Memoir of the life and character of Rev. John Stevens ...

Preface

The true and more noble benefactors of man are not always those who have wasted their energies in heroic deeds on the battle-field, vanquished armies, slain their thousands and saturated the earth with blood \ nor the brave sons of the ocean who, to gain renown, have periled their lives to make new discoveries, even into the icebound regions ; but the humble, self-sacrificing minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has devoted his life in fighting against " principalities and powers," "against wickedness in high places," that he might benefit the lost and redeem them to God.

A man's life may be such that no splendid incidents shall attract the eye of the curious, and yet a habitual course of beneficent action shall secure him an imperishable reputation.

In preparing this little work for the press, no effort has been made at literary display ; and it should be considered that the author, in his day, had not the advantages of classical culture that* ministers have at the present time, consequently the reader should not view it with a critic's eye.

IV.

The many friends who desire to see in print the sketches from the pen of this worthy man of God, wish to retain the dictum of the author unchanged and without ornament that they may read him and not of him.

It will not be strange if some inaccuracies are discovered, considering that brother Stevens was near seventy-five years of age when he wrote the sketches of his life, and that he wrote principally from memory.

REV. JOHN STEVENS.

Chapter I

The subject of this memoir was the fourth, child and second son of Theodore and Mary- Stevens, late of Limington, York County, Me., and was one of a family of three sons and eight daughters. My parents being of Quaker descent, my early training and religious impressions were that true prophecy and the aid of true light were to be found in attendance at those meetings founded and maintained by a few of the citizens of that place, who (as I believed then and have since) were a people of Christian principle, and in sympathy with what they thought to be for the best interests of people in general. Hence, my early religious advantages were derived from the reading of their books, and attendance on their meetings, where silence was frequently broken by prayer and exhortation offered by the pious of both sexes. Frequently the traveling ministers held forth in public, and my young heart was often moved by their spirit-stirring appeals to a keen sense of the need of a higher life.

In these seasons of awakening,! often promised God to" break off my sins and live to him, but there was always one omnipresent idea, namely : If I was ever a Christian, I should have to preach the gospel. This had a tendency to induce delay in seeking my soul's salvation, for while I regarded it in the light of a most sublime calling, I also felt an instinctive shrinking from its responsibilities, and that it would be a final and utter veto upon all worldly ambitions and schemes ; and my young and worldly heart rebelled at the thought of the poverty and trials necessarily connected with the life of a Christian minister. So, shrinking from the only path which seemed open to* me if I were to become a Christian, I grieved the Spirit, and plunged deeper into youthful follies and sins ; and, to make it all right in the estimation of my young associates, and show that I was one with them in the frivolities of youthful life, I would frequently, when they were gathered about me in youthful groups, preach them a sermon in mock solemnity, imitating, in tone and manner, some traveling minister who had been among us preaching Christ's gospel, that we might be saved. Oh, the depth of God's mercy in saving such a fallen sinner !

In this way I spent my early youth, until the seventeenth year of my age. One day it was announced in school that there would be a meeting at Mr. Samuel Joy's, attended by one Ichabod Churchill, that evening, and I was not long in coming to the conclusion that I would go and hear what the stranger had to say. I went. The speaker laid bare my inner life as a sinner, showed me my need of a Saviour, and presented Christ as the only one who could save me from sin here, and the sad consequences of sin hereafter. Such an appeal I thought I had never before heard, and it seemed to me then that it was my last call. Ere I was aware,I found myself upon my knees, pleading for that mercy which I had so long abused ; and although I felt that I had no just claim for the exercise of that mercy, yet the earnest and sincere plea of my poor sin-burdened soul seemed to prevail, and I found some relief before rising from my knees. The relief which I then received partook of a strong desire to know more of Him in whose death I then rejoiced, and to this end I felt that my whole being should be devoted. The revival interest increased, and a large number of my associates were subjects of the work. The leader of this revival, Mr. Churchill, was only a layman and member of Rev. John Buzzell's church in Parsonsfield, Me., and licensed by the church as an exhorter, and was very successful in his labors to save men from their sins. His principal success, however, was as a sharp-shooter at the front, rather than a skillful nurse for converts. His lack of ability to lead converts in the proper steps to a higher life was soon partially, if not wholly, made up in the labors of two young women, Miss Hannah Hubbard, of North Limington, and Miss Elmira Westcott, of Gorham, Me. These young ladies were very skillful in their efforts to lead converts in the path of Christian duty, and were quite efficient workers in the Master's cause, and withal quite able in their Scripture expositions. Miss Hubbard subsequently became the wife of James Fogg, son of Dea. Fogg, of Ossipee, N. H. Miss Westcott became the wife of Rev. Jeremiah Bullock, of Limington, and both . continued to preach and exhort with good acceptance and signal success for many years. We were also favored with the labors of Mr. Bullock, and his father, Rev. Christopher Bullock, whose labors in that section of country had been much blessed in promoting revival interests ; also Rev's Hobbs, of Waterborough ; Burbank, ofNewfield; Buzzell, of Parsonsfield ; White, of Standish ; Clay, of Buxton ; Jordan and Leach, of Raymond, and others whose praise were in the gospel of Christ, and whose light did much in dispelling the darkness of the surrounding night, and leading many to rejoice in a new-found life and experience, which gave them a hope like an anchor to the soul.

My own experience was varied ; my evidence was at times bright and clear, at other times obscure and dark. I found much happiness in the discharge of duty, exhortation and prayer, and the love I had for Christians absorbed my whole being for a time. The duty of baptism was much impressed upon my mind, and then beyond that it seemed to me I must devote my life to calling my fellow-men to turn from sin to God.

From this I shrank, and for a time was much in the dark, but daily secret prayer and ofttirnes the performance of more public duties were never lost sight of; and in my young heart I ardently sought for a deeper work of grace, and a higher sense of Christian

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obligation. In this way I passed some two years, during which time I left my father's house and traveled into the eastern part of the State, in company with one of my associates, to see what we could do in the way of starting in life. Never had my heart been made to feel the strength of those cords that bound me to friends as it then did, Father, mother, brothers and sisters came up before me in a different light from what they had ever done before, especially my mother. Oh, how sad and painful it was to leave that dear mother,— how I regretted my boyhood delinquencies and acts that had caused her grief! The tears that bedewed her sad face as we parted were treasured in my memory as so many stars that pointed me to the path of virtue and truth. Parental blessings pronounced, and a general leave-taking of brothers and sisters over, I and my associate were on our way, to seek, as we then said, our fortunes among strangers. I was in the nineteenth year of my age, and he was some two years my senior. With our packs upon our backs we traveled on foot to the town of Vassalborough, Me. I here concluded that I was as far east as I wished to go, about ninety miles from home ; and the home of my childhood never looked so precious to

REV. JOHN STEVENS. II

me as it did then. I accordingly let myself to work on a farm with a man belonging to the society of Friends, by the name of Joseph Howland, for one month, it being in the month of September, for the sum of nine dollars per month ; and if we both liked, I was to work six months longer for seven dollars per month. I found my employer a kind-hearted man, his family very attentive to my wants, and very strict religionists in their way, they all attending the Friends' meeting, then held in the old meeting-house at what was called GetchelPs Corner.

I finished my month's labor and all seemed to be satisfactory on his part, and the family appeared very anxious that I should stay through the winter, as my friend Howland had been selected by the society to travel with a preacher of their order by the name of James Warren, a highly esteemed man of their faith. My friend Howland laid before me his proposition, and wished me to take the care and responsibility of his home affairs till his return in the spring. This seemed to be a more responsible place than I felt competent to fill ; and then the wages were so low (only $7 per month) ; but I had become attached to the family, and to leave and go farther might be to fare worse, so I accepted the position, and in due time was left to care for the interests of my employer. A large stock on the farm and a hundred head of sheep a mile away to care for and feed every day, timber to haul to the mill, bark to the market and wood to the door, — in all this I managed to give what seemed to be entire satisfaction to my employer on his return. The household matters were managed by a daughter of my employer by the name of Phebe. She subsequently married a man by the name of Smilie, and to them was born a daughter who is now the celebrated Quakeress preacher. In toil, early and late, I passed the winter. My evenings were spent with the family, for I had come to feel that there was my home for the time being, and very much enjoyed the society of my young friends. Sometimes they would ask me to sing, and occasionally I would close the evening with prayer. Frequently I would go to meeting with the family ; and these opportunities, with daily secret prayer, kept the wolf of want from the door of my heart. Although I was not in the enjoyment of a full salvation, yet at times I could say with Job, " I know that my Redeemer liveth."

In this way I spent the winter, and my employer was so well satisfied on his return in the spring that he paid me nine dollars per month instead of seven, as had first been agreed upon. Having settled with my employer, he took me with his team to Augusta, fifteen miles, and I shouldered my pack and walked on foot to Limington and found all well, and glad to see the returning son and brother. I had expended a part of my earnings for some clothes, and the rest of my money (or the most of it) I gave to my father ; and the satisfaction I felt in meeting the wants of my parents was far more than if I had spent the money for myself.

Chapter II

It was during the toil of my daily business, while on the road between Getchell's Corner and the place where I worked, that I received a most convincing and what was to me a special call to preach the gospel. As I was traveling beside my team I was in prayer, and the cogitations of my mind turned upon the condition of the church and the world, when the then active ministers of the gospel should die or be past their labors. There were Buzzell, Hobbs, Bullock, Burbank and others of my acquaintance, and beyond their activities I could see no ministerial light for the church or the world. My mind seemed intently fixed upon the dark picture, when all at once, as if a star shone out in the midst of the surrounding night, this text of Scripture came to my mind, as if some one had spoken, " God is able, of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham," Matt. 3:9. It applied to me. Although I was like a stone, hard, inactive and insensible to duty, yet God could make me a son, and, if faithful and obedient to the call of God, I should yet be made an instrument of good to the church and the world, and in some little measure fill the place of those men of God as they should pass from their activities, and the church and the world feel their loss.

This exercise of mind served for a time to arouse me to a more feeling sense of obligation to God, and greater activity in religious duty. I longed for the time when I should be free from obligation to my employer, and I promised God I would then be obedient to what seemed to me a heavenly vision.

From that day it was a settled conclusion in my own mind that to preach the gospel was my life-work, and when my obligations were ended with the family where I worked, that I would return to my father's house with a determination to do my whole duty and leave the event in the hands of Him who doeth all things well. I did return, and the old brethren and sisters in the church received me and my religious efforts in the prayer and conference meetings gladly, and with thanksgiving to God, The Edgerlys, Tufts, Foss and the Mansons were then nursing fathers and mothers in Israel, and to these Christians, especially to Deacon Samuel Edgerly, was I much indebted for words and acts of comfort and cheer.

For a time my resolution was to go forward in every duty. I was baptized by Rev. Jeremiah Bullock, who was then preaching in the place, and united with the Freewill Baptist church of Limington. And now the thought of devoting my life to the work of calling after sinners to turn to God again impressed my mind with great force, so that, asleep or awake, it was my most constant conviction. Soon I began to look at my unfitness. My educational advantages were only what I rel6 MEMOIR OF

ceived in the common schools. At that time there was no Bates College, no Hillsdale, not even Parsonsfield Academy ; and I said, Who am I that I should think of taking upon myself such responsibility? The field was large — already white — the work delicate in its nature and mighty in its proportions. True, it promised much in the future if I could be the means of saving souls, but in this life the prospect seemed dark and uninviting, for the ministers of my acquaintance pretended to no claim upon the people for a living, and in most cases were dependent on the voluntary offerings of the churches for the support of themselves and families. I shrank from the sacrifice on the one hand and the want of ability on the other, and erring human nature attempted to strike a medium line which to me had the promise of worldly possessions, and the enjoyment of religion, too. This had all its brightness in theory, while its practical side was covered with thorns.

In spite of my good resolutions I fell into darkness of mind, and although I struggled hard to keep from openly wounding the cause of Christ, yet I had to learn that the only way to keep from backsliding was to go forward in the performance of known duty. This I have since come to believe is, has been, and ever will be, true of all who theoretically or practically attempt to divide life between the world and religion. The keeping-power of God is with those who obey him in sincerity and truth. I found it difficult to make straight the paths of my feet while refusing to walk in the way that was so clearly my duty, and so relapsed into a dark state of mind and became worldly in my thoughts and aspirations.

A few years passed in this state of mind, during which time I married and moved into the town of Sebago, then a wilderness, and settled with my young wife and one child upon a piece of wild land, in a log house. Although our situation was one of privation, as is generally the case with settlers in a new country, we were happy in the possession of conjugal love, and for the time being enjoyed ourselves in our own little circle, and in our acquaintance with the neighbors, who were sparsely settled about us. To make a farm in the wilderness, and place my family above want, was the aim of my life. I had an object for which to live, and to climb the hill was the absorbing theme of my life. Affection for my family was intensified by their willingness to share with me in privation and toil. At times l8 MEMOIR OF

my religious views were vivid before me, and at these seasons I would have family prayers, and other religious duties were attended to, and I strove hard to keep up the appearance, at least, of Christian life, both in my family and among my neighbors. Honesty in dealings and truthfulness of utterance were to me important beacon lights which I, as a professor of Christianity, should 'ever place before all with whom it was my lot to associate. In this I succeeded in some good degree, and I found it in after life greatly to the advantage of my success in my ministrations in public, and especially among my neighbors and youthful acquaintances. In this way I lived for about a year and a half, until my mind was wrought up to a point of utter hopelessness in a worldly direction,, and the only path that seemed open to me was to throw myself into God's hand, to be molded into the vessel that should seem best in his 'sight. I became nearly unfit for the common business of life, and I would frequently forget the most common wants. I remember once I went to the other part of the settlement to obtain a gallon of molasses of a neighbor, borrowing a gallon measure of another neighbor, and promising to return it on my way home. I took it with me, forgot to leave it as I passed his house, and went some distance, when the thought occurred to me that I should have left it, and returned to leave it, setting down my molasses ; and when I came back and passed the spot where I left it, I was so bewildered that I could with difficulty tell where I had left it.

Such was the state of my mind that my companion noticed that something was the matter with me, and would frequently inquire, "John, what ails you?" I at length confessed to her that I felt that I must preach the gospel, and our worldly prospects and ambitions were at an end. In this state of mind I promised God that if some minister would come into the settlement and hold a meeting, I would appoint another, and attend it myself. It was not long before a man by the name of Barker, a Methodist preacher, visited us, and preached on the Sabbath. I listened to his sermon as well as I could, with this thought in my mind. Such was the nature and solemnity of that promise 1 did not dare to break it, and so at the close of the meeting I arose, and told the people that there would be a meeting there, in that school-house, the next Sabbath. The week passed and in mingling with m} T neighbors I would sometimes hear the inquiry, "Who is going to preach next Sabbath? " " I guess John is going to ; hope he will," &c. When the Sabbath came, nearly the entire community came out to see and hear the new preacher. The school-house was nearly full when I arrived. I went in, took the minister's stand and surveyed the congregation. Among them were two of my neighbors, O. Pike, Esq., and Wm. Haley, the blacksmith. These men loomed up before me like giants. I was on terms of intimacy with them in worldly matters, and they were leading men of business in the community, and thought much of by the neighbors.

Had they been out of the congregation, it would have been a great relief to me ; but here I was ; to go back was death — to go forward I could but die. The meeting opened by prayer, etc. I arose with the new Testament in my hand and turned to the General Epistle of Jude, 3d verse, the latter part of which I dwelt upon more particularly — " That you should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." This was my first effort. I stood before my neighbors and had named my first text ; what arrangement I had it has always been difficult for me to determine. I had not proceeded far before all fear of man was gone, and I ventured to look for Pike and Haley. These men, mountains as they had seemed to me, were bathed in tears, and I lost all fear of them. I was much assisted in speaking, and closed my first meeting with a feeling of great calmness and trust in God, and a fixed resolution to do my whole duty to God and my fellow-men. I was impressed at that time that Haley must be converted, and that feeling continued until it was accomplished some years after. I continued to hold meetings in the place on the Sabbath, and sometimes during the week, with good success, witnessing some revivals, and was refreshed and encouraged in my labors, till it was thought best for me to move back to my father's, in the south of Limington. This I did, and was gladly received by my old brethren of the church and the people in general. Here I continued to preach on the Sabbath in what .was then known as the South meeting-house and hold meetings on week days as often as I could under the circumstances, as I had to support my family by carrying on my father's farm on shares ; for he, being a millwright, was from home most of the time.

Occasionally, family necessaries were handed in, and on the whole, with much activity and hard labor, I thought my wants well met. I continued my labors in this way, working hard and preaching all I could in Limington, Limerick, Waterborough, and other places, until the spring of 1823, when a gracious outpouring of the Spirit was witnessed among the people. The meetings were thronged with anxious listeners, and I held meetings day and night in the surrounding neighborhoods. It was seed time literally and harvest time spiritually. We were occasionally visited and assisted by Rev. J, Bullock and wife, a brother Buck, a Methodist local preacher, and brother B. S. Manson, one of my old schoolmates, just commencing to preach, and who was with us in most of our meetings, and rendered good service. Matters moved smoothly on and it was a time of rejoicing with God's people. The converts began to feel that they must follow their Lord in baptism, and that I must baptize them. For a time this embarrassed me, but the church thought best to call a council of ministers to consider the propriety of ordaining me to the work of the gospel ministry. It consisted of Elders Burbank, Hobbs, Jordan, Bullock and Gray. After due deliberation, it was determined to ordain me, and a public meeting was held in the Old South, and the ordination proceeded in the following order : Introductory prayer by brother Gray ; sermon, by Samuel Burbank ; prayer at the laving on of hands, by Zechariah Jordan; charge, by Henry Hobbs, and hand of fellowship, by Jeremiah Bullock. This was in June 1823, I being 22 years of age. At the close of this service I made an appointment for baptism. On the next day six. of the converts presented themselves, were accepted by the church, and I baptized them in the Little Ossipee river, near what was then called Edgecomb Bridge. The occasion was one of much anxiety to me, lest I should make some blunder, and bring a reproach upon the cause. But all passed off very pleasantly and satisfactorily to myself and others. I continued to have a baptism every week till I had baptized some 70 converts, and the work was spreading in different parts of the town, and towns adjoining. It was then a maxim with me to keep under the cloud. This seemed to lower over a number of places, and so my work was increased. I had to travel mostly on foot, being too poor to own a team, but was often assisted by friends who did own one. At this time I had for a finality entered the course and felt determined to win the race, let the consequences turn as they might. My whole soul was absorbed in the thought of winning souls to Christ, and to this thought every ambition had to bend,

I had a pair of small cattle which I very much needed on the farm, but I exchanged them for a horse ; and as I more and more cut loose from worldly engagements and devoted my time to the preaching of the gospel, the people seemed to feel more in duty bound to look after my temporal wants ; so much so that I seldom found a place of want which was not soon met. As before stated, my education was very limited, my w r ardrobe of a coarse texture, my library small, consisting of a Bible and hymn book. These, for a time, were all the books that I owned ; but I bought when I could, borrowed when I could not buy, and read and studied when others slept. The Bible and biblical books were my guiding stars, and the Spirit of God my compass. Head winds and tempests would sometimes veer my course, but my faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ, did not fail me. If it was necessary to come to an anchor, hope was that anchor, and I would outride the storms. In this way I spent some more than five years as an evangelist, preaching and witnessing the outpouring of the Divine Spirit, and a glorious ingathering of souls.

Chapter III

Among the incidents of traveling are the following : A call came to the Quarterly Meeting (the Parsonsfield, then including what is now the Parsonsfield and York Co. Quarterly Meetings) , through Elder John Buzzell, from an unconverted man, in what was then called Lower Canada, for the Freewill Baptists in the States to send some ministers to the Province to preach to the people, This letter, addressed to Elder Buzzell, represented the country as being well nigh destitute of evangelical preaching, and the field large and white for the harvest, The letter was brought into the Q^ M. and read. This stirred the inmost feelings in all of our hearts, and when brother Buzzell made an appeal for volunteers, I felt constrained to offer my services, and brother B, S, Manson, the young man who had labored with me in the reformation in Limington, also volunteered to accompany me. This w r as to me very acceptable, inasmuch as he had once been there in company with Eld, Samuel Burbank, in answer to the same request. He was also an old schcol-mate and companion in sin, — converted about the time I was, — had commenced to preach about the same time I did, having had the advantages of an academical education, which I had not. We loved each other as brothers, and until this day it is always joyous for us to meet. God bless brother Manson, is the indwelling sentiment of my heart, and the truthful utterance of my voice.

A vote of approbation was unanimously adopted by the Q^ M,, and a contribution of seven dollars taken, to be divided between us to defray our expenses on a journey of 300 miles. At the present time this would seem a small sum to most ministers, but to us, as we went by ourselves, it seemed quife sufficient. We returned to our homes in joyfulness of heart, and soon made preparations for our journey. My horse being insufficient, that same William Haley before mentioned, although yet unconverted, offered to exchange with me, he having a nice young animal, and a very smooth traveler. We started on our journey in company with brother Mark Hill, of Buxton, Me., and Elder Jonathan Woodman of Freedom, N. H., passed through the Notch of the White Mountains, and crossed the Connecticut river at Lyndon, Vt., preaching and praying as we went. As we sat on our horses, while paying our toll over the bridge, some one of us called brother Woodman by name. The toll-keeper inquired if it was Eld. Jonathan Woodman. Being told that it was, he said his orders from the proprietors were to let Elder Woodman pass toll free. This he did, and the rest of us, paying toll, went on our way rejoicing. We attended a session of the Wheelock Q^M., then held at London, and brother Woodman preached one of his stirring sermons. I also attempted to preach from the text, " Thou wilt show me the path of life/'. &c. I did not enjoy my usual liberty, and for a time felt quite gloomy and in doubt about being in the way of duty.