The General Conference of the Free Methodist Church possesses Legislative, Judicial and Executive powers. It is the law-making body of the denomination, and the only body having authority to make and establish rules and regulations which the entire membership of the Church are obliged to keep. When properly convened and organized it has full power to legislate, in the way of making, altering, or annulling laws, rules and regulations, subject to the "Restrictive Rules" of the Discipline. These Rules provide the following limitations:

1. The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our Articles of Religion, or the General Rules of the United Societies, or establish any new standards or doctrines, contrary to our present, existing and established standards of doctrine.
2. It shall not change or alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away with lay delegation, or the General Superintendency, or the Free Seat system in our Churches.
3. It shall not have the power to deprive our preachers or members of the right of trial by an impartial committee, and of an appeal.
4. Provided, nevertheless, that upon the concurrent recommendation of three-fourths of all the members of the several Annual Conferences, who shall be present and vote on such a recommendation, then a majority of two-thirds of the General Conference succeeding, shall suffice to alter either of the above restrictions, except the last; and also, whenever such alteration, or alterations, shall have been first recommended by two-thirds of the General Conference, as soon as three-fourths of the members of all the Annual Conferences shall have concurred as aforesaid, such alteration or alterations shall take effect.

That this body has also a certain amount of Executive authority appears from the fact that the Discipline provides that it shall elect all the General Officers of the denomination, who shall serve for four years, unless in some way they become disqualified, under its jurisdiction.

1. Each General Conference shall elect, by ballot, one or more traveling Elders as Bishop, a Secretary and Treasurer, an Editor of the Free Methodist, an Editor of the Sunday-school Literature, a Sunday-school Secretary and Evangelist, a Publishing Agent, and a Missionary Secretary. The General Conference may elect, by ballot, one or more General Evangelists. It shall also elect one traveling Elder and one Layman from each of the six General Conference Districts, who, with the Bishops, shall constitute the Executive Committee; and one traveling Elder and one layman from each of the six General Conference Districts, to act on the Missionary Board.
2. The General Conference may elect a Missionary Bishop, whose duties and official relation shall be confined to the field to which he is appointed.[2]

This body is composed of the Bishops, who are ex officio members, and an equal number of Ministerial and Lay delegates elected by the various Annual Conferences in the manner prescribed by the Discipline. The basis of representation was originally one Ministerial and one Lay delegate for each Annual Conference, an additional one of each kind for every ten preachers belonging to it; and still another additional one of each kind for any Conference having an additional fraction of seven traveling preachers. By action of the General Conference of 1878 the word "fifteen" was substituted for "ten" in the foregoing pro vision; and in 1882 the basis of representation was changed from the number of preachers to the number of Lay members within each Conference. At present (1915) the Discipline reads as follows on this matter:

Each Annual Conference shall be entitled to one Ministerial and one Lay delegate in the General Conference, and whenever an Annual Conference shall reach an aggregate membership of eight hundred in full connection it shall be entitled to two Ministerial and two Lay delegates, and one additional delegate of each kind for every subsequent six hundred members ii' full connection within the Conference; provided, nevertheless, that in no case shall a preacher be counted more than once in the election of delegates.[3]

Another important change in the Discipline made at this session was that which provided for an Executive Committee of the Free Methodist Church, and specifically defined its duties. This provision read as follows:

Each Annual Conference shall at its next ensuing session, and once in four years thereafter, or as often as a vacancy shall occur, elect from its members one Minister and one Layman, who shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Free Methodist Church.

It shall be the duty of such Committee to advise with the General Superintendent in the organization of new Conferences, and no new Conference shall be organized without its consent.

In case there be no General Superintendent to travel through the work at large and preside over the Annual Conferences, the Executive Committee shall elect a Superintendent, who shall serve until the ensuing General Conference.

The Executive Committee shall fix the salary of the General Superintendents, and provide such means as they judge proper for raising the same.[5]

Later the General Conference provided that "The Executive Committee shall consist of the Bishops, and one traveling Elder and one lay member from each of the General Conference Districts, to be selected by the General Conference from among its members."[6]

A number of minor changes were also made in the Discipline. At the last sitting, however, held in Buffalo, New York, the matter of the Bible Christians possibly uniting with the Free Methodist Church was under consideration; and, to show the attitude of the body respecting the matter, the following action, passed by the Convention, is here given:

Resolved, That as there has been some talk on the part of the Bible Christians of the United States about uniting with us; and believing them to be God's dear children, and that such union, if clearly indicated by the providence of God, would be to the benefit of both these branches of God's Church: therefore,

Resolved, That there be a Committee of two ministers and two laymen appointed by this Convention to confer with representatives of said denomination, and to take such steps toward effecting union as God by His providence may indicate to them.[7]

Although the contention incident to the admission of the Susquehanna delegates was sharp at this session of the General Conference, and seemed likely for a time to divide the work almost at its beginning, yet, as will be seen by reading the account of this unpleasant matter as detailed elsewhere and referred to in the earlier part of this chapter, the affair was finally adjusted in an amicable and brotherly way, since which time there have been harmonious relations between the Conferences involved.

B. T. Roberts was unanimously reelected as General Superintendent.

The second quadrennial session of the General Conference met, pursuant to adjournment, at Buffalo, New York, October 10, 1866, continued in session there until October 13, when it adjourned to meet at Albion, New York, October 15, 1866. The session finally adjourned on October the eighteenth. During the quadrennium the Michigan Conference had been formed by General Superintendent Roberts, the Executive Committee having authorized it, and one of the first acts of tile General Conference, after the session had been duly organized, was to approve of the organization of the said Conference.

The delegates presenting credentials and being enrolled as members of the body were as follows: Illinois Conference ministers, Joseph McCreery and Joseph Travis; laymen, Benjamin Hackney and Orson P. Rogers. Susquehanna Conference-ministers, D. W. Thurston and William Cooley; laymen, W. Barner and A. H. Knapp. Michigan Conference ministerial, E. P. Hart; lay, John Pines. Genesee Conference ministers, Henry Hornsby and Asa Abell; laymen, Levi Wood and John W. Reddy.

"Favorable action was taken towards establishing a weekly denominational paper. Rev. Levi Wood was elected editor, and authorized to commence the publication of the paper as soon as five thousand dollars should be raised for the purpose."

The Rev. B. T. Roberts was again elected General Superintendent, receiving seventeen out of nineteen votes. The Conference also authorized and empowered the Executive Committee to elect an additional General Superintendent, if in their judgment the interests of the work should demand it.

It was decided to secure the incorporation of the General Conference by Legislative Charter in New York State, if possible, and a committee of whom Superintendent Roberts was chairman was appointed for that purpose.

A proposition came before the body to revise the Discipline by striking out the entire chapter relating to the ordination of Deacons, and the final vote on it was a tie. The President gave the casting vote against the proposition, and it was lost. Had that proposition earned it would have done away with two ordinations in the Free Methodist Church.

It was also ordered that the General Superintendent have charge of all missions outside the recognized bounds of the various Annual Conferences.

The General Conference held its third quadrennial session at Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, October 12-21, 1870. The Conference elected William Gould as secretary, an office to which he was reelected at each quadrennial session until 1886.

No new Conferences having been formed during the quadrennium, but four Annual Conferences were represented. The delegations from all the Conferences were increased considerably, however. The Genesee, Susquehanna and Illinois Conferences each were entitled to four ministerial and four lay delegates as against two of each kind at the last session, and the Michigan was entitled to three of each kind as against one of each at the preceding session. There should have been twenty-seven delegates in all, but one of the lay delegates from Susquehanna Conference not appearing there were actually but twenty-six.

Standing committees consisting of one minister and one layman each were appointed on Itinerancy, Revision of the Discipline, Superintendency, Publications, Education; and committees were also appointed on Secret Societies, Temperance, Sunday-schools, and Religious Instruction of the Young.

Two appeal cases required the attention of the General Conference. The first was that of the Rev. D. A. Cargill, who appealed from the decision of the Judicial Committee appointed by the Susquehanna Conference, expelling him from the Conference and Church, for immoral and unchristian conduct. The other appeal case was that of D. W. Thurston, who appealed from the decision of the Susquehanna Conference expelling him from the Conference and the Church for teaching erroneous doctrine. ln both cases the decision of the Susquehanna Conference was sustained.

The Committee on Boundaries recommended and the Conference authorized the formation of the Kansas and Missouri Conference; also that the States of Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, and the Lebanon and Alma circuits in the State of Illinois, be included in the bounds of said new Conference.

The most important changes made in the Discipline were one providing that the General Rule against "softness and needless self-indulgence" be modified by adding the words "especially the chewing, snuffing, or smoking of tobacco for the gratification of a depraved appetite;" and another providing for the addition of the words, "a General Superintendency," after the words "Itinerant ministry" in the Restrictive Rules.

The Rev. Levi Wood, who, with the approval of the General Conference of 1866, had founded the Free Methodist, and hitherto had edited and published it, now offered it to the Church, through its representatives in the General Conference. The offer was accepted. The subsequent action of the Conference touching this matter will be found in the chapter on "Denominational Publishing Interests."

The Rev. B. T. Roberts was again elected General Superintendent, receiving eighteen out of twenty-nine ballots cast.

The General Conference held its fourth session at Albion, New York, October 14-27, 1874. The General Superintendent announced that during the quadrennium he had, with the consent of the Executive Committee, organized the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Conference, and that the New York Conference had also been organized; whereupon the Conference voted to approve of these organizations, and the delegates therefrom were recognized and allowed to be enrolled on presentation of their credentials.

The General Superintendent reported that he had submitted the proposed change of Discipline - regarding the insertion of the words, "a General Superintendency," after the words, "an itinerant ministry," in the Restrictive Rules - to the several Annual Conferences for their adoption, as directed by the last General Conference, and that the required three-fourths majority of the membership had voted to adopt the contemplated change. His report was adopted, and the change was made effective.

Another change of Discipline made at this session modified Sub-Paragraph 2, of the Section on "The Trial of Church Members," by adding to the words, "and in case of persistence after proper admonition and labor, to trial and censure," the words, "being placed on probation, or expulsion, as the Committee may determine." A change was also made which provided for the insertion in the back part of the Discipline of a "Form for a Bill of Charges." A change was likewise effected in the General Rule which forbade "Drunkenness, buying or selling spirituous liquors," etc., by striking out the word "spirituous," and inserting the words, "making or selling intoxicating," so as to make it read, "Drunkenness, buying, making, or selling intoxicating liquors," etc - On this latter change the Conference voted by yeas and nays, thirty-five voting yea, and none nay. A resolution was also passed, and declared to have the force of law, to the effect "That it is the sense of the Conference that the [General] Rule of the Discipline forbidding the wearing of gold applies to those who wear gold wedding rings." A number of other changes were also made, but they were of minor importance, and in no wise affected the general polity of the Church.

The Committee on Superintendency reported hearty approval of General Superintendent Roberts's administration, but also to the effect that in their opinion the time had come, when, in the providence of God, the interests of the work demanded more laborers in this capacity, and recommending the election of two General Superintendents. This report was finally adopted; and, at the twenty-first sitting, B. T. Roberts was reelected, and E. P. Hart was elected as his colleague, the former receiving twenty-six and the latter twenty out of thirty-four ballots cast.

The following named persons were elected to constitute the denominational Missionary Board: B. T. Roberts, E. P. Hart, William Gould, Epenetus Owen, T. S. LaDue, Joseph Mackey, E. H. Winchester.

The Executive Committee for the quadrennium was made to consist of the following named persons: B. T. Roberts, E. P. Hart, J. W. Reddy, Epenetus Owen, J. G. Terrill, B. R. Jones, William Jones, N. A. Bennett, A. Wise, 0. P. Rogers, D. W. Abrams, W. B. Bertels and J. M. Cusick.

General Superintendent B. T. Roberts, as a Committee on Woman's Work, presented his report, which, as finally adopted by the Conference, provided for a class of ministers having denominational recognition, to be known as Evangelists. Evangelists were declared to be "a class of preachers called of God to preach the Gospel, to labor to promote revivals of religion and spread abroad the cause of Christ in the land; but not called to a pastoral charge or to government in the Church." Any brother or sister in the Church feeling called of God to this work might upon recommendation of the society to which he or she belonged be licensed as an Evangelist by the Quarterly Conference, after passing due examination, under that part of the Discipline entitled, "Of the Examination of Those Who Think They Are Called to Preach." After laboring successfully for a period of four years such Evangelist, upon recommendation of the Quarterly Conference, might be licensed by the Annual Conference, such license to be good until revoked by the body which gave it. Evangelists were to be amenable to the Quarterly Conference, the same as local preachers.

The report was finally made a separate chapter in the Discipline; and it was this provision which opened the way for women to occupy the prominent position in the ministry of the Free Methodist Church which they have so long and efficiently held in many of the Conferences, not merely as Evangelists, in the general acceptation of that term, but as Evangelist-pastors. The chapter has been somewhat modified by subsequent General Conferences, but merely in the way of amplification, never in the way of restricting woman's labors in the ministry. Woman's sphere of operation in the Free Methodist Church has been constantly enlarged from the beginning.

The Committee on Incorporation appointed by the last General Conference presented the following as their report:

1. An act to incorporate the Free Methodist General Conference of North America, passed April 30, 1573.


The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The General Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America shall be, and is hereby declared to be, a corporate and politic body, by the name and style of the "Free Methodist General Conference of North America," and by that name it shall have perpetual succession; shall be capable of suing and being sued in any Court whatever; and shall have and use a common Seal, which they may alter and change at pleasure.

2. It shall be lawful for the regular members of said General Conference, at its regular constitutional meetings, to appoint such officers, and to make and ordain such by-laws and regulations in relation to the management and disposition of their real and personal estate, the duties of their officers, and the management of the corporate offices, as they shall think proper; provided they are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States.
3. The said corporation shall have power to hold in trust Church property, and deeds of other beneficent, educational or publishing institutions; and of taking, holding and receiving any property-real or personal or mixed-by virtue of any devise, bequest, grant or purchase, subject to the restrictions and limitations of existing laws; provided the annual income of such property shall not exceed the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, and that the same shall be appropriated to religious, charitable, missionary, or educational purposes; and to sell, deed and convey any real or personal property, when necessary to serve the purposes of the corporation.
4. The officers of said corporation shall hold over until their successors are elected and qualified, and shall exercise such powers and do such duties as shall be authorized by the by laws of said Corporation.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.

under the foregoing Charter:

1. I.-1. The following named persons shall be the trustees of the "Free Methodist General Conference of North America," as provided for in the Act of Incorporation, passed April 30, 1873, by the legislature of the state of New York, to wit: J. Travis, J. G. Terrill, John Ellison, J. L. Ward, O. P. Rogers, D. W. Abrams.
2. The said trustees shall have full power to take possession of and to receive and hold, subject to the order and direction of the General Conference, any property, real, or personal, or mixed, which may be owned by or belong to the said General Conference, by virtue of any devise, bequest, grant or purchase.
3. The said trustees shall be divided into two classes, as follows, to wit:


The first class shall comprise J Ellison, J. L. Ward, O. P. Rogers.

The second class shall comprise J. Travis, J. G. Terrill, D. W. Abrams.

The first class, elected this year [1874], shall hold their office for four years, and until others are appointed in their places.

The second class shall hold their office eight years, and until others shall be appointed in their places.

4. The said trustees shall elect their president, secretary, and treasurer, who shall perform the duties usually pertaining to their office.
5. The said trustees shall make a full report of all their proceedings to each successive General Conference.
6. If the place of any of these trustees shall become vacant during the intervals of a General Conference, it shall be filled by the remaining trustees.
7. Seal. - We recommend the procuring of a seal inscribed, "The Free Methodist General Conference of N. A."

A change was made in the duties of District Chairmen, whereby it was made their duty "to take charge of all circuits left without a preacher." Also a change was made in that part of the Discipline which defines the penalty for violation of the General Rules, so that instead of reading, "exclusion," it was made to read, "censure, suspension, and finally exclusion." It was also enacted at this session that "No person on probation in an Annual Conference shall be eligible to election as a delegate;" also that "When a local preacher is employed as a supply his membership shall be on the charge where he labors." At the second reading the proposed change in the General Rule against "Doing what we know is not for the glory of God," by adding, "as belonging to secret societies," was adopted by a vote of thirty-nine yeas to seven nays.

The Committee on General Superintendency reported in favor of electing two General Superintendents. The report was adopted, and a time fixed upon for their election. The election was by ballot, and resulted as follows: Whole number of ballots cast, 53; necessary to a choice, 27. For B. T. Roberts, 49, and for E. P. Hart, 48; both of whom were declared elected.

During the seventh sitting, a Committee of fifteen was ordered whose duty it should be to compile a Hymn Book containing not less than six hundred hymns, for the use of the denomination. Later E. P. Hart, Joseph Travis, and M. N. Downing were appointed a committee to nominate the members of the Compiling Committee. Still later the nominating committee was instructed to nominate the members of the committee to publish the Hymn Book. It was also ordered that the Publishing Committee should not place the General Conference or the Church under any pecuniary obligation by any contract they might make. The Publishing Committee was instructed to have the Hymn Book copyrighted in the name of the Free Methodist Church.

The Conference considered the question of the Church assuming the proprietorship of the Free Methodist, but decided adversely regarding it. The following resolutions were also passed:

1. Resolved, That the Executive Committee be, and are hereby authorized to act as an Advisory Committee in managing the Free Methodist.
2. Resolved, That in case of another transfer of the Free Methodist, the Executive Committee be, and are hereby authorized to negotiate for the purchase of the same, and to conduct it according to their best judgment.

The "Summary of the Statistics" of the denomination for the quadrennium closing with the autumn of 1878 shows the membership in full connection to have been 9,075, and the probationary membership to have been 1,607 - total, 10,682; traveling preachers, 313 and local preachers, 233; Sunday-schools, 268, and Sunday-school scholars, 9,249; with Church property valued at $358,290.

The sixth session of the General Conference was held in South Hill Free Methodist Church, Burlington, Iowa, commencing on October 11, 1882, and finally adjourned October 23, 1882. Besides the two General Superintendents, there were present thirty-six Ministerial and thirty-two lay delegates. During the quadrennium the Ohio, the Central Illinois, and the Texas and Louisiana Conferences had been organized, which accounted for the number of delegates being larger than at the preceding session. The Rev. William Gould was again chosen Secretary, and W. W. Kelley and B. R. Jones were chosen Assistant Secretaries.

The rule limiting the pastorate to a period of two years was so changed as to admit of extending the term to three years, in special cases. The Conference approved of amending the General Rule on "softness and needless self-indulgence" by adding the words, "especially the habitual use of tobacco, or opiates in any form or manner," by the requisite majority, and the proposed change was sent down to be acted on by the Annual Conferences. A new chapter on Temperance, for insertion in the Discipline was adopted, which was substantially the same as that which appears in the Discipline of 1911. The provision that if a member removes from a society without taking letter, and shall not send a satisfactory report to the preacher or society within a year, the preacher shall record such member upon the Church Register, as "removed without letter;" and if such person afterwards claims his membership, the Official Board may restore it, was adopted at this session-a provision which it is feared, has been seriously abused, and to the exclusion of many excellent members from the pale of the Church. It was also provided that a foot-note be added to the General Rule against using tobacco, which should read as follows: "This shall be construed as forbidding the growing, manufacture and sale of tobacco." Provision was likewise made whereby a District Chairman might, with the consent of the pastor and Official Board, divide a circuit during the interval of the Annual Conferences should the interests of the work require it. A new Section was also ordered placed in the Discipline on "Union With Others," which was substantially the same as that in the edition of 1911 A clause was added to the provision for the transfer of preachers to the effect that "No preacher shall be transferred to another Conference without a Certificate of his good standing and general acceptability, given by his Annual or Quarterly Conference."

The Organization of the following Conferences was authorized: the Dakota, the Missouri, the West Kansas, the California, the Pittsburgh, the Oregon, the Texas and Louisiana.

The question of publishing a new Hymn Book, which was considered at length at the session of 1878, and concerning which favorable action was then taken, but without results so far as the materializing of the plan was concerned, was again considered at this session. After much consideration by the Committee on Publications, and frequent discussions by the Conference as a whole, the following named persons were appointed a Committee on Compiling and Publishing the Hymn Book: B. T. Roberts, R. W. Hawkins, Joseph Travis, J. G. Terrill, M. N. Downing, William Gould. The book was to contain at least 800 hymns; and the Methodist Episcopal Hymn Book then in use among the Free Methodist people, and the old Wesleyan Hymn Book of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of England were to be made the basis of the compilation. It was understood that B. T. Roberts would publish the volume at his own expense, and accordingly it was ordered that "the new Hymn Book be copyrighted in the name of B. T. Roberts." The foregoing committee soon went at the work assigned them, and the result was the original Free Methodist Hymn Book, which served its purpose well for very nearly thirty years without revision.

B. T. Roberts and E. P. Hart were again elected General Superintendents, Mr. Roberts receiving forty-nine and Mr. Hart forty-eight of the fifty-seven ballots cast.

During this session the firm of Baker and Arnold, which had previously purchased and controlled the Free Methodist, dissolved partnership, and Mr. Arnold proposed to assume the publication of the paper alone, but agreed to the election of an Editor by the General Conference, he to pay the Editor's salary; and also agreeing to the election of a committee, which, in case they should find the arrangement unsatisfactory, should be authorized to negotiate for the purchase of the paper, or to change the management and fill vacancies in the editorial chair. The Conference accepted Mr. Arnold's proposal. A time was fixed for the election of Editor, and on its arrival the order of business was taken up. The ballots showed much division of sentiment as to who should fill the place, but finally, on the fourth ballot, Joseph Travis having received twenty-five out of forty-eight ballots cast, was declared elected.

Considerable attention was given to the subject of missions during the session, and a Missionary Board was elected who were to have charge of the general missionary operations of the Church, and to receive and disburse moneys therefor. The missions of the Church at that time were limited to what the Discipline now calls General Missions, or missions for the extension of the work within our own country. The members of the Missionary Board were, J. Travis, D. M. Sinclair, J. G. Terrill, W. W. Kelley, C. B. Ebey, T. B. Arnold, and D. W. Abrams. On nomination of the Committee on Missions C. B. Ebey was elected Secretary of the Board.

The Executive Committee was authorized to have charge of the publishing interests of the Church, subject to regulations adopted at this session of the General Conference.

The seventh session of the General Conference was held in Coopersville, Michigan, commencing October 13 and closing October 26, 1886. General Superintendents Roberts and Hart presided alternately. S. K. J. Chesbrough was elected Secretary; and W. W. Kelley, C. B. Ebey, and W. T. Hogue were chosen Assistant Secretaries. Besides the General Superintendents thirty-two ministerial and thirty-two lay delegates, representing twenty-four Conferences, were enrolled as members. The Louisiana Conference was not represented.

Among the changes made in the Discipline at this session was that of providing that the General Missionary Board should also constitute a Church Extension and Aid Society. The object of the latter should be the proper ad-ministration of a gift and loan fund for rendering aid in the erection of Churches. The Conferences were grouped in seven districts, from which the members of the Missionary Board were chosen. C. B. Ebey was elected Secretary and S. K. J. Chesbrough Treasurer of the Board. It was also ordered that each Annual Conference should appoint a Board of five members which should constitute the Conference Church Extension and Aid Society, and which should have full charge of all the work pertaining to Church Extension matters within its bounds. It was also provided that the Conference Society should be auxiliary to the General Conference Society.

A change was also made in the Discipline which provided for the admission of women Evangelists to the Quarterly Conferences, and for making them amenable thereto. William Gould, ministerial delegate from the New York Conference, was vigorous in his protestation against this policy, on the ground that it was admitting women to a ruling function in the Church; and when it finally carried, he presented his resignation, which the Conference accepted. The Rev. Joseph Travis, reserve delegate from the same Conference, was admitted in his stead.

Action was also taken providing for the election of a General Conference Evangelist or Evangelists; and W. B. M. Colt, of the Central Illinois Conference, was elected to the office for the succeeding quadrennium, receiving twenty-eight out of fifty-two ballots.

"Father Colt," as he was familiarly called, was a man of prophetic appearance and character. He was born in Waterford Pennsylvania, in 1833; converted near Rushville, Illinois, in 1848; educated at Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston, Illinois; licensed to preach in 1853; married to Miss Sarah J Wright, at Springfield, Illinois, in 1855; sanctified wholly at Quincy, Illinois, in 1863, from which time "Holiness unto the Lord" was his all-absorbing theme. he spent six years in the Nebraska Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but through most of his ministry labored as an Evangelist. Twenty years were given to this work in the Methodist Church, - spent principally in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas and Colorado. He also labored some in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.

In 1861 he enlisted in the service of his country, and was made captain of Company B., 73rd Illinois Volunteers. This was familiarly known as "the preachers' regiment." Through his influence the regiment was organized, and officered almost wholly by preachers. The Rev. James F. Jaques was its Colonel. Mr. Colt's health failed while he was in the army, on which account, after spending several months in a hospital, he was honorably discharged, and returned home in 1862.

In 1877 he spent eight months, with others, in evangelistic efforts in Texas, where his labors were eminently successful.

He united with the Free Methodist Church in 1879, in this step being followed by many who had been saved under his labors. He was, in fact, the father of the Central Illinois Conference of the Free Methodist Church. He served therein for a number of years as District Chairman, and represented his Conference as delegate four times to the General Conference In 1886 he was elected General Conference Evangelist - the first man ever chosen to that office in the Free Methodist Church He entered zealously upon its duties, but was soon recalled to his home by affliction in his family; and, through a series of reverse providences, was hindered from returning to his work, though he held the office to the end of the quadrennium.

In 1890 he was superannuated, yet he continued to preach more or less for several years His last service was held at Decatur, Illinois, in 1896. While there he fell and fractured two ribs. The shock, in connection with an attack of la grippe, prostrated him completely, and finally terminated in consumption, which occasioned his death January 15, 1899. For W. B. M. Colt to die was gain.

The Committee on General Superintendency reported, recommending the election of two General Superintendents. It was moved and seconded to amend by substituting three for two. A second amendment called for the election of four. The second amendment was voted down, after which the first amendment was carried, and the report as amended was adopted. When the time fixed for the election of the General Superintendents arrived, the matter was taken up, with the following results: At the first balloting fifty-seven ballots were cast. Of these E. P. Hart received fifty-four, B. T. Roberts fifty, and G. W. Coleman twenty-eight. Mr. Hart and Mr. Roberts were declared elected. At the second balloting but one name was written on each ballot. Fifty-nine ballots were cast, of which G. W. Coleman received thirty-five, and was declared elected.

The Committee on Publications reported, recommend. mg that the General Conference proceed at once to establish a Church paper; that this be done by the purchase of the Free Methodist from T. B. Arnold, providing his terms are satisfactory; that the Executive Committee be made a Publishing Committee, to have general supervision of the paper, and of its Editor and Publisher; that the Executive Committee also be instructed to devise means for the establishment of a Publishing House, and that they employ a Financial Agent for that purpose, at a salary not to exceed $1,000 a year; that the General Conference elect an Editor of the Church paper, whose salary should not exceed $1,000 per year; that the Executive Committee be em-powered to fill all vacancies that may occur in the offices of Editor and Agent, and also have power to remove, as they may deem necessary; and that the General Conference should take a subscription at its present session toward the purchase or establishment of the proposed Church paper. The report was adopted, Mr. Arnold signified his willingness to negotiate, and arrangements were then made for the final consummation of the deal, and for the transfer of the property. The details are more fully given in the chapter on "The Denominational Publishing Interests."

At the seventeenth sitting the election of Editor of the Free Methodist was taken up. On the second ballot B. T. Roberts received thirty out of fifty-four ballots, and was declared elected. Being already elected to the General Superintendency, lie at once arose and said: "Brethren, you have now chosen me to two of the most responsible positions in the Church, and I am ready to resign whichever one you may designate." No desire was expressed that he should vacate either office. So for the next four years he continued to fill both offices, and was also still editor and proprietor of the Earnest Christian, a monthly magazine which he had published since 1860.

He filled the office of General Superintendent and that of Editor of the Free Methodist with remarkable ability; but the burden of these two offices greatly overtaxed his strength, and was one of the things that broke down his health and hastened the close of his career.

The Statistical Table for this session showed the membership in full connection to be 14,166 on probation, 3,1l2, total, 17,268. The value of Church property was $515,097; and of parsonage property, $47,887, totaling, $582,984

This session of the General Conference authorized the formation of three new Conferences, namely, the Colorado, the North Minnesota, and the North Indiana.

The eighth quadrennial session of the General Conference convened in the First Free Methodist Church, Chicago, Illinois, October 8, 1890, and terminated its work on the twenty-third of the same month. Besides the three General Superintendents, forty ministerial and thirty-eight lay delegates were in attendance. Twenty sittings were held, in which considerable constructive work was accomplished.

The Executive Committee's report showed that that body had become duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois; that the Committee had instructed the Treasurer to issue Life Certificates of Subscriptions to the Free Methodist, to be issued to individual subscribers upon payment of the sum of thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents ($33.33), said Certificates to be transferable to widows of deceased subscribers and to continue in force while they remain widows, the Publishing House retaining the privilege of redeeming said Certificates at the face value thereof at any time after a lapse of five years from date of issue; that W. F. Manley had withdrawn from the Church, thereby leaving a vacancy in the Executive Committee, which had been filled by the election of B. R. Jones, of the Michigan Conference; that L. G. Torrance, a member of the Executive Committee had died, and his place had been filled by the election of John W. Beavers, of the Missouri Conference; and that at the session of 1889 the organization of the Nebraska Conference had been authorized.

This session of the General Conference authorized the formation of the Southern California Conference, "embracing the territory now occupied by the Southern California Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Territory of Arizona." It also changed the name of the Dakota Conference to that of South Dakota Conference, and made certain changes in the boundaries of the Minnesota and Northern Iowa, the Wabash, the North Indiana, the Nebraska the Colorado, the Illinois, and the Central Illinois Conferences.

Much time was given during the session to the consideration of the question of ordaining women. General Superintendent B. T. Roberts presented the matter, by offering the following:

Resolved, That the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the provision which it makes, and in the agencies which it employs for the salvation of mankind, knows no distinction of nationality, condition, or sex: therefore, no person who is called of God, and who is duly qualified, should be refused ordination on account of sex, or race, or condition.

Whereas, The question of ordaining women is likely to come up during this Conference; and,

Whereas, On other questions involving like radical changes in the polity of the Church we require more than a majority vote in the Annual Conferences, as well as in the General Conference, before they shall become the law of the Church; therefore,

Resolved, That it is the sense of this Conference that in the interest of unity and harmony among us as a people, a like vote be required on said question before it shall become incorporated in our Discipline.

Our Discipline, Paragraph 66, says: "The General Conference shall have full power to make rules and regulations for our Church under the following limitations and restrictions." As the ordination of women does not come under any one of these restrictions specified, therefore the resolution is out of order.

The General Conference has not the right to put into effect any subject under these restrictive rules by a bare majority vote. This the resolution does, when it forbids the General Conference to sanction the ordination of women, only by the same process, as that by which the restrictive rules are changed; namely, by a majority of two-thirds of the General Conference, and of three-fourths of all the members of the several Annual Conferences.

When the time arrived for again taking up the question, B. T. Roberts asked and was granted the privilege of adding to his resolution, before the Conference should proceed further to consider it, the following words: "This resolution shall not take effect until it is presented to the Annual Conferences, and has received the votes of a majority of all the members present and voting."

The Conference then proceeded to a further consideration of the Roberts resolution, General Superintendent Hart in the chair. Few questions, if any, have ever evoked greater interest and called out so fully the debating talent of a General Conference among Free Methodists, as did this. Feeling was decidedly intense at times, severely testing the law of "perfect love." At the conclusion of the discussion a yea and nay vote was called for and ordered, with the result that thirty-seven members voted aye, and forty-one voted nay. Thus the resolution was defeated.

The question of ordaining women was one on which Superintendent Roberts held decidedly strong convictions, and one which he fondly hoped to see passed by the Free Methodist Church while he yet continued with it. During the somewhat long and very heated discussion of the subject, owing to his great weariness and to the intensity of his interest in the question, he showed signs of being near a physical collapse, and personal friends had to lead him from the room. It was a pathetic sight to witness as this veteran of many battles was led from the scene of debate looking as though in imminent danger of an apoplectic stroke. Fresh air and the tender ministry of his beloved wife and other friends soon revived him, and he was able the following morning to take up his work as usual in the Conference.

At the thirteenth sitting W. T. Hogue presented the following, which, on motion, was adopted:

Whereas, The question of the ordination of women is likely to come up for settlement at the next session of our General Conference; and

Whereas, In determining the question on the part of the General Conference it will be very desirable to know the minds of our people at large on the subject; therefore,

Resolved, That the General Superintendents be requested to submit this question for a yea and nay vote in the sessions of the Annual Conferences to be held immediately preceding the next session of the General Conference; and that they submit the question in the following form: "Do you favor the ordination of women, on the same conditions as those on which we ordain men?"

Still later the following action was passed, although its reference to a resolution offered by O. M. Owen the previous day is less intelligible than it would be were it not for the fact that the Owen resolution does not appear in the Journal, it either having been annulled by some subsequent action of the Conference, or having been omitted by mistake of the Secretary in transcribing from the rough minutes to the Journal:

Resolved, That we, the General Conference of 1890, disapprove of the ordination of women.

This session of the General Conference appointed the Board of General Superintendents a committee to prepare a Catechism for the indoctrination of the children of the Church.

This was the General Conference also that passed unfavorably on Rev. R. W. Hawkins's book, entitled, "Redemption; or The Living Way," which action was the occasion of his withdrawal from the Church, as related in detail in another chapter of this work.

At the eighteenth sitting the election of Editor and Publisher was taken up. On the sixth ballot Burton R. Jones was elected Editor, by receiving forty out of seventy-seven ballots cast. On the first ballot for Publishing Agent S. K. J. Chesbrough received all but one out of seventy-six votes cast, and was declared elected.

Among the numerous other changes made in the Discipline at this session was one regarding the allowance to superannuated preachers, whereby they were to be allowed at the rate of five dollars for each of the first ten years of effective service, and at the rate of ten dollars for each of the second ten years of effective service, making the full limit of allowance $150.

For a number of years "Pentecost Bands," mostly of young people, had been organized in the Central West and also in some other parts of the work, for evangelistic purposes. The originator of this movement was Vivian A. Dake, an able and stirring young preacher of the Michigan Conference. Mr. Dake was their chief leader. They were filled with a most commendable degree of zeal, and gathered much precious fruit into the Free Methodist Church. They came at length, however, under Mr. Dake's leadership and tuition, to entertain more strained notions regarding Holiness than the rank and file of the Church could indorse, particularly in what they denominated "the death route" into the experience; and, when the authorities of the Church sought to regulate their operations somewhat, the "Bands" began to show increasing tendencies toward independence of Church government, and practically to become a Church within the Church.

The question of Bands was under consideration during this session, not with any view to obstructing their operations, but with a view to making adequate provision for them in the economy of the Church, and furnishing the Church with some degree of general supervision over them. Accordingly the following action was adopted:

1. Chairmen of Districts, and Evangelists appointed by the General or Annual Conference, may organize Bands for evangelistic work; but no person shall become a member of such a Band with-out the recommendation of the Society to which he belongs.
2. The rules and regulations of such Bands shall be subject to the approval of the Annual Conference to which the Leader belongs, or within the bounds of which he holds his membership.
3. No Evangelist or Band shall appoint or hold meetings where they will interfere with the regular work of any preacher duly appointed to a circuit, or station, or district.
4. Those who labor successfully in a Band for one year may be licensed by the Quarterly Conference from year to year as Band workers.

A new section was also inserted in the Discipline by action of this session, which provided for a General Board of Conference Claimants. A general fund was to be created for the benefit of claimants, and this Board was to receive and disburse moneys for superannuated preachers, and for the widows and children of deceased preachers, received from the whole Church. Formerly every Conference looked after its own claimants, or failed to look after them, as the case might be; and this in many cases worked adversely to the removal of preachers from one Conference to another, when otherwise such changes might have been made with advantage to the work. The Claimants' Fund was now regarded as an aid, and not as a pension, and provision was made whereby every claimant recommended by an Annual Conference to the General Board of Conference Claimants should receive his or her due amount from the general fund, the Annual Conference determining what that amount should be. None, however, was to receive this aid except such as in the judgment of the Annual Conference needed it, and then only such a sum as should be deemed necessary to enable the person to live with comfort. The maximum of aid to various preachers was to be in proportion to their years of effective service after uniting with the traveling connection in full membership, and was to be the same for the widows of deceased preachers as it had been in case of their husbands while living. However, if they married again, they were no longer to be regarded as claimants upon this fund. Children of deceased preachers, if under fourteen years of age, might be recommended for whatever their needs should require up to thirty-six dollars a year. Any Conference having specially necessitous cases might be allowed to make further provision for them in such a way as should seem best.

The Executive Committee was given authority to publish Sunday-school supplies for the denomination, under the supervision of the denominational Publishing Agent, at any time when it should seem best to do so; and they were also advised to proceed with the making of such arrangements therefor as the majority of the Committee should deem best.

The ninth session of the General Conference was held at Greenville, Illinois, October 10-25, 1894. The matter of chief interest which came before this session was the question of ordaining women. The question had previously been voted upon by all the Annual Conferences, and this had greatly intensified interest in the subject on both sides. The discussion and vote upon this question occupied the whole time of one sitting lasting three and one-half hours. Fourteen members took part in the debate, which was perhaps as animated as any discussion that ever was conducted in the General Conference during the entire history of the Church. The vote on the subject was taken, as previously ordered, by yeas and nays. Of the ministerial votes there were 17 yeas, and 34 nays; and of the laymen's vote there were 18 yeas, and 31 nays. The total vote was 100, of which 35 were for and 65 against the ordination of women.

At this session an effort was also made to have the word Bishop substituted for the words General Superintendent throughout the Discipline; but the measure failed. This effort was significant, however, of a rising spirit of dissatisfaction with the name the fathers of the Church originally gave to the Church's chief presiding officers, which was destined to spread and grow until strong enough to carry the measure some years later.

Among the changes that were made in the Discipline was that of substituting the words District Elder for District Chairman throughout. The measure was introduced by B. R. Jones.

The question of the Pentecost Bands again called for consideration. The matter was introduced by a Memorial from the Illinois Conference, which read as follows:

Whereas, There is an evangelistic movement within the Church known as the "Pentecost Bands," composed of some eighty or ninety workers, who are distributed throughout different Conferences and States; and,

Whereas, In the judgment of this Conference It is a movement that should be tenderly eared for, and which in our judgment can only be utilized properly and with the greatest and best results by its being brought into closer relation with the Church; therefore,

Resolved, That we petition the General Conference to draft such general rules as in their judgment will best aid these brethren In promoting the work of God in the Free Methodist Church.

After Mr. Dake's death Thomas H. Nelson succeeded to the general leadership of the Pentecost Bands. He was also a zealous young man, of considerable ability, but lacking the generalship that characterized Mr. Dake. Nor was he as sound and safe a theologian as his predecessor, but decidedly more visionary and impetuous. This made it the more needful that the Church should give the most respectful attention to the Illinois Conference Memorial. The Committee to which said Memorial was referred, after giving it and the subject on which the Conference was requested to formulate "rules and regulations" much consideration, could devise nothing better than the regulations adopted by the General Conference of 1890. Hence they presented the following report, which, on motion, was adopted:

It is with no small degree of satisfaction that we notice the disposition of and effort on the part of the Pentecost Bands to come into perfect harmony with the Church in their operations. We look upon them as honest, earnest brethren, and most sincerely hope the differences which have agitated us as a Church in the past may be completely destroyed. however, we do not believe that this [end] can be obtained by legislation. We see no way of adopting "rules" which will more amply provide for their operations than those which we [now] have. It is our earnest request that all our brethren throughout the Church, Chairmen of districts, pastors and members, extend their arms of Christian fellowship to these earnest workers, and that the Bands observe the rules on "Bands" in our book of Discipline. This being done, we are confident all differences will adjust themselves, and peace and harmony will be restored to the Church.

In accordance with certain action on the part of the Canada Conference looking toward the division of that body in the near future, the General Conference authorized the General Superintendents to divide said Conference whenever it should be so required.

Since the last General Conference General Superintendent B. T. Roberts had died necessitating the election of another to take his place. His death occurred on the 27th of February, 1893. On the fifth of the following April a meeting of the Executive Committee was called for the purpose of electing some one to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the quadrennium. Wilson T. Hogue was elected to that position, which he continued to fill until the next General Conference. Hence at the session now in progress it became necessary to elect a General Superintendent in Mr. Roberts's place for the next four years. The Committee on Superintendency recommended that the number of Superintendents for the next quadrennium be three, and when the time came for their election, on the first ballot E. P. Hart received eighty-nine votes, G. W. Coleman fifty-six, and B. R. Jones fifty-three, the number in each case being a majority of all the ballots cast, and they were accordingly declared elected.

At the seventeenth sitting W. G. Hanmer was elected General Conference Evangelist, Wilson T. Hogue as Editor of the Free Methodist, and S. K. J. Chesbrough was reelected as Publishing Agent.

Another subject which elicited deep interest at this session was the matter of locating the denominational Publishing House. A. C. Marshall, representing the Business Men's Association of Corunna, Michigan, and Wilson T. Hogue, on behalf of the Free Methodist society and the citizens of Greenville, Illinois, each presented an invitation to their respective localities, backed by an offer of substantial aid financially; and J. D. Kelsey, representing the First Free Methodist Church of Chicago, presented an offer from that society to sell their Church building, which was comparatively new (but on which they were so in debt as to be in danger of losing it) on terms that he believed would be greatly to the advantage of the Church as a means of procuring a Publishing House. Each of these places made an advantageous offer, and each had its warm advocates. The matter finally settled down to a contest between the Corunna and the Chicago propositions. The debate between these two propositions grew very warm, and was at times much more strained than it ought to have been. The Chicago proposition finally won, however, and subsequent developments proved that the decision of the General Conference on the subject at that time was a wise one.

The session adopted a report of the Committee on Boundaries providing for the organizing of the Oklahoma and Indian Territory Conference, at such time as in the judgment of the General Superintendents shall seem best with the provision that until such time as these Territories shall be organized into a Conference the work shall be supplied by the Kansas and West Kansas Conferences.

On the last day of the Conference Benjamin Winget was elected Missionary Secretary, and S. K. J. Chesbrough was chosen as Missionary Treasurer. Soon after his election Mr. Winget resigned, presumably out of deference to his predecessor in the office, J. G. Terrill. The resignation was accepted, and on the next vote Mr. Terrill was reelected.

Numerous changes were made in the Discipline of the Church at this session, but most of them were of a minor character.

The General Conference of 1894 was held under the shadow of the great bereavement which had come upon the entire Church in the death of its senior General Superintendent and chief founder, the Rev. Benjamin Titus Roberts. Although his health had been impaired for several years, yet the end came suddenly at last; and he fell with his armor on, and in the midst of active engagement in the service of the King.

He had gone to hold a Quarterly Meeting at Cattaraugus, New York, apparently as well as he had been for some months previous. He stopped at Gowanda, to spend a night with his aged mother, and next day took the train for Cattaraugus, which was but a few miles distant. On the way, while changing cars, he was taken violently ill. G. M. Allen, the pastor at Cattaraugus, met him at the train, perceived his condition, assisted him to the home of a Brother Phillips, and summoned a physician. It did not take long to diagnose the case, which proved to be neuralgia of the heart. The physician, Dr. Anstice Tefft, told him his case was somewhat critical, and suggested that if he had any matters requiring his attention it would be well to have them attended to at once.

His family was notified of his condition, though without his knowledge. His wife and his son, Benson H., started at once to go to him. Before they could get there, however, he had answered the death summons, and had gone to be with his Lord. He remained peaceful to the last, and showed great appreciation of all that kind friends and the physician did for him. He was able to be up and to walk about the room, but finally, being seized with a paroxysm of pain, he knelt upon his couch praying, "Jesus, take away this pain." Soon the agony became less, and he was heard to say, "PRAISE THE LORD! AMEN!" and all was over.

Much of his life story has been told in connection with the events recorded in the preceding pages. A few words more are in place here, however, as to the general appearance and character of the man. He was of medium height, solidly built, somewhat inclined to stoutness, of fresh and ruddy countenance, with slightly aquiline nose, a mouth and chin indicating firmness, benignity, and self-control, hazel eyes beaming with goodness and with a large, finely shaped and well set head, such as would indicate a man whose powers were remarkably well balanced; - in fact, a man who would impress one in any circle of society as a person of distinguished ability and position. In addition to these things, good breeding and thorough culture had prepared him for appearing to the best advantage among any class of people.

He was always characterized by the most unaffected simplicity both in private and public life. He was one of the most approachable of men. All classes of people could readily feel at home in his presence. Because he was as simple as a child, children were attracted to him; and he was always interested in them. His simplicity, however, never detracted from the dignity of his character. He combined lofty dignity and childlike simplicity as but few men do. He was a man of thorough learning, though he never made a public show of it, but rather employed his profound scholarship to make things that are difficult of apprehension plain to the most unlettered minds. This trait characterized him both as a preacher and writer. He could say more to the point in few and simple words on subjects of a profound and complex character than most preachers and writers could express in twice the amount of time or space. His style was always a model of simplicity, lucidity, directness, dignity, and force.

His Christian experience and character have been portrayed, so far as the limits of this work would allow, in the accounts of his early and unpleasant experiences connected with his relation to the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Suffice it to say here that it was not favorable birth, good breeding, thorough educational equipment, nor the advantages of culture, which made him the man lie was in his generation, but rather all of these things brought into subservience to the cause of Jesus Christ by a thorough experience of the converting, sanctifying and refining grace of God. He could ever adopt the language of St. Paul, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

As an administrative officer he was wise. He was also conservative, in the better sense of the term; skilled in managing deliberative bodies; a good parliamentarian though not always heeding the lesser technicalities when to do so would be to obstruct business; and generally manifesting the patient and forbearing spirit of his Lord.

Benjamin Titus Roberts was certainly one of the most humble, kind, and forgiving men the world ever saw. It was sometimes said, "To oppose him was to make him your friend." And yet he was a man of most decided convictions, and always of the courage to avow and defend them. Like many of the ancient prophets he lived a generation or more in advance of his contemporaries; and this begot convictions in his mind with which those who esteemed him highly could not always agree. He was once heard to sav "I have seldom been in a majority." Men were often unable to commit themselves to his views simply because They failed to see as far as he saw. But he was always ready to take his position, even though he had to take it alone; and, having taken it, to

"Stand as an iron pillar strong,

And steadfast as a wall of brass."