Notorious Newton - The First Sermon

Preaching in the Wickedest Town in the West

The 1st Methodist Church got it's start when Rev. Milton Haun decided to hold church in the Gold Room Saloon located in the 500 Block of Main in the fall of1871.

According to several sources, Haun asked the proprietor of the saloon for permission to hold a religious service the next day. The proprietor, the son of a Methodist preacher, gave permission and offered to bring his Methodist hymnal to help with the singing.

The next day Haun arrived at the saloon, which was crowded with men playing cards and drinking. He "selected a familiar hymn, which the proprietor and the women joined in. Then he read a passage of scripture after which he offered a very impressive prayer." Haun later recalled that it was so quiet at the close of the prayer "you could have heard a pin drop." However, that must have been about all the church the cowboys felt was necessary, because as Haun recalled, "when he began to talk of Christ and Him being crucified, . . . the men got restless and noisy."

Haun remembered that "they asked him to have something to drink. He refused the invitation." He was then offered a glass of lemonade. Suspicious, Haun stated he "would only drink the lemonade provided he saw it being made." He concluded his story by noting that the proprietor walked him to the door and gave him a five dollar bill.

Rev. Milton Mars Haun was one of the larger than life people in Newton's early history and is usually credited with being the first preacher to preach in wild and wicked Newton. One can imagine a fiery, confident minister walking into a saloon, singing a hymn, and leading a stunned, silent crowd in prayer. Haun was confident in his convictions. In later descriptions, Haun was described as a "radical prohibitionist." Those that knew Haun noted it would have been completely out of character for Haun to drink anything other than water after his sermon in the Gold Room Saloon.

(Kristine Schmucker)

Kristine Schmucker, Curator, Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives, published 03/02/2022, Voices of Harvey County