116 / The Rise of the Sunday School

The Pleasant View congregation of Stark County had experienced, as noted, a division due to the Wisler schism, and not till 1889 did it start a Sunday school." The sole aim of its Sunday school was to teach the Bible. English had already become the language of the congregation and the early years of the Sunday school were not marred by opposition. It became "evergreen" in 1915.

Holmes County churches that followed the pioneer school of Gerber Valley (already noted) were Kolb's and Longenecker's. Data on the Sunday schools of these churches is scant. They were apparently established in the late 1860's and early 1870's." They were conducted in the English language for the younger boys and girls, and in German for the older ones. The textbook was the New Testament. A decline set in for the congregation that worshiped at these two meetinghouses and the Sunday school was closed. The decline was due to active German Methodists and United Brethren holding evangelistic meetings that attracted members from Mennonite families in the Winesburg area of Holmes County. In 1875 when Henry Brenneman of Elkhart, Indiana, visited the congregation it had only fifty members and the Sunday school was not strong. However, it was reorganized in 1893 and developed favorably though slowly thereafter.

In 1873 the leader of the Amish Mennonite Church at Walnut Creek, Moses P. Miller, used his considerable influence to establish a Sunday school at Walnut Creek."' In a strong German community (the Lutheran and Reformed churches were also German) the Sunday school from the outset was entirely in that language. Not till 1896 were English lesson helps used and then only for two classes. The language transition was under way, however, and by 1939 only a class or so of older men used German. The Sunday school became "evergreen" during the years of 1895 and 1896.

The Martin's Creek Church started a Sunday school for the sake of teaching German, and German dominated till 1900 when English began to be used in church services.-` The first Sunday school was in 1876 with Moses D. Beechy as superintendent. This was during a period of considerable opposition. It is said that some older people would stand outside the church and visit while Sunday school was in session. The Sunday school was even discontinued for a short time but it was reopened and in 1901 became "evergreen." The following account of organization is given here because it is