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 7
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SOLOMON NEITZ
The damaging agitation of Solomon Neitz, a member of the East Pennsylvania Conference, was felt even in the small Kansas Conference, as seen by the following action :
"Resolved, That we consider the brazen accusations made against our bishops in his article, published in the Christliche Bot- schafter, under the heading, 'Sporadisches,' as reproachful and slanderous. We hold our bishops in high esteem and love, feeling confident that they have up to this time served the church with de- votion and self-sacrifice. We deeply deplore that said article has not only grieved our bishops, but our entire church has been maligned thereby."
EVANGELISCHE MAGAZIN
Conference also expressed her appreciation of the timely pub- lication of Das Evangelische Magazin, which was created by the recent General Conference. A hearty "Godspeed" was expressed to the editor.
Rev. E. E. Evans of the Michigan Conference was received as a member of this Conference.
MISSIONS
The amount of $370.25 was reported collected for missions during the past year, while the amount of $1,686.00 was appro- priated for the ensuing year. The above amount of $370.25 raised for missions was contributed by the auxiliaries of the Conference, aside from the amount paid by the preachers.
The following officers were elected for the Missionary Society for the coming year: J. F. Schreiber, president; J. Wuerth, vice-
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president; H. Haas, secretary, and J. G. Pfeifer, treasurer. Bishop Esher was elected delegate to the Board of Missions.
STATISTICS
The statistics for the past year are as follows: Conversions, 186. Of this number 60 conversions are reported from Oregon Mission, and 28 from Lawrence. Accessions, 228. Of this number 72 are reported from Oregon Mission, and 36 from Lawrence. Membership, 696; itinerants, 14; local preachers, 6; churches, 5; parsonages, 5; Sunday-schools, 15; officers and teachers, 123; scholars, 421; Botschafters, 221; Messengers, 85.
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-C. Berner, P. E.
Missouri District-J. G. Pfeifer, P. E.
Lawrence, S. W. Mckesson.
Holton, J. F. Schreiber.
St. Joseph, John Wuerth.
Leavenworth, H. Haas.
Oregon, John Beck.
Humboldt, Wm. Lingelbach.
Grand River, Wm. Folgate.
West Kansas, H. Mattill.
Macon, C. Timmer.
Big Blue, E. J. Troyer.
Glasgow, M. Alsbach.
Nemaha, P. Fricker and supply.
PLATTE RIVER
The past Conference year brings us in touch with the begin- ning of the work on Platte River Circuit, Andrew County, Mo. Early in the sixties a number of German families settled in An- drew County, in the vicinity where at present Cosby is located, about 13 miles north-east of St. Joseph.
These German people were left without a spiritual shepherd, though they had a desire for spiritual instruction. This was not usually the case among the early settlers, who, in most instances, were a rough and irreligious class of people. Prompted by a de- sire for religious service, they appealed to Lutheran preachers in St. Joseph to come and preach to them, offering them conveyance back and forth if they would but come. Their appeal, however, was in vain, and they were told it was neither worth while nor necessary, since they could attend service in St. Joseph. So they were left without spiritual counselors.
Soon after the Conference session of 1868, H. Mattill, who was stationed with J. Wuerth on Oregon Mission, came into the community of those Germans. Visiting in the home of H. Sanders, and praying with the family, he received permission to preach for them. He arranged an appointment for his colleague, Brother
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Wuerth, who arrived in due time and preached to a large congre- gation in the old Concord Church. The sermon, which was de- livered in the power of the Spirit, made such a favorable impres- sion upon the people that they could hardly wait till Brother Wuerth should return again to preach.
After the first sermon in the church the meetings were held in different homes in the community. Everybody cheerfully opened their doors to the missionaries, who came to show them the way of life. During the summer months the meetings were held in a grove until autumn, when they were changed to the home of Father Thies, where they were held during the winter. A won- derful awakening took place during. the year and many were con- verted. The beginning of the awakening was brought about by several families who attended a camp-meeting at Nickels Grove, Holt County, Mo., during the summer, and were converted. They returned home and started the revival fire at home which continued to burn throughout the winter. During the winter months a re- vival meeting was held in the house of Father Thies, where many were gloriously saved and united with the church. About 40 per- sons were received into the church, representing 17 or 18 families.
At the session of Conference this spring, 1869, the appoint- ments Platte River and St. Joseph were formed into St. Joseph Circuit, of which Platte River was practically the entire body. Platte River was the second work in the conference which enjoyed the distinction of starting on a self-supporting basis. Yates Cen- ter preceded Platte River by one year. Steps were taken at once to build a church, and the project was carried out one year later, when on the 26th of July, 1869, Rev. J. G. Pfeifer, the presiding elder, dedicated a new church, which had been built upon a site donated to the society by Father Thies, including sufficient ground for a parsonage and cemetery near the church. The church- building was erected at a cost of $800.00, not counting donated labor.
A Sunday-school was organized July 28, 1869, with Rev. J. Wuerth as superintendent, Henry Sanders, assistant superintend- ent, Wm. Garbe, secretary, and Henry Bunse, librarian. The en- rollment numbered 30 scholars and 7 teachers.
NEMAHA
During the past year the Zion Church was built west of Arago on Nemaha Mission, in the vicinity where the families
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Daeschner, Kaiser and Meier had moved from Illinois, and the work had become well established. In later years Conference held numerous sessions in this church.
H. MATTILL
The following experiences are related by Rev. H. Mattill at the time of his service on West Kansas Mission, when the country was new and the people mostly rough and irreligious.
The summer of 1869 was a very wet season, which made it difficult to save the harvest, while much of the wheat went to waste. On a certain Sunday morning the sky was clear, and the prospects fair for a fine day, so that the threshing-machine was set in motion. About 11:00 o'clock a cloud arose, and in a short time the rain was pouring down upon the threshing crew. The farmer got very angry because of this, and began to defy God in a most blasphemous manner, challenging the Almighty in the follow- ing words: "You blockhead up there, if I had you here I would pummel you." Instantly a bolt of lightning struck the blasphemer dead. His brother became enraged at this and began to curse God most vehemently, when his horses became frightened, ran away and killed him also. This was another demonstration of the truth that "God is not mocked."
Another example of human depravity on the one hand, but firm Christianity on the other hand, is given in the following :
Mr. B. was a true Christian, who followed his Saviour faith- fully, though it required both grace and grit to do so. Mr. B. had raised a heavy wheat crop, which was ready for the threshing- machine. The proprietor of the threshing-machine notified him that he would thresh his wheat the following Sunday. Mr. B. re- marked that he could not thresh for him on Sunday. This angered the party who desired to do the work, and he told him that he would thresh on Sunday or not at all. Mr. B. remained firm, and his wheat crop went unthreshed, since they boycotted him, and there was no other machine to be procured.
Brother Mattill had occasion to cross Chapman Creek, which had no bridge; the water being high, he was uncertain about at- tempting to ford the stream. A Catholic Irishman, who lived near the ford and was familiar with conditions, advised Brother Mattill to cross over the creek. Heeding the advice, he drove into the water, but soon saw his mistake. The ponies began to swim, but the buggy got into the swift current of the stream; it was thrown
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over, and the contents carried away. Brother Mattill succeeded in swimming to the shore from whence he came, and the ponies swam to the opposite side of the stream. The buggy, which became detached from the horses, lodged in a mass of drift-wood, and was later recovered. The young itinerant had to walk to Brother N. Schmutz' home, a distance of eight miles, where he received help to recover his ponies and buggy the following day. Those ex- periences did more than break the monotony of life; they pointed to the loving care of a heavenly Father, who is concerned for his own, and will not fail nor forsake them.
HIAWATHA STATION
The first missionary of the Evangelical Association, of whom any trace can be found, was Peter Porr. He came from the Ohio Conference, and found a hospitable stopping-place at the home of Frederick Hauber, four and one-half miles south-east of Hiawatha. His visits came about monthly for two or three years. The Civil War, however, made the filling of the appointments difficult, and often impossible. On June 14, 1860, Brother Porr baptized the Hauber children.
Porr was followed by Wm. Uber about 1861, of whom, how- ever, little can be ascertained, and he, in turn, by C. Tobias. A German Sunday-school was organized in the Moser school-house about 1864, with Charles Bedker superintendent, and Frederick Hauber assistant.
The society was organized in 1868 by C. Berner, and Charles Bedker was chosen class-leader. The charter members were: Fred- erick Hauber, Catharine Hauber, Chas. Bedker and wife, John Hoffman, John Maglott and wife, and Mrs. Jacob Meisenheimer. Previous to this time there had been a German Methodist appoint- ment at the school-house; their members, however, being few, they joined with the newly formed class.
Under the ministry of the various brethren the work devel- oped until in 1881 a church-building 30x50 feet was erected in Hiawatha during the pastorate of Rev. J. Kurtz. This was dedi- cated in March, 1882, by Bishop R. Dubs. In the fall of this year a parsonage was built on the property adjoining the church.
In 1885 a very successful revival was held during the pastorate of C. F. Erffmeyer, which is described by Brother Erffmeyer in the following words :
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"During the fall and winter I conducted three revival meet- ings. The first one was at Prairie Springs, and continued four weeks. The second was at Bellevue, and also continued four weeks. At each of these meetings God's children were revived, souls saved and the church strengthened. On Dec. 9 we began in Hiawatha, and continued till Feb. 14. During this meeting of over two months' duration we had meeting usually twice a day. The inter- est and power grew as the days went by. Our people entered into the work heartily from the beginning. People from other churches came, and soon were working side by side with the Evangelicals. The church was filled to overflowing at nearly every evening serv- ice. The Baptist and Methodist pastors suggested that the meet- ing be made a union meeting, and taken to the opera-house. I hesitated to do this, and suggested that instead they hold meet- ings in their churches simultaneous with ours. This was done, and soon the revival fire was kindled in their churches, too. There were in all over one hundred conversions in the meetings, and fifty- seven united with the Evangelical Association. The spirit of this revival reached out into the surrounding towns and communities, and started revivals there."
In 1886 a Woman's Missionary Society was organized by C. F. Erffmeyer, of which Mrs. J. M. Lepley became the first president. On Aug. 12, 1892, the Conference Branch of the Woman's Mis- sionary Society was organized at Hiawatha. The Young People's Alliance was organized by Rev. J. K. Young, Oct. 13, 1891, with Arnold Moser president. In later years the work suffered heavy losses through death and removals, but at present, 1914, the Lord is graciously reviving his work again.
1870
SIXTH SESSION
In the spring of 1870 Conference met in the Evangelical church at Deer Creek, Douglas Co., Kansas, on the 24th day of March. This time there was no bishop present on account of the death of Bishop Long, which occurred during the past year, leav- ing all the episcopal work resting upon Bishop Esher, who was not able to hold all the Conferences himself.
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The secretary of the Conference, C. Berner, opened the ses- sion, after which J. G. Pfeifer was elected chairman, who ap- pointed C. Berner secretary.
A memorial committee was appointed at the opening of Con- ference, consisting of J. F. Schreiber and H. Haas, to draft suitable resolutions concerning the death of Bishop Long.
The following brethren received license to preach on proba- tion : F. W. Voegelein, S. Schneider, C. Linge, and H. Koepsel. And the following were received into the itinerancy: Conrad Emmel, F. W. Voegelein, Herman Koepsel, and C. Linge. Wm. Lingelbach received deacon's orders.
Belshazzer Hoffman from the Indiana Conference was re- ceived into the Conference on condition that he procure credentials from his former Conference.
BISHOP J. LONG
The following memorial was adopted relative to Bishop Long's death: "Inasmuch as it has pleased the Lord to call our esteemed and worthy father, Bishop Long, after a blessed, but also difficult day's labor to his heavenly reward and rest, therefore Resolved, That his departure causes us deep sorrow, and we keenly feel the loss sustained and the vacancy caused by his death, but console ourselves with the thought that he is at rest. God gave us this extraordinary man, anointed to the work of the church, and spared him so many years for usefulness. He was especially gifted with rare talents. His clear, anointed sermons, his business ability, his affection and faithfulness, as well as his concern for the whole church, will abide in our memory. We will pray God to help us to emulate his example."
Bishop Long was held in high esteem by the ministers of the Kansas Conference, having twice presided at her annual sessions, where he endeared himself to the brethren. He was the first bishop to visit the work in Kansas, and presided at her first session.
BOUNDARIES
Kansas District
a. Spring Creek, Hiawatha, and Wolf River appointments shall be taken from Nemaha Mission, and in connection with Camp Creek, and Independence Creek appointments of Leavenworth Mission, constitute a new mission, to be called Wolf River Mis- sion.
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b. Leavenworth and Wyandotte shall be served together.
c. Nemaha Mission shall be served by two preachers.
d. West Kansas Mission shall be supplied with two preachers.
e. Lawrence Mission shall be supplied with two preachers, if possible.
f. Holton shall be supplied with two preachers, if possible. Missouri District
a. Steiner and Schneider appointments shall be taken from Oregon Circuit, and with the surrounding country shall consti- tute a new mission, to be known as Hamburg Mission. Oregon Circuit and Hamburg Mission shall be served together, however the finances shall be kept separate.
b. Grand River shall be served by two preachers.
c. Frankfort and Glasgow appointments shall be taken from Glasgow Mission and added to Macon Mission, and the remainder of Glasgow Mission shall be called Warrensburg Mission.
EDUCATION
The annually recurring action of Conference relative to edu- cation, the Sunday-school and catechetical instruction, indicates the great stress the founders laid on proper early education. Re- peatedly the ministry and the laity were urged to carefully look after the best interest of the children, instructing them in relig- ious knowledge, and leading them early to conversion. To this end intense activity is urged in the organization and maintenance of Sunday-schools, and catechetical classes, as well as the dissemina- tion of good religious literature. In this respect the fathers laid a good foundation which is worthy of emulation in all ages.
The absence of C. Timmer at the Conference session without an excuse, or even the presentation of his report for the year, was severely criticised, and his presiding elder was instructed to in- form him of the disapproval.
At this time an auxiliary of the Sunday-school and Tract Society was organized, which became a permanent branch of Con- ference and her business transactions.
MISSIONS
There were three missionary auxiliaries reported which raised $167.00. The ministers' contributions amounted to $60.00. From
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other sources $199.00, making a total for the year of $426.00. The officers elected for the following year were: J. F. Schreiber, president; H. Haas, vice-president; J. Wuerth, secretary, and J. G. Pfeifer, treasurer.
Bishop Esher was again chosen delegate to the Board of Missions.
Conference appropriated the amount of $2,000.00 for mis- sions for the ensuing year.
STATISTICS
Statistics reported at this Conference were: Conversions, 175; accessions, 284; itinerants, 15; local preachers, 6; mem- bership, 907; churches, 6; parsonages, 5.
APPOINTMENTS
Kansas District-C. Berner, P. E.
Leavenworth, J. Beck.
Lawrence, H. Haas and supply.
Holton, J. F. Schreiber and F. W. Voegelein.
Humboldt, Wm. Lingelbach.
Wolf River, Conrad Emmel.
Nemaha, P. Fricker and supply.
Big Blue, E. J. Troyer under H. Mat- till.
West Kansas, H. Mattill.
Missouri District-J. G. Pfeifer, P. E.
St. Joseph, John Wuerth.
Oregon and Hamburg, S. W. McKes- son and H. Koepsel.
Grand River, Wm. Folgate and C. Linge.
Macon, B. Hoffman.
Warrensburg, M. Alsbach.
WARRENSBURG
During the past year Brother Alsbach, who was serving Glas- gow Mission, traveled south-west through Johnson County, and came to Warrensburg, where he found several German families, Burkhart, Kemmerly, Smith, Scheidenberger, and Volmer, the latter coming from Indiana, the former from the State of Ohio. Brother Alsbach organized a class and preached for them as often as he could, because of his numerous appointments. The members met for prayer-meeting every Sunday when the preacher could not be with them. The preaching services were usually held in the Scheidenberger home in Warrensburg, and sometimes in the Vol- mer home. At this Conference Brother Alsbach became the pas- tor of the new Warrensburg Mission. In 1873 the little society purchased a small brick church on Gay Street from the Presbyte- rians, which was used for many years to worship in.
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WILLOW SPRINGS
Willow Springs Class was organized in 1869, by Rev. S. W. Mckesson, who served Lawrence Mission, and preached at this point. The charter members were: Rev. D. R. Zellner and wife, M. Heffner and wife, Carl Woerner and wife, Christian Long and wife, J. C. Pippert and wife, Mrs. Fager and Mrs. G. Sehrle. J. C. Pippert was elected class-leader of the little band. Three years later a church was built during the labors of J. Wuerth.
C. LINGE
One of the early pioneers in Missouri gives a vivid descrip- tion of missionary work in those days when people were living in straightened circumstances and were first met by the early circuit- riders. He writes as follows :
"The people were mostly clever and accommodating. Liberal with what they possessed and hospitable, however, in many in- stances their surroundings were neither attractive nor sanitary. Many times, after traveling all day on horse-back, I would stop for the night and be given a bed which was already occupied by in- numerable bed-bugs, which have been aptly described as the 'pesti- lence which walketh in darkness.' This invariably meant a night of combat and bloodshed, with little comfort or rest for the preacher.
"In many instances the house was a mere log-cabin, consist- ing of one apartment only, and this occupied by parents and a number of children, so that the guest would naturally feel that he was an intruder, were it not for the hearty welcome accorded him by the host and hostess.
"On one occasion a man invited me to take dinner with him, which I gladly consented to do. The bill of fare consisted of corn- meal stirred up with water and salt, and baked in an oven; in addition to this there was sorghum on the table, and a little bacon, which was either borrowed or solicited for the occasion from a neighbor. Dinner being over, I asked permission to pray with the family, which privilege was granted. During prayer a family pig invaded the dining-room without invitation, and quite a dis- turbance ensued. One of the lads not being impressed with the spirit of devotion, started to dislodge the intruder, but hog-fashion the invader started in the wrong direction, and in passing through under the table upset the table with what was left of the dinner,
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at the same time striking the chair upon which I had placed the Bible before we kneeled to pray. Not satisfied with that extent of confusion, in his careless rush he struck the preacher and threw him to the floor, terminating the prayer very abruptly. When order was again restored the host deplored the episode very much and remarked in a tone of disapproval: 'That dirty hog!'
"Tobacco was used almost universally by men and women. It was not unusual to see father's pipe lying in the tobacco-box under the stove (provided he was not using the pipe), and moth- er's pipe in her tobacco-box on the work-table, where she would have it convenient. The walls of the room were usually dark from the results of incessant tobacco-smoke, and everything in the house was permeated with the offensive odor. At times the smoke would be so dense in the room that it was difficult to breathe.
"Many times I would travel all day, eating my dinner, which usually consisted of a can of oysters and a few crackers, on the prairie, while my pony would graze during the noon-hour. At night I would sometimes sleep on a dirt or stone floor as the case might be, with a little hay or straw for a mattress. In winter time I would almost freeze on my long trips. Frequently I would travel from five to ten miles before the people along the road would rise. Sometimes my horse, which was black in color, would be white with frost. I would be necessitated to make those long trips in order to reach my next appointment on time. I often froze my ears, nose, fingers and toes.
"Some of our work required a distance of 275 miles to make a single round over the work, which contained from 18 to 23 ap- pointments. The fifth year of my ministry I received $175.00 salary."
From the foregoing we get some idea of what those early pio- neers experienced in laying the foundation of the Evangelical Association in the Kansas Conference.
1871
SEVENTH SESSION
The seventh session of Conference was held near Cosby, An- drew County, Mo., about 13 miles north-east of St. Joseph, Mo., beginning March 23, 1871. Bishop J. J. Esher, arriving too late to open the session, this was done by the secretary, after which
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J. G. Pfeifer was elected chairman pro tem. C. Berner was ap- pointed secretary.
During the examination of the ministers regarding their moral character, charges were preferred against H. Haas by his presiding elder for unbrotherly conduct toward his colleague, J. Schesser, also for neglect of duty, and living in strife with his wife. In the investigation he was found guilty of all the charges, however, his colleague was not without blame. The brethren were requested to promise amends for the future, and Brother Haas was admonished to live in peace with his wife.
Complaints were brought against Rev. S. W. Mckesson for making careless remarks regarding the doctrine of soul-sleeping, as also against one of the Articles of Faith of the church. Con- ference requested the chairman to earnestly admonish Brother Mckesson to be more discrete in his remarks in the future, and hereafter defend our Articles of Faith.
Licenses to preach were granted to John Emmel, J. H. Kip- linger, Wm. Luttman, Jacob Gehring, and Ferdinand Harder.
John Schesser was received on a recommendation from the brethren Umbach and Rothärmel of the Canada Conference on condition that he later present his credentials from the said body.
The brethren C. Emmel and E. J. Troyer received deacons' orders, and H. Mattill, John Beck, and Wm. Folgate elders' orders.
J. Schesser, John Emmel, and Ferdinand Harder were re- ceived into the itinerancy.
Again Conference made extensive boundary changes, which was hardly avoidable in those days while she was in her early stages of development, and local conditions were constantly under- going changes. The transitory conditions of the early settlers, the aggressive spirit of the ministry, the numerous calls for serv- ice, through which new doors were constantly opening to the mis- sionaries, all contributed to the necessity of making frequent changes in arranging and supplying the works. The following changes were made at this time:
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