Holmes County OhArchives Church Records.....Walnut Creek Amish Mennonite Church Copyright Date 1933
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
of the
Walnut Creek, Ohio, Amish Mennonite Church

By Nettie Glick

Printed by
MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE
Scottdale, Pennsylvania
1933



Historical Sketch of the Walnut Creek, Ohio,
Amish Mennonite Church

By Nettie Glick.

    It has been a source of great pleasure to discover and to assemble the facts
which make up this history of the Walnut Creek A. M. Church: The reader will
note that the early history is community history to a large extent, thus
accounting for the inclusion of many details that are seemingly irrelevant. It
is hoped that in spite of its imperfections,, this history may be interesting
and enlightening to both old and young.

The First Beginnings

    The history of the Walnut Creek church dates back to 1810, when several
Amish Mennonite families from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, settled in this
vicinity. This settlement was an out-growth of the settlement at Sugarcreek the
year before. In the spring of 1808, Jacob Miller, with his sons Henry and Jacob,
came to Ohio and entered a section of land about a mile northeast of Sugarcreek.
After helping his sons build cabins and start farming, he returned to Somerset
County, and the next spring moved his family to Ohio, bringing with him Jonas
Stutzman, a nephew of his wife, who became the first settler of Walnut Creek, in
1809. The farm on which he located, is three-fourths of a mile southwest of
Walnut Creek, and is now owned by B. A. Mast. This Jacob Miller, an Amish
minister, preached what was probably the first sermon in Holmes County, Ohio.

    On May 6, 1810, four young Amish families joined Jonas Stutzman at Walnut
Creek. These were Jonas Miller and his wife, Catherine Hershberger; Christian
Yoderand his wife, Magdalena Hershberger, sister of Catherine; Joseph Mast and
his wife, Sarah  Miller, sister of Jonas Miller; and John Troyer and wife,
Magdalena Miller, also sister of Jonas Miller.

    This location had been decided upon in 1803, by a party of men who had come
West for this purpose. The deeds secured by the brethren date back to 1807, and
were signed by President Jefferson. Large tracts of land, abounding with good
springs and large forests could be had for the settling.

    John J. Miller, son of Jacob Miller was one of the later settlers. In 1811,
he moved from Maryland to Ohio on land in Walnut Creek Township. He was the
first in the community to use an initial in his name to distinguish himself from
others having the same name. He was often ridiculed for it, being called Jay
Miller.

    Later settlers included Abraham Gerber, Jacob Mast, Charles Yoder, Jacob
Stutzman, Hostetlers, Weavers, and others. A few of these first settlers
returned to Pennsylvania on account of trouble with the Indians, but they
returned again in 1812.

    Bartering was the chief means of maintaining peace with the Indians, who
were very fond of milk, eggs, and liquor. The settlers gave the Indians these
articles in return for meat, such as turkey and venison. But, as the Indian's
sense of taste often appeared to be less critical than that of the white man,
the meat was not always strictly fresh.

    Even though they, tried to exercise the greatest diplomacy in their dealings
with the Indians, the settlers were subject to raids, and though the settlement
prospered, the people endured great hardships because of the Indians.

    The first cabin to be erected for use as a schoolhouse was built in 1815 on
land owned by Stutzman brothers. Mr. Constantine, who taught the first term of
school, used it two years as a dwelling. A distillery was put up a year later on
the same farm on which the schoolhouse was located. In those days whisky was
considered indispensable, hence the early erection of the distillery.

    The early settlers were Old Order Amish and held, their services in private
homes. As the settlement spread in territory, they subdivided until there were
four thriving churches in and around the Walnut Creek vicinity by 1850. One of
these churches was in the vicinity of Farmerstown, Limpytown, and Charm, at what
was known as Scrub Ridge. John Frey, Noah Miller, and David Miller were
ministers, and Levi Miller was bishop.

    The second church was in the .region of Sugarcreek. The bishop there was
Jacob Coblentz, and the ministers were Moses Wengerd and Stephen Yoder.

    The third was in Walnut Creek Township, in the territory now called Pleasant
Valley. The ministers were Moses H. Miller, Christian Yoder, and Solomon Miller.
Moses J. Miller, known as "Little Mose," was bishop.

    The fourth church, our mother church, was in the territory where our church
building now stands. William Gerber and Abraham Mast were ministers, David
Beechy was deacon, and Moses Miller, "Grosz Mose," was bishop. The membership of
this church increased to such an extent that a need was seen for a larger
building for meeting, as the private dwellings were not large enough to take
care of all the members. "Grosz Mose" favored the building of a church house.

    About 1850, Gideon Yoder, of Wayne County, Ohio, made frequent visits to
Walnut Creek, preaching in favor of outdoor baptism and meetinghouses. Hitherto,
baptismal rites had always been observed indoors but in many of the churches
there was sentiment for outdoor baptism. "Grosz Mose" and his coworkers were in
favor of a meetinghouse and outdoor baptism, but there was an opposing faction
led by Levi Miller, known as "Lef" Miller. There was so much antagonism that the
conservatives withdrew under the leadership of "Lef" in the year 1852. They
formed a church of their own. They were known as "Die Lefy-gma." They in turn
gave various names to the other church such as "Die Mosey-gma," "Die Gma-haus
Leit," and "Die Waldensers," the latter term in derision. The withdrawing church
is now known as the Noah Beechy church, and remains Old Order Amish.

    On December 25, 1861, Moses D. Miller, Henry Schrock, and Benjamin Gerber
were chosen as a committee to raise funds, to select a site for building, and to
undertake the building of a church house. In a short time eight hundred and
ninety dollars were subscribed.

    Two sites were viewed with favor by the building committee. The site most
ideal, though not so centrally located, was on the farm of Solomon Weaver. He
offered to donate the land, if they would build on it. This land is now a part
of the Hillcrest Fruit Farm owned by D. N. Hershberger of Walnut Creek. The
other location, which was finally decided upon, was on the southeast corner of
the crossroad south of Walnut Creek. However, the owner refused to part with the
land if a church house was to be built on it. He threatened to burn it down, so
the committee bought land from the next neighbor south, Jacob Stutzman. This
site was three-fourths of a mile south of New Carlisle, as Walnut Creek was then
named.

    The contract for building was given to Moses K. Troyer, on January 4, 1862,
for the sum of six hundred and sixty-five dollars. David J. Troyer was given the
contract for the benches, for the sum of seventy-three dollars.

    During the time that the church house was being built, the Civil War was
going on. While they were putting up the framework, the entire frame collapsed,
throwing several of the workers to the ground and injuring them. One young man,
Charles Sundheimer, happened to be hit on the foot by a falling scantling. The
doctor was forced to amputate one toe. Not being of the Mennonite faith, he
would have been forced to go to war but for this accident, which disqualified him.

    The Amish Mennonites were required to pay a sum of three hundred dollars to
be exempt from taking up arms. Various officials went about collecting money so
that the members of the Church would not be required to fight. In the year 1865,
several men from Wooster paid a visit to their services, claiming to be
government officials. They succeeded in raising a sum of money, which was to
guarantee exemption from the next draft. They left with the money. Several days
later, word reached the community that the war was over. The money was not
returned.

    The church house was put up during the summer of 1862, and it was
sufficiently completed so that on November 9, the first services were held in
the new church house. The last meeting held in a private home was in the fall of
1862, at the home of Henry Schrock.

    The first church house was heated by four wood-box stoves, two in the main
room and one smaller stove in each anteroom. There was a board partition nearly
three feet high between the two sides. There was no basement.

    As the church house was small, the dimensions being only thirty-six by
forty-six feet, the membership outgrew the seating capacity in the course of
thirty years, and it was decided to build a new one. The old building was sold
for forty-four dollars and fifty cents and was moved to the present site in
Walnut Creek, where it is used as an implement shed by S. J. Horrisberger. The
present meetinghouse was then built in 1896 at a cost of $2450.00.

    In 1908, they decided to raise the church house and construct a cement
basement underneath. Many of the members said that it was an impossible task.
However, several carpenters who made a careful examination of the structure came
to the conclusion that it could be raised. Preparations were then made to do so.
The cost of raising the structure and constructing the basement was $1712.00.

    Since many of the members of this church resided in and around Sugarcreek,
six miles distant, the need for another place of worship was felt. It was then
decided to build a church house in the vicinity known as Union Hill. This was
accomplished with the cooperation of the Mennonites, the Dunkards, and the
United Brethren of the community. This was in the year 1879. There were
originally about twenty families attending the services. The ministers from
Walnut Creek assisted in the services every four weeks.

    Finally, some time around 1890, the Amish Mennonites decided to hold union
services with the United Brethren and the Reformed Church of Sugarcreek as
neither of these had a membership large enough to support a church of their own.
Later on, however, when the United Brethren and Reformed Churches each erected a
church building of their own, union services were begun and have continued with
the Brethren Church. The Sugarcreek branch continued to hold baptismal and
communion services with the mother church; one of the Walnut Creek ministers
preaching at Sugarcreek every other Sunday.

    Services are held at Union Hill under the auspices of the United Brethren
Church at the present time.

    Communion services were never held at the Union Hill church by the Amish
Mennonites although the Mennonites of the community did hold communion services
at one time. Later on the Mennonites communed at Kolb's church near Trail, Ohio,
that being the nearest church in the Mennonite Conference.

Recent History

    In June, 1918, Lester Hostetler and wife moved on a small farm on the Walnut
Creek-Shanesville road, which the Walnut Creek church had purchased as a home
for them. They have resided there since that time with the exception of a year
and a half, which was spent in California. In November, 1921, Lester Hostetler
bought the farm.

    During his ministry at Walnut Creek he organized singing classes, a
beginner's class, and a sight-singing class. Mission study classes were also
organized. The annual fourth of July Mission Day Program owes its origin to his
efforts to awaken a deeper missionary interest.

    In 1922, under the leadership of Lester Hostetler, an attempt was made to
secure better cooperation between the laity and ministry on the question of
dress. As a result, a dress committee was appointed by the ministers, consisting
of eight sisters of the church. On account of a number of misunderstandings, the
committee was unable to accomplish anything of lasting benefit.

    For some time the members of the Sugarcreek church had been asking for a
resident minister, but this request had not been granted by the Conference. As a
result they presented a petition praying for a separate organization, at the
annual business meeting held January 2, 1922, at the Walnut Creek church. A
motion was made to grant their petition. The church then organized in 1926, and
in 1929 a written constitution was drawn up. In 1929 the church joined the
General Conference of Mennonites.

    In 1925, Lester Hostetler became involved in difficulties with the Eastern
A. M. Conference on account of certain views which he held. The conference sent
a committee of three to investigate. As he did not recede, he was ruled out of
the conference. On June 29, 1925, he tendered his resignation as minister at the
Walnut Creek church, and his resignation was accepted by the congregation. He
then accepted an invitation to serve as minister of the Sugarcreek congregation,
in which capacity he is now serving.

    The next year because of a scarcity of ordained workers in the church, it
was proposed that a new minister be ordained. The congregation, after due
deliberation of the matter, voted to proceed with ordination services. The lot
fell on Alvin W. Miller and he was immediately ordained on June 19, 1926.

    In 1928, a balcony was constructed in the rear of the Walnut Creek church
house at a cost of $600.00, about one-half of this amount being for labor.

    Each year on New Year's Day the annual business meeting is held. The
trustees are: Venus Mast, E. A. Mast, and John Henry Weaver. M. B. Hostetler is
treasurer, and Ray Mast is secretary.

    Ura Gerber is janitor at a fixed salary of $200.00 a year. Since the year
1924, the janitor is elected by ballot, a resolution to this effect being put on
the church minutes of that year.

    E. A. Hershberger is the sexton.

Ordained Leaders

    When the first church was built, the leaders in charge were Moses Miller,
bishop; William Gerber and Abe Mast, ministers; and David Beechy, deacon. Later
on Eli Miller, one of the Old Order Amish ministers, also united with this
congregation. In May, 1860, David Beechy was ordained minister, then in 1870
when "Grosz Mose" could no longer bear the heavy responsibilities of his office,
David Beechy was ordained bishop. Moses A. Mast was chosen to the ministry upon
the death of William Gerber. His ordination took place in June, 1891. In October
of the same year, John H. Miller was called to the ministry.

    July 5, 1905, marked the passing of David Beechy, the bishop. John H. Miller
and Moses A. Mast were in the lot deciding his successor. The lot fell on Moses
A. Mast, who remained bishop until the spring of 1916.

    S. H. Miller was ordained deacon in the fall of 1896 and soon afterwards
took up the work of a minister in which .capacity he served until his death on
February 17, 1928. A. W. Hershberger was ordained to the ministry on October 5,
1902. In the fall of 1910 he moved to Portage County to serve the congregation
at that place. Later he moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia. Corsan Mast was
ordained on October 9, 1908, and on October 22, 1911, the lot fell on Jesse
Miller, who declined on account of weak eyesight. Lester Hostetler was ordained
to  he ministry on September 26, 1915, by vote of the congregation.

    In 1914 Alex Miller, .who had formerly been a member of this church moved
here from Hubbard, Oregon, and is serving in the capacity of deacon. In the fall
of 1930, Bro. Miller, because of physical incapacities, asked that a helper be
secured for the work of deacon. Accordingly the ordination of a deacon was
planned. This took place on March 15, 1931, with the result that the lot fell
upon Venus Hershberger. Ray Mast and Jonas Keim were the other brethren in the lot.

    Alvin W. Miller was ordained to the ministry June 19, 1926, by lot. Paul R.
Miller and Venus Hershberger were with him in the lot.

    In the year 1925, at the request and invitation of S. H. Miller, D. M.
Friedt, pastor of the Kolbs congregation, gave his assistance at the Walnut
Creek church. Bro. Friedt formerly alternated services at Kolbs congregation,
near Trail, and the Longenecker church, but services at the latter place were
discontinued some time before this.

    In the absence of a resident bishop, J. S. Gerig of Smithville was elected
in 1916 by the congregation to act as bishop when such services were required.
In 1930 he tendered his resignation. On September 14, 1930, O. N. Johns of
Louisville, Ohio, was then elected bishop.

    The ordained workers at the present time are: O. N. Johns, acting bishop;
Alvin W. Miller, D. M. Friedt, and Corsan Mast, ministers; and Alex Miller and
Venus Hershberger, deacons.

The Sunday School

    Its Early Beginnings.—A recent investigation into the early beginnings of
the Walnut Creek Sunday School, reveals that to Walnut Creek belongs the
distinction of having the first Mennonite Sunday school in Ohio; a distinction
previously conceded to Logan County. The Sunday school in Logan County was begun
in 1863.

    Evidence that Sunday school was held at Walnut Creek as early as 1859 was
secured as an outgrowth of conversations held with several of the oldest men in
the community, namely, B. A. Mast, M. A. Mast, Aaron Mast; and Moses E. Miller.
These men are all well in the eighties and recall the time of the first Sunday
school. Though none of the men were, able to furnish documentary evidence they
were instrumental in locating a number of books which had been used in the
library of the Sunday school. A number of class record books were found at the
home of Lee Hershberger and sisters, the book bearing the earliest record being
dated 1859. According to this book there were nine teachers, five men and four
women. A total of fifty-eight pupils or scholars as they were then termed is
recorded in the class book. Twenty-eight of the pupils were men and boys, and
thirty were women and girls. There was a superintendent and an assistant. They
had a Sunday school library, consisting of German Testaments, German Bible story
books, and small books printed in English. The latter contained stories of Bible
characters and character-building stories. The class record book dated 1859 and
several of the books composing the Library have been placed in the Mennonite
Historical Library located at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana.

    This first Sunday school was held in the Gerber Valley schoolhouse and was
discontinued during the time the church house was built in 1862. Some time later
Sunday school was again organized. The leaders in the movement desired the use
of the church house as a place of meeting, but this privilege was denied them by
"Grosz Mose," who was not in favor of Sunday school. In spite of the opposition,
they continued, to hold services. Private homes were used to meet in, but since
the attendance was very large it was thought better to hold Sunday school in the
barn rather than in the house.

    As time went on "Grosz Mose" became not only reconciled to, but also
interested in the idea and opened the church doors to the Sunday school. This
was in the year 1873. Church services were held every two weeks, Sunday school
being held on the intervening Sunday. Sunday school was-held in the afternoon on
church Sundays. David Trover is thought to have been the first superintendent
after the year 1873 and Charles Hartman the next, superintendent.

    Sunday School in the Nineties.—In the summer of 1893, Sunday school was
begun the second time at the Gerber Valley Schoolhouse by those who lived a
distance from the church house. B. A. Mast and E. T. A. Zook were the leaders in
the movement. Even though they tried to arrange to have Sunday school in the
afternoon or at times when it would not conflict with the other Sunday school,
there was opposition, as it tended to draw pupils and interest from the other
Sunday school. As a result, it was discontinued at the close of the second summer.

    Only a few lesson helps had been used before this time and those were
printed in German. The first English lesson helps were used in the year 1896. At
that time there were only two English classes, and there continued to be more
German classes than English for some time. Even though the use of the German
language in Sunday school has now practically disappeared, one can hear a few
German words in the class of the older men. Five German lesson helps are ordered
each quarter.

    About the year 1895 the picture cards were introduced into the Sunday school
for the smaller children. At the same time the German spelling classes and
German letter classes were dropped for the reason that the teaching of spelling
was work for the day school.

    It was in the fall of 1898 when the question of primary lesson helps was
raised at the Hancock County Sunday School Conference, and the question handed
to J. F. Funk, who was at that time publishing the Senior Quarterlies at
Elkhart, Indiana. Bro. Funk expressed his readiness to publish them, and the
next year they were on the market and introduced into the Sunday school at
Walnut Creek.

    The Walnut Creek Sunday school first became an evergreen Sunday school
during the years of 1895 and 1896. The experiment of having Sunday school before
church was tried in the year 1896, though with much opposition. The ministry was
opposed to this because it was thought that church should come first. This was
no serious hindrance for the leaders continued their work zealously. Another
criticism that the leaders faced was that the Sunday school overlapped the time
set for church service. To overcome this obstacle, Sunday school was held very
early so as to give ample time to finish before the time set for opening the
church service.

    The Present Sunday School.—Before the year 1916, preaching services were
held only every other Sunday, although Sunday school was held every Sunday.
Since that time preaching has been held every Sunday.

    The total enrollment for the year 1932 was 509 pupils. There are twenty-two
teachers of whom eight are in the primary department. The average attendance for
the year 1932 was 333 pupils. In 1931 the average attendance was 334, in 1930 it
was 295, and 1929 it was 279.

    The officers for the year 1933 are: Albert Schrock, superintendent; William
J. Hershberger, assistant superintendent; Ruby Miller, secretary; Glen Mast,
assistant secretary. Vera Sundheimer is chorister, and Mrs. Titus Weaver is
assistant. Esther Hershberger is Librarian.

    During the year 1932, $363.40 was paid out of the Sunday school treasury for
supplies and missionary endeavors. The total offerings amounted to $358.47.
There was a balance of $282.99 from the year 1931, thus leaving a total of
$278.06 in the treasury at the close of 1932.

    About $300 is given yearly by the Sunday school classes to be used in
missionary work.

    The Primary Department.—Orpha Troyer is superintendent and Fyrne Miller is
assistant primary superintendent. There are wonderful possibilities in the
primary department. Some of the developments within the last several years are
the use of curtains to separate the classes, and the purchase of small chairs
and song books. The giving of rewards has encouraged memory work, and the chairs
have been a great help in handling the beginners.

    The children have, given many interesting programs in Junior Young People's
Meetings, Fourth of July Meetings, and on special occasions such as Easter and
Christmas. It is a privilege to work with these little folks as they are very
much interested in their Sunday school.

    Teachers' Meetings.—In the spring of 1928, teachers' meetings were begun.
Each Wednesday evening the Sunday school teachers and any others especially
interested meet at the church house to discuss and to study the Sunday school
lesson under the leadership of one of the teachers, a different one being
appointed each week by the superintendent. These meetings are both helpful and
inspirational. Since April, 1930, Prayer Meeting and Teachers' Meeting are held
conjointly.

Conferences and Special Meetings

    D. J. Johns and J. S. Hartzler of Goshen and Elkhart, Indiana, respectively,
conducted the first Bible Conference at the Walnut Creek church in the year 1900.

    D. D. Miller of Middlebury, Indiana, was the first evangelist to hold
revival meetings at this church.

    An Annual Sunday school meeting is held conjointly with the Martin's Creek
church, alternating between the two places. The last meeting was held on October
8, 1931, at the Martin's Creek church, this being the twenty-seventh annual
meeting. The meetings had always been held the last Saturday of September, until
1924 when the date was changed to the second Saturday in October.

    July the fourth has been observed as Mission Day each year since 1915,
except in the year 1924. An evening meeting is held on the third, followed by an
all-day meeting on the fourth. This has been a splendid means of furthering
missionary interest as an attempt is made each year to secure missionaries, who
are home on furlough, as speakers. The meetings are very interesting and the
attendance is large.

   The Ohio Sunday School Conference has been held at the Walnut Creek church on
four occasions. It was held here in the years 1901, 1911, 1917, and 1926. The
Eastern A. M. Conference was held at this place in 1894, 1898, 1905, 1917, and
1930. In May, 1928, the Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Board of Missions and
Charities was held here. In March, 1931, the Annual Ministers' Meeting for the
Eastern District of Ohio was held at this place.

Walnut Creek Sewing Circle

    On November 16, 1907, the Sewing Circle was organized at Walnut Creek. The
purpose was to supply clothing for the Canton Mission, Orphans' Home and Old
People's Home, for distribution among the poor, and to support mission workers.

    At the present time, however, most of the work done is quilting, the
proceeds going for mission workers in India. Some clothing is also made for use
in the India Mission and other places where needed. Canned fruit is sent to the
Orphans' Home at West Liberty, Ohio, whenever an appeal comes. Eatables for the
month of November are also furnished for the Canton Mission; The meetings are
held the last Wednesday of the month in the basement of the church.

    The Walnut Creek congregation has three circles, namely, Walnut Creek,
Trail, and Sugarcreek-Shanesville. The Berlin Circle is also supported to a
certain extent by members of the Walnut Creek congregation.

    The officers of the Walnut Creek Circle for the year 1933 are: Mrs. Harvey
Miller, president; Mrs. Venus Hershberger, vice president; Mrs. Melvin Hamsher
and Alma Hershberger, secretary and treasurer.

Mission Activities

    Beginning with 1917 the envelope system of raising funds was used. Every
member was given an opportunity to pledge a certain amount to be contributed
weekly for the support of our mission work. This plan was discontinued when the
budget system was inaugurated in 1922. This system is in use at the present time
and the report for the year 1932 is as follows:

    $350 for the support of Jay Hostetler on the India Mission Field.
    $120 for Mrs. Jay Hostetler.
    $160 for orphan and widow support.
    $130 for others in South America and home missions.

    A number of widows and orphans are supported by private contributions. In
addition to the money derived from regular subscriptions toward the budget,
missionary offerings are taken on Mission Day and on other special occasions.

    Each spring fifty or more quarters are distributed among the primary and
junior children. The savings boxes are also used.

    Lester Hostetler and Dan Hostetler were volunteers from this church for
foreign missionary work but both were compelled to give up their plans because
of ill health.

    A plan by which money was provided during the years 1922 to 1926 to put Dan
Hostetler through medical school was worked out in a practical way. Individuals
specially interested in the training of Dan Hostetler as a medical missionary
subscribed to a fund in the form of a gift if he went as a missionary.
Unfortunately, his health failed while in medical school, thus forcing him to
give up foreign missionary work. Dr. Hostetler has sufficiently recovered to
practice medicine and has repaid the loans.

    A feature of missionary, activity at the present time is the Mission Sunday
school held each summer at the Beech Grove Schoolhouse near Becks Mills, Ohio.
This work was launched by the Walnut Creek church and organized July 24, 1927,
as an outcome of the Mission, Meeting held July 4; 1927, at the Walnut Creek
church. The church commissioned Bro. and Sister Elmer Varns to superintend the
work. The ministers and others from Berlin and Martin's Creek also assist in the
work.

    The school opens each year after the public school closes and continues
until October 1, when it closes for the winter. There are seven classes and five
regular teachers, the balance being chosen from among those present. The Sunday
school hour is followed by a short sermon. A statement is kept on the blackboard
of the attendance, collection, and expense account.

    In 1929 the practice was begun of sending the "Youth's Christian Companion"
to twenty individual addresses, the year round, paying for it out of the surplus
treasury fund. A set of Life Songs has also been purchased from the same fund. A
special program composed of talks, a sermon, and special music is given on the
last Sunday of each term by speakers from the several congregations helping with
the work. The average attendance for the year 1932 was 62.

Young People's Meeting

    The first Young People's Meeting was organized in 1894 by Jonas Smucker from
Elkhart, Indiana. The young people were much interested but there was so much
opposition on the part of the ministry and older people that the evening
meetings were discontinued for a time. Some time later the meeting was
reorganized and has continued to the present day.

    Ervin Stutzman is superintendent for the year 1933. The program committee in
arranging the programs provides for a sermon to be given once a month. The
Junior Topic Programs are rendered by various Sunday school classes, one class
being responsible for a given topic.

    Sugarcreek, Ohio.


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