Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1902 — INDIANA METHODISM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIANA METHODISM.

So far as can be ascertained the first Methodist, coming into what is now the State of Indiana, was Nathan Robertson, who settled near where Charleston, Clark county, is now situated. This was perhaps in the year 1799. A Methodist class was established at Gasaways in 1802 The first circuit was established in 1807. The southeast part of the state, along White river, near Brookville, was sup plied from Ohio conference, while the southwestern part was supplied by Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois conferences. At the General Qpnference of May, 1832, the State of Indiana, including

part of Southern Michigan, was formed into an Annual Conference. Its first session was held at New Albany, Ind., October 17 to 22, 1832. Joshua Soule was the presiding bishop and C. W. Ruter was the secretary. The number of members reported was 17,000. The state was in one conference for twelve years. In 1844 the state was divided by a line running east and west through the capital city. The southern part retained the name Indiana, while the northern part became the North Indiana Conference. The first session was held at Ft. Wayne, October 16 to 21, 1844. Bishop Beverly Waugh presided, and Mathew Simpson was secretary. The membership numbered 25,500. In 1852 another division occurred by a line running from north to south, nearly through the center of the state. It followed the Michigan Road north from Indianapolis. Thus was the

state divided into four Annual Conferences. The Northwest Indiana Conference has practically had about these same boundaries since. In 1895 the two conferences in the south united, so that now we have but three annual conferences in the state—the Indiana, North Indiana and Northwest Indiana. The first session of the Northwest Indiana Conference was held at Terre Haute, September 8 to 14, 1852. Bishop Osman C. Baker presided, and Luther Taylor was the secretary. Bishop Baker had just been elevated to this Episcopal office the May proceding. The membership reported at this first session was 11,617. There were sixty members of the conference and fourteen probationers. There were but sixty pastoral charges. Many of the circuits were still large, with two preachers.

JASPER COUNTY METHODISM. Jasper County Methodism dates from 1835, three years before the town of Newton, the predecessor of Rensselaer, was founded. The church, however, was not organized until 1838. Rev. Hackaliah Vredenburg was the first preacher and the appointment for a number of years was a part of the Monticello Mission. Later it was known as Iroquois Mission. The first Methodist church building in Rensselaer was built in 1850 during the pastorate of Rev. George Guild. It might be a matter of some interest that bis son, Rev. T. M. Guild, pastor of the First M. E. church at Huntington, Ind., is a visitor at the Conference. The present church building, a cut of which is published in this issue, was begun in 1889 under the pastorate of Rev. E. G. Pelley and completed in 1890, after Rev. T. F. Drake came to the charge.

TRINITY M. E. CHURCH, RENSSELAER, IND.