Joseph W. HOBBS Ordination
HOBBS
Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 2/23/2014 at 18:00:31
Complete Plans For Ordination Of Jos. W. Hobbs
Plans for the ordination of Joseph W. Hobbs into the ministry have been completed it was announced this week. The prominent Rotarian, educator and pastor of two churches will be ordained in ceremonies to be held at the Methodist Church in Forest City next Monday evening, Jan. 24.
Preceding the ordination services, a fellowship dinner served at the Baptist church dining rooms at 6:30 and the program at the Methodist church will start at 7:30 p.m. and is as follows:
Processional --- “Onward Christian Soldiers” --- Mrs. Vera Hermann.
Prelude --- Mrs. Vera Hermann.
Hymn No. 218, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” --- Congregation.
Hymn No. 393, “My Redeemer” --- Congregation.
Prayer.
Choir --- “Magnify the Lord With Me”.
Scripture Reading --- Rev. Harry R. Evans, pastor of St. John’s Methodist church, Peoria, Ill.
Mixed Quartette --- “Thanks Be to God”. Mrs. Helen Hibbard, Mrs. Russell Crosby, V. C. Langston, Dillon F. Warner, Mrs. Vera Hermann, accompanist.
Ordination Sermon --- Dr. Roy A. Burkhart, Columbus, Ohio, nationally known clergyman and author.
The Ordination Service, with Dr. Roy A. Burkhart, Dr. Harris G. Beck, C. Nelson Worner, V. C. Langston, A. D. Meeker and Joseph W. Hobbs as participants.
Hymn No. 248, “Take My Life and Let It Be” --- Congregation
Benediction --- Joseph W. Hobbs
Postlude --- “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” --- Mrs. Vera Hermann
Greetings and congratulations to the newly ordained minister at the altar of the church.Was Pastor Here
It was 20 years ago, back in 1928, that Joseph W. Hobbs first served as the supply pastor for a church, and his first church experience was for Central Christian church here in Havana where he supplied for one year, refusing repeated requests at the end of this period to assume the duties of pastor of the local church on a full time basis and move here. The young student did not think that it was time for him to enter the ministry.
Following his service in Havana, Mr. Hobbs went to the Pleasant Plain Rural church where he was pastor for about three years, and then he became pastor of the Egypt Community church where he continued in his service to God and man for the past 18 years, and for 14 years also acting as pastor of Forest City Federated church.
Prominent In Sunday School Work
During his early life and in his high school days the young student was closely identified with state and county inter-denominational Sunday School work. He served as Assistant Director of Youth Work in Mason county and was president of the State Inter-denominational Youth Work during 1927 and 1928. He presided at the state convention in Ottawa, Ill. at that time.
It was during his work with the youth and county of his state that Mr. Hobbs became associated with the man who was to preside at his ordination more than 20 years later, Dr. Roy A. Burkhart, who was Assistant Director of Youth Work with the International Council of Religious Education and the budding young clergyman was deeply impressed with the brilliant educator and author.
During Mr. Hobb’s high school days at Manito and for some time after he graduated, he worked with the Epworth League movement in the Peoria District of the Methodist church and he became president of the Manito Epworth League and served as vice-president of the District Epworth League Cabinet.
Born In Manito
Born in Manito, Hobbs was educated in the public schools there and graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1927. He continued his studies at Illinois State Normal University, was a rural teacher and elementary principal for 16 years; is now serving his second term as Mason county Superintendent of Schools. In addition to his school work, he served the Egypt community church near Manito and the Forest City Federated church as pastor and kept up his studies at Bradley University in Peoria where he last year received a B. S. degree ‘with distinction.”
Community Service Record
The man about to be ordained into the ministry has a long and most credible record of community service. He is a charter member of the Manito Rotary Club and was its first president. He is a past president of the Peoria Division, Illinois Education Association, and is at present a member of the State Governing Committee on Finance for that organization. He was signally honored by Rotary last year when he was elected as District Governor of the 146 District in Illinois.
He was the first chairman of the War fund Drive in Mason county; a past president of the Red Cross Chapter of Mason county; a past chairman of the “March of Dimes” drive, and besides carrying on these activities has always found time to give of his oratorical talent for addresses before church and educational groups, Women’s clubs, service organizations of every type and at the local community for funerals and civic functions of all kinds.
The Democrat joins with the thousands of friends and acquaintance of Joe Hobbs in congratulating him on his elevation to the ministry and we know that in consecrating himself to the service of the church he is impelled by the noblest of motives and a sincere desire to be of still greater service to his fellow man.
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Solemn Ceremony Marks Ordination Of Joseph Hobbs
In a solemn and impressive ceremony conducted by Re. Ralph Cummins of Taylorville, a former pastor of the First Baptist church of Havana, Joseph W, Hobbs was ordained into the ministry at the Forest city Methodist church Monday evening.
The Rev. Cummins delivered the address preceding the ordination rites, without notes or preparation, for he was suddenly called upon to substitute for Dr. Roy A. Burkhart of Columbus, Ohio, who was grounded there by weather conditions and unable to be present. It was a forthright message to the hundreds present for the ordination; delivered by an able man who declared that “the Cross of Christ was the only big stick needed to insure peace in the world today.” In his remarks directed at Mr. Hobbs he spo9ke feelingly of their association over a period of many years and welcomed him into the ministerial profession with the remark that it was the world’s most highly paid profession “not perhaps in dollars, but in the knowledge of a glorious service performed for God and man.” Rev. Cummins also mentioned Mrs. Dolla Hobbs, mother of the man about to be ordained into the ministry, by simply thanking her for rearing a son with the nobility of character, the talent of leadership, the quality of citizenship, possessed by Joe Hobbs.
Confirmed By Phone
Although Dr. Burkhart, noted religious educator and author was unable to9 make the trip from Columbus, he confirmed the ordination of Mr. Hobbs by the expedient of utilizing the telephone. R. G. Casey, telephone manager at Forest City had installed a telephone and amplifying apparatus in the Methodist church and had made connections with the Columbus telephone office so that at the appropriate moment Dr. Burkhart spoke the words that confirmed the ordination officially --- word that were plainly audible to those in the church.
Participating in the ordination service were Rev. Cummins, who gave the charge to Joseph W. Hobbs; Rev. Harry E. Evans, minister of St. John’s Methodist church, Peoria, the prayer; Rev. Harris G. Beck, minister of the Mason City Methodist church, charge to congregation; and C. Nelson Worner, V. C. Langston and Jim Crosby, laymen.
Others who had part in the service were Mrs. Vera C. Hermann at the organ; Dr. Arno Zimmerman, St, Paul’s Evangelical church, Peoria, a prayer; Rev. Olin Lee, minister Salem Methodist church, San Jose, scripture reading; a mixed quartette composed of Mrs. Helen Hibbard, Mrs. Russell Crosby, V. C. Langston and Dillon Worner. There was singing by the chorus and by the audience.
Fellowship Dinner
Preceding the ordination service at the Methodist church a fellowship dinner was served at the Baptist church attended by hundreds of friends, neighbors and acquaintances of Mr. Hobbs. Particularly noticeable in the crowd were dozens of young couples who had been united in marriage by Mr. Hobbs.
The dinner and service were also attended by a number of clergymen and their wives who did not take part in the ceremonies, including Rev. and Mrs. Frank Samuelson of this city; Rev, and Mrs. David Powell of the Community Methodist church at Manito, and Rev. and Mrs. Fred Foster of the Methodist church at Easton.
The entire program at the Methodist church was recorded and a ______cut off________.
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Joseph W. Hobbs To Be Ordained Monday, Jan. 24
Joseph W. Hobbs, pastor of the pastor of the Forest City Federated church, and the Egypt Union church, will be ordained a minister at services to be held Monday evening, Jan. 24 at 8 o’clock at the Methodist church, Forest City.
Dr. Roy A. Burhart(sic), Columbus, Ohio, will have charge of the ordination service. A fellowship dinner will be served in the Baptist church dining rooms at 6:30 p.m., with Mrs. John Harms and Mrs. Louis Lempke’s Sunday school classes in charge.
Besides being pastor of the two churches, Mr. Hobbs is Superintendent of Mason County Schools, and Governor of the 146th Rotary District of Illinois. He is a member of the Manito Rotary Club.
Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 56 & 60
Van Buren Documents maintained by Rich Lowe.
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