FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
February, 1888
The Ninth49 Annual Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ of Eastern Pennsylvania, was held in Coopersburg, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on February 6, 7, 8, 1888.
According to the announcement the brethren met on the previous Saturday. Elder Joel Rosenberger preached from Ephesians 5:16. The Conference Sermon was preached on Sunday morning by the Presiding Elder, William Gehman, from I Timothy 4:16. The afternoon sermon (was preached) by Eusebius Hershey, from Matthew 19:25. The evening sermon (was preached) by A. Kauffman, from Isaiah 38:17.
First Meeting
Monday, February 6, 1888 – Morning
The first meeting was opened on Monday morning at 8:30. One half hour was spent in prayer. Then Brother William Gehman read the first Psalm and gave a short loving admonition to the Conference members.
Thereafter the following rules were adopted:
The forenoon meeting to last from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
The afternoon meeting from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Voting shall be done by raising the right hand.
Each speaker shall stand.
Ten minutes is the limit for a speaker on anyone subject and (he) shall not speak more than three times on it except with permission from the Presiding Elder.
In case two speakers arise at the same time the Presiding Elder shall decide which keeps the floor.
No whispering or talking is allowed during the Conference meetings and it is the duty of the Presiding Elder to keep order.
The last annual Conference report was read and accepted.
Next there was the examination of the preachers present and no complaint was found. Conference members present :
Presiding Elder: William Gehman
Elders: Abel Strawn , William B. Musselman, George A. Campbell, William Heffner, John Knauss, Owen Bitting, Samuel Musselman, Joel Rosenberger, Eusebius Hershey and A. Kauffman.
Absent: Marks D. Haws, Samuel H. Frey and William Ellinger.
Delegates: Tobias Mittman, Henry G. Musselman, Milton Kauffman, Lewis Wieand, John Baus, Jeremiah R. Boyer and Samuel Edwards.
The preachers reports showed the following:
| Ordained Ministers | 11 |
| On Probation | 5 |
| Any on probation to be ordained | 2 |
| How many applicants for the ministry? | 3 |
| How many deacons? | 6 |
| Any deacons on probation to be ordained? | |
| How many members died during the past year? | 8 |
| How many withdrawn? | 4 |
| How many expelled? | 10 |
| How many moved away? | 5 |
| How many new converts? | 73 |
| How many Baptized? | 68 |
| How many Received into church fellowship? | 71 |
| Whole Number of Members? | 458 |
| Increase of Members? | 52 |
| Decrease of Members? | |
| How many Churches? | 12 |
| How Many Appointments? | 16 |
| Any new appointments? | 1 |
| How many sermons preached? | 1968 |
| How Many Classes? | 20 |
| Any New Classes organized? | 1 |
| How Many Class Leaders? | 20 |
| How Many Sunday Schools? | 8 |
| How Many Officers and Teachers? | 97 |
| How Many Scholars? | 518 |
| How often Sunday Schools visited? | 134 |
| Any new Sunday Schools organized? | 1 |
| How much collected for Sunday Schools? | $340.24 |
| How much collected for Preachers? | $1201.77 |
| How much collected for Presiding Elder? | $149.08 |
| How much collected for Home Mission? | $66.66 |
| How much collected for Heathen Mission? | $6.75 |
The Forenoon meeting closed with singing and prayer by William Heffner.
Second Meeting
Monday, February 6, 1888 – Afternoon
The afternoon meeting opened with singing and prayer by Owen Bitting.
1. RESOLVED: That a committee be appointed to distribute what is left of the Home Mission money after the local preachers have been paid.
Distribution Committee: Tobias Mittman, Abel Strawn and Thomas T. Geho.
2. A letter from William Ellinger was read. It was a short report about his work and service. He asks to be excused for not being present at the conference because of sickness in the family.
3. William Gehman was re-elected as Presiding Elder.
4. The Candidates, Milton A. Zyner, Jonathan Moyer and Joshua E. Fidler were examined in accordance with our Church Rules. They were accepted as probation preachers.
5. Whereas, Brother Owen Bitting has satisfactorily completed his time of probation, therefore
6. RESOLVED: That, in conformity with our Confession of Faith, he be ordained by the Presiding Elder at the next appropriate occasion.
7. A letter addressed to the Conference from William H. Gehman of Chester County, Pennsylvania, was read.
The afternoon meeting was closed with singing and prayer by Lewis Wieand.
The sermon in the evening was preached by Owen Bitting from Mark 10:21.
Third Meeting
Tuesday, February 7, 1888 – Morning
The third meeting opened with singing and prayer by Joshua E. Fidler.
1. The complaint, which (at the last Annual Conference) was left for a committee to examine, against William H. Gehman from Chester County, Pennsylvania, has come to a satisfactory ending. He wishes to remain a member of the denomination. Therefore,
RESOLVED: That we grant him the freedom to follow his calling as he believes will be pleasing to God.
2. The Committee for the Home Mission presented its report as follows:
| Joel Rosenberger, with expenses | $20.74 | |
| John Knauss, with expenses | 17.22 | |
| Joshua E. Fidler | 13.00 | |
| William Ellinger | 9.00 | |
| Eusebius Hershey | 8.00 | |
| Minor extras for preachers’ expenses | 1.37 | |
| Total | $69.33 | |
| Collected for Home Mission in 1887 | $66.66 | |
| Balance left from last year | 27.55 | |
| Total | $94.21 | |
| Distributed to preachers and expenses | 69.33 | |
| Balance in treasury | $24.88 |
3. RESOLVED: That the circuits shall be arranged as follows:
1. Skippack and Norristown
2. Quakertown and Hatfield
3. Springtown and Ruch’s
4. Coopersburg and Bethlehem
5. Upper Milford and Hereford
6. Emaus, Fleetwood and Blandon
7. Reading Station
8. Terre Hill and Remps
The names of the travelling preachers are: Eusebius Hershey, William B. Musselman, Abel Strawn, William Heffner, George A. Campbell, Marks D. Haws, Abraham Kauffman, Joshua E. Fidler, Owen Bitting.
RESOLVED: That the Stationing Committee is formed by the Presiding Elder and the delegates as follows: William Gehman, Tobias Mittman, Henry G. Musselman, Milton Kauffman, Lewis Wieand, John Baus, Jeremiah R. Boyer, Samuel Edwards.
RESOLVED: That evangelists no longer be sent out unless they have been examined by a committee regarding their character, conduct and teaching, and that each evangelist belong to one of our Quarterly Conferences. The brethren on the committee are Abel Strawn, William Gehm an, and George A .. Campbell.
The third Meeting was closed with singing and prayer by Brother Abel Strawn.
Fourth Meeting
Tuesday, February 7, 1888 – Afternoon
The Stationing Committee reported as follows:
Skippack and Norristown — Joshua E. Fidler, assisted by Adam B. Gehret
Quakertown and Hatfield — George A. Campbell assisted by Joel Rosenberger
Springtown and Ruch’s — William Heffner
Coopersburg and Bethlehem — William B. Musselman assisted by Jonathan Moyer and M. A. Zyner
Upper Milford and Hereford — Marks D. Haws
Emaus, Fleetwood and Blandon — Owen Bitting assisted by John Knauss
Reading — Abel Strawn
Terre Hill and Remps — Abraham Kauffman
Evangelists — Eusebius Hershey, Jacob H. Moyer and William Ellinger ·
RESOLVED: That a camp meeting shall be held on the old camp ground at Chestnut Hill, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The Presiding Elder shall determine the time and shall supervise it. That part of the woods where the camp meeting shall be held must be cleared and free,- so that everyone with his carriage can drive in without having to pay for it, if he is willing to follow rules of order. The committee must also see to it that there is provided a place to feed horses and to admit people who like to pay for it. The members of the committee are: Lewis Wieand, John Baus, Milton Kauffman, Henry G. Musselman and John Roeder.
RESOLVED: That the Quarterly Conference of Terre Hill and Remps shall decide whether or not a camp meeting at Terre Hill, Lancaster County, shall be held.
RESOLVED: That at our camp meeting no tents or tables be put up for selling food or any other articles. Smoking tobacco on the camp ground shall not be permitted.
RESOLVED: That Abraham Kauffman, Milton Kauffman and John G. Musselman shall form a committee to supervise the tabernacle during this Conference year.
RESOLVED: That a Trustee Board be elected for building a church in Bethlehem. William B. Musselman was elected for one year, Charles Brunner for two and A. D. Ruch for three years. The fourth meeting was closed with singing and prayer by Adam B. Gehret. The evening sermon was preached by Adam B. Gehret from I John 3:1-3.
Fifth Meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 1888 – Morning
On Wednesday morning the fifth meeting was opened with singing and prayer by William Gehman.
The committee for examining the evangelists reported as follows: Examined evangelists present were Eusebius Hershey, Jacob H. Moyer and Samuel Musselman. Eusebius Hershey and Jacob H. Moyer were found to be right and received permission to work as evangelists. Samuel Musselman received neither approval nor assignment. A well-founded complaint against him is the reason. He shall not preach for our denomination until the Conference deems it proper.
Whereas at our last Conference we agreed to pay our debts owed for the print shop, in proportion to the number of members in the Conference, and in our Pennsylvania Conference our part of the debt has not yet been raised, therefore
RESOLVED: That the Presiding Elder shall suggest at the quarterly conferences that an effort be made to raise the money to pay the debt.
Those chosen to serve as delegates to the General Conference in Canada were Elders Abel Strawn and William B. Musselm an. This Conference is to begin on the first Wednesday in October, 1888.
Abraham Kauffman was re-elected as Secretary and Milton Kauffman as Treasurer for the next Conference.
A collection was received to cover the expenses for the Secretary. It amounted to $4.36.
RESOLVED: That the next Annual Conference be held at Terre Hill, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, beginning the first Monday in February, 1889.
RESOLVED: That we as members of this Conference express our hearty thanks to all brethren, sisters, friends and neighbors of Coopersburg and vicinity for the generosity and hospitality they have provided during the Conference session. We wish them God’s blessing. We as a Conference acknowledge that God’s blessing was with us. The true and united brotherly love was evident through the whole length of the Conference. To God be the glory. Praise His Holy Name.
William Gehman, Presiding Elder
Abraham Kauffman, Secretary
49 Old numeration. The numeration was changed at the Annual Conference of 1892.