USA > Indiana > The Indiana gazetteer : or, topographical dictionary of the state of Indiana, 1850 > Part 6
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RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
There may be found in Indiana the same religious so- cieties that prevail in the other Western States, but it is not practicable to obtain correct statistical information as to all of them. Great changes are constantly taking place by immigrations to and from the State, and by the fitful exertions more common, perhaps, in new countries than elsewhere, by which new members are induced to join the different churches, and for a time feel much inte- rest in them ; and then, sometimes, not a few of the new converts soon after resume their former habits and feel- ings. In many parts of the State, there will be found as much permanence in the religious organizations as in any other portions of the Union. A few of the early settlers determined to establish and maintain the regular preach- ing of the gospel, and the spirit they manifested soon gave them strength, by additions both at home and from abroad. The efforts of the most of these early pioneers have been abundantly prospered, both temporarily and spiritually, and in general, far beyond their most san- guine anticipations.
When one religious society has increased its means of usefulness by building a good church, patronizing a high school, or improving the hearts and minds of those under its influence, other societies in the vicinity must not falter in their benevolent efforts, and the consequence is, the tone of moral feeling is elevated, and sectarian discord almost ceases to distract the community. Many of the patriarchs, who are thus sending down to future
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generations the impress of their characters, will stand high as public benefactors when the results of their la- bors are seen hereafter.
There are also other parts of the State in which there is a very great indifference about religious instruction. The first settlers, or principal men, were careless on the subject, or the leaders of the different denominations spent their strength against each other, or the spirit of true re- ligion, intended to produce zeal and concert of action for good, was wanting, and the consequences have almost uniformly been disastrous.
It requires but little observation in this State to see an intimate connection between attention to religious truth and worldly prosperity, and the best results are without question produced where different denominations, each in its appropriate way, are earnest to effect the objects of their mission. Thus a community composed of emi- grants from various states and countries, and with opin- ions, temperaments and habits exceedingly diversified, is not unfrequently influenced to act the most efficiently in promoting, in different ways, the same great objects.
The METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is the most nu- merous religious denomination in the State, and there are but few parts of it to which their travelling or local preachers do not, with more or less frequency, preach the gospel. The Indiana conference embraces that part of the State lying south of the National road, but includ- ing the Central and Western charges at Indianapolis, and has 115 Travelling and 290 Local Preachers, 400 Meeting Houses, 33,262 Church Members, 319 Sabbath Schools, 3,030 Officers and Teachers, and 14,901 Scholars. The North Indiana Conference, embracing the remainder of the State, has 108 Travelling and 258 Local Preach- ers, 26,302 Church members, 293 Sabbath Schools, 2,260 Officers and Teachers, and 12,744 Scholars. The whole number of Church Members is now over 60,000.
The Districts and Preachers in the Indiana Confer- ence are as follows:
Indianapolis District .- E. R. Ames, F. C. Holliday,
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Wm. Morrow, A. H. Sharpe, J. V. R. Miller, James Crawford, W. C. Hensley, James Corwin, J. W. Sullivan, T. G. Behand, A. B. Nesbit.
Greensburgh District .- James Havens, E. H. Sabin, C. B. Jones, Wm. McGinnis, James Whiteman, G. H. Mclaughlin, Jacob Miller, Charles Mapes.
Connersville District .- L. W. Berry, H. J. Durbin, F. H. Potts, J. L. Winchester, C. H. Kelly, Jacob Myers, W. W. Snyder, J. C. King, E. Rutledge, Levi Johnson, W. Terrel, Hayden Hays.
Lawrenceburgh District .- E. G. Wood, C. B. David- son, James Jones, B. T. Griffith, J. Bruner, J. R. McRea, R. P. Sheldon, W. C. Smith, S. P. Crawford, J. Miller, Benj. Coffin, John Wallace, J. W. Dole, W. M. Fraley, Agent, &c.
Madison District .- W. M. Dailey, W. Prescott, G. W. Maylick, J. S. Bayless, J. E. Tiffany, J. Crawford, Lewis Hurlburt, Seth Smith, Amos Russey, H. S. Tal- bott, C. Curran, J. W. Millander, B. R. Prather.
New Albany District .- John Kearns, James Hill, T. H. Rucker, T. M. Eddy, J. A. Brouse, M. Miller, E. S. Kemp, G. C. Smith, Silas Rawson, A. Wilkenson, George Havens, G. Gonzales, J. J. Stallord.
Vincennes District .- E. Whitten, J. B. Lathrop, D. Williamson, Thomas Ray, Z. S. Clifford, E. W. Cadwell, G. W. Walker, F. H. Carey, Samuel Weeks.
Evansville District .- John Kiger, T. A. Goodwin, W. V. Daniel, J. W. Julian, C. C. Holliday, M. A. Hes- ter, F. A. Hester, J. R. Linderman, T. J. Ryan, R. S. Robinson, H. D. Chapman, J. H. Noble, N. F. Tower.
Putnamville District .- J. Tarkington, L. Forbes, E. D. Long, E. W. Bemiss, N. Shumate, J. R. Williams, Bruner, John Talbott.
Bloomington District .- A. Robinson, J. McElroy, B. F. Craig, L. Havens, Daniel McIntyre, J. H. Hamilton, S. Tincher, J. W. Powell, J. R. Odell, H. S. Dane, Wm. Butt.
The Districts and Preachers in the North Indiana Conference are as follows:
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Indianapolis District .- R. Hargrave, G. M. Beswick, F. M. Richmond, J. Cozar, Wade Posey, O. P. Boydon, J. W. Smith, J. F. McAnnally, W. J. Forbes, J. B. John- son, J. B. Mershan, Wm. Pentzer.
Centreville District .- S. T. Gillett, J. C. Smith, C. W. Miller, L. Taylor, J. C. Robbins, J. R. Tansey, Miles Huffaker, Daniel Demott, J. B. Birt.
Peru District .- O. V. Lemon, J. S. Donaldson, L. W. Munson, J. C. Medsker, M. M. Haun, J. W. Bradshaw, James Sparr, Wm. Anderson, A. Skillman, E. Doud, A. Carey.
Logansport District .- J. M. Stallard, W. F. Wheeler, J. W. Parrett, George Guild, B. Webster, H. Bradley, J. S. Hatfield, R. A. Newton, John Leach, E. A. Hazen, E. Hall, M. Johnson.
Laporte District .- John Daniel, H. C. Benson, J. P. Jones, W. G. Stonex, Wm. Hamilton, Abm. Salisbury, D. F. Stright, W. P. McMillan, F. Taylor, E. J. Kirk, H. B. Hull, J. D. G. Pettijohn.
Fort Wayne District .- Samuel Brenton, Wm. Wilson, T. F. Palmer, A. Bradley, S. Lamb, E. Maynard, J. J. Cooper, J. M. Stagg, J. H. Bruce, Wm. Graham, J. R. Davis, S. T. Stout, S. C. Cooper, A. Johnson.
Greencastle District .- W. H. Goode, W. C. Larrabee, Cyrus Nutt, B. F. Tefft, J. H. Hull, W. H. Smith, H. B. Beers, Enoch Wood, E. S. Preston, T. H. Sinex, Hez- ekiah Smith, J. C. Read, Nelson Greene, Jesse Hill, S. T. Cooper.
Crawfordsville District .- James Marsee, M. Mahan, A. Beech, H. N. Barnes, J. Colclazier, T. S. Webb, D. B. Clary, John Edwards, Enoch Holdstock, Thomas Bartlett, James Rickets.
Lafayette District .- J. L. Smith, G. M. Boyd, B. Wi- nans, M. Fannimore, S. N. Campbell, James Johnson, Jos. White, N. E. Manville, J. K. Aldrich, J. B. Demott, R. D. Robinson, George M. Warner.
The REGULAR BAPTISTS are numerous. This denomi- nation has, in this State, 42 Associations, 665 Churches, 275 Preachers, 95 Licentiates, and 27,200 Communicants.
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In 1812, and for many years subsequent, there was only one regular Baptist in this State to every thirty-five of the population. Although the sentiments of Alexander Campbell and of Parker, were the means, some years since, of diminishing this denomination by many thou- sands, yet her proportionate increase has kept pace with that of the population, and is now even advancing upon it. They have a "General Association" for Domestic Missionary purposes, which raises about $1,600 per an- num for that object, and aids in the support of more than thirty Preachers. A large majority of this denomi- nation are Missionary Baptists, and the minority is ra- pidly diminishing. They also have a Foreign Missionary Society- an auxiliary to the American and Foreign Bible Society; and an Indian Mission Society for the spread of the Gospel among the' Aborigines of our country, all of which collect more or less funds, annually, for the pro- motion of their respective objects. They also have a flourishing College at Franklin, Johnson county, twenty miles south of Indianapolis, with a President, two Pro- fessors, one Tutor, a Principal of the Preparatory de- partment, and 120 scholars.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- Owing to the fact that this denomination of Christians have neither Conferences, Associations or Synods, it is found difficult in making up their statistics, to do more than approximate to their number. We do not pretend to exactitude. Congrega- tions 1,50, Ministers about 80, Communicants about 30,000.
The SOCIETY OF FRIENDS in this State may be esti- mated at about 15,000 members, residing in the counties of Wayne, Henry, Randolph, Fayette, Rush, Hancock, Grant, Hamilton, Morgan, Hendricks, Washington, Jack- son, Orange, Parke, Montgomery, Vermillion, Tippeca- noe, and more or less in many other counties. They have nine Quarterly meetings, about 27 Monthly meet- ings, and about 80 Congregations, or meetings for wor- ship in the State. The last assemble regularly twice in the week and sit together in solemn silence, in case no
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one should believe himself moved by the Holy Spirit to prayer or to address the meeting in the way of the ministry.
Their Yearly Meeting embraces not only all the mem- bers in this State as above, but nearly one-half of the State of Ohio, and some in other States adjacent. It is held annually at White Water, near Richmond, in Wayne county, on the Fifth day preceding the First day in the Tenth Month, and is a very large congregation, continuing about a week, in which all the members who choose to attend, may sit. Matters relating to the disci- pline, welfare and prosperity of the Church are here con- sidered; and during the meeting, several sessions are held especially for public worship. Reports are received from all the Quarterly Meetings, now fifteen in number, intended to show the state of the Society, in various de- partments, as to religion; also the condition of the schools and the progress of education.
The Society have about 5,000 children in this State, of a suitable age to go to school; 52 schools under the care of the Society, having about 2,500 scholars, and about the same number of children taught in schools not under the care of the Society. There are very few, if any, who are not receiving some education.
A boarding school has been recently established near Richmond, in which, besides the ordinary subjects, seve- ral of the higher branches are taught.
Internal organizations of committees exist for the en- couragement of education and schools-for the relief and instruction of the Africans who have had their free- dom-and for the civilization and instruction of the Shawnese Indians, (amongst whom they have kept up schools for a considerable number of years,) all of which give an active attention to the subjects under their care. The poor of the Society are not permitted to become a public expense, but are taken care of by the Society.
The HICKSITES, or other branch of the Society of Friends, have a repugnance to the term generally ap- plied to them. Both Societies claim to hold the same 6
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doctrines entertained by the original projectors of the Society, or as they term it, "Early Friends." In the enumeration of their members they include men, women and children, as all children born to members have a birth- right. It is supposed the aggregate members of Indiana Yearly Meeting is about 20,000. The first Yearly Meet- ing of Indiana was held at Whitewater, in the State of Indiana, in the year 1821. In the Meeting of 1834, it was agreed that it be held alternately at Whitewater, (Richmond,) and at Miami, (Waynesville,) in the State of Ohio. Such is the language of the Book of Disci- pline, reprinted by the Society of Friends, in 1835. By the term, "Society of Friends," in this case is meant that religious body which originated about the middle of the 17th century, under this designation, and not that denomination which is sometimes confounded with it, but is readily distinguished from it by its acknowledged title of " Orthodox " Society of Friends. Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends consists of three Quarterly Meet- ings, and about fifteen Monthly Meetings, among the largest of which is White Water Monthly Meeting, held. at Richmond, in Wayne county. This Monthly Meet- ing consists of about 2,000 members. The writer has no means at command of giving the members belonging to the Yearly Meeting, nor to any of its branches except the above, the Society having always manifested a disin- clination to a parade of numbers.
The EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. The Ministers of this denomination in this State belong to four distinct organizations, to-wit: 1. The Synod of Indiana, embrac- ing fourteen Ministers, about forty Churches, with a membership of about 3,200. 2. The German Synod, of Indianapolis, Ministers twelve, Churches twenty, mem- bers about 2,000. 3. Members of the Synod of Missouri, and adjacent States, Ministers twelve, Churches about twenty, members about 2,000. These Ministers have a Theological Seminary at Fort Wayne. 4. The Olive Branch Synod, organized in October, 1848, Ministers six, with four others in the State who will unite at its
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next session, Churches about twenty, members about 1,000. In addition to the above 48 Ministers, 100 Churches, and 8,200 members, there are two Ministers not in connection with either of the above Synods, and per- haps 3,000 members not yet organized into churches, and to a great extent destitute of the means of grace, so far as their own Church is concerned.
UNIVERSALISM has been preached in this State, more or less, for twenty years, but not until within six or seven has there been much attention paid to organization; and at this time it is supposed there are more believers out of the churches of this denomination than in them. Within a few years, there has been a rapid increase of the adhe- rents to that form of Christianity, and it now has un- yielding advocates in all parts of the State. There are twenty-nine Preachers, fifteen Meeting Houses, fifty-five Societies, ten Associations, and one Convention of that denomination in the State, and they publish two periodi- cals, The Western Olive Branch, Indianapolis, E. Man- ford, Editor and Proprietor, and the Independent Uni- versalist, Terre Haute, E. M. Knapp, Editor.
The Old School branch of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is composed of two Synods; the Synod of Indiana, and the Synod of Northern Indiana. In the Synod of In- diana there are six Presbyteries, viz: New Albany, Vin- cennes, Madison, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis and White Water, in which there are 64 Ministers, 107 Churches, and 5650 Communicants. In the Synod of Northern Indiana, there are four Presbyteries, Logansport, Michi- gan, Lake and Fort Wayne, in which there are 29 Min- isters, 61 Churches, and 2175 Communicants. In both Synods there are ten Presbyteries, 93 Ministers, 168 Churches, and 7825 Communicants.
The New School branch of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH has but one Synod, which includes the whole territory embraced in the State, and does not extend beyond it. In it there are seven Presbyteries, 75 Ordained Ministers, six Licentiates, about 120 Churches, and not less than 5,000 members. The names of the Presbyteries are Sa-
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lem, Madison, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Logansport, Fort Wayne and Evansville. Of the Ordained Minis- ters, one is President of Wabash College, four are Pro- fessors in the same institution, three are agents of benev- olent societies; the remainder, with some few exceptions, are engaged exclusively in the duties of the ministry, each in connection with one or more congregations, either as Pastor or stated supply.
The ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH in this State is em- braced within the Diocese of Vincennes, and at this time is under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Right Rev. Mau- rice De St. Palais, who was consecrated on the 14th Jan- uary last. The Catholic population numbers from 30 to 40,000 souls. The number of Clergymen employed in their ministry is 38. They have charge of 51 churches and chapels. The following are their names, together with the most important missions which they attend:
Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes .- Right Rev. Maurice De St. Palais, Bishop: Rev. E. Audran, Parish Priest; Rev. J. B. Chasse.
Church of St. Charles, (German) .- Very Rev. Conrad Schneiderjons.
St. Simon's, Washington .- Rev. J. McDermott.
St. Patrick's .- Rev. B. Pierce.
St. Mary's, Mount Pleasant .- Rev. P. Murphy.
St. Joseph's, Jasper .- Rev. J. Rundek.
Ferdinand, &c .- Rev. W. Doyle.
St. John the Baptist, Perry Co .- Rev. A. Bessonies.
Evansville .- Rev. A. Deydrier.
St. Joseph's, &.c., Vanderburgh Co .- Rev. R. Wein- zoephlin.
St. Michael and Madison .- Very Rev. H. Dupontavice. Columbus, &c .- Rev. D. Molony.
Jennings Co., &c .- A. Munshina.
New Albany, &c .- Rev. S. Neyron.
Lanesville, &c .- Rev. J. Dion.
St. John's, New Alsace .- Rev. M. Stahl.
St. Joseph's, &c .- Rev. A. Bennet.
Brookville, &c .- Rev. M. Engelm.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
St. Nicholas, Ripley Co .- Rev. Joseph Rudolph.
St. Andrew's, Richmond .- Rev. A. Carius. Indianapolis, &.c .- Rev. John Guiguen.
St. Mary's, Lafayette, &c .- Rev. M. Clarke.
Lagro, &c .- Rev. J. Ryan.
Logansport, &c .- Rev. P. McDermot.
Fort Wayne, &c .- Rev. J. Benoit and Rev. E. Faller. South Bend, &c .- Rev. E. Sorin.
Terre Haute .- Rev. S. P. Lalumiere.
St. Mary's of the Woods .- Very Rev. John Corbe.
The country which now comprises the State of In- diana, was visited by Jesuit Fathers as early as the end of the 17th century. They then established missions among the Indians who had been previously the only in- habitants of the country, and remnants of these mis- sions still exist among the Pottawatamies. Father Mar- rest is first known as having worked in this field. Fa- ther Marquette is supposed to have been another, the one in the north, the other in the south. Another was taken prisoner by the Chickasaws along with Morgan De Vincennes, in Artaguette's expedition, and both were burnt at the stake in 1736. There is, however, not much certainty as to the labors of these Jesuit missionaries before the year 1749. The records of the Church of St. Francis Xavier, at Vincennes, show the existence, at that time, of a regular mission, composed of converted Indians and French soldiers belonging to a little fort called Post Vincennes, under the care of Father Meurin. It continued under the care of Priests belonging to the same religious society until the year 1770, when their names disappear, and the Rev. M. Gibault, a secular Priest under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Quebec, took charge of the Church. He resided, however, mostly at Kaskaskia, in Illinois. This Priest was of considerable service to Gen. Clarke, in aiding him to take possession of Vincennes, which had been previously held by the English.
In 1810, Bardstown, in Kentucky, being made the See of a Bishop, Indiana fell under his jurisdiction, and was
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supplied with Priests from Kentucky until the year 1834, when Vincennes received a Bishop, the Right Rev. Simon Gabriel Brute, a native of France, and highly distinguished for talents, learning and piety. Until Bishop Brute arrived, there were but few Catholics in the State, and generally but one or two Priests. Before his death, in July 1839, he had supplied his Diocese with Priests, and had estab- lished twenty-five Churches. His memory has been held in much reverence by his own flock, and all Protestants who knew him personally. His successors were the Right Rev. Celestine De la Hailandiere and Right Rev. J. Ste- phen Bazin, who died on the 23d April, 184S. Under the administration of those Bishops the Church continued to prosper.
The missions to the Indians have been the most suc- cessful among the Pottawatamies, of whom there were about 4,000 in Northern Indiana. The chief village and the chief mission was at Chitchakos, near the Tippecanoe river. Their conversion dates about 200 years back. The Catholic Priests penetrated alone every where, pre- ceding even the traders, and announced to the wild in- habitants the truths of christianity. By the spirit of self-sacrifice they shared in the toils and hardships of the ferocious savage, and thereby gained his friendship. At first the efforts to convert the Indians were almost uni- versally at the expense of the lives of the Priests. But when the Pottawatamies yielded to conviction, as has generally been the case with Indians, they were scarcely less firm and devoted than the primitive Christians. When the Priests left them and they remained for many years destitute of spiritual instruction, they taught each other and attempted to preserve the religious influences they had enjoyed. When a Priest, who was afterwards a Bishop, met one of their Chiefs, he entreated him, if he would not visit them, at least to pass through their woods, for the very thought of the "man of prayer" having been through their country, would, he said, be sufficient to remind them of their duties and make them better. Even those who remained in heathenism retained a rev-
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erence for the " black gown" which scarcely admits of description.
Until a Bishop was appointed for Vincennes in 1834, they could only be visited occasionally by the Priest of that place or by Priests from Detroit. One of Bishop Brute's first cares was to visit them himself, and provide for their spiritual welfare. The Rev. M. Desseilles, of Michigan, provisionally received charge of attending to them. The fruits of his labors among them was won- derful, for such was the impulse given by the visit of the Grand Chief of Prayer, (the Bishop) and such their rev- erence for the " Black Gowns," which their fathers had transmitted to them, that they determined if the Great Master of Life should again send them a clergyman, that they would hear his instructions, and they came by hun- dreds to demand them and to ask for baptism. Mr. Des- seilles baptized the greater part of those who had pre- viously been heathens, and died soon after in the exer- cise of his glorious mission. The fatigue to which he was exposed brought on him sickness that left him al- most at the point of death; but feeling that his last mo- ments were approaching, he roused himself, met his faithful children at the altar, and while attending with his dying hands to the last duties enjoined by his Mas- ter, expired on its very steps. The good Indians who had watched him with anxiety, and had followed him to the Church, unwilling to believe that their Father was dead, and hoping that he was only asleep, remained in prayer by his corpse for four days, when a brother Clergyman, who had previously been written to, arrived to perform the funeral obsequies. His successor in the mission was the Rev. Benjamin Petit, a young Frenchman, who had abandoned his country and the profession of law, in which he had acquired distinction, to devote his life as a Priest. Nothing could exceed the affection they con- ceived for him. When he came among them he did not know their language. But the ardor of his zeal ena- bled him soon to learn it, and wondering at his kindness and affability, they said he was not a " black gown"
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from foreign lands, but a red-skin like themselves. He had spent but a few happy months among them when an order came from the General Government that the resi- due of the tribe should remove to the Indian Territory beyond the Mississippi. They had been threatened with this calamity before, but had always indulged the hope that they would be permitted to stay. They expostu- lated in vain ; nothing could change the determination of the President. The grief which it caused them seemed to turn to despair, and it required all the influence of their Priest, Mr. Petit, to induce them to submit peace- ably, and they did not consent until he agreed to accom- pany them. Their journey was a melancholy one, and numerous deaths on the route attested their sufferings. When arrived at their place of destination, he left them un- der the care of a Priest from the Diocese of St. Louis, but the fatigues and trials of the journey exhausted him and he died three weeks afterwards. The devotion of Petit was, at the time, deeply felt and applauded by many Protestants who witnessed his self-sacrificing spirit.
An interesting instance of the influence of religion and of the Missionaries over the Indians occurred about this time. The government, aware of their repugnance to remove, had determined to employ force, if necessary, and accordingly, whilst one of their Chiefs was convers- ing in deep grief on the subject of expatriation, at the village of Chichipy-outipy, his house and the village was suddenly surrounded by soldiers, who summoned him to surrender as a prisoner. Taken by surprise, his first thoughts were of noble indignation, and that he would rather die than submit to be chained as a criminal. He bounded like a deer, and seizing his rifle and tomahawk, placed himself in a posture of defence; but on perceiv- ing the cross that glittered on the breast of the "black gown," his anger at once yielded to resignation, he dropped his arms and presented his hands to be tied, meekly saying, " the Son of God submitted to be bound."
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