The change in the state of affairs, as I anticipated, was felt immediately.  The Laity, who must always form the basis of a successful meeting, now came forward and took hold of the work.  On Saturday night the Spirit fell on the people in great power.  Before the conclusion of the sermon it was manifest that there would be, to change the reference, an abundance of rain.  In the Prayer Meeting which followed, not less than thirty souls were converted.  On Sabbath the meeting went forward with great spirit.  But the climax was not reached until Sabbath evening, when, at the close of a sermon by Brother Himebaugh, the whole audience seemed to respond to the invitations of the Gospel.  The Altar was thronged and the adjacent seats were filled far back into the congregation.  It was impossible to tell how many were forward as seekers, or how many were converted, but those immediately engaged in the work, expressed the belief that not less than one hundred persons passed into the Kingdom of Grace.

The meeting had now received such momentum that it was impossible to close it on Monday.  It was put in charge of brethren who were not immediately needed at the Conference, and was continued nearly the entire week.

On this trip to the Conference, I was permitted to enjoy the companionship of Rev. N.J.  Aplin, who rendered signal service in the meeting on the Sabbath.

The Conference at Baraboo was one of unusual interest.  The greetings of the Preachers were cordial, as they always are where persons make sacrifices and put forth labor in a common cause.  It was the first visit of Bishop Scott to the Conference, and his urbanity and self-sacrificing labors endeared him to all.  The business of the Conference was done in the spirit of the Master, but an unhappy trial made the session a very protracted one.  This being the second year of my Presiding Eldership, the Disciplinary limit required several removals, but I need not give them in detail, as they can be ascertained, if desirable, by consulting the Minutes.

On our return from the Conference we reached Fall River on Saturday evening, and remained there over the Sabbath.  On arriving at the forks of the roads on the crown of the prairie, the several Preachers who were in company halted for a proper distribution among the good people.  Rev. A.P.  Allen, the inimitable joker, who had served as Pastor on the charge, installed himself master of ceremonies, and proceeded to divide up the company.  After assigning the balance to their respective quarters, he said, “Now, I guess the young Presiding Elder and the old Pastor had better go to Aunt Martha’s, as that is the place where they do up the chicken-fixings scientifically.”  We were delightfully entertained by Rev. E.J.  Smith and family, with whom, it will be remembered, I became acquainted in 1845.  On Sabbath morning, accompanied by Brother and Sister Smith and their daughters, now Mrs. Pedrick and Mrs. Coe, of Ripon, we attended religious services at the school house in Fall River, where the serving fell to the lot of the writer.