Development of Church Life in the Older Congregations / 227

farmer and a minister who, it is said, also practiced medicine in Holmes and Tuscarawas counties. From 1885 to 1897 he kept a careful diary. This diary tells of Mast's church at Walnut Creek and he reports baptisms, funerals, and catechetical instruction."

The diary not only reflects the routine of church community life but also tells something of how a congregation at that time was keeping its standards of life and conduct. Much care was given to nurture of spiritual life and to strengthen the integrity of the congregation. There were excommunications for marrying outside the church in April of 1888. There was also a reference to the reinstatement of one who had been excommunicated for marrying outside the brotherhood.

Members who drank or sold liquor faced excommunication, but care was taken in the manner in which members were disciplined. In one instance three men' were appointed to investigate a charge that a member was in the saloon business. In 1891 two members were forbidden to go ahead with plans to build a distillery. Then there was the member who held the office of justice of the peace and this brought objection from the council of the church.

Mast's diary tells much of the church's activities. In 1888 John Kauffman, a "sleeping preacher," visited the congregation. A couch was taken to the church for him to "sleep" on and after "falling asleep" or going into a trance he (with help) stood up, and then preached for three and one-half hours.

Other preachers to occupy the pulpit included Joseph Schlegel of Nebraska, widely known as a forceful speaker and wise administrator in church affairs. He preached at Walnut Creek in October of 1889. By 1893 more and more visiting preachers were speaking in English, though German continued to be used at least at certain times as late as 1913.

In 1894 the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference was held at Walnut Creek and a number of visiting ministers attended from other states. Sebastian Gerig was present from Iowa. J. P. Smucker of Nappanee, Indiana, was there. The conference discussed such problems as members engaged in brewery or distillery work and deemed it "improper for members to be employed or have an interest in such business."

The preaching and counseling efforts at Walnut Creek during these years were not without profit, for the church grew in the struggle and in the process.