MONDAY EVENING was devoted to a Banquet given by the Board of Examiners to the Undergraduates. About fifty were present and an enjoyable time was had.

   TUESDAY EVENING a reception was given to the Conference. Rev. J. B. Maxfield presided. Addresses of welcome were given by Hon. H. C. Vail and Rev. C. O. Larrison, and responses were given by Dr. D. K. Tindall, Bishop McCabe and Rev. W. A. Spencer, D. D.

   WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON the anniversary of the W. F. M. S. was held. Mrs. D. K. Tindall presided and addresses were made. by Mrs. C. C. McCabe and J. W. Robinson.

   WEDNESDAY EVENING the anniversary of the Missionary Society was held. Rev. J. W. Robinson, D. D., presided and Corresponding Secretary Rev. W. T. Smith, D. D., and Bishop McCabe gave addresses.

   THURSDAY AFTERNOON the anniversary of the W. H. M. S. was held, with Mrs. J. B. Maxfield in the chair. The report of the President was read and inspiring addresses were made by Mrs. McCabe and F. M. Sisson.

   THURSDAY EVENING Bishop McCabe gave his popular lecture, "Bright Side of Life in Libby Prison" to a great audience.

   FRIDAY EVENING was devoted to the anniversary of the Freedman's Aid and Southern Educational Society, and an address was given by Dr. M. B. C. Mason, one of the Corresponding Secretaries.

   SATURDAY AFTERNOON the annual missionary sermon was given by Rev. J. T. Knuckey, from Mark 4:28.

   SATURDAY EVENING at 6 o'clock a banquet was given in honor of Bishop McCabe's sixtieth birthday. Dr. A. Hodgetts was toastmaster, and J. B. Leedom, G. H. Main, G. A. Luce, F. M. Sisson, J. B. Maxfield, and Mrs. McCabe spoke, and Bishop McCabe responded.

   SUNDAY SERVICES. -- The Conference Love Feast was conducted by T. C. Webster, after which the Bishop preached a powerful sermon from Isaiah 60:22. After which subscriptions were taken to free the church at Albion from debt, then the church was dedicated.

   THE ORDINATION service was held at 3 P. M., when eight Deacons and seven Elders were ordained. At its close the Bishop baptized a large number of infants and then conducted an altar service, and many came as seekers to the altar.

   THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EPWOREH (sic) LEAGUE was hold in the evening, N. A. Martin presiding. Addresses were made by F. M. Sisson and Bishop McCabe, and the altar service resulted in several conversions.

   Rev. W. H. H. Pillsbury, A. M., D. D., was born in South Berwick, Maine, July 14,1840, and died at his home in Fullerton, Nebraska, Dec. 28,1895. He consecrated himself to the service of God in early life; when about sixteen years of age, he entered the Maine Wesleyan Seminary to prepare for the Christian ministry; he at once took high rank as a student, and at every step in his studies a thoroughness was observed which endeared him to his instructors. At the close of his sophmore (sic) year in college he responded to his country's call, and enlisted in Co. I, 17th Maine Regiment, where he made an enviable record as a soldier, and commanded the admiration of his associates in army life as a man of unswerving integrity. After his discharge from the service for disability, he completed his college course and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the Maine Conference. His appointments in Maine were at Kittery Navy Yards, and Congress Street, Portland. At the close of his pastorate in Portland, he was transferred to Iowa, where he served with great acceptability at Division Street, Burlington; Keokuk, Oskaloosa and Mount Pleasant, when he was transferred to the North Nebraska Conference. His fields of labor in our Conference were Grand Island and Fullerton, where he was greatly beloved for his unswerving devotion to the interests of the church. He leaves a wife and seven children as lonely mourners.
   Dr. Pillsbury was a genial Christian gentleman, a tireless pastor and an eloquent preacher; one of the most thoroughly cultured men of our time; a man whose counsel was sought by all classes of society. Soon after the adjournment of our last Conference he met with an accident which provoked a heart trouble, the result of exposure in his army life, which baffled the skill of three of the most skillful physicians of the state. In all relations of life, he was one of the most conscientious of men. And as he marched into the valley of death at Fredricksburg, then up to the parapet of victory, he exhibited the same confidence in God that he did at the last hour of life. His trust in Jesus was complete; all was bright as he contemplated the future. "He fell like a hero, he died at his post," and we can sing,

GEO. W. MARTIN.

   Rev. John T. Crooks was born in West Virginia, January 15, 1857. Died in Pilger, Neb., Sept. 10, 1896, aged 39 years, 7 months and 25 days.
   He was united in marriage with Mary A. Ghent, August 11, 1878. Unto them were born three daughters, all of whom remain to comfort the mother in this, her time of saddest bereavement.
   He united with the M. E. church at South Tenth street, Omaha, in July 1888. Entered the ministry as a supply in the spring-time of 1890. Served Arizona charge until the autumn of the same year, when he was admitted to the North Nebraska Conference on trial, and stationed at Elkhorn. The next year he was appointed to Mapleville. The next year he was ordained Deacon and stationed at Scribner, where he remained two years and was appointed to Pilger charge, where his ministry was suddenly closed in the midst of glorious success. During the (nearly) two years spent on this charge, he had baptized ninety-four persons and received one hundred and thirty into full connection with the church.
   Brother Crooks was impetuous, courageous, generous and affectionate. No man loves his friends more than he did.
   His last illness was of brief duration. On Thursday, September 3d, he complained of feeling a little unwell; on Friday evening, the 4th, the Epworth League held a social at the parsonage. He seemed to feel as well as usual, adding much to the enjoyment of the occasion by his ever ready wit and humor. On Sunday, the 6th, he preached in the forenoon with unusual fervor and power, attended class meeting at noon, drove to his afternoon appointment, tried to preach, but his strength failed and it became necessary that he should be taken to his home. A physician was summoned. On the next Tuesday a consultation of physicians was called; on Wednesday a surgical operation was performed and on Thursday, in wondrous triumph, he passed to his home beyond the skies.
   Conscious of the approach of death, he advised his family as to the settlement of his business affairs, and made all necessary arrangements for his funeral and burial, selecting the minister whom he desired, and the text from which he desired him to preach the sermon. He talked to each of the fifteen or more of his recent converts who were in the room and gave his parting benediction to his family. His face, radiant with heavenly light, he said: "Jesus is coming to meet me," fell back upon his pillow and his spirit had gone to be with the angels.
   His funeral was so largely attended that it was necessary to hold the services in the open air, there being no room in the town that would contain the people.
   Many friends mingle their sorrows with the griefs of the bereaved family.
C. N. DAWSON.

MRS. SARAH ELLIOTT.

   Mrs. Sarah J. Elliott, wife of Rev. E. O. Elliott, died on Sunday, Feb. 2d, 1896, after an illness of five months. She was a faithful, devoted Christian. She was especially interested in the work among children, and at the time she was taken sick she was gathering the children to organize a Junior League. She gave abundant evidence of acceptance with God. Near her death she saw Jesus coming to meet her and said, "I see His face, don't you see Him?" Then passed away whispering praises to God.

MRS. J. W. ROBINSON.

   Mrs. Robinson was born in Makaska county, Iowa, April 22,1850, and died at the home of her son, at Fremont, Nebraska. October 8, 1895. She was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1869. She was married to J. W. Robinson Dec. 23, 1869. For a number of years they spent their itinerant life in the Iowa Conference, coming to the North Nebraska Conference in the fall of 1886. Hers was a smooth and beautiful character. She was modest, retiring, unobtrusive. Though never free from bodily disease, she was cheerful and pleasant. And, because of bodily infirmities, was not active in out door church work. She was contented and happy as the wife of an itinerant, always doing what she was able, to aid her husband in his labor. Her home was a splendid place for the Presiding Elder or traveling preacher to sojourn. She was a loving wife and devoted mother, and a true Christian.
   Her final sickness was of brief duration. She was taken with pneumonia while attending the session of the North Nebraska Conference, and in only a few days she passed away in peace.

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