USA > Indiana > Circuit-rider days in Indiana > Part 19
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On motion the Rev. Mr. Fitch, Bible agent, who had previously been introduced to the conference and who had requested opportunity to address the conference, was requested to give his address on Monday morning.
The committee on the transcription of the jour- nals, by Brother J. Crawford, the chairman made re- port as follows, viz .: "Terre Haute, 9th October, 1841. The committee appointed to examine and compare the journals of the former sessions of this conference, beg leave to report, that in examining the new journal, they have found the mechanical execution and or- thography good and highly creditable, but on carefully comparing it throughout with the original, they have found numerous omissions, insertions and alterations in the language, in some instances improving, but in others changing the sense. The most material omis- sions are the report on education, and the printed ex-
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hibits of the book concern, and some resolutions on different subjects. Your committee have not deemed themselves authorized to make corrections, but here- with submit a statement of eighty-one errors, with the page and line where they occur, all which is re- spectfully submitted."
J. CRAWFORD, L. W. BERRY, SAMUEL P. GILLET.
Which report, together with the list of corrections, was laid upon the secretary's desk. A motion was made to adopt the report, and on motion of Brother Wood the subject was laid upon the table.
The first question on the minutes was resumed, and the following persons were recommended and re- ceived, viz .: Henry H. Bradley, from the Winchester district; Samuel C. Swayne, from the Winchester dis- trict; Milton Mahen, Horatio N. Barnes and James Black, from the Logansport district, and John C. Medsker and Elijah S. Blue, from the South Bend district.
On motion of Brother Cooper, the case of James D. Templin, who was not received, was reconsidered, and after deliberation he was received on trial. Eventus Doud, recommended from the Logansport district, was readmitted.
The recommendations of local preachers to Dea- cons' Orders were now taken up and the following brethren were elected to Deacons' Orders, viz .: Har- vey Moss, John Ruby and Dennis Kearsey (a colored man), from the Madison district; John L. Smith, John W. Bradshaw and Stephan Norman, from the Win- chester district; Thomas J. Doyle and Peter Bottorff from the Charlestown district; Elijah Sewell, Obadiah Tincher, John Hancock and Thomas B. Caywood, from the Crawfordsville district; Mark Bruffe and Alexan-
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der Surbaugh, from the Greencastle district; and John Sutcliffe, from the Connersville district.
Pleasant E. Royse was recommended from the Charlestown district, but was not elected. Michael Johnson was recommended from the Bloomington dis- trict, but was not elected.
The examination of applications for Elders' Orders was commenced, and the following persons were rec- ommended and elected as elders, viz .: Robert Carron, from the Madison district; Samuel Brenton, from the Crawfordsville district; Samuel H. Dickerson, from the Greencastle district, and Robert Harrison, from the South Bend district. Elijah E. Barrett was rec- ommended from the Winchester district, but owing to constitutional difficulties he was not elected.
Brothers Beswick and Burns were excused from attendance, to transact some necessary business. Ab- sence was granted to Brothers A. Wood and E. G. Wood for the afternoon session, and to Brother Walker for the remainder of the session.
The committee, to whom the case of Brother Beers was referred, reported as follows: "We, the commit- tee to whom the case of Brother Beers was referred for investigation after examining the evidence pro- curable in the case, report that in their judgment the difficulty arose entirely from misunderstanding be- tween the parties and that nothing has occurred to implicate the Christian or ministerial character of Brother Beers. C. W. Ruter, chairman; William V. Daniels, secretary." Whereupon, on motion of Brother Thompson, the report was adopted and the character of Brother Beers being passed, he was elected to El- ders' Orders.
The vote given in the case of Brother Ravenscroft was, on motion of Brother Dane, reconsidered, and he was admitted into full connection, and elected to Dea- cons' Orders.
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The hour of adjournment having arrived, on mo- tion it was resolved that conference meet again at two o'clock this afternoon, and the session was closed with prayer by Brother Thompson.
Saturday afternoon, October 9, 1841. Conference was opened pursuant to adjournment, with reading, singing and prayer by Brother Havens.
The following resolution was then presented: "Re- solved, That a committee of three be elected to esti- mate the table expenses of Bishop Roberts for the cur- rent year. C. W. Ruter, G. M. Beswick." Which being put by the secretary was unanimously adopted, and Allen Wiley, C. W. Ruter and A. Eddy were nominated and appointed said committee.
The committee to whom was referred the commu- nication from Brother J. B. Finley, reported as fol- lows, viz .:
"The committee to whom was referred the address of Brother J. B. Finley to this conference, on the sub- ject of publishing a social and domestic library at our book room in Cincinnati, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report that in our opinion such a publication would be of great impor- tance to our Western country in eliciting the talents of our writers, and the diffusion of useful knowledge among the people. But your committee are not in pos- session of sufficient data to decide whether it would be expedient to proceed immediately in this enterprise, especially in view of the depressed state of the pecu- niary affairs of our country. The committee there- fore beg leave to offer the following resolutions :
" 'Resolved, That in the opinion of this conference such a publication is desirable if suitable works can be obtained.
" 'Resolved, Secondly, That we recommend such a publication at our Western book room, provided it can be done without pecuniary loss to the concern.
"'ALLEN WILEY, Chairman.'"
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And after some deliberation and discussion the report and resolutions were adopted.
The following resolution was then presented:
"Resolved, That our venerable and beloved super- intendent, Bishop Roberts, be and is hereby requested at his first convenient opportunity, to sit for his por- trait, and that the preachers of this conference be per- mitted to defray the expense which may accrue in ob- taining such portrait. C. W. Ruter, G. W. Ames." Which being put by the secretary was adopted by a rising vote.
The examination of the characters of elders was recommended and Brothers Ruter, Talbott, Brown, Wiley, Eddy, Burns, Havens, Miller and Beswick gave an account of their several districts, informing us of the work of God during the year as well as of their own personal experience, which was of a most gratify- ing character, and the season thus spent was one of deep and serious feeling-and their characters were examined and passed.
The report on the journals was on motion taken up, and the following resolution was then presented, viz .:
"Resolved, That a committee of three, to consist of E. R. Ames, Cyrus Nutt and H. B. Beers, be and they are hereby appointed to review, compare and cor- rect the new journal, and report as soon as practicable to the conference. S. C. Cooper, Allen Wiley." Which resolution was adopted.
Brother Wiley suggested that expenses had accrued for the purchase of a book, and recording centenary contributions, on motion of Brother Cooper it was re- solved that these expenses be met out of any centenary monies now on hand.
On motion conference adjourned to meet on Mon- day morning, and was closed by prayer by Brother Stiver.
Monday morning, 8 o'clock, October 11, 1841. Con-
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ference met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with reading, singing and prayer by Brother Kearns.
The journals were then read and approved, and on motion leave of absence for the remainder of the ses- sion was granted to Brother Forbes and Brother Truslow.
The time having arrived, which was set for hearing the address of Rev. Mr. Fitch, agent of the bible so- ciety, and he not appearing, on motion the conference proceeded to the regular business of examining the characters of elders and the characters of Joseph Mar- see, Constant B. Jones, James Jones, John C. Smith, William V. Daniels, Richard Hargrave, Amos Bussy, William G. Good, Isaac Crawford, Henry S. Dane, Lucian W. Berry, Anthony Robinson, Thomas Ray and John Daniel were examined and passed.
The character of Jesse C. Harbin was examined and passed, and he was placed in a superannuated re- lation.
The character of John A. Decker was examined and passed and he was placed in a supernumerary relation.
The Rev. Mr. Fitch, the Bible agent, was now per- mitted to address the conference on the subject of Bible societies, and William V. Daniels, Joseph Marsee and John C. Smith were appointed a committee to take the subject into consideration and report to this con- ference.
Enoch G. Wood and Aaron Wood gave an account of the work in their districts and their characters were examined and passed.
The characters of the following brethren were ex- amined and passed, viz .: Charles Bonner, F. C. Holli- day, John Kearns, Isaac McElroy, Amasa Johnson, Ariel Beach, Enoch Wood, Jared B. Mershen, Allen D. Beasley, Ebenezer Patrick, Daniel Demotte, Thomas Bartlett, Miles Huffaker, Isaac Owen, J. L. Belotte, John S. Bayless, Cornelius Swank, Ezra L. Kemp, M. (17 )
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Simpson, S. C. Cooper, C. M. Holliday, Philip May, William McGinnis, Jacob M. Stallard, Thomas Spilman, Elijah Whitten, Miltiades Miller, Joseph Tarkington, Wiliam W. Hibben, G. C. Beeks, Lewis Hurlbert, Sam- uel S. Reeves, John H. Bruce, John W. Sullivan, R. S. Robinson, Joseph White, Jacob Colclares, William M. Fraley, Warren Griffith, Zachariah Games, George M. Boyd and Edward R. Ames.
The characters of William H. Smith and Benja- min T. Griffith were examined and passed and they were placed in a superannuated relation.
The characters of Thomas S. Gunn and George K. Hester were examined and passed and they were granted a location.
The secretary was then permitted to read an ab- stract of numbers, Sunday school, etc., and after con- ference had been prolonged to permit him to finish the reading, the session was closed with prayer by Brother Huribert.
Tuesday morning, October 12, 1841. Conference was opened at the usual hour with reading, singing and prayer by Brother A. Wood, and the secretary not being present, Brother Swormstedt was permitted to address the conference, after which the minutes were read and approved and the house proceeded to business.
The following resolution was then presented, viz .: "Whereas, The premature marriage of young min- isters, embarrasses the appointing power, burdens the fields of labor, with much additional expense, and in most cases retards the improvement of the preachers and thereby renders them less useful; therefore, Re- solved, that this conference, in future, will discontinue any preacher who marries within the period of his probation.
ALLEN WILEY, E. G. WOOD."
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Which by the vote of the Conference was not sus- tained.
The following report was then submitted: "The committee appointed to estimate the table expenses of Bishop Roberts, have had the same under considera- tion, and have fixed the sum at four hundred dollars. ALLEN WILEY, C. W. RUTER, A. EDDY."
October 9, 1841.
On motion of Brother Holliday, it was resolved that the preachers in charge of the circuit where Sis- ter Rogers may reside, be requested to dispose of such part of the books received from the book concern as shall meet his liabilities to said concern.
The committee on memoirs reported a sketch of the life of Brother Williams which was adopted and handed to the bishop.
The following resolution was presented, viz .:
"Whereas, We regard the Indiana Asbury Univer- sity as destined to exert an extensive and most salutary influence on the religious, moral and literary charac- ter of the community throughout our state; and
Whereas, we believe the interests of the university would be promoted by such a course; therefore
Resolved, That we respectfully request the trustees of the university to make such arrangements as will allow President Simpson an opportunity of spending next summer, or at least a part of it, in traveling throughout the state, for the purpose of extending his acquaintance among the people, and of promoting the interests of the university in such way as he may judge expedient.
Resolved, That the secretary be directed to lay a copy of this resolution before the board of trustees.
E. R. AMES, C. W. RUTER."
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Which resolution was adopted.
The report of the mission committee was then pre- sented by Brother Ruter and was adopted.
The examination of the characters of the superan- nuated preachers was then taken up, and the charac- ter of J. L. Thompson was examined and passed and he was continued in a superannuated relation, and the following resolution was adopted :
"Resolved, That Brother Thompson have liberty to remove to the west if he thinks proper so to do.
S. C. COOPER, C. W. RUTER."
The character of James Scott was examined and passed and his relation continued, and on motion of Brother Cooper he was granted leave of absence for the remainder of this session.
The characters of William Shanks, John A. Brouse, Hackaliel Vredenburg and Asa Beck were examined and passed and they were continued in their relation.
The character of David Stiver was examined and passed, and he was continued in his relation, he in- forming the conference that for next year he would not be a claimant on its funds.
The character of Burroughs Westlake was exam- ined and passed and he was made affective.
The character of John Richie was examined and passed and on motion his relation was changed from that of superannuated to supernumerary, and on mo- tion it was resolved that Brother Ritchie be requested to locate at the next conference.
On motion, resolved, that the secretary be directed to furnish Brother Ritchie a copy of this resolution.
On motion it was resolved that when conference adjourns it adjourn to meet at 2 o'clock this after- noon, to consider the case of Brother Daily, and the session was closed with prayer by Brother J. Craw- ford.
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Tuesday afternoon, October 12, 1841. Conference was opened by reading, singing and prayer by Brother E. G. Wood, and the minutes being read, they were approved, with the exception that the following reso- lution passed in the morning session had been omitted :
"Resolved, That we highly approve the manner in which the Ladies' Repository has been thus far con- ducted, that it is fully calculated to meet the wishes of all ladies and gentlemen of intelligence and enlight- ened moral taste, wherever it is circulated, and that we think it worthy a still more extensive patronage. 2d. That we will use our best endeavers to increase, within our respective charges the subscription list, to the ladies' repository, at the same time not forget- ting nor neglecting the interests of the Western Chris- tian Advocate, and other periodicals of our church.
C. W. RUTER, S. C. COOPER."
Tuesday afternoon, October 12, 1841. The case of William M. Dailey being the order of the after- noon, Brother Havens as presiding elder, presented the minutes of the investigation had before him, by which it appeared that he had been cited before a com- mittee, consisting of Brothers Whitten, Myers, J. Crawford, Berry and Birt, to answer the following charge: "For unministerial and unchristian intimacy with a certain Mrs. Defrees, a married woman. Speci- fication first. For imprudently frequenting her room. Specification second. Laying your arms around her and kissing her in the absence of company." And after testimony presented and defense made, he had been suspended until this session of the conference. The minutes of said investigation are filed with the conference papers and marked No. 1; and accompany- ing them a paper containing his written defense before said committee marked No. 2; both of which are in-
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dorsed by the secretary with the date of their being filed. Which papers being presented and read, Brother Daily was called upon to make his plea to the charges, as by the decision of the chair, the case now came up on its merits. Whereupon he plead that he was guilty of imprudence, but not guilty of any crime sufficient to exclude from the kingdom of grace and glory, and referred to his plea before the committee contained in the minutes as containing the words he desired to use. Whereupon testimony was called for on the part of the prosecution, and the minutes of the trial referred to were principally relied upon. Brother Goode made a few statements, the substance of which was that Brother Daily had not informed him of his intention to leave Indianapolis at the time as set forth in his defense, and that from the state of the weather is was rather presumptive that he had left without much previous meditation. Brother S. C. Cooper then stated that he had been with Brother Daily, and he had informed him of his intention to leave the day before the principal occurrence alluded to in the tes- timony, and that he had in his presence taken leave of several friends. Testimony was then called for on the part of the defense, and a letter from Mr. Defrees, the husband of the lady alluded to, was presented, but objection being made it was not admitted as testimony, but Brother Daily was permitted to read it as a part of his defense and being much exhausted, the secretary, at his own request, read it as the introduction of his defense, and he followed with an address of some length; after which Brother Havens made a few re- marks on the part of the prosecution, and Brother Daily was requested to retire. The following resolu- tion was then presented by Brother A. Wood:
"Resolved, That the specifications and charges in
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the case of Brother Daily do not come under question 1st, but question 2d, in book of discipline, Sec. 19.
AARON WOOD, JOSEPH WHITE."
Which after some deliberation was withdrawn by the mover. Brother Patrick then moved that in the opinion of this conference the charges are not sus- tained, which being seconded, on motion of Brother Eddy, conference adjourned and was closed with prayer by Brother Hargrave.
Wednesday morning, October 13, 1841. Confer- ence met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with reading, singing and prayer by Brother Lar- rabee.
On motion of Brother Havens, Brothers Young, Hanneman and Drom were called to give testimony in reference to the character of the Hill family, and especially in reference to Margaret Hill, the principal witness of the prosecution. All of whom concurred in saying that their character was unexceptionable, which was confirmed by Brothers Wiley, Eddy and Goode. The motion made on yesterday by Brother Patrick was by him withdrawn, and he presented a resolution which being amended was passed in the fol- lowing shape, viz .:
"Resolved, That both specifications under the charge against the accused are in the opinion of the conference sustained."
The following resolution was presented and passed :
"Resolved, That this conference having found Brother Daily guilty of unministerial and imprudent conduct in the specifications above mentioned, do there- fore consider that he be admonished by the chair, and that his character pass.
S. C. COOPER,
E. R. AMES."
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The following resolutions were presented and passed :
Resolved, That in the action had in this conference in the investigation of a charge against Rev. William M. Daily and the decision, thereupon this conference does not impute to the family of Mr. Arthur Hill, of Indianapolis, any want of veracity, nor anything which can affect the reputation and character of said family.
W. H. GOODE, E. R. AMES.
Resolved, That the secretary be directed to furnish Brother Hill a copy of the above resolution.
Brother Daily being called before the conference, Bishop Roberts in compliance with a preceding resolu- tion delivered an affectionate and appropriate admoni- tion to brother Daily, who in reply admitted his er- ror and the propriety of the admonition, and promised in a solemn manner, hereafter to be more circumspect in his conduct, and to regard the present action of con- ference in kindness.
Brother Ames presented the report of the joint board of trustees and visitors of the Asbury Univer- sity, which was filed among the papers of conference, after having been adopted, and its publication in the Advocate ordered.
Brother Cooper presented a statement of the funds raised for a library, and on motion the faculty of the institution were constituted a committee to receive and appropriate the funds which either have been collected or which may be collected for said purpose during the present year.
The stewards made their report by which it appears that the amount of claims are $32,182.20, the amount of receipts, $20,771.10, and the deficit, $12,209.10. That they were enabled to report a dividend of thirty and one-fourth per cent., having received from fifth
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collections $247.91, from conference collections, $73.00, Book Concern, $700.00, chartered fund, $69.00; total, $1,089.91, and the dividends were distributed accord- ing to their report, after it had been adopted by the conference, which report is filed among the papers of conference.
On motion of Brother Cooper the balance in the hands of the stewards, after paying for stationary, etc., was appropriated to Sister Chord. Brother Ackerman also desired his dividend to be given to Sister Chord, which was accordingly done.
On motion of Brother Wiley, conference adjourned to meet at two o'clock and was closed by prayer by Brother J. J. Cooper.
Wednesday afternoon, October 13, 1841. Confer- ence met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with reading, singing and prayer by Brother Rutledge.
On motion of Brother Wiley the superintendent was requested to appoint Brother J. C. Cooper as agent for the university.
On motion of Brother Ames, P. J. Beswick was dis- continued at his own request to pursue his studies.
Brother E. G. Wood moved the discontinuance of Brother Dayle at his own request.
On motion the conference proceeded to elect nine visitors of the university in accordance with the pro- vision of the charter, whereupon, on counting the vote, A. Eddy, J. C. Smith, J. Havens, C. W. Ruter, A. Wiley, L. W. Berry, E. R. Ames, W. H. Goode and Aaron Wood were elected said visitors.
The following resolutions were severally presented and passed, viz .:
"Resolved that the thanks of this conference be ten- dered to the citizens of this town and its vicinity for the kind and equitable manner in which they have re- ceived and entertained the conference during its pres-
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ent sitting, and that the preacher officiating next Sab- bath announce the same from the pulpit.
ALLEN WILEY, A. EDDY."
Resolved that the thanks of this conference be ten- dered to Rev. Mr. Jewett and his congregation for the use of their church on last Sabbath.
A. WILEY, A. EDDY."
Resolved that the secretary be requested to furnish the editors of the Wabash Courier and the Greencastle Visitor list of the appointments and request their pub- lication.
A. WILEY, A. EDDY."
The conference then proceeded to elect a place for next conference, and on motion of Brother Ames, it was resolved that a majority be required to select the place; whereupon Centerville, Madison, Jeffersonville, Lafayette and South Bend were named, and on the second ballot Centerville was selected as the place, and the bishop announced the time to be October 19, 1842.
In reference to Act of the Legislature of this state at its last session, the following resolutions were pre- sented and passed, viz: Resolved, that Samuel S. Cooper be, and is hereby appointed, an agent for "the conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of the state of Indiana," for the purpose of collecting, sub- scriptions made with the view to the building of a college edifice at the town of Greencastle, in this state.
Resolved, that all subscriptions belonging to this conference for this purpose, be placed in the hands of said agent.
The following resolutions were presented and passed : "Resolved, that viewing the missionary cause as of paramount importance and having much con- fidence in the success of fervent-believing prayer, we
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