Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-05-27

Iluuc WIN luCIeaoiHS, anu u1oiS ioo''n5 J"Je
to the end.
A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF
the Beginning and Progress Of the
Work Of the Lord among the People
in the Region Of the MOnOcacY In
Maryland, And Of the Gathering and
Organization or tho BrethrenN Con.
gregation at Graceham.
The beginning of the acquaintance of
this region with the Brethren's Church was
as follows. In the year 1745 the pastor of
the Lutheran congregation of this vicinity
died on the Conewago, and several members
of his congregation here went to his funeral.
Our Bro. Lawrence Nybcrg, at that time
pastor of the Lutheran congregation ut Lam
caster preached the sermon, and presented
powerful testimony of the sufterings and
death of our Lord This sermon SO aroused
and impressed these persons, that they spoke
with Nyberg IN regard to it, and expressed
their desire to have such preacher, or at
least schoolteacher and lay reader of that
kin6 among them. Bro. Nyberg gave them
some encouragement in their hopes. There
upon Bro. Nyberg communicated with Beth
lehem in regard to this matter; and it came
about upon his representations that in that
same year our Bro John Henry Herzer came
here for that work. In the union church of
the Lutheran and Reformed congregations,
then standing two miles from here, he was
solemnly introduced by Bro, Nyberg, as their
lay reader and school teacher. This office
he filled faithfully and with blessing until
about the middle of the year 1866, when An
ordained minister. George Nieke, was sent
here from Bethlehem, to serve the people OF
this vicinity with the gospel and school
teaching.
At this time separation occurred between
the Lutherans and Reformed Bro: NIeke
preac he'd only once In the church; then the
opposition partly closed it to him. Conse.
qnently those who held with Neke were
obliged to make use of the house of Jacob
Weller for their services and school. AT
that time Jacob Weller and Jacob Matthes
went to Annapolis, to u man known to them,
Daniel Delaney, Esq, who had formerly be
come acquainted with Bro. Nyberg at MIR.
Joseph Ogle's house and esteemed him. To
him they told their trouble, how it had gone
With them and their church. He was moved
thereby to give them, free gratis, ten acres
of land from his estate for church and
school house. And so, on the Sd of Jaly,
1747, this tract was surveyed for the use Of
those people who held with the Brethren,
and, according to the custom Of these parts,
named Delanys Gift,
In l74e, toward Autumn, their teacher
George Fieke WAS recalled to Bethlehem,
and Bro George NeIsser was sent here in
his place, who Kept school and services thro'
the winter in the house OF old Mr.. Ambrose.
Meanwhile preparations were made for the
building of a congregation house. Brother
and Sister Neisser, however, returned toward
Spring In March, 1749, the congregation
house was begun, and as sooE as it was ready
for occupancy they obtained as their laborers
who served our friends aud their children
with teaching and visiting until 1851, when
Bro Matthew Reuz was sent here.
In the year 1853, in March, Bro Rund
came in Bro. Ilaidts place, also only tempo
rerily. Then at length the Lord permitted
the congregation and their laborers to know
His gracious purpose, that now His hour of
grace for the little company in Monocacy
had struck, and that they should obtain q
Brother and Sister for regular and perman-
ent service This was communicated to the
delegates from Monocacy who attended tile
Synod of the Brethren which was held in
Lebanon in June Of this year. They were
to obtain Bro. and Sister Zahm as laborers
in the Fall, as soon as their house should be,
not only in habtablc condition, but also
suitable for the holding of services. On
October 9TH of the same year Bro. and Sister
Matthews came from Lititz, bringing with
them Brother and Sister Michael and Regina
Zahn. Shortly before, on September Sd,
Bro. Zahn had been ordained deacon of the
Brethren's church at Bethlehem. This Bro
and Sister were presented and introduced
to the little congregation Of this place by
Bro. Matthews. Sunday the 9th of October
was the day of grace and blessing, on which
the little company of souls which hitherto
had held together on the ground of the doc
trine that they could not be saved in any
other way than through Jesus blood alone
was declared bv Bro. Matthews to be a
church of Jesus, and one Of the congrega.
tons of the Brethren. Seven persons were
received into the congregation on this occas.
ion, and, with fourteen brethren and sisters
including the five laborers- celebrated the