Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-17
RIVER BRETHREN HERE.
GENERAL CHURCH CONFERENCE
DELEGATES.
Several Hundred Eastern Members
Will Attend the Gathering Con-
ference Opens Wednesday Some
thing Of the Sect's Local History.


of the Brethren in Christ, or River
Brethren, ms they are familiarity known,
attendants on the general or inter
national conference of the sect to be
held at Bethel meeting house, eleven
miles northeast Of Abilene, commence
ing next Wednesday.
On Saturday 1870 delegates arrived
from eastern Pennsylvania aud left
the train at Detroit and Abilene where
they were met by friends in this coun-
ty. Sixty or 40 arrived yesterday |
from Ohio. and there will be hun
drcd or more others in attendance, |
making 800 or 400 visitors from the
East to be entertained for n week or |
more by the brethren in this county.
They will lie taken direct to the |
homes Of the members, mostly those
in north Dickinson, and during scs-
sions Of the conference will he fed at
the church, arrangements having |
been made to serve meals in the base
mcnt Of the structure where 200 or
800 can he seated at once.
The conference will hcgin Wcdncs-
day morning and last until next week.
Sunday being day Of special SER
vices and large crowd is expected on
that occasion. With pleasant weather
and good roads two or three thousand
people will doubtless be- present.
The conference proceedings will
cover all work of the church and the
twelve elders or bishops will he pres
eht to take part in the deliberations.
Bishop Zook, the senior bishop Of the
church, will open the conference, after
which the usual officer, will be elected
and the business matter, be- taken up.
Religious services will he held each
evening.
The River Brethren are among the
county's most substantial citizens.
Their Quakcr-like dress is indicative
Of their simple mode Of life aud their
unostentatious worship. 1t is proba-
Bile that many OF the visitors will de-
eide to locate in the county where n
900 or more of their friends are al
ready succeeding. and 1t will be II
pleasing thing should they do 50. for
they add much To community's
, standing by their industry and pros
. perity.
, The sect originated in Upper Switz-
, erland and is of Mennonite parentage.
r In 1850 its founders in Upper switz'
crland, wearied by persecution, i'm.
prisonmcnt and suffering, emigrated
thirty iamilics-to this continent.
Z In crossing the ocean the shiI
containing all their household goods
was lost and they landed dcsti-
!, tute and discouraged. Taking up
, their residence on the banks of the
Susquehanna, they received the nick
l name, River Brethren to distin-
, guish them from brethren of Dunkard
and Quaker settlements among the
, hills. The title they have retained
until the present.
-, Two children. Jacob and John En-
gle, among the emigrants proved
Iao1.,. .,J Communicated Tho I,,t 81 t,n.
and government of the church, which
are exceedingly simple. The bible Il
their law book and guide and the
church's governors are twelve bishops
- or elders, in whose hands are tn,
management Of all things. The
. church has now between 5000 an,
: G, 900 members.
u One day IN 1879 it occurred to then
that there was an easier place to farm
than in the Keystone State and spie
k were sent westward to look up loca
/, ton. They found it in Dickinson
Y county, and that spring 800 Rive
al DItlnItn III lNtl w hNNll bnc NbHhNl
II population. The colony was perfect
~ organized and a large frame building
2Sxs0 feet, was ready for u shclte
until farms were chosen. The build
ing was for long time known rs th
g "emigrant housen-it Is now part q
r the City Mills plant. A special trai
. of twenty cars brought their hous'
1 hold goods and implements, and !
n noticing their departure rcnnsy
vania paper says they took with thcl
not loss than $500, 600 in money.
NJ They succeeded abundantly her
d. With such families as the Engle
H. Cooks, Gishs, Dayidsons, Hershey
~ etc, they have risen in wealth an
III power. Their farms are well title
IN and they make farming pay.
~ Last years conference was held
j. Canada. One was held here once b
fore-at Cyrus Lenhart's south
town, ten years ago. This will
To- the largest and in many respects Il
!. most interesting gathering Of d
'n- church ever held in the West.
49, mi IA 1.@r,