USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 5
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The New England Conference met for the second time in Wilbra- ham, Massachusetts, September 19th, 1797. Asbury being detained by sickness, Lee presided at his request and made the appointments. " The business," says Lee, " was conducted to the satisfaction of the preachers, and peace aud love dwelt among us." Encouraging reports were brought from Maine. Enoch Mudge, though appointed to Bath had labored chiefly on the Penobscot, and brought the news of an extousive revival. Stoneman reported a gain of nearly one hundred on Portland circuit ; and Broadhead reported from Readfield circuit ; news of a glorious work of God, and an ingathering of ninety-four converts.8
The appointments for Maine were as follows, namely :
Joshua Taylor, Presiding Elder. Readfield, Joshua Taylor, and Robert Yallalee.
Bath, Roger Searle. Penobscot, Timothy Merritt.
Portland, Nicholas Snethen, and John Finnegan.
Pleasant River, Enoch Mudge.
Kennebec, Jesse Stoneman.
The most important action of the conferences, so far the societies in Maiue were concerned, was the appointment of one of the sessions of the next conference in this Proviuce, to be held in Readfield. The six circuits in Maine were organized iuto a district ; Joshua Taylor presiding elder, acting also as preacher in charge of the Readfield circuit, with R. Yallalee as colleague.
No account is recorded of the labors of the preachers in Maine during this year. They must have faithfully attended to the arduous work upon their hands, for it is recorded that the ecclesiastical year, 1797-8, was the most prosperous one, thus far, in the history of Eastern Methodism. Wide-spread revivals had prevailed, and the
8 Stevens' History, IV, 12.
27
ASBURY IN MAINE.
struggling cause had everywhere advanced, augmenting its membership by more than one-third. "The truth had advanced victoriously among the new settlements in the wilderness of the Penobscot. The people welcomed the joyful sound, and more than a hundred and fifty were received into the church. The divine flame had also spread along the banks of the Kennebec, and many had turned from darkness to the light."
Asbury had completed his southern tour, suffering under severe pain and exhaustion from excessive labors and sickness, and in company with Lee entered the Province of Maine, Friday, August 17. The following extracts from Asbury's journal afford an idea of the jour- neyings of the indefatigable Bishop.
We crossed Piscataqua river at the town of Portsmouth, in a flat bottomed boat. I am so weak that the smallest shock shakes me. We came through Old York -Father Moody's parish,- (Congregationalist,) of whom many tales are told, one of which is worth telling to posterity ; it is, that the only salary he received was the prayers of his people. We came on to Wells, and were kindly entertained at Mr. Maxwell's. I was restless through the night, and sleepy and sick through the next day, yet wc rode forty miles to Major Ilsley's near Portland.
Friday, 17th, we passed New Stroudwater. We have ridden since Monday morning about one hundred and forty miles ; the roads are intolerable; the weather extremely warm; and we are among strangers. Saturday, August 18th, we rode five miles to Presumpscot river, and stopped at Father Baker's. Sabbath day, the 19th, I preached in a barn on - "Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation." Here we have the frame of a good meeting-house erected upon a beautiful spot.
Monday, August 20th, we rode to Gray and were kindly entertained by Mr. Randall. I preached to a few in a school-house, on Matt. XXIV : 12, 13, - " And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
Tuesday we came through Gloucester to Widow Roe's. We sat under the shade by the road-side and read -'s acknowledgment of his fall, in an address to to the Confer- ence, - so candid, and contrite, never did I hear. My subject at Roe's was on Acts 2:21. The people appeared careless and unfeeling.
Wednesday, 22, we rode through the woods to the Androscoggin river, thence to Lewiston, where our appointment for preaching had been made at 2 o'clock, and another at 4 o'clock. No one attending at 2 o'clock, we came on to Monmouth, Thursday, August 23d. I was at home at Brother Fogg's. He and his wife are pious souls. Such with an increase, may they live and die! I preached in the open meeting-liouse, to a congregation of people that heard and felt the word. My subject, Ephesians 6:13-18,- " Wherefore take unto you the whole armor," &c. I was raised, a small degree, above my feeble self, and so were some of my hearers.
" We rode that evening to Hopkins', in Winthrop, where meeting was appointed in the Congregational house. As the day was damp, and myself sick, I declined ; and Brother Lec preached, and the people said it was a good time. I found father Bishop, at whose house we stayed ; his son and wife exceedingly kind. This part of the district of Maine is settled with people from the south of Mass- achusetts, and some from New Hampshire.
28
CONFERENCE IN READFIELD.
" Saturday, August 25, we had to beat through the woods between Winthrop and Readfield, which are as bad as the Alleghany mountains, and the shades of death. We have now laid by our carriage and saddle to wait until Wednesday next for conference, the first of the kind ever held in these parts." 9
The conference at Readfield which commenced Wednesday, August 29, 1798, was a memorable event. The venerable Bishop Asbury, weary and worn by excessive travels and labors, presided. Metho- dism, though recent in the Province, had taken profound hold on the sympathies of the settlers, and hundreds flocked to the small village of Readfield (now called East Readfield), to witness the assembly of its pioneers in their new wilderness country.10
The people poured in from all directions ; some from a distance of many miles, by various modes of conveyance, to listen to the sermons and witness the solemnities of the occasion. The session commenced Wednesday, August 29, 1798, and continued two days. Nine preachers were present besides Asbury and Lee. Timothy Merritt, John Broad- head, Joshua Taylor, Robert Yallalee, Aaron Humphrey, Roger Searle, Jesse Stoneman, Enoch Mudge and John Finnegan, The returns of members were as follows: Bath and Union, 100; Portland, 165; Readfield, 303; Kennebec, 105; Penobscot, 263 ; total, 936 ; a gain of fifty-one per cent. In the entire Methodist Episcopal Church, ministers, 267 ; members, 60,169. The appointments were as follows :
Joshua Taylor, Presiding Elder. Portland, Timothy Merritt.
Bath and Union, Robert Yallalee, and Aaron Humphrey.
Readfield, Joshua Taylor, and Jesse Stoneman.
Kennebec, Roger Searle.
Penobscot, Enoch Mudge, and John Finnegan. Pleasant River, Peter Jayne.
"We were engaged all day," writes Lee, "much united in love and in the work of the ministry ; we had some good accounts from different places of a gracious revival of religion."
Thursday was a "great day," says Asbury. The conference began its usual business very carly, and closed it by eight o'clock, A. M. in order that the rest of the time might be devoted to public exercises.
An immense throng gathered in the village. At nine o'clock the doors of the new chapel, the first erected in Maine, were opened for the " large number of Methodists, and none else," for a love-feast together. Representatives of their common cause were there from all the surrounding regions, and from several distant places. "It was a
9 Asbury's Journal.
10 Stevens' History, IV, 23.
29
CONFERENCE IN READFIELD.
good time," says Lee, "they spoke freely and feeliugly" of their christian experience, and renewed their vows with God and each other. The multitude without heard their fervent ejaculations and exhilerating melodies and waited impatiently for the public services.
At eleveu o'clock the doors were opened. "From one thousand to eighteen hundred," says Asbury," "attended public preaching and ordination." "My subject," says Asbury in his journal, "was 2 Cor. 4 :1, 2, 'Seeing we have this ministry we faint not,'" etc. The sermon was an able one. Lee tells us that though the Bishop, before the meeting, appeared to be weak, yet during the discourse he waxed strong and courageous. His own example of indefatigable labor under the pressure of great bodily suffering, added much force to his stirring appeals. The ordination services followed and were wituessed with great solemnity by the throng. The ordination being over, Lee asceuded the pulpit and preached a stirring sermon from Rom. 16:20. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet." A divine influence fell upon the assembly ; tears flowed iu all parts of the house. "My soul," he says, "was animated with the presence of the Lord. It was a precious time to many." 11
The people must have been gospel-hungry to remain quiet during such protracted services. Still there was auother service before they dispersed. They partook of the Lord's supper together. More than two hundred persons communed. Says Lee, "I stood astonished at the sight, to see so many people at the Lord's table, when it was not quite five years since we came into this part of the world." Thus closed the first conference in Maine. The preachers immediately hastened to their appointments.
Asbury left the same day, and passed westward without delay. He was at Portland the next Sabbath, September 2d, having rode sixty miles in two days, under the heat of the sun over "desperate roads and rocks." He preached iu Widow Boyiuton's back room to about twenty-five persons, chiefly women, on 2 Pet. 2:9. In the afternoon he preached to about double the number, on Phil. 3:8, and returned in the evening to his very kind friend's house, Major Ilsley ; the next day he went on westward, to attend the Conference iu Granville, Mass- achusetts, journeying and preaching as he went. Lee remained a short time at Readfield.
At the next conference, held at New York, June 19, 1799, there were returned from Maiue eleven hundred and seventeen members, a gain of
11 Stevens' History of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
30
STRUGGLES AND CONFLICTS. JOSHUA SOULE.
19 per cent, from the following circuits, viz. : Bath and Union 119; Kennebec 196; Pleasant River 73; Penobscot 207; Portland 222; Readfield 300; total 1117; number in Methodist Episcopal church, preachers 272; members 61,351. Asbury presiding ; Lce was also present.
The session opened for New York and all New England, and was "crowded with work." Lee preached the ordination sermon, from Acts 14 :22. The occasion was one of great interest.
The preachers in Maine this year had passed through severe strug- gles, but with their usual success. They were strenuously opposed by the settled ministers and their adherents. The Presiding Elder, Joshua Taylor, had been drummed out of Castine, with kettle-drum by a mob, and their cause was attacked with not a little pugnacity from the pulpit and the press, by their Calvinistic brethren.
Mr. Taylor had been drawn into a printed controversy in reply to a pamphlet by Reverend Jonathan Ward, A. M., of Alna, assailing the sentiments of the Wesleyan Methodists. 12
"It was the policy of Asbury to send young men into the east, under experienced leaders," that they might be " thoroughly tested," and trained to hardness in the rough work of the frontier. This policy in some cases, was eminently successful ; a race of heroic evangelists was trained for effective service, while some, as in the case of Hubbard, the Hulls, Humphrey, and a few others, could not endure the stern test, and sought relief in other less laborious ministries. Some also, were compelled to locate and resort to other callings to sustain their families.
This year was signalized by the reception into the itineracy of the first native Methodist preacher of Maine, Joshua Soule, who was taken under the care of Joshua Taylor, to travel with him around the circuit.
Said the venerable Taylor once, to the writer : "I led Joshua Soule into the ministry, but he soon outstripped me."
The appointments for 1799, were as follows :
Joshua Taylor, Presiding Elder. Kennebec, Asa Heath. Bath and Union, John Finnegan, Comfort Smith.
Portland, Timothy Merritt, and Joshua Soule.
Readfield, John Broadhead, and Nathan Emery.
Penobscot, John Merrick.
Pleasant River, Reuben Hubbard.
12 See Chapter IV.
31
LEE'S CO-LABORERS.
CHAPTER IV.
LEE'S CO-LABORERS : P. WAGER; E. MUDGE; E. HULL; S. HULL; J. HALL; J. STONEMAN; C. STEBBINS; A. HUMPHREY; J. TAYLOR; T. MERRITT; J. BROADHEAD ; R. YALLALEE; J. FINNEGAN ; P. JAYNE; J. SOULE; R. SEARLE; N. EMERY; N. SNETHEN; R. HUBBARD ; A. HEATH; C. C. SMITHI.
Great reformatory movements in church or state require wise and heroic men for their success. Such men usually make their appearance when the providential emergency requires their services.
When Methodism entered New England, such were the prevailing religious views and tastes of the people, and so unpromising the prospect of the new sect, that young men of talent and good social standing could not be expected to be strongly attracted to the hard service of the Methodist itinerancy. Contrary however, to all worldly calculation, young men in New England, of eminent fitness for the work, soon began to hear the voice of the Master calling them to this service. Methodism more readily than other religious organizations, utilizes its forces, and without needless delay, calls its adherents into active service. The prayer and class-meetings, the love-feasts and camp-meetings, the offices of exhorters and lay preachers, furnish training schools for the practical work of the ministry, often more effectual than the theological seminary.
Volunteers soon began to offer their services. The simple tests by which their fitness was determined, were "gifts, grace and fruit." Tests, which, if rightly applied, would, to a large extent, save the ministry from the incumbrance of incompetent members. Many of these recruits, soon became able to render effective service in the field of evangelical labor. Mudge, Stebbins, Taylor, Snethen, Broadhead, Merritt, Jayne, Soule, Emery and Heath, in a short time became able ministers of the gospel.
It could not be reasonably expected that all who were employed in the itinerant service would prove to be suitable persons for this work, or would abide the severe tests of this hard service. It is not strange that some of these early itinerants should turn aside to easier pursuits.
Lee had hastily explored the Province of Maine, and at the New England Conference held at Lynn, July 25, 1794, was appointed
32
PHILIP WAGER.
Presiding Elder of New England District, and Philip Wager to Read- field Circuit, then embracing the whole State of Maine, - though nominally embracing only the towns on the west side of the Kennebec river.
PHILIP WAGER.
Philip Wager was wisely chosen for this arduous work, and he entered upon it with zeal, prosecuting his evangelical labors with great dili- genee and success. His work seems to have been to follow up Mr. Lee's labors, preach and organize classes. He extended his labors to Portland, Bath and to Passamaquoddy. We have no account of Wager's early history and but a scanty account of his labors. His conference record is as follows, namely : 1790, received on trial and appointed to Cambridge Circuit, New York ; in 1791, appointed to Otsego, New York ; 1792, received in full connexion and appointed to Litchfield Cireuit, Connecticut; 1793, appointed to Warren, Rhode Island ; 1794, ordained Elder and appointed to Readfield Circuit. Maine ; 1795, appointed to Portland, Maine ; 1796, Chesterfield, New Hampshire ; 1797, Dutchess, New York ; 1798, located.
In Bangs' History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, volume II, page 452 (alphabetical list), the name of Philip Wager, is entered as located, and no further mention is made of him after that time in our church histories.
During the seven years of Mr. Wager's itineraney, from the scanty record given of his labors, he seems to have been a faithful and successful minister. Lee speaks of him at their meeting in Monmouth, Maine, November 13, 1799 : " Brother P. Wager came to me from his preaching place. I was greatly pleased with the account he gave me of a work of God in several places, on his circuit. At two o'clock I preached at Captain Hopkins' tavern, and the Lord moved upon the hearts of many people. Brother Wager exhorted with freedom." 1
Wager organized the class at Monmouth,- the first Methodist elass in Maine, - about the first of November, 1794; and the second elass in Maine, at Readfield a short time after.
Wager's travels were extensive and his labors arduous, in preaching and organizing classes over so large a territory. He must have prosecuted his work with great diligence upon his extensive circuit, according to his report to the next conference at New London, Connecticut, of members gathered into the church on his eireuit,
1 Memoirs of Jesse Lee, by M. Thrift, p. 202.
-
33
ENOCH MUDGE.
covering the entire State, namely : Portland Circuit 36; Readfield Circuit 232; Passamaquoddy 50.
The next year Wager was appointed to Portland circuit, and reports an increase of thirty members during the year.
The writer has heard aged people speak of Philip Wager as a faithful and able preacher. His extensive travels and successful labors in Maine deserve to be held in honorable remembrance. History is strangely silent in relation to the closing years of his life.
ENOCH MUDGE.
Enoch Mudge was the first native Methodist preacher of New England. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, June 21, 1776. In his fifteenth year, Jesse Lee came to Lynn. The parents of Mudge were among the first to welcome the joyful tidings of the gospel, as proclaimed by the Methoeists. The change manifest in them, produced a deep impression upon their son. He became an earnest seeker, and after several months of earnest inquiry and prayer, he came into the liberty of the gospel. He immediately began to take a part in the prayer- meetings, and soon became a class-leader, and an exhorter. At the New England conference held at Lynn, August 1, 1793, he was received on trial and appointed to Greenwich Circuit, R. I. which included most of Rhode Island. "This," he writes, "was the most important crisis in my life." He was in his eighteenth year, and had never before been absent from his father's house, a week at a time, in his life.
His anxiety, and incessant application to his duties, brought on a distressing pain in his head, and soon threw him into a fever. He was very sick, but in a few weeks rallied ; and while still very week, resumed his work which he continued to the end of the year.
At the conference, held at Wilbraham, September 8, 1794, he was, appointed to New London circuit, with two other preachers. This was a large circuit. His field of labor was changed several times during the year. "Preaching places," he writes, "multiplied ; our borders were enlarged ; the church increased ; God prospered his cause."
In 1795, Mr. Mudge, having received deacon's orders, was appointed to Readfield Circuit, Maine, with Elias Hull as colleague. In 1796, at the conference held in Thompson, Connecticut, he received elder's orders, then in his twentieth year, and was stationed at Bath, Maine, but soon went to Penobscot in place of Elias Hull. In the absence of 3
34
ENOCH MUDGE.
Jesse Lce, the presiding clder, for six months Mr. Mudge supplied his place, attending the quarterly meetings, and administering the ordinances.
This was a year of incessant labor, and great exposure, so that towards the close of the year his health failed. He, however, continued his labors. "Picked up some scattering appointments ; opened others ; organized churches ; enlarged the field of labor, and had a prosperous year." In 1797 he was appointed to Pleasant River, Maine.
In 1798, though in feeble health, he was appointed to Penobscot Circuit, with J. Finnegan as colleague. This was a large circuit ; the duties devolved upon him, were more severe than he could well endure. After much deliberation and with great reluctance, he decided to retire from the itinerant service. Accordingly, at the conference of 1799, he requested a location. He continued to reside at Orrington, preaching as occasion required, and remained in that place till 1816, when he removed to Lynn, Massachusetts, for the improvement of his health, and for the benefit of his family.
While residing in Orrington, he was twice involved in a law-suit, once being prosecuted for solemnizing a marriage. He acted as his own attorney, and the action was dropped as a "malicious prosecution."
Once he was prosecuted for defamation, having occasion to reprove a company of young people assembled for a ball or " frolic," cautioning them against the excesses, which it had been reported, a similar party in a neighboring town, had committed. This action was dismissed by the justice. Most of the prosecutors were afterwards converted and became the most steadfast friends of the preacher, and devoted members of the church.
In 1811-12 a general sensation was produced by several instances of oppressive taxation for the support of the Congregational ministry. The other denominations were aroused, and the Legislature of Massa- chusetts was petitioned from every quarter, to afford relief from such oppression. With a view to the promotion of this object, Mr. Mudge was elected a member of the Legislature, as were many other ministers of the gospel, of all dissenting denominations. The result was the passage of what has since been called the Religious Freedom Bill.
In 1815-16, he was again honored with an election to the Legis- lature. After his removal to Lynn, his health recovered, so that at the ensuing conference, he received an appointment in Boston, for 1817-18. In 1819 he was readmitted into the conference and stationed at Lynn. The same year, he was elected a member of the state con- vention for revising the constitution of Massachusetts.
35
1494516
E. AND S. HULL.
He continued in the itinerant service till 1831, when he was called to the pastoral charge of the Seamen's Bethel at New Bedford, and continued to render excellent service till 1844, when he was prostrated by paralysis, and retired to his native town of Lynn, where he lingered till April 2, 1850, when he peacefully fell asleep.2
ELIAS HULL.
Elias Hull was received into the itinerancy at the conference at New London, Connecticut, July 15, 1795, and appointed with Enoch Mudge to Readfield Circuit, Maine. His name appears on the records of the quarterly conference ; the first two quarters. Afterwards the name of Aaron Humphrey appears in the place of Hull. No explanation is recorded of this change. At the ensuing conference, held at Thomp- son, Connecticut, September nineteenth, 1796, Hull was appointed to Penobscot, Maine ; but for reasons not given, he declined to go to his. appointment, and Enoch Mudge, who had been appointed to Bath, exchanged with Hull and went to Penobscot. Whether this exchange was made by episcopal authority, does not appear from the records. As Bath was the nearer and easier field of labor, these facts seem to indicate a lack of genuine itinerant heroism, and a fickleness of mind in Mr. Hull. At the conference for 1797, held at Wilbraham, Septem- ber 17th, Elias Hull was received in full, ordained Elder and appointed with Daniel Ostrander, to Boston and Needham Circuit.
The next year, while Asbury was on his way to the Readfield Conference, about the 12th of August, 1798, he " was grieved to learn that another was retreating from the itinerant legion, tired of its discomforts. Elias Hull, he tells us, was negotiating with a Congrega- tional church, for a comfortable settlement. In this he succeeded, but was subsequently expelled for drunkenness." 3
Elias Hull was settled over a Congregationalist church in Seabrook, New Hampshire I am told, " with much rum." I think he was re-ordained. He was an eloquent. preacher,-could preach without manuscript. The Congregationalists were greatly pleased with him at first, but his sun went down in darkness. The church was scattered ; and the old house stood for years, without any regular preaching. Liquor did it.
Some years ago the old house was fixed up, and is now in the hands of the Baptists.4
. STEPHEN HULL.
Stephen Hull, brother of Elias Hull, first appears in the minutes for 1796 as "continued on trial," and appointed to Greenwich. In 1797,
2 From Stevens' Memorials of Methodism.
3 Ibid. p. 340.
4 Letter of Reverend N. D. George to the writer.
:36 .
HULL. HALL. STONEMAN.
hic was received in full connexion, and appointed to Pomfret, Connecti- cut; 1798 to Greenwich ; 1799 to Needham.
His name appears upon the records of the Readfield circuit quarterly conference, held at Farmington, June 7th and 8th, 1796, as colleague of Aaron Humphrey, probably in place of his brother Elias. June 17th, the same year, Jesse Lee while on his way to conference, speaks of meeting the two Brothers Hull with Brother Baker at Falmouth.
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