Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. / The purpose of this dissertation is to trace the development of the Southern Illinois Conference of The Methodist Church. The primary sources for the study were The Minutes of the Annual Conferences, The Minutes of the Illinois Conference, and the Journal of the Southern Illinois Conference. Secondary sources had to be used for much of the early history. Methodism began in England and was brought to America by Wesley's preachers. Francis Asbury supervised the spread of Methodism from the Eastern seaboard into the Ohio River Valley [TRUNCATED]