1951 Mizpah Grove Menu, 1937 Spring City Memories, and Quakertown Court Case: Society Newsletter

August, 2003

Greetings to all of you who love and enjoy the heritage and history of the Bible Fellowship Church. My enthusiasm and joy at the people I meet and events I experience continue to grow. There is a serious side to the preservation of our history. We learn from our past. It is a mistake to be bound to our past but it is just as great a mistake to ignore our past. I would hope the interest in our history will continue to grow and be valued by a coming generation. The work of our society is to recover and preserve the story of who we are. Our meetings in the fall with their preservation has shown to be a valuable agent in collecting and preserving the research of the authors. This publication is a further opportunity for us to gather stories and information that might not be readily available. For those of us who enjoy our memories, these reminders may only produce a few moments of pleasant nostalgia while they do the valuable work of preserving the story. Welcome to this current edition. May you enjoy.

I will start with a reminder. Our next meeting is scheduled Saturday, October 25, 2003, at Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Philadelphia. Pastor Wayne Clapier will present a survey of our urban history and will focus on the history of our church in Wissinoming. In the afternoon, Pastor Robert Smock will present a survey and discussion of churches that did not survive.

I suppose I am being a bit cautious when I say that some of you might choose not to attend because of “city fear.” I do hope that no one will turn down the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the Philadelphia folks because you are afraid of the neighborhoods. I travel to Wissinoming quite often and find it an easy trip. So, you can do it if you wish. We will furnish complete directions. If you have a problem making the trip, we will be offering transportation and car pooling. Jill Davidson will arrange transportation for anyone from the Lehigh Valley. For those who might be willing to drive to Wallingford, we will be glad to provide transportation from that location. Details will follow. Put the date on your calendar and plan to be there.

Let’s get to it. I will begin this issue with my recent week at Pinebrook. I, like many others of our church, spend an enjoyable week enjoying the hospitality of the staff. Certainly, I share with many others the problem that my belt has to be loosened after all the good food. Meals spent with good food and good company are a great part of the delight of a week at Pinebrook. So, when I noticed that I had a list of a couple of menus at Mizpah Grove, I realized that for many, just the mention of the food would bring back some pleasant moments. In advance, I will ask you to share the memories that rise up as you taste again the joy of those meals. Some of you with cholesterol problems may begin to realize why. It must have been great.

1951 Menu – Mizpah Grove

June	Day of Week	Meat for Dinner	Estimated Customers	Meat for Supper	Estimated Customers
25	Monday	Frankfurters and Rolls	15	Spaghetti and Meat Balls	18
26	Tuesday	Ham and String Beans	93	Hamburger Stew	112
27	Wednesday	Pork and Sauer Kraut	93		101
28	Thursday	Meat Loaf	96		121
29	Friday	Fish	100		117
30	Saturday	Sausage	165		178
July
1	Sunday	Beef and Pork Rst	358		329
2	Monday	Meat Pie	278		202
3	Tuesday	Liver and Onions	265		212
4	Wednesday	Meat Loaf and Pork Rst	406		328
5	Thursday	Ham and String Beans	282		190
6	Friday	Fish	278		211
7	Saturday	Pork Chops	194		243
8	Sunday	Chicken and Rst Beef	370		426
9	Monday	Beef Stew	125		89
10	Tuesday	Sausage	98		92
11	Wednesday	Meat Pie	100		121
12	Thursday	Pork and Sauer Kraut	109		106
13	Friday	Fish	125		101
14	Saturday	Spaghetti and Meat Balls	160		165
15	Sunday	Chicken and Port Rst	330		303
16	Monday	Meat Pie	191		145
17	Tuesday	Liver and Onions	222		192
18	Wednesday	Pork Chops	294		141
19	Thursday	Beef Stew and Pot Pie	259		220
20	Friday	Fish	254		213
21	Saturday	Veal Cutlets	310		249
22	Sunday	Chicken and Rst Beef	446		437
23	Monday	Meat Pie	124		104
24	Tuesday	Pork Chops	119		101
25	Wednesday	Sausage	107		103
26	Thursday	Beef Stew	97		118
27	Friday	Fish	133		120
28	Saturday	Liver and Onions	186		192
29	Sunday	Chicken-Beef-Pork Rst	392		450
30	Monday	Veal Cutlets	218		185
August
1	Tuesday	Meat Pie	240		184
2	Wednesday	Liver ‘ Onions	359		334
3	Thursday	Ham and String Beans	268		212
4	Friday	Fish	270		234
5	Saturday	Pork Chops	318		262
6	Sunday	Chicken and Pork Rst	438		471
7	Monday	Meat Pie	124		118
8	Tuesday		75		80
9	Wednesday		42

1952 Menu – Mizpah Grove

Date	Day of month	Estimated Customers Breakfast	Meat for Dinner	Estimated Customers	Meat for Supper	Estimated Customers
23	Mon		Frankfurters, Rolls, B. Beans	28	Spaghetti with meat	25
24	Tues	20	Ham and String Beans	100	Hamburger Stew	126
25	Wed	50	Pork and Sauer Kraut	94	Hamburger Stew B. B. Spaghetti	94
26	Thurs	74	Meat Loaf	112	Frizzled Beef and Toast	129
27	Fri	85	Fish	117	Cold Meat, bean soup, B. B.	137
28	Sat	103	Pork Sausage	215	Veg. Soup, Mc&Cheese, S. Salad	200
29	Sun	144	Beef and Chicken	383	Hot Beef & Chicken Soup	363
30	Mon	130	Meat Pie	271	Meat Pie and Pea Soup	180
1	Tues	136	Liver and Onions	267	Liver and Onions	194
2	Wed	140	Plain Pork Chops	298		204
3	Thurs	147	Fish	318		265
4	Fri	167	Meat Loaf and Ham	426		358
5	Sat	160	Sausage	332		255
6	Sun	179	Pork and Chicken	443		457
7	Mon	116	Meat Pie	144	Hot Rst Pk Sandwiches	107
8	Tues	74	Sausage and Ham	120		105
9	Wed	79	Hamburger Stew	138		127
10	Thurs	82	Veal Casserole	121		107
11	Fri	91	Fish	140		134
12	Sat	109	Pork Chops	207		203
13	Sun	153	Meat Loaf and Turkey	371		392
14	Mon	129	Meat Pie	174		174
15	Tues	131	Liver and Onions	208		182
16	Wed	153	Breaded Pork Chops	266		285
17	Thurs	156	Spaghetti and Meat Balls	253		242
18	Fri	143	Fish	266		196
19	Sat	156	Beef Steak	274		266
20	Sun	174	Beef and Chicken	391		438
21	Mon	114	Corn or Meat Pie	151		133
22	Tues	84	Pk Chops and Sauer Kraut	125		118
23	Wed	90	Hamburger Stew	119		143
24	Thurs	94	Fresh Sausage	148		141
25	Fri	89	Fish	142		146
26	Sat	100	Veal Casserole	215		220
27	Sun	156	Pork and Chicken	337		391
28	Mon	145	Meat or Corn Pie	268		190
29	Tues	129	Breaded Pk Chops	271		221
30	Wed	154	Spaghetti and Meat Balls	279		221
31	Thurs	144	Fresh Sausage	251		243
1	Fri	146	Fish	301		235
2	Sat	156	Beef Stew	330		285
3	Sun	169	Beef Rst and Chicken	449		529

My second presentation is one of the unpublished histories of one of our churches. Recently, we have been blessed by those who were willing to research the story of their church and tell it to us. I always enjoy the story when told by someone who lived it.

The following is some memories of the Spring City Church from Cora Fox. I recollect having met Mrs. Fox on one occasion when she had come to visit Spring City from her home in Florida. Her story lingers with me. She became a widow at an early age when her husband, a railroad worker, was tragically killed on the job when he was run over by a train. When I spoke with her, she had been a widow for 70 years. She had served in the Spring City Church as the Sunday School Superintendent and I am sure in other vital roles. Following the death of her husband, the railroad had hired her. She spent the rest of her career serving and, as many told me, she rose in the organization to have many important responsibilities. When I met her, I was impressed that she was an impressive person. She was articulate, thoughtful, confident and stimulating. Looking back after these years, she is one of those persons I wish I had known better. Her recollections were apparently written down about 1937. Those who have ever seen the little church on Yost Avenue will enjoy her memories.

A Resume’

By Cora Fox

We are indeed fortunate in that our lot has fallen at a place where the full gospel is preached – and has been preached since the organization of these branches of God’s work. By a full gospel I mean such truths as Divine Healing and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today these truths are heard from many quarters as they are advanced and discussed by various denominations, but this has not always been so. In my opinion, Christian Science and Russellism would not have flourished as they have, if these truths had been taught in all Christendom.

Forty five years ago the plans for a small chapel on Yost Avenue, Spring City, Pennsylvania, were given out by the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church. A church of this denomination had been organized a few years before in Royersford, at which place a small membership had been built up. There were at this time, possibly only a half-dozen members or adherents on the Spring City side of the river.

My early recollections of this chapel are of an interior smaller than that at present. An anteroom and vestible have since been added. The door, which was in the middle of the front of the church, opened directly into the little auditorium. Later a small box-like vestibule was built at the door.

The aisle lay through the center of the chapel and was covered by a hemp material, while red ingrain carpet covered the space around the altar and pulpit. The seats were of plain wood, built after a straight, stiff fashion, and every alternating one was equipped with hinges which allowed the back to be turned, for use in Sunday School work. The windows were of plain glass panes, painted white. The lights consisted of two large and two small oil lamps with reflectors. A large round-bodied stove stood in the center to the right of the aisle. The Sunday School book used was about 7″ by 9″, with the dimensions reversed from those used today, entitled “Songs of the Morning”. The book used for a time in the church services was a small limp covered book with notes, containing “Ebenezer” hymns. These hymns were supplemented by inspiring choruses as “We’ll Roll the Old Chariot Along”, “Old Time Religion” and similar ones.

And so, although this was an humble little edifice, the people came, the church was filled on those revival nights, sometimes crowded. And since the following itself was small, the majority of these people were members of other churches, or non-church goers who came to hear this new, perhaps to them, unique gospel. And many were saved and baptized during the first winter of the life of the little chapel.

One cannot help but think of the many hundreds who have passed through the door of this building during these 45 years. Some were casual visitors, others came for a time and then were seen no more, others have moved away, others have passed on, and some are still with us. We cannot even thin of the mighty influence for good which has gone out from the little chapel. Although humble in structure, and in worship and in doctrine, yet was found among this group of people, a cheer and warmth and Godly atmosphere which attracted indefinably, and as the Word has been sounded forth – and in tourn the hearers have gone forth, there has emanated a blessed influence that eternity alone will fully reveal.

Surely, our church has filled a unique and divinely beneficial place in the life of our community.

[Cora R. Fox – 1937]

The Bible Fellowship Church has known few of the kinds of divisive events that tragically come to churches. Most of us know a story of a church somewhere which has had to endure the horrors of conflict that splits a church. In three installments, you will experience the story of the conflict which came to the Quakertown Church. What you will read are the accounts of the arguments presented to support the case of each of the parties. The first installment is the arguments of those who sought to regain the use of the church building. The second installment is the response of the defendants. The third is the court’s decision. As the installments unfold, you can work through the arguments and decide who you think had the upper hand. As you read, you will hear many of the details of our history. Notice, that those who spoke of the background of our church dated the beginning to 1853 when the prayer meeting controversy began. Be patient with the legal language – an interesting story is there.

Quakertown Court Case part 1

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

OF BUCKS COUNTY-SITTING IN EQUITY.

W. S. Hottel, Arthur Sterner, Titus G. Taylor, Samuel Weiss, Sr., Lewis L. Weiss, Wm. Walter Behringer, C. M. Kropp, Maria Taylor, Priscilla Sterner, Rebecca Weiss, Annie Weiss, Lizzie Sterner, Charles S. Long, Mary M. Long, Cora Kropp, in behalf of themselves and in behalf of such other persons as may become parties to this bill, Plaintiffs,

vs.

M. A. Zyner, Henry Smith, Frank Schuler, Stephen Trumbauer, Elizabeth Hixson, Amanda Schuler, Mary Rau, Elizabeth Smith, Mary L. Sanders, Annie McElroy, Maria Funk, Jas. Hartranft, Kate Hartranft, Wm. Hartranft.

To the Honorable, the President Judge of said Court:

Your orators complain and say,–

1. That the said plaintiffs being members of the Evangelical Mennonite Church, of Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, now, in their own behalf, as well as on behalf of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, of the Borough of Quakertown, in the County of Bucks, and State of Pennsylvania, and those members of the congregation and association, who, with said plaintiffs adhere to and maintain the system of religious principles, usages, customs and laws declared and exhibited by the body formerly known as the Evangelical Mennonite Church, who were afterwards known as the Evangelical United Mennonites, and still later and at present known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and are in subordination to the authority, and acknowledge the jurisdiction of the General Conference of the said church, and for the benefit of all other members of the said association, who, with them, adhere to the laws, usages and customs thereof, and may desire to become plaintiffs herein, all of whom, with the plaintiffs, will suffer irreparable injury unless the defendants, and those acting with them, be restrained from the commission of the unlawful acts hereinafter complained of, bring this, their Bill of Complaint against the said defendants, and allege and charge as follows:–

2. That there exists, and for upwards of fifty years has existed, in the United States of America and Canada, an unincorporated religious association of Christians known originally as the Evangelical Mennonites, which was organized in 1853; that upon Nov. 8, 1879, the name of the body was changed to the Evangelical United Mennonites, and on Dec. 27, 1883, the name was changed to the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and has since been known by that name; that said association is organized and governed by a fundamental law both found in unwritten well established usages, and in written law known as the Discipline, which provides among other things for the ministry and membership of said association upon the plan of what is known as the Episcopal form of church government, that is, in which one order of the clergy is superior to another; that under this association or conventional form of church government provided for and formulated in said discipline and uniform custom, the said association has a system of graded ecclesiastical, executive, legislative and judicial bodies and officers for the administration of its church laws and internal affairs, and under and by which rules and system of government each local society or congregation or class of said denomination is a subordinate member of the general organization, and all such bodies, officers and societies, as well as all the individual members of the denomination, are subject to the provisions of the said Discipline and unwritten rules or customs. A copy of the said book of Discipline is filed herewith as a part of this bill of complaint, and is marked exhibit “A.”

3. That under the Discipline and customs of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ, the itinerant preachers of said denomination throughout that part of the world wherein the denomination is found, and those preachers whereof who have traveled, and stand in full connection by ordination with the ministry of the said denomination, together with lay delegates appointed by the individual churches or classes, are organized into a number of different bodies called Annual Conferences, each of which convenes once every year, and each of which, for certain purposes of church government and administration, exercise jurisdiction over and throughout a certain territory, and is erected, established and maintained or abolished, and has its territorial limits fixed and declared at the will and authority of the General Conference of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ, which latter body, as hereinafter set forth, is the supreme legislative and judicial authority in church affairs of said denomination, and under the laws of said association it is the duty of all itinerant preachers thereof, who hold charges or pastorates within the bounds of any annual conference to attend the meetings of said annual conference every year.

4. The Annual Conference of the said association are five in number, and are named respectively as follows: Pennsylvania Conference, Canada, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Nebraska, and all of the said Annual Conferences are subject to the rules and laws of said Mennonite Brethren in Christ, as set forth and printed in its book of Discipline, already referred to, and the usages and customs of said body.

5. That under said fundamental law or discipline of said association, there is a Quadrennial Conference of the whole association composed of Presiding Elders, Editors, Agent of Book Room, and delegates, one from every 300 members, and an additional one in case the fraction of members is 200 or more, elected by ballot at the last annual conference of general conference term. Every alternate delegate is a lay member. This Quadrennial Conference is known as the General Conference, and is constituted by the fundamental law or discipline aforesaid, and by the customs of the said organization, the Supreme Court of law in the church, with power to decide upon the legality of all acts of Annual Conferences, and all cases arising between the Annual Conference and such as may arise between any incorporated society of the church and its officers, of any annual conference, and with power, moreover, to make rules and regulations for the church, and to inspect and examine the records of all accounts and transactions of the Annual Conferences, which records it is made the duty of the Annual Conference to submit to the General Conference, and the said General Conference has power to make such rules and regulations as will enable it to execute the powers conferred upon it.

6. That your orators show that the ministers of said association are divided into three orders, Presiding Elders, Elders and Probationers. The persons belonging to said orders respectively must possess certain qualifications and have certain duties and functions to perform according to the book of Discipline. It is the duty of the Presiding Elder, with the aid of the Stationing Committee to appoint the preachers of said Annual Conference for the next ensuing year to their respective stations, circuits, or fields of labor; and an appointment so made by the Presiding Elder and Stationing Committee confers full power upon the preacher so appointed and constitutes his sole and only authority under the discipline and usages of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ, to perform the duties and enjoy the privileges and emoluments belonging to the office of pastor or preacher of the local society, class or congregation to which he may be so appointed, such method of appointment being the lawful and usual method of ministerial appointment at the Annual Conference of the said Mennonite brethren in Christ.

7. The body now known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ was started in 1853 under the leadership of Rev. William Gehman, who, with others, formerly belonged to what is called the Oberholtzer Mennonites, popularly called Mennonites No. 2. The occasion for the division was that the new party favored holding prayer meetings, and the old party from whom they divided, did not. On the 24th of September, 1858, this body held its first conference in Upper Milford, Lehigh County. Upon Nov. 8, 1879, the Evangelical Mennonites united with the body in Canada of the same belief and practices, called the United Mennonites. The new body was named the Evangelical United Mennonites. On December 27, 1883, the Evangelical United Mennonites united with the Brethren in Christ, a body of the same faith and same practices located in the State of Ohio, and the name was changed to the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. The body has retained this name ever since. This has been one body from 1883 down to the present time. The changes or combinations that took place were unanimous. They were not occasioned in any case by divisions or differences, but by union of those of the same beliefs and the same practices.

8. The work at Quakertown, which afterwards resulted in the organization of the church now at Quakertown, was started about the year 1868, by Rev. Jonas Musselman, under the direction of the church organization then known as the Evangelical Mennonites but now called Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Rev. Jonas Musselman started preaching in the house of Jacob Horn and later in a hall. He reported the work to the conference, and they appointed a committee to move a church building located at Flatland, in Haycock Township, a country place 7 or 8 [pencil notes show 3 or 4] miles from Quakertown. They authorized Rev. Jonas Musselman to visit the different churches and collect money to pay for rebuilding of the edifice. The money was mostly furnished by members of the denomination outside of Quakertown. There were but few members at Quakertown, and all very poor. Besides the material that was furnished, there was about $2300.00 expended in completing the building. This church was regularly dedicated under and by the proper authority of the said Evangelical Mennonites according to the doctrine, discipline, laws, customs, usages and practices of the said body. In 1869, Rev. Jonas Musselman received an appointment from the Evangelical Mennonites to preach at Iron Hill. During this time he continued the mission at Quakertown. He was stationed at Quakertown until 1879. In February, 1879, the Conference appointed Rev. Jonas Musselman to Quakertown, and added Hatfield to his charge. In 1882 the same body now called the Evangelical United Mennonites stationed Rev. A. Strawn to take charge of Quakertown and Hatfield, and Rev. Jonas Musselman was stationed at Upper Milford and Fleetwood. Rev. A. Strawn remained at Quakertown until 1884, when Rev. Abraham Kauffman was stationed at Quakertown and Hatfield, who remained in this charge until 1886. Then Rev. A. Strawn was again stationed at Quakertown and Hatfield, where he remained until 1887. The conference then stationed Rev. Geo. A. Campbell at Quakertown and Hatfield, who remained in these fields until 1890. Rev. J. E. Fiddler was then stationed at Quakertown and Hatfield. In I89I Rev. A. B. Gehret was stationed at these fields, and for personal reasons at his request, the Presiding Elder, under the Discipline, placed Owen Bitting, who remained upon the field until 1892. At this time Rev. Milton A. Zyner was stationed by the Conference at Quakertown and Hatfield, where he remained until 1895. The said body is within the territorial limits of the Pennsylvania Conference, Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and during all of these years the class or church at Quakertown was subject to the discipline, laws, rules, usages, customs, doctrines and practices of the body first known as the United Evangelical Mennonites, and afterwards known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. They made their reports every year to said body, and acknowledged the authority of the same. They received without objection the pastors appointed to their field by the Annual Conferences. They contributed to the support of the missionary bodies belonging to the said general body, and Rev. Milton A. Zyner was received as a candidate for the ministry in the year 1888, by the Annual Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. He was ordained as a regular pastor in the year 1891. He was Secretary of the Annual Conferences of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ during the years 1885 – 1886 – 1890, and while was pastor of the said church, including the year 1895, he made the reports required by the discipline to the Annual Conferences of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. In 1892 he prepared the Steward’s account book, which appears in his own hand-writing and is labeled “1892, Quakertown Circuit, Mennonite Brethren in Christ, Ministerial Contributions.” It is headed on the first page “1892, Quakertown Circuit, Mennonite Brethren in Christ, Ministerial Contributions, Steward’s Account.” He regularly signed the receipts in this book until and including the meeting of the last Quarterly Conference in the year 1894.

9. A charter for the Quakertown church was applied for to the Court of Common Pleas at Doylestown, April 8, I872. It was properly advertised September 16, 1872, and the charter was granted Oct. 22, 1872, and recorded in Miscellaneous Book, Vol. 17, Page 290. The name of the body incorporated was the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Quakertown, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. The Trustees were Jonas Musselman, Henry M. Smith and Jacob Horn.

That by indenture dated Sept. 17, 1872, recorded at Doylestown, in the County of Bucks, May 7, I8751 in Deed Book Vol. 174, Page 389, K. Himmelwright and Sarah, his wife conveyed unto the Evangelical Mennonite Church, of Quakertown Borough, a certain tract of land situate in the Borough of Quakertown, in the County of Bucks, limited in said deed as follows: All that certain property beginning at the intersection of a 20 feet wide street with Third street, and extending thence along the East side of Third street, North 90 degrees 10 minutes, East 88 feet to corner of Joseph Thomas, thence East by the same at right angles with Third street 180 feet to the West Side of another to feet wide street, thence along same parallel with Third street 71 feet to the intersection of the same with the said first mentioned 20 feet wide street, and along the same parallel with Juniper street North 86 degrees 5 minutes, 180 feet to place of beginning.

10. In the year 1895, Rev. M. A. Zyner came to Conference which was held at Reading, Pa., with all the reports, as usual, and with the Lay Delegate, J. D. Kindig. There were certain charges against the said M. A. Zyner made by the Presiding Elder. These were referred to a committee. The committee to whom the case had been referred reported as follows: “Whereas, Elder M. A. Zyner was charged before the Annual Conference for disloyalty, untruthfulness and more or less conspiracy, this committee investigated the charges and declares him guilty, therefore, Resolved, that this committee request the Stationing Committee not to give him an appointment for the present. Should he not humble himself, prove true and loyal to the Discipline and the Presiding Elder, severer measures shall be resorted to.” A short time afterwards the following paper was handed to the Presiding Elder, signed by the parties following Rev M. A. Zyner:

“We the undersigned church members of the Quakertown Class on Third street, do hereby withdraw our membership from M. B. in Christ Church and Conference, from the annexed date, February 5, A. D., 1895. Wm. Hixson, E. Hixson, Franklin M. Schuler, Amanda Schuler, Alice Trumbauer, Nettle Shelly, Mary Rau, Elizabeth Smith, Mary L. Sanders, Lydia Stoneback, Franie Mitman, Isaac McElroy, Anna McElroy, hlaria Funk, Tames A. Hartranft, Kate Hartranft, Mary E. Sanders, Joseph Wales, W. Hartranft, Martha Hartranft, Alvesta Stein, Fayetta Senior.

11. That at the said Annual Conference held in 1895, at Reading, the Stationing Committee appointed Rev. Wilson Steinmetz to have charge of the church at Quakertown, Coopersburg and Springown. His appointment as pastor and preacher thereto in the manner aforesaid was regular and valid, and was the only regular and valid assignment and appointment of pastor and preacher of the said churches.

Your orators further complain that after the meeting of the Conference, the said Wilson Steinmetz offered and attempted to enter the said church edifice for the purpose of performing his duties and enjoying his rights as pastor and preacher of said society, and demanded from the defendants herein, and those associated with and adhering to them the possession and occupancy of the pulpit of said church for the purpose aforesaid, and William B. Musselman, who was then Presiding Elder of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ, demanded of and from the said individual defendants, and those associated with them, who were in possession of the said pulpit, permission for Wilson Steinmetz to enter the said church and occupy the pulpit thereof, according to the doctrines, usages and customs of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ, but the said defendants, havings conspired and combined to prevent the Rev. Wilson Steinlmetz from entering the pulpit of said church and perform his duties as pastor and preacher therein, refused to permit him to enter or occupy said church andpulpit as preacher and pastor of the said society, or otherwise to officiate in and about the premises as pastor and preacher aforesaid, and by force and violence wholly prevented him from doing so. They have hitherto wholly prevented him from entering said church and pulpit and from performing the duties and enjoying the rights and privileges as pastor and preacher, but on the contrary the defendants have unlawfully suffered and permitted, and now unlawfully suffer and permit said Milton A. Zyner to use and occupy the said church and its pulpit ostensibly as pastor and preacher of said society, and thus the said trustees, Henry Smith, Franklin M. Schuler and Stephen Trumbauer, claiming to be and acting as trustees of the said Quakertown church have thus violated their trust in diverting said church property from the legitimate uses for which the same was originally conveyed, and to which it was solemnly dedicated, and have refused and neglected to perform their duties and obligations as trustees of the said Evangelical Mennonite Church of Quakertown, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania.

The Annual Conference in the year 1896, stationed Rev. Geo. A. Campbell to the churches at Quakertcrwn and Hatfield. He served until 1898 when Rev. W. K. Ziegler was stationed at churches at Quakertown, Hatfield and Norristown, who served until 1900, when the said Annual Conference stationed Rev. T. C. Roth at Quakertown and Hatfield. He served until 1903, when Rev. W. S. Hottel was appointed by the said Conference to serve the churches at Quakertown and Hatfield, who still is serving in said charges. That because the defendants persisted in refusing the plaintiffs to use their church property upon Third street, in the Borough of Quakertown, the said plaintiffs were compelled to build a small chapel which they have been temporarily using until they might again gain possession of their own property, hoping that the defendants might come to their sense of duty and surrender the property which they have been wrongfully withholding and still continue to withhold.

That the said defendants refuse the use of the said house and pulpit for all of the pastors that have been stationed during these years by the Annual Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, viz, Rev. Geo. A. Campbell, Rev. W. K. Ziegler, Rev J. C. Roth, and at the present time Rev. W. S. Hottel, and since 1903 the Rev. W. S. Hottel, the plaintiff, on his own behalf, and in behalf of the other plaintiffs and members of the said society and association who adhere to him as the rightful pastor and preacher of said society, has again demanded of the said individual defendants that they permit him, the said Wm. S. Hottel, as pastor and preacher of the said church to enter the pulpit of the said church and hold divine service therein under and according to the discipline, usages and customs of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ; but said individual defendants, and more especially the said trustees, have hitherto refused, and do still refuse, to permit said Wm. S. Hottel so to do, have hitherto prevented, and do still prevent him from entering the church and Dulpit as pastor and preacher thereof for the purposes aforesaid.

12. Your orators further show that under the laws and usages of the said Mennonite Brethren in Christ the lawful pastor of every charge or congregation thereof is entitled to receive and collect therefrom, and from the members thereof, by virtue of his office as pastor and preacher, a certain sum as salary or compensation. By the rules of the Discipline and usages of said church, it has been the custom for a man called the steward to make these collections; but the said individual defendants have not paid, and refuse to pay over or contribute any portion of the sum thus collected to the said W. S. Hottel, and they deny his right thereto and every portion thereof, and declare that they will not contribute anything toward making up said sum for W. S. Hottel. And your orators show that the said individual defendants are contributing, and have heretofore contributed and paid over various sums of money to said M. A. Zyner as and for compensation to him as pretended pastor and preacher of said society, and threaten they will continue to contribute and pay said sum of money to Rev. M. A. Zyner for and during the remainder of the current year, and that they will refuse to contribute or pay the same to your orator, W. S. Hottel.

13. Your orators therefore pray for the following relief:

1. That the said defendant, M. A. Zyner, be enjoined and restrained by right or perpetual injunction from exercising or attempting to exercise the functions of pastor and preacher of the said Evangelical Mennonite Church at Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and from entering and occupying the church edifice and its pulpit of said society as its pastor and preacher.

2. That the said defendants, Henry Smith, Franklin Schuler and Stephen Trumbauer, trustees of the said Evangelical Mennonite Church of Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, be enjoined and restrained from permitting the said M. A. Zyner to exercise or attempt to exercise the functions of pastor or preacher of the said church, and from permitting him to enter and occupy the church edifice and its pulpit of said society as the pastor or preacher thereof.

3. That the said defendants, the trustees above named and the said M. A. Zyner be enjoined and restrained from preventing the said Wm. S. Hottel from exercising the duties and functions of pastor and preacher of the said Evangelical Mennonite Church of Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania which belongs to the body now known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ; and from preventing him from entering and occupying the churchedifice and its pulpit of said society as pastor and preacher thereof.

4. That the said defendant, M. A. Zyner be enjoined and restrained from collecting or receiving any money from the members of the said society of the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Quakertown, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, either for himself as pretended preacher, or for any other church purpose.

5. That the said defendants and those adhering to them may be commanded hereafter from time to time to admit to the said pulpit and the exercise and performance of pastoral rights and duties respectively, whomsoever the Presiding Elder elected by the said Annual Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ having charge of the Pennsylvania Conference aforesaid shall, with the assistance of the Stationing Committee, and in accordance with the fundamental law and discipline aforesaid assign to the said church.

6. Such other and further relief as to equity and justice belong.

W. S. HOTTEL

TITUS G. TAYLOR

LEWIS L. WEISS

C. M. KROPP

PRISCILLA STERNER

ANNIE WEISS

CHARLES S. LONG

CORA KROPP

ARTHUR STERNER

SAMUEL WEISS, SR.

WM. WALTER BEHRINGER

MARIA TAYLOR

REBECCA WEISS

LIZZIE STERNER

MARY M. LONG

Bucks COUNTY, SS.:

W. S. Hottel and Titus G. Taylor, two of the plaintiffs above named, being duly affirmed according to law, both in their own behalf and also in behalf of all the said plaintiffs, say that the statements of fact contained in the foregoing Bill of Complaint so far as stated of their own knowledge are true, and so far as stated upon the information of others they believe them to be true.

Affirmed and subscribed before me this.. day of November, 1904

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