90 
THE PACIFIC DISTRICT. 
At this period Mr. Bright wrote: The political 
sky in Kansas is a little cloudy at present, but 
freedom must, in the end, prevail. And if Kan- 
sas should even he a slave-state, we ought not, on 
that account, abandon it. Oh, no! The gospel 
of Christ is light; and wherever the dark cloud 
of slavery is spread, there should the gospel light 
be diflused.’’ 
Our brethren, however, had counted the cost 
and were determined not to be foiled by trifles, or 
even the most powerful impediments that men 
and devils might oppose to their progress. They 
were, indeed,- sometimes ‘troubled on every side, 
yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; 
persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not ' 
destroyed;” and as they went forth weeping, 
bearing precious seed, God caused it to take root 
and grow, so the General Conference set apart 
that portion of the mission-work for a new con- 
ference. Accordingly, Bishop Edwards visited the 
state and organized Kansas Conference, Octo- 
ber 30th, 1857. There were nine itinerant preach- 
ers and 196 members. 
The statistics of 1884 show that there are now 
four annual conferences ; namely, Kansas, Neosho, 
Arkansas Y alley, and W est Kansas ; that in these 
four are now 156 ministers, jand a membership of 
7,296 souls. These paid their ministers $19,117.82, 
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