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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Work originally published in 1887. Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center. Electronic edition ©2007 United Brethren Historical Center Suggested Citation:
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History of the Sandusky Conference by W. M. Mathers |
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Up to this time the amount of salaries had not been given. The following may be somewhat interesting to those who are so much concerned about their salaries: B. F. Kaufmann, $41.58; J. Davis, $16o.oo; J. Alsop, $93 00; J. Dorcas, $77.80; J. Thomas, six. months, $28.00; S. Lilebridge, $89.00; J. Lindsey, $65.00: B. Moore, $40.87. The next conference was held at the same place, and there was not a single applicant for license to preach, a thing unprecidented in the history of the conference; J. Erb was the Bishop. The next session was held at the house of Phillip Bretz, Seneca Co., March nth, 1840, and was opened by J. Erb, Bishop. Wm. Furgason and B. J. Needles were the only members received at this conference. It may seem a little strange now, that slavery has been dead nearly a quarter of a century, that an anti-slavery church should pass such a resolution as the following: Resolved, "That the Religious Telescope be silent upon the subject of slavery." This was not however because they believed slavery to be right, but because of the persecution through which the church had to pass in Virginia, because of its anti-slavery sentiments which the Telescope proclaimed; not p14 wishing to stir up bitter feeling against the church unnecessarily, was the cause of the passage of this resolution. But in 1848, just eight years later, they were convinced that silence in the presence of a potent enemy was sin, so they passed the following resolution: Resolved, "That we believe it to be anti-Christian and contrary to good gospel principle for any one to oppose our preachers and others in preaching and lecturing against the great moral evils of the day, such as slavery, war, intemperance, and secret societies." The conference held it next session at King's School House, Richland Co., April 27th, 1841 ; Jacob Erb, presiding Bishop. The following brethren were admitted to membership. J. C. Bright, Alonzo Butler, Wm. Atkinson, Peter Flack, Wm. L. Smith, and Wm. McDowel. The name of Alonzo Butler takes me back in memory forty-six years, when in the old Lexington Church, I gave him my hand to be received into this church. He has long since entered into rest. At this time there was strong opposition to education, and especially to an educated ministry; so they instructed their delegates to the next general conference to use their influence against innovations of this kind. Resolved, "That we instruct our delegates to the next general conference to use their influence to prevent any measure from appearing in the discipline which would require from the candidates for the ministry a course p15 of preparatory study of classical reading and the the study of natural philosophy as a necessary qualification for the admission into the ministry of our Church." The amount of salary this year was as follows: J. Thomas, $152.00; S. Lilebridge, $119.00; J. Newman, 127.96; M. Long, $152.70; A. Spracklin, $110.00: Presiding Elder, $28.95; Bishop, $15.00. The conference at this time was a little tenacious Dot to say superstitious in regard to the manner in which a minister ought to be attired ; whiskers were considered a mark of the beast, and long hair would in no case be tolerated. Many a young minister was shorn of his locks, if not of his strength, to satisfy the wishes of their older brethren. No preacher was properly attired in their estimation, unless he wore a white hat. This afforded, "John Davis, the hatter" quite a market for his hats. Bishop Edwards was considerably annoyed, while walking the streets in Boston by the boys calling after him: "The man with the white hat, who skinned the cat." The brethren sympathized with the good Bishop, and furnished him with money to buy a black hat. Most any of us would be willing to suffer a little persecution if it should terminate so happily. About the year 1835 David Landis one of our most efficient laymen from the Miami Conference moved into Defiance County, and through his earnest solicitations, Henry Kumler, Jr., who had just p16 been elected Bishop, opened up a Mission in Defiance and adjoining counties. He went out under the auspices of the Miami Conference; without missionary funds, however. He spent the summer, fall and winter of 1841-'42 on this mission, and succeeded grandly, in building up the church in the Maumee Valley. He also brought a number of ministers into the United Brethren Church who proved themselves efficient helpers in the cultivation of this new field for the church, and for God. Brother Landis was a zealous worker in the vineyard of his master; strongly attached to the church of his early choice, and beloved by all that knew him He lived to see the church spread all over Northwestern Ohio, with large societies and fine churches, having fought a good fight and finished his course, he entered his long sought rest. Mr. Kumler went to the Sandusky Conference which met at Monclova, Lucas County, April 11th, 1842, and presented the ministers that had become co-laborers with him. They were received and the Maumee Mission recognized as a part of the Sandusky work. H Kumler was the Presiding Bishop. The following brethren were admitted to membership at this session: Joseph Miller, Ezra Crary, John D. Martin, G. W. Chapman, Charles Gardner, A. Eby, S Gruber and P. J. Thornton. The next conference was held at Bever Creek School House, Wood County, April 28th, 1843. p17 Bishop Kumler opened the conference, after which the following brethren were received: Joshua Bare, T. Shortass, A. Bottenburg, J. George, Wm. Bevington, D. P. Hurlbut, S. Lindsey, J. W. Mains, G. C. Smith, J. Garn, S. F. Headly, W. Walcott, P. Schlappie, J. Lawrence, and I. Preston; and J. Powel was received on his transfer from Scioto, Samuel Long's name now appears first on the conference journal. He entered the ministry in the Muskingum conference in 1830. From him I received my first license to preach, and my first appointment as an itinerant. He was reserved in his conversation, unassuming in his manners, and no one could be in his company long without feeling that he was a man of deep piety. As a preacher he was above the average ; and I have witnessed whole congregations moved to tears as he presented the thrilling truths of the Gospel. For the last eight years of his life he was an invalid, most of that time unable to converse, or feed himself, but was never heard to murmur or complain, but waited patiently the Lord's own time. He died at his home near Kansas, Seneca County, Ohio, September 2d, 1887 at the good age of 85 years, 11 months and 10 days. Joseph Garn is one of the oldest members now living, he always sustained a local relation, but done much to build up the church in his own community by assisting the itinerants, and preaching to the new settlers as opportunities were presented. He lives p18 at Helena, Sandusky County, and possesses all the zeal of former years, and is only prevented from active work, by the infirmities of age. His prospects are brightening, as one mile stone after another is passed, urged on by the Saviors own promise, "Be thou faithful until death, and I will give the a crown of life." At this time camp-meetings were held in different parts of the conference, the want of church houses made this a necessity. These gatherings were looked forward to with a great deal of interest, because they were seasons of refreshing and revival. In the fall of '42 one was held on the land of V. Hiskey, near Lexington, at which about seventy were converted, mostly young people, some of which became very efficient workers in the church. During the alter services one evening, when the alter was packed, an evil disposed man with murderous intent, threw a large stone upon the roof of the preachers stand and then made his escape in the darkness of the night; it came within about two feet of coming over into the alter, where it could scarcely have failed to have killed some one. Rev. G. Hiskey requested from the stand, that Christians unite in prayer for the unknown man for six months, that God might bring the perpetrator of such a terrible crime to light. The sequel will show as to whether God answered that prayer or not. Two men were digging a well at Johnsville; one said at the dinner p19 table that he had throwed that stone but they had never found it out. That afternoon the well caved in, and hurried him into eternity, and all before the six months had expired. The conference of 1844 was held at Rev. Joseph Garns, commencing April 4th, with Bishop Kumler presiding. The following applicants were received: A. Berry, J. Abdell and W. Herrington. At this and the following conference, but little business outside of the regular work of the conference was transacted. The next session was held at Monclova, Lucas County, April 28th, 1845. No Bishop being present, H. G. Spaythe was elected Bishop pro tem. M. Morthland and W. Hendrixson were licensed to preach, and J. Berger and D. Glancy received on their transfers. The conference began to feel the need of a more thorough preparation for the work of the ministry, so they instructed their delegates to the next general conference to use their influence to have a course of study pointed out for the preachers ; and those books best calculated to secure the end in view. Until this time but little stress had been laid upon education. A clear Christian experience, soundness in doctrine and a holy life, were the most important and the only things really insisted upon. They are the most important now, but the church has learned that education is an important factor of ministerial character and success. p20 On the 13th of March, 1846 the conference commenced its next session at the Stone Church on Honey Creek. W. Hanby was the presiding Bishop. Brother Headly having died during the year, the conference felt deeply the loss of so good and faithful a toiler in the vineyard of the Master, and expressed their hearty sympathy with the widow upon whom the affliction fell most heavily. At this time the Presiding Elder's received the eighth dollar of the salary collected on the circuit, and by action of the conference, part of that was to be taken in trade ; what kind of trade is not stated, whether potatoes, corn or hay, but I do know that a good sister put a head of cabbage in Brother Newman's "saddle bags" for him to take home to his family, on horseback, only about one hundred miles distant; but that was no more difficult than for Brother Hurlbut to take a quarter of beef on his horse before him, which he did, when it was offered to him by a brother who wanted to be liberal, when he thought the gift could not be accepted. But Brother Hurlbut was equal to the emergency, and told him to put it on before him, which he did, a little to his own disappointment, but to the preachers benefit. The following brethren were received on their transfers: C. Allman, J. Miller and I. Pepper. The next conference was held at the Bever Creek School House, Wood County, February 8th, 1847. Bishop Russel presiding. The most important p21 business that come before the body was a proposition presented by L. Davis of Scioto conference, to cooperate with said conference in buying the Young Men's Seminary at Blendon, Franklin County, Ohio. After a long and heated discussion, in which the leading members took part, pro and con, it was agreed by a small majority, to co-operate with said conference, in buying what is now known as Otterbein University; this being the first institution of learning owned by the church. We have now, twenty colleges and academies. J. Berger, D. P. Hurlbut and P. Flack, were elected its first trustees. E. Crary, Wm. L. Smith and Lawrence Easterly having died during the year, the conference took action, expressive of their appreciation of these dear brethren, and extended to the surviving friends their tenderest sympathies. The following brethren were licensed to preach: D. Cover, P. Tabler, H. B. Winton and J. Brown; and J. Struble was received on transfer. P. Tabler became one of our most successful revivalists; he served as agent for Otterbein University a number of years; he then moved to Virginia; during the war he enlisted in the army; at the close of the war he went to Texas on some government business; he wrote to his wife that he had just completed his business and would be ready in a few day to start for home, after which she never heard from him; his end will remain a mystery no doubt, until the end of time. p22 Bishop Glossbrenner held the next conference which convened at the Stone Church, on Honey Creek. Seneca County, February 17, 1847. The following applicants were licensed to preach: L. L. Mackey, S. Lee, Wm. Mathers, and C. D. Casey; J. Kurtz and W. Titus were received on their transfers. Brother Casey was a young man of great promise, and the church looked forward to the time when he should become one of its most able defenders, but how soon our fondest hopes are destroyed; by over exertion during a protracted meeting, he was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs which soon terminated in death. Mr. Lee fully met the most sanguine expectations of the church, and for a number of years was a faithful and successful itinerant. He was our first missionary sent to Michigan, to whose sacrificing toil much of our success is attributable. He continued to labor until declining health compelled him to seek the retirement of home, until called to join the army on the other shore. Brother Mackey always sustained a local relation; he was a man of fine acquired abilities, a wise counselor and true friend of the church. He has long since entered into rest. The time of holding the conference was changed from spring to fall, and the next session was held at Walters' School House, Lucas Co., October 20th, 1848. The following brethren were admitted into the conference: J. Shambaugh, E. Day and C. p23 Briggs; A. Biddle and J. Gooden received on their transfers from Muskingum. Mr. Briggs served the church many years as a faithful, accepted and successful itinerant. He is now living in Dayton, and as the evening shades gather around, his eye is fixed steadily upon the victor's crown, at the end of his earthly pilgrimage. J. Gooden served a number of years in this conference as an itinerant, and then in Illinois, especially in the southern part, until transferred from the church militant, to the church triumphant. Rev. A. Biddle, is far advanced in life, being seventy-eight years old. He is one of the oldest connecting links of our church, with the times of the fathers of the early part of the century. After spending the best years of his life in building up the church of his early choice, is now living in Galion, Crawford County, surrounded by all the comforts of a pleasant home, in the confidence of his brethren, with the same interest for the prosperity of the church, which characterized the days of his active service in the ministry. Soon his name will drop from the roll on the conference journal, but it will stand forever recorded on God's eternal ledger on high. This conference was held by Bishop Glossbrenner. The conference beginning to feel the importance of extending its labors beyond its present limits, established a mission in Michigan, calling it Adrian Mission. The whole membership at this time was p24 3250. There was a net increase the following year of 940. The next conference was held at Gilboa, Putnam County. Bro. Glossbrenner also presided at this conference, which was held Oct. 5th, 1849. At this conference five were ordained: Tabler, Lee, Mathers, Casey and Kurtz; three of this number have long since passed to their final reward. The conference feeling the importance of a higher standard of ministerial qualification, appointed a committee to formulate some plan by which the young men might become more thoroughly acquainted with the Holy Scriptures. At this same conference, the delegates to the next general conference were instructed to use their influence for the establishment of missions in Oregon, and beyond the Rocky Mountains; this was the first step towards that mission which has brought such grand results for the church and for God. A. P. Bowman was received on transfer, and Wm. Miller, G. G. Nickey, E. M. Bell and R. Wicks were licensed to preach. Bro. Nickey after traveling four years in Sandusky conference, joined Rock River conference by transfer, August 28, 1856. He was elected Presiding Elder the same year. When Wisconsin conference was formed in 1857, he became a member of the same. This embraced the entire State. He served as Presiding Elder twenty-three years, and in thirty-five years of travel did not miss a single annual p25 conference. Some idea may be formed of the sacrifices which he made to build up the church in that newly settled country, from the following taken from his biography. "In going from one appointment to another he would drive sometimes nearly all day, and see but one or two dwellings. Sometimes when he bad gone as far as he could with his team, he would leave it, and go on foot to his quarterly meeting, and often did not get enough in cash at his meeting to pay the bill for the care of his team" "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." |
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