characterize the future historian. In a few particulars, the history subsequent to 1832 has been anticipated in the last chapter, and something may be learned of our progress from the tables in the appendix. An interesting series of articles, on the Middlebury District, may be found in the eighth volume of the Christian Advocate. The history of Warren Circuit is given in the same paper (vol. 20, p. 13), and an account of Albany District, in vol. 20, p. 149.

It will be seen, from the tables above referred to, that of the ninety-one who were members of the conference, when it was organized in 1832, twenty-three have been transferred to other conferences, fourteen have located, two have withdrawn from the church, eleven have died, and forty-one are now members. Of these forty-one, four are supernumerary, thirteen are superannuated, and twenty-four are in the effective ranks. The whole number that have been connected with the conference up to the present time (1853), is three hundred and seventy-eight, of whom forty-seven have been transferred to other conferences, sixty-six have located, ten have withdrawn, five have been expelled or deprived of their ministerial standing, twenty-eight have died, and two hundred and twenty-two are now members of the conference. Of these last, nine are superannuated, thirty-one are supernumerary, and one hundred and eighty-two are effective.

The membership, including probationers, amounted in 1832 to 18,492; now it is 26,295. The first year of our existence as a conference, the missionary collections amounted to $1,484 41. The last year they were $8,214.61. The whole amount raised for missions, since 1832, is $84,027-57. Our numerical increase was very much greater in 1843, when the Millerite excitement was at its crisis, than at any other time, amounting to over seven

thousand. The reaction in the few years immediately succeeding was so great that our membership fell more than one thousand below what it had been previously to the ingathering of 1842-3. It was several years before we regained the position occupied previously to the spread of this delusion. Judging from our statistics and other facts, we may conclude that without a doubt, the Second Advent delusion has proved inconceivably the greatest calamity that has befallen us since our organization as a conference. One of our churches, which more than doubled its membership at that time, subsequently sunk to less than half the number it had before the excitement began; and one who afterward held the pastoral oversight of that church, assured the writer that, in his judgment, another such revival would annihilate it. In another instance, a church that in June, 1842, numbered between one hundred and eighty and one hundred and ninety members, in June, 1843, reported over four hundred; and two years after had less than one hundred and sixty. Other causes might have operated to some extent, but the results of that delusion should not be forgotten for a century to come.

The region embraced in the Troy Conference has given to the church some of her most honored and distinguished sons. Levings was converted and licensed in our midst, and labored among us most of his days. Olin was born and graduated within our borders. Hedding, the apos tolic Hedding, was identified with us as far as such a man could be with any one locality. Here he sought and found the grace of life; here he united with the church; here he commenced his itinerancy, and here he resided during several years of his episcopacy. The whole church honored him as a general superintendent; the Troy Conference revered him as a FATHER.

Very great improvement has been made within a few

years in our houses of worship, in reference to their size, style, and adaptation to all our various means of grace. Old churches have been enlarged and remodeled, and many new ones erected. At the same time we are far less incumbered with church debts than we were a few years ago. Though many of our churches are more or less in debt, few, if any, are seriously embarrassed thereby. Formerly, the seats in nearly all our churches were free; now, in many of the old and in most of the new ones, they are rented. Whether this change is an improvement or otherwise, the writer will not attempt to decide; doubtless each system has its advantages and disadvantages. Steeples and bells are becoming quite common in our villages; in the cities there are none, except in Schenectady. A few organs have found their way into our churches, as have various other musical instruments, though in most of them the music is entirely vocal, and in too many cases almost exclusively confined to the choir. Many of our parsonages are owned by the societies, though a majority of them are rented. Most of them are provided with the heavier articles of furniture. Our large old circuits are cut up into small fields of labor, so that in a vast majority of cases there is but one preacher upon a charge. One of the tables in the appendix shows our progress in the cause of missions. The new tract enterprise was entered upon with vigor the present year.

Whether, on the whole, we are increasing in spirituality and moral power or not, is a grave question that would be variously answered by different persons. Notwithstanding there is very much to deplore in our midst, the writer confidently believes the affirmative to be the true answer to this question. One of the most serious obstacles to our progress is found in the fact that, we are deprived of the services of a large number of our

preachers at that period of life when, by their experience and wisdom, they might be the most effective. Not a few fail in health, while many locate and engage in secular callings. Various causes have contributed to this loss of experienced men from our ranks, and the subject is one worthy of thorough investigation and profound thought. The average receipts of the preachers, exclusive of house rent, and the expenses of traveling to and from conference, and moving their families, in 1842, amounted to $288.86. In 1853, the average was $343.09. In addition to this, there are some perquisities, which, however, are probably more than balanced by extra expenses to which other families are not subjected.

The conference is at present less remarkable for its few distinguished men, than for its large number of active, energetic, devoted ministers of Jesus Christ. The oldest itinerant in the conference is Elijah Chichester. He entered the traveling connection in 1799, located in 1807, and re-entered it in 1852. Andrew McKean and Samuel Howe commenced their labors in 1802. They have long been superannuated. Father McKean was laborious in his day; a sound theologian, and good counsellor and disciplinarian; kind, exemplary and upright, he has maintained an unblemished character during his long life. He still resides in Saratoga county, and is worthily represented in the person of his son, Samuel McKean, who entered the conference last year.

Father Howe, after having maintained an untarnished reputation through a long series of years, has of late been very evidently ripening for heaven. He will soon be with Asbury and Hedding, and the fathers that have crossed the flood.

Next in age is Henry Stead, an Englishman by birth, who entered the itinerant field in 1804. He has bee

an animated and useful preacher, and an excellent presiding elder. Kind, frank and humorous, he nevertheless could reprove in a way not soon to be forgotten. Throughout his life he has been a man of sterling integrity, a warm-hearted Christian, and a decided Methodist. He lingers at his residence in Galesville, Washington county, N. Y., in great feebleness of body and mind.

Jacob Beeman entered the lists in 1808, and is said to have been laborious and useful. He never wearied in preaching, especially against Calvinism.

The noble spirited, shrewd, energetic Gridley, began his ministerial career in 1808. A good preacher and a powerful exhorter, his sword has proved too sharp for his scabbard; he has too much soul for his body, and feeble health has been the consequence. The name of Cyprian H. Gridley appears on the supernumerary list in 1841; subsequently we find him in the effective ranks, but in 1850, he again took his former relation. He still lives at Monkton, Vt., where he is greatly beloved. Of Tobias Spicer, who stands next in seniority, it is needless to speak; he is "known and read of all men," who have any acquaintance with Methodism. Of integrity and industry he is a notable example.

Next in ministerial age is a name that stands associated with real, modest worth. Josiah F. Chamberlain entered the itinerancy in 1812, in which he continues to this day. He took a supernumerary relation in 1851.

Next is Sherman Minor, whose talents, uprightness, amiability and conscientious piety, have given him an enviable place in the regards of his brethren.

Timothy Benedict is the oldest effective man in the conference, having joined the New York Conference in 1817. For this honor he is doubtless indebted in no small degree to that pleasant equanimity, which so