USA > Ohio > A history of the church of the Brethren, Northeastern Ohio > Part 8
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several years, always, as was often remarked, the most diligent student in the school. A strong de- termination served him well in this as in many other experiences that came to him later on. He gave his best energies to the interests of the church in
ELD. I. D. PARKER
its various lines. Especially was he interested in Christian education under the guidance of our own people, to which cause he bestowed with a liberal hand, besides giving largely of his time free. In the enlargement of our publishing interests, and in
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the placing of the church paper in every home of the Brotherhood ; and in the largest possible endow- ment of our general missionary work are seen evi- dences of his arduous and successful endeavor, and his personal provision.
Because of his advanced ideas on some of the more important phases of church work he was sometimes severely criticized, but he pressed on. He was aggressive, yet ready only for such new advanced methods as conformed to the spirit of the Word of God. When Sunday-school sentiment was being created he was among the foremost to push it to the front, likewise when the opportune time came for the Christian Workers' organizations?
He was superintendent of one of the first Sunday- schools organized in the Northeastern District of Ohio, which was held in the Ashland Church. Hav- ing no denominational or international lessons, he worked out the lessons to be studied. He was also chairman of the first Sunday-school convention held in the District; also encouraged District ministerial meetings and District mission work.
He held one, and in many congregations several, series of meetings in nearly every church in the District, besides his extensive evangelistic work in other fields. God blessed these efforts with abun- dant fruitage, and he has many spiritual children doing efficient service in the home and foreign fields. He had no greater joy than the fellowship of his brethren and in the public worship, as in the various councils of the church he was always there on time, alert and interested in all and desirous of the greatest good to the largest number. So eager was
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he to understand and do efficient service for his Master that he seldom lost an opportunity to attend District and General Conference or committee meet- ings, where he could sit at the feet of his elder brethren and learn of them Bible Theology and Church Government applied. He had the courage of his convictions and was a strong advocate of the principles of the Gospel as understood and practiced by the Brethren. This was evidenced by his stand- ing as one of two souls in the congregation voting in favor of loyalty to the Brotherhood at the time of the lamentable disruption at Ashland College. Being an optimist he looked on the bright side and always saw something brighter ahead. While he deplored any irregularities that might arise in the fold he sought to save erring souls rather than destroy them. He had a great and tender care for the weak and erring and was concerned for the lambs within the fold. But his greater concern was for the unsaved, and no message of his closed with- out a tender appeal to them ; while in personal work he was especially instrumental in leading many into the higher life.
His manner of doing his work won for him the admiration even of those who did not always agree with him. His shepherding care was wanted and his counsels sought after and followed, and his heart was large enough to count it not too dear to spend and be spent for the good of others. The young sought his tender, helpful care. The bereft turned to him for words of comfort and healing. The troubled came to have all clouds removed, or find the way to surmount them. He was frequently
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placed on important committees and served them well. In church government he was mild and char- itable to the erring, yet never sacrificing principle which appealed to the better judgment of all. He met the most difficult problems with firm and un- wavering faith in the right prevailing in the end.
In many things Brother Parker lived in advance of his day. Yet he was not disposed to grow im- patient when his views were not accepted. He could labor and wait. One of his favorite texts was, "I can do all things through Christ who strength- ens me." Another, "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord." Better still, " We are saved by grace through faith." He sometimes said that the one thing better than the many pre- cious promises of God was to get ourselves in line with God's plan so that we may claim them as our own.
As a husband, he was kind, helpful and indulgent. He lived for those who knew him best, yet he never forgot his higher calling and the larger circle for whom he lived and labored.
As a preacher his discourses were forceful, logical, fresh and interesting. He studiously avoided get- ting into ruts, " studying to show himself an ap- proved workman, rightly dividing the Word." He sought wider fields and newer pastures for his flock to feed upon. To sit under his ministry was to feel that you had been well fed.
As a pastor he was a gentle shepherd. No lamb, however erring, was dealt with harshly; personal effort was generally effective.
Brother Parker was a man with a vision of great
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things. Before the church had Sunday-schools he believed the time would come when they would be enjoyed in every congregation. He saw and labored for larger possibilities for our publishing interests ; advocated church control and fostering care of our schools, larger endowment for the schools and the general missionary work; a larger circulation and more intelligent knowledge of our church work and of her ministry by her laity-much of which he lived to see as the consummation of his hopes.
He was an interesting conversationalist, ready to listen and always ready with a story or illustration to fix the points he made.
Born, baptized, married, called to the office of deacon and in a short time to the ministry. Later he was called to the eldership in the Ashland Church, after which he spent twenty years of his ripest and best efforts in faithful pastoral and evangelistic work in other fields, as traveling secretary for our church papers, endowment solicitor for the general missionary work and solicitor of funds for the sav- ing of some of our schools.
It was but fitting and natural that the Father should lead him back home to the church and Dis- trict of his youth as the evening shades of life were so unconsciously closing the sable mantle about him. Many said he was taken before his time. The Lord knows all. Though his years were few, as men measure life, yet they were fruitful and a bless- ing to the world. He gave his best thought and strength to the church that she might be purer, stronger and holier for his having lived.
The end came May 21, 1910.
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MOUNT ZION.
This congregation is situated a little to one side of the main group of churches in the District. The real beginnings of this body of believers the chron- icler was unable to secure, because "they are not . left to tell the story." Their pioneer days were con- temporary with other leading denominations, hence quite a bit of commingling in their services. They joined with them in union Sunday-school work as early as 1866, hence securing for themselves the honor and pleasure of being the first in the Dis- trict to engage in that most important service.
The church seems to have been fully organized about 1874. There are about fifty members who meet regularly every two weeks. It is no uncom- mon thing for members to come on horseback fif- teen and twenty miles to attend the services and enrich their souls in spiritual fellowship with each other.
The ministers who were most instrumental in breaking to this membership the Bread of Life were : Elders Conrad Kahler, J. K. Swinehart, Geo. V. Kollar, Peter Kollar and Edward Loomis. All the ministers and deacons of the church are re- ported to have been very faithful to their calling. Elder Geo. V. Kollar was their first resident elder.
The Mt. Zion house was purchased of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church along about 1868. It is situated in West New Philadelphia.
The following contains some interesting reminis- cences :
At the present time there are only three deacons
MOUNT ZION CHURCH, NEAR NEW PHILADELPHIA, TUSCARAWAS COUNTY
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living : David Secrist, Henry Paulus and Edward Schwarm.
Hugh Kelley died over fifteen years ago.
Brother Adam Renneker, considering his age and physical debility, is quite active in all lines of church work. He is the oldest living deacon.
Brother Paulus is quite exemplary and faithful in his official duties, but is not favorably situated to attend all the services of the church.
David Shively has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years, is quite active and faithful to his charge. He and his family are quite active in missions, having contributed quite liber- ally to the India work.
Brother David Secrist is prompt and regular in attending church services ; has shown commendable zeal in Sunday-school work, is superintendent of the New Philadelphia school, has been quite help- ful in sacred song, and can adapt himself to the young people better than many. He also is a liberal contributor to the Lord's work. It has been wisely said, that when we are old we should consider we were once young.
Sisters Amelia Boone, who died thirty years ago, and Rachel Herstine, about six years ago, are much missed in social life and our public services. Also Sister Sarah Shively, of pleasant and precious mem- ory, departed this life Dec. 1, 1914.
ยท The mainstay of this congregation has been Elder Edward Loomis, whose life is interestingly sketched in his autobiography.
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The seed-sowing done in the territory of this congregation constitutes a fruitful field for future work.
Margaret Secrist. 1819-1907.
Margaret Kollar Secrist was born March 31, 1819, in Fairfield Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Died Dec. 26, 1907, aged eighty-eight years, eight months and twenty-five days.
Her husband, Brother Elijah Secrist, preceded her to the spirit world a little over forty-two years, not only leaving her to mourn the loss of a devoted and faithful husband, but greatly increasing her care and responsibility. Wisely and faithfully were these obligations met. What a wonderful debt of gratitude do children owe a devoted, faithful mother !
The school privileges enjoyed by the subject of this sketch were very inferior, yet she had a special thirst for intellectual culture and the acquisition of useful knowledge. She heeded the exhortation of the wise man : " Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Her profession was adorned with a godly walk and a chaste conversation in pos- session of a meek and quiet spirit, a very rich orna- ment, which in the sight of God is of great price. About seventy years of this noble life were devoted to the glorious work and blessed service of her di- vine Lord and Master, appreciating very highly the one thing needful of which she could not be dis- possessed, cherishing the gladsome thought that
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" Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come, believing none of our labor in the Lord shall be in vain, that in due season we shall reap if we faint not."
I think it not extravagant to say there was not one woman in a thousand could quote from the Sacred Record as readily and correctly as this de- voted student of the Bible. Another reference to this well-directed life was her ability to quote from eminent prose writers, also from the sacred poets. Another phase of this exemplary life is worthy of mention-the promptness and regularity given all the public services of the church; her pew was in- variably filled. This is to be regarded a hearty response to the rich, inspiring promise, " Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This consecration also showed profound regard for Paul's exhorta- tion : " Forsake not the assembling of yourselves to- gether, as the manner of some is."
Another commendable trait in this worthy life was her ardent desire to have the last and probably the greatest command of our divine Lord and Master obeyed: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." It is a pleasant reminis- cence of the writer that in response to an appeal for the Gospel to be preached beyond the sea, this spiritually-minded mother in Israel gave nearly $100, and was ever a liberal response to all worthy calls. The sympathies and charities of this philan- thropic sister were not confined to her own home or
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fireside. . Many were the poor orphans and desti- tute children whom she helped to clothe and feed. She freely responded to the sacred injunction : " Do good unto all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith." The unfed beggar tot- tered not from her door.
It is gratifying and consoling to those who have to surrender these saintly, loved and highly ap- preciated ones that it is " gain to them that depart, and to be with Christ is far better." " Though dead, they yet speak," and "to live in hearts we leave behind us, is not to die."
" I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." How august, sublime and inspiring the immortality of the influence of a godly life. It lives on and on, lengthening and widening till the Angel whom the Revelator saw " standing upon the sea and the earth, swore by Him who liveth forever and ever, who created the heaven, earth and sea and the things that are in them, that there should be time no longer."
" Dear Mother and Sister, thy holy warfare is o'er,
The foes of righteousness and truth shall meet thee no more.
With your dearest Lord and the bloodwashed ever to dwell
In that bright and happy clime where they never say fare- well."
Written by Edward Loomis.
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George V. Kollar. 1821-1908.
George V. Kollar was born Feb. 14, 1821, died Sept. 14, 1908, aged eighty-seven years and seven months.
He was a man of far more than ordinary intellect. His school privileges were very meager; school- houses were poorly constructed, terms of school very short and most of the teachers very incom- petent. There were only two boys in his father's family who grew to manhood, and he being several years older than his brother, and his father having a large farm, much of it heavily timbered, the clear- ing and cultivation of the homestead kept him at home much of the time that these short terms (about three months) were in session. His intellec- tual attainments were commendable, considering the obstacles that confronted him. The writer thinks he never studied any textbook on the principles and usages of language, yet he was more correct in the use of language than many who had studied such books. He was a careful and diligent reader, a deep thinker and a close observer; his memory and rea- soning faculties were far more than ordinary.
I think Brother Kollar was about forty years old when elected to the Christian ministry. His dili- gence and zeal in this high and holy calling were quite commendable. I think he was advanced to the second degree of the ministry about four years later, and presume he was about fifty-five years of age when ordained to the full ministry. His zeal and
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faithfulness in these varied ministerial relations were commendable.
His wife (Sister Eliza) was truly a helpmate to him in his great and responsible work. Brother Kollar said to the writer that he once had a certain appointment assigned him. The circumstances as- sociated with this service were of such a discour- aging nature that he felt he could hardly go and fill it. At this critical juncture Brother Kollar did a wise thing: he unbosomed his troubles to his wife, who was an important part of himself. He said, " Eliza, I don't see how I can fill that appoint- ment."
" Why, George, I don't think I would be afraid to go if I had such a Friend as you profess to have."
He had no trouble to interpret this reply. It fathomed his blunder, that he had been leaning on the puny arm of flesh, his faith not seeing the Savior's all-sufficiency that sustained Paul, who said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." The power of an Omnipotent Helper cannot be limited.
The subject of this sketch at one time was in favorable circumstances financially. But being very sympathetic and generous, and I might add com- passionate and merciful, he could be readily touched with the reverses, misfortunes and afflictions of his fellows. This led not a few to impose upon this kind and generous brother. He paid not a little bail money, assumed the indebtedness of others, made presents to not a few who were needy and destitute. The writer distinctly remembers his con-
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tributing about $1,500 toward the erection of a church in his own congregation. He also assisted in building other churches in the Brotherhood and helped other religious fraternities to build churches. He donated the Brethren's publications to many not able to buy; contributed much to the support of Brother Balsbaugh's pen ministry.
There was a prominent business man in New Philadelphia, the county seat of Tuscarawas County, who was intimately acquainted with "Uncle George " (as he was familiarly called), who said to us: "Your neighbor, George V. Kollar, is more like Jesus Christ than any man I ever met." It was said of the Savior that "he became poor that we through his poverty might be rich." This truly eminent man did a vast amount of physical as well as mental labor. This noble man adopted Paul's motto, which was this: " For me to live is Christ." Only three days intervened between the deaths of this saintly pair.
Paul, in writing to his Thessalonian brethren, ex- horted them not to be ignorant concerning their pious dead ; that they need not sorrow as the hope- less did, for " the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord." So may it be !
Written by Edward Loomis.
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Peter Kollar. 1829-1913.
Brother Peter Kollar was born March 16, 1829, in Fairfield Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio; died May 20, 1913, in the republic of Mexico, aged eighty-four years, two months and four days. He united in early life with the Church of the Brethren, was elected to the Christian ministry in 1874, two years later to the second degree and in two more years to the full ministry, and took an active part in the work of the church. For several consecutive years he superintended the Sunday-school and was quite active in ministerial service in the home church, and in adjoining congregations ; also in dif- ferent States. He was easy and fluent in his address and quite sociable.
He was preceded to the spirit world several years by his beloved wife, Sister Emma Kollar. To this union were born four boys and five girls, all of whom are still living.
Whilst the dear brother had gone beyond the eighty-fourth milestone of his life, his death seemed to be somewhat premature. He had a remarkable use of both mind and body. He had not the stooped form, the furrowed brow, the feeble tread and the palsied hand so common to those of his advanced age. He made a hand in the harvest the summer before he went to far-off Mexico. His departure for this far-away, southern clime was much regretted by all his friends; yet it is very probable he was sin- cere and conscientious in this last and apparently unfortunate undertaking.
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Brother Kollar had a remarkably good use of his mental faculties. He could quote Scripture very freely and readily ; could refer to many events that had fallen under his observation during his pro- tracted pilgrimage. He was next to the youngest of a family of ten children, and the last to depart this life.
Written by Edward Loomis.
Edward Loomis. 1839 --.
I was born in Knox County, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1839. Came with my parents to this county (Tuscarawas) when about seven years old and have resided in the last-named county ever since, with little exception (about nine months in Indiana). I received most of my education in a common district school, a few terms in New Philadelphia high school. Be- gan teaching when in my twenty-second year ; was thus engaged for about twenty years, mostly during what was called winter terms, and taught only one summer term.
Received my first religious impressions from the United Brethren Church, services being held close to my father's home. United with this church in my twenty-second year. Up to this time I had at- tended the services of only three churches: the United Brethren, Methodist Episcopal, and Luther- an. The first of the three was then opposed to se- cret orders, to slavery, and not a few of their con- gregations practiced feet-washing; however, I was informed that the observance of this rite was left
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optional. I thought they were a plainer people than either of the other two I referred to, hence my choice.
In 1865 I was married to Martha Jane Sechrist, a member of the Brethren Church. I then began to read their literature, frequently heard them preach and also commenced to read the Bible more care-
ELDER EDWARD LOOMIS
fully, prayerfully and understandingly, which led me to conclude that it would be a wise thing to identify myself with the Church of the Brethren. Yet I was foolish enough to fight my convictions ; it was not the least of the great conflicts of my re-
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ligious life ; the weighty interrogation of the Master became irresistible: " Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say? "
I am glad my environments in early life were as good as they were, but they might have been far more favorable, for few of my associates were re- ligious. I was never in a Sunday-school until past ten years old. I think I was twenty-nine when I united with the Brethren Church.
In 1874 I was elected to the Christian ministry and think about two years later I was advanced to the second degree and two or three years later to the full ministry. (I kept no diary at this time and hence cannot be so positive as I would like.) My ministerial life has been somewhat busy, but it does not seem to be fraught with as favorable results as desirable. I never could think I was adapted to revivalistic or evangelistic work. I think I ever tried to preach the Gospel. I believe I have held series of meetings or helped in nearly all the con- gregations of Northeastern Ohio. I have been with the Maple Grove Brethren, but not in a series of meetings, but entertain the high hope that I may be with them in a short series this winter. I have been with several congregations in Indiana, held one series of meetings in Illinois and probably one in Michigan and several in Northwestern Ohio. I kept a diary part of the time; by consulting it I find one year I traveled by rail about 3,000 miles ; tried to preach 185 times. This I think was one of the busiest years of my ministerial life. I have solemnized not a few marriages, have preached many funeral discourses; a large proportion of
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these have been for the Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren, Lutherans and Presbyterians, yet I never thought I was adapted to this kind of ministerial labor. However, I always tried to go when prac- ticable.
I was with one of our New Philadelphia editors a few days ago who asked about my pending birth- day-where I was born and how long I had lived in the county, if I was an ordained minister, and a few other questions which I answered as best I could. These answers furnished a few data for a brief mention of my little life. He hastily penciled a few notes and got a few things not quite right. One of the slight mistakes is that at one time I was pastor of a congregation of ours in New Philadel- phia. If I ever was I still am, as I am the only min- ister in our congregation at the present time.
The Seventy-fifth Milestone.
Last Saturday was the seventy-fifth birthday anniver- sary of Rev. Edward Loomis, who resides in Fairfield Township, about six miles northeast of New Philadelphia. Mr. Loomis was born in Knox Co., Ohio, but he removed with his parents to Fairfield Township, Tuscarawas Coun- ty, when he was but eight years of age, where he has since been a resident.
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