CHAPTER XXI. NORTHERN TOUR—VIRGINIA AND BALTIMORE CONFERENCES.

On Monday, January 2, 1809, we left for the Virginia Conference. In crossing Cashaway Ferry we just escaped drowning. It was most providential. We were oft in perils on the land and on the water. Part of our journey was on a muddy road, through a forlorn-looking tract of marshy country. No wonder Bishop Asbury said in reference to it, “My limbs, my patience, and my faith have been put to a severe trial.”

Fayetteville was one hundred and thirty miles from Camden, the route we took. “We had a cold, fatiguing ride, especially for Father Asbury, who certainly is astonishingly supported under almost incredible toil for a man upward of sixty-three, amid perpetual exertion of body and mind and constant affliction.” So I wrote fifty-five years ago, when I witnessed him in labors more abundant, and his martyr sufferings which he bore with a martyr spirit.

The Virginia Conference for 1809 met in Tarborough on February 1. This was my introduction to the Virginia Methodist preachers, and a fine body of men they were; and it was Bishop M’Kendree’s first visit to them as superintendent. Virginia was dear to him as his native state and his spiritual birthplace, and the scenes of his early itinerant labors. There were eighty-four preachers present, and only three of them married. It was properly called the “Bachelor” Conference. We also had bachelor bishops. Bishop Asbury was delighted with the appearance of the men. He said, “Many of them are the most elegant young men I have ever seen in features, body, and mind; they are manly, and yet meek.”

I had an opportunity of hearing their great preachers, and seeing how they transacted business. Indeed, I was honored with preaching the first sermon at eleven o’clock the day the conference commenced. My text was Prov. xviii, 10. I felt as if I was talking before giants. Hilliard Judge, a visitor from South Carolina Conference, preached from Job xxi, 15, “What is the Almighty,” etc. Jesse Lee followed with a powerful exhortation. The work of God revived, and souls were converted.

On Friday afternoon at three o’clock we enjoyed a rich treat. Bishop M’Kendree preached an ordination sermon from 2 Tim. ii, 15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God,” etc. It was attended with great unction. Thirteen deacons were ordained, among them John Early, now one of the bishops of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jesse Lee preached on Sunday in the court-house one of his ingenious sermons from Deut. xxix, 29, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God,” etc. He said if the Lord has been so kind as to intrust his secrets to any, those who revealed them treated the Lord unkindly. He left the “secret things” with God, where they belonged. Then he dwelt largely and forcibly upon “revealed” things: the subject of redemption as revealed to us by the prophets of the Old Testament and the evangelists and apostles of the new, and showed they belong to us with all their benefits, and are not confined to us, but extend to our children. There was a melting time under this sermon. In the afternoon Jesse Lee preached again from Heb. vii, 12, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change of the law.” He gave us some fine thoughts on the necessity of the change of priesthood, and the necessity there was of a change in the ceremonial law, and the advantages of such a change. He was plain, practical, and powerful. There was a great stir among the people, and a number sought and found the Lord. In the evening Thomas L. Douglass preached a great sermon on the value of the human soul and the danger of its loss. He was one of the great men of Methodism, and at that time one of the pillars of the Virginia Conference.

On Monday I preached again from Matt. xi, 28, 29. On Tuesday I heard Philip Bruce from Matt. v, 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” A sweet sermon on Christian purity. He was a charming man as well as a charming preacher. He went through Virginia and Carolina like a flame of fire and of love.

We had a cold uncomfortable ride from Tarboro’ to Harrisonburg, Va., the seat of the Baltimore Conference. We reached Norfolk on Saturday. Methodism was early introduced into this place by Robert Williams; indeed he was the Apostle of Methodism in Virginia. He arrived in this country before Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor. Mr. Pilmoor also did early service in this place to the cause of truth.

On Tuesday we reached Petersburgh and stayed with Edward Lee, a brother of Jesse Lee, and father of Rev. Leroy M. Lee of the Virginia Conference.

We also stayed one night with a man by the name of Bradly, who had just been converted. There was something very singular about his conversion. He was home alone one Sabbath reading his prayer-book, when as sudden as lightning he was awakened, dropped his prayer-book, and fell on his knees and prayed without a book for the Lord to have mercy on his soul. Heaven heard his prayer and forgave him. He had a number of race-horses when converted. These he parted with at once, for old things had passed away and all things become new.

On Saturday we reached Richmond and stayed over the Sabbath, preaching there and at Manchester. We were glad to see our early friend, Archibald Foster, who had been a traveling preacher for several years. He was originally from Ireland. He married the daughter of old Mr. Hynson, the founder of Hynson’s Chapel, in Kent County, Maryland. I formed his acquaintance in 1802. His family was given to hospitality.

Methodism had to struggle hard for an existence in Richmond. It was long an up-hill business. The first society was formed in 1793. They early preached in the court-house, but were turned out on account of their noise. Then a noble woman by the name of Parrott fitted up a large room for preaching in her barn or stable. Here Asbury and M’Kendrick preached at an early day.

Thomas Lyell was stationed here in 1799, and he was unboundedly popular, and succeeded in building a church. This is the house in which Mr. Asbury preached his last sermon.

Stith Mead was stationed at Richmond. He was one of the purest and most zealous men in our connection; a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost. He preached to the prisoners in the Penitentiary, and the word of God was quick and powerful; and there was a great revival, and he formed classes of the converted prisoners. They used to pray in their rooms and sing, and make the old walls ring with their shouts of praise. I went with him to the prison and we held divine service there. I was well pleased with the devotional appearance of the prisoners. One young man, after he professed religion, was pardoned by the Governor. Much good Mr. Mead did among the poor friendless prisoners; and no doubt Jesus will say to him, “I was sick and in prison, and ye visited me.”

We left Richmond and pursued our journey, having the company of Bishop M’Kendree. On Tuesday we had a peculiar day: 1st. We rode forty-five miles without food for ourselves or our horses—both man and beast fasted. 2d. Twice on that day we got lost in the woods, and wandered round and round to find our way out. Bishop M’Kendree preached in the evening. On Friday we passed within sight of Monticello, the famous seat of Thomas Jefferson. It occupied a lofty eminence, from which there was a most extensive prospect.

We crossed the Blue Ridge to Harrisonburgh. The roads were in a sad condition, and the snow was deep in crossing the mountain. I ruined a valuable horse on this route, and parted with him for a trifle when I reached Philadelphia. This county was early settled by Germans. It was this region my father visited in 1761, where he obtained new light, which he scattered with holy zeal. I traveled here with him in 1800.

The Baltimore Conference commenced its session on Thursday, March 2. Besides the business of the conference, which was done in great harmony, there was preaching three times a day; I preached in German. There were ten young men received on probation; among them was Beverly Waugh, a handsome young man, afterward book-agent and bishop; Joseph Frye, brother of Christopher;⁠[22] and Simon Lauck, one of my father’s spiritual sons; he was awakened in 1800 under a sermon my father preached in the Methodist church in Winchester.

We hastened on through Winchester and Harper’s Ferry to Baltimore. This was always a favorite place with the bishop; it was the scene of his early labors, and the people were always kind to him. On Sunday he preached morning and evening in Light-street. The next day we attended a camp-meeting near Perry Hall. Bishop Asbury not being very well, preached in the camp-meeting chapel on “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” etc. He was deeply affected as he passed the grave of his late friend, Harry Gough, and said, “his image came up before him.”

Onward we went to Delaware. March 27 found us at Barratt’s Chapel. Father Asbury always thought much of the children of the earliest Methodists. We see it in regard to the children of Thomas White and Philip Barratt, the founder of Barratt’s Chapel. At this time he said, “I have powerful feelings of sympathy for the children and the grand-children of that holy man in life and death, Philip Barratt.” He then had the pleasure of baptizing some of his descendants. He was much rejoiced also to meet here his dear friends, Governor Bassett and his excellent wife, who went forty miles to see him. How strong the friendship that subsisted between them!

We had a cold uncomfortable ride for many days, and no wonder the old man of God wrote in such a melancholy strain: “I have suffered incredibly by the cold in the last one hundred and thirty miles: souls and their Saviour can reward me, and nothing else! Lord, remember Francis Asbury in all his labors and afflictions.”

Friday was a joyful day to me, and not to me only, but to others, as will be seen by the following record made by Asbury: “I preached at Keagy’s. Brother M’Kendree and Father Boehm met me once more, and we greatly rejoiced in God together.” Abraham Keagy had married my only sister, Barbara. Bishop Asbury and my father never met without a thrill of delight. I had not seen my loved father for ten months, a longer time than I had ever been absent from him before, and he embraced me in his arms.

The third of April, 1809, the Philadelphia Conference met in St. George’s, Philadelphia. Bishops M’Kendree and Asbury were both present. It was a privilege to see my brethren, “true yoke-fellows,” after the absence of a year. There were eighty-four preachers present. Fourteen were received on trial, some of whom have since filled prominent stations in the Church, among whom were Stephen Martindale and Loring Grant. Fourteen were ordained deacons, one of whom was Peter P. Sandford. My early friend, Thomas Burch, was ordained elder, and also George Lane, long our book agent, a man of uncommon purity, and seven others.

It may be asked to whom I was amenable when I traveled with Bishop Asbury. I answer, To the Philadelphia Conference. It may be asked who represented me, as I had no presiding elder. I answer, Bishop Asbury. When the question was asked, “Is there anything against Henry Boehm?” the bishop was the only person who could answer it, for he was the only one who knew how I spent the year, and he would answer, with great gravity, “Nothing against Brother Boehm.” It may be asked how I was supported while I traveled with the bishop. I answer, I received it from the different conferences, just as the bishops did theirs. My salary was one hundred dollars.

At the adjournment of the conference Bishop M’Kendree went direct to Elizabethtown. Bishop Asbury and myself made a tour of twenty days through the lower and eastern part of New Jersey. He was everywhere hailed as an apostle. He had not been over this route in twenty-five years.

We started to go to Brother Blackman’s, father of Learner Blackman. We were to have been there at three o’clock. Charles Reed was to have piloted us, but he did not come. We got lost in the pines, and we went round and round without making much progress. We arrived there two hours after the time, and found Charles Reed preaching. He ceased on our arrival, and the bishop commenced; but our long, tedious ride had perfectly unfitted him for preaching, and after saying a few words he suddenly stopped, and called out, “Henry, you must preach, for I cannot.” Quick as thought these words came in my mind, “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children.” I had extraordinary liberty, and all got happy, and among the rest the bishop, who then rose and gave a discourse of great power.

Here was the natural and spiritual birthplace of that distinguished minister of the Western Conference, Learner Blackman. The bishop made this record: “Learner Blackman has been raised up from small appearances possibly to very great consequences.” There can be no doubt of this if he had not been drowned in the Ohio River.

Space would fail to tell of Absecom, Tuckerton, Waretown, Polhemus’s Chapel, Squam River, and Shark River, where also the bishop preached. At the last place, as the men were fishing, and his congregation composed of women, he preached on Martha and Mary, Luke x, 41, 42, and adds, “Ah, how many Marthas are there, and how few Marys!” I might inquire, What kind of a world would we have if all the women were Marys? Has not injustice often been done to Martha? Do we not need a union of both Martha’s zeal and Mary’s love?

Sunday, April 30, we spent at Long Branch. Mr. Asbury preached, from Acts iii, 26, a sermon of great strength. This has become a famous watering-place. Hundreds resort here from Philadelphia and New York to spend the summer. Here the broad Atlantic Ocean is seen in her glory. Methodism has greatly prospered here.

We then went to Staten Island and put up with Rev. Joseph Totten. He was presiding elder of Jersey District, which included the whole of New Jersey and Staten Island. Methodism was early introduced on this beautiful island by Francis Asbury. It was always a favorite place with him. He preached here before he did in the city of New York. As he was on his way from Burlington to New York he came across a gentleman by the name of P. Vanpelt, who had heard him preach in Philadelphia, and he invited Mr. Asbury to go with him to Staten Island.

On Saturday, May 6, we went to Elizabethtown. In crossing the Narrows we saw for the first time a vessel moving without sails, and to us it was a great curiosity, neither Bishop Asbury nor myself ever having seen a steamboat before. We gazed upon it with wonderful interest, as the following extracts from our journals will show. The bishop wrote, “My attention was strongly excited by the steamboat. This is, indeed, a great invention.” My record reads thus: “At Elizabeth Point we saw a packet which goes by steam, a wheel on each side like a flutter wheel. The vessel is about eighty feet long, and travels one mile against wind and tide in about eighteen minutes.” All this must sound strange to the reader who is familiar with steamboats, floating palaces, and steamships that plow the ocean, and bring continents into one neighborhood.

At Elizabethtown we stopped with Rev. Thomas Morrell, who lived there in a fine mansion. The bishop and Mr. Morrell were very intimate. They loved each other as brothers, and often corresponded. He considered Mr. Morrell wise in counsel. Mr. Morrell had been an officer under Washington during the Revolutionary War, and had been wounded in battle. He was also a bold soldier of the cross, and filled some very important appointments. He was then in deep mourning, having lost his excellent wife, the mother of the amiable and beloved Francis Asbury Morrell of the New Jersey Conference.

Methodism was introduced here as early as 1785 by John Haggarty. Here Rev. George G. Cookman made his earliest efforts in this country. Joseph Holdich in the early part of his ministry preached here, and here he found his excellent wife.

In the old Episcopal church Samuel Spaggs was rector. He preached in John-street Church, New York, during the whole of the Revolutionary War, being then a minister in our Church. He died here, and had a tablet in the old church.

At Elizabethtown we met Bishop M’Kendree. He preached in the morning, and Bishop Asbury in the evening. Bishop M’Kendree and I went to Newark, where he preached from Prov. i, 23, “Turn you at my reproof,” etc. Here we saw the Rev. John Dow, and at his request I accompanied him to Belleville, four miles from Newark, a pretty little village on the Passaic, where I preached in the evening from 1 John i, 9.

Methodism was introduced in Belleville much earlier than in Newark, and a stone church built. John Dow was a local elder, a man of fine talent and sterling integrity. He was several times a member of the Legislature. The Rev. Isaac N. Felch of the New Jersey Conference married his daughter.

Here the eloquent Nicholas Snethen used to tend a mill; here he was converted, and commenced his first public exercises. Here Peter P. Sandford was converted and went out into the itinerant work. This is enough to give this place a Methodistic celebrity.

In Newark we stopped at Richard Leycraft’s. This was for some time the only home for Methodist itinerants in Newark. There was a very small class here, only three years old, and a little edifice was erected in Halsey-street. This is a mother of a numerous and thriving family. What a contrast between 1809 and the present, when we have ten churches in Newark, some of them the most beautiful in the country, among which are Central and Broad-street Churches. I little thought then that we should ever have a Newark Conference, and that I should be a member of it. The Methodists in Newark are among the most liberal and enterprising in America. Newark is a place of uncommon beauty, with splendid parks and lofty elms, and Broad-street is one of the finest in America.