USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 14
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is the Sunday-school secretary, and Mrs. Richard Scarlett is the Sunday-school treasurer.
For years the congregation has been located in a Baptist community. The congregation has suffered losses largely be- cause it has not been large enough to support a resident minister. Gradually its membership has been absorbed by the Baptist community and a number of other churches. The Sunday- school attendance (1950) averages about eighteen; the preaching services in the evening about twenty-five.
-Mrs. J. G. Sleighter, Elmer Q. Gleim, and W. J. H.
CHAPTER 3. THE BEACHDALE CHURCH
First church house erected, about 1860 Brick church house dedicated, 1911 Present church membership, 115
As nearly as can be ascertained from the available informa- tion, the first meetinghouse at Beachdale was probably erected about the year 1860. It was first known as the Schmaltsdahl church-the German name having been given, no doubt, because of the church's location in the fertile Buffalo Valley southwest of the town of Berlin. Up to 1880 the Schmaltsdahl church was included in the Brothersvalley congregation. About this time the Brothersvalley congregation was divided, and Berlin, Beach- dale, and Garrett were designated as the Berlin congregation. This name is still retained. In order to accommodate the in- creasing membership, two additions were made to the original building at Beachdale at different times. In 1881 it was con-
Beachdale Church, Built in 1911
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ditioned to be suitable for love- feast purposes. In 1911, during the pastorate of Galen K. Walk- er, a fine modern brick building with a beautifully appointed in- terior was erected on the site of the old one. Members of the building committee were: Hi- ram Brant, Henry H. Yoder, Ira Beachley, Noah Beachley, and Galen K. Walker. The building, which cost four thou- sand dollars, was dedicated, fully paid for, on September 24, 1911. J. H. Cassady preached the dedicatory sermon.
This congregation is known as one of the centers of the Progressive elements of the church. They, under the lead- ership of Elder H. R. Holsinger, Berlin Church, Built in 1881 who advocated a more liberal interpretation of church doc- trine, separated themselves from the mother church and organ- ized what is now the Brethren Church. This was a regrettable incident, but finally may end in a reunited church. The separation took away about half the Beachdale membership, and, after some dissension, gave the Progressives the meeting house in Berlin.
The church officers at Beachdale at this time were: elder, John P. Cober; minister, W. H. Cover; deacons, Peter Beachley, and Joseph G. Coleman. Prior to 1893, preaching was done largely by ministers supplied by the Brothersvalley and Summit Mills congregations.
In September 1893 Dr. R. T. Pollard moved into the congre- gation and assisted in the ministerial duties. In 1899 Warren W. Blough, a young schoolteacher, was elected to the ministry and did the preaching in connection with his teaching duties. He received some financial support from the church. After mov- ing to the West in 1909, Brother Blough was succeeded by Daniel W. Long, who was elected to the ministry in 1908. Other breth- ren from this congregation who were elected to the ministry but who for various reasons did not accept the call of the church were: Jerome H. Judy, Lee W. Pollard, William L. Judy, and William H. Miller.
Old Beachdale Church, About 1910
Following the pastorate of Brother Long, the pastoral work has been done successively by Galen K. Walker, J. J. Shaffer, R. T. Pollard, and D. H. Walker. B. F. Waltz on April 1, 1915, took up the work at Beachdale, Garrett, and Salisbury with full- time financial support. He served the three churches for a period of four years. He was succeeded by D. K. Clapper, who served only two churches, Beachdale and Garrett. After the death of Brother Clapper, A. J. Beeghly served as a supply preacher for a short period about 1929 until George Detweiler took up the work at Beachdale, Garrett, Salisbury, and Maple Glen, the four churches having been merged into one charge. After Brother Detweiler became pastor of the Meyersdale church, preaching at the four churches was done successively by Guy Wampler, John D. Long, and, since 1939, the present pastor, A. Jay Replogle.
Beachdale has approximately one hundred fifteen members, a live Sunday school, a women's work organization, a young people's organization, and a prospective men's work group.
Largely because of the untiring effort and the outstanding leadership of Brother Replogle, interest in church and Sunday- school activities has increased very materially.
For the benefit of interested readers of the future we append the roster of elders, ministers, and deacons who shepherded the Beachdale Church of the Brethren from its beginning.
Elders
Ministers
Deacons
John P. Cober
W. H. Cover
Peter Beachley
Joel Gnagy
S. F. Reiman
Joseph Coleman
R. T. Pollard
W. G. Schrock
Francis Brant
J. J. Shaffer
Joel Gnagy
Levi Lee
D. H. Walker
R. T. Pollard
Jerome Judy
D. K. Clapper
W. W. Blough
Henry Yoder
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T. R. Coffman
D. W. Long
Hiram Brant
Galen K. Walker
William Cossel
J. J. Shaffer John Long, Sr.
A. Jay Replogle
D. H. Walker
John Fisher
B. F. Waltz
J. H. Hentz
D. K. Clapper
Oliver Brant
George Detweiler
Noah Beachley
Guy Wampler
Joseph Long
John D. Long
Russel Brant
A. Jay Replogle
Robert W. Hay
William Fogle
Maurice S. Brant
-John H. Hentz
CHAPTER 4. THE BETHEL CHURCH (near DuBois)
Church house dedicated, February 15, 1896 Organized as separate congregation, 1945 Present church membership, 55
Not often is history written backwards, but such is partly true in this account of the Bethel church. Since it belonged to the Rockton congregation for fifty years, no separate records were kept for that period, except incidental references.
The Blough history tells us that the Bethel house was built in 1895; and the inscription on the pulpit says: "First Sermon in this House [was] by J. H. Beer, February 15, 1896. Text, Hebrews 2:14." At the celebration
Bethel Church, Near DuBois
George Detweiler D. W. Long
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of the fiftieth anniversary, held on Sunday, September 2, 1945, in the after- noon session there was an "Open Forum on the History of the Bethel Church." Memories recalled such incidents as: "Brother Herman Stahl held a revival in the Hickory school house, before the church was erected." James Keller said he "helped haul the lumber for the build- ing." "Reverend John Brilhart was the carpenter." "Harvey Beer was one of the early preachers." (He was the J. H. Beer who preached the first sermon. He moved away in 1905.) "George Cleaver walked eighteen miles (direct route), thirty-six miles round trip, to preach for us, and no collection was taken." "Brother Walter Brubaker walked from Rockton to Bethel, and back, to preach for us." "Elder J. B. Hollo- peter came once a month for many years."
Charles B. Spicher had been a member for forty-two years. He and his family have given ardent support and maintenance to the Bethel church for many years. Some evangelists mentioned were: Robert A. Nedrow (1904) ; J. Lloyd Nedrow, D. R. Berkey, W. J. Hamilton (1922), and B. M. Rollins.
At the afternoon session of the fiftieth anniversary celebra- tion, the following fifty-two people signed the register:
Darrell M. Hollopeter, Beulah M. Hollopeter, Delphin Hollopeter, Dallas B. Kirk, Mrs. Ray Bundy, Dora Spicher, C. B. Spicher, George Seyler, Herbert O. Bundy, Gladys E. Bundy, Theda T. Bundy, Paul Bundy, Cecil Bundy, Samuel Spicher, Sammie Spicher, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hutchins, Dorothy Bundy, Preston Hutchins, Mrs. Olga Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Hauck, Mary Jane Bundy, Lois Thomas, Lucille Bundy, Loretta Bundy, Mabel Bundy, Freda Bundy, Jessie Bundy, Irene Bundy, Mrs. Mildred Ingersoll and children Mary, Virginia, Richard and Andrew, Arthur Yale, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Boucher, Kenneth Boucher, Jean Marie Boucher, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Yale, Merritt C. Bundy, Mrs. Susie Bundy, Mrs. Susana E. Bundy, Lewis S. Knepper, James Keller, Mrs. James Keller, Mamie K. Yale, Elaine Spicher, Esther Yale, W. J. Hamilton.
The day was ideal for such a gathering, and, between the afternoon session and the largely attended evening service, a vesper service was held on the near-by hillside. The writer was seated beside Brother Merritt Bundy, who had been the Sunday- school superintendent for the past eleven years. The vesper leader was a very attractive young woman, who seemed to lead us into the very presence of the Divine. At the close of the vesper hour, I asked Brother Bundy who the leader was, and he replied, "That is our oldest daughter." Then I recalled an incident of twenty-three years before.
I was holding a series of meetings at the Bethel church, and was being entertained at the hospitable home of Brother and Sister Charles B. Spicher. One evening, I offered to go down to the church and unlock the door, to give them a little longer time with their chores. On the way, I was walking past the cottage home of their daughter, Susie,
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who had married Merritt Bundy. As I passed the house, Mr. Bundy came out and asked if he might walk along with me, as he had some- thing he wanted to talk over with me. Then he told me that the second night after their wedding, when he and Susie were ready to retire, she had taken the Bible, read a portion of Scripture, and led in prayer. He said that every night since, she had conducted family worship in their home. Now that they had a little baby girl, he felt that he should become a Christian, and he wanted to be baptized as soon as it could be arranged.
Now I could understand why the vesper leader, with such consecrated young parents, had become such a talented youth leader. So, with its devoted members, Bethel has been main- tained for a half-century as the most northern outpost of the Church of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania.
One of the reasons why this church has continued, in a sparsely settled rural community, has been the genuine and hearty welcome that strangers receive when they come to the services. Their very attractive "welcome card" makes one's first visit remembered.
Pastoral service, during the past quarter-century, includes that of Homer C. Hess, one year; W. C. Sell, two years; Lewis S. Knepper, ten years; Guy S. Fern, one year; Arthur L. Croyle, 1947-1949; and the present pastor, Myron C. Horst, since November 27, 1949. In the early months of Brother Horst's ministry, eleven new members were added to the church. The local program, over the years, has included the former Christian Workers' Society and the BYPD (now known as the CBYF).
-W. J. Hamilton
CHAPTER 5. THE BROTHERSVALLEY CONGREGATION (Stony Creek, Brueders Thal)
Stony Creek church organized, 1762 First meetinghouse built about 1771 Present church membership, 394
The history of the Brothersvalley congregation dates back to the very early days of the settlement of what is now Somer- set County. The early members came into this vicinity mostly from Antrim Township, which is now the area surrounding the city of Waynesboro. Histories prior to this treatise have given
* (Editor's note: The author of this chapter, Brother H. Austin Cooper, has made exhaustive research into the records of the past concerning Brothersvalley, but we have space for only these brief paragraphs and excerpts in this volume.)
Brothersvalley Church Today
credit to these early members as having come from Lancaster, York, and the area surrounding Germantown. In a broad sense the early historians referred to this latter area as "back east." It is true that many of the early settlers of Somerset County did come from "back east," but the original members, at least until about 1770, came from Antrim Township.
This writer recently had access to the earliest records of Cumberland County, in the courthouse at Carlisle, and found proof for the statements declared herein. If the reader is to get a clear picture of the early beginnings, he must know that before Somerset County was made a separate county it under- went several changes. By an act of the Provincial Assembly in June 1750, Cumberland County was cut off of Lancaster County. Cumberland County then embraced all of the land from Lan- caster County to the Ohio River. Bedford County was created by an act of March 9, 1771. This new county included all the present land area of Somerset County. This is related here because all of the histories write of the early beginnings of this congregation as having been in Bedford County.
This new county of Somerset was erected by act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania on April 17, 1795 by which all that part of Bedford county lying west of the Allegheny mountains and known as Brothersvalley, Turkeyfoot, Quemahoning, Milford, Elk Lick, and Stony Creek townships, was organized into a new county. This new county was called "Somerset" after shire of Somerset in England. These six townships included all of what is now Somerset county lying west of the Allegheny mountain and all of what is now Cambria county as far north as the old Purchase Line, or old Huntingdon county Line, which passed through the present county of Cambria some distance north of Ebensburg, its county seat.1
1 Cassady, Somerset County Outline. Pages 167 and 168.
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This congregation was organized in 1762, and was called Stony Creek. There were seventeen members at this early date. There were several significant reasons why these German Bap- tist Brethren settled in the area of Stony Creek. It may be remembered that many of these people came from Germany because the wilderness of Penn's Sylvania (Penn's Woods) of- fered them a new home, free from religious and political per- secutions. News of this newly gained freedom spread rapidly throughout Europe and England. The early settlements of Eastern Pennsylvania were rapidly expanding and these first settlers were becoming restless. Then they faced the pathless wilderness "beyond the mountains." Here in the wilderness known only to their red brothers they could eke out a scanty but peaceful living between God and themselves. Let it never be said, however, that these people did not make a great con- tribution to the freedom and the greatness of this new land. Later in colonial history it became apparent that these same pioneers had already paved the way for the English settlement and possession of the land. It was these hearty, peace-loving people who had gained the love and respect of the Indians that played the greater part in a final peaceful settlement of this Indian territory.
THE EPHRATA SOCIETY
To understand the background of this congregation fully one must look at a brief sketch of the Ephrata Society and the rela- tionship of this congregation to that society.
The first division in the Brethren Church in America resulted in the founding of the widely-known and little understood society of semimystical Germans who flourished for a century at Ephrata, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and then faded away.
Through this Ephrata Society the Brethren or Tunkers were largely advertised, and from the wide-spread confusion as to the identity of this movement nearly all of the customs and peculiarities of the Ephrata Society have been placed to the credit of the Brethren. It is, therefore, a matter of moment to understand what the Ephrata Society was, and how it originated from the Brethren. The head and front of the Ephrata Society was John Conrad Beissel. With him it began, and with his death it began to decline.2
Its founding dates from 1732. Beissel possessed a great en- thusiasm for his work and made religious visits to many of the church settlements to win converts to his cause. He gained many followers. Ephrata became one of the first centers of music in the new world.
2 Brumbaugh, A History of the Brethren. Page 438.
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Beissel was a first-rate musician and composer. In composing sacred music, he took his style from the music of nature, and the whole, comprising large volumes, [is] founded on the tones of the Aeolian harp-the singing is the Aeolian harp harmonized. It is very peculiar in its style and concords, and in its execution.3
This reference to music is herewith given because there was at an early date such music in this congregation. (See the photo- stat of an Ephrata hymnbook in the chapter on music, in Part One of this volume.) This writer has repeatedly heard from the oldest members that in their childhood days such hymnbooks and music were in their homes. The older members still sing some of these old hymns that have been passed down to them from generations back.
The founder of this congregation, Elder George Adam Martin, traveled back and forth from Ephrata to Stony Creek and the other colonial churches. It is certainly a fact that since the church here was organized during the height of the Ephrata era this music was used extensively here. It is also to be noted that some of the members of Stony Creek had been directly connected with Ephrata. Peter Lehman was one of these brethren; and Henry Roth, Sr. (Henry Rhoads, Sr.), the elder member of Stony Creek, who settled here in 1757, is buried at Ephrata.
"At that time there was in the Ephrata community a devout young man, Peter Lehman. He was born May 24, 1757, at the Glades, Somerset county, Pa."4
STONY CREEK AND BRUEDERS THAL AND THE GLADES
In a broad geographical sense these three terms are synony- mous. The area is drained by the Stony Creek, which has its beginning in the center of the modern town of Berlin, at "Pious Spring," and races from this twenty-three hundred twenty-two- foot elevation down its stony way to form the Allegheny, and thence on to the Ohio and the mighty "Father of Waters."
"Brueders Thal" antedates all of these terms in historical meaning. It is German, meaning Brothers Valley, given earlier to the area by the Indians, who called it the Valley of the Brothers. This would indicate the religious background of the people as being Brethren.
Among the earlier settlers, and possibly they were the earliest, were a number of Germans and persons of German extraction who were members of the Dunker or German Baptist church, and among themselves called "The Brethren," or "Brueders Lide." Among
3 Historic Ephrata (1928). Pages 10 and 11.
4 Monn, Historical Sketch of Snow Hill (Nunnery). (1927.) Page 15.
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themselves they gave their new home the name of Brueders Thal (Brothers Valley) a name by which it soon came to be known among other co-religionists in the east.5
"The Glades" was a pure English name given the area be- cause of the natural high grasses that grow in low marshy places and spring runs. This grass reminded the early English settlers and soldiers of their beloved glades back home. Hence, these three names may be applied to the churches in the area to this day. The community known as Brotherton became the center of activity of Brueders Thal, while the center of activity of Stony Creek (Roxbury) was around the Groner meetinghouse, known as the Glades.6
THE BRETHREN AND THE INDIANS
The very name, "Brueders Thal," indicates how well the Brethren got along with the Indians. There is within the family tradition of the Rhoadeses (a prominent family in Somerset County and in Lexington, Kentucky) this most interesting ac- count of Henry Rhoades, Sr. (Henry Roth, Sr., and wife were members of the original organization in 1762).7
"While others were having trouble with the Indians, Henry Roth, Sr. often spoke about how well he got along with the Indians. He often said, 'If you treat the Indians in a Christian way, you can get along with them.' "8
The writer has recently found six ancient village sites and over five hundred Indian mounds, all within five miles of the church. Chief Pontiac held his council fires on the spot where the Somerset courthouse now stands.
THE STONY CREEK CONGREGATION, ORGANIZED 1762
The present Brothersvalley congregation had its beginnings in the colonial congregation, Stony Creek. Geographically there is no difference in the two names. The name change came after the great Annual Meeting held in the Grove church in 1849. Until this time the congregation embraced most of Somerset County. At this time the Stony Creek congregation received her boundary lines-the Allegheny Mountains on the east, the Stony Creek on the west, and Berlin on the south, with the Forbes road on the north. It is of utmost importance to note that this was
5 Blackburn and Welfley, History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Volume 2. Page 48.
6 Blough's history. Page 82.
7 Brumbaugh, A History of the Brethren. Page 330. From Morgan Edwards.
8 Quoting Mrs. W. H. Newmoyer, Pittsburgh, a descendant of the Rhoadeses.
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the original geographic setting, except for the little settlement of six or eight families around Brotherton. The latter settlement was called Brueders Thal or Brotherstown in 1770.9 Later it was called Brotherton when the post office was placed here.
The original organization took place in the home of a member, believed to have been the home of Henry Roth, Sr. This location is now the William Glessner farm, just four miles across the "Old Glades Road" from the Brotherton church. The log house of Henry Roth, Sr., stood in a low meadow on the south bank of Rhoades Creek (now Calen- dar's Run), which empties into the Stony Creek an eighth of a mile west. About 1771 there was a large log meetinghouse built on high ground in a clearing belong- ing to his son, Henry Roth, Jr. This became the first meeting- house of the Brethren west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Historians have never giv- en credit to this organization as being first, when it has been a recognized fact that since 1899 the place of the original Rhoads Meetinghouse, Built in 1771 First Brethren church west of the Allegheny Mountains organization has been known.10 Perhaps the first history of the area to give early recognition was The Somerset County Outline, by Cassady, 1932, pages 237 and 238.
This first meetinghouse stood until 1921, when it was torn down. Some of the older people of Stony Creek still remember when it was called the Rhoads meetinghouse. The Glessners remembered it by the name, the Musser meetinghouse. There was a bell on the south end of the building. It was still in the yard, to peal out with a clear, silver tone. This bell has been given to the Brothersvalley congregation by the present owner of the farm, Mr. William Glessner. There is a traditional story, which may be true, that this bell was cast at Ephrata.
Mrs. J. C. Werner, the Berlin reporter and great-granddaughter of John Musser, who owned the Rhoads farm at one time, says her parents told her in her childhood days of the services in the old meetinghouse. She also tells of the baptismal services held in the Stony Creek-how thick ice was cut before the applicant could go into the water. This very spot is still a favorite fishing pool for this writer. It is locally
9 Morgan Edwards, History of the American Baptists, Volume 1. Pages 89 and 90. 10 Brumbaugh, A History of the Brethren.
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89
Rev. Conrad Beiffel to their affiftance. Af- terwards Rev. meff. Peter Miller and George Adam Martin and others officiated among them
STONYCREEK
THIS is alfo denominated from a little ri- ver of the above name, in the townhip of Bruederthal (alias Brotherftown) in the county of Bedford, 30 miles from Bedford and 245 miles whN from Philadelphia. The minifter is Rev. George Adam Martin of whom men- tion has been made before. He was born near Landftuhl in Germany in the year 1715. Was bred a prefbyterian. Embraced the principles of the Baptifts in 1737, and was ordained by Peter Baker in 1739. Afterwards he refided at Littleconewago where fome mifunderftanding profe between him and the people and occa- fioned him to remove to Antitum. In the year 1762 he adopted the fentiments of the fe- venthday Baptifts, and preached at Bermudi- an .. From thence he went to Stonycreek this year. He married one of the Knippers and has many children. The families belonging to the place are 12 whereof 17 perfons are bapti- zed and may be confidered as the conftituents of the church, viz. Rev. George Adam Martin and wife, Henry Roth and wife and daughter, Henry Roth, jur. and wife, George Newmoyer, Philip Ofwald and wife and daughter, Abra- ham Gebel and wife, Philip Kimmel and wife, Mr Widdebarger and wite. This church alfo is the offspring of Ephrata where (for the moft art) the feventhday fabbath is kept
known by the oldest mem- bers as the Dunkard Hole. There is still the stone and earthen ramp built from the gradually sloped west bank out to the middle of the creek. This baptismal spot is strategically located between this old meeting- house and three other old places of worship: namely, the Kimmel church, the Glades meetinghouse, and the Old Pike church. There is no known record of this early church, ex- cept that of Morgan Ed- wards (pages 89 and 90), published in 1770.
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