USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 38
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8 In 1913 the old church was sold and a new church was built on Race St., 50 by 80 feet, brick, which was dedicated February 1, 1914.
469
TULPEHOCKEN CHURCH.
FIRST LOVEFEAST HELD IN HEIDELBERG HOUSE.
Extract from Elder John Zug's record :
" 1869, October den 15, und 16ten.
Wurde zum ersten mal Liebes und Abendmahl gehalten in dem Heidelberg Versamlung Haus, von der Tulpehocken Gemeinde von Lebanon und Berks Co. Es war schön angenehm Wetter während der ganzen Zeit, und Freitag Abends bei dem Abend- mahl herschte eine angenehme Stille bei der Volksmenge im Haus und zusehende und der Herr war mit uns.
Die predig Brüder die gegenwärtig waren von den angrenz- enten Gemeinden und Districten der Brüderschaft, waren Elder und Bruder David Merky, Elder und Bruder David Eshleman von Maiden-Creek, Elder und Bruder William Hertzler von Conewago, Dauphin Co Bruder Samuel Graybill von Weis- eichen land, Lancaster County, Bruder Samuel R. Zug, von Mastersonville, Bruder Jonas Price, von Hatfield, Montgomery County, Bruder Daniel und Jacob Hollinger von Ober Cumber- land, Bruder George Smith von Schuylkill Co. und Bruder Joshua Koenig von Berks Co. Maidencreek District. Diese oben erwehnten Brüder predigten aus dem Wort des Herrn zu den Menschen während der Zeit das die Versamlungen im gang waren, welche anfingen Freitag Morgens den 15ten. Octo- ber um 9 Uhr, und Samstags Mittag um 12 Uhr zu ende ging als den 16ten.
Des Herrn 'Abendmahl und Brod brechen wurde geleited durch den Eltesten und aufseher Bruder von der Tulpehocken Gemeinde. Die lehr Brüder John Hertzler und Abraham Pfautz, von der Kleine Swatara Gemeinde, waren auch gegen- wärtig, aber sie entschuldigten sich weil sie so wie einheimisch und nahe bei uns sein, und üeberliesen es den vorerwehnten Brüder.
Im ganzen genommen, waren die Versamlungen gesegnet mit Gnade und Liebe Gottes. Demselbigen Gott der allein weise ist, sei ehre durch Jesum Christ in ewigkeit. Amen. Römer, Cap. 16. v 27
Das vorhergehende ist geschrieben für Unterricht und An- decken für die Nachkommeschaft in der Tulpehocken Ge- meinde, und soll aufbewahrt bleiben in der Gemeinde bei den vorgesetzten Brüder. So viel von mir, einem geringen alten Bruder von etwa mehr als 72 Jahr alt
JOHN ZUG.
470
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Sunday Schools .- The first Sunday School was organized by George Bucher in the Cornwall House (now Midway district ), in the year 1880. This was kept up for several years. In 1881, Bro. Cyrus Bucher organized the first Sunday School in the Heidelberg House. This also was of short duration, owing to the fact that following year, Bro. Bucher moved to Astoria, Ill. At present, there are four schools, viz .: Heidelberg, Tulpehocken, Myerstown and Richland. These schools owe their existence to the Heidel- berg school, which was reorganized in the year 1891, with John Herr as superintendent, and N. P. Gibbel, assistant superintendent, Ed. H. Kurtz, secretary, and S. G. Spayd, treasurer. At this time very few of the members took an interest in Sunday Schools. There were no members as teachers, and even the officers, aside from the superin- tendents, were outside of the church. However, by the grace of God, in the course of a few years nearly all became members of the church. In 1897, the Tulpehocken and Midway Sunday Schools were organized, W. H. Ober- holtzer, superintendent, and F. L. Reber, assistant of the Tulpehocken, and Benjamin Smith, superintendent, and Joseph Wilhelm, assistant of Midway. In 1901, a Sunday School was opened in Richland for the winter months, with Isaac King, superintendent, and Jacob M. Gettel, assistant. This was kept up for two winters. Second year Jacob Dillman was superintendent. In 1911, this school was re- organized for the year round, with Harry Hacker as super- intendent, and Michael Kurtz, and Jacob Wenger as assist- ants. The Myerstown Sunday School was organized in fall of 1910, with W. H. Oberholtzer as superintendent, and Peter Phillippy, assistant. Each of the respective schools have an enrollment of 100 and over. The present super- intendents are, viz. : Heidelberg : H. F. King, C. R. Bucher; Tulpehocken : Samuel Wenger, David Layser; Myerstown : W. H. Oberholtzer, Peter Phillippy ; Richland : F. L. Reber, Jacob Wenger.
In the fall of 1911, the Tulpehocken Sunday School was closed, and not reopened in the spring, on account of its close proximity to Myerstown and Richland, being only
471
TULPEHOCKEN CHURCH.
about one and one half miles distant from either. In the spring of 1912, a Sunday School was organized in the Mill- bach House, with J. L. Royer as superintendent, and Baron Heisey and Harry Dubble as assistants. This seems to be a very promising field for Sunday School, having over 100 enrolled, with an average of about 8o. On November 16, 1912, a local Sunday School meeting was held at the Tulpe- hocken House, and November 8, 1913, a joint Sunday School meeting of the Tulpehocken and Midway Churches was held at Myerstown. In December, 1911, a Sisters' Aid Society was formed with headquarters in Richland, Mary Hess Reber, President; Mary Brubaker, Secretary; and Lydia King, Treasurer. There are in progress three weekly Bible classes, viz., Myerstown, Richland, and Reistville. Under the blessing of God, there was a steady growth in the Tulpehocken Church. At the time of organization, 1841, there were 50 members. Under the Eldership of John Zug, and Christian Bucher up to 1901, the church grew to the number of 483. After the division of the district, December 16, 1901, under the Eldership of John Herr, up to 1911, the church grew from 300 to 400, the present membership. Praise God from whom all blessings flow !
BISHOPS OF TULPEHOCKEN CHURCH.
I. Jacob Pfautz, 1841-
2. John Zug, 1861-1873.
3. Christian Bucher, 1875-1901.
4. John Herr, 1901-
1
CHAPTER IV.
SPRING CREEK CHURCH.
At the division of Big Swatara Church in 1868, Spring Creek Church had as officers : Jacob Hollinger and William Hertzler, Elders; and Joseph Hollinger, minister; and Abraham Balsbaugh, Samuel Gibble and Daniel Hollinger, deacons. About 250 members. Elections for deacons : 1869, Joseph Witmer and Isaac Struphaar; 1873, M. R. Henry and J. H. Longenecker; 1881, Henry S. Zug; 1885, Daniel Struphaar and Benjamin Longenecker; 1890, S. Z. Witmer and Jacob Heagy ; 1895, John Booser and Allen D. Bucher; 1900, J. H. Gingrich and Jos. B. Aldinger; 1904, Andrew Clendenen; 1903, Harvey S. Gibble; 1906, George Hoffer.
Election of Ministers .- 1869, Geo. S. Becker and Daniel Hollinger; 1876, J. H. Longenecker; 1878, Cyrus Bom- berger; 1881, John Ensminger; 1887, D. Struphaar and Alfred B. Gingrich; 1894, H. B. Hollinger and S. Z. Witmer; 1900, Allen D. Bucher; 1906, Daniel K. Kreider; 1909, Jacob H. Gingrich; 1910, Aaron H. Hoffer.
Ordinations Since 1868 .- 1893, Geo. S. Becker and Jacob H. Longenecker ; 1903, Cyrus Bomberger ; 1905, Alfred B. Gingrich; 1909, H. B. Hollinger and S. Z. Witmer. Elder George S. Becker died December 4, 1904, in his 76th year, and his wife the day following, in her 78th year, buried in one grave, in the Spring Creek Cemetery.
The old Spring Creek meeting-house, near Hershey, on the late Henry farm, was built in 1848, of limestone, 38 × 42 feet. In this house the meeting was held which divided Big Swatara district in 1868. In 1854, the Cone- wago meeting-house was built, less than two miles north of where Elder George Miller was buried in 1798. In 1869, a meeting-house was built, known as South Annville, 21/2
472
SPRING CREEK MEETING HOUSE.
OLD SPRING CREEK MEETING HOUSE.
181-6
-
473
SPRING CREEK CHURCH.
miles south of Annville. This was the first house built after the division. In 1886, the first lovefeast house was built near the old Spring Creek House, and known by the same name, 50 X 80 feet, with basement, and the old house was converted into a dwelling for the janitor.
The Palmyra House was erected in 1892, and is 40 X 50 feet ; and the Annville House, built in 1906, 48 X 78 feet, was the second lovefeast house in the Spring Creek district.
Another lovefeast house was built in 1911, known as the Bachmanville House, 40 X 55 feet, and dedicated May 16, 1912. John Herr and Rufus P. Bucher preached the dedi- catory sermons. The Building Committee consisted of J. B. Aldinger, A. H. Hoffer, J. F. Booser, Wm. Gruber, A. Y. Gruber. All these meeting places are well supplied with shedding for teams, and their aggregate cost is over $30,- 000, free of debt.
The first Sunday School, organized by authority of the church, was in the Spring Creek House, in 1889, and was kept up ever since; that at South Annville in 1891 ; Cone- wago in 1893; Palmyra in 1894; Bachmanville in 1908; and Annville in 1907. All these schools have been reorganized from year to year ever since.
The Missionary Committee of the Spring Creek congre- gation consists of Frank S. Carper, Aaron Grubb, and Harrison Gipe. The Sunday School Advisory Committee is composed of Geo. W. Henry, A. G. Longenecker, Aaron Grubb, W. E. Glasmire, and Benj. Ebersole.
In the spring of 1912, Spring Creek Church district was divided into three separate churches, which were all organ- ized soon thereafter, viz. : the one retaining the name Spring Creek, having the Spring Creek and Palmyra Houses, and ministers : J. H. Longenecker, Elder ; and deacons, Andrew Clendenen and Geo. Hoffer. A few weeks after organiza- tion, Frank S. Carper was elected minister, and Harrison Gipe and Milton Basehore, deacons. In the fall of the same year, Elder S. R. Zug, and J. C. Zug, a minister, moved here from the Elizabethtown Church. On September 6, 1913, J. C. Zug was ordained to the Eldership by Elders
474
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
S. H. Hertzler and John H. Witmer. The membership is 254.
BISHOPS OF SPRING CREEK CHURCH.
I. Jacob Hollinger, Elder,
2. Wm. Hertzler, Assistant Elder, 1868-1877.
3. Wm. Hertzler, 1877-1893.
4. J. H. Longenecker, 1893-
CHAPTER V.
MAIDEN CREEK CHURCH.
Maiden Creek Church is located north and east of the city of Reading. It contains territory that is of historic note in the Church of the Brethren. Northkill congrega- tion, Falkner's Swamp, and Oley are within its bounds. As early as 1724, Peter Becker preached at Oley, and a love- feast was held. A number of members joined the church. The church was from the first a prey for Moravian and Ephrata missionaries, and that spirit has not died out to this day. Elder George Kline ministered to them for many years.
In 1770 about twelve families were identified with the Oley congregation. Twenty persons were in communion, as follows : Martin Gaby, minister, and wife; John Yoder, minister, and wife; Conrad Price and wife, David Price and wife, David Kinsey and wife, Christian Kinsey and wife, Peter Kleine, Elizabeth Ellis, Margaret Harpine, Catherine Plank, Daniel Kleine and wife.1
August 12, 1780, at a meeting held at Little Swatara, Elders Christopher Sower and Martin Urner ordained Mar- tin Gaby as Elder, and Bro. David Kinsey as minister, in the Oley congregation.
Owing to frequent removals, and being a hotbed of sec- tarianism, the church did not prosper. Even to this day, there is no church in our district that is making less prog- ress, although lawful efforts have been made to revive the work, but in vain. Pricetown meeting house is the second or at most third meeting house built in this country by the Brethren. At this time it is the only original house stand- ing without being remodeled, in a fairly good condition.
The deed to this property is well preserved by the church, given in the year 1807, by Elder Martin Gaby.
1 Brumbaugh's History, p. 298.
475
476
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
" This denture made the 16th day of Sept. in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and Seven, Between Martin Gaby of Ruscombmanor Township in the County of Berks, and State of Penna., the Elder, and Susanna his wife of the one part, and the Society called Old Baptist Society, in and about the Township of Ruscombmanor Aforesaid, of which the said Martin Gaby, David Kinsey, John Beyler and Christian Kinsey are the present Trustees of the other part Witnesseth, that the said Martin Gaby and Susanna his wife for the promotion of the Gospel, and for and in consideration of the sum of Five Shillings to them in hand paid by the said, etc., etc.
It is a fact, however, that the house was built about thirty years before the deed was given, as may be seen by an article which appeared in The Reading Eagle of August 18, 1894. This article in the main is correct. It is here- with given in full:
" At Pricetown, on an eminence near the fork of the road, leading to the ruins of the Oley Furnace, stands the old stone church of the German Baptist denomination, popularly known as Dunkers. This is said to be the oldest building of the kind in the United States. It was erected in 1777. In its archi- tecture it has not been changed a particle since, though its walls show the wear of the elements.2
"Ministers of the denomination who have traveled all over the country, occasionally visit the building, and these say that while there were churches of this kind built sometime before the date just mentioned, all these have disappeared or were re- modeled to such an extent as to make it impossible to see what the original building looked like. But the one at Pricetown re- mains unchanged and will probably stand as it does today for many years to come, since good care is taken of it.
"It is a plain 30×25 one story building with a 16×16 ad- dition, both parts being constructed of rough stone. The walls are nearly two feet thick and have outworn several shingle roofs. In the early part of the last century, love feasts were held in this building regularly.
" The cooking was done in the addition for which purpose it was erected, and the sisters then brought the food into the main building, where the feast was held. In those days, a culinary
2 The Germantown house was erected in 1770, but has been altered.
0
PRICETOWN MEETING HOUSE. THE OLDEST UNALTERED MEETING HOUSE IN THE BROTHERHOOD.
MOHRSVILLE MEETING HOUSE.
MOHRSVILLE CEMETERY.
477
MAIDEN CREEK CHURCH.
department was distinctly necessary here. People from all over the country and from many beyond its borders attended these feasts. There was no other Dunker Church then within a radius of 40 miles, and with the exception of the Wertz and Spies churches there were no other houses of worship for a great distance. Services held in the old Dunker church were always well attended, no matter how bad the weather. But now at least a dozen churches have sprung up in the territory formerly covered by this one.
" The first members of this denomination who reached Amer- ica landed in 1719, having emigrated from Holland and Ger- many. The greater number settled in Germantown, but a few reached Oley Township and Lebanon and Lancaster counties. From 1730 to 1745, they were numerous in Oley, but by 1760 many had moved away. In 1724, a general meeting which was attended by members from all over the colonies was held in Oley in one of the large farm houses. There was no house of worship in that section at this early date. In the same year that this big meeting was held in Oley, an extended pilgrimage was made by 14 brethren to all parts of America where there were Dunkers. This was called an 'Apostolischer Kreutzung.' Seven of these Brethren were on foot and seven on horseback. 'At all points they passed where there were Dunkers living, they stopped several days to preach the Gospel. In many places the whole party of fourteen stopped at one place. In 1742, another well attended conference3 of this denomination was held in Oley.
" About the year 1766, Martin Gaube,4 one of the most en- thusiastic of the Oley Dunkers, became of the opinion that the church could do much more work if it had a regular building in which to worship. By this time there were quite a number of Dunkers in what is known as Ruscombmanor and Alsace townships, so Mr. Gaube decided to move to the former place and build a meeting house on his own account. He purchased a number of acres of land of Conrad Price, who then owned all the land on which the present village of Pricetown stands, and about the year 1775, erected a dwelling on his tract.
"Two years later he built the meeting house. From 1778 to the opening of the last century services were held here about 7 times a year by itinerant ministers. Between 1775, when Gaube
3 This was not a Brethren conference but one of the several instituted by Zinzendorf .- EDITORS.
+ Gaby.
3
478
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
moved to Ruscombmanor into his newly erected house, and 1778 when their meeting house was finished, services were held during the summer under a large oak tree that stood alongside the Gaube residence, and in winter in his house or barn. It is traditionary that these open air services always attracted such large crowds that, although the tree's shadow was large, many had to stand in the sun, which was considered a great concourse in those days of widely separated homes. The meeting house was afterwards erected quite near this tree, and the house of Mr. Gaube.
" This tree" stands today. It must be considerably over 150 years old, but its appearance suggests a tree in its prime. It casts its big shadow over its old companion, the meeting house, and far beyond into the graveyard which is just back of the house of worship. Its height is over 60 ft. and the trunk has a di- ameter of about 5 feet.
" The lower part of the tree appears to be solid, which prom- ises many additional years of life for the historic old oak. As is shown by the picture accompanying this article the tree is not gnarled or scantily branched, but it exhibits all the vigor of a young tree.
"In 1807, Martin Gaube conveyed to the Baptist Society, com- posed of members in Ruscombmanor and the surrounding town- ships, a one Acre lot of ground and the house of worship erected thereon, together with the burying ground bounding the church on the west side. Outside of the private burial places, this was the first graveyard in that section of the country. Before the erection of the numerous other churches all people who had no burial places of their own interred their dead here irrespective of denomination.
" The trustees of the society at the time Mr. Gaube gave the church and ground were: Martin Gaube, David Kinsey, Chris- tian Kinsey and John Beyler. Among the principal members were the Kenzie, Rublemoyer, Faint and Price families.
" Between 1807 and 1830, the church flourished but then many of the members gradually moved away. Shortly after 1832, it is said that there was not a single member living in the town- ship. There were, however, a few in Alsace, who kept their eye on the property and gave Lutheran and Reformed ministers the privilege of using the building occasionally.
5 The old oak tree has since given way to the elements, and is no more, but one very big maple tree still remains on the south side of the grounds.
479
MAIDEN CREEK CHURCH.
"They also allowed a Union Sunday School to be held in the Church. This Sunday School has been kept up every year ever since, and, outside of Reading is the oldest in the county. Among the early ministers who occasionally preached in the meeting house were : George Price, John Price, Henry Kassell, (Cassel), John Tzug (Zug) Samuel Harley, Jonas Price, William Hart- zell (Hertzler) and Christian Bucher.
" Sometime before 1846, Samuel Fox moved from Alsace to Ruscombmanor. Mrs. Fox, who was a very enthusiastic worker, of the denomination, was instrumental in getting Dun- ker ministers to visit the place more frequently.
"On Christmas eve, 1846 Rev. Tzug held services, and from that time on ministers paid regular visits to the place, and the church commenced to assume a more thriving aspect. Jeremiah Rothermel, of Temple, was the first regular minister of the church. Since his election, services have been held every six weeks. He delivered an occasional sermon up to a short time before his death, which occurred a few years ago. Subse- quent preachers were: Augustus Hoch, of Pricetown, Jacob Yoder of Centreport, David Eshleman of near Centreport who was made a bishop while preaching here; Joshua and Israel Koenig, Chas. Madeira, Henry Kline, of Muhlenberg, and Jona- than G. Reber of Centreport. The last two are serving at present (1894)
"To this day, the meetings are in most cases well attended by people who are not members. Protracted meetings are held nearly every winter. Services are always attended by members of the church from distant parts of the county, even during inclement weather, when the carriages of the members can be seen going through the village. They use only the very plainest pattern of carriage, and they are very nearly all alike, dura- bility and strength being the primary consideration. When the writer visited the church on a recent beautiful Sunday fore- noon, the services were opened by the singing of a familiar German hymn by the congregation, the preacher reading off line after line to his audience.
" The interior consists of a plain room. The walls are en- tirely free of paper, paintings, fresco or kalsomine. The win- dows are without ornament or decoration of any kind. The seats are plain wooden benches with a straight board for a back. There is no pulpit or pulpit furniture. The preacher is not even given the prominence of having a raised platform on which to stand while addressing his audience. His bench is no softer
480
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
than that of any of his hearers. He has a long table in front of him, on which is placed his Bible and hymn book. Back of the table stands a long bench. His bench and desk face the audience, and this is the only distinction that his office affords. The graveyard just back of the church, the wall of which can partly be seen in one of illustrations accompanying this article, presents an appearance as plain and unassuming as the edifice. There is a high and substantial wall around it. None but the very plainest of tombstones are allowed to be ereceted here, not a particle of ornamentation being tolerated, high stones and monu- ments being out of the question, as are also ornamental fences. In this burial ground there are no family plots, but all rest side by side like members of one family. Around the church are scattered a number of big trees, and under these hitching posts were formerly planted. One of the finest of these trees was struck by lightning several years ago and subsequently had to be removed. Since then a comfortable and substantial shed has been erected along the side of the graveyard wall.
" Martin Gaby died in the year 1812, and was buried in the Pricetown Cemetery. The inscriptions on the tombstone are in German and somewhat hard to decipher. As nearly as can be made out it is as follows :
Hier ruhet Martin Gaby Er wurde geboren den gten tag May, 1742 und Starb den 20ten January, 1812 Er war ein lehrer der Deutschen Täufer Gemeinde Wurde Alt 69 yr. 8 mo. 10 tag"
Elections held before Organization .- April 8, 1864, an election was held at the house of Bro. Jacob Yoder for two deacons, but after the election, three were declared elected viz. : A. Godwalt, V. Hartman, S. Klein. Present: Elder John Zug, Joseph Merkey, David Merkey, Jacob Kline, John Hertzler, George Gibble, and John Merkey. May 15, 1865, an election was held at the house of Bro. Valentine Hartman
481
MAIDEN CREEK CHURCH.
for a minister, in the presence of Christ. Bomberger and John Zug. The lot fell on Bro. Augustus Hoch; at the same time, Bro. Jacob Kline was advanced to the second degree. 30 votes were cast. Bro. Hoch refused to serve. He was admonished time and again, but still refused, and also blas- phemed the Brethren and ministers, and was finally dis- owned.
April 28, 1866, an election was held for a minister at the house of Jacob Yoder, and the lot fell on Jeremiah Roth- ermel. At the same time, three deacons were elected, viz .: Jacob Yoder, John Kemerer and Emanuel Yoder, in the presence of Elder John Zug and officials of Little Swatara Church.
Apparently about this time a separate organization was effected. The minutes were lost.
The above elections were all held in this district while yet identified with the Little Swatara Church.
There are two church houses : Mohrsville and Pricetown. Mohrsville House, built 1867, brick, capacity 400, valua- tion $2,000, and Pricetown House previously described.
MOHRSVILLE HOUSE REMODELED.
April 15, 1899, it was decided to remodel the Mohrsville meeting house so as to be suitable for lovefeast occasions.6 Considerable work had to be done to get the basement into a proper condition. New benches were placed in the main room, a platform was erected, with other minor changes.
Lovefeasts were held before this meeting house was re- modeled at the following places, viz .: Elias Geib's near Fleetwood; George Hess's, near Fleetwood; Mary Levan's, near Pricetown; 1887, Daniel H. Reber's, near Bernville; 1888, John Kline's, near Bernville; 1890, Friend William Ernst's; 1891, Daniel H. Reber's, near Bernville; 1892, Henry Miller's, at Bern; 1893, Harrison Stoudt's, near Centreport; 1894, Sister Rachel Fox, Stoudt's Ferry Bridge; 1895, Isaac Degler's, south of Bern.
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