Life and times of Rev. Elijah Hedding ..

Front matter

Life and times of Rev.

Elijah Hedding . .

f^EB 8 i9|q

Preface

the volume. The title was conformed to this idea; — hence, "The Life and Times of Hedding."

The material for this work has been drawn from various sources. Much of the personal statistics was derived from the manuscript journal of the bishop; other portions of the material from manuscripts written by Rev. Moses L. Scudder and Rev. L. M. Vincent — both of whom wrote for him when he became disabled ; and still other portions were drawn from manuscript notes and sketches taken during the last year of the bishop's life, by Rev. William H. Ferris, and by the author. There was also a large accumulation of papers and letters, all of which were carefully examined and laid under contribution. The author must also acknowledge his indebtedness to Rev. Dr. C. Elliott for the use of complete files of "The Wesleyan Repository," " The Mutual Rights," " The Itinerant," "The Zion's Herald," "The Christian Advocate and Journal," and "Zion's Watchman." In addition, he has gathered material from the bound

PREFACE.

volumes of "The Minutes of the Conferences/' the bound volumes of " The Methodist Magazine," "Asbury's Journals/' "Lee's Methodism/' Stevens's " Memorials of Methodism/' Bangs's " History of the Methodist Episcopal Church/' and various other works. The material gathered from these various sources the author has endeavoured to blend into a new and homogeneous production ; not a mere bald, historical detail — but history illustrated by incident, and illustrating philosophy.

On some portions of the work the author has bestowed more critical and extended attention, because of the important principles involved; and especially because Bishop Hedding desired that his memory should be vindicated by a full and truthful report of his administration

The place of publication being distant from the author, he was compelled to read the proofsheets without being able to verify the statistics by comparison with the copy. Still he trusts that

no important error has escaped correction.

PKEFACE.

With the humble desire that it may, in some degree, worthily perpetuate the memory of a great and good man to coming ages, and thus prove a blessing to the Church of Christ and to the world, the volume is now sent forth.

The Author.

Chapter I. Feom His Birth To His Convession

Birth — Ancestry — ^Early Religious Instruction — Prayer in Childhood — A Mother's Influence — The Dutchess Circuit — Benjamin Abbot — Wonderful Displays of Divine Power — Grandmother and Mother converted — Exhorted by Abbot in Class-meeting — Removed to Vermont — Temptations to Infidelity — Deism — Atheism — Universalism — Mental Conflicts — A Critical Period — Narrow Escape — Spiritual Destitution of Starksborough — Advent of a Methodist Family — Meetings established — Young Hedding reads Sermons — Studies Methodist Theology — The Methodist Itinerancy — Note, A Picture of Aggressive Methodism — Vergennes Circuit — Joseph Mitchell — Wonderful Revival — A Mother in Israel — Note, Conversion of Mrs. Bushnell — Young Hedding powerfully awakened — His Resolve and Dedication — Sermon from Joseph Mitchell — Obtains Peace — Becomes a Probationer — Obtains the Witness of the Spirit — Triumph over Sin — State of his Mind and his Studies — A Striking Conversion — Point reached in the Narrative— School in which the Prospective Servant of Christ had been trained — Principal Agencies in his Conversion Page 4:3

Chapter II. Commences His Itinerant Career

General Conviction of the People — Public Exercises — Talents and Graces developed by the Methodist Economy — Exercises of his Mind with reference to the Ministry — Receives an Exhorter's License — Holds Meetings — Lorenzo Dow — Leaves his Circuit — Young Hedding called out to succeed him — His Labours — Rowdies frightened — A Furious Bully — A Brother checked — Perplexed about his Duty — His First Sermon — The Question solved — Subsequent joyful Experience — The Retrospect — Called out by the Elder — Shadrach Bostwick — Admitted on Trial in the New- York Conference— His Companions — The Church — Circuits and Circuit Labours — Primitive Presiding Elders' Districts — Motives of Human Action — These Men and their Work — The Standard-Bearers in the New- York

CONTENTS.

Conference — Appointed to Plattsburgh. — The Circuit — Discouragements — His Colleague — His Studies — Thoroughness of his Investigations — An Illustration — Abundant in Labours — New Ground broken up — Still Another— Closes the Conference Year Page 72

Chapter III

Does not attend the Conference of 1802 — Appointed to Fletcher Circuit — Laban Clark's Description of it — Henry Kyan — Labours and Sufferings

— Mode of crossing Rivers — Horse gives out — Walks half round his Circuit— Personal and Ministerial Characteristics — Application to Studies

— Stackhouse's History of the Bible — His Colleague — Religious Condition of the People — St. Albans — Disciples of Thomas Paine — Persecutions— Two Young Women whipped — A Novel Scene — Infant Damnation — Anecdotes of Early Methodism — Ashgrove Conference in 1803

— Ashgrove Society — Conference Services — Ordained Deacon — Appointed to Bridgewater — Extent of the Circuit — Promising Indications

— Dangerously Sick — EflFects on the Work — Given over to die — Revives — Attempts to resume his Work — Terrible Attack of Rheumatism — Spiritual Conflicts — Prospect of being a Cripple — Thrice tried — A Bright Example of Christian Charity — Resumes his Labours — Visits Saratoga

— Incident on board a Sloop — Conference in 180i — Note to Bishop Asbury — Anecdote of Asbury — Hanover Circuit — Itinerancy of Single Men — Privileges of Study — Revolves his Plan — Studies English Grammar — Mode — Dictionary of the Language — Effects — Subsequent Studies— Successes of the Year 96

CHAPTER lY.

ME. HEDDING UPON BAEEE AND VEESHIEE CIECUITS,

Mr. Hedding in the New-England Conference — Leading Men of that Conference— The Lynn Session in 18*35 — Examination of Character — Finances— Public Exercises — Progress of the Work in New-England since 1790 — Difficulties and Opposition — Appointed to Barre Circuit — Dan Young, his Colleague — Mutual Assistance — Condition of the Circuit — Prosperity of the Work — Mr. Hedding as a Disciplinarian — Singular Trial of his Skill — Obstacles opposed to Methodism in Vermont — A " Tithing-man " in a Methodist Meeting — Session of the Conference for 1806 — ^Yearly Change of Preachers in Early Times — Appointed to Vershire Circuit — Its Situation and Extent — Emigration — Loss of Official Members— Theological Biasses of New-England — Doctrinal Discussions — Onset with a Doctor of Divinity — Results — Characteristic Labours of Methodist Pioneers — Tour of a Young Itinerant through Northern Ver-

CONTENTS.

mont — Dialogue with a Poor Woman — Powerful Conversions — Mrs. Bishop — Spirit and Agencies of the Methodistic Revival — First Six Years of Itinerant Labour Page 128

Chapter V

ME. HEDDING ON NEW-HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT.

First Conference in New-England — Jesse Lee's Mission to the Eastern States

— His First Auxiliaries — Results up to the Fifteenth Anniversary — Session of the Conference for 1807 — Mr. Hedding appointed to New-Hampshire District — Charles Virgin — One of his Preachers won over to Calvinism — ElFort to save him — Temporary Success — Finally secedes — Cause of Withdrawals — Inadequacy of Support — Enormous Proportion of Locations — Causes of Inadequacy of Support — Preachers partly chargeable — Influence of the same Causes at the Present Day — Deficiencies in the New-Hampshire District — Mr. Hedding's Receipts — His Conflicts of Mind — Finds an Associate of his Youth— A Temptation overcome — A Singular Charge preferred against him at Conference — The Disposition made of it — Results to the person preferring it — Session of the Conference for 180S — Returned to New-Hampshire District — Elected a Delegate to the Geneval Conference — Session of the General Conference — Question of a Delegated General Conference — Failure of the Plan by the Opposition of the Middle Conferences — Excitement and Dissatisfaction Mr. Hedding's Labours to prevent a Rupture — The Subject reconsidered— The Plan adopted — Dr. Bangs's Remarks upon it — Proposed Increase of the Number of Bishops — Conference determines to elect one only — M'Kendree elected and ordained — Close of the Conference — Mr. Hedding returns to his District — Jesse Lee revisits New-England — His Remarks on Pews — His Character drawn by Rev. A. Stevens — An Admirable Pioneer — His First Labours — Present Condition of the Work

— A Triumphal Tour — The Parting Pledge 155

Chapter VI

ME. HEDDING ON NEW-LONDON DISTRICT.

Session of the Conference for 1809 — Mr. Hedding appointed to the New- London District— Preachers on the District — Its Extent — Camp-meeting — First one on the District — Solicitude — Wonderful Display of Divine Power — Five Hundred prostrate on the Earth — Results — Mr. Hedding's Marriage — Sketch of Miss Lucy Blish, afterward Mrs. Hedding — Her Parents — Early Education — Early Religious Impressions — Perplexed by Calvinism — Visits a Sister within the Bounds of Plattsburgh Circuit — Hears Methodist Preaching — Is converted and joins the Church — Returns Home — Her Parents converted — A New Society raised up — Mr. Hedding's

CONTENTS.

First Acquaintance with her — Their Marriage — Survives him — Mr. Hedding takes up his Residence in Winchester, N. H. — Reviews his Pecuniary- Profits and Losses as a Single Man — The Session of the Conference at Winchester — How provided for — Bishops Asbury and M'Kendree — ^Returned to the District — Preachers with him — Removes to Ludlow, Mass. — Attempt to warn him out of Town — ^Employed by the Town on his Vacant Sabbaths — Invited by the Town to become the Settled Pastor — Declines — Subsequent Occasional Thoughts — Mr. Newhall's " Rich and Refreshing Meditations " when forcing his Way through Snow-drifts — Horse disabled— Travels on Foot — An Attack of Rheumatism — Crippled Condition — A Wayside Incident — A Singular Sweat — Unexpected Restoration — Conference approaching— Remarks upon his Ten Years' Labour— Difficulties encountered by Methodism— Its Great Successes— Progress of the Work on the District — Camp-meeting — Summation at the Close of the Year Page 182

CHAPTER YII.

LABOUES IN BOSTON, NANTUCKET, AND LYNN STATIONS.

New-England Conference for 1811 — ^Mr. Hedding a Delegate to the

General Conference — Appointed to Boston — Labours —The Embaro-o

Pecuniary Embarrassments of the People — Spiritual Prosperity Conversion of E. T. Taylor — Mr. Hedding's Colleague, Rev. E. Ti. Sabin — The First Delegated General Conference — The Presiding-Elder Question — The Question in the General Conference of 1808 — In 1812— Its Subsequent History — The Question in 1816 — Dr. Bangs's Account of the Discussion — The Question in 1820 — The Compromise — Protest of Rev. Joshua Soule, Bishop Elect — Protest of Bishop M'Kendree — Attempt to reconsider fails — The Rule suspended — Finally rescinded — Mr. Hedding's Views — Change of his Opinion — Final Record of his Opinions on the Subject — The Question of Reserve Delegates — Surviving Members of this Conference — Session of the New-England Conference — War declared — Apprehended Evils — Mr. Hedding appointed to Nantucket — Origin of the Society here — Rev. George Cannon — Evil Results of Locating— Mr. Hedding's Reception on the Island — Excitement among the Islanders — Losses by the War — Condition of the People— State for the Church — Pastoral Labours — A Happy Convert— The Conference for 1813 —State of the Work— Death of one of Mr. Hedding's Early Associates — Thomas Branch — Character and Labours — Departs for the West — Death — Mr. Hedding discovers his Grave in 1826 — His Letter— Stationed at Lynn Common — Removal — Privations and Sufferings of the People — His Sympathy and Labours for them — His Colleague — Results of the Year — Returned to Lynn in 1814 — Labours of the Year — Detained from Conference by a Revival 206

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEK YIII.

LABOURS IN BOSTON, POKTLAND, LYNN, AND NEW-LONDON.

Conference of 1815 — Bishop Asbury — His Feebleness — Subsequent Labours— Death — Conference Business — ]Mr. Hedding elected Delegate to the General Conference — Stationed in Boston — Daniel Fillmore, his Colleague — Their mutual Attachment — An Amusing Anecdote, or "Shallow Preaching" — State of Religion in the City — Niece of Hancock converted — General Conference of 1816 — Session of the New-England Conference at Bristol — Mr. Hedding and his Colleague returned to Boston — Debt on the Churches — Noble and Successful Effort to liquidate it — A Bequest to the Churches — Methodism planted in Dorchester — Also in Charlestown — Prosperity in Boston — Conference in 1817 — Progress of Methodism — Stationed in Portland — State of the Society — Conference in 1818 — Mr. Hedding in Lynn — Member of the General Conference of 1820 — Stationed in New-London — Disorganized Condition of the Society — Character and End of the Disorderly — Health fails — Reaches Conference Page 242

CHAPTER IX.

ME. HEDDING ON BOSTON DISTEICT AND IN BOSTON— FROM 1821 TO 1824.

Boston District— An Inhospitable Methodist — State of the Work — Camp-meetings — Conference at Bath — Stationed in Boston — Mr. Hedding's Conference Sermon — Measures to establish Zion's Herald — Mr. Hedding's Colleague, Ephraim Wiley — Conference of 1823 — Returned to Boston — Colleague — John Liudsey — Review of Mr. Hedding's Labours — Progress of Methodism — Elements of its Success — 1. Revival of the Old Doctrines of Christianity — 2. Appeal to Man's Consciousness of his Relations to God — 3. A Conscious Personal Salvation — 1. Individualizing Characteristics of Methodist Preaching — 5. Peculiar Provisions of Organic Methodism — Perpetuity of these Elements — Confidence reposed in Mr. Hedding by his Brethren 267

CHAPTER X.

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1824, AND MR. HEDDING'S ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY.

Representation in the General Conference — British Delegation — Address of the Bishops — Educational Demands upon the Church — Religious Education of the Children — Seminaries and Public Schools — Mission-

CONTENTS.

ary Society — Book Concern — Slavery and the ** Tenth Section " — Memorials on Lay Delegation — Action of the Conference — Reasons assigned— The Presiding-Elder Question — Ballotings for Bishops — Mr. Hedding's Election — His Reluctance to being a Candidate — Rev. E. Mudge's Account — Feelings after Election — Subsequent Resolution of the Conference — Accepts the Office and is ordained — Fitness for the Office Page 292

CHAPTER XI.

FIEST QUADEENNIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUE.

Division of Episcopal Labour — Bishops George and Hedding attend the New-York Conference — Bishop Hedding makes Lynn his Residence — New-England Conference — Joshua Randle — Bishop George's Opinion of his Colleague — Genesee Conference — Cazenovia Seminary — Proposed Tour in Canada — Excitement there — Rate of Travel — Incident in Toronto — Hardships — A Log-cabin Tavern — Difficulties compromised

— Henry Ryan — Close of Conference — Progress of the Church during the Year — Sickness — A Hard Ride — Reaches Home in March — Difficulties of Travel — Starts for Philadelphia — Desponding Letter — Philadelphia, New- York, New-England, and Maine Conferences — State of the Work in Maine — Journey to Northern New- York — Letter to his Wife

— Genesee Conference — Canada Conference — Progress of the Work — Summation for the Year — Returns Home — A Wayside Incident — Winter of 1825-6 — Meeting of the Bishops in Baltimore — Failure to appoint a Delegate to the British Conference — Philadelphia and New- York Conferences — Genesee Conference — Letter to his Wife — Pittsburgh Conference — The "Radical Movement" — Mr. Hedding's Address to the Conference — Plain Talk in the Cabinet — Changes two Presiding Elders — Letter to Mrs. Hedding — The Ohio Conference — Return to Lynn — Results of another Year — Starts again — A Letter — Philadelphia and New- York Conferences — Difficulties in Stationing Preachers — An Illustrative Instance — The True Course for a Young Preacher — New- England Conference — Fever and Ague — Journey to Portland — Maine Conference — Journey Westward — The Canada Conference — Prevailing Drought — Sickness of Preachers — Visits the Indian Mission Stations in Canada — Interesting Anecdotes of Converted Indians — Reading the Testament without learning the Letters — Indians at Rice Lake — Visit to Grape Island — Bark Canoe — Novel Mode of Landing — Captain Beaver

— Preaches to the Indians — Sermon of Peter Jones — Church Labour with an Erring Brother — Curious Questions — Estimate of the Work among the Indians — Journey to Troy — Dedicates State-street Church — Reaches Home — End of the Year — Maine Wesleyan Seminary — Bishop Hedding's Interest in our Educational Movements 305

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEK Xn.

SECOND QUADEENNIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUES.

Goes to the General Conference — Doubts about the Duty of Continuing in the OflBce — The General Conference — Progress of the "Radical Movement" — Changes sought for — The "Union Society" — "Mutual Rights" — Dr. Bond's "Appeal" — Church Trials in Baltimore — Memorial to the General Conference — Report of the Committee — Asa Shinn moves its Adoption — Xine-tenths of the People opposed to the proposed Change — Bishop Hedding misrepresented in the " Mutual Rights" by "Timothy" — Seeks Redress — "Timothy's" Anonymous Certificates — Bishop Hedding brings the Matter before the General Conference — Action of the Committee on the Episcopacy — Testimony of the Pittsburgh Delegation — Confession of Rev. George Brown, the Real " Timothy " — Triumphant Vindication of the Bishop — Progress of the "Work during the Four Years — Close of the General Conference — Route to New- York — Perils upon Lake Erie — Parts with Bishop George for the Last Time — Their Association and Attachment — Dr. Bangs's Portraiture of the Character of Bishop George — Outline of his Life and Labours — Responsibility that had rested on Bishop Hedding — Route into New-England — Perilous Accident — Visit to Canada — The Independent Organization of the Canada Conference completed — A Dying Father's Charge to his Son to maintain " the Family Altar" — The Result — Close of the Ecclesiastical Year — Progress of the Work — Increase in the Church during the "Radical Movement" — Prophesied Ruin of the Church not realized — Bishop Hedding spends the Winter of 182S-9 in Lynn — Sermon on Dancing — Philadelphia, Xew-York, and Xew- England Conferences for 1829 — Excitement on Masonry — Maine Conference— Tour of Visitation to the Churches — Refused Entertainment by a Wealthy Methodist Page 350

CHAPTER XIII.

SECOND QUADEENNIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUES— CONCLUDED.

Conferences for the Spring of 1830 — Visits the Oneida Indian Mission — Sermon to the Indians — Journeys Westward — Review of Labours — A Week's Rest — Visit to Canada — Reaches Home after Xine Months' Absence — Summation for the Year — Baltimore Conference in ] 831 — — A "Located Itinerant" — Submits to a Surgical Operation — Conferences attended this Spring — Leaves Home on a Western and Southem Tour — Letter to his Wife — Genesee Conference — Christian Hospitality V8. Hospitality to Office — A Cold Reception — Quartered among Apprentice Boys — Pittsburgh Conference — Journey to Mansfield, Ohio 1*

CONTENTS.

— Adventures with a Preacher who had "Time enough yet" — Meets the Kentucky Conference at Louisville — Journey from Louisville to East Tennessee — Reaches Athens — Eebuke of a Pompous Young Man

— Holston Conference — Visits the Cherokee Nation — State of Society, &c. — Encounter with a Watch-Dog — Travels in Georgia — A Slave Auction — The Georgia Conference — South-Carolina Conference — Conversation with a Negro on the Ptoanoke — Hospitality of a Tavernkeeper — Virginia Conference — Philadelphia Conference — Arrives at the Seat of the General Conference — Progress of the Work during the Four Years — Educational Movement — Colleges — Seminaries — Missions— Among the Slaves — Liberia — Indian Missions — In Canada — At Green Bay — E,ev. John Clark — The Wyandots — Rev. J. B. Finley

— Visit to the East with Indians — Choctaws — Cherokees — Death of Ministers Page 377

CHAPTER XIY.

THIED QUADEENNIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUES.

General Conference of 1832 — Representation — Character of the Session

— Two Bishops elected — Bishop Hedding's Purpose to resign — Action of the New-York and New-England Delegates — He yields to their Judgment — The New- York Conference — Its Division — Law Questions

— A Question proposed — New-England Conference — Ravages of the Cholera — Aspect in New-York City — The People rushing from the City — Passage up the Hudson — Reflections — Note: Distressing Case of a Widow and her Son — Letter to Bishop Roberts — Oneida Conference— Genesee — Efforts to reach the Canada Conference — Fails — Alarming Symptoms — Reaches Home — State of his Feelings — Statistics of the Year — Presides over the Virginia Conference in 1833 — A Few Days in Washington — Idea of the City — Old Age an Incurable Disease — Conferences attended — A Great Dinner — The Meeting of Old Friends — Prosperity of the Oneida Conference — Completes his Conference Visitation for the Year — Tax upon his Distinction as an Expounder of Ecclesiastical Law — Prosperity of the Church — The Oregon Mission — Educational Interests — Conference Labours for 1834

— Death of two Fellow-labourers — The Labours of a Bishop — Question involving the Administration of Presiding Elders — The Course of Study for Candidates in the Ministry — Action of the Bishops assailed

— Letter of Bishop Emory — A Singular Question affecting the Marriage Relation of Slaves — Progress of the Church — Conferences in 1835 — Development of our Ecclesiastical Jurisprudence — Question upon electing Committees on Trials — Death of Bishop M'Kendree

— Sudden Death of Bishop Emory — Returns of Members — Incident upon Long Island Sound — Attends the Virginia and Baltimore Conferences — Progress of the Church during the four Preceding Years 410

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XV^'

FOFETH QUADKEX^sIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUES.

General Conference of 1836 — Representation — Death of M'Kendree and Emory— Address of Bishops Roberts and Hedding — Hedding's Remark upon the Administration of Discipline — Election of three Bishops — Ordination of Messrs. Waugh and Morris — Vote relating to Bishops Roberts and Hedding— Sundry Measures — Adjournment — Bishop Heddiug's Labours for the twelve past Years — Conferences met during this Year — Statistical Returns — Causes assigned for declension — True causes — Bishop Hedding removes from Lynn to Lansingburgh, X. Y. — Note made at the close of the Year's Labour — Conferences met in 1837 — -An Increase reported this Year — Import of Questions propounded to Candidates for Deacon and Elder's Orders — Labours of 1838 — Visits the Grave of Benjamin Abbott

— Protracted Sessions of the New-York and New-England Conferences — "Visits the Northern New-York Conferences — Progress of the Church this Year — Conferences attended in 1839 — Exhaustion — Misses old Friends — Influence upon him — Anti-Slavery Excitement — Course he felt obliged to pursue — Prosperity of the Church — Close of the Fourth Quadrennial of his Labours — Some Reflections — Death of Ministers during the four Years — Mr. Hedding's old Associates — John Brodhead

— Martin Ruter — Oliver Beale — Wilbur Fisk — The Dying Testimonies

— Substantial Prosperity of the Church — Embarrassment from Locations —Vitality of the Methodist System Page 448

CHAPTER XYI.

BISHOP HEDDING AND THE ABOLITION CONTEOVEESY.

T3ie Anti-Slavery Agitation — Movements of Rev. Orange Scott during the CJonference Year 1834-5 — Anti-Slavery feeling in New-England and Northern New- York — Stand-point from which Bishop Hedding contemplated the Movement — Anticipation of evil results — Feels it his Duty to oppose Ultra Measures — Gives countenance to the " Counter Appeal "

— Anti-Slavery Sentiments expressed in that Appeal — Difficult position of3ishop Hedding — His Pastoral Letter to the New-England and New- Hampshire Conferences— Its effect — Its treatment by the Ultraists — Newspaper Discussions — General Conference of 1836 — The Pastoral Address — Disapprobation of the Measures employed by Abolitionists — Avoid electing a Slaveholding Bishop — Extremists on both sides dissatisfied— Binding force of the General Conference action upon the Bishops — Bishop Hedding at the New-England Conference in 1836 — Declines reappointing 0. Scott to the Presiding Eldership — Proposed Action on Slavery — His Administration assailed — New-Hampshire Conference — G. Storrs proposed for Presiding Elder — The Bishop converses

CONTENTS.

with him — Declines to appoint him — Painful feelings — New-England Conference for 1837 — Calls the attention of the body to the misrepresentations of 0. Scott — Note: Letter from Bishop Hedding to Rev. 0. Scott — The Settlement — O.Scott's retractions — Note: Previous attempt at Adjustment : -written statement of T. Merritt, D. Fillmore, and T. C. Peirce — Events at the New-Hampshire Conference — Blsliop Bedding's Vindication of his Administration — His celebrated " Golden-Rule Argument in favour of Slavery," aud what it amounts to — An Unpardonable Sin — Ruling of Presiding Elders — Character of some of the Resolutions — Rev. 0. Scott in the Field — His offences against Bishop Hedding repeated — A few Extracts from his published Letters — Charges preferred against Rev. 0. Scott before the New-England Conference — Decisions of the Conference — Trial of La Roy Sunderland — Mr. Hedding looks to the General Conference for redress — Incident at the close of the New-England Conference — Rev. 0. Scott's ex parte statement of the Trial — Action in the New-Hampshire Conference — Letter from Bishop Morris — Letter from Bishop Hedding in relation to the Trials of Scott and Sunderland — Subsequent misrepresentation and ill-treatment received by Bishop Hedding — An Apologetic Remark concerning the Ultraists — Light in which Bishop Hedding's Administration is to be interpreted — Subject brought up to the General Conference of 1810 Pa-e 480

CHAPTEK XVII.

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1840, AND THE FIFTH QUADREN- NIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUR.

General Conference of 1840 — Representation — Bishop's Address — Views of Constitutional Powers — Government of the Church — Appeal of Rev. D. Dorchester — Action in relation to the Prerogatives of Bishops and Presiding Elders as Presiding OflBcers — Bishop Hedding's Communication in relation to the Trials of 0. Scott and La Roy Sunderland — Private Adjustment by the Delegates — Magnanimity of Bishop Hedding — Another instance — Speech upon striking out the Censure of the New-England Conference — His counsel prevails — The Question on the Testimony of Coloured Persons — Dr. Few's Resolution — Tie Vote upon its consideration — Bishop Hedding declines to give the Casting Vote — Shows that a Bishop has no Constitutional Right to Vote — Pastoral Address — Close of the Conference — Annual Conferences — Michigan — Ohio — Dedicates Bedford-street Church in New-York city — Close of the Year — Dedication of John-street Methodist Episcopal Church — Conferences of 1841 — Address on the Administration of Discipline— Address before the New- Jersey Conference on Christian Perfection—Results for the Year — Conferences of 1842 — The Resolution proposed about Transfers in the New-Hampshire Conference — Address upon "Man's Natural Ability," &c. — Residence at Saratoga — Great fall

CONTENTS.

of Snow — A hard Sleigh-ride — Conferences of 184:3 — Death of Bishop Roberts — Condition of the Work in the Eastern Conferences — Letter to his Wife — Missionary Cause — Removes to Poughkeepsie — Unprecedented Increase of Members in the Church — Spring of 1844 Page 537

CHAPTER XVm.

SIXTH QUADRENNIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUE.

General Conference of 1844 — Representation — Slavery Agitation — The Harding Case — Case of Bishop Andrew — Intensity of Feeling excited

— Proposition of the Bishops to suspend Action — Objections in the Minds of Northern Delegates — Bishop Hedding withdraws his Name — Assigns his Reasons — Remarks of Bishops Waugh and Morris — The Communication laid on the Table — Passage of Finley's Resolution — Eventual Separation of the Southern Conferences — Resolution relating to Bishop Hedding's Labours — Election and Consecration of Bishops Hamline and Janes — Close of the Session — Conference Labours — Changed Views of Brethren alienated in the Abolition Controversy — ■ Invitation to fix his Residence again in New-England — Conference Labours in 1845 — Death of three Ministers — Action of the Bishops in Relatioji to giving Bishop Andrew work — Bishop Soule calls Bishop Andrew out — His Allusion to his Colleagues — Southern Organization completed — Bishops Soule and Andrew connected with it — Action of the Bishops remaining in the Methodist Episcopal Church — Conference Labours in 1846 — A Scene in the New- York Conference — Church Difficulties in Relation to John N. Maffitt — Question of Jurisdiction — Bishop Hedding's Decision — Animadversions upon that Decision — General Conference approves it — Church Statistics — Spring of 1847 — New- England Conference — Address on the Occasion of the Death of George Pickering and Joel Steele — Further Labours — Providence Conference in 1848 587

CHAPTER XIX.

SEVENTH QUADEENNIAL OF EPISCOPAL LABOUR.

General Conference of 1848 — Bishop Hedding requested to prepare some Biographical Sketch of himself — His Views on the Pastorship of the Methodist Episcopal Church — Appointed Delegate to the British Wesleyan Conference — Feeble Health — Rev. Manning Force accompanies bira — Revives an Acquaintance with an old Friend — Sermon before the New-Hampshire Conference — Visit on part of an old Circuit — Vermont Conference at Barre — Maine and East Maine Conferences — Conferences in 1849 — The old Cambridge Circuit— The Bishop's Notes of Travel, &c.