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 David Benedict
A General History of the Baptist Denomination (1848)

 


A

G E N E R A L   H I S T O R Y

OF THE


BAPTIST DENOMINATION

IN


A M E R I C A

AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

 


BY DAVID BENEDICT

 

SECOND THOUSAND.

 

NEW YORK:
L E W I S   C O L B Y   A N D   C O M P A N Y,
1 2 2   N A S S A U   S T R E E T.

1848.

 

 

 

 

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by
L. COLBY & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the
Southern District of New York.

 

 

 

 

Stereotyped by C. Davison & Co.,
33 Gold street, New York.

 

 

C H A P T E R   X X I X.

Historical Sketches of various communities of Baptists who differ from
the main body of the denomination, and also from each other.

SECTION IV.

G E R M A N   B A P T I S T   B R E T H R E N,   O R   T U N K E R S.

W I N E B R E N N E R I A N S,   O R   C H U R C H   O F   GO D.

      This denominational cognomen is applied to a community which has arisen in Pennsylvania within a few years past. A brief account of the rise, progress, principles and present condition of this people, has been communicated by a correspondent who has some knowledge of their affairs; it is as follows:

      "About 1820 Rev. John Winebrenner, then a minister among the Lutherans, commenced a series of meetings in and about Harrisburg, Pa., which resulted in a powerful revival of religion. He was soon complained of by his former associates as the promoter of new measures, and the result was that he and his friends separated from the old establishment and set up churches by themselves." This new interest they denominated the Church of God. The term Winebrennerians was applied to them by others from the name of their principal leader in their early movements.

      This community has increased to about ten thousand communicants; it is located principally in Pennsylvania, but it has spread into Ohio, Maryland, and probably some other states. Some of their more prominent ministers in addition to the one already named, are Thos. Mackay, John and Thos. Hickernell, G. U. Warn, and Emmanuel Logue.

      They are Baptists de facto of the Arminian creed, hold to open communion and feet washing as a gospel ordinance. Their form of church government is much like that of the Presbyterians.

      Their ministry is almost exclusively itinerant, and in this respect they are similar to the Methodist traveling connection, and like that community, Camp Meetings are frequently held among them. They are also in favor of sabbath schools and other benevolent enterprises and operations. On the whole they are said to be much like the Free Will Baptists, and are thorough-going immersionists, are opposed to calvinism, and are zealous in the propagation of their peculiar opinions.2

      2 Rev. A. D. Williams, a voting minister of the Free Will Baptist connection, is my principal informant of the history of this people a knowledge of whose affairs he has taken much pains to acquire. I have a number of times addressed Mr. Winebrenner, on the subject of the history of his community, but could never obtain any answer or documents of any kind.
      Mr. Williams is a Pennsylvanian, is in correspondence with Mr. Winebrenner and his associates, and so far as he has gone is confident that he has exhibited a correct view of the doctrine and discipline of the society; he promised, however, to make me farther communications, which have not come to hand. But a part of those received have been used in the brief sketches I have given above.

[GHBD 914]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      David Benedict's "Winebrennerians, or Church of God" was published in his A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America and Other Parts of the World (New York: Lewis Colby and Company, 1848), p. 914. The electronic text has been produced from a copy of the book held by St. Vincent College Library. Thanks to Carol Reiner for arranging the interlibrary loan through Adams Memorial Library.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 24 January 1999.
Updated 9 July 2003.

 

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 David Benedict
A General History of the Baptist Denomination (1848)