USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 7
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
Evaluation
The concluding statement of the report of the Fraternal Relations Committee of the Church of the Brethren reads:
"Because of our common heritage it is our belief that we should continue our committees on Fraternal Relations and seek the leading of the Holy Spirit for future direction." There is nowhere in the report any reference to the uniting of the two churches. Furthermore, a query from Northern California relative (among other things) to the possibility of uniting the two churches and the seminaries, was returned with a statement to the effect that the use of such buildings was not in the foreseeable future. In other words, the leadership of their Church is fully aware of conditions within our church, and they know that such a merger is a present impossibility-and for that matter in the foreseeable future. In reply to a letter from Dr. Peters, Executive Secretary, under date of August 5, [1950], I wrote, "Your Standing Committee, in its answer to the query from Northern California, has properly assessed the situation relative to the uniting of the two churches."
It should be kept in mind that as moderator of this conference, if I had had two hours to speak at their conference, I could not have made any promises or commitments relative to uniting of the churches. After all I am moderator for a year only-and that will be true of those who follow me. Any commitments I would have made would have been repudiated by this conference. . . . Each suc- ceeding conference elects its own officers and follows its own rules. Furthermore, the National Conference cannot commit the various districts to any such course of action, for the districts can refuse to follow. It is also true that no district can commit the church in that district, for the churches can refuse to follow. In fact, a minority can prevent it. We ought to face the fact that if ever the two churches unite, it must be from the local churches and upward, that is, it must be well nigh unanimous. What I am here saying in this paragraph is not filler; but it is said because of what I learned at Grand Rapids, relative to some things which happened more than twenty years ago. This church cannot be given away except first through the local church, the districts, and then the General Con- ference.
What I said at Grand Rapids may be variously interpreted- what I really implied was that we have been giving too much [consideration] to the idea of marriage, and overlooking the all- important fact of courtship. Courtship may or may not lead to marriage; but still the young go "a-courting." Courtship days are delightful days.16
And now in the light of Brother Ronk's suggestion of "court-
16 Reprinted from the Brethren Evangelist, Volume 72, Number 34. Pages 7 and 8.
85
Part One: District Developments
ship," we quote from the report of our own Brotherhood Fra- ternal Relations Committee as follows:
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
We desire . . . to offer the following recommendations [to the Conference of 1951]:
1. That the historical committee be authorized to enlarge its membership by at least one representative from each of the other Brethren bodies and that an invitation be extended to such repre- sentatives as are interested in the work of the committee. Accept- ances of membership should be reported to the Standing Committee. It shall be understood that such representatives shall have full status on the committee and for [the] customary term of service.
2. That in the light of the substantial gifts of The Brethren Church to our foreign mission program, the appropriate body of the Brethren be invited to name a consulting member to the For- eign Mission Commission of the General Brotherhood Board.
3. That the Christian Education Commission be requested to extend to the president of Ashland College full membership on the Committee on Higher Education.
4. That the National Councils of Men's and Women's Work, and the National Youth Cabinet be requested to invite representation on their cabinets by such Brethren groups as are willing to accept membership.
5. That our new hymnal be made available to other Brethren groups under their own imprint, if possible.
6. That The Gospel Messenger club arrangements be made available to any congregation in any other Brethren body if they so desire.
In conclusion, the District Historical Committee desires to express our deep and sincere appreciation to the many members of the Brethren Church who have so kindly co-operated with data and material for this new history of Western Pennsylvania. Special mention is made of the editor of the Brethren Evangelist, Reverend F. C. Vanator, for the loan of the cuts of Elders P. J. Brown and J. W. Beer and Dr. Charles A. Bame, and the per- mission to use quotations from their church paper.
Thanks are extended to their church history department editor, Freeman Ankrum, for the use of several cuts and the releasing of valuable material, and to Percy C. Miller, the pres- ent pastor of the Berlin church, for his fine co-operation and the loan of cuts, as well as supplying the following information about some of the present Brethren churches in Pennsylvania.
Church Membership
Pastor
Address
Berlin Brethren
403
Percy C. Miller
Berlin
Brush Valley (Armstrong County) 124
Paul M. Naff Route 1, Adrian
Calvary (near Quakertown) 45
Conemaugh (Cambria County)
Highland (Washington County) 59
Ralph Mills
Uniontown
86
Part One: District Developments
Johnstown, First Johnstown, Second
130
Johnstown, Third
307
Arthur R. Baer 186 Spring St., Johnstown
Listie Brethren (Somerset County)
Masontown (Fayette County) 214
William Keeling Masontown
Meyersdale (Somerset County) 145
W. S. Benshoff Meyersdale
Mt. Pleasant (Westmoreland Co.) 59
George J. King Mt. Pleasant
Pittsburgh, 5000 Dearborn St. 192
Alvin Grumbling Pittsburgh 24
Quiet Dell 43 and Cameron 58
Robert Holsinger Cameron, West Virginia
Raystown (Bedford County) 18
Summit Mills (Somerset County) 25
60
Ralph Mills
60 Lemon St.,
Uniontown
Valley Brethren (Westmoreland
County)
54
Elmer M. Keck Jones Mills
Vandergrift
75
Paul M. Naff Route 1, Adrian
Vinco (Cambria County)
248
W. B. Brant, Route 1, Mineral Point
Wayne Heights
37
N. V. Leatherman, Waynesboro -Historical Committee
CHAPTER 11. THE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS
Missionary activities within the district Our immigrant mission effort, 1920 to 1926 Foreign missions and mission-study classes
The spirit of missions in Western Pennsylvania during the last one hundred seventy years has been much like a thermom- eter, with a highly varied temperature in various generations. The first seventy years following the Revolutionary War were largely a period of home-building. This was explained in "Ad- venturers of Faith,"1 from which we quote:
The Colony of Pennsylvania required an "oath of allegiance" during the Revolutionary period. This was against two of the "tenets of our faith," non-swearing and non-resistance. So, for conscience sake, the Brethren relinquished their position of prestige in German- town and the more thickly settled portions of the state to become the vanguard of Agricultural America. Thus, Sunday Schools and higher education were neglected for a time, but a remarkable project in Home Missions and church extension was accomplished through the long period of "colonization" which followed. . . .
1 "Adventurers of Faith" by W. J. Hamilton, published in 1931 in the District Herald.
Uniontown (Fayette County)
87
Part One: District Developments
Like "the circuit rider, from colonial days down to 1860, who visited isolated homes,-preaching, praying, advising and bringing the news of the day," so our own ministering brethren crossed moun- tains and rivers, through winter's snows and summer's heat, to keep in touch with the scattered membership.
And thus through the years we will follow missions in mountain and valley, town and city, whether the language be German, Pennsylvania Dutch, or English. But we will let a member of the present District Mission Board tell the story.
MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
Unorganized Efforts
The fact that in the early history of the Church of the Brethren they had no mission boards and handled no mission money is no evidence that they lacked the missionary spirit. The exact opposite seems to be true. This is true, especially, when we take into consideration their mode of travel, the long distances traveled, and the fact that they gave their time and services free, and, in addition to that, bore all the expenses of their trips themselves.
Members of the older and better organized churches moved into a new settlement, and, missing the uplift of preaching services to which they were accustomed, they would send word back to the ministers to come and preach for them and their neighbors. These holy men of God would start out on their trip, either on foot or on horseback, often over rough and winding mountain paths, through dense forests infested by wild and dangerous animals, and often more dangerous Indians, wading or fording rivers and streams, "where bridge there was none," to carry the message of hope and salvation to the rugged pioneers. Frequently they went by twos, perhaps partly as a means of safety and company, but also because it was apostolic.
Meetings were held in the dwellings or barns of the mem- bers, and the neighbors were called in to enjoy the blessings of religious services. These ministers of the cross preached the unadulterated Word with a zeal and earnestness that made sin- ners tremble. Additions by conversion and immigration soon swelled the number, and the result was an organized church with, perhaps, a minister or two and several deacons from among their own number. This was the method of missions employed, and who will say it was not practical and effective? Beginning at Germantown and following the line of emigration, churches sprang into existence throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
88
Part One: District Developments
Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio, and finally over the larger part of the United States and parts of Canada.
Not all mission work was done, however, in connection with emigration. Ministers would go on missionary trips that would extend over weeks and sometimes months. They went from set- tlement to settlement, holding meetings and love feasts. These men endured hardness as good soldiers of Christ. Often they had to expose themselves to the severest weather. The lives of many were, no doubt, shortened through unavoidable exposure. The scarcity of the Word and the long intervals between visits made the people the more anxious for the old story of the cross. Their hunger and thirst for the Bread and Water of Life as in- dicated in their upturned faces and close attention to the heav- enly message soon made the tired ministers forget the perils of the journey.
Coming now to Western Pennsylvania, we find that for a number of years the newly organized congregations were regu- larly visited by preachers from Eastern Pennsylvania and Middle Pennsylvania, as well as from Maryland and Virginia. In turn, some of our ministers made journeys to Ohio for the same purpose. Within the district the same method was largely em- ployed. The ministers of the strong congregations assisted the weaker and more isolated ones. Thus we find our early ministers traveling and preaching in almost all of the counties of the district. The Lord blessed their labors and numerous churches were organized.
Attempts at Organized Efforts
John Wise, an active elder and evangelist of Western Penn- sylvania, presented to Annual Conference in 1858 the first request to have a General Mission Board, so as to have a more unified missionary effort. The paper was returned, but Brother Wise was not silent. He interested three congregations in his own district, and, with P. J. Brown of Markleysburg, was sent out on an evangelistic tour.
In 1870 the following query was sent to the District Meeting:
A request to have this Annual Meeting adopt some measure by which we can, as a body of Christians, send two ministers, a bishop and another minister, to California, as missionaries for one year, to aid the church there in spreading the Gospel of Christ; also to bear their expenses and support their families while they are gone. Answer: Forwarded to Annual Meeting with this amendment, that they be ordained when sent by the church at large.
The Annual Meeting, which was held at Waterloo, Iowa, that
89
Part One: District Developments
year, granted the request, and Jacob Miller, of Portage, Penn- sylvania, and Daniel B. Sturgis, of South Bend, Indiana, were sent. Provisions were made for the expenses of the committee, which it was supposed would be about three hundred dollars.
In 1871 several different papers and plans were presented on the home mission question. "Answer: We cannot unite upon any system of missionary labor, and therefore recommend each congregation to enable all its ministers to respond to all proper calls, if able, and if not able, to call on the more wealthy branches to assist them."
First Mission Board Organized
In 1872 was presented "a resolution by the Plum Creek congregation, instructing their delegates to labor in District Meeting with the brethren assembled, for the adoption of a practical home mission, to be under the control of the District Meeting." In conformity with this resolution, a plan was pro- posed for adoption. On motion of John Wise the plan was referred to a committee consisting of H. R. Holsinger, Lewis Kimmel, and A. J. Sterling.
On the second day of the meeting "the committee on home missions" reported the following:
Whereas, This District Meeting has been repeatedly appealed to for a more practical plan for conducting home missions: Therefore, we adopt the following:
1st. That each member voluntarily pay into the treasury of the congregation, quarterly, the sum of ten cents, or more, to be quarterly handed over to the District Treasurer, for the purpose of supporting the home mission and defraying other expenses of the District.
2nd. The ministering brethren to be sent out are to be selected by the congregations, nominating one or more brethren from their own, or other branches in this District, and from this number the delegates present shall elect two or more ministers for the ensuing year.
3rd. The District Meeting shall fix the support of the evangelists for the ensuing year, and designate their field and time of labor.
4th. Applications for ministerial aid may be made by congre- gations, through their delegates, or otherwise, to a committee of six brethren, two of which shall be appointed at each annual District Meeting and serve for a term of three years.
This plan was adopted almost unanimously, and it is re- garded "as one of the most important actions taken by the District since its organization." The meeting then proceeded to elect, by ballot and casting lots, a committee or Mission Board, resulting as follows: C. G. Lint and Joseph Berkey, three years; H. R. Holsinger and Lewis Kimmel, two years; J. P. Hetrick and J. I. Cover, one year. The meeting authorized the committee to
90
Part One: District Developments
take such action in the home mission cause as in their judgment emergencies may require. Hiram Musselman, of Scalp Level, was elected treasurer for one year.
In 1873 J. P. Hetrick and J. I. Cover were re-elected mem- bers of the Mission Board. Stephen Hildebrand and Joseph Berkey were chosen evangelists for 1873. The treasurer reported a balance of fifty-one dollars, seventy-five cents in the treasury.
A call had come to the board for help on the border of the Montgomery church in Clearfield County. How cautious they were in expending the mission money is shown in a report that follows for 1873:
We the brethren whose names are hereto set and who were by the District Meeting appointed to inquire into the call from the Mont- gomery branch, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, find that the place is situated at the foot of Boom's Mountain, distance from Peter Beer, sixty-six miles, or from Brother Berkey's one hundred and twelve miles. From Brother Berkey's to Brother Beer's there is no likely cost, but from Brother Beer's to Boom's Mountain it will cost at least $5.00 each. They cannot serve for less than $2.00 per day. We do not allow them pay for Sunday preaching, unless sickness or death calls them home. Recapitulation: Wages per day $2.00; whole distance (to and from) 224 miles; time going and returning, seven and one-half days. Remuneration and expense of traveling for both, $25.00; amount in treasury, $51.75; less $25.00, balance in treasury, $26.75. This balance will support them at the above rates nearly seven days each. H. R. Holsinger, J. P. Hetrick, J. I. Cover, committee present. Rest absent. Dale City, June 2, 1873.
In 1874 a change was asked for in the following paper:
We the Brethren in council assembled on the 16th day of May, 1878, deem it proper to ask this District Meeting to reconsider the home mission question, either to improve it or drop it. On motion the chair appointed a committee of three to revise and improve the present plan. The Committee reported the following:
Whereas, the District Meeting has been solicited to amend the plan for conducting the home mission, therefore we adopt the follow- ing: First. That the Mission Board hereafter shall consist of three members instead of six, who shall be elected by the District Meeting in the same manner as heretofore and for the same length of time. Second. That the Mission Board shall see to it that some suitable per- son or persons be appointed in each church to call upon the members quarterly to receive contributions to the home mission fund, which contribution shall promptly be forwarded to the home mission treas- urer for the purpose of supplying the home mission of Western Penn- sylvania. Third. That the Mission Board have power to send some elders or ministers to assist such churches as are not active in the work, to endeavor to build up an interest, especially among the offi- cials of such churches. That hereafter the Mission Board shall have the power to appoint evangelists in the manner following: Each con- gregation to nominate some elder or minister from its own or any other congregation as a board of evangelists for the year from which the Mission Board shall elect their evangelists as circumstances may demand. Fifth. That application for ministerial aid may be made
91
Part One: District Developments
by the congregation through their delegates or otherwise to the home mission board, consisting of three brethren, one of whom shall be appointed at each annual District Meeting to serve for the term of three years. A. J. Sterling, Joseph Berkey and J. W. Beer, committee. Approved by the meeting.
New members of this Mission Board were Silas C. Keim, three years; Joseph I. Cover, two years; and C. G. Lint, one year.
In 1879 four papers were presented to the meeting, several of them urging the laity to be more liberal in their contributions for the preaching of the gospel to outside people, and the others asking Annual Meeting to adopt the "Brethren's Work of Evan- gelism."
In addition to the brethren already named, the following also served on the Home Mission Board up to 1881: John Wise, James Quinter, J. C. Johnson, Stephen Hildebrand, H. R. Hol- singer, and J. W. Beer. The evangelists were: Joseph W. Beer, Joseph I. Cover, H. R. Holsinger, John Wise, and John B. Wam- pler.
Up to the year 1881 the annual receipts for home missions were small. Some years the treasury was reported to be empty and in no year did the amount reach seventy-five dollars. So we need not be surprised at the following paper from the Dun- nings Creek church in 1881:
Inasmuch as the home mission work has not been as successful as would be desired, we ask the Western District of Pennsylvania to consider the following proposition or resolution:
"Resolved, That the Home Mission Board be composed of lay members and deacons-that no minister be required to serve as a member of the Board. It shall be the duty of the Board to solicit funds and appoint and send evangelists."
This resolution was passed at the Quemahoning church on May 25, 1881, but was not placed on the printed minutes. At this meeting the members of the Mission Board whose terms were unexpired tendered their resignations, which were accepted. In accordance with the above resolution the following brethren were elected: Thomas S. Holsinger, three years; Mahlon W. Keim, two years; and Philip F. Cupp, one year. The organiza- tion was: Brother Holsinger, foreman; Brother Cupp, secretary; Brother Keim, treasurer.
In 1884, papers were presented from the Brush Valley, Cowanshannock, and Glade Run congregations, setting forth that they were without resident ministers, and praying District Meeting to look after their spiritual wants. These papers were put into the hands of Joseph Holsopple, Hiram Musselman,
92
Part One: District Developments
and J. J. Blauch for an answer. This is their report: "We your committee, beg leave to recommend C. G. Lint, J. C. Johnson and Lewis Kimmel as a 'committee of supplies' to attend to the wants of these congregations." It was unanimously accepted.
The following year, in response to a more urgent call for help from the Cowanshannock church, the "supply committee" was increased by adding Joseph Berkey and Mark Minser.
In August 1885 the supply committee visited the above- named congregations and rendered them the help they were calling for. Then in 1886 the size of this committee was reduced to two members-Joseph Berkey and John S. Holsinger. The same year (1886) the duties of the Home Mission Board were thus defined:
First. To notify every congregation in the District that they are expected to pay quarterly into the mission treasury "as the Lord has prospered them." Second. To send ministers in response to the call of isolated members, as evangelists, whose duty it shall be to preach the Gospel in its primitive purity as preached and practiced by the Brethren. Third. They shall pay the expenses of the evange- lists out of the funds of the treasury of their Board. Fourth. They shall also pay the expenses of the supply committee.
At the same meeting the treasurer reported an indebtedness of thirty-one cents.
The treasurer's report for 1886 shows that the total receipts had been two hundred seven dollars, ninety-eight cents, and the expenditures one hundred sixty-nine dollars, seventy-four cents. This was, by far, the most money that had passed through the hands of the Mission Board in a single year up to this time.
In addition to Brethren Holsinger, Keim, and Cupp, above mentioned, the following brethren served on the Mission Board prior to 1895: Charles S. Griffith, Philip Shumaker, Christian B. Kimmel, and William J. Bowser.
In 1894 the Manor congregation presented to the District Meeting a new plan for carrying on the mission work of the district. After being discussed it was entered upon the minutes, to be disposed of the following year. In 1895, after being amended, it was passed as follows:
First. District Meeting shall select a committee of five brethren in full sympathy with mission work and the order and usages of the church, part of whom shall be ministers, part deacons, and part lay members, and no more than two of either. This committee shall be known as the Mission Board of the German Baptist Brethren of Western Pennsylvania. Their term of office shall be five years, ex- cept these first chosen, one of whom shall serve for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years, and one for five years.
93
Part One: District Developments
Second. It shall be the duty of this Board to organize by electing one of their number foreman, one to act as secretary, and one as treasurer.
Third. It shall be the duty of said Mission Board to meet at least every six months, and oftener if necessary.
Fourth. It shall be the duty of this Board to select annually for mission work two or more brethren, well established in the faith of the Gospel as practiced by the German Baptist Brethren Church, one of whom shall be an elder; these brethren shall hold themselves in readiness to respond to the demands made upon them by the Mission Board, for which labors they shall receive their expenses and such compensation for their time as the Board may see right and proper.
Fifth. It shall be the privilege of the Mission Board to fill any vacancies that may occur in their number.
Sixth. It shall be the duty of the Board to consider all calls for preaching, to aid weak churches, and to improve all opportunities for opening up new points in Western Pennsylvania.
Seventh. It shall be the duty of the said Board to receive funds by donations, bequests and endowments, from individuals and churches, as provided for by the Annual Meeting, and their work shall be confined within the funds in hand.
Eighth. It shall be the duty of this Board to introduce the Gospel Messenger and distribute tracts within their work, and, if necessary, at the expense of the mission funds.
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.