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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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The following conference was held at Honey Creek, Seneca County, presided over by Bishop Edwards, September 20th, 1850. A. Lee, J. K. Dodge, S. Kelso, J. N. Martin, T. T. Rose, Wm. Loveless and G. W. Miller were licensed to preach. The next conference was held by Bishop Edwards in the Bever Creek church, Wood County, September 18th, 1851, when the following brethren were received, H. W. Downey, H. Rathburn, J. Loar, B. Stroub, D. Wicks, J. Lilley and J. Nixon; E. C. Wright and J. Wright on their transfers. The past year had been one unprecedented in the history of the conference by the loss of members by death. John Crum, C. D. Casey, J. Baulus, T. Shortass and Robert Weeks had been its victims. Two of that number, Casey and Weeks, had just commenced a p26 life of usefulness, and why they should be taken away so soon from the field of toil, in which they gave such promise, must remain a mystery until the mists shall be cleared away by the purer light of heaven. The other three had spent a full day in the vineyard of the Lord, and gathered many sheaves for the garner above. The conference of 1852 convened in Johnsville, Morrow County, September 16th, with Bishop Edwards in the chair. The following were admitted to membership: A. Miller, T. B. Chase, J. Gear, James Long, P. P. Landon, G. Fox, L. Warner, and J. Murrell; G. Schneider, M. Leonard, J. Fink and J. F. Seiler were received on their transfers. Brother Seiler has shown himself a workman approved of God, and has succeeded in leading many into the fold of Christ. Since he has been unable to take regular work, has rendered valuable assistance to the preachers in their protracted meetings. Soon the last sermon will be preached, the last victory won. and he shall enter into rest. At this conference a Foreign Missionary Society was formed, with the view of sending the Gospel to the heathen; after some stirring remarks by Bishop Edwards, the amount of $656.00 was secured to carry out this grand and glorious end. A request was also made that the general conference which was to meet the next May, should take definite action upon the subject of Foreign Missions. After p27 mature deliberation, they adopted the plan formulated by the Sandusky conference, with but very little change; so that to this conference belongs the honor of setting in motion agencies that have increased the membership of this church from 40,000 to 195.000 in the short space of thirty-four years, to say nothing of the thousands that have gone from her pale, to join the church triumphant. I cannot refrain from saying that one of the most active agents in bringing about these grand results was Rev. J. C. Bright, of precious memory, who was appointed as the first secretary of the Home Frontier and Foreign Missionary Society of the United Brethren in Christ, who by his solemn appeals stirred the church as it had never been stirred before, until thousands of dollars flowed into its treasury. The conference has always stood in the front ranks of the temperance work, and that the world might understand definitely its position on this question, took the following action: "Knowing the temperance cause to be the cause of God, and believing that in it are found the dearest and highest interest of humanity, and the perpetuation of civil and religious enjoyments; therefore, Resolved, that we as a religious church and people, will use all proper and lawful means to induce our legislators to pass either what is called the Maine law or something equivalent thereto in its features and character, so as to effectually stay immolation of the innumerable sacrifices p28 daily made by the Moloch of intemperance of the interests of the bodies and souls of men." The conference took advanced ground upon the subject of an educated ministry, by requiring of those coming into the ministry the study of Grammar, Whateley's Logic, the Dictionary, also Geography, Natural Philosophy and some approved work on Physiology, but above all they shall be required to read and study the old and new testament. The next conference was held by Bishop Davis in the Tawa Church, Hancock County, September 14th, 1853. The following brethren were received: R. L. Gray, E. B. Waldo, Wm. L. Kennard, J. H. Knouse, S. Jacoby and W. C. Moffit; M. Bulger and R. Hohn subject to their transfer. At this same conference the Michigan District was taken off, forming a new conference; taking from the parent conference 424 members and 15 preachers. Michigan has now two large conferences, spreading over the entire state. The next conference was held at Marion, commencing October 4th, 1854, Bishop Edwards presiding. The following candidates for the ministry were presented, and after examination were licensed to preach: J. French, S. Essex, B. W. Day, J. Bell and Wm. Jones. The reports showed a decrease in members of 146. This grew out of the inaccuracy of former reports. The whole membership at this time being 5,399. p29 The next conference was held with the church at Newville, DeKalb County, Ind., commencing September 12th, 1855, J. J. Glossbrenner, presiding Bishop, This was the home of David Landes, the pioneer of the United Brethren, in the Maumee Valley, and of Solomon DeLong, the father of the DeLong's that have done such efficient work in our church. The Wesleyan Methodist having made a proposition to a union between the two churches, the conference expressed itself friendly to co-operation with said church, and appointed two delegates to attend a meeting the following May to consider the propriety of such union. The following preachers were licensed to preach: L. Moore, J. Gring, D. Miller and W. Martin. On the 18th of September, 1856, the conference commenced its next session in Flat Rock, Seneca Co., D. Edwards, Bishop. The following brethren after examination, were licensed to preach the Gospel: V. Pond, C. Crossland, H. T. Vangorden, D. Homes and S. Foster. Otterbein University, had from the first the hearty sympathy of the conference, but the cost of' educating in the college was so great that the vast majority of our brethren, and especially our preachers were unable to give their children a collegiate education. This the conference claimed must be remedied by the establishing of a well conducted manual labor department. This plan was finally adopted, but to p30 this there were many objections ; some were unwilling to labor, then there was too much expense connected with running this department. It proved a a failure and was soon abandoned. Father Davis received the relation of conference missionary, which relation he sustained during the remainder of his life. The next conference was held by Bishop Davis in Vanlue, Hancock County,---------, 1857. The conference had become wonderfully stirred up on the subject of missions, to this and the prayers of the church, that God would send forth more laborers into his vineyard, must be attributed the large increase of members received at this session, fifteen in number, viz: H. Cherry, J. Fields, W. T. Tritch, R. French, G. Hoover, T. Osman, R. Traves, H. Black, H. Vangundy, D S. Caldwell, E. H. Curtes, S. A. Myers, N. Hubbard, M. Shesler and S. T. Lane. Four at least of that number have long since passed to their final reward on high. Bro. R. French is perhaps the only one who is yet in the active work. He is an excellent preacher and is doing a grand work for the church and for God. Mr. Lane after many years of faithful and successful itinerant work is living at Rising Sun, Wood Co., a happy, cheerful old man, waiting the chariot of God to convey him to the eternal city, where no shadows shall fall across his pathway, or the sweat of toil drop from his brow. At this conference our p31 present constitution was formed for the support of our superannuated and worn out preachers, which has proved so helpful to many. Since this time the treasurer has paid out to those different claimants $15,053.00. A mission was also opened in the New England States; S. Lindsey and L. Moore were appointed to take charge of this new field. After several years of almost fruitless toil, and the expenditure of thousands of dollars, it was abandoned; not because of any want of efficiency upon the part of those sent out from time to time, for it was supplied by young men. and men of age and experience, such as Crouse, Briggs, More, Lindsey, Caldwell, Downey, Cherry, Kemerer and M. Long, but because the people were so congregational in their feelings and plans, that the itinerant system did not meet with much favor from the people; and there were so many other places where money could be expended with so much better results for the church. About this time strong efforts were being made by politicians to extend the cause of slavery into territories then free, therefore the conference felt it due to itself and to the church, that the world know its true position on this question; this it did by a number of resolutions, one of which is presented here: Resolved, "That we look with regret upon the bold attempt to spread the awful curse and crime of American slavery into territories now free, and into all the free states through the influence of the Dred p32 Scott decision of the Supreme Court of the United States." The following resolution was also past on the temperance question: Resolved, "That he who sells his grain for the purpose of being distilled into spirituous or malt liquors, except for medicinal or mechanical purposes, is an accomplice in the crime of willful homicide, and if proven should be dealt with accordingly as in any other offense of equal magnitude. The next conference was held at Liberty Chapel, Henry County, October 7th, 1858, Bishop L. Davis presiding. The following brethren were received: G. Bender, I. Wheeler, Wm Johnson, O. L. Howard, J. Zimmerman, Jas. Mapes, C. O. Lawrence, C. L. Barlow, D. W. Downey, L J. Osburn, G. Struble, J. Johnson and J. Crum; S. F. Altman and J. Degmeir by transfer from their different conferences. It was found in the course of examination, that a number of the members had joined the Freemason's; among these were some of the leading members of the conference; their number and influence gave them a degree of hope that the conference would be compelled to so modify the rule as to suffer them to retain their membership in the body; but in this they were mistaken. A paper was drawn up offering pardon to all who would confess their wrong, and promise to have no connection with Freemasonry in the future. Some remained obstinate until convinced by the expulsion of one, and p33 the suspension of another, that the conference intended to maintain its law, at whatever sacrifice it might require. All made their confessions and promised to abide by the paper and were heartily forgiven. It is not my purpose to speak here of the moral character of Freemasonry, or any other secret society, but I look upon it as a crime of no small magnitude, for men who take upon themselves the solemn obligations of the ministry and promising in the presence of God and man, to be true to the principles of the church, and execute her laws, to be the first to deliver her into the hands of her enemies; and no one can be guilty in this particular and retain a "conscience void of offence towards God and man."
The next conference was held by Bishop Davis in Carey, Wyandotte Co.,
commencing October 20th, 1859. Nothing of importance transpired outside the
regular business of the conference. The following applicants after being duly
examined were licensed to preach the gospel: G. W. Steward, I. Crouse, R. C.
Knell, G. French, J. K. Alwood, J. Downing, Wm. Faus, W. T. Watson, N. H.
Hale, D. G. Ogden, M. Wilsey, R. Stephens, and J. Crim. |
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