Alexander Mack, leader of the Schwarzenomer Neutavfer (sic) [Schwarzenauer Neutäufer, or forerunners of the Church of the Brethren and related groups], wrote a letter to the Count of Ysenburg-Büdingen Moravianborn on 5 September 1711. The original letter is kept in the Archives of the Castle. It has been translated into modern German by Gudrun Meyer and into English by Barbara Ollesch.
The Archivist does not know which Brethren group this publication relates to. It was found in the Archives' stacks and was not discarded because of potential value to future research. The title and address of the publication follows:
"The Christian Challenge," The Brethren of Early Christianity, Community Farm of the Brethren, R. R. #4, Bright, Ontario, Canada.
The Krebiehl Bible is German. A note from Rob Gratz indicates that the bible might have been printed in Holland circa 1600. It also identifies the bible as coming from the Rossville Church of the Brethren, Indiana. More research is needed regarding the material written on the pages at the end of the book. Family history is traced from 1762, along with what appears to be apocalyptic beliefs in the creation of the numbers 666. The bible is beautifully illustrated:
An inscription at the beginning of the book has been translated:
My father, Peter Krebiehl, received this Bible from his father, Samuel Krebiehl. Upon my request he gave it to me, Jacob Krebiehl, his oldest son, as a gift. For this I owe him eternal gratitude. This Bible is therefore very dear and valuable to me. May God reward him with many blessings.
Written August 1, 1885,
In Rossville,
Clinton County
State of Indiana
United States
North America
South Bend City (Second) and South Bend Church of the Brethren: Northern Indiana District
Three early record books identified as BC2011/2a; "South Bend" 1877 - 1890, BC2011/2b; South Bend City (Second) with reference to Portage church city members (1905) and BC2011/2c; South Bend City (Second) with the preface, "Record of the Treasury of the Second Church of the Brethren Cushing and Van Buren Sts., South Bend, Indiana (with records beginning 1927).
Milton H. Heinicke's History of Ephrata, Supplement to Booklet Seven, published by The Historical Society of The Cocalico Valley, Arranged for Publication by Ralph M. Hartranft, February 1974.
This booklet contains genealogical material related to the memberes of Johann Conrad Beissel's sect of Seventh Day Baptists.
