REV. W. K. PINER COMES TOMORROW

PROMINENT MEMPHIS MINISTER HAS ACCEPTED CALL TO THE M.E. CHURCH SOUTH

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Rev. W. K. Piner, the noted Memphis divine who has accepted a call to the First M.E. church, south, in this city, is expected to arrive here Wednesday. He resigned the pastorate of the wealthiest congregation in the Tennessee metropolis to come to Oklahoma City, which indicates that he has faith in the present and future of this city. Rev. Piner is noted as a pulpiteer and as a church builder and is said to have few equals in pastoral work. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Piner and their three children, two of whom, a son and daughter are grown. Members of the Oklahoma City congregation are greatly elated at securing for their pastor this noted minister and Re. Piner and family will receive a cordial welcome to Oklahoma City.

Source: The Oklahoman November 15, 1904 Page 3

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(04/13/1905) Two Norman People Married. At the parlors of the Grand Avenue hotel at 8 o'clock last night, L.C. Allen and Mrs. Isabelle Glaser of Norman were joined in marriage by Rev. W.K. Piner of the M.E. church, south. The couple was attended by C.W. Bessant and Fred Carder and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Allen will leave for Winfield, Kansas, this morning where they will spend several days visiting friends before returning to their home in Norman. Mr. Allen is a prominent business man of Norman.

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LOSS OF PASTOR

The Rev. Dr. M. K. Piner, pastor of the St. Luke's Methodist church of this city, announcement of whose transfer to the pastorate of the First Methodist church of Tampa, Fla., a city having a population of 55,000, was made exclusively by the Oklahoman yesterday, will preach his farewell sermon in the local church Sunday, November 11, the close of the conference year, and will leave with his family that week for his new field of labor. The announcement of his transfer was received with sincere regret by members of the congregation of the church and by the many friends he has made and the acquaintances he has formed durings his two years residence in the city. He has been closely identified with every movement tending to the betterment of the city during his two years residence here and it was mainly through his efforts that the Rev. Sam Jones came to Oklahoma City some weeks ago the conduct revival services. The transfer to the Florida pastorate is made because of Mrs. Piner's health and in the hopes that in the new home she will regain her health. Rev. Piner came to Oklahoma City two years ago from Memphis, Tenn., where he was pastor of the Central church, for three years prior to coming here. He has been a minister of the gospel twenty-five years, entering his life's work at Gainesville, Tex., going from there to Kentucky and being pastor of the Walnut and Chestnut avenue churches in Louisville, Ky. Later he was assigned to the Central church in Memphis and succeded Rev. L. M. Broyles in the local church, when the latter was transferred to Columbus, Miss. The local church has prospored and increased in membership under the leadership of Rev. Piner, the membership now being about six hundred. Within the past few months property has been purchased at the corner of Eighth street and Robinson avenue on which will be erected the proposed new $75,000 church edifice and a new parsonage. The amount of $30,000 has already been subscribed by the membership towards the building fund. In addition to this sum the church owns its own property on Third street valued at $15,000. The congregation will meet Sunday afternoon at the church to express its wishes to Bishop J. J. Tigert of Louisville, Ky., as to the successor of Rev. Piner. Just who will succeed him is not known, the matter being left entirely in the hands of the bishop. It is known that a number of the members are favorable to the appointment of Rev. Knickerbocker, pastor of Trinity church of Dallas, Tex., providing he can be secured. The successor of Rev. Piner will be announced at the Indian mission conference at Tulsa next week.

Source: The Oklahoman October 19, 1906 Page 5

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Weddings

The engagement of Miss Mary Piner, formerly of this city, but now of Tampa, Fla., to Mr. Joe Offut, has been announced, and the wedding will take place May 20th, at the bride's home. Both the bride and the groom are well known socially here, being members of the younger set. The bride is a daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Piner, her father being a former pastor of the White Temple, and a sister of Mrs. Ray Colcord, one of the young society matrons of the city. The groom is a travelling salesman for Carroll, Brough & Robinson and is a member of the Jol de Vie, an exclusive bachelor organization. Mrs. and Mrs. Ray Colcord will probably go south for the wedding.

Source: The Oklahoman April 19, 1908 Page 38

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ENABLES PASTOR TO RETURN HERE

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M.E. CONFERENCE TRANSFERS REV. W. K. PINER--SEVENTEEN ARE RETIRED

By granting the Rev. W. K. Piner, former pastor of St. Luke's church in Oklahoma City, a location at his own request, the M.E. conference yesterday made it possible for him to take up his residence here again. His many friends here would be glad to see him back and it is known that he would enjoy living here. The Rev. Mr. Piner is very much broken in health and will probably not be able to take up any active work for some time. He was pastor at Louisville after leaving here and was yesterday transferred to the Oklahoma conference from the Florida conference.

Source: except from The Oklahoman November 11, 1908 Page 5

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Ruth Crawford (born 10/29/1909), the daughter of Earl and Emma Crawford, died January 17, 1911. Eight months later Elizabeth succumbed to her illness on September 29, 1911. Her pastor, Reverend W. K. Piner of Galloway Methodist, officiated over the service. She was laid to rest at Griffin Cemetery, a few yards from her great-granddaughter Ruth. (unsure of location spoken of, but it is possible it was in Florida)
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Dr. R. D. Piner, former pastor of St. Luke's Methodist church, died early Monday at his home in Lakeland, Fla., of heart disease.  The 78-year-old retired Methodist minister was pastor of the church here from 1903-1906 and had visited in Oklahoma City many times since that time.  Known to members of his church as the "singing pastor," Mr. Piner was instrumental in the purchase of the land and the construction of St. Lukes church on its present site.  He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Joseph E. Offutt, 6506 Northwest Grand Blvd.  Mrs. Offutt and her husband were with Mr. Piner at the time of his death.  Services and burial will be in Lakeland.
South:  The Oklahoman March 9, 1943 Page 2  submitted by Pam Black

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