Development of Church Life in the Older Congregations / 223

The Crown Hill Congregation

The Swiss Mennonite congregation which was planted in

Milton Township of Wayne County in the early nineteenth century did not become a part of the Ohio Mennonite Conference till 1915. Its growth in the later 1800's and early 1900's was during the leadership of David C. Amstutz. Amstutz, as 'noted elsewhere, was influential in Sunday school organization and in the founding of an old people's home. Ordained a minister in 1871 and bishop in 1885 Amstutz lived till 1924, giving leadership to both his congregation and conference.

Evangelistic efforts by J. S. Coffman before the .turn of the century brought many youth into the church. Similar preaching by M. S. Steiner together with a strong teaching program strengthened the congregation and assured its growth.

Schismatic movements at Crown Hill occurred first in 1865 when a number of families joined the Apostolic Christian Church because of differences on mode of baptism. In 1905-6 a number transferred to the General Conference Mennonites and to the Reformed Church. The most recent division was in 1952 when a few families left and formed a group that worshiped at the congregation's Christian day school, which was founded in 1944. Some of these later returned to the Crown Hill congregation. The Christian day school, it may be noted, was discontinued by the mid1950's.

In 1915 Enos F. Hartzler became the pastor of Crown Hill. Hartzler had been ordained a minister in 1910 at the Canton Mennonite Mission. In the spring of 1924 he was ordained as bishop and served till 1952 when at his request he was released from service. Hartzler was active for many years as an evangelist in various congregations and he also served on numerous committees of his conference. He was a supporter of the conservative positions in his church.

Beginning in 1954 John M. Drescher, then a student at Goshen College Biblical Seminary, began to serve the Crown Hill Church. Five years later he became an overseer (one performing bishop's duties) of the Bethel, Smithville, Salem, Crown Hill, and later the Pleasant Hill congregations. During Drescher's pastorate at Crown Hill a radio program, "Light and Life Hour," was launched by the congregation, with Drescher playing a leading role in the broadcast. Drescher's stay with the