The tenth quadrennial session of the General conference was held in the old Waverly Theatre building, on West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, October 12-26, 1898. This was during the time that the Joint Peace Commission, representing the United States Government and the Government of Spain, was in session in Paris, with a view to arranging terms of settlement between the two Governments of the difficulties which had led to the Spanish-American war.

Early in the session T. B. Arnold presented a Memorial from the Illinois Conference to the effect that suitable resolutions should be prepared to present to the Honorable William McKinley, President of the United States, em-bodying the views of the Conference as to what should be demanded of Spain regarding the Philippine Islands as a condition of peace. The Memorial was received and referred to a committee of seven to be appointed by the Chair. W. A. Sellew, J. S. MacGeary, E. C. Shipley, W. T. Hogue, H. D. F. Gaffin, W. H. Clark and O. P. Ray were appointed a Committee to draft the proposed paper.

After several days of deliberation the Committee presented a paper for the consideration of the Conference. After a somewhat lengthy preamble, reciting the fact that the leading question before the Joint Peace Commission was whether, as a condition of settlement between the United States and Spain, the latter should cede the whole or only a part of that group of Islands in the Pacific Ocean known as the Philippine Islands, and formerly tributary to Spain, to the United States; further stating it to be the belief of the Conference that the signs of the times indicated that Divine Providence had opened up to the United States new opportunities, and placed upon our Government grave responsibilities, respecting securing to the long tyrannized people of the Islands a better civilization a higher degree of political liberty, improved industrial, educational, social, and economic conditions, with corresponding moral and religious improvement; and also expressing the belief that the Sovereign of all nations was about to impose upon the people of the United States "'a wider task in the evolution of human destinies on earth," the refusal of which would be disloyalty to Him who imposed this task upon us, and also a breach of that philanthropic spirit which becomes a Christian nation; and finally recognizing that the President of the United States was chiefly responsible for directing the policy of the Government relative to the disposition of the Philippine Islands; the paper contained the following:

Resolved, That we respectfully memorialize his Excellency, President William McKinley, to the effect that, so far as it can be done consistently with justice and honor, he exercise his office and influence to secure the cession of the entire group of the Philippine Islands to the United States, not for the sake and glory of conquest or territorial expansion, but in the interest of securing to them the advantages of civil and religious freedom, And a place In the ranks of those civilized peoples who lead in the march of human progress.

President McKinley was in Chicago at the time, and the Conference also voted that, provided an audience could be arranged for with him, the Memorial should be presented to him in person. The audience was properly arranged for, and the following persons were elected as a committee to bear the Memorial to the President: E. P. Hart, W. T. Hogue, F. H. Ashcraft, T. B. Arnold, O. P. Ray, B. H. Roberts, J. E. Coleman. The Memorial was elegantly engrossed, and was duly presented to President McKinley at the Union League Club, Chicago, at the time appointed. The President responded briefly and appropriately, and requested that the paper should be forwarded to him at Washington, D. C. Later he also sent a written acknowledgment of its receipt to Bishop Hart.

The Chicago Inter-Ocean published the entire paper, and gave it nearly a column of favorable editorial notice besides. The editor called attention to the fact that it was the most radical demand that had been made respecting the Philippine question, and declared it would make an appropriate plank in the platform of any political party. Hold and radical as the proposition was, however, it demanded nothing more than was finally required by the President as a condition of settling the Philippine question. A paper was presented asking that the Free Methodist Church be represented in the Ecumenical Methodist Conference to be held in London in 1901. The paper was received, and B. H. Roberts was elected as delegate to that body. Wilson T. Hogue was elected as reserve delegate. A provision was made at this session, by recommendation of the General Missionary Board, whereby three members of said board should thereafter be women elected by the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. At the fifteenth sitting the election of General Conference officials was taken up. The Conference had previously adopted the report of the Committee on Superintendency, one part of which provided for the election of four General Superintendents. The election of General Superintendents was made the first order of business. E. P. Hart, B. R. Jones. and G. W. Coleman were reelected, and W. A. Sellew was elected as the fourth man. W. G. Hanmer was also elected General Conference Evangelist.

Wilson T. Hogue was reelected editor of the Free Methodist, and S. K. J. Chesbrough was reelected denominational Publishing Agent. W. B. Rose was also elected Assistant Publishing Agent.

J. G. Terrill, Missionary Secretary, had died during the quadrennium. In the election of a man to fill this office B. Winget received 97 out of 111 votes, and was declared elected. S. K. J. Chesbrough was also elected Treasurer of the General Missionary Board.

A few words seem to be in place here regarding the character of Mr. Terrill, for whom the Conference mourned, also as to his part in the making of Free Methodism. The author quotes the following from his own editorial in the Free Methodist of May 1, 1895, about a week after Mr. Terrill's death, as appropriate here:

The Rev. J. G. Terrill was in many respects an extraordinary man. Nature endowed him with a splendid and robust physique. His physical power of endurance was marvelous. Few men could undergo such long strains of physical exertion and excitement as he and not become unnerved or exhausted. As a revivalist, camp-meeting worker, District Chairman, temperance lecturer, and, in his office as Missionary Secretary, there seemed to be no limit to either his capacity or disposition for work.

He was also endowed with remarkable qualities of mind. His clear, quick and comprehensive grasp of every subject which presented Itself for consideration enabled him to keep abreast of the times in ability to speak or write intelligently on all the more important problems of the age. The fidelity and accuracy of his memory enabled him to recall with great precision anything and everything he had ever read, as occasion demanded. His power of analysis and penetration enabled him to look deeply and thoroughly into whatever engaged his study. His logical acuteness and power gave him a masterful ability in debate, enabling him with remarkable facility to expose fallacy, refute error and defend truth.

The versatility of his talents was also exceptional. Hence the skill with which he could preach, teach, conduct revivals, conventions, institutes, camp-meetings, or turn to practical architecture, compose and teach music, write books, edit papers, legislate for the Church, interpret ecclesiastical law, plead ill Church litigations, and achieve the remarkable success which characterized his labors as Missionary Secretary the last four years. Few men excelled him in pulpit power, when he was at his best for pulpit work. His style was clear, simple, vigorous and convincing, accompanied with much pathos, and at times with flights of thrilling eloquence. All these mental qualities, united to a genial disposition, and accompanied with an extensive fund of general and particular information, made him an interesting man either in or out of the pulpit.

The true beauty and power of his character, however, were the spiritual excellencies which he exemplified. "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and faith." He professed, enjoyed, preached and lived the experience of entire sanctification.

He identified himself with Free Methodism at its origin, and has been one of the most active and influential leaders in its whole history. I think he attended every session of the General Conference, and he was several times a member. In every position he was the same sweet-spirited, humble, earnest and devoted man of God. The death of such a man is not only a sore bereavement but, according to human judgment, a great calamity to the Church.

As a writer Brother Terrill possessed rare ability. His "Life of Dr. Redfield" alone is ample proof of this. His "Talks to Sun-day-school Teachers" has received strongest testimonials from very prominent men. Besides these works he was the author of "A History of the Saint Charles Camp-meeting," and of the "Metrical hymn and Tune Book," now in use among our people. The work on which his heart was set, however, and which would have been finished during the last seven years, had not the Church called him to the Secretaryship of the General Missionary Board, was a "History of the Free Methodist Church.' * * *

Brother Terrill was not without the imperfections which belong to our humanity, but those who knew him best will agree that the imperfections of his character were Infirmities and not sins. He was guileless, loving and lovable, and multitudes will ever bear tribute to his memory and worth.

During the previous quadrennium the Publishing House had purchased the entire series of Sunday-school papers and Lesson Helps formerly owned and published by T. B. Arnold. Mrs. Emma L. Hogue had edited the Sunday-school papers for about two years, for the publisher, and W. T. Hogue, Editor of the Free Methodist, had edited the Lesson Quarterlies since their purchase, which was at a later date than the purchase of the Sunday-school papers. At this session it was decided to elect an Editor of the Sunday-school Literature, and W. B. Olmstead, an able and energetic young man, was chosen to that position.

Among the changes made in the Discipline at this session one provided for a change as to the time of holding the quadrennial sessions, so that instead of being "the second Wednesday of October, 1882, at St. Charles, Illinois, and once in four years thereafter at such places as it may designate," it should read, "the second Wednesday in June, 1903," etc.

Another change provided that the Executive Committee should have power to decide all questions of law referred to it in the intervals of the General Conference sessions.

The time limit on pastorates was extended from two to three years, without any restriction attached. Provision was also made for the organization of Sunday-school Boards, to meet once a month; and the duties of these Boards were quite specifically presented.

A new chapter was inserted on Church Property, which is too long for insertion here, but which was designed to bring the management of Church property, and the purchase and sale of such property, as also all other matters connected with these interests, upon a more business-like basis.

The following was added as a new paragraph regarding Church membership:

In case a member who has been expelled from the Church shall afterwards be proven innocent of the charge upon which he was expelled, he may be restored to full membership in the Church by vote of the society from which he was expelled.

Measures were adopted to provide for a Central Committee to formulate a uniform system of examinations for preachers, and to prepare a series of questions on the various works in the Courses of Study, for use in the Annual Conferences. Benson H. Roberts, Duane C. Johnson, John S. MacGeary, William B. Olmstead, and J. Emory Coleman were appointed as such Committee. This was the beginning of the Church's system of uniform examinations.

The General Conference held its eleventh session of the Free Methodist Church in Greenville Illinois, June 10-24 1903. Besides the four General Superintendents there were 121 delegates in attendance making a total of 125 in all, sixty-six of whom were ministers, and fifty-nine lay men.

Another effort was made at this session to have the name General Superintendent changed to Bishop through-out the Discipline. The Committee on Revision of the Discipline, to which the proposed amendment was referred, reported that it was rejected by the Committee, though not by a two-thirds vote. This opened the way for the question to be discussed by the Conference The discussion was spirited and warm, though generally in a good spirit. It was finally decided to take the vote by yeas and nays. The vote resulted as follows: Yeas-ministerial, 25; lay, 13; total, 38; nays-ministerial, 38; lay, 41; total, 79.The vote failed, therefore, by 38 for to 79 against.

On recommendation of the Committee on General Superintendency it was decided to have the same number of General Superintendents for the next quadrennium as had served the last quadrennium. On the first ballot E. P. Hart, B. R. Jones, and W. A. Sellew were each reelected, and Wilson T. Hogue was elected in place of G. W. Cole-man, who retired because of age.

The Conference then proceeded to vote for Editor of the Church paper, and on the fifth ballot Charles B. Ebey was elected. S. K. J. Chesbrough was again elected denominational Publishing Agent, and W. B. Rose as Assistant Publishing Agent.

The vote for Missionary Secretary resulted in the reelection of B. Winget, he receiving 107 out of a total of 117 votes.

It was decided at this session to elect two General Conference Evangelists. W. G. Hanmer was reelected, and C. W. Stamp, then of the Colorado Conference, was chosen as the second man for the office.

The Conference decided that the Sunday-school Editor should also be the Sunday-school Secretary. W. B. Olmstead was elected to the dual office by 104 out of 109 votes

S. K. J. Chesbrough was again elected Treasurer of the General Missionary Board.

The Committee on memoirs presented very appropriate obituaries of G. Harry Agnew, a pioneer missionary of the denomination in South Africa for eighteen years, and who was to have returned to America in time to attend the General Conference, but who was seized with hematuria fever while preparing for the journey, and in a few days was summoned to his heavenly home; of John Burg, one of the stanchest laymen of the Iowa Conference, a man who conducted extensive business enterprises in Burlington, Iowa, and who represented his Conference as delegate to the General Conference of 1890, but who died during the quadrennium; of Timothy Ressiguie, an influential layman of the North Michigan Conference, who was also a delegate to the last session of the General Conference, and had died in great triumph since then; and of C. E. Begel, M.D., of the Michigan Conference, another member of the General Conference of 1890, a good and holy man, who had been stricken down suddenly in the prime of life since the last session.

A new chapter of much importance was inserted in the Discipline on Missions, with a view to harmonizing it more fully with the Charter of the Missionary Board. Many other changes were also made in the Discipline, but which for the most part were of minor importance.

The General Conference convened for its twelfth session in the Free Methodist Church at Greenville, Illinois, on Wednesday, June 12, 1907, and adjourned finally on June the 28th. This session was composed of sixty-five ministers and fifty-five laymen. The Rev. Mendal B. Miller was elected Secretary.

The Pastoral Address, read by Wilson T. Hogue, was ordered published in the Free Methodist, and also in pamphlet form.

A message was received at this Conference from Mrs. E. L. Roberts, widow of General Superintendent B. T. Roberts, showing her great interest in the work in which she had for so many years been a most devoted and heroic supporter of her husband. The Conference appointed Wilson T. Hogue a special committee to send her a letter of greetings in response. The letter of greeting was prepared, and approved by the Conference by a rising vote, after which

"Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love,"

Superintendents W. T. Hogue, B. R. Jones and W. A. Sellew were also appointed a committee to prepare a letter of greetings from the Conference to ex-General Superintendent G. W. Coleman. The letter was prepared and approved by the Conference amid manifestations of deep feeling, after which it was forwarded to its destination.

Inasmuch as the Rev. J. W. Dake, one of the men who served prominently in the early building up of Free Methodism in Illinois and Iowa, and who had repeatedly represented his Annual Conferences in the General Conference, had died during the quadrennium, the Conference instructed the Committee on Memoirs to include Mr. Dake in their report. They did so, paying a very fitting tribute to his memory.

The agitation of the question regarding the substitution of the title Bishop for General Superintendent throughout the Discipline came up again at this session, and consumed considerable time, with the result, that on a yea and nay vote, the proposed change was carried by 83 yeas to 40 nays.

The four General Superintendents were all reelected for another quadrennium; J. T. Logan was elected Editor of the Free Methodist; W. B. Olmstead was elected Editor of the Sunday-school Literature and Sunday-school Secretary and Evangelist, but at a later session he resigned. The Committee on Sunday-schools then recommended the election of a Sunday-school Secretary and Evangelist, and also an Editor of the Sunday-school Literature. The recommendation was adopted, and W. B. Olmstead was elected Sunday-school Secretary and Evangelist, and David S. Warner was elected Sunday-school Editor. C. W. Stamp was reelected as General Conference Evangelist, and S. K. Wheatlake was chosen to the same office. C. B. Ebey was elected as General Conference Evangelist for the Southern Fields. Mr. Ebey subsequently resigned the position. The resignation was accepted, and J. H. Flower, of St. Louis, Missouri, was elected in his stead. B. Winget was reelected Missionary Secretary.

Before the vote was taken for Publishing Agent S. K. J. Chesbrough, who had filled that position with great credit and acceptability for about nineteen years, and was now past eighty years of age, arose and requested that he be no longer considered as a candidate for the office. The Conference then proceeded to ballot for Publishing Agent, and W. B. Rose, who had been serving as Assistant Publishing Agent, was elected to the position.

Although the Conference recognized the wisdom of Mr. Chesbrough's decision not to allow himself again to be a candidate for Publishing Agent, and bowed to it as to the inevitable, nevertheless his action took deep hold upon all, who could but sorrow that the time had come when such action on his part was necessary. Knowing that he had predetermined upon this course, arrangements had been made to present him with a Loving Cup of unique design when the time should come for him publicly to announce his decision, the same being presented as a token of respect and affection, not only of the members of the General Conference, but of the Free Methodist people generally, for this venerable man, and in testimonial of his valuable services in behalf of the Free Methodist Church for so many years. He responded most appropriately, after which his excellent and devoted wife was called forward, introduced to the Conference and asked to speak, which she did, to the enjoyment of all.

Formerly the Publishing Agent had been treasurer, not only of the Publishing House funds, but also of all the various Church funds. The growth of the work, however, had caused such an increased amount of bookkeeping in the joint treasurership of the various funds, that it was decided wise to separate the keeping of the Church funds from those of the Publishing House, and place them in charge of a special treasurer. S. K. J. Chesbrough was elected Treasurer of the general Church funds, and the Executive Committee was authorized, in case he should have to vacate the office by sickness or death,, to fill the vacancy.

A number of changes were ordered by the Conference in that part of the Discipline which had been prepared in the Zulu language for use in the South Africa Mission Conference, with a view to better adapting the Discipline to the necessities of the work among the native members of the Free Methodist Church in Africa. The more important of these had to do with an effort to reform some of the heathen customs connected with marriage, and a detailed account of them is scarcely needed here.

Although the question of ordaining women was settled negatively in the session of 1894, the friends of the cause had not ceased to do what was in their power to secure to woman an enlarged freedom for the exercise of her abilities in ministerial directions in the Free Methodist Church. Accordingly at this session the following proposed amendment to the chapter of the Discipline on "Evangelists," was adopted:

When women evangelists have been licensed by the Annual Conference, and have served two successive years under appointment as pastors, they may, upon recommendation of the Quarterly Conference of which they are members, and at the option of the Annual Conference, have a voice and vote in the Annual Conference; and in the transaction of Conference business they shall be counted with the preachers. This relation shall continue only while they receive appointments as pastors.

Provision was also made for a thorough revision of the Free Methodist Hymn Book, with the hymns to be set to appropriate music. The election of the persons to serve on the Committee on Revision, as also certain other of the details of the work, was left to the Executive Committee, the General Conference having passed some general rules to be observed in the work of revision.

Steps were also taken looking toward the cultivation of closer relations between the Free Methodist and the Wesleyan Methodist Churches, as the following action, passed in connection with the election of a fraternal delegate to the General Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Church), will show. Bishop B. R. Jones was chosen as fraternal delegate, and it was

Resolved, That we also authorize and instruct our Executive Committee to appoint a committee of five to confer with a like committee from the Wesleyan body on the matter of a closer affiliation of the two denominations in their work.

Action was also taken toward arranging for a denominational celebration of the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the organization of the Free Methodist Church which would occur before the time of the next quadrennial session. Wilson T. Hogue was appointed to preach the semi-centennial sermon before the next session of the General Conference, and Bishop B. R. Jones chosen as alternate in case of Bishop Hogue's inability for any reason to meet the requirement.

The General Conference convened for its thirteenth quadrennial session in the building of the Chicago Evangelistic Institute, Chicago, Illinois, June 11, 1911, and continued its business seventeen days. It was composed of seventy ministers and sixty-three laymen. M B. Miller was chosen as Secretary. Twenty-one sittings were held.

It having been only about nine mouths since the Free Methodist Church had passed the semi-centennial anniversary of its birth, it was arranged that the religious service on the first Sabbath morning should be a Semi-Centennial service. In accordance with the action of the previous General Conference the sermon of the occasion was preached by Bishop Wilson T. Hogue. Two texts were chosen --1 Samuel 6:12, and Exodus 14, 15 - which led to the announcement of "Retrospect and Prospect" as the theme. It was certainly a memorable day in the annals of Free Methodism. The Semi-Centennial Sermon was ordered published in the General Conference Daily, and also in pamphlet form for general distribution.

The question of ordaining women again came to the front at this session. Encouraged by the gain made at the last session, the friends of the movement were decidedly alert to secure for the women every advantage that could be secured constitutionally. The question was discussed, and very warmly discussed in the Committee on Revision, and by that body was reported as having been rejected, but not by a two-thirds vote. This permitted the question to come before the Conference for its action. After various motions and amendments relative to the question had been made and discussed, Bishop Sellew offered the following:

Resolved, That whenever any Annual Conference shall be satisfied that any woman is called of God to preach the Gospel, that Annual Conference may be permitted to receive her on trial and into full connection, and ordain her a Deacon, all the above on the same conditions as we receive men Into the same relations, provided always that this ordination of women shall not be Considered as a step toward ordination as Elder.

Another question that occasioned much lively discussion was introduced, namely, that of the effort to deprive the Bishops of the right of membership in the General Conference. The subject had previously been agitated to some extent in the Free Methodist. A paper proposing so to amend the Discipline as to deny them the right of membership in the body was introduced into the Conference, and referred to the Committee on Revision, and the Committee finally reported in favor of the proposal. An amendment to the report of the Committee to the effect that the Discipline remain as it is, was then offered. The discussion lasted for a considerable time, after which it was moved and carried to take the vote on the questions by yeas and nays. The vote on the substitute resulted as follows: Yeas-ministerial, 47; lay, 45; total, 92. Nays - ministerial, 18; lay, 14; total, 32. The result of this vote was that of leaving the Discipline unchanged on this subject, by a total of 92 for to 32 against it.

During the quadrennium Bishop E. P. Hart had felt it necessary to resign as Bishop, because of the increasing infirmities of age. He tendered his resignation to the Executive Committee, and that body instead of accepting it, consented to his retirement, and proceeded, according to the Discipline, to elect another in his stead. William Pearce, of the Genesee Conference, was elected. The General Conference accepted the Bishop's resignation, testifying their great sorrow at the occasion that made such action on his part seem necessary. The Committee on Superintendency reported in favor of the election of four Bishops. The Conference adopted the report, and proceeded to their election. Burton R. Jones, Walter A. Sellew, Wilson T. Hogue, and William Pearce were all reelected.

B. Winget was reelected as Missionary Secretary, J. T. Logan as Editor of the Free Methodist W. B. Rose as Publishing Agent, D. S. Warner as Editor of the Sunday school Literature, W. B. Olmstead as Sunday school Secretary and Evangelist. Thomas Sully who had been elected as Treasurer of the Church funds by the Executive Committee during the quadrennium, on account of Mr. Chesbrough's enforced resignation because of age and feeble ness, was also reelected. S. K. Wheatlake and C. W. Stamp were reelected as General Conference Evangelists, and A. D. Zahniser, of the Pittsburgh Conference, was newly elected to that office. The Conference left it to the Bishops, at some later date, to elect a General Conference Evangelist for the South. In the following autumn they elected Edward M. Sandys, of the New York Conference, to the position. At the end of one year Mr. Sandys, for what were considered good and sufficient reasons, resigned the position, and B. W. Huckabee, of Campbell, Texas, was elected thereto in his stead.

The Conference appointed the Bishops and the Editor of the Free Methodist a Committee, of whom Bishop W. T. Hogue should be chairman, to draft a Church Constitution, which should embrace all the fundamental laws of the Free Methodist Church, and submit the same to the next session of the General Conference.

During the quadrennium ex-Bishop Coleman, two ministerial members of the last General Conference-the Rev. C. L. Lambertson, of the North Michigan Conference, and the Rev. C. B. Ebey, of the Southern California Conference, and Editor of the Free Methodist from June, 1903, to June, 1907-and also the Rev. S. K. J. Chesbrough, a member of the Genesee Conference since the very early days Free Methodist, and who for the last nearly nineteen years of his effective service filled the office of denominational Publishing Agent, had been called to their reward on high. On recommendation of the Committee on Memoirs, a memorial service was ordered to be held for these brethren, J. O'Regan, Chairman of the Committee, to preside. Such a service was held on Thursday afternoon, June 29, at which memorial sketches of the deceased were read, and interesting addresses were made by various members of the Conference who had intimately known the departed ones.

A new chapter was ordered placed In the Discipline, entitled, "Charities and Benevolence," to take the place of the chapter entitled, "Charitable Institutions." Another change of Discipline enacted forbade the President of any Annual Conference to sit on a Committee on Ministerial Relations. A still further change made provision whereby

In all cases brought to trial in the Church, either the plaintiff or the defendant may request a change of venue, and present in writing the reasons for such request; and if the presiding officer shall, after duly considering the grounds upon which such request is made, be convinced that conditions and circumstances are such as to render a fair and impartial trial out of the question in the Conference or other body before which the action has been commenced, he may order the change of venue requested, and decide as to the Conference or other body before which the case shall be tried.

When Bishop E. P. Hart's resignation came before the Conference and was accepted, as heretofore noted, a Committee was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the esteem in which he was held by the Church at large, and of the regrets of the Conference that his physical condition had necessitated such action on his part. That Committee's report was presented as the last item of business in the session and unanimously adopted. It read as follows:

WHEREAS, The voluntary retirement of our esteemed father in Israel, Bishop Edward P. Hart, has been deemed by him necessary because of age and growing infirmities during the past quadrennium; and,

WHEREAS, This noble man has served God and the Free Methodist Church with great faithfulness and with a high degree of acceptability for many years; and,

WHEREAS, His estimable wife, Martha B. Hart, has been associated with him during the years of his General Superintendency in travels and labors, Contributing very largely to the welfare of our Zion; therefore,

Resolved, That we deplore the fact that he has felt compelled to retire from the active service, but bow in humble submission to the providence of God in this matter.

Resolved, That we can not fully express the high appreciation in which our venerable father in Israel is held by us and by the Church at large, both because of his loftiness of character and great efficiency in service.

Resolved, That we will ever bear him and his estimable wife on our hearts before a throne of grace, beseeching our heavenly Father to grant them abundance of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, to crown the closing years of their lives.

Resolved, That we pledge ourselves and our constituency henceforth to follow the godly admonitions they have given us during the many years of their service among us.

Resolved, That this preamble and resolutions be engrossed on the record of the General Conference, and that a copy thereof be furnished to the Free Methodist for publication, and a copy be forwarded to Bishop and Mrs. Hart.

George W. Coleman was born in 1830, and died July 3, 1907. He had a very clear conversion in early manhood, and some months later sought and obtained entire sanctification. Ever after the reception of the latter experience "Holiness unto the Lord" was his constant theme. In 1853 he was married to Miss Jane Brush. Seven children were born to them, of whom three still survive.

In 1863 Mr. Coleman united with the Genesee Conference of the Free Methodist Church, of which he remained a member until his death. For twenty-three years he did the work of an itinerant preacher under the direction of his Conference, serving various appointments, among which were the most responsible ones within the Conference bounds. He also served a number of years as District Chairman.

In 1886 the General Conference elected him as General Superintendent, which office he continued to hold, by reelection, until 1903. Then, on account of age and infirmities he voluntarily retired. His first wife, the mother of his children, was a tireless co-worker for the salvation of souls until her death in November, 1897. They had journeyed together forty-four years. On November 25, 1898, Mr. Coleman was again married, choosing as the partner of his remaining life and labors, Mrs. Laura J. Warren, who traveled with him so long as he continued in the Superintendency, and tenderly cared for him after his retirement from public service until his death. She still lives to mourn his departure.

George W. Coleman was a man of great integrity and firmness of character, a preacher of the strong things of God's kingdom, a stanch defender of the orthodox truths of the Gospel, and a man who, in all his ministrations, faithfully insisted upon believers having a definite experience in the things of God. He rests from his labors, and his works do follow him.

Charles Bond Ebey was born near Ripley, Illinois, May 16, 1847, and died suddenly, of heart disease, at Hermon, California, June 17, 1908. Although he had been troubled for some years with a weak heart, he had been as well as usual until shortly before the end came, when he spoke several times of having what he had never experienced before, "a pain in his lungs," as he called it. He had been away on business, and in company with his wife was on his way home. After leaving the car line they had half a mile or more to walk. On the way he was stricken with paralysis of the heart. Medical aid was summoned, and all was done for him that could be done; but after an hour and a half of intense suffering he passed away without even a message of farewell to those around him.

Some time previous to the Civil War he was soundly converted to God. In the last year of the war he enlisted as a soldier, while yet a boy of eighteen years, being the fifth brother of the family to enter the service of the Union army. While in the army he lost the grace of God out of his heart. In 1866 he was married to Miss Martha Gosnell, at Greenfield, Illinois, who is still living. In 1868 he was reclaimed and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Two years later he sought and obtained the experience of sanctification, and with this experience came the conviction that God wanted him for the work of the Christian ministry. Through receiving a copy of the Free Methodist as a gift lie became interested in the Free Methodist Church, and on February 12, 1872, in company with his brother, L. C. Ebey, he united with that denomination.

Mr. Ebey joined the Illinois Conference on probation at St. Charles, in the autumn of 1875, and was appointed to Lebanon, Illinois, a circuit of six appointments, as junior preacher, W. F. Manley being his colleague. He served important appointments in the Illinois Conference for thirteen years, and always with success. He also served as Secretary of the General Missionary Board from 1882 to 1890. He was of an evangelistic turn in his preaching; and, after going to California on account of his wife's health in 1888, he was chiefly instrumental in raising up what are now the principal societies in the Southern California Conference. He also took the initiative and largely directed the enterprise of founding the Los Angeles Free Methodist Seminary. He was a member of all the General Conferences from 1872 to 1907, inclusive, except that of 1890.

The General Conference of 1903 elected Mr. Ebey Editor of the Free Methodist, which position he continued to fill during the quadrennium. His election at that time came as a total surprise to him; but he made arrangements with his predecessor to continue attending to the details of the editorial work for three mouths, after which he got matters so arranged that he left his family on the Pacific Coast, went to Chicago and assumed full responsibility of the editorial office.

Mr. Ebey was of Holland Dutch descent. He was a large man, with a well-formed physique, and with dark hair and piercing black eyes. His physiognomy indicated a man of more or less oratorical ability. He was an interesting speaker, drawing largely by the power of his geniality and sympathy, and commanding attention also by his facility in illustrating the truths he sought to impress upon his hearers. He was a strong advocate of the experience of holiness, and devoted his ministry largely to leading believers into "the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ," as well as to the work of getting sinners converted. He was ever in the front ranks of all true reforms, and was especially a strong and ardent Prohibitionist.

One marked characteristic of him throughout his entire ministry was that wherever he went he was a man who brought things to pass. Men of this character are more rare in the Christian ministry than they should be, and hence the death of such a man is more than an ordinary loss and calamity to the Church.

Chester Langdon Lambertson was born in Peoria County, Illinois, October 20, 1851. While he was quite young his father died, and his mother with the rest of her family moved to Galva, Illinois. Soon after this young Lambertson was converted and joined the Free Methodist Church. His early religious training in the Church was under the pastoral labors of such stanch and noble pioneer preachers as T. S. LaDue, J. W. Dake, and others of like spirit and devotion, who exercised a powerful influence over him for good. Mr. Lambertson felt the call to the ministry early in life, and sought to get what preparation he could for the work by attending school at Evanston, Illinois, and Spring Arbor, Michigan. Later he sought to prepare himself for teaching by attending the schools at Ypsilanti and Olivet, Michigan, after which he gave himself to the work of a teacher for several years. He finally became classleader, local preacher, and Sunday-school superintendent. In the latter office he particularly excelled, having a natural gift for such work.

He was married in August, 1881, to Miss Saloma Dillingham, who, with two sons, survives him. He united with the North Michigan Conference in 1884, and continued actively engaged in its work until his death. He was "a man greatly beloved," especially in his own Conference, where he was best known. He traveled a number of the most important circuits, was District Elder for five years, was for ten years Assistant Secretary and for eleven years the Secretary of his Conference, and was twice elected delegate to the General Conference.

He was an earnest and effective preacher of the Gospel, declaring its most solemn truths with great tenderness and love. He was gifted in Scripture exposition, particularly in exposition of the truths relating to the doctrine and experience of entire sanctification. He served his generation well, and with all who knew him his memory is "as ointment poured forth."

Samuel Kennedy Jennings Chesbrough was born in Baltimore, Maryland, March 9, 1826, and finished his earthly course at his home in Chicago, Illinois, October 26, 1909. He was born of strict and devoted Methodist parents. His mother died before the period of his recollection.

In 1833 the family moved to Dedham, near Boston, Massachusetts, and between that time and 1841 they moved four times, the last time settling in Randolph, New York. At the latter place, in 1844, Mr. Chesbrough was thoroughly converted, under the labors of the Rev. Calvin Kingsley, later a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church. From that time he steadily persevered in his Christian course until the end.

In June, 1844, he went to Forestville, New York, and engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time; but in June, 1846, he returned to New England, where he engaged in railroad construction with his father, who was a contractor for that kind of work. On the 6th of February, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Eliza Morrison, with whom he lived happily for nearly sixty years, and who preceded him to the heavenly world by nearly two years. They had six children, five of whom are living, and are men and women of sterling integrity. One of them, Miss Emma, until August, 1914, had been for nearly seventeen years in the employ of the Free Methodist Publishing House.

In the Spring of 1850 Mr. Chesbrough moved on to a farm in Niagara County, New York, and for some years gave himself to agricultural pursuits. As the reader will recall, he was entirely familiar with the troubles in the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church which resulted in the formation of the Free Methodist Church. He wrote the Call for the first Laymen's Convention, and acted as its Secretary. He little suspected at the time, however, that the action of that Convention was one link in the chain of providential events which would lead to the organization of a new Church, and one with whose history his own life should be so closely interwoven as it was for nearly fifty years. But he was destined to be prominently identified with the work of Free Methodism from the beginning until the time of his death.

In September, 1873, after having for some years filled appointments as a Local Preacher supply, he united with the Genesee Conference of the Free Methodist Church, and gave himself to the regular work of an itinerant minister. He remained in the Genesee Conference to the end of his days. He was one of its most acceptable preachers, and one of its most efficient pastors. His preaching was always preeminently practical. There was a natural quaintness of style and facility of illustration about it which never failed to draw; and besides this, there was such a friendliness of manner toward everybody, both in social life and in his ministerial work, as made men women and children who knew him feel that he was their special friend, and drew them into close touch with him. He was especially given to good works, ever looking after the sick, the poor, and the unfortunate of all classes, and doing and getting others to do whatever he could for their relief. It hardly need be said of such a man that he was popular, in the sense of being beloved of the people generally. He was an uncompromising preacher of New Testament righteousness, and had a way of presenting it which won many to flock around the standard of his Lord, and to take their stand by the most unpopular truths with integrity and firmness.

Mr. Chesbrough filled all the more important appointments within his Conference, and also supplied important charges in other Conferences, and always with a goodly degree of success. The last charge of which he was pastor was Jamestown, New York. It was while in this pastorate, March 21, 1887, that he was called to enter the office of the Free Methodist, then published by the Rev. T. B. Arnold, of Chicago, Illinois, as bookkeeper. On Mr. Arnold's resignation as Publishing Agent in the autumn of 1888, Mr. Chesbrough was elected to fill the vacancy by the Executive Committee. He continued to serve as Publishing Agent, by being reelected quadrennially, until compelled by the infirmities of age to decline to be considered as a candidate for further election. This was in June, 1907, making the period which he served as Publishing Agent about nineteen years. During this period he saw the work enlarged from the mere publication of the Free Methodist, in rented quarters, until the denomination was publishing a list of four Sunday-school papers, of seven different lesson Helps, an Annual Commentary on the International Sunday-school Lessons, a monthly missionary paper, quite an extensive list of books and pamphlets, with greatly increased patronage in all these departments.

Mr. Chesbrough was a man of excellent business ability, and was also the very soul of integrity and fidelity. Any one who knew him would almost as soon think of an angel from heaven falling as to think of S. K. J. Chesbrough deviating from the strictest integrity of character, or proving unfaithful to any trust imposed upon him. While he had work to do no one could apply himself more closely to duty than did he. But when this task was done he was one of the most social of men, and an innocent and pleasing merriment would attend his conversation. Notwithstanding the dignity of his character, there was much of the boy about him in his leisure hours, even to his advanced age. But his mirthfulness was never indulged to a degree that lessened his spirituality. He was a man who constantly walked with God and kept in the Spirit.

In appearance Mr. Chesbrough was tall, slightly stooping, thin of form and spare of feature, with thin and closely set lips, nose slightly Roman, eyes of blue, a very profuse head of hair which, in advanced age, was beautifully silvered; while "the skin of his face shone"-somewhat like finely dressed parchment. No one would ever mistake him for a man of foreign birth, as his form, features, movements, voice and manner of speech were all American of the accentuated type.

Few men in the whole country were as familiar with the Bible as was be. He began its study in childhood, and it was his vade mecum to the very close of life. He had read it through seventeen times at family worship, and many times more than that in his private and devotional reading. "He said he had attended Sunday-school seventy-seven years, in six different states, in forty-five different schools, and in five different denominations." He was made a life member of the American Bible Society by the Wheatfield Sunday-school of Niagara County, New York, in 1854, and was a regular contributor to that institution to the end of his life.

He was a loving husband, a tender father, a kind and considerate employer, a wise counselor, a faithful friend, and withal a sincere and devoted follower of the Lord Jesus.

It could scarcely be otherwise than that such a man should approach his end with calmness and fortitude. He was not only ready to exchange worlds, but, so worn and weary was the mortal frame, and so weighted at the last with the infirmities of age, that he longed for the change to come, even as weary watchers long for the morning dawn. His arrangements were all made for his funeral and burial weeks before the end. He made these arrangements with all the composure with which in health he would have made predictions for a pleasant journey. At last he died in the holy triumph of that faith which had sustained him through so many years of his earthly pilgrimage.

He was buried beside his wife in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri, where also repose the bodies of several others of his near kindred.

The fourteenth quadrennial session of the General Conference was held in the Volunteers' Church (formerly the Ann Street Congregational Church), Chicago, Illinois, June 9-25, 1915. The Church in which it was held is within a short block of the Free Methodist Publishing House, and was admirably adapted to the purpose, being sufficiently large to accommodate 3,000 people in the auditorium, with excellent acoustic properties, and with dining facilities in the basement to provide for upwards of 300 at a time. More than 18,000 meals were served there during the session.

Besides the four Bishops there were sixty-eight Ministerial and sixty-six Lay delegates in attendance, making a total of one hundred thirty-eight members. In addition to these there were present about forty delegates to the quadrennial gathering of the General Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, which was held at the same time in Fisk Hall of the Chicago Theological Seminary, a few blocks distant from the seat of the Conference. The delegates to both bodies were lodged in Fisk Hall, and also many of the visitors in attendance at both, for which the spacious dormitory building was eminently adapted. Probably the number of visitors in attendance was larger than it would have been anywhere else than in Chicago.

There were twenty-two sittings of the Conference held, the Bishops presiding in the order of their official seniority alternately. The Rev. Mendal B. Miller was reelected Secretary of the body, and J. T. Logan, D. S. Warner, J. F. Silver, and W. B. Olmstead, all ministers, were elected as Assistant Secretaries.

Standing Committees were ordered on the following subjects: Public Worship, Revision of the Discipline, Superintendency, Missions, Publications, State of the Work, Reforms, the Sabbath, Sunday-schools, Education, Conference Boundaries, Conference Records, Course of Study, Conference Rules, Memoirs, Appeals, Finance, Young People, Aggressive Evangelism, Charities, Reception of Fraternal Delegates, Examination of Digest of Free Methodist Law, General Conference Incorporation, Complimentary Resolutions.

In the neighborhood of two hundred proposed amendments to the Discipline were offered, only about seventy-five of which were acted upon favorably. Nearly two-thirds of the delegates had never served in that capacity before, and the large number of amendments proposed may have been due to the fact that so many of the delegates were new to the business, and desired the body to legislate to meet certain local ends in their respective communities.

By far the larger number of changes that were made were of a minor character, not materially changing the polity of the Church. One of the most important amendments was the admission of a Proposed Constitution of the Free Methodist Church, embodying all the fundamental laws of the denomination. At the previous General Conference the Bishops had been directed to draft such a Constitution and present it for the consideration of the General Conference of 1915. After a third reading, and after being amended so as to include certain items enacted by this General Conference, the Constitution was adopted by a practically unanimous vote.

A new paragraph on the subject of Aggressive Evangelism was inserted in the Discipline, as follows: "Each Annual Conference is required to organize a Conference Evangelistic Board which shall be authorized to carry on aggressive evangelistic work within its bounds. This Board shall have power to raise funds and to employ Evangelists, Band Workers and Helpers to labor within the Conference bounds, who, with the concurrence of the District Elders, shall be authorized to establish new societies where the interests of the cause of God require, providing that it make provision and be responsible for the support of all the laborers which it employs."

A new subdivision was ordered to be added to the section of the Discipline relating to secret societies, which makes membership in Labor Unions, on the part of employees, and also discrimination in favor of those who belong to such Unions in the hiring of labor, on the part of contractors, a bar to membership in the Free Methodist Church.

Another change of considerable significance was made, namely, that it shall require one-third instead of one-fourth of all the members present at the General Conference to effect a division of the house, so that the ministers and laymen shall vote separately, a majority of both being required in order to pass any measure.

The personnel of the General Board of Conference Claimants had heretofore been identical with that of the General Missionary Board. At this session it was ordered that henceforth it should be identical with the personnel of the Executive Committee, and that it take steps at once to become incorporated as a Board of Conference Claimants under the laws of Illinois.

Paragraph 100 of the Discipline formerly read as follows: "Whenever any Annual Conference shall be satisfied that any woman is called of God to preach the Gospel, that Annual Conference may be permitted to receive her on trial and into full connection, and ordain her a Deacon, all the above on the same conditions as we receive men into the same relations; provided always that this ordination of women shall not be considered a step toward ordination as elder." An important change was made in this paragraph by adding the following: "and provided, further, that no woman whose husband is a member on trial or in full membership shall be eligible to be received into the Conference."

Another change of the Discipline made Deaconesses members of the Official Board, and of the Quarterly Conference; and another made provision whereby the Annual Conferences may elect traveling District Elders directly to the several Districts, instead of electing a given number to be appointed to the respective Districts by the Stationing Committee.

Slight changes were made respecting the support of preachers; and the amount of allowance for superannuates was fixed at $7.50 a year for the first ten years after reception into full connection in the Conference, and $12.50 for the next ten years, making the maximum allowance $200 a year instead of $150, the amount to be paid semi-annually when the treasury will warrant. It was ordered that fifteen instead of ten per cent of the net earnings of the Publishing House be devoted to the superannuate fund annually. A special fund was started for the benefit of superannuates, of which only the interest shall be used annually for this purpose. Over $3,000 was raised by subscription toward this special fund, and other measures were inaugurated for materially increasing it. The "budget system" was recommended to all societies in the denomination as the best method of raising Church finances.

Instead of electing a Sunday-school Secretary and Evangelist as heretofore a General Sunday-school Board was created and put in charge of the Sunday-school work. The Secretary of this Board is to be called the Sunday-school Secretary, but is not to be charged with the same functions as the former Sunday-school Secretary and Evangelist.

One new Conference was authorized, to be known as the Eastern Texas Conference, and a few changes were made in the boundaries of Conferences already existing.

A number of changes were made in the Ritual, the principal one of which was the insertion of a form for the dedication of Churches. The others were minor changes, made chiefly for the sake of consistency with the customs of the denomination.

Considerable change was made in the Courses of Study. The Bishops having been appointed by the previous General Conference thoroughly to revise and systematize the Courses, had done their work with as much care as their time would allow, and the Conference approved all the changes recommended.

The four Bishops were all reelected, and J. T. Logan was elected as Editor of the Free Methodist for the third term; but the Conference, after a four-years' trial, decided not to elect a Bishop for Africa and India. J. S. MacGeary, Bishop of Africa and India during the last quadrennium, was elected Missionary Secretary, and thereby B. Winget, who had served in that capacity with much ability and efficiency for twenty years, was relieved from the responsibilities of the office. D. S. Warner was reelected Editor of the Sunday-school Literature. W. B. Rose was elected Publishing Agent for the third time. The Conference decided to elect four General Conference Evangelists, one of them for the South. S. K. Wheatlake and A. D. Zahniser were reelected to the office. C. W. Stamp declined to be considered a candidate, and W. B. Olmstead was elected in his place. E. Ballenger received a majority over all other candidates as General Conference Evangelist for the South, and was declared elected.

A committee was appointed consisting of Bishop William Pearce, the Rev. W. H. Clark and the Rev. D. S. Warner, to confer with a like committee to be appointed by the General Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Church), regarding a possible union of the two denominations, and to formulate a basis for such union to be submitted to the next General Conferences of the respective bodies.

As provided for in the Discipline, one traveling Elder and one Layman from each of the General Conference Districts was elected to serve on the Executive Committee, and one of each kind was also elected to serve on the General Missionary Board, during the quadrennium.

The Rev. W. W. Clay, as fraternal delegate from the Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Church), President C. A. Blanchard, D. D., of Wheaton College, as fraternal delegate from the National Christian Association Opposed to Secret Societies, and Dr. J. P. Brushingham, as fraternal delegate from the Chicago Methodist Preachers' Association, were received, and each addressed the Conference in a very inspiring manner. The Rev. Dr. A. E. Saunders also accompanied Dr. Brushingham.

The General Conference of 1915 did not render itself famous for the amount of constructive legislation it produced. The little it did produce, however, was important, and will be likely to have a beneficial influence on the denomination in the future.

The religious services were excellent, and throughout most of the session wholesome spiritual conditions prevailed. The discussions generally were carried on in a fraternal spirit. The Sabbath services were times of power and salvation. In the afternoon and evening services also there was much conviction, and many seekers found their way to the altar. Usually three or four large street meetings were held before preaching each evening, thus extending the influence of the Conference for good in the part of the city where it was located.

Mendal B. Miller, D. S. Warner, and J. T. Logan were made a committee to edit the Discipline. Later, on account of Mr. Miller being called away, W. B. Olmstead was elected in his place.

The author has been a member of eight General Conferences of the Free Methodist Church, beginning with that of 1886, and, according to his judgment, the Conference of 1915 was spiritually the best of all save one.