USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 27
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Following is a copy of the program of this first district Sunday school meeting :
SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETING of THE GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN of SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA June 7th and 8th, 1899 WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 7th
Sermon Elder W. J. Swigart
THURSDAY, 9:00 O'CLOCK A.M.
Organization
Address of Welcome
Harvey Emmert
Responsive
Albert Hollinger
Music
Topic-"The Purpose of a Sunday School Meeting" W. A. Anthony Music
General Discussion-"Further Benefits Which May be Derived from Such Meetings"
Music
Topic-"The Sunday School Organization and
Government" Benj. Ranck General Discussion Music
Queries U. W. Harshman Essay-"The Sunday School Teacher" Mrs. Sarah K. Saylor General Discussion Music
357
MINISTERIAL AND SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINGS
THURSDAY, 1:30 O'CLOCK P.M.
Special Song Service
Topic-"Helps and Literature for Sunday School
Work" G. G. Lehmer
General Discussion
Music
Topic-"Home Training in its Relation to Sunday
School Work" H. Shellenberger General Discussion Music
Topic-"How May the Sunday School Aid in Maintaining the True Conception of Plainness ?". J. D. W. Deardorff General Discussion Music
BUSINESS SESSION, 5 TO 6 P.M.
THURSDAY EVENING, 8:00 O'CLOCK
Music
Essay-"Woman's Work in the Sunday
School" Mrs. Wealthy Burkholder Address-"From Sunday School Scholar to Church Member" Joseph Long Music
Address-"How to Put in Practice What We Have Heard". F. D. Anthony Valedictory-"The Holy Spirit" C. H. Balsbaugh Music
The organization of this meeting was as follows : Moderator, W. A. Anthony ; assistant moderator, C. R. Oellig; secretary, A. S. Hershey ; assistant secretary, E. S. Rinehart.
During the business session from 5 to 6 P.M. "An ideal constitution for our Sunday School Meeting was presented by C. C. Johnson". It was "adopted by the meeting after a few slight changes" were made.
C. C. Johnson, J. G. Miller, J. D. W. Deardorff, Lizzie Lehmer, and Sudie Wingert were appointed as a committee to select a list of 100 books suitable for a Sunday school library. "The following executive committee was appointed to serve the ensuing year : Mitchel Stover, A. S. Hershey, Harry Shellenberger, Kate W. Baughman, and Wealthy Burkholder."
The Sunday School Meeting for 1900 was held in the York church on December 27 at which time G. G. Lehmer was moderator and J. G. Miller, secretary. At this meeting Anson Good was elected as our first Sunday school treasurer.
At the meeting in the Good Will Church, Lost Creek Congregation, on August 23, 1901, only seven schools were represented. Joseph Long was moderator and Sudie M.
358
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Wingert, secretary. Brother C. G. Trimmer, of York, Pennsylvania, was delegated to represent this meeting at the ministerial meeting in the fall and ask it to consider the pro- priety of hereafter holding these two meetings at the same place, and of having the Sunday school meeting the day preceding or day following the ministerial meeting.
No report is given in the minutes concerning the response to this request but the printed programs for the next year were for the ministerial and Sunday school meeting at the Huntsdale meeting house, November 6 and 7, 1902. Since then they have always been held at the same time and place.
Gleanings from Sunday School Meeting Minutes
September 8, 1905-It was decided to print the minutes of this meeting and distribute them in the Sunday schools.
November 2, 1906-Decided to make a full report of next year's ministerial and Sunday school meeting.
September 7, 1907-Decided to employ a shorthand reporter for the ministerial and Sunday school meetings next year. Also decided "to hold a collection at the close of the evening session of the ministerial meeting".
August 11, 1908-York Sunday School asked that these meetings be held on Wednesday and Thursday instead of Thursday and Friday. Tabled. Reconsidered the printing of the full report of the ministerial and Sunday school meetings. Decided to print the annual report in booklet form and that a nominal price of 15 cents per booklet be paid by each congregation for the number they order.
September 24, 1909-The treasurer's report showed a deficit of $84 due to his not being able to dispose of all reports of the last year's meeting.
September 2, 1910-Decided not to have any more full reports printed until further investigation proves it to be wise.
Decided that for three years this meeting be held not later than August 25.
"Resolved that all ministers in attendance at our Sunday school meeting shall have the privilege of voting with the delegate body in the business session."
District secretary, J. H. Keller, reported a church membership of 3,743 in the district. (Our district occupies a territory of nearly 10,000 square miles, August, 1911.)
August 18, 1911-Secretary reported that Waynesboro Sunday School graduated 17 teacher training pupils.
August 23, 1912-Decided to publish all papers read at this Sunday school meeting.
August 22, 1913-Decided to print Ora Good's paper.
August 16, 1918-Owing to the rambling vote according to the old method of election, it was decided that in the future, nominations for office shall be made before voting.
359
MINISTERIAL AND SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINGS
August 15, 1919-In response to a petition from the Waynesboro Sunday School, it was decided that the Sunday schools of our district should contribute funds for the purchase of an automobile for the use of our workers at Vada, India. It was also decided that each Sunday school should take a special offering for this purpose during the month of September and forward it to the General Mission Board before October 1.
August 13, 1920-Decided that the secretary of the ministerial meeting shall hereafter be the secretary of the Sunday school meeting also.
August 24, 1921-Report was made that auto has been purchased and is now on field.
August 17, 1922-"Decided that all officers except secre- tary shall be elected by ballot from nominations. The nominations shall be limited to the delegates."
August 24, 1924-(P. 8) A request was presented by the Children's Aid Society of the district asking that "This meeting recommend that each school in our district lift an offering each year on Children's Day for the work of the Children's Aid Society". Request was granted.
August 12, 1925-"The Sunday School Board which was created by the District Meeting of 1924 were named as follows : H. J. Shellenberger, Trostle P. Dick, Ralph Lehman, N. S. Sellers, G. Howard Danner.
"In order to encourage our young people, our district joined with Eastern Pennsylvania in holding our first joint Young Peoples Conference at Salunga, July 29. The meeting proved to be a success and a resolution asking to have it continued was passed unanimously."
August 18, 1927-"We would call attention to a change made by the General Sunday School Board which changes the end of the Sunday school year from December 31 to September 30."
August 16, 1928-On motion it was decided that we recommend all schools to begin their school year October 1, including the change in the time of their organization.
August 17, 1933-Board of Christian Education peti- tioned the meeting : "That every Sunday school in the district be requested to send a yearly offering with their delegates to the annual Sunday school convention for the promotion of the work of the board". Passed.
August 23, 1934-(P. 8). Following resolution from Board of Christian Education was adopted : "Be it resolved that: This convention urges our churches, ministers, teachers, and Sunday schools to make a renewed effort to establish those to whom they minister more firmly in the faith of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, in the hope that such anti-Christian influences as Nazism and kindred influences may be intelligently combatted."
360
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
August 23, 1934-(P. 7). A suggestion was made to change the method of organization in order to conserve time now used in organizing. A motion was carried requesting the Board of Christian Education and the Ministerial Board to draft a query and present it to the District Meeting, requesting the district to authorize the program committee of each respective meeting to effect the organization.
At the District Meeting in 1934 (District Meeting Minutes, p. 35, paper 8), the above named boards presented the following paper which was accepted :
"Having been asked by the Sunday School Meeting of 1934, held in Chambersburg, August 23, to formulate a simple plan for electing the officers of the annual ministerial and Sunday school meetings, we beg to submit the following plan :
"The program committee shall prepare a ballot, nomi- nating two persons for each office, namely, moderator of the Ministerial Meeting, secretary, and moderator of the Sunday School Meeting. The moderator of the Ministerial Meeting and the secretary are to be elected in a business session of the Ministerial Meeting. The moderator of the Sunday School Meeting is to be elected in a business session of the Sunday School Meeting. The one receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected and the other shall be the assistant in each instance. In the event of a tie vote the one first named on the ballot shall be declared elected and the other shall be the assistant in each instance.
"The secretary and assistant secretary elected in the Ministerial Meeting shall serve also in the Sunday School Meeting.
"The officers shall serve in their respective offices in the meetings held the year following their election.
"Ministers shall constitute the voting body in the Ministerial Meeting. Delegates to the Sunday School Meeting shall constitute the voting body in the Sunday School Meeting."
District Sunday School Treasurer
1900-Anson Good, one year.
1901-J. O. Smith, one year.
1902 and 1903-J. H. Shellenberger, two years.
1904-C. J. Trimmer, 14 years (resigned).
1918-H. J. Shellenberger, McAllisterville, Pennsylvania, eight years. (Served until death.)
1926-Norman Shellenberger, eight years, when office of Sunday school treasurer was discontinued by recommendation of the Board of Christian Education, (1934).
361
MINISTERIAL AND SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINGS
District Sunday School Secretary
1898-"This District Meeting decided to authorize the moderator to appoint a committee of three brethren on Sunday school statistics, and they to report yearly to the District Meeting," appointment, W. A. Anthony, three years; Orville V. Long, two years ; S. M. Stouffer, one year.
1899-"Meeting dismissed the Sunday school committee that was appointed in 1898. The moderator appointed W. A. Anthony Sunday school secretary for the district to serve one year and the appointment was confirmed by the meeting."
The district Sunday school secretary was elected annually by the District Meeting until 1907 when in response to a request from the Sunday School Meeting the delegates of the latter meeting were given the privilege of electing the district secretary. At the district meeting of 1914 the District Meeting again assumed the privilege of electing the district Sunday school secretary in accordance with the Annual Meeting minutes of June 23, 1914. The secretary was thereafter elected for a term of three years and given the privilege of appointing his own assistants. In 1934 by recommendation of the Board of Christian Education the office of Sunday school district secretary was discontinued.
District Sunday School Secretaries
1899-W. A. Anthony, seven years, (resigned). 1906-J. H. Keller, 17 years, (resigned).
1923-Howard Danner, 11 years, (until office was discontinued in 1934).
Annual Report of the German Baptist Brethren Sunday Schools of the Southern District of Pennsylvania, for the Year Ending December 31, 1905
LOCAL
CONGREGATIONS
AND
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Total
Enrollment
Average
Attendance
Number of
Teachers
Within the Year
Given to Missionary
No. of Months in Session
No. of S. S. Scholars
Converted Within Year
Teachers Meetings
Home Department
Antietam-
Welty
65
38
7
$ 25.48
$ 4.50
9
Mt. Vernon
62
38
3
16.00
Waynesboro
270
207
17
229.36
12.00
12
4 20
1
1
Back Creek-
Upton
70
55
8
71.56
44.00
12
1
Shanks
75
40
8
40.00
15.00
12
6
1
1
Brants
61
34
6
15.24
2.71
6
1
Amount of Money Raised
Amount of Money
and Benevolent Purposes
6
1
362
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
LOCAL
CONGREGATIONS
AND
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Total
Enrollment
Average
Attendance
Number of
Teachers
Amount of Money Raised
Within the Year
Amount of Money
Given to Missionary
and Benevolent Purposes
No. of Months in Session
No. of S. S. Scholars
Converted Within Year
Teachers Meetings
Home Department
Codorus
New Freedom
76
44
7
38.72
12.50
12
3
Pleasant Hill
33
6
5
6.00
6
Marks
39
25
5
14.13
8
Codorus
99
57
9
71.21
20.00
12
1
Falling Springs
Browns Mill
50
30
6
42.00
30.00
10
1
1
Hanover-
Hanover
60
34
6
30.00
5.00
12
1
Lower Cumberland
Mechanicsburg
141
66
12
73.00
17.30
12
1
Pleasant View
75
55
9
48.26
12
Bakers
86
57
8
34.00
14.62
12
3
Lost Creek-
Good Will
130
90
14
6
10
Marsh Creek- Marsh Creek
60
38
3
19.00
7
Perry-
Three Springs
43
30
10.55
6
Ridge-
Ridge
62
55
6
34.87
15.00
9
2
Maple Grove
60
37
5
15.00
6
Shippensburg
70
50
7
51.27
15.00
12
2
Sugar Valley- Eastville
58
40
6
14.73
Upper Conewago-
East Berlin
105
60
9
45.79
15.10
12
2
Upper Codorus- Black Rock
75
61
6
6.25
12
Upper Cumberland-
Green Spring
60
54
6
30.50
10.00
6
Huntsdale
90
50
7
85.00
20.00
6
York- York
292
179
22
370.68
240.51
12 14
1 1
Totals
2,367
1,530
107
$1,438.60
$493.24
69
6 4
J. H. Keller, District Secretary.
Missions in Our District Sunday School
November 7, 1902-Petition, "We, the Sunday school of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, do ask that this Sunday School Meeting consider the question of the Sunday schools of Southern District of Pennsylvania supporting a missionary in the field". Deferred one year.
October 23, 1903-C. R. Oellig was appointed to ask each Sunday school in the district how much money it will con- tribute annually for a period of five years toward the support
363
MINISTERIAL AND SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINGS
of a missionary on the foreign field or how much it will contribute for a missionary at home.
"Decided to give $15 for home mission work."
September 8, 1905-Report of Brother C. R. Oellig on missionary project. Thirteen schools have pledged to assist. Preference being for home missions.
November 2, 1906-Report of Brother C. R. Oellig on missionary project. Thirteen schools have pledged to assist. One hundred eighty-three dollars and fifty cents ($183.50) has been pledged to be paid annually by the Sunday schools for a term of five years for support of a district Sunday school missionary as follows : Bakers, $5; Buffalo, $5; Codorus, $20; East Berlin, $5; Good Will, $15; Green Spring, $10; Hanover, $5; Huntsdale, $25; Mechanicsburg, $6.50; New Freedom, $12; Ridge, $10; Shank, $5; Waynesboro, $30; Welty, $5; White Spring, $5; York, $25.
Our district Sunday school secretary, J. H. Keller, was appointed our district Sunday school missionary.
September 7, 1907-"It was agreed to reconsider the supporting of a district Sunday school missionary. Also agreed that the amount pledged by the Sunday schools should be used to support a home missionary in the Southern District of Pennsylvania."
September 24, 1909-Decided that the money of the Sunday school for district work be paid annually by Sunday school treasurer to the District Mission Board to be used by them for missionary work in the district, keeping in mind the work of the Sunday school.
August 28, 1914-Professor F. F. Holsopple, representing the Anti-Saloon League, gave a very helpful address on temperance work. Offerings turned over to World Wide Mission Fund.
August 19, 1917-"The treasurer called attention to the surplus that was in his hands. Decided that secretary be empowered to call on heip to do more work throughout the district and thereby make use of the surplus."
August 16, 1918-(P. 5). It was decided to support a missionary on the foreign field. Also that: "the moderator appoint a committee of three to draft plans for the support of the missionary to present the same at a later stage of the meeting". Committee-E. S. Miller, C. L. Baker, and H. M. Stover.
1918-(P. 7). Committee presented following: "We, the Sunday School Meeting of the Church of the Brethren of Southern District of Pennsylvania in convention assembled this 16th day of August, 1918, in behalf of the Sunday schools that we represent, do heartily and unanimously agree to support a missionary on the foreign field.
364
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
"The cost of maintenance shall be paid each year by the treasurer of the Sunday School Meeting from a fund created for that purpose.
"Special offerings shall be taken quarterly by each Sunday school and sent to the treasurer for this specific work.
"We recommend that a committee of three be appointed who shall look out among us young men and women who are willing to be used in the Lord's work on the foreign fields." Report accepted.
August 15, 1919-It was decided that a committee of three be appointed to find a suitable person for the foreign field.
"It was also moved and passed that the said committee at once confer with the General Mission Board relative to the support of a missionary now in the field: such support to continue until they find some one from our district."
August 13, 1920 - Above committee reported no missionary available. Committee continued.
August 25, 1921-Committee reported there is missionary on field not provided for.
no
August 17, 1922-"It was decided that the Sunday schools of the Southern District of Pennsylvania shall support Brother Adam Ebey located in Ahwa-Dang, India.
August 30, 1923-Decided to donate to the General Mission Board $550 for the purpose of sending another missionary into the field.
August 14, 1924-Decided to support two foreign missionaries instead of one during the year 1925.
Unanimously decided to donate $400 to the Home Mission Board.
August 12, 1925-"We, the Mission Board of Southern Pennsylvania, kindly ask the Sunday schools of the district, assembled in convention in Waynesboro, to give yearly to the treasurer of the board, an amount equal to the amount given to the General Mission Board, for the support of Brother Ebey. This amount to be used in mission work in the district looking toward the employment of a field worker." Paper unanimously passed.
August 19, 1926-Decision to support a second missionary on the foreign field was effective for the year 1925 only.
August 18, 1927-The treasurer was instructed to pay to the district mission treasurer the same amount that he sends to the General Mission Board.
August 13, 1931-Decided to continue support of Brother Ebey another year.
August 11, 1932-"Decided to give $550 for support of Sister H. Stover Kulp on the African field, since Brother Adam Ebey does not now serve as a missionary.
1937, 1938, 1939, 1940-Continuing the support of Mrs. H. Stover Kulp.
CHAPTER IX
WOMEN'S WORK ORGANIZATION
Aid Societies were functioning in the churches of Southern Pennsylvania for many years prior to the organization of Women's Work as we have it today (1941). There were 18 such working groups of women, at one time, who proved them- selves most self-sacrificing and enthusiastic in their efforts to provide for the needy at home, to share in promoting the work of the church, and to do their bit in sending the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who had never heard of God's Plan of Salvation. Their work was indeed significant and far reaching. Many good deeds done in the early days stand today as testimony to their credit. Through a number of years records of their work were cared for by a district secretary, until in 1929-1930 when many districts of the Brotherhood were organizing for a definite and larger program of activity for the women of the church.
There being a strong sentiment among some of the district Aid Societies of Southern Pennsylvania for a District Women's Work Organization, our district secretary of Sisters' Aid Societies, Mrs. C. E. Grapes, recommended in her report to District Meeting of 1930, "That a short period be arranged on Tuesday of the next year's District Meeting for organization."
Accordingly in the forenoon of October 27, 1931, at District Meeting in the Carlisle Church, the women of the district held a meeting under the leadership of Mrs. Ross Murphy-the national president of Women's Work in the Church of the Brethren.
At this time it was unanimously agreed to carry forward the "Larger Women's Work Project", and three persons were chosen, who in connection with the secretary (Mrs. C. E. Grapes) should formulate some plan by which a fuller and permanent organization might become effective. The follow- ing persons were elected to work out this program : Mrs. Grace Ziegler, Mrs. Jesse Whitacre, Miss Sudie M. Wingert. They presented to District Meeting of 1931 the following paper, which was approved :
"The women of the Church of the Brethren of Southern Pennsylvania, in the general assembly at Carlisle, October 27, unanimously decided to carry forward the larger Women's Work program as outlined by the General Brotherhood and authorized by Annual Conference.
"As a step toward developing this program we recom- mend to District Meeting assembled at Carlisle, October 28,
366
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
1931, the following Woman's Work Organization for one year:
"1. That Sister C. E. Grapes be retained as secretary-treasurer, and Sister Grace Ziegler as director of Women's Work, with Sisters Sudie Wingert and Jessie Whitacre as additional members.
"Our thought is that these officers continue in office for one year, the permanent program and period of office of each to be worked out at a conference of women to be held some- time previous to the District Meeting of 1932, to which it will be presented for approval." "Mrs. C. E. Grapes." (Approved.) (Copied from the minutes of District Meeting of 1931.) Minutes for 1932 as follows :
At District Meeting 1932, October 25 at 2 P.M .- A woman's meeting was held in the Codorus Church. Mrs. Grace Ziegler, the director of Woman's Work for the district, presided. Devotions were conducted by Miss Emma Miller. Mrs. Ziegler gave an address on "The Woman's Work Program as Seen from Anderson". She pointed out the many ways by
which we can share our spiritual heritage. We were impressed with our responsibility to do our bit in helping others. Our attention was directed to the resources which are ours through the promise of Christ, "Lo, I am with you alway." A temperance reading entitled "Hettie Rea" was effectively given by Mrs. Jos. Rittenhouse. The ladies' choruses of Codorus and York each furnished special music. Closing devotions were in charge of Mrs. J. I. Thomas, of Smithsburg, Maryland.
During the business period of this meeting, the committee which had been appointed at the last District Meeting to draft a plan for permanent organization submitted these recommendations :
"We, your committee appointed by the women and approved by the District Meeting of Southern Pennsylvania assembled at Carlisle, October 27, 28, 1931, to present some plan by which a permanent organization of the larger (program) of Women's Work in the district might be effected, beg to submit to District Meeting through elders' meeting, the following plan :
"1. That the organization shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Director of Missions, and Director of Children's Work.
"2. That the president, vice president, secretary- treasurer, and director of missions shall each serve for a term of three years, and shall not succeed themselves in office. The director of Children's Work is to be appointed by the Board of Christian Education.
367
WOMEN'S WORK ORGANIZATION
"3. That these officers collectively shall be known as the District Council of Women's Work.
"4. That the council be responsible: (1) for arranging for public programs, to be held from year to year in connection with District Meet- ing, and such other meetings and services as are necessary to promote the work. (2) for appointing a nominating committee whose duty it shall be to nominate persons for offices to be filled from year to year.
"5. That the voting power of this organization be vested in the women delegates to the Women's Work meeting, sent from the various churches. Assuming that the membership of each church is one-third women we recommend that each church be represented by two delegates for the first 50 women or less, and one delegate for each additional fifty women.
"6. In order that all offices do not become vacant at the same time, and that our organization may become uniform, we further recommend : (1) that the president whom we elect at this meeting, serve for a period of three years; (2) that the vice president and secretary- treasurer serve for a period of two years; (3) that the director of missions serve for one year.
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