USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 18
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238
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Deardorff, H. A. Good, John E. Kauffman, C. A. Snider, John Kell.
The charter members of our congregation numbered 423. Our membership on January 1, 1941, was 863. Of our charter members 28 were descendants of Alexander Mack through his son, John, and a grandson, William, the son of Alexander, Jr .; 21 were descendants of pioneer William Stover, the first per- manent resident elder of the Antietam Congregation, and 15 were descendants of pioneer John Jacob Price who emigrated to America in 1719 with the first group of Brethren from Germany.
In the spring of 1923 the membership was given a privi- lege which they long desired-that of having their first Love Feast and Communion service in the Waynesboro church. (Previous to that we went, for these services, one mile north to the Price church in the spring and six miles south to the Welty church in autumn.) At our church business meeting in the fall of 1927, it was decided to adopt the individual com- munion cups. They were first used in the spring of 1928. Mrs. H. B. Rinehart presented the service in honor of her sons, Edwin and Aldus.
On April 6, 1923, the house with lot (41 by 207 feet) adjoining the church property was bought for a parsonage at the cost of $7,205. The Always Willing Sunday School Class furnished much of the parsonage, (list of things placed in the hands of the church custodian). The parsonage was remodeled in 1925. While this was being done the pastor's family lived in some of the Sunday school rooms and the kitchen of the church. A slight fire occurred in the basement of the church during this time.
In the latter part of 1924, a two story Sunday school building, having movable partitions, was added to the church at an approximate cost of $40,000. The building committee for this was Daniel Good, D. G. H. Lesher, M. E. Sollenberger, J. S. Stevenson and W. C. Wertz. At that time the walls and ceilings of the entire church were refinished, a new vapor heating system was installed, (the first was hot air), gas was put in the kitchen, new ceiling lights donated by the Men's Chorus were put in the church and Sunday school auditoriums. The cornerstone for this new addition was donated by F. S. Boerner's Sunday school class. In the process of remodeling, the cornerstone of the Union Church of 1830 was moved to the southeast corner of this building. It contains the old Bible and coins which were placed in it in 1830. Dedicatory serv- ices were held January 18, 1925, at 10:45 A.M., 2:30 and 7:00 P.M. Dr. C. C. Ellis, of Juniata College, preached At each service. Special music was furnished by the Men's Chorus with C. D. Snider as leader and by the Ladies' Quartette (Rello Oller, Lettie Gearhart, Mrs. Arthur Snider and Mrs. Howard Snider).
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
A baptistry was installed in the church in 1924 at the expense of J. J. Oller. In 1926 a piano was purchased for the auditorium.
In October, 1929, a beautiful new dark Wilton velvet carpet was put in the church auditorium and Sunday school assembly room. While the carpet was being laid the pews were cleaned and refinished. At the same time an appro- priate offering table was donated to the church by the Always Willing Circle composed of Mrs. Kate Angle, Misses Mary and Mattie Benedict, Miss Prudie Burger, Mrs. John Bushman, Mrs. A. R. Deardorff, Mrs. Amanda Harbaugh, Mrs. Ada Harris, Mrs. Elizabeth Stoner and Mrs. D. J. Shank. The Young People sponsored the purchase of a bulletin board in 1927.
In 1928 an entrance was put on the south side of the church and a basement room made for the use of the Boy Scout Troop #1 of Waynesboro (cost $696.66).
In March, 1931, a plot of ground (166x192 feet) east of the church and formerly known as the old Lutheran burying ground (from which the graves had been removed), was pre- sented to the church for its use and enjoyment by Joseph J. Oller and his wife, Myrtle F. Oller, and their children, J. F., Rello, and J. Ezra. It was given in memory of Mr. Oller's parents, Bishop Jacob F. and Elizabeth Bonebrake Oller. In 1934, the Young People adopted as their project the building of a new fence around this plot. During the following summer, the fence was erected. On July 14, 1935, by an impressive service the lawn and fence were formally dedi- cated "for the enjoyment of beauty, the delight of our children and youth, the cultivation of holy aspirations, and the worship of Almighty God in his own out-of-doors". This plot is used in the summer for the younger Sunday school children on hot Sunday mornings, for twilight worship service on Sunday evenings, and for social activities during the week.
In the spring of 1937 a fire proof vault was built in the basement of the church for the protection of church records and the communion service. In 1940 new equipment was added to the kitchen, among which were two gas ranges, a gas plate, and a 20 gallon gas water heater.
Since January, 1926, a four page paper, the Waynesboro Messenger, edited quarterly by our pastor disseminates church news through the congregation.
Since our organization in 1922 the following have served us as evangelists : James M. Moore, H. S. Replogle, M. J. Brougher (twice), J. A. Robinson, Oliver Austin and wife, Levi Garst, Isaac Long (twice), Ernest S. Coffman, Tobias F. Henry (twice), John D. Ellis.
The following meetings of district organizations have been held in our church :
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
District Meeting-1885, 1910, 1912, 1927.
Ministerial-December 10, 11, 12, 1891, and November 19, 20, 21, 1901.
Sunday School Meeting-June 8, 1899, being the first District Sunday School meeting of Southern Pennsylvania.
Ministerial and Sunday School Meeting-1905, 1925.
The various auxiliaries which help to forward the work of our church are :
Sunday School-Organized in spring of 1872; discon- tinued January, 1873; reorganized April, 1873; discontinued and reorganized several times; continuous since the organization of March, 1878.
Young People's Meetings-Between 1888 and 1892. Missionary Association-March, 1893.
Ladies' Aid Society-January, 1895. Boy Scout-1928; reorganized 1935.
Women's Work-1933.
Sunday School
In the spring of 1872 a Sunday school was organized in the Waynesboro church with Brother Jacob F. Oller as super- intendent; D. B. Mentzer, assistant superintendent; Jacob Zuck, Jr., secretary ; and John Garret, treasurer. "The school at first numbered about 30 pupils. It was continued amid many discouragements and with varying success until January 12, 1873, when it was suspended until the weather should be- come more favorable. Some thought this a mistake. After a suspension of about three months the Brethren Sabbath School reopened on April 13, at 1:30 P.M. under the super- intendency of Brother D. B. Mentzer; librarian, Isaac Sprenkle; secretary, Jacob Zuck, Jr." (From the minute book of 1873). The teachers on this reopening date were Lizzie Geiser, Katie Stover, Maggie Emmert, John Garret, Jacob Zook, Jr., and Sudie Oller.
This school continued several months. Because of opposi- tion the school was begun and discontinued at irregular intervals. We have no records for 1874 and 1875. There are records showing that it was in existence from December 10, 1876, to February 18, 1877, also from April 29, 1877, to July 15, 1877. It might have been continuous during all this time but we have no records.
A new organization was formed March 31, 1878, when a new constitution was adopted and signed by 43 persons, since then we have had a continuous Sunday school. The minute book gives the following officers for 1878: Superin- tendent, J. H. Gehr; Assistant Superintendent, T. F. Imler; Librarian, J. R. Wolfkill; Assistant Librarian, George Boerner; Secretary and Treasurer, P. M. Snider. At present
241
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Mayoresboro, Many 478. The trening exercises were conducted by the Luft . They consisted of Ringing , Prayer and the reading of the last of Revelations . The supt . made Rome statements in regard to forming a chance of New Learner"; Bols he and by himself. The Lords Prayer was assigned Is This class for press Sabbath.
The Subject of The Reason for The day was . "for the Goalted" ben. XL1, 39-49. For want of time The concert exercise was omitted . . An independent Bible Clase was organized by Pro. J. F. Olles, cho proposed to give instructions with little of pro aid from printed questions. Prend from The standforint of our Commencement The school presented a , cheering appearance to day , it having increased nearly 100 % since The os Sabbath. The sum- For of prendere of The actual present una
48; visitare, 19; total, 6/0, Quanaj.
SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD OF THE WAYNESBORO CONGREGATION
First row, left to right : Mrs. H. E. Price, Nursery Dept. Supt. ; Mrs. W. L. Widdowson, Children's Division Supt. ; Mrs. D. J. Shank, Primary Dept. Supt. ; H. B. Rinehart, Treas. ; Mrs. H. B. Rinehart, Home Dept. Supt. ; Sudie M. Wingert, Missionary and Temperance Secy. ; Mrs. Levi K. Ziegler, Kinder- garten Supt. Second row: Mrs. Howard Snider, Pianist ; Mrs. M. B. Horst, Librarian ; M. B. Horst, Secy. ; Evelyn Benedict, Young People's Division Supt. ; Anna Bushman, Junior Dept. Supt ; Mrs. W. C. Wertz, Senior Dept Supt ; Frances Good, Intermediate Dept. Supt. Third row: W. C. Wertz, General Supt. ; Kenneth Monn, Adult Dept. Supt. ; David Snider, Chorister ; J. T. Fike, Young People's Dept. Supt .; H. L. Berkey, Secy. of Classification ; Levi K. Ziegler, Pastor ; Stoler B. Good, ex-Supt. of S. S., Teacher of Fidelis Bible Class.
243
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
(January 1, 1941) our school has an enrollment of 590*, with W. C. Wertz as general superintendent. Our secretary, M. B. Horst, and treasurer, H. B. Rinehart, have served in these offices twenty-nine and thirty-five years respectively. We have a closely graded school (Standard A) of nine depart- ments : home, adult, young people, senior, intermediate, junior, primary, kindergarten, and nursery. The last four comprise the children's division. Each department holds its entire session in its own room with the exception of the young people and senior which meet together.
The Home Department was organized in the summer of 1902 (probably the first one in our church district). Teacher training work was begun in 1909. This is now under the supervision of the Board of Christian Education. Our first adult Bible classes were The Helping Hand, organized in February, 1911, with Rebecca Foutz as teacher, and the Always Willing Class, organized January, 1912, with J. J. Oller as teacher. The largest class in our school is the Fidelis (Stoler B. Good, teacher) with an enrollment of 131 *. Among the teachers in our school for many years was Mrs. Sarah Saylor, widow of Daniel P. Saylor.
Business Sessions
The Sunday school board, composed of the elective offi- cers, the pastor, the divisional superintendents and the super- intendents of the different departments, meets monthly during at least ten months of the year. From December, 1926, to September, 1932, this board included more persons and was known as the Board of Christian Education. In September, 1932, a Board of Christian Education was created by the church council and a new Sunday school constitution pro- vided for the Sunday school board as now set up. Teachers of the children's division meet in quarterly conferences.
School Activities
The classes of the Adult and Young People's Departments have monthly or bi-monthly meetings. Those of the children's division have mid-winter and summer socials. An outing of the entire school is held in mid-summer. For each of four years (1933 to 1936 inclusive) we had a week of mid-summer activities at the church, during which week each department had an afternoon or evening meeting when programs were developed based on a central theme which included periods of worship, instruction, fellowship and recreation. When the weather was favorable these meetings were held on the east lawn of our church. Vacation Bible School was not held
*These enrollments include only those who have been in attendance at Sunday school at least three times during the previous quarter. The delinquent list is kept separately.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
during those years. The last two years we have had a Vacation Bible School with an average attendance of 106 and 103 respectively.
Missions
Our school has always been interested in others. During the decade between 1896 and 1906 workers from our school went on Sunday afternoon to Sunday school at Mount Vernon and Plain Hill school houses. C. R. Oellig, F. S. Boerner, H. M. Stover and H. P. Garner served as superintendents at the former place. For many years F. S. Boerner was superinten- dent at the latter place. (These were not under the jurisdiction of our local school.)
At a special workers meeting of the Waynesboro Sunday School on April 22, 1917, it was decided to start a mission Sunday school at Mt. Joy school house near Glen Furney. F. K. Fenninger was elected superintendent. The furnishing of supplies for the school as well as the school at Wayne Academy was referred to the missionary committee. George P. Cashman's request for our school to furnish supplies for the Wayne Academy Sunday School suggests that he was superintendent of Wayne Academy school. During 1918 F. K. Fenninger and Earl Snader had charge of the school at Mount Joy. (From Records of Waynesboro Sunday School Workers Meetings, 1917 and 1918.)
For missionary and benevolent purposes each class or department has a special fund. Through the missionary chal- lenge of Brother J. J. Oller in 1925 under the auspices of the Missionary Association (see Missionary Association), contribu- tions by our school to the General Mission Board have been greatly increased.
The Always Willing Sunday School Class has an African Mission Prayer Band Fund through which each year it con- tributes several hundred dollars for work in Africa. (All con- tributions to this fund are matched by like contributions, first by Mr. Oller and now by his daughter, Miss Rello.) The Moore Bible Class contributes to the support of home mission work in North Carolina. Each Christmas the Fidelis Class very generously remembers the children at our Children's Home in Carlisle. Our school gives annual contributions toward the support of the foreign mission field worker for whom our Sunday school district has assumed responsibility. (At the present time this is Mrs. Stover Kulp in Africa.) Missions are further stressed in our school by our missionary and temperance secretary.
From our first organization we have had a library. At the present time it contains between six and seven hundred volumes.
Our school encourages our children and young people to go to church camp by assuming part of their expenses.
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
The following have served as superintendents of the Sunday school :
Elected
Jacob F. Oller 1872 (Old Minute Book)
D. B. Mentzer 1873 (Old Minute Book)
¡J. F. Emmert
J. H. Gehr
1878 (Old Minute Book)
+T. F. Imler
¡J. F. Emmert
¡J. A. Maugans
J. H. Gehr 1885, 1888, 1887
Samuel McFerren 1888
S. E. Dubbel
1889, 1890, 1891, 1892,
1893, 1894, 1895, 1896
H. M. Stover 1897
M. E. Sollenberger 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901,
1902
F. S. Boerner 1903, 1904
D. R. Fogelsanger 1905
M. E. Sollenberger 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910
Emory P. Trimmer 1911
M. E. Sollenberger
1912, 1913
George P. Cashman 1914
Trostle Dick
1915, 1916
A. H. Culler
1917, 1918, 1919
Stoler B. Good 1920, 1921, 1922
Earl E. Snader and Assistants filled out the
H. E. Price unexpired term caused
by the removal from town of Mr. Good.
W. C. Wertz 1923, 1924, 1925
Stoler B. Good 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930
A. H. Ressler October 1930
Stoler B. Good October 1931, 1932,
1933, 1934, 1935
W. C. Wertz October 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940
We are not certain of time of election nor length of time those marked thus (+) served.
Gleanings
Extracts from "Constitution and By-Laws and Rules of Order of the Sabbath School of the Brethren Church of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania". Adopted, 1872.
Constitution
"Article 1. This school shall be known as the Brethren Sabbath School of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania."
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
By-Laws
Article 1. This school shall meet every Lord's day in the afternoon.
Article 2. Section 1. The word of God shall be the text book of the school.
Section 2. Spelling books and primers shall be provided for those who are unable to read.
Section 3. The hymns from the Harp shall be used.
Section 5. A child's paper or some other Sunday school paper shall be circulated in the school, the choice of which shall be left to the officers and teachers of the school.
From Secretary's Record Book of 1873
April 13-"The Superintendent explained the manner of using the Brethren or Berean Lesson Leaves. Number of pupils present, 37." Condition of library :
In Out
Volumes in Youth Library 96 33
Volumes in Juvenile Library .63 12
Bibles and Testaments .22 4
Total 230
April 20-"Attendance 35. Number of scholars now on roll is 35, with prospects of more, in case all the friends of the cause discharge their duties faithfully in the fear of God."
May 4-"Attendance 67. An independent Bible Class was organized by Brother J. F. Oller who proposes to give instruction with little or no aid from printed questions." On the roll at this date is the name of Mamie Shank, now Mrs. H. C. Geist, who is still a member of our school.
(From the tabulated report of District Sunday School Secretary, J. H. Keller, for year ending December 31, 1905.
Waynesboro Sunday School
Total enrollment 270 207
Average attendance
Number of teachers 17
Amount money raised
$229.16
Amount given to missionary and
benevolent purposes $ 12.00
Number of scholars converted
during year 20
Home department ?
yes
Missionary Association of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
The first missionary organization in this congregation of which we have any information was the Young Sisters' Missionary Circle which did some practical work by making
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
garments for poor families. We do not know when it was organized.
It was to a meeting of this circle that the young brethren were invited on March 13, 1893. At this meeting it was decided to form a larger organization, including both brethren and sisters for the purpose "of our spiritual improvement and toward the advancement of the missionary cause". A tem- porary organization was formed by electing Edith Newcomer, chairman, and Lizzie Hollinger, secretary. One week later a meeting was held at the home of May Oller, at which time the constitution and by-laws for the "Missionary Association of the German Baptist Brethren Church of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania" were adopted and signed by eighteen members. Six weeks later the membership was twenty-one.
For many years the meetings were held in homes on the first Monday evening of each month. For several years they were held in the church on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Since 1937 they have been held the first Wednesday evening of each quarter. The earlier meetings were sometimes quite lengthy, due in part to the social period (no eating) which followed the rendering of the program and which preceded the session for the consideration of new business. As there were no other social church functions in those days, this period was greatly enjoyed and did much to strengthen our bonds of fellowship.
The period for new business was usually very interesting. It was enjoyed especially by those of an argumentative frame of mind because of the discussions which arose from our efforts to adhere closely to parliamentary rules. The rules of order from "Cushing's Manual for Deliberative Assemblies" was our guide in these sessions. "I rise to a point of order," was frequently heard. In one of the minutes I noted that a motion made by Jesse B. Emmert concerning our supporting a missionary on the foreign field was declared "out of order", because at that time he had not yet formally become a member of the association.
Until 1905 the association was the governing body of our Sunday evening young people's meeting. For ten years com- mittees appointed by the association selected lists of topics for these meetings and had the topic cards printed. When the committee was appointed in 1893 it was instructed to show topics to some of the older members of the church for their approval before having the cards printed. It was through the association that we began having church ushers. A decision was made in January, 1894, that the president should privately appoint ushers after getting the consent of the elder to do so. For several years thereafter the church usher committee was among the president's yearly appointments.
From the beginning our programs have been of a missionary educative type. During the first year two eve-
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
nings were given to the study of India and one to the study of Japan. Other topics discussed that year were: "What is Missionary Work ?", "Importance of Missionary Work", "Demand for Missionary Work", "Difficulties of Missionary Work", "Encouragements to Missionary Work", "How Can We Get Money for Missionary Work ?". During the first three years the association subscribed for the "Missionary Review of the World" from which it got help for the programs. This paper was discontinued in favor of the "Missionary Visitor". Special music had an important place on these programs. The rendering of music by a mixed quartet, a ladies' quartet, a trio and a duet in one evening shows the musical ability of its early members. For several years we used the women's foreign mission study books for some of our programs. At some of our meetings we consider our own mission fields and other missionary and evangelistic work. Sometimes we invite one of our missionaries on furlough to address us. Phases of missionary work are stressed by playlets and lantern slides.
Probably one of the most far-reaching and worthwhile out-growths of the early life of our association was the Missionary Reading Circle, which was begun for the personal benefit of our own group, but through the enthusiasm of Brother Wilbur B. Stover it was enlarged with the object of creating greater missionary sentiment and zeal throughout the brotherhood. (See our Missionary Reading Circle.)
During the years we have given many contributions for various kinds of missionary work at home and abroad. Our first contribution was given in June, 1893, to a sister in Kansas toward the erection of a church. Since then we have made other contributions for the same purpose in the United States, Asia and Europe. We have contributed to city missionary work in Chicago, Brooklyn and Baltimore. For many years we sent monthly contributions to Brother Quinlan at the latter place to help with his Bible school for boys.
During the last several years we have confined our giving almost exclusively to the support of a worker on the foreign field. From the minutes of the association, we gleaned the following concerning this support: The suggestion that we support a foreign missionary was made in July, 1896.
In November, 1898, C. C. Johnson proposed that we estab- lish a Missionary Endowment Fund. A committee was appointed which reported favorably. In May, 1900, rules were adopted for governing Missionary Fund of the Waynesboro Missionary Association.
June, 1902-Trustees reported $48.50 in 21 pledges, $41.50 by open contributions.
November, 1902-Trustees reported $4.25 pledged weekly. (Must have $5.00 per week.)
December, 1902-Trustees reported $4.44 pledged per week.
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Some gave without pledges. Some pledged two cents per week. Thanks was extended to J. J. Oller for the inspiration to move more rapidly. (He offered to give toward the support of workers an amount equal to whatever the Missionary Association would give.)
January, 1903 - J. J. Oller gave his check for $250 for the support of a missionary for one year. The association decided to do the same.
February, 1903-A call was made for volunteers to go from our own group or Sunday school.
April, 1903-Announce- ment was made that Nora Arnold, of Linter, Illinois, J. J. OLLER AND WIFE and Mamie Quinter, of Chicago, Illinois, had been selected for us to support. They sailed in October, 1903. Our support began January 1, 1904.
"The Missionary Visitor" of April, 1903, gives the following: "The Waynesboro church has raised $500 for the support of a worker in India and perhaps some would be glad to know how it was done. In the first place a certain brother said to the congregation that he would do just whatever the Missionary Association would do towards raising funds. That of course was a great impetus to the movement. Then the Association set upon this plan. They issued a printed letter, a copy of which is given below, and a small collection envelope. Weekly, little by little, the amount has been easily raised.
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