BX 932 T 83 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell one Library BX8381.T86 P25 Thi olin DATE DUE GAYLORD PRINTEDINU SA. TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY, CONTAINING A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF METHODISM WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE TROY CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WITH REMINISCENCES OF ITS DECEASED, AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY ITS LIVING MINISTERS, WITH AN APPENDIX. BY REV. STEPHEN PARKS. ——- 12 ALBANY: J. LORD, PHILIP STREET. TROY: W. H. YOUNG. BURLINGTON: S. HUNTINGTON, 1854. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1854, BY STEPHEN PARKS, In the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York. ALBANY: J. MUNSELL, PRINTER, TO THE MINISTRY AND MEMBERSHIP CONNECTED WITH THE TROY ANNUAL CONFERENCE, THIS HUMBLE VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED PREFACE. —_———+ Tne First Part of this work does not assume to be any thing like a full, connected history of Methodism within the region of which it treats; this would have required a sepirate volume. A mere outline, and that relating chiefly to our early history, je all that has been attempted. Tue Seconp Part is intended as a brief, accessible, and per- manent memorial of those men of God, who have been instru- mental in the establishment of that form of Christianity in our midst, which is known by the name of Methodism. With but one or two exceptions, no record of their lives or labors remains, save what is found in the Minutes, and the notices that appeared in the papers, at the time of their death; and these are preserved by but few. Gratitude demands that their memories should be cherished, and such recollections must be promotive of piety. Avery common fault of biographical works, is, that they are overwrought; every defect is concealed, every real virtue is ex- aggerated, while many excellencies are attributed to the subjects which they never possessed. However gratifying such me- moirs may be to personal friends, they are not calculated to answer the ends contemplated by this class of writings. With the example of the inspired biographers before him, the writer of the following sketches determined that, whatever defects they might possess, they should be truthful, as far as he is ca- pable of making them so. Meagre and defective, some of them, especially, are; and possibly some of the friends of these ex- scellent men may think that justice has not been done them. To vi PREFACE. such, I can only say that I have done the best I could under the circumstances, within my prescribed limits, and with the ma- terials at my command. It will be seen that a few of these sketches were written by other, and more able pens. Ofthe Turrp Part I might speak more freely. Those con- tributions, which, with one or two exceptions were written expressly for this work, will be appreciated by the public for their intrinsic worth, and specially valued by the numerous personal friends of the authors as the productions of those whose ministrations have been made a blessing to them in by-gone days. No pains have been spared to make the tables of the APPENDIX as correct as possible. The kindness of those who have aided in collecting materials is gratefully acknowledged. The writer has drawn upon any, and all sources of information within hig reach, giving credit, very generally, in the body of the work. These pages have been prepared with a special reference to their circulation and use as a book of reference, within the range of the Troy Conference. One faet the writer sincerely deplores; the work has been prepared in haste, and amid the incessant cares and duties of a heavy pastoral charge. Other engagements must have his at- tention for some time to come; and under the necessity of committing it to the press thus hastily, or delaying it indefinitely, he has chosen the former. Courteous reader, sueh as it is, this unpretending volume is committed to your hands, in the humble hope that it will do good. Albany, February 15, 1854. S. Pargs. CONTENTS. PART FIRST. Historical Sketch of Methodism within the Bounds of the Troy Conference. CHAPTER I, FROM 1766 To 1800. Boundaries of the Conference — General description —Capt. Webb in Albany — Who preached the first Methodist sermon in America? — Freeborn Garrettson and his coadjutors — Strange notions of their character — Their success — First Society at Ashgrove — Philip Embury — First circuit — First house of worship — David Noble — David Brown — Mr. Ashton — ‘‘ Preachers’ room” — Old chair — Garrettson preaching in the Assembly Chamber — First society in Albany — Schenectady — Calvinistic opposition — Canaan — Anecdote of Garrettson— His character — Liberating his slaves — His sufferings — History of Methodism in Pittsfield — Saratoga circuit —First church built in Albany, §c.— Church in Johns- town — B, Hibbard’s first sermon, and early labors — Warren coua- ty — Richard Jacobs —First society and circuit in Western Ver- mont — Joseph Mitchell — Lorenzo Dow — Bishop Hedding’s con version — Joseph Sawyer at Petersburgh — Ebenezer Washburn’s conversion — Anecdote of Washburn — Peter Vannest at Dalton — Persecution — Williamstown — Cambridge Circuit — Cruel perse- cution — Spread of the work — Early preachers — Their toils, suf- ferings and character — Early societies. Page 19 CHAPTER II. i FROM 1800, TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TROY CONFERENCE IN 1832. “ Hedding’s early labors — His first sermon — Jesse Lee at St. Albans, &c. — Peter Vannest on Essex Circuit — Brandon Circuit — Con- version of Abner Chase — Saratoga Circuit — Quarterly Meetings at Kingsborough — Fish House — Ludicrous Scene — Presiding Elder’s District — Annual Conferences — Hedding on Plattsburgh Vil CONTENTS. Circuit — Fletcher Circuit — Districts — Methodism in Troy, from 1801 to 1852—— E. Washburn on Brandon and Vergennes circuits — Calvinism — Persecutions — Middlebury — Charlotte — Starks- borough — Hinesburgh — Dutchman’s child’s funeral — Infant Damnation — Laban Clark — St. Albans Point — Sudbury — Whiting — Shoreham — Orwell — Benson — William Anson on Grand Isle— Asel Landon— Seymour Landon — John Frazer's adventures on Lake Champlain — Henry B. Taylor ‘‘a night and a day in the deep” — Conference at Ashgrove — Methodism in Lansingburgh — Whiting — Anecdote — Methodism in Schenec- tady —T. Spicer — Asbury — Schenectady Circuit — Methodism in Albany — Revivals in 1824 and 1828 — Samuel Merwin — La- ban Clark — Samuel Draper — Seth Crowel — Samuel Cochran — Lewis Pease. Page 43 CHAPTER III. PROGRESS AND PRESENT STATE OF METHODISM IN TIE CONFERENCE, Plan of this Sketch — Progress since 1832 — Middlebury District — Warren Circuit — Albany District — Original members of the Troy Conference — Statistics — Influence of Millerism — Distinguished men, Levings, Olin, Hedding — Church building — Church debts — Free and rented seats — Steeples and bells — Church music — Cutting up circuits — Missions — Tracts — Spirituality — Pre- mature failure of our preachers — Causes — Aged members of the conference — Elijah Chichester — Andrew McKean — Samuel Howe — Henry Stead — Jacob Beeman — Cyprian H. Gridley — Tobias Spicer — Josiah F. Chamberlain — Sherman Minor — Timothy Benedict — James Quinlan. Page 64 PART SECOND. Reminiscences of Deceased Members of the Troy Conference. REV, NOAH LEVINGS, D, D.—BY REV, D. W. CLARK, D. D. Nativity — Parentage — Early disadvantages — An apprentice in Troy — Determining where to attend church — Hears P, P, Sandford and L. Clark — Conversion — Public religious exer- cises — ‘Let that boy alone’ — Formation of religious cha- racter — Call to the w inistry — Conflicts — First circuit —Large and small circuits —Intellectual and religious improvement — Error of young preachers — Conference — Pownal Circuit — Mont- gomery Circuit — Marriage — Going north — Middlebury — Bur- CONTENTS, ix lington — Success — Devotion to study, §c — Missionary excur- sions — Charlotte Circuit —New York City — Popularity — Ex- tracts from his journal — Death of Garrettson — Brooklyn — New Haven — Church difficulties — General Conference — Garrettson Station, Albany — His studies — Dedicates churches — Revival — Iu Troy — General Conference — Schenectady — Revival — Ded- icates seven churches — Dr, Nott — Preaches in the college chapel — Degree of D. D. —His successor in Schenectady — Appointed P. E.— North Second street, Troy — Revival — Division street, Albany — Bereavement — State street, Troy, again — Vestry street, New York — Fin, Sec. Am. Bible Society —Western tour — Sick- ness — Death — Character, §c. Page 73 REV. COLES CARPENTER, Greatly beloved — Left no records of his life— Godly ancestry — Birth — Conversion — Christian decision — Anecdote — Com- mences to, preach — Ordination — Troy Conference — Appointed presiding elder — Sickness — Sudden and happy death — Fune- ral — Dr, Luckey — Character as a parent — Letters to his son, on leaving home — Bereavements — Letter to his son — More afflic- tions — Extract of a letter —Death of a daughter— Letter — Another daughter dies — Piety of his children — Character as a preacher — Eloquence — Dr, Luckey —T. Benedict — E. Osborn — Appointments. Page 113 REV, ANDREW C. MILLS, Birth and death — Pious parents — Passion for music— Never wept until converted — His modesty — Instrumental in a revival— An Era in his history — Preaches — Travels under P, Elder — Joins Troy Conference — Sudden death — Piety — Zeal — Music — Sung himself to death — Divine Providence— Last dreadful conflict with Satan — Peaceful end. Page 122 REV, ARNOLD SCHOLEFIELD,—BY REV, E. OSBORN. Nativity — Conversion — Early preaching — Anecdote — Fields of labor — Dutchess Circuit— E. Osborn, his colleague — Parting scene — Appointed P, Elder—Scene at camp meeting — An- other — Delegate to Gen. Conference — Sickness —T. Spicer — Supernumerary — Settles in Columbia county, N. Y.— Resumes Pastoral relation — Daughter’s conversion — Controversial ser- mon—P, Elder again — Paralytic stroke — Affecting scene — Dies at a tavern— Mr. Osborn’s remarks on his character — Ad- ditional remarks on his character and preaching— A camp meet- ing sermon. Page 126 x CONTENTS. REV, WRIGHT HAZEN,—BY REV, NOAB LEVINGS, D, D. Birth and death — Amiability — Apprentice — Becomes pious — Re- moves to Troy — Marriage — Preaches — Enters upon the itiner- ant work — Temporal embarrassments — Retires to extricate him- self — Noble example — Returns to the itinerancy— Revival at Hoosic — Transferred to Troy Conference — Wife dies — Water- ford — West Troy — Second Marriage — Bronchial disease — Con- sumption — Tries sea air — Kindness of Christian friends — ‘‘Rock- ing in the cradle of death” — End — Character. Page 133 REV, PHILETUS GREEN, Birth and 7death— Pious mother— Skeptical — Coach painter — Awakened and converted — Great change — Rules of life — Wil- braham Academy — Joins N. E. Conference — Transferred to Troy Conference — Marriage — Usefulness — Indications of con- sumption — Bleeding at the lungs — Death — Piety — Extracts from his journal — Letter to a skeptic — Speaking ‘‘ too loud” — Happy end. Page 140 REV, AMOS R, RIPLEY, Want of knowledge of him — Conflicts relative to the ministerial calling — Joins Troy Conference — Appointments — Early death —Character, §c. Page 146 REV, GILBERT Y, PALMER, Mysteries of Providence — Faith — Heaven — Birth and death — Parentage— Opposition to his becoming a Methodist — Call to preach — Poultney Academy — Enters the ministry — Fort Ann —Orwell — Hiram Blanchard — Ticonderoga — Ordained elder — His character — S. D. Brown’s account of his last days, Page 148 REV, WM, D, STEAD.—BY REV. C, R, MORRIS, Parentage — Birth — Conversion — Enters the ministry — Appoint. ments — Sickness and success on Chester Circuit — Death — Suf- ferings and patience — Character. Page 152 REV, DANIEL HOLMES, Nativity — Early conversion— First marriage — Begins to preach — Appointments — Second marriage — Transferred to Troy Con- ference — Appointments — Health fails — Supernumerary — His character — Deep afflictions — Death, Page 154 : CONTENTS, xi REV, CHARLES SHERMAN. Parentage — Father’s character — Mother’s piety — Her prayer. for her son— Prayer meetings at his father’s house — Influence of early associations — Experiences religion — Preaches — Early Character and preaching —L. A. Sandford — Dr, 8. Luckey — 8. Merwin’s prediction — Joins N, Y. Conference —‘‘A prophet in in.his own country” — Transferred to Troy Conference — Division street, .Albany — ‘t Who is Charles Sherman?” — North Second street, Troy — Appointed P, Elder— Revivals on the district — Letter to Mr. Ward — Letter to his brother Samuel — Last visit to his father —Interesting incident — Delegate to General Con- ference— Affection of the heart — Letter to the writer — Jones- ville — North Second street, Troy — Troubles — Sickness and death — Personal appearance — Distinguishing trait of character —Symmetry of character — Liberality — Letter — Cheerfulness — Preaching — Pastoral habits — A man of prayer — Public prayers — Gratitude — Character as P. Elder— Letter to the Writer — Another — Skill as a manager — Settling difficulties — Dispersing a mob— Meeting an emergency at a camp-meeting — Social qualities —In conference — Attachment to the church — His end. Page 157 REV, JAMES COVEL, A. M. Ancestry — Nativity — Father’s prayer — Dull scholar — “I'll try.” — Removed to Poughkeepsie — Conversion — Licensed to preach, —Enters traveling connection — The ‘t boy team ” — Studious — Anecdote — Early Preaching — Marriage — Appointments — Death — Character as a scholar — Literary labors — Absent- minded — Modesty — Preaching — Personal appearance — Integ- rity — Sickness — Dr. Skilton’s remarks — Dying scenes. : Page 185. REV. THOMAS KIRBY, BY REV. B. M, HALL, Birth — Influence of parental piety — Camp-meeting — Prayer Answered — His conversion — Early religious activity and nseful- ness — Appointed class-leader — Wilbraham Academy — Preaches under the presiding elder at Dalton — Anecdote — ‘“‘ Preach will you?” — New Lebanon — Stowe — Berkshire — Success — Hines- burgh — Anecdote — Reception of Preachers by the people — Whitehall — Greatly esteemed — Brandon — Granville Corners — Last sermons — Sickness and death — B. O. Meeker’s ‘account of t days — Funeral sermons — Personal appearance — Cheer- fulness — His preaching — Preaching to one hearer. Page 194 xii ‘ CONTENTS. REV, ALFRED SAXE, Introduction — Memory of the dead — Birth — Incident — Desire for knowledge — Love of history — Conversion — Call to the minis- try — Desire for an education — Plattsburgh — Burlington — Keesville —Receives license to exhort — To preach— Early efforts — Enters the Wesleyan University — Scholarship — J. G. Saxe — Rev. L. L., Knox — Over-exertion — Letter — Marriage — Subse- quent life at Middletown — Joins the Troy Conference — Ferry streel—Success — Illness — Conference of 1844 —'Secretary — Return to Ferry street — Testimonials — North White Creek — Superannuates — Returns to Sheldon — Last Letter — Death — Character — Intellectual power — Cultivation — Amiable spirit — Friends — Love to his parents — Poetical epistles to his mother — Sister’s album — Cheerfulness — Knox — Letter — Character as a Christian — View of the Ministry — Letter — Preaching — A ffa- bility — Pastoral habits — Conclusion. Page 202. REY, SAMUEL EIGHMY. Early Conversion — Begins to preach — Appointments — Retires — Import of ‘‘Supernumerary” and ‘ Superannuated ” — Toils — Economy — Integrity — Anecdote — ‘* Breaking the preacher down” — Preaching at a camp meeting — His death. Page 225, REV, WILLIAM ANSON, Belonged to a former generation — Anecdote of his father — Learned the carpenter’s trade — Yellow fever in New York — Conversion — Joined the New York Conference —Grand Isle Circuit—‘* A savage race” — Crossing the Bar — *t No rum” — His success — Other appointments — Ashgrove District — Rhinebeck District — Appointments — Supernumerary — Death — Hardships — Useful- ness — Old-fashioned — Cured the ‘holy grunt” — Character — Family. Page 229. REV, ELIAS VANDERLIP, ‘An old disciple’— Venerable appearance—Division-street Church— Nativity — Pious mother — Early disadvantages — Conversion — Jéhn street church — Exhorter — Success — Removes to Albany — Store burnt —Niskayuna — Revival — Joins New York Con- ference —Motives of early preachers—Appointments — Inadequate support — Location — Settles in Albany — Joins Troy Conference — Sufferings and death — Character. Page 235, CONTENTS. xiii REV, JOHN D, MORIARTY,—BY REY, J, E, BOWEN. Birth — His father a Roman Catholic — Becomes a Methodist preach- er — Son’s Conversion — ‘* A Nothingarian ” — Corn stalks with- out corn — Removes to Albany — Licensed to preach — Enters on the itinerant work —Johnstown circuit — Sickness —Narrow es- cape—M. Bates — Removes to Saratoga Springs — Congress Spring House — Usefulness — Sudden Death — Character. Page 240. REV, WILLIAM RYDER, Religion adapted to the afflicted —A son of affliction — Appalling sufferings — Birth — Childhood— ‘“‘ Do it again, Papa’? — Ap- prentice — Conversion — Studies — Embarrassments —Of age — Chester Academy — Growth in grace — Marriage — Conflicts re- specting preaching —Itinerancy — Troubles — Father Howe— Anecdote of A. A. Farr— J. Poor— Birth day of his sufferings — Leicester circuit — Poultney — Extraordinary sufferings — Mental conflicts — Saratoga Springs — Deprived of all power of locomotion — Helpless sufferer — Reads three hundred volumes — His end, Page 246, REV. DANIEL F, PAGE, Nativity — Early traits of character — Religious experience — Con- nection with the Troy Conference — Ordination Credentials — Ap- pointments — J, E. Bowen’s account of his death — His wife — His Character. Page 258. REV, JOHN P, FOSTER, Birth — Early character — Awakenings and conversion — Enters the ministry — Appointments in New York Conference — Troy Conference —- Consumption — Last days — Death — Piety — Gai- ety of spirit — Benevolence — Domestic character — Ministeriat character — Visit to Petersburgh — Anecdote — Personal Ap- pearance — Style, §c. — C. Pomeroy — Habits of study — Revivat on Chester circuit — Prayer-meeting in a bar room — H. W. Ran- som. Page 262, REY, JOIN LINDSEY,—BY REY, JOHN FRAZER, D, D, Birth and conversion — Joins New England Conference — Appoint- ments — Agency of Wesleyan University — Transferred to. New York Conference — Fields of labor — Troy Conference — Labors — Death —Want of iecords of him — Character — Bishop Hed- ding’s account of him — His last sermon — Last hours. Page 268. 2 x1V CONTENTS, REV, CHESTER LYON, Eirth-place— Early re’igious character — Enters the ministry — Fields of labor — Adirondack Mission — Magnanimity — Sickness — Preparation for death — Lonely, yet happy end — Character. Page 276. REV. MENRY EAMES, Bis father and Wesley —Wesley’s letters to him — Birth, and early piety —A local preacher —A traveling preacher — Marriage — Four hundred conversions — Death of his wife — Appointments — Supernumerary — Death — Unrecorded toils — Old-fashioned preacher — Dutchman and Methodist preacher — Falling in meet- ing — His preaching — His son. Page 279. REV, JAMES F, BURROWS, “The memory of the just’? — Birth — Providence — Becomes pious — Early religious activity — Perfect love — Preparation for the Ministry — Biblical Institute — Marriage — Joins Troy Confer- ence — Fields of labor — Bronchial disease — Consumption — Joy- ful death — His preaching, Page 284. REV. ELIJAN B, NUBBARD. Birth — Pious parents— Converted very young — Marriage — Pro- fession of religion — Zeal— Class-leader— Enters the itinerant work — Success on Fort Ann circuit — Death of his wife — A filic- tions — Mental aberration — Recovery — Second marriage — Cause of his death— A murderous custom — Personal appearance and habits — Inward conflicts — Deep depression — Extracts from his diary — Character — En}. Page 288. REV, CYRUS BOLSTER. Revival at Renssclaerville— Females without souls — ‘‘ Cyrus, do your duty? — Conversion— At Wesleyan University — Tutor in Hon. F. Garrettson’s family —dJoins New York Conference — Health fails — Lansingburgh and Jonesville Academies — Troy Conference — Goes South — Death— Rev Z. Phillips’ sketch of his character — As a Scholar— Asa Friend — As a Christian — Asa Minister. ; Page 295, REY, OLIVER EMCRSON, Nativity — Parentage — Hears T. Spicer preach — Brought to Christ by his sister — A worthy example — Pontoosue — Mental conflicts — Wilbraham Academy — His feelings on leaving Wilbraham — CONTENTS. xv Theological . Seminaries — First circuit — Revival at Palatine Bridge — Reception at Waterford — Aflictions—Narrow escapes— Revival in Lansingburgh — Afflictions — Superannuated — Suffer- ings — Death. Page 301. EEY, RICHARD GRIFFIN, ‘ A comparative stranger —Native of Ireland— Early usefulness — Emigration — Appointments — Sickness and Death — Opinions of his colleagues — Happy end — Reflecticns, Page 311 NEV. DATUS ENSIGN —BY REV. C. nu, MORNIS, Nativity — Death — Early Conversion — Licensed to preach — En- ters the itinerant ficld — Vields of labor — Marriage — Subsequent Appointments — Perfect love —Superannuatel — Resumes tha work — Supernumerary — His preaching — Anecdote — Appear- ance, §c. — Family prayer meetings — Declining health — Happy end — Funeral. Page 313, PART THIRD. Contributions by Living Mombers of Trey Conference. Tue First ComMANDMENT Wit! Promise, Rev, B. M. Hall. CHRISTIANITY AN ELEMENT OF Civizization, Rev, H. Dunn, IMPORTANCE OF AN ELEVATED AIM, Mev. H. L. Starks, A, MM. Tue Transricguration., Rev. B. Isbell, 10... cece Tur Acoxy intne Ganpen. Ltev. D. Slarkss ccc cece ce ecees Was tur Resurrection BODY OF CURIST A SPIRITUAL AND GLORIFIED bopy. ev, A. COIR OBE, sr haverenaeee Ne aes attra ety Tue Youxe Surenannuate, ev. W. Ford, ..... Tue Cunistran Proression, Ser, W. A. Diller, TSE VENCEPOR FAMIDIAR: ASSOCIATES, 6. care teiea ete are cctrewalcrsrars ahaveates Onward! Urwarp! 22cm, A. Johnson. . cece cece cccnccrnccce IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL PIETY TO SUCUPSSFUL FAMILY GoVERN- eENT, Weer DL Wrtheriliccscsn vanadate yeweweas aes Deatn wititour THE Laur or Revetation. Lev. J. I Edgerton, Gop ivintercourss with wan. Rev. B. Hawley, A.M. oes. Flow can Gop bE JUST AND MERCIFUL AND CREATE MEN WHOM UR KNEW WOULD SIN AND CONSEQUENTLY BE MISERABLE YOREVER? Rei; C3 Devel, Me Diyeiswss aeecEer tea ste eeieaet wee Selle 319 326 330 332 336 xvi CONTENTS. Tue TRUTH oF CHRISTIANITY ESTABLISHED BY THE CHRISTIAN’S EX- PERIENCE. ev. Ti Spicer, A. Mj. ceecccceeceecceees ae re Tae INFLUENCE OF CurIsTIANS AND CuristTianity. Rev. A. W. Ransom, ....+. GiGi daveb fonar einece artis o/s ae ua-teouat avere nel olaeusves’- TOOL THE BAPTISM oF THE Hoty Guost. Bay, R. Wescott, A. M,... 382 Earty DEATH or Ministers. Jtev. DL Bates,.....cecseceseees 389 Curist1An Love. tev. EB. Gloss, A. Wy... 1. eee reistnes seees 392 ANALYSIS OF THE NEW RULE ON SLAVERY PROPOSED BY THE Troy ConFERENCE IN May, 1853. Rev. A. Witherspoon,.......... 394 A Provipentiat rncipenT. ev. J. Pegg, Seny.ccscccceeeesess 400 THE IDENTITY OF THE HUMAN BODY IN THE RESURRECTION. tev. J. Me Wever, ia issrece ieee ees Ree TET OTST seriaesahaiae sn AN APPENDIX. Literary INSTITUTIONS, Page 411 Tasie showing the time and place of the several sessions of the Troy Conference, with the names of the plesiding bishops and sec- retaries, Page 412 TABLE showing who have been presiding elders of the several dis- tricts from 1832 to 1854. Page 413 Statistics of membership, Sunday School scholars, collections, $c, Page 414 TaBLE containing an alphabetical list of all the preachers who have been connected with the conference from its organization to 1854; showing the time of their reception, and who have withdrawn, lo- cated, been transferred, expelled, or died, and the date of such events. Page 415 Tract and book depositories. Page 424 PART FIRST. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF METHODISM WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE TROY CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ‘* And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep, his commandments, or no.’.—Devt., viii, 2. HISTORICAL SKETCH. CHAPTER I. FROM 1766 TO 1800. The Troy Annual Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, which had previously constituted a part of the New York Conference, was organized in 1832. It is bounded on the north by Canada East, on the east by the Green Mountains, on the south by a line running east and west from Pittsfield, Mass., to Schoharie coun- ty, N. Y., and on the west by a somewhat irregular line running from Schoharie in a northerly direction to Canajoharie, Lake Pleasant, and thence to Canada East, leaving Franklin county on the west, and Clinton county on the east of this line. It therefore includes Rens- selaer, Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery, Fulton, Sara- toga, Washington, Warren, Essex, and Clinton counties ; with a part of Columbia, Schoharie, and Hamilton coun- ties in New York; so muchof Vermont as lies west of the Green Mountains; and about ten towns in Berkshire county, Mass. Within its bounds are the cities of Albany, Troy, Schenectady, and Vergennes, together with a large num- ber of flourishing villages, extensive fertile regions, and much picturesque and beautiful scenery. Howes’ Cave, Saratoga and Lebanon Springs, and Cohoes, and Glenn’s Falls, are among the natural curiosities within its limits. The Hudson river, Lake Champlain, the northern and western canals, and numerous rail roads constitute its thoroughfares, and render traveling within its bounds cheap, pleasant, and expeditious. 20 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY. The first Methodist that is known to have entered this region was Captain Webb, of the British army. Having received a wound in the arm, and lost his right eye at the battle of Quebec, under General Wolfe, he re- turned to England, andin 1764, or 1765, was converted to God. He joined the Methodist society, and in 1765, or 1766, returned to this country, having been appointed barrack-master at Albany. Before leaving England, he began to speak in public, and ‘‘ when he arrived in Al- bany, he regularly performed family prayer; some of his neighbors frequently attended. He often gave them a word of exhortation, and the encouragement he met with emboldened him to extend his labors,” (Young's Hisé. Meth., p. 235.) Thus began that work which has since so wonderfully spread throughout this and other regions of our country. It will be remembered that it was in 1766, that Mr. Philip Embury preached his first ser- mon in the city of New York, and organized the first Methodist society in America, Whether the honor of preaching the first Methodist sermon in America belongs to Captain Webb, or to Philip Embury, and whether Albany or New York was the place where it was preached, it may be impossible positively to decide; but that Mr. Embury organized the first society, may be considered a settled historical fact. Dr. Bangs says of Mr. Embury’s first sermon, which was preached to five hearers in his own house in New York: ‘‘ This, it is believed, was the first Mcthodist sermon ever preached in America.” (Hist. Meth., vol. i, p. 48.) This is the general impression, and yet as this is a question of some historic interest, it may be well to investigate it. ‘In the year 1765 or 1766,” Dr. Bangs says, ‘* Capt. Webb was appointed barrack-master at Albany. Here he set up family prayer in his own house, which some of his neighbors frequently attended, to whom he gave HISTORY OF METHODISM. 21 a word of exhortation and advice. The blessing of God attending those incipient efforts to do good, he was induced to extend his labors, and he began to hold meetings among his fellow-soldiers and others who wished to attend. After the arrival of Mr. Embury in New York, Capt. Webb, hearing of their having begun to hold meetings, paid them a visit.” (Bangs’ Hist. Meth., v. ii, p. 257.) From the above, it seems that he began to hold meetings in Albany either the same year that Mr. Embury began in New York, 1766, or the year previous. Capt. Webb appeared among the Method- ists in New York ‘‘shortly after they had formed themselves into a society,’? and before the rigging-loft was hired. (Young’s Hist. Meth., p. 232; Bangs’ Hist. Meth., vol. i, pp. 49, 50). A letter from the infant society in New York to Mr. Wesley, dated April 11, 1768, says, ‘‘ The above appears to be a genuine account of the state of religion in New York eighteen months ago, when it pleased God to rouse up Mr. Embury to employ his talent by calling sinners to repentance, and exhort- ing believers to let their light shine before men.”’ ‘‘ About fourteen months ago, Capt. Webb, barrack-master at Al- bany, found them out, and preached in his regimentals,”’ (Bangs’ Hist. Meth., vol. i, p. 53-4). Thus it appears that Mr. Embury was aroused to duty in October, 1766, i. e., eighteen months before the above letter was written, that Capt. Webb began to hold meetings in Albany in 1765 or 1766, and that he preached in New York about four months after Mr. Embury’s first sermon, having previously preached in Albany, “‘first to his fellow- soldiers, and afterward to all that were willing to hear him.’ From the above evidence it seems highly proba- ble that the first Methodist sermon in America was preached by Capt. Webb at Albany, or af least that he there held the first Methodist meetings for exhortation 22 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY, aud prayer. Ilearn also that he visited and preached at Schenectady. No society, however, was formed in either of these cities until several years subsequent to 1766. Capt. Webb afterwards returned to England where his labors were greatly blessed. He died sud- dently in 1796. The Rev. Freeborn Garre'tson was the apostle of Methodism in all the region now occupied by the Troy Conference. At the Conference of 1788 he was ap- pointed presiding elder of the district north of the city of New York, and extending from New Rochelle, near New York city, to Lake Champlain. At that time there were but six circuits in his large district, and but two of them within the bounds of what now constitutes the Troy Conference. ‘‘ The Lord had raised up a number of zealous young men, who had entered the field of itinerancy with hearts fired and filled with love to God and the souls of men. Several of these were placed under the charge of Mr. Garrettson, who was requested by Bp. Asbury to penetrate the country nerth of the city of New York, and form as many circuits as he could. ‘* A great portion of this country was entirely desti- tute of religious instruction, more especially the north- ern and western parts of New York state, and the state of Vermont. There were, to be sure. some small scat- tered congregations of Lutherans, and Dutch Reformed, along the banks of the Hudson river, and some Con- gregationalists and Baptists in Vermont. It is mani- fest, however, that experimental and practical religion was at a low ebb; and in most of the places, particu- larly in the new settlemnents on the west side of the Hudson river, not even the forms of it were to be found.” (Bangs’ Hist., vol. i, p. 269.) The following account of the exercises of his mind, HISTORY OF METHODISM. 23 and of the manner in which he proceeded in the work of breaking up this new ground, is from Mr. Garrettson’s own pen: ‘‘I was very uneasy in my mind, being un- acquainted with the country, an entire stranger to its inhabitants, there beiig no Methodist societies farther north than Westchester; but I gave myself to earnest prayer for direction, [ knew that the Lord was with me. Inthe night scason. ina dream, it seemed to me that the whole country, up the North river, as far as Lake Champlain, east and west. was open to my view. ‘** After Conference adjourned, [ requested the young men to meet me. Light secmed so reflected on my path that I gave them directions where to begin, and which way to form their circuits. [also appointed a time for each quarterly mceting, requesting them to take upa collection in every place where they preached, and told them I should go up the North river to the extreme parts of the work, visiting the towns and ciiles in the way, and on my return, I should visit them all, and hold their quarterly meetings. I had no doubt but that the Lord would do wonders, for the young men were pious, zeal- ous and laborious.’’ Who can contemplate the scene here presented wi:h- out emotions of admiration? In the spirit of the apostles, this band went forth, without money, without influence, without friends, trusting alone in God, to wage warfare against the kingdom of darkness, and gather souls to Christ. The strangest notions imaginable prevailed among some classes, as to the character and designs of these men of God. Some supposed they were the agents of the British government, and gravely predicted another war! Embassadors of a foreign Prince they were, in- deed, and a war ensued, but not such as was feared; their weapons were not carnal, their victories were bloodless. Others supposed they were the false prophets 24 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY. whe should come in the last days, and ‘‘ deceive, if it were possible, the very elect.” And while some of the settled clergy became alarmed lest they should lose their con- gregations, from many a pulpit the note of warning was sounded against the ‘‘ wolves in sheep’s clothing.” God, however, was with these heroic pioneers of Me- thodism, opening their way before them, supporting them amid their trials, raising them up friends among stran- gers, and blessing their labors. If, as on the day of Pen- tecost, some ‘‘mocked,” others ‘‘ were pricked in their hearts, andsaid to’? Father Garrettson, ‘‘and to the rest of the’ preachers, ‘‘men and brethren, what shall we do? ‘* My custom was,” says Mr. Garrettson, ‘‘ to go round the district every three months, and then return to New York, where I commonly stayed about two weeks. In going once around, I usually traveled about a thousand miles, and preached upwards of a hundred times.” (Garrettson’s Life, p. 201.) At the close of their first year's labor, they returned over six hundred members, “ So mightily grew the word of the Lord, and prevailed.” The minutes of 1788 give the circuits and appoint- ments within our bounds, as follows: Cambridge, Lem- uel Smith; Shoreham, Darius Dunham; New City (i.e. Lansingburgh), Samuel Q. Talbot; Lake Champlain, Samuel Wigton. These appointments must be under- stood as indicating the places where these men were expected to form circuits, and not the actual existence of societies at that time. The first Methodist society formed within the limits of what is now the Troy Conference, was at Ashgrove, in Washington county, N.Y. It was organized by Mr, Philip Embury. After having been instrumental in the organization of the first Methodist society, and in build- ing the first Methodist church in America, he removed to Ashgrove, where he formed a society, consisting HISTORY OF METHODISM. 25 chiefly of a few Irish emigrants. Among these was Mr, Ashton, also an Irish emigrant, after whom the place was named, Mr. Embury wasa carpenter by trade, and lived in humble life, a faithful Christian, and a useful local preacher, until the year 1775, when he died in peace, and was buried in the town of Cambridge, about seven miles north of Ashgrove. In 1882, his remains were removed, and with appropriate religious services, entombed in the burying ground in Ashgrove. In 1786, Mr. John Baker, another emigrant arrived from Ireland, and united with the little band at Ashgrove. After several unsuccéssful attempts to get the services of a regular preacher, they succeeded in 1788, when Rey. Lemuel Smith was sent to them, the appointment, as above indicated, bearing the name of Cambridge circuit. This may be considered the first circuit formed within our limits. Mr. Smith brought the society into regular order, and extended his labors in various directions with success. The same year the first Methodist church within the bounds of our present Conference, and, in- deed, the first north of Dutchess county, was erected at Ashgrove. A stone in the wall of the church at North White Creek, as well as the records of a book recently examined at the house of the widow Hanna, at Ashgrove, in which the New York Conference held its session in 18038, testify to the fact that this first church was erected in 1788. It was subsequently enlarged and afterward destroyed, and a new one was erected a few rods from the former site. This was destroyed by fire, and the present house of worship was erected in its stead. Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mr. Darius Dun- ham, in 1789, Ashgrove, at an early date, became a centre and strong-hold of Methodism, and around it cluster some of the most interesting associations of our early denominational history, There, side by side, repose 26 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY, the remains of those faithful men of God and preachers of the word, Philip Embury, David Noble and David Brown. Of the former of these I have already spoken. Mr. David Noble was a local preacher, a holy, zeal- ous man, who had emigrated from Ireland about 1794. He resided at Johnsburg, from which place, when in the 74th year of his age, he went to visit a married daughter near Ashgrove. In the evening of the same day, July 10, 1807, as he was exhorting the people with his accustomed zeal, in a little pulpit that had been fitted up in the school-house, he warned them to be prepared to die, and said he blessed God that he was ready to go at any moment when God should please to call him, He had no sooner spoken these words than he sunk back in his chair, and in a few moments, with- out uttering another word, expired. On his tomb- stone is the following epitaph: “This man was faithful in his Master’s cause; Three minutes exchanged the pulpit for eternal joys.” Many of his descendants in and about Johnsburg are members of the M. E. church, and one of them, Rev. Edward Noble, is a member of the Troy Conference. Mr. David Brown was born in the county of Down, Ireland, in 176); entered the traveling connection in this country in 1794; and died at Ashgrove, in Septem- ber, 1803, in the 44th year of his age. Few even among the best of men have been so generally beloved in life, or so greatly lamented in death, as was this holy man. His cheerfulness, seasoned with all the gentleness of humble love; his meekness, wisdom and uniform stability won the affections and sealed the friendship of his cotemporaries. He had a peculiar excellence in re- proof. Its edge was so keen, and yet so tempered with cheerful kindness, as at the time to give pleasure rather than pain; and yet so directed as to produce with un- \ HISTORY OF METHODISM, 27 erring certainty, its effect. Often, it was not until some time after he had gone, that his supposed plea- santry was first seen to have a pointed, serious meaning. He lost no love by his reproofs. God blessed his labors to the salvation of many, and in the terrible pains at- tendant upon the dysentery of which he died, the river of peace in his soul was raised to a flood-tide of joy, upon the bosom of which he entered into the desired haven. His last words were, ‘‘The Lord’s will be done; my anchor is cast within the veil.” Surely the memory of these worthies should be cherished by their spiritual descendants, For other particulars relative to this holy man, the reader is referred to the Autobio- graphy of Rev. T. Spicer, p. 68. In that same sacred spot, the Ashgrove grave-yard, repose the ashes of others of that first little Methodist band within our borders. Could they arise from their dusty beds and behold the advancement of that work in which they toiled and suffered, how would they exclaim, ‘* What hath God wrought?’ Who knows but they do look down from the resting place of their spirits, and rejoice in the spread of scriptural holiness in our midst? Among those whose remains repose in that spot, we ought not to forget the name of Mr. Ashton, the first Methodist in Ashgrove, by whom the ground was given to the church. This devoted man fitted up a room in his house, which, for many years, was known far and near as the Preacher’s Room. There Asbury and Garrettson, and very many other weary itinerants, found a hearty welcome, a place of retreat and repose from their long journeys, a home, when such homes for Methodist preachers were ‘‘ few and far between.” In his last will he bequeathed to the society some two or three acres of ground adjoining the grave-yard, on which a parsonage was built, which was doubtless the first 28 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY. one owned by the church within our bounds. He also gave a cow for the use of the preacher, and a perpetual annuity of ten dollars to be paid to the oldest unmarried traveling preacher of the New York Confer- ence. Besides this, he gave all the furniture of the Preacher’s Room. Among these articles was a large chair occupied by Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat when presiding at the first Conference within our bounds, which was held at the house of Mr. John Baker, at Ash- grove, in 1808, the friends in that immediate neighbor- hood being better able to entertain the preachers than they were in the vicinity of the church. This chair is still preserved in the parsonage. To allow the name of Ashton to be forgotten among us would be alike barba- rous and ungratefu]. Some account of the early history of Methodism in Ashgrove may be found in the Metho- dist Magazine for 1827. In 1789 two other circuits appear on the Minutes, viz: Coeymans Patent and Schenectady. John Craw- ford was appointed to the former, and Lemuel Smith and Cornelius Cook to the latter. In June or July, 1789, Mr. Garretlson preached in the Assembly Chamber at Albany, ‘‘but found much opposition among the citizens generally to the truths he delivered. Even the min- ister of God, who had cherished him as a lovely and pro- mising youth, little realized the chain of causes he was setting in motion, and the results that would grow out of them. He had gathered a chance jewel from among the cinders of the blacksmith’s shop; but little did he comprehend the richness of its value, or the transcend- ent lustre its polished surface would assume. So often does God make ‘‘ the weak things *’ of earth praise him, and ‘‘ the day of small things * to become glorious before him. ; It is remarkable that the two eminent servants of God, who were mainly instrumental in his conversion, are still in the effective ranks, enjoying a green old age, cheered, loved and honored by their brethren who have grown up around them. The next preacher stationed in Troy was the Rev. Tobias Spicer. To the instructions of this eminently sound and judicious minister, as wellas to those of the Rev. Messrs. Clark and Chichester, the young disciple was much indebted in his early Christian history. He says (in his journal) that they seemed to labor less to excite a momentary feeling, than to pro- duce a solid and permanent religious character; one that would be most likely to withstand the shocks of temptation, and to accumulate strength through every period of its future experience. Nor did he cease to 80 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY. acknowledge his obligations to these men of God till his dying day. Well had it been for thousands of sincere and susceptible young men, could they have been favored with equally competent and judicious advisers. While the youthful character is in this transition state, the influences brought to bear upon it make a deep and generally ineffaceable impression; and, for weal or wo, will they continue to bring forth life-long results. The proper training of young converts, and especially of young men in the Christian church, is a work of as high moment in the magnitude of its results as that of the mere instrumentality of their conversion. For the want of sound Christian nurture, thousands cease to be of any ~ account in the church, just at a point when their use- fulness should be taking direction and acquiring char- acter. During the pastoral labors of Mr. Spicer in Troy, there was a very extensive work of God in the church; so extensive that the membership were increased from a hundred and seven to two hundred and fifty during the two years. The church edifice was small, plain, and unimposing; the membership were few in number, and poor in worldly means—not many rich, not many great, not many noble were found among them. But they were devoted to God, and loved one another; and God put honor upon them, making them to abound in fruitfulness and joy. This revival, in an especial man- ner, awakened the zeal and called out the talents of young Levings. He had been converted at a time when no special revival was in progress; and the awakening and conversion of such multitudes seemed to fill him with astonishment and wonder, while at the same time it fired his own heart anew. He had already become an efficient teacher in the first sabbath-school established in Troy, and then sustained by the different denomina- NOAH LEVINGS, 81 tions of evangelical Christians. ° While yet in his minor- ity he was appointed a class-leader; and when, at the conference of 1817, the Rev. S. Luckey succeeded Mr. Spiccr in charge of the station, he gave him license to exhort. On the 20th day of December following, being then a few months over twenty-one, he was duly li- censed as a local preacher by the quarterly conference of the station. ‘Up to this time he appears to have had no distinct idea of entering the ministry. He had, indeed, an ardent desire to do all he could for the glory of God and for the salvation of men; but, so high appeared to him to be the qualifications necessary for a Christian minister, and so small and insignificant did his own appear to himself, that entering the sacred office seemed entirely out of the question. His mind had been at ease under this view of the subject; but now it came up before him in a new and stronger light. He was out of his apprenticeship; he was also of age; the responsibility of determining his future course now devolved upon himself. He wished to do right; he had an ardent desire to do good; he was wedded in his affections to the church of God; he groaned in spirt for the salvation of a dying world. And yet the magnitude of the work, the fearful and far-reaching nature of its responsibilities, appalled him. After many struggles of mind, he was at length led to the determination to follow the convic- tions of duty and the openings of Providence. Accord- ingly on the 7th of March, 1818, his license to preach was renewed, and he was recommended to the New York Annual Conference. The session of the confer- ence was held in May following, in the city of New York. He was here received on trial and appointed to the Leyden circuit, having the Rev. Ibri Cannon for his senior preacher and superintendent. 8&2 TROY CONFERENCE MISCELLANY. If it had cost him a struggle to decide upon entering the ministry, he was now subject to a trial of a different character, but scarcely less painful to youthful sensibil- ities. He had been appointed to a distant circuit, and must now bid adieu to the home and the cherished friends of his youth. And then the prospect before him was by no means congenial to the feelings of a young man of a feeble constitution and a timid nature.