USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 4
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17
LEE'S JOURNEY.
Anson, a little below Seven-Mile Brook." "At night," says Lee, " I preached on 1 John. 4 :9. The company were all attention, and some of them much wrought upon, so that they could not forbear weeping. They importuned me to eome amongst them again, or try and send one to preach to them." The next day Lee "returned to the mouth of the Sandy river in full view of Old Norridgewoek Point."
He preached " at Mr. Wilson's (probably Oliver Wilson's) , erossed the Sandy river upon the ice, rode up and tarried at Mr. Arnold's."
Monday, December 8, he " rode to Mr. J. Coehran's, in Goshen (Vienna), and at 2 o'clock preached on Eph. 2:20, and found a good deal of freedom in preaching ; some of them were much wrought upon and could not refrain from tears." He " baptized three children, and the parents appeared to be solemn while he was speaking."
.
The hasty visits of Lee to the Sandy river valley, and his Pauline labors, were productive of important results. Some of the leading families of that region, were converted and brought into the Methodist church through the influence of his preaching and personal intereourse. The Titeombs. Knowltons, Gowers, and Gays of Farmington ; the Clarks and Reads of Strong ; the Soules and Dudleys of Avon, were substantial and foremost people, and their descendants have contrib- uted largely to the strength of Methodism.
December 12th, 1794, Lee was again in Readfield. "It was a fast- day in the society, in preparation to what was to be a great oceasion on the approaching Sabbath .- the first celebration of the Lord's Sup- per, by the Methodists of Muine. He preached to them from the words, " We then as workers together with God," &c. He remained over the Sabbath in this place, preached and administered the sacra- ment to eight persons. This was a memorable occasion.
Tuesday, December 16, he rode with Samuel Dudley to the Hook (Hallowell), and crossed the Kennebec river on the ice, at serious risk. The horses broke through the ice, ten or fifteen feet from the easterly shore, but they " came out safe." They then rode to Pittston meeting-house, called at Major C.'s, and left an appointment to preach in two days, on their return. They then rode to Eastern river, and dined. Mr Lee went on to John Plummer's, in New Milford (Alna), and was kindly entertained. The day follow- ing he preached at Mr. Plummer's; some wept freely. Thursday, 18th, he returned to Major C.'s, but no appointment had been made for him to preach.6
A cool reception. He soon after re-crossed the river, and on the 23d of December, rode to Mr. Laine's in Littleborough (Leeds), and at two o'clock, preached from John 11:3.
& Lee's History of the Methodists.
2
18
EXCITING SCENES.
I had (writes Lee,) a crowded congregation, and the melting presence of God was among us. Many of the people could hardly refrain from weeping aloud. After I bad dismissed the people, and went into another room, a man came to speak to me, and burst into tears. Another came in with tears, and begged that I would preach again at night. I could not refuse. Some of the people then went home, but soon returned. One man being in deep distress, began to cry aloud to God to have mercy upon his poor soul; and thus he continued to cry with all his might, until some of the people were much fright- ened. I talked, prayed and sang; and while I was singing a visible alteration took place in his countenance ; and I was inclined to think his soul was set at liberty. Ile afterwards spoke as though he believed it was so. About this time, another man was seized with trembling, and he began to pray the Lord to have merey upou his soul, and cried aloud for some time. I then took my text and preached on 1 Pet. 5:7 -"Casting all your eare upon him; for he earethi for you." It was not long before another man was taken with a violent trembling and crying, so that my voice was almost drowned. I was forced to stop. I theu prayed for him, and he became more quiet. I then went on with my sermon, There was great weeping in every part of the house. It appeared as if the whole neighborhood was about to turn to God.7
These scenes of excitement may be regarded by the skeptical, as wild enthusiasm, produced by the personal magnetism of the speaker. Many christian people regard such exhibitions as outbursts of religious wild-fire. But they are not much unlike the scenes that occurred under the eye of the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
From this place, Lee passed on to Monmouth on Thursday, the 25th of December, and preached at Captain Hopkins' a Christmas sermon, from Isaiah 9:6,- "For unto us a child is born ; unto us a son is given," &c.
I had a large congregation (writes Mr. Lee), and a very remarkable season. The people seemed to swallow every word. Toward the end of the meeting, the power of God was mightily displayed; there were but few dry eyes in the house. I wept over my eon- gregation, and had to stop for a season. I begged the poor sinners to be reconciled to God, till I was persuaded that some of them would obey the truth. Philip Wager exhorted, with a good deal of life. We then administered the Lord's Supper to several persons. This is the first time the Methodists ever communed in this town. Then I gave the friends some advice about building a meeting-house in this place.
About seven weeks had been spent in this rough and rapid journey through the interior of Mainc.
Thursday, December 30, 1794, Mr. Lee sct out on his journey westward ; the traveling was exceedingly rough and the day very cold. He came to Saco at night, and put up at Hopkins' tavern.
Thursday, January 1, 1795, he passed on to Portsmouth, and devoted the next three months to the westerly part of his large district. 8
7 Thrift's Memoirs of Lee.
8 Ibid.
19
LEE'S VISIT TO NEW BRUNSWICK.
After rapidly visiting the societies in the westerly part of the district,-
About the first of April, 1795, he returned again to Maine on his fourth visit. He called at Major Ilsley, at Back Cove in Falmouth. From thence to Portland, Monmouth, Readfield; the Twenty-five Mile Pond (Unity) ; at the last named place there had been a gracious revival; but some religious quarrels had damped the rising flame
Leaving Unity, he proceeded over very bad roads to Hampden; twice in one day, his horse fell into the deep mud, and he but narrowly eseaped with whole bones. From thenee he came to Bangor, where he found it necessary to eross the Penobscot. There was no ferry-boat at hand; but two small boats were procured, and made fast together ; and his horse was made to stand with his fore feet in one, and his hind feet in the other boat; and all were enabled to get over without aeeident.9 10
Lee then went on to Orrington, Bucksport, Gouldsborough, Epping, the Falls of Pleasant River, and Machias, swimming rivers and passing: dangerous fords. Having reached the extreme eastern limits of the State, he passed on by water into the Province of New Brunswick, early in the month of April, visiting St. John, and crossing the Bay of Fundy,- visiting and preaching in several places. He set out on his- return the 25th of May, in company with Rev. D. McCall, a Wesleyan preacher of New Brunswick, who went to attend the session of the New England Conference at New London, Connecticut, on the 15th of July following, at that time a tedious pilgrimage for such a purpose.
We have but very slight account of Lee's journey in returning ; only that he reached Readfield in season to preach the dedicatory sermon of the Readfield meeting-house, on the twenty-first of June, 1795, this being the first Methodist church dedicated in Maine. 11
He, in due time, made his appearance at the New England Conference, July 15, 1795.
From Thrift's Memoirs of Lee.
10 Rev. Mark Trafton informs the writer that Lee's two horses were ferried over the river by Mr. Dennett, grandfather of Mr. Trafton.
11 From Thrift's Memoirs of Lee.
20
NEW LONDON CONFERENCE.
CHAPTER III.
.
(CONFERENCE AT NEW LONDON JULY 15, 1795. APPOINTMENTS TO MAINE. LEE'S VISIT TO MAINE NOVEMBER, 1796. MAY, 1795, VISITS MT. DESERT. METHODIST FINANCIAL PLAN. SCANTY RECEIPTS. PREACHERS' CLAIM. CONFERENCE AT THOMPSON, CONN. SEPTEMBER 19, 1796. APPOINTMENTS TO MAINE. RETURNS OF MEMBERS. SECOND CONFERENCE AT WILBRAHAM, SEPTEMBER 19, 1797. APPOINTMENTS TO MAINE. RETURNS OF MEMBERS IN MAINE. ASBURY'S JOURNEY TO MAINE. CONFERENCE AT READFIELD. APPOINTMENTS. TRIALS. CONTROVERSIES. PERSECUTIONS. JOSHUA SOULE.
The conference at New London, Connecticut, commenced its session Wednesday July 15, 1795 ; nineteen ministers were present. Asbury, Lee, Roberts, Priest, Pickering, Mudge, Taylor, Snethen, Smith, Ostrander and McCoombe were the most prominent members. Donald McCall from New Brunswick, Kingston and Harper from the West India Islands were present. The brethren from the West Indias came with prostrate health and empty purses. A collection was taken for their benefit ; "a practice almost universal in those days of suffering and self-sacrifice."
Members in Maine as follows: Portland, 36; Readfield, 232; Passamnaquoddy, 50; total 318. Entire membership in Methodist Episcopal Church, 60,291 ; preachers, 313. The session, as usual, was one of much interest, closing on Saturday, July 18th. The preachers remained over the Sabbath, and early Monday morning they were off for their various fields of labor. The appointments for Maine were as follows : Jesse Lee, Presiding Elder ; the District included most of New England and Maine.
Portland Circuit, Philip Wager.
Readfield Circuit, Enoch Mudge and Elias Hull.
Penobscot Circuit, Joshua Hall.
Portland circuit was the second circuit formed in Maine. Lee had preached in several places in this part of the state. Wager was the first preacher appointed to this circuit. The first class in Portland was formed in the early part of October, this year. The first quarterly meeting was held at Poland on the fourth day of December, 1795. Lec was present and administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper, for the first time, on the circuit.1
1 Lee's History of the Methodists.
21
LEE, WAGER AND OTHERS.
But little is recorded of Mr. Wager's labors this year, only that under his eare the number of members were increased from thirty-six to eighty. He could not have been idle. Mudge and Hall were active and successful in their work. An additional eircuit was formed on the Kennebec. Mr. Hall, also, in spite of hardships and violent opposi- tion, had pushed on his work on both sides of the Penobscot with eneouraging success. He formed the first Methodist societies on the Penobseot. About the first of June, 1796, he left his work on the Penobscot, and traveled about three months on Readfield circuit ; visited Portland and preached a short time, in company with Stephen Hull, and thence passed on to the conference at Thompson, Connectieut. Elias Hull's name does not appear in the quarterly conference records of Readfield circuit, after the first quarter ; Aaron Humphrey supplied his place. At the fourth quarterly meeting Stephen Hull appears in the place of Enoeh Mudge. No explanation is given of these changes, only that frequent changes were common in those times. Early Methodism was severely itinerant.
Besides extensive labors in other parts of New England, Lee visited Maine twice before the ensuing conferenee. His aecount of his journey is only fragmentary, often abrupt. On Monday November 23, 1795, he rode from Newcastle to Bristol, probably, on invitation of Col. William Jones, who had become much disaffected toward his Presbyterian brethren. Probably he came down no further than the residence of Col. Jones (in Walpole), where, or in the vieinity, he preached a sermon from 2 Peter, 3:14. "Wherefore, brethren, seeing ye look for such things, be ye diligent," &c. This was the first Methodist sermon ever preached in that plaee. "I eould truly say," says Lee, "the meeting was profitable to my soul." He then returned the same day to Nobleboro', to preach again in the evening at the house of a Mr. Rust,2 and at night he preached from Prov. 1:22-3. "How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity ?" &c. Mr. Lee writes, "We had a solemn time. The people pressed me hard to send them a preacher, but I know not how I can do it, unless the Lord will send forth more laborers into his vineyard." He gives the following account of his labors about this time.
Tuesday, November 24, I rode to New Milford (Alna), and held forth in the new meet -. ing-house, on Romans 2:6, " Who will render to every man according to his deeds." I had but few to hear, I suppose the head men were somewhat afraid, and therefore did not have proper notice given. The young candidate (probably Rev. Jonathan Ward,) rode with me a few miles after meeting, and was not satisfied with my inviting all to Christ,
2 History of Bristol, by Professor J. Johnston.
22
LEE IN EASTERN MAINE.
and persuading them to choose religion and turn to God. I asked him if he did not believe that God had decreed that some inen should not be saved ? He said he did. I then asked him if he did not believe that Christ opened a way by his deatlı, whereby all might possibly be saved ? He said he did. Then I told him, according to what he said, Christ had opened the way, whereby God's decrces might be broken ; and wished him to try and clear up the contradiction. He did try, and tried it often, till he was quite confused; and so we parted.8
Nothing more is recorded of Lee's labors in Maine till May, 1796. His journals were lost in the destruction of the Book Room by fire in 1836 ; so that only fragmentary sketehes of his labors have been preserved.
The next notiee we have of Lee in Maine, is on Saturday, May 7th, 1796.
I returned (writes Lee,) May 7th, to Trenton, to Mr. James Smith's, at a place called Kilkenny, where at 2 o'clock, I preached on Ezek. 18:11. This was a thinly settled neighborhood; but I had quite a good company of hearers, and the Lord was present with us. I found great freedom in speaking, and was melted into tears myself, and the people wept very freely. This was the first Methodist sermon ever preached in Trenton ; and the people heard as though they were never to hear another. After the meeting I rode to Union River, and left my horse, and went to Benjamin Joy's, and stayed all night.
Sunday, May 8th, 1796. At Mr. Joy's on Union River, at 11 o'clock, I discoursed on " the one thing needful." The day was wet but we had a good meeting. In the after- noon, my text was Dan. 6:16,-" And the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions." The place seemed awful on account of the presence of the Lord. O, what a pity that so many people in this place should be destitute of regular preaching ; many of them seem willing to hear the word. I felt thankful for bringing me amongst them once more.
Monday, May 9th. It was very wet, and rained hard till the middle of the day. After dinner I traveled to Mr Foster's, on Jordan river, about six miles. I had to walk a good deal of the way, for I could not ride. I do not remember that I ever traveled a worse road than this.
Tuesday, May 10. A young doctor went with me down the river, and got into a canoe with some other people and went over to Mount Desert, we found many collected for training. Just after our arrival, the captain dismissed his company.4
The following account is from Stevens' Memorials of Methodism :
Many women had also collected to see the men muster, and afterwards to have a dance. But when they found out that I intended to preach, they were at a loss to know what to ·do ; some said, " we will have a dance," others said, " nay, but we will have a sermon." The woman of the house said, if they would not hear the gospel, they should not dance. The man of the house spoke out aloud, saying, "if the Lord has sent the man, let us hear him, but if the devil has sent him, let the devil take him away." So I told them I would preach at another house, at 4 o'clock.
He set off for the place, but had a rencounter, on the way, with one of those sturdy theo-
.3 Memoirs of Jesse Lee, by Minton Thrift, p. 224.
4 Thrift's Memoirs of Jesse Lee.
23
MONMOUTH MEETING-HOUSE.
logians, who so often crossed his path in New England. He was brim-full of religious talk, but I soon discovered that he was a strong fatalist; when he found out that I believed that Christ died for all men, and that the Lord called all men, he got into a violent passion, and with abundance of fury, called it a damnable doctrine, and appeared to be ready to swear outright. Poor man! how small a thing it is for a man to call himself a christian, while he is governed by wrath and an evil spirit.
Arriving at the appointed house, he preached with his usual power and effect.
The Lord (says Lee,) was very precious to my soul, and many of the hearers were melted into tears, and heard the word as though it had been for their lives. But while I was speaking, the fore-mentioned man and another of his party, kept shaking their heads at each other, as much as to say, "That is not true." At last I stopped and said to one of them, "I should be glad if you will try to keep your head still." He behaved better afterwards. Mount Desert is now divided into two towns ; the one I preached in is called Eden. This was the first Methodist sermon ever preached in the town; and I feel a pleasing hope that a lasting blessing will attend it. I lodged with Mr. Paine that night.
Friday, June 17, 1796. We left the two Brothers Hull and Brother Baker, in Falmouth, where I preached at 2 o'clock. I found much of the presence of God with me while preaching, and the word was attended with some power. Many tears were shed. There has been a great stir of religion in the place of late.5
From May, in the foregoing narrative, we have no account of Lee's travels and labors till June 17. In his History of the Methodists, page 217, he states that the meeting-house in Monmouth was dedicated on the last day of May, 1796. This was the second Methodist chapel in Maine. The time from May 10 to June 17 was probably spent by him upon the Readfield circuit. The district under Lee's supervision, embraced most of the New England states. There were seventeen circuits, having, during the year, sixty-eight quarterly meetings. It is probable that he was present at most of these meetings. His journeyings upon horse-back at that time, from the roughness of the roads must have been exceedingly tedious as well as extensive. His labors, as is manifest from the account of his journey to Mount Desert, were not confined to his official duties, in presiding at the quarterly conferences ; but he seemed to have been always striving to " break up new ground," and carry "the gospel to regions beyond." The preachers under him were also animated by the same spirit, and extended their circuits over new territory.
The returns of members at the ensuing conference (1796), were as follows : Portland 80 ; Readfield 204; Penobscot 73; total 357. The entire church : ministers 293 ; members 56,664.
Methodism in the Province of Maine had assumed an organic form, constituting a part of the New England Conference ; three circuits in Maine, with four preachers,- under the care of a Presiding Elder.
The financial basis of any organization is a subject of fundamental
5 Stevens' Memorials.
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24
METHODIST FINANCIAL PLANS.
importance. Methodism means system ; John Wesley was a skilled organizer ; one of the first things that received his attention, was a financial plan by which the work of his socictics might be successfully carried on.
The penny-a-weck plan has proved a wonderful financial success. The Wesleyan plan, when faithfully carried out, seldom fails of success.6 A similar plan, though not fully up to the Wesleyan idca, was carly adopted in the new circuits in Maine, as well as elsewhere in the whole Methodist field in this country.
We find only brief notices of the labors of Mudge and Hull on the Readficld circuit.
The Wesleyan plan of supporting the gospel was adopted though often imperfectly carried out. Every member of each society was expected to contribute quarterly towards this object ; stewards were appointed to attend to this business. Reports were made at the quarterly meetings. The preacher's claim was determined by the quarterly conference. The sum fixed upon as the claim, was regarded as the minimum amount necessary to afford an extremely fugal support. This amount was seldom received in the carlier years of our itinerant history. At the first quarterly meeting held in Maine, in Readfield, October 20, 1795, the amount reported as received the first quarter, for the support of two circuit preachers and a presiding elder was $34.17, distributed as follows : To Jesse Lee $2.17 ; Enoch Mudge, $16.00 ; Elias Hull, $16,00, and so on through the year.
It may be said, in excuse for the people in those days, that they were poor in money. Their crops, however bountiful, could, with difficulty be exchanged for cash. The unmarried preachers could get along comfortably with but very little money. They lived among the people ; were made welcome in their rude homes, and their horses were cared for without charge. The married preachers were inade- quately supported, and were generally compelled to resort to some other employment to support their families. Some worked at a trade ; some resorted to school teaching ; some to farming, and some took refuge in the ministry of other denominations. The last named
" The question of the payment of a chapel debt was discussed by several members of the society in Bristol, England, in the presence of Mr. Wesley, when one stood up and said :- " Let every member of the society pay a penny a week," and solved the various diffi- eulties presented, by suggesting that they should each of them, take eleven of their neigh- bors, and eall on them weekly for their contributions. The plan was adopted, and in its execution results were reached far grander than could have been imagined by the wise men then assembled .- Christian Advocate, September 3, 1885.
25
THE THOMPSON CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS FOR MAINE.
expedient seldom proved successful ; generally it was found to be a fatal mistake.
The work of the itinerants, in those days, afforded small hope of worldly gain, and often involved distressing embarrassment. The hardships became so great, and thelocation of the preachers so frequent, that the authorities of the church became alarmed, and measures were considered for the relief of the scantily paid and superannuated preach- ers. The allowance or claim, as it was termed, of the traveling preachers, was changed, at different times, from exceedingly frugal figures, till at length, at the general conference in 1856, the whole subject of preachers' support was referred to the stewards and the quarterly conferences of the several circuits and stations, with discretion.
The Conference at Thompson, Connecticut, commenced on the 19th of September, 1796. About thirty were present, "some of whom," remarks Asbury, "were from the Province of Maine, three hundred miles distant, who gave us a pleasing relation of the work of God in those parts."
Enoch Mudge and John Hall brought refreshing reports from Maine. A new circuit had been formed on the Kennebec; and Hall, though he had endured hardships and encountered much opposition, was cheered by success; a gracious revival had occurred and the first Methodist societies were formed on the Penobscot. They could both of them tell of hard fare, terrible winter weather, long journeys amidst driving storms, and com- fortless lodgings in log cabins, through which the snow beat upon their beds, but also of divine consolations which had sanctified every suffering, and victories of the truth multi- plying through the land.7
The appointments for Maine were as follows :
Jesse Lee, Presiding Elder. Bath, Enoch Mudge.
Portland, Jesse Stoneman. Penobscot, Elias Hull.
Readfield, Cyrus Stebbins, and John Broadhead.
Kennebec, Aaron Humphrey.
Two new circuits were formed in Maine ; Kennebec, including the upper towns on the Kennebec river, afterwards called Norridgewock circuit ; and Bath circuit, embracing the region about the mouth of the Kennebec. The Bath circuit extended as far as the town of Union.
We were not as successful (Lee remarks,) in Bath as we were in other places ; disputes about the settled preacher ran high, and the contention was too severe on both sides. In Union there was a good work begun, and souls were awakened and brought to God. There were at this time (says Lee,) but few that felt freedom to unite with us.
This reluctance is not surprising ; as Methodism at that time, did not present a very assuring prospect of permanancy.
7 Stevens' History of M. E. Church.
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26
WILBRAHAM CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS FOR MAINE.
Four circuits, six preachers, under the supervision of one presiding elder, whose district comprehended nearly the whole of New England, constituted the plan of labor for the Province of Maine for the year 1796-7. The labors of the preachers in Maine were remarkably suc- cessful. A new circuit was formed called Pleasant River Circuit, and the following returns of members were made at the ensuing conference in 1797: Bath circuit 31; Penobscot circuit 110; Portland circuit 175 ; Readfield circuit 300; total 616 ; gain of seveuty-two per cent. Entire church : preachers 293 ; members 57,064. The name of Peter Jayne appears in the records of the Readfield Quarterly Conference for December 23, 1796, instead of John Broadhead. The reason of this change is not given.
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