USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 12
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It is not improbable, that if the agitators, some of whom were good, as well as able men, had been met in a more conciliatory spirit. A modification of our ecclesiastical polity, might have been adopted, at that time, and a serious rupture avoided.
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Bishop Soule, having, in a sermon, at the South Carolina Conference, .Jan'y 14, 1827, advanced some opinions that seemed heretical, in the line of Joshua Randall's notions, a resolution was introduced by L. McCombs and T. Merritt, requiring an investigation of the subject. The matter was referred to the committee on Episcopacy. The committee, after investigating the case, presented a report exonerating the bishop from all just imputations of heretical teaching.
1828. The Maine Conference met, this year, at Vienna, Aug. 14, Bishop Hedding, presiding. Admitted, on trial : Caleb Fuller, James Thwing, Samuel Jewett, John W. Atkins, George Webber, Daniel Crockett.
Three districts; forty-nine circuits and stations ; sixty-eight preachers appointed. Members, 9,428; increase, 1,179.
1829. The Maine Conference met at Gardiner, Bishop Hedding, presiding. Admitted, on trial : Moses Lufkin, Harvey Crane, William F. Farrington, John Libby, Joseph Robins, Daniel Cox, Alfred G. Hall, Isaac Downing, Elijah Crooker, James Warren, 2d, Joseph Gerry, Moses Davis, Moses Donnel, Ebenezer C. Ewins. Members, 9,942 ; increase, this year, 514. Members of Methodist Episcopal church, 447,743 ; increase this year, 29,305.
The following resolutions, on the subject of Free Masonry, were adopted, viz. :
""' 1. Resolved, That we consider ourselves bound, as ministers of the gospel of Christ, to avoid all such questions and measures for or ·against Masonry, as produce excitement and stir up strife among our people.
" 2. Resolved, That we will not enconrage or attend either Masonic or anti-Masonic meetings, of any kind ; and we affectionately advise all our brethren in the ministry and membership, to do the same. "
1830. The Maine Conference met in Portland, June 9, 1830, Bishop Hedding being present ; Oliver Beale, Secretary. Admitted, on trial : Charles L. Browning, Caleb Mugford, Joseph Hammond, Samuel P. Blake, Moses Rollins, John Bacheller, George D. Strout, Freeman J. Knapp, John Young, Gershom F. Cox, Abner P. Hillman, Frances Masseure, Charles W. Morse, Edward Hochkiss.
Four districts ; sixty-six circuits and stations ; eighty-five preachers appointed ; three places left to be supplied. Members, 11,062; increase, this year, 1,120.
The following action was taken, in behalf of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, viz. :
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MAINE CONFERENCE. MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY.
" Voted, That Brother Asa Heath, agent of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, be allowed to visit all our eireuits and stations, in prosecuting the objeet of his agency."
1831. The Maine Conference met at Hallowell, June 8th, Bishop Soule, presiding ; Justin Spaulding, Secretary. Admitted, on trial, Aaron Fuller, Isaae Lord, James Cushing, Rufus Day, Josiah Higgins, B. D. Eastman, J. C. Aspenwall, J. H. Jenne, Mark Trafton.
Five distriets. Portland, Readfield, Kennebee, Somerset and Saint Croix ; seventy-one circuits and stations, ninety-one traveling preachers. Members, 13,478 ; inerease, 2,418.
The encouraging inerease in membership, in Maine, for several years, may be partly attributed to the organization of the work in Maine, into a separate eonferenee.
The trustees of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, having requested the eonferenee to appoint one of its members as an agent, to solieit funds in behalf of the institution, the request was granted, and Rev. Charles Baker was appointed to that serviee.
Mr. Caldwell, the principal of the seminary, being present, was requested to address the conference ; whereupon he made an earnest address, by which the preachers were greatly moved. It was voted that a subscription should be opened immediately, for the institution. Bishop Soule pledged toward the object, his annual appropriation from the Maine Conference, for five years.
Encouraged by the generous example of the bishop, the preachers promptly responded to the appeal, and the sum of thirteen hundred and sixty dollars was soon pledged for the institution,-a very generous subseription at that time, considering the limited peeuniary ability of the preachers.
The conference proceeded to eleet, by ballot, the delegates to the General Conference for 1832. The following brethren were elected, viz. : Oliver Beale, Elisha Streeter, John Lord, Benjamin Jones, David Hutchinson, Justin Spaulding, William Marsh, William H. Norris, Sullivan Bray, Peter Burgess, Ezekiel Robinson.
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CHAPTER X.
1832-1839. GENERAL CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA, 1832. DELEGATES FROM MAINE CONFERENCE. DISTRIBUTION OF BOOK ROOM PROPERTY TO THE CANADA CONFERENCE. ACTION IN FAVOR OF MISSIONS, SUNDAY SCHOOL, &c. ELECTION OF EDITORS. BOOK AGENTS, &C. MAINE CONFERENCE OF 1832. PREACHERS' AID SOCIETY. DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER AGAINST CIIOLERA. AGENT FOR M. W. SEMINARY. 1833. MAINE CONFERENCE. A PRAYER MEETING FOR MISSIONS THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACHI MONTII. A DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR MORE LABORERS, &C. THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY COMMENDED. 1834. MAINE CONFERENCE. TRIAL OF A MEMBER. G. F. COX APPOINTED AGENT FOR M. W. SEMINARY. 1835. MAINE CONFERENCE. THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY. "APPEAL" AND "COUNTER APPEAL." REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SLAVERY. DEFENCE OF REPORT, BY G. F. Cox. W. C. LARRABEE. 1836. GENERAL CONFERENCE. CENSURE OF TWO MEMBERS FOR LECTURING ON SLAVERY. MEMORIALS ON SLAVERY REFUSED. ORANGE SCOTT. HIS ADDRESS. VOTE OF CENSURE. MAINE CONFERENCE. GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN MAINE. HOUSES OF WORSHIP. ORGAN IN CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH. 1837. MAINE CONFERENCE. MAINE WESLEYAN JOURNAL COMMITTEE. WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY DISOWNED. A RESOLUTION PLEDGING CONCILIATORY LANGUAGE IN THEIR COMMUNICATIONS IN MAINE WESLEYAN JOURNAL. 1838. THE MAINE CONFERENCE. SLAVERY. ARTICLES OF
PACIFICATION. ACTION OF CONFERENCE. 1839. MAINE CONFERENCE. MEMORIAL ON THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY. LETTERS FROM JUDGE DANA RELATING TO A METHODIST COLLEGE IN MAINE. THE CENTENARY OF METHODISM. ADVICE OF CONFERENCE IN RELATION THERETO.
1832. The General Conference met in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 1st, Bishops Soule and Hedding being present. One hundred and ninety-five delegates, from nineteen Annual Conferences, answered to their names. The delegates from Maine were Oliver Beale, John Lord, Benjamin Jones, Justin Spaulding, William Marsh, Sullivan Bray, Peter Burgess, Ezekiel Robinson, Charles Baker, David Hutchinson and William A. Norris.
Delegates from the Canada Conference were introduced and invited to seats with the conference.
Voted, to recommend a distribution to the Canada Conference, of a proportionate share of the property of the Book Concern.
The bishops were authorized to ordain a superintendent for the Canada Conference. It does not appear that the services of our bishops were called for, for that object.
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Chapter 1, section 5, question 2, was amended so as to require the preachers "to promote, by all proper means, the cause of missions and Sunday schools, and the publication, by our press, of Bibles, tracts and Sunday school books."
Nathan Bangs was elected editor of the Quarterly Review and of our books. John P. Durbin was elected editor of the Christian Advocate and Journal, and Zion's Herald, (these two papers being merged in one.) Mr. Durbin was also editor of the Youth's Instructor, Child's Magazine, tracts and Sunday school books. Peter Akers was chosen assistant editor. Beverly Waugh was chosen principal agent and book steward. Thomas Mason was chosen assistant agent. A book depository was established at New Orleans.
The ratio of representation in the General Conference was fixed ; one delegate for every fourteen members of an Annual Conference, and one additional delegate for a fraction of two-thirds this number.
1832. The Maine Conference met at Bucksport, July 18, Bishop Roberts, presiding ; Justin Spaulding, Secretary.
Admitted on trial : William Pierce, Albert F. Barnard, Martin Ward, Henry Butler, William Withee, Arad P. Mayhew, Marcus Wight, Moses Palmer, Benjamin F. Sprague, Thomas Greenhalgh, William Tripp, Joseph Adams, Asbury Caldwell, D. Greely and J. Whitney. Of these, three were cducated at Maine Wesleyan Seminary.
Four districts ; seventy-seven circuits and stations ; one hundred and five traveling preachers. Members, 14,355; increase, 877. Members in the Methodist Episcopal church, 548,593 ; increase, 35,479.
Voted, to form a Preachers' Aid Society, and E. Robinson, P. Burgess and W. H. Norris, were chosen a committee upon this subject. A vote was passed recommending to the members of our church to observe Friday, the 10th of August, as a day of fasting and prayer for the removal of the fearful scourge of the cholera.
Voted, in accordance with request of the trustees of Mainc Wesleyan Seminary, that Charles Baker be re-appointed agent to solicit funds in aid of that institution.
1833. Maine Conference met at Bath July 3d, Bishop Hedding, presiding ; J. Spaulding, chosen Secretary.
Admitted on trial : James Farrington, Moscs P. Webster, John Cumner, Thomas B. Spaulding, John M. Foy, Cyrus C. Munger, John W. Dyke, Albert Church and Phineas Higgins.
Voted, to devote the evening of the first Monday of each month to a meeting of prayer for missions. Also voted, "that the last Friday in December be observed by the members of this conference as a day
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of fasting and prayer, that God would raise up and send forth laborers into his vineyard, and pour out his spirit upon their labors."
A resolution was passed commending the colonization soeicty as " meriting the approbation of all the friends of freedom and African improvement."
Five districts ; eighty-five eireuits and stations ; one hundred and five traveling preachers. Members, 14,591 ; increase this year, 236. Contributed for missions, $782.46 ; for publishing fund, $58.44.
1834. The Maine Conference met at Gardiner, July 2, Bishop Hedding, presiding ; O. Beale, Secretary, and S. P. Blake, assistant. The conference was occupied one day with the trial of one of its members, aeeused of immorality. The charge was sustained by abundant testimony, and the accused member was expelled ; the first case of expulsion from the Maine Conference.
Gershom F. Cox was appointed agent of Maine Wesleyan Seminary to solicit funds for that institution, on a plan proposed by him to raise ten thousand dollars in subseriptions of not less than one hundred dollars, as a permanent fund for the benefit of the institution. Several pledges of one hundred dollars were obtained on the occasion. A Conference Temperance Society was organized.
Admitted on trial : W. H. Pilsbury, William Brown, R. Day, B. Follet, G. Ellis, C. C. Cone, J. Riee, C. G. Robbins, M. Palmer, H. W. Latham, C. H. Lovejoy, H. N. Macomber, J. W. Dow, G. Child.
Six districts in Maine Conference ; ninety eireuits and stations and one hundred and fourteen traveling preachers. Members, 15,463; inerease, 902. Entire membership of the church, 638,784 ; increase, 3,948. Preachers, 226 : decrease, 1.
1835. The Maine Conference met at Bangor, July 1, Bishop Emory, presiding ; O. Beale, Secretary ; S. P. Blake, Assistant Secretary.
The subject of slavery had begun to assume a serious aspect. An "appeal" to the church had been sent forth by some members of the New England Conference, that awakened no little anxiety. Dr. Wilbur Fisk published a "eounter appeal,"1 in which, while he admitted the great evil of slavery, he expressed the opinion that the measures advocated in the "appeal" were unwise and likely to produce mischief. The excitement continued to increase. Our church papers were largely oeeupied with the discussion of this subject.
At the session of the Maine Conferenee this year, a committee on
1 The Counter Appeal was written by Dr. D. D. Whedon, then Professor in Wesleyan University, but was signed by Dr. Fisk.
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CONSERVATIVE ACTION ON SLAVERY.
slavery was appointed, of which Rev. William H. Norris was chairman. The committee, after careful deliberation, presented a report containing ten resolutions covering, as was evidently intended by the committee, our entire responsibility, as christians and citizens, in relation to this subject. The report was carefully drawn, evincing no small degree of legal ability. It was supposed by some to have been prepared by Bishop Emory. Mr. Norris, the chairman, was strongly conservative in his views, and was doubtless in full sympathy with the doctrine of the report.
The following resolutions contained in the report were adopted with great unanimity, not more than five or six voting in the negative :
Resolved, 1. That in the language of the discipline we are as much as ever convinced of the great evil of slavery, and earnestly desire its universal "extirpation."
Resolved, 2. That although, as men and christians, we take a deep and lively interest in the welfare of our fellow beings of the whole human race, yet in our judgment, as citizens of the United States, residing in non slave-holding states, we are uot responsible, politically or morally, for the existence or the continuance of slavery iu the slave-holding states ; each of the United States, agreeably to the principles which constitute the original compact of union between the states, being in this respect as completely independent of and foreign to each other, as any European or foreign government.
Resolved, 3. That, believing, as we do, that Congress itself has no jurisdiction over this subject within the several states, we deem it incompatible with our duty as peaceable and orderly citizens, directly or indirectly, by public agitatiou or otherwise, to excite that body to assume any such jurisdiction in regard to it, which could not but lead, in our apprehension, to the disastrous result of a dissolution of the union of the states, if not to a civil or servile war, involving, in all human probability, the greater oppressiou, if not the extirpation of the slaves themselves, and of that portion of the free colored population which are mingled among them.
Resolved, 5. That, as ministers of a church extending throughout the United States and territories, and united in oue communion, under one common discipline, we can not feel ourselves at liberty to denounce as grossly wicked and immoral, any portion of our brethren in the ministry or membership of our common church, so long as they conform, in the judgment of the regular church authorities, to the discipline by which we have solemnly and mutually pledged ourselves to be governed, and the provisions of which the General Conference, our highest ecclesiastical judicatory, judges consistent with christian character and ministerial profession.
Resolved, 7. That we will gladly co-operate in any peaceable and practicable measures consistent with our sense of obligation above expressed, for the benefit of the whole eolored race, and especially for the religious and moral instruction, both of the slaves and of the free colored population ; for the support of missions among them and also of schools wherever admissible under existing local laws; for the ultimate extirpation of slavery, both from the church and the country, and for the civilization and evangelizatiou of the entire continent of Africa, as well for the benefit of Africa itself as for all such descendants of Africans as may be liberated here and choose to return to that land of their fathers.
Resolved, 9. That, as ministers of the sanctuary and especially of the Methodist Episcopal church, it is our solemn duty and our solemn promise at the holy altar, especially so many of us as have been ordained elders, to maintain and forward as much as lieth in us, quietness, peace and love, among all christian people, and especially those that are or shall be committed to our charge, and that we will so do, the Lord being our helper.
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MAINE CONFERENCE.
The report, so far as acted upon, resolution by resolution, with very slight alteration, was adopted by the conference with great unanimity. The Maine Conference was thus committed to conservative and prudent measures in relation to the subject of slavery.
Rev. G. F. Cox published an able defense of the action of the conference, in a series of articles in the Maine Wesleyan Journal, over the signature of " Massilon." The older members of the conference at that time, were strongly conservative upon the subject of slavery. The generous sympathy of southern Methodists for the struggling cause in New England, and especially in Maine, had won their esteem. The bitter denunciation of the churches and of the civil government by W. L. Garrison and other anti-slavery agitators, was regarded by them as contrary to the spirit of the gospel and of destructive tendency. The action of the conference, however, as will hereafter appear, failed to silence discussion or to allay excitement upon this subject except for a short season.
Admitted on trial : Daniel F. Quimby, Huse Dow, Levi Dunn, Charles P. Bragdon, John Allen, John Clough and Benjamin M. Smith.
Six districts ; ninety-five circuits and stations ; one hundred and eight traveling preachers, and twenty-two "places to be supplied."
The request of the trustees of Maine Wesleyan Seminary for an agent to be appointed from conference, was refused because of the scarcity of preachers.
Rev. G. F. Cox was transferred to New York Conference and appointed to Vestry Street and Mulberry Street circuit. Rev. William C. Larrabee, having been elected principal of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, was enrolled as a member of Maine Conference.
1836. The General Conference met in Cincinnati, Monday, May 2d, Bishops Roberts, Soule, Hedding and Andrews being present. One hundred and forty-seven delegates assembled from twenty-two annual conferences. Delegates from Maine Conference : Heman Nickerson, Ezekiel Robinson, Charles Baker, William H. Norris, George Webber, John B. Husted and Moses Hill.
The death of Bishops McKendree and Emory was properly noticed, and the bishops were requested to deliver sermons on the occasion during the session of the conference.
The delegates from the Wesleyan Methodist church in Upper Canada were introduced, and invited to take seats with the conference.
This General Conference was rendered memorable by the strong measures adopted to frown down the growing agitation upon the subject of slavery.
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GENERAL CONFERENCE. DENUNCIATION OF ABOLITIONISM.
Two members of the General Conference, having lectured in the city, during the session of the conference, on the subject of slavery, the following resolutions were offered by S. G. Roozel and adopted, viz. : ·· Resolved. 1. That the delegates of the Annual Conferences in General Conference assembled, disapprove, in the most unqualified sense. the conduct of two members of the General Conference, who are reported to have lectured in this city recently, upon and in favor of modern abolitionism.
"Resolved. 2. That they are decidedly opposed to modern abolitionism, and wholly disclaim any right, wish or intention to interfere in the civil and political relation between master and slave, as it exists in the slave-holding states of the Union."
The committee, to whom were referred sundry memorials from the North. praying that certain rules on the subject of slavery which formerly existed in our book of Discipline, should be restored, and that the General Conference take such measures as they may deem proper to free the church from the evil of slavery, reported the following resolution which was adopted, viz. :
"Resolved, &c., That it is inexpedient to make any change in our book of Discipline respecting slavery, and that we decm it improper further to agitate the subject in the General Conference at present."
Rev. Orange Scott, a delegate from the New England Conference, having circulated a tract among the members of the Conference, entitled an " Address to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by a Member of that Body," the following resolution was offered by Rev. William Winans and Rev. J. Stamper, namely :
·· Resolved, That a pamphlet circulated among the members of this conference, purporting to be an address to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, by a member of that body, containing reports of the discussion on modern abolitionism palpably false, and calculated to make an impression to the injury of the character of some of the members engaged in the aforesaid discussion, is an outrage on the dignity of this body, and meriting unqualified reprehension."
The resolution, or motion, was laid over. Rev. Orange Scott arose and avowed himself to be the author of the pamphlet alluded to, and as he considered himself under obligation to defend himself, requested a copy of the resolution, which, on motion, was granted. The next day the resolution was called up, when Mr. Scott addressed the
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O. SCOTT IN GENERAL CONFERENCE.
conference in a speech of considerable length. Mr. Winans made a few remarks in explanation, when, on motion, the resolution was adopted by ninety-seven in favor, and nineteen in opposition .?
Mr. Scott was an able speaker and a fearless advocate of what he believed to be right. There were many delegates from the northern conferences who were in favor of anti-slavery sentiments and incasures. The overwhelming vote of censure can be explained only upon the supposition that the course taken by Mr. Scott was regarded as imprudent and contumacious.
The committee to draft the pastoral address, were Nathan Bangs, William Capers and Thomas A. Morris. In their report occurs the famous advice " to wholly refrain from agitating the subject of slavery." After the reading of the report, John B. Husted, of the Maine conference, moved to amend by inserting the Disciplinary sentence, " We are as much as ever convinced of the great evil of slavery ;" but the motion did not prevail. It was a time of great excitement, and the conference was not disposed to consider any amendments in the direction of abolitionism. The pastoral address was adopted by a nearly unanimous votc. Moses Hill was the only member of the Maine delegation that voted against it. Some northern delegates afterwards felt that they had conceded too much to the south. The pastoral address was not published in the Journal of the General Conference.
The action of the General Conference on the subject of slavery, was far from being satisfactory to many northern Methodists. It was a subject of severe comment in anti-slavery speeches and papers, and instead of preventing discussion and allaying excitement, produced the opposite result. The excitement became more intense and extensive.
The attempt on the part of some northern conferences to carry out the arbitrary measures of the General Conference, generally ended in a mortifying failure. The leaven of anti-slavery sentiment was steadily pervading the northern church, in spite of all efforts to suppress it.
The Maine Conference met this year in Portland, July 10, Bishop Hedding, presiding ; W. H. Norris, Secretary.
Four members of the conference were reported deccased during the year : Greenleaf Greely, Arad P. Mayhew, Moses Davis and Richard
2 Journal of General Conference, 1836.
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Schermerhorn. Appropriate memorial services were held by the conference.
Admitted on trial : Alvra Hatch, Benjamin F. Tefft, Nathan Webb, Jr., Theodore Hill, David P. Thompson, William H. Pillsbury, Henry K. W. Perkins, Jesse Harriman, John W. Dow, Hobart Richardson, John Cleaveland, Ira P. Thurston, Eliakin Scammon, Asahel Moore, Levi S. Stockman, Nathan D. George, Eaton Shaw, Richard H. Ford.
Five districts : Portland district, Readfield district, Gardiner district, Augusta district, Bangor district, Calais district ; ninety-seven circuits and stations ; one hundred and sixteen traveling preachers ; eight places to be supplied. Members, 15,631; increase during the year, 539. Total membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, 650.103 ; increase during the year, 2,425.
There had been a steady and encouraging growth of the church in Maine, especially since the organization of the Maine Conference in 1825. Houses of worship were built upon most of the circuits and stations. These houses were generally plain structures without steeples, bells or organs.
This year was somewhat memorable for the placing of an organ in Chestnut Street church. in Portland, Maine, the first example of the kind in the history of the Methodist church in the United States.
1837. The Maine Conference met at Hallowell, June 28, Bishop Waugh, presiding ; G. F. Cox, Secretary ; S. P. Blake, Assistant Secretary. Admitted, on trial : James Rice, Parker Jaques, John C. Perry, Asa Green, Lemuel Trott, Cyrus Scammon, William D. Sewall, John Moore, Jr., Stephen Allen, Henry L. Linscott, George Parsons. Members, 15,853 ; increase, 767; total members of Methodist Episcopal church, 658,157 ; increase, 5,125 ; traveling preachers, 2,933 ; increase, 169.
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