TITLE PAGE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I - ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE OF BENJAMIN TITUS ROBERTS

A. BIRTH AND ANCESTRY
1. Birth
2. Parentage
B. TRAINING
1. Early Schooling
2. Study of Law
C. RELIGIOUS TRAINING
1. The Sunday School
2. Conversion
D. LATER SCHOOLING
1. Lima Seminary
2. Wesleyan University

CHAPTER II - A YOUTHFUL MINISTER OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

A. CONFERENCE OF 1848
1. Admitted to Membership
2. Insipient Troubles
B. APPOINTMENTS OF MR. ROBERTS
1. First Appointment
2. First Year at Pike, New York
3. Second Year at Pike, New York
4. Rushford, New York

CHAPTER III - ROBERTS AND HIS ASSOCIATES IN CONFLICT WITH EXISTING CONDITION

A. FIRST IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT OF MR. ROBERTS
1. Reaction to Appointment
2. Beginnings of His Work
3. Revival with Dr. Redfield
4. Convention at Buffalo
5. Conference Religion Attacked and Defended
6. Free Seats Advocated
7. Missionary Interest
8. Slavery Injected Into the Picture .
9. Summary of Year at Buffalo
B. CONFERENCE AT BATAVIA AND A NEW PASTORATE
1. Conference Problems
2. Reception at the New Church
3. Attitudes and Beginnings In Brockport
4. Evaluation of First Year at Brockport
5. Conference Matters
C. SECOND YEAR AT BROCKPORT
1. The Growing Partisan Feeling
2. The Nazarites
D. AT ALBION, NEW YORK
1. State of Party Feeling
2. Roberts Aware of Opposition
3. Bergen Camp Meeting Difficulties
4. Conference Matters

CHAPTER IV - THE PERIOD OF ROBERTS' MOST CONTROVERSIAL WRITING AND ITS RESULTS

A. SECOND YEAR AT ALBION
1. Roberts' Letter to Bishop Morris
2. Comments of Redfield on Late Annual Conference
3. Opposition .
4. New School Methodism
5. A Doctrinal Issue
6. Roberts Saw Persecution as a Protective Measure
7. The Leroy Conference
B. APPOINTMENT TO PEKIN
1. Reactions of Kendall to Conference
2. The Slavery Issue
3. Reception at Pekin
4. Other Events at Pekin
5. Death of Kendall
6. Decision of S. K. J. Chesbrough
7. Visits of Stiles and Redfield
C. REPUBLICATION OF "NEW SCHOOL METHODISM"
1. Views on the Publication
2. Conference Difficulties Increase
3. The Trial Proper
4. Reactions to Trial and Expulsion
5. Attitudes of the Conference Majority
6. Conclusion

CHAPTER V - TWO YEARS OF INDEPENDENT MINISTRY.

A. DECISIONS AFTER CONFERENCE OF 1858
1. Joined Methodist Church on Probation
2. Course of Roberts Determined by Church Law
B. HOME ADJUSTMENTS
1. Various Offers
2. Active Service in Interim of Decision
3. Decision for Buffalo
C. FIRST LAY CONVENTION
1. First Lay Convention
2. The Session Proper
3. The Crux of the Matter
4. Repercussions In the Press
5. Expulsions
D. SECOND LAYMEN'S CONVENTION
1. The Call
2. The Session
3. The Status of Lay Movements
E. ANNUAL CONFERENCE
1. Prognostications of Robie
2. Fay Purdy's Meeting
3. Expulsions and Locations
4. Simpson's Opinion and Opinion of Simpson
F. SECOND LAY CONVENTION, ADJOURNED SESSION
1. Convention at Albion, November, 1859
2. Actions of the Convention
3. Results
G. THIRD LAYMEN'S CONVENTION
1. Purpose
2. Address on Slavery by Roberts
3. Organizational Trend
4. Report of Convention by Roberts
5. More Expulsions
H. INDEPENDENT CHURCHES
1. Albion Congregational Free Methodist Church
2. St. Louis Church
3. Syracuse Church
4. Rochester Church
5. Clintonville Church
I. BANDS
1. Churches Outgrowth of Bands
2. Organization of Bands
3. Distinction Between Bands
J. THE EARNEST CHRISTIAN
1. Purpose of Publication
2. Content
3. Comments on It
4. Functions of the Magazine

CHAPTER VI - A NEW CHURCH COMES INTO BEING

A. RELATION TO METHODISM CONSIDERED
1. Early Statements Reviewed
2. Affiliations
B. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1860
1. Roberts' Review of His Case
2. Committees to Handle the Case
3. Slavery Influence in the Decision
4. Injudicious Action of MaCreery
C. FANATICISM CONSIDERED
1. Differing Views
2. Answers to Questions Proposed
3. Conclusions Concerning It
D. ACTIVITIES PURSUANT TO GENERAL CONFERENCE
1. Eastern Convention
2. Western Convention
E. FORMAL ORGANIZATION OF FREE METHODIST CHURCH
1. The Convention Called
2. The Convention Organized
3. Items of Business
4. Results of the Convention

CHAPTER VII - EARLY PERIOD OF SUPERINTENDENCY OF ROBERTS, 1860-1870

A. TRAVELER
1. Extent of Travels
2. Character of the Work
3. New Recruits
4. Reactions to Issues of the Day
5. Varied Experiences
B. ORGANIZER AND PROMOTER OF CHURCHES
1. Promoter
2. Reports on Work of Others
3. New Churches Dedicated
C. FOUNDING OF A SCHOOL
D. OFFICIAL GATHERINGS OF THE PERIOD
1. Organization of the Susquehanna Conference
2. Genesee Annual Convention
3. Western Convention
4. General Conference of 1862
5. General Conference of 1866
6. General Conference of 1870
E. CIVIL WAR AND SLAVERY
1. Beginnings
2. Moral Issues of the War
F. METHODS .
1. Preaching of Roberts
2. Mission Activity, Work Among the Poor
3. Religious Meetings of Various Kinds
G. PERSONAL AND HOME INTERESTS
1. Mutual Understanding Between Husband and Wife
2. Children and Home
3. Finances
4. Personal Religious Experience
H. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CHURCHES
I. RESUME

CHAPTER VIII - THE FOUNDING OF CHILI SEMINARY

A. REASONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL
1. Purposes Clarified
2. Theory of Education Involved
B. THE FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOL
1. Conference Actions
2. Purchase of the Rumsey Farm
3. School Beginnings
4. Purchase of the Old Tavern
5. Early Students
C. FINANCES INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL VENTURE
1. Promotion of School Finances
2. Construction and Dedication of Building
D. THE SCHOOL PROGRAM
1. Organization of the School
2. Duties of Mr. Roberts

CHAPTER IX - SUBSEQUENT WORKS

A. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
1. Formation of the Farmers' Alliance
2. Later Attitudes
B. SCHOOLS
1. Aid to Chili Seminary
2. Spring Arbor Seminary
3. Evansville Seminary
4. Orleans Seminary
5. Gerry Seminary
6. Seminary in Virginia
7. Wessington Springs Seminary
8. Greenville College
9. Seattle Seminary
10. School Summary
C. WRITINGS, 1870-1893
1. The Earnest Christian
2. Books
3. The Free Methodist Paper
D. MISSIONS

CHAPTER X - SUPERINTENDENCY, TRAVELS, AND POST OBITUM, 1870-1893, 1910

A. GENERAL CONFERENCE THROUGH THE PERIOD
1. Fourth General Conference, 1874
2. Fifth General Conference, 1878
3. Sixth General Conference, 1882
4. Seventh General Conference, 1886
5. Eighth General Conference, 1890
B. TRAVELS IN THE STATES
1. Midwestern Tour
2. Far Western Trip
3. Northwestern Trip
4. Eastern Work
5. Southern Trip
C. FOREIGN TRAVEL
1. The Occasion for It
2. Preparations for It
3. Ocean Voyage
4. In England
5. England, Ireland, Scotland, Home
D. FINALITIES
1. Failing Health
2. Last Things
3. Death
4. Funeral
5. Post Nubila, Phoebus

APPENDIX

PHOTOGRAPHS

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