USA > Indiana > Adams County > Berne > A history of the First Missionary Church, Berne, Indiana > Part 1
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A HISTORY of the BERNE, INDIANA
FIRST MISSIONARY CHURCH
A HISTORY
of The First Missionary Church Berne, Indiana
Its Origin Its People
Its Leaders Its Auxiliary Organizations Its Growth . Its New Church Home
By Caroline I. Hirschy 1960
Printed in the U.S.A. by Economy Printing Concern, Inc., Berne, Indiana
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
to the memory of faithful laymen and ministers who by their tireless efforts have, under God, prepared the way for succeeding generations ... on the day of dedication of the new house of worship, October 2, 1960.
A HISTORY
In the last decade of the nineteenth century some of the people of Berne and surrounding area experienced a great spiritual awakening. This was the result of the definite and clear message of salvation and sancti- fication preached by the Rev. A. E. Funk and Dr. A. B. Simpson. Rev. Funk was a member of a German Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. He and Dr. Simpson held revivals as they traveled among the German people in the Middle West.
In the middle nineties Rev. J. A. Sprunger of Berne, and a member of the General Conference Mennonites was led into a new Christian ex- perience. While on a trip to Switzerland he was ordained to the ministry. Later he ministered under the institutional name Light and Hope. He founded deaconess homes and hospitals in Chicago and Cleveland. He founded an orphanage at Berne; here he also conducted a Bible Training School and established a publishing house for the printing of religious literature; he edited and published the monthly magazine "Licht und Hoffnung" which later was printed in English with the name "Light and Hope.'
A young minister, Rev. J. E. Ramseyer, of the Defenseless Mennonite Church in Michigan became acquainted with Rev. Funk and Dr. Simpson. Rev. Ramseyer conducted revivals in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Kansas. He preached the sterner truths of the Gospel including sin and judgment; he emphasized the deeper life or sanctification, divine healing, and the second coming of Christ. He began to preach in English so he could reach more people with the Gospel. These genuine revivals spread their effects over entire communities transforming them by the power of God. The results produced many ministers and missionaries. In the summer of 1896 he held a camp meeting in Berne, also one in the oil field area southwest of Berne.
These ministers believed that there should be a uniting of the German speaking people to expedite cooperation and concerted effort in the propagation of the Gospel both at home and in foreign lands. In the years of many revivals, missionary passion was quickened. Although no united work resulted at this time, the inspiration of the meetings was projected far into the future.
Rev. Sprunger started a Sunday School, worship services, and prayer meetings at the orphanage for the children and the workers in the home. The Sunday services were held in the afternoon. Some cottage prayer meetings were held in the summer and fall. Rev. Sprunger was pastor, Adam Welty, the school teacher, was superintendent of the Sunday School, and song leader. Mrs. Sprunger, the deaconesses, and other workers in the home were Sunday School teachers.
Several German families of the Defenseless Mennonite Church, and a few other people living in Berne and in the nearby rural areas started
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to attend church at the orphanage in 1893. Others came in the next few years. They liked Rev. Sprunger's preaching; they were interested in the children and workers. They often brought food from the farms to them. On other occasions they invited them to their homes.
These families became very much interested in missions, their in- terest was increased and strengthened by the monthly Mission Band Services. Carrie Peters and Anna Sudermann had organized the Band to give more emphasis to missions. Later the two deaconesses were mis- sionaries in India.
Our Mission Band is the outgrowth of these early missionary meet- ings. It has met regularly through more than half a century, with the missionary emphasis being its objective. The present Mission Band has ten to twelve meetings a year on the Sunday when a home or foreign missionary can be present to give the message. The Mission Band in- cludes everyone in the Church who is interested.
About the year 1895 a need arose for the help of women to sew garments and make bedding for the people in the orphanage. Mrs. Sprunger received help from the women attending the church. They worked together in making many garments and some bedding for the chil- dren in the home. They met as a body on the first Thursday afternoon of each month. Much of the machine work was done in homes of the women of the congregation. The Women's Missionary Society is an out- growth of the work started by Mrs. Sprunger. There are now four de- partments. Each group meets monthly and has its own missionary project.
The Ladies' Aid, the oldest group, has a membership of about 35. They make bedding and garments for children, especially infants; they furnish funds for some equipment for our foreign missionaries. For many years they sent bedding and clothing to Sarah Roth in Chicago, to give to destitute people in that city.
The Dorcas Missionary Circle organized in 1955 with Mrs. Eli Sprunger as president. The membership is about 40. This group of young mothers usually meets in the evening. Their work supplements that of the older group. One of their special projects is remembering the missionaries and their families with birthday and Christmas greetings. They also give showers to missionaries on furlough on special occasions.
The Girls' Auxiliary organized in 1926. Salome Schug was presi- dent. This group of working girls has about 15 members. They also have supplied outgoing missionaries with necessary equipment. For a number of years they have given the Detroit Missionary Workers many articles and funds needed in a city mission.
The Girls Sewing Circle, a group of girls 10 to 18 years, works under a sponsor; Martha Hirschy is the present sponsor. Betty Schindler started the work at her home about 20 years ago. The girls make scrap books, stuffed toys, baby comforters and quilts, aprons and bibs for the Bethany Children's Home, Inc. at Bethany, Kentucky. They make folders out of Sunday School and greeting cards which the missionaries give as awards to the native children.
In 1896 about fourteen families attended the services at the Orphans Home. The larger congregation felt a need for a larger place of wor- ship. This same year the Reformed people were building a new church
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on Main Street and offered their old building on Jefferson and Water Streets for sale. This was Berne's first schoolhouse built in 1877 by the trustee of Monroe Township. Berne built its own school house in 1888. The Reformed people bought the old schoolhouse, remodeled it and used it for a church until 1896. Rev. J. A. Sprunger and his congre- gation bought the building for $700.00. The deed was made on De- cember 12, 1896 to the trustees of The United Missionary Church. The trustees were J. J. Amstutz, J. J. Hirschy and John Lehman.
The church was a small white frame building with a tall steeple. It was heated by a large wood stove in the middle of the room. It was lighted by natural gas. The pews in the balcony of the brick church came from the little white church.
The pews were arranged in two sections with a wide aisle between them. The low pulpit at the west end was flanked on both side with three pews. Naturally speaking, it was an uncomfortable building with meager facilities. The congregation, however, was happy to have their own place of worship. There are many memories of good revivals, great missionary zeal and blessed fellowship while worshipping in the little white church.
In 1896 Rev. J. A. Sprunger was pastor, Adam Welty, the school- teacher, was Sunday School superintendent. Mrs. Sprunger, the workers and other members were Sunday School teachers.
Early in 1897 the church became adjusted in its new place of wor- ship. Rev. Sprunger continued as pastor, David S. Sprunger was the first Sunday School superintendent; Sarah Stucky, Katie Lehman, Mrs. J. A. Sprunger and J. J. Amstutz were some of the teachers, Lillie Hirschy was organist, J. U. Amstutz was song leader.
Rev. William Egle who was associated with Rev. Sprunger in the Light and Hope Society, became the first regular pastor of the church in 1898.
For several years there were struggles in the older fellowship of the Defenseless Mennonite Church. The issues over which the battle raged were some of the great truths and doctrines of the Bible; the revivals of these years centered around these truths. Many in the church believed that baptism by immersion was the Bible way of baptism. For several years Rev. J. E. Ramseyer had strong convictions concerning this doctrine. In 1896 he was baptized by immersion while attending a convention at Beulah Park, Cleveland, Ohio. In the summer of 1897 many of the church were baptized by immersion. These people believed they should unite to worship together, and hoped to have a church home eventually.
The next year 1898 a call went out to many ministers and laymen to convene near Berne, Indiana, for the last three days of August. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the organization of a new church. A suggestion was made that they unite with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which at that time was undenominational. After much prayer and consultation the group under God's guidance decided to effect a new church organization. Rev. J. E. Ramseyer, Rev. J. A. Sprunger, and Rev. Wm. Egle had a vital part in this decision.
The Missionary Church Association was founded August 29, 1898. The choosing of a name for the new organization was a consideration of great importance. The word 'Church', according to the Greek, means
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called out ones; the word 'Association' speaks of a oneness and fellow- ship. 'Missionary' speaks of the spirit of witnessing, of going, and tell- ing. Missionary work seemed to be the reason for which they wanted to be organized. The first officers were Rev. A. E. Funk, president, Rev. J. E. Ramseyer, vice-president, Rev. Wm. Egle, secretary, David Schindler of the Berne community, treasurer.
The Berne Church, became a member of the Association later in 1898 and was named Berne Missionary Church.
Rev. Egle's ministry in the Berne church was richly blessed of God. In the second year of his pastorate a great revival continuing through six weeks resulted in more than one hundred decisions for Christ. The church grew in numbers and spiritual life.
THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH
REV. WILLIAM EGLE
Interest in missions increased. Giving for the cause of missions was a vital part for all ages in the church. The children's interest was promoted by the little wooden cylindrical banks with screw tops. The first record of a children's offering is dated Thanksgiving 1901. This offering was sent to the Armenian orphans. The Berne Church preceded other churches in the Association in children's missionary offerings.
Rev. Solomon Klopfenstein who was assistant pastor in 1901 and 1902, became regular pastor of the church in 1903 and served until 1904. In 1901 the church started keeping written records of its activities. The records were in German until 1907. The German language was used in the Sunday morning service many years and was still required in part of the service in 1919. The first hymn book was "Gemeinde Gesangbuch." The Sunday School used the song book "Honey Out of the Rock."
When Mrs. J. E. Ramseyer, wife of the Association president, at- tended her first convention at Pandora, Ohio, in 1902, she determined that children should receive some inspiration and impressions of a mis- sionary convention. She believed that the spirit of missions must be planted in their hearts; as they grow up they must be prepared to go,
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to give, and to pray. Through her great effort the first children's meet- ing was planned. From this first meeting of the children has grown the Sunshine Makers movement of the Missionary Church Association. In the 1903 convention little banks in the shape of small jugs were dis- tributed to fifty children. The shape of the missionary jug has changed several times. Now it is in the form of an acorn. The first breaking of the Missionary jugs was at the 1904 convention at Swanton, Ohio. In 1905 at Pandora, Ohio the name "Sunshine Makers" was chosen. Re- quests for jugs came from many churches. The children of the Berne Church received jugs about at this time. For a few years the jug break- ing service was at the annual convention. Soon the jug breaking service was held in the individual churches. A large number of children take part in this important service. In 1918 Elton Roth wrote the words and music of the Sunshine Makers' Song. He dedicated it to Mrs. Ramseyer.
The Sunshine Makers money has gone into practically all mission fields of the Association. The funds have supplied the full support of two missionaries, Miss Affie Smoots in Africa, and Miss Mary DeGarmo in China. Now the funds are applied to the support of the children of the missionaries.
Rev. A. M. Clauser was pastor of the church in 1904 and 1905. He was the first pastor to receive a specified salary. It was $20.00 a month.
Rev. E. F. Clauser, brother of the former pastor, served the church one year 1905 to 1906. The young people of the church felt they should have an organization through which they could enjoy Christian fellow- ship and develop their spiritual lives. Rev. Clauser was interested in their ideas and plans and gave them much encouragement and guidance.
In January 1905 the pastor cooperated with the pastors of the other Berne churches in the first Union Meetings. Rev. S. D. Gordon Cleve- land, Ohio was the main speaker in the afternoon and evening services. The German speaker Rev. Wm. Leich held services in the morning. Mr. Gabriel was song leader.
The Union meetings have been conducted annually since 1905, with all churches cooperating.
In the December-January 1907-1908 meeting Rev. M. S. Rees was the speaker. A revival began which continued two weeks. The local pastors preached in the second week. The spiritual awakening was com- munity wide; it was compared with the revivals of 1886 and 1894.
The Berne Ministerial Association made plans for revival meetings in January of 1950. The evangelist, Rev. Harold Walker, song leader, George Pike, children's worker, Louise Kimmel and Prof. Ira Gerig, pianist, held meetings in the large Mennonite Church January 1 to 15. Rev. Walker was at his best, he preached convincing sermons, and God's blessing was on the meetings. The large church was filled to capacity. Young people responded to the call of God. In the two weeks 308 decisions for Christ were made.
Through the years many eminent teachers have preached the great truths of the Bible, including salvation, consecration, Christian service and prophecy.
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In the years 1906 to 1911 Rev. H. H. Amstutz was pastor of the church. In 1908 the Young People organized under the name Young Peoples' Society of Christian Endeavor. They had regular one-half hour services each Sunday evening. Their objective was to promote an ear- nest Christian life among the members and make them more useful in the service of the Lord. The first president was Caroline I. Hirschy. The organization continued under this name until about 1914 when it was called The Young Peoples Society.
The church became fully organized in 1908 with fifty-eight charter members. The constitution was conformed to the constitution of the Association.
In February 1908 at a special business meeting the church decided to erect a new building to provide for a growing Sunday School and con- gregation. More Sunday School classes had been organized. The first class for young married people was among these. The money for the new church was raised by subscription among the members and among neighboring churches and individuals. Many townspeople contributed liberally to the fund. Within a few weeks a sum of $3045.00 had been raised and the church decided to build. The contract was made with the Artificial Stone Company for $3998.00. The old building was sold to the highest bidder for $200.00. It was moved off the church ground, across Jefferson St., then across Water St. into the next block. The build- ing now houses the Laundromat.
Construction of the new building progressed rapidly. The corner stone laying service was held on July 5, 1908. In the morning service Rev. H. P. Welton, Detroit, Michigan, spoke on the text "What Mean These Stones."
PROGRAM FOR THE 3:00 P.M. SERVICE
Opening Address-The Pastor
Song
Prayer-Rev. A. M. Clauser
Sermon-Rev. H. P. Weldon, Detroit, Michigan Offering
Laying of the Corner Stone-Rev. D. Y. Schultz, Fort Wayne Benediction
CONTENTS OF CORNER STONE LAID IN 1908
1. Bible - First English Bible owned by Rev. H. H. Amstutz, then pastor of the church; he purchased it in 1905.
2. Song book, "Honey Out Of The Rock", first book used in the Sun- day School in 1897.
3. A brief history of the church by Rev. H. H. Amstutz together with a list of charter members of the church.
4. A record book of the Mission Band for the years 1905 to 1908 in- clusive.
5. A Sunday School quarterly for the 2nd quarter, 1908.
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6. Two copies of the Missionary Worker of July 15, 1908 edited by D. Y. Schultz and containing a report of the corner stone laying on July 5, 1908.
7. One copy of Botschafter des Heils of July 15, 1908, German organ of the Missionary Church Association and edited by Rev. Wm. Egle giving an account of the Eckstein Legung, July 5, 1908.
8. Two C. E. Topic cards for October to December 1907 with pictures of the first church on opposite side.
9. A copy of the Berne Witness of July 3, 1908 giving the program for the corner stone laying, July 5, 1908.
10. A copy of the 1908-1909 catalogue of The Fort Wayne Bible Train- ing School, built just three years.
11 A copy of the Tenth Anniversary Souvenier Edition of The Berne Witness published in 1906; it gives a brief history of each church in the town.
12. A copy of The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, July 4, 1908.
13 A copy of the Cincinnati Post, June 25, 1908, with an account of Ex-President Grover Cleveland's death.
The trustees of the church were J. J. Amstutz, David Hirschy, and J. J. Hirschy.
The new church built at the cost of $5500.00 was a brick structure with basement and two balconies; it had a seating capacity of about 500. The modest steeple housed the bell from the old white church. This bell has called the people to worship for more than sixty years.
CHURCH BUILT IN 1908
REV. HIRAM H. AMSTUTZ
Dedication of the new church was on October 25, 1908. Rev. A. E. Witmer preached the dedicatory sermon. The Association President, Rev. J. E. Ramseyer, was unable to attend the service. Rev. C. W. Oyer, Pan- dora, Ohio gave the dedicatory prayer.
Other events in Rev. Amstutz's pastorate were the beginning of the
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Cradle Roll in 1909; Esther Sprunger was superintendent. The first delegates were sent to the annual conference in 1910; the first deacons were elected in 1911. The church started paying rent for the house which the pastor and his family occupied. New song books, "Revival Hymns," were bought for the Sunday School. Both suntime and standard time were used in the town, and the adoption of either one was optional. The church decided to adopt standard time.
The Fort Wayne Bible School had opened in 1904. The young peo- ple of the church began to attend and prepare for Christian service. Agnes Sprunger attended the school; she received a call from the Lord to go to Africa. She asked the Christian and Missionary Alliance to accept her; they did so. She had no funds, so her going to the field was delayed. She is the first member of the church to volunteer to go to the foreign field. Norman Hirschy had finished his Bible School work and in 1912 entered Christian work with D. C. Stucky, Detroit, Mich.
Rev. G. R. Schroeder was called in 1912 to the pastorate of the church. He stayed two years. The church decided to purchase a house for a parsonage to provide better housing for the pastor and his family. In 1913 the Menno Burkhalter house on West Water Street was bought at the price of $1500. The parsonage was one and one-half blocks west from the church.
The church adopted a plan for raising funds to support our out- going missionary, Agnes Sprunger. The Mission Band, the Sunday School and the Christian Endeavor joined in giving their offerings to this fund. In 1914 the church sent $300.00 to the Association treasurer; this was to be used as part of her support.
The church decided to hold the annual business meeting on the first Monday of the new year.
The pastor's salary was advanced to $30.00 a month.
Rev. S. J. Grabill became pastor in 1914. His pastorate was blessed with missionary zeal. Three missionaries went to the foreign field. Agnes Sprunger went to Africa in 1916, Mary De Garmo to China in 1919, and Tilman Amstutz to India in 1919. The church also helped to support Chris Eicher, missionary in India. Jesse Amstutz, after completing his studies at the Bible School, served as assistant pastor to Rev. Wm. Egle at Wauneta, Nebraska. Menno Amstutz en- tered Christian work as pastor about this time.
Other changes and progress were made. The church bought a seal and printed stationery to be used in business transactions. In 1918 the constitution of the Association was adopted; however, the church retained the right to elect its officers. A small church library was started in 1917.
Through Mrs. J. E. Ramseyer's interest and enthusiasm the Gleaner's movement was started in 1915 in the Berne and Pandora, Ohio church- es. The movement spread to other churches. The purpose of the Gleaners was to have the boys and girls in their teens to continue their missionary interest and activities. The money gathered in their five- dollar banks made a sizeable contribution to the missionary enterprise. This money was used to support the children of the missionaries.
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The annual convention convened in Berne in the summer of 1919. The local church made provisions for serving meals on the ground, and find lodging in the homes of the congregation for the people in attend- ance.
In the autumn of 1919 Rev. W. J. Amstutz became pastor of the church and served two years. The trustees advanced the pastor's salary to $75.00 a month.
Rev. Wm. Egle returned to the church in 1921. In the fall of 1923 the church had a good revival; the evangelists were Rev. N. W. Rich and W. R. Hallman. In 1924 the church again was host to the Annual Convention.
In 1925 the church considered remodeling the parsonage. Later building on the church lot was proposed. This plan, however, was re- jected. An appointed committee decided to sell the parsonage on Water Street and buy a larger and better house. The parsonage was sold for $2550.00 and a larger one, a brick structure, the former David Luginbill house on Sprunger and Cleveland Street was bought for $5500.00.
While associated with Rev. J. A. Sprunger in the Light and Hope Publishing House, Rev. Egly began the publishing of the German periodical "Der Botschafter des Heils in Christo." The paper gave em- phasis to the full truths of the Gospel. In 1903 the General Conference recognized and approved it as the official organ of the Association. While serving as pastor, Rev. Egle was still editing the paper until 1927; the growing lack of appeal of the German language made it unprofitable. The Missionary Worker was first published in 1904. It reached a larger constituency than the German paper, and had a special appeal to the young people. The "Worker" is the official journal of the Missionary Church Association.
Two members of the church went to the foreign mission fields. Fanny Schindler went to Africa in 1924, Elda Amstutz to India in 1927. Sylvia and Leona Amstutz were doing home missionary work in Council Bluffs, Iowa for a number of years.
Tillman Habegger completed his Bible School training in 1929. The same year he became pastor of the Bucklin, Kansas, Mission- ary Church. He was pastor of a number of churches and spent several years in furthering his education. In 1956 the Association appointed him to the office of Home Secretary. The capable administration of his office led to a greater expansion and strengthening of churches in the Association. The foreign missionary work is dependent on the strong support of the home churches. In 1958 Rev. Habegger was elected to the office of president of the Missionary Church Association.
Rev. Henry Tropf was pastor of the church five years, 1930 to 1935. In 1932 the church first took part in the Summer Bible School of the Berne Community. The pastor was a teacher; he and Vilas Schindler were on the Bible School Board. Since 1932 Menno Hirschy has been on the board. Every summer the pastor and some members of the church have been teachers in the school. The school has grown in size and influence. The children come from Berne and a big area surrounding it. The purpose of the school is best expressed in Psalm
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