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 9
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14 Religious Telescope, XI (February 13, 1861), 95.
15 Religious Telescope, XXXV (August 18, 1869), 397.
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the First United Brethren Church in Dayton is going on with unabating interest and power. Nearly eighty persons have been admitted to the fellowship of the Church." 16
Miami Chapel, though still outside the city, continued to grow and to offer a vital ministry to the people of its area.
The Otterbein Church built its first building, a one story brick building on Wayne Avenue near Jones Street, in 1855.
The Third United Brethren Church was organized for colored people under the care of Dayton First in 1858. In 1868-69 a house of worship was built on South Ludlow Street. This was sometimes called the Ludlow Street Mission.
T. N. Sowers of First Church established a Sunday School in East Dayton in 1865. A frame chapel was also built that year in which the Sunday School and some preaching services were continued for some years. This group formed the nucleus of the High Street Church.
The Summit Street Church grew out of a Sunday School organized by John Kemp in 1869-70. This was located in Ell's book bindery on Summit near Fourth. The church was organized in 1870 following a revival conducted by C. W. Miller, pastor of the Miami Chapel Church. It was known as the Home Street Church for a short time before the street name was changed to Summit. A building was begun on Summit, north of Third also in 1870.
Union Biblical Seminary
In 1869 the Conference report on education expressed deep regret that the church was still without a theological school. So when the General Board of Education de- cided to take the first steps toward founding such a school the Conference commended the enterprise to the favor and generous liberality of the people. The Conference voted the following resolution: "Resolved that we the ministers of the Miami Annual Con- ference invite J. Kemp to our fields of labor as agent of the contemplated Theological Seminary and pledge him our hearty cooperation." 17
The following year the Conference pledged support to the newly established Seminary and welcomed Dr. Davis and Professor Funkhouser to the faculty and to the Conference. It also expressed gratitude that the decision was made to locate the school within the bounds of the Miami Conference. Union Biblical Seminary opened its doors in the Summit Street Church in 1871.
Mrs. D. L. Rike said, "We had to found a Seminary to train our illiterate preachers, for our high school children were growing more and more unwilling to hear them preach." 18
Cooperation and Union
The attitude of the Conference toward interdenominational cooperation and union came to the fore from time to time. This is illustrated by resolutions adopted during the 1855 session.
"That we are decidedly in favor of church union and fusion where it can be effected without being detrimental to our Holy Christianity or the glory of God."
16 Religious Telescope, XI (February 20, 1861), 98.
37 Miami Conference Minutes. 1870, 14.
18 Mrs. D. L. Rike, Religious Telescope, LXXXII (January 12, 1916), 17.
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"That we favorably entertain the proposal made by the unofficial convention held in Dayton, Ohio by Wesleyan Methodists, Evangelical Associationists, free Presbyterians and United Brethren in Christ for church union and co- operation."
Two delegates were appointed to the union convention to be held the following May. 19
CHAPTER 7 THE MIAMI CONFERENCE, 1872 - 1900
The history of the Conference is divided at this point because in 1872 it begins to function under the influence of Union Biblical Seminary, organized the previous year in the Summit Street Church. A long dream of many Miami Conference people for a better educated ministry was being fulfilled. The Conference began to support the school in every way. It voted in 1872 that it be the duty of each itinerant to take up a collection to aid young men studying for the ministry. The Conference also began to use the professors and students in various ways.
The Conference Sessions
The annual conference sessions continued to be held in churches in late summer. Five churches were hosts to the Conference twice: Arcanum, Cherry Grove, Dayton First, Germantown and Vandalia. Eight bishops presided at the sessions: J. J. Gloss- brenner (5), J. Weaver (7), J. Dickson (6), N. Castle (2), E. B. Kephart (3), J. S. Mills (1), J. W. Hott (5). C. J. Burkert served as assistant secretary in 1872 and as secretary the other 28 years.
Two presiding elder districts, Dayton and Cincinnati, were continued throughout the period. The annual reports of the presiding elders were printed in the Conference Minutes for the first time in 1875.
The Conference sessions opened on Wednesday and continued through Sunday. However, in 1879 the Conference approved the proposal to begin next year's session on Thursday instead of Wednesday. This schedule was followed for only one year.
Circuits and Churches
A comparatively large number of new churches were organized during this period, even though a few organizing efforts did not succeed. Of those organized, however, all, with one or two exceptions, became substantial churches.
Rev. J. E. Kemp, a local preacher, is quoted in the Religious Telescope in 1886, "I closed a very profitable meeting three and one-half miles north of Greenville Febru- ary 7, 1886 with the blessed result of a new organization of a class of 44 members with 31 parents. There are good prospects of a new church building." 1
The presiding elder reported to the 1886 session of the Conference that a neat frame church costing $1100 was ready for dedication. 2
The Religious Telescope of September 8 of that year contained the statement, "A new church dedicated four miles north of Greenville on August 29, 1886 by J. E.
19 Miami Conference Minutes, 1855, 14, 15.
1 J. E. Kemp, Religious Telescope, LII (February 24, 1886), 117.
2 Miami Conference Minutes, 1886, 25.
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Kemp." ª The name of the church referred to in these statements was not given, but it must have been Grandview.
Another new church project which did not result in a permanent ministry was at Trenton. In 1898 presiding elder J. L. Swain reported that during the year a lot on which to built a church in Trenton was donated by Mrs. Hunt and the preparatory steps were being taken to build a house of worship in that thriving village. 4 During that same session the Conference approved the project and authorized the donation or transfer of the Seven Mile building and contents to the Trenton Church project. 5 It was the desire of the Conference to start a Sunday School and preaching services at an early date. However, no further mention was made of this project. The Seven Mile Church was sold in 1900 and the residue of the fund given to Middletown.
The following churches, however, were organized during this period.
Oregonia
1873
State Road 1887
Union City
1873
Englewood
1888
Hillgrove
1876
Cowden Memorial 1889
Miamisburg
1876
Hartford Street
1890
New Madison
1878
Middletown
1890
High Street
1881
Rockdale 1890
Wagner
1884
Harrison
1891
Fairview
1886
Mt. Airy
1891
Grandview
1886
Home Avenue
1892
Oak Street
1886
Growth during this period was quite substantial. The Conference membership in 1871 was 4,000. By 1900 this had increased to 11,100. The lowest number of accessions in any one year was 623 in 1873.
The Conference boundary was not changed during this period. A few problems arose over the administration of churches on the fringe. One such case was Waterhouse. A resolution was adopted in 1883 that this church remain in Miami Conference in- stead of being transferred to Auglaize.
Ministers
In the early part of this period the same pattern was followed of examining preachers in the Conference sessions. In 1874 a minister was accused of "belief in and preaching universalism;" another of "not paying his debts, using church funds, pre- varication and exaggeration."
A tendency to change this pattern of examination became evident though the practice was not dropped suddenly. In 1891 and 1892 one brief reference was made: "The moral character of the local, superannuated and supernumerary preachers was inquired into, and all passed favorably." The minute in 1893 was, "The reading of itinerant's reports was begun, and their characters passed." Beginning in 1897 the reference was "to the reading of itinerant reports" or "the reading of the charts."
Pastorates were usually of one, two and, in a few cases, three years in the 1870's. Dayton First Church, however, realized the value of the longer pastorate. In 1877 when E. S. Chapman was reappointed for the fourth year the Conference approved it
a Religious Telescope, LII (September 8, 1886), 64.
" Miami Conference Minutes, 1898, 31.
5 Ibid., 60.
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by special vote. The same was true when he was appointed for the fifth, sixth, and seventh years.
In 1882 the Conference consented to F. G. Grigsby serving Arcanum for the fifth year, S. W. Keister Union City for the fourth year, and S. F. Coons Lewisburg for the fourth year. In 1884 consent was given for S. W. McCorkle to serve Lagonda for the fourth year and in 1885 S. A. Mowrer was approved for a fourth year at Dayton First.
Finally in the 1888 session the Conference agreed to a general rule for the return of a man for a longer term than three years, if the stationing committee thought it best to so appoint. For many years the stationing committee was elected by the Conference.
There seemed to be some feeling that when churches continued to use the same minister for a longer period the itinerant plan was being by-passed. In 1893 the Con- ference, by a 47 to 6 vote, expressed itself in favor of continuing and wholeheartedly supporting the itinerant plan.
Ministerial functions changed very little. Resolutions were adopted in 1897 as suggestions for conducting funerals.
1. That no funeral be held on the Sabbath, unless it cannot be avoided, and then only in the afternoon so as to leave the morning free for regular worship.
2. That the service ordinarily-in our large towns and cities-be regarded appropriate and complete which consists in the reading of Scripture selections, prayer and a short address.
3. That all needless expense, whether of flowers, carriages, or other matters, be avoided.
4. That in arranging for the funeral service, the pastor, as far as possible, be consulted as to time.
5. That we advise our people, when able to do so, to remunerate the officiating minister for his services as oftentimes special expenses are incurred by livery hire, railroad fare and otherwise.
It was agreed that these resolutions be read to the congregation when the pastor deemed it advisable. º
An effort was made to increase the effectiveness of ministers. This was attempted through more thorough pastor's reports to Conference. Beginning in 1885 these were submitted to a statistical committee of five, consisting of the statistical secretary, the presiding elder, and two ministers appointed by the bishop. This committee made a brief report when the name of the pastor was called for examination. A new report form and rules for reporting were also approved in 1885.
Finance and Stewardship
The Conference faced the eternal problem of inadequate receipts to meet budget demands. Efforts were made to keep presiding elders' salaries at commendable levels. This was set at not less than $900 a year in 1889. A resolution adopted in 1896 set a different standard, "Resolved that a sum not less than five percent of the pastor's salary be assessed for the presiding elder's salaries the coming year."" At the end of this period in 1900 the salary of each presiding elder was $950.
6 Miami Conference Minutes, 1897, 48.
" Miami Conference Minutes, 1896, 43.
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HISTORY
Ministers' salaries were usually considered too low. In the report of the Dayton District in 1879 C. Briggs said that the lowest salary in the District was $415, except on missions. The highest was $650, except First Church in Dayton which paid $1500.
The attitude of conference leaders and ministers about finances was well expressed by presiding elder J. W. Kilbourne in 1884. He said,
We need a better financial basis, and a more systematic way of giving among most of our officials and members; and until many realize that there is a financial obligation resting upon them, and provide for the same, we will have great difficulty to raise our pastors' salaries and keep up our church interests. 8
At the conference session at Lagonda in 1891 D. L. Rike said, "We ought to pay our ministers a living salary." He coupled this with a demand for better service on the part of the ministers, saying, "And then expect them to prepare two sermons for every Sabbath-and I mean not shilly-shally sermons but prepared ones, such as will interest and profit the people." 9
In a separate lay delegate's meeting in 1892 these recommendations were approved on the subject of finance.
1. That our pastors in their preaching seek to make plain to our people the duty and privilege of proporionate and systematic giving and urge them to conscientiously consecrate their earthly goods to the holy service of God.
2. That the Finance Committee make a list of members indicating what each ought to pay, and that these names then be assigned to stewards as they can best influence the members, and thus obtain their subscriptions. 10
A step toward more orderly and regular giving carrying with it the possibility of every member solicitation was taken in 1892. A resolution was adopted for presentation to the General Conference that "each quarterly conference not only estimate the preacher's salary and other expenses of the church for different congregations on each charge, but also to judicially apportion the same to all the members composing said charge." 11 The Conference backed up this resolution by voting to adopt this system of apportionment for its churches.
Three years later a resolution was adopted "that this Conference urges each charge to appoint two or more stewards for the collection of the Conference assignments, these stewards to act under the direction of the pastor."
The statistical chart for the Conference in 1872 reported a total giving for all purposes of $33,866. This had increased to $93,026 in 1900. The per capita giving in 1872 was $7.27 and in 1900 it was $8.38.
Education
The general subject of education is covered in a later chapter. Worthy of special mention at this point, however, is the Ministerial Educational Aid Society.
The Conference and the local churches were increasing their interest in an edu- cated ministry, but men faced the constant problem of the cost of attending college and
8 Miami Conference Minutes, 1884, 28.
9 Religious Telescope, LVII (September 16, 1891), 582.
10 Miami Conference Minutes, 1892, 47.
11 Miami Conference Minutes, 1895, 65.
12 Miami Conference Minutes, 1895, 68.
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seminary. For a number of years the churches were asked to take offerings for "indigent" young men preparing for the ministry.
In 1873 the Ministerial Educational Aid Society was formed. The constitution as adopted stated that the sole object was to aid indigent young men who were called to preach in acquiring an education for their work, literary as well as theological. Ap- plicants for aid had to be preparing for the ministry in the United Brethren Church in one of our own institutions. Not more than $150 was to be given to a student in any one year.
In the early years this Society dil not handle large sums of money. For example the sum available in 1875-76 was $145.77 and in 1882-83 the total received was $180.86. Four contributions were made to students from January to August 1876, three for $25 and one for $50. The organization had its own treasurer until 1878 when the funds were transferred to the Board of Education.
This was the small beginning of a student aid program which has continued through the years.
A report of the Committee on Sabbath Schools was given in each session of the Conference. These reports dealt with current concerns and devolpments in the Sunday School movement. In 1877 the report recommended that persons who are not pro- fessors of religion should not be used as teachers; and the cultivation of music in all our schools and the use of the organ to make the music more attractive.
In 1900 the recommendations were for cooperation with Sunday School Asso- ciations, the use of normal classes for teacher training, observance of Decision Days, and the use of United Brethren literature. The report also endorsed the latest develop- ments in Sunday School work-the Home Department and the Cradle Roll.
An annual report of the Committee on Education was a part of each confer- ence program. These reports presented some facts about education in general but always referred specifically to Otterbein College and Union Biblical Seminary with promises of continued support.
The 1900 report referred to the action of Otterbein's Board of Trustees to con- sider moving the College from Westerville. It also offered a statement of encouragement to bring the school into the Miami Conference area.
A strong resolution was adopted in the 1884 session of the Conference asking the Otterbein College Board of Trustees to move the school to Dayton. 13
Missions
The Conference interest in missions did not wane. New congregations were formed. Missionaries were enlisted. A Committee on Missions reported at each annual session. To indicate the nature of these reports we quote from the report to the 1884 session of the Conference.
To the Christian Church, whose vital law is missionary activity, has been assigned the work of proclaiming the gospel to every creature. .. . In his provi- dence God has opened to us broad and promising fields ... .. The Lord has greatly blessed us in our work across the sea, and we rejoice that our struggles in Africa are no longer regarded a doubtful experiment. The providence that
13 Miami Conference Minutes, 1884, 42, 43.
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called into existence the Woman's Missionary Society has greatly strengthened the forces at work among us. 14
The Woman's Missionary Association had its beginning in the Miami Conference. The editor of the Religious Telescope of May 1, 1872 said, "We are authorized to announce a meeting at Home Street Church in this city May 9, 1872, for the purpose of organizing a Woman's Msisionary Association for Miami Conference." 15
Prior to this Miss Lizzie Hoffman, out of her own spiritual struggles, conceived the idea of organizing church women for a special work for missions. She consulted Rev. John Kemp, a prominent church leader in Dayton. His interest encouraged the women to personally visit other women in the Dayton churches. All this resulted in the call through the Religious Telescope, mentioned above.
The meeting was held with Dr. G. A. Funkhouser of Union Biblical Seminary as chairman. An organization was effected, officers elected and a constitution presented. Mrs. T. N. Sowers was the first president and Mrs. D. L. Rike the first vice-president. Miss Lizzie Hoffman was employed as organizer of local church societies.
The Miami Conference in session in 1872 adopted this resolution: "That we are highly pleased with the interest taken by a number of sisters in the cause of missions in our Conference and gratified to hear of the organization of a Woman's Missionary Society in our midst." 16
Several ministers undertook the promotion of this new organization and its in- terest in missions. A long letter from P. H. Davis of Arcanum appeared in the July 31, 1872 issue of the Telescope. 17 He explained the nature of the Association and appealed for local church and individual member support. He indicated that the local societies were to hold monthly meetings. Individual dues were twenty-five cents per quarter.
In the August 14 issue of the same year W. J. Pruner appealed for dedication and cooperation and especially mentioned the urgent need to be about the mission task. 18
The first Annual Meeting of the Woman's Missionary Association was held at Pleasant Ridge on September 18, 1872, where the constitution was amended and adopted and plans made for organizing local auxiliaries or societies. 19
The second Annual Meeting was held at Middletown, Ohio on August 13, 1873. Mrs. Sowers was again elected president and Mrs. Rike vice president. Twenty-five local societies were reported with about 500 members. The receipts for the year were $322.25. 20
The General Conference of 1873 commended the women of Miami Conference for this forward-looking step and urged other conferences to follow in this good work.
Representatives from the W.M.A. were invited to take part in the 1875 meeting of the Home, Frontier and Foreign Mission Board. Rev. D. K. Flickinger and Rev. J. W. Hott, officers of this Board, urged the calling of a general meeting for organizing a denomination-wide Women's Missionary organization.
A call was therefore issued through the Telescope of September 29, 1875 for
14 Miami Conference Minutes, 1884, 36, 37.
15 The Religious Telescope, XXXVIII (May 1, 1872), 276.
16 Miami Conference Minutes, 1872, 9.
17 The Religious Telescope, XXXVIII (July 31, 1872), 378.
18 Ibid., (August 14, 1872), 304.
19 The Religious Telescope, XXXIX (September 18, 1872), 18.
20 Ibid., (September 10, 1873), 426.
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such a meeting. This was held in First Church, Dayton, on October 21, 22, 1875 and the Woman's Missionary Association of the denomination was formed. A Miami Conference woman, Mrs. T. N. Sowers, was elected president.
Thus began a conference and a denominational Woman's Missionary Association which have continued a very fruitful work until the present time.
The close relationship between the Conference and the Missionary Association was indicated by the exchange of representatives to speak before the annual sessions. The Committeee on Missions of the Conference made reference each year in its annual report to the commendable work being done by the Association.
Mrs. Mary Keister, speaking on behalf of the Miami Branch W.M.A. in 1888, announced that four young ladies were to enter mission work in the fall-two going to Africa and two to China.
The complete minutes of the sixteenth annual session of the Miami Branch are included in the Conference minutes of 1893. The report indicated that the Branch had 31 local societies, 8 Young Ladies' Bands and 8 Childrens' Bands, with a total mem- bership of 1352. The amount contributed to missions was $1,741.
During this period the Conference had its own Branch Missionary Society with its own treasurer and other officers. It solicited contributions from the churches, re- ceiving $2,853 in 1900. This money was used in the Conference. For many years one evening session of the Conference was a missions emphasis service.
A special mission project won the support of the Conference in 1891, the Washington Church. This was a denominational effort to establish a church in Wash- ington, D.C. The resolution adopted was to accept the appeal and to ask each minister to present the cause to his congregation, seeking to raise the quota of $1,000.
Closely related to missions was church erection. The Miami Conference had a deep concern for churches that could not afford to construct chapels or church buildings. In a report on Church Extension in the minutes of the 1868 session is the resolution, "That we memorialize General Conference to plan and furnish the Church with a well regulated system of 'Church extension' to meet the want of our Church." 21 The Miami Conference delegates went to the 1869 General Conference with a constitution already written and were able to get it adopted. Thus the Church Erection Society of the United Brethren Church came into being.
The 1870 session of the Miami Conference took action "that those in charge of fields of labor be required to read to all their congregations the constitution of said society and explain fully its object, and urge our people, especially the wealthy, to contribute to this enterprise." 22
Further reports with similar emphases were made in the Conferences of 1872, 1874, 1878, 1880 and somewhat regularly thereafter.
21 Miami Conference Minutes, 1868, 20.
22 Miami Conference Minutes, 1870, 16.
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CHAPTER 8 THE MIAMI CONFERENCE, 1872 - 1900 (Continued)
Youth Ministry
Though the churches of Miami Conference had an early interest in their young people, the first formal organization for youth seemed to have been a Young Men's Christian Association organized at First Church in Dayton in 1871. The name was later changed to Young People's Christian Association.
During that same year the Summit Street Church formed a Young People's Sunday School class and in 1882 a Young People's Christian Association. Other youth groups were formed throughout the Conference.
G. M. Mathews announced in the Religious Telescope that the first convention of young people's societies of Miami Conference would be held at Greenville, November 10, 1889 "to effect a permanent, thorough organization for the cultivation of love for active, aggressive Christian work on the part of all young people." 1
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