USA > Ohio > A history of the church of the Brethren, Northeastern Ohio > Part 12
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The names of the deacons, as found in her records, are Samuel S. Stouffer, Tobias Stuckey and Joseph Shideler. The treasurer from the first has been Emery Shideler, who still looks after her finances. John R. Hoffman was elected church clerk in 1900 and was succeeded by H. E. Stouffer, who is the present incumbent.
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The District Sunday-school convention was held there June, 1903. The work of the church is well supported by her members and especially by the sisters, whose names are conspicuous upon her rec- ords. A good work is being done, but " More Work" is the motto, so that more may be accom- plished for Christ and his Kingdom.
Elder Simon B. Stuckey. 1833-1904.
Brother Simon B. Stuckey, of Louisville, Ohio, died Sept. 21, 1904, aged seventy-one years, four months and twenty-six days. He was united in marriage to Anna Summers April 24, 1856. To this union were born three children, one of whom pre- ceded him to the home beyond. He united with the church in his youthful years and became an earnest and devoted worker. In 1876 he was elected to the ministry, and ordained to the full ministry May 26, 1901. He was not as fluent as some, yet in the spirit of song he had few equals. Many times our audi- ence was cheered and enthused by the help coming through the great gift with which he was endowed. He will be missed by hundreds of our dear brethren and sisters in the Northeastern District of Ohio, and especially in his home church where he was elder for so many years. He was permitted to bap- tize the majority of the members in his congregation and officiated frequently at the marriage altar. He was also called on to preach many funerals.
He was a member of a large family. His father, Samuel Stuckey, when eleven years old moved with
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his parents from Pennsylvania to Stark County, Ohio. Many of our brethren and sisters will read with sadness these lines, but let us earnestly try to meet in the beautiful home prepared for the children of God.
Funeral services were conducted by Elder S.
SIMON B. STUCKEY AND WIFE
Brother Stuckey's was a service of song for the Master.
Sprankel and the writer. The large, commodious house at Freeburg, Ohio, was filled with brethren, sisters and friends who came to show their esteem and mingle their tears with the mother and children.
Louisville, Ohio, Sept. 29. J. F. Kahler.
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THE FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, AKRON, OHIO.
The Mission Boards of Northeastern Ohio have been seeking for a number of years to locate in cities. Having visited a number, it seems the Spirit finally led them to the city of Akron, having a population of 69,000 people; only 22,000 making a profession at all, and 10,000 enrolled in the Sun- day-schools. This seemed to be a very needful field since a number of brethren and sisters migrated to the city from country churches, which increased the demand for church privileges and spiritual care and keeping.
It seems that a number of members in this city had the true spirit in them, meeting in their own homes for worship and calling in ministers occa- sionally to give them spiritual nourishment. While they were doing this they did not let the Mission Board have rest until they decided to come and look over the city and see what prospects could be dis- covered that would indicate the leading of the Spirit. Their findings were reported back to the District Conferences, which gave prompt encouragement. Thereupon the Board took up the work in earnest and a canvass of the District was made in 1911 by Brother G. A. Cassel, of Ashland, Ohio, under whose direction and executive ability the requisite amount of funds was soon raised.
The steps leading up to the organization of this church took tangible form on June 6, 1902, when two members of the Mission Board, with several members of the city, met at the home of Brother
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and Sister Hane for the purpose of organizing a Bible study class. As a result of this little meeting, which was replete with Bible reading, prayer and interchanging of anxious wishes as touching the church home, another meeting was appointed for the following evening, June 7, to complete the or- ganization of the class. At this meeting, Sister Sue Dillman was chosen class leader. The private home being inadequate to supply accommodations for the class, later on a hall was rented on South Main
AKRON CHURCH, SUMMIT COUNTY
Street near Exchange. This place not proving satis- factory the class was discontinued after holding a number of meetings; whereupon the work was car- ried on in the homes of the families again, but large- ly in the home of Sister Phebe Smith. Many things came in to hinder and discourage. The work was finally dropped; however, the fire already kindled could not be smothered out.
The Home Mission Board continued to make their visits to this prospective field, to encourage the members towards establishing a mission in the city.
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Worker's were secured and a building rented, and in the spring of 1909 the work was again set on foot. It was a store room at 843 South Main Street, on the corner of Main and Voris. On the first Sun- day of April the Sunday-school was organized. This building was leased for one year, and in the meantime the Mission Board decided to purchase the lot on which the present church building was erected.
This last effort proved to be very fruitful, result- ing in the organization of the Mission Home, 807 Coburn Street, Sept. 8, 1910, from territory that formerly belonged to the Springfield, West Nimi- shillen and Chippewa Churches. Elders present upon this organization were James Murray and Samuel Sprankel. Fifty-eight charter members and sixteen others who did not hold letters in the above- named churches constituted the nucleus of the church that has a large field and bright prospects of accomplishing much for the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Officers of this church are the following : James Murray as elder in charge (now deceased), A. F. Shriver as pastor, William Border and Simon Smith, deacons, Claude Murray, clerk, Warren Kriner, treasurer, Harvey Kyle, Ed- ward Shanafelt and William Border, trustees.
The Sunday-school seemed to be one of the chief agents in giving encouragement to the organization of the church. Its smallest attendance in the days of rented rooms for services was nineteen; before the end of the year the average attendance was sixty-four. Much credit for this growth should be given to Brother and Sister Shively, Iva and Emma
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Rohrer and Amanda Young, who did much personal work in the homes, doing the Home Department work and enlisting children under Sunday-school age to become members of the Cradle Roll.
This church now enjoys the privilege of worship- ing in a home of her own, which was dedicated in January, 1912. The building cost over $8,000 and is well suited for the work that it is intended to ac- complish. May this, the first tangible fruitage of the Mission Board of Northeastern Ohio, throw an inspiration to do like work in all the cities of the entire District.
No one has done more praying for the success of this work than Brother and Sister Shriver. Night and day without ceasing they have been faithful sentinels upon the walls of this new work. The Akron proposition may be considered the first suc- cessful city work of the District.
CANTON CITY.
A history of the Canton City Church dates back to about the year 1850, then a part of the Canton Center Church. Several families lived in Canton ; among them might be named Goodenberger, Berger, Snyder, Sprankel and others. Services were held at the appointed times in the Roland house in the eastern end of the city-a union house. Conrad Kahler, Josiah Keim and others did the preaching for them as appointments were made. Services were irregular and sometimes far apart. In 1887 John F. Kahler, then living six miles northeast of Canton, by request of the Canton members of the city and
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the elder, Conrad Kahler, then living in Canton Center Church, took charge of the work. Services were held regularly every alternate Sunday. A Sunday-school was started in 1897, when J. F. Kahler moved into the city. Sunday-school attend- ance was from sixty to seventy and membership from forty to fifty. When we say forty to fifty that means in the city, a floating membership-they come and go. At the time a good interest was awakened, the members in the city cooperating with the members in the country. The place of the meetings was changed from the Roland house to a more convenient one, the Bethel house on East Tuscarawas Street. This house was owned by an- other congregation, they having services only as their minister could come, and then only in the afternoon on Sunday. So the Brethren had the priv- ilege of using the house every Sunday morning and evening. About this time Brother William Quinn moved into Canton and assisted in the work both in the city and country houses. Brother J. F. Kahler had charge of the work in the city from 1887 to 1902, having lived in the city only a part of that time. In the year 1902 Brother E. S. Young moved from North Manchester, Ind., into Canton. The District and city were solicited to assist in building the Canton Bible Institute building. It was hoped by this means to have a permanent place of worship. Along with him came Brother Edson Ulery, who also assisted in the preaching services. About the year 1903, at a council held in the Canton Center Church, it was decided to release that part of the territory contained in the city of Canton, whereupon
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the same became a mission of the Northeastern Dis- trict of Ohio. The District supported the work in part. Meetings were held in the Bethel house until the chapel in the college building was ready to be occupied. In 1904, the school being in progress, the membership was increased and a good interest man- ifested. About 1904 the Canton City Church was
CANTON CITY CHURCH, STARK COUNTY
organized and Brother E. S. Young was ordained to the eldership. After about three years the church ceased to be supported by the District. The Bible School being disorganized in 1907, it became neces- sary that some disposition of the school building be made, and the same was sold by E. S. Young to the city of Canton and is now used as the North Canton High School. Thus by this deal the Canton
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City Church lost her place of worship. Faith will not be defeated, hence a vacant dwelling-house of six rooms, near the college building, was rented and meetings and Sunday-school were held regularly. In the spring of 1911 the church, feeling sorely the need of a better place of worship, solicited among her members, and $500 was raised to build a tem- porary building. The size of this building was forty-eight by thirty-six feet. The cut will show the present building, the temporary tabernacle and the Bible School building in the rear. The taber- nacle, as it was called, answered the purpose well in the summer months, but during the winter of 1912 the church met regularly and suffered much during the cold weather. However, a regular at- tendance in Sunday-school and preaching services was maintained. In the spring of 1912 Howard Helman moved to Wooster. At the same time J. F. Kahler moved into the city from the Redding Church where he served as their pastor. In the fall of 1912 Brother E. S. Young and family decided to move to California. Letters were granted them and the work was given into the hands of J. F. Kahler. From September, 1912, to September, 1913, the church increased in numbers and interest, the Sun- day-school numbering from eighty-five to 100. Feel- ing keenly the need of a permanent place of worship, the church was again solicited. A considerable sum of money was subscribed and an appeal to the Dis- trict through the Home Mission Board was made by the Canton City members. The same was con- sidered by District Meeting, and the Home Mission Board was instructed to cooperate with the Canton
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City members, to gather funds and render assist- ance. The organization of the Canton City church at present is as follows : John F. Kahler, pastor and elder ; Conrad C. Bender, superintendent of Sunday- school ; Elizabeth Snavely, superintendent of Prayer Meeting Department; Robert L. Ehman, president of Christian Workers' Meeting; trustees, Levi
Temporary building in which services were held before the new churchhouse was erected in the city of Canton. This structure was familiarly known as the "tabernacle." The large building to the left was formerly the Bible Institute and Canton College, now used as a city high school.
Summers, U. S. Snyder and Conrad C. Bender ; dea- cons, George Goughnour, U. S. Snyder and William Lantz.
This little bit of history will show what triumphs come to those who have a zeal for the cause of the Master in human society. The city of Canton is a great field and naturally more fruitful than any other in the District. It enjoys a national reput tion, due to the public spirited men who gave their lives for that which they felt to be for the best in- terests of our great commonwealth. This asset the
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city enjoys will make church work more fruitful of good, because it is the general uplift idea in so- ciety that helps a church into its larger possibilities.
The new churchhouse in the city of Canton is the second one to be dedicated in the larger cities of Northeastern Ohio. Brother W. D. Keller, of Ash- land, preached the dedicatory sermon to a large and interested audience. It is hoped that the tri- umph of faith in the Akron and Canton City Churches will soon rear, in the remaining large cities of the District, edifices where precious souls may find their supreme joy and be inspired to go forth as conquerors for the Master.
FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, ASHLAND, OHIO.
The Ashland City Church, which held its services regularly in the college chapel, then owned by the Church of the Brethren (German Baptist), was dis- organized in 1882 and the city territory was re- turned to the Ashland and Maple Grove Church- es. The storm center of the division in the Broth- erhood seemed to have gathered thickly in the above-named congregation. Its seriousness is seen when only two members (Elder I. D. Parker and wife) stood up in council and signified their in- tention to remain loyal to the main body of the Brotherhood. A number of attempts were made in later years, since quite a few members were mov- ing into town, to reorganize the work, but for the want of sufficient encouragement all hopes were blasted. Not till January of this year (1914) did
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FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN ASHLAND, OHIO
This church was purchased of the Evangelical people in April, 1914, by the Maple Grove and Ashland (Dickey) churches. The building will be completely modernized for Sunday-school and other religious services. When completed the property will be worth from $15,000 to $18,000.
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interest sufficiently focalize to call a meeting and discuss the situation. About sixty members con- vened in the home of Bro. G. A. Cassel Jan. 9, and there seemed to be such unanimity for a church home for the Ashland city members that the neces- sary committee was appointed to look into the ad- visability of purchasing the Evangelical house of worship, which was offered for sale. Their report was submitted to the Maple Grove and Ashland (Dickey) Churches, and both encouraged the pur- chase of the property if it could be gotten at a reasonable price.
Not till the following April did the sellers and buyers of the property come to an agreement. A canvass of the churches was then made and in a very few days was there money enough raised in the two churches to buy the splendid property, and quite a considerable more was given for im- provements. The property is held jointly by the two above-named congregations.
From this you will see that it has taken thirty- two years for the members in Ashland to find a place of worship which approximates only in a measure what was lost in the heart-rending 1882 division in the Brotherhood. May this teach the churches that it is their bounden duty to pull to- gether rather than to pull apart. Also it shows what can be done by two wide-awake congregations when once they have put themselves to it. They saw that the members residing in the city needed a place of worship, that it was a very promising field, that they were able to make it go, and by thus doing they would increase the spiritual power of the
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helping congregations. More sermons would be preached, more songs sung, more scriptures read, more Sunday-school teachers, officers and scholars would be at work, more pastoral work would be done, and more souls saved. Don't you think this would be a sufficient excuse for church extension ?
The sisters of the city are doing excellent Aid Society work. They in fact are the prime movers in the work, not only in personal visitations, but in those material helpfulnesses that tend to call the minds of those who may be careless to the lofty source of all their help.
Steps are already taken to install improvements for communion and Sunday-school purposes. When once completed, another citadel of faith will have been established to increase the services of the Church of the Brethren in Northeastern Ohio.
ANNUAL MEETING OF 1822.
The incidents of this very remarkable Conference seem well sealed up in the archives of the dead. Those who now live, who were in some measure connected in time with those who were the bone and sinew of those pioneer days when the faith of the Brethren was taking root in the then western soil, have very faint memories of the fireside de- scriptions of those who were in attendance. Per- haps all that is of vital consequence has come on down the road of time and has unconsciously woven itself into the life of the present.
The 1822 Annual Meeting was the first General Conference held west of the Allegheny Mountains.
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The decision of the previous Conference to hold this one in the then far west meant more to them, in any way you may wish to view it, than when it was finally decided to hold our first Conference on the Pacific Coast at Los Angeles in 1907. It was a big undertaking, but there were interests of such mo- ment, and the stream of emigration to the new coun- try was so constant and considerable, that it was finally decided to follow up the "go west " spirit with a wholesome Annual Meeting, that proper pro- tection and inspiration might come to those trans- plantings from the eastern slopes.
This meeting was held about seven or eight miles northeast of the city of Canton, at the home of a brother by the name of Brown. To find the place of the meeting was no easy matter, even for those who were fairly well acquainted with the country, but for those from a distance it required much pa- tience and perseverance. The roads in those days followed the paths of least resistance, and in order that the traveler might not get lost in his journeys from place to place, trees which stood out prom- inently were blazed, so that the weary pedestrian might know that he was on the main line of travel. Walking and horseback riding were the principal means of transportation to this Conference.
The Conference Year Book shows that many vital questions were up for consideration, which shows that there was an earnest contending for a faithful and pure church, and a freedom from the follies of the world.
The following are some of the questions discussed,
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from which you can catch the spirit of the Brother- hood of those days :
Members who were dismissed from the church should be held in avoidance, that is, no dealings should be had with them at all, not even to eat with them at a common meal.
A special regard was held for elders, elderly mem- bers and any suffering from bodily infirmities.
Interest should not be taken from brethren.
Any traffic in liquors was placed under the ban.
Any living in adultery could not be received into the church.
Brethren were admonished against going to law under any circumstances.
Brethren could not assign their property to an- other for the purpose of defrauding.
The use of tobacco was considered a sinful habit.
Peace and harmony were the golden gems sought in all the deliberations. Read the following queries and weigh their worth :
1822.
At the Yearly Meeting in Ohio, 1822, the question was presented, whether such as were not members could be present in our church councils. Consid- ered, as it was at all times considered, that it could not be allowed.
How shall the church conduct itself toward those members that have been separated from the church? Considered, first, when a member is separated from the church as far as from the kiss, breaking of bread, and church council, such ought to be diligently exhorted according to the evidence of the apostle, but could not be called a brother. But when such
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would not receive the admonition of love, and should fall into more grievous sins, the church has to put them in avoidance, and have no company with them, according to the word of the apostle.
Whether a brother might be set forward to bap- tize and break bread who does not wear his beard? It was considered, that according to the image of God (in which man was created), and according to the image of Christ, we ought to (leave our beard undisturbed or) wear our beard (at least in part), and that no brother should be so far advanced who could not deny himself in this matter.
How far should a brother keep house without counseling the church, or members without counsel- ing the housekeeper? It was considered, that the brother who is housekeeper should always act in concert with the church, especially with his co- laborers in the church, and just so his colaborers should always counsel with their brother, and a private brother should not undertake to teach or serve until the church calls him to it.
Whether we might have two tables at love feast, and also at other meetings; that is, whether mem- bers might prepare something warm for the old brethren, and also elderly and weakly members, be- sides what is served up for all in general. It was considered, that members should be at perfect lib- erty to show their love toward their old brethren or weakly members, to set before them what they like ; yet we would counsel in love that no bad distinction is made, so that friends and well-wishers are pre- ferred to those who are weakly.
Concerning breaking up in the morning after love
.
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feast, it was considered that members and their chil- dren, who stay till morning, should not separate and leave until prayer and thanksgiving unto God is made.
With regard to distilleries (held or carried on by members of the church), it was again testified that it could not be permitted.
If a brother has a vendue, and gives freely strong drink, how is it considered? It was considered that no brother should give strong drink at his sale.
With regard to persons who live in adultery, it was considered that they could not be received into the church as long as they lived in such condition.
When a member is put in avoidance, how far is his companion in wedlock to be held as a member? It was considered that she may be held as a mem- ber, yet so as not to break the bread of communion.
Whether a brother may take the liberty to go on the muster ground or take part in the festivities of Independence Day? Considered that no brother should take the liberty to go to such place.
Whether it is right for a brother to take the bene- fit of the law? Considered that when a brother is so imprudent that he falls under the power of the law, he is not to have privilege to take the benefit of the law, but to seek counsel from the church. Yet it would be always best to seek counsel before a member comes so far.
How is it viewed when a brother assigns his prop- erty to another, with a view to defraud his neigh- bors (creditors) ? It is considered that we cannot hold them in fellowship.
Whether it be right for a follower of Jesus to take interest? Considered that neither the law nor
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the Gospel gives us such privilege, and that it should not be among the membership.
How is it considered, when members will not heed the counsel of love of the brethren, with regard to conforming to the world in clothing, etc .? It was considered, for the third time in the Great Council, that when a member has been admonished in love once and again, we would not break bread with such. But at this meeting it has been considered that when they will not receive counsel in love, we could not hold such member in fellowship according to the Gospel. Also such who permit those high fashions in their children who are yet under their control, and especially the bishops and ministers in the church, should be examples of the flock.
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