USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 40
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There were 195 members in the new church, the names of which will all be found in the history of the Tulpehocken Church prior to the division.
Ammon H. Brubacher was elected to the ministry March 28, 1904; Jay G. Francis was received by letter as a min- ister, June 13, 1905; Abraham Z. Brubaker was elected August 30, 1909; John H. Smith was elected deacon March 23, 1903 ; Henry M. Patches, August 30, 1909. William A. Forry was received by letter as a deacon August 24, 1908, and George Mckinney, July 23, 1911.
Martin Heisey was ordained and A. H. Brubacher ad- vanced to the second degree of the ministry August 30, 1909.
April 2, 1912, at a Council Meeting held in Lebanon William A. Forry was elected to the ministry and Allen Edris to the deacon's office. Jan. 18, 1913, Samuel Wenger and Howard Weiss were elected to the office of deacon.
August 25, 1913, A. H. Brubacher was ordained to the eldership, and A. Z. Brubaker advanced to the second dgree of the ministry.
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MIDWAY MEETING HOUSE.
LEBANON BRETHREN CHURCH.
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THE MIDWAY CHURCH.
July 17, 1912, Joseph Wilhelm was relieved of his office. September 7, 1912, John H. Smith was relieved of his office, and on January 18, 1913, disowned by the church.
August 30, 1909, J. G Francis was silenced.
February 16, 1913, George Mckinney moved to Shamokin.
Mar. 23, 1914, J. G. Francis was reinstated to the min- istry.
The church has been growing steadily since the organiza- tion with Elder C. Bucher and later John Herr, elders in charge. Notwithstanding the church's difficulties at times, there was a goodly number of accessions. Instead of serv- ices at the several churches every four weeks, there are serv- ices every two weeks, and since the church owns her own house of worship in Lebanon, there are services in the fore- noon and evening every Sunday. The Sunday Schools have both become evergreen and have each been supporting an orphan in India and also contributed to the orphanage work in the district. About 50 of our Sunday School pupils have become members of the church.
The present officials are as follows: Elder Jno. Herr, Elder in charge, non-resident; C. Bucher, Martin Heisey, and A. H. Brubacher, Elders; J. G. Francis, A. Z. Brubaker and William A. Forry, ministers; N. P. Gibble, Mohler Bucher, Henry M. Patches, Allen Edris, Samuel Wenger and Howard Weiss, deacons.
The present membership is 246.
The Midway Church has three houses of worship, one at Midway, one at Cornwall, and one on south Ninth St. in Lebanon. All are frame buildings. The size of the Mid- way House is 80 ft. by 50 ft., built at a cost of $3,850.65, in 1895; building committee, Benjamin Smith and Jeremiah B. Light. Bro. Smith took sick during the time of building when Elder C. Bucher with Bro. Light acted as building committee. The house was dedicated October 27, 1895, with preaching on Saturday evening, October 26, Sunday morning and evening, October 27. Brethren Amos S. Hot- tenstein and Reuben Graybill were the officiating ministers.
The size of the Cornwall house is 40 ft. by 60 ft., built in 33
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
1871, at a cost of $2,957.29. The building committee con- sisted of Jacob Bucher, Samuel Brubacher, and Jonathan Geib.
The size of the Lebanon house is 28 ft. by 40 ft., built by the "Followers of the Living God" in 1903 and purchased from them by the Brethren in 1908. Brethren N. P. Gibble, A. H. Brubacher and J. G. Francis, purchase committee, bought it for $2,400. With later purchase of more ground and improvements made, the church cost about $3,000.
Midway Church has a Sunday School at Midway house organized March 28, 1897, and one in Lebanon organized on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1899. There are weekly prayer meetings in Lebanon and vicinity,-in the church when no fire is needed, and in the homes of those who call for them, at other times. A Christian Workers' Society was organ- ized in Lebanon in 1907. Quite a number take an active part. The Sisters' Aid Society in Lebanon was organized in 1909 and is under the control of the Sunday School there.
The church in general is in a fairly prosperous condition at present.
A. H. BRUBACHER.
The foregoing account of the Midway Church is sup- plemented by sketches of the work done at Cornwall and in Lebanon. Elder John Herr gives the following history of
" EARLY MEETINGS AROUND CORNWALL.
" Before the Cornwall House was built, there was preach- ing at the houses of members in the neighborbood. The following are at least some of the places where there was preaching : Samuel Brubaker's, Isaac Brubaker's, a preacher, where his grandson Abraham now lives; at Jonas Geib's, at Jacob Bucher's; at Abraham Geib's; at Henry Horst's, Sr., the present mill property; at Peter Heisey's where Bro. Martin now resides; and at Cyrus Brubaker's. At some of these places there were meetings only in the summer time; but Jacob Bucher, Isaac Brubaker, and Abraham Geib had meetings all the year round, every twelve weeks, making regular preaching every four weeks. The other Brethren had meetings only in the summer time and held them in the
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THE MIDWAY CHURCH.
barns. But when visiting preachers came around, they also had preaching in their homes in the winter. Among these visiting preachers were Graybill Myers, Wm. Hertzler, Christian Brubaker, Jacob Reinhold, Adam Hollinger, Jacob Hollinger, Daniel Longenecker, Jonas Price, Adam Brown, and Solomon Sieber, of Juniata Co. These Brethren would hold series of meetings, going from one house to another evening after evening, and sometimes holding meetings dur- ing the day. Lovefeasts were held at Cyrus Brubaker's, Samuel Brubaker's, Isaac Brubaker's, Jacob Bucher's, and at Abraham Geib's. These were held just before hay making, when the barns were empty."
Bro. Abram Z. Brubaker furnished the following history of Bucher's Meeting House, now called Cornwall House:
" Prior to the year 1871, religious services were held by the Brethren in private houses and barns in the vicinity of Bucher's Meeting House. There are several graveyards in this locality. One known as Bucher's graveyard is on a hill near the town of Rexmont; the other, known as Bru- bacher's graveyard, is on the farm of Cyrus Brubacher east of the former place. When burials took place at these places, the funeral services were held either at the house or in a near-by school-house which often proved inadequate.
"As necessity is frequently the mother of invention so inconvenience was the mother of our meeting house. The idea of a union house was frequently discussed by the neigh- borhood's thinkers but no active steps were taken until the summer of 1870 when by chance it happened that Mr. A. Wilhelm, manager of the Coleman estate, of Cornwall, Pa., Ezra Bucher, and J. H. Bucher in conversation drifted to this subject. Mr. Wilhelm, who had the reputation of be- ing a far-sighted man and also of a philanthropic disposition, grasped the situation and said : 'I see the necessity of such a church building and I will give $100 towards building such a house; and I will see to it that Robert and Anna Coleman will also give $100 each.'
" A little later Henry Dohner promised to give one acre of land on the northwest corner of his farm for $300 and to contribute $50 towards the building, provided he could be buried there when he died.
"During the winter of 1870 and 1871, the Brethren took
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
hold of the matter. J. H. Bucher, of near Rexmont, is the owner of a little book in which the subscriptions were en- tered. The subscriptions are headed by the following :
" TULPEHOCKEN CHURCH, Feb. 8, 1871.
" Whereas, we the members of the Tulpehocken Church of the Brethren sometimes called German Baptists and citizens of South Lebanon and Cornwall Townships, Lebanon Co., Pa., are seriously impressed with the necessity of a suitable house for holding religious services at funeral and other occasions, have, therefore, come to the conclusion to erect such a house on a lot of about one acre of land on the northwest corner of Henry Dohner's farm on the old Schaefferstown road in South Leb- anon Township aforesaid, which building shall be erected under the supervision, and remain under the control, of the Brethren.
"At funerals the house and graveyard shall be open for all persons, who may choose to bury their dead there, who have died a natural death and get ministers of any persuasion to offi- ciate at such occasion but at all other times of religious services shall be only for the use of the said Church of the Brethren. Any person wishing to hold a funeral in said house whether they bury in graveyard attached or at some other place shall apply to the trustee living nearest to the house, provided more than one is appointed who shall also designate where to dig the grave.
" The said trustees to be appointed by the aforesaid church and to be members of the church. All persons using the grave- yard are entitled to contribute towards keeping the fence around it in order and repair.
"Now know all men that we the undersigned have agreed to pay the amounts set opposite our names respectively for the purposes above mentioned."
"Then follows a list of the contributors, of which I will name a few: Jacob Bucher, Sr., $100; Jonas Geib, $100; Samuel Brubacher, $200; A. Wilhelm, $100; Robert Cole- man, $100; Anna Coleman, $100; W. G. Lehman, then County Superintendent of Schools, $5, and a host of others. Jacob Bucher, Jonas Geib, and Samuel Brubacher were the first trustees. The last named soon resigned when Cyrus Brubacher was appointed in his place. Samuel Yeagley, C. R. Bucher, and a few others were the carpenters.
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THE MIDWAY CHURCH.
"Later, an additional acre was bought from Wm. Yeagley, so the property now consists of two acres. The building is a 40 × 60 frame structure. A substantial shed was also erected. In 1880, a Sunday School was organized under the leadership of Bro. Geo. Bucher."
Geo. Bucher gives the following account of The Breth- ren's Sunday School at Cornwall:
"The first Sunday School in the Tulpehocken Church was organized at Cornwall, by the Brethren on September 5, 1880, by selecting Bro. George Bucher, superintendent and treasurer, and Bro. Benjamin Smith, assistant superintend- ent. Twenty females and twenty-three males expressed their intention to attend. The instigation of this first Sun- day School came from the heart and mind of the writer. The object was not to substitute the S. S. for proper family training; neither for a stepping-stone to the church in place of the drawings of the Father (see John 6: 44). But I thought by my much absence from home, our children, and others, would have a good place to go, where there were some prospects for them to learning something of Jesus.
" We used nothing but the New Testament, the fount of truth. The Brethren's Hymn Book was used. Thus they learned church service music. We had neither tickets nor pennies.
" The school was partly evergreen. During the winter we had it only on meeting Sundays,-every four weeks. After running two seasons, it stopped for want of support, -not in money, but in officers and teachers. I found it impossible to be present at two places at one and the same time,-at Sunday School and also at church service, and no one else would do it. After the Sunday School's demise, I, as a father, had but one alternative with the children on Sundays-to take them along to church service, if possible. To this and proper family training, the divine record bears ample witness."
Bro. J. G. Francis contributes the following about
THE BRETHREN IN AND AROUND LEBANON.
" The Brethren first began work in the city of Lebanon on the invitation of Mr. Shomo, associated with Mr. Fauber, proprietor of the Union House of Prayer on South 7th
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Street, and of Mr. Young, publisher of a German paper in Lebanon. It was soon after the Cornwall meeting-house was built. These two gentlemen had attended services there and invited Bro. Christian Bucher to preach for them in Lebanon. He entered the open door. At first the preach- ing was irregular and was done only on invitation; but be- fore long the Brethren rented the house for preaching every four weeks. This was about 1873. Bro. Bucher now be- gan to send Bro. John Herr and George Bucher to fill ap- pointments. The preaching was about all German at first, now and then a visiting English preacher would exercise. Bro. Wm. Oberholtzer preached English once or twice.
"By permission of the church, the Brethren Sunday School of Lebanon was opened Easter Sunday, April 2, 1899, in the house of Bro. Michael Zug, 138 Cumberland St., Lebanon, Pa. The school was opened through the efforts of Sister Martha Eckert, who was anxious to have her boys attend a Brethren's Sunday School. Sister Mary F. Zug was made superintendent and her sister Martha Eckert, assistant. The school was opened at 10 A. M. by singing 'Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove.' There was a total attendance of 20.
" Sister Mary Zug was married the beginning of the fol- lowing year to J. G. Francis, a minister from Green Tree. They moved to Reading. The Sunday School was reor- ganized on April 1, 1900, with Bro. Peter A. Smith as super- intendent. But the school did not seem to prosper and was closed July I. Late in the summer of 1901, Bro. and Sister Francis returned from Reading, and others had moved into Lebanon, notably Ella and Anna Biever. The Tulpehocken Church gave consent to reopen the school. December 27, 1901, a meeting with Bro. John Herr in attendance was held at Michael Zug's. The school was reorganized with Peter Smith as superintendent. An Advisory Board consisting of teachers and officers was authorized. It was also decided to have prayer-meetings every Sunday evening at the homes of the members. An effort to secure the Union House of Prayer for the Sunday School was successful, and from thenceforth till the house was bought on South 9th St., the Sunday School was held there. Superintendents of the Lebanon Sunday School following Bro. Smith have been : J. G. Francis, Grant Yeagley, George Keeney, Emory Trim- mer, William Forry and Allen Edris. A Home Department
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of the Sunday School was authorized Aug. 3, 1902. Octo- ber 5, 1902, marks the beginning of the library of the Leb- anon Sunday School, which has attained to a fair size and is considerably used. Since 1903, the Sunday School has been supporting an orphan in India. The Sunday School has also an Infant Roll and maintains Teacher's meetings, and has taken several classes through a teacher's training course.
"The first revival meeting in Lebanon was held by Bro. Edward M. Wenger in March, 1903. One joined the church -Bro. Dana Eckert; and the mother who was the instiga- tor of the Sunday School in Lebanon had the joy of seeing one of her sons brought into the fold. In 1905, J. G. Francis preached for two weeks in his own home. Two were received into the church. A series of meetings was arranged by Bro. Francis, acting under Elder John Herr, to be held in our present house on S. 9th St. David W. Weaver of Reading was secured. Twenty-one came out on the Lord's side. Within a year, Bro. Levi Mohler held another revival, with a result of ten converts. Thus within the space of one year thirty-one were awakened. The Lord was bless- ing the work abundantly. The most noteworthy revival in the last five years was held by Bro. Rufus Bucher when ten precious souls declared for Christ.
"Following the revival in 1908, by Bro. Weaver, a Chris- tian Workers' Society was organized in place of the previous organization known as Christian Helpers. The first presi- dent of the Christian Workers' Society was Dana Eckert, who ably looked after the work till his recent removal to Pittsburgh. Through its offerings taken on Sunday evening the Christian Workers have been able to give financial aid on a number of occasions.
"Under the Sunday School superintendency of Bro. Emory Trimmer, a Sister's Aid Society, formerly agitated, was organized with the unique distinction of being a part of the Sunday School. Bro. Francis was instrumental in hav- ing a Bi-Centennial meeting in Lebanon in 1908.
" Finally when the series of meetings by Bro. Weaver in the South 9th St. house proved so successful, that house was bought. It cost $2,400. Additional ground was added to both sides. The building is frame and capable of seating about 300 persons. The property has been further im- proved and some souls have been garnered."
CHAPTER XI.
ANNVILLE CHURCH.
The congregation known as the Annville Church of the Brethren was organized on March 25, 1912, from ter- ritory and members formerly belonging to the Spring Creek Church. Elder John H. Witmer and Elder S. H. Hertzler were present to assist in the work of organization. The election for officials resulted as follows: Elder A. B. Gingrich, Elder in charge; John H. Gingrich, Treasurer; Jacob Heagy, Clerk.
The boundary line of the territory of this congregation is described as follows : Beginning on the Conewago Hill about midway between Colebrook and Lawn, the line runs in a northern direction to the Swatara Creek to a place formerly known as Maulfair's Mill, thence east along Swatara Creek to a point near Jonestown (the line not fully known at Jones- town), thence south to 16th St., Lebanon City, thence in a bee-line to the road past Henry Herr, deceased, thence by said road to the Horse Shoe pike to the farm known as the Zimmerman farm, thence south in a bee-line across the mountain to a point close to Mt. Gretna, thence west along the Conewago Hill to the place of beginning, leaving Cole- brook in the Annville district. It is bounded on the north by Big Swatara Church and Little Swatara Church, on the east by Little Swatara and Midway Churches, on the south by the Chiques Church and on the west by the Conewago and Spring Creek Churches.
The present official body of this church consists of Elder A. B. Gingrich, Elder in charge; ministers: Elder H. B. Hollinger, A. D. Bucher (2d degree), and Jacob H. Ging- rich ( Ist degree), and deacons: Jacob Heagy, John H. Gingrich, H. H. Gingrich, and Cyrus Winters, the last two having been elected since the organization. The member- ship at time of organization was 134.
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ANNVILLE BRETHREN CHURCH.
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ANNVILLE CHURCH.
The congregation has two houses of worship: Annville and South Annville. At the Annville house, preaching ser- ices are held three Sundays out of four. The Sunday School here organized on May 5, 1907, meets every Sunday in the year. The first Superintendent was A. S. Kreider. For 1914, the following are the officers: Superintendent, C. H. Winters; Assistant Superintendent, Jacob Heagy. The average attendance is 86. There is a Cradle Roll with an enrollment of 30 and a Teachers' Meeting which meets occasionally.
At the South Annville house, services occur every two weeks with Sunday School during the summer since 1891. A. B. Gingrich was the first superintendent. In 1914, the officers were as follows: Superintendent, B. H. Gingrich; Assistant Superintendent, H. H. Gingrich, with an average attendance of 50. A singing school was conducted at this place in 1912 by A. H. Brubacher.
A Sewing Circle with 12 members was organized in 1912 with Katherine Basehore as President and Annie Minnich as Vice President. For the year 1913, the average attendance at weekly meetings was six. The work of the Circle con- sists of making clothing and sending money to missions and needy causes. Clothing valued at $50 was sent in 1913 to Neffsville Orphanage and Brooklyn Mission. Ten dollars was sent to Bro. Warstler, Grand Rapids, Mich., and thirty dollars was given to procure carpet for the Annville house of worship. The officers for 1914 are: President, Leah Hollinger; Vice President, Anna Minnich; Secretary, Susan Ziegler ; Treasurer, Emma Yake.
This congregation has a weekly prayer meeting at the homes of members. The first temperance committee ap- pointed in 1912 consisted of Cyrus Winters, Elmer Minnich, and Aaron Gingrich. Isaac J. Kreider appointed as the first correspondent to the Gospel Messenger still serves in that capacity. The 1914 Temperance Committee is : Cyrus H. Winters, Aaron Gingrich, and B. H. Gingrich. Florence Keller and Cora Kettering are the missionary solicitors.
D. C. REBER,
CHAPTER XII.
CONEWAGO CHURCH.
In the spring of 1912, Spring Creek Church with a mem- bership of 475 was divided for the first time into three divisions: Spring Creek, Annville and Conewago. On March 27, 1912, one hundred and twenty members thus cut off from the original Spring Creek congregation and residing in the southern part of Dauphin Co. were organized into a separate congregation known as the Conewago Church. Elders S. R. Zug and S. H. Hertzler were present to assist in the organization.
The organization resulted in selecting Elder S. Z. Wit- mer, Elder-in-charge; J. S. Baker, Clerk; Jacob W. Brandt, Treasurer. The official body at the time of organization was as follows : Elders Samuel Z. Witmer and Daniel Hol- linger ; Aaron H. Hoffer, minister in first degree; deacons : John F. Booser, J. B. Aldinger, and Jacob W. Brandt, the latter having been elected on the day of organization.
The boundaries of the Conewago Church are as follows : The Conewago ridge in northern Lancaster Co. forms the southern boundary line. Starting at Wagner's Park on this ridge, the line runs northwest to Running Pump, thence along the Lancaster and Harrisburg pike to Royalton; thence in a northern direction toward Hummelstown along Swatara Creek about two miles; thence almost due east leav- ing Stoverdale and Fishburn Church south of the line and Campbellstown north of it, to the western boundary line of the Annville Church; thence following that line south to a point on Conewago Hill about midway between Colebrook and Lawn. It will be seen then that Conewago Church is bounded on the north by Spring Creek Church; on the east by the Annville Church; on the south by Eliz- abethtown Church, West Green Tree Church and Chiques
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CONEWAGO MEETING HOUSE.
BACHMANVILLE MEETING HOUSE.
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CONEWAGO CHURCH.
Church; on the west by Elizabethtown and Big Swatara Churches, and that its territory lies partly in Dauphin, partly in Lebanon, and partly in Lancaster County.
On November 27, 1912, an election was held for a min- ister at the Bachmanville house just before lovefeast. As a result, John S. Baker was elected. Since the organization, eighteen persons have been received into the membership by baptism and two have been reclaimed.
The present officials of this church are: Elder Samuel Z. Witmer, Elder-in-charge; ministers, Elder Daniel Hollinger, Aaron Hoffer in first degree and John S. Baker in first degree; deacons, John F. Booser, Jos. B. Aldinger, and J. W. Brandt.
The congregation has two houses of worship, namely, Conewago and Bachmanville. At each of these places a Sunday School is maintained. At Conewago, J. W. Brandt is the superintendent and the average attendance is 60. At Bachmanville, the superintendent is Thomas Geib and the attendance averages 50. Special efforts are made to bring the Sunday School officers and teachers to the highest state of efficiency by conducting Sunday School meetings or in- stitutes. In this way the teachers are instructed in the principles of education pertaining to correct methods of teaching and to successful management of children.
This congregation is active in the temperance cause. Dur- ing 1913, four temperance meetings were held, which were previously advertised in the local newspapers. The tem- perance committee is composed of Joseph B. Aldinger, Aaron H. Hoffer, and Eli Boozer.
A weekly prayer meeting is conducted at the homes of members, one week at the Conewago end and the following week in the vicinity of Bachmanville.
Brethren John Booser, Jos. S. Risser and Hiram Gibble constitute the missionary solicitors for 1914. Edgar M. Hoffer is the Gospel Messenger correspondent. A charter has been granted for the cemetery at the Conewago house, which is known as the "Conewago Cemetery of the Church of the Brethren."
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The home and chief scene of the labors and activities of Elder George Miller and Elder William Hertzler was the territory now constituting the Conewago Church. And the work of these notable pillars in the church is a constant inspiration to the members of the Conewago congregation. D. C. REBER.
CHAPTER XIII.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
A. GEORGE KLEIN.1
Elder George Klein was born in Zweibrücken, Rhenish Bavaria, South Germany, October 9, 1715, and came to America in 1738, in the ship Glasgow, with 384 other pas- sengers. Walter Sterling was master of the ship. They sailed from Rotterdam, and later from Cowes, England. He landed in Philadelphia, and settled at Amwell, New Jersey.
He was married to Miss Dorothy Rebman. They are buried on a plot near where the North Kill Brethren Church was located, now owned by Percival Troutman. Here lie the remains of Elder George Klein, together with his faith- ful wife Dorothy, and many of his descendants- pioneers, evangelists, and missionary workers. (See Illustration.) The burial ground, graves, etc., were on the verge of de- struction, when Jerome I. Kline, of Reading, Pa., and A. S. Kline, of Upper Bern, Pa., took the matter in hand and got possession of the property. Elder George Klein died January 2, 1783. His wife, Dorothy Rebman, died August 24, 1777. Common plain field stones mark their resting place. On the one are the words "Anno Jan. 2, 1783." On the opposite side is the one word, Vater (father ). On the other stone are the words " Anno, Aug. 24, 1777." On the other side is the word Mutter (mother).
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