical
church which showed a steady and consistent growth in spirituality and numbers and I had also conducted services for the Rev. Willard in the Chelsea
,
..
..
•
Avenue church and for the Rev. Moeller in the East Detroit church .
Wh ile in
shcool I have preached in various churches and missions in Chicago and
have taught Sunday School classes.
During the first two years of school I used money I had saved before
coming and for the past four years I have worked part time in order to
pay expenses.
The Lord has supplied all my needs, and given me a fine wife
to wham I was married almost one and a half years ago.
Clayton, John S.