LETTERS FROM ILLINOIS. 189 faded and died? Will there be any when I reach home? I suppose the last rose of summer is gone, but, how about the altheas, are they all gone too? Well, if they are, I expect I shall have roses and lilies fresh and fragrant in the countenances of mamma, Lizzie, and Tillie. They will never die there. Those are the most precious ones, too. The diamond eye, the rosy lips, and lily cheeks of my loved ones have a wonderful enchantment in them. I hope to see them soon. That will be a luxury.both for my eyes and heart. I rather guess they will be glad to see me by the time I get home. If they are not I will go away again, though I should feel very sad. A letter from the Illinois Conference, at Paris, Illinois, October 9, to Elizabeth, closes the correspondence on this tour: After the close of the Southern Illinois Conference I found myself very much indisposed. I remained in Alton three days and then went to St. Louis, where I remained until yesterday morning. Bishop Simpson was with me there, and the interview was pleasant. I heard him preach a good sermon on Sunday morning, from the text, “If a man die shall he live again?" The topics were, the immortality of our souls and the resurrection of our bodies. Grand topics! It is one of my old texts and subjects. Of course, we do not preach alike from the same text. Two minds so unlike each other could not make two sermons alike. This was a very excellent one, and made a deep and good impression on the audience. The whole country about here is very sickly. In some places there are hardly enough well people to take care of the sick. I am informed that in some counties they have been unable to hold the courts on account of the prevailing sickness. . . . I have just received a letter from your sister Lottie. I presume a little angel, with words of love, is winging his way here from Mount Wesley. I have a very strong home feeling these days. I want to come and bask again in the beams of the bright blue eyes that are there. The looks of tenderness and words of love I find there are a very fragrant ointment to my soul. With me, "There is no place like home." I, however, have some very important duties to perform before I can visit my sweet home. I must address myself to them in the name and strength of God. It makes coming home much more pleasant when I can feel that my duty is all well performed— my official obligations all met. Obliged in December to make a journey westward and to leave Mrs. Janes ill, he writes her: It made me feel sad, as it always does, to leave you sick yesterday. But my obligation to leave was imperious. I could, therefore, do no otherwise than commend you to God, and prosecute my duties to the Church. I recollect in the days of our courtship (days of fragrant reminiscences and sweetest memories) you talked about taking your Maker as your husband. I do not know but you will have to do so yet. Well, I shall not be jealous of him; you can love him, and cherish his society, and seek his most intimate fellowship without objection on my part. Indeed, I pray that he will shelter you in his pavilion, that he will cover you with his feathers, that he will make his abode with you, that he will be the portion of your heart and your rejoicing forever. If God dwells with you, you will be happy, whether any one else is with you or not. All others are inferiors. "Where he vital breathes there must be joy." May his smile gild with perpetual sunshine the habitation and the heart of my dear wife. LETTERS FROM BALTIMORE. · 191 CHAPTER XI. 1856. Baltimore and New England-General Conference of 1856; HE first glimpse which we have of the Bishop TH in 1856 is in a letter of February 20, in which he recommends to Dr. Durbin a north-western tour of visitation for Pastor Hedstrom, the founder of Methodist missions among the Scandinavians. The pastor" ever found a wise counselor and sympathizing friend in Bishop Janes, and it will never be fully known how much his success was due to the clear head and open hand of the Bishop. According to the General Minutes, Bishop Janes did not hold any of the spring Conferences of this year, except the New England. But, as usual, he was present at several of them, assisting those Bishops especially who were in ill health. From the session of the Baltimore Conference, held in old Light-street church, Baltimore, on March 5, he writes to his wife: Lewis started with me at four o'clock on Tuesday morning and brought me to Morristown in season for the early train. I arrived in Newark in time to take the eight o'clock A. M. train for this city. As you well know, yesterday was a most beautiful day. My early ride was a very pleasant one. It was decidedly one of the most lovely morning scenes I ever saw. The day-break was mellow and rich beyond description. The morning star seemed like a diamond divinely set in the radiant diadem of morning. The earth beautifully robed in emblematic white, the heavens thickly studded with twinkling gems, the gates of day opening wider and wider, and the flood of light spreading farther and farther and glowing brighter and brighter, while all around was serene and all within was calm. I felt truly devotional and happy, having not only the inspiration of nature, but I believe also the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. . . . This large Conference met this morning. Bishops Waugh and Scott are in somewhat improved health. I do not think they can endure much fatigue. . . . I should much like to look into the bee-hive at home this morning. I wonder if you are all as orderly and industrious and sweet as the honey-making and honey-eating bees. Have you any room to spare? Can you entertain a few angels? They do not require much room, nor are they very particular about their accommodations. They have more respect to their treatment than to their circumstances. During the session Bishop Janes preached a missionary sermon, made a speech at the Conference missionary anniversary, and also preached a sermon to local preachers. In reference to this he says: "I preached yesterday to a larger number of local preachers and a larger audience, with more freedom and a little less time, than when you heard me preach to the local preachers in New York." In this sermon he not only set forth the historical position of "local preachers," and their importance as an integral part of the Church's organization, but also LETTERS FROM NEW ENGLAND. 193 sought to inspire them with a high ideal of their vocation, and to encourage them to the greatest efficiency by study and application. The following letter to Mrs. Janes shows how the death of a missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, returned from China, touched his heart. It was written from the Conference Room, March 18: I have just received your letter of yesterday, informing me of the peaceful end of Brother Belden. Heaven is enriched. He is glorified. Possibly the militant Church has not suffered loss. For aught we know, disembodied saints may be as useful missionaries as embodied ones. I regret I could not have been present to have witnessed the closing scene. Others were there who could minister to his necessities, and it seems he found the grace of God sufficient for him. May his wife and children ever prove its sufficiency! I am very glad Dr. Stevenson and Brother Cross saw him before he died. him be buried in our vault. Let From the New England Conference, Salem, Mass., March 31, to Mrs. Janes: I have reached this place, the seat of the New England Conference. I had a safe passage; a little delayed by an accident to a freight train. Reached Boston in time to go and hear Mr. Gough. His description of water was very fine-eloquent. The address was well received. But such anecdote-telling, fun-making speeches, will never permanently establish a great moral cause which has to battle against man's cupidity and depraved appetites. As we have all classes to deal with, we need all kinds of agents to act upon them. Mr. Gough has his sphere. The temperance cause has a revived interest in Boston. I hope it will be generous and continuous. It is a |