The Press., 1897-03-11
Continued from last weekly HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF STAF- FORD SPRINGS.
BY REV. J. I. BARTHOLOMEW


 Ored supernumerary members of our con- ference, who spent 9 years in the active work of the ministry, writes under date January %, 1897:
 II experienced religion in the town of Somers. Conn.,, in the month of August, 1S41. a few weeks after which joined the M E. church on probation. In November following I returned to Stafford, where was born, and in due time was baptized and received into full membership by Rev. L. w. Blood, pastor of the church. Feel ing it my duty to exhort sinners publicly, the class of which I was a member voted unanimously to grant it, and I was ac- cordingly licensed by Rev. w. Emerson in 1S42, and in December, 1S43 was licensed to preach by the quarterly conference for Stafford and Holland circuit in Holland l was then teaching school in West Staff ford, after which I spent three years at Wesleyan academy. The quarterly con- ference of Wilbraham M. E. church unan- imously voted to recommend me to the New England conference, but R. w. At len, presiding elder of New London dis trict, prevailed on me to let him have the recommendation and join the Providence conference, and I was received on trial at Fall River in 1847."
 Stephen Olin Benton, son of Rev. J. T. Benton, joined the church by letter in 1865. February 27th, 1867, the quarterly confer ence for Stafford Springs voted him To- cal preachers license. In 1869 he joined the New England southern conference on trial. He is at present one Of the most influential men, if not the most influential man, in the conference. Besides serving prominent charges, he has been six years presiding elder of the largest district, twelve years secretary of the conference, and three times in succession a delegate to the general conference, leading the del egatiOn in '92 and '96. He is at present a member of the book committee, having supervision over the great publishing in- terests of the denomination. Last June the honorary degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by Wesleyan Uni versity.
 Of the preachers who have gone out from this church no other was so thor oughly identified with the local church as w. w. Ellis. He was a native of the town, born ill West Stafford, Jan. Both, 1895, was converted under the labors of | Rev. L. W. Blood, and united with this church at the age of fifteen. For many years, ill song, prayer and exhortation, he rendered great service. As steward and Sunday school superintendent for many years he faithful and greatly be- loved worker in the church. No man was more deeply identified with the tenn poral and spiritual interests of the church In 1871, yielding to a conviction that he ought to preach the gospel, he received a license to preach from our quarterly con- ference, closed out his prosperous mercan- tile business, and in the spring of 1872 en- tered the pastorate. In this work he con- tinued twelve years, until his death ir 1884. On all his charges there was vic tory Extensive revivals attended his work at Moosup and at South Coventry His business experience enabled him tc manage the temporal affairs of his church es with wisdom and success. His interest in Stafford and in this church continued tC the end. He had planned to spend his olC age in house near the church. which is now the home of his widow.
 Thomas G. Hodgson, member of thii church from 1880 to 1889, teacher in tn, Sunday school, and actively identified with the temperance work of the town, ii the last of our number to enter the minis try. When he left here he went to Tn, Dalles, Oregon, where he carried on busi ness one year. Then yielding to a call t. the ministry. which he had suppressed il earlier years. he began the work of tn, pastOrate. He is a member of Co lumbia River conference, and is serving his third charge. He has been doing he rOic pioneer work, and has met with goot success. He is now at Cour de Lene Idaho. Twelve years ago this was tn newest, most vigorous and toughest min ing camp in the northwest. In the mids of mines, with a military post near a hand, he is surrounded with evils and diff faculties of a peculiar nature. Some con versions and a lively interest mark tn opening months of his pastorate here
 (Continued.)