Page 49 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 49
Bishop Glossbrenner, who presided over the southern section, was of another temperament. He
was calm and conservative. There were a thousand or more of the members of his church who
were at the outset within the limits controlled by the government at Richmond. With brief intervals
this continued to be the case until the close of the war. He was convinced that it was his duty to
remain with them and see that they had such advice and protection as his influence might
command. Otherwise, it was certain that their hardships would be more severe. It speaks volumes
for the well-balanced prudence of the bishop that in spite of the suspicion in which his sect was
held, he would still be able to retain the respect and confidence of those in Confederate authority.
In 1863 he applied for permission to go within the Federal lines in order to attend the northern
section of his conference and also the Pennsylvania Conference. The request was granted,
although, as a matter of course, Glossbrenner was enjoined not to convey any information that
might work to the disadvantage of the Confederacy. He was thus put on his honor and the trust
was not abused. On his return similar restrictions were imposed by the Federal military authority.
Yet there was some difficulty in getting over the lines, both going and coming.
For staying in the South the bishop's motives were sharply assailed. After the return of peace
he was called upon to defend his course. This he did to the satisfaction of his critics. He assured
them that he had never wavered in his loyalty to the Federal government. He had told Stonewall
Jackson to his face that he did not wish the success of the Confederate arms.
The United Brethren preachers did not pray for the success of the Confederacy, yet had to be
circumspect if they were to observe the civil authority in force where they were. The northern
section of the Conference was at full liberty to pass resolutions in support of the Union cause and
did not hesitate to do so. T. F. Brashear, presiding elder of the southern district in 1862, prayed for
Federal success at the time the army under General Banks was in camp around Harrisonburg. But
Banks had to retire, and Brashear had to flee. In 1862 the northern conference section passed the
resolution that "we deeply deplore the unavoidable separation from our brethren in Virginia, and
hope that the time is not far in the future when we shall be permitted to meet as usual and
continue our connection as hitherto. We will thank God that it is no worse with us than it is and
take courage." Strong resolutions were also passed in the subsequent sessions.
At the end of the war, Markwood exclaimed that there was no longer a United Brethren church
in Virginia. But this was decidedly an overstatement. The Church in the Shenandoah valley had
seen a very real time of stress, yet a nucleus had been preserved, and during the war one house of
worship had even been built. This was Salem church near Singers Glen. But in the devastation that
had been wrought throughout the length of the valley, the membership that had held together
were in poor shape with respect to church buildings or in the ability to maintain their preachers.
With respect to the paper money of the Confederate government, they had lost little, since they did
not let it depreciate on their hands. But the close of the war found them poor, nevertheless. In this
emergency the Marylanders came generously to the relief of their brethren on the other side of the
Potomac. The war had not touched them so harshly, yet that they did not come out unscathed, the
following letter, written by Jonathan Tobey to the Rev. William R. Coursey, will bear witness. It is
dated August 9, 1864, and was mailed from Pleasant Valley, Maryland.
"We suffered much in our county from the late rebel invasion. It would take volumes to
enumerate all their acts of wrong, cruelty, and barbarism. They justified their conduct saying Gen.
Hunter did so, and so Hunter's conduct in Virginia is not justifiable, but Johny reb out done him by
far. The Johnies they robbed, kidnapped, and burned in Maryland. They took all the horses they
could see except some lame ones, and all who did not run off their horses or hide them lost them.
They entered private homes in the night, and demanded of the citizens their purses, watches, and
so forth. They shot a respectable citizen in his own house and in his own bedchamber. They
plundered all the stores, took meat away, and much they destroyed. They took wagons, buggies,
and harness. They seemed to be savage in their manner, quite insulting, and threatening, seemed
to look upon the Maryland people as enemies, and treated them as such. They came back to the
county twice since the first invasion, the last time took some of our citizens prisoners as hostages,
for to have some of their rebs redeemed. It is unhappy living along the border.— Religion seems
now to (be) almost lost, the people were so much excited and lost so much that (they) seem
discouraged, broken down."
Chapter XII 49 The Church in the War of
1861
was calm and conservative. There were a thousand or more of the members of his church who
were at the outset within the limits controlled by the government at Richmond. With brief intervals
this continued to be the case until the close of the war. He was convinced that it was his duty to
remain with them and see that they had such advice and protection as his influence might
command. Otherwise, it was certain that their hardships would be more severe. It speaks volumes
for the well-balanced prudence of the bishop that in spite of the suspicion in which his sect was
held, he would still be able to retain the respect and confidence of those in Confederate authority.
In 1863 he applied for permission to go within the Federal lines in order to attend the northern
section of his conference and also the Pennsylvania Conference. The request was granted,
although, as a matter of course, Glossbrenner was enjoined not to convey any information that
might work to the disadvantage of the Confederacy. He was thus put on his honor and the trust
was not abused. On his return similar restrictions were imposed by the Federal military authority.
Yet there was some difficulty in getting over the lines, both going and coming.
For staying in the South the bishop's motives were sharply assailed. After the return of peace
he was called upon to defend his course. This he did to the satisfaction of his critics. He assured
them that he had never wavered in his loyalty to the Federal government. He had told Stonewall
Jackson to his face that he did not wish the success of the Confederate arms.
The United Brethren preachers did not pray for the success of the Confederacy, yet had to be
circumspect if they were to observe the civil authority in force where they were. The northern
section of the Conference was at full liberty to pass resolutions in support of the Union cause and
did not hesitate to do so. T. F. Brashear, presiding elder of the southern district in 1862, prayed for
Federal success at the time the army under General Banks was in camp around Harrisonburg. But
Banks had to retire, and Brashear had to flee. In 1862 the northern conference section passed the
resolution that "we deeply deplore the unavoidable separation from our brethren in Virginia, and
hope that the time is not far in the future when we shall be permitted to meet as usual and
continue our connection as hitherto. We will thank God that it is no worse with us than it is and
take courage." Strong resolutions were also passed in the subsequent sessions.
At the end of the war, Markwood exclaimed that there was no longer a United Brethren church
in Virginia. But this was decidedly an overstatement. The Church in the Shenandoah valley had
seen a very real time of stress, yet a nucleus had been preserved, and during the war one house of
worship had even been built. This was Salem church near Singers Glen. But in the devastation that
had been wrought throughout the length of the valley, the membership that had held together
were in poor shape with respect to church buildings or in the ability to maintain their preachers.
With respect to the paper money of the Confederate government, they had lost little, since they did
not let it depreciate on their hands. But the close of the war found them poor, nevertheless. In this
emergency the Marylanders came generously to the relief of their brethren on the other side of the
Potomac. The war had not touched them so harshly, yet that they did not come out unscathed, the
following letter, written by Jonathan Tobey to the Rev. William R. Coursey, will bear witness. It is
dated August 9, 1864, and was mailed from Pleasant Valley, Maryland.
"We suffered much in our county from the late rebel invasion. It would take volumes to
enumerate all their acts of wrong, cruelty, and barbarism. They justified their conduct saying Gen.
Hunter did so, and so Hunter's conduct in Virginia is not justifiable, but Johny reb out done him by
far. The Johnies they robbed, kidnapped, and burned in Maryland. They took all the horses they
could see except some lame ones, and all who did not run off their horses or hide them lost them.
They entered private homes in the night, and demanded of the citizens their purses, watches, and
so forth. They shot a respectable citizen in his own house and in his own bedchamber. They
plundered all the stores, took meat away, and much they destroyed. They took wagons, buggies,
and harness. They seemed to be savage in their manner, quite insulting, and threatening, seemed
to look upon the Maryland people as enemies, and treated them as such. They came back to the
county twice since the first invasion, the last time took some of our citizens prisoners as hostages,
for to have some of their rebs redeemed. It is unhappy living along the border.— Religion seems
now to (be) almost lost, the people were so much excited and lost so much that (they) seem
discouraged, broken down."
Chapter XII 49 The Church in the War of
1861
