Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1872-06-15
The Church Of God.

Some fifty years ago, perhaps y
little anterior to that period, a gen
tleman by the name of Winebrenner,
raised in the Gladc5 settlement Of
this county, between Frederick and
Woodsboro' went to Frederick, and
studied Divinity under the teachings
of the Rev. Jonathan IIclfenstein, OF
the German Reformed Church" So,
called at that day. lie was q tall
portly, looking man, with long
arms and sharp, bony, pointed fingers
We believe he was regularly ordained
as a Minister of the Reformed Church.
and was regarded as a fine pulpit
orator; but believing that the old
school system Of getting religion was
not sufficiently progressive enough,
and too devoid of passional attrac.
tiveness to keep pace with the times,
he began as rcvivalist aspiring to a.
higher sphere in religious polemics.-
The Rev. John Winebrenner, for that
was his name, took a new departure
in the school of reformation he be-
| lieved in immersion aud woods meet.
ings, and creating a revival in the
pure air under the canopy of the azure
blue. He also believed in feet wash
ing. 1.-THE groves are Gods holy
temples" and the "rivers and creeks
are Gods brooks of running waters to
wash away the sins Of the world. -
Thus reasoned this pionsly inclined
and fervent preacher Of the Gospel
! With this idea in his head the Rev.
Winebrenner was fired with n new
zeal for the love Of God and the con-
version Of sinners. He was not e1-
purgatel from the old church, but
took hi- departure from the Chassis
and Synod under which he was raised,
and established "A method OF hia own,
or as he said he was going to found
anew the primitive CHrRcH OF Con.
He was sincere, Jealous and cnthnS-
astic and SOON had a large number Of
followers. He made pro+eNtcs hitlrr
and yon it was 10, here and 10,
there, and many approached the
mourners' bench and were converted.
and added to the household Of the
elect The Rev. gentleman first
turned from the Western sun to the
East, in search perhaps of the Star Of
Bethlehem. He left the Glales scttl"-
ment on the Western side Of thu Mo-
norarv and removed in the direction
of Unontown, East Of the Monoracv
and near Pipe creek. From Israel
creek, where he first immersed many
OF his disciples lac proclaimed the glad
tilings, 40 your tents. o Israel -
and old Isaac Applcr SAID his words
We're words Of JOY and holincss.,, A
his followers and disciples increased
in numbers they dropped the personal
prononn OF "Winebrcnnarians," and
assumed the more imposing and awe
; inspiring nomenclature Of The
CHURCH or Cop. After tarrying for
some time in lnlontown, where lie
WAS very popular, the Rev. gentleman
went to Harrisburg where in addition
t. cxpounl!ng the oracles Of God yer.
bally, he established newspaper,
devoted to disseminating the peculiar
views he entertained upon Christian
unity and the spread Of Gospel Trnth.
His success appeared to be great
Subsequently, we believe, the Rev.
Winebrenner lett Harrisburg, and re-
sided for some time at Tro1ell's old
place on Toms creek.
And now We are told in Prnnsvl-
vania, in Cumberland and Dauphin
counties particularly, the Church Of
the New Dispcnsation has largely in
creased in numbers and spread all
over the great West, until the Elder
ship of the Church of God is regularly
established in eleven OF the States Of
the Western Continent, with a work
ing organization in as many more
Recently at Mt. Carroll, in Carroll
county, Illinois, a council was held
the Tenth Triennial Council - in
which 200 Elders participated. Its
proceedings were marked with una
nimity, and the Mt. Carroll Courier
says the Council has made vivid and
favorable impression in that locality.
The Rev. Winebrenner preached in
as many as Is or 20 places. probably
more, in this county, and his familiar
face and voice is still remembered by
many persons. He was close rea-
soncr, an impressive speaker, pro
foundlv versed in biblical lore, and
made his mark on the sands of time.
There is no telling to what height and
influence the Church of God may yet
reach in the United States.
CHARLES c. FULToN, ESQ. senior
editor Of tho Baltimore -tntrtcoH,
accompanied by his two daughters,
sailed for Livcrpool, on last Tuesday,