《The Earnest Christian》
Life and Works of Benjamin T. Roberts
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IntroductionChapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Appendix
Photographs
Author
INTRODUCTION
As the centennial celebration of the founding of the Free Methodist Church of North America draws near, the conviction grows that the history of that church for almost one hundred years reflects, to a great extent, the life and works of one man, Benjamin Titus Roberts, its founder. Emerson's assertion that "An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man" is clearly depicted. Generally as the shadow lengthens it becomes vague, but with some men its outlines remain distinct while the area of influence widens. With the subject of this study, the shadow has not only lengthened in the enlarged church, but Mr. Roberts is being more fully recognized in renaming, in his honor, the school which he founded, and in the republication of one of his books, entitled Fishers of Men, in 1948. The torch that was held in his hand is the church that he suffered to found; the flame of that torch, his burning love for God and all mankind, especially the poor and oppressed. He tried to promote earnest Christianity in this land. For thirty-three years he edited a magazine significantly named The Earnest Christian. He himself was an EARNEST CHRISTIAN, filled with zeal, a flaming example of his Master's holy anointing.
Time softens the characters which it touches. The ecclesiastical conflict, which centered in the person of Mr. Roberts and which resulted in the formation of the Free Methodist Church, has grown dim through the mist of the years. The wounds and bitterness that arose in connection with those disturbances have been allayed, and even though certain issues are necessarily reviewed here, they will probably be judged more charitably, in the light of subsequent events, than would have been possible for those so closely involved in the ecclesiastical ferment of the times. Abel Stevens, prolific writer of Methodism, said, "Great events, involving as they naturally do, extensive controversies and agitations, require time for their right estimation; the characteristic portraiture of their leaders (the best dramatis personnae of history) cannot be impartially made while the chief actors or their families still survive." During the writing of this work, the last member of the family of Mr. Roberts, Benjamin Titus Roberts, M. D., passed away. The dictum of Longfellow, that if a life is worth writing at all, it is worth writing "minutely and truthfully," has been heeded.
This biographical work of Mr. Roberts is significant for Methodist history because of his relation to the ideas and development of the parent body. To the larger church, he is mainly important as a center of the religlo-social developments that resulted in the formation of a new church. His attitudes on national affairs are particularly interesting with reference to the problems peculiar to the Civil War period, and organizational activities on behalf of the farmer. His strong opposition to monopolies and trusts, and his comments on labor organizations, and on social and economic questions, supplement the highly devotional character of his writings with their strong emphasis upon piety. His call to return to what he considered the elemental gospel pulsates throughout. Considerable interest is found in the fact that his advanced ideas economically and socially are combined with an extreme conservatism in the field of religion. There is no better comment of loving devotion than the relations of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. They shared together the founding and development of the educational institution now known as Roberts Wesleyan College, significant mainly because of its emphasis upon a work-study program.
Herein is attempted a reorientation and interpretation of the life and works of Mr. Roberts with the avowed purpose of presenting him in his more human and intimate relations. Inasmuch as the published works of Mr. Roberts grew mainly out of his life task, an effort has been made to project his ideas into all the major activities in which he was engaged. An emphasis is laid upon organizational form and consecutive development, particularly significant with reference to the church he founded. The social-economic implications are given a larger place than formerly.
As to its scope, the entire life of Mr. Roberts has been reviewed. The initial purpose had been more or less to waive the controversial issues involved in the church, but as the study was made, the life of the man was seen to be so largely involved in the organization that its inclusion became essential to a complete picture. His educational interests were also such an integral part of the life he lived that it became necessary to treat this field more fully. The travel aspects of his ministry were largest since he moved as General Superintendent throughout this country and Canada, so that more space proportionately has been given to them. His life has been treated as consecutively as possible from the historic viewpoint. However, in the interests of a comprehensive whole, particular aspects of his life have been grouped and reviewed, and a few necessary touches have been added incidentally from a following period, or are reviewed briefly from a preceding one. Since all of his travels could not be included, certain portions were chosen that indicated more life and movement.
The original source materials for this study have been unusually large, most significant of which is a large collection of letters and papers of the Roberts family which have been preserved, and which had never, until this time, been made available for study. Much of this has been background material and unquoted. More than eight hundred of those letters which were read, were filed; besides, certain excerpts were taken from a large number of others which were not retained on file.
This work as originally done was submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Pittsburgh in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which was conferred in 1951. Acknowledgment is gratefully made to Dr. John A. Nietz, thesis advisor and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh for his assistance and his close and valued supervision, and to Dr. Lawrence C. Little, Professor of Religious Education, for his advice and constant encouragement. Dr. S. P. Franklin, in whose classes the first incentive to complete this work was augmented, and Dr. Charles Reed Zahniser, now deceased, who greatly encouraged the author, deserve appreciation. The most important contribution came through the generosity and kindness, as well as confidence, of Dr. and Mrs. George W. Garlock who lent invaluable aid by making available original materials never before studied or published. Also the kindness and assistance of Miss Hazel Sager, and the use of materials from Miss Celia Lawton and Mr. Wallace Worbois are noteworthy. Various librarians were most courteous and helpful, especially Miss Ora Sprague of Roberts Wesleyan College, Mr. Beach of Garrett Biblical institute, and Miss Wilson and Mrs. Day of the Buffalo Public Library.
Appreciation is hereby expressed to Mr. B. H. Gaddis for making available materials at the General Headquarters of the Free Methodist Church, to Mr. Howard Updyke, Dean of Roberts Wesleyan College, for making available some primary materials, and to the preachers and members of the Pittsburgh District of the Free Methodist Church over which the author was District Superintendent during the period in which most of the writing was done. Miss Clara Hogue has also graciously consented to the use of materials from her father's two volume history.
Cordial acknowledgment is extended to the following publishers and authors who have consented to the reprinting of excerpts from their works: Beacon Press, Inc., Boston; The Macmillan Company, New York; The Epworth Press, London; The Americana Corporation, New York; Harper Brothers, New York; The Gannett Company, Rochester, New York; The Free Methodist Publishing House, Winona Lake, Indiana; Mr. Mead Killion, North Chili, N. Y.; Dr. Elton True-blood, Richmond, Indiana; Dr. David Saville Muzzey, New York; and Dr. William Warren Sweet, Dallas.
DEDICATION
THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO MY WIFE, FANNIE ELIZABETH,
without whose help this work could not have been done, spending, as she has, long weeks in typing and correcting copy, as well as giving valued criticisms.
CHAPTER I
ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE OF
BENJAMIN TITUS ROBERTS
A. BIRTH AND ANCESTRY
1. Birth
2. Parentage
B. TRAINING
1. Early Schooling
2. Study of Law
C. RELIGIOUS TRAINING
1. The Sunday School
2. Conversion
D. LATER SCHOOLING
1. Lima Seminary
2. Wesleyan University
A man in his late sixties, presiding over the General Conference of the denomination he had helped to organize, called his fellow Superintendent to the chair, and took the floor in defense of a resolution which had to do with the ordination of women. After admitting his own physical inability at that time to do justice to the subject, and almost despairingly stating, "I have lost heart and lost strength," he went on to argue that men had been brought up to regard women as inferior, and were not willing that the same rights should be given to them. Very many had been brought up under English influences and German influences, and they were powerful in opposing liberal opinions on this subject. He added:
My ancestors were Welsh. I was born with a love of freedom. My earliest recollection of my great-grandfather was as a Revolutionary soldier, and as far as I know I have always stood on the side of the oppressed at any risk. [1]
A. BIRTH AND ANCESTRY
1. Birth
This man, who had then been General Superintendent of his church for thirty years, and who was still endeavoring to carry a conviction which had been his for a lifetime, was born in the year 1823 on a farm "in the uplands of Cattaraugus County, among the hills of western New York, rich in well timbered farms." [2] This was the region of the Genesee country which had been explored and pioneered with such tremendous energy by Charles Williamson. As late as 1792, Mr. Williamson stated, "There is not a road within one hundred miles of the Genesee Country, that will admit of any sort of conveyance than on horseback, or a sled when the ground is covered with snow." [3] Into this rapidly developing country was born, to lowly parents, a child to whom was given the name, Benjamin Titus Roberts.
2. Parentage
His mother, Mrs. Sally Ellis Roberts, was born on Grand Island in Lake Champlain in 1803. When she was two years of age, her parents moved to Smyrna, Chenango County. Ten years later they went to a farm near Forestville where, while living in a log house, she was married to Titus Roberts. [4] Her long life of over ninety-two years took her through the life work of her son, and made her a mourner at his funeral. The Gowanda Leader recorded at her death:
Between her cradle and her grave is written the progress and greatness of the nineteenth century. Her life deserves more than a passing note. A woman of strong religious convictions, of deep and abiding piety, and rugged character she stamped her impress on her family, church and society; and at her own hearthstone grew up a boy who was to be the father of a new denomination in the sisterhood of churches. [5]
In 1827, Titus and Sally Roberts went to Gowanda, and in 1855 moved into the old homestead which became a familiar spot to all the preachers who traveled the Gowanda and Collins circuit. [6] Firmness and sincerity were marked characteristics of each. Despite her advanced years, the spirit of independence, which also characterized her son, was so strong in her that she absolutely refused to have anyone care for her except when she was sick. The religious zeal of his mother doubtless left its impress on the boy, Benjamin. The home was one where fervent prayer ascended to God around the family altar. [7] Titus Roberts was one of the first settlers in Chataqua County. He moved there from Madison County in the state of New York. At that time the wilderness was scarcely broken. From Buffalo, which was then a village of less than a dozen houses, their only road was the beach of the lake They had to go to mill to Black Rock by boat. He was converted while engaged in the mercantile business, in a meeting held by evangelists who had been raised up under the labors of Charles G. Finney. A few years after his conversion, Titus Roberts sold out his business, joined the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and preached for one year. But his business, having come back into his hands again, he left the Conference, and from that time till near the close of his life, he labored as a Local Preacher. [8]
B. TRAINING
1. Early Schooling.
The schooling of young Benjamin Titus was about the only interesting aspect of his boyhood. Like most children of the farm in that early period, his days were spent amid scenes of toil, and lacking in many of the benefits that come to those by way of wealth. The raggedness of his constitution in after years was due in no small degree to this early conditioning.
By the flickering light of a candle, or the bright blaze of the fireplace, he studied such books as were taught in the district schools. He engaged in spelling matches which were held frequently in that day, and went from school to school to spell down other competitors. He studied algebra before he saw anyone who understood the science, and began the study of Latin without a teacher. [9]