tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12631722.post4807269310487412911..comments2024-03-11T10:37:08.798-05:00Comments on The Lucas Countyan: Let there be paint ...Frank D. Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09553291415988366101noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12631722.post-75884402970710697452016-08-12T08:05:03.310-05:002016-08-12T08:05:03.310-05:00The Church of the Brethren in Christ, has some ver...The Church of the Brethren in Christ, has some very interesting history. It is the first, truly American denomination of religion. Its tenants were such that much like the Mennonite church, any person who felt so moved could be a minister, which later had to be modified as the doctrine of the church was being altered significantly by those not as well taught. It also was an early proponent of both anti-slavery and women's rights. As early as the 1820's The Church of the Brethren in Christ told their members if they held slaves they had to free them or be excommunicated from the church. Understanding that this was a new decision in the church, and also not wanting to put a financial hardship on members who had recently acquired a slave they modified their ruling with some tenacity and suggested that if a slave had not been inherited and had been a recent purchase, the slave would become the property of the church and the church would allow the slave to work for his former owner until such time as the church felt he had paid his master sufficiently with his work to cover the purchase price. The church made the decision when the slave would be set free and in the meantime he was to be treated as a hired person not a slave. Interestingly because these folks were so dedicated to their church and to what was considered at the time to be the 2nd re-awakening, they applied themselves to the tasks at hand thinking the coming of the end times was upon them and they had full intent on doing God's work. With that, they also worked on the UGRR and were very good about keeping what they did to themselves since doing God's work was something you didn't take credit for, as that would be boasting and might send you straight to hell! Thus it is most difficult to find out if they were in fact instrumental in any area because of the tight lips of those participating! Often we have to rely on others to tell us about the Brethren, as they weren't talking! In the 1920's women suffragettes were meeting in the Brethren Churches working to get the vote, all approved by the church itself as part of their doctrine to support such efforts. It is rather unfortunate the group was swallowed up by the Methodists as far as history is concerned. This was a very dynamic and important social group in its early days which is often hidden from view by the fact they no longer exist as a separate organization from the Methodists. Steve Hanken<br /> Steve Hankenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16700389388368080864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12631722.post-4658468585694207372016-08-11T21:38:42.483-05:002016-08-11T21:38:42.483-05:00We have to be thankful for those who proceed on no...We have to be thankful for those who proceed on no matter what the weather might be! The Shriver Painting Crew are masters of their craft and we are fortunate they work among us!<br />Mary StierwaltAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com