While the foregoing events were occurring in the east, the work was also developing in Northern Illinois. There, as in Western New York, those who had been ruthlessly excommunicated from the Methodist societies which they had helped to maintain for years had formed themselves into “Bands” and independent “Free” Methodist Churches, as a means of preservation from becoming scattered, as also for the more effective promotion of the work of holiness, and for greater success in securing the conversion of sinners. When apprized of the fact that the Convention at Pekin, New York, had voted to organize the Free Methodist Church as a new denomination, and had adopted a Discipline, they hailed the tidings with delight; and soon, one after another, these “Bands” and “Churches” sought and found a home therein, adopting the Discipline, and becoming societies within the newly organized denomination. By this means, as also by the spreading of the work of revival and the raising up of new societies from among the converts, the work in this region rapidly increased in proportions, until, in June, 1861, the Western Convention (now the Illinois Annual Conference) became a necessity in order to the proper supervision of the multiplied societies.

     This Convention (Conference) was organized and held in connection with a camp-meeting in Mr. Laughlin’s grove near the village of St. Charles. The camp-meeting was largely attended, and was productive of most gracious results. The late Rev. J. G. Terrill wrote concerning it:

     “Many at this meeting entered into the experience of perfect love,” and “about thirteen united with the Free Methodist Church.” He also further says: “The Convention held its sittings on a pile of rails, across the road from Mr. Laughlin’s house. There were twenty preachers and an equal number of laymen enrolled. Judah Mead was elected Chairman of the [St. Charles] District. Joseph Travis and J. W. Redfield were elected to Deacon’s Orders, and Judah Mead and Joseph Travis to Elder’s Orders. The last named was elected to both Orders because of his appointment [as missionary] to St. Louis with no ordained men to assist him. [1]

     This was really the second session of the Western Convention, though it was the first since the adoption of the Discipline of the Free Methodist Church. From an editorial report of it which appeared in the Earnest Christian for September of that year we extract the following:
 

     Ten preachers were admitted to the traveling connection. AU the preachers profess and we believe enjoy the blessing of entire sanctification. They are devotedly pious, laborious young men, capable of doing a great deal of service in the cause of Christ upon a very small salary. One of them during the year walked sixteen hundred miles, visited and prayed with a thousand families, and received thirty dollars. Such men are not easily to be put down when engaged in spreading holiness, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

     The following list of appointments was arranged by the Stationing Committee, each appointment being a circuit, and supposed to have at least six different preaching places:
 

     St. Louis District.—Joseph Travis, Chairman. St. Louis, Joseph Travis, and one to be supplied.

     St. Charles District.—Judah Mead, Chairman. St. Charles, Thomas LaDue; Clinton, I. H. Fairchilds, W. D. Bishop; Aurora, J. G. Terril, Erastus Ribble; Marengo, E. P. Hart, J. W. Dake, and one to be supplied; Crystal Lake, H. M. Hooker, E. Cook; Newfleld, G. L. Shepardson, supply; Ogle, G. P. Bassett; Sugar Creek, Wisconsin, D. F. Shepardson, C. E. Harroun; Geneva, P. C. Armstrong; Belvidere, J. W. Mathews; Elroy, J. Collier; Rensselear Mission, A. B. Burdick; Norwegian Mission, J. Oleson; General Missionary, J. W. Redfield.

     Most of these noble men have passed to the great beyond; and those who remain at the time of the present writing are on the retired list, and, in the calm confidence of Christian faith and hope, they await the coming of the Lord, or, if He shall delay His advent, the descent of the chariot that shall bear their redeemed spirits to His celestial presence.

     Several from among the foregoing list of preachers were ultimately advanced to highly distinguished positions in the Church. E. P. Hart became General Superintendent in 1874; Joseph Travis was elected editor of the Free Methodist in 1882; and J. G. Terrill was chosen as Missionary Secretary by the Executive Committee in 1893, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of W. W. Kelley, whose failing health necessitated his retirement from the position. In 1894 he was again chosen to the same position, from which he was soon removed by death.

     A question has been raised as to the historical accuracy of the statement that the Free Methodist Church was organized at Pekin, New York, August 23, 1860. The question has risen from the fact that there is still extant the original of a preacher’s credential issued by the Western Convention of the Free Methodist Church in June, 1860, bearing the signature of B. T. Roberts as President. It is asked, “Is not this evidence that the Free Methodist Church was an organized body as early as June, 1860, even though the historical account dates its origin at Pekin, New York, in August, 1860 ?“ The solution is this: A number of local “Free” Methodist Churches had been organized in Northern Illinois prior to June, 1860. In connection with a camp-meeting held in Mr. Laughlin’s grove at St. Charles, Illinois, in June, 1860, “a Laymen’s Convention was held * * * under the trees in Mr. Laughlin’s yard.” B. T. Roberts was in attendance at the camp-meeting, and also at the Laymen’s Convention, and, being present at the latter, was quite naturally “called to the chair. [2]

     This is the Convention which gave the credentials referred to in the foregoing, and Mr. Roberts, as Chairman of the Convention, of course signed the same. This, however, was a Laymen’s Convention, representing individual “Bands” of “Free” Methodist Churches, without organic unity, and none of which had as yet adopted the Discipline of the Free Methodist Church, as that was not framed and adopted as a basis of the new denomination until it was done by a delegated Convention of Laymen and Ministers at Pekin, New York, August 23, 1860. This first Western Convention of June, 1860, elected the Rev. J. W. Redfield and Daniel Lloyd as its delegates to the Pekin Convention, where the Free Methodist Church was organized, and Mr. Roberts made its first General Superintendent.

     No statistics of the earlier sessions of this Conference are available as to lay membership or as to Church and parsonage property. In 1864, however, there were 982 members, of whom 141 were probationers, with value of Church property given as $13,953. At present the Conference has forty-one preachers, of whom two are probationers; 1,043 lay members, and 127 on probation; Churches valued at $136,900; and parsonages at $67,300. The Illinois has also been one of the mother Conferences from which several others have sprung. The personnel of the ministers composing this body has generally been considerably above the average for preaching and administrative ability, and a number of the strongest men of the denomination have come from their ranks.

[1] History of the St. Charles Camp-meeting, p. 22.
[2] Terrill’s “History of the St. Charles Camp-meeting,” p. 15.