“The weather was disagreeable…” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 4)
7:30 am
In Monongah:
“No bodies have been found…since last night, when the total reached 322.” (ODB 12.15.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
Religious services dominate the day throughout the area. Last Sunday, services around the area were short and light due to massive amounts of people flooding into Monongah. This Sunday, even the rescuers have the opportunity to step away from rescue work and attend services if so desired.
Christ P.E. Church – Eucharist, Rev. M.A. Barnes (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
8:00 am
Catholic services at St. Peter’s – Rev. A. Boutlou, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
9:00 am
Goff Methodist Episcopal, class meeting, M.S. Riley, leader – J.E. Bird, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 3)
9:30 am
M.P. Temple Sunday School meets; Wm. Conway, superintendent (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Presbyterian Church Sunday School meets – Prof. J. Walter Barnes, superintendent (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Christ P.E. Church Sunday School meets (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Palatine Baptist Church Bible School meets with Supt. W.A. Hustead in charge and the subject: “The Boy Samuel” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
Diamond St. M.E. Church Sunday School meets in charge of Supt. E.A. Willison. “Willison requests that the patents of the children in the primary department of the M.E. Sunday school make an effort to have all of the children present Sunday morning.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
First M.E. Church Sunday School meets, C.W. Evans, superintendent. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
M.E. Church South Sunday School meets, Dr. L.N. Yost, superintendent (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
First Baptist Church Sunday School meets (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Central Christian Church Sunday School meets (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
First M.P. Church Sunday School meets, J.A. Swiger – superintendent (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
9:45 am
Grace Lutheran Church Sunday School meets, the hour will be utilized for a rehearsal of Christmas service. Also a rehearsal will be had in the afternoon. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Goff Methodist Episcopal – Sunday school, Harvey W. Harmer, superintendent. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 3)
10:00 am
Catholic services at St. Peter’s – Rev. A Boutlou, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
10:30 am
M.E. Church South service – R.T. Webb, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
10:45 am
Presbyterian Church service – Rev. H.G. Stoetzer, pastor
Text: Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Subject of Sermon, “The Right Idea of Life” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Goff Methodist Episcopal – sermon by pastor J.E. Bird – “The Gentleness of God” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 3)
First M.E. Church services – G.D. Smith, pastor
Subject of sermon, “The Delays of God” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Grace Lutheran Church service – A.G. Null, pastor
Subject of sermon, 9th and 10th Commandments (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
M.P. Temple Church services – J.C. Broomfield, pastor
Subject of sermon, “Sustained Shining or the Secret of a Faithful Life.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Christ P.E. Church – morning prayer and litany (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
First Baptist Church services – W.J. Eddy, pastor
Subject of sermon, “Some Lessons From a Missionary Standpoint from the Monongah Mine Disaster.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Diamond St. M.E. Church – Rev G.W. Bent, pastor.
Subject of sermon, “A National Bereavement” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
Central Christian Church services – W.H. Willison, pastor
Subject of sermon, “Some Conditions upon which God Answers Prayer.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)
Palatine Baptist Church – morning service – T.B. Lawler, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
Special sermon by Rev. G.D. Griffin of Morgantown. “Rev. Griffin is an able speaker and his sermons were greatly enjoyed by all present.” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. )
First M.P. Church – Rev. U.W. Morrison, pastor.
Subject of Sermon, “Necessary Things” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
11:45 am
Diamond St. M.E. Church holds class (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
Public services are also held in the cemeteries “in memory of many victims interred before being identified.” (McAteer)
The last resting places of many are designated only by stakes inscribed with the number of the funeral. However, for several days cemetery workers have been dealing with a special issue of their own:
“Identifications at the cemetery were greatly hindered by the ignorance of some of the bereaved. Several of these people, thinking to save funeral expenses, would allow relatives to be buried ‘unknown’. This was discovered by sticks and other marks found nearly every morning beside newly made graves. Many of these markers were destroyed by the workmen, but in every case the next morning another mark appeared such as notches cut in fence posts, or another stick or cross beside the grave. It was also found, that among the foreigners some would claim as their own a body which had been full identified otherwise by relatives, insisting that they be buried in a certain grave, and when this request was not granted, these graves would also be marked with a name other than the occupant.” (Haas)
At the mines:
“…not much work was done in No. 8 owing to the condition of the air…” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)
As passing time made removal of bodies more difficult, rescuers turned to lye to destroy decomposing animals and, no doubt, some men’s bodies. (McAteer)
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