Thirty Years in the Itinerancy

by W. G. Miller

The Conference of 1865 was held Oct. 4th in Summerfield Church, Milwaukee, Bishop Baker presiding, and assisted by Bishop Ames. Rev. Samuel Fallows was elected Secretary, and Revs. Wm. P. Stowe, E.D. Farnham and R.W. Bosworth Assistants.

The relentless war that had raged for four years had now closed. The clouds had lifted from the fields of conflict, and the Conference was now able to take note of the past and anticipate the future of the country. The report adopted at this session, presented by the Committee on the state of the country, was a masterly document. It recognized the fact that the Wisconsin Conference, since its organization, had exhibited a bold and manly opposition to American Slavery. That the recent rebellion, aiming its blows at the Government, bought by the blood of Revolutionary patriots, was the outgrowth of the institution of Slavery. And that the Conference, in common with the Laity, and loyal citizens of the North generally, had acquitted herself nobly, in standing by the Government in its hour of trial, and, having rendered this service as a Christian duty, she had nothing to take back. Looking out upon the future, she also anticipated the coming day when equal rights should be accorded to all, irrespective of color or nationality.

The question of Slavery and the frightful war it had entailed upon the country having passed away, the Conference now took up the subject of Lay Delegation. And since the subject is new to many, it may not be improper to devote to it a brief examination.

The question has been raised, "How came it to pass that in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Laity were not associated with the Ministry in the Conferences?" The question is a legitimate one, and deserves a considerate answer.

It should be remembered that the establishment of the Church was rather a growth than an organization. This one fact accounts, doubtless, for the peculiar feature referred to. Had there existed at the outset a large body of Christians, including Ministers and Laymen, awaiting an organization, at the time Mr. Wesley began his labors, it is possible that he might have so combined them in appropriate relations as to secure a united responsibility. But such was not the state of the case. In the strict sense of the word, Mr. Wesley had no Church, and no people out of which to organize one. And it is possible that he began his labors without an expectation of organizing a Church. His great concern, overleaping every other consideration, was to save souls. In this work he was ready to call to his aid such instrumentalities as gave the best promise of the desired result. It was but natural that, whenever he met a congenial spirit, there should be an affiliation. In such case a unity of effort would necessarily follow.

In this manner there grew up around Mr. Wesley a company of men, who were recognized as his helpers. With the multiplication of these assistant laborers, it became advisable to reduce the co-operative effort to a systematic plan. To adopt a plan of labor and give it efficiency, the organization of Conferences became a necessity. The first Conferences were composed of Mr. Wesley and his helpers, and could not embody Laymen, as no Church had been organized. This state of things continued during the life time of Mr. Wesley in England, and as he gave the Church in the United States its first organization, the same system was introduced here.

Subsequently, as the work extended and the Conferences multiplied, it was but natural that they should all take the same character. Nor would there have been any special need for a change, perhaps, if there had been no changes in the character of the work to be done. But with the erection of Churches, the founding of schools, and the creation of the Book Concern and Church literature, the Conferences, having these interests in charge, need the presence and aid of Laymen.

At the General Conference of 1864, action had been taken inviting the membership to vote on the subject, and also to elect provisional Delegates to the General Conference of 1868. The action of the Wisconsin Conference fully endorsed the movement and the body faithfully complied with its provisions.

At this session the Conference made a record of the death, of three of its members, Revs. Henry Requa, George Chester and Romulus O. Kellogg. To the first named, reference has been made in former chapters.

Brother Chester came to this country in 1849, from England, where he had been converted under the labors of Rev. James Caughey. He was received into the Wisconsin Conference in 1851, and was appointed to Prairie La Crosse. His subsequent appointments were Willow River, Madison Circuit, Waterloo, Columbus, Burnett, Fox Lake, Footville, Evansville, and Shopiere. At the last named place he was attacked with typhoid fever, and, after an illness of three weeks, passed away in holy triumph, with the words, "Glory! Glory! Glory!" upon his lips. Brother Chester was a true man, and a successful Minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.