Facing Tomorrow, Understanding Yesterday, A History of Orange ...

TheBible remains within the Orange Church collection and is permanentlystored
in the Archives and History Room. After another brief talk,
theQuarterly Conference, which was the same as today's annual Charge
Conferenceat which the work of the church is reviewed, was held.
The new sanctuary also was decorated by a large round wall clock
givento the church in the late 1920s in memory of Henry Clay Hogan by
hisfamily- Florence Eubanks Hogan (widow), and children, Alder,
Annie,Glenn, Henry, Hubert, Jack, and Lucille. The clock was placed on
thesouthwall of the sanctuary. It was placed there for the benefit of the
SundaySchool Superintendent so that he could ring the tap bell to alert
theteachers in the four small classrooms in the sanctuary that the Sunday
Schoolhour was over. The clock was returned to the family after the
sanctuarywas redecorated.
Although church members were undoubtedly pleased over being
ableto retire the debt and dedicate the church within two years, Rev.
Ormondhad the best evaluation of the place that the white clapboard
structurewould eventually hold in community life when he wrote in the
August12, 1926, issue of the N C. Christian Advocate that "the outside
appearanceof the house is very pleasing. It is dignified and simple, and
hasadecided effect of strength and unity. It sits in a beautiful grove by the
sideofthe road and will attract many a seeker of the higher things of life,
andwillserve them in spiritual matters during the following decades."
Indeed,the beautiful little church that Fannie Brockwell designed and
thatthe people built would serve as a magnet for many people over the
years.
Continuing Efforts to Finance Church
Programming
Even though the church debt had been retired, Orange Church always
neededmoney for its programming activities, and congregation members
hadprecious little to place in the offering plate. So, other fund-raising
endeavorsfollowed. Among the more unusual was a Silver Tea Party
scheduledfor February 1926atthe home ofN ovella Hogan. The party was
postponeduntil May because of bad roads. "Miss" Ethel Hogan recalls
thatthewomen were served little sandwiches, slices of cake or a cupcake,
andteaor coffee. Donations were, of course, accepted - but they had to
bemadein silver money, hence the name of the event. Proceeds of $15.80
wenttoward payment on Ladies Aid Society's church pledge. And the
womensponsored a "Tackey" party at Mabel Maddry's on June 8, 1927.
Hereeveryone dressed in the oldest or tackiest clothes they could find.
Theycharged a small admission fee and gave out prizes for the best outfit
wornby a man, woman, or child. They cleared $10.03 at this function.
Despite such successes, change was in the air for the Ladies' Aid
Society.On August 10, 1927, Mrs. L.R. Sturdivant of the Carrboro
MethodistChurch, met with the Society and urged members to organize
a MissionarySociety in connection with the Ladies' Aid Society. In
October1927,members of the Society met and voted to change the name
totheWoman's Missionary Society.
A new name did not change the ladies' work, however. An oyster
supperwasserved at the church on October 6, 1928.They cleared $23 and
gave$20 for the payment on the light plant. In November 1928, the
membersmade a quilt for sale. Much as the members of the Nellie
HutchinsCircle do today, each member contributed completed blocks
andthenworked together to assemble and quilt the finished product. It
soldfor$4.80.
FACING TOMORROW, UNDERSTANDING YESTERDAY 27