USA > Indiana > A history of the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from its organization in 1844 to the present > Part 3
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At the election the people decided by a considerable majority in favor of free schools. However, one pe- culiar thing about the vote was that the counties of Monroe, Putnam and Montgomery, in which were lo- cated the State University, Indiana Asbury Univer- sity and Wabash College, all gave majorities against the free schools. This was undoubtedly due to the influence these schools brought to bear as the result of their academies. Another reason was the fact that there was considerable agitation at this time to do away with the State University in favor of the com- mon schools. These schools realized that if the free school system was adopted that in time it would work against the academies.40
During this year 267 students received instruction at Asbury University. Greencastle had always boast- ed of her uninterrupted health. In 1836, when she asked for the location of the university, her repre- sentative had made this statement, "No one ever dies here, although we have a cemetery for convenience." However, during this year, Greencastle was visited by an epidemic of fever. For fear the wrong impres- sion would become prevalent concerning Greencastle,
39 Western Christian Advocate, June 14, 1848.
40 Western Christian Advocate, December 13, 1848.
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the following statement was sent broadcast : "There is no town in the state whose citizens for twenty years have enjoyed more uninterrupted health. There is no local cause for the disease and sickness to be dreaded only during the prevalence of the sickness which, as some invisible atmospheric wave, roll with destructive power alike over every village and section of the coun- try."41
The following year, 1849, an epidemic of cholera swept various parts of the State of Indiana. A panic accompanied or preceded the disease. Many people fled from various localities with much fear. It is said that about twenty-five families left Monticello and perhaps three thousand people left Lafayette.
The preachers seemed not afraid to die in the path of duty. One preacher, speaking to his Presiding Elder, said: "You need not look for me at the camp meeting, as I cannot leave my post till the health of the town is better, and if we see each other no more, and you are spared, tell my brethren of the North Indiana Conference I die at my post."42
At the General Conference of this year Dr. Simp- son, the President of the University, had been elected editor of the Western Christian Advocate. He had served the University well. The board of visitors to the University from the North Indiana Conference said of Dr. Simpson: "It is due Dr. Simpson to say that for the last nine years he has fully sustained him- self as President of the University and justly deserves the thanks of its friends for the very able manner in which he has conducted its interests, assisted by the able and worthy faculty associated with him. The Doctor retires from the institution bearing with him the warmest wishes and highest praises of its friends and patrons."43
41 Ibid., September 17, 1848.
42 Ibid., August 22, 1849.
43 Ibid., September 27, 1848.
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E. R. Ames had been elected to the presidency of the institution, but had declined, and for one year the duties of this office fell upon Professor Larabee. In the fall of 1849 Dr. L. W. Berry was elected President of the University as the successor of Dr. Simpson. He held this position for five years, when he resigned and re-entered the active work of the ministry.44
Allen Wiley had died during the year. Though not a member of the North Indiana Conference, he was closely associated with it. He had assisted the Bishop in the first session of this Conference in making the appointments, for no other man knew the country as well as he. He had entered the ministry in 1818 in the old Ohio Conference. Throughout his life he was closely identified with the interests of the church in Indiana. He had much to do in molding the char- acter of Indiana Methodism, and was one of the pro- jectors of Indiana Asbury University and early saw the necessity of denominational schools.45
The North Indiana Conference passed the following resolutions on his death :
WHEREAS, It has pleased the great head of the church to re- move from labor to reward our venerable father in the gospel, Rev. Allen Wiley, with whom many of us have long been asso- ciated in Christian and ministerial bonds and labors, although not at his decease a member of this Conference; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the members of the North Indiana Conference, that we cherish a deep and lively sense of the worth of our deceased fellow-laborer as exhibited in his Christian experience. his Godly walk, his high literary attainments, his eminent min- isterial ability, his abundant labors, as well as those gentle and social qualities of mind and heart which adorned his private and domestic life.
Resolved, That we hereby tender to his bereaved companion our sincere condolence and Christian sympathy and aiso our fervent prayers for the Divine blessing upon the evening of her days.
44 F. C. Holliday, "Indiana Methodism," 313. 45 Ibid., 274.
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Resolved, That we commend to our junior brethren of this Conference the piety, the zeal, the learning, and the industry of the deceased as models for their imitation.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the widow of the deceased and to the editor of the Western Christian Advocate.46
The Conference for the year 1848 met at Green- castle, convening September 6th. Bishop Hamline presided and S. T. Gillet acted as secretary. The Con- ference put quite an emphasis upon the work being done by the American Bible Society, and it is of in- terest to note some of the advancements made. Dur- ing the year 6,559,066 Bibles and Testaments had been issued, which was an increase of 28,196 over the previous year. From the commencement of the Refor- mation to 1804, a period of nearly three centuries, only about 3,000,000 Bibles were printed, in some forty different tongues. From 1804 until this year not less than 30,000,000 Bibles and Testaments had been printed and circulated, in more than one hundred and sixty tongues. The Conference passed very force- ful resolutions pledging their support to this most worthy society.47
J. L. Smith, who had borne a very important rela- tion to the Conference, was at this session appointed Presiding Elder of the Lafayette district. As a boy, Smith had lived in Ohio, and he was often sent to a little corn mill, on horseback, with a grist of corn. Jacob Medsker was the owner of this mill. On one occasion the lad was invited into the house for dinner. There he found Mrs. Medsker spinning flax on the little wheel, and for the first time in his life he heard from her the myth of "ground-hog day." Later the Medskers removed to Indiana. On the Presiding El- der's first visit to Big Pine Church, now Pine Village,
46 Western Christian Advocate, September 27, 1848. 47 Ibid.
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one of the churches of the district, he found the Med- skers as one of the leading families of the church.48
During the year 1849 a spirit of church building prevailed throughout the Conference. This was not only so in North Indiana, but the spirit was general. It has been estimated that during this year throughout the country more churches were built by perhaps twenty-five per cent than during any preceding year.49
Soon after this Conference, the Methodists began work in the northern part of Terre Haute. A church was organized, with thirty-seven members. At first the meetings were held in a private house, but later a lot was given to the organization and a small church was built.50 At Romney a church was erected during the year, and the following statement was made con- cerning the church: "The seats are free; the organ is of God's own making-the voices of the worship- ping assembly.51 During this year the people making up the Kokomo Mission were not idle. At Alto, Thoms, Straughans, churches were erected, and at Learners and Greentown plans were put under way to erect buildings.52 A splendid church was erected at Valparaiso. It was described as "a snow white edi- fice." Previous to this, the people had been obliged to meet in private dwellings, the court house, school house, etc. In size the new church was 38x50, with a vestibule of ten feet, over which was an end gallery. The interior of the church was very neat. The pulpit was of black walnut, furnished with a handsome sofa. The house was provided with lamps of the best quality. The two lamps on the pulpit were in marble stands.53
48 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism." 49 Western Christian Advocate, July 11, 1849. 50 Ibid., January 16, 1849. 51 Ibid., July 11, 1849. 52 Ibid., March 14, 1849. 53 Ibid., June 6, 1849.
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The Conference in 1849 met at Logansport. Bishop Waugh presided. This session closed the most pros- perous year that the Conference had yet experienced.
During the summer of 1850 a new church was or- ganized in Indianapolis, and was known as the Depot and Indianapolis East Mission. It occupied a room of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad Company. The church prospered so much that they were soon able to build a building costing $5,000. The corner- stone was laid July 8. A procession of the different charges and citizens was formed at Roberts Chapel and proceeded to the ground on New Jersey street. There the audience was addressed by Rev. William H. Goode with a beautiful and eloquent review of the rapid spread of Methodism in the city, this being the sixth church, including an African Methodist. The total number of churches of all denominations in Indi- anapolis at this time was sixteen.54 New societies were also organized on the Pendleton circuit and on the Decatur circuit. Among the new churches built during the year were buildings at Anderson, Perkins- ville, South Bend, Bristol and one on the Valparaiso circuit.55
During the summer of this year a camp meeting was held on the Poolsville circuit. In these days it was the standing order for the men and women to sit apart. One night a certain rowdy came to the meet- ing and seated himself on the woman's side. The Pre- siding Elder was busy at the altar service, and so he instructed one of the brethren to remove the rowdy. The rowdy would not leave his seat, so the Presiding Elder said if some one would take his place at the altar and take charge of the meeting, that he would take charge of the young man. As the Presiding El- der approached, the rowdy opened his vest, showing
54 Western Christian Advocate, March 13, 1850. 55 Ibid., March 20, 1850.
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a long dirk, but this did not daunt the Presiding El- der. He quickly grabbed the young man and removed him from the tent. While not done intentionally, the Presiding Elder let the young fellow fall, striking his head against the end of a log. The rowdy lay for several minutes in an unconscious state. It is need- less to say that perfect order was had from this time on. 56
The Conference for this year (1850) was held at Cambridge City, with Bishop Janes presiding. A rather interesting incident came up at this Conference that clearly shows the fine spirit that existed. Rev. John Marsee had served four years (a full term) on the Crawfordsville district, and the Rev. John Daniel on the Laporte district. The Bishop felt that the logical thing to do was to exchange these men, but Daniels preferred to go into station work and Marsee had a terrible dread of the Laporte district, on ac- count, as he said, of the lake winds. J. L. Smith, Presiding Elder of the Lafayette district, came for- ward with a proposition. He said that he would be willing to take the Laporte district and let Marsee have his district. At the next meeting of the cabinet the Bishop stated Smith's offer. Marsee rose from his chair and with much emotion spoke as follows: "Oh, Brother Smith, I always did love you, but I never loved you half so well as I do now; it was kind of you to be willing to go to Laporte, opening the way for me to go to Lafayette, which is just as far north as I ever want to go."57
The Conference went on record as being in favor of establishing an academy at Laporte, to be known as "the Laporte Male and Female Academy," yet they would incur no pecuniary responsibility in the said institution.58
56 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 186.
57 Ibid., 189.
58 Western Christian Advocate, September 25, 1850.
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During this next year, throughout the Conference, reports were made of very encouraging revivals. Of special importance were the revivals at Greencastle, when one takes into consideration that there were two Methodist Churches located here, and that each of these churches experienced encouraging revivals. The activity along building lines continued. Among the larger churches constructed were at Richmond and Peru. At Peru and the surrounding country Method- ism had made a wonderful growth, for it had only been eighteen or twenty years since Methodism had first entered the county. The ladies presented the church with a new bell weighing seven hundred pounds.59
The Conference for the year 1851 was held in the new church at South Bend, Bishop Thomas A. Morris presiding. During the conference session a circus was held in the town, and it was reported that one of the young men admitted on trial had attended the circus and otherwise amused himself by playing mar- bles on the street with the boys. A motion was made to reconsider the motion by which the young man was admitted on trial. But through the earnest solicita- tion of the Presiding Elder, any further consideration was put off until the next day. The following day other important questions came up and the case of the young man was absolutely forgotten, as the Pre- siding Elder had hoped.60 The editor of the Western Christian Advocate, in an editorial, spoke of a certain circus in something of the following fashion: "Last week our city was cursed with the presence of one of those wandering nuisances. Large numbers attended it, mostly men and boys. We have known many who have attended circuses, and they can be classed as worthless and trifling. Truth is truth, and sin is sin.
59 Ibid., February 26, 1851.
60 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 196.
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The daily city papers praised Dan Rice, the owner of the mountebank concern, and recommended all 'the little folks to go and see his wonderful performances.' We do not record this in a spirit of bitterness. We grieve inwardly at such prostitution of the public press."61 The young man alluded to above was one of twenty-five men admitted on trial. After a lapse of forty years he was the only one of the twenty-five left on the effective list, and he was considered one of the greatest ministers of the state.
Isaac M. Stagg, a member of the Conference, was located for unacceptability. This was done by a sim- ple vote of the Conference, without any formal trial. Stagg and his friends were not pleased with this action and said that this was contrary to church law, and they carried the matter to the General Conference, and it was there reversed. The following men were the delegates from the North Indiana Conference to the General Conference: George M. Beswick, William H. Goode, Samuel T. Gillet, John L. Smith, Joseph Mar- see and John Daniel.62
One of the most important matters to come before the Conference was the question of dividing the Con- ference. The dividing line was to be along the Michi- gan Road to South Bend, thence down the St. Joseph river to the state line. The eastern conference was to be called the "Ft. Wayne Conference," and was to in- clude all territory east of said road, including Roberts Chapel and Depot charges in Indianapolis and Logans- port Station. The western section was to be called the "Lafayette Conference," and was to include all terri- tory west of the Michigan Road and all the towns and societies on said road not included in the Ft. Wayne Conference.63
61 Western Christian Advocate, October 15, 1851.
62 Conference Minutes, 1851.
63 Western Christian Advocate, September 17, 1851.
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A request came from the Indiana Conference for a change in boundary line if the General Conference saw fit to make the alteration. The Indiana Confer- ence asked that the boundary line be so changed as to allow them to have the new charge at Greencastle. The North Indiana Conference acceded to this request by a large majority.64
During the year Amasa Johnson, one of the oldest and best ministers of the Conference, had died. He had been received on trial at the first session of the Indiana Conference in 1832. Few men entered the ministry with less education, and yet with his ex- traordinary memory and fund of common sense he overcame his early disadvantages and became a most effective and convincing preacher. He never made an attempt at oratory ; but he drew his illustrations from familiar things; he never failed to reach both the judgment and the heart. He had a keen and just sense of responsibility to God, and followed after the truth for its own sake.65
The first decade of the Conference was coming to a close. Some great things had been accomplished, but after all the church had hardly kept pace with the times. In 1844, on its formation, the North Indiana Conference had 23,343 members and 105 traveling preachers. In 1851, the last year of the original Con- ference, the membership was 32,234, and 170 traveling preachers, or a gain in membrship of a little more than twenty-four per cent. This was hardly keeping up with the increase of population in this section of the state. As a whole, the state had increased some- thing like forty-five per cent and the increase in church membership throughout the state was some- thing like thirty-six per cent. Probably the main rea- son why the church did not make a greater increase
64 Ibid.
65 F. C. Holliday, "Indiana Methodism," 265.
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was due to the revivals that swept the country previous to 1840. In 1835 there were but 15,562 Methodists in Indiana, while in 1840 there were 50,615, or an in- crease of 325 per cent in five years. Following these years there came a period of decline.66
66 Western Christian Advocate, March 12, 1851.
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CHAPTER III.
THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE, 1852-1860.
Methodism in general, and the North Indiana Con- ference in particular, suffered a falling off in mem- bership during the years 1846-48, inclusive. This de- crease was probably due to several causes, the two chief of which were (1) a natural reaction from the rapid growth in membership between the years 1838 and 1844, and (2) some dissatisfaction over the sep- aration of the Northern and Southern Methodist Epis- copal Churches. Indiana Methodists in this period were still far from agreed over the slavery question. However, the slump was but temporary, and by 1851 the North Indiana Conference minutes showed a mem- bership, including probationers, of 32,254, which was a net increase of 4,915 over 1844, the year in which the Conference was established. It is interesting to note that of this 32,254 only 35 were colored.
This increase in membership naturally brought up the question of a division of the Conference. As was stated in a previous chapter, it had always been the policy of the church to keep the conferences compara- tively small. One of the chief reasons for this was that it was quite a burden on a community to enter- tain a large Conference. One Western traveling preacher of this period wrote an article1 opposing the practice of ministers bringing their wives to Confer- ence, since it taxed to a much greater extent the hos- pitality of the conference city. A resolution propos- ing a division of the North Indiana Conference was brought before the eighth annual session of that Con-
1 Western Christian Advocate, July 21, 1852.
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ference in 1851. It was decided to petition the Gen- eral Conference meeting the next year to divide the territory of the Conference, making the Michigan Road north from Indianapolis the line of division as far north as South Bend, and from there to the Michi- gan state line, the St. Joseph river. The petition also asked that all the towns along the Michigan Road should belong to the western division of the Confer- ence, with the exception of Logansport and Roberts Chapel and Depot charges in Indianapolis.2 The sen- timent in favor of this petition was not unanimous, for at one time in the course of the discussion which it aroused, a motion to lay it upon the table was voted upon and lost. However, a large majority of the Conference favored the division.3
The utmost harmony prevailed in the Conference after the resolution providing for the petition had been passed, and further resolutions were passed fix- ing, in event of division, equal representation of each Conference on the boards of trustees and visit- ors to Indiana Asbury University, and providing for an equal division of all funds of the Preachers' Aid Society which might be available for the North Indi- ana Conference.4 In the North Indiana Conference of the next year, 1852, provision was also made for equal representation of each Conference on the board of trustees and visitors of the Ft. Wayne Female Col- lege.5
The General Conference was held in Boston in the following May. The delegates from the North Indiana Conference were George M. Beswick, William H. Goode, Samuel T. Gillet, John L. Smith, Joseph Mar-
2 North Indiana Conference Minutes, 1851.
3 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 197.
4 North Indiana Conference Minutes, 1851.
5 Ibid., 1852.
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see and John Daniel.6 The petition was presented to the Conference by these delegates and was immedi- ately referred to the committee on boundaries. This committee made the following report:
"The North Indiana Conference shall include all of northeastern Indiana, bounded north by Michigan, east by Ohio, south by the National road and west by the Michigan road as far north as South Bend, thence down the St. Joseph river to the Michigan state line, also the town of Logansport, all the towns on the Na- tional road east of Indianapolis, and so much of the city of Indianapolis as lies north of Market street and east of Meridian street."7
The report was adopted by the Conference, and thus the division as finally made was practically as the petition from the North Indiana Conference had asked. The western half of the territory was formed into a Northwest Indiana Conference. In this same session of the General Conference an appeal from a decision of the North Indiana Conference was brought by Isaac M. Stagg, one of its members. Stagg had been ac- cused, when his character came to be examined, with maladministration and neglect of duty. He was con- victed by the Conference without any formal trial and was located without his consent.8 The General Con- ference reversed this decision, ruling that the North Indiana Conference had exceeded its authority.9
In the years 1852-1853 the temperance question was exciting a great deal of public interest. The great temperance lecturer, John B. Gough, was traveling over the country issuing fiery denunciations of the liquor traffic. In 1851 the state of Maine10 had passed
6 J. L. Smith, "Indiana Methodism," 198.
7 General Conference Minutes for year 1852.
8 North Indiana Conference Minutes, 1851.
9 General Conference Minutes, 1852.
10 Rhodes, "History of United States," Vol. II, 49-50.
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a liquor law, the principal provisions of which forbade the manufacture or sale, either directly or indirectly, of any spirituous or intoxicating liquors except for mechanical or medicinal purposes. It also provided for the appointing of a person in each city, who was under bail, to sell liquor for all purposes permitted by law.11 This Maine law served as a model for proposed temperance legislation everywhere. The Methodist Church lined up solidly in the fight for the restriction of the sale of liquor.
In Indianapolis, on January 10, 1852, an Indiana State Temperance Convention was held.12 E. R. Ames, of the Indiana Conference, was made president. The convention was attended by 372 delegates from 53 counties. This convention asked the Legislature, many members of which were in attendance, for a law mak- ing the vender of liquors responsible for all the con- sequences, making possession of liquor prima facie evidence of intent to violate the law and making the building in which liquor was sold liable for fines im- posed on the seller. The Indiana Legislature, meeting in that year, did revise the existing liquor law, but it allowed the sale of spirituous liquors for sacramental or medicinal purposes in any quantity, and refused to class wine, even if it was made from whisky, as spir- ituous. The Legislature did pass a law forbidding the sale of liquor of any sort within two miles of a camp
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