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A Brief History of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
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A Brief History of the Michigan Annual Conference of the
Methodist Protestant Church
By Charles Bragg [former Michigan Conference president], 1961
Retyped and edited by
Rebecca J. McNitt, Archivist of the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church
and
William H. McNitt, member of the Michigan Conference Commission on Archives and History
20201
In 1830, Dr. George Brown of the Pittsburgh Conference, one of the staunch leaders of
the Methodist Protestant Church and a preacher of oratorical ability and evangelistic zeal, swam
rivers through the state of Ohio and southern Michigan with his faithful horse and other horses
loaned to him by members of the church who were consecrated to the cause. Somewhere in
the vicinity of the small village of Adrian, he began his evangelistic work. As we read the
biography of Dr. Brown, we are startled at the endurance and zeal that he, with others such as
Dennis Dorsey, Jonathan Flood, Thomas Stockton, and William Evans, who came by way of the
Monongahela River and the Ohio, had for the cause of the Methodist Protestant Church. In
many instances they waded through swamps and heavy forests, blazing trails for future
generations.2
As the result of their labors, the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church was organized at the General Conference held at Baltimore in July 1842.3 The
Michigan Conference originally consisted of three circuits (Adrian, Franklin, and Jackson) and
five itinerant ministers (Jeremiah T. Pratt, Elisha Hall, Laban Smith, George B. Wooster, and
Beniah Bayn), all of whom were recognized previously in the Ohio Conference. The number of
members reported at this General Conference was two hundred and fifty. The five ministers
were later joined by twelve more ministers and preachers, with James Gay as their first
1
Editors’ note: Rev. Bragg initially compiled this history in 1958 at the request of the Detroit Conference Historical
Society. He read that version at a Society meeting at the Chelsea Home on May 6 of that year. He continued to
revise the history in subsequent years. The Bragg history currently exists in the form of several rough drafts with
extensive edits in the folder titled “A Short History of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church” in Box 1 of the Charles Bragg Papers at the United Methodist Church’s Michigan Conference Archives. We
have edited for style, capitalization, spelling, and proper flow of the narrative (even changing the order of
paragraphs), but the gist of the story follows Rev. Bragg’s 1961 draft. In three cases we added to the history text
written by Bragg in other documents that provided additional information about the conference events in which
he was involved, with proper citation.
2
Brown, George. Recollections of Itinerant Life: including early reminiscences. (Springfield: Methodist Protestant
Publishing House, 1868)
3
The General Conference took place in May. July is when the Michigan Conference met.
1
President. They set out in full faith for a prosperous year; the following year they reported four
hundred members.4
Methodist Protestant historian Ancel Bassett reports that two hundred pioneers migrated
from Ohio to Southern Michigan. One can imagine that they were attracted by the reports of the
pioneer preachers of opportunities for labor in the forests and lumber industry in the Adrian and
Jackson vicinity or the Detroit port or for farming. It should be noted that Asa Shinn was
President of this General Conference and John Reed the Secretary. These men were staunch
advocates of the organization of the Methodist Protestant Church, and members of the first
Conference in 1828.
The first meeting of the Michigan Conference was held at Franciscoville (Jackson
County) in July 1842. Subsequent conferences were held yearly, first at Franciscoville,
Concord, and Prairie Ronde.5 At the conference of 1844, a memorial was voted upon and
passed to present to the General Conference to establish a literary institute at Leoni, Jackson
County, with Rev. Robert Bamford as agent, but it did not materialize as to buildings, though its
initial work was promising and there were forty students in attendance.6 This was the beginning
of Adrian College. The General Conference which voted on this proposal was held at the Sixth
Street Methodist Protestant Church in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 4,1846 with James Gay as
ministerial delegate from Michigan and H. Brownson as lay delegate.7
The Michigan Conference refused to send delegates to the General Conference in 1850
due to the denomination’s failure to take a strong stand against slavery.8 The question of
slavery was detrimental to the growth of the Church, according to Ancel Bassett. Michigan lost
heavily during the Civil War. There was a station in Detroit and in Jackson, and in both places
churches and pastors were lost, as well as other places being weakened. No fact was more
easily demonstrated than that the Northern States were the heaviest losers throughout the
existence of slave holders in our ecclesiastical connection.9
At the 1854 General Conference, Michigan’s ministerial delegate was J.L. Turner and
Thomas Hinman of Adrian was the lay delegate.10 The Conference reported one station,
nineteen circuits, and seven missions, with forty seven ministers and preachers, and one
thousand four hundred sixty-nine members, with a property value of $4,800.11
At the General Conference of 1858, held at Springfield Ohio, the West Michigan
Conference was organized. The two Michigan Conferences both met that year at Rice Creek
4
Bassett, Ancel H. A Concise History of the Methodist Protestant Church from Its Origin. (Pittsburgh: William
McCracken, 1887), p. 161. Editors’ note: The unpublished minutes of the 1842 Michigan Methodist Protestant
Conference in the archives show the appointment of these additional ministers: Oliver Earl, Benjamin Paris, W. N.
Beardsley, O. Gregory, Lorenzo A. Warren, Robert C. Lanning, David G. Oaks, Colburn B. Blake, and J. Mulligan.
5
Editors’ note: Bragg incorrectly listed the first three annual conferences as being held at Adrian, Franklin, and
Jackson and that the first conference took place in August, but that has been corrected by the editors based on the
handwritten Conference records in the archives.
6
Drinkhouse, Edward J. History of Methodist Reform. (Board of Publication of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1899), p. 355.
7
Drinkhouse, p. 344
8
Drinkhouse, pp. 362 and 365.
9
Bassett, p. 187.
10
Drinkhouse, p. 388.
11
Drinkhouse, p. 392.
2
(Calhoun County) in October. Harvey H. Johnson was President and William D. Tomkinson
was Secretary of the Michigan Conference. Silas F. Hale was the first President of the West
Michigan Conference and William Curtis was the Secretary. Hereafter, the name of William D.
Tomkinson appears in minutes of both conferences in the state and he, with Ancil C. Fuller,
Austin B. Hathaway, Chandler W. Stephenson, D.D., William H. Cole, Mical R. Saigeon, Willis
C. Harger, Frank E. Kunsman, and many others that space will not permit, were staunch
workers for the cause of lay representation. The West Michigan produced men of like caliber,
whose names should be William D. Tomkinson, Clarence L. Ellis, John A. Moray, Charles E.
Perry, and Lorenzo D. Abbott.
The two Conferences met each year for camp meetings at a central point near Lansing
and at one of these camp meeting a sum of money was raised. This was the year 1872 and
said money was used for establishing a mission at Lansing where the Main Street Methodist
Church now stands. Ransom E. Olds of Lansing, in his will, donated the corner lot next to this
site, at the corner of Washington and Main Street. After Methodist Union, this church was called
the Main Street Methodist Church.12
From 1867 to 1875, the churches suffered heavy losses through secessions, and during
that period the name Methodist Church was adopted, in anticipation of taking in Wesley
Methodists, Free Methodists, and all non-Episcopal Methodists. This union was not
consummated because of secret societies and many other reasons. A conference was called at
Flint in the spring of 1875, with members of both the Michigan and West Michigan Conferences
present, at which time it was resolved that inasmuch as all non-Episcopal Methodists were not
falling in line with the union, delegates were instructed to meet at the General Conference in
Springfield, Ohio to resume the name Methodist Protestant. During this time, it became evident
that there were politicians who were after the spoils instead of the true Spirit of the Lord. At the
General Conference held at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 9-16,1876, a resolution was drawn and
presented to this body and the name of Methodist Protestant was again taken, and of course
the other churches resumed their names.
In the year 1890, the brethren discovered a beautiful spot on the east side of Gull Lake.
Clarence L. Ellis, John A. Moray, Lorenzo D. Abbott, and others of the Conference, both
ministers and laymen, through sacrifice and hard labor, established what was named the Gull
Lake Camp Meeting Association, and afterwards called the Gull Lake Assembly of the
Methodist Protestant Church. These grounds became a place of beauty and attraction in years
ahead. It was controlled by a Board of Trustees and a manager of the grounds elected from the
Board. E.L.L. Hursley, a prominent layman, held this position for many years. It should be
noted that the organization sold ten-dollar shares to erect the Tabernacle, thus designating this
as a stockholding company. Each lot were entitled to shares or stock, as per its value, and
some lot owners were entitled to more votes than others.
The last West Michigan Annual Conference was held at Barryville (Barry County) on
September 6, 1904, with John A. Moray as President. The following year, the two Conferences
met together for the purpose of reuniting at the First Methodist Protestant Church of Flint, on
12
Editors’ note: Lansing: Main Street church merged in 1961 with Lansing: Maple Grove to form Lansing: Christ
Methodist Church. That church was discontinued on December 27, 2015.
3
North Saginaw Street. At the time, John A. Moray was President of the West Michigan
Conference and John W. Gray, D.D., was President of the Michigan Conference.
The 1906 Annual Conference began August 28 at Caro and closed Sunday evening,
September 2. The church was large enough for the business of the Conference, while evening
services were held under a large tent belonging to the West Michigan Conference. The
Speaker was William R. Newell of Chicago, who lectured on the Bible. He was chosen as the
evening speaker for several years thereafter.
The 1907 Annual Conference was held in the Tabernacle at Midland Park on Gull Lake,
beginning August 27 and closing September 1. The 1908 Annual Conference was at Lansing
Main Street Church from August 25 to September 1. At this conference, it was voted to hold all
succeeding conferences at Midland Park, to be preceded for one week by outstanding lecturers
chosen by a Program Committee elected by the Conference. The men chosen were William R.
Newell, R.A. Torey, Harry Rimmer, and others of like reputation, but not many of our own
church, who were also men of high standards.
To be sure, there were men of our General Conference who gave addresses regarding
the status of our own denomination, such as Dr. Hamilton Lewis, Lyman E. Davis, Dr. George
Miller, James Straughn, John C. Broomfield, and men of our own Conference such as William
H. Cole, Mical R. Saigeon, Chandler W. Stephenson, his son Dr. Franklin W. Stephenson, and
many others that space will not permit us to name. Willis C. Harger should be mentioned, as a
man of great insight, and understanding.
Getting back to 1909, from that time to 1918, the ministers of the Conference were a
band of Christian brethren. It could be said of them, “see how these brethren love each other”,
but a separation of doctrine, and opinions was apparent in our midst, and we began to hear
such terms as Fundamentalists and Modernists, and accusations were made designating
ministers of the Conference by these terms.
We could see why this was so, instead of taking charge of the grounds at Midland Park,
they were rented to outside religious groups, for a time an organization from Chicago, then after
the war, a group from Grand Rapids rented these grounds. Among them were men of
considerable means, who bought the best lakefront cottages, which carried with them the
largest number of shares and voting power. This situation was noted around the years 1923 to
1931. This group organized the Gull Lake Bible Association, holding their business meeting
before the Gull Lake Assembly business meeting of the Methodist Protestant Church, and
coming into our meeting with a controlling vote.
The teaching of this group was radical fundamentalism and the Methodist Episcopal
Church (and later the combined Methodist Church) was designated as being modernistic in its
teaching, and many of its ministers were named as advocates of doctrine adverse to the Cross
of Christ and the cleansing blood. Several of our brethren became firm believers in this kind of
teaching, and as a result from 1937 to the uniting conference at Adrian, our Conference suffered
numerically and financially, and benevolences were neglected.
I was elected as President of the Michigan Conference in 1927. This office gave me the
honor of being a delegate to the General Conference held at Baltimore, Maryland, in May 1928.
It was at this conference that plans were made for the uniting of Methodism and I was chosen
as one of the Commissioners on Interdenominational Relations.
4
On July 1, 1930, Commissioners from the Methodist Episcopal Church North and the
Methodist Protestant Church met at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh to explore the
possibilities of union of the two churches. I shall never forget the address of Bishop William
McDowell, as he pleaded for the union of the three outstanding bodies of Methodism, and the
address of Dr. Albert N. Ward, President of Western Maryland College, representing the
Methodist Protestant Church, who said that we could not unite till the Methodist Episcopal
Church South was ready to come with us, for as yet they had not attended any of the meetings.
When we met in our headquarters at the hotel, Dr. Ward said that this was a Great Day for
Methodism and urged us all to be faithful and work together for the final consummation of this
union. For said he "A Great Day awaits us to work in a Great Church!” He never lived to see
the consummation of this Union for God took him, as well as Bishop McDowell, and Bishop
Edwin Mouzon, of the Southern Church -- three great men, they were God’s noble men, and if
one ever heard these men speak on Methodist Union they could never get away from the
impression they made.13
It should be noted here that at the beginning of the 1920s, both Methodist churches had
adopted lay representation in both the General and Annual Conferences. The reason for the
organization of the Methodist Protestant Church by our forefathers in 1828 was not the
episcopacy, but lay representation. The Methodist Church has a better lay representation than
the Methodist Protestants had, because when a matter of great importance came to the floor of
the Methodist Protestant conference the writer knows, and so do other Methodist Protestants
know, that the ministers manhandle the laymen in such cases by sitting beside them, and
seeing to it that they voted as the ministers wanted them to. This cannot be done by a minister
of the Methodist Church, for the laymen hold their meetings in such matters by themselves, only
in such cases of Ministerial Ordination do they vote together. They preside over their own
conference at a separate building for the election of laymen to the General Conference. And
after this measure was passed by both Methodist Episcopal churches (North and South), really
there was no point of our separate existence. Hence the agitation for Methodist Union.
In the last six years before Methodist Union, midyear conferences were held. The last
midyear conference was held at Caro in the month of February [1936]. James Straughn,
President of the General Conference, was to be present to explain Methodist Union, but it
became impossible for him to attend, and Dr. Richard Shipley, editor of The Methodist
Protestant-Recorder was sent in his place. A motion was made and passed that Shipley not be
allowed to speak on Methodist Union, so one can understand why the vote taken at the
subsequent Annual Conference at Gull Lake resulted in an overwhelming vote against
Methodist Union.14 They were willing to take the word of the uninformed rather than the
informed.
13
Editors’ note: The highlighted text was not originally part of Bragg’s history, but is from a separate document
titled “Dramatic Incidents in the Ministry of Rev. Charles Bragg” found in the folder Methodist Union, 1939 –
General in Box 1 of the Charles Bragg Papers. The editors felt that it added to his conference history and
incorporated it here. For more information on the work towards Methodist Union, see Bishop John Moore’s book
The Long Road to Methodist Union (New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1943).
14
Editors’ note: In August 1936, the Michigan Annual Conference voted 79 to 27 to reject the proposal to merge
with the two Methodist Episcopal denominations. Four other Methodist Protestant annual conferences rejected
the proposal, but the proposal received the support of enough annual conferences to ensure its eventual
ratification.
5
Wednesday afternoon on August 17, 1938, the business meeting of the Gull Lake
Assembly of the Methodist Protestant Church was held [and the conference voted on a proposal
to continue the existence of the Michigan Conference outside the Methodist Union]. I quote
from my diary, “The fundamental Baptists of Gull Lake Bible Conference present in full force.
They are out to steal the grounds from us.” This they did, as you will see further on. They had
poisoned the minds of many of our brethren, to the extent that when the final vote was taken on
Wednesday, the result was 51 against Methodist Union, to 52 for it! This was too close for
comfort.
They were nasty and irreligious in their conduct. They resorted to means of indecency
and bad conduct. A colleague of mine retired this conference from active service. Several of
the men and I approached him and agreed to have him come and conduct evangelistic
meetings, but at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of which he was a member, he said that no
Methodist Bishop would ever stand in the pulpit at Midland Park Tabernacle. After hearing this
statement, I met him and told him that because of his attitude, I did not or could not have him
come to my church and the meeting was cancelled. Whereupon, he came to me, pushed me off
his steps and struck me so hard that I lost one front tooth. I should have known better, for I had
seen him in hot temper before. You could work with this man only if you worked for him and did
not cross him. He was the boss!15
There were around fifteen of the brethren who held clandestine conferences and certain
tracts were written against the proposed Methodist Union. The tracts were sent to the various
churches and members of the Conference. In one instance these tracts were placed in
mailboxes without stamps, thus violating the Federal Postal law. Had it not been for a kind
mailman, the individual who did this would have had a trip to the Federal penitentiary.16
Then when the Plan of Union was approved by the three churches, it was my great
pleasure to be present at the election and ordination of our two Bishops, at the First Methodist
Protestant Church in Kansas City -- Bishops James H. Straughn, and John Broomfield. The
1939 Uniting Conference at Kansas City was one of the highlights in my life for it was at that
time that my prayers and labors were fully realized, for at last I was in a Great Church -Methodism was one, no Methodist Episcopal North or South or Methodist Protestant, but one
body called Methodists.17
It should be noted that the last meeting of the Michigan Conference was held at
Plymouth Church, Adrian, June 21, 1939. This conference adjourned to meet with our Detroit
Conference brethren in the First Methodist Church at Adrian, and a happy brotherhood was
enjoyed by all who entered into the union. Bishop Blake was the presiding Bishop, and Bishop
15
Editors’ note: The highlighted text was not originally part of the history and consists of selected sentences from
page 75 of a separate typed document “Grass Roots, Mountain Top & Back: Autobiography of The Rev. Charles
Bragg – Farmer, Minister, Farmer” in Box 1 of the Charles Bragg Papers. The editors felt that it provided more
details about the conflict within the conference and incorporated it here.
16
Editors’ note: The Michigan Conference archives has examples of these tracts in the folder “Methodist Union,
1939 – Tracts Opposing” in box 1 of the Charles Bragg Papers.
17
Editors’ note: The highlighted text was not originally part of the history and is from a separate document titled
“Dramatic Incidents in the Ministry of Rev. Charles Bragg” found in the folder Methodist Union, 1939 – General in
Box 1 of the Charles Bragg Papers. As it seemed relevant to the story, the editors included it here.
6
James H. Straughn presided at the Plymouth Church, giving advice as to our entrance into this
fellowship.
At the Adrian Conference of 1939, the number of men as stated before refused to attend
and also refused to yield the fields or parsonages and churches they were placed in the year
before, and in several circuits were moved into the vacated parsonages, and the doors nailed
shut. This was so at Rea and Cone parsonage, Marlette, Harger Memorial Church in Detroit,
Three Rivers, Goodells, and Mt. Pleasant.
Because of this a test case had to be made. The first case was against the pastor at
Three Rivers, who refused to allow the young man, Horace Thurston, to occupy the pulpit after
the 1939 conference at Adrian where he was duly appointed. This case was held at Centreville,
Michigan, in the St. Joseph County Court. Judge Theo T. Jacobs was on the bench, with
Edward Smith as attorney for the Methodist Church and Howard Cline, a young attorney from
Flint, Michigan, representing the opponents of the merger. Judge Jacobs was thorough in
hearing this case. He stated that there was a difference between ecclesiastical law, which he
stated in his brief had precedence over the law of the state.
This case ran from Thursday noon through Friday. The following Thursday at noon
Judge Jacobs announced he would read his decision at the afternoon session. Those who
were at this trial were anxious, as one can imagine, and they were in their places promptly. At
the first paragraphs it seemed that the Judge was deciding the case against the Methodist
Church, but finally he began saying whereas the Methodist Uniting Conference, at Kansas City,
and the Methodist Conference at Adrian were legally one, etc., therefore the ministers
occupying parsonages were to vacate inside of ten days.18
I would like to relate an incident from this trial that seems amusing. The leader of this
group, and the main witness, was determined to bring in statements regarding the Methodist
Protestant Church men who had passed to their reward some years ago, and the Judge would
not allow the evidence, of course, but the individual argued with the judge that the measure only
passed by one vote at the Michigan Conference at Midland Park. The judge became irked and
said, “Are you telling me how to run my court? Sit down and listen to me. If I am a Democrat
and you are a Republican, and I am required to submit to a Republican Governor, does that
mean that I am going to rebel, and start another state. I am an Episcopalian. This is Monday
morning and yesterday, I heard a good sermon from my Rector and the Lord knows that I do not
want to listen to another one from you. Sit down, I say. Sit down.” It is needless to say that the
witness did as the Judge told him. If it had not been for the cloth, he said he would have held
the individual for contempt of court.
After Methodist Union, the Assembly grounds at Gull Lake became involved in litigation
at Kalamazoo Court House. Judge Fred S. Lamb of Cadillac was on the bench, Kim Sigler was
attorney for the insurgents, and Edward Smith of Detroit Conference represented the Methodist
18
Editors’ note: According to other sources, Judge Jacobs announced his decision on Wednesday, August 9.
Several Methodist publications celebrated this precedent-setting ruling and quoted extensively from it in their
coverage. For example, the Michigan Christian Advocate, the “Official Weekly of Michigan Methodism,” devoted a
page and a half to the decision in its August 24 edition and The Methodist Protestant-Recorder, “Official Organ of
the Methodist Protestant Church,” featured a picture of Judge Jacobs on the cover of the August 25 issue which
had three and a half pages of coverage.
7
Church.19 Some former Methodist Protestants testified against the position of the Methodist
Church. The decision was against the Methodists, the grounds were given into the hands of a
receiver and sold to the highest bidder, which was a body called the Gull Lake Bible
Association. This would never have happened if these grounds had been dedicated to and
owned by the Conference, as were all the churches that came into the union.
The opponents of Methodist Union organized what was called the American Bible
Fellowship Association, which existed for a while and disintegrated. The following year, the
leader of this group, by instructions from their business meeting, served an injunction on
Clarence Turbin, who was appointed pastor of the Stevens Street Church in Saginaw. Judge
McCarrol was the judge in this case, Edward Smith, a prominent layman was again the lawyer
for the Methodist Church. The judge was a Roman Catholic, and again their case was lost, the
judge deciding in favor of the Detroit Conference. After some time being deprived of his pulpit,
Rev. Turbin was allowed to take possession.
The Methodist Protestant Conference’s finances were in a state of bankruptcy, having
borrowed from the membership of the church to erect churches in Detroit and Port Huron. As
early as 1937, the treasurer, E.R. Vincent, was perplexed and embarrassed about the lack of
funds to make these loans good, even the interest on them. In some instances, they had to go
into default for lack of funds. We would have been greatly embarrassed had it not been that the
Uniting Conference at Kansas City provided for such circumstances by the appointment of an
Ad Interim Adjustment Committee for each Conference with power to dispose of all churches in
overlapping territory, and where there were places that ministers and congregations were
opposed to entering into the Union (Michigan Conference had several such churches with
parsonages). Bishop Blake, in accordance with this provision, appointed E. Ray Willson,
Clayton F. Oliver, and me with powers to dispose of such property, and liquidate the
indebtedness as stated above. Willson, was Chairman, Oliver the Secretary, and I was
Treasurer. Thus we were able to enter into the Union with all indebtedness cleared.
Rev. Frank S. Hemingway and his congregation at Lapeer did not enter into the Union.
They purchased the church and parsonage and radio station WMPC from the Methodists. The
church was renamed Liberty Street Gospel Church.20 There was only one other circuit that was
lost entirely, the Goodells and Mt. Pleasant churches and parsonage. Others purchased their
property and are holding forth as either independent churches or Baptist churches. We bid
them God speed, and as for those men who have entered into the Union (some in the Detroit
Conference and some in the Michigan Conference), we are happy in our Fellowship, and pray
God’s blessing on those who have gone from us, our young men who came to us are doing
well, they have good churches, and are proclaiming the Gospel, making progress for the
Kingdom.
19
Editors’ note: Judge Lamb decided the case in 1940, but the Methodists appealed the decision to the Michigan
Supreme Court which in July 1941 affirmed Judge Lamb’s decision.
20
Years later the name of this church changed to Calvary Bible Church after the construction of a new building.
8
Bibliography
Bassett, Ancel H. A Concise History of the Methodist Protestant Church, From Its Origin: with
Biographical Sketches of Several Leading Ministers of the Denomination, and Also a Sketch of
the Author’s Life History. Pittsburgh: William McCracker, 1887.
Drinkhouse, Edward J. History of Methodist Reform. Board of Publication of the Methodist
Protestant Church, 1899.
United Methodist Church Michigan Conference Archives:
Charles Bragg Papers: This small collection contains his autobiography, drafts of this
history, and much more about the Methodist Union of 1939 and the history of the
Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church.
Minutes of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1842-1939 and
Minutes of the West Michigan Conference of Methodist Protestant Church, 1858-1905
(early ones handwritten, later ones printed)
9
