USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > Kleinfeltersville > Centennial celebration of the organization of the first conference of the Evangelical Church : held at Kleinfeltersville, Lebanon County, Pa., September, 25-26, 1907 > Part 6
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by the master hand of William Bradbury, and is now sung throughout all Christendom. Rev. Elisha A. Hoffman, the son of an Evangelical minister, and himself a whilom Evangelical itinerant, has enriched the realm of Spiritual song as but few men of his day. Posterity will accord him a place in the hall of fame, with Sankey, Bliss, Doan and Fanny Crosby. Some of his congs such as "Down at the Cross Where My Saviour died," "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," "What a Wonderful Sav- iour," and many others have been enthroned as classics in the literature of evangelistic song.
Albright as a Patriot.
When the war of American Independence broke out, Jacob Albright was a young man of seventeen years of age, and liable to the Conscription laws. Near his home occurred many of the stirring scenes that made the Revolution memorable. His home on "Fox Hill," was within easy battle sound of Crooked Billet, Chadd's Ford, Brandywine and Germantown, and with his own eyes he saw the smitten and bleeding patriot army as it camped near Pottstown, and in the Perkiomen Valley, Valley Forge, where the Continental army camped for two winters, was distant only a few hours ride. He was a living witness of the indescri- bable hardships and sufferings that have made Valley Forge the synonym of patriotic devotion. That such scenes appealed to his native manhood and patriotism we could not for a moment doubt, and being of military age, and unmarried, we were morally cer- tain that Jacob Albright was a soldier of the Revolution.
The records of the Revolutionary War are very imperfect. There are muster rolls of entire regiments and batallions lost be- yond recovery. That Albright saw service years before the date in which we found him, we do not doubt. Our researches result- ed in finding him enrolled in the Penna. Militia. This branch of service was different from the "Continental Line," which was the regular army. The Militia were organized and equipped by the State, and called out in emergencies. The Penna. Militia fought side by side with the Continental line in both the New Jersey and Penna. campaigns, and did valiant service, specially in their own State at Brandywine and Germantown. We first found Al- bright as a member of the company of Captain Jacob Witz, which was organized at Pottstown, in 1781. Of this company
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Jacob Albright was the drummer, and his brother John was the fifer. *
We have not yet ascertained to what battalion this company was attached. In the Spring of 1782, we find Albright in active service as a private in a small detachment of Berks County militia, under the command of Sergeant George Eisenbis, guard- ing the Hessian prisoners at Reading.t
These facts invest the life of the founder of the Evangelical churches with a new interest, not only to his followers, but also to the public in general, and as a befitting recognition of the fact that he was a soldier of the Revolution, it would seem in- cumbent on the patriotic citizens of this community, to decorate his grave on each recurring Memorial Day.
You will kindly permit a few closing thoughts. The life of Albright, and the unfolding of his work in after years, in a mar- vellous manner illustrate Divine Providence.
At Shafferstown, two miles distant from here, this man of God first definitely appeared as a travelling evangelist, on the occasion of the dedication of the Reformed Church, Oct. 8, 1797, at which time he preached in the market house. In 1799 he was mobbed, and almost killed by his enemies at the same place. In this vicinity he officially constituted his conference in 1807, and the following year came here to die. Thus he began his ministry, organized his work and ended his toils, in this his- toric locality.
These facts, which are of themselves of startling interest, are overshadowed by still greater evidences of Divine Provi- dence. For many years Evangelicals were denounced, and even persecuted by the older churches. By both pen and pulpit the work was branded as heresy and fanaticism. The Evangelical Association was made the object of ridicule in a work specially aimed at the spiritual cultus which Albright's labors represents. In this book the "Albrights" were classed with Joseph Smith and the Mormans, as fanatics.
It was deemed sacrilegious to permit an Albright preacher to occupy an old church pulpit. How strangely things have changed ! The Evangelical bodies are no longer branded as a heretical sect,
*See "Perkiomen Region, Past and Present," Vol. 3, p. 68.
+Pa. Arch., 5th Ser., Vol. 2, p. 292.
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but are recognized as a legitimate branch of the Protestant Church, and her ministers are welcomed to the pulpits of every Protestant body in America save one. Her scholars are recog- nized by leading literary institutions. What does all this mean? Are we to understand that Evangelicals have drifted back to the old conditions? Or does it indicate that the old church life has given way to something broader and better ?
Thank God the latter is the case! It means that the standard of practical religion has been raised; that the mother churches make more of experience and less of form, and now see that we, as well as they, are partakers of the same grace, and that we are "One in Christ." To this great end, affecting the visible "Body of Christ," Albright contributed in no small degree; but greater honors are yet to come when his holy mission shall be more fully recognized by generations yet unborn.
Let us be true to the trust reposed in us, and "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints," and by our earnest and consecrated lives demonstrate that we are worthy spiritual children of Him whose memory we specially cherish on this centennial occasion.
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GATHERING AT THE GRAVE OF JACOB ALBRIGHT AT THE TIME OF SERVICE.
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Digitized by the Center for Evangelical United Brethren Heritage, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH.
ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT THE GRAVE OF REV. JACOB ALBRIGHT.
BY REV. C. S. HAMAN.
We are standing at the grave of a Christian minister, not at that of a king, or president, or statesman; but of an ambassador of Christ. Here lies the body of Rev. Jacob Albright, an hum- ble minister of our Lord, called and qualified by the Holy Ghost to win souls from destruction. Little did he think that he should ever be looked upon as a founder of a church. His only ambi- tion was to serve as an evangelist among the German popula- tion of eastern Pennsylvania. So he eased the passion of his soul.
The Lord, however, took the work out of his hands. The work is well commenced by Rev. Albright's unctious preaching, spread through many counties in Pennsylvania, and a church was organized, consisting of earnest, consecrated followers of Christ. We do not idolize the man, but we do glory in his good works, in laying so good and strong a foundation for our branch of the Christian Church.
This tombstone marking the resting place of this great man, shows that he died at the age of 49. The strenuous work in which he was engaged, coupled with the style of preaching (at that time common among the fathers), wore hard upon his body and ended his life so soon.
May the mantle of Jacob Albright rest upon us, his follow- .ers! Let us this day consecrate ourselves anew to the work of soul-saving in the good old-fashioned way.
BY A. E. GOBBLE, A.M., D.D.
Dear Friends: If we are to take anything away with us from this centennial celebration that shall be a lasting benefit to us, anything as a distinctive feature appropriate to the occasion; if we desire to place upon this grave before us a never fading garland that will properly honor the man whose dust is buried here, let it be the unfailing resolution to perpetuate the spirit of. Albright and the genius and polity of him and his co-laborers. By this I mean the high spiritual ground which they took in in-
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sisting upon a thorough conversion from sin, a conscious pardon and acceptance with God, and a high spiritual plane of Christian life and growth.
A prominent professor of a theological seminary of one of the older churches of this State was quoted to me as saying to one of our ministers, "If the church I represent had, in the days of Jacob Albright, maintained the high spiritual life and insisted upon the spiritual attainments in the Christian life that we now do, there would be no United Evangelical Church." This is probably quite true and gives credit where the credit belongs. It was the preaching of Jacob Albright and his followers that not only formed an organization which perpetuates that kind of preaching, but that preaching has infused new life and spiritual power into the churches then existing by personal contact and its radiating influence. That is our mission as a church. When once we fail to keep that as our standard, when once we try to be just like the others, then we forfeit our mission and we have no longer any occasion to exist as a separate organization. That is the distinctive feature of our church life.
While, according to our church law we may receive persons into church membership who profess sincere penitence for sin, as a rule of practice, however, we have always, with few ex- ceptions, insisted upon a thorough repentance from sin, a sound conversion, an evidence of pardon and the witness of the Spirit to a conscious acceptance with God. That was the genius and spirit of the fathers, that has been so far our practice, and that we need to perpetuate.
I know some one will say, "That is taking high ground, and with the tendency of the times we may not be able to maintain it." I know that we have and will have members, people of cul- ture and influence, who object to this high ground, and who, if we do not lower the standard, will leave us. We must let them leave us then. Many have left us and others will leave for this very reason, but we cannot afford to surrender the cornerstone upon which our forefathers built and upon which we stand as a distinct class of believers.
In all the history of the church God has had his spiritual leaders and if we surrender that ground he will raise up others to take our place.
I will close as I began. If we will carry something with us
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worthy of this occasion, and place a worthy wreath upon this grave, let it be the resolution to be true to the spirit and genius of our founder.
BY S. L. WIEST.
We cannot but revere the fathers of our church when we consider their work accomplished and the sacrifices they made- and made willingly. Here lies a man who displayed a heroism that is seldom equalled. Albright was a truly great man. Men of the world who are called great, became so by mounting up over the bodies, souls and welfare of others; but this man be- came great because he sacrificed himself to lift up his fellows. His was an exalted heroism. He was alone, humanly speaking, when he went forth to save his countrymen. He failed even to have the sympathies of his own family, and not a man as far as we know stood by him at first. There was no church, no society behind him to cheer him and pray for him, and no open doors before him to welcome him even though he brought a. message of peace. He had to make his opportunities and open his doors. But God was with him. He traveled much and far -amidst deprivations, cold, heat, storm, persecution and all man- ner of hardships; but he never despaired, and never faltered. In twelve short but full years he reached this place, laid down and died, a martyr to his love for God and his fellow German Pennsylvanians. The same spirit of courage, of heroism, of self- sacrifice, of unselfishness among us who are the after-fruit of his labors, would mean blessings for us and the world which are almost inconceivable. May his mantle fall on all of us with a double portion of his spirit.
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THE UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WILL OF GOD.
A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF ADDRESS (DELIVERED IN GERMAN) BY REV. R. DUBS, D. D., LL. D., EDITOR OF THE "EVANGELISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT."
First he called the attention to the designation of the General Christian Church as Apostolic, Catholic (General), Holy and her unity. His theme in regard to the United Evangelical Church was, that the great Head of the Church purposed her Organiza- tion. Her apostolic character was then described. The Holy Spirit was leading and active in her organization. The Chris- tian Church was not organized until the highest experience by the advent of the Holy Spirit was made possible. So Rev. Jacob Albright and his co-laborers were first led into the experience of the Divine life and brought under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit before our church was established.
Albright's immediate and direct call of God was then dwelt upon. He was not called by men to the work of the ministry in this respect. His call was as direct as the call of the Apostles and, consequently, his work has an apostolic character. There is no apostolic succession.
Further attention was called to the immediate, direct con- firmation of the call and work of Albright by the Holy Ghost. That is an apostolic feature of our church. Men withheld their approval. God granted it in a marvellous manner. The Apostles and Apostolic Church were not recognized by the Church of the Old Testament as it existed at that time. So our Church was not recognized by the old church, but God willed her existence.
Albright's spiritual brethren recognized his divine call and mission, and ordained him and urged him to go forward in his great work. So they did in the Apostolic Church. (Acts 13.)
Albright and co-laborers placed themselves upon the Apos- tolic foundation when they adopted the Holy Scriptures as the basis of their faith and for their rule of life.
The founders of our Church were also Apostolic in their un- restricted efforts to save souls. Wesley's motto: "The world is my parish," was also their motto. They went wherever they found an opening to work for the Master. That is truly apostolic.
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In the beginning of our Church, laymen took an active part in the conduct and administration of the church work. The pos- session of the Holy Ghost was not considered a prerogative to which the laity could lay no claim. Preachers and people can be filled with the Holy Ghost. The one hundred and twenty were filled with this Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This apostolic doctrine and experience was emphasized by the founders of our Church.
They were also apostolic because they emphasized with new power the apostolic doctrines of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In connection with this, they preached with great power the witness of the Holy Ghost, certifying to a sound, thor- ough conversion, so that every one could know that he is born of God.
Albright and his co-laborers were apostolic in restoring the primitive simplicity among their adherents. They called them- selves brethren and urged them to lead a life of devotion and self- denial, separating themselves from the world, not imitating worldly fashions and pleasures. They preached the duty of broth- erly love, of warm hospitality, etc. . Certainly this was also apos- tolic.
They emphasized with great force conversion as a condition of church membership. The members of the Apostolic Church were believers, saved through grace by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There was no admission to the church by some outward ceremony, like the confirmation.
Our fathers were also apostolic in the adoption of baptism and the Lord's Supper as the only sacraments of the Church. Not seven sacraments, like the Roman church, nor did they adopt feet-washing as a third sacrament. They also gave the true apos- tolic import of the sacraments.
The liberty allowed in the public services, that spirit-filled persons are allowed to testify of Christ and enjoy a regular spir- itual outburst to the amazement of many, is also apostolic.
In the adoption of a church polity they were also apostolic. There is no positive form of church government given in the New Testament. The Apostolic Church experienced great liberty in these matters and adapted itself to circumstances as it became necessary. The faithful use of the means of grace in the Apos- tolic Church found also a ready and willing response in the hearts
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of Albright and his fellow-laborers and their adherents. That: produced apostolic life and devotion.
Further, it was shown that our Church is a true branch of the General Church of Jesus Christ. The great creeds of chris- tendom, though not made obligatory upon our preachers and people, are, nevertheless, recognized as confessions of faith of great weight and importance.
The relation of our Church to the Churches of the Reforma- tion, and to Wesley's Reformation, was dwelt upon. The origin. of our articles of faith was mentioned, etc.
In the second part of the address, a comparison was drawn. between the apostolic character of our Church, as founded by Al- bright and followers, and her present condition. It is all right: to eulogize the past, but it is all important to ascertain if we still walk in the ways of the fathers. How does it stand with the. present ministry? Do we teach the same old doctrines with the- same power and effectiveness? Are our preachers as fully conse- crated as they were in the beginning of our Church? Are our members as consecrated to God and do they live a life of self- denial and are separated from the world and do they shun worldly amusements? Is family worship kept up? Are our public serv- ices as faithfully attended as they were in the time of our fathers ?' How are the prayer-meetings attended and the preaching services ? Are our public meetings as lively and spiritual as they were for- merly? Are the conversions as thorough? Are members who. neglect their duties disciplined for it, or do we pass all such trans- gressions? Are our members as hospitable as they were formerly ?' How about kneeling and choir singing in our churches, is kneel- ing being done away with, and do the choirs in some places. gradually supplant congregational singing. These and other questions were discussed. The comparisons in many respects did. not show the present condition of the church in a very good light. If we praise the past, then we ought to hold on to all that is good. and commendable. Praising the past does not remove the unde- sirable conditions existing now. It is much better to endeavor to remedy the existing faults and bring the Church back to all that was good and true in the church of our fathers. What: would the sainted Jacob Albright say if he could speak to us, his: followers?
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THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH AS FORECAST BY OUR EARLY HISTORY.
ADDRESS BY REV. W. M. STANFORD, D.D., EDITOR OF "THE EVAN- GELICAL."
Dear Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus; Greeting :- In view of the character and purpose of this celebration, it is with feelings of deepest solemnity, and yet of exceptional de- light, that I here venture to embrace the choice privilege to de- liver this closing address. On this auspicious day we have been privileged to plant our first centennial milestone by the shining pathway of our history as a church. What a very choice priv- ilege is thus accorded us in this our day and generation. It is the occasion of a lifetime. None of us will ever share in another celebration like this in our church. Our next century milestone will be planted by generations yet unborn, while our dust, like that of our revered fathers, will be silently resting beneath the sod. Time never stops and waits till we are ready to go. His ceaseless, tireless, relentless step, moves firmly, steadily, per- sistently onward, even while our eyes are closed in slumber. The lesson to us is, that what we expect to do in this earth. world, before the merciless death angel knocks at our doors, must be done soon.
"Death comes, and there's no defense; His time there's none can tell. He'll in a moment call thee hence, To heaven ,or down to hell."
By the impressive scenes, old-time songs and historic ad- dresses of the day just past forever, we have once more been brought into almost living touch with the warm, grand, pulsat- ing, uplifting, overpowering spirit of our church fathers. On taking a thoughtful stroll through the early part of our truly remarkable church history, we at once stand both amazed and en- chanted before such cherished names as that of Albright, Walter, Miller, Dreisbach, Saylor, Erb, Klinefelter, Rank, Orwig, Sey- bert, Hamilton, Hesser, Hammer, Hoffman, Leib, Niebel, Zinser, Buchman, Long, Ettinger Neitz, Kohr, Kring, Boas, Carothers, Schneider, Byres and many others. While it may be said of
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but very few, if indeed, of any of them, that they were men of collegiate training, nevertheless it must be said of most of them, that they were men of remarkably great power and effectiveness. They moved upon their great congregations sometimes like a mighty avalanche, thus sweeping every opposing sentiment into line with their invincible purpose. Sometimes right in the teeth of bitterest persecution, if not even in the face of veritable mobs, they would preach until they would break down the stubborn hearts of their enemies with the mighty shafts of gospel truth, and thus turn their very yells of derision into shrieking cries for mercy. We have no time in this brief address to relate spe- cific instances, but they could easily be given by the score. If any one doubts let him read our wonderful church history, until his pent-up soul runs over with both admiration and animation. Say what we will of our church fathers of 60, 75 and 100 years ago, in contrast with the schooled men of our own time, in point of practical effectiveness they suffer nothing by the com- parison. Scores and hundreds of them, already set like bright jewels in the revolving crown of history, will ever keep on shin- ing like stars of the first magnitude. Already dazzling in their scintillating brightness, they are now destined to keep on grow- ing brighter and brighter with the ever passing, rolling, bound- ing years. Thus, whatever else may or may not be said of them, with an evidently full comprehension of the then godless condi- tions about them, they heroically rose to, and met the crying emergencies of their day and generation, and that is all the very best of us can ever expect to do. The great lesson to us is, that in addition to embracing the vastly increased educational advantages of our day, we should also make an exhaustive study of the moral conditions about us, and then bravely rise as did our self-sacrificing fathers, to the imperative needs of the hour. It matters little how extensive a man's education may be, unless he be made better able thereby to so apply it as to alleviate the cry- ing conditions around him, it will be of but little account. With all its inestimable value, education in the long round is nothing, unless it be practical. It is one thing to be able to mix and make a most effective plaster, but an entirely different thing to be able to place it on the right spot on the right man. A man's com- petency, after all, must always be measured by what he can do. If ever our dear church, therefore, is to attain to a still greater
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future, it will be because of our ability to continuously bring forth an eminently good and strictly practical class of men and women.
In our effort to do this, we can certainly make no mistake in instituting an exhaustive study of the conditions and methods of our Evangelical fathers. What they did, we ought to be able to do. In making such a study, we should understand, first of all, what constituted
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