USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 31
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
"You ask how and why I might have joined the Seventh Day Baptists ? . . . . On my account nearly 60 souls were banished (a likeness to John 9:22) . . . therefore we formed a congregation. However I continued to preach as before and there was a great commotion throughout almost the whole land, so that I was in demand," wrote George Adam Martin (P. 252) (See also Big Conewago Congregation). Following this is a record of his visit to Ephrata, of his reception into the Seventh Day Baptist Church and of his appointment to the superintendent of the Bermudian Congregation.
"Through this movement a door was opened for a new church period, during which much important spiritual work was transacted. The superintendent (Conrad Beissel) called the awakening at Antitum from this period on, the Eagle church, after the fourth beast in the Apocalpyse; although these good people considered themselves too lowly and unworthy of such a high title." (Page 259) . "And now the fire of the awakening spread over the whole region of Antitum. Many secretly stole away from their houses and ran after this wonder, for the former Brethren of Bro. G. A. (Martin), in order to put a stop to this awakening, sent two of their Brethren, John Mack and Staub, to all their houses to warn them against being seduced." (Page 260.)
"The spirit of awakening about this same time caused so much work between Ephrata, Bermudian and Antitum that visitors were continually on the march to and fro, which nourished the mutual love . The superintendent him-
*History of German Baptist Brethren Church (P. 102) by G. N. Falkenstein.
407
RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
self was in Antitum three times and this in his old age At that time the fire burnt in the Philadelphia church which each and everyone at Antitum tried to keep up, even at the risk of his earthly possessions. At this time Brethren G. A. (Martin) and H. (Horn) paid a new visit to the Settlement (Ephrata), in order to see the superintendent once more After this the said Bro. G. A. paid a visit to Philadelphia . after their visit was ended in blessing they gave the last kiss of peace to the superintendent, for they did not see him again." (P. 261-262.) (Conrad Beissel died July 6, 1768.)
OLD GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN
The nuclei of the Old German Baptist Church were former members of the Church of the Brethren (then called German Baptist Brethren) who withdrew from the church be- cause their peace was disturbed by innovations which had crept into it. They adopted the name of OLD German Baptist Brethren to stress the fact that their aim was to "adhere more strictly to the ancient order of the church as practiced by the ancient fathers" and also "to designate them from those who introduced and admitted new measures into their body". Some of the innovations which disturbed them were, "high schools, revival meetings, Sunday schools and conventions, missionary boards, two modes of feet washing". (Vin. 1881.)
The Vindicator of October, 1881, (P. 300) states that "the withdrawal on the part of the old brethren church from the fast element had its commencement (1869) in Miami Valley, Ohio. All hopes were centered there as there was perhaps no part of the brotherhood where the old order members are yet as strong and where the old order of faith and practice is yet as well kept up." This group suffered grievances over a period of years during which time it sent several petitions to Annual Meeting, (the first in 1869), stating these grievances and asking that they be rectified. The petition which was sent in 1880 was resent (with variations) in the form of resolu- tions in 1881 and became known as the "Miami platform". In it they urged that these innovations which were causing trouble be removed so that "peace and union might be restored". The Annual Meeting made some concessions but stated that "while we are conservative we are also progressive".
"This was not satisfactory, for the brethren were praying to have the progressive movement put away and not retained." Believing it was useless to send any more requests to Annual Meeting, arrangements were made for a meeting to be held in the Painter Creek Church, Ohio, on August 24, 1881, the object of which as stated was: "to consult with regard to the
408 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
necessary provisions for the preservation of a unanimity of sentiment in faith and practice, the purity of the church, etc." At that meeting resolutions were drawn up and "signed by 15 elders, mostly from Ohio,-some from Indiana and Iowa-to withdraw fellowship from those who walk disorderly in the brotherhood." (Vindicator, 1881, P. 297.) These resolutions were circulated in the various churches, and those who accepted them thereby became members of the new organization-the Old German Baptist Brethren.
Previous to this, however, in the fall and winter of 1880 and 1881 a few hundred members in the east had withdrawn fellowship from the Annual Meeting group. This small group met in conference in Frederick County, Maryland, at Pentecost in 1881. In 1882 the western and eastern groups united in their first Annual Meeting at Brookville, Ohio.
Excerpts from Resolutions Adopted in the Painter Creek Church, Ohio, August 24, 1881
"Resolved, That we will more strictly adhere to the self- denying principles of the Gospel as practiced by our ancient brethren . . . . popular Sunday schools and revival meet- ings, the way they are generally conducted . . . . we say, that we feel to suffer none in the Brethren's church and then we will be sure to have no trouble with them. No Sunday schools, no high schools, no revival meetings, no paid ministry, no missionary plans or missionary boards now granted by Annual Meeting, no money soliciting or begging to carry out such plans, no single mode of feet washing, no musical instruments .
"Resolved, Further, that we fully adhere to primitive Christianity as taught by Christ and His apostles in all His commandments and precepts as practiced by our forefathers and that we strictly adhere to a plain and decent uniformity of dress as soldiers of King Immanuel, And above all that brethren and sisters be more on their guard and more re- served in their conversation, as that unruly tongue is doing much mischief among us."
"It was intimated that all those who would vote to stand by these resolutions would absent themselves from the then acknowledged Annual Meeting." (Gleaned from "Brethren's Reasons" in appendix to Minutes of Annual Council-Joseph L. Cover and Samuel Murray, Publishing Agents.)
The congregations in the Southern District of Pennsyl- vania which were effected by this secession were those of the Antietam and the Falling Spring. The trouble in the Antietam Congregation was due in part to the question of leadership and in part to the growing sentiment in favor of Sunday schools and higher institutions of learning; the Sunday school in the Waynesboro Church which was first organized in 1872 (see
409
RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
Sunday school under Waynesboro Congregation) was grow- ing; there were those in the congregation who supported the Huntingdon Normal School from its beginning in 1876 (see Relation of Waynesboro to Juniata College) ; those who felt that Sunday schools and educational institutions were not "in harmony with the spirit of the Gospel of Christ" were much disturbed. Sympathy with the seceders of the Antietam Congregations and with the "Miami platform" led to the secession in the Falling Spring Congregation. (See Antietam and Falling Spring Congregations.)
FIRST BRETHREN CHURCH
A group of German Baptist Brethren members, who were desirous of more progressive action along some of the lines in which the "Old Order" group considered the church to be already far too progressive, withdrew in 1882 under the leadership of H. R. Holsinger and organized the Brethren (now called First Brethren) church. As none of the congre- gations of the Southern District of Pennsylvania were effected by this movement we will not further discuss it here.
DUNKER BRETHREN
The Dunker Brethren represent a movement affecting a number of churches of Southern Pennsylvania. These brethren wish to hold more closely to the regulations of the fathers in matters of dress and simple life. The organization is similar to that of the Church of the Brethren. They do not have a separate publishing house. The fundamental beliefs are the same as the Church of the Brethren.
CHAPTER XIV
SPECIAL BIOGRAPHY
DIRDORFF - DIERDORFF - DEARDORFF
The Dierdorffs who were connected with the early history of our church in York County were descendants of Antony Dirdorff who with Jacob More, Rudolph Harley and John
WRig An Sulfure
of our pust & pureou theres; Sort hotely atquilt tolove thosemate Leveres hem foroverby theje prends North Granted. Bonnier 'S actions interfer ( wasyou donjoined lundby those plan
Safeazili Saluto
teres horafor peaceofbe quiet, have had ufo occupy popoff Sway and Keep all prontas they Ewerdenus and Planner
oh on yourd' out inferring the Data for at the proper dos e changes in his low them wil lan sate lis houd'orapigne. sono do execute cucchiaiologo on coute or procurote tomas don't informaci contex oduit Novosyou further offorlan fun and works acte ach thing or homes forway ancor che imen in the Law & Rul fo over for His / Her Better giro pay
purport Bois Istent & morango se pliento Invitions viaron i partico hill, novo Meso in Rojo plponti favolathiago prient, montures put to as aresult the Guys your fuff a four e rifter
Antony Bradorf
FACSIMILE DEED BY JACOB MOOR TO JOHN NAAS
411
SPECIAL BIOGRAPHY
Peter Laushe helped John Nass to found the Brethren Church at Amwell, New Jersey, in 1733. Brumbaugh's History of the Brethren, page 335 and History of the Brethren of Eastern Pennsylvania, page 163, state that these men crossed the Dela- ware River to New Jersey with John Naas in 1733. That An- tony Dirdorff, Jacob More, and Rudolph Harley were living in New Jersey some time previous to the arrival of John Naas* is evidenced by the fact that they were naturalized in New Jersey during the session of legislature which convened in May 1730 **
Antony Dirdorff and John Naas lived and died on neigh- boring farms, and are probably buried in the same graveyard on a farm near Ringoes (though no stone has been found to indicate Antony's burial place). On May 8, 1734 when Jacob Moor (Moore) gave a deed of transfer of 25 acres of land to John Naas, Antony Dirdorff signed his name as a witness. The land in this transfer joined the land of Antony's son, Henry.
Family tradition says that because of persecution for his Christian faith Antony Dirdorff emigrated to America from the Rhine Valley in Germany (probably from the Duchy of Newit where he lived when his oldest son was born). Tradi- tion as well as the Christian Family Companion of 1868 *** state that he came in September, 1729, with Alexander Mack, which is an error, as neither of the two original lists of pas- sengers who came on that boat contain his name. (These lists are preserved in the archives of the Pennsylvania State Library. The sea captain's list is very legible, the other list which contains the immigrants' own signatures is not so legible.) The time of his coming has recently been cleared through an excerpt of a letter in the possession of H. Minot Pitman, of Stonington, Connecticut. This letter was written in German script at Amwell, New Jersey, on October 1, 1734, to Johann Diedrich Fahnestock and contains the following in a postscript written by Henrich Dierdorff who was Antony's son and Diedrich's brother-in-law. "My father is a devout and intelligent man who does many good works and has been here fifteen years." This indicates he came in the same year (1719) as Peter Becker. May we not assume from this that the family tradition of his immigration with a group of early Brethren families is correct, but that the group with which he came was the one in 1719 under the leadership of Peter Becker instead of the one in 1729 with Alexander Mack ?
From the will **** of Antony Dirdorff and the signatures to an article of agreement attached thereto, we find his family
*Naas arrived in Philadelphia 1733 and went almost immediately to New Jersey-History of Eastern Pennsylvania, P. 196.
** Senate Library of Legislative Reference Bureau at Trenton, New Jersey ; also Germans in New Jersey by Chambers, page 331.
*** Page 329. "An Original Sketch of the Early History of the Brethren Church," by Abram H. Cassel. This is reiterated in History of the Tunkers by Holsinger, p. 134, and in History of the Brethren Church of Western Pennsylvania by Blough, p. 35.
*Will was written in German on February 1, 1745, and recorded at Trenton, New Jersey.
412
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
consisted of his wife, Christena, and the following children: Hinrich, Peter, a daughter married to Bernhardes Achenback, Johannes, Antony, Christian, a daughter married to William Echer and Christina (unmarried at that date). Three of his sons, Peter, John and Anthony, Jr., (who with their father and two other brothers were naturalized in 1730), became early settlers in York County, Pennsylvania, where they helped to propagate the faith of their father. Among the family names of "constituent members" of the Little Conewago Congrega- tion, organized in 1738, is that of Dierdorff (supposed to have been John). In the list of communicant members of the Conewago congregation in 1770 are the names of these three brothers, of their nephew Henry, and of Barnet Achenbach and wife (supposed to have been their brother-in-law and sister).
John was the first to go to York County. Family tradi- tion says that "John assisted in building the first house-a log one-where Little York* now stands." The Pennsylvania Archives show that he obtained a warrant for 150 acres of land in Reading Township, York County in 1742. The John Gunkle (Kunkle) at whose home Annual Meeting was held in 1828 was probably his grandson.
Family tradition states that "Peter Dierdorff was a Tunker preacher who preached in the Big Conewago Church for 50 years and with George Brown tended that church until his death", (1786). The church records, which are meager, do not confirm that. The inscription on his stone in the grave- yard on the old Dierdorff farm, in Washington Township, York County, is: "Eines alten Pilgrims-und-diener-des evangelium". (An old pilgrim and servant of the Gospel.) He was a member of the Standing Committee at the A. M. in 1763 in the Conestoga (now White Oak) Congregation, Lan- caster Co. Pa. and 1785 in the Big Conewago Congregation, York County, Pennsylvania.
Anthony, Jr., who "was an officer in the church", whose wife was Anna Yager, ** moved to York County in 1762. In his line of descent there have been many ministers of the Church of the Brethren, at least six of whom are listed in the 1941 year book. The Annual Meeting of 1819 was held at the home of his son-in-law, Isaac Latshaw, and the one of 1844 at the home of his grandson, Peter Dierdorff, both in York County.
Isaac Deardorf, a deacon of the Antietam Congregation, Franklin County, at whose home the Annual Meeting was held in 1847 was a descendant of Anthony, Sr's., oldest son, Henry (by his first wife, Anna Catrina Fahnestock) who moved from near Amwell, New Jersey, to the vicinity of Ephrata, Lan- caster County, sometime previous to 1746, and whose grand-
*The city of York.
** Daughter of Hans Peter Yager or Jager of Amwell, New Jersey.
413
SPECIAL BIOGRAPHY
son, Jacob (Isaac's father) settled in Franklin County, Penn- sylvania, in 1802. Jacob was married to Catharine, a daugh- ter of Elder John and Anna Heffelfinger Zug, of White Oak Congregation, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Many of Anthony, Sr's., descendants are today members of the Church of the Brethren.
EMMERT
Emmert, Jesse Benedict, the son of Joseph E. and Eliza- beth Benedict Emmert, was born near Waynesboro, Pennsyl- vania, on October 11, 1873. He was reared in a Christian home wherein the principles love for Christ were early instilled into the hearts of the children. His parents were actively interested in the church; his father being a deacon and Sunday school teacher, his mother a worker in the Sisters' Aid Society. His mother was a descendant of Alexander Mack, Sr.
His early education was received in the elementary grades of the Waynesboro school, after which he entered a factory and learned the pattern makers trade. In 1894 he entered Huntingdon Normal School (now Juniata College) financing his expenses by his trade.
While at home on his Christmas vacation in 1895 he united with the Church of the Brethren by baptism when he wholeheartedly consecra ted his life to his Redeemer. Soon thereafter he became deeply interested in missions and through his devotion and zeal changed the trend of the lives of many young people. He was elected to the ministry on May 11, 1901. A few months after graduating from Juniata Col- lege in 1902 he and D. J. Lichty sailed to India with Wil- bur B. Stover and wife who were returning from their first furlough. It was a keen dis- appointment to leave his fiance, Gertrude Elvina Rowland, of Hagerstown, Maryland, in the homeland. She, however, fol- lowed him two years later and they were married February 23, 1905.
Through his strong per- sonality, his loving and sym-
J. B. EMMERT
414 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
pathetic nature, his mechanical and educational training there was a wide and varied field of service opened for him in India, where he spent 16 years. In 1903 he organized the Mission Industrial School at Bulsar and continued in that work ten years. He was elected to the Eldership at Bulsar in 1909. He served as secretary of the India Mission from 1911 to 1918. From 1913 to 1919 he did missionary, evangelical, educational and editorial work.
During his second furlough he again entered Juniata Col- lege from which he received his B.D. degree in June, 1921. Three years later his Alma Mater honored him with the de- gree of Doctor of Divinity.
Being hindered, on account of Sister Emmert's health, from returning to India he responded to a call in 1921 to be- come instructor of Bible and director of Religious Education at La Verne College in California and in this work manifested the same zeal and efficiency which marked his service else- where. While here he served also as director of Religious Education of the Pacific Coast Region of the Church of the Brethren and director of the "Forward Movement", District of Southern California and Arizona.
In 1928-29 he with Brother C. D. Bonsack spent six months visiting our African Mission field where he endeared himself to many of the natives. At the time of his death he was serving his ninth year on the General Mission Board. While on a trip to one of the Board meetings in Chicago, Illinois, he contracted pneumonia and died in the Bethany Hospital on April 8, 1933. His wife having preceded him in death eight and one-half years, he was survived by his three children, Lloyd, Anna (Mrs. Marvin Bollinger) and Mary, all of California. His body was taken to La Verne, California, for burial. The attendance at his funeral of more than 1,500 people was a manifested tribute to this prince and beloved man of God.
GARNER
Garner, Holly Pearl, the son of Jasper C. and Hannah Salome Yon Garner, was born on a farm in Carroll County, Maryland, on September 17, 1884. He received his early training in the Christian home of his parents, on the farm and in the little country school house.
In 1903 he entered Blue Ridge College, which was then located at Union Bridge, Maryland, where he took both a commercial and stenographic course, after which he secured a position as stenographer at the Landis Machine Company in Waynesobro, Pennsylvania, and later became its bookkeeper and shipping clerk.
415
SPECIAL BIOGRAPHY
While attending evangelistic meetings in 1903 at the Pipe Creek Church in Mary- land, he made his decision for Christ and united with the Church of the Brethren. After going to Waynesboro (Antietam Congregation) in 1905 he became active in the Sunday school and the Missionary As- sociation. During two summers he served as Superintendent of the rural Union Sun- day School at Mount Vernon school house. At the spring love feast at the Price Church (Antietam Congregation) in 1909 he was elected to the ministry. In the fail H. P. GARNER of that year he entered Bethany Bible School at Chicago, Illinois, from which he graduated in 1913. He spent his summer vacation of 1910 working in Waynes- boro, when he was advanced to the second degree of ministry, and that of 1912 as pastor of the Lewistown, Minnesota, church.
After graduating from Bethany he spent two years as an academic student at Blue Ridge College in New Windsor, Maryland, during which time he had charge of the Bible De- partment of that institution.
On May 27, 1913, he was married to Kathryn Barkdoll, of Batavia, Illinois. Previous to this time both he and his wife had wholly dedicated their lives to the Lord to be used by Him in whatever way He chose. In 1914 they presented them- selves to the General Mission Board as candidates for the China Mission field. As there was a greater need at that time for workers in India they were asked to go there and in the fall of 1916 sailed for that field, where they did evangelistic and educational work among the Marathi speaking people at Palghar and Ahwa. Brother Garner was supported by the Sunday schools of Middle Maryland and Sister Garner by the Sunday schools of Northern Illinois.
After two terms of service they retired from Foreign Mission work (1932) in order to care for Mrs. Garner's aged parents. Since 1936 they have been living at Pioneer, Ohio, where Brother Garner is serving as pastor of the Silver Creek Church. Their children were born in India, Jasper in 1921 and Warren in 1926.
MACK
John Mack, the son of Alexander Mack, Sr., came to America with his father in 1729, resided in Germantown awhile, then sold his property and moved to "the Antitum region in the Cumberland Valley where he stoutly resisted the
416
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
introduction of the Seventh Day influence, and where he died, loyal to his religion". (History of the Brethren, by Brum- baugh, page 97.) His name is given in the list of prominent early settlers in the vicinity of Waynesboro, Franklin County, as well as in the list of taxables for 1751-52. (Waynesboro Centennial History 1797-1900 by Nead.) The date of his death is unknown. He is said to have been buried in the vicinity of his home in the Royer graveyard on the Hess farm a few miles east of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
His wife was Margrett Sneider. They had sons, Jacob, Alexander and Christian ( ?). Jacob lived and died near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania; Alexander moved to Western Pennsylvania; the name of Christian Mack is given in the early marriage records of the Salem Reformed Church near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Jacob was married to Anna Engelhart. The birth record of Jacob and Anna's family gives the names of nine daughters among whom are Maria (1765- ) who married David Stoner, the ancestor of Elder Jacob F. Oller; Nancy (1774-1874) who married John Bene- dict, the ancestor of Elder Jesse B. Emmert, missionary to India of the Church of the Brethren; Susanna (1777-1862) who married Samuel Royer, one of whose descendants has in her possession the John Mack family Bible-a Christopher Saur edition of 1743. (It has no family record.)
William Mack (1749-1813) the son of Alexander, Jr., and Elizabeth Nice, moved to the vicinity of Waynesboro in early life. He was a blacksmith by trade and was married to Agnes Gantz (1754-1808). They were the parents of two sons and seven daughters. Three of their daughters married Holsingers: Elizabeth married John, Lydia married David, both sons of Jacob Holsinger, Sr., while Polly married Jacob, grandson of Jacob Holsinger, Sr. Agnes Mack died in this locality after which William went to live with his daughter, Elizabeth, in Bedford County where he died and is buried at Baker's Summit.
There were 37 Mack descendants among the charter members of the Waynesboro congregation.
MOSES MILLER
Moses Miller, born March 27, 1820, near Hanoverdale, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died June 26, 1885, in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Kline Miller and the grandson of George Miller, the first Church of the Breth- ren minister of Big Swatara Church, Eastern Pennsylvania. On May 23, 1843, he was united in marriage to Hannah Mohler, daughter of Daniel, the Rev. Daniel Bollinger the first
417
SPECIAL BIOGRAPHY
elder of the Cumberland County church performing the cere- mony. To this union were born Solomon, Henry J., Sarah (who married George Attick), Mary (who married Addison Horner). He had a common school education and was a farmer by occupation. He united with the Church of the Brethren in early life, was elected to the ministry in 1849 in Lower Cumberland Congregation, was ordained to the elder- ship in 1865. He represented his district at Annual Meeting seven times (while it was a part of the Middle District).
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.