According to appointment the conference assembled at 2 o'clock P. M. on sixth-day, April 26. Of brethren in the ministry there were present Jos. Bates, Jas. White, J. N. Loughborough, J. H. Waggoner, J. B. Frisbie, M. E. Cornell, M. Hull, E. W. Shortridge, and Jno. Byington. The result of the meeting cannot perhaps be better expressed than by the language which many were heard to repeat, "I am thankful for what I have seen and heard and felt during this meeting." Solemnity characterized the exercises from the commencement to the close. Upon the preachers seemed to rest the burden of cultivating, themselves, and inculcating upon others a spirit of deeper devotion, and more entire consecration. Upon them seemed to fall the burden of "weeping between the porch and the altar, and saying, Spare thy people O Lord." The importance and solemnity of the time we now occupy, was largely dwelt upon, the holiness and magnitude of the work in which we are engaged, and the importance that attaches to our words and actions, was vividly presented; for our influence is telling for or against the salvation of souls, and eternity is upon us, and the last opportunities and the final call of mercy is fast drawing to a close. Happy will they be who heed the pointed exhortations and warnings given by those who labored during the conference in word and doctrine. There were six discourses delivered. Sixth-day afternoon by Bro. Hull, in the evening by Bro. Cornell, Sabbath forenoon by Bro. White, afternoon by Bro. Loughborough, First-day forenoon by Bro. Shortridge, and afternoon by Bro. White. These discourses were timely and acceptable. We have still to regret what we have regarded as a lack in several of our late conferences, namely, the limited time that could be devoted to social meetings, that interesting and cultivating portion of such occasions. This was found necessary in order to give proper attention to business matters, while the brethren were present; and this again resulted from another cause (shall we say evil?) which is, the limited stay which many of the brethren usually make at these meetings. Why should not ample time be given both to the religious and business exercises of the meeting, and why should not brethren come prepared to stay until such time as it shall be apparent that the object of the meeting is fully accomplished? Those who leave before the meeting closes, usually defeat in a measure the object of their coming, by losing the best part of the meeting. So it was in the present instance. At the close of the business session on the evening following first-day, at 9 o'clock, commenced the last of the feast in which was furnished the best of the wine.189Meeting continued till half-past eleven that evening, and the day following from seven to eleven, A. M., and from two to five, P. M. Those who were laboring under feelings of spiritual destitution, discouragements and trial, spoke freely of their cases; and heartily did the brethren take hold to afford them help by their exhortations and their prayers. God's signal blessing rested down, and at times the house resounded with shouts of praise and thanksgiving. The efforts that were made for freedom, for a bursting of the fetters with which the enemy would fain bind God's people, and for a consolidation of union between hearts which he had long been trying to estrange from each other, together with their results, were indeed encouraging. But most of all had we occasion to rejoice that freedom of spirit seemed to be returning to Bro. White, and that he was enabled to testify that hope was again beginning to beam upon his pathway. This was occasioned by the work which he saw being done for his brethren; and the happy change in him will be fully effected, when the work necessary to be done by and for them is fully accomplished. The business meetings were characterized by promptness of action, and the utmost unanimity of sentiment, no dissenting vote being offered on a single question. The same Spirit that reigned through the other exercises of the conference, seemed to pervade these meetings also, as may be seen from some of the resolutions offered. If the results and influence of this meeting do not prove as beneficial as those of any heretofore held in this place, our experience thus far has failed to qualify us to judge in this respect.