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

matter of course. That Yoder's members in Wayne County should take the lead in discontinuing the manufacture and use of liquor is noteworthy. As early as 1869 Yoder brought the matter to the attention of his congregation and though several members manufactured strong drink he pleaded for giving up both its manufacture and use. Two of the three brewers closed their business and the third was finally excommunicated. The congregation's unity was strained in the process, but Yoder had sufficient support to hold together whatever factions the issue created.

However, the great crisis in John K. Yoder's years as bishop came in the late 1880's when certain young people began to question the need for keeping the German language, traditional patterns of dress, and the music of the forefathers." Apparently scores of youth were not joining the church of their parents and a few were attending English Sunday schools in the area. Clearly a crisis was at hand.

The threat of a separate, less strict organization became a reality with a meeting beginning on September 1, 1889, at the Pleasant Hill meetinghouse of persons interested in change. In charge of this meeting was David Hostetler, a minister of Yoder's congregation. Yoder rose to the occasion by attending one of Hostetler's services at which time he proposed a meeting to discuss the differences between the two groups.

A meeting was held, and a committee of seven laymen was appointed to draft. a set of resolutions covering the areas of difference and to submit this for the approval of the congregation, a practice long followed in Amish circles. A statement was presented at the annual congregation meeting on January 4, 1890. Many points of the statement were affirmations of the traditional belief that the church could regulate the life and costume of its members but at the same time approved definite departures from past church-regulated practices. The document opened the door to evangelistic efforts called "series of meetings" or "continued meetings. "

Though no record is preserved on the outcome of the January 4, 1890, meeting, it appears as though the resolutions of this "Magna Charta" were adopted. At any rate the two groups were reconciled; peace and unity were preserved. David Hostetler later transferred his membership to Martins Mennonite Church a few miles away and still later he became a charter member of the