USA > Texas > History of Methodism in Texas > Part 10
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On the evening of the same day the vote was reconsid- ered, and, by a vote of 72 to 49, the pastoral term was ex- tended from two to four years. So this, after all, is no very radical change. Many of our ministers are men of fine culture, and could sustain themselves as pastors for a much longer period than even the extended term allows.
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SECTION II.
The New Departure, continued-The Colored People-Organization of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America-Election of Col- ored Bishops, etc .- Providential Mission of the M. E. Church South- N. W. Texas and Trinity Conferences-New Bishops-General Con- ference of 1870- Visit of Bishop Janes and Dr. Harris, with Proposi- tions for a Reunion.
THERE was one respect in which the General Conference of 1866 took a wide departure from previous policy. Pro- vision was made for the organization of Quarterly Confer- ences, Annual Conferences, and ultimately a General Con- ference, with an independent autonomy, for the colored peo- ple. The Methodists who first preached in this country gave attention to the slave population. In 1846 we had, in round numbers, 125,000 colored members. These had increased, in 1860, to 200,000; but in 1866 the number was less than 80,000, and in 1870 reduced to 13,000. With or without our concurrence, the colored people were slipping out from under our control. In accordance with the provisions made by the General Conference of 1866, a General Conference of colored ministers met in Jackson, Tennessee, Dec. 16, 1870. Bishops Paine and McTyeire were present and presided over the body, and ordained the newly-elected colored men to the episcopal office in the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America-the name selected for the new organization. Wm. Henry Niles of Kentucky, of mixed blood, and Richard H. Vanderhorst of South Carolina, of pure African blood, were elected and consecrated Bishops. A book-agent was elected, and'a paper called the Christian Index, published by Dr. Watson, of Memphis, adopted as the official organ of the new church.
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Bishop Marvin having, in the Fall of 1870, organized a Con- ference among the colored people in East Texas, Texas was represented in the Colored General Conference. The new church takes its place beside other similar organizations, seeking to enlighten and elevate the colored race. Every Christian and patriot will wish it success. It admits no white people to membership, and all members, preachers, and church-buildings of the colored people in the M. E. Church South, will be turned over to the new organization. If the reader will excuse a little digression, we think it may serve to show why we lost the control of our colored people after the war. First, the agents of the " Freedmen's Bureau," and all other officers of the Government threw their influence against us. Second, missionaries of the M. E. Church North flocked South, and commenced the work of prosely- ting, claiming to be the special friends of the colored race. Third, politicians who sought negro votes visited the col- ored people, ate at their tables, and slept in their houses. If a preacher would not do the same, it was difficult for him to get the colored population to hear him preach. But if a minister of our church were to do that, he would lose caste among the white people. Before the war, a man could preach alternately to white and colored congre- gations. After emancipation, it was so that a man must confine his ministrations to one class or the other, and our preachers, with great unanimity, chose to minister to their own color. And so we lost control of the colored race.
Having digressed, we go one step further. We are among those who believe Methodism is a child of Providence. The divine blessing largely attended the labors of the minis- ters of the M. E. Church South, to both white and black races. But does it follow, because we have lost our hold
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upon one of these classes, that our providential mission is at an end ? By no means. We may have a special mission to. the white people of the country. Thousands of these have been raised under our ministry, believe in our doc trines, and approve our economy. To many of these, the very name of the M. E. Church South is endeared by a thousand associations. After all the amending the Consti- tution of our country, one of its original provisions remains intact. The only interference of the Congress or a State Legislature with religious bodies, is to give them pro- tection. Colored people may be forced promiscuously with whites into railway-cars, steamboats, hotels, theatres, etc., but unbidden they cannot force themselves into churches. We believe that to the M. E. Church South, there is a marked providential mission, and that she is now entering upon a season of unparalleled prosperity ; she is now creating a literature of her own; she will build up a large number of educational institutions, confining herself to the legiti- mate work of a church of Jesus Christ; she will be in- strumental in winning many precious souls from darkness to light. 1
The General Conference of 1866 set apart the North- West Texas Conference, and made provision for the forma- tion of a Conference which afterward received the name of Trinity. Wm. M. Wightman, Enoch M. Marvin, and Holland N. McTyeire were elected Bishops. The sixth General Conference met in Memphis, Tennessee, May 4th, 1870. Delegates from East Texas : L. P. Lively, Jefferson Shook; reserve, N. W. Berks; lay, J. F. Taylor, M. F. Bonner, not present; reserve, L. B. Greer. From Texas : R. Alexander, I. G. John, J. W. Whipple; reserves, B. T. Kavanaugh, H. V. Philpott; lay, J. D. Giddings, C. S.
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Taliferro, not present, W. W. Browning; reserves, W. G. Webb, Lit. W. Moore. West Texas: R. H. Belvin, O. A. Fisher; reserve, W. T. Thornbury; lay, W. Headen, D. A. T. Woods; reserve, H. E. McCulloch. North- west Texas: Thos. Stanford, L. B. Whipple; reserve, J. S. McCarver, J. M. Jones ; lay, J. R. Henry, R. Q. Mills ; reserves, N. T. Sneed, P. A. Philpott. Trinity : R. Lane, J. M. Binkley; reserve, J. W. P. Mckenzie, J. T. P. Irvine; lay, Asa Holt, W. J. Clark, W. H. Christian. At this Conference John C. Keener was elected Bishop, and some minor modifications were made in unimportant dis- ciplinary rules. As this was the first Conference in which laymen had participated, its proceedings were watched with a good deal of interest. In his closing address to the Conference, Bishop Paine said :
" The inauguration of lay delegation has worked admirably, con- firming our convictions that the laity can greatly aid in managing the great interests of the church, and I hope they will return home with the impression that they are not only welcomed, but that they are felt to be an important element in our deliberations."
Bishop E. S. Janes and Rev. Dr. Wm. L. Harris, on behalf of a commission of the M. E. Church, appeared at the Conference at Memphis with propositions looking to a reunion of the two churches. The commission, however, had only an inferential right to present such overtures, it having been appointed to present such overtures to the African Zion M. E. Church. Our Conference declined treating upon the subject with a commission so informally appointed. A series of resolutions was adopted; the fourth declares :
" That the true interests of the Church of Christ require and demand the maintenance of our separate and distinct organization."
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The fifth and last resolution read as follows :
" That we tender Rev. Bishop Janes and Rev. Dr. Har- ris, the members of the commission now with us, our high regards as brethren beloved in the Lord, and express our desire that the day may soon come when proper Christian sentiments and fraternal Christian relations between the two great branches of Northern and Southern Methodism shall be permanently established."
In accordance with the spirit of this last resolution, Bishop Janes pronounced the benediction on the adjourn- ment of the Conference, and the committee on public wor- ship announced for both of the gentlemen to preach, though they were unable to remain to fill the appointments. The door is now fairly open. If the M. E. Church wishes to recognize the Church South as a legitimate branch of Methodism, let them come with an open proposition, and march squarely up to the front-door and knock for a fra- ternal visit. We hope this will be done, and that the ven- erable Dr. Lovick Pierce will live to return the call in our behalf. When fraternal relations are once established, it may be found practicable for the two bodies to act in con- cert in carrying on foreign missionary work. It may also be found expedient to establish a joint commission of intelligent laymen to act as arbiters in questions as to the rights of property between the two bodies, and thus save vexatious and expensive lawsuits. As to any closer union, that may safely be left to the determination of Providence and posterity. The time is not yet.
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SECTION III.
Educational Institutions-Rutersville-San Augustine-Clarksville- Chappell Hill-Bastrop-Huntsville- Henderson-Goliad-Starville - Waco- Paris -- Waxahachie, etc.
WE do not propose to go very minutely into the history of the various institutions of learning which have been for a shorter or longer period under the patronage of our Con- ferences in Texas. One of the measures suggested by Dr. Ruter, in 1837, was the establishment of a college. Soon after his death a company was formed, the Rutersville league of land purchased, and in 1838 a school started. By the liberality of Congress and private individuals, Rutersville received a fine landed endowment; but the trustees had no money, and if they erected buildings and employed teachers, land must be sold. It was sold or bartered to mechanics and teachers. Good buildings were provided, and hun- dreds if not thousands of the youth of Texas received more or less benefit. The parties receiving the land would greatly have preferred the money, but the trustees had no money to give. But moderate salaries were paid to the teachers, and that frequently in unsalable lands. Thus the endowment was expended, but the people had the benefit of a reputable school, that exerted no inconsiderable influence throughout central and western Texas. The Congress of the Republic utterly refused at that early day. to charter any sectarian institution. This defect in the charter of Rutersville College created a distrust upon the minds of some. Other institutions sprung up and were placed under the patronage of the Conference, and Ruters- ville gradually ceased to be recognized as a regular Method- ist institution. Good schools were, however, maintained
ry
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in the buildings until they were broken up by the late Civil War. For twenty years Rutersville was a centre of moral, intellectual, and religious influence. The Texas Confer- ence was organized there in 1840. A considerable number of the leading members of the Conference from time to time made that place their headquarters. Some of the most successful camp-meetings ever held in Texas were at the old Rutersville camp-ground. To the writer, Ruters- ville is endeared by some of the most cherished recollections of his itinerant life. Those dear to him now in the spirit- land, dated their conversion at the Rutersville camp-meet- ings. But the glory of Rutersville has departed.
WESLEY COLLEGE AT SAN AUGUSTINE .- In 1842 a col- lege was started at San Augustine, and for five years Wesley College appeared upon the list of appointments. But that institution encountered the same difficulty as Rutersville. Congress refused a suitable charter. The church could ob- tain no certain title to the property, and after 1847 the insti- tution ceased to have any connection with the church. The building was consumed by fire during the session of the East Texas Conference in San Augustine, December, 1868.
MCKENZIE INSTITUTE .- A more successful institution than either of those named was started near Clarksville in 1839 or 1840, by Rev. J. W. P. Mckenzie. This com- menced as a private school, without a charter, and rapidly grew into public favor. Thousands of youth of both sexes have been educated at Mckenzie, many of whom are now preaching the gospel. For years there were from 200 to 300 students in attendance, and seldom a year passed with- out a sweeping revival of religion among them. In 1859 Dr. Mckenzie generously donated the Institute building and grounds, valued at $40,000, to trustees, for the East
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Texas Conference. The institution, though not as numer- ously attended as before the war, is said to be in a healthy state, and has a promising future before it.
CHAPPELL HILL .- In 1850 the citizens of Chappell Hill commenced schools for the education of both sexes. In 1855 Soule University was located there. All the Confer- ences in Texas rallied to the support of this central insti- tution. A large three-story rock building was erected, two professorships were endowed, and, up to the breaking out of the war every prospect was most encouraging. After the war it was found that the endowments could not be relied on. Still the schools were reopened, but in 1867 the fearful scourge of yellow fever, passing up the line of the railroad, reached Chappell Hill, and for the time disor- ganized both institutions. In 1870 Soule University and Chappell Hill Female College were reorganized, and' are now in successful operation, and it is hoped are entering upon an era of uninterrupted prosperity.
BASTROP INSTITUTION .- A school was commenced at Bastrop in 1851. It first appears on the Minutes as Bas- trop Academy ; then Bastrop Male and Female Academy ; then Bastrop Military Institute and Bastrop Female Academy. For a series of years these institutions were very flourishing, and doubtless accomplished a great deal of good for the Church and State. The war proved disas- trous to them, especially the Military Institution. In 1868 the Institute building became the private property of Rev. J. W. Whipple.
ANDREW FEMALE COLLEGE, at Huntsville, was estab- lished in 1852-has had a continued existence and a good degree of prosperity, and is still in successful operation. It has a commodious building, and is unembarrassed by debt.
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FOWLER INSTITUTE, at Henderson, first appears on the Minutes in 1853. For a time Fowler Institute flourished, but of late years it has not been prosperous.
PAINE FEMALE INSTITUTE, at Goliad, was organized in 1854, and has continued to enjoy more or less prosperity. In 1868 a debt of $2,000 on the building was cancelled. Its prospects are flattering.
STARVILLE FEMALE HIGH-SCHOOL appears on the Min- utes of the East Texas Conference in 1855.
WACO FEMALE COLLEGE first appears on the Minutes in 1856. It is doing well, and has unencumbered a valuable property.
The Journal of the General Conference mentions, in 1859, the METHODIST FEMALE INSTITUTE at Tyler and the CEDAR MOUNTAIN ACADEMY.
In 1855 PARIS FEMALE INSTITUTE appears on the Min- utes; it is still in a state of prosperity.
The ASBURY INSTITUTE, at Thompsonville, Gonzales County, for a number of years enjoyed the patronage of the Texas Conference. The male and female colleges at Seguin appear upon the Minutes in 1858. In 1870 an agent was appointed to raise means to pay off a debt upon these institutions. Both are in successful progress.
A Conference school was established at Port Sullivan in 1862. It does not now appear on the Minutes. In 1869 a prosperous female institute is reported at Dallas. The same year measures were taken to establish a Conference school at Corpus Christi. In October, 1869, the prepara- tory department of Marvin College was opened at Waxa- hachie. A fine rock building has been erected for this institution. District schools have been established at Owensville, at Johnson's Point, Kaufman County, and
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perhaps at other places. The connection between the Church and Conference schools has never been very well defined. The alliances are easily formed, and dissolved with equal facility : At the General Conference in 1870, measures were taken to define these relations more clearly. The Conference now asks definite reports from institutions asking its endorsement: 1st, name of institution; 2d, grade; 3d, location ; 4th, when founded ; 5th, when and by whom chartered ; 6th, address of its president or prin- cipal; 7th, number of instructors and their names ; 8th, number of students ; 9th, value of grounds, building, and furniture; 10th, number of volumes in library; 11th, en- dowment; 12th, time of commencement or anniversary exercises. It is to be hoped that the observance of these requests will operate beneficially upon our church schools.
SECTION V.
New Churches in Marshall, Jefferson, Houston, Navasota, Bryan, Gal- veston ; Dedication-Tom Parmer's Experience-David Ayers- Increase of Members 1870, 3,284-Bishop Marvin's Tour-District Conferences-Local Preachers-Revivals, Church-buildings, etc .- Religious Denominations in Texas.
IN 1868 a commodious church-building was erected in Marshall, though a heavy debt was left upon it, which was liquidated the ensuing year under the labors of R. S. Fin- ley. At a protracted meeting, commenced in this church during the week of prayer, sixty persons professed religion.
The same year the church in Jefferson was built. This was, at the time of its completion, the most elegant Method- ist church in Texas; it cost $30,000.
In 1861 the church in Houston, built of brick in 1844, fell down during a storm. In 1867 a commodious frame
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house was erected upon the same site. The venerable Judge Shearn, who had superintended the building of the brick church in 1843 and '44, now gave his personal supervision to the erection of the new house. He was assisted by Messrs. T. W. House, D. Gregg, A. McGowan, and G. S. Hardcastle, who had also acted as trustees in the erection of the first church. The church is finished throughout, with a com- munion-rail in the rear of the pulpit, and an organ-loft in the rear over the altar, and a gallery on three sides of the edifice. A debt of $3,000 was still upon the building. Judge Shearn's health becoming very feeble, in 1869 he proposed to the pastor, Dr. Kavanaugh, that if the trustees would pay $1,000 due to outside parties he would donate $2,000 still due him personally. The $1,000 were secured, and the church-debt paid off.
In 1868 a neat frame church, 38x60, was erected in Navasota, and August 8, 1869, a church of similar dimen- sions was dedicated in Bryan.
The people of Galveston had long felt that Ryland Chap- el was too small for them, and in 1868 steps were taken for the erection of a new church. An eligible location was secured at the junction of Bath Avenue and Broadway, two of the broadest and most beautiful streets of the city. Mr. Lewis, the pastor, entered heartily into the work. By his exertions, aided by a very efficient building committee, means were soon secured to commence the house, which received the name of St. John's Church. It is built of brick, in the Gothic style of architecture, 55x100 feet, including thickness of walls, which are for the basement 20 inches and for the second story 16 inches. The rear of the building has an alcove for the pulpit, 91x19 feet. It has a tower at the left front corner, 16 feet square at the
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base, the brick walls rising 55 feet, and the bell-tower and spire reaching a height of 110 feet from the ground. The basement contains the stair-room, 16x51% feet, two class- rooms, 20x22 feet. The remaining space is most admir- ably fitted up for a Sunday-school, having reversible seats, and every convenience for the accommodation of teachers and scholars. In the second story the entrance-room oc- cupies 16x52} feet. The main audience-room is 523x80 feet, with a height, extending into the roof, of 40 feet. It is furnished with 144 walnut pews, all cushioned ; the win- dows are of stained glass; the pulpit elegantly furnished, and the whole area covered with a beautiful carpet. The roof is of zinc. It is unquestionably the finest churcl :- building in Texas, and, with the ground, cost abour, $75,000. February 12, 1871, was the day fixed upon for its dedication. Bishop Marvin conducted the services. When the congregation met, the sum of $16,000 had to be raised to free the building from all liabilities. During the day and night this sum was pledged, and St. John's Church. Galveston, was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God. The joy of the dedicatory services was saddened by the recent loss on the ill-fated Varuna of two of the trustees, Allen Lewis and Jacob L. Briggs. Under the labors of Rev. Dr. J. B. Walker the congregation is constantly im- proving, and many communicants have been added to the church.
In the dense crowd of worshippers that assembled in St. John's to attend the dedication services, might have been seen a venerable man walking up the left-hand aisle. He was as straight as an arrow, six feet high, and his head as white as cotton. His apparel was plain, and contrasted singularly with that of the mass of elegantly dressed people.
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We question if there was a more attentive listener or devout worshipper in the splendid house than he in homely garments. Watching him as he left the house, it would be seen that he had a wary, cautious step, and was carefully attentive to every sound reaching his ear. That is a habit of early life, acquired during the forty years in which he had lived upon the extreme frontier, surrounded by Indians and perils incident to such a life. Those of our readers who are old Texans will recognize the portrait we have drawn of Tom Parmer. We have endeavored to form an idea of Brother Parmer's sensations as he entered that temple, with its tower and bell, the light streaming through its stained windows and falling upon the rich furniture, the cushioned pews, and gorgeously carpeted floor, and con- trasted the appearance of that altar and its surroundings with the one at which he made a profession of religion. Tom Parmer, as a representative frontiersman, shall have the privilege of telling his experience to our readers in his own language : *
" I was raised, until fifteen, in the wilderness in the upper part of the State of Missouri. Our nearest neighbors were the Sioux and Osage Indians; we had to fight them often. During this time I never heard anything of religion, saye I heard an old Hard-Shell Baptist
* His father, Col. Martin Parmer, was an Indian agent on the extreme frontiers of Missouri in 1819. He was a member of the convention to form the constitution of the State of Missouri, and subsequently of the Legislature. He was known in that body as the Ring-tailed Panther. He came to Texas in 1825, and settled near Mound Prairie. Col. Parmer was commander, and fired the first gun, in the Freedonian war in Nacogdoches, in December, 1826. He was a member of Gov. Smith's Council at San Felipe, in 1835, and represented Shelby County in the convention that met in Washing- ton in March, 1836, and declared the independence of Texas.
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preach, who, I was for years confident, was John the Baptist that I had heard of. My father moved to Texas in 1825. Soon after this I was in Allen's Settlement in Louisiana, where, for the first time, I heard of the Methodists. Noisy and froliesome, as I had heard, the outside appearances pleased me, for I was all fun : war-whoops, war-dances, and Indian-killing was the most I knew. But to return. I went to the Methodist camp-meeting on Flatlick, prepared for a frolic ; but when I expected to hear the favorite war-whoop, I heard a sound I had never heard before. It seemed a voice from the tomb, all sweetened with love. I stopped my horse and looked around. All I saw looked sorry for me, and I was sorry for myself; and then it struck me, if that is Methodism they are playing a game I never played. I had not yet hove in sight of the preacher, though I drew nearer, and was in hopes the sainted voice would become funny, but not the case. I saw old Father Henry Stevenson standing in a box talking to the people, who seemed charmed with what he was say- ing; but I paid no attention to anything but the voice. I was then sixteen ; had never heard a chapter read or a sermon preached, save the one I thought was John the Baptist. I could not read, and did not know there ever was or had been a Saviour. I got down and took my seat on a log some distance from the preacher. I felt that I was in the wrong box. I would occasionally see the face of the speaker, and there seemed to be something on it; he seemed to be the most honest man I had ever seen. I would have given him my bottom dollar and old Roan [his horse] if he had asked it. By this time something ailed me, but I did not know what. An old gentle- man came to me and asked me if I would take a walk ? I told him, gladly, for I thought there was a funny crowd out where he was going, and that would suit me better. I began to cheer up, and would occasionally use a bad word, at which the old man would groan. It struck me he was sick, and I did not feel well myself, but we had not gone far until he fell on his knees. I saw he had not fainted, and nobody had shot at him. I was astonished; he said something I did not understand. When he got up I asked, ' What are you ?' ' A Methodist.' 'What have you been doing ?' ' Praying.' 'Does any one pray but Methodists ?' 'Any one can pray.' ' Can I pray ?' ' Yes.' 'Why did you not tell me before, for
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