EDWIN RUTHVEN SHAPARD (Chapter 10) 1877-1878, New Hope

CHAPTER 10

NEW HOPE: 1877-1878

   

           For the school-year of 1877-1878, New Hope Seminary was in a prosperous condition. Classes commenced the first Monday in September of 1877, and continued without intermission until June 26, 1878. The health of the school remained good and there were no deaths during the year. The students had pursued their religious course of study under Miss Lochie Rankin and Miss Dora Rankin, who had been fruitful teachers. This year, New Hope had acquired an organ for the enhancement of their religious exercises and for the musical benefit of the students. During the year, some of the pupils had been taught to perform upon the organ, though it had not been possible to introduce regular music lessons.
         The religious exercises at the school were preaching, prayers and Sabbath School. In the absence of the Superintendent, the teachers would conduct the Sabbath School. The number of pupils had been 53; however, at the last session of the Choctaw Council, three additional pupils were sent in consideration of the rents upon Fort Coffee Farm. During the year, Rev. Shapard experienced no great difficulty in supporting the school from the appropriations of the Nation and the Mission Board. 
         Rev. Shapard’s respectable management of the annual funds allowed him an excess of $600 which was used to make improvements to the school. These improvements had been necessary for they did not have enough room for the additional pupils.
         Mrs. S. E. Nickel taught the girls to sew, knit, spin and also taught them lessons in embroidery, crochet, etc. The dining room was supervised by Mrs. Shapard, who was seldom away from it while the students were there. The girls did a great deal of cooking and the food at the school was healthy.       

          The 32nd Annual Indian Mission Conference was held at Stringtown, in the Choctaw Nation, on September 20-24, 1877. In 1868, Mr. E.H. Culbertson and his family became the first white settlers to the area of Stringtown.  He was a passionate Methodist layman and was highly influential in establishing and perpetuating Methodism in the area. After constructing his home and blacksmith shop, he, in 1869, with the assistance of a few neighbors constructed a small Methodist church approximately 50 yards below a fresh water spring at Stringtown, known as Sulfur Spring. It was at this church that the 1877 Conference was held. An arbor was built under a shade tree close to the church for the purpose of holding the Conference. About 100 people attended the Conference and stayed day and night until it was over. Mr. Culbertson, as well as his neighbors, offered their homes as quarters for the Bishop and his Cabinet.

          Rev. Shapard commenced the opening of the 32nd Annual Indian Mission Conference at 9:00 am on September 20, 1877, due to the fact that Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin was not present and would not arrive until later that evening. Young Ewing was elected President of the Conference for the first day and was relieved of duty when the Bishop presided the following day. Rev. E.R. Shapard was elected Conference Recording Secretary and also conducted the religious exercises at 9:00 am on September 21, 1877, to begin the second day of Conference. The Committee of Memoirs, which consisted of E.R. Shapard, Young Ewing, W.A. Duncan and J.F. Thompson, gave a memorial service of the life of Rev. John Harrell who had died since last Conference. The memorial service was a solemn time; preachers and people wept, feeling the loss of a great friend, preacher and counselor to the Indian Mission. At the end of Conference, Rev. Shapard was again appointed as Presiding Elder of the Choctaw District and as Superintendent of New Hope Seminary. 
                  On October 27, 1877, Rev. Shapard and Rev. Willis Folsom traveled 110 miles on horseback to Long Creek, located on the Moshulatubbee Circuit, for the first Quarterly Conference of the year. Rev. Folsom interpreted two sermons during this meeting for Rev. Shapard. They were water-bound after the meeting which delayed their return.         

            On April 5, 1878, Rev. Shapard received a letter from his brother, Rev. William “Will” Shapard who was in Austin Texas. William reported that he had received letters from their cousins; Rev. C. R. Shapard and Annie Shapard. Charles R. Shapard was born in 1844 and was a minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in Texas. He was the son of Edwin and William’s uncle James Paine Shapard. Ann “Annie” Shapard was born in 1852 and was a teacher in Texas. She was the daughter of Edwin and William’s uncle Thomas Paine Shapard.