SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE
February, 1885
Conference Minutes44 of the Sixth45 Annual Conference
The sixth Annual Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ of Eastern Pennsylvania held its meeting at Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, February 2, 3, and 4, 1885. According to announcement the brethren met on Saturday evening, January 31, 1885. Preaching by Elder E. Hershey, text Mark 12:34, followed by Abner Clime of Terre Hill.
On Sunday morning, February 1, the Conference Sermon was preached by Presiding Elder, William Gehman, text I Timothy 4:16, followed by Marks D. Haws.
Sunday afternoon, preaching by Elder Jonas Musselman, text II Timothy 4:2, followed by experience meeting.
Sunday evening, preaching by Marks D. Haws, text Hebrews 11:24-26, followed by Elder Abel Strawn.
First Meeting
Monday, February 2, 1885 – Morning
The Conference Session was opened by Presiding Elder William Gehman by reading Psalm 127:1,2, and by exhortation. Before proceeding, half an hour was spent in prayer for God’s blessing.
The following program was adopted:
Forenoon Meeting: Open at 8:00 a.m.; Close at 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Meeting: Open at 1:00 p. m.; Close at 4:30 p. m.
Voting Members vote by raising right hand.
Speakers: Each speaker to rise.
Time: To speak on a subject ten minutes and no more than three times unless privilege is granted by the Presiding Elder. In case two speakers arise the Presiding Elder to decide which keeps the floor.
Disturbing: No whispering or talking allowed while the Conference is in session. The Presiding Elder to preserve order.
Conference Members Present:
Elders: Presiding Elder William Gehman, Elder Jonas Musselman, Elder A. Strawn, Elder A. Kauffman, Elder Joel Rosenberger, Elder S. M. Musselman, and Elder E. Hershey.
Probationers: Marks D. Haws, William B. Musselman, John Knauss, Thomas Leh. Evangelists: William K. Ellinger, William H. Gehman.
Delegates:
Abner Clime of Terre Hill
Jacob Gehret of Reading and Fleetwood
Lewis Wieand of Upper Milford and Emaus
Tobias Mittman of Quakertown and Hatfield
M. A. Zyner of Coopersburg, Springtown and Ruch’s
Absent: Elder Samuel H. Frey
Rev. Frederick Cracker of Quakertown was present and was recognized as an advisory member of our Conference.
Ministers now handed in their reports which gave the following results:
| Ordained Ministers | 8 |
| On Probation | 6 |
| Any on probation to be ordained | 2 |
| How many applicants for the ministry? | 1 |
| How many deacons? | 6 |
| Any deacons on probation to be ordained? | 1 |
| How many members died during the past year? | 6 |
| How many withdrawn? | 0 |
| How many expelled? | 5 |
| How many moved away? | 21 |
| How many new converts? | 99 |
| How many Baptized? | 67 |
| How many Received into church fellowship? | 76 |
| Whole Number of Members? | 376 |
| Increase of Members? | 76 |
| Decrease of Members? | 14 |
| How many Churches? | 10 |
| How Many Appointments? | 15 |
| Any new appointments? | 1 |
| How many sermons preached? | 1605 |
| How Many Classes? | 14 |
| Any New Classes organized? | 1 |
| How Many Class Leaders? | 14 |
| How Many Sabbath Schools? | 95 |
| How Many Officers and Teachers? | 8 |
| How Many Scholars? | 398 |
| How often Sabbath Schools visited? | 93 |
| How much collected for Ministers | $1126.83 |
| How much collected for Sabbath Schools? | $167.37 |
| How much collected for Presiding Elder? | $108.77 |
| How much collected for Home Mission? | $78.26 |
| How much collected for Heathen Mission? | $1.76 |
| Expenses of Local Preachers | $29.46 |
Second Meeting
Monday, February 2, 1885 – Afternoon
RESOLVED: That a committee be appointed to make a distribution of Rome Mission money left after expenses of Local Preachers are paid.
RESOLVED: That no Home Mission money shall be distributed to Local Preachers that have been addicted to the use of tobacco during the past Conference year.
Distribution: William Gehman, M. A. Zyner and Tobias Mittman. Distribution as follows:
| To John Knauss | $13.00 | |
| To William K. Ellinger | 13.00 | |
| For Secretaries and Expenses | 13.00 | |
| Expenses of Local Preachers | 29.46 | |
| Total Expenditures | 68.46 | |
| Balance in Treasury of 1884 | $12.24 | |
| Home Mission Money of 1885 | 78.26 | |
| Total in Treasury | 90.50 | |
| Less Expenses of | 68.46 | |
| Balance in Treasury | $22.04 |
Monday Evening
Elder A. Strawn preached, text I Corinthians 12:31, followed by William K. Ellinger.
Third Meeting
Tuesday, February 3, 1885 – Morning
Election for Presiding Elder. William Gehman was re-elected.
RESOLVED: That Marks D. Haws of Terre Hill, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (was on probation as preacher) and his probation term having expired and was found satisfactory, shall according to our Discipline, be ordained.
RESOLVED: That Milton Kauffman (who was on a probation term as Deacon) of the Coopersburg class said term having expired was found satisfactory, shall according to our Discipline, be ordained.
RESOLVED: That Owen Bitting of the Coopersburg class, who had convictions that he was called of God to preach the Gospel, shall be taken on probation term according to our Discipline.
RESOLVED: That a division of Circuits be made. Divided as follows:
1. Reading
2. Fleetwood and Blandon
3. Quakertown, Hatfield, Skippack
4. Upper Milford, East Hereford and Emaus
5. Coopersburg, Bethlehem, Ruch’s and Springtown
6. Terre Hill
Who are the preachers that are willing to travel this year according to the directions of the Conference and our Discipline? As follows: A. Kauffman, M. D. Haws, A. Strawn, J. Musselman, S. Musselman, W. B. Musselman, S. Frey.
Local Preachers: J. Rosenberger, Thomas Leh, John Knauss, O. Bitting.
Stationing Committee: Since the delegates with the Presiding Elder were an equal number it was found necessary to have another Conference member to serve on the Stationing Committee.
RESOLVED: That Joel Rosenberger shall serve on the Stationing Committee as that member. Committee as follows: William Gehman, Presiding Elder
Delegates
1. Abner Clime of Terre Hill
2. Jacob Gehret of Reading
3. Lewis Wieand of Upper Milford, East Hereford and Emaus
4. Tobias Mittman of Quakertown, Hatfield and Skippack
5. M. A. Zyner of Coopersburg, Ruch’s and Springtown
6. Joel Rosenberger (chosen)
Fourth Meeting
Tuesday, February 3, 1885 – Afternoon
The Stationing Committee’s report as follows:
Quakertown, Hatfield and Skippack: A. Kauffman with the assistance of Joel Rosenberger.
Upper Milford, East Hereford and Emaus: A. Strawn with the assistance of Thomas Leh.
Coopersburg, Springtown, Ruch’s and Bethlehem: Jonas Musselman with the assistance of Owen Bitting.
Terre Hill: M. D. Haws.
Blandon and Fleetwood: S. M. Musselman.
Reading: W. B. Musselman.
Eusebius Hershey shall travel as Missionary.
S. Frey, W. K. Ellinger, John Knauss and W. H. Gehman shall serve as Evangelists wherever there is a call to preach the Word.
RESOLVED: That as regards the Missionary cause, it shall remain heretofore.
RESOLVED: That a delegate be elected for the General Conference. EIder A. Strawn was elected. Tuesday Evening John Knauss preached, text Psalm 37:37, followed by W. B. Musselman.
Fifth Meeting
Wednesday, February 4, 1885 – Morning
RESOLVED: That since our General Conference has passed the following resolution: “Seeing as we do the evil effects of that filthy weed, tobacco, and since we as a church want to exert our influence against it, no probationer whether for the ministry or for the office of deacon is to be ordained who is addicted to use of tobacco, and shall positively use their influence against it, and in order to do so must be free themselves according to I Corinthians 9:27.”
RESOLVED: That two camp meetings shall be held this year by the Pennsylvania Conference. one on the old camp ground on Chestnut Hill. Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and the other at Terre Hill. Lancaster County. Pennsylvania.
RESOLVED: That the Presiding Elder appoint the time to hold the camp meeting and preside over the same.
RESOLVED: That the following committee shall make arrangements for the camp meeting on Chestnut Hill, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
1. Henry Gehman of Upper Milford
2. Thomas Geho of Coopersburg
3. William Wieand of Upper Milford
4. John Roeder of Upper Milford
5. J. G. Musselman of Coopersburg
RESOLVED: That the following committee shall make arrangements for the camp meeting at Terre Hill. Lancaster County. Pennsylvania.
1. Peter Fultz
2. Jesse Showalter
3. Samuel Edwards
4. Nathaniel Davis
5. Samuel Y. Foltz
RESOLVED: That at our Camp Meetings no boarding tents shall be erected or allowed to be erected where victuals or any kinds of articles of traffic or merchandise are sold and no tobacco smoking allowed on the camp ground.
RESOLVED: That a Committee of three be appointed to take charge of the tabernacle during the coming Conference year. Committee as follows: William Gehman. Abel Strawn and Jonas Musselman.
RESOLVED: That we only have one secretary for our next Annual Conference. H. A. Zyner was elected Secretary, and Milton Kauffman Treasurer for the next Annual Conference.
We as Conference and church members must confess that the blessing of the Lord was with us during this Conference session.
RESOLVED : That the members of this Conference render a hearty vote of thanks to the brethren. sisters. neighbors and friends of Quakertown and vicinity for their love, generosity and hospitality during this session.
RESOLVED: That the next Annual Conference shall be held at Upper Milford, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania on the first Monday in February, 1886. Each meeting was opened and closed with singing and prayer.
RESOLVED: That we adjourn.
M. A. Zyner, Secretary
44 There are two sets of minutes in English for this year. The second set is probably intended to be a correction of the first. The second is the text given here.
45 Old numeration. The numeration was changed at the Annual Conference of 1892.