A History of the Mennonite Conference of Virginia and Its Work: With a Brief Biographical Sketch of Its Founders and Organizers (Classic Reprint)

The subjoined history of The Mennonite Conference of Virginia and its Work, and the Biographical Sketch of its Founders and Organizers is herewith given with the view of committing to imperishable record the simple yet strenuous lives of the pioneer Mennonites who laid the foundation of the church in the state of Virginia and made it possible for establishing the conference as we now have it a precious heritage handed down by them to us through the three or four generations that have succeeded them. To the present generation the circumstance seems remarkable that fully 100 years of pioneer work in the church had to be passed over before the ministerial forces in Virginia ripened into a conference. Yet when we realize that the trials, privations and hindrances to Christian progress in those early days wiere perhaps ten to one to what they are now, their situation may be all the more appreciated and understood. It is evident also that long before the conference was organized in 1835, that ministers and deacons frequently met far consultation on vital subjects bearing on the common welfare of the church. Besides, they were in great part dependent through all these years upon the fostering care of the Lancaster Conference in Pennsylvania. During this formative period, it is known that bishops, ministers and deacons, from the very moment they were called and ordained to their respective ofifices felt most keenly the responsibility and obligation placed upon them. The peculiar environment of the new country in which they lived, together with the ennobling qualities of character that their calling enjoined, caused them to realize to the fullest degree what it meant to live and preach a whole gospel and everywhere testify for Christ and his cause. With such convictions as to a faithful performarfce of their duty, and the clear lucid and impressive style of the Germa
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