HISTORY OF THE MONTHALIA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1886-1986

In the presentation of the history of the Monthalia United Methodist Church, in order to achieve a better understanding of how the church came to be, we should first look into the background of the community and how it came into being. The community that the church has in the past years drawn its membership from is the tri-community known as the Cost-Bebe-Monthalia area.

Driving oxen or mule teams hitched to rumbling wagons, a few straggling settlers arrived in the late 1830's from Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, England, Germany and some of the New England States; determined to create out of the raw and rugged plains, a fruitful legacy for generations yet unborn. These were the hardy pioneers, sunbonneted women working quietly and competently beside their men. Progress was slow, but steady cooperation enabled the small band of inhabitants to plant crops on a few acres. To meet the demand for supplies, a pioneer businessman, J.B. Wells, built a general store in the general area known as Oso. Soon after, a saloon was put up nearby, but was closed some years later.

This small colony of homesteaders adopted Oso as their community name. Later upon request by the U.S. Post Office Department, the community name was changed. Three of the early settlers, Sam Hindman, William Muenzler, and B.L. Dikes, who had contributed much to civic and business affairs, submitted three names for the community. From these three names, the Post Office Department chose the name of Cost. Therefore in 1896, the Cost Post Office was established.

A blacksmith shop, a necessity on the frontier, was established in 1896 by Adolph Tolle and Fritz Landbeck. The smithy was sold to R.C. Schauer in 1902, and in later years was converted into a garage, servicing automobiles, trucks and tractors in addition to being a blacksmith shop.

To meet the large cotton crop of the early farmers, William Muenzler built a cotton gin in Cost in the year 1891. This gin changed ownership several times, being owned in later years by W.F. Gandre and finally by two of his sons.

In 1902, a rival general store was erected and operated by W.F. Lindemann and Sam Hindman. Several years later, W.E. Lindemann moved to Cost from Industry and purchased Sam Hindman's interest in the store. This was the beginning of the present Lindemann Brothers store, which is still in operation as a modern general store, being operated by one of W.E. Lindemann's sons.

In 1928, another garage was opened by Paul G. Muenzler, which in later years was converted into a lumber yard.

In 1939, an advancement that revolutionized the whole area was begun at Cost. With some 100 members, the Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative, then known as the REA, was formed. Later, to accommodate the increasing membership, the organization was moved to Gonzales, Texas. This cooperative has grown through the years to where electric service is furnished to a large portion of South Central Texas.

Education was very important to the early settlers, also. Children either walked or rode horseback to a little Baptist Church, in Cost, which also served as a grade school. Then in 1916, to meet the need of the increasing population, a two story brick and concrete structure was erected, maintaining 10 grades. This school was in operation for a great number of years until consolidation with the Gonzales Independent School District.

Cost is justly proud of its historical monuments. As the Mexican forces under Santa Anna, moved into South Central Texas, it was near Cost that the first shots of the Texas Revolution were exchanged. Gracing the center of a small shaded park near Cost, stands a stately monument, dedicated, not to a cannon which fired the first shot for Texas Freedom, but to men whose lives were laid down for a significant purpose. A replica of the original brass cannon which fired the first shots, was built by R.C. Schauer of Cost. This cannon now occupies a distinctive place in the City of Gonzales Museum.

Another community, approximately six miles west of Cost came into existence and was called Stroman. The Post Office Department again requested that another name be chosen, since a town by that name was already in existence. The name of Bebe was submitted. It is said that this name was chosen due to the signs along the road leading into the community, advertising BB baking powder.

The first store in the Bebe community was constructed by H.R. Oakes, who later sold this store to J .H. Taylor. Another store was built by Y.H. Stroman, who later sold this store to Sam Colwell. Sometime after Oakes sold his first store, another store was put up by him. Also Marlin Caraway built a combination garage and store, which was purchased after some years by A.J. Koenig. To avoid the inconvenience for farmers to drive the distance to the Cost gin, Govan Stroman constructed the first cotton gin in Bebe. This gin was sold to E.W. Hausler, who later sold the gin to W.F. Gandre and Henry Neitsch. Still later, Henry Neitsch sold his part of the gin to R.C. Schauer. Some time later, the gin was sold to Sam Bradley, the last owner. The gin was operated until 1949, at which time the gin was dismantled and shipped to the Rio Grande Valley.

Bebe, at one time organized a Southern Methodist Church, for the people from around the Bebe area. Cottonwood and Liberty schools, two very small schools, merged to form the Bebe school with 10 grades. The Bebe school was closed upon consolidation with the Nixon and Gonzales Independent School Districts. The Bebe Post Office was operated for a number of years, being supported out of the Cost Post Office.

During the settlement expansion period, another town in the South Central area triangle developed. M.L. Potts, one of the very first pioneers, called the settlement "Monthalia", supposedly an Indian name meaning "Little Mountain". There are also some other versions as to how the community got its name. Remains of old burial grounds near Monthalia are grim reminders of the territory's earliest inhabitants. Some of the Texas Trail drivers, famous in frontier legend and fact, called Monthalia home. Among them was J.P. Towns, cattleman who frequently drove herds of cattle up the historic San Antonio Trail to the Kansas market.

Need for food and farm equipment in the new territory sparked the incentive of August Pape to build a small, but sufficient general store in 1897. Some of the uncleared land was selling for 25c an acre at this time. With simple tools, most of them homemade, the people set about converting harsh land into fertile and productive soil.

Another store was built by R.H. Henkel, which as years passed, changed owners several times, being operated at last by the Philippus Brothers, Paul and Willie. Another store was operated and owned by Otto Afflerbach, who also served as postmaster for many years. Soon after his death, the store burned. The Post Office had been moved to the Philippus store prior to the fire.

The first cotton gin in Monthalia was owned and operated by M.L. Potts being built in 1896. Some years later the gin burned and another was built by the Siepmann Brothers, William and Arnold. The last owner and operator of the gin was Arnold Siepmann, Jr. This gin also contained a mill for grinding whole corn into corn meal, which was an excellent food source for the early settlers. Quite often, the farmers had no money to pay for the grinding of the meal, so they would give a toll to pay for the grinding. Also located at this gin was a sawmill which was used to produce lumber locally.

Citizens of Monthalia were also concerned about education for the new generation, therefore, a white frame grade school house was built approximately one mile south of Monthalia. Some joyous times took place through the years at this schoolhouse, with the ice cream and chili suppers and the school programs that were always attended by huge crowds of people. This school was closed also in the mid forties and consolidated into the Gonzales Independent School District.

Looking at the three communities of Cost, Bebe and Monthalia now, one can see that the chief occupations of the area are agriculture and farming. Poultry and livestock are also a large part of the agricultural program of the three communities.

Today, as always, these three communities are closely integrated as one area, working together with the same willing hands and hearts which created from the frontier wilderness, an abundant and peaceful country. These are the three communities from which the Monthalia United Methodist Church, centrally located, draws its membership. The church is in a sense, the hub around which the wheel of family life from the tri-community revolves.

With this background knowledge of the community in mind as a basis for the history of the church, we will now go back to the inception of the church itself and cover the highlights of over 100 years of history as well as can be determined with present information available.

During the early 1880's, a small group of families settled around the area known as Monthalia forming a small community. In the year 1884, Joe and Ernest Nagel moved into the area south of the Guadalupe River Bridge, which was located south of Oak Forest. Joe Nagel purchased the Phelps White Plantation and Ernest Nagel bought the Hall river bottom farm. In the year 1885, several more families who came from the Seguin area moved into the Monthalia community. The William Glazers, August and Carl Utich, Carl Schultz, The Enderly family, Mr. and Mrs. Schoch and Fritz Weber.

During the fall of 1885 and the early part of 1886, The Reverend Daniel Matthaei, pastor of the Seguin Methodist Church, came to the Monthalia community and held services in an old schoolhouse. He made this trip once a month on horseback, riding a distance of approximately 35 miles. On March 12, 1886, Reverend Matthaei and Reverend Dosdall, the District Superintendent, came for a visit, On March 13, 1886, the first quarterly conference was held in a schoolhouse in the Monthalia community. This meeting was of historical significance for it was during this meeting that the Monthalia congregation became organized as the Monthalia Methodist Church with seventeen charter members and one probationary member comprising the congregation. The seventeen charter members were:

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nagel	Mr. and Mrs. Enderly
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Nagel	Mr. and Mrs. Schoch
Minnie and Fredericke Nagel	Fritz Weber
August and Carl Utich	Mr. and Mrs. William Glazer
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schultz	The one probationary member was F.C. Nagel.

Reverend Daniel Matthaei was born in Marburg, Germany. He received his education at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio. He was pastor for the Seguin Methodist Church when he organized the Monthalia Methodist Church on March 13, 1886, continuing in this capacity until he was replaced by Reverend Gus Schulze in 1887.

The following excerpt was taken from a letter written by Reverend Matthaei to the Monthalia Church in 1936 at the time of the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the church:

The first public worship was held in the little school house near the Schultz home. I preached on the prayer "Thy Kingdom Come". It was a blessed service. The Lord blessed the congregation with the riches in Christ Jesus. Soon the first church was built. At the dedication of this church I was the minister of the Word. The Lord blessed the congregation with loyal, Godly men who, through the effectiveness of their work, led them to their goals. * * * * * O true God, how shall I say thanks to you for your love that knows no bounds. You have carried your child, your poor wretched child. You will carry it until the end. Praise be to God. With sincere heartfelt greetings and good wishes. Your brother in Christ Jesus.

Daniel Matthaei

During the year 1887, Reverend Gus Schulze, the pastor from the Seguin Church would come and preach for the Monthalia congregation once a month. It was also during this year that the Herman Willmanns and the Henry Pape's with their sons, August and Carl moved into the community. Church services were still being held in a school house during this period of time. Since additional families were moving into the community continuously, and the church membership was steadily increasing, the need arose for a larger meeting place for the church. It was during the year 1888, that the pastor, Reverend Gus Schulze initiated a church building program. Reverend Schulze asked for donations and was able to raise enough money for the building of a new church. Two acres of land for the new church were donated by Joseph Nagel, which was enough land for the new church building and a plot for a cemetery.

On February 10, 1889, a Sunday School was organized with Ernest Nagel being the first Sunday School Superintendent, holding this job until the Ernest Nagel family moved to Gonzales. Also in 1889, Reverend Schulze was transferred to another church, being replaced by Reverend George Koch, who became the pastor for the Seguin church. Reverend Koch carried on the building program for the church and continued holding services in the Monthalia congregation once a month. The new church building was completed during this year. The building was done by Ernest Nagel, a carpenter by trade, with the assistance of the church members. The new church was a small building, but the members were proud of it. The building was dedicated on September 1, 1889, by the Reverend Daniel Matthaei, who had become the District Superintendent at this time. The early years of the newly organized church were filled with many difficulties and hardships, but the congregation moved steadily forward.

In the year 1890, Reverend Koch started going to Gonzales and holding church services, since a number of families of German nationality were living there. This was the start of the German Methodist Church in the City of Gonzales. For the next few years, the history of the Monthalia church is closely related to the Gonzales Church.

About this time the workload became too great for Reverend Koch, so an assistant was requested to aid him in his work. The Reverend J. W .A. Witt was appointed to this position by the conference conducting services at both the Monthalia and Gonzales churches, alternating his time between the two congregations. Since there was no parsonage for Reverend and Mrs. Witt to live in, Joseph Nagel invited them to live in the Nagel home, as the Nagel home was an old two story house built in the early l800s. Reverend and Mrs. Witt lived in the second story while the Joseph Nagels lived on the first floor. It was about this time that the August Gandre family, the Bahlmann family and the Siebeneicher family moved into the community. Also the William Muenzler family moved here from the Industry area and settled in the community of Cost.

Somewhere at this point in time, enough money was collected to purchase an organ for the church, which was a great help in the singing of the hymns. Miss Hulda Muenzler, who later became Mrs. R.H. Henkel was probably the first church organist as far as is known. After R.H. Henkel came into the community from Breslau, a town north of Hallettsville, he became the organist and played for a number of years.

In the year 1891, the people of the Monthalia and Gonzales Congregations got together and built a parsonage in Gonzales for Reverend and Mrs. Witt to live in. Reverend Witt would hold services in Gonzales on Sunday mornings and in Monthalia in the afternoons at three o'clock. Also during this year, Reverend John Kleinknecht came to be the pastor for the Monthalia and Gonzales churches, moving to Gonzales from Rose Hill, Texas, where he had been a pastor for a number of years. About this time the Miers and Sievers families moved into the community from the Hochheim area.

In 1895, Reverend Kleinknecht was replaced by Reverend G.T.C. Doerr, who became the pastor for the two churches, coming to this area from Rosenberg, Texas. At some time during this period, the Siepmann brothers, William and Arnold came over to this country from Germany, settling in the Monthalia community. Adolph Tolle, while visiting his sister and brother-in-law, Reverend and Mrs. G. T .C. Doerr, decided that Cost would be a good place to start a blacksmith shop, so in 1896, he started a shop in Cost in partnership with Fritz Landbeck. In 1897 he built a small house in Cost, where he brought his bride Martha Bohmfalk. In 1902 on the advice of his doctor, he quit blacksmithing and bought a farm northwest of Cost. Here he built a large house in which all eight of his children grew up, and all attended and joined the Monthalia Methodist Church.

In 1897 the Gottlieb Gabler family moved into the Bebe area. In 1898 the William Hornung and Lettermann families moved into the community from Lexington, Texas. Also about this time Richard C. Schauer moved to Cost and went to work for the Tolle and Landbeck blacksmith shop.

In 1899 Reverend Fritz Beckendorff became the seventh pastor to serve this church. He was known as the "Cowboy Preacher", as he came to conduct services riding horseback, wearing a big black hat and cowboy boots, carrying his Bible in his saddlepockets. Also in the year of 1899, an improvement project was undertaken to enlarge the place of worship as the membership was steadily increasing with more and more families settling in the tri-community area. A steeple and a niche for the pulpit were built onto the church to beautify and enlarge the place of worship. It was sometime during this period that the William Froehner family moved into the community from Grassyville, Texas.

Also at about this time, August Pape became a local preacher for the church, serving for about two years, moving to Victoria in 1901. Here he took charge of the Methodist Church serving for about two more years. In 1903, he moved out into the country about eight miles from Victoria, living there until 1905, at which time he moved back to the Monthalia community serving again as local pastor. It is said that when he started holding services, he had a book of prepared sermons, which he used for his sermons. It was not very long before one of the elderly gentlemen from the church told him to stop using these ready made sermons and start preaching on what he himself knew and felt. Thereafter his sermons were always interesting and enjoyed by all who heard him. The young boys would always watch and when the regular pastor was gone, and Brother Pape walked up and down the lane behind the church during Sunday School, they knew that he was studying his sermon and would be the preacher that morning. Brother Pape served the Monthalia church until his health no longer permitted him to do so.

In the year 1900, the Otto Philippus, W.F. Lindemann, Herman Tieken, and August Lindemann families moved to this part of the country and joined the Methodist church here. It was also at about this time that the first Christmas Tree was put up in the church. In the following years fond remembrances are brought to mind thinking of the odor the burning candles, the savory odor of the cedar tree, and as a small boy watching one or two of the older men snuff out a limb that came too close to a burning candle making sure that there was no fire. It just seems that with the advent of electricity and no longer using the candles a certain something was lost at the Christmas program after the candles were replaced with electric light bulbs.

In the year 1902, Reverend William Sievers began his ministry. On April 15, 1903, Miss Alma Zarth became Reverend Siever's bride, being united in marriage in the Monthalia Methodist Church, with a reception following in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Siepmann. In later years after Reverend Sievers retired from the ministry and settled in the Monthalia area, he would fill in quite often for the regular pastor when for some reason or other the pastor was away or could not hold services. Also during the year 1903, Reverend Beckendorff moved to some place around Addicks, Texas, where he retired. He was replaced by Reverend Henry Dietz who continued serving both the Monthalia and Gonzales churches.

At this time we should mention Mr. F.O. Menking here as he was a local preacher, living in Gonzales. When the current pastor could not hold the regular services, Mr. Menking would come and preach to the congregation. His sermons were always very interesting since he would always tell some Indian story somewhere in his sermon, which would please both the young and old people alike. He also had one of the first automobiles in Gonzales County, which made him a favorite of the young people, as just everyone at this time was interested in the automobile as the latest and modern means of travel, and as he always welcomed the young people, they would visit him every chance that they had.

In the year 1904, the August Raeke family moved into the community. Also at about this time the church hired Charlie Klein as the first janitor to keep the church clean, to keep the oil lamps filled with oil and to keep the lamp shades clean. He was paid at the rate of a dollar a month. During this year, two wings were added to the church, as the building again had become too small to hold all the people. Also about this time the W.E. Lindemann, the Heil and Stehle families moved into the community.

Somewhere during this period of time, the church started having Sunday School picnics once a year, usually sometime in the month of June. The first few years the picnics were held in the Joe Nagel bottom. In later years, the picnics were held on the C.F. Bahlmann place on the banks of Cottonwood Creek. The picnic would commence in the morning with a program that would start around 10:30 and last until around noon. Each family would bring a basket of food which was spread out under the shade trees for the noon meal, with plenty of fried chicken, potato salad, vegetables, cakes and pies to feed everyone there to their heart’s desire and then some. For the first few years, lemonade was served free, but as the crowds became larger each year, a charge of a nickel a glassful was made later on. Also in later years, soda water, ice cream, gum, candy and cigars were sold in a stand that was set up by some of the men each year. A highlight for the Sunday School children each year was the receipt of four nickels from the Sunday School treasury, given to each child to spend at the picnic as they wished. The afternoons were spent playing baseball, volleyball, dominoes, and a number of other games. For a number of years a pole was set up somewhere on the grounds which consisted of a slick pipe that had a wheel of some sort fastened to the top. The object of this was that the pole had to be climbed to reach a prize that was tied to the wheel in a paper bag. Of course, the young boys had to give it a try, as who knows, maybe a best girl friend was watching. It seems that the successful climbers of this pole were not too plentiful.

In the year 1905, Walter Froehner started attending Blinn College, after the Methodist Church made such an impression on him that he decided to enter the ministry. Also at this time, a Ladies Aid Society was organized, with one society being organized for both the Monthalia and Gonzales churches. Meetings were held once a month at the home of a different member each month. The next year 1906, organization of the Women's Missionary Society was accomplished.

In the year 1907, the first parsonage of the Monthalia Church was built for the pastor. After much consideration, the parsonage was built in a central location of the tri-community area, approximately two miles south of the church. The parsonage was built on a five acre plot of ground obtained from the following individuals. Two acres were donated by William C. Froehner, two acres were donated by William Hornung, and one acre was purchased from a Mrs. Voges. During this year, Reverend E.C. Draeger came to be the ninth pastor for the church. Reverend Draeger, in addition to being the pastor, was also the country doctor. When someone became ill and called him, he would go to them, give them some pink pills and say a prayer for them. Reverend Draeger had a son that lived with them who loved to fish. So, consequently a lot of his time was spent on the Guadalupe River fishing. Also at this time the Fink family, consisting of Mrs. Fink and her six children moved into the community from Lexington, Texas. It was about this time that the two churches, Monthalia and Gonzales became independent of each other and each had its own pastor, with Reverend Dietz becoming the pastor for the Gonzales Church, and Reverend Draeger becoming the pastor for the Monthalia Church.

Reverend Walter Froehner graduated from Blinn College in the year 1909 and became an active minister in the church, serving his first church in Miles, Texas.

About 1910, the families of August Afflerbach, Phil Deschner, John Stehle, several of the Shelbergs, and along with a number of other families moved into the community.

In 1913, a big decision was made after much controversy within the church itself. It was decided to build a new church some two miles south of the existing church. Some of the reasons for moving to the new location was to have a more central location of the church in the tri-community area and also during wet seasons the old location could not be drained very well with water standing all around the church grounds, whereas the new location was a well-drained area. In addition the parsonage had already been built at the new location and would be just next to the new church structure. The old church was at the time sold to the Catholic people, as it was no longer adequate for the growing congregation. The new church was erected under the able leadership of Reverend Draeger. Differences of the congregation on moving the church were soon forgotten, as the new church provided a wonderful inspiration for the entire community, with its majestic spire reaching toward the heavens and its large bell that rang its sweet melodious tones across the open countryside. For years the bell was rung at sundown on Saturday evenings to remind all who heard it that another week was at an end, and that on the morrow was the Lord's Day. The bell was rung again on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings for services. The new church structure was built for a cost of approximately 7,000 dollars. The new church was dedicated on March 1, 1914 by Reverend Buehrer, who was the District Superintendent at that time. Also, later during this year, Reverend John Kleinknecht became the tenth pastor of the church, being the only pastor to serve the church for a second time during its existence. It was also about this time that the oil lamps were replaced with new modern gas or carbide lamps. It was at this time that the Herman Tieken family took over the janitorial work in the new church. Herman Tieken was also the bell-ringer for the church, a job that he had for many years.

On October 28, 1914, two acres of land were purchased across the road east of the church, from Ernest Thiede, for the amount of $160.00, for use as a church cemetery.

On October 29, 1915, the Monthalia Methodist Singing Society was organized under the able leadership and direction of R.H. Henkel. This singing society was composed of men and women from the church. In later years this was called the Mixed Choir. The following members were designated to write a constitution for the newly formed organization.

R.H. Henkel

Augusta Afflerbach

Erna (Raeke) Froehner

Selma (Hoting) Schultz―secretary

The original members initially at the time of organization were as listed below:

R.H. Henkel (Director)	Erna (Raeke) Froehner (Vice Director)
Selma (Hoting) Schultz (Secretary)	Walter Afflerbach (Treasurer)
Willie Philippus	Edwin Froehner
Ida Tieken	Pauline (Philippus) Kelly
Selma Hornung	Margaret (Deschner) Afflerbach
Hilda (Gandre) Raeke	Lydia Kleinknecht
Hulda (Hornung) Behr	Elmer Tolle
Herman Philippus	Walter Hornung
Arthur Raeke	Lydia (Froehner) Raeke
Ella (Tieken) Philippus	Augusta Afflerbach
Lydia (Tieken) Philippus	Emma (Philippus) Stehle
Kate (Deschner) Tolle	Gus Gandre
Pearl Kleinknecht

Although some of the original members dropped out, the choir increased in membership for some time after the initial organization.

It was sometime around the year 1916, that Walter Hornung started attending Blinn College in Brenham, Texas in order to prepare for the ministry. Also from November 30, 1916 through December 3, 1916, the Southern German Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held at the Monthalia Church. The conference was presided over by Bishop R.I. Cooke. Secretary for the conference was J. Pluenneke. This conference served 44 pastors and 3,797 Lay members at that time.

At sometime during this period, John Deschner attended Blinn College for a year. He then attended college in Warrenton, Missouri. He was first admitted into the Minnesota Conference in 1922 and served his first pastorate in Fairfax, Minnesota. He transferred into the Southwest Texas Conference in 1939. Reverend Deschner retired in 1963, having served the Shettles United Methodist Church, in Austin, Texas as his last pastorate for six years.

In the years 1918 and 1919, World War I was being fought in Europe, and nineteen men from the church left to go into the service to serve their country. Following named men went into the service during the war:

Walter Afflerbach	Herman Philippus
Gus Bauer	Herman Schultz
Henry Deschner	Joseph Schultz
Edwin Froehner	Walter Schultz
Arthur Gabler	Frederick Stehle
Gus Gandre	Alfred Tieken
Wesley Hausler	Alvin Tolle
John Muenzler	Anton Willmann
Adolph Philippus	Henry Willmann
Paul Phiippus

Two of the nineteen men gave their lives while in the service; Alvin Tolle, who died of the flu or pneumonia in Texas and Alfred Tieken, who was killed in action. Of these servicemen, Gus Gandre is the only surviving veteran. It was also during this period of time that the Sunday School was changed over from German to the English language.

In 1919, Reverend J.A. Traeger became the eleventh pastor of the church, coming here from Fredericksburg, Texas. Reverend Traeger was the first pastor of the church that owned an automobile.

On April 19 through 21, 1921, a Bible Conference was held in the church. This was a Southern German Conference with the Reverend Otto Kriege AM DD, President of Wesleyan College being the featured speaker. Two district superintendents of the Southern German Conference also attended. Reverend B.E. Breihan and Reverend A.A. Leifeste. Also during this year, Miss Gazelle Traeger, daughter of Reverend Traeger, went into service of foreign missionary work, serving three terms in the Malay States and one term in South America.

On March 1, 1925, a Delco light plant was purchased, replacing the carbide lights. The old gas lights were sold for $25.00. This light plant continued in use until 1939, at which time the REA was built and organized in Cost, to serve the entire area with electricity.

In 1928, Reverend William Buehrer became the twelfth pastor of the church, remaining until 1930, being replaced by Reverend O.F. Kattner, who became the thirteenth pastor to serve the Monthalia congregation.

In 1933, a parish hall was built to provide Sunday School rooms, a kitchen and recreational facilities. The parish hall was dedicated on December 3, 1933 by Reverend C. Bohmfalk, the district superintendent.

On February 19, 1934, sixty-two charter members organized into the Monthalia Methodist Brotherhood. Membership was not limited to men of the church. After some time this caused the brotherhood to develop into quite a large organization. Meetings were held quarterly, normally on the first Monday night of the calendar quarter. Three of the meetings a year were for the men only, but the July meeting was always a congregational meeting with the women and children invited. A meal was served first at each meeting, with a program to follow, usually consisting of some notable speaker, who would talk on some informative and educational topic, following the Christian theme in his talk.

In 1935, Reverend C.W. Schlechte became the fourteenth pastor for the church.

In 1936, the church celebrated its 50^th anniversary with a three day celebration being held May 15 through 17, 1936.

On May 10, 1939, a Uniting Conference met in Kansas City, Missouri, that brought about a unification of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the Methodist Protestant Church. This culminated a resolution that was introduced in the year 1917, twenty-two years previously. As a result of this unification, the German speaking Methodists of the Southern Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were transferred to the Southwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Church. Some changes were brought about by this unification. The Epworth League became the Methodist Youth Fellowship, the Women’s Missionary Society became the Women's Society of Christian Service and the Presiding Elders became known as District Superintendents.

In 1940, Reverend A.F. Foerster became the fifteenth pastor of the church.

In 1943, a deep water well was drilled on the church grounds and a modern water pressure system was installed. It was sometime during this period that the young people of the church undertook a project to start an organ fund to raise money to purchase a modern pipe organ that would replace the old footpumped organ.

On September 5, 1945, Reverend Foerster died while serving as pastor of the church. He was replaced by Reverend L.S. Dubberly, who had just previously been discharged from the Armed Forces as a Chaplain. This marked the end of an era, as no more German services were held in the church after Reverend Foerster's death. The year of 1945 also marked the end of the World War II war torn years. Men and women from the church served in just about all branches of the service of the Armed Forces. The church is justly proud of the record of service and heroic deeds of these men and women. One man made the supreme sacrifice for his country, Pvt. Henry Stehle, who passed away Camp Fannin, Texas while in the Army. Following is the Honor Roll of those who served in some branch of the service on land and sea and in the air:

Theophil A. (Sonny) Sievers Marine Corps	Ernest Polichnia Army
Orland W. Muenzler Navy	John Heil Army
Walter A. Sievers, M.D. Army	Herman Heil, Jr. Navy
Howard D. Hausler Army	Leon (Buddy) Pape Army
Rudolph Heil Army	Walter A. Heil Army
W.O. Foerster Navy	Alfred H. (Boots) Foerster Army
Dorothea Siepmann Army Nurse Corp	Henry Stehle Army
Harold E. Niebuhr Navy	J .A. Philippus Army
Vernon Muelker Army	Wesley Heil Army
James Gandre Army	Leonard A. Gandre Army