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Book Two - Pages 171-183
[[170/171]] rose, a meeting of the Southern delegates was called, and a convention agreed upon to assemble in Louisville Ky, to be composed of delegates, elected by the several annual Conf,, on slave territory, who were disposed to unite together, and thus the scheme was fully arranged for a separation, by those men who had said they would do all they could to prevent such a result. Perhaps those who made the pledges were sincere at that time, If so, they were over-ruled by others, for it appeared all went in for this new movement., and on returning to their fields of labour, instead of being compelled by the people, to a separation, in many, and it is believed that <in> most parts of their work, the people were opposed to the measure but were by the Preachers, compelled to submit. And indeed many of the Preachers were opposed to it, but were induced to go with the Church South, because they did not think it best to have two separate organizations on the same territory, yet some did leave and [[171/172]] joined other conferences on this account, To the astonishment of some, Bishop Soule, at the time the senior Bishop of the M. E. Church, went with the Southern division, and indeed, it is firmly believed, that had he not, during the Gen l Conference, evidently favoured the course pursued by Bishop Andrew & his Southern Brethren, the church might & would have been saved from disruption. Eternity will disclose the secret workings in this matter.
Joshua Soule (portrait courtesy of the General
Commission on
Archives and History, United Methodist Church)
At this Gen l Conf,, the Indiana Conference was divided by the national Road, the South half of the State retaining the name of Ia and the other North Ia Conference. (37)
The year closed pleasantly in both charges in New Albany, no great excitement had prevailed in either during the year, but some accessions and the church in a healthy state in both. On the 25 th of September 1844 The Ia Conf.. met in Bloomington, Bishop Waugh Presiding, The conference was composed of about one hundred Preachers including probationers, but it appeared [[172/173]] small in comparison with the conference of last year when all met together. And some, at least, among the older members, although they rejoiced at the spread of the Gospel & continued growth of the church in Ia so that now, like Jacob, we had become two bands, (78) Yet felt a little pained, at the reflection that so many were absent of their former associates and companions in arms, with whom they should hereafter meet but seldom, if ever again on Earth. We had, on the whole, a pleasant session of conference, yet there was one case that caused some painful feelings This was the case of Bro. Hosier J. Durbin His case was rather peculiar. He had now been two years on trial in the Conference, laboured faithfully and passed a good examination, & indeed no one doubted his piety or Preaching ability, But objections were made to his admission, wholly however on the ground of his pecuniary situation, and in truth he was hopelessly insolvent, and in general such ought [[173/174]] not to be admitted into the travelling connexion, but his case, it was thought, formed an exception. It was not doubted but his was a case of honest insolvency. He was first admitted on trial in the Ia Conf.. held at Lafayette in October 1835, and appointed to travel on the Vevay Circuit with Rev. Jas. Jones. He laboured during the year under considerable discouragement though with great acceptability, and was considered a young man of much promise, But he had a young family, and in consideration of the scanty support received by itinerant ministers, and believing that in a few years, by close application to business, he could honestly acquire a competency for the support of his family, and could then travel without being entirely dependent on the church, he yielded to the suggestion, and asked a discontinuance, and engaged at once in business. This was, doubtless, his great error; he yielded to the temptation. Providence frowned upon his efforts, he became involved. He made great exertions to extricate himself [[174/175]] But loss succeeded loss till his recovery appeared beyond hope. He was residing in Switzerland County, and, as before stated, elected by his friends to the Legislature. But he felt that this was not his place, and in the Spring or latter part of win<ter> 1841 was employed by Bro Ruter, on Rising Sun Circuit. This was where the people had witnessed, and some of them had suffered loss by his failure, yet such had been his open upright, course of dealing, and the readily surrendering of all his effects to his creditors, that he was readily & gladly received on the Circuit as a Minister of Christ. And the quarterly Conference would have recommended <him> to the annual Conf—at the close of that year had it been thought expedient, but he feared that he would never enter the Conference again, but feeling that he was called to the work, he was willing still be employed, and a vacancy was left on the Vevay Circuit, and he travelled there the entire year, of 1841-2 and at the close of this year, a large & [[175/176]] experienced quarterly Conference unanimously recommended him to the travelling Connexion & asked his appointment again to that Circuit, & <this> too where all his business transactions were fully known. It was thought that he might now with propriety be admitted, as his temporal matters had been so arranged, that his creditors would not call on him, & indeed could not embarrass him, yet the recommendation was taken with the understanding between him and his P, E, that some of the leading members of Conference should be consulted, and if it was found that objections would be made, it should be withheld. The case was accordingly stated to the Bishop and the P. Elders when together in counsel, + & after a full statement, all agreed that he might with propriety be admitted, The recommendation was then presented, and <a> clear & full statement of the facts in the case made to the Conf-- and he was admitted on trial by an almost unanimous vote, indeed all appeared glad to receive him as a fellow labourer, and [[176/177]] this made his case now, appear more hard, that after having been so cordially received, and having laboured two years faithfully & successfully [& successfully del] , and his pecuniary matters remaining precisely as they were, and as they were represented, when he was admitted on trial., or if there was any change, it was rather for the better, and why should he now be refused admittance as a member of the Conference? This, was the ground taken by Bro. Ruter, in his favour, but the best he could obtain for him, was, a continuance on trial another year. When the case was decided, Bro. Ruter went out and informed him of the result, his Spirit appeared almost to die within him, he could scarcely make any reply, but silently walked away, went to his lodgings, and for two days was not seen in the Conference room.
Bro. R. went to his Boarding house & found him in deep gloom, he looked indeed as though he had passed through a long illness. He asked him, to walk with him to the Conference room, to which Bro D. assented, As they walked, he enquired [[177/178]] what he intended to do? Bro. D. remarked that he knew not, That his hopes of getting into the travelling connexion were forever blighted, and it was no use for him to remain on trial another year, for his circumstances would not be at <all> bettered, and he must try and engage in some business, that his duty to his family required this, That he should try to live religiously, but his prospects, for the remainder of his life, were indeed dark & gloomy in the extreme, This was said with a look of extreme sadness, and they walked on for a little in silence, he then looked up and added, but what would you advise me to do?
Said Bro,, R,, I know it is a severe trial, the prospect appears somewhat dark, and were you settled & in business, and knowing what we now know I would not advise you to attempt to travel, but you are now afloat, < nothing, but obviously and> will have to begin business anew, and you may probably do that, at the close of another year, as well as now, you can spend the year in that work in which you de[[178/179]]light, and to which God has doubtless called you; should the objections still exist in the minds of these good & conscientious men (for good & conscientious men they really are) You can then retire, But I feel a confidence that the head of the Church, will yet open your way, and hence, I would advise, that you submit to the decision of the Conference with as much cheerfulness as possible, receive an appointment, labour through the year in hope, and that God who has the hearts of all men in his hand, may cause all to work for your good.
Bro.. D, after a little pause, and the tears starting from his eyes replied, “Well Bro.. Ruter, I feel that I am under more obligations to you, than to any other man living, and if you advise this course, I will do it.” This was said with much emotion, & they wept together, But the snare was broken, and from this day <Bro> D. appeared more cheerful, He was appointed to the Canaan Circuit, Madison Dist. – Rev. A. Eddy P. E. He laboured faithfully, & at the succeeding Conference, although there [[179-180]] had occurred no real change in his circumstances, yet the hearts of all appeared to be turned in his favour, and he was admitted, almost without opposition, some who had objected the former year, now appeared as his advocates. He was reappointed to the same ( Canaan) Circuit and from this time, his course was onward. (This case is thus written in detail in Justice to Brother Durbin.) (37)
There was another question brought up in this annual Conf-- of 1844, which caused a little discussion, which may be briefly noticed. Several of the members of the con— were, and had long been members of the ancient order of “free and accepted, Masons.” They had conducted themselves prudently in accordance with principles & general practice of the order, and hence it not been in the least detrimental to their usefulness, but on the contrary had sometimes proved of no small advantage to them in their labours. But the anti-Masonic excitement which had swept over some of the eastern States, and been introduced into their [[180/181]] political contests, had at length reached & had its influence on some in the bounds of our Conf… and one or two of the Preachers who had recently become acquainted with the sublime mysteries of the Order of Masonry, and whose zeal had got ahead, (if not of their knowledge,) at least of their discretion, had, during the past year, been a little impudent in their attempted defence of the institution against the attacks of its enemies, <which> had led to some unpleasant feelings in the church, inasmuch that the P. E. of the District where it occured + thought it his duty to state it to the Conference, and as one or two of the members of the Conf.. had imbibed a little of the anti-Masonic feeling, it occasioned a little discussion, and finally a resolution was adopted by the Conference <in substance> recommending that its members should not unite in Masonic demonstrations, as it might in some instances cause dissension in the church, This resolution was adopted by a pretty large vote, hence it was thought by some that the Conference was disposed to favour the anti-Masonic [[181/182]] movement, such however was not the fact, and was not so understood at the time, but as a simple declaration that the members of the Conference considered the interests of the church, of paramount importance, and for the promotion of which they would willingly make this sacrifice of personal rights. This course taken by the Conference, had the desired effect of quieting the excitement. It remained for a few years, as a dead letter, on the Conference Journals, and subsequently, on motion of one, who was not a member of the order, was without opposition, rescinded.
At this Conference Bro. Ruter was reappointed, to the Centenary charge N. Albany & E. G. Wood to Wesley Chapel, Rev E. R. Ames in charge of the District. This was a year of affliction with Bro. Ruter, He returned immediately to his charge, & commenced his labours with the pleasing hope of success, but was soon after attacked by a most painful disease. He was attended by the ablest Physicians of New Albany, and Louisville Ky, and yet found but partial relief, He struggled on however, in hope of recovery untill + [[182/183]] about the 1 st of February, when he, reluctantly, resigned his charge, and, by the advice of Physicians, immediately left for the South, where he spent the remainder of the winter and a part of the spring, when he returned, being however but little benefited, and still unable to labour and was but seldom able to Preach, <(Here read the preceding loose leaves,)> (79)