Thirteen years' experience in the itinerancy

Front matter

IN THE

ITIiNERANCY.

REV. ANDREW MANSHIP,

Preface

HE following work originated and assumed its present form under peculiar circumstances. Hedding Church, Philadelphia, had been completed and dedicated to Almighty God. On the day of dedication, an amount had been subscribed sufficient, or nearly so, to meet all the remaining pecuniary liabilities of the trustees on the house, and everything looked cheering. But a sad and unlooked for change had taken place. Many of these subscriptions, and some of an earlier date, amounting in all to some four thousand five hundred dollars, had become unavailable ; for though made in good faith, the subscribers, being persons in humble circumstances, and

U PREFACE.

depending on the results of their business and daily toils to meet their obligations, had been, through the unhappy embarrassments which had arisen in the financial and business afiairs of the city, rendered unable to pay them. What was now to be done? How was so large an amount of money to be raised ? While Brother Manship was anxiously deliberating on this question, and devising measures to meet the emergency, the thought suddenly arose in his fertile mind to draw up and publish an account of the Plank Church, which had excited so much attention in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and had been the means, under God, of doing so much good, and to apply the avails, or a large portion of them, to the object now engrossing his attention. He had already adopted various unusual, expedients to accomplish this desirable object, and the church had realized from them a considerable sum. Now the thought was presented to him to turn author, and try to make something for the church in this way. What should he do? He felt embarrassed. He had given but little attention to literary labour, and had not written much besides letters to friends and outlines for the pulpit. He did not, how-

PREFACE. iii

ever, long hesitate — for "to do and to dare'* is characteristic of this brother, when good is to be accomplished. Accordingly he proceeded to collect materials and to prepare for his work. As he progressed, however, the original conception gradually enlarged itself, taking a wider and yet wider range, until at length " The History of the Plank Church" rose to the more dignified dimensions of " Thirteen Years' Experience in the Itinerancy and in this form it has been stereotyped, and made into a book.

This book I have read in manuscript, every word of it. It is characteristic of its author : sprightly, earnest, energetic ; full of allusions, incidents, anecdotes, and biographical sketches ; all tending to lead the sinner to Christ and to Heaven. It is, indeed, a fair transcript of the author's mind, of his modes of thinking, and of expression. In short, it is Rev, Andrew 3IansMp under the name and form of a look. To his friends, it will be, I have no doubt, a great treasure ; while to others, it will not fail to afford the means of filling up leisure moments both agreeably and profitably.

I hope this book may have a large sale ; it is worthy iv PREFACE*

of it, not only in itself, but also on account of the benevolent end which the proceeds, in great part, are intended to subserve. Indeed, I cannot but hope that, beyond his being reimbursed in the thousand dollars which, in anti- . cipation, he has already nobly secured to the Hedding Church, the author may realize a respectable sum to add to the comforts of his family, and his means of usefulness in other directions. L. ScOTT.

Wilmington, Nov. lUh^ 1855,

Chapter 1

Conversion of Author — Rev. William Spry — Ought to encourage the Young — Hear a living Man's Funeral preached — Meteoric Phenomenon — Thought the Day of Judgment had come — Appointed Class Leader — First Exhortation to Whites — Sent to Frederica Circuit — Quarterly Meeting at Barratt's Chapel — Preached to Coloured People in the Grrove — Barratt's Chapel — First regular Sacrament — Mr. Asbury during the Revolutionary War — Mistake about Methodism — The Old Seat preserved — Rev. Dr. Bond — Rev. William Connelly — Camp Meetings — Interesting Conversions — The Grove the best place to preach in — Happy Death at a Camp Meeting — Let us encourage Camp Meetings — Ministers ought to be Pastors — Assailed by a Dog — Reflections on the Conflict with the Dog — Young Quaker Converted — Conduct of his Mother — Conversion of SherijQT— Necessity of Submission — Conversion of a Sea Captain Page 13

CHAPTER IL

Received on Trial in the Philadelphia Conference — Rev. Joseph Lybrand — His Last Text — Funeral Sermon of Bishop Roberts — Bishop Emory — Rev. James Allen — Liberality of Ebenezer Church — Bishop Whatcoat — Remains of the Bishops — Bishop Whatcoat's Monument — Rev. John S. Taylor — Anecdote of Mr. Taylor — Be in time for Family

1* (5)

vi

CONTENTS.

Pevotion— Rev. Solomon Sharp — Mr. Sharp casts out a Devil — Anecdotes of Mr. Sharp — Author's first Opinion of Ministers — Selling Religious Books an appropriate Work of Ministers — The Danger of Procrastination — Revolutionary Soldier converted — Frederick Carter called like Samuel — Encourage Piety in your Children — Frederick Carters happy Death — Beware of the Company you keep — Treatment of Coloured People — Major Massey — Many Funerals — Flattery Dangerous — The Pipe of Peace — Church completed and dedicated — Poor ' of Earth— rich in Faith • , . 38

Chapter III

Chestnut Hill made a distinct Charge — ^Small Amount of Quarterage — Union Chapels — Lot procured for Church — Kindness of Presbyterians — Quarterly Meeting in the Grove — Night Meetings — Praiseworthy Conduct of a Poor Man — Death of a Persecutor — The Minnick Family — The Work of God cannot bo stopped — Woods Meeting near Dreshertown — A Noble-Hearted German — Strike while the iron is hot" — Rev. Albert Barnes — Anecdote of General Jackson — The Ministerial Office the highest held by Man — Go cheerfully to your Appointment — Leave the Appointing Power where the Discipline places it — The Better Way — Reasons against Petitioning — Mutual Sacrifices . . 66

Chapter IV

Trip to Conference in a Bay Craft — A Mother dying — Interesting little Girl— Conference kindly entertained — Rev, Henry White — Presiding Eldership — Remarkable Conversion — Anecdote of Father White — Revivals to be sought at Conference — Rev. Charles Pitman — Revival in Mispillion Neck — Disorderly Drunkard — Missionary Meetings — Coloured Children baptized — Union Camp Meeting — Remarkable Conversion of a Young Lady — A Little Girl Converted — Father led to Christ by his Little Daughter — Mother Rejoicing over her Son*s Conversion — Miss Fanny Darby — Miss Darby's Devotion to the Cause — Her Death — Her Tomb — Last Call to an interesting Young Man — Hon. John M. Clayton — Miss R. A. Sipple — A Faithful Sunday School

CONTENTS.

vii

Teacher — A bereaved Mother — Comforting Reflections — Left the Churchyard profited — Preaching at Sunrise — Remarkable Prayer — Danger of Procrastination — An alarming Dream — Danger of Popular Applause * . . . 84

Chapter V

Conferences in small Towns — Appointed to Lancaster — Death of Rev. W. A. Wiggins— His Dying Testimony and Burial — The First Church in Lancaster — The Contract — Sympathy strengthens weak Hands — Liberality promoted by Singing — Liberality of Coloured People — Storm at Camp Meeting — Aunt Lottey — Shouting in Death — Weigh well your Words — Dedication at Cambridge, Md. — Rev. Mr. Cazier — A Mistake — Mr. Adam Wolf — Christian Friends a Treasure — Rev. George Lacey, M. D. — Death of Emma Lacey — Love for the Bible gives Character 114

CHAPTER VL

Bishop Hamline — The Episcopacy not an Order, but an Office — Rev. Ezekiel Cooper — One Soul worth Twenty Years' Labour — Ministers should not marry prematurely — Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church — Emory Methodist Episcopal Church — Rev. Henry -G-. King — Conversion of his Son — A Testimonial of Regard — An affecting Case of Hydrophopia — Inconsistency of Worldlings — Injurious Tendencies of Dancing — A Young Lutheran Minister — "Mention not that name" — Reception of returned Volunteers — The joyful Surprise — Fight the Good Fight — Pray^ without ceasing— The Transport at meeting Loved Ones in Heaven ........ 130

Chapter VII

Sent to Easton — Rev. Joseph Hartley in Prison — The ominous Text — Appointment changed — Refuse not to receive your Preacher — **A word spoken in due season, how good is it I" — "All things work together for good" — Why Methodism has not prospered in New Castle — Thomas riS

CONTENTS.

Challenger, Sr. — There is Mercy even for the Politician—Forget not the Prisoner — Wedding in Prison — "Unmarry me" — Rev. John D. Long — Conversion of a Romanist — Search the Scriptures — Behold, the Bridegroom cometh — Rev. Nicholas N. Ridgley — His Love for Class Meetings — Why he became an Itinerant — A remarkable Parlour Meeting — Brother Ridgley at Camp Meeting — Utility of Sunday Schools — Ministers should care for Children . . . .150

Chapter VIII

The Third Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilmington, Del. — Rev. Edward Kennard — Corner-Stone laid with Masonic Ceremonies — Co-operation of Christian Females important — Discouraging Condition of Union Church, Wilmington — Origin of Methodism in Wilmington — St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church— Odd Fellows* Hall— The Light breaking — Confidence restored — Theatres Nurseries of Vice — The Press in Wilmington — Rev. Levi Storks — Red Lion Camp Meeting — Shouting it out — An Apology demanded — The Apology commenced — The Apology concluded — Camp Meeting at Willis's Woods — Give, and it shall be given unto you — Scatter and increase — A Venture — Dedication of Basement — First Convert — Dedication of Union Methodist Episcopal Church — Rev. Henry Slicer 172

Chapter IX

The Prodigal Son coming Home — Rev. Joseph Whittington — I cannot come down — The Holy Virgin disgraced — Taken for a Roman Priest — Help weak Places — The Canvass Church — A groundless Alarm — His last Call — A memorable Day — Faith laughs at Impossibilities — A Dance-House made a House of Prayer — To get a Soul converted always in order — A grateful Convert — Hon. Judge Hall — An entertaining Circumstance — Charmed by the Singing of a little Girl — Ask the Prayers of Children — The Roman Catholic Sister — Can do better with Ptcligion — Not Methodists only shout — Dedication at Oxford, Pa. — Rev. Jonas Bissey — Killed by Lightning — Rev. James Smith — His Death — May we shout in Death ! 196

CONTENTS.

Chapter X

"Wesleyan Collegiate Institute'* — Rev. Solomon Prettyman — Mr. Prettyman parts with Wesleyan Female Collegiate Institute — Professor Thomas E. Sudler — An interesting Commencement — Rer. George Loomis, A. M. — Respect shown to the General Conference — Infidelity hypocritical — Anecdote of the Travellers — Believe what your Mother says — Origin of Methodism in Boston — First Methodist Church in Boston — Rev. Jesse Lee — Anecdotes of Mr. Lee — Boston Common— The Old Elm Tree — "Woodman, spare that tree" — Senate Chamber — Bunker's Hill — Thrilling Incident — Camp Meeting near Millersburg, Pa. — Enraged Ferryman conquered — The Weapons of our Warfare are Spiritual — Warned a rich Man — Rev. John Cummings — His efforts to suppress Intemperance — Deal's Island Camp Meeting — Rev. Joshua Thomas — Preaches to the British — Warns them against an Attack on Baltimore — Brother Thomas a great Shouter — The big Canoe — Brother Thomas's Death — Death of a Student of the Wesleyan Female College — Funeral of Miss B. — " Steer this way, Father" — Dedication at Odessa — Bishop Scott — The affecting Case of Captain A. — A Storm at Sea — God hears the Sailor's Prayer — The Grounds of Hope in Captain A.'s Death — The Gospel Life-Boat — Dedication at St. George's, Del. — A Female financiering — Improve Churches — Emulate the Example of David 222

CHAPTER XL

In the strength of the Lord I will go" — ^Nazareth No. 2 — Its Origin — Two zealous Ladies — Thomas Willday — Hedding Church — Bishop Hedding — Encouraging Commencement — Lot selected for Hedding Church — Reasons for the Selection — Preliminary Measures — Hedding Church made a distinct Charge — Leaves shaken from the Tree of Life — The impotent Arrogance of Romanists — Means of Success simple — Tabernacle M. E. Church — Incident in the Life of Rev. J. W^ley

CONTENTS.

— Have Faith in God — Laying Corner-Stone of Hedding Church — Tents erected — Interest the Children — Served a better Purpose than intended — Stand breaks down — Young Ladies converted — The Banished called Home — Forsake all — A Strife in the Tents — Opposing Parents defeated — Willing to have a Revival in God's Way — The Spiritual Work is above all — The Gospel the Panacea for the Miseries of the World — Importance of Church Extension — Rev. David H. Kollock — His Death and Funeral— The last Night in the Tents . . . .260

CHAPTER XIL

Plan of Plank Church proposed — Finished in ten Days — Dedication —Rev. John Hersey — Plank Church crowded — Many converted — An exemplary Coloured Man — Names given to Plank Church — Mrs. Phoebe Palmer — Incident at a Hotel — Second Sunday Night in Plank Church — Lights go out — Effect on some present — Conversion of a Romanist — Wife of a German Infidel converted — Harsh Treatment by her Husband — A. Lawyer's Wife converted — Effect on the Husband — His Conversion — Protracted Meeting held through Christmas Holidays — Watch Night — Conversion of an elderly Lady — Dedication of Basement — Nine Sermons — Love Feast — Missionary Collection — James Stewart Out of the eater came forth meat" — Let our motto be, God and the People" — Anecdote of Mr. Wesley — Methodism in Reading — First Donation to a Church — St. Peter's M. E. Church, Reading — Mistake about a Certificate — Bishop Ames — Close of Conference at Reading . 289

CHAPTER XIIL

Revivals increase our Congregations — The best Way to revive a Church — "Immortal till our work is done" — The Old Rye Field — The happy Change — Dedication of Bloomery Church — Author reported as dead — Encouraging Letter from Bishop Waugh — Life Insurance — Objections to Life Insurance answered — Rev. John Lednum — Plank Church Camp Meeting — Rev. Dr. Early — Rev. Dr.

CONTENTS.

xi

Green — Be willing to preach anywhere — " Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice" — Let the Pulpit be kept pure — The Messrs. Ginnodo — Dedication of Hedding Church — Happy Death of George M'CauUey — Rev. Prof. Wentworth — Rev. Dr. Kennaday — Love Feast on a peculiar Plan — The Anniversary of the temporary Hedding Church The Singing in the Plank Church — An Incident — An Incident in the Author^s own Experience — Found a more congenial Spirit among converted Sailors — Rev. John P. Durbin, D. D. — Samuel H. Aldridge, Esq. — " Let the highest bidder have it" — Rev. A. A. Willetts — Temporary Arrangement recommended 314

CHAPTER XIV.

A Family in Distress — " Will there be room enough for me, too We should feel for the Poor — Mrs. Ann B. Castle — Her Marriage to Rev. Joseph Castle — Her peaceful Death — " The contrast is great." — Course of Lectures — Novel Expedient — Though novel yet successful — How to prevent Reaction — Revivals defended — Prosperity of Hedding Church — " A more excellent way" — Induced to take a supernumerary Relation — Returned to Hedding Church with an Assistant — The Church should encourage those called to the Ministry — Tell your family to cheer up — all will be well" — The horse, Itinerant — Be not afraid ; only believe" — Visit to Europe proposed — Embarked for Europe — Disappointment — Blasted Anticipations — Disappointment apparently providential — "Don't let her drive" — Light is sown for the Righteous" — Dedication of Church at Indiantown, Md. — Camp Meeting near Milton, Del. — Ex- Governor Hazzard — Enthusiasm in giving — Thank God there is Vitality in the Church — Dedication of Garrison's Chapel, Accomac Co., Va. — Conversion of a little Girl — " I fell a crying, papa" — The Kindness to Coloured People — Rev. Adam Wallace — Harmony among the Methodists in Virginia — Meeting in Concert Hall, Phila. — Reasons for going to Concert Hall— Let the " Songs of Zion" be sung — The effect of Zion*s Songs — The Addresses in Concert Hall — Respect shown to the Speakers— Charity should begin but not remain at Home — Young Stocker — " Cast down, but not destroyed"

xii

— Let Slanderers look well to themselves — Don't clog the Wheels of the Itinerancy — Mr. Wesley an eminent Itinerant — The Methodists die well — " Now sing me home to Heaven" — " There is light in the valley" — Mrs. Hannah Louisa Plinn — Triumphant Death of Mrs. M. — "Absent from the body, present with the Lord" — Don't forget the Fact that Methodists die well— We won't give up the distinguishing Features of Methodism ♦ .

IN THE

I T I N E U A N C Y.

Chapter I

Conversion — Rev. William Spry — Susceptibility of Youth — Hear a living Man's Funeral preached — The Stars seemed to be falling — Thought the Day of Judgment had come — Appointed Class Leader for the People of Colour — First Exhortation to white People — Sent by Presiding Elder to Frederica Circuit — Barratt's Chapel — Sacrament administered by Dr. Coke — Joyful Meeting between him and Mr. Asbury — Kev. Dr. Bond — Bev. William Connelly — Camp Meetings — Pastoral Visiting — Fighting with a Beast- Churches enlarged — Visit a Quaker Lady's House — Deeply pious coloured Couple — Sea Captain converted — Becommended to Annual Conference — In favor of the Itinerancy.

THE title of my book is " Thirteen Years' Experience in the Itinerancy yet my readers will not^ I trust, deem it improper for me to give an account of my conversion. This glorious event, and one that never will 2 (13)

TniRTEEX years' EXPERIENCE

Conversion of author. Rev. Wm. Spry.

be forgotten by me, took place in August, 1835, when I was a very small boy, at a camp meeting held in what w^as called the Three Bridges Woods, some three miles from Denton, Caroline county, Md. I heard a sermon preached on that occasion by Rev. Charles Pitman, that reached my heart, and proved to be the power of God unto my salvation. I was so small and so young, that some had but little faith, if any, in my sincerity, and rather repulsed than encouraged me ; but, in making this effort, I found a true friend in Rev. William Spry, who practically manifested that he did not ^' despise the day of small things." He has gone from earth to heaven doubtless, yet he lives in my memory, and I hope in eternity to rise up and call him blessed, for the instruction he gave me, and the interest he took in a poor orphan boy's spiritual prosperity. Not only did I find that the Saviour was precious, but many of my young associates also experienced the smiles of Jesus. We were, on our return home in the town of Denton, formed into a class, which class was almost exclusively composed of very young persons, and Rev. William Spry did not think it beneath his dignity, though the preacher of the Circuit, to become our leader. And truthfully it may be said, he ''led us beside the still waters," and we did " lie down in green pastures."

The Church sustained a great loss in the premature death of this deeply pious minister. Judging from his

IN THE mXERAifCy.

Rev. AVin. Spry.

venerable and sedate appearance, and from his almost snow-white hair, some concluded that he w^as quite an aged man. It was not an uncommon circumstance for him to be addressed ^' Father Spry" by persons much his senior, and, in some cases, old enough to be his father. In all my intercourse with men (and I had much with him), I never knew a man that spent so much time upon his knees. The closet to him had many attractions. In his family, there w^as not only morning and evening devotion, but also at noon, he, with his family, worshipped God under his own vine and fig-tree. I was, in the year 1840, for some months in Lewes, Delaware, a resident in this Christian family, and I can truly say it was like the house of Obededom, where the " ark of the Lord rested." He was a model pastor — ''into whatsoever house he entered," he said, ''Peace be to this house." He won the hearts of all both small and great, and had a suitable word to address to all the inmates of the family ; and, when he came amongst the families of his charge, an angel could not have been more welcome. His influence was felt, not only in the pulpit, but everywhere, and in every charge, where he w^as called upon to laboui', he was compassed about with a cloud of devoted friends. And the most impious were attached to this dignified, devoted Christian minister, and delighted to attend his ministry. He had seals to his ministry, as my readers vi^uld naturally conclude. It was only to

Rev. Wm. Spry. Ought to encourage the young.

know him, to love him. He could sing almost like an angel, and his lady was also greatly gifted in this respect ; and conjointly their performances, in this interesting part of worship, was sufficient to allay the evil spirit in any man, and make one feel that he was quite on the verge of Heaven/' His last field of labour was on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, shortly after the unhappy division of our Church in 1844. His circuit was on the border. It required a very prudent man to occupy successfully that field. In the hands of Rev. William Spry the appointing power felt that everything will be done decently and in order. All felt that he had the spirit of his Master, that all will be harmony, and the most glorious results will follow. He more than met the expectations of his friends on that then difficult field of labour. But his career here was short. To the grief of many a loving heart, he there " fell in the work, he died at his post." The loss of his family and of the Church was his infinite gain.

My impression is, we ought to encourage the young. Well do I recollect the powerful convictions I had foi several years before my soul was converted. I saw an old man hung when I was about ten years of age. I heard a minister of Christ preach his funeral sermon. How awful it was to hear his own funeral discourse ! The text was, " The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

IN THE ITINERANCY.

Hear a living man's funeral preached.

Rev. Mr. Stockton was the speaker. Under his sermon, I shed many tears ; but, at that time, no one specially "cared for my soul." About this period I learned the hymn, beginning,

And am I born to die ?

To lay this body down ?

And must my trembling spirit fly

Into a world unknown ?"

I committed the whole of it to memory, and I used to sing it mournfully to myself, and in my heart did wish I had never been born. I suppose scarcely any one thought of such a thing relative to myself; but many a sleepless night did I spend from my tenth year until the time I was converted to God. I w^as afraid to close my eyes in sleep frequently, thinking I might awake up in hell. There are few children now, in this day, but have better opportunities for being instructed in the good way than I had. And as I felt I was in the downward road to ruin, had I been encouraged by the pious, and pointed to the sinner's Friend, I might have been converted several years earlier. Therefore I argue that our children are, in early life, susceptible of divine impressions, and we ought to labour for, and with them, more than we do, and revival after revival ought to take place in our Sunday schools.

In the autumn of 1833, the very remarkable meteoric 2*

Meteoric phenomenon.

plienomena occurred. Early in the morning, before the day broke in the country where I lived, the family arose affrighted and dismayed. We saw the stars flying, shooting, and apparently falling in every direction. There were none in the family versed in astronomy, and we could not assign a cause for it. But there were a number of poor sinners in the family, greatly terrified ; for we supposed the great day of wrath had come, and we were not able to stand." No one, out of the bottomless pit, I thought, could be more miserable. And all with whom I was associated, were terrified awfully; because we knew we were not prepared for "the day of vengeance of our God." I then felt, though a very insignificant boy, between eleven and twelve years of age, if I could I would have given all the world for religion, a preparation to meet my God. After finding that our conclusions were incorrect, I again vowed to the Lord to be his servant. Some two years passed before I paid this vow ; as I have already stated to my readers, I gave my heart to God in the month of August, 1835, at the camp meeting, by simple faith in the Redeemer. " This poor" boy cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

I desire to present to my readers another incident in my history, which occurred while travelling my first field of labour. I was spending the night at the house of a worthy brother, who was the postmaster in the town

IN THE ITINERANCY.

Thought the Day of Judgment had come.

where it occurred. It was the time of the Millerite excitement. The night was dismal, the thunders roared terrifically, the lightnings flashed vividly ; and, just at the height of the storm, the four-horse stage, carrying the United States Mail, came dashing at almost full speed to the house where I was lodging, and being refreshed by "nature's sweet restorer." The bell, that was to arouse the postmaster, was suspended just over my head, and the stage driver brought all his muscular power to bear upon it. This, in connexion with the other circumstances, aroused me suddenly. I sprang from the bed hastily ; and, for the time being, I felt " this is the end of the world.'' But I had gone to rest that night in a happy frame of mind ; and, though for the moment I realized, in my feelings at least, that I should soon see the Judge descending upon his great white throne ; yet I was enabled to say, feeling I was through riches of grace in Christ Jesus ready,

*' Hallelujah, God appears on earth to reign."

Though I had no father or mother to help me on my religious course (my good old Quaker mother, who was very much attached to her children, dying when I was very young, and my father soon following after), yet the Lord and the Methodist Church have taken me up. The leaders o'f prayer meetings and ministers, early in my career, began occasionally to call on me to pray in public.

THIRTEEN YEAKS' EXPERIEXCE

Appointed class leader. First exbortation to whites.

It was somewliat novel to see a small boy thus officiating. And, when I was very young, the preacher in charge appointed me to lead class for the people of colour in the town of Denton. In this sphere, I learned much, and found it was good for me to be there. One of the first efforts I made in the way of exhortation, among the white people, was in the church at Denton, on a certain Sabbath evening, when, from some cause, the minister failed to be at his post. I was much embarrassed ; and, having been in the habit of labouring among the coloured people exclusively, I forgot my position, and, over and over, I addressed the audience as coloured friends." I did not know that I had made such a mistake, until a kind old friend told me of it after the meeting was over. But the people threw the mantle of charity around me, and winked at this matter, owing to the circumstances.

In the year 1841, there were several vacancies on the Caroline Circuit. That year, three ministers on that field of labour died ; viz. Rev. Wm. Torbert, Rev. Wm. VV. Williams, and Rev. Wesley Henderson ; and it may justly be said they were all faithful and true men, and the loss which their families and the Church sustained was their gain, for they were " ready to be offered." The Presiding Elder of the district, to my surprise, desired me to fill a vacancy there, and sent me an official paper to that effect. Circumstances would not admit of a compliance with this request. My business arrangements