USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
"Feeling that the command of the Master to his disciples, that they preach His gospel to every creature, is binding upon us ; and being desirous of furthering the kingdom of Christ on earth, we, the Missionary Association of the German Baptist Brethren Church of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, do hereby express our desire to have a worker in the field representing our congregation; and, wishing each member of the church to have a part in this work, we solicit your aid in such weekly contributions as you may feel prompted to make, and recom- mend that contributors use the following form of promise ; the detachable copy to be kept by the treasurer of the fund.
"For the purpose of locating and supporting a missionary, I hereby express my willingness to make a weekly contribution of at least cents as long as it may seem
250 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
wise to continue the fund, or as long as my circumstances may allow."
As a personal token of their appreciation of our coopera- tion in their work Mamie Quinter and Nora Arnold Lichty sent to us in 1908 a communion service consisting of two trays, two wine jugs and two cups.
Mamie Quinter labored joyously in India for ten years. She passed to her reward on January 14, 1914.
The following poem was written in her memory by James A. Sell :
A Last Token
When the call was made for workers On the India mission field, There the voice of duty pressed her, When it meant her life to yield She resolved to leave her kindred And her home and native land,
Brave the wild and dashing ocean, Join the trustful working band.
All her cherished plans relinquished, She began her life anew. As she sacrificed for Jesus, Closer to His life she grew Her true heart of love and kindness Moved in pity for the lost, And she walked the way of duty, Heedless of the price it cost.
Here she drew the fallen round her, For she won them by her love, Pointing them to Christ the Savior, And the better home above. And her heart was never lonely, Yearning for her native land, For her work among the lowly Brought her to a happy land.
In the midst of loyal service She has sweetly passed away ; She has carved a name enduring, Shining through the heavenly day ; Though our hearts are sad and lonely, For to us she was so dear, Up in heaven her lovely presence To her Lord is bringing cheer.
251
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Though again our band is broken, Leaving hearts all crushed and sore, It is God who hath bereft us, And we'll love and trust him more, When our toilsome journey's ended, And we, too, our work lay down, Then, like her, from Christ the Blessed We'll receive a starry crown.
After Sister Quinter's death, we were assigned the sup- port of Mrs. Raymond Flory in China. Thus during the next few years we were supporting one worker in China and one in India. After Mrs. Lichty's (Nora Arnold) death in 1918, Brother Oller created an endowment fund for the support of a worker, no one being designated by a name and he discon- tinued giving for the full support of a worker to the Association. When Mrs. Flory retired from missionary serv- ice January 1, 1928, Mrs. Martha Horning was assigned for our support, she being then on furlough. After contributing toward her support one and one-half years it was found she could not return to the foreign field on account of her hus- band's health. Since then, July 1929, we have been support- ing Brother Minor M. Myers at Tai Yuan Fu, China. During these years the support advanced from: $250, (1904) ; $300, (1913) ; $350, (1915) ; $400, (1920); $500, (1922); $500, (1932) ; $550, (1938).
Another project sponsored by the Missionary Association is the "Missionary Challenge to the Sunday School". At the Association meeting on March 3, 1925, "Brother J. J. Oller proposed that we make a challenge to all the Sunday school classes who are not contributing definitely to missions, that is, if they will endeavor to raise funds for the support of missions, designating a certain field of missionary activity, the Missionary Association will double the amount raised by each class, thus the respective classes will be credited with double the amount of money which they raise. This challenge will not in any way conflict with the contributions toward support of Sister Flory in China." This challenge was made to the Sunday school classes and accepted. Thereafter for each dollar given to this fund Brother Oller added $1.00. Since his death the challenge has been supported in full or in part, first by his wife and Miss Rello, and now by Miss Rello alone.
On March 8, 1933, our Missionary Association had a special program in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of its organization. Four charter members were present. Mary Benedict, Nettie Benedict Deardorff, Lucy Benedict Shank and H. Milton Benedict. At this meeting a brief memorial service was held for the 43 departed members (among whom was W. B. Stover), special recognition being
252
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
given to the eight deceased charter members : Lizzie Hollinger, Edith Newcomer, Susan Benedict, Carrie Bock, J. E. Rohrer, Jacob Kurtz, Lizzie Knepper, J. Frank Miller. Letters were read from Mrs. W. B. Stover and H. P. Garner, former members of the Association who have served on the mission field. We had hoped for a letter from Jesse B. Emmert, another former member of the Association, but for some unknown reason it did not reach us. Vocal music was ren- dered by a quartette composed of Brother and Mrs. H. M. Stover, Mrs. Allison Benedict, Brother C. R. Oellig, who had joined the Association 39 years previous. (Mrs. Benedict died seven months later.) A historical sketch was given by Sudie M. Wingert, who had been a member for 38 years.
For several years the interest in the Missionary Association has been dwindling, due probably in part to many other church activities and to the fact that missionary informa- tion is given in other departments of our church work which help in supporting our foreign worker. We have dropped the roll of the Association because the support of a missionary on the foreign field is now considered a congregational project which is sponsored and kept alive by the Association. The following editorial note accompanied the article which appeared in the Gospel Messenger of April 15, 1933, entitled "Missionary Association of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania":
"The story told here is a most interesting and informing one. It is interesting because of the facts it gives ; it is inform- ing because it covers enough time to give one the perspective of a movement. Thus one sees how the kindling of interest in missions through missionary education leads to notable gifts in life and means. Waynesboro has one of the most generous givers in the Church of the Brethren. His spirit has served to challenge the whole congregation. The record of Waynes- boro's giving toward the general work of the brotherhood for the last five years is as follows: 1929, $7,740.48; 1930, $15,887.61; 1931, $7,994.43; 1932, $7,292.03; 1933, $6,668.49."
Young People's Meetings (Christian Worker's Meetings)
It has been difficult to find the exact date when the young people's meetings were begun in our church. F. S. Boerner believed it to have been soon after our evangelistic meetings of February, 1888, (Brother H. C. Early, evangelist) at which time many young people united with the church. We know they were being held in 1892 as evidenced by a letter written by Elder J. F. Oller to the Gospel Messenger and published on December 6, in which he refers to them as being "The life of the church" and says, "the old fathers are very much interested in these young people's meetings. They rejoice to see the young soldiers stand up and speak for Jesus a word
253
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
of encouragement to each other. We do not know how we could do without such meetings of so much interest."
In these early meetings the leader chose his own subject, led in the worship service, spoke or read something bearing on the subject, after which an opportunity was given to any one present to participate. When the hour was gone the meeting was closed with the singing of a hymn. These meet- ings were held in the church preceding the evening preaching service, the congregation assembling meanwhile. Mrs. C. R. Oellig informed me that Anna J. Boteler (one of the converts of February, 1888) led the first meeting. D. Elmer Miller and J. Frank Miller (brothers) became actively interested as soon as they united with the church.
There was no formal organization until 1905. For many years the Missionary Association was its sponsor. Beginning with the year 1893 committees appointed annually by the Association selected topics and leaders for the meetings and prepared the topic cards. They spent many hours doing the work. In February, 1894, the president of the Association appointed a member "to ask the ministering brethren if it would be permissible to take up a collection in the young people's meeting to defray the expenses of the topic cards".
At the Missionary Association meeting on April 3, 1905, a committee was appointed to devise plans for the improve- ment of the Christian Workers' meetings.
At a special meeting of the Association held on April 16, 1905, this committee recommended organization and the hold- ing of the meetings in the Sunday school room. A committee was appointed to bring the propositions to the church council for consideration.
On April 22, 1905, a paper signed by about 40 members was presented to the church council asking for the privilege of organizing and permission to hold the meetings in the Sunday school room. It was decided that the meetings should be held in the Sunday school room for six months on trial and that the church should elect officers for six months. The following officers were elected : President, J. Frank Miller; secretary, Florence M. Hess; treasurer, D. R. Foglesonger. Elder J. B. Ruthrauff instructed the president to complete the organization as soon as possible. The first meeting in the Sunday school room was held on May 7, when a constitution was adopted to become effective on the first Sunday in July. F. S. Boerner was appointed chorister.
At the church business meeting of November 11, 1905, J. Frank Miller reported that the meetings are well attended and the interest good ; that once a month a consecration serv- ice is held when all the enrolled members are expected to respond to roll call in some active way; that a collection is taken at the consecration service to meet current and inci-
254 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
dental expenses. It was de- cided to continue the meet- ings in the Sunday school room.
At the church business meeting on October 31, 1907, it was decided upon motion of J. J. Oller to hold the Christian Worker's meetings in the church auditorium from October until April.
This organization con- tinued to function for 27 years. After the organiza- tion of the Junior Christian Workers' group this older group was known as the Adult Christian Workers. In the fall of 1932 it was de- cided to discontinue the meetings of the adult group because the younger genera- tion of adults were not ELDER JOHN B. RUTHRAUFF greatly interested and they were becoming burdensome to the older generation, some persons of whom had been active in these meetings for 37 years.
The first Junior Christian Workers group was organized by Elder J. M. Moore in the winter of 1923 (he having been granted permission to do so by the church council January 11, 1923). Evelyn Benedict, Rello Oller and John Stoner assumed the leadership of this group, which included children of various ages. In the fall of that year the younger children were taken from the group under the leadership of Elda Wertz and Mildred Hale. The new group was called the Junior Christian Workers and the older one the Young Peoples Department. The following year Mrs. Harper Good and Mildred Hale took charge of the junior group. With the exception of about one and one-half years Mrs. Good con- tinued in the leadership of this group until the fall of 1938. Mrs. Mary Snader was an associate superintendent for several years. Since 1938 Mrs. W. L. Widdowson and daughter, Thelma, have had charge of this group.
In the winter of 1925 (after the building of the Sunday school addition to the church) the younger children were again taken from the older group and the intermediate group of the Christian Workers was organized with Misses Ella Sheeley and Rello Oller as leaders. In the fall of that year Mr. W. C. Wertz and wife (nee Ella Sheeley) assumed the superintendency of this group and retained it for 11 years,
255
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
since which time the work has been carried on under the following leadership: Mr. and Mrs. David Snider; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kissinger; Mrs. W. C. Wertz and Miss Kathryn Shoemaker; Mr. and Mrs. L. K. Ziegler ; Misses Kathryn Oller, Marcia Fike, Marion Ecker and Willard Good. During the present years (1940-1941) Miss Marcia Fike and Kathryn Shoemaker have had charge of this group.
Miss Evelyn Benedict and John Stoner were with the older group from 1932 to 1939. During the years 1932 to 1939 Miss Anna Bushman was an associate director with Miss Evelyn Benedict. Since September, 1939, the Young People's group has been under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Fike. All three groups are creditably functioning at the present (October, 1940).
Until August, 1930, these directors were selected by the pastor in conference with a few other persons (Church minutes September 29, 1929, and August 21, 1930). At the pastor's suggestion it was decided to place all Christian Workers' groups, except the adult, under the supervision of the Board of Christian Education which at that time was com- posed of the pastor, the officers and teachers of the Sunday school. Since September, 1932, they have been under the supervision of the new Board of Christian Education as set up by the church at that time.
Women's Organizations-Ladies' Aid Society
On March 2, 1895, the Sisters' Missionary Circle was organized at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Rinehart, (Mrs. Samuel). The following officers were elected : President, Sister Mary Benedict; vice president, Sister Belle Price; and treasurer, Sister May Oller.
During the first ten months 14 children were provided with clothing to attend Sunday school. No minutes were kept during that time. At the January meeting, 1896, Sudie M. Wingert was elected recording secretary. A little later in the year Zella Benedict was elected corresponding secretary. A constitution was adopted in 1897 when their motto became: "Cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days."
During 1896 sixteen visitors canvassed the town thor- oughly seeking for children who did not attend any Sunday school. During that canvass 30 children were found who were willing to come to Sunday school if proper clothing were pro- vided for them. The Sunday school, under the superin- tendency of S. E. Dubbel, financed the purchasing of clothing, which the sisters bought or made. Simon Wiener, a Jewish merchant, made some nice reductions in price when fitting the boys.
256
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
For several years the society supported two famine orphans in India and one in Armenia. For a number of years it sent barrels of provisions and clothing at Thanksgiving to our mission workers at Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, District of Columbia.
In the fall of the year 1899 a committee of eight persons was appointed to go out by twos and make a social visit in the homes of every member of our congregation living in our town. This visit was made semi-annually for a few years.
In the early history of the society the women made many sun bonnets (300 in one year). Some of them were made to order for merchants of the town. Mr. Smith provided many bolts of material and paid 123 cents for each bonnet made. Some of the cutting was done in the evening on the long table in F. S. Boerner's tailor shop. When the church of 1903 was built, a room was provided for the society which was heated with an "egg stove". On sewing day one of the sisters went early and kindled the fire. For some years this chore was done by Mrs. Susan Foutz and Mrs. Eliza Emmert, (mother of Jesse B.) who was superintendent of the sewing. Some of the workers went on Wednesday morning and remained for prayer meeting service in the evening. (Coffee was made on the stove.) It was an inspiration to see these older sisters, some of whom had been sewing all day, come walking into prayer meeting when the first hymn was being sung. When the Sunday school addition was built to the church in 1924 a larger room was provided for the Aid workers.
The society's work at present is confined chiefly to the making of quilts, comforts, aprons and prayer coverings. It makes annual contributions to the Conference offering, Community Chest, Missionary Association, Boy Scout work and to the Women's Work of the Brotherhood. Previous to the local Women's Work organization in October, 1933, the Aid Society sponsored the solicitation of funds from the women and girls of our church for the Women's Work project. The greatest project undertaken by the Ladies' Aid Society (which has been its name since April, 1933) was the recarpet- ing of the church and Sunday school auditoriums in 1929 at a cost of $2,964.66, much of which money was solicited. In April of each year the society has the charge of receiving and packing the annual contributions of gifts from our congre- gation for the Children's Home at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Officers for the present year are: President, Mrs. H. A. Good ; vice president, Mrs. L. K. Ziegler ; secretary, Mrs. D. J. Shank ; treasurer, Mrs. R. M. Hale. Those who have served as presidents since its organization are: Mary Benedict, Mrs. D. W. Hess, Lizzie Knepper, Mary Flory, Mrs. Joseph Emmert, Mrs. H. M. Stover, Mrs. Clara Morgal, Mrs. J. M. Moore, Mrs. H. B. Rinehart, Mrs. W. J. Snader, Mrs. H. A. Good.
257
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Women's Work
For the years ending February 28, 1931, 1932, and 1933, the Ladies' Aid Society sponsored the solicitation for contribu- tions to our National Women's Work program. These con- tributions, together with what the Aid Society itself gave, were forwarded to the Mission Board.
On May 16, 1933, under the directorship of Mrs. Grace Ziegler, a mother and daughter luncheon was held. In October, 1933, a women's council composed of one representa- tive from the Ladies' Aid Society, one from the Missionary Association, and one from each Sunday school class above the Intermediate Department wherein were women or girls, met at the parsonage and effected an organization for the advance- ment of the larger Women's Work program in our church, by electing Mrs. Grace Ziegler, Director; Mrs. S. S. Conner, Secretary ; and Mrs. R. M. Hale, Treasurer. On November 23, 1933, a Women's Work meeting was held in the church to which the women and girls brought their contributions ($71.21) for the National Women's Work project. The officers which had been elected were approved and an interesting missionary program was rendered.
Since then the organization has had at least three meet- ings annually; a mission study meeting; a mother and daughter luncheon; and the annual fall meeting when the officers are elected, the contributions are brought for the National Women's Work project, and inspiration is received to continue our efforts. We sometimes have a fourth meeting when some problem of Christian home life is considered.
Three years ago directors were appointed for the five phases of Women's Work. These directors with the elective officers and pastor's wife constitute the executive body of our organization as now set up. The elective officers for the present year are : President, Mrs. Walter Snowberger; vice president, Mrs. H. L. Berkey ; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Stoler B. Good.
In 1940 we assumed war relief as one of our projects and Mrs. Levi K. Ziegler was appointed chairman of the War Relief Committee. The women have responded nobly to the appeal for both new and second-hand clothing and meet in groups to make new clothing, all of which is sent to the Friends Service Commission at Philadelphia. Through relief cups which they have distributed some generous offerings have been received and sent to the Brethren Service Committee at Elgin, Illinois.
Dates of and Speakers at the Meetings of Our Women's Work Organization
Problems in Home Life: December, 1933, Dr. Mary Laughlin; January, 1934, Rufus Bowman; January, 1935.
258 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
M. J. Brougher; January, 1936, Ernest J. Coffman; 1937, panel discussion by local women; March 2, 1938, pageant and talk by Mrs. Dan West. Mother and Daughter Luncheons : May, 1933, talk on Women's Work by Mrs. Grace Ziegler and also a pageant; May, 1934, Mrs. A. B. Miller, Hagerstown, Maryland; May, 1935, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Blough; May, 1936, Mrs. Isaac Long; May, 1937, Mrs. Minnie Bright; May, 1938, Sara Shissler; May, 1939, Mrs. Quincy Holsopple; May, 1940, Mrs. George Detweiler; May, 1941, Mrs. Martha Parker. Mission Study : 1934, morning and afternoon, "Eastern Women Today and Tomorrow", covered dish luncheon; 1935, morning and afternoon, lawn box luncheon, "Women Under the Southern Cross"; 1936, morning and afternoon, covered dish luncheon, "Orientals in American Life"; 1937, evening, 7:30, "Congo Cross"; 1938, evening, 7:30, "Mecca and Beyond" (review given by Mrs. Harry Berkey) ; 1939, morning and afternoon, "Moving Millions", a pageant of modern India ; 1940, morning and afternoon, "Women and the Way"; 1941, morning and afternoon, "Stand by for China". Autumn meet- ings : 1933, missionary program prepared by Anetta Mow; 1934, four messages from girls' schools of India, Africa, and China ; 1935, "Women and the Church", Mrs. B. C. Ritz ; 1936, "Women and the Church", Mrs. J. Walter Thomas; 1937, "Freedom in Christian Living", Mrs. L. K. Ziegler; 1938, inspirational talk, Mrs. Elmer Rowland; 1939, "Goals in Women's Work", Mrs. Florence Gibbel; 1940, presentation by the directors of the five phases of our work.
Boy Scout Work
With G. Nelson Gingrich as scoutmaster and Robert Fitz as assistant the Boy Scout Troop #1 of Waynesboro, Pennsyl- vania, was organized in the fall of 1928. The charter was granted the troop October 26, 1928. The committeemen for the first year were : M. E. Sollenberger, J. B. Stoner, and H. L. Berkey. This charter, which expired June 30, 1929, was renewed twice. The committee for the third year was: J. B. Stoner, chairman; Raymond Hale, Sr., W. L. Widdowson, M. E. Sollenberger, F. O. Rebok, D. R. Fisher. (This work was sponsored by the pastor in conference with a few other persons.)
After an interval of a few years another troop was organ- ized in 1935 under the sponsorship of the Board of Christian Education. Kenneth Monn was appointed scoutmaster and Donald Snider assistant. The committeemen in January, 1935, were John Kissinger, chairman; G. N. Gingrich, Robert J. Fitz, E. E. Snader, E. S. Lehman.
In December, 1940, Kenneth Monn resigned as scout- master. Willard Good is now scoutmaster, with Milton Toms as assistant. The committeemen for 1941 are LeRoy Maxwell,
259
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
chairman; William Kissinger, A. R. Deardorff, H. A. Good, Kenneth Monn.
In 1928 a room was equipped for the boys in the base- ment of the church to which an outside entrance was made. The troop uses the east church lawn for some of its recreations.
As stated in their charter, the objectives of the Boy Scout troop are character building, Americanization and citizenship training. Emphasis is laid upon duty to self, duty to God and country, and duty to others.
Scouting objectives are sought to be obtained by encour- aging the Scouts to live their motto-"Be Prepared"-and follow their slogan-"Do a Good Turn Daily"; a planned and nationally uniform course of instruction, by which a Scout may advance from the lowest rank of Tenderfoot to the highest rank of Eagle Scout, covers such fields as first aid, animal life, camping, all types of crafts, botany, forestry, health and many other fields both enticing and instructive to boys of the teen age.
WELTY CONGREGATION
Welty's church house was built in 1836 by John Welty then living on the farm now owned by Samuel Nicodemus.
John Welty bought from a Mr. Farst the east end of the plot and from Christian Newcomer the west end and the cemetery, a wedge-shaped plot.
On the southwest corner of the ground so acquired Mr. Welty built a stone church, planning the south end to be used for school purposes. Folding doors separated it from the main room. This school was to be a subscription school and Mr. Welty solicited subscriptions from people of the community to help pay for the part of the building to be used as a school room. Mr. Welty was not at this time affiliated with any church, but was interested in community betterment. At first it was a union church. Services were held by the German Baptists and the Winebienerians. The Brethren in Christ, in 1839, held a Love Feast there.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.