Chronology of Events / 401

1890-Bible conferences began in local congregations in Ohio

1890's-Ohio Normal University at Ada attended by Menno S., Albert,

Joseph, and Reuben Steiner; A. I. Yoder, C. K. Hostetler, I. W. Royer,

John Hilty, J. B. Smith, Paul Whitmer, Christ Hilty, Frank Thut, I.

L. Eby, John and Noah Blosser

1893-First Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference held at Smithville, Ohio

Sunday school conference at Zion Church, Bluffton, Ohio 1895-Death of Bishop John M. Brenneman

First Ohio Mennonite Sunday School Conference held at Salem Church,

Wooster, Ohio

1896-A. D. Wenger began evangelistic meetings in Ohio churches Orphanage opened in Wayne County, Ohio, for six children

1897-Preliminary meeting of General Conference Planning Committee was held at Pike Church near Elida, Ohio, and attended by Ohio bishops D. C. Amstutz, Benjamin Gerig, John Burkholder, Michael Horst, J. M. Shenk, and David Plank

1898-Mennonite General Conference formally organized

Sunday school started at Millwood Church in Pennsylvania

Founding of Missions and Institutions

1899-Death of Evangelist John S. Coffman

Mennonite Board of Charitable Homes organized at Marshallville, Ohio

Old People's Home founded at Rittman, Ohio

Sunday school started at Conestoga Church in Pennsylvania 1900-Orphanage moved from Wayne County to West Liberty, Ohio 1904-Mission founded in Canton, Ohio 1905-The M. C. Lehmans departed for India as missionaries 1906-Death of Bishop John K. Yoder of Wayne County, Ohio 1907-Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities founded at Rittman, Ohio

Young people's meetings begun at Conestoga Church in Pennsylvania 1908-Youngstown Mission founded by churches in Mahoning and Columbiana

counties

1912-Canton Bible School founded

Death of David Plank of West Liberty, Ohio

First formal proceedings on merger of Ohio Mennonite Conference and Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference

1913-First Bible conference at Conestoga Church in Pennsylvania

1914-First Bible conference at Millwood Church in Pennsylvania

World War I Events

1915-Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference at Belleville, Pennsylvania, expressed concern to President Wilson about possible involvement of United States in European war

1916-Repeated concern by conference conveyed to President Wilson regarding European war

1917-Upon United States entrance into war, Ohio Mennonite Conference and Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference reaffirmed nonresistant position, counseled respect for government