At Horicon I found Rev. Walter McFarlane, Pastor of the Horicon and Juneau charge.  This dear brother and his most estimable lady gave me a hearty welcome, and made me feel at home in a few moments.  I found the charge in a prosperous condition, and the Pastor in high esteem among the people.

Brother McFarlane is a Scotchman by birth.  He entered the Conference in 1856, and was stationed at Cascade.  His following appointments were Oconto, Vinland, Two Rivers, and Empire.  He was now on his second year in his present charge.  After leaving Horicon, he was stationed at Byron.  While on this charge he and his good lady took great interest in fitting up the Camp-Meeting grounds of the Fond du Lac District.  A fine Preacher’s stand was erected, comfortable seats were provided, and many permanent tents were built.  The meetings during this period became far-famed and highly profitable.  The great burden of looking after all local matters was sustained by this good Brother, as the Pastor of the charge, and the administration was always highly acceptable.  After leaving Byron, his appointments were Winneconne, Bristol, Sylvania, and Granville.  In this last named charge, he is at this writing doing effective work.

Brother McFarlane is well versed in Theology and Biblical criticism.  He has a large fund of information on all subjects of general interest, and is able to make himself an interesting companion among the people.  He has an intense dislike to the superficial, and is never satisfied with the examination of any subject until he can feel the firm foundation beneath him.  In his sermons he seeks to give reliable information on specific subjects rather than spin glittering generalities.  Firm as the Highlands of his native home, and balmy as her valleys, he is none other than a highly esteemed brother.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Conference of 1866.—­Centenary Year.—­Lay Delegation.—­Reconstruction.—­Returned to Fond du Lac District.—­Seven Sermons a Week—­Rev. O.J.  Cowles.—­Beaver Dam.—­A Good Record.—­Fall River.—­Early History.—­Columbus.—­Rev. Henry Sewell.—­Conference of 1867.—­Election of Delegates.—­Cotton Street.—­Rev. R.S.  Hayward.—­Rev. A.A.  Reed.—­General Conference.—­Conference of 1868.—­Rev. T.C.  Wilson.—­Rev. H.C.  Tilton.  Rev. John Hill.—­Rev. Isaac Searles.—­Rev. J.B.  Cooper.—­An Incident.—­Close of the Term.—­Progress Made.

The Conference of 1866 was held at Ripon, Bishop Clark presiding.  The Secretaries were the same as the preceding year.

The Centenary of American Methodism occurred this year, and the month of October had been set apart for the purposes of a celebration.  The writer had been designated to preach a Centenary sermon during the session of the Conference, but as I was called to Waupun to attend the funeral of my brothers’s wife, on the day the services were to have been held, the good Bishop kindly consented to occupy the pulpit for me.