Auto-biography of Rev. John Bangs, ... To which are added, a vindication of the Christian religion: and remarks on church membership, division of the church, etc. ..

Front matter

Class 3X6 f'lS

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Preface

Little can be said in favor of a book that conveys no instruction. Were I of opinion that no good would result from my having written the following pages, I should at once abandon the idea of publishing them ; but I entertain no such notion. I have, indeed, written about myself; but I do not conceive that this circumstance need at all detract from the usefulness which I hope will be the result My profession is and has been that of a preacher — to warn, to exhort, and to instruct; and if this book shall subserve, in any degree, the design and object of my life, I do not see but that its publication may be as useful as "the preaching of so many sermons."

4 PREFACE.

The writing of biographies has been pursued and commended by persons of almost every shade of character. We have, therefore, not only memoirs of distinguished persons, but of those who have held humble stations in society. They are in fact a distinct and legitimate branch of history.

In the following pages the reader will find little else than a parcel of scraps, to which I have endeavored to give a degree of connection and interest. As to the character of their reception, I might affect either an apologetic or indifferent mood. I will just say, however, that I make no pretensions whatever to writing ; and that the character of the matter, and the unfavorable auspices under which I have written, have been such as almost to defeat the design of producing anything readable.

My views are fully set forth in my observations on church membership, and they will explain themselves.

PREFACE.

I also conceived the present a fitting opportunity to say a few words respecting the division of the church, which has recently so greatly agitated our body, and been the cause of so much bootless controversy.

I have also appended a vindication of the Christian religion, which I thought would be of considerable use to some of my friends, and that particular portion of the Methodist society among whom the book, if at all, would be most likely to circulate. I have an idea that the work will probably meet with the most ready sale among those friends with whom I became personally acquainted in the course of my travels. To them I commend it, hoping the blessing of God will go with it. In fact, what led me to undertake the task of compiling, was a suggestion from some of them of my continuing the publication of some pieces which I last winter had inserted in the Christian Advocate and Journal. I came

6 PREFACE.

to the conclusion, that, instead of continuing them in that way, I would collect and imbody what I had to say in the form of a small volume ; they have herewith the result, and I trust they will receive it kindly. They know me, and I hope they will be both edified and pleased.

I am their most obedient servant and brother in Christ,

John Bangs.

Chapter I

Birth — Removed to New-York — Learned the blacksmith's trade — Timely reproof — Minister at a ball — Brought to conviction— Religious impressions wear off— Calvinism — An incident — Spirituous liquors — Death of a drunkard — Hardship — Not keeping sabbath — Means blessed to my benefit — Partially awakened — Thrown upon the world without resources — Admonitions of a pious sister — Wander from place to place — Obtain employment — Matrimonial engagement — Remove to Kortright — Death of my wife — Points of discipline — Christian experience — Convictions increase — Experience religion — Incident of a lady and girl — Various exercises — Go to meeting — Begin to publish that Christ died for sinners — Visit from house to house — Definite evidence — Class meetings — License from quarterly meeting — License to preach — Ordained deacon — Travel as a local preacher — Reproving sinners — Sick lady — Continue to preach — Love-feasts — Revival — Camp meeting — Five apprentices experience religion— John D. Bangs — Keeler — Lemuel — Joseph Sandford — Allopaths — Nathan. . P. 11

Chapter II

Good health and manhood — Advantage of having religion — Industrious — A pretended Christian — Going west — Enter the traveling connection — Estimate of my property — Experience — Conditions of membership — Holiness — Gold and costly apparel — Purity of the church — Reflections — Literature and spirituality — A minister must have the Holy Ghost — Means by which my faith was strengthened before sanctification — Baptism of the Holy Ghost — Defective education — Appearance of evil — Incident of the card players — Spirituous liquor — Tobacco — SnufF — Smoking-— Tea — An awful circumstance — A valuable recipe — Appearance of evil — Reflections on gold and extravagance. . 61

CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Comprising My Itinerant Life From The Year 1819 To 1823

Sharon circuit — Quarterly meeting — Suffocation — Preaching — A revival — The assemblyman and his son — The society flourishes— Building a church — Steeples — Holy ministers — Instruments of music in the house of God — The two wooden bowls and halter — The case of a medical man — A singular dream — Many souls converted — Sacramental occasion — My apprehension at Summit — Conversion of those implicated — Five o'clock meeting — Baptism by immersion and sprinkling — Start for conference — Return and preach — Increase — Circuit divided — Appointed to Jefferson — Reading of rules — Incidents — Brother Charles Chase — A garden that I spaded up — Advice to younger brethren with regard to fifth collections — Conduct of Presbyterians— Two days' meeting — Dr. Barrett — -Erection of church at Gilboa — Presbyterians sneer— Sermon by Dr. Barrett — Church at Blenheim — Anti-renters — Church built at Stamford — Camp meeting — Order at camp meetings — Stone thrown at me — Case of a lad, fourteen years old — Windham— Love-feast — The ball — Work prosperous — Causes of reformation. . P. 98

Chapter IV

Delaware circuit — Number of accessions — Long and tedious routes — Case of the unconverted judge — The dying woman — Another incident — Conversion of an infidel — Traveling and hospitable entertainment — Domestic difficulties — Unpleasant feelings — The lady in New-York — Good times — Firm people — Meeting — Case of the old lady — Woman converted in a family prayer meeting — Camp meeting — Order and harmony — Persons sanctified — A circumstance — Narration of a serious calamity and sad catastrophe — Several sketches 140

Chapter V

Coeymans circuit — Removal of my family — Disagreeable communication — Revivals — Home Missionary Society — Collection of funds — The subject submitted to conference — Brother

CONTENTS, y

* Harvey Brown appointed missionary — Brown useful — I return to Jefferson — Embarrassing circumstances — Remarks — Points of discipline — Camp meeting — Justification and sanctification — Good done at camp meeting — Reflections — Persecution — Shaving off the tail and mane of my horse — Ludicrous appearance — Durham circuit — Five o'clock meeting — A fact set forth — Continue to labor — My horse sheared and wagon loaded with stones — Preach in a school-house — Camp meeting — Power and energy of preachers at camp meetings — I take a supernumerary relation— Aggregate number of accessions — Poor health — Burning of my barn, etc. — Loss of property — Providence of God mysterious— Barnes Baird — Prospect of usefulness — I go to New- York — My second marriage — Warren Journal — Children's meeting — Orphan boy — Labors in New- York — White Plains — Project for the amelioration of children. . . . P. 172

Chapter VI. Vindication Of The Truth Of The Christian Religion

Introduction — Difficulty of the subject — Matters of fact recorded of Christ true — Stress of the cause rests upon the proof of matters of fact — Division of the subject — The marks of the truth of matters of fact in general — These marks applied to the subject, and the argument commenced — Application — Four additional marks — These marks stated, and the argument pursued — Recapitulation — Solemn address to the reader. . . 225

Chapter VII. Church Membership

Preliminary remarks — Must let God's word speak — Quotations from Scripture, with accompanying comments, descriptive of the church — What is necessaiy to be constituted members of the church — Qualification of holiness — The argument — God is holy — All that proceeds from Him must be like him — None can be in union with Him but those that are holy — A lengthy question and answer — Exposition of our views — Conclusion— Summary entrance into chapter eight. . .257

10 CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII. Division Of The Church

Every man should stand in his own lot, proved from Romans — Amount of loss sustained by disputation — No necessity for it — How to obviate the difficulty for the future — Divers questions, explanatory of the causes of some things — Resumption of the remedy to obviate the difficulty in future — Reflections — Purity of the church must be perpetuated — Church must be assisted by the Spirit of God — God works by human means — Holiness insisted upon — Digression on Texas— Subject resumed — Something better than contention P. 275

Chapter IX, Drunkenness And Gluttony

Quotations from Scripture, with comments — Case of the drunken young man on board of the steamboat — Quotations continued — Remarks on alcohol — The exercise of common sense and logic — Gluttony — What constitutes gluttony— Theory of vegetation — Conclusion. ...... 297

AUTO-BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN BANGS.

Chapter I

Birth — Removed to New-York — Learned the blacksmith's trade — Timely reproof — Minister at a ball — Brought to conviction— Religious impressions wear off— Calvinism — An incident — Spirituous liquors — Death of a drunkard — Hardship — Not keeping sabbath — Means blessed to my benefit — Partially awakened — Thrown upon the world without resources — Admonitions of a pious sister — Wander from place to place — Obtain employment — Matrimonial engagement — Remove to Kortright — Death of my wife — Points of discipline — Christian experience — Convictions increase — Experience religion — Incident of a lady and girl — Various exercises — Go to meeting — Begin to publish that Christ died for sinners — Visit from house to house — Definite evidence — Class meetings — License from quarterly meeting — License to preach — Ordained deacon — Travels as a local preacher — Reproving sinners — Sick lady — Continue to preach — Love-feasts — Revival — Camp meeting — Five apprentices experience religion — John D. Bangs — Keeler — Lemuel — Joseph Sandford — Allopaths — Nathan.

I was born in the year 1781, at about the close of the Revolutionary War, in the town of Stratford, state of Connecticut. Shortly after, I was removed to Fairfield, a place near Bridgeport, then called Paquanock.

"When I was eleven years of age, my father and family left that place for the town of Stamford, Delaware co., state of New- York, whereat, and with whom, I resided until the age of seventeen. From that, up to the age of about twenty-one, I lived with David Wilcox, of Harpersfield, and there learned the trade of a blacksmith.

Seven years of this time I was almost entirely lost, as to moral and religious influences. The man with whom I learned my trade being irreligious, and without restraint upon himself, required very little of me — though his wife was a woman that feared God. For the encouragement of women having the charge of oYphan children, or otherwise, I would say in favor of this woman, that, as I was much addicted to profanity, her godly reproof — given at a suitable time, and in a mild and Christian manner — was the means of awakening my mind to a sense of the evils of profane swearing. As to the cause of this habit, I may say that I learned it of my parents ; not by their example, indeed, but by their negligence, in allowing me to associate in bad company, profaning and desecrating the sabbath, and going to balls, which at that period, in the new settlements, was very customary.

Sabbath schools were not in existence at that time. Experimental religion was a thing almost entirely unknown. There was a society that attended to the external forms of religion, under the name of high churchmen. I had more than once had the company of the minister and his lady in the ball-room — a disgrace to the minister, and he alone, undoubtedly, being responsible for it. To the credit of a faithful pastor (who ought always to feel the worth of souls) I was then brought to a sense of my condition — by the preaching of a Baptist minister. In consequence of the company that I kept my serious impressions wore off, in pursuit of the gayeties of this life. While in this state of darkness and ignorance, my regular place of attending divine worship was where the peculiarities of Calvinism were invariably preached ; and the most that I can recollect now is, that the minister would say, the reason we did not believe that doctrine, was because we were reprobates. I must confess that I never could see the propriety of believing any doctrine if I were a reprobate. All doctrines were alike to me, in that point of view — so that I cared for none.

The Bible and religion formed no part of our conversation, except by way of criticism. "When my master's parents, who were professors of religion, visited us, he would say : " Now John, you must hang up swearing, to dry, till the old folks are gone."

O the goodness and mercy of God, while Christ pleads for sinners ! One day as I was passing across a board, about eight feet from the timbers beneath, it broke, and I fell with a basket of corn upon my shoulder, I was but slightly hurt. I came into the shop swearing most bitterly. My master gave me no reproof or advice ;

but a certain judge, a Quaker, being present, instead of giving me reproof, according to the Bible, said, " I did'nt think you could swear so," which made no particular impression upon my mind.

I will here subjoin a short sketch, to show the evils of the practice of the common use of distilled liquors. In the family and in the shop where I lived they were as common as water. My master, whom I had often known to reprove persons for being intoxicated, was in the habit of making use of spirituous liquors himself, moderately; he became, finally, so much addicted to their use, as to have formed the habit of always having them by him in small quantities, and then in larger, when finally he became a drunkard and while in a state of inebriety went to bed and died before morning, in consequence. This practice became very familiar to me, and, had it not been for the influence of religion, I might have pursued the same course, and ended in the same way.

It may well be supposed that we were not rich in those days, as we were often obliged to travel on horseback from Stamford to Durham, a distance of thirty miles, for provisions, and were often very glad to have the most common fare. This was a time of hardship and suffering.

I believe, for myself, that the not keeping the sabbath is one of the greatest causes of immorality and degradation among youth. I was often obliged to post books on that day; and indulged in fishing, visiting, and often fell in bad company, which I now can see was one great means of my neglect of God and the salvation of my soul. It is necessarily the province of parents to prevent the desecration of this day, and they should fully attend to this duty, for obvious reasons. It ought to be remembered that children do not understand what is for their own good, therefore they should be under strict supervision, and trained up in the way they should go. To the honor of my parents, I remember to have had deep impressions of religion made upon my mind when I was but a child. These hints are not to be slightly passed over, unless we would wish to ruin our children.

Though different means have been blessed to my benefit, yet I must attribute my awakenings, convictions, justification, regeneration, and sanctification, to the influence of that grace that bringeth salvation, that hath appeared to all men. And this grace will always teach us to deny all ungodliness. I Was led to forsake my ways of wickedness by degrees. The first sin that I remember breaking off from was profane swearing. Dancing, the sound of the violin, and gay company held me long. And when I felt the necessity of coming out, and leaving my associates, it was like taking the flesh from my bones. I long desired to be a Christian, but was unwilling to avow it, or have any one know my feelings. I was so far awakened that I considered religion to be good, and sacred ; so much so, that I was unwilling to disgrace it, by professing it, and then acting contrary to that profession, which, notwithstanding, I can now see that I have too often done. But then we were comparatively ignorant, and without experience; and I request all who read these lines to cast the mantle of charity over all my former misdoings. When I was in my twenty-second year, which was in 1803, I was thrown upon the world with but few friends, and limited means. I fell in company with a man about eighty miles to the north, in the town of Norway, "West Canada Creek, who agreed to employ me for a year, beginning the first of October ; and, as I always considered myself under obligation to fulfill my word, I was there by the time appointed ; but, when starting to go to this place, leaving my father's house, a pious and devoted sister accompanied me on my way ; and when about to part she held me by the hand, and appeared to be unwilling to let me go.

I looked her in the face, and beheld the tears coursing down from a countenance impressed with sorrow and anxiety. I could not think what was the matter, until she said to me, " My dear brother, remember, if you die in your sins, where God and Christ is you will neve* come." She turned away from me, and I passed on. This parting speech wounded my heart, and had a thunderbolt literally struck me I could not have felt much worse. I arrived at the place before mentioned, and found myself disappointed, in consequence of the want of that trait in my master — so necessary in every man's character — fidelity. I hence wandered from place to place, which I found to be no disadvantage to my small stock of knowledge. The Spirit of the Lord continued to follow me in all this journey. I often thought that God regarded me in answer to the prayers of my pious friends. To be more particular, one afternoon, while passing from Utica to West Canada Creek, with a pack on my back weighing about forty pounds, I lost my path, and wandered in the night in the woods, homesick and sinsick. After worrying myself into a state of exhaustion I came out of the woods to the creek. Not knowing which way to turn in order to find the village, there being no inhabitants on that side of the river, I luckily took the upward course, and came to the village, which was on the opposite side, and no way appearing by which to cross but on the string-pieces of a bridge that was then being constructed, twenty feet from the rocks over the falls, I started to walk on one of the sleepers of the bridge, and, when about half way across, I found my head dizzy, and myself in danger of falling. I however succeeded in crossing, by placing my sack on one side and myself on the other, and thus hitching myself over. I went to the tavern, took some refreshment, and retired, feeling as I cannot describe. In the morning I called on a brother craftsman for employment. He engaged me at fifteen dollars per month. By performing more labor than was customary, my wages amounted to nineteen dollars per month. After being absent from home three months I returned with much pleasure, carrying with me forty-five dollars, in silver, more than I had when I started.

My inducement to return was with a view to enter into a matrimonial engagement. This was consummated during the month of January, about a year after. Soon after this, myself and wife removed to the town of Kortright, where we continued for the space of about forty years. After the expiration of this time we removed to Harpersfield, Delaware county, where, after much labor, sickness, and suffering on the part of my wife, in the peaceful enjoyment of pure religion, on the 12th day of March, 1845, she took her departure to a world of peace and joy, where sickness and sorrow, pain and death, will never come. The following obituary, which was published in the Christian Advocate and Journal, will not be out of place here : —

March 12 — At her residence in Harpersfield^ Mary, wife of the Rev. John Bangs, of the New- York Conference, aged 62 years.

Tfye subject of this notice in early life was taught the peculiar doctrines of Calvinism ; and at a time when under deep concern of mind, while attending a conference meeting, a minister observed it was an abomination in the sight of God for a sinner to pray, and she then concluded she would pray no more, as she already felt herself sufficiently vile and wicked. Possessing naturally a gay and lively turn of mind, her serious impressions in a measure wore away. During this period we were united in marriage, and soon after we became deeply convinced of sin, and in the bitterness of our souls were led to pray, God be merciful to us sinners. Glory to God! he was not slow to hear, nor impotent to save. On one memorable sabbath evening, while engaged for the first time in family prayer, my soul was set at perfect liberty, the evidence of which I have never lost. And here I would insert one thing to incite to faithfulness in the full discharge of ministerial duty. Under the faithful labors of an itinerating minister, and a sense of my natural depravity, I was brought to see that it was my privilege not only to be justified by faith, but to have a clean heart, which blessing God gave me by the baptism of the Holy Ghost ; and though I have sometimes given way to temptation and grieved the Spirit, yet I have held on my way, and grown stronger and stronger, and now enjoy the blessing of perfect love, which casteth out all fear that hath torment. Having thus deviated to tell a little of my personal experience, I now return.

My wife continued to seek, and one sabbath accompanied me to church. After the exercises she requested to join the class as a seeker, and was admitted. After returning home her distress of mind increased until the next morning, when, while engaged in prayer and reading the Scriptures, her soul was brought into unspeakable enjoyment in believing. On my coming in, she said, " Where have you been so long ?" I replied, "What do you want?" She answered, " I want you to help me to praise God. It seems to me, if you had had religion, you would have told me of its excellences before. See how all nature declares the power, goodness, and love of God to men." She then immediately united with the church, of which she continued a faithful and acceptable member for more than forty years. She exemplified her faithfulness by her love and attachment to the doctrines and usages of the M. E. Church. She was ever ready to entertain the missionaries of the cross; and in my absence she invariably Jed in the family devotions. Her industry, and love of serious and historical reading, were proverbial. Her work and book were ever by her side, especially the History of the M. E. Church, a set of which had been presented her by the author. She was familiar with the history of the Christian church from its rise, and took a deep interest in whatever concerned the prosperity and welfare of that branch of which she had the honor to be a member. She was the mother of ten children, three of whom died in infancy. She had also the care and provided for the wants of ten not her own, during different periods of her life, all of whom, we have reason to hope, have been made believers in the Christian religion, three of whom are ministers. This weight of care, which was much increased by my frequent and long tours from home in the former part of my itinerancy, together with the fracture of a limb, had imperceptibly undermined her constitution.

From these successive shocks, however, she was in a measure recovering, when the sudden and unexpected death of a beloved son (in a strange land) severely shook both her health and spirits, and then in a few months another son, and his young and amiable wife, were taken from us within a few days of each other. This son, who had just entered the ministry, and whose deep piety and zealous labors led us to anticipate a life of more than ordinary usefulness and happiness, she deeply lamented ; but she mourned in submission, and never relaxed in her faithful and untiring endeavors for the comfort and welfare of those who remained. But another, and, if possible, a still heavier trial awaited her ; another son, also in the bloom of youth, she was called to see wither and die. These, with the death of her excellent mother, and more recently, of two sisters, gradually sapped the foundation of life, and made way for the rapid progress and

«toGEAPHV OF JOHN BANGS. 22 AVTO-BXOGKA.H arrival OU

fatal termination of disease. x h&d b n

March 4th from New-Y^J ^ tolerabie most of the wmter, \to™, 7th Bhe observed,

heath; ^"SS^i «•**"

S How well and ^^ Business ealled me thankful we «^t^^. on my return the for a short time ^j^ttate with a violent same day, I found her pr hich con-

cur and^nflanrmauonoi the ^

tinned to *^J% '"aid to me, « W' J her time was short she ^ prayed that

She gave the signal, and d ^ the

cessation of life than the ^ der our foss to death; and inasmuch as we ithhuro.

£t; eternal gain, we^ynddd

meet the Lord m ? ^ord- a- marriage with the subject 01

I was united m »a™*|d of January, 1804, the above notice on he ^ ^ g

* the Te* H;Ja"Wsbyterian; andafter at that place. Wewa the ceremony he proposed some very important questions on the subject of religion, more particularly to myself, which added to the degree of conviction under which I was then laboring, in favor of the attainment of this great blessing, instead of the usual mirth and feasting attendant upon such occasions.

This topic is so important, that I cannot forbear making some remarks upon it, and some other points of Discipline. Might there not be a vast amount of good accomplished by every officer, and especially Methodist minister, introducing this all-important subject on these occasions ? Impressions made at these times would be apt to prove lasting and beneficial.

The General Rules of the Discipline require all the members of the church to exhort all that they have any intercourse with. If this course were pursued according to the letter and spirit of the rule, by ministers only, how many thousands might thus be awakened who now pass on in ignorance and darkness ! How many other occasions are there on which this rule might be observed with happy effect, especially in connection with youth ! And what set of men have more free access to families and children than Methodist ministers, everywhere and at all times, and indeed to every grade, shade, and department of life and society ! In view of the neglect of this duty, will not the blood of many souls be required at the hands of the watchmen ? And who among us is willing to incur such a responsibility ?

I have no objection to Bishop Hedding, or any other man, making an explanation of the Discipline of our church. No man who has taken upon himself our solemn ordination vows could be so derelict of duty as to neglect the full performance of the obligations specified in the Discipline connected with himself as an individual. For instance, does the presiding elder inquire at every quarterly meeting whether the rules concerning children axe observed ? " Is the first part of item 7, in section fifth, also observed: 'Be serious : let your motto be, Holiness to the Lord ; avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.5 " Sec. 9, item 9, " Be ashamed of nothing but sin." " Are you going on to perfection ?" " Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life ?" " Are you groaning after it ?" Or, would it not be, more properly speaking, Have you it in possession ? More on this point hereafter.