| 777 On April 7,1860, he was chosen Bishop, at Amboy, Illinois, and the same evening was ordained under the hands of William W. Blair, Z. H. Gurley, and Samuel Powers, members of the Quorum of the Twelve. He continued in this office for twenty-two years, resigning at the Annual Conference held at Independence, Missouri, April, 1882. 1
Though it might be too much to say that Bishop Rogers during his term of office gave universal satisfaction, yet it is but just to say that he gained the confidence of the church generally. His generous and sympathetic nature was recognized by all, and he will ever retain a warm place in the love of those who knew him.
William Aldrich and Philo Howard were chosen his counselors, April 11, 1866, but for some reason were not ordained to that position. Philo Howard died January 25, 1869, and William Aldrich resigned April 9, 1873.
At the Annual Conference, April, 1873, Elijah Banta and David Dancer were chosen and ordained his counselors. Elijah Banta resigned September 22, 1874; and was succeeded by H. A. Stebbins, who was ordained April 11, 1875.
1 Thinking you would expect a report from me, I will give you a few thoughts as they may come to me. My mind is turned back twenty-two years, when my house would have held the whole church and more. I could feed the whole, and took pleasure in doing so, and that feeling has not gone from me yet. But when I follow the church from year to year, I can take pleasure in stating that it has been a steady growth, although the weather has looked cloudy sometimes, but thank God the clouds are breaking away and the sun begins to shine. May the clouds that darken the past never be permitted to darken in the future, but the light may grow brighter as we advance from year to year, till the perfect day. This I hope to ever be my prayer.
For the last six months I have been looking at the importance of the work, and feel that the time has come when the church must have men to represent her according to the spirit of the gospel. The law says let every man learn his duty, and I have examined myself, and I find that I should not be in the way, or be a stumbling-block to the great work of the last days. Believing that the Bishop's office should be near the printing press, and as I am in my sixty-fourth year, and not willing to begin anew to build me a home, I therefore offer this my resignation as Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ. Praying that the Spirit of God may be with you in all your deliberations, and teach you his will in the different quorums, that all may work together for the good of the cause and the glory of God, and hoping to be engaged with you in helping to carry on this great work, I subscribe myself your unworthy laborer.-Saints' Herald, volume 29, page 130.
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