USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 14
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The adoption of this report on slavery plainly indicated a strong and unanimous anti-slavery seutimeut in the Maiue Conference at that time.
The conference had beeu careful and conservative ; but the action of the last General Coufereuce upon the resolution of Dr. Few, was a humiliating offense to the church in the north, and roused the indignatiou of the most couservative of her ministers.
For some years past, the subject of slavery had beeome a disturbing element in the politics of the country. The anti-slavery seutiment had been rapidly gaining ground, and the "irrepressible conflict " was every year becoming more violent and alarming. The action of all eeelesiastical bodies eovering slave-holding states, had been conservative and apologetic in regard to slavery.
The Maine Conference of 1840 aud 1841 placed itself on record as an anti-slavery confereuee.
SABBATH EXERCISES.
There being no liouse in Skowhegan sufficiently large to aeeommodate the crowds expected on the Sabbath, seats had been prepared in a pleasant grove iu the vieinity of the village, where the public exercises were held, including the ordination services. As was anticipated, a large congregation assembled, the people coming from several miles around. The occasion was deeply interesting. The sermon of Bishop Hedding, remarkable for his venerable appearance, his simple
1 The phrase, "Colored Testimony," undoubtedly has reference to the famous resolution of Dr. Few, adopted by the General Conference of 1840, deelaring it to be " inexpedient and unjustifiable for any preacher among us, to permit colored persons to give testimony against white persons in any State where they are denied that privilege in trials at law," adopted by a vote of seventy-four to forty-six.
The term colored and white, as descriptive of persons are misnomers. All healthy persons of any race are colored. The slave in the South was sometimes no more darkly colored thau his master.
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121
MAINE CONFERENCE IN GARDINER.
and fervid style, held the attention of the crowd to its close. The ordination services were also witnessed with deep interest, the services of the conference producing an evidently favorable impression upon the community.
The statistical returns from the circuits and stations were much more systematic and complete than ever before, indicating an advance in church work.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS.
Six districts ; one hundred and fifty circuits and stations ; one hundred and thirty-six preachers appointed ; nineteen places left to be supplied.
Members, 22,844; increase this year, 306.
Number of Sunday schools, 179; increase this year, 99.
Number of teachers, 1,296; increase this year, 371.
Number of scholars, 7,824; inerease this year, 2,498.
Received for conference claimants, $1,313.08.
Justin Spaulding, missionary to Rio de Janeiro; H. K. W. Perkins, missionary to Oregon ; W. C. Larrabee, professor in Asbury University, Indiana ; S. Allen, principal of Maine Wesleyan Semiuary.
The Maine Conference for 1842, held its session in Gardiner, July 20th, Bishop Waugh, presiding ; W. H. Pilsbury, Secretary. Admitted on trial : Silas M. Emerson, Edward A. Stockman, Charles C. Mason, Augustus P. Sanborn, Scolly G. Usher, Timothy Hall, John L. Frazier, Silas B. Brackett, Christopher C. Covel, David Higgins, Noah Hobart, Asa Green, Gould F. Elliot, Barnet M. Mitchell, Francis A. Bean, Ephraim H. Whitney, Charles B. Dunn, James M. Hutchinson, Alfred C. Godfrey, Cyrus Phenix.
On motion, Rev. Moses Hill was requested to preach a memorial sermon, on the death of Rev. Asbury Caldwell, who had died during the last year.
Dr. Bangs addressed the conference, in relation to the Wesleyan University.
Charles Baker was appointed visitor to that institution and Ezekiel Robinson was chosen a trustee.
The committee appointed at the last conference, to consider the expediency of a division of Maine conferences, presented their report, in which they recommended such division, and that the Kennebec river be the dividing line, from its mouth to the bend below Skowhegan, thence due north to the northern line of the State. The Second Advent excitement had been quite extensive, resulting, in some places, in serious injury to the church. Rev. G. F. Cox had industriously
122
MAINE CONFERENCE IN BATII.
inculcated this theory, while serving as Presiding Elder in Portland district ; a considerable number of the preachers had imbibed the Second Advent views of William Miller.
Mr. Cox was removed from the district and appointed to Orrington, where he taught the doctrines of Miller, to the damage of the strong and flourishing society in that place.
ABSTRACTS OF STATISTICS.
Six districts ; one hundred and forty-five circuits and stations; one hundred and fifty-five preachers appointed. Members, 24,738; increase, 1,894.
Received for conference claimants,
- $1,097 51
Aggregate of preachers, estimated salaries or claims,2
- 35,687 43
Aggregate of preachers, claims received, - -
27,187 31
Average salary or claims,
356 87
Average claims received,
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271 87
Highest salary (at Gardiner), -
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. 600 00
Lowest salary, - -
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- 107 00
Lowest amount paid, -
33 00
Sunday schools, 126. Sunday school teachers, 1,027. Scholars, 6340.
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The Maine Conference met, for its nineteenth session, at Bath, July 19, 1843, Bishops Hedding and Morris, being present. William H. Pilsbury was chosen Secretary.
Rev. Charles Pitman, Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church, was present. His address in advocacy of the missionary cause, and his eloquent sermon, on Sunday, were very highly appreciated.
The subject of Millerism came very prominently before the conference.
The second advent excitement had become quite extensive during the year ; lecturers had traveled over the country, with charts and hideous diagrams, demonstrating that the second coming of Christ, to destroy the world and inaugurate the judgment, would oeeur on the 23d of April, 1843. Some preachers and people professed to have received the witness of the Holy Spirit, to the truth of this dogma. As the appointed time for this great event drew near, the excitement became extreme. The people, in some places, were carried by the delusion, into wild exeesses. Some sold their farms for a trifle, and, with others, abandoned their business, and devoted their time to religious meetings ; some prepared for themselves, ascension robes, made of cotton cloth, and assembled in grave yards, in the night, to
2 Reports were received only from one hundred circuits and stations.
123
THE DELUSION OF MILLERISM.
meet the expected coming of the Lord, and to hear the first blast of Gabriel's trumpet. Some of the deluded people were placed under guardianship, to prevent waste of property.
The preachers generally opposed the delusion. Revs. G. Webber, Moses Hill, P. Munger, C. Munger, and others, faithfully and ably assailed the error, in public discourses, and the church, generally, was held to the solid doctrines of revelation.
The appointed day in April passed, without witnessing the tremendous catastrophe. Many, both preachers and people, saw, and confessed their error, and were restored to the confidence of the church.
Others clung to their theory of the second advent, admitted their mistake in reckoning, and postponed the time of the Lord's coming. Some, disgusted with their disappointment, gave up their christian hopes and religious belief.
Error is progressive and cumulative in its tendency, and gathers to itself, in its onward flow, other kindred forces, till it becomes strong and ruinous. The advocates of Millerism, finding their calculations as to the time of the second advent, at fault, called in other errors to the support of their general theory,-the denial of the essential immortality of the soul ; the unconscious state of the dead, till the resurrection ; the annihilation of the wicked and Jewish sabbatism. The advocates of this conglomeration of errors, have taken a position of hostility to the church, and in some places, have seriously hindered the cause of religion.
Eight or ten members of conference and three members on trial, were found to have advocated Millerism ; some of whom had left their work, as pastors, for this purpose. These brethren were called to account, and by vote of the conference, were reproved by the presiding bishop and required to abstain from advocating "the peculiarities of Millerism," one was suspended, and the rest "passed." Those who were not present were notified of the action of the conference, by the Secretary, and their character passed. The members on trial, who had offended in this matter, were committed to their presiding elders for reproof and correction.
The action of the conference was timely and judicious. The brethren who had been led astray by this delusion, with a few exceptions, saw their error, and, like honest men, meekly submitted to the censure of the conference. They were restored to the confidence of their brethren, and most of them rendered valuable service to the church, in their subsequent life. The few recalcitrant offenders
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124
MEMORIAL TO GENERAL CONFERENCE.
withdrew from the church, went on from bad to worse, till, like wandering stars, they disappeared in darkness.
The committee appointed to memorialize the General Conference, on the subject of slavery, presented the following report, viz. :
" To the bishops and members of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, in session at New York, May 1, 1844.
" 1. In view of that most humiliating resolution of the last General Conference, prohibiting the reception of the testimony of colorcd persons, in church trials, we carnestly entreat you to take such action as shall effectually annihilate the influence of that resolution, and secure to all our members, equal rights and privileges, whether as parties or witnesses.
" 2. In view of the fact that the constitution of the Methodist Episcopal church is decidedly anti-slavery in its character, we deem it a measure of consistency, and solemnly believe, that the interest of the whole church absolutely requires, that you distinctively recognize this principle, in your elections, by electing no man to the Episcopal office, or the office of Missionary, Secretary, Book Agent, or Editor, who is a slave-holder.
" 3. We most respectfully, but earnestly petition you, in the name of common humanity, and especially in the name of the holy religion, which we profess, to take such constitutional measures as shall separate the Methodist Episcopal church from all connexion with the sin of slave-holding.
Bath, July 26. 1843.
M. Hill, H. Nickerson, N. D. George, D. B. Randall."
Committee.
Adopted by a rising vote.
Delegates to the next General Conference : Moses Hill, Ezekiel Robinson, Charles W. Morse, Daniel B. Randall, John Hobart, Heman Nickerson, George Webber.
At the request of conference, Bishop Hedding preached an interesting memorial sermon on the death of Bishop Roberts. His text was from Acts II : 24, "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord."
In the discourse, occurred the following eulogy of the deceased Bishop Roberts : "I have been intimately acquainted with Bishop Roberts for thirty years ; I have been his companion in almost all circumstances, and have found him to be emphatically an honest man. If he had any faults, I do not know what they were."
125
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The committee on the division of the conference reported adversely to division at present.
A report on education was adopted, cordially recognizing the Wesleyan University, and commending it to the patronage of our people. Also containing a series of resolutions in favor of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, and pledging the co-operation of the conference in its support.
Admitted on trial: Andrew J. Webster, Caleb D. Pillsbury, Benjamin B. Byrne, Nathan A. Soule, Cornelius Stone, James McMillan, Frederick A. Crafts, Charles F. Allen, Jonathan Fairbank, C. H. A. Johnson, Edwin A. Helmershausen, John B. Mckeon, Timothy B. Chase, Seth B. Chase, William Bates, Enoch M. Fowler, Abiel Foster, Elijah H. Gammon, Rufus G. Eaton, William McDonald, Nicholas E. Rumery, Hiram Chase, Calvin C. Whitney, Daniel Chase, Elias F. Blake, Daniel Staples-(26). The largest number ever, thus far, received, on trial, at one time.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS.
Six distriets ; one hundred and sixty circuits and stations ; one hundred and seventy- one traveling preachers ; eleven places left to be supplied, Members, 27,400; inerease, this year, 2,662; number of Sunday schools, 151; teachers, 1,713; scholars, 5,812. Amount collected for superanuated preachers, and other elaimants from all sourees, $996.82. The amount necessary to meet all elaims, $12,902.87, about eight per cent of the elaims being paid.
Delegates to next General Conference : Moses Hill, Ezekiel Robinson, Daniel B. Randall, Charles W. Morse, John Hobart, Heman Niekerson, George Webber.
126
GENERAL CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK CITY.
CHAPTER XII.
1844-1851. GENERAL CONFERENCE AT NEW YORK, 1844. THE CASE OF F. A. HARDING. ACTION OF THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE SUSTAINED. THE CASE OF BISHOP ANDREWS. TEN DAYS' DISCUSSION. VOTE OF VIRTUAL SUSPEN- SION PREVAILED. THE COMMITTEE OF NINE. THE PROVISIONAL PLAN OF SEPARATION. SOUTHERN DELEGATES TAKE MEASURES FOR SEPARATION. MAINE CONFERENCE IN BANGOR, AUGUST 14, 1844. DR. OLIN'S ADDRESS. THE CONFERENCE PLEDGES $5000 FOR WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. BIBLICAL INSTITUTE. . TRUSTEES OF MAINE WESLEYAN SEMINARY RESIGN THEIR TRUST. TRUST DECLINED BY CONFERENCE. REPORT ON SLAVERY. RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTIONS TO AID THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION, AND IN AID OF THE MISSION- ARY CAUSE. DEPOSITORY IN PORTLAND. G. WEBBER A COMMITTEE. MAINE CONFERENCE IN HALLOWELL, 1846. DEBATE CONCERNING THE BIBLICAL INSTITUTE. G. WEBBER CHOSEN A DELEGATE TO THE WORLD'S CONVENTION. MAINE CONFERENCE AT SACO, JUNE 30, 1847. VOTE TO REQUEST A DIVISION OF THE CONFERENCE. DELEGATE FROM THE CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE. INTERCHANGE OF DELEGATES. DELEGATES TO NEXT GENERAL CONFERENCE. ACTION IN REGARD TO BOOK DEPOSITORY. JOSHUA TAYLOR. GENERAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURG, 1848. DELEGATES FROM WESLEYAN CONFER- ENCES OF GREAT BRITAN AND CANADA. FRIENDLY OVERTURES FROM THE CHURCHI SOUTHI, DECLINED. DEMAND OF CHURCH SOUTH FOR DIVISION OF FUNDS. LAW SUIT. MAINE CONFERENCE IN PORTLAND, JULY 19, 1848. BOARD OF EDUCATION. MAINE CONFERENCE, AUGUSTA, JULY 11, 1849. FATHER TAYLOR. DELEGATION FROM THE CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE. MAINE CONFERENCE AT KENNEBUNK, JULY 10, 1850. CONFERENCE ACTION ON NEWS OF THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR. DELEGATES TO THE CON- GREGATIONALIST AND BAPTIST CONFERENCES. MAINE CONFERENCE AT WINTHROP, JULY 9, 1851. DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. DONATION OF R. B. DUNN.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
1844. The General Conference of 1844, was the most eventful in the history of the Methodist Episcopal church, and its action involved consequences of more importance to the church and probably also to the nation, than that of any previous session of that body. Forces had been steadily at work tending towards a solid North and a solid South, on the question of slavery, both in the church and the State.
The action of the General Conference in 1836 and 1840, upon the subject of slavery, was not only offensive but exceedingly humiliating to Northern Methodists. That action, instead of suppressing agitation and allaying excitement, produced the opposite results.
127
BISHOP ANDREW. LONG DEBATE. FINAL ACTION.
Loyalty to their church government, has ever been a marked characteristic of Methodists, but the action referred to, of the highest tribunal of the church, was too much for the loyalty of most Methodists. As early as 1839, and the few succeeding years, small secessions from the Methodist Episcopal church, appeared in Ohio, New York, and Michigan, on account of the connexion of the church with slavery.
In 1843, under the lead of Orange Scott, Jotham Horton, LeRoy Sunderland, Luther Lee, and others, a more formidable secesssion was organized, to which six thousand persons gave their adherence, including twenty-two ministers of the Methodist church, and as many . more from other denominations. The new organization was arranged to form six conferences, with apparently, a fair prospect of success. But the movement was premature, and failed to draw largely from the membership of the Methodist Episcopal church. The new association was far from being harmonious, and all reasonable occasions for such a secession was soon removed.
The anti-slavery excitement had very much subsided, and there was no serious apprehension of any special unpleasantness at the great quadrennial meeting of the church.
The conference assembled in the Green street church in New York, May 1, 1844, Bishops Soule, Hedding, Andrew, Waugh and Morris being present ; one hundred and fifty delegates from thirty conferences, answered to their names.
Early in the session, the appeal of F. A. Harding, from the decision of the Baltimore Conference, was called up.
Mr. Harding, a minister of the Baltimore Conference, had been suspended, for refusing to manumit a number of slaves, that had fallen to him. No other offense was alleged against him.
The case was heard, and the action of the Baltimore Conference was sustained by a vote of 117 yeas to 56 nays. This action of the conference was "preliminary and prophetic " of the decision of the conference, in the case of one of the bishops.1
The committee on Episcopacy, soon found that Bishop Andrew was involved in the same offense with Mr. Harding. Bishop Andrew well knew, that the Methodist Episcopal church, from the beginning, had guarded the ministry from all connexion with slave-holding. Why then did he not either rid himself from the " great evil" or resign his office of Bishop rather than place the peace and integrity of the church in jeopardy ?
1 Matlock's Anti-Slavery Struggle and Triumph.
128
PLAN OF SEPARATION. SECESSION INAUGURATED.
When the case was reported to conference, a motion was made, that the bishop " be affectionately requested to resign his office." This was substituted by another motion, declaring " That it is the sense of this conference that Bishop Andrew desist from the exercise of his office, so long as this impediment remains."
A discussion ensued continuing ten days and in which the ablest men of the church participated. The southern delegates contended that as Bishop Andrew had not violated any law or rule of the discipline, the General Conference had no authority to depose or suspend him.
The northern delegates claimed that a bishop is the creation of the General Conference, and that he might be deposed or suspended, on the ground of expediency ; moreover the resolution under discussion, did not propose either to depose or suspend the bishop, but simply expressed the sense of the General Conference, as to the course which the bishop ought to pursue.
Several substitutes were proposed, but none of them were adopted. At length, in spite of the protests of southern delegates, and cxtreme reluctance of many delegates from the North, the vote upon the resolution, was demanded. It was a moment of solemn suspense. The decision, either for or against the motion was fraught with important consequences.
The names of the delegates were called, when one hundred and eleven answered yea, and sixty-nine, nay.
To meet the alleged probable necessity for a separate church organization in the slave-holding States, the conference through a "committee of nine" prepared a plan of friendly division of the church, conditioned upon several contingences, including the action of the several Annual Conferences, necessarily requiring considerable time, thus meeting the demands of the southern delegates in the spirit of "magnaminity and generous dealing" without a parallel in ecclesiastical history. The plan was adopted by a vote of 147 yeas, . to 22 nays.
On the morning after the adjournment of the General Conference, the southern delegates met in session, as a convention, in New York, and in violation of an express agreement, and in disregard of the the conditions of the "plan of separation, " they proceeded to inaugurate a separation. A delegated convention was called to meet in Louisville, Kentucky, May 1, 1845. The ratio of representation was fixed, and an address was issued to the ministers and members of the southern States and Territories, urging the necessity of a separate organization.
129
MAINE CONFERENCE AT BANGOR.
The Louisville convention, May 17, 1845, by a vote of 94 to 3, separated from the church, and constituted a new body known as the Methodist Episcopal church south ; to all intents, a secession.
1844. The Maine Conference met at Bangor, August 14, 1844, Bishop Hedding, presiding. Rev. C. B. Tippott, agent of the book concern in New York, and Rev. D. S. King of Boston, were introduced, also, Rev. Dr. Olin, president of the Wesleyan University.
The committee on education reported verbally, in part, whereupon, Dr. Olin addressed the conference in the interest of Wesleyan University. The following resolution was adopted, viz. :
" Resolved. That this conference pledges itself to raise, within five years, the sum of $5,000, and interest, towards the permanent endowment of the Wesleyan University." The list of the conference was called, and subscriptions taken on the pledge of the conference. Notes were given to the amount of $3,883.33, and pledges amounting to $150. This pledge was never fully paid.
A resolution was also adopted, approving the object and plan of the Biblical Institute, and pledging the sympathy and co-operation of the conference in its support as far as practicable.
The trustees of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, utterly discouraged by the embarrassments of the institution, came before the conference, and resigned their trust to the conference, in accordance with the provisions of the original deed of conveyance. This tender of trust was promptly declined. The conference, nevertheless, pledged its co-operation with the trustees of the seminary, in the efforts they might make for the relief of that institution. The amount pledged to the Wesleyan University, was needed, to preserve the life of their own seminary, now in serious peril. A more full account of this subject is given in the chapter on education, &c., in a more advanced part of this volume.
The report of the committee on slavery, was read by George Webber, the chairman, containing the following resolutions, which were adopted, viz. :
1. Resolved, That we are, in the language of our most excellent Discipline, "as much as ever, convinced of the great evil of slavery," and are determined to use all christian and constitutional measures to get rid of the same.
2. Resolved, That we coneur in the doings of the last General Conference, in the case of Franeis A. Harding, of the Baltimore Conference, and in the case of Bishop Andrew, and the rescinding of the colorcd testimony resolution ; and we rejoice to know that the Methodist Episcopal church, in the acts of said conference, in these cases, stands out before the christian world, worthy of her christian and anti-slavery ancestry.
9
130
MAINE CONFERENCE AT PORTLAND.
3. Resolved, That we consider it a cause of most fervent gratitude to Almighty God, whatever may have been our former differences of feeling and sentiment, that we are now united in our opposition to slavery, and our prayer is that union may be one and inseparable, until slavery in our church and nation, shall be remembered among the things that were and are not.
Admitted, on trial : Charles II. Titus, William II. Foster, Benjamin Freeman, William H. Crawford, Jason Keith, William Summersides, Josephi Colby, E. K. Colby, Abraham R. Lunt.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS.
Six districts ; one hundred and sixty-one circuits and stations ; one hundred and fifty- nine preaebers; nineteen places to be supplied. H. K. W. Perkins, missionary in Oregon ; B. F. Tefft transferred to Indiana Conference; George Child, transferred to Black River Conference. Isaiah McMahon, transferred to Genesee Conference. Members, 26,003 ; decrease this year, 1,397.
Whole amount received for conference claimauts, $1483.62.
Paid to bishops, $63.94.
Distributed among superannuates and other elaimants, $1,419.68.
Number of Sunday schools, 121; teachers, 976; scholars, 6,179.
The services on Sunday were memorable for an able sermon, by Dr. S. Olin, president of the Wesleyan University.
1845. The Maine Conference met for its twenty-first session in Portland, July 16, 1845, Bishop Janes, presiding ; W. H. Pilsbury, Secretary ; Asahel Morse, Assistant Secretary.
The following resolution was presented and adopted, viz. :
" Resolved, That we recommend the appointment of an efficient agent, as soon as next year, to raise the sum of $15,000 for educational purposes, within the bounds of this conference ; the sum so raised, to be equally divided between the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, the Wesleyan University and the Biblical Institute. "
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