History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Omaha and suburbs . urch and Nation were un-Wesleyan and provok-ing to a majority of the people comprising thecommunicants under his administration. Themembership was small, numbering hardly half ahundred, and any subject on which they could notharmonize, and especially the grave one at thattime agitating the commonwealth, was next to adisaster, as its direct tendency was to hinder themost successful carrying on of evangelical work. The bitterness and asperity indulged in mereconversation were adverse to spiritual growth, andengendered animosity whi
History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Omaha and suburbs . urch and Nation were un-Wesleyan and provok-ing to a majority of the people comprising thecommunicants under his administration. Themembership was small, numbering hardly half ahundred, and any subject on which they could notharmonize, and especially the grave one at thattime agitating the commonwealth, was next to adisaster, as its direct tendency was to hinder themost successful carrying on of evangelical work. The bitterness and asperity indulged in mereconversation were adverse to spiritual growth, andengendered animosity which has not yet been out-grown. Mr. Smiths success was not what itshould have been, and, most likely, would havebeen, if his views had tallied with a controllingnumber of his people. Methodism failed for this 45 METHODISM IN OMAHA. and other reasons to get a prevailing hold on thecitizens and, hence, suffered for want of adequatesupport, either financial or moral. Henry T. Davis, young and elastic, as well asready to be placed in the midst of the battle, in the. REV. HENRY T. DAVIS. spring of 1859 was designated to take charge of theFirst Church, then regarded as the most prominentappointment in the Conference. At Omaha hefinds himself in the Capital of the Territory, a - 46 METHODISM IN OMAHA. growing young city full of promise, and to thefar-seeing a field offering a brilliant reward to thepreacher who, under God, might gain access tothe hearts of the people. To be sure there wereprejudices to be overcome and a revolution mustbe wrought favorable to Methodism. A steadyand constant effort was needful upon the part bothof the pastor and his people to gain popular con-fidence; and the house of God must be made morethan usually attractive if public approval andpatronage would be secured. Mr. Davis with his might began reformatoryefforts, and having some good workers who heldthemselves in readiness to assist their pastor in hisattempts to lead men and women to Christ, therewas some
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