In answer to a question posed at the April 20, 1915, District Meeting of the Church of the Brethren of the Southern District of Ohio by two now unnamed congregations it was proposed that a committee be created to investigate as to what facts were known, what else could be found and what the financial aspects would be.

This District Meeting, held at the Harris Creek church near Bradford, Miami county, Ohio, brought forth concerns that had been paramount for a decade, and perhaps longer, that a history be written so that "if this was not soon reduced to written form, the loss would be irreparable." To answer this question the Moderator, Levi A. Bookwalter, and presumably other members of the council and the body of the church, decided to appoint a committee of five to investigate.

The members of the church who were appointed were Elders John Calvin Bright of the aforementioned Harris Creek church; Daniel Miller Garver of the Trotwood church; Levi Asbury Bookwalter, elder-at-large; Isaac J. Rosenberger, elder-at-large; and Jesse O. Garst of the Lower Miami congregation. In regard to instructions given them it was decided that the committee so appointed should meet at the West Dayton church on July 19 following.

The meeting thus held was the foundation of the Historical Committee. They elected Elder Bright as their Chairman which position he held until his death in 1919. Elder Garst was chosen as Secretary and Elder Garver as Treasurer. Elders Bookwalter and Rosenberger were members-at-large. Elder Bookwalter would become Chairman after the passing of Elder Bright. It must be understood that they took their charge seriously as they immediately began compiling information to be included in the work as well as a set of measures to follow.

They made their report at the District Meeting held on May 9, 1916, at the Brookville church. Their recommendations were as follows:

1. The committee has been energetically gathering material and data for said book; also, as they are becoming better acquainted with the work, other avenues of information are constantly opening up, and they are still continuing their investigation.
   
2. Inasmuch as many early records have been lost because this work had not been done before, and the constant lament that it should have been done twenty-five years ago, we recommend:
   1. That a medium-sized history of the church of the southern district of Ohio be published, all details left o the judgement of the committee.
      
   2. That the expense of getting out the work be borne from the sale of the book, if possible, and if there be an excess of deficit, it be disposed of as District Meeting in the future should see proper.
      
   3. That a Historical committee be appointed and instructed to continue the work, proceeding as above and get out the book at the earliest possible date.
      

chairman, J. C. Bright
D. M. Garver
L. A. Bookwalter
I. J. Rosenberger
secretary, J. O. Garst