USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the middle district of Pennsylvania > Part 19
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Evidently one who reads the Minutes of General Con- ference in these earlier years, cannot help but see how burdened that assembly was with details and individual cases that should never occupy the time of such a repre- sentative body. It is no surprise, then, to find the answer to " a proposal for forming districts of five, six, or more adjoining churches for the purpose of meeting jointly at least once a year, settling difficulties, etc., and thus les- sening the business of our Yearly Meetings " (Art. 23, 1856) to be the following, which is virtually a grant to organize into suitable districts. "We believe," says the General Conference of 1856, " this plan to be a good one, if carried out in the fear of the Lord."
Such District Conferences were held in 1857 at Mil- ford (presumably Indiana) and perhaps in Maryland. In 1859 the Brotherhood was divided into eleven districts for a definite purpose .; Also, that same year, General Conference gave distinct recognition to districts already formed after some plan and for some purpose, in the fol- lowing action: " This meeting recommend and give lib- erty to any of the districts or states to make a move on the subject of spreading and sustaining the gospel as preached and understood by the brethren, so that the same may be done in the order of the gospel. And we recommend to those churches which may adopt this, to make a report to the next Annual Meeting upon their success." At this same meeting a committee was ap-
* History of the Church of the Brethren in Eastern Pennsylvania.
t Ibid.
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pointed to frame something to carry out this missionary program, and the following year it recommended: "That the churches of the brotherhood form themselves into districts, the brethren in those districts to meet as often as they may judge it necessary to transact their business ; that each of said districts has its treasury, etc." While this report was not accepted that year, it was not because the recommendation to form districts was made; for this evidently was becoming quite common by this time.
John Umstead called a district meeting in the Green Tree Church, near Philadelphia, September 22, 1860, for thus runs the report by the secretary in the Gospel Visitor :* "Pursuant to the advice or suggestion of the committee appointed by the Y. M. (Yearly Meeting) of 1859, who reported to the Y. M. of 1860, Brother J. M. Umstead, of Green Tree Church, Montgomery County, Pa., issued a call to the Brethren east of the Susquehanna River, etc."
True, it is not until 1866 that General Conference, in adopting an organization plan for the Brotherhood, took formal action " recommending that each state form itself into convenient District-Meetings."
It was during this formative period leading up to the action of 1866 that
THE FIRST DISTRICT MEETING OF MIDDLE PENNSYLVANIA was called in the Spring of 1861.
It is probable that Graybill Myers consulted some brethren and then assumed the responsibility of ex- pressing publicly, in the following manner, what was generally felt as needed at that time. Thus runs the announcement :
A GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
ALTOONA, March 12, 1861.
Editors of the Gospel Visitor, Dear Brethren:
I hereby inform you that the Middle District of Pennsylvania has appointed a council meeting for said district, at the Aughwick meet- ing house, Huntingdon County. Mt. Union, on the Pennsylvania R. R., is the nearest station. This district lies between the Susque- hanna River on the east and the Alleghany mountains on the west. The north and south boundaries are the boundaries of the state. The meeting will convene on the 9th of May at 10 o'clock in the
* History of the Church of the Brethren in Eastern Pennsylvania.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
morning. It is expected that each sub-district will hold a council meeting above named. It is further expected that each sub-district will take the Oregon and home missions into consideration, and present their plans for operation. The proceedings of this council meeting will then be presented to the Annual Meeting for confirma- tion or amendment. A hearty invitation is given to all the churches comprised in the district in which the council is to be held.
GRAYBILL MYERS.
The next year district meeting was omitted because the General Conference was held within the bounds of the district. Thereafter a meeting was held each year, save in 1867 and 1883.
THE DISTRICT DIVIDED
In the southern portion of the district, where the mem- bers resided, the Cove and Tuscarora Mountains divided the congregation almost equally. It is interesting to note that at the District Meeting of 1862 there were present five churches from the western and four from the eastern half of the territory. The inconvenience of going around the mountain for half the group to meet in district council each year became burdensome, and in 1892 the territory was divided as follows : The counties of Fulton, Franklin, Adams, York, Cumberland, Perry, Juniata, Snyder and Union were set apart and took the name Southern Dis- trict of Pennsylvania, while Bedford, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, northern part of Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Sullivan, Potter, Tioga, and parts of Bradford, Wyoming and Luzerne, lying west of the river, were included in Middle District. Of these counties the Church of the Brethren had organ- izations only in the first five.
If the original district had but nine congregations at its second district meeting, thirty years later it had twenty- nine. Of these Aughwick, Altoona, Claar, Clover Creek, Duncansville (now Carson Valley), Fairview, Hopewell (now Yellow Creek), Huntingdon, James Creek, Lewis- town (or Dry Valley), Snake Spring, Spring Run, War- riors Mark, Woodbury, and Yellow Creek (now New Enterprise), fifteen in all, fell to Middle District, while eleven went to Southern District. Buffalo, Lost Creek and Perry congregations, at a later date, decided to cast
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their lot with the Southern District, making fourteen in all for it.
Confining the observation to the congregations which now compose the Middle District, the outstanding im- pression is that this district has been in
THE FORERANK OF DEVELOPMENT
in the Brotherhood. Such facts as these point to it:
1864-The first weekly church paper, the Christian Family Companion.
1875-Petition for the privilege to publish the full re- port of the General Conference in pamphlet form.
1876-The first school established that became perma- nent,-now Juniata College.
1877-Urging that the Danish Mission be recom- mended to the Brotherhood.
1880-Petition to establish a Home somewhere in the East for the benefit of the poor.
1884-Asks that the Brotherhood be represented at the National Peace Convention.
1884-Stood against Grange and other picnics, but not against attendance at Sunday-school conventions.
1885-Because of great expense, asks for a triennial General Conference instead of an annual one.
1886-Evidently a District Mission Board was created, for the next year Seth Myers reported not much prog- ress, and John B. Brumbaugh, secretary, and Andrew Bashore, treasurer, were elected for one year. Seth Myers, chairman, was elected for two years, and James A. Sell and Samuel G. Rupert for three years.
1888-Petition to permit single mode of feet washing where majority favor it.
1889-Asking permission to vote on the Prohibition amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
1891-That no brother be connected with service on Standing Committee more than two years out of four.
1893-Decided to open a Home for the aged and poor.
1894-A sermon to be preached the evening before the convening of the District Meeting on some subject ger- mane on the gathering.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
1895-Asked to strike out " Dunkard " and " Dunker " from our church name.
1896-Petitioned to omit the salutation between the supper and the communion and permit sisters to break bread and pass the cup the same as brethren.
1897-That the Lord's Day at General Conference be kept more sacred and quiet and with less trafficking.
1898-Commendation and sympathy to President Mc- Kinley for his efforts to adjust foreign relations without going to war. Also the district had Jesse B. Emmert, Irvin C. VanDyke, Isaac Book and William T. Book visit the district and establish reading circles in nearly all the congregations.
1899-Three years' course of reading and study for ministers at home outlined and adopted.
1900-Two supervising bishops over the several churches of the district considered.
Though interesting and profitable to thus scan through the Minutes of the District Meeting from year to year and note the steps forward, it is needless to continue, because at the District Meeting of 1901, when "information was asked in regard to the minutes of the meetings of this district," it was decided " that the present secretary (Mil- ton C. Swigart) of this meeting be empowered to secure a file for the preservation of these minutes, and to secure minutes of all passed meetings possible." It is to be re- gretted, however, that the early records thus far are not quite complete.
GENERAL CONFERENCES
The following General Conferences have been held in the Middle District :
1823 Clover Creek, Blair Co. 1855 Aughwick, Huntingdon Co.
1825 *Yellow Creek, Bedford Co. 1863 Clover Creek, Blair Co.
1833 +Lost Creek, Juniata Co. 1877 New Enterprise, Bedford Co.
1839 Aughwick, Huntingdon Co. 1840 *Yellow Creek, Bedford Co. 1847 +Franklin Co.
1885 ¡Mexico, Juniata Co.
* Name now New Enterprise.
t After the division of Middle District, May 11, 1892, these congregations became part of Southern District.
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DISTRICT MEETING and ITS ANNUAL OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEE DELEGATES
Prior to the organization into a district, bishops residing within the bounds of what afterwards became Middle District served on the Standing Committee as follows: 1826, George Brumbaugh; 1838, 1840, 1841, Christian Long; 1842, 1844, Christian Long and Andrew Spanogle; 1848, John Holsinger; 1849, Andrew Spanogle, Peter Long, John Holsinger; 1853, Peter Long; 1855, 1856, 1857, Andrew Spanogle; 1859, Peter Long.
Where Held
Moderator
Writing Clerk Daniel M. Holsinger
Reading Clerk
Standing Committee Delegates
May 9, 1861 Augh wick
April 25, 1862
James Creek
1863 No District Meeting because Annual Meeting was held in Clover Creek
March 28, 1864 Spring Run*
Isaac Myers Daniel M. Holsinger
1865 Lost Creek
1866 Upper Cumberland
1867 No meeting this year
Buffalo Valley Graybill Myers
Daniel M. Holsinger :
May 8, 1871 1872 1873 Clover Creek
Lower Cumberland
George Brumbaugh
Henry B. Brumbaugh
1874 Upper Codorus
66
66 66 George Brumbaugh
66
May May 21, 1878 Aughwick
1879 Marsh Creek
66
John M. Mohler
April 27, 1880
Woodbury
James Quinter
James Quinter, John W. Brumbaugh
Moses Miller
James Quinter
Moses Miller, James Quinter James Quinter, Peter S. Myers
May April 28, 1885
1886 New Enterprise
May 4, 1887
Upper Cumberland
Jacob F. Oller
James Quinter
April 25, 1888 Buffalo Valley
May 15, 1889 Clover Creek
1890
Marsh Creek
April
22, 1891
Hopewell
May 11, 1892
Lower Cumberland
Jacob F. Oller John S. Holsinger
56
John M. Mohler James A. Sell
Jacob Hollinger William Howe Jacob F. Oller James A. Sell
*Christian Family Companion, specimen No. 2, dated October 4, 1864 under head "District Meeting, at Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pa., on October 18th."
A History of the Church of the Brethren
J .... Myers, Daniel M. Holsinger Daniel Keller, Daniel M. Holsinger Peter Long, John Holsinger Joseph Rohrer, Daniel M. Holsinger Graybill Myers, Moses Miller
May 11, 1868 1869 James Creek 1870 Upper Conewago
Spring Run
66
66
66
Isaac Myers, Daniel M. Holsinger Moses Miller, Samuel Longanecker Joseph R. Hanawalt, John W. Brumbaugh Jacob Price, John Spanogle
April 27, 1875 Lewistown Codorus 1876 1, 1877 Lost Creek
Isaac Myers, Joseph R. Hanawalt Joseph R. Hanawalt, John W. Brumbaugh Moses Miller, George W. Brumbaugh Moses Miller, James Quinter. Moses Miller, John Spanogle Moses Miller, John W. Brumbaugh
1881 1882 1883 13, 1884 Lost Creek Antietam
Moses Miller Jacob F. Oller William Howe
Henry B. Brumbaugh
James Quinter George Brumbaugh
James Quinter
Jacob F. Oller William Howe James Quinter C .. . . . L. Foutz
William Howe
Jacob F. Oller
Graybill Myers, Daniel M. Holsinger Andrew Spanogle, Sr., Isaac Myers Leonard Furry
George Brumbaugh
282
:
Moses Miller
Lower Conewago Snake Spring Valley
George Brumbaugh
283
At the meeting May 11, 1892, Southern District was formed out of the Eastern part of Middle. From now on Middle District is the western portion.
Where Held
Moderator William Howe
Writing Clerk Henry B. Brumbaugh
Reading Clerk Brice Sell
Standing Committee Delegates
April 26, 1893 Lewistown
April 18, 1894
Woodbury
May 8, 1895
New Enterprise
John B. Fluck
James A. Sell
April 29, 1896
Augh wick
James A. Sell
66 William J. Swigart
William J. Swigart Walter S. Long
April 6, 1898 March 29, 1899 March 21, 1900 March 20, 1901 Lewistown
Warriors Mark
Henry B. Brumbaugh 66
66
Milton C. Swigart
Josiah B. Brumbaugh John C. Swigart
April
20, 1904
Clover Creek
William J. Swigart
Henry B. Brumbaugh
April 19, 1905
Woodbury
April 18, 1906 Claar
John C. Swigart
Jacob C. Stayer
March 20, 1907 Altoona
April
15, 1908
Koontz
April 21, 1909
Everett
April 20, 1910
Riddlesburg
James A. Sell William J. Swigart
David M. Adams Jacob C. Stayer
April 18, 1911
Roaring Spring
William J. Swigart
Jacob C. Stayer John C. Swigart
Charles O. Beery Jacob C. Stayer
April April
14, 1914 20, 1915
Huntingdon
April
18, 1916
New Enterprise
April
17, 1917
Lewistown
April 16, 1918 April 15, 1919 Snake Spring Valley
66
66
April 20, 1920
Clover Creek
Walter S. Long
April
18, 1922
28th St., Altoona
Tobias T. Myers
April
17, 1923
Spring Run
William J. Swigart Oscar R. Myers
John C. Swigart Charles O. Beery John C. Swigart Ira C. Holsopple George E. Yoder
Jacob C. Stayer Joseph J. Shaffer Charles O. Beery Benjamine F. Waltz Herman B. Heisey
John R. Stayer, John H. Cassady William J. Swigart, James A. Sell Walter S. Long, John C. Swigart John B. Miller, Tobias T. Myers John Bennet, John H. Cassady Walter S. Long, Galen B. Royer Tobias T. Myers, Charles O. Beery Charles C. Ellis, Walter S. Long Tobias T. Myers, Galen K. Walker Benjamine F. Waltz, Oscar R. Myers
in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
April 14, 1897
Clover Creek
James A. Sell
Spring Run
Henry B. Brumbaugh
Snake Spring Valley
James A. Sell
66
James A. Sell Henry B. Crumbaugh Samuel J. Swigart James A. Sell Henry B. Brumbaugh William J. Swigart Thomas B. Maddocks Samuel J. Swigart
April 16, 1902
New Enterprise
April 15, 1903
Everett
James A. Sell John B. Brumbaugh William J. Swigart James A. Sell Henry B. Brumbaugh James A. Sell, John C. Swigart John Bennet
April 16, 1912
Raven Run Woodbury
April 15, 1913
Carson Valley
66
Tobias T. Myers, Brice Sell William J. Swigart, John Bennet David A. Stayer
Fairview
Jacob C. Stayer
66 John C. Swigart
April 19, 1921 Dunnings Creek
April 9, 1924 Stonerstown
Henry B. Brumbaugh Henry B. Brumbaugh
A History of the Church of the Brethren
The " Minutes of the Annual Meeting," in book form, gives no location for the General Conferences of 1823, 1824 and 1825. But James Quinter, in an editorial in the Primitive Christian, October 25, 1881, makes this state-
Conference ground for Mexico meeting of 1885. Photo through kindness of Henry R. Gibbel, of Lititz, Pa.
ment : " There was an Annual Meeting in the Yellow Creek congregation in 1825 and 1840."
The Minutes of this first district meeting, and succeed- ing ones until 1868, are recorded in a book, the title page of which bears the following inscription :
" Church Record of Middle District of Pennsylvania, bought for the use of the District in the City of Lan- caster by Elder Graybill Myers and given into the hands of the Secretary of the District, March the 28th, A. D. 1864."
Daniel M. Holsinger was secretary those days, and the handwriting would lead one to conclude that after re- ceiving the book he transcribed the minutes of the earlier years into the record.
The ink is fading. The editor, therefore, in order to make a permanent record of these first District Meetings, gives room for the Minutes preceding 1868. From this date on, there is a complete file of printed minutes, kept
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
in the fireproof vault at Juniata College, save the year 1883. Should this come to the notice of any reader who has a copy of the minutes for 1883, he will confer a great favor on the District to place it with this file.
Inasmuch as the minutes of the first meeting do not appear in the record, copy has been made from the Gospel Visitor, Volume II, June, 1861. Thereafter follows exact copy of the District Records.
MINUTES of COUNCIL MEETING OF DELEGATES
from the
Middle District of Pennsylvania, held in the Germany Val- ley Meeting House, Aughwick Church, Huntingdon County,
Pa., May 9th and 10th, 1861.
Public meeting being held for worship in the evening of the 8th and the morning of the 9th, the meeting was organized, the names of delegates from the different churches given.
From Aughwick church present, And. Spanogle, J. G. Glock, A. L. Funk and John Spanogle. From Perry Co. ch., Jacob Spanogle, W. Panabaker & Ab. Roraer. Lost Creek ch., David Myers and B. Waidman. Buffalo ch., Isaac Myers and Charles Royler (Royer). Lewistown ch., Joseph Hanawalt and Reuben Myers. Warriors Mark ch., Graybill Myers. Frankstown ch., John D. Veach. Clover Creek ch., Dan. M. Holsinger, George W. Brumbaugh and George Brumbaugh. Snakespring V. ch., Jacob Steel. L. Cumberland ch. represented by letter.
Henry Kurtz, from Ohio, was present and requested to act as Clerk.
1. About the Oregon Mission.
The question about the Oregon Mission having been presented to the different churches, the views entertained on the subject and stated by the delegates seemed somewhat indefinite and clashing, but the brethren present came to the conclusion to recommend to our churches the plan proposed by last yearly meeting (Art. 12) for united and speedy action, and to propose br. John Kline, of Virginia, and br. Grabill Myers, from Blair co., Pa., as proper candidates for this mission.
2. Concerning the work of Evangelism or Home-Mission it was concluded, that we should go on in this work, in the manner hitherto pursued, and with increased energy and zeal, at the same time waiting for further light and the final action of Yearly Meeting.
3. Concerning the Yearly Meeting. Inasmuch as it seems by the present deplorable state of things in our hitherto happy and peaceful country, civil war actually existing in the South, the attendance at our yearly meeting appointed in Virginia for next Pentecost (ten days hence) would not only prove a perilous undertaking, but also a useless and impracticable effort, it was concluded to appoint no dele-
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gates at this time, but send only a letter to our dear brethren in Virginia, and to postpone arrangements for a yearly meeting in the fall or following spring until we may hear further from our breth- ren throughout our country by letter or through the medium of the Gospel Visitor. At the same time we should all guard against the great temptations surrounding us.
4. Query concerning re-baptizing. "It sometimes happens that individuals make application to become members of our church, who formerly belonged to the River Brethren or Seventhday Baptists, having received baptism in the same form and mode which we practise. Must such indeed be re-baptized, or might they be re- ceived without, as our brethren used to do, till of late years ?- After a free interchange of sentiments the question was referred to next annual meeting for consideration. Reference had also been made to the Gospel Visitor, vol. 6, page 196.
5. Query 2. Would it be contrary to the Gospel or the views of this meeting for the brethren in such churches, where the crowds are so immense at lovefeasts, to not have any preaching in daytimes at all at the place where lovefeast is to be, but to come together in the evening at the time when the exercises immediately connected with the Lord's Supper should begin ?- Answer. In our view it would not be contrary to the Gospel.
Several other questions were discussed in a friendly manner, of which no note was taken.
6. Concerning the continuing distress of famine in Kansas. Henry Kurtz, from Ohio, presented this case, referring to the differ- ent articles in last (May) No. of the Gospel Visitor, and stating that he left his home under a strong impression of duty for the very purpose to awaken a new interest in our brotherhood East and West in behalf of our distressed brethren and fellow-mortals in Kansas, who must be supported till harvest, or suffer starvation before that time .- The delegates present agreed unanimously to use all diligence as soon as they come home, in order to collect and send still further relief, directing them to the Editors of the Gospel Visitor, Colum- biana, Ohio, who will send on the same by express. Brother Kurtz contemplating to go and visit Kansas himself as soon as possible, asked the prayers of the brethren, and an immediate collection was raised and handed to him to the amount of some thirty dollars.
7. Concerning next Council meeting of this District it was con- cluded to have it in future on Easter Monday each year, the brethren to meet on Saturday evening before, and spending the Lord's day in public worship. A corresponding secretary was appointed to ascer- tain the wishes of the churches comprising this district with regard to the place of next meeting.
The meeting being closed by singing and prayer, the brethren bid farewell to each other solemnly and affectionately, and departed in the evening of May 10.
(Signed) HENRY KURTZ, Clk. pro tem.
The following is copied from the Written Records :
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
In obedience to the advice of the Old Brethren at several Annual Meetings, the Churches of Penna. embraced in that part of the State, lying between the Alleghany Mountain, and the Susquehanna River; did agree, to form a district, to be known and denomi- nated as :
"THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA."
Accordingly a meeting being called; and was held in the Augh- wick congregation, Huntingdon County, on Ascension Day, 1861. The proceedings of said meeting were published in the Gospel Visitor, to which reference can be had. The Brethren attending said meeting were all favorably inclined, to continue the "District Meet- ings " annually. But as none of the elders had consulted their re- spective churches, before leaving home, it could not be decided where the next meeting should be. However, a corresponding secretary was appointed, with authority to decide on the place of next meeting ; to whom application was to be made by those willing to take the Meeting. And the time for holding said meetings, for the future, was agreed, should be on "Easter.'
By virtue of the authority vested into his hands, the secretary gave due notice to the Churches embraced in the District; that the next meeting (God willing) would be held in Clover Creek church, James Creek Meeting House, Huntingdon County, (Since struck off as a separate church). The proceedings of said meeting were likewise inserted in the Gospel Visitor, but also considered necessary to be put on the District Church Record.
Organization of District Meeting. April 21-22, A. D. 1862. Daniel M. Holsinger, the former Secretary, retained in office. Names of delegates from Aughwick Church, J. G. Glock, J. Span- ogle; Perry Church, Jacob Spanogle, John Eby; Lost Creek, David Myers, Michael Bashore; Buffaloe Valley, Isaac Myers, Charles Royer; Lewistown, Joseph R. Hanawalt, William Howe; Warriors Mark, Grabill Myers; Clover Creek, Isaac Brumbaugh, Daniel M. Holsinger; Snakespring Valley, Henry Clapper; Upper Conawago, Adam Brown.
Article 1. About the Pacific Mission. This meeting feels satisfied with the nomination of last year, without change. The minutes of last Annual Meeting having come too late for the different churches to counsel at home prior to this meeting. The brethren nominated were: John Kline, of Virginia, and Grabill Myers, of Pennsylvania.
Article 2. It sometimes happens that individuals make application to become members of our church, who formerly belonged to the River Brethren, or Seventh Day Baptists, having received baptism in the same form and mode which we practise. Must such indeed be re-baptized or might they be received without, as our brethren used to do till of late years? Referred to next Annual Meeting.
Article 3. Have we a right to object to any person from being re- ceived into the Church on account of former conduct? Considered not; by giving evidence of their Repentance and Faith.
Article 4. Have poor ministering brethren, when called to preach in other Churches, a right to take or receive voluntary contributions
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