USA > Ohio > A history of the church of the Brethren, Northeastern Ohio > Part 14
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Whether brethren, and especially teachers, can, consistently with the Gospel and our holy profes- sion, attach themselves to the Freemasons, and the society popularly called the Sons of Temperance, and if not consistent, how is the church to proceed in such a case? The brethren have always believed, and do still believe, that it is not only unbecoming and wrong, but highly dangerous, for brethren to attach themselves to such secret societies, or any as- sociation of this world, and if they should do so, they should be visited in love (as the advice was forty-four years ago, in a Yearly Meeting at Pipe Creek), and admonished to withdraw themselves from such.
How would it be considered if a man be put in the county prison for safe keeping until court, and a brother goes his security for appearance, and re- leases him out of prison? Considered that a brother ought not to meddle with such matters without church counsel.
Standing Committee.
Geo. Hoke, Joseph Gerber, John Hart, Henry Kurtz, Philip Boyle, Peter Nead, John Kline,
-, James H. Tracey, Michael Moyer, John Metzger, John Molsbaugh, George Shively, Jos. Showalter, Ben. Bowman, John Shoemaker, George
.
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Rairigh, John H. Umstad, Jacob Meyer,
-, David Shoemaker, Daniel Miller, John Snavely, John Holsinger.
1848 Special Meeting.
George Hoke, George Shively, Joseph Showalter, H. Kurtz, Joseph Gerber, P. Nead, Dan. Cripe, J. Molsbaugh, D. Miller, J. Hart, H. Metzger, J. Metz- ger, Jacob Brower.
This seems to be a called meeting of the regular Standing Committee for the completion of some pending business. As to the place of the meeting and the character of the business we were not able to secure the information. It will be noticed that only a part of the original Standing Committee was in attendance, and two new names appear in the list.
1854 ANNUAL MEETING. Dickey Farm, Ashland County.
The 1854 Annual Meeting was held on the farm of Elder Elias Dickey, about five miles southeast of Ashland. This is one of the most beautiful farms in the State. The original buildings still stand, with extensive improvements being made on the barn. It will be remembered that transportation facilities were quite primitive at that time, no rail- roads being closer than Mansfield, seventeen miles away, and Wooster, twenty-two miles away. Some few were met at these stations by the brethren, some walked, and from every direction great crowds of people came on horses, in wagons, and most any
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way that could be devised to make the trip. A ten-acre field south of the barn was reserved for the horses where they were turned loose to make friends as they would. The lodging was free and the farmhouses and barns were taxed to the utmost, You will remember that the bare floor and a knit shawl for a pillow did not bring as much complaint as well-kept-up bedrooms do nowadays under sim- ilar circumstances. The dining tent stood between the house and the barn. All help was free as well as all boarding was free. The sessions of the Con- ference were held in the barn, a building about forty by seventy feet.
The attendance at this meeting was somewhat marvelous, for there is a tradition that stands un- disputed that there were 20,000 people. Services were also held in the Dickey churchhouse, about a mile distant from the regular place of meeting. This house was newly built. The road connect- ing these two places was literally filled at times with people going to and fro to hear the speakers of their choice.
Of all the memories of this meeting, the attend- ance of Brother James Quinter seems to stand in special prominence. He was perhaps one of the youngest preachers in the Brotherhood at that time. He was smooth-faced, very youthful in appearance, wore a necktie and a high silk hat. The old breth- ren invited him to do some preaching, which he did with much favorable comment.
The business that was transacted at this meeting has accomplished its purpose in giving wise direc- tion to the future work of the church. The follow-
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ing are some of the items of business discussed at that Conference :
Minutes of the Yearly Meeting of the Brethren, Held at Brother Elias Dickey's, Ashland County, Ohio, on Pentecost, June 4-7, 1854.
Having again been permitted through the mercy of God to meet in general council, on Monday morn-
THE 1854 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD IN THIS BARN The dining room was located between the house and barn.
ing the meeting was organized by appointing a standing committee of twelve ordained elders, two from each state (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois) represented, and a clerk, who, having retired to a private room, received the messengers and papers sent from the different churches. Churches represented 107, by thirty-six ordained elders, fifty-eight ministers in the second
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degree and twenty-one in the first degree, forty dea- cons and fifteen private members. Ten committeemen were nominated to examine the papers, and report them to the meeting, and on Tuesday morning the council commenced.
The following queries were reported and disposed of in the fear of the Lord :
I. Report of the committee, appointed last year, on the subject of slavery. (See Minutes of 1853, Art. 9.) The question having been, How shall any
HOUSE WHERE THE 1854 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD
branch of the church proceed in case an individual wishes to become a member, who is in possession of slaves, and the law of the State in which they live is such that they cannot manumit them in safety without transporting them beyond its limits?
"Agreeable to the ninth query of Y. M. 1853 con- cerning slavery, the committee appointed to report on the same have had this subject under serious
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consideration in the fear of the Lord, and do report as follows :
" First, Under no circumstances can slavery be admitted into the church.
" Second, In all cases, where a holder of a slave, or slaves, wishes to become a member of the church, he be required to manumit all his slaves before baptism, upon the following conditions: The males to go out free at the age of twenty-one years, and the females at the age of eighteen years. All those over and above these ages, when manumitted, are to be paid by their former owner such a sum, either in money or goods, as may be judged right by the church in which the case may occur, which is con- sidered as the best judge, being acquainted with all the circumstances,-as a compensation for their services over age. This will enable the manumitted to migrate to a land of liberty, and will relieve the conscience of the liberator from the burden of tak- ing with him to the bar of God, the wages of op- pression."
This report was adopted after a lengthy discus- sion by the meeting.
II. Whether it is contrary to the Gospel for breth- ren to lay out towns?
Considered, that it is not, but that we would at the same time caution our brethren against all schemes of extravagance.
III. Is it agreeable to the Gospel for a brother to give ground for meetinghouses to such that do not preach the Gospel in its purity, and if not, how is he to be dealt with ?
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Considered as positively inconsistent with the Gospel, as appears from the following testimonies : 2 John 10 and 11; Eph. 5: 11, and 2 Cor. 6: 14-18. And as regards the manner of dealing with such we recommend, that they should be admonished and re- quired to make acknowledgment.
IV. Brother Samuel Lehman was nominated as agent for the Garber Legacy in Northern Illinois in place of Joseph Emmert, resigned. Approved.
V. Brother Daniel Miller, of Preble County, Ohio, was nominated as agent for the same fund in South- western Ohio in place of John Brower, resigned. Also approved.
VII. Can a person be reinstated to the church after having been excluded for immoral conduct, and when he holds the opinion that the sisters have voice in church council ?
Considered better not to receive such as long as they entertain views contrary to the order of the church.
VIII. Is it expedient for a laboring brother to give liberty to a private brother to exhort or bear testimony at public worship?
Considered as not advisable; brethren should be cautious not to offend the church by showing par- tiality to individual members.
IX. If a brother is disowned in one church, and moves to another at a distance, and there desires to be received again, showing symptoms of repent- ance, acknowledging his fault, and being willing to make reparation as soon as he is able; this being made known to the church from whence he came,
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repeatedly, but nothing is done, nor any answer given by said church ;- can he be received under such circumstances by the church where he lives, or not?
Considered, according to 2 Cor. 2: 6-8, that the church, where a fault has been committed, should act and answer the church where the disowned member lives, without delay.
X. As there is some difference of opinion respect- ing John 13: 5, the question arises, Whether one and the same member shall perform the double act of washing and wiping the saints' feet ?
Considered in the same light as it was in 1849, Art. 39, that the manner of feet-washing could not be amended, inasmuch as the command is fully obeyed in the way we observe it.
XI. If one or more churches would so choose to come together in the evening to observe the ordi- nances of the house of God as delivered unto us by the Savior, and continue public worship next day, believing that thereby some of the evils might be obviated, which too often accompany our love feasts, would it be considered a departure from the Word?
Considered, no.
XII. When a man who says he is very near the Brethren, but yet finds fault with them, comes and wants to hold meetings among us, what shall we do with him and with such brethren who go with and encourage such ?
Considered, that we ought not to receive such as ministers, and brethren who encourage them should
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be admonished as those who do not walk consistent- ly with the Gospel. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
XIII. In case a leading brother in the ministry (ordained or not ordained) would be reported as having committed a gross public fault, and the or- dained brethren of an adjoining congregation at the request of some of the members of the church where the fault has been committed, call a council in that church and investigate the matter; have these or- dained brethren done right?
Considered that in such case those ordained breth- ren would have done right, inasmuch as the indi- vidual church is, however large it may be, only a branch or member of the body of Christ, and inas- much as it is the duty of ordained elders to take care of every branch of that body, especially when the leading member is sick or unfaithful.
XIV. Is it consistent with the example and doc- trine of Christ and his apostles when brethren write and publish books, and afterward revise and re- publish them, etc .?
Considered, that brethren should be careful in their publications, and especially of other men's books.
XVI. Is it allowed by the Gospel for a sister, after her husband is dead, to be married to her stepson?
Considered not allowed according to the follow- ing passages, 1 Cor. 5: 1; Lev. 18: 8. Churches should be watchful to purge out such a leaven from among them.
XVII. A request for a committee to visit Upper
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Conewago Church, Pa. Granted, and Brother Ja- cob Saylor, of Maryland; William Boyers, of Frank- lin; John Berkley, of Somerset; Isaac Myers, of Union ; and Jacob Hollinger, of Dauphin County, all in Pennsylvania, nominated as such committee.
XVIII. Would it be more in accordance with the Gospel to hold our love feasts on Thursday before Easter?
Considered that the Gospel does not bind us to any particular day.
XIX. Is it not the duty of each church to keep their poor, and not let them become a county charge, or is it right to send a brother to the poorhouse at the expense of the county?
Answer: See Minutes 1851 and 1852.
XXII. A request that the oldest bishop choose or appoint twelve brethren to hold a communion or love feast at the time (and place) of Yearly Meet- ings, as a model to show us the right order according to the Gospel.
Considered, that Christ with his apostles in that doleful night when he (the Savior) was betrayed, has given a model, and showed us the right order.
XXIII. A request to reconsider query 3 on the Minutes of 1853 which reads thus, " Have we a right to help in making the political government, and to serve as officers, also to put the law in force against any of our fellowmen in any case whatever?"
Considered that this query was sufficiently and correctly answered in 1852. See Rom. 6: 5-8; John 18: 36.
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XXIV. Is it more in unison with the Gospel to use a lamb at our love feasts instead of beef ?
Considered this query to be answered by the 21st article of the Minutes of 1853.
XXV. Whether the 29th article of the Minutes of 1852 should not be readopted ?
Considered to let it remain as decided last year (Art. 2), with the understanding that each query should be written on a separate paper.
XXVI. A request from Coventry Church, Chester County, Pa., for a committee to examine grievances and difficulties there existing.
The request was granted and the following breth- ren appointed : Daniel P. Saylor and Philip Boyle, of Maryland; John Cline, of Virginia; and Samuel Harley, Jacob Wenger and Christian Longenecker, of Pennsylvania.
XXVII. A similar request for a committee to visit Lower Cumberland Church in Pennsylvania.
Also granted, and Brother Isaac Pfoutz, of Mary- land; Brethren Samuel Miller, Peter Long, Andrew Spanogle and David Bosserman, of Pennsylvania, were nominated for this committee.
With regard to next meeting at Aughwick it was stated by letter from our dear Brother Andrew Spanogle, that it will be held at their meetinghouse ; that the nearest station on the railroad is Mount Union, from whence it is seven miles to the meet- inghouse, and to Brother Samuel Lutz, who lives near it. Letters addressed to Elder Andrew Span- ogle, Shirleysburg, Huntingdon County, Pa., will be attended to.
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Signed in behalf of the meeting and the Standing Committee of elders :
George Hoke, George Shively, of Ohio.
John Kline, Joseph Arnold, of Virginia. Philip Boyle, Daniel P. Sayler, of Maryland. C. Longenecker, John Berkley, of Pennsylvania.
Jacob Miller, George Hoover, of Indiana. Joseph Emmert, Christian Long, of Illinois. By Henry Kurtz, Clerk.
The Clerk was charged to add an address on the subject of Yearly Meetings in general, and espe- cially for the purpose to caution our dearly beloved members from increasing unnecessarily the crowd and burden of the same; but time and space failing, something may appear in the Visitor hereafter.
ANNUAL MEETING OF MAY 21, 1872, In Wayne County, Ohio.
Moderator, Henry Davy. Reading Clerk, John Wise.
Here and there throughout the Brotherhood are to be found historic places, because of the assem- bling of our conferences, and at these places history is made. There, also, is brought about the energiz- ing of those forces that are supposed to produce more history in the meantime.
I presume about half of our present Brotherhood was then unborn, both physically and spiritually, and it may be of some interest to know how the " Big Meeting " was conducted then, in comparison with now.
BARN WHERE THE 1872 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD The part to the left has since been added.
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Elder Cyrus Hoover and his wife, both now de- ceased, surrendered all their earthly possessions for the comfort, enjoyment and the spiritual well-being of the church they so much loved. The Pennsyl- vania Railroad stopped the trains near the meeting grounds for the convenience of the passengers. Half-fare rates over the principal roads were in effect to the Conference.
The tabernacle was two hundred and twenty feet long by eighty feet wide. This big structure was divided into two parts. One part was used for the dining room and the other part for the auditorium. The estimated attendance was 7,000. Lodging was free. The boarding, three meals each day, was free also. That was a day when long distances were traveled by private conveyance, thus bringing to- gether horses and vehicles too numerous to count. These were all taken care of free of charge.
There were no real estate agents, nor colonizers with stacks of advertising matter, beautiful and at- tractive, specially suited to generate dreams and visions in men's minds. Neither the trafficker in patent rights, nor the dealers in merchandise were found in booths, turning men's minds to carnal things, when they came for spiritual good. Stocks and dividends were not even mentioned. The breth- ren and sisters seemed to have come together for the purpose of laying the ground work for a larger and more spiritual Brotherhood.
Turning to the year book we find some interest- ing items, but will give only a few of them. The meeting was organized in the usual manner. The first query had reference to the expulsion of mem-
-
HOUSE WHERE THE 1872 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD
The Standing Committee held its sessions in two of the upstairs rooms.
were held in a tent located Elder Cyrus Hoover and wife.
between the house and barn.
Israel Hoover and family
are now keeping this
The Conference meetings
The farm was
owned at that time by sacred landmark of the
Brotherhood.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
bers. The use of tobacco was treated with disap- probation. It was classed with other “vain and useless things." Art. 5, "Is the Gospel a perfect law to govern the church in all things necessary to salvation? " Answer : " It is." The taking of illegal interest on money loaned was dealt with more severely than formerly. In some cases ministers may be restored to their office after falling from grace. No brother has a right to place another brother, or an alien, under bond to keep the " peace."
It was a year of many calls for committees,- nineteen in all were asked for and granted. There were twenty-three delegates on that year's Standing Committee.
The arm of the church that entertained the 1872 Conference is still in a growing condition. Many children have been born into the kingdom since that day, and many trained to do effectual service. The present meetinghouse, just a few rods from the his- toric grounds of the 1872 conference, is a structure whose taste and comfort will afford a pleasant meet- ing place for some time to come.
Read carefully the following items of business that were sent forth on their mission from this Conference :
Annual Meeting Minutes.
Has the church a right to pass resolutions and decisions, and enforce them to the expulsion of members from the church without " thus saith " the positive law of the Lord? Answer: The church shall not expel any member without Gospel author- ity.
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Has the church the right to enforce her decisions according to Matt. 18, in matters where the Gospel is silent? Answer: There may be evils of sufficient magnitude to require a resort to the extreme of the course we are directed to pursue in Matt. 18, though those evils for which members are dealt with may not be specified in the Gospel, but at the same time are clearly violations of the principles of the Gospel.
Is it right, according to the Gospel and rules of the Brethren, for one arm of the church to delegate to another arm the power of restoring to the church a member who had formerly been disowned by the arm first named above? Answer: It has the power, by sending the charge with the testimony, in connec- tion with the testimony where the member resides
Is it according to the order of the Brethren in private council that there be a unanimous consent of the " official brethren " concerning any matter before it can come before the church? Answer : The official brethren should not bring a matter be- fore the church, if they are divided, until they have called the assistance of bishops of adjoining dis- tricts.
Which is more in accordance with the Gospel and example of Jesus and his disciples, to close our love feasts in the evening with singing or prayer? Answer : This meeting thinks singing last is more in accordance with the Gospel.
Are members justifiable in refusing to commune with bishops of other churches, who tolerate pride in their churches, when the Annual Meeting makes it their duty to enforce plainness? Answer: Not
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until it is understood that the elders who are said to have tolerated the evil alluded to have been admonished, and labored with, to get them in order.
What is to be done with a district of the church that tolerates its members in taking illegal interest for money loaned, after the Annual Meeting has decided again and again that it is wrong to do so? Answer: This Annual Meeting thinks that that church should be visited by the elders of the adjoin- ing churches, to set in order the things that are wanting.
Is it according to the Gospel, and the order of the Brethren, for members of the church to teach in- strumental music in public schools, or elsewhere? We desire the dear brethren, assembled in District Meeting, to give us an answer on this subject. An- swer: Whereas, we know of no direct Scripture on the subject, we can only give our advice on the query. And as we believe instrumental music to be of the world, and not of the true church of God, we think members had better not engage in teaching it. But we submit our answer to the Annual Meeting. This Annual Meeting confirms the answer.
Whether a brother may go to the legislative as- sembly, as a representative of the people, agreeably with the Gospel? Considered, that though we look upon the higher powers of the world as being of God, for the protection of the pious, etc., and de- sire to be thankful to God for the benefit we enjoy under our government, and feel it our duty to pray fervently and daily for the same, we cannot see how a follower of the meek and lowly Savior can
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seek and accept an office of this kind consistently with the Gospel he professes. Answer: We re- adopt the answer to the Minutes alluded to, and consider that any brother who suffers himself to be elected to such office as that named, and to serve in it, cannot be retained as a member of the church.
Can the church tolerate a member in the body that is a member of the society or order called Grange or Patrons of Husbandry? Answer: No brother or sister should have anything to do with such an order, it being a secret-bound, and, from ap- pearance, a political association ; and members who have united with it, and persist in it, should be dealt with as transgressors.
Will this meeting allow brethren, and especially ministering brethren, to engage in the banking busi- ness? Answer: Not advisable for brethren to en- gage in such business.
This Annual Meeting renews its disapprobation of the use of tobacco, and especially at the time, and in the place of divine worship, and believes it should be classed with other vain and useless things.
Standing Committee.
H. D. Davy, Jacob Garver, John Brown, D. B. Sturgis, Jacob. Metzger, R. H. Miller, Samuel Leh- man, John Metzger, E. K. Beeghly, Christian Long, Daniel Zook, Wm. Gish, Samuel Mohler, A. Mols- bee, Ab. Naff, Solomon Garber, Martin Cosner, D. Long, D. P. Sayler, Jacob Riner, Jos. Hanawalt, J. Wise, J. Quinter.
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ANNUAL MEETING NOTES, NORTHEAST- ERN OHIO.
In Ashland, 1881.
The Conference of 1881 was held in the city of Ashland on the college grounds, then owned and controlled by the Brethren. This was the year be- fore the final rupture in the church, resulting in what was known as the Conservative, Progressive, and Old Order Churches.
This meeting was unusually large in attendance, the weather was very inclement, and the business meetings at times were turbulent. The auditorium was a large tent seating perhaps three thousand people. A severe storm blew it down one night, which caused a delay of about a half day in the reg- ular work of Conference. A large dining hall was erected for the feeding of the multitude. The lodg- ing committee, composed of I. D. Parker and H. F. Hixon, was taxed to its utmost, due to the fact that this was the first year charges were made for lodging ; some insisted on the old way. The charges were ten cents per night. It is a fitting tribute to the citizens of Ashland that they threw open their doors free of charge with but few exceptions. The meal tickets were fifteen for $1. The helpers in the large dining room were from all parts of the Dis- trict. Their services were free.
This being the Conference immediately previous to the final rupture in 1882, the questions for dis- cussion for the most part had to do with the dis- orders in the Brotherhood. The discussions were quite heated at times. A redeeming feature of the
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