The year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and seven. Teddy Roosevelt lived in the White House. Oklahoma became the 46th state to enter the union called the United States of America. The United Parcel Service had its beginning. James Michener was born. Ivan Pavlov was conducting his experiments about conditioned responses. First class stamps cost 2 cents. And, the Mennonite Brethren in Christ were meeting for their 24th Annual Conference, October 10, 1907.
They met at the Royersford Church located at Sixth and Walnut. The stone on the outside of the church proclaimed in a somewhat pretentious way that they had come to the “M. B. And C. Temple of Royersford.”
The Annual Conference was preceded by the Ministerial Convention beginning on Wednesday morning, October 9. The pastors and delegates gathered at 9:00a.m. While the pastors shunned formal education, they were eager and enthusiastic learners who wanted to serve the Lord well. If institutions of learning were not helpful, they would learn from each other. Essays were presented. First, George A. Campbell spoke about “The Conversation of the Minister according to Ephesians 5:4.” John G. Shireman followed that with “The Life of the Pastor in the Practice of the Doctrines of the Bible.” Emanuel N. Cassel addressed the issue of “The Proper Study for and the Education of the Minister.” Richard L. Woodring turned his attention to “The Advisability of Employing Evangelists on Already Supplied Territory.” William S. Hottel, a superb teacher and preacher even as a young man, topped off the day in the 7:00p.m. meeting with his essay on “Power Needed for Service.” Each presentation was discussed and received.
The pastors and delegates left to enjoy the hearty welcome of their Royersford hosts and get a night’s rest. Tomorrow they would begin again.
On Thursday morning, twenty-four pastors and eighteen delegates were ready to begin. They left their host breakfast tables which had been piled high with hospitality and proceeded to the meeting house which was warm and waiting for them.
The chairman, W. G. Gehman, preached from 1 Corinthians 13 which the secretary called “a very earnest and practical address.” They proceeded to pray and seek the blessing of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They turned to the routine reports that have been part of Annual Conferences before and after.
On Thursday evening, they assembled as a committee of the whole. When they met in this way, they could dispense with the niceties of parliamentary procedure and just talk about the matters facing them. The orphanage and the home were to be the primary topics of their discussions. On Friday morning when they reported, they had decided to dismiss some of the wayward brothers and reported that all was well.
They recorded signs of progress. Camp meetings were large and larger. Two new parsonages were ready for the Reading district. A new church and parsonage were purchased in Philadelphia. The spirit of disloyalty at Coopersburg had been conquered with progress noted everywhere in the district, especially at Bethlehem. From Cleveland came the report that the publishing house had large buildings for their headquarters with foundations being laid for a permanent work. The Gospel Mission works at Sunbury and Shamokin were going well. A lot was purchased in Shamokin with a large dwelling in back. A new chapel was nearly finished. The first Gospel Herald Camp Meeting in Shamokin was held that year with 85 tents. Tent meetings had been held in Sunbury, Stroudsburg, Scranton, Washington, NJ, and Norristown. They were all very pleased and encouraged with what they saw.
The Executive Board had little to offer in its report. The Executive Board had first been established six years earlier. They were working to incorporate the churches under the legal name, Mennonite Brethren in Christ but not making progress.
They had heard from their missionaries. With joy they resolved:
Whereas, Our missionaries in Chili, China, and Turkey, reported good health, excellent courage and God’s gracious protection through tests in sickness, railroad accidents, earthquakes, etc., and
Whereas, God has wonderfully blessed their efforts in the salvation of many souls, healing the sick, etc., in the various places, therefore,
Resolved, That we appreciate the devotion, self-denial, and untiring service of those of our beloved brethren and sisters in the “Regions Beyond,” and that we pledge ourselves to continue their support as well as to pray more earnestly that their lives may be protected from the hands of their enemies, that they may be kept in the hour of discouragements and temptations, that they may be used more efficiently and successfully than ever for the salvation of souls, the preparation of the Bride and the hastening of the coming of the Lord.
Missionary Calvin F. Snyder was able to join them at the conference. Snyder was serving as a missionary to China. He and his wife would serve faithfully for many more years and send many exciting and encouraging reports. They were also glad for the correspondence from Rose Lambert, working in Turkey to establish an orphanage and Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Feldges, working in Chile.
The meetings and discussions continued through Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, they gathered for praise and preaching. The secretary gave a full report.
Each service was opened by a song service, in charge of R. L. Woodring. At 10 a.m., H. B. Musselman, P. E. of the Bethlehem District, preached a very instructive, practical Conference sermon from acts 6:4. Our hearts burned within us as the word was preached in the demonstration of power and the Holy Ghost. It will not be without fruit among the ministry.
At 2p.m., Bro. W. G. Gehman, P. E. of the Mt. Carmel District, preached the Ordination sermon from 1 Timothy 3:10; 2 Timothy 4:5. The meaning, object and benefits of ordination were clearly and forcibly set forth. The proper characteristics of a candidate for ordination, including loyalty, faithfulness, obedience, etc., were clearly defined. The brethren C. F. Snyder, B. A., of China; E. E. Kublic, and P. J. Musselman were ordained amidst the manifest presence of the glory of God.
At 7.30 p.m., J. C. Roth preached a stirring sermon on Abraham’s question relating to Sodom, “Shall God destroy the righteous with the wicked?” He depicted clearly the difference between the end of the righteous and the unrighteous. An invitation and altar service followed, ending with a praise meeting. The church was crowded all day and God’s blessing rested upon every service. This was by many termed the best Conference they ever attended.
On Monday afternoon after a morning off, they re-assembled to finish their business and prepare to return home. They reported their elections and more of the report of the Committee on Resolutions.
They had one more major point of discussion. The resolutions were passed.
Resolved, That the word “Church” be dropped from our records wherever it appears in connection with “Mennonite Brethren in Christ.”
Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized to make the above corrections on all deeds, charters, and other documents wherever and whenever advisable.
What motivated such a resolution? What prompted them to say that they were not a church? Some might have pointed to their history of being church-outsiders. The church had been a state institution that worked against them. They were not part of the church but outside of it. They were Brethren. Others would speak of the demands of church for bureaucracy and organization. Churches had requirements. It shouldn’t be like that for they were simple hearted folks who just wanted to serve the Lord together. They were Brethren. Others were prompted to the change by the rising theology of dispensationalism in which the church was a parenthesis, not a plan. Why would you be something temporary and never intended as part of the work? No, they were not a church; they were Brethren. And Brethren they would be, at least until 1943 when the word church quietly crept back into the titles. And when they chose a new name, it was not Bible Fellowship. They were the Bible Fellowship Church.
They adjourned their meeting and returned to their homes thinking little about planting churches and lots about bringing people to Christ.
Richard E. Taylor