Pursuant to the call of the chairman, the committee met at Primrose Bethel, William county, Ohio, on the 12th day of April, 1876, at 9 o'clock A. M. All the members of the committee being present, the following business was transacted:

      1. Session opened with singing and prayer. After which the case of Elder H. S. McNutt was taken up, who was under the charge of habitual falsifying. The following is the result of the investigation:
      Item 1. Sustained.
         "    2. Sustained.
         "    3. Laid over for the present for future investigation. Not taken up again.
         "    4. Not sustained.
         "    5. Not clearly sustained.
         "    6. Sustained.
         "    7. Not sustained.
         "    8. Sustained.
         "    9. Not taken up.
         "  10. Not investigated.
         "  11. Not sustained.
         "  12. Not sustained.
         "  13. Sustained.
         "  14. Sustained.

      The committee then took the following action:
      WHEREAS, There have been charges of a serious character preferred against Elder H. S. McNutt; and
      WHEREAS, Some of those charges have been sustained by the parties preferring them; and
      WHEREAS, Such a course of conduct is very unbecoming and injurious to the cause of Christ; therefore,
      Resolved, That the said H. S. McNutt is no longer worthy of a license from this body.

      1. On motion, that the request relative to Brother E. M. Partee cannot be complied with at present.

      2. WHEREAS, We have received unfavorable reports from Toledo mission; therefore,
      Resolved, That the twenty-five dollars appropriated to that mission be withheld.

      3. That Elder J. A. Smith be, and is hereby, released from the Ottawa county circuit, and we also recommend him to the General Board of Missions and to the brotherhood as being a faithful and zealous gospel minister.

      4. That Elder W. H. Oliver's letter containing his report and other matters be received and referred to the Eldership, and that he be released from the Hopewell mission.

      5. That we cannot comply with Elder Plowman's suggestion relative to licensing certain parson.

      6. That Elder S. Lilly supply Hopewell and Delphi in connection with his work until Eldership.

      7. That Elder E. H. Yeisley receive twenty dollars out of the missionary funds.

      8. WHEREAS, There has been a petition presented to the Standing Committee from Lower Sugarcreek, requesting the release of Elder H. M. Lynn, the regularly appointed pastor; therefore,
      Resolved, That it is the opinion of the committee that the reasons given are insufficient, and that Elder Lynn continue to serve the Lower Sugarcreek appointment, and the church receive him as their pastor and support him as well as they can, and that a disregard to the appointment by the Eldership will be highly censurable.

      9. That McComb circuit be requested to raise twelve dollars Eldership and superannuated funds this year.

      10. That Elder J. W. Aukerman be released from committee on preparing programme for the ministerial association, and that Elder G. T. Kimmel act in his stead.

      The regular order of business being suspended, Elder D. S. Warner presented a request to the committee to recognize the church at Upper Sandusky. The following action was taken in the case:
      WHEREAS, Elder D. S. Warner has reported favorably relative to the church organized by himself at Upper Sandusky, stating that their members are willing to co-operate with the Eldership, and also with the Wyandotte circuit; and
      WHEREAS, Elders D. S. Warner and J. V. Updike jointly petition that the said organization be recognized by the Eldership; therefore,
      Resolved, That the said organization be recognized by the Standing Committee, and that Elder J. V. Updike serve said appointment in connection with Wyandotte circuit, also the appointment at Smith's school house until Eldership; and that Elder Warner be released from serving at these points at his own request.
      The above was adopted by taking yeas and nays, which was called for by Elder S. Kline: Yeas--James Neil, J. Steiner, T. Koogle. Nays-- S. Kline.

      There having been charges preferred against A. Bricker by S. Chamberlain and others, the following was adopted in his case:
      WHEREAS, There seems to be a disposition on the part of some persons not to co-operate financially with the church; and
      WHEREAS, We deem such a course unscriptural and detrimental to the cause in general; therefore,
      Resolved, That it is the sense of this committee that the church, as set forth, required nothing conflicting with the word of God, and we advise those parties to co-operate with the church financially as well as spiritually.

      Committee adjourned to meet in the Bethel, at West Unity, at 1 P. M., of same day, April 14th.

      1 P. M. Committee met at West Unity. Elder James Neil being absent, Elder S. Chamberlain, was chosen to fill the vacancy. The following business was transacted:

      Bro. J. F. Fox preferred a charge of disloyalty to the church against Bro. A. Grindle; also, A. Grindle preferred charges of unbecoming conduct against J. F. Fox. After duly investigating the charges on both sides, the committee adopted the following preamble and resolutions.
      WHEREAS, Some of the most important items in the charge of J. F. Fox against A. Grindle have been sustained; and
      WHEREAS, The most important items contained in A. Grindle's charges against J. F. Fox have not been sustained; therefore,
      Resolved, That the decision of this committee is that A. Grindle be required to make public acknowledgements, and also to ask pardon of J. F. Fox.

      1. On motion that Elder S. Kline remain in West Unity over the coming Lord's day, and assist Elder W. P. Burchard.

      2. That Elder A. Kline serve Williams county circuit until the Eldership.

      3. That Elder E. Robison serve Ottawa county circuit in connection with his field of labor.

      4. That the Ministerial Association commence on Wednesday evening previous to Pentecost.

      5. That we adjourn to meet at the call of the chairman.

[The Church Advocate 41 (May 3, 1876): 3.]

      T. Koogle's "West Ohio Eldership, Standing Committee Meeting" was first published in The Church Advocate, 41. Vol, No. 1 (May 3, 1876), p. 3. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 5:      opinion of of the committee [ opinion of the committee
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 21 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.