USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 10
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2 Stevens' History of the M. E. Church.
79
BISHOP MEKENDREE. PLAN OF DELEGATED CONFERENCE.
The election of Bishop oeeurred on the 12th of May. There were three candidates, Ezekiel Cooper, Jesse Lee and William McKendree ; all eminently worthy. MeKendree was the acknowledged leader of Methodism in the West. The wonderful sernion on the preceding Sabbath, virtually settled the question. William MeKendree received ninety-five of the one hundred and twenty-eight votes, and was declared eleeted. On Wednesday, May 18th, after a sermon by Bishop Asbury, from 1 Timothy 4:16, he was consecrated in due form " to the office and work of a Bishop in the church of God."
The most important question of this General Conference, was the composition of the future General Conference of the church. It was evident that the unity of the church could not be preserved on the present plan. A memorial, originating with the New York Conference, had been addressed to the several Annual Conferenees, asking for a representative General Conference, and had received the approval of several of the Annual Conferences. The memorial came before the General Conference and was referred to a committee of two from each Annual Conference.
This ecmmittee, at their first meeting, appointed a sub-committee of three, Joshua Soule, Ezekiel Cooper and Philip Bruce, to prepare the instrument and report at a subsequent meeting. The plan prepared by Joshua Soule, with slight modifications, essentially the same as the present plan, after thorough diseussion, was adopted. Joshua Soule is therefore entitled to the credit of suggesting this most important principle in the organization of the ehureh, while Jesse Lce was the author of the third restrictive rule, "That the General Conference shall not alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away Episeopacy, or to destroy the plan of our itinerant General Superintendency."3
A resolution which had been introduced at several preeeding sessions, to make loeal deaeons eligible to elders' orders, was again brought forward and lost by a vote of sixty-six to sixty. This measure was finally passed in 1812.
The following resolution was offered by Ezekiel Cooper, seeonded by Joshua Wells :
" Resolved, That the Discipline be so altered as to read :
"Ques. By whom shall the Presiding Elders be chosen ?
"Ans. Each Annual Conference respectively, without debate, shall annually choose by ballot its own Presiding Elders."
3 Life and Times of Jesse Lee, by Rev. L. M. Lee.
80
MUTILATED DISCIPLINE FOR THE SOUTH. LEE'S EASTERN VISIT.
The resolution, after an animated debate, failed by a vote of seventy- two to fifty-two.
At this General Conference, it was moved from the chair that one thousand forms of Discipline be prepared for the use of the South Carolina Conference, in which the action and rule on slavery shall be left out ; earried. 4
This very extraordinary record shows the dangerous ascendency of the slave-holding power in the church councils at that time. Mutilated editions of the Discipline were said to be occasionally met with in the South. Under a resolution introduced by Jesse Lee, thie word salary, as used in the Discipline in respect to the ministry, was stricken out, and the word allowanee substituted in its place.
The action of the General Conference of 1808, was of the utmost importanee in bringing the organization of the ehureh into a praetieable and permanent form. Without a settled plan of Episcopal oversight, and a delegated General Conference, the church must have become disintegrated.
1808. After the adjournment of the General Conference, Lee having made provision for the supply of his service on the Cumberland cireuit, to which he was appointed, started upon a tour of visitation to the seenes of his former labors in New England, on the 31st of May. His journey was a continuous ovation. His old friends crowded around to greet him, and multitudes gathered to listen to his preaching. Passing through Connectieut and Rhode Island, preaching daily, he reached Boston ; thenee he went to Portsmouth, and onward into Maine, through York to Kennebunk, where he lodged in Barnard's tavern. "Wednesday, August 3d, at Hayes', in the north part of New Gloucester, he preached to a congregation so large that they were foreed to go into the woods to hold the meeting. Here he met many of his acquaintances. Many of the congregation had been recently converted. Sunday, August 7th, he preached in the meeting-house in Monmouth, at half past ten o'clock. He had liberty and a melting time. Joshua Soule exhorted and eoneluded the services." At half past one, he preached again from James 1:12. The congregation was uneommonly large, so that many were obliged to stay out doors for want of room in the house. In the evening he attended a prayer meeting at Brother Fogg's, and had a very affectionate hand-shaking at parting with the people.
Monday, August 8th, he preached in a school-house in Winthrop.
4 Life and Times of Jesse Lee, p. 144.
81
LEE'S JOURNEY AND PREACHING IN MAINE.
The house was over-crowded with hearers, and many of them wept heartily under the word.
Tuesday, the 9th, he preached in a place he does not name, in a meeting-house with pews with doors all around the house, while the rest of the people had no seats except loose boards on blocks. He was not much pleased with this arrangement.
Wednesday, the 17th, he preached in a school-house in Lincolnville, to a good company who were quite engaged in religion. He lodged with Mr. John Williamson.
Sunday, the 21st, he rode up the east side of Penobscot river to Orrington meeting-house, and preached to a large congregation at half past ten o'clock, and to a crowded assembly at two o'clock. Many of the people were bathed in tears, for many of them had been converted under the preaching of the Methodists. He also preached again the same afternoon, at Paul Nickerson's, to a crowded house. He wept, " and the people wept."
Lee delighted in such melting seasons. A sermon was a failure with him, if it did not stir the emotions of his audience, and open the fountains of tears.
Monday, August 22d, he crossed the Penobscot river to Hampden, preached at the meeting-house from John 7:7; had a good meeting, and lodged with Joseph Baker, the circuit preacher. The next day he rode to Twenty-five mile Pond, (Unity,) preached at four o'clock, and lodged with John Chase that night.
Wednesday, the 24th, he started early, went through Clinton, crossed the Kennebec river and rode on to Fairfield meeting-house ; preached at three o'clock ; had a comfortable scason, though weak and faint from long fasting ; lodged at Doctor Phelps that night.
Sunday, the 28th, he preached in the Methodist meeting-house at Farmington Falls, at half past ten o'clock, from Isaiah 33:13, to a crowded congregation. "It was a melting time," and the people wept in every part of the house. The Lord's supper was then administered to a large number of communicants, together with twelve preachers. The people were greatly affected at the table, and many of the spectators who tarried in the house wept freely. At half past one o'clock, he preached again from Psalms 1:23. The people were greatly moved. Allen H. Cobb exhorted and concluded the service.
He then rode to James Cochran's in Vienna, and spent the night. The next day he preached in Vienna to an attentive congregation.
6
82
CONFERENCE AT NEW LONDON.
He found the society large and lively at this place. From Vienna he went to Strong, and returned through Jay, Livermore, Readfield, Durham, Portland and Scarborough, on to New Hampshire. He had been in the district of Maine forty-three days ; he had preached forty- seven sermons and had seen very few dry or barren meetings. " This visit," said Lee, " was the most profitable and pleasing of any I had made in this part of the world."5 No preacher in Maine cver moved the people like Jesse Lee.
The New England Conference, 1808, met at New London, Connectieut, April 17th, Bishop Asbury presiding, Thomas Branch, Secretary.
The appointments for Maine were as follows :
Portland District, Oliver Beale, Presiding Elder.
Bowdoinham, J. Wilkinson.
Portland, Joel Winch.
Livermore, Aaron Humphrey and
Durham, David Carr.
Eli Howe.
Scarborough, Lewis Bates.
Conway, William Hunt.
Falmouth, Samuel Hillman and John Patten.
Kennebec District, Joshua Soule, Presiding Elder.
Readfield, David Bachelder and Henry Martin. Norridgewock, Ebenezer Fair- bank. Hallowell, Caleb Fogg.
Vassalborough, Joseph Baker.
Bristol, James Young.
Union River, Daniel Ricker.
Union, Samuel Baker.
Orrington, Philip Ayer.
Hampden, David Stimpson.
John Williamson, Missionary in the District of Maine.
Two distriets ; eighteen circuits ; twenty-five traveling preachers in Maine ; members, 1,316. Entire ministry and membership of the church, 144,509 ; inerease for the year, 14,020. Preachers, 516.
Houses of worship had been built : in Readfield, 1795 ; in Monmouth, 1796 ; in Falmouth, (dedicated June 19,) 1797 ; in Kent's Hill, 1800 ; in Hampden, 1800; in Farmington, 1800; at Bowman's Point, (now Farmingdale,) 1802 ; in Portland, the old Episcopal church bought, 1804 ; Orrington and several other places.
These were all eheap buildings, without spire or belfry. Meetings were held mostly in sehool-houses, halls and barns. The eireuits were large. . The preachers were mostly unmarried men. Parsonages were hardly thought of.
5 Memoirs of Jesse Lee by Thrift, pp. 318-322.
Poland, Jonathan Chaney and Enoch Jaques.
Bethel, Allen H. Cobb.
83.
NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE. ASBURY'S TRAVELS.
1809. The New England Conference met at Monmouth, June 15. Bishop Asbury and probably Bishop Mckendree were present ; Thomas Branch, Secretary. Asbury was accompanied by Reverend Henry Boehm as traveling companion. Such were his bodily infirmities that it was not proper for him to travel alone. He describes his journey thus :
We passed through Berwick Monday morning, and continuing on, stopped and supped with one Wells. We were here two years ago. We then prayed earnestly for, and with the kind family. It was not a forlorn hope it seems ; the young woman who waited on us was brought out last August. We rode on through Kennebunk to Saco. Lodging in a tavern, we were opposed, but persisted in having prayers night and morning. Asa. Heath gave us our breakfast, and we pushed on to New Gloucester, making about eighty- four miles in two days. On Thursday we opened our Conference and sat closely at work.
Sunday, July 18, I preached to about three thousand deeply attentive people, from Isaiah XLIV :23, Sing, O ye heavens, &c. It was an open seasou. We have eighty-two men to do the work, forty of whom compose the Conference. I have to lament my want of information, respecting both the preachers and the circuits. We have ordained twenty-one deacons and seven elders. We have located seven elders, re-admitted one, and added seventeen preachers upon trial. There is a small increase here, and fair prospects for the future.
On Tuesday, the bishop and his traveling companion hurried on through New Gloucester and Standish Corner to Samuel Bachelor's, making forty miles for one day's journey.
Thursday, they continued on, notwithstanding the rain, through Brownfield to Samuel Foss' in Conway, where they were kindly entertained.
Friday, they pushed on in usual post haste, through New Hampshire and Vermont, to New York and farther on. .
No further aeeount has been found of this conference in Monmouth, except the appointments and reports of the statistics as recorded in the minutes.
The work in Maine was divided into two districts, Joshua Soule and Oliver Beale, Presiding Elders. Twenty circuits, employing twenty- five traveling preachers. Members, 3,424 ; total membership, 163,033. Preachers, 597.
Among the names on the list of preachers in Maine, are those of Charles Virgin, a native of Rumford, Maine, Benjamin Jones, Ebenezer F. Newell and J. W. Hardy. Epaphras Kibby is again in Maine, stationed in Portland. Henry Martin, an excellent, devoted young minister, finished his course triumphantly this year.
From this time onward for several years, the progress of Methodism in Maine, though steady, was moderate. The complications of the American government with Great Britain, resulting in repeated embargoes, and culminating in the war of 1812, was disastrous to the business of the country and disturbed the harmony of the societies.
¥84
FIRST DELEGATED GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Party spirit was bitter. Though the great body of the Methodists were thoroughly loyal to the government, as they always have been, there were some who regarded the war measures of the administration as unwise and hazardons. Under such circumstances, the labors of the preachers were greatly embarrassed. Yet from year to year, with few exceptions, there was steady, though slow increase in numerical strength. The church did well to hold its own through this troublesome period.
In 1810, the New England Conference met at Winchester, New Hampshire, Bishop Asbury presiding, still attended by his traveling companion, Reverend Henry Boem.
During the session of this conference, a eamp meeting was in progress at a convenient distance. This arrangement was probably designed to utilize the spiritual forces called togetber, and to aeeommodate the people shut out by the closed doors of the conference.
In 1811, the New England Conference held its session in Barnard, Vermont, commencing June 20th, and closing June 25th, Bishop Asbury presiding, accompanied by Bishop McKendree ; Zechariah Gibson, Secretary. Asbury, notwithstanding his physical disability, still taking the foremost place in the preaching serviees. "On Monday," writes Asbury, "I ordained the elders ; George Pickering preached. We disposed of eighty-seven preachers, and each took his station at once, and without hesitaney, like a man of God." He then visited Middlebury, and advised the little society to erect a house of worship on a lot fronting the college.
The forees of the church in Maine continued about the same as for several years previous ; two distriets and nineteen eireuits, served by twenty-three ministers. Members, 3,597; inerease, 163. Entire membership, 184,567 ; inerease, 10,007.
On May 1st, 1812, the first delegated General Conference assembled in the old John Street church, New York. There were thirteen members of the New York Conference ; nine from New England ; six from Genesee ; thirteen from the West; nine from South Carolina ; nine from Virginia; fifteen from Baltimore, and fourteen from Philadelphia, the whole number being ninety.
Three of the New England delegates were from Maine, J. Soule, O. Beale and M. Ruter. The New England Conference only, had the forethought to provide substitutes to take the place of any who might be prevented, by any eause, from being present. The Conference took into consideration the propriety of the principle and approved it, and the example has ever sinee prevailed.
85
NEW CONFERENCE. ELECTION OF PRESIDING ELDERS DISCUSSED.
McKendree submitted a written message or address, the first example of the kind. Measures were taken for organizing new conferences. The Western Conference was divided into the Ohio and Tennessee Conferences, and the bishops were authorized to form another conference down the Mississippi. The ordination of local preachers as elders, in localities where their services were necessary, was voted, after a protraeted debate, " provided that no slave holder shall be eligible to the office of local elder, in any state or territory where the civil laws will admit emaneipation and suffer the liberated slave to enjoy his freedom."
It was ordered that stewards should no longer be appointed by the preacher in charge, but be nominated by him, and chosen by the Quarterly Conference.
Annual Conferences were allowed to provide funds for the relief of their own preachers and for " mission purposes." Axley took a bold and persistent stand for temperanee, moving repeatedly against motions to lie on the table, that no stationed or local preacher shall retail spirituous or malt liquors, without forfeiting his ministerial character among us. The motion was finally defeated. The conference, however, sent forth a long and fervent pastoral address, in which, among many other important counsels, they denounced the practice of dram drinking, and also the distilling or selling of ardent spirits, as inconsistent with the character of a christian.
Two days were spent in a debate on the question of the election of Presiding Elders by the Annual Conferences. Lee, Shinn and Snethen were the leaders of the affirmative, and many of the ablest delegates shared their opinions ; but the proposed measure failed. The bishops were strongly opposed to it. At nearly every session of the General Conference from 1784 down to 1828, this question was prominent, and the chief men in the ministry were arrayed against. each other in formidable parties. At this session (1812) the majority against the measure was but three. 6
The New England Conference held its session this year (1812) in Lynn, commencing Saturday, June 23d, and elosing the 27th, Bishops. Asbury and MeKendree presiding ; Zeehariah Gibson, Secretary. The proclamation of war between the United States and Great Britain was just issued, eausing great anxiety and much embarrassment in the work of the ministry. Asbury, though suffering mueh from bodily infirmity, shrank from no labor ; as usual, he preached on Sunday,.
6 From Stevens' History of the M. E. Church.
86
DECLARATION OF WAR. NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCES.
when this service might have been assigned to MeKeudree, or to one of the many able preachers present.
The published accounts of this conference are meager. The meeting on Sunday was held upon the camp ground. Asbury writes, " Sunday, 26th, I preached upon the camp ground. Had not hostilities existed between us and our neighbors, I should have spent some of this time in visiting the frontiers on Niagara. Our funds allowed us to give forty-nine dollars for the support of each single preacher, one hundred and eighteen dollars for those married and their wives and children. On Monday, the members of the conference communed in the Lord's supper, after which, I read off the appoint- ments, and we parted in great peace."7
Asbury started on his southern journey the same, notwithstanding the showers of rain, and " preached in a school-house in the evening" and preached almost daily on his way.
The declaration of war between the United States and Great Britain had just been issued by the President, bringing on a state of things very unfavorable for the cause of religion, and specially embarrassing to the Methodist itinerants and the societies under their charge.
There were still two districts in Maine, and twenty-seven traveling ministers. Members, 3,450; decrease, 147. Members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 195,359 ; increase, 10,790. Preachers, six hundred and eighty-eight.
1813. The New England Conference was appointed at New London, Connecticut, but on account of the disturbances caused by the war, the place of meeting was changed to Salem, a small town a few miles from New London, Bishops Asbury and Mckendree presiding ; D. Fillmore, Secretary.
Two districts in Maine ; eighteen circuits and stations ; twenty-four preachers. Members, 2,764; total membership of the church, 214,307 ; increase, 18,950. Preachers, 678 ; decrease, 10.
1814. The New England Conference held its session this year in Durham, Maine, commencing June 2d, Bishop McKendree, presiding ; Reuben Hubbard, Secretary. We find no account of this conference, except the brief records in the minutes. There were two districts and twenty circuits in Maine. served by twenty-six ministers. Members, 3,544 ; increase, 87. Members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 211,129 ; decrease, 3,178. The decrease of members to be attributed to the disastrous effects of the war with Great Britain.
7 Asbury's Journal.
.
87
PEACE. CONFERENCE AT UNITY. ASBURY'S DEATH.
1815. On the 11th of February, news reached this country that peace was established by the treaty of Ghent, on the 24th of December, 1814. The glad news was received with every demonstration of joy throughout the whole country, and a new era of prosperity commenced in Maine, as well as in other parts of the country.
The New England Conference met this year in Unity, New Hampshire, June 1st ; Martin Ruter, Secretary. Bishop Asbury being detained on his way by sickness, George Pickering presided, and the business proceeded regularly. On the 7th, Asbury reached the place and ordained twelve deacons and twelve elders, and on Thursday, the 8th of June, he left the place and traveled westward twenty-nine miles, through rain and snow.
Joseph Lufkin, Joshua Nye and David Hutchinson of Maine, were admitted into full connexion in the conference ; Joel Winch and Philip Ayer of Maine, located.
Two districts in Maine ; twenty circuits and twenty-four ministers. Members. 3,388 ; increase, 156. Members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 211.165 ; increase, 36.
1816. This year was memorable for several important events, some of them bringing sadness to the church. Bishop Asbury had for some years labored under great bodily infirmity. He was now so feeble that he had to be lifted in and out of his carriage, and helped into the pulpit, and was sometimes obliged to preach sitting, His last sermon was preached in Richmond, Virginia, March 24, 1816, Being unable to walk or stand, he was carried from his carriage to the pulpit, and seated on a table. He was obliged to make frequent pauses to recover his breath during his sermon. Yet he spoke nearly an hour from Romans 9 :28 : "For he will finish the work," &c. After closing his discourse, he was carried to his carriage and to his lodgings. Soon afterwards he pursued his journey, with his traveling companion, to the house of his old friend, Mr. George Arnold, in Spotsylvania, where he was kindly cared for ; but his strength rapidly declined. His faith remained firm. When unable to speak, he raised his hand in token of triumph, and with great composure breathed his last, March, 1816, in the seventy-first year of his age, having devoted about fifty-five years to the work of the ministry. Forty-five years of this time were in this country. For thirty years he had filled the arduous office of a general superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Asbury was eminently fitted for the high office he so long filled. He was deeply pious and thoroughly consecrated to his work; and
88
DEATII OF JESSE LEE. CHARACTER.
his administrative ability was of the highest order. His ideas of duty were severe ; he spared not himself ; his views of life were sombre, yet he preached with great force the glad news of a free and full salvation. He pressed on in his work, regardless of personal inconvenience, preaching almost daily in hls hurried journeys, and presiding in conferences, when he needed the care of a physician.8 His zeal and heroic endurance are more praiseworthy than his prudence in over-taxing himself. His last sermon, an hour long, preached sitting upon a table, stopping often to recover his breatlı, must have been a severe tax upon the sympathy of his audience,-a remarkable example of imprudence in a man so distinguished for good sense.
Bishop Asbury was a remarkable man, and rendered a most valuable service to the church in the forming period of its history. The strong principles of our ecclesiastical organization are largely due to the judgment and influence of the first bishop. A less vigorous administration of the episcopal office would, doubtless, have been more in harmony with American ideas, and might, perhaps, have retained in the service of the church some able ministers who became restive under what they considered arbitrary authority.
His remains were disinterred and borne to Baltimore at the time of the ensuing General Conference, and with proper solemnities, buried beneath the altar of Eutaw Street church.
In less than six months, Jesse Lee, the apostle of Methodism in New England, had also fallen. About the middle of August he attended a camp meeting on the eastern shore of Maryland. After preaching, he was seized with a fever and carried to Hillsborough. All remedies failed. For some time he was somewhat depressed ; but his faith rallied, and for several days before his death, he was filled with holy joy. He died on the evening of the 12th of September, 1816. His remains were borne to Baltimore and interred in the old Methodist burial ground.
Thus two of the foremost ministers of the church passed from their eartlily labors iu the same year.
Jesse Lee possessed rare natural endowments. His personal appearance was commanding ; he had a good voice, a ready utterance, a heroic, yet sympathetic nature, and a thorough religious experience. He preached with much unction the Wesleyan doctrine of a free and full salvation. He was probably the most effective preacher in the Methodist ministry in his day. He was several times a candidate for
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