Brother Smith is a good Preacher, filling his sermons with a clear exposition of Evangelical truth.  And his Ministry has ever been a benediction to the people of his respective charges.

The year opened in Spring Street Station with unusual promise.  The social meetings were well attended, the congregations were large and attentive, the Sunday School, the largest in the city, prosperous, the several societies were doing effective work, and the finances were in an excellent condition.  With this outlook, we were anticipating a glorious year, but how uncertain are all human expectations!

During the delivery of the morning sermon on Sabbath, April 26th, 1874, the writer was taken violently ill.  The attack proved to be the prostration of the nervous system, resulting from overworking the brain, a difficulty that had been foreshadowed by several premonitions during the preceding year.  My condition at the first was perilous, but after four hours of skillful medical treatment and careful nursing, the crisis passed.  Then followed weary weeks of watching and waiting.  Meantime, I received the earnest sympathy of my people, and the kind assistance of my brethren in the Ministry, who generously proposed to supply my pulpit.

The Conference of 1874 was held at Oshkosh, Bishop Foster presiding.  I was able to attend and answer to my name, but could spend but little time in the Conference room.  Whenever present I seemed to myself, as I must have seemed to others, like a dismantled ship, stranded on the beach.  I was most kindly treated by all the brethren, being relieved of every burden, and assured of abiding sympathy.

At this Conference Rev. J.W.  Carhart, D.D., was stationed, by request of the people, at Oshkosh.  Brother Carhart entered the traveling connection in the Troy Conference, and came to the Wisconsin Conference by transfer in 1871, being stationed at Racine.  He had just completed a full term, and hence Oshkosh is his second appointment in the Conference.  He is a man of superior culture, fine preaching ability, and cannot fail to give character to the pulpit, wherever he may be stationed.

Rev. George A. Smith was stationed at Spring Street as my successor.  Brother Smith entered the Conference in April 1859, his first appointment being Principal of the Evansville Seminary.  His subsequent appointments were Milton, Emerald Grove, Lyons and Spring Prairie.  In his last field his health failed through intense mental application, and he was compelled to retire from the work.  After five years of rest he was again able to resume his labors, being stationed first at Pleasant Prairie, and next at Kenosha.

Brother Smith is in the strength of his manhood, has a vigorous mind, is a fine thinker, uses clear-cut and well selected language, has a most amiable spirit, and his Ministry cannot fail to be a grand success anywhere.