The collections during the Centenary year were mostly given to Educational purposes, the Lawrence University, the Garrett Biblical Institute, and the Evansville Seminary being the beneficiaries.  The first named received perhaps fifteen thousand dollars.

The subject of Lay Delegation again engaged the attention of the body.  While fully sympathizing with the general movement, the Conference anticipated the contemplated change by inviting the several District Steward’s meetings to elect three Delegates from each District to visit the ensuing session of the Annual Conference, and co-operate with that body in its deliberations, as far as the polity of the Church would permit.  The invitation was accepted, and at the next session the Delegates were cordially received.

At this time the question of the Ecclesiastical Reconstruction of the South was beginning to agitate the Church.  The Conference, always radical on all the great questions of the day, took advanced ground, and consistently adhered to its positions throughout the discussion.  The subsequent history of the Southern work has fully justified the action taken.

With this session of the Conference began the Cabinet work of my third term as Presiding Elder.  Adhering to my former convictions, I favored only such changes in the appointments as were dictated by the law of the Church and stern necessity.  In connection with the appointments, an effort was made to secure my assignment to the station in Fond du Lac, but when it was known that a Committee from the Official Board was in attendance upon the Conference, the Ministers and Laymen of the District entered a vigorous remonstrance.

The Bishop kindly enquired whether I had any suggestions to make.  I answered, “I have never interfered in making my own appointments; and it is too late to begin now.  As you and the Cabinet understand the case, having had a full representation from both sides, I will step aside and let you decide the matter.”  After an absence of an hour, I returned, and found my name still at the head of the District.

At the close of the session I returned to Fond du Lac and entered upon another year of taxing labor.  The work was growing rapidly, and it was necessary to reconstruct and enlarge several of the Churches, and build others.  In several localities we succeeded in a consolidation of the work, thereby making it possible to erect several Churches.  Instead of maintaining feeble appointments at contiguous school houses, we found it better to combine two or more of them, and build a Church in a central locality.  In this way the Mulleton, Hingham, Leroy, Markesan, Lake Maria, and several other Churches found an existence.

During the winter season of this year, I was largely engaged with the several Pastors in protracted meetings.  And during the first half of the year, I preached on an average seven sermons a week.  The Pastors were a band of devoted and earnest workers, and the year was one of remarkable success.