USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 16
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Some of the ministers and deacons who assisted Elder Brown, faithfully, during the early days of our congregation were John Brough, David H. Baker, John Harlacher, George Winand and Peter Kauffman as ministers; Samuel Longenecker, Abraham Brown, John Mummert, Samuel Burkholder, Michael Brown, Samuel Hollinger, William Gitt, Solomon Keeney, Frederick Winand, John Harbold and Joshua Leas, as deacons.
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MUMMERT MEETING HOUSE AND GRAVEYARD Original house built in 1852; present house built in 1882.
INTERIOR MUMMERT MEETING HOUSE
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
In the year 1882 the small stone meeting house at Mummerts, which had now served as a place of worship for thirty years, was replaced by a larger brick structure. This house, together with additional land acquired at various times for enlarging the cemetery, and together with the 18 acre farm adjoining it (purchased by Upper Conewago in 1877) is the Mummert church as we know it today. It is interesting to note that in planning the new house, provision was made for those travelers who came from a distance and who found it necessary to remain over night. These accommodations on the second floor were largely used at Love Feast services, which were then held for two days. Necessary equipment for the preparation of meals was also provided on the basement floor. This was the first church in Upper Conewago providing such accommodations, and they are still used today.
Although he had been assisted in his duties for a number of years by Elders Jacob P. Lerew and Daniel Longenecker, Elder Adam Brown still exercised oversight of the congregation. Now, however, his health and strength were failing him, and he felt that he was no longer able to bear the burden. In order to relieve him, somewhat, Elder Jacob P. Lerew was entrusted with the office of presiding elder, which office he held until the year 1888.
To Elders Brown, Longenecker, and Lerew, and to their co-workers, belongs the credit for having brought the congre- gation through the difficult period of infancy. It is said by those who knew Elder Brown, that he was more than willing to make any personal sacrifice in order to promote the welfare of the church.
Elder Brown was loved and respected as a man of God, not only by the members of our own church, but by all the entire community. Elder Brown departed this life in 1896.
On June 1, 1888, the congregation elected Peter Brown as presiding elder. J. A. Long, who later became elder of the York Congregation, was elected to the ministry by our congregation in the same year.
In 1892 a new meeting house was built at Latimore. The building committee consisted of George Winand, John Lerew, John Raffensberger, Henry Harbold, and George Dierdorff.
The new brick church (our present Latimore house) was built on the site of the old church, and cost approximately $2,400.00. It was about the same size as the old church, but a basement for use on Love Feast occasions was provided, and a second story was fitted out as sleeping quarters. Many times these lodging facilities were filled to capacity. A long shed was built to the rear of the church to provide a place of shelter for the horses.
The first Love Feast ever held in the Latimore house was held in the year 1892.
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LATIMORE MEETING HOUSE
Original house built in 1856; present house in 1892.
In April, 1894, our Hampton house was almost totally destroyed by a storm which swept over that community. Due largely to the honest efforts and willing sacrifices of the brethren, the house was rebuilt a short time later.
Some of our faithful deacon brethren who were active in assisting Elder Peter Brown during this period were: Jesse Masemore, John Lerew, Joseph Bowser, George Firestone, E. L. Kauffman, William Stoner, Daniel Bear, and Elias Hollinger. Two of our younger brethren who were just be- ginning their work as deacons were John Raffensberger and C. L. Baker. They were both installed on April 15, 1895.
On May 5, 1896, Upper Conewago considered the matter of starting a Sunday school, and a committee consisting of Samuel S. Miller, O. V. Long, C. L. Baker, D. H. Baker, E. L. Kauffman, and George Resser were appointed to make surveys and recommendations.
The first appointment of a board of trustees was made on April 19, 1897. Joseph Bowser, Michael Wiley and John Lerew were the first board. It was to be the duty of these trustees to assist the deacons in carrying on the business affairs of the church.
A year later, on April 28, 1898, two additiontal deacons were chosen. They were George Resser, who is now an elder in the Upper Codorus Congregation, and John Trostle.
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In 1899 another house of worship was erected. This house (our present East Berlin church) was built in the town of East Berlin. The building committee, consisting of Joseph Bowser, Michael Wiley, and Daniel Brown, purchased a site from Dr. R. N. Meisenhelder for the sum of $450.00. It was located on Locust Street. A brick church costing approxi- mately $2,500.00 was erected on this plot. Most of the neces- sary funds were raised by subscription. Because of the close proximity of the Mummert graveyard, a burial ground was
EAST BERLIN HOUSE, BUILT IN 1899
not provided at East Berlin. This house is the only "town" church in our congregation. Each of the other churches is located several miles from the nearest town. The dedication services at the new East Berlin church were held February 25, 1900. The sermon was preached by Elder Levi Mohler. Three years later (1903) the district ministerial and Sunday school meeting was held in this church.
About this time a request for a mid-week prayer service and a request for Christian Workers' meetings was acted upon. These requests were granted, and instructions were given to use the East Berlin church, when there were no requests for the meetings in private homes.
On October 5, 1901, Elder Peter Brown, who had served as presiding elder for approximately 14 years, was called Home. His loss was keenly felt by the congregation, and by the community as a whole.
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Elder Peter Brown's successor as presiding elder was Orville V. Long. He served in this capacity for a little less than two years.
While Elder Long was in charge, Upper Conewago built its last new meeting house. It was erected on a plot, donated for the purpose by John L. Bosserman and wife. It was located near Baker's school house in Reading township.
The building committee, consisting of John Bosserman, John Harlacher, and John Trostle, finished their work and turned the new building over to the congregation for dedica- tion on November 22, 1903. Thereafter services were held in the new church instead of in the Baker school house. Funds to defray the cost of the building were raised by subscription.
Pausing briefly to summarize the physical growth of Upper Conewago, we find that from 1849 to 1903 the member- ship increased from about 100 to approximately 275. Regular services were now being held in six church houses, with special services at Five Points, New Chester, and Bragtown.
A total of nine church houses (including the rebuilding of three) had been constructed at a cost of about $20,000.00. Funds were practically all raised by subscription. Upper Conewago had also purchased the farm adjoining our Mummert church for $1,700.00. This farm was for use and occupancy of the sexton at the Mummert house.
It was noteworthy, too, that during this period of expansion the poor were not neglected. The primary busi- ness, as recorded on the minutes of every council meeting, was the matter of assisting the poor. These minutes also show that the practice of good housekeeping was not limited to the proper usage of finances, but embodied the maintenance of high spiritual standards as well. The elder's warnings against worldliness run like an unbroken thread through the minutes of the various meetings.
.Although it is definitely known that Sunday school was held at Mummerts prior to this time, the first actual record of the election of a Sunday school superintendent indicates that C. L. Baker and Peter B. Kauffman were both elected at the East Berlin house, as the result of a tie vote cast at council meeting held January 1, 1902. Sunday school has continued, without interruption, until the present time. A record of superintendents in their chronological order is as follows : Charles Baker, Peter B. Kauffman, Andrew Bowser, Walter Keeney, and D. E. Brandt. Assistants who have served were : G. M. Resser, J. B. Bechtel, David Bosserman, David Brown, Silas Barnes, Robert King, Bruce Anderson, Harry Mummert, and Titus Sipe.
On September 29, 1903, William A. Anthony was elected presiding elder to succeed Orville V. Long. Elder Anthony remained in the office until May 20, 1905, when he was succeeded by C. L. Baker.
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It was shortly after this time that the home of Elder Long was destroyed by fire and, unfortunately, many early church records and documents which would have been of value in writing this history were lost. Elder Long later moved from this congregation to southern California where he remained until the time of his death.
On April 29, 1905, George M. Resser was elected to the ministry and Samuel S. Miller and Daniel Bowser were elected deacons.
In 1906 requests for regular Sunday school came from Hampton, Latimore, Bakers and Trostles, and on April 14, 1907, it was decided to organize these four schools. Records which perhaps are incomplete indicate that the superinten- dents who served at Hampton were: Norman King, Charles Lehigh, E. K. Leatherman, John Leinert, Paul Miller, and Earl Witter. Assistant superintendents were : George Spahr, Edgar Lear, Roy Mummert, Harvey Herman, Paul Miller, Jr., and Sister Annie Leinert. Many of these officers also served as teachers. Other faithful teachers were Sisters Flora Dicks, Annie Leinert, Dora Miller, Agnes Witter, and Mildred Miller. We appreciate the services of all who willingly shared in this work.
Records of the Latimore Sunday school which also may be incomplete indicate that the superintendents were : George Hull, Edward Wolf, Ervin Baum, Paul Wagner, and Luther Baum.
There are no available records to show who carried on the Sunday school work at Bakers and Trostles.
On April 14, 1906, Samuel S. Miller and Daniel Bowser were elected to the ministry, and Samuel H. Baker and David Brown became deacons. Brother Baker is still serving us today, and is one of our oldest deacons.
On May 11, 1907, George Winand was elected to the eldership, and George Resser was advanced to the second degree ministry. W. G. Group and Clayton Weaver were elected deacons in the same year, on the 19th day of October. Brother Weaver moved out of our congregation on May 23. 1908.
Brother Samuel Miller was advanced to the second degree ministry, and S. M. Lehigh and Bucher Harlacher were elected deacons on May 23, 1908.
S. M. Lehigh and W. G. Group were elected to the ministry on October 10, 1908.
On September 25, 1909, Abraham Hull and C. C. Brown were ordained elders. Both of these brethren came to Upper Conewago from other congregations by certificate.
On April 30, 1910, Bucher Harlacher was elected to the ministry, and William Brough and Daniel Stoner were elected deacons. Brother Stoner passed away several years ago, and Brother Brough, having served us faithfully until the present
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time passed away on March 16, 1941, even as this history is being written. Brother Brough was a member of the com- mittee which is attempting to write the history of Upper Conewago, and was very anxious to see it in completed form. It is a sorrowful coincidence, indeed, that Brother Brough was called home just at the time that the record of his election as a deacon was being written into this manuscript.
On April 22, 1911, S. M. Lehigh and W. G. Group were advanced to the second degree ministry, and Andrew Bowser and W. L. Kauffman were elected deacons. Brother Bowser and Brother Kauffman served as deacons until the time of their deaths.
Samuel S. Miller was ordained an elder by the congregation on May 16, 1912.
In the fall of 1913 the district ministerial and Sunday school meeting was held in the East Berlin church. This was the second District Meeting held at the East Berlin house.
About this time it was decided to discontinue regular meetings at the Trostle house, the reason given was that many Brethren families had moved out of that community, and the attendance was too small to justify regular appointments there.
On August 2, 1913, George Hull and George Harbold were elected deacons. Brother Harbold serves us as a deacon at present.
In 1915 E. M. Wolf came to Upper Conewago br certificate. He remained here until 1941 at which time he transferred his certificate to Marsh Creek.
In 1915 some of the sisters of our congregation organized a Ladies' Aid Society. Some of the members of this organiza- tion were as follows : Ida Brown, president; Alice Bosserman, treasurer ; Elmira Group, Minnie Baker, Lucinda Baker, Sarah Sunday, Emma Miller, Ellen Kauffman, Cora Bosserman, Emma Bechtel, Lizzie Burgand, Ida Mummert, Kate Sunday, Alice Brown, Rachael Pentz, Lizzie Weaver, Annie Danner, Lulu Lerew, Ellen Wagner, Elizabeth Bowser, Mary Jacobs, Annie Brown, Annie Bosserman, Kate Sprenkle, Esther hauffman, Annie Miller, and Annie Leinert. Although only nine of these original members are still living, the Ladies' Aid today has a membership of twenty-four. The present member- ship is as follows : Florence Danner, president; Ruth Sipe, vice- president; Mary Altland, secretary-treasurer; Annie Brown, Lucy Danner, Virgie Anderson, Minnie Myers, Lora Weaver, Edith Boyer, Beulah King, Jeune King, Rebecca Anderson, Ethel Mummert, Gladys Rhinehart, Ella Wilt, Edith Mummert, Iva Mummert, Edna Price, Bertha Hull, Anna Boyer, Cora Bosserman, and Mary Volland.
The Ladies' Aid Society meets weekly, and has for its primary purpose the making of quilts, comforts, aprons, bonnets, pillow cases, etc. The funds realized from these
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
LADIES' AID SOCIETY-UPPER CONEWAGO CONGREGATION
efforts have been contributed to missions and used locally. Locally, the Aid has paid for the papering and painting of some of our church houses, and for the installation of electric lights in three of them. They have furnished a mother's room in our East Berlin church, and a dormitory room at Elizabethtown College. They have also purchased dishes for the church, and have donated various books to our ministers. They make donations to the Children's Home and to the Brethren's Home, and give assistance to some of the poor in the community.
In a council meeting held August 26, 1916, it was decided that all Sunday school superintendents chosen thereafter should be elected by the church. Prior to this time the super- intendent of the East Berlin school was the only one elected in this manner. This accounts for the fact that the records of superintendents and their assistants given for Mummerts, Hampton, Latimore, Trostles, and Bakers were previously referred to as having been incomplete.
In 1917, Brother Charles Staub came to our congregation as a deacon, by certificate. Brother Staub serves as a deacon today, although, due to illness, he has not been able to attend service.
In 1918 the Upper Conewago Congregation and the Brethren Cemetery Association of the Upper Conewago Congregation applied for, and were granted charters by the Adams County Circuit Court of Appeals.
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George Hull and J. Monroe Danner were elected to the ministry on September 7, 1918.
On August 30, 1919, Ervin Baum and Charles Lehigh were elected deacons. Brother Baum serves, faithfully, in the same capacity at the present time. Brother Lehigh has since moved from our congregation.
On August 27, 1921, it was decided to discontinue meet- ings at the Baker house. Through the removal of some Brethren families, and a general lack of interest, the attendance had dwindled to practically nothing.
At the same council meeting, E. K. Leatherman, a minister, who had moved into our congregation, presented his certificate. Thus another name was added to our list of ministers.
On December 24, 1921, S. M. Lehigh and W. G. Group were ordained as elders. Brother Group continues to serve as an elder in our congregation and at Marsh Creek. Elder Lehigh served us until 1932, when he moved to the Pleasant Hill Congregation. Upper Conewago lost a conscientious and faithful elder when Brother Lehigh moved from our territory.
On May 22, 1922, after having served for about seventeen years as presiding elder, C. L. Baker tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the congregation.
Elder Baker was prominent in the affairs of the districts, as well as in his home congregation. He served at various times as a delegate to District and Annual Meetings, and also served on the Standing Committee of Annual Conference. He was a trustee of Elizabethtown College for a number of years.
As a successor to C. L. Baker, the congregation elected Samuel S. Miller as its presiding elder on May 22, 1922.
In October, 1925, the District Meeting was held at the Mummert house, and in August, 1927, the ministerial and Sunday school meeting was held in the same church.
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ELDER SAMUEL S. MILLER AND WIFE
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
On November 6, 1927, our Hampton church was destroyed by fire. This was the second destruction of the par- ticular church by the elements, the first having occurred in 1874, by storm. The church was rebuilt in 1929, largely from materials salvaged in tearing down the Baker meeting house, where services had been discontinued in 1919. The dedica- tion services of the reconstructed Hampton house were in charge of Elder C. D. Bonsack.
On May 5, 1928, Brother Bucher Harlacher was ordained an elder, and on December 8, of the same year, Paul Wagner and James Sheaffer were elected deacons. Each of these brethren serve us faithfully in the respective offices today.
Two additional members were added to our official body as of May 3rd, 1930. Brother Paul Miller came to us as a minister, and Brother Earl Witter as a deacon. Both continue to serve us faithfully in these capacities.
On August 20, 1935, Brother Bruce Anderson was elected to the ministry. He was installed a year later, and continues to serve us actively and faithfully today. Brother Anderson is also a teacher of one of our mixed classes at the East Berlin Sunday School.
On November 14, 1935, Brother J. Monroe Danner and Brother George Hull were ordained as elders. Both brethren serve faithfully as such today.
By the time of our annual council in August, 1938, Elder Samuel S. Miller realized that his weakened physical condition would not allow him to continue in the office of presiding elder any longer. He served in that office, faithfully, for about sixteen years.
PRESIDING ELDER J. MONROE DANNER AND WIFE
On August 27, 1938, J. Monroe Danner was elected presiding elder of Upper Conewago, and serves faith- fully in that calling today.
In the same year a movement was started to re- open the Trostle meeting house. As services had been discontinued there in 1912, much work was required to put the house back into a usable condition. Some of the active and faithful mem- bers of our church took over the work of repairing and repainting the house, and
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clearing the grounds, and on August 27, 1939, rededicatory services were held. So, after having stood unused for about 27 years, its walls again resounded to prayers, hymns, and the preached word. The committee in charge of soliciting funds for the remodeling of the Trostle house consisted of the following brethren: Solomon Peifer, John Pentz, Charles E. Weaver, Bucher Harlacher, and Glen Boyer.
On October 5, 1940, Glen Boyer and Titus Sipe were elected deacons. Both serve us as deacons today, and both are Sunday school teachers at East Berlin. On the same date Truman Grogan, a minister, came to us by certificate. In
OFFICIAL BOARD-UPPER CONEWAGO CONGREGATION
addition to being a minister he also serves as a Sunday school teacher.
Upper Conewago's present official board is as follows : Elder in charge, J. Monroe Danner; past presiding elder, Samuel S. Miller; other elders, W. G. Group, D. Bucher Harlacher, George W. Hull; ministers, Bruce Anderson, Paul Miller, Truman Grogan; deacons, William E. Brough (died March 16, 1941), S. H. Baker, George Harbold, Charles Weaver, Ervin Baum, Charles Staub, James Sheaffer, Earl Witter, Harry Mummert, Paul Wagner, Lewis King, Luther Baum, Titus Sipe, Glen Boyer.
Sunday school organizations are: East Berlin-Superin- tendent, D. E. Brandt; assistant superintendent, Titus Sipe ; secretary, Dorothy Danner; treasurer, Robert Zeigler. Mummerts, Hampton, and Latimore-Superintendent, Earl
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Witter; assistant superintendent, Paul Miller, Jr .; secretary, Phyllis Witter; treasurer, Firmin Nitchman.
Our present church clerk and corresponding secretary is Sister Bertha Hull; our general church treasurer is D. E. Brandt; and our ministerial fund treasurer is Glen Boyer.
Our congregation holds regular Sunday morning serv- ices in four of its church houses in a rotating order, with an additional Sunday afternoon service at the Trostle house every fourth Sunday, and an additional Sunday evening service at the East Berlin house every fourth Sunday.
Sunday school is held in the East Berlin house each
SINGING CLASS-UPPER CONEWAGO CONGREGATION
Sunday, and also at the church where preaching services happen to be held on that particular day.
Two of our Sunday school classes at East Berlin are organized, and both hold monthly class meetings.
We have a mid-week prayer meeting, and a mid-week meeting of the Singing Class. We have also been very suc- cessful, recently, in conducting doctrinal teaching classes, peace conferences and Bible conferences. Even our largest church at Mummerts could not hold all of the people at our last Bible conference.
Upper Conewago still clings to a conservative course. It has withstood the storms of time for a period of 92 years, and stands today as a living testimony to the untiring efforts of our forefathers who upheld for us high standards of
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Christianity. May we, by the Grace of God, preserve this rich heritage for our children.
The historical committee of Upper Conewago Congrega- tion consisted of John H. Myers, chairman; Bruce Anderson, William E. Brough, Elder D. B. Harlacher, and Sister Edna Price.
The number of members is 333.
WAYNESBORO CONGREGATION
The Waynesboro Congregation was organized in 1922 but its history dates back 51 years before its organization. At that time (1871) the Antietam Congregation of the German Baptist Brethren of the Middle District of Pennsylvania bought of the Evangelical Lutheran and Presbyterian churches in Waynesboro, the Union Church on South Church Street which was on a portion of the ground occupied by our present church edifice.
The plot of land on which this church stood was a part of a larger tract purchased by proprietary warrant from the colonial governor of Pennsylvania by John Wallace, Sr., in 1794. Sometime after the death of his father, John Wallace, Jr., acquired this land. About 1798, when plotting out the village of Wallacetown (later Waynesburg, now Waynes- boro), he donated lots number 69 and 70 on Hagerstown Street (now South Church Street) for a union meeting house. A clause in the original deed states if the ground were ever used for any other than church purposes it should revert to the Wallace heirs.
The first building in Waynesboro erected for purely church purposes was the log church built on this plot in 1809. It was built by the Evangelical Lutheran, German Reformed and Old School Presbyterian denominations. On account of insufficient funds the building stood for several years without windows, doors and flooring. Services were held in it during this time but it needed a thorough cleansing before each serv- ice because animals sought shelter therein from heat and storm. In 1815 or 1817 a committee of two was appointed from each of the three denominations to solicit funds to finish the building. It was completed about 1817. For a while serv- ices were held in this church without stoves. The people took with them heated stones or some other article to keep them- selves warm in cold weather. Then large ten-plate stoves were used in which cord length wood sticks were burned. When fire was in its prime condition, those near the stoves nearly roasted while others in remote corners were merely warm. (Gleaned from a History of the Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, by Miss Sallie C. Amberson.)
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