The history of the Old Brethren Church dates back to Germany in 1708, when the

Schwarzenau Brethren The Schwarzenau Brethren, the German Baptist Brethren, Dunkers, Dunkards, Tunkers, or sometimes simply called the German Baptists, are an Anabaptist group that dissented from Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed European state churches during t ...

were formed in Berleburg under the leadership of Alexander Mack. Soon they moved to

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

to escape religious persecution in Europe. As the American frontier moved west, Brethren followed to Ohio, Indiana and beyond. The Old Brethren are a group of Schwarzenau Brethren who split from the Old German Baptist Brethren in

Carroll County, Indiana Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 20,155. The county seat is Delphi. Carroll County is part of the Lafayette, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Histor ...

(Deer Creek), in 1913, and in

Stanislaus County, California , image_skyline = , image_caption = Images, from top down, left to right: Modesto Arch, Knights Ferry's General Store, a view of the Tuolumne River from Waterford , image_flag = , ...

, in 1915. They are a believer's church made up of those who voluntarily choose to follow Jesus as His disciples, and are baptized at this time, during their teen or adult years.

History

The issue which is often given as cause for division in the early 1900s was the changes brought by quick acceptance of telephones and automobiles among the Old German Baptist Brethren. Historically the Schwarzenau Brethren groups have believed in and practiced the independent authority of each local congregation. Annual Meetings started out gradually as a time for worship, exhortation and unity among the first several generations of dispersed, frontier living, German speaking Brethren families. Generally, the more conservative Old Brethren originally wanted more adherence to Annual Meeting decisions. Ultimately the Old Brethren chose to uphold the older form of Annual Meeting, which was simpler, more worship and Scripture based than the legislative business model which had recently developed among the Old German Baptist Brethren. Attempts in 1929-30 to reunite the Old Brethren and Old German Baptist Brethren were not successful. After 1930, the Old Brethren placed less stress on Annual Meeting authority than did the parent body, believing it to be a simple gathering more for edification, fellowship and teaching, rather than for legislation. Personal conviction and moral persuasion to follow the Bible are now the basis for adherence to the church's order, rather than authoritative legislative decisions of Annual Meeting. In 1939, those Old Brethren who wished to stress following legislative decisions of Annual Meeting and also to maintain the rejection of automobiles, telephones, electricity and tractors formed a more conservative traditional group, called the Old Brethren German Baptists.

Religious practice

The Old Brethren do not use the

German language German ( ) is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Italian province of South Tyrol. It is also a ...

in worship any longer, neither a German dialect in everyday life nor High German for Bible and church readings, because they had already begun giving up the everyday use of the German language when the first split of conservatives from the main body of German Baptist Brethren occurred in the 1880s. They have given up

horse and buggy ] A horse and buggy (in American English) or horse and carriage (in British English and American English) refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two ...

transportation and now accept the use of automobiles, while they have retained

plain dress Plain dress is a practice among some religious groups, primarily some Christianity, Christian churches in which people dress in clothes of traditional modest design, sturdy fabric, and conservative cut. It is intended to show acceptance of trad ...

and a simple lifestyle separated from worldly fads and entertainment. The Old Brethren prefer to allow time and space for the Holy Spirit to guide a person's life. Brotherly counsel according to Matthew 18 and other Scripture is also followed. Teachings of the New Testament are interpreted and applied literally, with special focus given to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) as guidelines for those who are in the Kingdom of God. Old Brethren have less written rules than the Old German Baptist Brethren, preferring to let the Holy Spirit convict hearts and lead people to live holy lives, according to the Scriptures. Old Brethren are more plain in dress and more conservative in lifestyle than some members of their parent group the Old German Baptist Brethren; but are similar to them in aspects such as nonresistance, using the Trine Immersion mode of baptism and the three-part communion service including feetwashing and a love feast.Donald B. Kraybill, C. Nelson Hostetter: "Anabaptist World USA", Scottdale PA, 2001, page 155.

Members and congregations

In 1980 the Old Brethren numbered about 230 adult members. Old Brethren membership in 2000 was 350 in five congregations with a total population of 651. As of 2020 Old Brethren reside mainly near Salida, CA,

Modesto, CA Modesto () is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,464 at the 2020 census, it is the 19th largest city in the state of California and forms part of the Sacramento-Stockton ...

Tuolumne, CA Tuolumne City is an unincorporated town in Tuolumne County, California. A census-designated place (CDP) officially known as Tuolumne also encompasses the town. The population of the CDP was 1,779 at the 2010 census, down from 1,865 at the 2000 ...

, Wakarusa, IN and Goshen, IN, between Bradford, OH,

Dayton, OH Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater D ...

, Greenville, OH, New Lebanon, OH, and Palestine OH; and near

Harrison, AR Harrison is a city and the county seat of Boone County, Arkansas, United States. It is named after General Marcus LaRue Harrison, a surveyor who laid out the city along Crooked Creek (Arkansas), Crooked Creek at Stifler Springs. According to 2 ...

and Marble Falls, AR with a total of 8 meeting houses in use. There are Old Brethren private church schools at Nappanee IN, Palestine, OH and Tuolumne, CA. Those children who do not attend Christian schools are home schooled.

Publishing

A weekly periodical, '' The Pilgrim'', was started in 1870 by brothers

Henry Boyer Brumbaugh Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

and J. B. Brumbaugh in

James Creek, Pennsylvania Marklesburg is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census. History The Marklesburg Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Geography Marklesb ...

. This was later changed to monthly publication and came to be affiliated with the Old Brethren Church.Internet Archive: The Pilgrim
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References

Brethren denominations in North America Anabaptist denominations established in the 20th century Christian organizations established in 1913 1913 establishments in Indiana

External links