Sunday, March 26, 2006

This Week in Texas Methodist History, March 26

March 27/28, 1844, Littleton Fowler Journeys to General Conference

Littleton Fowler was one of the two delegates elected by the Texas Conference to attend General Conference in 1844. That conference was to be held in New York City. That conference turned out to be one of the most momentous general conferences ever held. It was at that conference that the Texas Conference was authorized to split into western and eastern conferences. That conference also saw the differences between northern and southern Methodist become so aggravated that the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was created.

By March 27, Fowler had travelled seventy miles to Nachitoches, Louisiana, where he was awaiting passage on a steamboat to New Orleans. Once in New Orleans, he would secure passage on another steamboat that would take him up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers on his way to New York.

The wait gave him time to write a long letter to his wife, Missouri Fowler. The letter contained instructions about running the farm, raising the children, supervising improvements to the family house, and so on. He also wrote My trip and long absence from my district, home, and dear family lies heavey on my heart, but my trust is in God and he will be with, and protect and give a safe return to my family.

Fowler's prayer was answered. He did return safely and two years later was elected a delegate to the organizational conference of the M.E.C. S.

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