94 / Growth-and Some Decline-of the Churches

to America. He appealed, therefore, to the wider brotherhood through the principal periodical, the Herald of Truth.",

Another instance of mutual aid, again likely typical of scores of unrecorded instances, was that of the brethren from Columbiana and Mahoning counties contributing funds to the building of a church in Osborne County, Kansas. The Osborne community had an almost total failure of wheat crop .21

Fellowship and Brotherhood

Within the churches of the Ohio Mennonite and Amish communities there was much visiting and fellowship. The October 1879 Herald of Truth tells how C. K. Yoder from Logan County, Ohio, visited the brethren in Fairfield County "and preached us a very edifying sermon on the 24th from John 3rd chapter. We thank God for his kindness." In the June issue of the same year J. K. Zook's visit was recorded. He came from Champaign County. In the latter part of 1870 George Brenneman visited the small congregation at Canal Winchester and "celebrated the communion of the Lord's supper with them. --z

Not only was there visiting and fellowship between Ohio churches but many ministers and fellow members from other states visited Ohio congregations. As early as January 1867, the Herald of Truth carried an invitation from John Thut for brethren from East and West to stop at Bluff ton. And from East and West the brethren came to the Ohio Mennonite and Amish communities. There was, for example, Bishop Henry Yother who in the winter of 1885-86 visited Fairfield, Franklin, Wayne, Holmes, Medina, Columbiana, and Stark counties before going on to Harmony and then to Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania. He noted that few members attended services in Fairfield and Franklin counties. He commented that:

Many of the young people go to other churches and so the Mennonite church seems to be decreasing. May God grant that the glorious doctrine of our church-the doctrine for which our forefathers fled from one city to another and from one country to another, for which thousands laid down their lives at the stake, on the cross and at the block, may still have its divine influence on the hearts and souls of many and lead them to be faithful followers of the meek and lowly Jesus.''

This report was followed by one the next month which told of his visit to the Martins Church at Orrville and an appointment at