13,610
edits
Changes
added more conference ministry
The traditional Mennonite stress on humility, which had led people to say they "hoped" they were accepted by God through the work of Christ, was seen in the newer "evangelical" perspective to show a lack of faith. Now schoolchildren in the community discussed whether they were "saved". Several Mennonite preachers offered Mr. Harper their pulpits on a Sunday morning. Some members who had not been happy about the recent stronger Franconia Conference (forementioned in the book) requirements regarding the "bonnet" began to prefer Mr. Harper's fervent preaching to that of their own ministers. Even Mahlon Gross at Doylestown was drawn, for a while, by the attraction of Mr. Harper's "eternal security" emphasis.
These early 1920s were not a period of strong leadership among the Deep Run Old Mennonites. When Mr. Harper, who had earlier told his audiences to "leave your money at home," began collections to build a chapel of his own, his talk of being nondenominational was seen in a negative light by the more traditional people at Deep Run. Yet a number of Mennonites were making substantial contributions, and eventually about fifty joined the new "Grace Gospel Chapel" near Fountainville, including all but two of song leader Samuel Godshalk Detweiler and his wife Rachel Myers Detweiler (unfortunately Sam and Rachel were under pressure by the Mennonites to not join their children in joining the Assembly but here are the children who did join:[[Samuel Myers Jr. Detweiler]] (1912-1958) married Bertha Getshikofski Labs (1874-1961)
[[Frank Myers Detweiler]] (1899-1988) married Mildred Frances Copenhaver (1907-1987)
[[Wilmer Myers Detweiler]] (1905-1996) married Margaret Louise Crouch (1906-1980)
[[Mabel Derstine Detweiler]] (1908-1998) married cousin Walton Detweiler or cousin Walter Detweiler
[[Monroe Myers Detweiler]] (1902-2000) married Carrie Miller Leatherman (1903-1995)
[[Carrie Myers Detweiler Tyson]] (1894-1960) married William Hockman Tyson (1893-1964)
The new group turned out to be identical in doctrine with the "Plymouth Brethren". Apparently before their new chapel was completed one of the new members, an elderly woman of the Deep Run Tyson family, died, and the funeral was held in the Deep Run Mennonite meetinghouse. Mr. Harper expressed his happiness that Mrs. Tyson had been saved. Minister Jacob Rush, speaking from the same pulpit a bit later, commented that she had been saved long before Mr. Harper had come to the community." They were often referred to as "Harperites".
In May, 1928, it was decided to build a new Chapel on the Easton Highway. Grace Gospel Chapel was erected and the Assembly designated as a “Testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ”. The Chapel formally opened in January, 1929. Special meetings have been held therein from time to time, and the Annual Conference established on Memorial Day, which has continued until the present time.
===Memorial Day Conferences 1928-1953===See [[Grace Gospel Chapel Curley Hill Memorial Day Conference]]===Click on the above link to read about Memorial Day Conference reports from 1928 to 1953-? as available.
===Other Visiting Ministry===
====1932: Light & Liberty: Philadelphia, PA====
"[[Harold St. John]] spent a considerable time in and around this city at Mascher Street, Collingdale, and Curley Hill. Meetings were very much enjoyed. He is now in Washington, D.C. Charles Innes had a week for believers in Mascher Street. Helpful to all. He is now in Bryn Mawr, PA. Our brother Young was in the West Side Gospel Hall. Bro. Hunter is in Olney, and James Waugh is expected in Mascher Street on Oct. 16th.
====1932: Light & Liberty: David Blackburn obit====
See [[David Astley Blackburn]] (1889-1932)
====1932: Light & Liberty: David Blackburn & Frank Detweiler====
December: "Finished their tent meetings in Johnson City, TN the early part of October. Seven professed salvation. They had two weeks in Lansdale, PA with little to encourage. Went to Grace Chapel, Curley Hill, PA and Bro. Detweiler has sought to carry on alone since Bro. Blackburn's sudden home call. One has professed to be saved.
====1937: Light & Liberty: George M. Landis & Harold M. Harper====
"George M. Landis has been ministering the Word in the assemblies at Allentown, Bethlehem, Curley Hill, and Erie, PA., and in Somerville, Boston (Cliff St.) and New Bedford, MA."
====1938: Light & Liberty: Harold G. Mackay & Frank Detweiler====
"H.G. Mackay & Frank Detweiler began gospel meetings in Curley Hill, PA., on Lord's Day, January 9th. In spite of wintry weather there has been an encouraging start made, and they are crying to God to grant a real time of blessing, with precious souls won to Christ. The prayers of the Lord's people are earnestly requested for this effort.
====1943: Assembly Annals: North Carolina====
April 1943: "The Lord gave a happy time in Winston-Salem recently, during a five week series when some fifteen professed and others were helped. The assembly as a whole received a real lift. Attendance on Sunday night reached 335 and the interest was excellent throughout.
Bro. Mackay had a profitable visit to Raleigh. He also visited Newport News and Curley Hill, PA. The work in Greensboro was helped and souls saved at meetings held by brethren Halliday and Brown. The work at Burlington goes on nicely under the care of Ernie Gross. Bro. Lester Wilson who sends the report expects to start in Raleigh on March 14th.
====1945: Light & Liberty: Henry Armerding====
July 1945: Henry Armerding, Princeton Ave., Westfield, NJ: I have just returned from a series of meetings at Shamokin, PA, where the Lord not only gave real liberty but good interest. My visit there was both timely and blessed of the Lord. About three weeks ago I returned from my visit to NC where I spent one month with our brethren Lester Wilson and Harold G. Mackay. The interest there was excellent. My time here is well taken up with meetings scheduled at Plainfield, Middlesex, Elizabeth, Jersey City, and Dumont, N.J., and at Boyertown and Curley Hill, PA. After these visits I hope to again head westward to AZ among the Indians.
====1945: Welcome Detweiler commendation in Light & Liberty====
Curley Hill, PA, February 6, 1945
To the Christians gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ:
We commend to your loving care and fellowship our Brother, H. Welcome Detweiler, of Perkasie, PA, who has manifested real devotion to Christ and an earnest desire to win the lost to Him. He has been a faithful teacher in the Sunday school and in all the gospel activities he has always been a great help, both here and in the surrounding districts and assemblies.
His wife is well qualified to assist him in his labors. The Lord has definitely laid upon their hearts the desire to devote their full time to His work and has directed them to Durham, N.C.
May your prayers and fellowship be their continual portion so that many might be saved through their labors and that real testimonies to our Lord Jesus Christ may be the result as they seek to serve Him.
* Clarence J. Loux
* Samuel Y. Godshalk
* Oliver M. Landes
* William H. Tyson
* Howard Tyson
* Monroe M. Detweiler
* Arlington F. Myers
====1946: Letters of Interest: Alfred P. Gibbs====
April 1946: Alfred P. Gibbs, 5829 W. Ohio St., Chicago 44, IL; "I have been in Appleton, having two weeks of well attended meetings in "The Pilgrim's Progress". The hall was filled each night in spite of the snow, and there seemed to be a good interest in the Word. I am hoping to be East for several months with meetings (D.V.) at Curley Hill, and Philadelphia, PA., Providence, R.I., Yonkers, N.Y., and Plainfield, N.J., mostly for young people. It certainly is encouraging to see the girls and boys, and old folks too, coming out, and best of all to see a few being saved and going on for Him."
====1947: Light & Liberty: Frank Detweiler====
July 1947: Frank Detweiler, R. 1, Chilhowie, VA: "Purpose pitching my tent in Marion in July when Bro. Bramhall expects to give me help. Hope also to pitch tent near Marion in June in a thickly settled community upon returning from the annual conference at Curley Hill, PA. May 21st.
====1948: Light & Liberty: James F. Spink====
Feb 1948: Curly Hill, PA: James F. Spink commences two weeks Gospel meetings on Jan. 18.
====1948: Letters of Interest: Alfred P. Gibbs====
December 1950 of Letters of Interest, the Curley Hill Grace Gospel Chapel correspondent Clarence J. Loux gave the following report:
Bro. L.T. Chambers has just completed two weeks of meetings, using the model of the tabernacle. Interest and attendance were very good. Many Christians from the community and from assemblies shared with us the rich ministry. Bro. R.J. Reid is to be here November 12-17 and Bro. John Bramhall, November 19-22. The Sunday school is very encouraging. The hall was filled for a series of special children's meetings. The assembly has purchased a large tract of land on the highway and hopes to build when conditions permit." ====1950: Light & Liberty: Harold M. Harper====Harold M. Harper, Wheaton, IL"I had a happy time in the Maplewood Assembly, NJ during May. The Lord gave blessing to His people and a number of unsaved ones trusted Christ, for which we give thanks to our God. I then went to Hinton, W.V., for their summer Bible Camp, where about 10 young folks professed faith in Christ. I then gave help at Curley Hill, PA, Sturgis, MI, and Brookville, PA. At the latter place is a group of believers seeking to gather in our Lord's precious name.
====1952: Letters of Interest: R.J. Reid====
January 1952 of : Letters of Interest : the following ministry report was given: R.J. Reid, 205 Harding Ave., CLifton, NJ: "Bro. Reid recently held meetings in Baltimore. He found there two assemblies especially where a decided endeavor is being made among children. Also he contacted a group which is apt and faithful in the distribution of tracts. In Curley Hill, PA., Bro. Reid also ministered the Word, chiefly emphasizing the gracious character of God. ====1954: Light & Liberty: Grace Gospel Chapel (Curley Hill)====April 1954: 5 miles north of Doylestown, PA: The 31st annual conference scheduled for Decoration Day, May 30 has been postponed, and will be held on completion of the new chapel. The date will be announced as soon as possible. ====1956: Light & Liberty: Edgar Ainslie====May 1956: Edgar Ainslie, 817 N. Chauncey Ave., West Lafayette, IN, has been at Curley Hill Gospel Chapel and Chambersburg, PA, for meetings, also Hagerstown, MD. Prayer will be valued for physical strength and eyesight to carry on for God.
====1973: Interest: Melvin G. Wistner====
==Sources==
* History of the Assembly of Christians at Grace Gospel Chapel (1953)
** Curly Curly Hill, Bucks County, PA (presently Plumsteadville)
** Courtesy of Jay Heacock, October 2018
* Condensed version found in [[History of Some Assemblies of Christians in the United States and Canada]] by [[Robert L. Peterson]] evidently sourced from the earlier history.
* Other sources are notated within the body of the text
* [http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry.com consulted heavily]
* Many back issues of Light & Liberty, Letters of Interest and other Brethren magazines were used.