Large Crowd Attends Homecoming At Roley Christian Church

Four Charter Members of Church Organized Fifty Years Ago, Are Present At Celebration.

The fifty year celebration and homecoming held at the Roley Christian Church, at Casey Creek on Sunday, had a record crowd in attendance. People from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and many points in Kentucky were present and enjoyed the day. The weather was ideal and a Courier-Journal photographer was on the ground from early morning until the close.

Tables, 120 feet in length, were loaded with good food and the anniversary cake was beautiful. Only four charter members of the church were present: Mrs. C.O. McWhorter, of Campbellsville, Ky., Route 1, who is 91 years old; Mrs. G.W. Beard, of Campbellsville, a niece of Mrs. McWhorter; Mrs. Eva Chelf, of Casey Creek, who is a sister of Mrs. McWhorter and G.L. Wolford [see note below], of Casey Creek. Mrs. McWhorter and Mrs. Chelf are granddaughters of Joseph Knifley, a pioneer preacher of the Restoration Movement, who was prominent on Casey Creek and in the vicinity over half a century ago.

Tradition has it that Bro. Knifley was one of the greatest influences in establishing the first Christian Church in the Casey Creek section. He has many descendants still living in the community, most of whom have been interested in the same cause which interested him, that of restoring the New Testament Church as he saw it. Casey Creek and Knifley communities pay tribute to this good man. Joe Knifley, of Columbia, is a grandson of Rev. Joseph Knifley.

The pastor, Rev. L.C. Young, presided over the program. Bro. Morris Beard, from Oklahoma, who is a son of Mrs. G.W. Beard, charter member mentioned above, was present and lectured on the Sunday School lesson. His lesson on one of the most common evils of the day, "Profanity," was very interesting. He is minister of the Christian Church at Enid, Okla., and is a native of the Casey Creek community.

Offerings and letters were received from several former members of the church including Dr. M.R. Gabbard, teacher of Philosophy in the University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, Pa., and a former pastor of the church, who was baptized at the age of seven; Mrs. Will Hopkins, of Los Angeles, Calif., who was married in the church fifty years ago [see note below], and Mrs. Ermine Chelf Jones, of Illinois.

Visiting ministers included Rev. E.T. Nichols, of Elizabethtown; Rev. L.R. Fugit, of Columbia; and Rev. Carl Allen, of the Whitley City Christian Church, who was accompanied by the Whitley City Gospel Quartette, who rendered several numbers.

Rev. Ben Hunt, pastor of the Christian Church at Liberty, preached on the "Power of the Gospel," and the quartette from Chestnut Grove added to the occasion with several songs. Bro. Thad Bowen and Mrs. Bowen gave several numbers on the accordian. The pastor paid tribute to the charter members including one not present, Mrs. J.A. Williams, now 93 years of age, and to all service men of the church. A memorial program was offered for the two who did not return, one having made the supreme sacrifice on Saipan and the other in France.

Mrs. Wayne Goode paid tribute to the country church in a reading.

All officers of the church were present except E.B. Chelf and S.S. Goode, who were unable to attend due to ill health.