CHAPTER III. THE RIVER BRETHREN. THOSE who first constituted the body popularly known as River Brethren came to this country from Switzerland in 1750 and settled near the Susquehanna River in eastern Pennsylvania. They have no history to which the inquirer can refer, and they are able to give few particulars of the early life of the denomination. They were, it is supposed, Mennonites. As the result of a revival movement, beginning in 1770, many of these people who had been formal in their worship became zealous believers, and organized separate congregations. The first members were baptized, it is believed, in the Susquehanna River, and the denomination thus came to be known as River Brethren. Jacob Engle was their first minister. In their belief they hold to trine immersion, the washing of feet, nonresistance, and nonconformity to the world. In many points in belief and practice they are like the Mennonites. 1. THE BRETHREN IN CHRIST. This is by far the largest and best organized branch of the River Brethren. Its churches, of which there are 78, are associated in district conferences, and there is also a general conference, representing the whole body. There are twenty of the district conferences. The total of com municants is 2688. The average seating capacity of the churches is 422, and their average value $1623. There are 27 halls, etc., with a seating capacity of 1080. 2. THE OLD ORDER OF YORKER BRETHREN. This branch is generally called "Yorker" Brethren, because when the River Brethren were divided in 1862 the churches in York County were not affected by the division. It is an extremely small body, holding to the original doctrines and practices of the River Brethren. This branch is the result of a division which occurred in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1853. It has the same confession. of faith as the River Brethren, and differs from them only in unimportant particulars. In observing the ceremony of feet-washing one person both washes and dries; among the River Brethren one person does the washing and another the drying. Services are held in the churches alternately every six weeks. Communion is celebrated once or twice a year. The 25 organizations are all in Pennsylvania. They own that number of houses of worship, valued at $8300. The number of members is 525. |