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EDITOR'S FOREWORD
The late A. P. Funkhouser projected a book which, in treating of the Virginia Conference of the
United Brethren Church, should "include the origin, growth, and development of the Church within
its bounds, and its distinctive features, together with portraits and brief biographies of many of its
ministers." For this purpose he gathered a large and valuable store of material, but did not prepare
a manuscript copy of the projected work. In early May of the present year, the undersigned was
asked by the owner and custodians of the collection to supply this lack. In carrying out the
commission to compile a manuscript, the editor has adhered as closely as practicable to the topical
plan found among the papers mentioned. He has also sought to put himself in the place of the
expectant author. But in constructing several of the chapters made necessary by the topical plan
aforesaid, the collection afforded little aid. Dr. Funkhouser could undoubtedly have written these
chapters without feeling much need for documents and other authorities.
On the other hand, the editor had never met Dr. Funkhouser, is not himself of the United
Brethren, and was not previously familiar with the rise and development of the United Brethren
Church. He was therefore compelled to make large use of source material not found in the
collection. This is why chapters I to VII inclusive, IX, XI to XVI inclusive, and XXIV and XXV are, in
the main, of his own authorship. In the quoted paragraphs, without reference as to source, that
occur in some of these chapters, he has followed the phraseology of Dr. Funkhouser. It is hardly
necessary to add that no writer can take up an outline formulated by another craftsman, and
pursue it with the same freedom as is possible to the projector. But since the undertaking had to be
finished by some one else, it is hoped that the present volume will, in at least a fair measure, fulfill
the promise implied in the title.
The books and pamphlets not found in the collection, and consulted by the editor, are these:
"History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ," by John Lawrence; "Our Bishops," by H. A.
Thompson; "Our Heroes; or United Brethren Home Missionaries," by W. M. Weekley and H. H. Fout;
"Landmark History of the United Brethren Church," by D. Eberly, I. H. Albright, and C. I. B. Brane;
"The German and Swiss Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania," by Oscar Kuhns; "The German
Element in the Shenandoah Valley," by J. W. Wayland; "History of Rockingham County, Virginia," by
J. W. Wayland; "Origin, Doctrine, Constitution, and Discipline of the United Brethren in Christ
(1841);" "Life of J. J. Glossbrenner," by A. W. Drury; "Life of William Otterbein," by A. W. Drury;
"Life of David Edwards," by Lewis Davis; "Life and Career of James W. Hott," by M. B. Drury; "Life
and Journal of Christian Newcomer," edited by John Hildt; "Michael Schlatter Memorial Addresses,"
by J. E. Boiler and others; "Autobiography of Peter Cartwright," edited by W. P. Strickland; "History
of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia," by R. B. Semple; "Life of Jacob Bachtel," by Z.
Warner; the published Minutes of the Conference, 1800-1818, and 1880-1920.
The editor is much indebted to Mr. Joseph K. Ruebush for the helpful interest shown in the
undertaking, particularly in furnishing authorities to supplement the data gathered by Dr.
Funkhouser; also to the Rev. J. E. Hott for varied and valuable oral information.
OREN F. MORTON.
Dayton, Virginia, August 29, 1919.
4 Forward by the Compiler
The late A. P. Funkhouser projected a book which, in treating of the Virginia Conference of the
United Brethren Church, should "include the origin, growth, and development of the Church within
its bounds, and its distinctive features, together with portraits and brief biographies of many of its
ministers." For this purpose he gathered a large and valuable store of material, but did not prepare
a manuscript copy of the projected work. In early May of the present year, the undersigned was
asked by the owner and custodians of the collection to supply this lack. In carrying out the
commission to compile a manuscript, the editor has adhered as closely as practicable to the topical
plan found among the papers mentioned. He has also sought to put himself in the place of the
expectant author. But in constructing several of the chapters made necessary by the topical plan
aforesaid, the collection afforded little aid. Dr. Funkhouser could undoubtedly have written these
chapters without feeling much need for documents and other authorities.
On the other hand, the editor had never met Dr. Funkhouser, is not himself of the United
Brethren, and was not previously familiar with the rise and development of the United Brethren
Church. He was therefore compelled to make large use of source material not found in the
collection. This is why chapters I to VII inclusive, IX, XI to XVI inclusive, and XXIV and XXV are, in
the main, of his own authorship. In the quoted paragraphs, without reference as to source, that
occur in some of these chapters, he has followed the phraseology of Dr. Funkhouser. It is hardly
necessary to add that no writer can take up an outline formulated by another craftsman, and
pursue it with the same freedom as is possible to the projector. But since the undertaking had to be
finished by some one else, it is hoped that the present volume will, in at least a fair measure, fulfill
the promise implied in the title.
The books and pamphlets not found in the collection, and consulted by the editor, are these:
"History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ," by John Lawrence; "Our Bishops," by H. A.
Thompson; "Our Heroes; or United Brethren Home Missionaries," by W. M. Weekley and H. H. Fout;
"Landmark History of the United Brethren Church," by D. Eberly, I. H. Albright, and C. I. B. Brane;
"The German and Swiss Settlements of Colonial Pennsylvania," by Oscar Kuhns; "The German
Element in the Shenandoah Valley," by J. W. Wayland; "History of Rockingham County, Virginia," by
J. W. Wayland; "Origin, Doctrine, Constitution, and Discipline of the United Brethren in Christ
(1841);" "Life of J. J. Glossbrenner," by A. W. Drury; "Life of William Otterbein," by A. W. Drury;
"Life of David Edwards," by Lewis Davis; "Life and Career of James W. Hott," by M. B. Drury; "Life
and Journal of Christian Newcomer," edited by John Hildt; "Michael Schlatter Memorial Addresses,"
by J. E. Boiler and others; "Autobiography of Peter Cartwright," edited by W. P. Strickland; "History
of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia," by R. B. Semple; "Life of Jacob Bachtel," by Z.
Warner; the published Minutes of the Conference, 1800-1818, and 1880-1920.
The editor is much indebted to Mr. Joseph K. Ruebush for the helpful interest shown in the
undertaking, particularly in furnishing authorities to supplement the data gathered by Dr.
Funkhouser; also to the Rev. J. E. Hott for varied and valuable oral information.
OREN F. MORTON.
Dayton, Virginia, August 29, 1919.
4 Forward by the Compiler
