Afternoon folks, This posting is somewhat lengthy. So if you are not interested in these postings, delete it. The reason for the lengthy posting is because after working on the closing portion containing the lengthy “Our Meetings” by John D. Fink I saw in the same issue an even more interesting article. Not wanting to delete work already done I decided to go out on a limb and include everything. The report by Jesse Crosswhite about Johnstown, Pennsylvania contained information of interest both geographically but also historically. Reading between the lines (which I often do) I get the impression that he was siding with Holsinger and Bashore. I make this statement based upon Crosswhite’s comments concerning his sermons delivered. Often I do not include such passages but in this instance I thought his sermons were stating his opinion on this “Times of Turmoil” in the German Baptist Brethren church and I found them intriguing. Jesse Crosswhite died in 1891 as a member of what today is the Church of the Brethren in Tennessee. For those of you not familiar with the 1880s in the German Baptist church, the early 1880s were the years in which the church split not once but twice. Out of the decisions made in 1881 and 1882 we now have, in general, the Old Order German Baptists, the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church. There were other groups that came out of these church bodies but they were generally in the 1900s. In closing, if anyone has access to WinXP Pro 64bit would you please contact me off list. I find myself needing an original installation disk. Cordially, Wayne Webb A Trip to Johnstown. by Jesse Crosswhite. According to previous arrangement I boarded the train at Huntingdon on the 23rd of June, and after a ride of some hours through the most picturesque and romantic part of the State of Pennsylvania—it being across the Alleghenies where the road attains the sublime height of some hundreds of feet above the surrounding country, and passing through two pretty extensive tunnels, I arrived safely at the place of my destination—Johnstown. As I was a little in advance of my communication, we had no meeting until Saturday evening. At the appointed hour, 7½ o'clock, p. m., I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time a goodly number of brethren and sisters in their convenient and handsome church. My first introduction to some of the members was quite amusing and novel. Being an entire stranger to them personally, I suppose they thought it best to get at once to my true status on the church question, and to this end I had scarcely taken a seat in the church until two of the most prominent among them approached me on the subject by asking me if I thought "it right to expel members from the church without giving them a fair trial." Without any hesitancy I answered that I did not think any one ought to be expelled without giving them a chance for a fair trial. My interrogators then asked me what I thought of the case of H. R. Holsinger. I replied that the proposition and the case were not analogus. That in the first case, Holsinger had a fair trial upon the charges preferred against him at the A. M. in 1881 and was found guilty of preaching and circulating through the medium of the press, "things subversive of the established doctrines and usages of the church, and that upon the clear testimony examined by the committee appointed by the said A. M. to investigate the case, his guilt was so declared. That a second committee was then appointed by A. M. to go to Berlin and wait on him and "deal with him according to his transgression." That he refused to give any satisfaction whatever to that committee, or to be tried by them unless they, like himself, would violate some of the long established usages and practices of the church. This they refused to do, and so could not give him any further hearing in the case, and hence the only alternative left them was to report him as unwilling "to hear the church," and therefore as a "heathen man and a publican." Seeing that it would be a bit troublesome to maintain their position on this point, they then changed their tactics and asked me how about the case of "turning out S. H. Bashor without giving him a trial." In reply, I told them that the church had not turned out S. H. Bashor at all, but that upon charges which were sufficiently authenticated before the A. M. to warrant such action, he had been deposed from the ministry, and a committee of brethren appointed to notify him of the fact, as that seemed to be the only way to reach him, as he seemed from the proof to not have his membership in any particular congregation. Just here in this connection I will state that while visiting around Johnstown I heard a report that a paper published in that place had a statement in it that the "Dunkard church had expelled S. H. Bashor for going to college." Now, as I did not see the statement in the paper myself, I cannot say for certain whether there was any such statement in the Johnstown papers or not, but this one thing I do know, that if there is, it is utterly false, and the author of it has either wilfully lied or ignorantly misrepresented the church, and in either case the publisher of the report ought to have the manliness to give his authority and give the brethren an opportunity to set the matter right before the readers of his paper. This, I know, any honorable man would not refuse to do, but would be glad to have an opportunity to correct such an erroneous falsehood. The next text upon which these brethren were disposed to try me, was whether I was disposed to make the laws of men superior to the law of God. I told them "most assuredly not, but let God be true if it made every man a liar." They then asked me how I received the decisions of the late A. M. which made its decisions law by making them mandatory. I told them that the action of the last A. M. was only giving expression to a firm determination to more rigidly enforce the law of God upon the members of the church in the future than they had done in the past, that their experience taught them that the time had indeed come when they (many of the members) "will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts they heap unto themselves teachers, having itching ears, who through feigned words and fair speeches were making merchandise of them." That it became necessary therefore to more rigidly enforce the discipline of the church—the whole of the law as given by Christ and the Apostles—by mandatory rule, and not by advice only. The time having now arrived for preaching to begin, I proceeded to preach them a sermon upon the government of the church. My subject for the occasion was Daniel's interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar the king. That in the days of certain kings the God of heaven would set up a kingdom which would "not be left to other people, but stand forever." That these certain kings were both to be reigning at the same time, and that one was to be strong as "iron" and the other weak as "potter's clay," and that they would have no affinity for each other, as the "iron and the clay" would not mingle together. That these were fulfilled in the persons of Herod and Caesar, who were both reigning at the time of the personal ministry of Jesus who was "God manifest in the flesh." That Jesus did "set up" his own kingdom when he organized his church by "ordaining" twelve apostles. That Jesus delivered to those apostles by oral communication what is properly the constitution for the government of his kingdom or church. That this constitution is contained in what is called the gospel as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That this formed the nucleus for all the laws which ever should be given for the government of the church, and that any law which should ever be enacted by any body of men whether inspired or uninspired, which did not have a predicate in the constitution, was a usurpation of power and an unconstitutional law, and that, as such, the members of the church were under no kind of obligation to obey it. But on the contrary, that the Lord has said by the mouth of the prophet that "of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." That as the term "zion" in the text was conceded by all to mean the church, therefore the church has the authority according to the saying of the Lord to enact such laws, rules and regulations for its local government and convenience as it may deem proper for the more successful prosecution of its work—provided however that there is a predicate in the constitution for so doing. For example, while there is no positive prohibition, as a "Thus saith the Lord" in the word of' God against dancing, yet the spirit of the Gospel is against it, and while there is no positive prohibition against drinking a dram of' whiskey or of gambling, or of polygamy, and many other things which might be named, yet we believe the spirit of the Gospel is against it. Hence I maintained that the church has by right and by scriptural authority the prerogative to pass laws, make rules, and enforce precepts, which tends to its humility, its purity, its unity, and its peace. I believe this just as I believe our legislative bodies have the right according to our national constitution to enact laws for the peace, purity, and protection of the citizens of this nation, and also any local measure provided it has a predicate in the constitution. But if they make laws which have no predicate in the national constitution, then it becomes a usurpation of power and an assumption preemtory upon their part. Just so, when the church in council passes a decision which tends to the humility, purity and oneness of the church, whether the thing is expressed in the scriptures in just so many words or not, we know it is in harmony with the church constitution. It certainly ought to be conceded by all in formed people that no nation, State, county, church or society can exist in any degree of harmony without laws and regulations for their government, and that these laws and regulations must be regulated by the circumstances which necessitate their enforcement. I closed my series of discourses, three in number, at Johnstown, on Sunday evening, by drawing a contrast between the slave and the adopted child, from the words, "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby ye cry, Abba, Father." The motive which prompts to action in the two cases is so apparent that it would seem that the most superficial observer could not fail to see the contrast at a glance, and yet a few words would not be out of place. All persons who are acquainted with the principle of slavery know that the slave only obeys his master from a principle of servile fear, and hence he only performs what service he knows he is compelled to do in order to escape chastisement, and even that is performed very reluctantly. The slave's only study is to find out just how much service he is compelled to do, or rather, how little he can do, and yet escape the rod of correction. Just so with the slave in the service of the Master. His chief study is to ascertain just how much of God's law he will be compelled to obey in order that he may escape hell and get to heaven. Hence he draws a very nice discrimination between the essentials and the non essentials in religion, and all that he finds expressed commands, he reluctantly obeys, while all that he finds which are not so clearly expressed as positive commands, he calls non-essentials, and therefore pays no heed to them. The slave wants a positive "thus saith the Lord" for everything he does in the service of his Master, and hence everything that is not thus positively commanded, although it may be sufficiently inferred, as to be adopted and practiced by the church, yet he persistently refuses to comply for the want of a more positive command in the matter. This is not the case with the adopted child of God. The principle of gratitude to his foster Father for his manifold mercies and innumerable blessings so graciously and gratuitously bestowed upon him, is the responsive chord in his heart which gives back that genuine love, and obedience which characterized his divine Master. Hence there is a motive of pure love and gratitude in the heart of the adopted child which makes it the chief desire of his heart to "glorify God in his body and in his spirit which is his." Therefore the chief desire of such a one is, to try if possible to anticipate his Father's wishes and joyfully obey them whether positive, commanded, or implied. And hence, with the child of God there are no non-essentials in the Master's will. The meetings were all well attended, and I felt that I had the respect and good wishes of all. And in return, I hereby tender to all the members my sincere thanks for their substantial encouragement which they gave me, and also for the Christian courtesy and generous hospitality in caring for my comfort. Leaving Johnstown we went out into the country to attend some appointments where we also met and made the acquaintance of kind, warm-hearted brethren and sisters, who also gave us a hearty welcome, and contributed liberally to our comfort. Upon the whole, I was much pleased with my visit among them, and hope the enjoyment was mutual. We returned to Huntingdon safely and found all well. We go next to visit the brethren at James Creek, after which we will start in the direction of home. We go by way of Lewistown, where we expect to remain a few days, and then go to brother Myers' in Rockingham county, Va., where we hope to arrive on the 21st, and from there to brother Peter Nininger's, Rockingham county, Va., by the 1st of August. Correspondence. Notices. Lovefeasts. The brethren of Pigeon Creek church, Marshall Co , Illinois, will hold their lovefeast on the 26th of August, commencing at 4 p. m. We want to hold a series of meetings in connection with the feast. A general invitation is extended. C. S. Holsinger. The brethren of the Libertyville church, Jefferson Co., Iowa, will hold their communion meeting September 22nd and 23rd, commencing at 3 o'clock, to continue over Sunday. A general invitation is extended to the brethren to he with us. Jas. Glotfelty. The Little Traverse church, Michigan, will hold their communion on the 26 of August. Our members here are generally in limited circumstances, hardly able to defray traveling expenses, but if any will come they will be heartily welcomed. Those coming will please inform soon the writer or Eld. Martin Cosner, at Lonsdale, Emmett Co., Michigan. There will be reduced rates on the G. R. and Ind. R. R. By order of the church. S. Weimer. (Brethren at Work please copy.) >From the Maumee Church. Ohio Dear Primitive: Our church is moving along slowly. Weather is pleasant here, with little showers. Corn is doing well. Nights are cool. Harvest about half done. Oats and grass look well, wheat average, potatoes promising. Your brother. July 15. Jacob Kintner. >From Mount Joy, Church. Dear Primitive: Wheat will be a very good crop this season in general. Question. Who are the lost sheep of Israel. Our most esteemed sister, Annie R. Myers, has been quite ill for some time. My prayer is that she may recover soon. Her voice is very much missed in church and Sunday school. Yours in bonds of love. July 1st. J. M. Ritter. >From Mulberry Grove, Illinois. Dear Primitive:— The Lord's heritage is still extant here although we have no additions to boast of. I was in St. Louis on the 1st and 2nd, and had three meetings. Found the members alive in the good cause, but some were not well and unable to attend meeting. I think the great need in St. Louis at present is a good house of worship and a live, working, resident minister. May the Lord send laborers into his vineyard. Our harvest is principally gathered. We have a large crop of wheat and oats. Corn promises well where it has been properly cultivated. Fruit in abundance. Fraternally, July 15. John Wise. >From Carlton, Nebraska. Dear Brethren: The Lord's cause is moving along slowly in the Bethel church. There are perhaps too many lukewarm members for the good cause to prosper. Our quarterly council meeting came off the first inst. One third of the membership was present. Nothing but brotherly love was manifested. It does our souls good to be present at such meetings. The brethren have no Sunday school here this summer. Our Methodist brethren carry on a seemingly prosperous Sunday school right in our midst, and this should provoke our brethren to also engage in the work. O God, we pray that thy children may be more zealous in the glorious work of converting sinners!... July 9th. Levi Hoffert. >From Pierceton, Indiana. Dear Editors: Church work is running ordinarily smooth. Only a little on the drag. Love and union prevailing. Have meeting regularly three Sundays in each month. Are building a new house of worship in extreme east of district, some five miles west of Columbia city. Is now nearly completed. This second house was built expressly for the accommodation of a band of members, living in that locality. And when completed, will be highly appreciated by them. Hope it may prove a blessing to our dear members over there, as well as others, who may love the truth. May God help, that the labors of the church may be a means of doing much good. I am almost ashamed to tell you that we let our little Sunday School drop for this summer on account of not having a respectable support from those that should lead in this noble work, of training the youth, of our respective neighborhood. And to express their pure minds, with bible truth's, "before the evil day cometh." But then so it goes, will try and do better, in the future. Jonas Umbaugh (our esteemed Elder) is still in feeble health, though is able to attend meeting part of the time. Health in general is good. Weather has so far been rather wet and cool. Though all kinds of crops are looking well, with the exception of wheat, which was badly injured by the open winter, and also by the fly. It will make a good half crop and is now about ready for the reapers, and by next week about all the wheat, in this vicinity, will be in shock. Oats, flax, and grass is excellent, corn is also good for the chance it had, we had a little too much lain. Fruit will be scarce. Yours fraternally July 9th E. Miller. Our Meetings. Dear Brethren: I will ask for a place in your columns once more to let the Brotherhood know how we are doing. Brethren D. F. Wolf, W. H. Franklin and W. A Gaunt paid us a visit on the 15th of June. Brother Gaunt commenced meetings at Waters' school-house, 2½ miles from Harpers Ferry on the afternoon and evening of the 16th. Had a good audience in the evening, a good meeting and much interest. All seemed to be satisfied with the way and manner that the brother proclaimed the word of Truth, and said that his discourse was in harmony with their idea of pure religion. Good impressions are left at this pace. Bro. Gaunt also preached to a small audience in the forenoon of the 17th, and after services came to our home for a rest. Brethren Wolf and Franklin held meeting on the night of 16th at Hillsboro, 10 miles south of Harper's Ferry. Had a fair congregation and good attention. They came to our house on the 17th. Brethren Franklin and Wolf and a part of my family went to the home of Mr. Philip Dorris in the afternoon and held a meeting. All present realized that it was good to be there. We then rested until Sabbath morning when there was an appointment at Neersville, five mile south of Harper's Ferry, where we had arranged for services in the woods, a pleasant, shady and convenient place. When the hour arrived for services to open, the woods was alive with people and the meeting was opened in the usual way, after which brother Gaunt took for his text "Go ye therefore," &c. All present said that it was the plainest, grandest discourse they over heard, There were present Methodists, Lutherans and worldlings, and all agreed that brother Gaunt presented the truth very plainly. After preaching two were added to the church by baptism, the writer being one of them. In the evening there was preaching again and as the meeting was about closing two more persons made application to be received into the church by baptism. Bro. Gaunt then consented to stay with us until the next Sunday. He announced that there would be preaching on the morning of the 26th, after which the ordinance of baptism would be administered. We then went to our homes with hearts full of love, joy and gladness, all realizing that we had a good time. On the afternoon of the 18th Bro. Franklin left us and went toward Harper's Ferry, where he had an appointment in the afternoon at Waters' school-house. We heard through some of the friends that they had a pleasant meeting. The truth is, these sermons that the Brethren have been preaching here have left their mark. There is now a little church of eight established and we think there will be many more additions soon. The foundation is now laid for a large church. Brethren Wolf and Gaunt remained with us through the next week, and as there were several announcements made ahead for several days, we made arrangements to meet them when the time came. On Monday morning the two preachers and wife and I drove about five miles south-east of our place and stopped at friend Peter Compher's, whose hospitalities we enjoyed, after which we had quite an exhortation by brother Gaunt, and closed with prayer by brother Wolf: Several of the neighbors were also present. Old Mr. Compher enjoyed the meeting very much and the rest of the family expressed themselves much encouraged and strengthened in the faith of the Gospel. We then started for another of our old neighbors, whose whole family is still indifferent to religion and future happiness. They seem to have no knowledge of Christ, and of that power of his to raise us from the dead. We had a pleasant time together and after supper started to Wood Grove, fifteen miles west of Harpers Ferry, the place of appointment for the evening, but on account of a heavy rain in the afternoon the audience was not large. Bro. Gaunt again addressed us from the words of James, "Pure religion and undefiled," &c. All were much pleased. This is a Methodist and New School Baptist locality and this was the first sermon ever preached here by the Brethren. All said it was fully in harmony with the Word of God. After preaching had a good night's rest. [Note from Wayne: The phrase, "There is now a little church of eight established..." may indicate a new-found church.] The next morning we went to Hamilton, a very flourishing little village of 250 inhabitants, seven miles south-east of Wood Grove. In going to this place we pass the terminus of the Washington and Ohio R R. at a place called Round Hill, and three miles farther on towards Hamilton, a very thrifty little place called Purcellville, a station on the B. and O. R R. where there is a foundry and machine shop. At this place we had an invitation to hold meeting after harvest is over and people have more time to go to preaching. At Hamiltonsville we called on our friend Mr. Washington Haines, who received us with true Virginia hospitality, and made the brethren feel at home. Mrs. Haines is also very much of a Christian lady. After dinner brother Wolf and I walked out to see Mr. Haine's stock. He has the finest herd of thorough bred short horn Durhams in Loudon County. I think about thirty-six head of the finest cows I ever saw, and about as many calves. I think he has eighty or ninety head. Mr. H. is wealthy but very unassuming and unpretentious and very common in manners and in dress. This was Tuesday evening the 20th of June. In the evening we went to meeting. Mr. Haines stopped all hands in time that they might all have a chance to hear the brethren preach the word of truth. The house was filled, all anxious to hear what these Dunkards had to say. It was thought there were three hundred or more in the house, and perfect silence reigned. The people were highly pleased, and said the nights were short and work crowding them but if we would stay they would all come on the next evening. But we had to pass on as brother Wolf's time was precious and so was ours. The next morning we went on through Leesburg, our county town, to Mr. John Arnold's, who lives near Goesville, about mid-way between Leesburg and Point Rocks, where we had another meeting in the evening. As there was no church handy and Mr. Arnold had a large, roomy house, capable of accommodating at least one hundred persons comfortably in one room, he invited the people to his house. We had quite an enjoyable season together. In the morning Mr Arnold took brother Wolf to the railroad and we left for home. There was still another engagement. Mr. Rector was confined to his bed and several times requested preaching at his house. Bro. Gaunt, my two daughters and I started for his house where we arrived about 4 o'clock and found the house full of men and women who were eager to hear more of the blessed Gospel preached. Brother Gaunt gave us another sermon. On Saturday afternoon we held another family service at Mr. Henry Payton's house where there is a woman who has been blind for a number of years and had not heard a sermon or prayer for as long a time. After this service we went to Mr. Philip Derry's where brother Gaunt preached for the people again. On Sunday morning we all went to Neersville to the appointment in the grove. The woods was filled with people eager to hear our young brother expound the word of God. At the close we had two more applicants for baptism. The holy rite was performed and this ended our meetings. We think the seed that has been scattered will yield a bountiful harvest. Impressions have sunk deep into the hearts of the people and will work like the leaven hid in three measures of meal. Brethren, pray for us that the good work already begun may prosper. Be earnest, be zealous, for your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Proclaim the truth, both in print and from the stand that our people may see their sins and be converted. We have a bountiful harvest for which we are all grateful. Yours in Christ. J. D. Fink. Mechanicsville, Va.