MR. EDITOR: The Florida Conference has just closed-upon the whole one of the most harmonious and pleasant sessions we have ever held. Bishop Andrew, as you know, did not arrive until Sunday evening. The causes of his delay you know very well, as you were his companion in all those troubles, and I have no doubt will make them known to the public. Oh! that we had railroads in all this country.

The Conference organized on the 2d inst., by electing S. P. Richardson President, and Tho. N. Gardener Secretary. The President presided with dignity and ability, clearly proving himself to be the very man for the position, with the peculiarly embarrassing circumstances by which he was surrounded. I need not speak of the manner in which Bishop Andrew presided and carried forward the business to the close of the session. The preachers, most of them, succeeded in getting to Conference, though they came through great perils; crossing rivers almost impassable, and swimming creeks. Many of them travelled while the rain fell in torrents. We trust that a good Providence preserved the lives of our brethren who were not in attendance.

It will be seen from the list of appointments that our ranks are fast filling up. We had accessions to our effective list by admissions, reädmissions, transfers, and from the superannuated list, of 24.

Admitted on trial: Joseph A. W. Johnson, Valerius C. Cannon, Isaac A. Towers, Grandison Royster, Thomas R. Barnett, Sam. S. Cobb, Willis P. Ocain, Thomas A. Carruth, John F. Andrews, Theophilus J. Johnson, Charles P. Murdock, Robert F. Lenoir, James W. Points, and James M. Mills.

Readmitted: William J. Duval, Thomas C. Coleman, Milton C. Smith, and Aaron W. Harris.

From the Superannuated list: G. W. Fagg and Owen B. Stanley. By transfers: William L. Murphy, John W. McCrary, and W. Davies.

Continued on trial: David L. Kennedy, Martin V. Wells, James T. Stockton, James O. Branch, Franklin A. Branch, John L. Williams, Francis M. Wilson, and Amos Davis.

Discontinued at his own request: Peter B. Bedford.

Now Mr. Editor, I venture the assertion that the first classes of our Conference will compare favorably with like classes of any conference in our connection. They are mostly young men of great promise.

Admitted into full connection and ordained deacons: James W. Jackson, Archibald Johnson, Robert J. McCook, and William Peeler. Samuel A. McCook and William K. Turner were ordained elders.

Two of our brethren died last year-Franklin Stewart and William Choice. Suitable and merited tributes were paid to their memory.

A fine religious feeling pervaded the congregations at the church. A number of mourners were at the altar for prayer, and all the preachers who occupied the pulpit acquitted themselves well, and preached with the unction and power of the Spirit.

The Conference Tract Society held its anniversary meeting at the church on Saturday afternoon. G. W. Fagg, our agent for that work, delivered an effective address, and $130.20 were raised for the tract cause. We intend, as a Conference, to push forward this great work.

The Missionary Society held its anniversary meeting at the church on Monday night. Do you think, Mr. Editor, we shall ever forget the rasping the venerable Bishop and yourself gave us? No, never. We shall remember it to do better this year. The Bishop especially made us feel quite ashamed of our collections. He impressed, he enforced, ay, sir, he burnt in our minds the fact that we ought to have done, and must do, better in this respect. The good Bishop, yourself, and the whole Church may rest assured that we will do better this year. We

will take up these collections the first of the year, before the rainy seasons come on to cut them off, as they did the year which is past. As an evidence that the congregation as well as preachers felt the force of the speeches made on the occasion, about $570 were raised, much the largest collection ever raised at an anniversary in this Conference.

The Treasurer of Board of Finance settled with claimants at 31 per cent. This is a small amount; but when it is remembered that we have a long list of superannuated preachers, widows, and orphans upon our young Conference, it will not be matter for astonishment, though we hope to do better in this respect.

We much feared there would be a falling off in numbers in Society when we came to make a clear report, which we trust was done; but judge of our agreeable disappointment when, on footing up, we discovered an increase of 931 whites, 472 colored, and 17 local preachers. The report from Jacksonville was not complete, which will probably swell the increase to over 1000 whites and 500 colored.

THOS. N. GARDENER, Secretary.

Appointments.

Tallahassee District.-J. R. PLUMMER, P. E.

Tallahassee, Josephus Anderson.

Quincy, Thomas Gardner.

Chaires colored mission, O. B.
Stanley.

Leon, W. J. Duval.

Wakulla, James Peeler.

South-Gadsden, I. A. Towers.
Gadsden, J. J. Seeley.

Gadsden col. mis., (to be supplied.)
Simon P. Richardson, Agent Ame-
rican Bible Society.

George W. Fagg, Tract Agent

Bainbridge District.-W. M. Kennedy, P. E.

Newton, R. F. Lanier.

Collum.

Calhoun mission, James A. Mc- Baker colored mis.,(to be supplied.)

District.-P. P. SMITH, P. E.

Thomasville Thomasville, F. R. C. Ellis. Duncanville, Milton C. Smith. Grooversville, Capel Raiford. Troupville, R. J. McCook. Grand Bay, Amos Davis.

Isabella mission, (to be supplied.)
Alapaha mission, T. P. Murdock.
Flint River mission, T. J. Johnson.
Ocklocknee mission, J. W. Jackson.
R. H. Lucky, Princ. Fletcher Inst.

Madison District.-JOHN W. MILLS, P. E.

Madison, Samuel Woodbury, Vale- Hamilton, W. K. Turner.

rius C. Cannon.

Monticello, J. W. Rhodes.

South-Madison mission, G. Royster.

Sewannee mission, T. R. Barnett.
Columbia, J. M. Hendry, Willis
Ocain.

Madison colored mis., (to be sup.) R. H. Howren, Agent for East-Florida Seminary at Micanopy.

Aucilla colored mis., W. W. Griffin.
Santa Fé mission, Aaron W. Harris.

St. Mary's District.-T. N. GARDNER, P. E.

St. Mary's, J. O. Branch.
Centre Village, T. H. Carruth.
Satilla col. mis., (to be supplied.)
Brunswick, S. McCook.

Altamaha col. mis., Willis Hall.

Holmesville, J. M. N. Low, F. W.
Wilson.
Waresboro', William Peeler.
Irvin, J. F. Andrews.
Clinch, J. L. Williams.

Jacksonville District.-JOHN C. LEY, P. E.

Jacksonville, R. M. Tydings.
Black Creek, William Edwards.
Palatka, W. W. Davies.
Fernandina mis., Martin V.Wells.
Nassau, (to be supplied.)

Orange mission, S. S. Cobb.
Newnansville, J. J. Richards.
Micanopy colored mission, (to be
supplied.)

St. John's, A. J. Johnson.

Tampa District-GEO. W. PRATT, P. E.

Key West, J. P. Richardson.
Tampa, W. L. Murphy.
Manatee, (to be supplied.)
Hillsboro' mis., Jos. A.W. Johnston.
Hernando mission, Jas. T. Stockton.

Marion, John McCrary.
Cedar Keys, W. G. Points.
Ocala, W. T. Harrison.
Sumpter mission, J. M. Mills.

Next Conference to be held at Alligator.

II. PACIFIC CONFERENCE.

REV. WM. R. GOBER.*-FEBRUARY 21-26.

[From the Southern C. Advocate, April 3.]

A letter from Rev. O. P. Fitzgerald brings us intelligence that the Pacific Annual Conference of the M. E. Church, South, convened at San Francisco on the 21st day of February, 1856. The session was opened with divine service by Brother O. Fisher. Bishop Kavanaugh having failed to arrive, the Conference proceeded to elect a President, from among the presiding elders. Brother W. R. Gober was elected. Brother M. Evans was elected Secretary, and O. P. Fitzgerald requested to act as Assistant Secretary. The usual committees were appointed. S. D. Bunch, Henry C. Settle, James B. Williams, J. L. S. Woods, J. G. Johnson, E. G. Cannon, and David Beauchamp were admitted on trial. John T. Cox's character was examined and he continued on trial. A Conference Love Feast was held at three o'clock in the afternoon. Brother F. says that "it was a pentecostal occasion. The Spirit descended upon the disciples. The brethren spoke with feeling. Brother Bailey, the 'sweet singer' of our California Israel, enlivened the exercises with portions of the good old Methodistic songs-and when, at

*In the absence of Bishop Kavanaugh.

the close of the meeting, old Father Cox rose, his head silvered with the frosts of sixty winters, but with a spirit as fresh as in youth, with his colossal form animated by a heart as soft and gentle as a woman's, and spoke of what God had done for him and by him in his old age-when, with streaming eyes, he expressed his regret that like some of the rest, he had not begun to live for God when a boy-all hearts melted, and there was general weeping and general rejoicing."

The second day's session was preceded by a prayer-meeting. R. A. Latimer, M. Maupin, J. Bonsall, J. C. Stewart, and T. W. Moore were continued on trial. J. W. Stahl, T. C. Barton, and O. P. Fitzgerald were received into full connection.

The third day was occupied in the examination of character, and in the presentation of Sabbath-school and general church statistics.

The fourth day was the Sabbath. The members of the Conference occupied most of the pulpits in the city.

On Monday, the several committees made their reports. The examination of character was resumed, and Brothers Russell, Graham, B. R. Johnson, Ellis, Bigham, Sanders, Davies, Blythe, and J. C. Simmons were examined and passed. W. A. Simmons was continued in his present relation. L. C. Adams was located at his own request. J. G. Shelton, a probationer of the first year, was continued on trial. A resolution was passed declaring that the Conference will endeavor to increase the circulation of the Visitor. Gilroy was chosen as the place for holding the next Conference. The Committee on Books and Periodicals made a Report through Brother Blythe, their chairman, expressing the hope that our Book Agents may soon find it convenient to supply us with books, and providing contingently, for the establishment of an organ. This Report, with the accompanying Resolutions, elicited much debate, pending which the Conference adjourned.

On Tuesday, measures were taken to adjust the affairs of the Bascom Institute, at San José, the Conference undertaking to remunerate Brother Crouch for his sacrifices for that Institution. The committees of

examination were appointed. Resolutions were passed authorizing Brother B. T. Crouch, Jr., to travel in the Atlantic Conferences during the present year, to procure funds for the erection of a M. E. Church in San Francisco, and commending Brother Crouch to the confidence and liberality of the brethren and friends at home. J. T. Blythe was appointed Book Agent-a not very laborious appointment heretofore. Brother Crouch was requested to visit the General Book Agents, and represent the Conference, with a view of making some arrangements by which to be able to supply the work with books. "I earnestly hope, says the writer, "that in this he may succeed, for nothing has more crippled our operations than the inability to supply our people with the books they need, and ask us for." The question of establishing a paper was before the Conference, and debated at length. The report of the committee was finally indefinitely postponed. Brother O. Fisher offered the following resolution, which was adopted by a nearly unanimous vote: Resolved, That in the event Brother O. P. Fitzgerald shall attempt to establish a religious newspaper at his own pecuniary risk, we will give him our hearty cooperation, and will act as agents in procuring subscribers, free of charge."

Brother Fisher was requested to preach a Sacramental Sermon at