USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 24
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On May 12, 1935, Paul Berkey and Harold Trent were elected deacons. In the fall of 1941 J. E. Murphy was elected elder and pastor. On August 8, 1943, Maple Grove celebrated her fiftieth anniversary. Fourteen new members have been added to the church since Brother Murphy became pastor.
Ten young men and one nurse have been called to serve our country. Five were sent overseas; four of them have returned safe home again, and the other one is in Japan. One brother was sent to Camp Kane and two were sent to work on farms. Brother Murphy and the Sunday school kept in touch with them by sending boxes and letters.
At this writing, the membership is one hundred eighteen; the enrollment of the Sunday school is ninety-seven. Because of emigration, the membership never grew to many over a hundred.
-Mrs. P. A. Berkey
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CHAPTER 28. THE MAPLE SPRING CHURCH
Quemahoning organized at David Crofford's, 1849 First love-feast house, Fry church, built, 1875 Present church membership, 507
Prior to the Revolutionary War, members of the Church of the Brethren lived in the territory which was later known as the Quemahoning congregation. We are told that Michael Thomas, Sr., was born in what is now Conemaugh Township, in 1774.1 No effort was made to secure data on other early pioneers, as we want to reserve space at the end of this chapter for the one-hundredth anniversary sermon by J. M. Blough.
Following the division of the "Glades" church in 1849, that section which became known as the Quemahoning congregation covered an area of about three hundred square miles. It com- prised Conemaugh, Jenner, Quemahoning, Lincoln, and parts of Shade and Somerset townships, and extended from the top of Laurel Hill on the west to the foothills of the Alleghenies on the east, and from within three miles of Somerset on the south to the Cambria County line on the north.
In this territory there were eighteen Brethren families whose houses or barns were used regularly for preaching services before the first meetinghouse was built.2
After the division of the county, the members of this territory convened in council in Brother David Crofford's large barn to con- sider whether the division was acceptable to them. . . . there were strong objections, as it would deprive them of the efficient services of
1 Blough's history. Page 546.
2 Ibid. On page 155 the names of the families are given.
Maple Spring Church Before Remodeling
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the Berlin preachers. But upon being promised that those brethren would continue to do a part of the preaching, they agreed to the division, and the organization was effected. All the services were then conducted in German.3
The location of Brother Crofford's home and barn is now covered by Quemahoning lake. The first meetinghouse in the con-
Quemahoning G.B. Church.
Pine Grove Church, Built in 1855 From Walker's Map of 1860
gregation was built in 1855 near the Quemahoning creek, in Jenner township, and was named Pine Grove. This was a half mile north of the place where the church was organized and the first love feast held. This house was in constant use for fifty-six years, the last service having been held July 23, 1911.
Here Brother Blough quotes from his diary:
Today was the last meeting in the old Pine Grove meetinghouse. The day was beautiful and the house crowded, with some on the outside. The speakers were: Jonathan W. Blough, S. P. Zimmerman, I. B. Ferguson, Jerome E. Blough, A. J. Beeghly, S. S. Blough, E. E. Blough and J. M. Blough. The moderator, P. J. Blough, also spoke. People present from far and near. Very sad; so much weeping.4
Quemahoning Lake now covers this sacred spot.
The first Sipesville house was built in 1860, on land purchased from Abraham Baker. The first love-feast house (forty by sev- enty feet with basement under the entire building) was erected in 1875, near the present town of Jerome, on land donated
3 Ibid. Pages 155 and 156.
+ Blough's history. Page 160.
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The Old Fry Church (Replaced by Maple Spring)
by Daniel Fry. The present name of this house is Maple Spring. In 1878 the fourth meetinghouse was built at the foot of Tire Hill, on land donated by John Kaufman. A church called Sugar Grove was erected at Blough Station in 1890, on land donated by Jacob B. Blough. The new and more modern Maple Spring edifice was dedicated on March 4, 1906.
Our first Sunday school was organized at Pine Grove, in the spring of 1880, with Aaron Blough, superintendent, P. J. "Blough, assistant superintendent, and Jerome E. Blough, secretary, but be- cause of opposition it was discontinued at the close of the second summer. During 1886 and 1887 a Sunday school was carried on for a short time in the Sipesville house. After some years, however, schools were opened in all our churches. While we were somewhat slow in taking up Sunday school work, we were in the lead in local Sunday school conventions in Western Pennsylvania, and for a number of years the only church to hold such meetings. The first one was held in the Pine Grove house in August, 1897.1
This congregation undertook the support of a missionary in India in 1904, being the second in the district to pledge itself to this work. At present the Maple Spring church is what re- mains of the Quemahoning congregation. Sipesville was made a separate organization in June 1920. In June 1922 Hooversville and Sugar Grove became a separate pastorate. And in October 1923 the Tire Hill church became a separate congregation.
Ministers in this congregation in 1915 were P. J. Blough, S. P. Zimmerman, Isaiah B. Ferguson, N. H. Blough, Charles W. Blough, and E. Percy Blough. George Maust, W. D. Rummel, Paul Rummel, and Galen Blough have been elected to the min-
1 Blough's history. Page 163.
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istry since 1915. Kenneth Blough was installed on April 17, 1932; E. Paul Weaver was licensed to preach on January 1, 1932, and was advanced one year later.
H. C. Hess was our first supply pastor. W. K. Kulp was the first regular pastor. He was followed by M. J. Weaver. Our third and present pastor is J. M. Geary. Elder Geary is greatly interested in the work of the Kingdom. He is a forceful speaker, and under his leadership the church has greatly increased in numbers and in spirituality.
-N. H. Blough
ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY SERMON, MAPLE SPRING CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
By J. M. Blough
The church is the grandest institution in the world. The church is the most precious, and the most useful institution in the world. Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." That is the church which we enjoy today; that is the church in which we have membership today; and that is the church that is represented here this afternoon. Through nineteen hundred years that church has persevered and prospered, in spite of persecution, in spite of enemies-sometimes even enemies within the church. The church purchased by Christ's own precious blood has come down through the years a faithful, persevering, victorious church. And what a glorious heritage has come down to us-the grandest, most glorious heritage, the church of Jesus Christ.
I am very happy to be permitted to return from India in time to have a part in this celebration today, for the Quemahoning church is very dear to me. It's the church of my childhood. It's the church that brought me salvation. It's the church in which I led my first prayer meeting; and in the old Maple Spring house in which I used to worship, I taught my first Sunday-school class. It's the church that elected me to the ministry and ordained me as well, the church for which I have prayed throughout the years, and a church whose fellowship I have always greatly enjoyed, and which I enjoy today.
For one hundred years, in this part of the United States, this church has given out its witness and its testimony. And throughout the gen- erations that have gone, the brethren and sisters who were members of this church lived faithful lives and brought the heritage down from one generation to the next, even unto us in this present day. You know we come onto the platform of life as people that perform in a drama, and say our little piece and then move off. But the church continues even though its ministers pass away and its members pass away. The church is the heritage that comes down through the ages and through the generations, and it has come down to us today. I would like to have us think for just a moment of the faithful ones who have served this congregation-the elders, the ministers, the deacons, and all
Pine Grove Sunday School, 1909
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the members of the church, faithful men and women; and, my friends, you know as well as I, and better than I, how many of them lie out here in this cemetery. If you don't know, take a little time and read the names you find out there, all faithful and true to this Quemahoning congregation.
And I wish I might speak to the other churches that have been organized out of the Quemahoning congregation-Sipesville, Hoovers- ville, and Tire Hill. When the Quemahoning dam was built, the oldest church house, Pine Grove, had to be torn down. That was my childhood place of worship, and that was where I was converted. It seemed to me, when I heard it, as if the heart was torn out of the Quemahoning con- gregation, because close to that spot the church was organized. But I am happy to say and to know that even with that place of worship gone, these other four places have prospered through the years.
Now what of the future? Brethren and sisters, what of the future? The present generation is responsible for this heritage which has come down to you. You have received the church. What will you do with it? This heritage that has come to you-how are you going to pass it on to the next generation? That's the thing that ought to concern us today, and I am here to give you a warning this afternoon. I do it with a sad heart, but I am glad for the opportunity of giving it. You know that there are false teachers in the land. There are false doctrines being proclaimed throughout the Brotherhood. There are false pastors who are leading some of our church members astray by false doctrines, tearing congregations to pieces, bringing schism and faction into the church, drawing away people with the purpose of establishing independent congregations. All of this is very sad, and it makes me weep. Oh, God grant that these divisive influences may never come to the Quemahoning congregation! And I ask all of you to stand firm and true on the rock Christ Jesus and live ever faithful and true to the doctrines of the New Testament, which are also the doctrines and principles of the Church of the Brethren; and may division never come to the Maple Spring church or any of these that have been carved out of the old Quemahoning congregation. Preserve it, my friends, take care of this heritage that has been handed to you, and hand it on to the next generation as pure and as strong and as honest and as faithful as you have received it.
Now I want to call your attention to the last great message of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. I want to refer you to the grand vision and the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the account of which (Revelation 1: 9-20) was read to you by our brother. It was a time of persecution, one of the first great persecutions that tried to destroy the church when the church was still young. John had this vision on the Isle of Patmos, as you know; and it is very interesting to me, because it is the last vision we have of Jesus Christ, our Savior. John heard a voice behind him, and note what he saw when he turned to see that voice. I want you to get this vision; he saw seven golden candlesticks -seven golden candlesticks all in a row as they appeared in the temple, the grand golden candlesticks in the temple.
These seven candlesticks represented the seven churches in which John was particularly interested. But as seven is the number which
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in the Scripture represents completeness, I think the messages that were given to these seven churches are messages to the entire universal church of Jesus Christ, and messages to the Maple Spring congregation today. Seven golden candlesticks! Christ said to His disciples, "You are the light of the world." That is what candlesticks are for, to give out light to the world. Christ is the Light of the world; the church is the light of the world; we are the light of the world, to shine out in the great darkness which sin has brought upon us. Golden candlesticks! How precious the candlesticks were! That is how precious the churches are, how precious the Maple Spring church is. How precious in the sight of God! Because He gave this vision we know that every church, every local congregation is precious in the sight of God.
The next verse says, "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks I saw one like unto the Son of man." It is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the head of the church, He who said, "I will build my church." And He has built it, and is building it still. In the midst of these seven churches was the Lord Jesus Christ. And John saw Him "clothed with a garment from head to foot, and girt about the breast with a golden girdle." This was the costume which represented royalty and authority. I am inclined to think that the idea of judgeship is perhaps the dominant one in this vision; because if you read the
messages to the seven churches, which follow in chapters 2 and 3, you will notice that He says every time, "I know thy works, I know thy toil, and thy patience. I praise you for this, I condemn you for what you have not done, and for what you have done that is wrong. And if you don't repent, I will remove your candlestick." That's none other that the voice of the judge, the voice that knows: that is Christ speaking to His churches.
In appearance "His head and His hair was white like wool." Remember what is said in Proverbs, "The hoary head is a crown of glory." The beauty of old age is the hoary head. Here Christ appears with hair as white as wool, Christ the eternal Son of God, whose years cannot be numbered-without beginning, without end. Christ-the Son of God-yesterday, today, and forever the same! He changes not. Before the world was, Christ was. Here we see Him representing His eternity. And "His eyes were as a flame of fire." What does that mean? It means that those eyes were able to see everything in this great universe of ours. Nothing can be hidden from those eyes; they are too piercing. Darkness cannot hide from Him. The darkest corner in the darkest closet cannot hide from Him. Oh, no! Christ sees and therefore knows everything that is going on. Not only that, but those eyes pierce right down into the heart and perceive there the motives, the desires, the longings of every soul. You can't hide a thing from your Master, with whom you have to do, and who will someday be our judge.
"And His voice as the voice of many waters"-a tremendous voice. Above, it says it is the voice as of a trumpet, so loud that it can be heard far and wide. And you remember that in the gospel it is written that His voice some day shall be heard not only by the living but also by the dead. Not only those who have just passed away but those who have been buried for centuries shall hear that voice when the day comes. Oh, what will it be for those unprepared to hear it! Here in the Book
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of Revelation it says that they will cry out for the rocks and the hills to fall upon them to hide them from the face of what they consider an angry God. Only a just and a holy God He is. But to the sinner, who stands condemned before the judge, He is a consuming fire.
"And He had in His right hand seven stars." At the end of the chapter it says, "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." Now angels are ministers; and I understand that those seven angels represent the seven ministers or pastors of these churches-right in His hand, the right hand of Christ. What does that mean? Oh, that is a blessed thought! How Christ considers the pastors, the undershepherds of His church! He holds them in His right hand; He protects them, for they are serving His church. They are precious in His sight. The candle- sticks represent the churches; the stars represent the ministers of those churches.
"Out of His mouth proceedeth a sharp two-edged sword." You must remember this is a vision. We will not see it like this, but this can mean only one thing. What comes out of the mouth of God, or out of the mouth of Christ, are words of truth and righteousness by which He will judge the world, at that day-a two-edged sword that cuts both ways. "The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." That's the word of God which we have today and which we honor; and if we obey it, it will stand in our favor at that grand and glorious day. But if we disobey, it will stand there to condemn us.
His countenance was like the brilliant sun at noonday. Yes, the churches are only candles, but Christ is the sun, the sun of righteousness, the sun that shines throughout the ages, the sun that has driven back darkness. But still there is so much darkness in the world. Why? Be- cause these candles of His haven't given out as much light as He expected them to do. These candles are burning too dimly throughout this land of America. They are burning too dimly around this great, wide world of ours. Oh, for large, brilliant, glorious candles like lighthouses shining out in the darkness, so that no longer men would be compelled to walk in darkness!
Seven golden candlesticks, seven stars in His right hand- this vision had a wonderful effect upon John. He fell down to worship. He fell down as one dead. The voice said, "Fear not. . .. Fear not; I am the first and the last. . .. Fear not, I am the living One. Fear not, I am the One that died there in Jerusalem on the cross of Calvary. I am the One that was raised to life again. I am your Jesus. I am the One who said to you before I left you, 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.'" And that is the promise that comes down to us today.
What is this lesson? From the history of this church I think all of us are convinced that this Christ has been in the midst of the Quema- honing congregation. I feel satisfied that this is true. If Christ had not been in this congregation, we wouldn't see today or experience today what we do. As we heard in this morning's sermon, "Christ has been here." Christ is here. Christ has been worshiped here. Christ is being worshiped here, Sunday after Sunday. Christ's presence is here. "Lo, I
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am with you" has been fulfilled with you, brethren and sisters; and you worship here as you have worshiped through the years. And I know that He is with the other three congregations of the old Quemahoning church. O blessed Christ!
You know what happened to the temple in Jerusalem-the beautiful temple that Solomon built to the glory of God, and the wonderful wor- ship that was carried on there for years, and the priests and the sacrifices and everything connected with it. But do you know, my friends, that one day it came to pass by vision that the glory that was in the Holy of Holies departed from the temple to the threshold and then to the Mount of Olives and disappeared? The presence of the great Jehovah which had been in the temple was there no longer. Oh, I pray to my God this afternoon that Christ may never leave the Maple Spring church! If He does, the glory of the Lord will pass away from you, and you will not be able to enjoy the presence of Christ as you do today.
Who enjoys His presence? Everyone that is faithful and true, every- one that is obedient. Everyone that loves Christ has the promise of His presence with Him. "Fear not, I was dead and am alive again." I am the One that was with you. Think of Christ fifty years after he ascended to heaven, and the glorious manner in which He came back to John on the Isle of Patmos in order to give through him a message to the churches that were going through a fiery trial of severe persecution. "Fear not, I am with you." And today, my friends, we do not have that kind of persecution; but Satan is still alive, and he tempts us in other ways. And I beseech you, brethren and sister, this afternoon, keep away from the worldliness with which you are surrounded. Live lives that are holy and pure and worthy of Christ, the Christ who died for you. Stand true, I beg of you, to the vows you have made-the vows you made when you were baptized. Remember what they were, and do not flirt with the world and the worldly pleasures.
Seek not great things; seek the Lord; seek His Kingdom; seek the salvation of men; and seek to make this Maple Spring congregation a brilliant light on its candlestick, that will shine out in Jerome, and in Holsopple, and in Davidsville, and in all the hamlets around about.
3
Maple Spring Church, Being Remodeled, 1950
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Oh, that the influence of this congregation may increase, that your influence may spread out over the community and be increased; and that people, the unchurched and the unsaved people in this community, may know that Christ dwells in this congregation, and that they may desire to come to Him for salvation, and to you for fellowship! I wonder, since coming back to this country, at the carelessness and the indifference on the part of thousands of people to the invitation of the Lord Jesus- hardened in sin, and the appeal goes in vain. I rejoice this afternoon that that is not true of you. Your presence here shows that you believe in Christ, that you love Him, and that you serve Him. May He keep you true and faithful to the end! "Be faithful unto death, and you shall have the crown of life"-the crown of life! May the eternal Father keep all of you children true to Himself is my prayer. God bless you!
-Sponsored by Harold Seese; recorded by S. H. Lloyd Himes
CHAPTER 29. THE MARKLEYSBURG CONGREGATION
Congregation first organized, 1814 Separated from Sandy Creek, 1879 Present church membership, 268
When the first Dunkers settled in the vicinity of what is now Markleysburg is not definitely known. It was likely soon after 1800, if not before.1 In 1810 Michael Thomas, Sr., with his wife, Magdalena Maust Thomas, and their large family of children, left Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, and moved to a farm near what is now Markleysburg, Fayette County, near the West Virginia line. When his brother, Alexander Thomas, moved to the Markleysburg area we are not told, but it was before 1814. Another family, that of Jacob Fike, also came before this date.
For the first sixty-one years' history of the Markleysburg congregation we are indebted to Brother M. J. Thomas, who in 1875 wrote an account of this church, which was published in the Primitive Christian of March 7, 1876, under the title, "Historical." He says:
In the year 1811, there was, in the south-eastern part of Fayette County, Pa., in the neighborhood of Markleysburg, a small congrega- tion of Mennonites, who had no regular minister to preach for them.
1 "Jacob Thomas settled in Wharton township, along the Cumberland Road (Route 40), purchasing 421 acres, and allowances. The land was Warranted on March 12, 1794; and Surveyed on May 23, 1795. On February 10, 1840 the Patent was issued to Andrew Stewart."-The Horn Papers, Volume III. Map 25,
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***
Markleysburg Church, 1926
About this time Brother George Hinebaugh, a minister of the Breth- ren, of the Elk Lick church, would occasionally preach in the neighborhood of these Mennonites; and in the same year (1811) he baptized Magdalena [Maust] Thomas, wife of Michael Thomas, and mother of Elder Jacob M. Thomas.
Sister Thomas was the daughter of Abraham Maust, and had been born near what is now Summit Mills, in the Elk Lick congregation, from which Brother Hinebaugh came. Our his- torian continues:
She [Magdalene Thomas] was the first person baptized in this church. Brother Hinebaugh continued his visits, and, in the course of three years, the number baptized had increased so that in the fall of 1814 they appointed a lovefeast at the house of Brother Jacob Fike, one mile from Markleysburg. Elder Samuel Garber, of Rock- ingham county, Va., was present, and officiated at this meeting. An election was held for one speaker and one deacon. The lot fell on Jacob Fike, speaker, and Alexander Thomas, deacon,-the former father-in-law and the latter uncle to Elder Jacob M. Thomas. Then and there was this church organized. .
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