When the year closed he thought the people would fairly get on their knees to have him stay.

How shocked he was when they plainly informed him he must go.

Again came the tug of war. I had no place exepting Crainsville, the poorest charge on the District. He all, but refused to go. His brother-in-law was talking of going west on account of his health. Now if he goes, I'll do my best to get his place for you. That pacified.

But his brother-in-law decided to remain where he was. He has since been living in Colorado and Phoenix and California. Now it was Crainsville or nothing. No Elder would touch him.

To Crainsville he went and worked along till next May when General Conference met in Chicago.

To that he made a visit. Returning he reached Cleveland, where seized by a stroke, he fell dead.

I wrote his wife I would gladly be of any service I could. His remains were taken to Meadville, but I had no invitation to attend.

Some what later I recieved a letter from Crainsville. Which gave me a great overhalling for the way I had treated Mr. C. I kept that letter, and in due time some writings of Mrs C. came into my possession. They were identical. Thus cloud that chapter. She too had joined the immortals.

I was greatly disappointed in one man, Ryan. When I first met him, it was at the Preachers meeting. He was quite inviting in appearance, good singer and full of promise. I found him in Asbury. I announced the hymm. He joined lustly in 2 verses, then his mouth closed. At one time there was an Epworth gathering at a private house. He was

Many queer things his people charged against him, and he must move.

He had spent a Sabboth at Mills Grove and informed me he had a call to go there.

I will not stand in your way. If they want you, there you will go.

Holding my 4th Quarter Conference, I went to the home of the leading member, and in our conversation I asked him whom they wanted.

It is not so much whom we want, as whom we don't want. We don't want Ryan.

I exchanged him for someone else.

How funny things turned out. Graham gave me Dayton and there I found Ryan.

His people were up in arms. He had charged the girls with bad names. Naturally the people were down on him.

One time in the winter, he was attending a funeral. As he kept no horse, one of the members offered his. It was refused and he rode his bicycle at the head of the procession. That did not add to his popularity.

Later he informed me that one BAKER in Dakota desired to come to our Conference, and would exchange with him.

I was not slow in making the exchange. Baker and family were soon in the Parsonage. For a number of years he has been among us, a very acceptable preacher, and his children have turned out well. Ryans career I never knew.

Every year we had our Preachers meetings and Epworth gatherings. They were seasons of great good, both to the members and people. The leagues grew in inpressive good influence.

At an Epworth gathering at Ripley we secured the services of PROF MONTGOMERY of Allegheny College, who gave a fine lecture on electricity. For the first time that audience saw the xray. How astonished we all were to see how the ray went thro a thick song book and then thro the human hand.

One thing went into every programme, both for the preacher and league for six years. Temperance, nor for 6 years did I fail to present the cause.

J.B. ESPY was at North east. While there I buried 2 of his daughters, one married lived close by us. The other single living at home. Lovely women, both.

He followed BEACH and Beach took his place in Fredonia. The North East had insisted on Beach leaving, he was like the cat, back up. He was wanted at Fredonia at 200 more than he was receiving at North East, but his back did not come down for a long time after he was in Fredonia.

Beach was remarkable as a preacher. I have listened to him when it seemed to me his sentences were like pearls and diamonds. When thro, I said, whats he driving at? Then again his effort would be unpointed, logical and convincing.

He was transferred to the New York East Conference, where he died.

To show how fickle preachers and people are, I cite the case, NICHOLS at Dunkirk.

He came to me on the train going to Miles Grove to our preachers meeting

Asked to see me. I fixed 1:00. He informed me he had made up his mind to move. We sometimes are discouraged, and feel we are doing no good. It isn't best to precipitate matters. Think it over and it may be your will

I said, it won't be necesary to say anything about us. Nichols had positively decided to move and I had already exchanged him for another man.

So the Conference passed off, no words of change mentioned.

But it happen two or three women wormed it out of Nichols that he was going to move. They painted the town red, and that officials board repented in sack cloth and ashes, and invited Nichols to return.

I wrote back. I wonder if I have a lot of children with whom to deal. He passed out my hands. I have no objection to Nichols return, but you will have to go to the Bishop.

Nichols came to me at Conference, so did the committe. Anything the Bishop will do for you will be perfectly satisfactory to me. I don't think the Bishop will return him for he has a man he wants in Dunkirk. Neither party sought the Bishop.

Then I had my experience with the Bishop. He wanted to bring THOBURN from Witchita, Kansas. He gave a glowing account of his man. Yes, I said, Bishop let him take his chances the same as we all had to do. If he is all you say he is, you can't keep him down. I can't yield the place to an outsider when I have a man worthy of the place, and I won out. THORBURN came to Grace and RENO to Dunkirk.

Here I give my experience with Bishop VINCENT. I could not add to his greatness. Nor can I take from the admiration in which he is held.

He did a work for the U.S. that all the colleges have failed to do. He made the American people a reading people.

For some reason we always crossed swords.

He presided at Erie. I have no recollection of ever going into the Cabinet when he gave us a cordial greeting. He would look up from his book over his glasses and nod.

He never failed to bulldoze us on the Temperance question.

NEFF had said to me at Chautauqua. I have an offer to go into the Pittsburg Conference. Don't you go, you are sure of the best in our Confenece. Pittsburg owes us no great favor. I feel sure I can open Simpson for you.

When the case came up in the Cabinet, the Bishop said with a kind of a sneer, O he's one of these hotheaded proke fanatics. Bishop, you are mistaken. Neff may be a proke, I don't know, but he's not a fanatic, but level headed.

The case of JOHN LUSHER came up. He had unwisely gone to Madison, Wisconsin and had not won out, Now New Castle wanted him. Bishop again spoke out. He did not care to bring him back. He was another Temperance fanatic.

Bishop you are mistaken. John is one of the most level headed men in our Ministry. We gained our points. Neff came to Simpson and John to New Castle.

He took particular pains to tell the Ministers to study Episcopal and Presbyterian Ministers as models.

I forbear to cite cases where he personally injured me. I add with all that he deserve, he was a bulldozer.

It was at this same Conference, at a Cabinet meeting in my study (no Bishop) that GEOSS0 HUMASON rec'd a telegram from Duluth, asking him to take the pulpit.

He was greatly elated. They want me to raise the $50,000. debt. He accepted, but he raised only $5000. It was a crusher and SAMMY LONG broke down under the load.

Neff came to Simpson. It was an exceedingly fortunate appointment.

In one year he doubled the membership. It gave Simpson a boost, a stepping into the spot light from which it has never taken any back set. Now one of the most desirable stations in Conference.

I speak of the SHENK family. When I was pastor at Simpson, the Shenks were among the poorest of the flock. How now he had risen, honesty and ability. While yet living he had a state wide reputation which his sons are rather increasing.

The GAGGIN family too has come into great prominence. Richard, the father, was a man of great abilities. His luniary tastes were of the finest. If i had means, I do not know a man whom I would rather trust to buy me a library than Mr. Graggin.

He knew prominent men in and out of the church. As I have never known his equal. I saw him reduced to poverty and saw him rise to comfortable living.

But what is of more consequence, he had 3 boys and 2 girls. He sent every one of them to Syracuse Univesity, and every one of them is an honor to the country.

How the parents managed is beyond me.

For intelligence and benevolence, the Erie District is behind none of the Districts.

It would be a pleasure to write of beautiful things, and charming persons I found in every charge on the District,

When my six years were up, the 1st church sent a petition to Conference to have me returned, but it was not then popular to have one serve 2 terms, as it had since become, and is now falling into desuetude. My District presented me with a splended gold headed cane. I have passed it into the hands of Chase. The cane I most used was given to me by my old friend LOWRY, who dug the bamboo and fixed it up, and I have made considerable use of it. Tho I am not greatly given to it's use.

J.B. ESPY suceeded me on the District. He was not over scrupulous in asking the favor of the Brethen, assuring one man I could give him North East, if I would. He was no more fitted for the place than a hen is in water. I gave Espy a calling down, tho so far as the Eldership was concerned, I had not the least objection to his having the place.

When the request came, Erie was made known. Bishop FOSO said, you would not wish to stand in any ones way from having the honor. Certainly not.

The Cabinet saw fit to send me to Greenville. At the same time came a telegraph from there saying if any grey headed man came he would starve.

Bishop sent me to Fredonia, but with one accord, the Cabinet said no.

Very good, I go. Thus ended my service as Presiding Elder.

Sat'y eve Lizzie and I, full of courage, went to Greenville. Some of the Brethen met us cordially and quartered us at one of the hotels, and paid the score.

First Sunday in Greenville was a triumph. I was master of the situation. My text was, Thy People shall be my people and thy God my God.

My ministry in Greenville was a joyous one, in many ways stormy.

It use to be said the Eldership spoils a man, makes him lazy.

Never did I work harder, never perpare so many sermons. My rule had ever been to prepare a new sermon every week, and revamp an old one. Many times I had 2 new ones, and the criticism that came later never questioned my pulpit acceptability. The Pulpit was my throne, and God gave me courage to meet the issures of the hour.

Lizzie was very prominent in all the church life and was leader of the W-N-M-Sy, and was second to none in ability to fill her station. Gertrude and Blosson were the only children then living at home.

Prayer meeting were well attended and spiritual. Sunday school was large and vigorous, and ranked high in Benevolance. I had a class of young people, some 24, in age from 16 to 20. They were fine and I enjoyed my class hugely.

It grieved me some to part with them. So far as I know, they turned out well.

One however, weary of the world, joined the hosts above.

I made it my business to know my people and every family attending church. The membership in round numbers was 600. It was a delight to see them in their homes, and they were very dear to me. There is nothing in this world so glorious as the life of the minister with his people. Their joy and sorrow are one. He knows our sorrows and is aquainted with our griefs, is the picture of the true Shephard.

In the 3 years I made over 1600

In the close of the last year, I was curious to compare our growth in memebership with that of the prominent churches in the Conference. Our accessions were 92. To my astonishment no other church had 10, some just held their own and one or two lost in number.

In Benevolence, I told the Bishop McCABE, I brought more missionary money to Conference than Meadville, Union City and Cambridge combined. He was astonished, but his minutes bore me out.

I may say in regarding our Benevolence. I introduced a new method which was observed for a number of years. I know not how it is now.

At one of our first official meetings, I said, Brethen we have some 12 Benevolences. That would be one every month. What ever you say, I will do. Let me suggest that we make an Easter offering and raise the whole amount. They unanimously adopted the plan.

During December and January and February giving became one of the ideas kept prominentely before the people in the prayer services and I presented the various causes in the pulpit.

One of my good letters stretched across the organ in a white ribbon, 1000 Easter offering. Then I took a black board and printed all the Benevolence and the amounts the church expected us to raise. Now you want to raise it. Let's do no begging, lets give from our hearts and our brains and our prayers and bring our gifts on Easter day.

About 2 weeks before Easter one of the prominent men came and said it was going to be a failure. I can't say you agreed to try. It is now to late to change. Two spinsters came to

Easter came, glorious morning. Easter was my theme and always has been.

At the close of my sermon, it grew suddenly dark and a breath made the windows tremble. I said, we are all safe, and let no one be frightened. I appointed 5 good men and true to recieve the envelpoes, and count the money and report to me at night.

When I went into my pulpit, they reported. We've got it, we've got it, I jubulantely said. Shortly after my pessimistic friend added $25. to his offering.

That breath that made the church shiver, did no little damage to the Presbyterian church 5 miles away in Jamestown. The chimney came crashing thro and knocked the minister down on to the alter rail, and his face terribly, and I know not if he ever preached again.

For many years the Easter offerings became popular, and all the Benevolences were ever raised.

One of the most touching incidents happened in Greenville. A young woman far gone in TB was frequently visited by me, WILSON the name. Once when I called she distressingly said, O Mr Stubbs, I can't say "Thy will be done". Never mind I said, Jesus understands. He knows how beautiful life looks to you. Now tonight when all alone, tell him how glorious life appears to you, how you do want to live. Then try and add, Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. Don't be discouraged. Next night do the same.

In a few days I was there again. She could hardly wait for me to take my seat, when her face all radiant, she cried out, O I can say it, I can say it. I think it was one of the sublimist triumphants I ever witness. Thus victorious she took her departure to the Celestial World.

At the end of my first year one of my women, active in the W C T U came and asked what to do. Explaining the discouraging situation with regard to their work.

Time and again they had plead with the Judge MILLER to refuse licenses.

Now Judge Miller was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church in Mercer, and Sup't of the Sunday school.

He promised the women if they would stand by him, he would hit the saloons hard.

Before election it was discovered he could not be elected without the Whiskey vote.

A deal was made, $400.00 with the most notorious hotel and he won, paid for the office. He even had stock in a noted New Castle Brewery. On an Easter Sunday attended a banquet with noted whiskey men and against the protest of one of the steel mills, put a saloon at the very gates of the works. How the mighty had fallen.

I said to Mrs [blank], let me see what I can do. That was the beginning of the Temperance battle that ended by defeating the Judges reelection.

I sent a letter to the Judge Congratulating him on the success of his children he had in Greenville. The last one, the vilest in the place, had opened the sidewalk from the saloon to the opera house, where the Elks were to mourn their lost members and he was expected to join the mourners. However he didn't come.

But their you know we must have the votes and the saloon makes them give us some more.

Moreover I had 25 families

But Judge, we must have the votes. Give us more saloons.

Shortly I read a reply saying if what you say is true, you need a lawyer and some witnesses. That's just what I wanted, I sent another letter.

O no Judge, we don't want any lawyer and witnesses. We do want a Judge that has some backbone.

Now Judge, you know that if the best woman in this place were to protest, it wouldn't be any more that the idle hand and if the best man in town were to protest, it would'nt be any more than the buzzing of flies.

Now Judge, if your religion be true, and my religion be true, some day you will have to give account to Almighty God for your administration, and witnesses that will appear in your behalf won't give you any more comfort that the ghost that appeared to Richard 111, on the eve of his dooms day.

No reply came to that.

At the beginning of the 3rd year, I went with some of the town ministers to Mercer to the Court where licenses were granted.

We were early. The other ministers knew the Judge and went and shook hands, I kept my seat. I was not aware that he saw me or knew me. Court was opened, Judge on the bench, but writing apparently oblivious to anything.

This is the method of granting licenses. Mr Lawyer sets down facing the applicant. Check by jowl.

A young dapper fellow, took

Another link in the chain, REV'd R.S. BORLAND was our pastor at Mercer. He called on me one day and asked me if I would exchange with him next Sabboth.

Now the Dr was having trouble with his eyes and could hardly see to do his work for the pulpit, Certainly I said, so Sat'y eve I went.

At the supper table his wife said, Did you know you were to preach the Union sermon tomorrow evening in the Presbyterian church? The rascal I said. He never said a word while I did some thinking. I had prepared to preach a Temperance sermon, and to myself I said, I came to preach that sermon, so Temperance will be my theme.

That church was packed and it was a big room.

In the midst of my sermon, I told this incident, when in Silver Creek calling on an old couple, not church members, but heard the first sermon I ever tried to preach at Cherry Creek, I found her in great distress. What's the matter? "My husband is drinking himself to death".

Now I never knew he drank. There were in Silver Creek 3 places that sold liquor. I have been to all and requested them not to sell my husband liquor. The last place, the bar keeper stepped from behind the bar, shook his fist in my face saying "I'll sell him I damn please".

When I was thro, many came and shook hands congratulating me. One said "did you know Judge Miller was in the audience"? All right, he has what he deserves. That ended my doings with the Judge.

I continued my assults on the grafters of all parties, never criticising any party.

I had a druggest in my church who did not sell, but allowed his customers to go in the rear, deposit the coin and take his ???. He had no love for me and he influenced 3 of my men to defeat my return to the charge. Up to that time I was the only man who remained 3 years.

During my stay happened the assassination of Pres. McKinley. It was during my Conference at Union City,

It fell to my lot to send a telegram of condolence to Buffalo.

Before we adjourned the President passed away. I was one of a committe to draft a paper expressing the sentiment of the Conference. The others put it on me to prepare the paper. I did so and paper was unanimously adopted.

Returning home the town was greatly agitated and a public demonstration was arranged to be held in the opera house. There were 3 ministers chosen to speak. Afterwards my chief antagonist said my paper was the best of all.

There were 3 retired ministers in my church, REV JOHN PEATE, W.P. BIGNELL, and MOSSMAN. They were choice spirits. John Peate was an extrodinary man.

He was a very able preacher, he was a great traveler, and he made the first

At Conference John made the statement that if the Washington University would furnish the glass and a border, he would grind such a reflector. They were to have 2 years to do their part. The time was about up. I sent an article to the N.Y church advocate saying if the University desired such a reflector, it would have to bestir itself. They woke up, gave the requisite funds. John went to Butler to the glass works and told what he wanted. They made a casting, and it was a failure. Then John went to the factory and told them how to cast the glass. It was a success and John ground the reflector. It was the first large glass ever made, and that after the WARNER bros of Cleveland had said it can't be done.

Now M.L. WILSON has a glass 100 inches in diameter. John pioneered the way.

Many the interviews we had. Just a week before he passed away, calling he had me read the passage from Shakespear that TENNYSON had his fingers on as he was entering behind the bar.

I called at the house as he was passing away, but did not go in.

BIGNALL and I had arranged to send out 100 cards to Ministers to attend the funeral. To my astonishment and honor, the family refused to have a church funeral. Kate was a spokeswoman and issued the orders. There was to be no display, no eulogy. MOSSMAN was to pray, BIGNELL make the remarks. Oh she said, I did not mean to slight you. That's allright, I took the morning service yesterday for a memorial. She expressed her surprise.

I had a call from someone asking if it would be proper for REV. McKAY, U.P. pastor to make some remarks as they both belonged to some exclusive library club.

What ever you say will be done. The services proceeded and were certainly very fine, and just what could have been desired for such a noble man.

Kate came to me and said, that's just what Father could have wished.

The whole was Eulogy, Eulogy from beginning to end, after she gave orders that no Eulogy should be offered.

Afterwards I wrote the memoir for the P.C.A. When Kate read it she was wild with joy. It was great, it was a poem. Her bitterness had passed away, and she became very friendly. She is somewhere in Southern California, tho I have never seen her.

When BIGNESS passed within the veil, the church was crowded to it's capacity. Several ministers were present and participated. I do not recall the speakers.

My friend John R. PACKERD said, yours was the best of all.

Many weeks I had the habit of visiting some factorys on Saturdays.

One Sat'y, on wheel, I went down to a big Rolling Mill, I went to the Sup't office and asked if I could go thro the works. No sir, Allright I don't wish to be anything contrary to your rules and off I rode.

After I was out of sight he inquired who that man was. Why the Methodist Minister, Chargrened, and mortified he sent me word several times to came any time.

Across the road from us lived one

I had some experience with the Catholic Priest. We were on good terms and exchanged calls.

He was greatly offended that he was not invited to the McKINLEY memorial. Shortly on some invitation I attended what they call a mission.

The Priest, a stranger had been posted, and he took occasion to lame into me for slighting their Priest. He was a citizen and had a right to be invited to the public demonstration.

So when Memorial day approached, I bro't the matter before the Post and requested them to invite the Priest to make the address. They balked and didn't like the idea, but they yielded to my persuasion, and I bore him our request.

He refused, and to the joy of the Post, I had that pleasure to perform.

One day a man called on the parsonage, and requested me to bury his baby.

The Priest had promised to bury the babe in the public cemetery consecrating the ground. Certainly I said, and nothing more was thought of it. In just a year the man came again, his wife had died. The priest had given extreme unclion, and promised to bury the mother on the side of her baby. At the last hour the Priest back out, and I buried the mother. The house was full, and I presume half the people were Roman Catholic.

I said I have no quarrel with this womans religion. She believed in my Christ. I won the good will of the Roman Catholic.

Farther when labor day came the Priest and I were the only ones invited

I promise I was known as friendly to the laborers, which is true. For years I has stood by the cause, and only regret that I did not go into their lodge when I was urged while In Erie.

We had a remarkable man in the church, MR HODGE, owner of a foundry, employing a large number of men. Every year he gave a picnic for the Sunday school. He chartered the train, paid all the expenses to and from Conneaut Lake. It was a gala day. I do not know whether he keeps it up at the present. He also had the custom of giving a feast to all old people. Unfortunates that had no ties to bind them to what we call society.

He also maintained a Sunday school on his side of the river, no across from where he lives. It has succeeded so well that there is a church formed and maintains a minister.

I married his oldest daughter to a Medical Missionary, somewhere at the heart of the persian gulf. It was a church wedding, and the church was packed. In due time the bride and her father appeared at the alter, but no man. I stood with book in hand awaiting the groom. It became painful, but I stood like a statue. By some misunderstanding, he was in room below expecting some notice. Some one took it on himself to hunt him up. Down he came, no grass growing under his feet and the ceremony was performed.

The couple labored in that far off land for a few years, but were compelled by failing health to seek the homeland and are now in the Country.

The second daughter married a Lutheran student of their college. As the day approached two or three students called and asked when the wedding was to be and the town. They wanted the band to make merry. There was no secret, so I informed them. The ceremony was performed, and the refreshment

When thro they began to look round for the couple, but they were alive in the salutation and slipped out the back door, went thro the Foundry, crossed the Rail Road tracks and there took a carriage and whisked away 6 milees to take the train.

If you ever saw a crestfallen crews those students, that band, they were a sight.

The groom is somewhere in the Lutheran church, a minister.

John R. PACKARD was a man of rare parts, an Episcopalian, tho I think he did little or nothing for that church. He was one of my best friends, and so continued thro many years till death took him on the long, long journey. A man who never forgot his friends. On his return from his long journeys, after visiting his children, he went to see his friend, HULL, a poor man.

Mr P. was a widower for many years. He had accumulated quite a fortune.

For many years he spent 3 or 4 months traveling. Once he made the trip round the world. His letters were published in the Jamestown Journal, which he ordered sent while making the journey. The letters were choice reading. One would think him a literary man. Delightful entertainer in his own home. At ease and making his guests at ease. His conversations were delightful. He was no globe trotter, he knew the people and their land.

He was invited by the league to describe his Eastern travels. He had never made an address in his life. The basement was crowded. He was as much at ease as if his life had been trained for public speaking.

One time I wrote him, I don't see where you are going unless you become

Like a bird, he flew to seek the Heavenly lands.

Thiel College, a noted Lutheran plant, and after it's resurrection a very worthy one.

The Authorities were not above asking for our church for some public service, granted with pleasure, Now not an official ever called on me, nor asked me to visit the college or attend chapter.

Nor yet did the Lutheran minister call. I noted when there was some public function and the faculty and the students were at a certain hotel, the faculty and students were served with liquor.

I mention these things to note the change in the course of years, and Prohibition became national. The narrowness and exclusivness I guess prevail to this day.

At the end of the 2nd year it became apparent that GBC had determined I must leave. The GBC was the dictator for many years. Men came at his beck, and left at his nod. When any of the young people failed to walk after his interpretation of the discipline he informed the preacher, and the poor person had to go and inform the Transgressors that they must behave or leave the church. At one time some half dozen young people left and the Presbyterians were more than glad to recieve them. One of the best members of the church said to me I don't see why my son should be forced out of the church, while another church is only to glad to welcome him. However, when GBC's son was bringing scandal on the good name of his people, the GBC never came to me to visit his son for walking disorderly, and I told him so.

For the credit of the young man. I believe after his marriage he has had a very common life. Our friend Tell???? said to us in the parsonage on the eve of going to Conference, 6/8 of our people want you back. My last Sunday, one of our members at the close of the service put a gold coin in my hand and said, I know what is going on, it's wrong. I hope you come back.

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