USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 8
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A new theology is fast gaining ground, especially in Congregational churches, The strongholds of New England orthodoxy are invaded by rationalistic speculation. Eminent theologians of the Calvinistic school are beginning to look to the Methodist church for the "con- servation of orthodoxy." Methodist ministers, with their Arminianism undisguised, are installed as pastors of Congregational churches.
Methodism has yet an important providential mission. No church in America is in a condition to offer so effectual a defense against Romanism on the one hand, and rationalism on the other, as the Methodist Episcopal church.
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REV. PAUL COFFIN'S CRITICISMS.
It was not strange that the early Methodist itincrants, none of whom were favored with collegiate advantages, should be regarded with disdain by the settled clergy, who were college graduates.
Reverend Paul Coffin was settled as pastor of the Congregational church in Narraganset (Buxton) in 1763, and remained in that office over sixty years. IIc was a graduate of Harvard college, and in 1812 received the degrec of D.D. He was educated in the Calvinistic belief, but in a few years after his ordination, he adopted Unitarian sentiments, and became so strongly opposed to Trinitarian theology that he would not allow Watt's doxologics to be sung in his congregation.
Mr. Coffin for several years made an annual missionary tour through the interior of Maine, and left in his diary a record of his journeys and observations, which are published in the fourth volume of the Collections of the Maine Historical Society.
Mr. Coffin's travels were, to a considerable extent, in the route of Jesse Lee. He came in contact with the Methodist itinerants, and with the Baptists, whom he denounced in severe terms, and of whom he does not record an approving word. A few extracts will show his estimate of the Methodists and Baptists :
" June 23, 1796, Phillips Gore, (Otisfield). Heard Mr. Stephen Hall, (Hull,) the Methodist. The whole discourse was juvenile ; not accurate or instructive, either in language or sentiment."
"June 25, 1796, Paris. Here is a predestinarian society of Baptists, under a Mr. Hooper."
"June 27, 1796. Heard the same Mr. Hall, (Hull,) from Isaiah 40 :31 ; a very lean discourse from an excellent text."
" October 11, 1796, Lewiston. Mr. Merritt preached from John 3 :16 ; a very singular sermon. I told him his sermon was very empty."
According to all other accounts of Timothy Merritt's sermons, they were far from being "empty." Mr. Merritt had courteously given up his appointment to accommodate Mr. Coffin on the previous evening. He was entitled, at least, to common politeness in return.
Mr. Coffin continues his statements in this style throughout the whole of his journeys, without a word of approval. He is equally severe in his criticisms of the Baptist ministers, some of whom he charges with immoral practices.
Mr. Coffin records his objections to the Methodists in a formal manner, under the head of, " Some Remarks on the Methodists.
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METHODIST ITINERANTS. SUCCESSFUL PREACHERS.
" I. They seem to view themselves as apostles to all the world, and yet preach to christians only.
"II. They make many and injurious divisions among christians.
" III. They license men to preach who are almost totally void of all ministerial qualifications.
"IV. They seem to be enthusiastic, and to make conversions out of deceived imaginations."
And so on to number XI, all in similar style.
The publication of Mr. Coffin's journal, without considerable elimination, in the Collections of the Maine Historical Society, is a gross impropriety, much more damaging to the memory of the venerable pastor of Buxton, than to the reputation of the ministers and people whose character he so severely assails. Mr. Coffin's journal was evidently not designed for publication. It is valuable only as affording an illustration of the intolerant spirit of the times in which the writer lived.
It is not claimed for the early Methodist itinerants that they were highly educated, as this term is used. They made no pretension to high literary culture. They may sometimes have been "rude in speech," regardless of grammatical rules, and as Mr. Coffin says "enthusiastic." The meetings of the Methodists were probably more demonstrative than the strict rules of propriety would allow ; but some measure of exuberant joy may be pardoned in those who had been delivered from the influence of a dismal fatalistic theology and brought into the liberty of the sons of God. Extravagance in religion is less unseemly than a cold and lifeless formalism.
However deficient in literary culture, the early Methodist preachers were generally men of good common sense. They were careful students of the bible, and able defenders of their doctrinal views and their ecclesiastical system. And judged by their success, they were not inferior to any equal number of any other religious denomination in Maine, at that time. Jesse Lee, Enoch Mudge, John Broadhead, Joshua Taylor, Timothy Merritt and Nicholas Snethen, were no ordinary men. They would have been brilliant lights in any religious denomination.
The standing order in Maine, both of the Calvinistic and so called Arminian wing, was strongly opposed to the Methodists. The preachers of this order were well educated and generally excellent men. From their point of observation the doctrines of Methodism were radically heretical ; its organization anti-republican, and its
60
METIIODISM SUCCESSFUL IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION.
ministers illiterate enthusiasts, obtruding themselves into other ministers' fields of labor. The settled ministers, therefore, felt them- selves in duty bound to warn their people against all such intruders, and to "banish and drive away all such strange and erroneous doctrines."
Many years passed before Methodist preachers, in Maine, were treated with fraternal courtesy by the settled ministers or by their people, and before Methodist churches were deemed worthy of brotherly recognition.
This spirit of uncompromising opposition compelled the early Methodist preachers to defend their doctrines and usages with argument. Their preaching, of necessity, took on a controversial style, and generally carried conviction to the judgment of their hearers. Many of them, though with meagre literary advantages, were fully a match for their liberally educated opponents.
The determined opposition to Methodism did not prevent its growth. In the Astor library in New York, it is said there are more than six hundred volumes against Methodism. But Methodism, without stopping to notice these numerous assaults, has swept on, until it has become the strongest Protestant church in America.
So Methodism in Maine, though the youngest religious denomination in the state, has become numerically the strongest.
The old controversies have ceased. The evangelical churches of Maine have come into friendly relations, and in their annual conventions mutual greetings are cordially exchanged.
Thus the New Jerusalem is beginning to come down from heaven to earth.
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METHODISM IN MAINE.
CHAPTER VI.
1800-1803. METHODISM IN MAINE. THE MEMBERSHIP IN MAINE. GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1800. IMPORTANT MEASURES. SALARIES OF PREACHERS. SUPPORT OF THE BISHOPS. ELECTION OF RICHARD WHATCOAT. THIE CONFERENCES ALLOWED TO SIT ONE WEEK. PLACES OF THE MEETING DETERMINED BY THE CONFERENCES. TIME FIXED BY THE BISHOP. QUARTERLY MEETING CONFERENCES. IN ABSENCE OF A BISHOP. A PRESIDING ELDER MAY PRESIDE AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The XXII ARTICLE OF RELIGION CHANGED, SLAVERY. SUSPENSION OF STRINGENT RULES. SHARP DISCUSSION BETWEEN DR. COKE AND JESSE LEE. RULES RELATING TO SLAVE HOLDERS MODIFIED. CONFERENCE AT LYNN. APPOINTMENTS TO MAINE. LEE VISITS MAINE. DEDICATES MEETING-HOUSE AT KENT'S HILL. LEE'S JOURNEY TO PENOBSCOT AND BACK TO KENNEBEC, SANDY RIVER, ANDROSCOGGIN, WHITE MOUNTAINS, &C. 1801, CONFERENCE AT LYNN. APPOINTMENTS IN MAINE. STATISTICS. 1802, CONFERENCE IN MONMOUTH. BISHOP ASBURY'S JOURNEYS. GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION FROM THE SOUTH FOR THE PREACHERS OF NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE. APPOINTMENTS FOR MAINE. STATISTICS. 1803, CONFERENCE IN BOSTON. STATISTICS. APPOINTMENTS IN MAINE.
Methodism in Maine entered upon the nineteenth century, so thoroughly organized and so well established, as to afford encouraging promise of a permanent and prosperous life.
Maine formed one district of the New England Conference, Joshua Taylor, Presiding Elder. There were six circuits, served by nine traveling preachers. The entire membership in the Province this year was one thousand one hundred and ninety-seven, and the entire membership in the United States was sixty-four thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.
The third General Conference was held this year in Baltimore, commencing May 6, 1800, and continuing till the 20th of the same month. This General Conference was one of the most remarkable in the history of the church. A revival was in progress during the entire session, in which a hundred persons were converted. The business was less varied and perplexing than in the session of that body in later years. The early session of the Conference was more like a protracted revival meeting than is possible with the General Conference of more recent times.
Several important measures were adopted. The most important was the election of a new Bishop. The work had been rapidly increasing, while Bishop Asbury's health had been declining. Some
62
WHATCOAT ELECTED BISHOP. J. LEE. SALARIES.
relief from his heavy responsibilities was evidently necessary. After considering various plans, it was at length decided to elect a new Bishop, with equal authority. Two candidates for this office were proposed ; Jesse Lee and Richard Whatcoat. Mr. Lee was well and favorably known, North and South, as a man of great energy and force of character, deep piety, and superior ability as a preacher.
Mr. Whatcoat was one of the ministers whom Wesley ordained as Deacon and Elder, and sent over to this country with Dr. Coke in 1784. He was a man of deep piety, a faithful minister of the gospel, of great meekness and modesty, of grace, and dignified deportment.
Each candidate had warm friends. At the first ballot, there was no choice ; at the next ballot, Whatcoat had a majority of four votes. The result of this ballot could not fail somewhat to disturb the mind of Mr. Lee, not so much that he was not elected, as that his election was defeated by a false and damaging rumor, that "Mr. Asbury was anxious to get rid of him." He traced the story to its source. Mr. Asbury denied its truth, in open Conference, and earnestly requested Mr. Lee to accompany him in his journey, and aid him in his work. Thus vindicated, Mr. Lee went on in his career of active labor, On Sunday, May 18, the day on which Mr. Whatcoat was ordained, while multitudes were thronging the churches, Mr. Lee thought of the multitude outside, and at five o'clock went to the Market House and preached a most effectual sermon from John XVII :3, " And this is life eternal, that they might know thee," &c. He preached as if his heart, as well as his lips, were touched by a live coal from the altar of the upper temple. He was afterwards informed that seven souls were awakened by the sermon and brought to God.1
Other important measures were adopted by this Conference. The salaries of traveling preachers were increased from sixty-four dollars to eighty dollars, and the same for a wife or widow, the allowance for children remaining the same as previously ; and the rule was repealed requiring a report of all donations given by friends.
In 1816, the salary was increased to one hundred dollars. The rule upon this subject was modified, from time to time, till the General Conference of 1856, when all restrictions were removed, and the whole subject of salaries of preachers was referred to the several Quarterly Conferences. Provision was also made at the General Conference of 1800, for the support of the Bishops by apportionment to each annual ' Conference. The discipline was elaborately revised, section by section. The Bishops were required to allow the annual Conferences to sit, at
1 Life of Lee by L. M. Lee, p. 379.
+
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SLAVERY. DR. COKE AND LEE.
least, a week. They still could appoint the times, but not the places, of the sessions.
The pastoral term was limited to two years in the same appointment.
The title "Quarterly Meeting Conference " was given to the quarterly assembly of the official members of the circuits. Provision was made for the election of a Presiding Elder to preside in an annual Conference in the absence of a Bishop.
Article XXII, of the Articles of Religion, was so changed as to strike out all references to "The General Act of Confederation," and to recognize the United States as a " Sovereign and independent Nation."
The subject of slavery was discussed. No member of the Conference either from the North or South, was disposed to regard slavery other than a great evil ; they differed only as to the means for its removal. The laws of the slave holding states forbidding emancipation, it was thought, rendered it impracticable to enforce the stringent rules of the discipline upon slave owners. These rules were, therefore, somewhat modified. Mr. Lee, though brought up in the midst of slavery, regarded the system as a great evil, and he was never the owner of a slave. Still, he did not approve the measures adopted by the General Conference for the removal of this evil. Such was found to be the difficulties of enforcing these stringent rules, especially in Virginia, that, in consideration of " the peculiar circumstances " of the societics in that state, the Conference, by special enactment, granted them two years exemption from the pains and penalties of the New Term of Communion.
"It was in this crisis, when a truce had been proclaimed, that when, in the course of Conference business, the subject of slavery in connexion with the recent legislation of the General Conference was introduced, Dr. Coke could no longer hold his peace. He must bear testimony against slavery, and the testimony had no soft, mincing words with which to garnish over a condition of things which he regarded as an intolerable and uncompounded evil.
"Both Dr. Coke and Mr. Lee were honest, pious and warm hearted. They differed not so much in their opinion of the evil of slavery, as to the measures for its removal. Mr. Lce opposed the attempt to carry out the rules and provisions of the General Conference, and in a forcible manner pointed out the disastrous effects of pressing the subject of emancipation upon people not now in favor of it, and the injurious effects of these measures already, upon the religious interests of the people. Dr. Coke conceived that Mr. Lee was opposed to the
64
CONFERENCE AT DUCK CREEK.
rules of the General Conference, for reasons that amounted to a justification of slavery ; and as he could not conceive how any friend of religion could support a system so full of enormity, in his judgment, he urged it as an objection to the passage of Mr. Lee's character. To this allegation Mr. Lee promptly replied ; and while defending himself from the injustice of the accusation, he was interrupted by his opponent iu a manner so imperious and rude that his Virginia blood was stirred, and feelings were engendered and words uttered by both that a christian can truly regret, but may not defend. Dr. Coke discovered that he had erred in the accusation and the interruption, and with a frankness peculiar to himself, he apologized for his conduct, and peace and kindly feelings were soon restored." 2
The law, in its modified form, still frowned severely upon the slave traffic and upon slave holding, but admitted of some exceptions. Coke and Asbury were bitterly opposed to slavery, and no one, North or South, pretended to justify the system. The good men then in Conference grappled with the monster evil, but they failed to strangle it.
After the adjournment of the General Conference, May 20th, 1800, Jesse Lee proceeded to the Conference at Duck Creek, at which he acted as Secretary. During the five days of the session " one hundred and fifty souls professed to experience converting grace." He then proceeded to Wilmington, his mind, as he journeyed, filled with forvent meditation. "My soul was on the wing," he writes, "and I mounted higher and higher by faith and love toward heaven." It was not surprising, therefore, that while he was preaching at Wilmington, "there was a great shaking among the dry bones." The Conference commenced at New York Thursday, June 19, 1800, Bishop Asbury presiding. Mr. Lec preached in the evening of that day in the old church, probably John Street church, from Luke 9 :10. He addressed himself mostly to the ministers. " It was a time of weeping amongst the preachers," writes Lee.
On Saturday, the 21st, the Bishop put the following note into his hands. "Jesse Lee is appointed to act as an assistant to the Bishops, at the yearly Conferences, and to aid the book interest in every part of the continent where he goes." In reply to this note, he wrote to the Bishops that he did not feel altogether at liberty to take the appointment, or to travel at large ; but if he had any choice, it was, after making a visit to the East, to take a single circuit. The Bishops
2 Memoirs of Lee by L. M. Lee.
65
APPOINTMENTS IN MAINE. LEE IN MAINE.
seem to have couseuted to this arrangement. Accordingly Mr. Lee started ou his eastward journey toward the seat of the New England Conference, that year at Lynn, July 17, Bishop Whatcoat presiding, Ralph Willistou. Secretary.
The appointments for Maiuc were as follows :
Joshua Taylor, Presiding Elder. Portland, Asa Heath.
Norridgewock, Daniel Webb.
Readfield, Epahras Kibby and
Union River, Joshua Soule.
Comfort C. Smith.
Penobscot, John Gove. Bethel, Joseph Baker.
Members iu Maiue : Bath and Union, 172; Norridgewock, 166 ; Penobscot, 213 ; Portland, 230; Readfield, 310; Union River, 105. Total, 1,197 ; increase, 80. Members in the Methodist Episcopal church, 64,894; increase, 3,544. Preachers iu the Methodist Episcopal church, 287 ; increase, 15.
After the adjournment of the Conference, Mr. Lee continued his journey eastward.
Tuesday, July 29, 1800, he again visits the Province of Mainc. "After a long ride," he stopped at Deacon Clark's tavern, in Wells ; and the next day proceeded to the interior of the state, preaching as he went, to large congregations.
Wednesday, August 6th, 1800, he rode from Monmouth to Kent's Hill, and preached in the new meeting-house to a large eougregation of attentive hearers. This is presumed to have been the dedicatory sermon. He felt . much assisted in preaching." Hc detained " the local preachers and exhorters, and drew a plan for them to hold meetings on the Sabbath."
From this time, the route of Mr. Lee is briefly sketched, mostly without dates : "Hallowell, New Milford (Alna), Bristol, Union, Belfast, np the Penobscot to Orrington." Monday, August 18, 1800, he " swam his horse across the Penobscot river," and preached in the gallery of the Hampden meeting-house, (the lower part of the house not being finished,) at three o'clock, from Luke 7:50, and took his leave of the people. Tuesday, the 19th, he rode to Twenty-five Mile Pond, arriving at John Chase's at three o'clock ; and at four o'clock he preached ; "had a happy time." August 20th. rode to " Fort Halifax " (Winslow), Norridgewock, Seven Mile Brook (Ansou), up Sandy river to Strong, Farmingtou, Jay, up the Androscoggin river, by Bethel. north of the White Mountains, to Upper Coos. September 6th, "we set ont carly and rode to the Connecticut, at
5
APPOINTMENTS IN MAINE.
CONFERENCE IN MONMOUTH.
Northumberland meeting-house." There he left his traveling con- panion and rode down the river, passing on through Vermont, towards New York city.
The labors of the preachers in Maine this year, are very imperfectly recorded, except as they may be inferred from the appointments and statistical returns in the minutes of Conference, and the biographical sketches of Taylor, Merritt, Hubbard, Heath and Kibby. It is certain from these records, that they were faithful toilers in their hard field of labor.
1801. The New England Conference, this year, met at Lynn, July 17, Bishop Whatcoat, presiding ; Ralph Williston, Secretary.
The appointments for Maine were as follows :
Province of Maine District, Ralph Williston, Presiding Elder.
Penobscot, Joseph Baker.
Union,3 Nathan Emery.
Portland, Reuben Hubbard.
Norridgewock, Aaron Humphrey.
Readfield, Asa Heath and Oliver Bethel, John Gove.
Beale.
Bath and Union, Timothy Merritt and Comfort C. Smith.
Members in Maine, 1,386 ; increase, 189. Entire membership of the Methodist Episcopal church, 72,874; increase, 7,978. Preachers in the Methodist Episcopal church, 307 ; increase, 20.
1802. This year was memorable to the church in Maine, for the session of the New England Conference in Monmouth, which com- menced Tuesday, July 1st, Asbury and Whatcoat, presiding ; Joshua Taylor, Secretary.
The Conference was held in the public house of Sewell Prescott, which house is still standing near the academy. This place, rather than the meeting-house, was selected for the Conference session, probably because it was near the boarding places of the preachers.
The following is Bishop Asbury's account of his journey to this place, and of the Conference :
District of Maine, Tuesday, June 29, 1802. We stopped at Falmouth and within sight of Portland. Although we rode thirty miles, I was obliged to preach ; my subject was, 2 Timothy IV :7, "I have fought a good fight," &c. Wednesday, 30. We had a racking ride of about forty-five miles to Monmouth ; our breakfast we took at Gray, and dinner with Mr. Bradbury at New Gloucester. Thursday, July 1. Our Conference continued three days. We held it in the upper room of Sewall Prescott's house. We had fifteen members and nine probationers. The married preachers who came deficient to our Conference, received about oue hundred and twenty dollars; the single brethren, about sixty-two dollars, and the probationers a small donation of two dollars each, which
3 Probably Union River.
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ASBURY. APPOINTMENTS IN MAINE.
came from far.4 We had three sermons. The whole of my doing was to read two letters, exhort a little and examine the deacons, Samuel Hillman, John Gove, Gilman Moody and Joseph Baker, whom Brother Whatcoat ordained.
The business of our Conference was concluded iu great peace and order. I can rejoice, that by supplies from Baltimore and New York Conferences, added to those of the District of Maine and Boston, we have a goodly number of faithful, zealous young men. In seven Conferences, we have taken upon trial sixty-seven probationers.
Sunday, July 4. We coucluded with a love feast, sacrament, and the ordination of five elders, to wit: Comfort Smith, Epaphras Kibby, Daniel Webb, Asa Heath and Reuben Hubbard. They kneeled outside the door of the house aud received the imposition of hands from myself and the elders present. May they open the door of the church of God in discipline, and the way to heaven by preaching the gospel. Five sermons were preached through the day. The women chiefly occupied the inside, while the men stood without. It was an open time, and some felt the word. Of the multitude congregated on the occasion, allowed to be between two and three thousand, we hope many went away profited.
Monday, July 5, Bishops Asbury, Whatcoat and others, left. Monmouth, on their return west.5
The following were the appointments for Maine :
Ralph Williston, Presiding Elder. Falmouth, Asa Heath and
Norridgewock, Nathan Emery and Nehemiah Coye.
Oliver Hall.
Poland, Philip Munger.
Bethel, Daniel Jones.
Readfield, Joseph Snelling and Samuel Hillman.
Union, Joseph Baker and Daniel Ricker.
Penobscot, Asa Pattie.
Hallowell, Comfort C. Smith and Aaron Humphrey.
Union River, Alfred Metcalf and William Goodhue.
One district; ten circuits ; eighteen preachers. Members, 1,414 ; increase, 28. Members in the Methodist Episcopal church, 86,734 ; increase, 13,860. Preachers in the Methodist Episcopal church, 358 ; increase, 51. Of the preachers in Maine, the names of eight appear for the first time. Of those eighteen preachers, eight were young men just received on trial, in Conference, and not ordained ; and they had been in the itinerant service but one year. It was Asbury's policy to send young men to the frontier, as to a rough training school, -a somewhat doubtful policy, to so large an extent.
1803. The New England Conference was held in Boston, com- mencing the second Thursday in June, Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat presiding ; Joshua Taylor, Secretary.
4 The money distributed, was contributed by friends mostly in the Baltimore and Virginia Conferences.
5 Asbury's Journal, III, pp. 72-3.
Bath, Timothy Merritt and Joel Wicker.
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APPOINTMENTS IN MAINE.
The appointments for Maine were as follows :
Presiding Elder, Joshua Taylor.
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