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 24
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The Fortieth session of the Northwest Indiana conference was held at South Bend, Sept.30-Oct.6, 1891. Bishop Ninde presided-his first presidency over the conference.
The conference received by transfer : A. P. De- Long and A. H.DeLong from the Detroit conference; W. E. Mclellan, from the Mexico conference ; W. G. Vessels, from the West Nebraska conference; and R. G. Hammond, from the Southwest Kansas con- ference.
Admitted on trial : W. M. Hurt, J. P. Henson, H. C.Weston, J. S. Hoagland, H. G.Ogden, R.H.Biddle, A. L. Allais, W. F. Dingle, G.M. Myers, A.L.Clark, A. C. Geyer, Lynn Bates, Amos Fetzer, and J. H. Wiley.
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INDIANA METHODISM,
Received into full connection : B. H. Beall, E. M. Dunklebarger, S. W. Goss, L. H. Murlin, J.C.Reeve, C. D. Royse, J. B. Sites, A. M. Virden, A. T. Briggs.
The following were elected delegates to the Gen- eral conference of 1892: Ministerial,-J. L. Smith, J. H. Cissel, H. A. Gobin ; Lay,-William M. Ken- dall, Oliver Guard. Reserve delegates: Ministerial, -S. B. Town, W. H.Hickman; Lay,-I. H.C.Royce, Alpheus Birch.
On the third day of the session, Oct. 2, J.L.Smith, presiding elder of Valparaiso district, made his re- port, and his character was passed. This, he stated, was his 29th or 30th report as presiding elder. He said he felt his inability, on account of advancing age, longer to do the work of a presiding elder on the Valparaiso district,and should therefore request the bishop to give him work on some small charge. At the close of his report the brethern of the confer- ence and others present came forward, and gave him a cordial Christian greeting. "S. P. Colvin moved that a committee be appointed to draft suitable res- olutions. S. P. Colvin, J. H. Hull, Wm. Graham, S. T. Cooper, and J. W. T. McMullen were appointed."
Oct. 5th the committee submitted the following report, which was unanimously adopted :
Whereas, Our Brother, the Rev. J. L. Smith, D. D., after a ministry of more than fifty years, thirty of which have been spent on district work, and now, in his eighty-first year, after presenting one of the most excellent reports ever made by a presiding el- der, in a most affecting manner, and in a style pecu- liar to himself, has voluntarily resigned his charge as presiding elder, asking the conference to give him
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some smaller work near his home at Valparaiso, and
Whereas, This conference, recognizing his great work for God and the church, has chosen him to lead its delegation to the General conference, making the sixth time the church has bestowed upon him this honor : therefore, be it
Resolved, That this conference, by his election as delegate, has not only honored itself, but expressed, in a small measure, its high regard and affectionate esteem for a man whose life-work is historical in the Methodism of Indiana and the nation, a man who has been a leader among men, a faithful preacher of the Word, an organizer of institutions of learning, and a champion of every form of our Christian civi- lization.
Resolved, That in his voluntary retirement from the district work, he carries with him the high respect, love, and esteem of his brethren in the ministry.
Resolved, That we earnestly request that he pre- pare, as soon as possible, a history of Indiana Meth- odism, as we recognize that he is possessed of such data, and intimate personal knowledge of our belov- ed Methodism, as will enable him to prepare a his- tory that will be of inestimable value to the church of Indiana and Methodism at large.
The minutes of the sixth day contain the follow- ing item: "The bishop, on behalf of the brethren, presented J. L. Smith a token of respect, in the form of a roll of money, containing one dollar for every year of his ministry, and Dr. Smith responded with appropriate remarks."
The same day J. L. Smith made the following statement :
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INDIANA METHODISM,
"Bishop Ninde and Brethren of the Conference :
I was admitted on trial in the Indiana confer- ence, Oct. 25. 1840, Bishop Joshua Soule presiding. Hence, I close, at this conference, fifty-one years as a traveling preacher.
Being now, as I believe, of 'sound mind and mem- ory,' and with no unkind feeling in my heart toward any member of this conference or any other person, but with abiding love and gratitude to God and my brethren, I respectfully ask to be placed on the su- perannuated list .- J. L. SMITHI."
On motion, the request was granted.
NORTHWEST INDIANA CONFERENCE.
The following table indicates the growth of the conference from its organization in 1852, by decades. the fourth decade, of course, lacking one year of be- ing complete.
1852
1862
1872
18S2
1891
Conference Members.
79 13059
125 16854
148 22019
159 24666
180 33458
Collections for-
Missions .
$2463
$4619
$5185
$6528 1340
$14269 4265
Sunday Schools .
223
248 2166
314 3304 22929
289 3079 23649
32433
Number of Churches . Number of Parsonages. .
204
225
262
295
33
39
52
67
83
94
Probable Value of-
Churches
$229140 $242450 5771585 $720450 $934020
Parsonages.
27258
32360
96450
113631
124025
. .
Church Members.
Conf. Claimants.
229
1100
1699
337
Officers and Teachers. Scholars.
1948
4147
11136
13175
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SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
The Census bureau has issued a bulletin giving statistics of the M. E. church in the United States, which shows 102 annual conferences, not including ten or more in foreign countries. Connected with these conferences are 2,240,354 communicants. This includes both members and probationers. Of the 2,790 counties in the states and territories the church is represented in all save 585. It has 25,861 organi- zations, with 22,844 church edifices, with a seating capacity of 6,302,708, and an aggregate valuation of $96,723,408. This valuation, does not include parsonages and other church property.
CLOSE OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
The appointments for 1891, as read by Bishop Ninde disclosed the fact that several important change; had been made, both in the plan of the work, and the stationing of the preachers.
The number of the districts was reduced from six to five ; of the six former presiding elders,-the legal term of three had expired-of one, his district was absorbed in the five, and the other, namely the writer, was granted a superannuated relation, -- leav- ing only one of the six -"H. M. Middleton, of the Crawfordsville district."
The writer's successor on the Valparaiso district, the Rev. J. H. Wilson, found the twenty-six pasto- ral charges,composing his field of labor-well man- ned, all willing and ready to cooperate in all suitable plans, and well devised methods of work under the valiant leadership of their new suffragan Bishop. In its rapidly rising towns and growing young cities along its western border, in speaking distance of
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INDIANA METHODISM.
a great city like Chicago, Valparaiso district needs the "right man in the right place." With Satan at the head of the whiskey power in city, village and country place, commanding his cohorts in crime ; reigning in the saloon, directing in the gambling- hell, his eye on the low dive, and his chief seat in Sin's gilded palace-may the general on the dis- trict, in command of King Emmanual's forces, cver be as now; a man, of able body, strong will, burning zeal, undaunted courage, and deep devotion ; in the use of "the weapons which are not carnal, but which are mighty through God, to the pulling down the strong holds" of sin, and to the building up of the Kingdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
The twenty-first Delegated General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, convened in the Exposition Hall, in the city of Omaha, Nebraska,on Monday, the second day of May, eighteen hundred and ninety-two.
One of the leading questions brought before the body, was the report of the committee appointed at "New York" in 1888,to consider and report on what parts of the "discipline" should be taken and accept - ed as the constitution or, organic law of the church, and what among the "rules and regulations," should be held as statutory. After much discussion the whole matter was postponed for four years, or until the General conference of 1896.
The second question, to which was given much time and thought, was, that "child of providence"- the "Epworth league" -- the promising child-young-
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SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
est of the family.
The third, and most exciting question of all, was what is known as the "Hamilton Amendment," sub- mitting the "woman question"-or more properly speaking the man question to the annual confer- ences ; without the weight of a "two thirds vote" of the "General conference," this amendment seeks by indirection and "pious fraud," to do, what the friends of the measure failed to accomplish by direction- they seek by adding certain words to the restrictive rule, to change the letter, which words when added, will leave the rule in spirit, and meaning precisely what it now is.
In other words, if three- fourths of the members of the Annual conferences, present and voting, fail or refuse to vote "Aye," and the "General conference" should by a two-thirds vote, fail or refuse to vote, "Aye," then, and in that case "the Second Restrict- ive Rule shall be so construed that the words, 'lay delegates,' may include men and women," and so, the effect of a negative vote shall be, to affirmative- ly settle a great constitutional question.
The General conference of 1888 decided that under the organic law, of the church, woman was not eligable as a delegate -- the report of the "Judi- ciary committee" of 1892, reaffirmed that decision, and yet it is sought by a sort of Clerical Legerde- main, to bring about a state of things which if it should succeed can at most bring woman into the "General conference" by a side entrance-which would be a humiliation to woman -- not to say a dis- grace to the whole church.
On the fifth day of the session, on motion of "Dr.
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INDIANA METHODISM,
Buckley," the writer was kindly invited to occupy a seat on the platform, at his pleasure-which honor he in a few words declined-saying, "I thank the General conference for the compliment but prefer- ing to sit with my delegation-I beg to decline the high position tendered." The great quadrennial gathering of more than five hundred delegates ; on the 27 day of May, 1892, closed what in some re- spects will go down into history as one of the most remarkable in the annals of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
APPENDIX.
THE REV. J. W. T. MCMULLEN, D. D.
"John William Thomas McMullen" was born in "Orange county," Va., January 1, 1826.
His parents "William and Ann McMullen" were among the first to unite with the Methodist Epis- copal church in that part of the state.
His father was the first class leader and the build- er of the first church in that portion of the country.
In the eleventh year of his age his parents moved to Indiana and found a cabin home in Wayne county.
His father was a well to do farmer and John was early taught habits of industry-working on the farm in summer and attending such schools in winter as the country afforded fifty years ago.
In the 17th year of his age he was present on a Sab- bath at the dedication of the newly erected church in Centerville. Dr. Simpson the president of the In- diana Asbury university, and greatest pulpit orator in the state, was to preach the dedicatory sermon. Long before the hour for service, the new church was crowded. John, with the other boys from the
386
INDIANA METHODISM,
McMullen neighborhood had taken a seat in the gal- lery. The great preacher was at his best. He was led, on that occasion, to picture in glowing colors, the triumphs of the gospel in winning its way from Plymouth rock to the Pacific Ocean. Planting the cross on the summit of the Rocky Mountains with the "Stars and Stripes" just beneath-the symbols of free speech and a free gospel-the scene that fol- lowed this burst of impassioned eloquence, no tongue or pen may describe. Amens and halleluas rang throughout the congregation.
While young McMullen in the gallery, not yet converted, but knowing how to shout at a political meeting sprang to his feet and swinging his hat, bc- gan screaming at the top of his voice-huzsa, husza, hussa,-then on the return of consciousness, was mortified almost beyond endurance, to find himself in a church-amidst the worshipers. He was con- verted in the twenty-first year of his age, and the same year was licensed to preach. Lucian W. Berry, D. D., presiding, who also presented his name to the Indiana conference, held in the city of Rising Sun in 1849. His first appointment was to Pales- tine Mission, and for the next five years he labored on old fashioned circuits.
He was appointed to his first station-Asbury chapel, Indianapolis-in 1854, which he served for two years.
In these first seven years of his itinerant minis- try, he has ever felt, that it was his good fortune, to be under the training and fatherly watch care as his presiding elder-of that grand old hero and man of God, the Rev. James Havens.
387
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
In 1856, he was transferred to the North Indiana conference, and stationed at Roberts chapel, In- dianapolis, where he remained a full term of two years. Under his arduous labors at the Capital City, and responding to the frequent calls for public addresses on popular occasions, his health gave way and being advised by physician and friends, at the conference of 1858 took a superannuated relation, but in 1859 was made effective, and appointed to Logansport station.
At the conference in 1860 again with broken health, was constrained to take a superannuated re- lation, and after a year's rest, was in the spring of 1861, appointed to Pearl street station, Richmond. Scarcely had the new pastor entered upon his work when the country was startled by Southern rebels fir- ing on Ft.Sumpter. At the call of President Lincoln the people rushed to arms. Many of our preachers vol- unteered to defend the flag, going out at once to the front, or entering the recruiting service. Among the very first, Dr. McMullen took the field, and in company with Rev. F. A. Hardin raised a regiment. When the former was commissioned by Gov. O. P. Morton, as colonel and the latter lieutenant colonel, marched to the field of conflict.
The strain on the already impaired constitution of Dr. McMullen-sweeping through the country like a flaming torch, by day and night, electrifying the people with his burning eloquence in defense of the old flag, while recruiting the regiment, was too great for endurance and he was compelled to resign his colonelcy and resign himself for months to nerv- ous prostration.
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INDIANA METHODISM,
At the session of the North Indiana conference, held at Ft. Wayne in April 1862-he was transferred by Bishop Simpson to the Northwest Indiana con- ference-appointed to Fifth St., now Trinity church, LaFayette, where he served a full term of two years, and in 1864 was appointed to Attica district as pre- siding elder. In 1880, his father-in-law, Robert Heath, Esq., died leaving quite an estate, bringing with it increased care to the doctor and his family, insomuch that with weak health he has been since that time, but one year in actice ministerial work. In looking over his life record it is found that he traveled circuits six years-and did station work thirteen years-served as Centenary Agent one year, and as presiding elder nine years.
If any man may be properly called self made, J. WV. T. McMullen is that man. Without scholas- ticism, a man of broad and varied learning. An el- ocutionist by nature. A linguist without a master. An impressive and elegant reader by instinct. A knowledge of history perhaps equaled in the state only by Indiana's great historian-Dr. John Clark Ridpath.
Dr. MeMullen is a man of deep personal piety, with a brothers heart-generous next to a fault-a friendship true as the needle to the pole,-gallant and chivalrous -- the soul of honor -- clothed with a gen- uine knighthood-but with a spirit gentle and guile- less as a morning zephyr or sweet as the fragrance that scents the evening gale. It is sad to think how much the world has lost in not having in permanent forma true history of the life and labors of this truly good and great man.
REV. J. W. T. McMULLEN, D. D.
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SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
If in the high noon of his manhood his brilliant and eloquent gospel sermons moving multitudes to. turn away from a sinful life, to the ways of religion and truth-together, with his great war speeches, all could have been taken down by a short hand re- porter, and put in book form, what a benediction to- our young people of to-day would be such a volume -I know the man of whom I speak-I have known him long and intimately, I do not over rate him.
It gives me pleasure to present to my readers the Doctor's portrait, but more still to furnish his"seven" letters upon the lofty theme of the "Apocalypse." These letters were not written for publication as the reader will readily see, but I here take the liberty, presuming, that the generous nature of the distin- guished author will pardon what might seem temer- ity on the part of his old friend and fellow laborer.
J. L. SMITH.
I.
LaFayette, March, 15 1885. DEAR DR. SMITH :
Sabbath memories of Creation and re- demption stir me. The grand mood is upon me.
I think of the long rest of Jehovah, from creative work,and of the Sabbatic rest of the Son of God from a life of suffering, and atoning sorrow. I think too, of the rest of the Saints of all the ages in the glori- ous heavens. I see the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. I walk within the true:
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INDIANA METHODISM,
temple, of which the "Jewish temple. was but the shadow of a shade." I move through the heavenly Jerusalem, "whose builder and maker is God," and of which the earthly was but the feeblest material symbolism. I gaze upon the eternal Father enthron- ed, and the majestic light-form, on whose brow hangs the seven-fold rainbow, bespeaks the presence of the Infinite. I look upon the Son of God at the right hand of the Father's majesty, in whom the Spirit, soul and body of humanity,has been glorified with all power and authority over angels, men, and devils. I behold him take the semblance of "a Lamb slain, having seven horns and seven eyes"- the Lamb slain, symbol of his atoning work, which won him the right to universal rule-the seven horns, emblems of his complete, perfect, and om- nipotent power to rule -- and the seven eyes, sym- bols of his all-seeing vision, in all worlds. I look upon "the seven spirits before the throne," flashing light and fire from "seven lamps" of excellent glory -- symbols these, of the one, complete, and perfect Spirit of God and his Christ, in his work of purifying souls, and in his work of judgment upon guilt. I stand on the crystal sea of glass,-emblem of the divine, the serene, and the pure, and the everlasting -and gaze upon "the fountains of living waters." I see the four Cherubims, and hear them chant the Anthems of the skies, and repeat the story of the suffering church, until it shall enter the new heaven and the new earth, in all the glories of resurrec- tion, life and power. I see the seven angels of power, and hear them proclaim the conquests and defeats of the historic and prophetic church, until
393;
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
all things shall be inade new. I see Gabriel, the great prophet among the angels, and the mighty numberer of the days of God-opposing secular kingdoms, and he pours forth all his sympathies with the bleeding church of the past and of the fu- ture, until the temporal becomes the eternal and the spiritual.
I gaze upon Michael, the commander and leader of all angels, who, behind the scenes, has fought Satan and his angels, in all the wars of the ages ; and thus shall he fight for the church until it be- comes the resurrection church of eternity. I see the twice twelve elders, representatives of the true, one historic church of all ages, and I hear them re- count the story of all holy sufferers, until time shall be no more, and their names shall blaze upon the gates and foundations of the eternal city of light, amid the splendors of a new creation. I see the numberless hosts of angels, and the twelve tribes of Israel, and the countless multitudes of the gen- tile church, flaming in garments of light, and I hear their songs and shouts, as they see the coming glory of the church on earth, and in the eternal state.
O life above ! what power, what health, what beauty, is there in the celestial life ! There none of us are forgotten. They think of us ; they remem- ber us. They are all ministers to us. How, they will tell us soon.
In a few days you Dr., Sister Smith, my wife and I, even I-shall have a new revelation. We shall see, and hear, and know, and feel what it is to be with the whole universe of heavenly ones. There can be but one more revelation greater than this-
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INDIANA METHODISM,
life in resurrection bodies, and in a new spiritual creation.
You see Dr. that the spell is upon me, that came upon me while I was with you. We have song-ser- vice every night, and an evening invocation. The prophetic pictures of the church of the future, and the nations and states of the future, rise before, de- manding study. Oh to be willing, and able to work, and yet compelled to walk around here "wasting sweetness on the desert air," "but I dream."
Oh to hear my young people say, when they come from church, "Well I listen, but I learn nothing." I say nothing, for I know there is so much truth in it. Oh my God send men to our pulpits, who can get a grip on our people, and not let us waste away. My soul is moved when I see the weakness of our people. Thanks for your letter. It came down upon me like the dew and the rain upon the plants in the day of heat. It was refreshing, like the opening of the eye-lids of the morning. It hangs on my cloud, like a rainbow of promise. Thanks again and re- peat the blessing.
We had a lecture from Talmage on Ingersoll. It was characteristic, I am told-strong, sharp, and funny, answering a fool according to his folly, and yet without being like the fool.
Tell Sister Smith we do not forget her. Accept our kindest regards.
Yours truly, J. W. T. MCMULLEN.
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SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
II.
LaFayette, March 17, 1885.
DEAR DR SMITH :-
My faith looks out upon a rich field of wonders, and my hope takes on golden wings for a majestic flight. Three or four centuries ago, and what ? Asia was ruled by pagan or Mohamedan ! no angel of missions spread his wings of light in its black- ness of darkness, nor had the once star crowned light-robed queen of prophetic vision, life enough to send one missionary into the awful gloom. Three or four ages ago and what of the night in Europe ? An absolute pope ruled Christendom, the Turks were thundering at the gates of Vienna, the error- demons and the war-demons of Mohammedism seemed about to establish another false religion ov- er all the West, and solid midnight reigned over the ignorance of Europe. And what of Africa ? Three or four centuries ago Africa was the dark land, as she had been for untold ages ; and not a single torch of Europeanism or of Americanism 'lighted up her horrid gloom. Three or four centuries ago, America was a world of howling woods, and of red savages, practicing horrid Satanic rites and dia - bolical cruelities. Then, the four quarters of the globe were covered with a rayless night, and only in Europe was seen a feeble twilight dawn. Then, the seas were navigated by feeble crafts, and ruled by pirates. Then there were no missionary socie- ties,sending forth the gospel heralds to all nations.
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INDIANA METHODISM,
Then, there were no Bible societies, speaking in two or three hundred languages and dialects to the world. Then, there was no speech by press, by lightening, or by telephone,and no movement by fire and steam. Then, there was no Christian pre-em- inence, spreading Europeanism over Asia and Af- rica, with ever increasing rapidity. Then, there was no anti-pagan, anti-papal. Protestant pre- eminence, with all its churches, schools and univer- sities, spreading a true Christianity over the world.
Then there was no Christian Protestant, and American pre-eminence, spreading Americanism over the world, with its ideas of a free church in a free state. Paganism, papalism, and Mohamed- ism, grow weaker every day ; but Christian Protes- tantism, with all its over-mastering peace-forces, and war forces, and arts, waxes stronger and stronger. I do not forget the great injustices, oppressions, im- purities, falsities, and corruptions ; but a century or two more of such splendid progress, and then what ? O shall it be the Millennium? "The Lord hast- en it in his time." I give these thoughts because you know what to do with them. I do not write so to any other minister of my conference. Why ? Because he would not understand me. Oh have I spoken vanity ? Well Dr. excuse a little wrath. I ought to have a chance to tell them these things everywhere.
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