Category: Church History

Ray Bell Groveville History 2

6/June/2024

FATHER’S DAY

Good Morning. I would like to thank you all for attending the Father’s Day Service. I will start this message off with some information that you may not know about. 

On June 9, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, Father’s Day was proposed by Sonora SmartDobb. Her father, a Civil War veteran, William Jackson,Smart, was a single parent who raised six children. In 1922 Dodd stopped promoting Father’s Day because it faded away. A bill was introduced in Congress in 1933 to make Father’s Day official, but Congress resisted. In 1953 (a woman) Margaret Chase Smith, Senator from Maine, wrote a letter, accusing Congress for ignoring the father‘s for 40 years. In 1966 president Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to honor the father’s. Six years later, President Richard M. Nixon made Father’s Day permanent as a national holiday on the 3rd Sunday in June. He signed it into law on April 24, 1972. 

I know every child thinks their father was the best. My father Ray M. Bell was born in Wrightsville, PA, outside of Lancaster County on October 11, 1896. Growing up, he went to a trade school in Lancaster to become a bricklayer. After graduating, he came to Yardville to work for a contractor, then drafted in the United States Army. He was a CPL, Company F, 5th Engineers, in World War I. He married R Hazel West. She was raised in Yardville on Church Street and RT 25, now called Route 156. They had five children, four girls and me. Growing up, he taught me how to play ball, the brick laying trade, and later how to be a man and husband. My father was a very kind and caring person. If he knew anyone who needed help, he was always there. One day I asked him why he did those things, and he said as long as he was able, he would help anybody. 

I can remember a widowed mother with five young children who needed a new chimney in North Crosswicks, but had very little money. My father went to her house and built her a new chimney. We had a young married minister here who was always late for meetings. My father asked him why he was late . He said because he had no watch. My father brought him one and he was never late again. He did so many things for people. 

He was also a very good ball player and played with Georgie‘s grandfather George Borden. He was one of the founders of Babe Ruth baseball, a member of Groveville Fire Company, a member of Groveville United Methodist Church, superintendent of Sunday School, member of Masonic Lodge in Bordentown, and many more. I hope someday I will be as good as a father as he was. On June 13, 1972, at the age of 75, he went home to be our Lord. 

Thank you, Dad for being my father and teaching me to do the right things in life. Happy Father’s Day in heaven, and I hope to see you someday. 

Love, your son, Ray. 

I believe we all will see our fathers in heaven someday I’m very thankful for being a father to three children, five grandchildren (one adopted) and a great grandfather to twin boys. That’s four generations. The flowers today are from the men’s club and I will be giving Them to Reverend Scott Clifton Sr. because he and his wife raised three sons and three daughters. Thank you for being our Pastor. In closing, I would like to say we all have the greatest father of them all. He is in Heaven, our Lord.

Thank you, and God Bless all fathers and you.

Ray Bell Groveville History 3

29/September/2024

HISTORY OF GROVEVILLE AND  OUR CHURCH

Good morning. Today I would like to tell you a little history of our town of Groveville, once called Locust Grove dating back to 1695, and Church. 

Now I will take you back to 1830.  That is 194 years ago. Just imagine for a moment in time and try to think back all of those years and what life was like at that time. Would you like that time in 1830, or this time today in the 21st-century?

Think about it. In 1830 the town of Groveville was organized with about 10 homes. At that time Groveville school was built on Hill Road, now called Main Street. A piece of land was given for a cemetery and to build a church. The cemetery at that time was called Sunnyland Cemetery. The records show the first person laid to rest Was Mrs. Mary Ann Thompson at the age of 40. 

Then around 1834, the residents had a good idea of building a church. Shortly after that, the church was being built at the cost of $999.49. The alter rail cost $9.31 and the wood was from Groveville. The church was completed and dedication took place on December 2, 1836. The Pastor was Reverend Thomas G. Stewart. As of now, 188 years have passed and we have had 85 pastors preaching here in our church. I often wondered if people back then ever thought that in 2024 that this church would still be here. 

Remember, this church was built before the American Civil War. We have 36 American Civil War veterans that are lead to rest. Three were killed in action. Our first decoration day parade, now called Memorial Day, was held after that war. Then the members of our church realized they needed a home for their pastors and families to live in. In 1886 it was built and in 1892 two more rooms were added on for the cost of $114. That building is 138 years old. 

The following year, the church was enlarged for the cost of $2,450. Our first Harvest Home Dinner was held in 1888 in a tent on upper Main Street on the baseball field near the peach orchard. Then the members decided to build a community house for our town of Groveville. It was built and dedicated December 10, 1917 during World War I. Our first Thanksgiving breakfast was held on November 24, 1922, in our new community house. This year will be our 102nd breakfast. In 1954 the community house was torn down and replaced by a new educational building built in 1956, under the leadership of Reverend A. David Sealand at the cost of $99,998. In that year while the building was being built, they had plans to build a new church attached to the front of the building. The burning of the mortgage was September 29, 1974. The Pastor was Reverend Douglas J. Kersey. This makes this building 68 years old. Believe it or not June 13, 1937 I was baptized by Reverend End F. Cooper Nace at the age of one year and four days old.

Our church is the “Oldest Continuing Church in Hamilton Township“.  And you are all connected with this honor by being here today and supporting our church.  With the leadership of our members and friends, young we’re old, we are the greatest and we must keep our church going with the help of our Lord. Just think if we can keep this church going for another 12 years this church of ours will be 200 years old. We must all do our part and keep our church moving forward in the right direction. We all should be very proud and thankful for being a part of our church. Again, you are the reason for our church being the “Oldest Continuing Church in Hamilton Township“. 

Be proud, and God bless our church and to Reverend Clifton Senior and all of you today. Remember this Church is ours and has been for 188 years and is still standing because of all of you today. 

I would like to thank our Administrative Board Council members for allowing me to do this project that we worked on for our 36 American Civil War Veterans that are laid to rest in our cemetery. We have plaques for World War I and World War II veterans so we thought we would honor our Civil War Veterans with this plaque. Helping me with this project were Dwayne Hadley and Danny Inman. I would like to read an article that I found. These words were written and spoken by Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President of the United States on November 19 1863 at Gettysburg Pennsylvania. “That we have resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain: that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom: and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth“

At this time, I would like chair person, Nancy Kasper and Reverend Clifton Sr.  to please come forward. I would like to present to you and to all of our church members and friends this memorial plaque in memory of our 36 American Civil War Veterans that are laid to rest in Sunnyland / Groveville Cemetery.

Thank you and God bless you, this church and the United States of America.

Ray Bell Groveville History 4

20/October/2024

LAITY OF THE CHURCH DAY

Good Morning. I would like to thank Reverend Clifton and all of you today for attending this special service. Today I would like to review three messages that I had the honor of bringing to you this year. 

My first message on May 19 I spoke about three military men, a father and son who led our Groveville Yardville Memorial Day Parade for over 65 years. The other soldier whose name was on our “Honor Roll” with a gold star that was killed in action in World War II, on March 4, 1944, in a town called Angio.

My second message, on June 6, I talked on Father’s Day. I talked about my father Ray Bell, what he did for the people in the area and for our community. He was a very thoughtful man. 

My third message on September 29. I talked about our church that was built in 1836, 188 years ago, and about our 85 pastors that served at church and about our 36 American Civil War veterans that are laid to rest in our Sunnyland / Groveville Cemetery, about our church being the oldest continuing church in Hamilton Township and supporting our church and moving in the right direction.

I found two sayings the other day. “Do you feel that you are losing everything?“ If you feel like you are losing everything, remember that trees lose their leaves every year and they still stand tall, and wait for better days to come. The second one: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only the true friends leave footprints in your heart.

I thank you, and God bless you, our church, and the United States of America.

Ray Bell Groveville History 5

24/November/2024

GROVEVILLE PASTORS 1836 – 2024

Good morning. Before I get started, this will be like a show and tell today. I would like to thank Reverend Clifton and Reverend Vaneekhoven for allowing me to bring this message today. Also Elizabeth for playing a piano, for our choir singing, for Jon, who runs our equipment and for all of you. 

On your calendar for the month of December, we have days that are marked for special events. December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked, 21st first day of winter, 24th Christmas Eve, 25th Christmas Day, and 31st New Year’s Eve. But there are three special days that are not marked on any calendar but mine. 

One day is December 2. In 1836 this beautiful little church held Its first church service by Reverend Thomas G. Stewart, that was 188 years ago. He probably came in a buggy or horse back, wearing all black with a white shirt. Since then we’ve had 85 Pastors standing here in this pulpit.

Do you know how many sermons have been given in this church since 1836? Over 9,776. if each Pastor use 10 sheets of paper that would be 97,760 sheets or 195 rooms of paper and each dream is 2 inches thick. That would be 32 feet high! Imagine how many people from 1836 until today have walked through these doors and sat in these pews to hear their pastors preaching here.

So, when December 2, 2024, next Monday, comes around, think and pray that this church 188 years old must keep going. Remember this little church is the oldest continuing church in Hamilton Township. Be proud. This is because of all of you today.

In closing I will say “God bless you, God bless this beautiful church, and God bless the United States of America, where we still have churches and have the right to pray any place, and any time.“

Thank you all