Development of Church Life in the Older Congregations / 231

Training and Service Act was passed and the implications of this were faced. Gratitude was expressed for the government's recognition of the conscientious objector. Appreciation was also expressed for the work of the Peace Problems Committee of the Mennonite General Conference. The minutes of the October meeting stated that "It is very important that nonresistant people live true to the nonresistant faith; that men may see that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost."

As conscription proceeded, the ministers kept close to the problems that arose. It was emphasized that young men should be clear in their own convictions as they filled out their forms for the local draft boards.

During the war years the meetings were discontinued. The thirty-sixth meeting was held on January 6, 1942, and there were no more recorded meetings until February 20, 1948. Problems which the ministers then faced included child evangelism, a movement which created some difficulties in view of the church's position on believer's baptism and admittance to the church on a mature confession of faith. It was pointed out that the faith of children should be duly recognized, perhaps even publicly, but baptism called for more mature decision.

The relief and reconstruction work of the church was strongly supported. The local churches contributed generously by producing foodstuffs and clothing for the war countries of Europe.

Questions about Christian day schools were entertained in a few of the meetings. Revival meetings by George R. Brunk, Jr., Andrew Jantzi, and Myron S. Augsburger were supported from time to time.

The well-kept minutes of the Holmes County churches over these slightly more than two decades tell much that is perhaps typical of the churches elsewhere. Problems and challenges to a longstanding way of life are clear in these minutes. In January of 1950 a Holmes County bishop surveyed trends and stated, "We are in the middle of a century. Will we survive another 50 years or will we weaken?"

In Southwestern Ohio

The Amish Mennonite churches in Logan and Champaign counties had, as noted in the chapter on Sunday schools, strong leadership in David Plank (1833-1912), and following him A. I. Yoder