USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the middle district of Pennsylvania > Part 20
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or donations from members or others, to bear their necessary ex- penses ? Considered: We see no wrong in it.
Article 5. Is it allowed for brethren to make public speeches at Teachers' Institutes, or at the close of Public Schools, etc., on edu- cational subjects ? Considered : We see no wrong in it.
Article 6. Has a brother the privilege to report an incendiary to the civil authorities; who sets fire to buildings, or a wagon loaded with a flitting? Referred back to the Church where the query came from, with advice not to act on it till after next Annual Meeting.
Article 7. What are the views of this meeting in regard to the many queries sent to the Editors of and answered in the Gospel Visitor, particularly such as relate to Church difficulties, and had been acted on by the Churches? Considered: We would advise members not to place too much confidence in man; to read the Scriptures more, and inform themselves out of the same, and not send any queries concerning matters that had been acted on by the church.
Article 8. Would it not be more consistent with the Saviour's example of feetwashing, for the brother or sister that washes also to wipe? Considered : The delegates present are unanimous for the old practice.
Article 9. Is it inconsistent with the Gospel for the Bread and Wine to be on the Table with the Supper, if a majority of any branch sees good to have it so? Considered : Not inconsistent.
Article 10. Will we have a District Meeting next Spring, in A. D. 1863? Considered : As we expect the Annual Meeting within the bounds of our district, we will omit the District Meeting for one year.
Article 11. How are the delegates for this district to be selected, who are to represent it, at Annual Meeting? Considered: By the voices or votes of the delegates present.
Accordingly, Grabill Myers, of Warriors Mark Church, and Dan- iel M. Holsinger, of Clover Creek Church, both in Blair County, were chosen and sent as delegates, at the expense of the churches in the District.
The Gospel Visitor report of this meeting is signed thus :
D. M. HOLSINGER, Corresponding Secretary and Clerk.
Organization and proceedings of District Meeting held March 28-29, A. D. 1864, at Spring Run Meeting House, Lewistown Church, Mifflin County, Brother Isaac Myers being appointed foreman and the former secretary retained in office. The following are the names of the delegates: Aughwick church, John G. Glock, John Spanogle; Perry church, Peter Long, William Panabaker; Ridge church. Wendel Foglesonger, John Foglesonger; Upper Cumberland, Daniel Keller ; Lost Creek, David Myers, Solomon Seiber; Buffalo Valley, Charles Royer, John L. Beaver ; Lewistown, Joseph R. Hanawalt, William Howe; Warriors Mark, Grabill Myers; Duncansville, Wil- liam B. Sell; Clover Creek, Daniel M. Holsinger, John W. Brum- baugh; James Creek, George Brumbaugh, Henry Brumbaugh.
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Article 1. How does this council understand that portion of Scripture which relates to the subject of avoidance as practiced by some of our churches? See 1st Cor. 5 Chapt. 7-13. Considered : To leave the query over till next District Meeting, and in the mean- time the elders of the different churches should try to get the feelings of the members in their respective districts on the subject.
Article 2. How is it considered for brethren to contribute money to the local bounty fund, to procure volunteers and avoid the gov- ernment draft? Considered : That under existing circumstances we are willing to bear with one another, but that no brother shall take an active part in raising such funds.
Article 3. Will this meeting approve of the proposition of Brother Henry R. Holsinger to publish a religious Paper? Considered : That he may go on at his own discretion.
Article 4. Would this meeting approve of a brother sitting in the capacity of inspector, judge, or clerk at the worldly elections? Con- sidered : It does not approve of it.
Article 5. Does this meeting approve of brethren taking any part whatever in worldly elections? Considered : Unanimously agreed we do not approve of it.
Article 6. There is in some churches of our Brotherhood a custom practiced of setting members back (as they term it), that is, they exclude them from the communion table, and that for years. But otherwise hold them as members. Can such a custom be sustained by the Gospel? Considered : It cannot be sustained thereby.
Article 7. Will we have the minutes of our district meeting pub- lished in the Gospel Visitor? Considered: We will, and also in the paper by Brother H. R. Holsinger proposes to publish.
Article 8. Is it expedient to change the time of holding our Dis- trict Meetings, inasmuch as the weather invariably is raw, unpleasant, and frequently deep snows fall about Easter, and thereby many are deprived from attending, as was the case this year, in consequence of the snow that fell Friday? Considered : Unanimously agreed, it is expedient.
Two propositions were then offered and their several advantages or merits discussed. The first proposed three weeks before Whit- suntide. The second proposed the third Sunday in October. A vote being taken, the second proposition carried. Consequently the time is fixed to meet hereafter the third Sunday in October.
Article 9. Lastly, a vote was taken for Delegates to represent the District at next Annual Meeting, and Brethren Joseph R. Hanawalt, of the Lewistown Church, and John Spanogle, of the Aughwick Church, were duly chosen.
Organization and proceedings of District Meeting held October the 17th, A. D. 1864, at the Dry Valley Meeting House, Lewistown Church, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.
The meeting was organized by appointing Brethren Isaac Myers foreman and Daniel M. Holsinger secretary.
The following delegates were present: Aughwick, Christian Myers, Samuel Lutz; Lost Creek, Ezra Smith, Michael Bashore; Buffalo
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Valley, Isaac Myers, Adam Beaver; Lewistown, Joseph R. Hanawalt, David Eshelman; Warriors Mark, Grabill Myers; Clover Creek, George Brumbaugh, Daniel Holsinger.
The following queries were considered in the fear of God :
Article 1. How does this council understand that portion of Scripture which relates to the subject of "Avoidance" as practiced by some churches? See 1 Cor. 5:9-13. After considerable discus- sion, it was finally referred to the next Annual Meeting.
Article 2. Is it conflicting with the Gospel teachings for brethren to pay local bounty tax? Considered : Our duty to pay all govern- ment taxes-"Tribute to whom tribute is due."
Article 3. Is it contrary to the Gospel to raise Church funds by taxation? Considered : A very good plan for raising Church funds, but we would not advise to proceed in that way unless the Church is unanimous, or nearly so.
Article 4. Our next District Meeting where? Only one invitation was given, so it was agreed our next District Meeting should be held (God willing) with our dear brethren in the Lost Creek Church, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, on the third Tuesday of October, A. D. 1865.
Delegates to Annual Meeting : Joseph R. Hanawalt and Daniel Keller.
Organization and proceedings of District Meeting held October 16-17, A. D. 1865, with the brethren in the Lost Creek Church, Juniata County, Pennsylvania. The meeting was organized by ap- pointing Brother Isaac Myers foreman, D. M. Holsinger, secretary, and George Brumbaugh, assistant secretary.
The delegates from the Aughwick church, J. G. Glock, J. Lane; Perry, Peter Long, W. Panabaker; Lost Creek, David Myers, W. Kaufman; Upper Cumberland, Daniel Keller, Daniel Hollinger ; Ridge, Daniel Eckerman, J. R. Fogelsonger; Buffalo Valley, Isaac Myers, Charles Royer, Isaac Royer ; Lewistown, J. R. Hanawalt, W. Howe, A. Myers; Warriors Mark, none; Duncansville, Graybill Myers; Clover Creek, D. M. Holsinger, J. W. Brumbaugh, George W. Brumbaugh; James Creek, George Brumbaugh, H. B. Brum- baugh; Antietam, J. F. Rohrer, D. F. Good; Upper Conawaga, Sam- uel Longenecker ; Snakespring Valley, Jacob Steele, H. Hershberger ; Marsh Creek, David Bosserman.
Article 1. Is it right to require an applicant for baptism to make restitution, or reconciliation (if possible) where there is a known difficulty of a serious character existing between him and others who are not members, before receiving him into the Church? Consid- ered : Right, whether against members or such who are not members and that the Church is to be the proper judge of the matter.
Article 2. Is it right for a brother to hold the office of assistant assessor of revenue tax? Considered : By no means advisable for a brother to do so.
Article 3. Can a brother serve as a member of the state legisla- ture? Considered : He can not. Inasmuch as the Saviour says, "No man can serve two masters."
Article 4. Is it expedient for the Annual Meeting to reconsider
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the thirteenth article of minutes of Annual Meeting 1840 and twen- tieth article of the Minutes of Annual Meeting, 1865? Considered : That is expedient.
Article 5. Does this meeting approve of a brother who is a physi- cian to push forward his reputation, by stating in his bills and circulars that he is a member of the German Baptist Church? Con- sidered : We do not approve of it. Referred to next Annual Meeting.
Article 6. Whereas no application has been made as yet for the Annual Meeting in the year A. D. 1866, and whereas the brethren of the Middle District of Pennsylvania have received the grant they had for A. D. 1865, on account of the troubles existing in our beloved country. At the time preparations should have been made for said meeting, and whereas Brother H. D. Davy demands immediate action on our part to secure a grant for said meeting in A. D. 1866 within the limits of our District. It is, therefore, unanimously resolved by the delegates present, representing the different churches, that we will secure a suitable place for said meeting (God willing) within the bounds of this, or the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and that the following brethren shall constitute a committee to solicit and de- termine on said place: Joseph F. Rohrer, Daniel Keller, David Bos- serman and Daniel Eckerman.
Article 7. Resolved, that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting shall be sent to the elders of each church embraced in this district by the secretary of this meeting.
Article 8. Delegates to next Annual Meeting : Isaac Myers, Daniel M. Holsinger.
I do certify the above to be a true record.
DANIEL, M. HOLSINGER, Sec.
Proceedings of the District Meeting of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, held in Upper Cumberland Church, October 21-23, A. D. 1866. The following are the branches of the Church embraced in the District, with their (alphabetically arranged) delegates : Aughwick, John Spanogle, Peter L. Swine; Antietam, Jacob F. Oller, Joseph F. Rohrer; Back Creek, Adam Pfile, George Mower ; Buffalo Valley, Isaac Myers, Adam Beaver; Clover Creek, J. W. Brumbaugh, G. W. Brumbaugh; Codorus, Isaac Myers, Thomas Gray; Duncansville, Daniel M. Holsinger; Falling Spring, Joseph Geib, Abraham Golley; James Creek, George Brumbaugh; Lewis- town, William Howe; Lost Creek, David Myers, Solomon Seiber ; Lower Conawaga, Joseph Myers, J. H. Raffensperger; Lower Cum- berland, Samuel Etter, Moses Miller; Marsh Creek, David Bosser- man, Henry G. Koser; Little Conawaga, not represented; Perry, Peter Long, Abraham Rohrer; Ridge, John Newcomer, Daniel Eck- erman; Snakespring Valley, represented by letter; Spring Run, Joseph R. Hanawalt; Upper Conawaga, Daniel Longenecker, Adam Brown; Upper Cumberland, Joseph Sollenberger, Daniel Keller ; Warriors Mark, Graybill Myers, Henry R. Holsinger; Yellow Creek, John Eshelman, Leonard Furry.
Isaac Myers was elected foreman; D. M. Holsinger, secretary, and George Brumbaugh, clerk. The following queries were considered :
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Article 1. A brother commits fornication in its worst features, is tried in Church council, is found guilty and is expelled; after some time he professes repentance and makes application to be received again. After repeated applications his case is considered by the church and a private vote taken, in which about two-thirds of the members were willing to receive him again, upon which he was re- ceived. Now, some of the minority are dissatisfied with the decision and refuse to commune. What is to be done in this case? Consid- ered : That this meeting confirms the proceedings of that church and advises the minority to abide by such decision.
Article 2. In regard to receiving the testimony of those who are not members of the church and putting them on oath? Considered : That the church does not demand or admit of an oath. Referred to minutes of 1865, Article 35.
Article 3. A sister, who lives away from the body of the church and whose husband is not a member, but is getting very savage to her; and actually threatened to do her violence, leaving her nearly a wreck without bread or flour in the house, and to subsist on pota- toes. She says she is afraid he will kill her, and asks advice from the church what to do. Now, what advice should be given in such a case? Should she leave him, or report him to the proper officers of the law? Considered : That if she cannot be reconciled with her hus- band so as to live in safety with him, she would be justified in with- drawing from him under such circumstances, but yet remain his wife.
Article 4. Inasmuch as it seems to have been the practice of the Apostles in setting apart a member for any special duty in the Church to do so by prayer and laying on of hands according to Acts 6:6 and 13:3. Would it not be more in accordance with the Gospel to establish visiting brethren and speakers in their offices in that way? Considered : Inasmuch as it appears to us that those upon whom the Apostles laid hands, as recorded in Acts 6th chapter, ranged in office parallel with our Deacons, we could see no Scrip- tural objection to establish such by the laying on of hands, but in the case of ministers when first elected we would not be so decided. (Referred to Annual Meeting.)
Article 5. Would it not be advisable to make arrangements at this District Meeting that a meeting be appointed and that each church in the State be invited to send Delegates thereto, for the purpose of dividing the State into more convenient Districts? Considered : In- asmuch as this District is quite satisfied with its territory and or- ganization we do not feel the necessity of any such call.
Article 6. For liquidating the debt incurred in holding the Annual Meeting in the Antietam branch in A. D. 1866: Resolved, that the delegates to this meeting lay the matter before their respective churches and endeavor to raise their proportionate shares as near as possible.
Article 7. A sister was requested by her husband (who was of an- other persuasion) to have his minister preach his funeral. Should she comply with his request? Considered : Yes, she should.
Article 8. A ministering brother, in soliciting his hearers to the indispensable necessity of obeying the Gospel, remarked that if the Saviour had been disobedient to His Father's will He probably might have brought a similar fate upon Himself to that of His disciples.
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Is this doctrine consistent with the Gospel? Considered: To be an unnecessary and uncalled for supposition.
Article 9. Resolved, that this District Meeting send two brethren to the Annual Meeting as delegates to report its proceedings author- izing each individual church to send one delegate. Brother David Bosserman and Daniel M. Holsinger were chosen for the district to Annual Meeting.
Article 10. Resolved, that this meeting recommends that the churches, in soliciting their delegates, either for District Meeting or Annual Meeting, do so by means of the ballot or votes, as they select their church officers.
Article 11. Concerning the time of holding our District Meetings, it was agreed to meet on the third Sunday before Whitsuntide, but it was agreed not to hold a meeting in the spring of 1867.
Article 12. Applications were received for the next District Meet- ing from the brethren in the Buffalo Valley Branch, Union County, and also from the James Creek Branch, Huntingdon County. It was left to the brethren of those two branches to decide among them- selves where it is to be held, and to give due notice of their conclusions.
Article 13. In behalf of the missionary cause, the following reso- lution was accepted :
Whereas, we see the necessity of a more extended spread of the Gospel, and whereas the Annual Meeting has recommended the Brotherhood to imitate the worthy example of those Districts which have made efforts in this cause, therefore, Resolve, that we, the churches composing the Middle District of Pennsylvania, will em- ploy renewed efforts to comply more fully with the command of our Saviour to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," and that we will make an effort to establish a fund for that purpose.
ISAAC MYERS, Foreman.
D. M. HOLSINGER, Secretary.
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CHAPTER II Education in the Middle District EARLY EFFORTS
While isolation and frontier hardships had very strong influence against " higher learning " and the voice of the majority, especially of the General Conference, was against such " worldly departure," such sentiment was far from unanimous in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
During the closing decade of the eighteenth century, Jacob Snyder, a deacon, felt the need of training the chil- dren, and taught three months during the winter, in the shack which he built near the big spring in Snake Spring Valley. And soon after the opening of the nineteenth century (1806-28) Conrad F. Haller, a graduate of a Ger- man University, educated in five different languages, a physician and a minister, conducted a school in the Blooming Grove community, just north of Williamsport. This educational work, moulded after the ideals of these pious, early settlers, who wanted the Bible as the founda- tion of all their activities, was not abandoned for the public school system until towards the middle of the century.
BUFFALO MILLS SCHOOL
Educational interest now shifted to Buffalo Mills, in Wills Creek Valley, southwest of Bedford about ten miles. This effort to establish a school has an interesting background, showing clearly that there was considerable sentiment and strong convictions on the part of many for better education during the period sometimes called "the Dark Ages " of the church.
Andrew Miller, the father of Jacob Miller, the school- man, seeing that his eldest son was small of stature and probably not suited for the farm, had the lad sent to school,-until he was ten years old-in the upstairs of his father's own home, then he went to Thomas A. Har-
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ris' school, in Bedford. In 1845, Jacob began to teach public school in the vicinity of New Enterprise. In the Fall of 1847, he taught a select school at the same place. Samuel Teeter's two brothers attended his school and he taught branches that had never been taught there before. Leonard Furry and Daniel Snowberger boarded him free to induce him to teach in their community. Daniel said, one time, to Jacob Miller's daughter, Mrs. Emma Replogle,* concerning this school teacher, " Your father convinced me that I needed a dictionary." This teacher organized a debating society. One of the questions de- bated, of more than ordinary note, was, " Resolved, that ministers of the Gospel should be educated." This ques- tion was debated on the very spot where the New Enter- prise Church now stands. He was "the first man that really taught school in the Cove," said William Grove, years ago, a resident of Waterside. Of this same brother, John B. Fluck, almost of our own times, said he " had a more systematic mode of instructions than the old-styled teachers at that time, and a number of young men be- came more proficient in teaching than those of the com- mon schools of that day under his system of teach- ing. ... Young men became interested in him and his school, ... and from his and adjoining districts attended this school and the Literary Society and Spelling Schools conducted by him. ... The schools were organized by classes and set times were fixed for writing and reciting. Arithmetic was taught in classes and explanations from the blackboard were given each day at certain hours."
Evidently he taught each winter in the Cove until 1852, when, because his father was located in Wills Creek Val- ley, he, too, moved there. Here, in the Fall of 1852, he opened what is known as the Buffalo Mills School. From the beginning it was successful. Home patronage was good. Students from adjoining counties came and boarded in his home while attending his school. Among his students may be mentioned Jeremiah Beeghly, of Accident, (Md.) ; Nelson Myers, Lewis Keim, Israel Berkley, Daniel Hauger, of Somerset County; William
* To Mrs. Emma Replogle, now (February, 1925) in the home of her daughter. Mrs. A. W. Dupler, in Huntingdon, Pa., the editor is indebted for this material on Buffalo Mills.
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Snowden, Eli Miller and John S. Holsinger, of Dunnings Creek section. His more advanced students assisted him in teaching. Among these John S. Holsinger was one.
In 1897, Henry R. Holsinger, gathering data for his " History of the Tunkers," said, " What a work! What a life! Without the aid of the press, without a bit of adver- tising, to build up a school and get students from other
Buffalo Mills, where Jacob Miller had his school. Note the white arrow at the right pointing to a house with a cross marked on it.
counties right at his own home and in his own congrega- tion ! What a strong personality !"
Through exposure and overwork, his untimely death came in 1853, and this school effort came to a close, though not without large and splendid results in the lives of many pupils who went forth for the King.
During these
FORMATIVE YEARS
of the third quarter of the nineteenth century, a few hearts, considerate yet fearless, labored for better educa- tional facilities wherever they could, and thereby pre- pared the church for further efforts to provide higher learning. In 1856, James Quinter wrote a strong article
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on the need of educating the young of the church in proper religious surroundings. The Gospel Visitor pub- lished the article. This becomes the more interesting because it was our only church paper those times, and was owned and edited by Henry Kurtz, a leader who put a big question mark after so much learning. Brother Quinter's words were so timely and his reasoning so clear that they are worthy of a place in this record, and the more so since later he was identified with Juniata College.
" If our youth now desire anything more than a com- mon school education, they are compelled to resort to in- stitutions not under that pure Christian influence which we, as parents, should want our youth placed under, and thus, by failing to afford them the helps desirable for pur- suing their studies, we may in some degree endanger their spiritual welfare. And not only so, but we are in danger of losing the influence and talents of many of our youth, as they will not be likely to feel the same respect for, or attachment to, our denomination, should they not find in us the inclination to sympathize with them in their de- sires for mental culture and a readiness to afford them suitable opportunities for obtaining that culture, that they would if they found the Church ready to encourage them, and to take them under her sheltering wing, and to feed them with useful knowledge. . .. Knowing that a number of young people are from home, pursuing their studies in other institutions of learning, and feeling a deep concern for the welfare of our youth, and a growing attachment to the holy doctrines and practices of Chris- tianity as held by our beloved brethren, we confess we feel no little desire to see the Church affording her youth every opportunity necessary for the promotion of their happiness and usefulness. We think that it is not only right that the Church should encourage an institution in which our youth may acquire useful knowledge, but we think that it is her duty-a duty she owes to her God, to herself, and to the rising generation-to encourage and build up such an institution." The same article outlines, to some extent, the kind of school he had in mind: " We would expect such an institution to be under the influence of spiritually minded Brethren. We would want re- ligious teachers-teachers who would have a regard to
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the religious as well as to the intellectual improvements of the students,-consequently, the students would have religious counsel administered to them. We would have the Bible daily used in the institution. We would have the students to board in a religious family and have them led daily to a throne of grace and Heaven's blessing in- voked upon them. In short, we would have the school to resemble a pious family under such rules as would discountenance whatever is evil and encourage whatever is good." *
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