Chapter VI

UNDER PRESIDING ELDERSHIP (Cont.)

Finance—Preachers' Aid—Printing Establishment—Beneficiary Education—Chairman —Reports—Minutes—Examinations—Course of Study—Records — Tobacco — Secrecy — Memorials—Lay Representation—Gatherings—Time of Session—Special Periods—Incorporation—Caning—Mutual Beneficial Society—Statistics.

    Having traced the attitude of the conference on some of the great issues, and the beginning, growth, and development of various organizations within the conference, this chapter will be devoted to the actions of the conference on various subjects and items that made for its progress.

    In the beginning the Presiding Elder traveled a circuit and received his salary from that source as allowed by the Discipline but, in 1841, the conference voted, "That they were to divide their money with their colleagues," while in 1844, it said, "That they were to receive their share of all available when reduced to money." In 1845, an assessment was laid on the charges for their salaries. At first this was collected at the quarterly meetings but, in 1862, it was ordered, "That this assessment be apportioned to the churches on the charge and a steward appointed to collect the same." In 1906, the semi-budget plan was adopted and later the budget plan, of which this item formed a part, and from the proceeds of which the conference treasurer paid the salary of the Presiding Elder

REV. JOHN WATSON
Budget Treasurer, Allegheny Conference

    From the beginning the expense of the delegates to the General Conference and likewise the money to be raised for the General Departments was assessed to the charges to be collected by the pastors and brought to the conference by them. A collector was appointed

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for each separate interest until 1898, when one collector was appointed to receive all funds except for missions, and a separate collector was appointed to receive these funds. All this changed with the adoption of the semi-budget and then the budget plan which carried with it the election of one conference budget treasurer.

    The first record we have of a benevolent or preachers' aid fund is in 1841, when it was voted that James Williby should receive $10.00 from the benevolent fund. In 1843, M. G. Miller was elected treasurer of this fund. In 1859, the conference adopted a constitution for the control of this fund. This has been changed from time to time until the adoption of the present plan. Need, was the basis of distribution until the present plan was adopted, which lifted this help from the plane of charity to that of a pension. The amount given has varied from a minimum of $10.00 to the maximum of $500.00 per year. The following table shows the growth of the permanent fund of the conference: 1890, $448.21; 1907, $7,150.00; 1927, $59,000.89; 1930, $60,407.82.

    From the beginning the ministers have been the agents of the Printing Establishment and as early as 1843 and 1844 conference said, "He shall see that all subscribers pay, etc.," and that, "It is his duty to exert his influence for the interests of the Printing Establishment and to solicit subscriptions and collect monies due," and from then until now at the several sessions of the annual conference someone has reported on "Publishing Interests," and renewed our pledge of loyalty to this Department of the Church. In the face of the fact that the profits of the Printing Establishment, above what is needed to carry on the business, go to the "worn-out ministers, their widows, and minor children," this arrangement seems to be fair, just, and equitable. The conference has always been loyal to the House and its Agent and may justly be proud of its part in the history and development of the institution and rejoices in the splendid contribution of literature and money the House has given to the conference.

    In 1869, Article 5, in the report on education, provoked much discussion because it provided, "That each preacher in charge of a work, make a public effort by subscription, to raise funds to aid young men in their preparation for the ministry." This action marked the beginning of the conference Educational Beneficiary Fund. In 1883, M. O. Lane, treasurer, submitted a report showing the collections and the disbursements for each year up to that date. Thereafter a yearly report was made until the balance on hand was voted into the treasury

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of the General Church Fund at Dayton, Ohio. Quite a number of persons were aided by this fund and it was certainly quite worth while and only the creation of the general fund and the raising of scholarships justified the closing of this fund in the conference.

    In the early years, in addition to the Bishop, the conference elected a chairman, who presided in the absence of the Bishop. This practice continued until 1893 when the office was abolished. In the early years, also, the ministers were examined on the conference floor, and the Presiding Elder also until, in 1870, M. P. Doyle rendered a written report of the East District of the conference. Ten years passed before another written report was submitted but in 1880 both of the Presiding Elders reported this way and from that date until now that has been the law.

REV. J. J. FUNK
Secretary Allegheny Conference

    No conference minutes were printed until 1868. A brief synopsis of what was done at the annual conference was printed in the columns of The Telescope from time to time. In 1868, and every year since, except 1877, the minutes of the conference have been printed and are the official records of the conference. By request of the session of 1930, the original minutes have been transcribed and typewritten and, with the printed minutes, have been bound into book form so that the conference now has a complete record of its conference actions. This work was ordered by the conference and entrusted to Dr. J. S. Fulton. Reports are now passed to the statistical secretary who with his committee classifies them and reports to the conference.

    Ministers were examined in the open conference and granted license to preach or ordination as a result of such examination. For record, m the beginning, these questions were asked: "Who are applicants for license?" and, "Who were advanced to the office of Elder?" In 1847, conference took this action, "Inasmuch as we consider the literary standard of ministerial qualification to be quite too low in the

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United Brethren Church, Resolved, therefore, That we appoint a committee of three who shall define a course of study, etc." This committee reported as follows: "A good theoretical, practical knowledge of English Grammar; a general knowledge of Geography; History, Profane and Ecclesiastical, and both modern and ancient; and Theology." In 1847, there was a committee on applicants appointed; in 1850, a committee on ordination, and in 1860, committees on First, Second, and Third years' courses of study. With the passing years the General Conference has provided the course of study and the method of grading. All examinations are now taken in writing and the conference has a book showing the grades made in each study by the licentiates. There is found in this book a very fine exhibit showing the conference record of each member since 1913.

    Records are becoming of increasing value with the passing years. Too little attention has been given to this in the past and the writer of this history has had his task made more difficult by this neglect. It was not until 1857 that anything was said about a church record. In this year it was voted "That each preacher in charge of a work should procure a book to be called a 'Church Record' and in it should be recorded the names of classes, members, etc." The succeeding conference took action, "Requiring any minister who had failed to make his record to procure a book yet, and leave it on the circuit for the benefit of his successor." In harmony with the action of the General Conference a Church Record has been prepared and most of our people have secured this record but too many have failed to follow directions in keeping it up to standard. The recent General Conference has revised the Record and it should be found on every charge and fully up to date.

    The Tobacco question was with us for a long time before it was settled. In 1847, the conference "Resolved that its members should refrain from the use of tobacco during the sessions of the conference." In 1848, 1849, and 1850, the "Members were required to refrain from the use of tobacco during the sessions of the conference or provide their own spit boxes," while in 1856, the members were "requested to refrain from the use of tobacco during the sessions of this conference, especially on the ladies' side of the house." The feelings of the conference became more pronounced and the General Conference finally ordered "That no one who used tobacco in any form should receive a license to preach." The last General Conference made the use of tobacco by any minister a sufficient cause for the revocation of his

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license. Our conference has always been in full sympathy with the action of the General Conference.

HON. ELMER HENDERSON
Present President Laymen's Association of Allegheny Conference

    The Secrecy question early projected itself into the conference and the first action taken touching it was in the conference of 1847 and was as follows: "That the Society called 'The Sons of Temperance' is contrary to our Discipline and cannot be tolerated," and "That the Order called 'Odd Fellows' is contrary to our Discipline and that no one who belongs to it can continue in our church." The sentiment of the conference grew for modification of our disciplinary standard until in 1884 the conference voted, "We, the members of the Allegheny Annual Conference in session assembled, do hereby memorialize the General Conference to modify or annul the law on secrecy." When the law was finally annulled there was not a single church in the conference that rebelled by going with the Radical Element of the Church.

    That the conference was awake to the best interests of the Church is shown by the actions taken on a variety of subjects that had to do with memorials to the General Conference, among which, I note the following: 1849, "To prohibit the use of liquor as a beverage," "To give pastors the right to appoint their own stewards," "To secure the right of appeal"; 1856, "To make the Printing Establishment a denominational entity"; 1884, "To have an educational secretary."

A. E. ROOSE, M.D.First
President Laymen's Association of Allegheny Conference

    Many other items had the attention of that body that are now a part of the Discipline and our delegates, a list of

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whom is found in this book, have had their full part in making our Discipline the splendid expression of the will of the Church that we find it to be.

    One question that agitated the Church was that of lay representation and it was not until 1873 that it was granted to the annual conferences, and not to the General Conference until 1889. In 1901, ministerial and lay representation were made equal. Our conference had lay representation from the time it was allowed and in 1889 they met in separate session and brought a report to the conference embodying some recommendations on ministerial qualification. They continued to meet at various times and in 1912 they adopted a constitution and organized by electing Dr. A. E. Roose president, David Strickler secretary, and H. U. Lehman treasurer. They have met annually since that date, have brought reports to the conference, and now stand identified with the Laymen's Organization of the denomination.

    During the years of the conference there have been held Sunday-school conventions, young people's conventions, local and conference ministerial institutes, at which questions were debated, round table discussions held, and papers read and discussed. These were means of information, inspiration, and helpfulness and contributed to the advancement of these causes in the conference.

    Camp meetings were another source of advancing the work of the conference. Camps were held where ministers and laymen met in retreat for prayer, praise, and worship, and where the old time Big Meetings were in part duplicated. These were seasons of revival power and real seasons of grace to the people. Pringledale at Wilmore and Bigler at Bigler were possibly the largest and best known of these and the last to be discontinued.

    Our conference from the beginning had been held in the winter or spring, but was changed to a fall conference in 1880. The difficulty in securing a house for the minister and the hardship of moving in the cold weather as well as the children's being compelled to change their school and text books in the midst of the term were among the causes that led to the change of time.

    In 1888, the Semi-annual Centennial of the conference was held during the conference at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with appropriate ceremonies and it was also at Greensburg that the seventy-fifth anniversary was held and a very fine program was rendered.

    In 1889 the great flood known as the Johnstown flood because it nearly destroyed that city, carried away the parsonage of the First

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Church and the conference voted, "That the Presiding Elders raise $600.00 to help build a new parsonage."

REV. T. W. BURGESS
President Allegheny Conference Corporation

    The conference at its session in 1868 voted this action, "Resolved, That the Presiding Elders apportion the amount of $50.00 for the purpose of incorporating the Allegheny Conference." The action was carried into effect, W. B. Dick, D. Speck, and George Wagoner being the petitioners and Daniel Speck, William B. Dick, David Keister, John Thomas and Daniel Reamer being made the trustees until the next conference. The charter was granted and recorded in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1868, and is as follows:

    First. This corporation shall be known by the name of the Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren in Christ.

    Second. The object of said corporation is to take charge of, manage, and dispose of, the real and personal estate belonging to said conference; and especially it shall have the power, and is hereby authorized, to take charge of, superintend, and dispose of, any property held for school purposes, and also of any churches within the bounds of said conference that are connected with said conference; and the property thereto belonging, that have ceased, or may cease, to exist by reason of the death or removal of their members, or from any other cause; and shall make such disposition of the proceeds arising from the said property as to said conference may seem proper.

    Third. Every member of the Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren in Christ is ipso facto a member of this corporation.

    Fourth. The affairs of this corporation shall be managed and superintended by a board of five trustees, to be elected at the annual meeting of said conference by the members present on such day as may be determined by said conference, and, upon failure to elect trustees at any annual meeting of said conference, the previously elected trustees shall remain in office until their successors are chosen. The

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trustees shall annually elect from their number a president and secretary, who shall always be eligible, and in the absence of these officers, or either of them, at any meeting, the vacancies or vacancy may be temporarily supplied. Said trustees shall also elect a treasurer, who shall give security in such amount as said trustees may require, conditioned for the safe keeping and faithful and lawful appropriation of all such monies and property of the conference as may come into his possession or control.

    Fifth. The board of trustees shall meet annually at the place where the Allegheny Conference aforesaid may be holding its annual session. The president of said board of trustees shall have power to call special meetings of the trustees on giving ten days' notice of the time and place of said meeting, and at all meetings of the trustees three shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A record of the proceedings of the trustees shall be kept in a book provided for that purpose, and the funds of the conference shall be applied to promote the objects of the corporation as to the trustees may seem best.

    Sixth. That Daniel Speck, William B. Dick, David Keister, John Thomas, and Daniel Reamer shall constitute the board of trustees until the meeting of the next annual conference, and the said trustees shall organize within one month from the time this act of incorporation is approved and granted by the Court.

    And now, to wit: June 10, 1868, petition and article of association read and examined, and the objects, articles, and conditions therein set forth appearing to the Court to be lawful and not injurious to the community, the Court directs the same to be filed in the office of the prothonotary, and publication to be made by the prothonotary, as prescribed by law, that said application has been made to the Court, and that if no sufficient reason be shown to the contrary, the Court will decree and grant the incorporation at the next term hereafter.

By the Court.

    In the Court of Common Pleas of Cambria County:

    In the matter of the incorporation of the Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, and now to wit: September 9, 1868, the articles of incorporation of the Allegheny Conference of the Church of The United Brethren in Christ having been heretofore, to wit, on the 8th day of June, A.D. 1868, filed in the office of the prothonotary of said Court, and due notice having been given in accordance with law. Therefore, on motion of John P. Linton, it is declared and decreed that the persons associated under said articles shall, according to the articles and conditions in said instrument set forth and contained, become and be a corporation or body politic in law, and it is further ordered and directed that said charter of incorporation shall be recorded in the office for the recording of deeds in and for said county

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of Cambria; and on said instrument being so recorded, the members or persons so associated or meaning to associate, as specified in the third article of association, shall, according to the objects, articles, and conditions in said instrument set forth and contained, become and be a corporation or body politic, in law and in fact, to have continuance by the name, style, and title in said instrument provided and declared.

By the Court.

    In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed the Seal of said Court this ninth day of September, A.D. 1868.

Geo. K. Zahn, Proth'y.

    (Seal of the Common Pleas)

    (Recorded November 23, 1868)

    (U. S. R. S. of five cents affixed)

James Griffin, Recorder.

State of Pennsylvania

County of Cambria,

    I, Celestine J. Blair, Recorder of Deeds, etc., in and for said county, do hereby certify that the within and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the charter of the Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, so full and entire as the same remains on record in this office.

    Given under my hand and seal this 8th day of September, A.D. 1892.

    (Seal)

Celestine J. Blair, Recorder.

Prothonotary's Office

    In Prothonotary's Office, see September Term, 1868. Common Pleas Docket, Vol. I, page 425. Indexed Allegheny Conference United Brethren in Christ.

    A pleasant affair called a "Caning" occurred in 1880 and is recorded because of its remarkable grouping of historic relics, when Dr. J. H. Pershing presented each member of his ordination committee a cane containing relics as indicated below: A piece from Dillenberg, the birthplace of Otterbein; a piece from the Isaac Long Barn where Otterbein said to Boehm, "We are Brethren"; a piece from the old Reformed church where the first separate organization was formed in 1775; a piece from the old church in Baltimore where the first annual conference was held in 1789; a piece from the chair where Otterbein sat, a piece from the table on which he wrote, and a piece of the first United Brethren bell rope; a piece from the Peter Kemp farm in Maryland where "In Christ" was added to our name; a piece from the residence of the first minister to move west of the Allegheny

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Mountains; a piece from the Bonnett schoolhouse where the first General Conference was held in 1815.

A Mutual Beneficial Society, by which the ministers and their wives seek to aid each other when death comes and removes a loved one,

MR. HOMER M. RUTH
Treasurer Allegheny Conference Corporation

was formed in 1887 and a constitution adopted. On its third annual meeting the society adopted a new constitution and in 1900 the society was reorganized and the present constitution adopted. Since that time there have been a few amendments and the society has flourished. In 1907 the secretary reported a membership of eighty in good standing and a balance of $463.59 in the treasury; in 1927 there were reported 188 members in good standing, and $4,428 in the treasury; while 1930 minutes show 186 members in good standing, ten delinquent and a balance in the treasury of $5,411.55.

    No table of statistics was compiled until 1847 since which time an annual table has been prepared and published in the conference minutes. By a comparison of the figures below which have been taken from the minutes of each twenty years we may note the growth of the conference.