The pioneer of Free Methodism in Minnesota was Mr. E. N. Sumner, in later days familiarly known as 'Father Sumner." The pioneer Free Methodist preacher of the region was the Rev. T. S. LaDue, as will be seen later. Mr. Sumner lived in the southeastern part of the State, not far from Cannon Falls, at a place called Cherry Valley. He had heard in some way about the Free Methodists in Illinois, opened correspondence with some of them, fell in love with their principles, and finally decided to join them. In a double sense he united with the Free Methodist Church "by letter." It is a matter of record that he answered the questions of the Discipline by correspondence, having them sent to him through the mail, and returning his answers, with his Church letter from the Methodist Episcopal Church, to one of the pastors in Northern Illinois, and by vote of the society was received into the Church.

In his "Outline History of the Free Methodist Church" the Rev. J. S. MacGeary refers to Mr. Sumner on this wise: "It is said of him that he was a man of settled principles and convictions, naturally possessed of an iron will, commanding his household after him. He was a farmer of some means, a loyal Methodist, who enjoyed the blessing of holiness, was zealous for the promotion of God's cause, and for this was ready to sacrifice property and home. He gave liberally of his means. Whatever he did he did thoroughly, whether it were the plowing of a field, planing a board, building a house, or organizing a Free Methodist society." Such men, when filled with the Spirit, as was evidently the case with Mr. Sumner, are an invaluable asset to any religious society-to any Christian denomination. To the close of his life it proved true in his case.

Through Mr. Sumner's influence the Rev. George Fox of the Illinois Conference was induced to go to Minnesota and engage in labors for the promotion of the work of God as represented by the Free Methodist Church. Mr. Fox was a man well worthy of a name among the makers of Free Methodist history. He had been a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He went as Chaplain to the Civil War. After his return he and Thomas S. LaDue providentially met at Freeport, Illinois, where the latter was preaching. At the time they met Mr. Fox was sadly backslidden. Perceiving his condition Mr. LaDue talked with him kindly, and urged him again to seek the Lord. He finally went to Mr. LaDue's meetings, being held in a large hall, and when the call for seekers was given, lie made his way to the front and kneeled down. But before the altar work commenced he arose and asked the privilege of speaking. With his face to the congregation he told them he wished to state who he was, and, since many knew him, he also desired to make known his condition, and the purpose of his being at the altar. He is then said to have expressed himself as follows: "My name is George Fox. I am a preacher of the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I want you to tell everybody you see, and send word to the rest, that I am a backslidden Methodist preacher, forward for prayers because it is the only way I know to be honest and get back to God, and regain what I have lost. I ask all who are clear in their souls to pray for me."[1]

He then went on his knees and most solemnly and earnestly called upon the Lord for himself. Before rising he was graciously reclaimed, and the peace and joy of former days were restored to his heart. Soon afterward he sought and obtained the grace of entire sanctification, then joined the Free Methodist Church finally entered its ministry, and proved himself faithful and effectual in his calling to the end of his days.

After going to Minnesota Mr. Fox held a revival meeting in the home of E. N. Sumner, at Cherry Valley, Good-hue County, with good results, and organized the first Free Methodist Society in the State. This society was composed of the following named members: Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Sumner, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Harrison, a Mr. and Mrs. Plaisted, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Swartz, Mr. and Mrs. George Seamans, and others whose names can not be ascertained.

At the Illinois Conference of 1868 a new district was formed of the Minnesota work known as the Minnesota district, and Mr. LaDue was appointed Chairman over it. Hudson and Cannon Falls served as a base from which to conduct operations for the spread of the work in Minnesota. Mr. LaDue made his home for a time at Hastings, a city on the Mississippi river, just above the mouth of the St. Croix. On his way to the place, he was providentially used of God in seeing a woman and her husband blessedly saved, who subsequently proved to be valuable helpers in the work. He and his family being very cold stopped at a private house and asked the privilege of warming themselves awhile. The woman perceiving that he had a ministerial appearance, asked if they were traveling far. On making known their mission and their destination, she told him that no one had been at their home on that business in many a day. Mr. LaDue began to praise the Lord, at which the woman remarked, amid falling tears, that she hardly expected she should ever hear God praised again. She hastened to prepare them a warm meal, which refreshed them for continuing their journey.

A little conversation developed the fact that this family was in sore trouble over the fate of a son, who, by the subtlety and trickiness of others, had been led to the commission of a crime for which he was now in prison. After the trouble came upon them the Church, which ought to have been ready to minister consolation, soon allowed its fellowship for them to be chilled; and, after a little, respectable friends had deserted them, including pastor, class-leader, and others, and they were abandoned to the cold mercies of an unsympathetic world. The man of God had the privilege of seeing the united head of this family graciously saved and welcomed to the Free Methodist society, and also of seeing their unfortunate son finally delivered from what had seemed inevitable worldly ruin. The woman in particular subsequently proved an angel of mercy in ministering to their needs. This was the reward of faithful wayside service.

Mr. LaDue's labors this year were chiefly at Cherry Valley and Pine Island, with occasional visits to other points in that part of the State. Much of his time was occupied in breaking up new fields, which subjected him and his family to the divers trials usually connected with such pioneering; and yet, on the whole, he found his work highly delightful, because of the degree in which the blessing of God accompanied it. "When asked once where he would prefer to he appointed, he said, 'Send me to the frontier.' He went to such fields joyfully; and he was cared for temporally, and saw the salvation of souls."

Chiefly as a result of his labors this year the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference was raised up, from which the work has since spread out in all directions Some of the services held were characterized by marvelous manifestations of divine power; but in the early part of the year 1869 a revival occurred under his labors which exceeded all others in this respect, and in which many were saved and added unto the Lord's people, some of the conversions being of an unusually marvelous character. People were in attendance from many miles away in various directions. These went forth to scatter the light abroad, some of whom later carried benefits and blessings then received thousands of miles into various parts of the country.

As usual, however, the truth, which cuts like "a sharp two-edged sword," provoked most bitter opposition; but this was regarded as a healthful sign. Better opposition than stagnation, or than that all men should speak well of God's ministers. The opposers were helped for some time by a Methodist local preacher who characterized the Free Methodists as "the scum of the swill-barrel." This would seem to identify them pretty closely with the Christians of the Apostolic Church, who were accounted as "the filth and off-scouring of all things." "The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed," however, despite all opposition.

In 1869 the Minnesota district had two circuits, T. S. LaDue being preacher in charge of one and Chairman of the district, and C. M. Damon, an able, earnest, fearless, sanctified preacher recently having come to the Free Methodist Church from the Methodist Episcopal denomination, being preacher in charge of the other. Two men for a State like Minnesota was a small force indeed, but even that was soon reduced to Mr. LaDue alone. Upon the advice and through the urging of others Mr. Damon was soon prevailed upon to accept an appointment in the east, believing this to be in divine order. Left alone with the work Mr. LaDue toiled on in faith and hope, and the year proved to be a fruitful one indeed. New societies were raised up, and the membership was increased. Mr. LaDue suffered from serious illness, and met much bitter opposition from without, while some, yielding to an intractable spirit, introduced division within the societies he served; but those that were faithful stood by him and the work, and God gave them glorious victory.

In the fall of 1870 Mr. LaDue and his brother Calvin made a trip, with the latter's conveyance, to Northern Iowa, where the work of the Lord afterward broke out in great power and with most gracious results. The following is extracted from an article published in the Free Methodist regarding this journey by Mr. LaDue:

The result of that trip, from first to last, has been an accession to our numbers of some thirty souls, thoroughly saved - some backsliders reclaimed, some converts, and most of them "sanctified wholly." All heads of families, except two.  We formed a class at Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, Brother Patrick Fay, a converted Roman Catholic, leader. We also formed a class at Havana, Steele Co., Minnesota, Brother George Enny, leader. Brother Charles Cusick, an exhorter, Is supplying them with much acceptability at Havana; and my father, Rev. S. P. LaDue, an ex-Congregationalist, at Mason City. My father, who some years since was much incensed at my joining the Free Methodists, we now have the privilege of receiving Into the connection. May Jesus bless him, and make his last days his best.

Mr. LaDue was again made District Chairman of the Minnesota district by the Illinois Conference of 1871, and the story of his travels, labors, persecutions and successes for this year, though too long to be admitted in detail here, reads like a romance. It may be found in Chapter VII. of the "Life of Thomas S. LaDue." He was personally assaulted, egged, mobbed, arrested, imprisoned, but through it all could say, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24. Abundant success crowned his labors throughout the year, which amply repaid him for all the toil, inconvenience and sacrifice endured.

For several years the work in Minnesota had been chiefly that of breaking up new territory, organizing new societies, acquainting the people with the principles represented by the Free Methodist Church, and otherwise preparing the way for permanently establishing the work in that part of the country. These labors had been largely confined to the southern part of the State, and had somewhat overlapped the northern part of Iowa. Matters at length became ripe for the organization of a new Conference, and, on October 11, 1872, the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference was organized, at the "Stone schoolhouse," near Plymouth, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. General Superintendent B. T. Roberts presided. The following named ministers in full connection were enrolled: T. S. LaDue, C. M. Damon, S. H. Greenup, S. P. LaDue, J. P. Shattuck, T. B. Chase, N. Cook. Nine preachers were also admitted on probation. Two hundred and seven lay members were reported as belonging to the several societies. Preachers and delegates went forth full of faith and courage, and aflame with holy zeal, to appointments that promised little in the way of financial remuneration, but much in the way of toil, privation, hardship, opposition, with the blessing and glory of God, and with the assurance that "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

Gracious revivals and at least one very fruitful camp-meeting were held within the new Conference territory the coming year, and, despite hard conditions, fewness of numbers, meager support, and shameful opposition, the latter in some cases being instigated by Masonic Church members, the work of the Lord moved on in triumph, many were saved, and valuable accessions were made to the various societies. Among these was the Honorable C. W. Tenney, an ex-member of the State Legislature, who subsequently served God and the Free Methodist Church with great fidelity and zeal, first in the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference for a number of years, and later in the Washington Conference until, a few years ago, he finished his course in holy triumph at his home in Seattle, and went to join the redeemed in glory. The following account of how he was brought out into the light is worthy of being inserted here:

One of those specially helped by Mr. LaDue's labors at Plymouth was Honorable C. W. Tenney. He had once been converted under President Finney, and was a member, in good standing, of the Congregational Church; but at the time Mr. LaDue began his revival work in Iowa was backslidden. On account of his belonging to the State Legislature, and because of his influence in other respects, he was surrounded by worldly company; and he allowed himself to be wholly taken up with worldly things. On the Fourth of July he took a prominent part In encouraging the tub races, and other still more hilarious proceedings, that were carried on in the vicinity; and, although a Sunday-school Superintendent, he allowed a fast horse he owned to be trotted on the race-course. As this example was public, Mr. LaDue took occasion in one of his sermons publicly to rebuke such conduct, indicating, although not naming, whom he meant. He heard soon after that Mr. Tenney was quite offended. He therefore went to him, and told him that he had heard he was hurt by the remarks that had been made, and offered, if he would tell him what to say, to make a public explanation of the matter. Of course Mr. Tenney had no intention of allowing this to be done, as It would make a bad matter decidedly worse; and when Mr. LaDue asked him what he thought himself of such conduct, he replied frankly, it was wrong, certainly, and that the reason of it was he had no religion. Mr. LaDue's faithfulness had reached his conscience, and he turned to God with full purpose of heart. He was at last so blessed in his own house, at family prayers, when Mr. and Mrs. LaDue and General Superintendent Roberts were present, that his mourning was literally turned into laughter; and having humbled himself as a little child, he became by a miracle of grace one of the few "honorable" "after the flesh" who are chosen to the kingdom of heaven.  He took off his heavy gold watch and chain, withdrew from the ledge, and, "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," united with the Free Methodists. His past and present fidelity and usefulness are well known.[2]

Mr. LaDue continued his labors in the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference until the autumn of 1874. The Conference session of that year was held October 8-11, at Plymouth, Iowa. An urgent request had been made previous to this time for Mr. LaDue to go and take charge of the work at Brooklyn, New York, and as this request had the hearty indorsement and recommendation of Superintendent Roberts, he felt it to be in the divine order, and so had prepared to go.

For several years, In grove-meetings and camp-meetings, In private dwellings and schoolhouses, sometimes in city Churches and again in sod shanties, In summer heat and winter blizzards, he had kept the regions where he labored well stirred for God, and accomplished through grace results that still abide and Increase more and more. In the all-wise providence of the Read of the Church, he was now to remove to a new field. At the depot he and his wife parted with Father Sumner and his family; the one family leaving for Oregon, where Father Sumner said he expected yet to see raised up a Free Methodist Conference, and the other to take the cars the same day for the east.[3]

The Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference has had a varied history, and has ever had great odds to contend against, yet it has furnished the Church with many choice laymen and with a number of excellent preachers, and those who know its history will doubtless agree that the labors bestowed on this, the first of the Church's fields in the northwest, have not been bestowed in vain. This Conference proved to be the gateway through which Free Methodism entered the greater Northwest portion of our country, including the Dakotas, Oregon and Washington. with Idaho, Montana and other points, lying between Minnesota and the Pacific Coast. How the work developed and extended to these other States will appear in later chapters of this volume.

The work in the Conference has passed through many vicissitudes, hut under the leadership of such men as T. S. LaDue, C M. Damon, G. C. Coffee, W. R. Cusick, George P. Wilson and others, It has gone forward, and a goodly company of pilgrims still remain, while many have gone to join the Church triumphant.[4]

In the fall of 1881, at the close of the Iowa Conference, of which he was a member, Vivian A. Dake attended the session of the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference, where he was greatly blest and used of the Lord in helping others. He became so endeared to the brethren of the Conference, and found them so congenial to himself, that he was persuaded to make this his field of labor for the coming year.

In June, 1882, he attended a camp-meeting at Hebron, Minnesota, where marvelous manifestations of God's saving power are said to have been witnessed. From Hebron he went to Plymouth, Iowa, to assist in another camp-meeting, where the Lord again graciously helped him and used him in the salvation of souls. Next he attended a meeting of the same kind at Northfield, on the Owatonna district, where a great conflict with the powers of darkness raged, until after the Sabbath, to such an extent that he found it well-nigh impossible to preach;. but on Monday morning the powers of evil gave way, the clouds were lifted, and faith gloriously triumphed. After this he returned to Hebron, where he found a revival in progress, "with all the camp-meeting power and glory," under the labors of brethren Newville and Childs. Nearly one hundred were saved in this revival.

His next field of labor was at Mankato, where, assisted by others, he held a tent-meeting, hiring a house in which to live, and pitching the tent in the yard. It was here that he organized the first of the Pentecost Bands, about which more will be said in a later chapter. In the fall of 1882 he transferred from the Iowa to the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference, this Conference appointing him to the relation of evangelist, with his Quarterly Conference membership on the Iowa district. He at once entered upon an extended and thorough campaign of evangelistic labor, in which "his burning zeal for souls and vehement energy in arousing his brethren to more aggressive efforts for the lost, produced a general stir throughout the Conference."

In October of this year he had to leave his field long enough to attend the General Conference at Burlington, Iowa, to which he had been elected delegate; but he provided for the continuance of the special services during his absence, and as soon as the General Conference was over hastened back to take command of the forces again. He continued his labors in this Conference until the autumn of 1884, with unabating and ever increasing zeal, having served one year as evangelist, and two years as Chairman of three districts with twenty-two appointments for each quarter, and was now re-elected to the same districts for a third year. But he was a young man, and his extensive and zealous labors had worn him down badly. His throat and lungs were beginning to show signs of failure, and many among his friends became alarmed lest his usefulness should be terminated by an untimely death. The Conference generously made up a fund for him, and advised that lie take a vacation. He resigned the office to, which the Conference had elected him, after which, with his wife and child, he accompanied the Rev. T. B. Arnold to Chicago, Illinois. After halting here for a little they proceeded to the seat of the Michigan Conference. While here he was persuaded to take the pastorate of the work at Spring Arbor, where one of the Church's schools was located. This, of course, terminated his relation to the work in Minnesota.

It would require many pages to give in detail an account of Vivian A. Dake's labors in the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference. But though he was there but a short time comparatively, he deserves to be classified with the makers of Free Methodism in Minnesota. In respect to natural ability, educational equipment, power of oratory, burning zeal, self-sacrificing devotion, passionate love for the souls of men, and ability to win them in large numbers to Jesus Christ, he was second to none of the many who labored to build up the work of God in the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference.

One service in particular which he rendered to the cause of God and Free Methodism during his labors in Minnesota was very far-reaching and equally influential for good, namely, the bringing of G. Harry Agnew, who subsequently became the Church's pioneer missionary in Southeast Africa, into a quickened experience of the grace of God, and into contact with the Free Methodist Church. Mr. Agnew was a young man employed in a clothing store in St. Paul. While this sincere and earnest young brother had comparatively little of the life and power of the Spirit himself, he knew enough about God and spiritual things to fill him with unrest over his own limited attainments, to appall him at the half-hearted, worldly and chilling conditions about him, even in the religious world, and to awaken within him ardent longings after clearer spiritual light, and for communion with a thoroughly consecrated, warm-hearted and Spirit-filled people. Nor was he destined long to hunger in vain. An-other special providence occurred in his life which was the beginning of a new era in his religious history. He tells of it as follows:

"One day a tall, sober-looking man came into the store to see me. He talked to me about my soul and eternal matters until my heart fell in love with him. This man was Vivian A. Dake, at that time a District Chairman in the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference of the Free Methodist Church. He invited me to a camp-meeting to be held at Hebron, Minnesota. I accepted the invitation, and went to my first Free Methodist camp-meeting. My soul clave to the people I met on that camp-ground, and I love them to-day. Their plain garb, their shining faces, and their burning testimonies convinced me that I had found a people who were in earnest to get to heaven."  His meeting with this people he ever afterward regarded as one of the providences of his life more singularly and signally blessed to his good than any other. At the meeting referred to he received light as to its being his privilege to be sanctified wholly. He presented himself as a seeker of heart-purity, and, before leaving the meeting, professed to have received the experience.[5]

It was not long after this before Mr. Agnew found his place in the Free Methodist Church; and when, some time later, the General Missionary Board needed a young man for the South Africa mission field, and communicated with him, through Mr. D. W. Abrams of Michigan and the Rev. T. B. Arnold of Chicago, regarding the needs of the field, he was ready, without having ever seriously thought of going to the foreign field before, to say, "Here am I, send me." During his eighteen years' experience in the foreign work he never wavered in his conviction that his call, though it came through the Church, was a call from God. Moreover the work accomplished in those eighteen years is evidence that he was not mistaken. What does not the Church owe to men who, like Mr. Dake, by their devotion and faithfulness can bring to the front such noble and effective characters as C. Harry Agnew  

[1] "Life of Thomas LaDue," pp. 73, 74.
[2] "Life of Thomas S. LaDue," pp. 126, 127.
[3] "Life of Thomas S. LaDue," p. 128.
[4] MacGeary's "Outline History," p. 86.
[5] "G. Harry Agnew, A Pioneer Missionary," by Wilson Thomas Hogue, Ph.D., pp. 26, 27.