USA > Indiana > Indiana Methodism: a series of sketches and incidents grave and humorous concerning preachers and people of the West with an appendix containing personal recollections, public addresses and other miscellany > Part 16
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"Reader, to appreciate this you should have been there. But did you ever hear Bishop Simpson ?
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"He proceeded to say, that in Bulgaria we have missionaries fitted to their work, and paid a high compliment to the women of the American Board wherever found in the lands of the East. He most touchingly alluded to his failing health in the East, and the saddening effects the news of the great finan- cial crisis had upon him, and again to the marvelous effect produced when he heard that New York had . aroused herself and poured of her offerings into the treasury of the Lord, in a manner which served to inspire the whole church, and send a thrill of joy over all lands whither our missionaries have gone to preach the acceptable year of the Lord !
"Rev. Thomas Carlton, the indefatigable treasurer of the society, followed up this charming address by moving,and Dr. M Clintock by seconding, that the au- dience present do then and there ratify the proceed- ingsand result of the General Committee and Board by a rising vote ; whereupon,and before the chairman could submit the question, the vast assembly were upon their feet ; when the Doxology, tune of Old Hundred, was sung, and the benediction pronounced by the venerable Dr. Bangs upon the largest and happiest meeting ever convened to speak so directly for, and in behalf of, the MISSIONARY CAUSE."
At the first conference of the Indian mission of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 1859-60, the ap- pointments stood as follow :-
REV. WILLIAM BUTLER, D. D., Superintendent.
Lucknow .-- Revs. R. Pearce and J. Baume, mission- aries. J. A. Cawdell, local preacher, and Joel, na- tive preacher ; Robert, Ameer, Mirza, teachers ; Peggy, in charge of orphan girls No. 178.
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Shahjehanpore .- Rev. J. W. Waugh, missionary. Sheo Ghoolan, Moonshee, Isaac Jones, teacher.
Bareilly .- Revs. J. L. Humphrey, and J. R. Downey, missionaries. Joel, native preacher ; Zoor-ool Huck, and Isaac John, teachers ; John, in charge of orphan boys.
Mooradabad .- Revs. C. W. Judd and J. Parsons, missionaries. Samuel, native preacher ; James and Jamaut Sing, native exhorters ; Mooassee Sing, and Bulloo Sing, teachers.
Bijnour .- Rev. E. W. Parker, missionary. Wil- liam, native exhorter.
Nynee Tal .- Revs. J. M. Thoburn and S. Knowles, missionaries. Jacob, teacher.
CHAPTER XXII.
GENERAL CONFERENCE 1860-REV. S. T. COOPER.
At the conference held at LaFayette, Indiana, commencing October 1, 1857, Bishop Waugh pre- sided, with Joseph C. Reed, secretary. The follow- ing named brethern were admitted on trial : Will . iam R. Mikels, Thomas C. Stringer, Francis M. Pavey, Wilson Beckner, Thomas C. Hackney, De- Witt C. Farrington, John B. Adell, John C. Mahin, Patrick H. Dutch, William T. Brooke, Charles N. Sims, James A. Clearwater's, Josiah Parsons, Moses
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Blackstock, an elder, was received from Canada conference. Of these fourteen names only four re- main upon roll of the Northwest Indiana confer- ence at this writing (1892). W. R. Mikels has had a useful and successful career, having, in the last thirty years or more of his itinerant life, served some of our best stations and been a useful, active, and popular presiding elder eight years-four years on the Valparaiso district, and then four years on the Crawfordsville district. He is now the beloved, honored, and successful pastor of Grace church, South Bend. Rev. Francis M. Pavey, is a true gospel preacher, who, for purity of diction, perspicuity of statement, and clear-cut analysis, force and effectiveness, is perhaps not surpassed by any man in the conference. He did faithful and ac- ceptable work for four years on the LaPorte dis- trict, was honored by his brethern with a seat in the general conference in 1884, and is now the esteemed pastor of Rockville station. J. A. Clear- waters, a man of high character, and a Christian gentleman, has done faithful and successful work in all the years of his ministry. After traveling circuits, occupying stations, and serving the Frank- fort district five years as presiding elder, he is the same faithful, reliable, and able preacher; and the good people of Attica, this year, are to be felicita- ted on their good fortune in having such a man as their pastor.
Brother Thomas C. Hackney, a beloved brother after years of faithful labors, yet lingers, honored for the work he has accomplished, but in failing. health, among the superannuated of the conference.
1
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Rev. Charles N. Sims, a graduate of Asbury, now DePauw, University, was at one time the principal of the Thorntown Academy; afterwards, also, pres- ident of the Valparaiso "Male and Female College," now the great "Northern Indiana Normal," which averages year after year, two thousand or more students. Dr. Sims resigned the presidency of the college above named to go into the pastoral work; and after serving Richmond station, Evansville, Indianapolis, etc., was transferred East, where great success attended his labors as pastor,-in Balti- more, Newark, N. J., and Brooklyn, New York. He is now, and for several years has been, the success- ful and honored chancellor of the Syracuse Uni- versity, N. Y.
By the conference minutes of 1857 it is found that, for Attica district, J. L. Smith was presiding elder. He had the good fortune to have associated with him as fellow-laborers, such men as Richard Har- grave, George M. Boyd, Samuel T. Cooper, and others, who, if of less note, were not less worthy. For many years, and that without controversy, Richard Hargrave stood in the conference without a peer as a great preacher. His volume of published sermons will stand as an enduring monument of the grandeur of the wonderful pulpit power. Also in the last few years Rev. William P. Hargrave, the worthy son of a noble sire, has published a volume, to still further commemorate the name and fame of his distinguished father. At his request this writer furnished some items concerning his father's minis- tery for that volume, and now takes the liberty of transcribing a paragraph or two from the article.
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VALPARAISO, IND., FEB. 27, 1890. Rev. W. P. Hargrave, A. M:
MY DEAR BROTHER, -My acquaintance with your honored father commenced at the session of the Indiana conference held in Indianapolis, in Octo- ber, 1840. I was then quite a young man, was at the conference for admission on trial, and had nothing to do but to take notes of men and things. I there among others first met Allen Wiley. Aaron Wood, Enoch G. Wood, E. R. Ames, Mathew Simpson and Richard Hargrave. On the evening of the first day of the conference your father preached in the old church, which was densely crowded, with perhaps hundreds unable to gain ad- mittance. The text and sermon I shall never for- get. He was then in the prime of his physical and intellectual manhood, with broad shoulders and massive head, and, as he arose in the pulpit, I was reminded of the lion shaking the dew drops from his mane.
His text was chosen from Peter's second Epistle, and was read with a grandeur that deeply im- pressed me, and was as follows: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." There was stateliness and sublimity from the beginning, which gradually arose as a cloud in the heavens, accompanied by such lightning and thunder as I never before heard. Rev. George M. Boyd sat with him in the pulpit, and has often said to me that he made my ac- quaintance through my shouting "Amen!" during
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that wonderful sermon of your father's. I had the honor in after years to be your father's presiding elder; and, as I became more intimately acquainted with him, my admiration for his unique manner, and profound talents, and power as a preacher, grew with the years.
When he was stationed at Frankfort in my dis- trict, I took with me to one of the quarterly meet- ings a young man who had quite a good opinion of himself, and we were invited to a turkey-dinner at the parsonage. Your father and I fell into a con- versation on the subject of the introduction of evil, or sin, into the world. Knowing well with whom I was talking, I was cautious in my expressions of opinion, but listened with reverence to the masterly manner in which your father treated the subject. Before he seemed to be quite through, the young preacherstruck in with his views, evidently thinking to enlighten both of us. We sat mutely and listened until the close of his effort, when your father, with a pecu- liar look and manner, said to the young man, "Who was telling you?"
At a camp-meeting, held at the Tippecanoe Battle Ground a few years ago, Bishop Ames preached on Sunday morning; and, as chairman of the committee on public worship, I requested Brother Hargrave to exhort, according to old Methodist style. "But," said I, "before you exhort, I want you to sing, 'Hear the royal proclamation.'" "But," said he, "I have forgotten it." "Go on," said I; "It will all come back to you." And so it did.
Present on the occasion were the leading profes-
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sional men of LaFayette, with a crowd of possibly near ten thousand people. Judge V - -, who was perhaps somewhat troubled with skepticism, said to me afterwards that he had been accustomed to hearing the finest performances in the opera as well as the best church-choirs in the nation, but that nothing he had ever heard anywhere affected him as did that song. For days and weeks, he remarked, he seemed to feel the swell of the music and the touch of the sentiment as your father with his so- norous voice and peculiar manner, came over the words :
"Jesus reigns, he reigns victorious; Over heaven and earth most glorious, Jesus reigns "
J. L. SMITH.
Bishop Waugh's sermon on the Sunday of the con- ference was one of great power; and it was said by Dr. Elliott and others present on the occasion, who had often heard the Bishop, that they thought the good man had never excelled that effort. The Bishop closed the sermon with these words, which are still held by the surviving members of the conference in precious remembrance, namely: "I am an old man; I have almost finished my labors; I shall soon shake hands with time; but, beloved brethern, best of all, I know I have a home over the river."
The venerable man of God preached but one more sermon after that, which was at "Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania," and soon after went over and upward to his reward for, "the righteous shall be had in ever- lasting remembrance."
Beginning September 29, 1858, Bishop Ames held
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the second conference north of the Kankakee river -this time at Valparaiso,-J. C. Reed acting as sect'y. At this conference only two were admitted on trial, viz., D. F. Barnes and Leander C. Buckles. These two noble men still live to labor for the Mas- ter. Early in his career, Brother Barnes was trans- fered to the Michigan conference, and has long been, and now is, an honored member of that body. Brother Buckles is at present, presiding elder of the LaFayette district,-a man of sweet spirit and deep devotion; a genial companion, loved and honored by his brethern for his many
noble qualities of mind and heart. He
has never been a failure in any part of the work. For many years he occupied some of the leading stations of the conference, (including a full term on the Greencastle district,) with great acceptability, until his health failed, when, for a short time, he had to cease from active labor. Appreciating his great worth as a man, as a Christian and successful minister, his brethern honored him with a seat in the General conference of 1884.
He is now having his wonted success as presiding elder, now in the first year of his second term in that responsible position
The appointments on the LaFayette district for 1858 stood thus :
J. L. Smith, Presiding Elder; Lafayette, Western charge, A. A. Gee, Eastern charge, J. C. Reed; La- Fayette Circuit, W. R. Mikels; Delphi and Pitts- burgh, N. L. Brakeman; Camden, J. B. Mersh on; Burlington, J. F. M'Daniel; Frankfort, R. Hargrave ;
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INDIANA METHODISM,
Rossville, C. B. Heath; Clark's Hill, George Guion; Romney, J. White, J. Spinks; Dayton, J. Hill; Monticello, T. E. Webb; Thorntown, to be supplied. C. N. Sims, Principal, W. Campbell, Agent of Thorntown Academy,-members of Thorntown Quarterly Conference.
Dr. Gee, one of the leading members of the con- ference, who had faithfully served in some of the more prominent positions in the conference, was af- ter the war of the rebellion, sent South by the church authorities to re-organize the societies of the Methodist Episcopal church in Tennessee, and, for a considerable time, did valiant service in that field of labor. When he felt that his work was ac- complished there, he returned, and was welcomed back among his fellow-laborers of the Northwest Indiana conference. With the close of the con- ference session, October, 1891, he closed a six-years term on the Greencastle district as presiding elder. And successful as he may have been in all the for- mer years of his ministery, the last six were pos- sibly the most successful of his whole ministerial life. He is yet firm in his gait, with robust health, and vigorous constitution. It would seem that with the divine blessing, many years yet may be added to his valuable and useful life as a minister of the Lord Jesus.
Rev. Joseph C. Reed, D. D., was in all respects an honorable man, and had many elements of a suc- cessful pulpit orator. He was much loved where- ever he labored; conscientious, amiable, sweet- spirited, and fully devoted to his work as a man of God, he was successful in his work from the begin-
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ning. The conference possibly never had a better secretary, a position which he held for a series of years, being, year after year, elected by acclama- tion. Although frail in health, he was an active and indefatigable worker and the popular preacher everywhere. His hair became gray while he was yet a comparatively young man. At the Crawfords- ville conference, in 1871, Mrs. VanCott was holding a religious service, and upon her invitation a large number of the ministers were knelt together at the altar, the good woman, passing from one to another and speaking to each as she passed, placed her hands upon the hoary head of Brother Reed, and in deep solemnity said: "The Lord bless this thy venerable, thy aged servant." That her remark caused smiles in the congregation is not so remark- able, but it would have been remarkable had the re- mark added solemnity to the occasion. A few years ago he finished his course with joy and went to his rest in the "beautiful beyond."
Rev. N. L. Brakeman, A. M., occupied before, and up to his appointment at Valparaiso, some of the most important positions in the conference. He served as chaplain through the entire war of the rebellion, and, after the war was over, he was retained in the South by the church authorities, serving as presiding elder, and largely aiding in re-establishing the work of the church in the State of Louisiana. So far as known he was the only chaplain of any church in Indiana, who remained at his post through the entire campaign. He was with Gen- eral B. F. Butler at New Orleans, and heard the noted order of General Dix read to the officers of
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the Union army, "If any man attempts to tear down the flag of the Union, shoot him on the spot." After Brother Brakeman returned to Indiana, he labored successfully at Fifth-st. church, Lafayette, Michigan City, Terre Haute, Frankfort, and Valparaiso. Constantly faithful like a brave warrior, which he was, he suddenly fell at his post in the city of Valparaiso, May 15, 1881.
Good Brother Jesse Hall's name now stands on the superannuated list, after long years of faith- ful, laborious and useful service in the cause of his Master. He had just enough lisp in his voice to fasten attention with his first utterance in preach- ing or exhortation, and a zeal and earnestness that could not be mistaken or misunderstood by the audience; these together with his devotional spirit- his wonderful power as one of the sweet singers in our Israel, his untiring activity in his work, are some of the elements of his success. It is believed that few men in our ranks have been instrumental in the conversion of more souls, or in winning a larger number to the church than Jesse Hill. Al- though somewhat advanced in years, with more or less loss of animal spirits, a loss which age cannot escape, he still loves the song of triumph, and de- lights the people with his earnest prayers, sweet spirit, and apparently unflagging zeal, still doing what he can to promote the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1858 the nearest approach to Valparaiso by rail was Westville, in the western part of LaPorte county, on the New Albany & Chicago railroad. But the good people of Valparaiso were equal to the occasion, and so, by arrangement, the preachers
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coming to Westville from every part of the confer- ence, were there met with carriages, buggies, and wagons, and were thus safely conveyed to the seat of the conference; and so, also, at the close of the con- ference, in a similar manner they were returned to the railroad at Westville, when each took his several way according to the location of his appointment.
At that time Rev. Franklin Taylor was, or had been the previous year, at Westville; and, with his usual forecast, he arranged for a meeting on the evening of the return of the preachers from the seat of the conference. It had been announced, both at Valparaiso and Westville, that Brother Richard Hargrave would preach on the occasion, and expec- tation was tip-toe to hear that prince of preach- ers. Brother Hargrave was at his best; and, as Dr. Aaron Wood was next to Hargrave in age, Brother Taylor requested Dr. Wood to take a seat in the pulpit, and, after the manner of former years, exhort at the close of the sermon. The preachers and people, under the sermon, were brought up to a high state of spiritual fervor, and many were their ex- pressions of joy and gladness. Dr. Wood, though a very able expounder of God's word, was altogether
of a different type and temperament from the great man he was then to follow. Beginning his exhorta- tion with coolness and deliberation, and his thoughts taking a philosophical trend, he gave his audience no little truth in philosophy and science; and it is presumed the Doctor himself was not at all surprised at the result of his cooling process upon his audience. In leaving the church that night some were chagrined, some a little provoked,
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others much disappointed, but all left the church with soberness and quiet dignity.
Two of the royal members of the conference during that year were removed to their reward in heaven, viz., William F. Wheeler and George W. Crawford. Brother Wheeler, a native of London, England, was born January 25, 1812. When ten years of age his father and family came to the United States and settled near Evansville, Indiana. William was converted under the labors of Rev. James Bonner, and taken into the church by Dr. E. G. Wood. He was admitted on trial in the Indiana conference at Rockville, in 1838. As circuit and stationed preacher, and also as presiding elder on the Indianapolis district, he was always useful, and much loved by the people. After laboring in the cause of Christ for about twenty-one years, he fell at his post at Thorntown, Indiana, on the IIth day of June, 1859.
Brother Crawford died comparatively young. He was a native of Orange county, Indiana; con- verted and brought into the church in early life; ad- mitted on trial in the Northwest Indiana confer- ence in 1854; serving the church for two years at LaPorte, one year at the Western charge, LaFay- ette; one year at Crawfordsville and, in 1858, ap- pointed to Asbury Chapel, Terre Haute. That year his health failed, he was compelled to give up his work, and, after this short, yet brilliant and suc- cessful career, he died August 9, 1859. His race was short, but when called for by his Master he was ready; his last and dying words were "Glory, Glory to God."
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At the conference held at Greencastle, Septem- ber 29, 1859, with Bishop Morris in the chair, E. W. Lawhon, John Newhouse, J. H. Cissell, Issac W. Joice, and E. H. Staley were admitted on trial. E. W. Lawhon is still the active, laborious, and use- ful man of God, a character he has well sustained in all the years of his ministery. He is a dignified and instructive preacher, with perhaps less show of enthusiasm, but with more intellect than many others,-a good pastor, and always highly esteemed by the people among whom he labors.
J. H. Cissell, D. D., a man of prominence and dig- nity, a very able preacher, has faithfully and usefully served the church, in the leading stations of the confer - ence, and, for a number of years, with great accept- ability in the responsible office of presiding elder, and is now a delegate elect to the General confer- ence of 1892.
E. H. Staley, A. M., received his first appoint- ment as principal of the Battle-Ground institute; he afterwards successfully served as president of the Valparaiso Male and Female College; he is now, and for many years has been, an honored local preacher and the editor of a political paper pub- lished at Frankfort, Indiana. He still loves the church, honors her ministery, and sustains all the interests of the church of his early choice.
The Minutes of that year show that J. L. Smith was presiding elder, with John H. Hull stationed at the Western charge, LaFayette, Ferris Pierce and I. W. Joice preachers on Romney circuit.
Brother Pierce was good man, a fair preacher, a powerful exhorter, and remarkably able in prayer.
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The colleague of Brother Pierce, beginning his work as assistant preacher on a circuit, and advanc- ing in the grade of his appointments to the presiding eldership and city stations, is now one of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal churchi. Dr. Joyce was elected to the episcopacy in 1888. Bishop Joice passed through what this writer claims to be the ideal school for the training of bishops.
Rev. John H. Hull is also a bishop; not in a technical, but in the New Testament sense, he is a veritable episcopos. The author of these pages will ever be grateful that, in the order of divine providence, his lot was cast in Indiana, to become acquainted, and afterwards to be brought into a closer relationship as assistant on a circuit, with the the well known and renowned Brother John H. Hull, who, from 1838, a mere strippling then, to this year of grace (1892), has been a marked man in Indiana Methodism: with "a heart right with God," a sponteneity of good feeling toward his brethern, largely gifted by nature in skill and judg- ment, especially in the work of the Lord; with not many early advantages as to education, and yet with much natural ability, divine instinct or God- given intuition; it is doubted whether any man in Indiana has accomplished more in leading sinners to repentance and adding to the church such as shall be saved, than this good, and, in many ways, very remarkable man. With a voice like a trumpet, and with a zeal that flamed through all the years of his active ministry, he still manifests on occasion, even in his superannuated relation, especially at his con- ference sessions, many signs of his old time enthu-
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siasm and power. He and his early colleague find their names now ranged side by side among those who have retired from the active work of the ministery, and it is hoped that as they loved in life so in their death they may not be divided.
In 1859 the Stockwell Collegiate Institute at Stockwell, Indiana, and the Male and Female Col- lege at Valparaiso, Indiana, were founded. In Tip- pecanoe county, in that year, there was formed what was known as the Stockwell Company, consisting of Robert Stockwell, Moses Fowler, William Rey- nolds, Dr. James Courtney, Honorable Albert S. White, and J. L. Smith. The company erected a commodious structure for school purposes, in a beautiful grove, with a campus of sixteen to seventeen acres, and then transfered the whole to a board of trustees for the use and benefit of the Methodist Episcopal church. This school with others of kindred character flourished for a num- ber of years, until the State liberalized its policy in behalf of graded and high schools, when that, and all of its kind, ceased to flourish of necessity. The mem- bership of the church being taxed with their other fel- low-citizens for the support of the public schools could not afford to tax themselves for the support of denominational schools; hence most of the schools above named were merged into graded schools under the State law.
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