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Church of the Brethren
in
Southern Ohio
From the library of
Adelle Frank.com
£
The men charged by the district to publish this history. Back row, left to right: John E. Oliver, secretary; Wilbur K. Groff; Homer L. Royer. Front row: John Eikenberry; H. H. Helman, editor; J. C. Flora, chairman
Church of the Brethren in Southern Ohio
H. H. Helman, Editor
Compiled by the HISTORICAL COMMITTEE J. C. Flora, Chairman John E. Oliver, Secretary Wilbur K. Groff Homer L. Royer John Eikenberry
Authorized by the DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN OHIO
BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE Elgin, Illinois
PRINTED FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN OHIO by the BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE 1955
Printed in the United States of America
The Church of the Brethren originated in Germany. It was established in America in 1719, when a German "Tunker" of the name of Peter Becker immigrated from Schwarzenau, Germany, to Germantown, Pennsylvania, with twenty families and organized the first "German Baptist Brethren" church in the colonies. For more than a century Ohio has been one of the leading Brethren states. The first churches were organized above the Ohio River in the area east of Cincinnati. By 1812 there were perhaps twelve congregations in the southwestern part of the state. This is the beginning of Southern Ohio, one of the forty-eight districts in the United States (there are four outside this country) comprising the Church of the Brethren, with headquarters at Elgin, Illinois.
Foreword
No organization which lives in the past can serve the present well or build well for the future. On the other hand, no group can serve the present age or build a solid foundation for future generations which does not have its roots well grounded in the past. History is a continuous flow of events, an ever-changing stream of which we are a part. How well we play that part can help to determine the future.
Down through the years the Brethren have not kept their record of events very thoroughly. In Southern Ohio we have been fortunate to have had recorded and published for us in 1920 a record of the organization and the progress of the church to that date. Thirty-five years have passed since the publica- tion of that earlier history and these years have shown almost revolutionary progress and continuous development. In many ways this progress and development have identified the dis- trict with others of the Brotherhood.
Several years ago the Historical Committee of Southern Ohio began the collection of data and information for the present volume. Committee membership has changed, but the district has seen fit to add to the committee in numbers so that as now composed the committee is made up of all those persons who have served during these years in the collection and compilation of data and information for the new history.
Southern Ohio is fortunate in having the services of Brother H. H. Helman as editor. He has worked long and well in the sifting of what was sometimes conflicting in- formation and in keeping all phases of the project in proper perspective. No history is ever complete and probably no history is ever entirely accurate. Events can be interpreted only from the viewpoint of the person and the time. The future will have to give to the recorded history of today additional meaning and further light.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
Since few persons in Southern Ohio today have access to the previous historical volume, the committee has felt it wise to condense some of the early history into this volume as well as to record in greater detail the happenings of more recent years. Insofar as possible, the information herein recorded is up to date as of January 1955. We trust that this volume will serve as a source of material for information, that it will prove interesting in content, and that it will prove inspira- tional. We hope it will be a valuable contribution to the total recorded achievements of the Church of the Brethren.
-Homer L. Royer Dayton, Ohio
Introduction
The forces, influences, and personalities that have made the history of Southern Ohio are difficult to locate. The ideals of godly men and women; the will to achieve in the souls of leaders; the purpose of the lay members of the churches to be loyal; the spirit of youth, straining to take its place in the work of the church; the daring hopes of adventurous souls; the heritage of rich soil and the far-sightedness of tillers of the soil-all these factors have contributed to the development of one of the strongest districts of the Church of the Brethren. Full credit to whom credit is due is impossible.
The growth and progress have not been uninterrupted. There have been efforts not wisely conceived, moves in the wrong direction, misunderstandings, obstinacies, bitter feel- ings, dissensions, and divisions. But the district has grown and developed and become strong. The chronicling of its history during the next generation, as it is built upon the present foundation, should be a pleasant and rewarding ex- perience for someone.
The fundamental changes that have occurred during the years from 1920 to 1955 will hardly be evident to the casual reader. In spite of our efforts these changes are more or less taken for granted in this treatment. Yet great changes have taken place. The old plain meetinghouses have given way to houses of worship representing the latest and most modern architecture. The free ministry has been succeeded by a paid pastor in every congregation. The very simple worship service is replaced by services unified around a theme and supported by effective music, both vocal and instrumental. We used to kneel in prayer; now it is seldom done. Prayers and sermons, formerly long, are now measured to the needs and attitudes of the worshipers. The floors of the sanctuaries were bare; now they are beautifully carpeted or tiled. Windows formerly plain are now of art glass. The long table and bench on the
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
pulpit platform have been succeeded by pulpit and chairs of one ecclesiastical design. The formerly plain wall back of the speaker may now contain a painting, an altar with a cross and candles, rich draperies, or art glass with Christian symbols.
These, however, may not be the most significant changes. The church which formerly purposely disassociated itself from other denominations and social movements now joins hands with other Christian bodies and movements where it seems that the Kingdom of God can best be promoted by united efforts. Instead of shying at higher education the church now deems it essential. From opposing Sunday schools it has come to rate Christian education as one of its prime functions. From silencing women and young people it has been providing avenues of service for the eager workers. From taking offerings only at business meetings, and these principally for the poor, the local churches and the district now have budgets which have reached unimaginable totals. There were few parsonages when the 1920 history was written. Now almost every church has one, and many of them, more recently constructed, are commodious, impressive, and beautiful.
That the district has grown spiritually would be ques- tioned by some. But it has. From being a kind of piety it has become something adventurous and hopeful. Members have dedicated and devoted their lives to the cause of the church. More than being good they want to be good for something. It has been the spirit of the district recently to accept the challenge of every opportunity to move forward in the Lord's work.
There is no sense in which this volume is inclusive or complete. There is a feeling of futility in editing a history like this. The source material is very inadequate; it is easy to miss important facts and difficult to decide who should have credit for what. One feels that he would like to hold the manuscript open until all the facts are in. But he cannot. There would be no written history.
If this volume can be accepted as it is, with all its limita- tions, and cherished as a record of the people of God, insofar as it is seeable, the editor will be pleased.
11
INTRODUCTION
Grateful recognition should be given to Homer and Minnie Bright, who wrote the Missions section of this volume; to Vinnie Helstern, who furnished much of the data for the chapter on Women's Work; to Nevin Coppock for data on the Men's Work; to Mark Shellhaas for material on the Youth Work; to Dan West for data on the early Sugar Grove Camp movements; to Joe Wise for assistance with the information concerning the Sunday-school; to Clarence Priser, the "official" photographer for this volume; and to many others who furnished information and source materials without which this volume would not have been possible.
-H. H. Helman New Carlisle, Ohio
Contents
PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
1. District Organization 17
2. District Boards or Committees 31
3. The Elders' Body 46
4. Christian Education 53
5. Brethren Service 62
6. Women's Work 70
7. Men's Work 75
8. The Brethren Home 82
9. Youth Activities 88
10. Camp Sugar Grove 96
PART TWO: CONGREGATIONS
1. Functioning Churches 107
2. New Centers 246
3. The Churches Left Behind 247
4. Groups Which Stepped Aside 254
PART THREE: PERSONALITIES
1. Clergy 259
2. Laity 440
PART FOUR: OUTREACH
1. Introductory Statement 473
2. China 475
3. India 495
4. Nigeria 503
5. Summary 507
PART FIVE: SOUTHERN OHIO CENTENNIAL OBSERVANCE
"In Unbroken Line" 511
PART ONE Organizations and Functions
1. DISTRICT ORGANIZATION
As members moved int the territory of the District of Southern Ohio and forme l congregations, questions and problems arose; to deal with these, conferences or "meetings" came to be held. All of the congregations could be represented, though at first there were no elected delegates. The members who could, just came. Three such meetings were held by the year 1844. Prior to such meetings local church problems were referred to the adjoini g elders.
These meetings receiver official status in 1856 when "a proposal for forming distric s of five, six or more adjoining churches, for the purpose o meeting jointly at least once a year, settling difficulties, etc, and thus lessening the business of the Yearly Meeting"1 wa ; before the Annual Conference.
In 1858 a district meeting was held at Bear Creek, with Peter Nead as moderator. ''he earliest minutes available to those composing this histor: were for the year 1896. In the history of 1920 the authors ] st the date, place, and officers of each district conference froi 1 1858 on.
However, even before o1 r district meeting was organized, as such, representatives on standing Committee were elected to serve. The history of 1 120 gives the first date of such representation as 1841. It seems that Peter Nead had served in 1849, 1850, and 1856, prior o the first district meeting. When the district meetings came : to being, the pattern prevailing throughout the Brotherhoo I obtained. The main items of business were problems re ating to practice and discipline in the local churches involved, and the interpretation of doctrines and teachings.
The district, through it elders, authorized and directed the ordination of elders. The Elders' Body formed a very strong advisory body for the district and the churches. A
1 Minutes of the Annual Meetir ys, Church of the Brethren, 1778 to 1909, page 159. 1856, Article 23.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
church could be put under a committee of elders, if the conditions warranted it.
Since local churches could bring queries or problems to the district meeting these came to include more than just local church matters. The matter of district activities and organization was thus brought up for action. This is how the boards and committees serving the district came into being. As the needs were felt, churches asked that leaders be set apart to direct these interests in the district.
The first board to be appointed was the Mission Board. The first members were Samuel Mohler, Landon West, John Smith, Oliver Yount, and Jesse Stutsman. They were chosen by the district meeting of 1882 to serve one year. Until 1889 they were appointed by the district meeting; after that, elected by the delegates. They and successors chosen or elected in subsequent years served thus until 1893, when, after a study of the matter by a special committee, it was decided to constitute the "Mission Board of the German Baptist Church of Southern Ohio." It was to be composed of five brethren- ministers, deacons, and laymen-the term of office to be five years. Their duties were defined. In 1892 a committee was appointed to revise the plan of the Mission Board. This set the pattern for this board until the work of missions was assumed by the District Board of Southern Ohio in 1952. The Commission on Ministry, Missions and Church Extension became the director of this phase of district activities. During all these years there were five members, both laymen and elders, serving terms of five years. Beginning with an ex- penditure of some three hundred dollars, the board came to spend on missions in the district as high as $14,000 or more in a single year. It not only placed workers in district-supported churches, but it also received and disbursed funds for the erection of new church buildings. The district charged them to be careful to place only loyal ministers, conforming fully to the practices of the church, in charge of churches being assisted by the Mission Board.
At first the travel expense of the members was met by the district but later a per diem remuneration was allowed, set at $2.50 in 1920.
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PART ONE: ORGANISATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
This board directed the rection of or acquired houses of worship at Constance, Ke: tucky, 1902; Cincinnati, 1919; Circleville, 1912; Cassel Run, 1914; Bethany, 1926; Flat Creek, Kentucky, 1947; Greenville, 1 )01; Hamilton, 1937; Middletown, 1915; Sidney, 1905; Springfie. 1, 1923; and Troy, 1911. In 1941 the Mission Board accepted the supervision of a mission in eastern Kentucky, Turkey Creek, to be financed by the Home Mission Department of the General Mission Board. Later, in 1943, it assumed direction f the mission at Flat Creek with the same arrangement.
The organization of the Brethren Home Board and of the Board of Religious Education is related in other chapters. Recognition of the Women's Work and the Men's Work was duly given as these came int being. These are also recorded in separate chapters.
In the effort to meet the needs of the changing times, the district, in its annual district conferences, appointed com- mittees, changed rules, reg lations, and responsibilities of its organizations, or discor inued an organization whose functions were no longer ne ded or could be taken over by another existing board or group.
At first the monies of the Mission Board were essentially those of the district as a whole. The board paid for the publishing of the minutes each year, as well as other of the district expenses. In 1907 : ppears the first report of the district treasurer, and from then on only money used to promote missions was handled by the Mission Board. A district treasurer was authorized and appointed in 1904.
Many times the matter of fixing the responsibility of local churches to support the work of the district came up. At first the Mission Board apportioned its needed funds among the churches. In 1905 an Apportionment Committee was appointed to do this for all money needed for the program of the district. There were five : members, the term being for five years.
The number was five in 1915 but in 1918 the number was three (changed in 1916 or 1917), and this number made up the Apportionment Committed until its work was absorbed in the new organization of 1952, The committee was instructed
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
to apportion the funds on the basis of net value and the number of members. This was not always satisfactory to all the churches. In 1911 the basis was changed. The basis for valuation was to be the tax duplicate, less two thirds of the indebtedness. The valuation was to be taken every fourth year. A finance committee was to be chosen by each local church to report to the Apportionment Committee each year any change in valuation or membership. In 1952 the member- ship reported in the Yearbook was made the basis.
As the problem of ministerial leadership for local churches became apparent the district appointed in 1911 the Committee on Ministerial Supply. This was the beginning of what later came to be known as the Ministerial Board, whose duties were gradually enlarged to include the licensing of ministers, helping churches secure pastors and installing some, and advising on the ordination of deacons. There were three members on this committee consistently until its work was absorbed by the new organization in 1952. In the report of 1915 this committee gave the number of elders in the district as seventy-five and the average age fifty-eight. There were forty-five ministers in the second degree, average age, forty- five; and in the first degree, fourteen, average age, thirty-six. There were forty-five churches, with forty of them having resident ministers. The report pointed out that adding three more ministers there would be an average of three ministers for each church.
As it became evident that officers, board members, and committees tended to be re-elected again and again, the number of terms came to be limited to two and board member- ship limited to one district board at a time. Until 1936 the district officers were chosen at the beginning of the conference at which they served. In that year it was decided to elect them in advance and the secretary for a three-year term. By the same action it was required that the boards of the district meet prior to the time of the district meeting to prepare their reports.
This was not the beginning, however, of the joint meeting of the boards. In 1929 the boards met together on April 2 at Dayton. By 1935 they had decided to meet twice yearly.
21
PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
This was the Joint Boards. By 1937 they were known as the Council of Boards. This attempt at co-ordination of functions and responsibilities laid the groundwork for the District Board of the Southern District of Ohio, which was organized and began functioning in 1952.
Along in the 1920's the number of boards and committees had reached a total of ten: Mission Board, five members; Brethren's Home Board, five members; Apportionment Com- mittee, three members; Ministerial Committee, three mem- bers; Temperance Committee, three members; Auditing Com- mittee, three members; Board of Religious Education, three members; Midsummer Assembly Committee, three members; Aid Society Committee, three members; Credential Commit- tee, three members.
Just prior to the new district organization in 1952 there were nine boards, appointed by the district conference: Mis- sion Board, five members; Ministerial Board, three members; Board of Christian Education, five members; Trustees, Brethren Home, five members; Apportionment Committee, three members; Auditing Committee, three members; Cre- dential Committee, three members; Comity Committee, three members; Historical Committee, three members.
Besides these committees and boards others were set up to function as needs arose:
1913, Committee on Flood Sufferers' Relief
1915, Historical Committee
1917, Peace Committee (special conference)
1922, Midsummer Assembly Committee
1926, Welfare Board, replacing the Temperance Commit- tee, and the duties to include temperance, peace, and the simple life
1927, Historical Committee made permanent
1929, Comity Committee
1932, Welfare Board discontinued and its functions given to the Board of Religious Education
1932, Representative of the General Boards
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
1934, Board of Christian Education made the trustees of Camp Sugar Grove
1939, German Refugee Committee
1940, Representative on the Central Regional Council
1941, District peace director, under Board of Religious Education
1942, Representative, Brethren Service
1943, Representative to assembly of the Ohio Council of Churches
1945, Director of Camp Mack
1947, Assistant moderator, district conference
1948, Laymen may serve as district officers
1948, Brotherhood Fund representative
1949, Committee on Displaced Persons
1950, Committee to Study District Administration
1950, Brethren Service Committee reorganized
Also the district decided at times to appoint individuals for special duties in the district.
1899, Levi Minnich appointed district Sunday-school sec- retary
1903, R. H. Nicodemus made assistant Sunday-school sec- retary
1904, District treasurer appointed
1914, Secretary of Aid Society reports to district confer- ence
1923, Director of religious education, John A. Robinson appointed
1928, Men's Work secretary's report accepted
1931, Director of religious education, N. B. Wine appointed
1941, Director of Children's Work authorized under Board of Christian Education
1952, District executive secretary authorized, to be appointed by the District Board; Moyne Landis, who had been the pastor of the Oakland church since 1944, chosen
As has been indicated several times, the functions of these boards and committees were taken over by the new district
23
PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
organization, called the District Board of Southern Ohio, in 1952. A copy of the organization plan and the action of the district leading to its adoption is printed, beginning on
The District Parsonage
The new district parsonage was erected in 1954 at 32 Duerr Drive, West Milton, for the use of the district executive secretary. It consists of seven rooms for the dwelling and a utility room and a large conference room in the basement. A breezeway and double garage are attached.
page 24. The functions of the Men's Work, the Women's Work, the Historical Committee, and the Credentials Com- mittee were not included in the duties assigned to the new board.
The elders' meeting was held previous to each district meeting and functioned in the ordination of elders, the disciplining of churches or ministers, for some time in the nominations of district officers and/or Standing Committee delegates, and in giving advice on matters coming before conference. It was the custom for the officers of district meeting to be the officers of the elders' meeting. Annual Conference defines its composition and functions. From being
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
a body of rather elderly, bearded ministers, most of whom were not designated as pastors, it has come lately to be composed of both elderly men and younger active pastors. They represent active pastors, pastors in retirement or semi- retirement, some who have served mostly as presiding elders over churches and advisers to their younger brethren, and some whose experience in the active ministry has been limited. The elders' meeting has become a meeting for inspiration as well as for carrying on the business coming before it. An address by an invited guest speaker is a feature of each meeting. All elders of the district are eligible to be members of the Elders' Body, while the voting constituency of the district conference is made up of delegates elected by the local churches. The district conference is the highest authority of the district, and churches may appeal to it in matters pertaining to themselves or to the work of boards and committees in the district.
It should be noted that in 1942 the district authorized representation on the Central Regional Council, designating the district secretary as its representative. In the new organization in 1952, the District Board is required to appoint a member on the council. The district assumes its share of the financial support of the work of the council.
REORGANIZATION
At the district conference at the Oakland church, April 27 and 28, 1951, the council of boards asked that a committee of nine be ap- pointed to make a study of the administrative organization of our district and to report by 1953.
The secretary of the district, Philip H. Lauver, was named to be convener of the committee, and the council of boards asked J. Clyde Forney to represent that body on the committee. The Mission Board, the Ministerial Board, the Board of Christian Education, the Cabinet of Women's Work, the Cabinet of Men's Work, the District CBYF and the Elders' Body, each were to be represented in the committee. For the Mission Board, John H. Good served; for the Board of Christian Education, Kenneth Long; for the Ministerial Board, George W. Phillips; for Women's Work, Mrs. Moyne Landis; for Men's Work, Nevin Coppock; for the CBYF, Ralph Dull; and for the elders, H. H. Helman.
In organizing for its task the committee asked H. H. Helman to be chairman and J. Clyde Forney to act as secretary.
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PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
The committee made a thorough study of the present administra- tive organization of our district, and of the administrative organiza- tion of other districts of the Brotherhood. It appeared that greater effectiveness and economy might be achieved if the work of the dis- trict were integrated under the care of a single administrative body, such as now administers the work of the Brotherhood. In harmony with this principle, the following plan of organization was presented by the committee to the district conference:
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