Luke Hitchcock, D. D. [pp. 449-451]

THE L,4ADIES' REPOSITORY.
than in older communities. The State was
organized, but society was still in a condition
to be readily affected by every agency that
molds the character of a people. The twenty
years-firom I840 to I86o-during which he
was connected with the pastorate comprise a
period of marvelous growthl in the population
and wealth of the State. The tide of immigr-ation bore thither peoples diverse in nationality,
habits, and opinions, heterogeneous masses to
be molded into a harmonious community, and
elevated not so much thlrough civil regulations
as by moral and religious agencies.
A cursory glance at the statistics reveals the
extent of the work to which the Church was
called during this period. In I840 the population of the State was 476,I83; in I86o it was
1,7II,95I, an increase of nearly three hundred
per cent. In I840 there were 2,818,373 acres
of land under cultivation; in I86o, I3,25r,473
acres. But the statistics also show that the
increase of the Methlodist Church kept pace
with that of the population, and that through
her influence much of the growing wealth was
consecrated to the cause of religion. Her
membership in I840 was 29,3I I; in i86o it
was 97,689. In I840 she supported one pastor
for 225 members, in I86o one for I38 members;
and. notwithstanding the influx of immigration,
much of it foreign and irreligious, during this
period the ratio of her membership to the population was greater than during the twenty years
preceding. Such results only attend the labors
of an earnest, active, and successful ministry.
During the twenty years of marked progress
already mentioned the greatest interest attaches
to the history of that part of Illinois comprised
in the Rock River Conference, the field of
much of Dr. Hitchlcock's ministerial labor.
When organized, in I840, this Conference included nearly one-fourthl of the State-about
its present area-a section that was already
attracting much of the emigration firom other
Northern States. This tide set in after the
close of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, and continued to increase for years, bearing to Northern Illinois a people who were soon to lead in
the enterprises of the State. The population
within the limits of the Rock River Conference
in I840 was about 77,ooo, or less than onesixth of that of the State; in I86o it was about
583,000, or more than one-third of that of the
State. This increase of more than half a million of people indicates the magnitude of the
work laid upon the Church during these twenty
years. The intense activity of this people and
the large number of foreigners increased that
work. In I86o there were 324,643 persons of
foreign birth in the State, and of this number
about I77,000 were within the limits of this
Conference.
Statistics can only suggest how our Church
has done her part of the work. In I840 the
Rock River Conference had within its limits, in
Illinois, tllirty-two preachers and 4,I89 iem —
bers; in I86o, one hundred and ninety-nine
preachers and 22,459 members. The ratio of
members to the population of American birth
was maintained tlhrough these years, and without Chicago increased. The ratio of the increase of Church accommodations and Church
property was greater than that of both the
native and foreign population. Such Church
growth can only result where there are zealous
Churches, tireless and consecrated ministers,
and well-directed efforts. No part of our Zion
has been more fortunate in its ministry than
the Conference of which we write. In every
part of our Church those who have efficiently
filled the office of presiding elder have contributed to the development of every iml)ortant
interest. Especially is this the case in a period
of unprecedented growth like the above, which
to the Clhurch, if successful, must be a period
of rapid and judicious organization, and of
careful and wise administration.
In I844 Dr. Hitchcock was appointed to
a district, and every subsequent appointment
within the Conference was to this department
of work. He became identified with the educational enterprises when lie first became a member of the Conference, and still holds a place in
each of those boards which have so carefully
and successfully managed the North-Western
University and the Garrett Biblical school.
He has been connected with the Western
Book Concern eleven years, the Exhibits of
which show that these have been the years
of its most rapid growthll and largest business.
To his office as Agent he has brought the tireless indust-ry and prompt and accurate judgment which made him so thoroughly efficient in
his previous fields of labor. He is endued with
admirable qualities for the office with which the
Church has so long and with so much unanimity intrusted him. Excellent as a preaclher,
most efficient as a presiding elder, he has also
shown eminent qualifications for business. But
few men, though reared in the experience of
business, surpass him in clear-sightedness,
breadth and promptness of views, and accuracy of judlgment. His thorough appreciation
of the peculiarities and necessities of the business of the Book Concern, which necessarily
differs in many respects from other forms and
branches of business, crowns his qualifications
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