CHAPTER IV. GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1800.

The General Conference of 1800 was one of the most remarkable in the history of our Church. The revival at that time was the greatest that has ever occurred during the session of any General Conference. I was a visitor, and had peculiar opportunities to witness the wonderful scenes that created joy on earth and in heaven. All the accounts we have had are extremely meager. As I have been preserved, while all who were actors in those scenes are gone, I will describe what I heard and saw at that time. Is it not generally known that the greatest displays of divine power and the most numerous conversions were in private houses, in prayer-meetings? And yet the preaching was highly honored of God, for the ministers were endued with power from on high. I kept in my journal a particular account of their texts and themes.

The General Conference commenced its session on Tuesday, May 6, in Light-street, Baltimore. All the General Conferences, from the famous Christmas conference to the first delegated conference, were held in Baltimore. Baltimore was a small place to what it is now. We then called it Baltimore town. The Methodists had two church edifices, one in Light-street, the other in Oldtown, which was in the suburbs. This was the first time I had ever seen a body of Methodist preachers; only now and then one who wended his way to my father’s neighborhood. The conference was then composed of all the traveling elders. The strong men of Methodism were there, and such a noble class of men I had never beheld. There were Philip Bruce, Jesse Lee, George Roberts, John Bloodgood, William P. Chandler, John M’Claskey, Ezekiel Cooper, Nicholas Snethen, Thomas Morrell, Joseph Totten, Lawrence M’Combs, Thomas F. Sargent, William Burke, William M’Kendree, and other prominent men. These were representative men who laid the broad foundations of Methodism east, west, north, and south. What a privilege to hear them debate, and listen to their sermons!

Such was the health of Bishop Asbury he thought of resigning; but the conference, in order to relieve him, authorized him to take an elder as a traveling companion. This the bishop did during the remainder of life. They elected Richard Whatcoat bishop, he having a majority of four votes over Jesse Lee. I witnessed the excitement attending the different ballotings. The first, no election; the second, a tie; the third, Richard Whatcoat was elected.

I will now make some extracts from my journal, written sixty-five years ago.

“Sabbath morning, May 11, 1800.—I heard Bishop Asbury preach in Light-street Church on the perfect law of liberty. He had great liberty in preaching, and multitudes as well as myself were blessed under the word. In the afternoon Rev. Thomas Lyell, on making our calling and election sure. There was preaching at four o’clock in two places on the streets, and several were converted. In the evening we had a prayer-meeting at Brother William Bruff’s. After we began to sing and pray the people crowded in till the house was filled, and the awakening and converting power of God was displayed. After the prayer-meeting was over we went to Oldtown meeting-house, singing the praises of God along the streets. This greatly surprised the people, and hundreds came running out of their houses and followed us till we reached the house of God. There were wonderful exhibitions of power as we went through the streets, and we entered the house singing and shouting the praises of God. Five were converted that evening. It was heaven in my soul and glory all around. On Monday evening we went to John Chalmers’s to prayer-meeting. It was a powerful meeting. God’s people prayed that sinners might be awakened and converted. Heaven heard their petitions, and twenty-four were converted to God that night. The meeting lasted till two o’clock the next morning. God was converting the people in three different rooms at the same time. I never saw such a night. Glory! glory!

“Tuesday, May 13. Numbers stayed at Brother Bruff’s over night, and the work of revival soon began. In the morning, Philip Bruce came to us and went to prayer, and the Lord answered and came in our midst. Some were crying for mercy, while others were leaping for joy. We then came down to Brother Price’s and began to sing, and some of the neighbors came in and we went to prayer. The Lord was there of a truth. Several were converted, and one who was in the class yesterday. This is a day of feasting. The Lord is at work in all parts of the town. There were six converted last night at the Point. Brother Chalmers preached a sermon at six o’clock at Brother Bruff’s, and two more were converted. In the evening went to Oldtown meeting, and God’s power was there, and several more were converted.

“Wednesday, 14. In the evening Brother Smith preached at Brother Bruff’s; many rejoiced in the God of their salvation. After that we went to Oldtown meeting, where Rev. John M’Claskey preached a powerful sermon. The Lord blessed his word: there were six converted. The children of darkness were very mad.

“Thursday, 15. Felt very weak, being up every night till after twelve o’clock; but it is in a good cause. Rested to-day at Brother Martin’s. In the evening went to Brother Bruff’s. At 5 o’clock Rev. Lawrence M’Combs preached. He impressed holiness upon the people. Many saw a great beauty in it. While he was preaching, one was converted; before the meeting broke up, two more were set at liberty. Old and young were leaping for joy. My soul, praise the Lord!

“Friday, 16. Spent the day in the Conference. The Lord is with the preachers of a truth. In the evening went to meeting again at Brother Bruff’s. Christopher Sprye preached a powerful sermon. After preaching the Lord began to work, and eighteen were converted that night. ‘Christ the Lord is come to reign.’

“Saturday, 17. Stayed last night at Brother Chalmers’s, at the Point. Heard Dr. Thomas F. Sargent preach from 2 Cor. vi, 1, ‘We then, as workers together with him,’ etc. He spoke with great liberty. Some were crying for mercy. This evening, at Brother Bruff’s, three were converted.

“Sunday, the 18th, was a great day in Baltimore among the Methodists. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas Coke, LL.D., in Light-street Church. Crowds at an early hour thronged the temple. The doctor preached from Rev. ii, 8, ‘And unto the angel of the Church at Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive,’ etc. After the sermon, which was adapted to the occasion, Richard Whatcoat was ordained a Bishop in the Church of God by the imposition of the hands of Dr. Coke and Bishop Asbury, assisted by several elders. Never were holy hands laid upon a holier head. In those days we went ‘out into the highways and hedges and compelled them to come in.’ That afternoon Jesse Lee preached in the market-house on Howard’s Hill, from John xvii, 3, ‘And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’ The Lord was there in a powerful manner. Several were converted; one in the evening at Brother Bruff’s.”

Jesse Lee makes the following record in his Journal: “The power of the Lord came down upon us while I was preaching, and the people wept and roared aloud and prayed most earnestly. Joseph Totten exhorted with life. Afterward several prayed with those who were under conviction.”

“On Monday, the 19th, Richard Sneath preached in the evening. Many came to hear the word of the Lord and were affected. After preaching we went to John Chalmers’s. We had a glorious time. Eight were converted, and about that number received the second blessing. The meeting was going on in three rooms; sinners were crying for mercy in each, and the glory of God filled the room as one after another passed from death unto life. This was a never-to-be-forgotten night. A shout of victory in one room inspired them in another. The meeting was continued with unabated interest until three o’clock the next morning.

“On Tuesday, the 20th, I heard the Rev. Jesse Lee preach at Brother Bruff’s. Many were powerfully wrought upon under the word. In those days he preached with unusual power and success. Several of the old fathers and mothers stayed here after preaching, and while they were talking about the goodness of God such a melting power came down that almost all who were present were melted into tears.

“Wednesday, 21. Yesterday Conference adjourned, and the preachers have parted and are going to different parts of the continent, having got a fresh spring from heaven. About five in the evening the young converts met together at Brother Bruff’s. Brother James Moore and several of the preachers were with us. We sung and prayed with them. The Lord was with us of a truth. Some of the sisters related their experience, which was rendered a great blessing to all who were present. It filled me with joy to see so many young people happy in God; some of them were strangers to God only a few days ago. At night we went to the Point; the power of God was among the people; many were crying for mercy, and four were converted to God. After meeting I went home with Brother Haskins.

“Thursday, May 22. Came up to Oldtown this morning. I am told there were seven souls converted last night at the upper end of the town in a prayer-meeting. The devil can’t stand the prayers of the faithful ones. It seems there was the most good done in the prayer-meetings. The Lord loves simplicity.”

Bishop Asbury writes only fifteen lines concerning this wonderful Conference. He says, “The unction that attended the word was great; more than one hundred souls professed conversion during the sitting of the Conference.” Bishop Whatcoat is still more brief. In nine lines he tells the story. “We had a most blessed time and much preaching, fervent prayers and strong exhortations through the city, while the high praises of a gracious God reverberated from street to street and from house to house. It was thought that not less than two hundred were converted during the Conference.”—Journal, p. 29. Jesse Lee’s account is also short: “Such a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord has not been felt in that town for some years.”—Lee’s History, p. 271.

During this Conference I became acquainted with many choice spirits, both among the ministry and laity; among the rest, Dr. Thomas Coke. I not only had the pleasure of hearing the doctor preach and make motions and speeches in the Conference, but also of dining with him and Bishop Asbury. The doctor was a short man, and rather corpulent. He had a beautiful face, and it was full of expression, a sweet smile often playing over his features. His eyes were dark and his look very piercing. His voice was soft and full of melody, unless raised to a very high pitch, and then it was harsh, discordant, and squeaking. His conversational powers were great. He was very entertaining. He did a noble work for American Methodism, and should ever be remembered with the liveliest sentiments of gratitude. He sleeps in the Indian Ocean, “till the sea give up its dead.”

Brother Bruff, at whose house such glorious meetings were held, and where so many souls were converted, was a most excellent man. He had married Catharine, sister of Harry Ennalls, of Dorchester; she was instrumental in introducing Methodism into that county. She was a sister to Governor Bassett’s first wife. Mrs. Bruff was a very superior woman; her Christian virtues shone with transcendent luster. She was very useful in that revival, as well as many other holy women whose names are in the Book of Life.

It will be seen that John Chalmers did a noble work. He joined the Conference in 1788, but had located. Years after, side by side, I fought with this veteran the battles of the Lord. I never knew a more courageous soldier, one that used sharper arrows, or had more splendid victories. We shall see more of him before we are through with this narrative.