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REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
View PHOTO GALLERY of Married Worker Photos
What does the
Bible say about Married Workers?
Married
Workers
on 1905 Workers' List
Story of Tom & Ellen Elliott
Married Workers on
1921 Staffordshire
Convention Photo/List
American
Married Worker Pairs
Canadian
Married Worker Pairs
Australian
Married Worker Pairs
Other
Countries--Married
Worker Pairs
Jack Carroll - Statement
Re: Workers Marrying
When were the workers no longer
allowed to marry?
Rittenhouse
and Sweetland Letter re changes by J. T. Carroll
in married worker policy
TTT Editor's Note: The following list has been compiled from many
sources,
both written and verbal, and most listings were verified by more than
one
source. The Compiler does not claim this list to be all-inclusive or
absolutely accurate,
but it has been compiled to the best of her ability and knowledge. Will
gladly modify or add pertinent information. To provide additional
facts, e-mail TTT.
(1) came into the work already married.
(2) were a brother worker and a sister worker, who married.
From what the Compiler can piece together, there does not seem to have been a universal worldwide custom in place regarding workers marrying. It seems to have depended on the Overseer of the country. Some couples who were already married offered for the work, and were accepted. It has been said that some workers "had to marry" in order to get into certain countries to take the gospel there. This is the explanation sometimes given for Sandy and Eva Scott; and John and Annie Micheletos.
It is interesting that it was the practice of the Faith Mission that a worker had to leave the Faith Mission if he/she became engaged or married. They did have married Superintendents, however, which were Overseers of workers, who stayed in one place for several years.
If and when two workers married, or wanted to marry, it appeared to be up to their Regional Overseer to decide whether or not they could remain in the work. There was no universal set policy. Jack Carroll allowed his cousin, Dave Christie, who married sister worker Emily Wilson, to remain in the work, and they pioneered Hawaii. On the 1922-23 North American Workers List there were 6 married couples ( Klevens, McIllwraths, Dunshees, Doaks, DeGroots, Richters). Two years later on the 1925 List there were 9 married couples (Walkers, Gards and Christies were added) Two years later, the 1926 North American Workers List shows 12 married couples (Grahams, Byes and Browns were added).
In the 1950's, when Chester Sweetland and Clara DenHerder wanted to marry and remain in the work, Jack Carroll refused to allow them to do so. Robert Graham married sister worker Maude Pryor and they had 5 children. Wm Irvine required Ralph and Rene Beattie to leave their son behind, in order to go in the work. Erne Punke married Finney while they were both workers, as did George and Ella Johnson, Joe and Grace Brown and Alec Walker and Queenie Higgins, who had a daughter. Reportedly, while Wm Irvine was in leadership, he decreed that any children of married workers must be left behind. When he was no longer the leader, some took their children with them (Beatties).
By 1960-70, nearly all the early married workers had "retired." Currently, there is only one a married worker couple left in the entire world, the Medicas, who labor in the Caribbean. Married workers going about preaching appears to have been phased out. If the current worker shortage continues, perhaps the group will go back to having married workers again.
Married Workers
Listed on the 1905 Workers' List:
Betty, Tom & Elizabeth (Lily)
(nee Pendreigh from Scotland; formerly a worker with Faith Mission; left in 1898)
On 1921 Staffordshire
Worker Convention photograph as Nos. 73, 101.
Tom is listed as entering the work in 1905
Labored in U.K. and Ontario
Died in the work. Tom died June 28, 1945 and is buried on Isle of Man.
Children: Had 3 sons: Moore, John and Ernest
View Photo of Tom & Elizabeth Betty
Carroll, William (Bill) & Margaret/Maggie
(nee Hastings) Ireland; Australia
1903 entered work; On 1921 Staffordshire
Worker Convention photograph as Nos. 91, 142. No. 201 is their daughter,
May Carroll Schulz, born 1901, married Dolph Schulz, ex-worker and wrote Hymn
Nos. 279, 258, 195, 315.
Margaret last listed on Victoria Workers List in 1940.
Bill Carroll was the
Overseer of Victoria Australia from 1907 to his death in 1953.
Deceased: Bill died Nov. 12, 1953; Margaret died in
1944.
Elliott, Tom &
Ellen (nee_______________)
1902 entered work - they sided with Ed Cooney in 1928 Division. Left
original group
On
1921 Staffordshire Worker Convention photograph as Nos. 16, 168
Photo on Page 27 of The Life and Ministry
of Edward Cooney 1867-1960 by Patricia Roberts.
Tom died in 1930; Mrs. Elliott died April 16, 1966. Both passed away in England,
per P Roberts.
View
Photo of Tom & Ellen Elliott
McClung, Wilson &
Anne (Annie) (nee__________) Ireland, Australia, New Zealand
1903 entered work
Shown on 1921
StaffordshireWorker Convention photograph as Nos. 92, 94
Wilson born c1868; died May 15, 1944; Annie born c1871; died Jan 29,
1945
Wilson died in Auckland, New Zealand in 1944;survived by Annie.
Dickson, Nat & Mrs. __________(nee____________)
Ireland.
While not shown on the 1905 list,
the Feb 16, 1905, Impartial Reporter
tells the contents of a gospel meeting where Nat Dickson relates how he came
to the decision to go into the work and he mentions his concern for his wife
and boy.
Shown on 1921 Staffordshire
Worker Convention photograph as Nos. 136 and 34.
Deceased:_____________________________
Downie, Frank & Elsie (nee__________) Scotland?
Frank is on the 1905 workers list are entering the work in 1905.
Daughter named Renee who spent her life in the work.
Listed on the 1921 Staffordshire Convention
View: 1921 Staffordshire
Convention
The women were listed as Mrs.
Brother workers on photo by same surname are identified here, but
it is not known for certain if these were husband and wife.
#122 Mrs. Cunningham; #23 Bob Cunningham (Bella Cunningham)
#136 Mrs. Dickson - #34 Nat Dickson
#200 Mrs. Heselwood - #54 Arthur Heselwood. (Elizabeth/Lily Heselwood) From "Review of Hymns" for 1951 Hymns Old and New: "Arthur Heselwood who wrote No. 166 was born in New York in 1872. He heard the Truth in Lincolnshire, when he was a schoolmaster. Soon after he and his wife went forth into the work, and he continued until a year or two before his death in 1953." Daughter Lilla Heselwood shown as #199.
Other U.K. Married Worker Couples
on Workers Lists
Butler, Arthur & Emma
McLelland, J. &_____ ?
Pitts, Jim & Mary
(in alphabetical order)
Brown, Joe & Grace (nee Prideaux) U.S.A - Hawaii and Oregon
On 1926-27 List in Hawaii
Joe was from Ireland.
Grace was from Victoria, Australia; entered work in 1915; went to US in 1919 to preach.
Both were workers who married and remained in the work until they were over ninety years old.
Grace died in 1976; Joe retired in Bend, Oregon, and died in
1978.
Christie, David (Dave) & Emily
(nee
Wilson) Hawaii
Dave entered work in 1905 per 1905 Workers List;
On 1926-27 List
in Hawaii; on 1947 Workers List in Hawaii
1923: Both were workers who married without permission. Dave was
a cousin
of Jack Carroll, who made an announcement and statement concerning
workers
marrying at the 1923 Miltown Convention.
They pioneered the work in Hawaii.
Two children were born to them while in the work, named Betty and Dave
Dave died in 1969; Emily in 1975.
Coe, Lewis and Zelda (nee_____________)
Preached in USA in 1940s.
Left work and lived in Oulton Broad, now a suburb of Lowestoft (in
Suffolk) on the East coast of England
No children.
Preached in the USA
Nos. 23 & 122 on 1921 Staffordshire Worker photo
Daughter: Lucelle
deGroot, Al & Emma (nee ____________)
Missouri/Arkansas/Iowa. She had a Scottish or Irish brogue.
1926-27 List in Missouri & Arkansas.
On 1947 Workers List
Emma died in 1968; Al died in 1960.
Dennison,
Tom & Shirley ( nee Jessic or Jessick) Tennessee,
Georgia
1971-72
Tom Dennison on 1921 Staffordshire
Worker Convention picture as #33
Tom was in work. Married Shirley, a schoolteacher from Michigan
and left work.
Returned to work as a married couple. No Children.
On 1947 Workers List in Tennessee;
On 1971-71 and 1973-74 Georgia lists
Deceased: Tom in 1976; Shirley in 1983
See Photo
Doak, Hugh & Dessie (nee Dick)
Kansas (Dessie from Iowa)
1926-27 List in Kansas
Deceased: ____________________________
Dunshee, Willard and Ethyl (nee ______________)
1922 List in Michigan/Indiana
1926-27 Workers List in Indiana
Deceased: ______________________________
Gard/Guard, Ed & Carrie ( nee ______________ )
1926-27 Workers List in New York; 1947 Workers List in NY
Had a son that a professing couple raised for them. Son never
professed.
Deceased: Both died in 1953
Johnson, George & Ella ( nee_____________) Irish
Not on 1926-27 list. On 1947 Workers List in NY; on 1956-57 NY list
Were both workers who decided to get married.
Preached on East Coast.
George died in 1972;
Ella died in 1976
McNeill, John
& *Dorothy (nee______________)
Dorothy worked in a bank in Coos Bay, OR, while John was on the road in
the work.
Dorothy remarried in 1993, to George Brotherton. She was living
in Coos Bay, OR in 2003.
Richter, Charles (Charlie) & Belle (nee___________)
Montana
Shown on 1922 list in Wyoming
Shown on 1926-27 in Wyoming
Both died in 1951
Scott, Alexander (Sandy) & Eva* (nee Idso; Iowa)
Reportedly, it was necessary for Sandy Scott to marry in order to preach in
Italy. He married Eva from Iowa, who was a good deal younger than him.
Sandy wrote many of the hymns in Hymns Old & New. Per hymn author booklet, Sandy lived from
1886-1968, is buried near Chelan, WA; went into the work in 1909 and labored
in Scotland, USA, Canada; he pioneered the work in Spain in 1933; and went to
Italy after WWII ended. On Workers List for Italy in 1956.
Eva Scott is presently (1997) in the work in Iowa.
View Photo of Sandy &
Eva Scott
Sweetland, Chester & Clara ( nee Den Herder ) Nevada
Both in the work when they married. Jack Carroll didn't approve of
them marrying, and refused to allow them to remain in the work. Some of
1954 Rittenhouse & Sweetland controversy concerned this marriage.
1997: Clara still living; Chester is deceased
Wilson, Matt & Leticia (nee________) (Scotland/Nebraska)
Matt was born October 18, 1876 in Kilsyth, Scotland.
Shown on 1905 Workers List as entering the work in 1900 as a single man.
They were in the work together in Nebraska at least until 1918. (Not shown on 1922 Workers List)
Canadian Married Worker Pairs
Batstone, Verdun & Anna (nee Bryant)
Both were Workers who married. No children.
Left work around 1975.
Labored in Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Deceased?____________________________
Kleven, Joseph (Joe) & Minnie ( nee Propp)
Married in 1916.
1926-27 Workers in North & South America in Alberta, Canada
Joe: Born Feb. 22, 1891 in Calgary, Alberta Canada; died March 1976.
Minnie: Born Dec.1, 1896 in Oklahoma USA; died Oct. 1972.
Both are buried in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada at Evergreen Memorial Gardens
Minnie was Willis Propp's aunt--his father's sister.
Children:
had a baby girl who died when a few months old.
View Photo of Joe & Minnie Kleven
Article about them in this book: "Along the Fifth: A History of Stony Plain and District "
Authors: Stony Plain and District Historical Society, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, 1982
Page 375 by Carlos Propp
http://www.ourroots.ca/toc.aspx?id=1313&qryID=42e925cd-6a48-408d-87e0-04869f969d78
McIlrath, William (Willie) & Millie ( nee ___________ )
1926-27 Workers in North & South America in Saskatchewan, Canada
On 1958-59 Saskatchewan, Canada List
Put out of work when they were in their late 70’s or 80’s.
Had son, Jimmie, who never professed.
Deceased: ________________________(died in Saskatchewan)
McLeod, Murdo & Dollie (nee___________________) Ontario
Not on 1922-23 or 1926-27 Lists of Workers for North & South
America
On 1947 Workers List in Prince Edward Island
Entered work 1948; put out of the work in1975.
Labored in the Maritime provinces and Ontario.
One son, George, born while they were in the work; was raised by
Pratts in Canada;
Dollie died in 1993; Murdo was born July 7, 1911 - died Dec.12, 2008 (he was 98 yrs old)
Walker, George & Maggie ( nee___________ )
1926-27 Workers in North & South America in the Maritime Provinces,
Canada
(not to be confused with George Walker, who was Overseer of Eastern
USA)
No Children
Deceased_________________________
Bye, Lars & Olga ( nee ______________)
On 1922-23 & 1926-27 Workers in North & South America in
Alberta,
Canada
On 1957 list for BC, Canada
Deceased: _____________________
Graham, Robert & Maude (nee Pryor)
Both were workers who married.
1926-27 Workers in North & South America in Alberta, Canada
Robert was born 1875; was in work 1907-1929;
Maude was born 1895; was in work 1920-1929
1922-23 Workers List in No/So America: Robert Graham #1 in Alberta
Shown as married on 1926-27 list, but not on 1922-23 list
Robert was overseer of Alberta in 1929 when he left the work.
Deceased:______________
They had five children. As of 2000:
1. Mildred Price (married to Dave Price, Jack Price's brother) She
was excommunicated in the late sixties.
2. Mabel Lian (Tom) still married, professing and living in
Anacortes Washington.
3. Iris Davison, husband Lowell (deceased) living in Chiliwack B.C.
and still professing.
4. Gordon (Orma) Graham, living in Blairmore and still professing.
5. Dorothey Roulette (Dave) living in Arizona, never belonged to the
church or else left at a young age.
Australia & New Zealand Married Worker Pairs
Beattie, Ralph & Rene (nee Amy Constance Irene Lester) Tasmania, Australia
Married 4/2/07; professed around 1909. Went into work in
1911 in Victoria, Australia.
Their first year in the work, Ralph preached with Wilson McClung and Rene with Annie McClung. After that, they preached together some of the time.
Preached in New Zealand 1919-20. Ralph shown on Hutt Valley Workers List in 1924; with male companion 1926, 1932-36
Ralph died in 1958.
Rene died in 1969 and is buried at Stratford.
Read Story written by their children
Had 4 children: Archie (born 10/3/09 - is deceased), Jean (born 1/27/2015 - is deceased), Esther,
Joseph
(Joe)
Yr 2000: Esther and Joe were alive and 2x2s. Joe was living in Auckland, NZ
Rene's brother Clyde Lester and wife took responsibility for 18 month old Archie when his parents entered the work on May 23, 1911.
The other children were born while they were in the work and moved around New Zealand with their parents.
.
Rene Beattie wrote Hymn Nos. 91, 79, 140,
282 in 1987 Hymnbook.
See Photo #1 Photo #2
Peterson, Mr. & Mrs. Gus (nee__________) Australia
Preached in 1921 in New South Wales, Australia.
Punke, Ernst and Finny (nee________________) Australia
Ern professed in 1913 in South Australia.
Both were workers who married while Ern was in the work in Germany
No Children.
Ern died in Germany in 1964.
"Besuch in Australia," 1956.
Quick, Frank & Hilda (nee Vogt from Australia) Australia, New Zealand
Frank in work in Victoria in 1917; left work and married Hilda Vogt during the 1920's..
They entered the South Australian work as a pair in 1937; preached
in NZ til 1973;
No children.
Deceased: Frank died in 1975, aged 85; Hilda in 1977.
Robinson, Les & Evelyn (nee___________). Australia
Preached in Queensland 1922-1940
Walker, Alec/Alex & Queenie (nee Higgins), New South
Wales
1905 Workers List shows Alec Walker going into the work in 1904
Queenie was in the work in New Zealand in 1909-1912
Their daughter, Florrie, was a NZ worker who labored much of her life in Malasia. Retired in NZ
(in 2008)
Review of Hymns (1951 edition) states: "Alec Walker, who married Queenie Higgins of Avoa, wrote No.
72. He was for a time in the work in New South Wales and is now living
in New Zealand and has a daughter in the work in Malaya."
Other Countries -- Married Worker Pairs
Carlse, Dann & Anne (nee____________), South Africa
Colored married worker pair
Harris, Vernandez & Edith (nee_________________)
Panama
On 1947 Workers List for N/S America laboring in VA and MD
In 1954 laboring in Washington D.C. area
They were in the work from 1942 to 1967, perhaps longer.
Entered the work married - pair of colored workers
Edith died. Vernandez remarried and lived in NYC til his death October 13, 1993 at age 85
View Photo of Harris at
1954 Doylestown, Pennsylvania Convention Photo
*Hartmann, Otto & Manny (nee_____________ ) Germany
On 1990/91 Swiss List; On 1986-87 German list as being in Switzerland
Both on 1991 Worldwide Workers List in Switzerland/Germany
Not listed on 1995/96 German list
Deceased: (late 1990's) Both are buried in Waldshut,
Germany
Kilpatrick, Tom & Martha (nee_______________) South
Africa
1956 Africa, Ft. Beaufort District
Not on 1991 Worldwide Workers List
Daughter, Elna was about 3 when the young married couple decided to go into the work. Elna was raised by her grandmother.
Deceased: Tom predeceased Martha. Dates:____________________
Micheletos, John & Anna (Annie) (nee McBride)
Greece
(Sometimes spelled "McLetoes.")
This couple pioneered the work in Greece. John was born in Crete
around 1880. Went to Canada at age 17. Met 2 sister workers
there; Annie McBride was one of them. She was Irish. He later
offered for the work
and wanted to go to his country, Greece, and preach to his people. "No
companion was available for him and John
was extremely disappointed. He confessed all his thoughts and
temptations
to Annie McBride who had brought the Truth to him and who listened to
Him
as a spiritual mother. Annie who was almost 20 years his senior
offered to marry him and join him as his companion to Greece...their
decision
was faced with great skeptism by the elders...They arrived in Greece in
1920." (Just after WWI ended.) (From E. V.
Athens, January 1986 "Introduction")
John died in Athens in 1966; Annie died in Hania, Crete in 1944
*Medica, Martin & Betty ( nee ___________ ) Caribbean
Entered the work in 1962.
Married pair of colored workers.
Married before they went in the work.
1963 Workers List working in Trinidad, each with a same-sex companion.
1989 Caribbean list, Martin had a male companion; Betty was with Lily Medica.
1995 Caribbean list, Martin & Betty are paired together in Curaçao/Aruba.
CURRENTLY THE ONLY MARRIED COUPLE IN THE WORK!
View Photo of Martin &
Betty Medica
Plaatjies, James & Gertie (nee______________) Africa
1956 - Natal, Africa
Not on 1991 Worldwide Workers List
Deceased______________________________
Papadakis, Nicolas & Catherine (nee Stavroulakis) Greece
Smith, John Robert (aka Bob or João in Brazil) and Martha (nee Hogg)
Bob was
born in Warrenton, Virginia, 3/24/1894; went in the work in 1915. Martha (Hogg) Smith was born 8/17/1901 in Ireland. Her birthplace is listed on a 1946 ship passenger record as Cahaney, Ireland. She was in the work by 1924, perhaps earlier. They both went to Brazil as young workers, met and there they married, possibly around 1938, and spent the rest of their active preaching time there.Were in their 80's when Martha fell down some stairs went into a coma and never recovered. They were known in Brazil for pioneering in very remote areas and saw many converts. They returned to Virginia, USA as very elderly people. She passed away in Graham, North Carolina, on 3/23/1987. He died 6/27/1990 in Rockville, Maryland. They are buried in Warrenton, Virginia.
On 1947 Workers List for Brazil; on 1982 South America Workers list for Brazil.
NOTES:
* not deceased
Some married BEFORE they went in work
Some married AFTER they were in the work:
a. WITH the workers approval/permission
b. WITHOUT prior permission and challenged the
system
Some had children while in the work.
Announcement of Marriage of Workers David Christie & Emily Wilson
Jack Carroll - Saturday Morning, December 1
There is a difference between I Corinthians Chapters 3 & 4, and Chapter 9. If Chapters 3 and 4 deal with the marks of true ministers, then Chapter 9 deals with the rights and liberties of true ministers. In this chapter, Paul seemed to feel the need of defending the ministry. He not only defends his position as an Apostle, but also asserts his rights as an Apostle.
It seems that some of the saints in Corinth raised the question of his Apostleship, refusing to recognize him as an Apostle, and he writes this chapter in defense of his position. He makes the claim that workers have certain rights which they may or may not exercise. He claimed the right (Revised Version) to the support of the saints, or the right to do without their support. He claimed the right to take a sister as a wife on his journeyings, or the right not to do so. If he did not exercise all his rights as the Lord's servant, they were his, nevertheless.
It would almost seem the only Apostles the Corinthians were acquainted with were married men, and it is possible they may have questioned his Apostleship on this, as well as other grounds. The point, however, I wish to make is this. Paul asserts he had the same rights as other Apostles, and insisted these rights should be acknowledged--even if he did not use all of them.
There was a time when wrong ideas were in the minds of the saints with regard to marriage. Many saints found it difficult to get away from a feeling of condemnation if they married, and workers who married were placed under even greater condemnation. It is important that we should have right thoughts in our minds about this subject, as well as every other. The Scriptures teach, "Marriage is honorable in ALL," and this I take to mean BOTH saints AND servants.
The reason I speak so freely and plainly about this subject today is because two workers came to this convention married, and wish me to make the fact known. I refer to David Christie and Emily Wilson. And while we may seriously question the wisdom of this step, and recognize that it means greater difficulties in their lives, and less liberty in the Gospel, we cannot make dishonorable what God has made "honorable"; and for this reason we speak no word of condemnation and attach no penalty. If there is to be condemnation or penalty, we leave this in the Lord's hands.
They are willing to be guided by us with regard to the future. They desire to continue in the work, and we wish them to do so. They have volunteered to go to the Hawaiian Islands. We have not asked them to leave this field, nor will we do so. If they go to the Hawaiian Islands, they go on their own suggestion and initiative.
It may be difficult for some of us to reconcile ourselves to this change of relationship, but whatever our personal feelings may be, we must be true to what God has revealed, and recognize the rights and liberties which are the heritage of all God's servants. We cannot, and will not, therefore, refuse them a place in this ministry, or the right to speak from this platform.
For fourteen years, Emily Wilson has been one of the most faithful and unselfish workers on the Coast, has given those years ungrudgingly to all in true service, and we hope she will not lose a single friend because of this step. David Christie has had the seal of God in other fields, and we trust he will have the seal of God in his labors in the Hawaiian Islands.
Lest some should become unduly alarmed because of what has been said, it may be well to say that over 95% of workers in every field voluntarily remain unmarried for the gospel's sake. Less than 5% claim the right to marry, which Paul claimed in I Corinthians 9.
I sincerely hope the Lord will give grace to all to look on this
matter
sensibly, and that the Spirit of Christ will not be grieved by any.
When were the
workers no longer allowed to marry?
Sometime
between 1923 and 1954 in Jack Carroll's territory. Christie's
marriage
was endorsed in 1923; however, after their marriage in 1954, Chester
Sweetland
and Clara Den Herder were not allowed to continue in the work. With
this
policy change, the other married worker couples in the USA were "grandfathered" in; i.e. they remained in the work, but newly married couples were not
allowed
to preach. When the spouse died, some of the surviving spouses
continued
in the work with same sex companions.
See also Letter by Rittenhouse and Sweetland
for changes by J. T. Carroll in married worker policy.
