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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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 THIRD PERIOD—1800-1815 Ch.10—The Conferences of 1801-1814 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.21—The Twentieth General Conference—1889 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.9—The Young People's Christian Union Ch.10—The Board of Trustees of the Church
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 Appendices 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 Suggested Citation:
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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ by Daniel Berger |
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Sixth Period—1885-1897 CHAPTER XIX THE NINETEENTH GENERAL CONFERENCE—1885 I. THE REVISION MOVEMENT. p.349 The period from 1885 to 1889 marks an era of the highest importance in the progressive history of the United Brethren Church. The general tendency of the Church had long been in the direction of a broader life. There was a growing feeling that excellent as were the things of the past, they were in some respects cast in a narrower mold than the exigencies of advancing time required, just as the old divinely appointed Jewish polity, and the church which was established under it, needed in time to enter into broader forms and a freer life. From the beginning the law-making power of the Church was exercised by the ministers only, and when a General Conference was proposed the plans by which it was to be constituted provided for the election of ministers only. When the conference assembled, provision was made for the election of ministers only to future General Conferences. And when, at a later time, a General Conference took it upon itself to make a constitution, the same feature was fixed in the fundamental law of the Church. For a number of years scarcely a question was raised as to the propriety of withholding from the laity all part in the law-making department of the Church. The time had now come when a large majority of the ministers and the great body of the laity favored the sharing of this function with the p.350 laity. In another particular the Constitution of the Church embodied a feature, relating to secret societies, which, it was felt, should be transferred to the field of legislation, to be dealt with by the General Conference according to its judgment, as other subjects from time to time are dealt with. It was also felt that some essentials of Christian belief which found, in various forms, expression in the body of the Church Discipline should be transferred to their proper position in the Confession of Faith, while it seemed desirable also that certain other doctrines already in the Confession should be partially recast, so as to find a clearer and surer expression. There was no disposition to treat irreverently this excellent utterance of the fathers, a symbol, indeed, quite worthy of a place among the noblest creeds of Christendom. But it was also remembered, that these good men who framed the instrument laid no claims to a divine inspiration in their work; that they exercised for themselves the power and right of selection, embodying in its statements their conceptions of fundamental religious truth; and that the Church of the present time possesses the same right to exercise its judgment and to give to that judgment its proper expression, just as the Church of the future will be entitled to think for itself and embody its thought in such forms as, in its aggregate judgment, may seem to be the expression of fixed truth. The exercise of this right is in no way inconsistent with the profoundest reverence and love for those who have gone before. Before the assembling of the General Conference of 1885 it became apparent, through public and private discussion, that the question of amending the Constitution of the Church and of revising the Confession of Faith would come before that body for consideration, and much interest was felt in advance as to the manner p.351 in which it would be met by the conference. The way for disposition of the question relating to the amendment of the Constitution was fairly opened in the bishops' quadrennial address. In this address it was treated with special reference to the section in the Constitution relating to secret societies. The bishops said : We need not say to your honorable body that the subject of secret societies has become a most perplexing one to our Zion. This is well known to you all. Also, it is expected of you by the people whom you represent that under the blessing of God you will put this subject to rest and bring peace to the Church by wise regulations. To this end we recommend: First. In that it is admitted that our present Constitution has not been as yet submitted to a vote of the whole society, you determine whether the whole subject under consideration is or is not yet in the hands of the General Conference. Second. Should you determine that it is in your hands, then transfer the whole subject from the realm of constitutional law to the field of legislative enactment, which would be to expunge the whole question from the Constitution and bring it into the field of legislative enactment, to be handled as the Church, through her representatives, may determine from time to time. Third. That you limit the prohibitory feature of your enactment to combinations, secret and open, to which the Church believes a Christian cannot belong. Fourth. Should you decide that this constitutional question is beyond your control, and in the hands of the whole society, then submit the above propositions, properly formulated, to a vote of the whole Church, and let a two-thirds vote of those voting be the authoritative voice of the Church on the subject. This portion of the bishops' address was referred to the Committee on Revision. The committee consisted of the following persons: S. M. Hippard, I. K. Statton, J. W. Hott, J. G. Mosher, J. H. Snyder, W. J. Shuey, George Miller, William Dillon, W. H. Price, L. Bookwalter, George Plowman, J. W. Fulkerson, C. U. McKee. To this committee were also referred, in general, the Confession of Faith, the Constitution, and the rule of the Discipline relating to secret societies. p.352 To this committee was entrusted a responsibility immeasurably greater and more far-reaching in its significance than could be laid upon any other. They took ample time for deliberation, meeting again and again in session to consider the questions involved and the steps that should be recommended. Among the members of the conference generally the deepest interest was felt in the report which the committee might return. On the sixth day of the session they presented their report. The Report Authorizing the Church Commission. To the General Conference: Your committee to which were referred the Confession of Faith, Constitution, and Section 3 of Chapter X. of the Discipline, beg leave to report that we have given these subjects much and most prayerful attention, and now submit the result of our deliberations: First. We find that the present Constitution of the Church was never submitted to the suffrage of the members and ministry of the Church for ratification either by popular vote or by conventional approval, though it purports to be the Constitution of the "members" of the denomination. Second. We find, by reference to the records, that throughout most of its history it has been the subject of question and differences of opinion as to its legality and binding force as an organic law. Third. We find also that the clause found in Article II., Section 4, which says, "No rule or ordinance shall at any time be passed to change or do away the Confession of Faith as it now stands," and Article IV., which says, "There shall be no alteration of the foregoing Constitution unless by request of two-thirds of the whole society," are in their language and apparent meaning so far-reaching as to render them extraordinary and impracticable as articles of constitutional law. Fourth. From the facts and reasons thus indicated we conclude that the Constitution has acquired its force only by the partial and silent assent of the Church, and that the General Conference has a right to institute measures looking to the amendment, modification, or change of the Constitution at any time when it is believed that a majority of our people favor a modification thereof.
Fifth. It is the sense and belief of your committee
that the Constitution, as it stands, is not in harmony with the present
wishes
p.353 of our people, as has been indicated
in discussions, petitions, and elections during the past year. CHURCH COMMISSION. Whereas, Our Confession of Faith is silent or ambiguous upon some of the cardinal doctrines of the Bible as held and believed by our Church; and, Whereas, It is desirable and needful to so amend and improve our present Constitution as to adapt its provisions more fully to the wants and conditions of the Church in this and future time; therefore, Resolved, By the delegates of the annual conferences of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in General Conference assembled, that a Church Commission, composed of twenty-seven persons, and consisting of the bishops of the Church, and ministers and laymen appointed and elected by this body, an equal number from each bishop's district,—provided that the Pacific District shall have two members besides its bishop,—be and is hereby authorized and established. The duties and powers of this Commission shall be to consider our present Confession of Faith and Constitution, and prepare such a form of belief and such amended fundamental rules for the government of this Church in the future as will, in their judgment, be best adapted to secure its growth and efficiency in the work of evangelizing the world. Provided, 1. That this Commission shall preserve unchanged in substance the present Confession of Faith so far as it is clear. 2. That it shall also retain the present itinerant plan. 3. It shall keep sacred the general usages and distinctive principles of the Church on all great moral reforms as sustained by the Word of God, in so far as the province of their work may touch them. Provided, further, That in the final adoption, as a whole, of a confession of faith and constitution for submission to the Church by the Commission, a majority vote of all the members composing the Commission shall be necessary. Resolved, That this Commission shall meet at such time and place as the Board of Bishops may appoint, and is expected to complete its work by January 1, 1886. The Commission shall also adopt and cause to be executed a plan by which the proposed Confession of Faith and Constitution may receive the largest possible attention and expression of approval or disapproval by our people, including all necessary regulations for taking, counting, and reporting the vote. Resolved, That when, according to the foregoing provisions, the result of the vote of the Church shows that two-thirds of all the votes cast have been given in approval of the proposed Confession of Faith and Constitution, it shall be the duty of the bishops to publish and proclaim said result through the official organs of the p.354 Church. Whereupon the Confession of Faith and Constitution thus ratified and adopted shall become the fundamental belief and organic law of this Church. Provided, further, That the adoption of the Constitution as aforesaid shall in no wise affect any legislation of this General Conference for the coming quadrennium. Resolved, That in case of any vacancy in the Commission, by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Commission shall fill such vacancy. The necessary expenses of this Commission shall be paid out of the funds of the Printing Establishment.
This paper was signed by eleven out of the thirteen members of the Committee on Revision. Two of the members, J. G. Mosher and William Dillon, dissented, and laid before the conference a minority report.
Upon a motion being made to adopt the majority report, an
extended and exhaustive discussion followed. For the greater part of two days
the speaking continued, often with the warmth of men who were contending
earnestly for their convictions. In the main, the proprieties of dignified
discussion were well maintained. In itself, the struggle was a momentous one,
and was so felt to be by every member of the conference. The liberals, as the
progressive portion of the conference and of the Church generally had come to
be called, saw in the adoption of the report a prospect for an escape from
the extreme radicalism which had so long dominated legislation, and the hope
of a broader and freer life for the Church. The radicals saw in its adoption
the doom of principles upon which many of them laid a larger insistence than
upon any other feature of the church life. Each side, therefore, exerted
itself to the very best
p.355 of its ability to secure a majority
in the final vote. It was a profoundly interesting hour when the roll was at
last called for the yeas and nays. Many of the members seized a moment's
opportunity for explaining their votes, some of them making a hurried final
plea. The call being finished, the presiding bishop announced the result to
be the decisive majority of seventy-eight yeas to forty-two
nays. And thus was enacted one of the most important measures, as affecting
vitally the future polity and life of the Church, known to the history of
General Conference legislation. II. THE RULE ON SECRET SOCIETIES. The committee having in charge the question of amending the Constitution and revising the Confession of Faith was also instructed to report on the law relating to secret orders. This committee presented a supplementary report, which, with a few amendments, was adopted in the following form: We recommend that the following law in relation to secret combinations be adopted to take the place of Section 3, Chapter X., of Discipline: SECRET COMBINATIONS. A secret combination, in the sense of the Constitution, is a secret league or confederation of persons holding principles and laws at variance with the Word of God, and injurious to Christian character p.356 as evinced in individual life, and infringing upon the natural, social, political, or religious rights of those outside its pale. Any member or minister of our Church found in connection with such combination shall be dealt with as in other cases of disobedience to the order and discipline of the Church,—in case of members, as found on page 23 of Discipline in answer to the third question of Section 3, Chapter IV., and in case of ministers, as found in Chapter VI., Section 13, page 65. The introduction of this report, a milder expression of the law against secret societies, was the occasion of another animated discussion. The speaking was less protracted, because the vote previously taken indicated in advance that ultra-radicalism had lost its ascendancy, and that prolonged opposition to more moderate legislation would be useless. When the report was put upon its passage, the vote was found to be nearly the same in number on the two sides respectively as that which authorized the Church Commission. There were seventy-six yeas to thirty-eight nays, with six not voting. III. THE CHURCH COMMISSION CHOSEN. On the twelfth day of the session the General Conference elected the members of the Church Commission, as provided for in the paper authorizing its appointment. According to this paper the bishops of each of the five episcopal districts were made ex officio members, and each of the districts was entitled to five representatives, either ministerial or lay, except the Pacific Coast District, which was entitled to two, thus making the whole number twenty-seven. The bishops we J. Weaver, J. Dickson, N. Castle, E. B. Kephart, and M. Wright. For the East District the following were elected: J. J. Glossbrenner, G. A. Funkhouser, L. W. Craumer, J. Hill, J. W. Hott; for the Ohio District: W. J. Shuey, Judge J. A. Shauck, H. Garst, D. L. Rike, J. S. Mills; for the Northwest District: W. M. Beardshear, A. M. Beal, George Miller, p.357 H. A. Snepp, I. K. Statton ; for the Southwest District: L. Bookwalter, S. D. Kemp, J. B. King, J. H. Snyder, J. R. Evans; for the Pacific Coast District: P. C. Hetzler, I. L. Kephart. This conference in the main was characterized by a spirit of progress. Numerous reports relating to the various branches of church enterprise and activity were heard and considered, and such action taken as was suitable to the conditions and exigencies of the several interests. The conference acquired some further special interest from the fact that it was the last which the venerable Bishop Glossbrenner attended, after a service of forty years in the office of bishop. Just before the final adjournment he made a brief address, which was listened to with profound interest. IV. PERSONAL NOTES. Daniel Kumler Flickinger, D.D. Bishop D. K. Flickinger was born near Seven Mile, Butler County, Ohio, on May 25, 1824. He is a grandson of the venerable Bishop Henry Kumler, Sen. His father, Jacob Flickinger, was an early minister in the Miami Conference. His mother, Hannah Flickinger, who died a few years ago at the great age of ninety-three, was a woman of sterling personal qualities, and of most beautiful Christian life, and was widely held in loving esteem. Mr. Flickinger entered at an early age upon the work of the ministry, becoming a member of the Miami Conference. He served in various relations as circuit preacher and pastor, became interested in foreign missionary work, and was one of the first company of three who located the mission of the Church in western Africa. He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1857, having just p.358 then returned from his second trip to Africa. He was full of missionary enthusiasm, and was elected by the General Conference as corresponding secretary of the Missionary Society. To this office he at once addressed himself with much earnestness, and achieved great success. He was reelected at six successive General Conferences, thus serving in the office through a period of twenty-eight years. It was most fitting that after so long service in this particular field he should, at the conference of 1885, be elected to the higher office of foreign missionary bishop. For four years more he gave his service to the missionary work, with the greater attention to the immediate interests of the foreign department. The General Conference of 1889 discontinued this office, and with this his official relations to the Church ceased. In his long connection with the missionary work of the Church Dr. Flickinger rendered it an invaluable service. Being of an active temperament he kept the Missionary Society in close touch with the Church by frequent visits to the annual conferences, as also through the columns of the Missionary Visitor and Religious Telescope. The foreign work never ceased to enlist his special interest, and in its service, as missionary secretary and bishop, he made eleven visits to the other side of the ocean. He secured at various times large sums of money for the work, the funds for building the training school at Shaingay being obtained during the last four years of his official life. Until he was elected to the office of bishop, he was also editor of the Missionary Visitor. The Church will not soon forget the great service he rendered it in the missionary work, or the frequency with which he imperiled his life on ocean voyages and in the malarious districts in Africa to which his duties took him. p.359 But there can also be no other than a feeling of profound regret that, after a period of thirty-two years of official relationship with which the Church had honored him, he should now, late in the afternoon of life, have seen fit to join himself to those who went out from among us, and sought through years of grievous strife to injure the fair heritage they once had helped to build. Dr. Flickinger is now in the seventy-third year of his age, too far advanced in life to make so great a mistake. At the last session of the Miami Conference, of which he had been a member from the beginning of his ministerial life, record was regretfully made that he had withdrawn irregularly from the Church. |
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