Flashback to a 1917 reunion: Letter from a Canadian young adult at Erie Beach

By John Hamer, Canada East Mission Centre Historian

J.H. Yager, a young member of the church in 1917 wrote his pal, L.C. Riegle, in Michigan. (It was popular at the time for people to be known by their first two initials.)  J.H. had just attended the Erie Beach Reunion, which included a youth service held on the sand of the beach itself.  According to J.H., the youth service was “wonderful” — “the best I ever attended.”  In his retelling, the youth service lasted four hours!  “We numbered 132 and marched 4 abreast about a mile down the beach.”   The youth service included “99 testimonies, 13 prayers, 29 songs” along with “26 administration[s]” (laying on of hands). RLDS practice at the time included speaking in tongues, along with the interpretation of tongues, and J.H. notes that the service included “10 gifts of Prophecy.”

J.H. says that the Reunion overall was attended by about 1,000 people camping in 100 tents.  He and his friends were eager to head next to the Lowbanks Reunion (one of the other traditional reunion grounds in Ontario in the early 1900s). 
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The letter, recently discovered by volunteer archivist Lee Updike, is an incredible window into our past reunion practices and excitement shared by young adults in Canada over a century ago.  The US had just entered the First World War, and J.H. has heard the news that his pal in Michigan has been drafted.  Lee has donated the letter to the Doris Hillyard Memorial Library and Archives at Toronto Centre Place where it will be preserved as part of the history of Community of Christ in Canada.


Transcript Follows:
INTERIOR PAGE 1
Bothwell, Ont.
Aug. 10, 1917

Mr. L[eo].C. Riegle
Flint Mich.

Dear Bro,
Your letter just read and am sure glad to hear from you but am sorry to hear that you have been drafted and hope you will not pass the examination. But then you are not the only one who has been called for service.

Well Leo, I am fine and the reunion has past and a wonderful reunion it was too, I wish you had been there. There were about 100 tents on the grounds and the last Sun[day] there were about 1,000 people present and 24 were baptized.

On Thursday morning the young people held a prayer meeting on the beach sitting right on the sand.  We numbered 132 and marched 4 abreast about a mile down the beach [–] opened our service about 7:45 and did not close until 11:45.  99 testimonies, 13 prayers, 29 songs, 26 administration filled in the time with 10 gifts of Prophecy and some were instantly healed.  It was wonderful the best I ever attended; a number of the young people were spoken too. 

INTERIOR PAGE 2
I am now at Bothwell for a visit but not to visit Miss Dent as there is a new girl now.

Yesterday we motored to Chatham 35 mi[les] and back. Tomorrow night we start for Lowbanks Reunion 150 miles in auto and from there to Niagara Falls about 45 miles farther.  Some trip. There will be five of us men. A regular lark.

I saw Bro & Sr Belile at Erie Beach. Tell all the folks Hello --

Love from your Pal,
J.H. Yager
Bothwell, Ont.


ENVELOPE:
J.H. Yager
Bothwell, Ont.
130 young people 4 abreast walked a mile down the beach at prayer meeting
Reunion Report
Erie Beach Reunion
Mr. L.C. Riegle
752 Baker St.
Flint Michigan
POSTAGE:  1 cent Canadian stamp, 2 cent Canadian stamp
POSTMARK:  BOTHWELL ONT. AUG 10 [19]17