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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Virginia Conference by A Abram Paul Funkhouser HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE BY REV. A. P. FUNKHOUSER, A. M., D. D. COMPILED BY OREN F. MORTON, B. Lit. Author of "Under the Cottonwoods," "Winning or Losing?" "Land of the Laurel," "A Practical History of Music," "The Story of Daniel Boone," "A History of Preston County, W. Va.," "A History of Pendleton County, W. Va.," "A History of Highland County, W. Va..," "A History of Rockbridge County," "Annals of Bath County, Va." Dr. Funkhouser died before the work was completed. The material gathered and the language used by the Author has been carefully preserved by the Compiler. The Virginia Conference ordered the publication of this History and appointed Drs. A. S. Hammock, W. F. Gruver, J. H. Brunk, Rev. J N. Fries, Mr. W. I. Good and J. K. Ruebush as a committee on publication. We present to the Church this History which we regard as of the the greatest value to the church, not only of to-day but for the future. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Apostolic Christianity before Otterbein II. William Otterbein and the German Reformed Church III. Martin Boehm and the Mennonites IV. German Immigration in the Eighteenth Century V. The Evangelical Movement among the German Immigrants VI. Early Years of the Church VII. Planting the Church in Virginia VIII. Extracts from Newcomer's Journal IX. The Early Preachers X. Reminiscences of Some of the Early Preachers XI. The Transition from German to English XII. The Church in the War of 1861 XIII. The Church in Recent Times XIV. Movements toward Union with Other Churches XV. Concerning Slavery and Intoxicants XVI. Concerning Secret Societies XVII. List of Preachers: Chronological XVIII. List of Preachers: Alphabetical XIX. Bishops, Missionaries, and Others XX. Biographical Sketches of Ministers XXI. Early Deaths among Ministers XXII. Church Dedications XXIII. Sketch of A. P. Funkhouser XXIV. The Church and Education XXV. The Virginia Conference School XXVI. A Digest of the Conference Minutes EDITOR'S FOREWORD The late A. P. Funkhouser projected a book which, in treating of the Virginia Conference of the United Brethren Church, should "include the origin, growth, and development of the Church within its bounds, and its distinctive features, together with portraits and brief biographies of many of its ministers." For this purpose he gathered a large and valuable store of material, but did not prepare a manuscript copy of the projected work. In early May of the present year, the undersigned was asked by the owner and custodians of the collection to supply this lack. In carrying out the commission to compile a manuscript, the editor has adhered as closely as practicable to the topical plan found among the papers mentioned. He has also sought to put himself in the place of the expectant author. But in constructing several of the chapters made necessary by the topical plan aforesaid, the collection afforded little aid. Dr. Funkhouser could undoubtedly have written these chapters without feeling much need for documents and other authorities. On the other hand, the editor had never met Dr. Funkhouser, is not himself of the United Brethren, and was not previously familiar with the rise and development of the United Brethren Church. He was therefore compelled to make large use of source material not found in the collection. This is why chapters I to VII inclusive, IX, XI to XVI inclusive, and XXIV and XXV are, in the main, of his own authorship. In the quoted paragraphs, without reference as to source, that occur in some of these chapters, he has followed the phraseology of Dr. Funkhouser. It is hardly necessary to add that no writer can take up an outline formulated by another craftsman, and pursue it with the same freedom as is possible to the projector. But since the undertaking had to be finished by some one else, it is hoped that the present volume will, in at least a fair measure, fulfill the promise implied in the title. The books and pamphlets not found in the collection, and consulted by the editor, are these: "History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ," by John Lawrence; "Our Bishops," by H. A. Thompson; "Our Heroes; or United Brethren Home Missionaries," by W. M. Weekley and H. H. Fout; "Landmark History of the United Brethren Church," by D. Eberly, I. H. Albright, and C. I. B. Brane; "The German and Swiss Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania," by Oscar Kuhns; "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," by J. W. Wayland; "History of Rockingham County, Virginia," by J. W. Wayland; "Origin, Doctrine, Constitution, and Discipline of the United Brethren in Christ (1841);" "Life of J. J. Glossbrenner," by A. W. Drury; "Life of William Otterbein," by A. W. Drury; "Life of David Edwards," by Lewis Davis; "Life and Career of James W. Hott," by M. B. Drury; "Life and Journal of Christian Newcomer," edited by John Hildt; "Michael Schlatter Memorial Addresses," by J. E. Boiler and others; "Autobiography of Peter Cartwright," edited by W. P. Strickland; "History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia," by R. B. Semple; "Life of Jacob Bachtel," by Z. Warner; the published Minutes of the Conference, 1800-1818, and 1880-1920. The editor is much indebted to Mr. Joseph K. Ruebush for the helpful interest shown in the undertaking, particularly in furnishing authorities to supplement the data gathered by Dr. Funkhouser; also to the Rev. J. E. Hott for varied and valuable oral information. OREN F. MORTON. Dayton, Virginia, August 29, 1919. History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Virginia Conference by A. P. Funkhouser NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Work originally published in 1921. Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center. Electronic edition ©2006 United Brethren Historical Center Suggested Citation: [Identification of Item]. Available at the United Brethren Historical Center website; http://www.huntington.edu/ubhc/publications/ebooks/virginia/virginiatitle.htm. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Apostolic Christianity before Otterbein II. William Otterbein and the German Reformed Church III. Martin Boehm and the Mennonites IV. German Immigration in the Eighteenth Century V. The Evangelical Movement among the German Immigrants VI. Early Years of the Church VII. Planting the Church in Virginia VIII. Extracts from Newcomer's Journal IX. The Early Preachers X. Reminiscences of Some of the Early Preachers XI. The Transition from German to English XII. The Church in the War of 1861 XIII. The Church in Recent Times XIV. Movements toward Union with Other Churches XV. Concerning Slavery and Intoxicants XVI. Concerning Secret Societies XVII. List of Preachers: Chronological XVIII. List of Preachers: Alphabetical XIX. Bishops, Missionaries, and Others XX. Biographical Sketches of Ministers XXI. Early Deaths among Ministers XXII. Church Dedications XXIII. Sketch of A. P. Funkhouser XXIV. The Church and Education XXV. The Virginia Conference School XXVI. A Digest of the Conference Minutes EDITOR'S FOREWORD The late A. P. Funkhouser projected a book which, in treating of the Virginia Conference of the United Brethren Church, should "include the origin, growth, and development of the Church within its bounds, and its distinctive features, together with portraits and brief biographies of many of its ministers." For this purpose he gathered a large and valuable store of material, but did not prepare a manuscript copy of the projected work. In early May of the present year, the undersigned was asked by the owner and custodians of the collection to supply this lack. In carrying out the commission to compile a manuscript, the editor has adhered as closely as practicable to the topical plan found among the papers mentioned. He has also sought to put himself in the place of the expectant author. But in constructing several of the chapters made necessary by the topical plan aforesaid, the collection afforded little aid. Dr. Funkhouser could undoubtedly have written these chapters without feeling much need for documents and other authorities. On the other hand, the editor had never met Dr. Funkhouser, is not himself of the United Brethren, and was not previously familiar with the rise and development of the United Brethren Church. He was therefore compelled to make large use of source material not found in the collection. This is why chapters I to VII inclusive, IX, XI to XVI inclusive, and XXIV and XXV are, in the main, of his own authorship. In the quoted paragraphs, without reference as to source, that occur in some of these chapters, he has followed the phraseology of Dr. Funkhouser. It is hardly necessary to add that no writer can take up an outline formulated by another craftsman, and pursue it with the same freedom as is possible to the projector. But since the undertaking had to be finished by some one else, it is hoped that the present volume will, in at least a fair measure, fulfill the promise implied in the title. The books and pamphlets not found in the collection, and consulted by the editor, are these: "History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ," by John Lawrence; "Our Bishops," by H. A. Thompson; "Our Heroes; or United Brethren Home Missionaries," by W. M. Weekley and H. H. Fout; "Landmark History of the United Brethren Church," by D. Eberly, I. H. Albright, and C. I. B. Brane; "The German and Swiss Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania," by Oscar Kuhns; "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," by J. W. Wayland; "History of Rockingham County, Virginia," by J. W. Wayland; "Origin, Doctrine, Constitution, and Discipline of the United Brethren in Christ (1841);" "Life of J. J. Glossbrenner," by A.
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