Christmas Devotions

Grampasgleanings 20061223

Christmas Morning Devotions
Suggested by Gpa G December 23, 2006

Some Christmas Carols
Silent Night
By Joseph Mohr

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

And/or

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
By Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott, 1864

1. Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

Refrain: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,There is room in my heart for Thee.

2. Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,

Proclaiming Thy royal degree;

But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,

And in great humility. Refrain

3. The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest

In the shade of the forest tree;

But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,

In the deserts of Galilee. Refrain

4. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,

That should set Thy people free;

But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,

They bore Thee to Calvary. Refrain

5. When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,

At Thy coming to victory,

Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,

There is room at My side for thee."

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, When Thou comest and callest for me.

The Night Before Christmas
A Christmas fantasy by Clement C. Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their bed,

While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads,

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap...

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on Donner! and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled -- his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his teams gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"


The Real Christmas Story

Scripture: Luke 2:1-19 nkjv

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5. to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14. "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15. So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

A Thanksgiving Prayer for the Greatest Gift of All
You or one of the children

================================

Now it’s time to open our gifts!

When your parents were little, they took turns watching and waiting for a brother or sister to open their gifts. It took time, but we were excited at their expressions of joy and delight.

May your lovely gifts bring joy and excitement.
May the Greatest Gift of All bring gratitude and contentment.

Gpa G

P.S. Make sure your parents or siblings are not ‘home alone.’ It’s a wonderful gift to be with family.

Our day will be full: Breakfast with Jon and Annette, Dinner with Lori and Greg, and Supper with Roy and Carol. That’s about as full as you can be!

Christmas Memories

Grampasgleanings 20061214

Christmas Memories
December 14, 2006

‘Tis the season to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! I thought it appropriate to remain seasonal with some Christmas pictures from the past.

So last night I got out some boxes of old pictures. They have been stored on a shelf in the garage. I found all sorts of things—all very interesting. Now I’d like to make a pictorial book of our family. I need to do that before I forget the pictures that I still recognize. Don’t hold your breath. I haven’t been able to do a lot of things I’d like to do.

Anyway, I came across these pictures and I thought I’d share a few of them.

This picture was taken by a photographer in Pinto MD, south of Cumberland where we lived after seminary. We had gone there to start a Grace Brethren church, but that's another story for another time.

When things didn't work out we attended a Mennonite Church where he [Bob Johnson] was a member.


This picture goes way back to 1948. It is a picture of my brother standing in front of the Cmas tree--obviously. Can you make out the old black and white 12" TV just to his left? This was taken when we lived at 203 Cameron St in Alexandria VA. I think it was just after the war.


Now this one might be a little more difficult for you. It was taken in 1952 and is a picture of Chuck and Sheryl Lynn Sommer--your cousins. Sheryl Lynn [Rooks] now lives in Barberton OH., along with Aunt Eileen Sommer. Chuck, with his wife Debbie, live in Blairsville, GA. We stopped to see them



This picture was in the Radford News Journal in 1974. Fairlawn Brethren Church was the second place winner of the annual Christmas Parade. I don't know how we made it under all the power lines. It was an enormous undertaking. We must have been crazy.

We had just put up a large metal building on acreage we had purchased for a new church. We held Sunday school classes in it. Eventually they did build another church, but the building was never used much after we left. I also found this poem written many years ago by one of the Glass children. I thought it very appropriate. See if you can guess the name of the author.

What Christmas Means to Me

It means happy children with faces aglow,
and presents, and candy, and glistening snow.
It means a green tree with colors all bright,
and tinsel and candles that shine when it’s night.
It means a big dinner with turkey and dressing,
and bowing our heads and asking the blessing.
But this is not all that it means to me,
For it is the Birthday of Jesus you see.
When Jesus was born our dear Savior true,
He came to this earth for me and for you.
So on Christmas Day we give and receive
As Christ did for us that we might believe.

S/ ______Glass [circa 1970]

Never, ever forget the reason for the season! If Christ is not a part of Christmas there would be no happy holiday!

GpaG

Pearl Harbor Day 1941

Well here it is, a day late but...
I guess you've noticed. I changed my web site. Hope you don't mind. I'm still trying to work out the kinks. I'm new at this so bear with me.

Love Gpa G

-------------------

Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 2006
By Gpa Glass

December 7th, 1941. It was a long time ago—65 years to be exact. I was 13. We had recently moved from Juniata, Pa., to Alexandria, Va. Dad was a machinist by trade. He had served his apprenticeship in the PRR. The store Dad and Mom had since I was wee little had not been doing very well. The depression was still lingering on in Juniata and no one was able to pay their bills. Dad had been looking for a job as a machinist. First he had tried Baldwin Locomotive in Philadelphia and then an offer came from the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. He worked there briefly and then was transferred to the Naval Torpedo Station in Alexandria, Va. While dad was doing the job search, Mom continued to run the store.

I don’t recall the specific dates, but our family moved to Alexandria at the end of the school year. I had just finished 6th grade at Noble in Juniata. We lived in a row house—13 Chapman Ave in Alexandria. We were there about a year. Mom was very sick during that time, and I ended up being the family cook. Mom told me what to do and I ended up getting the meals ready. Dad soon purchased a house at 24 E. Masonic View Ave. It was only 2 blocks away from Chapman Street. It was sort of like a bungalow, except it did have a 2nd floor. This became the bedroom for my brother and me. There are a lot of things I could share about my time at 24 E Masonic View Ave. My best friend was John Waggamon. We both played trombone in the HS band. There were four pretty girls lived next door, but they were all too old for me. I retreaded [tried to fasten an old tire on top of another old tire] my bike tires during the war so I could get around, but the tape wore out before the tire tread. I was into chemistry particularly if I could make it explode. I hid my brass knuckles in the rafters above my bedroom, but one day they disappeared. I never asked what happened to them. There were two nice girls lived on Myrtle Street, the next street over.

So, I went to 7th grade for my first year in Alexandria. The school system then had only 11 grades—first through seventh grade and then four years of high school. I was rather slow at getting acquainted that first summer, but I became more involved in band and track and field in high school. I went everywhere on my bicycle. School—GW [George Washington] high school was only a short distance and I usually walked. It was about this time my brother, Dick, dropped out of school.

For a short while we drove back and forth to Juniata for church. Mom was a very fast driver. We used to tease her about it. With those old roads, it was a 6 hour trip. It’s about half of that today. There were no Brethren churches in Alexandria, but there was a large church in D.C. We got involved there. Dad and mom were in the choir. Dick and I were involved in the Youth group. We called it Christian Endeavor.

We always had a big Sunday dinner so while mom was getting it ready, I’d pedal down to the basketball court the guys had set up in a vacant lot. This particular Sunday was no different, except when I got there everyone was just standing around talking. I had no clue. I heard some of the older guys talking about signing up. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. When I asked, they said Pearl Harbor had been bombed and we were at war with Japan. I headed home right away. Dad and Mom had not yet heard the news so we turned on the old floor model radio. We spent the rest of the day with our ears glued to the radio.

FDR—Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our President, made the announcement on Monday. That was the beginning of the war. Mom and I hadn’t met yet. She was on her way home from Sunday school at the Methodist church in East Juniata. They were walking up the road from the railroad bridge to their home, when Arlene’s friend, Leah, met them and told them what had happened. George was a senior at the time. He joined the “V-12 program” and went into the Navy. This gave him his high school diploma and he was off to war.

During those early days of the war I was a messenger boy in the Civil Defense. That allowed me out at night during black out times. I had an armband, helmet and my bike and traveled from post to post with messages. We kept green blinds on all the windows so lights could not be seen on the outside. The huge search lights that are used for advertising today were not toys back then. They were used to sweep the skies for incoming planes especially in the D.C. area. In school we made wooded airplanes that were used in training men to recognize the silhouette of enemy planes.

Well I guess I could write some more on the subject but that’s a quick look at some of my thoughts from the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, 1941.

Gpa Glass

Troublesome Times for Ancestors

Troublesome Times for Ancestors

Grandpa’s Gleanings II
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 No. 2


Greeting All in the Family!!

Here is the second addition to the Revived Gpa Gleanings.

I suppose you have all seen the revisions posted by Joy and Grandma G.

Joy said:
Laura Elaine Geaslen has arrived. She weighs 8 lbs. 4 oz. and has lots of dark hair. She was low on oxygen so has been put into a tent to try to raise the levels but Jeremy said they only expect that to be for an hour or so. Tracy is doing great. Seems this has been the easiest (??) delivery yet.
Only a few weeks ago they were told this baby was at a higher risk for a number of birth defects…and she is perfect. God is good.

Grandma G wrote:
Unless someone finds something different -- here are the totals for the Glass Family Tree:Grandpa and Grandma - 2Children and Spouses - 14Grandchildren and Spouses - 33Great Grandchildren - 25Total of 74When Josh and Michelle marry on December 29 -- 75When Amanda and Brad Green marry on March 10, 2007 -- 77 (includes BrayLee - Brad's little boy who is 3 yrs. old.WOW!!

And beside all of that, when I sent my previous Gleanings, Juno would only allow me to send to 50 of you. Now I know I have several addresses for some of you, but I don’t know which one should be your main address. You may get this more than once because I had to make to separate lists—SAT! [Sorry About That]

As you know from my last letter, I have been back working on some genealogy stuff. I will continue that theme by sharing some history of the Glass [Dad’s side] and Brumbaugh [Mom’s side] families and where they lived and grew up.

The attached/following is the first half of the first chapter of “A History of the Church of the Brethren in Middle Pennsylvania”.


======================================================================
From,
“History of the Church of the Brethren in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1781—1925”

Prepared and Published Under the Supervision of the District Conference through its Home Mission Board.
From the introduction by M.G.Brumbaugh, it is noted that James A. Sell was the chief editor.

For an historical setting of our fore fathers, we turn to chapter one, “Early Glimpses and Trials,” pages 18—26.
“In Morrison’s Cove”

The early settlers of this beautiful and fertile valley for the most part were a deeply religious folk who migrated from the sections of Pennsylvania and Maryland lying east and southward. “In their new home,” James A. Sell has written concerning these people who located in the vicinity of Clover Creek, “their Bibles were as common and necessary as the axe and the plow. They were a religious people, and religious services were inseparably connected to their daily routine. They called men to the ministry from the plow, illiterate though they often were, but they were devote and zealous, simple in their faith, and self-sacrificing in their labors. They exposed themselves to the elements and dangers from wild beasts and to the fury of savage Indians. Marshalls of God they were, and under the disadvantages of pioneer life they wrought and left an organized work to their children that passed from one generation to another until it has come to the present.
“About 1755 a colony of Brethren entered the Cove through Loy’s Gap and gradually worked their way northward and became residents of the territory now embraced in the Clover Creek and Albright congregations.
“A colony of Scotch-Irish settled here as early as 1749, but they were considered squatters and were expelled as the land belonged to Indians. The Penns made a new purchase in 1754 and when the Brethren came they secured a title to lands they purchased, and by 1790 all the desirable lands passed into private ownership. The Brethren secured the greater part of the land. Some of them purchased large tracts, as much as 1,500 acres. They were pioneer settlers and did the first preaching.
“We do not have the names of all the original settlers, neither do we have space to give what we do know. But it will be interesting to many now and to the coming generation to trace their ancestry back to this time. Hence we give a few:
“Albrights, Allenbaughs, Blakes, Burkets, Bowers, Brumbaughs, Benners, Cammerons, Cowens, Deeters, Dillingers, Emricks, Eversoles, Faulkners, Flenners,Gensingers, Grabills. Hoovers, Holsingers, Knees, Lowers, Looses, Longeneckers, Martins, Metzkers, Meyerses, Moores, Nisewangers, Puderbaughs, Rhodes, Strayers, Shonefelts, Stoners, Skyleses, Stouffers, Stoudenours, Smiths, Shifflers, Stonerocks, Tetwilers, Winelands, Ullerys, Bridenthalls.
“During the Indian wars of 1762 and onward there were quite a number of murders committed and captives taken. The particulars will never be known. The greatest massacrewas in 1777. One history says there were thirty killed. Our tradition says twenty. The number of prisoners taken we cannot conjecture. A Brother Houser and family are mentioned among the number.”
John Martin, a pioneer preacher, whose name heads the list of ministers of the Clover Creek congregation, suffered greatly from these Indian depredations. For want of the original, copy is taken from the Jones’ History of Juniata Valley, relating the incident as follows:
“During the Great Cove massacre, among others carried into captivity was the family of John Martin. This incursion was indeed a most formidable one, led by the kings Shingas and Beaver in person. How many were killed there is no living witness to tell; neither can we conjecture the number of prisoners taken. The following petition was sent by John Martin to council:


August 13, 1762
“The Humble Petition of Your Most Obedient Servant Sheweth, Sir, may it please Your Excellancy, Hearing me in Your Clemancy a few Words. I. One of the Bereaved of my Wife and five Children, by Savage War at the Captivity of the Great Cove, after Many & Long Journeys, I Lately went to an Indian Town, viz., Tuskaroways. 150 miles beyond Fort Pitts, & Entrested in Co. Bucquits & Co. Croghan’s favor, So as to bear their Letters to King Beaver & Cap. Shingas, Desiring them to Give up One of my Daughters to me, Whiles I have Yet two Sons & and One Other Daughter, if Alive, Among them—and After Seeing my Daughter with Shingas he Refused to Give her up, and after some Expostulating with him, but all in vain, he promised to Deliver her up with Other Captives to yr Excellency.
“Sir, yr Excellency’s Most Humble Servt Humbly & Passionately Beseeches Yr Beningn Compassion to interpose Yr Excellencies Beneficient influence in favor of Yr Excellencies Most Obedient & Dutiful Servt.
John Martin.

Brother Sell writes further:
“The Brethren came into the Great Cove, now Morrison’s Cove, and by taking possession of the valley in the vicinity of Roaring Springs, the western portion of the Clover Creek congregation, were among its first settlers.
“They set to work to clear away forests, till the soil, build mills, and labored to promote the peace and prosperity of the country. It has been conceded to them, even by people who took no interest in their religion, that as good farmers, good tax payers, quiet and inoffensive people—they were of the best citizens.
“But their exclusiveness, opposition to education, their lack of interest in political matters, and above all, their non-resistant principle brought them into disrepute with their neighbors.
“This made their situation unpleasant and at times exposed them to more danger from their common enemy. Had they been permitted to treat with the Indian alone and manifest their love of peace and fair and honorable treatment, there is every reason to believe that not only they but their fighting neighbors would have escaped the assaults of the savage’s tomahawk and scalping knife.
“The settlers all suffered from the incursions of the Indians from the time of their coming into the valley up to the time and during the Revolutionary War.
“By this time by purchase and force the Indians were driven west of the Allegeny mountains. But out of hatred to their white brothers from real or imaginary wrongs, and also for spoils and scalps on which they were paid bounty by the British government they made frequent raids into the valleys east of the mountain. When invasions were made the news was heralded as rapidly as the circumstances of the times permitted and warning was to flee for safety. Some left their homes, others did not. All perhaps did not hear the alarm. Some could not go, and others preferred not to go. The result was that a number of them were murdered. In 1777 between twenty and thirty were killed.
“During all these trying experiences of frontier life covering a period of nearly a quarter of a century, but one breach or violation of the peace principle held by our people is recorded.”
This single instance. Which Brother Sell calls the, “Jacob Neff Episode” occurred within the bounds of the Clover Creek congregation. U. J. Jones, after giving a copy of a report of “Thomas Smith and George Woods, both, we believe, Justice of Peace at the time to President Wharton,” in which there is no direct reference to the Brethren, refers to the Neff incident as follows:

[To be continued]
--------------------------
[My note: I remember my father—the original Roy—telling me the story as we drove through the Cove area when I was but a young boy. It was exciting to hear about the Indian raid. I regret I can not identify the place Dad said this event took place. Stay tuned! I’ll send the rest of the story next time].

Gpa G. Roy E. Glass, junior. [Junior was my pre-teen name. I knew no other].
Labels: Gleanings 20061115

Troublesome Times Continue

Troublesome Times Continue Gleanings 20061122


Grandpa’s Gleanings Revived
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 No. 3


I want to continue the story taken from the “History of the Church of the Brethren in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1781—1925. pp 22ff.” Yes, I have the book here in front of me. So far as I know, it is out of print. I used to have another copy. It may be on one of your book shelves.

My father told me this story when I was just a lad. I can remember him pointing out the site, but I no longer remember it was.

The Cove area [Martinsburg, Fredericksburg, et al., PA] the writer talks about is where the Brumbaugh [my mother’s line] and the Glass [Dad’s side] families lived in these early days. Both sides of my grandparents lived in this area. The Brumbaugh homestead sits across the valley facing the Brumbaugh Cemetery on the hill. Several years ago mom [Arlene] and I bought a couple lots from my cousin, Lois Miller. They are just to the left of the entrance. We should have a nice view of the valley.
An old map of the area shows several houses marked ‘Glass’ south of the cemetery and on the side of “Tussey’ [Tuscarora] mountain.

Thanks for reading,
Junior Glass
-----------------------------

The Story continues…

“The band of Indians, after the Dunkard massacre, worked their way toward the Kittaning war path, leaving behind them some few stragglers of their party whose appetite for blood and treasure had not been satisfied. Among others, an old and a young Indians stopped at Neff’s Mill. Neff was a Dunkard; but he was a single exception so far as resistance was concerned. He had constantly in his mill his loaded rifle, and was ready for any emergency. He had gone to his mill in the morning without any knowledge of Indians being in the neighborhood, and had just set the water wheel in motion when he discovered two Indians lurking, within a hundred yards, in a small wood below the mill. Without taking much time to deliberate how to act, he aimed through the window, and deliberately shot the old Indian. In an instant the young Indian came toward the mill, and Neff ran out the back door and up the hill. The quick eye of the savage detected him, and fired, but missed his aim. Nothing daunted by the mishap, the savage followed up the clear patch, when both, as if by instinct, commenced reloading their rifles. They stood face to face, not forty yards apart, on open ground where there was no possible chance of concealment. The chances were equal; he that loaded first would be the victor in the strife, the other was doomed to certain death. They both rammed home the bullet at the same time—with what haste may well be conjectured. This was a critical juncture, for, while loading, neither took his eye off the other. They both drew their ramrods at the same time, but the intense excitement of the moment caused the Indian to balk in drawing his, and the error or mishap proved fatal, because Neff took advantage of it, and succeeded in priming and aiming before the Indian. The latter, now finding the muzzle of Neff’s rifle bearing upon him, commenced a series of very cunning gyration and contortions to destroy his aim or to confuse him, so that he might miss him or enable him to prime. To this end he first threw himself upon his face; then, suddenly rising up again, he jumped first to the right, then to the left, then fell down again. Neff, not the least put off his guard, waited until the Indian arose again, when he shot him through the head.

“Neff, fearing that others might be about, left the mill and started to the nearest settlement. A force was raised and the mill revisited; but it was found a heap of smoldering cinders and ashes, and the dead bodies of the Indians had been removed. It is altogether likely that the rear of the savage party came up shortly after Neff had left, fired the mill, and carried away their slain companions.

“For the part Neff took in the matter he was excommunicated from the Dunkard society. Nevertheless, he rebuilt his mill; but the Dunkards, who were his main support previously, refused any longer to patronize him, and he was eventually compelled to abandon the business.

Brother Sell speaks of the incident as follows:
“Daniel Ullery was the original owner of Roaring Spring. He built the first mill. Jacob Neff was his miller. During the Indian massacre of 1777 he shot an Indian. He was counseled by the church for his violation of her peace principles. He did not plead justification. He admitted that it was wrong to take human life but said his deed was done under strong temptation and excitement. He was excused, but required not to speak of his act in company in a boasting or justifying way. This restriction he frequently violated and he was expelled from the church.

“This story has been repeated and exaggerated and the church through it misrepresented so that we take this opportunity to tell the story as we have it from our own traditions. The history of Juniata Valley says that when Neff rebuilt his mill the Brethren refused to patronize him. This is not correct. The chain, or abstract of title shown that Neff never owned the mill, did not build it in the first palce, did not in the second place. Ullery built and rebuilt it. It was a necessity in the new settlement.”

But it is due the reader to have another glimpse of trials and suffering of earlier days. The value of the data lies in the fat it was written in 1855, a quarter of a century before Howard Miller, thought to make his “Record of the Faithful.”

The author* declares he writes purely as an historian and without prejudice. He says:
“The Great Cove, Little Cove and Canolloways’ are mentions frequently in government papers as far back as 1749, Indian traders having penetrated them at a much earlier date than that. . . . For fertile limestone land, beautiful scenery, and splendid farms, few valleys in the State equal—none surpass—the Great Cove now known as Morrison’s Cove.

“About 1755, a colony of Dunkards took up the southern portion of the Cove, and their descendents hold possession of it to this day. They have unquestionably the finest farms as well as the most fertile land in the State, and right glad should we be to end their portion of the chapter by saying so, or even by adding that for thrift and economy they stand unsurpassed: but a sense of candor compels us to speak of them as they are,—nothing extenuate, not set down naught in malice!”

“In the first place let it be understood that we are in no particle indebted to them for one iota of the blessings of government we enjoy. They are strict non-resistants; and in the predatory incursions of the French and Indians, in 1756-63, and, in fact, during all the savage warfare, they not only refused to take up arms to repel the savage marauders and prevent the inhuman slaughter of women and children, but they refused in the most positive manner to pay a dollar to support those who were willing to take up arms to defend their homes and their firesides, until wrung from them by the stern mandates of the law, from which there was no appeal.

“They did the same thing when the revolution broke out. There was a scarcity of men. Sixty able-bodied ones among them might readily formed a cordon of frontier defense, which could have prevented many of the Indian massacres which took place between 1777 and 1780, and more especially among their own people in the Cove. But not a man would shoulder his rifle; they were non-resistants! They might, at least, have furnished money, for they always had an abundance of that, the hoarding of which seemed to be the sole aim and object of life with them. But, no, not a dollar! They occupied neutral ground, and wished to make no resistance. Again: they might have furnished supplies to those who were risking their lives to repel the invaders,—but it was only when the almighty dollar accompanied the demand.

“After the massacre of thirty of them, in less than forty-eight hours Colonel Piper, the lieutenant-colonel of Bedford County, made a stirring appeal to them. But it was to no avail; they were non-resistants; and evidently determined to remain such.

Of the peculiar religious tenets of these primitive people we do not profess to know anything; hence our remarks are unbiased. We are solely recording historical facts.

“As a curious anomaly in the history of the present generation, it may be stated that, although they performed that part of the compact between government and a good citizen which relates to paying taxes, they never vote, neither can the most seductive persuasions of politicians bring them to the polls.

“Like their forefathers, they are non-resistants—producers, but not consumers.

“During the Indian wars of 1762, quite a number of murders were committed in the Cove, and many captives taken but the particulars were too vague for history.

“The first Indian depredators, or at least the greater portion of them, were seen at a camp-fire by a party of hunters; and if the proper exertions had been made to cut them off, few other outrages would have followed. The supposition is that there were two parties of about fifteen each, who met at or near Neff’s Mill in the Cove. On their way thither, the one party killed a man named Hammomnd, who resided along the Juniata, and the other party killed a man named Ullery, who was returning from Neff’s Mill on horseback. They also took two children with them as prisoners.

“The alarm was spread among the inhabitants and they fled to the nearest forts with all dispatch; and on this first expedition they would have had few scalps to grace their belts, had the Dunkards taken the advice of more sagacious people, and fled too; this, however, they would not do. They would follow but half of Cromwell’s advice;—they were willing to put their trust in God, but they would not keep their powder dry. In short it was a compound they did not use at all.

“The savages swept down through the Cove with all the ferocity with which a pack of wolves would descend from the mountain upon a flock of sheep. Some few of the Dunkards, who evidently had the latent spark of the love of life, hid themselves away; but by far the most of them stood by and witnessed the butchery of their wives and children, merely saying, “Gottes wille sei gethan.”**

“One cannot help but admire such devotion to the principle of non-resistance as the foregoing reveals. Yet insistent upon the mind is the thought;—what a pity these dear forebears were not just as eager to provide avenues for the culture of the minds and hearts of their young people through the Sunday-school and educational institutions as they were to make such splendid sacrifices. In a couple generations thereafter, as this history reveals, this training came.
----------------------
* U. J. Jones’ History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley, 1855, Chapter XVIII

** "God's will be done." This sentence was so frequently repeated by the Dunkards during the massacre, that the Indians must have retained a vivid recollection of it. During the late war with Great Britain, some of the olderIndians on the frontier were anxious to know of the Huntingdon volunteers whether the "Gotswiltahns" still resided in the Cove. Of course our people could not satisfy them on such a vague point.

Josiah B. Brumbaugh by Dau Elma

Grandpa’s Gleanings
Sunday, November 05, 20

Greeting one and all!

It’s been along time, but I thought I might write once again and on an irregular basis. I don’t know all there is to know about posting these, but if pictures create a problem for you to receive, let me know and I’ll send you a picture-less version.

Today was busy for us. After attending church at Cornerstone, we left for Tar Hollow State Park in SW Ohio. The annual Christian bow hunters started yesterday and we have been going down for several years now to check on how well Joy is doing in the kitchen. We were late for dinner, but she fixed us a sampling of chicken breast, venison meat loaf, corn, mixed veggies, potatoes and gravy. For dessert, we had cinnamon rolls from their breakfast menu. One of the guys said, “This is the only hunting camp he’s ever been to where you gain weight.”

Ryan and Jamie where there, but we missed them. They were leaving as we were coming in. Joel was still there, but had to leave for work.

Again, I’d appreciate hearing from any and all of you as to your activities. I do read the ‘grapevine,’ but not all of you take advantage of it. I know you college people are busy, but a quick email about studies or activities would be appreciated. Okay! That’s my sermonette for this time.

AND don’t forget to vote!!

I have attached a copy of the note written by my Aunt Elma regarding the death of her father, Josiah B. Brumbaugh. He was 55. I hadn’t noticed before that my father was the same age when he died. But of course they were on different trees. He was my grandfather on my mother’s side, and died 12 years before I was born. I was probably about 8 or 9 when his wife, my grandmother died. I thought the article was interesting. I hope you enjoy reading about this branch of the your family tree.

Love you all!

Gpa Glass

P.S. Please send me any updates that need to be made in my address book.


THE PASSING OF ELD. JOSIAH BRUMBAUGH
[From a news clipping found in the family Bible]

Josiah B. Brumbaugh, the only son of David H. and Margaret Brumbaugh, deceased, was born near Henrietta, Blair Co., Pa., Sept. 1, 1861. He died of a complication of diseases at his home in Juniata, Pa., November 12, 1916, aged fifty-five years, one month and ten days.

Bro. Brumbaugh found his companion for life in the person of Lucinda Dilling, and June 6, 1882, was married by Eld. John W. Brumbaugh. This union was blessed by two sons and four daugthers. The mother and and five children survive to mourn the loss of a devoted and loving husband and father. One daughter preceded him to the heavenly home seventeen years ago.
In 1882 he became a member of the Church of the Brethren, and in 1893 he was called to the ministry by the Clover Creek congregation. He was soon advanced to the second degree. Here he labored for six years. Then a call came to him to take charge of the mission church at Bellwood.
Bro. Brumbaugh accepted the call and in the spring of 1899 began his work at that place. It was no easy task, as the church was just in its infancy, and needed much care and attention; but he labored earnestly for eleven years under great burdens and difficulties, with very little compensation. He earned a livelihood for himself and family by teaching school, and, with the assistance of his good wife, conducted a small store. However, the Lord greatly prospered him. During his pastorate at Bellwood he was ordained to the eldership.

In 1910 Bro. Brumbaugh thought it best to give the work at that place to someone else; so he built a new residence in Juniata Park and moved to that place. Here he labored arduously, filling the pulpit here and elsewhere almost every Sunday.

He was a natural student and read much, especially church literature and works on theology, supplemental to his constant Bible study. Even during his illness he spent much time preparing
outlines of sermons, in order to have them ready to preach, if the Lord would restore him to health, It was not the Lord's will, though his people had been praying earnestly for his recovery, and on Nov. 11, 1916, he peacefully fell asleep in Jesus. Thus that beautiful life, that was loved and cherished by all who knew him, passed into the great beyond, to see his Savior face to face, and to be reunited with the loved ones gone before.

How greatly Bro. Brumbaugh will be missed in the church as well as in the home! He was just as energetic about the work of the church of his choice as he was about his temporal affairs. The span of life was not long, yet Bro. Brumbaugh, by his never-tiring energy and intense activity, lived much, performing more work in the fifty-five years that were allotted to him than some men could do, or would do, in four-score years.

No accurate record of his official services at funerals and marriages was ever kept, but his ministrations upon such occasions were eagerly sought far and wide.

Two funeral services were held. One was held in his late home at Juniata, Monday evening, Nov. 13, ably conducted by our pastor, Bro. Walter S. Long. The other was held in the Church of the Brethren at Clover Creek, Bro. James A. Sell officiating. A peculiar coincidence is found in the fact that both ministers, led by the Holy Spirit, selected the same text, 2 Sam. 3:38*. Bro. Brumbaugh was laid to rest in the Brumbaugh cemetery at that place.

[by] Elma Brumbaugh Rogers, Altoona, Pa., Dec 14. [1916]

* 2 Samuel 3:38
“And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?”