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My mother was a strong supporter and worker in the DentonChurch of the Brethren and you can be assured that she saw to it that I accompanied her and participated in church activities. My dad seldom went to church on Sunday morning but frequently did attend the Sunday evening service. He supported the church but resisted all efforts to yet him to attend on Sunday morning.
Part of this was due to the fact that he did not hesitate to go to his store on a Sunday morning or afternoon to assist someone who needed an item that was forgotten during the week. Then, too, he felt like he needed that rest that Sunday provided since his store hours were 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to midnight on Saturday. I had worked those hours, I imagine the effort involved in getting to church on Sunday morning would have been too much for me, also.
Our church life consisted of Sunday school and Worship on Sunday morning, worship on Sunday evening, prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings, Bible School for two weeks each summer, a ten day revival meeting each year, and various groups and social activities during the year. The youth also had meetings and activities, summer camp at New Sinsdor, Maryland, and picnics at TolchesterBeach or at other places at times during the year.
We frequently went to other churches such as Ridgely, Easton, or Cordova to participate in revivals, youth rallies, or other events. I liked to sing, and my cousin, Elma Seese, and I would sing a duet on many occasions at our ownchurch and at other churches. I sang the melody and she sang alto or sometimes she would sing the melody and I would sing tenor, whatever made the best combination for the piece of music selected.
In the early '2Os, various auto companies sprang up all over the United States and a variety of cars came on the market in addition to the Model T and the Chevrolet. We had a few quite prosperous members at the Denton Church and it was always interesting to us small boys to see who would appear with a new or different automobile on Sunday morning. We had Model T Fords, Chevrolets, Buicks, Dorts, Overlands, Whippets, and a Vehlie, as well as the customary horse and buggy. There are, of course, many more makes and models of autos on the market today but I doubt if the differences and virtues of each are discussed any more now than they were in the parking lot after church on Sundays in the '20s. I don't believe that the Brethren ever let simple living stand in the way of progress in transportation.
The services on Sunday, while following a usual pattern, were also somewhat informal, especially the music, Often the members of the congregation would be asked to suggest a hymn. Immediately old brother Levi Spicher would ask for "Happy Day," a hymn that he dearly loved and sang at the top of his voice, out-singing all others. Among his other virtues, he served as church janitor even though he had only one ann. We were modern enough to have a piano and usually a choir and a lot of special music consisting of quartets and duets.
Our elder or moderator was Brother W.M. Wine from the Bethany congregation He was a minister and often preached at Denton. My first recollection of a full-time pastor was Brother S. Ira Arnold, who had previously been a missionary to India. He was followed by Brother E. C. Woodie who was the pastor when I left for college.
The Denton church at that time "called" a person from the congregation to the ministry. Some churches still do this. I remember well that several times during the ministries of Brother Arnold and Brother Woodie I was approached about being "called" to the ministry. However, I resisted, not feeling the call myself and also not feeling worthy of the same. I am sure that such expression of confidence in me contributed more than I knew at the time to my dedication to the church in later years....
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