Thirty Years in the Itinerancy

.M. Walker--Rev. Washington Wilcox--Upper and Nether Millstones--Our New Field--Revival--Fo

and formed the Wisconsin. The first session of the new Conferen

Frink. In the following year, when the Summit charge was formed, Prairieville fell into the new circuit. In 1841 Prairieville took the name of the charge, and hen

ere he performed a vast amount of labor and gathered many souls for the Master. He remained a second year and had for a colleague Rev

tted to the Conference in 1859, it being conceded that so valiant a veteran shoul

in a former chapter, Brother Frink had passed over this region in 1839, and had formed classes during the Conference year at several places, but it no

iram Wheeler, Theophilus Haylett and Horace Edsell, and to these were soon after added, Mr. and Mrs. Winters, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hadfield, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hen

der, Levi Merical, John Merical, Jr., Philip Scheuler, Ma

as the Presiding Elder. During this year he assisted Brother Moulthrop in ho

cy, and has mingled in the discussion and settlement of all the great questions which have arisen. His appointments have placed him in the front ran

ted into the Washington Mission, with Rev. J.M. Snow as Pastor, of whom a record will be made in another chapte

great prosperity. This year Pewaukee was detached from the Prairieville charge and added to Washington Mission, and as this change drew

close of his year at Prairieville, his failing health compelled him to leave the work. Remai

dant in labor. Protracted meetings were held at nearly all of the principal appointments, and large numbers were converted. It is affirmed tha

hich he was sent in 1848. Here he had over two hundred conversions. The following year he was sent to Union Circuit, with Rev. James Lawson as colleague, and was returned to the same the next year. But in the early part of the year he was removed to Beloit, to supply a vacancy. His next appointment was Whitewater, where he succeeded in completing a Church, and

ha. Brother Wilcox was returned, and during the year built up a strong congrega

the close of his term at Waukesha he was appointed Presiding Elder of Fond du Lac District At the end of three years he was sent to the Madison District, where he remained a full term. His subsequent appointments fell within the bounds of the We

o be severe, but it was the severity of what he conceived to be truth. In debate, on the Conference floor, or in discussion before an audience, he was a giant. At times he would seem to push his antagonist relentlessly, but i

ceased to wonder that anything was left of us, after having been thus ground between the upper and nether millstones. And yet there was no unkindness, for in his feelings he was as tender as a child. The fact is, this noble man

fternoon. The latter had been so arranged to accommodate families in the country, who desired a second service before returning home. The plan, however, did not fully satisfy the people in the village, as it failed to provide for an evening service. It was suggested that in a vi

induced to accept the obligations of a holy life, and as a result, invitations began to multiply, requesting me to open appointments in their respective localities. I now selected five of the most central neighborhoods and established in them week-day evening services. But as the summer drew on, they were discontinued except two, and these, as the most prom

what might be called a flaming speech. And though he always ran in much the same channel, his craft, to use a figure, was always full-rigged and under full sail. But, to change the figure, and bring it more fully into harmony with the department of nature, from which the brother had evidently derived his name, I might say his pinions were always full fledged and in full tension for a lofty flight. Unfortunately, however, he could never fold his wings in time to make a graceful descent when he desired to come down to the plane of ordinary mortals. In the descent he would sometimes "swap ends" so many times, that it was a marvel that a broken neck was not the result. But to his own mi

ight, when I saw you towering to such dizzy heights in your speech." "What was it?" he enquired, eagerly. "Oh!" I replied, "I would hardly dare to tell you." "Yes, yes," said he, "let us have it." I still hesitated, until the several brethren present joined him in his persistent request. "Well," I a

s of the work. To the Church there had been large accessions and to

ality of this truly Christian gentleman and veteran patriarch for a week was a privilege that would mark an era at any time in a man's life. At this Conference I was

several other brethren of the charge. The noon-day sermon was dispensed with and the Sabbath afternoon appointments were given main

baptism. This was done, and soon after the official board requested a copy for publication. The writer, supposing it was merely intended to secure a few copies through the columns of the village newspaper for convenient reference, hastily furnished the discourse. Instead, however, of procuring a few slips only, it was published in pamphlet and given a more extensive circulation. In due time it was taken up by the Pastor of the Baptist Church and reviewed at length in his pulpit. On the fol

gency that became a fire and a sword in my hand. Neither the Church nor the individuals concerned derived any advantage in the result, and though the wisdom of the administration was never called in question as far as I knew, yet I could not suppress the conviction that Church trials can only be commended as a last resort. It is much easier to awaken than allay the spirit of strife.

by the Elder to call on a given family for entertainment, the gentleman being the most wealthy Methodist in the settlement. We halted the buggy at his gate, and I went in to crave his hospitality. As I approached the door and addressed myself to the master of the premises, he put on a frigid expression of coun

as I then was could not be the Elder, he permitted me to go on my way. We went on to the house indicated, and inquired of the gentleman at the gate whether the Methodist preachers who visited the settlement usually found entertainment with him. He replied, "I am not a Methodist myself, but my old

gy and asked my wife how she liked the Presiding Eldership. She laughed heartily, and said, "Th

tained, and were so pleased with our kind host and hostess that we felt constrained to decline, the next day, urgent invitations from both of the

He started and moved leisurely along, taking special pains to afford all an opportunity to contribute, until he came to the dear man, whose acquaintance I had made the night before. He now paused, placed the hat on the desk, under the face of the reputed miser, put his hands in his pockets, and looked unconcernedly over the congregation, remarking, "Well, brethren, there is no great hurry about this matter. If yo