USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 29
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(Seventh row, L. to R.) Francis Duncan, Dale Fyock, Mrs. Carrie Widdowson, Annie Widdowson, Robert Fyock.
(Eighth row, L. to R.) Mrs. Harry Widdowson, Mrs. Charles Strong, Mrs. C. D. Brendlinger, Mrs. Clark Strong,.Elnora Strong.
(Standing, L. to R.) Harry Widdowson, Harry Holsopple, Jean Strong, Betty Widdowson, Anna Brendlinger, Ruth Strong, Allen Brendlinger, Mrs. Max Widdowson.
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Our pastors, since our organization as a separate congrega- tion, have been Grant E. Weaver, Wilbur O. Snyder (one sum- mer), J. L. Weaver, H. C. Hess, Ivan Fetterman, and, since 1940, John H. Clawson.
The following brethren, with their wives, have served in the deacon's office: Nelson Fyock, Joseph A. Widdowson, H. A. Hol- sopple, H. O. Widdowson, and V. D. Amond. Brethren Nelson Fyock, J. A. Widdowson, and V. D. Amond have passed on. In 1950 R. D. Fyock, C. Max Widdowson, and Francis Duncan, with their wives, were elected as deacons.
-Harry A. Holsopple
CHAPTER 41. THE PITTSBURGH CHURCH
First Sunday school convened, May 27, 1900 First church house dedicated, October 2, 1904 Present church membership, 265
The first official step toward establishing the Church of the Brethren in Pittsburgh was taken at the District Meeting held at the Shade Creek church, August 22, 1899, when a decision was made to send S. S. Blough to this city to start a mission. On May 27, 1900, the first Sunday school convened in the pastor's home at 8 Camp Street, on Herron Hill. Those present were: Samuel Cover, Mrs. Etta V. Cover, Cyrus Replogle, Sylvanus Rishel, S. S. Blough, Mrs. Mary V. Blough, and Carmen S. Blough.
Pittsburgh Church, 1950, and Pastor's Study
Next to Parsonage
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Soon it was learned that there were other Brethren living in Pittsburgh and, because most of them were located in or near Hazelwood, it seemed wise to move to Lytle Street, Hazelwood. On November 18, 1900, the first meeting in Hazelwood was held in Moore's Hall. In the meantime, night meetings were held once a month in homes of Brethren and friends throughout the city. The regular meeting place of the mission on Hazelwood Avenue was very unattractive because it was located over a livery stable and immediately adjacent to an undertaking estab- lishment. Nevertheless, the members maintained much interest and faithfulness even in this humble though undesirable lo- cation.
During the months of September and October 1901 Sister Elizabeth Howe conducted special Bible classes and otherwise assisted in the work of the mission.
In 1902 a committee, consisting of Joseph Holsopple, D. H. Walker, and W. A. Gaunt, was appointed by the District Elders' Meeting held at Johnstown to go to Pittsburgh and organize the members into a congregation. The committee met with the church July 5 and 6, 1902. Two sermons were preached, one by Elder Gaunt, the other by Elder Holsopple, with twenty-five and forty-seven present, respectively, At 2 P.M. on July 6, a special meeting was held for the purpose of effecting an organization. After some explanatory remarks by Elder Holsopple setting forth the principles of the church, as founded upon the gospel, the members present decided by a unanimous vote to organize the congregation. The following twenty-seven members constituted the charter membership: Robert H. Forney, Sol Workman, Mary Workman, S. C. Workman, S. E. Workman, William Imler, Leah Imler, Melissa Steel, Mary A. Dell, D. F. Troxel (deacon), John L. Wareham, Sadie Wareham, Margaret Collins, Albert O. Horner, C. S. Carr, S. S. Blough (elder), Mary W. Blough, Cyrus B. Replogle, Minnie Replogle, Huldah Guyer, Leah Benner, J. Herman Royer, S. D. Humphreys, J. Ward Eicher, Edward Tonner, James Miller, and Mrs. Silas Wareham. In the evening, Elder Walker preached the first sermon to an organized Church of the Brethren in the city, with thirty-four present.
After three years in Moore's Hall, the place of meeting was moved, in November 1903, to a hall in the Hazelwood Trust Company's building at the corner of Hazelwood Avenue and Second Avenue, where the group continued to meet until the church in Squirrel Hill was ready for occupancy. On January 10, 1904, a Christian Workers' meeting was organized and on January 14, 1914, a children's hour was started. In these activities, as well as in the general welfare of the work, the following visitors left permanent results in the growing congregation: Alice Smith in 1904, Ida Shumaker in 1905, Sister Van Sickle in 1906, Grace Gnagey in 1907, 1908, and 1909, and Sadie Wareham for a few years following 1909.
On April 30, 1903, D. H. Walker and P. J. Blough were
Greenfield Avenue Church
authorized by the District Meeting and the District Mission Board to purchase a lot for a church building in Pittsburgh. The location at Greenfield Avenue and Montclair Street in Squirrel Hill was considered to be an unusually good and con- venient one. The purchase of this lot was completed on May 4, 1903, at a price of $2,250.00. The District Meeting of 1903 had granted to the Mission Board permission to erect a suitable building also, but because of the scarcity of funds this was not undertaken until 1904. Work on the building progressed rapidly and was completed at a cost of $7,350.00.
The new church was dedicated October 2, 1904, on which occasion W. J. Swigart preached the dedicatory sermon. In the evening the first love feast in the new church was held with Elder Swigart officiating. In 1910 the congregation relinquished its dependence upon the District Mission Board and became self-supporting.
The church building at Greenfield Avenue and Montclair Street was adequate for the needs of this growing city con- gregation until 1942, when a change was made. The Squirrel Hill Methodist Protestant church building was not being Interior of Greenfield Avenue Church used as a house of worship at the time, and was offered for sale to the Brethren. Our congregation met in official council on March 24, 1942, to discuss the purchase of this property; after careful con- sideration and much discus- cussion we decided, by a
Interior of Present Church
on Beechwood Boulevard
majority vote, to buy this building, located on the corner of Beech- wood Boulevard and Lilac Street, just three blocks from the origi- nal building. The old church building was sold to the Church of God, and on Easter Sunday, April 5, the first official offering, which amounted to $504.03, was taken for this project. The larger financial program got under way in the month of May. For a period of twenty months contributions were received for the building fund in this financial drive. Because of legal dif- ficulties, the purchase of the Methodist Protestant building and the sale of our old building could not be consummated until November 1.
The first service of worship in our new church home was held on October 25, 1942. A fitting service was held in the old church home, after which the congregation moved in a procession to the new church home. On May 16, 1943, the date which marked the forty-third anniversary of the beginning of the work of the congregation, the new church home was formally dedi- cated with special Burning the Mortgage on Present Church services. Just one year later the congregation was free of debt and held appropriate serv- ices to mark the burn- ing of the mortgage.
As is true in every live and growing group, the joy of Christian experience in the Pittsburgh church found expres-
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sion in service. This service took many forms in addition to attend- ance and participation in regular formal worship. These activities sprang from the desire to share with others the joy and blessings which the members in Pittsburgh had come to know. Interest in and concern for those who were facing hardships and mis- fortunes were shown in a material way by assistance in provid- ing food and clothing or money to meet hospital bills. Support of an orphan at a foreign mission station afforded another op- portunity to help others. This project was soon enlarged to include partial support of a missionary. In March 1946 the church assumed the full support of a missionary and each year since that date has made this item part of its annual budget. Ernest Wampler has represented the Pittsburgh church in China. During World War II, the Sunday school gave one offering each month to the heifer project.
The ladies' aid society was organized in January 1905 and has been active throughout the years. The members' needles have completed many quilts and articles of clothing.
In 1948 the women's work group was organized as a missionary and service group. The women have held meetings regularly each month for
Ladies' Aid, N. M. Shideler, Pastor
From right to left around the quilt: Carrie Miller Forney; Alice Shumaker Keller; Sadie Urias; Lillian Faust Biggard; Marian Schrock Speicher; Elizabeth Replogle Barnett (standing); Katherine Sides Moser; Hazel Crull Shideler (the pastor's wife); Ella Nedrow Campbell; Camella Replogle Bechtel; Maude Johns Faust (extreme left)
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the purpose of fellowship, study, and service. Their work has truly been world-wide in scope and recently they have started the support of a mission school in India. Part of their emphasis has been placed on the home church. They purchased the rug for the new church offices and have supported well the improvement program.
Men's work has had a revival in recent years. In 1950 the men remodeled and enlarged new church offices. Emphasis had been placed mainly on the local program. In the remodeling program of the church the men did much of the work.
The church recently has placed greater emphasis on evan- gelism and the reactivated deacon board has helped the pastor greatly in this work. New adult classes and a young people's class were started. Three choirs add to the worship experience. A new organ was installed recently, and the new Brethren hymnals are now in use.
The boards of the church have tried to make each group a vital part of the total program. The board of administration serves as a clearinghouse for business matters.
We celebrated our fiftieth anniversary on October 1, 1950. During the previous week special services were conducted. Speakers included Dana Eckert, a former elder; S. S. Blough, the first pastor; and W. D. Rummel, the present elder. Brother Charles E. Zunkel, secretary of the Ministry and Home Mission Commission of the General Brotherhood Board, delivered the anniversary sermon, entitled The Fruitage of These Golden Years. The love feast climaxed the anniversary services.
The church in Pittsburgh, starting as a mission itself, has grown steadily. The membership now is two hundred sixty-five. While it was expanding in Pittsburgh, this church has helped start and support two other mission points, Natrona Heights and East Mckeesport.
The following ministers have served the church as pastors: Silas S. Blough, Mahlon J. Weaver, Herman B. Heisey, S. W.
Fiftieth Anniversary Group
Front row: S. S. Blough, first pastor; Charles E. Zunkel, secretary of Home Missions
Back row: Al- bert O. Horner, charter member; Lawrence Rice, pas- tor; William Rum- mel, elder
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Bail, T. Rodney Coffman, C. Walter Warstler, Galen B. Royer, Virgil C. Holsinger, Noah M. Shideler, William D. Rummel, Wilbur H. Neff, and H. Lawrence Rice.
Brother Rice will close his work on September 1, 1951. We expect Glen H. Bowlby to succeed him.
Active deacons in 1950 are: A. O. Horner, Charles Keller, C. Lee Burket, Warren Dunmire, Paul Holsinger, Wallace Holloway, Carl Dorer, Robert Clark, and Hugh Beeghly. To this board Herald Griffith, Roy Wolfe, and Robert Stevens have been elected but have not yet been installed.
These elders have served the congregation: D. H. Walker, C. Walter Warstler, M. J. Brougher, Galen B. Royer, Dana Z. Eckert, and William D. Rummel.
Men who have been licensed and ordained to preach are: Emerson Shideler, Clinton Burket, E. Stanley Fadely, J. Lester Showalter, and Dana Z. Eckert.
-Mrs. Fern Baer Jamison, Virgil C. Holsinger, Mrs. Zella Troxel, Mrs. Carrie Forney, and A. O. Horner, assisted by Mrs. Wayne Shaw
CHAPTER 42. THE PLEASANT HILL CHURCH
First meetinghouse built, 1852 98 members received, November 1876 Present church membership, 342
The first meetinghouse on Benshoff Hill, now Pleasant Hill, was built in 1852 and remodeled in 1881. It continued to serve the church's needs until 1909, when the present brick building was erected. Thirty years later (1939) a new section of twenty- five feet was added to its length. Brother M. J. Brougher re- dedicated it on August 6, 1939. The building, as it now stands, can seat about three hundred persons and houses a well- equipped Sunday school.
Daniel Crofford reported in November 1876: "Brother S. H. Bashor held a meeting at Benshoff Hill, Conemaugh congrega- tion, with 92 baptized, 5 reclaimed, one by certificate, making 98 in all. Then he went to the Horner church, where seven were baptized, with more waiting."
From the beginning until 1922 the preaching was cared for by the local ministers and others from near-by congregations. S. E. Dorer, L. B. Harshberger, E. D. Blue, A. U. Berkley, W. H.
Pleasant Hill Church
This congregation has made its contribution to the ministry through the following, who have been called from the member- ship here: C. A. McDowell, Bulletin Board and Pastor's Family Brother and Sister William L. Gould and Children Elmer D. Blue, H. Q. Rhodes, Blair Blue, and Elsie Berg Matula.
CHURCH & THE BRETHREN
HUITS
Rummel, Calvin Beam, N. W. Berkley, James Ream, and others served the church in this man- ner.
The first full-time pas- tor was Irvin R. Plet- cher, who served from 1922 to 1924. C. C. Sol- lenberger served from 1924 to 1928; Grant E. Weaver, 1929-1936; Ar- thur L. Rummell, 1937- 1944; C. H. Gehman, 1944-1947. William L. Gould accepted the call to our church in October 1947 and is now serving as pastor.
Through the years the fol- lowing deacons have been called by the church: W. T. Harrison, Emanuel Rhodes, M. G. Metzger (elected at Walnut Grove), and John Stutzman, all deceased. Others are D. I. Rhodes, Waldo E. Rhodes, Raymond Stutzman, Galen Metzger, Carmen Rum- mel, William King, Rus- sell Harrison, Boyd Rhodes (elected at Dundalk, Mary- land), and Benjamin Hoyland.
Pleasant Hill has always had an active and progressive Sunday school since 1871. Abel Findley and H. J. Berkey were our dele- gates to the first District Sunday School Convention at the Grove
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church, near Berlin, in 1879. At the present time our school is under the direction of Loren Blue as superintendent. Each department has its own opening devotional exercise. All of the organized classes have their regular monthly class meetings. During the year 1948-1949 the enrollment was two hundred thirty-three and the total offerings of the school were $5,843.51.
The ladies' aid society was organized on September 27, 1915, and has been an active organization all through the years. These loyal workers have contributed generously to the material progress of the church through funds raised by quilting. They meet each Wednesday, winter and summer alike.
Women's work was organized on November 2, 1939. Each year the women of this organization hold a Christmas party. This year they are holding monthly inspirational meetings of a spiritual nature, and an- nually they hold a mothers and daughters banquet.
The Alethia Club is an organization of ladies from the Alethia Bible class. They meet monthly and are instrumental in raising funds for the church building program.
Men's work was organized in August 1941 and features each year a fathers and sons banquet in the form of a game supper in November. This organization makes a fine contribution to the church by donating labor in every project that is undertaken. The men are also responsible for the annual Thanksgiving service.
The senior CBYF meets each Tuesday evening with an average attendance of twenty-five. These youths provide for themselves an interesting and varied program of activities.
The choir and the male chorus, under the direction of Donald Seese, have been doing splendidly through the years in adding to the worship service and the ministry of music.
In 1947 a farm adjoining the church property was purchased for the purpose of developing a recreation program. On that farm have been planted several thousand pine trees. A ball diamond, a volley ball court, and a recreation building have been constructed. It is expected that in the years that lie ahead we may further develop this project so as to include much more for our social as well as our spiritual welfare.
-Mrs. Waldo E. Rhodes and Mrs. Ralph Rhodes
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CHAPTER 43. THE PLUM CREEK CHURCH
Sunday school organized, 1860 Plum Creek Normal established, 1874 Present church membership, 119
The Plum Creek church and parsonage are situated in a beautiful valley midway between Indiana and Kittanning. The buildings are neat and attractive. The natural surroundings are ideal for a rural church. A good road passes in front of the buildings, and, a little south of them on the opposite bank of Dutch Run, is a recreation center, where vespers are sometimes held.
So far as is known, the first members to settle here were the Frys, the Wissingers, and the Fishers from Somerset County. Tobias Kimmel and wife, of Westmoreland County, settled in Plum Creek Township in 1837. The membership belonged to the old Cowanshannock congregation. Lewis Kimmel was elected the first minister in 1858. Two years later, Brother Kimmel and Jacob Kelso organized a Sunday school, known as the Plum Creek union Sunday school, in Schoolhouse Number 17. This name was retained until 1895.
The original church building was erected in 1862. In 1874 this building was divided, and the west end was used for a normal school. This school was under the supervision of Lewis Kimmel, with Howard Miller as assistant. The school began with three students and increased its enrollment to one hundred before it was united with Juniata College at Huntingdon a few years later.
Plum Creek Church and Parsonage
Seven Heifers for Europe With Their Donors
A parsonage was erected in 1899, as this was one of the first congre- gations to support a full-time pastor. F. D. Anthony served as pastor, 1897-1899; C. O. Beery, 1899-1901; Kenton B. Moomaw, 1901-1902; C. O. Beery, 1902-1905; L. M. Keim, 1905-1908; A. J. Culler, 1908; H. S. Replogle, 1908-1913; R. D. Murphy, 1913-1914; Galen K. Walker, 1914- 1917; A. B. Replogle, 1917-1920; William Irvin, 1920-1922; Quincy A. Holsopple, 1923-1926; Arthur L. Dodge, 1927-1931; J. H. Wimmer, 1932- 1940; C. H. Rosenberger came in 1941. He was deeply interested in Brethren service and reconstruction work and promoted it continuously. The church responded generously. Clothing, shoes, blankets, comforters, soap, and canned goods were shipped through the New Windsor center. Seven "heifers for relief," with a value of $1,450.00, were donated by seven families, and one hundred forty dollars was raised to purchase another heifer by some who had no cattle to give. Brother Rosenberger, acting as crew chief, sailed for Yugoslavia on a United Nations ship carrying "horses for relief" to that country. F. J. Byer is our present pastor. Plum Creek has been fortunate in securing pastors who were good leaders, and we have appreciated their services.
In May 1947 a large mural was unveiled in our sanctuary. It is a pastoral scene of the Galilean shore and its environs. The painting is done in oil by John A. Fullerton. This lovely mural was presented in memory of Christopher B. and Mary Ella Kimmel by their children. The members of the Plum Creek church, however, have tried to place the spiritual above the ma- terial things. The church has felt the need of serving its own community as well as world-wide missions. They have co-oper- ated with the other churches in the community in fostering services for spiritual enrichment.
On October 25, 1942, the church celebrated its eightieth anni- versary. It was also the ninety-first birthday of Mrs. Charlotte Jacoby, the oldest member of the congregation. Among the visitors was Mrs. C. B. Heckman of Murraysville, Pennsylvania,
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who had attended the Plum Creek Normal School and, in a speech, described the school as best she could.
We have a heritage which we consider sacred. We feel, as did the song writer: "Faith of our fathers; holy faith! We will be true to thee till death."
-E. Marie Miller
CHAPTER 44. THE ROBINSON CHURCH
First church house erected, 1886 Present church dedicated, 1929 Present church membership, 111
The church is the most sacred institution in all the world. It represents the Lord's work in a world of sin and of misery. It is His organ of proclamation, of preservation, and of perpetu- ation of Christian folk down through the centuries. "Like a mighty army moves the church of God. Brothers, we are tread- ing where the saints have trod." It is with this view that a brief history of the Robinson congregation is hereby given.
In the beginning the Robinson congregation belonged to the Ligonier congregation. Under this arrangement a development began that brought better days as the years rolled by. It seemed wise, about 1886, to divide the northern end of this congregation from the southern, and to create a separate organization. This new congregation, although it was located in a village of the name of Robinson, was called the Bolivar congregation. It is in Indiana County. In 1886 a church house was built which served well until the present edifice was erected.
The spirit of evangelism, prayer, missionary endeavor, and indoctrination are the chief aims of this congregation. Most of the members are of new stock rather than primitive Brethren heritage. This makes the congregation a missionary one from its inception until the present time, and it is the aim of the present congregation and leadership to keep the church a mis- sionary-minded people.
In 1928 the present cement block church building was erected,
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It was dedicated debt-free in the summer of 1929. The labor of love was utilized in the construction of this building. The mem- bers and the minister gave their time, money, and effort to establish a house of worship. Many improvements have been made since then and the work is increasing slowly and steadily, and, we hope, eternally.
The Robinson congregation is determined to support the work of the district, the region, and the Brotherhood. We think that the whole Brotherhood is on the onward and upward move. We plan to continue to support missions, evangelism, and the ex- panding program of the church. Our prayers and aims are thus.
We might say that, on the insistence of the pastor, our build- ing and our work have gone forward without financial support from the district or the Brotherhood. We are inclined to think that congregations ought to be more and more self-supporting and self-sustaining. Years ago, for a little while, some assistance was given for pastoral support. We hope to continue relying on the strength of the Lord and the support of our people.
Eleven elders have served the Robinson church during the years from 1878 to the present, including John H. Clawson, our elder since 1933. Brother Clawson has also served as our resi- dent minister since 1932.
-Miss Mable Betts
Robinson Church
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CHAPTER 45. THE ROCKTON CONGREGATION
Sunday school organized, 1886 Present church dedicated, December 6, 1914 Present church membership, 83
Our early church life centered around one pioneer family. Peter Beer, who was born in Armstrong County, moved with his family from Indiana County to Clearfield County in 1876 when lumbering was at its height. By occupation he was a raftsman, lumberman, carpenter, farmer, and orchardist. He was the father of a large family, a minister in the Church of the Breth- ren, and the founder of the church in Rockton (September 8, 1877). Often traveling on horseback, later with a horse and a buggy, he preached in the rural communities known as Green- ville, Newtonburg, and Pine Grove.
The Rockton church was formed out of a part of the Montgomery congregation (then comprising parts of Indiana and Clearfield counties) in a church council assembling with Lewis Kimmel of Plum Creek presiding. Charles Brown was church clerk. J. B. Wampler and Peter Beer (ministers) were also present. Levi Speicher was elected treasurer.
A union Sunday school was held at first in the village of Rockton while early preaching in this area was held in lumber camps, barns, schoolhouses, and homes.
In early 1880 the young people's first consideration was to get married; their second consideration was to find a church home. This situation prevailed in many homes here, even in the home of Peter Beer. A number of his sons and daughters had previously married and had established homes of their own either at Rockton or in other parts of Clearfield County. The great decision time came to this family in 1885. A daughter of Peter Beer, named Mrs. Emma Jane Kirk, died on May 25. She was a bride, a mother, and a corpse in one year. A revival meeting was held in the Rockton church that same summer, resulting in Peter Beer's family, including his in-laws, becoming members of the Rockton church by confession of faith and the rite of baptism.
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