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 21
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Brother Luesler was never in the active work, however, he led an active life in the service of his Master, and was always ready to preach the Gospel wherever opportunity presented itself. He frequently held protracted meetings and was successful in soul- winning. He was largely instrumental in starting the work of the Evangelical Association in and around Washington, where he lived.
1893
TWENTY-NINTH SESSION
Conference met March 16, 1893, at Swede Creek, Riley Co., Kan., to hold her 29th session. Bishop Wm. Horn, who, for the first time, officiated at the Kansas Conference, failed to arrive until the second afternoon of the session, in consequence of which Rev. A. Brunner was chosen chairman pro tem. P. Schumann was again appointed secretary.
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A. J. Spencer was called home the first day of the session on account of sickness in his family, and J. M. Fricker was excused for the same reason.
Rev. A. W. Berry, a local preacher, Mrs. Susanna Wenger, Mrs. C. C. Bruner and Mrs. M. Walter died during the year.
B. B. Shore, C. W. Snyder and David Jones withdrew from the church during the past year, the latter under charges. Rev. J. A. Hetner was reported as having "irregularly withdrawn" from the church.
W. H. Davis moved out of the bounds of Conference, and hence his name was stricken from the list of preachers.
F. W. Voegelein and H. J. Bowman received credentials, the former to the newly formed Japan Conference, and the latter to the Des Moines Conference.
J. Kurtz, J. W. Keiser and D. R. Zellner were retained in the itinerancy without appointment.
W. H. H. Isgrigg, J. F. Oyer, Robert Stauffer, John Nicode- mus and Charles Schmidli received license to preach, and Joseph Latimer was received as a local elder from the Wesleyan Metho- dist Church.
A. Solt received deacon's orders, and B. H. Hobbs, J. S. Miller, J. M. Fricker and C. S. Steinmetz elders' orders.
A. Brunner was elected Conference trustee for five years, J. J. Kliphardt, trustee for North-Western College for three years, and M. C. Platz, statistical secretary for one year.
The committee appointed a year ago relative to the Pawnee Rock Church reported that the building was sold during the year to the Christian Denomination for $500.00.
The missionary treasurer reported that the appropriations were paid in full and the old debt reduced $1,200.00 by the 28 cents per member plan adopted a year ago. The amount of $1,115.26 was raised on the plan and the debt which had burdened the missionary treasury for years was now reduced to $220.05.
The brethren who failed to raise the amount of missionary money required from them during the past year were given an opportunity to state he reasons for their delinquency before Con- ference. Some of the brethren seemed to furnish satisfactory rea- sons for their failure, while others could not clear themselves of apparent neglect. The rule of the former year that each minister shall raise at least $1.00 per member missionary money during
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the year was renewed for the ensuing year, and the presiding elders were urged to see to it that missionary meetings were held at all appointments at a suitable time.
LANGUAGE
For some time the language question had been agitated on some works where the transition from German to English was con- sidered imperative, frequently resulting in contention, and injury to the work. Because of this existing condition, which was rap- idly growing acute, the following action was taken: "Inasmuch as we are convinced that in congregations where the English lan- guage should be introduced, great care should be exercised, and all things connected with the matter carefully considered that it may tend to the prosperity of the work, we believe that Confer- ence should adopt measures by which this matter may be regu- lated. Therefore resolved, that the presiding elder and preacher in charge of such societies, where a change of language may seem necessary, with three other preachers chosen by them, shall con- stitute a committee to act in such cases during the year. If at least one-half of the members of a society present a petition to the preacher in charge for the introduction of English the matter shall be referred to this committee, and the decision of the com- mittee shall be binding until the next session of the Annual Con- ference, which shall take action in the matter."
Atchison requested Conference to assume possession of their church property and relieve them of the heavy financial obligation which they were no longer able to carry. Conference, not being prepared to comply with their request, appointed a committee to take such action during the year as they might find necessary.
BOUNDARIES
District Changes
a. Leavenworth shall be taken from Holton District and added to Kansas City District.
Kansas City District
a. Carthage Circuit and Carthage Mission shall be consoli- dated and called Carthage Mission.
b. Windsor Mission shall be added to Warrensburg Mission.
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c. Denver Mission shall be added to Winston Mission.
d. Holden appointment shall be taken from Warrensburg and added to East Lynn Mission.
Newton District
a. Enterprise appointment shall be taken from Alden Mission and be added to Hutchinson Mission.
b. Alden and Ellinwood shall be consolidated.
c. Kingman Mission shall be consolidated with Hutchinson.
Abilene District
a. Wilson and Blood Creek shall be taken from Ellinwood and added to Rosette Mission.
b. Randolph shall be taken from Swede Creek and be added to Leonardville Mission.
c. Huscher shall be taken from Washington and be added to Alida.
d. Reiter appointment shall be taken from Washington and added to Concordia, the same to be called Wayne Mission.
MISSIONS
The amount raised for missions in the Kansas Conference was $7,736.65, leaving a deficit of $220.25. The appropriations for the ensuing year were $9,000.00, of which amount the general treasury assured $2,000.00. J. Wuerth was elected delegate to the Board of Missions, and the following officers were elected for the Missionary Society : A. Brunner, president; C. F. Erffmeyer, sec- retary; and J. Schmidli, treasurer.
The Church Extension Society reported $148.07 collected from the various fields during the year, and $63.00 secured from mem- bership dues.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 671; accessions, 697; membership, 5,661; itine- rant preachers, 59; local preachers, 26; churches, 81; parsonages, 41; Sunday-schools, 100; officers and teachers, 1,133; scholars, 5,668; catechetical classes, 34; catechumens, 499; Young People's Alliances, 29; members, 720; Botschafters, 872; Messengers, 697; Magazins, 660; Epistles, 34; Epistles and Teachers, 45; total for missions, $9,386.26.
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APPOINTMENTS
Holton District-A. Brunner, P. E.
Holton, M. C. Platz.
Preston, P. Schumann.
Eudora, T. R. Nanninga.
Atchison Circuit, M. Manshardt and supply.
Atchison Mission, S. Mueller.
Hiawatha Station, J. K. Young.
Hiawatha Circuit, F. M. Peek.
Topeka, J. Wuerth.
Falls City, A. Mattill.
Bern, I. H. Hauptfuehrer.
Osage, H. Toedman.
Westmoreland, P. G. Nuffer.
Kansas City District-J. H. Tobias, P. E.
Kansas City, Oak St., J. H. Keeler.
Kansas City, Highland Ave., C. E. Platz.
Leavenworth, C. W. Stauffer.
Oregon Circuit and Mission, M. Wal- ter.
Platte River, J. F. Schreiber.
St. Joseph, J. Neuffer.
Shelby, A. Solt.
Glasgow, J. Beck.
Warrensburg, C. Meeder.
East Lynn, H. W. Hartman.
Winston, J. M. Fricker.
Carthage, H. E. Meyer.
Newton District-J. J. Kliphardt, P. E.
Emporia, A. Rodewald.
Peabody, B. J. Fehnel.
Newton, G. J. Schumacher.
Yates Center, C. Brandt.
Humboldt and Golden Valley, J. S. Miller and Omer Butler.
Cambridge, B. H. Hobbs.
Derby, R. R. Brand.
Halstead, W. F. Schuerman.
Hutchinson, E. Brown.
Alden and Ellinwood, D. Swart.
Offerle, S. A. Burgert.
Orlando, Okla., J. R. Nanninga.
Dover, Okla., H. E. Bower.
Abilene District-C. F. Erffmeyer, P. E.
Abilene, A. E. Flickinger.
Alida, C. Linge.
Marion, H. S. Bower and W. R. Cur- rier.
Canada, W. F. Wolthausen.
Mc. Pherson, C. S. Steinmetz.
Lincoln, M. J. Steinmetz.
Rosette, C. Schmidli.
Osborne, J. Paulin.
North-west, J. A. Spencer.
Jewell, E. A. Bruner.
Wayne, C. H. Hartman.
Washington, L. E. Becher.
Leonardville, J. Schmidli.
Swede Creek, F. Harder.
Clay, H. B. Vennum.
MEMORIAL
A. W. Berry
Rev. A. W. Berry was born in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1839 and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Doug- lass, at Concordia, Kan., 1892, aged 53 years.
Brother Berry was a local preacher, not having entered the active ranks of the ministry in the Kansas Conference. He was a member of the congregation at Topeka at the time of his death. His wife preceded him some years.
Susanna Wenger
Susanna Schrack Wenger was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in the year 1855. When but four years of age her parents moved to Henry County, Ohio, where Susanna was converted at the age
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of 14 years and united with the Evangelical Association. In the spring of 1878 she accompanied her parents to Kansas and settled in Cloud County, which was then frontier. Here she formed an acquaintance with Rev. L. Wenger, the young missionary on Jewell Mission, with whom she was later united in marriage.
Sister Wenger was a devoted Christian, a true helpmate to her husband in his work, a tender mother in the home, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew her. For several years she was in poor health, but persisted in endeavoring to perform her duties as best she could. The death of her husband less than a year prior to her death was a severe stroke to the patient suf- ferer. She departed this life Jan. 6, 1893, at the age of 37 years, 11 months and 14 days, leaving one daughter and two sons to mourn the loss of a faithful mother.
Mrs. C. C. Bruner
Mrs. C. C. Bruner was called from labor and earthly suffer- ing to her heavenly reward during the past year, leaving her hus- band and motherless children to tread the pathway of life de- prived of her counsel and help. Sister Bruner was a positive Christian character, enjoying the religion she professed and also possessed, and was a great help to her husband in his ministerial work.
Mrs. M. Walter
Mrs. M. Walter hailed from an Evangelical family where she was early led to know Christ in the forgiveness of her sins, and was brought up under religious influence. Becoming the wife of Rev. M. Walter she was in full accord with him in his ministerial calling. Her early departure was a severe loss to her sorrowing husband and little children.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE CONVENTION
During the past year a Young People's Alliance convention was held at Holton, Kan., and a Conference Branch organized. Arrangements were made for a Branch convention, to be held next year where the new work was to be more fully developed and plans made for more aggressive efforts along the lines of
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young people's activity. At this time there were 29 Alliances, with a membership of 720 reported, which was a most encourag- ing increase for the year.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY CONVENTION
At a convention of the Woman's Missionary Society, held at Hiawatha, Kan., Aug. 12, 1892, a Conference Branch was organ- ized with the following officers: President, Mrs. H. J. Bowman; Vice-President, Mrs. C. F. Erffmeyer; Recording Secretary, Miss Lorena Matter; Treasurer, Mrs. C. W. Stauffer.
1894
THIRTIETH SESSION
The thirtieth session of Conference was held in the St. Paul Church in the village of Preston, Neb., beginning March 15, 1894. Bishop J. J. Esher presided and P. Schumann served as secretary.
Moses Byers, a local preacher, residing at Newton, Kansas, died during the year, and C. Emmel, a local preacher, who, for a number of years stood in the active ranks, withdrew from the church.
John Nicodemus moved from the bounds of the Conference.
J. Kurtz and P. Fricker were placed on the supernumerary list at their request.
C. C. Bruner, A. Litz, Omer Butler and T. J. Fee received credentials.
H. E. Bower and W. F. Schuerman were retained in the itine- rancy without appointment.
Adolph Kerston, T. H. Sutton, C. L. Manshardt and Benj. Barthel received license to preach.
W. R. Currier, H. E. Bower, J. A. Spencer, H. B. Vennum and P. G. Nuffer received deacons' orders and were admitted into the itinerancy, while S. A. Burgert and Omer Butler received elders' orders.
C. F. Erffmeyer was elected Conference trustee for five years, A. Brunner Conference treasurer for one year, and M. C. Platz statistical secretary.
Through the "Ways and Means" committee came numerous requests for aid, which were all the more perplexing because of the destitute condition of the treasury of the Conference trustees.
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FIFTY YEARS IN THE KANSAS CONFERENCE
During the past year the mission church debts had increased to such an extent that the situation was serious in the extreme. Be- cause of this Conference adopted a plan by which 25 cents per member should be collected annually on each field of labor until the heavy burden be lifted. While this plan, when operative, brought in considerable funds, yet, in the end it failed because so much of the receipts were consumed in paying interest on the debt, and at the same time new burdens were thrust upon Conference by congregations which could not meet their obligations, and finally other methods had to be resorted to in order to relieve the situation.
A happy feature of this session of Conference was the re- port of the missionary treasurer, which showed a balance of $97.29 in the treasury at the close of the year, after all the accounts were settled. This was a cause for rejoicing since for years the prog- ress of the work was handicapped because of lack of funds, and at the same time so much of the missionary receipts had to be ex- pended for the payment of interest on indebtedness.
Steps were taken to sell the Kansas City, Oak Street, church property, and locate an English mission in a more suitable part of the city. A committee was appointed to take the matter in hand and act to the best of their judgment, reporting their find- ings to the next session.
BOUNDARIES Holton District
a. Bern Mission shall be changed to a circuit.
Newton District
a. Prairie Queen appointment shall be taken from Derby Mission and be added to Cambridge Mission.
b. Derby Mission shall be changed to a circuit.
c. Alden and Ellinwood shall be consolidated and called Al- den Circuit.
Kansas City District
a. Kansas City, Kansas, mission shall be discontinued and the members transferred to Kansas City, Oak Street.
Abilene District
a. Huscher appointment shall be taken from Alida Circuit and be added to Wayne Mission.
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b. Minneapolis and Bethel shall be taken from Lincoln and added to Clay Mission.
c. Wilson and Sylvan Grove shall be taken from Rosette Mission and added to Lincoln Mission.
MISSIONS
The amount raised for missions in the Kansas Conference the past year was $7,704.57, and the appropriations for the ensu- ing year $8,500.00. J. Wuerth was elected delegate to the Board of Missions and the following officers elected for the Missionary Society : A. Brunner, president; C. F. Erffmeyer, secretary; and J. Schmidli, treasurer.
CHURCH EXTENSION
The Church Extension Society reported $558.57 collected dur- ing the year and $296.00 expended, leaving a balance in the treas- ury of $262.57.
STATISTICS
Conversions, 808; accessions, 800; membership, 5,613; itine- rant preachers, 62; local preachers, 23; Sunday-schools, 101; offi- cers and teachers, 1,164; scholars, 5,297; catechetical classes, 32; catechumens, 495; Young People's Alliances, 33; members, 888; churches, 86; parsonages, 40; Botschafters, 860; Messengers, 618; Magazins, 672; Epistles, 35; Epistle and Teacher, 52.
APPOINTMENTS
Holton District-A. Brunner, P. E.
Holton, M. C. Platz.
Preston, T. R. Nanninga.
Eudora, C. Brandt.
Atchison Mission, J. Schmidli.
Atchison Circuit, M. Manshardt.
Hiawatha Circuit, J. K. Young. Hiawatha Station, F. M. Peek.
Topeka, S. Mueller.
Falls City, A. Mattill.
Bern, H. W. Hartman.
Osage, H. Toedman.
Westmoreland, P. G. Nuffer.
Kansas City District-J. H. Tobias, P. E.
Kansas City, Oak St., A. Solt.
Cambridge, C. H. Hartman.
Kansas City, Highland Ave., C. E. Platz. Leavenworth, C. W. Stauffer.
Oregon Circuit and Mission, A. E. Flickinger. Platte River, J. F. Schreiber. St. Joseph, J. Neuffer.
Shelby, M. Walter. Glasgow, J. M. Fricker. Warrensburg, C. Meeder.
East Lynn, J. H. Keeler.
Winston, I. H. Hauptfuehrer.
Carthage. H. E. Meyer.
Newton District-J. J. Kliphardt, P. E. Emporia, A. Rodewald.
Peabody, B. J. Fehnel.
Newton, J. W. Keiser.
Yates Center, F. Harder.
Humboldt and Golden Valley, J. S. Miller. Dennis, B. H. Hobbs.
Derby, R. R. Brand.
Halstead, J. R. Nanninga.
Hutchinson, E. Brown.
Alden, D. Swart. Offerle, S. A. Burgert. Orlando, Okl., J. Beck. Dover, Okla., J. F. Oyer.
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Abilene District-C. F. Erffmeyer, P. E.
Abilene, C. S. Steinmetz.
Alida, C. Linge.
Marion, H. S. Bower and J. Paulin.
Canada, W. F. Wolthausen.
McPherson, D. R. Zellner.
Wilson and Lincoln, W. R. Currier.
Rosette, M. J. Steinmetz.
Osborne, C. Schmidli.
North-west, J. A. Spencer.
Jewell, G. J. Schumacher.
Wayne, E. A. Bruner.
Washington, L. E. Becher.
Leonardville, J. Wuerth.
Swede Creek, P. Schumann.
Clay, H. B. Vennum.
INDUSTRY
In 1891-1892, Rev. A. Solt, who was serving Alida, under direction of his presiding elder, J. H. Tobias, began to preach in a hall over one of the stores in Industry, Kansas. At the time a number of "Freethinkers," who lived in and around the little village, became very much incensed at the audacity of the "sky pilots" who ventured to disturb their long uninterrupted peace by preaching the hated Gospel in their midst. In order to coun- teract the influence of the Christian people and their efforts among them they would enter the hall on Sunday morning before the peo- ple gathered for Sunday-school and service, and scatter their poi- sonous literature throughout the room, upon the stairway, and around the building in order to catch as many of the unwary as possible and poison the minds of the children and young people into whose hands the leaflets might fall. In spite of this persistent effort on the part of the enemy to oppose the work of the Lord, the cause of Christ triumphed, and they gradually declined and vanished.
A small class was organized in 1891 by A. Solt, composed of the following members: M. R. Green and wife, Mrs. Jacob Gibbs, Mrs. Hill, Miss Cora Hill and Miss Dora Hill. There is no record available of the first officers of the organization.
A Sunday-school was organized at this time with M. R. Green, superintendent.
In the spring of 1892 H. B. Vennum was assigned to Industry who succeeded in building a church the following year at a cost of $1,500.00. He also started a Young People's Alliance, which later lapsed, but was reorganized in 1908 by Rev. C. J. Eiselein. Unfortunately there is no record of the officers of the Young Peo- ple's Alliance or of the Woman's Missionary Society, which was organized in 1908 by Mrs. C. J. Eiselein.
The following bit of history, which describes the early status of the community from a spiritual standpoint, is from the pen of Rev. W. L. Zabel, pastor at Industry in 1914:
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"There were times when the Free Thinkers would hold public meetings to interfere with the service held in the church, and to propagate their teaching. On one occasion while Rev. J. A. Spen- cer was pastor there, and was engaged in a meeting, these 'evil- doers' secured a lecturer to speak in the hall while services were being held in the church. Brother Spencer urged the people to pray earnestly to God that he would frustrate the plans of the enemy and bring to naught the endeavors of infidelity. That night the lecturer was so confused that he could not deliver his lecture, and went home ashamed of his effort and failure.
"There are only a few of those 'evil-doers' left today. One of them died a glutton and was found after he was dead two days. Another one who sought notoriety was hardly recognized in the weekly paper when he died. Another one repented three months before he died, and was saved as a brand plucked from the burn- ing. Only two remain at the present time. One is a drunk- ard, the other was a saloon-keeper in Industry during the days of the joints, and is a heavy drinker, dying of paralysis, after be- ing an invalid for thirteen years. Truly the way of the trans- gressor is hard."
1895
THIRTY-FIRST SESSION
The 31st session of Conference was held at Clearfield (for- merly Captain's Creek), Douglas County, Kansas, beginning March 21, 1895, with Bishop S. C. Breyfogel chairman, and Peter Schu- mann secretary.
H. B. McBride died during the year, and August Zoeller, W. H. H. Isgrigg, J. E. Dreisbach and J. M. Hubbard withdrew from the church, the latter two irregularly.
By request J. Kurtz and J. F. Schreiber were placed on the superannuated list after many years of faithful service, the latter having served in the active work since the beginning of mission- ary operations in Kansas and Nebraska in 1858, having been a charter member of Conference, and the first duly elected presid- ing elder. The following deserved tribute was paid to him by the Conference in which he offered up his life and talent:
"Inasmuch as our worthy Brother J. F. Schreiber found it necessary during the year to withdraw from the active work be-
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cause of failing health, and his physical condition not permitting him to remain in the ranks any longer, and since the dear brother has served without interruption for 40 years among us as a godly and useful servant of the Lord, experiencing great hardships and poverty in the early years of the work, yet laboring on faithfully in the saving of souls and building up the kingdom of Jesus Christ, therefore resolved, that we regret that Brother Schreiber is com- pelled to take this step, and that we wish him a happy and peace- ful evening of life, and trusting he may be able to meet with us from year to year in our Conference sessions."
J. Neuffer and J. W. Keiser were retained in the itinerancy kithout appointment.
The brethren G. J. Harbes, C. F. Iwig, F. E. Smith and J. B. Gresser received license to preach.
C. Schmidli received deacon's orders and A. Solt elder's or- ders.
M. C. Platz was elected presiding elder and the following district assignments were made: Holton District, A. Brunner ; Kansas City District, J. H. Tobias; Newton District, M. C. Platz ; Abilene District, C. F. Erffmeyer.
J. J. Kliphardt reported that the charter of Union Biblical Institute had been so changed that the Kansas Conference had now become a member of the compact and was entitled to representa- tion on the trustee board, whereupon J. J. Kliphardt was elected trustee of North-Western College and Union Biblical Institue for three years.
J. H. Tobias was elected Conference trustee for five years, A. Brunner Conference treasurer for one year and C. W. Stauffer statistical secretary for one year.
The committee appointed a year previous to sell the Kansas City Oak Street church and locate an English mission in another part of the city reported that in view of the depreciation of real estate value in the city the committee deemed it unwise to sell the property at this time, and since the church attendance at Oak St. had increased materially during the year, they deemed it best not to change the mission at present.
INSURANCE COMPANY
An insurance company against loss by fire and storm was organized at this time under the name of "The Mutual Benevolent Aid Society." A constitution was adopted, and the following
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board of directors elected: C. F. Erffmeyer, A. Brunner, J. H. Tobias, M. C. Platz, J. J. Kliphardt, J. Wuerth and M. Manshardt. This society rendered valuable service in the Conference for many years when through various modifications of the insurance laws in the several states in which the Conference was doing work, it became impossible to meet the requirements of the law, and the society was necessitated to disband. Churches, parsonages and personal property of ministers and their families could insure on the mutual assessment plan.
The following brethren were elected delegtaes to General Conference, to be held at Elgin, Illinois, in the month of October : A. Brunner, J. H. Tobias, J. J. Kliphardt, C. F. Erffmeyer and M. C. Platz.
A large number of fields failed to respond to the 25 cents per member plan for church debts of the Kansas Conference, so that action was taken to give the delinquents another opportunity to raise their assessment and in case of a second failure they shall be reported to the next Annual Conference.
Again a large number of appeals was made to Conference for aid from needy friends of labor in order to relieve them from the pressing debts resting upon their church property. Topeka earnestly prayed for help in order to secure a church building, in which to hold their regular services, as the hall they were using was not only inadequate, but a detriment to the development of the work. A committee was appointed with instructions to pro- ceed with the erection of a church, the cost however not to exceed $3,000.00.
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