USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 47
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"'Resolved that the churches of the Brethren east of the River Susquehanna constitute a district for the more efficient promo- tion of the work of evangelism.'
"There were a few who desired no other organization than heretofore,-while others in argument favored the district effort, yet none seemed to be prepared for any definite action
583
HISTORY OF DISTRICT MEETINGS.
acceptable to the whole. And some of the delegates desired to return home to receive more definite instruction.
"Near the setting of the sun, it was resolved that we adjourn to meet on Friday, the 26th of October, at the same place, at the hour of nine, A. M., for worship-and at 10 A. M. enter again into further deliberations on the same subject.
"Further resolved, that these proceedings be offered to the Gospel Visitor for publication.
" ISAAC PRICE, Secretary.
JACOB GOTTWALS, Moderator."
As looked at from many points of view, this was a regu- lar District Meeting of the Brotherhood. It was called pur- suant to action of Annual Meeting, and professes to have been so called. It was called by one who in a way had been placed by Annual Meeting over the district in question. It had a regular official representation from its churches either by delegates or letter. It was organized by having a moder- ator and secretary and thus preserved a record of its doings. It was the first to send a report of itself to the church paper. It will also be noticed that a record of this meeting was taken some time before the Annual Meeting for a short time forbade District Meeting from so doing; hence no violation of Annual Meeting decision.
This District Meeting stood out through the Visitor as an example to the whole Brotherhood. The District Meetings, however, held the following year in Northern Virginia and in Middle Pennsylvania, did not wholly follow this example.
Some would make it appear that the action of the Annual Meeting of 1856 was a recommendation of District Meet- ings (see Minutes of 1862, Art. 58) but this is putting too much into Annual Meeting's action at that time. Her first recommendation for District Meetings was the recommen- dation of her committee of 1859 made in 1860 after Con- ference had practically given recognition to District Meet- ings. The open unequivocal recommendation for District Meetings did not come till 1866 (see A. M. Minutes).
At the beginning of this article we stated that Elder D. H. Ziegler, of Broadway, Va., claimed for Virginia the honor of originating our District Meetings. But a new claim
584
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
presents itself in the Brethren Almanac of 1913. On page 13, Elder James A. Sell makes the following claim for Gray- bill Myers: "It may not be generally known that the plan of dividing the church into State Districts originated with him. Wherever he went in his frequent visits among the churches of Pennsylvania he talked about it, both in private and in public. To him belongs the honor of bringing to pass the system of State Districts throughout the Brotherhood. He lived to see his plans fully adopted and never, while health permitted, failed to attend and take an active part in the District meetings of Middle Pennsylvania. And such was his inbred modesty that he never referred to the work he did in giving to the church this new order of things. It is also worthy of notice that this departure was adopted with little opposition."
Elder Sell sets aside the claim of Elder Ziegler for Vir- ginia without producing a single reason for so doing. Elder Sell mistakes the Middle District of Pennsylvania for the Brotherhood, a mistake which has also been made for Vir- ginia in Virginia, as may be readily seen by comparing the Conference in Virginia in 1861 with the one in Middle Pennsylvania of the same year. We are ready to acknow- ledge that Graybill Myers gave to Middle Pennsylvania her District Meeting, and that the honor claimed for him above is true of him as regards that state district; but here the correctness of these claims end.
We shall now give the facts in the case as read beefore the Annual Meeting in 1910 at Winona Lake. The first Dis- trict Meeting held after the one at Green Tree in 1860, of which we have learned was the one in Middle Pennsyl- vania in 1861. We give the announcement of Graybill Myers in regard to it in The Gospel Visitor of April, 1861, p. 126. It is headed in The Visitor,
" A GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING.
ALTOONA, PA., March 12, 1861.
" EDITORS OF THE GOSPEL VISITOR :
Dear Brethren: I hereby inform you that the Middle Dis- trict of Pennsylvania has appointed a council meeting for
585
HISTORY OF DISTRICT MEETINGS.
said district, at the Aughwick meeting-house, Huntingdon Co. Mt. Union on the Pennsylvania R. R. is the nearest station. This district lies between the Susquehanna river on the east and the Allegheny mountains on the west. The north and south boundaries are the boundaries of the state. The meeting will commence on the 9th of May, at 10 o'clock in the morning. It is expected that each sub-district will hold a council meeting and be represented by delegates or letter to the district council meeting above named. It is further expected that each sub-district will take the Oregon and home missions into consideration, and present their plans for operation. The proceedings of this council meet- ing will then be presented to the annual meeting for con- firmation of amendment. A hearty invitation is given to all the churches comprised in the district in which the council meeting is held."
"GRAYBILL MYERS."
We shall yet add our remarks on this announcement of Graybill Myers, and shall then leave the matter to the con- sideration of our intelligent, fair-minded readers.
This announcement of Graybill Myers is a thorough, practical, statesmanlike one. If not in the lead like John Umstad, yet with steady continuance when started. It was a wise thing to call attention to the Oregon Mission which was then agitating the Brotherhood. It gave the meeting something to take hold of. It is not likely that a District Meeting was held before to determine on holding this one. Elder Graybill Myers, the leader, had likely conferred with the elders of the district.
J. G. FRANCIS.
B. DISTRICT MEETINGS.
[It will be noticed that the foregoing article of a District Meeting was concerning a Meeting wholly in the interest of evangelistic work .- EDITORS. ]
At the Annual Meeting of 1866, in Franklin County, Pa., a radical change was made in holding the Annual Meeting. Among other things, it was decided "that states should form themselves into convenient districts, as follows : We recom-
586
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
mend that each state form itself into convenient District Meetings. These meetings shall be formed by one or two representatives from each organized church, and we recom- mend that each church be represented in District Meeting, either by representative or by letter. We think it best to hold those meetings in simplicity, and as much like the com- mon council meetings are held, as possible. A record of the District Meetings may be kept, but not published. They should endeavor to settle all questions of a local character, but those of a general character, or those that concern the Brotherhood in general, should be taken to the Annual Meet- ing. And all questions that cannot be settled at the District Meetings should be taken to the Annual Meeting," etc., as appears in Minutes published 1909, page 246.
The Middle District of Pennsylvania had already several years before, held a District Meeting, yearly, including all the churches between the Susquehanna River on the east, and the Alleghany Mountains on the west, thus leaving all the churches east of the Susquehanna unorganized. Therefore, some of the Elders in eastern Pennsylvania called a meeting in the Tulpehocken Church, in Lebanon Co., in the fall of 1866, notifying all the churches in East Pennsylvania, of the time and place and purpose of the meeting to organize one or more districts. This being something new, the Elders also invited Elder D. M. Holsinger, of Blair Co., Pa., to be present, because they had several years' experience.
The date of the meeting is not at hand, but it was either in September, or October. The churches were well repre- sented, and Brother D. M. Holsinger, and his son, Henry R., were there.
The Elders prevailed on Elder Holsinger to preside at the meeting. Elder C. Bomberger was appointed clerk, and he appointed S. R. Zug his assistant.
The meeting being now organized, and the purpose of the call of the meeting being stated, and declared open for re- marks, it soon developed that there was a difference of opinion as to forming one, or two districts. Those favoring two were, as a rule, from the German churches, and the strongest pleas for one district came from the English.
587
HISTORY OF DISTRICT MEETINGS.
The arguments for two was the difference in language, and the laxity of discipline of some churches on the matter of dress, while on the other side, it was argued, and that with tears, by some that by staying together, the influence of the plain churches might have a salutary effect on those dressy churches, by mingling together. It may be in place here to state that the difference in language at that time was much more marked than it is now.
All business brought before the meeting had to be pres- ented in both German and English, and the minutes had to be printed in both languages. The outcome finally was a decision, unanimously, to organize, into one district, all the churches east of the Susquehanna River.
The next matter taken up was : when and where shall the first District Meeting be held for church business? Elder David Gerlach offered to take it in the White Oak Church, Lancaster County. The offer was accepted, and it was de- cided that it shall be held on Ascension Day, 1867, to meet the evening before to organize, and get things in shape for business next morning.
Ascension Day in 1867 coming on May 30 the delegates from the churches met at the Chiques Meeting-house, in the White Oak District, on May 29, 1867, at 6 o'clock P. M.
Following is a copy of the officers and delegates of that meeting, viz .:
" Elder Samuel Harley, Moderator.
Elder C. Bomberger, Clerk.
S. R. Zug, Assistant Clerk.
Jos. Myer, Interpreter.
"The churches comprising said district are :
I. White Oak, Elder D. Gerlach, J. S. Newcomer, Philip Zigler.
2. West Conestoga, Elder C. Bomberger, J. Reinhold, C. Brubaker.
3. Ephrata, Israel Myers, Samuel Harley.
4. Conestoga, Christian Rupp, Jos. Myer.
5. Big Swatara, Elder Jacob Hollinger, Wm. Hertzler.
6. Tulpehocken, Elder John Zug, S. Kurtz.
7. Little Swatara, Elder D. Merkey, S. Gettle, Levi Light.
8. Coventry, Peter Hollowbush, Jacob Conner.
588
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
9. Green Tree, Isaac Price, Jacob Gottwals.
10. Germantown, John Price.
II. Upper Dublin, John U. Slingluff.
12. Philadelphia, Jacob Spanogle.
13. New Jersey, not represented.
14. Indian Creek, Elder Samuel Harley, Henry Cassel." After receiving the credentials of delegates, the meeting adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 7.30 A. M."
It will be noticed that there were then fourteen organized churches in the district, and the officers and delegates num- bered 27 of whom only two are yet living (in 1914) namely Jacob Conner and S. R. Zug. There were at that time only 9 ordained Elders in the district. Now, at the time of our District Meeting of 1911, there were 47 Elders, 76 officers and delegates, and 43 organized churches, with about 7,600 members. Lancaster County alone has about 3,200 mem- bers, 18 Elders, and 15 organized churches. Prior to 1872, the Elders present at the District Meeting, organized the meeting by appointing its officers, and that year, for the first time, the delegates, with the Elders present, elected them by vote, the delegates and Elders going before the tellers and giving their votes private, while quite recently (it was de- cided) that all elections shall be by ballot.
At the beginning, the time of meeting was the evening be- fore Ascension Day. In 1871 it was made one week earlier. In 1887 two weeks before Ascension Day, and more recently another week was added, so that now the time is the third Wednesday after Easter, the Elders at 9 A. M., delegates at 3 P. M.
In 1896 it was decided that none but regular delegates shall have a right to vote. The Elders in 1866 were C. Bomberger, D. Gerlach, Jac. Hollinger, David Merkey, John Zug, J. H. Umstadt, Benj. Harley, Saml. Harley, and Jac. K. Reiner, and but one brother in the District who has so far attended every Dist. Meeting, both regular and spe- cial and largely on his own expense. Years ago some churches considered it wrong to give a preacher money, even for travelling expenses, as a delegate.
A list of District Meetings is hereto attached, giving the
TABLE OF DISTRICT MEETINGS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. By ELDER J. H. LONGENECKER.
Moderator.
Writing Clerk.
Reading Clerk.
Church Where Held.
Members on S. C.
Delegates.
1867
Eld. S. Harley
Eld. C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
Chiques house
D. Gerlach. Wm. Hertzler.
1868
S. Harley
" C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
Green Tree
S. R. Zug.
1869
Wm. Hertzler
"
C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
Tulpehocken
D. Gerlach
S. R. Zug.
1870
D. Gerlach
C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
Mingo
D. Gerlach
S. R. Zug.
1871
John Zug
C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
Big Swatara
John Zug
1872
D. Gerlach
C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
Coventry
Jacob Reiner
1873
D. Gerlach
C. Bomberger
S. R. Zug
W. Conestoga
D. Gerlach
"
D. Gerlach
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Hatfield
D. Gerlach
C. Bucher.
1875
D. Gerlach
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Ephrata
S. Harley
Jacob Rider.
1876
D. Gerlach
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Mingo Spring Creek
S. Harley
1878
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
C. Bucher
Indian Creek
S. Harley
1879
S. Harley
S. R. Zug
C. Bucher
White Oak
C. Bucher
1880 1881
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
Little Swatara
S. Harley
1882
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
Coventry
C. Bucher
S. Harley.
1883
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
Maiden Creek Hatfield
S. Harley
1885
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
Tulpehocken
Wm. Hertzler
1886
Wm Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Isaac Kulp Jno. B. Gibble
Conestoga
1887 1888
C. Bucher
S. R. Zug
John Herr
Mingo
1889
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
H. E. Light
Chiques
1890
C. Bucher
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
Ephrata
1891
". Wm. Hertzler
Geo. Bucher
F. P. Cassel
Big Swatara
Wm. Hertzler
1892
S. R. Zug
J. T. Myers
Geo. Bucher
Ridgely, Md.
S. R. Zug
1893
Wm. Hertzler
Geo. Bucher
F. P. Cassel
Indian Creek
C. Bucher
589
HISTORY OF DISTRICT MEETINGS.
.
.
S R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
66
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
S. R. Zug
Wm. Hertzler
Green Tree
C Bucher
S. Harley.
J. K. Reiner
C. Bucher
1884
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
Springfield
S. Harley Wm. Hertzler C. Bucher S. R. Zug C. Bucher
Wm. Hertzler.
1877
Wm. Hertzler
S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
S. R. Zug.
J. K. Reiner. Jno. R. Price.
1874
D. Gerlach
Wm. Hertzler.
D. Gerlach.
. .
.
. .
Moderator.
Writing Clerk.
Reading Clerk.
Church Where Held.
Members on S. C.
Delegates.
1894
Eld. S. R. Zug
Eld. John Herr
J. H. Longenecker
1895
= C. Bucher
J. H. Longenecker
John Herr Hiram Gibble
Mountville Hatfield Spring Creek Sand Brook, N. J. White Oak- Springfield
F. P. Cassel C. Bucher F. P. Cassel S. R. Zug
1897
J. H. Longenecker
Geo. Bucher
John Herr Geo. Bucher
J. H. Longenecker
1899
"
J. H. Longenecker
Geo. Bucher
J. Y. King
J. Y. King John Herr
1900
John Herr
I. W. Taylor
G. N. Falkenstein Jesse Zeigler
Conestoga Little Swatara
J. Y. King
1902
J. H. Longenecker
"
I. W. Taylor
G. N. Falkenstein Jesse Ziegler
Chiques, Eliz't'wn Indian Creek
J. H. Longenecker John Herr I. W. Taylor
J. H. Longenecker.1 John Herr.
1906
J. H. Longenecker John Herr
I. W. Taylor
G. N. Falkenstein Jesse Ziegler
. Lancaster Hatfield
J. H. Longenecker John Herr
J. T. Myers.
1908
I. W. Taylor
G. N. Falkenstein
I. N. H. Beahm
I. W. Taylor
J. H. Longenecker.
1909
John Herr
S. H. Hertzler
Jesse Ziegler
John Herr
F. P. Cassel. Jesse Ziegler.
1910
P. S. Miller
G. A. Snyder2 S. H. Hertzler
J. M. Kagey Jesse Ziegler
I9II
J. H. Longenecker
1912
John Herr
H. K. Ober Eld. S. H. Hertzler
G. N. Falkenstein
Big Swatara
Special D. M. J. H. Longenecker F. P. Cassel
John Herr. I. W. Taylor. John Herr.
1913
I. W. Taylor
Jesse Ziegler
Ephrata
J. H. Longenecker
1914
J. H. Longenecker |H. K. Ober
G. N. Falkenstein
Midway
I. W. Taylor
S. H. Hertzler.
1 Since and including the year 1904 the District was entitled to two members on Standing Committee.
2 G. N. Falkenstein, Writing Clerk for the District.
590
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
1903
- John Herr I. W. Taylor -
S. H. Hertzler Eld. G. N. Falkenstein
1905
John Herr
S. H. Hertzler
I. N. H. Beahm Jesse Ziegler
Ridgely, Md.
Tobias Myers
I. W. Taylor
1907
Springville West Green Tree
1910
I. W. Taylor
=
G. N. Falkenstein
H. K. Ober
Spring Creek, An- I. W. Taylor ville Ephrata White Oak
1896
F. P. Cassel
J. Y. King
1898
J. Y. King
John Herr
190I
J. Y. King
Geo. Bucher
Tulpehocken
1904
S. H. Hertzler
591
HISTORY OF DISTRICT MEETINGS.
place where held, the year, the Moderator and Clerks, and the Delegates to Annual Meetings, and members on Stand- ing Committee from the District.
The first two years 1867 and 1868, the Districts did not appoint Standing Committee, and so our District had two delegates. After that until 1882, inclusive, the District " appointed one member on Standing Committee, and a dele- gate. From that time on it had only one member on Stand- ing Committee, and in place of the accompanying delegate, the local churches could represent.
CHAPTER III. MINISTERIAL, SUNDAY SCHOOL, AND MISSIONARY MEETINGS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
Place.
Date.
Moderator.
Clerk.
Treasurer.
Program Committee.
I. Elizabethtown . . 2. No meeting. . . .
Nov. 21-23, 1893 S. R. Zug 1894
Geo. Bucher
J. H. Longenecker S. R. Zug, H. E. Light, J. H. Longenecker. J. Y. King H. E. Light, J. Y. King, John Herr.
5. Ephrata.
Nov. 23-25, 1897 S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher
J. Y. King
H. E. Light, J. Y. King, John Herr.
6. Mingo.
Oct. 25, 26, 1898 \J. H. Longenecker
John Herr
7. Ridgely, Md .. ..
Aug. 15, 16, 1899 Geo. S. Rairigh Oct. 3, 4, 1900 S. R. Zug
Geo. Bucher Jesse Ziegler
T. F. Imler
H. E. Light, John Herr, G. N. Falkenstein. John Herr, G. N. Falkenstein, I. W. Taylor. G. N. Falkenstein, I. W. Taylor, J. H. Witmer.
9. Mechanic Grove. Oct.
9, 10, 1901 John Herr
G. N. Falkenstein S. H. Hertzler
IO. Hanoverdale ....
Oct. 8-10, 1902 |J. H. Longenecker I. W. Taylor
II. Bird-in-Hand. . .
Oct. 28, 29, 1903 F. P. Cassel
Geo. Bucher
Hiram Gibble H. E. Light
I. W. Taylor, J. H. Witmer, Jesse Ziegler. J. H. Witmer, Jesse Ziegler, I. W. Taylor. Jesse Ziegler, I. W. Taylor, J. H. Longen- ecker.
12. Ephrata ...... ..
Nov. 2, 3, 1904 J. H. Longenecker S. H. Hertzler
E. M. Wenger
I. W. Taylor, J. H. Longenecker, I. N. H. Beahm.
13. Elizabethtown . . Nov.
I, 2, 1905|J. H. Witmer
I. N. H. Beahm
S. Z. Witmer
J. H. Longenecker, I. N. H. Beahm, S. H. Hertzler.
14. Meyers, Lebanon Co ..
Oct. 30, 31, 1906 I. W. Taylor
H. K. Ober
A. S. Hottenstein I. N. H. Beahm, S. H. Hertzler, T. F. Imler.
15. Elizabethtown . . Oct. 30, 31, 1907|J. H. Longenecker G. N. Falkenstein D. Kilhefner
I. N. H. Beahm, T. F. Imler, G. N. Falken- stein.
16. Heidelberg, Leb- anon Co .. .. 17. Indian Creek . . .
Oct. 28, 29, 1908 F. P. Cassel
I. N. H. Beahm
Oct. 27, 28, 1909|J. H. Longenecker T. F. Imler
18. Ephrata ...
Oct. 26, 27, 1910 John Herr
S. H. Hertzler
Hiram Gibble John C. Zug H. K. Ober S. Z. Witmer
T. F. Imler, G. N. Falkenstein, H. K. Ober. G. N. Falkenstein, H. K. Ober, Jesse Ziegler. H. K. Ober, Jesse Ziegler, D. Kilhefner. Jesse Ziegler, D. Kilhefner, J. C. Zug. D. Kilhefner, J. C. Zug, R. P. Bucher.
19. East Petersburg. Nov. 8, 9, 1911 |J. H. Longenecker J. C. Zug 20. Spring Creek. . . . |Nov. 13, 14, 1912 John Herr 21. Middle Creek3. . |Nov. 11, 12, 1913 |J. H. Longenecker H. K. Ober
G. N. Falkenstein R. P. Bucher
A. S. Hottenstein |John C. Zug, R. P. Bucher, S. H. Hertzler.
3 Stenographic report of meeting for first time.
592
.
8. Lancaster . . .
Į A. L. Grater
Geo. Bucher
3. Spring Creek. . . Nov. 26-28, 1895 F. P. Cassel
4. East Petersburg. Dec. I-3, 1896 S. R. Zug
CHAPTER IV. MISSIONARY HISTORY.
INTRODUCTION.
The first missionary effort by the District was made a number of years before a Mission Board existed in the District.
A request came from the state of Maine, whereupon in the year 1872, District Meeting passed the following reso- lution, viz. :
"Resolved, That the request of John Dennis and his Breth- ren in the State of Maine, in regard to a ministering Brother being sent to them to preach the Gospel, and make known to them the order of the Brethren, should not be slighted but prayerfully considered by the Annual Council, and measures adopted to carry the same into effect."
Whereupon Brethren Daniel Holsinger, and Daniel Long- enecker were proposed to look up this field. They being of Middle Pennsylvania District, the following resolution was passed in 1873 :
"Resolved, That if the Middle District of Penna. feels will- ing to send missionaries to Maine this summer, this District will bear part of the expenses, if requested ; if they do not, this meeting requests Brethren D. M. Holsinger and D. Longenecker, or two other Brethren, to be sent there, and the expenses be borne by this District."
Middle District not taking any action, the Eastern Dis- trict sent the above named Brethren on their mission in the summer or fall of 1873.
On their return, their report was not very favorable, and there the mission ended.
The following from manuscript of Elder Christ. Bom- berger who was clerk of District Meeting during this time, may be of interest :
39
593
594
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
"Assessment made for all the churches of the East Penna. District to pay the expenses to the Brethren Daniel Hol- singer, and Daniel Longenecker who will go to the state of Maine to preach as follows :
Chiques Congregation
$ 12.00
Conestoga Congregation
12.00
Conestoga West Congregation
12.00
Coventry Congregation
10.00
Ephrata Congregation
12.00
Green Tree Congregation 10.00
Germantown Congregation
5.00
Hatfield Congregation
10.00
Indian Creek Congregation
12.00
Maiden Creek Congregation
6.00
Mingo Congregation
10.00
New Jersey Congregation
10.00
Philadelphia Congregation
10.00
Spring Creek Congregation
12.00
Swatara Big Congregation
12.00
Swatara Little Congregation
15.00
Tulpehocken Congregation
15.00
Upper Dublin Congregation
5.00
White Oak Congregation Amount
12.00
$202.00
" Hier kennet ihr sehen wie viel vor die gemeinschaften gelegt ist. Es ist besser zu viel, als zu wenig Geld. Wann es nicht alles nimt dann wird es wieder Zurück gegeben und wann ihre Weiber mit gehen dann wird es alles nehmen.
" Sie däten gleichen eine Schwester, eins von ihren Wei- bern mit nehmen oder alle beiden, von wegen wann sie Weibspersonen taufen wollen, wegen handreichung im auf- nehmen. Sie wollen sterten bis den 20 oder 25 October, wann der Herr will, 1872. Ich will das Geld furnishen, aber es ist mir gans recht wann ihr eüer Theil geben woltet auf die Zeit. Es ist 12 Dollar.
" Die Gemeinschaften haben alle eingewilliget das ihre zu bezahlen im Eastern District.
" So ist es meine Pflicht es zu sagen zu alle Gemeinden. Ich will sorgen vor das Geld, wann ich es nicht bekommen kann, dann lehne ich es auf den District.
" CHRIST BOMBERGER."
The foregoing statement was forwarded to all the churches of the District.
595
MISSIONARY HISTORY.
HISTORY OF HOME MISSION BOARD OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
In the year 1878, the first effort was made to carry on mission work in the District. To this end a committee was appointed. In 1879, the following plan was adopted, viz. :
(a) Two Brethren to be chosen, one an ordained Elder, and one may be a minister in the second degree,-All the ministers in the District being candidates.
(b) They are to be chosen for one year-from one District meeting to the other.
(c) All openings to be at their discretion.
(d) All reasonable expenses to be borne by the District.
(e) They to report to the ensuing District Meeting, both giv- ing an itemized bill of expenses, and of success.
(f) All expenses to be raised by voluntary contribution.
(g) All housekeepers to urge the contribution on the mem- bers of their Church.
(h) That the District treasurer also act as treasurer of the Mission Board.
Elder Wm. Hertzler and S. R. Zug were elected. In 1880, the number was increased from two to three, and Bro. J. T. Myers was added. In 1885, it was decided that being the present plan for carrying on Missionary work was thought not to be as effective as it could be, our present plan was adopted, viz. : (a) That the board of missionaries shall consist of six ministers, two to be chosen each year and to serve for three years, to be chosen by the District Meeting. At least two of them shall be ordained Elders. (b) That said board so chosen shall be styled as required by Annual Meeting, "The Church erection and Missionary Board of the Brethren of Eastern Pennsylvania," etc.
In 1900, the manner of electing members on the Mission Board was so changed, that the Board nominate two Elders, two ministers of either first or second degree, and two dea- cons and that the delegates elect two of the six by vote. No member of the board shall serve two terms in succession.
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