Page 37 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 37
CHAPTER X
REMINISCENCES OF SOME EARLY PREACHERS
In the present chapter we present some reminiscent observations of several of the United
Brethren ministers who were in active service between 1800 and 1860. Chief among those writing
their recollections, when on "the western slope of the rugged mountain of life," was George W.
Statton, who in 1900 was living in Colorado.
The reminiscences below are by John W. Fulkerson.
The Virginia Conference of 1855, held at Mount Hebron, is spoken of as containing forty-three
men, present and absent. All were of good preaching ability, sound in doctrine, devotional, zealous,
and bold as lions. They sensibly enjoyed the Christian religion themselves, and insisted that all
other persons should have a realizing knowledge of the divine power to salvation, if they desire to
be sure of heaven at the end of the present life. They felt called upon to take a stand for vital piety,
to advocate a pure spirituality, to preach a religion that has in it the power of the Holy Spirit to
such an extent that the professor may know he has passed from death unto life. The fathers of the
conference had a heavy conflict on their hands, for the formal churches had brains, education, and
influence, and thought the United Brethren were fanatics, or fit subjects for a hospital for the
insane. These formalists united to squelch the evangelical movement with all the powers they could
command, and these were not insignificant.
The affairs of the conferences of the 50's were managed by three strong men: Henry Burtner,
Jacob Markwood, and Jacob Bachtel. The measures they originated and advocated were adopted,
and what they opposed was sure to fail, no matter by whom it was supported. They were
invulnerable, but the conferences were well managed. These men were intellectually ahead of the
other members. They were devotedly attached to one another and to the church.
Burtner was the oldest of the three, and was at this time a retired itinerant, his education being
wholly in the German. In 1842 he came to Dayton from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was
now living on a fine farm. His preaching, which was mainly in German was of depth and power. He
was above the medium height, of commanding appearance, and possessed a fine countenance and
a very penetrating eye. Burtner was genial, benevolent, and hospitable. His home was open to all
his brother ministers, from the highest to the lowest, and to the membership of the church as well.
He was admitted to conference in 1820, and died at Dayton in 1857. A powerful man, he was a
factor not to be ignored in the councils of his church. His voice was heard with no uncertain sound
in several of the general conferences.
Jacob Markwood stood next in authority, but unlike what was true of Burtner his power and
influence did not lie in his business ability. He was a close student, a good thinker, and a great
orator. In fluency and in use of beautiful language he was rarely excelled. In his best moments he
would carry as by magic, and whithersoever he pleased, the largest and most unruly audience. In
his denunciations of the popular evils of the day, he was severe, sarcastic, and emphatic in the
extreme, and withal so regardless of the possible consequences to himself, that he would have his
audience mad enough to want to hang him. Then, in a few moments and with cyclonic power, he
would have his hearers weeping, as though with broken hearts, and some of them screaming for
mercy as if the flames of hell were consuming them. In another moment, and as with the speed of
the lightning's flash, the power of his eloquence would be turned to the uplifting influence of the
gospel, to the abundant blessings of Christianity, and for its supreme enjoyment in this life and the
life beyond. The whole audience would soon be in a whirl of glory, and loud hallelujahs would come
from every part of the house. At the dedication of Mount Zion church near the village of Mount
Solon, he preached two and one-half hours from the text, "We have come unto Mount Zion." But
sometimes Markwood failed and failed badly. He was tender-hearted and often gave his last dollar
to the poor. It is told of him that while he was on the road to preside over a conference in Ohio, he
overtook an old man, thinly clad, and to all appearance in ill health. Markwood at once got out of
his buggy, and walked with the man a short distance, meanwhile putting several questions to him.
Chapter X 37 Reminiscences of Some Early
Preachers
REMINISCENCES OF SOME EARLY PREACHERS
In the present chapter we present some reminiscent observations of several of the United
Brethren ministers who were in active service between 1800 and 1860. Chief among those writing
their recollections, when on "the western slope of the rugged mountain of life," was George W.
Statton, who in 1900 was living in Colorado.
The reminiscences below are by John W. Fulkerson.
The Virginia Conference of 1855, held at Mount Hebron, is spoken of as containing forty-three
men, present and absent. All were of good preaching ability, sound in doctrine, devotional, zealous,
and bold as lions. They sensibly enjoyed the Christian religion themselves, and insisted that all
other persons should have a realizing knowledge of the divine power to salvation, if they desire to
be sure of heaven at the end of the present life. They felt called upon to take a stand for vital piety,
to advocate a pure spirituality, to preach a religion that has in it the power of the Holy Spirit to
such an extent that the professor may know he has passed from death unto life. The fathers of the
conference had a heavy conflict on their hands, for the formal churches had brains, education, and
influence, and thought the United Brethren were fanatics, or fit subjects for a hospital for the
insane. These formalists united to squelch the evangelical movement with all the powers they could
command, and these were not insignificant.
The affairs of the conferences of the 50's were managed by three strong men: Henry Burtner,
Jacob Markwood, and Jacob Bachtel. The measures they originated and advocated were adopted,
and what they opposed was sure to fail, no matter by whom it was supported. They were
invulnerable, but the conferences were well managed. These men were intellectually ahead of the
other members. They were devotedly attached to one another and to the church.
Burtner was the oldest of the three, and was at this time a retired itinerant, his education being
wholly in the German. In 1842 he came to Dayton from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was
now living on a fine farm. His preaching, which was mainly in German was of depth and power. He
was above the medium height, of commanding appearance, and possessed a fine countenance and
a very penetrating eye. Burtner was genial, benevolent, and hospitable. His home was open to all
his brother ministers, from the highest to the lowest, and to the membership of the church as well.
He was admitted to conference in 1820, and died at Dayton in 1857. A powerful man, he was a
factor not to be ignored in the councils of his church. His voice was heard with no uncertain sound
in several of the general conferences.
Jacob Markwood stood next in authority, but unlike what was true of Burtner his power and
influence did not lie in his business ability. He was a close student, a good thinker, and a great
orator. In fluency and in use of beautiful language he was rarely excelled. In his best moments he
would carry as by magic, and whithersoever he pleased, the largest and most unruly audience. In
his denunciations of the popular evils of the day, he was severe, sarcastic, and emphatic in the
extreme, and withal so regardless of the possible consequences to himself, that he would have his
audience mad enough to want to hang him. Then, in a few moments and with cyclonic power, he
would have his hearers weeping, as though with broken hearts, and some of them screaming for
mercy as if the flames of hell were consuming them. In another moment, and as with the speed of
the lightning's flash, the power of his eloquence would be turned to the uplifting influence of the
gospel, to the abundant blessings of Christianity, and for its supreme enjoyment in this life and the
life beyond. The whole audience would soon be in a whirl of glory, and loud hallelujahs would come
from every part of the house. At the dedication of Mount Zion church near the village of Mount
Solon, he preached two and one-half hours from the text, "We have come unto Mount Zion." But
sometimes Markwood failed and failed badly. He was tender-hearted and often gave his last dollar
to the poor. It is told of him that while he was on the road to preside over a conference in Ohio, he
overtook an old man, thinly clad, and to all appearance in ill health. Markwood at once got out of
his buggy, and walked with the man a short distance, meanwhile putting several questions to him.
Chapter X 37 Reminiscences of Some Early
Preachers
