, 1891-06-23
The CLOSING SESSION.
Methodist Conference at Douglas
has Adjourned.
Rock Springs Selected as the Next
Meeting Place.
List of Ministers and Their Charges
For this Year.

N-@ -HAH
listers are at the conference. A few are
absent owing to the great expense COM
PEELED to-be incurred traversing Wyom
ing's magnificent distances getting to CON
ference. With some in this mission,
going To conference means heroic self-sac.
riice, travelling by private conveyance,
camping out, sleeping on the ground, pre-
pairing their own meals. crossing swollen
streams. Rev. II. ii. Austin on his way
from Buffalo was corrsled by impossible
floods. Out al night in the rain-already
drenched by the tempcst-he, with his
overcoat and boots on swan a swollen
creek to reach his horse on the other side.
Rev. I, Wesley Jeffry by p round about
way, and having laid over a day at RonEes
reached Douglas. Rev. j. II. Gillespie
told about days of travelling and attempts
at cooking. Some stayed at home and
actually went because denied the privilege
of being at conference. Nobody knows so
well as a frontier Methodist preacher the
blessedness of attending conference.
Meeting brothers grown wondrously dear
battling together for the Lord Jesus
Christ. One 10 tolls and trials and sacri-
fee; one IN prayer and faith and the love
of Christ.
A few OF the brethren we're late reach
ing conference. Now and then they were
dropping in. Yesterday Brother Jeff.ry
arrived. During the morning session he
came, Through the windows some of us
caught sight of his graceful form. and felt
a thrill OF jov, anticipation ola happy
meeting. Brother Lee arrived today. 1t
did us good to look on his face.
Yesterday we enjoyed the exercises Of
the historical society. Rev. T. W.
Jeffrey and Rev. Benz. Young, speakers
announced. Not being a short hand re-
porter we can only give approximately
the speakers thoughts. Rev. Benz.
Young was introduced. and began with
defining the objects of this society and
with showing the influence ci the achieve
meuts OF the past upon the deeds of the
present He illustrated this with a refer
ence to Josiah, king of Judah. Josiah
reat the book that had been lost and was
found. That book told him of the pillar
of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by
! night, miraculous and marvellous evidence
of Gods presence with Israel. He read
of Gods love and providence. He read
of the blessings that obedience would
bring and Of the curses that must follow
disobedience. Aroused and inspired by
the reading OF this book, Josiah mar
shalled his powers for the accomplish
ment of good deeds. And in the history
of our mission there are many thrilling
evidences that God is with us fulfilling
His promises. Let us gather M those
things and preserve them for encourage
ment and exhaustless sources of strength.
| must, for the readers delectation, give
one Joke Bro. Young tells on himself.
On one occasion some poor man muddled
with rum came to hear him preach. AT
ter the services he would go home with
Bro. Young, and kept him out of bed
some hours complimenting the sermon.
Bro. Young stroked his bump Of egotism
and Invited the infatuated man to come
and hear him preach again and often.
He said he would, and came once more.
But then he was sober. No compliments
were heard, and he never came again. RI
would just say, aside, that we preachers
got these latter facts of Bro. Young by
close questioning.
Rev. T. Wesley Jeffrey was introduced.
He began by saying. we cannot live
in the past. We may look into the past
only hat may live in the present and fu-
ture. We look with other purposes than
this; look into the past not for life but a
tomb, We have a glorious history. Its
historic deeds cemented together with
blood and tears rise among the blessed
memories of the past. However beauti-
tul and dear the past, we cannot go back
to it. If We 20 back there to live it will
rise about us like prison walls, cold and
damp and grinning with death. Freedom
we love, freedom we must have, freedom
for thought and new achievement. The
history of the United States commemo-
rates many a triumph over difficulties,
and the history OF Methodism in Wyo-
ming will record like victories. We take
courage. l myself have passed through
many difficulties. Storms have gathered
and clouds have lowered, but in letters of
glory Gods finger has written upon
every storm cloud, 1t is I-be not
afraid Among other things Brother
jeffrey gave an amusing incident out of
his own life. He went over to Lander
(his charge last summer in company with
DR.. RAIDER IN a private conveyance. They
took with them a long range rife. They
saw game-antelope. Brother Jeffrey
was bard hearted enough to want to shoot
them. DR.. RAIDER insisted that it would
be useless and therefore wrong. But one
antelope seemed to dare his workmanship.
While the glowing sides, so plump. at
such near range claimed his longing gaze,
and while he looked aud plead, DR.. RAIDER