Article from United Church News, March 2003

They are Christian women who have gathered at least once a year for 75 years. They refer to themselves as a sisterhood in Christ. They are Lantern Fellowship – women gathering away from home and church responsibilities for a time of community, worship, spiritual renewal and learning.

One of Lantern’s organizers, Marion Ballou Fiske, said, "it is a blessed thing to commune with the Master alone—but there is strength that comes from group worship. I have found in Lantern Fellowship...things I have needed: faith renewed, courage strengthened, friendship deepened, peace attained."

The gathering was inspired by stories told by a retired missionary returning from a trip to Asia in 1924. She was deeply impressed by Christian women in China who gathered to live, plan and pray together in religious and educational retreats.

After her return, the Ohio women of the Conference Board of Missions of the Congregational Christian Churches decided to try a similar meeting. Organizers Marion Fiske and Lydia Davis convened a women’s retreat on a cold, blustery day in September 1928. Fifteen women met at Lantern Lodge, a cottage on Lake Erie near Huron. Sunshine warmed the study groups wrapped in sweaters and blankets on the cottage porch.

"Living together was a rather hilarious reality," wrote Martha Lebold, one of the organizers of today’s Lantern. "They had crowded dining quarters, four-and-six-to-a-room bedrooms and very thin partitions."

The women decided to call their group a "fellowship" rather than a "retreat" because the word implies going backward. The other part of their name is presumably taken from Lantern Lodge, the location of their first meeting.

Annual fall Lantern meetings continued during the 1930s and 1940s, at Oberlin Inn and then Oberlin College. In September 1957, Helen Huntington Smith took over leadership of the group, which met for the first time at the UCC’s Pilgrim Hills Camp.

Callie Budd oversaw the Lantern organization for the next 35 years. "She was the woman who did it all for about 30 years," said Roxanne Michel, one of today’s Lantern organizers. "When Callie passed away, she was sorely missed."

The Lantern participants created the Callie Budd Scholarship Fund in her honor. A portion of each worship offering is added to the fund to assist those who may not have enough money to attend Lantern," said Michel.

What is Lantern Fellowship like today? "It’s very hard to explain what Lantern is," said Michel. It’s more than a women’s retreat. It’s a ‘spiritualness’ that you receive. Whatever you’re looking for, you can probably find it there."

Being surrounded by nature is very much a part of the Lantern experience. "The beauty of Pilgrim Hills lifts our hearts and spirits..." said Helen Davidson of the Spring 2002 gathering.

A comment from Marge LaRoche, Emanuel UCC, Doylestown: "I love nature and the walk in the woods for my quiet time. I feel closer to God…"

Since 1971, a spring weekend has been added at the request of working women. "For women who work or who have children," said Michel, who has attended Lantern meetings for about ten years, "the spring is easier to attend because it’s held Friday-Sunday. The fall meeting is on Monday - Wednesday, so it draws a smaller, and a little older, crowd."

"The older women in the fall are very dynamic and grounded in faith. There’s something about being surrounded by the ‘wiseness’ of older women. It’s a great feeling."

The opportunity to grow in faith is very important to Lantern women. "The women come wanting to learn," said Michel. "There is such a desire for the women to grow in God’s grace and in the knowledge of what God has to give us."

There is some concern within the group about the need to attract new members and to counteract the perception by some that Lantern is not seeking more women to join them.

"We want Lantern to grow," said Michel. The group is making efforts, she says, to try to make everyone feel comfortable. "We want to approach women and say ‘Come and spend the weekend with these women where you can sing and you can be loved and hear what God has to say.’"

Weather permitting, morning watch and evening vespers are held out of doors. Women can choose to help plan a service. "It’s a great opportunity for women to share their faith by preparing a small service," Michel said.

At the last worship service, the group takes an offering. Sometimes they will use it to purchase items for Pilgrim Hills, such as dining hall chairs and plywood supports for under the camp’s mattresses. They also have sent funds to purchase shoes for children in developing countries, through SARA, Sharing America’s Resources Abroad.

Each meeting has a theme and a featured speaker. Music and fun night are special parts of Lantern. On fun night, songs and skits are created to gently tease the speaker of the week, and women share music or poetry of their own or jokes or stories they have read.

"Many women think ahead to fun night and come prepared with ideas in mind and clothing ready for their skit," said Michel.

She emphasizes that the Lantern experience is very flexible. "You can go and hear the speakers, or you can lay in bed... You can walk around the campgrounds; you can hike to the cross. Lantern is intended to be a renewing of your spirit."