Transitions, Leaders, and Changing Churches (1865-1900) / 143

Salem congregation south of Smithville.

An important sequel was the conducting of evangelistic meetings by D. J. Johns of Indiana in the Oak Grove and Pleasant Hill community. Forty young people were converted, of whom quite a few were to bécome future church leaders. Among them were I. W. Royer, who was to give many years to missionary, pastoral, and Sunday school work; Chauncy J. King, a music teacher; and Silvanus Yoder, a schoolteacher, writer, and Sunday school worker who later moved to Indiana. The baptism of this large class of youth was a matter of great rejoicing and for the, occasion John K. Yoder invited to assist him two other bishops, Sebastian Gerig from Iowa and D. J. Johns, the evangelist from Indiana.

The crisis over, a correspondent to the Herald of Truth summed up the events in these words:

After several years of ups and downs, during which husks of contention and criticism formed a large proportion of spiritual food on which some of the poor starving souls at this place have been trying to keep alive, we have at last

been favored by what seems to be a "better breeze."''

The numerous transitions were not without some personal struggles for John K. Yoder.'a Traditions and ways that have persisted for generations and even for centuries-language, order of worship, forms of church discipline, symbolism in dress-these are cherished and full of meaning. Yoder's ability to adapt and change form while still striving to keep the spirit is, in the perspective of several generations, a tribute to his broad churchmanship.

John K. Yoder's contribution was outstanding in the larger life of his church also. As noted elsewhere, he was influential in the churchwide Amish Diener Versammlung (Conference) which met annually (with the exception of 1877) from 1862 to 1878.'' Here he exhibited the same caliber of leadership and integrity that was characteristic of his role as bishop of the Wayne County churches. Six times he served as moderator or assistant moderator of the

Versammlung.

Christian P. Steiner (1832-1910)

Another figure in the transitional period of Ohio churches was Christian P. Steiner16 Born in Wayne County he moved to Allen County in 1855. His ordination in 1869 was by John M. Brenneman and marked the fifth generation of this Swiss family to have