USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Minutes of the session of the Ohio Miami Conference, successor to Miami Conference, of the United Methodist Church, 1970 > Part 12
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10 Miami Conference Minutes, 1903, 33, 51.
17 Miami Conference Minutes, 1937, 44.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
of the double envelope system on every charge and the every-member canvass for the local and benevolent budget. 18
The Conference had been a dependable supporter of the Seminary from the time of its founding. In 1912 action was taken to support the Seminary in raising funds to endow a chair of Religious Pedagogy and Education to be known as the Robert Cowden Chair of Sunday School Science. Mr. Cowden had lived and worked in the Conference for more than a third of a century. It was voted, therefore, to raise $4000 through the Sunday Schools. 19
When the Seminary was so tragically in debt during the late 20's and early 30's, Miami Conference borrowed money to meet emergencies and then attempted to raise the money in Cash Day offerings. The Conference sent a memorial to General Con- ference calling for a special plan of debt payment for the Seminary.
Reference was made earlier to the difficulty churches had in paying building debts. This was reflected in a 1922 action that "no church in the Conference shall contract any considerable debt for a new or remodeled building without first consulting the Conference Board of Trustees." 20
Churches and church members had wide differences of opinion as to how much to pay, when and for what. For this reason pastors frequently had difficulty in paying in full the benevolence quotas and assessments. They were at times critical of the churches for this attitude.
In this connection a declaration signed by 48 ministers of the Miami Conference appeared in a 1926 issue of the Telescope. The article emphasized the importance of the causes served by the benevolence budget and said "we dedicate ourselves to the proposition that we prefer to serve such churches as will make it their settled policy to pay their share of the general benevolences as it comes due every month." 21
The first specific action concerning student pastor salaries was taken in 1927. It was voted that any student pastor who received a minimum of $1000 and par- sonage be required to give full-time service to the charge during the summer months. 22
The usual situation during this period was for the Conference to end the year with some indebtedness. This amounted to $31,820 on September 2, 1927, at which time a definite effort was made to begin a program of debt reduction. It was almost impossible to increase income during the depression, so the expense budget was reduced. The part-time superintendent, mentioned earlier, was one step. When in 1936 the Conference returned to the full-time superintendency, the debt had been reduced to $15,900. The treasurer reported in 1946 a debt of $6,100.
18 Miami Conference Minutes, 1913, 50.
19 Miami Conference Minutes, 1912, 51.
20 Miami Conference Minutes, 1922, 23.
21 The Religious Telescope, XCII (September 25, 1926), 9.
22 Miami Conference Minutes, 1927, 67,
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
CHAPTER 10
THE MIAMI CONFERENCE, 1901-1946 (Continued)
Youth Ministry
A Conference committee on the Y.P.C.U. reported to the Conference in 1901 and for many years thereafter. The report indicated that only about half of the churches had youth organizations.
A letter to the pastors of the Conference from P. M. Camp appeared in the Religious Telescope in January 1901. He appealed for funds to enable the Miami Con- ference Y.P.C.U. to support a foreign missionary. 1 The money received was given to Philo W. Drury in Puerto Rico.
Presiding Elder Machlin reported concerning youth work in 1904, "Many so- cieties are becoming stereotyped in their methods and are losing some of the power they once had when more original in their methods." 2
A report adopted by the Conference in 1905 listed the aims of the Y.P.C.U. as:
a. A society in every church.
b. Personal worker's bands.
c. Mission study classes
d. Our Juniors for Christ.
e. The morning watch with the Bible.
f. The whole tithe for the Lord.
Sixty-eight societies were reported in 1907.
By a unanimous vote at the annual convention in 1908 the name was changed from Young People's Christian Union to Young People's Christian Endeavor Union. It was reported that the organization had been supporting Philo W. Drury for the last seven years.
The breadth of interests in the programs of the annual conventions is indicated by the title of the address of Professor A. A. Maysilles (Superintendent of the Dayton Schools) in 1915, "High School Education for Christian Young People." The next year a contest was held for a model program on "What is the Purpose of Our Life on Earth?"
The annual conventions were occasions of great inspiration and enthusiasm. These meetings, no doubt, contributed largely to the growth and achievements of the local church youth programs.
In 1925 the Christian Endeavor Convention and the annual meeting of the Sunday School Association merged.
The Conference moved in 1928 to a closer working relationship between the various organizations involved with education. A Commission on Christian Education was formed which made a composite report to the Conference. The General Conference in 1929 established the Board of Christian Education. The Conference continued its committee and urged each local church to form a Board of Christian Education. The Conference organization was called a Board beginning in 1931.
1 P. M. Camp, The Religious Telescope, LXVII (January 23, 1901), 120.
2 Miami Conference Minutes, 1904, 32.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
Use of Seminary Students
The Miami Conference has had a ready supply of part-time ministers since the organization of the Seminary in 1871. In increasing numbers these were used to supply the smaller churches. The following table indicates the number used by five year periods.
1900-1904 27
1905-1909
29
1910-1914
52
1915-1919
60
1920-1924
71
1925-1929
64
1930-1934
65
1935-1939
67
1940-1944
106
1945-1949
113
This use of students indicated that the Conference was not producing enough ministers. It might be assumed also that, because of this ready supply of ministers, the churches were apathetic about challenging young people to enter the ministry.
Criticism of the student pastor was quite prevalent. It was said that he took the church only to provide a living while in school, and that he lacked the ability and training to minister effectively, and that he did not give himself to his ministry as a minister should.
The attitude of the Conference was expressed in these statements in the Policy Committee report in 1941.
a. That the Conference Superintendent instruct student ministers in the proper method of reporting on the various blanks provided. That in view of the fact that student ministers are excused from Seminary classes to attend Conference and District meetings, students be faithful in attendance.
b. That student pastorates be limited to four years.
c. That students from Miami Conference be given preferential treat- ment by the Stationing Committee.
d. That we refrain from inviting students from other Conferences to join our Conference until their graduation and the presentation of their credentials. 3
Social Concerns
The Conference had an increased interest in social problems as time went on. In the early years of the twentieth century the two major concerns were temperance and Sabbath observance.
The concern was not actually with temperance but with a determination to de- stroy the liquor traffic. In the 1901 report of the Temperance Committee the statement is made that in this age temperance has come to mean opposition to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. The resolutions called for
The legal annihilation of the liquor traffic,
The awakening of the civic conscience,
8 Miami Conference Minutes, 1941, 39.
104
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Preaching on the subject with conviction.
Commendation of W.C.T.U. and Anti-Saloon League.
The next year churches were encouraged to observe the annual temperance day called for in the Discipline. Some satisfaction was expressed with the progress of local option and state prohibition.
Each year the report gave full support to every local, state and national political effort to push back the liquor forces.
Beginning in 1905 the report was on Temperance and Moral Reform. The Com- mittee called for the defeat of the Ohio governor because of his pro-liquor actions. Newspapers were condemned for withholding news about successful dry votes.
For many years one evening service of the Conference was built around a temper- ance speaker. In 1912 woman's suffrage was advocated as an aid to the annihilation of the liquor business. The use of Lincoln League pledge cards was encouraged in 1913 as was full support of the National Prohibition Movement. The next year the report said
We most earnestly demand that the Congress of the United States sub- mit to the legislatures of the several states for their ratification, an amend- ment to the Federal Constitution calling for the absolute prohibition of the liquor traffic throughout the American Union.
The Prohibition Party was also recommended. " In 1918 telegrams were sent by the Conference to the president and some congressmen urging the passage of the Na- tional Prohibition Amendment. " The next year there was much rejoicing over the passage and ratification of the amendment and a telegram commended the president.
The Conference immediately began to warn the church and nation not to relax their efforts in this great movement, believing that the opponents would put on an all out campaign. It condemned the violators of the Volstead Act as unAmerican and called for all-out enforcement and conviction of violators.
Speaking before the Conference in 1924, S. A. Probst of the Anti-Saloon League warned of the danger that threatened the overthrow of the Eighteenth Amendment because of the activity of its opponents and the lack of cooperation on the part of the church with the officers of the law. "
In the 1927 report the Committee quoted several national leaders pointing up the values of Prohibition. It also appealed for an all-out effort to elect a dry president and other dry officials.
The appeal for the next several years was for a hard fight against those working for the repeal of the eighteenth amendment. However, the fight was lost and prohibition was repealed. Conference efforts were then turned to education, support of temperance agencies and local option elections. Someone representing the temperance forces spoke each year before the Conference.
The Conference said that it was the duty of all believers to keep the Sabbath holy. This should be done by abstaining from bodily exercise, by worship and by studying things sacred and divine. The committee report condemned excursion trains, the open- ing of exhibitions and fairs and all places of secular amusement. It emphasized the
4 Miami Conference Minutes, 1916, 90.
5 Miami Conference Minutes, 1918, 85.
B Miami Conference Minutes, 1924, 48.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
right to one day of rest in seven and demanded the enforcement of all Sabbath legis- lation. 7 Another report expressed opposition to playing baseball on the Sabbath.
The statement was made that the Sabbath question is today one of the decisive battlefields between the friends and enemies of Christianity. "We hail with delight the closing of our post offices on the Sabbath" and "We regret the action of the last legis- lature of Ohio in legalizing Sunday baseball." 8
According to the standards of the church of that day, it was a losing battle. The report in 1931 said, "In these days when so many people are desecrating the Christian Sabbath they are trampling underfoot wise provisions made for them by our Heavenly Father." ยช
A different emphasis was made in 1938. The report said
But the fact remains that a large percent of church members occasionally or regularly misuse the Sabbath and practically all non-church people do. As Christian leaders we are not then confronted with a problem which can be solved by the mere quoting of Scripture to prove that the Sabbath must be kept. We must ask ourselves if we desire to force the observance of the Christian Sabbath upon those who repudiate the Christian assumptions. If we do wish to use force then our only resort is to enact and enforce a set of modern "Blue Laws." 10
The 1940 minutes were the last to record a report of the Committee on Sabbath observance. The emphasis in that report was upon the church putting on a strong program of worship, study and fellowship to attract people to its ministry. The minutes of 1946, however, contain, among the standing resolutions, one adopted in 1937 protesting Sunday fairs, races and various sporting events.
In 1910 a report on moral reform mentioned other areas of social concern: lax city officials, crime, delays in legal practice, more rigid grounds for divorce, use of tobacco, labor and management relations. The report of the Commission on Moral Welfare and Social Advance in 1929 dealt with eight social problems.
a. Race relations-the brotherhood of man and the unity of the race.
b. World Peace. War is unchristian, unwise and immoral. We dis- approve of compulsory military training in colleges and high schools. Sup- ported the League of Nations, the World Court and the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
c. Economic life.
d. Marriage and Parenthood. Sanctity and blessedness of marriage as a life-long fellowship. We deplore and condemn the undue emphasis on sex in current entertainment and literature.
e. Movies. Condemned exhibition of crime, sex perversion and luxury as giving a false idea of life.
f. Cigarettes. Condemned advertising and urged people to refrain from the use of tobacco.
g. Prohibition.
h. Sabbath observance. 11
7 Miami Conference Minutes, 1901, 39.
8 Miami Conference Minutes, 1911, 63.
9 Miami Conference Minutes, 1931, 43.
10 Miami Conference Minutes, 1938, 31.
11 Miami Conference Minutes, 1929, 50-52.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
Very little was said in the Conference sessions after 1929 about social concerns. One exception was war and peace. This first became an issue during World War I. Bishop Mathews referred to it in his Conference sermon in 1914. The Foreign Mission report that year deplored the unbelievable European war. This report, the following year, emphasized the need for increased support because mission giving and the number of missionaries from Great Britain and Germany would be greatly reduced. The reso- lutions committee report in 1916 said:
We deplore the fact that a bloody and fratricidal war is devastating the lands beyond the sea: that it is our intense conviction that national differences will never be adjusted, and national prejudices will never be over- come until governments and people conform themselves to the life and teach- ing of the Prince of Peace. 12
The Foreign Missions report in 1917 deplored the disruption and destruction of the world mission program and facilities.
An evening session in 1918 was patriotic in character. Twenty-five junior boys and girls sang patriotic songs. Mayor Switzer of Dayton said, "We are in world war for two reasons-because we are patriotic, and because we believe in self-preservation. Every one of us must work at somthing to give our government aid to win the war." 13
Rev. M. E. Gibson, United Brethren chaplain, from Camp Sherman said,
We are all agreed that there is no place in the world for such devils as the Sultan and the Kaiser; and the principles they have advocated and the practices they have fostered shall disappear from the face of the earth, for our soldiers expect to annihilate the Hun from this old sphere. To be patriotic it is your duty to link yourself up to the war program in every way it is possible to do so.14
An effort to keep church people Christian was made through the Policy Com- mittee report.
We urge the importance of the fund of $25,000 for care of the United Brethren boys in the various cantonments in the United States, so that our boys under the flag, will respect and be drawn to our church, after the war is over.
Advise our people to maintain the Christ spirit in these irritating times, and let the spirit of Christianity and not the spirit of war dominate in the patriotism of our Churches. 15
A telegram was sent from the Conference in 1919 to President Woodrow Wilson assuring him of sympathy and prayers and expressing a hope that a League of Nations may be formed that will honor God and bless the world. 1
When the nation was again in war in 1942 the Conference expressed its concern. J. Gordon Howard referred to the number of United Brethren boys in service, the number of chaplains and conscientious objectors. J. Stuart Innerst spoke on a Just and Durable Peace. A committee on the Church and Military Service for Young Men in Armed Service was appointed.
12 Miami Conference Minutes, 1916, 91.
13 Miami Conference Minutes, 1818, 49.
14 Ibid.
15 Miami Conference Minutes, 1918, 90.
16 Miami Conference Minutes, 1919, 134.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
The Conference emphasized the importance of the Christian Home and for many years had a standing committee reporting to the Conference.
Church Cooperation and Union
The Miami Conference, partly because of its leadership and partly because of the spirit and philosophy of the United Brethren Church, accepted all opportunities for cooperation and union. In 1901 a request from the executive committee of the Ohio Federation of Churches for participation and the appointment of delegates was favor- ably received. W. H. Klinefelter and P. M. Camp were appointed to attend a conference in Columbus in December. 17
A committee on Church Federation reported in 1903 recommending hearty ap- proval of the Ohio Federation Movement with cooperation, the sending of delegates and financial aid. 18
Thus began a program of cooperation that was renewed year after year. This was reflected in the Policy Committee report in 1924. "We shall continue active co- operation in City, County and State Councils of Churches, Councils of Religious Education, C. E. Unions and other regularly organized methods of interdenominational fellowship in service to Christ and his Kingdom." 10
A Commission on Interdenominational Activities presented a lengthy report in 1928 approving all kinds of cooperation and union. 20
Organic union of denominations was also suggested or accepted. A resolution was unanimously passed in 1902.
That we, the Miami Conference of the United Brethren in Christ ex- press ourselves in favor of our bishops presenting an overture to the Metho- dist Protestant Church, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Evangeli- cal Association, the United Evangelical Church, and other similar bodies of Christians proposing to enter into negotiation looking to the union of these bodies into one Christian body. 21
The Methodist Protestant General Conference on May 12, 1912, unanimously adopted a resolution favorable to uniting with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. J. P. Landis read a resolution to the Miami Conference that year making a general appeal for cooperation and organic union and expressing the hope that the union with the Methodist Protestants would be ultimately consummated and encouraging the General Conference to take steps to that end. 22
The Conference voted the next year on union with the Methodist Protestants. The result was yes-73, no-19. 23
In 1928 the Conference adopted a petition favorable to union with the Reformed Church in the United States, the Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Synod of North America. 24
17 Miami Conference Minutes, 1901, 65.
18 Miami Conference Minutes, 1903, 57.
19 Miami Conference Minutes, 1923, 106.
20 Miami Conference Minutes, 1928, 39ff.
21 Miami Conference Minutes, 1902, 46.
22 Miami Conference Minutes, 1912, 65.
23 Miami Conference Minutes, 1913, 34.
24 Miami Conference Minutes, 1928, 51.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
The following year a resolution approved union with the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod. 25
The Conference in 1930 approved this resolution,
Be it resolved, that as a Conference we vote our approval of the action of the General Conference in May 1929, endorsing the syllabus as a basis of union, and that we declare ourselves willing to go forward toward organic union, as rapidly as the other two bodies are ready to go with us. 28
Though none of these efforts were successful the desire for union did not die. Bishop Clippinger reported in 1939 the progress toward union of the United Brethren and Evangelical Churches and announced the meeting of the commissions in November.
Work went forward on this union which was approved by the General Confer- ence in May 1945. Miami Conference voted on it in September of that year. The re- sult was a favorable vote, 130 to 0. 27
On the local community level the Conference accepted the principles of comity in locating new churches. A resolution was adopted in 1914 that new churches be started in Cincinnati in cooperation with the Comity Committee of the Council of Churches. 28
The Conference also expressed its interest in cooperation by joining with other denominations in 1919 and 1920 in the United Enlistment and Interchurch World Movements.
Dayton
Dayton continued to be the center of the life of the Denomination and the Con- ference. Ten new churches were organized in the immediate Dayton area from 1901 to 1946 through the missionary efforts of the United Brethren Alliance and the zeal of the larger churches.
A Dayton United Brethren Planning Board was formed in 1925. The members were A. R. Clippinger, G. D. Batdorf, W. C. Niswonger, M. E. Gibson, J. H. Dutton, W. H. Cassel, C. J. Hall, Ray G. Holton and J. E. Moore. The primary purpose of this Board was to study possible locations for new churches.
A considerable effort was made in 1901 to have Otterbein College moved to Dayton. Promises of land and a sizeable financial contribution were made, as well as the other advantages of a larger city and the denominational center. This effort was made after the College trustees had shown positive interest in moving the school from Westerville. The move was not made and some animosity resulted from the limited negotiations. 28
A sizeable tragedy struck Dayton in March 1913, the most destructive flood in its history. The details of this are recorded in the several histories of Dayton. Many United Brethren church people suffered heavy losses to their homes and places of business. Three United Brethren churches were badly damaged. The estimate of damage made shortly after the water subsided was: Cowden Memorial $5,800; First Church, $5,000; and Hartford Street, $3,000. Zion Church of the Ohio German Conference (UB) was totally destroyed.
25 Miami Conference Minutes, 1929, 57.
26 Miami Conference Minutes, 1930, 58.
27 Miami Conference Minutes, 1945, 48.
28 Miami Conference Minutes, 1914, 104.
29 Miami Conference Minutes, 1901, 43, 53, 66.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
Though it seems somewhat an exaggeration, conference superintendent C. W. Kurtz said in his 1913 report, "Almost every congregation in the Conference was directly or indirectly affected by this great catastrophe." 30
Cincinnati
Two Cincinnati churches were founded during the early part of this period, largely through the efforts of W. S. Norris. His spirit is indicated by a statement he made. "It takes grace, grit and greenbacks to establish churches. I furnished the grit; the Lord the grace, and the people the greenbacks." 301 The two churches he helped organize were Clifton in 1904 and Norris Memorial in 1908.
Cheviot was organized in 1912, Norwood in 1905, and North Bend in 1906.
The most disastrous flood in the history of Cincinnati occurred in 1937. Second Church, Newport, North Bend, and Willey Memorial were damaged. A special offering in the Conference churches provided almost $2,000 for assistance in rehabilitation.
Ministers' Wives Association
A Ministers' Wives Association was organized in the Conference in 1920. The basic activity was an annual banquet and business meeting held during the Conference session. The minutes of the annual meetings were published in the Conference minutes beginning in 1929. A constitution was adopted in which the object is stated, "To stimulate a mutual friendship among the United Brethren ministers' wives residing within the bounds of Miami Conference and to remember them with flowers and messages in times of sorrow and sickness." 21
The membership was expanded to include ministers' widows, wives of seminary students, general officers and the seminary faculty.
The Otterbein Home
The Otterbein Home near Lebanon, Ohio, was established during this period. Some Dayton people had a keen interest in founding a home for children and elderly people. When the Shaker property, known as Union Village, 24 miles south of Day- ton, was offered for sale, they saw this as an opportunity to realize their dream. Negotiations during 1912 and 1913 resulted in purchase.
On May 17, 1913 the General Conference approved the Otterbein Home project and accepted it as an institution of the General Church.
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