HEROIC CONDUCT.

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I allude to the subject only as matter of history, to illustrate the conflicts of the times-times which tried men's souls-but above all to set forth the Christly and heroic spirit of our Bishop. Greater self-possession, a better temper, and more firmness and discrimination in a presiding and responsible officer could not have been displayed than he showed in so trying an emergency. There was no scare, no precipitate fleeing, no rashness of any kind. The sermon and the ordinations of the hour were properly attended to, and the next day-not on the Sabbath, but the next day-the business of the Conference was regularly finished, and the Conference adjourned sine die, as is the custom. Here upon our own soil was as heroic a spectacle as can be found in the annals of Huguenots, Puritans, or Covenanters.

CHAPTER XIII.

1859-1861.

Two New York Conferences-Upper Iowa-Peoria-Michigan— General Conference at Buffalo-Secession in the Baltimore Conference-Western New York and the North-west again-North Indiana, New Hampshire, Oneida Conferences.

BISHOP JANES met the New York East Con

ference at New Haven, Conn., April 12-20, and the New York, at Kingston, N. Y., May 4-12, 1859. From Rhinebeck, (Wildercliff,) the residence of Miss Mary Garrettson, he drops a word to Mrs. Janes, May 2:

I expect God has greeted you this morning. Permit your husband to greet you in the Lord. His face shines upon me. "I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God." Yesterday was a profitable Sabbath. I preached twice. I am also enjoying my visit to this ancient home of Methodistic piety. The associations are quite inspiring. God's angels and saints have dwelt together here for a long time. I trust they will ever

more.

To Mrs. Janes, from Kingston, N. Y., May 5:

Conference commenced yesterday rather pleasantly. I have great trials before me during the session. He can heal the hearts I wound. He can overrule the mistakes I make for the furtherance of his kingdom and even the good of his servants. What is still better, he can keep me from making mistakes. For this I pray and trust. For the sake of my brethren and the

Church for this I am very anxious. In God's name I shall do the best I can and leave results to the Infinite.

From Saratoga, May 17, to Mrs. Janes:

I enjoyed my last brief visit at home very much; indeed, all I was capable of enjoying any thing. I was so depressed in my nervous system in consequence of the long-continued excitement of Conference, that I was hardly capable of any enjoyment of body or mind. These reactions are terrible. They unfit me for any duty or pleasure. It requires the utmost effort at selfgovernment to maintain propriety of deportment or devotion of spirit. I wonder they have not broken down my health long ago. So it is God takes care of me.

The Bishop was again in Iowa, and from Iowa City, the seat of the Upper Iowa Conference, he writes to Mrs. Janes, August 23, 1859:

I have just arrived here in safety and comfortable health; my journey has been a prosperous one. I am hoping and praying for a pleasant conference session. . . . If every thing around us is not bright, there are bright things. The promises are never dimmed by circumstances. The smile of God is always bright and cheering. The hope of heaven is always inspiring and gladdening. There is always some light in the tabernacle of the righteous.

Again, to Mrs. Janes, from Iowa City, Aug. 26:

The season, the past conference year, has been one of great financial oppression. Some of the preachers have suffered want. Still, they are generally in good spirits. We had a most excellent missionary meeting last evening. I talked to them awhile on the great interest. This morning I had a communication from an interesting, pious, educated young lady, offering to go on a foreign mission. In Christianity there is hope for our poor humanity. I see no other agency that can

adequately meet a sinful world's necessity. May God hasten the coming of Messiah's reign!

From Kewanee, Ill., the seat of the Peoria Conference, the Bishop writes, September 5, to Miss Elizabeth:

Providence smiles on me. I trust he also cheers you with the light of his countenance. Yesterday was a day of much religious interest to me and the people of this place. So many attended the love-feast in the morning that they were obliged to occupy two churches. At half past ten o'clock I preached to a densely crowded congregation. The windows and doors were open, and many crowded around the house and listened very attentively to the close of the service. Just as many stood inside the house as could possibly do so. I believe I never preached to a more crowded auditory. I had pleasure in preaching. After sermon I ordained nineteen deacons. In the afternoon Brother Poe preached an excellent sermon to a full and interested congregation. After his sermon I ordained eight elders. I think the public services yesterday made a strong and useful impression upon the public mind. I hope eternity will show saving results.

From Kewanee, Ill., to Mrs. Janes, Sept. 9,:

The Conference has been to me a very trying one. We have had some of the most perplexing Church difficulties I ever had in my past experience. I hope we have disposed of them wisely. I have had very little sleep for three days and nights-all the time under great mental anxiety, intense study to devise means and measures to remove the difficulties. The Conference adjourned calmly, and I hope the future will be peaceful and prosperous. My mind is peaceful. I feel that God has taken me to his heart. It is marvelous how he could do it, but it is done through grace in Christ. I am cleaving to him with full purpose of heart. My aching body allows no more. Love to the dear children.

INVITED TO REMOVE TO BALTIMORE.

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From the Michigan Conference at Marshall, Mich., to Miss Elizabeth, Sept. 14:

The religious sentiments of your letter are excellent and well expressed. There is something sublime in going to heaven as an old, scarred soldier of the cross-one who can recount many conflicts with opposing influences, and triumph over them through grace. Still this is not so weighty a consideration, since we are saved and glorified not by the merit of works, but by the merits of Christ. In heaven we shall give Christ all the glory, and take no praise to ourselves on account of what we have done. Again, is it certain that those who die young will not be engaged in as high and glorious activities as they would have been if they had been continued in the Church militant? If they are, will not the reward be equally glorious? May it not be even more glorious? Is there, then, any loss in an early translation from an earthly to a heavenly sphere of action? In addition to this, while thus employed in heaven should we not be more happy than amid the struggles and conflicts of earth? If so, would it not be gain to die early? After all, is it not best to leave the question with our heavenly Father? Can we be so safe and so happy as when the all-wise God chooses our estate and our sphere of useful and glorious activities? Is it not best to submit the whole question to his love and wisdom? If he gives us earthly and probationary life and labor, shall we not accept it and be faithful and happy in it? And if he says, "Come up higher," and admits us to a diviner vocation and a more ecstatic fruition, shall we not adoringly receive it?

In the autumn of this year Bishop Janes was written to by Mr. John Hurst, a prominent and esteemed layman of Baltimore, Maryland, with the view of inducing him to change his residence from New York to that city, in so many respects the