Thirty Years in the Itinerancy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 315 pages of information about Thirty Years in the Itinerancy.

Thirty Years in the Itinerancy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 315 pages of information about Thirty Years in the Itinerancy.

Old Union, the mother of charges west of Janesville, has been well represented in the Itinerant ranks.  In addition to Brothers Phelps and Jones, to whom reference has been made, she has sent into the field Revs.  James Lawson, J.H.  Hazeltine, George Fellows, and A.A.  Hoskins.

In 1855, Evansville Station was created, with Rev. E.P.  Beecher as Pastor.  The Janesville District was also established this year, with Rev. J.W.  Wood as Presiding Elder.

Under the Pastorate of Rev. George W. De Lamatyr, which begin in 1864, the new Church was erected, costing some six thousand dollars.  It was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Fallows in the fall of 1867.  At the present writing Evansville is recognized as a charge of excellent standing.

The Conference of 1858 was held May 12th at Beloit, Bishop Morris presiding.  At this Conference the writer was elected Secretary, and Revs.  S. W. Ford and George Fellows Assistants.  The session was brief and harmonious.

Beloit is located on the line between the States of Illinois and Wisconsin, and was at first connected with Roscoe Circuit, a charge lying on the Illinois side.  The class was probably informally organized by Brother Thomas McElhenny, the first Leader, in 1839.  The following year Rev. Milton Bourne, Pastor of Roscoe Circuit, established an appointment and recognized the infant Society.  The members, besides Brother McElhenny, were Tyler Blodgett, Mrs. M.M.  Moore and Sister Lusena Cheney.  The Pastors of Roscoe Circuit, during its supervision of Beloit, in addition to Brother Bourne, were Revs.  James McKean, O.W.  Munger, John Hodges, Alpha Warren, and Zadoc Hall.

Beloit was made a separate charge in 1846, with Rev. Joseph T. Lewis as Pastor, to whom reference has been made in a former chapter.  During this year the Society entered upon a Church enterprise.  The lot was purchased by Rev. Stephen Adams and Brother Thomas McElhenny.  The Society was feeble, and the erection of the building, a substantial stone structure, required a great effort and many sacrifices.  To purchase the lime, three hundred and fifty bushels, Brother Adams sold his only cow.  Little can those who come after realize the sacrifices the early pioneers were called to make to render the later years happy and prosperous.

The Church thus begun under the Pastorate of Brother Lewis was not fully completed until 1849, when it was dedicated by Bishop Janes.  The death of Brother Lewis in the midst of his second year, was a severe loss to the charge.  But the good brethren were not discouraged, and pushed forward the work.

Beloit has been highly favored in her Pastors, among whom may be found such men as A.P.  Allen, I.M.  Leihy, J.M.  Walker, P.S.  Bennett, S.W.  Ford, J.W.  Wood, John Nolan, R.M.  Beach, C. Scammon, W. Lattin, P.B.  Pease, C.D.  Pillsbury, W.P.  Stowe, L.L.  Knox, W.W.  Case, C.R.  Pattee, A.C.  Higgins, and G.S.  Hubbs.

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Thirty Years in the Itinerancy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.