USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 19
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March 30, 1910, District Meeting convened in the Rox- bury house of the West Johnstown church. Forty-two del- egates were enrolled. Moderator, P. J. Blough; Writing Clerk, J. J. Shaffer ; Reading Clerk, H. S. Replogle; delegates on the Standing Committee, D. H. Walker and J. F. Dietz.
April 19, 1911, District Meeting was held in the Maple Spring house of the Quemahoning church, and the number of delegates present was forty-three. Glen Hope congregation changed its name to Chess Creek. Moderator, Jasper Barnt- house; Writing Clerk, H. S. Replogle; Reading Clerk, M. J. Weaver; delegates on the Standing Committee, W. M. Howe and Silas Hoover.
April 19, 1912, District Meeting was held in the assem- bly room of the Somerset County courthouse, Middle Creek church, with forty-four delegates in attendance. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Writing Clerk, H. S. Replogle; Reading Clerk, M. J. Weaver. Two new congregations were added to the number; viz., Greensburg and Scalp Level; delegates on the Standing Committee, J. H. Cassady and H. S. Replogle.
March 26, 1913, District Meeting was held in the Walnut Grove house of the Johnstown church, with fifty-three del- egates in attendance. Ryerson Station congregation was, by the consent of both Districts, transferred to the Second Dis- trict of West Virginia. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse ; Writing Clerk, H. S. Replogle; Reading Clerk, G. K. Walker ; delegates to the Annual Meeting, P. J. Blough and Levi Rogers.
April 15, 1914, District Meeting was held in the Scalp Level house of the Scalp Level church, with fifty-nine del- egates enrolled. Two new congregations, Greenville and Trout Run, were added to the number of congregations, making the number thirty-two. Moderator, J. H. Cassady ; Writing Clerk, H. S. Replogle ; Reading Clerk, J. J. Shaffer ; delegate on the Standing Committee, J. J. Shaffer.
April 7, 1915, District Meeting was held in the Maple
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Spring church of the Quemahoning congregation, with fifty- three delegates enrolled. During the year the West Johns- town congregation was divided into three congregations, and so two new congregations, Morrellville and Pleasant Hill, were added to the list. Moderator, W. M. Howe; Writing Clerk, H. S. Replogle; Reading Clerk, M. J. Brougher ; del- egates on the Standing Committee, D. H. Walker and M. J. Brougher.
CHAPTER XI.
Annual Conferences.
According to the best information available seven Annual Meetings of the Brotherhood have been held in Western Penn- sylvania, and all in Somerset County within a comparatively small area.
The first one was held in the barn of Bishop John Buech- ly, in Elk Lick Township, in 1811. In the Minutes of the An- nual Meetings from 1778 to 1909 this meeting is missed. There seems to be no doubt, however, of the meeting having been held there that year. There is a family tradition that Sister Flickinger, who was a daughter of Bishop Buechly, was four years old when the meeting was held in her fath- er's barn, and she was born November 27, 1806.
The second one was held at Glade in 1821. At this meet- ing seven papers were passed upon. I notice but two of these. The question was asked whether brethren may have distil- leries. Answer: It was considered to leave it by what was concluded some thirty years ago, that no brother would be allowed to have a distillery, or to distil ardent spirits. An- other question was whether persons who had been but once immersed might be received into the church. Answer: It was considered that a threefold immersion is the true bap- tism; but if such persons would be content with their bap- tism, and yet acknowledge the Brethren's order as right, we . would leave it over to them, and receive them with the laying on of hands and prayer.
The third Annual Meeting in the county was held at the home of Brother William Miller, not far from Meyersdale, on May 28, and 29, 1841. Fifteen queries were disposed of at this meeting. One query was whether the Brethren prac-
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The Bishop John Buechly Barn in Which the Annual Meeting Was Held in 1811.
ticed feet-washing strictly according to the Gospel. Answer : Considered, after much conversation and reflection, that feet- washing, as practiced hitherto by the Brethren, is according to the Word, and that the mode, as far as we could learn until now, could in no wise be improved. Another question was, whether the Brethren have a right to admit friends, who are not members, to sit down with them at the Lord's supper, if there is room. Answer: Considered, that making a proper distinction between the supper and the communion of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, there could be no objection to admit friends to the supper, when there is room. Still another : Whether a deacon may give testimony to what a teacher (min- ister) has said while there is one or more teachers present that have not spoken, and request him to speak? Answer: Considered that he may, if requested.
The following brethren's names are signed at the close of the Minutes: Daniel Gerber, David Pfoutz, Christian Long, Daniel Arnold, George Hoke, Abraham Yandt, John Hart, John Price, Daniel Reichard, Henry Kurtz.
The fourth one was held in the Grove meetinghouse, near Berlin, in 1849. This was a great meeting in a number of ways. Forty-six queries were considered and passed upon. We care to notice only a few. Article 21. Is the Lord's supper a divine or sacred ordinance? and if so, have the chil- dren of God a right to invite such as are not members to eat
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with them at the same table and time? Answer: Considered, to be a divine and sacred ordinance (as all the Lord's ordi- nances are), and should be eaten by the members only.
Article 35. Whether it would not be more consistent with the Word, if, at the communion, the administrator would give the bread and cup to the sisters, and they divide it, like the brethren, among themselves, and the administrator to pass along, to keep order? Answer: Considered, unanimously, to go on, in celebrating the communion, as heretofore.
Article 39. Whether it would not be more according to the Gospel, in the observance of feet-washing, for the brother, at the head of the table, to wash and wipe the feet of the brother on his right hand, and that brother to wash and wipe the feet of the next, and so on, around the table? Answer: Considered, that as this question has so often been before the council, and that the manner of its observance could not be amended, we are still of the opinion, that the command is fully obeyed, if we wash our feet among one another, as rendered by the German translation ; but we would recommend to each brother and sister, at the earliest opportunity, to obey the command to wash, and that in washing, the members should change frequently.
At this meeting Brethren Peter Long, Andrew Spanogle, and John Holsinger, of Pennsylvania; Joseph Arnold and Jacob Byser, of Virginia, and George Hoke and Henry Kurtz, of Ohio, were appointed a committee to assist in dividing the large Glades church into several congregations.
The names of the following ordained elders appear at the close of the Minutes: George Hoke, J. Showalter, Henry Kurtz, Peter Nead, A. Spanogle, J. Molsbaugh, Peter Long, John Kline, Jacob Saylor, Samuel Wampler, Peter Kober, Jacob Meyer, Daniel Yundt, George Shafer, John Hol- singer, Jac. Stutzman, D. Shoemaker, Jos. Arnold and Thos. Clarke.
The fifth one held in the District convened in the Summit Mills meetinghouse, in the Elk Lick congregation, in 1859. " As usual, a large number of persons assembled on Saturday,
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and a meeting for worship was held in the afternoon. On Lord's Day, the congregation being very large, arrangements were made for having divine service performed in three dif- ferent places in the immediate vicinity of the place designed for the General Council Meeting. These meetings were all well attended, and good attention given to the Word preached.
"On Monday morning the Council Meeting was organ- ized by appointing the following Standing Committee: John Kline, Jacob Thomas, Isaac Pfoutz, Daniel P. Sayler, John H. Umstad, Peter Long, John P. Ebersole, Henry Davy, Jacob Miller, John Metzger, Samuel Layman, David Ritten- house, James Quinter, and John Berkley. Daniel P. Sayler and James Quinter were appointed Clerks, and Daniel P. Sayler, Moderator.
" The delegates then presented themselves, and the papers addressed to the Council were received; and while business was preparing, public worship was, as usual, held on Monday.
" There were represented, in this Council Meeting, eighty- seven congregations. The delegates representing these con- gregations were divided into thirteen sub-committees, and to them were committed the queries designed to come before the General Council, in order that they might report upon them.
" On Tuesday morning the brethren assembled for busi- ness. The meeting was opened with singing and prayer. Aft- er this the object of the meeting was explained. The com- mittees then began to make their reports, and it was ascer- tained that the following queries were before the meeting. These were considered in the fear of God, and examined in the light of the Scriptures, and answered as herein stated : "
Thirty-seven items of business were passed upon. Article 5. Inasmuch as the ceremony used by the Brethren, in re- ceiving members into the church, is thought, by a large pro- portion of the Brethren, to be of too great length, might it not be shortened? And, instead of the questions being asked in the water, would it not be more consistent to ask them in the house, or on the bank of the river or stream? Answer:
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We do not consider it good to make any alterations from the present practice of the Brethren.
The sixth Annual Conference held in Western Pennsyl- vania, convened in Meyersdale, June, 1873. The Standing Committee met and organized on Monday, June 2, and on Tuesday morning the General Council Meeting was opened. At this meeting twenty-nine articles were passed upon. A notice- able feature of this meeting is that committees were sent to eight different congregations to assist in the adjustment of difficulties. The Standing Committee was composed of the following elders: Henry Garst, B. F. Moomaw, S. Garver, M. Cossner, D. P. Sayler, D. Long, David Gerlach, Jacob Price, John Wise, H. D. Davy, John Brillhart, Jacob Garver, D. B. Sturgis, John Baker, Joseph McCarty, E. Eby, John Metzger, Henry Strickler, R. Badger, C. Harader, and J. Quinter.
The last Conference to convene in this District was held in May, 1894, at Meyersdale. The General Conference was opened at 9 A. M., May 29, 1894. The Minutes of this meet- ing cover seventeen large printed pages. Two questions of unfinished business were disposed of, and twelve articles of new business were presented. The report of the General Church Erection and Missionary Committee is both lengthy and interesting. That year the receipts for missionary pur- poses from all sources, were $9,748.39. The Annual Meeting collection was $423.56. At this meeting W. B. Stover and Mary Stover, his wife, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, A. W. Vaniman and Alice Vaniman, his wife, of Topeka, Kansas, and Bertha Ryan, of Chicago, Illinois, were approved as mis- sionaries to India. The understanding, however, was that only three of them be sent at the present.
The Standing Committee was composed of thirty-six eld- ers, as follows : J. W. Eller, W. H. Naff, Levi A. Wenger, D. B. Arnold, W. A. Gaunt, Eph. W. Stoner, Geo. K. Sap- pington, S. A. Miller, F. P. Cassel, C. L. Pfoutz, H. B. Brum- baugh, David Hildebrand, Tobias Kreider, Samuel Sprankel, L. H. Dicky, Wm. Harshbarger, D. Bechtelheimer, A. H.
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Puterbaugh, S. Bucklew, Jos. Amick, J. H. Moore, J. Rufus Gish, M. T. Baer, G. W. Clemens, S. M. Miller, John Zuck, Abraham Wolfe, Isaac F. Rairigh, S. M. Forney, Geo. E. Wise, Chas. M. Yearout, B. B. Whitmer, E. Eby, Abraham Molsbee, John Metzler, and L. W. Teeter. Enoch Eby was Moderator; L. W. Teeter, Reading Clerk and J. H. Moore, Writing Clerk.
It is seen from the few articles noted in the foregoing that many years ago the single mode of feet-washing, sisters breaking bread, and asking the questions out of the water, were contended for. We, today, wonder at the liberality of the Brethren years ago in admitting persons to membership who had been baptized by single immersion; also in per- mitting friends not members to partake of the Lord's supper. In the matter of temperance we have lost nothing, but gained, because we are taking an active part in driving the saloon from our fair land.
CHAPTER XII.
Ministerial Meetings.
In the matter of holding Ministerial Meetings Western Pennsylvania is well in the lead among the Districts of the Brotherhood. The first call for such a meeting came from the Johnstown congregation to the District Meeting of 1892 in the following petition: "We, the Johnstown church of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, petition District Meeting, assembled in the Johnstown congregation, to grant said church the privilege of holding a Ministerial Meeting in the fall of 1892 in the Walnut Grove house." Answer to petition : " Petition granted."
In accordance with the above petition and answer the first Ministerial Meeting of the Western District of Pennsylvania convened in the Walnut Grove church of the Johnstown con- gregation, November 2 and 3, 1892, with J. C. Johnson, Mod- erator and Joseph Holsopple, Clerk. The next meeting was held November 23 and 24, 1893, in the Berkey church of the Shade Creek congregation, with J. C. Johnson, Moderator and George W. Lowry, Secretary. Succeeding meetings were held as follows : October 11 and 12, 1894, Indian Creek ; J. C. Johnson, Moderator; George W. Lowry, Secretary. October 30 and 31, 1895, Elk Lick; J. C. Johnson, Moderator; W. G. Schrock, Secretary. October 20 and 21, 1896, Walnut Grove; George S. Rairigh, Moderator; S. S. Blough, Secretary. Oc- tober 6 and 7, 1897, Middle Creek; D. H. Walker, Modera- tor; J. F. Dietz, Secretary. October 25 and 26, 1898, Shade Creek; D. H. Walker, Moderator; S. S. Blough, Secretary. October 17 and 18, 1899, Maple Spring, Quemahoning con- gregation ; D. H. Walker, Moderator ; S. S. Blough, Secretary. October 9 and 10, 1900, Jacobs Creek; W. A. Gaunt, Mod-
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erator; S. S. Blough, Secretary. October 22 and 23, 1901, Holsinger church, Dunnings Creek congregation ; organization is not at hand. November 12 and 13, 1902, Walnut Grove; D. H. Walker, Moderator; H. A. Stahl, Secretary.
By this time the burden of holding these meetings, on account of the large attendance, becoming great, for three years no congregation called for the meeting. In 1903 the Sunday-school Convention, by action of District Meeting, was ordered to be made self-supporting, by charging for the meals served. This proving satisfactory, a similar action was taken in 1906 in regard to the Ministerial Meeting, with the pro- vision that both meetings be held at the same time and place. This plan has been working well ever since, and meetings have been held annually as follows: July 31 and August 1, 1906, Walnut Grove; Joseph Holsopple, Moderator; H. A. Stahl, Secretary. August 21 and 22, 1907, Meyersdale; Jas- per Barnthouse, Moderator ; J. J. Shaffer, Secretary. August 24 and 25, 1908, Pike church, Brothers Valley congregation ; W. M. Howe, Moderator; William Kinsey, Secretary. Au- gust 24 and 25, 1909, Roxbury church, West Johnstown con- gregation ; J. H. Cassady, Moderator ; H. A. Stahl, Secretary. August 23 and 24, 1910, Elk Lick ; M. J. Weaver, Moderator ; H. A. Stahl, Secretary. August 22 and 23, 1911, Scalp Level ; W. M. Howe, Moderator ; H. S. Replogle, Secretary. August 20 and 21, 1912, Walnut Grove; D. H. Walker, Moderator ; Alvin G. Foust, Secretary. August 19 and 20, 1913, Greens- burg ; J. H. Cassady, Moderator; G. E. Yoder,. Secretary. August 18 and 19, 1914, Meyersdale ; J. H. Cassady, Moder- ator; L. R. Holsinger, Secretary. August 17 and 18, 1915, Roxbury ; W. M. Howe, Moderator; M. J. Brougher, Secre- tary.
I am sure that all who have been in attendance at these meetings are ready to testify that they have received great benefit from them. Many and varied have been the subjects discussed. Great inspiration comes to a large body of min- isters and other workers in meeting together to discuss great and vital Bible doctrines and best methods of accomplishing
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the Lord's work. One who is accustomed to attending these meetings can scarcely see how so many of the ministers of the District can be satisfied to absent themselves from these means of growth and development.
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CHAPTER XIII.
Bible, Missionary and Sunday-School Institute.
" The Bible, Missionary and Sunday-school Institute of the Western District of Pennsylvania of the Church of the Brethren was organized at Scalp Level, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1911.
"This institute is to be held annually, beginning on the second Monday evening of December of each year and closing on the following Friday evening. The committee for the year 1911 was as follows: J. H. Cassady, Chairman; J. L. Weaver, Secretary; G. K. Walker, Treasurer, and G. E. Yoder and H. S. Replogle."
The first institute was held in the Roxbury church of the West Johnstown congregation, December 4-9, 1911, having been held one week before the set time on account of Elder J. M. Blough, who was one of the instructors, and who could not be present later. The instructors were as follows: Sun- day-school Work, R. D. Murphy; Bible (Galatians), W. M. Howe; Bible Doctrine, D. W. Kurtz; Missionary, J. M. Blough, and Travels (illustrated), W. R. Miller. Forty-five ministers were in attendance.
At the Ministerial Meeting at Walnut Grove, August 21, 1912, a decision was passed by which the Bible Institute Com- mittee should consist of three members, one being elected each year. At the same meeting the following committee was elect- ed: J. H. Cassady, three years, W. M. Howe, two years and H. S. Replogle, one year.
The second institute was held in the Meyersdale church December 9-13, 1912. The instructors were Dr. D. Webster Kurtz, Elder T. T. Myers and Elder Wilbur B. Stover, who
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was home on furlough. Thirty-four ministers were in at- tendance.
The third institute was held in the Scalp Level church, December 29, 1913 to January 4, 1914. The instructors were Dr. Kurtz, again, and Elder I. Bennett Trout, and some of the home ministers-P. J. Blough, R. D. Murphy, W. M. Howe and H. S. Replogle. Brother George W. Flory, of Covington, Ohio, gave his address, "The Red Dragon." The number of ministers present was thirty.
The fourth institute was held in the Greensburg church, December 14-18, 1914, and the instructors from a distance were P. B. Fitzwater and T. T. Myers. Only sixteen min- isters were present.
The small attendance of ministers and Sunday-school workers, and the fact that a number of congregations held local institutes brought up the question at the 1915 District Meeting of the propriety of discontinuing the District Insti- tute and urging the holding of more local institutes. The vote, however, favored continuing them.
The fifth institute was held in the Roxbury church of the West Johnstown congregation, and proved a great success in every way. It convened from December 27 to 31, 1915, and the outside instructors were Elders Galen B. Royer and Albert C. Wieand. Field Secretary I. E. Holsinger gave a talk each day on Sunday-school work. Elders M. Clyde Horst, M. J. Brougher, P. J. Blough and W. M. Howe also gave one address each on a vital subject. Attendance of ministers, forty-three.
These institutes are proving themselves a means of thorough instruction and a source of great inspiration. While the night sessions are attended by large crowds, the day ses- sions sometimes are only fairly well attended, and it is felt that a much larger number of ministers and Sunday-school workers should avail themselves of this means of growth and development.
CHAPTER XIV.
Biographies. JOHN ACHE.
John Ache (Aughey) was born in Germany, but was of French descent. Of his ancestry nothing is known now. In 1728 he first settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he married Eliz- abeth Venerlich. Here he also united with the church and was elected to the ministry. Not many years after his election to the ministry he moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and purchased the Ache farm, containing 240 acres, situated one and one-fourth miles south of Masontown. Here he lived until his death in 1808. He was the first member of the Georges Creek congregation and its first elder. He held the meetings in his home for a number of years. During the summer the meetings were held in his large barn. After the Brethren quit holding the love feasts in their dwellings, they usually held them in the Ache barn also.
DAVID ALBAUGH.
David Albaugh, a minister, moved into the Conemaugh con- gregation from Blair County, Pennsylvania, when he was well ad- vanced in years. He had been a useful and influential member of the Frankstown church in his native county. He was a brother of excellent character, and kind-hearted. He labored in the Cone- maugh congregation until his death, which occurred March 2, 1867, at the age of 79 years, 6 months and 7 days. The funeral services were conducted by Brethren Solomon Benshoff, William Byers and Stephen Hildebrand, and his body was laid to rest in the Angus cemetery, near the old Horner meetinghouse.
FRANK ANKENEY.
Jacob and Elizabeth Ankeney, who reside near Elderton, Arm- strong County, Pennsylvania, are among the substantial citizens of that county and he is a deacon in the Plum Creek congregation. Brother Ankeney is a member of a large and influential family of Somerset County, from where he moved when but a child. They are the parents of the following children: Robert, died 1896; Flor- ence, Murray, Frank, Harry and Mary.
Frank was born at Elderton, Armstrong County, September 5,
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Frank Ankeney.
1889. In addition to his public school education, he attended the Elderton Academy, graduating therefrom in 1909. In the fall of the same year he entered Juniata College. After having spent two years in college he taught school during the winter of 1911-12. He returned to Juniata in the fall of 1912 and graduated in the college classical course in the spring of 1914.
Brother Ankeney was elected to the ministry while in col- lege in 1911, by the Huntingdon church. After finishing his work at Juniata, he was educational secretary in the Central Y. M. C. A. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1914-15. During the term of 1915- 16 he is principal of the Elderton High School.
JASPER BARNTHOUSE.
Jasper Barnthouse, only son of William and Polly (Fike) Barnthouse, was born October 7, 1861, in Garrett County, Mary- land, near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia lines. He is a grandson of Jacob and Mary Fike. His grandparents on both sides are of German descent.
Jasper was born and reared on the farm, and by occupation he was a farmer for about twenty years. He received a common
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Elder Jasper Barnthouse and Wife ..
school education. In 1883 he began teaching school and taught twelve winters. His first school was near Frostburg, Maryland. Five winters he taught the home school (Asher Glade) and five years the adjoining one (Sand Spring), and the other term was in the McCabe school.
Brother Barnthouse and Anna Belle Umbel, daughter of Isaac and Mary Catharine Umbel, were married March 30, 1890, Elder Samuel C. Umbel, the bride's uncle, performing the ceremony.
At the age of seventeen, in December, 1878, while teaching the Sand Spring school, and during a meeting held in the same school- house, Jasper gave his young heart to God, being baptized by Elder William Bucklew, in the Buffalo Creek. He was called to the ministry in the Markleysburg congregation, June 11, 1884, ad-
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vanced to the second degree of the ministry in the winter of 1885, and ordained to the eldership July 11, 1896, in the same congrega- tion, by Elders C. G. Lint and Josiah Berkley.
Elder Barnthouse has been one of the most active of our min- isters. For a number of years he spent considerable time in the evangelistic field, holding in all seventy-one series of meetings. These meetings were held in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. He has baptized 616 persons. This does not include those where he held series of meetings and some other minister baptized the applicants, which was frequently done. Up to date (January 1, 1916) he solemnized 103 marriages, anointed 106 sick persons and preached 222 funerals. Altogether he has preached 4,074 sermons.
Elder Barnthouse labored in the Markleysburg congregation until 1904, when he removed to Uniontown, Georges Creek congre- gation, becoming the pastor of the church in that town. This po- sition he has filled ever since. At different times he has been in charge of the Markleysburg, Georges Creek, Indian Creek, Ten Mile, Pennsylvania, Bear Creek, Maryland and Mount Union, West Virginia, congregations. He served as Moderator of District Meeting eleven times and was delegate on the Standing Committee four times.
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