USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 11
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few years. He was then in Arkansas. He was a man of strong mind, large force of character, much will-power and self-reliance."
We have had occasion to notice the fact that there was a gratifying increase in the membership of the Church during this year. The church in the capital city of the State reported a membership of 62 whites and 50 colored. The station had been organized in 1831, with William Ratcliffe as the pastor. At the date of the organization there were only 36 whites. and 45 colored members. Within the four years the Church had nearly doubled the membership. An examination of these figures will give us an idea of the difficulties under which those who laid the foundations of our Church labored at that early day.
How great the sacrifices of the preachers must have been when the only station in the State had a membership of only 62 whites. How small the number when compared with the stations of the present day, all over the State, that number their members by the hundreds. Comparing the Church of the present with the Church of that day, we are made to ex- claim, " What hath God wrought !"
CHAPTER XI.
AN EVENTFUL PERIOD-ADMISSIONS-TRANSFERS-JOHN J. ROBERTS -- A. S. BELL-J. WAYLAND -- C. H. EDWARDS -- J. H. BIGGS-G. W. COTTINGHAM-W. H. GOODE-S. G. PATTERSON-GREAT FLOODS.
The Conference for 1841 met at Batesville, November 10. Bishop Waugh presided.
We are now about to enter upon an eventful period in the history of the Church, and trace its progress through the years that immediately preceded the great separation in the Methodist Church in the United States. For a number of years the Church had been greatly disturbed by the anti- slavery agitation, and every year witnessed a greater inten- sity of feeling upon this question. Good men upon both sides of this controversy labored to avert as long as possi- ble the dangers that threatened the peace of the Church.
The minutes of the Arkansas Conference show that there was a very healthy growth in every department of Church work.
There was a net increase of 860 in the membership of the Church, and an unusually large number of admissions into the traveling connection, some of whom became prominent in after years. They were George Benedict, John Cowle, Henry Hubbard, L. C. Adams, Jefferson Shook, Isaac F. Collins, Nathan Taylor, Wm. McIntosh, Thompson C. Tin- der. The Conference was reinforced by Thomas D. Strout and Alvin Baird, transfers from other Conferences.
The Conference for 1842 met at Helena. Bishop Andrew presided.
The net increase for this year was greater than for any previous year; total membership being 6768, with a net in-
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crease of 1854. T. G. T. Steele, A. L. Kavanagh, W. H. Howke, D. L. Bell, John Boston, Calvin Slover, Walter D. Collins, James D. Mason, Thos. Standford, J. C. Kelly, Louis Atkinson.
The Conference was further reinforced by transfers from the Memphis, Indiana and Mississippi Conferences. Isaac McElroy, J. F. Truslow, David Crawford and J. F. Ran- dolph, from the Indiana Conference ; R. B. Bents, J. Ste- phens, S. Freeman, R. Martin, J. H. Blakeley and W. A. Hammill, from the Memphis Conference ; Hezekiah Boyers, Henry H. Kern and John J. Roberts, from the Pittsburg Conference:
While all of these proved to be valuable acquisitions to the Conference, there was one that was prominent in the Church for many years. John J. Roberts was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and converted in 1835 He was licensed to preach in 1842, and admitted on trial in the Pittsburg Conference, and immediately trans- ferred to the Arkansas Conference. He filled in succession the following charges: Mount Vernon Circuit, Fort Smith and Van Buren Station, Batesville, Canaan and Washington Circuits, Helena Station, Helena and Walnut Bend Circuits, Jacksonport District, Helena District, Helena Station in 1865. This will give us an idea of the character of work filled by our brother, and the estimation in which he was held by his brethren. For more than forty years he preached in Arkansas, and one has said that "during this time he had the joy of seeing more than six thousand souls led to God." He closed his labors March 14, 1883, in great peace. . A few minutes before his death his face became aglow with light, and he exclaimed : "Light ! light ! light !"
This was one of the most prosperous years the Church in Arkansas had ever enjoyed. There was a larger number of preachers stationed and a larger field cultivated by the Conference than had ever been attempted before this time by
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the Church. The reported increase in membership for the year was 1591 white members and 263 colored, and 455 Indians. Among the preachers that received appointments at this Conference were many whose names are familiar to the Church of the present day. As an evidence that the Church is making some progress in the benevolent work of giving the gospel to the perishing millions, the following comparison will show. The entire amount contributed for missions that year was only $193. In 1840 it was only $76. While the Church at the present day is far below the scrip- tural standard, it has made wonderful progress.
The Conference for 1843 met at Clarksville, in Johnson County, November 15, Bishop Roberts presiding. At this session of the Conference Aaron S. Bell, Jonathan Wayland, Charles H. Edwards, Joab H. Biggs, Gideon W. Cotting- ham and Tussawalita were admitted on trial. William H. Goode was received by transfer from the Indiana Confer- ence and Samuel G. Patterson was received from the Mis- souri Conference.
This year was noted for the highest and most destructive flood that ever occurred in Red River. So sudden was the rise that people retired to bed apprehending no danger, and at midnight had to beat a retreat to save their lives. At Fort Towson the water rose fifteen feet higher than was ever known before. Lost Prairie, and other points lower down, which had never before been under water, were inundated to the depth of several feet. The flood caught the people along the river totally unprepared, and swept resistlessly down in one wide and general ruin every vestige of human industry, houses, fences, stables, cotton presses, cotton bales, cattle, hogs, etc. The loss of human life constitutes the painful feature of this great calamity. Over a hundred people were drowned between Jonesboro and Fulton. Six families of Indians were drowned near the former place. Amid the general distress Capt. Crooks, of the steamer
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Hunter, rendered the sufferers every possible succor in his power. He steamed from place to place picking up survi- vors from house-tops and tree-tops, and rescued from a watery grave over a hundred persons. Some were neces- sarily left to perish in the cane and timber, as it was im- possible to reach them. The distressing cries of those thus situated were often heard above the noise of the elements. The steamer Napoleon, during a trip up the river, also res- cued a number of lives. At Lost Prairie two people were drowned At this point a man named Anderson underwent a thrilling experience. He was caught in the bottom by the rising waters and climbed a tree to save himself. Four days and nights he remained perched in the tree without a mouthful of food. The late Capt. Richard H. Finn was paddling about through the river bottom looking after stock. Having his gun along, he shot a turkey, and at the crack of the gun he heard a mournful voice a short distance away, which cried out in feeble accents : "Save me, for God's sake!" Paddling in the direction from whence came the sounds, Anderson was discovered sitting in the very top of a gum-sapling, not more than six inches in diameter at the butt. With black-jack vines he had lashed himself so firmly to the tree that, had he been so disposed, he could not, in his then exhausted condition, have broken himself loose. By this means he was enabled to take a little sleep occa- sionally without danger of falling into the water, which roared and bubbled like a cataract beneath him. Capt. Finn rescued the unfortunate man and carried him to his house. The extent and severity of this flood surpassed any- thing that had ever been known to occur in that river.
CHAPTER XII.
DIVISION OF THE CHURCH-A DECLINE-SLAVERY AGITA- TION - BISHOP ANDREW - LOUISIVILLE CONVENTION - THOMAS D. STROUD-JACOB SHOOK.
The year 1844 marks an epoch in the history of Ameri can Methodism. From its organization at Philadelphia, in 1773, when the first Conference of Methodist preachers was held, until this date, no great division of the Church had oc- curred. While it is true that there had been some small separations from the main body they were new organiza- tions, of separate and distinct bodies, and not divisions of the main body. This was the last year that Episcopal Meth- odism remained intact as one ecclesiastical body.
If we except the civil war of 1861-5, nothing else has ever created such intensity of feeling and was attended with such grave consequences to Methodism, to the cause of religion in America and to the entire country as the divis- ion of the Methodist Episcopal Church into two distinct bodies with separate ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
It was impossible for such a large body of Christians so widely diffused over the whole territory of the United States, and occupying so commanding an influence in all the great centers of population, to divide without creating a profound impression upon all classes of society. Men of every re- ligious creed, and those of no special faith, were profoundly moved with grave apprehensions for the safety of the coun- try. It was felt that if so large and devoted a body of Christians, bound together by such ties-a body of men with such a glorious history of common suffering, labors and tri- umphs, could not resist the agitations of the slavery ques- tion, that other organizations and the country itself were in
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great peril. It was regarded as the entering wedge to sepa- rate other bodies and the nation itself. Subsequent events only showed how much cause there was for these grave ap- prehensions. It would have been unnatural and impossible for the Church in Arkansas to have escaped the general ex- citement that pervaded the entire Church. While the Ar- kansas Conference did not suffer so greatly as the border Conferences from the slavery agitation and consequent di- vision of the Church, the minutes show that it temporarily arrested the growth of the Church, and instead of the in- crease that had so regularly marked its past history for a number of years, that there was during this year an actual decline in the number of Church members. As far back as 1825-8, when Jesse Haile was the Presiding Elder of the Arkansas District, the Church in Arkansas suffered very greatly from the anti-slavery agitation caused by his intem- perate speeches. He had been the Presiding Elder of the district for four years, and was a violent abolitionist of the Garrison type. He frequently preached against slavery, both publicly and privately, and as there were some within the district of his way of thinking, he had some following, and as a result there was much controversy and bitterness of feeling among the membership. There were a number of expulsions and withdrawals from our Church.
About this time the Cumberland Presbyterians began to establish themselves in the country about Mount Prairie, and quite a number of excellent people went off to them, and were entirely lost to our Church. Happily for the Methodist Church, Haile was succeeded by Uriel Haw, a. man of very different views and methods, and who was just exactly adapted to the condition of things as they existed within the district. Jesse Haile transferred to the Illinois Conference in 1829, and as the sentiment of the people in that country was favorable to his views, he was successful in his ministry until his death, which occurred in 18 -. 9-M
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Although he was a very imprudent man in his methods of advocating his views, there is no doubt but that he was a good man. His last hours were peaceful and his end was tri- umphant.
The history of the division of the Church into two ecclesi- astical bodies in 1844 is well known to every Methodist who has read the history of the Church by McTyiere, or any of the several histories of the division. It may be that a brief statement of the causes that led to the division in 1844, and the facts connected with it, will be agreeable to those of our readers who do not have access to these valuable works. In 1843 Bishop James O. Andrew, one of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, became connected with slavery by his marriage to a lady who was the owner of slaves. Ac- cording to the laws of Georgia, the State in which he lived, it was impossible for him to set them free. He had no legal claim upon these slaves. He had violated no law of the Church in marrying a lady who happened to be the owner of slaves. The fact, however, that he had become in this way connected with slavery, caused the most intense excitement throughout the North.
When the General Conference of 1844 assembled in New York the delegates from the Northern Conferences demanded that Bishop Andrew should cease to travel as a Bishop. It was admitted that he had violated no moral or ecclesiastical law of the Church. The whole matter was placed on the ground of expediency. It was contended that Bishop An- drew's connection with slavery would render him very un- acceptable to the great body of the Church in the Northern Conferences. With the Northern Conferences it was not a question of law and moral right, but of expediency. The Southern delegates felt that Church membership and official relation to the Church was too sacred a right to be made to depend upon a question of expediency. What the majority would regard as expedient at one time, might not be re-
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garded as expedient at another time. The delegates from the Southern Conferences protested against the arbitrary measures adopted by the General Conference.
Many of the delegates from the Northern Conferences believed that the best interests of the Church required a division. Accordingly a "plan of separation" was adopted by a very large majority of the Conference. In accordance with this plan, adopted by the General Conference of the" . united Church, the Southern delegates called a convention to meet in the City of Louisville, Ky., in May, 1845.
This convention with perfect unanimity proceeded to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as an in- dependent, separate ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the first Gen- eral Conferance of which met in the City of Petersburg, Va., in May, 1845.
The delegates to the General Conference of 1844, from the Arkansas Conference were William P. Ratcliffe, Andrew Hunter and J. C. Parker. The action of the Southern dele- gates in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was warmly and unanimously approved by the mem- bership of the Arkansas Conference, who resolved to stand by their brethren of the other Southern Conferences in the main- tenance of what they regarded as their vested rights as mem- bers of the Church. There were a few disaffected members in certain parts of the State who were not satisfied with the action of the Conference, and who made the attempt to organize societies and pastoral charges under the supervision of the Northern Church. The only thing, however, that was effected by these Churches, was to maintain a sickly exist- ence for a short time, to the annoyance of the communities in which they were located, and then to pass away until the close of the war between the States. A few of the disaf- fected members removed to the Northern States, and a few others went to other communions, but the great body of
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these became reconciled and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The Annual Conference for the year 1845 met at Camden, Ark., Bishop Soule presiding.
The following preachers were received on trial : James W. Loyd, Jonathan D. Stockton, Gabriel E. Hays, Jacob W. Shook, John D. Alexander, James J. Cowant, H. A. Sugg and Samuel D. Aikin.
The superannuated preachers were Jacob Whitesides and John Harris.
One death was reported: "Thomas D. Stroud was re- ceived on trial in the Memphis Conference in 1840, and was transferred to the Arkansas Conference the following year, and appointed to the Montgomery Circuit. In 1842 he traveled the Greene Circuit ; in 1843, the White River Mis- sion ; in 1843, Blue Bayou Circuit. He was present at the Conference in Little Rock in 1844, and was taken violently ill during the session. After a brief illness of only a few days, he was released from earthly suffering and labor, to enter his eternal rest. He was a plain, practical and useful preacher, of deep solid piety. He died in great peace, calmly trusting in Christ."
The minutes for the year 1845 show a decrease of 336 in the number of Church members. This decrease was no doubt occasioned by the excitement attendant upon the di- vision of the Church. Men who were ordinarily indifferent to the affairs of the Church, felt that there was much more involved in the movement than the simple organization of another ecclesiastical body. It was regarded as one of a series of divisions that would ultimately terminate in the di- vision of the country.
Five districts were formed at this Conference-Little Rock, Fayetteville, Washington, Pine Bluff and Helena. These were divided into forty-two pastoral charges, and forty-four preachers received appointments from the Conference.
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The statistical reports show that the total membership was 7370 white and 1724 colored members.
The Church had survived the shock occasioned by the division, and was becoming adjusted to the change. The preachers being released from a cause of embarrassment, be- gan to prepare for greater conquests for Christ than had ever been witnessed in the State. The position of the M. E. Church, South, was more clearly defined, and better un- derstood than it had ever been before. It had the perfect confidence and sympathy of all the Southern people. Every obstacle arising out of the slavery question was now re- moved, and nothing remained but to faithfully cultivate the field before them.
Among these received on trial at this Conference were some who became prominent in the work of the Church in after years. Among these was Jacob Shook. The reader will remember the names of the Shooks and Alexanders, who settled at an early day in Hempstead County, and did so much toward planting Methodism in that county. Rev. Jacob Shook was born in Madison County, Missouri, in 1823, moved with his parents to Hempstead County in 1830. He was converted and joined the Methodist Church in 1837, and joined the Arkansas Annual Conference in 1845. His health failing, he went to Florida in 1882, hoping by the change to regain his health, but grew worse, and died in a few weeks. His ministry extended through a period of nearly thirty-seven years, during which time he was recog- nized by all who knew him as an humble, devoted man of God, true to the Church, and full of faith and the Holy Ghost. During his ministry he filled a number of important appointments, to the great satisfaction of the people.
James W. Loyd traveled for three years in the Arkansas Conference, and then transferred to the Texas Conference, where he continued to travel until 1852, when he located.
John G. Alexander and Jonathan Stockton located in
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1848. S. D. Aikin transferred to the Indian Mission Con- ference in 1846. H. A. Sugg traveled for a number of years and located in 1853.
Thomas D. Stroud died during the last week in Novem- ber, 1844, in the City of Little Rock. Of this brother but little is known. From the minutes we learn that he was re- ceived on trial in the Memphis Conference in 1840. In 1841 he was transferred to the Arkansas Conference, where he traveled until the time of his death. In his memoir, pre- pared by William P. Ratcliffe and Andrew Hunter, it is stated that he was a plain, practical preacher, and that his life was a true comment upon the principles he proclaimed. His end was peaceful.
The eleventh session of the Arkansas Conference met at Van Buren, November 25, 1846. Bishop Payne presided.
The following preachers were admitted on trial : John Stephenson, Walter Thornberry, William L. Guthrey, Wil- liam G. Bell, James M. Rogers. By transfer from the Ala- bama Conference, William Moores ; from the Tennessee Con- ference, James Rice, Charles P. Turrentine, Robert M. Kirby, Joseph Tinnan, and Abram D. Overall ; from the Memphis Conference, Lewis P. Lively.
John Stephenson traveled for a few years and located in 1850. Walter Thornberry traveled in the Arkansas Con- ference until 1859, when he was transferred to the Texas Conference. James Rice transferred to the Texas Confer- ence in 1856. Charles Turrentine located in 1858. R. M. Kirby transferred to the Texas Conference in 1865. Joseph Tinnan located in 1849. Lewis P. Lively transferred to the Texas Conference in 1865.
The twelfth session of the Arkansas Conference met at Washington, Hempstead County, November 17, 1847, Bishop Capers presiding.
Jesse M. Boyd, Russell M. Morgan, Joseph Rentfroe, and Elijah F. McNabb were admitted on trial.
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Abraham D. Overall and William G. Bell, young men of promise, in their first year on trial, died during the year in great peace.
The statistics for the year indicate that this was a year of prosperity. The numbers reported were 8134 whites and 1750 colored, showing a net gain during the year of 624 whites and 48 colored members ; 43 traveling preachers re- ceived appointments from the Conference.
Russell Morgan continued in the traveling connection un- til 1859, when he retired to the local ranks. Joseph Rent- froe traveled but one year and was discontinued at his own request. In an old Quarterly Conference journal for the Bartholomew Circuit, the name of Joseph Rentfroe appears in the minutes of the Fourth Quarterly Conference for 1835 as an exhorter. At the fourth Quarterly Conference for 1836 his name appears as a local preacher, which relation he sustained until 1847, when he was admitted in the travel- ing connection in the Arkansas Conference. As we have seen, he was discontinued at the end of the first year and returned to the ranks of the local ministry, where he re- mained until his death, which occurred at his home in Cleveland County in 18 -. Joseph Rentfroe was recog- nized as a useful and faithful local preacher, and was greatly instrumental in that early day in laying the foundations for the future development of the Church. His two sons, Thomas and Finis Rentfroe, are now living, the first at Searcy, in White County, the other at Pine Bluff. They are both honored and respected citizens in the communities where they reside, and are known as zealous, consistent members of the Methodist Church.
The thirteenth session of the Arkansas Conference met at Pine Bluff, November, 1848, Bishop Andrew, President.
Benoni Harris, W. J. Stafford, James B. Thetford, Walter T. Thornberry, James M. Jones, Robert G. Britton, Samuel Morris, James E. Cobb, David H. Caruthers, Richard Mar-
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tin, James S. Kemp and H. G. Carden were received on trial. The reader will notice in this list a number of names that in after years became prominent in the Conference, and to whom we will again have occasion to refer. This was a year of great prosperity to the Church and was character- ized by a large increase in the membership. John J. Pitt- man and Young Ewing were received by transfer from the Tennessee Conference.
The fourteenth session of the Annual Conference was held at Batesville, November 8, 1849. There being no Bishop present, Andrew Hunter was elected to preside over the Conference.
Silas Spurrier, D. L. G. Mckenzie, Thomas Hunt, P. Basham, B. S. Cardow, J. H. Rice, J. M. Rogers, C. C. Jones and G. F. Thompson were admitted on trial. Of this number P. Basham was transferred to the Indian Mission Conference in 1856, and George F. Thompson was trans- ferred to the Mississippi Conference in 1852. C. C. Jones was discontinued after traveling one year. Of the others we will have occasion to speak again in the progress of this work.
The Conference received at this session two valuable addi- tions by transfer, Jesse McAllister and A. R. Winfield. Jesse McAllister did faithful and efficient work as a teacher for many years, while the name of A. R. Winfield was for many years a household word in hundreds of homes in Arkansas. From this time until his death he was prominently connected with every enterprise of the Church in the State, and was doubtless more widely known than any man in the State.
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