During the March 1861 session of the Kansas Annual Conference, Rev. James
Griffing was appointed to the Auburn and Superior Circuit. This circuit was
within the bounds of the Baldwin City District, which was presided over by Rev.
James Shaw. In Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Kansas, Rev. Shaw
wrote about his tour of this district:
My first quarterly meeting this year was on the Tecumseh work, held near
Big Springs. At Tecumseh we had no church building, but a good thriving society,
with several worthy members. Major [Mac] Martin, who has since been Indian
Agent, was then living there, and selling goods. He was the recording steward.
Father Jordan, an old preacher, lived there, but was too feeble to preach. His
strong faith and exemplary life were, however, exerting an excellent influence
on the community.
Dr. D. Dickinson, from the Iowa
Conference, was employed as their supply this year. He afterwards transferred to
this Conference. He was a man of mature judgment and experience, and although
feeble in health, was young and buoyant in spirit. He labored with all the vigor
of youth. The church gathered permanency under his administration. He afterwards
superannuated, and for some time was State Librarian.
Our next quarterly meeting was
on the Auburn and Superior circuit. Mr. J. S. Griffin[g], was their preacher.
The quarterly meeting was to be held at Superior. This was one of the towns that
“was to be,” but was not. The company had built a large house for a hotel,
and that was about all that had been done. The hotel has since been converted
into a cheese factory, and Burlingame has swallowed up the town. Brother
Sheldon, a brother of Sister Paddock, had settled near here on a farm. Brother
Griffin[g] was living on his farm, between Tecumseh and Topeka. After a
comfortable night’s rest at his house, in company with him, we started for the
quarterly meeting. We drove to Auburn, and stopped with Dr. Bonebrake for
dinner.
This commenced my first
acquaintance with the members of the church on the south side of the Kaw River,
and I found them an interesting, warm hearted and noble people. We took dinner
with Sister Bonebrake, the Doctor being absent from home. We reached Superior
that evening, and stopped with Brother Sheldon, and met a most cordial welcome.
We readily saw the pastor had the confidence and sympathies of his people. The
meeting was held in a house used as a schoolhouse. I tried to preach on
Saturday, and hold quarterly conference, but was not able to be out Sunday
morning on account of a very painful gathering on one side of my face; so
Brother Griffin had to hold lovefeast, and preach at eleven o’clock.
This charge was among the best
in the Conference, embracing a good country, settled with intelligent,
enterprising and cultured families from the older States. The church gradually
spread, and became a power for good in the land.
Rev. James
Shaw
from Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Kansas
In reflecting on the changes in the Methodist
Conference in Kansas during his career, Rev. James Shaw would later single out
some of his associates and record some fond memories in his book, published in
1886. One of these was Rev. James Griffing:
James S.
Griffin[g] was one of the original number who composed the Kansas
and Nebraska Conference. He was a young man, with a good mind, well cultured,
and had a good education. He was constitutionally diffident, modest, and
retiring in his deportment, but firm, and established as a Christian; warm and
kind as a friend; zealous, and practical as a preacher; faithful, and diligent
as a pastor; exact, and conscientious in all his dealings – so easy, pure, and
true, that he exerted on all around him a most excellent influence. In short,
such a man is worth his weight in gold – a jewel of inestimable value. He had
a warm place in every heart that knew him. He never failed to build up the
interest of the church where he was stationed. But the Master has “called him
from labor to refreshment.” I met him at the first Conference I attended in
Kansas, and was associated with him in the Master’s work for four years in
succession, and always found him firm and reliable. I have worshipped with him
at quarterly meetings and camp meeting, and was always profited by his society.
I am glad I ever made his acquaintance. It is pleasant to call up these
recollections; yea! joyful to meditate on those hallowed hours when we took
sweet counsel together, and side by side engaged in the work of the Lord with
one heart, and one mind, “while glory crowned the mercy seat.” But I am sad
when I think I shall see his face no more on earth.
