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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01200 0011
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofchurcho00chur_0
By Julius F. Sachse.
GERMANTOWN BRETHREN CHURCH. AS IT APPEARED ABOUT 1860 (ERECTED 1770).
HISTORY
OF THE
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
OF THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
BY THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY DISTRICT CONFERENCE
PRESS OF THE NEW ERA PRINTING COMPANY LANCASTER, PA.
1915
COPYRIGHT, 1915 BY THE COMMITTEE ELDER S. R. ZUG, Chairman
1426532
DEDICATED TO THE
MEMORY OF THE FATHERS
WHO, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, ESTABLISHED THIS WORK TO HIS GLORY BY THE COMMITTEE
Goodspeed 7.00 12-15-67 I.WWW. 11098-P.O. 4802
INTRODUCTION.
History, whether ancient or modern, is always interesting, and instructive to the average reader. It is, however, of special interest to him when he studies the history of his own native land, his own people, his own kindred.
So while our people read with deep interest the history of other religious denominations, once they turn to the nar- rative that chronicles the history of our own fraternity, her organization in the Fatherland, her early trials and persecu- tions, the flight across the ocean, the settlement in the new world, the bitter trials and sufferings, as well as the remark- able deliverances, triumphs and blessings, the spread of the Gospel, the new organizations through her consecrated efforts, the story becomes intensely interesting and fascinating.
At District Meeting of 1911 a committee composed of the following Brethren was appointed, viz. : S. R. Zug, John Herr, G. N. Falkenstein, J. G. Francis and D. C. Reber to gather statistics and facts concerning the activities and work of the Church of the Brethren in the territory then con- stituting the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from the beginning of the Brethren in America to the present time and compile the same in book form. This beautiful volume placed into the hands of the reader is the result of the untiring, persistent faithful effort of these men of God.
We do not stop to quote Eccl. 12: 12, or to apologize for introducing this new history of the Church of the Brethren of Eastern Pennsylvania for reasons that follow. The volume fills a unique place and a long-felt want with our people, and will be hailed with joy by thousands in our own State District and throughout the Brotherhood.
In reading and examining the manuscript, the writer was impressed with the amount of new data and material that is here given in book form for the first time. No one will ever know the amount of hard labor and sacrifice it has cost
V
vi
INTRODUCTION.
the Committee during these four years to compile, and get this work ready for the press. They read volume after volume; they corresponded, traveled, visited, gathered data from tombstones, and monuments; they examined Bible, Church, and Court records; and left no stone unturned that would add interest to their solemn trust. The Committee met often and consulted patiently together for long hours in order to raise this monument that will stand as a memorial in honor to the devout and pious fathers and mothers in Israel, whose unselfish labors, and unswerving faithfulness through severe trials have made possible the blessings we now enjoy, and placing into our hands privileges and oppor- tunities for Christian activity and worldwide evangelization such as was never accorded to any other people.
It is especially gratifying to the Brotherhood that the work was compiled before the departure of the senior member of the Committee. His vast amount of knowledge. and his remarkable memory has added much information that could not have been obtained through any other source. The Committee found itself much handicapped because of the indifference of some who could have rendered valuable aid, and because so few records were kept of church work in earlier years.
M. G. Brumbaugh in his preface of the History of the Brethren has well said, "History at best is a beggarly gleaner in a field where death has gathered a bountiful harvest." So much that would be valuable and precious has vanished and was forgotten when the fathers fell asleep, and will remain unknown history until the archives of Heaven shall make known all the deeds of the children of men.
May the spirit of the heroic lives which are here recorded live in a larger, fuller measure in the hearts and lives of the many thousands who shall read; and the work will have reached the aim and design for which it is published !
" Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Jer. 6: 16.
JACOB H. LONGENECKER.
PREFACE.
The activities of the Church of the Brethren during the two centuries of her existence have been recorded and published in several excellent general works such as Brum- baugh's "A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America," in 1899, and Falkenstein's "History of the German Baptist Brethren Church," in 1901.
In 1908, Elder D. H. Zigler, of Virginia, published his book, entitled "History of the Brethren in Virginia," which differs from the general histories just mentioned in that it attempts to narrate the work of the church in a single state.
At a fourth of July Sunday-school and Missionary Meet- ing held in Mohler's Church House near Ephrata in 1908, the topic, "A Brief History of the Lancaster County Churches," was assigned to and discussed by Elder G. N. Falkenstein. The interest taken in the general discussion of this subject showed the existence of a strong sentiment for the publication of a more comprehensive history of the congregations comprising the Eastern District of Pennsyl- vania than was in existence at this time, since some of the leading Brethren were still living whose memory retained many personal reminiscences and much important informa- tion not recorded nor heretofore published in print, and who possessed memoranda of valuable historical data re- lating to church growth and extension.
In 1911, the Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren placed a query before the District Meeting of that year held at Manheim, Pa., as follows: "We, the Elizabethtown Church, petition the District Meeting of 1911 to appoint a committee of five Brethren who shall take steps to gather statistics and facts concerning the activities and work of the Church of the Brethren in the territory that now constitutes the Eastern
vii
viii
PREFACE.
District of Pennsylvania from the beginning of the Breth- ren in America to the present time and compile the same in book form." This petition was passed by the District Meeting and the following committee was appointed : S. R. Zug, John Herr, G. N. Falkenstein, J. G. Francis, D. C. Reber. This committee met at Elizabethtown on May 15, 19II, and organized as follows : Elder S. R. Zug, Chairman; Elder G. N. Falkenstein, Secretary; Elder John Herr, Treasurer.
The Committee discussed plans of procedure and assigned the work of gathering material as follows : Elder Zug was to write up the churches constituting the White Oak Group, also Big Swatara, Spring Creek and its subdivisions, and Harrisburg. To Elder Falkenstein was assigned the church from its beginning at Schwarzenau, Germany, to the close of the American Revolution, also the following congregations : Germantown, the Indian Creek Group of Churches, and the Maryland Congregations in Garoline and Talbot counties.
Excepting those congregations assigned to Elder Zug, Elder John Herr was given the task of preparing a history of the Swatara Group. In addition to this, he was also to write the history of the Home Mission Board of Eastern Pennsylvania. J. G. Francis, A.B., B.D., was to prepare a history of the Philadelphia Churches, the New Jersey Churches, and the churches composing the Coventry Group. Brethren Falkenstein and Francis were given certain biog- raphies to write. D. C. Reber, A.M., Pd.D., was asked to prepare a sketch of the Conestoga Group of Churches. To him and Elder Zug was given to prepare historical accounts of the benevolent, and educational activity of the District.
Elder Zug contributed the valuable articles on District Meetings, Annual Meetings and about seventeen biograph- ical sketches. At the solicitation of Elder Herr the bio- graphical accounts of Elder George Klein and Elder George Miller were secured for the book. Bro. Francis secured Kurtz's "The Very Ancient Church of the Brethren in Lan-
ix
PREFACE.
caster Co., Pa.," from the Gospel Visitor of 1855, and con- tributed the "First District Meeting of Eastern Pennsyl- vania."
The matter of securing photographs for the illustrations of the book and having cuts prepared from the same was assigned to Brethren Herr and Francis. The Committee de- cided that only photographs of church houses, tombstones or farms, but no pictures of persons, should appear in the book. A number of churches in the District decided not to have any photographs of their houses of worship in the book; hence, they do not appear. All, however, were given the privilege of putting in as many as they were willing to pay for.
Brethren Falkenstein and Reber were constituted as the committee on editing and printing.
After nearly four years of diligent labor, in the face of numerous obstacles, such as lack of records or minutes of many congregations, disinterestedness and failure to coöper- ate with the Committee on the part of Elders and others, after considerable correspondence and travel and many meet- ings of the Committee, success has attended its labors due in a large measure to the assistance and cooperation of many faithful Elders, deacons and lay Brethren who have rendered valuable service cheerfully and gratuitously. To these, as well as to the general histories of the Brethren Church already mentioned, due credit is hereby gratefully acknowl- edged.
D. C. REBER.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PART I.
FROM THE MOTHER CHURCH AT SCHWARZENAU TO THE CLOSE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-1708-1783.
PAGE.
CHAPTER
I. The Mother Church at Schwarzenau
I
CHAPTER II. Other Churches Organized. Spread of the New Denomination 5
CHAPTER III. Persecutions
7
CHAPTER IV. First Emigration 13
CHAPTER V. A New Denomination in Colonial America 17
CHAPTER
VI. Organized Missionary Endeavor
23
CHAPTER VII. Conrad Beissel 32
CHAPTER VIII. Growth and Development. Trials. Second Emi- gration 44
CHAPTER IX. Alexander Mack, Sr. 56
CHAPTER X. Germantown 63
CHAPTER XI. Closing Decades of the Pre-Revolutionary Period 71
CHAPTER
XII. Early Conestoga, by Elder Henry Kurtz
81
PART II.
GERMANTOWN GROUP.
CHAPTER I. Germantown-1723 88
CHAPTER II. Philadelphia.
A. First Brethren-1813 107
B. Geiger Memorial-1906 136
C. Bethany-1910 142
CHAPTER
III. Upper Dublin-1840
153
PART III.
THE JERSEY GROUP.
CHAPTER I. Amwell-1733 I68
CHAPTER II. Sandbrook-1849 175
CHAPTER III. Bethel-1876 189
CHAPTER IV. Union-1896 193
CHAPTER
V. Biographical
196
xi
xii
CONTENTS.
PART IV.
COVENTRY GROUP.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I. Coventry-1724 205
CHAPTER II. Green Tree-1845 230
CHAPTER III. Parkerford-1898
250
CHAPTER
IV. Royersford-1901
257
CHAPTER V. Harmonyville-1913 264
CHAPTER
VI. Biographical.
A. Autobiography of Geo. Adam Martin 269
B. John H. Umstad 273
PART V.
INDIAN CREEK GROUP.
CHAPTER I. Great Swamp-1735 280
CHAPTER II.
Indian Creek-1785 289
CHAPTER III. Mingo-1869 307
CHAPTER IV. Hatfield-1868
313
CHAPTER V. Springfield-1868 319
CHAPTER VI. Norristown-1901 323
PART VI.
CONESTOGA GROUP.
CHAPTER I. Conestoga-1724 325
CHAPTER II. West Conestoga-1864 334
CHAPTER III. Ephrata-1864 337
CHAPTER IV. Lancaster City-1891 34I
CHAPTER V. Mechanic Grove-1897 346
CHAPTER VI. Spring Grove-1897 350
CHAPTER VII.
Springville-1899 352
CHAPTER VIII. Akron-1913
CHAPTER IX. Lititz-1914 354
CHAPTER X. Biographical. 359
A. Jacob Stoll 362
B. Abraham Zug 365
C. Christian Bomberger 366
D. Samuel Harley 367
E. John B. Gibbel 368
xiii
CONTENTS.
PART VII.
WHITE OAK GROUP.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I. White Oak-1772 369
CHAPTER II. Chiques-1868 396
CHAPTER III. Mountville-1882
399
CHAPTER IV. Fairview-1902
405
CHAPTER
V. West Green Tree-1902 406
CHAPTER VI. Elizabethtown-1902 407
CHAPTER VII. Biographical.
A. Peter Hummer 422
B. Christian Longenecker 422
C. Johannes Zug 422
D. Andreas Eby 422
E. Henry Gibbel 423
F. Daniel Fretz 423
G. Jacob Haller 425
H. Christian Longenecker, the Second
427
I. David Gerlach 428
J. John S. Newcomer 429
K. Samuel R. Zug 429
PART VIII.
SWATARA GROUP.
CHAPTER I. Big Swatara-1798 or 1800 436
CHAPTER II. Little Swatara-1798 or 1800 445
CHAPTER III. Tulpehocken-1841 457
CHAPTER IV. Spring Creek-1868 472
CHAPTER V. Maiden Creek-1866 475
CHAPTER VI. Schuylkill-1877 485
CHAPTER VII. Harrisburg-1896 488
CHAPTER VIII. Shamokin-1897 490
CHAPTER IX. Reading, 1898 492
CHAPTER X. Midway-1901 496
CHAPTER XI. Annville-1912 504
CHAPTER XII. Conewago-1912 506
CHAPTER XIII. Biographical.
A. George Klein 509
B. George Miller 5II
C. Who My Ancestors Were 512
D. Valentine Balsbaugh
515
E. Lorenz Etter 517
F. George Beshor 517
xiv
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
G. Jacob Hollinger 518
H. John Zug
520
I. Philip Ziegler 523
J. William Hertzler 523
K. John Hertzler 525
L. Jacob W. Meyer, Sr. 526
M. Abraham Pfautz 527
N. Christian Bucher 528
PART IX.
MISSIONARY GROUP.
CHAPTER I. Peach Blossom-1882 530
CHAPTER II. Ridgely-1884 533
CHAPTER III. Brooklyn-1899 536
PART X.
MISCELLANEOUS.
CHAPTER I. Annual Meetings.
A. Those Held in Eastern Pennsylvania 541
B. Those Held Elsewhere . 546
C. Changes in Holding Annual Meetings 563 D. Annual Meeting of 1846 by Abrm. H. Cassel 568 E. Annual Meeting of 1871 57I
CHAPTER II. History of District Meetings.
A. First District Meeting of Eastern Pennsylvania 579
B. District Meetings 585
CHAPTER III. Ministerial Meetings 592
CHAPTER IV. Missionary History
593
CHAPTER V. Benevolent Activities. A. Brethren Home 608
B. Children's Aid Society 617
CHAPTER
VI. Elizabethtown College 622
CHAPTER VII. Statistical Tables.
A. Table of Churches 642
B. Table of Elders 644
C. Sunday School History 651
D. Local Missionary and Sunday School Meetings 652 653
INDEX
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Germantown Brethren Church (Frontispiece.)
FACING PAGE.
The Baptismal Pool on the Wissahickon 5
Seal of Alexander Mack, Sr. 62
Old and New Tombstone of Alexander Mack, Sr. 62
Old Stone Church and Old Stone Parsonage 62
Old and New Germantown Brethren Church 63
Graves of Alexander Mack, Sr., and Jr. 56
Grave of Elder Peter Becker 88
Grave of Elder Christopher Sower 88
Grave of Elder Peter Keyser 88
Grave of Elder John Fox 88
Brethren Church, Dauphin above Broad IO7
Geiger Memorial Church I36
Home of Bethany Mission
I42
Upper Dublin Church
153
Amwell Church 168
Old Amwell Cemetery
169
Sand Brook Church
175
Grave of Elder Israel Poulson, Sr. 175
Grave of Elder John P. Moore
Coventry Church of To-day 175
205
Farm House where Annual Meeting was Held 222
Second Coventry Church 222
Coventry Graveyard
223
Green Tree Church
230
Graves of Elder John H. Umstad and Wife 240
Graves of Elder Isaac Price and Wife 240
Graves of Elder Jacob Z. Gottwals and Wife 240
Graves of John U. Francis and Wife
240
Union Church, Port Providence 250
Parkerford Church 250
Royersford Church 257
284
Brecht and Rothrock Cemetery 284
Old Cemetery, Hellertown 285
Indian Creek Meeting House 289
Price Cemetery, Indian Creek 302
Grave of Elder Samuel Harley 303
Grave of Elder Henry A. Price 303
Hatfield Meeting House 313
Springfield Meeting House 320
XV
Mennonite Cemetery
xvi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING PAGE.
Brethren Church, Quakertown
321
Barn of Division 326
Graves of Conrad Beissel and Peter Miller
326
Monastery Buildings, Ephrata
327
Diagram of Conestoga Churches
328
Bird-in-Hand Meeting House 332
Eby Meeting House 333
Middle Creek Meeting House 334
Grave of Elder Jacob Stoll 335
Grave of Elder Michael Pfautz 335
335
Grave of Elder Christian Bomberger
335
Title Page Stoll's Book
336
Ephrata Brethren Church
337
Brethren Church, Lancaster
34I
Mechanic Grove Meeting House 348
Kemper's Meeting House 349
Mohler Meeting House 352
Akron Meeting House
354
Steinmetz's Meeting House 355
Grave of Ludwig Mohler 355
Grave of Elder Samuel Harley 355
Ulrich Zug Monument 374
Grave of Elder Abraham Zug
374
Grave of Elder John Zug
Grave of Michael Zug . 374
374
Longenecker's Meeting House
395
White Oak Meeting List 396
Grave of Elder Daniel Fretz
396
Mount Hope Meeting House 396
Mountville Meeting House
398
Petersburg Meeting House
399
Neffsville Meeting House
402
Manor Meeting House 402
Salunga Meeting House
403
Elizabethtown Brethren Church 406
Stevens Hill Church
407
Hanoverdale Meeting House
436
Big Swatara Meeting List
437
Moyer Meeting House
444
Heidelberg Meeting House 458
Tulpehocken Meeting House 462
Richland Brethren Church 463
Spring Creek Meeting House 472
Old Spring Creek Meeting House 473
Pricetown Meeting House 476
Grave of Elder Jacob Pfautz
xvii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING PAGE.
Mohrsville Meeting House
477
Mohrsville Cemetery 477
Samuel Haldeman Letter 486 1
Harrisburg Brethren Church 487
Reading Brethren Church
492 496
Midway Meeting House
Lebanon Brethren Church
497
Annville Brethren Church
504
Conewago Meeting House 506
Bachmanville Meeting House
507
Klein Cemetery
510
Grave of Elder George Miller
5II
Graves of Elders Valentine Balsbaugh and Lorenz Etter 516
Grave of C. H. Balsbaugh
517
Grave of Elder Jacob Hollinger
517
Grave of Elder William Hertzler
517
Union Church, Talbot County, Maryland
530
Ridgely Brethren Church
534
Brooklyn Brethren Church
536
Place of Annual Meeting, 1815
542
Place of Annual Meeting, 1820
543
Place of Annual Meeting, 1827
544
Place of Annual Meeting, 1846 545
Place of Annual Meeting, 1871 572
Place of Annual Meeting, 1902 573
Home of Lake Ridge Mission 601
Brethren Home 616
Detention Home, Aid Society 617
Elizabethtown College
622
PART I. FROM THE MOTHER CHURCH AT SCHWARZENAU TO THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLU- TIONARY WAR.
CHAPTER I.
THE MOTHER CHURCH AT SCHWARZENAU,
Introduction .- It would be interesting to trace the events that led up to the organization of the Brethren at Schwarze- nau, and the general religious conditions that prevailed throughout Germany preceding this time, but these do not fall within the scope of our present history. Our story is to begin with the Mother Church at Schwarzenau, not where she came from, but her condition, why she left there and where she went.
Geography .- It is necessary to locate, geographically, the heretofore unimportant little town of Schwarzenau, since these religious movements, chiefly the organizing of the Church of the Brethren, have made this insignificant little village famous for two hundred years. Schwarzenau is in the province of Wittgenstein, in Westphalia (German " Westfalen "), in the western part of Prussia, toward the valley of the Rhine, and Holland still a little farther to the west. And now let us speak a little more definitely in regard to the small province of Wittgenstein. "Still more came to the lonely hills and vales in Wittgenstein, which was then controlled by Hedwig Sophia (1693-1712) of Berleburg, who ruled the northern two-fifths of Wittgenstein, and Count Heinrich Albrecht, of Laasphe, who governed the re- maining three-fifths of the country, which includes Schwarze-
2
1
2
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
nau. Hedwig Sophia was herself a Pietist and her son, Count Casimir, was very devout. There was the freest in- tercourse between the Pietists that lived at Berleburg and those at Schwarzenau, even though the latter place was governed by Prince Henry. He, too, was a devout man and spent much of his time in the castle (Schloss) at Schwarze- nau. His two daughters were Pietists, and lived with the Pietists at Schwarzenau."1
It is interesting to notice a description of the town itself, and its immediate surroundings. "We have found a se- cluded little German village far away from the rush and bustle of the busy world of travel. It is one of those quaint old-fashioned towns that are quite out of place in the present. It belongs to the past and has not yet awakened to the impulse of the age, which has taken hold of Germany. Its peace and quiet have never been disturbed by steam whistle or rumbling of trains of cars. For centuries it has rested in the beautiful valley through which, like a thread of silver in a ribbon of green, flows the historic river Eder. The village is built on both sides of the Eder and contains, as we were informed by one of the inhabitants, about 600 souls. . .. On both sides of the river stand the quaint-looking old houses with high gables and steep roofs, covered with straw or red tile, which make up the ancient village of Schwarzenau. . .. A well kept lawn is not more evenly mowed than are the grassy slopes of the Eder. . . . Here is a quiet, enchanting beauty which exceeds anything I can now recall ever having seen, even in picturesque America. Perhaps the associations connected with the place have their influence upon our estimate of its surpassing beauty ; but after making due allowance for all this, I am not willing to say less than has been said."2
So much of the geography of Schwarzenau, and its ideal and beautiful local setting, shall serve as a background for our further consideration.
1 " Origin, Church of the Brethren," D. W. Kurtz, 1910.
2 " Girdling the Globe," pp. 70, etc., Elder D. L. Miller, 1898.
3
THE MOTHER CHURCH AT SCHWARZENAU.
Religious Conditions at Schwarzenau .- As noted above, in the division of the province, the rulers were devout per- sons and members of their households were Pietists them- selves. These were ideal conditions for protection and en- couragement from the civil authorities, for a time. It is interesting to note how these favorable external conditions contributed to the highest ideals of Christian life and char- acter for the Brethren. With these surroundings of every- thing that was noblest and purest in Pietism, in its best sense, it is not surprising that many remained Pietists, and their lives of devotion, and earnest endeavors for personal piety, were in sharp contrast to the cold and formalistic ritualism of their times. For a time the Brethren were all that this soil could produce, but the genus and spirit of their loyalty to Gospel ideals, and service to the Christ they con- fessed, developed higher and better things. Therefore, in the memorable words of Alexander Mack,3 "The crisis for the camp to move forward was now arrived; they were now made willing in the day of the Lord's power." Here, then, came the line of great divide, and he has not failed to make a definite record when he says :4 "here, also, some turned back again to the religion from whence they came out, being: offended at the discipline of the cross; others fostered a: spirit of libertinism, more to be dreaded in its consequences than their former depravity."
While we have noted carefully these external religious conditions of a friendly government, and pious rulers, and religious and spiritually minded neighbors and friends, we must look deeper for religious conditions of mind, and for grace in their hearts, that set them as beacon lights of his- tory, and sent them forth into the forefront of the world's religious conflicts, in which they were spiritual heroes. I quote again from Bro. D. W. Kurtz, who was granted the unusual privilege of making research in the archives of the present ruling family at Schwarzenau, and read letters of
3 " German Baptist Brethren Church," by the author, p. 22.
+ Ibid., pp. 19 and 20.
4
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
one of the daughters of Prince Henry, writing to her father while she was sojourning among the Brethren. He says, " I have read several letters written by one of them to her father, in which she describes minutely the daily life of these people, especially about the "Täufer," whose lives were full of 'good works,' of 'prayers and Bible study,' and 'much kindness and charity to the poor.'" This is a beautiful pic- ture and it is remarkable that we should be permitted to see it after two hundred years. It is another illustration that the integrity of historic records is often preserved in a providential manner, that demands our grateful apprecia- tion, and should inspire us to be worthy of our spiritual inheritance.
We are not informed how long some of these who became members of the Church of the Brethren sojourned at Schwarzenau before the formation of a definite series of doctrines, and a formal organization at the baptism. With- out doubt they were there for some years, as we know many remained there for some years after the organizing, and thus Schwarzenau became an important center of definite relig- ious activity. Under these favorable external religious conditions noted, and of saving grace, and living lives of prayer and Bible study, and living practical Christianity in charity to the poor, we may well hope the Brethren are well equipped for the awful experiences that were awaiting them. We leave for a time, therefore, the mother church, and notice the spread of the new denomination in other parts, and the dark clouds rapidly forming, that indicated all too clearly the terrific storm of persecution soon to break upon God's faithful ones.
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