accomplished something for the cause of humanity and the glory of the Master.

The Round Lake Camp-Meeting Association was organized during my pastorate at Mechanicsville, and I subscribed for about the first share of stock, of one hundred dollars, taken in the concern. I attended sev eral camp-meetings there, among them the first national meeting for the promotion of holiness ever held there, and saw the grounds assume shape and proportions, which even the projectors of the enterprise had scarcely anticipated. My health being measurably restored during my year in the temperance work, in the spring of 1871 I was appointed to Waterford, in the same county, and only about three miles north of Troy. This is an old town, and Methodism was planted here at an early day. The society was not large but prosperous, and my congregations soon filled the house, almost to overflowing. A new and splendid pipe organ was put into the church soon after I went there; the parsonage was improved, and all the interests of the church were prosperous. Our stay in Waterford, though brief, will ever be remembered as among the bright spots of our ministry.

Through the courtesy of Levi Dodge, Esq., I was favored, this year, with a visit to Washington. We visited all the historic spots and points of interest in and about the city, and although our stay there was brief, it was brim full of interest and information.

In the autumn of this year I was officially invited to

transfer to the Wisconsin Conference. A serious thought of transfer to another conference had never entered my mind. I concluded that the invitation might be providential and, after prayer and careful consideration for some days, I concluded to accept the transfer, and at once set about disposing my affairs to enable me to make the change. Obtaining consent of my presiding elder, Brother Watson, I announced my purpose to my official board, and in a few weeks we were sold out, as to house-hold effects, etc., packed up and ready for the journey to our new home and field of labor. The Wisconsin Conference had held its session in Spring Street Church, Milwaukee, and I was informed by telegram that I was appointed to Racine. A little time was taken to bid our numerous friends and family relatives farewell. All seemed anxious to render us some assistance, and the tokens of friendship and affectionate regard were num

erous.

On the 8th day of November, 1871, we left Cohoes, New York, by train to Schenectady, where we changed cars and took the New York Central for Niagara Falls. The conductor of the palace car being a personal friend, we were assigned a state room and all the conveniences of a drawing room.

The weather was delightful, nature was enwrapped in a soft, golden haze, the foliage of the forests had assumed its richest tints, and mountain and valley assumeď a restful air, that characterizes the aged Christian when, his life-work done, he sweetly contemplates the coming

joys of another and a better life. The full glory of an American Indian summer lay upon us, when it seemed as though nature was loth to part with the splendors of the yellow harvest days, and called them back to take one parting kiss.

I had my family all with me, and we were starting out on a new departure and were, in some sense, beginning life anew. The field before us was unknown and untried, its trials and its triumphs could only be anticipated but in part; and yet, we felt that the change was in the order of providence and that God would own and bless our honest efforts to glorify Him.

We met with no mishap on our journey, were subject to no special annoyance, and the journey was rest, recreation, inspiration and a continued delight. We stopped over a day at Detroit, hired a carriage, and were driven to all the points of interest in and about that beautiful city. Chicago was in ruins when we reached there, the fire having occurred but a short time. before. In many places smoke was still ascending, and, to our disgust, the first shanties erected were beer shops. On our way from Chicago to Racine, the autumn rains set in, with considerable violence, and the weather became much colder, and we noticed a very marked change in the condition of the atmosphere, owing to the effect of Lake Michigan.

We were in communication, by telegraph, with the officials at Racine, and were kindly met by two or three of the brethren at the depot, and were whisked away to

the hospitable home of Brother John F. Goold, where we were kindly entertained until the arrival of our goods, which were blockaded blockaded in Chicago by the immense accumulation of freight after the fire.

Winter set in unusually early that season and it became intensely cold in November, and before we were entirely settled.

CHAPTER XI.

O spot in Wisconsin would have pleased us better than Racine. The city is beautiful for situ ation-on high bluffs, jutting out into the lake -the streets are, for the most part, broad and beautifully shaded, and most of the architecture was elegant and substantial, whilst the people are generally intelligent, kind-hearted, and seem to possess many of the traits of the New Englander, and the breadth and enterprise of the West.

The church was new, having been just completed, and its design was a gem of architectural beauty. The finish was inferior, in some respects, and the burden of debt was enormous, and there were bitter complaints on either hand, and on every side, in regard to its former administration, which some characterized as careless, and others as criminal. We took a charitable view of the case, however, and defended the administration so far as we could, in conscience, knowing that few pastors come out of a church building enterprise unscathed.

Our congregations soon grew to splendid proportions -the Sunday-school became large and prosperous, and the spirituality of the church steadily improved until a gracious revival developed and a large number of souls were converted and added to the church. It was gracious work and God was in it.

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