CHAPTER XII. BALTIMORE AND PHILADELPHIA CONFERENCES, 1805—ST. MARTIN’S CIRCUIT.

Having a little ecclesiastical business, I attended the Baltimore Conference in Winchester, Va., on April 1, 1805. I was at Winchester in 1800 with my father, and in 1805 I was the guest of Simon Lauk, Jun., who was converted under my father’s labors in 1800. Mine host gave me a most cordial welcome, and my former colleague, Jacob Gruber, also was entertained there. He had been transferred to the Baltimore Conference, where he spent the remainder of his days.

Methodism was early introduced into Winchester. They had a house of worship there in 1800. Joseph and Christopher Frye were from this place. They were Germans, but not preaching in that language, soon lost the use of their native tongue.

On Sunday I heard four sermons: Brother William Page at eight in the morning, Bishop Asbury at eleven, Bishop Whatcoat at three in the afternoon, and James Hunter in the evening. The preaching was powerful, and the results were great.

This was the first time I was permitted to look upon the noble body of men that composed the Baltimore Conference. There were seventy-four preachers present. The conference was held in an upper room in the private house of Brother George Reed. The reason for this was that the Methodist church was occupied for preaching three times a day. There was quite a revival during the conference, and a number passed from death unto life. All but two or three of the preachers that were present have long since been in their sepulchers.⁠[9]

Here I had the privilege of seeing for the first time the Rev. William Watters. He was the first American Methodist traveling preacher. I was not only privileged to see him but to hear him preach. I still remember his appearance and his theme. He preached on the “Christian armor,” and I was perfectly delighted while he described, as I never heard before, the various parts of that armor and their uses. He showed that the armor was not only defensive but offensive; that we must carry the war into the enemies’ camp. The sermon was delivered with great unction, and many resolved under it to be valiant for the truth; to conquer, and then share in the rewards of victory.

At this conference I first saw and heard Robert R. Roberts, afterward one of our bishops. He was then a homespun looking man, plainly and coarsely dressed, and yet his personal appearance and preaching attracted considerable attention. He had not then graduated to elder’s orders. I heard him preach from 1 Cor. i, 31: “He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.” The sermon was able and eloquent, showing great pulpit power. This was Mr. Roberts’s first sermon at an annual conference. Bishop Asbury heard it with great admiration, and he determined to bring the young preacher forward and give him a more prominent appointment. In 1809 he was appointed to Baltimore, and then to Philadelphia, and so he rose step by step until he reached the episcopal office.

Most honorable mention I make in my journal of this conference, of its peace and harmony, of the largeness of the congregations, of the faithfulness of the preaching, and of the souls converted. In returning from this conference I had the company of James Hunter and Henry Smith. Where we stayed over night we went into the woods, and there we wrestled and prayed together for a deeper baptism of love. Heaven met us in the grove, and we felt it none other than God’s own house and heaven’s gate. After riding together three days we separated.

I knew Henry Smith’s father. He resided not far from Winchester. I was at his house in 1800 with my father. Mr. Smith, the aged, belonged to the United Brethren, having been converted at one of Mr. Otterbein’s meetings at Antietam previous to 1789. Both the Methodists and the United Brethren used to preach at his house.

The Philadelphia Conference met on May 1, 1805, in Chestertown, Md., in the court-house, that we might occupy the meeting-house for preaching. My father and Brother Thomas Burch accompanied me to conference. On our way we attended a quarterly meeting at North East. On Saturday Brother Colbert preached in the morning, and Anning Owen in the evening. Freeborn Garrettson preached on Sunday morning a most profitable discourse, and he again preached at Elkton at five o’clock. This was the first time I heard him.

The next day we reached Chestertown, and Brother Thomas Burch and I were kindly entertained at Friend Pope’s. My father having been present when I was ordained deacon, was desirous to see me invested with full ministerial powers. Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat were both present. Alas, it was the last time we ever beheld the venerable form of Richard Whatcoat presiding in the Philadelphia Conference.

Bishop Whatcoat ordained seven deacons, and after an impressive sermon from Bishop Asbury from Luke iii, 4, 6, “All flesh shall see the salvation of God,” six of us were ordained elders in the Church of God: James Aikins, James Polhemus, John Wiltbank, Asa Smith, Benjamin Iliff, and Henry Boehm. I can almost feel the hands of the sainted Asbury as well as of the elders still resting on my head, and hear the echoes of his voice saying, “The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Ghost for the office and work of an elder in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands,” etc.

My parchments I have preserved as carefully as if diamonds, the first bearing the signature of Richard Whatcoat, the other of Francis Asbury. I was ordained a deacon on May 4, 1803, at Cross Roads, and an elder on May 5, 1805. I was licensed to preach in Pennsylvania, ordained a deacon in Delaware, and an elder in Maryland. Except myself, those who were ordained at this conference have long since gone to rest. Benjamin Iliff was the first that fell at his post. I used to preach at his father’s house in Bucks County, below Easton, when on Bristol Circuit. With Benjamin I took sweet counsel, and together we walked to the house of God in company. I little thought as we stood at the altar taking the vows of God upon us that my friend and brother would die before he reached his appointment. Twenty-four days from that Sabbath he rested from his labors. He was a good man and a good preacher. His last words were: “I have lost sight of the world; come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”

James Polhemus was a pious man, and died in 1827, and was interred at Woodrow Chapel on Staten Island, where Joseph Totten is sleeping, and where I expect to myself.

James Aikins was an Irishman. He came to this country in 1792, and was converted in Pennsylvania. He died of cancer at Haverstraw in 1823. He was aware that he was dying, and said to the family with which he was staying, “I shall die here. God called me into the ministry, and he has called me out of it. Medical aid cannot save me.”

John Wiltbank was a man of moderate talents. He located in 1813, and died many years ago, and was buried at Dover.

Asa Smith was useful, but he was very boisterous in preaching, sometimes forgetting that bodily exercise profiteth but little. He died in New Jersey several years ago.

I was appointed to St. Martin’s Circuit with James Ridgeway. I left the mountains and hills of Dauphin to travel again on the Peninsula. This was a part of Annamessex Circuit that I had previously traveled.

After visiting my native place I entered upon my interesting field of labor. Returning I attended a quarterly meeting in Barratt’s Chapel. William P. Chandler was the presiding elder, and our quarterly and camp-meetings were great occasions. The first meeting was held at Snow Hill. Samuel Porter, father of Rev. John S. Porter, D.D., was a most prominent man on the circuit. He was a steward and class-leader, and his house a preaching place. Mr. Asbury greatly admired him, and makes most honorable mention of him in his journal. Arthur and Ezekiel Williams were brothers, and both local preachers. They lived near the head of the Sound. The Sound Meeting-house was built in 1785. Freeborn Garrettson introduced Methodism here, and through him the Williamses were converted. Arthur was one of the best local preachers I ever knew. He was a sound divine, an evangelical preacher, a thorough Methodist. He was wise in counsel. When I obtained his advice in a critical or difficult case I felt secure. I loved to throw myself under his wing.

Arthur Williams had several children, and his wife began to be seriously exercised about their salvation. They were moral and amiable; but, alas! they had no religion. While Mr. Williams was attending an appointment some distance off she prayed with the family, as was her custom when he was away. While she was wrestling with the angel of the covenant on behalf of her children, their hearts were melted into tenderness as they saw the anxiety of their mother on their behalf. Some began to sigh, and others to cry and pray for mercy. Several were converted that night, and when the father came home there was wonderful rejoicing. In a little while they were all converted.

I received a letter from Bishop Asbury requesting me to meet him at my father’s. I did so. On Sunday he preached at Boehm’s Chapel from 2 Thess. i, 2-10, on the second coming of Christ. The unction of the Holy One rested on him. The sermon was delivered with great life and power, and there was a melting time under the word. Joseph Crawford traveled with him then. The next day they started for the Western Conference, and I for my circuit.

On Friday we went to the Bethel, where Lorenzo Dow had an appointment. He took no text, but discoursed on “The Character of a Gentleman.” He gave the deists no quarters. Then he spoke clearly and feelingly upon justification by faith and sanctification. We then accompanied him to the “Union Meeting-House,” on Duck Creek Circuit, where he preached from “Watchman, what of the night,” etc. His theme was the signs of the times. It was a time of great power; there were a thousand people present. Dow had traveled all night, and until ten o’clock the next morning, before he reached Bethel. As soon as he had finished his sermon he jumped out of the window, back of the pulpit, and mounting his horse rode seventeen miles to “Union;” then to Duck Creek Cross Roads, where he preached from “Many are called, but few are chosen.” His powers of endurance must have been great, for he rode eighty miles and had five meetings without sleep.

Dow was then an Evangelist. He was irregular, eccentric, and yet powerful. He had acquired the title of “Crazy Dow.” The preachers were divided in opinion concerning him. Some gave out his appointments, and others would not. John M’Claskey absolutely refused; he said, “I give out no appointments for him, for I have nothing to do with Lorenzo Dow.”

I heard him preach several years after in Camden, N. J., and came to the conclusion that the Lorenzo Dow I heard then was not the Lorenzo Dow I heard in 1805. He was like the sun under an eclipse, or like Samson after he lost the locks of his strength.

Previous to the session of the Philadelphia Conference in 1806, Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat made a short tour through the Peninsula. I had the privilege of accompanying them, and heard them preach. The fifth of April we met them at Snow Hill, which was on my circuit. I felt a thrill of delight in seeing them again. They went a journey of five hundred and fifty miles to visit the Churches and preach after they left Baltimore.

Bishop Asbury preached at Snow Hill, from Heb. iii, 12, 13: the caution “not to depart from the living God,” and the duty to “exhort one another daily.” Notwithstanding the rain fell in torrents, crowds came to listen. Thence we went to Broadkilltown, Delaware, where the bishop preached on Christian steadfastness, from 1 Cor. xv, 6-8; then to Milford, where he held forth on the form and power of godliness: 2 Tim. iii, 5.

Thence we hurried on to Dover with the afflicted Bishop Whatcoat. He was taken with a severe fit of the gravel, and suffered most intense agony. We did not know but he would die on the road. Bishop Whatcoat remained at the house of Hon. Richard Bassett, while Bishop Asbury went on to meet the Philadelphia Conference. Here these great-hearted, noble-souled, true yoke-fellows, who had known each other in England, met in class together when boys, who had traveled all over the mountains and valleys of this country in pursuit of the lost sheep of the House of Israel, looked upon each other’s faces for the last time. How touching the scene of the separation of those patriarchs, whose hearts had beat responsive to the other for so many years!