River Brethren
Encyclopedia
The River Brethren is a name used to indicate certain Christian
groups originating in 1770, during a revival movement among German
colonizers in Pennsylvania
.
In the 17th century, Mennonite
refugees from Switzerland
had settled their homes near the Susquehanna River
in the northeastern U.S.
Their religious guides, Jacob and John Engle, joined with the revival, and their followers were often known by their locality: a group of brethren from north of Marietta, Pennsylvania
on the east side of the Susquehanna River
came to be known as the River Brethren. Perhaps they were baptized in the Susquehanna.
The initial spiritual leader of the brethren was Martin Boehm
, evangelical
preacher, who was excluded from the Mennonite Church. He later became bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
.
The River Brethren distanced themselves from Boehm and the United Brethren movement.
Influenced by the Schwarzenau Brethren
(named Dunkers), the River Brethren developed a conviction that trine (triple, in allusion to the Trinity
) immersion, foot washing, adherence to plain dress, was the scriptural form of religion
. They opposed war
, alcohol
, tobacco
, and worldly pleasures.
Nevertheless, they maintained their identity and did not join the Dunker movement. Jacob Engle
is one of the early leaders who promoted trine immersion. The first confessional statement of this group was formulated around 1780.
As of 2010 there are four bodies of River Brethren in about 300 congregations:
Several factions of the River Brethren withdrew in the middle of 19th century, including the Yorker Brethren and the United Zion Church, while the main body took the name Brethren in Christ, by which a group of Mennonites is also known.
There were about 11,000 members in the United States and Canada in 1992. They carry out missionary work in Asia and Africa.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
groups originating in 1770, during a revival movement among German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
colonizers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
In the 17th century, Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
refugees from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
had settled their homes near the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
in the northeastern U.S.
Their religious guides, Jacob and John Engle, joined with the revival, and their followers were often known by their locality: a group of brethren from north of Marietta, Pennsylvania
Marietta, Pennsylvania
Marietta is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,689 at the 2000 census. It is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River just north of Columbia.-Geography:Marietta is located at ....
on the east side of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
came to be known as the River Brethren. Perhaps they were baptized in the Susquehanna.
The initial spiritual leader of the brethren was Martin Boehm
Martin Boehm
Martin Boehm was an American clergyman and pastor. He was the son of Jacob Boehm and Barbara Kendig who settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania...
, evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
preacher, who was excluded from the Mennonite Church. He later became bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
Church of the United Brethren in Christ
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Huntington, Indiana. It is a Protestant denomination of episcopal structure, Arminian theology, with roots in the Mennonite and German Reformed communities of 18th century Pennsylvania, as well as close...
.
The River Brethren distanced themselves from Boehm and the United Brethren movement.
Influenced by the Schwarzenau Brethren
Schwarzenau Brethren
The Schwarzenau Brethren, originated in Germany, the outcome of the Radical Pietist ferment of the late 17th and early 18th century. Hopeful of the imminent return of Christ, the founding Brethren abandoned the established Reformed and Lutheran churches, forming a new church in 1708 when their...
(named Dunkers), the River Brethren developed a conviction that trine (triple, in allusion to the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
) immersion, foot washing, adherence to plain dress, was the scriptural form of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. They opposed war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, and worldly pleasures.
Nevertheless, they maintained their identity and did not join the Dunker movement. Jacob Engle
Jacob Engle
Jacob Engle is considered the father of the River Brethren, or Brethren in Christ, denomination. He was involved in their separation from the Mennonites. Engle was born in Switzerland and was an infant when his family emigrated to Pennsylvania to flee religious persecution.Jacob Engle was the...
is one of the early leaders who promoted trine immersion. The first confessional statement of this group was formulated around 1780.
As of 2010 there are four bodies of River Brethren in about 300 congregations:
- Brethren in Christ ChurchBrethren in Christ ChurchThe Brethren in Christ Church is an Anabaptist Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church, pietism, and Wesleyan holiness. They have also been known as River Brethren and River Mennonites.-Background:...
- Calvary Holiness ChurchCalvary Holiness Church (Philadelphia)The Calvary Holiness Church is a small Christian denomination in the pietistic and holiness tradition. It is a division from the Brethren in Christ Church....
- Old Order River BrethrenOld Order River BrethrenThe Old Order River Brethren is a small Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church and German pietism.This body 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 separated from the...
(also called Yorker Brethren) - United Zion ChurchUnited Zion ChurchThe United Zion Church is a small Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church and German pietism.A body that became known as River Brethren began about 1778 in Pennsylvania. They were a group of brethren near the Susquehanna River that had separated from the Mennonites. As such groups...
Several factions of the River Brethren withdrew in the middle of 19th century, including the Yorker Brethren and the United Zion Church, while the main body took the name Brethren in Christ, by which a group of Mennonites is also known.
There were about 11,000 members in the United States and Canada in 1992. They carry out missionary work in Asia and Africa.