Old Order River Brethren

The Old Order River Brethren are a small Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church and German pietism through the Schwarzenau Brethren.

History

The denomination began about 1778 in Pennsylvania. It shares an early history with the Brethren in Christ Church. A group of brethren near the Susquehanna River that had previously separated from the Mennonites became known as the River Brethren. In 1843, a group left the larger body of River Brethren and established a separate, more conservative group. They were sometimes referred to as the York Brethren or Yorkers, because most of the members in 1843 were located in York County, Pennsylvania. This minority group believed the majority of the church was becoming lax in non-conformity and non-resistance, and desired to return to old doctrines and traditions. With the emergence of the Old Order groups among the Amisch (Old Order Amish forming 1862-78), the Mennonites (Old Order Mennonites, 1872-1901) and the German Baptist Brethren (Old German Baptist Brethren 1882) in the late 1800s they defined themselves also as "Old Order".

Religious practice

Traditionally meetings for worship were held in the homes of the members. In modern congregations, meetinghouses and public buildings are also used for church services. Ministers are un-salaried and there is no formal training for preachers. A traditional congregation has a bishop, two ministers, and one or two deacons.

Testimonies are an integral part of every worship service. There is no Sunday School. The two-day Lovefeast observance of communion is practiced which includes foot washing. Baptism is by trine immersion. Old Order River Brethren wear a very conservative form of plain dress, which has been a distinctive of them. Men wear beards and women wear white head coverings along with general plain clothes. Like among the Reformed Mennonites children do not dress plain until conversion.

In 1919 the Old Order River Brethren forbade the use of automobiles and thus use of horse-drawn vehicles was maintained until the Musser group allowed cars in 1951 and the Strickler group in 1954. Television is forbidden, but electricity and telephones are accepted.

During the 20th century the Pennsylvania German language was replaced by the English language which has been used exclusively in services since about the 1940s. Only few members could speak Pennsylvania German in the 1980s.

The Old Order River Brethren publish a newsletter called "The Golden Chain". In 1984 Sonlight River Brethren School was started in Lancaster County.

Members and congregations

During the 20th century several settlement of the Old Order River Brethren in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario dwindled and finally became extinct. In the year 2000 the church had 331 members organized in five congregations of which four were in Pennsylvania and one in Iowa. In 2014 it had 350 members in five congregations. Poet and historian G.C. Waldrep (born 1968) is a member of the Old Order River Brethren as author Stephen Scott (1948 – 2011) was until his death.

Publishing

The Old Order River Brethren publish a newsletter called "The Golden Chain". In 1984 Sonlight River Brethren School was started in Lancaster County.

Literature

• Margaret C. Reynolds: Plain Women: Gender and Ritual in the Old Order River Brethren University Park, PA 2001.
• Laban T. Brechbill: History of the Old Order River Brethren, Wrightsville, PA 1972.
• Laban T. Brechbill: Doctrine of the Old Order River Brethren 1967.
• Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000), Glenmary Research Center