History of the Allegheny Conference

G. D. BATDORF Bishop of the Eastern Area ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE MINISTERS OCTETTE Front Row—B. F. Bungard, C. W. Winey, P. F. Mickey, A. J. Orlidge. Rear—E. C. Weaver, J. D. Good, E. E. Householder, W. D. Good. HISTORY OF THE ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE of the Church of the UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST By J. S. FULTON, D.D. Telling of the origin, growth, and development of the conference and its attitude toward great issues and its part in their solution ILLUSTRATED 19 31 DEDICATION TO THE FATHERS OF ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE WHO SO EARNESTLY AND UNSELFISHLY TOILED AND WHO UNCOMPLAININGLY ENDURED LONELINESS, SUFFERED HARDSHIP, AND SACRIFICED COMFORTS, IN ORDER TO LAY DEEP AND BROAD A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THEIR FOLLOWERS MIGHT BUILD THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF A LARGER AND BETTER CONFERENCE, THIS MODEST VOLUME OF HISTORY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. / INTRODUCTION The "Acts of the Apostles" was the first installment of the history of the Christian church. Other installments of the life-giving, expand ing work of the Spirit of God in transforming human lives and society, from one generation to another, have been put into thou sands of books which are now found in the libraries of the world. And, with all of this, only a fragment of the marvelous story of Christ and His church has been recorded. This book, the first history of the Allegheny Conference, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, continues the report of Christ's sav ing and building work in portions of Pennsylvania. It is a record of some of the sacrifices, joys and achievements of the pastors and mem bers of the Allegheny Conference during the ninety-two years, from 1839 to 1931. It will challenge the attention of all the ministers of our conference, and many beyond its bounds. It will bring interest and uplift to teachers, officers, and laymen in individual churches who want to know about the beginnings of our individual churches as well as the steps in the growth of the conference as a whole. God spake to His early followers, "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee." The reading of victories, won in the past through faith, begets faith and courage for the onward work yet to be done. Those who will read with care the story of the beginnings of our denomination and the development of our con ference as set forth in the pages of this book, will be inspired for better service in the future. It is fortunate that Dr. L. W. Stahl was requested some years ago to gather the necessary data and to write the history of our con ference. Doctor Stahl from his youth was a close observer of the events of his conference and denomination. Early in his ministry he was elected recording secretary of the General Conference and he served also as secretary of the Allegheny Conference. He developed a passion for gathering historic matter. For many years he was on a quest for facts and incidents of a general character, and about the particular work of our conference; but he never seemed quite ready to put the information secured into proper form. The writer, meeting him about two years ago, inquired, "Doctor Stahl, how are you getting on with the history?" With a smile, he replied, "I am still gathering facts. Have you anything to report?" His experience reminds us of the famous Doctor Draper of the ix X HISTORY OF ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE Wisconsin Historical Society, who for more than thirty years was in search of first-hand information with a view to writing several books on the development of our country west of the Allegheny Mountains. The passion to search and search for new facts finally unfitted him for writing an orderly account of what he had discovered. He con fessed, "I can write nothing as long as I fear there is a fact, no matter how small, as yet ungarnered." But Doctor Draper left great volumes of notes and valuable information obtained through inter views which later formed the bases of histories written by others. And may it not be somewhat that way with Doctor Stahl? It is fortunate indeed that our conference secured the services of Dr. J. S. Fulton to take up and complete the task of securing for us a history of the Allegheny Conference. Doctor Fulton's practical experience as superintendent of the entire conference for many years and his wide outlook on our denominational life and work have fitted him well to get new facts of different kinds, covering a wider range than was previously attempted, and to put all into form with attrac tive illustrations. And now it may be that some who read in this book of the sufferings and victories of the pioneer days will be like a man in Kentucky, who, after hearing about the glory of the achievements of Daniel Boone, said, "If we had pioneer work to do we might be heroes too." Well, there is always pioneer work to do, and it calls for faith, hard thinking, and courageous action. Great was the privilege of our fathers in starting Christian work amid primitive conditions. But the privileges we have in these later years are no less great, in bringing every church to its highest efficiency in Christian life, fellowship and service—seeking to get all the mem bers to function vitally for God in their own community, state, nation, and throughout the world. In the years ahead when this history of the Allegheny Conference shall be revised, or a new one written, we believe there will then be recorded in addition to the good things of the first nine decades, many mighty achievements wrought through faith in Christ along lines not as yet seriously attempted, for there are scores in our midst today who are hearing the Master say, as he said to one of his first disciples, "Thou shalt see greater things than these," and they will set to work with the conviction that "The best is yet to be." S. S. HOUGH. June 23, 1931. PREFACE For some years Allegheny Conference has had in contemplation the gathering of material and of putting it into proper form as a history of its organization, territory, personnel, and achievement. This task was given to Dr. L. W. Stahl, who gathered valuable material, but ere he had written any part of it he was called to his eternal reward. The conference gave to me the unfinished task and its added responsibility. I have always honestly tried to do whatever my church and con ference have asked me to do, therefore, while not a writer or a compiler, I have done the best I could, in the pages that follow. In the collection and preparation of the matter that forms the chap ters of this book, I have sought to be accurate and to verify the facts of research made and my hope is that I have reduced the errors to the minimum. The task has been difficult because of the meager records kept, but delightful because of the cooperation of both min isters and laymen, and because this history will preserve to posterity what I consider valuable data secured, to which may be added the future achievements of our conference. I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness for the material gathered by the late Dr. L. W. Stahl; to Dr. S. S. Hough, for the introduction written for this book; to Dr. W. R. Funk, for the chapter on "Superin¬ tendency," which, because of my personal relation to it, I felt I could not write; to Dr. and Mrs. W. G. Fulton, for work done by them; to Dr. A. W. Drury, Dr. W. R. Funk, Dr. S. S. Hough, Dr. W. S. Wilson, Dr. L. Keister, H. C. Heeter, H. M. Ruth, and others for material furnished, valuable suggestions made, and for kindly and constructive criticism offered. I am also indebted to the pastors of the conference; The Telescope files; The Watchword files; Newcomer's Journal; Drury's History, Spayth's History; Berger's History; Landmarks of History; the Con ference Minutes and various historical sketches in pamphlet form. I especially thank the committee appointed by the conference, Dr. W. A. Sites, Rev. W. H. Hayes, and Mr. George C. Blair for the generous and kindly treatment of both the writer and the writings sub mitted to them for their criticism, improvement, or approval. J. S. FULTON. xi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I. Beginnings in America 1 Germans in Pennsylvania—Help from Holland—Otterbein—Boehm—Meeting at Isaac Long's Barn—Preliminary Meetings—Other Leaders—Historical Sketch. CHAPTER II. The Church in Its Development 10 The New Church in Doctrine—The New Church in Polity—The Conference Formed—A Sketch—The First Session with Minutes. CHAPTER III. Under Presiding Eldership 16 John R. Sitman—Missions—Education—Slavery—Temperance—J. I. L. Ressler. CHAPTER IV. Under Presiding Eldership (Cont.) 23 The Church Extension and Missionary Society—The Sunday-school Movement. CHAPTER V. Under Presiding Eldership (Cont.) 35 Young People's Work—Women's Missionary Association and Otterbein Guild Work. CHAPTER VI. Under Presiding Eldership (Cont.) 49 Finance — Preachers' Aid — Printing Establishment — Beneficiary Education— Chairman—Reports—Minutes — Examinations — Course of Study — Records— Tobacco—Secrecy—Memorials—Lay Representation—Gatherings—Time of Ses sion—Special Periods—Incorporation—Caning—Mutual Beneficial Society—Sta tistics. CHAPTER VII. Under Conference Superintendency 59 Reverend James Spencer Fulton—A Few Figures—Reverend Warren Shuey Wilson. CHAPTER VIII. Those Given to General Interests 66 Dr. G. A. Funkhouser—Dr. H. F.

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