TWENTY-EIGHTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE
June, 1873
Proceedings of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference
On Tuesday, June 3, 1873, the members of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference met in the Evangelical Mennonite Meeting House in Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania to hold their 28th semi-annual session. According to our Missionary Constitution a missionary meeting was held the previous evening, which was very well attended. Brother Eusebius Hershey preached with power and blessing on II Timothy 4:5, ” … do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Brother Graybill admonished and closed with prayer. At the end, a free will collection was taken for the spreading of the Gospel, which amounted to $9.34. Then the officers of the Missionary Society for the coming year were elected. The present officers were re-elected, that is: Abraham Kauffman, President; David Gehman, Secretary and William Yeakel, Treasurer.
First Meeting
Tuesday, June 3, 1813 – 9:00 – Morning
On Tuesday morning, at 9:00 a. m., the Conference members met along with quite a number of brothers and sisters from nearby and farther away. The Conference Sermon was preached with much expounding and victory by Brother William N. Shelly on I Peter 5:2-4, “Feed the flock of God which is among you … ” etc. Brother David Henning admonished in all earnestness but in an encouraging way, and closed with prayer.
Second Meeting
Tuesday June 3, 1813 – Afternoon
The afternoon meeting was opened at 1:30 p.m. by the Chairman of the last Conference, William N. Shelly, with singing, prayer and an appropriate message. Preachers present: David Henning, William N. Shelly, William Gehman, Eusebius Hershey, Henry Diehl, Abel Strawn. Jonas Musselman. Abraham Kauffman, Samuel M. Musselman, and Joel Rosenberger. Absent: David Schwartz, Juniata; Charles Ehrig, Allentown. Deacons present: David Gehman, Joseph Schneider, Michael Landis, Jacob Ruch, Daniel Koch, and William Gambler. Then the following business was taken care of in love and unity:
1. David Henning was elected Chairman and David Gehman, Secretary.
2. The examination of the servants in regard to their official and moral conduct was taken care of and concluded in the spirit of brotherly love.
3. Brother Sidenham Lambert, a preacher on probation, was accepted as an advisory member.
4. Brother Joel Rosenberger, preacher of the Gospel, was unanimously received, according to his request, and accepted into our fellowship as a preacher. May God bless him should be the prayer of all of us.
5. The Missionary Society business was thoroughly considered and discussed. The treasury total amounts to $192.89 at present. The semi-annual reports of the preachers were given as follows:
William N. Shelly — preached 71 times, visited 57 families. traveled 826 miles. expenses $15.00.
William Gehman — preached 62 times. visited 72 families, traveled 1847 miles, expenses $44.85, receipts $10.75. balance $34.10.
S.M. Musselman — preached 63 times. visited 71 families, traveled 1160 miles, expenses $36.30, receipts $15.10, balance $21.20.
Eusebius Hershey– preached 89 times, visited 850 families, expenses $75.69, receipts $58.22, balance $17.47.
Abel Strawn — preached 65 times, visited 60 families, traveled 1000 miles, expenses $32.50, receipts $5.25, balance $27.25.
Jonas Musselman – Preached 45 times, expenses $12.00, receipts $3.15, balance $8.85.
Joel Rosenberger — expenses $15.35, receipts $0.50, balance $14.85.
Abraham Kauffman — preached 40 times, visited 17 families, expenses $2.67.
Henry Diehl — no report.
David Henning – no report.
Total expense balances, $141.39, were reimbursed to the different preachers by the Treasurer, and $46.00 was distributed to the different preachers by an appointed committee leaving the treasury a balance of $5.50.
To the praise of God we can say that we had wonderful and refreshing times. The Lord revealed Himself in His reviving and converting power, so that we had the joy to pray with the penitent and to praise God with those who were pardoned. Our usual meeting as well as our prayer meetings and extension meetings were repeatedly blessed. Those looking for salvation were comforted and God’s people revived. Those who were renewed in the inner man, born again, and who were baptized by God with the Holy Spirit and who gave testimony according to the contents of God’s Word, we were willing to baptize because of their testimony, according to God’s order, and such only!
In Medina County, Ohio, a wonderful revival broke out. Some of us sacrificed some time last winter to the welfare and salvation of precious souls in that region. Eleven persons were baptized because of their personal faith, according to the command of our Savior and His apostles, and were incorporated into the church of Christ. But how much is yet to be done for the future! Thousands upon thousands are still in sin, without God and without hope in the world headed. toward eternal death. 0 God, give us wisdom and grace to work in the future with earnestness and faithfulness, because “the harvest is great but the workers are few .” May the Lord richly bless the supporters of our little Missionary Society – and this shall be the prayer of all of us.
6. RESOLVED: That Brother S. M. Musselman be asked to travel again to Medina County, Ohio, to serve the congregation there along with Brother David Lambert. To this he agreed, providing the Lord gives him life, breath and help.
7. RESOLVED: That in the future every preacher be asked to give Conference a semi-annual report of his travels and work.
8. The article about dress in our Doctrine of Faith and Discipline, page 22, was brought up by Brother William Gehman and was discussed in great detail but in love and gentleness. The forbidden named articles start in German with: “Reisse, hats, etc.”, in English: “hoops, women’s hats, etc.” This “women’s hat” was the object of the discussion whether our sisters, and those entrusted to them by God, are permitted to wear a hat who wish to do so. Therefore
RESOLVED: That the sisters, and those entrusted to them by God, be permitted to wear a plain hat. We are taught, however, to be lights of the world. As disciples of Jesus we should not imitate the world in any way. May God help us not give the impression that we are somebody — not to pretend, not to put on, but to “condescend to men of low estate.” (Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:2, 16)
9. RESOLVED: That the next semi-annual Conference shall be held in the Coopersburg Meeting House in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on the second Tuesday of November.
10. RESOLVED: That the proceedings of this Conference shall be made known in a circular and a greater number than before shall be printed.
11. RESOLVED: That the Conference express its thanks to brothers and sisters of the Upper Milford congregation for their hospitality and friendship in providing room and board for those who attended this Conference session. Praise and glory be to the Lord. May He revive His work and He, with His humble servants, multiply the number of faithful warriors and true worshippers. Amen.
Signed by the officers:
David Henning, Chairman
David Gehman, Secretary