USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the middle district of Pennsylvania > Part 3
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The Record of the Faith * states that the Dry Valley congregation-properly called Lewistown, was organized in 1781 with ten members; that in 1881-1882 it had one church house built in 1856 and a membership of 125. The bishop of the congregation was William Howe. Jacob Mohler was also ordained while George S. Myers, Samuel J. Swigart, Andrew Spanogle, John M. Mohler were in the second and Albert Steinberger was in the first degree of the ministry.
The congregation had a large territory to work,-on the north, part of Centre County, on the east, part of Snyder County over to Middleburg and on the south to Shade mountain.
In this territory services were held regularly in the Price, McKee and Kile school houses in the country, the Toll Gate school house in Lewistown borough and two school houses in Centre County. This gave the minis- ters a busy program over a large area, but nothing daunted, they at great sacrifice and with much effort preached the Word of Life faithfully at each place. For instance, to fill the appointments in Centre County usually took three days.
The congregation showed a commendable, aggressive spirit in her inner life. This is seen in the following acts : At a council meeting held October 1, 1875, it was decided to use unfermented wine at communion and the next year they changed from double to single mode of feet washing.
Growth was more marked in the city of Lewistown than at the country centres. In fact so large became the
* Published in 1882 by Howard Miller.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
membership that on January 1, 1896, the congregation decided to build the city members a church. They lim- ited the building committee,-Andrew Spanogle, Jacob U. Howe, Samuel J. Swigart,-to an expenditure of $2,500.00. A good brick house was erected 40 x 60 feet at 134 Shaw Avenue and on January 3, 1897, it was dedi- cated, James A. Sell preaching and using for his text Psalms 122 :1.
At the time of the dedication there were between 60 and 70 members living in the city. The new house gave an added impetus to the work and it grew. The interests of the membership were so unique and their problems so different from the country ones that it was thought best to have the city members organize themselves into a separate congregation. This was accomplished March 25, 1916,-the city group retaining the name Lewistown and the country group taking the name of Dry Valley.
Ministers elected :
Abraham Miller
Samuel Myers, Jr 1862
John Swigart.
George Hanawalt 1865
Jacob Kinsel.
David Eshelman. 1836
George S. Myers. 1869
Joseph Rothrock.
Samuel J. Swigart. 1869
Abraham Rothrock
Andrew Spanogle. 1870
John Rothrock. 1835
Joseph R. Hanawalt. 1845
Reuben Myers. 1849
William Howe 1853
Peter S. Myers. 1857
John Shellenberger 1893
Archie Van Dyke. 1857
Harry Spanogle. 1894
Adam Young 1859
Edward M. Howe. 1905
Samuel Steinberger 1905
Deacons elected :
Jacob Mohler
Samuel Yoder. 1847
Benjamin Howe.
D. S. Zook.
John S. Hanawalt 1865
Isaac Price.
John Y. Krepps 1865
Samuel Myers
George S. Myers 1867
William Howe 1848
Moses Price 1867
John Keever 1855
Andrew Spanogle 1870
Peter Mvers 1855
Archie Van Dyke. 1857
John Rupert. 1857
Adam Young 1857
Philip Mertz 1859
John B. Price 1859
Henry Hertzler .. 1869
Henry Snyder 1870
Jacob U. Howe. 1875
Samuel Reichard. 1875
Albert Steinberger 1875
Abram Myers. 1867
Solomon Z. Sharp 1862
John M. Mohler. 1874
Albert Steinberger 1878
Jacob H. Richard. 1891
William M. Howe. 1893
John B. Price. 1865
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
Jacob Reichard. 1886
Samuel Steinberger 1902
John S. Mohler 1891
John Brininger. 1904
John Shellenberger 1891
William Hummel. 1904
Jacob W. Richard. 1898
John Steinberger 1904
John Edminston.
1898
James Fisher
1902
Oliver Rothrock. 1904
DRY VALLEY*
Present Membership, 98.
After the division of territory on March 25, 1916, Dry Valley had left a membership of 139. The following were officials : Ministers, Samuel J. Swigart, Edward M. Howe, Samuel J. Steinberger, Jacob H. Richard and John B. Shellenberger.
Deacons: John Edmiston, John S. Mohler, William Hummel, Jacob D. Ellinger, Henry Peters, John Stein- berger, William Wagner and James F. Fisher.
Organization : Samuel J. Swigart, Bishop; Edward M. Howe, secretary : John S. Mohler, treasurer.
It seemed wise for the parent church to organize the Burnham borough separately and this was done on March 25, 1921. The account of the rise and progress of the cause there will be found under Burnham.
Bishops presiding :
Samuel J. Swigart. till 1916
Edward M. Howe. began 1920
Samuel J. Steinberger .began 1924
Ministers elected :
Joseph Fleming 1923
Deacons: Date unknown, M. R. Lindsey, Henry Yetter ; 1920, Jacob Ellinger, Joseph Fleming; 1923, Harry Hummel, Samuel Richard.
BANNERVILLE
This is an outlying center of the Dry Valley congrega- tion. In the fall of 1876 Enoch and Maggie Shellen- berger and five children located in the village of Banner- ville and engaged in mercantile business. No religious services were held in the village and the conditions were such that Mrs. Shellenberger started a Sunday-school.
* To Edward Howe the reader is indebted for much information found in this sketch.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Two years later ministers from Maitland began to hold meetings every eight weeks. The interest justified build- ing a church house, for the village had none. Building
UPPER : Members and friends of the Dry Valley congregation. LOWER : The Dry Valley House.
committee, Enoch Shellenberger, Daniel Zuck and An- drew Spanogle put up a good frame house, 35 x 50 feet, costing $1,500.00. On January 3, 1892 it was dedicated,
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
Andrew Bashore and Abram Myers speaking to a large gathering. For a time there was an increase of mem- bers until some forty lived in the vicinity ; but through not having a resident minister the work has not received proper care and the membership at the present time is about twenty-five.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
Dry Valley. Apparently Dry Valley congregation has the dis- tinction of having the first Sunday-school in the district. Solomon Z. Sharp was baptized at the Spring Run church in October, 1860. In that year the young members in the Dry Valley church wanted a Sunday-school and secured a Mr. Blymyer from Lewistown to start a Sunday-school in the school house near the Dry Valley meeting house. In 1862 William Howe insisted that the school be brought into the meeting house and it became one of the early Sunday-schools conducted by the Brethren .*
Evidently the school at first was a union effort, organized in the schoolhouse near the church. In 1868, it was moved into the basement of the Dry Valley church house because at that time it was not considered right to hold a Sunday-school in the main auditorium. Andrew Blymyer, not a member, was the first superintendent.t
At the James Creek convention, October 21, 1876,¿ John M. Mohler and Albert Steinberger represented the school, and their re- port, part of which follows, makes clear when the school came under the control of the congregation: "Lewistown school was under the Brethren eight years, and conducted at present as fol- lows: Opened and closed by singing and prayer, after which the teachers took charge of their classes. Time for recitation forty minutes. Music on canvass selected from various books, papers, etc. Also used the Union Hymn Book. For recitation, use Amer- ican Sunday-school lesson papers. Remarks by superintendent and others. Use the Young Disciple and with good success. Hope all the Sunday-schools will do the same. Infant department conducted by Albert Steinberger in the basement. Average between 115 and 120. John M. Mohler and Albert Steinberger, superintendent." That the foregoing refers to Dry Valley school is made clear two years later at the convention held in Spring Run when under the heading "Dry Valley" is the brief statement,-"Conducted by Brethren since 1869. Infant department in basement."
At the convention of 1896 the school reported average attendance, 77; raised $46.59 of which $26.55 was given to missions and charity ; 15 conversions; evergreen. In 1904 it reported average attendance, 59; 11 teachers; $104.97 raised and $49.68 given to missions and charity ; has teachers' meeting.
* Extracted from letter written July 18, 1923, by S. Z. Sharp.
+ Information given by Edward Howe, son of William Howe, referred to by Solomon Z. Sharp.
# See Primitive Christian, 1876, p. 702.
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Mr.& Mrs Om Gagner
Mr. & Mrs. H.J . Peters
Bonnerville Church
THE BANNERVILLE CHURCH AND SEVERAL OF ITS MEMBERS.
A History of the Church of the Brethren
Superintendents : Before 1904, Andrew Blymyer, John M. Mohler. Samuel Richard, Jacob Reichard, John S. Mohler, Oliver Rothrock, William Richard; 1904, Samuel J. Steinberger ; 1905, 1906, William A. Hummel; 1907-'09, Edward M. Howe; 1910, Jacob D. Ellinger ; 1911-'14, John E. Steinberger ; 1915-'16, John Edmiston ; 1917-'18, Jacob D. Ellinger ; 1919-'23, John H. Steinberger; 1923-'24, Jacob D. Ellinger.
BANNERVILLE SUNDAY-SCHOOL
The earliest record date of a Sunday-school at this point is Jan- uary, 1892, at which time Enoch Shellenberger was made superin- tendent; Mrs. Henry I. Peters, secretary; Fred Gundrum, treasurer. The report for 1904 shows an average attendance, 50; seven teach- ers ; $24.00 raised; $11.75 given to missions and charity; evergreen ; ten conversions.
Superintendents : Before 1904, Isaac Wagner, Charles A. Smith, Jay Brandt, John Lash; 1904, John B. Shellenberger ; 1905, -; 1906, Andrew J. Kreps; 1907, William H. Wagner ; 1908-'10, Henry I. Peters; 1911, William H. Wagner ; 1912-'13, Henry I. Peters; 1914-'15, William H. Wagner; 1916, Henry I. Peters ; 1917-'18, William H. Wagner ; 1919, F- S. Wagner ; 1920, Henry I. Peters; 1921-'24, William H. Wagner.
SISTERS' AID SOCIETY
The Ladies' Aid Society of the Dry Valley church was organized in the home of Edward M. Howe on December 31, 1919 with the following charter members: Minnie Ellinger, Della Howe, Minnie Richard, Mrs. Mary Showers, Margaret Leiter, Mrs. Thomas Fultz, Serena Rupert, Jennie Yeater, Sovilla Richard, Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Rufus Knepp, Anna Hummel, Mary Howe, Hettie Richard, Ellen Goss, Daisey Steinberger, Mrs. William Laub, Mrs. Charles Deen, Mrs. Elizabeth Wagner, Mrs. Stephen L. Snook, Mrs. George Yeater, Mrs. May Henry, Mrs. Anna Snook, Sadie Goss, Clara Steinberger, Bertha Steinberger. Organization: President, Mrs. Della' Howe; Vice-President, Serena Rupert; Secretary, Ellen Goss ; Treasurer, Minnie Ellinger.
The Society besides doing work among the needy at home has been able to distribute funds as to the Old People's Home at Mar- tinsburg and the Missionary Home at Huntingdon.
SPRING RUN
Present Membership, 344.
Before September 23, 1865, the date of the organization of the Spring Run congregation, its history is part of the Lewistown (Country) church. About 175 members were in the newly organized Spring Run territory.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Organization : Bishop, Joseph R. Hanawalt ; secretary, Solomon W. Bolinger ; treasurer, Henry Hertzler.
The newly organized body adopted, Sept. 23, '65, rather elaborate "regulations for holding council meetings." This includes a "preamble and order of business." They started to work systematically and thoroughly.
In 1862 Samuel Musser from near McAlavey's Fort, attended a lovefeast in Spring Run and was so deeply impressed that he prevailed on the brethren to come and preach in his community. Joseph Hanawalt and Solo- mon Z. Sharp responded and held a short series of meet- ings at which time a number united with the church, among them, Samuel Musser. Solomon Z. Sharp, living ten miles nearer than any other minister through having charge of Kishacoquillas seminary, was given charge and supplied preaching every three weeks for several years. During 1865-1867, Archie Van Dyke resided in the com- munity and the mission was given close attention. He was followed by James A. Sell for two years and through their efforts some twenty members were gathered into the church. Meetings were held in McAlaveys, Brush Ridge, Bear Meadow, Stephens and Sell school houses. In 1869 a lovefeast was held in Budd Harshberger's barn. From the result of this labor is noted Joshua P. Harsh- berger, William Quinn and Samuel Musser all uniting with the church and called to the ministry. So the labor was not in vain even if the work went down through in- ability to follow it properly and finally abandoned about 1890.
The Sabbath school had made itself felt in the com- munity for (Oct. 5, '66) " complaint is made against them for following too much the fashions of the world " and was finally referred to the Annual Meeting.
In 1867 (May 25) it was decided that members were not allowed to have their lives insured; "the mission cause was talked of and encouraged but a warning not to make merchandise of the word of God." Next year (May 6) members were advised " not to take part in de- bating societies "; (Aug. 29) the Sunday school officers were "to be elected alone by the brethren at quarterly council." It was declared "inconsistent for brethren to pass our place of meeting to go to camp meeting " and
41
John yoder
Mrs & M. Samuel Shellenberger Myers
Samuel yoder
UPPER HOUSE : Home of George H. Hanawalt, then Abram Myers, and now John C. Swigart. LOWER HOUSE: The Spring Run Church of 1858.
in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
that they shall heed the Annual Meeting's " Better not " and not read "the Revised Version of the New Testa- ment in our public meetings."
The Golden Rule was applied (Oct. 9, '69) for brethren were told to "do as you would wish to be done by " when the query came up whether it was "right to hold produce for a higher market price than real value."
It is interesting to note that this congregation fre- quently cites the "Brethren Encyclopedia " * in the set- tlement of many questions.
In 1870 this congregation opposed a stenographer at Annual Meeting and said it was a "violation of Matthew 18 to discuss differences through the periodicals." It favored the organization of a Church Insurance Company.
"Since there is considerable difference between the cuts of our brethren's coats " the question, " Is any plain coat out of order?" was answered (Jan. 24, '71) "it is considered that any round coat with standing or laying collar is a plain one." At this meeting the complaint "our meetings are not opened at the appointed time," appearing a number of times before on the Minutes was again brought up,-while at the mid-year council (Aug. 5, '71) members using "slang phrases " in speaking of others were to be "brought before the church as offenders " if they persist in doing thus.
Members "put back" from the communion for some offense were declared (Sept. 23, '73) "members but not communicants." A method sometimes used in this period by many congregations west and east was re- sorted to (Sept. 26, '74) when it was decided "to get a constable to insure good order at our lovefeasts." Two years later (July 29), it was decided to continue " to line the hymns while singing." Brethren attending Temper- ance meetings and called upon to speak, were granted privilege to do so (Dec. 29, '77) yet the church house was denied some one for the use of concerts. The next year this congregation petitioned Annual Meeting for the privilege to use unfermented wine at the communion.
* This book, published in 1867, by Kurtz, Columbiana, Ohio, contains the united councils and conclusions of the Brethren at their Annual Meetings, carefully col- lected and translated from the original German in part, with explanatory notes. A copy of this rare book is in the library at Juniata College.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
Evidently Spring Run was conspicuous in the Sunday- school world for (July 31, '80) the congregation for some reason declined to take the State Sunday-school Convention.
The Record of the Faithful * states that this congrega- tion was organized in 1857 with a membership of 155; that it had one church house built in 1859 and a member- ship of 330. Peter S. Myers was bishop ; Abraham Myers, George Swigart, Samuel Moser were in the second and John Hanawalt in the first degree of the ministry.
The congregation "resolved to carry out " the request that came in on the visit " that there be less fault-finding with the young and more love shown them." Three years later (Oct. 15, '87) matting was ordered on the aisles of the church. May 11, 1889 it was "resolved that we as a church do all we can for its success." March 30, 1895 "to pay ministers sent to conduct series of meet- ings $1.00 per day and expenses." Instead of carrying the communion bread in the hands, trays were ordered (May 31, 1902) to be purchased and used.
In response to repeated and urgent requests on the part of the members living south of the Juniata River. two unsuccessful attempts to build them a meeting house were made in the years 1874 and 1877. In each instance there seemed to be good reason to defer building and not until May 21, 1892, when Reuben T. Myers, John Yoder, Abraham Myers, Jacob Miller and Michael F. H. Kinsel were appointed building committee, did the congregation push the building to completion. It is a frame structure, 40 x 60 feet, costing a little over $2,000.00. On January 23, 1893, this, the Pine Glen house, was dedicated. Wil- liam J. Swigart led in the dedicatory service, using for his text 2 Chronicles 2:4. The first lovefeast was held on Saturday evening, May 26, 1893.
The Spring Run house, in use for fifty years, was held sacred because of the memories associated with it, and yet the house needed remodeling. Under the supervision of John C. Swigart, Michael F. H. Kinsel, Fred Swigart, Lloyd G. Rupert, and Reuben T. Myers the necessary changes were made at a cost of about $500.00. On August 29, 1909 it was rededicated by a bi-centenial pro-
* Published in 1882 by Howard Miller.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
gram of considerable length in which many took part,- a day to be remembered by all present.
During the summers of 1921-1923 eight additional Sunday-school rooms and other changes costing about $1.800.00 were made.
THE SPRING RUN CHURCH AS IT IS TODAY.
Bishops presiding :
Jospeh R. Hanawalt ... . 1865-'77
Peter S. Myers. . . ... . . 1877-'85
Abram Myers .... about 1885-'97
George H. Swigart, May 30, 1900-Mar. 25, 1910 Reuben Myers Mar. 26, 1910-'24
Samuel J. Swigart. . 1897-'00 John C. Swigart Mar. 26, 1910-'24
Brethren Myers and Swigart are serving the church jointly.
Ministers elected :
Abram Myers. 1867
John C. Swigart. 1887
Samuel J. Swigart. 1869 Milton C. Swigart. 1894
George H. Swigart 1871 Lawrence Ruble. 1900
John S. Hanawalt. 1873 * William D. Kopenhaver. . 1912
William J. Swigart. 1876
William H. Hanawalt. 1912
Reuben T. Myers 1881
Wilbur C. Swigart. 1920 J. Allen Myers 1883
Deacons: When organized, 1847, Samuel Yoder; 1857, John Rupert; 1860, Henry Hertzler; also Samuel Myers and Abraham Myers. Elected after organization : 1867, Reuben T. Myers, William Miller, Henry Swigart; 1869, Joseph Dunmire, George H. Swigart;
* Moved into the congregation as a minister.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
1875, Michael F. H. Kinsel, John Yoder; 1882, Jacob Miller, Ben- jamin Rhodes, John C. Swigart; 1895, Winfield S. Harshberger, Lloyd Rupert, Oliver M. Dunmire; 1896, Joseph H. Swigart, John H. Miller; 1903, John E. Ranck, George M. Krepps; 1910, Henry W. Hanawalt, Lloyd Swigart; 1913, Albert Manbeck; 1915, Eugene O. Kinsel, Thadeus M. Rhodes, Roy Dunmire; 1918, Walter I. Knepp, Henry C. Swigart, Lloyd Dunmire. Dates unknown, Samuel Musser, Adam Rupert, John S. Hanawalt, Bud Hershberger, Andrew J. Krepps, David C. Rupert, Samuel Powell.
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS
Spring Run. This school was opened in the Spring Run Church on August 19, 1866 and after that each year on April 1, until it be- came "evergreen" in 1906. Organization : Abram Myers, superin- tendent; Samuel J. Swigart, and Michael F. H. Kinsel, assistants ; Elizabeth Swigart, superintendent of female department; "Attend- ance first Sunday, 71 and by middle of October 95. Greatest number of verses recited in one session by one person, 1900." *
Through Solomon W. Bolinger this school made a report t of the sixth session saying they had "upwards of 125 pupils. . .. The books used were the New Testament by all who could read, and the Union Spelling book by the ones unable to do so. . .. No library books were used although we have one published by the American Baptist Society. . .. The school has done well under the principal- ship of our deacon, brother Reuben T. Myers, assisted by John S. Hanawalt and Solomon W. Bollinger, all of which were elected by ballot by the church at a council meeting held in March previous."
Michael F. H. Kinsel and Reuben T. Myers were sent as dele- gates to the first District Sunday-school convention held at James Creek, October 21, 1876 and the following is their report: "School opened in 1866. Missed 1870. In operation nine years. Music printed on canvass. For recitation, the International Lesson Leaves are used. Number enrolled, 125; average, 90.}
At the 1898 convention this school reported : Average attendance, 50; raised $14.34 for supplies; continued six months of year. In 1904 the average attendance, 70; eight teachers; $32.00 raised, of which $12.00 went to missions and charity. The school has main- tained a frontline standard 1917-'24; during seventeen years has had teacher training classes.
Superintendents : Before 1904 these are among the superintendents who served : John Rupert, Ruben T. Myers, John S. Hanawalt, Solomon W. Bollinger, Sarah Myers, Elizabeth Swigart, Eve Kinsel, David C. Rupert. 1904, Lawrence Rubel; 1905, Samuel Dunmire ; 1906, Lloyd Swigart; 1907, Howard A. Rush; 1908-'10, Howard A. Dunmire ; 1911-'12, Wilbur C. Swigart; 1913-'15, Roy Dunmire; 1916-'17, Luther J. Dunmire; 1918, J. Allen Rhoes; 1919-'24, Eugene O. Kinsel.
Manor Hill. This school was located about fifteen miles north
* Primitive Christian and Pilgrim, 1878, p. 716.
t Weekly Pilgrim, 1873, p. 398.
# Primitive Christian, 1876, p. 702.
46
in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
of Huntingdon up Stone Creek Valley, but was under the super- vision of the Spring Run Congregation. Archie Van Dyke repre- sented the school at the 1876 convention and this much of his re- port is preserved : "Manor Hill Class was organized 1866. Com- prises from twenty to thirty members, consisting of Brethren's chil- dren and friends in general." This point was abandoned in 1890 and the school ceased as far as the Brethren are concerned.
Pine Glen. In the 1898 convention this school reported enroll- ment, 48; continues six months of year. In 1904, enrollment, 82; average, 43; six teachers; raised $32.21 of which $4.78 went to mis- sions and charity. "Evergreen " since 1917. Teacher Training, 1923. Superintendents : Before 1904, not available; 1904-'06, Joseph H. Swigart; 1907-'08, James S. Grassmyer ; 1909-'12, John H. Miller ; 1913-'18, Mrs. Alice L. Swigart; 1919-'23, H. Clair Swigart; 1924, Walter Knepp.
SISTERS' AID SOCIETY
The society for Spring Run Church was organized on February 25, 1905 in the Spring Run church. Officers: President, Mrs. Cath- erine E. Swigart; Secretary, Cora Ruble; Treasurer, Bell Rhodes.
Charter members : Anna Swigart, Catharine E. Swigart, Mable Harshberger, Bell Rhodes, Anna French, Serena Ruble, Esther Harshberger, Ida Harshberger, Cora Ruble, Libbie Manbeck, Mary E. Swigart.
Presidents and time of service :
Catherine E. Swigart 1905-1908-1916-1922
Bell Rhodes . 1906-1915-1917-1919-1921-1923
Anna French . 1907-1914
Serena Ruble 1909-1911-1913
Libbie Manbeck 1910-1912-1918
Summary of efforts :
Pupil in India Boarding School. $150.00
Orphan in India. 175.00
Local efforts 600.00
LEWISTOWN (City) *
Present Membership, 469.
With the church house around which the religious in- terest of the Lewistown (Country and City) congrega- tion centered for a whole generation only four miles from the city, and with a big field that taxed the min- istry to work, the ministers made no effort to preach at any point in Lewistown city until about forty members
* To Harry A. Spanogle the reader is indebted for information found in this sketch.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
resided within its limits. Then preaching was held every four weeks in the Toll Gate school house and William Howe, Samuel J. Swigart, George S. Myers, Andrew Spanogle, John M. Mohler, Albert C. Steinberger, Jacob H. Richard and Harry A. Spanogle took turns in declar-
THE LEWISTOWN CHURCH.
TOLBERT W. FILSON AND WIFE.
JOIN BREININGER AND WIFE.
ing the Word. A Sunday-school was organized in 1892 and this gave a service to the members and others every Lord's day. Interest was good and the school house no longer answered their needs. On January 4, 1896 the congregation decided to build a church house at 134
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