[19-95] REV. OSCAR S. KRIEBEL, D.D, b Sept. 10, 1863; s Andrew and Christina (Schultz) Kriebel [19-31]; m June 30, 1891, CORINNE MILLER, b Apr. 24, 1865; dau Wells W. Miller. Minister of the Gospel and Principal of Perkiomen School. Ad. (1921), Pennsburg, Pa.
Children (8):
Rev. Oscar Schultz Kriebel, A.M., D.D., was born on a farm at Hereford, Berks Co., Pa. His father dying when the boy was but thirteen years of age, many responsibilities were placed upon Dr. Kriebel and his elder brother who was but two years his senior. The full management of the farm practically rested on the shoulders of these two boys for several years. However, Dr. Kriebel managed to attend the public schools of his native twp., studying diligently at home when he was not permitted to attend school, and was able in a few years to pass an examination for a teacher’s certificate, which then permitted him to teach in the public schools of the county. In this way he spent three years in teaching, and then in 1883 he entered Oberlin Academy, Oberlin, Ohio, where he remained for two years preparing for college.
Not having any financial assistance Dr. Kriebel was obliged to pay his own way through the . Academy and College and he did this by accepting all kinds of honest employment, during his college course and during the summer vacations—working on the farm, selling books or stereoscopic views or teaching. Thus by great diligence and conscientious effort he was able to work his own way through Oberlin College, and was graduated in 1889 with the degree of A.B.
It was during his college career that Dr. Kriebel was visited by a committee of the Schwenkfelder Church of the Upper District, for the purpose of asking him to become the minister of their churches, as Rev. Joshua Schultz who was then pastor of this District was growing old and in very poor health, so that it was thought that someone should be procured to assist him and be able to take his place when he became entirely incapacitated. The committee was induced to take this trip because in his younger days in connection with the Sunday Schools of the Upper District, Dr. Kriebel had always taken an
active part, was a faithful worker, and an earnest speaker. All these qualities seemed to indicate that he would make an acceptable minister. When the committee waited upon Dr. Kriebel and presented all aspects of the situation to him, he replied:
“T know that I can teach, but I do not know that I shall be a success as a preacher, and I am not fitted to be a farmer.” However, having his mind turned in the direction of the ministry, upon his graduation from the college department he entered Oberlin Theological Seminary, spending two years in study for the ministry and was given the degree of A.M. in 1892. In 1891 Dr. Kriebel was married to Miss Corinne Miller, who also was graduated from Oberlin College in 1886. The following year they took a trip abroad where Dr. Kriebel finished his third year of theological work in the University of Berlin.
In the meantime the Sehwenkfelder Churches of the Upper District, realizing that if they desired to have a pastor who would embody ail the requisites which they desired to have, they would have to provide further means of support than had previously been given their pastors, as prior to this time, none of the ministers of the Chureh were paid for their services, but obtained their living from their daily occupations. At the same time there seemed to be a growing demand for a school in the community which would enable the boys and girls of that vicinity to obtain further education than was given in the public schools at that time. The outgrowth of this thought was the purchasing of Perkiomen Seminary, by the Schwenkfelder Church and the electing of Oscar S. Kriebel as the principal and also the pastor of the Upper District Churches, which at that time included three churches, or meeting houses, viz.: Washington, Hosensack, and Kraussdale. When Dr. and Mrs. Kriebel returned from abroad in 1892, Dr. Kriebel was installed as Pastor of the Upper District and as Principal of Perkiomen Seminary. [For the history of Perkiomen Seminary, see page 29.]
The growth and development of the Schwenkfelder congregation dates from this time, for with the enthusiasm and optimism which has pervaded Dr. Kriebel’s career, changes and expansions have taken place within the Schwenkfelder denomination which have meant much progress and resulted in the present achievements. In all of these movements Dr. Kriebel has been the leader. The organization of the Mission Board, the expansion of mission work, the organization and incorporation of the Board of Publication for the monumental task of publishing the Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum, and the development of Perkiomen School are all achievements in which Dr. Kriebel has been the leading figure. As a result of his leadership the new Palm Schwenkfelder Church was dedicated September 24, 1911, with its entire cost of more than $40,000.00 entirely pledged. This church edifice is located in precisely the geographic center of what is known as the Upper District, and since its erection the three separate church buildings at Hosensack, Washington, and Kraussdale, have been abandoned excepting for funeral purposes. The cemeteries are still retained and kept in good repair. The building at Washington has been torn down and a suitable marker erected on the site where the former pulpit stood. The cemetery has been enclosed with a handsome stone wall. The new building at Palm is constructed of stone, and the main timbers on the inside were cut from the trees, which formerly stood in the yard of the Washington Schwenkfelder Church. A handsome pipe organ of superior quality is also one of several outstanding features of this Church. This was the first Sechwenkfelder Church erected in which a pipe organ was installed. The Palm Church is a memorial to the services of Dr. O. S. Kriebel as Pastor. On October 27, 1917, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ordination of Dr. Kriebel to the Christian ministry was held in this Palm Church. The exercises were largely attended by friends and members from far and near and were a memorable event for the Schwenkfelder Church of the Upper District.
Dr. Kriebel has written and published a number of treatises, some of which are ‘An Outline of the Study of The Acts, The Epistles, and Revelations; ” “Sanctification versus Christian Perfection; ” “Conversion and Religious Experience,” ete. In recognition of these works, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, conferred upon Dr. Kriebel the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1907.
During the World War, Dr. Kriebel was appointed fuel administrator of Montgomery County, and also a member of the food commission. He served as chairman of various committees in the upper end of the ‘county until the relinquishment of government control after the close of the war.
Dr. Kriebel’s two monuments are the Perkiomen School and the Palm Church. His untiring efforts have made Perkiomen School one of the leaders among preparatory schools. He has helped many young people to get an education; he has been instrumental in securing a large number of young men to enter the Christian ministry of their various denominations; as a matter of fact with the exception of Rev. Edwin S. Anders it was through Dr. Kriebel’s encouragement that all the other ministers of the Sechwenkfelder denomination today were induced to study for the ministry.
It can truly be said that Dr. Kriebel has been the leader of the Schwenkfelder Church during the last thirty years; he has wielded an influence over the people and community that is far reaching. When one looks back and notes the activities that have been started and achieved during the past thirty years one can trace in their movements the hand of Dr. O. S. Kriebel, so that it can be said with truth, that the opening of Perkiomen Seminary, by the Schwenkfelders, marked the Renaissance of the Schwenkfelder Church.