USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 24
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The home grew up under financial struggle but the con- stituency rallied and supported it in a very commendable way. The rates vary but little between members and non-members. The rates are low, boarding is good and location is very healthful, yet there are not enough guests to run the home on a self-supporting basis. The overhead expenses are about the same with the home half filled as altogether filled.
In 1919 the home received a safe from Brother and Sister Isaac Miller, of East Berlin, as a donation. This is used in keeping important documents of the home. Quite a few annuities were secured by the home and as the annuitants die the home receives the money. The different state pensions now in force also affect the attendance at the home.
The district supporting the home consists of eight counties or parts of counties. The membership is 7,323.
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THE BRETHREN'S HOME
SUPERINTENDENT OF HOME AND ASSOCIATES
Religious services are conducted every morning and preaching services every two weeks by the ministers of the several congregations in the district. Two Love Feasts are held annually at the home. As a rule these religious services are greatly appreciated by the guests of the home.
A practice has been established in the district to make a contribution by each congregation to the home of anything that the home may use along the line of provisions, raiment, or money. This custom is commendable not only from a financial point of view but to keep that charitable and sympa- thetic spirit alive which is essential in the Christian life. The home could scarcely have pulled through the financial struggle were it not for the charitable spirit manifested by a goodly number of well to do donors of the district.
Much credit for these annuities and donations belong to our present solicitor, L. H. Leiter and wife, whose untiring efforts have not ceased to induce many to give to this worthy cause.
During the year of 1936 the home was improved by the spending of more than $2,000 in painting, papering and general repairing which makes the home sanitary, cozy, and home-like in appearance.
Inasmuch as the home is now supported with current from line of Metropolitan Edison Company passing the home and a hard surfaced state road also passes same, there is no likelihood that the home will be changed to any other place.
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TRUSTEE BOARD BRETHREN'S HOME SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Left to right: G. W. Harlacher, Treasurer; A. S. Baugher, Secretary; H. L. Leiter, President; W. G. Group, Solicitor; O. J. Hassinger, Solicitor; H. B. Rinehart, Vice President; John Leer, Admittance Committee.
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THE BRETHREN'S HOME
The home is now well cared for by annuities and donations secured from constituents of the Southern District.
Hardly too much praise can be given to the donors and congregations of the district who were willing to make sacrifices in order that the home might exist.
The home is now on a good financial basis and guests are paying only actual cost of maintainence or a little less as no consideration of depreciation of property is taken.
The board has just finished installing a heating-plant at a cost of over $1,700 and when such needs arise we can easily see the need of donations, bequests and annuities to keep the home going.
CHAPTER V
THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
The trustees for the Children's Aid Society appointed by the District Meeting of April 9, 1913, at the request of the Waynesboro Church, met at the home of Sister Sudie Wingert, May 20, 1913. The following organization was effected : President, M. A. Jacobs; secretary, Sudie Wingert; treasurer, Mrs. J. J. Oller.
It was decided to ask each Sunday school in the district for a free-will offering for the work and to ask each elder to appoint a committee of three to cooperate with the district committee in securing funds, finding dependent children, and suitable homes for them. The local committees to do no other work than organize until after the next District Meeting. A constitution and by-laws were drawn up to be submitted to the District Meeting of October 29th, 1913.
The Constitution
1. Name. This organization shall be known as the Children's Aid Society of the Church of the Brethren for the Southern District of Pennsylvania.
2. Object. The object shall be to secure orphaned, dependent, neglected and homeless children regardless of church affiliation, and as soon as possible place them in suitable private homes until they become eighteen years of age.
3. Membership. All active members of the church shall be considered members of the society. All others who assist and contribute shall be honorary members.
4. Trustees. The executive power shall be vested in a board of three trustees elected by the dele- gates at District Meeting. The term of office shall be three years except those first elected who shall serve one, two, and three years respectively.
5. Funds. The funds of the society for carrying on the work may be secured : (1) by public offer- ings at District Meeting; (2) by public offerings in local congregations; (3) by individual gifts, bequests and in other ways as may be desired.
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THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
6. Amendments. This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates at District Meeting.
Duties of the Trustees
1. Officers. The trustees shall organize by electing from their number, a president, a secretary, and a treasurer, each of whom shall serve for one year or until his successor is elected.
a. The president shall call the meetings and shall preside over the same.
b. The secretary shall keep a record of the meetings of the trustees, a record of the children received and cared for, shall receive all funds and receipt for the same and forward to the treasurer, and make an annual report to the District Meeting.
c. The treasurer shall keep a record of all funds received and shall disburse them on approval of the president and secretary.
2. Authority. The trustees shall have the authority to direct the work of the district and to assist local congregations in securing and placing children.
3. Children. Any homeless, dependent and neg- lected child, sound in body and mind, by the con- sent of the trustees, may be placed in care and custody of the trustees, by legal surrender of said child by parents or guardian.
4. Legal Forms. The trustees shall adopt legal forms of application and these properly executed forms shall become a part of the permanent records.
This constitution and by-laws were adopted as submitted to District Meeting October, 1914. At this meeting the efficient secretary, Sister Sudie Wingert, was succeeded by Sister Frances M. Leiter (Mrs. L. H.).
Meetings were called irregularly every few months. The churches responded liberally to requests for funds and local committees cooperated willingly.
The first child was received from Waynesboro, in spring of 1914; the secretary sent postal cards over the district announcing the need of a home for her. She was finally placed in Greencastle. Another child was received and placed near Upton the same year. A picture of each child was filed with the record of history.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
A request was made to Elder's Meeting, 1916, for per- mission to hold a Child Rescue Meeting during Elder's Meeting. It was granted and this custom continued. Children needing homes were taken to these and other meetings of the district from time to time to secure homes for them.
Up to 1917 the secretary cared for a number of children in her own home from a few days to five years, but there were always those who were sympathetic who shared the burden and our kindly disposed church people welcomed many of the children into their homes without thought of remuneration.
As the number of children needing homes increased, the burden and responsibility became too heavy to secure temporary free homes, and since there was a small amount of money in the treasury, the trustees decided to pay for foster
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SHUMAN FAMILY, CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
home care for children under three years of age and for chil- dren who were not placeable in free homes. Many children from broken homes were cared for until better plans were made or their homes re-established.
In 1921, a request was received by letter from Miss Mary Seylar, McConnelsburg, Pennsylvania, for care of seven little children whose mother had died and they were left destitute. After proper investigation it was found that they were in the bounds of Back Creek Congregation and the mother a member of the Church of the Brethren. A second letter said, "I thought the Brethren always took care of their old people and children." Concluding it was our duty and privilege to care for the children immediately, the secretary, and her hus- band started early April 7, 1921, for the children who had been brought from Fort Littleton into McConnelsburg. Their father assigned them in writing to the society and a snapshot was taken of them. On the way home we stopped to ask a sister to help us care for one in her home and she immediately
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THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
said she would take the girl. The secretary said, "but the baby must stay with the sister." Then she said she would take both and she did. Finally all seven were placed temporarily and several permanently.
The story of this tragedy was told at District Meeting in 1921 and a request was made that the district provide a receiving home for our children. Elder J. A. Long moved that the trustees bring something definite back to District Meeting the following year. His motion was unanimously supported.
Late in the summer of 1922 a son in a family of twelve took typhoid fever. Both parents died, leaving nine children to be cared for. The oldest was able to make his own way. The secretary went to the home of Brother and Sister Maurice Kipp, near Newport, where, with the help of neighbors and Pastor John Harshman and his wife, arrangements were made for the temporary care.
Several of them took the fever. By use of serum the others escaped the disease. This sad story was related to District Meeting, 1922, by those who were most intimately connected with it. The trustees at this time brought a request to this meeting to buy the property at 630 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, for $15,000. When the question was pre- sented to the delegates they stood as one man in favor of buy- ing the property. Again Elder J. A. Long moved that when the trustees had $10,000 in sight they might buy the property. This also had a unanimous vote in favor of the motion and several individuals and elders present pledged large sums from their churches for the purchase of the property. Immediately after the meeting the secretary, Frances M. Leiter, canvassed the district and in less than two weeks over eleven thousand dollars was promised by
HOME OF CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY, CARLISLE, PA.
320 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
individuals, Sunday school classes, Sisters Aid Societies, and churches.
On November 14, 1922, the property was bought. L. H. Leiter and brother loaned the hand-money, five hundred dollars. The treasurer, Mrs. Mame Hollinger, and the secre- tary assisted by Sister Elizabeth Trimmer (Mrs. J. E. Trimmer) then began furnishing the home, using second-hand beds and many other pieces of used furniture. By April 9, 1923, $10,316.64 of the pledged money was received. The pledges were practically all paid later.
The home was dedicated on Ascension Day, 1923; Elder James M. Moore, pastor of the Waynesboro Church, making the main address. Dr. Ellen Potter, Secretary of Welfare, also spoke to a large assemblage. She deplored "another institution" but praised our foster-home plan, worked out by our Annual Conference general committee.
The first guest in the home was from Falling Spring Congregation, placed that opening day by Elder David Y. Brillhart, near Spry, York County.
The first matron, Mrs. Ada Benner, served less than a year. The treasurer and secretary took up the care of the 19 children in the home for several weeks, assisted by "Aunt Alice Winand", until a substitute matron could be secured. The president secured Brother George Mikesell and wife, Anne, to take care of the home until Mrs. Mame Hol- linger could come. Later Miss Orpha Heefner sub- stituted as matron, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Flory, all of Waynesboro.
MAME HOLLINGER NELL, Superintendent of Children's Home 1924-1929.
The two women mem- bers of the board sent a peti- tion to District Meeting ask- ing for two more members on the board. This was granted and Elder David Y. Brillhart and Sister Ida M. Lightner were elected October, 1924. The State Department of Welfare had advised a larger board, a full time paid worker to help carry on the investigations, place- ments, etc., and regular monthly meetings of the board. After Elder Brillhart was elected, board meetings were held regularly the first Thursday of each month.
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THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
The secretary then asked to be relieved of recording the minutes. Her request was granted, Sister Ida Lightner was elected recording secretary. The former secretary was designated field secretary.
Elder H. M. Stover was president and Sister Mame H. Hollinger, treasurer, was elected superintendent of the home in 1925.
In 1922 Brother William Neff, the day after that board meeting, stopped at the secretary's home and said, "What can our Sunday school class do for you in your work ?" She replied, "Get me a typewriter." At the next board meeting the report is recorded on the minutes. Secretary reported that two classes in the Shippensburg Sunday School gave a Remington portable typewriter for the use of the secretary before the opening of the home.
About this time we had fourteen children on our hands in temporary free homes. These fourteen were all placed be- fore the home was opened except one who was placed on opening day by Elder D. Y. Brillhart.
May, 1923, having been instructed by District Meeting to have the society incorporated, application was made to Cumberland County Court on April 9, 1923. The charter was decreed May 22, 1923, by Honorable E. M. Biddle, P.J.
In all these beginnings the constant help of Elder J. E. Trimmer cannot be overestimated. The kind home hospitality of both Brother Trimmer and his wife, Elizabeth, was like an oasis in a desert to those who were often overburdened with work and responsibility in establishing the new home where children were to be cared for in the future.
Upon the request of the field secretary in 1923, $1.50 per day, which was the equivalent of what she paid her house- keeper, was allowed for time spent in the field. The superintendent received more, being on the job constantly in the home.
The rate per mile for superintendent's car was reduced from 8¢ to 63¢. The field secretary used varied means of transportation, but her husband usually took her in his car. Later her husband gave her a car for her use for the C. A. S. Her expenses were paid by the society.
Many improvements to the home were made. Having been incorporated we began to be recognized by the courts of the several counties in our district. When it seemed necessary, we secured a court commitment for some children. Annuity bonds were issued to those who desired to give a portion of their estate to the C. A. S. while living. The names of annu- itants are : Sister Emma Knepper, Waynesboro; Sister Alice Winand, York Springs; Brother David and Sister Ella Heddings, York; Sister Amanda King, York; Sister Clara Morgal, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUT. IERN PENNSYLVANIA
From the time the home was bought, we had to borrow from the bank every few months to keep going. In 1926 it was decided to write a letter to the elders of the district requesting them to make another effort to solicit their member- ship for money to pay the debt of the home, which was $2,680. The members of the board offered to help.
It had been the dream of the field secretary and others to establish a fund from which a sufficient salary could be paid a full time secretary to make the investigations as well as keeping the records. The follow-up work or visitation of the children in their foster homes was a time consuming and expensive task, but it was not neglected.
This hope began to be realized as confidence was estab- lished in the work and we received substantial bequests from time to time. At board meeting May 4, 1933, when the large bequest of Sister Emma Knepper was received, business was suspended while we thanked and praised God for her generous gift. The home was fully paid for with much beside.
It was the opinion of the board as well as the advice of the State Bureau of Children that infants under three years of age could not be cared for adequately in the Children's Home among the older ones, hence private family homes were chosen for temporary boarding care. Where a foster mother kept more than one infant the home was licensed by the state. Usually there were a number of homes ready in which delicate children were received from time to time where they were nursed back to health.
Each child's maintenance was assured before being received, but during the first years after the home was estab- lished a number of children were received into the home be- fore proper investigation could be made and as a result bills ammounting to several hundred dollars were never paid to the society.
In 1926 permission was received from the Huntsdale Church to use their burying ground. Fortunately, it has never been needed. Only two children have died. These were cared for by their foster parents. Each year a reunion has been held to which foster parents, friends of the children, and friends in the district have been invited to come with their basket lunch. Varied programs were offered by the children and others with a special address for the occasion. Liberal offerings have been received. The children returning to the home for the day evidently enjoy the occasion.
Each child has been given a Bible when he goes into his foster home. In it is written "From the Children's Aid Society" to "John Doe" and Numbers 6:24-26. The third hundred has been bought.
August 20, 1930, the field secretary was returning from a three-day field trip in York County and met with a serious
CHILDREN OF THE HOME, MAY 1, 1941
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accident which resulted in wrecking her car and in almost the loss of her life. For eight months she was confined to her bed. The board did not accept her resignation. Brother M. E. Sollenbarger and his wife substituted during the re- mainder of the year 1930- 1931, and Sister Anna Schwenk during 1932.
Two members were added to the board, Sisters Mary Brillhart-Myers (Mrs. J. E.) and Sister Mary Haas Spangler. The latter was elected by the Carlisle Church as required. At this time the field secretary re- tired from the board to con- tinue the work of executive secretary.
MRS. L. H. LEITER, Executive Secretary of the Children's Aid Society.
The Southern District of Pennsylvania had been pio- neering in child welfare work. Mifflin, Cumberland, Adams and Perry organized to care for their children. Hence few children are received from these counties in recent years. Fulton remains unorganized. Seven of one family were received from the court of Fulton County in 1929 and were all placed within a year.
The Children's Home has been a temporary shelter and clearing house. The objective has been a foster home for each normal child. The ideal of our Brotherhood, the Southern District of Pennsylvania, and the State Department of Welfare has been that. Next to the natural parents the foster parents are best for any child needing care. Sub-normal children are often better cared for in institutions.
The work accomplished by the C. A. S. through the wholesome Christian homes in which the children were and are being reared could not have been done had not the kind hospitality been extended to our dependent, neglected chil- dren who come, many of them, from unchurched homes. Most of our adult wards have united with the Church of the Brethren and other Christian churches.
Matrons who have cared for the children in the home not mentioned heretofore are: Sisters Arbutus and Ruth Wolf, Carlisle; Sister Alice Swartz, Newville; Sister Minnie Kline, with her husband, Elder B. F. Kline, Gettysburg; Sister and Brother George Kraft, York; and the present matron, Sister
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
First row, left to right: H. M. Stover, President; Mrs. Henry L. Miller, Secretary; Mrs. Norman Kuhn, M. E. Sollenberger, Second row: J. Monroe Danner, H. M. Snavely, Vice President; Michael Markey, Treasurer.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
MR. AND MRS. J. H. NEWCOMER, Superintendents of Home and Daughter, Josephine.
Lottie Newcomer (Mrs. J. H. Newcomer), and daughter, Sister Josephine Newcomer, Mapleton, Maryland.
A request from the board to District Meeting in 1940 for permission to build an addition to the home not to exceed $5,000 was granted. The building is now in progress. The population of the home April 1, 1941, was 38-all Cumberland County wards except two. The Children's Aid Society has not had a placeable child in the home for six months.
The present personnel of the board is: President, Elder H. M. Stover, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania; vice president, H. M. Snavely, Carlisle; secretary, Sister Verna Miller (Mrs. Henry Miller), Mechanicsburg; treasurer, Michael Markey, York; Sister Rhoda Kuhn (Mrs. Norman L.), Greencastle ; J. M. Danner, East Berlin; M. E. Sollenberger, Waynesboro ; executive secretary, Frances M. Leiter (Mrs. L. H.), Greencastle.
CHAPTER VI
THE MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT
THE MISSION BOARD
The Mission Board of the Southern District of Pennsyl- vania, Church of the Brethren, had its beginning at the time of the District Meeting in the year 1892.
At that meeting the territory embraced within the bounds of the Middle District of Pennsylvania was divided into the Middle and Southern Districts of Pennsylvania.
At that time a Mission Board was provided for the new district. The personnel of which is given as: Elders Jacob F. Oller, C. L. Pfoutz, Andrew Bashore, Jacob Aldinger and Jacob Hollinger.
Funds in the mission treasury ($26.78) were divided between the two districts. At the first District Meeting held in the Southern District of Pennsylvania, 1893, the minutes record Item #6: "An election was held for five brethren to compose the Mission Board which resulted in the election of J. F. Oller and Albert Hollinger to serve three years; Jacob Hollinger and C. L. Pfoutz to serve for two years ; and Andrew Bashore to serve one year."
There is evidence that J. F. Oller was president and Jacob Hollinger treasurer of the board. Disbursements the first year amounted to $21.72.
No record of specific work done in the earlier years is available. The treasurer's reports indicate that disbursements for 1894 were $33.60 and for 1895 $69.81.
In 1898 Wm. A. Anthony did mission work in Fulton County which resulted in thirteen baptized, one reclaimed, and the building of a frame church, with very encouraging prospects for the future.
About this time, 1898, Elder J. A. Long, then president of the Mission Board, began a mission in Hanover, Pennsyl- vania, assisted by Ella Raffensberger. Soon following there were five baptisms with a promising field. During this and the following year, with mission board and other funds con- tributed, a church was built in Hanover under supervision of the Mission Board at a cost of $211.56. Services were continued here by the Mission Board, Elder J. A. Long in charge.
After considerable effort on the part of the board, the several congregations adjacent to Hanover agreed to
328 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
relinquish such territory as was essential to determine a boundary line.
An organization was effected and the new organization was reported to District Meeting of 1902 for ratification and adoption. At time of organization there were twenty-eight members. A secretary and a treasurer were elected and Elder J. A. Long continued the oversight until 1904 when the Mission Board relinquished care.
Hanover Congregation was not fully officered until 1906. In 1898 it was reported that Joseph Auker's River Mission (Perry County ) has resulted in a number baptized and interest growing.
At the District Meeting of 1899 an hour was given to the consideration of mission work. Short addresses were given by J. A. Long, S. F. Sanger, G. N. Falkenstein, Jacob Hollinger and others. An offering was lifted amounting to $28.00 for mission work.
In 1900 the Mission Board applied for incorporation papers and a charter was secured. According to the charter the location of the said corporation and the chief place for the transaction of its business shall be in the City of York, in the County of York, and the State of Pennsylvania. The names of the incorporators are recorded as follows, Joseph A. Long, William A. Anthony, C. L. Pfoutz, Jacob Hollinger, Henry Beelman.
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