The Benevolent Organization of Mennonites (Mennonite Church) received its charter from the state of Illinois 23 April 1894, and was evidently taken over by the Mennonite Evangelizing Board in 1896. The charter was signed by M. S. Steiner, John S. Coffman, Abiah R. Zook, Jonas S. Hartzler, and Solomon D. Ebersole. According to its charter, its purpose was "to support, maintain and carry on home and foreign missions, hospitals, orphans' homes, training schools for the education of nurses, deaconesses and Bible students." In a meeting in Chicago, December 1894, the organization assumed responsibility for the Home Mission in Chicago, pledged itself to pay the expenses of an evangelist to be sent to Dickson County, Tennessee, considered establishing an orphans' home, and recommended Elkhart Institute to those who wanted a practical education. That year it elected M. S. Steiner president, J. S. Hartzler vice-president, A. B. Kolb secretary, and A. R. Zook treasurer.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 274. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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