| The Hagerstown Church of the Brethren |
| Tercentennial Minutes - April 2008 by Pastor Frank Ramirez of the Everett, Pennsylvania congregation |
| Hagerstown Church of the Brethren 15 S. Mulberry Street Hagerstown, MD 21740. Telephone: 301-733-3565. Fax: 301-733-3598. Office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - noon & 1:00 –4:00 p.m. |
| MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren is to celebrate the love of Jesus Christ and glorify the Lord by striving to live as Christ lived, experiencing the power of God's healing in our lives. We seek to nurture our faith community through prayer, music and the proclaimed Word, while enthusiastically reaching out to others with compassion, respect and love for everyone so that we may grow in faith and commitment together. VISION STATEMENT Journeying with Christ Serving Our Neighbors Uniting at the Master’s Table |
In continuing celebration of 300 years of the Church of the Brethren we are including a “Tercentennial Minute” in
each worship service. Written by Pastor Frank Ramirez of the Everett, Pennsylvania congregation, these short
articles highlight our Brethren history and challenge our deeper discipleship. I hope you enjoy them as much as I
do. We are including them in the Tidings for those who missed and those who want to hear it again. - Pastor Ed
each worship service. Written by Pastor Frank Ramirez of the Everett, Pennsylvania congregation, these short
articles highlight our Brethren history and challenge our deeper discipleship. I hope you enjoy them as much as I
do. We are including them in the Tidings for those who missed and those who want to hear it again. - Pastor Ed
Mutual Aid Association is Founded
Mutual Aid has always been at the heart of Brethren faith and practice. If your barn burned down, a
flood destroyed your home, or your crops were wiped out by a storm, your fellow Brethren took care
of you. As Peter Nead, in his book Primitive Christianity put it, “It is very evident, that if the members
of the church are in love and fellowship towards one another, they will not suffer their poor brethren
and sisters, if it lies in their power, to want for any of the necessaries of life.”
As long as most Brethren lived in the east it was still possible for mutual aid to be provided on a
personal basis. But Brethren were on the move, advancing with the frontier. In Kansas and other
western states this was becoming harder and harder. There simply weren't enough Brethren in the
western states. Starting in 1847 Brethren began to discuss the possibility of first property insurance,
and then life insurance.
For some Brethren insurance was a form of gambling that indicated a lack of faith. God and God’s
people would always take care of the believers.
Insurance was only one of many issues that disturbed the 19th Century church. Brethren remained
united as a church on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line during the Civil War, although it was
impossible for most of them to get together. Ironically once they got back together they began to fall
apart. In the early 1880’s there was a three way split with the Old Orders breaking away and the
Progressives forming their own church once they were thrown out.
Though Brethren were reeling from the three-way split they were finally able to settle the important
question of insurance, giving the go-ahead to a group from Kansas. On April 1, 1885, in Osawkie,
located in Jefferson County, a group of Brethren, led by Civil War hero P.R. Wrightsman, founded the
Brethren Mutual Aid Society of Northeast Kansas. The organization has been known by many names,
but it still exists today as the Mutual Aid Association, and still insures many Brethren churches and
homes.
And that’s the Tercentennial Moment for April 6, 2008.
Mutual Aid has always been at the heart of Brethren faith and practice. If your barn burned down, a
flood destroyed your home, or your crops were wiped out by a storm, your fellow Brethren took care
of you. As Peter Nead, in his book Primitive Christianity put it, “It is very evident, that if the members
of the church are in love and fellowship towards one another, they will not suffer their poor brethren
and sisters, if it lies in their power, to want for any of the necessaries of life.”
As long as most Brethren lived in the east it was still possible for mutual aid to be provided on a
personal basis. But Brethren were on the move, advancing with the frontier. In Kansas and other
western states this was becoming harder and harder. There simply weren't enough Brethren in the
western states. Starting in 1847 Brethren began to discuss the possibility of first property insurance,
and then life insurance.
For some Brethren insurance was a form of gambling that indicated a lack of faith. God and God’s
people would always take care of the believers.
Insurance was only one of many issues that disturbed the 19th Century church. Brethren remained
united as a church on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line during the Civil War, although it was
impossible for most of them to get together. Ironically once they got back together they began to fall
apart. In the early 1880’s there was a three way split with the Old Orders breaking away and the
Progressives forming their own church once they were thrown out.
Though Brethren were reeling from the three-way split they were finally able to settle the important
question of insurance, giving the go-ahead to a group from Kansas. On April 1, 1885, in Osawkie,
located in Jefferson County, a group of Brethren, led by Civil War hero P.R. Wrightsman, founded the
Brethren Mutual Aid Society of Northeast Kansas. The organization has been known by many names,
but it still exists today as the Mutual Aid Association, and still insures many Brethren churches and
homes.
And that’s the Tercentennial Moment for April 6, 2008.
Prayer Changes the Face of the Enemy
Though Brethren on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line remained united in their opposition to slavery
and war, there was no question that Brethren in the South had it harder than their sisters and
brothers in the North. Property was confiscated, pledges of exemption were broken, and some were
killed.
Against this background the experiences of P.R. Wrightsman of Limestone, Tennessee are as typical
as any. In 1862 Wrightsman was the youngest minister in the congregation and was away studying to
be a doctor when a council meeting was called by his church after some of their young men were
imprisoned by the Confederates. Because he was absent he was the one deputized to go to
Richmond to seek their release.
Wrightsman was on a train full of Confederate soldiers when a minister of another faith discovered
his stand against war and insisted “This war is different.” Wrightsman stood his ground. When he
discovered his challenger believed that God had inspired George Washington to go to war,
Wrightsman asked him that if he thought so why would he fight against that same country Washington
founded. The anger expressed by both the minister and the soldiers put him in jeopardy, but he
arrived unharmed and fulfilled his mission.
Over the course of the next few years most of his property was taken by Confederate soldiers. He
recalled how late in the war when the soldiers:
"…came for the last horse they rode up with threats and curses. Their language and manner impressed
me that they came with intent to kill me. Part of the squad went to the field for the last horse and part
remained with me under their charge. I just stepped inside the stable, stood with my hands upwards, and
prayed to my heavenly Father, saying, “Dear Father, save me from these men. Have mercy upon them, and
turn them from their evil course, and save thy servant.”
I never exercised stronger faith in prayer than at that time. It seemed as if I was speaking face to face with
my blessed Lord. When I stepped out to the soldiers I felt that God had answered my prayer, for I could see
the Satanic look going down out of their faces like the shadow of a cloud before the bright sunlight.
The soldiers then said to me, “Mr. Wrightsman, can we get some bread? “O yes,” said I, “we are
commanded to feed the hungry.” I went at once to the kitchen and requested my sisters to cut off a large
slice of bread, and butter it for each of them. They did so and I took it out into the yard and handed a slice
to each. They thanked me for the bread, bowed their heads, mounted their horses and rode away, taking
my last horse with t hem, however. Feeling sure the Lord had saved my life, I felt happy, “thanked God and
took courage.” This occurred in the summer of 1863….”
And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for April 13, 2008
Though Brethren on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line remained united in their opposition to slavery
and war, there was no question that Brethren in the South had it harder than their sisters and
brothers in the North. Property was confiscated, pledges of exemption were broken, and some were
killed.
Against this background the experiences of P.R. Wrightsman of Limestone, Tennessee are as typical
as any. In 1862 Wrightsman was the youngest minister in the congregation and was away studying to
be a doctor when a council meeting was called by his church after some of their young men were
imprisoned by the Confederates. Because he was absent he was the one deputized to go to
Richmond to seek their release.
Wrightsman was on a train full of Confederate soldiers when a minister of another faith discovered
his stand against war and insisted “This war is different.” Wrightsman stood his ground. When he
discovered his challenger believed that God had inspired George Washington to go to war,
Wrightsman asked him that if he thought so why would he fight against that same country Washington
founded. The anger expressed by both the minister and the soldiers put him in jeopardy, but he
arrived unharmed and fulfilled his mission.
Over the course of the next few years most of his property was taken by Confederate soldiers. He
recalled how late in the war when the soldiers:
"…came for the last horse they rode up with threats and curses. Their language and manner impressed
me that they came with intent to kill me. Part of the squad went to the field for the last horse and part
remained with me under their charge. I just stepped inside the stable, stood with my hands upwards, and
prayed to my heavenly Father, saying, “Dear Father, save me from these men. Have mercy upon them, and
turn them from their evil course, and save thy servant.”
I never exercised stronger faith in prayer than at that time. It seemed as if I was speaking face to face with
my blessed Lord. When I stepped out to the soldiers I felt that God had answered my prayer, for I could see
the Satanic look going down out of their faces like the shadow of a cloud before the bright sunlight.
The soldiers then said to me, “Mr. Wrightsman, can we get some bread? “O yes,” said I, “we are
commanded to feed the hungry.” I went at once to the kitchen and requested my sisters to cut off a large
slice of bread, and butter it for each of them. They did so and I took it out into the yard and handed a slice
to each. They thanked me for the bread, bowed their heads, mounted their horses and rode away, taking
my last horse with t hem, however. Feeling sure the Lord had saved my life, I felt happy, “thanked God and
took courage.” This occurred in the summer of 1863….”
And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for April 13, 2008
The End of the World is Rescheduled for April 19, 1875
On September 27, 1868 a small group of Brethren climbed a haystack to be closer to heaven as they
waited for their Lord to descend from the clouds. Despite their fervent prayers, and their belief in the
biblical calculations of William C. Thurman (c.1830-1906), nothing happened. Eventually some local
rowdies set fire to the hay, forcing the Brethren to come down, severely disappointed.
It wouldn’t be the last time.
Thurman was a Virginia Baptist who joined the Brethren in 1862. That same year he wrote a book on
biblical nonresistance that helped many Brethren in the south win exemption from the military draft.
However, he was eventually expelled from the Brethren because of his contrary stance on the
subject of feetwashing.
But he was best known for his views on the end of the world. In Sealed Book of Daniel Opened he set
the date for the return of Christ on September 27, 1868. Many Christians, Adventist, Brethren, and
others, were attracted to his ideas. Undeterred by the failure of his calculations he rescheduled the
end of the world for a month later on October 28. Then October 17, 1869. Then April 19, 1875.
Even though his recalculations proved to be just as flawed, over a hundred Brethren left the church
and joined him. Some of these Thurmanites, as they came to be known, later rejoined the Church of
the Brethren and the Brethren Church in the 1880’s
It is said that when one Brethren elder was offered one of Thurman’s books he declined, wryly noting
that he already had enough kindling. Thurman continued to predict the end of the world until he died,
penniless, in 1906, by which time he had recalculated the end of the world for 1917.
And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for April 20, 2008.
On September 27, 1868 a small group of Brethren climbed a haystack to be closer to heaven as they
waited for their Lord to descend from the clouds. Despite their fervent prayers, and their belief in the
biblical calculations of William C. Thurman (c.1830-1906), nothing happened. Eventually some local
rowdies set fire to the hay, forcing the Brethren to come down, severely disappointed.
It wouldn’t be the last time.
Thurman was a Virginia Baptist who joined the Brethren in 1862. That same year he wrote a book on
biblical nonresistance that helped many Brethren in the south win exemption from the military draft.
However, he was eventually expelled from the Brethren because of his contrary stance on the
subject of feetwashing.
But he was best known for his views on the end of the world. In Sealed Book of Daniel Opened he set
the date for the return of Christ on September 27, 1868. Many Christians, Adventist, Brethren, and
others, were attracted to his ideas. Undeterred by the failure of his calculations he rescheduled the
end of the world for a month later on October 28. Then October 17, 1869. Then April 19, 1875.
Even though his recalculations proved to be just as flawed, over a hundred Brethren left the church
and joined him. Some of these Thurmanites, as they came to be known, later rejoined the Church of
the Brethren and the Brethren Church in the 1880’s
It is said that when one Brethren elder was offered one of Thurman’s books he declined, wryly noting
that he already had enough kindling. Thurman continued to predict the end of the world until he died,
penniless, in 1906, by which time he had recalculated the end of the world for 1917.
And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for April 20, 2008.
The Gospel Visitor Makes Its First Call
Henry Kurtz (1796-1874) moved to Ohio in 1826, hoping to found the perfect church. Instead he found
the Brethren, and that proved good enough.
Kurtz was born in Germany and immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1817, where he became a
schoolteacher. Two years later he began to study for the Lutheran pastorate. Within six years he was
dissatisfied enough to leave that church behind and move to Starke County, Ohio where he planned
to create a Christian utopia.
That venture failed. However in the process Kurtz discovered the Brethren. He was attracted by
their desire to live according to the dictates of the New Testament. It is said that when he was
baptized he wore his Lutheran robes, which he allowed to slip from his shoulders as he rose up from
the waters.
Kurtz served the Mill Creek congregation in Mahoning County from 1842 until his death. He became
the clerk of the Annual Meeting in 1837 and also served on the Standing Committee. But it was as a
printer that he is best remembered. He published a German language hymnal that went through many
printings, the writings of Alexander Mack, as well as a compendium of Annual Meeting decisions he
called The Brethren’s Encyclopedia.
Change came slow for Brethren in the 19th century. Many Brethren leaders were opposed to the idea
of sponsoring any other reading material than the Bible, but ordinary Brethren were reading
magazines published by other denominations. Henry Kurtz began to wonder in the late 1840’s if a
Brethren magazine would help counteract the influence of these other publications, help provide
advice and assistance to church members, and keep Brethren in touch with other Brethren who were
beginning to spread across the continent.
The 1850 Annual Meeting tabled his request to consider such a magazine, so he decided to print a few
issues to demonstrate what he had in mind. The April 1851 Gospel-Visitor soon found its way into
many homes. “Peace be unto you!” Kurtz wrote in the first issue. “Not the peace, which the world may
give, but that peace, which cometh from on nigh. With this salutation we send the Visitor in the midst
of you. Will you bid him welcome!”
Within a couple of years the Annual Meeting gave permission for the endeavor to continue. The
Gospel-Visitor is the direct ancestor of Messenger, the current magazine of the Church of the
Brethren. Hopefully you welcome that visitor in your home as well.
And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for April 27, 2008.
Henry Kurtz (1796-1874) moved to Ohio in 1826, hoping to found the perfect church. Instead he found
the Brethren, and that proved good enough.
Kurtz was born in Germany and immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1817, where he became a
schoolteacher. Two years later he began to study for the Lutheran pastorate. Within six years he was
dissatisfied enough to leave that church behind and move to Starke County, Ohio where he planned
to create a Christian utopia.
That venture failed. However in the process Kurtz discovered the Brethren. He was attracted by
their desire to live according to the dictates of the New Testament. It is said that when he was
baptized he wore his Lutheran robes, which he allowed to slip from his shoulders as he rose up from
the waters.
Kurtz served the Mill Creek congregation in Mahoning County from 1842 until his death. He became
the clerk of the Annual Meeting in 1837 and also served on the Standing Committee. But it was as a
printer that he is best remembered. He published a German language hymnal that went through many
printings, the writings of Alexander Mack, as well as a compendium of Annual Meeting decisions he
called The Brethren’s Encyclopedia.
Change came slow for Brethren in the 19th century. Many Brethren leaders were opposed to the idea
of sponsoring any other reading material than the Bible, but ordinary Brethren were reading
magazines published by other denominations. Henry Kurtz began to wonder in the late 1840’s if a
Brethren magazine would help counteract the influence of these other publications, help provide
advice and assistance to church members, and keep Brethren in touch with other Brethren who were
beginning to spread across the continent.
The 1850 Annual Meeting tabled his request to consider such a magazine, so he decided to print a few
issues to demonstrate what he had in mind. The April 1851 Gospel-Visitor soon found its way into
many homes. “Peace be unto you!” Kurtz wrote in the first issue. “Not the peace, which the world may
give, but that peace, which cometh from on nigh. With this salutation we send the Visitor in the midst
of you. Will you bid him welcome!”
Within a couple of years the Annual Meeting gave permission for the endeavor to continue. The
Gospel-Visitor is the direct ancestor of Messenger, the current magazine of the Church of the
Brethren. Hopefully you welcome that visitor in your home as well.
And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for April 27, 2008.
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