USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Methodist Episcopal churches of Norwich, Conn. > Part 13
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* 1805.
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were full of glory, and, as she looked, the tall trees seemed to bow their heads with reverence to their great Creator. She says of this : " My poor heart had the greatest reason to rejoice and praise God, to think how Jesus suffered and died for me on the cross, to procure my salvation. Oh ! how my young heart overflowed with love and praise to Him, my Saviour. I loved him too well to keep it to myself. I wanted to tell it to all around." She now became deeply anxious for her father and others, and it was not long before some were "brought into the kingdom." Prayer-meetings were commenced at her home, for, before this, the family went four miles to hear preaching, at a place called Quaker Hill, at a house known in those times by the name of " Aunt 'Becca Wheeler's." This house had been kept for many years as a tavern, but after the death of Captain Wheeler, the proprietor, the spa- cious ball-room had become the preaching-place of the Methodist itinerants, in their bi-weekly rota- tion. "Aunt 'Becca " and her two younger sisters now kept the house as a place for holding Method- ist meetings, and entertaining the itinerant preach- ers. Here "Father Bolles and Father Potter," from New London, held prayer and class meetings. Here Mrs. Bentley first joined the class, and at this tender age appears to have acquired an unusual religious experience. Braving darkness and dis- tance, if not danger, these miles were traversed with an ease which finds few parallels to-day.
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She early encountered much trial in trying to live religious before a large family, some elder and some younger, as she did not join them in their sports, but chose, rather, the place of prayer. To quote her :
" I had given up all such things for Christ. I found more solid comfort in the service of my Saviour than in all the vain pleasures of the world, which now had no charms for me. Under these cir- cumstances, I had no one to help me in the way to heaven; but, oh! that blessed Bible was a light to my feet and lamp to my path. I had no Sabbath-school books nor teacher, but Jesus was my teacher, and the blessed Bible was my school-book, and it taught me, especially when I read it on my knees, to take my cross and follow Jesus in the way. The words of this heavenly Teacher, in His sermon on the mount, made a deep and lasting impression on my mind."
" I used frequently to go away alone, behind a great rock, and pour out my childish complaints to my heavenly Father, and my blessed Saviour would always draw near, and bless and comfort me. Sometimes I would take my little brother, about eight years old, between daylight and dark, and go out beside a high wall, where a large apple-tree, with its spreading branches, covered the place ; there we would kneel down, right in the snow. How many . good seasons we used to have in that place. That dear brother now is in Heaven with the shining ones."
At the age of sixteen she went to New Lon- don upon a visit, and passed the Sabbath. There was a love feast in the morning, the first she had ever witnessed. It was almost an epoch in her experience, and she says : "It was a time of great spiritual enjoyment and satisfaction to my youthful soul. I went home a great deal stronger in the Lord than ever before." She felt
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that it was her privilege as well as duty, at all suitable times, to speak and pray in the meetings, and was greatly blessed in so doing. December 31, 1808, she was married to Mr. William Cally- han, of New London, and, in January, 1809, with her husband, came to Norwich, where he com- menced business at the Landing. There were no Methodist meetings nearer than Norwich North, where frequently she attended on the Sabbath, until August, 1811, when Rev. J. Chaney came on the circuit, and formed a small class at the Land- ing, of which she was an original member. After the meeting-house on the Wharf Bridge was car- ried away by the flood, the distance rendered it inconvenient to attend evening meetings at the Falls, so, for more than seven years, until the East Main Street Church was built, prayer-meetings were held at her residence, on Water Street, opposite Norton Brothers' store.
Twice she was brought to death's door by sick- ness-once for forty days. The physician gave her up to die, yet she felt resigned, having rather a " desire to depart, and be with Christ ;" and on that bed of languishing could say, "Give joy or grief, give ease or pain, take life or friends away." Recovering in some measure from that state of total prostration, she gave up house- keeping, and boarded with 'her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. John A. Robinson, now of New London.
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In 1833 she was called, in the providence of God, to undergo a very sad and grievous trial of that Christian grace which submits unrepiningly to the divine government under all circumstances, saying, "Thy will be done." Her only son, having made several voyages to different parts of the world, in September sailed from New York for Norfolk, Vir- ginia. Third day out, in a rough sea, the vessel pitching heavily, he went aloft, fell from the yard- arm, and was never seen afterwards.
She was called to attend the remains of her first husband, Mr. William Callyhan, to their sepulture, March 20, 1852. He was converted early in life. After completing his apprenticeship, he came to Norwich in 1807, and set up as tinman, beginning with nothing but his hands and a few tools. With indefatigable industry and strict economy, he soon began to enlarge his business, until, at his death, he was possessed of considerable property. Mr. Cally- han was remarkably reticent in his business and social relations, scrupulously honest in his dealings, kind- hearted and generous to the poor. He was one of the eleven members which formed the first Metho- dist Episcopal Church in Norwich City, in 1811- an excellent class-leader, which office he sustained the greater part of his life with much acceptability. He was not a man of many words, yet his prayers and exhortations were ardent and effective. As his physical health declined, his spiritual health seemed to increase unto the last.
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Having sustained the relation of widowhood for nearly one and a half years, Rev. David N. Bent- ley proffered his hand. After making it a subject of prayer for direction, the overtures being mutu- ally accepted, the connubial tie was consummated July 31, 1854. It was emphatically a union of hearts, experiences, and joys. Hymen smiles on few better nuptials, where " marriage is the strictest tie of perpetual friendship," and sweetens " even the loneliness of declining years."
Amid the sick, bereaved, unfortunate, penitent, poor, and dying, she has moved little less than a ministering angel. Sorrow has eagerly sought her unsparing condolence ; poverty halted expectantly at her door; death has lost his arrows amid her prayers ; despair has stolen relief from her hope- fulness, and penitence changed to pardon at the voice of her faith.
Permit the writer to say that it has not been easy to elicit the data of her life. Her. memory has been too full of gratitude at every turn to dwell on matters of fact. Salvation, and not chro- nology; the eternal, not temporal ; heaven, not Norwich ; Jesus, not Betsey Bentley, has been the version of most conversations, undertaken with a view of history.
Rev. Lorenzo Dow Bentley, son of Rev. D. N. Bentley and Mrs. Letitia Bentley, was born in Norwich, February 13, 1813. He was powerfully convicted of sin in the month of May after his
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fourth year, and though he may not have experi- enced conversion, he became fond of prayer and loved to kneel in the sanctuary with God's people. He took especial delight in accompanying his father into the pulpit, and was early impressed that he should some day proclaim the Gospel. When about ten years of age, he began to grow ashamed of such matters, and imbibed the view that is so prevalent among worldlings, that the services of religion are humiliating, not elevating. At sixteen he became very skeptical, by witnessing a play in a New York theater representing "the Hypocrite." He says: "It seemed so real at the time that I shed tears; but when I began to think that the actor was representing a hypocrite, I concluded all might be such." He became confirmed in his infidelity by his nineteenth year, on reading the " Age of Reason," abstaining from religious meet- ings and prayer, even at funerals, his disinclination becoming so great that he "pitied the Evangelical and Romanist professors." He was convinced of the inspiration of the Scriptures, and consequently of the Christian religion, by reading an account of the death of General Jackson, and the scenes that immediately preceded it. He sought and obtained pardon under the labors of Elder Jabez Swan, now of New London, whom many shall rise up in the last day to call " blessed."* His conversion took
* Mr. L. D. Bentley calls him " that mighty man of God."
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place January 8, 1846, and in a few weeks after he commenced holding meetings among the "Long Society," of Preston, where upwards of forty asked prayers on one occasion. During the ensuing fall, he went, under direction of the Presiding Elder, Rev. R. W. Allen, to Manchester, in this State, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the decease of Rev. V. Osborn. Here a revival attended his vig- orous labors, and more than seventy-five professed to pass from " death to life." Soon after, he joined the Providence Conference on probation, and was appointed to Tolland, Connecticut, where a similar number of conversions took place. For his labors at Manchester he received no stipend, and at the latter place only one hundred dollars. The year following he went to Westerly, Rhode Island, where he received one hundred and sixty-five dol- lars, and many souls. In 1849-'50 he was stationed at Gurleyville, Connecticut, where the work of God was especially glorious. Marlborough next claimed his labors, where, as usual, a revival blessed the consecrated efforts of his devotion and faith. At Fisherville, his pastorship was blessed to that feeble station, which has since greatly improved, and at Danielsonville, where the two succeeding years were passed-less smoothly, perhaps-the Lord still sealed his ministry. In the following year, he preached with great success at Warehouse Point, Connecticut, and, upon solicitation, was appointed to his native city the year after, where,
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amid external reverses, he saw his highest ambition realized in the salvation of souls.
From Norwich he went, for two years, to Gales's Ferry ; thence to Wapping, Connecticut, for one year. In his questionable language, he says : "The year spent here was consumed in working for God, and against Buchanan, the devil, slavery, rum, and rebellion, and the 'Hartford Times,' with an occasional shot at ' Annihilationists' and Calvinism !"
He was next at Moodus, Connecticut, and, after one year, was stationed for two years at Eastford, which appointment he filled with great acceptabil- ity and success. His last appointment was " Mont- ville and Salem," and the year after (1866), he was appointed Conference Missionary, and has been almost constantly enjoying revivals-his "beau ideal " of ministerial success.
Mr. Bentley is characterized by fervor, sincerity, faith, a spirit of sacrifice for Christ and souls, plain- ness, tenderness, decision, and spirituality. His call to the ministry being highly satisfactory, he bor- rows his real support from God, and although he is not unappreciative of kindness on the part of others, extolled or defamed, his guidon for victory is planted by celestial hands. If Minerva and the Penates have not always smiled upon him, still, in spite of difficulties and temporary discouragements, · he has won the respect of the impartial and pious, and in the event of death, can hardly fail to be
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escorted home by many whom he influenced to Christ and peace, who shall lighten his feet over the rugged steeps of mortality.
Divine Providence has been especially manifest in his life. In childhood he was saved from death by fire ; several times in youth, from death by drowning ; and repeatedly be has been low with sickness. The appeals of his dying sister Harriet, and the prayers of his eldest brother, were emi- nently sanctified in the days of his infidelity. When hesitating concerning his call to the sacred desk, he knelt in prayer, and opened the Bible to these words : "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hands." He promised the Holy Spirit to enter at once upon the active service of the ministry, if some one should " buy him out," and before noon this disposition of his property was effected. At Mansfield, a notorious infidel, exasperated by some remarks made in reference to his rum-shop, engaged some "lewd fellows of the baser sort to ride him on a rail," but their carriage broke down on the way, and fatally delayed the scurrilous expedition, which was subsequently disclosed by one of their number,
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who was converted. The infidel died betimes, crying for mercy from the Jesus he had persecuted and His disciples whom he had abused. Mr. Bentley testifies to the deep gratitude he cherishes towards Mr. Alvin Carrier of Norwich, and Mrs. Mary Buck of Glastenbury, for their sympathy and influence with him in the struggle he had in refer- ence to the abandonment of successful business, and a comfortable life, for the limited pecuniary reim- bursement and labor of the itinerancy. Is it any wonder that after such experiences his work is earnest, personal, and practical ; that he "daubs not with untempered mortar," and aims the arrows of the Almighty straight at the heart of his hearers ? If others should employ a different dress in the presentation of truth, few will enjoy the conscious- ness of a greater devotion and more general success in leading souls to Christ. His sentiments are worthy to conclude : "The great secret of success in winning souls to Christ is FAITH IN GOD. Prepare for the work in faith ; preach and pray, and exhort in faith, and invite sinners to use especial means in faith ; and there will be a constant revival. No winter's cold, nor summer's heat, nor power of storm nor tempest, can limit the 'Holy One of Israel.' Nothing but unbelief and its coadjutors can fetter the miracle-working hands of the blessed Redeemer."
Rev. Frank Wesley Bill, eldest son of Phineas
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and Fanny (Gallup) Bill, was born in Groton, Conn., June 4, 1820.
He first attended school on Meeting-house Hill in Groton. At ten years of age, the family having removed to Norwich, he was employed in a cotton factory, where he continued two or three years. After this, he became an apprentice to a tailor, with whom he worked nearly a year and a half, but having become at the early age of fourteen a be- liever in the Christian's hope, he could not rest contented with any merely secular employment, while thousands of his fellow-men were sinking down to ruin.
After many inward struggles, he resolved to become a minister of the Gospel. Application being made to Mr. Ross, to whom he was appren- ticed, his indentures were given up to him, and having obtained aid from a few friends, he entered the academy at Norwich, where he studied nearly a year. To obtain greater advantages, he packed his entire wardrobe and library in a pocket-hand- kerchief, and in company with a friend walked from Norwich to Wilbraham, in Massachusetts-a distance of some seventy-five miles by the common road - and became a member of the Wesleyan Academy at that place. During his stay there his father died.
By teaching select schools at Endfield and Somers in Connecticut, and in Longmeadow and
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Ludlow, Massachusetts, he was enabled to defray his expenses.
He preached his first sermon in the old Me- thodist church at Norwich Falls, Conn., and was ordained to the work of the ministry August 16, 1841.
Having faithfully performed the labors of a preacher of the Gospel in the Methodist connection in Norwich and elsewhere, for the space of ten years, he was compelled in September, 1851, to withdraw for a year from the service. During this interval he traveled in Vermont and Canada, preaching occasionally, and contributing to news- papers. He was appointed October 11, 1852, to the charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church in South Fifth Street, Williamsburg, Long Island This charge he held nearly two years, preaching. with great acceptance to that people, and his labors seemed here to have more than a usual harvest, but having received an appointment from the American Seamen's Friend Society as chaplain to seamen at Callao, a port of Lima, in Peru, South America, he felt it to be, after much and prayerful thought, his duty to accept the post, his people parting with great reluctance from him, having greatly endeared himself to them during the period of his ministra- tion. He embarked June 20, 1854, in a steamer for Aspinwall, on the Isthmus, where he arrived on the 29th. Here he determined to remain for a while, at the urgent solicitation of the Rev. Mr.
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Rowell, who desired to pay a visit to the United States. This was probably a fatal mistake, as the season of the year-being nearly midsummer, and his want of experience and acclimation in a tropical country, sowed the seeds of those malarious fevers which every summer season are sure to prevail, and by which, a person from a temperate latitude is greatly endangered. He was for a time prostrated with a fever, yet not wholly confined, and while here he kept up his usual correspondence with some public journals of New York, his letters being chiefly, however, found in the New York Sun and the New York Times. On the 6th of October, and after the return of Mr. Rowell, he at once left for Callao. He was sick on board of the steamer, but able to keep about. On his arrival at Guayaquil, he, with two companions, went ashore and remained till after night-fall. He was so prostrated and ex- hausted by his journey, and the slow fever which still clung to him, that he was now seized with the deadly fever of the climate, and his life was the sacrifice. He died at Callao, October 25, 1854,' aged thirty-four years and four and a half months.
He married Miss Romena Cleveland, March 14, 1845. He had, however, three children, one of which is a son of uncommon promise, and is, a student at the New York College of Medicine.
Mr. Bill was a man of decided talent and of high qualifications for doing good, and in his death Christianity had cause to mourn. By his native
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energy he rose from humble life to a position of high respect and influence. He was eminently a self-made man. His public addresses were often truly eloquent and impressive. Several of his sermons have been printed. He was greatly be- loved in the circle of his acquaintance. It was a mysterious Providence by which he was cut down when just entering on what promised to be a career of distinguished usefulness.
Photographed by
J. WERKES, Norwich.
Rev. P. T. KINNEY.
CHAPTER X.
CONCLUSION.
REV. PARDON T. KENNEY, the Presiding Elder under whose auspices this work has been committed to press, and under whose administration the Method- ist Episcopal churches of Norwich have been signally prosperous, was born at New Bedford, Mass., Sep- tember 5, 1810. Mrs. Achsah Kenney, his mother, was received into church fellowship holding him in her arms. Mr. Phineas Kenney, his father, was highly instrumental in the organization of the M. E. Church in New Bedford. Pardon, at seven years of age, was clearly convicted for sin, and three years after obtained evidence of the divine accept- ance through Christ. After two years, however, his piety declined, and remained so to his nineteenth year, when he was reclaimed; and immediately feel- ing the need of knowledge, was accustomed to study in the tailor's shop while he was engaged at his trade. At majority he commenced business for - himself, but soon relinquished his financial plans and reported at the Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbra- ham, Mass. He had received exhorter's license · from Rev. R. D. Easterbrooks, preacher in charge of Fair Haven Circuit, May 11, 1830. The
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Quarterly Conference of New Bedford Circuit, November 8, 1830, under Rev. J. A. Merrill, Pre- siding Elder, granted him the license of Local Preacher, which was renewed at Wilbraham, May 7, 1831, by Rev. O. Scott, and at Middletown, April 5, 1832, by Rev. Laban Clark. In the fall of the next year he entered the University at Middle- town, and was a member of the class embracing Revs. Abel Stevens, Stephen Cushing, and others. An asthmatic difficulty, of long standing, became aggravated, and compelled his departure from his coveted studies. On reaching home he threw down " his hat, saying, "I'll sell myself for a sixpence." He told his friends he had come "home to die." After the lapse of several months he was sufficiently improved to go upon Harvard Circuit, where he was recommended to the New England Conference, which sat June, 1833, and at which he was ap- pointed to Thompson Circuit. At the expiration of six months, he was removed to Worcester, Mass., whence, after about three months, he was trans- ferred to Northbridge Circuit. He has filled the following appointments: 1834, Hebron Circuit ; 1835, East Windsor Circuit; 1836, Mystic; 1837, Norwich North ; 1338-'39, Chicopee Falls; 1840- '41, Willimantic ; 1842, located, going on a mission to Key West, at the instance of brethren, where an appointment was made permanent, and taken into the Florida Conference; 1844, readmitted to Provi- dence Conference, and stationed at Manchester ;
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1845-'46, Mystic Bridge; 1847, Westerly Mission ; 1848, Falmouth; 1849, East Harwich; 1850-'51, Provincetown Centre; 1852-'53-'54-'55, Presiding Elder of Sandwich District ; 1856-'57, North Man- chester ; 1858-'59, Stafford Springs; 1860-'61, New Bedford, Allen St. ; 1862-'63-'64-'65, Presi- ding Elder of Sandwich District; 1866, Presiding Elder of New London District. In the time of his ministry on the East Windsor Circuit, the meeting- house was finished at Wapping, Conn., and also at Hazardville. A preacher from the New York Con- ference, visiting Wilbraham, inquired if the people knew of anybody who had lost a meeting-house, as he had fallen in with one down in the pines, mean- ing the one built in Hazardville, located on a site from which the trees had just been removed. In 1846, while stationed at Mystic Bridge, he visited Europe, passing through Great Britain,-a tour, on the whole, attended with great interest and satis- faction.
His ministry has been attended with much success. His sermons are characterized by practicalness, a lucid, natural treatment, points, fervor, and spiritu- ality.
Rev. J. Ellis Hawkins, incumbent pastor at Greenville M. E. Church, was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts, January 11, 1837, of pious parents, who early impressed his mind with religious truth. He was converted in the winter of 1856, and after omitting duty in a measure, he renewed his vows
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and consecration in Cumberland, R. I. Rev. Abel Gardner, "of precious memory," baptized and received him into church fellowship. Certified of God that a " dispensation of the Gospel was com- mitted" to him, after some hesitancy, and more trouble of mind, he threw up a lucrative business, and commenced to prepare for the great work of proclaiming Christ, by faithful study for a number of years. He took exhorter's license, July 24, 1859, and the Quarterly Conference of Cumberland granted the license of Local Preacher, February 16, 1862. He joined the Providence Conference in 1862, and was appointed to Haddam Neck two years, where he labored with great acceptability. Ordained Deacon at New London by Bishop Ames, in 1864, and Elder at Bristol, R. I., by Bishop Thomson, in 1866, he was stationed at the Green- ville M. E. Church, in 1864, where his ministry will be deeply cherished.
Rev. Edgar F. Clark was born in South Windsor, Connecticut, September 12, 1835, of pious parents, and converted at thirteen, under the winning min- istry of Rev. L. Collins. Next to home, he was deeply indebted to the lamented Mr. James B. Wood, his first- class-leader, lately deceased at North Manchester, Connecticut,-a layman of unlimited usefulness,-for encouragement and influ- ence in his primitive experience. He was early impressed that the ministry was divinely designated for future occupation, and a conviction of its reality
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