USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
5 From an advertisement in the Somerset Whig, August 24, 1820.
28
Part One: District Developments
this railroad through his home town of Rockwood lifted Elder Myers out of the farmer class of preachers.
"Article 20. Whether a laying off of the large church, here in the Glades, into several districts, would not be thought expedient?" is explained elsewhere in this volume.
Elklick Ger Bap, Ch.
From Walker's Map, 1860
Elklick German Baptist Church (Summit Mills) The Annual Meeting of 1859 was held here.
The fifth Annual Meeting in the county was held in the "Elk Creek Church [Summit Mills], Somerset county, Pa., in 1859." Of the thirty-eight papers, we will notice only one:
"Article 28" was concerned with "the great necessity of having the Gospel, as held and practiced by the brethren, more extensively spread and known." The answer of Conference was: "This meeting recommend and give liberty to any of the districts or states to make move on the subject of spreading and sustaining the Gospel, as preached and understood by the brethren." Probably this was a follow-up to. the paper presented by John Wise the year before, in which was requested the appointment of a General Mission Board. That paper had been returned. See Part One, Chapter 11, "The Spirit of Missions."
The sixth Annual Meeting was held at Meyersdale in 1873. A trend in the church is indicated by the opening phrase of Article 24: "Inasmuch as there are constant additions to the church and to the ministry of young brethren who are
Tabernacle, Annual Meeting, 1894, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
TABERNACLE
desirous to learn the proceedings of our Annual Meetings, . . . " In earlier years, mention was made of only the "old brethren," and references were often made to the past (see note, page 446) .
The seventh and last Annual Meeting in our district was also held at Meyersdale, in 1894. By this time the attendance had grown so large that special buildings had to be arranged for it. (See cuts.) Two very outstanding features of this meet- ing were: (a) the consecration of our first missionaries to a heathen land-Brother and Sister W. B. Stover and Bertha Ryan to India; (b) authorization of the publication of the Brethren's Missionary Visitor: "subscription price 25c per year."
THE WESTERN DISTRICT IS ORGANIZED, 1866
As the Brotherhood increased in numbers and expanded into a much larger area it became necessary to formulate or- ganization. The Annual Meeting of 1866, held in the Antietam church, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, passed this minute:
We recommend that each state form itself into convenient dis- trict-meetings. These meetings shall be formed by one or two representatives from each church, and we recommend that each church be represented in the district meeting, either by representa- tive or by letter. We think it best to hold those meetings in sim- plicity, and as much like the common council-meetings are held, as possible. A record of the district meeting may be kept, but not published.
The state of Pennsylvania was divided into three districts -Eastern, Middle, and Western. The organization of the West- ern District took place at the Grove church, near Berlin, on November 5, 1866. Although Annual Meeting had specifically said that the "record" be "not published," your editor has a copy of the minutes of that organization meeting. And although
30
Part One: District Developments
C
G
HH
Front row men, seated: 1, Mr. Smouse (manager); 2, Elder Daniel Holsopple; 3, . . . ; 4, David Blough; 5, Jacob Beeghley; 6, . . .
Second row men: 1, Elder E. K. Hochstetler; 2, Bishop C. G. Lint; 3, Jonas Weaver; 4, Josiah Blough; 5, Lloyd Peck; 6, J. E. Faust; 7, Moses K. Johns
Back row men: 1, David Linderman; 2, Eli Egan; 3, John Blough
A Group of Those Who Served Physical Needs at the Yearly Meeting in 1894, Meyersdale
31
Part One: District Developments
Front row women: 1, Emma Reitz Blough; 2, . .. ; 3, Mary Reitz Peck; 4, Emma Gnagy Speicher; 5, Bertha Zerfoss Fleagle; 6, Mrs. Vought; 7, Ella Hoffman Spencer; 8, . . . ; 9, . . . ; 10, Mrs. Davidson; 11, Eliza- beth Berkey Head; 12, .
Second row women: 1, Ida Rayman Bear; 2, Maggie Lehman Ram- sey; 3, Ada Beeghley Coleman; 4, Ada Miller Altfather; 5, Emma Bach- man Trimpey; 6, Maggie Reitz Saylor; 7, Emma Hoffman Weaver; 8, Emma B. Seese Manges; 9, Catherine Berkebile Ott; 10, Cora Horner Bittner; 11, . . . ; 12, Anna Baer Beck; 13, Anna Manges Steuver Rowzer (head cook); 14, Catherine Shaffer Faust Yoder
Third row women: 1, . . ; 2, ... ; 3, ... ; 4, Clara Walker Lichty; 5, Ella Knavel Leffler; 6, . . . ; 7, Anna Davis Klink; 8, Sara J. Mock Rowzer; 9, Barbara Wentz Rodgers; 10, Lydia Beeghley; 11, Mary Folk Shoemaker; 12, Minnie Brant Buechey; 13, Grace Brant Hentz; 14, . . . Fourth row women: 1, . . ; 2, ...; 3, Mollie Thomas Blough; 4, Ida Blough Lohr; 5, . . . ; 6, . .. ; 7, Mary Mock Whittaker; 8, Amanda Weaver Idleman; 9, Tena Berkebile Knavel; 10, Grace Harshberger Blough; 11, . . . ; 12, . . . ; 13, . . .
my file is incomplete, I presume that the District Meeting min- utes have been published every year since. At the first District Meeting in 1866 there were eighteen congregations listed, fif- teen of which were represented by twenty-four delegates.
After the forming of the Western District, the first or- ganization was that of a Home Mission Board in 1872, which is explained in Part I, Chap- ter 11.
Probably the second activ- ity of a district nature was the holding of the first minis- terial meeting at the Walnut Grove church, Johnstown, on November 2 and 3, 1892. J. C. Johnson was the moderator, and Joseph Holsopple the clerk. The first Ministerial Committee (now called a board) was made up of Joseph Holsopple, H. A. Stahl, and W. G. Schrock. Since that time to the present, many have served on this commit-
District Ministerial Board, 1951 J. A. Robinson, Galen R. Blough, Russell K. Showalter
32
Part One: District Developments
tee or board. It has been the work of this Ministerial Board to help keep the churches supplied with ministers and to help locate ministers where they can be useful to the church.
The third activity began five years later, on August 5, 1897, through a Sunday-school convention, which was the incep- tion of the District Sunday School Association (see Chapter 6 of Part I). In 1906 these two annual gatherings, the ministerial meeting and the Sunday-school convention, were combined, so as to be held at the same time and place.
During the last half century, a number of organizations have been developed in the district, several of which are dealt with in various chapters of this volume.
TEMPERANCE AND WELFARE ACTIVITY
The following excerpts are taken from data furnished by Assistant Editor Alvin G. Faust:
There is no space to trace the general temperance activity of the mother church from the beginning. Lewis H. Brumbaugh has done this rather effectively in a thesis, and Brother Horst also summarizes the practice of the church in general. Our own P. J. Blough was a member of the General Temperance Committee from its organization in 1908. He edited the Temperance Bulletin from about 1912, and had a marked influence in shaping the temperance program of the district and of our local congregations. He was a motivating spirit in this work. Many will remember his effective appeals to do something about this menacing evil.
The District Temperance Committee, "in pursuance of the de- cision of Annual Conference," had met on July 24, 1911, in Johnstown. Officers chosen were: president, G. K. Walker; secretary, M. J. Weaver; treasurer, P. C. Strayer. A letter was sent out urging the churches to read the Temperance Bulletin of the Missionary Visitor, and to see that a local committee was appointed or elected in each congregation. The duties of the congregations, their committees, and their ministers were outlined, as well as the financial plan. The program was launched, and the work was to grow in intensity as the church with the country approached the goal of "A Saloonless Nation in 1920."
The membership of the District Temperance Committee changed frequently in the early period. Among early members we find D. K. Clapper, J. H. Cassady, B. F. Waltz, and A. U. Berkley. In 1918 Alvin G. Faust was elected to the committee and soon thereafter became chairman, serving as chairman continuously until the early thirties, when the work was merged into that of the National Councils of Men's and Women's Work.
In 1920 the Child Rescue Committee and the Peace Committee came under this committee to form the District Welfare Board. A few children were placed in good permanent homes and/or schools for the
33
Part One: District Developments
handicapped. In this work, as strong supporters of the welfare work and serving on the board in the 1920's were Quincy A. Holsopple, Jerome E. Blough, A. J. Beeghly, William H. Rummel, John F. Graham, and William K. Kulp. Perhaps there were others. Considerable emphasis was placed by this board on peace, purity, and the tobacco evil. In the latter we were materially aided by the lectures of Virgil C. Finnell. Brother Faust represented the board in a number of addresses before churches, in a temperance institute at North Manchester, Indiana, and on the Annual Conference program. May we be alert and carry on in this worthy work.
THE CONEMAUGH VALLEY MINISTERIUM
The Conemaugh Valley Church of the Brethren Ministerium was organized December 9, 1918, in the Walnut Grove church, Johnstown, with M. Clyde Horst as president and H. B. Heisey as secretary. This fellowship of Brethren ministers has con- tinued through the years without an interruption except for about a year in the early thirties.
From January 1929 until about 1935 the Brethren Church ministers of the Johnstown area were included in the member- ship. At the present time the membership is made up entirely
Conemaugh Valley Ministerium, 1952
Front row: Dorsey E. Rotruck, William L. Gould, William H. Rum- mel, David H. Markey, John M. Geary
Middle row: Arthur L. Croyle, C. H. Rosenberger, J. A. Robinson, C. R. Bowman, Merril S. Heinz
Back row: Clayton H. Gehman, John Dwight Ellis, A. Jay Replogle
34
Part One: District Developments
of Church of the Brethren ministers; however, an invitation has been extended to the Brethren Church group.
Dorsey Rotruck is serving as president for the year 1951-1952. William L. Gould is the secretary-treasurer.
The group meets once each month for a luncheon meeting and to transact such business as is of common interest to the pastors. They sponsor a Brethren picnic at Idlewild Park each year and arrange for other fellowship meetings for both the organization and the district.
CHAPTER 5. SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK SINCE 1825
Dr. John P. Cober taught Sunday school in 1825
Brethren Sunday school organized at Hart's Run, 1856
Sunday-school convention, Grove church, Berlin, 1879
Whether the Sunday afternoon meeting for young unmar- ried people, as practiced by the mother church at Germantown in 1738, was transplanted in Western Pennsylvania is not known today, but the historical exhibit at the Jubilee Sunday School Convention in 1929 was favored with a nearly full set (three hundred eighty-one) of the "cards," in a leather case, printed in 1744 by Brother Christopher Sauer and used in the church at Germantown. They belonged to the Miller family, 102 Salisbury Street, Meyersdale, having been in the parental home of Brother Miller and his sisters, Mary and Eliza, when they were children. Since the Meyersdale church dates back to 1783, it is easy to see a possible connection.
Of one thing we are sure, that we had a Sunday-school teacher in the Church of the Brethren, near or in Berlin, as early as 1825. It may have been a union Sunday school, as most such efforts were in that early day. But in the absence of other data, we give honor to
Dr. John P. Cober
Our first Sunday-school teacher, 1825. Photo as bishop of the Berlin congregation
35
Part One: District Developments
Dr. John P. Cover (Cober) as being the first Sunday-school teacher of the Church of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania. (See cut.)
The Synoptical Report of our first Sunday-school conven- tion, held in 1879 in the old Grove church, near Berlin, quotes Dr. Cober, then one of the older elders, or bishops, of the host congregation as saying: "I have always been in favor of Sunday schools. I was engaged in teaching Sunday school 54 years ago;
The Old Grove Church, Near Berlin
This congregation entertained the Annual Meeting of 1849-very historic, the first District Meeting of Western Pennsylvania, 1866, the first Sunday-school Convention, 1879, and the second Sunday-school Convention, 1880.
and I am now in my 77th year. I am pleased, and hope the convention will exert a good influence for the Cause."
Brother Livengood, from Salisbury, attended the Jubilee Convention. He was then ninety-two years young, and he had been a Sunday-school pupil for eighty years, or since 1849. A sister from Johnstown, also at the Jubilee Convention, had been a Sunday-school pupil seventy-five years, or since 1854. Very likely many other young people, and some of our church workers, doubtless, attended or helped in these union Sunday schools throughout Western Pennsylvania.
The first distinctively Brethren Sunday school in this dis- trict of which we have record was established by Elder Adam Wise in 1856 at the Hart's Run schoolhouse, in Greene County. Their church house was not built until 1872; so they used the schoolhouse for both Sunday-school and preaching services.
The next year, 1857, a Sunday school was organized at Meyers Mills (Meyersdale). It was perhaps open only six
36
Part One: District Developments
months out of the year until 1871, when H. R. Holsinger was elected Sunday-school superintendent. Without doubt, this Sunday school was held in their new church house built in 1851.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS ORGANIZED PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION, 1879
Organized Name Leader Average Attendance, 1879
1856 Hart's Run schoolhouse, Elder Adam Wise
1857 Meyers Mills (Meyersdale)
March 1859 Ten Mile church, Elder John Wise
1859 Grove church, Georges Creek, William Moser, superintendent
1859 Maple Glen (Peck's schoolhouse)
1860 Plum Creek (schoolhouse), Lewis Kimmel and Jacob Kelso
1863
Fairview church, Georges Creek, S. C. Johnson
and John J. Cover
1865 Pike (Brothersvalley), Lewis J. Knepper, William G. Schrock
1866 Dunnings Creek (now in Middle Pennsylvania)
75
1868 Middle Creek (schoolhouse), Josiah Gross
May 17, 1868
Hedrick's schoolhouse, C. P. L. Roberts
About 1868 Montgomery (schoolhouse)
1869 Berkey (schoolhouse), Elijah Berkey
1871 Benshoff's (Pleasant Hill)
94
1871 East Conemaugh
(evergreen) 138
1871 Horner's church (near Johnstown)
1872 Mechanicsburg (Summit Mills)
1874 Asher Glade (union), J. P. Laudermilk
1875 Yoder Hill (Westmont), William Ramberger
May 13, 1877 Elk Lick (Salisbury), Howard Miller 90
Easter, 1878 Scalp Level church, Hiram Musselman
80
1878 Kimmel (Pike Run), John B. Kimmel
1878
Hostetler church, Urias Hostetler
1879 Berlin (now Brethren) 58
April 27,1879 Locust Grove, Daniel Shaffer
1879 McGaughey's schoolhouse 58
1879 Salem (union)
Belsano (near Nanty Glo) 112
Cowanshannock
Glade Run church 60
Hauger church (near Rockwood)
Indian Creek (County Line)
Manor. (near Penn Run) 132
Purchase Line church
Trent's (near Somerset) 94
NOTE: The last eight schools named were reported at the first con- vention, but their organization dates are unknown now.
37
Part One: District Developments
If space permitted, we could relate many very interesting incidents of these earlier Sunday schools, as told to the editor forty years ago by the workers and pupils of that generation. Their zeal and devotion would be a challenge to the best within us today. However, we include only the following:
SKYLIGHTS INTO OUR FIRST CONVENTION
(Including Excerpts from the 16-Page "Synoptical Report" of Bro. J. W. Beer.)
How It Began
"According to previous arrangements the brethren and sisters met in the Grove Meeting-house, near Berlin, September 23 [1879], at 10 o'clock a. m., Convention to close on the evening of the 24th, and to consist of six sessions.
"The exercises were introduced by singing the 65th hymn and prayer by brethren Silas Hoover and H. R. Holsinger.
"Next in order was the election of officers. Brother Howard Miller was nominated and elected Moderator and brother H. R. Holsinger Assistant, brother J. W. Beer Secretary, and Wesley A. Adams Assistant. Brethren J. W. Smouse, Silas Hoover and J. J. Blough were appointed a committee to receive and arrange the queries of the query box to be brought before the Convention.
The Moderator in a brief and fluent address stated that as this was the first Sunday-school Convention in the Western District of Pennsylvania, all should consider themselves as learners, and yet
be willing to tell each other all they know upon the subjects that might be before the meeting. He noticed the likelihood of different views being held upon some of the subjects, and earnestly admon- ished to mutual forbearance. After duly setting forth the nature and importance of the Convention and giving various suggestions and hints suitable to the occasion, he proceeded to carry out the programme.
"Address of Welcome."
"Brother William G. Schrock read a very interesting essay, giving the history of Sunday schools and setting forth their im- portance. He found Sunday schools from the Apostolic age to the age of darkness and superstition; he found them in the Reformation, established by Luther at Wittenberg in 1528; by Knox in Scotland in 1560; in France he found them in 1580; and in America as early as 1674." [He perhaps refers to the Sunday school that was claimed to have been organized at Roxbury, Mass., in 1674. Another is claimed for Norwich, Conn., in 1676; a third in Plymouth, Mass., in 1680; and a fourth in Newton, Long Island, by Rev. Morgan Jones in 1683 .- W.J.H.]
"He noticed their introduction and growth among the Brethren; the propriety of Sunday School Conventions, and their frequency among other people, and among the Brethren in other districts." [Three years previous a convention was held near Wawaka, North- ern Indiana, September 15, 1876, and five weeks later the first con- vention was held in Middle Pennsylvania, at James Creek, October 21, 1876. A second convention was held in Middle Pennsylvania, at Spring Creek, October 15, 1878, and a third at Leamersville on Janu- ary 14, 1879. Middle Indiana held their first District Sunday-school convention at the Spring Creek church, April 1879 .- W.J.H.]
"Jubilee Conventioneers," 1929, Meyersdale, Who Attended the First Sunday-school Convention, 1879, at the Old Grove Church
Back row: 1, Mrs. A. F. (Emma) Mostoller; 2, Mrs. U. S. (Lizzie) Lehman; 3, Jacob Musser; 4, William S. Livengood (editor) ; 5, Mrs. W. S. Livengood; 6, Emanuel L. Knepper; 7, Uriah S. Leh- man; 8, Jacob M. Beeghley
Front row: 1, . .. ; 2, Mary Livengood; 3, Mrs. John Reiman; 4, Henry Beeghley; 5, Ira Beaghley; 6, William Manges; 7, Mrs. C. W. (Eximena) Landis; 8, C. Wesley Landis
39
Part One: District Developments
In his welcome he said: "It is with sincere pleasure that I per- form the duty assigned me of bidding you a hearty welcome to this convention, and of inviting you to take an active part in the deliber- ations of this meeting. In the name of the Berlin congregation of the Western District of Pennsylvania, I invite you, and especially bid you a cordial welcome to our midst; and whilst we, as Christian friends, endeavor to administer to your comforts and happiness, may you be made to feel and realize that you are at home here while tarrying with us."
"Design of Sunday School Conventions.
"Brother Nathaniel Merrill of Elk Lick, Pa., gave the following as some of the objects of Sunday School Conventions: (1) to re- move existing prejudice against Sunday schools; (2) to become dis- ciplined in Sunday school work, and to come to the best system of conducting our schools; (3) to arrive at greater uniformity in the holding of our schools; (4) to define the duties of the Superintend- ents, other officers, and various members of the schools; (5) to bring about a more general willingness to engage in Sunday school work; (6) to confer with each other, and to give and receive council, concerning all difficult and important Sunday school duties and work; (7 and lastly) to prepare us for the Sabbath school above, under the great Superintendent, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Other topics completed the forenoon program. In the afternoon 30 delegates from 18 schools were enrolled and gave very interesting reports. The Query Box occupied a prominent place in the various sessions.
"The Sunday School Teacher"
Prof. N. B. Critchfield read an excellent essay on "The Sunday School Teacher as a Student, his Books, his Hours and Methods of Study." "He assumed that thorough preparation is necessary to qualify the Sunday School teacher for his work. Men prepare themselves for any other work or calling or professions, and so they should prepare themselves for this important work. Skill is re- quired in the training of a horse, much more so in the cultivation of souls. Different natures require different treatment, and therefore teachers must understand the natures and dispositions of those in their classes.
"The teacher should feel his responsibility, which is weighty. Souls are valuable and they are under his care and instruction. The successful teacher must be a man of trained mind. He need not be a collegiate, but must have his mind trained to think methodically. He must study, and prominent among his text books must be the Bible. This is the Book of books and should be well understood. But the teacher should have other aids to assist him in understanding the Bible and human nature. He should study some work on Mental Philosophy. As the sculptor tests the marble, so must the teacher test the minds of his scholars. He gave some good advice to be ob- served in the selection of books, and insisted upon the necessity of method in the study of the Scriptures.
"The Place of Holding Sunday School"
Bro. J. B. Wampler responded to the question, "In what way can the place of Sunday school be made attractive or inviting to both old and young?"
He said, "The place could be made inviting to old and young by having the most suitable location; by having buildings adapted to
40
Part One: District Developments
Sabbath schools, with different rooms; by having large and commo- dious buildings, so that they be not too much crowded; by having neat and suitable furniture, keeping the house clean, having proper ventilation, using cards with Bible mottoes, having flower vases, bouquets and suitable literature; but above all, the place will be made most interesting and inviting to both old and young by having officers and teachers who are filled with the love of God-full of the Holy Spirit."
Sunday School Literature
"The Pious Youth" had been published by H. R. Holsinger in 1870, and "The Young Disciple" by Brumbaugh Bros. beginning with 1876; also "The Children at Work," and other papers were begun, but in 1879 Eld. S. Z. Sharp first began to publish a periodical for the Breth. with a lesson and helps, hence this Convention had to grapple with [the] question, "Which is preferable, S. S. Libraries or S. S. periodicals?"
For more than half a century the American Sunday School Union had been publishing little books for the S. S. library. A firm in New York also had catered to this need. In 1868 the District Meeting of Western Pennsylvania had petitioned Annual Meeting to have Brethren "to compose and select suitable pieces to be printed as a Sabbath school library."
The first Sunday school convention was in the path of progress; for the "Synoptical Report," after giving speeches on both sides of the questions, says, "The general sentiment was in favor of the periodicals."
A Field Secretary Considered
Article 7 of the Report of the Committee on Resolutions reads: "We recommend the appointment of a Sunday School missionary to travel among the churches and advocate the cause of Sunday schools and assist in their organization, and we hereby appoint Brother to act in that capacity until the convening of next conven- tion, and then and there make a report, and that he be authorized to hold collections and receive contributions for his support."
A rising vote resulted in a "tie," and the moderator "decided against the resolution," giving his reasons, "but the importance of such a messenger was recommended to earnest consideration."
A State Sunday School Convention
At the last evening session, "on motion it was decided to ap- point a committee to confer with other Sunday school workers with reference to the holding of a state Sunday school convention. Pat- rick O'Neill, H. R. Holsinger and J. W. Beer were appointed." -(Reprinted from the "District Herald," Volume 6, Number 4,
September, 1929)
A second Sunday-school convention was held at the same place the next year, but we have found no record of it, nor of the proposed "State Sunday School Convention." A third Sun- day-school convention was held at Salisbury in 1881. Then the Annual Conference of 1882 decided against holding "Sunday School Meetings," and did not repeal this decision for fifteen years, or until June 1897 at the Annual Conference at Frederick, Maryland.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.