USA > Ohio > Church of the Brethren in southern Ohio > Part 6
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2. That a committee of five be appointed to make the appor- tionment to the churches.
3. That this meeting appoint a solicitor to canvass or cause to be canvassed the churches, said solicitor to have the power to call public meetings in each congregation and talk up the interest of said work before soliciting-the elders at his request to call meetings; or at their regular meetings to encourage and receive endowment funds for the perpetuation of such home if erected.
4. That we allow said solicitor $1.50 per day, and that each local church furnish a brother to accompany said solicitor.
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5. That the subscription papers to raise said funds become due as follows: One-half on or before May 1, 1902; the balance on or before October 1, 1902.
6. That each church appoint a receiver to receive said money and forward the same to the one hereafter authorized to receive said funds.
7. That a committee of three be continued to look after its interest, and in event the means are raised in time to have a special district meeting called for preparatory steps.
J. H. Brumbaugh, J. Longanecker, J. Eby, Committee
Solicitor-Joseph Longanecker.
Committee on Apportionment-D. D. Wine, Jacob Coppock, J. W. Beeghley, Henry Baker, John H. Rhineheart.
Committee in Charge-William K. Simmons, Jesse Stutsman, Jonas Horning.
In 1902 at a special district meeting in February, at Fort Mckinley, the soliciting of thirty-two churches was reported, with four thousand two hundred sixty-five members contacted, besides children, and a total of $16,622.69 subscribed, and a soliciting expense of $291.77. The report was accepted. At this same meeting came a request from the Northeastern District of Ohio to unite in building a home. This was turned down. Five trustees were named and a locating committee was chosen with instructions to report a constitution and by- laws for the government of the institution.
Then, at the regular district meeting following in April, rules and regulations were adopted and the location at Green- ville was approved. The trustees elected were "authorized to forward the work."
In 1903 the trustees reported cash receipts of $18,223.71, the purchase of real estate, contracts for construction let, and estimates of work not contracted. These latter totaled $21,864.54, "leaving the Home in debt $3,640.83." It reported $2,083.26 in unpaid pledges, which, if paid, would leave an indebtedness of $1,557.57. In an unusual procedure, cash and pledges taken at this district meeting totaled $2,147.97, more than covering the deficit. The time must have been ripe at last for this gesture of Christian charity.
At the district meeting of 1904, the deficit from unpaid pledges was $462.53, and $3,000.00 was appropriated "among
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the several churches for the support of the Home for one year."
Now the Brethren Home for old folks and children was underway and each year the district appropriated money for its maintenance. In 1905 it was $3,500. The next year it was $4,000, the Sunday schools being asked for an offering each quarter. It was back to $3,000 in 1913. The amount varied some from year to year. In 1920 it was $4,500; in 1925, $5,500; the same in 1930; $4,500 in 1935; $3,000 in 1940; $1,500 in 1945; and $2,500 in 1950. This gives a fair picture of the cost to the district of maintaining the Home.
It will be noted that the Home was established for old folks and orphans. State laws required the separation of these two departments. Its use for the older people seemed to increase in need and its use for orphans to decrease, until in 1937 the trustees requested permission to convert the children's quarters into quarters for adults. There was only one child in the Home at that time. The change was authorized. This removed a rather dramatic scene from district meetings at which the children from the Home had been presented on the platform, often singing or giving declamations. The next year, 1938, the trustees reported no children there. From here on the Home received only adults.
In 1938 the trustees asked that a study be made of the advisability of adding hospital care and facilities as pressure was coming for the care of sick and invalid members. A committee was appointed to study the matter. By the time the committee reported in 1940 the Old Age Pension plan had become operative, relieving churches of the responsibility of caring for many of the old people, and demands for admission had decreased. The committee reported: "At the present time the number of inmates can be adjusted to the capacity of the Home." The move for a hospital was dropped here. The committee noted the tendency for the Home to become "a retirement home for some who are paying their own way."
In 1949 the trustees asked the district conference to "en- courage the trustees of the Brethren's Home to solicit funds needed for the improvement of the building and the installation of an elevator." It was done. Progress was reported in 1950.
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Tentative plans for constructing additional rooms were presented and approved in 1951. In November 1952 a report of work begun and more funds needed was accepted. In 1953 the cost of the improvements to date was reported at $80,198.76. Of this, $33,159.02 was from churches; $16,018.44 from in- dividuals; interest on building funds, $194.39. Reserves in hand of $25,820.67 were used to complete the needed funds. A photo of the remodeled home is shown. Brother Phares Fourman, for many years the superintendent of the Home, supervised the building construction.
THE BRETHREN'S HOME
The Brethren Home at Greenville Showing the recent structure which joins the two former buildings into one unit
By comparing this photo with that on page 296 of the 1920 Southern Ohio history the reader can readily see that the two main buildings of the Home were connected in the recent remodeling.
The trustees feature an Annual Home Day in August, which proves a great source of blessing to the residents there. Old friends from their home churches and relatives from throughout the district come in. A program of talks and singing is featured. A basket dinner for residents and visitors high- lights the day.
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PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
The Home is now nearly filled to capacity by aged persons enjoying the comforts and facilities there.
Following are the names and terms of the superintendents and matrons to date: Elmer Petry and wife, two and one-half years; Samuel Tippy and wife, one and one-half year; Willis Kreider and wife, nine years; Carl McGowan and wife, four and one-half years; Phares D. Fourman and wife, nine years; Harry Hart and wife, three years; Phares D. Fourman and wife, second term, four years and three months; and Ira Mikesell and wife, since September 1, 1953.
The present trustees of the Home are: Ira Oren (presi- dent), Virgil Cassel (secretary-treasurer), Robert Honeyman, Virgil Royer, and Emmert Studebaker.
9. YOUTH ACTIVITIES
During the early 1920's a growing consciousness was developing among the youth of the Southern Ohio churches of the need to organize for more effectiveness in their Christian witness and service. Many of the youth met at the annual midsummer assembly. Some of them felt that the interests of youth in the service of the church would be im- proved if some kind of a district youth organization were formed. There were youth organizations in some of the local churches.
At the district meeting of 1924 the director of religious education, John A. Robinson, called attention to the increased activity in the young people's departments of the churches, reporting a total of one thousand five hundred sixty-one young people between the ages of twelve and twenty-four in the Sunday schools, and that on February 17 of the year previous, 1923, at the first young people's conference held in Southern Ohio, these young people were organized. An outing was held on July 4 of that year, and on December 28-30 the second young people's conference was held at West Milton. The first con- ference was perhaps held at the Fort Mckinley church.
In 1925 the director reported that there were one thousand seven hundred young people, of the same ages, in the Sunday schools, and that a district organization had been effected representing thirty-seven organizations in local churches. The winter youth conference had been held at New Carlisle. Plans were underway for a young people's conference immediately following the summer assembly at Ludlow Falls, at which the enrollment was one hundred thirty-five. A Fourth of July meeting was reported with an enrollment of two hundred, with another scheduled for July 1925.
By 1926 the district young people were organized with a cabinet of eight members and an adult adviser, John A. Robinson. That year a young people's chorus, organized by Dan
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West, cabinet chairman, toured many of the churches of the district. This was repeated the two following years, then was dropped, and was taken up again just ten years later.
So with this development of organization and activities the youth work of Southern Ohio was well underway.
In 1935 the Board of Religious Education had one of its members, Pat Stoner, designated as young people's representa- tive and appointed the adult adviser, Mark Shellhaas. Brother Shellhaas served in this capacity or as a member of the cabinet for nearly twenty years.
Of course during all this time there was an equal de- velopment of young people's work, with B.Y.P.D.'s in nearly all of the local churches. The youth were no longer merely observing their elders in church activities; they were joining hands with them, no longer on the sidelines but in the work- ing force.
A significant service attempted by the young people had its initiation at the midwinter conference at Salem in 1935, when they decided to support the Brotherhood program of the Church of the Brethren for a full twenty-four hour period at a cost of $720. Thus was born the Youth Serves project of the district. In December 1936, at the midwinter conference, when the totals were all in it was found that the young people had actually raised $1,030.13. Such response caused them to set the next goal at thirty hours, or $900. This was slightly less than the Mission Board received from all the churches in 1903. A part of the report of the B.Y.P.D. to the district conference of 1938 will indicate the spirit of those days:
Southern Ohio is rapidly gaining the brotherhood-wide reputa- tion of possessing the most active young people's organization in our church. Truly our young people's program is one with which all Southern Ohio may justly be well pleased.
Probably the crowning achievement of the past year's work was the amazingly successful Youth Serves Project. At the Eaton con- ference more than a year ago the "Thirty Hours Project" was under- taken. This meant that the young people of the district would be re- sponsible for raising enough money to support the entire national and international work of the church for a period of thirty hours. The report made on January 1 at the Greenville conference well illustrates what our Southern Ohio youth can do when they become interested,
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The large audience sat spellbound as the contributions from the various churches were read. The goal of thirty hours was reached and still the reader continued. The hours kept mounting and mounting: 30, 40, 50, 60, on to the grand total of 69 hours, 1 minute and 33 seconds. Instead of raising the $900.00 set as the goal the young people of the district had contributed $2,070.78 to the general conference budget. A project of seventy-two hours-three full days-$2,160, has been undertaken for 1938 and it is now well on its way to being more than reached.
To dramatize this project, candles were lighted and al- lowed to burn the whole seventy-two hours while the conference was in session.
And so goals for Youth Serves were set and exceeded year after year. The only exception was 1947, when the sum of $6,017.31 was raised on a goal of $6,500.00. The goal was one hundred hours in 1939. The amounts contributed in years to follow are impressive:
1941
$5,130.75
1949 7,279.00
1942
6,180.00
1950
7,400.00
1943
6,984.64
1951 .. 5,100.00, plus a goal of
1944
7,027.82
twenty heifers for relief
1945
6,500.00
1946
6,500.00
1952 .. 7,500, plus $1,000.00 for a car for Don Snider,
1947
6,017.31
at Kassel, Germany
1948
7,143.86
The Youth Serves project is worthy of this space because it is unique in youth work, not only in the Church of the Brethren but in Christendom.
In addition to all this the youth built the stone cabin at Camp Sugar Grove and also contributed most of the money for the construction of the swimming pool there.
As a result of this adventurous spirit and these activities many young people of the district were influenced to become missionaries and enlist in Brethren Volunteer Service. They have been represented in Africa, Europe, and Asia. The names of those who have served in Brethren Volunteer Service from this district follow this chapter.
Besides the local church organizations the young people have organized as counties, having officers and regular meet- ings, those of Darke, Miami, and Montgomery being par-
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PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
ticularly active. As a means of reaching local groups more effectively, there were begun in 1947 youth rallies, held in convenient parts of the district, four being conducted that year. Even with dividing the territory in this way the average attendance at the rallies the next year was about two hundred.
Over two hundred fifty young people of the district were in attendance at the National Youth Conference of the Church of the Brethren at Anderson, Indiana, in August 1954.
The midwinter conference held each year brings together so many young people that there is difficulty finding a meeting place with adequate facilities to accommodate the crowds.
While the Brethren Young People's Department is now named the Church of the Brethren Youth Fellowship (CBYF), the same enthusiasm for Christian service and the same vision of greater tasks to do continue to motivate and inspire the young people of Southern Ohio.
The conclusion of the report of the B.Y.P.D. Cabinet to the district conference of 1938 is appropriate for closing this record of youth: "On the feet of today's young people's program marches forward the Church of the Brethren of tomorrow."
Brethren Volunteer Service
The General Brotherhood Board of the Church of the Brethren set up plans a few years ago for the enlisting of interested and qualified youth of the church in a period of volunteer service under the direction of the board. Southern Ohio youth have responded to this challenge in a notable way. This history would not be complete without at least a brief record of the work of these young people. Following is the list of those who have volunteered, including the home address, the home congregation, and the field and period of each one's service. Many of these youth have already become leaders in the local churches and some in the district.
1. Dolores Petry, Route 2, New Paris. Prices Creek. Florida migrant camp, 12-48 to 12-49.
2. Shirley Ann Coppock, Route 2, Waynesville. East Dayton. Peace caravaner, 6-49 to 9-49; New Windsor, Maryland, 8-50 to 6-51.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
3. Ralph Dull, Route 1, Brookville. Brookville. Peace caravaner, 6-49 to 6-50.
4. Vera Lee (now Mrs. Roy McRoberts), Route 2, Eaton. Prices Creek. Falfurrias, Texas, 6-49 to 3-50.
5. Robert Mikesell, Route 5, Union City, Indiana. Union City. New Windsor, Maryland, 6-49 to 6-50.
6. Betty Sotzing, 415 South Miami Street, West Milton. West Milton. Europe, 12-49 to 8-51.
7. Shirley Ferguson, Route 2, Xenia. Beaver Creek. Taylors Valley, Virginia, 3-50 to 3-51.
8. Barbara Jean Mote, Route 1, Covington. Pleasant Hill. New Windsor, Maryland, and Falfurrias, Texas, 3-50 to 8-50.
9. Don Kinsel, 43 Western Avenue, Brookville. Brookville. Chicago, Illinois, recreation project, 3-50 to 3-51.
10. Dorothy Teach (now Mrs. Gerald Snyder), Route 3, New Carlisle. Donnels Creek. Fresno, California, and New Windsor, Maryland, 6-50 to 6-51.
11. Betty June Young (now Mrs. Dean Neher), Route 2, New Carlisle. Donnels Creek. Europe, 6-50 to 4-52.
12. Don Richards, Route 4, Box 407, Dayton 9. Bear Creek. Youth stimulator, 9-50 to 9-51.
13. Donald E. Barnes, Route 1, Union. Salem. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-50 to 12-51.
14. Donald Eugene Brumbaugh, Route 3, Box 78, Brookville. Salem. Hastings State Hospital, Minnesota, 12-50 to 12-51.
15. Donald Gibbel, 653 Harrison Avenue, Greenville. Green- ville. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-50 to 5-51.
16. John Lowell Hutcheson, Route 1, Laura. Potsdam. Hastings State Hospital, Minnesota, 12-50 to 12-51.
17. Joan Lee Macy, Route 1, Box 244, Vandalia. Middle District. Denver, Colorado, 12-50 to 9-51.
18. Wilma Studebaker (now Mrs. George Kreps), Route 2, Springfield. Donnels Creek. San Francisco, California, 12-50 to 11-51.
19. Anna Mae Brumbaugh, Route 3, Brookville. Brookville. Chicago, Illinois, 3-51 to 3-52.
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PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
20. Laura Belle Littler, 132 South Montgomery Street, Dayton 2. East Dayton. New Windsor, Maryland, 3-51 to 3-52.
21. Lyle Lambert, Route 1, Box 228, Dayton 5. Happy Corner. Falfurrias, Texas, 6-51 to 6-52.
22. Emily Jean Metzger (now Mrs. Luke Mumma), Route 2, Springfield. Donnels Creek. Chinese project, Chicago, Illinois, 6-51 to 6-52.
23. Donald R. Bowman, 144 West Norwich Avenue, Columbus 1. Fort Mckinley. United Christian Youth Movement and Central Region, 9-51 to 3-52; New Windsor, Maryland, and Central Region, 3-52 to 9-52; traveling on peace tour, 9-52 to 5-53.
24. Ray Dull, Route 1, Brookville. Brookville. Europe, 9-51 to 6-53.
25. Leon Renner, Ludlow Falls. Pleasant Hill. Elgin, Illinois, New Windsor, Maryland, and Falfurrias, Texas, 9-51 to 7-52.
26. Virginia Royer, Arcanum. Painter Creek. Western Re- gional office, McPherson, Kansas, 9-51 to 9-52.
27. Patricia Ann Butterbaugh, Route 1, Vandalia. Mack Memorial. Florida, 12-51 to 12-52.
28. Emerson L. Davidson, Route 2, Tipp City. Middle District. Fremont Center project, Elgin, Illinois, and Pahokee, Florida, 3-52 to 3-53.
29. Nola V. Delk, Route 1, Brookville. Brookville. Baltimore, Maryland, 6-52 to 9-52.
30. Dale Aukerman, Route 2, West Alexandria. Eaton. New Windsor, Maryland, 9-52 to 9-53; now in Europe in 1-W service.
31. June Esther Brumbaugh, Route 3, Brookville. Brookville. Fresno, California, 9-52 to 5-53.
32. Shirley Ford, 297 Linden Avenue, Piqua. Piqua. Florida, 9-52 to 9-53.
33. Richard Dean Foust, Route 6, Box 227, Dayton 7. Lower Miami. Europe, 12-52 to 12-54.
34. Donald E. Miller, Route 4, Box 367, Dayton 7. Bear Creek. Europe, 12-52 to 12-54.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
35. Ralph H. Shroyer, Route 3, Box 75, Brookville. Salem. New Windsor, Maryland, and Nappanee, Indiana, 3-53 to 3-54.
36. Rosalind Buck, 4604 Eichelberger Avenue, Dayton 6. Fort Mckinley. Europe, 6-53 to 6-54.
37. Byron C. Priser, Route 1, New Lebanon. Gratis. Falfurrias, Texas, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, 6-53 to 6-54; now in 1-W service at Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
38. Helen Elaine Loser, East St. Claire Street, Eaton. Eaton. Florida, 9-53 to 9-54.
39. Janet Lucille Miller, 396 Maple Street, Brookville. Brook- ville. Puerto Rico, 9-53 to 11-54.
40. Joseph B. Noffsinger, 474 Edward, Akron 12. Springfield. New Windsor, Maryland, and Hastings State Hospital, Minnesota, 9-53 to 9-54; now in 1-W service.
41. Robert D. Puterbaugh, 36 Walnut Street, Phillipsburg. Salem. Falfurrias, Texas, 9-53 to 9-54; now in 1-W service.
42. Max Snider, Route 2, Bradford. Red River. Europe, 9-53 -.
43. Harold L. Alley, Route 4, Greenville. Poplar Grove. Florida, 12-53 to 12-54.
44. Marilyn June Alley (Mrs. Harold), Route 4, Greenville. Cedar Grove. Florida, 12-53 to 12-54.
45. Doris Jean Eikenberry, Route 2, West Alexandria. Eaton. San Francisco, California, and Chicago, Illinois, 3-54 -.
46. Raymond E. Bailey, Route 3, Troy. Pleasant Hill. Ann Arbor, Michigan, 6-54 -.
47. Harold C. Gross, Mounted Route 10, Road 70, Springfield. Donnels Creek. Europe, 6-54 -.
48. James A. Shafer, 1204 North Barron Street, Eaton. Eaton. NSBRO office, Washington, D. C., 6-54 -.
49. Harold C. Mack, Route 2, Bradford. Red River. Nigeria, 6-54 -.
50. Patricia Jane Brate, 615 Crawford, Middletown. Middle- town. Falfurrias, Texas, 9-54 -.
51. Ned Honeyman, Route 1, West Milton. Potsdam. Fal- furrias, Texas, 9-54 -.
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PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
52. Ruth Anna Snider, Route 2, Bradford. Red River. Europe, 9-54 -.
53. Robert Emerson Baker, 101 Grand Avenue, Trotwood. Trotwood. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-54 -.
54. Robert Duane Harter, Route 1, Hollansburg. Beech Grove. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-54 -.
55. Robert Dwaine Mendenhall, 126 South Harrison Street, Covington. Covington. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-54 -.
56. Carl Deo Seibel, Route 1, Union. Salem. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-54 -.
57. Rollin Jan Thompson, Box 106, Ludlow Falls. West Milton. New Windsor, Maryland, 12-54 -.
10. CAMP SUGAR GROVE
In the early 1920's, perhaps mostly under the leadership of Dan West, the idea of a camp in the district began to take root. In the summer of 1925 forty-one Southern Ohio youth attended Camp Mack, recently opened. The year before, a camp had been held at Ludlow Falls, according to Brother West. But in 1925 a young people's summer conference was held at Ludlow Falls with one hundred thirty-five attending. It was here that the movement to have a camp in the district got underway and a committee was appointed to investigate. At the midwinter youth conference the following December a motion was made and carried unanimously to co-operate with the district in the purchase of a camp and summer as- sembly grounds. A young people's chorus toured several of the churches during 1925-26 and contributed the offerings toward the purchase of a camp.
Someone had suggested that the old church and grounds at Sugar Grove, the property of the Covington and Pleasant Hill churches and long since abandoned as a place of worship, would make a good place for a camp. Dan West, then president of the Youth Cabinet of the district, thought it was an excellent idea. It had been the place of worship for his parents. When the suggestion was carried to the Youth Cabinet they con- curred. It seemed that Sugar Grove was the best site available. The youth soon raised five hundred dollars to make the purchase. There were complications, but they were met.
At the district meeting of 1926 the Trotwood congregation brought a query as follows: "Will District Meeting approve the establishment of a Camp and Assembly Grounds, at Sugar Grove as proposed and passed by the Young People's Con- ference and endorsed by the joint committee selected by the Young People's Conference and the Summer Assembly Com- mittee?"
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PART ONE: ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS
The District Meeting decided to empower the Midsummer Assembly Committee and the Young People's Cabinet to establish a camp and assembly at Sugar Grove.
Camp Sugar Grove Showing the swimming pool and the cabins nestled against the hillside
Camp Sugar Grove Showing the main building (formerly the Sugar Grove church) and the stone cabin
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN OHIO
Then came the task of reconditioning the church building and providing necessary facilities. Youth joined hands to work and purses were opened. We quote Dan West: "Days of labor, nights of planning, and much of praying by green but determined youth, and some older folks. In spite of the rain, an unfinished plant, and some other hitches, we had a good camp anyhow."
The camp he refers to was the one held during the summer of 1927. It was a camp for boys 12 to 15 years of age. Camps for both boys and girls were held the next year. So a Southern Ohio camp was a reality.
In the district meeting minutes of 1929, the director of religious education, J. A. Robinson, included the following in his report:
After a few years of summer camps held within the district, it was thought possible to join with Camp Mack in a regional effort and organization. This plan proved impractical, since at our best we could reach only a small number of our young people for a regional confer- ence, while in the district we were able to enroll a larger number in camp than the whole of the six remaining districts of the region. This led to a serious consideration of a district camp for the future, and after due consideration Sugar Grove Camp was the result. This has been purchased, improved and operated by free will offerings and pledges without any assessment on the district and is already practic- ally free of debt.
In his report, reference is made to camps held for boys, for girls, and for young people.
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