The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-05-18


 class of 1855 was beginning it's public life.
 ersfonijpitchiwbfg To come to matters that more nearly concern our confer ence. It had it's utteranees on the events referred to, from which would quote did time permit.
 It is an interesting fact that in the Conference year 1S54-5 not member died. The number of church members was 24,gO2 against 67,s62 reported last spring; missionary collection, $9,7SS against s44,637. Total benevolences, S16,2S0 against S141, ,6S1. Contributions for conference claimants SS,150 against $16,094. The value of the property of Wesleyan university, real and movable, was less than $70,OO0. Now sS7o,0OO. The endowment was less than s10,0O0. Now 1,4S1, ,60S.51. Teaching force then six now S..
 1 In 1855 of the ten received by the con- ! ference on trial five still live. There were then 1S2 members, IS of whom sur vive, all superannuated. The presiding elders were James Floy, Buel Goodsell, Edwin L. James and David Miller. The districts were New York East, Long Is- land, New Haven and Hartford At i this session Friend w. Smith was in structed to preach at the succeeding session a sermon on the Ministry; f George Taylor, on Atheism; Daniel D. 1 Whedon, on the Millennium; Gsorge Hare, on the Immortality of the Soul; and John Miley on the Atonement. f The eight bishops with whom I sat in i cabinet from 1876 to 1884 were Jesse T. Psck, Randolph S. Foster, Gilbert Ha- 1 ven, Thomas Bowman, Isaac w. Wiley, Matthew Simpson, Henry W. Warren and John F. Hurst, all gone except i Bishop Bowman and our present super 1 intendent. The nine presiding elders ] were Charles Fletcher, John L. Peck, Albert s. Graves, John W. Beach, George A. Hubbsll, George F. Kettell, Thomas H. Burch, Benjamin M. Ad- ans and Ichabod Simmons, all de- ceased. 5 az
 My birthplace was Bedding, Conn.,, a town historic in the annals of Metho- dism; and my ancestors were the San lords and Hills who were among the first converts of Jesse Lee in New Eng land.
 Since these reminiscent papers seem to necessitate the frequent occurrence of what a pleasant writer has called 'stile columnar, self-rellant capital let ter,' permit me to say that have done what my very humble capabilities per mitted, but have nothing remarkable to relate. have performed no mighty deeds in physics or in metaphysics. l have never achieved the doctorate in j divinity of philosophy or the humanities. have never asDired to be a bishop. ] I did not consent to be made presid- i ing-elder or have any knowledge that l the appointment was intended until it l was read out. I have not travelled around the world. I have never fought 3 if I ever dreamed golden dreams they never came true.
 The autumn and winter before joining conference I supplied Dean street charge, Brooklyn, having to preach three times to the same congregation every Sunday. This society subse- quently became a part of Hanson Place church. Among the pastors then in Brooklyn were Randolph $. Foster, George W. Woodruff, Robert M. Hat field, John s. Inskip, John Miley, John M. Reid, James H. Perry and Thomas H. Burch. We frequently met for con versation and literary exercises, and it < was a great pleasure to listen to these < talented men.
 In no department of our conference work has there been greater improve, ment than in the examination of candi- dates as to their character and fitness for the Christian ministry and the aid afforded them in scholastic and theolog- ical training. My, own experience will illustrate the contrast between 1855 and the present time Though I was born within the bounds of this conference and never except for an hour or two s, belonged to another, my services being asked for in July of the year I was spending in private study, my quarterly conference recommendation was sent by Presiding Elder James to the Oneida conference, which admitted me on trial l transferred me to the New York East ] conference and appointed me to the Seymour and Great Hill circuit. Elderly men generally composed the committees of examination, and the candidates had a trick of turning examiners, asking the committee questions and thus decoying them into spending the hour discussing Christian doctrine and giving fatherly 1 advice about the work of the ministry l. All was oral then. Now thorough written examinations guarantee suita- ble literary and theological preparation for the work of the ministry.
 1 President Lincoln, in 8 joke, pretend ing to quote from the Koran, once said: Blessed is the man that bloweth his 1 own horn; for verify he that bloweth 1 not his own horn, his horn shall not be blowed.''
 1 can truthfully say that the honor ! and prosperity of our conference has al | ways been dear to me, and perhaps may modestly aid that I prepared the first Pastoral Record" for the Minutes" !" 1 originated the Pastoral and Church l Aid Society" and collection, with the I invaluable assistance of Brother A. C. l Eggleston, and presented the first writ l ten presiding elders report in the N. Y E. Conference. I look back upon life which has fallen far below my ideal E.-I .c-..