Page 48 - United Brethren Virginia Conferences 1800-1946
P. 48
Volume 7 History of Virginia Conferences of United Brethren December 26, 2024
brotherly love prevail among preachers and people. Quarterly conferences have been rather slimly
attended by official members; a slight improvement noticeable the latter part of the year.
Preachers’ salaries have not been as large generally as desired, ‘yet I think reports will compare
with former salaries received tolerably well. Ministers in charge of work have been faithful, according
to ability, the whole year. Missionary interests have been seasonably presented by all the itinerants, but
not as freely responded to as the cause demands.
The Sabbath school cause is making some advancement, with ample room for improvement. If
special arrangements can be made by the Conference in this line of Christian work, I feel sure it would
bring glorious results. Camp meeting on Berkeley Springs Circuit was attended with financial and
spiritual success. The reports of preachers will show, I think, quite a favorable increase in church
membership. May they all be faithful. Respectfully submitted, W. O. Grim, P.E.
South Branch District. Dear brethren: In submitting to you this annual report, I would first of
all acknowledge and proclaim my obligations to the Lord for His mercy and favor, which have attended
my every step during the past year. The district comprises 7 circuits, 1 mission, and 1 mission station,
sparsely covering an area of about 100 miles. The assignments made by the last Annual Conference
were duly respected, and the fields traveled, excepting in the case of William Hesse, appointed to Mill
Creek Circuit, who spent about one month on his charge, after which he resigned. Rev. J. G. Ketterman
was appointed to fill the vacancy, and labored faithfully and successfully to the end of the year. Nearly
all of the preachers on this district have been faithful, zealous and enterprising.
Six of the fields of labor have been favored with gracious revivals, many of which have been
deep and thorough, reforming, renovating and quickening to religious enterprise whole communities. A
vigorous effort was made to increase the circulation of our church literature, which resulted successfully.
The missionary and other assessments have been presented earnestly, and while in a few instances the
demand has not been fully met, yet the total amount secured will doubtless exceed that of any previous
year. Three houses of worship have been built or completed and dedicated during the past year, while
four more are in certain prospectus. Zeal in this enterprise appears the more commendable in
connection with the reflections that this district has at present 70 appointments, with but 19 church
houses, leaving us under obligations to others for the use of 51 of the houses in which we worship.
An eye has been kept upon the development of our young people, and a number of them
contemplate a course of training in our church schools. The prospect before South Branch District is
good. Zeal is quickened; benevolence toward the interests of the Church is on the increase; love for the
principles and enterprises of the Church has been fostered, while formality and routine indolence have
received some crushing blows. Personally I have little to say. I met all of my Quarterlies in person but
one; reported at that and was sent forward by Bishop Glossbrenner to dedicate a church, while he held
the Quarterly. Besides this, I gave eight extras on the district, making in all 44 weeks given to the
district in actual present work. Number of Quarterlies, 36; fields of labor, 9. Salary received, $294.68;
presents, $17.46. Time employed, 12 months. Respectfully submitted, J. E. Hott, P.E.
Boundaries. Report of the Boundary Committee:
1. That there be three Presiding Elder Districts.
2. Detach Rock Hill from Hagerstown Station and attach to Opequon Circuit.
3. Detach Lonaconing from Garrett Circuit and attach to Westernport Mission Station.
4. Detach Pine Grove [Clay Hill] from Churchville Circuit and make it the base of a
Mission to be called West Augusta Mission.
1880 Reports 38
brotherly love prevail among preachers and people. Quarterly conferences have been rather slimly
attended by official members; a slight improvement noticeable the latter part of the year.
Preachers’ salaries have not been as large generally as desired, ‘yet I think reports will compare
with former salaries received tolerably well. Ministers in charge of work have been faithful, according
to ability, the whole year. Missionary interests have been seasonably presented by all the itinerants, but
not as freely responded to as the cause demands.
The Sabbath school cause is making some advancement, with ample room for improvement. If
special arrangements can be made by the Conference in this line of Christian work, I feel sure it would
bring glorious results. Camp meeting on Berkeley Springs Circuit was attended with financial and
spiritual success. The reports of preachers will show, I think, quite a favorable increase in church
membership. May they all be faithful. Respectfully submitted, W. O. Grim, P.E.
South Branch District. Dear brethren: In submitting to you this annual report, I would first of
all acknowledge and proclaim my obligations to the Lord for His mercy and favor, which have attended
my every step during the past year. The district comprises 7 circuits, 1 mission, and 1 mission station,
sparsely covering an area of about 100 miles. The assignments made by the last Annual Conference
were duly respected, and the fields traveled, excepting in the case of William Hesse, appointed to Mill
Creek Circuit, who spent about one month on his charge, after which he resigned. Rev. J. G. Ketterman
was appointed to fill the vacancy, and labored faithfully and successfully to the end of the year. Nearly
all of the preachers on this district have been faithful, zealous and enterprising.
Six of the fields of labor have been favored with gracious revivals, many of which have been
deep and thorough, reforming, renovating and quickening to religious enterprise whole communities. A
vigorous effort was made to increase the circulation of our church literature, which resulted successfully.
The missionary and other assessments have been presented earnestly, and while in a few instances the
demand has not been fully met, yet the total amount secured will doubtless exceed that of any previous
year. Three houses of worship have been built or completed and dedicated during the past year, while
four more are in certain prospectus. Zeal in this enterprise appears the more commendable in
connection with the reflections that this district has at present 70 appointments, with but 19 church
houses, leaving us under obligations to others for the use of 51 of the houses in which we worship.
An eye has been kept upon the development of our young people, and a number of them
contemplate a course of training in our church schools. The prospect before South Branch District is
good. Zeal is quickened; benevolence toward the interests of the Church is on the increase; love for the
principles and enterprises of the Church has been fostered, while formality and routine indolence have
received some crushing blows. Personally I have little to say. I met all of my Quarterlies in person but
one; reported at that and was sent forward by Bishop Glossbrenner to dedicate a church, while he held
the Quarterly. Besides this, I gave eight extras on the district, making in all 44 weeks given to the
district in actual present work. Number of Quarterlies, 36; fields of labor, 9. Salary received, $294.68;
presents, $17.46. Time employed, 12 months. Respectfully submitted, J. E. Hott, P.E.
Boundaries. Report of the Boundary Committee:
1. That there be three Presiding Elder Districts.
2. Detach Rock Hill from Hagerstown Station and attach to Opequon Circuit.
3. Detach Lonaconing from Garrett Circuit and attach to Westernport Mission Station.
4. Detach Pine Grove [Clay Hill] from Churchville Circuit and make it the base of a
Mission to be called West Augusta Mission.
1880 Reports 38
