[Continued]
METHODISM  IN  SHELBYVILLE

(--OR--)

A history of the origin and growth of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Shelbyville, Indiana from 1823 to 1878.

by Rev. Geo. L. Curtiss D.D.
Pastor from 1876 to 1878

Page 20, continued

          There has appeared the name of  Wm. H. Sleeth  as an official member of the church from the first record to the present time.  This year he resigned his official place, and retired to spend the evening of his days in quietude.  Sleeth was born in Virginia in 1795.  With his parents he removed to Ohio, and remained till 1821, when he removed to Shelby Co., Ind. and settled on Blue River six miles above the present city of Shelbyville.  It was a wilderness indeed, but having a strong will

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and good health, he went to work and soon saw fruits of his labor.  In 1821, he united with the Methodist Church, and opened his house for a preaching, which continued to be such until the building of a church at Marion, one mile from his house.  He was Recording Steward of the Rushville Circuit as early as 1830, and of Shelbyville Circuit until the present year (1845), when he resigned, and  Isaac Sorden  was elected his successor.  Mr. Sleeth was commissioned the first Recorder of Shelby Co. in 1822, and served fourteen years.  He was commissioned Probate Judge in 1842, and held it four years, or until his decease, which occurred Nov. 13, 1846.  He was a man universally respected and whose word was as good as a note.  In religious matters, he was deeply pious, and devoted to his church.  The name and memory of Wm. H. Sleeth will long remain in the church as one of the faithful men, to whom we are largely indebted for the present prosperity of our zion in this city and county.

          In 1845-46, Lucian W. Berry  was presiding Elder, and  Seth Smith  and  James Corwine  were preachers.  Corwine was a young man and went to California during the gold excitement.
          Dr. Berry was a great man, eloquent, learned, and of fine executive ability.  He was a successful Pastor and Presiding Elder.  In 1849 he was called to the Presidency of Indiana Asbury University as the successor of  Dr. (now Bishop) Simpson, and continued as its President until 1854.  Afterwards he became President of Iowa Weslyan University at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  His health failing, he returned to Indiana, and remained at Greensburg.  He died in Cincinnati. Few men were more eloquent than Dr. Berry.  In his preaching he was logical, and having laid broad the foundation of his argument he knew how to rouse the slumbering conscience, and lead men to think and feel.

          In 1846-47, E. R. Ames  was Presiding Elder, and  Seth Smith  and  A. H. Shaffer were preachers.  The church was formed into a Tract Society, which for several years accomplished a

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good work.
          Seth Smith  was a native of Maine, advanced in life when he entered the ministry, served the church fifteen years, and died in Milton, Ind. Oct. 1, 1853.  As a preacher, he was careful in attending to all his duties, sound in faith, clear in the presentation of the truths of God’s Word, and often excelled in his pulpit efforts.  His death was triumphant.

          In 1846-48, E. R. Ames  was Presiding Elder, and  James Crawford  was preacher.

          In 1848-49, E. R. Ames  was Presiding Elder, and  James Crawford  was again the preacher.  Unfortunately the records of three years have been lost, and cannot be supplied.  Crawford continued for many years as efficient pastor, an eloquent and acceptable preacher.  Having met with a misfortune by which his skin was discolored, his sensitive nature shrunk from the observation of the vulgar.  He died at Hope in 1872, having spent 34 years in the ministry.

          In 1849-50, E. R. Ames  was Presiding Elder, and  John S. Winchester  was preacher.  The circuit now consisted of but four appointments, Viz.:  Shelbyville,  Toner’s,  Shadley’s, (now Winchester)  and  Ripple’s (now Union).  Wm. Hacker  was made a steward, and  Cyrus Wright,  T. G. Randall,  James M. Randall,  Willis Wills  and  J. M. Barwick  were class leaders.
          This the last year that  E. R. Ames  appears as a Presiding Elder.  He was elected a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1852, and immediately entered on a larger field of usefulness.  He continues in office, having been spared to a green old age.
          Wm. Hacker  having been elected a steward, entered upon the duties of the office, and continued faithfully at his post, until a providential affliction--loss of hearing-- necessitated retiring.  As a trustee, Bro. Hacker continued in the official board until 1877, when he tendered his resignation.  Though deprived of the privilege of enjoying the services of God’s House, he continues to live in communion with his Master, and

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anticipates a day coming when every sense shall be active.

          In 1850-51, James Ravens  was Presiding elder, and  J. W. Sullivan  was preacher.  Shelbyville was now in Greensburg District.  During this summer the town was visited by a great sickness, which assumed an epidemic form, and became so severe as to disarrange the Sunday School and Church services.  The service lost many members by death.
          At the last quarterly conference, the annual conference was memorialized to constitute Shelbyville a station, which being done at the conference, Sept. 1851, the charge stepped into a new era, and became known as Shelbyville Station.
          The work of the Church within the bounds of the Shelbyville circuit as it was at its organization in 1836, when reviewed at the time Shelbyville became a station, had been a great success.  From nothing it had become a fruitful field.  As we shall have no further occasion to refer to the work outside of Shelby Co. it many not be amiss to speak of what this territory of the original circuit is in 1878.  Out of it has been formed seven charges.  They are St. Paul, Waldron, Flatrock, Marietta, Fairland, Manilla and Shelbyville.  These are prosperous independent charges.   In this territory at present are 1,512 Methodists, as shown by the conference minutes of 1877 with Church property valued at $34,000, and 1,441 scholars in the Sunday Schools, and 227 officers and teachers.  There are regularly held fourteen services of preaching every Sabbath, besides Sunday School, class and prayer meetings.  At a moderate calculation, within this territory there are regularly brought under the influence of Methodism 7,000 people.  The responsibility of the Methodist Church to God for teaching of the masses is very great.  May she be able to meet it conscientiously and successfully.

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SHELBYVILLE STATION

          In 1851-52, Joseph Tarkington  was Presiding Elder, and  K.[should be a J, see last year and below] W. Sullivan  was preacher.  The membership of the station was 200, with 40 probationers and 3 colored members, making a total of 243.  In the Sunday School were 30 officers and teachers, and 100 scholars.
          The Official Board was composed of the Pastor, J. W. Sullivan,  J. S. Campbell,  M. Robins,  I. Sorden,  Wm. Hacker  and  J. Bennett as stewards;  E. Toner,  J. M. Randall,  W. Swift,  T. G. Randall,  J. M. Jones, as class leaders, and  D. H. Cowger  a local Deacon.  Of this Official Board, not already alluded to, J. S. Campbell  after faithfully serving the Church for many years in almost every capacity, removed to Indianapolis, where he lives to do the work of a christian man in Meridian Street M. E. Church.  J. M. Randall  and his brother  T. G. Randall, remain as staunch members of the church.  They have both, from old age, retired from the labors of an official position in the church, but when able so to do, are always found in their places in God’s House.  J. M. Barwick  remains a class-leader, and regularly meets in the class room, on Sabbath morning, and punctually in the public congregation, passes the all-important contribution baskets for the needful money to support the Church!
          In 1851, the trustees purchased a lot on Washington Street, 60 feet wide, on which to erect a commodious brick church.  The enterprise was successful, and in August 1852, the church was finished, and dedicated on the first Sabbath of October.  The dedication sermon was delivered by Bishop Osman C. Baker  in the morning.  Rev. Wm. M. Daily  preached at night.  The dedication day passed away and Methodism found itself on a broader foundation than ever before, and with opportunities for increased usefulness.  The basement room in the new building had been used some months previous to dedication as a place of worship.  In this church the congregation still worship.  Here eloquence

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has been heard, good seed has been properly sown--some to be wasted, but much to be saved and bring forth good fruit.
          Bros. William Brown  and  Cyrus Wright were stewards at the commencement of this year.  Brown after a time moved West (ILL).
          Cyrus Wright  was native of Montgomery Co., Ohio, born in 1814 but lived in Indiana many years but lived in Indiana many years.  He was an active member of the church, devoted to all her interests, a zealous christian, a life long temperance worker and loyal to his government.  He was a lawyer by profession, and from 1850 to 1853 was Probate Judge.  The first  Mrs. Wright  was  Miss Elizabeth C. Glenn, at whose father’s house the early Methodist ministers preached.  Near the old residence a neat church has been built, known as Pleasant Hill.  Mrs. Wright deceased in 1859, having been from childhood a professor of religion and member of the church.   Judge Wright was stern in his make-up, but tender as a child when the heart was touched. To him Methodism in Shelbyville was dear as life.  In the midst of his usefulness, he died October 22d, 1875.
          Rev. Joseph Cotton  was recommended to the annual conference from Shelbyville in 1852, and received into the traveling connection.  He has continued at his post, and is now Pastor of the Methodist Church in Columbus, Ind.
          Rev. John W. Sullivan  closed his official connection with Shelbyville at the succeeding conference.  After being Pastor successively at Aurora, Connersville and Edinburgh, he located and removed to Iowa.  In 1856 he returned to Indiana and was stationed at Jeffersonville, when he was elected Chaplain to the Indiana Penitentiary at Jeffersonville, which he served for twelve years.  He now resides in retirement at Jeffersonville.

          In 1852-53, Joseph Tarkington  was Presiding Elder, and  Asbury Wilkinson, preacher.  Some new names appear as official members:  J. Nichols, as Steward;  Nathaniel Thompson,  Wm. Parish,  Elisha Smith,  James Dorsey,  and  E. T. Russell, class leaders.  The Pastor reported a large number of conversions

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in the Sunday School, and accessions to the Church.
          This year the Southeast Indiana conference was formed by a division of the Indiana conference.  Wilkinson soon after failed in health, and for several years was compelled to desist from preaching, but about 1872 he again entered the work and continued with success until the spring of 1878, when he removed to Kansas.
          Nathaniel Thompson, who was appointed a class-leader, came from Ohio to Shelbyville, and immediately identified himself with the church.  He has zealously labored to build up her cause, and make it honorable.  Every interest of the church is dear to him, and he is ready with money, time and prayers to do what he can to make her efficient in saving the people from their sins.  During the rebellion [Civil War] he gave up his sons to defend his country, and desired to go himself, but was considered too old.  His wife, after a long and painful illness, deceased, as the christian dies, Jan. 13, 1877.  Brother Thompson is determined that no one shall take his crown in heaven, but by patient endurance and trusting in the merits of a crucified Jesus, fit himself for enjoying it forever.
          Mr. Hatch, Superintendent of the Public Schools, was elected Superintendent of the Sunday School.

          In 1853-54, Anthony Robinson  was Presiding elder, and  G. S.[?-see below] Smith  was preacher. There were 227 members.  E. W. Wheeler,  William Moore,  William Randall, and  B. Petit were appointed class-leaders, and  William Hacker, Superintendent of the Sunday School in place of Mr. Hatch removed from town.
          The second quarterly conference passed strong resolutions condemning the trafficking with distillers of ardent spirits.  This was a blow at selling corn and barley to distilleries.  To what extent this sin prevailed, or to what extent it was corrected by this act, cannot be known.  Consistency requires every christian to refrain from dealing with the distillers or encouraging them by raising barley.

          In 1854-55, Anthony Robinson  was Presiding Elder, and
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Giles C.[?] Smith  was preacher.  J. H. Sprague was elected Steward, and  Joseph Smithers, class leader.  Brother Wright  urged, in the quarterly conference, the necessity of having a new and more convenient parsonage.  It was resolved to build one “to be in keeping with the times,” but the final result was the remodeling of the old one.
          At the end of this year, the session of the Southeast Indiana Conference was held in Shelbyville, commencing September 27, 1855; - Bishop Scott presided.  It was a time of blessing to the church, and it’s influence long felt.  Rev. Giles C. Smith  was a South Carolinian by birth, but was brought to Indiana when as infant.  He was of Quaker stock, a man of great pulpit power, of fine education, and commanding presence.  As a Greek scholar he was master of the language, reading it as he read the English, and he was in the habit of daily reading the Greek testament up to his death.  He stood in the front ranks of the ministry.  Having been a lawyer many years before entering the ministry, he viewed the subject of religion from that point.  Mr. Smith continued in the conference, as a Pastor and Presiding Elder, and was a delegate to the General Conference at Philadelphia in 1864.  His death occurred at Brownstown, Indiana on April 12, 1870, being fully prepared for admission to the kingdom of heaven.
          Anthony Robinson  was an acceptable preacher, a sweet singer in Israel, and full of the Holy Ghost.  After continuing three more years in the conference, he was transferred to the Iowa Conference.
          J. H. Sprague, at the close of the year, resigned his stewardship, and Nathan Goodrich was elected to fill the vacancy.

          In 1855-56, Thomas M. Eddy  was Presiding Elder, and  W. W. Snyder  was preacher.

          In 1856-57, the same Presiding Elder and Preacher were returned.  The membership was 270, and probationers, 35.  Some new names appear as official members.  Rev. David Whitcomb  a supernumerary member of the Cincinnati Conference, Rev. J. F.

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McLain, a Local Preacher, and since then a useful member of the Southeast Indiana Conference;  Rev. Levi Heiss, a Local Elder of the German Conference.  A German Methodist Church was in existence in Shelbyville a few years, but many of the Germans moving away, and the young people as they were converted going to the English speaking church, it left the German congregation feeble.  Becoming discouraged, the organization was abandoned and most of those remaining united with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Among those who came were  Rev. Levi Heiss  and family, Isaac Heiss and family, and Mrs. Bridenstine,  W. Wilkinson,  G.W. Ayers,  G. G. Hopkins, and  Benjamin Powell were appointed class leaders.
          Joseph W. Stallard  had appeared years before in connection with Rushville Circuit, but having removed to Shelbyville, became a member of this quarterly conference.  Brother Stallard is now one of the patriarchs of the church.  During his life time the world has witnessed innumerable changes, but Christ and religion remain the same.  He, with his aged wife, live as illustrations of the saving power of religion.  In all their trials and conflicts, they have not been forsaken.  Having buried all their children except three grandchildren, they calmly wait for the coming of the Lord.
          Dr. Eddy  was called from this district to Chicago to take the editorial management of the Northwestern Christian Advocate in place of Dr. Watson, deceased. Dr. Eddy remained there fifteen years, and then became pastor of a church in Baltimore, and afterwards of Metropolitan Church, Washington, D.C.  While here he was elected a Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society, and after serving faithfully two years, died in New York City.  Dr. Eddy was several times a member of the General Conference.  As a preacher, Dr. Eddy was among the first.  In his death the church lost a strong and active man.
          W. W. Snyder  has continued faithfully at his post as a minister, filling some of the best churches in the conference.

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As a temperance advocate, he has been closely identified with the Good Temple as a leader.  He visited England in the interests of Brookville College.  At present he is pastor on Canaan Circuit.

          In 1857-58, F. C. Holliday  was Presiding Elder, and  T. G. Beharrell, Preacher, with a membership of 284.

          In 1858-59, F. C. Holliday  was Presiding elder, and  T. G. Beharrell  preacher.  George W. Toner was elected a Steward;  Wm. S. Marsh,  J.C. Green  and  Elijah Powell, class leaders; and  W.S. Mahan, Exhorter.  The Church Trustees were  M. Robins,  Wm. Hacker,  Wm. Brown,  J. S. Campbell  and  J.H. Sprague.  The Board expended $1,000 in additions to the parsonage and repairs to the church, and paying off an old debt.  James H. Stallard  was licensed as an exhorter.
          George W. Toner  lived in the discharge of his christian duties till 1864, when death removed him to a better land.  W.S. Mahan  was recommended to conference, and became a useful minister, serving the church in Indiana for several years, when he was transferred to the West, and is now in the Iowa Conference.  J. H. Sprague  continued to be a faithful and zealous worker in the church, never absent from his place without good reason, until his hearing became so impaired he could not attend to any of the official duties of the church.  He resigned his trusteeship in 1877.  He now attends church quite faithfully, and by reading the preacher’s notes, succeeds in getting some good from the sermon.  Were Bro. Sprague inclined to tell some of the curious things he sees in the preacher’s notes, it would provoke a smile.

          In 1859-60, Thomas H. Lynch  was Presiding Elder, and  William Montgomery, preacher.  A. Davis,  Thomas Devoll  and  H. Clarkson were elected official members, and  J. H. Stallard  licensed to preach, and recommended to the Southeast Conference.  Bro. Stallard was greatly embarrassed by ill health and deafness.  He “was a dutiful son, a loving and tender husband and father, a good student, a vigorous writer and speaker, a man of great

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originality of thought, and terseness of expression, and was endowed with those elements of mind and heart which insure success; and had it not been for his afflictions, would doubtless have ranked among the first young men of the church.”   Compelled to desist from the ministry by his inability to hear, he removed to Nashville, Indiana, and entered upon the practice of medicine.  Here he died, as he had lived, January 13, 1875, and was buried at Shelbyville.
          Thomas Devoll  and wife have long been identified with the Methodist Church of Shelbyville, and have learned to love it dearly.

          In 1860-61, Thomas H. Lynch  was Presiding Elder, and  Wm. Montgomery  preacher.  Montgomery was born in Ireland, and was converted on shipboard during a storm while crossing the Atlantic.  After leaving Shelbyville, he preached at Mt. Carmel, Vevay, and Charlestown, at which place he died in 1864, in the 47th year of his age.  Bro. Montgomery was an able preacher.  His expression of Scripture was clear, and his manner forcible.  He possessed a vigorous intellect; and his preaching showed a careful study of the great theme of christian theology.  His death was that of a good christian, exclaiming, “All is Bright.”  He was brought to Shelbyville, according to his request, and buried in the City Cemetery.
          Mr. Squire Van Pelt  was made a class leader this year and remained a faithful member until during the late war, when he went to the Presbyterian Church, where he remains happy in his second love.

          In 1861-62, John A. Brouse  was Presiding Elder, and  John G. Chafee, Preacher.  A. O. Porter  was elected as Steward, and  Alfred Bowman  and  D. L. Conrey class leaders.  The Sunday School continued to flourish under the superintendency of  J. C. Green.  Artemus Davis  was licensed to preach and  J.C. Bennett  to exhort.
          John G. Chafee  was a son of Ohio, a first-class preacher, a self-made man, an independent thinker, a native born poet, and earnest even to a fault.  He has occupied some of the first

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pulpits of the conference, besides spending four years as Presiding Elder of Jeffersonville district.  Now he is the popular pastor of Connersville Station.  Time is showing some of his silvery touches upon this eloquent son of thunder.

          In 1862-63, E. G. Wood  was Presiding Elder, and  T. H. Lynch, was preacher.  Thomas Wray, having removed from his farm to Shelbyville, was made Steward, and continued to serve the church in that office to his death, Sept. 17, 1872.  A.D. Lynch, Superintendent of Public Schools, was elected Supt. of the Sunday School, and brought to its management the experience of many years teaching and government of other schools.
          Rev. W. F. Mason, a superannuate member of the Indiana Conference, came to reside in Shelbyville, and together with his family labored as health permitted in the church.  Mason was a good preacher.  In his conference he was much esteemed and had not failing health compelled him to retire from an active ministry, he would have taken the highest places in the gift of his conference.  After remaining in Shelbyville some years, he removed to Cincinnati, but at present resides in Indianapolis.
          Artemus Davis  was recommended to the Annual Conference, but was not received, probably because the conference was too full to admit any more at present.

          In 1863-64, E. G. Wood  was Presiding Elder, and  T. H. Lynch  preacher.  The pastor was absent six weeks during may and June, in attendance upon the General Conference in Philadelphia, of which he was a member.  His co-delegates were  W. Terrell,  G.C. Smith,  and  J.H. Barth.  During his absence the church was supplied by Rev. J. B. Lathrop.  Dr. Jemison was elected Steward, and continued to do effective service until his removal to Connersville.
          The General Conference having extended the time in which a pastor can be appointed to the same charge three years in succession, the Quarterly Conference passed flattering resolution, asking the Bishop to reappoint R. H. Lynch, D.D. Pastor

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of the church a third year.
          The Southeast Indiana Conference held its session again in Shelbyville, commencing Sept. 21, ;964[sic - surely, this is supposed to be 1864]  It was the most exciting time of the war of the rebellion.  Bishop Simpson  presided, and in an address to the conference and church on loyalty to God and country, made an impression for both not readily effaced.
          At the opening session  Dr. E. G. Wood  made one of the most powerful prayers the conference every heard.  The circumstances were peculiar.  Two of Dr. Wood’s sons were already in the army and that morning he learned that his remaining son had been drafted.  The father, loyal to the heart, was much moved and pronounced a blessing upon the sons, and all the “Boys in Blue” who had gone fourth to defend the honor of the nation, and sustain the glory of the stars and stripes.  As he prayed, he asked a special blessing upon the nation and her union soldiers.  He prayed that “when puny man attempts to measure his unholy arm with the arm of Jehovah, and uphold human slavery and destroy the best of governments, may he be paralyzed, defeated, destroyed, and may lives be spared, the nation saved, and God glorified.”  To this earnest, heartfelt prayer of faith, there were hearty responses from as loyal a body of ministers and laymen as ever lived.
          The sermon of  Bishop Simpson  on Sabbath was scarcely ever excelled.  His theme was the glorified Christ walking amid the seven golden candlesticks.  When he reached the thought that Christ was now walking among the churches, having stars in his hand, and with these lighting up the candlesticks or preachers of the church, and giving them wisdom, power and the Holy Spirit, his eloquence was grand.  It seemed as if the orator had taken complete possession of the audience, and swayed them at will.  On every soul rested the impression of more than ordinary influence, seeming lifted above itself into a realm not often enjoyed by mortals.
          At this conference, and in the Methodist Church, was
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held a memorial service for four ministers of the conference who had deceased during the year.  The service was solemn and enlisted the sympathies of the whole community, for some of the men were well known in Shelbyville.  They were  Rev. Elijah D. Long, known as the weeping prophet, a man of earnest piety, simple faith, an untiring laborer, and an excellent preacher.  He died at his post, saying: “It is all well; Glory, Glory, Glory!”  Rev. F. Becker  was a German, and had formerly been in charge of the German Methodist in Shelbyville.  He was a man of great influence, and died full of hope.  Rev. Hiram B. Collins  was a young man of promise and culture, cut down in the prime of early manhood.  He went to the army as a delegate of the Christian Commission, and labored with all his heart to soften the hardships and assuage the sorrows of the wounded and dying, in hospital and on battle-field.  Here he contracted disease which soon took him away.  His last utterance was,  “Happy! O, yes! All is peace, sweet Savior.”  Rev. Samuel H. Lockwood, a class-mate of the writer, was a young man of warm heart, earnest soul, clear head, and eloquent tongue.  His life was full of spiritual sweetness, and love for the unfortunate.  To him, it was a pleasure to preach and labor for souls.  A naturally delicate constitution was unable to endure his fatiguing labor, and he died, while the beautiful lines were being sung:

“Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly.”

          Thus fell during the year four most laborious, efficient and beloved preachers. They were bright examples of christian faith and practice.  At the memorial services, many a tear was shed, as words of comfort and advice were spoken by the companions and associates of these noble men.
          At the close of this year Shelbyville had 242 full members, and 12 probationers.  Everything was prosperous.  Before the sitting of the conference, over a thousand dollars was spent in repairing the church, and putting it in a good and cleanly
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condition.  Deft hands made it like a new place, and for a long time it retained much of its pleasant appearance.

          In 1864-65, E. G. Wood  was Presiding Elder, and  T. H. Lynch  was Preacher.  Wm. Brown, for years an official member of the Methodist Church in Shelbyville, removed this year to Illinois, and  Perry M. Green  was elected his successor as Steward.  Wm. Brown was a class leader as early as 1844, and a steward in 1850, which office held almost continuously until his removal to the West.  He was a good man, and true to the church.  Mary Parrish, widow of a minister of the Ohio conference, and mother of  Rev. Parrish, late of the North Indiana conference, had been residing in Shelbyville some years.  This year she died in hope of heaven.  J. M. Elliott, a name which from this time appears with great frequency on the church records as an active worker, was elected a trustee in place of  Wm. Brown.  Great care has been taken to keep the chain of trustees complete from the first board appointed when they owned no real estate to the present.  Church trustees, if they do their duty, are not mere figure heads.  They are not to be altogether conservative and simply hold what the church has, but they are to be aggressive, to enlarge the means of doing good, put the church buildings in the best possible condition, and keep them so.  It was a wise provision when the General Conference made trustees of church property, if members of the church, members of the Quarterly Conference, possessed of equal powers with other members.
          Dr. E. G. Wood, with this year, closed his connection with Shelbyville.  He has continued a faithful minister of the Gospel to the present, most of the time laboring as a Presiding Elder.  He is one of those men, who by force of character became a great man.  Having great obstacles in his way as a boy and a young man, he, nevertheless, by dint of will and the aid of God, surmounted all of them, and put himself at the head.  He has always been cold in nature, reserved in intercourse, and studious in habits.  He was not afraid to study deep and almost forbidden subjects.  While he could not understand all he

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studied, he found a delight and profit in the study.  When, on occasion, a preacher was censured for daring to penetrate an intricate passage of scripture, and seek to know its meaning, Dr. Wood went to his rescue, and declared the Brother was right in studying such deep things.  “When I was boy,” he said, “I lived by a river.  There was in it a deep hole.  No one had ever fathomed it.  The water there was dark.  It seemed to move on silently.  It was always a mystery to me what was in that hole; I never could fathom it. I used to sit on the shore and cast pebbles into the water and see them sink out of sight, and see the little wavelets circle out until lost on the river bank.  Then I would cast in another, and another, and watch the sparkle of the drops of water as for a moment they rose above the surface, as the stone splashed the water.  Then it was as dark, and deep and mysterious as ever.  But my young heart always seemed to feel it was bigger and better for trying to fathom that I could not fathom.  So I have found, as I took up great thought of God and studied them, and tried to fathom their depths, while I never could comprehend them, I was made better by it, and saw more in God to love and reverence.  Go on, my friend,” said he, “study anything, and everything God has given you to study, and you will be the better for it.”
          As a preacher, Dr. Wood was equal to the best--logical, deep and clear.  He did not possess any marked magnetism, but by his strong common sense, and great talent, he was able in his palmy days to command and hold the largest audiences.  He was a pioneer of Methodism, and now is a Father.  At present he resides at Moore’s Hill, and is pastor of its church.
          Dr. T. H. Lynch closed up at this time, three years of successful work in the Shelbyville church.  He was the first to be appointed to the Station three years in succession.  The close of his service found the church in a healthy condition with the prospect of great advancement in the future than ever before.  Dr. Lynch has continued faithful to the work,

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both as pastor and Presiding Elder.  He is better acquainted with the patriarchs than any other man of his conference.  He is full of facts and anecdotes, and employs them suddessfully [note: sp. successfully] in his preaching.  Dr. Lynch  is a self-made man, an original anti-slaveryite and free soiler, and in the division of the church in 1844, was a member of the Kentucky Conference.  After trying to stem the pro-slavery tide of the slave-holding church until it became evidently useless, he came to Indiana and united with the Southeast Indiana Conference.  In early life, he was an attorney, and since entering the ministry, has continued his legal studies.  While age makes many a man feeble in intellect he has avoided any material decay, and remains vigorous and fresh in thought by carefully reading and studying the arguments and decisions of the Supreme Court.
          As an educator in the higher departments of learning, Dr. Lynch  was one of the pioneers in Methodism.  In the Augusta College, the first Methodist institution west of the Alleghanies, [note: sp. Allegheny Mountains] he was a Tutor and Professor, and then with  Dr. Bascom  was a Professor in the Transylvania University of the Female Colleges, first at New Albany and then at Indianapolis.  Students of his are scattered over the state who remember with pleasure the days of other years. He has since been elected to the chair of Greek in Indiana Asbury College, but declined to accept.  As a picture in the higher departments of Methodist Education, Dr. Lynch is worthy of the highest recognition.  At present he is Presiding Elder on the Indianapolis district.

          In 1856-66, [note: should be 1865-66], J. B. Lathrop  was Presiding Elder, and  John S. Tevis  preacher.  J.C. Green  and  Perry M. Green  have removed to Indianapolis, Dr. Wm. F. Green  and  A. D. Lynch  were elected stewards to fill their vacancies.  Mrs. Susan Toner  died after a long service in the church, at the ripe age of seventy-four years.  She was one of the early settlers of Shelbyville, and was as early identified with Methocism [note: sp. Methodism].
          This being the centenary year of Methodism in America, James C. Bennett,  J.K. Jamison  and  Samuel Mason  were appointed

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a committee to take charge of the matter in the church.  Sermons and addresses were delivered on the subject, and collections were taken for various objects, amounting to several hundred dollars.
          The question of the use of the organ in church service had for two or three years agitated the minds of the members of the church, both young and old.  At one time it threatened to produce a rupture which must have resulted in a permanent injury to the cause of religion, but at the session of the Quarterly Conference held May 1, 1866, after a full and free discussion of the subject, a resolution was introduced to restrict the organ to the Sunday School, which was lost.  Follow-[note: omitted (ing)] this, Dr. M. Robins introduced a resolution  “That the congregation be permitted to use the organ on all proper occasions in public service,”  which was adopted by a vote of thirteen to four.  By common consent the matter was dropped, the agitation ceased, and peace reigned.
          During this year  Samuel Mason,  B. B. Cooper,  Elias Thompson  and  Wm. M. Parrish  were appointed class leaders, and  D. J. Shaw  was elected Steward.  Rev. Jamison, an aged local preacher, spent this year in Shelbyville, and then removed to Acton.  He was a noble old man, long a servant of Christ, and in other days very active and useful.  Christopher Loucks, an exhorter, united with this Quarterly Conference, but removed to Indianapolis, where he died in 1876.  Death claimed two official members during the year, Bros. Wills  and  Wilkinson.  Willis Wills  had formerly resided in the country near Winchester Church, and was an active consistent member at that point.  After removing to Shelbyville in 1854, he was equally energetic in a religious life.  As a class leader he was always at his post, and never failed to make it both profitable and interesting to those who attended.

          In 1866-67, James B. Lathrop  was Presiding Elder, and  John S. Tevis, preacher.  Edward Toner, an old member of the church, died early in 1867, aged 84 years, in hope of everlast-

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ing life.  Father Toner  commenced his official connection with the church in 1838, by being elected a Steward.  As Steward or Trustee, he remained in the active discharge of duty until age required that he should retire.
          John Wise,  Dr. Royal Jennings,  Elias Thompson  and  J. A. Young  were elected Stewards, some of whom continue to the present in that capacity.  John D. Pierce  was appointed a class leader.  He was a young man of Presbyterian parents, and converted at a Methodist altar when desiring membership, after a careful study of church polity and consultation with his father, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Shelbyville.  After studying medicine and graduating, he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Northern Indiana.  He met with success, but the call of the Holy Spirit to enter the ministry sounded in his ears.  Putting it aside for a time he continued in his profession, until the  “woe is me if I preach not the Gospel,”  forced itself upon his mind and heart, giving no rest by day or night.  After a long struggle to know just what was duty, he decided to listen to the call.  Leaving a good profession, he entered the Southeast Indiana Conference in 1874, and has proved himself  “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”  Success had attended his ministry, and promises that his future ministry shall be crowned with great results.  At present Bro. Pierce is the popular preacher of St. Paul Circuit.
          J. F. Tevis  was the son of  Rev. Daniel Tevis  who was in early years a member of Shelbyville Quarterly Conference.  In early life he studied medicine, and entered upon its profession in Rush Co.  Becoming satisfied that it was his duty to preach, he left his practice and entered the ministry.  He has served one term as Presiding Elder on Connersville District, and now is Pastor of Fletcher Place Church, Indianapolis.

          In 1867-68, F. C. Holliday  was Presiding Elder, and  T. G. Beharrell  preacher.

          In 1868-69, R.D. Robinson  was Presiding Elder, and  T.G. Beharrell, preacher.  Bro. Beharrell left this church at the
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close of the year to accept the agency of the Preachers’ Aid Society of the Southeast Indiana Conference.  In the agency he continued two years, accomplishing a good work, after which he was transferred to the Indiana Conference.  Bro. Beharrell  was a good man, a fair preacher, a hard and industrious worker, and careful of all the interests of the church.  He has published three volumes -- two on Odd Fellowship and one a Biography of Bible Characters.  The last has had an extensive sale.  He is at present pastor of the church at Vincennes.

          In 1869-70, R. D. Robinson  was Presiding Elder, and  Elihu L. Dolph, preacher.  The new Stewards were  George W. Kennedy  and  J. M. Hester.  D. L. Conrey was elected a trustee, and  J. B. Pugh,  Sim. J. Thompson,  Wm. Lacy  and  Royal Jennings were appointed class leaders.  Charles Thompson  was licensed to exhort.

          In 1870-71, R. D. Robinson  was Presiding Elder, and  E. L. Dolph  preacher.  J. H. Enos  was elected a Steward, and has served with efficiency for eight years.
          By previous appointments a convention was held in the church in Shelbyville, March 1, 1871, on the question of  “Temporal Economy in the Church.”  It was a delegated body, consisting of one Steward from each quarterly conference within the Southeast Indiana Conference.  The attendance was large, and the deliberations of a kind to impress the church with the fact that there is religion in healthy church finances.  There were present from all parts of the conference some of the best laymen of the church, and they carefully and prayerfully considered every aspect of the subject of how to obtain the requisite money for carrying on the benevolent and financial enterprises of the church.
          The convention originated among the laymen.  A petition was presented by some layman to the Southeast Indiana Conference in Sept., 1870, asking that a committee be appointed to consider the subject of the Temporal Economy of the Church, with a view to making it more efficient.  A committee of laymen and preachers in equal number considered the subject of so much import-
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ance as to recommend that a convention be held at Shelbyville in March, 1871, to consist of laymen, and  Dr. Holliday,  G. L. Curtiss,  G. P. Jenkins,  W. T. Sanders  and  L. G. Adkinson, were appointed a committee to make the call and arrange for its business.

[Our thanks to Anita Gohl for typing pages 20-40.]

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