USA > Ohio > A history of the church of the Brethren, Northeastern Ohio > Part 16
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In 1856, Elder James Quinter moved into the District and identified himself with the Gospel Vis- itor as Associate Editor. Brother Quinter's com- ing into Ohio and identifying himself with the pub- lishing interests, became an epoch-making event to both the District and the paper. New life was in- fused into the churches and the paper. The circula- tion grew rapidly. In 1864, because of the infirm- ities of old age, Brother Henry Kurtz withdrew from the activities of the publishing business. He leased it to his son, J. H. Kurtz, and Brother Quin- ter. By this time the publishing interests gained commendable momentum. Northeastern Ohio was furnishing reading matter for multitudes of homes all over the Brotherhood. In 1873 Elder J. H. Kurtz sold out his interest in the Gospel Visitor to Elder James Quinter, whence it was moved to Hunting- don, Pa.
The Gospel Preacher.
The first number of this paper was issued at Ashland, Ohio, in January, 1879. It was a four-page weekly at $1 per annum. Its first editors were Elders S. Z. Sharp and S. H. Bashor. After six months Elder Sharp resigned and J. H. Worst iden-
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tified himself with the work as Associate Editor. This paper had a wide circulation and was a faith- ful supporter of Ashland College as well as of the interests of the church in general The first issue came out with a strong attack upon the Mourner's Bench, which created no small stir among those who were its patrons. The paper was continued up till 1882, when it went out of existence as a periodi- cal under the auspices of the Church of the Breth- ren.
Our Sunday School.
The publishing house at Ashland grew to be a considerable enterprise. When it took up the work of supplying literature for young people, it opened up one of the largest and most fruitful fields in the Brotherhood.
The first number of the above-named paper was printed March 26, 1879. Its editor and proprietor was Elder S. Z. Sharp. Its purpose was to supply a growing want for literature suited to young peo- ple. Its success was marvelous, as seen by the mailing list ; by the time of the sixth edition the cir- culation reached almost two thousand copies. In the fall of '79 Brother Sharp purchased the Chil- dren at Work and merged it into Our Sunday School. In October of the same year the Young Disciple, published at Huntingdon, Pa., was brought to Ashland and consolidated with Our Sunday School. It remained at Ashland only two years, whence it re- moved again to Huntingdon.
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The Brethren's Quarterly.
The first Sunday-school quarterly published in the Brotherhood had its inception at Ashland, Ohio. This new publication made its advent in 1879. It sought to supply a great need and so it did, judg- ing from the rapid demand for its helpful pages. It only lived at Ashland about two years, due to the 1882 division in the church, whence it became merged with the publishing interests remaining identified with the main body of the Brotherhood.
From these facts concerning the publication of Sunday-school literature, it appears that Northeast- ern Ohio again occupies a unique position, prac- tically at the beginning of Sunday-school literature, a work which has grown to mammoth proportions, supplying an army of workers, the most formidable force in the ranks of the church for the extension of the Kingdom.
Though these most useful auxiliaries of the church have moved out of the District, yet it has the pleasurable consciousness of having sown the seed which is bringing a worthy harvest for the Mas- ter's use. "One may plant, another water, yet the increase comes from God."
WOMEN OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
The membership of Northeastern Ohio consti- tutes a great and important link in the history of the Brotherhood. Without the activities of faith in this territory the historic outlines of the church
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would be a quite different chapter from what it is now.
This link has been forged by both man and woman, and we feel to assign our sisterhood as im- portant a part as our brethren in the equation of the extension of the Kingdom. Each has the di- vine imprint, and for each the destiny is the same. Though their labors vary, yet in their intellectual, social and moral advancement they become one in the work of the Master. Men and women rise or fall together. No people can, with impunity, enslave woman, or hush her voice. In so far as society advances in Christian culture, the veil that has obscured woman's presence and worth has been removed, and we are permitted to see her exercising in self-sacrificing devotion and love in the things that pertain to the purity and uplift of both church and state. She has unfalteringly come up with man, cheering and comforting through all the ordeals incident to the establishment of churches in new territory.
Feminine characteristics are conceded to be of finer quality than those which are purely masculine. Her tenderness and kindness show a bravery and heroism outrivaling that of the battlefield. No woman's voice was heard in the clamor for the life of Jesus. A man betrayed him, one denied him, nine more fled, a man pronounced the death sen- tence and a woman begged to have his life spared. Women followed him to the cross, shedding tears of sympathy, were the first to the tomb, and the first to greet him after the resurrection.
When we scan closely the structure of the
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churches of Northeastern Ohio, we see just such elements of true and tender womanhood as have graced other periods of human history. Feminine touches of beauty, strength and courage are every- where to be seen in our church organism. With what wonderful fortitude our sisterhood has sus- tained the overwhelming reverses of society inci- dent to pioneering expeditions ! Disasters that break down the spirit of man and prostrate him in the dust, seem to call forth all her energies, giving intrepidity and elevation of character approaching upon occasions even to the sublime.
Nothing can be more significant than to behold our sisters in Christ, whose sphere during all these years has been one of obscurity, submission, and dependence, rise suddenly into mental force and spiritual power, to be more numerous than man in the prayer meeting, to be teaching in the Sunday- schools, to be man's comforter and supporter under misfortunes, and abide with unshrinking firmness the most bitter blasts of adversity. This has been the nature of the reinforcement our brethren have received during the past hundred years in the or- ganization of churches.
When we look for the names of notable women in the District, they seem to be hidden as securely as the names of the women in Bible times. She has been willing that all her labors, sacrifices, joys and successes be recorded under man's signature. She is the silken thread which makes strong the warp and woof of church extension. Allow a suggestive sketch of some details that became strong pillars of support to the superstructure which so gracefully
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rose up in the person of the local congregations. With men, the pioneer women were in direct con- tact with the soil, with comparatively no equip- ment standing between production and consumption to lighten the drudgery of life. It would appear that pioneering would fall heavier upon man than upon woman, but it seems not to be the case. Man has the freedom of outdoor life, the blue sky to charm and kindle the imagination; the sun with its health-giving rays and an atmosphere filled with the aroma of budding and blooming fields. But the outlines of a pioneer woman's sphere is a little shack with one or two rooms, not only a place to shelter the human part of the family, but it is cheerfully surrendered to anything else of domestic interest. She cheerfully gives up space for the mending and making of harness; blacksmithing is done from the kitchen stove, and implements for farm use are whit- tled out by the old fireplace. Additional room is surrendered for the storing of grain and seeds await- ing the vision of higher markets. The starving lamb and sick pig are brought to the house to have their ailments attended to ; in short, anything of domestic worth seems well pitched over against where the wife and children stay. Yet the good wife through it all kept the altar fires burning, and sang the sweetest songs, looking steadfastly for the fulfilment of her dreams of a larger and more quiet day. Not only so, but she cheerfully gave room in her own humble cottage for church purposes, spending anx- ious days previous to the meetings that everything might be in readiness, including even refreshments for those who came from a distance. The appointed
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day was full of fellowship, every one was made to feel the warm breath of welcome, thus kindling in them a desire to return again. The day of Chris- tian fellowship finding a sweet repose in memory, and the wife's heart rekindled by much well-wishing and keenly conscious of having done God's pleasure, she puts herself to the task of rearranging her house for domestic purposes. This is the nature of our pioneer sisterhood, who have made possible our larger Brotherhood. The feminine elements of our modern membership have drunk freely from pioneer fountains ; the grace and beauty and unfaltering de- votion of the women who adorned the beginning of our church edifice have been lively influences all along the way. When we see the faithfulness of the ministers in their long journeys to . their ap- pointments on horseback, and other primitive modes of travel, we must see the ministers' wives bearing a burden and responsibility equal to and even greater than theirs in keeping the home together in their absence.
Usually woman does not hold very much of this world's goods in her own right, yet she is a philan- thropist of the first rank ; she gives more nearly than man of what is in her possession to give.
In the "Go ye," our sisterhood stands first in point of numbers now engaged in personal work. She has caused the Star of Bethlehem to appear in the horizon of many souls. She has carved her name upon tables of memory, and her work al- ready wrought is a perpetual invitation to sisters of the faith to join in the work of God that shall eventually fill the whole earth with his praise.
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" Where the Spirit of God is there is liberty," has brought our sisterhood remarkably to the front dur- ing the past decades. They are the ones who are carrying forward with painstaking zeal our "Aid Society " work, ever solicitous of the health, com- fort and sustenance of those in need, and ambitious to be an earning power, that they might be enrolled as faithful givers to the philanthropies of Christ. Our Home Mission Board is extending mission work into city populations with commendable courage and success since the personal worth of women has been enlisted. In the Christian Workers' and prayer meetings her voice in song and prayer evinces a leadership that reaches out after a larger millennium of piety and grace. In the training department of the church (the Sunday-school) our sisterhood has captured the primary classes almost exclusively, proving herself a teacher of adaptability and courage in planting and cultivating the eternal Word, thus giving over to the church a young and vigorous membership.
As civilization is depending upon the kind of homes that are being fostered, we see woman again standing at the threshold of all progress. Within our Fraternity she has with dignity maintained the Christian home, the voucher of good men and wom- en for the Master's service. Her thought is con- stantly absorbed in the physical, industrial, moral and religious welfare of those whom it is God's good pleasure to give into her bosom. At the altar of her heart, sweet incense of love is perpetually burning, thus giving to our race its sweetest thought,
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" Home, sweet home," the guarantee of a larger and more aggressive Kingdom of faith.
May we not sum up the work of our sisters of Northeastern Ohio, the past hundred years, by say- ing, they have abhorred evil more, loved righteous- ness more, journeyed more amid perils, suffered more, prayed more, and wept more for Jesus and humanity than their big, strong brothers of the faith ?
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
Sunday-school work in Northeastern Ohio is an interesting chapter, since all departures from the usual customs of church work tend to arouse ques- tions of propriety and of right and wrong, all, how- ever, in the spirit of sincerity. The Sunday-school encountered its full measure of opposition in most of the churches of the District. The usual argu- ment produced was that it was a worldly move, and that its sanction is not found in the Bible in so many words. At some places the opposition was of such deep conscientiousness that members would not come into the church till after the Sunday-school session was over, since in most places the preaching services followed the Sunday-school hour. The most remarkable thing of it all was that in not a single church in the District did the contention over the Sunday-school permanently impair the peace and harmony of the members. Through singing, prayer, the teaching of the Scriptures, godly living, and loving fellowship of the advocates of the Sun- day-school with those who did not see it that way,
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was every vestige of opposition soon overcome, and at the present time the Sunday-schools of the Dis- trict have the distinction of being front rank in the Brotherhood. The peaceful solution of so diffi- cult a situation is what we who are now living should ever strive to make effectual in all of our church work.
The Sunday-school made its advent into the Dis- trict through the union school; and in other places through our Brethren's children attending schools of other denominations, which soon became a drain- age from among our own people. The latter part of the sixties, and the seventies, became the period of great awakening on the Sunday-school question. To organize a Sunday-school was a most difficult thing, for the churches as a rule were not experienced in organization work. The only models that could be had were what was seen in the Sunday-schools of other churches, and those could only be imitated slightly. Aside from the question of organization, was the matter of teachers, how to teach, what to teach, and that without any helps whatever, except- ing the Bible and the inspiring Spirit. Those were days when Sunday-school institutes and Sunday- school conventions were not even dreamed of. There were no methods of teaching known except- ing those in use in the day schools. No lesson helps other than those published by other denominations, which in a number of instances were adopted. The beginners' classes in many instances were taught from the day school primer, and all others who could read, from the New Testament; the lessons for the most part being selected by the superintend-
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ent and teachers. Division of classes according to grades was yet a dream, hence it was quite common to find classes ranging in years from ten to seventy- five. Those were the good old days when both the old and young sat down together and searched ear- nestly for the truth. It was not uncommon to find teachers with large classes who made no profession at all.
During the first years Sunday-school work was conducted only during the summer months, and not until in the nineties did the evergreen contagion take place. At the present time all the schools of the District are in perpetual session. The largest number of schools at any one time was thirty-six, with a total enrollment of 3,600, and a corps of teachers and officers numbering over 300.
Some time in the nineties Children's Meetings were introduced. But at first the children took only a small part in the programs, the other part being rendered by elderly brethren and sisters. The idea of bringing the children to the front in public pro- grams brought new life into Sunday-school work, because it was doing what the Master did when he put children forward as examples to be imitated by grown-ups.
Teachers' Meetings, Cradle Rolls, Home Depart- ments, and Teacher Training are all products of about the beginning of the twentieth century. Their success is somewhat varying throughout the schools.
The first District Sunday-school conventions held in the Brotherhood were probably convened in Northeastern Ohio. Presumably in the year 1878 the first one was held in the Chippewa Church, 1879
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in the Ashland Church, and 1880 in the Black River congregation. The meetings were largely attended by both old and young. The Brotherhood about this time taking an adverse attitude on the Sun- day-school convention idea, no more District con- ventions were held until in June, 1898. The first District Sunday-school Meeting of 1878 being held in the Chippewa Church, it is fitting that the re- vival of this most essential feature of religious ac- tivity should resume its pedagogical activities in the above-named big-hearted congregation. Each year since have assembled from all over the District the young people, middle aged and old ones, too, to seek out the best methods, secure the largest measures of truth, and the greatest possible inspiration to do the work of the Master. These annual occasions have never failed in attracting large and interested crowds.
Music and the discussion of pertinent Sunday- school questions made up the principal features of the programs. Recitations were woven in at times.
At the District Meeting of 1907 a petition was pre- sented asking for an annual Sunday-school Institute in which specialists along lines of Sunday-school education should give instruction that would better systematize the work of the schools, and cause the teaching to be more educational. These institutes in a measure have realized their purpose.
The finances of these institutes are kept up for the most part by assessments from the various schools of the District. As long as these institutes keep within their appointed sphere, they prove to be of great value.
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In 1902 the Sunday-schools of the District assem- bled in the Owl Creek Church and the missionary spirit seemed to run so high that a move was put on foot for the schools to support a missionary in some foreign field. Many speeches were made, an offering amounting to something like $40 was lifted, and resolutions were adopted asking District Meet- ing to approve of the move. A committee was also appointed to confer with candidates who may be looking toward the mission field as their life's work. The District Meeting responded with a hearty ap- proval. The Sunday-schools at the present time have on hand something like $1,200 for said pur- pose, and are assisting a candidate in her education for the foreign field. The time now seems short till schools of Northeastern Ohio will be actively engaged in the Orient through their representative. It is needless to say that this missionary move has greatly stimulated the schools.
In 1887 was the beginning of the District Sunday- school Secretary idea. Brother John F. Kahler was the first one who opened up that most useful field of service. He was appointed by the District Meet- ing. At first the Secretary did all his work through correspondence, by gathering statistics and giving occasional recommendations. The work proved very unsatisfactory to the secretaries because of the difficulty in getting reports from the schools, and the want of accuracy in the reports ; finally it was urged that the secretary should visit the schools and give personal superintendence in their work. As a result of this personal supervision, new schools
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have been organized, old ones rejuvenated, modern and up-to-date methods used, auxil- iary departments organized, more money is being raised, more scholars attending and teachers teaching, also more scholars are uniting with the church. In the reports of the District Meetings you will note the names of those who served as sec- retaries.
Northeastern Ohio Sunday-School Report.
The following report, gotten up by Secretary G. A. Cassel, of Ashland, will prove interesting, not only for the present reader, but for future genera- tions as well. The prominence given to the Sunday- school in the churches of the District may be con- sidered prophetic of the encouragement it will re- ceive in the future. The District in her Annual Conferences occupies but one day in the trans- action of all the business that naturally comes to it, but the Sunday-schools in their annual conven- tion and institute fill three days full of busy work. Not a few schools represent with delegates at the State conventions.
(A sample report.)
Number of schools in session 12 1911 1910
months in year
29
29
Total number of schools in District
31
31
If not in session 12 months in year cannot Line School.
become Front
Schools.
1911
1910
Holding Children's Meetings
14
17 L
3
Observing Decision Day
3
2
1
Teacher Training Classes
8
7 G
1
Members of Training Classes
61
60 G 1
Teachers' Meetings
7
7 G
0
Separate Room for Primaries
22
21 G
1
Having Libraries
13
11 G 2
Contributing to Missions
17
17
0
Amount Contributed to Missions
$ 685.00
$ 708.69 L $23.69
Total Offering
2041.33
1954.71 G 86.62
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Number of Officers and Teachers
382
330 G
52
Number Cradle Rolls
21
21 G
0
Enrollment Cradle Rolls
415
403 G
12
Number of Home Departments
19
19 G 0
Enrollment Home Departments
357
370 L
13
Total Enrollment of Main Schools
2485
2470 G
15
Total Enrollment all departments .
3630
3601 G
29
Average Attendance
1596
1706 L
110
(Loss due to extremely inclement weather)
Total Membership of Congregations
2606
2445 G
161
Number of Conversions through
Sunday-school
121
112 G
9
Our 1912 Sunday-School Standard.
1. School open all the year.
2. Statistics given promptly when called for.
3. Contributions for District work; (a) District secretary, (b) Missionary.
4. Teachers' Meetings.
5. An active Cradle Roll.
6. A working Home Department.
7. A Teacher Training Class, or at least one stu- dent or graduate for 1912.
8. One or more organized Adult Bible Classes.
9. Average attendance not less than one-half the enrollment of main school.
10. School represented by delegates at District convention.
We have in the District five Front Line Sunday- schools, nine Banner Sunday-schools, eleven Star Sunday-schools, and six of no standing at all.
If your school has not reached six points be sure to have it do so by 1913. Whatever standard your school may have attained do not fail to have it also attain that high standard of spirituality neces- sary in every school to reach the goal for which it stands.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
Printing, Postage and Stationery, $9.60.
May God bless you in what you have done for the furtherance of the kingdom, and strengthen you in what you will do this coming year, and help us to do more for him in the future than we have in the past.
" Yield thy poor best, and mark not how or why; Lest one day, seeing all about thee spread A mighty crowd, and marvelously fed, Thy heart break out into a bitter cry,
' I might have furnished, I, yea, even I, The two small fishes and the barley bread '."
Respectfully submitted, G. A. Cassel, General Secretary.
SISTERS' AID SOCIETIES.
It was along about 1894 that this style of organ- ization made its advent into the District. From the most reliable sources, it made its first appear- ance in the Maple Grove Church, and the following year in the Ashland Church. From this small beginning it has become a leavening process in nearly all the churches of the District.
This is the one organization of the church that belongs exclusively to the one sex of our fraternity. Our sisterhood has never been forward in the work of the church; but in the fullness of time her zeal for doing great things for the Master soon form- ulated itself into a society where her spirit could find free expression in the doing of those little things that become great accomplishments.
In her meetings they fashion useful wearing ap-
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parel, make bed clothing and do some work for the poor of the several communities, give gifts to the needy, assist in building churchhouses, and con- tribute liberally to both home and foreign missions ; they talk about good things, read the Scriptures, pray and plan for larger things for the Lord.
Through the medium of their work many homes not of the church have been enlisted, which have in many instances become real leaders in the work, and whose enlistment has provoked some of our sis- ters to join the busy bees in making honey for those who have never tasted of the sweets of life. In not a few instances have some of these identified them- selves with the church, and through their fidelity have become strong pillars in the kingdom of God.
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