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 33
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COURSE OF STUDY, EXAMINATION JUNIOR PREACHERS
Regulations and Course of Study for Junior Preachers.
The first examinations for junior preachers in the Indiana Conference were held in 1853. The Presiding Bishop examined on Theology and Bible reading, G. G. Platz on Church Discipline, and A. Nicolai on Grammar. Since then all junior preachers had to undergo yearly examinations.
HOW SOME EXAMINATIONS WERE HELD
In the early part of the history of the Conference, exam- iners would ask the examinees to sit in a row. Then he would question them on the studies they were to be examined in. The examiner would usually begin at the upper end of the row, like in a spelling school class, and ask the first one a question. After the answer was given with a mien of some knowledge, and with apparent confidence that the answer was correct, then the ex- aminer would go down the row and ask each one, "Was the question answered correctly?" If they believed that the first one gave a correct answer, they would assent by "Ja"; if not, they were to give a better answer. The examinees soon observed the usual rule where questioning began, and the less informed would try to have the best informed among them head the row. If they thought he answered well, then they usually would bow their heads with a "Ja" (Yes), and look wise. But it was later discovered that there were some examinees who only, parrot-like, repeated what the first one said. If he was right the rest were, and if he was wrong the rest usually were the same. So new and better methods were adopted from time to time.
Because some examiners were unreasonable in their de- mands, especially some that never took an examination them- selves, certain restrictions have been placed, safeguarding the rights of the examinees. Since some examiners would ask from 50 to 70 questions, a rule was passed, prohibiting examiners ask- ing more than 25 questions on any one subject. This was in '84. In '98 a strong set of resolutions were passed, relative to delin- quencies in Conference studies, which rules have been reprinted annually. The rules, as they are now in force, read as follows:
CONCERNING APPLICANTS
1. Applicants for license shall be duly notified by their pas- tor of their requirements, and it shall be the duty of all appli- cants to be present at the opening of the examinations.
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2. No applicant shall have a license voted him unless he has passed the required examinations.
3. If it is impossible for applicants for license to be present at the examinations, they shall be permitted to make their ex- aminations in the presence of an elder in active service, or a pro- fessor in one of our schools.
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CONCERNING EXAMINATIONS
1. Each examiner is to give two or three questions more than the examinee shall be required to answer.
2. No examiner shall give more than twenty questions to be answered, but shall use his own judgment as to the number of questions to be given.
3. The examination shall not be in written form exclusive- ly, but oral questions shall be put in connection with the written ones. Examinations in Catechism shall be oral only.
4. The minimum in any study shall be 50, the average 70.
5. The examiner shall construct his questions from the text- book used, the questions to be of a very representative and general nature.
6. Hereafter the examinees shall not be permitted to use notes during their examinations.
7. The studies marked with an asterisk (*) shall be taken during the first nine months of the Conference year; and as many more as the examinee and examiner can agree upon. The exam- ination is to be made in the presence of an examiner, or of an elder in active service.
8. It shall be the duty of examiners and examinees to be present at the beginning of the examinations.
9. If any examinee should have any grievance to make, he shall appeal to his examiner. If these cannot agree, the matter shall be referred to the Board of Examiners.
10. No examinee shall be permitted to take any examination in an advanced year until he has successfully passed the previous year's studies in full.
CONCERNING DELINQUENTS
1. Promotion shall not be granted a junior preacher unless he has made the required examinations. This resolution shall not be waived unless the student can give a satisfactory reason why he has not made such examinations.
2. Any junior preacher in active service, whether proba- tioner or deacon, who carelessly fails to make any examination for
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COURSE OF STUDY, EXAMINATION JUNIOR PREACHERS
two successive years, shall be severely reprimanded by the chair- man for such carelessness, and any junior preacher failing to com- plete his course of studies during eight years of active service in the ministry shall be located until he has completed his studies, or he shall have his license revoked.
3. It shall be the specific duty of the secretary of the Board of Examiners to report any and all delinquent examinees to the Conference.
CONCERNING REQUIRED READINGS
1. It shall be the duty of examiners of sermons to inquire into the number of books read, and the student shall receive credit for such reading in the Report of Examinations.
2. All examiners and examinees shall secure a copy of our course of study for junior preachers from our Publishing House, where the course is completely outlined, and all required reading specifically indicated.
3. It shall be the duty of all examiners and examinees to hold themselves strictly to the letter of these regulations.
CONCERNING GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE, ETC.
Resolved, That those students who passed a satisfactory ex- amination of North-Western College and Evangelical Theologi- cal Seminary, or who are graduates from other colleges or uni- versities, providing the Board of Examiners of the Annual Confer- ence and the presiding Bishop shall deem the grades of such insti- tutions satisfactory in such studies as appear in the Conference Course of Study, shall be exempt from another examination by the Board of Examination.
COURSE OF STUDY FOR JUNIOR PREACHERS
FOR APPLICANTS
A knowledge of the common branches is presupposed.
1. United States History, any history used in high schools; Outline of History-Swineon; How to Conduct a Sunday-School -Lawrence; Examiner, B. E. Koenig.
2. Outline of Church History-Hurst; History of the Evan- gelical Association, 1st and 2nd periods-Yeakel; Church Disci- pline, Parts I to IV. Examiner, I. H. Griesemer.
3. Theological Compendium-Binney ; Catechism of the Evangelical Association-Esher; Scriptural History-Blaikie. Examiner, D. O. Wise.
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FIRST YEAR
1. Biblical Geography-Hurlburt; Modern Rhetoric-Merk- ley ; written sermon on the Fall of Man, to be examined as to doc- trine, rhetoric and homiletics. Examiner, D. E. Zechiel.
2. History of the Evangelical Association, 3d period to end -Yeakel; Church Discipline, Parts V to VIII; General History, Revised, pages 1 to 304-Myers. Examiner, M. W. Sunderman.
3. Manual of Christian Doctrine, pages 1 to 185-Banks; Introduction to the Old Testament-Raven. Examiner, E. Q. Laudeman.
SECOND YEAR
1. History of the Evangelical Association, Vol. II-Yeakel; Church History, Ancient and Medieval-Fisher; General History, Revised, page 305 to end-Myers. Examiner, E. W. Praetorius.
2. Manual of Christian Doctrine, page 189 to end-Banks; Introduction to the New Testament-Kerr. Examiner, C. H. Burgener.
3. Old Testament Theology-Oehler; a written sermon on the Person of Christ to be examined as to doctrine, rhetoric and homiletics. Examiner, J. J. Wise.
THIRD YEAR
1. New Testament Theology-Stevens; Systematic Theol- ogy-Curtis; a written sermon on the plan of Redemption, to be examined as to doctrine, rhetoric and homiletics. Examiner, J. O. Mosier.
2. Preparation and Delivery of Sermon-Broadus; History of Missions-Warneck ("Aliens or Americans" accepted as substi- tute this year) ; Church History, Modern Era-Fisher. Examiner, F. S. Erne.
3. Psychology-Hill. Examiner, G. B. Kimmel.
FOURTH YEAR
1. Hermeneutics-Terry. Examiner, G. B. Kimmel.
2. Personal Salvation-Tillet; A written sermon on Christian Perfection, to be examined as to doctrine, rhetoric and homiletics. Examiner, F. L. Snyder.
3. Logic-Hill. Examiner, P. L. Browns.
4. Pastoral Theology-Hoppin; Digest of Discipline. Ex- aminer, C. E. Geist.
5. Christianity and the Social Crisis-Rauschenbush; Re- ligion a Rational Demand-Kirn. Examiner, A. B. Haist.
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STUDENT AID FUND
Board of Examiners.
The following rules were adopted :
Resolved, 1. That the Board of Examiners be appointed for a term of four years, on the same branches and in the same year, after which the examiners can again be reappointed on the same branches, or be substituted by others.
Resolved, 2. That if vacancies occur between Conference sessions, the president and secretary of the Board of Examiners shall have power to appoint examiners to fill such vacancies for the forthcoming examinations.
Resolved, 3. That the examiner of Systematic Theology in the 4th year shall always be the president of the Board of Ex- aminations, and the examiner of Systematic Theology in the 3d year shall always be the secretary thereof.
Note .- The New Course of Study, now in use, not having Theology in the 4th year, the following change had to be made in 1912. The examiner in Systematic Theology in third year is to be the president of the Board of Examiners, and the examiner in Psychology and Hermeneutics in 4th year the secretary.
In 1906 a Lecture Course was introduced, to be observed in connection with the examination of junior preachers.
Student Aid Fund.
At the session of 1908, Rev. F. L. Snyder presented the need of some fund that would enable students who are worthy to com- plete their school training. The following resolution was adopted :
Concerning the matter presented to the Conference by Bro. F. L. Snyder, with regard to establishing a fund for the purpose of giving practical aid to young men who feel called to the min- istry and find themselves without financial resources, your com- mittee, therefore, begs leave to submit the following:
We heartily appreciate the deep interest taken in this mat- ter by Bro. Snyder and the successful preliminary work already done by him, especially the solicitation of funds and subscriptions.
Whereas, We believe this to be a most worthy and commend- able project, its aim and purpose charitable and benevolent, and its inauguration timely; therefore
Resolved, That we are in hearty sympathy with this move- ment, and that immediate steps should be taken to establish a per- manent fund.
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INDIANA CONFERENCE
We would, therefore, recommend first, that a board of five be appointed by this Conference, which shall be known as the Board of Directors, whose duty it shall be to administer the moneys of this fund. This Board shall also devise a plan for the admin- istration of said fund, which plan shall be presented to the next Annual Conference for consideration.
Secondly, That we urge our ministers to solicit funds wher- ever practicable for this worthy cause.
Thirdly, That the Conference Treasurer serve as custodian for this fund.
At the succeeding session the following Constitution was adopted :
ARTICLE I-NAME
The name of this organization shall be known as "The Stu- dent Aid Society" of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association.
ARTICLE II-OBJECT
The object of the Student Aid Society shall be to give prac- tical aid to young men who feel themselves called of God to the ministry of the Gospel, but find themselves without the necessary means for obtaining a collegiate and theological education.
ARTICLE III-DIRECTORS
The Student Aid Society shall consist of a board of seven di- rectors, to whom written application for aid must be made on or before the first day of each Conference session, who shall at the place and time where Conference is held consider all applications, and be empowered to act according to their judgment. But the Board of Directors shall be required to give an annual report of their work and of the financial condition of the society to the An- nual Conference for information and approval.
ARTICLE IV-OFFICERS
The officers of the Student Aid Society shall consist of a pres- ident, secretary and treasurer, to be elected from among their own number at each annual meeting. Their duties shall be as pre- scribed in the By-Laws Section. This Board shall have power to ap- point a financial agent from either the ministry or laity, whose duty shall be as prescribed in By-Laws, Section IV.
ARTICLE V-ELECTION
The election of the Board of Directors of the Student Aid Society shall be by ballot from among the elders in the ministry
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and lay members of the Conference to hold office as follows: Two for one year, two for two years and three for three years, and thereafter all newly elected for three years, except when vacancies occur by death or otherwise, they shall be filled for the unexpired term. The Bishop of the Conference shall at a suitable time in the beginning of the Conference session appoint a nominating committee, which shall carefully select twice the number of can- didates required to fill the vacancies, from which to elect men to the Board.
ARTICLE VI-QUORUM
Four members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at all meetings for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE VII-WHO MAY RECEIVE AID
To receive aid from the herein-named society the applicant must have a license to preach from a Conference in the Evangeli- cal Association and must pledge himself to serve as preacher in the Indiana Conference at least until the debt is paid as prescribed in the By-Laws, Section V.
ARTICLE VIII-AMENDING OF THE CONSTITUTION
It shall require two-thirds of the membership of the Annual Conference in session to change or amend the Constitution, notice thereof to be given the first day of Conference session by the secre- tary of the Board of Directors.
BY-LAWS
SECTION I-PRESIDENT
The president shall preside at all business meetings of the Board of Directors of the above-named society, and shall have a right to vote. In his absence a president pro tem shall be chosen.
SECTION II-RECORDING SECRETARY
The recording secretary shall be the custodian of all records and documents belonging to the society, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings, and transcribe them into a permanent record after they have been approved. He shall also give due notice to the members of the Board of all meetings to be held, and attend to such other duties as usually pertain to his office.
SECTION III-TREASURER
The treasurer shall take good care of all finances received, pay out or invest all moneys belonging to or accruing to the so-
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ciety, as instructed by the Board of Directors. He shall submit an annual account to the Board for approval, which in turn shall report to the Conference in session and the same shall be audited before adopted.
SECTION IV-FINANCIAL AGENT
The financial agent appointed by the Board of Directors shall act under its instructions. It shall be his duty to solicit aid for the education of needy young men, by donations, annuities, be- quests and other methods, as agreed by Conference. He shall keep careful account of his annual expenses in the interest of the society and report to the annual meeting of the Board of Direc- tors, which shall be approved by them before the treasurer is or- dered to pay them. The financial agent shall be allowed $10.00 per annum for his services.
SECTION V-AID
The aid from this fund shall be in the form of loans, as fol- lows: The maximum amount per year for a preparatory student shall be $50.00; for a student of the collegiate grade or in an ad- vanced seminary course, $85.00. The maximum total amount loaned to any student shall be $450.00. Upon his final gradua- tion each student shall annually pay back at least $10.00 and in- terest, until paid. If, however, the entire amount is returned within six years from the date of his final graduation (or leav- ing school), only 1 per cent interest shall be charged.
SECTION VI-CONDITIONS OF AID
1. The applicant must be a member of the Evangelical As- sociation in good standing, the same being certified by his class- leader and pastor, as provided in application blank. He must give good security for the return of the borrowed money. He must show adaptation to study by passing a satisfactory examination of the prescribed course of study for applicants of a grammar school. He must be acquainted with the polity and doctrines of the Evangelical Association and cordially approve and believe them and endeavor to exemplify them.
2. He must be willing to receive his education and training for the ministry in our schools in Naperville, Ill.
3. He must solemnly pledge himself to give the Conference faithful service as a mark of appreciation for aid received, as long as health permits, at least until the borrowed money is refunded.
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SECTION VII-AMENDING BY-LAWS
These By-Laws can only be changed or amended by a two- third vote of an Annual Conference, notice thereof having been given on the first day of the session.
APPLICATION BLANK FOR AID FROM THE STUDENT AID SOCIETY OF THE INDIANA CONFERENCE, EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
(Blanks Must Be Filled in the Handwriting of the Applicant.)
1. Name in full. Age. . . Address
2. Of what church are you a member ?. Of what charge? In what Conference ?
How long?
3. Are you a member of a Sunday-school? Of the Young People's Alliance or some other young people's movement ?. ..
4. Are you acquainted with the polity and doctrines of the Evan- gelical Association ?.... Do you believe and approve them ? Will you endeavor to exemplify and defend them ?
5. Have you passed a satisfactory examination in the course of study for applicants to the Christian ministry ?. (A certified copy of the grades in each study from the secre- tary of the Board of Examination of the Conference is re- quired.)
6. Where do you purpose going to school ?.
And do you wish to pursue a collegiate or theological course ?
7. What are your financial resources ? And are you willing to help yourself as far as it is possible ?...
8. Will you solemnly pledge yourself to give the Indiana Confer- ence of the Evangelical Association from five to ten years of faithful service for financial aid received, according to amount received ?
9. Will you pledge yourself to pay back the sum loaned you from the time of your final graduation at the rate of not less than ten dollars annually and interest not to exceed 6 per cent .?.. . (Remember that if you pay it all back within six years only 1 per cent. will be charged you.)
10. Will you solemnly take these moral obligations upon yourself and make them binding upon yourself, then sign your full name here as evidence to the correctness of the foregoing ques- tions, and willingness to subscribe to the aforesaid pledges .. . Name. Date.
Address
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CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF CLASS-LEADER, PASTOR AND PRESIDING ELDER
We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we know the above named applicant for aid from the Student Aid Society of the In- diana Conference of the Evangelical Association, that we believe him to be honest, studious, industrious, clean and frugal in habits of life, and that he is a member in good standing in the church with which he is identified.
Class-Leader
Pastor
Presiding Elder
Conference
Charge
(Drafted by S. H. Baumgartner, with some changes made by the commit- tee and then ratified by Conference).
A goodly number of worthy subscriptions were given by the ministers present, and with the money on hand, a fair beginning was made. Many large and small gifts are greatly needed for this worthy cause.
The following trustees for the Conference Student Aid Fund were elected: F. L. Snyder, G. B. Kimmel, J. H. Breish, for three years ; C. E. Boyer, Thos. Finkbeiner, for two years; J. H. Rilling and G. W. Frederick, for one year.
F. L. Snyder was elected president, J. H. Rilling, secretary.
The Formation of the Michigan Conference.
When it became evident that the Michigan Conference would be formed from that part of the Indiana Conference that lay in the extreme north, the Indiana Conference, at its session in 1863, passed a resolution that the State line between Indiana and Michi- gan shall constitute the boundary of the new Conference on the south. However, when the Michigan Conference was formed in 1864, the Indiana Conference yielded this point and surrendered to the new Conference some of its best fields in Lagrange and Steuben Counties.
The new Conference embodied Berrien, St. Joseph, Lima Cir- cuits, and Kalamazoo and Ionia Missions, with a membership of 400. A. Nicolai, R. Riegel and M. Krueger were elected as can- didates for the Presiding Eldership of the Michigan Conference. A. Nicolai was elected as the first Presiding Elder of this new Conference. The following brethren voluntarily united with this
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FORMATION SOUTH INDIANA CONF., REINCORPORATION
Conference, upon condition that their citizenship rights be con- tinued in Indiana, and that, if desired, they be allowed to return to the Indiana in the space of four years. The hand of blessing ever rested upon this newly formed Conference.
The General Conference in 1911 ordered that Paradise and Trout Creek classes, lying in the southern part of Michigan, be ceded to the Indiana Conference. These two classes were added to Elkhart, Bethel, charge.
Formation of the South Indiana Conference and its Re-incorporation.
There was a growing opinion that it would be to the very. best advantage if the Indiana Conference would be divided, and the southern part constitute a Conference by itself. In 1867 a strenuous effort was put forth to effect this division, but it failed to carry. However, the General Conference, held at Philadelphia, Pa., in October, 1875, ordered that the Indiana Conference should be divided into two Conferences. This was done because of the ex- tensiveness of the Conference. It was declared that the two south- ern districts, namely, Evansville and Olney, shall constitute the new Conference territory, which was christened the "South In- diana Conference." According to the General Conference action, the division was effected at the annual session of the Indiana Con- ference, which convened Sept. 14, 1876, in the town of Bremen, Marshall Co., Ind. The newly formed Conference began with a membership of 1,776, and covered an extensive territory, from Cincinnati, Ohio, west to St. Louis, Mo., 400 miles, and from Mar- shall, Ill., south to Murphysboro, Ill., about 170 miles. Later many intervening points were added, and also a fruitless mission was established in Cairo, Ill., and one in Mattoon, Ill. This fact shows that there was considerable missionary enthusiasm and a spirit of territorial expansion manifested from the beginning. Faith and attempts were often greater in those days than possessed strength and adequate ability. Some of the Western outposts, as St. Louis, Sandoval, Vandalia, Lake Creek, and Mattoon and Clarksville to the north, and Cairo to the south, and Cincinnati, Harrison and Covington, Ky., to the east, and intervening points, had to be abandoned. Lack of proper men and inadequate missionary funds necessitated retrenchments, also in some places disinterestedness of the people in those abandoned places.
Bishop Thomas Bowman, chairman of the Indiana Confer-
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ence, ascertained who the ministers are that would travel within the bounds of the new South Indiana Conference, and would be- come its charter members. Those who were ready to unite with the new Conference signified it by arising. The following named men were recorded as charter members: John Fuchs and H. L. Fisher, who were then Presiding Elders of Olney and Evansville Districts, respectively ; Melchior Mayer, Math. Klaiber, J. A. Maier, Chr. Wessling, J. M. Kronmiller, H. Schleucher, Martin Speck, Chr. Stier, N. J. Platz, John Kaufman, C. Stockhowe, C. F. Matheis, W. G. Braeckly, M. Koehl, Jacob Mode, Geo. Berstecher and J. C. Young.
Of these charter members, Fisher, Mayer, Klaiber, Wessling, Kronmiller, Koehl, Mode, Braeckly, Maier and Platz are deceased. Those who have retired from active service are Fuchs, Speck, Stier, Kaufman, Matheis and Schleucher. Berstecher and Young are members of the Erie Conference, and Stockhowe is still in the active service in the Illinois Conference of the United Evangelical Church, of which also Fuchs, Speck and Matheis are members.
The organization of the South Indiana Conference took place Sept. 15, 1876, in Bremen, Ind., at 2 P. M., in Rinkel's Hall, under the chairmanship of the Senior Bishop, J. J. Esher of Chicago, Ill. After the usual devotional opening exercises, the Bishop gave an earnest address, emphasizing particularly the momentous import- ance of organizing a new Conference. He asserted that the work of the Conference is the conversion of souls, the building up of God's kingdom, and that this can only be accomplished by entire consecration and oneness of its members. After the address, the Bishop appointed W. G. Braeckly as first secretary of the Confer- ence, in which capacity he served very successfully from 1876 to 1886 inclusive, and also in 1888. His successor was G. M. Hall- wachs, who served in 1887 in the spring and fall sessions and from 1889 to the end in 1892.
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