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)