USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 22
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The Home Department of this Sunday School, the first: work of the kind, was organized, November 5, 1896. Elmira Price was made superintendent.
From the beginning there was preaching, if possible, every two weeks, after Sunday School. Bro. J. T. Myers did most of the preaching and did it free of charge; but Royersford was never lax in giving proper financial aid to those whom she called in to preach. In May, 1894, the mis- sion volunteered to pay $25 toward paying the Parker- ford minister if he would preach for them every other Sun- day evening. March 6, 1897, it was decided to have regu- lar Sunday morning preaching. The principal ministering Brethren who have assisted the church at this place are J. T.
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Myers, J. P. Hetric, John Isenberg, Jay G. Francis, Lewis Keim, Jesse Ziegler, and Abraham L. Grater.
While many members had moved into Royersford, yet revivals did considerable in building up the membership. The first revival lasting one week, was held by Jesse Ziegler. There were no visible results. A year later J. T. Myers held a few meetings. Soon after they closed, Frank Roeller joined the church, placing his membership at Green Tree. He is the first fruits of the Royersford Mission.
In January, 1894, Bro. Myers held a series of meetings for two weeks with the result that nine entered the fold. I. N. H. Beahm held meetings for three weeks in February, 1895. He was assisted by J. G. Francis, who gave Bible readings in connection with the services. Two were added to the church, and were the first from Royersford to place their membership at Parkerford. Bro. Beahm preached some doctrinal sermons which made considerable stir in the town.
J. T. Myers, Jesse Ziegler and Frank Holsopple held a series of meetings in the fall of this same year. Seven were awakened and were the first to be baptized in the baptistry. The baptism took place, January 24, 1896.
In October, 1896, Bro. W. J. Swigart came two weeks. While there was only .one accession, he awakened consider- able interest and no doubt did much to prepare the church for the harvest that soon followed. This harvest was the direct result of the labors of Bro. F. F. Holsopple, who garnered nine into the fold.
In the fall of 1897 Elder D. F. Stauffer of Benevola, Md., and J. G. Francis conducted meeting. Four were added to the church. The total number baptized at Royersford up to 1898 was thirty-three. The number that had moved in was forty-seven. Deducting two deaths, the membership, January 1, 1898, was thus seventy-eight.
THE CHRISTIAN HELPER SOCIETY.
On January 2, 1894, it was decided to organize a Chris- tian Helper Society, and W. S. Price, Wm. Nyce, C. F. McKee, Frank Roeller, Annie Wells, Emma Tyson, Sallie
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Isett, Elmira Price, and Irene Frock were appointed a com- mittee to get it in shape. The idea was to get a society that would help the church, not one that would run away with it. Finally on May I of this same year, after two or three times reporting progress, the committee reported that it had or- ganized. W. S. Price was elected chairman and E. L. Markley, secretary. Two committees-the Sunday School and the Lookout-were immediately appointed. The good that this society did in inspiring the members and in build- ing up the young in Christian work was very great. It proved itself a worthy companion of the Sunday School. A Junior Christian Helper Society was also organized with Bro. W. G. Nyce in charge. Several of the churches of the Schuylkill Valley followed the lead of Royersford and or- ganized Christian Helpers Societies. The name here was changed July 6, 1903, to Christian Worker Society.
A Sisters' Missionary Circle was organized in July, 1897. While clothing was gathered and sent to missions in the cities, flowers to cheer bestowed, and sewing done for the home poor, yet the main object at organization was to assist in paying off the church debt. In 1900 they paid $200 on the mortgage. April 15, 1901, they gave $100 toward pay- ing a note. These facts certainly proclaim that the sisters were doing something.
ROYERSFORD ORGANIZED.
It was decided, April 2, 1900, to have Elder J. P. Hetric come to conduct the organization of the mission into a sepa- rate congregation, with Elders J. Z. Gottwals and A. L. Grater present to assist. The minutes are as follows :
" ROYERSFORD, PA., Jan. 7, 1901.
"Royersford Mission convened in meeting for the purpose of organizing said mission into a German Baptist Brethren Church. Elders present organized by electing J. P. Hetric chairman and Jesse Ziegler as secretary.
"The boundaries of this organization shall be the borough lines of Royersford and Spring City, with the understanding that any modification of such lines as may be deemed necessary
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shall be possible by the mutual agreement with churches concerned.
"Name .- It was decided that the name shall be the Royers- ford Brethren Church.
"Officers .- It was decided further that two deacons should be elected. The choice fell upon Bro. C. F. McKee and Bro. W. S. Price, who were duly installed into their office by Eld. J. P. Hetric. Sister Price not being present she will be received at a later meeting.
" The choice of presiding elder fell on Bro. J. P. Hetric.
" Bro. B. Frank Roeller was elected clerk of the church, and Bro. C. F. McKee was elected treasurer.
" JESSE ZIEGLER, Clerk."
It seems that there was some difficulty over this organiza- tion, and the committee from Annual Meeting was called in. So we have the following :
"To all whom it may concern, Greeting. This is to certify that the committee appointed by the Annual Meeting to visit the churches of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey recognize the organization of the Royersford church.
" Respectfully submitted "W. R. DEETER "L. H. DICKEY "D. HAYS
Com."
February 20, 1902, a committee was appointed to see about getting a pastor. In three days' time sufficient money had been subscribed to support one. But subscribing the money was not the only requisite for getting a pastor.
J. Linwood Eisenberg had been elected to the ministry here, and on November 29, 1903, he was advanced. Bro. W. G. Nyce had been elected at Parkerford before the or- ganization of Royersford; and J. Y. Eisenberg had for years been living in Royersford, so the church was well supplied with resident ministers. But there was no pastor. Bro. C. F. McKee was also elected to the ministry here, October 24, 1906. But this was only a step preparatory to his be- coming pastor of the Green Tree Church. He was advanced
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January 19, 1907, and on April 7 following was given his letter of membership.
Bro. Alva J. Specht, of Ohio, was secured as pastor. He had been teaching. He came to Royersford, July 1, 1908. He was a minister in the second degree. He was well liked, but notwithstanding resigned his pastorate, May 12, 1909. The church accepted his resignation and passed resolu- tions expressing appreciation of his services.
Bro. A. W. Dupler, of Ohio, was unanimously elected pastor, June 25, 1909; and Bro. Quincy Leckrone was called, October 3, 1910. Bro. Leckrone still serves the charge. He is a clear thinker and able speaker.
It became necessary to increase the body of deacons; and November 29, 1903, Bro. B. Frank Roeller and William Harley were elected to this office. The board of deacons was diminished by one when Bro. C. F. McKee was called to the ministry. So we find that on April 7, 1907, two more were elected-W. J. Wadsworth and Alvin P. Harley.
The first year the work at Royersford cost the Brethren there $53.62. For the nine years previous to 1907, the ex- penditures amounted to $8,299.79, or a little less than $1,000 a year. In 1908 there was paid out $3,037.47. In this same year the church was chartered.
The present membership is one hundred and two. The Sunday School has but one hundred and ten members but this does not include the Home Department and the Cradle Roll. There is a Teacher Training Class of fifteen. The Sunday School is thoroughly graded.
CHAPTER V.
HARMONYVILLE CHURCH.
Harmonyville is a small village about a mile from the famed Falls of French Creek, in Chester County. It has a graded school and a Brethren's Church. The church was organized, January 25, 1913, with about 70 members, a Sunday School of 159 scholars, thoroughly up-to-date, and a mid-week prayer-meeting. The pastor is Bro. W. G. Nyce; the deacons are Jonathan H. Keim, Leonard Keim, Thomas Brewer and Edgar K. Lloyd; the trustees are Hiram Keim, Jacob H. Stager and Jonathan Keim. At present the church has no elder.
The prominent name in connection with the work at Har- monyville is Keim. Dr. Isaac N. Urner, in his history of the Coventry Church, of which Harmonyville till its recent organization, was a part, says: "Rev. David Keim . . . in 1845 moved to Warwick Township, and soon commenced building up a Brethren interest there. His labors were blessed, and he lived to see the interest grow and develop into the present Harmonyville Church, with its fine, com- modious meeting-house. He was a bishop in the Brethren Church."
Harmonyville is only a few miles from Nantmeal, where a Brethren's mission was kept up for many years, but the two were entirely distinct, nor is the Nantmeal Mission in its death known to have given any members to Harmony- ville.
Originally the Brethren preached in the old school-house a short distance out from the village. David Keim preached here before he moved up to Harmonyville. In a year or two a new and larger school-house was erected in Harmonyville, likely in 1846, and the services were trans- ferred to the new house. Here the Brethren continued to worship till the meeting-house was built in 1880.
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Harmonyville Sunday School is not a new institution. It was started in 1859 as a union school, the Methodists also worshipping in the school-house. The first superintendent was George Wennings, a Methodist, with Bro. Jacob Ehr- good as assistant and Bro. Jonathan Keim as secretary. Other Brethren active at the beginning were Hiram Amole, Keziah Amole and Keziah Keim. The second year Bro. Ehrgood was superintendent. In 1861 Jonathan Keim went west but returned two years later. He was now made superintendent and continued until the Sunday School had been in the church for a few years. The Methodists, having built a church in 1878 at some distance, withdrew and left the Brethren in exclusive control. As superintend- ent Bro. Keim was succeeded by Bro. Stephen Brownback, a deacon and son-in-law of Elder David Keim. He con- tinued in charge till the spring of 1894, when he moved to Philadelphia, where he became an equally prominent Sunday School worker. Hervey Keim now became superintendent at Harmonyville. He was followed by Leonard Keim. Harry Keim is the present incumbent.
The Sunday School is the strong arm of the church at Harmonyville. As stated, it has an enrollment of 159. There are two organized adult Bible classes, numbering 45 members each. The adult members are drawn from a radius of three miles. The school is graded throughout, there being twelve classes in all. This Sunday School takes an active part in the County Sunday School organization; and District Sunday School conventions have been held here. Harry Dickinson, teacher of the male organized adult Bible Class, is mentioned as a worker worthy of note. There are a Cradle Roll, Home Department and Teacher Training Class. Harmonyville has a front rank Sunday School.
A Christian Helper's organization was started here, Jan- uary 5, 1900. It labored with the general organization in the Schuylkill Valley. The local organization was discon- tinued; and a Working Committee of Five was appointed July 21, 1906, to supervise all evening meetings.
As to the church property-the ground was given by
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Samuel Keim, father of Jonathan. As stated the house was erected in 1880 at a cost of $1,000 above the generous free labor of members and the ground. It is a stone structure 30 X 40 ft. There is a frame vestibule in front, about 10 ft. X 10 ft. In 1895 a pool was constructed out in the yard, at a cost of $21.74. A stone annex 191/2 X 30 ft. was built to the rear, for Sunday School purposes, in 1909, at a cost of a little over $500. The church is lighted by an acetylene gas plant which was installed at a cost of $300. There are twenty jets within the building and one outside. The upkeep averages throughout the year a cost of 35 cents per week. It is said to be the best lighted church for miles and miles around.
When the Sunday School addition was dedicated, Sep- tember 5 and 6, 1909, there was held a Grand Family Re- union of all who had ever been connected with the work at Harmonyville.
A number of revivals have been held here. The most notable was the one held in 1886 by Bro. J. T. Myers, when 22 were converted. There were ten converts in 1903, when Bro. Chas. Bame of Philadelphia did the preaching.
The first business or council meeting was held at Har- monyville, December 2, 1893, the work being all the time till 1913 a mission of Coventry. From 1893 Harmony- ville, however, has had her own minutes. At the outset Elder J. P. Hetric was chosen chairman; H. C. Keim, secretary ; and J. H. Stager, treasurer. A Financial Com- mittee of three was appointed : J. H. Stager, J. H. Keim, and David Haldeman.
The Coventry council decided, November 26, 1887, on request from Harmonyville members, to hold a love-feast at Harmonyville. This was likely their first feast.
July 24, 1909, a request was presented at the Coventry council, also from Harmonyville, to allow a separate organ- ization at that place. The Coventry council did not object if the Harmonyville members wished thus to organize. For some cause the organization was not effected, as we have seen, until January 25, 1913.
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THE MINISTRY.
As we have seen, the ministry of the Brethren at Har- monyville began with David Keim. The Keim family has been so prominently, so extensively, and so continuously connected with the work at Harmonyville, that a short sketch of the family is in place. We glean chiefly from the History of the Coventry Church by Dr. Isaac Urner.
The first of the Keim family came to America about 1709 and settled originally in Oley Township, Berks Co. Sub- sequently members of the family moved out in different directions. One branch located in Reading, one in Bucks Co., and a third in Chester Co., at Yellow Springs. The head of this last branch was named Hans or Johannes,- in English, John. Afterwards this Hans settled at or near the present village of Harmonyville, in Warwick township. He had four sons,-George, John, Peter, and Stephens.
George Keim was the grandfather of Elder David Keim. The parents of Elder David were Jacob Keim and Hannah Switzer, daughter of Ulrich Switzer and Hester Urner. The property of Hans Keim, great-grandfather of Elder David, was still in the Keim family in 1898, its owner then being Jonathan Keim of Pottstown.
Deacon Jonathan Keim, whose name has frequently been mentioned in connection with the Sunday School, is a nephew of Elder David and father of Lewis Keim. His father Samuel gave the ground for the church. In his old homestead three generations of Keims have been reared, each consisting of four sons and two daughters.
David Keim was born in 1802 and was evidently elected to the ministry before 1845. He was likely ordained before 1872 as no record of his ordination is given in the minutes which were first kept in 1872. He died in 1897; aged about 95 years. As a preacher he was very conscientious, ever warning against false teachers. He was deliberate, yet earnest in speaking. He was liberal in giving, having started the fund for building the Harmonyville church with a subscription of $100.
Lewis Keim is the second Harmonyville preacher. For his biography see Geiger Memorial and Coventry Churches.
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William G. Nyce is really the first pastor of the Har- monyville Church. He was born, October 12, 1869. He was an aggressive church worker in Royersford, with his membership at Parkerford, when in 1900 he was called to the ministry by the Parkerford congregation. He married Lena Keim, daughter of Jonathan, of Harmonyville, and November 1, 1905, moved to this place. When the church was organized here in the present year, he was unanimously elected minister or pastor, with the understanding that his duties were to begin at once. The entire care of the church here devolves upon him.
THE DEACONS.
The first two deacons of Harmonyville were Jonathan Keim and Stephen Brownback. They were elected at the Coventry council, August 7, 1880, the year in which the Harmonyville house was built.
Brownback moved to Philadelphia in 1894; and Thomas Brewer was elected to fill the vacancy, November II, of the same year.
The trustees are Hiram Keim, an old stand-by, Jonathan Keim, and Jacob H. Stager. As before stated, Jacob Stager was elected treasurer at the beginning. So acceptable have been his services that on the organization of the church, he was reelected to the position for life.
The Hamilton brothers-John and Frederick-were bachelors for a long time, finally married, but never had children. They left a sum of money to the Coventry Church, known as the Hamilton Fund. The Fund figures frequently in the worthy doings of the Coventry congrega- tion. They lived in Harmonyville territory, and so are now properly claimed for this congregation.
CHAPTER VI. BIOGRAPHICAL.
A. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE ADAM MARTIN.1
In the year 1733, I was strongly moved to repentance and a change of life, and all without any man's intervention, which confused me so that I did not know what to do. For my heart was troubled. Wherever I went or was, my conscience was so disturbed that I avoided all company and felt grieved at any vanity I met with. I was constantly frightened and alarmed, for my conscience smote me every- where; besides I was young, bashful and timid. I therefore went about like a lost sheep, and thought all people better than myself, which opinion indeed I still have. I never looked for much from men, and if I occasionally listened to some one preaching, I was not frightened by it, because I felt myself more damned than any preacher could damn me; nevertheless some little hope remained, and I thought per- chance I might yet be saved. Being in such a condition, I was baptized on my faith in the year 1735. This I did to honor God in Christ Jesus and intended to follow him; but had no further thought about the piety of a community, because my inner troubled state did not permit me to think about other things. All my thinking and striving were only as to how I might enter the kingdom of God.
After my baptism, when alone in the woods, I knelt down behind a tree and prayed. After I had finished, it came into my mind to open the New Testament, and whatever I found under my right thumb that should be my precept dur- ing life. Then I turned up: "Study to show thyself ap- proved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2: 15). This troubled my mind excessively; sometimes I
1 From The Chronicon Ephratense.
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took it to be a temptation; then, again, as if I had tempted God; and again that the Spirit had mocked me. Taking all together I did not know what to make of it. To become a workman in the church of God, that I dared not harbor in my mind. Soon after I was led into such temptation for about sixteen weeks that I incessantly heard nothing but : "You are damned! You are damned!" This frightened me so that I enjoyed neither sleep, nor eating nor drinking. My father asked me what was the matter with me, but I dared not tell him, for I thought that never before had a person lived on earth in such a damnable state. At last I. was delivered out of this bondage, received pardon, and be- came a recipient of the gracious visitation of my God in Christ Jesus, and of the power of regeneration, of which before I had known nothing. Thus by grace and compas- sion alone I became one of the redeemed of the Lord. After this I became cheerful and joyous in my Saviour, Jesus Christ, diligently read the Bible, exercised myself in prayer, took pleasure in divine things, and meddled with nothing but what concerned my salvation; besides I held the Brethren in high esteem and had a sacred regard for everything good.
It happened in the year 1737 that my Superintendent (Martin Urner ) was called upon to go to the Great Swamp, in order to baptize several persons. When he announced this at the meeting and asked who was willing to go with him, I was willing to go. After our arrival, when the meeting was over, the persons to be baptized were intro- duced, and a passage from Luke XIV was read to them, about the building of towers and waging war, which also was customary among them even in Germany; for when I was baptized this surprised me, and I did not know what to think of it. It was done as often as persons were to be baptized, so that you did not know whether you were to build or not, to go to war or not, or whether God had 10,000 and the devil 20,000 men. As soon as you came to the water the hymn was usually sung: "Count the cost says Jesus Christ, when the foundation Thou wouldst lay," etc., which A. M. (Alexander Mack) had composed already in
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Germany. When these confused transactions were now also enacted here, as was customary, it suddenly seized me so that my limbs trembled, and it flashed like a flame through my whole being, and before I knew it I heard my- self speaking in an overloud voice. I was frightened at my- self, for I thought of nothing less than speaking. I said that it was not the Lord Jesus' intention to bring such things before candidates for baptism, for their purpose was to enter into their covenant with God by baptism, and to build upon the rock Jesus Christ; those who wished to build a tower besides the temple of God might have such things brought before them. This speech frightened everybody, and all were silent and dumb. At last our Superintendent, M. U. (Martin Urner), of blessed memory, said, "What shall we do then, for something must be said to the people." Without taking thought I answered : " The eighteenth Chap- ter of Matthew, about exhortation and punishment, might be read "; which proposal was adopted from that hour, and is still customary with them to this day.
This was the first stumbling block I found in their doc- trine. But because they adopted my suggestion throughout the whole country, and no person moved against me, but all were surprised and thought that this movement on the part of a young man which they saw and heard was the work of the Spirit of God, I greatly honored them, since they in so childlike a way gave all honor to God. Moreover they now noticed me more, especially did my Superintendent love me until he died, and he was much grieved when he had to lose me. But I did not respect the household of the Congrega- tion, and nothing of the kind touched me; but I was earnest in my calling to gain favor before God by my life and be- havior. I took no offence at any person, nor did I seek their esteem; I only endeavored to follow the dictates of my conscience. But it happened by and by that they, contrary to my wish, chose me as their Superintendent, after I had already obediently moved across the waters of the Susque- hanna.
Before this occurred it happened that Count Zinzendorf and many of his Brethren came into the country and occa-
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sioned a great stir, especially by his conferences. And be- cause all denominations were invited to them, I too was de- puted by my Superintendent to attend them. When I arrived at the conference, which was held at Oley, I found there some of our Baptists, Seventh Day men, Mennonites and Separatists. The Count himself was president, and for three days I heard queer and wonderful things there. After my return home I went to my Superintendent and said that I looked upon the Count's conferences as snares, for the purpose of bringing simple-minded and inexpe- rienced converts back to infant baptism and church-going, and of erecting the old Babel again. We consulted with each other what to do, and agreed to get ahead of the dan- ger, as some Baptists had already been smitten with this vain doctrine, and to hold a yearly conference, or as we called it, a Great Assembly, and fixed at once the time and place. This is the beginning and foundation of the Great Assemblies of the Baptists. After this general meeting had been established, the opportunity was offered to speak of various matters whenever we met. .
(After referring to disputes in which he took part at the Great Assemblies, he continues :) It may be thought that I have deviated too far from my reasons why I left the Bap- tists ; but no, these are the very reasons, for I took offence at the foundation and origin, because the originators deviated from their aim and basis, which in my opinion is the love of God towards all men, and formed a sect like the Inspired, out of the great awakening which had taken hold of them in Germany, and aroused strife and hatred by their disputes.
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