Proceedings
of the
TWELFTH GENERAL CONFERENCE
of the
MENNONITE BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH
Held at
Allentown, Pa.
November 7-12, 1928
FIRST MEETING
The Twelfth General Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, convened at Allentown, Pa., November 7, 1928.
The Conference was opened by H. B. Musselman.
After song and prayer the Conference was organized as follows:
R. P. Ditmer and E. Moyer were appointed tellers.
A. B. Yoder, chairman.
S. Goudie, Vice Chairman.
J. S. Wood, Secretary.
E. Moyer, Assistant Secretary.
The chairman read Colossians 3:12-17, making timely and appropriate remarks.
B. Bryan Musselman gave a very cordial address of welcome.
Resolved, That the first four seats in the three sections to the west of the church, the balcony for private sessions and the basement for evening meetings, constitute the bar.
CONFERENCE ROLL
Pennsylvania Conference--H. B. Musselman, W. G. Gehman, B. Bryan Musselman, C. H. Brunner, E. N. Cassel, G. F. Yost, F. M. Hottel, G. O. Billig, H. H. Bergey, M. L. Musselman, C. D. Bean, Allen M. Gehman.
Ontario Conference– S. Goudie, M. Bricker, C. N. Good, E. Sievenpiper, E. Moyer, A. G. Warder, I. Pike, J. Thompson, J. H. Sherk.
Michigan Conference– J. A. Avery, J. S. Wood, J. N. Kitching, R. W. Herber, Jason Kitchin, D. D. Banks.
Indiana and Ohio Conference– A. B. Yoder, H. M. Metzger., W. H Moore, R. P. Ditmer, A. Taylor, E. D. Mast, Melvin Wright, M. L. Moyer, Anthony B. Yoder.
Nebraska Conference-C. I. Scott, N. W. Rich, E. D. Young, T. R. Young.
Canadian North West Conference– A. Traub, H. Edwardson.
Pacific Conference– A. W. Barbezat.
Editor– A. B. Yoder.
The following rules of order were adopted:
1. Each member before speaking on any subject, or upon presenting any motion or seconding the same shall arise and respectfully address the chair, and receiving recognition, shall be allowed to speak ten minutes on each subject, and only once, except by the permission of the chair, provided no one else desires to speak or no one objects.
2. The forenoon meetings open at 8:30 A. M., and close at 11:30; afternoon meetings open at 1:30 P. M., and close at 5:00 P. M.
3. That all open voting be done by raising the right hand .
4. That the chairman nominate all committees, unless otherwise provided for and that Conference elect them.
5. That all ordained ministers and probationers having charge of a work, shall be received as advisory members, and be privileged to speak five minutes on any subject, and only once.
6. That we encourage the chairman to call on such members of this Conference who show inactivity. We request the chair to enforce all rules of order.
7. That ministers of other denominations attending any of the meetings shall be introduced to this Conference.
8. That we accept T. B. Neely's Parliamentary Practice to govern this Conference body.
9. That no member of this Conference be allowed to leave the bar without permission.
10. That at the call of two-fifths of the members of this Conference present, the "yeas" and "nays" shall be recorded.
Resolved, That C. H. Brunner act as reporter.
Resolved, That at the opening of each morning meeting, the chairman give a brief devotional address and the Conference join in earnest prayer.
Resolved, That the chairman appoint a time keeper.
H. H. Bergey was appointed.
Resolved, That we have evangelistic services in the evenings.
Resolved, That we have the following committees to examine General Conference Minutes: On Worship; On Statistics; On Annual Conference Minutes; On Resolutions; OnIntroduction; On Auditing; On Credentials and On Boundary.
Resolved, That the appointed committees be elected by open vote.
Committee on Worship– W. G. Gehman, H. B. Musselman, B. Bryan Musselman.
Committee to Examine General Conference Minutes– Jason Kitchin, I. Pike, E. N. Cassel.
Committee on Statistics: F. M. Hottel, C. N. Good, R. W. Herber, R. P. Ditmer.
Committee on Annual Conference Minutes– C. H. Brunner, M. Pricker, J. N. Kitching, M. L. Moyer, N. W. Rich, H. Edwardson, A. W. Barbezat.
Committee on Introduction--B. Bryan Musselman.
Committee on Resolutions– S. Goudie, W. G. Gehman, E. D. Mast.
Committee on Auditing– E. N. Cassel, I. Pike, Anthony B. Yoder, A. Traub, E. D. Young, E. Sievenpiper.
Committee on Credentials– H. B. Musselman, S. Goudie, H. M. Metzger, C. I. Scott, J. S. Wood.
Committee on Boundary– H. B. Musselman, W. G. Gehman, S. Goudie, M. Bricker, J. A. Avery, J. S. Wood, A. B. Yoder, H. M. Metzger, C. I. Scott, A. Traub, A. W. Barbezat.
Report on Committee on Worship– The meeting this evening shall open at 7:45 P. M. with a short song service, led by C. N. Good; two half-hour sermons shall follow by M. Bricker of Toronto, Canada, and A. Traub of Didsbury, Alta.; N. W. Rich of Council Bluffs, Iowa, shall have charge of the after meeting.
Committee :
W. G. Gehman
H. B. Musselman
B. Bryan Musselman
Report adopted.
Adjourned. Prayer by W. H. Moore.
SECOND MEETING
Prayer by S. Goudie.
Roll call.
Minutes of previous meeting were read and with a correction approved.
Report of Committee on Credentials
Your committee beg leave to report as follows:
The Pennsylvania Conference is entitled to six Presiding Elders, five preacher delegates and five lay delegates; H. B. Musselman and W. G. Gehman are Presiding Elders; B. Bryan Musselman, C. H. Brunner, E. N. Cassel, F. M. Hottel and G. F. Yost are preacher delegates; G. O. Billig, Allen M. Gehman, H. H. Bergey, M. L. Musselman, C. D. Bean are the lay delegates.
The Ontario Conference is entitled to four Presiding Elders, four preacher delegates, and three lay delegates: S. Goudie and M. Bricker are Presiding Elders; C. N. Good, E. Sievenpiper, E. Moyer, A. G. Warder are preacher delegates; I. Pike, J. Thompson and J. H. Sherk, are lay delegates.
The Indiana and Ohio Conference is entitled to four Presiding Elders, four preacher delegates and three lay delegates: A. B. Yoder and H. M. Metzger are Presiding Elders; W. H. Moore, R. P. Ditmer, A. Taylor and E. D. Mast are preacher delegates; Melvin Wright, M. L. Moyer, Anthony B. Yoder are the lay delegates.
The Michigan Conference is entitled to two Presiding Elders, two preacher delegates and two lay delegates: J. S. Wood and J. A. Avery are Presiding Elders; J. N. Kitching, R. W. Herber are preacher delegates; D. D. Banks and Jason Kitchin are lay delegates.
The Nebraska Conference is entitled to two Presiding Elders, two preacher delegates and one lay delegate: C. I. Scott is Presiding Elder; N. W. Rich and E. D. Young are preacher delegates, and T. R. Young is lay delegate.
The Canadian North West Conference is entitled to one Presiding Elder and one preacher delegate: A. Traub is Presiding Elder; H. Edwardson is preacher delegate.
The Pacific Conference is entitled to one Presiding Elder: A. W. Barbezat is Presiding Elder.
Upon examining the various Annual Conference Minutes we found all of the abo\re duly elected according to discipline.
Committee :
H. B. Musselman
S. Goudie
H. M. Metzger
C. I. Scott
J. S. Wood
Report was adopted.Secretary's Financial Report
Amount received from former secretary $.27
Pennsylvania Conference 49.09
Ontario Conference 43.25
Michigan Conference 25.75
Indiana and Ohio Conference 40.20
Nebraska Conference 14.82
Canadian N. West Conference 5.56
Pacific Conference 5.56
Banner Office extra receipts 1.11
185.61
Cost of Journals– Printing $161.25
Postage, cut, etc. 8.61
Allowance by General Conference 25.00
Total cost 194.86
Deficit 9.25
A. B. Yoder, Secretary.
Resolved, That the report be adopted and the former Secretary reimbursed for the deficit which shall be carried forward.
Editor's Report
To the members of the General Conference, Greetings:
Almost four years have slipped by since I assumed the responsibility as editor of the Gospel Banner. I knew that when I assumed it, I assumed a difficult task; since the work was new to me, but with faith and confidence in the brotherhood I entered into the work with the purpose of giving to its readers a church paper that they would not need to be ashamed of. Whether I have succeeded or failed in this is not for me to say. I did my best, and that not without mistakes, to make it equal to any and if possible, better than many of the church papers.
I can not say that it has met even my ideal as a church paper, since my ideal would be most of the material original.
I have endeavored to have my editorials, as they were to appear regularly, and I do not think a single issue appeared without my editorials.
There have been some regular contributions for which we were thankful. Some, that is some of the associate editors were faithful and contributed quite regularly. If we could interest and have the use of our literary talent in the church, I am sure that we could do still better.
So far as I know the ministry have been faithful in their collections and some solicited for new subscribers. The life of the Gospel Banner depends upon the unselfish interest of every member and particularly every preacher.
I claim no success of myself, what has been for the betterment of the Gospel Banner, you have done, either by comment, suggestion or by criticism. As a brother I did my best.
The task was very hard for me the first six months, but after that I found it a pleasure and I must say I enjoyed the work. Not one issue was late on my account. I was able to have the material with the printer on time and with the other work I had, and doing the editorial work myself, I feel indebted to God who gave me the health and ability to do my work.
I have had many letters of commendation from appreciative friends and some very bitter letters from envious hearts. Many warm friends have been made through the Gospel Banner, and I trust that God has enabled me as your servant, to help some one into closer fellowship with God.
I wish to thank you all, friend or foe, and especially you who have so faithfully contributed, and you, the Executive Committee. I pray that God's richest blessings may rest upon you all.
Your brother in Christ,
A. B. Yoder.
Resolved, That the report be tabled to be considered in connection with the report of the Executive Committee.
Report of Delegate to Wesleyan Methodist General Conference
Considering circumstances and conditions, I felt unable to attend, so I have no report to give.
A. B. Yoder,
Report was adopted.
Resolved, That we suspend business to meet at the call of the chair.
Business resumed at 4:40.
Report of Committee on Annual Conference Records
We beg leave to report that we have examined the Annual Conference Minute Books of the Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio, Ontario, Michigan, Nebraska, Pacific and Canadian North West Conference, and find them in good shape; and as far as we could ascertain are correct. We also found the following recommendations and requests;
Ontario
1. Whereas, The article on Life Insurance, page 37, Section XIV is inconsistent and unsatisfactory, therefore
Resolved, That we request General Conference to erase it from the discipline.
2. Whereas, The wording of Section 13 on musical instruments seems inconsistent.
Resolved, That we ask General Conference to revise the same.
3. Whereas, The article on election of officers, Section II, Paragraph II, Page 53 has proven unsatisfactory.
Resolved, That we ask General Conference to erase the part referring to time, limit, and two-thirds vote.
Michigan.
1. Whereas, Form A. B. C. and D. does not provide a space to show incumberances against church property, and
Whereas, This Conference believes this information essential, therefore
Resolved, That we request General Conference to provide a space under the heading of Church Property for incumberances against Church Property and equity in Church Property:
2. Resolved, That we request General Conference to give us discipline governing Young People's Societies.
Pacific.
1. Resolved, That we petition General Conference to change our discipline so that no member will be allowed to retain his membership who will use tobacco.
2. Resolved, That we respectfully petition the General Conference to make provision for a Bishop.
Nebraska.
1. Whereas, The Canadian North West Conference requests that the name of the church be changed to Missionary Brethren in Christ; and that their relation to the entire body remain the same.
Resolved, That we the Nebraska Conference petition that we be granted the same privilege.
2. Whereas, There are people who may not be ready to become full members of our church.
Resolved, That we petition the General Conference to provide an article in the discipline giving permission to receive them on probation for some length of time until they prove themselves worthy of full membership.
3. Whereas, We are constantly made aware of the necessity for better trained Sunday School teachers.
Resolved, That we petition the General Conference to take steps to arrange a course of training for teachers, selecting such books as are safe and sound and which will be recognized as standard.
Canadian North West
Whereas, We believe a general Superintendent who could devote his time to the visiting of different Conferences [hims]elf with the needs peculiar to annually, and acquaint each Conference, and could thus help to bring about union and interest so much desired. Therefore
Resolved, That we earnestly petition the General Conference to diligently consider the need and appoint a man to this work.
Committee :
C. H. Brunner
A. W. Barbezat
M. Bricker
N. W. Rich
H. Edwardson
M. L. Moyer
J. N. Kitching
Resolved, That the time be extended indefinitely.
Resolved, That the report be adopted and that the appeals be considered at a later time.
Adjourned. Prayer by A. Taylor.
THIRD MEETING
(Thursday Morning)
Meeting opened with devotional exercises.
The chairman read Philippians 2:5-13.
Roll Call.
Minutes of the second meeting were read and with a few changes approved.
Report of Committee on General Conference Minutes
We, the Committee to examine General Conference Minutes beg leave to report that we have examined the minutes of the Eleventh General Conference and find them correct.
Committee :
Jason Kitchin
E. N. Cassel
Isaac Pike
Report was adopted.
Report of Committee on Worship
Meeting to open this evening at 7:45 with a song service led by W. H. Moore. Two thirty minute addresses shall follow. A. G. Warder of Aylmer, Ontario and A. W. Barbezat of Filer, Idaho, shall speak. N. W. Rich shall follow with an after meeting.
Committee :
W. G. Gehman
H. B. Musselman
B. Bryan Musselman
Report was adopted.
Business suspended to meet at the call of the chair.
Business resumed at 11:25.
Report of Delegates to the Annual Conference of the Defenseless Mennonites
Due to the fact that the dates of the Defenseless Conference and the Nebraska Conference conflicted, I did not attend the Conference of the Defenseless Mennonites.
C. I. Scott, Fraternal Delegate.
Report was adopted.
Resolved, That the time be extended indefinitely.
Report of the Executive Committee was read and no action taken.
Adjourned.
FOURTH MEETING
(Thursday Afternoon)
Meeting opened with song. Prayer by A. W. Barbezat.
Roll Call.
Minutes of Third Meeting were read and approved.
Resolved, That we lift from the table the Editor's report.
Report of the Executive Committee
We take pleasure in submitting the following report.
Immediately after the close of last General Conference we met and organized. At this meeting, Rev. J. N. Pannabecker was engaged again as Business Manager of the publishing interests; and to edit pages twelve to sixteen of the Gospel Banner. We also decided on the salaries to be paid to the Editor of the Gospel Banner, Rev. A. B. Yoder and to Rev. J. A. Huffman as editor of the Sunday School supplies, also to our Business Manager.
We entered into another contract with The Times Publishing Co., of Pandora, Ohio, to print the Gospel Banner for us. This contract has been carried out thus far to the satisfaction of the entire Banner family, for the Gospel Banner appeared promptly and was nicely printed.
We held our annual meetings and one special meeting. This special meeting was held for the purpose of considering a change of location of our Publishing House. The decision of this meeting was that we continue our Publishing House at New Carlisle, Ohio, for the present.
At our Annual Meeting held at New Carlisle, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1926, it was decided to purchase a certain lot situated on South Main St., Elkhart, Indiana, and build a Publishing House. This decision was carried out and early in 1927 our Business Manager moved the stock and office fixtures to Elkhart, where he has been conducting a successful business ever since. We believe this to be a forward movement in the life and work of our publishing interests.
Our Business Manager is still showing good interest in his work and is endeavoring to make a real success of the business. All our associations as a committee with our Editors and Business Manager and among ourselves has been most pleasant and agreeable. Not a jar of any kind, nor an unkind word from any one, but brotherly love and real harmony has prevailed. We predict a bright future for the Gospel Banner and Bethel Publishing interests. If we all stand together and work unitedly tb that end.
We submit the following financial reports of the Treasurer of the Executive Committee and the Business Manager.
Financial Statement of Bethel Publishing Co.
September 25, 1928
Resources as per inventoryMerchandise $6,386.32
Stationery 809.91
Fixtures 1,284.79
Machinery 1,025.29
Printing Plates 571.58
Mailing List 2,400.00
Cash on hand and in bank 984.86
Accounts Receivable 674.05
Notes Receivable 350.00
Rents receivable 30.00
Real Estate (Building Lot) 2,100.00
Bethel Building 18,000.00
Total Resources $34,616.76
Liabilities
Merchandise (Bills Payable) $1,257.65
Credits Payable 24.60
Advance payments on S. S. Literature 15.00
S. S. Papers, November and December 350.00
Notes payable 514.60
September Banner Printing Bill 288.00
Wall paper bill 20.57
Indebtedness on building 13,525.04
Paving assessment 610.00
Unpaid salaries 175.00
Net present worth 17,836.30
$34,616.76
Present worth Oct. 1, 1924 $12,800.00
Present worth Sept. 25, 1928 17,836.30
Net gain $5,036.30
Summary of Sales of Bethel Publishing Co.
Oct. 1, 1924 to Sept. 30, 1925 $20,048.74
Oct. 1, 1925 to Sept. 30, 1926 21,127.68
Oct. 1, 1926 to Sept. 28, 1927 21,841.53
Sept. 29, 1927 to Sept. 25, 1928 20,915.50
Statement of Receipts and Expenditures of Gospel Banner
Oct. 1, 1924 to Sept. 25, 1928
Receipts
Cash balance on hand $31.24
Subscriptions 18,302.48
Sales by City Missions 169.58
Sales of Special Numbers 15.14
Sales of Paper Stock 3.60
Donations to Poor Fund 219.38
Donations from other sources 9.00
Advanced by Bethel Pub. Co. 3,721.90
Total $22,472.32
Expenditures
Paper Stock $4,270.20
Monthly printing bills 13,065.23
Mailing 2,121.85
Salaries 1,900.00
Electros 123.77
Subscriptions paid from poor fund 175.45
Insurance on paper stock 25.53
Exchange on Canadian remittances 5.70
Incidentals 121.84
Paper stock on hand 559.00
Cash on hand 103.80
Total $22,472.32
Gospel Banner Circulation Statement
Number of Subscribers Oct. 1, 1924 2,696
Number of Subscribers Sept. 26, 1928 3222
Net gain 526
Gospel Banner Circulation Statement in Detail
Number of paid subscribers 3174
Number of exchanges 31
Number of free copies 17
Total 3222
Report of Treasurer of Executive Committee
1925
Receipts
Bonds on hand 10-1-24 $700.00
10-1-24 Cash on hand 812.24
Ontario Conference 59.00
10-1-24 Anthony B. Yoder 1.00
10-8-24 Exchange Bank Int. 7.52
10-9-24 Yoder Bros. for Bonds 261.17
10-9-24 Nebraska Conference 22.50
10-30-24 Ind. and Ohio Conf. 8.00
11-24-24 Int. on Bonds 9.54
2-21-25 Michigan Conf., 1923 32.00
2-21-25 Michigan Conf., 1924 35.50
2-2-25 Int. From bank 6.58
5-23-25 Int. on bonds 9.56
7-1-25 Int. from bank 5.70
Int. from bank 5.64 463.71
Total $1,275.95
Expenditures
10-1-24 A. B. Yoder $18.40
10-1-24 O. B. Snyder 13.54
10-1-24 C. I. Scott 46.00
10-1-24 N. W. Rich 18.00
10-1-24 S. Goudie 4.52
10-1-24 I. Pike 10.00
10-1-24 New Carlisle Int. 1.00
10-1-24 S. Goudie 54.00
10-7-24 Anthony B. Yoder 24.31
10-9-24 M. L. Moyer on church 302.09
12-24-24 A. B. Yoder 9.00
11-25-24 O. B. Snyder 7.19
3-24-25 J. S. Wood 9.10
3-4-25 O. B. Snyder 6.78
3-4-25 S. Goudie 20.14
3-4-25 S. Cressman 22.82
3-4-25 W. H. Moore 3.00
3-4-25 C. H. Brunner 103.70
3-4-25 Anthony B. Yoder 3.95 685.54
Balance on hand 590.41
Total $1,275.95
Bonds on Hand 450.00
1926
9-28-25 Bonds on hand 450.00
9-28-25 Balance on hand in cash 590.41
9-30-25 Bethel Publishing Co. 75.00
9-30-25 Penna. Conference 25.00
9-30-25 Ontario Conference 21.00
10-10-25 Ind. and Ohio Conf. 20.00
11-9-25 Nebraska Conf. 8.00
11-16-25 Pacific Conf. 3.00
11-17-25 Michigan Conference 13.00
1-1-26 Int. from bank 5.49
4-1-26 Int. from bank 5.99
7-1-26 Int. from bank 6.05
9-1-26 Int. from bank 19.15 201.68
Total $792.09
Expenditures
9-28-25 S. Goudie $24.20
9-28-25 C. Scott 46.00
9-28-25 C. H. Brunner 34.20
9-30-25 A. B. Yoder 11.34
9-30-25 Anth. B. Yoder 20.28
9-30-25 W. H. Moore 20.28
9-30-25 New Carlisle Int. 5.15
$161.45
Balance cash on hand 630.64
Total $792.09
9-28-26 Balance bonds on hand 450.00
Sept. 28, 1927
9-29-26 Bonds on hand $450.00
9-28-26 Cash on hand 630.84
9-29-26 Penna Conf. $122.00
9-29-26 Ontario Conf. 100.00
9-29-26 Bethel Pub. Co. 120.00
10-1-26 Int. from bank 6.11
10-1-26 Michigan Conference 60.00
10-1-26 Ind. and Ohio Conf. 98.50
10-1-26 Nebraska Conf. 36.50
10-1-26 Canadian North West 14.50
10-2-26 Mrs. Ed. Troyer 1.00
11-19-26 W. R. Grout 16.00
11-19-26 Yoder Bros. bonds 450.00
1-5-27 Int. from bank .41
5-2-27 Int. from bank .49
5-11-27 Canadian North West 3.00
7-1-27 Int. from bank 1.16 1,660.13
Expenditures
9-26-26 S. Cressman $14.00
9-26-26 A. B. Yoder 6.00
9-26-26 C. Brunner 103.20
9-26-26 O. B. Snyder 5.10