THE
SUPERNUMERARY;
OR,
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS
of
ITINERANCY.
COMPILED
FROM PAPERS OF REV. ELIJAH WOOLSEY.
Elijah Woolsey 1771 - 1850
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NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY G. LANE & C. B. TIPPETT,
FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE
OFFICE, 200 MULBERRY STREET.
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J. COLLORD, PRINTER.
1845
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by G. Lane & C. B. TIPPETT, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.
PREFACE
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Whoever had had the happiness of being acquainted with the fathers and founders of Methodism, either in this country or in England, will remember that they were the class of men of remarkably strong minds, retentive memories, sound practical wisdom, and good, strong commonsense. Few of them had been blest with a liberal education; nor were many of them well read in history, philosophy, or science; but in general they were men of observation, and understood human nature well; and having been taught in the school of Christ, they made a just estimate of the value of the human soul, and laboured to promote its salvation from the guilt and power of sin, according to the best means in their power. To no class of men, perhaps, since the days of the apostles, do the words of St. Paul and his associates apply with equal propriety and force - "In journeyings often, in labours more abundant; in perils in weariness, and painfulness, and watchings, and hunger, and thrust; in the fastings, and cold, and dangers, and deaths oft." Many of these veterans passed thorough scenes more strange than those of fiction, and vastly more interesting, because they we true; and most of them, it is believed, acquired a fund of anecdote, arising out of personal adventure and experience, as rich and various as any class of men on earth. Many of them, also had an excellent tact in relating the incidents of travel which made their company truly interesting; but few of them had the ability, the disposition, or the time write them down in a style worthy of preservation.
The author of the "Lights and Shadows of Itinerancy" possessed an ample store of materials for a "Sketch Book, " or an interesting biography, if he could have commanded the services of a Boswell, or the talents of a Washington Irving; but he enjoyed no such advantages, and made no such pretensions; and would have been the last man in the traveling connection to write a book, or to suffer one to be written about him, if he could have followed the dictates of his own mind. The sin of making many books is not to be charged upon the fathers of Methodism. That is not their infirmity. But if they were at fault in any particular, it was in not keeping a journal of events, as they transpired, out of which others might have constructed memoirs worthy of the age in which they lived, and the cause in which they were engaged.
The following incidents were furnished, at the request of the compiler, by the venerable author himself, and published some years since, in a series of numbers, in the Christian Advocate and Journal; since which they have been often called for in another form. Neither the love of money nor the desire of fame induced the author to submit to their publication, but simply the gratification of friends and the desire of doing good. As Goldsmith says, "There is a hundred faults in this thing, and a hundred things might be said to prove them beauties; but it is needless." If the facts related in these pages are not equal in interest to the beautiful fictions contained in the Vicar of Wakefield, the lovers of romance must seek entertainment elsewhere. All that the compiled has done with these sketches had been to arrange them, to divide them into chapters, at the head of which he has taken the liberty to affix a passage of Scripture as a kind of motto, and to supply a word or two, or a reflection, as occasion might offer. G. C.
New-York, Nov. 27, 1844 THE SUPERNUMERARY;
OR,
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF ITINERANCY.
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CHPATER I.
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world," Gal. vi, 14.
I was born in the same year that the venerable Bishop Asbury came to this country, 1771, five years before the "stars began to fight against Siser," if I may so express myself, to make way for the glorious independence of our country. But that is nothing to the point. In the early part of my life I had serious thoughts about my future state. At that time our country was not so well informed as it is now, and our religious privileges were vastly inferior to those of the present generation. If a man knew what true religion was by the time he
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thirty years old, he might think himself well off, there were no prayer meetings and inviting mourners to the altar in those days. My morals, however, were such that many of my friends thought me to be religious, and asked I did not think I had religion. I replied I had not, for I knew my own heart better than any one else. In one particular I was highly favoured: I had a praying mother whom I tenderly loved, and although her name was neither Eunice nor Lois, she taught her children to fear God and reverence the Holy Scriptures. Parental instruction, I believe, has greater influence on the minds of children than many are aware; for I well remember, after my mother had been instructing us in the way of the Loard, like Joseph I could not refrain myself, but had to seek a place to weep in, and as a true penitent ____
"When lash'd from sins to sighs; and by degrees
From sighs to vows, from vows to bended kness;
From bended kness to a true pensive breast;
From thence to torments not to be express'd;
Returns; - from his sinful self exiled,
Finds a glad Father, he a welcome child,"
So did I, in thus going into secret places to weep, often find peace to my soul.
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I frequently attended public, worship, both among the Presbyterians and Baptists, and also among the Quakers, without prejudice or respect of persons. But I cannot say that I ever heard any preaching that reached my heart until I head the Methodists. I well remember the time when I first heard name. My was a trustee of the Presbyterian meeting-house, and having returned from meeting one day, said to my mother that the trustees were out of humour, because they could not keep the minister any longer. He said that he had told them there were sixty or seventy Methodist preachers in new-Jersey, and that they were great preachers too. I was then a small lad, and stood by and heard the conversation, and shall always remember the thoughts that passed through my mind at that time. Having read in the Scriptures that the gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness, and then shall the end come, I thought that those preachers were great and good men, and that they had begun at the southern extremity of the world, and were making their way to the north, and when they had gained the northern extremity, the world
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would come to an end. After this my father invited them to preach at his house, and they accepted the invitation. The first that came was A.H. His text was, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." The Presbyterian minister was there, and after meeting tried to get into a dispute with him. Brother H. said, "Do not let us content:" at which the minister said, "But what shall we do, for you will preach your principles, and I shall preach mine, and we shall set the people to quarrelling." Brother H. then said, "Let us pray." The minister replied, "What is the reason that you are not willing to talk with me on those points?" Brother H. answered, that he was but a youth of nineteen years of age, and did not feel himself capable of defending those disputed points; "but in tow weeks," said he, "my colleague, the Rev. E. C., will be here, and he will talk with you as much as long as you please." What must this minister's views of the gospel have been if he thought that it was necessary to preach such principles as would set the people to quarrelling? But such is the fact. Men become minister of something they now not what,
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as foreign from the "ministry of reconciliation," as light from darkness. They subscribe to articles as contrary to reason as to truth; then set themselves to defend them, right or wrong; and act more like the man who said, "Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth," than like those first apostles of Christ, who "exhorted the people that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord."
I do not remember now how long it was before E. C. arrived, but I well recollect that he came in the power and spirit of the gospel. His text was, "What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch." His preaching was like a dagger to my heart; but my pride was such that for fear I should be seen weeping, I went into another room, and placed my ear against the door, that I might hear every word, for it seemed that he knew my whole heart. I could in part adopt the language of the woman of Samaria, who said, "Come, see a man that told me all that ever I did." This was the preaching that was blessed of God to my soul; and I for one shall have cause, I trust, to bless God to all eternity for that turly apostolical plan of carrying for gos-
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pel to ever creature, by means of itinerant ministers. How many parts of our country would have remained destitute of the gospel and gospel ordinances to this day, if they could not have had them until they were able to have a minister settled among them! Nay, more: even supposing ministers had been settled, and parishes formed, as in other countries; but for Methodism it might: bait been with us as with the Israelites of old, when God, by the word of Jeremiah, complained of them thus: ___"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so." How cutting was the sarcasm, and how just was the rebuke, which the translator of Saurin levelled at our mother country, about the time that the colonies became independent. "In a village," says he, "made up of a stupid thing called a 'squire, a mercenary priest, a set of intoxicated farmers, and a train of idle, profligate, and miserable poor, and where the barbarous rhymes in their church-yard inform us that they are all either gone or going to heaven; would it not be infinitely better for society, that an honest enthusiast could convert these people, rather than let them re
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main as they are? Any thing of religion is letter than debauchery and blasphemy." And how much our country would have merited such a complaint, if the itinerating system had not found its way hither, let those who are older than I judge.
The "circuit riders" came regularly to our house, and many were the godly admonitions that we received from them; from E.G. in particular. When he took his leave of the family, he used to take us, by the hand, and exhort us to seek the Lord. This affected me much; and though I believed he was a man of God, yet through fear, and pride, and shame, I would not always give him an opportunity to speak to me, but used to hide myself among the trees of the garden until he went away. I would then creep out of my hiding place, and look after him as long as I could see him. Such love had I for a true minister of the gospel, as I believed him to be, even when my heart in many things was not right with God, After this I lost my convictions in a great measure, though not entirely. My sister being awakened about the same time, she sought the Lord with all her heart, and soon found peace to her soul.
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Her exemplary life frequently awakened me to a sense of my duty. Sometimes I used to find her in the woods on her knees at the break of day. I used to say to myself, "She is now conversing with her God, but alas for me, I am a poor sinner." I never attended the preaching of the Methodists, except the first time, without feeling conviction, and I must say that no preaching seemed to me like theirs.
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CHAPTER II.
"These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also," Act xvii. 6.
It was some time after my sister experienced religion that I came to a fixed resolution to be for God, and none else. And when I was resolved by grace to choose the good part, I had a great desire to have one of my young companions to go with me. Accordingly I fixed on a day and plan to speak to him on the subject. I went to his father's house and said to him, " Will you go to meeting with me to-day?" He at first said he could not. I told him he must go, for I had particular
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business with him that day. He has since told me that he then suspected what I wanted to say to him. He complied with my desire, and our conversation was on religious subjects; but I was not satisfied. I wanted him to say that he would go with me to the heavenly Canaan. So when we left the meeting I made a covenant with God in my own mind that I would speak to him on that point particularly, that I might know his mind; and when we came in sight of the house I trembled, but dared not go in until I had freed my mind. I at length said to him, "My dear friend, I have oftentimes thought I would set out in the service of God with all my heart, if I could get one of my companions to go with me." To which he replied, "I will go as far as God will enable me." The satisfaction I then felt I cannot express. It was better to me than if I had found thousands of gold and silver. We then turned aside into the field, and sat down on a rock, and bathed it with our tears, while we convenanted together to be for God. After this we used frequently to meet together in the woods to converse, and pray with and for each other. These were indeed the beginning of good
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days, and the remembrance of them is sweet even now. My brother soon joined us. We were then three in number, and our union increased, until it became like a three-fold cord, which is not easily broken. My brother and my friend soon found peace, but I was left comfortless. Satan now set in with his horrid temptations, and strove hard to make me believe that God had consigned a part of his creatures to eternal misery. O! horrible decree, thought I. I cannot believe it, and yet the enemy of God and man would crowd on my mind such passages of Scripture as
these: "Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated;" "One shall be taken, and the other left;" "Many are called, but few chosen;" The first shall be last, and. the last first" And never having heard these scriptures properly explained, but often quoted in support or the doctrines of "election and reprobation," I was almost driven to despair. I thought I should be willing to exchange my condition with the worst man on earth, for I thought he might be within the reach of mercy and I was not. Satan tempted me to make away with myself, but I felt no desire to yield to such a wicked suggestion and yet I used to
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think thus within myself: "1 am in the field to-day, and to-morrow I may be in hell? But in the midst of my greatest distress I could cry," God be merciful to me, a sinner." It was while I was thus crying to God for help, that his Holy Spirit brought comfort to my poor soul by applying these words, "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." I was enabled to believe, and all was joy and peace.
Soon after this my brother and I, with a few others, joined the church, and a class was formed in our neighbourhood. My sister had joined before, in a neighbouring village, but now met with us. I was first led to pray in thus: - A local preacher having had an appointment in the daytime, gave out for a prayer meeting at night at my father's house; after which my sister said to him, "You have appointed a prayer meeting, but who will you get to pray?" He replied, "I will get your brothers at it." She observed, "They have never prayed in public, and I do not think that they will now." We did not hear this conversation, and of course knew nothing of it till afterward. At the time appointed, the people came together. The preacher sung and prayed, and then exhort-
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ed, after which he sung on me to pray. I had not time to make any excuse; so I opened my mouth, and words flowed freely, and my soul was filled with peace. After I bad finished, the preacher called on my brother in the same way. He did not refuse, and thus we were, as it were, caught in a snare; but, thanks be to God, it was not the snare of the devil. From this time we began to hold prayer meetings, which we kept up for the space of two years; and though, for the most part, but few attended, we had some very gracious seasons among ourselves. I had a great desire to see some converted at our little prayer meetings. I thought it would strengthen us much, and encourage us to continue them. At this time my eldest brother appeared to trifle with religion; but I bad an encouraging dream one night respecting him. In my dream I saw a spring of water come up out of a rock as clear as crystal, from which there proceeded a number of small streams in every direction through the air; and I thought I saw my brother let down a pitcher, and draw water from the spring. I also thought I saw fire come down from
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heaven, and it set the stones of the field all a blaze. In the morning I said to my sister, "I do believe, sister, that God is going to revive his work of grave among us, and that I shall see brother H. draw water out of the well of salvation;" at which she said she believed there would be a reformation, for she had dreamed that she received a letter from heaven in letters of gold, the contents of which were, that there was coming a ship-load of love divine from heaven. Soon after this, as we were going to meeting one evening at my cousin's, she said to me that his brother W. was in trouble for the welfare of his soul I said to her, "I will go and see him," and accordingly I went, and was much pleased to find him and his wife both under exercise of mind. I stayed and talked with and prayed for them until near midnight; and when returning home, I called at my brother H.'s. and while knocking at the door, my sister-in-law asked who was there; and when I told her, she said, "Come in, for your brother is crazy." I was very much alarmed; but when I had entered, O the change in my feelings! for I now found him on his knees crying for mercy, and saying, "Pray for me;"
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and truly it was with me as it was with the disciples, who could not believe for joy. I could not pray for joy. I tried to pray, but it was mostly praise. He said he had been asleep, and dreamed that the day of judgment had come, (O
(0 that Gad would send many more such dreams!) and that the whole world of mankind stood before the Lord, and that he passed a cup among the people, and that it went well with all that got the cup. He stood in suspense for some time, and at length got the cup in his hand. He then thought that it would be well with all those who could drink of that cup. For this he strove hard, and in his agony awoke, crying for mercy. And herein was that scripture fulfilled which says, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams," Acts ii, 17.
After this he told us that he never should dare to close his eyes again in sleep, for he was afraid if he did he should awake in hell. He also said that he wished my other brother and sister would come and watch with him
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the next night. I then went home light as a hart, to carry the glad news - stopped at my cousin's, and told them - and when I got home, told my brother and sister also. It was a time of rejoicing with us, and we concluded that we would go and have a prayer meeting with them that night. When the time for meeting drew nigh, we started, and prevailed on a young woman, a neighbour, to go with us, and a happy thing it was for her that she went, for that night she found peace to her soul. I will now relate a circumstance which shows the peculiar care of God over an infant child. My cousin had but one child, an infant of six or seven months old. The mother, wishing to go to meeting the night above mentioned, said, "I will give this child to God until I return from meeting." Accordingly, she put the child to bed, and locked up the house, leaving no person whatever in the house with the child. We did not return from meeting that night until the rising of the sun. I went in with the parents to see how it was with the child, and it appeared to lie just as it did when the mother left it the preceding night. The mother said at the meeting that she had given the child into the care
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of the Lord until she returned, for it seemed to her that it was the will of God that she should be at the meeting that night. She has since said that she could not leave a child so again, unless under similar or some very peculiar circumstances. I well recollect, also, that as we were going to the meeting, my sister said she felt as if the Lord would convert a soul that night, and my cousin said she thought that the Lord would convert six or seven. I thought, "That is too many, for it is too good to be true." When the meeting was opened, brother H. got on his knees, and made a convenant with God that he would never rise from them until he found peace to his soul. The power of the Lord then came down, and his glory filled the house. My brother cried, "O bring me a little water, for in a few minutes I shall not have one drop to cool my parched tongue." He then said to me, "Do you believe there is any mercy for me?" I said, "I as much believe it as I believe there is a God in heaven." He then said, "Did Jesus shed those great drops of blood for me?" I replied, "Yes, and he is now ready and willing to apply it to your soul." It was not long before he took hold
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by faith, and such was his confidence in God, that he bade defiance to all the devils in hell. My cousin asked me if I believed there was mercy for him. I said I did. He said, "How shall I get it?" I replied, "Ever since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." He then sprang up from the floor, and with haste took off his coat, and threw it across the room, and then kneeled down again, and said, "Lord, make me afraid of hell - Lord, convict me - Lord, I am under no conviction - Lord, Mary Magdalen had seven devils in her, and I have seven thousand in me!" Thus he continued praying, and before morning light appeared the Lord broke in upon his soul with light of his countenance. So that night passed away, and the morning appeared, before we were aware. Six or seven souls found peace, and a great reformation ensued.
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CHAPTER III.
"Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world," Rom. X, 18.
I Now began to exhort sinners to turn to God; and it was not long before I felt an impression on my mind that it was duty to preach. I was much troubled on that account; and my trouble increased until I ventured to make a covenant with the Lord that I would preach if I might tarry at home. This eased my mind a little, and I began with great weakness and fear. And I have often been astonished to think how the people could be content to sit and hear me. The way I first came to take a text was this: I sent an appointment for meeting to a place about ten off, and when I came there, the man of the house said that I must preach, for it had been given out that there would be preaching, and that the people expected it. I said to myself, "By the grace of God I'll try, and if he has not called me to the work, I hope be will shut my mouth." So I opened my Testament on these words, "Come, for
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all things are ready," and had considerable liberty in my own mind while discoursing thereon. My next text was, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," and the liberty with which I was favoroured greatly exceeded the former time. This encouraged me much, and I began to arrange my appointments from this time somewhat in the form of a circuit. My next appointment was at the house of a Baptist, and my text was, "Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this figtree, and find none." I had a good time in declaring the word of the Lord, and when I had done, a Baptist woman came to me and said, "You have preached the greatest Methodist sermon I ever heard in my life." I was then ignorant of Satan's devices, and concluded in my own mind that I could preach on almost any text in the Bible. I have often been ashamed of these foolish thoughts since, and, through the mercy of God, I was soon cured of my folly: At my next appointment I thought to do great things, but the Lord left me to myself, and I did nothing, except lay the foundation for greater self-abasement than I had ever felt before. I now found that as Satan could not ruin me
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by means of pride, he was determined to dispute every inch of ground, and that I must either fight or die. On the one hand, "the word of the Lord was as fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing," and on the other hand the cruel suggestions of Satan were as "fiery darts" piercing my inmost soul. I said but little to others concerning the exercises of my mind, but cried unto God night and day; nor did I cry in vain: I was gradually raised above my fears, and at length went on my way rejoicing.
My brother T. received license to preach a little before I did; mine was sent to me from the quarterly conference. At this time my father had a large farm, and I and my brother used to assist him in the cultivation of it. But there seemed to be a call for one of us at least to take a circuit. So my brother joined the conference, and was appointed to a circuit in the north part of the state of New-York. This was in the year 1792. When my brother returned from the conference, father was not willing he should got to the circuit, he being under age, and I being older than he, took his place, and the next day started for my appointment. Father G. was
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the presiding elder, and brother K was my colleague. I had not travelled six months before the charms of "sweet home" almost overcame me; for our family was a very happy one. We were very happy in each other's company when together, and though I had cheerfully left them, I cast "many a longing lingering look behind." One day I had three appointments, and nearly forty miles to ride. When I came to my evening's appointment, the man of the house meet me at the gate, and informed me that my brother Thomas was in the house. I was so overcome with joy that I did not attempt to preach that night, neither could I sleep after I had gone to bed. My brother, however, supplied my place in preaching; so there was no loss to the people. The next morning my brother agreed to supply my place on the circuit for six weeks, and let me go home. I accepted of his kindness, and visited my relations, who greatly rejoiced at my return. But strange to tell, I had not been long at home before I felt as great an anxiety to return to my circuit as I did to leave it, in order to visit my friends. So before six weeks had elapsed I went to my work again, and in a short time
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was appointed to another circuit, leaving my brother in the first appointment.
In my new circuit I met with hard fare, and many trials. The country was thinly inhabited. In some places there were no regular roads. We followed marked trees for eight or nine miles together. Provisions were scarce, and of the homeliest kind. In some instances our greatest luxuries were roasted potatoes. But thank God, we did not stay long at each place. Our appointments for preaching were numerous, and the distance between them very considerable. "Sponging" was not the "besetting sin" of those days, nor "large salaries" our greatest snare. Sometimes I had no bed to lie on, nor blanket to cover me in the coldest weather. My saddle-bags were my pillow, and my great coat my "comfortable." The consequence was, repeated and violent colds, which laid the foundation for those infirmities which have for the last two years made me "a supernumerary." Could we have had where-with to purchase a buffalo robe, and convenience for carrying it, we might have escaped some of the "shadows of itinerancy." Not-withstanding, however, the hard toils and the
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hard fare of my first winter's appointment, I saw good times in another respect, and formed some new classes within the bounds of the circuit, and added to the church eight-eight hopeful members.
I attended the conference in 1793, and arrived at the place in the evening, and was appointed to preach the next day; but the cross of having to preach before the preachers was so great, that I slept none that night, but prayed and wept continually. As I went to the meeting-house my knees smote one against the other, and when I was in the pulpit, I trembled so much that I could not hold the hymn-book steady enough to see to read the hymn, without laying it on the pulpit and placing my hand on it. I then thought I should not live long, if such were to be my trials. After prayer, however, I gave out my text, and my fears were soon gone, and by the help of the Lord I preached for once, if I ever preached in my life. I had brought no written recommendation with me to the conference, but my presiding elder spoke to Bishop Asbury, who wished me to relate my experience and call to the work of the ministry. The bishop and conference seemed sat-
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isfied. I was received on trial into the travelling connection, and was appointed six months to one circuit, and six months to another, for the succeeding year. During the latter part of the year I had some exercises of mind respecting offering myself as a missionary for Canada, for at that time it was customary to send to Canada only such as volunteered to go.
At the conference in 1794, D. Dunham came from Canada asked me if I would go with him to the province. I consented; and though I had not had a regular appointment more than one year, the conference accepted of my two years' service, such as it was, and I was ordained a deacon in the church of God, and as I was now going out of the states, I was ordained elder the next day. J. Coleman was appointed with us. So after conference we set out for Canada. But the parting with. my relatives and near friends was a great trial to me, and I was glad when I was out of sight of the house. We went by the way of Albany and Schenectady. At Albany we laid in our provisions for the journey. When we came to Schenectady we found that the company with whom we had intended to go had taken their departure.
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So we tarried a week, and provided ourselves with a boat. Two men had engaged to go with us, and to work their passage up the Mohawk, but an enemy to the Methodists persuaded them to relinquish their engagement with us, which they did, and went with him. We were then left alone, and had to work our own passage. When we came to the first rapids, which by the Dutch people are called "knock 'em stiff," we had our difficulties. I had never used the setting pole in my life, and my colleague, J. C., was not a very good waterman. When we had almost ascended the rapids, the boat turned round, and down the steam she went, much more rapidly than she went up. We tried again, and when we had almost conquered the difficulty, the boat turned again. I then jumped overboard, thinking to save the boat from going down stream; but the water was over my head. So away went the boat, with my companions in it, and I swam to shore. The next time we "doubled the cape," and that day made a voyage of ten miles. At night we brought up the boat, and made her fast to a tree. We then kindled a fire, put on the tea-kettle and the cooking-pot, boiled
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our potatoes, made our tea, and ate our supper with a good appetite and a clear conscience, and after smoking our pipes and chatting a while, we sung and prayed, and then laid ourselves down among the sand and pebbles on the bank of the river to rest; but I was so wearied with the toils of the day that i could not sleep much that night.
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CHAPTER IV.
"And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep," Gen. xxviii, 11.
NEXT morning, about daybreak, a man and his son hailed us from the other side of the river, and wished to know if they might work their passage to Rome, a distance of about eighty miles from the spot where we were. Brother Dunham told them if they were civil men, and would behave accordingly, they might, and we would find them provisions. So we soon started, but had not gone far before one of them began to swear profanely. We told him if he did not
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cease swearing we would get them ashore. Not long after this, some things did not please him, and he began swearing again as before. Brother D., being at the helm, steered the boat toward the shore, and gave him his bundle, and told him to go, saying that he would not have a swearer on board. So we parted, and found that we got along better without them than with them; and that day, by the setting of the sun, we rowed up stream about forty miles. We put ashore, as on the preceding night, collected the leaves together, and made our couch as comfortable as we could, for we had no other place for that time whereon to lay our heads, being in some sense like the patriarch of old, when he was on his way to Padan-aram. Our toil by day made repose welcome at night, so that when the morning light appeared we were rather loath to leave our humble beds.
The weather, however, warned us to depart. It became stormy by day, and much more so by night. We had rain and snow fifteen days out of nineteen during that journey. When we were going down the Oswego river, two men hailed us from the shore, and desired to work their passage about twenty miles. It
32
was very stormy. I was very weary, and glad to rest a little; so we took them in, and I took the helm; but being warm with work, and then sitting still in the boat, I took a violent cold. Toward evening we saw a small log house, and. went to it. We found the woman sick in bed, and the man in poor health. They had tree children, and but very little to eat. Here we lodged all night. I laid me down on the stones of the floor, which were very bard and uneven, but we kept a good fire all night, and got into a perspiration which relieved me of my cold a little, so that in the morning I felt much better than on the preceding night. Brother D., being a physician, administered some medicine to the woman, which greatly relieved her. She appeared to be a pious woman, and had been a member of the Baptist Church at Ridgefield, in Connecticut, but said she had never seen a Methodist before. We had a very pleasant and edifying interview with the family, that evening, in religious conversation, singing, and prayer. When we discovered that they were so destitute of provisions, we divided our little stock, and shared with them of all that we had. They appeared equally
33
surprised and thankful; - surprised that Methodists (of whom they had heard strange things in their own country) could be both religious and kind, and thankful for the timely relief. They wished that we would tell any of our Methodist friends, who might have to travel that way, to be sure and call on them. They desired us also, if ever we came within forty miles of them, to be sure and go that distance at least out of our way to see them - telling us that we should be welcome to any thing that the house or farm afforded. The house, however, was not likely to afford much, and there was scarcely anything on the farm but forest trees. This was the only time, during our journey of nineteen days, that we found a house to shelter us; and it was good for that family that they entertained the strangers, for we were in truth as angels of mercy to them. They must have suffered greatly had we not called on them.
At night I have often hunted for a stone or a stick for a pillow, and in the morning when I took hold of the oar or setting pole I had to do it as gently as I could, by reason of the soreness of my hands, which were much blistered and bruised in rowing the boat. We
34
attended to family worship both night and morning, although we slept in the woods, and the presence of the Lord was with us of a truth. When we arrived at the fort of Oswego, on lake Ontario, we were searched to see if we were not "running goods," as they called it. This affair being adjusted without any difficulty - for we were neither spies nor smugglers - we were now ready to embark on the lake; but the wind blowing high, we were detained two days longer. At length there was a calm and we ventured out on the broad lake; and when we bad gone about twenty miles, the wind rose again, and blew right ahead, so that we had to change our course, and steer for the Black river country. The wind was boisterous, and the waves dashed terribly against our little bark, and before we reached the shore we struck a rock, and split our boat - a circumstance which made sailing still more dangerous and unpleasant. We had a quantity of books on board, which were considerably injured by being wet. When we came ashore we made a fire, and dried our clothes and the books, and mended our boat as well as we could. The next day we embarked again on the
35
lake, but the wind was right ahead, which caused us to turn our course. We made for Salmon river, where we put in for that day; and early in the morning of the next day we started again, and pulled at the oars till daylight disappeared in the west. We went round Stony Point, and into Hungary bay, and landed on Grenadier island. When we struck die shore I sprang out of the boat and fell down on the beach, and thought I never knew rest to he so sweet before. But we were sensible that it would not do to sit still; therefore we kindled a fire, hung on the tea-kettle, cooked some victuals - ate our supper, attended family worship, and retired to rest. Our weariness invited repose, nor did the murmur of the waves disturb our slumbers: and besides, we had that very necessary requisite to sound sleep, recommended by Dr. Franklin, namely, a good conscience. On this island we found a fortification, and trees, which seemed to be at least one hundred years old, growing in the entrenchment. The island is in the mouth of Hungary bay, and is subject to high winds. Here we were detained until we were brought to an allowance of bread, having only one biscuit a day.
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I would have given considerable for a piece of bread as big as my hand, if I could have obtained it; but we were afraid or making too free with our little stock, lest it should not last us until we could get from the island. We ate our last biscuit about the middle of the day we left the island, and got into harbour on the main land about 11 o'clock at night, and glad enough we were when we landed. We put up that night at the house of our kind friend, _______ Parrott, Esq. He and his wife were members of our church, and received us very kindly. We informed him how it had been with us respecting food. Sister Parrott hastened to make supper ready, but it was as much as I could do to keep my hands from the bread until all was ready. We took care not to eat too much that night, fearing it might not be so well for us. We retired to rest on feather beds, but it was a restless night to us all. Brother Coleman had a mind to leave the bed and take to the floor, but I told him we must get used to it; so he submitted. But our slumbers were not half so sweet as on the sandy beach and pebbled shore, when we were rocked by the wind, and lulled by the rippling wave.
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CHAPTER V.
"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for THEM; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing." Isa. Xxxv, 1, 2.
One of the "lights," or joyful circumstances of "itinerancy," is the meeting together, and mutual comforts of the preachers. One of the "shadows," or sorrowful circumstances, is, the separation and solitary sufferings. I and my companions were now called to part. Brother Dunham went to Niagara circuit, brother Coleman to Bay Quinte, and I to Oswegothe, and we were so far apart that we could not often meet. I used to go sometimes to visit brother C. The distance was sixty or seventy miles, and a great part of the way I had to travel by the help of marked trees, instead of roads. One day I was lost in the woods, and wandered about for some time, and being on foot I tore my clothes very much with the brushwood. But I got safely through at last, and our meeting was more joyful than if either of us had found a purse of gold.
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On my circuit also I had some gracious seasons. At one place, in the fourth town, at brother W______'s, I used to preach with great liberty; but when I had done I felt barren in my own soul, and as much like an empty cask as anything to which I could compare myself. It seemed as if I had given all away, and had nothing left for myself. I was much dissatisfied with myself, notwithstanding the people would often signify their approbation. My soul was in great distress, for I feared lest it should be found that I had "daubed with untempered mortar." I wanted to have the people blessed, and wished that brother D. would come and preach there, for the people flocked to hear, and I thought he might do them good. The more the people applauded the worse I felt. I then studied and prayed to know the will of God respecting them, and at length concluded that I would preach in a more terrific manner when I came there again, and so I did; and when I had closed my meeting my soul was full of peace, and I rejoiced in God my Saviour. I then said to Brother W., who was the leader of the class, "I now feel happy, and that I have done my duty, and if one half of the
39
congregation were to oppose me, it would not disturb my peace."
The next day I heard that the people were dissatisfied. One said, "He is not the man he used to be." Another said, "He now shows his cloven foot;" and other said they would hear me again. But these things did not move me. By the grace of God I stood
"Firm as an iron pillar strong,
And steadfast as a wall of brass."
When I came there again, instead of my large and smiling congregation, I had but about thirty hearers; but neither did this move me. Before preaching I went into a room by myself to pray. While thinking on what text I should preach, a passage of Scripture came to my mind, and such a field opened before me, that I was almost lost to all things here below. When I began my meeting a young woman fell to the floor and cried for mercy; and soon after another cried out for mercy. I thought I must finish my sermon, but I might as well have preached to the walls, the cries of the mourners were so great; so I left my pulpit, which was nothing more than a chair, and went to the mourners, and
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prayed for them, and encouraged them to believe on the Lord Jesus. The first that cried for mercy said, in an agony of soul, "Here, Lord, I am, a poor, miserable, wretched sinner, that never did any good in all my life, and I cannot get up without a blessing." And then she would raise her voice and say, "No, Lord, I will not get up without a blessing." She was in this situation for hours, and at length found peace to her soul. She then prayed for her sister, as she called her, who was by this time in such an agony that she tore her hair, and beat her head on the hearth until her mother became alarmed for her, and ran to her and said, "My dear daughter, compose yourself, for you will kill yourself," at which the daughter said, "Mother, let me alone, for I will have Jesus, or die." She soon found peace to her soul. The young women then kissed each other, and one said to the other, "Well, sister, we will tell every body what a Jesus we have found, and they will all come, for we will tell them all about it, and they will come." "Yes," said the other, "I love God, and God loves me: I love Jesus, and Jesus lover me: I love the Christians, and the Christians love me:
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I love every body, and every body loves me." I said to the leader, who stood by me at the time, "I think she will find that every body does not love her, if she does them." I was satisfied, however, that she was born of God, and blessed with a good measure of that love which "thinketh no evil," and I was thankful for these tokens of good.
I will now relate a curious fact respecting the family at whose house we held this meeting. Before the revolutionary war, the man and his family lived in Pittsfield, Mass., and the commencement of hostilities he joined the (king's) army, and went into Canada, and left his wife at home. They had no correspondence with each other during the war. Her parents lived in Canada at the time. A young man at Pittsfield having a desire to make her his wife, and finding that he could not have access to her without using deception; forged a letter in the name of her father, stating that her husband was dead. She dressed in mourning for him, and at a suitable time, (as he would have it,) he made her a visit, and at length they were married. At the close of the war the husband came home; but before he arrived he heard that his wife
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was married to another man, and that she had heard that he was dead. He then concluded that she had been deceived, and that he would go and see her. She had never heard from him until he came in at the door. She recognized him as soon as she saw him. She was rocking the cradle at the time, in which lay an infant which she by the man that had married her in her husband's absence. She was very much frightened when she saw him. He requested her not to be frightened, and expressed a wish to see the father of her child. The father soon came in, and the husband introduced himself to him by telling him his name, and pointing to his wife, said, "That is my wife." The impostor replied, "No, she is my wife." The husband replied again, "She is my wife, and you have deceived her, and since she has been deceived, if she is willing to go with me, I shall never reflect on her. I have nothing "said he, "but my blanket, and my knapsack;" at which the woman replied, "I will go." Then the deceiver said, "You must go with only your clothes." She replied, "I will go with them only." He said she should not have the babe. She answered, she would
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go without it. So she left the babe in the cradle, and took her other two children with her, and departed. They tarried all night in the woods the first night, and so on until they got into Canada. He then drew, as a bounty, two hundred acres of land for himself, fifty for his wife, and two hundred for his children, and two years' provision, with farming utensils, and then settled on his farm near the river St. Lawrence, where I found him. He said he did not know that there was a tree cut down when he got there. So he stretched his blanket by the four corners, and that was his tent until he had cut down the trees, and rolled the logs together, and built a hut for his family, and afterward a house, &c. When the Methodist preachers came along, this family heard them, and embraced religion, and were ornaments to the cause. Their son and daughter also embraced the same faith, and in process of time married and settled near them. And the little daughter that was left an infant, when her father had failed in business, ran away, and came to her and introduced herself, and was received joyfully by
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all the family, and soon brought to experience religion, and married, and settled near her mother. When I found them they were in very comfortable circumstances. The husband never chided the wife, or seemed to think amiss of her, believing that she had been deceived; and the woman verified that scripture which says, "I will now return unto my first husband, for then it was better with me than now." And the circumstance affords an instance of the purity and strength of the "first love."
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CHAPTER VI.
"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up, "Psa. xxvii.10.
"And they wept sore, and fell on Pauls' neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more," Acts xx, 37, 38.
I shall now relate a circumstance which to me seemed an extraordinary interposition of divine Providence in the case of Paul Glassford, a brother to one of the young women before mentioned. He was but little more
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than four years old when the circumstance happened. His father's family were moving from the Bay of Quinte to Niagara, in a small boat. When they were within forty miles of Niagara, they went ashore to cook some victuals; and there being some sarsaparilla growing in the woods near by, the mother said she wou1d give sixpence to that child that would gather most. So Paul went with the rest of the children to gather the sarsaparilla; but when they thought they had gathered enough to gain the promised reward, they ran toward the lake, 1eaving Paul behind, who thought within himself that he would gather the most, and thus ensure the reward. At length be started, and ran, as he thought, toward the place where the company were ashore, but soon lost his way. He continued running about and crying until nearly sundown. He then came down to the lake, but knew not whether he was b~ fore or behind the company. So he ran about
on the beach, first one way and then another, until it began to grow dark. He then gave over running and crying, and fixed on a plan to go to Niagara. Having heard his friends say that they were now within forty miles of
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the place of their destination, he thought he could get through in four days. But what should he do for food? He concluded that he could live without eating during that time, and so he laid himself down to rest upon the sandy beach. But his mind was greatly agitated respecting his safety. He had heard that some persons, when waked out of sleep, were so lost to everything about them, as not to know where they were, or which way to go; and lest this should be his case, he made a hole in the sand to lie down in , and set up a stick pointing the way he must go. He then covered himself all over, except his head, with sand, and composed himself to sleep. In the morning he rose as cheerful as the lark, and pursued his way, without crying, for three days more, being careful at night to set his little staff in the sand. Sometimes he travelled on the beach, and sometimes, when he had to double a cape, he ascended the rocks; but was always careful to keep within sight of the lake. On his way he found some grapes, of which he gathered enough to eat at the time, and to fill his pockets besides. He had heard his mother say it was not good to eat many grapes
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at once, and thinking, as all good children so, that what mother says must be true, he only allowed himself to eat one bunch at a time. This was good economy for a child; for by this means his little stock lasted the longer, and his health was no injured by over eating. On his journey he saw two or three Indians coming along the shore, and was afraid they would carry him away; but he hid himself behind a tree. Their dog came very near him, but did not discover him, nor did the Indians see him; and he was very glad when they were out of sight. And who is there that knows any thing of the horrors of captivity but would be glad to for the little traveller? On the fourth day he arrived at Niagara, to the great joy of his parents, and to the surprise of all that knew the circumstance. Even the governor himself was so astonished at the fact, that he sent for the little boy, and would have kept hi, if his mother had been willing to give him up. The family had searched for him with great anxiety for three days. They made large fires, and fired guns, but all to no purpose; and when they came to the conclusion that he was lost, and to proceed without him, they
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had to take his mother by force, and put her into the boat. Providence, however, overruled the whole, and restored the lost son to his mother and friends: and herin was that scripture fulfilled, "When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord shall take me up." The son was eighteen years old when I saw him, and distinctly recollected the whole affair, as if it had been but a few days pats. I have since been informed that has embraced religion, and has become a circuit steward.*
We were favoured with good times on the circuit that year. In the second town I formed a class of seventeen members, mostly seekers; but when I came round again,t hey had found peace to their souls. I also formed a
*A few years ince, as I as on my way from Poughkeepsie to New-York, on board the steamboat, I noticed a gentleman in the company who seemed, by his conversation, to be well acquainted with the state of affairs in Upper Canada. I took the libery of asking him if he had ever heard of the Rev. Elijah Woolsey, formerly a Methodist missionary in that country? "I recollect him well," said he. "Did you ever hear of a gentleman of the name of Paul Glassford?" "This is my name," said he. I then related the above affair. He had a distinct recollection of every particular, and appeared very gald to hear of his old friend once again. - G.C.
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class in the north-east part of the fourth town, of ten members, all mourners; and it was with them as Mr. Wesley once said, "They were ripe for the gospel." They thought that they must do every thing the preacher said. So I told them they must pray, and on the Lord's day they must meet together and worship God as well as they could. They must repent, and believe, and God would bless them. They accordingly met together, read the Scriptures, and sung hymns with one another, but for some time no one dared to pray. At length one woman said she has as much reason to pray as any one there and then, and added, "Let us pray." When she began, they all began, and all found peace, except herself. Her husband said she was on her knees ten times on their way home, and when in sight of home she cried out, "Lord, must I be the only one that goes home without a blessing? Bless me, even me, O my God." She did not pray in vain; but though for a time she was seemingly refused an answer, the Lord at length spoke peace to her soul. She and her husband then went on their way rejoicing, and the little flock prospered greatly from this time forward as
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long as I continued with them. When the time came for me to leave the circuit, they were so afraid they should be left without preaching, (inasmuch as the preachers that went to Canada volunteered,) that they offered their lands. One and another offered fifty acres, and so on, according to their abilities. I told them I did not come after their lands, but that they might depend on having preaching, nowithstanding my removal. One man followed me down to the water side, and there we sat for some time, and talked and wept together; and when I got into the boat, he threw his arms around me, and waded knee deep into the water, and said, "If you will but come back again, as long as I have two mouthfuls of bread you shall have one." Thus we parted, with mingled emotions of pleasure and regret. It was to me a source of inexpressible satisfaction that I had been made useful to a few of my fellows, though of another nation; and the thought of meeting them on Canaan's happy shore, after the trials of life are over, and of greeting them as my spiritual children, often gilds the shadows of my supernumerary hours, and gives brilliancy to the rays of the descending sun.
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CHAPTER VII.
"Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And ye received me as an angel of God. For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me." Gal. iv, 13-15
We then made our way toward the conference, which was appointed to be held in New-York. We started from the Bay of Quinte in a batteau, with a change of oarsmen, or double manned. About sunset we left the shore, and got across the lake while it was calm. I had had the ague and fever, and had missed having it only a few days: and one of the hands failing about 11 o'clock, P.M., it fell to my lot to take his place. The labour of rowing, together with the night air, brought on a return of my disorder. When we were going up the Oswego river we called to see our host, the good man mentioned before, whose wife was sick at the time we first called. The family appeared to be very glad to see us. The woman said she was as glad to see us as she would have been to see her own father. They seemed to be doing well
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as to the things of this world. The man had cleared some of his land, and planted corn, potatoes, &c. They had also two or three cows. They kindly invited us to tarry awhile, which we readily consented to do. We told them we had plenty of dry provisions, and asked the woman if she had any milk, and said we should be glad of a little. They had plenty of good milk, but that was not considered good enough, by our generous hostess, for the men who had visited them in thir affliction, and had relieved them in their distresses. So she offered us cream, but we refused at first to eat of it, until her generosity overcame our scruples. Some writers of the present day have accused the Methodist preachers of sponging; but I can testify, for one, that in those days, though we sometimes carried our provisions with us, we never carried a sponge, neither in our pockets nor in our hearts, even when the friend who entertained us were very thinly scattered through the country. Much less is there any need or disposition for any thing of the kind now.
Having digressed a little, I must now return to my subject. Such was the gratitude of this family for the kindness we had shown
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them on our way to Canada, that it seemed as if they never could do enough to make us welcome. Had they been as rich as Abraham of old, I have no doubt they would have "killed the fatted calf" for us, and "baked cakes" for our entertainment, for they boiled of their potatoes and green corn for us, and laid heavy contributions upon the cucumbers and watermelons for our sakes, accounting nothing too good for us that was in their power to bestow. The good man went three or four miles up the river with us in order to help us up the rapids, and when we parted wished us every blessing.
Nor was this the only instance of kindness that I have witnessed during the years of my itinerancy. How often have I seen the aged grandsire, with silvery locks, and eyes bedewed with tears of gladness, rise up at the sound of a preacher's voice, as he rode up to the little gate in front of the house, to welcome his return on the "circuit-reaching day," while the heir to the estate, and his amiable consort, have each responded, "Welcome to our abode once again, brother _______." And there was the little grandson ever ready, as soon as the preacher alighted from his horse,
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to mount him, and ride to the pasture, or take him to the stable. And there were the lovely daughters of "mine host," emulous of each other, to see which should be first to take my hat and cloak, or saddle-bags from my hand, and set me a chair; while aged grandmother, with her spectacles on, and a short pipe in her mouth, both of which were laid aside at the sound of my name, in order that she might inquire after the welfare of distant friends, or listen for a brief moment to the short recital of the affairs of the circuit, and the state of religion, and things in general. While this has been going on, the eldest daughter has announced to her mother that the tea was ready, and then, after invoking Heaven's blessing, have we sat round the old fashioned circular table with as glad hearts and as cheerful countenances as ever were seen in the tent of a patriarch, or at a Persian feast. And after the "evening preaching," during the long nights of winter, what social hours have I spent beneath the hospitable roof of some of our pious farmers in our excellent country, where no less than a dozen children and grandchildren have graced the circle __ "all educated," more or less, "all virtuous," and dutiful, and more than half of them "decidedly religious" __
"While hymns of thanksgiving, with harmony swelling,
All warm from the hearts of the family band,
Half raised us from earth to the rapturous dwelling
Described in the bible that lay on the stand."
And then on the morning of my departure, (for circuit-riders cannot often stay more than one night at a place,) after family prayers and breakfast, what smiles and expressions of good will have I seen and heard again and again! To say nothing of the "blessings and good wishes" that attended me on my last round, and the happy greetings on my return to the circuit after a few years' absence, even the ordinary pleasures and comforts of a two weeks', four weeks', or six weeks' circuit, are such as none by travelling preachers know. They are the "lights of itinerancy," and they must be recorded to the honour of Methodism, and to the glory of God.
We got through our journey in thirteen days, whereas in going to Canada we were nineteen days. But before we had ascended the Oswego river, I had the ague and fever every day, which made it very tedious for
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me; and when we came to Oneida lake, being in the month of August, the weather was very hot, and having the fever, and lying in the heat of the sun, I as almost overcome. My companions at length concluded to take me to the shore, where I could be in the shade, and accordingly they did, which, when I had fairly gained, i fainted, and the first thing I knew was, one had hold of my hand, and was calling to the rest to come and assist him. It seemed to me as if I had just waked out of sleep. At one time I laid all night by the side of a fence, with a burning fever raging in every vein, without any covering but my clothes, or canopy but the vaulted heavens, with not so much as Jonah's gourd to shelter me from the chilling dews, or downy pillow on which to recline my weary head. These were some of the "shadows of itinerancy;" but they also have "fled away."
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CHAPTER VIII.
"And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God," Act xx, 22-24.
When we came to New-York the yellow fever was there, in consequence of which the conference was removed to White Plains, in Westchester county, New-York. The session was a very pleasant one. The preachers, after an absence of twelve months, were glad to see each other. We loved one another, and while we were together the spirit of glory and of God rested upon us. We felt willing to live, to suffer, and to die together. If one had received a little more than his brother, he was willing to divide with him. To be sure, we felt sensible of our deficienies, as well in regard to remuneration as qualifications for the work. But we hoped to share the spoil together in a better world, when all our toils
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are over, and all our griefs are spent; and this hope was as an anchor to the soul amidst all the tempests and billows with which we had to contend.
When the appointments were read out, the preachers appeared to receive them gladly. My appointment was to the Bay of Quinte circuit. On our way to Canada, we were met at Schenectady by some of our Canadian friends, who helped us on our way. We ascended the Mohawk in company with Captain Parrott, who, though not a professor of religion, was very friendly, and we got along without any difficulty until we came to the Oneida lake. When we arrived at the lake, the wind was very high, and the lake was all in a foam, which continued all that day, and until about midnight. The wind then ceased, and the troubled waters became calm. About 1 o'clock, A.M., we embarked and after we had rowed about six miles down the lake, the wind began to roar tremendously, and the streaks of light broke through the clouds in a manner I had not seen before. Our captain seemed to understand it as foreboding a heavy storm. We therefore made what preparation we could to encounter it.
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We spread our little sail, expecting the wind aft. We lashed two oars to the stern. The wind soon struck us, but we received no particular damage. The clouds were dense and dismal, and the waves broke over us with fury. Our friend, the captain, though an old sailor, was frightened, and cried out, "We are all dead men!" I said, "The Lord will provide:" and yet, notwithstanding my firm confidence in the power and mercy of the Lord, I sometimes feared for a moment that the lake would be my grave. These fears, however, were salutary: they caused me to examine myself, and the motives which induced me to undertake the work in which I was engaged. At length the good providence of God brought us safe through. When we reached the shore we all rejoiced. The captain said he did not much expect, at one time, ever to set foot on dry land again, and that all his hopes were founded on this consideration, namely, he did not know but that the Lord might spare his life for the preachers' sakes.
In due time we arrived in Canada, and our friends received us gladly. We enjoyed many seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord on the circuit, although I experienced
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many hardships in the course of the year. Some part of the circuit I had to travel on foot, being unable to get my horse across the bays and rivers. Sometimes I had to travel fifteen miles a day, preach twice, and have never sat down from the rising to the setting of the sun. My knees and ankles pained me very much: and when i was preaching I used to stand sometimes on one foot, and then on the other, to get rest. But rest was not easily obtained, even in bed, my knees and ankles were so swelled and full of pain. My soul, however, was happy in the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour. The flesh was often weak, but the spirit was willing to endure hardness as a good soldier for Christ's sake.
On this circuit I used to meet the natives, the red men of the forest. One time, as brother D. and I were riding near the woods, we saw, a little ahead of us, a company of Indians, fifteen in number. They had been drinking too much, and were painted as if they were going to war, a red streak of an inch wide, and a black streak of the same width, all over their faces and hair, most frightful to behold. When we came up with
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them, we saluted them with, "Sago, brother," at which they returned the same salutation. But they got before our horses, and made motions for us to dismount, which we were not inclined to do, and shook our heads to intimate the same. They then took hold of the horses' bridles. We again shook our heads. They then took hold of our legs, but we pushed them away. They then let us pass, after giving such a yell as made the woods ring again. But we were right glad when we had got rid of such troublesome company. Some of the natives are good singers. There was one named Red jacket, with whom I used to sing. He had the Psalms translated into Indian, and would sing in Indian while I sung in English. The New Testament and psalms were said to be translated by Capt. Brandt. He lived near Grassy Point. I have often passed by the place, and seen his house many times. He was rich, and had much of this world's goods. I also saw the wife of Sir John Johnson. She was one of the natives, and wore her satin blanket. I also saw her youngest daughter. She was very fair to look upon, in consequence of which one gentleman killed himself because
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he could not get her to wife. Thus he died "as a fool dieth."
Having finished my tour on this circuit, and my mission in Canada, I repaired again to the conference, which was held in New-York, and received my next appointment to Reading circuit, in the state of Connecticut. On this circuit I was taken ill again with the fever and ague, which lasted for some tie, and was very severe. At one time I fainted while preaching, and was carried to bed. But at length I concluded that I would go to all my appointments, whether I could preach or not. As I was going to one of them, I called at several houses, and told them there would be no preaching, for my ague fit would come on about the time of meeting. But the people came, notwithstanding this. As I lay on the bed in the back room, shaking with the ague, the man of the house came to me, and said there were more people than usual in the house, and asked me if I could not come and preach to them. I told him that I did not feel as if I could stand without fainting. He said he wished I would go and sing, and pray, if nothing more. I thought I would try; but I shook so with the ague, that it
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was with difficulty I could read the hymn; but when I prayed I felt better, and concluded I would try to preach. And so it was that when I got into the work the good Spirit of the Lord came down, and so warmed my heart with the Redeemer's love, that I rose above my bodily weaknesses, and preached until the fever gave way and left me, so that I have had no more of it from that day to this.
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CHAPTER IX.
"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight," Luke x, 21.
Toward the close of the year 1797 I changed my station in life. I had long believed it was not good for man to be always alone, and that it was perfectly in accordance with the spirit of Christianity for ministers of the gospel to marry, at a suitable time, and under suitable circumstances. The person to whom I was married was well known and
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much respected on the circuit where she lived, and where I then travelled, so that I sustained no loss, even in the opinion o those who were most scrupulous on the subject. About six months before we were married, I preached the funeral sermon of my wife's mother. She died in the triumphs of faith, clapping her hands until the last, in token of victory over all her spiritual enemies. The work of the Lord prospered on the circuit, and in the course of the year a considerable number were brought into favour with God. I baptized about sixty persons at one meeting, including infants. Before this time my health having been injured by repeated attacks of fever, had in some measure begun to decline; so, in hopes of regaining my health, I located, and continued in that relation ot the church for three years.
In the year 1800 I was re-admitted into the travelling connection, and appointed to Newburgh circuit, where I enjoyed many precious seasons, and had the happiness of seeing the work of God revive. One sabbath evening I preached at New-Paltz, and after preaching went to my sister's to lodge, but had not been there long before a young man
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came to great haste on horseback up to the door. In an instant he dismounted, and hastened into the house, all in a flood of tears. We were much alarmed, fearing some accident had happened in the neighbourhood. My sister, who was acquainted with him, asked him what was the matter. As soon as he could speak he said, "Do come over to my father's____ the Lord is there." He then mounted his horse again, and rode home in great haste. We soon followed him; and as we drew near the house heard the people crying and praying within. As I passed by the window I looked in, and the sight to me was very affecting. When we entered the house the first one we took notice of was a young woman named Elizabeth, who had been converted about three months before, lying on the floor, with her hands stretched up toward heaven, crying, "Glory," as loud as she could. The next was the young man who came for us. He was kneeling by the bedside, and his brother, a lad of about twelve years of age, was kneeled down by his side praying for him. In the middle of the house was the mother, and her daughter, a little girl of about ten years of age, with her arms
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around her mother's neck, praying for her. In the chimney corner was another daughter on her knees, crying for mercy. When I beheld all this, I stood astonished for some minutes. At length I went to the young man, and while encouraging him to believe in the Lord Jesus, the little daughter, who had been praying for her mother, came running to her brother, and said, "My dear brother, have you not found the Lord yet?" He answered, "No, my sister." She said, "Give your heart up to God, and God will bless you in a minute." She then kneeled down and prayed, and the Lord came in mighty power, and liberated his soul. She then ran to her sister in the corner, and said, "My dear sister, I am afraid you will give it up, for you once before began to seek the salvation of your soul and gave it up, and I fear you will again." She then stepped to her mother, and said, "Mother, have you found the Lord?" Her mother replied, "I hope I have." Then said the little daughter to Elizabeth, "When did the Lord bless you?" Elizabeth replied, "On Christmas day." The little daughter then turned to her mother, and said, "My dear mother, since Christmas day the Lord has converted four of your children. How happy must you be in heaven to have your children around you there!" I then called the little boy to me, and said to him, "How came you to find the Lord?" He replied, "I will tell you: About six months ago my mother said to me, 'You must go to meeting.' I told her I did not want to go. She said I must go, and I became very angry; but I went, and at that meeting I was awakened, and thought I would get religion, but would not let any one know it. I thought to-day that if I went to meeting the Lord would bless me at the meeting, but my mother said I must stay at home with my sister, and take care of the little children." The mother interrupted him here by saying, "Why did you not tell me this? You might have gone if I had known it." He replied, "I was ashamed; but, glory to God! I am not now ashamed." He then said, "After they were gone to meeting I walked the floor for some time in great distress. I then threw myself on the bed, and it appeared to me that I was sinking down to hell. I then lifted my eyes up toward heaven, and saw Jesus by faith. It seemed as if he lifted me up. I then sprung from the
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bed and ran through the house, and clapped my hands, and cried, Glory! Glory!" His little sister then said, "I will tell you how the Lord came to bless my soul. I had been in trouble for some time, and wanted to go to meeting to-night; but mother said I must stay with my brother, and take care of the little ones' but I did not think the Lord was going to convert my soul to-night. They went to the meeting, and I sat by the fire reading the Bible, while my brother lay on the bed. When my brother sprung from the bed, and clapped his hands, and cried, 'Glory!' I don't know what I did with the Bible, but the first I knew I found myself kneeled down by that chair, (pointing to it,) and I gave myself up to God, and he blessed me in a minute. We then went to our little brother, and pulled him out of the bed, but we could not get one tear out of his eyes,"
The parents then informed me that when they came home form meeting they had their little brother on his knees, with their hands on his head, praying for him; but as he was too young to know what they meant, they said they would pray for him when he was old enough to understand it. Thus the work of the Lord began in that place, and for a while "the word of the Lord had free course, and was glorified," as it was also, in a short time, in other places.
Wilford Whitaker,
wilfordwhitaker@yahoo.com.
Rev. Elijah Woolsey
Introdcution - Chapter 9 (pages 1 - 69 )
Chaper 10 - Chapter 16 (pages 69 - 105 )
Chapter 16 - End (pages 105 to 164)
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