A history of Nebraska Methodism , first half-century, 1854-1904

Preface

Thirty-Four years ago, Dr. W B. Slaughter was selected as Conference Historian. He fully intended to write a history and sent out circular letters calling for the requisite information, but so few responded that he became discouraged and abandoned the undertaking. Some fifteen years ago Dr. Maxfield sent out circular letters with the same object in view, but failed to get enough data to justify him in going on with the work. It is a matter of very great regret indeed that one or the other of these men should not have completed this important task. Besides being Vfar T better qualified for the work than the author, -they -were then in possession of many sources of information that have since passed beyond our reach.

These facts show that Nebraska Methodism has long felt the need of such a history. This desire found further expression in the organization of Conference Historical Societies, and more recently in the organization, by the concurrent action of all the Conferences, of the Methodist Historical Society of Nebraska, and the appointment of a man to collect and care for material. It took still more definite form when at a meeting of the

2 Preface.

State Methodist Historical Society, in 1902, the author was requested to prepare such a history. As corresponding secretary of the society I had already spent more than a year collecting material and had made a study of this material for a sketch of our history for the J. Sterling Morton History of Nebraska, now being published.

I accepted the task with fear and trembling, having even then some conception of its magnitude and a keen sense of inadequacy, but with a conviction that some one ought at once to perform that service. I have found the undertaking much larger and the difficulties greater than I anticipated. I can only say that for three years, with much pleasure and profit, I have wrought diligently at the task. That the result is satisfactory to myself, or will be above just criticism by others, I do not claim. But such as it is; I send it forth on its mission, praying that God may use it for good notwithstanding its defects.

Several plans presented themselves, either of which I might have pursued. I might have taken each charge in order and written a history of that charge for the entire time of its existence, and printed these four hundred separate histories in a single volume ; or I might have given a biographical sketch of each of the more than eight hundred preachers who have at some time wrought in the field, together with hundreds of worthy laymen. But neither of these plans seemed best nor practicable. My plan has been to give a picture of the movement as a whole, by which Nebraska Methodism has become what

Preface:. 3

it is and done what it has, treating in greater fullness of detail the earlier periods when the Church was in the making. I have used such details in biography and events as seemed best suited to this purpose. I may not have done justice to every one and I may have overestimated some and even overlooked men and events that should have been mentioned. But I have not intentionally done so.

It was originally my plan to devote about two hundred pages to the history and one hundred pages to biographical sketches. But I found the history and the biography so inextricably mingled, the history being in large measure but the biography of the workers, and the biography constituting so much of the history, that I have not tried to separate them. In a few typical cases, like Adriance, Wells, and Charles, I have used some of their biography as part of the history, they telling their own story and illustrating some phase of the work.

Concerning portraits, I have declined to have any one pay for their cuts, bearing this expense myself. My purpose has been to make this feature help to tell the story and be itself a part of the history rather than for the sake of the parties whose portraits appear, or their admiring friends. The following principles have determined the selection : I have assumed that the reader would like to look into the face of each one connected with the work during the fifties and sixties. Of such as came in later I have selected those upon whom the Church herself has placed her stamp of approval by selecting them as pre-

4 Preface.

siding elders or electing them delegates to the General Conference, the latter class including the laymen so honored. Besides these there are some who have been called to special work along missionary, educational, or charitable lines. I have not been able to secure quite all the earlier ones and a very few of the later have neglected or declined to send photographs, though twice solicited to do so. It is not intended that any portrait shall appear twice, each one being assigned to the group representing the most important work to which the person has been called.

I have drawn on many sources for the facts related, but am especially under obligation to Hiram Burch, Jacob Adriance, John Gallagher, and Dr. P C. Johnson. Also to Dr. Goode's "Outposts of Zion," Dr. Davis's "Solitary Places Made Glad," Rev. James Haynes's "History of Omaha Methodism," and Rev. C. W Wells's book, "Frontier Life." I am also indebted to Mr. Barrett and other officials of the State Historical Society for many courtesies.

I had expected to compress the printed matter into 300 pages, but in order to do justice to the subject I have been compelled to add 100 or more pages.

The Author.

Introduction

Page

First Possessors of Nebraska : Indians, French, Spaniards, then Napoleon — His scheme of colonization — The Louisiana Purchase — God's purpose — the Chief Factors in its Accomplishment— I^eckey on National Greatness— Bancroft's Estimate of Methodism— President Roosevelt on the Pioneers and Pioneer Methodist Preachers. The Problem : The Settlers found Nothing they needed and must make everything 13-23

Chapter I. — First Events

Appointment of Dr. W. H. Goode— Illustrates Elements of Power in Methodism — Best Men to the Front — Dr. Goode's Leadership in Indiana Conference — His Journey to Kansas — From Kansas to Nebraska — Nemaha — Old Fort Kearney — First L,ots donated for Church — First Visit to Omaha— His First Sermon in Nebraska — Returns to Indiana — Reports, and is appointed Superintendent of Missions 25-35

Chapter II. — First Period. (1854-1861.)

Dr. Goode, Superintendent of Missions — Second Visit to Nebraska— Responses to call for Help— Collins — Hart — Burch — W. D. Gage, First Pastor appointed — Coincidence — First Class formed — First Church built — First Class at Nebraska City. Omaha : Arrival of First Pastor — Methodism the First on the Field with Pastor — Organization— Church- Isaac Collins— First Class— Probable Members — Building of the First Church— J. M. Chivington, J. W. Taylor, W. M. Smith — Collins's Successors 36-62

Chapter III. — First Period. (1854-1861.)

Development of Work in South Platte Country— Nemaha Mission — David Hart — Incident — First Class in Pawnee County — In Richardson County— Circuit changes Form and Name — Falls City — Table Rock— Founding of Beatrice— Incident—

Contents.

Page

Brownville — London — Tecumseh — Nebraska City — The Chivingtons— Jacob Sollenburger— Z. B. Turman— Plattsmouth— First Cla;s— David Hart— Mt. Pleasant—" Uncle " Stephen Hobson— Martin Pritchard— J. T. Cannon, Sketch of his Life 63-83

Chapter IV— First Period. (1854-1861.)

Development of Work in North Platte Country— Founding of Fremont— Forming Class— The Two Rogers— Jerome Spillman's Preaching— Florence— Calhoun— De Soto— Death of Dr. Goode's Wife— Jacob Adriance —Dead Dog Incident at De Soto— First Class and Sunday-school— Cuming City— Tekamah— L. F. Stringfield — Decatur — T. B. Lemon — Omadi or Dakota City visited by Dr. Goode in 1858— Platte Valley Circuit— Adriance goes to Colorado — Experiences there — Marriage 84-1 10

Chapter V— First Period. (1854-1861.)

Camp-meetings : First one held at Carroll's Grove in 1856 — Second one, same Year, near Nebraska City — Third, in Richardson County — Another one at Carroll's Grove. Conferences : Iowa and Missouri — Kansas-Nebraska Conference — First Session at Lawrence, Kansas, October — Held in a Tent —Preachers Armed — Statistics for Nebraska Portion — Conference Minutes— Time of Meeting changed to spring, the Next Conference year, six months — Second Session at Nebraska City — Bishop Ames did not arrive till Sabbath — Dr. Goode presided— Thrilling Adventure— Third Session at Topeka — Trip of the Nebraska Contingent — Fourth Session at Omaha— "Pike's Peak and Cherry Valley" (Col.) on the List of Appointments — Fifth and Last Session of Kansas-Nebraska Conference — Resolutions on Slavery 111-122

Chapter VI. — First Period. (1854-1861.) Conclusion

Progress Under Difficulties, but Progress — Dr. Goode's Part of the Work — His Generous Tribute to the Workers — His Retrospect—Tributes to Dr. Goode's Worth 123-129

Chapter VII. — Second Period. (1861-1870.)

First Nebraska Conference: Great Events Pending — Relation of Nebraska to these — Personnel of the Conference — Outlook Unpromising. Three Great Leaders: Davis, Lemon, and Maxfield— Dr. Buckley's Estimate of Maxfield — Other Strong Men join the Ranks —Statistics — Average Salaries. 130-144

Contents.

Chapter VIII. — Second Period. (1861-1870.) page

During War Time : little Progress — Missouri Refugees — Great Difficulties — Excitement — Bitter Feelings — S. R. Trickett shut out of Plattsmouth Church— Indian Troubles — Number of Charges decrease — Falls City — Table Rock — Brownville — Pawnee City — First Parsonage — How Built— Gracious Revivals — Beatrice — Maxfield — Rulo — P. B. Ruch — Burch at Brownville — Tecumseh — L,. F. Britt — Helena — Sollenburger— Saltillo— Rock Bluffs— Plattsmouth— J. G. Miller — Peru— Jesse L. Fort 145-166

Chapter IX. — Second Period. (1861-1870.)

New Tendency toward Large Cities — Sunday-school Work — Nebraska City— T. B. Lemon — Great Revival— Nebraska City District— H. T. Davis— Follows T. B. Lemon as Pastor at Nebraska City— Is followed by G. S. Alexander — Sketch of his Life and Characteristics— Omaha — Obstacles to the Work — David Hart — Is succeeded by T. B. Lemon — His Popularity and Success — Growth of Church — W. M. Smith — W. B. Slaughter — Haynes's Sketch of Life and Character — Special Transfer — H. C. Westwood's Pastorate — Gilbert De La Matyr— Omaha District served by W. M. Smith, Isaac Burns, T. B. Lemon, and A. G. White 167-187

Chapter X

Omaha District : Bellevue — Elkhorn — Platte Valley — Fort Kearney— Calhoun — Parsonage built by A. G. White — De Soto — Tekamah — Decatur — Dakota— Few Churches or Parsonages— War closes and Nebraska soon after becomes a Free State — Summary of Results — C. W. Giddings, Sketch of his Life 188-197

Chapter XI. — After the War. (1865-1870. )

Increase in Immigration — Causes — More Helpful Agencies — Church Extension Society — Re-enforcements — Growth of Church at Nebraska City — Omaha — Peru — Pawnee City — Beatrice — Plattsmouth— Fremont — The Rogers and Van Andas — New Charges — Among these, Fremont, Schuyler, Grand Island, Blue Springs, Ashland, and Lincoln, soon attain Importance 198-209

Chapter XII. — Third Period.. (1870-1880.)

General Features : Expansion— Great Influx of People and Great Revivals— Rapid Growth of Cities— Revival Incidents- Conversion of "General" Dane and the Fiddler— Era of R. R. Building— Missionary Appropriations, ours compared with the other Churches— Methodism keeps Men in the Field when others can not— Father Janney's Explanation — District Work— Difficulties— Strong Men at the Front- Methodism's Reserve Force— Local Preachers 210-227

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Chapter XIII.— Third Period. (1870-1880.) page

Conference of 1870— Statistics— Great Responsibilities— Spontaneous Movements — Local Preachers hold Revivals, organize Classes and Circuits— David Fetz and Moses Mapes in Webster County— James Query in Polk County— Organizes First Class— George Worley in Butler, Saunders, and Seward— C. G. Rouse in Antelope County— The Worley Family — William— Thomas— James. Regular Movements : C. W. Wells in Republican Valley -G. W. Gue in Fillmore —Newman Brass in Clay— W. E. Morgan— First Class in York County— Father and Mother Baker— H. T. Davis crosses Swollen Stream in Sorghum Pan — York— J. S. Blackburn— G. A. Smith— W. G. Miller— J. W. Stewart. ... 228-254

Chapter XIV. — Third Period. (1870-1880.)

Development in North Nebraska : Logan Valley — Class formed at Lyons — Dakota City — Covington District formed with S. P. Van Doozer, P E. — Sketch of his Work — Succeeded by J. B. Maxfield— The Work on the Elkhorn— Madison— Norfolk— Oakdale — George H. Wehn — Camp-meeting — Jabez Charles — Madison and Boone Counties — Albion — St. Edwards— Church built at Madison — Camp-meeting — C. G. Rouse. Omaha : Second Church — South Tenth Street — First Church— G. W. Gue— New Factor— Phenomenal S. S. with Samuel Burns, Superintendent — Clark Wright — Maggie Van Cott— Great Revival— But Church Divided— L. F. Britt — Church turned over to Creditors — H. D. Fisher — Church on Davenport Street — J. B. Maxfield— Eighteenth Street Church — Lemon, Pardee, Johnson, Beans, Shenk, and Eeedom as Pastors — South Tenth Street— J. M. Adair, John P Roe, P. C. Johnson, D. Marquette, Pastors 255-275

Chapter XV — Third Period. (1870-1880.)

Lincoln : First Preachers— Z. B. Turman and R. S. Hawkes — Capital located in 1867— H. T. Davis, First Pastor— Little Church on Tenth and Q— Church built on M Street— J. J. Roberts— Close of his Career— Mrs. M. E- Roberts— Tribute by one of "her Boys" — George S. Alexander — W. B. Slaughter — S. H. Henderson — A. L. Folden — Beginnings of Trinity — Sharon — A. C. Williams 276-293

Chapter XVI. — General Survey. (1870-1880.)

Some Old Appointments dropping out — Others becoming Strong — Camp-meeting at Mt. Pleasant— In these Methodism a Power — Extension of the Work — Nebraska Circuits — Beatrice District — Beatrice — Sterling and Crab Orchard— T. A. Hull — Camp-meeting — Fairbury— Parsonage built — E. Wilkinson— Fairmont — Crete — Dr. Maxfield — His Report of District — Succeeded by George W. Elwood — Progress of Work on Beatrice District — Great Revivals — Reports — D. F Rodabaugh succeeds Elwood — Sketch of his Life 294-304

Contents. 9

Chapter XVII.— Kearney District. (1870-1880.) page

A. G. White, P E — First Report— New Circuits— Hamilton County— C. L. Smith— Clay County— E. J.Willis— St. Paul- Richard Pearson— Kearney Circuit— D. A. Crowell— Grand Island— Wood River— Jepthah Marsh— Red Cloud— Charles Reilly— Clarksville— Pastor " Expected Little and was not disappointed" — First Year's Work — Grasshopper Scourge — Four Years' Progress 305-323

Chapter XVIII. — Kearney District. (Continued.)

T. B. I^emon, P E.— Progress Slow First Year— Rapid Afterwards— First Report— Beginnings of Kearney District — C. A. Hale — First Preacher in Custer County— Kearney — John Armstrong — North Platte — Edward Thompson — Hastings— A. C. Crosthwaite — C. L. Brockway — Leslie Stevens, P E.— Missionary— E. G. Fowler— Ord— William Esplin— C. A. Mastin— David Fetz— J. M. Dressier— P C. Johnson- Sketch of Career — Some of the Laity, Tribute to — Growth of District 324-344

Chapter XIX. — Fourth Period. (1880-1904.)

Development and Organization of the Conferences— North Nebraska— The Annual Conference — Functions of — Duty of Preachers to attend — West Nebraska Mission— North Nebraska Conference — Names of First Members — Maxfield, Adriance, Worley, Van Doozer, Charles and D. S. Davis have already received some Mention — Others mentioned Briefly— J. B. Leedom— A. Hodgetts— Appointed P.E., Elkhorn Valley District with 19 Appointments, 17 to be supplied— The Men secured — Difficulties of Presiding Elders — Neligh— J. W Phelps— Oakdale—D. C. Winship— C. M. Griffith — Thomas Thompson — District Camp-meeting — Albion District — S. P Van Doozer— Sudden Close of his Career— W. H. Carter— J. R. Gearhart-J. Q. A. Fleharty— C. F. Heywood— J. W. Shenk— J. W. Stewart— Father Janney— J. L. St. Clair— E. L. Fox— J. B. Priest— Tohn P. Roe —J. R. Gortner , 345~374

Chapter XX. — Fourth Period. (1880-1904.)

Organization of Conferences Continued. — Dr. Lemon's Report.

West Nebraska Conference : Progress from 1880 to 1885 — Statistics— Leaders of the Hosts— T. B. Lemon — P. C. Johnson— George W. Martin— West Nebraska Conference organized— Members — Asbury Collins and his Wife, Louisa Collins — First Members of Church at Kearney — W. A. Amsbary — James Lisle — T. W Owen — James Leonard— O. R. Beebe— Joseph Buckley — Dr. Lemon retires — Tribute paid him — Close of his Career 375-391 io Contents.

Chapter XXI. Page

Northwest Conference : Development began in the Early Eighties —Visit of Dr. I^emon- Changes in Boundary lines. Successive Presiding Elders : lemon, Johnson, and Martin— The Men on the Picket line— Owens, Friggens, Scamahorn, and Jos. Grey— Indiana's Contribution to Nebraska Methodism— T. C. Webster and A. R.Julian lead the Hosts — Conference holds First Session, 1893 — Members— Further Mention of some— Chas. H. Burleigh— Stephen A. Beck — D. J. Clark— W. O. Glassner— Two Districts formed, and P H. Eighmy and J. A. Scamahorn succeed A. R. Julian- Adverse Conditions 392-404

Chapter XXII— Fourth Period. (1880-1904.) Development of Strong Churches

Progress in East and West part of the State— Growth of Work in Cities — Omaha — Rapid Growth in Population — Expansion — South Tenth Street — Seward — New Work — Hanscom Park— H. H. Millard— South Omaha the "Magic City"— First Church planted there— Trinity— Walnut Hill—" leffler Memorial "—Southwest Church — "Hirst Memorial" — Benson — McCabe— The old First Church continues to prosper— Total Membership of Omaha Churches— lincoln — Rapid Progress— Statistics for 1880 — Trinity— Stokely D. Roberts — Close of his Career — Origin of Grace Church — University Place — Marvelous Growth and Unique Church — Emmanuel — Epworth — Asbury — Bethel— St. Paul— Growth of lincoln Methodism — P. W. Howe and Charity — Growth of large Churches elsewhere in the Conferences — The Circuit and Rural Work diminishing — Causes — Possible Benefits of new Conditions 405-435

Chapter XXIII. — German and Scandinavian Work

German Work : First Sermon — First Pastor — General Conditions — First Class formed — Size of Districts and Circuits — Extension of Work First Nine Years — Statistics — Work keeps Pace with Population-lauenstein's Great Circuit-Statistics for 1890— last Ten Years under adverse Conditions — But still growing — Statistics for 1903. Scandinavian or Swedish Work ; First Movement in 1871 — Real Beginning at Oakland in 1877 — Excellent Work since — Statistics for 1902. Norwegian : Began in 1880 — Present Number 65 436-446

Chapter XXIV. — Fourth Period. (1880-1904.) Expansion in the Direction of Wider Activities

Nebraska Methodism needed Help at first — Must henceforth be a Helper — Better Provision for her own Young People — Helpful Agencies — Church Extension — Freedmen's Aid — W. H. M. S. — World Movements — Parent and Woman's

Contents. ii

Page Foreign Missionary Societies — Last Twenty-five Years contrasted with the First— W. F. M. S.— Bishop Warne's Tribute— W. H. M. S. — Valuable Aid during Drouth— Increasing Range of their Work — Church Extension Help — Pressing Need for Churches— Era of Church-building — McCabe Frontier Fund— Number of Churches and Parsonages built '. 447-464

Chapter XXV. — Nebraska. Methodism and Christian Education

Simpson University— Ore rpolis Seminary — Peru Offer — Private Enterpri :es — Subject considered at every Conference — No Action till 1879— York Seminary opened in 1880 — Edward Thomson President — Seminary established at Central City in 1884-5— Mallalieu School— First Movement toward Unification— Concurrent Action of Conferences — Commission of 28 appointed — Names of Commission — Meet in Lincoln in December, 1886— Unification Plan adopted — Nebraska Wesleyan established, University Place laid out — Dr. Creighton elected Chancellor — Building Started — Haish Manual-training School — Destroyed by Fire — Financial Difficulties — Causes — First Twelve Years — Final Triumph — Ellenwood Affair— Debt paid — Creighton, Crook, and Huntington — Present Condition — Prospects — University Place — Strong Church — Wholesome Moral Surroundings — Preparatory Schools — Douglas — Orleans — Some of those who have helped — Governor Mickey — C. C. White — A. L. Johnson — J. M. Stewart — Attitude of Methodism toward Education in General — Approves Public-school System — Supplements State Institutions — Peru and Lincoln Methodism, and the State Normal, and State University — J. M. McKenzie's Work 465-507

Chapter XXVI. — Some Subordinate Agencies and Institutions

Hospital at Omaha — Inception — Agitation — Consummation — Haynes' Account — Property purchased — Progress — New Building — Number cared for— Deaconess Work — Mothers' Jewels Home — Beginnings — Location at York — Dr. Armstrong— Burwell and Isabella Spurlock — Letters showing Nature of Work done — Epworth League — Epworth Assembly— Omaha Christian Advocate — Origin — First Years of Struggle— George S. Davis, D. D., J. W. Shenk, D. D — Recognized by General Conference — Subsidy appropriated — Commission appointed — Success — Finally combined with Rocky Mountain and Central Christian Advocates — Evangelists— Rapid Development of Movement — Recognized by Church — Success — Temperance Reform — Admission of Women to General Conference 508-533

12 Contents.

Chapter XXVII. PAGE

Some of the older Workers who have passed away, and some who still remain — White — Van Doozer — Lemon — Maxneld-- Last Illness— Memorial Service— Tribute of Friends— Tribute of North Nebraska Conference— H. T. Davis— Passes away during last Session of his Conference— Memorial Services— Expressions of Appreciation by Friends ana Conference— Some who are still living— Hiram Bui"ctL. Jacob Adriance— John Gallagher— F. M. Esterbrook— J . i±. Presson— Some helpful Local Preachers— Robert Laing— John Dale 534-54»

Chapter XXVIII.— Conclusion

Bishops who have presided— Influence— Number of Appointments made— Great Sermons— Other Services— Resident Bishops— Newman — McCabe— Bishop Prowler the Father of Wesleyan University — Nebraska Methodism compared with other Churches — General Review of the Half-century's Work — Some Interesting Figures covering the whole Time — Total Amount of Missionary Money appropriated to aid the Work — Amount promised to Preachers in Salaries and House Rent — Amount paid — Amount still back — Amount contributed to Conference Claimants' Fund — To Missions — To Church Extension and other Benevolent Claims, including W F. M. S. and W. H. M. S.— Total for all Benevolences — Number and Value of Churches and Parsonages buiit — Members of Conference — Members on Trial — Membership — Sermons preached — Lessons taught in S. S. — Means of Grace maintained — These are the Visible Results — The Invisible Results — Agencies achieving these Results often obscure— Dean Farrar's Tribute to these 549-561

INTRODUCTION.

It is well known that for ages this territory was inhabited by savage tribes of Indians. It is not so generally known that the territory now embraced in the State of Nebraska was foreign territory up to 1803, a little over fifty years before Methodism began its work in the territory. In 1681 LaSalle, a French explorer, having traversed the lake regions, came to the Mississippi River, down which he floated in his boats to its mouth, taking possession of the great Mississippi Valley in the name of his sovereign, Louis XIV, and naming the region Louisiana in his honor. Thus nearly 200 years before Methodism entered upon its work in Nebraska, or even before Methodism was born, the Roman Catholic Church had taken possession of all this fair territory. For a time (1763-1801) even Spain, the most Catholic of all Catholic nations, unless it be Italy, had possession. Even as early as 1540 a Spanish adventurer, Coronado, had visited Nebraska. But afterwards it reverted to France, and at the beginning of the nineteenth century Nebraska had for its ruler the Great Napoleon, and for its religion the Roman Catholic.

It is now well known that Napoleon's object in securing the retrocession of Louisiana from Spain to France, 2 J3 was to work out a great scheme of colonization in Louisiana. How successful this strong man was in accomplishing his schemes, Europe had already come to know, to her sorrow, and trembled at the deadly certainty of his undertakings. He seemed to be a man of destiny that could not be defeated. But a higher destiny, the destiny of the great Republic, and the Protestant religion, was in this case in conflict with his personal destiny, and he was doomed to defeat. Yet it is startling to think how near this puissant man, now at the zenith of his power, able at this very moment to seize without question the reins of government in his own France, and soon to march in triumph with his conquering legions to Austerlitz, Jena, and Wagram, and dictate his own terms to Russia, Prussia, and Austria, came to the accomplishment of the plans of colonization in Louisiana, on which he had set his heart. Had he succeeded, the history would have been very different from the one I am writing.

How did we escape the clutches of this mighty man? How did he come to be turned from his long cherished purpose, a thing that so rarely occurred in his life?

When in 1801, Robert R. Livingston arrived in Paris with $2,000,000 and authority from Jefferson to purchase a small strip of ground which would secure to us the mouth of the Mississippi, and also the right to the navigation of the river, Napoleon was nearly ready to consummate his great scheme of colonization, and as a recent writer puts it; "But for the delay imposed upon the

First Consul, first by Godoy, who would not yield Louisiana until every condition of its transfer had been fulfilled, and secondly by Toussaint and his followers, who balked the French in San Domingo, General Voctor at this time might have been setting in order a threatening foreign host at New Orleans."

Happily, before they succeeded in this western country, circumstances and events were by the Louisiana Purchase providentially closing this territory forever to the domination of the Catholic religion, and opening it to the best type of Protestantism. While the political exigencies of the Great Napoleon, and the wisdom and. statesmanship of the greater Jefferson, made them the immediate human agencies by which this new state of affairs was brought about, subsequent events have made it plain that it had always been the purpose of God that this continent, as a whole, and Nebraska as a part, should be dedicated to a purer and more spiritual type of religion, with a moral and spiritual efficiency capable of building out of a heterogenous multitude that should come from all parts of the world, and from all the races of men, a homogeneous race of Americans.

And it was no accident or mere coincidence that while political events were so shaping as to give ample territorial scope, the prime factors that were to mold these elements into the most free, intelligent, moral, and forceful nation on the earth, were at the same time being brought into existence and raised to an efficiency equal to the needs of the new country and the new nation. It hardly needs to be stated that the two factors that were to make the largest contribution to this result were that system of public schools that was to provide free education to the masses, and that Church, that by its spirit, organization, and method, was to proclaim a free gospel to the masses.

Of national greatness Leckey, the historian, says :* "Its foundation is laid in pure domestic life, in commercial integrity, in a high standard of moral 'worth and public spirit, in simple habits, in courage, uprightness and soundness and moderation of judgment." Bancroft, our great American historian, says : "The Methodists were the pioneers of religion. The breath of liberty has wafted their message to the masses of the people; encouraged them to collect white and black in church and greensward for council in divine love and full assurance of faith, and carried their consolations and songs and prayers to the farthest cabins of the wilderness. "f

This recognition on the part of Leckey of those moral ideals for which Methodism has consistently stood as the true elements that constitute national greatness, and the recognition by Bancroft of Methodism as the pre-eminently pioneer Church, promoting these qualities in the masses of sturdy emigrants out of which these great States were to be built, is but the expression of that

* Quoted by Kidd, Social Kv., p. 326.

f Quoted by Moore, Debt of Republic to Methodism.

consensus of opinion held by those most qualified to Judge that the vigorous evangelism of the Methodist itinerants did more to conserve the best moral qualities the people brought with them into the great West, and to stimulate into healthy development those finer, stronger traits of character that constituted the vigorous and all conquering manhood of the West.

If then we inquire what were the influences that determined the character of the men and women that were to transform the 76,000 square miles of raw prairie that constitutes, territorially, the State of Nebraska into a State characterized by the highest civilization, and as low a percentage of ignorance as any State in the world, we must go back to that beginning of the peaceful conquest of the continent that began immediately after the brave colonists had effected their independence and set out on their national career.

Perhaps no one has set forth more forcefully and clearly the great movement of the population from east to west, which set in immediately after the war of the Revolution, than did President Roosevelt in his address at the Bi-Centennial celebration of the birth of John Wesley, in New York, February 26, 1903. The following extract will show his estimate of the movement and the great service which the Methodist pioneer preacher rendered during the period :

"For a century after the declaration of independence the greatest work of our people, with the exception only i8 Introduction.

of the work of self-preservation under Lincoln, was the work of the pioneers as they took possession of this continent. During that century we pushed westward from the Alleghanies to the Pacific, southward to the gulf and the Rio Grande, an4 also took possession of Alaska. The work of advancing our boundary, of pushing the frontier across forest and desert and mountain chain, was the great typical work of our nation ; and the men who did it — the frontiersmen, plainsmen, mountain men — formed a class by themselves. It was an iron task, which none but men of iron soul and iron body could do. The men who carried it to a successful conclusion had characters strong alike for good and for evil. If left to himself, without moral teaching and moral guidance, without any of the influences that tend towards the uplifting of man and the subduing of the brute within him, sad would have been his, and therefore, our fate. From this fate we have been largely rescued by the fact that together with the rest of the pioneers went the pioneer preachers ; and all honor be given to the Methodists for the great proportion of these pioneer preachers whom they furnished.