USA > Kansas > Fifty years in the Kansas Conference, 1864-1914 : a record of the origin and development of the work of the Evangelical Association in the territory covered by the Kansas Conference > Part 16
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Numerous appeals for help were considered and disposed of according to the best judgment and ability of Conference.
BOUNDARIES
Holton District
a. Deer Creek shall be taken from Lawrence Circuit and formed into Deer Creek Mission, and the rest of Lawrence Circuit shall be called Eudora Circuit.
b. Coal Creek appointment shall be taken from Wolf River Circuit and added to Holton Circuit.
c. Leonardville shall be taken from Big Blue Circuit and formed into Leonardville Mission.
d. The appointments Swede Creek and Fancy Creek shall be called Big Blue Station.
Kansas City District
a. Brooklyn Ave. Mission in Kansas City shall be called Highland Ave. Mission.
Newton District.
a. The appointments east of Osborne shall be taken from Os- borne Circuit and formed into Downs Mission.
b. Stockton Mission shall be served with Osborne Circuit.
c. Peabody shall be served with Newton.
d. The country appointments shall be taken from Newton and constitute Halstead Mission.
e. Earlton shall be taken from Parsons and added to Hum- boldt Circuit.
f. Gross Creek shall be added to Red Vermillion Mission.
g. The English appointments shall be taken from Downs Mission and added to Osborne Circuit.
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MISSIONS
The amount of missionary money raised for the Kansas Con- ference this year was $4,378.84, and the amount appropriated for the ensuing year was $6,600.00. In addition to this $950.00 was appropriated out of the Conference treasury for the support of circuits and districts.
H. Mattill was elected delegate to the Board of Missions, and the old board of officers was elected for the Missionary Society.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 593; accessions, 730; membership, 3,822; itine- rant preachers, 46; local preachers, 26; churches, 46; parsonages, 25; Sunday-schools, 72; officers and teachers, 730; scholars, 3,453; Botschafters, 836; Messengers, 434; Magazins, 443; Epistles, 65; total for missions, $5,908.77.
APPOINTMENTS
Holton District-H. Mattill, P. E. Holton Circuit, G. Sorg.
Wolf River, F. Harder.
Hiawatha, C. F. Erffmeyer.
Spring Creek, Wm. Daeschner.
Big Blue, E. Evans.
Osborne and Stockton, J. H. Kiplinger. Preston, A. Yockel. Jewell, G. E. Dienst.
Leavenworth, C. Berner.
Atchison, D. R. Zellner.
Red Vermillion, F. J. Shafer.
Leonardville, T. R. Nanninga under presiding elder.
Washington, H. Toedman and supply. Downs, J. Neuffer under presiding el- der.
Kansas City District-J. Wuerth, P. E.
Kansas City, Oak St., Samuel Miller. Kansas City, Highland Ave., A. J. Voegelein. Kansas City, Forest Ave., C. W. Stauffer under presiding elder. St. Joseph, L. Wenger.
Deer Creek, W. F. Schuerman under J. Schmidli.
Eudora, J. Schmidli.
Osage, M. Walter under presiding el- der.
Warrensburg, C. Brandt.
Clinton, to be supplied.
Glasgow, W. Elmer under presiding elder.
Winston, Edw. Brown. Sheridan, to be supplied.
Platte River and Denver, J. G. Pfei- fer. Oregon, C. W. Snyder.
Bloomington, W. F. Wolthausen under presiding elder.
Newton District-J. H. Tobias, P. E.
Canada Station, J. Kramer under pre- siding elder.
Yates Center, P. Schumann.
Humboldt, C. Lindner.
Alida, J. F. Schreiber.
Carthage and Virgil, S. H. Dunkel- berger. Newton, H. Koepsel.
Halstead, M. C. Platz under presiding elder.
Rice, A. W. Platt and G. W. Beltz un- der presiding elder.
Offerle, A. Ernst.
Wilson, H. S. Bower.
Salina, C. Geiser.
Emporia, E. J. Troyer.
Americus, L. E. Becher. Burlington,
Parsons, J. W. Keiser under presid- ing elder. Derby, A. Brunner.
Eldorado, J. K. Young under presid- ing elder.
Marion, D. F. Honstedt.
Pueblo, A. E. Litz under presiding el- der.
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MEMORIAL
The Conference was plunged into deep sorrow during the past year by the apparently untimely death of Brother William Heiser, which was brought about by his team running away, inflicting fatal injury. Brother Heiser was licensed by the Kansas Confer- ence in 1872, but, according to the records, did not accept an appointment till the following year, when he entered the active work and continued therein till the time of his death. He served a number of works very acceptably. Although not endowed with unusual talent, or having special educational equipment, he was successful in winning souls for the Master, for which he had a passion. He was one of the early path-finders in the Conference and shunned no distance or hardship in order to advance the cause of his Redeemer. His sudden death was a severe shock and a great loss to both his family and the Conference, which so much stood in need of his aid and counsel. A touching memorial service was held on which occasion Bishop Bowman presided and the breth- ren J. Wuerth and C. Berner made fitting remarks concerning the life, work, and influence of the departed brother.
OREGON, MO.
The society in Oregon, Mo., was organized in 1884 with nine members, as follows: Daniel Kunkle, Sr., and wife, Daniel Zach- man and wife, Daniel Kunkle, Jr., Anna Rostock, Mollie Kunkle, Elizabeth Schlotzerhauser, and Mary Vogan.
In 1895 a church was built in town, dedicated in January of the following year. The membership of the congregation at the time consisted of only seventeen persons.
CAMP-MEETINGS
Brother J. H. Tobias, who at this time was serving on New- ton District as presiding elder, relates the following camp-meet- ing experiences :
"The camp-meeting, held at Canada, Marion County, the past year, was accompanied with great power and demonstration of the Spirit.
"One man was so powerfully convicted of sin while at work in the field that he went and told his wife to get ready to go with him to the camp-meeting. When they reached the camp-ground the husband left his wife in the wagon, and the team steanding in
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the road, while he, unconscious of his surroundings, ran to the altar, calling out as he ran : 'Help me! Help me! I am lost!' His old mother was one of the first to meet him as she threw her arms around him, crying: 'My August! My August!' He fell down at the altar where we all joined in prayer and soon he was glo- riously saved.
"People coming on the camp-ground would frequently rush to the altar for prayer without an invitation, and were happily con- verted. One afternoon the request was made for the people to spend a short time in secret prayer in the tents, or out in the grove, as they might prefer, before the preaching service. When the hour for preaching arrived there was no occasion or opportunity for preaching, as the altar was filled with seekers. The altar services sometimes continued from one service hour to another without intermission, often continuing till late in the night, and sometimes all night long."
"The first camp-meeting at Jewell City was held in the grove of Thomas Berry, Sr., near town. On Saturday afternoon the en- tire congregation went down before God in consecration when wonderful power came upon the people and many were converted. A heavy rain set in which continued over Sunday, but the work continued in the tents and the homes."
An exceedingly interesting and blessed camp-meeting was held at the Twelve Mile appointment on the Osborne work in the summer of 1884, of which Brother Tobias writes: "On Sunday night many fell to the ground under the power of God. One woman was carried to a tent in a state of unconsciousness after falling under the power of the Holy Spirit near the midnight hour. After remaining in this condition for quite a while her friends be- came concerned about her and resorted to remedies to resuscitate her. I advised them to leave her undisturbed, since she was in God's hands, and he would take care of her. She lay helpless and speechless until four o'clock in the morning when she came from under the spell with a shout that aroused the whole camp. We did not need to call the people from their beds that morning. The fire continued to burn all day long and the people continued to praise God and shout till midnight. The notes of victory were heard for miles.
"At nine o'clock in the morning when the services opened the altar was again filled with seekers, and through the entire day
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until midnight the altar services never stopped. There was no dinner prepared in any of the tents, and only a lunch was served for supper. The day was spent in prayer. Such victory! It was a veritable Pentecost. Some of the preachers present declared they had never witnessed anything like it in the past. For 15 hours without intermission the services continued. Eternity alone will reveal the results of that day and that camp-meeting."
Brother Tobias also reports a ten days' meeting which he con- ducted six miles southwest of Pueblo, Colo., on St. Charles River, where A. E. Litz was preaching under direction of the Kansas Conference. Brother Tobias writes :
"The third night of the meeting the Spirit of God was mani- fested and before I closed the service I remarked that I would like to shake hands with all who wished to go to heaven. Among those who came forward to give me the hand was an Indian cow- boy. The next night when I gave an invitation for seekers to come to the altar this same Indian came forward. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he remarked: 'Mister, I want to go to heaven.' I asked him to kneel down at the altar while I kneeled at his side and said: 'Pray to Jesus, and ask him to forgive your sins.' He replied : 'I cannot pray. I never heard a prayer until I heard you pray.' I now taught him how to pray when suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon him, teaching him how to agonize in prayer. I think I never saw any one wrestle in prayer more ear- nestly than did this Indian penitent. Finally he became calm and pleaded : 'Please, Father, oh, please, forgive Indian Charlie's sins. Won't you please forgive my sins?' His pleading affected every one in the house, and many were moved to tears. Gradually the trans- forming change came over him, and his face shone with rapture. He sprang to his feet and shouted : 'Hallelujah! I am saved!' The next evening when I came to the school house I met Indian Char- lie with a smile on his face. I asked him how he felt, and he answered: 'I never swore all day. This is the first time I did not swear for a whole day. I got off my pony eighteen times today and prayed that God would keep me from swearing. O glory, I never said a cuss-word all day.' Charlie was baptized, united with the church, lived a consistent life and died a very happy death several years later."
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1886
TWENTY-SECOND SESSION
Conference met this year March 18, 1886, at Willow Springs, Eudora Circuit, Douglas County, Kansas, to hold her twenty-second session, with Bishop J. J. Esher as chairman and C. Berner secre- tary.
Brother C. Ehrhardt died during the year, C. Geiser with- drew from the church under charges, and J. G. Pfeifer was neces- sitated to retire from the active work. Brother Pfeifer could not attend Conference, but sent a letter in which he expressed his re- gret in being unable to be present, as well as being compelled on account of failing health to retire from the active ranks. In recognition of his past faithful service and his present condition the following touching resolution was adopted :
J. G. PFEIFER
"Inasmuch as our beloved Brother J. G. Pfeifer has been pre- vented from attending this session of Conference, and informs us through a letter that he is compelled to retire from the active ministry, therefore Resolved, That we appreciate his faithful serv- ice rendered in the past, since he has served the church as a min- ister for thirty-five years, of which twenty were spent in the Kan- sas Conference, and of these fifteen in the office of presiding elder. We wish Brother Pfeifer and his companion God's richest bless- ings and a peaceful evening of life. We assure him of our esteem, and he shall ever linger in our memories as one of our worthy fathers in Christ." Brother Pfeifer entered the Conference at her first session, held at Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1865.
The brethren C. Linge, C. Berner, P. Fricker and E. J. Troyer were retained in the itinerancy a year without appointment.
A. M. Dreisbach, a local preacher, received credentials.
The following candidates received license to preach: S. J. Luehring, G. J. Schumacher, R. Brand, F. M. Peek, W. F. Schuer- man and A. E. Flickinger.
S. Mueller, J. Neuffer, J. Kramer, M. C. Platz, W. F. Wolt- hausen, J. K. Young, J. W. Keiser, A. W. Platt, T. R. Nanninga and E. Evans were received into the itinerancy.
The following brethren were received into the Conference : S. Mueller and J. Neuffer from the Germany Conference, D. G. Rinehold of the East Pennsylvania, A. W. Platt of the Pittsburg
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Conference, D. E. Hoover of the Indiana Conference, and H. W. Hartman of the Iowa Conference.
W. F. Wolthausen and A. Mattill received deacons' orders, and G. E. Dienst elder's orders.
J. G. Pfeifer and Mrs. C. Erhardt were recorded as confer- ence claimants.
BISHOP ESHER
Special recognition was taken of Bishop Esher's official visit to the Orient during the past year to inspect the mission work of the church in Japan. This was the first visit of such a character made by any of our Bishops to the work in the heathen world, and was of the greatest importance to the interests of the church. On this occasion the Bishop extended his journey through the Holy Land and on his way home held the European Conferences. Ap- propriate resolutions of gratitude and appreciation for the Bishop's service were passed, and he was assured of the sympathy and prayers of Conference. He was made the recipient of an autograph album containing the autograph of each preacher of Conference as a token of respect.
RACHEL HUDSON
Miss Rachel Hudson, one of our first missionaries to Japan, in 1876, who was at home on furlough because of failing health, addressed Conference in the interests of the work in which she had been engaged, for the past ten years, in the foreign field. Her remarks, coming from one of our own, as well as one of our first missionaries in the Sunrise Kingdom, made a deep and favorable impression on all who heard her.
CHURCH TROUBLE
Dark storm clouds had been gathering for a long time on the horizon of the Evangelical Association, but were now increas- ing in momentum at a rapid rate, threatening disaster to the church. The low murmurings of years ago were now bursting forth in violent controversies in the church papers, as well as in local circles, threatening disruption and ruin to the ecclesiastical body and all her institutions. Even in far-off Japan the disturb- ing influence was felt, and the forces of disruption progressing. It was largely due to this fact that an episcopal visit was made to inspect the work in Japan during the past year.
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Conference expressed her views of the situation in the fol- lowing words: "Resolved, That we, as a Conference, approve the wise action of the Executive Committee of the Missionary Society concerning our work in Japan. We endorse the report made by Bishop J. J. Esher and will pray that God may guide us in the whole affair."
MISSIONARY DEFICIT
Both the treasury of the Missionary Society and of the Con- ference showed a deficit in consequence of which the respective treasurers were instructed to borrow money and pay their obli- gations. It was also made the duty of each preacher to hold a missionary meeting at each appointment on his work, not later than the month of September or October, and to organize missionary auxiliaries, also to hold missionary prayer-meetings in the various congregations, and raise not less than $1.00 per member mis- sionary money for the Kansas Conference during the coming year. In case of failure to meet this requirement the delinquents shall give reasons for their failure.
This drastic measure was introduced, not because of any finan- cial stringency, but because some of the preachers had become indifferent to the cause of missions and neglected the collection of contributions while the splendid missionary spirit which once characterized the Conference had, in a measure, vanished, and the treasury felt the effect of this slackness.
The work of the Committee on Ways and Means was becom- ing more difficult each year as numerous problems confronted Conference, and the appeals for help from various fields of labor were multiplying. This year Atchison asked for help to liquidate a debt of $2,285.00. Leavenworth pled for help to repair her church and parsonage. Newton appealed for a loan of $300.00 from the Conference treasury. Carthage, Dennis, and Parsons asked for help, but the four latter were refused aid because of no available funds.
The committee appointed a year ago to devise plans to organ- ize a fire insurance company in the Conference submitted a consti- tution which was adopted and ordered printed for distribution among the membership during the coming year. An effort was to be made to secure as many policy holders as possible, and then complete the organization a year hence.
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Rev. J. K. Young, fortunate enough to receive $25.00 more salary than his legal allowance, was graciously permitted by Con- ference to keep the surplus.
C. Berner was elected Conference treasurer, and E. Evans was elected Conference trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. G. Pfeifer.
G. E. DIENST
Since G. E. Dienst was appointed missionary to Japan by the Board of Missions during the past year, and was preparing to start for the foreign field during the coming summer, Conference expressed her joy and gratification over the fact that for the sec- ond time she had the honor of providing a missionary for Japan. Brother F. W. Voegelein, who had been sent to Japan a few years previous, was licensed by the Kansas Conference and served in her bounds for several years before he went to California. A hearty Godspeed and best wishes, with the assurance of ardent prayers, accompanied Brother Dienst and his family to the Sun- rise Kingdom.
BOUNDARIES
Holton District
a. Coal Creek shall be taken from Holton Circuit and added to Wolf River Circuit and shall be called Atchison Circuit.
b. Downs shall be served with Osborne Circuit.
c. A new mission shall be located in Jewell County, Kansas, to be called Jewell Mission.
Kansas City District
a. The appointments east of Humboldt shall be taken from Humboldt and formed into Golden Valley Mission.
b. East Lynn shall be taken from Warrensburg Mission and added to Clinton Mission.
Newton District
a. Center Ridge shall be taken from Yates Center and added to Humboldt Circuit.
b. The appointments south of Emporia shall be taken from Emporia Mission and added to Burlington Mission, which shall be called Hartford Mission.
c. Miles shall be taken from Americus and added to Mar- ion Mission, and the remaining portion of Americus shall be added to Emporia Mission.
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d. Turkey Creek in Dickinson County shall be taken from Alida, also Abilene appointment, and both added to Salina Mission.
e. All the appointments north of the Saline River shall be taken from Wilson and formed into a new mission to be called Lincoln Mission.
f. Ellinwood, Pawnee and Barnard shall be taken from Rice Mission and formed into a new mission to be called Pawnee Rock Mission.
g. Peabody shall be taken from Newton and formed into Peabody Mission.
h. The appointments in Pratt County shall be taken from Rice Mission and formed into Kingman Mission.
i. Hartland, Hamilton County, shall be taken up as a new mission and be called Hartland Mission.
MISSIONS
The amount of $3,551.12 was raised for missions in the Con- ference the past year and $6,850.00 was appropriated for the en- suing year.
H. Mattill was elected delegate to the Board of Missions, and the Missionary Society re-elected the old board of officers for the coming year.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 625 ; accessions, 1,167; membership, 4,422; itine- rant preachers, 55; local preachers, 34; churches, 52; parsonages, 30; Sunday-schools, 83; officers and teachers, 830; scholars, 3,791; catechetical classes, 17; catechumens, 271 ; Botschafters, 912; Mes- sengers, 499; Epistles, 66; Magazins, 456.
The number of conversions in past year was the largest in the history of the Conference for any one year, thus far. The revival fires burned brightly over the Conference territory. Many works reported 20 or more conversions, Hiawatha, Eldorado, Rice, Marion, Humboldt and Yates Center each reported 40 or more conversions.
The number of accessions was correspondingly high. The visible blessing of God was resting upon the labors of the ministry and laity of the church.
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APPOINTMENTS
Holton District-H. Mattill, P. E.
Holton Station, E. Evans.
Leavenworth, J. Neuffer.
Atchison, D. R. Zellner.
Atchison Circuit, F. Harder and R. R. Brand.
Hiawatha, C. F. Erffmeyer.
Spring Creek, L. E. Becher.
Preston, A. Yockel and supply.
Big Blue, J. F. Schreiber.
Jewell Station, to be supplied (later H. J. Bowman was assigned there) .
Jewell Mission, to be supplied.
Osborn and Downs, J. H. Kiplinger.
Stockton, F. M. Peek.
Washington, Wm. Daeschner.
Leonardville, T. R. Nanninga.
Red Vermillion, F. J. Shafer.
Kansas City District-J. Wuerth, P. E.
Kansas City, Oak St., S. Mueller.
Kansas City, Highland Ave., A. J. Voegelein.
Kansas City, Forest Ave., supplied by two pastors of Kansas City.
Eudora, J. Schmidli.
Deer Creek, C. H. Lindner.
Osage, M. Walter.
St. Joseph, J. Kurtz.
Platte River, G. Sorg.
Oregon, L. Wenger.
Warrensburg, C. Brandt.
Clinton, W. Elmer. Glasgow, S. J. Luehring.
Winston, W. F. Schuerman.
Denver, J. Elmer.
Bloomington, W. F. Wolthausen.
Newton District-J. H. Tobias, P. E.
Newton, C. W. Snyder.
Halstead, M. C. Platz.
Canada Station, J. Kramer.
Peabody, D. E. Hoover.
Eldorado, J. K. Young.
Derby, H. S. Bower.
Rice, A. W. Platt.
Pawnee Rock, to be supplied.
Offerle, H. Toedman.
Wilson, H. Koepsel.
Lincoln Center, G. J. Schumacher.
Salina, M. Manshardt.
Alida, H. W. Hartman.
Emporia, A. Brunner.
Hartford, S. H. Dunkelberger.
Humboldt, A. Ernst.
Golden Valley, A. E. Flickinger.
Parsons, D. G. Rinehold.
Carthage, J. W. Keiser.
Yates Center, P. Schumann.
Marion, D. F. Honstedt.
Kingman, E. Brown.
Hartland, C. W. Stauffer.
Pueblo, Colorado, A. E. Litz.
MEMORIAL
Rev. C. Ehrhardt
Again the death messenger summoned another of the veterans to the ranks of the church triumphant. Brother C. Ehrhardt en- tered Conference in the spring of 1875, coming from the Pittsburg Conference, where he had been engaged in the active work since 1862. He was assigned to Warrensburg Mission, which he served three years, when he was transferred to Platte River Circuit, where he spent two years. In 1883 he was not able to accept an appointment, and the following year he left the active ranks and was placed on the superannuated list in which relation he con- tinued until the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 6, 1885, at the age of 48 years, 11 months and 3 days. Brother Ehrhardt was a faithful and conscientious worker, a man of sterling char- acter and uplifting influence. His service in the Conference was of the highest character, having only the glory of God and the wel-
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fare of his fellow-man in view. A memorial service was held during the Conference session, on which occasion his high stand- ing and useful service were emphasized by the speakers. His body is buried at Apoka, Florida, from where he was called to his heavenly home.
HALSTEAD
As early as 1880 an appointment was taken up in the West Emmet school house, seven miles west of Newton, by C. F. Erff- meyer, pastor of Newton Mission. The following year he organ- ized a class with 15 members as follows: Thomas Patterson and wife, Wm. Dunkelberger and wife, M. Biersbach and wife, Maria Shafer, Susie Shafer, Pearl Shafer, Harry Shafer, John McCaslin, Joseph Wolfarth, George McArthur, David Bausman and Nancy Patterson.
During this time, Brother Erffmeyer preached at various points in the vicinity, without, however, organizing classes. Among the points at which he preached were Rapp's school house, eight miles northwest of Newton, Johnson school house, a few miles south of where Hesston is now located, and Sand Creek, nine miles south of Newton, where Putnam is now located. He also preached a few times in Halstead, but did not take up a regular appoint- ment there.
During the year 1883 Rev. G. E. Dienst served Newton Mis- sion for six months, when he took up an appointment 20 miles northwest of Newton, in the Schlender school house, four miles southwest of where Moundridge now stands. In this community a colony had settled from Buffalo, and Ebenezer, New York, hav- ing there belonged to the Evangelical Association. Brother Dienst organized a class with the following families: Fred Schlender, John Werner, Henry Kittell, John Hoffman, Adam Hoeman, M. Frey, and Wm. Gick.
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