THIRTY YEARS

IN THE

ITINERANCY,

BY

REV. W.G. MILLER, D.D.

1875

DEDICATION.

PREFACE.

The following pages were prepared in the midst of the taxinglabors of the Ministerial calling. The materials have been drawnfrom a multitude of sources, and, though the recollections ofindividuals have not been entirely harmonious in all cases, thefacts and dates are believed to be mainly reliable. The generalplan, it will be observed, contemplates a brief record of theCharges and Ministers of the Wisconsin Conference, rather thanfurnish a sketch of my own services. To place the data, however, insuitable relations, and render it acceptable to the general reader,it has been deemed advisable to let the record follow the line ofmy labors during the thirty years of my Itinerant life. Thepublication of the book at the present time, is the result of mysevere illness during the past year, and the generous, appreciativeaction taken by the District Conferences. A record of many otherCharges and Ministers had been prepared, but, to my regret, thelimits of the volume would not permit its insertion. Hoping thatthese pages may revive many pleasant recollections, furnishinteresting and profitable reading for the fireside, and preservematerial for the future historian, they are committed to thegenerous consideration of the public.

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Providential Intervention.--Nature and Providence alikeMysterious.--An Unseen Hand shaping Human Events.--The Author urgedto enter the Ministry.--Shrinks from the Responsibility.--Flies toModern Tarshish.--Heads for Iowa.--Gets Stuck in the Mud.--Smittenby a Northern Gale.--Turns Aside to see the Eldorado.--FindsHimself Face to Face with the Itinerancy.

CHAPTER II.

The Young Itinerant.--In a Lumber Mill at Waupun.--TheSurprise.--An Interval of Reflection.--A Graceful Surrender.--TheOutfit minus the Horse and Saddlebags.--.Receives Instruction.--TheFinal Struggle.--Arrives at Brothertown.--Reminiscences of the RedMan.--The Searching Scrutiny.--The Brothertown People.--TheMission.--Rev. Jesse Halstead--Rev. H.W. Frink.

CHAPTER III.

Exhorter in Charge.--The First Sabbath.--The SuperbSinging.--Class and Prayer Meetings.--A Revival.--StockbridgeCounted In.--A Remonstrance.--Another Exhorter Found.--Decide toHold a Great Meeting.--The Loaves and Fishes in the Lad's Baskettoo Few.--Chief Chicks.--Conversion of a NotedCharacter.--Quarterly Meeting at Fond du Lac.--Licensed toPreach.--Camp Meeting at Clason's Prairie.--Camp Meeting atBrothertown.--Church Enterprise.--Missionary Merchant.--LoggingBee.--Successive Labors.

CHAPTER IV.

Fond du Lac.--First Sermon.--Early Presiding Elders.--Rev. H.W.Reed.--Rev. James R. Goodrich.--Rev. Jesse Halstead the FirstPastor.--Rev. Harvey S. Bronson.--First Class.--QuarterlyMeeting.--Delegation from Waupun.--Rev. Wm. H. Sampson.--ExtendedDistrict.--A Disastrous Fire.--Outside Appointments.--Stowe'sChapel.--Preacher's Home.--Ethiel Humiston.--Byron.--Rev. Joseph T.Lewis.--Rev. M.L. Noble--Rev. H. B. Colman.

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