Birth of the Chapel
The Birth of Lombard Gospel Chapel
During the 1920's, the talk in most religious circles across America was the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It seemed as if people couldn't get enough of this exciting Biblical doctrine. Churches everywhere were being forced to examine the facts of the second coming and then take a stand either for or against this teaching of scripture.
The Methodist Church formed a council to answer the question: "Should the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, as a future event, be taught from their pulpits?" The outcome of that Council became one of the beginning sparks for the creation of Lombard Gospel Chapel.
The Methodist Church Council ruled that "the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, as a future event", was not to be preached by it's pastors. This ruling caused an immediate uproar in the Lombard Methodist Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Main and Maple. Just how the protest was carried out is not sure, but for about a year (September 1926-July 1927) there was constant objection to the ruling from the congregation. The friction became so intense that the pastor, Omer T. Canfield, finally told five families, publicly from the pulpit, to get out and leave them alone. So, thirty plus people left the Methodist Church in early 1927. Among those that left were:
Frank & Margaret Erickson - Margaret and Ewyn
William & Florence Routson - Donald, Helen, Jim, Grace
Dave & Theresa Weber - Belle, Dave
William & Ruth Kerr - Grace, William, Robert, Eleanor
Mac Patterson
Noah & Estelle Roeshley - Loretta, Clifford, Waldo, Opal Ann
On October 13,1927, the following appeared in the Lombard Spectator newspaper, under "Methodist Church Notes."
"It seemed to this minister (Omer Canfield) best to return to Lombard for another year. The unfortunate circumstances of the past year made it so. The wish of the local church was almost unanimous for the return of the pastor and family. With a fine spirit of unity now prevailing, and the old friction now eliminated, everyone is forward looking..."
Those people that left the Methodist Church engaged Rev. A.H. Fardon an evangelist Bible Teacher from Kansas City, to join with them to conduct tent meetings in Lombard. This had been a Methodist practice for many years. The tent was erected on a vacant lot south of the old Aurora Elgin RR depot (Prairie Path today) and just east of Main St. (Near Roy's Auto Repair)
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At this time there was no "Plymouth Brethren" church in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn or in Lombard. There was, however, an "Assembly" in Chicago (748 N. Leamington Ave.) called the Austin Gospel Hall. During the end of 1926 and early 1927 some individuals from this assembly had moved from Chicago to the Lombard area. These people were:
Mr. & Mrs. Will H. Durant (Ida) - Glen Ellyn
Mr. & Mrs. William S. Kellar - Lombard
Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Alien - Lombard
As far as can be determined, there was no connection between the group from the Methodist Church and those from the Austin Assembly until the commencement of the tent meeting in August, 1927.
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On August 4,1927 this article appeared in the Lombard Spectator:
Camp Meeting Coming
Rev. A.H. Fardon, the well known Evangelist of Kansas City, Missouri, will very shortly open tent evangelistic meetings on the lot adjoining the portable school just south of the A&E Main street depot. Exact dates of the first meeting will be announced by cards and hand bills. It is expected that these meetings will last two weeks. They will be absolutely nonsectarian and Religious (in nature )
(? Page was torn)
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A.H. Fardon
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On August 11,1927 the Lombard Spectator ran the following:
Gospel Tent Meetings
Half Block South of Third Rail Station
Each Night-8 o'clock
Evangelist, A.H. Fardon of Kansas City
(former Moody Institute Student)
The meetings are Nonsectarian,
Fundamental, Evangelistic.
OUR OBJECT- TO instruct in the Inspired word of God-and to make plain God's way of Salvation.
Interesting Subjects of Vital Importance
("COME AND SEE")
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