EIGHTEENTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE
June, 1868
The Proceedings of the 18th Semi-Annual session
of the
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
The members of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference met Tuesday, June 2, 1868, in the Flatlander Meeting House, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to take care of their semi-annual business.
First Meeting
Tuesday, June 2, 1868 – Morning
The forenoon was used for the public worship service. Brother David Henning read I Corinthians 13, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels … ,” etc. This was followed by singing and prayer. Brother David Henning then effectively expounded the Word with great victory and blessing (especially of love) to an attentive congregation about the words of John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Brother Jonas Schultz admonished and closed with prayer.
Second Meeting
Tuesday, June 2, 1868 – Afternoon
The afternoon meeting was opened by the Chairman of the last Conference, Brother William Gehman, with the reading of a chapter of the Holy Scriptures, singing, prayer and a short address to the preachers as well as all who were present.
Preachers present: D. Henning, William N. Shelly, William Gehman, Henry Diehl, Abel Strawn, Jonas Musselman, Abraham Kauffman, Joseph L. Romig, S. M. Musselman. Not present: E. Hershey, J. Gottschall. Deacons present: David Gehman, Aaron Unangst.
Not present: Joseph Schneider.
The following business was taken up:
1. William N. Shelly was chosen as Chairman, and Joseph L. Romig as Recording Secretary.
2. The examination of the preachers as to their moral conduct and their behavior was begun and in brotherly love completed.
3. The Brethren Jonas Schultz and Joseph Bassler were accepted as advisory members for this session.
4. It was decided that on the first Sunday of every month until next Conference, one of the brethren should travel to Juniata county to preach there and to look for new preaching places, to make family visits and to preach while traveling back and forth wherever there is a request.
5. Brother Hershey’s semi-annual travel report was read aloud as follows: Total cost Love offerings Balance left 106 532 1539 Meetings held Families visited Miles traveled Requests of places for preaching 15 Persons baptized because of their confession of faith 5 $200.00 107.00 m:mr
6. RESOLVED: That the above balance of $93.00 will be paid to Brother Hershey at once by the Treasurer from the Mission Fund.
7. RESOLVED: That our next Conference session shall be held in the Upper Milford Meeting House in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on the first Thursday of November and that in the forenoon a public worship service shall be held.
8. RESOLVED: That the above proceedings shall be made known in the Mennonitischen Friedens Bote.
William N. Shelly, Chairman
Joseph L. Romig, Recording Secretary