History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ by Daniel Berger

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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ

by Daniel Berger

CHAPTER III

CONFERENCES ORGANIZED SINCE 1853

I. THE ERIE CONFERENCE.

^p.597 The original Erie Conference, as formed by the General Conference of 1853, was organized in the fall of that year. The General Conference of 1861 divided the conference, and the present body retaining the name of Erie Conference was organized at Harbor Creek, Erie County, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1862, Bishop Edwards presiding. The territory covered by the conference is northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. The ministers present at this organization, thirty-two in number, were as follows: W. Rittenhouse, W. Cadman, G. W. Hill, J. Barnard, B. Haak, G. W. Sleeper, J. W. Clark, J. Hill, O. Badgley, D. Bolster, J. L. Chapin, E. B. Torrey, L. L. Hager, J. L. Range, G. W. Franklin, A. Brooks, H. C. Howard, W. Bates, G. Smith, J. G. Erb, G. E. Wellman, E. Benson, W. McIntyre, F. H. Herrick, S. H. Smith, R. W. Braddock, G. A. Peters, D. Gray, J. W. Hoyt, I. Bennehoff, J. McFadden, and H. Bedow. The following, also members, were not present: L. McIntyre, W. D. Ellis, A. Holman, W. R. King, I. N. Miller, and N. Martin.

A number of these men are still in the active service, and other efficient men have been added. Among these are Prof. R. J. White, principal of Sugar Grove Seminary since its founding in 1884, spoken of elsewhere, E. Smith, P. E. Smith, A. Brunson, M. D. M. Altice, O. J. Gage. L. L. Hager, one of the early members, has written and ^p.598 published two volumes of pleasant poems on religious and miscellaneous subjects.

The Erie Conference has achieved a noble record of service, and holds its place among the progressive conferences of the Church. The ministers have been united and loyal, and the radicalism which proved so disastrous in many places made here no appreciable impression. Within late years an increased effort has been made to occupy the cities and larger towns, and there are now flourishing churches in Buffalo, Erie, Pleasantville, Bradford, and other places. The seminary also is receiving growing attention. The number of ministers in the conference is seventy-seven, of whom sixty-three are itinerant. The general membership is 3,861. The Sunday-school enrollment is 6,702, showing a very unusual percentage above the church membership.

II. THE OREGON CONFERENCE.

Of the organization of this pioneer conference of the Pacific Coast, in 1855, under the courageous leadership of those enthusiastic and devoted men, T. J. Connor, and J. Kenoyer, the reader has seen an account.¹ Of the struggles of the conference, never large in numbers, to build a college, an account has also been given. For many years the preachers and people worked in good hope, looking for the day of larger things. In time, however, the conference became subject to the greatest harm through the extreme radicalism of some in high places. So thoroughly had the spirit of disloyalty been encouraged among the people that when the final crisis came, about one-half of the preachers and people went with the secession. Since then the contention over the college property has been a source of much trouble, though, ^p.599 happily, now finally settled in favor of the Church. The conference now numbers twenty ministers, and 1,114 in the laity. Among its present most influential ministers are J. R. Parker, B. E. Emrick, P. C. Hetzler, and C. C. Bell. George Sickafoose spent a number of years in the conference, but recently returned to the East.

III. THE ONTARIO CONFERENCE.

The reader has already seen that the earliest United Brethren ministers who visited Canada were Jacob Erb, afterward bishop, and J. Christian Smith. They were both at the time members of the original or Hagerstown Conference. This visit was made in 1825, and was undertaken on their own account. They preached extensively, scattering the seed of the word by the way, and years afterward some of the fruits of their labor remained. Two years later, in 1827, Mr. Erb was appointed to what was then called the New York Mission, the territory included being western New York. After this Mr. Erb made occasional visits to this seat of his labors, and in 1853 he again crossed over into Canada.

About this time Israel Sloane was sent to Canada by the Board of Missions, which had then been organized, and a few years later, in 1856, the Canada, now Ontario, Conference, was formed, with six ministers and one hundred and fifty-two members. The place of meeting was Beverly Chapel, in Sheffield, Bishop Glossbrenner presiding. Five of the names were as follows: Israel Sloane, J. A. Cornell, C. Moore, A. Cornell, and A. B. Sherk. All these men are deceased. The present number of the ministers is twenty-one, of whom twelve are in the itinerancy. Some among these are J. P. Cowling, I. W. Groh, George H. Backus, J. F. Durkee, J. Mager. The lay membership of the conference is 1,426 ; the ^p.600 Sunday-school enrollment, 2,195. The large percentage of the Sunday-school membership over that of the church gives good promise of a larger future. This conference, with others, suffered much from the effects of ultra-radicalism. The title to all its church property being now permanently settled, the opportunities for future success will be greatly enlarged.

IV. THE PARKERSBURG CONFERENCE.

Men of heroic mold were they who in extending the work of the Virginia Conference went westward and set up the banners of the Church in the mountainous regions of western Virginia. The first of these pioneer preachers was Moses Michael, who came into what is now West Virginia in May, 1836. He began preaching in Mason County, on the Ohio River. On August 20, 1837, he organized the first church. Jacob Rhinehart and Henry Jones joined Mr. Michael, and the work was soon extended into other counties. Until the separate organization of the Parkersburg Conference other ministers were sent over from the Virginia, as presiding elders, circuit preachers, or missionaries, to build up the work. Among these were Dr. George W. Statton, Dr. Z. Warner, J. W. Perry, J. Bachtel, H. Lower, and I. K. Statton. Some of these recrossed the mountains at different times to serve the various charges. Others remained, thus becoming the nucleus of the future conference.

The conference was organized as a separate body in 1858, at Centerville, in Tyler County, Bishop Glossbrenner presiding. The charter members were J. Bachtel, Z. Warner, J. W. Perry, J. W. Miles, L. Hess, William James, Eli Martin, John P. White, and D. Engle—nine in all. Of these original members only one now remains, J. W. Miles, far advanced in years. In later years were added ^p.601 the names of J. L. Hensley, M.D., S. J. Graham, E. Harper, E. Stuttler, and George W. Hensley. Mr. Bachtel had been an influential member of the Virginia Conference, being closely associated with Bishop Markwood. Dr. Warner, for many years a leading figure in the General Conference, and greatly honored in his own conference, has been elsewhere spoken of. J. W. Perry, after rendering long and distinguished service, died a little over a year ago, aged about seventy. Dr. J. L. Hensley retired a few years ago from regular itinerant work; be now resides at Marion, Ohio, gives much attention to temperance and other reforms, and was a few years ago elected to the Ohio legislature. W. M. Weekley, now of the Rock River Conference, and church-erection secretary, gave twenty years of service to this conference.

The field covered by the Parkersburg Conference is one of the most rugged and difficult to travel in the entire Church. But its men are hardy, courageous, and devoted, and they win success. The conference has eighty-seven ministers, and a general membership of 11,400, being surpassed in this respect only by the Allegheny Conference. The Sunday-school enrollment is 13,683.

V. THE KANSAS CONFERENCE.

The Kansas Conference was organized as early as 1857. Its first years were those of the border-ruffianism which sought, by terrorism and ruthless murder, to force the institution of slavery upon the settlers of the then new Territory. In common with others who stood for freedom and for their rights as citizens, our people experienced the red baptism of blood. Their pronounced antislavery sentiments made them especially the objects of suspicion and the targets of murderous assault.

The earliest United Brethren minister in Kansas was ^p.602 W. A. Cardwell, of the White River Conference, who settled near Lecompton in 1855. Here he established a society, and here the first United Brethren church was built. After him came Samuel S. Snyder, of the Allegheny Conference, of whose death, in 1861, by the hands of the raiders, mention has been made. In 1857 came J. S. Gingerich, also of the Allegheny Conference. Soon after, these were joined by Josiah Terrell and William Huffman, father of Dr. G. M. Huffman, both of the White River Conference. These, with several others who joined them, nine in all, assembled at the house of Mr. Snyder, near Lawrence, on October 30, 1857, where they organized the Kansas Conference. Bishop Edwards was present, and presided. Among those who came later are found the names of Samuel Kretzinger, H. M. Green, E. Shepherd, and Solomon Weaver. A number of these pioneers have died. Huffman and Gingerich, both quite aged, are living, the latter at Pasadena, California. Among those best known in the conference now are Dr. G. M. Huffman, Dr. J. H. Snyder, J. R. Meredith, E. B. Slade, F. R. Mitchell, Dr. C. M. Brooke, S. C. Coblentz, E. Shepherd, J. H. Bonebrake, and J. B. Deever. Dr. H. D. Healy, earlier a member of this conference, is now connected with the Rock River. R. Loggan, a number of years a prominent member, removed to Oregon, where he went with the seceders.

It is difficult now, after the lapse of more than a third of a century, to realize the hardships and perils these pioneer preachers were called upon to endure. Some of them, as many in the Virginias, literally passed through fire, being often waylaid and shot at by assassins, had their houses broken into, and were themselves dragged into prison. Their persecutors sought to intimidate them by threats and violence, and by repeated assaults to drive ^p.603 them out of the country. But they were brave men, after the true apostolic type, and continued to preach in the presence of armed foes, often themselves guarded by rifles in the hands of those who came to hear. Much of this experience occurred before the actual outbreak of the War, between the time of their organization and 1861.

The conference has yielded freely of its ministers and people for the formation of other conferences, and now numbers fifty preachers, thirty-two of whom are itinerant, with 4,151 in the laity.

VI. THE MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.

In the fall of 1854 Rev. Edmund Clow removed from Carroll County, Illinois, to Pine Creek Valley, in Winona County, Minnesota. Finding the people scattered about as sheep having no shepherd, he began at once to preach the word, and good results immediately followed. In the autumn of 1855 he attended the Rock River Conference, reported his work, joined the conference, was ordained by Bishop Edwards, and sent back to his field, which was recognized as Pine Creek Mission.

The continued labors of Mr. Clow were greatly blessed, and among his converts in the winter of 1856-57 was M. L. Tibbetts, who at once began to declare the gospel of Christ. The Board of Missions sent to this field, in 1855, J. W. Fulkerson, who at once began work. Others also came, and when the Minnesota Conference was organized, in the fall of 1857, by Bishop L. Davis, there were present these three, with John Haney and John Murrell. Mr. Fulkerson was made presiding elder, with a mission to serve, and the rest were each appointed to missions.

Later came I. L. Buchwalter, J. J. Vaughn, N. E. Gardner, S. D. Kemerer, 0. A. Phillips, and J. T. Allaman, all ^p.604 of them faithful toilers in the Lord's field. The names of all of these became well known. Some of them have removed to other conferences and some are with the Master. Clow, Fulkerson, Tibbetts, and Haney are living, and remain with the conference. They are all far advanced in years, and have each seen much of wearing pioneer experience, traveling over long distances where there were no roads, and often exposed to all the force of high winds and low temperatures. Among other names now familiar in the working forces of the conference are N. S. Hankins, U. A. Cook, E. J. Reed, and I. N. Cain, missionary to Africa. The ministers of this conference, as of many others, in all the years until now found themselves practically debarred, by the restrictive legislation of the Church, from the cities and larger towns, and the fruits of their revivals were frequently gathered by other denominations. Hence their work has not reached the proportions to which the amount of labor expended was fairly entitled. But the ministers are men of courage, and a larger future is before them.

VII. THE MISSOURI CONFERENCE.

The first effort to establish the United Brethren Church in Missouri was made in 1853, Henry Kumler, Jun., being in that year sent by the Board of Missions into the southwestern part of the State. He was soon joined by J. Terrell and others, and in 1854 a conference was held, Bishop Edwards presiding. About this time the border war was begun by the abettors of slavery, who sought to force the dark institution across the line into Kansas. During the years of intense excitement which followed, the small United Brethren societies made little progress, and the conferences ceased to be held.

Meanwhile, the Des Moines Conference was extending ^p.605 its work across into the northern part of Missouri, and on October 18, 1858, the preachers of that conference laboring in Missouri convened in a regular conference at Atlanta, in Macon County. Bishop Edwards was present and organized the conference. Among the preachers present are found the names of Moses Michael, who was elected presiding elder, and W. P. Shanklin, John Osborn, J. May-field, G. H. Busby, J. H. McVey, Thomas Perkins, W. II. Burns, J. T. Timmons, Benjamin Wade, Jabez Harrison, and Alpheus Minear. This conference was considered a reorganization of the work in Missouri, in a different locality, and was called the Missouri Conference. The lay membership reported at this time was 348. At the second session, held in the spring of 1850, this number had increased to 809.

Other names of ministers were soon added, as E. W. Carpenter, D. E. Statton, A. W. Geeslin, D. A. Beauchamp, William Beauchamp, Lee Fisher, A. D. Thomas, J. Herbert, and O. P. Louthan. Of these early members of the conference a number have died. Geeslin and Thomas went with the radicals. Among those now best known in the conference are U. P. Wardrip, President W. S. Reese, of York College, U. O. Deputy, Joseph Bays, W. O. Wallace, S. T. Wallace, A. M. Scovill, M. Bratcher, and I. W. McRae. President F. A. Z. Kumler, of Avalon College, elsewhere spoken of, is a layman in this conference. The conference numbers thirty-seven preachers and 3,212 in the laity, with a Sunday-school enrollment of 3,413 and a young people's membership of 651.

VIII. THE WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

The earliest pioneer of the missionary work in Wisconsin seems to have been G. G. Nickey, a man of quiet bearing, whose presence was often seen in the General Conferences ^p.606 of other years. Mr. Lawrence in his history says that the first society was organized by James Davis, of whom he speaks as "prominent and most beloved among" the early missionaries. His name, however, does not appear with those who were present at the organization. These missionaries had gone across into Wisconsin from Illinois. Their work attracted the attention of the General Conference of 1857, and that body directed that it be formed into a new conference. The organization was accordingly effected, the first session being held at Rutland, in Dane County, on September, 16, 1858, Bishop L. Davis presiding. In the list of appointments to charges the names of twenty ministers appear, with G. G. Nickey and S. L. Eldred as presiding elders. The other names are S. C. Zuck, S. Sutton, J. W. Reed, J. Haskins, E. S. Bunce, J. Nichols, S. Knox, F. Outcalt, R. Powell, N. Smith, G. Kite, W. W. Simpkins, B. Howard, D. Harrington, E. W. Canfield, J. Payne, J. B. L. Winter, R. Crozier. Five hundred and fifty-four members were reported. This vigorous young conference grew rapidly, and in 1861 it was divided, the southern portion retaining the name Wisconsin, and the remainder becoming the Fox River Conference. The two bodies have since been reunited.

Many of the older members of the General Conferences will remember the presence of Nickey, Sutton, Eldred, and Reed in the sessions of that body. Sutton was a frequent contributor to the columns of the Religious Telescope thirty years ago. Reed, now well up in years, still remains. Among the younger men who have acquired prominence are A. J. Hood, twice in the General Conference, seven years presiding elder, A. D. Whitney, a number of years elder, three times in the General Conference, and J. H. Richards, a graduate of Union Biblical Seminary, and member of the General Conference of 1893. ^p.607 The conference at the present time numbers thirty-five ministers, of whom thirty-one are itinerants, and in the laity 2,070. Its Sunday-school enrollment is 2,839 ; its young people's societies have 776 names.

IX. THE CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE.

In the year 1858 Israel Sloane, whose work as a missionary in Canada had been blessed with signal success, volunteered to go, at his own expense, to the Pacific Coast, and open a mission in California. The divine blessing attended his preaching, and in 1861 the General Conference recognized bis work by directing the organization of a conference in the Golden State, and also by electing Daniel Shuck as bishop for the work on the coast. The reader has seen that because of the War breaking out Bishop Shuck was greatly delayed in reaching his field. Meanwhile, Mr. Sloane was joined by other ministers, and in September, 1862, an informal conference was held. The first regular conference, from which the organization is dated, was held in 1864, after the arrival of Bishop Shuck.

Among the early laborers in the conference, in addition to Mr. Sloane and Bishop Shuck, were Nelson Hubbard, J. Ackerson, J. W. Harrow, and C. W. Gillett, the last named still surviving. Among those now best known in the work are J. L. Field, T. J. Bauder, J. S. Pitman, Francis Fisher, A. G. Wright, and D. S. Shiflett. Mr. Pitman is pastor of the church in Los Angeles, for the church building of which the young people's societies are contributing money. Other churches are located at Sacramento, Riverside, Woodbridge, Gridley, and other points. San Joaquin Valley College has been elsewhere spoken of.

The Church in California suffered seriously during the ^p.608 protracted anti-secret-society agitation. Its way of success in the cities and larger towns, as in many places elsewhere, was effectually barred. Some of its ministers and members, less in proportion than in some other conferences, went with the seceders. With this trouble happily ended, the conference has before it a freer field.

X. THE DES MOINES CONFERENCE.

The original Des Moines Conference was formed by separation from the Iowa Conference in the year 1853. In that division the northern portion of the conference retained the name of Iowa, and the southern part became the Des Moines, taking its name from the Des Moines River. This conference rapidly pushed its work westward, and in 1861 it was, in turn, divided, forming the East Des Moines and West Des Moines conferences. Thus their history flowed on in two names until, by the act of the General Conference of 1889, the East Des Moines was again united with the Iowa Conference. This union left two conferences in the State of Iowa, with the dividing line running north and south, instead of east and west as at the first. The West Des Moines now, by the same act of the General Conference, dropped the prefix West, and took the original name Des Moines. Its territory is the western half of the State.

The first separate session of the West Des Moines (now Des Moines) Conference, after the division of 1861, was held at Panora, Guthrie County, on September 12, 1862, Bishop Markwood presiding. Fourteen ministers attended this conference, as follows: William G. Eckles, R. Loggan, J. Simpson, E. Flaugh, S. Brooks, J. Burns, R. Armstrong, J. I. Baber, G. P. Fisher, J. A. Kenaston, William Jacobs, J. M. Dosh, J. B. Hamilton, and A. Randall. Four others joined at this session : J. E. Ham, M. S. Dickey, A. N. ^p.609 Baker, and William Jenkins. Twenty-two members were absent, among whom were Ira B. Ryan and J. B. Carr. Only three of the original members, William Jacobs, J. Simpson, and J. B. Carr, are now living. The conference had seventeen charges and thirteen itinerants. Cooperation and support for Western College were pledged at this first session.

Among other ministers in the Des Moines Conference, as the years were passing, were found the names of L. S. Grove, John and W. S. De Moss, R. Thrasher, A. H. Mitchell, A. Schwimley (now in Colorado), D. S. Shiflett (now in California), A. Corbin, and others who became well known. For many years past George Miller, D.D., has stood as the recognized head of the conference. Dr. Miller was born in Ohio in 1837, became a minister in the Auglaize Conference, transferred to West Des Moines (now Des Moines) in 1871; has been honored by his brethren with the office of presiding elder for twenty-four consecutive years, was elected to the General Conference of 1877, and to each session since, has long been a member of several of the general church boards, as well as of the conference boards, proving himself in these various relations one of the most practical and useful men of the Church. Others in this conference who have come well to the front are L. H. Bufkin, G. O. Porter, W. F. Cronk, and E. W. Curtis. The last named has been for some years pastor of the church in East Des Moines, and renders a wider service as editor of the Parish Outlook.

The Des Moines Conference has long recognized the right of women to proclaim the gospel of Christ, and is ready to concede their right to other responsible positions. Mrs. Elizabeth De Moss, better known afterward as Mrs. Funkhouser, and Phebe Benton were among them as highly esteemed laborers. The former was the mother of the De Moss brothers, and cooperated with ^p.610 them effectually in the work of the gospel. She was also the grandmother of Mrs. S. J. Staves, one of the first two woman delegates in the General Conference in the Church, in the session of 1893, at Dayton, Ohio, her associate in this conference being Mrs. Mattie A. Brewer, of the Lower Wabash Conference.

XI. THE MICHIGAN CONFERENCE.

This conference was organized in the year 1862 at Matherton, Ionia County, Michigan, with sixteen members, namely, James Nixon, W. S. Titus, J. B. Parmelee, B. Hamp, J. Jacobs, G. C. Fox, W. H. Stone, J. Berry, J. Myers, H. Rathbun, H. T. Barnaby, J. Rider, A. Lee, D. Strayer, G. S. Lake, and J. Warner. Its growth for some years was rapid, and in 1877 it was divided, forming the North Michigan. Later on, the bright promise began to be clouded through the intensity of the anti-secret-society agitation, a condition which grew worse when the General Conference adopted measures providing for revision. Several of its leading men were among the foremost in the Church in the radical movement, one of the number winning a bishop's seat in the radical church. With these local conditions, and the church property becoming involved in lawsuits, growth naturally ceased. The property question having at last been put in better form by the courts, it may be hoped that a brighter future lies ahead.

The conference has a number of devoted and hardworking men, who have the welfare of the Church at heart. Foremost among these is W. N. Breidenstine, a brave soldier of the War, who carries a wound received at the battle of Petersburg in 1864. He was ordained by Bishop Edwards in 1871, and has continued in the active ministry since, serving as presiding elder for eight ^p.611 years, and was in the General Conference of 1893. Toiling with his brethren in the conference faithfully under many discouragements, he looks to the better reward to come. He is now serving as conference missionary organizer, with his residence at Grand Rapids. B. H. Mowers is another of the earnest toilers in this conference. Ordained to the ministry in 1871, he has served the conference as pastor and presiding elder, and was in the General Conferences of 1885 and 1893. G. S. Lake was for a number of years an efficient worker in the Michigan Conference. James Carter, a man of much worth, remembered by many of the older members of the General Conferences, went to his final reward in November, 1878.

Chief among those who went out of this conference and the Church with the radical secession were H. T. Barnaby, W. S. Titus, and B. Hamp. Mr. Barnaby and Mr. Titus for many years exerted considerable influence in the General Conference.

XII. THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS CONFERENCE.

The Central Illinois Conference was formed by separation from the Illinois Conference, on September 28, 1865, the initial session being held in the city of Decatur, Illinois, Bishop "Weaver presiding. The following names were enrolled : M. Ambrose, L. D. Ambrose, G. Weimer, A. L. Best, R. M. Parks, L. M. Robinson, W. Crandall, H. T. Van Gordon, M. T. Chew, J. Herbert, H. Hilbish, A. A. Shesler, J. W. Elliott, J. I. Robinson, I. Fink, I. W. Mason, S. P. Hoy, J. C. Ross, J. W. Fisher, A. B. Powell, D. Folk, John Hoobler, G. P. Fisher, F. Gorsline, H. Stoddard, I. Blake, W. F. Bishop, S. Swick, G. M. Freese, L. S. Cornell, G. W. Hall.

This conference entered into its work with good hope, ^p.612 but failing to enter the larger towns and cities, and to reach many other citizens of the best classes, largely through the limitations imposed by the rigid anti-secret-society legislation, much of the best opportunity for success was missed. A member of the conference in a letter very fitly says : "A rich soil, enterprising farmers and business men, fine railroad facilities and good markets, excellent free schools and colleges, and a generally intelligent people, had we put ourselves into true relations to the best of them we could have entered a most inviting field for building up a first-class conference." With the changed legislative conditions of the Church, the ministers in this field are now hoping for a brighter and larger future. Among its newer and recently added working forces are found a number of devoted and able preachers and pastors, among whom are L. Field, P. H. Wagner, D. O. Giffin, Z. T. Hatfield, J. A. P. King, H. T. Athey, and R. H. Beck. The conference, according to the latest statistics, has a membership of thirty-six ministers, with 3,498 in the laity and 4,324 in its Sunday schools.

XIII. THE COLUMBIA RIVER CONFERENCE.

The Columbia River Conference, originally named the Cascade, and then the Walla Walla, is located in eastern Oregon, Washington, and northwestern Idaho. It was formed by separation from the Oregon Conference, and was organized in September, 1865. Bishop D. Shuck presided at the session. The early leaders in the conference, as in the original work in Oregon, were T. J. Connor and J. Kenoyer. A number of the pioneers are living, and remain at their post in the ministry and Church. Kenoyer, however, went off with the radicals. The conference at the present time has a ministerial membership of twenty-three, some of the best known among them ^p.613 being G. W. Sickafoose, Homer Gallaher, J. J. Gallaher, and W. R. Lloyd. The conference has a general membership of 1,118, with 951 in its Sunday schools, and 290 in its young people's societies. The conference has sought to encourage church education, but the experiment with Washington Seminary, at Huntsville, has resulted in embarrassment, the church membership being insufficient to provide the requisite financial support.

XIV. THE TENNESSEE CONFERENCE.

In the year 1856 John Ruebush, of the Virginia Conference, was appointed by the Board of Missions to visit east Tennessee. He at once began preaching, and, with the divine blessing attending his word, considerable numbers were converted. He formed several societies, established a number of regular appointments, and began also the work of church building. "With the breaking out of the War the work was much hindered, and for a time suspended. Later Mr. Ruebush resumed his preaching, and A. E. Evans and D. A. Beauchamp came to his help. In 1866 Bishop Glossbrenner met these three men in Otterbein Chapel, Greene County, Tennessee, and organized the first formal conference. Enos Keezel and R. J. Bishop were received as licentiates. J. W. Bowen was added in 1868, and J. A. Small in 1869. Jonathan Bales and his wife were the first to join the United Brethren Church in Tennessee. Other ministers, as time passed, were added, as Joseph Waldorf, Edwin Horner, Richard Owen, and later J. K. and Mrs. A. L. Billheimer. In 1877 the conference founded Edwards Academy, at Greenville, Tennessee. In 1881 it was removed to White Pine, where it is just now entering upon a larger prosperity. An account of the institution has been given elsewhere in this volume.

^p.614 About two years ago a movement which had been for some time in process of development began to take definite form, resulting in considerable additions both of ministers and laymen to the United Brethren Church. The greater number of these came from the Methodist Episcopal Church, some from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and a few from other denominations. Those coming from the Methodist churches were attracted chiefly by the milder form of episcopal government in the United Brethren Church. There was for them no possible inducement in material or worldly considerations. They could not look for larger salaries, or easier fields of labor, or lighter sacrifices, nor was the prospect of official promotion better than in the churches from which they came. Nor could they bring with them any of the church-houses or other property which they had aided in building. No thought or hope of this kind was entertained ; much less was any effort made to do so. Influenced by principle alone, and in the face of present loss, they chose to cast in their lot with us, and they have addressed themselves earnestly to the work in their new relations. About twenty-five ministers in all, with a considerable number of members, have thus connected themselves with the United Brethren. Among the leading ministers in the movement are Dr. T. C. Carter, Rev. W. L. Richardson, J. D. Droke, and others. They have been given a cordial welcome by the United Brethren Church, not in any spirit of proselytism, for no proselyting was done, nor from any desire to reap where others have sown, but with an open heart and door to receive any persons who love our common Lord and desire to cast their lot with us.

The latest statistics of the Tennessee Conference show a membership of twenty-three itinerants and the same number of local ministers, and 1,857 communicants. The ^p.615 Sunday-school enrollment is 2,105. Two new conferences have also been formed within the past two years, which are to be spoken of farther on.

XV. THE EAST GERMAN CONFERENCE.

The East German Conference was formed by separation from the East Pennsylvania. Its first separate session was held March 4, 1870, Bishop Weaver presiding, assisted by Bishops Glossbrenner and Dickson. The names of twenty-eight ministers were enrolled, as follows : John Binckley, J. W. Boughton, John G. Clair, L. W. Craumer, J. B. Daugherty, D. S. Early, S. Etter, L. Fleisher, J. D. A. Garman, H. H. Gelbach, H. E. Hachman, D. Hoffman, J. W. Kunkel, Job Light, John Lowery, J. H. Mark, John Meyer, S. V. Mohn, Simon Noll, J. Runk, J. Ruhl, Jacob Schropp, James Shoop, A. Steigerwald, G. Stoll, D. Strickler, Gideon Weidman, Joseph Young.

Gelbach, Hoffman, and Daugherty were regarded as among the leaders of this conference in its earlier years. The first two have died, and Daugherty has returned to the East Pennsylvania Conference. Hoffman was ordained a minister in 1851, and gave thirty-seven years of faithful labor to the ministry. Gelbach was a man of impressive personal presence, an able preacher and successful winner of souls. He died in 1886. Job Light was a man of slight figure, but a strong and successful preacher, whether serving as presiding elder or as a pastor. He died suddenly in 1889 while conducting an extensive revival in his church in Reading. Henry Schropp and John Doerkson were each men of power and greatly esteemed. Doerkson, born in Germany, was a man of superior culture, young and progressive in spirit, and a fresh, vigorous preacher. Jacob Fritz, ordained in 1857, preached for thirty-eight years, leaving a good record of industry and devotion.

^p.616 The East German Conference has now sixty-four preachers, of whom forty-nine are in the itinerancy. Its general membership is 6,552. Of these nearly one-half are enrolled in the young people's societies, the number being 3,107. Its Sunday-school enrollment is similarly large, being 10,971. These facts indicate a large promise for the future of the conference. Among the present active force in the conference are still found some of those who assisted in the organization, as Mark, Shoop, Runk, and Noll, the last now old, and earlier a very successful evangelist. Among the younger men are W. H. Uhler, C. S. Miller, A. Graul, and S. M. Hummel. The conference, as a body, possesses the stanch elements requisite for solid and durable work.

XVI. THE NEOSHO CONFERENCE.

The Neosho Conference, spread out over the fertile fields of the Neosho Valley, is the fair daughter of the Kansas Conference. Its first separate session was held on April 16, 1870, Bishop Dickson presiding. The place of meeting was Greeley, in Anderson County, Kansas. The names of nineteen ministers were enrolled, and there were three hundred and thirty-nine in the general membership. The ministers were as follows : J. W. Arnold, S. E. Cormany, S. G. Elliott, A. P. Floyd, "William James, John Osborn, A. Prescott, J. Riley, W. B. Walker, John Buckmaster, J. D. England, J. R. Evans, J. S. Gingerich, J. Morehead, J. Picket, J. R. Reed, J. F. Statton, William Folk, D. Wenrich.

Among the early company of laborers, Gingerich, Evans, Wenrich, Riley, and James are remembered as natural leaders. Gingerich possessed the genuine pioneer spirit. Starting from the East early in life, his name has appeared at different times in connection with the Western conferences. He now waits, as the reader has seen, in advanced ^p.617 old age, in a city near the western ocean, for the Master's final call. Among other men who have come well to the front are J. K. Spencer, G. H. Hinton, J. It. Chambers, C. H. Jones, N. L. Vezie, J. C. Ross. J. R. Evans, of this conference, was a member of the Church Commission on revision of the Constitution and Confession of Faith.

This conference has made fine progress in advancing its work. It now has forty-eight ministers, of whom thirty-four are in the itinerancy. Its enrolled membership is 3,470. There are forty-two young people's societies, with a membership of 1,243, and 4,239 are in its Sunday schools. The conference gives fine promise of a greatly enlarged future.

XVII. THE ELKHORN AND DAKOTA CONFERENCE.

In 1871 a mission conference was organized in South Dakota and named the Dakota Conference, and in 1882 the Elkhorn Conference was formed in northeast Nebraska. In 1885 these two bodies were united, forming the Elkhorn and Dakota Conference. Bishop Kephart presided at the session. The roll of ministers of the two conferences embraced thirty-one names, and there were six hundred and forty in the laity. Among the ministers were D. D. Weimer, E. R. Richmond, W. H. Post, T. P. Brown, W. H. Burns, E. D. Cowles, J. W. Tucker, and N. B. Moore.

This conference became one of the true mission fields of the Church, and other ministers soon entered upon its work, as S. W. Koontz, of the Minnesota Conference, L. T. John, of the Iowa, and J. E. Leonard, of the St. Joseph. Judge J. W. Tucker was equally at home in the pulpit, on the stump, and as attorney for the Indians in those regions. Mr. Weimer, deceased, is remembered as one of the bravest of men in facing the pitiless storms of the prairies, in meeting his appointments as presiding elder. ^p.618 Mr. Richmond was blind. His wife accompanied him, and read for him the Scriptures and other books. She was inspired to a special zeal by this service, and after his decease was licensed as a preacher in the conference. His frequent rendering of "Beulah Land" is remembered as peculiarly pathetic and beautiful.

The work in this conference, as in many others, has perhaps in too large proportion been given to the rural districts, performing indeed a great service to many who otherwise would be neglected, but failing to build up the Church rapidly into strength. All the hardships peculiar to new countries the ministers have had to meet, but they have toiled in hope, and the harvest will follow.

XVIII. THE COLORADO CONFERENCE.

The Colorado Conference was organized on April 15, 1872, by Bishop Dickson. Only three names were enrolled on the conference list, namely William H. McCormick, St. Clair Ross, and A. Hartsell. Other names were soon added, and others further on. Among these were L. S. Cornell, D.D., E. J. Lamb, J. W. Zimmerman, A. Schwimley, A. Griffith, J. P. Wilson, C. M. Dilly, and others. Several of these, after many years of earnest service, remain in the active work of the conference. McCormick, one of the original three, Lamb, Zimmerman, and Schwimley hold foremost places among their brethren. It is to be regretted that Ross and Hartzell thought it best to cast their lot with the radicals. Mr. Ross was sent by the Board of Missions to Colorado in 1869. He died in October of 1896. His brothers, J. C. and Daniel J. B. Ross, are ministers in the Neosho Conference. Hartzell also is dead. Dr. Cornell, for over twenty years in active service, resides in Denver, much esteemed by his ^p.619 brethren. Rums and Mrs. Clark, whose names stand in perpetual honor, in connection with the training school in Africa, are lay members of the Church at Smith's Chapel, Denver.

The conference has wisely planted its work in the towns and cities, and has churches at Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Berthoud, Left Hand, St. Vrain, and Loveland.

XIX. THE EAST NEBRASKA CONFERENCE.

In the year 1860 several United Brethren families found homes near the village of Plattsmouth, near the mouth of the river Platte. It 1864 William H. Shepherd and R. Loggan located in the neighborhood, and regular preaching was provided for. In the same year W. P. Caldwell and E. J. Lamb, zealous laymen from Iowa, found homes on Swan Creek, in Saline County. They began to hold prayer-meetings, and before very long were regularly licensed preachers. In 1866 E. W. Johnson settled in Seward County, and at once began preaching. In 1870 S. Austin, of the Illinois Conference,'located in York County, and soon began successful work. Thus were additions made from time to time, until in the year 1873 there were fourteen ministers, with seventy-four appointments, and about fifty organized classes, and 841 members. In that year, on October 30, Bishop Glossbrenner visited them, and organized the Nebraska Conference. The ministers enrolled in the membership were W. P. Caldwell, S. Austin, E. W. Johnson, W. H. Shepherd, H. L. Spofford, Ives Marks, J. McDougal, H. Ackaret, J. M. Ward, P. E. Elliott, W. S. Spooner, I. N. Martin, I. Cole, and S. Fenton.

Thus organized, these ministers in a spirit of broad hopefulness sowed their seed and thrust their sickles into the harvest, so that in 1878, five years after the ^p.620 organization, the membership had grown to 2,394, and the number of ministers to about fifty. The work had extended westward, and it was deemed advisable to divide the conference, and the East and West Nebraska conferences were formed. Thirty-three ministers remained with the East Nebraska, among whom were the veteran founders of the conference, Simeon Austin, who afterward joined the radicals, William P. Caldwell, and E. W. Johnson. Four licentiates were received, and the conference started on its new mission with thirty-seven ministers. The conference has been active in building churches and parsonages, though many of its organized societies are still without churches. It has gathered a membership of 4,012, with forty-eight ministers, of whom thirty-nine are in the itinerancy. It has forty-three young people's societies, with a membership of 1,659 ; its Sunday schools have an enrollment of 4,327. The conference suffered considerably from the radical movement, but its losses are much more than made up.

XX. THE WEST NEBRASKA CONFERENCE.

The history of the founding of the Church in Nebraska belongs to the East and the West conferences alike. In the spirit of the truest missionaries the pioneer preachers did their work, amid the usual difficulties pertaining to pioneer life, but meeting with much cheering success. The final session of the original Nebraska Conference was held at Fairbury, in Jefferson County, on August 21, 1878, Bishop Wright presiding. The ministers who had pushed farther into the newer fields, and others who elected to go with them, were as follows: Isaac Belknap, Charles G. Bowers, Jacob Bremser, John J. Haskins, Charles C. Kellogg, Edmond L. Kenoyer, Obadiah Knepper, John McDougal, I. N. Martin, Thomas J. Parvin, William S. ^p.621 Spooner, John W. Ward, S. C. Abbott, Byron M. Allen, David Edgarton, J. H. Fee, Josiah D. Fye, John T. Squiers, and George Fembers. The number in the laity falling to West Nebraska Conference was 605. Numerous changes have taken place in the ministerial list since the formation, in 1878, by removals and deaths, with a few withdrawals to the radicals, while new men have from time to time come in. Among those now holding prominent recognition in the conference are H. W. Trueblood, D.D., T. B. Cannon, J. J. Smith, C. H. Polhemus, and others.

This conference early entered the educational field, founding Gibbon Collegiate Institute, but transferring its interest afterward to York College, as elsewhere spoken of. The conference has advanced in general membership to 2,235, with thirty-six ministers. It has twenty-four young-people's societies, enrolling 701 members, and about 3,400 scholars and teachers enrolled in its Sunday schools, a number over fifty per cent larger than that of the church membership. This fact gives good promise of future increase in the Church.

XXI. THE NORTH MICHIGAN CONFERENCE.

The North Michigan Conference was formed by separation from the Michigan Conference, at a session held in Waterloo, Michigan, September 6, 1877. Bishop Weaver presided. The names of seventeen ministers were enrolled, some of whom were A. Rossman, J. Beechtler, W. T. Baldwin, H. H. Maynard, J. A. F. King, and G. A. Bowles.

The field occupied by the conference was strictly missionary ground, with all the usual attendant conditions. It received such support as the Missionary Board was able to give, and for some years the work prospered encouragingly. But, unfortunately for its steady prosperity, the ^p.622 conference became, during the period of the radical troubles, a theater of special disturbance. The parent conference, the Michigan, had long been dominated by-men of extreme radical principles, and their influence, some of them becoming members of the North Michigan, gave to this conference the same general character as that of the Michigan. As a consequence, when the secession of 1889 occurred, a considerable number of ministers went with the radicals, carrying with them a proportionate number of the laity, in some instances nearly entire congregations, together with the houses they occupied. The litigations growing out of these conditions have been elsewhere referred to.

The disintegration thus wrought in this conference proved greatly destructive to its interests. But the ministers are working earnestly and hopefully in rebuilding their Zion, and it may be hoped that the future holds for them a new era of prosperity. Among their present leaders in the work are F. M. McClintic, H. McNish, M. S. Bovey, and M. Markham. A number of young men of good promise are enlisted among their working forces. The present membership of the conference is, ministers, twenty-seven, of whom twenty-three are itinerant, and laity, 967. Its Sunday-school enrollment is 1,394, and that of its young people 361.

XXII. THE CENTRAL OHIO CONFERENCE.

The Central Ohio Conference, as suggested by the name, is situated in the central part of Ohio, with Columbus, the State capital, nearly at its geographical center. This conference was organized on September 4, 1878. It was not, like nearly all other conferences west of the Alleghanies, originally a mission field, but was formed by the union of portions of two old and established ^p.623 conferences, the Sandusky and the Scioto, the object being to secure greater convenience of pastoral service.

The enabling act of the General Conference of 1877 having been complied with by the Sandusky and Scioto conferences, the ministers of the sections which were to be combined assembled in the college chapel at Westerville, and were formally organized under the name of the Central Ohio Conference. Bishop Dickson presided, and the names of fifty-six ministers were enrolled on the conference record. Some of the more prominent among these were Ex-Bishop Hanby, E. Vandemark, J. B. Resler, H. A. Thompson, J. S. Mills, B. M. Long, J. W. Sleeper, J. A. Crayton, D. Bonebrake, W. Brown, W. G. Mauk, W. J. Davis, and A. Snider. Of the original members several have died, others have removed elsewhere, and some went with the seceders, so that of the fifty-six only eighteen now remain in the conference. The lay membership included in the districts as united was 3,598. This number has advanced to 4,974, and the present ministerial force is forty-nine, thirty-three of these being in the itinerancy. Among the later accessions to this conference is Dr. T. J. Sanders, president of Otterbein University. A. E. Davis, W. O. Fries, I. L. Oakes, J. P. Stewart, A. E. Wright, and A. J. Wagner are some of the leading pastors among the younger men of the conference.

This conference is peculiarly honored in having located within its bounds Otterbein University, the oldest of the educational institutions of the Church. The influence of the college upon the conference as a formative force has been very marked. The conference has several flourishing churches, as at Westerville, Columbus, Galion, and other places. In its work among the young people it enrolls 1,131 members, and in the Sunday schools 5,721.

^p.624 XXIII. THE NORTHWEST KANSAS CONFERENCE.

This vigorous body, occupying the northwestern part of Kansas, is a natural outgrowth of the Kansas Conference. The conference was organized on August 6, 1879, at Clifton, in Washington County, holding its first session jointly with the parent conference. The name at the first was West Kansas Conference, which was retained until 1893, when it became Northwest Kansas, the southwestern part of the State being occupied by the newly organized Southwest Kansas Conference. Twenty-three names were enrolled at the organization in 1879, as follows: E. Shepherd, F. R. S. Byrd, J. Knight, J. McKee, C. U. McKee, J. W. Bean, J. H. Bloyd, J. J. Burch, W. G. Lewis, M. Jennings, L. D. Wimmer, D. Brookhart, William Horton, J. L. Lee, D. Boone, Robert Wilson, W. H. Willoughby, J. Mason, G. W. Miller, D. Waltmer, H. W. Goss, J. E. French, J. M. Putney.

The conference early felt the need of providing educational advantages within the Church for its young people, and in 1880 organized Gould College. For six years the institution was maintained with fair success, but the resources being insufficient to warrant continuance it was suspended, the conference subsequently cooperating with a college founded at Enterprise, Kansas, which has also since been discontinued. The long-prevailing financial stress of the country, and the numerical insufficiency of the membership to support enterprises necessarily expensive, and not any lack of interest or zeal on the part of those undertaking them, led inevitably to these results.

The conference has toiled successfully in the field of soul-saving, its present membership being 3,824, with thirty-six ministers, of whom thirty-three are in the itinerant ranks. Its Sunday-school membership is 6.018, and that of its young people's societies forty-five, with a ^p.625 membership of 1,567. The activity of the Sunday schools and young people's organizations gives large promise for the future.

XXIV. THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONFERENCE.

The Arkansas Valley Conference is located partly in southern Kansas and partly in Oklahoma Territory. It was organized in October, 1881, by Bishop Kephart, at Otterbein Chapel, near Sedgwick City, in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Its territory is in part that of the former Osage Conference. In 1893 it parted with a portion of its field and people to form the Southwest Kansas Conference.

Twenty-six names of ministers were enrolled at the time of organization. Some of the original members were J. H. Snyder, P. B. Lee, T. H. Watts, R. W. Parks, George Gay, H. S. Riegel, and D. S. Henninger. Among other well-known names that have been added since are George Kettering, S. Garrigus, W. L. Hinshaw, J. A. Beltz, and F. P. Smith.

This conference has attained a most encouraging prosperity. Its territory is among the newer districts occupied by the Church, where population changes rapidly, and yet it has gathered a membership of 3,397, with fifty-three ministers, of whom thirty-nine are in the itinerancy. The Sunday-school enrollment is 4,393. There are forty young people's societies, with a membership of 1,170. With the early occupancy of a country which is destined to have a large population, this conference possesses a great opportunity, of which it will doubtless fully avail itself. The growth to which it has already attained within the short period since its organization is a prophecy as to its future.

XXV. THE SOUTHERN MISSOURI CONFERENCE.

The Southern Missouri is one of the more recently formed conferences, having been organized on November ^p.626 10, 1881. Its first session was held at Deer Creek Chapel, in Bates County, Bishop Kephart presiding. The territory of this conference, separated from the Neosho, embraces all the country south of the Missouri River, within the State of Missouri. The names of sixteen ministers were enrolled at the organization : S. Brown, G. Crouse, Benjamin Duck, J. R. Evans, J. S. Gingerich, J. K. Glassford, E. L. Joslin, W. F. Miller, J. R. Reed, J. Riley, R. G. Rankin, J. F. Stephens, A. Spence, O. F. Snow, J. T. Timmons, and R. C. Thomas. The lay membership comprised five hundred and nineteen names. From this it is apparent that there were no strong congregations, and the ministers entered upon their work as missionaries in the strictest sense. But the conference has prospered, and in the sixteen years of its existence has nearly trebled its membership, the present number of communicants being about 1,450, with twenty-five ministers, of whom thirteen are itinerants. The Sunday-school enrollment is 1,263.

Mr. Joslin and Mr. Thomas represented this conference in the General Conference in the noted sessions of 1885 and 1889, and A. L. Best, S. R. Thorn, and Mr. A. L. Bosley in that of 1893. R. C. Thomas has proved himself a faithful servant of the conference, having been its secretary since its organization. The encouraging growth in the general membership of this conference is an indication of the fidelity of its ministers and a proof that the divine blessing has rested upon their work.

XXVI. THE EAST OHIO CONFERENCE.

The conference now bearing the name of East Ohio occupies the territory of the historical Muskingum Conference, one of the noblest of the early conferences west of the Alleghany Mountains. The Muskingum may be ^p.627 spoken of as a strictly original conference, not having been formed by separation from any other. It consisted, in its beginnings, of the hardy pioneer ministers who crossed the mountains, settled in that section of Ohio which is watered by the Muskingum River, and began preaching the gospel to their fellow-settlers. The conference was organized as early as 1818, by Bishop Newcomer, at the house of Joseph Naftzgar, in Harrison County, Ohio, its territory extending across into western Pennsylvania, embracing that now occupied by the Allegheny Conference until 1833, when the portion of the conference lying in Pennsylvania was transferred to the Pennsylvania Conference.

Among the early members in the history of this conference are Matthias Bortsfield, Abraham Forney, Joseph Naftzgar, Henry G. Spayth, Henry Errett, James Johnston, J. Crum, Christian Berger, and John Bash.

The Muskingum Conference grew in strength, and in 1853 it was divided, the Western Reserve Conference being formed. The latter conference had an honorable history until the year 1886, when the two bodies were again united under the name of the East Ohio Conference. As such it has advanced to the position of one of the larger conferences of the Church, its present general membership being 9,262. It has 132 organized churches, with ninety-four ministers, of whom sixty-eight are in the itinerant ranks. It has seventy-two young people's societies, with a membership of 2,891, and its Sunday-school enrollment is 11,376.

Among the members of the old Muskingum Conference were Bishop J. Weaver and Dr. B. F. Booth, one still with us, the other with the Master. Among those in later years representing the Muskingum and Western Reserve in the General Conference, and afterward the ^p.628 East Ohio, were Dr. Booth, S. W. Koontz, J. M. Poulton, J. N. Lemasters, A. Brazee, J. G. Baldwin, John Noel, D. W. Sprinkle, W. B. Leggett, J. Cecil, W. A. Airhart, R. Watson, and W. O. Siffert. The conference is full of vigor and life, is occupying the cities and larger towns, some of them with very handsome churches, and will hold its place in line with the most aggressive conferences of the Church.

XXVII. THE MARYLAND CONFERENCE.

The Maryland Conference, while occupying largely the territory in which some of the early fathers of the Church spent most of their labors, takes its place among the newer of the conferences. Territorially it embraces the District of Columbia and nearly all of the State of Maryland, except the city of Baltimore, which is divided between the Pennsylvania and East German conferences. Under the enabling act of the General Conference of 1885, the Maryland Conference was organized at Keedysville, Maryland, on March 4, 1887, Bishop Weaver presiding. Until that time its territory had formed a part of the Virginia Conference since the separate existence of that body, from 1830. Its earlier history, therefore, is part of the history of that venerable conference, and, beyond that, of the original or Hagerstown Conference.

The new conference as organized placed upon its roll of ministers twenty-one names. Among them were A. M. Evers, J. W. Hicks, J. W. Kiracofe, J. K. Nelson, C. M. Hott, C. I. B. Brane, S. K. Wine, S. H. Snell, W. L. Martin, W. O. Fries, H. H. Fout, G. J. Roudabush. A number of these names are now found on the rolls of other conferences, and some are recorded on high. Mr. Brane, now of the East Pennsylvania, elected by the General Conference of 1893 as general secretary of the Church-Erection Society, ^p.629 C. M. Hott, deceased, and L. 0. Burtner, a later accession, missionary in Africa, have been elsewhere spoken of.

The conference lost a considerable number of its members who went out with the secession of 1889, but is in excellent working condition. It has twelve ministerial charges, with thirty-five organized churches and over three thousand members, and a Sunday-school enrollment of nearly thirty-six hundred. Among its churches is the recently organized mission church in Washington City, the noble fruit of Mr. Brane's zeal and industry, and of which J. E. Fout is the present successful pastor. Many of the churches are located in those fine old counties of "Washington and Frederick, strictly classic ground. Here the voices of Otterbein, Boehm, Guething, and Newcomer were familiarly heard. The city of Baltimore would seem to belong naturally to this conference, but the old Otterbein Church, of which Otterbein was for nearly forty years pastor, began to receive its pastors at an early date from the Pennsylvania Conference, and continued to do so until the organization of the East German Conference, since which time that conference has supplied its pulpit. The other churches in the city, as before stated, belong to the Pennsylvania and East German conferences.

XXVIII. THE SOUTHWEST KANSAS CONFERENCE.

Among the latest of all the annual conferences organized at this writing is the Southwest Kansas. Its territory lies in the southwestern part of Kansas, and that portion of Oklahoma immediately south. It was organized on July 10, 1893. Bishop Mills presided at this opening session, and the following names were enrolled : H. S. Riegel, E. R. Myers, C. C. Braden, Joel Corley, G. M. Beltz, M. M. Thomas, Ira Trimble, G. W. Leitner, J. ^p.630 Morrison, S. W. Foulk, J. Burgoine, C. H. McGrath, A. Burrill, R. J. Eubank, W. H. Sapp, O. P. Myers, E. England— seventeen names in all. The lay membership of the conference embraced about nine hundred, which has since considerably advanced. A portion of the country, that in Oklahoma, being but very recently opened up for settlement, is largely occupied by a transient population, but few having yet settled down to permanent residence. With constantly changing congregations the work of solid church building is necessarily much interrupted. Yet a number of very substantial societies attest the industry and faithfulness of these missionary pastors. With such men as Riegel, Foulk, Thomas, Morrison, and others pressing forward the work, we may hope for large prosperity for this conference. In Oklahoma especially the workers of this conference have the advantage of being early on the ground, and fidelity to the service of the Church and the great Master will lead to excellent results.

XXIX. THE CHICKAMAUGA CONFERENCE.

The latest conferences organized, both under the auspices of the Board of Missions, are in Tennessee. In March, 1896, Bishop Castle organized, at Chattanooga, the Chickamauga Conference. Seven preachers were present. In the assignment of work B. B. Bryant was elected presiding elder, and H. Huston superintendent. The conference is colored, and its mission will be to the colored people of that portion of Tennessee. The work is wholly missionary, and it is hoped that with the blessing of God resting upon it precious results may be attained.

XXX. THE TENNESSEE RIVER CONFERENCE.

The very latest of all the conferences formed at this writing is the Tennessee River Conference. The region it ^p.631 occupies is chiefly western Tennessee. The conference was organized in the Methodist Episcopal church at Parsons, Tennessee, on November 26, 1896, Dr. W. M. Bell, missionary secretary, presiding. Seven preachers were present and enrolled in the organization. Two presiding-elder's districts—mission districts—were formed, and F. M. Morgan and U. B. Crowell were chosen presiding elders. Dr. T. C. Carter, superintendent of the work in Tennessee, was present and assisted in the organization. A membership of about one hundred and fifty is represented by this conference. The outlook for this new conference is regarded as altogether hopeful.

XXXI. THE FOREIGN CONFERENCES.

The work in Germany, Africa, China, and Japan has been referred to at length in the pages relating to the Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society and the Woman's Missionary Association, to which account the reader is referred. It will be in place here, nevertheless, to add something regarding the statistics of the work in Germany and Africa.

1. The Germany Conference.

The work in Germany, commenced in 1869, has now a membership of 991, with ten ministers, all in active service. There are twenty-three organized societies, and a Sunday-school enrollment of 655. There are ten young people's societies, with a membership of 160. Some of the ministers are Heinrich Barkemeyer, presiding elder, Bernhard Barkemeyer, Matthias Eichmiller, Friedrich Spiegel, Friedrich Holzschuher, August Hanke, and Karl Kuhn. The work proceeds under great difficulties, being constantly embarrassed by the limitations put upon it by some of the local governments, the state church having ^p.632 almost absolute control. Nevertheless, the ministers toil in hope, and the people whom they gather into the Church are earnest and spiritual. The conference was organized on December 10, 1879, in Lobenstein Reuss, by Missionary Secretary Flickinger, bishop pro tern.

2. The Sherbro Conference.

The Sherbro Conference, representing the united work of the two missionary societies, reports in the last annual statement sixteen ministers and a general membership of 5,662. The conference was organized in 1884 by Dr. Flickinger. This field has been so fully treated in its appropriate place that nothing further needs to be added here.

3. The Work in Japan and China.

No formal organization under the name of a conference has yet been effected in the mission in Japan. And yet the work, under the careful supervision of Dr. Irie, has been very effectively organized, and is being pressed forward with most gratifying results. The reports at this writing show that about one hundred members have been gathered in due form into the Church, and the number is constantly increasing. Seven ministers, all native Japanese, are engaged in the work. They labor in a spirit of deep consecration and with great faith and spiritual enthusiasm.

In the work in China, so recently begun, twelve converts were reported in the latest statistics.

^p.633 CONCLUSION

This volume cannot be closed without recording once more a sincere regret that some of the ministers and people of the Church saw fit, several years ago, to sever their connection with it, and to form an independent denomination. It is believed that the reasons for taking this step will not bear the test of time, and that many of those who have gone out will by and by come to hold the same position to which thousands in the Church had earlier come,—the position which the Church holds now,— and the hope is therefore entertained that they will find their way back again into the old fold. Possibly it may not be quite soon, perhaps not while the leaders who broke lances with each other in the controversy remain. But with the culture of kindly feeling, and a generous forbearance born of the true spirit of our Lord, who prayed that his disciples might all be one, it may be hoped that so desirable an end may in time be attained.

The reader who has followed this history from its beginning will perhaps pause here a moment for a brief survey of the present and a glance toward the future. He has seen the Church, modest and yet aggressive in its origin and earlier years, rising gradually to its present position of activity and strength. The fathers builded with the courage born of true faith. Many of them were missionaries, possessing the truest pioneer instincts. Step by step, with the early westward emigration, they carried the gospel to the scattered homes of the settlers, avoiding, however, the cities, in accordance with the instincts of their birth and training, ^p.634 and thus failing to seize the best opportunities for enlargement. But from their toils and prayers and faith has come the goodly heritage which has fallen to us of the present.

The latter half of the present century has been chiefly the period of development. Within this time the various organized agencies of the Church have had their origin and growth. The Publishing House extends its history farther into the past, but at the middle of the century it had not yet passed beyond a stage of infancy. Just a half century ago the first college of the Church was founded. The closing years of the century mark great advances. The church membership in 1850 was scarcely forty thousand. It has now reached two hundred and forty thousand, with over two thousand ministers. The missionary work, then not yet in organized form, is now conducted by two organizations wielding great power. The Sunday-school work, having then but feeble recognition, now presents an army of over two hundred and fifty-five thousand pupils, cared for by another army of over thirty-five thousand teachers. The Publishing House has grown into large proportions. The young people's organization enrolls seventy-three thousand members, nearly one-third of the entire membership of the Church. Education, general and theological, is widely provided for. The ministry and people are advancing to a higher apprehension of Christian life and activity. Church legislation has broadened into a larger freedom. Everywhere are seen the tokens of advancing life and the promise of greater enlargement. It will only be necessary, with these changed and improved conditions, that the Church maintain earnestly the spirit of devout piety and the deep religious earnestness and consecration on which the fathers so strongly insisted. If the Church shall thus abide in the strength which comes from close relationship with the Master, the gracious things of the present will be a prophecy of far greater things to come.

¹Pp. 429, 430



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