TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Preface

Contents

List of Illustrations

PART I

GENERAL HISTORY

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD—1752-1774

Preliminary

Ch.1—Philip William Otterbein

Ch.2—Mr. Otterbein in America

Ch.3—Otterbein and Boehm

SECOND PERIOD—1774-1800

Ch.4—Mr. Otterbein called to Baltimore

Ch.5—The Otterbein Church in Baltimore

Ch.6—The Movement Toward a Separate Church Organization

Ch.7—The First and Second Conferences

Ch.8—Newcomer and Associates

THIRD PERIOD—1800-1815

Ch.9—The Conferences of 1800

Ch.10—The Conferences of 1801-1814

Ch.11—Friendly Correspondence

Ch.12—The Departure of the Leaders

FOURTH PERIOD—1815-1837

Ch.13—The First General Conference—1815

Ch.14—The General Conferences of 1817-1833

FIFTH PERIOD—1837-1885

Ch.15—The General Conferences of 1837 and 1841

Ch.16—The General Conferences of 1845 and 1849

Ch.17—The General Conferences of 1853-1861

Ch.18—The General Conferences of 1865-1881

SIXTH PERIOD—1885-1897

Ch.19—The Nineteenth General Conference—1885

Ch.20—The Church Commission

Ch.21—The Twentieth General Conference—1889

Ch.22—A Period of Litigation

Ch.23—The Twenty-First General Conference—1893

PART II

DEPARTMENTS OF CHURCH WORK

Ch.1—The United Brethren Publishing House

Ch.2—The Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society and Its Work

Ch.3—The Church-Erection Society

Ch.4—The Woman's Missionary Association

Ch.5—Colleges and Academies

Ch.6—Union Biblical Seminary

Ch.7—The Board of Education

Ch.8—Sunday-School Work

Ch.9—The Young People's Christian Union

Ch.10—The Board of Trustees of the Church

Ch.11—The Historical Society

PART III

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES

Ch.1—A Group of Early Conferences

Ch.2—Other Conferences Organized from 1835 to 1853

Ch.3—Conferences Organized Since 1853

PART IV

HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLES

Bibliography

Appendices

  Confession of Faith

  Publishing House Suit

Index

NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION

Work originally published in 1897.

Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center.

Electronic edition ©2006 United Brethren Historical Center

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newcomer/title.htm

History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ

by Daniel Berger

^p.169 CHAPTER X

THE CONFERENCES OF 1801-1814

I. THE CONFERENCE OF 1801.

The Conference of 1801 was also held at the home of Rev. Peter Kemp, commencing on September 23, and extending through the 24th and 25th. Nineteen preachers were present. All those in attendance at the Conference of 1800 were present at this session, except Pfrimmer, Henry Boehm, Draksel, and Lehman. The new names appearing in the list of those present were Daniel Strickler, Peter Senseny, Frederick Schaffer, John Neidig, A. Mayer, D. Snyder, M. Thomas, A. Hershey, D. Long, Thomas Winters, L. Duckwald, Peter Kemp, and M. Kessler. On the first evening, says Newcomer in his Journal, a meeting of gracious power was held in a neighboring house. The mother of the family and several others were converted to God. Thus did these early ministers turn every occasion to good account in preaching Christ as the Saviour of sinners and in seeking to win them to eternal life. The second day appears to have been a busy one, many different topics being under consideration. Newcomer remarks upon the brotherly spirit manifested among the brethren. "General unanimity," he says, "of love prevailed." Of the third day he says: "Father Otterbein preached this day with uncommon perspicuity and power. His text was in the Epistle of Jude. The force with which he pointed out the greatness, the importance, and responsibility of the ministerial office, will never be forgotten by me."

^p.170 At this conference a resolution was adopted requiring each preacher, after preaching, to hold a conversation with those who might be seeking the conversion of their souls. The form of the resolution is an index of the common fact of those times, that ministers expected to find inquirers after almost any sermon. The prevailing type of the preaching looked toward the immediate conviction and conversion of sinners. Another resolution was adopted which instructed the preachers to be brief in speaking, and. to avoid all superfluous words in their prayers and sermons. If, however, the Holy Spirit should manifestly lead to greater length, it was equally their duty to follow the divine direction.

Something was done at this conference toward forming-more distinctly a regular itinerancy, and we find the names of ten men who consented to travel as directed, as follows: Christian Newcomer, David Snyder, M. Thomas, Abraham Hershey, Daniel Strickler, Abraham Mayer, Frederick Schaffer, David Long, John Neidig, and Peter Kemp.

II. THE CONFERENCE OF 1802.

At the Conference of 1802 there were thirteen ministers present. Mr. Newcomer, in his Journal, says: "October 5th—To-day we set off for our conference. Came to Peter Kemp's, where Father Otterbein had already arrived. Here we tarried together for the night. 6th— To-day our conference commenced at John Cronise's, with singing and prayer by Father Boehm. Otterbein addressed the brethren in his usual manner."

The entire minutes of this session are here given, as they appear in a liberal translation. It will be observed that the secretary has acquired a better idea of what conference minutes should be, and they are recorded at greater length.

^p.171 Conference met at the house of John Cronise, Frederick County, Maryland, October 6, 1802. The following members were present: William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, Christian Newcomer, John Hershey, Christopher Grosch, Abraham Draksel, Henry Cram, Michael Thomas, Dietrich Aurandt, David Snyder, Peter Kemp, Mathias Kessler, George A. Guething.

Conference was opened with singing and prayer. O Lord, let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Grant to thy ministering servants grace to love thee above all. Amen.

The preachers present were examined in regard to their character and usefulness.

Resolved, To give to Valentine Huegel license to exhort.

Resolved, To write to Pfrimmer that for the present we will have nothing to do with him.

Brothers Ludwig Duckwald and William Ambrose, from Sleepy Creek, Virginia, arrived at conference.

Conference met October 7. Sermon preached by William Otterbein from Heb. 13: 17. Exhortation by M. Boehm.

Brother John Miller obtained license from the conference to exhort.

In regard to the keeping of a register of the names of the private members, it was found that out of twelve votes nine were against the motion. So, with consent, the matter was dropped.

It shall be the duty of preachers to keep up prayer-meetings at their appointments, wherever it is possible.

Permission was given to Ludwig Duckwald to baptize and administer the Lord's supper, according to the Word of God.

Some proposals were made in regard to the collecting of a certain sum of money for our poor preachers.

Resolved, That if any of our preachers shall do anything wrong, it shall be the duty of the preacher next (or nearest) to him to talk to him privately in relation to the wrong. If he does not listen to him, or accept his advice, he shall take with him one or two more preachers; and if he does not listen to them, he shall be silenced until the next session of conference.

Resolved, That G. A. Guething shall, next spring and fall, visit the congregations on Frederick Circuit.

Resolved, That Christian Newcomer shall visit Cumberland Circuit twice during next year.

Resolved, That Martin Boehm shall travel twice through Pennsylvania, to the Susquehanna, to ascertain the state of the Church.

Jacob Baulus and Valentine Baulus were appointed to make visits from house to house through Middletown, Fredericktown, and so forth.

^p.172 Resolved, That in case one of our superintendents—W. Otterbein and Martin Boehm—should die, another one in his place shall always be appointed. This is the wish of these two brethren, and the unanimous wish of all the preachers present.

Ludwig Duckwald and John Neidig received permission to administer all the ordinances of the house of God.

Bishop Otterbein closed this conference with an address and prayer. Newcomer, in his Journal, thus refers to the address: "He exhorted us particularly to be careful and preach no other doctrine than what is plainly laid down in the Bible; that nothing less than a new creature in Christ Jesus will be acceptable in the sight of God; that we should be ardently and diligently engaged in the work of the Lord; and, lastly, that we should love one another, and for Jesus' sake to suffer and endure all things. He then dismissed the conference with a powerful prayer."

Recurring again to the minutes, the reader will notice an apparently harsh judgment pronounced in the case of so efficient a man as J. G. Pfrimmer. The basis of this action was the kind of double attitude of Mr. Pfrimmer for a time with respect to the United Brethren and the Reformed Church, that from which he came. Like Bishop Otterbein himself, but probably with less wisdom in his deportment, he retained in a degree his attachment to the church of his fathers. From some cause not made quite clear, the United Brethren conference for a time withdrew its fellowship from him. At the session of 1805 this action was withdrawn, probably upon satisfactory explanation made by Mr. Pfrimmer, and he was restored to the full confidence and regard of his brethren and to his privileges as a minister in the Church.

It will also be noticed as a fact somewhat singular that the conference should have declined, by a three-fourths majority, to make any register of the names of the lay members of the Church. This attitude seems to indicate ^p.173 a predominating Mennonite influence in the early Church, since the Reformed Church has always been careful to preserve the records not only of names, but of births and baptisms as well. This adverse feeling to such records seems to have been founded on the account of the sin of David in numbering Israel. In their extreme humility the Mennonite brethren were not willing to do anything that might wear the appearance of display. It was not, indeed, until many years after this that even an approach toward an accurate census of the Church was attempted.

It will also be observed that "permission" was given to administer the ordinances, while nothing is said of the ordination of ministers. Up to this time, and until some years later, the rite of ordination was not administered, though Mr. Otterbein himself had been regularly ordained in the Reformed Church in Germany. The ordinances therefore were administered, not by an unauthorized, but by an unordained ministry. In the early Methodist Church in America serious trouble had been for a time occasioned with respect to the administration of the ordinances, through the lack of a properly authorized ministry, until Mr. Wesley took it upon himself to ordain Dr. Coke, and send him to America to properly organize the church and ordain its ministers.¹ The reader will further notice that license to exhort was given by the annual conference, that function being then exercised by the higher body, though quarterly conferences are frequently referred to by Mr. Newcomer. A further study of the minutes will also suggest that the itinerant work was beginning to be reduced to more systematic form, thus beginning to displace the earlier method of each man forming a kind of circuit ^p.174 most convenient to his own home, or going out to preach as inclination might lead.

III. THE CONFERENCES OF 1803 AND 1804.

Of the Conference of 1803 Mr. Newcomer says: "October 4th—We arrived at David Snyder's, where the conference is to be held. Father Otterbein had arrived before us. 5th—This day the session of the conference commenced. The preachers present were all examined, and their character and usefulness particularly inquired into. Many tears were shed on the occasion. Brother Grosch preached at night. ... I exhorted after him. 6th—This forenoon Father Otterbein gave us as usual a very powerful and interesting discourse. Father Boehm followed him. In the afternoon the session of the conference was continued. At night Brother Christian Berger addressed the congregation." This conference was closed on the 7th.

The Conference of 1804 was to be held at David Snyder's, but was adjourned, after a partial transaction of business, to the following spring, on account of a fatal fever very generally prevalent. Only five ministers were present, namely, Bishop Boehm, Schaffer, Mayer, Bortsfield, and Newcomer. The session was opened in due form, and the letters sent to the conference were read. No more of the ministers arriving, an adjournment was made to the Wednesday preceding the Whitsuntide of 1805, the conference to be held at the house of Jacob Baulus, near Middletown, Maryland.

At this session the election of bishops should have occurred, but was postponed on account of the smallness of the number present. While there is no record of any action providing that the elections should occur quadrennially, it is sufficiently plain that such was the thought ^p.175 of the preachers with regard to it. And since so much of what was done is left unrecorded in the minutes, as the election of bishops and the adoption of the name of the Church by the Conference of 1800, it is not improbable that action may have been taken on the subject of elections without finding its way into the record. Such action may, indeed, have been taken when the first election was made.

IV. THE CONFERENCE OF 1805.

The Conference of 1805 possesses interest chiefly on account of the second election of bishops for the Church. It was held, as provided for by the previous adjournment, at the house of Jacob Baulus, commencing on May 29. Mr. Newcomer, in his Journal, has this minute: "29th— To-day our annual conference commenced at Brother Jacob Baulus's. Twenty-one preachers were present. Father Otterbein and Martin Boehm were elected presidents."²

The ministers present at this conference were: W. Otterbein, Martin Boehm, John Hershey, George A. Guething, Daniel Strickler, Frederick Schaffer, Peter Kemp, L. Everhart, David Snyder, Christian Crum, Frederick Duckwald, William Ambrose, Jacob Baulus, Jacob Geisinger, Christian Berger, Abraham Mayer, Christian Newcomer, and George Benedum. The list contains eighteen names, lacking three of the number as stated by Mr. Newcomer.

The following are the complete minutes of this conference :

Conference was opened by prayer and an exhortation by Brother Otterbein.

Martin Boehm.³

The minutes, it will be observed, are again silent as to the election of the bishops. On this point, however, the note in Newcomer's Journal leaves no doubt. His words, "Father Otterbein and Martin Boehm were elected presidents,"⁴ have already been quoted. This election would ^p.177 doubtless have occurred in 1804 had the conference been regularly held.

This conference became a memorable one to the brethren of that time as the last which their great and good leader, Bishop Otterbein, ever attended.⁵ Henceforth his words to the conference must be conveyed by correspondence. He was yet to live for a number of years, but the infirmities of age began to tell on him to such extent that he could no longer undertake the necessary travel, or venture for a series of days from his home. While, therefore, his gracious spirit was still with the preachers in their conferences, his benign face and stately presence were not hereafter to be seen among them. He was now in the seventy-ninth year of his age. By his side in this session sat that other venerable leader, the devout and always benignant Boehm, a little the senior of Otterbein, now in his eightieth year, but retaining a larger share of vigor in his advanced years. It was an interesting spectacle to behold these eminent leaders, ripe alike in years, wisdom, and grace, abundant in labors and the rich fruits of the gospel, presiding with fatherly affection over the devoted company of followers who had gathered about them. Forty years had passed since they first met, at the meeting in Isaac Long's barn, and recognized in each other chosen vessels of God for bearing to men the gospel of living spiritual experience. During every year since, they had met, either in the great meetings, or in conference sessions, to take counsel together over the great work in which the Lord had enlisted their hearts. Their counsels throughout had been characterized by a beautiful harmony. Mutual concessions as to modes of worship and practice had been made in a brotherly spirit, and no ripple of discord had through this long period disturbed the perfect ^p.178 harmony of their relations. And now at this last conference at which both were present, their personal example of unselfish Christian fellowship made a strong appeal to their followers to preserve the same spirit which was so beautifully expressed in the name which they adopted— United Brethren in Christ.

V. THE CONFERENCES OF 1806-1810.

A more rapid reference to several succeeding conferences must be sufficient. The session of 1806, commencing May 21 and closing on the 24th, was held at Everhart's, in Frederick County, Maryland. At this conference the question was asked, "Are all the preachers united in love?" The answer is a notable one: "We are not only united among ourselves, but we also love all our fellow-men, whoever they may be." The name of Joseph Hoffman, one of the three later ordained by Bishop Otterbein, and afterwards Bishop Hoffman, appears for the first time in the minutes of this session. Plans of work for the year were arranged, including a number of great meetings.

The Conference of 1807 met at Christian Herr's, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Bishop Martin Boehm again presiding. A short and harmonious session was held. Plans for work were again arranged, and Isaac Niswander and Abraham Mayer were authorized to administer the ordinances.

The Conference of 1808 was held at Abraham Niswander's, in Virginia, commencing on May 25. After the usual examination of the moral and official character of the preachers, the conference considered the method of advancing men to the ministry. Reference has already been made to the annual conference's granting license to exhort. This preliminary was now referred to the ministers assembled at great meetings. The resolution ^p.179 which was adopted contains the germ of all the later practice of the Church on this subject:

Resolved, That those who desire to receive license to preach among us shall be examined at a great meeting; and, if favorably reported, two of the elders shall grant them license for one year, at the end of which time they shall appear at the conference for examination. In case they cannot appear at the conference, their license may be renewed at a great meeting.

At this conference the name of George Hoffman appears for the first time. Some of the names of ministers are missed for successive sessions from the list of those present at the conferences. This was frequently occasioned by the long distances to be traveled over, as in the case of Christian Berger, who, with others, was laying the foundations of the Church west of the Alleghanies, in Westmoreland and adjoining counties, and across the State line in Ohio.

The Conference of 1809 was again held at Christian Herr's, commencing on May 10. Bishop Boehm presided. Newcomer, Guething, and Joseph Hoffman were among those present. The subject of a closer cooperation with the English brethren, that is, the Methodists, received much attention at this session.

The Conference of 1810 was held in Frederick County, Maryland, at the house of John Cronise, commencing on June 6. Sixteen preachers were in attendance. Letters from Bishop Otterbein and others were read. The subject of a closer union with the Methodist Church was again considered, the question coming up in a memorial on the subject sent by Bishop Otterbein's church in Baltimore. A letter was also received from the Methodist conference relating to the same subject, and was answered in a fraternal spirit. The more careful supervision of the general work received attention, and provision was made ^p.180 requiring the older preachers to visit all the appointments on the different charges twice during the year if possible. In this supervision of the work by the more experienced preachers we have the foreshadowing of the regular presiding-eldership which was later provided for. The itinerant system was in a formative state. But few of the preachers were as yet unreserved itinerants. Nearly all were engaged in other occupations, but devoted much time to the preaching of the gospel, generally in the regions nearest their homes, but often making long journeys to encourage the work already established, or to push forward the outposts into territory not yet occupied.

VI. ORGANIZATION OF MIAMI ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

The year 1810 was especially emphasized in the progressive history of the Church by the organization of a second conference. The tide of emigration had been carrying large numbers of people westward into the new State of Ohio, which, in 1802, had been admitted into the Union. Among these were a number of United Brethren families, and soon United Brethren ministers appeared among them to look after the spiritual interests of the scattered sheep, and to gather others into the fold. The settlements of these families were mostly in the middle, southern, and southwestern parts of the State, the latter in the Miami Valley, at Germantown and other points near Dayton. The distance was too great for these ministers to attend the conference in the East, and the Miami Conference was accordingly organized. More will be said of this in an appropriate place farther on.

VII. THE EASTERN CONFERENCE —SESSIONS OF 1811-1814.

The Eastern Conference of 1811 met on May 23, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with twenty ministers ^p.181in attendance. Letters from a number of absent ministers were read. The question of compensation received attention at this session, the salary for an unmarried man being fixed at eighty dollars a year.

At the session of 1812, convened at Antietam on May 13, there were twenty-two ministers present. The list of. these is as follows: Christian Newcomer, Christian Crum, George A. Guething, Abraham Draksel, Abraham Mayer, Joseph Hoffman, Christian Smith, Isaac Niswander, David Snyder, Valentine Baulus, Jacob Baulus, Abraham Hershey, Lorenz Everhart, Michael Thomas, Jacob Weidner, Christian Berger, Henry Hiestand, Henry G. Spayth, George Guething, Martin Crider, John Crider, and Jacob Dehoff. The names of the venerable leaders, Bishops Otterbein and Boehm, have now disappeared finally from the list of those in attendance, and Guething is present for the last time. Boehm has been transferred to the church triumphant, and Otterbein, feeble in body from great age, is waiting for the call of the Master. The burden of responsibility is being shifted to other shoulders, which the Lord has been preparing to receive it.

Appended to the minutes of this session of the conference is a complete list of the ministers in the denomination who were authorized to administer the ordinances. It will be remembered that these men, excepting Otterbein himself, were unordained, the Bishop, as heretofore stated, not ordaining any of his followers until in his closing days. Those so authorized were twenty-six in number, as follows: "William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, George A. Guething, Christian Newcomer, Christian Crum, John Hershey, Christopher Grosch, Abraham Draksel, Ludwig Duckwald, John Neidig, David Long, Abraham Hershey, Christian Hershey, Abraham Mayer, William Ambrose, Isaac Niswander, Daniel Troyer, George Benedum, Peter ^p.182Kemp, Adam Riegel, Frederick Schaffer, Joseph Hoffman, David Gingerich, Christian Berger, David Snyder, and Christian Smith. Although the name of Bishop Boehm appears in the list, his death had occurred in March previous to the sitting of this conference.

It was not an unusual thing for a conference secretary in those earlier days to begin his record with a fervent invocation, or to close with a similar earnest prayer, thus indicating the devout spirit which prevailed among the brethren in their annual assembling. In the present instance the secretary closes his minutes, written out at considerable length, with these words: "O Lord God Almighty, bless thy work; grant thy Holy Spirit to all thy servants who preach thy truth; fill them with pure love, with zeal and wisdom; may they walk uprightly before thee, and honor thee in all their ways."

The session of 1813 was held at the house of Christian Herr, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There being no bishop present, Christopher Grosch was chosen chairman. Eighteen ministers were present, and four received license to exhort. An address from the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, signed by Bishop Asbury, was received with much satisfaction, and it was ordered that Newcomer and Baulus convey a similar address to the next session of that conference, "in order to more and more effect a union between the two churches." By the union thus proposed was meant close friendly cooperation, rather than organic consolidation. A committee consisting of Newcomer, Christian Crum, Joseph Hoffman, and J. Baulus, was appointed to confer with a similar committee from the Albright Church (Evangelical Association), concerning a plan of union between the two churches. This proposition meant more than simply friendly cooperation. Both churches using at that time ^p.183only the German language, and doctrine and general polity being so nearly identical, it was thought by many that an organic union might be effected to mutual advantage.

Bishop Boehm having died, Christian Newcomer was elected bishop for one year. This was the last session of the conference at which the beloved Guething was present, his death occurring in June, only a few weeks after the adjournment.

The conference convened in 1814 on May 24, at Hagerstown, Maryland. Twenty-one ministers were in attendance. The names of the absent ones do not appear in the minutes, but, owing to the long distances which they had to travel, portions of the three States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia being included, it is probable that at least as many were absent as present, so that the number of preachers now may have been above forty. Six new names were here added to the list, among them that of Henry Kumler, Sen. Letters were read from Abraham Draksel and Christian Berger, both of whom were at that time laboring in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. A fraternal letter from the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was also read. The letter expressed gratification with the amicable relations existing between the Methodist and United Brethren churches, and a desire for their continuance.

The Otterbein Church in Baltimore having been temporarily supplied by Mr. Schaffer since the death of Bishop Otterbein, the congregation sent a request that the conference appoint for them a minister. As this congregation from its first organization held an independent position, its relation to the conference, while it was in thorough harmony with the United Brethren movement, was somewhat different from that of other congregations. A committee consisting of Neidig, Snyder, Baulus, and ^p.184Newcomer, was appointed to consider the request and make all proper arrangements. The committee appointed Joseph Hoffman, later Bishop Hoffman, for one year, with the understanding that if acceptable he might serve the congregation longer, but not beyond a period of three years. The arrangement proved agreeable to the church, and at the end of three years another minister was sent. Following the agreement thus made, the pulpit of the church has been since supplied by the United Brethren conferences.

There are no indications that any changes in the Confession of Faith were adopted by the Conference of 1814, the Confession ordered printed in 1813, which seems to have been that of 1789, being approved. But there is reason to believe that the Rules of Discipline were in some points changed. Christian Newcomer was reelected bishop for a period of three years, his election in 1813 having been for one year.

The conference session seems to have been a harmonious one, and the secretary, Jacob Baulus, closes his minutes with the fervent prayer: "Lord Jesus, be with thy servants. Mold them after thine own image. Give them godly zeal and untiring faithfulness. Let thy virtues shine in them, and thy light shine through them. And may many be brought to light, and we will ascribe all the praise to God. Amen."

VIII. THE MIAMI CONFERENCE—SESSIONS OF 1810-1814.

Mention has already been made of the organization of a new conference in the West, the second of the Church in the historic order. The initial session was held on August 13, 1810, at a camp-meeting held at Michael Crider's, in Ross County, Ohio. That there was now a considerable number of United Brethren west of the Alleghany Mountains, is suggested by the fact that at ^p.185this meeting there were present thirteen preachers and two exhorters. Among these was Christian Newcomer, not yet then elected to the office of bishop, but making a tour of supervision to the scattered churches of what was then called the West. Bishops Otterbein and Boehm being now very old and unable to attend to episcopal duties, especially in so distant a field, the care of the superintendency was gradually laid upon others, and chiefly upon Mr. Newcomer.

At this first session of the conference but little business was transacted beyond simple organization. The session was opened, however, in the usual regular form, with the reading of the third chapter of I. John, singing, and prayer. Then followed a very fervent experience meeting, in which all the ministers participated. In this meeting all covenanted together to assist one another in promoting the common work.

The preachers present at this conference were: Christian Newcomer, George Benedum, John Froshauer, Daniel Troyer, Andrew Zeller, Jacob Zeller, Henry Evinger, Christian Crum, Abraham Hiestand, Michael Crider, Thomas Winters, Ludwig Kramer, Henry Hiestand; the exhorters, Frederick Klinger and John Pontius.

The second session of the Miami Conference, that of 1811, was held on August 23 in Fairfield County, Ohio. Thirteen preachers were present at this conference. After the opening exercises, Mr. Newcomer, who again presided, preached an appropriate sermon. Then followed the experience meeting usual at all the conferences of those times. On the second day the examination of the moral and official character of the ministers was held. Ludwig Kramer and Jacob Zeller offered themselves as unreserved itinerants, and the conference accepted them. John Pontius, John Bowser, Dewalt Mechlin, and Jacob Lehman ^p.186 were licensed to preach. George Benedum was elected presiding elder. The conference was closed with a fervent address by Mr. Newcomer. Such are a few of the points in the transactions of these early conference sessions.

The sessions of 1812, 1813, and 1814 were each held in due form, the first at Andrew Zeller's in Montgomery County, on August 6; the second at the house of Peter Seitz, in Fairfield County, on August 26; and the third again at Andrew Zeller's, on August 23. Bishop Newcomer presided at each of these conferences—at the sessions of 1813 and 1814 as a fully authorized bishop.

At the session of 1813 an important question relating to the proper mode of ordaining ministers was considered. Regret was expressed that too little order had been observed both in receiving and ordaining preachers. A resolution was adopted requesting Father Otterbein to ordain one or more preachers.

¹History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by Nathan Bangs, D.D., Vol. II., pp. 154, 155.

²Newcomer's Journal, p. 134.

³Drury's Life of Otterbein, pp. 283-285.

⁴Newcomer here uses the term "president" in preference to superintendent, or bishop. He uses the same word in reference to himself in 1813 and 1814.

⁵See Spayth's History, p. 105.

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