Ocean Park Methodist Church (1914-Present)

The trouble with a lot of people in the here and now is that they don’t know squat about the there and then.

And just to be clear,  I’m talking about the Methodists — particularly those involved in leadership positions in our Ocean Park Methodist Church.  If you live on the Peninsula, you’d really have to exist under that proverbial rock not to be aware of some of their problems — problems so serious that the church is closed for worship services and it’s every sinner for himself — or something like that.

I can’t help but think of  the very first church in Pacific County — the Methodist Church in Oysterville built in 1872.  According to an article in the Winter 1967, Volume II issue of the Sou’wester magazine:

OYSTERVILLE METHODIST CHURCH

Oysterville Methodist Church (1872-1921) – First Church in Pacific County

1872
PACIFIC COUNTY’S FIRST
“We now desire to raise $500 to place us out of all embarrassment,” the
trustees, John Briscoe and I . A. Clark, and Board Chairman-Circuit Rider
Minister J . N. Dennison reported at the 4th Quarterly Meeting in 1872 .
“We have procured a lot valued at $200 from I . A. Clark and erected thereon
a plain, substantial building . . . 40′ x 28′, 18′ story . We now propose to
build in front an anteroom 10′ x 12′, 12′ story and finish well the belfry,
all of which will probably cost when finished $1500 .” The bell was
presented by the Crellin family, the golden cross by George H. Brown of
Tokeland. This church stood for the best interests of Oysterville until it
was blown down in the gale of January 29, 1921.
The Rev. John F. DeVore (December 7, 1817 – July 28, 1889)
was the presiding elder of the Methodist Church in 1872, his flock spreading
from his residence in Olympia south to Astoria. Called the John Wesley
of the Northwest, his vigorous 36-year ministry spanned the whole era of
Washington Territorial history. From Rock River, Illinois, in August
1853, he was appointed circuit rider at Olympia, but on the voyage up the
coast he found himself in company with Steilacoom City promoters who
insisted that a church in their wild, untamed community was more sorely
needed. Being of keen mind and ready wit, he immediately drew up a subscription
contract and by docking time on the 23rd the promoters, ship’s
captain and crew, army officers and men, and passengers had pledged
Donations. He preached his first sermon at Steilacoom on August 28 and
within six months the first Protestant church north of the Columbia was
dedicated.
In 1855, when the Olympia congregation was still without a church,
he built one. Captain Clanrick Crosby was approached for a donation of
lumber. Humorously questioning DeVore’s ability to do a day’s work, he
promised to donate all the lumber the minister could transport to Olympia
in a single day. One morning when the tide was right, DeVore went to
work; by evening he had landed a raft of lumber at Olympia. History
repeated itself 17 years later, when he appeared at the old South Bend mill
in a nearly-new frock coat and kid gloves, his lanky 6’2″ frame appearing
frail, and departed with a plunger load of lumber for the Oysterville
church.

Rev. John F. DeVore 1817-1889

Western Washington was, fortunately, sent ministers with broad
vision with a great capacity for work, men who prepared their sermons
while earning a living by the labor of their hands. They assisted in organizing
schools and city, county and territorial governments. The benefits of
their work will live forever. This was especially true of DeVore, whose
sense of humor never failed him. When a bishop once joked that he was
appointed presiding elder, not because he was the best man for the position,
but because he was the only one available, he replied:
“I understand; we had the same problem when we elected you bishop.”

It seems to me that it’s all a matter of leadership.  Either that, or they just don’t make ’em like they used to.