Beverly: I grew up in Berne, IN which is a Swiss Mennonite community of about 4,000 residents which is 35 miles south of Ft. Wayne, IN. I was raised as a Mennonite by my parents and I went to Bluffton University (Bluffton, Ohio) which is a Mennonite institution that is about 60 miles south of Toledo, OH. I have many contacts and friends in Mennonite communities across Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. I myself have been a member of a Christian & Missionary Alliance church called Westgate Chapel here in Toledo. You are right, there are many divisions and spilts in the Annabaptist movement along with the Amish, Dunkkards, Brethern, Apostolic, and Mennonite groups. Most of these people came from Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Austria, and France during the late 1700's through the early 1900's. Almost all of these families came to America because they were seeking religious freedom. One of the key elements of faith and doctrinal beliefs with these people was "believers baptism" as opposed to "infant baptism" that was taught and emphaised by the Catholic church. There were many families that were seperated over doctrinal issues and this caused much strife within the various denominations. When the industrial revolution came to the United States, with many modern inventions, electricity, gasoline powered engines, cars, farm equipment, etc. these changes also brought on additional divisions within the church. As you know, the Amish community has basically chosen to not be a part of the modern world. In some ways they may have made a wise decision as this group of folks have a strong committment to family, deep devotion to God, and have a passion to help others. However, the Amish are not alone in living Godly lives and a strong committment to family and community. I for one have come to the conclusion, that how we dress, what my beliefs are on modern day inventions, or wether we have church on Saturdays instead of Sundays, are not important issues. What is important today, as it always has been, is to love God with all of our heart, treat your fellowmen with respect, be honest in all of your dealings, and have compassion for a lost world that needs Jesus. Steve Von Gunten Toledo, OH + ----- Original Message ----- From: <Bb43@aol.com> To: <brethren@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 3:01 PM Subject: Re: [BRE] Brethren history resources > Thanks, Judy. I don't think I made myself clear in my post. My family is > intertwined with many in the Somerset region of Pennsylvania, with many > Meyers, > Lichtys and Beeghleys in the line. When I read posts it's like one large > family in the late 1700s. They moved on to Illinois, then Kansas, but > also Iowa > and California. Obviously information in these areas are of great > interest to > me. And I do have specific questions I will be posting in the future. > > My main interest in this post, though, is a more general interest. I am > confused about the beginnings of Brethren - they are co-mingled with > Anabaptists, > Mennonites and Amish in many catalogs and books. I can't semm to figure > whether they are splits form each other, or developed parallelly in the > same region > of Switzerland/Germany. Their seem to be many of the same family names in > these groups. And I know some of them switched from one to another - due > to > geogrqaphical reasoons? Or marital situations? > > And later in this country there were many splits, it seems, and I can't > seems > to get a handle on the differences between the groups. I suppose > theological > differences, but perhaps also how they presented themselves to the world? > I > am also interested in how the Brethren practice today. I checked my state > (CA) and the closest church looks to be over a hundred miles away, so I > really > can't even visit easily, certainly not regularly if I should be so > inclined. > > I have a catalog from Masthof Press and there is a great selection. I > don't > know what to order. I did purchase and read a book entitled "Old > Brethren" > by Lehman. Interesting and quaint. I enjoyed it very much. And I bought > Two > Centuries of Brothersvalley (not sure that's the exact title) by Cooper, > and I > am reading that. But I don't think it addresses the general issues I am > interested in. Just thought someone might have a book they're reading > now, or > have bought recently that they would like to recommend - a history of the > church > through time, not necessarily ancestors. > > Beverly > > > > **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live > music > scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! > (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112) > > ------------------------ > Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN > ------------------------ > Support Our Sponsoring Agency > The Fellowship Of Brethren Genealogists (FOBG) > For further information contact Ron McAdams mailto:McAdamsr@hotmail.com > ------------------------ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRETHREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message