Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 50, No. 50            SOUTHSIDE ORACLE               February 22, 2008

History of the Southside Church (1)

The Beginnings

(On March 3r^d the Southside Church will observe its 50t^h anniversary. Monroe Hawley will speak. By way of celebration, we will have a homecoming .July 11 & 12 at which time we are inviting former members to come back to celebrate with us.)

The origins of the Southside Church are rooted in the American Restoration Movement dating to 1800.  This movement was a coalition of several independent back-to-the-Bible efforts, primarily in the Southern and Mid-western parts of our country. It grew rapidly in numbers and prominence and in 1880 one of its preachers, James A. Garfield, was elected president of the United States. The movement espoused several basic principles - the sole religious authority of the Bible without creedal interpretation, the unity of all believers in Christ, the restoration or recovery of the early Christian faith, and non-denominational Christianity. Without a hierarchical structure, each independent congregation made its own decisions subject to Jesus Christ, the head of the church.

The Milwaukee antecedents of Southside are in the 35th and Cherry Church of Christ (now Brentwood) established in 1942.  In 1947 Leslie Diestelkamp became its first full-time preacher. Monroe Hawley succeeded him in 1951. In the early fifties 35th and Cherry led in planting three new churches: Northside (now Central) in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Sheboygan.

In 1956, 35th and Cherry began planning a new congregation on the south side of the area. The plans came to fruition on March 2, 1958, when the Southside Church first assembled to worship with 38 being present. 35th and Cherry gave the new church $1200 to help the work. It met initially in the Knights of Pythias Hall at Swift and Squire in Cudahy. This was a former church building, now the Serbian Orthodox Church. Midweek Bible studies were held in the homes of members.

Twenty-three members from 35th and Cherry provided the nucleus of the new church. They included Monroe Hawley, the preacher, Joe Andrews, the song leader, and six Bible teachers from 35th and Cherry. The five core families were the Raymond Doggetts, Joe Andrews, Douglas Raymonds, James Williams, and Monroe Hawleys.  Of the original members, only Monroe and Julia Hawley are still part of Southside.

The Bulletin Board

Men's Breakfast - Our annual men's breakfast will be Saturday at 8:45 a.m. The speaker will be Tim Thompson of Elgin, IL. We are expecting attendees from a number of sister congregations.

The dinner and auction for the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp last Saturday raised over $4000 for the camp. Attendance was over 120 with people from a large number of places being represented. Our thanks to all who worked so hard to make it a success.

The Sick - John Dickson's mother is hospitalized in Texas for medical tests.. ..Maria Cruz Loera, mother of Amelia Melendez is in the Cameo Care Home.

(*) first service, 101, second service, 44

Summer Service Trip - The meeting to discuss the summer service trip scheduled for last Sunday was re-scheduled because of the extreme weather conditions last Sunday and will be at 4:30 p.m. this Sunday.

Calendar of Events

February 23 - Southside area-wide men's breakfast, 8:45 a.m.

March 2 – 50th anniversary of the Southside Church

March 9 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

March 19 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

March 28 - 30 -- Southside youth rally

July 11, 12 -- 50th anniversary homecoming of Southside Church

A Hidden Castle

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fidler had always wanted to live in a castle, but restrictive zoning regulations in their rural community 12 miles south of London weren't likely to allow that. So they built their castle anyway, complete with two turrets, a conservatory, a wooden bridge, a racecourse, and a cannon. They lived there undisturbed for four years. How did they do it? They hid it behind a screen of hay bales. A very large screen. Neighbors eventually grew suspicious, but only recently was their castle revealed to the world, Now they will likely have to tear it down.

How sad to live in a beautiful castle that you feel you cannot show to anyone! But Jesus said some disciples of his will want to do just that. Instead of a castle he spoke of a lamp that was hidden under a basket, but the lesson is the same: If you have something magnificent, you should want to show it to the world.

As Christians we are given the deed to a palace more magnificent than any on earth. We have the most wonderful story of the most marvelous Savior to tell to anyone who will listen. Don't be afraid to let your light shine before the rest of the world! It would be like living in a castle behind a hay bale.

 Glenn Hawley, Holmes Road Church bulletin

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