USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 8
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Ninth. It shall be the duty of said Mission Board to keep com- plete minutes, or records, of all their work done, including money received and expended, number of sermons preached and the results, number of families visited, and report annually to the District Meeting.
It was resolved that we hereby repeal all former mission methods and adopt the foregoing, and also that all unappropriated funds in the hands of the present Board shall pass into the new treasury.
Members of the new Mission Board were appointed as fol- lows: J. W. Myers, deacon, one year; P. U. Miller, deacon, two years; H. A. Stahl, minister, three years; W. G. Schrock, min- ister, four years; P. J. Blough, lay member, five years.
With a few slight changes this plan has now been in oper- ation many years. The principal change is permitting the full board to be ministers. The present board is composed of five elders.
During these years much faithful and far-reaching work has been done. The missionary sentiment has grown very encouragingly. The first few years evangelists were appointed who were supposed to render assistance to weak and isolated churches and mission points. The names of G. S. Rairigh, Jasper Barnthouse, D. H. Walker, H. A. Stahl, J. H. Beer, and E. K. Hochstetler appeared as evangelists.
The Mission Board has given more or less help to Clarion, Cowanshannock, Ryerson Station, Ten Mile, Cokeville, Bolivar, Boucher, Glen Hope, Rose Bud, Chess Creek, Pittsburgh, Red
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Bank, Hyndman, Greensburg, and possibly a few other places. For want of more funds a number of other calls had to go unheeded, and opportunities for building up churches have thus passed by. Many times the treasury was empty and ur- gent letters had to be written to delinquent churches, urging them to remit their pro-rata shares.
On April 9, 1901, the board made a call for $1,000.00 a year. In May 1903, a lot on Greenfield Avenue and Mont Clair Street, Pittsburgh, was bought for $2,250.00 cash; in 1904 a church and parsonage combined was erected, and on October 2 of the same year it was dedicated. Beginning with May 1900, S. S. Blough labored here seven years, during which time the work pros- pered and the membership grew from a handful of scattered members to a strong organization of more than one hundred. During M. J. Weaver's pastorate the Pittsburgh congregation relinquished its dependence upon the Mission Board and be- came self-supporting in 1910.
From the beginning of the Greensburg mission the board furnished substantial help to the work, and while they did not build the meetinghouse there, they gave their sanction and in- fluence to it. On April 18, 1911, they petitioned District Meet- ing as follows:
We, the Mission Board of Western Pennsylvania, petition District Meeting in behalf of the Brethren at Greensburg, that they be given the privilege to solicit the congregations of Western Pennsylvania for funds for the erection of a new meeting house at the above place. The way the work has grown and prospered in Greensburg has scarcely been equaled in the history of our church. It will be but a few years till the work there will be self-supporting. The churches and Missions receiving help from the Mission Board during 1914 were Bolivar, Chess Creek, Cowanshannock, Greensburg and Red Bank. New openings are being investigated. The total receipts the past year $2,263.22, and the expenditures $2,171.77.
Besides the five brethren first chosen, the following have served on the Mission Board: W. G. Lint, C. A. Just, W. H. Fry, D. H. Walker, J. B. Miller, V. E. Mineely, H. L. Griffith, M. J. Weaver, J. J. Shaffer, S. U. Shober, H. S. Replogle, W. M. Howe and G. K. Walker. Elder P. J. Blough has served continuously for twenty years, and at the last District Meeting was elected for the next five years. All this time he was treasurer for the Board. [Most of the preceding history is from Brother Blough's book.]
We have merely scratched the soil in mission work in Western Pennsylvania. The lower half of the district has been partly taken care of, but from the central part to the northern border we have only four churches-Oakdale, Rockton, Green- ville, and Bethel. What are we going to do about this northern
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half that is practically untouched by the Church of the Breth- ren? West of Pittsburgh is another section that is not worked by our church. The following churches are the ones that de- scribe the outreach at present: Ten Mile, the farthest south- west; Hyndman, the farthest southeast; Markleysburg and Cumberland, the farthest south; and Bethel, the farthest north. You will find that the largest nucleus of membership live within a radius of twenty miles of and including Johnstown. The Mission Board would like to establish a new mission point every two years, but because of a lack of finances and the larger mission points still asking for help financially, we have not been able to do it.
As to the direct results through the Mission Board and the mission workers, we point out that some of the mission points have become strong and helpful churches.
Greensburg was receiving help from 1910 to 1920, when it became self-supporting; it is now one of the strong churches. The reported membership is five hundred eighteen.
Connellsville was started in 1915 and has been receiving help until the present. They have a nice church building and a good parsonage; we hope they will soon become self-supporting. The membership is reported at one hundred sixty-nine.
Markleysburg was given help from 1918 to 1923 and is receiving help at the present time. They have four preaching places. The re- ported membership is four hundred thirteen.
Oakdale received help from the Mission Board some years before 1915 and became self-supporting in 1916. The membership is eighty-eight.
Robinson also received help before 1915 but became self-supporting in 1918. The reported membership is one hundred.
Cowanshannock had been receiving help for many years, but the work closed there in 1948. The building has been sold and the or- ganization discontinued.
Bear Run was started in 1916 by the ministers of the Indian Creek congregation; in 1917 it came under the Connellsville charge, but lately has not received any help.
Natrona Heights was started in 1919 and was taken care of by the Pittsburgh church at first but was getting help from the Mission Board. Today they have a church building and intend to enlarge it; the oppor- tunity for a growing church was never better. They report a mem- bership of one hundred seventy-six.
Hyndman began getting help in 1921 and was for a while shep- herded by the Cumberland pastor. Not much has been done for this church lately. The membership is twenty-five.
Nanty Glo was also started in 1921 and continued to receive help until 1933. They had received a loan for a church building from the Mission Board. This they have paid back in part. The reported mem- bership is one hundred nine.
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Cumberland was taken into the Western District of Pennsylvania in 1922 from the Western District of Maryland. They have been re- ceiving help from the Mission Board until last year, when they became self-supporting. The Cumberland church seems to have had a number of reverses, but at present they are intending to complete their building and move forward to greater usefulness. The reported membership is three hundred forty-two.
Hooversville received some help in 1922 and 1923. The reported membership is seventy-three.
Mount Pleasant has been getting help since 1923, with the excep- tion of several years. They are getting help at present. They have a parsonage and a beautiful and commodious church building. The reported membership is one hundred fifty.
Fairchance came under the direction of the Mission Board in 1930. Previous to that time Brother D. F. Leply took care of the work and it was under the care of the Uniontown church. They are receiving help at present. The membership is one hundred ninety-six.
Arbutus Park is a mission point started by the Walnut Grove church. Since 1939 the District Mission Board has been giving support toward the pastor's salary.
County Line asked for help in 1941 and has received it for several years. The reported membership is one hundred fifty.
East Mckeesport mission is due largely to the vision and sacrifice of M. J. Brougher and Wilbur H. Neff, who opened the work in May 1944. More than twenty family groups of Brethren background live in the surrounding area. Some of the support is coming from the General Mission Board, some also from the District Board. They had bought a house and converted it into a place of worship. Later they sold it and bought a nice church building from the Lutheran people. They have become an organized church and the outlook is very en- couraging. The membership is seventy-nine.
Ten Mile received some help in previous years and again in 1944 and 1945. Nothing is being done for them at present. They have a membership of forty-eight.
Wooddale asked for help in 1949 and the Mission Board is help- ing them at present. The membership is fifty-four.
Fairview is also receiving help at this time. The membership is fifty-four.
Rockton, Greenville, and Bethel called for help last year, and the board has promised to help them as their needs may require.
There were other points being helped by the Mission Board that at one time looked prosperous but were closed either because of a lack of funds or of workers, and in several cases they had to close because of a lack of interest on the part of the members.
The persons serving on the Mission Board during these years are many and their times of service varied. Following are the names of those serving since 1918 whose names are not given in the rest of the manuscript: M. Clyde Horst, S. P. Early, E. M. Detwiler, J. A. Robinson, W. K. Kulp, G. E. Yoder,
The District Mission Board (1952)
Standing: Dorsey E. Rotruck; John D. Ellis, presi- dent; George E. Yoder, secretary-treasurer Seated: Walter F. Berkebile, William K. Kulp
Galen R. Blough, Nevin Zuck, Herald Seese, and M. J. Weaver. The present board consists of the following: John D. Ellis, 1954; Walter F. Berkebile, 1953; George E. Yoder, 1952; Dorsey E. Rotruck, 1951; and William K. Kulp, 1950.
Western Pennsylvania has had a most important history. It has always had a strong force of leaders. It has sent forth to other states a large number of workers. In 1915, and since that time, it had the largest membership of any state district in the Brotherhood, with seven thousand, six hundred fifty members in thirty-five congregations using seventy-nine church houses in that year. In the 1950 Yearbook there are thirteen-
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thousand, eight hundred thirty reported members, with sixty congregations and seventy-five church houses.
It is truthfully said that the church that is not a missionary church will be doomed to extinction. An artist was asked to draw a picture that would portray the cause of the failure of some churches to grow or develop. He painted a picture of a poorly kept up church building, the vestibule doors, with broken hinges, standing open; inside the doors he placed a large box with the words, "Missionary Offering," over it. Then over the slot, where the money was to be placed for missions, he drew a large cobweb, thus showing that because they were neglecting to give to missions and support the mission cause they were failing.
And what can be said of our own sons and daughters, as to the number who have gone to the fields across the sea? In all, sixteen have gone-from the largest district of the Brother- hood. That is very good, but could we not do better? In the next twenty-five years could we not have at least one going each year? Dear young people, will you decide to give of your earnings, your talents, and your energies-yes, your lives, if need be-to the work on the foreign field? Should men and women be more ready to go everywhere for the government, or for large and rich corporations, where larger salaries are offered, than for the God of this great universe, to win souls for Him? Will you think seriously and pray earnestly about this great work of missions? We are confident that our young people can be depended upon to carry on the work of missions both at home and abroad. May the Lord continue to bless the interest in missions, as so wonderfully portrayed in years gone by in Western Pennsylvania.
MISSIONARIES WHO HAVE SERVED ABROAD
Jacob M. and Anna Z. Blough,2 India, 1903 to 1949. To remain at home.
Ida C. Shumaker, India, 1910 to 1946. Died in India.
Quincy A. Holsopple, India, 1911 to 1922. He returned home because of ill-health.
Olive Widdowson, India, 1912. She is still in the field as of 1952.
Herman B. and Grace Heisey, India, 1912 to 1914. Returned home because of health.
V. Grace Clapper, China, 1917 to 1943. She had to return home because of health, after eighteen months in Japanese con- centration camps during World War II.
2 Mrs. Blough died in 1951
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Mrs. Mary Gauntz Cumming, China, 1936 to 1938. She is now serving in the Scottish mission.
Mrs. Martha Parker, China, 1933 to 1949. Returned home because of the war in China.
E. Paul Weaver, Nigeria, 1939 to 1944. Returned home be- cause of health.
Mabel Gertrude Claypool, India, since 1950.
Jennie Blough Miller, India, 1920 to 1932. She died in India.
Charles M. and Mary Beth Bieber, Africa, 1950. They had served the Mt. Pleasant church as pastors.
Mrs. Glen Norris, Sweden, 1929 to 1934.
-William K. Kulp
OUR IMMIGRANT MISSION EFFORT
The story of missions in Western Pennsylvania would not be complete without noticing the wave of interest which was manifested some years ago concerning the "strangers within our gates." Here and there over the district, one or more per- sons of other than English-speaking ancestry had united with the local churches. This included such churches as Pittsburgh, Hooversville, Windber, Wilpen in the Ligonier congregation, and possibly others.
About this time (1920) the Lord laid it on the heart of one of our young sisters, Margaret Griffith, formerly of Meyersdale, to become available for survey work under the District Mission Board. As a challenge to the young people of this or some future generation, in co-operation with local or district leader- ship, we quote from the District Meeting minutes of the next several years:
From the District Conference Minutes, 1921
As the work among foreigners is a new undertaking in our dis- trict, we believe all would like to know what has been done, hence we quote in full the excellent report of Sister Margaret Griffith:
"The purpose of this report of work done from October 5th, 1920, to February 5th, 1921, is to glorify God for the abundant an- swers to prayer in evidence throughout. (Jer. 33:3).
"First a survey of the foreign field was made, including Con- nellsville, Uniontown, Greensburg, McKeesport, Homestead, Ran- kin, Braddock, Belle Vernon, Monessen and Donora. A Sunday school of 44 to 50 American and foreign children at Mckeesport, organized with just a little effort, shows that a 'little is much with God in it.' Consecration meetings were held and prayer circles formed for the work at four of these places. Continue to pray.
"At Belle Vernon, Bible classes were held at the homes of the members. A tract or gospel was placed in 58 homes, including Ital- ian, Syrian, Greek and Polish, in Belle Vernon and nearby towns.
"The plan for Greensburg and Wilpen was to begin the work,
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which was to be continued by the local members. To this end Bible classes in personal work and on the Doctrine of Christ were held. At Waterford three accepted Christ, among them one young man who is literally eating the Word of God. (Jeremiah 15:15).
"At Greensburg, personal work was done in Italian, Syrian, Polish, and Slavish homes, numbering 168. Pray earnestly for the Word put in these homes. Thirteen foreign children from Catholic homes are in the regular Sunday school. One Italian accepted Christ. Bro. E. D. Millen, who has charge of the personal work, appointed twelve captains over twelve sections of Greensburg.
"This is a type of work where the local church opens its doors in a welcome to the foreigner. Schools and hospitals welcome him, why not churches?
"At Wilpen of necessity the work is the segregated type-the church is several miles away. This is no hindrance to the spirit- filled children of God there. After three weeks getting started and two weeks working the plan, during which 110 homes, including Italian, Polish, Servian, Russian, Turkish, Slavish, Hungarian, and Croatian were visited-the Word in their language was placed in each home, and after an afternoon of prayer by consecrated Chris- tians, there is a Sunday school in a school house at Wilpen. A foreign Protestant Sunday [school] for the first time in a place where there are three Catholic churches-the minimum attendance 51, maximum 80; six classes, one of adult Italians taught by Bro. Patsy De Felice. Through the instrumentality of the English class two bright young Italian men have accepted Christ. Open Sunday for the foreign stores is a thing of the past. An English class of 19 young people meets twice a week with Sister H. L. Miller as teacher.
"Bro. W. E. Wolford has charge of the personal workers. Wil- pen is divided into five sections, allotted to each of five brethren and their wives who cover their respective sections every two months, meeting for report, prayer, and praise.
"If you would be a worker with God, pray for the work begun, and that other churches may be burdened with the needs of the foreigners at their door. (Eph. 6:18, Matt. 9:37, 38.)"
-S. P. Early, Secretary.
From the District Conference Minutes, 1922
WILPEN-Last June, 1921, Sister Ruth Beahm began work among the foreigners at Wilpen. The average attendance at S. S. was 44; at weekly story period 12; at weekly sewing class 3; at weekly Bible class 10; at semi-weekly English class 3; Baptisms 1.
A two weeks' daily vacation Bible school was held with an at- tendance of about 30 foreign children. In her visits Sister Beahm distributes gospels, Testaments, etc., and at times assists some motherless child with her work. The children assist nicely in the Christmas and Easter programs. On the whole the outlook seems to be encouraging.
From the District Conference Minutes, 1923
WILPEN ITALIAN MISSION-Beginning with October 1st, 1922, Brother Arthur Rummel and wife took up the work and it has continued to progress very nicely, so that the report is as fol- lows :- Sermons, 9; meetings held, 15; classes taught, 49; Pastoral calls, 38; Average attendance in Sunday School, 48; Bible School, 17; English classes, 4; total offerings, $38.38. The Ligonier Congrega- tion, in which this point is located, has pledged themselves to give $360.00 for the mission work, and they are paid up in full to date,
which shows that they are in earnest about the work amongst our foreign neighbors. How much are you interested?
From the District Conference Minutes, 1925
WILPEN ITALIAN MIS- SION - Arthur Rummel, the pastor, reports that there is new life in the Mission since 6 Italians have been baptized and 6 others are awaiting baptism as soon as a few difficulties can be removed in their home rela- tionships. Let us unite our prayers that the spirit of Christ might work mightily in the
Old Schoolhouse Where the Wilpen Italian Mission Was Conducted From 1920 to 1926
Arthur L. Rummel (at corner), the last pastor
hearts of these people, so that they will permit their children to receive Christian baptism and thus go out as shining lights to show others the way to eternal life. These who have come are the results of several years of labor with a final appeal from J. W. Sanner, the Evangelist. Our hearts rejoice to know that the way is well paved, and greater results are sure to follow. The attendance at the various services is good. The results obtained here should be a challenge to us to do more work amongst the foreigners in our midst.
From the District Conference Minutes, 1926
We very much regret . . . that we were compelled to with- draw our support from Wilpen Church of the Brethren Mission the middle of November, 1925, in order that we would be able to continue our support where church property is at stake.
-Fraternally yours, MISSION BOARD, Per L. S. Knepper, Secretary
FOREIGN MISSION INFILTRATIONS
At the beginning of this century a great foreign mission awakening came into the church life of the Brethren of Western Pennsylvania. Our first missionaries to India being commis- sioned by the Meyersdale Annual Conference in 1894 helped Brethren take from their Master's lips with new meaning such phrases as "into all the world" and "to every creature."
Another channel of foreign mission infiltration was the young people from Western Pennsylvania who became mem- bers of the Student Volunteer Group and those who were in- fluenced by them. This group was composed of such students as had pledged their Lord full-time Christian service, either in the foreign or the home field. The Cleveland Student Volun- teer Convention gave great inspiration to those who attended, and local classes in missions and evangelism were planned and directed by them. Among their leaders were such influential students as C. C. Ellis, Jesse Emmert, John Pittenger, and J. M.
Front row, left
to right: Mrs. E. M. Knep- per, Mrs. C. R. Bauer- master, Mrs. C. E. Rei- man, Mrs. H. R. Knepper, Mrs. Ralph Shober, Rev. Ralph Shober, Miss Mar- garet Christner, Mrs. Gaye Rieman Hay, Miss Gladys Knepper, John Knepper, J. C. Reiman
Second row, left to right: E. M. Knepper, C. R. Bauermaster, G. S. Rieman, C. E. Reiman, A. R. Knepper, Earl Saylor, Clarence Knepper, Mey- ers Knepper, Homer Saylor, Everette Shober, Eva Hittie, George Christ, Mrs. J. C. Reiman
Back row, left to right: Sherman Yoder, E. L. Knepper, Mrs. E. L. Knepper, Mrs. Clinton Shober, Elbert Reiman, Clinton Shober, A. F. Mostoller, Rev. T. Wayne Reiman
Mission Study Class, 1922, Pike Sunday School, Brothersvalley Congregation
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Blough. Three of these, including Brother Blough from Western Pennsylvania, went to the India field. All the young people at college from Western Pennsylvania became more missionary minded, some through the study classes, and most of them at- tended the monthly meetings of the Missionary Society. In the spring of 1903 this group decided to support a missionary and asked Brother Blough to represent them in India.
Brother Blough was to be married to Anna Detwiler before sailing time, and there was no provision for her support. I had written to the Shade Creek congregation (my home church) concerning her support; favorable action was taken but the plan to raise the funds failed. Her name had to be presented soon for approval by the General Mission Board, if she was to accompany him to the field. Brother Blough suggested I go home and solicit the congregation. After two and one-half days all but twenty-five dollars was pledged. At a Sunday morning service it was decided that the congregation would support her. At the close of the morning service a brother came and told me he would give the needed twenty-five dollars, though no one had pledged more than five dollars a year before. I returned that afternoon, so that Brother Blough could report to the board the next morning, which was the last day Anna's applica- tion would be received. "We thanked God and took courage."
-M. J. Weaver
MISSION STUDY CLASSES
Of the many mission-study classes which were held in various churches of the district during the first third of the twentieth century, we take space for the picture of only one, the Pike church, Brothersvalley congregation. When will our church leadership revive an interest in what our pioneer missionary, Wilbur B. Stover, called "the great first-work of the church"? May it come soon!
CHAPTER 12. THE OLD FOLKS' HOME
District Meeting considers the "poor" in 1870 The present Old Folks' Home erected in 1922 Past and present evaluations of the Home
One of the ways of the Brethren, from the time of their coming to America until the present, has been to try to care
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for their aged members. We have often failed, or have made only weak efforts in this. Local congregations and individuals carried this burden at first. The District Conference, after many years of discussion, finally decided about 1920 to build a home for the aged. The developments over half a century, which eventually led to the building of the Home, included the fol- lowing.
In 1870 a query regarding the right of the poor to insure his life, as the rich his property, came before the District Meet- ing. It was answered thus: "We think the poor should have the privilege to insure his life as the rich his property, there- fore allow both or forbid both."
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