View source for Egly, Henry (1824-1890)

Henry Egly was founder of the Defenseless Mennonite Church (later [[Fellowship of Evangelical Churches|Evangelical Mennonites]], now Fellowship of Evangelical Churches), was born 5 April 1824 in [[Baden (Germany)|Baden]], [[Germany|Germany]], the son of Abraham and Magdalena (Reber) Egly. In 1839 he with his father settled in [[Butler County (Ohio, USA)|Butler County]], [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], where he was baptized at the age of 17 and became a member of the [[Amish Mennonites|Amish Mennonite]] Church.

In 1849 Egly was married to Katherine, daughter of [[Goldsmith, Joseph (1796-1876)|Joseph Goldsmith]], bishop of the Amish Church in [[Lee County (Iowa, USA)|Lee County]], [[Iowa (USA)|Iowa]]. After two years of residence in Butler County, the Eglys moved to [[Adams County (Indiana, USA)|Adams County]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], where they lived the rest of their lives. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters. Egly was ordained a deacon of his church in 1850 and a preacher in 1854. Previous to the time of the 1854 ordination, while he was suffering from a prolonged illness, he experienced a spiritual re-dedication and was restored to health. Thereafter he stressed the importance of an personal knowledge of conversion and regeneration and the necessity of care in receiving members into the church. Following his ordination to the office of bishop of his congregation in January 1858, he continued his emphasis upon the necessity of a vital religious experience and won approximately one half of his church to an acceptance of his emphasis. After he had been asked to resign his pastorate by a number of his members, he organized his followers into a separate congregation in 1866. The movement spread to other Amish communities and in later years Egly spent much time in organizing and visiting these congregations.

Egly was a dynamic speaker and a radiant personality. His constant emphasis was placed upon the necessity of Bible study and the possibility of obtaining assurance of salvation. His death occurred on 23 June 1890, and he was buried in the cemetery near his church at Geneva, Indiana. 

See [[Fellowship of Evangelical Churches|Evangelical Mennonite Church]]
= Bibliography =
Claudeon, D. N. and K. E. Claudon. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Life of Bishop Henry Egly. </em>Valparaiso, Indiana, 1947?.

"Henry Egly." SAGA (Swiss Anabaptist Genealogical Association) Genealogical Website. Accessed 13 September 2007 &lt;[http://www.saga-omii.com/tng/getperson.php http://www.saga-omii.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I79&amp;tree=bernesat]&gt;

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