James Collard Reports on Possible Charges to be Filed against His Colleague, September 4, 1841

 

James Collard and Richard Owen were both admitted On Trial at the first session of the Texas Conference on December 25, 1840 and were assigned to Montgomery.  Perhaps you consider it odd that a small town like Montgomery was assigned two pastors.  One should remember that Montgomery was the head of a circuit that was bordered on the south by Spring Creek (the present boundary between Montgomery and Harris Counties), on the east by the Trinity River, on the west by the Brazos River, and the northern boundary was ever-changing---as far as the most northerly settlements.  With such vast circuits it was common for two preachers to be appointed.  They would then ride separately.  Often one would ride the circuit clockwise and the other counter clockwise---trying to maximize the number of preaching “points.”   They generally arranged to be together only for the 4 quarterly conferences during the year.

 

By September, Owen was already in trouble.   Collard found it necessary to tell Littleton Fowler about it.  The letter is reproduced here.

 

Rev L. Fowler

September the 4th A. D. 1841

 

Rev & dear Brother Littleton Fowler,

In haste I undertake to write you a few lines concerning the work hear. This circuit has been in a good situation heartofore but in conciquence of some things that has happaned lately I greatly fear that the work will be stoped. In a measure the people has full[sic] out with Bro Owen to sutch an exstent that I fear his usefullness in [i.e., is] entierly lost. They had fell out with him for some things that he had done before. What has happened now (which is the  seperation of him & wife) & now his usefullness will be I think entirly lost on this circuit. The difficulty between him & wife appears to have been brewing for some time. I beleave the ground of it is jealousy which bred coldness.From that to neglect but not from her. This is my opinion.

The woman is to be pittied. She intends thrugh her friends to lay in her complaint to Bro Williams & I am in hopes that it will be investigated amediately for this will be the best course for the work. I do not know whether it will stop Bro Owen or not. [p. 2]

We have taken in on this circuit 120 members, about 8 of which hav[e] joined. The baptist have two campmeetings apointed. The first near Doct Graves, embracing the 2nd Sabbath in Oct. [The] 2nd at Robinson Camp Ground come[?] 21st of Oct. If you see a chance send preacher  to the above meeting. Myself & family thrugh the mercies of God are well. My wife sends her love to you all.

We kned[?] your fervent prayers. I remain your friend & Brother in the best of bonds.

J. H. Collard

 

 

Evidently Richard Owen did leave.  His name is not in the appointments for the 2^nd session of the Texas Conference.  Collard was appointed to Crockett.  

 

This difficulty reminds us of the difficulty of married men in the role of circuit riders.  It was extremely difficult to maintain a stable family life and preach the gospel as a circuit rider.  The extended absences from home, the low pay, the rigors of travel, and the lack of parsonages all conspired against marriage.  Marriage often resulted in taking “a local relation.”   That meant the preacher was still a preacher, but did not accept an appointment in the “travelling connection.”   Francis Asbury set the model by remaining unmarried and complained, “I have lost more preachers to the marriage bed than to death.”   Eventually the circuits evolved into stations, the circuit riders became station preachers.  Churches provided parsonages and family life became easier.