USA > Indiana > A history of the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from its organization in 1844 to the present > Part 6
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"Taking hold of the business with this in view, every one felt that he was on the express train, and with the exception of a few who are never ready, who get up late, keep slow time, preach and even sleep slow, and would like a little more time when the messenger calls, and who won't get up on the resurrection morn till Gabriel blows a second blast, unless they mend their ways-except these, they were ready at every station, and the conference proceeded at express speed, doing, we undertake to say, more business in the same time than any similar body in Indiana.
"The conference is a queer compound. We find one White, two Black and a Greenman; a Hill and a Dale, with Rhodes, Barnes, Bowers and Agers; a Hall and a Kitchen, with a Clock; a Camp and a Church, with a Dean; four Smiths, two Millers, a Cooper, a Skinner, a Stabler and a Beamer; one Wright and one Pear- man; one Manse, a Campbell and a Lamb; one Lemon, and a Nutt, with Hull, a Stair with Sparks and Burns; one Eddy, with a Sale, and one who is always Stout, no matter how feeble his brethern may be."74
The most interesting feature of this session was the report of the committee on tobacco. This commit- tee was an innovation, and its report was not adopted until there had been much debate on both sides of the question. Some of the ministers still chewed their tobacco, and were consequently opposed to the report of the committee which condemned its habitual use, and stated that this would be an objection to the ad- mission of any man to the conference unless he should promise to abandon it.
Tobacco chewing was very prevalent in the West especially, and it is just at this period that the church commences to condemn it. The Western Christian Advocate for 1858 and 1859 is full of articles against
74 Ibid, April 21, 1858.
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the practice. One writer, in a very sarcastic article on the use of tobacco, says :
"We must certainly infer that an article conferring so much comfort and gratification upon its users should not be withheld from any who may desire to indulge in its use. And it is certainly proper for him to use it in any form and anywhere he may choose. Is it not in high degree befitting a lad to chew tobacco, if he choose, in church, or Sabbath school, and after having soaked his quid to saturation, to press it between his teeth and make the russet saliva flow out like oil from an olive press? And is it not exceedingly nice to see him project streams of liquid amber from his mouth, either through protruding lips with poi-wisk, or be- tween his saffron teeth with a hissick? And is it not in keeping with the most refined delicacy for him to let fly the luscious juice, regardless of its landing as to person, place or thing? Then how convenient and enticing it is for them that sit near him to kneel down upon a floor already soaked and stained to receive his penitent knees! Again, what a pleasant sight is a young gentleman, in the strength and beauty of his early manhood, enjoying most consummately the re- freshing influences of the quid. See him turn over his quid and give it a vigorous pressure. Now the rich juice flows copiously into his mouth and he prepares for its evacuation to make room for a fresh flow. See what complaisance his countenance exhibits as he pro- jects streams and globules of clear amber saliva over his chin, which, when under a horizontal influence, form beautiful paraboles in their descent. Who would deny him this privilege?"75
The years 1858 and 1859 were years of financial de- pression after the panic of 1857, and we find, as a con- sequence, fewer churches being built and subscription lists to church periodicals dwindling. On the Mid-
75 Ibid., June 29, 1859.
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dlebury circuit the pastor reports enough pledged to start a church, "notwithstanding the hardness of the times."76 On February 13th, 1859, a fine new church was dedicated at Logansport. It was built of cut stone, 50x75, and $3,100.00 was raised to pay for it the day of dedication.77
The revivals of the winter 1858-59 added many to the church, and a general revival seemed to be in progress all over the state. This was one of the causes for the increase in church membership, which we have already noted.
The following report of a revival on the Decatur circuit is typical of these revival reports that the min- isters sent to the Western Christian Advocate. The mixed metaphor in the last two sentences is also typical of the average itinerant's eloquence :
"Since last August we have held nine protracted meetings, and it has pleased the Lord to meet with us every coming together, and the result is, 305 persons have been converted and made happy in the Saviour's love; 281 have joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and others have joined the United Brethren and Evan- gelical Lutherans. Forty-six persons have sought and obtained the witness of perfect love. I think I can safely say that the fire of Divine Grace is burning all around the circuit. We are still looking up and pray- ing for more copious showers of divine grace."78
The conference for 1859 met at Logansport, April 7th. The committee on slavery practically repeated the resolutions of the preceding year, which advocated making the general rule against slaveholding prohib- itory. This was the attitude of the conference toward the slavery issue at the opening of the great conflict which permanently settled the question.
76 Ibid., March 3, 1858. 77 Ibid., March 9, 1859. 78 Ibid., February 17, 1858.
CHAPTER IV.
THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE IN WAR TIME, 1860-1865.
At the session of the North Indiana Conference in 1860, which met at Mishawaka, in April, the reports indicated that the Conference was in a prosperous condition. There were seven districts, with a total membership of 19,530 full members and 5,661 proba- tioners, and there was an advance along most lines, and particularly in the missionary offering. In 1859 the missionary collection amounted to $1,988.70; in 1860 the amount reported was $3,027. The seven dis- tricts, with their Presiding Elders, were: Indianapo- lis, A. Eddy; Richmond, O. V. Lemon; Muncie, S. Lamb; Ft. Wayne, G. C. Beeks; Peru, J. J. Cooper ; West Ft. Wayne, J. V. R. Miller, and Goshen, L. W. Munson.
Among the various committees presenting reports at this Conference was a Committee on Slavery. Chief among the questions confronting the General Confer- ence which was to meet in May in the city of Buffalo was the one relating to the change in the general rule on slavery. Many felt that the rule ought to be made more explicit in condemning slave-holding, as well as slave buying and selling, and all the church papers had expressed themselves as favorable to so changing the rule, except the "Advocate and Journal" of New York.2 The committee of the North Indiana Conference pre- sented their report, in which they vigorously urged the adoption of the "New Rule." Their report states :
1 Minutes North Indiana Conference, 1860, 28.
2 Sweet, "Methodist Episcopal Church and the Civil War," 38, 39, 40.
3 Minutes North Indiana Conference, 1860, 31, 32.
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"WHEREAS, This conference has always spoken so clearly and unmistakably against the great sin of American slavery, and in favor of changing the General Rules and chapter on that subject, so as to entirely extirpate it from the Church, we deem it un- necessary to reiterate what we have so often said, only that we are more than ever opposed to this sum of all villainies; therefore,
"Resolved, That we concur in the Erie Conference resolutions in favor of the change of the General Rule and suspension of the Restrictive Article as our first choice. * * *
"Resolved, That in event of a failure to secure the votes neces- sary to a change of the General Rule, we ask the insertion in the Discipline of an official interpretation, declaring the true meaning of the present rule to be prohibitive of every element of enslaving-of holding as well as buying and selling.
"Resolved, That we will not vote for any man to represent us in the next General Conference who does not heartily concur In the foregoing resolutions.
"Resolved, That we are morally compelled to ask of the Gen- eral Conference a clean record in our Discipline on this subject, and will never cease laboring, by the help of God, till we have it.
"Resolved. That we fully approve of the position taken by the Western Christian and the North-Western Christian Advocates on this subject."
The session of the Conference in 1861 met at New- castle, on April 3rd. In reading over the minutes for this year one sees little evidence that the preachers were disturbed by the approaching national crisis. There is a report from the Committee on Slavery, in which the action of the late General Conference in adopting the "New Rule" was indorsed, but there is no reference to threatened secession.4 The minutes for 1862, however, contain a number of references to the existence of Civil War. This session met at Fort Wayne, and was presided over by Bishop Simpson. On the second day of the session a motion was introduced and unanimously adopted to the effect "That all preach- ers of this Conference who have enlisted in the army, either as officers or privates, be allowed a location ; and that we will cordially receive them back again into
4 Minutes, 1861, 34, 35.
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the Conference as soon as their term of service shall expire."5
At this session also the Committee on the State of the Country read a long report, which was unani- mously adopted. The preamble of this report states :
"The year which has passed since our last annual assemblage, has been fraught with events the most thrilling. We meet now under circumstances which would then have challenged the ut- most stretch of credibility. One year ago this nation reposed in security, confiding in the soundness of her Constitution, the purity of her Government, and the loyalty of the great body of her cit- izens. Scarcely had these ministers reached their recent fields of labor, till the note of civil war was sounded. A deeply laid scheme of treason was found to have spread over a large section of our Republic. Many of the States of this Union rose in armed rebellion; a fearful blow was struck at the Constitution and lib- erties of our country, threatening not merely the security, but the very existence of the best Government on earth. A shock, unparalleled in the world's history, has been realized ; the country has been roused to arms; our sons and our brothers are on the battle-field ; and even during our present session reports are reach- ing us of the most sanguinary conflicts-thousands upon thou- sands slain, wounded, captured; we tremble to hear the details, lest it should appear that our family circles are invaded, and our loved ones numbered among the victims.
"With such surroundings we can not, we would not, be silent. Patriotism and Christianity alike forbid. And while we disclaim all desire to invade a province not our own, we hold it our right, our duty, in this hour of peril, to contribute all our influence, in common with our fellow citizens, in maintaining the institutions of our common country. In the holy cause of freedom the Church should be, and we rejoice that she is, first to take the field, last to yield it."
Following this preamble is a series of eight reso- lutions. The first expresses confidence in "our repub- lican institutions" and pledges allegiance to the Gov- ernment of the United States; the second declares the war to be "only treasonable and rebellious"; the third states the war to be a stern necessity and justifiable
5 Ibid., 6.
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before God and man, and the conference pledges their prayers and support; the fourth affirms the root and origin of the war to be African slavery, and expresses the hope that the conflict will bring deliverance from "this great national evil"; the fifth rejoices in the late successes of the Union arms; the sixth deplores the action taken by the Church South in "this unholy strife"; the seventh commends the attitude of the min- isters and members of the Methodist Church in the border states, and the last expresses the hope that "the present trials may be sanctified to the moral and politi- cal purification of the country."6
One of the results of the war which bore heavily upon the preachers and their families was the exceed- ingly high cost of living. One preacher, writing to the Western Christian Advocate in 1863, complains that "a great many of our preachers are working for the same salaries they received two years ago. Then flour was $4.00 a barrel; pork, 3 cents a pound ; sugar, 6 cents ; coffee, 12; calico, 10; corn, 25, and other arti- cles in proportion. Now we pay 80 cents for corn, green at that; 18 cents for sugar, 10 cents for pork, and so on through the list. Prices have gone up nearly fourfold, and farmers are coining money, but preach- ers must do with the old salary or starve."7 This con- dition continued to be so serious that at the session of the Conference in 1864 resolutions were adopted, stat- ing the fact that prices had advanced from fifty to sev- enty-five per cent, and because of that many of the preachers had suffered great financial embarrassment in consequence of the inadequate pay, and they ask that each Presiding Elder be requested to urge upon all quarterly conferences "the imperative necessity of in- creasing allowances to correspond with increased prices." The committee also sent an address to the
6 Minutes, 1862, 31, 32, 33.
7 Western Christian Advocate, 1863, 385.
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quarterly conferences, in which they speak of the ad- vance in expense of living and state that many of "our best men have already been compelled to locate for want of adequate support," and they ask that the quar- terly conferences increase their estimates to correspond with the advanced cost of living.8
A brief glance at the salaries paid the preachers during the years of the war will indicate the necessity for the above resolutions. In 1862 the Presiding El- ders received salaries ranging from $850 to $500, and the highest salary paid to any preacher of the Con- ference was that paid the pastor of Roberts Chapel, Indianapolis, J. Colclazer, who received $800. One pastor received the sum of $52, although the amount estimated was $266.º The salaries for 1863 show no advance, but by 1864 several of the Presiding Elders are receiving $900, as does also the pastor of Roberts Chapel, and one cheering sign which the Stewards report for the last two years of the war indicate is the fact that most of the churches paid their preachers in full. By 1865 eight preachers and Presiding El- ders were receiving $1,000 or more. The pastors re- ceiving the higher salaries were J. V. R. Miller, Rob- erts Chapel, $1,200; N. H. Phillips, Pearl Street Church, Richmond; A. S. Kinnan, Union Chapel, Rich- mond; R. Toby, of the Wayne Street Church, Ft. Wayne; H. J. Meek. of Kendallville, and C. N. Sims, of Wabash, $1,000. The pastors at Knightstown, Main Street, Peru; Newcastle, Berry Street, Ft. Wayne, paid their pastors from $800 to $950; while East Mission, Indianapolis, Noblesville, Fishersburg, Anderson Station, Pendleton, Castleton, Greenfield, Middletown, Muncie, Marion, Selma, Albany, Third Street, Peru; Kokomo, Harlan, Jarvis, Warsaw Sta-
8 Minutes 1864, 33, 34.
9 Ibid., 1862, 21-23.
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tion and Warsaw circuit, Akron, North Manchester, Lagro, Coesse, Leesburg, Summit, Goshen, Osceola, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Bristol, Lagrange, Wolcottville and Ligonier paid their pastors from $600 to $700.10
The army record of the North Indiana Conference is one of which any organization might well be proud. Twenty-one of the members of the Conference enlisted in the army, most of them serving as chaplains or of- ficers. A list of these men with a short sketch of their army career has been prepared by one of the number, Rev. Charles E. Disbro,11 and is as follows :
In the autumn of 1861, the governor authorized the Rev. J. W. T. McMullen and Rev. F. A. Hardin, both members of the North Indiana Conference, to raise a regiment of infantry to serve for the period of three years, unless sooner discharged, the same to be organ- ized at Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana. Hundreds of men, especially those of moral and religious char- acter, flocked to their standard, and the regiment, after- ward known as the 57th Indiana Volunteers, was soon organized. Two of the company commanders, Rev. W. K. Hoback and Rev. C. E. Disbro, were traveling ministers. The Rev. John W. T. McMullen at the time of enlistment was pastor of the Pearl Street church, Richmond, Indiana. His commission as colonel of the 57th regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was dated Novem- ber 9, 1861. He resigned his commission March 6, 1862, and never re-entered the service. He was trans- ferred to the Northwest Indiana Conference in 1862. Rev. Franklin A. Hardin at the time of enlistment was pastor at Newcastle, Indiana ; his commission as Lieu- tenant Colonel was dated November 9, 1861, and he also resigned the following March. He was recommis-
10 Ibid., 1865, 24-20.
11 Rev. Charles E. Disbro states that the following record was taken from the Adjutant-General's Report, [Terrill's Re- ports].
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sioned on April 3, 1862, and again resigned September 15, 1862. He was located April 14, 1862, and subse- quently became a member of the Rock River Con- ference.
Rev. W. K. Hoback enlisted at Cassville, Indiana, his commission as captain of Company H, 57th Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteers, was dated October 30, 1861, resigned to accept a captaincy March 20, 1863. He was commissioned as chaplain February 20, 1863, re- signed October 26, 1863, because of disability. Cap- tain Hoback was granted a location April 11, 1862, readmitted to the conference in 1863, was located again in 1874, and died October 19, 1876.
Rev. William S. Bradford enlisted at Middletown, Indiana, his commission as captain of Company F, 57th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was dated October 30, 1861. He gallantly led his company at the battle of Shiloh. He was taken sick three weeks before the evacuation of Corinth, received a leave of absence and started home, but continued to grow worse and died at Muncie, Indiana, May 14, 1862, before reaching his destination.
Rev. Charles E. Disbro enlisted at Alto, Indiana, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, April 30, 1862, re- signed February 21, 1863; was afterward promoted 1st Lieutenant, but was not mustered. Was in the bat- tles of Shiloh, Perryville, Ky., Stone River and siege of Corinth. After resigning from the 57th Regiment he enlisted in the 108th Regiment State Troops, and was commissioned as Captain of Company G., July 11, 1863, mustered out July 17, 1863, promoted Major, Howard County Regiment Indiana Legion State Troops, October 17, 1863; located April 11, 1862; read- mitted April 11, 1864.
Rev. Abram C. Barnhart enlisted at Columbia City ; the date of his commission as 1st Lieutenant of Com- pany C., 126th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was
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December 21, 1863; promoted Chaplain April 8, 1864, and was mustered out with regiment. Located 1856, readmitted 1863, located 1869.
Rev. Safety Layton enlisted at Logansport, Indiana ; the date of his commission as Chaplain 9th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was September 5, 1861; resigned July 6, 1862; reappointed Chaplain 17th Regiment, In- diana Volunteers, December 7, 1862; resigned January 14, 1864; withdrawn 1869; died, date not known.
Rev. Lewis Dale enlisted at Muncie, Indiana; date of commission as Chaplain of 19th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was July 29, 1861 ; resigned March 8, 1863 ; located 1863.
Rev. Thomas Barnett enlisted at Selma, Indiana ; date of commission as Chaplain 19th Regiment, In- diana Volunteers, was April 10, 1863; resigned July 5, 1864; withdrawn under charges 1871.
Rev. O. V. Lemon enlisted at Richmond, Indiana ; the date of his commission as Chaplain of 36th Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteers, was October 1, 1861; re- signed July 6, 1862; died September 30, 1889.
Rev. Morrow P. Armstrong enlisted at Blountsville, Indiana; the date of his commission as Chaplain of 36th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was July 12, 1862; resigned January 22, 1863.
He enlisted in the 106th Regiment, State Troops at Kokomo, Indiana, was commissioned as Captain of Company H. July 10, 1863 ; mustered out July 17, 1863 ; readmitted 1863; transferred to Illinois Conference 1867.
Rev. Arad S. Lakin enlisted at Peru, Indiana; date of commission as Chaplain of 39th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was August 8, 1861; mustered out Decem- ber 31, 1864; term expired. Mr. Lakin is given this recognition on account of faithful service, though not a member of this conference.
Rev. Greenberry C. Beeks enlisted at Fort Wayne,
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Indiana ; date of commission was November 21, 1861, as Chaplain of 44th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He resigned December 1, 8162. At the time of his enlist- ment he was presiding elder of Fort Wayne district. Died 1878.
Rev. John W. Smith enlisted at Middlebury, In- diana; date of commission as Chaplain of 48th Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteers, was January 2, 1864; mus- tered out with regiment; died June 3, 1891.
Rev. Orville P. Boyden enlisted at Muncie, Indiana ; date of commission as Chaplain of 75th Regiment, In- diana Volunteers, was October 14, 1862; resigned Feb- ruary 15, 1863; died August 22, 1865.
Rev. Enos W. Errick enlisted at Decatur, Indiana ; date of commission as Chaplain of 89th Regiment, In- diana Volunteers, was August 9, 1862; resigned July 22, 1863; withdrew from North Indiana Conference in 1863, and joined Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Rev. John S. McCarty ; date of commission as chap- lain of 89th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was De- cember 26, 1864. Mustered out with regiment; died July 10, 1910.
Rev. Silas T. Stout; date of commission as chap- lain of 84th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was Sep- tember 26, 1862; resigned July 31, 1863; died Decem- ber 23, 1880.
Rev. Augustus Eddy was appointed as hospital chaplain July 4, 1862. There is no record as to length of his service, but it was probably three years. He died February 9, 1870.
Rev. Richard D. Spellman enlisted at Noblesville, Indiana ; date of commission as chaplain of 101st Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteers, was September 10, 1862; resigned April 7, 1863; died October 20, 1905.
Rev. Reuben H. Sparks enlisted at Union City, Indiana; date of commission as chaplain of 124th Reg- iment, Indiana Volunteers, was November 17, 1864;
M. Mahın
J. W." Welch
P. S. Stephens
C. E. Disbro
E. F. Hasty
W. E. McCarty.
J. . ES.Ervin
S.gC .¿ Miller
WSH. Peirce
W. Peck
T. H. C. Beall
H. N. Herrick
C. H. Wilkinson
F. A. Robinson
W. F. Walker
G. H. Hill
E. L. Semans
A. J. Carey
W. S. Stewart
J. V. Terflinger
G. B. Work
R. C. Jones
J. W. McDaniel
R. H. Smith
J. B. Cook
A. M. Patterson
J. M. Rush
P. J. Albright
C. H. Brown
J. S., Cain
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE.
H. A. Ewell
J. K. Watts
A. S. Wooton
J. W. Paschall
W. R. Wones
1 W. Cain
J. A. Ruley
B. Sawyer
R. S. Reed
J. T. Fettro
w.D. Parr
L. J. Naftzger,
T. M. Guild.
C. E. White
C. E. Line
M. Swadener
C. U. Wade
F. G. Browne
J. E. Williams
S C. Norris
C. H. Murray
Fred M. Stone
J. C. Murray
CVIL. Harbour
J. W. Bowen
S. Light
1.W. Singeri
M.& S.# Marble
M. R. Peirce
Henry Bridge
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE.
James A. Beatty
L. M. Krider
W. W Brown
El Davis
A. L. Lamport
L. A. Sevits
J H. Palmer
B. S. Hollopeter
W E. Murray
Sherman Powell
J O. Bills
J. M. Haimes
J. W. Potter
Asher S. Preston
C. M. Hollopeter
D. V. Williams
F. M. Lacy
M A. Harlan
D H. Guild
J. P. Chamnes
J. F. Bailey
U. S. A. Bridge
A G Neal
J. H. McNary
J. L. Gillard
John C. White
A. A. Turner
J. W. Oborn
J. F. Radcliffe
John J. Fred
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE.
J. A. Patterson
S. Billheimer
E. H. Taylor
C. Tinkham
M. C. Pittenger
A. L. Weaver
G. H. Myers
J. W. Walters
J. Phillips
E. W. Westhafer
t H. M. Johnson
P. E. Powell
J. W. Tilman
F. M. Kemper
W. W. Martin
H. Lacy
M. Pell
D. T. Stephenson
J. T. Bean
R. L. Semans
W. B. Freeland
T. J. Johnson
F. J. Speckien
G. H, Crafts
S. F. Harter
a
W. A. Griest
R. J. Wade
C. C. Travis
J. E. Ferris
E. L. Jones
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE.
T. M. Hill
W. E. Hamilton
S. L. Cates
Fred B. Fisher
J. C. Graham
Wm. M. Amos
W. C. Asay
Geo. W. Martin
J. Chas. Woodruff
John W. Zerbe
G. E. Hughes
J. K. Wyant
R. Burns
F. P. Johnson
Herbert Boase
C B. Sweeney
B. Kendall
M. B. Graham
Conde A. Hile
H. L. Overdeer
H. W. Park
C. B. Croxall
C. M. Vawter
Clarence A. Hunt
R. C. Ballard
C. L. De Bow
P. E. Greenwalt
E. J. Maupin
W. E. Loveless
J. F. Lutey
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE.
F. A. LeMaster
H. S. Nickerson
G. F. Hubbartt
Frank S. Burns
Wm. W. Sweet
J. W. Gruber
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