Those who united with the new organization represented different forms of church life. This necessitated mutual conference and mutual concession and the result was that each generously conceded to the other, freedom to follow his personal conviction and understanding in matters of faith and practice.

In doctrine the church is Arminian. Its confession of faith consists of thirteen brief articles and sets forth the generally accepted view of the Trinity, authority of the Scriptures, justification, regeneration, the Christian Sabbath, and the future state. It holds that baptism and the Lord's Supper should be observed by all Christians, but the mode of baptism, the manner of observing the Lord's Supper, and the practice of foot washing is left to the judgment of each individual. The baptism of children is left to the belief of the parents.

We believe in the only true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one.

We believe that this triune God created the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, and that the same are sustained and governed by Him.

We believe in Jesus Christ; that He is very God and man; and that He is Savior and Mediator of the whole human race.

We believe in the Holy Spirit; that He is equal in being with the Father and the Son; that He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that he comforts the faithful and guides them into all truth.

We believe that the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, and that it reveals the only true way to salvation.

We believe that the sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper are to be used by the Church, and should be practiced by all Christians, but the mode of baptism and the manner of observing the Lord's Supper are always to be left to the judgment of the individual.

We believe that man is fallen from original righteousness, and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness.

We believe that penitent sinners are justified before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that regeneration is the renewal of the heart of a man after the image of God, through the Word, by the act of the Holy Spirit.

We believe that sanctification is the work of God's grace, through the Word and the Spirit, by which the believer is enabled to consecrate himself and all he has to the service of God.

We believe that the Christian Sabbath is divinely appointed; that it is commemorative of our Lord's resurrection; and that it should be reverently observed as the day of holy rest and of public worship.

We believe in the resurrection of the dead; the future general judgment and the eternal state of rewards, in which the righteous dwell in endless life, and the wicked in endless punishment.

The polity of the church is molded after the American form of government, the country in which the church was born. The power is in the pew and not in the pulpit. Classes are composed of those who unite themselves into a body and elect their own officers. Charges are composed of one or more churches. The conference superintendent, ministers, and official members of the church or churches com-

pose the quarterly conference. The annual conference is composed of the ministers, licensed and ordained, of the several charges composing the conference, a lay delegate being elected by each charge, and the conference meeting annually. Both the quarterly and annual conferences have only administrative powers. The General Conference is composed of an equal number of ministers and laymen, elected by the membership of the charges. It meets every four years and is vested with legislative and judicial power, restricted only by the denominational constitution.

Its ministers are ordained after completing a prescribed course of study, to the office of an elder. This is the only ordination practiced by the church. No distinction is made as to sex. Bishops are elected for four years and are without Episcopal authority, conference superintendents for one year, and both are eligible for reelection. Pastors are appointed annually and there is no time limit. Official distinction in the ministry is elective, for a term only.

The ministry of the new organization was evangelistic and under the preaching, converts multiplied very rapidly. The movement extended and many preaching places were established in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. In the early years of the nineteenth century the converts were gathered into classes and as early as 1811 in a letter written by Bishop Christian Newcomer we find this explicit passage: "We have now formed our members into classes as much as possible." Circuits naturally followed and it is said that Newcomer was the first to travel a definite circuit, and that it was large enough to require ten weeks to make one round and reach all the preaching places.

As early as 1812, rules were adopted with regulations for the better governing of the people, but it was not until 1815 that the Confession of Faith and the Discipline were adopted.

With the increase of preaching places came an increase in the number of annual conferences. The Original Conference (Hagerstown) was organized in the year 1800; the Miami in 1810; the Muskingum, 1818; the Scioto, 1825; the Indiana, 1830, and the Wabash, 1835. Other conferences followed in the west.

In the Original (Hagerstown) Conference there was a rapid expansion, and at its session in 1830, this Original Conference was divided into the Pennsylvania Conference and the Virginia Conference—the Pennsylvania soon becoming responsible for the entire work through-

out the state of Pennsylvania and that portion of Maryland in and about the city of Baltimore, while the Virginia Conference took charge of the work in Virginia, much of Maryland, and, what is now West Virginia.

Because of the long distances to travel and the task of procuring entertainment for such a large body, the Pennsylvania Conference, in 1838, took steps to divide its territory and membership. In the division the Allegheny Conference was formed and was given very largely the territory it now has under its jurisdiction, and became the ninth conference formed.

"From the beginning Allegheny Conference has been one of the most aggressive in the Church. The conference has always stood faithfully by all of the general interests of the Church. Bishop William Hanby, Bishop E. B. Kephart and I. L. Kephart, for nineteen years editor of the Telescope, were reared in this territory and the latter two were members of this conference for a time. W. R. Funk, D.D., publisher; H. F. Shupe, D.D., editor of The Watchword, and S. S. Hough, D.D., secretary of Foreign Missions, are members of this conference. J. R. King, D.D.; Rev. J. M. Lesher, and Rev. F. A. Risley are also members.

"Prominent in educational work of the Church we may name E. B. Kephart, I. L. Kephart, C. J. Kephart, S. B. Allen, H. A. Thompson, D. D. DeLong, G. A. Funkhouser, George Keister, W. J. Zuck, A. L. DeLong, W. S. Eversole, L. Keister, J. T. Spangler, E. U. Hoenshell, L. F. John, and J. B. Ressler. Mrs. Lizzie Derrickson, founder of the Women's Missionary Association, Mrs. L. R. Harford, president of the above-named association, and Mrs. F. A. Risley were reared in our conference."

Since the above was written various changes have taken place as some of the above have gone to their crowning and others have been called to other fields of activity, but we believe the mantle of these faithful ones has fallen upon others who shall carry forward the tasks of the Kingdom.

Members present: Jacob Erb, Bishop; William Beighel; Harmonious Ow, Chairman; Daniel Worman; John R. Sitman, Secretary; Jacob Ritter; Joseph Zumbrose (Zumbro); Isaac Coombs; George Miller; Martin Houser; John Rathfon; Henry Metzger; John Wallace; William B. Lewis; Adolphus Harnden.

Members absent : Peter Swartz, Abram Harner, Richard Cutlough, David Harner, James Alway, John P. Foutz, Henry Kephart, William Cramer, Joseph Barger, David Fleck, Christian Grumling, Mathias Kline, David Runk, John Rider, Moses Lawson.

Resolved, That David Runk be continued in his present standing for one year. He shall be accountable to this conference for his further usefulness in the ministry.

Preachers Stations: Allegheny District, J. R. Sitman, P.E.; Juniata Circuit, John Rathfon; Huntington Circuit, J. Wallace, C. W. Beighel; Clearfield Circuit, Isaac Coombs; Westmoreland Circuit, George Miller; Washington Circuit, Jacob Ritter; Allegheny Circuit, A. Harnden.

	Salary	Expenses	Presents	Deficiencies
Jacob Ritter..........	$131.47	$10.00	$11.00	$34.53
John Wallace .........	66.50			20.00
John Rathfon ........	137.75	7.00	7.75	29.25
Moses R. Lawson......	66.50	15.00		24.50
William Beighel.......	86.92	4.85	17.63
G. Miller.............	97.09	5.69	5.64	62.91
A. Harnden ..........	50.54		43.95	29.46
Isaac Coombs.........	112.18	9.91	5.67	57.71
J. R. Sitman..........	155.58	15.72	7.50	20.14
Sum total of deficiencies				$196.50