THE CONVENTIONS


The following ministers were present: John Jones, Racine; Sam Phillips,
Dodgeville; Morris Carwaladr, Pike Grove; Enoch Jones, Waukesha;
Samuel Howells, Bark River; Timothy Jones, Watertown; M. E. Davies,
Cambria; Owen Jenkins, Bangor; John D. Davies, Blue Mounds; William G.
Harrison, Spring Green; William Powell, Picatonica; James V. Jones,
Zoar, and B. Isaac Evans, Oshkosh; D. S. Davies and the Very Rev. Evan
Evans, Nant-y-glo. By that time the number of the churches of the Con-
vention was 28, and the preachers about 20 in number, as an indication
of promising growth.
    The 1881 Convention was again in the district, beginning in Oshkosh
June 11 and the following Sabbath. The Rev. R. Trogwy Evans was there
as a visitor, but moved there to shepherd the church within the year.
They moved to Rosendale the next day and there was preaching there
in the evening and through the next day. The meetings were partly
in the Peniel house of worship and the principal services were in the
grove near Zoar because the houseof worship was being repaired. The
Convention ended in Randolph and Cambria the following days.
     The next in the district fell on May 28-June 3, 1887. The Rev. Grif-
fith Griffiths was the president and the Rev. Sem Phillips the secretary.
Besides the two above there were present the Reverends J. P. Williams,
Timothy Jones, D. E. Evans, R. E. Roberts, R. Trogwy Evans, Evan Owen,
H. Parry, J. A. Rowe, D. E. Phillips and Joseph Jones.
    We must close with the last, which was in Rosendale, Randolph and
Cambria June 5-12, 1894. By that time the Oshkosh Church was out,
in consequence of the change to the English language. The following
ministers were present: John D. Davies, Sem Phillips, Henry Davies, R.
Trogwy Evans, Thomas Evans, Griffith Griffiths, Edward Morgans, G. R.
Evans, Timothy Jones, Idris Jones, W. G. Harrison, T. C. Edwards, D.D.,
Pennsylvania; and the brethren loan Morgan Jones and T. Z. Evans. The
woman evangelist, Rachel Davies, was also present. The Gospel message
was so sweet in its delivery in the last convention that the desire of every
believer was that many like it be held in the locality in the future.
    As to the valued old ministers of the early conventions, they have
been removed to the great Convention; and the message of time brings
about changes in the aspect of the convention recently also.

         CONVENTIONS OF THE CALVINISTIC METHODISTS

    The first conventions of this denomination were held in the Oshkosh
settlement. The first one came there in 17 years after the first one was
held in the state-which was held in the house of Richard Jones, Bron-
y-berllan (the orchard slope), Waukesha. At the beginning the con-
vention was held every three months, or four times a year; and this for
a time, alternately in Waukesha and Racine. The first was held Jan. 1,
1844. There were but one preacher and two deacons in it at that early
period.
    The first one held in the Welsh Prairie Presbytery was 11th from
the beginning. It was held in Bethel, Columbus, June 26-27, 1846. The
second in the Presbytery was at Blaen-y-cae, June 25-27, 1847. At that


123