LETTERS FROM THE WEST.

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this is a great matter. You know there are a great many invalids; some made such by casualties, some by diseases, and some by morbid imagination. Now to bless all these classes and cases by furnishing them something to make them laugh, or, in the cases of those that belong to the latter class, to even enable them to smile, would be a wonderful kindness to poor suffering humanity. The person who does it will fill a prominent niche in the temple of fame. I hope you have not given up the effort.

To Tillie, Crawfordsville, Ind., October 10:

How is my little pet this morning? Healthy, happy, smiling, singing, talking? Has Jack Frost made you a visit yet? Did you see him before old Sol chased him away? Who is old Sol? Get mamma to introduce you to him. I think you will enjoy his acquaintance. He is a very fine old gentleman. He does a great deal of good in the world. I think you have seen Jack Frost, with his white hair; he is a rather mischievous old personage; he bites little girls' toes and fingers when he can get a nip at them. He also destroys the flowers and sometimes the fruits. Still, he sometimes does good. He makes the atmosphere more pure and healthy. He increases our strength and comfort. He makes our ice. This you know is very useful for household comforts. He gives little girls and boys their icy sliding-places. Without him we could have no sleigh-riding. So you see he is not to be despised or rejected though he occasionally does a little mischief. Little girls and boys must take care of their toes and fingers and ears, and then they may play with Jack Frost, and receive from him many favors.

CHAPTER XII.

1857-1859.

Visits the Pacific Coast-Trans-Mississippi Conferences—The trouble at Bonham, Texas.

IT

T was arranged in the episcopal plan for Bishop Janes this year (1857) to visit officially the Oregon and California Conferences; consequently but little work was assigned him in the spring on the Atlantic coast. He held the Baltimore Conference in Baltimore, March 4-18. The Conference, by the authority delegated to it from the preceding General Conference, was divided by its own vote into the Baltimore and East Baltimore, and the Bishop made out the appointments accordingly. Bishop Janes at this session, with his two eldest daughters, was the guest of his esteemed friend, the Rev. William Hamilton, D.D. From Baltimore he went to the Providence Conference, at Bristol, Rhode Island, April 1, at the close of which he returned to New York, and, after settling the family at Mount Wesley, began at once his preparations for the tour to the Pacific coast. The "Christian Advocate and Journal," noticing his departure, remarks:

Truly are our Bishops "general superintendents; " two of them are in the Eastern States, one is in the extreme West,

VISITS THE PACIFIC COast.

211

another in the Middle States, one on the way to California and Oregon, and another on the seas for Europe, to look after our missions in Germany, Norway, and Sweden. This is apostolic episcopacy," succession" or no succession."

66

The "California Christian Advocate," of June 5, announces his safe arrival at San Francisco:

us.

We announce, with thanksgiving to a gracious Providence, the advent of this devoted and efficient Christian Bishop among He came by the "Golden Age." His early arrival contemplates as general and thorough travel and observation on the coast as may be practicable before the Conference sessions. Some six weeks or two months will be spent in California. He will attend the camp-meeting at Santa Cruz, on Saturday and Sunday next, and return to this city by San Jose early next week. His plan of travel is not yet matured. Our friends may expect to be advised of his coming, in different communities, in time to announce public services, as it is understood the Bishop will preach on week days or evenings, as well as Sabbaths, so far as his health will allow.

The work of the Methodist Episcopal Church was rapidly expanding in this distant and extended territory. The Oregon and California Mission Conference was formed in 1848, with the Rev. William Roberts, of Salem, Oregon, for superintendent. "In the spring of 1849 Mr. Roberts had timbers hewed, split, rived, shaved, and prepared for the erection of a new church, and shipped from Oregon to San Francisco. There was not a sawmill on the coast between Alaska and the isthmus of Panama." The Rev. William Taylor, of the Baltimore Conference, and the Rev. Isaac Owen,

CHAPTER XII.

1857-1859.

Visits the Pacific Coast-Trans-Mississippi Conferences-The trouble at Bonham, Texas.

IT

T was arranged in the episcopal plan for Bishop Janes this year (1857) to visit officially the Oregon and California Conferences; consequently but little work was assigned him in the spring on the Atlantic coast. He held the Baltimore Conference in Baltimore, March 4-18. The Conference, by the authority delegated to it from the preceding General Conference, was divided by its own vote into the Baltimore and East Baltimore, and the Bishop made out the appointments accordingly. Bishop Janes at this session, with his two eldest daughters, was the guest of his esteemed friend, the Rev. William Hamilton, D.D. From Baltimore he went to the Providence Conference, at Bristol, Rhode Island, April 1, at the close of which he returned to New York, and, after settling the family at Mount Wesley, began at once his preparations for the tour to the Pacific coast. The "Christian Advocate and Journal," noticing his departure, remarks:

Truly are our Bishops "general superintendents;" two of them are in the Eastern States, one is in the extreme West,

VISITS THE PACIFIC Coast.

213

tled, and so many arrangements to be made, that my mind and time are constantly taxed. But I am not sorry. It is good to be fully employed. I love to work, I feel so much brighter and happier than I do when I indulge in sluggishness and inactivity. I have sometimes wished you were with me, but during the last two weeks I have been glad you were not. The summer is not the season to travel in California. The heat by day, the chilliness of the night, and the terrible dustiness of the roads, make it both uncomfortable and unhealthy traveling. The dust becomes as fine as flour, and is inhaled with every breath. I find it hard upon the lungs. Then the expense of traveling is enormous.

A note from the "Pacific Christian Advocate," Salem, Oregon, of this period, shows the route of travel which the Bishop pursued:

Bishop Janes is en route for Oregon, via Yreka, Jacksonville, and Umpqua. He is the first Bishop who has attempted this land trip. His visit will, doubtless, be of great service to the interests of religion on this coast. He will not, probably,

reach Salem and Portland until after Conference.

From Yreka, California, he writes to Mrs. Janes, July 9:

Since I last wrote you I have been traveling on mule-back, and preaching nearly every evening. The sun sets so late, and the people work so long, that our evening meetings commence very late. It makes short nights for me, and I do not get as much sleep as nature requires. It is very trying to be so long without intelligence of your welfare, or evidences of your mindfulness and love. I have handled the letter of the 20th of May until the envelope is so soiled I can scarcely read a word of the superscription; but it must last me until I receive others. I am now approaching the Oregon line. I shall, probably, reach that territory to-morrow. I am, I suppose, about three hun