The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-22

they arrived on horseback, assembled at the
| northwest corner of Meridian and Washing
ton streets-what is now known as the
| Dunlap corner, from whence the boys
| with their lanterns, the ministers arrived at
| night Showed the preacher his temporary home.
| Streets dark aud muddy, and without
names, houses without numbers, and the church
was without name. 1t was known for many
years simply the Methodist Church The
| first regular circuit preacher, after the Indian
| apolis circuit was organized by VIM. Cravens,
was Rev. James Scott. He preached his first
sermon in the fall of 1921, at the cabin of Isaac
| Watson, near the north west corner Of the State
| house square, and the first house built upon the
old town plat. Robert Brenton was the
first ciass-leader, and Samuel Hamilton the
first presiding elder. The first camp meeting
was held at Indianapolis Sept II, 1922. The
meetings continued one week, and were very
popular for a number of years. All denomina-
tons united with the Methodist people in en-
couraging and in maintaining camp meetings.
| The first Methodist society organized in In
! dianapolis was composed of the following mem
bers: Robert Sarah and Mary Brenton, James
! Elizabeth Paxton With Mrs. Paxton
number of us present this evening
had most happy personal acquaintance:
| Mr. Brenton, who was the leader of
| tho class is recorded in the annals as of
high character and ability.
SOME INTERESTING DETAILS.
The first gospel sermon ever preached in
Indianapolis was by Rev. Rein Hammond,
from CLARK county, in 1919. He was formerly
of the Baltimore Conference. 1t was preached
under walnut tree, just south of the State
house.
The first Sunday school was organized in 1922,
in cabinet-makers' shop owned by Mr.. Caleb
Scudder, on Washington street, opposite the
State-house This was a union school.
The teachers were Caleb Scudder, James
NJ. Ray, Isaac n. Philips, John Wilkins,
| Samuel Brenton, G. j. H. Hand Samuel Merrill,
| desmond Bassey, Elizabeth Paxton and Marga-
ret Given. The school was divided in 1925, and
the Methodists organized in their place of wor-
ship. Methodist church, as stated, was built
the following year, on the southwest corner of
| Meridian and Circle streets In 1912 this charge
| was divided The new organization net in the
| old courthouse and John S. Bayless was its
first pastor The charges were then known as
| Eastern and Western, and Meridian street di
yided them. The Eastern charge was tho be-
ginning ofwhat is now known as Roberts Park.
In 1916 this church was taken down and much
larger one erected For a short time the Method
| ist society worshiped in the Presbyterian church
| known as Dr. Goes church, situated on Pennsyl-
vania street. just north of Market on the west
side About this time the question of a name
for the new church was considered at an i'm
portant meeting held to consider this and other
matters. Brother John G. Yohn moved that the
church be hereafter known as Wesley Chapel
His motion met with cordial Endorsement by
| heV. w H. 1OunG. ana Jn0 name was SelecteQ
1t was soon after this that great revival oc-
Cured in Wesley Chapel. The lamps used in
the church were small and would not burn
longer than an hour, at the close of the sermon,
| and before the usual revival work began, it was
necessary that the lamps should be trimmed and
replenished with oil For this delicate duty I'M
der the surroundings, the pastor, DR.. Berry,
designated brother j. c. Yohn. 1t was his spe-
cial duty to see that the lamps were trimmed and
| burning during the second hour of the evening
service. In 1869 Wesley Chapel sold,
and the present elegant stone church,
| in which we worship tonight, was
erected, The name changed from Wesley
| Chapel to Meridian street.
THE PRESIDING ELDERS AND PASTORS.
The names of the ministers who have been
regularly stationed and in charge of this church
are as follows, the conference being known as
the Missouri Conference:
IS21-Rev. William Cravens circuit preacher
1923 Samuel Hamilton, presiding elder; James
Scott. circuit preacher
! 1928 -4-Willian Beauchamp, presiding elder; Jesse
| Hale and George Horn, circuit preachers.
| 1S25-On the division of the Missouri Conference
John Strange became presiding elder, and John Mil
Ter, circuit preacher.
I925-6-John Strange, presiding elder; Thomas
Hewston, circuit preacher.
| 1S26-7-John Strange presiding elder; Edwin
| Ray. circuit preacher
i827-8-tohn Strange, presiding elder; N. Griffith,
Is2s-9-John Strange, presiding elder; James
| Armstrong stationed preacher,
1929 to 1S32-Allen Wiley presiding elder; Thos,
| Hit stationed preacher.
1932.3-John Strange, presiding elder; BENZ o.
| Stevenson, stationed preacher
! 1S33-Allen Wiley, presiding elder @. W. Ruter
| stationed preacher.
1839.4-Jafnes Havens presiding elder, c. W. Ru-
| ter stationed preacher.
1834-5-Jsnes Ravens, presiding elder; E. R.
| Ames stationed preacher.
1S35-6-James Havens, presiding elder; J. G.
| Smith, stationed preacher.
1S36-7-James Ravens, presiding elder A. Eddy.
| stationed preacher.
| Q a Il T ~
1838-9-A. Eddy, presiding elder; A Wiley, sta
toned preacher.
1S35-40-A. Eddy, presiding elder A. Wiley, sta
toned preacher
I840.1-Ja1ncs Ravens presiding elder; W. H.
184l-2-.Jarnes Ravens, presiding elder; W. H.
| Goode, stationed preacher.
1929 indianapolis station having been divided
into two charges, James Ravens was appointed pre-
siding elder and L. W. Berry stationed preacher of
the Western charge Wesley Chapel.
18434-Sanne appointments A building commit
tee, consisting of Alfred Harrison Thomas Richards
and Bentley Alley, appointed to erect parsonage
building on the church lot.
1S4i,5-L. w. Berry, presiding elder, and W. w.
Hbben, stationed preacher superntendents Sabbath
schools, j. J. Drum, A W. Morris and Mrs Eliza
Drum.
1s45-6-L: W. Berry, presiding elder; Wm. V. Dan
18467-Rev. f. R. Ames presiding elder, and W.
V. Daniels stationed preacher. Salary of stationed
1s47 8-Rev E. R. Arnes, presiding elder, Rev. F.
9. Holiday stationed preacher. Same salary.
1S4S9-Same appointments. Salary of preacher
increased to 5000.
l84950-Rev E. R. Ames presiding elder; Rev j..
s. Bayless, stationed preacher Salary of the latter
$500.
IS5O1-Rev c. W. Ruter, presiding elders Rev. B.
z. Crazy stationed preacher. Salary 5000.
1S512-5ames Ravens presiding eldeii Giles L.
Smith stationed preacher.
I852.3-B. +. Crazy. presiding elder; John Kurns
stationed preacher Salary of preacher 500.
1S53A-B. F. Crary, presiding elder; j. P. Under
man stationed preacher
| 1S545-B. f. Crazy, presiding elder; James II.
Noble. stationed preacher
1e567-W. c. Smith, presiding elder; James Hill,
stationed preacher.
1s5s9-WIn. G. Smith, presiding elderY f. T.
Fletcher stationed preacher.
1S602-Jas. II. Noble, presiding elder Q. D. Bat
telle stationed preacher.
| l262A-.Ias. Hin. nresiding eder: S. Z. Gillett.