The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-23
Rev. Mr.. Bacon Gives a Review of the
History of Indiana polls
Metbodism.


for his text, THAT search may be made in
the book of the records Of the fathers from
Ezra iv. IL. In part he said, Il have
gathered some facts from records. from
church histories, from the traditions and
from individuals. l give them to you, not
vouching for the absolute correctness of
them. but believing they trace the main
events correctly. L am interested mainly In
indianapolis.
I'm 1920 Jonathan and Elizabeth Rowland
moved here from Frankfort. KY. and set
tied on the site occupied by Indianapolis.
They arrived here Nov. 4, 1920, seventy-nine
years ago I'm the mex two weeks. They
were John w. Rays grandfather and grand
mother. His mother was then a little girl
OF about twelve years of age. Grandmother
Rowland was an old fashioned Methodist
and we find later that her daughter and
her grandson have followed her excellent
example. Sometime in the summer of 1921
came William Cravens. a Methodist preach
er from the Kentucky Conference, as this
whole inhabited region was embraced I'M
der that Jurisdiction, and preached TO the
few settlers. DR.. Z. A. Goodwin affirms
that preceding this event, though during
the same year. a Methodist local
preacher by the name of Rein Hammond.
WHO nd0 come 10 locate ldnu IN InlS new
purchase, remained over Sabbath and
preached to the little group of settlers.
The place he chose was under a large wal
nut tree just south Of where the Statehouse
now stands and that he, returning to
Charlestown circuit, reported the little col
ony out here on White river as a prom
Using field and that Rev. William Cravens
then came. Methodism invaded Indiana
as the nOOIIlafian also did from the south
excepting the French settlement that came
down to Vincennes from the north.
In 1900 Indiana Territory was organized
but it included Illinois and Michigan. In
1905 Michigan Territory was detached and
in 1909 Illinois Territory assumed it's terri
torial organization. In 1902 the first Meth
odist society was formed I'm Indiana at Gas
soway in 'Clark's Grant and Whitewater
circuit in 1897. Silver Creek in 1908 and Vim
cennes in 1910. In 1915 there were reported
Whitewater, Silver Creek, Little Wabash,
Vincennes and Lawrenceburg circuits with
1,1O members and seven preachers. There
preachers were John Strange, W.. NJ. Hunt,
Shadrack Ruark, John Scripps. John
Schrader, James holland and w. c. Har-
besson.
AUDIENCE ON STUMPS IN CIRCLE.
THE Indianapolis Methodists of 1921 were
near the great Methodist wave. The SER
mon preached by Rev. William Cravens
was in the Circle where the monument now
stands. The settlers had cleared this little
space and had begun clearing the streets,
that is. cutting out the great forest trees,
and upon the stumps of trees and of fallen
logs and on the grass, Rev. Mr.. Cravens's
audience sat. Tradition says he was pro-
vided with a split-bottomed chair, and that
he was very portly and occupied il during
his sermon. In this audience was Sarah
nnA Drlnn rxn IAhw ~ nxf
mother. She was the proud possessor of a
turkey wing fan, and when the preacher
had warmed up with his theme. he called on
the little girl TO fan him. which service she
gladly rendered. Rev. Mr.. Cravens organ
lied a class OF nine persons and promises
them a preacher from the next conference,
| which met at Cape Girardeau, Mo-, the next
| October. At that conference William Crav-
ems was appointed to the indianapolis cir
cunt having this little class as a nucleus
and center, and knowing no bounds until
1t came to the circuits on the south. IL
really included all central Indiana and all
the places he could occupy and build up.
He preached at Martins vile, Columbus.
Rushville, Pendleton and in the eastern
part or Putnam county. The first preaching
place in indianapolis was a log church on
Maryland street, between Meridian and Illi-
nois streets, or Illinois street and Capitol
avenue. The second place was on the Cir
| Gle. There was the most pretentious cabin
in the village, and because the husband and
wife quarreled it was sold. Rev. Mr.. Scott,
then pastor. arranged to buy it for 500. 1t
"or ~ SNOiS aIo u q Lh6h oA0 t"thNy
feet square. They took out one end and
heightened IL twenty feet, and took out the
Hppe faptT h so ,w 1nat t fesy ana MADE ana a m tweIns
feet TO the ceiling. Two years later Mr..
Scott taught school in the same building.
In 1926 Rev. Edwin Ray was sent to this
circuit. and during the winter of 1927 there
was an unusual revival in the little log
church. Many who were afterwards great
forces In the religious and social life of
this community were converted. One of
these was Mrs. James CT. YOhn, who died
some years ago, and one was Sallie Now
land, who became the wife or Rev. Edwin
| Ray and the mother of John w. Ray, of
this church. She had been raised TO be-
lieve in the church and devote her time to
il, and on Saturdays She. with others, could
have been seen sweeping out the little
church and preparing IL for the Sabbath
services. No wonder her son can sing so
heartily L Love Thy Church. o Lord Rev.
Edwin Ray built the first brick NJ. r..
church. 1t seems from the church book,
as quoted by John Phipps, who was con-
verted at this revival and was afterwards
made secretary OF the quarterly confer
ence. that in ls26 the presiding elder was
John Strange. the circuit preacher was
Constant Jones, and that Edwin Ray was
the assistant preacher. Henry Brenton was
lay delegate, Henry Barnett. local preacher;
Francis Mclaughlin and William Recton.
exhorters: Robert Brinton. exhorter and
class leader: William Mclaughlin, William
Arnold, Joseph Catterlin, Robert Wilson.
Daniel McCreary. Sigsmond Basey and
John w. Foudray, class leaders. James
Given. class leader and steward. The pre-
4 DOnutItllCcO OF WOIhliS spiritual lOIG@ - no
ticeable in this list. i cannot quote much
of these interesting records. / find on
March 4. 129, John Wilkins was elected
class leader In the seventh year we find
William Ravens presiding elder and Edward
r. Ames, afterward Bishop Ames. circuit
preacher In the fourteenth year of the
life OF this little society / find several dear
TO a number of you-James Haven. presid-
ing elder; William H. Goode. station preach
er; William Young and John Holland. J.. f.;
George b. Holland, L. D.: S. G.. Sullivan.
l.. p: a. Lewis. exhorter; John Wilkens.
Isaac PhippS. Aaron Johnson, William Han
manson. stewards: John Thorp. Austin Nor
ris. w. H. Moulder. Henry Tutewiler, Jesse
Jones. John w. Foudray, Joshua Black
and James Drum. leaders.
CITY DIVIDED INTO CHARGES.
"In 1872 the city was divided into two
charges, and the dividing line was PennSyl-
vania or Meridian street. The eastern
charge. having no house, worshiped in the
old courthouse. In the spring of 1873 this
charge bought a lot where the Lemcke
building now Is. and there they builded
Roberts Park Chapel. which is the prede-
cessor Of Roberts Park. The first pastor
was John s. Bayless. a man OF untiring in-
dustry and strong personal influence. lie
young city. and from that time TO this. this
church has been recognized as the great re-
crniting station of all the NJ. h. churches
of the city. In 1853 that building was sold,
and the present building was begun. For
a month the congregation was the guest OF
the Morrison Opera House and of Wesley
Chapel. now Meridian-street for prayer