USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 13
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July 15, New Fairview Church met in regular council at 6:45 P.M. The meeting was opened by Elder M. A. Jacobs. Elder Michael Markey stated that his time as presiding elder had expired and Elders Aaron Baugher and M. A. Jacobs held the election. The church re-elected Michael Markey for a term of three years.
1932-September 12, 1932, Irvin Myers and Joel Myers were elected deacons in New Fairview. Committee : Elder M. A. Jacobs and Elder S. B. Myers.
1933-September 26, the following Sunday school officers were elected : Superintendent, Jacob Miller; assistant, Paul Godfrey; secretary, Lloyd Chronister; assistant, Cletus Godfrey ; treasurer, Lester Illyes; choristers, Howard Myers and Paul Godfrey.
1934-January 1, the election for church officers was as follows : Trustees, Harry Markey, three years, D. A. Fitz, two years, Jacob Miller, one year; church clerk, Paul Godfrey, three years; assistant church clerk, Lloyd Chronister; audi- tors, Lester Illyes, three years and Clarence Keeney, two years ; church reporter, Harry B. Markey, three years; missionary committee, Rodger Markey; child rescue committee, Ellen Emig ; choristers, S. A. Myers, and R. S. Krout.
1940-Ministers : Elder Michael Markey, Jacob L. Miller ; deacons: Harry Markey, Joel Myers, David Fitz, Clarence Keeney, Paul Lehman, Irwin Myers, Howard Miller, Lloyd Chronister.
There are 310 members.
NEWVILLE CONGREGATION
Newville Congregation, Church of the Brethren, was formerly part of the Upper Cumberland Congregation. January 31, 1917, a special council convened at Huntsdale for the purpose of considering a location in Newville for a house of worship. A certain school property, on Broad Street, Newville, came on the market. After proper consideration, the property was purchased and remodeled as a house of wor- ship, financed by the Upper Cumberland Congregation. The
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
THE NEWVILLE CHURCH
house was dedicated June 25, 1917. Elder H. K. Ober, of Elizabethtown, preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1925 the Upper Cumberland Congregation was divided into two separate congregations, Huntsdale on the south and Newville on the north side of the valley with the old Chambersburg pike being the dividing line. The New- ville Congregation was or- ganized October 14, 1925, with Elder Mitchel Stover, of Waynesboro, in charge. Brother S. M. Stouffer, of sacred memory, served the church as elder and pastor from November 5, 1926, until he was called from active duties here, to serve in a more perfect way, the Church Triumphant, on De- cember 27, 1930. Acting deacons at time of organiza- tion were Brethren John Gayman, and Robert Swartz, both deceased. Deacons
since are Edgar Lehman,
ELDER S. M. STOUFFER
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
PASTOR CLETUS S. MYERS
Roy Shultz, Orville Piper, John Burkholder, John Co- hick, Ernest Scott, Henry H. Hackman and Charles Clark.
Elder C. B. Sollenberger was elected pastor and elder April 11, 1931, and faith- fully served the church until 1937.
Brother O. J. Hassinger was pastor from 1937 to 1939. In 1939 Brother Cletus S. Myers became pastor. Brother H. M. Snavely, of Carlisle, has been presiding elder since 1937.
The following have served as Sunday school superintendents : Robert Schwartz, 1926-1927; Roy C. Shultz, 1927-1931, and 1936-1937; Edgar Lehman, 1931-1936; John Cohick.
1937-1940; Ernest Scott, 1940 -.
At council meeting October 30, 1940, the church pur- chased a parsonage at 16 East Big Spring Avenue. The parsonage was fully paid in 1941.
In January, February, and March the Galahad class re- finished the interior of the church, and the willing workers raised sufficient money to pay for the indirect lights.
The first officers of the Aid Society were: President, Beckie Sollenberger; Secretary, Sue Cohick; Treasurer, Bertie Burkholder. There are 110 members in the congregation.
PERRY CONGREGATION
About 1843 Elders Peter Long and John Eby, of Huntingdon and Cumberland Counties, respectively, and Jacob Swartz, a deacon, of Markelsville, Perry County (Lower Cumberland Congregation), located in the western part of Perry County, near New Germantown. These were the first Brethren families living in this vicinity. During the year 1843 Elders Long and Eby organized the Perry Congregation with 21 charter members. The first service was held in the barn of Brother Long in September, 1843. For almost 20 years preaching services were held in homes and barns. Love Feasts were held in barns.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
The territory originally included in this congregation was the western part of Juniata and Perry Counties and the north- ern part of Franklin County. In the late '80's they discontinued having preaching services in Franklin County. For some years the brethren of Perry and Cumberland County congregations alternated in preaching in the eastern part of Perry County, which was a part of the Lower Cumberland Congregation. At the present time the Perry Congregation comprises the terri- tory of the western parts of Juniata and Perry Counties.
During the winter of 1870-1871 the Brethren with four other denominations built the Manassa union church, two and one-half miles south of Blain on the Newville road. The building committee consisted of Wm. A. Boyd (Lutheran), John Wilt (German Reformed), James A. Woods (Presby- terian), David Rowe (Methodist), Barnet Roth (German Baptist Brethren). When, in 1901, the church needed a new roof the Presbyterians (having no members in that vicinity then) withdrew and donated their share of the property to the other denominations. The Church of the Brethren continued to have services there once in four weeks until February, 1939.
In 1873 the brethren built a church house in Juniata County on land donated by Elder Christian Myers which was called Farmer's Grove church. The Three Springs church (so called because of three springs near the church) was built in Perry County in 1876 on land donated by Samuel Book. At a later date his son, Edmund D., gave an additional tract of land to the church. The building committee for this church was Edmund D. Book, Benjamin F. Shumaker, Isaac Eby. Andrew Trostle was treasurer of the building fund.
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THREE SPRINGS CHURCH, PERRY CONGREGATION
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Resident ministers of whom we have record are John Eby, Peter Long, Isaac Eby, E. D. Look, Josiah Eby, David Roth, William Pannebaker, Israel Wcibly, Wm. I. Book, Christian Myers, Isaac Book, Abram Roher, Wm. Zimmerman, J. R. Beasor, Charles H. Steerman, Trostle Dick.
Presiding elders: John Eby, 1843- __; Peter Long, -1885; Wm. Pannebaker, 1885-1892; Edmund D. Book, 1892-1914; Wm. H. Miller, 1914-1915; David A. Foust, 1915-1926; Mission Board, (C. R. Oellig), 1926- 1927; Charles L. Baker, 1927-1933; Samuel C. God- frey, 1933-
Those who have served as pastors : Charles H. Steer- man, 1915-1923; Trostle P. Dick, 1923-1928; Charles H. Steerman, 1928-1936 ; Robert Cocklin, 1936-1941.
Deacons : Jacob Swartz, Bernard Roth, Andrew Trostle, Benjamin F. Shu- maker, George Trostle, E. D. Book, Josiah Eby, David Roth, B. F. Bradfield, Israel Weibley, Alton J. Shumaker, M. D. Snyder, Daniel Has- singer, Samuel Yoder, Der- ELDER EDMUND D. BOOK Presiding Elder 1892-1914. vin Shumaker, James Mc- Connell, Frank Saphore, Niles Keck, Isaac Book, John Simonton, David Gibbons, Jr., David Roth and Merle Wallace.
Present (1940) membership of the congregation is 120. Sunday school at Three Springs was organized in 1877 (at first for periods of six or nine months). The superinten- dents were B. Frank Bradfield, Murray D. Snyder, Alton F. Shumaker, Jacob K. Shumaker, Frank Saphore, Daniel B. Gutshall, Clark J. Keck, Charles Steerman, Jr., Gard M. Smith, (re-elected September 22, 1940).
Sunday school at Farmer's Grove-Superintendent, R. L. Cocklin.
PLEASANT HILL CONGREGATION
Pleasant Hill Congregation was organized May 6, 1904, by a committee appointed at District Meeting. The committee consisted of C. L. Pfoutz, J. A. Long, D. Y. Brillhart. The
170 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
congregation of 130 members had been a part of Upper Codorus (Black Rock) Congregation. Pleasant Hill house was built in 1898, and was financed by free will offerings by members of the church and by friends in the community.
Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek house was built about 1865 or 1866. Daniel Bucher bore the greater part of the expense although the land was donated by Joseph Bowser. This house was named after a creek nearby. The house was repaired about 1904.
North Codorus House
North Codorus House, named after the township in which it is located, was built in 1899, being financed by members of Pleasant Hill Congregation and kind friends of the community.
The names of the elders since the organization are E. S. Miller, Moses Mummert, deceased; Emanuel Babylon, de- ceased ; David B. Hohf, deceased; H. M. Baugher, deceased ; Samuel K. Jacobs, deceased; Henry R. Miller, G. Howard Danner, Jacob H. Keeny, and S. M. Lehigh.
Ministers are Paul Newcomer and James C. Sellers.
Deacons who have served the congregation are Daniel Leinart, deceased ; H. M. Baugher, deceased; Cornelius Law, deceased ; S. K. Jacobs, deceased ; H. R. Miller, deceased ; John K. Swetizer, deceased; David M. Hoover, J. W. Lucabaugh, F. R. Miller, Jacob H. Keeny, Moses C. Mummert, Harry C. Miller, Paul K. Newcomer, James C. Sellers, Nelson Hoover, R. M. Altland, Harry H. Mummert, Edman H. Miller, Wm. J. Yohe, Steward Jacobs, and David Lehigh.
The ministers and deacons in 1941 are as follows : G. Howard Danner, presiding elder; ministers, Elder Henry
ELDER G. HOWARD DANNER AND WIFE Presiding Elder of Pleasant Hill Congregation.
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R. Miller, Elder Jacob H. Kenney, Elder S. M. Lehigh, James C. Sellers, and Paul K. Newcomer ; deacons, Raymond Altland, David M. Hoover, William J. Yohe, Moses M. Mummert, Nelson Hoover, Edmond Miller, Steward Jacobs, David Lehigh.
The membership is 326.
THE RIDGE CONGREGATION
The following history of the Ridge Congregation, "while and since it belonged to the Antietam District," was con- tributed to the Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, by Elder John R. Fogelsanger.
"In the year 1752 the then known Conococheague Church was organized in Franklin County near Green- castle, by Elder Abraham Stouffer and George Adam Martin. Prior to this organ- ization the people were sup- plied with preaching by ministers travelling back and forth between German- town and Virginia. Elder Stouffer did not remain there more than twelve years when he again emigrated eastward to a place called Bermudian. Conococheague and Antietam are two prom- inent streams flowing south- ward in Franklin County and emptying into the Potomac River in Washington County, Maryland. Quite a number of families from various ELDER JOHN FOGELSANGER places settled along the An- tietam. Some were members of the church, others joined after they arrived, and in a few years it was changed from the Conococheague to the Antietam, by which name it is still known. George Adam Martin and William Stover were the only resident ministers for the first fifty years as far as is known.
"In the year 1836 the Ridge district was organized into a separate body, and since that time the officers have been David Fogelsanger, minister; William Etter and Joseph Gipe were chosen to the ministry. On March 20, 1849, David
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Fogelsanger died, after serving the church fourteen years. Later William Etter and Joseph Gipe were advanced in minis- try and in a few years William Etter was ordained to the full ministry. About 1852, Daniel Eckerman was elected to the ministry. In the year 1852 the Ridge meeting house was built by Jacob Fogelsanger, Rudolph Gunkle and Adam Shullenberger, being deacons at that time.
"In a short time Daniel Eckerman was ordained to the eldership, June 7, 1858; John Newcomer and Adam Shoemaker were chosen deacons. On October 16, 1862, John Newcomer was elected to the ministry, and John Grove and John Reuben Fogelsanger to the office of deacon. On June 5, 1867, John R. and David Minich Fogelsanger were elected to the ministry and Abram Hoch and Henry Cocklin to the deacon's office. In May, 1869, Jacob H. Fogelsanger was elected deacon. This year the Salem or Etter meeting house was built and dedicated November 21.
"On May 24, 1871, John Monn was elected deacon, and October 16, 1872, he was elected to the ministry. Henry G. Etter was chosen deacon and John R. and David M. Fogelsanger advanced. On August 10, Elder William Etter died. On April 1, 1875, John Monn died, and on May 18, Henry Gelsinger was elected speaker; David B. Wineman and Daniel H. Miller were elected deacons. On May 27, 1879, D. B. Wineman was elected to the ministry and William G. Etter, deacon.
"About 1881 or 1882 Wendel Minich Fogelsanger and Harry S. Neff were elected to the deacon's office; April 15, 1891, Adam Shullenberger and H. S. Neff died. On June 1, 1891, Jacob H. Fogelsanger died, and on the eighteenth, David M. Fogelsanger died. On November 8, David W. Allison was elected to the ministry. John R. Fogelsanger was ordained to the eldership and H. G. Etter made assistant elder. The elders present were Jacob F. Oller and Jacob Hollinger. On June 2, 1892, Casper F. Hosfield and John D. Garnes were elected to the ministry and Calvin Baker and William H. Fogelsanger to the deacon's office. On September 3, Daniel C. Burkholder (deacon) and wife (Wealthy) were received on certificate from Back Creek. On March 21, 1893, Daniel Eckerman died. On October 27, Abram Hoch died. On June 7, 1895, C. F. Hosfield and J. D. Garnes were advanced. In 1897 Abram K. Hollinger (minister) and wife were received on certificate from Upper Cumberland. On February 27, 1902, Elder Henry G. Etter died. In March, 1904, David Hostetter (deacon) and wife were received by certificate. On May 28, John D. Garnes was installed assistant elder." End of historical sketch by Elder John R. Fogelsanger.
The Ridge or Fogelsanger church was built in 1863 during Civil War days, on a piece of land given for that purpose by Elder David Fogelsanger. He also donated the ground for
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
LAI
RIDGE (FOGELSANGER) CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
the adjoining cemetery which had been laid out several years before the church was built. Elder David Fogelsanger, along with two brothers, Jacob and Wendell, and sister Barbara, not only managed the building of this church but largely financed it. Elder William Etter and Daniel Eckerman who lived in the vicinity of the Salem church, often came and helped with services, even though it was a long distance. Later, Elders Henry Etter, John Fogelsanger and David Wineman helped with services, Elder Wineman having been the first applicant for baptism at this place. Elder James A. Sell, of Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania, when but a lad of 19 years, preached his first sermon here at a Love Feast service. Through the years, we find the Mellinger, Neff, Miller, Stouffer, Mowery, Mitchell, Burkholder, Allison, Paxton, Hoch, and Hosfield families serving faithfully. These with many others helped to promote the good work.
At the time the Fogelsanger house was built, the Salem, Fogelsanger and Old Stone church, near the South Mountain, made up the Ridge Congregation. Later on, a church building was erected in Shippensburg. Services at the Old Stone church were discontinued. In 1924 the Fogelsanger and Shippensburg churches became separate congregations. At the present time the Fogelsanger house is generally known as the Ridge church since the Ridge road runs nearby.
Mrs. Wealthy A. Clark Burkholder and husband are buried in the graveyard at the Ridge church.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
In the year 1896 the Shippensburg church was built and the members in and near Shippensburg attended services at that place.
In 1907, B. Frank Johns was elected to the ministry and Joseph Burkhart was elected deacon. Samuel Fogelsanger was elected to the ministry in the year 1908. October 21, 1909, Joseph Burkhart and James Slyter were elected to the ministry. Daniel Burkholder died in the year 1917. David W. Allison died January 29, 1920, having served in the minis- try thirty-one years. David B. Wineman died in 1931, having served in the ministry fifty-two years. Wealthy Clark Burkholder, not only a deaconess but also a writer and pen minister, died in the year 1933.
On May 7, 1926, the Ridge and Shippensburg churches were divided into separate congregations. Deacons elected at various times in the Ridge Congregation were Raymond Crusey, Charles Coy, William Butts and John Booz.
Brother J. D. Reber, pastor of the Shippensburg church, served as part-time pastor for several years before going to Brooklyn church in 1935. From 1935 to 1936 Elder S. S. Blough, pastor of the Greencastle church, served as part-time pastor. When Brother Olden D. Mitchell became pastor in Shippensburg in September, 1936, he was also part-time pastor at Ridge. Brother Mitchell continued to serve as part- time pastor two years, resigning to attend Bethany Seminary in Chicago. Brother Robert L. Cochlin, of Mechanicsburg, accepted the pastorate in 1938.
At the present time the presiding elder is S. A. Myers ; pastor, Robert L. Cocklin; ministers, B. Frank Johns and Joseph Burkhart; deacons, William Butts, John Booz and Lawrence Carey.
The membership of the congregation is 121.
THE SHIPPENSBURG CONGREGATION
The history of the Shippensburg church from its begin- ning to the present time has been obtained from old records which were rather incomplete and also from reminiscences of the older members of the church.
Before the Shippensburg church was built the little group of members living in Shippensburg numbered about two dozen. Sister Susan Russell was the last of that group to pass away in 1940. The first organized endeavor of these members was a series of meetings which was held in the Old Grace Reformed Church on Orange Street. Reverend Albert Hollinger preached the sermons. Mrs. Catharine Rudolph Beidel then suggested that the members organize a prayer meeting and that the first one be held at her home. The
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
members agreed. About a year later, at the Ridge Love Feast, Jacob Oller, of Waynesboro, suggested that the Shippensburg members organize a Christian Endeavor. In the fall of this year a ministerial meeting was held at Huntsdale; Jacob Oller and some folks from this meeting stopped over in Shippensburg. That evening a Christian Endeavor was organ- ized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Maugans. The Sunday school lesson was used and Edward Fogelsanger was the first superintendent or leader. This group now met twice a week. Prayer meeting on Wednesday night and Christian Endeavor on Sunday night. The meetings were held at the homes of the members.
Some of the country members attended these meetings, W. Minich Fogelsanger being one of them. He became interested in the idea of building a church. Later, at a busi- ness meeting held in Salem, by the Ridge Congregation, it was decided to build a church in Shippensburg. Subscriptions ranged from one hundred dollars to twenty-five cents, the total amount received from subscriptions being $1,306.00.
The following building committee was appointed : W. Minich Fogelsanger, Edward Fogelsanger, Calvin Baker, Casper Hosfield, and Cyrus Railing.
The church lot was purchased from Mrs. Charles Geiger for $484.60. Ground was broken for the building of the church in the spring of 1896. The men of the church, who could do so, helped with the labor. Calvin Baker hauled 4,000 bricks from the old Stewart kilns; also good ground for the church lawn. Cyrus Railing and Casper Hosfield helped to do the hauling. Minich Fogelsanger was timekeeper and treasurer, and (in the words of one of the committee) "did a power of work".
The wood work of the church was turned out at the planing mill of Edward Fogelsanger. The old pulpit stand was made and presented to the church by this brother. The pews were patterned after those in the Hagerstown church.
The story goes that one of the good brethren who had charge of the bills received, kept them temporarily in the crown of his hat. On his way down-town, the high wind blew off the brother's hat, releasing the bills, and causing him con- siderable anxiety until he had them gathered back to safety again. Minich Fogelsanger, Calvin Baker, and Cyrus Railing purchased the trees which are on the church lot.
The cost of the church building including the lot on which it stands, was between twenty-six and twenty-eight hundred dollars. One brother in speaking of the amount said, "You know money was not so plenty at that time." The Ladies' Aid did their share in raising money to help to pay the cost of the church.
The brethren planned to have the church dedicated in December of 1896, and worked very hard to have everything
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
SHIPPENSBURG CHURCH
finished for this occasion. The dedicatory sermon was preached by W. J. Swigart, of Huntingdon. This was followed by a series of meetings held by Joseph Long, of York.
A Sabbath school was organized January 3, 1897, with the following officers elected: Superintendent, Christian Fogelsanger; secretary, William A. Baker; corresponding secretary, William Neff; treasurer, Edward Fogelsanger; librarians, Frank Miller and Cora Kurtz.
There were nine teachers, two of which were Rachel Vance and Edward Fogelsanger. The attendance for the first
DEACON W. M. FOGELSANGER AND WIFE
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Sunday, January 10, 1897, was 108. The school was held in the afternoon and was attended by members of other schools. December 26, 1897, the school re-elected the officers for the next year, the attendance on this day being 130. This being Christmas season the school was treated to apples and candy. The total Sunday school offerings for the year 1897 was $46.85.
At this time the ministers of the church were D. W. Allison, Casper Hosfield, Abram Hollinger, John Garnes, and Elders John R. Fogelsanger and Henry Etter. The ministers took their turns in serving the church and received no salary. Later Samuel Fogel- sanger and Joseph Burkhart were elected to the ministry. Minich Fogelsanger served as church treasurer from the time of the build- ing of the church until the year 1916. Scott Cocklin served during the year 1916, and William Fogelsanger served as church treasurer beginning with the year 1917 and 1932, and again from 1936 to date. At that time the best singer was the chorister, and when he was absent the singing was led by any brother or sister who was able to raise the tune. During the years which lapsed between 1897 and 1914 the church had its DEACON WM. H. FOGELSANGER Holder of Seal from State Sabbath School Association for 50 Years of Service. bright spots and also its dis- couragements, but space will not permit us to dwell upon them. In the year 1914 the church had the greatest revival of its history, Brother J. H. Cassady holding the meeting. The building was too small to accommodate the crowds, so William Neff procured a large tent which was placed on the church lot. One hundred and five conversions were made at this meeting. Three years later Reverend Cassady returned and held another successful meet- ing. In the year 1914 the gallery and Sunday school room were built in the rear of the church, and a baptistry was installed.
The year 1916 marks the death of W. Minich Fogelsanger, and two years later the death of his wife, Elizabeth.
The first pastor, Brother Ross D. Murphy took charge of the church in the year 1917. During his pastorate
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
ELDER ROSS D. MURPHY First Full Time Pastor, 1917-1919.
ELDER DAVID FOGELSANGER As a Young Man Before He Was a Member of the Church.
the church became better organized. Mission study and teacher training classes were started. August 18, 1918, a Seal Course Teacher Training Class of six mem- bers and a regular teacher training class of eleven members were graduated. Brother Murphy was the teacher of both.
Between the years 1915 and 1920 the average at- tendance at Sunday school increased forty-eight mem- bers and the average offer- ings increased $25.57. In the year 1917 the minutes of the Sunday school show the support of a native worker in India. This work was continued until 1921, when the Sunday school began paying seventy-five dollars per year toward the support of the Vayara Boys' School in India. This support was continued for ten years. Since 1932 twenty-five dol- lars per year has been sent to the Bulsar Mission.
During the years 1916, 1917, and 1918 the basement was remodeled to accommo- date Sunday school classes and the present heating and lighting system was in- stalled. A piano was pre- sented to the church by John M. Fogelsanger, of Phila- delphia.
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