USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 13
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John M. Nedrow and wife, who had been elected to the office of deacon, and J. Lloyd Nedrow, the third of their sons to be called to the ministry, became leading workers in the
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new church. In May, 1912, Walter J. Hamilton, a minister in the second degree, left Morgantown, West Virginia, and lo- cated on a farm about a mile from Trout Run. A year later, his father, Miles Hamilton, a deacon, located in the same com- munity.
During the summer of 1913 a petition was presented to the Indian Creek congregation asking that about fifty members around the Trout Run church and the Longwood Mission be permitted to organize into a separate congregation. The pe- tition was granted and the organization was effected on Oc- tober 11, 1913, with Elder Silas Hoover as bishop.
On November 28, 1914, J. Lloyd Nedrow and wife were forwarded to the second degree of the ministry, and Eli Foust and Josephus B. Pritts were called to the deacon office. The deacons and their wives were installed the next day.
The Longwood Mission had its beginning as follows : Brother Jacob Sanner made occasional visits to Josephus B. Pritts, his wife's father, and they would announce preaching for him in the Longwood schoolhouse. Sometimes he would preach for a week and baptize the converts. Then, William Bond, of the Indian Creek congregation, preached every five or six weeks, and a little later W. J. Hamilton assisted in the work.
When the new congregation was organized this point was given regular services. The membership and interest have grown until plans are now being matured for the erection of a new churchhouse during 1916.
The present official board consists of Walter J. Hamilton and J. Lloyd Nedrow, ministers, and John M. Nedrow, Jose- phus B. Pritts and Eli Foust, deacons. Two Sunday-schools, a Christian Workers' Society and a midweek service are main- tained.
WEST JOHNSTOWN.
As has been already stated in the history of the Johnstown congregation, that congregation was divided into two separate congregations on January 1, 1899. That part lying west of the
BRETHREN OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Ten of the Twelve Ministers of the West Johnstown Congregation (1914). Back Row, Left to Right, W. H. Rummel, N. W. Berkley, J. F. Ream. Middle Row, J. E. Blough, S. E. Dorer, J. H. Cassady, E. D. Blue. Front Row, J. W. Mills, J. P. Coleman, J. C. W. Beam.
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Roxbury Church and Parsonage, West Johnstown Congregation.
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Viewmont Church, West Johnstown Congregation.
Stony Creek and Hinckston Run became the West Johnstown congregation. The new congregation comprised Ferndale, Roxbury, Kernville, Westmont, Brownstown, Cambria City, Minersville, Rosedale, Coopersdale, Morrellville, and Upper Yoder, Lower Yoder, West Taylor, Middle Taylor and part of Jackson Townships. It had a membership of several hun- dred, and three meetinghouses; viz., Roxbury, Upper Yoder (now Viewmont) and Benshoff Hill (now Pleasant Hill), and a meeting place in Morrellville. The ministers were Solomon E. Dorer, Ananias W. Myers, John F. Deitz and Albert U. Berkley. The deacons were Stephen Stutzman, Jacob Berkey, Jerry E. Long, William Harrison and Jesse Berkebile.
At a council held January 26, 1899, at which Elders Hiram Musselman and David Hildebrand were present, the organiza- tion was effected. Elder Musselman was given charge of the congregation, and Norman W. Berkley, who had been elected to the ministry September 29, 1887, was installed into office. During the year Samuel A. Beeghley, a young minister, moved into the congregation, and on December 28, 1899, he was given a certificate.
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Election of Ministers : December 28, 1899, C. A. Mc- Dowell and Frank L. Myers; January 13, 1910, Leonard R. Holsinger, William L. Brougher, Vernon J. Dietz and John P. Coleman (Brethren Brougher and Dietz were not installed) ; December 12, 1911, J. C. W. Beam, Elmer D. Blue, William H. Rummel, Hadden Q. Rhodes and Lemon F. Findley. Brother Findley was not installed and soon after moved to Ohio. On January 8, 1903, Brother Harvey S. Replogle, a minister, was received by letter, and December 31, 1908, he was granted a letter, having become the pastor of the Plum Creek congregation. In February, 1911, L. R. Holsinger, having accepted the pastorate of the Red Bank congregation, was granted his certificate. April 1, 1911, Brother C. A. Mc- Dowell, having taken up the pastoral work of the Bolivar con- gregation, was also granted a certificate. December 8, 1910, Jerome E. Blough, a minister, moved into the congregation from Quemahoning. In 1912, James F. Ream, a minister, moved into the congregation from Quakertown, Pennsylvania. February 1, 1914, John W. Mills, having become the pastor in Morrellville, moved into the congregation.
During the summer of 1908, Brother John H. Cassady and family moved into the congregation, Brother Cassady having become the first pastor of the church. After more than six years of active and fruitful work, which was divided among the four churches of the congregation, they moved to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1914. After being without a pastor for ten months, Brother Edgar M. Detwiler took up the pastoral work, July 1, 1915. His efforts will be given to the work at Roxbury.
Election of deacons : October 24, 1899, William H. Rum- mel, Edward Mosholder, Clement F. Livingston, Amos Camp- bell, Emanuel Rhodes and Cloyt A. McDowell; May 7, 1901, Harry Weller and Peter Stutzman (neither installed) ; June, 1904, Edmund Livingston and J. C. W. Beam; March 19, 1908, Henry Hofecker; April 2, 1908, Henry B. Kaufman ; January 13, 1910, Andrew Blough, Henry E. Snyder, William I. Strayer, Samuel N. McDowell and Harvey R. Livingston ;
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May 4, 1911, H. W. Lape, Isaiah Hershberger and David A. Rummel; February 8, 1912, Samuel Lambert, Michael L. Hoff- man, Ephraim Hershberger, Elmer Rummel and Levi Kauf- man. Daniel Rhodes and John Stutzman have been elected, but not installed. Samuel A. Fitt, Milton Metzger and John Wissinger moved into the congregation as deacons.
Ordination of elders : June 28, 1900, John F. Dietz ; May 4, 1911, John H. Cassady ; May 4, 1915, N. W. Berkley, Albert U. Berkley and Jerome E. Blough.
In 1899 the Roxbury house was enlarged and arranged for holding love feasts. In 1902 a meetinghouse was built on D Street, in Morrellville. In 1909 a new meetinghouse was erected at Pleasant Hill, the Roxbury house was enlarged and remodeled, with a large number of Sunday-school classrooms, and some work was also done on the Morrellville and View- mont houses. In the winter of 1914 and 1915 a parsonage was erected on the Roxbury church property. In 1915 the View- mont house had a basement put under it, and more room was thus secured for the Sunday-school.
In addition to the four evergreen Sunday-schools held in our four churches, Sunday-schools have for a number of years been conducted in Mill Creek and Kaufman Ridge schoolhouses, in which our members held the principal offices.
This congregation has been active in all lines of church work. Since the enlargement of the Roxbury house, they have held the District Meeting, the Ministerial Meeting and Sunday-school Convention twice, the Sunday-school, Mission- ary and Bible Institute twice, and the Cambria County Sun- day-school Convention, besides other special meetings. Several series of meetings are held annually, and the growth of the con- gregation has been gratifying. During the six years ending September 1, 1914, 893 were received into the church. At this time the total membership was considerably over one thou- sand.
On February 14, 1915, the large congregation was unani- mously divided into three congregations: West Johnstown, Morrellville and Pleasant Hill.
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The congregation has two evergreen Sunday-schools, two Sisters' Aid Societies, two teacher training classes, seal course class, Christian Workers' Societies and prayer meetings, and missionary and temperance committees, which furnish frequent programs.
The official board is: Elder in charge, N. W. Berkley ; other elders, A. U. Berkley and J. E. Blough; pastor, E. M. Detwiler ; ministers, J. C. W. Beam, W. H. Rummel and J. P. Coleman ; deacons, Andrew Blough, H. A. Fitt, Ephraim Hershberger, Isaiah Hershberger, Henry Hofecker, M. L. Hoffman, H. B. Kaufman, Levi Kaufman, W. H. Lape, Samuel Lambert, Edmund Livingston, J. E. Long, Ed. Mos- holder, D. A. Rummel and Elmer Rummel.
CHAPTER VI.
Missionary Activities.
UNORGANIZED.
The fact that in the early history of the Church of the Brethren they had no Mission Boards and handled no mission- ary money is no evidence that they lacked the missionary spirit. The exact opposite seems to be true. Many of the ministers were filled with that spirit in such measure as to put some of our modern ministers to shame. This is true, especially, when we take into consideration their mode of travel, the long dis- tances traveled, and the fact that they gave their time and services free, and in addition to that bore all expenses of the trips themselves.
Members of the older and better organized churches moved into a new settlement, and, missing the uplift of preach- ing services to which they were accustomed, they would send word back to the ministers to come and preach for them and their neighbors. These holy men of God would start out on their trip, either afoot or on horseback, often over rough and winding mountain paths, through dense forests infested by wild and dangerous animals, and often more dangerous In- dians, wading or fording rivers and streams " where bridge there was none," to carry the Message of Hope and Salvation to the rugged pioneers. Frequently they went by twos, per- haps partly as a means of safety and company, but also because it was apostolic.
Meetings were held in the dwellings or barns of the mem- bers, and the neighbors were called in to enjoy the blessings of religious services. These soldiers of the cross preached the unadulterated Word with a zeal and earnestness that made sinners tremble. Additions by conversions and immigration
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soon swelled the number, and the result was an organized church with, perhaps, a minister or two and several deacons from among their own number. This was the method of mis- sion work employed, and who will say it was not practical and effective? Beginning at Germantown and following the line of emigration, churches sprung into existence throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, and finally over the larger part of the United States and parts of Canada. In fact, the same things are being duplicated at the present time, with, perhaps, more modern methods.
Not all mission work was done, however, in connection with emigration. Ministers would go on missionary trips that extended over weeks and sometimes months. They went from settlement to settlement, holding meetings and love feasts. These men endured hardness as good soldiers of Christ. Of- ten they had to expose themselves to the severest weather. The lives of many were, no doubt, shortened through unavoid- able exposure. It would be interesting to name the Lord's ambassadors of these pioneer days, but for fear of missing some who are entitled to notice, we will not attempt it. Suf- ficient is it that their names are emblazoned on the honor roll in the gallery of heaven. The scarcity of the Word, and the long intervals between visits, made the people the more anxious for the old Story of the Cross. Their hunger and thirst for the Bread and Water of Life as indicated in their eager, upturned faces and close attention to the heavenly mes- sage soon made the tired minister forget the perils of the journey.
Coming now to Western Pennsylvania we find that for a number of years the newly-organized congregations were reg- ularly visited by preachers from Eastern and Middle Penn- sylvania, as well as from Maryland and Virginia. In turn, some of our ministers made journeys to Ohio for the same purpose. Within the District the same method was largely employed. The ministers of the strong congregations assisted the weaker and more isolated ones. Thus we find our early
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ministers traveling and preaching in almost all, if indeed, not all, the counties of the District. The Lord blessed their labors and numerous churches were organized.
ATTEMPTS AT ORGANIZED EFFORTS.
John Wise, an active elder and evangelist of Western Pennsylvania, presented to the Annual Conference in 1858 the first request to have a General Mission Board, so as to have a more unified missionary effort. The paper was returned, but Brother Wise was not silent. He interested three con- gregations in his own District, and with Brother P. J. Brown he was sent out on an evangelistic tour ..
In 1870 the folowing query was presented to the District Meeting : " A request to have this Annual Meeting adopt some measure by which we can, as a body of Christians, send two ministers, a bishop and another minister, to California, as mis -. sionaries for one year, to aid the church there in spreading the Gospel of Christ; also to bear their expenses and support their families while they are gone. Answer: Forwarded to Annual Meeting with this amendment, that they be ordained when sent by the church at large."
The Annual Meeting, which was held at Waterloo, Iowa, that year, granted the request, and Brethren Jacob Miller, of Portage, and D. Sturgis, of South Bend, Indiana, were sent. Provisions were made for the expenses of the committee, which it was supposed would be about $300.
In 1871 several different papers and plans were presented on the Home Mission question. "Answer : We can not unite upon any system of missionary labor, and therefore recom- mend each congregation to enable all its ministers to respond to all proper calls, if able, and if not able, to call on the more wealthy branches to assist them."
FIRST MISSION BOARD ORGANIZED.
In 1872 was presented " A resolution by the Plum Creek congregation, instructing their delegates to labor in District Meeting with the brethren assembled, for the adoption of a
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practical home mission, to be under the control of the District Meeting." In conformity with this resolution, a plan was pro- posed for adoption. On motion of John Wise the plan was referred to a committee consisting of H. R. Holsinger, Lewis Kimmel and A. J. Sterling.
On the second day of the meeting " The committee on home mission " reported the following :
" Whereas, This District Meeting has been repeatedly appealed to for a more practical plan for conducting home mission : Therefore, we adopt the following :
" 1st. That each member voluntarily pay into the treasury of the congregation, quarterly, the sum of ten cents, or more, to be quarterly handed over to the District Treasurer, for the purpose of supporting the home mission and defraying other expenses of the District.
"2nd. The ministering brethren to be sent out are to be selected by the congregations, nominating one or more breth- ren from their own, or other branches in this District, and from this number the delegates present shall elect two or more ministers for the ensuing year.
" 3rd. The District Meeting shall fix the support of the evangelists for the ensuing year, and designate their field and time of labor.
" 4th. Applications for ministerial aid may be made by congregations, through their delegates, or otherwise, to a com- mittee of six brethren, two of whom shall be appointed at each annual District Meeting and serve for the term of three years."
This plan was adopted almost unanimously, and it is re- garded as one of the most important actions taken by the District since its organization. The meeting then proceeded to elect by ballot and casting lots a committee, or a Mission Board, resulting as follows: C. G, Lint and Joseph Berkey, three years ; H. R. Holsinger and Lewis Kimmel, two years ; J. P. Hetrick and J. I. Cover, one year. The meeting author- ized the committee to take such action in the home mission cause as in their judgment emergencies may require. Hiram Musselman, Scalp Level, was elected treasurer for one year.
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In 1873 J. P. Hetrick and J. I. Cover were reelected mem- bers of the Mission Board. Stephen Hildebrand and Joseph Berkey were chosen evangelists for 1873. The treasurer re- ported a balance of $51.75 in the treasury.
A call had come to the Board for help on the borders of the Montgomery church in Clearfield County. Just to show how cautious they were in expending the mission money I will here give their report for 1873 :
"We, the brethren whose names are hereunto set and who were by the District Meeting appointed to inquire into the call from the Montgomery Branch, Clearfield County, Penn- sylvania, find that the place is situated at the foot of Boom's Mountain, distance from Peter Beer sixty-six miles, or from Brother Berkey's 112 miles. From Brother Berkey's to Broth- er Beer's there is no likely cost, but from Brother Beer's to Boom's Mountain it will cost at least $5 each. They can not serve for less than $2 per day. We rate them to ride thirty miles per day. We do not allow them pay for Sunday preaching, unless sickness or death calls them home. Recapit- ulation : Wages per day, $2; whole distance (to and from), 224 miles ; time going and returning, seven and one-half days. Remuneration and expense of traveling for both, $25; amount in treasury, $51.75 ; less $25, balance in treasury, $26.75. This balance will support them at the above rates nearly seven days each. H. R. Holsinger, J. P. Hetrick, J. I. Cover, committee present. Rest absent. Dale City, June 2, 1873."
In 1874 the funds for the Mission Board and the funds for the current expenses of the District were separated and the latter raised by special solicitation.
In 1878 a change was asked for in the following paper : "We the Brethren in council assembled on the 16th day of May, 1878, deem it proper to ask this District Meeting to re- consider the home mission question, either to improve or drop it. On motion the chair appointed a committee of three to revise and improve the present plan. The committee re- ported the following: Whereas, The District Meeting has been solicited to amend the plan for conducting the home mission,
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therefore we adopt the following: First. That the Missionary Board hereafter shall consist of three members instead of six, who shall be elected by the District Meeting in the same man- ner as heretofore and for the same length of time. Second. That the Missionary Board shall see to it that some suitable person or persons be appointed in each church to call upon the members quarterly to receive contributions to the home mission fund, which contribution shall be promptly forwarded to the home mission treasurer for the purpose of supplying the home mission of Western Pennsylvania. Third. That the Mission Board have power to send some elders or ministers to assist such churches as are not active in the work, to endeavor to build up an interest, especially among the officials of such churches. That hereafter the Mission Board shall have the power to appoint evangelists in the manner following: Each congregation to nominate some elder or minister from its own or any other congregation as a board of evangelists for the year from which the Mission Board shall elect their evangelists as circumstances may demand. Fifth. That application for ministerial aid may be made by the congregation through their delegates or otherwise to the home mission, consisting of three brethren, one of whom shall be appointed at each annual Dis- trict Meeting to serve for the term of three years. A. J. Sterling, Joseph Berkey and J. W. Beer, committee. Approved by the meeting." New members on this mission Board were Silas C. Keim, three years, Joseph I. Cover, two years, and C. G. Lint, one year.
In 1879 four papers were presented to the meeting, several of them urging the laity to be more liberal in their contributions for the preaching of the Gospel to outside people, and the others asking Annual Meeting to adopt the " Brethren's Work of Evangelism."
In addition to the brethren already named the following also served on the Home Mission Board up to 1881 : John Wise, James Quinter, J. C. Johnson, Stephen Hildebrand, H. R. Holsinger and J. W. Beer. The evangelists were : Joseph
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W. Beer, Joseph I. Cover, H. R. Holsinger, John Wise and John B. Wampler.
Up to the year 1881 the annual receipts for home missions were small. Some years the treasury was reported to be empty and in no year did the amount reach $75. So we need not be surprised at the following paper from the Dunnings Creek church in 1881 :
" Inasmuch as the home mission work has not been as suc- cessful as would be desired, we ask the Western District of Pennsylvania to consider the following proposition or reso- lution :
"' Resolved, That the Home Mission Board be composed of lay members and deacons-that no minister be required to serve as a member of the Board. It shall be the duty of the Board to solicit funds and appoint and send evangelists.'"
This resolution was passed at the Quemahoning church May 25, 1881, but was not placed on the printed Minutes. At this meeting the members of the Mission Board whose term was unexpired tendered their resignations, which were ac- cepted. In accordance with the above resolution the following brethren were elected: Thomas S. Holsinger, three years ; Mahlon W. Keim, two years and Philip F. Cupp, one year. The organization was : Brother Holsinger, Foreman; Brother Cupp, Secretary ; Brother Keim, Treasurer.
In 1884 papers were presented from Brush Valley, Cow- anshannock and Glade Run congregations, setting forth that they were without resident ministers, and praying District Meeting to look after their spiritual wants. These papers were put into the hands of Brethren Joseph Holsopple, Hiram Mus- selman and J. J. Blauch for an answer. This is their report : " We, your committee, beg leave to recommend Elders C. G. Lint, J. C. Johnson and Lewis Kimmel as a 'committee of supplies ' to attend to the wants of these congregations." The report was unanimously accepted.
The following year, in response to a more urgent call for help from the Cowanshannock church, the " supply commit-
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tee " was increased by adding Elders Joseph Berkey and Mark Minser.
In August, 1885, the supply committee visited the above- named congregations and rendered them the help they were calling for, and in 1886 the number of this committee was re- duced to two members ; viz., Joseph Berkey and John S. Hol- singer. The same year (1886) the duties of the Home Mis- sion Board were thus defined: First. To notify every con- gregation in the District that they are expected to pay quar- terly into the mission treasury "as the Lord has prospered them." Second. To send ministers in response to the call of isolated members, as evangelists, whose duty it shall be to preach the Gospel in its primitive purity as preached and practiced by the Brethren. Third. They shall pay the ex- penses of the evangelists out of the funds of the treasury of their Board. Fourth. They shall also pay the expenses of the supply committee. At the same meeting the treasurer re- ported an indebtedness of thirty-one cents.
The treasurer's report for 1886 shows the total receipts to have been $207.98, and the expenditures $169.74. This was by far the most money that had passed through the hands of the Mission Board in a single year up to this time.
In addition to Brethren Holsinger, Keim and Cupp, above mentioned, the following brethren served on the Mission Board prior to 1895 : Charles S. Griffith, Philip Shumaker, Christian B. Kimmel and William J. Bowser.
In 1894 the Manor congregation presented to the District Meeting a new plan for carrying on the mission work of the District. After being discussed it was entered upon the Minutes, to be disposed of the following year. In 1895, after being amended, it was passed as follows :
" First. District Meeting shall select a committee of five brethren in full sympathy with mission work and the order and usages of the church, part of whom shall be ministers, part deacons, and part lay members, and no more than two of either. This committee shall be known as the Mission Board of the German Baptist Brethren of Western Pennsylvania.
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Their term of office shall be five years, except those first chosen, one of whom shall serve for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years and one for five years.
" Second. It shall be the duty of this Board to organize by electing one of their number foreman, one to act as secre- tary, and one as treasurer.
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