USA > Indiana > A history of the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from its organization in 1844 to the present > Part 2
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The preachers of the Conference understood that the success of their churches depended to a certain extent upon getting the church publications before the
10 F. C. Holliday, "Indiaa Methodism," 212.
11 Western Christian Advocate, December 20, 1844.
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people. The North Indiana Conference was doing its best to stand by these publications. We find such resolutions as the following passed by the Conference : Resolved, That we will increase our efforts to enlarge the circulation of our periodicals generally, and that each of us pledge to use our best efforts to obtain five new subscribers to the Western Christian Advocate within the bounds of our respective charges during the ensuing Conference year.
Resolved, That the Ladies' Repository stands high in our estimation as a literary and religious periodical, and that we will endeavor to increase its circulation.
Resolved, That in view of the claims of the Sunday School Advocate upon our patronage and of its adap- tation to enlighten the public mind as to Sabbath school instruction, we will use our best endeavors to secure for it our full proportion of 100,000 subscrib- ers.12
As some of the roads in northern Indiana were almost impassable during the fall of the year, it was necessary for the preachers who lived at some dis- tance to start to Conference some little time before Conference convened. Bishop Hamline, who was to preside over the Conference, journeyed with Charles Elliot, editor of the Western Christian Advocate, by the way of Indianapolis. (Here they were joined by J. L. Smith, pastor of the Eastern Charge.) Elliot, writ- ing to his paper from Indianapolis, said: "The city of Indianapolis contains about 5,000 population. In the centre is the State House, which we surveyed in- side and outside. We placed ourselves in the chairs of both Houses and found them literally too high for our use." In speaking of the Eastern Charge, he said : "Three years ago the second charge was formed with great reluctance by some, and with some opposition by
12 Western Christian Advocate, October 10, 1845.
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others; for many years previous to the division of the church the building was crowded to overflowing, but there was no room for increase. The good people sup- posed to divide the congregation meant ruin, yet other churches of the city were formed or augmented from those shut out of the Methodist Church for want of room. On several occasions our church members went where they could find room and joined other churches. At last they were forced into division by circumstances which they could not control, and a new charge was formed. The idea of extending the influence of the church became a matter of sober debate, and is now the settled policy of Indianapolis Methodists; for they are strongly inclined to have a third church or a new charge erected this year. The Eastern Charge has now 400 members. The Sabbath School is very promising, being the largest in the city. There are three super- intendents, thirty-three teachers, two hundred schol- ars, and an average attendance of one hundred and seventy-five. They have just now erected and almost finished a new church, 80 by 47, with a basement entirely above ground and an end gallery."13
Often a two days' meeting was held at some point en route to Conference. We find such a notice as the following sent out by the church at Noblesville: "The brethren in the southeastern part of the North Indiana Conference are informed that a two days' meeting will be held at Noblesville, including the Sabbath be- fore the session of our Conference at Lafayette. We invite the brethren to call and spend the Sabbath with us. We are on the nearest route for most of the preachers of the Centerville District and some others. Brethren, please come."14
The following amusing account is given of the journey of the Bishop, Dr. Elliot and J. L. Smith from
13 Ibid., September 26, 1845.
14 Western Christian Advocate, August 1, 1845.
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Indianapolis to Lafayette: On Monday morning the three started out in a private carriage from Indian- apolis to Lafayette. Just before starting it was agreed that the Bishop should act as purser for the company, Dr. Elliot as chaplain, and J. L. Smith as charioteer. At noon of the first day the company brought up for dinner at the house of James Ross, on the old Michigan road. The charioteer saw the jaded horses well pro- vided for at the barn, and on returning to the house, found the venerable Doctor leisurely promenading un- der the shade trees in the yard. He also heard the sound of cooking going on in the house and the Bish- op's voice in prayer. "Why, Dr. Elliot," said the charioteer, "why aren't you in the prayer meeting?" "Because," responded the Doctor in his Irish style, "you, Brother Smith, have to look after the quadru- peds jist; I have to study editorials for the Western Christian Advocate, and the Bishop has nothing to do but pray, and-may the Lord bless 'im-let 'im pray on !"15
The Annual Conference for the year 1845 convened on September 24, meeting in the basement of the Fifth Street Church, which had just been completed. This Conference seems to have had a most wonderful influ- ence upon the preachers to attain to higher and better things. According to the testimony of Samuel T. Gil- let, Secretary of the Conference, this was brought about by the example and exhortation of Bishop Ham- line, whose spiritual and business qualifications as a superintendent were probably unsurpassed.16
The Conference took under consideration how best to develop a better observance of the Sabbath Day. A plan had been arranged whereby a Sabbath conven- tion for the Wabash Valley was to be held at Terre Haute, October 23, 1845, and also a State Convention
15 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 130.
16 Western Christian Advocate, August 1, 1845.
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to be held on the second Wednesday in December at Indianapolis. The primary purpose of these conven- tions was to create a better observance of the Sabbath Day. The North Indiana Conference passed a series of resolutions in regard to Sabbath observance, and in these it was requested that all members of the Con- ference, as far as possible, should attend these two conventions.
The State Convention met at Indianapolis in the Supreme Court room at the designated time. After organization, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That this convention deems it proper to state at the opening of their session that it is not their object to secure their designs by asking for any civil legislation, but only by the diffusion of sound knowl- edge and the exertion of intelligent moral influence." A Dr. Smith, from Crawfordsville, Ind., speaking in the convention in regard to Sabbath desecration, said that he believed there had been during the last autumn from four hundred to five hundred wagons passing through Crawfordsville every day, Sunday not ex- cepted. He expressed his opinion that such on the Sabbath Day should not be.
A resolution that caused considerable debate was as follows: "Resolved, That the loading and unload- ing of boats, the running of boats, wagons, rail-cars and stages, and the travelling in them, driving stock to market, visiting Post Offices, barber shops, reading rooms and other places of business and amusement are not only unnecessary, but are in violation of the law of God and ought to be abandoned throughout the community." The discussions that took place were varied. A Mr. Kavanaugh said: "We ought to plant our feet on the Bible. Look only at the Bible." A Mr. Wood said: "I thought we had not come to legislate, but to devise means of making the people feel the force of what they now acknowledge to be true." A
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Mr. Farmer said: "Too much medicine will kill, not cure." Finally, after much debate, the following sub- stitute, reported by Professor Larabee, of Indiana As- bury University, was adopted : "Resolved, That the desecration of the Christian Sabbath is a melancholy evidence of ingratitude to God, and of the want of moral principle, and that evil effects must in the very nature of things and in the providence of God visit the individual community or nation habitually violat- ing the law of the Sabbath."17
Methodism was ever searching out new fields. It was in 1846 that the first steps were taken toward the establishment of a Methodist Church in Columbia City. Isaac Shineman donated a lot, yet in the woods, for a church building site, providing the members would erect a building, which they did, and the trus- tees received a deed for the same in 1848, as the con- ditions had been complied with.
The church not only attempted to increase its in- fluence and usefulness throughout the Conference, but it had caught the vision of what John Wesley meant when he said "the world is my parish." The Confer- ence of 1845 had earnestly urged that missionary col- lections should be taken by the preachers throughout the Conference during the month of January. The pastor of the St. Joseph Mission reported the follow- ing results of his labors: Perseverance, $1.43; Scipio, $1.04; May's Settlement, $1; Platte's, 76 cents; Sturne's, 35 cents; Wesley Chapel, $5.53; Bethel, $5; Hunterville, $1.75, ten cents of which is spurious ; Concord, $7.56; Lydecker's, $1.05; Spencerville, $2.77; Gradeless, $1.12}, making a total of $29.26}. Then he added to his report: "I find in the treasury, after deducting the ten cents spurious, a plus of fifteen cents; so, if no more be spurious, I shall be able to
17 Western Christian Advocate, June 2, 1846.
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send to the assistant treasurer $29.42." Of course, to us of the present day, this does not seem large, but such determination as this pastor and other pastors showed concerning the various activities of the church caused the Conference to be able to report at its next annual session an advance along all lines of work.18
The Conference of 1846 met at Laporte on Septem- ber 16. Bishop Morris was present from the begin- ning, though it had required two days and nights of constant travel. This Conference did some very im- portant things. Possibly among the most important was that of establishing the Ft. Wayne Female College. It was a herculean tatsk to raise enough money for the establishment of this school, but such men as G. M. Boyd, Presiding Elder of the Ft. Wayne District, and John S. Bayless, pastor of the Ft. Wayne Church, soon proved that it could be done. The city of Ft. Wayne alone gave $14,000. The main edifice of this building was to be fifty feet wide by one hundred feet deep, with a wing on each side, thirty by sixty, mak- ing altogether a front of one hundred and seventy feet. Including the basement and attic, the main building was to be six stories in height and the wing four stories.19
In the Conference of 1844 a resolution had been passed in regard to secret societies. It said that while as a Conference they would not pass sentence of ap- proval or condemnation upon either the Free Masons or Odd Fellows, yet each minister was advised to re- frain from joining either society, thinking that the influence of the minister would be lost. One of the brethren of the Conference had expressed himself in favor of these societies, and the passing of his charac-
18 Ibid., March 13, 1846.
19 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 146; Western Christian Advocate, November 13, 1846.
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ter had been held up.20 But afterward he expressed himself in favor of the said resolution and his char- acter was passed. In two years' time the Conference was rather anxious to alter their opinion, so at this ses- sion the following resolution was passed: Resolved, That the resolution on the subject of Free Masonry and Odd Fellowship passed at the first session of the North Indiana Conference be and the same is hereby re- scinded.21
The slavery issue received considerable attention by the Conference. The North Indiana Conference had received the following circular from the Erie Conference: "This is to certify that the following resolution was adopted by the members of the Erie Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at its session in Akron, Summit County, on the 7th day of August, 1846, sixty-five voting for and twenty- six against:" Resolved, That we recommend to the next General Conference to add the following rule immediately after our general rule on slavery: "The holding of slaves in any State, Territory, or District, where the laws will admit of emancipation and per- mit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom." The North Indiana Conference, by a vote of 60 to 2, refused to concur.22
A Mr. Kavanaugh, agent of the Colonization So- ciety, attempted to address the Conference on the sub- ject of colonization in its connection with slavery, but was stopped by some members, who deprecated ex- citement on the subject. The Conference voted to hear Mr. Kavanaugh, but he declined to proceed, stating that the brethren might regard him as trespassing. Just a few months previous to this, Mr. Kavanaugh
20 Conference Minutes, 1844.
21 Ibid., 1846.
22 Ibid., 1846.
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had established a monthly paper in Indianapolis, known as the "Indiana Colonizationist."23
The preachers must have carried with them from Conference something of the spirit of evangelism, for the following year was rather a noted one along this line. A revival occurred at Dublin, Wayne County, which became known as "the great revival." The spirit of this meeting spread throughout the entire eastern section of the state. F. A. Hardin, then a boy, who became a flaming evangelist, was converted at this meeting. In the church at Greencastle a great revival was experienced, which extended to the stu- dents of the university and Mrs. Larabee's Female College. About one hundred of the former were added to the church and about thirty of the latter. When the people no longer could find room in the church, the meetings were removed to the college chapel.24
Mrs. Larabee had a most wonderful influence over the girls in her school. Her efforts for the elevation of her sex were greatly crowned with success. In less than three months from the opening of her first term she was compelled to lay plans for the enlargement of her buildings. The home of the Larabees was situ- ated in the midst of a most beautiful, spacious, and highly cultivated garden, surrounded by trees and shrubbery and flowers of almost every kind. Their home formed one of the most delightful rural retreats found in the west. It was here that a great number of students found accommodations, where their health and habits were well guarded.25
The church realized that one of the best ways to influence people to become Christians, was to place in
23 Conference Minutes, 1846; Western Christian Advocate, May 8, 1846.
24 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 147.
25 J. C. Smith, "Early Methodism in Indiana," 8; Western Christian Advocate, April 16, 1847.
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every home, as near as possible, a Bible. In bringing this about the American Bible Society was doing a great work. It was found that in Marion county there were 444 families living without the Bible; in Putnam there were 400, and in Montgomery there were 600.26 Taking these data, one may judge as to the destitu- tion of the other parts of the State. However, a con- siderable portion of these families were provided with a copy of the New Testament.27
In 1842, two years before Bishop Janes was elected to the episcopacy, he made a most wonderful speech at Centreville, Wayne county, in behalf of the American Bible Society. It was the General Conference of 1844 that made him a bishop and when it was announced that he was to preside over the North Indiana Con- ference of 1847, it was hailed with delight. This fourth annual session met September 15, in Roberts Chapel at Indianapolis.28
A rather unique proposition came before the con- ference in regard to Indiana Asbury University. An influential member of the church offered $1,000 as a nucleus toward establishing an agricultural depart- ment in the university. It was proposed to purchase a farm of about 400 acres near the school, endow one or more professorships, and thus provide a good agricul- tural education for those who desired to cultivate the soil. By some this was looked upon with favor.29
A number of the preachers were brought to trial at this conference, being charged with conduct that was not proper for a minister. One of the preachers so charged was brought before the bishop and the case was submitted to the bishop for decision. The following question arose: "Where there is a charge
26 Ibid., August 7, 1846.
27 Western Christian Advocate, October 8, 1847.
28 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism." 149.
29 Western Christian Advocate, September 24, 1847.
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for immoral conduct (lying) may the specification be sustained and the charge be not sustained?" The bishop's decision was affirmative. The defendant's counsel thereupon admitted the specification (he said the words) but denied the charge and the brother was acquitted.30
A most notable day of this conference was the Sab- bath, on account of the bishop's sermon at Roberts Chapel. The text was 2 Corinthians, 7 chapter, 1 verse, "Having therefore these promises, dearly be- loved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." One of the members of the conference said, "for purity of diction, beauty of expression, wealth of thought, pathos and power, the sermon was peerless."31 Bishop Janes gave some splendid advice to the preach- ers on the subject of "Pastoral Visitation." He said that every preacher had time to visit the people of his community, if he used the time he had to the proper advantage. A man may work all the day long by changing his employment, from reading to visiting, from visiting to preaching, devoting the proper time to each. His final word to them was, "Never be unem- ployed, neither spend any more time in any one place than is strictly necessary."32
The message "never be unemployed" got results. As the result of the energy of one pastor, and the en- ergy he was able to instill into the lives of his people, the first Methodist church edifice in Muncie was built during this year. In four years' time Methodism had made such an advance here, that it was made a station and today Muncie stands out as one of the leading Methodist cities of the North Indiana Conference.
30 Conference Minutes, 1847; J. L. Smith, "Indiana Meth- odism," 150.
31 Ibid., 150.
32 Western Christian Advocate, October 1, 1847.
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During the year 1848 many churches of the con- ference experienced revivals. A most notable meeting was held on the Peru circuit and it was described as follows: "A powerful, high rising, wide spreading, onward rolling, soul saving and God fearing revival."33
At the little village of Granville, situated a few miles north of Muncie, a very interesting camp meet- ing was held. An individual was denied the privilege of selling near the encampment, and leaving his cakes and beer, went home and brought his family to the meeting. The result was that he and one of his sons were converted and joined the church.34
A favorite phrase used by the preachers in report- ing the meetings was something like the following: "The Lord has blessed us with reviving showers and converting drops of grace."
The preacher undoubtedly of this period had his hands full, his heart full, his life full. As for exam- ple, Tipton Mission embraced a new and sparsely set- tled country. It included Tipton county and a part of Clinton and Howard counties. It consisted of four- teen regular appointments. Upon the entire circuit at this time there was not a single meeting house, the meetings being held in school houses and homes. A part of the mission was in the Indian Reserve and another part was in what was known as the seven mile strip, formerly bought by the settlers of the state, but the state had not adjusted business satisfactorily with the general government and the chances were that the lands would be sold again.35
The Wabash Mission consisted of seventeen ap- pointments extending over a territory of about twelve by thirty miles, with a membership of about two hun- dred members. It was just a new country, the oldest
33 Western Christian Advocate, December 20, 1848.
34 Ibid., October 11, 1848.
35 Ibid., July 19, 1848.
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settler not being there more than seven years and the majority only two or three years. During this one year the pastor, John Leach, organized ten Sunday schools and he made this very encouraging statement, "we have commenced to build meeting-houses."36
During the summer of this year a French dancing teacher came to Terre Haute and it was found out when his class was made up that he had persuaded one or two members of the Methodist church to join. The official board requested the pastor to deliver a sermon upon popular amusements. He did so but in his ser- mon he said very little about dancing, announcing that he would preach concerning that subject the following Sunday. One of the members remarked to the pastor as follows: "Brother Smith, I believe I know all about dancing that I want to know and if you will excuse me, I will go hear the minister at the Congregational church next Sunday." During the week the two preachers met and the Congregational preacher learn- ing that a member from the Methodist church would be present at his church the following Sunday, then and there decided that he, too, would preach upon dancing. The above action was carried out and during the next week the member meeting his pastor spoke as follows: "Well, Brother Smith, I'll never run away from home again, no matter what you preach about, for I tell you I simply jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, for I haven't any doubt that the sermon I heard was much more severe and uncharitable than yours." It appears that the two sermons put the danc- ing master out of business.37
At the conference in the fall of 1849 a bishop's paper was read touching upon popular amusements, and in part it was as follows: "Information received from reliable sources has occasioned us to entertain
36 Ibid., June 21, 1848.
37 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 161.
· S .... .... MISSION
.FT. WAYNE
LOCANSPORT
CRAWFORDSVILLE
LA FAYETTE
MADISON
DISTRICT
· CRAWFORDSVILLE
. NEWCASTLE
. WHITE WAT
· Indianapolis
ROCKVILLE
CONNERSVILLE .
·GALENCASTLE
RUSHVILLE Of
INDIANAPOLIS INKLIN
TERRE HAUTE
DISTRICT
. BLOOMINGTON
COLUMBUSO
DISTRICT
WABASH
LAWRENCEBURG
· CARLISLE
VIA NON .
· BEDFORD
MADISON
VINCENNES
· PROLI
1
CHARLESTOWN
/832
· PRINCETON
1
NEW ABLANY
DISTRICT
· CORYDON
DISTRICT
BOONS VILLE .
WASHINGTON!
· SALEM
5
. PETERSBURG
CHARLESTOWN.
THE OLD INDIANA CONFERENCE IN 1832.
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NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE
serious fears that there is an increasing tendency among some of our brethren and sisters in the church to countenance fashionable and sinful amusements, such as dancing parties, theatrical and circus per- formances and comical exhibitions. Such amusements we believe to be wholly inconsistent with Christian character, destructive to vital piety." The pastors were instructed to first give such individuals warning and then, if the warning was not heeded, they were to be brought to trial. This applied to those members who allowed dancing parties to be held in their homes, as well as those who actually engaged in them.38
The church has ever had important decisions to make. It is so with the individual. It was during this year that the church had the splendid opportunity in helping people not only to make decisions along spir- itual lines, but to impress upon their minds the need of free schools. The State Legislature in 1846-47 had passed a joint resolution, inviting the friends of com- mon schools throughout the state to meet in conven- tion in Indianapolis, and accordingly a large number of the friends of the common schools convened from different parts of the state, and continued in session for several days. A committee was appointed to draft a common school law with special reference to the in- troduction of a system of free common schools. The bill was presented to the Legislature, and after some amendments passed the House of Representatives, but failed in the Senate for want of time for its proper consideration. The Legislature did, however, pass an "act" submitting the question of free schools or no free schools to the people for their decision at the polls in the following August.
The State Education Society, realizing the impor- tant part the church would play concerning this ques-
38 Conference Minutes, 1849.
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tion, waged the appointment of a committee from each of the two Conferences of the state. F. C. Holliday and S. T. Gillet were appointed from the North Indiana Conference. To each preacher of the Conference the following communication was sent: "The undersigned were appointed by the Indiana State Education Society to address you a request that you preach on the subject of common schools at your earliest convenience. It will be remembered that the question of free schools or no free schools for Indiana is to be decided at the ballot box August next, and it is in behalf of the free schools that this request is made."39
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