f o . ' ^ 0^ .^ -^c^^ \^:.^ .-, , ''^^. ^^^ ^^' %■ '- 1 6 . ^<." ^ < . X* \'>- -;?• ' ff ^ '^, ^% A^O. - % <^ s - '\ ^- ' ,.'^ A "oo^ .^■ .^^ >■*•• ^%^ A^'% V ^ >v s^-^^. ,v\^ .^^^'' , 'o. ^.'^^S^ <^ ' r; , V * v'\ aH -r ^ ,0- ' " . '"6 - .^^ >^." .^' / V ■<> V n:^'^- 'Ito fejr 7 • •>', -' ^ 54>l<^ P * 5sy-S*^ " V C,°~"»/'b-' il "^ -o"" -iS-^s '' '-> ^.> ^/ x^^., ^x. if .\^ '>-. . <^ ■ ^v -u o. •0* V v\ ^ ^ A^^^""^-^. .-J. o '^• ,x-«^^^. ^y . - ^ " . o^. oo^ -^^ v^^ ^ % ' ■ \^-' ^^ .?v ^^ ■'j^. ■. , %:" -^^^^ %' /■ ^'X ^ -'^^_ a:«^ ,s^% '.o"^! .0 0. .'^-^ 'ci- vV ANNALS OF THE EFMGELICAL ASSOCIATION Of NORTH AMERICA AND History of the United Evangelical Cliurcli BY REV. A.^ STAPLETON, M. S. Author of Natural History of the Bible. The Lord has donr great things for us, whereof we are glad.^Psalms cxxvz.j. published by Publishing House op the Un.teb Evxngelica. Church harrisburg, penna. TOGO 78789 Library of Cong ro^^ 1vvc Copies Received i NOV 21 1900 Copyright entry H...a'Mk SECONO COPY Ddivered to ORDtft DIV«ION JAN SI 1901 ,i 1 6 4> f)> c^% Copyrighted in the year 1896 5v THE Board of Publication OF THE iJNiTED Evangelical Church. \ i.-\« «r «b.' tir'.J ( hun li .m.l i'l i„f ,„_. (»n i il,.- I'x ..n.... Ii. .A \- AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION, •*We take no note of time But from its loss. To give it then a tongue Is wise in man." — Young. Almost a cent\iry has passed by since the ecclesiastical foundations of the Evangelical Association were laid, and the hands that, under the Providence of God, gathered the materials, have long since been folded in death. Yea, even the immediate successors of our Church fathers are already growing old and fast passing away. One by one the few remaining links are being broken, and soon our aged Evangelical pilgrims, who in their youth came in contact with, and under the influence of our early pioneers, will also have joined the triumphant Evan- gelical host beyond the tide. The Evangelical Association has come to her present position through many severe trials and tribulations. No denomination originating in America has a more interesting history than our Evangelical Zion. Although several histories of the Association have been published, all excel- lent in their way, it has nevertheless been felt for many years that one of the most interesting phases of her history has been passed over too lightly by previous authors. This deficiency the author of this work has endeavored to supply in the first part of this volume, in the recovery of the names of early members and preaching places, as well as incidents connected with the establishment of the work by our early preachers. The publication of this work is the consummation of a long and fondly cherished desire of the author. There are many things connected with it which to him seem providential. In early youth it was his good fortune to be a member of several of the first classes of the Association, in which were still found some of the original members, who had much to say about ALBRIGHT and his co-laborers. Many of these old people had very clear and distinct recollections of the stirring scenes of the olden times. In course of time the knowledge thus gained was reduced to notes, without any regard to their connection with the history of the Association. The accumulation of so many interesting facts and incidents pertain- ing to the olden time, naturally found expression in a desire for their preservation in a permanent form. A circumstance very remarkable and worthy of record, is the fact that so many very aged people kept alive and cherished in their memories the knowledge of facts pertaining to our early denominational history, in the hope of some day i^ AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION. commttnicating it to the right person for publication. Some of these people communicated important matters to their children, and in this way many of the facts here recorded were preserved. Our older preachers often expressed a desire that the names of the old appointments and first members might be recovered for the benefit of posterity, before all the sources of information should be forever closed. This desire the author has endeavored to meet in the publication of this work, which was under- taken, as he firmly believes, none too soon, seeing that most of the sources of information from which materials of the first part were gathered, have passed away since the work was commenced, and much of the matter could not again be reproduced from the sources now at command. There are doubtless some errors in this work, as may be expected in such a vast mass of details, embracing many hundreds of names and dates. Yet the author confidently believes that such errors are few in number. Neither pains nor expense have been spared to secure accuracy. Records in the state and county archives have been examined to ascertain facts, and to verify such as were doubtful. The oldest living preachers of the Association co-operated with a zeal which evinced their deep interest in the work. Among them may be mentioned father Joseph M. Saylor, who entered the ministry in 1824, and was a contemporary of some of the first preachers of the Association. He not only furnished a large amount of material, but also reviewed a considerable portion of the copy pertain- ing to the first circuits. Father Francis Hoffman, who entered the ministry in 1826, also did considerable in the same line. To father Daniel Long (1835) the author owes his first knowledge of Albright's work in Bedford county, and other important matters, but while gathering fuller details for this work, he was suddenly called to his eternal reward. Father Joseph Harlacher (1832) also rendered valuable services. The recovery of the names of early preaching places and members in Ohio is largely due to fathers Lewis Einsel (1836), Daniel SwARTZ (1835), Abraham Loehner (1837), and Ch. Idleman. The latter was one of the first converts in northwestern Ohio. The four last named brethren traveled in Ohio when most of the appointments established by our first mission- aries were still maintained. A great many other brethren, both ministerial and lay, co-operated heartily in the preparation of this work, some going to great pains to ascertain or verify facts. Without their help this work could never have been accomplished. To the reader who is not a member of the Evangelical Association it may seem strange that so much attention has been paid to the laity, and matters of family history. This feature finds its explanation in the following grounds : The author holds that men who were willing to come out from among the formal churches and espouse the cause of Evangelical truth in the face of bitter perse- cution, and opened their houses as preaching places, which often required great sacrifices, deserve a wider recognition than has been hitherto accorded them. Another reason is the fact that most of these old fathers became centers of Evangelical influence. Their houses served as preaching places until churches were built, and in many cases they provided for the maintenance of public worship AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION. ▼ at their homes after their death. There are homesteads now in the Evangelical Association where preaching appointments have been maintained ever since the days of the founder of the Church ; a period of almost one century. A great many of the first families of the Association were among the most prominent in their respective communities. This is contrary to a generally received opinion. We have for many years been misrepresented in this respect, and the reproach has been laid at our doors that our early members and adherents were composed of the ignorant classes and gathered from the humbler walks of life. From a careful study of this subject, we can assure the reader that this opinion is an erroneous one, as the following chapters will abundantly show. It required no small degree of moral courage for them to abandon the formal churches with which they stood connected. Many of them were officers in these churches, and cases were not infrequent in which their former pastors incited their parishioners to violent measures to prevent them from receiving the ^^ false prophets,'''' as our first preachers were called. In this connection it may be observed that most of the early conversions were deep and powerful. This assertion must not be understood as implying that conversions now are less genuine. The spiritual condition of the masses at that time was at such a low ebb, and such erroneous opinions respecting the character of experimental religion prevailed, that when people were thoroughly converted to God, its immediate effects upon the individual, as well as these with whom he came in contact, were far more powei-ful than at the present time. The converts then were especially drawn to God in prayer. They sometimes gave pledges to each other of special remembrance in prayer. When such per- secution as they endured is prevalent, it requires special grace to remain faithful. Although denounced by their formal pastors as heretics, and in many cases disowned and disinherited by parents and relatives, they held out well, and their inspiring examples still live among us to incite us to follow, as they did, the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, and ever reminding us that "By the thorn road, and none other. Is the mount of vision won." The preparation of the second and third parts of this book was less difficult, as the sources of information were more accessible. The works of Orwig, Raidabaugh,,Breyfogel and Yeakel, and also the periodical literature of the Church, were freely consulted. To the many friends who have rendered valuable aid, and above all, to our dear Heavenly Father, who has blessed us with health and the spi'-it of perseverance for the successful accomplishment of our arduous but agreeable task, we give our most heartfelt thanks. A. STAPLETON. Berwick, Pa. THE EVANGELICAL ANNALS. PART I. Containing an Account of the Origin and Development OF the Evangelical Association Through the Labors of REV. JACOB ALBRIGHT and His Co-Laborers. Also AN Account of the Early Preaching Places and of Prom- inent Laymen. CHAPTER I. THE EARLY DAYS. The Pennsylvania Germans — The Immigration to America. Their Spiritual Condition — Awakening Among Them. Conversion of Jacob Albright, and beginning of his work. The Peimsylvailia Germatis. The Evangelical Asso- ciation of North America owes its origin, under the providence of God, to the labors of Rev. Jacob Albright and his co-laborers amongthe Pennsylvania Germans. As our early preachers labored exclusively among this people, and as they have a dialect, cus- toms and traits of character peculiarly their own, a brief history of them seems proper in this connection. The Pennsylvania Germans were mostly emigrants from the Palatinate, or Lower Rhinish provinces of Germany. Prior to 1702 very few Germans had settled in Pennsylvania. The first settlement by them was made in 1683, when a small colony under Pastorius founded Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia. This was the beginning of one of the most remarkable emigrations of modern times, chiefly because such a large proportion of the emigrants represented a distinct division of the great Germanic race. So large indeed was this proportion, that it absorbed and assimilated in a great measure all other racial elements with which it came in contact, and thus were laid in America the foundations of a new and distinct Germanic people, differing widely in many respects from the typical native of the Fatherland. In this we see the necessity for inquiring more minutely into the circumstances which led to this remarkable development. 10 EVANGELICAL A880GIA TION ANNALS. The Huguenots. There is no more eventful period in modern history than the close of the seventeenth century. Oct. i8, 1685, marked the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, by Louis XIV. of France. In 1598 Henry IV. granted religious tolerance to French Protestants who were called Huguenots, and by its revocation Louis XIV. kindled anew the fires of persecu- tion against them. He deprived them of all exercise of their religion, and tore their children from them to be educated as Catholics. He was very ambitious of the fame that would attach to the extirpation of heresy from his dominions. Notwithstand- ing his tyrannical decree against the emigration of his unhappy subjects, and the strict guard on his borders, great multitudes escaped the vigilance of his guards and spies, and in a few years over half a million of the best and most intelligent people of the nation had fled the country, many thousands of whom in course of time found a congenial refuge on the shores of the New World,* and many of their descendants were among the first to open their doors to Albright and his co-laborers. The Meimotiites. About this same time the Mennonites were also bitterly persecuted, especially in Switzerland, and thousands fled to Holland and the Lower Rhine provinces, and later came to Pennsylvania. The Mennonitc emigration properly began in 1709. In 1706, or 1707, the Mennonites of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, sent several agents to London to make arrangements with William Penn for the settlement of a large number of their people in his province, f Soon thereafter the envoys came direct to Pennsylvania, and after considerable exploration selected a very fine tract of 10,000 acres on the north side of Pequea Creek, now in Strasburgh township, Lancaster county. The title was perfected Oct. 10, 1710, and the land divided according to previous arrangement the following April 27, 1711.I In a few decades thousands of these conscientious and peaceable people had found homes in Pennsylvania. The Palatinates. In 1688 Heidelberg was taken the sec- ond time by the French Papists and laid in ashes. Like the Phoenix of old it arose again from its ruins, only to be stormed and destroyed again by the same inveterate enemy in 1693. The panic-stricken inhabitants were compelled to flee from the * Bancroft says the United States are full of monuments of this Huguenot emigration. f Col. Records iii. p. 397. \ Rupp's Hist, of Lancaster county, p. 75. THE EARL Y DA TS. 11 relentless foe in the darkness of the night. Manheim, Speyer and Worms were also pillaged and partly destroyed, and the whole region was laid waste and desolate by the wanton fury of the Papists. The unfortunate inhabitants were, however, induced to rebuild their ruined homes again under promise of religious freedom, and immunity from taxes for a certain length of time. In this they were cruelly deceived by their Elector, who doubtless acted on the Papistical principle then prevalent, that promises made to heretics should not be redeemed. Betrayed by their heartless Elector, and despoiled by their old enemy, the French, they were well nigh driven to despair. Emigration to Peimsylvaiiia. Queen Ann of England issued a proclamation in 1708, inviting the persecuted, long- suffering Palatinates to her dominion, and before the end of the year nearly 12,000 of them were quartered in warehouses and tents in London and vicinity. Stripped of all their earthly possessions they were very poor, and were supported by the gov- ernment and the munificent charity of the queen. The presence of so many thousand indigent foreigners became a serious burden to England, and plans were devised to transport them to the Provinces. In the summer of 17 10 about 3,000 who had lived on the bounty of Queen Ann, were shipped to New York. One large party, under Rev. Kocherthal, settled at Schoharie, New York. Trouble, however, arose, and the Ger- mans became dissatisfied, many gradually working their way to Pennsylvania, and were the first Palatinates in the province. Their dissatisfaction soon became known to their kindred in Europe, and thereafter New York was shunned by them. In 1723 the proprietaries of New York invalidated the titles of the Schoharie settlers and they came to Pennsylvania that same winter, suffering incredible hardships in traveling through the wilderness. In this company was the famous Conrad Weiser, afterwards Colonial Indian agent and interpreter. This colony settled on the Tolpehocken, fifteen miles northwest of Reading, Pa. While the English emigration was comparatively insignifi- cant, the Germans from the Lowlands and the war- scourged Palatinate poured into the province at a rapid rate. James Logan, provincial secretary, wrote the proprietor in 17 17, **We have of late a great number of Palatinates pouring in upon us without any recommendation or notice, which gives the country 12 EVANOELICAL ASSOCIATION ANNALS. some uneasiness, for foreigners do not so well among us as our ovm English people." Two years later Jonathan Dickinson wrote, *^ We are daily expecting ships from London which bring over Palatinates in number six or seven thousand." In 171 7 Gov. Keith appeared before the Colonial Council with a state- ment that great numbers of foreigners from Germany, who were strangers to the language and customs, were dispersing themselves immediately after landing, ** without producing certificates from whence they came, or what they are," etc. This was considered dangerous to the colony, and led to the adoption of a measure which has preserved the names of upwards of 30,000 male emi- grants, (Germans), as all males sixteen years old and upwards were thereafter compelled to subscribe to an oath, or article of allegiance to the English government and obedience to the Colo- nial authorities. This was equivalent to the naturalization of the present day. The lists containing these names are among the most precious treasures in the archives of the Commonwealth. In 1727 no less than six vessels arrived in Philadelphia, well laden with Palatinates, followed in 1728 by three more vessels, and the same number in 1729. The Palatine emigration, however, was unprecedented from 1730 to 1740, as no less than sixty-five ship-loads arrived. In 1730 the region west of the Susquehanna river was opened to settlement, and what are now York and Adams counties were soon filled up with Germans. Thousands also mingled with the Scotch Irish in the fertile Cumberland Valley, and many Palatine settlements were made in Maryland and in the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, as far south as Shen- andoah and Rockbridge counties. <^When George Washington and others were surveying lands in that part of Virginia in April, 1748, they were attended by a great company of people, men, women and children, who followed them through the woods. They would never speak English, but when spoken to would always speak Dutch"* (German). In 1742 the Germans of Pennsylva- nia were estimated to number ioo,ooo,t and in many sections formed fully nine-tenths of the inhabitants. After the treaty of l^ort Stanwix, Nov. 5, 1758, the rich and fertile valleys of the west and northwest were penetrated by the Germans, and some extensive settlements were made by them west of the main ridge of the Allegheny mountains, prior to the war of the Revolution. * Sparks' Washington, Vol. ii. 418. f Horn's History of Lehigh Co., p. 23. THE EARL7 DAYS. 13 Their Language. The language spoken by the Pennsyl- vania Germans is a slight variation of the soft and beautiful dialect •still prevailing in the Palatinate (German *^Ffaltz^^). This dia- lect in America retains its grammatical forms, but has acquired some additional idiomatic features, and a curious intermixture of English words which have been adapted to it. As a dialect it holds a place between High and Low German. By many it is supposed that *' Pennsylvania Dutch'* is merely a corrupt German and English. The reader will see that this is not the case. As originally spoken it is one of the finest and softest dialects of the ^reat Teutonic tongue. Some fine works have been published in this dialect, notably those of Rev. H. Harbaugh, Prof. Horn, and Henry Fisher, Esq. Their Religious Couditioti. The German emigration to Pennsylvania, as already indicated, was mainly the result of relig- ious intolerance in the Fatherland. The co-religionists generally settled together. The Mennonites and Dunkards mostly located in Lancaster county. The Schwenkfelders, most of whom arrived in 1734,* settled in a section now embraced in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties. The Moravians, under the patronage of Count Zinzendorfjf settled in the Lehigh Valley, in 1741, and founded the towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth. The Lutherans and Reformed, who were mostly Palatinates, and formed the bulk of emigrants, spread themselves more generally over the country. Strange as it may seem, the strong tide of religious feeling which led to this influx of Germans seems to have subsided in a ^reat measure soon after their establishment here. Their new surroundings may have contributed to this condition. It became a hand-to-hand struggle for subsistence. For more than a quar- ter of a century they had no pastors, and religious training was wofully neglected. This statement has particular reference to the Palatinates. ♦They came in the ship St. Andrew, Sept. 12, 1734 (Col. Records iii. 568). Among them were the Yeakels, Schuberts, Huebners, Kribels, Hoffmans. f NiKOLAUS LuDWiG (Count Von Zinzendorf ). Born 1700, died 1760. A German nobleman of deep piety. He espoused the faith of the Moravians, who were then reduced to a mere handful through the religious persecutions then prevalent. He invited them to settle on his estates, which they did, and founded the town of Herrnhut. Z. was made a minister and bishop of the reorganized •church, and thereafter was its leader until his death. He established numerous Moravian colonies. He was the author of more than one hundred works in prose and poetry. 14 EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION ANNALS. Although there were some congregations formed as early as 1735, still the great mass of the people were strangers to the sanctuary. In 1 742 the noted Lutheran divine, Henry Melchiofl Muhlenberg,* was sent from the Fatherland to look after the spiritual interests of the Lutherans in Pennsylvania. He found the spiritual condition of his countrymen most deplorable, and in letters published in the Halliche Nachrichten, describes their con- dition in a vivid manner. In 1746 Rev. Michael Schlatter, "f a Reformed minister from Switzerland, came to Pennsylvania, on a similar mission. His communications to the home church, convey the same sad story of spiritual decline. In 1752 there were but sixteen Reformed congregations, having regular pastors, in a Reformed population of thirty thousand souls. The war of the Revolution likewise had a demoralizing effect on the Pennsylvania Germans. Intemperance, especially, became alarmingly prevalent among them. Their pastors seldom raised a hand to stem this rising tide of evil. Many of the clergy con- doned the use of ardent spirits and, alas ! in many instances were themselves openly intemperate. This was overlooked by their people, who regarded it as only a ^^Fehler^* (an infirmity) in their preacher, about which it was best not to say anything. Begimiiiigs of Religious Revival. It is gratifying ta know that the darkness and spiritual ignorance of this period was relieved by many burning and shining lights. Signs of promise multiplied, and harbingers of better days everywhere appeared. While we would not disparage the influence of the great Wesleyan. revival in England, and its spread in America through the preaching of that man of God, George Whitefield, still it is a remarkable •fact that many conversions of prominent men were brought about spontaneously, a considerable number of the ministry and laity in nearly all denominations professing conversion, and becoming * Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg, D. D. Born at Einbeck, Germany, 171 1, died 1787. A distinguished German divine. He was sent by the Univer- sity of Halle to organize and promote the interests of the Lutheran Church in America. He is justly regarded as the founder of the church in America. Several of his sons became men of great distinction. Muhlenberg and his sons were great patriots during the war of the Revolution. f Rev. Michael Schlatter. Born in Switzerland 1716, died 1790. Edu- cated at St. Gall. Sent by the synods of Holland 'to organize the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania. In 1 75 1 he went to Europe and secured six missionaries, with whom he returned to Pennsylvania. He was a patriot in the war of the Revolution, for which he was imprisoned by the British. THE EARL T DA TS. 15 dissatisfied with the cold and formal worship of the times. This was the state of affairsabout the close of the Revolutionary War. Among those who cried aloud and spared not, was the Men- nonite preacher, Martin Boehm.* He was brought to see his own unconverted state, and after experiencing God's saving grace in his own heart, he became a strong advocate and forcible expounder of experimental religion in his church. His fearless denunciation of sin and his views on experimental religion were so radical as to constitute a great gap between him and his corelig- ionists. The spirit of toleration was then almost unknown, and BoEHM was excluded from the Mennonite Church. His influence, however, was felt powerfully among the people of that denomi- nation, and contributed in a marked degree to preparing the way for the great success of later evangelists. A well defined movement was also about this time noticeable in the Reformed Church. William OxxERBEiNjf one of the prominent preachers of that church, began to preach Evangelical repentance and conversion in a very forcible manner, and made profound impressions. George Adam Guething, John G. Phruemer, and Anthony Houtz, all of the Reformed Church, became earnest preachers of repentance and conversion. The two former associated themselves with Otterbein and Boehm, and became prominent ministers of the United Brethren Church. Mention should also be made of John Neidig, of Dauphin county, Felix Light, of Lebanon county, and Christian Newcomer. I *Rev. Martin Boehm was bom in Lancaster county, Pa. in 1725. He became a Mennonite preacher in 1756. Five or six years later he was excluded from that denomination, *'for holding fellowship with other societies of a different language." Thereafter he was an active co-worker in the Evangelical movement of the times, and became one of the founders of the United Brethren in Christ, of which church he was made a bishop in 1800. After a long life of signal usefulness, he died in Shenandoah Valley, Va., in 1812. f Philip \\ illiam Otterbein. Born in Germany 1726, died in Baltimore, Md., 1813. Was one of the Reformed missionaries sent by the Holland Synod to America in 1752. Became pastor of a Reformed Church at Lancaster, Pa., and later at Baltimore, Md. Many revivals and conversions followed his preaching. He was associated with Martin Boehm, and through their labors the movement which resulted in the formation of the United Brethren Church was brought about. I Rev. Christian Newcomer, whose name occurs prominently in this work, was a son of Wolfgang Newcomer, and was born in Lancaster county, Pa., 1749. He began to preach in 1787, and was a member of the first United Brethren Conference in 1 789. He was elected as bishop of that denomination in 1818. He labored with great zeal in that capacity until March 12, 1 830, when he died at his home near Hagerstown, Md. 16 E VANOELICAL AS80CIA TION ANNALS. Separation from the Old Churches. We have now out- lined the beginning of the Reformation among the Pennsylvania Germans. The churches for the most part being closed against these men of God, they were compelled to preach in houses and barns and on the streets. Hundreds of people opened their houses as regular preaching places. There was, however, a strong aver- sion on the part of many against leaving the old churches where they had rendered their confirmation vows. Many of the laity were excluded from the churches for following after or abetting the so-called ^^^^fr^Z/Vi-,^* but the churches soon discovered that thereby they excluded their bestj their graying people, and were glad enough to retain them if possible. Many of these preach- ing places were open to all preachers who were approved and converted vciQTi of God. Bishop Newcomer*s journal reveals the fact that he frequently preached at the houses of persons who had connected themselves with Albright's society, and the same is probably true of nearly all the **New Measure'* preachers of that day. Therefore it follows that because some prominent member of the old churches opened his house as a regular preach- ing place, we must not at once conclude that he left his church. The converted people of the various churches often met as an unorganized society — if such an expression is allowable — calling themselves *' Brethren." Later they became **The United Breth- ren. " Still later, when the number of those professing conversion was considerable, it became quite common to speak of them as a class, as *^die bekehrte Leuf* (the converted people), and the adherents of the old churches a.s*'"dte Kirche lent** (the church people). While it is an undeniable fact that the spirit of sectarianism is an evil in the Christian church, it is also true that the lack of organization and administrative powers is an evil equally deplor- able. At first view there is something noble in the thought of coming out and standing aloof from a cold and dead church, and seeking the genial warmth of true devotion burning on other altars, but this spirit of independence and non-allegiance to church organization is found to be an evil in practice. It weakens the incentives to support the cause of the church, her ministry, her ordinances and her work. This fact soon became apparent to the many gospel workers of the various denominations who for several years had labored independently of the denominations with which they were formally connected. In 1789 a number THE EARLY DATS. 17 of them, under the leadership of Boehm, Otterbein, and others, connected themselves together under the name of **The United Brethren in Christ." It does not seem that a separate church organization was at first contemplated, but the hostility of the old church against this movement drew the converted ministry and laity more closely together, which necessarily developed into denominational organization. A large number, however, remained independent of any organization. A remarkable incident relating to this subject is worthy of record. In the early ministry of John Seybert, (afterwards bishop,) he had an extensive revival near the Black Oak Hill, Lebanon county. Pa., at a meeting held at the house of Joseph Kreider,* at which the noted Felix Light, was present. Light had been a prominent Mennonite, but after his conversion he, with many others, stood aloof from churches. Seybert urged the converts to hold together, and showed the necessity and advan- tages of organization. Light astonished the assembly by arising and contradicting the advice of Seybert and spoke against the formation of a class, to which little attention was paid. Rise of the Evangelical Association* In the religious movements which we have outlined, the Evangelical Association also took its rise. The establishment of our Zion was not the result of disruption, or secession from any of the old denomina- tions. Neither is it the result of a difference in faith or church polity, but it represents, as its name indicates, a revival of the evangelical or spiritual element, which existed only in the creeds, but not in the practice of the German churches of that day. Herein we see her standpoint and distinctive features as a church. Should the Evangelical Association ever lose sight of the funda- mental principles of her existence, namely, the conversion of sinners to Christ and the building up of God's people in true holiness of heart, then may it be truthfully said, there is no apol- ogy for her existence. That such a stage should ever be reached, may God forbid ! . ^""The Evangelical Association has no connection whatever with N any of the more recently established churches in America. Her origin and development were entirely independent of them all. Her's was a growth by accretion, brought about by instrumental- ities of her own, which were blessed and owned of God in the *Near Palmyra, Pa. He died in 1 878, aged eighty-four years. His place Tivas for many years an important point. 18 EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA TION ANNALS. conversion of souls. We have already seen how for some time the new measure preachers labored side by side without formal organization, and with them the founder of the Evangelical Asso- ciation. But in its organization and subsequent development there does not seem to have been much material except that which Jacob Albright and his co-laborers could properly call their own. This of course has reference to the fruits of their labors. Most of the members of the original classes were the spiritual children of Albright and his assistants, as will appear to every candid reader of the subsequent details of their labors in this work. Coflversioii of Albright* In 1790 Jacob Albright, who then lived in West Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pa., lost several of his children by death. On the occasion of their burial Rev. Anthony Hautz,* a Reformed minister already referred to, officiated. The word spoken had the effect of bringing^ Albright into a penitent condition. He failed, however, to find peace, and after many months of prayerful seeking he was brought to the verge of despair. Not very far from him lived a minister named Adam Riegel, who, like many others of his day, stood independent of the churches. To this man Albright went for counsel and help after having been in the deepest spiritual distress for over a year. The Sun of Righteousness then arose upon him with healing in his wings, and he was converted in the house of Riegel, in 1792, and together they subsequently enjoyed many happy hours in Christian communion and devotion. We have already noticed the aversion of the early German converts to a separate church organization, a feeling in which Albright did not share. He felt the need of a church home in. which he could serve God according to his new light and experi- ence. He therefore united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, a class of which had been established in his locality. This, on the whole, may be regarded as a fortunate circumstance, inasmuch as he found not only congenial Christian fellowship, but also opportunities for the free exercise of the gifts with which he was * Rev. Anthony Hautz, a deeply spiritual Reformed minister and faithful preacher of experimental religion was licensed as a Reformed preacher in 1 787, was a co-worker with the independent brethren, but never withdrew from his church. Because he advocated the *^ New Measures '* he came in conflict with his conservative parishioners, and changed charges a number of times ; finally he removed, in 1804, to the state of New York. Here he died in Groton township^ Tompkins county, in 1830, at an advanced age. THE EARLY DAYS. 19 naturally endowed. Although a German, so well did his Metho- dist brethren think of Albright that they granted him license as an exhorter. After laboring in this capacity for some time, he felt the inward call to the holy ministry. The difficulties in the way, however, seemed insurmountable. The church with which he was connected was English in language, while the people with whom his labors as a minister could be successful, were German. After much fasting and prayer, he finally determined to enter the gospel field as an independent evangelist, and labor among his German countrymen, in the full belief that God had called him to this work, and would open the way for him. Albright never withdrew from the Methodist Church, neither was he excluded. His membership simply lapsed when his sphere of usefulness was enlarged from the exhorter to the itinerant preacher. Begintiiiig of Albright's Ministry. In 1 796 Albright started on his first evangelistic tour, which, as he himself says, embraced a portion of Maryland and Virginia and the interior of Pennsylvania. The first definite account we have of his labors refers to October of this same year, when he preached at the mar- ket house at ShafEerstown, Lebanon county, Pa., on the occasion of the dedication of the new Reformed Church at that place. It is exceedingly difficult to gain definite information of his early labors, for the reason already advanced, that he doubtless preached at many places where all godly ministers were alike welcome. The first tangible results of his work, so far as we know, appear in the eastern part of Berks county, near the Colebrookdale iron works. Here he preached at Samuel Lieser's, and Abraham and Joseph Buchwalter's. At Quakertown, Bucks county, eighteen miles northeast of this, he preached at Peter Walter's and Charles Bissey*s. In Penn township, Schuylkill county, he preached regularly at Leonhart Zimmerman's. In North- ampton county, along the Blue mountains, he preached at the houses of George Phillips and his sons, Conrad and Jacob, and Jacob Reidy. In what is now Lebanon county, near Jonestown, he preached at the house of Ludwig Zehring. At the foregoing places he preached prior to 1800. The persons named, with their families, were his firs^ fruits in the ministry, and loved him as their spiritual father. As the number of the converts through his ministry increased, he clearly saw the necessity of organizing them into classes. This he did in 1800,, when his adherents num- bered about twenty. 20 EVANGELICAL A8S0CIA TION ANKALS. The first class was formed on the Ridge, three miles east of Quakertown, Bucks county, and consisted of Charles Bissey and wife, and Peter Walter with his wife and family. Peter Walter was the leader of the class. The second class was formed about twenty miles southwest, at the Colebrookdale iron works, in Berks county, and consisted of Samuel Liesser, his wife and several children, Abraham Buchwalter and wife, and Joseph Buchwalter and wife. Samuel Liesser was leader. The third class was formed along the Blue mountains, in Hamilton town- ship, Northampton county, and consisted of father George Phillips and his two sons, Conrad and Jacob, and their wives, Jacob Riedy and wife, Phillip Miller and wife, and Barbara Hecht. Conrad Phillips was leader. First Co-laborers of Albright. After laboring alone in the vineyard for a period of about five years, the Lord gave his servant, Jacob Albright, an assistant, in the person of John Walter, son of Peter Walter, the first class-leader. This young man entered the Evangelical work in 1802, and became noted for his untiring zeal and powerful eloquence. From his biography and the numerous references to him in this work, the reader will perceive that he was a man of brilliant talents ; whose oratorical powers have never been excelled in the history of the Association. The following year, 1803, another young brother entered the work. This was Abraham Liesser, son of father Samuel Liesser, of Colebrookdale, Berks county. He was a young man of mild and quiet disposition, zealously devoted to the saving of souls, but does not seem to have possessed a strong bodily constitution. In 1805 he broke down altogether and died the same year. In 1804 Alexander Jemison, of Lancaster county, entered the active work. The following year, however, he located, after which but very little is known of him. In 1805 George Miller entered the itinerancy and eventually became the leader of the Association. In 1806 the number was not increased. In 1807 John Dreisbach, of Buffalo Valley, in Union county, and Jacob Frey, of Middle Creek Valley, in (now) Snyder county, entered the work. The former became in course of time the leading man of the church. John Erb, of Conestoga, Lancaster county, began to preach in Albright's time, was received on trial in 1808, and became a very useful man. The foregoing brethren entered the ministry under the supervision of the founder of the church. TES EARLY DA TS. 21 Of local preachers of this period it is doubtful whether a// the names of those who exercised the office, and were recognized as such, can be definitely ascertained. Several of the names given below do not appear on the records of the church, but of their license as local preachers there is no doubt. In 1806 the office of local preacher was established in the society. The first to be received were the following: Charles Bissey, of Quakertown, Bucks county; Jacob Phillips, of Northampton county, and Solomon Miller, brother of Rev. George Miller. The great revival on the new circuit, in 1806, almost doubled the mem- bership of the society. The number of local preachers was also increased as follows: In 1807 Christopher Spangler accom- panied John Dreisbach to attend the jfirsf conference of the church. Spangler, at this conference, received license to preach,* and for half a century was a pillar in the church. John Thomas, Jr., of Mifflin county (died in Wayne county, O., 1837), whose license was given him by Albright. f Christian Wolf, of Derrstown (now Lewisburg, Union county), who removed to Seneca county, New York, 1807, and died 1833. Besides the above, mention should also be made of Michael Maize and Henry Niebel, of Dry Valley, Union county, and Matthias Betz, of Millheim, Centre county. These brethren without doubt began to preach in Albright's time, Niebel and Betz entering the active work immediately after the founder's death (1808). Biographies of nearly all the co-workers of Albright will be found in subsequent chapters. They were men of untiring zeal, and willing to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (II. Tim. ii. 3). Amid many privations and disappointments they laid the foundations of our Evangelical Zion. Pentecostal Meeting. The first meeting of Albright and his atiherents, of which we have any knowledge, was held when he had but four male followers, of whom Charles Bissey J was one. The names of the others are not known. The place and time of the meeting are also unknown, but the time must have been soon after he began his ministry. The object was to seek a closer union with God, and to pray together for the power of ♦Letter of Dreisbach in "Chr. Botschaf ter, " 1843, p. 189. \ Or wig's History of the Ev. Association, p. 219. ^ This fact was given in a historical address at the General Conference at Allentown, Pa., in 1883, by Rev. Henry Stetzel, who had obtained his infor- mation from Charles Bissey. 22 EVAKOELICAL ASSOCIATION ANNALS. the Holy Ghost. The Lord blessed them in a wonderful manner, and the meeting no doubt proved a great encouragement to Albright and his little band. First General Assembly. After Albright had labored in the gospel ministry about six years, it was felt necessary to give a more definite and formal recognition of his call and work. Hence a general Council Assembly was called, which met Nov. 3, 1803, at Samuel Liesser's.* Besides Albright and his two assistants, John Walter and Abraham Liesser, there were pres- ent the following brethren : Jacob Phillips, George Miller, Carl Bissey, Conrad Phillips, John Brobst, Solomon W. Frederici, Chr. Brobst, George Phillips, Michael Brobst, Samuel Liesser, Peter Walter, Adam Miller, Jacob Riedy and Solomon Miller. This assembly transacted the following important business : 1. An ecclesiastical organization was effected by the adoption of the Holy Scriptures as the guide and rule of faith. 2. Jabob Albright was declared to be a minister of the gos- pel in the full sense of the term and recognized as their spiritual father and teacher. 3. He was solemnly ordained as such by the laying on of hands; 4. And was given a license or commission, of which the fol- lowing is a close translation : *■* From the Elders and Brethren of His Society of Evangelical Friends. We, the undersigned Evangelical and Christian friends, declare and recog- nize Jacob Albright as a genuine ( Wahrhaftigen ) Evangelical preacher, in word and deed, and a believer in the Universal Christian Church and the commun- ion of saints. This testify we as brethren and elders of his society {Gemeinde). Given in the State of Pennsylvania Nov. 5, 1803." The document was signed by Albright^s two colleagues, Walter and Liesser, and the fourteen laymen mentioned. Second Assembly. Some time between 1805 and 1807 another council was held in the house of George Becker, of the Muehlbach. Of this meeting there is no record whatever ; but that it was held, is substantiated by the testimony of two daughters of George Becker who were present, namely, Mrs. Gockley and Mrs. Catharine Klinefelter, the wife of Rev. John Kline- felter. Some time prior to their death they made definite statements relative to the assembly, Mrs. Gockley especially * This statement of the place is according to the testimony of John Dreisbacu. THE EARL7 DATS. 23 having a vivid recollection of it. Mother Elizabeth Stump, a daughter of Samuel Becker, in whose house the first conference was held in 1807, related to the author that she frequently heard her relatives, including her uncle, George Becker, speak of the council at the house of the latter. First Confereiice. The first regular conference was held in November, 1807, at the house of Samuel Becker, on the Muehlbach, Lebanon county, a few miles east of Shaeferstown, With this conference the official history of the Association prop- erly begins. CHAPTER li. THE "OLD CIRCUIT." An Account of the First Field of Labor, Commonly Called "Schuylkill and Lancaster Circuit" — Its Preaching Places and Classes as Established by Rev. Jacob Al- bright and His Co-Laborers, with Copious Biographical Notes. We have already in a previous chapter noted the beginning of Jacob Albright's ministry. In this chapter we will seek to give a description of the first field of labor, with an account of its preaching places, and the noble families who, in the face of great persecution, opened their homes to the founder of the church and his co-laborers. In doing this it will, however, be impossible to follow the work in the order of its establishment, as that plan would necessitate a frequent recurrence to the same locality. The number of preaching places on the old circuit, prior to Albright's death (1808), was upwards of sixty. In their enumeration we deem it proper to begin with the locality in which the first class was organized. Bucks County. On the rocky ridge, about three miles east of Quakertown, Bucks county, Albright was received by Peter Walter and Carl Bissey. Peter Walter, who lived in Rockland township, three miles east of Quakertown, was the father of a large family, nearly all of whom were grov/n when Albright first visited them, and so far as can be ascertained, Walter was one of the very first to asso- ciate himself with Albright. In the year 1800, when Albright decided to organize his spiritual children into classes, he begaa THE EARL T DA TS. 25 here, and father Walter was made leader of the first class of the Evangelical Association. In the year 1805 he and his entire family removed to the Swatara Creek, near Jonestown (now), Lebanon county. In that connection the reader will find a further account of him and his family. Carl Bissey, of Richland township, lived three miles north of Walter, and was also one of the first adherents, and was promi- nent in the early days of the society. He was present at the council assembly of 1803, and became one of the first local preachers of the church. In this capacity he rendered good service until his death, Oct. 20, 1847, at the age of seventy- five years. Northampton County. Along the southern slope of the Blue Mountains, in Hamilton township, Northampton county, was organized the third class of the Evangelical Association in the year 1800. The first to open their houses to Albright as preaching places, prior to the organization of the class, were father George Phillips and his sons, Conrad and Jacob, Jacob RiEDY and Adam Miller, all of whom were present at the Gen- eral Assembly of 1803. The following were the members of the class : Father George Phillips and wife, Conrad Phillips and wife, Jacob Phillips and wife, Peter and Jacob Riedy and their wives, Philip Miller and wife, Adam Miller and wife and Barbara Hecht. Conrad Phillips was the class leader. In the fall of 1802 Jacob Albright held the tkt'rd general meeting of the society at Conrad Phillips*, and was assisted by John Walter, his first fruits for the ministry. This meeting was attended by George and Solomon Miller, who at this time publicly identified themselves with the work of Albright, and soon became very efficient instruments in the establishment and promotion of the society. Jacob Phillips became one of the first local preachers of the society. He died in the prime of life, in 1809. In 181 1 Conrad Phillips removed to Dry Valley, in Union county, where his house became a prominent preaching place. Here he died in 18 16, and his aged father, who had removed with him, died in 1822. Adam Miller was one of the first converts under Albright Note. — Catharine Hecht died in 1808, leaving a bequest of $100 to the society, which was the first it received. This was considered a large amount at that time, and was added to the fund for the support of the preachers. 26 E V ANGELICAL ASSOGIA TION ANNALS. in Northampton county. In the early part of the century he removed to Crawford county, O., where he died in 1848, aged eighty-one years. Berks County. At the Colebrookdale iron works near the eastern line of Berks county, Rev. Jacob Albright found some open doors in the very beginning of his ministry, and here formed his second class in 1800. The men who received him and opened their houses as preaching places were the following : Samuel LiESSER, who with his family was converted through the labors of Albright and became the leader of the class that bore his name. His son Abraham became Albright's second assistant in 1803. Father Liesser was widely known as a man of exem- plary piety. At his house Albright held his first ** general meeting ''* in June 1802. Brother Liesser died in the early part of the century. His wife Anna died in 1838, at the ripe age of eighty-two years. ABRAHAMf and Joseph Buchwalter and their families also became adherents of Albright. They were Mennonites in faith but became dissatisfied with the cold and formal worship of their society, and cast their lot with the persecuted '^converted peo- ple. " The Buchwalters were men of deep piety and sterling worth, and quite prominent in the community. In 1820 they removed to Ross county, O., where they were among the first to receive the Evangelical preachers. John Buchwalter, a son of Abraham, married to a sister of Rev. John Dreisbach, also removed to Ross county in 1827, and his house was for years a preaching place. In Albany township, almost surrounded by the Blue Moun- tains, lived a very wealthy man named Michael Brobst. He was an iron master, and his furnace and twp forges stood in the very heart of the valley. His landed possessions comprised over 10,000 acres. About the year 1800 his daughters, Magdalena and Maria, married George and Solomon Miller respectively. *** General meetings" were meetings held at irregular intervals in various parts of the society. They usually began on Saturday, and continued over the Sabbath. As the work became more established, these meetings gave way to the "quarterly meetings." f Abraham Buchwalter was born in Berks county, Pa., 1761, and died in Ross county, O., 1837. Barbara, his wife, born 1764, died in Ross county, O., 1868, aged 102 years. Their son John, who served 1812 in the ministry, bom 1787, died 1872. His wife Susanna (Dreisbach) born 1793, died 188 1. Joseph Buchwalter, born 1767, died 1838. THE EARL T DA T8. 27 The Millers, with their wives, were soon afterwards converted through the labors of Jacob Albright, which greatly incensed Mr. Brobst, who was a strict adherent of the old churches. Soon after the conversion of the Millers the three sons of Brobst were also converted. Circumstances point to father Zimmerman's house as the place of their conversion. Their names were John, Michael and Christian. They were all pres- ent at the Council Assembly of 1803, and their names are on the instrument declaring Albright a gospel minister. Of Christian nothing can be learned, and it is probable that he died prior to his father. John and Michael lived on the estate and were con- nected with the business of their father, and at his death inherited the vast estate, but through circumstances not necessary to detail here, lost their possessions in after years. The homes of John and Michael were regular preaching places for Albright and his co-workers from 1803. The home of John is especially worthy of note from the fact that here at a general meeting, held on Easter day, 1808, Albright stationed his preachers for the last time. Northwest of Reading, along the Tulpehocken, Albright and co-laborers found entrance at an early day. The home of father Peter Dundore was the chief preaching place. A class was formed here in 1806. In 1809 an extensive revival occurred in this region and a considerable ingathering took place. Among the converts at this time were George LANTZ,who entered the min- istry in 1820, and Lewis Henkey, who became a local preacher in 1828. Later he removed to Summit county, O., where he was an Evangelical pioneer, and where he died in 1873, aged ■83 years. The Miesse family were also members on the Tulpe- hocken, and later removed to Ohio, where they became strong supporters of the work, and some of the younger members later became ministers. About 1823 the Evangelical preachers were received by John Tobias, Sr., and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, who lived on the Tulpehocken, about six miles from Reading. A great revival began here in this year, and many souls were converted at his house, among whom were his sons, John, Jr., Benjamin, Peter,' Abraham, David, Samuel, Daniel and Henry, who in later years became pillars in the church. In 1832 father Tobias removed to a locality six miles north of Circleville, O., where the family again received the preachers and were instrumental ia 28 EVANGELICAL A880CIA TION ANNALS. the establishment of a church. Here father Tobias died Aug. 23, 1847, aged seventy-eight years, three months and fourteen days. His last words were, '*I know that my Redeemer liveth.'*^ Mother Tobias survived a number of years. In course of time most of the sons removed to Illinois. Samuel entered the min- istry in 1826, preached many years in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and died at Naperville, 111., in 1890. Daniel entered the min- istry in 1833 and died the following year while serving Wooster circuit. David was a local preacher. Of grandsons the following entered the ministry : Benjamin Franklin, son of Benjamin, died in the ministry of the Ohio Conference ; Simon A. and L. B., sons of John Jr., entered the Illinois Conference, and J. H., a son of Peter, is a prominent member of the Kansas Conference. In Bern township, along the southern slope of the Blue Mountains, in Berks county, Albright and his associates gained entrance prior to 1805, and a class was formed here about this year. The preaching places were at father Levergood's, Val- entine Brobst's, John Miller, Sr.^s (see Miller family), and father Jacob Kline's. The latter resided about four miles west of Shoemakersville. All the foregoing were men of means and high standing in their respective communities. They had been connected with the old churches, and when they opened their houses as preaching places for the expounders of Evangelical truth, they became the objects of ridicule and persecution, yet they stood like pillars of light in that region of moral darkness. Camp-meetings were held at father Levergood's at an early day. In later times the families of Earnst and Loose became strong pillars in this section. Near the gap where the Schuylkill River forces its way through the Blue Mountains, is the town of Hamburgh. Here Albright was entertained by a merchant named Diehl. In 1801, when passing through, he asked permission of Diehl to preach at his house, but the latter said it was hardly a suitable time, as there was a ^'frolic'' in progress at the tavern not far away. A mill stood in close proximity to the tavern, at the front of which was a worn-out millstone. Albright obtained permission from the proprietor to mount the stone and preach. A multitude soon gathered, to whom he delivered a heart-searching address. As it had the effect of breaking up the frolic, the tavern-keeper became incensed at Albright and attempted to punish him with a whip. George Miller, who a few years later was converted and became THE EARLY DATS. 29 a co-laborer with Albright, was at this time engaged in working at the mill, and received impressions which came to an early fruitage. Some time later Albright and his co-laborers began to preach in a small school-house in the town, but because of opposition the work made but little progress for years. A Wayside Meeting. In 1812 an officer who had died in the war with England then in progress, was brought to his home in Hamburg for interment. To this funeral, which was attended with considerable demonstrations, Mrs. Saylor, of Orwigsburg, came, accompanied by her son, Joseph M. Saylor, who was then a boy of nine years of age. The town was full of people who had come to witness the obsequies of the dead officer. The attention of the mother and son was attracted by a crowd gath- ered around a man who was holding a religious service on the pavement. The mother drew near and with close attention lis- tened for the first time to an Evangelical preacher, who was none other than George Miller, who eleven years before had first heard Albright preach from the millstone, a few hundred yards away. Miller was at this time the chief man in the society. An incident which impressed itself upon the mind of the little boy was that of a man who took off his hat and reverently bowed his head when Miller kneeled on the pavement in prayer, while all the rest of the hearer's kept on their hats and laughed and talked in a disrespectful manner. The Bertoletts. Near Friedensburg, in Oley township, Berks county, is the old home of the Bertoletts. In 1726 Jean Bertolett, a French Huguenot, of Chartien Duise, Switzerland, with his wife Susanna and five children, was compelled to flee from his home because of religious persecution. He settled in Oley, Pa., and many of his descendants became members of the Evangelical Association. In 1735 his son Abraham married Esther DeTurk, through whom he came in possession of the estate still owned by the Bertoletts at Friedensburg. In 1736 he built a stone house which is still standing, and is one of the most interesting landmarks of the church. In course of time Daniel Bertolett, a grandson of Abraham, came in possession of the estate. He, like his ancestors, was noted for his inde- pendence of thought and thrifty habits. When still young he became dissatisfied with the dead formality of the churches, and became an earnest inquirer after spiritual life, and through a 30 EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION ANNALS. providential circumstance became acquainted with the Evangel- ical Association. In 1809 a traveler stopped at the Bertolett home and asked for dinner, which was cheerfully given him. He was young, entertaining in his manners and made a favorable impression. Soon after this he stopped again, this time feeding his horse. Bertolett was naturally curious to know his name and business, but not until the stranger had mounted his horse and was ready to proceed on his journey did he ask him. The reply was, **I am John Walter, and my business is to -preach the gospel to rich and poor wherever doors are opened to receive me. " He then bade farewell and rode away. Bertolett stood awhile engaged in thought concerning the strange visitor, when a voice seemed to say to him, '^Why did you not invite him to preach in your house ?^^ Following its promptings, he ran after the preacher now disappearing in the distance and succeeded in stopping him. The conversation on religious matters was resumed, with the result that an appointment was made for Walter. This was the beginning of a great work in that locality and the organization of a strong class, the principal members of which were the Ber- toletts, Clevers, Weidners, Yeakels and Hochs. For many years Bertolett's house was a preaching place and he one of the chief pillars of the church. A camp-meeting was held on his land in 18 14 and many years thereafter, besides many important general meetings. He was one of the principal promoters of the Book Establishment in 18 16, and was elected by the conference as one of the commission. He possessed fine poetical talent; many of his hymns became familiar throughout the church, and some are still to be found in our German hymn book. One of his notable hymns begins with the lines : ^'- Die Wasserbaecke rauschen dar ' Die Stern* am Himmel leuchten klar. Die kuehlen Winde weh*n.** Many of his productions were published in a separate volume. In the conference records of 1820 is a resolution ordering the publication of a volume of hymns written and translated by John Dreisbach and Daniel Bertolett. In 1832 Bertolett was licensed as a local preacher. He was severely plain in his habits, so that many who did not understand him thought him peculiar. In his house was posted a notice forbidding the use of tobacco on his premises, which he considered a great evil. He was a:so THE EARLY DA TS. ai a prominent anti-slavery man. He died in 1868, at the age of eighty-eight years, and his son Jacob, born in 181 5, succeeded to the ancestral estate. He was a local deacon of the church and also a prominent man. He died in 1878. Lehigh Cotitlty. At Lynnville, Albright found entrance to several families who opened their homes for preaching places. His leading support here was George Kuster, whose house became a regular preaching place as early as 1800. He died in the early part of the century, but his house continued as one of the preaching places of the Schuylkill circuit as late as 1835. In 1842 the widow Maria Kuster died, aged eighty-three years. Having no children, she bequeated the entire estate to the East Pa. Conference, which in turn very generously transferred all the proceeds of the estate, which were considerable, to the Charitable Society of the Evangelical Association. Near the present town of Macungie lived a liberal-minded man named Philip Wescoe, who welcomed Albright to his home, and permitted him to preach in his house. No immediate results were apparent until 1834, when J. M. Saylor preached to an assembly of over one thousand people in the orchard of Mrs. Susan Mohr, near the old home of Wescoe. This was the beginning of a great work. Schuylkill County. In West Penn township lived that eminent man of God, Leonard Zimmerman, and his wife Sophia. He was a member and officer of the Reformed Church, and a spiritually enlightened, pious man. About 1797 he turned his back to the dead formality of his church and opened his house as .a preaching place for the zealous evangelist Albright. For this he was decried as a heretic and became the subject of sore persecution. His former pastor did his utmost to keep him from *' falling from the faith," and urged him to close his door against the ^' false prophets" and *' deceivers." Zimmerman at this time was well advanced in years. He was the father of a large family, nearly all of whom were grown, and some were already heads of families. The following is a list of his children, all of whom became members of the church prior to Albright's death : (i) John Zimmerman, Esq., for many years a justice of the peace in Schuylkill county, and whose house was one of the early preaching places ; (2) Rev. Leonard Zimmerman ; (3) Maria and (4) Eve, married brothers, John D. and Michael Sey- bert, respectively; (5) Catharine, married to John George 32 EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION ANNALS. Zehner. The Seyberts and Zehner lived in the North Branch valley, in (now) Columbia and Luzerne counties, where Albright and associates preached in their homes. (6) Susan, married Conrad Biebelheimer ; (7) Barbara, married H. Balliet, and (8) Albertina, married Jacob Bochard. About 1806 the three latter sons-in-law also emigrated to the same valley, and received the Evangelical preachers. Bochard settled a short distance above Danville, in (now) Montour county. After the death of the parents (9) Margaret, the youngest, was cared for by Rev. Solomon Miller, who in 181 6 removed to New Berlin, Pa., to take charge of the Printing Establishment of the society. Here she met, and in 18 18 married, George Miller, ** f/i