Green Tree Church

Green Tree Church

(1845-)

The Gospel Messenger May 19, 1900 page 307 Vol. 38 No. 20

THE GREEN TREE CHURCH.

BY JAY G. FRANCIS.

" Home, home, sweet, sweet home;

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home."

Who has ever felt like blaming a boy for praising his mother ( It is one of the things of which mankind does not easily tire.

The Green Tree church is our spiritual mother. Here we were born, at least so we humbly trust, into the family of God. Here in our spiritual babyhood we received the sincere milk of the Word, and Here we began to eat spiritual meat. Here we taught in the Sunday school, here we were authorized to exhort, here we were placed into the ministry, and here advanced into the second degree of the sacred office. But now we have left our mother's fireside and have struck out into the world for ourselves. Some months ago we were appointed the first registrar of the Green Tree church; and the work done in this office is what leads us, under the direction of the Spirit of God, to write this article. We trust it will have the effect of making us all more careful of the past of the congregations to which we severally belong.

We had offered to gather up the history of our local church; and, so far as possible, records of all members from the beginning, if the congregation would keep up the work in the future. As a result a register 17 1/2 x 12 x 2 1/2 inches, of the best material and workmanship specially prepared for the purpose, was purchased—a magnificent volume, worthy of a church of Christ. There is room in it for about 4,000 names. The following points of information are given about every member: the name in full; date and place of birth; date, place and performer of baptism; marriage—to whom, when, where, by whom; date of death and place of burial; number of children; parents' names, mother's maiden name being given. There are two short lines at the end of each record for remarks. This order is not altogether logical, but is determined to some extent by convenience in lining. At the right end of the right hand page is space, doubly lined, for historical data. The date of baptism determines the order of the member's name in the register, the earliest members being at the beginning of the book. The object is to place historical events along with contemporary baptisms. Some of the facts which have been gathered in our labors may not be without general interest.

If you should look through the register you would find therein the names of 709 members. The oldest list of members which we could find was the one made out in 1862—the time when the Green Tree church began to keep minutes of her councilings. Since that time very few, if any, have been taken into the church whose names have been lost; but before that time the number of members whose names we have not ascertained is likely from 50 to 100. We should likely be not far amiss in stating that about 800 persons have held membership in the Green Tree church. The number of members in 1862 was 211; the number received from 1862 to 1870was 30; from 1870 to 1880, 73; from 1880 to 1890, 127; from 1890 to 1900, 152. These figures speak for themselves. The total number received since 1862 is 382, the net gain about 100, as the present membership is a little over 300. The pastorship of Bro. J. T. Meyers, which began in 1877, has been blessed in increase to a marked degree.

The Green Tree church is daughter to the Coventry church, which is daughter to the Germantown church, which is daughter to the Creyfeld church (Germany), which was daughter to the Schwarzenau church. Thus it will be seen that the Green Tree church is great-great-granddaughter to the mother church of our Fraternity, and granddaughter to the mother church of our Fraternity in America. The Green Tree church is genuine, there is no doubt about her pedigree.

In the beginning of the century Elder George Price, of Coventry, used to journey every eight weeks, across country, to the Brethren's Methachon meetinghouse—a distance east about twenty miles. The distance was too great to drive on Sunday morning before meeting, so the good brother would drive as far as to Daniel Brower's, a worthy Mennonite, who lived in the immediate neighborhood of where the Green Tree church now stands. The Brower homestead joined the Umstad homestead on the east. John H. Umstad, " in the good old days beyond recall," courted and won Daniel Brower's daughter Ann. Well, at Brower's Elder Price would stay over night, and on Sunday morning would drive the remaining six miles to his appointment. He would then return to Daniel's for dinner. In the summertime, when the weather was pleasant, he would, in the afternoon, preach Dunkard doctrine in open meadow by the historic Schuylkill. Thus the Green Tree church, like the Apostolic, began in the open air. Two of Daniel Brower's daughters were converted. This was as early as 1810. But it was not till the days of " Pappy Price," Elder George's son John, that the Green Tree church began in earnest.

The origin of the Green Tree church may be placed in the year 1830. In May of this year Isabella, wife of Abel Fitzwater and sister of John H. Umstad, was baptized. She is the mother of the Green Tree church, while her illustrious brother is the founder. Being a very devoted sister, she was instrumental in bringing (1831) her husband and her brother into the church. While living in her home (1832), James Quinter was converted. About 1833 the Brethren united with others, and built, in Lumberville, now Port Providence, a two-story stone house, the lower story being used as a place of worship and the upper as a public schoolroom. In this house James Quinter taught school from 1834 to 1841; and, without doubt, here laid the foundation for his future school work in our Brotherhood. Before an organization was effected, " Pappy Price" and Sarah Major, nee Riter, the female preacher of the Brotherhood, proclaimed the Word. A church was organized about 1834. J. H. Umstad and Isaac Price were elected preachers, and Abel Fitzwater, Wm. Casselberry and Jos. Pennypacker, deacons. Later (1838) James Quinter was called to the ministry. The subsequent ministers called out of the Green Tree church were; Geo. D. Price, the sweet singer; David Rittenhouse, the enemy to outward display; Jacob Z. Gotwals, fearless, straightforward and upright, disdaining to hide a lie either in himself or in another; Emmanuel Heyser, our first missionary to the negro; and last of all the writer of these lines

will continue to furnish the Brotherhood with

preachers.

The Green Tree church has had illustrious sons. John H. Umstad, her founder and first bishop in evangelism work, traveled through our Brotherhood from Dan to Beersheba. From the lips of aged brethren and. sisters, in all parts, still echo his wise and pithy sayings. Hundreds came into the church through his preaching. He made the Green Tree church the ruling church of his vicinity. He laid the foundation of the Mingo church, helped to found the Upper Dublin church, and started the work in Norristown, Pa. He was a member of the committee which brought the Far West Brethren back into our Fraternity. For missionary purposes in 1860, before the day of State Districts, he called! in the Green Tree meetinghouse, the first representative meeting of the churches east of the Susquehanna River; and thus set the bounds of the State District of Eastern Pennsylvania. But space forbids a full enumeration of his services, James Quinter was the son of Green Tree. He is the father of our great educational system. Before he came to the front many a parent's brow was knotted in anguish over the question of the education of his aspiring boy. James Quinter gave the answer — Brethren's schools. The little school which he started in Vienna, Ohio, was the progenitress of all of our schools. She died in giving birth to her children, but she was the mother, nevertheless. No man surpassed James Quinter in developing our church journalism. None did more to elucidate and defend the Brethren's doctrine. Who surpassed him in committee work? He compiled the Brethren's " Hymnal." In scholarship and personal piety he stood at the head. The subsequent providence of God declares that the Green Tree church and its vicinity was the dearest spot to James Quinter on earth. He had no sons, but of his two sons-in-law, one is pastor at Green Tree and the other at the adjacent church of Parkerford. Who can doubt that for these places his most fervent prayers were uttered? With this deduction from the providence of God agree the words of his daughter and biographer: "The churches of Green Tree and Coventry (Parkerford is part of the old Coventry church), as they were associated with his early life, his first Christian experience and his first work in the ministry were always regarded with feelings of deep, prayerful interest and tender affection." — Biography, p. 34.

At 3: 30 P. M., June 13, 1852, at Lumberville, in the Schuylkill River, one and a half miles southwest of the Green Tree meetinghouse, there was immersed, by Geo. D, Price, a man, who, for forty years has helped to shape the theological thought of our Brotherhood. We write of our esteemed brother, C. H. Balsbaugh.

Of many far-reaching services to our Brotherhood, the Green Tree church may boast. Through the Green Tree church, prayer meetings and protracted meetings came into our body. See editorial by Jas. Quinter in Gospel Messenger of Feb. 7, 1888, p. 89. As seen before, to Green Tree the church is indebted for our school system. In Sunday-school work she is behind some, her Sunday school starting in 1868. Her mother, however, the Coventry church, here is at the front, having opened her doors to Sunday schools in the forties. The first Sisters' Aid Society was organized at Green Tree, Oct. 3, 1881. Due to the Green Tree church is the organization of the " Brethren's Historical Association." Thus it is fair to claim for the Green Tree church the greatest solicitude of any congregation for the preservation of the sources of our church history.

In concern for young people's work the Green Tree church is second to none. Organized young people's work was started here in March, 1899, under the name of Christian Helpers, a name borrowed from the Royersford, Pa., church, and a name worthy of the consideration of our entire Brotherhood. The Green Tree church does not believe in having her young people enter the societies of other denominations, but thinks we should have a society of our own, and that our Publishing House should furnish to all our young people their religious reading matter. Last year the Green Tree church sent a request to Annual Meeting to have The Pilot made the official organ of such a work, but the request did not pass our District Meeting. So far as we know the Green Tree church has taken the initiative toward a general organization of our young people's work. She made art effort which resulted in a meeting toward this end, last September, at Valley Forge, Pa. Last autumn she called at Green Tree a representative meeting of the young members of Schuylkill Valley, to consider the advisability of sending a petition to the Publishing House to have published in The Pilot helps for young people's meetings. The request was sent, and soon afterward the helps appeared. The Publishing House had respect to the cry of the Green Tree church, and if the Green Tree church does not now adopt Brethren's literature in all departments of her church work, she will commit the only act of ingratitude of her life.

The Green Tree church is an aggressive church. She loves our Brotherhood with a love second to none. In outward attire she is not as plain as she ought to be, but she will improve. At the time of the Progressive movement, she lost some respect for our Annual Conference; but she did not believe in separation, and so stood by the old flag. Thanks be to God, her respect for Annual Conference is now in the ascendant.

The Green Tree church stands for unity in the body of Christ. John 17: 20-23. She is at the head in efforts to unite the sadly divided groups of churches of Eastern Pennsylvania. Her efforts are of God and will be successful. She longs to see the three divisions of the Brotherhood reunited in the truth, into one body. Herein also she will see of the travail of her soul and be satisfied.

Christ came out from God, and so could speak to us with authority of God. We have come forth out of the Green Tree church; and so, in this limited sphere, without presumption, we can speak with authority of the Green Tree church. It will be a source of gratification to her to have her heart, without outside change in any particular, opened to the General Brotherhood; and it will do the General Brotherhood good to see what is within the heart of the Green Tree church. Such revelation will, at this time, be beneficial to their mutual relationship.

As intimated at the beginning, we have withdrawn our membership from the Green Tree church. We have taken up our abode in Reading, Pa. Request is herewith made that the brethren and sisters all over our beloved Brotherhood will pray to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, for Heaven's choicest blessings to rest upon our labors in Reading.

533 Robeson St., Reading, Pa.