Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Order of Microfilming

Introduction

The sermons of Martha P. Jordan Moore are owned by Bulah Hinkle, Lyons, Ohio. They were transferred for microfilming on January 25, 1994, to the Center for Archival Collections with the assistance of Naomi Twining, Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Twining also researched and write the biographical sketch of Martha Moore, written below. The sermons reflect the education and beliefs of Martha Moore who was a Universalist minister at the Stryker parish in Fulton County, Ohio, from approximately 1910 to shortly before her death in 1916. Also included in the collection are two newspapers providing information on the Universalist Church in Lyons, Ohio.

Biographical Sketch

Rev. Moore was born May 17, 1843, the daughter of Rebecca and Amos Hosmar Jordan. Mr. Jordan is famed as the contractor for the first Fulton County Courthouse at Ottokee, Ohio. Mr. Jordan also was a founding member of the Lyons Universalist Church, 1867-1868, and was one of the original settlers in Fulton County, arriving in 1834.

Martha Jordan married Thomas H. Moore in 1869 and to this union were born three sons. Poor health plagued Thomas Moore and he died in 1907. Also all three of Martha's sons predeceased her. Martha suffered herself from poor health and difficult financial circumstances. At the age of sixty-six, finding it necessary to support herself, she sought work as a Universalist minister. She was licensed and ordained in June 1910, by the Ohio Convention in Plain City. She settled in Stryker and remained minister for the parish until shortly before her death in Lyons, March 25, 1916.

The legacy of Rev. Moore's sermons and addresses reveal a deep sensitivity for others, and a wonderful intellect. Included in the dozens of sermons is an oration on the death of Clara Barton, the famed humanitarian and Universalist, who died in 1912.

Scope and Content

The sermons of Martha Jordan Moore were individually wrapped in colored paper and tied with string. The paper would sometimes provide the date(s) and location(s) the sermon was given. The sermons have been removed from these papers and are filmed by date with titles and location provided, if known. Some sermons have no title and/or date and they are filmed next. Several loose papers, parts of sermons, were found and these are filmed at the end of all of the sermons. A poem by Julia C. Aldrich, titled "Thanksgiving Day" along with parts of two newspapers, the Morenci Observer, August 29, 1918; and the Lyons Herald, August 15, 1902, are filmed last. Both papers include articles on the Universalist Church in Lyons.

Order of Microfilming

Roll 1

1. Sermon: He should feed his flock like a shepherd
   Given at Stryker, January 24, 1909; Lyons, August 1915
2. Sermon: Fundamentals of success
   Given at Stryker, February 7, 1909
3. Sermon: I was glad when they said unto me...
   Given at Stryker, February 28, 1909
4. Sermon: The Unavoidable Christ
   Given at Stryker, May 23, 1909
5. Sermon: In Memoriam (May 30th celebration in honor of veterans)
   Given May 23, 1909 (ends page 12, probably missing pages)
6. Sermon: Upward and Outward Look
   Given at Stryker, June 6, 1909
7. Sermon: The Parable of the Leaf
   Given at Stryker, October 24, 1909; Lyons, 1915 (Golden Rule Mothers Club)
8. Sermon: Christmas
   Given at Stryker, 1909
9. Sermon: New Year's Sermon, 1909-1910
   Given at Stryker, January 1, 1909
10. Sermon: God's Hedge Men
    Given at Stryker, May 1, 1910; Lyons, October 1914, Stryker, November 7, 1914
11. Sermon: The Church of the Living God
    Given at Stryker, May 15, 1910
12. Sermon: The Christ Triumphs
    Given at Stryker, June 14, 1910 and August 14, 1910; Lyons, October 19, 19(10); Stryker, July 1911
13. Sermon: Peace of Babylon
    Given at Stryker, June 1910 and November 1914; Lyons, November 18, 1914
14. Sermon: There is one God: The Father of all and in you all
    Given at Stryker, June 25, 1911, July 8, 1911, and November 20, 1911
15. Sermon: Untitled
    Given at Stryker, October 1, 1911 (page 8 is not missing, instead it is a pagination error)
16. Sermon: Soul Developments
    Given at Stryker, December 17, 1911
17. Sermon: Seek ye First the Kingdom of God
    Given at Stryker, January 1912
    Note: On the backside of each page is another sermon which is untitled and given at Stryker, August 2, 1908 (see #18)
18. Sermon: Untitled
    Given at Stryker, August 2, 1908 (see #17)
19. Sermon: Soldiers Memorial
    Given at Stryker, May 26, 1912
20. Sermon: Untitled
    Given at Stryker, February 16, 1913
21. Sermon: Lincoln's Thoughts of God
    Given at Stryker, March 2, 1913;; Lyons, 1915
22. Sermon: St. Paul
    Given at Stryker, May 25, 1913 (pages may be missing after page 10)
23. Sermon: The Road
    Given at Stryker, July 7, 1913, October 1913, and October 1914; Lyons in 1915
24. Sermon: Given at funeral of John M. Welker, original member of the Universalist Church in Bryan, Ohio (founded July 10, 1870). Given October 30, 1914
25. Sermon: Dr. Dawson, Evangelist
    Given at Stryker, August 1, ?
26. Sermon: And death shall be no more
    No date or location provided
27. Sermon: Be not anxious
    No date or location provided
28. Sermon: Christening
    No date or location provided
29. Sermon: Ephesians 2, 12th
    No date or location provided (page 14 is not missing, instead it is a pagination error)
30. Sermon: Mothers Day Sermon
    No date or location provided
31. Sermon: Untitled
    No date or location provided
32. Sermon: Untitled
    No date or location provided
33. Talk on the death of Brother Samuel York and talk one year later about Samuel York
    No date or location provided
34. One sheet from funeral sermon for Mrs. Francis Miller, wife of John Miller, an original member of the Universalist Church in Bryan, Ohio
35. Parts of funeral sermons
36. Parts of sermons
37. Poem: Thanksgiving Day, by Julia C. Aldrich, November 1910
38. The Lyons Herald, August 15, 1902
39. The Morenci Observer, August 29, 1918

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