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Subject: Re: Conococheague Settlement and the PA River Brethren
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 21:08:18 EDT

Mary: Here is information on the River Brethren as I have it:
Ulrich ENGLE and his family (including a son Jacob) came to America in 1754
aboard the ship "Phoenix". They were Anabaptists (Mennonites) from
Switzerland. In 1778 the son, Jacob of Lobata, located just east of
Bainbridge, became dissatisfied with the mode of baptism as practiced by the
Mennonite Church, as well as with certain other departures from Anabaptist
orthodoxy. The nucleus of the new denomination was created when Jacob Engle
and his friend Peter Witmer decided to baptize one another, it is believed,
in the Susquehanna River (hence the name River Brethren). Jacob Engle was
the first bishop of the River Brethren Church. Many years later, around
1860, this church became known as the Brethren in Christ.
Wilmer J. Eshleman published a paper on the River Brethren Denomiations in
the Papers of the Lancaster County Historical Society, Vol. LII, no. 7, 1948
(I have a copy). Also, there is a book by Dr. Carlton Wittlinger entitled
"Quest for Piety and Obedience", released in 1978. It can be purchased from
the Evangel Press, 301 North Elm St., Nappanee, IN 46550 (I do not have this
book). Bruce

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