THE FORTY-FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October, 1879
Proceedings of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Held In The Quakertown Church, In Bucks County, Pennsylvania
On the previous Saturday, evening, there was a worship service. Elder Daniel Brenneman from the United Mennonites, Indiana, also editor of Gospel Banner and Evangeliums Panier, preached on I Peter 3:15 and E. Hershey admonished: This meeting ended with a testimony hour. On Sunday morning, the Conference Sermon was preached by the Chairman, W. Gehman, on Acts 20:28. D. Henning admonished. In the afternoon, S. Frey preached on Hebrews 12:22-24. D. Brenneman admonished and commented on John 13:1-17. A communion service followed and the practice of Feet-washing was observed. In the evening, D. Brenneman preached on Genesis 3:9. Brother A. Kauffman admonished.
First Meeting
Monday, October 6, 1879 – Morning
On Monday morning, the members of the Conference and brethren and sisters from far and near came together. W. Gehman, Chairman, opened the Conference with singing, prayer and the reading of Psalm 124. Then the following business was attended to:
1. William Gehman, elected to be Chairman and S. Musselman, Secretary.
2. Advisory members present– Preachers: W. Gehman, A. Strawn, J. Musselman, A. Kauffman, S. M. Musselman, E. Hershey, S. Frey, D. Henning.
Absent: S. Lambert.
Deacons present: D. Gehman, M. Landis, D. Koch, J. Ruch, w. Yeakel, J. Schneider. Also present were: George Lambert, probationary preacher, and D. Brenneman, who were accepted as advisory members.
3. The moral and pastoral conduct of the members was examined.
4. The reports of the preachers for the last six months were presented as follows:
W. Gehman — preached 45 times, families visited 67, miles traveled 1700, expenditures $36.20.
Joel Rosenberger — preached 24 times, miles traveled 508, expenditures $ 7 .88.
Abraham Kauffman — preached 30 times, families visited 50, miles traveled 1600, expenditures $34.08. 123
Jonas Musselman — preached 35 times, families visited 31, miles traveled 560, expenditures $4.35.
Samuel Musselman — preached 40 times, families visited 44, miles traveled 433, expenditures $6.97.
Abel Strawn — preached 33 times, families visited 29, miles traveled 200, expenditures $1.32.
Samuel Frey — preached 10 times, families visited 22, miles traveled 273, expenditures $1.53.
David Henning — preached 33 times, families visited 26, miles traveled 335, expenditures $5.35.
E. Hershey — brought in his report but it was lost.
5. W. Yeakel, Treasurer of the Mission Society, handed in his six months’ report:
Amount in the treasury on October 6, 1879 $136.98
Paid out as travel expenses
to preachers $92.98
Distributed to preachers by
committee 39.00 131.98
Leaves a balance of $5.00
Second Meeting
Monday, October 6, 1879 – Afternoon
6. The afternoon meeting was opened by the Chairman. Then it was realized that Brother Levi Schimmel, a Mennonite preacher from Philadelphia, was present and therefore he was recognized as an advisory member.
D. Brenneman (from Indiana) gave an address to the Conference and made known the reason why he had come. He also expressed the desire of the Mennonites from the Northern Michigan district asking if it would be possible to send a preacher to them.
The Conference decided to send Brother George Lambert to them.
The matter of joining together with the Mennonites of Indiana, Michigan and Canada was briefly discussed and it was decided that there shall be an extra Conference to consider this on November 16, 1879, in the Upper Milford Meeting House, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
7. Thanks were expressed to the brethren and sisters and to the neighbors and friends for the love which they have demonstrated during the Conference session.
All meetings were opened and closed with singing and prayer.
William Gehman, Chairman
Samuel Musselman, Secretary