Biography of Rev. Leonidas L. Hamline , late one of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church; to which is now added in appendix Dr. Hamline's speech before the general conference of 1844 on the case of Bishop Andrew

Preface

THE present work was undertaken in compliance with a general call for a biography that should bring out more fully Bishop Hamline's personal and ministerial character, and the just proportion of his historic merit. Bishop Hamline lived in the most important epoch of the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and no man, since Asbury, has done more than he to shape its character and guide its fortunes over the roughest of navigable waters.

Nothing was left by him which was prepared with reference to a biography. Even his diary was written for his family and private friends. When solicited to prepare material for a biography, he declined. But while his modesty was a marvel even to those who knew him best, his sincerity was never doubted. Yet the material for a biography lay scattered among his papers, or registered in the archives of the Church, requiring only an extra measure of care and labor to call them forth and put them in order, Many things, indeed, might have been better supplied and arranged by his own hand had health and leisure permitted. Still the reader of the following pages, we trust, will be able to grasp the proportions and apprehend the genius and godly spirit of the man. Since the days of Fletcher the Church has not been blessed with a brighter light, Avhether viewed in relation to spiritual life and experience or ministerial talent and labor, while for wisdom in Church law and

4 PREFACE.

government he was thoroughly a son of Wesley. "The biography and writings of the late Bishop Hamline," says the late Bishop Thomson, "should by all means be given to the Church. It will make a work of great value and permanent usefulness. It would give me pleasure," he adds, "to edit the publication if I could find the time. I could do it con amore, but my engagements are such as to leave me no time for such labors, especially in my feeble health."

The object of the following pages is to put this "burning and shining light" in its proper relations before the world for the present and future generations. Such lights never grow dim with age. The volume edited by Dr. Palmer, with pious care and affection, is a thesaurus of spiritual knowledge and maxims of life. While we Avould not impair the spiritual element of the biography, we would give the hilstoric more fulness; yea, the historic becomes a medium of the clearer effulgence of the spiritual. Besides, other material had come to light which it was due to posterity to publish. But in attempting this it has been a subject of unceasing care that his wonderful spiritual experience should suffer no eclipse or dimness by neglect or omission.

Our task of love is done. It was begnin and continued in prayer, and with prayer that it may be a blessing to the Church, it is now committed to the guidance of that Providence without whose favor and blessing all work and device must fail.

F. G. Hibbard.

Clifton Springs, N. Y., March 8, 1880.

Note.— The reader will find the full headings of the chapters in the Table of Contents.

Chapter I

Ancestry — Early Life — Hopeful Conversion — Thoughts of the Ministry — Studies — Precocity — Health Fails — Goes South — Speaks in the Churches at Pittsburg — Goes to Zanesville, Ohio — Marries, PAGE 13

Chapter II

Unsatisfied with worldly Good — Doctrinal Education and Prejudice — Comes to Perrysburg, N. Y. — Methodist social Contact— Christian Women — Colloquy — Fletcher's Appeal — Argues with Mrs. Mapliet— Confusion — Game of Chess — Baffled in Argument— Camp-meetings — Again Baffled — Attends Camp-meeting — Witnesses Prayer-meetings — Reads the Law — Unconscious Defense of Camp-meetings — Invited to Kneel at the Altar — Argues and Declines — Returns Convicted — Death — Alarmed and Submits — No Progress — Colloquy — Sees his Error — Despairs — Prayer-meeting — Goes forward for Prayers — Sore Conflict — Returns Home — With the Morning comes the Witness — Witnesses — Is established, .... 24

Chapter III

Mr. Hamline's activity after Conversion — Returns to Zanesville— Great Awakening — Not Satisfied with the Legal Profession — Gives up the Law — Called to Preach — Robert Hopkins — Monongahela District — Liberty and Ohio Circuits — Labors with Jacob Young — First Appearance — Success — Tribute to Hamline — Letter to Mrs. Hamline — Visit of Rev. Mr. Coston — Savor of his early Labors, 45

Chapter IV

Joins the Ohio Conference — Granville Circuit — H. L. Famandis— Heroic Real — Letter to Mrs. Hamline — Revival — Power in Preaching — Sickness — Athens Circuit — Jacob Young — Revival at Batemantown — A Rencounter — Desperate Adventure — Letter to Mrs. Hamline — To Jacob Young, 54

Chapter V

Appointed to Cincinnati— Opening of the Year — Affliction- Death of Mrs. Hamline — Habit of Preparing Sermons, Page 65

Chapter VI

Marriage — Appointed to Columbus — Appointed Assistant Editor of Western Christian Advocate — General Conference of 1836 — Abolition Excitement — Thoughts of a Mission to France — Evangelical Labors — Hamline as an Exhorter — Varied Work, . . 74

Chapter IX

Election to General Conference — Sickness — Opening of Conference— Harding Case — Committee of Six — Bishop Andrew's Case — Griffith's Resolution — Resolution of Finley and Trimble — Hamline's Speech — Speech of Dr. Smith — Hamline's Reply — Treatment of Hamline's Speech by the South — Vote on Finley's Resolution — Dr. Capers's Resolutions — First Committee of Nine — Declaration of fifty-one Southern Delegates. — Second Committee of Nine — J. B. M'Ferrin's Resolution of Instruction — Report of Second Committee of Nine — Committee on Reply to the Protest — Hamline's Election to the Episcopacy — His Explanations of Committee of Nine . . .116

Chapter X

Mr. Hamline's Status in General Conference His Ordination— His own Account — Conference Adjourns Rev. Dr. Young's

Letter— Visits New York Conference— Enters upon his Episcopal

Duties — Troy Conference — New Hampshire Conference Dr. Olin's

Preaching —Oneida Conference — Genesee Conference— Michigan Conference — North Indiana Conference — Ends the Year i8aa T

uary, 1845, Consecration — Evangelical Work— Pittsburg Conference— Erie Conference — North Ohio Conference Nr>i-fV. t a-

-noun Indiana

Conference, o

CHAPTER XL

Difficulties of Administration — Initiatory Proceedings to Church Separation — Hamline's Letters on the State of Things — Malign Attacks upon him — Louisville Convention — Church Separation Accomplished — Settlement of the Border Line begins — Difficulties of Fraternal Union — Difficulties arising from Diverse Interpretations of the "Plan of Separation," Page 161

Chapter XII

Difficulties of Episcopal Administration, continued — Call for Meeting of the Episcopal Board — Bishop Hamline's Letter to the Board — Bishops' Meeting in New York — Momentous Events of the Hour — Embarrassing Attitudes of Bishops Soule and Andrew — ■ The former Resigns his work in the North — Pittsburg Conference — Erie Conference — North Ohio Conference — Ohio Conference — Embarrassment at Bishop Soule's Presence — A Startling Conference Scene — Bishop Hamline's Adroitness and Firmness — The Explanation— Bishop Morris's Letter, 175

Chapter XIII

Difficulties of Episcopal Administration, continued — Embarrassments in fixing the Boundary Line — Letter of Dr. Crouch — Of Bishop Hedding — Of Bishop Morris — Institution of Slavery — Kanawha District — Bishop Soule — Stewart's Report of Kanawha District — Severe Test of Constitutional Law of Methodist Episcopal Church— Bishop Morris's Letter — Bishop Hedding's Letter — Bishop Hamline's Instruction to Border Preachers — Letter of Bishop Morris on the Times— First General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South — Bishop Hamline's Remarks on their Spirit and Doings — Letter of Dr. Mitchell on Episopcal Administration, ioo

Chapter XIV

Difficulties of Episcopal Administration, continued — Episcopal Board meets at Philadelphia— Their Published Principles of Administration, as Relating to the «« Plan "—Bishop Hamline's Agency in the Board— Baltimore Conference— Cares and Conflicts- Philadelphia Conference, Border Troubles— Letter to Jacob Young — Disgraceful Doings on the Border — Mobs in Accomac and Northampton Counties — Christian Advocate, of New York, indicted — Western Christian Advocate indicted, 207

Chapter XV

North Indiana Conference— Closes the Annual Tour of Conferences—Visiting the Churches— Diary— Letter to Mrs. Palmer- Border life Hospitalities — Illinois Conference —Staten Island- Diary— Distress at the low state of Christian Experience— Letter to Dr. E. D. Roe— Philadelphia— Three Weeks' Tour— Newtown— Rev. Alfred Cookman— Entire Sanctification— Returns to Philadelphia — Baltimore Conference — Stays at Washington, D. C. — Philadelphia Conference— Returns to Tarrytowu — Sickness of his Son, Page 223

Chapter XVI

Proposes to go to Liberia — Leaves Tarrytown for New York and Philadelphia — Religious concern for his Son — New Jersey Conference— Letter to his Son — New York Conference — Birth-day Reflections— Family sickness — Maine Conference — Oneida Conference— Four Weeks of Preaching and visitug Churches — Letter to Mrs. H. — Genesee Conference — Detroit Conference — Returns to Cincinnati -— Evangelical work among the Churches — Mexican War — Visits Wilmington and Aurora, Ind., and returns to Cincinnati— Visits Columbus, Zanesville, Putnam, Xenia, and returns to Cincinnati — Closes the Year with Dedication at Lexington, Ind 241

Chapter XVII

Opening of the Year — Evangelical Labors — Social Religious Fidelity — Trials about popular preaching — Views of Millennium, 265

Chapter XVIII

General Conference of 1848— Arrives at Pittsburg— Meeting with Dr. Herron— Opening of General Conference— Diary— Conference Proceedings— Glance at the Preceding Four Years— Episcopal Accountability— Dr. Holdich piesents the Bishop's Plan of Settlement of the Property Question— Sequel shows They were rUht— Plan of Separation annulled— General Conference Action on the Louisville Convention— On the Southern Organization— Episcopal Administration approved — In the "Plan " they had truste 1 Cnh

too far — Church Administration vindicated — Bishon r^ 1

tJ capers on the Plan — Letter of Bishops Waugh and Janes — Close of P 1

Conference,

*77

Chapter XIX

Troy Conference — Zinzendorfism — Mesmerism — Church Trial — Address to the Conference on Mesmerism — Expulsion — Conference closes pleasantly — Pittsburg Conference — Erie Conference — North Ohio Conference — Frames and Feelings in Preaching — Sickness — Triumph — Indiana Conference — Ohio Conference — Stops at Xeni.\ Going Abroad and Returning for Five Weeks — Visits Cincinnati — Conversion of Lawyer J. M. Leavitt — Visits Mrs. C. W. Sears in her last Sickness — Visits the Churches till the End of the Year — Death of Mrs. Sears — Letter to her Husband, Page 288

Chapter XX

New Year's Covenant — Three Months' visitation of Churches — Mercersburg — Carlisle — Lancaster — Letter to Rev. H. Hickok, Missionary to China — Philadelphia — New York — New Jersey — Providence Conference — Reading Sermons — New Hampshire Conference— Stage-coach Traveling — No Altar, No Revival — Pleasant Conference — Revision of Hymn Book — New York — Sick and Weary — Secularizing Regular Ministers — Troy Conference — Vermont Conference — Visits Bishop Waugh at Ohio Conference — Impaired Health — Invitation to make his Home at Cincinnati — Anniversary of his Conversion — Retrospect of the Year, . . . 305

Chapter XXI

Failing Health — Advice of Physicians — Decides against it — Spiritual Review — Fraternal Letler of the Bishops — Advises with a Veteran — Begins his Conference Visits — Wisconsin Conference — Rock River Conference — Letter of his Physician — Iowa Conference— Health fails— Letter to the Missouri Conference — Illinois Conference — Retires to Peoria — Letter of his Physician — Letter of Bishop Janes — Works of Arminius — Joy in Affliction — The Two Gates — Journeys Eastward to the Maine Conference — Attends Maine Conference — Springs of Life gone — Residence Near Schenectady — Letter of Dr. (now Bishop) J. T. Peck — Correspondence — Letter to E. A. G.— To Dr. Leavitt— Health— Tribute to Dr. Olin— Letter to Jacob Young — To Bishop Janes — To Bishop Morris — Judge Nelson's Decision on the Property Case — All Hope of Public Labor given up — Dissuasive to Locating, 319

IO CONTENTS.

Chapter XXII

General Conference — Necessity of Resigning the Episcopal Office and Care — Consecration — Letter to Rev. L. S. — To his Children— Resignation — Letter to the Bishops — To Rev. J. Young— To the General Conference— Letter referred to a Committee — A Private Meditation— Report of Committee on Episcopacy — Discussion- Conference Action — Letter of the Bishops in Behalf of the Conference— Regrets of the Church — Letter of Dr. (afterward Bishop) Thomson — Letter of Dr. (now Bishop) J. T. Peck — Feelings of Bishop Hamline after resigning his Office — Letter of Bishop Morris, Page 344

Chapter XXIII

Bishop Hamline retires to Hillsdale — Letters of Comfort to Ministers — Thoughts of Europe — Of Palestine — The ''Second Coming " — Letter to his Son — Returns to Rotterdam — Sharon Springs — Returns to near Schenectady — Diary — Management of Temporal Affairs — Letter to Judge Goodrich — Property appreciates — Letters to Agents — Donates to Colleges — Does not donate in Consideration of its Name — Habit of Giving — Just Rebuke — Giving from Conscience— Maine Seminary — Benevolent Institutions — Uncharilableness — His Example Wesleyan, . . .- 371

Chapter XXIV

Bishop Hamline's Home and Occupation — Reviews his Life and renews his Covenant with God- -Increase of Faith — A Wonderful Manifestation of Power — Visit from Friends — A Series of Meetings — A Powerful Exhortation — Beauty of Faith — Walking on the Sea with Christ — Trials of a Studious Young Minister — Advice to the same — Slavery and Political Excitement — Close of the Year 1856, 39o

Chapter XXV

Removal to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa— Religious occupation and Enjoyment—Fidelity to Class-meeting and Church-order Letter of

Rev. P. P. Ingalls— Letter to C. W. Sears— Doctrinal Correspondence— Growing Old, and Sympathy with the Work Abroad •

Losing Friends — Retrospect — Letter to Rev. L. Swormstedt •

To Dr. Mitchell — Iowa Wesleyan University — Fraternal Letter of Bishops, 4Q3

Chapter XXVI

Letter on the War — General Habit of Life — Rev. Dr. T. M. Eddy — Letters to Coston — Can Die away from Friends — Episcopal Fraternal Letter — Letter of Bishop Janes — To M. Brooks — Joyful Experience — Fraternal Letter of Bishops — Dying Advice — Rapid Decline — Death, Page 420

CHAPTER XXVII. General Retrospect, 438

BIOGRAPHY

OF

Rev Leonidas L. Hamline.