| | Abstract: | The Gospel Worker Society (founded in 1895 by Reverend William Brunner Musselman) is a nondenominational Christian missionary ministry designed to reach people outside of an established church community, and to encourage them to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This goal was reached by holding missionary meetings, daily colportage work, tent meetings and saloon work. In 1896 two branches of the Home Missionary Society were established, one being for men and one for women. In 1897 the Women's Home Missionary Society was changed to the Gospel Worker Society, and has remained the Society's name since. Although it started in Annandale, New Jersey, the Gospel Worker Society soon spread to various towns, including Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In 1907 the Gospel Worker Society (as well as their publishing company: the Herald Publishing House) moved their headquarters to Cleveland, Ohio. They resided in a fifteen-building complex on the corner of West Seventh and Jefferson Avenue. In order to stop distributing nondenominational literature that was not written by the Society itself, the Herald Publishing House was started in 1902 by the Society to print its own literature for distribution. After much expansion and numerous name changes the Herald Publishing House became known as the Union Gospel Press in 1922. In 1938 Rev. Musselman passed away, and his youngest daughter, Miss Mary E. Musselman, was elected as president, who led the nonprofit organization until her death in 1971. After Miss Musselman's death, Miss Julia P. Stabley was elected president until her retirement in 1990. Today (as of June 2007) The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Workers Society and Union Gospel Press is under the leadership of Mrs. Beryl C. Bidlen, who was elected president in 1990. In 1950 the Gospel Workers Society and the Union Gospel Press moved to their present locations (as of June of 2007) at the corner of Brookpark Road (State Route 17) and Broadview Road (State Route 176). The collection consists of group photographs of members of the Society as well as information on a house located at 2028 Corning Street in Cuyahoga County, a photograph album, and a scrapbook. | |
