USA > Pennsylvania > Change and challenge: a history of the Church of the Brethren in the southern district of Pennsylvania, 1940-1972 > Part 35
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On May 2, 3, 1953, the Three Springs Church dedicated its completely remodeled building. Guests at these services included Dr. William I. Book, the moderator of the First Church of Philadelphia, Murray P. Lehman. Dr. M. Guy West, the district moderator, preached the dedica- tory message and Jacob L. Miller led in the service of dedication. The East Petersburg a capella male chorus presented an evening program of music and worship.
At many times during the 1950s, the congregation celebrated home- coming and rally day services. On October 9, 10, 1954, the membership met for a Lovefeast service on Saturday, followed by a homecoming and Rally day service on Sunday. J. L. Miller and Frank S. Carper were guests. On October 9th, Dr. Morley J. Mays, dean of Juniata College, was the guest at a homecoming service. On October 6, 1957, Graybill Hershey of Manheim spoke at the morning homecoming service. The Hanoverdale male quartet gave a program of gospel music in the evening.
From 1957 until 1959, Nevin L. Smith, of Mechanicsburg, served as the pastor of the church. In October, 1957, the congregation took steps to have the name changed from the Perry congregation to "the Three Springs Church of the Brethren." In 1958, the District Board approved a recommendation from the Missions and Church Extension Commission to sell the Manassa house.
Harold M. Kenepp began to supply the ministry to the congregation in November, 1959. He was a graduate of Juniata College and of Bethany Biblical Seminary (1958). He was then residing at Huntingdon. On June 30, 1960, the Three Springs Church council called him to become the full-time pastor. He began his full-time ministry in September, 1960. Twice per month in 1961, the Three Springs pastor conducted the morning devotions over radio station WJUN at Mexico, Pennsylvania.
In 1961, David K. Hanawalt retired as the Executive Secretary of the Districts of Maryland. He took up a position at a High School in Perry County and resided at Blain. When Harold M. Kenepp resigned in 1962, David K. Hanawalt began to assume the preaching responsibilities of the church. Both Glenn L. Gingrich and David K. Hanawalt assumed the preaching in a shared ministry until 1964. The congregation was saddened by news of a tragic accident which took the life of Glenn L. Gingrich (1965).
It was on May 5, 1962 that the Men's Fellowship of the Southern District of Pennsylvania met at the Center Presbyterian Church of Loys- ville in Perry County. Milo Manly, a member of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, was the guest speaker for the occasion.
It was also in 1963 that the community of Blain in Perry County observed its bicentennial occasion. The celebration began with a wor- ship service conducted in the original Peter Long barn where the first Lovefeast had been held by the Brethren more than two hundred years
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earlier. The Mount Olivet congregation joined with the Three Springs congregation in the observance.
In August, 1965, Robert L. Cocklin returned to serve the congregation as a part-time pastor. Harold Kenepp served the church for several months prior to the return of Brother Cocklin. The congregation showed signs of growth and vitality during the pastorate of Robert L. Cocklin. Unfor- tunately, the pastorate was too brief since Robert L. Cocklin became ill and was forced to retire. Death came to him on April 5, 1970.
The membership made some additional improvements to the property during Bro. Cocklin's pastorate. They installed a beautiful stone and wrought-iron bulletin board to the front of the property. They also dedi- cated a public address system to their faithful pastor, Robert L. Cocklin, in 1971, and installed it in the sanctuary. A new furnace was placed in the building and the social room was remodeled with new paneling (1971).
Arthur M. Smith moved into the area when he became the supervisor of the public schools. The congregation approached him to serve as part- time pastor. He had been licensed to the ministry in the Carlisle congre- gation and advanced himself educationally at Gettysburg College and the Pennsylvania State University. He assumed responsibility for the work at Three Springs in 1970 and served faithfully until 1972.
In April, 1972, a new electric Hammond organ was placed in the church as a memorial gift to Mrs. Myrll M. Roth and son Harold E. Roth of the David E. Roth family. A service of dedication was conducted for the organ on June 11, 1972 with Walter Smilie as the guest organist for the service.
The pastor of the congregation is now Percy Kegarise, who resides at New Kingston. He began his work in the spring of 1972. On April 1, 1972, he became the full-time pastor.
The congregation has had unusual experience in serving the needs of residents in the community. On three different occasions in the past, the church has ministered to the needs of the sick and to those who were affected by fires. On one occasion, the congregation voluntarily raised $900 for such an afflicted family. Unknown to members of the congrega- tion, the money was the exact amount needed by the family to cover a due note.
THE TUSCARORA CONGREGATION
The Tuscarora congregation was originally known as the Van Dyke Mission. The Juniata County Sabbath School Association began a Christian work at the Van Dyke schoolhouse located six miles southeast of Port Royal. The work was begun in a thinly settled section which extends from the borough of Thompsontown on the east to the borough of Port Royal on the west along the Juniata River. At some time prior to 1933, the Sabbath School Association opened a community Sunday School in the public schoolhouse.
In 1933, evangelistic meetings were held at the Van Dyke school under the sponsorship of the Church of the Brethren. At this time, thirty per- sons made the decision to unite with the Christian Church. Since it was a community school, the new Christians were given a choice of churches for their membership. Most of these people decided to unite with the Church of the Brethren. Robert L. Ditmer, who had been licensed and ordained in the Lower Cumberland congregation, began to work with the people of this region. In 1935, there were thirty-two members at the Van Dyke Mission.
Since the work was within the bounds of the Lost Creek congrega- tion, this congregation petitioned the District Mission Board to care for
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the work of the mission. In 1940, under aggressive leadership of Bro. Ditmer, the work was expanded to include a preaching point at the Olive Branch schoolhouse three miles to the east of Port Royal. This was the year in which the pastor took eighteen persons to the Lewistown Church of the Brethren for a service of baptism. In this year, the combined memberships of the two preaching points was seventy. Both the Van Dyke and the Olive Branch schoolhouses were made available for use by the church without charge for light or heat.
Bro. Ditmer further expanded his work to include the Farmer's Grove Church in his preaching assignments. When the Farmer's Grove Church separated from the Perry congregation, Robert Ditmer assumed preaching responsibilities in this congregation of the Tuscarora Valley (1944).
In 1947, plans were projected to erect a church building to provide for the religious needs of the communities of the Tuscarora area. This action was required by the passage of a regulation forbidding the use of public school buildings for religious services. A building committee of five local Brethren and Robert Ditmer was formed. This committee selected a site halfway between the villages of Van Dyke and Tuscarora on the moun- tain road leading from Thompsontown to Port Royal.
The land was cleared of its timber and the work of excavation was begun on the west banks of the Juniata River. A cinder block building was erected at a cost of $12,000. The District Mission Board assisted in the work by supplying funds for the new church house. The name of the congregation was changed from Van Dyke Mission to Tuscarora Congre- gation in 1949 when the building was dedicated.
On the day of dedication, April 3, 1949, members of the District Mis- sion Board were present to lead the services. J. E. Trimmer, the chairman of the District Mission Board, taught the Sunday School lesson at the new church house. The moderator of the church, Earl S. Kipp, brought the morning message. Chester H. Royer, the secretary of the Mission Board, led the afternoon audience in a hymn-singing period, and Walter A. Keeney conducted the devotions. A Carlisle Men's chorus and a Women's group from the York First Church aided in the worship services
Tuscarora Church
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during the day's events. L. Elmer Leas gave a brief history of the developing congregation. Levi K. Ziegler, the Regional Executive Secre- tary, offered the dedicatory message at the afternoon service.
These dedication services were a prelude to an evangelistic meeting conducted by J. L. Miller. In the two-week period which followed, forty- two new members were added to the rolls of the Tuscarora Church of the Brethren, increasing the enrolment to 110 persons.
Robert L. Ditmer faithfully served the church under the supervision of the District Mission Board. One of the board members said of him: "He performed a yeoman service in a very difficult situation". Working with him on behalf of the district were such leaders as C. R. Oellig, S. C.
Olive Branch Schoolhouse
Godfrey, L. Elmer Leas and Earl S. Kipp. Bro. Kipp and other members of the District Mission Board filled the preaching responsibilities when the congregation suddenly lost their pastor by death (1962).
The area in which the mission point was formed has frequently faced high unemployment. For many years the chief industry of the region was the refraction of stone from the mountain for the making of brick. The brick was burned in local kilns. When this industry declined, people were compelled to search for work at great distances from their homes. The church faced serious difficulties in the face of the high unemployment. The difficulties were compounded with the death of Robert L. Ditmer.
John W. Sellers
In 1962, John W. Sellers began to serve the Tuscarora congregation as a part-time pastor. Formerly a minister of the Meth- odist denomination, he was licensed to the ministry in the Lost Creek congregation on June 30, 1960. He began to provide three services per month for the Tuscarora people. Services were also conducted at the Farmer's Grove congregation about ten miles to the southwest. Under the leadership of Bro. Sellers many young people identified themselves with the life of the Tuscarora congregation. In 1967, the District Mission Board transferred the deed for the property to the congregation's trustees.
Harry L. Milliken was licensed to the ministry of the congregation on December 6, 1964. He had been active as a teacher and as a Sunday School superintendent for
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the church. He assisted with the preaching responsibilities until he with- drew from the denomination.
The Tuscarora congregation has been under the supervision of the District Witness Commission. In recent years, Noah S. Sellers and Roger E. Markey have served as the presiding elders of the church. In 1968, members of the Witness Commission conferred with the leaders of the congregation to develop a more effective witness in the community. Under the guidance of moderator Roger E. Markey, the congregation adopted a new plan of organization. In 1970, a new furnace was installed and rest rooms were added for the convenience of the membership. As these words are being written, the commission is seeking for a yoked pastoral arrangement with other church houses to give the Tuscarora people services each Sunday.
THE UPPER CONEWAGO CONGREGATION
The Upper Conewago congregation was once a part of the Big Cone- wago congregation. The Big Conewago congregation had been organized in 1741 on the Great Conewago Creek of Adams County. The original membership included such families as the Neagleys, Sowers, Sweigards, Neifers, and Latschas. Many of these members lived in the present terri- tory of Adams County in the vicinity of Abbottstown and East Berlin.
Adam Sower Sr. was one of those who helped to start the Big Cone- wago congregation. He had come to America from Germany, arriving in Philadelphia on September 10, 1731 on the ship Pennsylvania Merchant. His wife Catherine Barbara and his daughter Elizabeth arrived in Phila- delphia on September 19, 1773. Adam Sower Sr. was a supervisor of high- ways in Berwick Township in 1764 and an overseer of the poor in 1769. He and many of his descendants are buried in the Mummert's meeting- house cemetery.1
The German Baptists in the Big Conewago congregation were divided into districts and met in a home in each district for worship. The dis- tricts were called Bermudian, Conewago, Mountain, East Berlin, West Berlin, Longeneckers, Latimore, Pigeon Hills and Seven Hundred. John Sower (1778-1841), a minister of the congregation, conducted worship services in his home near New Oxford. This area was commonly known as "Seven Hundred". The congregation once covered the entire northern portion of York County. At one time, the Big Conewago congregation was the second largest in the brotherhood.
In 1849, the congregation was formed into two parts. The Lower Conewago congregation included the Bermudian and Wolgamuth groups. The Upper Conewago congregation met in homes until church houses could be erected.
A cemetery at the Mummert's meetinghouse was first used in 1849. However, worn stone and slate markers with High German inscriptions in the oldest portion of the cemetery record deaths in the 1700s. There is no explanation as to why the deceased were moved to this central cemetery.
The Mummert's meetinghouse, originally a small stone structure, was erected in 1852 on land secured from John Mummert, a deacon of the congregation. This worship house was located two miles south of East Berlin close to the Abbottstown Road. The present brick structure was erected in 1882. The Mummert's house contains an upper floor over the sanctuary suitable for accommodating worshipers who came great dis- tances to attend the Lovefeasts and Communions. Rope beds with straw ticking were provided for those who slept here during the two-day celebration.
In 1856, the Latimore meetinghouse was constructed in Latimore Township two miles north of York Springs. A new structure of brick was
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.....
Latimore House
E
Mummert's Meetinghouse
Hampton House
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Trostles Meetinghouse
East Berlin House
erected in 1892. In 1970, an addition was placed to the Latimore house, giving vestibule space, a nursery and class room space.
The Trostle house, three miles southwest of York Springs on the Old East Berlin Road, and the Hampton house near Hampton, were both built in 1874. The Trostle house was built on land acquired from Isaac B. Trostle. Services have been held irregularly at this meetinghouse over the years. Services were discontinued in 1912 and begun again in 1939. During the latter part of World War II, the Trostle house was closed and was not reopened until 1951. In this latter year, Alan Herr con- ducted a community survey to discover the interest for a church. Norman Patrick conducted a series of evangelistic meetings at which time nineteen persons united with the congregation. The building was remodeled under the direction of Bruce Anderson and services of dedication were conducted on February 1, 1953. The Trostle house was closed again in 1969.
The Hampton house was rebuilt in 1894. In 1927, it was destroyed by fire. The congregation rebuilt it in 1929 and continued to meet for services
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Ministers of Upper Conewago Congregation Back row: Vernon Nell, Ralph E. Schildt, Dale King, Harry Nell, Donald E. Miller. Front row: Bruce E. Anderson, J. Monroe Danner, J. Hershey Keller.
in the building until 1960. The meetinghouse was afterwards rented to the Mennonites for their worship services.
The East Berlin house was built in 1899 and services were conducted here until 1964.
The Upper Conewago congregation has been served by the non-salaried ministry since its beginnings. The church calls men to the ministry through its church council. The action of the council is regarded as the call of God to men to serve him in the set-apart ministry. During the past three decades, many men have been called by the Upper Conewago congregation to serve. In 1951, Donald E. Miller, Benton Junkins, Allen H. Herr and Ralph C. Schildt were licensed to the ministry, and were ordained to the eldership in 1952.
Vernon E. Nell was ordained to the eldership in the church in a service conducted in February, 1958 by Joseph M. Baugher and W. Hart- man Rice. Harry B. Nell was licensed in the same year and was advanced to the full ministry on December 2, 1962. Donald E. Miller was ordained to the eldership on January 25, 1959 with M. Carroll Valentine represent- ing the District Ministry Commission. On December 6, 1959, Ralph E. Schildt was ordained to the eldership. Dale King and J. Hershey Keller were called to preach in 1963.
In addition, these ministers have served the Upper Conewago con- gregation: C. L. Baker, J. Monroe Danner, W. G. Group, S. S. Miller, Truman Grogan, Paul Miller, Bruce Anderson, George W. Hull, D. Bucher Harlacher, and Allen H. Herr. A regular preaching schedule has been maintained at the various meeting houses, and each minister has shared responsibilities in serving the church.
In the past three decades, the following brethren have served the congregation as elders-in-charge: J. Monroe Danner (1938-1955), Bruce Anderson (1956-1959), George W. Hull (1960-1961), Ralph E. Schildt (1962- 1968), and Donald E. Miller (1969- ).
The congregation has a tradition of annual Bible Conferences extend- ing back to 1934. In 1950, for example, a four-day conference was held at the Mummert's house with the theme, The Mission of the Church Today in The Jesus Way of Life. In 1955, Olen B. Landes, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, conducted a five-day Bible conference. Perry B. Huffaker joined with the conference in its closing sessions to conduct the congregational singing, all of which has been done without musical accompaniment.
The Upper Conewago congregation observed its 100th anniversary on May 15, 1949 with a home-coming service at the Mummert's house. Elders Rufus P. Bucher and W. A. Petry were guests of the church. Elder George Resser spent time in recounting many experiences in the life of the congregation. During this year, other guest speakers included Benja- min Lebo, G. Howard Danner and W. Hartman Rice.
When the nation was involved in the Second World War, the Ladies' Aid Society was active in sending soap and clothing to New Windsor, Maryland for overseas relief. Once per month the church lifted an offer- ing for Brethren Service work. The Ladies' Aid Society also canned goods for the Civilian Public Service workers at Camp Kane in northern Penn- sylvania. In recent years, the church has lifted special and regular offer- ings for the support of missions, Bethany Hospital, and the Brethren Home Building Fund. The women of the church have been active in supporting the Brethren Home Auxiliary.
Like other non-salaried congregations of the district, the Upper Cone- wago church meets for a two-day Lovefeast and Communion in the spring and in the fall. The congregation worships in pews which date from the time the original brick church was erected. These pews can be converted
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into tables for use in the observance of the Lovefeast meal. The minis- ters sit before the congregation on the same level as the congregation. They sit in back of extended reading tables from which the Scriptures are read and the preaching is heard.
The large complete Bible used by the ministry was purchased for the church by the Helping Hand Class of the Sunday School. The congrega- tion continues to use The Brethren Hymnal, a book first published in 1901 and commonly known as "the black hymn book." A part of the congrega- tion sits on elevated seats at the north and the south ends of the building according to a style of architecture familiar in the nineteenth century.
The Lovefeast and the Communion is preared by the deacons of the church. The following brethren have served in this office since 1940: Paul Wagner, John Krape, Charles Staub, Edward Wolfe, W. E. Brough, Cleon C. Zeigler, Rodger M. Witter, Earl C. Witter, Charles A. Weaver, James H. Shaffer, S. H. Baker, George Weigle, Titus E. Sipe, Harry Nell, Paul E. Miller Jr., James H. Livingston, Robert Leer, Lewis H. King, Charles E. Weaver, J. Hershey Keller, Charles Hilbert, George W. Har- boldt, Glen W. Boyer, W. A. Bosserman, Luther Baum, and J. Erwin Baum.
The Upper Conewago congregation has observed many other special events during the past three decades. Each year, the several church houses conduct their own evangelistic services. Among the evangelists have been John M. Geary, D. I. Pepple, Harold S. Martin, Donald E. Miller, Wilmer A. Petry, Roy Hawbaker, Jesse Whitacre, Joseph Moyer and Kenneth Hershey.
A. Stauffer Curry visited the church on November 5, 1950 to conduct a peace conference. The congregation held special services from April 23 to 27, 1958, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the denomination. The annual Daily Vacation Bible School has splendid interest and attendance, with an average on many occasions of 240 pupils. In recent years the congregation has rented a large tent to accommodate all of the pupils who attend these summer classes.
In 1963, an addition was built to the front of the original Mummert's house. A nursery, a spacious vestibule, several Sunday School rooms and rest rooms were added in a 40 foot by 24 foot addition. Since 1955, a central heating plant has been in use. New tile flooring was placed over the entire basement in 1972.
The congregation continues to seek its guidance from the Scriptures and from the presence of the Spirit. It prefers to be known as a church separated from the world - separated unto God. Its wish is to embrace the total program of the early Apostolic Church, avoiding present day formalism and all associations with the present ecumenical movement within the World Council of Churches.
THE WAYNESBORO CONGREGATION
In 1920, the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren had submitted a report on the procedures for dividing established congrega- tions. Pressures had arisen at least four years earlier for some guidelines for such divisions. The Waynesboro congregation was separated from the Antietam congregation on the recommendation of a Standing Committee commission. This commission had recommended division at a meeting on July 19, 1922. The final act of division occurred on December 7, 1922 in a special council meeting held at the Waynesboro Church.1
Of the original 423 charter members, twenty-eight were descendants of Alexander Mack through his son John Mack and a grandson William, the son of Alexander Mack Jr. Fifteen of the charter members were
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descendants of John Jacob Price who emigrated to America in 1719 with the first group of Brethren from Germany.
The committee from Annual Conference was the third such committee to meet with the Antietam congregation. The final committee was com- posed of James M. Moore, David Metzler, and J. W. Lear. When the committee recommended a division of the congregation, a committee of twelve persons met with the Annual Conference committee to seek advice on a pastoral program. The congregational committee felt that one of the members of the Annual Conference committee might serve the con- gregation. With this thought in mind, the congregational committee peti- tioned James M. Moore to assume the pastorate. He agreed to begin his work at Waynesboro on October 20, 1922.
In 1941, when Levi K. Ziegler (1930-1941) completed more than a decade of pastoral service, the congregation had grown to 863 members. Levi Ziegler's administrative abilities involved him in many district func- tions beyond his local church responsibilties. Several statements from his personal correspondence of the era reveal his personality: "I do not enjoy fighting. I enjoy trying to find the right way for things."2 He brought such judicious and calm temperament to all of his positions.
By 1941, the new Brethren Service Committee urgently required Levi Ziegler's services in Civilian Public Service work. He was acquainted with service to conscientious objectors, for he had been counselor for conscientious objectors in the eastern region. Levi K. Ziegler's resigna- tion was accepted by the congregation and he became camp director at Camp Kane in northern Pennsylvania.
The congregation acted to call George L. Detweiler as the new pastor. A native of western Pennsylvania, George L. Detweiler had served as pastor of the Stone Church at Huntington, Pennsylvania (1938-1941). On Decem- ber 3, 1941, he assumed his responsibilities as pastor of the Waynesboro congregation. Dr. M. Clyde Horst and Edward K. Ziegler were in charge of the service of installation on December 5, 1941. Dr. Horst spoke of the pastor-congregational relationship under the theme, "Magnifying The Office."
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