Page 35 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 35
CHAPTER IX
THE EARLY PREACHERS
Let us pass in review the "great meetings" that were so prominent a feature of the United
Brethren movement in its early period.
Otterbein was a city preacher. With a single exception his pastorates were in places large for a
time when American cities were few and small. And yet his greatest work was done in the country
at those seasons of the year when meetings could be held in the open air or in large, tireless
buildings. His leading associates, Boehm and Geeting, preached only to congregations of country
people.
The great meeting took place once a year in a given locality, but sometimes twice. It began on
Saturday and usually lasted three days. It was announced well in advance, and much preparation
was made for the occasion. The great meeting was the event of the year, because some noted
preachers came from a distance to hold it. Even the best settled parts of America were
comparatively a wilderness to the end of the colonial age. Postoffices were exceedingly few, and
the rates of postage were well nigh prohibitive. A letter was very often entrusted to some private
person who could act as a messenger. Tidings of the meeting were therefore spread orally. Most of
the attendants came on horseback or afoot, because there was no vehicle except the road wagon
and not every trail could be used by it. Nevertheless, great crowds gathered, and the community
was taxed to the utmost to feed and lodge them.
Sometimes the meeting was in the open air. But the thrifty farmer of German birth or
parentage was quite sure to have an immense barn, and such a building served quite well to
accommodate the throng. Newcomer once mentions a meeting in a mill.
These meetings were looked forward to with satisfaction by the evangelists themselves. Finding
themselves lonesome in their own formal denominations, they sought each other's society in religious
gatherings. A leader in the great meeting found sweet fellowship in his associates. Other ministers were
often present, and if they had the evangelical spirit they would take part.
The preaching was positive and dogmatic. "Thus saith the Lord," settled all questions. Great
stress was laid on the new birth. The contrast was drawn between ruin and death by sin and
salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Preacher and follower were alike spiritual
and emotional. It was the common thing for penitents and converts to make their appearance at
every service.
"The great tenet of this new preaching was a mystical union with God through Christ Jesus,
causing a spiritual regeneration, which changed the heart so radically as to produce a new man in
ideals and desires, and, therefore, in ethical conduct. Form and ceremony were nothing; everything
was continued in spirit and life. From the nature of the case, the position assumed by these
reformers on questions of morals and conduct was radical. Their religion was individual, their
scriptural interpretation literal, and their ethical standards high. Hence they had little tolerance for
what they deemed unscriptural."
During the intervals between two great meetings the people were left mainly to their class and
prayer meetings. There was an occasional sermon if a preacher could be found. These prayer and
experience meetings were held in private homes, the experience consisting in the feelings or ideas
with respect to the inner and spiritual life. There were not yet any organized church activities, and
all the people could talk of was what they thought or felt. Men and women accustomed themselves
to oral prayer, and some of them could pray in public with great power and effect. These home
meetings developed leaders, who were very instrumental in grounding in faith and hope the people
who zealously followed them.
We now pass on to the period 1800-1830.
The United Brethren organization arose as a revival church. It took its adherents mainly from
"Satan's side of the line," instead of from other folds or from people with a training in churchliness.
"The early preachers were therefore heralds of salvation to lost men. When they had faithfully
urged their hearers to flee the wrath to come, they considered their duty performed. After 'going
Chapter IX 35 The Early
Preachers
THE EARLY PREACHERS
Let us pass in review the "great meetings" that were so prominent a feature of the United
Brethren movement in its early period.
Otterbein was a city preacher. With a single exception his pastorates were in places large for a
time when American cities were few and small. And yet his greatest work was done in the country
at those seasons of the year when meetings could be held in the open air or in large, tireless
buildings. His leading associates, Boehm and Geeting, preached only to congregations of country
people.
The great meeting took place once a year in a given locality, but sometimes twice. It began on
Saturday and usually lasted three days. It was announced well in advance, and much preparation
was made for the occasion. The great meeting was the event of the year, because some noted
preachers came from a distance to hold it. Even the best settled parts of America were
comparatively a wilderness to the end of the colonial age. Postoffices were exceedingly few, and
the rates of postage were well nigh prohibitive. A letter was very often entrusted to some private
person who could act as a messenger. Tidings of the meeting were therefore spread orally. Most of
the attendants came on horseback or afoot, because there was no vehicle except the road wagon
and not every trail could be used by it. Nevertheless, great crowds gathered, and the community
was taxed to the utmost to feed and lodge them.
Sometimes the meeting was in the open air. But the thrifty farmer of German birth or
parentage was quite sure to have an immense barn, and such a building served quite well to
accommodate the throng. Newcomer once mentions a meeting in a mill.
These meetings were looked forward to with satisfaction by the evangelists themselves. Finding
themselves lonesome in their own formal denominations, they sought each other's society in religious
gatherings. A leader in the great meeting found sweet fellowship in his associates. Other ministers were
often present, and if they had the evangelical spirit they would take part.
The preaching was positive and dogmatic. "Thus saith the Lord," settled all questions. Great
stress was laid on the new birth. The contrast was drawn between ruin and death by sin and
salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Preacher and follower were alike spiritual
and emotional. It was the common thing for penitents and converts to make their appearance at
every service.
"The great tenet of this new preaching was a mystical union with God through Christ Jesus,
causing a spiritual regeneration, which changed the heart so radically as to produce a new man in
ideals and desires, and, therefore, in ethical conduct. Form and ceremony were nothing; everything
was continued in spirit and life. From the nature of the case, the position assumed by these
reformers on questions of morals and conduct was radical. Their religion was individual, their
scriptural interpretation literal, and their ethical standards high. Hence they had little tolerance for
what they deemed unscriptural."
During the intervals between two great meetings the people were left mainly to their class and
prayer meetings. There was an occasional sermon if a preacher could be found. These prayer and
experience meetings were held in private homes, the experience consisting in the feelings or ideas
with respect to the inner and spiritual life. There were not yet any organized church activities, and
all the people could talk of was what they thought or felt. Men and women accustomed themselves
to oral prayer, and some of them could pray in public with great power and effect. These home
meetings developed leaders, who were very instrumental in grounding in faith and hope the people
who zealously followed them.
We now pass on to the period 1800-1830.
The United Brethren organization arose as a revival church. It took its adherents mainly from
"Satan's side of the line," instead of from other folds or from people with a training in churchliness.
"The early preachers were therefore heralds of salvation to lost men. When they had faithfully
urged their hearers to flee the wrath to come, they considered their duty performed. After 'going
Chapter IX 35 The Early
Preachers
