USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the middle district of Pennsylvania > Part 5
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John Shope, a minister, lived in Black Log Valley and witnessed for Christ in a very able way. The members and friends decided to build a church and on October 19, 1884, James Quinter dedicated the same. There were about sixty members living in the valley at the time .; Following the dedication, Brother Shope conducted a re- vival continuing six weeks and some ninety confessed
* Published in 1882 by Howard Miller.
+ Gospel Messenger, 1884, p. 705.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
Christ. After a few years our brother Shope felt con- strained to unite with the Brethren (Progressive) and the Lord's work at this point through various reasons has come to naught as far as the Church of the Brethren is concerned.
According to the records this congregation felt the pangs of the Progressive movement, though it did not manifest itself openly till about 1890. The minutes show that, October 21, 1891, fifteen withdrew from fellowship but in time a number of them returned to the mother church. Of the number but one was a minister.
In 1895 Walter S. Long was " relieved from filling the distant appointments for the present year in order that more attention may be given to Sunday-school work." Yet the following year the church is unable to determine if "it is right to take up a collection on Sunday. Hill Valley and Germany Valley houses are granted permis- sion to hold singing schools." Most any position of business was questioned at first, for the church asked District Meeting, "Is a bishop that is a stockholder, vice-president or president of a bank eligible to member- ship on Standing Committee of Annual Meeting?" A year or so later lifting collections on Sunday was settled by a majority vote taken by the deacons on their annua! visit. Then all the ministers were instructed to lift offer- ings at each appointment, half to go to the Old People's Home and half to be divided among the ministers of the congregation. In the next step the congregation decided to use the collection of the first Sunday of each month to defray the expenses of the Sunday-school.
The first indication of a supported ministry appeared September, 1897, when "Sunday collections are to be continued by the ministers who are favorable to it and the same to be distributed amongst themselves and the Old Folks Home according to rules of distribution." The next year the congregation had to deal with the problem of support in a more serious way when two of the ministers "would not serve without remuneration and if remunerated would give their whole time to the work." The problem was too much for the congregation, for, a couple of following meetings, the committee ap- pointed to confer with the brethren reported that they
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
failed to do this and finally it was decided "to continue the committee indefinitely."
In 1892 the congregation instructed its delegates to oppose the establishing of an Old Folks Home. The members would not decide if it were right for ministers of the Brethren to take part in the services of other de- nominations. The next year when the Home was ex- plained in council the church not only approved of the project but offered a property in Shirleysburg for that purpose. Provision was made for a systematic annual pastoral visit to be made by the ministers.
Through the efforts of Thomas Cloyd, Roy X. Wilson and John E. Garver conducting Sunday-school for sev- eral years in Enyeart's school house at the bridge north of Rockhill, an opening was made for preaching and James R. Lane, Robert M. Wakefield, John E. Garver, Seth and Christian Myers and Samuel A. Norris took their turn setting forth the Word. In 1904 a revival con- ducted by William F. Spidle added thirty members, nearly all heads of families. The next step was a church house on the outskirts of Rockhill. Building committee : George Renecker, Thomas O. Cloyd, Howard Norris. The last named was contractor. On March 11, 1906 William J. Swigart, using for his text, Revelations 22:9, conducted the dedication of a house 35 x 40 feet, cost- ing $1,400.00.
Besides the foregoing the congregation had an interest in Cherry Grove and Meadow Green houses, but in recent years the brethren have not held meetings at either place.
During the seventies and eighties the congregation numbered one hundred and fifty or more. On lovefeast occasions the large Germany Valley house was not able to hold the people who gathered. But through the years that followed the loss of membership by emigration and deaths was heavy. The membership was scattered over a large territory, the ministers were so few in number that all the places of worship could not be supplied regu- larly and the congregation lost heart. A few faithful ones, however, did not give up. Dewitt H. Miller, at- tending Juniata College, took up a week-end pastorate with them and spent the summer vacation in their midst.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
He served them from June, 1921 to June, 1923 and gath- ered a number into the fold. In the first week of Sep- tember, 1923, Alexander M. Stout took up the pastorate. making his home in Rockhill. During his administration about fifty members have been added to the fold and the church has been much revived.
Presiding bishops :
Peter Long. .1802 James R. Lane.
Andrew Spanogle. . . 1849 Robert M. Wakefield.
Abram Funk .about 1855 John E. Garver
John S. Gluck.
Samuel A. Norris. 1923
John Spanogle.
Ministers :
Christian Long in a printed report (source unknown) says the congregation was dubbed in the forties "a preacher factory." It is to its credit that the congregation was so wide awake to the needs of the times as to call so many to the ministry. The list is not con- sidered complete :
Christian Long 1802
Peter L. Swayne. 1860
Jacob Lutz.
1804
Christian Myers 1861
John Hanawalt.
1806
Isaac Book .. 1869
Peter Long.
1826
John B. Garver. 1869
Andrew Spanogle 1827
John King. . 1827
Andrew Spanogle, Jr 1830
Michael Bollinger 1835
Graybill Myers. 1839
Christian Long, Jr 1839
John G. Glock 1842
John Spanogle. 1844
Abraham L. Funk 1847
Enoch Eby. 1850
George Myers, Sr. 1855
James R. Lane. 1858
George H. Swayne. 1898
Milton H. Wright. 1898
Samuel A. Norris 1902
Roy X. Wilson 1902
Thomas Chilcote
Robert M. Wakefield. 1882
John E. Garver 1882
David Shope .. 1882
Walter S. Long 1892
Herbert B. Landis 1894
Bruce J. Myers. 1895
William Wakefield. 1895
William F. Spidle 1902
Jesse C. Rupert
1905
David L. Little.
1910
Deacons : 1802, Daniel Secrist; 1871, Robert M. Wakefield, Enoch Lutz, Eli Messimore; 1881, John E. Garver, John Shope; 1892, Thomas A. Cloyd, John B. Gluck; 1894, Israel N. Querry; 1898. Albert J. Rohrer, Samuel A. Norris; 1903, William B. Wilson, Cornelius B. Runk; 1905, Jacob Gabert, William O. Huntsman ; 1910, Matthew Secrist, Chambers H. Morrow; 1915, James G. Gabert, Eli G. Wakefield; 1916, Jeremiah Messimore; 1919, J. Mon- roe Secrist ; 1920, Esco A. Wilson; 1924. Walter Wakefield, Ira Hall; October 26, 1924, James Gabert, Norman Booker, David Runk. Emanuel Boosley, George W. Smith and Joshua Buchanan, dates unknown.
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Seth W. Myers .. 1874
William L. Spanogle. 1877
John B. Shope. . 1879
in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS
Germany Valley. Just when the Sunday-school started record fails to reveal. Tradition has it that Peter L. Swayne, as superin- tendent, started a Sunday-school as early as 1864 in the Sinking Springs schoolhouse. Eli G. Wakefield writes that from 1868 to 1870 Peter Swayne was superintendent of a school in Germany Valley. At a convention held in Spring Run in 1878, John E. Garver and Archibald S. Van Dyke represented and reported the school as "Union. Bible questions asked which are very interesting. Use Brethren's hymn-book." Evidently the school lapsed seriously, for there is no further report until 1910. Superintendents in the 60's, Peter L. Swayne; in the 70's, John E. Garver ; 1890-'93, Walter S. Long; - , James Smith ; 1910, David L. Little; 1911, Eli G. Wake- field; 1912, George Runk; 1913, Joseph Snare; 1914-'15, Robert Morrow ; 1916-'22, Eli G. Wakefield; 1923-'24, Ira I .. Hall.
Hill Valley (also called Sugar Run). This school was organized in 1875. At the convention, 1878, represented by John Spanogle and James R. Lane, this report was made; "Hill Valley school numbers from 50 to 70. Open and close in the usual way. Use no lesson papers. Sing from Union Hymn books. Not in favor of picnics. Has been organized two years." Then, in 1878, William L. Spanogle and Harry Smelker represented and reported that the school had been opened "under unfavorable circumstancs, but grew in favor and interest. Average attendance, 55. Use International Lesson leaves." At the 1898 convention it reported enrollment 46; in 1904 average attendance, 36; five teachers; raised $8.93, of which $6.50 went to missions and charity work; 12 conversions." Superintend- ents : 1904, William C. Huntsman; 1905, 1906-'07, John A. Rohrer; 1908, Samuel A. Norris; 1909, John A. Rohrer ; 1910, Jacob Gabert; 1911-'12, David P. Whitsel; 1913, John G. Rohrer ; 1914-'15, James L. Gabert; 1916, John A. Rohrer; 1917, L- P. Garver; 1918-'19, Jacob Gabert; 1920-'21, Samuel A. Runk; 1922-'23, James Gabert; 1924, Daniel P. Whitsell.
Rock Hill. The Church of the Brethren Sunday-school was or- ganized in the Enyearts schoolhouse, near the bridge, outside of Rock Hill in April, 1904. That year it had an "average attendance of 50, eight teachers, raised $24.00, of which $10.00 went to missions and charity work, had twenty-five conversions." Superintendents : 1904-'09, Howard M. Norris; 1910, Esco A. Wilson; 1911-'12, Richard D. Whitsel; 1913, Howard M. Norris; 1914, D. E. Pollick; 1915-'19, Howard M. Norris; 1920, Samuel A. Conner ; 1921, Easton L. Pepple; 1922, Barton Ripple; 1923, Miller Arnold; 1924, Walter Wakefield.
Beech Run. No records of early history available. John Shope was prime mover in beginning the work here. Superintendents : Early 80's, John Shope, George Dell, W. M. Smith, Jacob Querry, James Q. Dell, David Heck; 1904, George Y. Swayne, Scott Beaty, David Henneman were among the earlier leaders; 1917, Israel Querry; 1918, Darby Miller; 1919, Adam Bagshaw; 1920, G. M. Querry ; 1921-'22, James C. Dell; 1923, George Bumgardner ; 1924, Albert Dell.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
ARDENHEIM*
Present Membership, 60.
" The territory comprising the Ardenheim Church be- longed to Aughwick congregation. The early interests centred about the Sugar Grove Schoolhouse in which the first services were held and where services have been kept up with less or more regularity for upwards of one hundred years. The Ruperts, Numers, Bollingers and Goodmans from Path Valley, Franklin County, settled in what is known as the Lick Ridges, probably before the middle of the last century. Some of them were members of the Brethren Church. They went to Ger-
BISHOP AND MRS. WILLIAM J. SWIGART.
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS E. WOOD.
many Valley to communion and the brethren from that congregation would ride horseback 'to the ridges,' some twenty-five miles and preach in the Sugar Grove school house, located on Sugar Run, about three miles north- east of Mill Creek station. Several different school houses on the same ground served for sanctuary pur- poses. A saw mill across the road served sometimes for a sanctuary when the school house was being rebuilt or repaired. Elders Abram Funk, John Glock, James R. Lane, the Spanogles and Myerses and others doubtless preached there from time to time. At first the Brethren came every sixteen weeks. Then every eight weeks. The school house would hardly hold the people who came
* To William J. Swigart the reader is indebted for information given herein.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
to hear these men preach. Some who came into the church were baptized in the Sugar Grove run; others at Germany Valley ; and a few of the descendants probably in the James Creek congregation. All applicants in later years were baptized at Huntingdon."-William J. Swigart.
After 1875 these Ridge members began to worship with the little group forming itself into a church in Huntingdon and in this manner became part of James Creek congregation and remained identified with Hunt- ingdon church, when in 1878 it was organized separately.
Preaching was supplied by ministers from Hunting- don. Though ably assisted by others, from the begin- ning William J. Swigart took supervising care. In 1894 he and John B. Brumbaugh, each preaching alternate evenings, held a revival in the Woodville school house near Ardenheim station and some half dozen heads of families united with the church.
At once steps were taken to build a house of worship. Ardenheim was finally selected. Otis M. Brumbaugh, engaged as contractor, erected a brick-veneered house 38 x 50 feet, costing $1,700.00, the amount being liberally contrib- uted by those living in the community and in Huntingdon. On April 28, 1895, the house was dedicated, William J. Swigart preaching. Text, 1 Kings 8:27. November 2 following, the first lovefeast was held.
Ardenheim congre- gation was organized April 25, 1896. Of- ficers : William J. Swi- THE ARDENHEIM CHURCH. gart, bishop; Bessie Wood, secretary ; Samuel Eby, treasurer. As treasurer, Brother Eby not only cared for the funds of the church, but was a liberal contributor thereto and a devoted sup-
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
porter of the work from the day of his baptism, on his seventieth birthday, till his death, at the age of eighty-six.
Two things are of peculiar interest to Ardenheim, one of which cannot be duplicated in the Brotherhood. First, Brother Swigart being identified with Juniata Col- lege and having the spiritual care of Ardenheim, invited student ministers and others to preach for him and in this way through the years some seventy or more dif- ferent ministers who have since come to more or less prominence, preached one or more times in this place. More than one of them can look back to the Sugar Grove school house or to "Ardenheim where I preached my first sermon." Second, through the long period of service William J. Swigart preached over two thousand times and had the joy of seeing upwards of two hundred unite with the church.
Deacons : April 25, 1896, Thomas E. Wood, D. Heister Foust, Charles Rupert, John Long; May 19, 1923, Charles Cisney, Howard Rupert, Lloyd Strausser, John Enders.
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS
Sugar Grove. This was a summer Sunday-school started in the Sugar Grove school house in the late seventies. At the 1898 con- vention it is reported thus: "enrollment, 44; average attendance, 36; raised $5.00 for supplies." In 1904 it was reported as having 30 on roll and raising $4.68 for supplies. Frank Secrist was its first superintendent. After him as far as is known were the following: 1905, ; John H. Rupert; 1906 to 1915 not reported but these served :
-, Lewis Corbin; 1904, D. Heister Foust; George Rupert, Charles Rupert, Mrs. Charles Rupert, Jacob Wood ; 1916, Howard Rupert; 1917, D. Heister Foust; 1918, Samuel E. Gregory; 1919, D. P. Whitself; not reported further.
Ardenheim. This began in the Woodville school house about 1880 and when the church was built transferred to it. At the con- vention of 1898 it reported thus: "enrollment, 76; average, 65; raised $11.47 for home supplies and $3.14 for missions; conducted nine months of the year. By 1904 its average dropped to 30 but it raised $12.50 for supplies and $20.00 for missions.
Superintendents : David Y. Swayne; - , Otis M. Brumbaugh ; 1904, David Y. Swayne; 1905-'08, not reported; 1909-'10, William P. Harley ; 1911-'13, Albert M. Robinson ; 1914-'15, H. Earl Foust; 1916-'17, Mary Wood; 1918, William J. Swigart; 1919, Lionel Cor- rigan ; 1920-'22, Howard F. Rupert; 1923-'24, John W. Enders.
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CHAPTER III
The Clover Creek Congregation and Its Growth in Blair and Huntingdon Counties
1780
18,00
1820
1840
1860
1880
1900
1920
1790
Clover Creek
Roar.Spg. Ctry
1898 ...
..
Albright
1911
Roaring Spg.
1891.
Fairview
Williams burg
1917
1917
Smithfield
1858
James Creek
1878
Huntingdon
CLOVER CREEK *
Present Membership, 505.
" About 1755 a colony of Brethren entered Morrison's Cove through Loy's Gap and gradually working their way northward settled in the northern borders of the valley where now Clover Creek and Roaring Spring con- gregation are located and in Woodock Valley where James Creek Church is to be found.
" Daniel Ullery, one of these settlers, purchased 169 acres in 1780 where Roaring Spring now stands. He built a mill which doubtless was the first one in this part of the country. It was afterwards burnt by the Indians. " The same year, Jacob Shonefelt, one of the ministers of this church, purchased 640 acres of land on which is located the borough of East Sharpsburg. In 1802 he built the large stone house that is still standing in that town.
* To John G. Mock the reader is indebted for corrections and information in the latter part of this sketch.
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1911
A History of the Church of the Brethren
"Another one of the Brethren settlers, John Brum- baugh, procured a warrant dated March 14, 1765 for 1,500 acres of land on which Martinsburg is built. He however, did not take possession till September 7, 1792, when he received a patent or warrantee deed from the Penns, the owners of the land.
" In 1795 Daniel Ullery sold his 169 acres to his son John, who the same year purchased 337 additional acres. These two tracts remained in his possession till 1821, when by sale they went out of the possession of the Brethren.
"In 1799 John Brumbaugh sold 700 acres of his 1,500 acre tract to his son-in-law, Daniel Cammerer. It was his descendants, John and James Cammerer, who built the house in 1845 which was first used for religious pur- poses. Here services were held until the brick house on the opposite side of the street was completed in 1870.
" The next recorded event was in 1823 when Clover Creek entertained the Annual Meeting on the Isaac Metzger farm, half way between Martinsburg and Fred- ericksburg. For this and the meeting of 1824, according to the compiled minute book published in 1909, there are no minutes preserved.
"The first house built exclusively for religious pur- poses was at Brumbaugh's, now Fredericksburg. The lot was deeded in 1840 to trustees, Abram Shelly, Henry Powell and Joel Graybill. This, the first Clover Creek house was a low one story building 40 x 60 feet with basement, completed in 1841.
" Daniel Liedy donated a plot of ground at the Diehl Cross Roads on May 14, 1855, to trustees Jacob P. Hoover and Christian Brumbaugh and the same year elder Daniel M. Holsinger built a one-story house, no base- ment, 35 x 45 feet, costing about $1,000.00 .*
" In 1858 it was decided to divide the territory and all west of Tussey Mountain, now included in Albright, Roaring Spring, Smithfield, Fairview, Williamsburg and part of Woodbury was allotted to Clover Creek congre- gation. George Brumbaugh, Senior, was bishop of the
* Prior to the erection of this church services were held in the home of Isaac Burget on the farm now owned by Jeremiah B. Hoover, Editor.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
church from the date of the organization till his death, March 26, 1875.
" The Annual Meeting of 1863 was held on the John Brumbaugh premises (Gospel Visitor, page 218, 1863). It was largely attended and the congregation bore all the expenses. Boarding and lodging were free. The old church was utilized as a dining hall and the conference was held in a grove back of the church. Preaching serv- ices were held in the neighboring barns.
"Missionary, educational, Sunday-school and other meetings of like nature were then unknown. At the close of a session the entire congregation, headed by a dozen or more long-bearded preachers, marched in a drawn out train toward the dining hall. It was a scene that made impressions on the minds of the thoughtful that were abiding.
"The spirit of the meeting was most excellent. The Civil War was dragging its weary length along and feel- ings were tender. Many fervent prayers were offered that the war might cease and the slaves be free. Daniel P. Saylor, in a public address, gave a very pathetic ac- count of the devastation of the battle of Antietam and appealed for money to help some of our people who had suffered property loss in that fearful conflict. The re- sponse to his appeal was liberal. The brethren from the start had strong property holdings and being men of strong character and sterling worth and the best of farmers, the church was firmly established." Thus James A. Sell wrote.
At a council meeting held May 25, 1867, the congrega- tion decided to keep a record of its proceedings and ap- pointed Thomas B. Maddocks and Jacob L. Wineland secretaries .* The record of this meeting carries unusual interest. " John W. Brumbaugh elected delegate to Annual Meeting." "John P. Hoover asked to have an hour's singing before church service. Granted." "John P. Hoover asked again to open Sunday-school in the Clover Creek house. Granted. Committee, Thomas B. Maddocks, John D. Brumbaugh, Jacob L. Wineland, S. W. Graybill, John H. Dilling and Christian Oaks."
* This book of minutes was made available through the kindness of Andrew B. Burget. In seeking to get the true spirit of the churches such a record is of incalculable value.
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
The following year the church decided that a brother could not serve as school director. Evidently an im- portant change was made June 2, 1868, when the church decided " that the supper be placed on the table before feetwashing." Singing school gave the church some con- cern and at the fall council of the same year "the case of the singing school was referred to Annual Meeting Minutes. They were to teach their term out in the day time and after this term is done not to have any more singings." The pressure for a clean temple in which the Holy Spirit may dwell was revealed when, on October 13, 1869, it was decided that "brethren should abstain from the use of tobacco during the time of public wor- ship and while in the house of God."
Because the Martinsburg house was too small, at a meeting January 29, 1820, Jacob P. Hoover and John McGraw were appointed to sell it. The following No- vember 5 the church decided to erect a new house, "built of brick, dimensions 38 x 48, 13 feet in the clear, four windows on each side, two windows in back end, two doors in the front end, to be covered with shaved, joint shingles. The funds for the building to be raised by taxation to be laid on each member's valuation from the regular assessment list. Jacob Wineland and Samuel B. Furry were appointed to levy sufficient for building the above described house. Jacob P. Hoover, Simon Snyder and George W. Brumbaugh were appointed building committee and to furnish the material them- selves." March 4, 1871, the church decided that " a stand two steps high " should be put in the house and "the table should be enclosed at the front." The house cost $1,908.07, the payroll showing the last expenditure made September 5, 1873.
In 1871 the Cross Roads house was remodeled by clos- ing the east entrance and making two entrances on the north end.
Evidently the church at this time placed members in avoidance, for on April 26, 1873 a query was sent to An- nual Meeting through District Meeting, asking " whether a member put in avoidance is in or out of the church." At this same meeting Conrad Dilling 'asked permission to supply the town of Martinsburg with milk and cream
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
on Sunday mornings. Considered to be quite inconsis- tent with the teachings of God, 'Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.' Consequently not agreed to."
Missions early received attention by this congrega- tion, for at the same meeting as the foregoing "Daniel M. Holsinger wished an expression of willingness from this congregation to bear her share of the expenses of another mission into the state of Maine, provided the Eastern and Middle districts of Pennsylvania see proper to send another one there. Unanimously agreed to do her part of the work."
The following year the church took another advanced step when they appointed two brethren to audit the books of the church treasurer.
March 5, 1874, the congregation responded to a call to build a church house in the northern end of the congre- gation, just about three miles north of Williamsburg, now known as the Fairview church. A frame structure was erected, 38 x 42, the floor plan the same as the Mar- tinsburg house with the exception of having " some mov- able seats for small lovefeast occasions." The house was let to a contractor but the amount expended is not known. On Sunday, October 25, 1874, the house was dedicated as follows: "The services were opened by singing the 326th hymn, read by S. Hildebrand. Prayer by H. R. Holsinger. Brother P. S. Myers led in preach- ing followed by brother Holsinger. Text: Kings 8:12-30. In the evening we again repaired to the church for worship when it fell to our lot to lead in preaching, fol- lowed by Geo. Brumbaugh of James Creek." >
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