This chapter on the above subject is given in honor to Brother Enoch Eby, and his work in the Waddams Grove Church, as well as to Brother Daniel Fry, and his work in the Yellow Creek Church.

From Brother Galen B. Royer’s Bicentennial Address, June 8, 1908, the following extract is given as a sort of introduction to the chapter:

Ten years before organized missionary effort was made in the Church of the Brethren, Bro. C. Hope, an earnest seeker after the truth, was baptized in the Hickory Grove congregation of Northern Illinois, on Oct. 25, 1874. He was a Dane who had come to America to search for a body of people who not only believed in Jesus Christ but sought to be obedient to him in all things. No sooner was he a member of the church than his heart turned to the home land and the need of the Gospel there. He wrote tracts. Through the Pilgrim, a call for money to publish tracts was responded to with surprising liberality. They were sent to Denmark and a call came back that a soul awaited baptism. This stirred hearts greatly and on Nov. 12, 1875, persons interested in sending the Gospel to Denmark gathered at Cherry Grove church in northern Illinois to arrange to meet this call, and the lot fell upon Brethren Enoch Eby and Paul Wetzel to go on the first mission out of the United States. But they could not speak the language and an interpreter must be sent with them. The choice unanimously fell upon Brother Hope and his wife. By January, 1876, the family left Iowa, visited Huntingdon, Pa., and other points and in due course of time landed at Aalborg, Denmark, to prepare for the coming of the appointed missionaries. On May 5, 1876, Christian Hansen, now an elder residing at Bronderslev, and the one who called for baptism, were received into membership. Later Sister Christina Frederickson, who afterwards became the wife of Elder P. C. Poulsson, was baptized. The enthusiasm with which Brother Hansen pushed the work in the way of tract distribution cast him into prison for a season. But he did not renounce the faith. The next year eight souls were added and the latter part of that year Brother and Sister Enoch Eby and Brother and Sister Daniel Fry reached Hjorring, Denmark. A church was organized with thirteen members. Bro. C. Eskildsen, still living and laboring at the same place, was chosen minister. Thus the work was begun in Denmark through the direct efforts of northern Illinois, aided by liberal contributions from other parts of the Brotherhood.

Brother Hope was a man far-reaching in his plans, untiring in his efforts, wonderful in faith and nearness to the Lord, and thus it was that he reached out for the larger things of God’s promises and made the most rapid progress among his people.

Sweden, a sister country, separated from Denmark by a narrow body of water, soon became the field of active operations for a part of this time. The membership has always been more or less scattered and the efforts of the workers could not be centered on a few localities as in this country. In recent years, Elder A. W. Vaniman and wife labored in these two countries making their headquarters at Malmo, Sweden. One great hindrance has been the attitude of the government in compelling every male to learn the art of war. This has prompted most of the young men who have accepted Christ to come to America and has kept others from joining and suffering the imprisonment which attends those who refuse. J. M. Risberg and several others in Sweden have thus suffered for Christ’s sake.

The committee presented a memorial to the government of Sweden praying for some leniency in this particular, but the prayer did not quite get a majority of the Riksdag.

Such an adverse condition not only drove the young men from the country, but in many instances the young women followed, or else married outside of the church at home and have been lost to her. It is to be regretted, too, that in many instances those coming to America have located in parts not near a congregation of the Brethren and have been lost to the church. The committee, seeing this, in 1894 took under advisement a plan of colonizing the foreign members as fast as they landed. But so many difficulties confronted it that all efforts were finally abandoned.

These statements will prepare every one to understand how it is that there should be upwards to 600 accessions to the church in thirty years in these two countries and yet there be today only two congregations in Denmark with a total membership of but eighty-four, while in Sweden they have five congregations with 127 members. The expenditure in these two countries reaches $48,172.93.

The following, relating to the subject was written by Brother Enoch Eby himself, soon after his return from Denmark, for M. M. Eshelman’s “History of the Danish Mission.” Let us listen to him as he speaks on this subject:

During Bro. Hope’s stay in Lanark [Carroll County, Illinois] he felt a deep concern for the spiritual welfare of his nation, while he was enjoying the light of the gospel truth, that great gift which, until recently, had been to him as a treasure hid in a field; but now found, and purchased, after selling all he had. Matt. 13: 44. All his former teaching, when brought to the light, was found to be erroneous. Hence he spent much of the night in writing for the different papers of the Brethren on the subject of teaching “all nations” according to the commission of our dear Savior to His disciples; and also in translating several pamphlets, written by the Brethren, into the Danish language for the special benefit of his people, who, like he in former days have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. In the meantime he was responding to inquiries from Denmark by Brother Hansen and others, in relation to the doctrine of Jesus, and in the daytime he labored with his hands at his trade to support his family, which at this time consisted of wife and one child. Thus with extraordinary energy and perseverance, prompted by a love to his nation, he finally finished the translation of two pamphlets, “Safe Ground,” written by J. H. Moore; the other the “One Faith,” written by M. M. Eshelman, both of which were subsequently submitted to a committee of Brethren appointed by the District Meeting of northern Illinois, for examination, which was done by Bro. Hope reading in English what he had written in Danish and finding it corresponded with the original copy, it was decided he should circulate them among the people in Denmark.

In the meantime, however, through Brother Hope’s answering letters of inquiry from Denmark, a very urgent request was sent to him from Christian Hansen, desiring some one to come over and baptize him, and preach the Gospel in its original purity. There were also others inquiring for the true bread of life. The matter now having assumed an important form, some of the Elders of northern Illinois were consulted in reference to the Scandinavian cry for help; whereupon it was decided expedient to call a special District Meeting at Cherry Grove, Carroll County, on the 12th day of November, 1875, with a request that each church in northern Illinois should, if possible, be represented by two delegates. The churches having responded accordingly (with the exception of one), and a general interest manifested by the large representation of members present, and after the object of the meeting was fully explained by referring to said call and the assembly generally that the call was worthy of a favorable notice, and the Gospel required their request to be granted, but while that point seemed plain, it was an important question as to whose duty it was to send men to Denmark; the District, or the general Brotherhood. After some deliberation on that point, the general sentiment seemed to be, “if we are certain there will be an Annual Meeting (for as yet there was no application) it should be referred to Annual Meeting; but if there were any doubts about there being any in the summer of 1876, the call should not be delayed another year”; and as it seemed very doubtful whether there would be an annual Meeting for 1876 and even admitting the probability of an Annual Meeting, we were not certain whether we would not meet with the same response as the Eastern District of Pennsylvania id in reference to the Maine Mission. (See Art. 19 of Minutes in 1872.) Therefore in the midst of all these uncertainties and the call being urgent, the meeting finally decided to prosecute the work according to her best judgment and ability.

And as the call was from southern Denmark and a good portion of the inhabitants being German, it was decided that a German brother be sent, and one English (or English and German), and one that could speak the Danish language. And as there was no Danish brother in the ministry in the Brotherhood that we had any knowledge of and only two lay members, it was decided that one from among those two should be chosen to the ministry and sent to Denmark to preach the Gospel. The vote was taken and Brother Hope elected to the first degree with the privilege to baptize. The meeting also chose two more, Enoch Eby and Paul Wetzel. It was thought best that the two brethren last named should not go immediately. Bro. Hope accordingly made immediate preparation and left for Denmark about the first of January, 1876. A year passed by with favorable reports from the Danish Mission, and at the Annual District Meeting of northern Illinois, in the spring of 1877, the question was asked, “Should not those two brethren appointed go to Denmark and organize a church?” It was decided they should, and that the different churches should raise a special proportionate amount of the funds required, and that a special District Meeting should be called at Waddams Grove, Stephenson County, August 13, 1877, for the purpose of making more definite arrangements necessary for the anticipated voyage. And among the different items considered at this meeting was the necessity of both brethren going, being ordained elders (or bishops) or not. It being decided in the affirmative, Brother Wetzel, not being ordained, resigned his appointment. It now became necessary to elect another. Brother Daniel Fry was therefore duly chosen. In submission to his appointment, we, with our wives, at once began to make the necessary arrangements to enter upon our long and perilous journey, to start from a love feast at Waddams Grove, Stephenson County, on the 26th and 27th of September, 1877, which was done, amid the tears and sobs of a vast multitude of sympathizing friends, brethren and sisters, and children. Some bade the last farewell, for before we returned they were in their graves. The feast and the separation, both at the meetinghouse and at the depot in Lena, presented the most solemn and affecting scene we ever witnessed, fully demonstrating the love which does no only characterize brethren and sisters in the flesh, but that which unites the children of God in one common brotherhood.

We give the following extract from the Lena Star [Stephenson County, IL], descriptive of the parting. The editor was present and wrote as follows:

Elders Enoch Eby and Daniel Fry, of the denomination of Brethren, left Lena on Thursday afternoon, on the 1:45 P.M. train on their way to Denmark, where whey go at the direction of their Church, to establish a mission in a field where there is new one minister of the above mentioned denomination, C. Hope. On several days before the gentlemen started, a love feast was held in the church at Waddams Grove, the interest of which was, of course, deepened by the course the service took, bearing on the subject of the departure of the brethren. About four hundred members communed and one was baptized. On the day of the ministers’ departure a very large delegation, we think at least three hundred, accompanied them from the church to the station at this place, to bid them farewell. The scene at the depot was truly affecting and moved many hearts outside of the fold of the church directly interested. The wives of the missionaries accompanied them, and they will remain as long as they in their judgment see proper. These persons are sent in answer to the call from the missionary already in Denmark for help. And the expense is borne by individual subscriptions by the Brethren of the Northern District of Illinois, assisted by those throughout the United States who feel disposed to contribute.

Elder Enoch Eby has been one of the most prominent members of the denomination in this region for a long term of years. He came from Pennsylvania twenty-two years ago, and has been preaching for, and presiding over, the Waddams Grove congregation to the general satisfaction of the church ever since, and his presence will truly be much missed by the members of the church, but they are consoled by the thought that in his new field he will be of incalculably more benefit to the cause than he would be here.

Elder Daniel Fry came here from Ohio in 1848 and settled on Yellow Creek. He has been preaching for, and presiding over, the Yellow Creek congregation of the Brethren ever since, twenty-nine years, notwithstanding that for about five years he has resided at Mt. Carroll, to general satisfaction. He has been a minister about forty-five years and is about seventy years old. We are not personally acquainted with Elder Fry, but the fact that he has been chosen in open council by his church for this great trust is proof that he is a man of influence and energy, like his companion.

The following account of the feast we clip from the Brethren at Work of October 8, 1877:

The preaching on examination did not commence till rather late, hence it was late when the love feast began. About all the available room was taken up with tables so that the spectators did not have much satisfaction seeing the services. About four hundred members communed and we learned that there were several who could not get to the tables. The order was excellent, and the meeting quite a solemn one. Many thought it might be their last feast on earth with their dear brethren who were going away, and hence the great solemnity that pervaded the assembly. The services were conducted in the usual order and closed soon after nine o’clock.

Meeting commenced the next morning at half past nine. The house was well filled at an early hour, all being anxious to hear the brethren preach their farewell discourses. As Brethren Eby and Fry were to leave in the afternoon it was agreed that they both should preach that day. The meeting was opened by singing hymn 270.

After the opening of the meeting the following scripture was read as suitable for the occasion: Acts 20: 17-38.

After the reading of the scripture, we had presented to us in substance the following:

Remarks by Daniel Fry, - Spoken in the German language:

“This scripture teaches that the Apostle Paul was bound and on his way to Jerusalem. He was willing to go thus to the Holy City for the good of his Master. In the same scriptures, we are taught the duty of overseers and ministers of God’s house, and then he tells them that he kept back nothing that was profitable to them. ‘Follow me as I follow Jesus,’ is Paul’s teaching. Oh, what a message! To follow Jesus is the best of all things. When we follow him, we need not fear; for he leads on and on to glory and eternal life.”

“I have been among you for thirty-one years, trying to show you your best interests and point you to Jesus. Yes, for many years, in weakness, I tried to point sinners to God and comfort my brethren and sisters. Often have I looked down into the grave, and saw the poor body covered with dust, and God alone knows how soon some will look down into our graves. I had thought in my old days such responsible duties would not be laid upon me; but I do not want to be disobedient, hence go willingly.”

“I pray the Lord that he may keep you united and in peace, and if we never meet again, oh, may we meet over yonder on the other shore. Oh, have patience and you shall see salvation. Last night at our feast, I thought of the wonderful meeting with Jesus when he shall come to gather his children home. There we shall meet father, mother, brothers and sisters, and the righteous shall go away into life everlasting full of joy and peace. We shall have new bodies and new feelings. Our love will be heavenly love. Then we shall see how the Lord carried us over this troublesome world, and made us to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom. Yes, then we shall see and have this wonderful love which God shows us. Then we shall see him as he is, and all the old prophets around him.”

“To my young brethren and sisters, I say, come and let us follow Jesus in all meekness and lowliness of mind. Let us all be faithful. If this is the parting hour, all I can say is be faithful. Often have you heard my voice pleading for all to follow our Master, but now I go away; now I leave you, and you may nevermore see my face, nor hear my voice among you. Be patient, live as Jesus teaches, be kind to each other, and when you fail and must go hence, oh, there will be glory and joy over the dark river of death. If the Lord should spare me to return, some of you will have passed away to your Father’s house. Again I say, be faithful, be of good cheer and finally farewell, farewell.”

Remarks by Enoch Eby.

“I would that all could feel as we do at this time. My mind is not sufficiently composed to speak as I would like. There are many here today who have asked us to leave our pictures with them – they would like to glance over them when we are gone, and call up fresh memories of the past, but we conclude not to leave such as they have asked for. We will, however, endeavor to leave with you all such a picture as you may long remember, even when far away. We want to paint it on the tables of your hearts. Now if I can make a good impression on your mind, that will be a likeness that will do you good – one that will never fade. This is the kind of a picture I want to leave with you and for you, by which to remember me. For our mutual benefit and your encouragement I want to read the first four verses of the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians:

“ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

“ ‘ Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.

“ ‘For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

“ ‘When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory!’

“ ‘The life and character of the apostle are good examples for us, and he could well say, ‘follow me even as I follow Christ.’ He was willing to spend and be spent for his Master’s cause; he had care of all the churches – it was his duty to look after their wants. He was not only ready and willing to teach the nations and preach the Gospel, but as an elder had the oversight of many churches. He was ready to sacrifice his life for the good of souls, and anxious to present the church to God without spot or wrinkle. He spent his time and pleasure with the church and his brethren; this was his joy and comfort while on earth, and his hope beyond the dark river of death. He went from place to place, building up churches, exhorting, reproving, comforting and edifying his brethren, and in doing so did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. And when he had done all this, when he had taught them the whole counsel of God, he said, ‘You shall see my face no more. I am going up to Jerusalem, and there I shall be bound and if needs be, suffer for my Master. Why weep and break my heart, for I am ready to die for you.’ While he could say this, he failed not to tell them that after his departure grievous wolves would enter in and not spare the flock; that ‘of yourselves men of perverse minds would arise and lead you astray.’ Then when he had felt the responsibility of the eldership, toiled amid trials and difficulties, he told them to do the work willingly. He felt the care of all the churches, and now they would feel the care. When he had spent his life in this glorious work, he declared that he was free from the blood of all men.

“I have now labored in great weakness for twenty-two years to point you up to the Lamb of God. In that time many have gone to their long homes, and I see before me many who are fast going to their resting places. In all my trials and concern for you, I have not been as faithful as I should have been. I often failed to give good counsel, and have nothing to boast of save my infirmities. If I have not done right, O my brethren, do better than I have done. My home is in the church, and there I want to stay while on earth. With the elders of northern Illinois I have labored to give good counsel, but often came short. To my young brethren, I would say, remember them that have the oversight of the churches. An elder’s work is not pleasant, but often they lie upon their beds weeping and praying for the dear brethren and sisters. Jesus must be their Helper, and without him they can do nothing. Often their counsel is not heeded and their hearts ready to break with the load and care resting upon them. Then be subject to the elder brethren, and help them along in the work of our Master. I have often wondered where I would have been had not the church cared for me. Sometimes I thought the counsel too hard, but I never lost anything by giving heed to it.

“As already stated, I have lived among you for many years. Some may not feel as well because I told them the truth, while others have been willing to pluck out their eyes for our sakes. Your love and kindness are entwined around our hearts, and that love we shall ever carry with us. We go from among you feeling that you have been good, and treated us better than we deserved. May God reward you all, for we cannot. We go away in obedience to the church, and in love of duty.

“There is one thing, however, that we regret, and that is, there are some who do not feel so well towards the mission in which we are engaged. Their hearts are not in the work and we cannot go with their good wishes. This pains us very much. But then we go in performance of a duty that we owe to both God and the church, for the good and the welfare of those who reside in Denmark. We want the prayers of all God’s faithful children to go with us on our mission, for the fervent and effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much.

“The apostle say, ‘But now we go up to Jerusalem.’ This made the dear brethren weep, and so much the more when they learned they should see his face no more. We know not what shall befall us, and it is best we do not. Many eyes are upon us, and if we should make a mistake, oh, where shall we be? But the grace of God, and your earnest prayers in our behalf, will do us good. Our dear brother cited us to another time when there will be no parting. If we want to be at that happy meeting, we must set our affections on things above, must be dead to the world and the enticing things of this life. These are vain and will pass away, so that we can have no enjoyment in them.

“We shall have no crown till we come forth from our graves. There is no crown of glory until the trump of the archangel shall call us forth from our sleeping places in the morning of the first resurrection, when we shall enter upon the reign of one thousand years with Christ. Oh, that will be glorious – joy for evermore to be with Jesus. If the one thousand years with Christ were all that we would receive, then that alone is worth striving for. But that is not all; we shall go on and on into eternity – the vast, boundless eternity of our Father. The Word of God says the sea shall give up its dead. If we remain faithful, and must go down into the sea, we shall come forth in God’s own appointed time. If our bodies are laid to rest in a foreign land, and dear friends will not be permitted to read the epitaph on our tombstones, not plant flowers above our heads, we shall come forth in the power and might of God. If you, my dear friends, prove faithful, and go to rest so that we shall see your faces no more on earth, you too shall come forth clothed in royal robes singing the songs of the redeemed. And then when we shall all meet around God’s throne, with palms of victory in our hands, we will no more need to part, nor shed tears of sorrow, emblems of tender love and affection.

“And now I think of some, near and dear to us by the ties of nature, who anxiously looked to this time, and were concerned about our going. Yes, some have gone to sleep in Jesus, - one a dear daughter, now in the grave, in her weak condition long felt what it would be to part from us. But she rests in Jesus, and he will bring her with him when he comes to gather his elect from the four winds of the earth to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God.

“But where will the sinner be? Oh, the thought of the condemned! Sinner, think of it! Where will you be if your name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Ah, where will you be? You may see your mother, father, brother and sister go in and enjoy the glory of God and yourself thrust out. Then you will exclaim, ‘I have often heard my duty set before me, but now I must go down, oh, down, down into despair, lost LOST! To say farewell, then, to those who are in Christ will be painful to you. Oh, how sad and painful will this be! Sinner, do not procrastinate, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Come, then, come to Jesus, and live forever. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the glory that shall be revealed when Christ comes. He may come soon, and bind Satan, that old serpent, and then the saints shall have a joyful season. Oh, that will be a happy time, no pain, no sorrow, no strife, no ill-will, but all peace and enjoyment. The Lord shall reign over the whole earth; there will be no more death, no sea nor strong waves to fear, no tempests to waste the living, nor floods to sweep destruction over the land. I have nothing to promise after the first resurrection. God wants all to take part in the first, hence holds out many pleasant things to induce us to labor for them.

“But as I have already remarked, grievous wolves shall come in among you. ‘And of yourselves shall men of perverse minds arise.’ This is still worse. We may increase in number but fall away in principle. This we want to carefully guard. Go to meeting often. Go to do good; go for soul’s salvation. Go to church meeting, and if things don’t just suit you, do not run away. Help each other, stand firm; be united and never separate. Always take good counsel. True, in our young days, we may think the counsel a little hard, but I find it generally comes out right in the end. Read and study the Scriptures. Make them your schoolbook, and stand united as a little church.

“And now I would like to bid you all farewell, take you by the hand and greet you, but in such a vast assembly that seems impossible. Perhaps you can all go with us to the little town. It will make us feel good if you will go with us that far. Our children will thus be comforted, some of whom are a little weakly, and need your sympathies, your tender care. Some of them may die ere we return (if permitted to return), and go to sleep in Jesus. Soon, very soon, we must all pass over the dark river of death and taste the bitter waters.

“We now ‘commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.’ And now we must say farewell – oh, that bitter word – that word farewell – we must part, and for aught we know never to meet again on earth. But on leaving you there is one thought that gives us encouragement, and that is all our children are in the church – blessed thought, we can meet them on the other shore and know each other in the land of the redeemed. Now then, brethren and sisters, farewell – I say to you one and all FAREWELL. The Lord be with you and take care of you all.”

After prayer and the close of the meeting, came the touching scene – Bro. Eby taking leave of his congregation. One by one they came taking the parting greeting. Strong men fell on his neck and wept like children. It was the saddest scene we ever witnessed. Nearly one hour was thus spent amid tears and prayers – such as “God bless you” and “the Lord be with you.” (Bro. Fry took leave of his congregation a few weeks before.)

Many of the congregation accompanied the brethren and sisters to the depot. Over three hundred persons assembled to see them depart. They stepped aboard the cars and as the train moved away slowly Bro. Eby stood in the door, giving his people one farewell look. This was too much for the crowd, they could no longer hold their grief and wept aloud. Strong men, women, and kindred wept like children. This closed the touching incidents of the Waddams Grove meeting, leaving impressions never to be forgotten.

After leaving Lena we spent a few days with friends at Lewistown and Millerstown, Pa., very pleasantly, and received many good wishes and blessings to attend us on our journey. We took our leave of them to go to New York via Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Tarried with the brethren of Philadelphia two days; met with them each evening for worship, and then left for New York, where we arrived the 12th of October, and at once proceeded to the wharf to examine the steamer Mosel, belonging to the German Lloyd Steamship Company, which was rapidly receiving her cargo for Southampton, England, and Bremen, Germany. After securing our rooms we returned to the Park Hotel, Hoboken, where we lodged for the night, ready to set sail on the next day at 2 P.M., but not until near 4 o’clock did the signal bell ring to give warning that all was ready. Then we beheld a peculiar parting scene. Some with tears embraced and kissed each other, while others were merry and laughed, but many like ourselves, were entire strangers, not knowing any one. Thus matters moved on rapidly for about twenty minutes, when about two hundred and seventy-five passengers had gotten on board, and nearly a hundred standing on the wharf when another bell gave the signal that all was ready. The engineer drew the lever and the mammoth wheels began to revolve, and the sea monster backed out slowly into the main channel in the midst of cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs until we were lost to sight. I thought, were those my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, so we could (Paul-like) kneel and pray with them on the shore, how much strength and courage it would impart; but not one present to sympathize with us, only he who controls the elements and who said unto the proud waves of the sea, “thus far shalt thou come.” Never in all my life did I enjoy such a realizing sense of prayer in our behalf as when we set sail and during our entire voyage. But before we sailed an hour the ship struck a sandbank and we had to wait for the tide to raise us, which happened towards midnight, while we all slumbered and slept. In the morning when we awoke a beautiful sight met our vision; the land had disappeared, the sea was very calm, the sun shone brightly, and we felt to praise the Lord with our whole heart.

After breakfast was eaten, the passengers assembled on deck with their books and telescopes to form acquaintances and new associations, and learning of each other’s native homes, as well as destination. In this way the hours passed away most pleasantly, and we were made to feel that if this is sea life we could spend our time on sea pleasantly if we could be as useful there as on dry land. A we sailed further out on the ocean the waters became more agitated, and by 4 P.M. the waves were sufficiently strong to gently swing the vessel up and down; and soon quite a number felt as though there stomachs were trying to imitate the motion of the vessel; consequently were hurried down stairs to their respective rooms, where the contents of the stomach were soon deposited in a vessel designed for that purpose, which for the time being gave some relief to a feeling which if properly interpreted would say, “I would about as soon die as live.” But in the midst of our agony we gathered comfort in the thought that it was for our health and was of short duration in most cases. With some, however, it lasted six days and even longer, while a few escaped entirely, principally old persons and children. The more vigorous the system the harder the attack; but the sickness soon passed away and one by one resumed their seats at the table, or were found on upper deck enjoying each other’s society which had so soon been broken up. Thus the voyage passed on without anything extraordinary to mar our enjoyment, save about forty-eight hours pretty high winds. We saw nothing of interest by the way, only a few hog-fishes and sea gulls, till on the tenth day when we got the first sight of the chalk rocks of the southern shores of England, and while passing through the English Channel could see to our left some of the most bleak and desolate hills and country we ever saw, with here and there a small village on the coast, the inhabitants making their living principally by fishing. Some excellent country with good buildings in and around Southampton. On the right we could see on the bluffy shore of France an occasional village in between the shrubby, timbered bluffs. Passing on through Dover Straits and across the North Sea we arrived at Bremenhaven about noon of the 13th day, being the 26th of October.

Upon landing we were at once introduced to the German style of huckstering and also to their money. There were about twenty-five women in and around the landing with almost everything you could think of in the way of victuals. We were soon on board, however, of a European car for the first time, en route for Bremen, a city of about 100,000 inhabitants, strongly and neatly built, principally of large stone, skillfully wrought. The sidewalks were principally of the same, buildings generally three or four stories high. In this city Bro. Fry and myself, on our way from Denmark to Germany, were obliged to lay over a day, in which time we visited several points of interest, especially to an antiquarian. Among them was a very large ancient Lutheran church built and used by the Catholics, until some time early in the century (the correct date I could not obtain), the interior of which baffles description, both in point of architecture and antiquity. After entering the door into the outer court of the sanctuary the floor is laid with large flat stones, with a beautiful smooth surface under which a number of distinguished persons have been buried and their names engraven on the stone; in the inner department there was a metal baptistery cast in the shape of an iron kettle, only about twice the size of a large iron kettle. This was used in ancient times for immersing infants, which (says our informant and guide) they did by immersing them three times in the water, once in each name of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The baptistry was over one thousand years old. Near this, by turning your eye to the right, you could see the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in life size, made of plaster of paris, sitting with pen in hand, writing. I cannot give the age. To the left in a small air-tight room were five or six mummies. The youngest was some over one hundred years old, the oldest was four hundred and fifty. They had the appearance of dusty, dry hides of animals, and could be clearly identified. One died with the cancer, which could be easily discerned, the one cheek and part of the jaw being eaten away.

The other place we visited was a wine cellar. Though of little interest to me compared with the church, yet it shows what people will do and the interest they take in wine. The cellar was under a very large business house, occupying the entire basement and running through under one street, joining another cellar on the opposite side. In one apartment there were twelve vessels which contained about forty barrels, each bearing the names of the twelve apostles, and the date when placed there and filled. The oldest was 1655, making the wine at this writing 226 years old. In another apartment were three vessels of a similar size, very neatly finished, and Bacchus in life size placed on one barrel. This I thought was more becoming the place than the names of the apostles. When we take into consideration the amount of wine manufactured in Germany we would naturally expect much intemperance and intoxication, but such is not the case. It is a blushing fact, I saw more drunkards in the same length of time in America.

On the 27th we left Bremen for Hamburg, a city of 400,000. Some portions of it are beautifully built, while in other portions the streets are too narrow, buildings somewhat dilapidated, hence the appearance not inviting. The city is situated on the river Elbe. On the 28th we again boarded the cars for Denmark, running through Holstein and Schleswick, one of the best grazing countries in Europe and which belonged to the kingdom of Denmark till the year 1870, when the Germans by force of arms took it from them. About noon we arrived at Wandrup, a village near the south line of Denmark. Here we had our first experience in the Danish language and currency. On the 29th we left for Bronderslev, Denmark, our place of destination, and arrived about noon, much wearied of a journey of about eighteen days on land and sea, but felt to praise the Lord for his preserving care over us. At this place we shall ever remember the heart-beating joy we experienced in meeting our dear brethren, C. Hope and C. Hansen, the latter living in this place, and with whom we ate our first meal of black bread and cheese made of goat’s milk, and coffee, which had the relish of an American turkey roast; for the welcome which we received seemed to season the food with heaven’s choicest blessings. After a little rest and brotherly greetings, we pursued our way five miles by wagon to the house of Bro. Hope and had another joyful meeting with Sister Hope and children and a Danish sister. Here we remained several days as members of the family, attracting much notice and curiosity among the people, and admiration among the members. Some said, “Well, they did not send boys over here,” others said, “They just look like the apostles, and others, perhaps like the Athenians, said, “What will these babblers have to say? They bring strange things to our ears because they preach ‘except ye repent and be baptized,’ and then keep the commandments of Jesus, we cannot be saved. We must not swear by the oath; we must not conform to this world. We cannot put away our wives by divorce and marry another.”

At the time of our arrival there were ten members in Denmark, one more added in a few days; then by the desire of all the members, arrangements were made at once to hold the first love feast in Denmark on the 18th of November in Bro. Hope’s house at which time two more were added, making in all nineteen communicants, including Brother and Sister Hope and ourselves. There was a remarkable interest at this meeting by all; for none present ever before saw the ordinances of the church practiced according to apostolic order (save we who were from America), and never did I witness a more enjoyable feast to the members, nor more admired by all present. At this meeting by the unanimous consent of all present Bro. Hope was ordained to the eldership, and an election held for one minister and one deacon. After the scripture was read and briefly commented upon, which sets the qualifications of the elder and the deacon, the members were requested to cast their vote; and the result was Brother Eskildsen was chosen to the ministry, and Brother C. Neilsen to the deaconship.

We then continued to preach by interpretation (Bro. Hope being interpreter) as time and opportunity would permit; and as some more were added to the church, it was unanimously desired to have another communion season before we returned to America, which was held at the place of the former one, on the 6th of January, 1878, with the same degree of solemnity and interest as the former one. At this meeting Bro. Eskildsen was also ordained an elder without a dissenting voice, when the reason was fully explained, which was to have the church prepared to perform any business without official aid from America.

By request we also took a trip through part of Germany in the interest of the church. We traveled south via Hamburg, Hanover, Cassel, Reichensaxen, Frankfort, Darmstadt, Heidelburg, to Ludwicksburg, near which place we lodged several nights with David Glock, a brother to Elder John G. Glock of Aughwick Mills, Pa., but searched in vain at several points for an open door to preach the Gospel. The streets perhaps would not have been forbidden, but as it was mid-winter we preferred to retrace our steps to Denmark and make ready to return to America. We found friends, among whom was David Glock, who gladly received us to preach in their houses, but they feared their minister, the Lutheran priest.

Having left our wives in Denmark (for economy’s sake, rather than a matter of choice) we returned on the 2d of February, after an absence of about two weeks. The necessary arrangements being made we took our final and sorrowful leave of our dear brethren and sisters, amidst many tears and well wishes for our safe return to America, feeling assured we shall see each others’ faces no more in this life. On the 12th of February at Hamburg we purchased our tickets for New York via London, from which place we were to set sail for New York on the 27th, on the steamer Elysia; and as the fog was so dense on the river Elbe, and on the North Sea, so as to require our vessel to cast anchor for about thirty-six hours, fearing a collision, our stay in England was limited to ten days, during which time Bro. Fry and myself traveled some, leaving our companions in London. Here on the isles we think we could have had open doors to preach, had our time not been limited, and the expenses so great. I traveled a little more than Bro. Fry, as a matter of choice with both, and was over Sunday in Bradford. Had two meetings with good interest, and met with a very warm and kind reception among this people, who belonged to the Primitive Methodists, and in whose church I was permitted and invited to preach. I also attended a Sabbath school near by. We were indeed courteously treated and honored with many honors, as was the Apostle Paul on the isle of Miletus. Next day we returned to London (280 miles southwest) to join our company, and the day following made ready and delivered our baggage to the vessel, ready to depart on the morrow, the 27th, but in consequence of some repairing of the vessel, did not depart till evening. Had a terrible rain, wind and fog to encounter while passing down the river Thames and through the English Channel, which made that part of our voyage exceedingly dangerous; but by a strong Omnipotent Hand were brought through safely, and once more were rocking on the tempestuous ocean, whose billows rolled high during our entire voyage of seventeen days, until we neared the shores of America, when the sea became more calm. Nothing of unusual interest transpired on our westward voyage, save the appearing of a young female, who was named Elysia, the name of the vessel.

We tried to preach twice on the second Sunday (being sick the first Sunday), at 10 A.M. and at 7 P.M. Had good interest, and very excellent accommodations in the dining hall. All the tables were supplied bountifully with common-sized Bibles with the Psalms in metre according to the Scotch Presbyterian order. In the evening the sea was so tempestuous that we could not stand to speak without holding to the desk before us.

England in her religion, differs somewhat from Denmark and Germany in this respect: she has many more seceders from the state church, consequently has lost much power, the seceders having built houses of worship, and introduced many of the different faiths extant in America. Missionaries are welcomed; the use of wine as a beverage is not so prevalent among them, and the habit of using tobacco is not so strong, but the goddess of fashion has many devotees.

The customs and habits of the American people, in many respects, are being practiced, hence we felt more at ease among them than with any other European people. Their language was also more easily understood, a lack of which made our visit to Denmark more unpleasant that it otherwise would have been. But while in London I was made to feel as the Savior did about Jerusalem. I wondered how many righteous were there, and like Lot in Sodom, whether fifty could be found in it. The following, which we copied from a reliable paper while there, will show you the vastness of London:

“London, it is said by the most reliable authorities, covers within the fifteen miles radius of Charing Cross, nearly 700 square miles. It numbers within these boundaries 4,200,000 inhabitants. It contains more country-born persons than the counties of Devon and Gloucester combined, or 37% of its population. Has a birth in it every four minutes. Has a death in it every six minutes. Has 205 persons every day, and 75,000 annually, added to its population within the circle named. Has seven accidents every day in its 7,000 miles of streets. Has on an average twenty-eight miles of new streets opened and 9,000 new houses built in it every year. Has 1,000 ships and 9,500 sailors in its ports every day. Has upwards of 73,000 annually taken into custody by its police. Has more than one-third of all the crimes in the country committed in it. Has 23,000 persons living in its common lodging-houses. Has 38,000 persons annually committed for drunkenness by its magistrates. It comprises 100,000 foreigners from every quarter of the globe. It contains more Roman Catholics than Rome itself, more Jews than the whole of Palestine, more Irish than Belfast, more Scotchmen than Aberdeen, more Welshmen than Cardiff. It has as many beer-shops, and gin-palaces, the frontages of which would, if placed side by side, stretch from Charing Cross to Chichester, a distance of sixty-two miles. It has as many paupers as would more than occupy every house in Brighton. It has sixty miles of open shops every Sunday. It has need of 1,000 new churches and chapels!”

We finally arrived at New York the 15th of March, 1878; being absent from American soil five months. After spending nearly two months in Pennsylvania and Ohio very pleasantly among friends and old acquaintances, and also at the old homestead in Pathvalley, Franklin County, Pa., where the scenes of my childhood crowded rapidly on my mind in a panoramic form, were presented to my mind and, I did not only feel to praise God for his preserving care over me, but that he so wisely ordained that man can not see his way in the future and knows not what even a day may bring forth, much less a year or a lifetime, we arrived home at Lena, Ill., on the 11th day of May, being absent seven months and a half, feeling very grateful to Almighty God for his care over us and for the privilege of once more beholding the faces of those we so dearly loved; although a few had passed over to the spirit land and were sleeping in the grave, who bade us a sad farewell at our departure. And feeling conscious that in our weakness, we tried to honor God and save souls during our wearisome and perilous journey, we can with joy commit the work into the hands of our Father in Heaven unto whom be all the praise now, henceforth, and forever. AMEN.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter One
Its Beginning

Chapter Two
Waddams Grove Church

Chapter Three
Ministers and Deacons

Chapter Four
A List of the Members of the Church

Chapter Five
The Annual Meeting of 1856

Chapter Six
Enoch Eby and Daniel Fry’s Mission to Denmark in 1877

Chapter Seven
DISTRICT MEETING PRECEEDINGS FOR 1862, 1871, AND 1882

Chapter Eight
Every Name List

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Chapter One
The Yellow Creek Meeting house in 1910

Chapter Two
Waddams Grove Meeting house in 1910
Chelsea Meeting house in 1910

Chapter Five
Where the Annual Meeting of 1856 Was Held

Chapter Six
Brother Enoch Eby’s Photograph

Copyright © Carrol Parrish, Church of the Brethren, Christine Walters & Genealogy Trails