prayer – The Monongah Disaster

Sunday, December 22, 1907 Morning

~5:00 am

In Fairmont:

Stonco Goyac, the 29 year old Hungarian miner stabbed and shot in Farmington, dies at Cook’s Hospital. He leaves behind a brother in Pennsylvania. (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1)

7:30 am

In Fairmont:

Christ P.E. Church – Holy Eucharist (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

9:30 am

In Fairmont:

M.P. Temple Sunday School meets; “a full turn out of the school is desired so that the plans for the ‘Old Fashioned Christmas Tree’ service to be held on Christmas Eve may be completed.” (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Diamond St M.E. Church Sunday School meets in charge of Mr. E.A. Wilson. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 2)

Presbyterian church Sabbath School meets – J. Walter Barnes, superintendent. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

First M.P. Church Sunday School meets – J.A. Swiger superintendent. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 2)

Palatine Baptist Church Bible School meets with Supt. W.A. Hustead in charge, the subject being, “Christmas lessons” (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 2)

M.E. Church South Sunday School meets – Dr. L.N. Yost superintendent (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Grace Lutheran Church Sunday School meets – Home-coming day. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

First M.E. Church Sunday School meets– C.W. Evans in charge. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

First Baptist Church Sunday School meets. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Christ P.E. Church Sunday School meets. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Central Christian Church Sunday School – McIntire, superintendent (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

9:45 am

In Clarksburg:

First Presbyterian Church, Wm. M. Hudson, Minister – Sabbath school meets. “Tuesday night the Sabbath school will have a tree to which the children and others are to bring presents and these presents are to be sent to the Rev. W.O. David at Monongah for distribution Christmas night to the Monongah children.”(CDT 12.21.07 pg. 3)

10:00 am

In Fairmont:

Cook Hospital informs Coroner Amos of Goyac’s death. This is the first any official has heard about the incident. Coroner Amos attends the postmortem examination. (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1)

10:30 am

In Fairmont:

M.E. Church South service – R.T. Webb, pastor. “Both the music and the sermon…will be appropriate to the Christmas occasion.” (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Grace Lutheran Church service. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

- Subject, “No Room for Jesus”
- “Reception of members at 10:45”
- “Sacrament of the Lord’s supper will be administered immediately after the sermon.”
- “Congregational meeting after morning services.”

10:45 am

Christ P.E. Church – morning prayer and litany (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Presbyterian Church service – H.G. Stoetzer, Pastor (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

- Organ voluntary
- Elsa’s Prayer, Lohengrin
- Doxology
- Invocation hymn no 171 Antioch
- Reading of the Psalter
- Gloria Patri
- Scripture lesson
- Anthem, We Have Seen His Star in the East, Simpson
- Prayer
- Hymn 173, Mendelssohn
- Announcements
- Offertory
- Song from Rug Blas
- Anthem, Tidings of Joy, Porter
- Sermon
- Prayer
- Anthem, Adesti Idles, Dudley Buck
- Benediction
- Interlude, The Marvelous Works, Handel

First Baptist Church service – W.J. Eddy, Pastor (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

- Subject of sermon, addressed to the boys and girls, “Jesus, our Great Christmas Gift.”
- “Some special music will be rendered by some folks as well as by the choir.”

M.P. Temple service – J.C. Broomfield, pastor. Sermon, “The Birth of Christ”; text, “And the Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us.” (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

Central Christian Church service – W.H. Willison, Pastor. (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

First M.P. Church service – Rev. U.W. Morrison, pastor. Subject of sermon, “Christmas” (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 2)

Palatine Baptist Church service – T.B. Lawler, Pastor. Subject, “The Guiding Star” (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 2)

First M.E. Church service – G.D. Smith, pastor (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 5)

- Anthem, “Come and Worship”, E.L. Ashford
- Hymn No 107
- Prayer
- Anthem, “Bethlehem”, Bartlett
- scripture lessons
- Offering
- Ladies Quartette “Under the Silent Stars”, C. Whitney Coombs

- Hymn No 111
- Sermon, “The Guiding Star”
- Anthem, “Sing O, Heavens” B. Tours
- Hymn No 113
- benediction

Diamond St M.E. Church services – Rev. G.W. Bent, Pastor; subject of sermon, “Christmas themes” (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 2)

11:00 am

In Clarksburg:

First Presbyterian, Wm. M. Hudson, pastor; Divine worship and sermon, “The sermons at both services will be held in the spirit of Christmas, the morning sermon dealing with ‘Blessedness of Giving’…” (CDT 12.21.07 pg. 3)

“Strangers are cordially invited to all these services.” (CDT 12.21.07 pg. 3)

11:45 am

In Fairmont:

Diamond Street M.E. Church class (FWV 12.21.07 pg. 2)

Sunday, December 15, 1907 Night

“Sunday was expected to be one of the most important days of Cumberland’s response to Monongah’s call for aid. Despite the fact that there were unusually large congregations in all of the churches, owing to the special call by the Anti-Saloon League, a large number of the ministers failed to pay attention to this GREAT CALL FOR HELP FROM A STRICKEN CITY.” (CET 12.16.07 pg. 1)

6:30 pm

Goff Methodist Episcopal – Epworth League devotional services. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 3)

Presbyterian Church – Senior Society (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Topic, “Confident Testimony for Christ” Luke 12:11-12, Acts 4:13-33

First M.E. Church – Epworth League, leader P.B. Henry (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Topic, “The Straight Gate”

M.E. Church South – Epworth League service led by Miss Jessie Ice (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject, “Grounds of our Missionary Obligation” Rom 1:14-17

First Baptist Church – B.Y.P.U (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject, “The Magnificat: A Christmas Song”

Palatine Baptist Church – B.Y.P.U (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)

Subject, “Confident Testimony for Christ”

First M.P. Church – Christian Endeavor, led by Mrs. S.A. Shuttlesworth (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)

Diamond St. M.E. Church – Epworth League prayer meeting, led by Mrs. Cordelia Harden (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)

Subject, “The Straight Gate”

7:30 pm

Goff Methodist Episcopal – public worship with sermon by J.E. Bird, pastor. “Collections for the mine sufferers at Monongah will be taken both morning and evening. All are cordially invited to attend all of these services. You will be welcome.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 3)

M.P. Temple Church senior service.

Subject of sermon, “The Problem of Disasters” with special reference to the bright side of the Monongah disaster. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

M.P. Temple-People's Temple Methodist prodestant - Agape - map - C

Presbyterian Church service – Rev. H.G. Stoetzer, pastor

Text: Job: “Now Man See Not the Bright Light in the Clouds” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject of sermon, “Some of the By Products of Coal…(unclear)…may Come out Great Calamities.”

First M.E. Church service – G.D. Smith, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject of sermon, “Some Reflections on the Mine Disaster.”

M.E. Church South service – R.T. Webb, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Grace Lutheran Church service – A.G. Null, pastor(FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject of sermon, “Prevailing Prayer”

Central Christian Church services – W.H. Willison, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject of sermon, “The Best Time to Save Men.”

First Baptist Church services – W.J. Eddy, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Subject of Sermon, “A Great Personal Question”

Christ P.E. Church – evensong (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

Catholic services at St. Peter’s – Evening devotions consisting of Rosary and benediction. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 8)

St. Peter's - Fairmont - LibraryofCongress - map - E

St. Peter's - Fairmont - LibraryofCongress

Palatine Baptist Church – evening service – T.B. Lawler, pastor (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)

Special sermon by Rev. G.D. Griffin of Morgantown (FWV 12.16.07 pg. )

“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 (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)

Subject of Sermon, “Utility of Desire”

Diamond St. M.E. Church – Rev G.W. Bent, pastor. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)

Subject of sermon, “The Interruption of the Plans of Men.”

Night

In Fairmont:

“Collections were taken in several of the churches Sunday for the Monongah mine sufferers, with good success notwithstanding the inclement weather conditions kept a good many persons away from the services.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)

“At the Catholic church the handsome sum of $150 was raised for the sufferers. The congregation of Italians who gathered at the hall contributed through the efforts of the Rev. Father P.M. Schoenen $12.40 and a large box of wearing apparel and other articles.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)

“At the Park avenue Lutheran church the congregation was small but $7.50 was raised.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)

“At the morning and evening services at Goff Methodist Episcopal church $100 was raised for the sufferers.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“Since press time Saturday the bodies of 9 miners…have been recovered, making 334 in all.” 12 bodies in all during Saturday and Sunday. (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 1)

“Bodies were recovered as follows Saturday night and Sunday, bringing the number of recovered bodies up to 334 Sunday night:

CDT 12.16.07 - pg 1 - Monongah 1 — CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1

“All of the above were taken from No. 6. These bodies were all found either under falls or in the water and the majority of them were in a bad state of decomposition.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)

Note: Many churches which were present in 1907 have either moved location, merged with other churches, or are simply not in the area anymore. For research and educational purposes, I have included snapshots from a Vintage map of Fairmont and Palentine from 1897 which is available online for view and/or purchase and I highly suggest referencing this map with this Timeline, rather than using modern maps. If there is a modern counterpart to this map image, it will be included though accuracy is not guaranteed for various reasons.

Sunday, December 15, 1907, Morning

“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)