USA > Arkansas > History of Methodism in Arkansas > Part 17
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told them of their wickedness and meanness in such loving words as wholly disarmed them; and then he would call them to their knees, and with his hand on their heads he would tell God how bad they were, and then refer to a mother's prayers and teachings in such a way as to conquer the most obdurate. A braver Christian man never stood up for Christ. He could have stood toe to toe with Satan him- self contending for God and right. In God's estimation he was a wise man ; he turned many to righteousness. I never knew anyone so successful with penitents. He always knew exactly what to say to a mourner. If he could get one to talking and answering his questions, such an one was sure to find Christ, the Savior. I have seen many a chronic mourner -a regular set-fast-lifted right out of the 'mire and the clay' by Ratcliffe's pointed questions.
" The last work he did was for the American Bible Society. He made a tour to the mountain districts of our Conference -reached Mount Ida in Montgomery County, took a violent cold which developed into pneumonia and ended his useful life. He felt himself that his work was at an end. It would have gratified him if he could have died at home, surrounded by the members of his own family ; but he was resigned- said it was as near heaven from where he then was as if he were at his own house. Judge Willoby, at whose home he died, considers himself and family highly honored in being permitted to minister to this servant of the Lord in his last. illness. His end was peace and holy joy. They buried him at Mount Ida, but in a few months his remains were removed to Camden and reinterred. Dr. Winfield preached his funeral sermon. All business houses were closed out of re- spect to his memory. There was mourning in almost every home, chiefly for that they would see him no more. They felt that they were in a state of orphanage. At the next session of the Conference it was difficult to be reconciled to his absence. He had been a counselor and leader so long ;
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but we kissed the hand that smote us and bowed submis- sively to His will, looking to the future meeting, where sor- row is unknown, singing
" ' Servant of God, well done ; Rest from thy loved employ ; The battle fought, and victory won, Enter the Master's joy.'
" Among the companions of my early ministry none were dearer to me than he whose name is the subject of this notice. I have a picture of him in the gallery of memory, that stands like a column of crystal."
The follow memoir of Elijah L. Crowson was furnished for insertion in the minutes of the Conference :
Elijah L. Crowson .- In the death of Elijah L. Crowson the Church had sustained the loss of a faithful and devoted ser- vant. He was converted in his twentieth year, and united with the Church and shortly afterwards licensed to preach. He remained in the local ranks for many years, but feeling it to be his duty to enter the itinerancy, he felt constrained to offer his services to the Little Rock Conference (then Oua- chita Conference), and was admitted on trial at its first ses- sion in 1854. He continued to do efficient service until the Conference of 1867, when he was granted a superannuated relation: He continued in this relation but a short time, as he died January 3, 1868. He was an humble, faithful, un- pretending preacher of the gospel, exceedingly modest- even timid. The world never knew half the value of the man.
Mrs. Dora Watson, the wife of E. N. Watson, of the Lit- tle Rock Conference, is a daughter, and Rev. Wm. M. Crow- son, of. the same Conference, is a grandson.
During this year the Arkansas Conference lost a very effective and useful preacher an account of which is taken from the minutes of the Conference.
James C. Beckham .- The subject of this sketch was born
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in Orange County, N. C., November 15, 1833, and removed with his father to Maury County, Tenn., in 1836. He re- moved with his widowed mother to Marion County, Ark., in 1844. He was converted and joined the Church in 1846; licensed to exhort in 1854, and to preach in 1856. He was received on trial, in the Arkansas Conference, the same year, and appointed junior preacher on the Helena Circuit. He located in 1860, and was readmitted into the Conference in - 1865. He continued in the itinerant ministry until his death which occurred March 8, 1868. He was regarded by those who knew him as a good and useful preacher, and was highly esteemed in the charges which he filled. He died in peace.
An examination of the minutes will show that this was a year of great prosperity within the territory embraced within the Little Rock Conference. The net increase of member- ship in this Conference was 2437, and there was a corres- ponding improvement in other departments of Church work. The Arkansas Conference suffered a small decrease in the membership of the 'Church. This loss, no doubt, was more apparent than real, as there were seven white charges from which no reports were received, and the greater part of the loss was in the colored charges, which were being largely absorbed by colored Methodist organizations. As the loss in the white membership was very small, there is no doubt if the numbers had been received from the charges that failed to report, there would have been a large increase in this Conference.
The Arkansas Conferences were again placed in the Epis- copal District of Bishop Pierce. The Arkansas Conference met at Fayetteville, October 20-25, 1869. The Little Rock Conference met at Magnolia, November 24-29.
The admissions on trial in the Arkansas Conference were : Leroy D. Webb, George Debose, Jesse M. King, Francis A. Taff, William G. Hilton, George R. Brice, William E. Whit- tenburg, Robert N. Francis, John H. Hall, James A. Walden,
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Dudley D. Reed, W. H. H. Oyler. The following was re- ceived by transfer : J. L. Denton, T. C. Ellis, A. R. Bennick, Isham L. Burrow, Thomas Wainwright, Sidney Babcock, H. M. Youngblood, Thomas A. Graham, John W. Walkup. Of these, L. D. Webb, Francis A. Taff, James A. Walden, Dudley D. Reed, Sidney Babcock, Thomas A. Graham, are now members of one of the Conferences in Arkansas. Of the others, some have located, others have transferred to other Conferences and some have passed to their reward.
The additions to the Little Rock Conference were : Har- vey H. Watson, F. M. Monk, John W. Johnson, Bascom Ward, T. Q. C. House, John M. G. Douglass, Isaac N. Pace. The transfers to the Conference were; William C. Hearn, and H. B. Frazee. Of these, H. H. Watson and J. M. G. Douglas are on the effective list in the Little Rock Con- ference, and through all these years they have enjoyed the respect and confidence of their brethren. William C. Hearn transferred to the Denver Conference in 1874, and H. B. Frazee transferred to the Florida Conference in 1875. While the Conferences in Arkansas received some valuable accessions by transfer, they also lost by transfer a number of valuable men. From the Arkansas Conference, C. N. McGuire, who transferred to the Northwest Texas, M. Ar- rington, to the St. Louis, E. B. Plummer, to the Memphis, A. T. Goodloe, to the Tennessee, J. H. Porter and S. P. Hicks to the Indian Conference.
From the Little Rock Conference Marcus C. Manley trans- ferred to the Louisiana Conference, and Samuel Morris trans- ferred to the East Texas Conference.
Marcus C. Manley was admitted into the traveling con- nection in 1850, and soon after his admission into the Con- ference his eyesight began to fail, but notwithstanding this affliction he continued to travel and do effective work. In a few years he became totally blind. When his sight failed the loss was greatly supplied by his faithful and devoted
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wife, whose time was wholly given to her husband in read- ing and writing for him.
In this way he became a man of large and varied infor- mation. His knowledge of theology was accurate and ex- tensive and he was a preacher of marked ability.
Samuel Morris was received on trial in the Arkansas Con- ference in 1848, and continued to travel on circuits, stations and districts until he was transferred to the East Texas Con- ference. Whether on circuit, station or district work, he was the same true and faithful man, everywhere enjoying in a large degree the respect and confidence of his brethren.
The Little Rock Conference was called this year to mourn the loss of two most excellent and worthy members of the body, Lewis Garrett and Julius A. Stanley.
Lewis A. Garrett was a native of Kentucky, and was born in 1793; joined the Methodist Church in 1809, and was licensed to preach in 1815, and the same year was admitted into the Tennessee Conference, and appointed to the Stone River Circuit. His health failing, he was compelled to locate in 1824. He remained local until 1859, when he was readmitted into the traveling connection in the Little Rock Conference, and continued in this relation until his death, which occurred in 1869. During the whole course of his ministry, whether in the local or itinerant ranks, he was re- garded as a faithful and devoted minister of the gospel. A life of such faith and zeal was closed in great peace and joy.
Julius A. Stanley was a native of LaGrange, Ga. At the time of his death he was 35 years old. He was converted in early life and united with the Methodist Church. His educational advantages were of the most excellent character, and had been well improved. He was licensed to preach in the City of Camden, in 1858, and received on trial in the Ouachita Conference the same year. His first appointment was to the Tulip Circuit ; in 1859, Washington Station ; in 1860, Little Rock Station; in 1861, Washington Station ;
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in 1862, Arkadelphia Station; in 1863, Lewisville Circuit ; in 1864, Walnut Hills Circuit; in 1865, Washington Sta- tion. His health failing, he was placed on the superannu- ated list in 1867, and remained in that relation until his death. Julius A. Stanley was one of nature's gifted sons, and possessed in a large degree many of the essential quali- fications for the Christian ministry. He was a modest, re- fined, intellectual, spiritual and faithful preacher, faithful in all the relations of life. He lived well, and died in per- fect triumph.
This was a very successful year for the Church in Arkan- sas. There was an increase of 554 in the membership of the Church in the Arkansas Conference, and of 1555 in the Lit- tle Rock Conference, making an increase of 15 per cent in the two Conferences. There was a corresponding increase in all the benevolent enterprises of the Church, while the principal charges were growing in numbers and becoming more firmly established and better prepared for aggressive work.
CHAPTER XVIII.
REVIEW OF DECADE 1860-70-STATISTICS OF 1860-70- REMINISCENCE-CHANGED CONDITIONS-GENERAL CON- FERENCE OF 1870-BISHOP KEENER-ORGANIZATION OF WHITE RIVER CONFERENCE-LEWIS GARRETT-JULIUS A. STANLEY-ELIJAH MCNABB-MARCUS MANLEY- RICHARD P. DAVIES -- ARTHUR DAVIS-ISAAC EBBERT- LETTER FROM BISHOP WIGHTMAN-JOHN HARRIS.
The period embraced in the decade from 1860-1870 was fraught with more thrilling interest than any other period of the same length in the whole history of the Church. The M. E. Church, South, not only suffered in common with the other churches of the South, but there were many things in connection with the trouble of that period that were pecu- liar to the Southern Methodist Church. It was regarded by the Northern people as being more intensely Southern than any other Church, and its ministers and members were treated with greater severity than any other people, and were the objects of peculiar hatred upon the part of their enemies. Their history and the peculiar relation they sus- tained to the question of slavery during the exciting period of 1844 brought them more prominently before the country than any other religious denomination. Although the mem- bers of the Southern Methodist Church were not more in- tensely Southern than their Southern neighbors and breth- ren of other churches, their history and their great numer- ical strength gave them an importance in the public estima- tion both North and South that did not attach to any other people.
The Presidential campaign of 1860 was the most exciting one through which the country had ever passed. The
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wisest and most patriotic statesmen, both North and South, looked forward to the coming election with great anxiety and apprehension. It was felt that the country was passing through a great crisis in its history.
While the M. E. Church, South, has always been a non- political Church, and as an ecclesiastical organization has. never taken part in any manner in any political controversy, the individual members of the Church, in their capacity as. citizens, did take an active part in common with other citi- zens in the exciting political events of that time. And as the human mind cannot be intensely excited upon more than one subject at a time, we would naturally expect the exciting political events of the year to have a depressing effect upon the various interests of the Church. An exami- nation of the minutes of the Conferences, however, show that during this year there was a very healthy growth in the membership of the Church. The total increase in the membership for 1860 was, for the entire Southern Methodist Church, 36,182, as against 21,852 for the year 1859. The gain for 1858 was 43,388. These figures show that the in- tense excitement that prevailed did not destroy the vitality of the Church or impede its onward progress.
The Church in the Arkansas Conferences for this year kept pace with the Conferences in the older States. The Arkansas Conference reported a total membership in 1860 of 15,109, with an increase of 33 members.
The Ouachita Conference reported a total membership of II,739 white members and 2714 colored members.
The Arkansas Conference reported 50 traveling preachers and the Ouachita Conference reported 81.
The minutes for 1870 show a total membership of the Church in Arkansas of 29,176 white members, divided as follows : Arkansas Conference, 7853; White River Confer- ence, 8249 ; Little Rock Conference, 13,074. These figures. show a gain of 2277 white members during this decade.
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The census reports show that the entire population of the State for 1860 was 435,450, and in 1870 it was 484,471. An examination of these figures will show that there was a little larger per cent of gain upon the part of the population of the State than in the membership of the Church during this decade.
The following reminiscence of these years by one of the Arkansas Conference preachers will be of interest, as it de- scribes the condition of a large number of our people at that time :
" It is an old story of civil war that the disruption of life- long social and religious associations follows. Many bitter and terrible forces, expended themselves on the whole of Northwest Arkansas from '61 to '65. The struggle began in foolish utterances. Puerile deeds abounded. Political alien- ations rent the churches. Friendships and brotherly love were immolated in the fires of hate. Ministers were in- volved. The tests of Christian character were the severest, the ordeal terrific. Breach upon breach was made, some never to be healed. Social ties became nothing, patriotism lost itself in passion, religious brotherhood with its safe- guards went down quickly. To many who loved church and country came intense, prolonged darkness. The holiest of men and women could not see the solution. Families were scattered and the young had sorry guides. Ere long the robber and assassin held full sway. What was once home soon exhibited the scenes of want, distress, loneliness and foreboding. Would the end never come? Oh! the long years of suspense and agony of that dark period! But peace came at last. Slowly the exiles from North and from South returned to their desolated homes. Each vied with the other in rebuilding the wastes. I remember when the news came that Rev. J. W. Shook, P. E., was at Bluff Springs, in Marion County, holding a meeting; that he was come to gather the churches into the fold again, and to restore our
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long-lost and fearfully-rent communion. It was in August, . 1865. The promise of success seemed small. Our brother beloved said it was useless. His mind appeared bewildered by the long night. He said that God had but little to do with us; that he had created us, made us subject to suitable laws, and left us to take care of ourselves. Nevertheless, the work of re-establishment had begun. The field was large, the laborers were few, the difficulties many. Eighteen months passed before the Elder reached us, and the preacher in charge no sooner. In the meantime we heard Uncle Isaac Whitney tell of being a new 'critter' in Christ Jesus, and congratulate the people that they were permitted to meet again in a congregational 'campacity' and to build again the 'disolit ' places. This Free Will Baptist brother was innocent of any correct knowledge of the English lan- guage as contained in the grammars and dictionaries, yet he was thoroughly conversant with an experience of God's love shed abroad in the heart, and could point sinners to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Ar- rested by the Spirit amid a dreadful career in sin and igno- rance, at about thirty years of age, he passed the ordeal of a genuine repentance and regeneration, and gave himself to the work of the ministry in the Free Will Baptist Church, as it was generally called. Not having any standard of educa- tion in that body, it was the work of but few days to start him in the ministry. Many through these fifty years past could testify to the efficiency of his work in bringing them to Christ. His fearless devotion to Christ during the civil war showed the true martyr spirit. When at the muzzle of a cocked pistol in the hands of a brutal robber he was or- dered to dance or die, he calmly chose the latter, and plainly told the sinner of the deed he was about to commit. He would not dance, and God saw that he did not die. I know not that this dear old friend lingers on earth, or that he has gone to a blessed reward on high; but I know that his zeal,
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faith, piety, love to God and man, have been an inspiration to me."
In nothing was the vitality of the Church more clearly seen than in its power to adapt itself to the changed order of things, and begin its work anew. The terrible revolution had no sooner closed than the whole machinery was put in motion, and the work of the Church continued as though there had never been any interruption.
Annual Conferences met at the appointed time, the Bish- ops were present to superintend the affairs of the Church, districts, circuits and stations were reorganized, and Presid- ing Elders, preacher in charge, and official boards were regularly appointed to every field of labor. The marvel- ous growth of the Church in the years that followed is we believe without a parallel in modern times. The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, met in the City of Memphis, May 4, 1870. The clerical dele- gates from the Little Rock Conference were Andrew Hun- ter, Augustus R. Winfield and Horace Jewell; lay dele- gates, William Leake, J. L. De Yampert and William Crouch. The delegates from the Arkansas Conference were James Mackey, John M. Steele and George A. Dannelly.
It was at this Conference that an effort was made to abolish the time limit in the appointment of the pastors to their fields of labor. The movement was led by the gifted Dr. John E. Edwards, of Virginia, ably supported by Dr. J. B. Cottrell and others. During the discussion the strong- est possible reasons were presented in favor of the change, but the strong conservative feeling of the Conference pre- vailed, and the Church appears to have settled down to the conviction that the best interests of the Church do not re- quire any changes in the law of the Church on this subject. The Committee on Episcopacy at this Conference reported that in their judgment it was necessary to strengthen the Episcopacy by the election of one Bishop. The infirmities
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age made it necessary for Bishop Andrew to continue in the superannuated relation to the Church. The choice of the Conference fell on John Christian Keener, of the Lou- isiana Conference. Dr. Keener, at the time of his election, was editor of the New Orleans Christian Advocate, and had, by his writings, become well and favorably known through- out the entire connection.
An event of more than ordinary interest occurred at this Conference in the official visit of Bishop Janes and Dr. Wil- liam L. Harris, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
It will be remembered that since the rejection of Dr. Lovick Pierce, by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1848, as a delegate from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, that there had been no attempt upon the part of either body to establish fraternal relations between the two Methodisms.
Upon the arrival of Bishop Janes and Dr. Harris in the City of Memphis, they dispatched a note to the General Conference informing that body of their presence in the city. A committee was at once appointed to wait upon the deputation and accompany them to the Conference, where they explained to that body the object and purpose of their mission. While the object, the union of the churches, was not accomplished by this deputation, it was the beginning of a series of fraternal visits that has resulted in drawing the two bodies into much closer fraternal rela- tions.
The Arkansas Conference for 1870 met at Clarksville, October 12. Bishop John C. Keener presided at all of the Conferences in Arkansas this year. This was his first official visit to these Conferences since his election to the Epis- copacy. There was a good deal of anxiety upon the part of the preachers to see and hear the new Bishop. Many of them were familiar with his writings, and some few of them had heard him at the sessions of the General Conference
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and in the army, and had been favorably impressed with his ability, both as a preacher and administrative officer of the Church. These impressions were confirmed at this visitation of the Conferences. The Conferences were soon convinced that he possessed administrative ability of the highest order, and that his pulpit power was equal to that possessed by his gifted colleagues.
The minutes show that Nathaniel Futrell, Thomas J. Rey nolds and Edward J. Doune were received on trial in the Arkansas Conference. Jerome Haraldson, Wm. H. Conley, William J. Dodson, B. F. Hall, J. H. Hall, John F. Hall, Charles H. Gregory and H. A. Barnett were received by transfer. Of these H. A. Barnett located in 1871; W. H. Conley is a member of the Arkansas Conference ; B. F. Hall died in 1879, and John F. Hall died in 1875. Charles H. Gregory is a member of the White River Conference, and enjoys the confidence of his brethren as a faithful, devoted servant of the Church.
The White River Conference was formed out of the east- ern portion of the Arkansas Conference, in 1870, and held its first session at Mount Zion Church, in Cross County, Sep- tember, 1870. Bishop John C. Keener was the President, and James Wickersham, a layman, was Secretary.
The following were members of the Conference at its or- ganization : John M. Steele, George A. Dannelly, James Mackey, John Rhyne, William A. Cobb, C. H. Gregory, E. T. Jones, Burwell Lee, William Gillispie, E. W. Coleman, Benoni Harris, J. H. Cox, J. P. Webb, James L. Denton, H. A. Barnett, A. R. Bennick, Josiah Williams, R. N. Francis, John W. Patton, B. F. Hall, John H. Dye, E. M. Baker, T. H. Howard, J. W. Walkup, W. M. Watson, Henry T. Gregory, William T. Noe, C. H. Ellis, M. C. Morris, George A. Shaeffer, R. G. Brittain, J. H. Hall-32. The lay dele- gates at this Conference were: J. M. Hanks, W. F. Sale, H. T. Blythe, J. F. Smith, Josiah Roberts, James Wicker-
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sham, M. H. McMurtry, Alex Miller, J. A. Barnett, R. C. Sherrell, J. H. McFerren, William N. Allen, A. T. Holliman, R. S. Bryant, Lewis Williams, I. C. Brookfield.
The Little Rock Conference met at Washington. Bishop Keener, President, William C. Hearn, Secretary. The ad- missions on trial were Walter W. Weir, Josephus Loving, James L. Nabors, Francis D. Van Valkenburg, R. H. Saun- ders. Of these, Josephus Loving and R. H. Saunders are members of the Little Rock and Arkansas Conferences. F. D. Van Valkenburg is a member of the Louisiana Confer- ence. J. L. Nabors discontinued in 1871.
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