a feature in our work which at the present time has been entirely laid aside. This year's labour was a good introduction to his future position as presiding elder.

At the Conference of 1796 he was appointed presiding elder of Richmond District, which consisted of five large circuits, lying in the eastern and southern parts of Virginia. The office of presiding elder is one of great responsibility, and at that early day in our history it was one of most arduous duties, next in labours and importance to the bishopric. Presiding elders had to travel over the whole district each quarter, holding a quarterly meeting on each circuit, and preaching many times going and coming, the people always considering it a favour to sit under their preaching. The office, then, required a man of great physical strength, of good or superior preaching talents, and a comprehensive mind, so that all the interests of his district would be cared for according to their relative importance. Such a man was Mr. M'Kendree-fully competent for its duties and for its trials.

He continued to preside over this district three years; but at the close of the first year there were added to it three more circuits, in the extreme western parts of the Conference. These circuits lay in the mountainous regions, where the settlements were as yet few, and the difficulties of travelling very great. His ministry was greatly blessed to the good of the whole district; many sinners were awakened, converted, and added to the Church, and the field of labour was enlarged.

In 1799 he was removed to the Baltimore Conference, and placed over a large district, containing nine circuits, lying along the Potomac River, in the States of Maryland and Virginia, and extending from the Alleghany Moun

tains on the west, to the Chesapeake Bay on the east. At the close of the year he was transferred back to his former field of labour, the Richmond District. This was the last district to which he received an appointment in the Eastern States.

Mr. M'Kendree had not more than completed the first round on his district, arranging the work, and receiving the congratulations of his old friends, when Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat passed through his district, on their western tour to visit the Conference and circuits west of the Alleghany Mountains. Mr. Poythress, who had been in charge of the Kentucky District for some years, was failing both in body and mind. The work was a very important one, lying so far from the centre, and the bishops had selected Mr. M'Kendree to fill the office of presiding elder.

They immediately opened their designs to him, and he seems readily to have fallen in with them, for in about three hours the whole business was arranged, and they started off on their journey. Mr. M'Kendree says, speaking of it at least thirty years after:

"I was without my money, books, or clothes. These were all at a distance, and I had no time to go after them; but I was not in debt, therefore unembarrassed. Of moncys due me I collected one hundred dollars, bought cloth for a coat, carried it to Holston, and left it with a tailor in the bounds of my new district. The bishops continued their course my business was to take care of their horses, and wait on them, for they were both infirm old men."

They passed southward on their journey through Abington, and from thence down the Holston River, into Tennessee, crossing over into the Valley of Clinch River. They

reached the station, on the outskirts of the settlements, and forming a company with some others, on Monday, September 27, 1800, they began their route direct to Kentucky. They pushed forward with all possible speed, and on Friday crossed the Kentucky River. The next day they came to Bethel Academy, in Jessamine County, where there was also one of the largest societies in the West. The weather was very unfavourable, and the bishops were both unwell, especially Bishop Asbury; but the young men stood the journey with much fortitude.

The Western Conference, for the year 1800, was held about the first of October, in the Bethel Academy, in Kentucky. This is the first Western Conference of which we have any correct minutes preserved, and we will glance at it a moment. It appears from the minutes, that the number of travelling preachers present at the Conference, including the two bishops, was ten. The Conference lasted two days; two preachers were admitted on trial, one located; fourteen local, and four travelling ministers were elected and ordained to the office of deacon in the Church. Of those who were present, now, after a period of fifty-one years, two are still living, William Burke and Benjamin Northcot. Two others who were members of the Conference, but not present, are still living,-Henry Smith and Thomas Wilkerson.

Immediately after the adjournment of the Conference, the bishops, M'Kendree, and the preachers whose work lay along this route, made a visit to a great portion of the societies. They passed from the centre of Kentucky, south-westwardly, to Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, and there they came, for the first time, in contact with a camp-meeting. They travelled on together, preaching and

informing themselves of the moral character and the wants of the country, till they came to Knoxville. After spending a few days there, they parted-the bishops to attend the Carolina Conferences, and M'Kendree to commence his "rounds" of quarterly visitation.

The Kentucky District was composed of thirteen circuits, some of which were temporarily joined together for the convenience of the presiding elder. Of these thirteen circuits, two, Miami and Scioto, lay in the State of Ohio, stretching along the Ohio River about one hundred miles, and reaching back into the interior as far as seventy miles. Six of the circuits lay in the State of Kentucky, three in Tennessee, and two in Virginia. This territory now includes nearly six Conferences, supporting several hundred preachers; but at that time M'Kendree had but thirteen assistants in traversing the wide field. Nothing but the deepest devotion to the glorious labour of salvation could have sustained them in their arduous work.

Mr. M'Kendree entered upon his western labours with all the ardour of his energetic nature, and the influence of his example was soon felt in the ranks of his itinerant brethren; for they saw that a leader of such activity and energy would never be content with any sluggish movement in his ranks.

The first year that M'Kendree spent in Kentucky was one of great labour and great success. The Church was no longer languid; a new spirit scemed to be infused into her, and victory perched upon her banners wherever they were elevated. Souls were converted, and societies established in every new settlement.

In the summer of 1802 Mr. M'Kendree made his first visit to the State of Ohio, in company with Mr. Henry

Smith, who was then on Miami and Scioto Circuits, occupying all the south-western part of Ohio, the region that includes the first Methodist church in Ohio, the ruins of which still remain, a striking contrast with the hundreds of commodious Methodist chapels now sprinkled over the State. They went over a portion of the ground, preaching near Hillsborough, and then passing down to Gatch's, on the Little Miami River, where the quarterly meeting was to be held.

"Our worthy M'Kendree preached one of his soul-stirring and heart-searching sermons to a large congregation for that country. It was a time of power and love—a soulreviving season; and some shouted aloud for joy. To this meeting many came from far some on foot, others on horseback; but on Sunday, the 20th, (June,) the congregation was gathered under the trees, where a stand and a few seats had been prepared. Those who had no seats stood or sat on the ground. M'Kendree preached one of his ingenious and overwhelming sermons, from Jeremiah viii, 22. He took hold of the doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation, and held it up in its true character. His arguments were unanswerable; and such was the divine. influence attending the word, that he carried the whole congregation with him. The very place appeared to be shaken with the power of God. The people fell in every direction."

This meeting resulted in much good. The work in Ohio, from a variety of causes over which the circuit preacher had no control, had been for some time in a languid state; but from this meeting they were roused up to a redoubling of their diligence, and the cause began to prosper. But this is not an isolated instance of M'Ken