SEVENTEENTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November, 1867
The Proceedings of the 17th Semi-Annual Session
of the
Evangelical Mennonite Conference of Eastern Pennsylvania
The members of this body met November 5, 1867, in the Upper Milford Meeting House, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for their semi-annual session.
First Meeting
Tuesday, November 5, 1867 – Morning
In the morning, Eusebius Hershey preached with blessing about the words of John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, … ” William N. Shelly admonished and closed with singing and prayer.
Second Meeting
Tuesday, November 5, 1867 – Afternoon
The afternoon meeting was opened by Brother William N. Shelly with singing and prayer. Preachers present: William Gehman, William N. Shelly, Eusebius Hershey, Henry Diehl, Abel Strawn, Jonas Musselman, Abraham Kauffman, Joseph L. Romig.
Deacons present: David Gehman, Joseph Schneider, Aaron Unangst.
Afterward the following business matters were taken up:
1. William G eh man was elected to be Chairman and J. L. Romig was to be Recording Secretary.
2. The examination of the preachers in regard to their moral conduct and administrative duties was carried out and brought to an end in brotherly love.
3. RESOLVED: That every preacher shall keep a record of his expenses and collections when he travels to preach God’s word, and that he is entitled to reimbursement from the Mission Fund after he gives his report to the Conference.
4. Brother Hershey submitted his six month’s travel report as follows:
Potter County Mission — June 5, 1867, to November 5, 1593
Miles traveled 1593
Families visited 417
Preached in public 102
Sunday Schools maintained 1
Bible classes maintained 1
Public schools visited 6
Places requested to preach 15
Total expenses 194.24
Love offerings 94.67
Earned by manual labor 40.00
Balance in Hershey’s labor $59.57
(Which balance he did not take out of the Mission Fund)
5. RESOLVED: That Brother Hershey should travel and work again for the next six months in his present assigned work area in Potter County, Pennsylvania, and the surroundings and that we will support him with our prayers and means. 6. David Gehman and Joseph L. Romig were chosen as overseers of our German and English doctrines of faith.l8
7. R·ESOLVED: That the next Conference shall be held in the Flatlander Meeting House on the first Tuesday in June, 1868.
8. RESOLVED: That the proceedings of this Conference will be made known in the Mennonitischen Friedens Bote.
William Gehman, Chairman
Joseph L. Romig, Recording Secretary
18 Understood to be the printed copies of the Confession of Faith.