Tracing the Free Methodist church back through the evolutionary steps which led to its organization we reach the “Layman’s Convention” as the basis of its deliberative and official bodies. The sturdy spirit of devotion to right, the righteously indignant protest against ecclesiastical proscription and persecution, and the manly type of independence which refused to surrender God-given convictions, rights and privileges at the demand of a party which, having secured control of affairs, exacted unquestioning obedience as the price of peace which characterized these conventions in their deliberations and deliverances, reveal the type of men who were back of the movement which gave us our denominational existence. The “Convention” at Pekin, August 23, 1860, at which the Free Methodist church was formally organized was the logical sequence and outcome of these. As the church had originated in conventions it was somewhat natural that this term should be selected to designate its deliberative and official bodies. The general, annual and quarterly conferences were all known as conventions until in 1862, when the first and only “General Convention” held under the Discipline changed “convention” to “conference” in our denominational terminology.

The General Conference is the legislative body of the church. It is the only body having power to make rules and regulations which are binding upon the membership of the denomination. When properly convened and organized it has full power to legislate subject only to the restrictive rules of the Discipline. These rules forbid the altering or changing our Articles of Religion, our General Rules or establishing any new standards of doctrine; the doing away with lay representation, an itinerant ministry, the general superintendency or the free seat system; the depriving of our ministers or members of the right of trial by an impartial committee or an appeal. Two-thirds of the General Conference and three-fourths of the members of the several annual conferences concurring then either of these may be changed but the last, which may not be changed.

The General Conference meets once in four years, and is composed of the bishops, who are members ex officio and an equal number of ministerial and lay delegates elected by the several conferences according to the provisions of the Discipline. The basis of representation at the time of the organization was one ministerial and one lay delegate for every ten ministers in full connection in the conference. At the General Conference of 1878 “fifteen” was substituted for “ten” in the basis of representation. At the General Conference of 1882 the basis of representation was changed from the number of preachers to the number of lay members in the conference. Now each annual conference is entitled to one ministerial and one lay delegate in the General Conference and when there is an aggregate membership of eight hundred, two delegates of each kind and one additional delegate of each kind for every subsequent six hundred members in full connection in the conference.

The first General Conference met at St. Charles, Illinois, Wednesday, October 8, 1862. The Pekin convention had decided to have a general superintendency and had elected B. T. Roberts to the office of general superintendent. He called the conference to order and presided. The members of this conference in addition to the general superintendent were: Ministerial delegates: Genesee conference, L. Stiles, Jr., A. Abell; Illinois conference, J. W. Redfield, J. Travis; -Susquehanna. conference, W. Cooley. Lay delegates: Genesee conference, G. W. Holmes, H. Hartshorn; Illinois conference, O. Joslyn, B. F. Hackney; Susquehanna conference, J. T. Collins. Not one of these is now living (1908). After sitting until October 16 in St. Charles, Illinois, the conference adjourned to meet at Buffalo, New York, November 4, 1862. It adjourned finally November 7, 1862. The Genesee delegates objected to the seating of the Susquehanna delegates on the ground that the general superintendent had transcended his authority in organizing that conference. To provide against a recurrence of such objections the executive committee was created and no new conference could be formed without its consent. This committee was at first composed of one minister and one layman from each conference, but as the records of the conferences in those days are somewhat imperfect the writer has so far found it impossible to give the personnel of the committee as first organized. B. T. Roberts was reelected general superintendent. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution for a missionary society.

The second General Conference convened at Buffalo, New York, Tuesday, October 10, 1866, where it sat until Saturday, October 13, when it adjourned to meet at Albion, New York, October 15, where it met and continued its sittings and adjourned finally Thursday, October 18. Four annual conferences were represented. The number of delegates was eighteen. The executive committee was made a court of appeals in the interim of the General Conference; it was also authorized to elect another general superintendent if in its judgment the interests of the work demanded it. All missions outside the bounds of an annual conference were placed under the charge of the general superintendent. Steps were taken to secure a legal incorporation of the church. B. T. Roberts was reelected general superintendent.

The third General Conference met at Aurora, Illinois, Wednesday, October 12, 1870, and adjourned finally Thursday, October 21. Four conferences were again represented, but there were fifteen ministerial and fourteen lay delegates. Two ministers expelled during the quadrennium appealed to the General Conference. In the hearing of these appeals the delegates from the conferences which expelled the appellants refrained from voting. The action of the conferences was unanimously sustained. The amendment to the general rules against the use of tobacco was submitted to the annual conferences; also an amendment placing the general superintendency under the restrictive rules. During the interim Rev. Levi Wood had founded the Free Methodist. He now offered it to the General Conference. The offer was accepted and E. Owen was elected editor. The next day he resigned and Joseph Mackey, of New York, offered to take the paper and edit and publish it at his own risk. His offer was accepted. Provision was made that an extra session of the General Conference might he called at the request of two-thirds of the annual conferences. The Kansas and Missouri conference was authorized and its appointments made by the general superintendent and the district chairmen presiding over the territory. B. T. Roberts was reelected general superintendent. One hundred and twenty-five preachers and six thousand and five hundred and fifty-six members were reported.

The fourth General Conference convened at Albion, New York, October 14, 1874, and closed its sittings October 27. Six annual conferences were represented by eighteen ministerial and eighteen lay delegates. The conference voted to elect two general superintendents. B. T. Roberts was reelected and E. P. Hart was chosen for the second. A missionary board, composed of the general superintendents and three ministers and two laymen was formed. The following are the members besides the superintendents: William Gould, E. Owen, T. S. La Due, Joseph Mackey, E. H. Winchester. The personnel of the executive committee is given as follows: B. T. Roberts, E. P. Hart, J. W. Reddy, E. Owen, J. G. Terrill, P. B. Jones. W. Jones, N. A. Bennett, A. Wise, 0. P. Rogers, D. W. Abrams, W. B. Bertels, J. M. Cusick.

The fifth General Conference met at Spring Arbor, Michigan, Wednesday, October 9, 1878, and adjourned sine die Saturday, October 19. Ten conferences were represented by thirty-one ministerial and twenty-five lay delegates. These, with two general superintendents, made a total membership of fifty-eight. Steps were taken looking toward the purchase of the Free Methodist. The executive committee was authorized to act as an advisory committee in the managing of the Free Methodist. A committee was elected to compile and publish a denominational hymnbook. B. T. Roberts was requested to write and publish the book, “Why Another Sect.” B. T. Roberts and E. P. Hart were reelected general superintendents. Three hundred and thirteen preachers and ten thousand six hundred members were reported.

The sixth session was held at Burlington, Iowa, beginning Wednesday, October II, 1882, and adjourned Monday, October 25. The Ohio, the Indiana and Central Illinois, the Canada and the Texas and Louisiana conferences had been organized in the interim, making fourteen conferences in all. These were represented by thirty-five ministerial and thirty-one lay delegates. The “two year rule” was so modified that in “exceptional cases” a preacher might be returned to a charge the third year. T. B. Arnold, owner and publisher of the Free Methodist, made the following proposition to the conference: “I will publish the Free Methodist paper at my own expense; I will also pay an editor appointed by the General Conference, who shall have editorial control of the paper; and I agree t the appointing of a committee by the General Conference, * * * * who, in case they find this arrangement proves unsatisfactory, shall have power to negotiate for the purchase of the paper, or to change the management and fill vacancies in the editorial chair.” The proposition was accepted and Joseph Travis was elected editor. The salaries of the general superintendents were fixed at $800 and their traveling expenses. A system for collecting these salaries was adopted. The rule against secret societies was incorporated in the general rules. B. T. Roberts and E. P. Hart were reelected general superintendents.

The seventh General Conference was held at Coopersville, Michigan, October 13 to 26, 1886. The two superintendents, with thirty-two ministerial and thirty lay delegates, representing twenty-three conferences, constituted the membership. One conference, the Louisiana, was not represented. The Free Methodist was purchased from T. B. Arnold, and B. T. Roberts was elected editor. An amendment to the Discipline providing for the election of a general conference evangelist was adopted. W. B. M. Colt was elected. T. B. Arnold was elected publishing agent. A new chapter was added to the Discipline on “Church Extension” and the Missionary Board was made a “Church Extension and Aid Society.” The conferences were grouped in seven districts, from which the members of the Missionary Board were chosen. The executive committee was made a publishing committee and ordered to incorporate under the name “Executive Committee and Publishing House of the Free Methodist Church of North America.” C. B. Ebey was elected missionary secretary, and S. K. J. Chesbro, treasurer. The conference decided to elect three general superintendents. B. T. Roberts and E. P. Hart were reelected. G. W. Coleman was elected as the third.

The eighth quadrennial session was held in the May Street church, Chicago, Illinois, October 8 to 23, 1890. The three general superintendents and seventy-seven delegates representing twenty-eight conferences, composed’ the membership of the conference. A chapter on “Bands,” with rules and regulations for bands and band workers, was adopted. A new chapter on “Claimants and Claims” was adopted. The full claim of ‘a superannuated preacher or preacher’s widow was raised from one hundred dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars per year. The collection for this fund was made a general pro rata apportionment upon the entire membership of the church. The missionary board was made a board of claimants and claims and was charged with the administration of this fund. An amendment to the Discipline forbidding raising, manufacturing or selling of tobacco was adopted. B. T. Roberts, E. P. Hart and G. W. Coleman were reelected general superintendents. B. R. Jones was elected editor of the Free Methodist. S. K. J. Chesbro, who, upon the resignation of T. B. Arnold in 1888, had been elected publishing agent by the executive committee was reelected. W. W. Kelley was elected missionary secretary.

The ninth session was held in Greenville, Illinois, October 10 to 25, 1894. Three general superintendents, forty-six ministerial and forty-two lay delegates composed the personnel of the conference. Rev. B. T. Roberts had died during the quadrennium and W. T. Hogue had been elected by the executive committee to fill the unexpired term. On the election for general superintendents, E. P. Hart, G. W. Coleman and B. R. Jones were elected. W. T. Hogue was elected editor of the Free Methodist. The term “district elder” was substituted for “district chairman.” W. W. Kelley, on account of failing health, had resigned his position as missionary secretary in the interim, and J. G. Terrill had been elected his successor by the executive committee. He was reelected. S. K. J. Chesbro was reelected publishing agent. W. G. Hanmer was elected general conference evangelist. At this conference it was decided to establish a publishing house and to locate it in Chicago.

The tenth General Conference was held in Chicago, Illinois, convening October 12, 1898. Thirty-five annual conferences were represented. J. G. Terrill, a charter member of the Free Methodist church and of the Illinois conference, who had served - as missionary secretary for two years had died during the quadrennium and B. Winget had been elected in his stead by the executive committee. The conference decided to elect four general superintendents. E. P. Hart, G. W. Coleman and B. R. Jones were reelected. W. A. Sellew was elected as the fourth. W. T. Hogue was reelected editor of the Free Methodist, S. K. J. Chesbro, publisher, and B. Winget, missionary secretary. The time for the meeting of the General Conference was changed from October to June. At the meeting of the executive committee in October, 1895, A. C. Marshall, of the Michigan conference, had been elected assistant publishing agent. His duties as defined by the committee were “to labor under the direction of the publishing agent, to travel at large in the interests of the publishing house and to solicit funds for the same.” One year later the president of the committee announced that Mr. Marshall had withdrawn from the church. W. B. Rose was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the withdrawal of Mr. Marshall. At this session of the General Conference Mr. Rose was reelected. His duties were to look after the publication of Sabbath-school literature and books and in a general way to render assistance to the agent. This general conference authorized the executive committee to elect an editor for the Sabbath-school literature which had lately been acquired from T. B. Arnold. Immediately after the adjournment of the conference the committee met and W. B. Olmstead was elected.

The eleventh quadrennial gathering of the representatives of the church met in Greenville, Illinois, June 13, 1903. Thirty-eight annual conferences were represented by fifty. nine ministerial and fifty-seven lay delegates. These, with the four general superintendents, composed the conference. 0. W. Coleman, on account of advancing age and increasing infirmities, declined to be considered a candidate for reelection. B. P. Hart, B. R. Jones and W. A. Sellew were reelected. W. T. Hogue was elected as the fourth general superintendent. C. B. Ebey was elected editor of the Free Methodist. W. B. Olmstead was reelected editor of Sabbath-school literature. S. K. J. Chesbro was reelected publishing agent and W. B. Rose assistant publishing agent.

The twelfth General Conference convened at Greenville, Illinois, June 12, 1907, and adjourned -finally Friday, June 28. Forty conferences were represented by sixty-four ministerial and sixty-one lay delegates. One event distinguishing this general conference from all others in time history of the church was the presence of J. P. Brodhead as ministerial and F. Grace Allen as lay delegate from the newly organized South Africa Mission conference, representing a constituency of six preachers and fifteen missionaries, and forty native workers and six hundred native Christians who just a short time before were raw heathen. By a vote of seventy-eight to forty the conference decided to change “general superintendent” to “bishop.” The four general superintendents, B. P. Hart, B. R. Jones, W. A. Sellew and W. T. Rogue, were reelected as “bishops.” The number of general conference evangelists was increased to three. C. W. Stamp was reelected. S. K. Wheatlake and J. H. Flower were chosen as the other two. J. T. Logan was -elected editor of the Free Methodist. S. K. J. Chesbro, on account of advancing years, declined a reelection, and W. B. Rose was elected publishing agent. W. B. Olmstead was reelected editor of Sabbath-school literature, but resigned, and D. S. Warner was elected. B. Winget was reelected missionary secretary. W. B. Olmstead was elected Sunday-school secretary and evangelist. A. Beers was elected educational secretary. Action was taken making provision for an order of Deaconesses. Also admitting women evangelists who have served as supplies two years consecutively to a voice and vote in the conference while they continue to receive an appointment. It was decided that the assistant publishing agent, instead of being elected by the general conference, should be nominated by the publishing agent and elected by the executive committee. C. W. Stevens was elected assistant agent at a meeting of the executive committee held in connection with the session of the general conference.

The statistical summary was as follows: Members and probationers, 33,043; Sabbath schools, 1,175; scholars amid officers, 48,133; value of church and parsonage property; $2,061,545; value of publishing interests, $90,000; raised for foreign missions during quadrennium, $140,000; one college and seven seminaries valued at $500,000; students enrolled, 1,400.