Front matter
Life and times of Nathan Bangs, D. D r
Digitized by
LIFE AND
Preface
Dr. Bangs was repeatedly advised in his latter years, by liis official and other associates, that a record of his life would be important for his Church, if not for himself; and that he should not fail to leave, at his death, such notes of the momentous ecclesiastical measures in which he had shared as might aid in their historical illustration. When it was made known to me, soon after his decease, that he had committed to me his papers for a task so important and delicate, I felt no little reluctance to undertake it ; for though an author is held responsible for the interest of his book, yet in biography its interest must depend more on its subject than on its writer; and I supposed that the life of my venerated friend had been so absorbed in purely ecclesiastical labors as to afford but comparatively few incidents of biographic and popular entertainment, however interesting its official events might be in the history of his denomination. I was agreeably surprised, however, in examining his abundant manuscripts, to find that they abound in personal and characteristic facts ; that the early years of his public life were spent amid frontier scenes of extraordinary interest ; that his vigorous manhood, for nearly half a century, was identified with the most popular, as well as most momentous measures and events of his Church; and that his declining years, singularly prolonged and serene, prcsencd the picture of an evening of life, envi-
PREFACE.
able alike to the philosopher and the Christian. I have seldom, indeed, met with a biographical study more entertaining or profitable to me personally; presenting a more effective, a more symmetrical, a more complete life. If the narrative I have drawn from these materials fails to make a similar impression on its readers, I must acknowledge that the failure is chargeable on the author rather than the subject. I feel assured, nevertheless, that no defects of literary execution can essentially impair the rich lessons of spiritual life and consolation which are cited from the original manuscripts.
By the license of the title of the book, as the " Life and Times'''' of my subject, I have introduced into the narrative many of his cotemporaries, who were more or less associated with him in public life ; but the volume will still be found very deficient in this respect. Repeated requests, through the public press, for letters and other materials from his old associates or their families, have been but slightly successful. Should there be an opportunity hereafter to repair this defect, I shall be happy to avail myself of it. I would also invite corrections of any errors of facts, especially of dates. No small amount of my facts is historical, and it is important for the history of Methodism that it should be accurate. An erratum has escaped my attention on page 70, where Embury is mentioned as leaving Ireland in 1765. The date should be 1760. The former is the date given by most of our historical authorities. I have long been convinced that it is wrong. It has been corrected in this volume, but not till after many sheets were printed.
Abel Stevens.
Mamaroneck Parsonage, Nov. 2, 1863.
Contents
CHAPTER L
CHILDHOOD.
Importance of his Services to the
Chapter II. Youth
Early Emigration 24
A Home in the Wilderness. ... 24 The Mother and Child lost in
the Woods 25
School-teaching 26
Studies and Amusements 27
The Methodist Itinerants 28
He Satirizes them 29
His Conscience awakened 29
Frontier Dancing 30
Dram-drinking 31
Mental Struggles 32
Emigrates further Westward. . . 34
The City of Buffalo in 1799 34
Niagara Falls at the end of the
last Century 35
CHAPTER IH.
LITE IN CANADA.
Life on the Frontier 36
Effect of Scenery 36
Mental Aspirations and Struggles 37
Doctrinal Sophism 38
Missionaries 39
A Clerical Card-player 39
Calvinism 39
Conversation with a Methodist. 39
An Itinerant in the Wilderness. 40
James Coleman 40
Continued Struggles 42
A Frontier Love-feast 43
Joseph Sawyer 44
His Counsels to the Young Inquirer 44
A Sister's Usefulness 45
Anecdote of John Bangs 45
A Religious Life openly begun. 45
Persecutions 46
Doffs his Cue and Ruffles and
becomes a Methodist 46
Increased Struggles 47
Deliverance 48
Chapter IV
LIFE IN CANADA. W
A new Home 50
Studies Methodist Authors 51
Begins Public Labors 52
Diffidence and Defeats 52
Joseph Sawyer 52
Christian Warner 52
Sanctification 52
Its Importance in Christian Theology 52
Wesley's Opinions respecting it 52 A Churchman's Opinion (Note) 54
Experience of it 57
Call to Preach 59
Chapter V. Frontier Ministerial Life
The Methodist Itinerancy 61
A Dream about Wesley 61
Joseph Sawyer 61
Attempts to Preach 62
A Successful Trial 62
Accompanies Sawyer on a Circuit 63
Success 64
CONTENTS.
Page
Defeat 64
Attempts to retreat, but is prevented 64
Is licensed to Preach 65
Buys a Horse and begins to Itinerate 65
Chapter VI. Methodism
Origin of Methodism 66
Voltaire's Prediction 66
Oxford Holy Club 66
Methodism and Education 66
The True Historical Standpoint
of Methodism 67
The Lay Ministry 68
Its Origin 68
Its Providential Adaptation to
the New "World 69
Introduction of Methodism into
America 69
Whitefleld 69
Philip Embury 70
Francis Asbury 71
His extraordinary Character and
Success 72
Introduction of Methodism into
Canada 72
Notices of Dr. Bangs's Fellow-laborers in Canada 74
Coleman 74
Wooster 74
Anecdotes 74
Powerful Preaching 75
Anson 76
Crowell and others 77
Early Hardships of the Itinerancy in Canada 79
Chapter VII. Frontier Ministerial Life
His first Circuit 80
Niagara 80
Forms anew Circuit, Long Point. 81
Condition of the Country 81
Is discouraged 82
Attempts again to Retreat 82
A Striking Dream 82
Singular Conversions 82
A Man Converted on Horseback 84
Revivals 84
Anecdote, (Note) 85
Opposition 85
Lackington's Memoirs 85
Slanders against John Wesley. 86
A Severe Trial 87
A Startling Dream 87
A Curious Coincidence 9u
Joy in tho Wilderness 91
A Bravo Rebuke 92
A Humorist Confounded and
Converted 92
Fate of a Persecutor 93
Chapter VIII. Frontier Ministerial Life
Removal 97
Niagara Circuit 97
Remarkable Answers to Prayer 97 Sets oft' for the Bay of Quinte
Circuit 98
Is detained at Toronto 99
Loses his Horse 99
Yonge-strect Settlement 99
Quaker " Testimony " 100
Visiting from House to House
on a large scale 1 00
An enraged High Churchman. 101
Fallacy of " Impressions" 101
Frontier Life and Manners 102
Characteristic Preaching 102
Contest with a Fiddler 104
With Ruffians on the Highway 105
Remarkable Escape 106
Hardships 107
Adventures among the Quakers 107 Preaching in their Meeting-house 108
"Hirelings" 109
A Frontier Dancing Scene 110
Interview with an Indian Chief 112 Indian Theory of the Origin of
their Race 112
Extraordinary Reconciliation of
a Discordant Church 113
Change of Circuits 114
Chapter IX. Frontier Ministerial Life
Bay of Quinte Circuit 116
Hczekiah Calvin Wooster 116
Sanctification 117
Lorenzo Dow 117
A Powerful Whisper 118
Anecdotes 118
Darius Dunham 119
Elijah Woolsey 119
"Canada Fire" 119
Attack of Typhus Fever 120
Singular Cure 121
His "Double Voice" 123
What caused it 123
Sufferings of the Early Itinerants 124
Locations 124
lie Visits bis Parents 125
CONTENTS.
The Garrettson Homestead ... 126 First Attendance at Conference 128 First Impressions of Asbury.. 128
Ordination 129
New York Conference in 1804. 13U Appointed to the River Thames 130
M. CHAPTER X.
FRONTIER MINISTERIAL LIFE.
Extent of his Travels
A Missionary to the River
Thames
The Journey
A Moravian Mission
Opens his Mission
Salutations
Visits a Jail
A Capital Criminal
Detroit in 1804 ;
A Family Reconciliation
A Pestilential Climate
Gamblers liceing before him. .
Perils by Flood
A Narrow Escape
A Winter Retreat
A Night in the Woods
Sudden Death of a Scorner . . .
Description of the first Camp-meeting in Canada
Extraordinary Scenes
His Marriage
Chapter XI. Frontier Ministerial Life
Attends the Conference '
Offers himself as a Missionary to Lower Canada
Taken Sick on the Way
John B. Matthias
Joseph Sawyer
Descends the St. Lawrence . . .
First Sight of Quebec
First Success
Defeat
Pecuniary Embarrassments. . .
Providential Relief
(ioes to Montreal
Financial Account of the Year
Services in Canada
Founder of Methodism in Quebec
Chapter XII. Ministerial Life In The States
Visits the States 105
The Home of his Father 165
Appointed to Delaware Circuit 165 The Primitive Methodist Ministry 160
He attends the General Conference 167
Negro Worship 168
Personnel of the Conference. . 168 The Old Western Conference . 169
M'Kendree 169
His Sermon before the Conference 170
He is elected Bishop 171
Formation of the " Delegated"
General Conference 171
The "Restrictive Rules" 172
Diocesan Episcopacy proposed 172 Returns to Delaware Circuit . . 172 Character as a Preacher 173
Chapter XIII. Ministerial Life In Tfie States
New York Conference of 1809. 175 Appointed to Albany Circuit. . 175 Influence of Calvinistic Opin-
Their Successful Counteraction 17G
A Public Controversy 176
His first Appearance as an Author 180
" Christianism " 180
Conference of 1810 181
Its Division 181
Its Districts 181
Appointed to New York City. 182 Its Methodist Statistics at the
Time and at his Death 182
Extravagances in Revivals 183
He corrects them 183
A Significant Dream 184
Examples of Pastoral Discipline 185
Asbury 187
Introduces Catechetical Instruction 188
Ministerial Studies 189
The Greek Language 189
M'Knight 189
Adam Clarke 189
Prosperity of the City Churches 191 The first Delegated General
Conference 191
Its Leading Members 192
Asbury 192
M'Kendree 193
Condition of the Church 193
Coke 193
Election of Presiding Elders. . 193 Sketch of the Controversy on the Question 194
Page
Disapproves the Ordination of Local Preachers 196
Historical Importance of the Local Ministry 197
His Services in the General Conference 198
Chapter XIV. Ministerial Life In The States
Appointed to Lower Canada. . 199
The War interferes 200
Sickness 201
Failure of the Canada Appointments 201
Presiding Elder of Ehinebeck
District 203
His Success 203
Enects important Reforms 203
Combats with Calvinism 200
Great Improvement of the District 206
His Preaching at this Period. . 207 Publication of his "Errors of
Hopkinsianism" 208
Its large Sale 209
His Theological Studies and
Abolition of the Union of Church and State in Connecticut 210
Visits his Native Village 21
Reflections in its Graveyard . . 211 General Conference of 1816. . . 213
State of the Church 213
His Services in the Conference 214
Ministerial Support 214
Course of Study 214
Founder of the Periodical Literature of American Methodism 215
Bishop Coke's Death and Character 217
Bishop Asbury's Death and
Character 218
Dr. Bangs's Animadversions
on Asbury 219
His Opinions on the Ministerial Vocation and on Ministerial Support 220
Chapter XV. Ministerial Life In The States
New York Conference of 1817 222 Appointed to New York City 222
Studies 223
Authorship 223
" Predestination Examined". . 223 The "Reformer Reformed". . 223 Revises the Methodist Hymn
Book 224
Revives Catechetical Instruction 225
Preaching 225
Success 225
"Down-town" and "Up-town" 225
John-street Chapel rebuilt 226
The Methodist Missionary Society founded 226
His Agency in its Organization 227
Great Results witnessed by him 229 He aids in reviving Educational Institutions in the Church.. 231
The Weslevan Seminary 231
Sketch of Methodist Education 231 Becomes Presiding Elder of
New York District 233
A Schism 234
The " Still wellites " 234
Chapter XVI. Services In The Book Concern
General Conference of 1820. . . 230 Dr. Bangs's Services during
the Session 237
Is nominated for the Office of
Bishop 238
Initiates the Cause of Education in the General Conference 238
Elected Book Agent and Editor 238
His Account of the Opposition to Education 238
Missions 238
His Improvements of the Book
Concern 240
Sketch of its" History 240
Remarkable Success of the Christian Advocate and
Journal 243
His early Embarrassments in
the Concern 244
Dr. Emory's Services in it 245
Its Destruction by Fire 247
Its re-erection and great success 248
"Vindication of Methodist
Episcopacy" 250
The "Reformers" 250
Dr. Bangs's disapproval of
their Course 250
His own Course 251
CONTENTS.
Chapter XVII. Services In The Book Concern
Page
State of the Church 253
Dr. Bangs's Services in the
Conference 254
Education 254
Prosperity of the Book Concern 254 Re-elected Editor and Agent. . 254
His great Labors 255
He visits Canada 256
At the Grave of his Father. . . 258
Revisits Canada 259
One of the Founders of the Methodist Sunday - School
Union 261
Methodism and Sunday-schools 261
Great Growth of the "Union" 262 Results of his Book Agency. . 263
Chapter XVIII. Services In The General Confer
ENCE of 1828.
Dr. Bangs's Services in the
General Conference of 1828 265 The "Radical Controversy" 266
Methodism in Canada 268
He declines an Offer of the Episcopal Office in Canada. . 269
Prosperity of the Church 270
Elected Editor of the Christian Advocate 270
Chapter XIX. Services From 1828 To 1832
His numerous Labors 271
Editorship of the Advocate... 271 His son, William M'Kendree
Bangs, enters the Itinerancy 271
Recovery from Sickness 272
" Life of Garrettson" 273
History of Methodist Missions 273 " Defense of the Church" .... 274 The "Christian Spectator".. 275 General Conference of 1832. . . 276
Services at the Session 276
Ministerial Support 277
Ministerial Improvement 277
Conference " Course of Study " 277 Progress of Education in the
Church 278
Missionary Progress 278
Foreign Missions projected. . . 278 Declines Nomination for the
Episcopate 280
Methodist Quarterly Review
started 281
Appointed its Editor 282
" Letters to a Young Preacher" 283 Controversy with Bishop Emory 283
Defends Theological Education 287
CHAPTER XX. SERVICES from 1832 to 1836
Great Growth of the Church. . 290
Revivals 291
Success of Domestic Missions 293
Foreign Missions begun 293
Melville B. Cox 294
The Flathead Indians 294
South American Mission 295
Invigoration of the Church. . . 296 Death and Character of Bishop
M'Kendree 297
Death and Character of Bishop
Emory 299
Destruction of the Book Concern by Fire 301
Chapter XXI. Missionary Secretary
The General Conference of 1836 304
Dr. Bangs's Services 304
Prosperity of the Church 305
Increase of Members 305
Educational Institutions 305
Periodicals 305
Missions 305
Dr. Bangs elected Missionary
Secretary 306
Dr. Nast 306
Remarkable Success of the German Methodist Missions 306
Travels of the Secretary 307
Animadversions on the Ministry 308
Revisits Canada 308
Old Scenes 308
Reflections 309
Journey Southward 309
Meets one of his Brothers 310
Sea-faring Adventures 310
Bishop Moore of Virginia 312
Dr. Sewall 312
Slavery 313
Bishop Hedding 314
Dr. Fisk 314
Dr. Bangs under Charges before
his Conference 314
The Antislavery Controversy 315 Missionary Tours 323
CONTENTS.
Pnge '
Dangerous Sickness 324
Literary Labors 324
"Original Church of Christ". 325 "History of the Methodist
Episcopal Church" 325
A severe Literary Trial 325
Centenary of Methodism 326
Extraordinary Growth of the
Denomination 327
Results of the first four Years of the Missionary Secretaryship 328
Chapter XXII. Services From 1836 To 1844
Dr. Bangs at the General Conference of 1840 331
Robert Newton 332
Growth of the Church 332
Re-elected Missionary Secretary 332 Elected President of the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn 333
Resignation of the Presidency 334
Trials 335
Appointed Pastor of Second-street Church, New York. . . 335
Sickness 335
Success 336
Reflections 336
Division of the Church 338
Its Statistical Growth 339
Disturbances of the Times 339
Dr. Bangs's Course respecting them 340
Chapter XXIII. Mature Christian Life
Old Age 341
Ripening Pietv and Happiness 341
Sands-street Church 342
Trials in the Pulpit 342
Rails of Election to the General
Conference of 1848 343
Reappointed to Sands-street
with an Assistant 343
111 Health 344
Division of the New York Conference 344
Dr. Bangs preaches on the Occasion 344
Further Remarks on his Trials
in the Pulpit 344
Presiding Elder of New York
East District 34
Sanetification 34
Visit to Mainaroneck 317
Spiritual Enjoyment 347
Joseph Sawyer again 347
The "Present State and Prospects of the M. E. Church " 349 v
Seventy-two Years of Age 350
Phoebe Palmer 350
Chapter XXIV. Mature Christian Life
Representative to the Wesleyan
Canada Conference 354
Joseph Sawver 354
Scenes on the Route 354
William Case 355
Great Changes 355
Scenes in the Conference 3.")6
Reminiscences 357
Changes 357
Recollections of Toronto 361
Dr. Ryerson 361
Return Home 362
Illness 362
The Fear of Death conquered 362 Constitutional Causo of that
Infirmity 362
Catholic Sentiments 363
Scene in the Christian Alliance 363
Communion of Saints 364
Enjoyment of Natural Scenery 364
Improved Health 365
Physical Habits 366
Religious Enjoyment 366
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