Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-09-13
West Wisconsin Conference.
TWELFTH ANNUAL SESSION.
Letter from one of the Preachers.


Mr.. EDIroR-In compliance with your
request for report Of the late session of
the West Wisconsin Conference of the M.
r. Church, / have penned the following
brief and incomplete synopsis, which may
serve to crafty the curiosity of your read
ers until the Secretary's minutes are pub
lished
On Monday, many of the preachers ar
rived, and at night Rev j. e. Irish de-
livered a good sermon on temperance
Tuesday was occupied by the examining
committees in carefully putting the junior
preachers through The dreaded ''fint mill"
or yearly examination on the Course of
Stndy," prescribed for all who enter the
ranks of the Methodist itineracy; followed
in the evening by sermon from Rev. j.
D. Searles on christian Purity'-a fine
discourse.
At s o'clock on Wednesday morning the
sacrament was administered by Bishop
L. Scott, assisted by the Presiding Elders
and others, to the assembled preachers and
people, wherein the presence of Jesus was
felt in an especial manner, and at $50 the
Conference began its taoelfth annual session.
Rev. j. P. Bachman was elected secretary
with j. L. Williams as his assistant, and
q. Cook as statistical secretary The pre-
siding elders were authorized to nominate
the standing committees, and while they
were absent, proposition to elect com
mittee on boundaries elected some discus.
sion. The point being as to the propriety
of changing the boundaries Of this confer
CO to rba+ ~, T
Crosse District Of the Northwest Wiscon-
sin conference. The subject was finally
tabled, action at this time being deemed
premature. After this, several circulars
and reports from book concerns, institutes.
Sunday schools, tracts, and2other societies
were read, and referred to their arpropri-
ate committees, following which the elders
reported their nominatins for standing
committees, which were adopted with but
few changes. Several preachers belonging
to the Rock River and other conferences
were introduced, and letter was read from
one of our number now laboring in West
Virginia.
In the afternoon, Rev. P. S. Mather
preached in behalf of the Church Extension
Society-showing the necessity of making
greater exertion in this direction, if we
meant to keep pace with the Roman Cath
olic and some other denominations.
Rev w j. Wilson delivered an eloquent
discourse at night from l Col, l chap and
2Sth verse.
The session ofThursday was spent prin-
cipally in the examination Of character
Most of the preachers passed through it
creditably. E. Buck and N. G. Cooley
failing to give satisfaction, their cases were
referred to special committees, as was the
case of Brother Teal, local preacher of
Ironton, accused of selling liquors, contrary
to-our general rules. After dinner, Rev
A. Brunson delivered the fcentenarv ser
mon, showing that the growth of Metho-
dism had been like the growth of the mus
tard tree, so that the fowls Of the air shell
ter beneath the branches. In the evening
the conference Education Society occupied
the house, M. Bennett, D. D., and G. M.
Steele, president of Lawrence University,
being the speakers, who very forcibly pre-
sented the claims of thorough mental cul-
ture upon the large and deeply interested
audience
On Friday, the committee to locate the
proposed conference seminary reported.
They had received proposals from Darling
ton, Dodgeville, and Mineral Point, and
thought that tie first named held out the
greatest inducements, so recommended
that the seminary be located at Darlington.
Some persons were present to represent
Darlington and Dodgeyille, of which two
from the former place addressed the con-
ference, giving guarantees for the fulfil
ment of their offers. The report was re-
ferred to the committee on education, and
the Church Extension Society of the con-
ference was allowed the house, when it re-
organized by the reelection of officers, and
then proceeded to collect funds from it's
members. 1t was announced that the
Parent society had appropriated 5000 to
this conference for Church Extension pur-
poses, of which 81 600 was voted to vi
roqua, and $500 to New Lisbon.
In the afternoon, Rev. W F. Delap
preached the annual missionary sermon,
sermon to be remembered, and at night
the conference missionary society held its
anniversary, the speakers being Rev. Mr.
Fellows from Madison, Mr. Reynolds agent
in this state for the American Bible soci-
ETY., aud Prof Steele of Appleton, Wis,
who deeply interested the large and atten-
tive audience.
On Saturday, the statistical report from
each district was read, showing quite a
marked advance in all Of them, fact which
gave great pleasure to those earnest and
self-sacrifcing laborers for human re-
demption, after which came the election of
the candidates for Deacon's orders, follow
ed by the report of the church extenfion