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 20
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A long, bitter and costly battle in the courts disrupted the life of the church. The action of the General Conference and the vote of the church were defended in various courts and finally sustained. W. J. Shuey, publishing agent and a member of Miami Conference, gave leadership to the church in this litigation. 33
Many other social issues were the concerns of the Miami Conference during the latter half century of its history. A brief description of these is contained in earlier chapters in the sections on Social Concerns.
CHAPTER 17 CONFERENCE PAPERS
From the earliest years some Conference leaders who had a flair for journalism promoted the issuance of a vehicle of communication. The first known effort was that of Aaron Farmer who began, in 1829, the publication of "Zion's Advocate" in Wash- ington County, Indiana. Mr. Farmer was a member of the Miami Conference, and in the 1829 session he asked the Conference to support his paper. The action was favorable but with the following conditions. The paper was
1. To contain doctrine consonant with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
2. Never to be devoted to unprofitable controversy.
3. To be printed on good paper and neatly executed.
4. To be edited by Aaron Farmer.
This approval and the accompanying restrictions were about the only support the paper received.
The first issue appeared in August or September 1829. It was published every two weeks, containing eight pages mostly religious and philosophical material, sermons and biographies. The paper did not carry church news.
This pioneer effort in Miami Conference religious journalism was destined to be short-lived. It was discontinued after about two years due to lack of financial and reader support.
Another publishing effort was initiated by the Conference in 1909. H. C. Crid- land offered a resolution concerning a Conference paper. After discussion J. E. Yingling, C. J. Kephart, W. L. Bunger, E. E. Saul and H. C. Cridland were appointed a com- mittee to formulate a plan and report later in the day. 1
32 Miami Conference Minutes, 1889, 25, 26.
33 Miami Conference Minutes, 1909, 103.
1 Miami Conference Minutes, 1909, 42, 43.
167
CONFERENCE HISTORY
The committee recommended the publication of a monthly paper to be known as the Miami Conference Herald to promote a fuller knowledge of Conference work and a closer cooperation in Conference enterprises. The presiding elder was named editor and the first three issues were to be paid for by the Conference Extension Board. Whether or not the paper would be continued beyond the three issues depended on the number of subscriptions guaranteed by the churches. The matter of advertising was left to the discretion of the publishing committee. 2
Presiding elder Kurtz reported the following year that the 565 subscriptions and the advertising had paid for the paper. Eight hundred copies were distributed each month. The Conference voted to continue its publication as a self-supporting project. However, in his report in 1911 the presiding elder reported that the paper was dis- continued because of an insufficient number of paid subscriptions.
A dilemma always exists in the field of journalism. Editors, managers and pub- lishers are convinced of the value of their publications. The success of the venture, however, is guaranteed only by a high level of reader interest. A proportionately large circulation is essential. The editorial policy may be determined either by the publisher's opinion of the needs of the reader or by the interests of the readers. To the degree that these two coincide the success of the publishing venture is assured.
It is apparent that though the sponsors of the two publications mentioned above believed in the need for their papers, reader interest was lacking. Subsidy was the only hope for continuation, but this was not provided.
The failure of these two papers, however, did not remove the desire for an in- formational and promotional publication. When J. Gordon Howard was serving as the executive secretary for the Conference Sunday School Association and Christian Endeavor Union, he saw the need for a regular means of communication. In the early 1920's he put out two mimeographed sheets, the Omnibus for the Sunday School workers, and the Miami Bucket for the Christian Endeavor people.
When these two organizations were united in 1925, the time and conditions seemed right for a more ambitious periodical.
At the 1925 session of the Annual Conference Fred L. Dennis, who had been elected president of the new Sunday School and Christian Endeavor organization, called a meeting of the officers to discuss the year's program. One proposal was a con- ference paper. At a meeting of these officers with Superintendent J. H. Dutton the following week, it was unanimously agreed to proceed with the publication and to call it The Miami Messenger. A managing editor was elected and the publishing contract given to The Lewisburg Leader at Lewisburg, Ohio. M. W. Mumma was the first managing editor and the first contributing editors were J. H. Dutton Conference Super- intendent, A. E. Landis adult superintendent, and Mrs. M. W. Mumma president of the Miami Branch W.M.A.
The purposes of the Messenger were to keep Sunday School and Christian En- deavor workers informed, to present denominational and conference interests, and to offer local churches space for news. The Conference Superintendent was asked to pro- vide a monthly column and it was hoped that an occasional message would appear from the bishop. 3
2 Miami Conference Minutes, 1909, 72, 73.
3 The Miami Messenger, I (September 1925), 4.
168
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Editor Mumma was commended the following year for his fine work, which as- sured the success of this publishing experiment. To encourage large circulation the sub- scription rate was set at four years for $1.00, though this was increased to thirty-five cents a year or three years for $1.00 the following year. The budget the first year was $1183 including $300 salary for the editor. Nearly $800 of the total income was provided by the Conference and the Conference Union. In fact, because of the apparent value of the paper for the Conference, it accepted the full responsibility for its support and management.
The Conference superintendent reported in 1929 that The Miami Messenger was worthy of highest praise and that it filled a place as a newspaper and a medium for religious propaganda.
When M. W. Mumma went to Hawaii as a missionary in 1934, J. P. Hendrix was elected editor. He continued in this position until 1947 when Charles Messmer replaced him.
The number of subscribers in 1950 was 2260. The subscription price was still thirty-five cents or three years for $1.00. This was raised to fifty cents in 1954.
When Charles Messmer was elected to the staff position of Program Director in 1955 he continued to manage and edit The Messenger. A variety of problems caused the paper not to be published for about a year prior to May 1960.
About that time printing equipment was purchased for the Conference office and the production of The Miami Messenger centered there. Club subscriptions were pro- vided for the churches at twenty-five cents a year. Inlividual subscriptions were seventy- five cents. Carl Vorpe was elected editor in May 1960. Two years later Richard Hedges was elected assistant editor and became editor in 1963.
It would be the almost unanimous opinion of Conference leaders, ministers and church members that The Miami Messenger has served well its purpose during its almost forty-five years. The final issue was published and mailed in June 1970, having no further purpose as the Ohio Miami Conference moved into the larger fellowship of the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.
169
CONFERENCE HISTORY
APPENDIX I
BISHOPS AND THE MIAMI CONFERENCE
The office of bishop has had vital significance in the history of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and its successor bodies. The Miami Conference cherishes a long and personal relationship with a large number of the men who have served in this office. Since the beginning of the Conference 27 bishops were assigned to administer its affairs, though three of these only assisted the presiding bishop. Thirteen members of the Conference were elected to the office of bishop. Fourteen bishops are buried in cemeteries within the Conference area.
The following served as the presiding bishop of the Conference.
1. Christian Newcomer was first elected in 1813. He presided at each of the annual sessions beginning with the year of his election and continuing through 1829 with the exception of 1825. Bishop Newcomer was born in Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania on January 21, 1749. He died March 12, 1830 and was buried in the Dunker Church cemetery, Beaver Creek, Maryland.
2. Andrew Zeller, a member of Miami Conference, was elected in 1817 and assisted Bishop Newcomer in the Miami Conference from 1817 to 1820. He retired from the office in 1821 because of age and infirmity. He was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania on August 15, 1755 and died on May 24, 1839. He was buried in the cemetery at Germantown, Ohio.
3. Joseph Hoffman was elected in 1821 and assisted Bishop Newcomer in the Miami Conference in the years 1821 to 1824. He served only one quadrennium. He was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1780. He died November 8, 1856 in Lewisburg and was buried in the cemetery there.
4. Henry Kumler, Sr., a member of Miami Conference, presided over Miami Conference in 1825 and from 1830 to 1836, from 1838 to 1843 and in 1845. He also assisted Christian Newcomer from 1826 to 1829. Bishop Kumler, Sr. was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on January 3, 1775. He was first elected bishop in 1825 and was elected for five consecutive terms, serving until his death January 7, 1854. He was buried in the Miltonville Cemetery at Miltonville, Ohio.
5. Samuel Hiestand presided over the Conference in 1837. He was elected in 1833 and served as bishop until 1838. He was born in Page County, Virginia on March 3, 1781 and died on October 9, 1838. He was buried in Fairfield County, Ohio.
6. John Coons presided over the Conference in 1844, having served as bishop from 1841 to 1845. He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia on October 27, 1797. His death occurred on August 7, 1869. Burial was in the cemetery at German- town, Ohio.
7. William Hanby served the Conference as bishop only in the year 1846. He held the office one quadrennium, 1845-1849. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1808. After his death on May 17, 1880 he was buried in the Westerville, Ohio, Cemetery.
8. John Russell was elected bishop for two quadrennia, 1845-1849 and 1857- 1861. He presided over the Miami Conference in 1847. He was born at Pipe Creek, Maryland, on March 18, 1799 and died on December 20, 1870. He was buried at Keedysville, Maryland.
170
CONFERENCE HISTORY
9. J. J. Glossbrenner served Miami Conference as presiding bishop in the two sessions of 1848, in 1850, 1852, 1856, and from 1869 to 1872, and 1881 to 1884. He was first elected bishop in 1845 and continued in the office until 1885. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on July 24, 1812 and died January 7, 1887. Burial was at Churchville, Virginia.
10. David Edwards was elected bishop in 1849 and continued in office until 1876. He served the Miami Conference in 1849, 1853 to 1855 and from 1857 to 1868. He was born in Denbigshire, Wales on May 5, 1816. He died on June 6, 1876 and was buried in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
11. Jacob Erb presided over the Conference one year, 1851. He was born in Lan- caster County, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1804. He was first elected bishop in 1837 serving in that office from 1837 to 1845 and from 1849 to 1853. He died on April 29, 1883 and was buried in Shopp's Cemetery, Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania.
12. Jonathan Weaver served as bishop in the Miami Conference from 1873 to 1876 and in 1885 and 1890. His period as bishop extended from 1865 to 1893. He was born in Carrol County, Ohio on February 23, 1824 and died on February 6, 1901. Burial was in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
13. John Dickson was the Miami Conference bishop from 1877 to 1880 and in the years 1886 and 1889. His total period as bishop extended from 1869 to 1893. Bishop Dickson was born near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1820 and died February 22, 1907. He was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
14. Daniel K. Flickinger, a member of the Miami Conference, was elected mission- ary bishop in 1885 and served one quadrennium. He assisted Jonathan Weaver in the Conference session of 1885. His birthdate was May 25, 1824 and the place Butler County, Ohio. He died August 29, 1911 and was buried at Oxford, Ohio.
15. Nicholas Castle served as the presiding bishop of the Miami Conference in 1887 and 1891. He was elected to the office in 1877 and served until 1905. He was born at Bristol, Indiana October 4, 1837 and died April 18, 1922. The place of burial was Philomath, Oregon.
16. Ezekiel B. Kephart was elected to the office of bishop in 1881 and continued until 1905. His Miami Conference administration was in 1888, 1892, 1894 and 1901 to 1904. He was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania on November 6, 1834. He died January 24, 1906 and was buried in Annville, Pennsylvania.
17. Job Smith Mills was the Miami Conference bishop in 1893, and from 1905 to 1908. His total period as bishop was from 1893 to 1909. He was a native of Washington County, Ohio where he was born February 28, 1848. He died September 16, 1909 and was buried in Scottdale, Pennsylvania.
18. James W. Hott was elected bishop in 1889 serving in the office until 1902. He was the Miami Conference bishop from 1896 to 1900. Bishop Hott was born near Winchester, Virginia on November 15, 1844. He died on January 9, 1902 and was buried in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
19. William M. Bell served as bishop from 1905 to 1929, but he administered in Miami Conference only in the year 1909. He was born in Whitley County, Indiana on November 12, 1860 and died October 6, 1933. He was buried in Pomona, California.
171
CONFERENCE HISTORY
20. George M. Mathews was a member of Miami Conference when he was elected bishop in 1902, serving until 1921. He was the Miami Conference bishop in 1910 and from 1913 to 1920. He was elected by letter ballot to fill the vacancy left by the death of J. W. Hott. Bishop Mathews was born east of Cincinnati, Ohio on August 22, 1848. He died April 3, 1921 and was buried in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
21. William M. Weekley served as bishop of Miami Conference in 1911 and 1912. His total period as bishop was 1905 to 1917. He was born in Tyler County, West Virginia on September 18, 1851. He died January 8, 1926 and was buried at Parkersburg, West Virginia.
22. Arthur R. Clippinger, a member of Miami Conference, was elected to the office of bishop in 1921 and was assigned to the Central Area and the Miami Conference that same year. His entire period in the office was in this area. He retired in 1950. Bishop Clippinger was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania on September 3, 1878 and died July 18, 1958. He was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
23. Fred L. Dennis, while pastor of First United Brethren Church in Dayton, Ohio was elected bishop in 1941. He continued in office until his untimely death in 1958. He served the Miami Conference from 1951 to 1954 and in 1956 and 1957. Bishop Dennis was born in Shelby County, Indiana on November 21, 1890. He died on January 28, 1958 and was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
24. David T. Gregory, while serving as executive secretary of the Council of Ad- ministration, was elected bishop in 1950. He continued to serve in this office until he was killed in an automobile accident in 1956. He served the Miami Conference in 1955. Bishop Gregory was born at Martinsburg, West Virginia on July 16, 1889. He died December 27, 1956 and was buried in the Martinsburg Cemetery.
25. Harold R. Heininger served the Miami Conference in 1958. He was elected bishop in 1954 while prsident of Evangelical Theological Seminary, retiring in 1968. He was born in Lima, Ohio August 13, 1895.
26. Paul M. Herrick, a member of the Miami Conference, began his administration of the Miami Conference in 1959 and continued to 1968. He was elected to the office of bishop in 1958, an office which he still holds. He was born at Scandia, Kansas on April 3, 1898, assuming the pastorate of Dayton First Church in 1941.
27. F. Gerald Ensley began his administrative responsibilities as bishop in the Miami Conference in 1968, presiding over the annual session in 1969. He was elected bishop while pastor of the North Broadway Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio in 1952. He was born August 12, 1907 at Chesterville, Ohio.
Other Miami Conference Ministers Who Became Bishops
1. Henry Kumler, Jr., who was elected in 1841, served only one term though he was elected German bishop in 1861 and served to 1865. He was born in Myerstown, Pennsylvania January 10, 1801 and died August 19, 1882. Burial was in the cemetery at Lewisburg, Ohio.
2. Henry H. Fout served the church as bishop from 1913 to 1941. He was born in Maysville, West Virginia on October 18, 1861 and died December 4, 1947. Burial was in Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
3. Cyrus J. Kephart was elected bishop in 1913 and continued in office until 1925. He was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania on February 23, 1852. He died July 20, 1932 and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.
172
CONFERENCE HISTORY
4. Grant D. Batdorf, while pastor of First United Brethren Church in Dayton, was elected bishop in 1929. He continued in that office until he retired in 1945. Bishop Batdorf was born at Lickdale, Pennsylvania on April 30, 1874. He died Sep- tember 21, 1954 and was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
5. J. Gordon Howard, while a member of Miami Conference, but president of Otterbein College, was elected by mail ballot on August 2, 1957. He was reelected by the General Conference in 1958 and continues in that office to the present time. He was born in Tokyo, Japan Decmber 3, 1899.
APPENDIX II CHURCHES AND CIRCUITS
An Annual Conference has no existence apart from its local churches. Hence the need for including churches and circuits in a Conference history. Preaching places and classes existed prior to the formation of the Conference. Even so, the Conference, once formed, became the regulating and directing agency. It determined quite early that the circuit rider pattern would be adopted for the assignment of ministers. The shortage of ministers and the smallness and tentative nature of the places for preaching helped to form this decision.
Preaching services were usually held in homes, barns, groves and schoolhouses. The name of the schoolhouse or family was the identifying name of the class and especially of the preaching place. These were grouped together to form circuits and it was as a rule the circuit name that appeared in the records.
The preacher travelled his circuit. He held services, ate meals and stayed overnight in a layman's home. He then moved on to repeat the experience in other homes over a period of one to three weeks. The Conference, however, shortly after its organization in 1810, saw the need for continuity and permanency. In 1812 it adopted a resolution to form spiritual societies and classes. 1* In each of the two 1812 sessions of the Con- ference a resolution was adopted to form a circuit and men volunteered to travel. 2 Twin Creek circuit is mentioned in the 1813 minutes. Thomas Winters and Henry Evinger, who had been assigned to this circuit, reported that they had formed a circuit containing forty-seven preaching places with many other requests for preaching. Twin Creek Circuit was then divided and Beaver Circuit was formed. New Lancaster was also listed. 3
During the next several years other circuits were formed. Prominent among these was Miami. At the 1819 session a big meeting was announced at the Little Indian Creek meeting house in Butler County. 4 The Greenville and Indian Knobs Circuits appear for the first time in 1820.
Beginning with the 1821 annual session a more complete listing of the circuits appears in connection with the assignment of preachers. The circuits listed were White- water, Indiana, Greenville, Twin Creek, Miami, Cincinnati, Brush Creek, Walnut and
1 Miami Conference Minutes, 1812.
* The early records use the terms "district," "circuit," "station," and "mission" but not always with precise meaning and seldom referring to single appointments. For example, the Dayton Station in 1853 consisted of Dayton, Greencastle and Beavertoyn.
2 Miami Conference Minutes, 1812.
3 Miami Conference Minutes, 1813.
4 Miami Conference Minutes, 1819.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
Canicanick (variously spelled) . " Elizabeth, Washington, Lancaster and New Phila- delphia Circuits were added in 1822. 6*
Table 1 lists the circuits, stations and missions beginning with 1823. The order is according to the year the name disappeared from the Conference Minutes. Some re- appeared later. Some of those listed in the Table as being added in 1823 had an earlier beginning as indicated above.
Several circuits disappeared from the Miami Conference records in 1825 and 1830, the dates of the fulfillment of General Conference actions forming the Scioto and Indiana Conferences.
Table 1 CIRCUITS, STATIONS, MISSIONS
Name
Date Added
Date Dropped
Greenville
1823
1824
Union City
1823
1824
Adelphia
1824
1825
Brush Creek
1823
1825
Lancaster
1823
1825
Washington
1823
1825
Scioto
1823
1826
White River
1826
1827
Corydon
1824
1829
Charleston
1824
1830
Flat Rock
1825
1830
Orange
1825
1830
Tanner's Creek
1826
1830
Wabash
1828
1830
Whitewater
1823
1830
Maumee
1837
1838
Twin Creek
1823
1842
Cincinnati
1823
1843
Sidney
1840
1843
Round Head
1842
1843
Clear Creek
1837
1844
Dayton
1841
1844
Jamestown
1843
1844
Mt. Pleasant
1843
1844
Van Wert
1842
1845
Allentown
1844
1845
Dayton
1844
1845
Beginning with the 1843 Conference session appointments were given in more detail. Some preaching places and classes were listed by name. Table 2 contains the names of preaching places and classes for which there is no indication of continuity as churches. or which continued in other conferences. The date is that for the first or only mention of the place in the Conference Minutes, or in reports to the Religious Telescope.
Miami Conference Minutes, 1821.
6 Miami Conference Minutes, 1822.
* The Miami Conference at this time covered much of southern Ohio and all of southern Indiana, extending to the Wabash River. A part of Kentucky was also included.
174
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Table 2 PREACHING PLACES AND CLASSES
(No record of having continued as Miami Conference churches)
1810 Lewis Kemp's near Dayton
1810 Michael Kreider's, Ross County
1810 Musselman's
1813 Peter Site's, Pleasant Township, Fairfield County
1815 Jacob Mechlin's, Fairfield County
1817 Widow Kramer's, Fairfield County
1818 Henry Joseph Frey's, Warren County
1818 Corydon, Indiana
1819 Frederick Pontius', Ross County
1821 Adelphia, Ross County
1823
David Lutz' near Charleston, Clark County, Indiana
1823
Stone Meeting House, southeast of Dayton
1824
Abraham Buckwalter's, Ross County
1828
Broad Run, Tuscarawas County
1829
Jacob Garst's near Germantown
1829 Crooked Run, Tuscarawas County
1831
Stonecipher Meeting House
1831 Lyday's, Perry County
1835
Otterbein Meeting House, Scioto Region
1836 Joseph Hoffman's, Dayton
1837 Ebenezer Chapel, Butler County
1837 Maumee at Brunersburgh
1838 Simon Geeting's
1838 Jacksonville, Miami Circuit
1840 North Main Street, Dayton
1840 Zarring's (Zehring's)
1840 Frey's
1840 Father McNeil's
1840 Runyon's Meeting House
1843 Carrollton
1843 Otto Chapel
1843 Bennet's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Blufton, Blufton Circuit
1843 Drake's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Guthri's, Blufton Circuit
1843 G. Grove's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Janesis', Blufton Circuit
1843 Lawend's, Blufton Circuit
1843 McDowel's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Millgame's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Nelson's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Portland, Blufton Circuit
1843 Stultze's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Tobey's, Blufton Circuit
1843 Brown's, Five Mile Circuit
175
CONFERENCE HISTORY
1843 Riggle's, Greenville Circuit
1843 Flenard's, Indian Creek Circuit
1843 Bogg's, Miami Circuit
1843 College Corner, New Garden Circuit
1843 Custard's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Frysinger's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843
Gimbel's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Goddard's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Henderson's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Montesuma's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Shindledecker's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Shornsville, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Wittshire's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 Wyat's, St. Mary's Circuit
1843 H. Wherley's, Seven Mile Circuit
1843 McElvey's, Springfield Circuit
1843 Father Toby's, Farmersville
1843 Jamestown
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