USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 9
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In 1875, in answer to the demands for an old folks' home, District Meeting decided that a home for the poor was highly charitable but not obligatory. The idea here seemed to be that the poor should be cared for locally.
However, in 1892 a committee recommended "the Brethren Home" for the support and care of the aged, infirm, poor, and orphans of the church, if necessary. In 1893, a committee to "ascertain the number and real wants of the church poor" met at the home of Jonathan Kelso of Meyersdale, and again at the home of Hiram Musselman of Scalp Level. They reported as follows to the district in that year: "Totally dependent 10, partially dependent 15; orphans 10. Money, the interest of which was to be used for the support of the poor is $1,898.10. Josiah Berkley, J. N. Davis, Hiram Musselman (Committee) ."
Each congregation was then to be consulted as to the amount it would contribute to erect the Brethren Home for the support of the aged, the infirm, the dependent poor, and the orphans of the church, and report to District Meeting in 1894. They were also to express their feeling as to the desirability of uniting with the Middle District of Pennsylvania in the enterprise. In that year four congregations reported in favor of erecting a home, five were not in favor, three reported funds to the amount of three hundred and fifty-five dollars and fifty cents; several overlooked the appeal. It is not known just which congregations were the leaders in this matter, but the Shade Creek minutes indicate that that congregation was one of the four favoring the home. However, not de- siring to join with Middle Pennsylvania, they sent out solicitors April 3, 1894, before District Meeting, to see what could be raised. Among these solicitors were Hiram Musselman, who did so much to establish a home, and Peter Hoffman, who also contributed much and whose parents' home- stead became the site of the elaborate Brethren's Home. The site was formerly owned by Joseph Johns (Tschantz). This shows some of the effort in the earlier period in the district to establish a home, and also some of the effort in the immediate congregation.
Old Folks Home, and Dwelling (right), Scalp Level
To try to locate this home centrally, according to the mem- bership of the district, a plot of ground was first secured at Rummel, then later at Scalp Level. Scalp Level is located on State Route 56, and at the time the Home was built, was easily reached by trolley from Johnstown. Today bus service has replaced the trolley.
The plot of ground finally selected was a small farm of about fifteen acres with a large house and a barn. The house, of course, was too small for a home for the aged. It was con- sidered as a children's home, but was never developed as such. The barn has been of great value in the storing of crops and the housing of farm animals. With little outside help much food for use at the Home has been raised each year. This proved to be a great help during the many lean years of the past.
A large three-story building, with a basement, was erected in 1922. Only a few rooms for guests could be put on the first floor. Most of this space was needed for dining room, kitchen, chapel, office, and living quarters for the superintendent. The second floor was finished throughout for guests. Since then, another dining room and an infirmary have been placed on the second floor. The third floor was not finished when the building was erected, but a short time later a few rooms were finished by individuals who came to stay at the home. Later, more room was needed and the third floor was finished throughout for guests. Today, there are sixty-seven rooms for guests and several rooms for the regular employees at the Home. There are at the Home, at this writing, seventy guests. This number is all that can be accommodated. For the most part during all
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its time the Home has been filled with guests. Many of these have been people of other denominations.
Considerable difficulty was encountered in the building of the Home. A sufficient amount of money could not be raised. To supplement the donations, bonds were sold. Nearly twenty years later the last of these bonds were redeemed. Many re- pairs and improvements have been made over the course of years, but today the Home is free of debt.
During the depression years of the thirties, the Home had many financial difficulties, but it endured through all this, as all good things always do. As a former steward, Brother An- drew Rowzer, said: "There were too many charity patients."
The district churches have helped and are still helping with financial and other material support. State "Public Assistance," from the time of its beginning, has always been very helpful to the Home in its efforts to care for its guests. Without this help the Home would have had still greater financial difficulties. The guests were well taken care of, and "Public Assistance" appreciated this very much. During the last years many organizations and individuals have given generously in material gifts. The Bethlehem Steel Company of Johnstown donated about $2,000 worth of meat and groceries in one gift. The Salvation Army, the Veter- ans of Foreign Wars, and the United Mine Workers are some other or- ganizations which have given liberal donations. Eureka Stores of Windber, other stores, and individuals, have also helped in material sup- port. Special donations of food and materials by the district churches have meant much. Gifts of money by churches of other denominations have helped much materially and given encouragement of spirit.
The local Brethren churches and also the churches of other denominations of the vicinity have helped the Home and its guests in spirituality with services and ministrations. Most of the services are conducted by local Church of the Brethren ministers. Occasionally, regular services in the local churches are recorded and the transcriptions presented to the guests. This special service rendered by Brother Lloyd Himes seems to be much appreciated. A Sunday school is conducted by local workers of the various churches, and a worship service is held each Sunday afternoon by ministers of the various denomina- tions of the vicinity.
The original cost of the Home was about $90,000.00. The present appraised value, including equipment, is over $200,- 000.00. In recent years, the chapel has been equipped with new chairs and a rostrum, the kitchen has been electrified, a deep- freeze unit has been installed, and at this writing a passenger elevator is being added to the main building.
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Superintendents include Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, John Leh- man, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Rowzer (fourteen years), and Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Spaugy.
Trustees and others who have contributed much in time and energy as well as financially in the past and at the present include the following: Hiram J. Koontz, Perry J. Blough, William Fry, Robert N. Haynes, Norman Berkey, Calvin C. Weaver, James E. Murphy, Frank E. Norris, Guy Gindlesperger, and E. P. Blough.
The officers for 1950 are E. P. Blough, president; C. C. Weaver, vice-president; Olin H. Brougher, secretary; John M. Geary, assistant secretary; G. C. Gindlesperger, treasurer; and Mrs. O. M. Spaugy, superintendent.
A non-Brethren businessman of the community said, "The Home is a lasting tribute to the church." "The best home I ever had," said another, who had had some good homes and just passed away there at the age of eighty-nine years. Another said, "I am going to close up my home and go there to live."
CHAPTER 13. THE AID SOCIETY AND WOMEN'S WORK
Walnut Grove aid society organized, 1895 Aid Society merged into Women's Work, 1930 First district fellowship dinner, 1949
A remarkable degree of interest was evident in the total program of the church from the time of the organization of the first aid society in the Walnut Grove church in Johnstown, January 24, 1895, through the transition to the present women's work organization. This was true, beginning at the local level and extending out as far as the Brotherhood program. At a District Aid Society meeting held in the Windber Church of the Brethren in August 1923, Mrs. W. D. Keller, wife of the pastor of the Walnut Grove church, was elected president. Mrs. L. S. Knepper was chosen secretary-treasurer. The topics discussed at the meeting were The Aid Society As a Spiritual Agency in the Church and Is There a Place for a Missionary Society in the Church of the Brethren?
Always among the sisters of the Brotherhood a neighborly
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helpfulness has been expressed in aiding poor families and in caring for the sick. The Dorcas groups soon saw the need for a missionary outreach and supported this venture by their prayers and by giving generously from the funds at their com- mand to sustain workers on the field. Often it was through these fellowships of the sisters that the members sensed the spiritual and material needs of the congregations in which they lived and worked-such as better heating systems, better light- ing, and improved Sunday-school equipment.
Minutes were not recorded at District Aid Society meet- ings until 1922, but it is evident from local records that in 1920 we had twenty-two active aid groups giving a total of six hundred eighty-seven dollars for district work. In 1924 only fifteen local societies were represented at District Meet- ing. In 1948 there were forty-nine. In 1925 the women decided to hold the annual election in conjunction with District Meet- ing, which at first convened the week following Easter, but more recently has been held in October, following the meeting in Middle Pennsylvania.
The Aid Society and the Mother and Daughter organizations first re- ceived recognition at Annual Conference at Springfield, Illinois, in 1906. There was a steady growth through the years, but the decade of the 1920's was one of outstanding development. In some local churches there were two or more women's organizations. This duplication led M. J. Weaver, a pastor in this district, to suggest to the general officers of the Aid Society, Mrs. J. C. Myers, Mrs. M. J. Weaver, and Mrs. Levi Minnich, that they ask Annual Conference for a Women's Work organization to co- ordinate all the work under one general head. This was taken under ad- visement and finally a plan was submitted to the women which was adopted at the North Manchester Conference in 1929.
The Mother and Daughter movement was inaugurated in this district in 1926. A program was given at Camp Harmony the following year. It was in the year 1930 that a committee of five was appointed at the Walnut Grove District Meeting to merge the Aid Society and the Mother and Daughter group into one organization according to the plan adopted by Annual Con- ference. Mrs. Carrie Murphy, Aid Society president, and Mrs. C. C. Sollenberger, the secretary-treasurer, were asked to serve as officers in the new Women's Work organization. Mrs. Murphy also served as Aid Society director. Others were Mrs. Galen Royer, director of missions; Mrs. George Wright, director of mothers and daughters; and Mrs. M. J. Weaver, director of Bible study. A department of temperance was added in 1938. The mothers and daughters department became the home build-
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ers department in 1942. Still another need was recognized and the department of peace and race relations was added in 1947 with Mrs. Ruth Statler as the director.
The annual report of 1932 reveals that there were twenty-seven aid societies, twenty-three Bible classes, three mother and daughter organiza- tions, three missionary societies, but only three Women's Work organiza- tions represented at District Meeting. At present all of the local groups respond except twelve of the smaller churches which do not have pastoral care. The integration of the work into one over-all organization was slow, but it has been accomplished.
The steadily increasing budget through the years of or- ganized efforts among the women indicates the growth of inter- est. In 1923 a budget of five hundred dollars was adopted for the district mission building program. This was continued until 1932, when it was decreased to three hundred dollars because of nation-wide financial depression. Later, the district mission budget was lowered to one hundred dollars, this project having become well established, and the women accepted their share of the national project. Four hundred dollars was raised in 1926 for the Ruth Royer Kulp Memorial Hospital in Nigeria; also two hundred dollars for the Old Folks' Home; and one hundred dollars for the expenses of the organization. As early as 1927 the Student Loan Fund was stressed to aid worthy students at Juniata College.
In 1930 the National Council of Women's Work adopted the support of the girls' schools in India, China, and Nigeria as our national project. We shared in this to the extent of six hundred dollars in 1931, increased to $1,481.38 in 1949. After Mrs. Carrie Murphy passed to her reward in 1935, the women of the district gave one hundred dollars to redecorate a room at Juniata Col- lege as a memorial to her. The year following that we con- tributed two hundred dollars toward the new dining room then being built at Camp Harmony. Extra items in the 1947 budget were $1,231.00 for the Ida Shumaker Memorial Fund, two hundred dollars for the V. Grace Clapper Medical Fund, and one hundred fifty dollars for new gas cookstoves at Camp Harmony.
At the suggestion of Mrs. J. A. Robinson, who was then serving as secretary - treasurer of the district, the District Council of Women's Work decided to try the assessment plan to raise our budget, for by each sister contributing thirty-three cents the goals could be met. Mrs. Robinson persevered through several years until the system became well established and
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brought encouraging results. Her efficiency and patience have borne fruit in the succeeding years. In 1947 the total giving to the district budget was $3,233.43. The attendance at the Dis- trict Meeting Women's Work session was three hundred, and the cash offering at the meeting was eighty-nine dollars.
Some problems other than finance came to the attention of the women from time to time. Tenure of office was one. In 1941 a motion was passed that no officer should succeed herself more than twice. The term was to be three years. The president and the vice-president, since 1931, have been elected on alternating years.
Interest and education in various fields have been promoted by different methods. Among these were the contests at meet- ings. In 1937 we sponsored a missionary essay contest among our young people. Books were given as awards to Dolly Nedrow of Sipesville and Grace Baker and Betty Summy of Uniontown. Likewise, a peace essay contest was sponsored later with Vir- ginia and Betty Baker of Uniontown receiving the awards. A silver medal temperance speech contest held at Windber in 1939 with Mrs. Fern Baer Jamison in charge for the W.C.T.U. resulted in Miss Ethel Himes of Windber being acclaimed the winner of the medal. A Bible memory speech contest was also sponsored by Mrs. Walter C. Sell, director of Bible study. Mrs. Clara Ott and Mrs. Samuel Cupp received awards at different times.
Our interest in the ecumenical movement was in evidence first in 1941 when we made our first contribution of four dollars to the women's department of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, increasing since to six dollars yearly. We also participate in and support financially the Eastern Regional Women's Work, which has now become well established.
The spring Women's Work rallies held each year since 1943 in connection with the District Ministerial Meetings have been a great inspiration.
In 1944 the women of the district raised nine hundred dollars to help send Sister Ida Shumaker back to India for the Golden Jubilee celebration as a token of our love and because of our interest in the work of sharing the gospel with all men.
Our first fellowship dinner was held in the Morrellville church on May 22, 1949. More than two hundred were in at- tendance and the offering was used to furnish a room on the newly finished third floor of the Old Folks' Home. The second was held in the Somerset church in May 1950. The offering of one hundred eight dollars and ninety-four cents was sent to Bethany Hospital.
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There has always been a keen interest among the women in the service program of the Brotherhood. From its earliest beginnings, the women have labored to bring comfort to those who suffer in war-torn countries and have given generously of food and clothing for those in need.
The past two years we have sent representatives to the School of Alcohol Studies at Juniata College to train some in our district to educate against this curse that threatens our country.
The women who have served the district as presidents of the Aid Society are as follows: Mrs. W. D. Keller, 1923-1925; Mrs. M. J. Weaver, 1926; Mrs. J. A. Buffenmyer, 1926-1929; Mrs. Carrie Murphy, 1930-1934 through the transition to the Women's Work organization; Mrs. George Wright, 1935-1944; Mrs. Roy Forney, 1944-1947; and Mrs. Louis Bopp, 1948 until the present. Others having served the district in various offices are these: Mrs. L. S. Knepper, Mrs. M. J. Brougher, Mrs. Waldo Strayer, Mrs. W. C. Detrick, Mrs. C. G. Hesse, Mrs. Galen Royer, Mrs. T. R. Coffman, Mrs. C. C. Sollenberger, Mrs. R. E. Shober, Mrs. George Detweiler, Mrs. R. N. Haynes, Mrs. J. A. Robinson, Mrs. E. M. Hertzler, Mrs. H. Q. Rhodes, Mrs. Ernest Statler, Mrs. Quincy Holsopple, Mrs. Fern Speicher, Mrs. Charles Matula, Miss Laura Neiderheiser, Mrs. John Geary, Mrs. Newton Cosner, Mrs. Galen Blough, Mrs. L. H. Brumbaugh, Mrs. Nevin Zuck, Mrs. Arthur Rummel, Mrs. Charles Blough, Mrs. DeWitt Miller, Miss Thelma Cunningham, Mrs. Hazel Neff, Mrs. C. H. Baker, Mrs. Glenn Baird, Mrs. W. C. Sell, Mrs. Ernest Blough, Mrs. Dorsey Rotruck, Mrs. Walter Berke- bile, Mrs. W. K. Kulp, Mrs. C. H. Gehman, Mrs. Stella Cook, and Mrs. Phillip Myers.
Back through the years there were mountains,
There were valleys and boglands and hills;
There were days of hard work with no progress, Discouragements too, but the thrills In the hearts of the faithful who labored, And the joys, when the work they have done Blossoms and grows to good fruitage For the Master, are surpassed by none. Ahead there are broader horizons,
There are fields to be worked by strong hands,
There are harvests to glean for the Master; Rise! Go where the Good Workman sends.
-Mrs. M. J. Weaver, Mrs. George Wright, Mrs. Ruth B. Statler
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CHAPTER 14. THE MEN'S WORK MOVEMENT
Local churches began organizing in 1928 Fellowship dinners helped to "think as a district" Overseas-relief sale (1948) totaled $8,000
As early as 1928, some local churches had organized their men into groups called "men's work." They gave of their time and their means in aiding the ministers in building churches. E. G. Bowman, of Greensburg, was active in this work, going from place to place helping the men to organize.
It was in 1930 that the first committee of men for the District of Western Pennsylvania was appointed (possibly by District Meeting). It was made up of L. C. Penrod of Windber, H. H. Yost of Moxham, E. G. Bowman of Greensburg, and O. P. Thomas of Sipesville. The first meeting was held at Sipesville, November 7, 1930. Those present were: E. G. Bowman and O. P. Thomas of the committee, together with M. J. Brougher and W. J. Hamilton. E. G. Bowman was named president and O. P. Thomas secretary-treasurer. In the June-July District Herald of 1931, the following report is given by E. D. Millen:
We mailed 100 letters to the ministers of Western Pennsylvania, asking that the men be represented at the District Conference at Mt. Joy on April 7, 1931. As a result, there were about 40 men present. Our district president, E. G. Bowman, who is also president of the Greensburg branch, very ably moderated this meeting.
We were very agreeably surprised in the deep interest taken in this work by the men, after we had endeavored to explain the great need of consecrated stewardship in lives, service and means. The dis- cussions were free and to the point, in the open forum.
The morning session was closed by an able, well-directed mes- sage by Elder Galen B. Royer. Many expressed themselves in favor of the complete organization of the District. The afternoon session was held jointly with the Women's Work, with addresses by Elders J. A. Robinson and Tobias F. Henry.
We are looking forward to wide-spread interest in this District in the coming months. Several of the men are organizing, or planning to organize. The district officers are planning an interesting and in- structive program at Camp Harmony on July 29 [1931], at the Har- mony Assembly.
Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Meetings were held from time to time and an effort was made to have the churches of the district organize. On August 5, 1931, H. B. Speicher was elected to the committee. On October 27, 1936, Calvin Bowman was elected president in the place of E. G. Bowman, who was very ill. (He died early in 1937.) The meetings continued to grow and more churches were or- ganized. In Windber, on August 25, 1937, the men were asked
Officers of Men's Work (1950)
Seated, left to right: H. B. Speicher, Clyde M. Kuhns, Ernest Statler Standing, left to right: V. Emerson Shaffer, Willard Kimmel
to back Camp Harmony in its need for improvements. There was a splendid response to this appeal.
On February 19, 1945, the men of the fourth circuit held a fellowship dinner meeting in the Brotherton church. There were forty-two present and the interest was very good. The district held another fellowship dinner meeting at the Roxbury church on May 8, 1945. Now the men of the district were meeting each other and began thinking as a district.
Our next fellowship dinner meeting was held at Morrell- ville, on May 7, 1946. It was decided to increase the men's council, with the election of the following: Joseph Shelly, C. M. Kuhns, and Willard Kimmel. Brother Shelly was elected presi- dent and served two years, 1946 and 1947. At the same time, he was president of the Men's Work organization of the Brother- hood. It was while serving in this capacity that Brother Shelly conceived the idea of sending seeds to Europe to help in the rehabilitation. The name "Seeds of Good Will" was suggested by Mrs. Shelly. The idea grew into a thriving plant over the Brotherhood, and the seeds that were sent abroad were the means of saving many lives. Upon Brother Shelly's removal from the district, C. M. Kuhns assumed the presidency of the
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district. In 1949, at the Ocean Grove Annual Conference, Ernest Statler was chosen to represent this district on the Men's Work organization of the Brotherhood.
It is of interest to note that the first recorded offering for Men's Work was five dollars and fifty cents, taken on August 24, 1932. On May 7, 1946, it was three hundred twenty-five dollars and fifteen cents. The District Council of Men's Work has had several objectives that they have viewed necessary for the success of their work. They are:
1. To train efficient leaders for men's work in the local church.
2. To provide better fellowship of the men in the district.
3. To develop the projects of the Men's Work of the Brotherhood.
4. To secure active participation of the men in the program of the church.
5. To increase attendance in the Bible classes of the district.
These objectives have been developed by semiannual fel- lowship banquets, with a speaker at each to discuss the work of laymen in the church. Fellowship has been one of the out- standing emphases of the district. National projects have been stressed, as well as district, regional and local.
DISTRICT PROJECTS
In 1945 Brother Joseph Shelley of the Brothersvalley congre- gation made up the first shipment of "Seeds of Good Will" for Europe. It consisted of thirty-five boxes weighing one thousand pounds. The cost, which was borne by the Brethren Service Commission, was seven hundred eight dollars and ninety cents.
Another project launched by the men of Brothersvalley spread over the entire county. A carload of seed potatoes costing $1,231.48 was sent to France early in 1946. The money was given by people in the county.
Many projects of the District Men's Work have not been large, but some phases have been well done. One project which took on large proportions was the overseas-relief sale. This was begun by the laymen of the Church of the Brethren in Somerset County, but was widened to include all of the county's churches. The sale was held at the Meyersdale fairgrounds in the spring of 1948 and netted almost eight thousand dollars. Many worked untiringly to make it a success, and numerous stories could be related of sacrificial giving of time and of material.
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