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Archiver > BRETHREN > 2004-03 > 1078458129


From: "Jane Davis" <>
Subject: Re: [BRE] South Dakota
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 21:18:00 -0700


Here are the two letters of membership from the Bijou Hills Church of the Brethren, Brule County, S. Dakota which have been saved with other material that were a part of an early church organization here in Missouri, the Log Creek Church (aslo known as Polo, Oak Grove), organized 1868, in Caldwell County. [Please note that this Oak Grove church is not to be associated with a later organization by the same name in southern MO.]

Membership Letter No. 10, September 29, 1895, for M. E. Stair (deacon) and wife Laura (deaconness). The letter is signed by Daniel Shock, deacon; W. G. Cook, minister; and S. H. Covert, clerk.

Membership Letter No. 20, September 9, 1899, for John and Annie Alstott. The letter is signed by C. A. Battman, deacon; W. G. Cook, minister and signed by A. G. Cook in his absence; and Gertrude E. Cook, clerk.

These letters were usually given to the person(s) when they left one church and written as a letter of introduction to the members of the church where they planned to move that they were in good standing when they left their home church. If they did not know where they were going, or if they did not know of a Church of the Brethren in the area, these membership letters were carried in their pockets or with other precious belongings close to their bodies. These letters served as a valuable introduction to the new church of their status in their home church. Ministers, deacons, and elders carried their positions with them into the new community. Should they be out of fellowship with the home congregation, no letter was given, or the reason for which there was a problem was sometimes written on the back of the letter of transfer.

These instruments are a verification for those seeking family members or a migration route. They have helped me with locating ministers and person's names within a congregation who would not be known otherwise. I am very grateful to those ahead of me who retained these certificates with their church's records and did not throw them away or keep them with family records that never were placed where others might have an opportunity to read them.

Jane Davis.

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