Afternoon, I thought some people might be interested in this article originally printed in 1887 in a religious newspaper. CENTENNIAL SERMON. BY ELD. H. B. BRUMBAUGH. In Chapel of Normal College, Sunday, Sept. 18, 1887. "And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings?"-2 Kings 20: 20. In all ages of the world the passing of time has been noted, and a record kept of the leading men and important events. The Old Testament Scriptures, taken as a whole, form a most important record of the world's history, thus bringing the past forward and connecting it with the present. These were kept as matters for reference, and on important occasions were read, and in this way the events of the past were brought before the minds of the people. Especially was this true of the kings and the leading men of the times. The reading of one of these records once saved the Jews from a terrible slaughter. After a sleepless night, King Ahasuerus commanded the records of the Chronicles to be brought and read before him, and it was there found that Mordecai, the Jew, had at one time saved his life from the hand of the assassin, and in his determination to suitably reward him, led to the discovery of Haman's wicked plot, that he had laid to destroy not only the innocent Mordecai, but with him the whole Jewish nation. On account of this most wonderful deliverance, it was ordained that the time should be kept as a yearly anniversary, that the remembrance of it should not perish from among their seed. The Passover was also kept among the Jews as a memorial service, or an anniversary of the deliverance from Egyptian bondage. As they celebrated these feasts they were reminded of the terrible condition into which sin led them, and of the miraculous manner by which they were delivered from the power of King Pharaoh, and had set before them the land of promise. Through the Bible we have handed down to us many instances of the gracious manner of God's dealing with his ancient people-all given to us for our instruction and encouragement. The reign of Hezekiah was an eventful one. He had done much for the good of his people and the prosperity of the nation. All the acts he did, and how he labored for the advancement and well-being of his people, were recorded in the book of the Chronicles, and, no doubt, were often read with great satisfaction by his people long after he slept with the fathers, Though dead, yet he lived in the good he left behind him. Since then many good men have lived and died, and the acts they did are found written in the book of the Chronicles. Kings and queens who have ruled and reigned to the joy of their subjects, yet live in the hearts of their people, and, as an evidence of the high esteem in which they were held, anniversaries are held to the honor of their names and reign. Nations that have been thus favored have held their jubilees and centennials as loving memorials of their humane benefactors. England has had her Jubilee, and America her Centennial, as indications of their gratitude for their national prosperity. Their records were written and read to the great joy of the respective nations. The Declaration of Independence, as signed in 1776, is regarded by our nation as a most precious document, and under the fostering care of the Government, whose Constitution was adopted in the year 1787, the centennial of which was celebrated in Philadelphia last week, we have grown to a great and prosperous nation, whose advantages and privileges are exceeded by no other nation under heaven. Thus kingdoms and nations have had their decades, their jubilees and their centennials. Their acts, developments, improvements, inventions and their causes of prosperity, are they not written in the book of Chronicles? These are events of the past, and with the past we leave them, to speak of the Centennial of our County, that our citizens expect to celebrate during the present week. On the 19th of September, 1778, the people of the North-eastern part of Bedford County presented a bill to the assembly then in session at Harrisburg, the Capital of the State, demanding the setting off of a new county. It met with some opposition, but was finally passed on the day following, September 10th. A part of the bill reads as follows: "Whereas it bath been represented to the general assembly of this State, by the inhabitants of that part of Bedford county which lies on the waters of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata, the lower part of the Raystown branch of the same, the Standing Stone Valley, part of Woodcock Valley, the waters of the Aughwick Creek, and others, the North-western parts of said county of Bedford, that they labor under great hardships from their distance from the present seat of justice, and the public offices of the said county now in the town of Bedford; for remedy whereof, be it enacted that all and singular the lands lying within the bounds and limits hereafter described and following, shall be, and are hereby enacted into a separate county by the name of Huntingdon County." It would be interesting to say something about the early settlers, their customs, hardships endured on ac-count of the sparseness of the settlement, the inconveniences met in a new country, and the ravages of the red man, who was ever on the alert for an opportunity to plunder and murder. But we leave this for the historian, and give more special attention to the religion of the country as advanced by the Brethren church. In the year 1708, in Schwartzenau, Germany, Alexander Mack, with a number of others, becoming dissatisfied with the corruptions practiced in the prevailing churches, took to a careful searching of the Scriptures, and, after much prayer and fasting, they determined to form themselves into a new organization, accepting the Scriptures alone as their rule of faith and practice. As a result of this step persecution soon followed, and that they might enjoy the liberty of worshiping God in harmony with his revealed will and in peace, they commenced emigrating to America. In 1719, some of the Brethren, as they then called themselves, came over, but the church was not fully organized until the year 1729, when Alexander Mack and family, and others, amounting to twenty-six in all, carne across the ocean. The first settlement was made in Germantown, where the first church-house was built by the Brethren in America, which is still standing as a living record of the zeal and enterprise of the infant church. On the arrival of the nicks and this additional membership, the church became imbued with new life, and commenced enlarging her borders, spreading with the tide of civilization southward, northward and westward, until the year 1802, when this county was yet a wilderness, with an occasional settlement in the best valleys and along the streams, an organization was effected in the Aughwick Valley, Huntingdon County. The number of persons was small, being only six in all, namely, Christian Long and wife, Daniel Secrist and wife, and Peter Secrist and wife, Christian Long was the minister, and Daniel Secrist the deacon. On account of Eld. Long not being able to speak the English, and the few settlers in the county, the growth of the church, at first, was slow. Some time after this, Jacob Lutz was called to the ministry, and he being able to speak the English, the church grew more rapidly, and its growth continued until it became the leading denomination in the valley, having quite a large membership. In later years, however, its membership was greatly diminished through emigration farther west, and into the western States, in most of which this church is largely represented. This church is especially noted for the large number of ministers it elected and sent out. The following is a list we have made, giving the date of their election: Peter Long, 1826; Andrew Spanogle and John King, 1827; Michael Bollinger, 1832; Grabil Myers and Christian Long, 1839; John G. Glock, 1842; John Spanogle, 1844; Abram Funck, 1847; Enoch Eby, 1853; George Myers, 1853; James R. Lane, 1858; P. L. Swane, 1861; Isaac Book and John B. Garver, 1869; Robert Wakefield, 1872; Seth Myers, 1874; Wm. L. Spanogle, 1877. Since then, Thomas Chilcott, John B. Shope and J. E. McEntire. Many of these are now sleeping with the fathers, while others are laboring in other fields. Of late years the field of this church has been considerably enlarged, embracing Aughwick Valley, Hill Valley, Hare's Valley and Black Log Valley, where there are good congregations and good church houses. The present membership is about 250, with James R. Lane, Seth Myers, Robert Wakefield, John B. Shope, and J. E. McEntire as ministers. As we have no record of the James Creek church, we are not able to give the date of the first settling of members there, it formerly being a part of the Clover Creek congregation, then of this county, but now of Blair. We name as the first ministers, John Shinefelt, Christian Hoover, John Martin and George Brumbaugh. In the year 1858, the members residing east of Tussey's Mountain were formed into a separate congregation, and named James Creek, after a creek running close by where the first church-house is built. The ministry, at the time of organization, was Eld. Isaac and George Brumbaugh. In the year 1863, G. B. and H. B. Brumbaugh were called, they being the only ministers elected by this church. In the year 1871, Eld. Isaac Brumbaugh died, and George Brumbaugh was ordained to the eldership, and at this time has charge of the church, assisted by G. B. Brumbaugh. The ministry of this church was greatly blessed, and from time to time many were gathered into the fold. It now has a membership of about 170, and three good church-houses, one at James Creek (Brumbaugh's Crossing), one at Entriken, and the other near the Raystown branch. Not having the statistics of the Warrior's Mark church, we are unable to give much of its history. Neither can we give the name of its founder, or the date of its organization. It is located in the extreme western part of the county, and its only church-house is at Spring Mount, a small village near the town of Warrior's Mark, and was built in the year 1857. Jacob Beck, Graybil Myers, H. R. Holsinger and Wm. Quin were its former ministers. At present the ministry consists of Eld. S. M. Cox, S. S. Gray and John Law. Its membership is about 75. The Huntingdon church is the latest organized in the county. The first regular preaching was held in a room furnished in the building on 14th & Washington Street, then used as the publishing house of the Pilgrim, a church paper which, after two consolidations, has been merged into the Gospel Messenger. The room was comfortably furnished, seated about 150 persons, and was dedicated to the worship of God on June 20th, 1875. Eld. P. S. Myers, of the Spring Run church, preached the dedicatory sermon. From this date regular services were held each Sabbath by H. B. Brumbaugh, until the fall of 1876, when, at the consolidation of the Pilgrim and Primitive Christian, Eld. James Quinter located at this place, and in 1878 the church was regularly organized, with Eld. Quinter as the bishop, and a local membership of twelve. At first the congregations were quite small, but gradually increased until the little chapel was well filled. The Word preached was accepted and blessed of the Lord, and a number were added to the church during the first year of its existence. The additions, each year, up to the present, are as follows: In 1876, nine; 1877, fourteen; 1878, seven; 1879, thirteen; 1880, six; 1881, three; 1882, five; 1883, sixteen; 1884, four ;1885, eighteen; 1886, seven; 1887, four. On the 17th of April, 1876, the Brethren's Normal School was opened by Prof. J. M. Zook, in the same building, and the religious services connected with the school were held in this chapel. We name this in this connection because it became part of the church's work, and the persons added were largely students of the school, who have gone from us to labor in other fields, some as ministers, and others as zealous Christian workers, to service for the Master wherever found. Soon after the organization of this church, a small number of members, located some five miles east of this place, belonging to the Aughwick congregation, were given to this charge, and now form part of its membership. They have preaching on the first and third Sunday of each month, at Sugar Grove and Ardenheim alternately. Our present membership is 68, Eld. James Quinter, H. B. Brumbaugh and W. J. Swigart being the ministers. Bro. Swigart commenced his labors in the ministry in this church in the year 1879. Had we the time, we would gladly give a number of interesting events connected with the origin and growth of this church, but for the present must forbear. We have now given a hastily-sketched history of the Brethren church within the limits of Huntingdon county during the present century. And, though very incomplete, on account of the shortness of the time given to its preparation, and a lack of the necessary records, yet we hope that it may not be altogether without interest, especially to such as may read it in the book of Chronicles at the next Centennial. We now conclude by referring to a few incidents connected with "ye olden- times," connected with aged brethren who long ago went to their reward. It always has been a source of real pleasure to us to sit with the aged and hear them rehearse their experiences. Some of these rehearsals pass vividly before us now, and seem as if heard only a few years ago. The last visit we made to our much-esteemed elder, Grabil Myers, a former minister of the Aughwick church, but now located at Eldorado, Pa., in speaking of the changes that are constantly occurring "through the force of circumstances," as he puts it, in regard to customs, modes of living, etc., the related one about his father. HIe was a very large and lusty man, and, as it was the custom in those days, to go to church on horse-back, it was so inconvenient for him to thus ride that he concluded to get for himself a one-horse Dearborn. Though it was without springs, and very plain in construction, yet it was a new thing for the times. He got one, however, and was satisfied with its suitableness for his purpose. But imagine his disappointment when, at the next church meeting, he was brought before the council for riding in a fashionable wagon. The decision was that he should put it away. Where he put it we are not informed. And, as strange as the action may appear to us, who seem to have no scruples about going to church in the most finely ornamented spring carriages, yet the underlying principle we are trying to retain, and should never lose sight of, to draw the brakes on the spirit of pride and extravagance. Eld. Andrew Spanogle, Sr., was a man of more than ordinary ability in his day, and, to use the common expression, "was as bold as a lion." He was an eloquent preacher and a free conversationalist with no lack of native-born wit, and when thrown into the company of ministers of other denominations, it was a common thing to drift into a discussion on their differences of faith and practice. One Sunday afternoon he was riding along in company with a Presbyterian minister, and, as they came to the ford of the Aughwick Creek, they were in the midst of a heated discussion on baptism. And as, while crossing, Eld. Spanogle was pressing his views on immersion, the Presbyterian minister some-what impatiently remarked, "It is all right for ducks to strike for the water, but I prefer to keep out of it as much as possible." Just as the last word was uttered, his horse stumbled, and he fell headlong into the creek, being completely immersed before he was able to regain his feet. As he looked up at his companion, Eld. Spanogle, with a smile on his face, said, "Why, my dear brother, you seem to take to the water quite as freely as I do." This ended the discussion. Eld. McNealy was the pioneer preacher of this and some of the more western counties. He was an Irish-man by birth, of the homespun order, always traveled to his appointments on foot, and carried with him his ever trusty flintlock rifle. This he would stand behind the log cabin or school-house door while preaching. As he was non-resistant in principle, of course he did not use his rifle to kill Indians, but to protect himself against the ravages of bears and wolves, which were abundant in those days. What he did when a fine buck or doe came in his way, our historian does not tell us. In hearing of the customs and experiences of our ancient brethren, we are apt to think of them as being old fogies, and away behind the times. This, however, is a mistake, as they were neither. Many of them were men of ability and mighty in the Scriptures, and stood head and shoulders with other ministers of their day. If they did not have much classical culture, they were filled with the Spirit and a knowledge of the truth. With simple boldness they preached the Word in power and with effect, and, though arrayed in the humble garb of the backwoodsman, under their sermons sinners were convicted of sin and converted to God. They lived, walked and preached as men among men. Among the trees, in the log cabins, in the upper rooms and barn floors, the gospel was preached with as much real eloquence, and received with as much gladness of heart as it is now given and received in our grandest churches and cathedrals. If all the acts they did, the long journeys on foot and horseback made, the sacrifices endured, the perils met in lonely by-ways and mountain paths, were written in a book of Chronicles we would have much to interest and instruct and to thank God for,-that in the early days of the present century such men lived as the Longs, Hoovers, Myers, Spanogles, Brumbaughs, Bollingers, Glocks, and many other valiant soldiers of the cross that we might name. As we have presented before us the almost innumerable disadvantages under which our forefathers lived and labored, the sacrifices made and the hardships endured, and then look at what we now have and enjoy, how great are our responsibilities, and how grateful we should be to our Heavenly Father that it is our lot to live in this day of peace, prosperity and spiritual abundance and advantages! Let us so live, and so labor in the vineyard of the Lord that generations yet unborn may rise up in their day and thank God that we lived. May our acts and deeds we do, be written by the Recording Angels of heaven, in the Father's Book of Chronicles, so that when they are read, the King of kings may say of us, "What good thing shall be done for those whom the Lord delighteth to honor?" <end of item> Wayne Webb Editor: Brethren Roots