USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 11
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8 Stevens' History of the M. E. Church,
89
GENERAL CONFERENCE AT BALTIMORE. RULE ON SLAVERY.
the office of Bishop, and at one time lacked only five votes of an election. He was well fitted for this office. He had great influence in the councils of the church. In the carly history of Methodism in Maine, no name is remembered with more profound respect than that of Jesse Lee.9
1816. The General Conference met this year at Baltimore, on the first day of May, Bishop McKendree presiding. Oliver Beale and Joshua Soule were delegates of New England Conference from Maine.
The war with Great Britain had just closed and there was universal rejoicing through the country. There was some disturbance of harmony between the Wesleyan and American Methodists in relation to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the societies in Lower Canada, but no change was made.
Enoch George and Robert R. Roberts were elected bishops. A course of study, for the first time, was ordered for ministerial candidates. Measures were taken for the better support of the ministry. The annual allowance for traveling preachers was increased to one hundred dollars, and the same amount for their wives and for superannuated preachers. Action was taken against pewed churches, and the taxing of pews for the support of preaching. Provision was made for licensing exhorters. Joshua Soule and Thomas Mason were elected book agents. The order for the publication of the Methodist Magazine was repeated, and two years later this periodical was commenced. The question of the election of Presiding Elders was discussed, but the measure failed.
On motion of George Pickering, the unfinished business of the last session, so far as it related to the subject of slavery, was referred to a select committee. The committee reported the following resolution, which was adopted : "Resolved, by the delegates of the Annual Conferences, in General Conference assembled, that all the recommendatory part of the second division, ninth section, and first answer of our form of Discipline, after the word slavery, be stricken out, and the following words inserted : 'Therefore no slave holder shall be eligible to any official station in our church hereafter, where the laws of the state in which he lives will admit of cmancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom."
A book depository at Pittsburg was authorized, and the Missouri and Mississippi Conferences established. Axley, aided by Meyers,
9 Stevens' History of the M. E. Church.
90
CONFERENCE AT BRISTOL. PEACE.
again struck against the distillation and retailing of spiritous liquors, but without suceess. The Conference adjourned May 24th.10
The New England Conference this year met in Bristol, Rhode Island, eommeneing June 22d, Bishops Mckendree and Roberts, presiding ; Martin Ruter, Secretary.
There were two districts in Maine, Portland and Kennebee ; sixteen cireuits, served by twenty-one traveling preachers. Members, 3,655 ; gain, 267.
These were trying times for the religious interests of Maine. The effeets of the war upon the business interests of the people were disastrous. Business depression necessarily embarrassed the opera- tions of the ehureh. The hard working itinerant had his full share of hardships.
The glad news of peace had come to cheer the people. Great diseouragement, however, was eaused by the eold season this year, by which the erops, to a large extent, were destroyed. A frost is said to have oeeurred every month of the year. Many farmers disposed of their farms at a great saerifiee, and removed to the West. The Ohio fever, as it was ealled, prevailed extensively. The societies in the rural seetions of the state were sadly weakened by removals.
The New England Conference was held this year (1816) in Bristol, Rhode Island, Juue 22d, Bishop MeKeudree, presiding ; Martin Ruter, Secretary. There is but a meager account of this eonferenee extant. Jeremiah Marsh, of Maine, was received on trial ; Cyrus Cummings and Samuel Hillman, located ; Joshua Nye, supernumerary.
Two distriets in Maine; sixteen eireuits ; twenty-one traveling preachers. Members, 3,654; inerease, 266. Membership in the Methodist Episcopal ehureh, 214,235 ; inerease, 3,070. Preachers, 695 ; inerease, 9.
10 Stevens' History of M. E. Church, Vol. 4, pp. 452-5.
91
NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCES.
CHAPTER IX.
1817-1831, NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE SESSIONS, AND PREACHERS APPOINTED IN MAINE FROM 1817 TO 1819. 1820. GENERAL CONFERENCE AT BALTIMORE. J. SOULE ELECTED BISHOP. ACTION PROVIDING FOR ELECTION OF PRESIDING ELDERS. J. SOULE RESIGNS. BOOK AGENTS AUTHORIZED TO ERECT BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK. N. BANGS, BOOK STEWARD. NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE SESSIONS FROM 1820 TO 1823. 1824. GENERAL CONFERENCE AT
BALTIMORE. RULE FOR ELECTING PRESIDING ELDERS RESCINDED. DISSATISFACTION AT THE ACTION OF CONFERENCE. SECESSIONS. J. SOULE AND E. HEDDING ELECTED BISHOPS. NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE 1824. 1825. MAINE CONFERENCE ORGANIZED. MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY ESTABLISHED. LUTHER SAMPSON. Z. CALDWELL. SESSIONS OF THE MAINE CONFERENCE. 1826 AND 1827. 1828. GENERAL CONFERENCE AT PITTSBURG. APPEAL OF JOSHUA RANDALL. AGITATIONS. TRIAL OF APPEALS. THE MAINE CONFERENCE AT VIENNA. 1829. THE CONFERENCE AT GARDINER. 1830. CONFERENCE AT PORTLAND. 1836. CONFERENCE AT HALLOWELL. AGENT FOR MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY. LIBERAL SUBSCRIPTIONS.
1817. The New England Conference met at Concord, New Hampshire, May 16. Bishop McKendree, presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary.
There were two districts in Maine. Elijah Hedding1 and Oliver Beal, Presiding Elders ; sixteen circuits and stations, nineteen travel- ing preachers. Members, 4362, increase this year, 708. Members of the entire Methodist Episcopal church, 224,853 ; increase, 10,618. Traveling preachers, 716 ; increase, 21.
1818. The New England Conference met at Hallowell, Maine, June 4, Bishop George, presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary. Three preachers from Maine were admitted on trial, John S. Ayer, Peter Burgess and Sullivan Bray. Two districts in Maine, Asa Heath and David Hutchinson, Presiding Elders ; twenty-one circuits and stations ; twenty-six traveling preachers. Members, 4897 ; increase, 535. Members of the entire Methodist Episcopal church, 229,627 ; increase, 4,774. Traveling preachers, 748; increase, 32.
1819. The New England Conference was held in Lynn, Massachu- setts, June 2, 1819, Bishop Roberts, presiding.
There were two districts in Maine, Asa Heath and David
1 E. Hedding changed with N. Bigelow and became pastor of Chestnut Street, Portland, Maine.
92
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Hutchinson, Presiding Elders ; twenty circuits and stations ; twenty- six preachers appointed. Members, 5,533; increase, 636. Entire membership of Methodist Episcopal church, 240,924; increase, this year, 11,297. Number of traveling preachers, 812.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
1820. The General Conference met in Baltimore, May 1, 1820, Bishops McKendrec, George and Roberts being present. Eighty-nine delegates answered to the roll-call.
Delegates from Maine were Solomon Sias and Oliver Beales. Among the prominent men of the delegates conspicuous in the history of the church, were Nathan Bangs, Freeborn Garretson, Joshua Soulc, George Pickering, Elijah Hedding, Timothy Merritt, Martin Ruter, James B. Finley, James Axley, Peter Cartwright, William Capers, James O. Andrew, John Emory, Beverly Waugh, Ezekiel Cooper, all able men.
Several important measures were adopted. The term Bishop was, by vote, substitued for that of superintendent, in the report of the committee on episcopacy, as the title of the chief officer of the church. This action is, by some, considered unfortunate, being a step in the direction of prelatical assumption not warranted in the original constitution of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joshua Soulc was elccted to the office of superintendent or bishop, by a vote of forty- seven, to thirty-eight for Nathan Bangs. A vote was passed by the General Conference, recommending to all the Annual Conferences, "to establish, as soon as practicable, literary institutions under their own control, in such way and manner as they may think proper, and that it be the special duty of the cpiscopacy, to use their influence to carry the vote into effect." A series of resolutions were passed in relation to the crection of churches :
" 1. That no house of worship under our charge shall be built until the site or ground shall be secured to the church, according as our deed of settlement directs. "
" 2. That no house of worship shall be built, or commenced, till three-fourths the estimated cost shall be subscribed."
" 4. That the practice of building houses of worship with pews and renting or selling said pews, is entirely contrary to our economy."
District Conferences of local preachers were authorized and their functions described.
93
J. SOULE ELECTED BISHOP. NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE.
The committee appointed to confer with the bishop on the subject relating to the election of Presiding Elders, presented their report :
1. Recommending, in substance, the filling of vacancies in the office of Presiding Elder, "by each Annual Conference, by ballot, withont debate. upon the nomination by the president of the conference, of three times the number wanted. "
2. Making the " Presiding Elders an advisory council of the bishop or president, in stationing the preachers. " The report was signed by Ezekiel Cooper, Stephen G. Roszel, N. Bangs. J. Wells, J. Emory, William Capers ; all prominent men. The report, after an able and protracted debate was adopted.
Joshua Sonle. the newly elected bishop, believing the action of the conference, in relation to the election of Presiding Elders, to be inconsistent with the principles of our church organization, declined ordination to the episcopal office, and resigned the office.
The rule relating to the election of Presiding Elders was suspended till the next General Conference, in deference to the opinion of the bishops.
The book agents were authorized to purchase suitable grounds in in New York, and to erect a building for the use of the Book Concern.
An additional book agent was chosen to reside at Cincinnati.
The question of slavery was considered but no important action was taken.
Nathan Bangs was elected Editor and General Book Steward,
The New England Conference for 1820, was held at Nantucket, Massachusetts, June 21, Bishop George presiding ; Timothy Merritt, Secretary.
There were three districts in Maine. Presiding Elders ; Asa Heath, D. Hutchinson, B. Jones ; twenty-seven circuits and stations ; thirty- two traveling preachers. Members, 6,017; increase, 484; entire membership. 256,881 ; increase, 15,957. Received into the conference from Maine, Gilman Moody, Samuel Plummer, Abraham Holway, True Page, Samuel Baker.
1821. The New England Conference met this year at Barre, Vermont, Bishop George. presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary. Three districts in Maine ; E. Streeter, D. Hutchinson, B. Jones, Presiding Elders ; twenty-eight circuits and stations ; thirty-one traveling preachers. Members, 6,393, increase, 276, Received, on trial, into the conference from Maine, Gorham Greeley, Aaron Fuller.
1822. Conference, this year, met at Bath, Maine, Bishop Roberts
94
CONFERENCE AT PROVIDENCE. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary. Received, on trial, from Maine ; Nathaniel P. Davereaux, Melville B. Cox, Otis Williams. Presiding Elders : E. Streeter, P. Munger, B. Jones ; thirty circuits and stations ; forty-one traveling preachers. Members in Maine, 6,524 ; increase, one hundred and thirty-onc.
1823. New England Conference met at Providence, Rhode Island, Bishop George, presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary. Received into the conference, on trial, from Maine : M. Sanderson, Ezekiel Robinson, W. S. Douglass.
Three districts in Maine, E. Streeter, E. Wells, B. Jones, Presiding Elders ; thirty circuits and stations ; forty-three traveling preachers. Members, 6,278 ; deerease, 246. It may not be easy to determine the eause of so large a decline in the membership of the church. This may be attributed, in part, to the lack of pastoral oversight and care for the young people. The labors of our preachers, thus far, had been evangelistic rather than pastoral. Nearly a generation had passed since the first visit of Jesse Lee to Maine. The children of our people had grown up largely under the fostering eare of the Sunday schools and other educational institutions of the " standing order, " and often the assembly's catechism was put into their hands to form their religious ideas. These causes are sufficient to account for a deeline in numbers.
The General Conference of 1820, by a resolution, urged upon the people the importance of establishing institutions of learning. The educational department of church work, at this time but just commenced, was destined to become immensely important.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
1824. The General Conference met at Baltimore, May 1, in the MeKendrean Female Sunday School Room, Bishops McKendree, George and Roberts being present. John Emory was chosen Secretary. One hundred and twenty-five delegates, from twelve conferenees, answered to their names and presented their credentials ; nine additional delegates subsequently arrived. Two of the delegates were from Maine, Elisha Streeter and Eleazer Wells, Presiding Elders of Portland and Kennebec distriets.
In the list of delegates appear the names of Nathan Bangs, Daniel Ostrander, Laban Clark, George Pickering, Elijah Hedding, Timothy Merritt, Enoch Mudge, Wilbur Fisk, George Peek, Israel Chamber- layne, Charles Elliott, Martin Ruter, James B. Finley, Thomas A.
95
ELECTION OF PRESIDING ELDERS FINALLY DISCARDED.
Morris, Peter Cartwright, William Beauchamp, William Winans, William Capers, James O. Andrew, Lovie Pieree, Joshua Soule, Stephen G Roszel, Ezekiel Cooper, Charles Pitman, John Emory ; all men of ability and prominence, in the subsequent history of the chureh.
On Monday, the third day of the conference, Reverend Riehard Reece, delegate from the British Wesleyan Conference, and Reverend John Hannah, his associate, were introduced to the conference by Bishop MeKendree, and presented a communication from the British Conference, expressing their fraternal and affectionate regards.
The action of the last General Conference, providing for the election of Presiding Elders, by the Annual Conferenees, which had been suspended and referred to the several Annual Conferences, was pronounced unconstitutional, by a majority vote of these bodies. The following resolutions were therefore offered and passed, viz. :
" Resolved, That the resolutions of the last General Conference, providing for the election of Presiding Elders, are not of authority and shall not be earried into effect. "
The committee to which was referred memorials, asking for lay delegation, reported adversely.
The action of the general Conference, in relation to these two changes in our church economy, was extremely unsatisfactory to a considerable number of ministers and members of the church. A secession commeneed, resulting in the organization of the Methodist Protestant ehureh. The leading agitator was Alexander MeCaine, a man of superior ability, and who became one of the most influential ministers of that body.
The conference proceeded to the election of two new bishops. The most prominent candidates were Joshua Soule, William Beauchamp, Elijah Hedding and John Emory.
After balloting several times Joshua Soule and Elijah Hedding, having received a majority of the votes, were declared elected, and in due form conseerated to this high and responsible office.
Nathan Bangs was chosen Editor and General Book Steward at New York, and John Emory, Assistant. Martin Ruter was chosen book agent at Cineinnati.
Provision was made for organizing the Maine Conference.
Pittsburg was selected as the place for the next meeting of the General Conference.
The New England Conference, 1824, met at Barnard, Vermont,
96
CONFERENCE AT BARNARD. MAINE CONFERENCE.
Bishop Hedding presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary. Jesse Stone, Aaron Sanderson and David Copeland were received on trial.
Three districts in Maine, E. Streeter, E. Wells, D). Hutchinson, Presiding Elders ; thirty-two circuits and stations ; forty-one traveling preachers. Members, 6,466 ; increase 188.
This year a school was opened at Kent's Hill, through the liberality of Luther Sampson, under the authority of a corporation, entitled " The Readfield Religious and Charitable Society. " The objeet of the school was to afford an opportunity for a thorough English education to young men in indigent circumstances ; especially to such as were called to the work of the ministry. An institution destined to career a of great success.
Notwithstanding the substantial progress of the Methodist church, in Maine, during the preceding thirty years, Methodism was still regarded with disfavor, by the ministers and people of the standing order. Methodist meetings, for worship, were often disturbed by rude and disorderly persons. The camp meetings were especially subjeet to riotous interference. Public sentiment afforded but feeble protection against disturbance, for these out-door assemblies. The boisterous style which sometimes prevailed in these meetings, was well calculated to excite a spirit of mischief, in rude and mischief-loving persons. These extravaganees in religious worship, somewhat characteristic of early Methodism, were seldom encouraged by the ministry, and they rarely appear in more recent times.
Methodism in Maine, as well as elsewhere, is largely indebted for its suecess, to its animated and intensely earnest style. It was not uncommon for a camp meeting, in the early times, to count its converts by the hundred.
MAINE CONFERENCE.
The year 1825, is memorable on account of the organization of the Maine Conference. Previously, Maine had formed a part of the New England Conference. A close bond of sympathy and good will held the ministers and people of Maine in friendly relations with the people of the mother commonwealth.
According to the provisions of the General Conference in 1824, the preachers appointed to fields of labor in Maine, met to organize the Maine Conference in Gardiner, July 5, 1825, Bishops George and Hedding, presiding ; O. Beale, Secretary.
97
MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY. Z. CALDWELL.
The following names2 were upon the conference roll : Oliver Beale. Ebenezer F. Newell, David Kilburn, Philip Ayer, Ephraim Wiley, Aaron Sanderson, Melville B. Cox, (supernumerary) Phineas Crandall, John S. Ayer, John Briggs, James Jaques, Job Pratt, John Shaw, (supernumerary) Daniel Wentworth, John Atwell, Elisha Streeter, David Copeland, Benjamin Burnham, Caleb Fogg, True Page, Silas Frink, Eleazer Wells, Stephen Lovell, Caleb D. Rodgers, Philip Munger, Ezekiel Robinson, Abraham Holway, Otis Williams, Thomas Smith, Henry True, David Hutchinson, Peter Burgess, Benjamin Jones, Joshua Hall, Heman Nickerson, Ezra Kellogg, Sullivan Bray, David Stimson, Jesse Stone, Joshua Nye, John Lewis, David Richards, Gorham Greeley, J. L. Bishop.
The only members of this faithful band of itinerants now known to be living, is the venerable Jesse Stone, now residing in North Berwick.
The arrangement of districts and circuits continued as previously. Three districts ; thirty-five circuits and stations ; one mission ; forty- two traveling preachers. Supernumeraries, J. Shaw, M. B. Cox, E. F. Newell.
A Board of Trustees was chosen and directed to procure an act of incorporation. Members, 6,960 ; increase, 494.
The year 1825 is memorable in the history of Maine Methodism, for the establishment of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary. It was singularly providential, that influences had been quietly at work, without consent, preparing the way for the establishment of an institution of learning, under the care of the church, contemporaneously with the organization of the conference.
Luther Sampson a well-to-do farmer of Kent's Hill, as early as 1820, felt himself imperatively moved, to provide some means, whereby young men, called to the ministry, might obtain an education suitable for this work.
At the same time, a Methodist young man of rare piety and talents, was moved to qualify himself for usefulness by obtaining a collegiate education. Though obliged to work his way by his own earnings, he entered Bowdoin College, and made his way to an honorable graduation with such classmates as Hawthorne and Longfellow, in 1824. He was the first Methodist graduate of college from Maine. The attention of the Trustees was at once directed to the young graduate. He was chosen principal of the new Seminary at Kent's Hill, and entered upon
2 The Elders in italics.
7
98
MAINE CONFERENCE. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
his work in the fall of 1825. A more full account of the Seminary will be given in a more advanced part of this history.
1826. The Maine Conference met, this year, July 6th, at Bucksport, Bishop George, presiding ; Oliver Beale, Secretary. Thirteen were received on trial : Greenleaf Greely, James Warren, Nathaniel P. Davereaux, Rufus C. Bailey, Jonas Weston, Benjamin Bryant, John Whitney, Rishworth J. Ayer, Moses Hill, R. E. Schermerhorn, Green G. Moore, Elliot B. Fletcher, James Harrington.
There were three districts ; thirty-eight circuits and stations ; fifty- three preachers employed. Members, 7,306, increase, 338. Entire membership in Methodist Episcopal church, 360,800; increase, 12,601.
1827. The Mainc Conference met, this year, in Portland, Bishop Hedding, presiding ; Oliver Beale, Secretary ; received, on trial : Ansel Gerrish, Stephen Waterhouse, Martin Ward, Isaac Moore, James Smith, Oren Bent, Pascal P. Morrill, Francis Drew, Daniel Fuller, Ariel Ward.
Three districts ; forty-four circuits and stations ; sixty-one preachers. Members, 8,254 ; increase, 948. Entire membership of the Methodist Episcopal church, 381,997 ; increase, 21,197 ; preachers, 1,576.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
1828. The General Conference met at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the new church. Present, Bishops McKendree, George, Roberts, Soule and Hedding ; Bishop McKendree in the chair ; Martin Ruter chosen Secretary. The whole number of delegates, was 176, about 170 were present.
Delegates from Maine Conference were Eleazer Wells, Ephraim Wiley, Elisha Streeter, Heman Nickerson, David Kilburn, Stephen Lovell. Seventeen conferences were represented.
The appeal of Joshua Randall from the action of the New England Conference, whereby he had been expelled from that body for heresy, was taken up.
The charge contained the following specifications, viz. : "1. In denying that the transgressions of the law, to which we are all personally responsible, have had any atonement made for them by Christ.
" 2. Maintaining that the infinite claims of justice, upon the trans- gressor of the divine law, may, upon the condition of mere acts of
99
JOSHUA RANDALL. LAY DELEGATIONS, ETC.
the transgressor himself, be relinquished, given up, and the trans- gressor pardoned without an atonement. "
Mr. Randall was permitted to make his defence and was replied to by Wilbur Fisk.
The action of the New England Conference, in the expulsion of Mr. Randall, was confirmed by a vote of sixty-four to one.
Mr. Randall was a man of intelligence, and of upright character, somewhat given to metaphysical investigations. He had been, for many years, a member of the New England Conference. His appointments, most of the time, were in Maine. IIc afterwards settled on a farm in Dixfield, Maine, and continued to preach occasionally, under the authority of another denomination. Bishop Sonle, for some time, was strongly inclined to the doctrinal vagaries of Mr. Randall.
The Canada Annual Conference, having presented a memorial, setting forth the embarrassments, under which the conference labored, in consequence of being nnder a foreign government, and requesting to be set off as a separate church establishment, the request was granted by a vote of one hundred and fonr in favor, and forty-three against it.
William Capers was chosen a delegate to the British Conference.
The agitation resulting from the action of the last General Conference, adverse to the election of Presiding Elders and lay delegates, became very serious, and extensive secession grew out of the strife, and the Methodist Protestant church was organized. Pamphlets and papers were published, assailing, with much ability and bitterness, the ecclesiastical system of the Methodist Episcopal church. Two members of the Baltimore Conference, had been expelled for distributing publications of an inflammatory character and hostile to the church.
The expelled members appcaled to the General Conference. They were heard in their defence, but the action of the Baltimore Conference was confirmed. The agitators undoubtedly indulged in needless acrimony, and were schismatics ; but one of the measures demanded by them, (lay delegation) has, since that time, been adopted without harin to the church, and it is difficult to see how the election of Presiding Elders, however inexpedient, can properly be declared, " inconsistent with the principles of our organization."
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