Brethren

2254. The Beliefs of the Early Brethren by William G. Willoughby

An analysis of the beliefs of the Brethren Church from 1706 to 1735, this book shows how the Brethren reflected not only the major Portestant beliefs, but also specific emphases of the Pietists, Separatists, and Anabaptists.

(110pp. Brethren Encyclopedia, 1999. $35.00)

972. Brethren Beginnings by Donald F. Durnbaugh

This volume was first written in 1960 for a dissertation and studies the origin of the Church of the Brethren that dates to the early 1700s in Europe.

(99pp. index. hardcover. Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., 1992. $30.00)

1318. Brethren Dress: A Testimony To Faith by Esther Fern Rupel and William R. Eberly

This is the first extensive treatment of the character and significance of the Brethren dress with over 220 illustrations.

(200pp. hardcover. Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., 1994. $49.75)

317. The Brethren Encyclopedia

An encyclopedia of Brethren life, belief, practice, and history. This three-volume set is a comprehensive work of reference with more than 230 articles on family history. It contains the most up-to-date information ever assembled on all of the Brethren bodies and many illustrations never before published. This is a must for Brethren genealogists who will gain an overview of surnames, history, life, and thought.

(2,126pp. hardcover. Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., 1983, 1984. $150.00. Please add an extra $4.00 to postage bill.)

1861. Brethren Heritage Tour: Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands

Video of a European tour featuring historic Anabaptist sites and the original hometowns of the first Brethren and includes contact with members of the Schwarzenau Heritage Society and Mennonites in Krefeld and Surhuisterveen.

(45 mins. video. Brethren Encyclopedia, 1996. $29.00)

357. The Brethren in Colonial America by Donald F. Durnbaugh

This volume covers the Brethren story, internal strife and schism, and their beliefs during the colonial period until the end of the Rev. War.

(660pp. hardcover. Brethren Press, 1967. $15.95)

404. The Brethren in the New Nation by Roger E. Sappington

This book is the classic resource in Brethren history of that period when the church moved west between 1785 and 1865.

(474pp. hardcover. Brethren Press, 1976. $15.95)

1486. Brethren Society: The Transformation of a “Peculiar People” by Carl F. Bowman

The author examines how and why members of the Church of the Brethren were assimilated faster and earlier than their Amish, Mennonite, or even Hutterite cousins. He shows how Brethren dealt with issues such as the salaried ministry, military service, the temperance movement, the “plain garb,” etc.

(491pp. illus. index. The Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1995. $21.95)

878. The Christopher Sauers by Stephen L. Longenecker

A popular written account of an influential father and son whose printing press and religious faith had a profound impact upon the social and political life of 18th-century America.

(198pp. Brethren Press, 1981. $7.95)

409. Counting the Cost by William G. Willoughby

This is the gripping story of an 18th-century Pietist, Alexander Mack, whose religious conscience led him and a small group of followers to separate themselves from the established church in Germany. This action led to the founding of the family of churches which is now commonly referred to as the “Brethren.”

(176pp. Brethren Press, 1979. $6.95)

1610. Early Records of the Ambler Church of the Brethren, Ambler, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Founded 1840 compiled by Peggy C. Cramer

Church records on the following families: Campman, Cassel, Collier, Davis, Ellis, Gamble, Hagginbotham, Jones, Layman, Moyer, Schwass, Smith, and Walton.

(369pp. index. hardcover. Closson Press, 1990. $35.00. Add $2.00 extra to postage bill.)

365. European Origins of the Brethren by Donald F. Durnbaugh

Tells the story of the formation and expansion of the “New Baptists” in Europe. This book documents the persecution and suppression of this religious group and their subsequent emigration to America.

(464pp. hardcover. Brethren Press, 1958. $15.95)

1869. Fruit of the Vine: A History of the Brethren, 1708-1995 by Donald F. Durnbaugh

A portrayal of Church of the Brethren life and history between 1708 and 1995, described as “thoroughly and highly readable. Yields a balanced treatment of the Brethren movement.”

(448pp. index. hardcover. Brethren Press, 1997. $49.95)

2204. Keeping the Embers Aglow: 100 Years of the Ephrata Church of the Brethren by Charles M. Bieber

This story of the first 100 years of the Ephrata Church of the Brethren, Lancaster Co., Pa., is a continuing story of changing patterns—some shadows, some embers. It is an unfinished story, rejoicing in today but pointing to tomorrow.

(200pp. illus. index. hardcover. Ephrata Church of the Brethren, 1999. $20.00)

2479. A Light in the Valley, 2001: A History of the Codorus Church of the Brethren

The first section of the book is the original (1976) edition with minor updates and changes. The second section was added for the history from 1976 to 2001, and includes biographies, stories, memories, and photos from the past 25 years. Frequent names: Brill-hart, Godfrey, Hartman, Keeney, Lehman, Miller, Myers, etc.

(262pp. illus. index. hardcover. Codorus Church of the Brethren, 2001. $18.00)

1557. Moving Toward the Mainstream: 20th Century Change Among the Brethren of Eastern Pennsylvania by Donald R. Fitzkee

This easy-to-read book takes a rare look at the changes experienced by the Church of the Brethren. A fresh look at many areas of change including leadership, nonresistance and peace, the temperance movement and politics, plain dress, and contemporary identity crises.

(352pp. illus. Good Books, 1995. $9.95)

881. The Old Brethren by James Lehman

This is a delightful book containing fascinating stories about pioneer Brethren families who settled rural America between 1840 and 1850.

(384pp. Brethren Press, 1976. $2.45)

2483. On the Backroad to Heaven: Old Order Hutterites, Mennonites, Amish, and Brethren by Donald B. Kraybill and Carl F. Bowman

Following a general introduction to Old Order culture, the authors show how each group uses a different strategy to create and sustain its identity. Answers are provided for many puzzling questions. These groups also raise fundamental questions about the nature of human society—particularly about the interplay between the individual and the group.

(330pp. index. illus. hardcover with dust jacket. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001. $29.95)

2461. Storm Clouds on the Shenandoah Valley: A Story of Civil War Times by David Lehigh
By the time of the Civil War, Church of the Brethren families had spread from Philadelphia to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Follow the Bowman family as they reject slavery, refuse to fight, and secretly aid Negro slaves to escape to Canada whenever possible—all creating tension with their slave-holding neighbors the Hartmans.

(107pp. Author, 2001. $6.50)

2581. Stover Brethren: The Family of Elder William Stover of Antietam by Richard R. Weber

Elder Johann Wilhelm Stober (1726-1800) was born in Staffort, Germany, and died in Franklin Co., Pa. His nine children scattered to five states. This book includes the descendants of William Stover as well as his ancestors back to 1609—over 13,000 individuals in nine generations. Some names that appear in the index are Barnhart, Britts, Flora, Good, Johnson, Naff, Noffsinger, Royer, Shank, Stover, Welty, Wingert, etc.

(702pp. illus. index. hardcover. Author, 2001. $46.50)

1004. Two Centuries of Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren, 1762-1962 by Rev. H. Austin Cooper

Story of the historic Brueders Thal or Stony Creek Church organized by Rev. Georg Adam Martin in 1762 in Stonycreek Twp., Somerset Co., Pa.; it covers the European background of the church, colonial movements, the Ephrata and Snow Hill Cloisters, the Glades Wars, printing of the Somerset Bible, Boone Mill, etc.

(544pp. index. hardcover. 1992 reprint of 1962 ed. $39.95)