Manchester Meeting Room, KS
There was an exclusive brethren meeting in Manchester, Dickinson, Kansas from prior to 1898 thru 1903, connected with the TW-Lowe group, that was connected also with the Talmage Meeting Room, which sided with the Tunbridge Wells in 1909. It is believed that the Manchester assembly became a Grant meeting by 1903, considering Ironside's ministering there that year, and continued thru 1933.
It is remembered by a descendant, Bonnie Botz Elliott (b. 1927), that as a small child, her grandparents, Philip Peter Botz (1859-1934) and Gertrude Alden Botz (1870-1949) hosted a regular home meeting in their home in Manchester, that neighbors may have attended. Gertrude was the 2nd to eldest daughter of Judson and his first wife Harriet.
Philip was born in Brussels, Ontario, Canada. Philip and Gertrude's daughter-in-law, May Jury Botz's family was also involved in a similar type meeting at the [[Newbern Assembly, KS|Newbern church], a split from nearby Grace and Truth Gospel Hall, a Grant assembly that existed prior to 1909 to 2010, which eventually joined the Open Brethren (OB), and by the 1950's, known as the Gospel Chapel, of which hived a similar type Brethren meeting in Elm Springs from 1938-1977, as well as bible studies in Salina in the 1960's that resulted in Sunset Bible Chapel, which still exists to this day.
Correspondents for the Talmage meeting room (TW-Lowe EB) that may have met later with the Grant meeting in Manchester include Alexander Henry Martin Sr. (1850-1935), A.H. Seymour, George William Miller (1825-1908), J.T. Moore, & George Wate Brown (1879-1959).
From +1878-1880+, Howard William Kann (b. 1846 Adams Co., PA - d. 1930 Spokane, WA) and his wife Emma Susan Benner Kann (b. 1857 Gettysburg, Adams, PA - d. 1938 Spokane, WA) resided in Cheever township in Dickinson Co., KS. By 1896 they were residing in Spokane. Their daughter Lilly May Kann (b. 1878 Cheever Twp., Dickinson, KS - d. 1944 Walla Walla, WA) was married in 1906 to Jeptha "Charles" Thonney (b. 1883 Walla Walla, WA - d. 1950 Kirkland, King, WA) who was raised in the Walla Walla Meeting Room, WA (TW-eb), a descendant of the founder, Jean Gabriel Thonney (b. 1827 Vullien, Vaud, Switzerland - d. 1902 WW, WA). By 1944, Lilly was in fellowship with that meeting with Charles. It is arguable that Howard & Emma Kann (or Lilly) could have been in fellowship in either the meeting at Chapman or Manchester.
News
1900: Abilene Weekly Reflector
Talmage: "The Plymouth Brethren have closed their revival in the hall and have gone to Manchester to conduct a series of meetings."
1903: Abilene Daily Reflector & Abilene Weekly Reflector
Open Air Meeting: "Mr. H.A. Ironside, Oakland, California, will give a series of Gospel addresses at the residence of Mr. P.P. Botz east of Manchester commencing Tuesday evening, August 18, and continuing over Sunday following Saturday evening, August 22, an open air address will be given at Manchester."
1916: Abilene Weekly Chronicle
Manchester: "Special services were held at the Baptist church Sunday evening by a minister from the Plymouth Brethren at Minneapolis, Minnesota."
1933
At BrethrenArchive.com can be found a lengthy document between A.E. Booth and Wilfred Ames protesting a situation with an assembly in London, England known as Kingsland which was allegedly going open. The document includes transcriptions from a couple dozen letters around the U.S. that similarly protested, including one from Abilene, marked Aug. 4, 1933 that stated, "we approve the Minneapolis, Dunkirk and other similar letters" with regard to their circulars. The letter was signed the following from Abilene:
- R.A. Deardorff
- J.H. Miller
- George Roggendorff
- George Gruen
- Tim Gruen
- J.A. Deardorff
It also included signatures from:
- Virgle A. Britt @ Junction City
- F.E. Britt @ Junction City
- P.P. Botz @ Manchester
- A.C. Botz @ Talmage
- E.E. Higginbottom @ Lawrence