USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 21
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to the records, Alec M. Brod- beck was the next superin- tendent with John F. Leh- man as assistant who be- came the superintendent the following year with Elias Hollinger as assistant till December, 1897."
Since that time there were eight different brethren who served as superinten- dents: Ralph B. Lehman having served ten years ; A. S. Hershey, nine years ; James P. Lehman, five years ; L. Elmer Leas, five years; J. J. Bowser, four years; M. A. Jacobs, one year; Charles W. Graff, one year; Emory P. Trimmer, one year. M. A. Brown, Daniel Bowser, S. S. Aldinger, Arthur Hess J. J. BOWSER, Presiding Elder and Calvin Lefever served as assistant superintendents. The date of the service will be found in the minute book of the York Sunday School.
H. H. Hollinger, Wm. Hollinger, D. W. Hildebrand, Katie Roth Lefever, Claude B. Long, Enoch Maderia, John Krape, Eli S. Keeny, Paul Lehman, Orren Dotterer and Lehman Crist served as secretary, but not in any other office. Often the superintendents served in different offices.
Howard Englar served as treasurer for a period of fifteen years, being in office during the longest period.
Before the official and regular organization of the Sunday school in 1894 and 1895, there were two superintendents who took an active part in Sunday school work from 1891 to 1894, and even before that time, or, from the time the church house was built and dedicated in 1884. In 1891, John W. Royer became superintendent; Adam Ness, assistant; C. G. Trimmer, secretary ; and A. S. Hershey, treasurer. The next year, October, 1892 to 1893, George M. Miller became superinten- dent, with C. G. Trimmer, as assistant, and A. S. Hershey, secretary and treasurer.
About five years after this Sunday school was organized, an attempt was made to start one in the east end, in the home of Charles Lehman as well as in the old Lutheran church on East Market Street but was closed at the time of the rebuilding of this church house in 1900 and no continuous Sunday school was organized until May, 1906, which was then started in the East Poplar Street school house on Sherman Street until the
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present church was built and dedicated in December, 1907. Elton Peterman was the first superintendent, followed by J. J. Bowser, John K. Pfaltzgraff, Harry Hoover, Chauncey Trimmer, and the present superintendent, George Stough.
You will notice that York Sunday School was fully organized in 1894-1895 and was on its way for at least ten years while the question was agitating the Brotherhood and while Annual Conference was moving toward its fostering care and general approval. This spirit has characterized our Sunday school in mission classes, teacher training and Bible classes in the spiritual growth and development of its workers.
Our former elder and pastor, Brother J. A. Long, has this to say in a history of "The York Sunday School-Its Struggles and Triumphs":
"If ever a birth was attended with anguish and travail, and cool reception to the new born, this proverb became a vertiable fact in the birth of the York Sunday School. The church rulings at that time in this locality were adverse to the movement, and greatly hindered its progress to the great disappointment of those who advocated it.
"Undismayed in courage, few marched in solid phalanx against the wave of opposition, gradually gained a little foot- hold by pleading and prayer until the church relented and granted a compromise, authorizing a Bible class in which the hymn book and Bible might be used, but without helps. Close upon the heels of the action of the church, a tidal wave of the Sunday school spirit swept over the land sometime during the eighties, resulting in a great change of conditions and the organizing of a school on both the parent church and at York, Pennsylvania."
It was during this period that about a dozen organized a Bible class. A Bible class, taught by Elder Jacob Aldinger, of about twenty or twenty-five, met for Bible study at 5 P.M. on Sunday evening before preaching.
It was noticeable that the children of our members would become interested in Bible study and worship away from our church and would be largely neglected if our own people did not take proper care of them in our own activities of the Sunday school, and so it was seen that we needed a Sunday school of our own.
The children came along and were put under a separate teacher, Sister Anna Aldinger Sheets, and soon there was an equal number in that class from which the classes grew and multiplied, and so the work started in Bible study in the homes and the church with prayer, perseverance and sometimes even dissension in council until it grew, by the Grace of God, into one of our largest schools in the Brotherhood, having an enrollment of nearly one thousand.
May our Bible school, as we choose to call it, be a mighty factor by the help of the Spirit of God and His work in bring-
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ing many to the foot of the cross, that they may learn to know the Truth, for the Truth shall make them free.
The Missionary Efforts of the First Church Which Resulted in the Second Church
In November, 1897, permission was granted by the Sunday school to start the East End Mission Sunday School in the home of Charles Lehman, 803 East King Street. James P. Lehman was the first superintendent. The records show that in April, 1898, the sum of $5.00 was paid to Charles Lehman for the use of his house and fuel. The school was closed July 1, 1898, because the "gypsie" element in this locality left on their summer vacation.
In April, 1899, the Good Will Engine House on East Market Street was secured at an annual rental of $60.00 for the use of a Sunday school. Brother Israel Bowser was the superintendent. Brother George Lehmer, of Dillsburg, con- ducted a successful revival just before the Christmas holidays in 1899. Because satisfactory arrangements could not be made for the rental of a building the school closed July 12, 1900.
On July 12, 1906, the public school house at the corner of East Poplar and South Sherman Streets was secured. With Brother Elton Peterman as superintendent. Brother Peterman left for Mississippi in November, 1906, and Brother J. J. Bowser filled his unexpired term.
The work progressed because of the united and whole- hearted efforts of the congregation and it was decided to find a suitable place to build a permanent church proper for Sunday school and worship in the east end of the city. The following committee was appointed : Adam Ness, George K. Pfaltzgraff, and John F. Sprenkel, Sr., chairman.
Credit belongs to Sister Julia A. Sprenkel, deceased and mother of Ella, Louise, and John F. Sprenkel, Sr., who heard of and saw the opportunity to purchase a lot (the present location). They bought it and turned it over to the church. These four members of the church deserve special recognition for this act and foresight.
This was the clinching of a permanent location for the Second Church. According to records the purchase was made April 11, 1907, for eleven hundred dollars ($1100.00).
These were happy days. A fine staff of earnest Christian workers, not to be dismayed or discouraged-with hearts and hands and voices labored faithfully.
The work of teaching went forward and the church sent out solicitors to build a new church. This was accomplished and Elder John H. Keller, Secretary of the Southern District of Pennsylvania Mission Board, was notified, who secured the
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OLD SECOND CHURCH BUILDING Dedicated December 6, 1907; Razed 1939 for New Church.
services of Elder William J. Swigart of Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, to preach the dedicatory sermon.
The old Second Church was dedicated December 6th, 1907, at an actual cost of $3,640.00. On December 28th, 1915, the additional lot, fronting on East Princess Street was pur- chased for $320.00. It is on this lot that Sunday school department of church building is now built.
At the beginning, the missionary efforts at the Second Church were carried on by members from the First Church. In order to do this, Sunday school was held in the afternoon and church services were irregular. The Sunday school grew in numbers and in 1922 was made independent of the First Church. The Sunday school was held in the morning, the morning and evening worship services were conducted by the preachers from the First Church. The Sunday school con- tinued to grow after the World War period and outgrew the old building.
In 1925 there was an effort to build an extension to the building. Repeated efforts to expand were made in 1926, 1927, and 1934. In 1934 preliminary plans were drawn and $3,000.00 was solicited. In 1935, however, plans were developing to start the Madison Avenue Church, and in January, 1936, many of the members withdrew to the newly started church. This halted the expansion movement until the committee of nine elders, advisory to the York churches,
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recommended dividing the York Church into two congrega- tions in the not too distant future. A committee investigating this report recommended a building fund be started immedi- ately so that the Second Church could be improved to accom- modate a separate congregation of 250 to 300 members.
In May, 1938, solicitors were appointed; this effort culminated in the building of the present sanctuary. The building committee was composed of John F. Sprenkel, chair- man; George E. Stough, Arthur R. Hess, Ralph B. Lehman,
NEW SECOND CHURCH, DEDICATED 1940
S. S. Blough, Mrs. Enoch Modiera, Lehman W. Crist, and Sanford W. Trimmer. J. M. Blough, brother of the pastor, broke ground for the building; Elder H. Mitchell Stover, Waynesboro, delivered the address at the corner stone laying. The edifice was dedicated on January 19, 1941, by Elder J. A. Robinson, pastor of the Walnut Grove Church, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
The cost of the building was $34,440.00 and of the church furniture $3,020.00. The committee had collected $17,000.00 in cash at that time. The building has a capacity of 700 per- sons on the main floor and is equipped for a departmentalized Sunday school and for the baptism and Love Feast sacraments. The building contains in its north wall the title stone from the former church building.
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INTERIOR OF YORK SECOND CHURCH
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Ladies' Aid Society
Soon after the York Church of the Brethren became a separate congregation in 1894, a "sewing circle" as it was then known was organized at the home of Mrs. Nelson Baughman. The home of "Aunt Kate" Baughman was the center of this activity until sickness prevented, when the meetings were held at the home of Mary Krape, Katie Hess, and Ella Heddings, who became president in 1910.
In the Gospel Messenger of February 10, 1906, a report is given showing that during the previous year 23 meetings were held with an average attendance of five. They made clothes-pin bags, aprons, sewing aprons, sunbonnets and donated quilts, comforts, and clothing to the poor. The cash earnings and donations amounted to $13.58. This was given to charitable institutions in the community and one dollar was given to the Brooklyn mission.
Meetings were held in various homes until the Sunday school building was erected in 1923 when a room was equipped for this work. The Ladies' Aid now meets every week in this room with an average attendance of 10 to 16 active members. The work is also supported by five to ten associate members.
Some records were lost, but an approximate summary is here presented.
Donations given to missions in China, Africa, Russia, Brooklyn, General Mission Board and home missions, $610; to charitable institutions such as homes and schools, $873.36; to charity, $200.00; to the home church, $385.
Cash contributions received from associate members and friends amounted to $209.34.
One of the faithful and continuous supports in work and as treasurer until the time of her death in 1937, was Sister Mary Aldinger. Her son, Jacob Aldinger, donated the entire equipment of patterns, unfinished quilts, and supplies to the present organization. Much credit is due to such faithful leaders of sacred memory.
The present organization is as follows: President, Ella Heddings; Vice President, Anna Moser; Treasurer, Anna Leas; Assistant Treasurer, Millie Meals; Secretary, Ella Smith; Assistant Secretary, Eliza Krape.
Ladies' Aid of East York
The ladies of East York Mission Church met at the home of Sister Badders for the purpose of starting a Ladies' Aid Society October 21, 1926. The officers elected were: Presi- dent, Louise Sprenkel; Vice President, Mrs. Badders; Secre- tary, Nettie McWilliams; Assistant Secretary, Alice Wertz ; and Treasurer, Emma Wagner.
The society met each Wednesday and quilted quilts, made aprons, bonnets, pot holders, bibs, etc. The Aid had some of
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their work exhibited at Hershey Conference in June, 1927. Cash to date, $130.95.
The Aid did not meet during 1928, but on February 13, 1929, they met at church and reorganized with the following officers : President, Ima Woods; Vice President, Mrs. Lyons; Secretary, Nettie McWilliams; Assistant Secretary, Louise Sprenkel; and Treasurer, Emma Wagner.
President Ima Woods died March 23, 1933, and Sister Louise Sprenkel again served as president.
August 30, 1935, Sister Emma Wagner died and Nettie Mc Williams served as treasurer.
In August, 1936, Sister Ida Markle was elected president and in March, 1939, the following officers were elected and are still serving the same offices: President, Ida Markle; Vice President, Savilla Biser; and Secretary-Treasurer, Purdon M. Stough.
We have an average attendance of six members and meet each Wednesday afternoon. Our work consisted lately of raising funds for a new church building. Now we have pleasure of enjoying our newly built church home since January, 1940. Up to date our society has paid $750.00 towards the new church, also help working among poor and destitute in our city. We raised several hundred dollars by making four "friendship" quilts.
Cradle Roll of Second Church
Cradle Roll was started in 1922. Have 112 children enrolled during those 20 years. Superintendent at this time is Mrs. George Stough. There are 20 enrolled at present.
Women's Work Organization
The Women's Work Organization of the First and Second Churches of York was organized for the first time December 29, 1936. The officers elected as a result of the first meeting were as follows: President, Mary Blough; Vice President, Eliza Krape; Secretary, Ruby Landis; Treasurer, Emma Mummert.
The goal of this organization at the time of its inception was primarily to interest the women in giving toward missionary projects, foremost among which is the national project of the Women's Work Organization; namely the support of the girls' schools of India, China, and Africa.
The present organization, however, is enlarging this goal to include other worthy projects, as well as to promote higher ideals in the home and closer relationships between mothers and daughters.
Origin of Men's Work Organization, York, Pennsylvania
At our regular quarterly council April 12, 1940, the organization committee of our church recommended that we
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effect a Men's Work Organization, which recommendation was accepted.
On May 16, 1940, the men met at the church, under the direction of the organization committee, to effect this organization. After quite a number of interesting discussions and comments in favor of an organization, the following officers were elected for a term of one year: President, Dr. E. J. Bowser; Vice President, John Minnich ; Secretary, M. T. Mummert; and Treasurer, Stanley S. Dotterer. Committee chairmen : John F. Sprenkel, program committee; Lehman W. Crist, membership committee; Herman Pfaltzgraff, recreation committee; and Stanley S. Dotterer, music committee.
Meetings were held August 25, September 15, December 5, 1940, and March 20, 1941.
Constitutions and by-laws have been adopted, and on October 20th the officers were installed.
Our goal for this year is to promote a better fellowship among the men of our church.
On April 3rd, 1941, we sponsored our first public meeting at our church, with Brother William S. Livengood, Jr., as the speaker.
History of the York Young Peoples' Department- First Church of the Brethren
On July 6, 1933, a group of about thirty young people met at the First Church to organize a B.Y.P.D. There were three adult advisors chosen, namely, John Barwick, Chester Royer, and Katie Lefever. The cabinet elected was as follows : President, John Minnich; Vice President, Anne Ness; Secre- tary, Gertrude Leas; Assistant Secretary, Mary Lehman; Treasurer, Mildred Lehman; Chorister, Margaret Leas; and Assistant Chorister, Ruth Sheets. The committees appointed were : program, membership, social, and constitution.
During this year Caleb Bucher spoke to the group to help set forth ideals and goals for young peoples' work. John Barwick gave an illustrated lecture on his visit to the Holy Land. Twenty-five dollars was pledged to the East End Remodeling Fund. Before the end of the year there were seventy-five members in the department.
The new cabinet was elected in September, 1934. This group sponsored the Apollo Quartette from California. A desire was expressed to help equip the new emergency room in the church and during the next year a medicine cabinet was purchased. Contributions were made to the Children's Home and Missionary Society of our church. Dr. Calvert Ellis spoke at a Sunday conference to the young people of the eastern zone sponsored by the York B.Y.P.D.
In 1935 the new cabinet had little chance for progress and growth because of the unsettled condition of the church,
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and in July, 1936, a special meeting was called to elect a new cabinet. The group entertained the Bethany Biblical Seminary Quartette after the illustrated musical program in July, 1936. Brother Brougher spoke at an impressive sunrise service. Donations were made to Spanish relief, buying of church mimeograph, and foreign missions.
The group of 1937 appointed a service chairman. "Youth Serves" was introduced and the young people supported the Brotherhood program for two hours ($60). This year was the beginning of "The Brethren Youth Builder", a monthly paper. We partially supported Roy Pfaltzgraff, a medical missionary student, with $40.00 contributed to college expenses.
During the next year a delegate was sent to the Fellow- ship of Reconciliation Conference with half the expenses paid. Clothing, toys and money were collected for Spanish relief. Among many other things there were almost 60 dresses. We tried to stimulate interest for a Y.P.D. at the Second Church, but there was not sufficient interest shown. This was the first year for the young people to budget their money. The esti- mated amount to be spent during the year was $124. The highest amount was set aside for service. Ernest Lefever was our first member to attend a work camp. We donated toward his expenses, also toward expenses of campers to attend Camp Conewago.
In 1939-1940, Walter Morewetz, a Jewish refugee from Austria, spoke around a camp-fire and played his accordian. For the last two years some of our most impressive services were Galilean services.
The results were still better during the year 1940-1941 than any previous year. Migrants were studied at our Sunday evening meetings during the months of January and February. The estimated budget is $150 with special emphasis on service and helping Roy Pfaltzgraff. Projects of knitting, handcraft, repairing old toys, collecting children's clothing and school supplies are in progress. A play concerning the life of migrants was presented and colored movies were shown. A week-end conference on "Worship", with Marshal Wolfe and Perry Huffaker as guests, was planned in March. The cabinet this year is President, John Eichelberger; Vice Presi- dent, Harry Mclaughlin; Secretary, Emma Trimmer; Assist- ant Secretary, Kathryn Mclaughlin; Treasurer, Dale Crist; Chorister, John Krape, Jr .; Assistant Chorister, Doreen Crist; Advisor, Jesse Jenkins ; and Editor of Paper, Stanley Dotterer. The committee chairmen are: Program, Esther Hess; Social, Mary Lehman; and Service, Jack Melhorn.
Systematic Bible Study
On September 20, 1902, Elder E. S. Young, Professor of Sacred History and Theology, North Manchester, Indiana, con-
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ducted a systematic Bible school for eight weeks, covering five books, namely : "Life of Christ-Harmony of Four Gospels", "The New Testament History", "The Old Testament History", "The Bible Geography", and "The Bible Outline".
Elder Young was the author of the above books. A large class of about sixty teachers and ministers took this course of study.
Following this in January, 1915, teacher training was started with Brother D. Webster Baker as the teacher. A class of 100 enrolled but only about 36 finished this course.
Following this course an "Outline Studies of the Bible" (New Testament by William C. Schaeffer, D.E.) was started January, 1913, and completed October 2, 1913.
In May, 1914, "Outline Studies of the Bible" (Old Testa- ment by Conrad A. Hauser) was also used. This was the advanced Heidelberg teacher training course.
By this time the Brethren came out with our own first standard course, a book called "Training the Sunday School Teacher", published in 1913 by the General Sunday School Board of the Church of the Brethren, which was approved by the Committee on Education and International Sunday School Association, by I. B. Trout, E. B. Hoff, H. K. Ober and J. S. Flory.
After the death of D. Webster Baker in 1914 Elder L. Elmer Leas took his place as teacher. Others who assisted later on were Ralph B. Lehman, Arthur Hess and Joseph M. Baugher.
Bible Institutes
A Bible Institute was conducted in the York First Church of the Brethren for two weeks from May 12th to May 26th, 1912, by T. T. Myers, D.D., Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Elder William Howe, of Johnstown, Pennsyl- vania, conducted a seven day Bible study in a Gospel tent during the conference.
A number of other Bible Institutes were held in the York church by the following : Elder J. Kurtz Miller, winter of 1916, 30 days; Elder Walter S. Long, April, 1917, two weeks; Elder A. C. Wieand, September, 1919, two weeks; Professors H. H. Nye and J. I. Baugher, February 3 and 4, 1923, two days; and Dr. Ralph B. Schlosser and Dr. A. C. Baugher, a number of times week-ends from 1923 to present time.
Daily Vacation Bible School
First one decided on December 11, 1924, and was held June, 1925. Annually since. Committee : J. J. Bowser, Ralph B. Lehman, and C. W. Graff.
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Organized Christian Workers Meeting Time : November, 1905-Sunday Evening, 6:15 to 7:00 P.M. THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROCEDURE
During the early months of 1941, the York church has engaged in a series of Sunday evening discussions and study groups under the auspices of the Board of Christian Education. The first six weeks there was held at First Church a school of missions. Four classes were planned, and the total attendance for the six weeks averaged approximately fifty. Adults and children studied China, while the young people studied the migrants. A work program grew out of the young people's study, and much relief work and other activities are being carried on by them through the inspiration derived from their study. The first teachers were Professor James Widdowson, Miss Elizabeth Englar, and Jesse O. Jenkins.
At the same time, a study of the Christian home was being conducted at Second Church. The instructors were George Stough, Edward K. Ziegler, and Mrs. George Stough. About thirty attended regularly.
Following these courses, the groups at First Church began a study of the Christian home. Five classes were planned. A total attendance averaging about one hundred to one hundred and twenty was registered for these studies. The studies will continue through the winter and spring months only, each year, with different units of study. It has been found that this plan is very effective in teaching certain aspects of Christian living not adequately covered in Sunday school teaching. It will become a permanent part of the religious educational program of First and Second Churches.
The Brethren Missionary Society of York
A class of young girls in York organized themselves in August 22, 1913, and called themselves the "Faithful Missionaries". The first officers of the class, out of which later grew the missionary society, were as follows: President, Iva Long; Vice President, Helen Lehman; Secretary, Lillian Foreman; Treasurer, Marion Dotterer. The class meetings were devoted to missionary matters, and were held twice a month. Attendance grew steadily, and after a time the class began all sorts of missionary activity for the poor, the sick, the shut-ins, and the unfortunate in various institutions. Thanksgiving and Christmas, 1915, the class gave baskets of provisions and fruits to the poor, invalids and sick folks of the congregation.
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