The life of Rev. Thomas A. Morris, D.D., late senior bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church

Preface

^ It was the wish of Bishop Morris that the story of

^ his life should be written by his friend and colleague, the ' " late lamented Bishop Clark, who had not only consented to undertake the work, but had made considerable prooo gress in gathering material for it, when failing health, -- together with the incessant cares and exacting duties of 5^ the Episcopal office, compelled him to relinquish the ^ engagement. At his request, and under his appointment, ^ as literary executor of Bishop Morris, I have endeavored to carry out his original plan of the work as nearly as possible. I very much regret that Bishop Clark did not ^ live to give the volume the careful supervision of his ^ experienced and skillful pen. It is a satisfaction, how- -. ever, to be able to state that the earlier chapters, com- *^ pleted about a year before his death, and submitted to <:^ his inspection, met his cordial and generous approval. ^ The materials used in the preparation of this memoir . were, chiefly, a brief sketch of his early life written by ^ Bishop Morris himself, coming down to the time of his election to the Episcopacy, with a mere outline of his

300873

4 PREFACE.

subsequent history, and his volume, entitled "Miscellany," a book of essays and notes of travel. These traveling letters appeared originally, many years ago, in the Western Christian Advocate, and are among the very best specimens of their author's terse and vigorous style as a writer. In weaving them into a connected story of his life, however, it was found necessary to omit large portions altogether, and to exercise a good deal of editorial freedom in adapting the rest.

One or two discourses occupy larger space in the biography than seemed at first desirable; and yet, upon reflection, they were found to be so identified with the life and public services of Bishop Morris, that it was deemed best to insert them without much abridgment.

The life of the late senior bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church was a remarkable one, not only for its eminent and extended usefulness, but for its early hardships, stirring incidents, and strange adventures; and if it were fully and adequately set forth, would make a much larger as well as more interesting volume than this. I have simply attempted to make the best possible use of the meagre material available. And it now only remains for me to submit the volume, with all its imperfections, to the charitable judgment of the pubHc.

J. F. MARLAY.

Chapter 1 9

Place and Date of Birth — Education — Religious Training — Under Conviction of Sin — Joins the Church — Conversion— Appointed Class-leader — Licensed as Exhorter — Local Preacher — First Sermon — Rev. David Young — Marriage— Settlement — Circuit Preaching.

Chapter II 38

Circuit Work — Call to the Ministry— Views Concerning the Ministerial Office — Ordained Deacon — Conference at Steubenville — Appointed to Zanesville Circuit — Ordained Elder — Transfer to Kentucky — Christian Circuit — Procuring Supplies — Style of Preaching.

Chapter III 66

Itinerant Labors— Hardships and Perils— Odd Mistake— Conference at Maysville, Kentucky- Elected to General Conference of 1824— Jesse Walker— His Mission in St. Louis- Session of General Conference — Conference at Shelbyville — Appointed to Red-river Circuit, Tennessee — Conference of 1825 — Presiding Elder — Green-river District.

Chapter IV

Home at Elkton — Stationed in Louisville — Quarterly-meeting at Frankfort — Preaching under Difficulties — General Conference of 1828— " Radical Controversy "—Canada Methodism— Transfer to Ohio — Appointed to Lebanon Circuit — Columbus — Conference of 1831 — Appointed to Cincinnati Station — A Year of Calamity — Great Revival.

6 CONTENTS.

PAGB

Chapter V I20

General Conference of 1832— Narrow Escape— Ohio Conference of 1833— Appointed Presiding Elder— Western Christian Advocate Established — Elected Editor — Methodist Periodicals— Editorial on "The Press "—General Conference of 1 836— Elected Bishop— His Account of the Election.

Chapter VI 140

First Episcopal I,abors — On Horseback — In Tennessee— Beyond the Mississippi— In the Swamp— Among the Conferences— Threats of Violence— On Steamboat — " Lean vs. Fat"— Illness of his Wife— Southern Tour.

Chapter VII J63

General Conference of 1840— Contemplates a Resignation of the Episcopal Office— Publishes a Volume of Sermons— On to Texas— Incidents of the Journey— Encamping for the Night— Arkansas— Route through the State— In the Wilderness— Texas Conference — Martin Ruter.

Chapter VIII 188

Return Home— At Austin— Death of Mrs. Morris— Sketch of her Life and Character— Episcopal Visits— Death of his Daughter, Mrs. Rust— Sketch of her Life— Conferences Attended.

Chapter IX .208

General Conference of 1844— The Vexed Question— Case of Bishop Andrew — Marriage — Charge of Slaveholding— In the Indian Territory — Indian Missi(m Conference- Preaching Tour — Louisville Convention — Disruption of the Church— "Hints to Young Men "—Episcopal Tours for 1847— Fast-day Sermon— Birthday Thoughts.

Chapter X 230

General Conference of 1848— Official Tour— Aboard the Steamboat—Tour to the East— A Crowded Coach— Conferences- Memorial of the Bishops al)out the Wyandot Mission- Conferences for 1850 and 185 1— Securing a Home— Tour to the East.

CONTENTS. J

PAGE.

Chapter XI 251

General Conference of 1852 — Election of New Bishops — Account of Trip East — Hotel Inconveniences — Rev. Joshua Wells — Travels — Journey to Arkansas — Rev. James Axley — His Temperance Sermon — Conferences of 1855.

12>

Chapter XII 2

General Conference of 1856 — Changes in the Discipline — Conferences Attended — Rev. David Young — Death of Bishop Waugh — Tour to the North-west — Railroad Miseries — Conference Sessions — Methodist Church Polity.

Chapter XIII 300

General Conference of i860 — Commemoration Services — Removal to Springfield, Ohio — An Interesting Gift — Illness of Mrs. Morris — Plan of Reading — Conferences Held— Patriotism — Conferences for 1862 — Study of the Discipline— "Pulpit Force" — Complimentary Resolutions.

Chapter XIV 324

General Conference of 1864 — Patriotic Religious Services — Address to President Lincoln — Election of New Bishops — Union Chapel Case — The Bishop's Action — Letter to the Official Board — Report of Committee in General Conference— Relieved of Episcopal Labors — Semi-centennial Sermon.

Chapter XV 357

General Conference of 1868 — Superannuation — Birthday Reflections— Mrs. Lucy Morris— Illness and Death — Sketch of her Character — General Conference of 1872 — Marriage — Letter to the Cincinnati Conference, 1874 — Response to Letter — Death — Funeral Addresses — Burial.

Chapter XVI

An Estimate of the Bishop's Life and Character— Personal Traits — Mental Culture — Characteristics — As a Presiding Officer— Modesty— Religious and Political Views— Affectional Nature — Personal Religious Experience.

" Would I descrilie a preacher, such as Paul, Were he on earth, would hear, approve, and own, Paul should himself direct me. I would trace His master- strokes, and draw from his design. T would express him simple, grave, sincere ; In doctrine uncorrupt ; in language plain, And plain in manner ; decent, solemn, chaste, And natural in gesture ; much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too ; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to guilty men."

Cowper's Task : The Time-piece.

Introduction

"The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." This passage of Holy Scripture expresses the mind of God in reference to the remembrance of the good. It is his will and purpose that their memory shall be perpetuated, shall be everlasthig. The sentiment and practice of mankind in all ages, and in all generations, has been in accord with this divine declaration ; with this difference, that men have not been careful to confine their memorials to the righteous, but have often sought to keep m the public mind the names of wicked men. Men have often endeavored to insure their remembrance after their death by erecting monuments to themselves while they were living. Nations have frequently erected monuments to their most eminent statesmen and illustrious heroes. The people of this country are building one to Washington, and have just dedicated one to Lincoln. Marble and brass and bronze are, however, at a discount in this office of immortalizing men. They are rendered comparatively useless by the book. Monuments can only bear a name or briefly state an event or two in the life of the person. The detailed history

II INTRODUCTION.

of the man must be left to tradition, and soon become unreliable. The book gives a full statement of the character, and a complete record of the actions of him whom it commemorates. The monument can be in but one place, and be seen by only a favored few. The book can be carried all over the land, and placed in the homes and hands of the multitude. No man knoweth of the sepulcher of Moses unto this day; yet no human name or no human history is better preserved than is his. His fame is still spreading as far and as fast as Christianity extends. Dr. Coke found a grave in the Indian Ocean; no marble column marks his resting-place, no brass tablet records the incidents of his eventful life; yet the remembrance of him shall endure as long as ocean waves lave the shore, or ocean murmurs chant his requiem, for the book has chronicled the nobleness of his character, and the devotion and usefulness of his life. The book transcends in fitness and efficiency all other memorials of the dead. Biography is consequently one of the most important departments of literature.

Bishop Morris was a man eminently worthy of such a memorial. A well e.xecuted life of tliis distinguished Christian minister can not fail to be edifying to the Church, and especially to his brethren in the ministry. Such a biography is contained in this volume; in my opinion the work has been prepared with good judgment and much skill. The portraiture of the Bishop's character is very accuratelv drawn. The incidents of his life are given in

JNTRODUCTJO.y. Ill

sufficient detail, and make the volume exceedingly interesting and instructive; it will please the young as well as the experienced reader. The biographer could not give an account of Mr. Morris as minister, editor, and bishop, without giving something of the history of the Church during the period of his active official life. He was a prominent actor in many of the important events which occurred while he was holding these positions of trust and influence. The trials, triumphs, and progress of the Church for the last fifty years, thus incidentally given, are of great value. The memoir is worthy of a place in every Methodist minister's study, and every Methodist Sunday-school library.

Having been for more than thirty years associated with Bishop Morris in the general superintendency of the Tlhurch, I became most tenderly attached to him. During this time I had a good opportunity of learning his great worth. I often saw him in circumstances that severely taxed his wisdom, and sorely tried his Christian graces. I have known him at conferences, when greatly perplexed in making the appointments, spend nearly a whole night in prayer for divine guidance and help. At one of his conferences, when he was greatly distressed at the state of the appointments, he spent almost the whole of two nights in crying to God for his interposition. On the morning following this second night of prayer, before breakfast, the two brethren whose cases were the most troublesome, came to him, and proposed to take appoint-

IV INTRODUCTION.

ments which greatly relieved his embarrassments. The Bishop always believed they were divinely moved to do this in answer to prayer. In good judgment, prudence, and patience, and tender regard for both the feelings and interests of the preachers under his care, he was like his associate, Bishop Redding. It grieved him deeply to disappoint the expectations or deny the wishes of either Churches or ministers He was a very loving and considerate colleague. His associates could always trust both his head and his heart. Notwithstanding his great age and long infirmities, we all felt deeply bereaved by his death.

"O may we all like him, believe,

And keep the faith, and win the prize !

Father, prepare, and then receive Our hallow'd spirits to the skies,

To chant with all our friends above.

Thy glorious, everlasting love."

E. S JANES.

LIFE OF BISHOP MORRIS.

Chapter I. Incidents Of Early Life Awakening And Conversion

CALL TO THE MINISTRY ENTERS OHIO

CONFERENCE.

THOMAS A. MORRIS was born April 28, 1794, in Kanawha County, Virginia, five miles above Charleston on the west side of the Kanawha River. His parents, John and Margaret Morris, were both natives of Virginia — the former of Culpepper, and the latter of Augusta County. They belonged to the first band of heroic and enterprising pioneers who settled on the Great Kanawha River, about the year 1785, where, besides the ordinary difficulties incident to new countries, they passed through all the perils and excitements of an Indian war, in the progress of which many of the whites were killed by the savages. Wayne's treaty, in 1795, at length gave peace to the settlers. The house in which the Morris family resided stood on a beautiful swell of ground, near a neverfailing spring of pure water, commanding a fine view of picturesque scenery for many miles up and down

10 LIFE OF BTSIIOP MORRIS.

the river. It was a pleasant rural home, embowered in orchard and forest trees, far removed from the noise and unhealthy excitement of city life. Thomas belonged to a family of eleven children. His parents lived to a good old age, and at length, after a happy union of forty years, died nearly at the same time, in i8i8, both possessed of a good hope of eternal life.

The early days of young Morris were happily passed amid the wild and romantic scenery of his mountain home. Late in life he was fond of relating how, in his extreme youth, he delighted to chase the butterfly over the hills, construct tiny boats to float down the rivulets that flowed through green pastures, to hunt with his rude bow and arrow through the forests, and, in Winter, trap the redbird and the quail. His father, however, being an industrious farmer, soon found other and more important work for the son. With his little hoe he was taught to labor in the fields, and in harvest time he was employed as a bearer of sheaves. During the Winter he assisted in the care of the "stock," and seems to have been especially pleased with the duty of a shepherd.

When Thomas was ten years old, the family removed from this beautiful home to a place about forty miles west, in Cabell County, on the State road leading to Kentucky. Here again they endured the hardships, toils, and privations inseparably connected with the settlement of a new country. Clearing away the forest, inclosing the ground and bringing it under cultivation from a state of nature, with the erection of the necessary buildings, required, of course, a great deal of hard labor ; and having but a small force for

carrying it on, they had for years to exert all their energies to improve and keep up the farm.

The means of education were very limited at that early day throughout the Western States and Territories, and especially in the north-western part of Virginia, where the Morris family resided. Teachers were few in number, and for the most part ill qualified for their work; nor were the most competent of them in very good demand, for many of the early settlers of that wild region cared little for books, so they could but obtain plenty of fresh land, good range for their stock, and an abundance of game. Still there were schools; not continuing, however, longer than "one quarter" of the year, and that always in the Winter, when boys could best be spared from the farm. By such limited means, the children of that day, on the frontiers, obtained what little knowledge of books they possessed ; nor was it generally deemed important that the course of study be very extensive or thorough. To master Dilworth's Spelling-book, learn to read the New Testament, cypher to the "rule of three," and write a fair round hand, was regarded as quite an accomplished education, and ample for all the practical purposes of life. This "curriculum" Thomas had passed through creditably by the time he reached his eighteenth year. About that time he became a member of the first grammar-class ever organized in Cabell County. It was taught by Mr. William Paine, a native of England, a thoroughly competent teacher, and an earnest Methodist. This worthy old gentleman, besides performing his professional duties, gave his pupils many sound moral lessons, and, though gathered to his fathers long years ago, his memory is cherished fondly by all his surviving students.

When young Morris was about seventeen years old, his eldest brother, Edmund, who held the clerkship of Cabell County, made him his deputy, and he accordingly left the farm to enter upon the duties of his office. This position he held for nearly four years, except about six months spent in school. The clerk's office proved to be, in many respects, an advantageous position ; here the young deputy acquired much useful information concerning business transactions, as well as an easy, rapid use of the pen. But the sudden transition from out-door labor to the confinement of an office seriously impaired his health. His nervous system became deranged, rendering him feeble and timid. When he left the farm, but few of his years in all the neighborhood were more athletic or courageous. It had been his habit for years to traverse mountains and valleys at all hours of the darkest nights, unaccompanied save by his faithful hunting dogs, unawed by the prowling wolf or the dangers of the forest. But after his health declined, he was not only nervous and feeble, but fearful and depressed in mind, losing all relish for'+iis former exciting and adventurous sports and pursuits. A few months after his eighteenth birthday, and while in this feeble state of health, he was one of a company of drafted militia, to perform a six-months' tour in the North against the British and Indians. On the day appointed, the company assembled at the court-house, formed into "messes," shouldered their knapsacks, and started on the march to join a regiment forming at Point

DEPUTY CLERK. I 3

Pleasant, and intended to re-enforce the main army near the Canada line. When they took leave of their friends, who had assembled at the court-house in great numbers to witness their departure, many of these raw recruits, as well as the lookers-on, were visibly and deeply affected. The father of Morris, though himself an old soldier, could not check his fastfalling tears, as he looked upon the emaciated form and youthful face of his child. But the farewells were spoken, and the march commenced. On the morning of the second day's march, however, great was the surprise of young Morris at being overtaken by his brother William with a substitute, whom his father had hired to take the son's place. To turn back so early in the campaign was not agreeable to his feelings, but, under all the circumstances, seemed a duty, and he reluctantly consented to the arrangement.

While connected with the clerk's office, it was part of his business to attend to all the lower and higher courts of the county, by which means he became well acquainted with the lawyers who practiced in these courts. This circumstance, together with an ardent ambition to occupy a position of usefulness and respectability in society, inclined him to choose the law as a profession. Three formidable difficulties, however, were in the way of carrying out that purpose, — imperfect education, the limited means of improving it in any of the schools accessible, and an extraordinary diffidence. The first two obstacles, he thought, might be overcome by industry and a sy.stematic employment of his spare hours ; the last, his friends assured him, would soon pass away. In his later years he was often heard to say that the uncommon diffidence and timidity of his youth never wholly left him, and that, although a public speaker from his youth to an advanced age, he scarcely ever stood before an audience without embarrassment.

The parents of Morris were pious and devoted members of the Baptist Church, and had given much attention to the early religious training of their children. From the days of his childhood, Thomas had had occasional seasons of deep religious feeling, and many serious thoughts of death and eternity. His own record shows that he was scarcely ever without a conviction of his lost and sinful condition, and that from very early childhood he took a deep interest in every thing pertaining to the worship of God. But there were radical defects in his early religious training. His parents did not consider it their duty to encourage their children to make a public profession of faith in Christ. And, what was still worse, though they were unusually strict members of their Church, for that country and in that day, they allowed their children to go abroad on the Sabbath, and, to a great extent, select their own company and amusements, as did their brethren and neighbors generally. Young people thus left to themselves naturally grew up in the belief that, although they were bound to labor six days of the week, the Sabbath was their own day, a holiday, to be spent where and how they pleased.

Under these circumstances, young Morris stifled his convictions of sin, gradually lost his desire to become a Christian, and learned many evil practices

SKEPTICAL VIEWS. 1 5

while yet a youth. Being naturally of a sedate, thoughtful appearance, and always quite reserved in the presence of his seniors, he bore the reputation of being remarkably exemplary in his boyhood, while his own conscience assured him that he was far from the kingdom, abiding under the wrath of God.

So matters stood with him when he left the home of his youth, and passed from under the restraints of parental authority.

About this time, under the influence of older and more intelligent persons, his mind became poisoned with skeptical opinions, which he seems to have adopted rather as an apology for his impiety than as the result of careful investigation. His was a case of bewildered skepticism, and never of confirmed infidelity. He did not publicly avow his unbelief, or seek in any way to harm the cause of Christianity — for in his worst days the fear of God was not wholly removed from his mind — nor did he question the sincerity of Christians, or doubt their happiness, however much they might be mistaken.

In this state of mind he continued till his eighteenth year, when the terrible concussions of the earth which occurred during the Winter of i8i 1-12, aroused his guilty conscience, and he became greatly troubled about the future. There was, shortly afterward, a revival of religion in the neighborhood among " the people called Methodists, " of whom he knew but little except through the misrepresentations of those who were prejudiced against them. To these meetings he went occasionally, and the general impression made upon his mind by all he saw and heard was favorable. About that time — in the Spring of 1812 — • he began to take the general subject of religion under more serious consideration, and to form resolutions to break off from his worst sins, particularly the use of all improper words, but without any fixed purpose of becoming pious at that time. For one year he pondered this subject much, endeavoring earnestly to reach a final conclusion on the main question ; that is, whether it would be better for him, all things considered, to resolve on a religious life or not. On the one hand, a Christian life appeared to be rational, wise, and safe, and therefore desirable; while on the other hand he hesitated to make the necessary sacrifices of worldly plans and prospects, and feared to forfeit the friendship of his gay and fashionable associates. But that which deterred him most of all was the fear of failure, and the consequent disgrace of apostasy. Moreover his religious training made him slow to move under any power short of compulsion, not then clearly apprehending the important distinction between coercive power and sufficient grace freely offered to all men. Of this difficulty he was, however, measurably relieved, soon after, by a conversation with the Rev. Samuel West, a Methodist preacher, who convinced him that his crude notions on that point were not sustained by the Word of God. The last thing he gave up was the purpose to be a lawyer, with the various plans which he deemed necessary for the accomplishment of that object.

Finally, after much reflection on the subject, it was made plain to his mind one day, when alone, that it would be infinitely better for him to be " little and

UNDER conviction: ly

unknown, " or even despised and persecuted all his life, and then die in peace and be saved in heaven, than to carry out all his plans of worldly gain, and lose his soul. Whereupon he resolved, in the name and strength of Jesus, to halt no longer between two opinions, but to consecrate his service fully to the living God. As soon as this great decision was reached, he fell on his knees, and, for the first time in his life, tried to pray. This was in February, 1813, and in the nineteenth year of his age. To kneel occasionally in public worship, or at the family altar, as a matter of form or a mark of respect, had been his habit from childhood ; but to kneel before God and ask for mercy, pardon, and salvation, was a new thing entirely. As he did so now, his feelings were peculiar and awful. His chief difficulty was the want of that pungent conviction which is so necessary in the process of conversion ; nor could he exercise that simple trust in Christ as the only and sufficient Savior. For about six months he sought religion in secret, carefully concealing his purpose and state of mind from all his friends. But this method proved very troublesome, as well as unprofitable. When present at religious services he found it difficult to hide his emotion ; for tears, unbidden, would often flow freely, as he listened to the fervent appeal or earnest prayer of the minister. It was still more difficult to mingle with his worldly associates without betraying the secret burden of his heart.

A frank avowal of his feelings and purposes would undoubtedly have been the wisest and safest course at this time ; but, not having the moral courage to come out openly on the Lord's side, he was in constant temptation to stifle his convictions and disregard the monitions of his conscience. And now the conscious failure to carry out the resolution he had taken, and the impression that his sins were fearfully augmenting from day to day, came well-nigh driving him to despair, and for a time he seriously meditated upon giving up the struggle.

In the Summer of this year he attended a camp-meeting in the neighborhood, and there, under a sermon preached by Rev. David Young, on the " Parable of the Sower," his heart was more thoroughly broken up than it had ever been before. From that time he sought with increased diligence and earnestness ; secret prayer was his constant refuge ; conviction increased, godly sorrow was deepened, and the hope of final success began to revive. In a few weeks, however, he found himself threatened with the old difficulty, "the fear of man, which bringeth a snare." After much reflection on his unhappy condition and the best means of obtaining relief, he began to consider seriously the question of separating from the world, and choosing God's people to be his people, as the only probable method of obtaining what he so much desired, — peace of mind, and a sense of God's favor. But here, too, was a sore conflict to pass through. The influence of early religious training inclined him toward the Church of his ancestors, while the strong religious impressions -received through the instrumentality of the Methodists seemed to suggest the propriety of uniting

DOUBTS RESOLVED. I9

with them. The fact that the Methodists were then a feeble band, and much persecuted even by other religious denominations, may have somewhat increased the difficulty of settling this important question ; but Mr. Morris determined to act deliberately, intelligently, and in the fear of God. He borrowed a Methodist Discipline, examined it thoroughly, and liked it well. He then began to compare it with the New Testament, reading them alternately. After considerable time thus spent, he said to himself, "The Methodists are the Lord's people, and his people shall be my people."

There remained, however, one more difficulty to be removed. In the early stages of his religious awakening he had concluded, in accordance with the views entertained by his parents on the subject, that it would be improper to unite with any Church until he had first obtained a clear evidence of the pardon of his sins. But the circumstances of his own case had nearly satisfied him then, and more fully convinced him afterward, that there is no period in the history of a man's life when he so much needs the help, encouragement, and protection of the Church, or receives greater benefit from it, than while, as a humble penitent, he is seeking the salvation of his soul. When at last young Morris felt that he would joyfully accept mercy on any terms, all his scruples on the subject of entering the Church as a probationer were gone.