The Kansas Methodist from Topeka, Kansas • 2

uvu'i "I THE KANSAS METHODIST. bind him to the brethren in bonds not easily broken. Several of that conference were 'For the Methodist. First Kansas Conference. B.

C. DENNIS. II. PAPER. among the number, ascended Blue Mound, a few miles southeast of Lawrence, and looking over the lovely scene spread out before them, they, with uncovered heads, kneeled upon their knees, and in the name of the Holy Trinity, dedicated all that land to God and freedom forever.

The doctor, who by the way was a practicing physician, was a preacher of originality and force, and a man whose piety could not be doubted, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, worthy of note. First and foremost, the "noblest Roman of them all," Wm. H. Goode, then presiding elder of Nebraska district, deserves special mention. His manly form and commanding presence would attract attention in any gathering.

A man who was already distinguished in theChurch In Bishop Simpson's "Cyclopaedia of Methodism," we have the following and whose name wherever known was as "ointment poured forth;" a model presiding elder, an unconquerable pi and in the large districts he traveled in Missouri and Kansas, faltered not, oneer, a missionary amongst the Indians, a member of seyeral general conferences, a man to whom the Church but without hesitation, willingly unders took any work required at his hands. No one rejoiced more than he, when in had looked as. one fitted to fill an 1 86 1, just after the act of secession, episcopal chair; and who would have Senator Seward arose in his seat in Congress, and coolly taking a pinch of snuff, introduced the bill making filled it with credit to himself and honor to the Church a preacher of much more than ordinary ability, a Kansas one of the free and sovereign business man above many as zealous statement "The Kansas and Nebraska Conference was organized in 1856. The first session of the conference was held at Nebraska City, April 16, 1857, Bishop Ames presiding. The statistics were, twenty-nine traveling preachers, 1,182 members, four churches, valued at $11,900, and one parsonage, valued at $2,000.

No Sunday-schools were reported." It seems inconceivable that the learned and eloquent bishop could have fallen into so many errors as to the organization of the first session of the said conference. And the thought arises, if such accuracy characterizes his work generally, alas, for the historical facts of Methodism I may be allowed to say the first conference was wrt.held in 1857; it was not held at Nebraska City, and Bishop Ames did not preside at the first nor during any subsequent session of the Kansas and Nebraska Conference. The first session was held at Lawrence, October 23-25, 1856, Bishop Baker presiding. Twelve hundred and twenty-seven members and probationers were reported, including one hundred and forty- states of the Union. He died the as any son of Wesley or Paul could be pioneering for the Church in the nestor of his conference, having com menced his itinerant career in Tennes wilds of Arkansas, on the plains of see, in the year 181 8.

ti middle aged "son of New England, hailing right from Boston, was one of the immortal twelve, a scholar and preacher second to none in the conference who has done earnest, faithful, effective service in Kansas' from the first, in schools and stations and on districts serving as secretary of the conference once, honored twice with a seat in the highest council of the Church, and everywhere the same true and faithful son in the gospel. Wm. Butt, a Kentuckian, a prophet and son of a prophet, an earnest and talented preacher, an excellent and much loved presiding elder, but given to change, proving the old adage true, "a rolling stone gathers no moss." John M. Chi vington, the biggest preacher in the conference, tall, strong, heavily built, a genuine son 1 of thunder, a man of power when in the" harness, serving acceptably on the circuits and stations and districts till the breaking out of the rebellion, when he entered 'the service of the country, since which so far as we have learned, he has been lost to the ministry, if not to the Church. Thos.

J. Ferril, a native Missourian, then a young man with one years experience as an ordained elder, the son of an old fashioned Methodist preacher of the Missouri the man who preached the sermon in Lawrence, an excellent singer, a lively preacher, a stirring exhorter, popular with the masses, and though of limited education yet making. his way, withal, an earnest anti-slavery man though brought up under the influence of slavery. He labored for some years in Kansas, but. is now an active member of the Missouri Conference, and represented his brethren at the last session of the General Conference.

Thus have we gone briefly over the names of the hero-band of Methodist preachers who were charter members of the Kansas and Nebraska Confers ence, and present to answer 7at the first roll-call. 111., June 21. Kansas and Nebraska and in -the fast-nesses of the Rocky Mountains to close his long and useful life at last amidst the friends of his early minis try, full of days and full of honors. At that time, however, in his prime, a man of strength, both physical and mental, though on the heavenward side of fifty. 1 Next in rank we mention the then four Indian members.

Twenty Sun: day-schools were reported, and four hundred and seven Sunday-school scholars, also five churches, valuation not given. Twentythree preachers received appointments. The good bishop seems to have confounded the first with the second session, which was held at Nebraska City, April 16, 1857, over which Bishop Ames did preside for two or three hours, as he did not reach the conference till Sunday afternoon. Brother Wm. Goode venerable Dr.

Abraham Still, a native when he came to Kansas, had never lived in a free state, and though bred and born and trained under the accursed influence of slavery, had imbibed the spirit and principles of the Fathers of Methodism, and from them never departed. Who in the terrible struggle which rent his beloved Church in twain, stood up boldly for the old. Churchy and never allowed himself, by frowns or favors, to be driven or coaxed into sympathy with, or even nominal membership in, the Southern Methodist Church. Was among the very first to plead for the L. B.

Dennis, the other of. the trio of presiding elders may next be noticed. He began his itinerant work amidst the swamps, bayous and cypress forests of southern Arkansas, a member of the same conference with Bro. Goode, being a native southerner, yet hating slavery with perfect hatred, he listened to the Macedonian cry from soon rejoined his old yokefellow in that distracted land, where he lifted his vpice and used his pen without stint for freedom and free Kansas. He was a'preacher of earnest, stirring power, specially gifted in revival work had filled several important stations in Iowa and Missouri, and is still doing effective in the Central Illinois Conference, having never been on the retired list.

Chas. H. Lovejoy was probably the oldest' in the ministry in the new conference, next to Dr. Still. He was fresh from the granite hills of Hampshire, a fiery, earnest, impetuous "preacher of the word rather restless in disposition, did efficient work in the conference for several years, but finally switched off into the Free Meths odist Church Isaac F.

Collins, a New Yorker by birth, a brother of one of our first missionaries to China, himself a miss sionary among the Indians at one time, in the same conference with Revs. Goode and Dennis, afterwards in the Indian Mission Conference, finally the three again together, here he labored, fought and fell, while yet in the strength of manhood's prime, in 1862. He was a preacher of ability, fearless and outspoken, the first secretary of the Kansas and Nebraska Conference, and served at different times in that capacity, and did his work well. Joseph Denison, a delicately formed, reorganization of the oldChurch inMis- souri, and through all the firey trials and persecutions of those stormy days, never wavered in his devotion to the Church of his early choice, and res joiced to see the old John Wesley Church permanently established, not only in Missouri, but all over his beloved South land. He was among the was our chairman till Monday morning.

But the figures are at fault, as bearing upon the second session. The conference was organized in Lawrence, Thursday morning, October 23, 1856, by Bishop Osmon C. Baker. Fourteen traveling preachers, all told, including those admitted that cession, were present. The surroundings and circumstances of that first meeting of the Kansas and Nebraska preachers can never be forgoten by those who were there.

The presence of the noble New England bishop was felt to be a benediction, From the first he ma'de us feel that he was not only one with us, but "one of us." His mild and kindly bearing, his personal "intercourse with us, his corns plete identification with our interests, won our hearts, and endeared him to One day Billy and Sammy were playing by a mud-hole, and Billy he said: "Now, Sammy, le's play we was a barnyard you be the pig, and lie down and woller, and I'll be a bull and beller like everything." So they got down on their hands and knees, and Sammy he went in the dirt and wallowed, while Billy bellowed like distant thunder. By and by Sanimy he came up muddy you never saw such a muddy little fellow and he said, "now you'll be the pig, and let me beller." But Billy he said, "I ain't a very good pig, except for dinner, and it'll be time 'nuff you to bels ler when yer mother sees yer close first to enter Kansas with the Free State flag unfurled, and there by voice and pen he struck strong, sturdy strokes for God, humanity and freedom. And amidst the darkest days through which the territory passed, his faith in final triumph never wavered, but was always cheery and hopeful to ihe end. For as he told us in tha first conference, early in 1S54, soon after the passage of the Nebraska-Kansas bill, three or the conference, as no one else after four Methodist preachers, himself wards could. Every thing tended to.