On Saturday we reached Joseph Ferguson’s, and on Sunday spent the day at Ferguson’s Chapel. Here Bishop M’Kendree, Learner Blackman, James Gwin, and Peter Cartwright overtook us, and our spirits were much refreshed. We had not seen Bishop M’Kendree since we parted with him at Lyons at the close of the Genesee Conference. He had returned by another route. Now the two bishops and the preachers started in company for the seat of the Western Conference. Bishop Asbury’s soul was delighted to hear of the enlargement of the borders of Zion, and he wrote in ecstasy: “We have an open door set wide to us in Mississippi. The preachers there sent but one messenger to conference; they could not spare more. They keep their ground like soldiers of Christ. Good news from the south. Great prospects within the bounds of the South Carolina Conference.” The Western Conference was held in the new chapel, Shelby County, Ky., commencing on November 1, 1810. The two bishops were present, and nearly a hundred preachers from their various fields of toil. The conference began, continued, and ended in peace. I preached on Saturday, at early candle-light, from Matt. xi, 28, 29. On Sabbath Bishop M’Kendree preached one of his mighty sermons, and Bishop Asbury exhorted with wonderful power. Then the elders and deacons were ordained. Fourteen were admitted into full membership and ordained deacons, among whom were William Winans and James Gwin. The latter was also ordained elder at this conference. He had been a local preacher years before he entered the traveling connection. John Crane and a number of others were ordained at the same time. Twenty-six were received on trial, among whom were John Strange and Michael Ellis, and other pure and noble spirits. J. B. Finley was continued on trial. There had been an increase of four thousand members in the Western Conference this year. The bishops assigned fields of labor to ninety-five preachers, and then we parted to cultivate Immanuel’s land. CHAPTER XXVII. TOUR TO SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.