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 7
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then prayed for his wife, his first attempt to pray for a mourner in Zion. Like Jacob of old he wres- tled with the Lord until the break of day, not for himself, but for the mother of his children. Ere the new day had fully dawned the light and joy of a new life dawned upon her soul. They were now prepared to walk in newness of life, to the honor of him who had called them to glory and virtue. "' A speaking meeting was held the next morning. The new converts were both present at the meeting, and there told, in their own words, the story of Jesus and his love.
The Rev. Townsend Truslow; a noble old Vir- ginian, a man of culture and talent, eccentric with- al, but a highly polished Christian gentleman, and the Rev. James Reed, young and timid, a clear, log- ical, and able minister of the New Testament, both local preachers, were then residents of Lewisville. They were the Aaron and Hurr of the circuit preacher, holding up his hands, and causing Israel to prevail. Nor shall mother Truslow be forgotten - How much her ardent prayers and amiable Christ- ian life contributed to the success of the revival- eternity alone may reveal. "George, my son," as Mr. Truslow used to call him, was then a mere boy. He exhibited in his after life as a man many of the noble traits of his distinguished father. George W. Truslow was universally esteemed. He was worthy. His life was an honor to the church. He died a happy, triumphant death, January 23, 1882, at Rochester, Indiana.
The next evening after the speaking meeting above-mentioned, at the earnest solicitation of the
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circuit preacher, Brother Paul preached. His text was 2 Cor. iii. 18. The sermon was one of great power, producing a wonderful effect on the congre- gation. Rich in thought, and burning with evan- gelical truth, the sermon was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Conversions multiplied. About a week after Mr. Paul's conversion, after he had laid the matter fully pefore his people, he and his people, with a few others, making seventy-three in all, came in a body, and united with the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Ever memorable that Sun- day afternoon.
Mr. Paul's former associates, especially the preachers, and they were numerous, became much exasperated at his course, and soon cited him to trial on a charge of heresy. He seemed a little cast down at first, in some doubt as to what course he should persue, but his friend encouraged him to meet the issue, which he did in a most manly way The writer declined a request to assist in the de- fense, but, being ready to help his friend in any prudent way, suggested that the prosecution be al- lowed to go on, make their charges and arguments against him, and that, when they were all done, he should, by way of reply and defense, preach them a gospel sermon, using as a text the words of his namesake as recorded at the 24th chapter of Acts, 14th verse. The time set for the trial came. The place selected was a beautiful grove, where more than a thousand people gathered to witness the per- formance. The charges were read, and the de- fendant was asked, "Guilty, or not guilty? to which his answer was, "Thou sayest." After the
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prosecution had exhausted themselves in shameful abuse of the good man, he rose, serene as a summer morning, and, in tones that showed the sweetness of his temper, thus addressed the chairman : "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fa- thers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets." Proceeding, he poured forth, for more than an hour, a torrent of gospel truth and eloquence that was simply irresistable. Even his per- secutors wept when he portrayed the power of the gospel over his own heart. His triumph was com- plete ; his enemies were routed ; and the gospel of Christ was glorified in the presence of the multi- tude.
The closing words of the Preacher on this memo- rable occasion were-
The worst wish I have for any of you my former brethern, my prosecutors, I will not say persecutors, is this-"I would take you in my arms as Jesus' call who would bless, convert, and save you all." This man of God now "Paul the aged," soon after the scene described above removed West with his large family and settled in the state of Iowa "where, so far as known, he still lives and is yet a faithful and successful local preacher, commanding the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has "kept the faith," and is looking to the not distant future for his reward in Heaven.
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CHAPTER IX.
PREACHERS ON HORSEBACK .- CRAWFORDSVILLE.
The Conference met in the fall of 1843, at Craw- fordsville, Bishop James O. Andrew, presiding. The preachers in the eastern part of the State, fall- ing in with each other on their way to the confer- ence, formed, by the time they reached Indianapo- lis, a company of thirty itinerant horsemen. The Rev. John Leach was one of the mumber. Leach a tailor by trade, was noted for neatness of dress. On this occasion he wore a regulation suit of broad- cloth and a shining beaver. His nag was a pacing, sorrel pony. The pony, for some cause, had been deprived of his natural means of defense against the flies by a total loss of the covering that once ornamented his caudal appendage. The company left Indianapolis in the morning. Late in the after- noon they passed Jamestown. Soon afterwards they encountered a stretch of corduroy almost surmerg- ed or half-afloat in black mud. When about mid- way of the swamp, "Norway," as the sorrel pony was called, getting his feet entangled among the rails or brush in the yielding road-bed, gave a lurch to one side, followed by a grand tumble, which threw horse and rider sprawling into the black sea of frit- ter-batter mud. Even a smile among the spectators would have been cruel while the grave parson was standing "first to his ankles and then to his knees" in the "dark waters," combing the mud from his hair with his fingers, lifting it from his bosom, or emptying it from his beaver. When he was re-instat-
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ed in the saddle, with "Norway" again on the war path, it is needless to say whether the preachers were moved to immoderate laughter. Night dropped her sable curtain over the company before they reached Crawfordsville, kindly hiding from the gaze of the curious the bespattered condition of the unfortunate brother. He was in the conference room the next morning, however, as neat and tidy as if nothing had happened.
The personnel of the conference was especially striking. John C. Smith, then at the zenith of his popularity as a puipit orator, was the polite and gentlemanly presiding elder of the Crawfordsville district. Samuel Brenton, a rapidly rising man, was recognized as an eloquent preacher. Sometime afterwards he represented a district in congress. Mathew Simpson, then president of the Indiana Asbury University, was yet but little known in the West. His wonderful career as educator, editor, and bishop had just begun. As a gospel preacher he was without a peer on the Lord's footstool. Edward R. Ames, afterwards the great bishop, was the Western corresponding secretary of the Mis- sionary society. He was a man of great wisdom and far-reaching influence. He was the best presiding officer in America : the ablest church statesman in the world. The Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D., on whose recommendation mainly Simpson was elected to the presidency of the University, was the honor- Ed guest of the conference. He represented the Western Christian Advocate, of which he was the learned, able, and spicy editor.
Bishop Andrew proved an efficient presiding of-
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ficer. He was prompt, ready, parliamentary. His orderly methods greatly facilitated the dispatch of business. He was affable and courteous in his intercourse with preachers and people, and easily won their esteem. His preaching on the Sabbath moved many to tears and to higher resolves in the Christian life. The sermon is yet gratefully remem- bered by some of the older members of the church at Crawfordsville and by the preachers then present that yet remain. His text was Luke xxiv. 32 .- "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" His theme was, "Communion with Christ." The sermon was sublimely simple and correspondingly effective.
On Monday morning the bishop reported the or- dinations that took place on Sunday, as follows : Deacons,-Charles Mapes, Alfred Nesbit, James Corwin, Jacob Bruner, S. C. Swazee, Milton Mahin, H. N. Barnes, O. V. Lemon, E. S. Blue, J. C. Medsker, Jacob Whiteman, D. S. Elder, I. M. Stagg, and N. S. Worden ; Elders,-J. L. Smith, P. R. Guthrie, J. W. Bradshaw, Edward Oldham, J. R. Williams, J. V. R. Miller, R. C. Rowley, Stephen Ravenscroft, J. S. Donaldson, Enoch Holdstock, William Wilson, Landy Havens, G. W. Ames, Dra- per Chipman, Lealdes Forbes, Wesley Dorsey, Samuel Reed, W. F. Wheeler, W. L. Huffman, George Havens, Eventus Doud, John Talbott, and William Campbell. Very few of the twenty-three elders then ordained remain on the effective list.
The slavery question had been much agitated throughout the country. Among the preachers of
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the conference, though it was but little apparent on the surface, there was a deep under-current of anti- slavery sentiment. Several questions were present to the minds of the preachers when it came to the selection of delegates to the ensuing General con- ference of 1844; as, the slavery question, the pro- posed division of the Indiana conference,and wheth- er, if the conference should be divided, the leading members would choose this or that side of the divid- ing line. These were the leading questions There were others of minor importance. Among the many men of experience and ability in the conference, worthy and well qualified to represent their breth- ern in the General conference, some of course had to be elected to stay at home. Which to prefer as delegates was somewhat perplexing to the younger members of the body.
The burden of the hour Monday afternoon was how to make an equitable division of the conference. The debate was warm and earnest. Some of the General conference aspirants, whose minds, it was believed, were already made up as to their future conference relations, provided the division should take place, were especially careful to conceal their preferences. Calvin W. Ruter made a long speech in which he took great pains to eulogize the north, and then dilated in glowing terms on the advan- tages of the south, referring to northern and south- ern Indiana. He labored to show the great impor- tance of having the division "just right," but failed to define a boundary, or express his judgment as to the issue in debate. This luminous (?) speech was answered by John C. Smith. "Mr. President," he
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said, "I move the brother be now requested to in- form the conference which side of the question he is on." This unexpected sally brought down the house. As but few cared to define their position very closely, the debate here ended. The bound- aries finally agreed upon were as follows : "The In- diana conference shall include that part of the State south of the National road, with Elizabethtown in Ohio, and the Western charge [now Meridian Street] in Indianapolis, with all the towns immediately on the road [west of Indianapolis] to the State line, except Terre Haute. The North Indiana confer- ence shall include that part of the State north of the National road, the Eastern charge [Now Rob- erts Park] in Indianapolis, with all the towns im- mediately on the road[from Indianapolis] to the east line of the State, together with Terre Haute in the avest."
The following resolution was then adopted : "'Should the conference not be divided by the Gen- eral conference, we will hold our next session at Indianapolis ; if divided, the southern portion will meet at Bloomington, and the northern portion at Ft. Wayne." The Conference next proceeded to the election of delegates to the ninth Delegated General Conference, to meet in New York City, May 1, 1844. The Indiana conference was entitled to eight delegates, and the following brethern were elected in the order here given : Mathew Simpson, Allen Wiley, E. R. Ames, John Miller, Calvin W. Ruter, Aaron Wood, Augustus Eddy, and James Havens.
The year had been one of great religious pros-
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perity. A revival tide had swept over all sections of the country. Many losses by death had also oc- curred. One of the notable ministers of the church, Robert R. Roberts, senior bishop, had died March 26, 1843. Indiana preachers mourned the death of Bishop Roberts as children mourning the loss of a father. Roberts was a general superintendent in the best sense of the term. His home was in In- diana, and by Indiana preachers and people he was greatly admired, honored and loved.
The conference closed on Tuesday afternoon. Brother Burns was no longer presiding elder. He had taken a superannuated relation. Centerville, instead of Winchester, now gave name to the dis- trict over which Burns had presided, and Joseph Tar- kington had been announced as the presiding elder. The other appointments for the districts were : Cen- terville, J. H. Bruce ; Richmond, J. H. Hull ; Win- chester, L. M. Reeves and Arthur Badley ; Hagers- town, J W. Bradshaw ; Mmącyto .vi, Z S. Clifford ; Granville, John Leach ; Hartford, HI. H. Badley ; Portland, A. Carey ; Williamsburg, B. Webster ; Cambridge and Dublin, J. L. Smith, second year. The bishop had detached Lewisville and New Lis- bon from Cambridge and Dublin ; so J. L. Smith's charge now consisted for 1843-44, of the two villages, Cambridge and Dublin, with the privilege of culti - vating any new ground in the vicinity. The new presiding elder, though a very different man from his predecessor, proved to be the right man in the right place. He soon won a high position in the es- teem and affection of preachers and people by his zeal for the cause, his uniform kindness, and his ef-
INDIANA METHODISM,
ficiency both in and out of the pulpit. Take him all in all, Joseph Tarkington, was one of the best presiding elders in the conference. He was a good man, a genial companion a sound preacher. He had the art, moreover, of controling men. Nature fitted him to exercise great moral power over men whether in or out of the church. He was a noble man. The Pastor of the Cambridge and Dublin charge, soon after conference, doing as he was ad- vised, moved to Cambridge City, having lived the previous year in Dublin. The society in Cambridge, though few in number and by no means rich in purse, resolved to build a church. The undertak- ing, under the circumstances, seemed hurculean ; but, believing that whatever ought to be done, could be done, pastor and people went to work with a will. Their efforts were heartily seconded by such men as Rariden, Meredith, Ira and Sanford Lacky, Conwell, Conkling and others. These men, though not members of the church, were in full sym- pathy with the little society struggling to build a house for the Lord. The preacher borrowed a wagon and one horse from Wm. Conwell, senior, and by ad- ding his own riding horse, he made up a team, with which he hauled the lumber, brick and other mate- rial for the building. The preacher also kiln-dried the lumber and superintended the work of construc- tion. The better class of people encouraged the enterprise, but there were some people in the com- munity whose sympathies did not run in that way. Those "some people" tried to hinder the work in various ways-sometimes telling the workmen they would never get their pay-urging people not to sub .
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scribe to the building fund, and persuading sub- scribers to repudiate their subscriptions. One of the men employed on the building was a Polish nobleman, who had been exiled for political causes, his work was to wait on the masons with brick and mortar. One day while the preacher was gone for a load of sand, a busybody in other men's matters, coaxed away the Polander. When the clerical teamster returned, he found the brick-layers sitting serenely, waiting for "mort" ; the preacher thereupon seized the hod, and for seven August days, the mercury averaging about ninety in the shade, carried that ancient and useful imple- ment, the hod, until the walls were up, and the last brick brought on with rejoicings. The church though not finished, was supplied with temporary seats, and used at the last quarterly meeting. The completion of the building had to be deferred for the want of means. At the close of the year it could be truly said that the Lord had greatly blessed and prospered the church both at Cambridge and Dublin. A new society had also been organized in the course of the year at Germantown.
The Universalists were numerous and influential at Dublin, with John Whippo at their head; at Cam- bridge City the Disciples were the numerous party, their leader being the scholarly Rev. Dr. Hoshour, who has already been mentioned. On one occasion at Dublin the writer preached on Matthew xxv. 46, -"And these shall go away into everlasting punish- ment ;" and,at the close of the service, he said:"The demise of Universalism having taken place in this village at a quarter before 12 o'clock this day,a funeral
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discourse will be delivered, D. V., and a faithful sketch of the life and character of the distinguished personage given, in this church two weeks from this evening." It is safe to suppose that Mr. McCune, of Knightstown, was informed by the next day's mail, of what had taken place, and notified to be present at the funeral, to defend the faith. The excitement ran high ; and, at the time appointed, the great Uni- versalist preacher and his followers were out in full force. The house was crowded almost to suffoca - tion. The service was opened by the reading of a part of the 18th chapter of Ezekiel, beginning with, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die," and going on to the end of the chapter. One of Charles Wesley's best hymns, number 790 "Methodist Hymnal," was then announced. Mr. McCune, by the way, had taken his seat near to, and in front of, the pulpit, where with hat upturned, and with paper and pencil in hand, he was ready to take notes of the discourse. The preacher read the hymn with the best emphasis or expression he could give it, pointing directly at Mc- Cune at each pronouncement of the term "wolf" or other word referring to his wolfship.
Jesus, great Shepherd of the sheep, To thee for help we fly ; Thy little flock in safety keep, For (), the wolf is nigh ! He comes, of hellish malice full. To scatter, tear, and slay ; He siezes every straggling soul As his own lawful prey.
With the reading of the fourth stanza a murmur of excitement or discontent became distinctly audible.
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We laugh to scorn his cruel power While by our shepherd's side : The sheep he never can devour. Unless he first divide.
The fifth stanza was the feather that broke the camel's back.
O do not suffer him to part The souls that here agree : But make us of one mind and heart. And keep us one in thee.
Just as the preacher finished the line, "O do not suffer him to part" old "Father" Custer, an octo- genarian Universalist, sprang from his seat, and, violently swinging his hat, exclaimed in a loud voice, "I wont stay to hear such stuff any longer. I've read the Methodist hymn-book through again and again, and there's no such hymn in it as that. The man is making the hymn as he goes, every word of it." As the venerable man excitedly left the house the preacher quoted Proverbs xxviii, I "The wicked flee when no man pursueth." Order being restored, the Methodists and members of other evangelical churches in the audience, united in singing the hymn with much spirit,after which all were invited to join in solemn prayer. The discourse delivered, the benediction was pronounced ; and thenceforth all trouble with the contentious Universalists of Doub- lin was at an end. The membership was increased by nearly one hundred at Dublin during the year ; the class at Cambdidge City was more than doub- led in numbers.
The general conference of May, 1884, having di- vided the Indiana conference according to the plan
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adopted at Crawfordsville, the North Indiana con- ference met at Ft. Wayne the next fall. A voyage of more than a hundred miles on horseback was re- quired, to reach the seat of the conference from Wayne County. The pastor of Cambridge and Dublin must needs plough through the wet lands of Randolph, brave the quicksands of Jay, risk his neck in the loblolly of Wells, sniff the fetid odors of the black swamps of the St. Mary, and cross, without bridge or boat, the White, Mississinewa, and Wa- bash rivers,to reach the ancient fortification named in honor of General Anthony Wayne. Allen Wiley, Joseph Tarkington, J. H. Bruce, and J. L. Smith formed themselves into a squad of four, "to walk or ride the dangerous road." They had a time of it in getting through, but at length they arrived safe and sound at their destination on Tuesday evening, Oct- ober 15, (1844.)
CHAPTER X.
FT. WAYNE .- NORTH IND. CONFERENCE ORGANIZED.
The first session on the North Indiana Confer- ence was held at Ft. Wayne, beginning Wednesday morning, October 16, 1844. Bishop Beverly Waugh presided. The session was a very harmonious one. The venerable Bishop Waugh endeared himself to the hearts of all.
Thanks to the management of the smooth-faced,
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popular presiding elder, G. M. Boyd, and the saga- cious, gentlemanly pastor, H. B. Beers, ample ar- rangements had been made for the entertainment of the conference, including the faithful horses that carried the preachers to Ft. Wayne ; for, in the lan- guage of ancient hospitality, "there was straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in," not to mention the many kind attentions the ministers re- ceived. The Cambridge and Dublin pastor found the best of quarters at the pleasant home of Major Edsell, in company with Pastor John S. Bayless, who had just closed his second year at the Eastern charge, Indianapolis.
The conference organized with eight presiding elders, eighty pastors, and nine assistant pastors ; two agents for the Indiana Asbury University, and two University professors ; and with four on the su- perannuate list,-making in all a conference of one hundred and five members. Mathew Simpson, Jacob Myres, B. T. Griffith, Zelotes S. Clifford, and F. F. Sheldon were at the close of the session, trans- ferred to the Indiana conference. The eight presid- ing elders were : G. M. Beswick, J. C. Smith, Aaron Wood, B. Westlake, C. M. Holliday. G. M. Boyd, Joseph Tarkington, and Joseph Marsee. These noble men were the heroic leaders of the itinerant host which had now taken possession of Ft. Wayne.
The following brethern had the honor of consti- tuting the first class received on trial by the North Indiana conference, and at the first annual session ; namely, James Johnson, L. B. Eaton, Hezekiah Smith, Abraham Koontz, James Burns, L. M. Han- cock, Martin S. Morrison, J. C. Ferris, Daniel Crum -
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packer, Jeremiah Early, J. C. Robbins, and James Sparrh.
The church membership of the new conference, estimated by districts, was : LaFayette, 3312 ; Peru, 3010 ; South Bend, 2625 ; Fort Wayne, 2639; Cen- terville, 4173 ; Indianapolis, 4389. The aggregate membership, including probationers, as it thus ap- pears, was 27563 ; an average of 344 members to each preacher-in charge ; or, an average of 287 members to each effective preacher, including pre- siding elders and assistant preachers.
The presiding officer, Bishop Waugh, was in full sympathy with the preachers. He wept with them at the recital of their sorrows, and rejoiced with them in their triumphs. Like toils and hardships he had himself experienced. Many of them had received but a modicum of the meager allowances made for their support. Though coursely clad, and much of the time shaking with the ague, they had traveled their large, muddy circuits, halting not for rain or storm, abundant in labors, toils, and priva- tions, yet, nothing daunted, they were come to re- ceive their appointments for another year, prizing it above all things that they were accounted worthy to suffer, if need be, for the Master's cause.
The time has probably come, by the way, for the church to enter a solemn protest against the selec- tion of general superintendents on the ground of mere literary or scholastic attainments. An episco- pos ought of course be a man of respectable learn- ing, but, in addition to all other qualifications, in- cluding personal piety and common sense, he ought to be a man of experience in the pastorate, acquaint-
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