USA > Indiana > Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume I > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
He often suffered want at this time, with the rest, crops hav- ing failed. In his distress he went into a cellar, prayed to God for aid. He had nothing to eat for supper. The next morning before drilling the paymaster called him and paid him his wages in advance. God answered his petition. Among the soldiers he sought ideas for missionary work, but, to his sorrow, found that many appointees of the Lutheran Missionary Institution were edu- cated, but not converted. After two and one-half years' of army life he was discharged. Returning home he found his step-father had married and emigrated to America, so he had no home. In the spring of 1854 W. went to Bremen, earned enough money dur- ing the summer to emigrate to America. After fifty-three days' voyage he arrived in New York, December 14, and went on to Philadelphia to his step-parents, where he remained and worked in an oil-mill. In the spring of 1854 he found work as a stone-cutter. Sundays he went to Lutheran churches. He was advised to enter the Lutheran Seminary and prepare for the ministry. Meanwhile he became acquainted with German Baptists and German Metho- dists, but neither denomination suited him. His landlord next took him to the church of the Evangelical Association, North 2nd Street, Philadelphia. Rev. J. M. Saylor was pastor. Here he felt better satisfied. The society had twelve classes, had much spiritual life, frequent shoutings in their prayer-meetings. This part he did not like so well, believing it to be fanaticism. One Sunday night the pastor invited sinners to the altar. Many came. Wessling also
315
INDIANA CONFERENCE
came, prayed earnestly and received a new blessing. He was filled with the Holy Ghost and the loudness in worship was no longer in his way. After he got home from this meeting he knelt and asked God if he should join these people, and received a clear evi- dence that he should, which he did early in 1855.
In the spring the Conference was held in the 2nd Street Church, Philadelphia. Wessling applied for work, but received none. Bishop J. Long, who held the Conference, wrote to Bishop J. Seybert in his behalf, who held the Indiana Conference. Early in May he started for Colebush, Mishawaka Circuit, where the Indiana Conference was held. Being delayed on the way he arrived too late to enjoy the session. The stationing was ended, and he was appointed assistant to Brother Goetz on St. Mary's Circuit. In his heart he hoped he would not be taken, he wished to go to Chicago and work at his trade a few more years, to earn enough money to buy a home, then serve the Lord with his whole heart.
St. Mary's Circuit consisted of twenty appointments, 220 miles per round. He preached his first sermon at Fuhrman's, on Gen. 1: 28. Goetz was present. On the way from church Goetz rather scornfully remarked that two preachers preached today without the people knowing where the text was. Wessling announced his text, Gen. 28: 1, instead of 1: 28. Wessling thereupon stayed back, resolved to quit. After this vow he hurried up to Goetz, saying, "I have decided to quit; I made an effort to preach and failed." Goetz replied, "We don't give up so quick." This inci- dent caused him many struggles. For hours he lay kneeling on the ground in the woods for God to help him.
In 1856 he served with Jos. Fisher on Mt. Carmel and Olney. They had 100 conversions. In 1857-8 he served Dubois Circuit, with M. Hoehn in charge. His salary was fixed at $78.00, but received $300.00; the surplus flowed into the Conference treasury, to be divided among those who fell short. In 1859 he served Ol- ney and West Salem with good revivals. In 1860-61 he served San- doval, Ill., and 1861-62, Camp Creek. In 1862-63, Clay County Mission ; 1863-65, Newville Circuit (now Linn Grove) ; 1865-67, Van Wert. On a bitter cold day, six miles north of Fort Wayne, he froze both his ears. He preached several times in the court- house of Fort Wayne, but nothing was accomplished. In 1867-68 he served Warrington Circuit; 1869-70, Lancaster and West Sa- lem, where he had many conversions; 1870-73 he served Carmi, and had many converts; 1873-6 he served Huntingburg. When the South Indiana Conference was formed in 1876 he united therewith and 'served Huntingburg until 1877; West Salem again from
316
LIFE SKETCHES OF OUR DECEASED MINISTERS
1878-80, and Sandoval in 1881; Marshall in 1882; Lancaster in 1883-84; Grayville, 1885-86. His health failing, he made a trip to Galveston, Texas, and other places. The climate agreeing with him, and after prayer to God for direction, he felt assured that he should move to Texas. At the session of the South Indiana Conference, Bishop J. J. Esher appointed him to Henrietta Mis- sion in Texas. They arrived here April 1, 1886, organizing a class a few months later. The old court-house was bought for a church and parsonage. In 1887 he bought land near Henrietta, built a house on it and moved in.
He was ordained deacon in 1857 at Dayton, and elder two years later. In all he served thirty years in the active ministry. He was a faithful, diligent, conscientious laborer, and had many souls for his hire. He died August 23, 1909, in Henrietta; was married to Margaret Bachman in 1856, and five daughters and two sons were born to them. He selected his own funeral text, 2 Tim. 4: 7-8. Rev. S. J. Luehring preached at his request. His preaching was plain, unctuous and effective; he had no patience with sham religion. He is gone but not dead; his works live on.
MICHAEL ZIMMER (1817-1891)
This brother was born at Rothbach, Alsace, France (now Germany), Nov. 21, 1817. He died in Garrett, Ind., very sudden- ly, Aug. 20, 1891, fully prepared for his departure. He came to America in 1843, and shortly thereafter married Sophia Hem- linger. He was converted in 1846 in Mishawaka, Ind., and was one of the first fruits of the efforts of the Evangelical ministry at this place. They united with the Evangelical Association and be- came active participants in the work of the church. In 1855 he heard and obeyed the call to preach, and obtained his recommenda- tion from his class and license as preacher on probation by the In- diana Conference. He remained a faithful local preacher to the end. D. S. Oakes, his biographer, said of him, "He was an excep- tional, upright Christian, exemplifying the religion he professed. He preached a plain and sound Gospel, rather seeking God's glory than his own, and sought to save men. His best preaching was his daily life. He was also a liberal supporter of the church, espe- cially the missionary cause, for which he gave many munificent contributions, given unostentatiously and often with great self- denial."
317
INDIANA CONFERENCE
When he moved to Garrett, Ind., he tried to work up a class of the Evangelical Association among the Germans, but, failing in this, he finally, after long hesitation, joined the German Metho- dist Episcopal Church at this place, believing by so doing he could be more useful and exert a better influence than to stand isolated. At the annual session of the Indiana Conference of 1887 creden- tials were voted him as local preacher by his own request.
He was ready for his sudden departure. Saturday night he retired as usual, but Sunday morning he was with the redeemed in heaven. D. S. Oakes, who was his pastor three different times, was called upon to preach the funeral sermon. He was assisted by Revs. Haas and Bauer of the German, and Mantz of the Eng- lish Methodist Episcopal Church in Garrett. His body was laid to rest in the cemetery at Bremen, Ind. He was survived by his wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters.
318
INCORPORATION OF THE INDIANA CONFERENCE
Articles of Incorporation of the Indiana Conference.
In 1861 the first steps for the incorporation of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association were taken. G. G. Platz, Phil. Bretsch and Mich. Krueger were appointed a commit- tee to carry out the incorporation during the year.
At the annual session of the Conference, held in Sept., 1862, in East Germantown, the committee, above named, reported that the incorporation was effected as follows :
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
We, the undersigned members of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association of North America, for the purpose of organizing ourselves into an incorporate body, the object of which is the promotion and furtherance of the religious, moral, educa- tional and benevolent enterprises of the church and Conference, do hereby ordain and institute the following articles of association :
ARTICLE I .- This association shall be denominated the In- diana Annual Conference of the Evangelical Association of North America.
ARTICLE II .- The object of this organization and incorpora- tion shall be the promotion of the educational and benevolent en- terprises of the Conference and church, embracing such interests as the missionary society, the educational institutions, and such like interests, to receive, hold and manage, any money, land or other property, personal or real, purchased by, or donated, or be- queathed to said Conference, for this or other religious and benev- olent objects.
ARTICLE III .- The officers of this Conference shall be a Pres- ident, Vice-President, Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be charged with the duties usual to such office. The Bishop, presid- ing over the Annual Conference, shall be the President; the Vice- President shall be elected annually by a majority of the members present and voting; the Secretary shall be the same elected ac- cording to the Discipline and usages of the Evangelical Associa- tion as Secretary of the Conference; the Treasurer shall be elected annually by a majority of the members present and voting; all of whom shall hold office until their successors are chosen and quali- fied.
319
INDIANA CONFERENCE
ARTICLE IV .- The said Conference shall meet annually, at such times and places, as provided for in the Discipline of the Evangelical Association of North America.
ARTICLE V .- It shall be the duty of said Secretary to make a faithful record of the doings of said Conference, to be kept legibly in a book of reference. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer, if required by a vote of the Conference, to give a bond for the faith- ful performance of duty. He shall receive and hold all funds be- longing to said Conference, and hand them over, or pay them out as said Conference may direct, to the several departments thereof.
ARTICLE VI .- The members of this association shall be the members in full connection in said Indiana Annual Conference of the Evangelical Association and their successors in the Confer- ence membership.
ARTICLE VII .- The Conference aforesaid shall have power to ordain by-laws for their government, and change them at any meeting thereof, by a majority of the members present and voting. And this Constitution may be changed at any annual meeting thereof by a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting.
According to previous notice given, the following reverend gentlemen were elected by the Indiana Annual Conference at its annual session in East Germantown, Wayne Co., Indiana, Rev. G. G. Platz, Treasurer.
It is hereby certified that the foregoing is a true account of proceedings in reference to the election on the day of the above date. Given under our hands in Conference room, Sept. 17, 1862.
JOSEPH LONG, President. MELCHIOR MAYER, Secretary.
The above is a verbatim copy of the original, copied January 14, 1878, by D. S. Oakes, into our Indiana Conference Record Book. On the back of the original document is the following : "Received for Record, February 10th, 1863, at ten o'clock A. M .. and recorded in Mortgage Record, M. M., Page 206. A. G. Wal- lace."
In 1894, Article III was revised to read as follows: The offi- cers of the Conference shall be a President, Vice-President, a Sec- retary, a Treasurer and a Board of Trustees, consisting of five members, who shall be charged with their respective duties by the Conference, usual to such office. The Bishop presiding over the Conference shall be President. The Vice-President and Treas- urer shall be elected annually by a majority of the members pres- ant and voting; the Secretary shall be the same elected according
320
BUSINESS RULES OF THE INDIANA CONFERENCE
to the Discipline and usage of the Evangelical Association as Sec- retary of the Conference. The Board of Trustees shall be elected for three years by a majority of the members present and voting. All of the aforesaid officers shall hold their office until their suc- cessors are chosen and qualified.
Business Rules of the Indiana Conference.
At the first session of the Conference, in 1853, Bishop J. Long, the Chairman, was appointed to draft a set of rules govern- ing the business proceedings and conduct of the Conference.
The following rules were adopted :
1. Each member of the Conference shall throughout the ses- sion retain the seat chosen at the beginning of the session.
2. Any member desiring to speak shall arise, and if there be two or more arise at the same time, the Chair shall decide who shall have right to speak first.
3. No one shall be interrupted in his remarks, except he de- viate from the subject under discussion, or is thought to be out of order, which the Chairman or Conference shall determine.
4. All remarks concerning members of Conference shall be made in the spirit of brotherly love. 5. It shall not be allowable, during sessions, to transact any side business.
6. It shall not be allowed, for any member, to absent him- self from any session before adjournment, except he be excused.
1859
Two additional by-laws were adopted this year as follows:
(a) That all resolutions must be brought in writing.
(b) That no member of Conference shall use tobacco on the Conference floor.
1862
At the session held in Germantown, Sept., 1862, the Busi- ness Rules were ordered to be revised. The Committee on Revi- sion were M. Hoehn, A. B. Schafer and A. Nicolai. They brought a report the second day as follows, which has been adopted since at every succeeding annual session :
1. Each member shall retain, throughout the session, the seat chosen at the beginning of the Conference.
2. Any one desiring to speak shall arise and respectfully address the Chairman. Should two or more rise to speak the
321
INDIANA CONFERENCE
same time the Chair shall decide which one shall have the privi- lege of speaking.
3. No one shall be interrupted in speaking except he deviate from the subject under consideration, or present something that is out of order, which must always be decided by the Chair, or by the Conference.
4. All remarks and references to others shall be made in brotherly love.
5. In Conference session each member shall avoid incidental or side business transaction.
6. No one shall be allowed to withdraw before the regular close of the session without permission of Conference.
7. All resolutions, so requested by the Chairman, Secretary or any two members of Conference, must be rendered in written form.
8. Any minister who shall report, by writing or verbally, of the examinations of character, etc., shall, the next year, be de- nied the privilege of being present at the examination.
Miscellaneous Rules and Regulations adopted by the Indiana Conference.
UNRESCINDED AND IMPORTANT RULES
These rules were adopted at the sessions indicated by year number.
1861-No local preacher shall be received from other Conferences unless he brings a certificate of standing from his Quar- terly or Annual Conference. And if any leave this Confer- ence they must go with a certificate.
1863-There shall be roll-call at the opening of each session; and if any one is absent, unless he can show satisfactory cause, he shall be reprimanded.
1865-Resolved, That each preacher lift an annual collection at all appointments for superannuated preachers, widows and orphans.
1869-Resolved, That a fine of $5.00 be imposed on all preachers hereafter, who neglect lifting a collection for superannuated preachers, widows and orphans.
1879-Whereas, Much labor and vexation having been caused the Missionary Society, Sunday-School and Tract Union Soci- ety and Finance Committee by brethren bringing their col- lections in small change, therefore Resolved, That it shall
322
UNRESCINDED AND IMPORTANT RULES
not be allowed to bring such moneys in smaller money than $1.00, excepting when there are fractional parts of a dollar in such aggregate collections.
1886-Resolved, That in the future at the examination of the moral and official conduct of preachers, it shall be asked if all the Conference collections have been lifted.
Whereas, J. Berger, P. E., reported that local church trustees have rented their churches (doubtless for other purposes than the Discipline provides) without asking the sanction of the preacher-in-charge, or the Conference,
Resolved, That such action is a violation of the civil and ecclesiastical laws, and requests such trustees to desist in such actions in the future.
Resolved, That in the future all preachers shall buy and use the "Membership Book" prepared by the Publish- ing House.
1890-Resolved, That hereafter none of our preachers shall be allowed to go out of the town or city where Conference is held during the session to preach.
1892-Resolved, That we prohibit any of our ministers to under- take the building of a church until two-thirds, or at least nearly that amount is secured, before the enterprise is un- dertaken.
1895-Resolved, That no evangelist, whether of our own church or any other, be granted the permission to hold meetings in our churches without the consent of the Presiding Elder and the preacher-in-charge, and that said evangelists shall be requested to produce credentials of proper authority to said minister.
1900-Resolved, That no member of the Conference shall be per- mitted to preach in any sister church on Conference Sunday morning, as it is the duty of all to be present at the ordi- nation services throughout.
1902-Whereas, There are brethren who owe the Publishing House money by the transaction of business with the same, thus cutting down the dividends accruing from such busi- ness, that the Conference sorely needs to meet the claims of her claimants, and embarrasses both the Publishing House and the Conference,
Resolved, That hereafter those who are at any Confer- ence session delinquent one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more and have not made satisfactory efforts to pay up, shall be openly reported.
323
INDIANA CONFERENCE
1903-Resolved, That when a succeeding minister finds instances of names of individuals given him by his predecessor, as members, who, on inquiry, cannot be found, or are reported by others as having long ago left the community, or that they have even been dead for quite a length of time, he shall write to his predecessor in reference thereto, and if such predecessor cannot, or will not, give satisfactory rea- sons or explanations for the retention of such names, the said minister shall report the case to the Presiding Elder of the said predecessor, who shall then, unless he can otherwise satisfactorily to all parties, adjust the matter, report the same to the Annual Conference.
1907-Resolved, That hereafter when there is a deficiency in the missionary treasury that the same be shared by all mem- bers of Conference.
1910-Resolved, That the traveling expenses of all the members of the Conference in active service, including those who are for one or two years retained in the itinerancy without an appointment, be equalized ; however, the preacher-in-charge, where the Conference session is being held, shall be ex- empted for that session.
1914-Whereas, The Sunday-schools in many of our societies have grown to such an extent that the election of officers by promiscuous ballot has become cumbersome; therefore be it
Resolved, That wherever such conditions exist and cir- cumstances warrant that a nominating committee, consist- ing of five members, in addition to the pastor, be elected annually at the regular church business meeting or at an appointed meeting.
That this committee shall meet annually some time previous to December 5th, at the call of the pastor, who shall be chairman, and nominate two persons for each of- fice to be filled, the same to meet with the approval of the pastor-in-charge, and that said committee cause such names to be properly printed on suitable ballots to be used at the annual election of Sunday-school officers.
STATE LAWS GOVERNING TRUSTEE ELECTIONS
Section 4742 Burns' Statutes, 1901, provides that the mem- bers of any church may, after giving ten days' notice by posting up written or printed notices in three public places in the vicinity of the place where such society worships, specifying the time and place of such election, elect not less than three nor more than nine
324
ACTIONS RELATIVE TO THE COLLEGE
trustees. Section 5018 provides that this notice may be given by publication in some daily or weekly paper in the county in which the church is situated.
Within ten days after said election there must be filed with the County Recorder a certificate setting forth the notice of such election, time, place, name of society, and the names of .the per- sons elected as trustees. Sections 4743 and 5019.
The same laws govern the election of parsonage trustees by a Quarterly Conference.
All members of the church, regardless of sex or age, may vote, unless restricted by the rules of such church.
These laws apply to churches, whether incorporated or not. In fact, Section 4743 implies that from the date of recording the certificate of election the trustees shall be deemed a body politic and corporate. However, to be a legally formed corporation, Sec- tion 4595n should be complied with.
Actions of the Indiana Conference relative to N. W. C., Seminary, Endowment.
ACTIONS OF THE INDIANA CONFERENCE RELATIVE TO THE COLLEGE
That the Indiana Conference has not only been peculiarly fav- orable toward higher and Christian education, but has been vital- ly connected with fostering the same within our church, is evi- denced by her activities in the past. Nor has she in any way les- sened her labors along this worthy line, but in every advance she is to be found in the front ranks. The Indiana Conference has not always been able to see, as other Conferences have seen, and is still of the conviction that much would have been gained if her advice had been heeded in some particulars.
The Illinois Conference sent as its representative J. J. Esher to solicit the Indiana Conference, at its session in September, 1859, relative to entering a college compact. This solicitation was kind- ly received, but for the present declined. In 1861, when the same Conference renewed their solicitation in the person of J. J. Esher and H. Roland, the Indiana Conference appointed a committee to formulate plans whereby we might unite with the Western Con- ferences in this worthy project. The committee, as appointed, was composed of G. G. Platz, M. W. Steffey, F. Fuchs, Fr. Wiet- haup and A. B. Schafer, who reported as favoring such a union,
325
INDIANA CONFERENCE
provided equal rights can be had with the other Conferences so concerned.
In September, 1862, the entrance into the compact was fully effected when M. W. Steffey, Joseph Fisher and Carl Helwig, of Indianapolis, were chosen by the Conference as trustees of Plain- field College, and J. Fuchs as member of the Executive Committee.
Year after year the Conference has been an enthusiastic sup- porter of the college, both by strong resolutions and financial sup- port. Nor has the Indiana Conference failed in sending her quota of men and women, and not a few of her present ministers have secured a liberal education within her walls.
RELOCATION OF THE COLLEGE .- The college which was located at Plainfield soon proved to be of great blessing to the church, and it was evident, also, that, if it was to be of the greatest value and usefulness, it must be removed to some town having railroad facilities. The college must be more accessible. September of 1868 brought an unusual offer to the compact for purchasing a school in a new and desirable location. The trustees of the North- ern Indiana College of the Methodist Episcopal Church offered to sell us, as a Conference, their college, located at South Bend, In- diana, at the nominal sum of $6,000.00. A committee, composed of M. W. Steffey, M. Krueger and J. Kaufman, to negotiate in this matter and take it up with the other members of the compact, was appointed. The following resolution was drawn up: "Re- solved, That we are grateful to receive such a liberal offering and do highly appreciate the same. However, since we, as a Confer- ence, are connected with the college at Plainfield, Ill., and have our share of endowment to raise, we are unable, as a Conference, to purchase this Northern Indiana College, but we will instruct our college trustees to present the matter to the other Confer- ences in the compact, and should these Conferences concerned ex- press themselves as favoring the purchase, we will gladly accept the same."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.