NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
Church

      The committee appointed at the last session of the Conference to name the Standing Committees reported as follows, which report was adopted:

     ON PUBLIC WORSHIP--Presiding Elder of Lincoln district and Preacher in charge of Lincoln Station.

     ON EDUCATION--E. Thomson, W. K. Beans, S. P. Wilson, J. G. Miller, W. S. Blackburn, J. Fowler.

     ON TRACTS--J. M. Adair, H. Ewell, J. Marsh, E. J. Hancock, F. M. Esterbrook, A. Hodgetts.

     ON TEMPERANCE--J. W. Stewart, L. W. B. Long, R. Pearson, J. B. Leedom, J. H. Presson, T. H. Worley.

     ON SUNDAY SCHOOLS--A. L. Folden, S. D. Roberts, S. Wood, D. F. Rodabaugh, D. Marguett.

     ON BIBLE CAUSE--E. Wilkinson, Thomas Thompson, A. Brigham, J. W. Shank, R. C. Johnson, W. J. Barger, C. A. Lewis, J. W. Dobbs.

     CONFERENCE STEWARDS--J. R. Wolfe, G. W. DeLaMatyr, Charles Reilley (sic), W. E. Morgan, George Wehn.

     NEW YORK BOOK ACCOUNTS--C. W. Wells.

     CURRENT BOOK ACCOUNTS--S. P. Wilson, J. M. Richards, F. B. Donisthorpe, J. B. Leedom, J. Q. A. Fleharty, W. S. Blackburn.

     WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY--P. C. Johnson, J. W. Taylor, A. G. Bartholomew, W. R. Jones, J. Gallagher.

     ON MEMOIRS--J. G. Miller, W. K. Beans, A. G. White, H. T. Davis.

     ON MEMORIAL SERVICES--The Committee on Public Worship.

     CHURCH EXTENSION--A. Crossthwaite, P. S. Davis, W. F; Warren, Wm. M. Worley, L. F. Britt, J. R. Wolfe.

     ON PERIODICALS--J. W. Shank, C. L. Brockway, S. P. VanDoozer, H. Burch, J. S. Orr, D. Marquett.

     P. O.--S. A. Bear, George Hobson.

     AUDITING COMMITTEE--C. L. Smith, A. L. Folden, J. R. Reed, C. L. Brockway, W. D. Gage, J. R. Wolfe, C. W. Wells.

     ON MISSIONS--The Presiding Elders.

     ON MISSIONARY CAUSE--J. Fowler, C. G. Lathrop, J. Grey, W. B. Jones, J. Q. A. Fleharty, E. J. Willis.

     ON PUBLICATION OF MINUTES--The Secretaries.

     ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY--J. W. Stewart, P. C. Johnson, P. F. Rodabaugh.

     ON STATE OF THE CHURCH--W. K. Beans, J. B. Leedom, J. W. Shank, J. H. Presson, S. P. Roberts, J. Gray, P. C. Johnson.

     ON EPISCOPAL FUND--H. Burch.

     ON INCORPORATING CHURCH BOARD OF TRUSTEES--T. B. Lemon.

     ON FREEDMEN'S AID--W. K. Beans, P. Andrus, W. F. Warren, D. Marquett, S. P. Wilson, R. Pearson.

     The Nebraska Annual Conference convened in the M. E. Church, Lincoln, Neb., at 9 o'clock A.M., on Wednesday, October 8th, 1879, Bishop William L. Harris in the chair.

     Before the organization of the Conference, the Bishop read Luke xxii, and assisted by the Presiding Elders administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to the ministers and congregation present.

     The Secretary of last year, L. F. Britt, called the roll, and the following members answered to their names:

     J. M. Adair, D. Andrus, W. S. Blackburn, L. F. Britt, H. Burch, W. J. Barger, H. T. Davis, J. W. Dobbs, G. W. Elwood, F. M. Estabrook, A. L. Folden, W. D. Gage, John Gallagher, S. H. Henderson, G. A. Hobson, P. C. Johnson, C. G. Lathrop, T. B. Lemon, J. B. Leedom, L. W. B. Long, J. B. Maxfleld, D. Marquett, J. G. Miller, W. D. Morgan, J. S. Orr, R. Pearson, W. Peck, J. H. Presson, J. R. Reed, Charles Reilly, D. F. Rodabaugh, C. L. Smith, J. W. Stewart, J. W. Taylor, E. Thomson, W. H. Tibbits, S. P. VanDoozer, Peter VanFleet, G. H. Wehn, C. W. Wells, A. G. White, S. P. Wilson, E. J. Willis, E. Wilkinson, W. M. Worley, J. R. Wolfe, A. C. Crosthwaite, J. Gray, W. R. Jones, Thomas Thompson, R. C. Johnson, S. Wood, H. A. Ewell, A. Brigham, H. Hill, J. L. St. Clair, W. F. Warren, C. L. Brockway, T. H. Worley, F. B. Donisthorpe, S. A. Bear.

     The Conference then proceeded by ballot to elect a Secretary. S. H. Henderson was elected on the second ballot.

     It was decided by motion that the Secretary should appoint his own assistants. Whereupon Wm. Peek was named as Recording Secretary, Edward Thomson and L. F. Britt as Assistant Secretaries, L. W. B. Long as Statistical Secretary, and C. L. Brockway, Railroad Secretary.

     The time for meeting of the Conference in its daily session was

fixed, by motion, at 8:30 A.M., and the time of adjournment at 12 M.

     The Conference then listened to some timely remarks by the Bishop in regard to punctuality and order.

     The following documents in possession of the Bishop were presented to the Conference:

     1. A document in regard to the New York Book Concern was referred to the committee on New York Book Accounts.

     2. A document on Sunday School Literature was referred to the committee on Sunday Schools.

     8. A document on the Episcopal Fund was referred, by motion, to the Presiding Elders, and they were instructed to distribute the amount of $200 upon their respective districts.

     4. A document on the Book Accounts was referred, by the suggestion of the Bishop, to the committee on Periodicals.

     5. A document from the book agents at Cincinnati concerning the expenses of delegates to the General Conference was read by the Secretary, in which it was announced that the amount apportioned to this Conference for that purpose was $150.

     The assessment was accepted by the Conference, and the Presiding Elders were directed to take the document and distribute the amount upon the charges of their respective districts.

     6. A communication from Dr. Rust was referred to a committee on Freedman's Aid Society;

     And on motion, that committtee (sic) was to consist of W. K. Beans, D. Marquett, B. Andrus, S. P. Wilson, W. F. Warren, and R. Pearson.

     The Presiding Elders were instructed to distribute the amount of $400 for that cause.

     The Bishop announced that the Conference was authorized to draw upon the Chartered Fund for the sum of $30.

     The draft was ordered by the Conference.

     Bro. Elwood moved that a committee of one be appointed to report to the Conference a form under which our Boards of Trustees should be organized and incorporated, which form would accord with the laws of the state of Nebraska.

     The motion was carried, and T. B. Lemon appointed the committee.

     On motion, the election of delegates to the General Conference was fixed as the order of the day for Friday, at 10 o'clock AM.

     On motion, E. Wilkinson was appointed a committee of one to receive the benevolent collections and report to the chairmen of the several committees.

     Wm. M. Worley offered the following resolution:

     WHEREAS, Heretofore we have experienced great delay in gathering statistics and benevolent funds at our Conference sessions, therefore

     Resolved, That the roll shall be called in the morning of the second day, and the preachers be requested to report all their statistics and benevolent funds at that time.

     The resolution was amended so as to call for a special session for this purpose.

     It was moved that that session be held to-morrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

     An amendment was offered fixing the time at 2 o'clock to-day.

     The amendment was carried and was adopted.

     J. G. Miller was appointed by the Bishop to preside at the afternoon session.

     The bar of the Conference was fixed at a line connecting the rear walls of the wings of the building.

     H. Burch was appointed a committee of one to receive the money belonging to the Episcopal Fund.

     Dr. Dashiel, Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society, was introduced by the Bishop, and addressed the Conference on the plan of raising missionary money.

     Chancellor Fairfield, of the University of Nebraska, was introduced and made a few remarks to the Conference.

     Bros. Bartlett and Hawley, of the Wyoming Conference, Sam'l Wood, recently of the Central Illinois Conference, and Rev. Mr. Gee, of the Baptist Church, Lincoln, were introduced.

     The 10th question was taken up.

     Omaha District was called.

     H. T. Davis, acting Presiding Elder, read a report of the work on the district the past year.

     H. D. Fisher was announced as transferred from the Conference.

     It was moved that a committee of three be appointed on Grievances.

     It was moved to lay the motion on the table. Lost.

     The original motion was then carried, and T. H. Worley, E Wilkinson, and F. M. Esterbrook were appointed the committee

     It was moved that when the brethren answer in regard to the amount of missionary collections, they shall also state whether all the collections have been taken.

     The motion was carried.

     It was then moved that the amount of church extension money should also be given.

     This motion was lost.

     The names of the effective elders in Omaha District were then called and their characters passed, namely: W. K. Beans, P. C. Johnson, L. W. B. Long, J. M. Adair, C. L. Smith, Thomas Thompson, S. P. VanDoozer, D. S. Davis, E. Wilkinson, and Wm. Peck.

     North Nebraska District was then called, and J. B. Maxfield read a report of the work upon his district, and his character passed.

     The names of J. B. Leedom, J. L. St. Clair, Henry Hill, D. Marquett, J. Fowler, and J. R. Wolfe were called and their characters passed.

     On motion, the time of session was extended.

     J. W. Shank was substituted for S. H. Henderson as chairman of committee on, Periodicals.

     J. W. Stewart introduced the following resolution:

     Resolved, That it be the sense of this Conference that the amounts of salary allowed to and received by the Presiding Elders be reported and printed in the minutes of this Conference, separate from the receipts of the pastors.

     It was moved to lay the resolution on the table, which was lost.

     The original motion was then carried.

     A. G. White and H. T. Davis were, on motion, added to the committee on Memoirs.

     The Conference listened to the announcements of the time of meeting of the standing committees, and adjourned by singing the doxology, and benediction by T. B. Lemon.

     Conference met at 2 P.M., Rev. J. G. Miller in the chair.

     Rev. C. L. Smith conducted the devotional exercises.

     The names of the ministers were called by districts, and they presented their statistics to the secretary and their collections to the committees appointed to receive them.

     The conference then adjourned, with the benediction by L. F. Britt.

     Conference met at 8.30 A.M., October 9th, 1879, Bishop W. L. Harris in the chair.

     J. W. Stewart conducted the devotional exercises reading the 12th chapter of Romans, and announcing the 8th hymn.

     The call of absentees was made, and on motion the further calling of the roll was hereafter dispensed with.

     Minutes of the two sesssions (sic) of yesterday were read, amended, and approved.

     Bro. Beck, of DesMoines Conference; Bro. Cameron, representative of Western Book Concern; Bro. Smith, of Wisconsin Conference, and Bro. Gray, a transfer from Central Pennsylvania Conference, were introduced.

     It was moved that a committee of one from each district be appointed to gather statistics concerning the allowances and receipts of the preachers and presiding elders during the past year.

     Motion prevailed.

     P. C. Johnson, S. A. Bear, A. Brigham, J. S. Orr, and C. L. Brockway, were on motion made this committee.

     The following transfers were announced:

     A. G. Bartholomew from Wyoming Conference; F. W. Ware from New York East Conference, and N. H. Gale, Missionary to New Mexico, a transfer from Des Moines Conference.

     Bro. Gale was introduced.

     It was moved that the committee appointed at the last session

     of the Conference to report on the location of the Conference Seminary be now called upon to present their report.

     The committee not being prepared to report, were instructed to organize and prepare a report.

     It was decided by motion that the report of this committee be made the order of the day for nine o'clock to-morrow morning.

     The 10th question was continued.

     Lincoln District was called.

     The character of A. G. White, P. E. was passed, and he read his report.

     The names of S. H. Henderson, A. L. Folden, J. W. Shank, D. Andrus, G. W. De La Matyr, J. Gallagher, and Wm. M. Worley were called and their characters passed.

     Nebraska City District was called.

     The character of H. T. Davis, P. E. was passed, and he read report of his district.

     The names of the effective elders of this district were called and their characters passed, namely:

     D. F. Rodabaugh, H. Burch, H. Presson, S. P. Wilson, J. R. Reed, L. F. Britt, G. H. Wehn, F. M. Esterbrook, J. H. Presson, B. J. Willis, and A. Brigham.

     Beatrice District was called.

     The character of G. W. Elwood, P. E., was passed, and he read report of his district.

     The names of J. W. Stewart, W. R. Jones, W. S. Blackburn, S. D. Roberts, R. C. Johnson, and J. S. Orr, were called and their characters passed.

     J. W. Stewart, on behalf of the preachers of Beatrice District, in a brief speech presented a watch to G. W. Elwood, whose term upon this district was now concluded, to which Bro. Elwood made an appropriate reply.

     A. D. Williams, D. D., a Free-will Baptist minister, Bro. Stevenson, formerly of Virginia Conference, and Bro. Gearhardt, of Central Pennsylvania Conference, were introduced.

     Kearney District was called.

     The character of T. B. Lemon, P. E., was passed, and he read report of his district.

     The list of effective elders in this district was then called and their characters passed, namely:

     E. Thomson, J. M. Richards, R. Pearson, J. Marsh, S. Wood, A. C. Crosthwaite, J. Gray, J. W. Dobbs, C. Reilly, and A. G. Bartholomew.

     It was moved that the preachers, in making their salary returns to the committee appointed this morning, do separate the amounts of house rent, and the rental value of the parsonage from the salary, and where there is a parsonage to add the letter "P."

     A substitute was offered that a committee of three be appointed to prepare a scheme for these returns next year.

     A motion to lay the substitute on the table was carried.

     The original motion was then modified so as to instruct the committee appointed this morning to arrange these reports according to their own judgment.

     Bro. Reilly asked to have an opportunity to present to the Conference some matters relative to the church at Red Cloud.

     Monday morning was designated as the time when the Conference would hear him.

     Rev. L. Gregory, pastor of the Congregational church; Rev. B. F. Bush, pastor of the Christian church, Lincoln, Neb., and Bro. Harmes, Presiding Elder, Nebraska District; Western German Conference, were introduced.

     A communication from Chancellor Fairfield, of the University of Nebraska, was read by the secretary, in which the Bishop and members of the Conference were invited to visit the State University:

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA,          
LINCOLN, Oct. 9, 1879.     

     To Bishop Harris, and Members of the Nebraska Conference, and all visiting brethren and friends:

     It will give me great pleasure to welcome you to the State University, at such time as you may see fit to appoint, when other members of the Faculty as well as myself will be present to show you, as far as we can, our facilities for educational work.

E. B. FAIRFIELD,          
Chancellor.     

     It was decided by motion to accept the invitation, and 3 o'clock P.M. to-morrow was fixed as the time when we would in a body visit the University,

     The 3d question was taken up.

     The names of O. P. Sheldon, J. A. Chapin, and A. Hodgetts were called. Their characters were passed, their examinations reported, and they were continued on trial.

     F. A. Burdick's character was passed, and he was announced as transfered (sic) from this Conference to N. W. Iowa Conference.

     The 6th question was taken up.

     The names of T. H. Worley, C. L. Brockway, H. A. Ewell, and W. J. Barger were called.

     Their characters were passed, their examinations reported, and they were passed to the second class of Deacons.

     S. W. Johnson, and S. A. Bear were granted certificates of location at their own request.

     W. H. Tibbits' character was passed, his examination was reported, and he was passed to the second class of Deacons, with the understanding that he next year present a written sermon to the committee of examination, having failed to do so this year.

     A substitute was offered that he be continued a Deacon of the first class.

     The substitute was withdrawn, and the original motion carried

     Geo. A. Hobson was not present for examination, and he was continued as Deacon of the first class.

     The question was taken up--"Who are supernumerary?"

     The names of G. B. Crippen, J. L. Fort, R. Rowbotham, and S. H. Manley were called. Their characters were passed and their relation continued.

     W. E. Morgan made a statement concerning his relation to the Conference. It was moved that he be granted a superannuate relation.

     The motion was lost.

     Bro. Morgan was then, at his own request, granted a certificate of location.

     D. C. Brannon's and J. G. Miller's characters were passed and their relation continued.

     C. W. Wells' character was passed, and he was put in the effective list.

     G. A. Hobson's character was passed and his relation continued.

     H. P. Mann was announced as transferred to Austin Conference.

     The 4th question was taken up--"Who are admitted into full connection?"

     C. A. Lewis, J. Charles, and N. H. Gale were called forward and answered the disciplinary questions proposed by the Bishop.

     Jabez Charles was represented by his P. E., his examination was reported, and he was admitted into full connection, being in Deacon's orders.

     Cyrus A. Lewis was represented by his P. E., his examination was reported, and he was admitted into full connection and elected to Deacon's orders.

     Nathaniel H. Gale, a missionary to New Mexico, upon the recommendation of the Bishop, was admitted into full connection, he being in Elder's orders.

     Bro. Adams, of Troy Conference was introduced.

     The announcements were made and the Conference adjourned with the benediction by J. S. Orr.

     Conference met at 8:30 A.M., Friday, Oct. 10, 1879, Bishop Harris in the chair.

     Devotional exercises were conducted by H. Burch.

     It was moved that spectators be allowed to occupy the unoccupied seats within the bar. Lost.

     Minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read, amended, and approved.

     F. W. Ware was, at his own request, granted a certificate of location.

     The Presiding Elders were granted leave of absence to complete their report concerning the location of a Conference Seminary.

     On motion, a committee of three was ordered to receive and

consider a letter from Dr. Fisher concerning matters at Salt Lake City.

     On motion, the chair was requested to appoint that committee.

     John Gallagher was, on motion, appointed President of the Conference Missionary Society, vice H. D. Fisher, transferred from the Conference.

     Dr. W. G. Miller, of the Wisconsin Conference, and Rev. C. P. Hackney, of the West Wisconsin Conference, were introduced.

     On motion of P. C. Johnson, a committee of one from each district, on the state of the church in Nebraska, was appointed, consisting of W. K. Beans, J. B. Leedom, J. W. Shank, J. H. Presson, S. D. Roberts, J. Gray, and P. C. Johnson.

     A. C. Crosthwaite was appointed to take the place of C. L. Brockway on the Statistical Committee.

     The following brethren were added to the committee on Current Book Accounts, making the committee consist of one from each district, viz.: J. B. Leedom, J. Q. A. Fleharty, W. S. Blackburn.

     The order of the day was taken up--to hear the report from the committee appointed last year on the location of a Conference Seminary.

     G. W. Elwood made the following report:

     (See Report.)

     It was moved that the report be adopted.

     On motion, the committee on Education were requested to submit so much of its report as relates to this subject.

     They reported the following resolution:

     Resolved, That, in our judgment, the time has come for us to at once take action on the creation of a Conference Seminary within the hounds of our Conference.

     On motion, this was added as an amendment to the previous report.

     Time of speakers was limited to five minutes, and no member was to be allowed to speak a second time so long as any other member desired to speak.

     The report as amended was adopted.

     S. P. VanDoozer read the following report from the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska Wesleyan University, at Osceola, and

he also presented the following resolution adopted by the said Board of Trustees:

     (See report and resolution on file.)

     Bro. Mickey, President of the said Board of Trustees, was introduced, and he addressed the Conference in regard to the said institution.

     Ten. o'clock having arrived, the order of the day was taken up, viz.: The election of two delegates to the next General Conference.

     It was decided that choice be made by election by ballot.

     It was decided, also, that a majority of all the votes cast should be necessary to an election. And if more than two receive a majority of all the votes east, the two receiving the highest number should be declared elected. If more than two names appear on one ticket it shall be thrown out. If tickets have names upon them that sound alike or are pronounced alike but have no initials attached they shall be thrown out.

     It was concluded that the tellers and one secretary should retire and count the votes, and during their absence the business of the Conference should proceed.

     One teller was appointed from each district, viz.: W. K. Beans, J. R. Wolfe, J. W. Shank, S. P. Wilson, S. D. Roberts, and J. Gray..

     J. P. Roe, a supernumerary minister, was announced transferred from the Wisconsin Conference, this Conference having at its last session invited Bro. Roe to take a transfer, and he was, by motion, put on the effective list.

     The votes for the first ballot having been collected, the tellers and secretary retired.

     Representations were made by W. E. Morgan concerning the proposition of the people of York.

     The secretary and tellers appeared and reported the result of the first ballot, wherein it appeared that the total number of votes east was 73; necessary to a choice, 37. No one having received that number there was no election and a second ballot was taken.

     It was decided by motion that where but one name appears on a ticket there shall a blank be drawn instead of a second name, or the ticket shall be thrown out by the tellers.

     Bro. Morgan continued his representations of York, and the secretary and tellers again retired.

     Cot Crabbe was introduced and addressed the Conference concerning the proposition of York.

     The tellers appeared with the result of the second ballot, which was as follows:

     Whole number of votes cast, 71; necessary to a choice, 36. H. T. Davis and T. B. Lemon each having received 37 votes were declared elected, and the Conference proceeded to ballot for reserve delegates.

     Col. Crabbe continued his representations of York, and the tellers again retired.

     The tellers appeared with the result of the first ballot for reserve delegates, as follows:

     Whole number of votes cast, 70; necessary to a choice, 36. A. G. White having received 39 votes was declared elected, and a ballot was taken for a second reserve delegate.

     Moved, that we listen to the completion of the representations from York, and then from other places. Motion withdrawn.

     Tellers appeared with the result of the second ballot for reserve delegate, the result of which was as follows:

     Whole number of votes cast, 70; necessary to a choice, 36. No one having received that number a third ballot was taken and the tellers retired.

     S. D. Roberts was appointed assistant missionary treasurer.

     S. P. VanDoozer, by consent of Conference, made further representations of Osceola as a suitable location for a Conference Seminary.

     Tellers appeared with the result of the third ballot for reserve delegate, which was as follows:

     Whole number of votes, 67; necessary to choice, 34. No one having received that number, a fourth ballot was taken and the tellers retired.

     Bro. VanDoozer continued his representations of Osceola.

     Bro. Woods, of York, was introduced, and addressed the Conference in regard to the proposition from the people of that place.

     Tellers appeared with the result of the fourth ballot for reserve delegate, which was as follows:

     Whole number votes cast, 65; necessary to choice, 33. S. H. Henderson having received 35 votes was declared elected.

     T. B. Lemon offered the following:

     Resolved, That the committee on Education be instructed to report a location for a Conference Seminary, on to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

     The time of the morning session was, on motion, extended.

     J. G. Miller having the floor on the resolution of Bro. Lemon, gave way in order that S. P. VanDoozer might introduce the following resolution:

     Resolved, That we respectfully request Bishop Harris to transfer Rev. J. J. Fleharty and Rev. H. C. Burch to this Conference, and appoint Rev. J. J. Fleharty President of, and Rev. H. C. Burch Professor of Mathematics, in the Nebraska Wesleyan University, at Osceola.

     The resolution did not prevail.

     The name of C. G. Lathrop, an effective elder, was called and his character passed.

     W. K. Beans was introduced.

     A motion to adjourn was carried.

     Announcements were made.

     By consent, the Bishop named as the committee to receive the communication from Dr. Fisher,--J. W. Stewart, P. C. Johnson, and D. F. Rodabaugh.

     The benediction was pronounced by J. M. Adair.

     Conference met at 8.30, Saturday, Oct. 11, 1879.

     Bishop Harris in the chair.

     J. W. Shank conducted the devotional exercises.

     Minutes of last session were read and approved.

     The 7th question of general minutes--"Who are elected and ordained elders?" was taken up.

     The names of John Q. A. Fleharty and Peter Van Fleet were
          2

© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller.