Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Church of the Brethren (Dunkers) In Lebanon County, Vol. 8: Paper Read Before the Lebanon County Historical Society, Sept. 15, 1916
The little church was fruitful and multiplied, and was persecuted by the state churches of Germany. They left the Fatherland. The first colony came to America in 1719, with Peter Becker as preacher, and settled at Germantown. A larger body came with Alexander Mack in 1729. The whole church came to America, being unique in this; and has been most American ever since. They 'first'printed God's word in the New World. The first Brethren Church was organized in America at Ger mantown, -on Christmas Day, 1723. In the fall of 1724, these Germantown Brethren took a missionary tour into what was then known as the Conestoga region, five years before Lancaster county was formed. They organized a church at Coventry, across from Pottstown, then came on up farther into the wilderness and organized the Con estoga Church. Elder G. N. Falkenstein, in his history of the Brethren for the Pennsylvania German Historical Society, says of this effort that it was the most remark able missionary tour in all Pennsylvania colonial history. In the Conestoga organization was Conrad Beissel, who became its first preacher. He lived on the Muehlbach (millbach) claimed by many as the Millbach creek which ?ows into the Tulpehocken. If this View is correct, the Brethren may lay claim to the first church organization in what is now Lebanon county, three years older than the oldest Lutheran church. Beissel, however, in 1735 withdrew to the place now known as Ephrata, Lancaster county, and was followed by all his adherents.
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