Transitions, Leaders, and Changing Churches (1865-1900) / 139

come. Oh! I wish that the beautiful and noble virtue of true humility might be more generally observed among us Mennonites.''

As noted above, Brenneman encouraged English preaching soon after coming to Allen County where he himself began to preach in English. As an itinerant preacher he was a forerunner to John S. Coffman and other evangelists whose movement swept over the church. Brenneman was an innovator of evening meetings and used his considerable influence to promote Sunday schools.

Brenneman was of a mild and serious disposition. Unfaithful members were a cause o£ "intense grief" to him and he pleaded with them "in tears." That such a man would have to face opposition may seem strange, but such was the case. Sometimes churches were locked against him and others like him. In such cases the preachers usually resorted to schoolhouses. Overflow crowds and marked attention finally won out and though the contest raged for a number of years Brenneman gained his point and came to old age with a remarkable record behind him. His last years found him with shaking palsy and he was ministerially inactive. When he died in 1895 John F. Funk officiated at his funeral and this "pillar, wise counsellor, unflinching advocate of gospel piety, a true, faithful, eloquent and consecrated servant of Cod" was laid to rest in the cemetery of the Salem Mennonite Church near Elida.'

David Plank (1833-1912)

Another of the Ohio church leaders with influence during these years of transition was David Plank." Plank was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and moved with his parents to Logan County, Ohio, in 1845. Here he was married in 1856, and ordained as an Amish minister in 1859. In 1895 he became a bishop. As a local leader David Plank provides an interesting study. He was a combination of farmer, craftsman, and churchman. Doubtless his success as a farmer and stockman, plus his skill in carpentry and cabinetmaking, gave him considerable prestige in the community. In addition to this he was a community-minded man, alert and progressive. It is noteworthy that he supported Lincoln in the election o£ 1860, for on November 6, 1860, he made the following entry into his diary: "We husked corn in the meadow and helped to elect old Abe." Also of interest is another diary entry which says: "I resigned the office of township trustee."