USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 26
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Wilson Brunner, John Detwiler and Jesse Ziegler build- ing committee.
August 17, 1895, Wm. F. Gottshall and Amos Ziegler were elected deacons. Bro. Robert Jones, a deacon from Whiteside Co., Ill., having moved into the community with his family, their certificates were accepted March 14, 1896. In the fall of 1896, Elder A. L. Grater, also from Illinois, moved into this church, and September 4, 1897, he was elected as Elder of the Mingo Church. His son, Jacob Grater, a deacon, was also duly received into his office. The members at Norristown desiring that a greater effort be made in the town to do mission work, the church ap- pointed Sister Elizabeth Grater to take up this work.
December 4, 1897, the church decided to call for next Ministerial Meeting of the District. This meeting, together with a special District Meeting, called to convene at the time of Ministerial Meeting, was held in October, 1898, in the Mingo House.
After making a special effort to build up the work at Norristown it was seen that it was indispensable to the suc- cess of the work there to have a minister live there and give the cause much attention. Early in 1898 Bro. William M. Howe came and took up this work. About this time Levi Ziegler and family moved in from Lebanon County.
The church, having decided that more workers were needed, called Brother Jacob Grater to the ministry and Samuel Jones and Samuel Gottshall to the deacon's office, and ordained Jesse Ziegler to the Eldership on May 5, 1900.
At this time the church also adopted a plan to take care of some bequests that had been made for the maintenance of the several cemeteries of the church, as well as some other endowment funds. A considerable fund has thus been gathered and permanently invested to support the work of the church.
About 1890 the members at Royersford began to have services and Sunday School, and in 1900 organized into a church, thus taking a number of the Mingo members at the time and since, as they have moved into the town.
In 1901, Norristown was organized into a separate
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THE MINGO CHURCH.
church and most of those living in the town and those who moved there since have left the Mingo Church and cast in their lot with the workers there. No less than about sixty members have taken out their certificates in the above two instances.
Daniel P. Ziegler, a minister, with his family moved in from Berks County, and his letter was received, May 18, 1901. In the fall of the same year Bro. Samuel Markley died, aged 67 years. He was a devoted and active deacon for many years and in his departure the church lost one of its most faithful workers.
December 7, 1901, Daniel P. Ziegler was advanced to the second degree of the ministry. It was also decided on account of Jesse Ziegler moving to Reading to elect a min- ister. March 19, 1902, Levi Ziegler was elected.
The cause around the Methatchon House having weakened through members dying and moving away it was decided, December 6, 1902, to discontinue services there for the time. Some effort was made to revive the meetings, but finally the work was abandoned. Jesse Ziegler and family having moved back from Reading their certificate was accepted, March 5, 1904.
Bro. Joseph N. Cassel moved from Hatfield in 1905 and the following spring was elected Superintendent of the Sun- day School at Skippack.
P. A. Smith, a minister, from Reading, with his family having moved into the congregation, their certificate was accepted, March 7, 1906.
Elder A. L. Grater having moved to Norristown, resigned as elder of the church and Jesse Ziegler was elected as Elder and Levi Ziegler and P. A. Smith were advanced to the second degree of the ministry, September 7, 1907.
John Ziegler, a deacon, moved into this church from Berks County and May 5, 1910, the certificates of himself and family were received; at the same meeting, Joseph N. Cassel was elected to the ministry and Reuben Haldeman was chosen deacon.
On Thanksgiving day, 1910, the local missionary and Sunday School meeting was held at Mingo.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
The members at Gratersford having nearly all moved away and the work having decidedly lapsed even after re- peated efforts to revive it and to keep up a Sunday School, at a Council, December 3, 1910, the trustees were authorized to sell the property, which they did. The Mingo Church now has concentrated its efforts at Mingo and Skippack, the members of late years that have not gone into the larger towns having settled more around these houses.
At the present the church has five ministers,-Elder Jesse Ziegler, Elder in charge; three ministers in the second de- gree, Isaac Cassel, Levi Ziegler, P. A. Smith, and one in the first, Joseph N. Cassel.
The official board also includes seven deacons, Andrew Wanner, S. H. Price, Wm. Johnson, Wm. F. Gottshall, Samuel F. Gottshall, John Ziegler, Reuben Haldeman, one church clerk, Messenger Correspondent, a missionary com- mittee of three members, and a membership of nearly one hundred and forty.
The Mingo Church furnished the first foreign Missionary sent out by Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1908 Sister Katherine Ziegler, daughter of Daniel P. and Mary Ziegler, left her mother ( father having died the same summer) for the India Mission-field as the representa- tive of the Sunday Schools of the District.
Bishops of Mingo Church: (I) Henry A. Cassel, 1869- 1883; (2) Abram Cassel and (3) Isaac Kulp, 1885-1890; (4) Frank P. Cassel (non-resident), 1893-1897; (5) A. L. Grater, 1897-1907; (6) Jesse Ziegler, 1907 -.
JESSE ZIEGLER.
HATFIELD MEETING HOUSE.
"
CHAPTER IV.
HATFIELD CHURCH.
It is likely that for a number of years some members were living in this part of the Indian Creek territory, and that services were held once in a while in homes and school houses. As a young man, Abraham H. Cassel taught school in this neighborhood, and it was here that he got his wife, a Miss Rhodes. Among the earliest members here was Caleb Price, who taught school at the Eight-Square School House where the Brethren had preaching. He attended services at Upper Dublin later, was elected to the ministry there, and later moved to Ohio. His sister Mary was also a member early, married Abraham Price of Indian Creek. Among the earliest members, besides Bro. Caleb Price, and his sister, Mary, were :
Old George Fisher and wife, John Kile and wife, Jacob Reiner and wife, Peter Custer and wife, Abel Ballew and wife, and a few other sisters.
The Eight-Square School House .- Here, as in many other communities, in an early day, the Brethren figured promi- nently in combining the educational and religious activity of the community. There was need of a school house in this neighborhood. The community, or neighbors, proposed that if the Brethren would assist in this work, the school house would be built especially large so that the Brethren could hold preaching services therein. The offer was ac- cepted and the Eight-Square which became such a conspic- uous part in the life of this community, was built. I have not been able to fix the exact date when it was built, but events that follow will show the time when history was made in this famous school house; certain it is, that it was built some time before 1840. Bro. Jacob Crauthamel, of Hatfield, says of this period: "I remember going with my parents to the Eight-Square School House to services when
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
I was a small boy. My grandfather (Hunsberger) was active in building it, one of the main men. He was a Men- nonite, but thought much of the Brethren, and invited them to his home for dinner, at time of services. The Brethren had services every two weeks, no one else, but after the Brethren left, the Methodists had services sometimes." Just when these services commenced and when they en- tirely ceased, I can not say, but it was during this period of preaching at the Eight-Square that the foundation of the Hatfield Church was laid, many of the substantial families of the community constituting the foundation stones.
The Revival Services at Eight-Square School House .- I am greatly indebted to our late Bro. Abraham H. Cassel for a brief record of a few services. It will be noticed that services were held, according to this record, at least as early as September, 1839.
"September 29, 1839. 8 sq. School House, Hatfield, Isaac Lawshe John 5: 14. Sin no more lest worse things come over thee, and other passages of the same Chapter.
" William Price, German.
" March 21, 1840. Saturday evening, Hockers old Free School House, on the cow path Road. James Quinter, John 9: 35-6 (text quoted,) he showed, Ist. what believing in him is, then 2nd. that all are not believers, that pretend to be.
" March 22. School-House, Hatfield, James Quinter Acts 16: 16-40 he showed Ist. How happy man was in every event of his life if he is a Christian and gave a striking example of it from Paul and Silas singing Praises to God at midnight when confined in stocks and of their prayer being answered by an earthquake-also of the jailer's question ' What must I do to be saved' Ist. What he did do and how we should take an example of him and do likewise.
" Monday, April 27. School-House in Hatfield. John Price, Sr., I. Tim. 4: 16 (Quoted in English.)
" William Price, Heb. 2: 1-4. Baptismal services, Mary Price, Peter Custer and wife.
"Saturday evening, May 2nd. At Bro. Isaac Lawshe's Wor- rington Bucks County. Israel Poulson I. John 3 : 1-3 (Quoted).
"Sunday Morning 3rd. Israel Poulson, John 14: 1-2 Let not your heart, etc." "Afternoon, Israel Poulson, Rev. 2: 1-8. Quoted.
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HATFIELD CHURCH.
"Pfingsten, June 8. In School House, Hatfield, William Price, Ps 29. (Quoted in German.)
"July 12, 1840. School House Hatfield, (Saturday even- ing,) John Umstead, II. Tim. I Chap. Jacob Reiner a good exhortation.
"Sunday Morning in woods. John Umstead Rom. 12. Wil- liam Preis Rom. 12, Ger. Silas Thomas, Baptized.
" Saturday, August 29, evenings at County line School- House near Lexington. John Umstead, 'I am not ashamed, etc.
"Sunday Morning, New School House, Hatfield. James Quinter I. John 5: 8. (Quoted in English.) 4 Baptized.
" April 4, 1841. School House, Hatfield. William Price, Luke I : 74-75 (Quoted in Ger.)
"(2nd. Day Lovefeast May 22, at Indian Creek,) Sunday Morning-Zuck (Abraham) done the principal Sermon. In the afternoon we held an Election for Ministers, on which occasion the Majority fell upon Jacob Reiner from Line Lex- ington, and Benjamin Harley of Stone Hill."
Bro. Reiner was for many years the Elder of the Hatfield Church, perhaps until his death in 1889, and was especially active, and the main force in building up, and maintaining Pine Run. Under the head of "Protracted Meetings," by Bro. Cassel, I find the following :
"School-House in Hatfield, Christmas 1839, 5 meetings, evening, Wm. Price, John 3: 33-45, (Quoted Ger.), Jacob Reiner, Deut. 32: 29, (quoted in Eng.) Forenoon, James Quinter, Gal. 4: 4-9, Evenings, James Quinter, Phil. 3: 7-9, Forenoon, James Quinter, Mark 8: 38. (These texts quoted in English, at length.)
" School-House, Hatfield, April 18, 1840. Ist. evening John Umstead, John 14: 6 (text quoted, Eng.) Closed with a very warm Prayer-meeting. Morning James Quinter I. Cor. 15: 57-58 (Text quoted.) Noon James Quinter, I. Tim. 5: 24- 25, (Text quoted in English.) John Price, Acts 17: 30-31, (Text quoted, Eng.) Very good. 2d Evening James Quinter I. Cor. I : 23-24 (Text quoted, Eng.) John Umstead a short testimony thereto. 2d. Morning William Price Ps., 2: 8-12 (Text quoted, Ger.) John Umstead, Jacob Stover, James Quinter, no texts. 3 were received and baptized."
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
These quotations are brief, but I think understood. They are exceedingly interesting from several viewpoints. Many of the important men of all the adjoining churches were engaged in establishing this infant church. The character of the texts used from time to time is character istic, and instructive. These quotations fix a definite period when protracted meetings, among us, were in their beginnings. It was a formative period of vast influence for expansion, well illustrated in the work at the "8 square." Here were men who became national figures. The results are interest- ing here, and throughout the territory of the Indian Creek Mother Church, and for this reason I have devoted considerable space to recording these important matters. I hope the long research necessary to gather some details of this earlier period, will be repaid by some permanent inter- est and value of this record.
The First Meeting-House .- The land was donated by Bro. Geo. Fisher, who afterwards moved to Ohio. After some timber had been hauled, before the house was built, the Brethren made some seats beneath the big white oak trees, and William Hertzler, then a young man in the ministry, and unmarried, preached to the assembled Brethren and their neighbors. This was the first service held upon these grounds, an appropriate consecration service. This first meeting-house was built of brick, about 30 by 40 feet, with preacher's platform and stand. The date seems to be about 1851, when this house was built, and it stood only about 15 years. There were at the time of building about 25 mem- bers. The revival services at Eight-Square, often called the " big revival," was the immediate cause for the move to build the meeting-house. Among the converts were: Jo- seph Crauthamel and wife, and daughter Mary, Isaac Huns- berger and daughter Mary, Caleb Price's mother, Elizabeth, Aaron Wagoner and wife, John Münsinger and wife, and others, 15 in all. When these converts from the revival were taken up, the church met at the home of Jacob Huns- berger, the friend of the Brethren. For many facts of this interesting period, from 1850 to 1865, I am indebted to Jacob and Elder Hilary Crauthamel, sons of Joseph Craut-
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HATFIELD CHURCH.
hamel, and grandsons of Jacob Hunsberger, who were prom- inent figures in these times of the "building period."
The Second Meeting-House .- A meeting was called to consider repairing, when it was found that the foundation had given way, the gable was cracked, and the house was too small for the increasing congregation. It was decided to build a new house at once. The old house was torn down, and the brick used in the new house, which is also of brick, and plastered. Joseph Crauthamel was on the building committee and carried the brick, barefooted. This house served the congregation until 1906, when a large addi- tion was built, and a heater placed in the basement. Regu- lar services commenced in Lansdale, in 1888, and in 1896. the present meeting-house there was built. Regular serv- ices are also now held in Souderton. Other church activ- ities, evergreen Sunday Schools at Landsdale and Hatfield, cottage prayer-meetings, teacher training class and teach- ers' meetings are maintained.
May 7, 1874, the District Meeting convened in the Hat- field Church, and again in 1907.
Minutes have been kept only since 1871, and from them Bro. Geo. H. Light, the present church clerk, kindly fur- nished some data.
Ministers .- Elders William Price and Samuel Harley of Indian Creek were prominent in the work in Hatfield, in the earlier years, Harley being Elder in charge until the time of organization. Elder Jacob K. Reiner was born Mar. 22, 1807; elected to the ministry May 22, 1841, and ordained to the Eldership about 1864, at the time of the organiza- tion of the Hatfield Church, and became Elder in charge. Died Jan. 12, 1889, and is buried at Pine Run. Jonas Price, Sr., moved over from Indian Creek, about the time of the revival, later elected to the ministry, and advanced. Moved to Elizabethtown, where he died, and is buried at Price's graveyard, Indian Creek.
Elder F. P. Cassel was the next minister elected in Hat- field. He was born Dec. 16, 1849, baptized in 1865, elected to the ministry before 1879, ordained to the eldership about 1884.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Elder Hilary Crauthamel was born Nov. 14, 1841. He was elected to the ministry Aug. 9, 1884. Some years later he was ordained to the eldership, and had charge of the church for a number of years, during the time of impaired health of Elder F. P. Cassel. Bro. Crauthamel died Febru- ary 14, 1914, and is buried at Hatfield. Ministers elected since : W. B. Fretz, May II, 1889; Jacob M. Booz, Sept. II, 1909; G. H. Light, May 1I, 1912.
Deacons .- The following have been deacons in the Hat- field Church :
James Custer, John Kratz, Jacob Rosenberger, Jonas Cassel, Jacob Detweiler, William Kratz, Joseph Heckler, Peter Frederick, Artemus Rosenberger, Frank Münsinger.
CHAPTER V.
SPRINGFIELD CHURCH.
Just when Greatswamp Brethren Church ceased to exist as an organization can not be determined; but it is prob- able that a few surviving members were the means of reviv- ing the work that finally led to the organization of the Springfield Church. Certain it is, that several of the prom- inent Bishops of the Indian Creek Church, of the past gen- eration, preached in the old union meeting house ; this region had of necessity become a part of the vast Indian Creek domain.
Territorial Extent .- This territory of the Springfield Church is bounded on the east, by the Delaware River; on the south, by the territory of the Hatfield and Indian Creek congregations; on the west, by the Maiden Creek; and on the north, unbounded by any Brotherhood lines. This is a vast region of territory, for the most part, unorganized, extending east and west, 38 miles, and from the southern boundary indicated, northward as far as the habitation of man, covering thousands of square miles, and containing perhaps more than a million of population. Until about 45 years ago, this was a part of the Indian Creek territory.
History of Organized Effort .- While the Brethren began preaching in this territory in 1733, and continued, perhaps, for a century, it is probable that for a few years, at least, preaching had entirely ceased. When the work was re- vived, the center of activity seems to have been moved some distance. According to recollections of the older members, the earliest preaching services that were held in the present organized territory, which led to permanent results, were mainly held in the neighborhood of the present Springfield Meeting-house, at the homes of the following members :
Moses Shuler, Harrison Traumbauer, Samuel Kauff-
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
man, David Yoder, Abraham Stauffer, Peter Kauffman, Henry Mover, Benjamin Price.
Purchasing a House.1-The next step in the development of the work was the purchase of a private home, with the intention of remodeling the same for the purpose of holding preaching services. But before the remodeling, Abraham Hottel offered an acre of ground nearby, for the purpose of building a meeting-house thereon. This offer was accepted, and the same year, the Springfield Meeting-house was built. Brethren Jonas Harley and Henry Price constituted a com- mittee for at least a part of these transactions by the Indian Creek Church, in what was soon to become Springfield ter- ritory.
The Stone Meeting-House .- The deed given by Abraham Hottel, and Hannah, his wife, bears date, April 2, 1866, and was made to "Harrison Trumbauer and Abraham Stauffer, Trustees of the German Baptist Congregation at Springfield, in the county of Bucks." Brethren Daniel Booz, Peter Kauffman, and Henry Moyer, the latter still living, at this writing 1913, constituted the Building Committee. Daniel Booz was a mason by trade, and as such helped to build the walls, and also his son-in-law, Benjamin Price, and Henry Trumbauer. The house is built of stone, with slate roof, and is 36 × 40 feet, with basement, and an added room, 12 X 12 feet. Much was contributed in lumber and labor by the members, and by some who were not members.
Elder S. R. Zug informs me, that in 1866, he held a meeting at Texas in the home of Elder Moses Shuler, and then held a meeting in the Brethen house in Bethlehem, and the next day he went to Springfield to the dedication of the new meeting-house, and attended the love-feast and com- munion services held at the same place. This indicates where services were held at this time.
Work in Bethlehem and Allentown .- A meeting-house was also built in Bethlehem, size 30 by 36 ft., frame, with slate roof. While some members were living in the city, the preaching services continued for a number of years. At
1 This house was re-sold afterwards, and continued to be used as a residence.
SPRINGFIELD MEETING HOUSE.
-
BRETHREN CHURCH, QUAKERTOWN.
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SPRINGFIELD CHURCH.
one time there were more than twenty members living here, but some of them proved unfaithful, some died, others moved away. Some years ago, only a few members being left, services were discontinued, and the house is now falling into decay. Perhaps as early as 1850, preaching services by the Brethren, were held in Allentown. All the ministers of the old Indian Creek Church preached here, including Isaac Kulp and Henry Cassel, who later were Elders in Mingo. These services were continued for a period of more than twenty years, and at times much interest pre- vailed, and about 10 or 15 members lived in the city. It seems, however, there was no effort made at any time to start a Sunday School, or to build a house of worship, the services being held in the homes of the members. Many years ago, the interest was allowed to die out, some of the members proving unfaithful, the services were discontinued, and no effort seems to have been made to revive the work.
Organization .- About two years after the building of the Springfield Meeting-house, the scattered members in this territory were formally organized into the Springfield Con- gregation, in the year 1868. At the time of organization, Elder Moses Shuler was chosen Elder in charge, with Jacob Booz, minister, he having been elected at the time of the dedication of the meeting-house; and Harrison Trum- bauer and David Yoder deacons. Her name, however, does not appear in the District Meeting lists of churches, until 1879; and not until 1881 did her first delegates appear at the District Council. In 1885, and again in 1898, the District Meeting was held in Springfield.
Sunday-School .- In about 1867, a Sunday-school was organized at Springfield, and kept up for some years. Daniel Booz was the first Superintendent, and was followed by Benjamin Price. A feature of this school was a German class, taught by Sister Daniel Booz, some of the members of which committed whole chapters to memory.
After some years this school was discontinued, and no school held for a long time. Some fifteen years ago, the school was reopened, and has continued with much interest, and is at present in a prosperous condition. The Sunday-
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
school in Quakertown is also in a flourishing condition, and both schools seem to be increasing in size and influence.
Prayer-Meeting .- Since much space was devoted in Chap- ter I, to the Greatswamp Church, much that might be in- teresting in small detail must of necessity be omitted in the later life of Springfield. I must, however, call attention to the Sunday afternoon prayer-meeting, that is said to have been maintained for many years. I am well satisfied that this is the type of Sunday afternoon worship which has come down through the church-life from former genera- tions, and is the bond of union with the spirit of the past. Around this home altar, all ages meet to worship, just as they used to do in the early days, and the early years, down in Germantown.
The Emigration .- A few years ago a number of Brethren moved into this territory, in the vicinity of Quakertown, from central and western Pennsylvania. In all about thirty members moved in, including several ministers and deacons. This emigration extended influence and interest into a new community, that soon centralized in Quakertown.
A New Church House .- A small building was purchased, and with a spirit of enthusiasm and united effort, the work of enlarging and improving and remodeling made rapid progress. The house is 36 X 52 feet, arranged for holding love-feast services. There is good interest at this preach- ing point.
Officials, at this writing, 1913, are: Elder Benjamin Hottel, Elder in charge; ministers, William F. Spidle, James F. Ream, John Ackerman; deacons, Henry Trumbauer, Henry Yoder, Allen Mohr, Mathias Steely, Simon Lint, Jacob Fox, Jacob Holsinger, Thomas Norris.
CHAPTER VI.
NORRISTOWN CHURCH.
The earliest preaching services in the vicinity of Norris- town were held at Methatchon. When the colonial gov- ennment confiscated all the property of Elder Christopher Sower, in Germantown, he retired, penniless, with his daugh- ter to this community, and they took up their abode in the spring house loft of some one who befriended him in his distress. During the years of his residence here, he preached somewhere around his home neighborhood, for he preached away from home, during these years. When he died, in 1784, his funeral was held at Methatchon, where he was buried. It is possible that services were held continuously from that early date until a few years ago. For in 1800, and thereabouts, Elder George Price, of Coventry, journeyed more or less regularly from Coventry to Methatchon to hold preaching services.1 Methatchon has much interesting history, which, however, forms no part of this chapter, except to show that the Brethren interest began about two miles from Norristown.
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