USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > History of the Presbytery of Indianapolis > Part 3
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Upon the opposite page is a copy of the statistical re- port made to the General Assembly of 1831, by the Pres- bytery of Indianapolis at its meeting at Greensburg. The Rev. Samuel G. Lowry was its first commissioner to the General Assembly, representing the presbytery in the General Assembly of 1831.
At this first meeting of the presbytery the Rev. Eliph- alet Kent was received and enrolled.
29
-
Statistical Report made to the General Assembly of 1831, by the Presbytery of Indianapolis.
MINISTERS AND LICENTIATES.
NAMES OF CHURCHES.
Com. added on
examination.
Com. added on
Total of Com-
Total of Bap-
Missionary fund
Funds for Com-
Theologi'l Sem-
Education funds
Contingent fund
of the Assem- bly.
POST OFFICE ADDRESS.
74. Presbytery of Indianapolis.
John R. Moreland, P. -
David Monfort, 8. 8.
Franklin, 8. 8 ..
2
26
75
16
$3 31
Samuel G. Lowry, P
Sand Creek, P.
1
118
17
3 00
$10 00
Wm. W. Woods, 8. 8
Greenfield, S. 8.
28
11
104
12
Jeremiah Hill, Miss
( Rushville, 8. 8 ..
8
92
11 $8 50
2 50
Wm. Sickles, 8. 8 ...
Olive Ridge, 8. 8.
3
36
2 00
75
New Providence, 8. 8.
Shelbyville, Ind.
Batavia, 8. 8 ..
Columbus, v
Washington, v ..
Greensburg, v.
51
Mill Creek, v ...
Noblesville, v ..
Noblesville, Ind.
Total.
7
13
30 |
49
476
56 $10 50 89 56
missioners.
inary
raised.
raised.
Indianapolis, Ind. Franklin, Ind. Greensburg, Ind. Greenfield, Ind.
Rushville, Ind. Pleasant Ridge, Ind.
Eliphalet Kent, 8. 8 ..
Columbus. Indianapolis, Ind. Greensburg, Ind.
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Indianapolis, P.
certificate.
municants.
tisms.
raised.
funds
30
HISTORY OF THE
Of the counties included within the present Presbytery of Indianapolis, Monroe continued in Wabash Presby- tery, and Putnam, Hendricks and Morgan counties in connection with the Presbytery of Crawfordsville. Brown county was still a part of Monroe, and was not organized until 1836. In 1830, the population of the counties now included in the Presbytery of Indianapolis was thus reported in the United States census :
Monroe
6,577
Hancock 1,436
Putnam
8,262
Johnson.
4,019
Hendricks
3,975
Bartholomew
5,476
Morgan
5,593
Marion
7,192
Total
42,470
In Marion county was the church at Indianapolis. Its membership had been increased from thirty at the time Mr. Moreland came to it, to one hundred by 1830, forty having been received upon examination. At Greenwood, the Rev. W. W. Woods was preaching, the church num- bering in 1830 sixty-five.
The church at Franklin had increased by 1830, to eighty-one. In 1829, twenty-one had been received by examination. In 1830, twenty-seven were added by cer- tificate, and three by examination, making the whole number eighty-one. Until November, 1830, those who had ministered to the church at Franklin, had been with the church as missionary supplies, each for a short time only. Those who had thus ministered to the church were Isaac Reed, William Duncan, John F. Moreland, Jeremiah Hill and W. W. Wood. In November, 1830, the Rev. David Monfort " commenced labors as a stated supply or missionary."
The church at Columbus was reported by the Presby- tery of Madison to the General Assembly of 1829, as having eighteen members.
The church at Greencastle, left in its feebleness with-
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PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
out supplies, and without a house of worship, had be- come extinct.
In 1829, a church was organized by Rev. Isaac Reed, at Poplar Spring, Putnam county.
In November 1830, a church consisting of ten mem - bers was organized by the Rev. Isaac Reed, at Putnam- ville.
The church at Bloomington, having built a comfort- able brick edifice, and entered into it in 1829, was in a prosperous condition, having a membership in 1830, of fifty-eight. The Rev. Baynard R. Hall, who had been installed as pastor of the church, after a pastorate of one year, had asked for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, because of his relations to the State Seminary, of which he was the first Professor. He was released from the pastoral care of the church, but continued its stated supply until 1830.
In 1828 the State Seminary became Indiana College, and the Rev. Andrew Wylie, D. D., was elected its first president. In 1830, he became the stated supply of the church at Bloomington.
In 1830 the Rev. Isaac Reed was also residing at Bloom- ington, having returned to Indiana from Moriah, New York, where he had been, for a short period, pastor of a Congregational church. He was endeavoring to es- tablish a Female School at Bloomington, while also laboring as a missionary in the abounding destitutions of the rapidly settling country. A bird's-eye view of the field at this time shows then, in a population of more than forty thousand scattered over these counties, seven Presbyterian churches, the strongest containing a hundred members, the weakest ten, and all only a few over three hundred. There is one pastor, J. R. More- and at Indianapolis, and there are two stated supplies,
32
HISTORY OF THE
W. W. Wood at Greenwood, and David Monfort at Franklin, who are wholly given to the work of the ministry. One of these, David Monfort, the last month but one in the year, has just entered the field. There are three other ministers at Bloomington engaged in the work of education, but giving a part of their time to the work of preaching, the Rev. Andrew Wylie, D. D., President of Indiana College, and Baynard R. Hall, Professor in the College, and Rev. Isaac Reed, who is seeking to establish a school for young ladies, while he also gives himself in part to missionary labors. Thus contemplating the field, we very clearly perceive that the Presbyterians are a feeble folk, yet we have the as- surance that they are building in the rock, even the Rock of Ages.
DECISION OF PRESBYTERY ON REPRESENTATION.
In October, 1831, the Synod of Indiana greatly re- duced in size, the presbyteries of the States of Illinois and Missouri having been erected by the Assembly of 1831 into the Synod of Illinois, met in Bloomington. At this meeting of Synod the roll of synod shows no changes in the membership of the Presbytery of Indian- apolis. During the sessions of synod, a resolution passed by the Presbytery of Indianapolis was brought up by overture before synod. The presbytery in the overture asked an answer to the constitutional questions involved. The following was the resolution :
Resolved, That in this presbytery every church be considered as vacant, and entitled to a representation in presbytery, where a regular pastoral relation has not been formed, according to the book of Discipline in the Presbyterian church.
The overture was not answered until the next meeting of synod at Crawfordsville, when it was answered ad- versely. The interpretation given by the resolution
33
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
respecting the representation of churches, has, however, since become the law of the church, having been adopted by both Assemblies before the reunion ; by the O. S. Assembly in 1847, and the N. S. Assembly in 1851 .*
In the statistical report of the presbytery to the Gen- eral Assembly of 1832, two new names appear on the roll of ministers, James R. Wheelock, stated supply at Greensburg and Mill Creek, and John Todd.
At the meeting of synod at Crawfordsville, just re- ferred to, in October, 1832, from the records of synod, it appears that S. G. Lowry had been dismissed from the Presbytery of Indianapolis to unite with the Presbytery of Crawfordsville.
October 19, the second day of synod, this record is made in the minutes : " The synod then solemnly paused to record the death of one of their members, the Rev. John R. Moreland, who was taken from this world of trial and suffering on the 15th inst."
Mr. Moreland had, a short time previous to his death, been released from the pastoral charge of the church at Indianapolis.
PRESBYTERY RESISTING DIVISION.
Two matters of importance to the presbytery were brought before synod. One was a petition by the mi- nority of the presbytery to have the presbytery divided. The petition was referred to the committee on bills and overtures, who reported in favor of the petition and recommended the formation of a new presbytery, to be called Union, consisting of the counties of Decatur, Bar- tholomew, Shelby and Johnson, reserving to John Todd and his congregation, and David Monfort and his con- gregation, the privilege of remaining connected with the Indianapolis Presbytery.
Moore's Digest, pp. 138-139. 3
34
HISTORY OF THE
After considerable discussion, the subject was indefi- nitely postponed.
Mr. Wood then obtained leave to bring in the follow- ing resolution :
Resolved, That it is the duty of this synod to furnish the petition- ers from Indianapolis Presbytery the information called for in rela- tion to the previous steps required of them by the constitution, in order that the synod may regularly and constitutionally act on the subject of their petition.
The subject was referred by synod to a committee of three, Messrs. Matthews, Williamson and Dunn, to report upon before the rising of synod.
The committee reported the following resolution, which was adopted, viz:
That said members of the minority of Indianapolis Presbytery be directed to bring the request for a division directly before the pres- bytery, and if the presbytery refuse to concur with them in petition- ing the synod for a division, then they may bring up their petition to synod by way of complaint, when the synod will consider it regularly before them.
COMPLAINT AGAINST PRESBYTERY.
Another matter of importance before the synod per- taining to the Presbytery of Indianapolis, was a com- plaint against the presbytery by Rev. W. W. Woods and Rev. J. R. Wheelock. The complaint was against a standing rule of presbytery, requiring an examination on theology of every minister proposing to connect himself with said presbytery, provided any two members should require it. After the complaint was heard, the synod passed the following resolution, viz :
Resolved, That without censuring the Presbytery of Indianapolis, the complaint be sustained, so far as regards the expediency of the standing rule complained of.
To this resolution Messrs. Williamson, Martin and Hummer entered their dissent.
35
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The next meeting of synod was at Indianapolis, Octo- ber 10, 1833. No change appears to have occurred in che ministers of presbytery during the year.
DISSENSIONS FROM DIVERSITY IN DOCTRINE.
Among the first items of business before synod was the presentation of a petition to synod by the Rev. John S. Weaver, that synod would attach him to the Presby- tery of Indianapolis, as he had been dismissed to said presbytery and had as yet had no opportunity to unite with it. Synod thereupon ordered : "That the Presby- tery of Indianapolis be directed to meet to-morrow morning at eight o'clock to afford to Mr. Weaver, and also to Rev. Hilary Patrick, an opportunity to present their certificates for admission into said presbytery."
The record states that Mr. Patrick was from the Synod of South Alabama. It is not stated what the previous ecclesiastical relation of Mr. Weaver was.
An exception was also made to the records of presby- tery, that the application of Mr. Weaver to be received into presbytery had been refused without any reasons being assigned for the refusal. 1360956
Upon the morning of the second day of synod, the stated clerk of the Presbytery of Indianapolis reported to the synod that, agreeably to the direction of the synod, a meeting of presbytery had been held, and Messrs. Patrick and Weaver received.
The clerk of synod likewise reported that there had been put into his hands an appeal from a decision of In- dianapolis Presbytery by Rev. James R. Wheelock, also a complaint signed by other members of . the presbytery against such decision.
The case in issue, concerning which this appeal was taken, was remanded by synod to the presbytery for the bringing in of a definitive sentence, and as this defect in
36
HISTORY OF THE
the proceedings of presbytery occurred in consequence of a disorderly withdrawal of the friends of Mr. Whee- lock from the presbytery, it was directed, as the readiest and most orderly way in the unhappy and difficult case, that Mr. Wheelock reserve the prosecution of his ap- peal until presbytery had passed a definitive sentence, and that .the presbytery meet during the recess of synod and issue the case of Wheelock or refer said case to synod.
The case was referred by presbytery to synod. It oc- cupied the whole of synod for two days. On the morn- ing of the third day a committee was appointed to express the judgment of synod. The committee con- sisted of Andrew Wylie, J. Thompson, John F. Crowe, B. C. Cressy, ministers, and William Alexander, elder.
The committee made the following report, which was adopted :
"That having taken the subject under their serious considera- tion, they have agreed to recommend to synod, for their adoption, the following resolutions, viz :
"Resolved, That it is well known throughout the bounds of the Presbyterian church, in the United States, that a difference of phraseology and mode of illustration, with regard to the doctrinal points referred to, in the charges referred to by Mr. Hopkins, against the Rev. J. R. Wheelock, has for a long time prevailed in our church, and to a certain degree ought to be tolerated. That in using this liberty of expression, ministers of the gospel ought to be very careful not to vary from the form of sound words contained in the standards of our church, since want of due caution in this respect is calculated to give offence, and to awaken unpleasant and injurious suspicions in the minds of many people. And that it appears from the testimony, that Mr. Wheelock has not, in his public ministrations, been sufficiently guarded in this respect. Nevertheless, the testimony, together with Mr. Wheelock's written confession of faith with regard to the points alluded to, does suffi- ciently shew that Mr. Wheelock does not hold doctrines essentially variant from our standards.
" In regard to the sixth specification, the synod decide that
37
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
though Mr. Wheelock is not proved to have uttered a wilful false- hood, his language was highly indecorous and offensive; especially as uttered from the pulpit and on the Lord's day.
"As it respects the prosecutor, the synod are of opinion that there is no evidence or reason to believe that he was actuated, in exhib- iting charges against Mr. Wheelock, by any other motives than such as become him and all other officers and members of the Pres- byterian church, who are solemnly bound to be watchful of its purity and peace ; yet he appears not to have taken such previous steps in the case as the spirit of the standard of Discipline requires. Therefore, in view of the whole case, it is further
"Resolved, That Mr. Wheelock be solemnly and affectionately admonished, and he is hereby admonished, in his future public ministrations, that he give 'good heed,' and seek to 'find out good and acceptable words;' and further, that the prosecutor and all other members of our church should be admonished to observe the rules prescribed in the Word of God and the standards of our church, respecting commencing process against a gospel minister."
From the foregoing decision the following dissent was presented, and ordered to be entered on the minutes, viz :
" The undersigned dissent from the decision of the synod, by which they declare that 'testimony, together with Mr. Wheelock's written confession of faith, in regard to the points alluded to, does not sufficiently shew that Mr. Wheelock does not hold doctrines essentially variant from those of our standards,' inasmuch as they do firmly believe that the testimony adduced clearly shewed that on the subjects of Federal representation, imputation, and the atonement of Christ, Mr. Wheelock does vary materially from the standards of our church; and moreover, this testimony was abun- dantly confirmed by Mr. Wheelock's written confession.
" ALEXANDER WILLIAMSON, WM. SICKELS,
" JOHN FINLEY CROWE,
HENDERSON BELL,
" JOHN CAMPBELL,
WILLIAM BEALE,
" JOHN LIST,
DAVID MCCLURE,
" JOHN HENDRICKS,
JOHN S. WEAVER,
" MATTHEW G. WALLACE,
WM. O. Ross,
" DAVID MONFORT, JAMES H. THOMPSON."
38
HISTORY OF THE
ITEMS.
At the meeting of the synod at New Albany in 1834, three new names appear upon the roll of the presbytery, Thomas Barr, Samuel Hurd and W. A. Holliday.
In September, 1834, the church at Indianapolis called the Rev. James McKennan, of the Presbytery of Wash- ington, Pennsylvania. He was installed pastor June 16, 1835.
In October, 1835, J. R. Wheelock was received into Crawfordsville Presbytery by letter from the Presbytery of Indianapolis.
From the roll of Synod at Crawfordsville, in 1836, it appears that Wells Bushnell was received into the Pres- bytery of Indianapolis during the year. David M. Stewart is also reported in the Assembly's minutes as a licentiate of the presbytery. In 1837, Mr. Stewart is reported pastor of the church at Rushville, and David V. Smock is added to the roll of members as pastor of the church at Knightstown. In October, 1837, W. W. Woods is received into Crawfordsville Presbytery by letter from Presbytery of Indianapolis.
HOPEWELL.
Returning now to the history of the cuurches of the presbytery, we find that in May, 1831, the church of Hope- well was, by order of presbytery, organized with forty members from the Franklin church. In October, 1831, the Rev. D. Monfort was installed pastor of the Franklin and Hopewell churches, upon a salary of three hundred dollars. In explanation of this meagre salary, Judge Banta, in his Historical Address at the Semi-centenary Anniver- sary of the Franklin church, makes some statements which are of general interest, as giving to us a picture not only of the industrial aspects and economies or household management of Johnson county, but of this
39
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
entire interior region of country, with its base of sup- splies upon the Ohio river, and the farmers, with their teams loaded with the produce of their farms for the exchange of merchandise, threading their way at suita- ble seasons to the distant river towns. The Judge says : " The people were still without a market in which to sell their surplus produce nearer than Madison, on the Ohio river, sixty-five miles away. Wheat was worth from twenty-five to thirty-five cents per bushel; corn ten, and oats eight. Good work horses sold at from thirty-five and forty dollars per head, to fifty and sixty ; cows, at from five to ten dollars each ; while all cotton and imported woolen goods, and groceries of all kinds, cost at least double the present prices. Those in the entire county, who were not compelled to toil for daily bread and raiment, you could have counted off on the fingers of your right hand. The men tilled the soil during the tilling season, and cleared land for themselves or others during the fall and winter seasons, and spent the long winter evenings in making and mending shoes for their families, or other domestic labor; while the women not only looked after the ordinary and daily affairs of the household, but spun flax, carded and spun the wool, and wove linens, flannels and jeans, with which all were clothed."
SOUTHPORT.
The church at Southport was organized March 30th, 1833, by W. W. Woods, with twenty-four members dis- missed for the purpose from the church at Greenwood. The church was named New Providence at its organiza- tion. Otis Sprague and John S. Sebern were elected elders. Rev. Hilary Patrick labored for the church for a short period. The Rev. John Todd also ministered to the church for several years. Its membership in 1838 was forty-one.
40
HISTORY OF. THE
DANVILLE.
The church at Danville, Hendricks county, was organ- ized by S. G. Lowry in December, 1832, with nineteen members. Daniel McAuley, Stephen Mahood and Alexander Morris, were elected elders. Mr. Lowry preached for some months for the church once a month." The church was without any stated ministry until 1835, when Rev. Moody Chase removed to Danville, and took charge of the church. A church edifice was erected in 1837. Its membership at the time was thirty-eight.
GREENCASTLE.
The church at Greencastle was reorganized July 14th, 1833, with fourteen members, by S. G. Lowry. In 1834, W. W. Woods commenced his labors with the church and remained until 1837. In that year J. R. Wheelock took charge of the church and continued with it a year and three months. The church wor- shipped until 1836 in a log house that had been built by the Methodists. In this year they erected a brick edifice forty by fifty feet. In 1836 the membership was forty-nine, in 1837, it was seventy-five.
PUTNAMVILLE.
The church at Putnamville after its organization in 1830, enjoyed the labors a part of the time for nearly four years of Revs. Jeremiah Hill, James Shields and S. G. Lowry. At a communion season in August 1831, nineteen persons were received by letter. In less than four years the church had increased to sixty-five. W. W. Woods ministered to the church in connection with his labors at Greencastle. His labors at Putnam- ville continued for nine years.
BLOOMINGTON.
At Bloomington, the Rev. Ransom Hawley had be-
41
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
come stated supply of the church in 1834. Prof. Hall 1 had removed to Bedford, Pennsylvania. Mr. Reed not succeeding in his efforts in building up a female school, had gone to Hanover. A personal difficulty between Dr. Wylie, President of the State College, and John H. Harney, Professor in the college, who was also a mem- ber of the church, led to a church trial, which caused no little trouble to the church. The case was widely known in its day, passing through presbytery and synod to the General Assembly, and sent back by the General Assembly, again occupied the time of presbytery and synod with all its details. The alienations and divisions thus originated in the church at Bloomington could not but hinder its prosperity. The membership reported to the Assembly in 1838, was seventy-two.
From the minutes of the General Assembly, we find the Shiloh church first reported in 1836, but without the number of its members. In 1837, its membership is reported as thirty-seven.
The Bethany church is first reported in 1837, with thirty members.
The names of South Marion, Sugar Creek and Eagle Creek are in the minutes of the Assembly for 1832. Eagle Creek has then a membership of twenty-five, in 1836, of only nineteen.
In 1830, the church of Columbus was supplied for a time by the Rev. Hilary Patrick. In 1834, the Rev. Michael A. Remley resided at Columbus, and supplied the church. In 1837, Rev. Windsor A. Smith took charge of the church, and supplied it for two and a half years. But there was yet no church edifice. The number of members reported to the General Assembly in 1838, was thirty-five.
42
HISTORY OF THE
From the minutes of the Assembly for 1837 and 1838, we have the membership of the churches as follows :
Franklin 114
Danville
35
Hopewell.
106
Greencastle
75
Indianapolis
172
Putnamville. 65
Greenwood. 132
Bloomington
72
New Providence.
41
Columbus.
35
Shiloh.
28
Bethany.
30
Eagle Creek
28
South Marion
19
Total
1,042
On this field are the following ministers : John Todd, David Monfort, Eliphalet Kent, Wm. Sickels, W. A. Holliday, James W. McKennan, Moody Chase, W. W. Woods, Ransom Hawley, Andrew Wylie, D. D., and W. A. Smith. Of these, Dr. Wylie is President of the State College, and wholly occupied with its duties. Rev. W. A. Holliday is also engaged in teaching.
In this field of the present presbytery, there was, two years later, a population of more than 84,000; by coun- ties as follows :
Marion
16,080
Monroe 10,143
Johnson
9,352
Brown
2,364
Hancock
7,535
Bartholomew 10,042
Hendricks.
11,264
Putnam.
16,843
Total 84,364
Morgan
10,741
Poplar Spring. 90
In this growing population the Presbyterians are still a feeble folk, and unhappily divided. How will they grow when they are no longer quarreling factions in the same church, but divided into two different bodies, each harmonious with itself ? We shall see, if we follow on.
43
PRESBYTERY OF INDIANAPOLIS.
CHAPTER IV.
Action of the Presbytery of Indianapolis in the Great Divi- sion of the Church-Action of the Presbytery of Crawfords- ville-Greencastle First-Greencastle Second-Putnam- ville, Poplar Spring, Bainbridge, Carpentersville, Bloom- ington, Columbus.
1838-1850.
IN May, 1838, occurred the division of the General Assembly, by which the Presbyterian Church became divided into two denominations. The division accom- plished in Philadelphia in May, 1838, was accomplished in the lower judicatories of the church as they were suc- cessively convened. Upon the 31st of July, 1838, the Presbytery of Indianapolis met at Franklin, at the call of the moderator, Eliphalet Kent, for the purpose of at- tending to any business which the peculiar state of the church at the time, and especially within the bounds of the presbytery, might demand.
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