Page 106 - United Brethren Virginia Conferences 1800-1946
P. 106
Volume 7 History of Virginia Conferences of United Brethren December 26, 2024
Report on the Age of the Virginia Annual Conference. Having been asked by this body one
year ago “to gather all the facts possible in regard to the age of the Virginia Conference,” and present
them at this session, I submit the results of my investigation as follows: In its earliest history the
ministers of the Church met in one body, known as “The Conference.” Later it was known as “The Old
Conference,” or as the “Original Conference,” as it was customarily mentioned. When other
conferences were formed, its official name became “The Hagerstown District or Conference.” (See
Berger’s History of the U.B. Church, page 555.)
As to the name of the Conference, the following acts of the General Conference held at Dewalt
Machlin’s, in Ohio, in 1829, should be noticed. They may be found in John Lawrence’s U.B. History,
Vol. 2, page 206; and in Dr. Berger’s History, page 565. Owing to the increased numbers of ministers
and members and the enlarged territory it was thought advisable to divide the old conference and the
following appropriate action was taken: Resolved, That the Hagerstown Conference be divided to the
best advantage, and that the brethren Hildt, Brown, Zahn, and Miller constitute a committee for that
purpose. The report of this committee that was adopted was as follows: The committee appointed to
divide the Hagerstown Conference District reported that said district shall in the future consist of the
State of Virginia and the Counties of Washington and Alleghany in Maryland, and that the remaining
part of the said district shall constitute a new one, to be called the Harrisburg District.
It is worthy of notice that while this committee was appointed to divide the Hagerstown
Conference District, it did substantially what they were instructed to do, but did it in such a manner as to
rebound the Old Conference, and eliminate or set off a part from which they created a new District or
Conference. For, mark you, they reported that said district (the Hagerstown,) shall in the future consist
of certain territory, and the remaining part of the said district shall constitute a new one to be called the
Harrisburg District. This is the official act of the General Conference of 1829, held in Fairfield Co.,
Ohio.
The year following, the ministers east of the Alleghany Mountains met as one body for the last
time at Shopp’s Meeting House near Shiremanstown, Pa., in March 1830. Dr. Berger tells us in his
excellent History, page 566, that near the close of the session the following resolution was passed: The
question arose, which of the two bodies, after the division was consummated, should retain possession
of the records of the Old Conference. It was answered thus: Resolved, That in future the Hagerstown
Conference shall have the old protocol (minutes) and the Harrisburg Conference shall procure a new
book. With this appears this minute: Bishop Kumler gave to William Brown two dollars, with which he
shall purchase a new protocol for the Harrisburg Conference, and shall transcribe from the old into the
new, all important proceedings.”
Thus the records were given to the Hagerstown Conference. Soon after this meeting the
Hagerstown took the name of the Virginia Conference, and the Harrisburg the name of the Pennsylvania
Conference. Some light is thrown on this matter by William Hanby, who wrote his history of the
Church for a period of about 25 years or from 1825 to 1850. His work is published along with the
writings of Henry G. Spayth, our earlier historian. Mr. Hanby says: “Five annual conferences were held
this year (1830). The first was the Pennsylvania, which met at Shopp’s Church, Cumberland Co., Pa.,
on the 22nd day of March. “Following the name “Pennsylvania,” Mr. Hanby adds this explanation.
“From the records of this Conference, and from the proceedings of the General Conference, it appears
that this Conference for many years prior to this date, bore the name of Hagerstown Conference,”
instead of Pennsylvania. At the General Conference when it was divided, the conference known as the
Virginia Conference, retained the name of Hagerstown Conference, and the new conference, now known
1899 Reports 96
Report on the Age of the Virginia Annual Conference. Having been asked by this body one
year ago “to gather all the facts possible in regard to the age of the Virginia Conference,” and present
them at this session, I submit the results of my investigation as follows: In its earliest history the
ministers of the Church met in one body, known as “The Conference.” Later it was known as “The Old
Conference,” or as the “Original Conference,” as it was customarily mentioned. When other
conferences were formed, its official name became “The Hagerstown District or Conference.” (See
Berger’s History of the U.B. Church, page 555.)
As to the name of the Conference, the following acts of the General Conference held at Dewalt
Machlin’s, in Ohio, in 1829, should be noticed. They may be found in John Lawrence’s U.B. History,
Vol. 2, page 206; and in Dr. Berger’s History, page 565. Owing to the increased numbers of ministers
and members and the enlarged territory it was thought advisable to divide the old conference and the
following appropriate action was taken: Resolved, That the Hagerstown Conference be divided to the
best advantage, and that the brethren Hildt, Brown, Zahn, and Miller constitute a committee for that
purpose. The report of this committee that was adopted was as follows: The committee appointed to
divide the Hagerstown Conference District reported that said district shall in the future consist of the
State of Virginia and the Counties of Washington and Alleghany in Maryland, and that the remaining
part of the said district shall constitute a new one, to be called the Harrisburg District.
It is worthy of notice that while this committee was appointed to divide the Hagerstown
Conference District, it did substantially what they were instructed to do, but did it in such a manner as to
rebound the Old Conference, and eliminate or set off a part from which they created a new District or
Conference. For, mark you, they reported that said district (the Hagerstown,) shall in the future consist
of certain territory, and the remaining part of the said district shall constitute a new one to be called the
Harrisburg District. This is the official act of the General Conference of 1829, held in Fairfield Co.,
Ohio.
The year following, the ministers east of the Alleghany Mountains met as one body for the last
time at Shopp’s Meeting House near Shiremanstown, Pa., in March 1830. Dr. Berger tells us in his
excellent History, page 566, that near the close of the session the following resolution was passed: The
question arose, which of the two bodies, after the division was consummated, should retain possession
of the records of the Old Conference. It was answered thus: Resolved, That in future the Hagerstown
Conference shall have the old protocol (minutes) and the Harrisburg Conference shall procure a new
book. With this appears this minute: Bishop Kumler gave to William Brown two dollars, with which he
shall purchase a new protocol for the Harrisburg Conference, and shall transcribe from the old into the
new, all important proceedings.”
Thus the records were given to the Hagerstown Conference. Soon after this meeting the
Hagerstown took the name of the Virginia Conference, and the Harrisburg the name of the Pennsylvania
Conference. Some light is thrown on this matter by William Hanby, who wrote his history of the
Church for a period of about 25 years or from 1825 to 1850. His work is published along with the
writings of Henry G. Spayth, our earlier historian. Mr. Hanby says: “Five annual conferences were held
this year (1830). The first was the Pennsylvania, which met at Shopp’s Church, Cumberland Co., Pa.,
on the 22nd day of March. “Following the name “Pennsylvania,” Mr. Hanby adds this explanation.
“From the records of this Conference, and from the proceedings of the General Conference, it appears
that this Conference for many years prior to this date, bore the name of Hagerstown Conference,”
instead of Pennsylvania. At the General Conference when it was divided, the conference known as the
Virginia Conference, retained the name of Hagerstown Conference, and the new conference, now known
1899 Reports 96
