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 Life and labors of Rev. William Brocic We 
 
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C^TTJ. CiyiMn^ 
 
LIFE AND LABORS 
 
 OF 
 
 ]ev. William Brock Wellons, D, D., 
 
 WHO WAS A 
 
 MINISTER AND MEMBER OF THE EASTERN VIRGINIA 
 CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE FOR NEARLY THIRTY- 
 THREE YEARS, EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN 
 SUN FOR NEARLY TWENTY-FIVE 
 YEARS, AND PRESIDENT OF THE 
 GENERAL CONVENTION OF 
 THE CHRISTIAN 
 CHURCH. 
 
 COMPILED AND EDITED BY HIS BROTHER, 
 
 REV. J. W. WELLONS, AND REV. R, H. HOLLAND, 
 
 RALEIGH, N. C: 
 
 EDWARDS, BROUGHTON & CO., STEAM PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 
 
 1881. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881. 
 
 By Revs. J. W. Wellons and R. H. Holland, 
 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The writer, having felt it a duty he owed to his 
 beloved and only brother and the cause for which 
 he freely sacrificed and toiled, and to answer the 
 many callsfora naemorial sketch of the life and labors 
 of Rev. W. B. Wellons, D.D., in order that his many 
 friends and admirers may go with him again through 
 his eventful career, have their minds refreshed as with 
 his presence as the many thrilling incidents that sur- 
 rounded his pathway are narrated, and keep him fresh 
 in their memories, has decided to assume the task of 
 publishing this work. In addition to his own efforts 
 to gather up and prepare the desired material, he has 
 secured the aid of Rev. R. H. Holland, a cotemporary 
 and co-laborer, who is familiar with many important 
 circumstahces, which will materially add to the in- 
 terest of the work, and who will doubtless feel more 
 free to write of the deceaased than could a brother. 
 As Rev. R. H. Holland knew the subject of this 
 memoir from the very commencement of his minis- 
 try, and was associated with him in many of 
 his labors, and was an eye-witness to many of the 
 acts of his life, he evidently recollects many things 
 
4 Preface. 
 
 unknown to the writer, and is well prepared to give 
 valuable assistance in making up this journal. 
 
 The writer will, in every instance, publish with- 
 out alteration all the manuscriptiS found inDr.WEL- 
 LONs' own handwriting, suitable for the work. We 
 have a Diary of a few years of the first of his min- 
 istry ; after that We have nothing to draw from but 
 our memory, which is too treacherous to do him 
 justice. "We have, however, a sketch written bj"^ 
 himself of our parents, of his early training, his 
 first religious impressions, his call to the ministry, 
 with some of his troubles and afflictions, that we 
 will publish, preceded by a sketch prepared by Rev. 
 R. H. Holland. The cheif aim of the writer is 
 to have as much of William B. Wellons as pos- 
 sible. If we fail to make the book as interesting 
 and entertaining as we could wish, we will do our 
 best to make it worthy of a careful reading by his 
 many friends by inserting some of his sermons and 
 addresses that we may be able to procure. 
 
 It is due to the deceased, however, to say that 
 the larger portion of his sermons and addresses 
 were not prepared for the press, or special care would 
 have been taken in their preparation ; and a portion 
 of them were written in his early ministry, when 
 he had but little experience in a ministerial life. We 
 
Preface. 5 
 
 also publish a few letters from a limited number of 
 his most intimate friends, that we may find room 
 for in this volume. We find a sufficient number of 
 manuscripts, notes, sermons, &c., prepared since 
 1865, (as nearly all he had made was then lost) 
 to make a book of several hundred pages, that will 
 be crowded out for want of room, which we may pos- 
 sibly publish in a separate volume at some future 
 day. His time, his talents and his means were 
 devoted to the interest of the Christian Church, and 
 to every enterprise in which he could see the promise 
 of good. Virginia never raised a truer or firmer 
 veteran of the Temperance cause than W. B. Wel- 
 LONS ; and the Masonic Fraternity lost one of its 
 staunchest friends in his death, which was made pre- 
 mature by his unceasing amount of work, toil and 
 worry — for he was but in the prime of life, only fifty- 
 six years, when cut down by that fell destroyer, 
 tubercular consumption, that called him away Feb- 
 ruary 16th, 1877. 
 
 To prepare this volume is some of the last work 
 I can do for niy departed brother, whose body now 
 quietly sleeps in Willow Hill cemetery, Suffolk, Va , 
 while his soul is with the redeemed in the mansions 
 above. But his dear name is as sweet to lisp and 
 
6 Preface. 
 
 his memory as precious as if yesterday he had de- 
 parted. Sweet be thy rest, dear brother. Soon we 
 shall meet again. 
 
 J. W. WELLONS. 
 Franklinton, N. C., July 15th, 1881. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Preface, 3 
 
 Biographical Sketch by Eev. R. H. Holland, 9 
 
 Eecollections of Incidents in his Life, 13 
 
 His First Attempt to Speak in Public, 15 
 
 An Interesting Incident, Style of Preaching, &c., 18 
 
 Dr. Wellons as a Kevivalist, &c., 19 
 
 Churches Sprang up under his Ministry, &c., 25 
 
 His Locating in Suffolk, <fcc., 28 
 
 He Organized Berea, Oakland and Newbern Churches, 30 
 
 The Unbounded Love of the Brethren for Dr. Wellons, 32 
 
 An Impressive Circumstance Attending a Baptizing, 34 
 
 A Cherished Reminiscence, 35 
 
 A Short Sketch, Ancestry, &c.. Written by Himself, 41 
 
 His Early Impression to Preach, 50 
 
 Refleetions on the Foregoing Diary, by R. H. H., 73 
 
 Great Revival at Newbern, 77 
 
 Commencement of His Protracted Meetings, 93 
 
 Day of Fasting, Prayer, &c., 95 
 
 Close of Meeting at Cypress, Baptizing, <fco , 97 
 
 Protracted Meeting at Bethlehem, 99 
 
 Attacked with Paralysis, 100 
 
 Protracted Meeting at Holy Neck, 101 
 
 Protracted meeting at Barrett's, 103 
 
 Protracted meeting at Providence, 104 
 
 Protracted meeting at Union, lOS 
 
 Annual Conference, 110 
 
 Visits the Grave of Elder Wm. A. Jones, 112 
 
 Baptized Sixteen Believers, 113 
 
 Diary for the year 1850, 115 
 
 Rev. Charles H. Plummer, 124 
 
 He United with the Sons of Temperance, 126 
 
 Dr. Wellons' Love, Courtship and Marriage, 129 
 
 His Reception on his Return to Virginia, 134 
 
 First Visit to his Father's, after Marriage, 137 
 
 Revs. I. N. Walter and Wm. R. Stowe, at Cypress, 143 
 
 His Tour North, 148 
 
 His Connection with the Christian Sun, 152 
 
 The Southern Christian Association, 154 
 
 The American Christian Convention, 155 
 The Organization of the Southern Christian Convention, 157 
 
 His Efforts in the Interest of Education, &c., 158 
 
 His^ Views on Sabbath Schools, 160 
 
Contents. 
 
 A General Summary of his Labors, &c., by his Brother, 
 
 Bev. J. W. Wellons, 105 
 
 . His Sentiments and Feelings on Temperance, 16» 
 His Controversy with Kev. John Paris, D. D., ITS 
 The Organization of the Suffolk Church, 173 
 His Position as to the National Troubles of 1S61, 17S 
 His First Vi-it to the Battle Field, &c., 180 
 Met his Family on the Blackwater, Oct. 29th, 1862, 182 
 The Death of his Father, 183 
 Superintendent of the Tract Society, &c., 184 
 He Leaves Petersburg and Narrowly Escapes Death, Ac, 18) 
 Decision to Keturn to his Home in Suffolk, 189 
 His Arrest by a Federal Officer, 191 
 First Meeting of the General Convention after the War, 193 
 The Christians and the Christian Union, 19S 
 Opening Address before the Convention in Suffolk, 1870, 207 
 Address before theE. V. C. Conference at SpringHill, 22r> 
 His Ministerial Report, 241 
 His Opening Address before Convention at Graham, N.C., 2-Jt) 
 The Title of D. D. Conferred upon Him, 259 
 He is chosen President of S. C. Institute, 262 
 He attends the Moody and Sanky Meeting at Philadelphia, 262 
 His Decline of Health, &c., 263 
 He Gives up the Christian Sun, Ac, 270 
 His Last Sickness and Closing Scenes of Life, 275 
 Memorial Address, 280 
 Tribute of Kespect by Churches,-Fraternities, &c , 30.5 
 The Ceremonies on the Erection of his Monument, 309 
 Sermons and Addresses Written and Delivered by him- 
 self, 323 
 Masonic Funeral Sermon of Jacob Kelly, 323 
 Masonic Address, 344 
 Laying Corner Stone, 373 
 Literary Address, 333 
 An Address before the N. C. and Va. Conference, 402 
 Anniversary Sermon, 420 
 Dedication of Pope's Chapel, N C, 426 
 Letter from Rev S. S Barrett, 435 
 
 'Letter from J. E. Brush, 43S 
 
 Letter from H H.'Hines, 440 
 
 Letter from Rev. John Goodrii'h, 441 
 
 Letter from Rev. R. H. Whitaker, 443 
 
 AVar Incident, 440 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF 
 
 Rey. W. B. Wellons, D. D„ 
 
 BY 
 
 Rev. R. H. Holland, 
 OF THE EASTERN VIRGINIA 
 
 CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE. 
 
 Biographies of faithfully and truthfully delin- 
 eated characters, are generally acceptable to the 
 solid-minded reader. Tales of highly wrought ro- 
 mance, or sketches of fancy may be food for the 
 souls of those who are merely imaginative in their 
 •tastes ; but a fair record of actual occurrences only, 
 can meet the demand of the enquirer after truth. 
 
 Far back in the flight of time, comirrg up to the 
 present decade, has the historian chronicled the al- 
 tern^ate lights and shades of events; and happily 
 for us that it has been hi-s pleasure "to note the cheer- 
 ing rays of reform in the path of progress. And I 
 may observe, that those salutary changes in civili- 
 zation, morals and religion, were not the result of 
 mere chance, or the fortuitious concourse of circum- 
 stances, merely; -but really the disclosure of the 
 
10 Biographical Sk:etch. 
 
 Divine Purposes in the elevation of the human 
 race, and the vindication of truth and righteous- 
 ness. Indeed, I might say, God never attempted to 
 establish any great principle, or show himself the 
 cause of any great reform-, by following it with his 
 blessings, without first placing at its lead some able 
 advocate, to give it impetus and success — some- 
 master mind, by whose magic He could gather 
 around him the thinking world^by whose superior 
 gifts and endowments, a blessed influence could be 
 exerted — a man adequately fitted for the exigency 
 of the occasion. 
 
 The fifteenth eentury called for a great revolution 
 in religion. The corruptions of the Romish church 
 justly merited the condemnation of heaven, and a 
 visitation of the Divine displeasure. There was- 
 evidently a need of a radical change in the spirit and 
 practice of the church, to elevate it to the true stand- 
 ard of purity, or restore it to its primitive sanctity. 
 Hence, God opened a waj' for the much needed ref- 
 ormation, and that heroic spirit, Martin Luther, 
 stepped forward in the arena of life as the mighty 
 champion in this great conflict — at 'the very time 
 perhaps, when it was possible for him to accomplish 
 the greatest good. The circumstances which led to 
 his discovery of the glaring sins of the priesthood 
 of the Papal church, his convictions of his own de- 
 praved nature, his happy change, (though already 
 a priest,) and his consecration to the great work of 
 reform, his indomitable will and undaunted courage, 
 as well as his power over the popular will and his 
 
Biographical Sketch. 11 
 
 many marvelous escapes in eminent peril, all show 
 that he was " a chosen vessel of the Lord," and the 
 " man for the period." 
 
 So, with Dr. We^lons, the subject of this memoir, 
 there was a special need for him at the time he 
 heeded the Master's call. He was the representative 
 of a great principle, and a broad, extensive and 
 beautiful field, all " white unto the harvest," opened 
 up before his aspiring mind. It was the auspicious 
 period for christian union and liberal Christianity ■ 
 when its fears i were quelled and all its waning 
 hopes revived. His peculiar turn of mind, his gen- 
 tle, lamb-like, amiable disposition, his large soul, 
 his progressive spirit, his broad views of christian 
 fellowship, his unfeigned love for all God's saints, 
 happily fitted him for the age in which he lived. 
 Such a reformer, the world then had a special 
 need for; every moral and benevolent institution 
 needed him, Christ's universal church -needed him 
 and the Christian church, which he so honored with 
 his whol^ life's labors, needed him. And whilst I 
 would not tay aught against the sainted fathers, the 
 great platform of principles laid down by them, or 
 against the dear old Antioch name. (Let my tongue 
 cleave to the roof of my mouth rather than do this.) 
 And whilst I would not dare detract any of the 
 honors that are " so justly due those noble pioneers 
 who stood shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Wellons in 
 the battle for, truth and right, many of whom like 
 him have fallen with the unsheathed armor on, all 
 covered with the glory of many victories, and others 
 
12 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 who still stand invincible at their posts of duty 
 yet I must be allowed so far to discriminate, as to 
 say that he, more than others of his cotemporaries, 
 contributed to the advancement of our beloved 
 Zion. 
 
 But perhaps the reader has already began to think 
 I am over-reaching the mark of true discretion, by 
 offering such a glowing eulogy as almost to amount 
 to fulsome praise. Far be it from me to so far for- 
 get my duty as to attempt to throw a false glare 
 around him, or to cast a single shadow over the lus- 
 tre of one of his many virtues. It is my purpose to 
 have him appear simply in his true character, iis 
 his unobtrusive self. Yet, I must say, as I have al- 
 ready intimated, that the Christian church had a 
 special need for him, and that the period when he 
 began his work among us, was an auspicious one 
 for the church. We had talent in the church, able 
 preachers of- the gospel ; yet our need was a man of 
 great administrative abilities, comprehensive views, 
 of a progressive spirit, who could see at a glance the 
 whole field of operation, all our denomination work 
 and its needs, and attract all to him by the magic of 
 his superior gifts. Our church work needed more 
 system, better organization, more general coopera- 
 tion, a greater realization of our strength, and how 
 to utilize all our powers for success. The qualities 
 of a leading spirit seemed more prominent in Dr. 
 Wellons than others, his influence was broad and 
 commanding, and around him the church seemed 
 to rally. Thus new enterprises were inaugurated, 
 
Biographical Sketch. 13 
 
 new life was infused in the old ones, and unprece- 
 dented prosperity dawned upon our Zion. The 
 tidal- wave put in motion still rolls on, and a bright 
 and propitious future looms up before us. 
 
 Having said thus much of the great need of Dr. 
 Wellous to the church, and to the world, and every 
 moral and benevolent institution, at the time he 
 went into active service, that God had endowed him 
 with superior gifts and sent him as his envoy on a 
 grand mission, that he was faithful to his high trust 
 and has doubtless passed up to the reward of " Well 
 done," I propose now to give some 
 
 Recollections op Incidents in his Life, 
 
 Commencing at the first time we ever met. But 
 previous to our first interview, I had heard Rev. 
 William A. Jones (whom I frequently met at Holy 
 Neck church, Nansemond county, a pious and zeal- 
 ous man of God, then the pastor at Barrett's church, 
 where he held his membership,) speak of him in 
 the most hopeful terms, as a young man of promise, 
 who he thought would some day make a preacher. 
 About this time an article from his pen (which after- 
 wards wielded such a power for good) appeared in 
 the Christian Sun, then published by Rev. D. W. 
 Kerr, at Hillsboro, North Carolina. I think it was 
 headed, "The Way is so Dark," describing the death- 
 bed scene of a young lady of his acquaintance, who 
 died without hope. And whilst, perhaps, this was 
 his first effort to appear in the public press, it showed 
 a rare gift for writing, in one so young and inex- 
 
14 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 perienced, and was spoken of by many in most 
 complimentary terms. Having seen his article in 
 the Sun, and heard our good brother Jones speak of 
 him, I was a little anxious to m'oet him. It was not 
 long, however, before I was permitted to gratify this 
 desire ; for it was my privilege to be at Union church, 
 Southampton county, where our good brother Jones 
 also ministered in holy things, sometime in the year 
 1845. At the conclusion of the services, Bro. Jones 
 called on a young man sitting near the entrance t» 
 the pulpit, to close by prayer. The prayer was 
 offered in quite a meek, unassuming manner, yet 
 with fervor and freedo^m of speech. This prayer 
 satisfied me that there was something good in the 
 young man, and I felt a desire to form his acquaint- 
 ance. The most casual observer could not fail tO' 
 trace in the physiognomy of his face, something 
 striking and unusual. I could but admire his broad, 
 high forehead, his large, full blue eyes, seeming in 
 their ready expression to blend the wisdom of the 
 serpent with the harmlessness of the dove. His 
 hair then, though dark, was not black, and his fea- 
 tures, though regular and well delineated, were 
 somewhat feminine, yet indicative of high resolves 
 and nobleness and firmness of purpose, and almost 
 always favorably impressed the stranger. 
 
 From this time we became very intimate friend?, 
 and we were frequently thrown into each other's 
 society. And as frequently would we speak of our 
 aspirations, hopes and prospects of future usefulness. 
 We would unbosom ourselves to each other as to our 
 
Biographical Sketch. 15 
 
 sinpressioQS to preach the everlasting gospel. He 
 was one of those men who firmly believed in a divine 
 and special call to the ministry. That it was his 
 legitimate callings and to that he should consecrate 
 -all his powers, and lay himself entirely out to the 
 divine glory. And was just as sincere in his convic- 
 tions that the divine wrath would rest upon him 
 and a fearful doom awaited him if he did not obey 
 Ood and pi^each the word of truth, and often quoted 
 the text, making a self application, " Wo is unto me 
 if I preach not the gospel." 
 
 His first Attempt to Speak in Public. 
 
 It was my privilege to hear him in many of his 
 first efforts to speak in public. The first time I ever 
 heard him attempt to speak in a religious assembly 
 was in the " Old Chapel,*' where the house of the 
 present Antioch sow stands. Another man, then a 
 school teacher, who afterwards distinguished himself 
 as a Baptist minister, was with him. The church 
 had a meetijig of daya, and that evening there was 
 •no minister pr-esent to conduct the services, and they 
 were both pressed to assist in the exercises, by speak- 
 ing as impressed by the Spirit. They both yielded 
 to the recjuest, and each in his turn spoke.' But the 
 ffemarks from each were short, uttered with appar- 
 ent timidity and but little liberty. Yet this was the 
 turning point in each of their histories; they both 
 succeeded well in their respective churches. Jos. 
 H. Womble went out to the far West as a missionary^ 
 .and Wm. B. Wellons entered the work of the min- 
 
16 Biographical Sketch, 
 
 istry in the Eastern Virginia Cliristian Conference, 
 where he made up a record, engraven high on the 
 niche of fame, where the youthful aspirant, passing 
 by, beholds it, will be stimulated to noble desires of 
 emulation. For the 
 
 " The lives of great men all remind us 
 
 We can make our lives sublime, 
 And departing lea-ve behind us 
 
 Foot prints on the sands ofitime." 
 
 About this time he was engaged in teachirng a 
 school near Green Level, Sussex county, Virginia,, 
 near his parental home, where many of his first arti- 
 cles for publication were dated. Whilst here en- 
 gaged, he was occasionally called to fill appointments 
 at the churches contiguous, and he manifested such 
 rare evidences of future usefulness, that the Confer- 
 ence was not long in deciding that the school-room 
 was too contracted or narrow a sphere for the ex- 
 ercise of the gifts which the Holy Spirit had en- 
 dowed him with. By a unanimous call, he entered 
 the field as an itinera.nt. He served the churches- 
 in this capacity in a most faithful and satisfactory 
 manner, gradually advancing in grace and intellec- 
 tual strength, making a strong hold on the con&- 
 dence and afi^ections of the brethren everj'where. 
 Thus, he soon become very po.pular as a minister ;. 
 not only in the Christian church, but also with the 
 denominations around. And his appointments were 
 largely attended by all classes, irrespective of party 
 shibboleths. His preaching then, though somewhat 
 after the style of the old Christian ministers, was ia 
 
Biographical Sketch. 17 
 
 a manner peculiarly his own. It wa& so warm, 
 earnest and impressive that it ebarmed and capti- 
 vated all hearts. 
 
 He served the Conference as. an itinerant three or 
 more years, having monthly appointments at all the 
 churches, after which he becanae a settled pastor. 
 Taking charge of Damascus, Gates county, North 
 Carolina, Cypress Chapel, Nansemond county, Vir- 
 ginia, Antioch, Isle of Wigbt county, Virginia, and 
 Bethlehem, Nansemond county, Virginia — the last 
 named church having been raised up under his own 
 auspices. Previous to its organization,, the commu- 
 nity around was very immoral and irreligious — in- 
 deed noted for dissipation and vice. But soon, under 
 his faithful ministrations, a great reformation was 
 brought about. With many others, some of the 
 leading minds were reached, and added to the num- 
 ber of the faithful, and the church grew in numeri- 
 cal strength, till ianally it become one of the strongest 
 in the Conference. Indeed, all the churches of his 
 pastorate enjoyed a great degree of prosperity- Yeaff 
 after year, under God's blessing, bis labors were fol- 
 lowed by great outpourings of the Holy Spirit and 
 ingathering of precious souls. He was indeed 
 a Holy Ghost preacher. He enjoyed great liberty, 
 was unusually happy in his delivery, was most con- 
 vincing, and so full of melting tenderness his appeals 
 were indeed hard to resist, even by the most callous 
 and hardened sinner. I think he was a man of 
 strong faith and earnest, unceasing prayer. I do 
 not think he ever attempted to preach without first 
 
18 BlCKSRAPHICAL SKETCH. 
 
 seeking the divine assistance in the effort. He went 
 directly from a throne of grace to the sacred desk ; 
 full of his subject, feeling that he was God's embas- 
 sador, with the Lord's message and that he would 
 accept the effort and crown it with his grace. The 
 text, " He thatgoeth forth weeping, bearing precious 
 seed, shall doubtless return again bringing his 
 sheaves with him," was a favorite text with him, in 
 the early part of his ministry, and he verily entered 
 fully into the spirit and sentiment of the inspired 
 words. He sowed often in tears, and afterwards, 
 " reaped with joy " a rich and abundant harvest. 
 
 An Interesting Incident — The Effect of His 
 Style of Preaching. 
 
 Dr. Wellons' history is full of interest. There is, 
 however, one incident connected with his style of 
 preaching, and the unusual control he had over the 
 minds and feelings of his hearers, I shall probably 
 never forget. It happened at Union church, South- 
 ampton county, Virginia. He was preaching in his 
 usual happy strain; he had riveted the attention of 
 the entire audience by the power of his eloquence. 
 To say eloquence does not fully convey the meaning 
 of the force of his words; the Spirit's might}' influ- 
 ence attended them. I was setting in the congrega- 
 tion, not far from the pulpit, and a pious young man, 
 then looking to the ministry in another denomina- 
 tion as his future calling, was sitting near me. I 
 noticed that the young man was a most attentive 
 listener from tije very commencement of the dis- 
 
Biographical Skstch. 19 
 
 course, and not only seemed to endorse every word, 
 but every word seemed to be food for his soul, which 
 he richly enjoyed. He became by degrees, more 
 and more happy under the word as it came as a holy 
 unction from the lips of the speaker. The young 
 man's eyes swam in tears, his soul ran over with joy 
 and he was full of ecstacy. He could not keep still 
 for a moment in his seat. He turned to and fro ; 
 sometimes leaning on the listener by his side and 
 sometimes falling backward almost prostrate on the 
 next bench. I do not think J. ever saw any one so 
 deeply wrought upon, or to have "the Spirit" so 
 " without measure " as to be beyond self-control. He 
 reminded me very much of the little mouse that was 
 killed by the soul ravishing power of the violin's 
 notes, by a skilled performs. That young man, 
 who had already shown signs of much promise, soon 
 entered the ministry, and is now one of the most 
 talented and popular Baptist divines in the State of 
 Tennessee. 
 
 De. Wellons as a Revivalist, and some of the 
 Fruits of his Ministry. 
 
 Dr. Wellons in his more early days, was con- 
 sidered "a great revivalist," and up to the last days 
 of his ministry, he enjoyed the enviable reputation 
 of being God's favored instrument in winning souls 
 to Christ. I have been present at a number of revi- 
 val meetings Conducted by him, where a great out- 
 pouring of the Holy Spirit was enjoyed. I have 
 frequently heard him after one of his Holy Ghost 
 
20 BiocjRAPHicAL Sketch. 
 
 sermons, make appeals to the unconverted which 
 seemed to be irresistible. There would be a move all 
 over the vast congregation, and a crowd would ap- 
 proach the altar for prayer, and often from 50 to 
 100 would profess conversion. And the fruits of his 
 ministry was not confined to his own charge or to 
 his own denomination, but he was invited to assist 
 other denominations, and God blessed his labors 
 there. And there are hundreds perhaps in other 
 denominations who were converted under his min- 
 istry, and many of his warmest personal friends 
 were among other denominations. I frequently 
 meet with leading members of other denominations 
 who were converted under his ministry, who seem 
 to have the most exalted notions of his worth, who 
 were devotedly attached to him, and even revere his 
 name and memory. Returning from Norfolk some 
 years ago on the Seaboard Railroad, I met with a 
 Methodist minister who said he was converted under 
 Dr. Wellons' ministry during a revival meeting con- 
 ducted by him in Newbern, North Carolina, and had 
 been on a visit to the man of God, who was the 
 chosen instrument in his hands in leading him to 
 Christ, whom he had learned to love as a 'father. 
 That man is now a leading minister in the North 
 Carolina M. E. Conference. Rev. J. T. Ball, a wortliy 
 and useful minister of the North Carolina Christian 
 Conference, was also a convert during the same great 
 revival in Newbern, and baptized by him with 45 
 others in the Neuse river. Time and space would 
 fail me to enumerate by individual or special occur- 
 
Biographical Sketch. 21 
 
 rences the many souls converted under his ministry ; 
 therefore we must speak of them in a general or col- 
 lective sense. 
 
 De. Wbllons' Pastorate and his Success as a 
 Pastor. 
 
 Having adverted to the churches of Dr. Wellons' 
 first pastorate, I will now speak of them more defi- 
 nitely. It is not enough to say of them, simply, 
 that they prospered under his ministry. Damascus 
 was quite a feeble church, struggling for its very 
 existence, when he agreed to serve it as pastor. 
 There was not perhaps a half dozen male members 
 in the church with a corresponding number of fe- 
 males. But by his ceaseless, indefatigable labors of 
 love and zealous care, he soon gathered around him 
 there a respectable band of earnest, faithful co-labor- 
 ers. Discouragements were removed, and prosperity 
 dawned upon the church. God crowned the pastor's 
 labors with repeated showers of divine grace, and 
 revival after revival, bringing in a rich harvest of 
 souls, greatly augmented its strength, till it assumed 
 a position of influence and respectability that vied 
 with any of its sister churches around. The congre- 
 gation which was small, became quite large, the 
 pastor was well sustained and highly esteemed for 
 his work's sake and all the enterprises of the church 
 moved on in harmonious success. And Damascus 
 still maintains its position and influence, and re- 
 members with the tenderest regard their former 
 
22 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 pastor, to whom in a large degree they are indebted 
 for their present prosperity. 
 
 Cypress Chapel also, another one of his churches, 
 though an old church when he took charge of it, 
 with a respectable number of prominent members 
 and a paramount degree of financial ability, was but 
 poorly organized, and therefore had not learned to 
 utilize its strength, systematize its labors and lay 
 out its means for its own success and to the divine 
 glory, and worshiped in an old dilapidated building. 
 But by his unremitting efforts in the pulpit and 
 around the fireside, in his genial, social way, carry- 
 ing the interests of the church to their homes and 
 hearts, he infused new life into the church and it 
 girded on its strength and marched forward to pros- 
 perity and a glorious future. 
 
 It is almost needless for me to say a train of pros- 
 perous circumstances followed his efforts here ; for 
 failure was a word that he never entered in his pro- 
 gramme ; but success was almost invariably the re- 
 sult of his well-directed efforts. Excelsior was written 
 on his banner, and onward and still onward was his 
 watchword. It was almost proverbial, that when it 
 was said Wm. B. Wellons had engaged to do a cer- 
 tain work, that no one ever predicted anything but 
 success. And whilst he was a power in the pulpit, 
 a great deal of his success as a pastor was due to his 
 influence in the home circle. He never allowed 
 himself to appear repulsive in any of the depart- 
 ments of society ; but attractive if possible in all. 
 By his kind, beuovolent nature, gentleness and social 
 
BlOGEAFHICAT. SKETCH. 23 
 
 disposition, he was approachable by all, from the 
 heads of families to the servant and little child. 
 And whilst he always wore a manly grace and min- 
 isterial dignity, he invariably manifested a happy 
 frame of mind and a life-like christian cheerfulness. 
 
 Cypress chnrch then, as the reader may readily 
 suppose, flourished as the palm tree, and the cedars 
 of Lebanon. Dr. Wellons' ministry was greatly 
 blessed among this people. A great revival com- 
 menced, and a general religious influence spread 
 over the whole community around, and large acces- 
 sions were made to the household of faith, and at 
 one time, I think, it was the most populous church 
 in the whole conference, (Antioch excelling it after- 
 wards) and gave its pastor the most generous sup- 
 port. Cypress then numbered, I suppose, over 400 
 mepabers. It is still a strong church, and though 
 it does not now reach its maximum proportions in 
 numbers and wealth, " its glory has not departed." 
 The mantle of the old pastor has fallen upon young 
 Elisha. A faithful minister still waits around the 
 altar, and large congregations still gather there to 
 hear the word. 
 
 About the first sermon I ever heard him deliver 
 was in the old house there, before the second one 
 was built. (A third one has been recently built.) 
 It astonished all present for its excellent prepara- 
 tion, its fine delivery and its sound, logical reason-, 
 ing. I recollect the text, and much of the argument 
 used as if it was but yesterday, it so favorably and 
 so indelibly impressed my mind. The text was 2 
 
24 Biographical Sketch, 
 
 Cor. v: 20: "Now then we are embassadors for Christ, 
 as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you 
 in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." The text 
 was so well discussed, showed such' aptness and such 
 a flow of vigorous and original thoughts that the 
 effect upon the audience was most perceptible of sat- 
 isfaction and admiration. Though young in years, 
 his sermon was greeted with congratulations and his 
 praise was on many lips. Soon after this he was 
 chosen the pastor of this church, and ever afterwards 
 he sliared their confidence and love and exercised a 
 happy controlling influence over them. 
 
 Antioch church also, as already intimated, was one 
 of th« favored sharers of his spiritual administration. 
 He accepted the pastorate of this church about the 
 same time that he did the three already described. 
 The church here had a more substantial member- 
 ship perhaps than either the others, as it perhaps 
 exceeded them, both as to zeal and numerical 
 strength. But the house they- worshiped in pre- 
 sented quite an antiquated, uncomely appearance; 
 „being old, unshapely and going to decay. But the 
 young pastor soon instituted a more hopeful state of 
 affairs. There was better discipline, more affection- 
 ate co-operation, prospects brightened and all hearts 
 were encouraged. The old veterans rallied around 
 their leader and the young soldiers readily wheeled 
 into line under the banner of the cross of Jesus. 
 Like all the other churches of his charge, yet ex- 
 ceeding all, it steadily grew in numbers and spirit- 
 uality, till it became the largest church in point of 
 
BlOGKAPHICAL SKETCH. 25 
 
 membership, having also the largest house of wor- 
 ship (being new and of modern finish) in the East- 
 ern Virginia Christian Conference. 
 
 Like his other churches, this also was blessed with 
 great revivals ; and had accession after accession, till 
 it increased from its former membership 75 or 100 
 to 600 or over. Though not quite so large as the 
 ancient Antioch of Syria, after which it took its 
 name, yet the congregation was thought to be too 
 large to conveniently worship in one place, and that 
 it was expedient that other branch churches should 
 be formed. The result was Mt. Carmel and Wind- 
 sor Christian churches, both now large and most 
 promising, has been organized from it. And al- 
 though Antioch has lost much bf its former strength 
 by the transfer of its members to these new churches, 
 as well aa several valuable ones by the great de- 
 stroyer, death, still it is a strong church, and enjoys 
 a good degree of prosperity under the faithful and 
 highly appreciated labors of the old pastor's succes- 
 sor, and beloved son in the gospel. 
 
 Other Chueches Sprang up Under his Ministry. 
 
 Other churches also sprang up mainly through 
 Dr. Wellons, as God's chosen instrumentality, of 
 which he was several years pastor. Of these, I will 
 first mention Suffolk, as being perhaps one of the 
 most important. And perhaps I might with pro- 
 priety Inention some of the reasons why a church 
 here became a necessity, as some of his duties con- 
 nected with it afterwards, subjected him to much 
 2 
 
26 Biographical Sketch, 
 
 bitter and unjust persecution. When he gave up 
 the itinerant field and took a pastorate, he located 
 in Suffolk, because it was a central point, easy of 
 access from his whole charge, and a nucleus around 
 ■which he could operate. In addition to this, he was 
 assistant editor of the Christian Sun, and Suffolk 
 possessed good mail facilities. (Afterwards he be- 
 came editor-in-chief, and the press and fixtures were 
 necessarily moved there.) Then the Christians had 
 a pretty fair representation of members in the town, 
 a minister and no house where they were free to 
 worship according to the dictates of their own con- 
 sciences ; besides it was a privilege due to that de- 
 nomination which was most numerous in the county 
 to have a house of worship at their county seat, 
 where business so often called them, and passing it 
 could look on with pleasurable pride, as a memento 
 to the Christian name and principles to attract the 
 enquiring gaze of the stranger. Hence, the enter- 
 prise was undertaken and successfully conducted by 
 Dr. Wellons and other valuable supporters of the 
 cause, which soon resulted in a neat and commo- 
 dious house, (at that time the best one in the place,) 
 built of brick and tastefully finished, situated on 
 Main street, near the centre of the town, reflecting 
 much credit to the Christians and its undertakers. 
 A church was organized, with a respectable mem- 
 bership, Dr. Wellons elected its pastor, and it moved 
 off with encouraging prospects looming up before it. 
 His ministry here was attended with the demonstra- 
 tion of the Spirit and of power, and the borders of 
 
Biographical Sketch, 27 
 
 Eion were enlarged and the Christian cause perma- 
 nently established. 
 
 Perhaps I need not mention a fact too well known 
 to all persons of observation, that where several de- 
 nominations are represented in a town, that too fre- 
 quently a sort of rivalry exists, and sometimes even 
 a struggle for predominance. And whilst a lauda- 
 ble emulation may not be blamable, there is some- 
 times a zeal manifested in the interest af some par- 
 ticular cause that is not commendable, and does not 
 reflect glory to the Author of salvation. Therefore, 
 whilst it was ihe sincere desir<e of our lamented 
 brother to use all fair and prudential means to build 
 up his society, it was no less his desire to cultivate 
 fraternal relations and a pleasant interchange of 
 thoughts and feelings with all the ministers and 
 ■churches in the town. And he generally succeeded 
 in accomplishing this blessed end, with a few, rare 
 exceptions. And whilst a few were jealous and re- 
 fractory, he was too elevated, too noble and generous 
 to retaliate, or to allow the equanimity of his feel- 
 ings to be disturbed, but his ready charity was as 
 the oil upon the troubled waters. And even when 
 unavoidably he came in contact with those ranco- 
 rous spirits, he used such gentleness, manifested such 
 magnamity, that the fallacy of their course was 
 «learly shown and their cause sunk to disrepute, 
 whilst his was vindicated, and triumphed. Indeed, 
 he was so immovably fixed on the side of truth and 
 right, that the jealous, vindictive -spirit was always 
 rebuked aad humbled, whilst even Providence 
 
28 BlOGfKAPHICTAL SKETCH, 
 
 seemed to acknowledge, and smile upon the recti- 
 tude of bis coarse. 
 
 His locating in SujfFOLK and some of his Efforts 
 AS A Mason and Son of Temperakce. 
 
 Perhaps it would not be amiss here, to mention 
 that when Dr. Wellons first went to Suffolk, be stop- 
 ped with Major B. D. Smith, before and after his 
 marriage to Mrs. Sarah L. Beasley ; but be subse- 
 quently bought a lot, well improved, and pleasantly 
 and conveniently located, of Judge Thog. J. Eilby^ 
 where be and his family continued to reside till his 
 death. About this time he began to bring himself 
 more prominently before the public mind and to 
 attract the notice of an observing world. His talents 
 began to be admired and appreciated by the gener- 
 ous minded, without regard to party lines, and he 
 was occasionally called upon to officiate as a Masonic 
 or Temperance Lecturer, in each of which fraternity 
 he held an honorable position. It was about this 
 time that he was called upon by the Suffolk Lodge to 
 deliver an address on the principles of Freemasonry, 
 which it was my privilege to hear, being a member 
 of the Fraternity and therefore an interested listener. 
 It was delivered in the old Episcopal church, that 
 stood down town on the hill near the cemetery. It 
 was listened to with profound attention by the large 
 audience ; and it evidently discovered a rare knowl- 
 edge of the principles and workings of the Order, 
 in one so young and limited in his experience, as 
 was supposed. There were several old, experienced " 
 
BiosRAPHiCAL Sketch, 29 
 
 and intelligent Masons present. And they all lis- 
 tened with pleasurable admiration. With other 
 prominent persons, a distinguished Methodist Pro- 
 testant divine was there, and spoke in complimen- 
 tary terms of the effort. The address was published 
 and a copy of it fell into the hands of a New York 
 publishing house, and it went through two or three 
 editions and was afterwards published in Canada. 
 This shows the high order of talent he then possessed. 
 But he was a growing inan, a close student, and he 
 eontinued to advance in general knowledge and in- 
 tellectual strength. We may possibly find room for 
 the address in this volume. 
 
 But his commanding talent was soon brought into 
 saiore frequent requisition, not only at home, but 
 also abroad. He was not only called upon to de- 
 liver dedicatory sermons, in his own and other con- 
 ferences, but as a temperance orator, for which he 
 had a gift to impress and convince, visited both subor" 
 ■dinate and State Divisions and Councils. Thus, his 
 mind and physical strength was too often over bur- 
 dened. Especially did our own people early begin 
 to overtax his energies. For whilst he had the rare 
 capacity of doing many things, and doing them all 
 well, without " getting them mixed," and perplexing 
 and confusing his raind, our people learned to think 
 that nothing could be done of any importance, un- 
 less done by him or under his special supervision. 
 Whilst a different course would have relieved him 
 of some of his arduous duties, and brought into ex- 
 ercise the gifts and brightened the talents of others* 
 
30 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 and more work could have been accomplished. But 
 such was the love for him, the confidence in his- 
 ability, and the universal desire to see and hear 
 him, he was invariably put at the lead. And this 
 course once began, was pursued almost to the end 
 of his life. 
 
 He Organized Berea, Oakland and Newkern 
 Churches. 
 
 But perhaps I might here mention th-at there 
 were other Christian churches, of whioh he was 
 mainly in&tFumental in orgartizing, of wh-ich he was- 
 for a time pastor. In this connection I would men- 
 tion Berea, in Nansemond count}'. There was an 
 inviting field in the Lower Parish, in an intelligent 
 and thrifty neighborhood, where we had a number 
 of church members and friends to our cause. Rev. 
 E. W. Beale and the writer had also at intervals 
 preached there, and it was only necessary to begin 
 th€ enterprise, and it was soon carried to success. A 
 good, working charch was established, of which he 
 was several years pastor, and it is now almost the 
 banner church of the Conference. Indeed, there is 
 none ahead of it in any benevolent work, and it is 
 now presided over by one of our best ministers, and 
 it gives him an encouraging support. 
 
 Then, there is Oakland, also^ a live, sprightly, 
 prosperous little church, which was started and 
 established by him as the leading spirit and its 
 minister, although he had valuable assistance by 
 friends living near. The house, a very neat,, weli 
 
Biographical Sketch. 31 
 
 finished edifice, was formerly owned by the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Conferencei but when some of the 
 Methodist Protestant churches and ministers in 
 Virginia went over to the Methodist Episcopal Con- 
 ference, the church in Chuckatuck also went. Oak- 
 land was then unoccupied, as the Methodist Episco- 
 pal church did not have members enough in the 
 neighborhood for two congregations, and they sold 
 it to the Christians. We had several members in 
 the neighborhood, and by the zealous, faithful exer- 
 tions of Dr. Wellons and the blessing of God, a good 
 membership was soon built up. Dr. "V^^^J'^'^s be- 
 came the pastor and labored successfully with it 
 several years. It is still a prosperous, growing 
 church, and is presided over now by an earnest and 
 truly spiritual minded minister. And although a 
 young church, it has already sent out one talented 
 young minister, and there are also other gifts in the 
 church. 
 
 We will not fail to mention Newbern also, as some 
 of the fruits of his missionary efforts. Rev. Peter 
 Howell, a travelling preacher, gping on foot, and 
 preaching out into the "highways and hedges, streets 
 and lanes of the cities," acted as his " forerunner," 
 to " prepare the way before him." He was origi- 
 nally a Free Will Baptist, a man of piety and zeal, 
 and in accord with our liberal views of christian 
 charity and fellowship, had preached there and 
 learned that there was a " field already white," whei;e 
 our principles would find a ready reception. Bro- 
 Wellons was invited there, and he made a successful 
 
32 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 visit and organized a Christian church of 27 mem- 
 bers. He visited there the second time in company 
 with R6v. Isaac N. Walter, and a delegation was 
 sent frgm that church, asking for ministerial assis- 
 tance. Bro. Wellons made a third visit in accord- 
 ance with the wishes of the Annual Conference held 
 at Holy Neck. At this time his labors were blessed 
 with a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and a 
 large accession was made to the church, and subse- 
 quently Rev. Wm. H. Boykin became their pastor, 
 and the church held on till the war, when ail was 
 lost to the white congregation, but there is still a 
 colored Christian church there. 
 
 The unbounded Love op the Brethren for Dr. 
 Wellons. 
 
 I recollect well of being at the Annual Conference 
 at Holy Neck, of hearing the strong and earnest 
 appeals of brethren Bragg and Ellixon for the return 
 of Bro. Wellons— no one but Bro. Wellons. The peo- 
 ple had learned to love him there as they did in 
 this Conference. And when the Conference decided 
 that he might labor with the church in Newbern 
 three months, some of the brethren here looked 
 upon the project with a jealous eye. They had 
 learned there was a pretty, young and wealthy widow 
 there, who in all probability would, or had akeady 
 captivated him, and he might be lost to the churches 
 here. Therefore, they let him go with great reluc- 
 tance, and not without some misgivings and mur- 
 muring. They said, " 0, brother Wellons is gone! 
 
/• Biographical Sketch. 33 
 
 We shall lose him ! He will get married and stay 
 in Newberu, and our cause is gone here !" 
 
 But as an evidence of the strong hold he had upon 
 the hearts and confidence of the brethren, a scene 
 transpired at the Annual Conference at Bethlehem, 
 I never can forget. The subject of his leaving the 
 churches here, and going to Newberu for a year or 
 until our cause could be fully established there, 
 came up and was discussed, the vote was taken and 
 the majority was in favor of his going. I recollect 
 the woe-be-gone countenances of some of the old 
 brethren, expressive of disappointed hopes and part- 
 ing grief. The scene was dramatic, they fairly 
 " broke down " — they were overcome by their feel- 
 ings — tears freely flowed — ^^the suppressed sob was 
 heard, and some even gave vent to audible 
 cries. They said, " We cannot let Bro. Welloyis go. 
 We have raised him and we cannot let others take 
 him from us." And so strong was the feeling of 
 dissatisfaction and excitement, and they took the 
 step so much to heart, the members of Conference 
 who voted in the afBrmative, thought best to revoke 
 the resolution, and allow Bro. Wellons to remain 
 with those whose heart's affections were so tenderly, 
 yet strongly entwined around him. And it was 
 perhaps best that they did reconsider the subject, as 
 Bro. Wellons accomplished more perhaps here, as 
 the field of usefulness was more extensive and gave 
 fuller scope for his active mind and sleepless energies^ 
 He, however, made many short visits to Newbern 
 afterwards, and his presence and labors of love al- 
 
34 Biographical' Sketch. \ 
 
 ways encouraged and inspired the church. Rev. 
 Wm. H. Boykin became their worthy pastor. 
 
 Bro. Wellons at this meeting no doubt began to 
 realize his great worth to the church, and was if 
 possible, more sensible than ever, of his great re- 
 sponsibilities. He says in his Diary, " The feeling 
 on m}' behalf and the responsibility which I now 
 saw resting upon me seemed almost insupportable. 
 Oh, Lord, keep me at the foot of the cross, and will- 
 ing to go where the Master leads." 
 
 An Impressive Circumstance Attending a Ba p- 
 
 TIZING. 
 
 I shall probably never forget a circumstance at- 
 tending a baptizing which took plase in connection 
 with the Cypress Chapel church. There was a highlj' 
 respectable gentleman from Western Virginia, who 
 had come several hundred miles that he might re. 
 ceive the ordinance at the hands of Bro. Wellons. 
 This showed something of the extent of his popu- 
 larity even then, at an early period of his history, 
 as well as his great moral worth. This gentleman 
 had heard or read in the*Si«n or some other religious 
 journal, of Bro. Wellons, or it may be he had seen 
 him and heard him preach on some one of his ex- 
 tended tours, and it is probable his religious convic- 
 tions which had resulted in his conversion was the 
 effect of hearing him. But, however this may have 
 been, the fame of Bro. Wellons had reached the 
 mountain region, and he was so much admired by 
 this gentleman, and so completely did he have his 
 
BiosRAPHicAL Sketch. 35 
 
 confidence and devoted attachment, and so pro- 
 foundly was he impressed with his piety and com- 
 manding talent, that his desire to receive baptism 
 at his hands was excited to that extent that he did 
 not allow even distance or other opposing circum- 
 stances to prevent the gratification of this desire. 
 He was led down into the liquid grave of baptism 
 by Bro. Wellons ; I saw his manl}"- form as he came 
 up out of the water, the happy expression of his 
 intellectual face, and heard the impulsive utterance 
 from his lips, "I am now satisfied." The purposes 
 of his heart were consummated, bis ardent wish grat- 
 ified and ho retujjfied to his distant home rejoicing. 
 I think he did not unite with the Christians, the 
 church of his choice, as we bad no place of worship 
 or congregation near at hand ; and I am not pre- 
 pared to say, positively, what effect the receiving 
 the ordinance bad upon his after life, but he evi- 
 dently manifested a strong and decided preference 
 to this great and good man, as the administrator. 
 
 A Cherished Reminiscence. 
 
 There is another circumstance which I wish 
 hfve to record, which most favorably impressed me, 
 and which will be cherished so long as memory 
 holds its throne. I was in company with a number 
 of delegates to the first Southern Christian Conven- 
 tion which was to meet at Union, Alamance county, 
 North Carolina. Among the number present, there 
 was the aged and venerable Elders, Uriah Rawls 
 and Mills Barrett, bo.th of whom have long been 
 
36 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 sleeping with the fathers. Rev. Wm. H. Boykeu, 
 also of precious memory, who was so cruelly robbed 
 and murdered in the city of Norfolk during the 
 war, and who was then in the very prime of man- 
 hood, was also there, with a number of our most 
 prominent lay-brethren from the Eastern Virginia 
 Conference. 
 
 On our way we stopped at the well known and 
 popular " Yarboro House," in the city of Raleigh. 
 During our short and pleasant stay there, Dr. Wel- 
 lons secured of the accommodating proprietor a 
 large and convenient " upper room," and proposed 
 a short season of prayer and a pleasant interchange 
 of thoughts about the contemplated work before us, 
 that we might arrange and systematize our efforts and 
 work understandingly. And then, as it was a holy 
 cause, one which contemplated the glory of God and 
 the advancement of his kingdom, our great desire 
 was to secure the Divine presence and blessing. 
 That our minds also might be duly impressed with 
 the importance of the occasion, by a holy consecra- 
 tion of our work, and a committal of all our powers 
 to God. For we thought the circumstances of the 
 occasion, the' business that had called old and infirm 
 veterans of the cross from their home was of too 
 much importance to enter into unaided, or without 
 asking and having some assurance of Divine wis- 
 dom, direction and strength. 
 
 Our deliberations together for the good of our Zion, 
 the solemnities of that hour, the pleasant and sacred 
 emotions that came over me as we entered the room, 
 
Biographical Sketch. 37 
 
 and as the tender, mellowing, yet solemn tones of Dr. 
 Wellons' voice was heard, are still fresh in my mem- 
 ory. When he reverted to the fact of our separation 
 from our families, the laying aside our business and 
 our cares, and our starting out on a grand mission 
 to convene on an occasion without a precedence in 
 our history, and none before us so fraught with such 
 weighty considerations, we felt the need of a short 
 season of prayer — of holy communion with God, 
 importunate pleading for assisting grace, and the 
 envoking of the Divine direction, in this time of 
 special need. Whereupon Rev, Uriah Rawls, the 
 aged servant of God, decrepid by affliction, led us in 
 a most fervent, feeling and solemn prayer. 
 
 This assemblage, this counseling together, and 
 this fervent prayer, had a most happy effect upon 
 our feeling. We felt indeed, that it was a momen- 
 tous occasion and that weighty responsibilities rested 
 upon us. I had never before sensibly realized so 
 the religious obligations incident upon the events of 
 the near approaching Convention. I had up to that 
 moment viewed it rather in the light of a pleasant 
 trip through; a strange country, amid attractive 
 scenes, where my curiosity would be gratified, social 
 intercourse enjoyed and new acquaintances formed ; 
 or as a spiritual feast in religious worship. I had 
 not before seriously reflected upon the impending 
 consequences of that meetings that we were about 
 to start out on a departure from the old beaten track, 
 in an ecclesiatical point of view ; that we were 
 about to step out on new and untrodden ground, 
 
88 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 entering sacred precincts, and the greatest caution 
 ■was necessary, and the task most delicate, that we 
 might not overleap the bounds of true discretion and 
 a wise and equitable policy. I now felt that I was 
 about to enter upon one of the most important events 
 of my life, and that I must be influenced by Godly 
 fear and holy purposes; that I was not my own, 
 but the servant of the church — no longer free to 
 act as my carnal feelings or my inclinations to ease 
 and pleasure might dictate — no longer free to devote 
 my time to social enjoyment or pleasant intercourse 
 with friends and newly formed acquaintances— that 
 recreation and rest must only come as a real necessity— 
 that I must now go about the Master's business, and 
 that I was an important messenger sent on an im- 
 portant work. Thus, my thoughts were turned in a 
 new and different channel, and the influences there 
 exerted, and the impressions made, I believe had a 
 most happy effect upon the action of the meeting. 
 
 Many changes have been passed through, many 
 winds of adversity blown over us since that eventful 
 night, yet the impressions are not yet effaced; my 
 mind oft reverts back to the scenes passed in the 
 " upper room " of the " Yarboro House." The ac- 
 tion of that short conference together, pass almostas 
 vividly before my mind now as if it was but yester- 
 day. In my imagination I can now see Dr. Wellons 
 as he led us, and as we ascended the stairs, as he 
 opens the door, as he then stood up in our midst 
 with his manl^' form, in his peculiar posture, easy 
 jestures, and as his W'cU known voice broke the 
 
Biographical Sketch. 3& 
 
 silence of that hour, as he in a short and appropriate 
 speech spoke of the object of the meeting and how 
 we should feel and aCt. And well .do I recollect as 
 Rev. Uriah Eawls, that old veteran of the cross, with 
 his whitened locks, stood up to pray (as he could not 
 kneel from the effects of disease) as his face was 
 turned heavenward, and his uplifted hands all des- 
 torted and drawn by severe affliction, were held in 
 earnest holy pleading, and his strong and well 
 modulated voice greeted our listening ears, in sim- 
 ple, holy utterance, and as our devout solicitations 
 went up to Him who heareth and answereth prayer, 
 and a new inspiration was gathered from that 
 sacred hour. 
 
 Perhaps it may not be amiss here to add that 
 God's blessing did indeed rest upon the Convention, 
 and in many respects it was a grand meeting of 
 congenial spirits in a one common cause. A large 
 concourse of people gathered together from day to 
 day. A great outpouring of the Holy Spirit was 
 experienced. Great unanimity of feeling and con- 
 cert of action characterized all the proceedings of 
 the Convention; much important business was 
 transacted which now tells most favorably upon our 
 cause, and the writer had the honor of calling for a 
 report upon Christian principles, which ultimately 
 led to the adoption of our present Declaration of 
 Principles. Bro. Wellons was a leading spirit in 
 all the exercises, and none contributed more to make 
 the meeting a grand success. 
 
A SHORT SKETCH 
 
 OF 
 
 REV. WM. B. WELLONS' 
 
 Ancestry and Early Life, 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 William B. Wellons, son of Hartwell and Mary 
 W. Wellons, was born in Sussex county, Virginia, 
 November 9th, 1821. 
 
 My father was the son of William and Mary Wel- 
 lons, of Southampton county, Virginia ; both worthy 
 members of the Christian Church. 
 
 My mother was the daughter of Willis and Sally 
 Stephenson, of Sussex county; both pious members 
 of the Christian Church. 
 
 My father and mother were married at an early 
 age and settled in Sussex county. Neither of them 
 were at that time professors of religion. My father, 
 by degrees, became very thoughtless, and finally op- 
 posed Christianity and endeavored to persuade him- 
 self that religion was all delusion, and the Bible a 
 book of fables. 
 
 My mother, however, was differently exercised ; 
 she, not long ^fter marriage, became impressed with 
 3 
 
42 A Short Sketch bv HmsELS*. 
 
 religions feelings, and a desire to experience the 
 saving grace through the atoning blood of the Lamb 
 of God. About foul- yeafs after my father and 
 mother were married, a revival of religion was ex- 
 perienced at Barrett's meeting house in Southamp- 
 ton county, Viginia, under the labors of Rev. Bur- 
 well Barrett, so Atell known in the history of the 
 Christian Church. Many precious souls were con- 
 verted, and among them was my mother. My father 
 at that time was much concerned, but the impression 
 made on his mind was soon forgotten. 
 
 From my earliest recollections my mother strove 
 to impress my mind with the truth of the christian 
 religion, and the importance of serving God. I was 
 religiously inclined and early began to pray to God. 
 The impressions made on my mind in early life by 
 my mother have never been erased* 
 
 In 1828, when about seven years of age, I was 
 first sent to school to an old nncle of ray mother's 
 who taught me my letters and to spell some. Also 
 in 1829 I went to school some weeks and learned to 
 spell tolerably well. Again in 1830,1 went to school 
 about six months to the teacher before named, (un- 
 cle Robert Stephenson). During this year I made 
 good progress in my studies. With other books, 1 
 learned to read the New Testament, and never can 
 I forget the pleasure it gave me. I would read sev- 
 eral chapters at school in the day, and then hurry 
 home at night and read them over to my mother. 
 She would explain them to me, and instruct me in 
 the way I should go. As soon as I commenced read- 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 43 
 
 ing the Scriptures, I felt desirous to become a chris- 
 tian. My mother often talked with me on the sub- 
 ject and prayed for me. 
 
 In the year 1831, 1 went to school again three or 
 four months to a Mr. Ohappell, a very moral young 
 man, and through the year I often tried to pray. 
 My father at this time was wicked and opposed my 
 mother in her religious privileges — opposed her 
 ■going to the house of God to hear His Word 
 preached, and made sport of religious exercises. 
 
 In the year 1832, I also went to school about five 
 or six months to Mr. Chappell. As my teacher, he 
 became very fond of me and took much pains with 
 me, and I also in return formed a, strong attachment 
 for him. 
 
 In the year 1833, 1 went to school about six months 
 to my oM und'e Stephenson again. This was my 
 last year at school. I had learned to spell, read and 
 write, and had studied Arithmetic. So imperfect 
 were the schools that I was sent to, that I had only 
 ia spelling-book., English reader, Testament and 
 Arithmeti'C to -study. 
 
 During this jear, I thoiaght much on the sulyect 
 ■of religion, and often felt myself a sinner in th« sight 
 ■of God, and ofte^n pr=ayed in secret. My mother often 
 talked to me and prayed that I might be a preacher. 
 t was often troubled with dreams which so fright- 
 ened me that I sometimes alarmed the whole family 
 with my cries. I had the same dream night after 
 night. Never can I forget those dreams ; such was 
 the impression ^adeon •my mind by them. I would 
 
44 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 dream that father and myself were bidding my 
 mother a final farewell and going to be thrown into 
 a pit from which there was no possibility of an es- 
 cape. I often thought myself on the brink of it, 
 and saw far below smoke ascending. It appeared to 
 be as smooth as glass on all sides and some hun- 
 dreds of yards deep. So frightened would I become 
 that my parents thought I would have fits, and for 
 an hour or more I could not be awakened and b& 
 made to fully realize that it was but a dream. For 
 a year or more for every week or two I wouM be 
 troubled with this dream. I mention this here, and 
 leave the reader to interpet it for himself, er form his 
 own conclusions as to whether it betokened circum- 
 stances and events in the future. 
 
 Early in the year 1834, I resolved tc seek the 
 Lord in the pardon of my sins, being then about 
 twelve years of age. At a meeting held in March 
 of this year, at a neighboring house, I bowed for 
 prayer for the first time in a public congregation. 
 On the 4th Saturday and Sunday in August, there 
 was a quarterly meeting at Barrett's church ; my 
 parents attended, and I went with them. The power 
 of God was displayed. The meeting was continued 
 from day to day until Wednesday, and Rev. Burwell 
 Barrett and others preached the Word with power. 
 My father became convicted of sin and went to the al- 
 tar a penitent. Never did a woman feel more anxiety 
 than did my poor mother. God in mercy converted 
 his soul, and on Tuesday evening he went home 
 praising God, the Author of his salvation. Thus 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 45 
 
 ■eommenced a new era in the life of ray poor mother. 
 She then felt that her happiness was complete. I 
 rejoiced much in the conversion of my father, for I 
 ■dearly ioved my mother, and whatever pleased her 
 gave me joy. 
 
 One month from that tiiae, another meeting was 
 commenced at Barrett's, my parents, and myself, 
 together with my sister and brother, younger than 
 myself, attended, (I being the oldest child of my 
 parents.) Rev. Daniel Wiiitley preached and the 
 Word reached my heart and I soon humbled myself 
 at the altar for prayer. I felt condemned and 
 wretched, but found no peace to my soul. At this 
 meeting my father became a member of the church. 
 
 On Thursday after the meeting had closed, a 
 prayer meeting was held, and father and myself 
 went. I went to tiie meeting praying and believing 
 that I should be converted. When I arrived and 
 the meeting was commenced, I was ashamed to bow 
 when prayer was first offered, and remained on my 
 seat. This ■dampened my feelings, and though I 
 afterwards went to the altar, yet guilt and fear filled 
 my soul and I left the meeting a poor, disconsolate 
 penitent. I went home, but as I drew near, I sank 
 as it were under a cloud of hopeless despair. My 
 mother watched me until I came to her; but she 
 soon found ■! had no good news to tell her. 
 
 The 19th day of October, 1834, a camp-meeting 
 was commenced at Mars' Hill, by the Christians, one 
 mile and a-half from my father's. I had looked 
 ibrward to this meeting, and anticipated forgiveness 
 
46 A Short Sketch by Himself.. 
 
 of my sins. The meeting coma>enced on S«3»(Jay^ 
 This day being very rainy, I did not go. Early on 
 Monday morning I was on the camp-ground, and 
 after the first discourse, which was delivered by Rev. 
 Wm. H. Coman, I went boldly to the altar and 
 prayed sincerely and fervently, bat never, could 
 bring myself to believe J shall be eonveried now. I 
 was much distressed and knew not what to. do. 
 
 After the meeting bad closed in the evening I felt 
 very bad, and began, to despair. I thought I had 
 committed the unpardonable sin, and there was no- 
 mercy for me. My heart grew laarder and I resolved 
 to myself never to go to the altar agairu I did not 
 go to' the altar on Monda.y night. On Tuesday I 
 went to the camp-ground again, and Rev. Mr. Spots- 
 wood preaehed rather a cold sejmoa., and I was still 
 determined not to be a seeker any more. Many 
 anxious souls crowded the altar in the evening and 
 several were converted. I stood oflf and looked on^ 
 felt very, bad, and sometimes felt as if I was ready 
 to die, preferring death to my present condition. 
 Old unele Rev. Burrell Barrett, (of precious memory)! 
 came to me near the close of the meeting and talked 
 to me, enquiring something of my feelings. I was so. 
 full and felt so bad, I could not answes him. a word. 
 
 When the evening meeting had closed, and the- 
 sun was neau setting, the ministers and others wer& 
 sepairing to the tents to get so^me sefreshments, I 
 did not feel like eating, and chose rather to be alone- 
 and walked away from the tents, pondering in my 
 miad over my wretched condition.. In my walk^I 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 47 
 
 met with two men ; one a Deacon and exhorted in the 
 church at Barrett's. He accosted me familiarly, and 
 said, " William, what is the matter witlT you ? Why 
 were you not at the altar to-day ?" I told him I 
 had resolved never to go there again. That there 
 was no religion for me and I had given out trying 
 for it. I had not prayed any during the day. Said 
 he, " Satan is deceiving you. I tell you I know it. 
 Don't be deceived by him any longer; for he was 
 always a liar, and the truth is not in him." His 
 words made an impression on my mind. I continued 
 my walk until far away from the camp-ground, 
 thinking on what he had said to me, and my mis- 
 erable situation. I retired to a secret place in the 
 woods, where none but the " All-seeing Eye " could 
 behold me, and concluded in my mind to be a seeker 
 for life, or until it was God's pleasure to pardon my 
 sins. And just so soon as I formed the good resolu- 
 tion, I felt some relief and comforted in mind. 
 I walked hastily towards the camp-ground. It was 
 now growing dark, and I went with my father into 
 a tent, where many were singing the song commen- 
 cing, " How tedious and tasteless the hours." I 
 never had felt so good and began to think I was con- 
 verted. It seemed to me I never wanted to tell any 
 thing so much, in my life. 
 
 The hour had now arrived when we were to as- 
 semble at the stand prepared for preaching. I went 
 to the altar and the Rev. Mr. Pell exhorted. It 
 seemed that he knew the precise exercises of my mind 
 and spoke directly to my heart. When the invita- 
 
48 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 tion was given to the anxious ones, I knelt down 
 where I was and commenced praying. All shame 
 was now removed, and I felt willing to do anything 
 and be anything, could I thereby obtain the forgive- 
 ness of my sins. I had not been down on my knees 
 long before God spoke peace to my soul. I arose 
 from my knees rejoicing and praising God. Seven 
 others were converted in a short time, and never 
 can I forget my feelings on that occasion. Aly 
 father and mother were there, and shared in my 
 joys. I loved God, loved all christians, and loved 
 every body, and wanted all to be happy. My joy 
 was truly, " inexpressible and full of glory." And 
 now, while I write these lines, the scene of Tuesday 
 evening, October 21st, 1834, are as fresh in my mem- 
 ory as though it was but yesterday. 
 
 I went home that night rejoicing and praising 
 God. 
 
 " Tongue cannot express 
 
 The sweet comfort and peace 
 Of my soul In its earliest love." 
 
 I wanted to see all my friends and tell them what 
 the Lord had done for my soul. 
 
 Early the next morniug I repaired to the camp- 
 ground, still happy in the Lord. But no sooner had 
 I come near the altar, where many were singing and 
 praying with the penitents, than my good feelings 
 abandoned me, and I began to doubt my conversion. 
 I sat down, and for a moment felt perfectly misera- 
 ble. I began to reflect on the scenes of the past 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 49 
 
 evening, and I prayed for those same heavenly feel- 
 ings. Soon I was happy in the Lord. All dark- 
 ness was removed from my mind and doubts and 
 fears were banished away. 
 
 The camp-meeting continued until the next Sab- 
 bath and closed. I was then not quite thirteen years 
 of age. 
 
 The 4th Sabbath in November, 1834, 1 presented 
 myself to the Christian church at Barrett's, and was 
 received in full fellowship. Never can I forget my 
 feelings on that occasion, and the advice then given 
 me by Rev. Burwell Barrett, the pastor of the church. 
 My grandfathers and grandmothers had been mem- 
 bers of this church, and my mother and father were 
 then members of this venerable and hallowed old 
 church. 
 
 In 1835, I became concerned on the subject of 
 water baptism, and wished to" be immersed, believ- 
 ing it was the Gospel plan. My grandfather 
 Stephenson opposed it, and we often had argu- 
 ments on the subject. I read the New Testament 
 through, noting every place where baptism was 
 alluded to, and became confirmed in my opinion. 
 In August of that year, my grandfather Stephenson 
 died. 
 
 In the month of October, I was baptized by Rev. 
 Burwell Barrett, and truly it was a happy day to 
 my soul. 
 
 In 1836, nothing special transpired. I was work- 
 ing with my father on the farm and trying to live 
 a christian. 
 
50 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 The year 1837 came and passed away while I 
 was reading and studying hard, and trying to live 
 a christian life. 
 
 My Early Impressions to Preach. 
 
 During the year 1838, I was deeply impressed 
 with the idea of entering the ministry. I excused 
 myself on account of my age and inability, being 
 very timid and distrustful. I strove hard against 
 my feelings, thinking when I became older and 
 learned more, I would try to preach. I told my 
 mother, and no one else, my feelings. She encour- 
 aged me, and told me to trust in the Lord. I often 
 retired to a sacred spot, where under an old apple 
 tree, I would pray frequently "to the Father who 
 seeth in secret," still striving against my feelings. 
 Gradually my impressions were removed, and I 
 became more thoughtless and worldly-minded. 
 
 The year 1839 came and passed away ; during 
 which time I began to mingle a little with the world 
 to conform to the habits of the giddy, the gay, and 
 the thoughtless, and I enjoyed but little of the life 
 and power of the religion of Jesus. I was this year 
 appointed Secretary and Treasurer of the church at 
 Barrett's, and a delegate to the annual Conference, 
 to be held in Norfolk county, being then in toy 
 eighteenth year. 
 
 The first day of January, 1840, 1 left my father's 
 and went to reside with the Rev. Nicholas J. Bar- 
 ham, and to attend to his business as a private col- 
 lector. In this capacity, I was necessarily thrown 
 
A Short Sketch by HiMSEf-F. . 51 
 
 into all sorts of company, and soon became very 
 worldly-minded and neglectful of my religious du- 
 ties. About the middle of August, I was taken sick, 
 and went home to my father's. My life was de- 
 spaired of, and, until the last of November, I was 
 confined in the house. This brought me to see my 
 situation, and I prayed to God for His blessing upon 
 me. This severe affliction had a most happy effect. 
 " Afflictions, though they seem severe, in mercy oft 
 are sent." Had I not been afflicted, I should, in all 
 probability, have gone astray. But God, who " is 
 too wise to err, and too good to be unkind," afflicted 
 me for my good, and undoubtedly for purposes of 
 His own glory. As soon as I was able, I went back 
 to my home at Rev. Mr. Barbara's, where I was 
 kindly treated by him and his family. 
 
 In February, 1841, 1 commenced teaching a small 
 school at Barbara's Mill, in Southampton county. 
 I studied hard and made encouraging advancement 
 in literary pursuits, but little progress in holy 
 things. 
 
 The year 1842, 1 continued my school, and became 
 again much concerned about entering the ministry. 
 In September, a meeting was held for eight days at 
 Mars' Hill, and more than thirty persons professed 
 religion ; among them was my oldest sister ; and 
 truly this was a meeting precious to my soul. I 
 prayed and labored with the penitents, and felt so 
 much of the power of God, that I was led to ex- 
 claim, "I am surely converted anew." I soon after 
 that commenced exhorting and holding prayer- 
 
5-2 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 meetings in private families, and the Lord blessed 
 my feeble labors. I made known to Mr. Barbara 
 my impressions about entering the ministry, and he 
 encouraged me. 
 
 The year 1843 was ushered in and found me dili- 
 gently engaged in serving God, and holding my 
 prayer-meetings. God in mercy showered into my 
 soul blessings and encouragements. My congrega- 
 tions were large, and three souls were happily con- 
 verted. Soon the jealousy of some were excited and 
 opposition was manifested towards me. Persecu- 
 tion was commenced, and he who had been foremost 
 in persuading me to my duty, now discouraged me. 
 This depressed my feelings, and being naturally 
 timid and retired, I ceased to jexercise at all in pub- 
 lic. This year my mind again became embarrassed 
 and I made but little progress, till the close of the 
 year. 
 
 In 1844, I removed my school from Barham's 
 Mill to Lainesborough, and was patronized by the 
 whole neighborhood. My school was large. I 
 boarded with my parents, and being again impressed 
 with the importance of engaging in the ministry, 
 I now began to prepare for it in earnest. I felt that 
 " woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel," still I 
 had not the confidence to move forward. Never shall 
 I forget the hard struggles I had with "the flesh and 
 world." Hard indeed is the struggle between pleas- 
 ure and duty, the flesh and the Spirit. I said noth- 
 ing to any one, but prayed much and agonized with 
 
A Short Sketch by Himsels'. 53 
 
 God. The year closed and still I was not prepared 
 in my mind to commence the good work. 
 
 The year 1845 opened before me with brighter 
 prospects than ever before, for gain and worldly in- 
 fluence. Friends were pushing me forward, and I 
 began to attract the notice of many in ray native 
 county, who seemed desirous of seeing me occupy 
 prominent stations in society. Here was another 
 severe trial to me — to choose between the allure- 
 ments of popularity and worldly gain, and the office 
 of an humble minister of the meek and lowly Sa- 
 viour. The struggle was indeed hard, but through 
 grace I chose like Moses, "rather to suffer afHictions 
 with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasu-res 
 of sin for a season." My mind was now fixed, to 
 engage in the service of the Master. 
 
 On Saturday before the 4th Sabbath in May, the 
 church at Barrett's passed a resolution to recom- 
 mend me to the Eastern Virginia Christian Confer- 
 ence to be received as an unordained minister. I 
 was present, and oh 1 my feelings — I never can for- 
 get ! 
 
 I commenced to hold prayer-meetings at Barrett's 
 on every Saturday evening. I would exhort, pray, 
 and sing. The Lord blessed my labors, and in a 
 few weeks seven sonls were converted. I continued 
 to labor and the Lord owned the efforts. 
 
 August 2nd, 1845, 1 was received as a member of 
 the Eastern Virginia Conference, at a meeting held 
 at Cypress Chapel, in Nansemond county, Virginia, 
 and the next day tried to preach to the colored peo- 
 
M A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 pie, from Matt. 5th chapter, 6th verse. I returned 
 home and commenced making arrangements to 
 travel and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ 
 to a lost and ruined world. 
 
 September the 13th, I went to Union in South- 
 ampton county, and tried to preach in presence of 
 Rev. Wm. R. Stowe and Rev. William A. Jones. I 
 spoke about fifteen minutes from 1st Cor., 15th chap- 
 ter, 58th verse. 
 
 September 25th, I went to Antioch, in Isle of 
 Wight county, and joined Bro. Jones in a protracted 
 meeting. I preached once from 1st Cor., 9th chap- 
 ter, 16th verse. I continued in the meeting for eight 
 days, and forty-eight souls were converted. On my 
 way home, I called on Rev. Mills Barrett, and made 
 known to him the exercises of my mind and my 
 determination to travel and preach. He encouraged 
 me and gave me much fatherly advice. I also made 
 known to Rev. Wm. A. Jones m}' feelings and in- 
 tentions and received like encouragement. 
 
 As the year drew near its close, I had nearly 
 wound up my business and completed ray arrange^ 
 ments to travel and preach Christand Hira crucified 
 to th6 world. And January 1st, 1846, found me 
 busy in making preparations to travel and preach. 
 
 On Sunday, the 4th day of January, I preached 
 my first regular discourse at Barrett's in presence of 
 my father, mother and those '.vho had known me 
 from my infancy. My text was 2ud Cor., 5th chap- 
 ter, 20lh verse. I to day publicly declared my in- 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 55 
 
 tention to go forth as an embassador for Christ per- 
 suading men to become reconciled to God. 
 
 On the 10th and 11th of January, I attended a 
 quarterly meeting at Union, and tried to preach on 
 Saturday from Matt. 8th chapter, 25th verse. The 
 next Sunday, the 18th, I went to Antioch and 
 preached for Rev. Wm. A. Jones, And on the first 
 day of February, I preached again at Barrett's, from 
 Romans, 5th chapter, 6th verse. 
 
 I was now ready to leave home and travel. I had 
 a good little horse and saddle, saddle-bags, pocket 
 Bible, Hymn-book and my clothing. I had some 
 money in hand which I resolved to spend in travel- 
 ling and preaching. Never shall I be more sincere 
 in any undertaking ; though I felt the responsibility 
 resting upon me and the importance of the station 
 I was about to occupy. I prayed much and tried 
 to -live holy and trust in the Lord for help. 
 
 On Friday, the 7th. of February, 1846, I gave the 
 parting hand to my loving and kind parents, my 
 sisters and my brother. Many tears were shed, and 
 the feelings of my poor heart were indescribable. I 
 started towards Nansemond county intending to 
 meet Rev. Robt. Rawls the next Sabbath at Cypress 
 Chapel. I reached brother Roberts' in Isle of Wight 
 county the first day, and that night it commenced 
 snowing ; it continued to snow on Saturday and 
 Saturday night. On Sunday it was clear and cold. 
 At night I held a pra^'er-meeting at brother Rob- 
 erts, and had a profitable time. 
 
 On Monday, the 10th of February, I turned my 
 
56 A Shout Sketch by Himself. 
 
 course and went to Eev, Wm. A. Jones', in Nanse- 
 inond, and on Wednesday evening, the 12th, held a 
 prayer-meeting at his house. 
 
 On Saturday, the 15th of February, a quarterly 
 meeting commenced at Holy Neck. I attended and 
 preached from 2 John, 1st chapter, 8th verse. The 
 next day (Sunday) the 16th, I preached again at the 
 same place to a large congregation, from Hebrews, 
 IStli chapter, 14th verse. After singing and prayer 
 and before preaching commenced, the congregation 
 sang the words commencing, " When strangers stand 
 and hear me tell." The power of God seemed to be 
 manifest, and my soul was full to overflowing. I 
 arose and preached as God had given me ability. 
 There was much feeling in the congregation. I 
 spoke forty minutes and closed. My soul was made 
 happy, and I felt strengthened and renewed in spirit. 
 I went home with Deacon John Norfleet from meet- 
 ing, and my soul was happy during the afternoon 
 and that night. My feelings on that occasion made 
 such an impression on my mind, I think it will 
 never be erased. 
 
 From Bro. Norfleets, I went with him to Gates- 
 ville. North Carolina, the next day, it being court 
 day. From this place I sent appointments to Da- 
 mascus, in Gates county. North Carolina, and to 
 Cypress, in Nansemond county, Virginia. I returned 
 home and the next week started upon my regular 
 round on my circuit. 
 
 Having rested a few days, I started out on Thurs- 
 day, the 25th February, to preach on that day at 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 57 
 
 Union and the next day reached Holy Neck, where 
 I preached; and on Sunday morning went to Suns- 
 bury in company with Bro. Jones. It was a dark 
 rainy day, and I had no meeting at Damascus. 
 Here I was among strangers and was looked upon 
 as a young preacher. I felt really small enough to 
 have hid myself from the gaze of spectators. Old 
 Bro. Costen treated me kindly. A storm of wind, 
 hail and snow commenced the next day, and con- 
 tinued until Tuesday evening. 
 
 March 4th, I went to Cypress to my appointment, 
 but the weather being extremely' cold and snow on 
 the ground, no one attended. To-day while riding 
 in the cold, I began to examine myself and ask my 
 heart why I was thus exposing myself to the cold in 
 a land of strangers. The answer was, God has" called 
 me to the work, and I must go. He, and he alone, 
 can and will sustain me. 
 
 On Thursday, the 5th, I started for Norfolk county. 
 I passed Portsmouth about sun-down, crossed the 
 ferry and was landed in Norfolk about dark. I 
 then passed over to Washington Point (now Berk- 
 ley,) and called on my friend and brother, Rev Ste- 
 phen S. Barrett, and was kindly received. The next 
 day he went with me to Bro. Nathaniel N. Tatem's 
 with whom I had corresponded. 
 
 On Saturday, the 7th, I rode out to Providence 
 church. I knew not a single person present, and 
 no one knew me. An old sister approached me, 
 and inquired if I was not a preacher. I had to say 
 I was, with great reluctance, for I could not bear 
 4 
 
58 A Short Sketch by Himsels*. 
 
 then to be called a preacher, so small did I feel in 
 my own estimation. But few were present, and we 
 had no meeting. The old mother in Israel told me 
 her name, and invited me home with her. She wag 
 the widow of Rev. Nathaniel P. Tatem, of whom I 
 had heard so much. And as soon as I knew her, I 
 loved her asa mother for her deceased husband's sake 
 and her deep piety. 
 
 The next day I preached to a very respectable and 
 intelligent congregation. I continued in that neigh- 
 borhood some daj^s and made my arrangements to 
 visit the following places once a month through the 
 year, without any surety or prospects of being sus- 
 tained ; but wholly relying upon God: Barrett's, 
 Union, Holy Neck, Damascus, Cypress, Providence, 
 Antioch and Well's Chapel. 
 
 I made four rounds on ray circuit, and was kindly 
 received by all the brethren. I formed many new 
 acquaintances, and there never was, perhaps, a young 
 man more kindly treated or hospitably entertained^ 
 My congregations were respectable as to numbers 
 and quite attentive, and my diffidence was some- 
 what removed. 
 
 July the 4th, I attended a celebration at Provi- 
 dence. The next day I was taken sick, and Tues- 
 day evening, July the 7th, I went to Rev. Stephen 
 S. Barrett's, on Washington Point, and took some 
 medicine. On Friday, the 10th, I was so ill Dr. 
 Baylor from Norfolk (city) was called to see me, and 
 for four weeks I was confined to my bed, and a part 
 of the time insensible of my sufferings. The most 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 59 
 
 •of those who saw me, supposed I would never recover. 
 I thought so too, and felt ready to meet my Saviour. 
 
 This was the first time I had ever been sicii from 
 home. Bro. Barrett and his wife were as kind to 
 me as they could be, yet no hand then, to me 
 •could feel like a mother's liand, no voice like her's 
 at such a time as that. My disease was first bilious 
 fever and inflammation of ray breast; but it changed 
 to nervous fever, and for some weeks I remained 
 nearly the same. For twenty-five days I ate noth- 
 ing of consequence and was entirely helpless. Many 
 friends came to see me, and to wait on me. During 
 my illness, news reached me that my brother was 
 also very ill, and could not, probably, recover, did 
 he not soon experience a change. This depressed 
 my spirits and made me worse. 
 
 August the 17th, I had gotten so much better, 
 I could sit up a little, and brother Edward H. Her- 
 bert came in his carriage and took me to his house, 
 •a distance of seven miles. That night I was sud- 
 denly attacked again, and my life was despaired of. 
 Dr. Baylor came the next morning and relieved me> 
 A little before his arrival, I had given up all to die, 
 •and I felt that all would be well with me. Never 
 shall I feel more ready to depart and be with Christ, 
 than at that time. But one thing disturbed my 
 mind ; and that was the trouble my death would 
 give my parents, sisters and brother. I thought my 
 mother and sisters would never get over it. This 
 grieved me sorely. 
 
60 A Short Sketch by Himself, 
 
 Seotember 6th, I had so far recovered as to ride- 
 out a distance of three miles to attend a baptizing. 
 
 On the 13th, I went out to Providence, and heard 
 brother Joshua Livesay preach, and truly I enjoyed 
 the meeting. I continued to go to meeting every 
 day, and on Saturday, the 19th,. I tried to preach. 
 
 The meeting elosed on Sunday night, having been 
 continued eight days; several were converted. 
 
 On Monday morning, September the 21st, I started 
 home. Rode all dary and arrived in the vicinity of 
 Suffolk at night. The nest day I reached brother 
 Gay's, in Isle of Wight county ;. and the next day 
 got to Rev. Mills Barrett's, in Southampton county. 
 Here I met with my sister Julia, and truly ottr meet- 
 ing was a happj' one, as the reader may well imagine. 
 
 The next day, September the 24th, I got to my 
 father's, having been absent three months and one 
 day. Truly, I felt grateful to Almighty God for 
 permitting me to meet my dear mother, father and 
 brother, who bad been so near tlie grave, and who 
 now had recovered, and my affectionate sisters, and 
 my old grandmother. All were overjoyed to see me, 
 and my own feelings on this occasion I never can 
 forget. 
 
 September the 28th, I preached at Barrett's, and 
 the power of God was displayed. 
 
 My severe afflictions and heavy expense incurred 
 thereby, did not cause me to hesitate for a momentr 
 what course to pursue. To travel and preach until 
 my strength was gone, and my last dollar expended,, 
 was my fixed determination. My relatives rather 
 
A Short. Sketch by Himself. 61 
 
 "disheartened at my prospects, did not encourage me 
 to continue traveling. But I was still willing to 
 trust in God and rely upon His promises to be with 
 me to the end. I believed myself called of God to 
 the work, and in Him I would trust. 
 
 • During my illness, a resolution had been passed 
 by the Eastern Virginia Christian Conference, for 
 my ordination to the office of an Elder. I was now 
 hesitating whether or not it was best fo-r me to sub- 
 mit to ordination, with my limited experience as a 
 minister. I therefore made it a subject of earnest, 
 fervent prayer. 
 
 October 15tb, I l«ft my father's and rod^e to Union, 
 and preached on the 17th, Saturday, at that place, 
 and returned home again. 
 
 October 22nd, I left home and commenced iabor 
 upon my circuit again. At every place I went my 
 friends seemed overjoyed to see me look so well 
 again. 
 
 November 27th, an extra-session of Conference 
 was called at Cypress Chapel, and I attended. Here 
 I met with brethren and friends from all the 
 churches. The Conference was in session two days, 
 and our interview was pleasant and harmonious. 
 On Sunday, November 29th, the large new house of 
 worship, recently erected .at Cypress was dedicated. 
 Hev. Mills Barrett preached the consecrating ser- 
 mon, and it was a fine discourse, and was well re- 
 ceived by the large congregation. Before the preach- 
 ing commenced, I was publicly set apart to the office 
 jof an Elder in the Christian Ghurcli. The officiat- 
 
62 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 ing Presbytery were Revs. Mills Barrett, Roberi 
 Rawls, and Wm. A. Jones. The charge was deliv- 
 ered by Rev. Mills Barrett. During the ceremonies 
 my feelings were inexpressible and full of glory. I 
 had now taken upon me an additional responsibility 
 and with fearfulness and timidity, I entered upon 
 the duties of an Elder. For several days there 
 seemed to be a heavy load resting upon me, and I 
 could only praj' and agonize with God. My feel- 
 ings caused tears to Sow freely from my eyes. Oh I 
 Lord, may I never forget ray vows, during the cere- 
 monies of the solemn rite;; but may I ever remem- 
 ber my high calling and its great responsibilities. 
 
 Previous to my illness in the early part of the- 
 year, I had proposed through the Chrisiicm Sun, that 
 the Conferences in Virginia aad North Carolina 
 meet together and form a Southern Christian As- 
 sociation,, for the promotion of union and co-opera- 
 tion in our publishing interests, and other enter- 
 prises of a general character, that have for their 
 object the advancement of our common cause. The 
 proposition had been favorably received by the min- 
 isters and brethren generally, and the first meeting 
 was apj>ointed to be held at Good Hope in Granville 
 county, North Carolina, on the ISth and 19th of De- 
 cember. 
 
 I left Norfolk on the 13th,, intending to be there. 
 I stopped in Suffolk on the 14tb ; and after taking: 
 the preliminary steps required by law, I obtained a 
 license to solemize the right of matrimony. On the 
 ISthj I reached my father's, and felt very unwelL 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 63 
 
 It rained incessantly on the 16th and 17th, and my 
 fatigue and the disagreeable weather caused me to 
 have an ague and I was very sick. The next da}^ 
 however, I felt better. 
 
 The 18th, I started on to meet the cars at Jarrett's 
 Depot, and thereby reach the meeting on Sunday i 
 but I was again taken sick and had to return home, 
 much depressed in spirits and suffering much from 
 a severe cough, I continued very unwell through 
 the balance of the month. Thus closed the first year 
 of my ministerial labors. My expenses through the 
 year, together with Dr. Baylor's bill for attending 
 me while sick, had been near two hundred dollars, 
 and I had received but one hundred dollars from 
 different individuals for my services. By reference 
 to my Dia:ry, I find I had' preached sixty-seven 
 times that year, and probably traveled about 1,700 
 miles. 
 
 My cough was now very bad, and I was suffering 
 with an affection of my throat. Many of my friends 
 thought my cough a sure evidence of consumption, 
 which would soon close my earthly existence. Every 
 thing seemed to operate against my continuing in 
 the ministry. Still my " spirit was willing," and 
 even thirsting for the service of my Lord and Mas- 
 ter. I prayed and hoped — hoped and prayed, and 
 continued to strive to overcome my difficulties, that 
 I might be useful. I believed that God had called 
 me to the work, and was willing to leave the events 
 with him. I felt determined to spend and be spent 
 iu the service of God, and if I died in his service, I 
 
64 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 knew my reward would be sure. Glory to God for 
 the prospect the poor minister has of the eternal 
 weight of glory at God's right hand in heaven ! But 
 for the grace of God which sustained me, I must 
 have at this time given up the contest, and retired 
 from the field. But God enabled me to persevere. 
 Thus closed the year 1846. 
 
 I must not here neglect to mention, in entering 
 upon a new year, the Conference in the fall of last 
 year (1846), I was selected to travel as an itinerant 
 for the year 1847, for which I was to receive the sum 
 of $200, divided among the several churches. 
 
 January 1st, 1847, found me confined at mj' fath- 
 er's, sick and unable to travel, and much depressed 
 in spirit3. The affection of my throat and lungs 
 being very bad, and my prospect for future useful- 
 ness very gloomy. 
 
 January 25th, I ventured to start out on my ap- 
 pointments ; but I was still sick and scarcely able 
 to ride. I arrived at Cypress the 30th, and tried to 
 exhort, and in the evening was very sick at Capt.A. 
 Brinkley's. I preached next day, laboring under 
 much inconvenience and debility. My cough con- 
 tinued very bad. 
 
 February 1st, I was taken very ill at Bro. H. L. 
 Eppes' and had to call in Dr. Hines. I remained 
 there till the 13th. Bro. Eppes and family treated 
 me as if I had been their own child. Dr. Hines at- 
 tended me gratis, and showed much christian regard 
 and sympathy for me. 
 
 I left Bro. Eppes' the 13th, and on my way home 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 65 
 
 preached at Antioch on the 16th. All who saw me 
 supposed I had the consumption, and advised me to 
 give up preaching, and go home and take care of 
 myself. But to stop preaching seemed next to death 
 with me, and I continued to try, trusting in the 
 strength and mercy of the Lord. 
 
 I reached home on the 17th, and tried to preach 
 at Barrett's. I remained at home till the 18th 
 March, and having improved somp., I again left 
 home and tried to travel and preach. I reached 
 Holy Neck and preached on the 19th. I went on to 
 Sunsbury and was sick again a few days. 
 
 On Sunday, the 28th, T preached to a few persons 
 at Cypress. The next day I purchased a sulky of 
 Mr. Jones, and started on to Norfolk — still feeble and 
 unwell. I reached Bro. Copeland's April 9th, and 
 was very sick for a few days, and much depressed in 
 spirits. While there sick, news reached me that 
 Bro. Jas. Costen, Sr., of Sunsbury, was dead. He 
 had been one of my best friends. While here ray 
 mind underwent some solemn reflection and thor- 
 ough self-examination. I came to the conclusion to 
 go on trusting in the Lord, come what would. On 
 him-would I rely for mercy and grace. 
 
 Saturday, the 17th April, I started to Holy Neck. 
 When about one mile from Bro. Copeland's my horse 
 became frightened, ran off, turned over my sulky, 
 and precipitated me on the ground. The fall so 
 stunned me that I remained senseless for sometime. 
 As soon as I could, I got up and walked back to 
 Bro. Copeland's, The next day I went with Bro. 
 
66 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 Copeland to Holy Neeck, and during the next week 
 got my sulky mended, and I swapped horses and 
 was ready to travel and preach again. 
 
 May the 3d, in feeble health, I started with Rev. 
 Mills Barrett to the first meeting of the Southern 
 Christian Association. We traveled by private con- 
 veyance four days, and arrived in the neighborhood 
 of Good Hope, Granville county, North Carolina, 
 where the Association was to be held. Here I met 
 with friends and brethren that I had long heard of, 
 and desired to see, and my spirits were much 
 cheered. 
 
 I reached my circuit again on the 14th, and felt 
 much improved in health and spirits. I now had 
 my appointments arranged, and commenced a regu- 
 lar round on my circuit. For every two weeks, 
 however, I would have an attack of chills, and have 
 to take medicine. Still I was not discouraged, but 
 continued to travel and preach. 
 
 July 18th, I was at Sunsbury, and at 9 o'clock 
 iield a prayer- meeting at Damascus, preached at 11 
 and at 3 baptized Bro. Jas. K. Costen and wife, in the 
 presence of a number of spectators ; and preached 
 again at night. This affected and irritated my 
 throat considerably. 
 
 My health, after this, soon began to improve some, 
 and I became more hopeful and I labored more zeal- 
 ously. In August our protracted meetings com- 
 menced, and until the last of September I was con- 
 stantly engaged, and saw much of the power of God, 
 and many souls converted. I had another attack of 
 agues ihf hul of S-'ptember, but was soon up a^ain. 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself. 67 
 
 October 25th, I went to Suffolk and was initiated 
 into the secrets of Freemasonry. I was much im- 
 pressed, and the Friday following (29th,) I was 
 Crafted and raised to the sublime degree of a Master 
 Mason. I found Masonry an excellent institution, 
 and one that my conscience approved ; and I felt it 
 an honor to wear the badge of a Free and Accepted 
 Mason.. But soon it was noised abroad that I had 
 joined the Masons, and a hue and cry was raised 
 against me by the ignorant and bigoted. But noth- 
 ing moved me, my conscience was satisfied and I 
 cared not for the opinions of men. I trusted in the 
 Lord. 
 
 At the Annual Conference, held at Providence, iu 
 November, I was again selected as the Itinerant for 
 the ensuing year, 1848, and my salary fixed at two 
 hundred dollars. Thus had closed the second year 
 of my ministerial labors with the Conference. My 
 prospects now began to brighten, and my health 
 improve, and I felt much encouraged and refreshed 
 in mind. God in mercy had caused darkness 
 to be banished from my mind and light to 
 illuminate my pathway. The opposition to me on 
 account of Masonry soon ceased, and . this year 
 closed with bright ancipationls of a successful future. 
 By again having reference to my Diary, I find that 
 I had traveled this year about 3,000 miles, and 
 preached 69 times. Had preached on four funeral 
 occasions and baptized ten persons by immersion. 
 Had married five couples, received |148, and ex- 
 pended nearly the same amount. 
 
68 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1848, my health was 
 good, and I commenced my labors under more fa- 
 vorable circumstances than the previous year. Du- 
 ring the last year, I had officiated at the organiza- 
 tion of two new churches. One at Bethlehem, 
 Nansemond county, and the other at Washington 
 Point, (now Berkley.) Both of these new churches 
 were added to the Conference, and to ray. circuit, 
 making ten appointments to fill iu the month ; also 
 to fill^ occasionally, another appointment at a school 
 house in Gates county. North Carolina. This em- 
 ployed me all my time. With animated hopes and 
 pleasing expectations, I heartily engaged in the 
 great work before me, still trusting in God. 
 
 For the first six months of the year, my congre- 
 gations were serious and attentive, and gradually 
 increased in numbers. I prayed and agonized with 
 God for a revival. In July I appointed a protracted 
 meeting at every church on the circuit. One to 
 commence from the last Saturday in July to the 
 third Saturday in September inclusive. 
 
 My first protracted meeting was held at Cypress. 
 Brethren Jones, Barrett, Rawls and Tatem came to 
 my aid. It continued seven days, and such a dis- 
 play of the power of God, I had never before wit- 
 nessed. Fifty-seven white and twenty-one colored 
 persons were converted. The whole community 
 seemed to be interested. The meeting closed on 
 Friday evening, and early on Saturday morning, I 
 was on my way to Providence. Several professed 
 here, but my strength failed, and I had to leave the 
 
A Short Sketch by Himself, 6^ 
 
 meeting an Wednesday evening. I rested one day, 
 and commenced according to appointment at Beth- 
 lehem. The meeting eontinuied here sis days and 
 seventeen souls professed faith in Cbrist, 
 
 The nest meeting was held at Holy Neck, and re- 
 s-alted in the conversion of seven precious souls, 
 and there was a great time of rejoicing with the 
 Christians. The meeting closed there on Wednesday 
 evening. 
 
 The next Saturday found me ait Barrett's, my na- 
 tive place- I preached, the believers prayed, and 
 the Holy Spirit came down. Eleven souls were 
 converted, and several backsliders were reclaimed 
 and the church much revived. 
 
 The nest meeting, was at Damascus. My strength 
 failed me here, and I was unable to preach but twice 
 and closed the meeting. 
 
 Union being the next place in the programme of 
 appointments, brethren Barrett, Jones and Rawls, 
 commenced a meeting- here. I also joined them, 
 and God graciously poured out His Spirit, and seven 
 souls were converted. I preached twice and had 
 much liberty. 
 
 The next Saturday I was at Antioch. I preached 
 on Sunday and Monday ;. and had to leave the meet- 
 ing, which was continued by brethren Jones and 
 Barrett, and resulted in the conversion of more than 
 forty souls. 
 
 From the labors of these meetings, we realized 
 many valuable additions to our numbers. Cypress 
 bad an accession of fifty-four members ;. Bethlebens 
 
70 A Short Sketch by Himself. 
 
 nineteen; Antioch seventeen; Holy Neck seven 
 Union seven, and Barrett's five. 
 
 September 18tli, I left Isle of Wight on a preach' 
 ing tour through North Carolina, having received 
 an invitation to do so, and the brethren on the cir- 
 cuit consenting. Reaching Nevvbern the 22nd, I 
 gave out an appointment to preach at the old Bap- 
 tist church. I continued in Newbern until October 
 7th, and preached eleven times. M\' congrega'tioiis 
 were very large, and a considerable excitement was 
 produced. I lectured on our principles, and organized 
 a Christian church of twenty-nine members, during 
 my stay. I was compelled, with great reluctance, to 
 leave Newbern. 
 
 October 8th, I preached twice at Kinston, and the 
 next day left for Raleigh. I arrived in the city the 
 11th, and was soon conducted to Dr. Hinton's, the 
 pastor of the church, who received me and treated 
 me with much kindness. The next day Rev. Isaac 
 N. Walter, of Ohio, arrived. I had corresponded 
 with him and expected to meet him at that time. I 
 found him a man of extraordinary preaching talent 
 and a most excellent man. 
 
 October 13th, the North Carolina Conference com- 
 menced its annual session and continued until Sun- 
 day evening. Bro. Walter preached four times, Bro. 
 D. W. Kerr twice, Bro. Utley once, and the writer 
 four times. I left Raleigh the 16th, and at night 
 preached at Rolesville to a small congregation. 
 
 The 20th October found rae in Nansemond county 
 on my circuit again. I had received in four weeks, 
 
A Short Sisetch by Himself. 71 
 
 35 members into the churches at Cypress and Beth- 
 lehem, and baptized 20 by immersion. Bro. Walter 
 was with me in Nansemond and preached to general 
 satisfaction. I was in fine health and spirits, and 
 felt as much like spending and being spent in the 
 service of God as ever I did in my life. 
 
 The 3rd day of November the Eastern Virginia 
 Conference commenced its annual session at Holy 
 Neck. There was much good feeling in the Confer- 
 ence. Here I was again chosen an itinerant for the 
 year 1849, and my salary fixed at two hundred dol- 
 lars. The church organized by me at Newbern, 
 North Carolina, sent up a petition numerously 
 signed, by their delegates, brethren Bragg and El- 
 lixon for my services. After some time consulting, 
 the Conference agreed to send me to Newbern for 
 three months, and then for me to return to Virginia 
 and spend the balance of the year. This was put- 
 ting me to some inconvenience; but I submitted, 
 being unwilling to refuse, and willing to do anything 
 for the promotion of the cause of liberal Christianity 
 and the glory of God. Much other business was at- 
 tended to at the Conference of much importance. The 
 following visiting ministers were present at that Con- 
 ference ; Rev. Isaac N. Walton, of Ohio, Rev. Henry 
 B. Hayes, Rev. Alfred Isley and Rev. Alfred Apple, 
 of North Carolina, and a Chippewa Indian preacher 
 by the name of George Copway. They all preached 
 during the meeting. 
 
 The next Sabbath, Bro. Walter and myself were 
 at Bethlehem, Twelve members were received into 
 
72 A Short SKETcg: by Himself, 
 
 the fellowship of the church, and we had a good 
 time. As soon as the meeting closed, Bro. Walter 
 and myself started for Newbern, where we arrived 
 on Saturday night, November 18th. I stayed but 
 two days, and then returned to Virginia. Parting 
 with Bro. Walter on the 21st, perhaps to meet no 
 more on the sliores of time. 
 
 The 25th I was again at Cypress. I went round 
 on my circuit, preaching at all the churches, except 
 Antioch and Barrett's, where I was disappointed 
 by rain. At every place I went the people seemed 
 reluctant to part with me, and seemingly felt much 
 depressed in spirits. 
 
 On the 14th of December I gave the parting hand 
 to my parents, sisters and brother, and started on 
 towards North Carolina. On the 20th, arrived at 
 Edenton and that night took the steamboat Fox for 
 Plymouth, where I arrived at the hour of midnight. 
 At 4 o'clock next morning, I stepped into the stage 
 and by 12 o'clock was at Washington. Here I stop- 
 ped one hour, and then took the stage for Newbern 
 where I arrived about dark, and put up with Bro. 
 McCoy. The next Sabbath I preached my intro- 
 ductory sermon from 1 Cor. ii : 2, and again at night 
 preached to a large congregation. On Christmas 
 day I was still at Newbern and preached. The next 
 Sabbath I preached again. Thus closed 1848, my 
 health pretty good and my spirits peaceful and 
 hopeful. The year closed with me, and perhaps it 
 is the last. Oh, Lord prepare me for my solemn 
 change, when all my years shall end ! 
 
REFLECTIONS ON THE 
 
 FOREGOING DIARY, 
 
 BY REV. R. H. HOLLAND. 
 
 The careful, intelligent reader of the foregoing 
 "" Diar}'," will readily see a connecting link of prov- 
 idences running through the whole. Bro. Wellons 
 was fortunate, indeed, in being blessed with such a 
 mother. For, says he, " from my earliest recollec- 
 tions, my mother strove to impress my mind with 
 the truth of the Christian religion, and the impor- 
 tance of serving God." What a lesson for mothers 
 to learn I that the destinies of their children are 
 largely in their own hands, and that they can mould 
 •and model their minds for almost any purpose. 
 Bro. Wellons' mother willed that he should be a 
 pious minister of Jesus; it was one of the purposes 
 •of her heart, and her counsels and pious examples, 
 ■with assistance of grace, made him so. In his ten- 
 der years he l-earned to pray and was " religiously 
 inclined." The word -of God gave him "pleasure'' 
 just as s©on as he learned to read it; and this pleas- 
 ure was increased by the " explanations and instruc- 
 tions " of his mother. And he says : " My mother 
 often talked to me and prayed that I might be a 
 preacher." Thus he was educated like young Sam- 
 •ael, almost in the school of the prophets; and thus 
 4 
 
74 EeFLECTIONS on FoREGOIIfG DlARY. 
 
 we see him when not quite thirteen years old giving- 
 his young heart to Christ and his service. 
 
 But Bro. Wellons was not satisfied with anything 
 short of a complete evidence of a full salvation. 
 For when in the si-lent grove " where no eye but Gfod's- 
 above could see him," and he there made the full 
 resolve and "felt some relief and comfort in mind;" 
 he sought a brighter manifestation, a greater bless- 
 ing, which he realized in the superlative degree, j'ust 
 so soon as he made an entire surrender,, and freely 
 trusted the Saviour. Just here " God spoke peace to 
 his soul, and his joy was inexpressible and full of 
 glory." And he adds that " the scenes of Tuesday 
 evening, October 21st, 1834, are as fresh in my mem- 
 ory as though it was but yesterday." 
 
 Four years after this, we see that he began to 
 think seriously about entering the ministry. But 
 he " told no one but his dear mother, and to his 
 God under the old apple tree, the saered spot" whei'e 
 he often resorted to to pray ;. but his age and diflB- 
 dence were against him, and he had quite a strug- 
 gle in his mind, and strove against the Spirit's call. 
 Yet the Spirit continued to call, an-d he resolved and 
 re-resolved, and then again mingled with the world, 
 and at times was thoughtless and neglectful of chris- 
 tian duties. But at last God saw fit to visit him 
 with afflictions, and he says " this brought me to 
 serious reflection, and had a most happy effect; for 
 bad I not been afflicted I should have gone astray." 
 
 Soon after this /he engaged actively in the service 
 of the Lord, began to exercise in public, to pray 
 
Reflections on Foregoing Diary. 75 
 
 , and exhort, and hold prayer-meetings, and the Holy 
 Spirit's call to the ministry was still more urgent 
 and impressive. So much so that he made known 
 his feelings to others, who encouraged him to go 
 forward. And he began to prepare for it, feeling 
 " woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel." Still, 
 he says, " I had not confidence to go forward. Never 
 shall I forget the hard struggle I had with the flesh 
 and the world." Hard, indeed, is the struggle 
 between interest and religion, pleasure and duty. 
 
 -He however " said little, but prayed much." 
 
 But about this time he says " my prospects for 
 worldly gain and influence became bright, my per- 
 sonal friends were pushing me forward." Friends 
 flattered him, the world tempted him, prominent 
 positions in society, and the emoluments of positions 
 of honor, allured him; but like his Master when 
 Satan offered him "all the kingdoms of the world, 
 and the glory of them," he said, " Get hence, Satan." 
 Like David, he could say in triumph over all these 
 temptations, " My heart is fixed, my heart is fixed," 
 to engage in the service of the Master. He turned 
 away from tlie offer of all the splendid opportuni- 
 ties of worldly greatness and the tempting promise 
 of riches, with disdain. He, like Moses, "chose 
 rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, 
 than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." He 
 preferred to be an humble minister of Jesus, to fill- 
 ing the highest ofiBce in the gift of the people. Thus 
 he " left all to follow Jesus, and gave himself fully 
 to the work of the ministry, and as an evidence of 
 
76 HEFliECTIONS ON FOEEQOING DiAEY. 
 
 the Divine call, his labors were blessed and a num- 
 ber of souls were brought " from darkness to light," 
 as the fruits of his ministry. 
 
 And when we follow him to his severe afflictions 
 and heavy expenses incurred thereby j when Doctor 
 Baylor's bill and other liabilities amounted to two 
 hundred dollars, and his receipts only one hundred, 
 and his best friends discouraging him and dissuad- 
 ing him from a continuance in the ministry, where 
 there was so much sacrifice j and then to see his re- 
 solves, we are forced to the conclusion that be waa. 
 indeed " a chosen vessel of the Lord." God had a 
 great work for him, mapped out before him, ana 
 he no longer felt that he was his own. For he 
 says, " I believed myself called of God to the work," 
 and he was determined " to travel and preach until 
 his strength was gone and the last dollar ex- 
 pended." And his after life showed most clearly, the 
 vastness of the work before him and his faithful- 
 ness in responding to the weighty responsibilities. 
 
 Here we subjoin, as made out by himself, a 
 
 " Recapitulation. 
 
 1846. 
 
 Traveled, 1,700 miles- 
 Preached, 67 times. 
 
 1847. 
 
 Traveled 3,000 miles. 
 
 Preached, including 4 funerals, 73 times. 
 
 Married 5 couples. 
 
 Baptized ..» 10 believers. 
 
DiAKY FOR -THE Year 1849. 77 
 
 1848. 
 
 Traveled ., 3,796 miles. 
 
 Preached, including 9 funerals, 133 times. 
 
 Married , 6 couples. 
 
 Baptized 21 persons." 
 
 Thus we see he had, up to December 31, 1848, including 
 the three years of his ministry, though sich much of the 
 two first years. 
 
 Traveled 8,496 miles. 
 
 Preached 273 times. 
 
 Married 11 couples. 
 
 Baptized. — .. 31 persons. 
 
 DIARY FOR 1849. 
 
 Great Revival at Newbern, &c. 
 
 It will be seen in the preceding " Diary," that we 
 transcribed it in full, in Bro. Wellons' own language 
 and peculiar style. We shall now follow the " Diary," 
 but shall extract only as it may suit our purpose. 
 Let us then imagine ourselves in the town of New- 
 bern, on the Neuse river, in North Carolina, Jan- 
 uary 1st, 1849. 
 
 He writes as follows : " In looking over my labors 
 for the last year, I find many imperfections and 
 much room for improvement, and hope by the help 
 of the Lord to make those improvements this year. 
 May I ever remember I can do nothing without the 
 aid of Christ my Fa iour. I sjeiit the evening in 
 
78 Diary fok the Year 1849. 
 
 trying to arrange a board of trustees to act for us in 
 getting a house of worship in the town, but felt 
 rather discouraged at my poor success ; but will yet 
 hope for the better. Our cause in Newbern is in its 
 infancy, and unless we have the aid of the Divine 
 Being, must fail. 2d. Succeeded in forming a board 
 of trustees, and held a prayer-meeting at night, and 
 had two penitents to come forward." 
 
 On the 8th, he says, " At night I spent an hour or 
 two with the family of Mr. H. Lane. Came home, 
 fell asleep and dreamed of my friends in old Vir- 
 ginia. 9th. Very cold and rainy, stayed in mj' room 
 and wrote some letters to my friends, and concluded 
 my articles on Water Baptism, and sent them off to 
 the editor of the Sun. A snow storm in the evening. 
 10th. I went to the Lodge at night, had a social 
 time. Find it good to meet on the level and part 
 on the square." He was then hard at work, daily 
 trying to raise means for purchasing a house of 
 worship. 
 
 He says on the 14th, " I preached twice, adminis- 
 tered the sacrament, received eight members into 
 the church, had a pleasant time in all the exercises 
 and retired, feeling quite comfortable. 18th. Held 
 a prayer- meeting ; four penitents, one converted and 
 two joined the church. 21st. Baptized four persons, 
 preached twice and had a pleasant day in God's ser- 
 vice. 25th. Was quite sick and many kind friends 
 called to see me." 
 
 About this time he was confined and suffered 
 much with his throat. This confinement was much 
 
Diary fok the Year 1849. 79" 
 
 s-gainst his feelings, and he felt it a great deprivation 
 aaot to be at the Lord's house on the Sabbath. For 
 he says of the 28th, " This Sabbath I am compelled 
 to keep in the house. The bells are ringing and the 
 people are hurrying to their various churches, but I 
 cannot go. This depressed my spirits some." 
 
 The 30th, he says : " To-day I felt better. At 
 jaight met the brethren in prayer-meeting. Had an 
 interesting time. Two enquirers were at the altar 
 for prayers." 
 
 On the 31st, he says : " One month of the new 
 year is gone. This morning I arose early and hur- 
 ried to the post office, and received a letter from my 
 brother and iiome. At 9 o'clock I preached the 
 funeral of sister Rebecca Martin, who died yesterday 
 in the triumph of faith. At 10:30 o'clock preached 
 the funeral of Miss Nancy Bell. She was a seeker 
 at the altar of prayer last week, a4 our meeting. I 
 am not informed as to how she died. She is cut 
 down in the bloom of life. How uncertain are all 
 things earthly !" 
 
 Nothing special occurred until February 9th, when 
 he was called to preach the funeral of Mrs. Frances 
 Clayton. He says : " In the morning visited sis- 
 ters Margaret Coleman and Rebecca Daniels. At 4 
 o'clock P. M. preached the funeral of Mrs. Frances 
 Clayton. This lady on the 21st ultimo became very 
 much enraged at my baptizing her husband and 
 servant womaui swore and wished us all in hell. 
 On the 2d instant she sent for me, was quite sick 
 and very penitent. I prayed with her and pointed 
 
80 Diary por the Year 1849: 
 
 her to Christ as the only Physician for sin-sick sonfe. 
 She found pardon in a day or two after. I saw her 
 on the 6th, and she was- still very ill.. On yesterday 
 she died.'* 
 
 He says : " Two things are prominent in her case,, 
 and should impress our minds. 1. The utter folly 
 in any one to oppose the work of God. And 2. The- 
 goodness and mercy of God in the- forgiveness of one 
 under such circumstances." 
 
 On the 11th, he says : " I preached to-day at 11 
 o'clock, to a very attentive congregation,, and felt, 
 some liberty in speaking. At 3. o'^clock heard the 
 Rev. Dr. Stratton preach at his church on« of the 
 most sublime and edifying sermons I have heard 
 this year. Text^ Acts ix :. 1 — 6. Such sermons- 
 must do good."' He also makes respectful and pleas- 
 ant mention, of Dr. Stratton next day. He says : " In. 
 the evening Rev. Dr.. Stratton visited me. I found 
 Mm an entertaining companion. He is the first, 
 minister tli.at has visited me in this place.'* 
 
 On the 25th, he says r. " I arose early this morn- 
 ing, and went out to Parker's Branch,, a distance of 
 sixteen miles. ' It rained all day,, and I met with a 
 small congregation. Returned to Newbern ; preached 
 again at night. The power of God came down and 
 three penitents came to the altar. Two were con- 
 verted and we had a good time with the Christians."" 
 On the 27th he visited sister Elizabeth Andrews,, 
 who. was sick, and the 28th he met with the colored 
 people, had a good meetings when three united with 
 the church. 
 
Diary foe the Year 184&. 81 
 
 The 1st day of March he held quite an interesting 
 praj'er-meeting, with good revival influence, and 
 the 2d, at night had a precious season, and six souls 
 were converted and many penitents were at the altar 
 of prayer. The 3rd he was sent for to visit a Miss 
 Willis who left the church last night a penitent, 
 when he prayed with her and instructed her, and 
 the Lord blessed her and she was happy in believing. 
 At night he had a glorious meeting and four souls 
 were converted. He preached on the 4th at 11 
 o'clock with great liberty and power, and God's 
 Spirit descended and his grace distilled as the dews, 
 and a most happy time was realized. He says of 
 this, " God filled my soul with love. At night the 
 house was filled to overflowing, and the aisles were 
 filled with chairs and many went away who could 
 not get seats. Two were converted and a number 
 of anxious ones approached the altar of prayer. The 
 congregation dispersed at 10 o'clock, which closed 
 one of the happiest days of my life." 
 
 On the 6th, at night, the church was again crowd- 
 ed, T/hen he says: " Bro. Peter Howell, much to our 
 joy, came in. The power of God came down and 
 ten more made the good profession. Such a work 
 I rarely ever witnessed." He continues : " The 
 7th, visited a sick man who was without hope in 
 Christ. That evening we met at the church. Bro. 
 Howell preached and three professed faith in Christ 
 their Saviour." He adds : " I have kindly invited 
 all the ministers here to co-operate with me in mov- 
 ing forward the work of the Lord, but none will 
 
82 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 accept the invitation or come near. Oh Lord, save 
 the preachers from sin !" 
 
 On the 9th, he says : *' We had a good meeting. 
 Bro. Howell preached again. Seven came forward 
 for prayers, and three were converted. The llthi 
 preached at 11 o'clock, had some liberty. At the 
 close received twenty-four members into the church. 
 At 3 I preached to an immense crowd of colored 
 people, after which received eight members into the 
 church, making thirty-two in all to-day. At night 
 Bro. Howell preached and two souls were converted, 
 making sixty-two which had been converted at our 
 church within a few days. Truly it has been a 
 happy time with my soul." 
 
 His Diary continues thus: "The 13th I spent 
 mainly calling on and praying with penitents. 
 Preached at night to an immense crowd at the 
 church. Several penitents were at the altar and 
 four more were converted, and we parted, all happy. 
 The 14th, I spent in visiting penitents, and among 
 them Mrs. Beasley and Miss Jane Kilpatrick. Met 
 at the church at night, and Bro. Howell exhorted 
 and the altar was crowded with penitents. Eight 
 souls found peace, among them some of ray best 
 friends. The 15th, at night, we met at the church 
 and had a good meeting. Six were converted ; and 
 during the meeting, Rev. H. B. Hayes, of Raleigh, 
 arrived, much to the joy of the brethren and myself. 
 The 16th we met at the church and Elder Hayes 
 preached, and we had six conversions. On the 17th 
 I was out collecting money for our house, and paid 
 
Diary for the Year 1849. 83 
 
 over $410.00 on the house. Visited that day the 
 Alms House and talked with the poor and unfor- 
 tunate on the subject of their soul's salvation. 
 Preached at night, and nine came forward to the 
 altar and one was blessed." 
 
 18th. This morning Elder Hayes preached, and I 
 received twenty members into the church. Preached 
 at 3 o'clock to the colored people and saw twenty 
 mourners come forward, and the power of God was 
 manifest. At night Bro. Hayes preached, and we 
 had ten mourners and five conversions — a large 
 crowd and a glorious season of grace. 19th. Had a 
 good meeting and five conversions. The power of 
 God's Spirit seemed to pervade the entire assembly, 
 and such a time of rejoicing has seldom ever been 
 seen. 20th. Addressed the young converts and one 
 converted that night, when a drunken man came to 
 the altar and produced a dampness on the meeting. 
 
 On the 21st, we had a good meeting. Bro. Hayes? 
 of Raleigh, preached and three were converted. 
 22d. Several came to the altar and two professed, 
 one a lady who had been a penitent for several 
 nights. 23rd. Bro. Howell preached and two mourn- 
 ers came forward and both were converted, and we 
 parted shouting and rejoicing in the Lord. 
 
 March 25th, I preached at 11 o'clock on Water Bap- 
 tism, to a large concourse of people. And at 3 o'clock 
 P. M., met at the water and baptized thirty-two be- 
 lievers, in the presence of at least 2,000 persons. It 
 was a happy time and a good impression was made. 
 27th. I was sick at Bro. McCoy's, and he and wife 
 
84 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 took as good care of. me as they would their owa 
 child." 
 
 Thus we see he was broken down, from hard and 
 continued labor in the glorious revival. Spending 
 all his mornings visiting, talking, reading and pray- 
 ing with penitents and every night at the church. 
 29th. Bro. Boykin from Raleigh called on him, and 
 the next day he had a church meeting and a pleas- 
 ant time. 
 
 April 1st, he says: "At 11 o'clock, Bro. Boykin 
 preached to an attentive congregation, and three 
 joined the church. At three o'clock, I preached 
 to the colored people, and a gracious refreshing was 
 experienced. Seven souls found peace. At night 
 Bro. Howell preached and two souls were blessed. 
 •2nd. We had two converts at night. 4th. Met the 
 colored people and received ten members and sev- 
 eral found peace by believing. 
 
 April 6th. We met at the church, and Bro. Boy- 
 kin preached and we had two converts. 7th. Held 
 a prayer- meeting and four joined the church. I was 
 here taken sick and had to leave the meeting. 8th. 
 Bro. Boykin preached and I administered the sacra- 
 ment ; the Holy Ghost came down and a happier 
 time I seldom ever experienced. My soul was filled 
 unutterably full of glory and of God. At 3 o'clock, 
 I met 46 candidates at the water and baptized them 
 in the presence of at least 3,000 persons. Many of 
 the candidates came out of the water shouting and 
 praising God. The praises rang on the waters far 
 out from the shore, and such a blessed time I never 
 
Diary for the Year 1849. 85 1 
 
 saw before. At night Bro. Boykin preached and we 
 had five penitents to come forward to the altar. 
 
 10th. Went to Goose Creek ten miles, and after 
 preaching, seven bowed for prayer and three united 
 with the church, the first received at the Christian 
 church at this place. Returned and held a very 
 interesting meeting at night, having one convert. 
 11th. Met the colored people at night, and had some 
 fifteen or twenty penitents and several conversions. 
 
 At this time my enemies began to circulate freely 
 rumors that I preached erroneous doctrine, all of 
 which I promptly met in due time. On the 18th, 
 baptized nine. 19th. Preached to a large congrega- 
 tion and one professed a hope in Christ. 26th. 
 Spent the morning visiting, and prayed with Bro. 
 Cummins who was sick, and in the evening met at 
 the water and baptized sixteen, making ninety-four 
 since the revival commenced. 27th. Left early on 
 the stage for Washington. Stopped with Col. Clark 
 and preached in the Baptist church at night, and 
 returned to Newbern the next day. 29th. This 
 morning I addressed a large audience at our ckurch 
 with liberty and effect. At three o'clock, met at the 
 water and baptized thirty-one converts, and at night 
 preached to an immense crowd with some liberty. 
 Had now baptized, as the result of the meeting, 125 
 believers." 
 
 Nothing special occurred, worth recording here, 
 till May 7th. He says : " This day I spent in vis- 
 iting and preparing to leave for Virginia. At night 
 met the brethren and spread the Lord's table, when 
 
86 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 a large number came forward and ate and drank in 
 rememberance of Christ. It was a glorious meet- 
 ing time. 8th. Visited more than fifty families and 
 prayed with many. At night met the largest con- 
 gregation I have ever seen in Newbern, and preached 
 to them. Much feeling was manifested. After dis- 
 missing, I took the parting hand with many dear 
 friends. Such a tender, melting time, I had rarely 
 ever seen. A number accompanied me to brother 
 McCoy's, where we spent an hour or more together. 
 After spending two hours at church, bidding good- 
 bye, retired at 2J o'clock, A. M. 9th. At 5 o'clock, 
 Bro. McCoy and myself stepped in the stage and 
 bid adieu to Newbern and its many endearments, 
 and was soon out of sight of the Athens of North 
 Carolina. I felt pensive and solemn. Oh I shall I 
 ever forget the friends in Newbern and vicinity? 
 Dined with Bro. Loftin at Kinston,and at night 
 reached Goldsboro, much fatigued and wearied in 
 body and mind. 
 
 May 10. This morning we left Goldsboro. Dined 
 at Smithfield and by night arrived at Raleigh and 
 put up with Dr. Hinton, who kindly received us. 
 The weather had been rainy and disagreeable, and 
 we felt glad to find a home among kind friends. 
 
 May 11. To-day it rained incessantly. I met with 
 Elders M. Barrett, D. W. Kerr, H. B. Hayes, Dr. 
 Weller and others, and much enjoyed their company. 
 Here we met in an Association. Elected Rev. Mills 
 Barrett President and Dr. Hinton Secretary. 13th. 
 Went to the Christian Church in this place, and as- 
 
DlAEY FOE THE Yeae 1849. 87 
 
 sisted in the ordination of Rev. William H. Boykin. 
 Went at eleven o'clock to the M. E. Church and 
 preached for Rev. Mr. Hefliu, and had a good time. 
 At night preached to an attentive congregation in 
 the Christian church. 
 
 17th. Left Raleigh and reached Franklinton in 
 time to dine. From here I went on to Petersburg, 
 and by the way of City Point, reached Norfolk, 
 where I found Rev. S. S. Barrett waiting for me? 
 who took me to his own dear home, where I felt free 
 and happy. Bro. Herbert came next day and car- 
 ried me home with him, where I spent an agreeable 
 afternoon and night. 
 
 May 20th- I preached at Providence and at Jeru- 
 salem church in Berkley at night. 22nd. Arrived 
 at Suffolk; dined with F. D. Holliday, and spent 
 the night with Bro. Kelby. 24th. Went to Mr. 
 James Phelps and preached the funeral of his infant 
 child." 
 
 He now spends a few weeks in rest and in visit- 
 ing friends, all of whom were very glad to see him, 
 and much enjoyed his company. 
 
 June 1st, he says: "To-day I reached home, after 
 an absence of nearly six months. Found my par- 
 ents, brother and sisters all well and glad to see me. 
 Truly I should feel grateful to God for having pre- 
 served me and permitted me to meet them again in 
 the flesh. 3rd. Preached at Barrett's and many of 
 my friends dined with me at my father's." 
 
 From his father's he went down into Nansemond, 
 and was taken sick at Bro. Richard Copeland's the 
 11th, and remained there till the 19th. Dr. Webb 
 
88 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 attended him and many of his friends visited hitn 
 during his affliction, some whose of names he men. 
 tions. After recovering somewhat, he spent a few 
 days with Bro. John Oopeknd, until he got able to 
 labor again. He was traveling and preaching and 
 visiting the remainder of the month, closing the first 
 half of the year, when he says, " this closes the fir^ 
 half of the year. Lord help me to be more faithful 
 the last half of the year." 
 
 July 1st, he preached at Damascus, and July 3rd, 
 at Holy Neck, and stopped with Elder Uriah Rawls, 
 an aged and infirm minister, who had in his better 
 days been one of the pioneers of the Christian cause. 
 Here Bro. Wellons speaks of a peculiar frame of 
 mind ; and as he believed in the exercise of God's 
 special providence over his people, he supposes it 
 the premonition of some coming event. Yet he is 
 calm and ^' commits his ways to the Lord," as he 
 was ever inclined to do. He says, " I- have been 
 much depressed to-day, and cannot account for uiy 
 feelings. It may be that I am about to meet with 
 some severe trial, and God is preparing me for it • 
 or he may be about to bless my poor labors, to the 
 good of precious souls. I will trust in him, and 
 commit myself and all with which I have to do, to 
 his wise disposal." 
 
 From Father Rawls' he goes on to his appoint- 
 ment at Union, and stopped for the night at Rev. 
 Etheldred Kitchen's, a very pious man of God, and 
 a veteran of the Cross of Jesus, " and," he says, 
 " preached at his house, .to an attentive and serious 
 
Diary for the Year 1849. 89 
 
 company. I trust some good impressions were 
 made." Here again his mind was so deeply im- 
 pressed, and he felt that he was so warned of some fu- 
 ture and uncommon occurrence, he could not sleep ; 
 but did not forget to " take it to the Lord in prayer." 
 And his petitions came forth in child-like simplicity 
 and'sincerity, " 0, Lord, prepare me for every trial ! 
 Make me more watchful and prayerful. Give me 
 more patience under affliction. More forbearance 
 with the wickedness of the world. Disperse the 
 gloom that seems to hang over me, and give me a 
 cheerful, contented, trustful frame of mind." 
 
 July 5th, he preached at Barrett's, and is at his 
 father's in the midst of loved ones, where he re- 
 mained but one day, when he was off again in the 
 direction of Norfolk, and reaches Bethlehem church, 
 in Nansemond county, July 8th, where he says, " I 
 preached with some' liberty at 11 o'clock, and again 
 in the evening at 4:30 o'clock. I spent the night 
 with Capt. Wiley Parker. Retired to re^t early, 
 much wearied in body and mind. Next day was 
 Nansemond court day. I called on Bro. T. J. Kilby 
 in Suffolk. The hospitality and kindness of this 
 family is not surpassed by any in lower Virginia." 
 
 Early in the morning on the 11th, he left Suffolk, 
 accompanied by Bro. Kilby for Norfplk. Stopped 
 a short time in Portsmouth -with Eev. Joshua Live- 
 say, and then crossed the river to Washington Point, 
 (now Berkley) and called on Rev. S. S. Barrett. 
 Preached at Jerusalem Christian church at night. 
 He says, " Next day I went with Bro. Kilby to Nor- 
 6 
 
90 DiAEY FOK THE Yeak 1849. 
 
 folk. Enjoyed a short time in walking about the 
 city, and then dined with Dr. Wna. Tatem. In the 
 evening we took an excursion to Old Point, on the 
 steamer Star. Spent two hours in walking around 
 the fort and looking at the Government Works. 
 Here has been money enough spent to furnish the 
 world with Bibles. Oh ! the cruelties of national 
 strife and war. We returned to Norfolk at 10 o'clock 
 Pi M., and spent the night with Dr. Tatem." 
 
 From Dr. Tatem's he goes over to Rev. S. S. Bar- 
 rett's again, on Washington Point, where he is em- 
 ployed most of the day in writing. And we here 
 form some idea of what little time he had for recre- 
 ation. His life was indeed one of toil and sacrifice. 
 For in addition to the preparation of sermons for 
 his regular round of appointments, which he must 
 meet only by traveling through all kinds of weather, 
 he must prepare his quota of matter (and he gener- 
 ally did his full share) for the Christian Sun, oi Vihich 
 he was corresponding editor. To such a man, rest 
 is sweet. Late in the evening he is called for by Col. 
 E. H. Herbert, of Princess Anne county, who takes 
 him to his pleasant, hospitable home, amidst his 
 kind family, where every wish was gratified, and he 
 was in every way most agreeably entertained, till 
 the next evening. He then went over to Bro. Wm. 
 H. I-Iaynes, and spent the evening and night as 
 pleasantly as all the surroundings of a wealthy, high- 
 toned christian family could make it. He held 
 these two families in high esteem. 
 
 Next day, the 15th of July, was his appointment 
 
Diary pok the Year 1849. 91 
 
 at Providence. He says : " I awoke this morning 
 and found the weather quite rainy and stormy. By 
 eleven o'clock, however, it had ceased to rain, and I 
 drove out to Providence, meeting a small congrega- 
 tion and preached to them. At two o'clock, I ad- 
 dressed the colored people. Had more liberty in 
 speaking, and with better effect. Had a good time — 
 twenty-one penitents and three converts." This sud- 
 den awakening, though among the uneducated col- 
 ored people, showed to some extent, at least, the ef- 
 fects of his earnest, pathetic, convincing style of 
 preaching, that there was a Holy Ghost power in 
 it, to convince and to convict, and present an ever 
 present Jesus to save the believing, trusting soul. 
 
 He preached that night at Washington Point, but 
 he says, " without any visible signs of good." Re- 
 turned to Bro. William Halstead's, a most estimable 
 Christian gentleman, that night, passed the next day 
 pleasantly in visiting some families, and was at 
 Providence the 17th. " Here," he says, a number of 
 ladies had met to connect or sew together a bed- 
 quilt which they had previously commenced, each 
 one furnishing a square. The object was a benevo- 
 lent one — to finish the quilt and sell it for the benefit 
 of the church. The sisters here would be an orna- 
 ment to any church or community. The interview 
 was of a social nature and quite interesting. 
 
 But how varied the duties of a minister of Jesus ! 
 He leaves the festive board, the gay party of a wed- 
 ding occasion, where all is life and happiness, to go 
 to the house of mourning, — to weep with the sad" 
 
92 DiAEY FOE THE Year 1849. 
 
 hearted, disconsolate ones, or to appear by the bed- 
 side of the sick or the dying. Bro. Wellons was 
 called on the 17th to visit two very pions sisters, 
 and to offer them the consolations of religion, who 
 were models of all those graces that constitute a true 
 child of God. These were sisters Hope and Jones. 
 He says, " they are in the last stages of consumption, 
 and will soon cross the Jordan over into the Prom- 
 ise Land. Their faith is strong and hopes bright 
 for heavenly joys. They are both beloved members 
 of Providence church." 
 
 He leaves Norfolk and accompanies Rev. S. S. Bar- 
 rett by the way of Deep Creek. Here he parts with 
 Bro. Barrett and pursues his journey in the direction 
 of Suffolk, reaching Mr. Jas. Phelps' in time to dine. 
 Continuing his travel, he reaches Bro. Elisha Ever- 
 ett's at night. " To-day," says he, " I had the mis- 
 fortune to get my sulky broken, and was precipi- 
 tated in the road, but was not injured. My ever 
 present Lord sustained me. Praise to His holy 
 name." 
 
 From the neghborbood of Suffolk, he goes to his 
 appointment at Autioch ; from thence to Cypress, 
 At each place he preached with unusual liberty, and 
 the blessing of God attended the word. In the 
 evening after service at Cypress, he preached a fune- 
 ral at Mr. Willis S. Reddick's. At theconclusion of 
 the day's labors, he says, " I have enjoyed much of 
 the Spirit of God, and feasted on his goodness the 
 past day, and I retire to rest with a sweet satisfac- 
 tion of having tried to serve the Master." 
 
DiAKY FOR THE Year 1849. 93 
 
 The Commencement op His Protracteb 
 Meetings. 
 
 Bro. Wellons was a man who seemed to have a 
 special gift for protracted efforts. He shared largely 
 in the revival spirit of the old time Christian preach- 
 ers. And if there was any one work in which his 
 talents were better fitted than another, one in which 
 he seemed more natural, more happy, and in which 
 his soul more delighted, it was in a revival meeting. 
 His soul ran out after the unconverted, and he had 
 great powers of persuasion, and great influence over 
 the hearts and wills of the ungodly, in that they had 
 entire c-onfidence in his piety and sincerity. He was 
 a man of strong faith, earnest prayer, and self-con- 
 secration ; and his labors were almost always at- 
 tended with the Divine blessing and outpouring of 
 the Holy Spirit. But at this time he was only an 
 itinerant, young in the ministry and had not 
 reached the climax of his intellectual and spiritual 
 growth. Yet he was pressing on vigorously to- 
 wards, the mark for the prize of his high calling. 
 He was steadily growing — gathering strength and 
 influence in every onward stride. 
 
 His first protracted meeting of that year, (1849,) 
 in the regular round, commenced at Cypress Chapel, 
 July 28th. He says, "Elders Mills Barrett and 
 William A. Jones came to my assistance, and Elder 
 Barrett preached in the morning a good discourse, 
 and we had signs of a revivah It rained during 
 
94 Diary for the Year 184&. 
 
 the evening and we had no meeting. Rev. S. 8. 
 Barrett reached the neighborhood that evening." 
 
 The second day of the meeting, Jiily 29'th, he says^ 
 " This morning it was raining until nearly time to 
 go to church. There was^ however, a good congre- 
 gation at the hour for services, and Elder M. Barrett 
 preached, and there- were several enquirers at the 
 altar of prayer. In the evening I tried to preach. 
 The interest was still better; we bad two conver- 
 sions and we went to our homes somewhat en- 
 couraged. "^ 
 
 The third day, July 30th, he says : " This morn- 
 ing a very large crowd came together. Rev. S. S. 
 Barrett preached to the white coiagregation and I 
 preached to the colored people, and there was an 
 HHUsual interest — a large number of penitents at 
 each place of worship. In the evening Rev. Wm. 
 A. Jones preached to the whites and Rev. S. S. Bar- 
 rett addressed the colored people. The result of the- 
 day's labor did not meet our expectations and we 
 v;ere somewhat discouraged. It was a dreary time ; 
 we went to our homes heavily burdened and anx- 
 ious for the salvation of precious souls." 
 
 The meeting continued next day with better pros- 
 pects. He says, " This morning I preached and had 
 much liberty. The power of God was manifest and 
 a deep work of grace was in progress. Rev. S. S. 
 Barrett preached in the evening, and several rejoiced 
 in the Saviour's love." 
 
 lie says of the fifth day's meeting, August 1, " This, 
 morning Rev. M. Barrett preached. He did not 
 
DiAUY FOR THE Year 1849. 95 
 
 enjoy so much of the spirit of the Gospel, as on some 
 occasions, and we had a cold time. In the evening 
 I preached with more than usual liberty. The con- 
 gregation was large and deeply serious. I never 
 saw people seem to be more wrought upon. I stayed 
 that night with Bro. E. C. Reddick, and felt greatly 
 impressed during the night, that God was about to 
 send us a great refreshing season." 
 
 He says of the meeting, August 2, " This morning 
 I attempted to preach, but my voice was drowned 
 by the cries of penitents and the rejoicing of chris- 
 tians. I received eleven members into the fellow- 
 ship of the church that evening, and such was the 
 feeling of the congregation, that almost every sinner 
 in the house came to the altar. Ten rejoiced in the 
 pardon of their sins and many disconsolate ones 
 went to their homes anxiously seeking the Saviour- 
 Such a time as this has perhaps seldom been seen 
 on earth, and I am sure I shall never forget it. To- 
 day all the preachers left but Bro. Jones." 
 
 Day of Fasting and Prayer — Meeting Con- 
 tinues WITH Still Greater Power. 
 
 Says our brother, "This day, August 3, 1849, was 
 appointed by the Chief Magistrate of the nation as a 
 day of fasting and prayer ; that we might humble 
 ourselves as a nation, under the mighty hand of God, 
 and implore him to remove the cholera from our 
 country. We observed it, as recommended, and as we 
 had a desire to do, and early in the morning a large 
 number of persons were found at the church, de- 
 
96 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 voutly engaged in singing and prayer. The crowd 
 continued to enlarge until the house and yard was 
 full. Such was the state of feeling in the con- 
 gregation, I was unable to preach. I spoke, however, 
 a few minutes ; the showers of grace descended and 
 fifteen souls made the good profession, and still there 
 were many anxiously desiring the love of God to 
 know. This was indeed a day long to be remem- 
 bered by hundreds." 
 
 He continues, " In the evening I went down where 
 Bro. Jones had been laboring with the colored peo- 
 ple, and there were more than one hundred peni- 
 tents, earnestly desiring salvation. Such a scene no 
 doubt caused rejoicing with the glad angels in 
 heaven. Since our meeting commenced, thirty-five 
 whites and about the same number of colored per- 
 sons, have professed a change of heart." 
 
 August 4. He says, " This morning we met early 
 at the church and found quite a number present. 
 In a very short time there were more than thirty 
 penitents at the altar of prayer. During the day 
 there were eight souls converted, and truly it was a 
 glorious time with Christians." 
 
 August 5. He says, " This morning a very large 
 congregation was early at the church. At 11 o'clock 
 I preached and had some liberty ; and there was 
 good attention and much seriousness. At 3 o'clock 
 P. M., I received seventeen members into the fellow- 
 ship of the church, and preached again. God owned 
 the effort and crowned it with his blessing, and five 
 
Diary for the Year 1849. 97 
 
 souls confessed the Saviour. This has been perhaps 
 one of the niost useful days of my life." 
 
 Close op Meeting and Baptizing, &c. 
 
 His Diary says, of August 6 : " Early this morn- 
 ing we met at the water and I buried sixteen disci- 
 ples with Christ in baptism. It was a joyful time 
 to my soul. One of the candidates for baptism was 
 my good Bro. Hamlin L. Eppes ; weighing about 
 260 pounds. After the impressive ceremony was 
 over, we repaired to the church, and I delivered an 
 address to the young converts from 2 Peter iii : 17. 
 It was a solemn, weeping time. We then spread the 
 Lord's table and about one hundred and fifty chris- 
 tians sat down and ate and drank in memor}'- of 
 Christ. After which our meeting closed and we all 
 went to our homes rejoicing in the God of our salva- 
 tion. 
 
 Thus has closed one of the most glorious meetings 
 I have ever been privileged to attend. It continued 
 for ten successive days ; during which time ninety- 
 four souls were happily converted — forty-eight whites 
 and fortj^-six colored. Truly this has been a profit- 
 able meeting to many. May we ever remember it 
 with glad heaHs." 
 
 The meeting over, he starts again on his round of 
 appointments, and reaches Holy Neck August 7, 
 and says, " I tried to preach, but in much weakness. 
 On my way from church my sulky was broken and 
 I had to stop at a brother's and borrow a vehicle to 
 go on. Stayed all night with R. H. Holland." 
 
98 Diary foe the -Year 1849. 
 
 From here, he goes on to Union, preaches at 11 
 A. M., and then in the evening at 4 P. M., he is 
 called to preach the 
 
 Funeral op a Man who Died Impenitent. 
 
 Here is one of the unpleasant duties of a minis- 
 ter. To be placed in a position where he is expected 
 to speak of the dead; jet as a true minister he can- 
 not speak hopefully of their future destinies. Com- 
 mon propriety leads him to throw the mantle of 
 charity over their faults, and forbids an enumera- 
 tion of christian virtues they did not possess. 
 Hence, he can say but little that will comfort the 
 bereaved ones, as to their moral course, and much 
 less as to their prospects beyond the grave. He 
 must then have a very narrow compass for his 
 tliouglits, or dispense with making any reference to 
 the deceased. It is grief enough to surviving friends 
 to know that they died out of Christ. Other good 
 qualities will not wholly atone for this sad neglect, 
 and to rerhind them of it in the bitterness of their 
 grief, only adds fresh pangs to their sorrows. It 
 was the funeral of Ichabod Scott, and he says of 
 him : " Poor man ! He died irreconciled to God ; 
 without peace and pardon — a dark cloud hanging 
 over his future ! How dreadful it must be to die 
 without hope!" 
 
 He enjoyed a pleasant visit that night to sister 
 Beale's, mother of Rev. E. W. Beale, and reached. 
 Barrett's church next day, the 9th, in time to preach. 
 Wei't home to his father's and found all well, except 
 
/ 
 I>IARY FOE THE YeAR 1849. 99 
 
 his brother, who was somewhat indisposed. On the 
 next day, early in the morning, he bid adieu to 
 loved ones, and started on another preaching tour_ 
 Stopped awhile at Rev. M. Barrett's and reached 
 Ero. John Copeland's at night. 
 
 Protracted Meeting at Bethlehem. 
 
 This was his second revival meeting, and com- 
 menced August 12th. He says of it: "This morn- 
 ing there was early at Bethlehem a large concourse 
 of people. By eleven o'clock the bouse and yard 
 were full. I tried to preach and felt the presence 
 and assistance of Him who has said, ' I am with 
 you.' I preached again at three o'clock, and there 
 was some seriousness in the congregation. I have 
 never had better attention than to-day, and pray 
 God that good may result from our efforts." 
 
 The meeting continues on the 13th. "This morn- 
 ing," he says, "I met the friends in prayer- meeting. 
 At eleven o'clock I preached to good acceptance. A 
 number of penitents came to the altar for prayer, 
 and ten found peace by believing in Jesus. We 
 went to our homes full of joj'." 
 
 The meeting on the 14th. "This morning," he 
 saj's, " I arose very unwell. I took some medicine 
 and went to church, where I bad to call Dr. Elliott. 
 I felt a little better and at 11 o'clock tried to preach 
 and was blessed in the effort. The power of God 
 was manifest and many came to the altar. I was 
 then so sick, I had to leave the house. A little be- 
 fore night I was 
 
100 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 Attacked with Paralysis, 
 
 and many thought I would die. Drs. Elliott and 
 Kilby were both with me. I was conveyed to Bro. 
 T. J. Kilby's, and Dr. Elliott stayed all night with 
 me. About midnight I was somewhat relieved and 
 fell asleep. I was not alarmed at all during my 
 sickness, and felt resigned to the will of my Heav- 
 enly Father." 
 
 The writer of this was present and well recollects 
 the circumstances. I saw him as he was carried 
 from the pulpit in a fainting and almost dying con- 
 dition, and placed in the carriage to go to Suffolk. 
 I saw Dr. Elliott, like a ministering angel, waiting 
 around him, doing all that tender sympathy, atten- 
 tion and medicine could accomplish. I shall never 
 forget the sorrow manifested and the deep anxiety 
 felt on the part of the vast congregation presen t 
 Many, indeed, thought his mission of love was ended. 
 And there were many glad hearts when the physi- 
 cian assured them he thought he was beyond proba- 
 ble danger. 
 
 His condition next day. He says: " I was confined 
 in bed at Bro. Kilby's all day, and somewhat de- 
 pressed in spirit. But God, in whom I trust, sus- 
 tained me. Many friends called to see me. The 
 meeting continued with one convert." 
 
 The meeting continues on the 16th with brighter 
 prospects and more cheering results, and he ven- 
 tures out to the church. He says : "This morning, 
 though feeble, and scarcely able to sit up, I rode out 
 
DiAEY POK THE YeAR 1849». 101 
 
 to church, Bro. Jones preached, and many peni- 
 tents were at the altar. During the day eleven souls 
 were made happy by believing, in a sense of par- 
 doning grace. It was truly a glorious time. I 
 strengthened some during the day." 
 
 Close of Meeting and Baptizing. 
 
 He says ; " To-day (August 17th,) we again met at 
 the church. Two were relieved from the burden of 
 their sins. I addressed the young converts and re- 
 ceived seventeen members into the church. At five 
 o'clock we met at the water and I baptized four be- 
 lievers. Thus closed one of the most glorious meet- 
 ings we have ever held at Bethlehem. Fifty- four 
 came out on the Lord's side." 
 
 Pkoteacted Meeting at Holy Neck. 
 
 From Bpthlehem he goes on to Holj' Neck the 
 next day, the 18th, to assist in a protracted effort, 
 without anytime for recuperation or giving himself 
 any rest ; such was his zeal and entire consecration 
 to the work of the Master. He says : " I reached 
 Holy Neck in time to be present at the opening ser- 
 vices. Bro. Joshua Livesay preached a good ser- 
 mon, which was well received by the people. Thus 
 commenced another protracted meeting." 
 
 Of the next day, August 19th, he says: "This 
 day was damp and rainy and I felt very unwell. 
 At the hour for morning services we met at church, 
 and heard a warm, earnest and impressive discourse 
 by Bro. M. Barrett > and it had a good effect. In the 
 
102 Diary foe the Year 1849. 
 
 evening I was to have preached, but was wholly un- 
 able to do so. Bro. Barrett exhorted and the meet- 
 ing closed without accomplishing much." 
 
 Of August 20th, he says^ " This morning we met 
 Bros. Livesay and Barrett, and a good congregation 
 at church. I tried to preach, but suffered much from 
 weakness in the evening from the effects of the effort. 
 Bro. Livesay preached in the evening, and the meet- 
 ing closed without any special signs of a revival." 
 
 The meeting continued on the 21st, and he says : 
 " This morning Bro. Barrett preached and we had a 
 good time. The signs betokened a refreshing shower 
 of divine grace. In the evening I tried to preach 
 again, and we had a special display of the power 
 and goodness of God." 
 
 The meeting continued the 22d and 23rd. Of the 
 23rd, he says, ■" I tried to preach, but had not much 
 liberty, and the effect was not very salutary. In th^ 
 evening Bro. Norfleet, a Methodist preacher then on 
 the Gates (North Carolina) circuit, called in and 
 preached for us." 
 
 Close of the Meeting. 
 
 Bro. Wellons preached to-day, the 24th, he says, 
 " with more freedom and satisfaction to myself and 
 with, I trust, much better effect. In the evening we 
 received thirty-one members into fellowship, and 
 there was a blessed outpouring of the Holy Spirit 
 and much rejoicing with God's people. Up to this 
 time fifty-eight had been converted." 
 
 Rev. Robert Rawls, a very meek, unassuming man 
 
DlAEY FOR ,THK YeAR 1849. 103 
 
 of God, and a very pious, zealous minister, was then 
 pastor of the church, and continued the meeting the 
 next day with perhaps other additions, followed by a 
 baptizing. He was very much beloved, and Holy 
 Neck enjoyed great prosperity under his adminis- 
 tration as pastor. 
 
 From Holy Neck, Bro. Wellons returns to South- 
 ampton and commences a 
 
 Protracted Meeting at Barrett's 
 
 the 26th August. He says, " I went to church at 
 Barrett's, and tried to preach, but had a hard time. 
 In the evening Bro. Barrett preached a good sermon. 
 I returned to my father's, much depressed in spirits 
 and cast down." 
 
 August 27, he says : ' " This morning I was at 
 church again and tried to preach. Had a pleasant 
 time; the attention was good and the result satis- 
 factory. A good work commenced and tliere were 
 several penitents. In the evening Bro. Barrett 
 preached. I went home much more cheerful." The 
 meeting continued on the 28th, and the revival 
 moved on with encouraging success. 
 
 He addressed the young converts on the 29th 
 " with much freedom and satisfaction, and the power 
 of the Holy Spirit was signally manifest. Up to 
 this time thirty souls found peace by believing in 
 Jesus, among them his youngest sister." He was 
 overjoyed and elated in his feelings, and the impul- 
 sive utterance of a heart overflowing with gratitude 
 was " Oh ! Lord make her faithful and keep her by 
 
104 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 thy power to the end." The meeting continued next 
 day with fourteen conversions, but he was too much 
 indisposed to attend, and was confined to his room. 
 His kind, constant, loving mother stayed with and 
 nursed him. 
 
 But though quite unwell, and sick on the way, he 
 leaves home and starts on towards Norfolk to attend 
 another protracted meeting at Providence. He 
 reaches Suffolk at night and finds sister Kilby quite 
 sick. Here (at Bro. T. J. Kilby's) he felt much 
 at home, among friends whose sympathies he could 
 share. He is, however, burdened with anxiety and 
 the interest of immortal souls, and prays that " God 
 may reward his labors and sufferings by bringing 
 many to Christ at Providence." He awakes on the 
 morning of the first of September to find it raining 
 and he so unwell as to be confined to his room all 
 day, and Dr. Webb prescribing for him. Bro. Kilby 
 was also taken very ill with an ague. He feels quite 
 happy in praying with the family at night and re- 
 tired much composed. 
 
 Protracted Meeting at Providence. 
 
 He says, " This mornirfg, September 2, I arose 
 early, and though sick, started for Providence, a 
 distance of about thirty miles, arriving there some 
 after 12 o'clock, and found a very large congregation 
 assembled and Bro. Livesay preaching." He met 
 liere the following ministers: Revs. M. Barrett, S- 
 S. Barrett, Dr. Wm. Tatem, N. N. Tatem, J. Livesay 
 and Bro. Spratt. These all preached during the 
 
DiAEY FOR THE YeAR 1849. 105 
 
 continuance of the meeting, preaching himself three 
 times, though quite feeble. He did not give the 
 full result of the meeting, but he says of the fifth day 
 of liis stay : •' At night the services were continued 
 and two made the good profession. Several had 
 been serious and some had asked the prayers of the 
 church previous to this. The prospects are good, 
 and I trust those mercy drops are but the t-okens of 
 a great refreshing shower at Providence." 
 
 On the 7th September he says : " This morning 
 I went to Norfolk and changed my sulky for a 
 buggy. My horse had run off with and broke my 
 sulky, which made me feel very nervous and sick, 
 the result of excitement. I reached Suffolk at night 
 and shared the hospitalities of Benj. D. Smith. 
 Here I heard of the unfortunate death of our good 
 brother, Rev. Wm. A. Jones, which depressed my 
 spirits and shocked my senses. My cough was bad, 
 otherwise I would have rested well." 
 
 He goes to 
 
 The Protracted Meeting at Union. 
 
 September 9th. "This morning I met a large 
 congregation at Union and preached in weakness, 
 but I trust with good effect. In the evening I was 
 called to preach the funeral of Bro. Seth H. Beale, 
 a young man, and a particular and intimate friend 
 of mine. He died in the triumph of faith in Jesus. 
 ' Oh ! let me die the death of the righteous, and let 
 my last end be like his.' I also preached the 10th 
 and 11th, enjoying liberty and feeling happy in the 
 7 
 
106 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 exercise. On the 11th, five anxious one approached 
 the altar of prayer." 
 
 Of the meeting on the 12th, he writes: "To-daj- 
 I preached at eleven o'clock from Hosea 11 : 8, and 
 though very weak had unusual freedom., I felt 
 almost as if I was doing my last work. Several en- 
 quirers approached the altar. I took dinner on the 
 ground, bid adieu to friends, and started to my 
 father's, a distance of twenty-two miles j where I 
 arrived about sun-down, much wearied by the ride. 
 I retired early but slept but little, my cough being 
 so_ distressing." 
 
 His Severe Attack of Sickness. 
 
 September 13th, we find him at home, anticipa- 
 ting leaving for Antioch in a few days ; but oh ! how 
 weak and frail are the calculations of man ! " That 
 night," he says, " I had considerable fever, and felt 
 very sick. The next morning my brother James 
 went for Dr. Nicholson, and in the evening for Dr. 
 Brown. They both came the next morning, and 
 pronounced my disease bilious fever, diarrhoea and 
 irritation of the lungs. 
 
 For a week I was violently ill, and doubts were 
 entertained by my physicians and all who saw me 
 as to my recovery. There was then a slight change 
 in my condition for the better. For a week more I 
 was very sick and suffered much. I then began to 
 improve, and in two weeks more was able to get out 
 of the house by myself." 
 
Diary foe the Year 1849. 107 
 
 Baptizing at Barrett's Church. 
 
 He writes : " On the 14th of October, I rode on my 
 buggy with my sister to meeting at Barrett's. Heard 
 an excellent discourse by Rev. M. Barrett. He then 
 received nineteen members into the church, after 
 which the whole congregation repaired to the water 
 and Bro. Barrett baptized twelve happy believers 
 on profession of faith in Christ. It was a most 
 beautiful scene. The candidates were mostly young 
 persons. They came up out of the water shouting 
 and praising God." 
 
 Illness of an Old Minister — Rev. Jno. Kitchen. 
 
 He says: "In the evening, October 17th, I rode 
 with my mother to see Bro. John Kitchen, an old 
 minister who formerly preached at Barrett's. We 
 foiind him very ill, but was still clinging to life. I 
 fear much he will not recover. His loss would be 
 seriously felt by the whole community. He is a very 
 peaceable and pious christian man. May God yet 
 spare him longer." 
 
 Brother Wellons here begins to view the circum- 
 stances of his life, or present surroundings; and 
 though he does not murmur, he laments his state of 
 inactivity. The ministry was the sphere in which 
 his active soul found its chiefest pleasure. He be- 
 lieved he was divinely called to the work, that the 
 "field was white unto the harvest." He loathed 
 idleness and earnestly coveted the most active place 
 in the vineyard of his Lord. Hear the expression 
 
108 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 of his earnest desire : " My soul is thirsting — long- 
 ing to be free again. My mind, heart and soul are 
 fixed on the salvation of souls. Oh ! my Master, 
 help me once more to launch out in thy blessed ser- 
 vice. My parents, brother and sisters are kind to 
 me, but home is not home to me when unemployed. 
 No place would be a resting place for my soul if 
 Jesus should not be there, and I should be deprived 
 of laboring for Jesus and his cause." 
 
 His soul is wearied. He desires no dignified leis- 
 ure. He believes there is a " woe to those who are 
 at ease in Zion." And he begins to gather up his 
 armor, preparatory to active service under the Cap- 
 tain of Salvation. He makes ready "to launch out; 
 home was no longer a home when unemployed." 
 
 He says, October 22nd : " Today I commenced 
 preparing to go down the country. After dinner, I 
 gave the parting hapd to my dear parents, brother 
 and sisters, and started on my way with a heavy 
 heart. I had not gone more than a mile from home, 
 before I heard of 
 
 The Death of Rev. John Kitchen, 
 
 of whom I have previously spoken, who had been 
 sick for sevieral days. It gave me much sorrow to see 
 how fast the watchmen are falling. I reached Rev. 
 M. Barrett's and spent the night very agreeably, and I 
 trust profitably, in social and religious conversa- 
 tion." 
 
 He left Elder Barrett's on the morning of the 23d, 
 and made his way down the country, calling at 
 
Diary for the Year 1849. 109 
 
 Bros. J. P. Gay's, John Copeland's, and Maj. Eley's, 
 reaching Bro. T. J. Kilby's in Suffolk, where, he 
 says, he " was more than kindly welcomed." All 
 along his way he was greeted as one almost from the 
 dead, and all, both white and colored, rejoiced to see 
 him once more alive. 
 
 He says : " To-day and yesterday, I have been 
 stopped by persons a number of times, to identify 
 me, to be sure their eyes were not deceived, as it had 
 been extensively reported all through this section of 
 the country, that I was dead. 
 
 I did not think such a value was placed upon my 
 poor life. Oh Lord, make me worthy of such kind 
 and devoted friends, as I have all over the country." 
 
 He ^ays, "About noon I vent to Suffolk, and was 
 greeted at every corner and every store by friends 
 and brethren who were all rejoiced to see me. God 
 bless the dear people! At Bro. Jackson Brinkley's 
 and E. 0. Beddick's as I passed on, all were glad to 
 see me and know for themselves, I was yet alive ; 
 and I was much refreshed in spirit by meeting 
 brethren on the way." 
 
 He preached at Cypress the 28th, and says, " I re- 
 ceived eight members and had a happy time. The 
 peace and joy which I experienced at meeting with 
 friends from whom I had been almost severed by 
 death, was inexpressible. . The intercourse was pleas- 
 ant and the services a blessing." He dined with 
 Bro. Jethro Riddick, and in the evening at 4 o'clock 
 
110 Diary for the Year 1849. 
 
 Attended the Funeral of Little Virginia 
 Skinner, 
 
 daughter of Mr. Henry Skinner. Many persons 
 were present, and many tears were shed. He says, 
 "Iconldtruly sympathize with the bereaved par- 
 ents." 
 
 From here he goes to Bethlehem, where 
 
 The Annual Conb^erence 
 
 was held, commencing November 2d. He says, "I 
 preached the introductory sermon from Psalm 133 : 
 1. Several delegates were in attendance from almost 
 all the churches. We were more than glad to meet 
 each other. The Conference was organized by choos- 
 ing Elder Uriah Rawls, President, and Josiah P 
 Gay, Clerk. After attending to some business, we 
 adjourned over to the next day." 
 
 He says of November 3 : " This morning Confer- 
 ence organized at Mrs. Knight's, (religious services 
 being held in the church,) and contiaued in session 
 till preaching time ; when we repaired to the church 
 and listened to a good discourse from Rev. Wm. H. 
 Boykin. Conference then convened in the church 
 and continued in session until 8 o'clock P. M. Much 
 feeling was manifested about the itinerancy, and the 
 discussion on the subject was long and warm. The 
 question was not finally settled satisfactory to any; 
 The arrangement was for me to spend half the ensu- 
 ing year in Newbern, the other half in Virginia. 
 Bro. Boykin to form a circuit in the vicinity of 
 Newbern." 
 
DiAKY FOR THE YeAR 1849. Ill 
 
 He says, " a large congregation assembled at the 
 church on the 4th, and was addressed by Dr; Thonaas 
 Nash. After the sermon, which was well received 
 by the audience, I administered the Lord's Supper 
 to the largest number of communicants I ever saw 
 seated together before on such an occasion. It was 
 a melting, happy time. After partaking of some 
 refreshments on the ground, we again assembled 
 and heard a well delivered discourse from Dr. Wm. 
 Tatem, which closed the evening's service." Con- 
 ference continued next day. Rev. J. I. Hobby preach- 
 ed and the annual session closed. 
 
 Conference over, he enters immediately on his 
 work, and we see him busily engaged visiting and 
 preaching. He is at Bethlehem and preached, No- 
 vember 11, and he says, " I enjoyed the presence and 
 Spirit of the Master. It was truly a time of deep 
 feeling. After preaching I received nine members 
 into the church. Such were the impressions*made, 
 we left the house reluctantly." 
 
 From Bethlehem he goes in the direction of his 
 home in Sussex ; enjoys a day or two there pleas- 
 antly with Elder J. I. Hobby; goes to Union, 
 preaches and calls on Bro. Jordan Ekiwards, a sin- 
 cere, liberal Christian of the Baptist church, reaches 
 Rev. U. Rawls' and preaches at Holy Neck next day, 
 the 18th. It was rainy and disagreeable and but 
 few were out. 
 
 The 20th of November was spent with Bro. John 
 R. Lee, near Holy Neck and in 
 
112 Diary foe, the Year 1849: 
 
 Visiting the Grave of Elder Wm. A. Jones, 
 
 whom he had early learned tolove. Bro. Jones was 
 a man of deep piety, of great earnestness and zeal, 
 and a power in revival meetings. He was acciden- 
 tally drowned in Somerton creek, a short time pre- 
 vious to this, as he attempted to ford the flat, after 
 crossing the bridge, during a very heavy freshet. 
 This was a very sad occurrence and cast a deep 
 gloom over the entire community around, and was 
 a great grief to his family. He says of it : "I vis- 
 ited the last resting place of our lamented Bro. 
 Jones. Oh ! how solemn were my reflections, as I 
 stood by the grave of one I loved so well." 
 
 The next we hear of him, he is at Bro. T. J. Kilby's 
 on the 29th of November.. And in company with 
 his sister, he goes to Mr. Daniel Brinkley's and offi- 
 ciates 
 
 At a Marriage. 
 
 Mr. Mills Rodgers was united in matrimony with 
 Miss Virginia Brinkley. He much enjoyed the 
 party, consisting of about 200 peroons. 
 
 December 6th, we again find him at Bro. Kilby's 
 and in the evening, in company with his sister, he 
 is off to Capt. James Goodman's, to another wedding 
 party. He says there were about two hundred pes- 
 sons present; but 
 
 The Bridegroom did not Come, 
 
 owing to his having received a serious injury fram 
 
Diary for the Year 1849. 113 
 
 a fall from his sulkj^, a few days ago. " The com- 
 pany were disappointed and sympathized with the 
 bride, who seemed much distressed." 
 
 On the 9th, he is at Bethlehem again. Preaches 
 and receives three members into fellowship, and 
 
 Baptized Sixteen Believers. 
 
 He says : " It was indeed an interesting and sol- 
 emn occasion. May the good Lord ever keep me 
 humble and faithful." 
 
 December 12th, he is in Suffolk. He says: " This 
 was a very cold day. In the evening we started to 
 the 
 
 Wedding 
 
 at Mr. Benj. D. Smith's. The parties to be married 
 were Mr. Jesse Brewer and Miss Elizabeth F. Smith. 
 Rev. Allen R. Bernard was the officiating parson. 
 It was a very pleasant occasion. But on my way to 
 the party, my heart was suddenly saddened by hear- 
 ing of the 
 
 Unexpected Death 
 
 of Capt. Admiral Brinkley, who was taken with 
 heart disease, as he was traveling the road, and fell 
 from his sulky dead. Capt. Brinkley was an intel- 
 ligent, high-toned gentleman, very benevolent in 
 his feelings and a true and faithful friend." 
 
 How varied the duties of a minister ! He leaves 
 the " house of feasting " and goes directly to^ the 
 " house of mourning." 
 
114 DiAKY FOR THE YeAR 1849. 
 
 In company with Mr. Miles Lassifcer and family, 
 on the 13th, he visits the distressed family of Capt. 
 Brinkley. He says, " I preached on the occasion to 
 an attentive and sympathizing assembly, from II 
 Samuel, 2; 6. It was the most solemn, weeping 
 time I ever witnessed. I shall never forget the im- 
 pressions of this hour." 
 
 From here he ^oes to the neighborhood of Damas- 
 cus, Gates county, North Carolina, and spends a few 
 days with friends, and is on his way again to New- 
 bern. He leaves Sunsbury on the 26th December, 
 forEdenton. He says, " I dined with Mr. White 
 in Chowan county, and at night reached Edenton 
 and put up at the United States Hotel. Took the 
 steamboat at ten o'clock and crossed over to Ply- 
 mouth, a distance of twenty miles." He proceeds 
 on to Washington where he arrived the 27th, 
 and reached Newbern the 28th, and put up at the 
 Washington Hotel. He says, " it was soon noised 
 abroad that I was in town, and the news spread and 
 many friends soon called on me, and insisted on my 
 going up to the Christian Church where a pra3'er- 
 meeting was to be held. I met several friends there. 
 My feelings were much elated at being again in the 
 midst of friends so kind. In this place I have la- 
 bored hard and much. The Lord has blessed me. 
 And now, dear Saviour, if thou has directed me 
 back to this place, I pray thee to own my mission 
 from heaven and give me access to the hearts of the 
 people in this town, and may I 3'et be the humble 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 115 
 
 instrument in tliy handsin saving many souls from 
 endless woe." 
 
 He spent the 29th in walking over town and meet- 
 ing friends who were rejoiced to see him. He 
 preached on the 30th at eleven o'clock, in the Chris- 
 tian Church, and says, " it was a time of deep se- 
 riousness and apparent good feeling. Heard Bro. 
 Boykin preach a good sermon to the colored people 
 at thrfee o'clock, and I addressed a large audience at 
 night with liberty and effect." 
 
 He takes a retrospective view of the past at the close 
 of the 31st, and end of the year 1849, and says : " In 
 looking over the past year, I find that I have suf- 
 fered much, endured much, and labored much. The 
 Lord has abundantly blessed me, for which I should 
 feel truly grateful. In parting with the old year, 
 and shaking hands with the new one, may I ' set out 
 anew to win the prize, and after glory run.' Oh! 
 Lord, may I be more faithful than I have been in 
 the past year. 1849, with all your weighty cares 
 and anxieties, I bid thee adieu ! Eternity will soon 
 usher in ! May the Lord help me to be prepared 
 when my change comes ! " 
 
 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 Elder Wellons commenced the year with a retro- 
 spect of the past, a rational view of his present sur- 
 roundings and a consideration of his labors and 
 prospects before him. He says : " This day com- 
 
116 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 mences a new j'ear. My health is uot very good, 
 and I find myself unable to labor as formerly. Yet, 
 my trust is still in God, who is the Rock of my sal- 
 vation, my strength, my all. In looking over the 
 labors of the past year, I find imperfections which I 
 may correct or improve upon the present year. Du- 
 ring the past year, God has abundantly blessed me 
 in many places. Many precious souls have been 
 born unto God, and added to his church. Oh ! 
 Lord, may they all continue steadfast, unmovable 
 and abounding in thy work. 
 
 I now commence a new j'ear's labors with the 
 church at Newbern. May God give me grace, wis- 
 dom and strength, sufficient to labor successfully. 
 If Thou hast appointed me a work to do in this 
 place, during this year, 0, do Thou give 'me access 
 to the people, and own my mission from heaven ■' 
 May I see souls converted and the church built up." 
 
 Bro. Wellons now was stationed at Newbern and 
 was actively engaged with his colaborer, Rev. Wm. 
 H. Boykin, who was a most energetic worker of much 
 native talent, and a successful preacher ; and there- 
 fore a valuable assistant to Bro. Wellons in his ar- 
 duous labors. They preached alternately, or divided 
 time so as to accomplish the greatest good, giving to 
 the colored people a separate service. 
 
 Bro. Wellons took much pleasure in co-operating 
 with Christians of other denominations, and sincerely 
 believed in the spiritual union of God's people, and 
 as far as possible, or when opportunity offered, he 
 made this sentiment practical by visiting and labor- 
 
DiAKY rOR THE Year 1850. 117 
 
 ing with other denominations. He says of January 
 9th : " I met brethren in a 
 
 " Love Feast " 
 
 meeting in the Methodist Episcopal church. I have 
 always found it good to meet with Christians of 
 various denominations and worship with them when 
 practicable. At the meeting I was somewhat inter- 
 ested. I like this manner of expressing our feelings 
 and experiences to one another, and do not particu- 
 larly object to the use of the bread and the water; still 
 I see no real good accomplished by it." 
 
 Although the faithful, continued efforts of Bros. 
 Wellons and Boykin c^id not result in any spe- 
 cial revival for the first week or two, yet an interest 
 was manifested and some additions were made to 
 the church. January 13th, he says, " in the evening 
 I met the colored people, and received two other 
 members into the church, and administered the 
 Lord's Supper to a large number." 
 
 As an evidence of the earnestness of his work, Bro. 
 Wellons not only held prayer meetings in addition 
 to the other regular church services, but also " fel- 
 lowship meetings " and meetings of prayer in pri- 
 vate families. He says of one rainy, disagreeable 
 day, when he did not go out, " Several brethren sat 
 with me at night. Before we separated, we joined 
 in prayer together for the prosperity of our church. 
 The Lord was with us and comforted us." He also 
 speaks thus of a " fellowship meeting :" " We had 
 a most delightful time. The Lord met with us and 
 
118 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 poured out his Spirit. We found it good, not only 
 to have sweet fellowship with God and his Son, Jesus 
 Christ, but also with one another." 
 
 The day after this he speaks of a prayer meeting 
 held at the church : " A large number were present. 
 Bro. Boykin delivered a very good exhortation, and 
 I invited penitents to the altar and one came for- 
 ward." 
 
 The next day, the 16th, he visited several families 
 and at night performed the 
 
 Marriage Ceremony. 
 
 Mr. Riley Laughinghouse was united in wedlock 
 with Miss Jane Smith. 
 
 On the 20th of January, after attending the ser- 
 vices of the Christian church, he says, " in company 
 with some friends I visited the Methodist Episcopal 
 church, and heard a good discourse from Rev. Mr. 
 Deems. There is, I think, a good prospect for a 
 revival in this church, if things are managed prop- 
 erly." 
 
 Bro. Wellons did not consult his own feelings in 
 the discharge of his ministerial duties. He did not 
 confer with flesh and blood, the world or friends, or 
 shrink from responsibilities. He follows the dictates 
 of the Holy Spirit, wherever duty calls; whether 
 pleasant and agreeable, or sad and sorrowful. He 
 attended no call with manifest reluctance. He visits 
 the chamber of the sick as promptly as the festival 
 board of joy, where all hearts are exhilarated by 
 surrounding pleasures. He is called to 
 
Diary foe the Year 1850. 119 
 
 Visit the Sick 
 
 He says today, the 21st of January; "I visited 
 Bro. Clayton, who I think will not live many days. 
 He is fully resigned to death. Oh I the cheering 
 prospect of the Christian, when about to leave the 
 world. He visited Bro. Clayton again the 23rd. 
 On the same day he says, " I attended a 
 
 Railroad Convention 
 ,■*■ V 
 
 and heard a very forcible address delivered by Hon. 
 It. M. Saunders. At night he attended another 
 Railroad Convention at the Court House. Heard 
 addresses from Mr. G. S. Stevenson, W. H. Wash- 
 ington and Judge Saunders. Much enthusiasm was 
 manifested by the crowd." Hence, we see that 
 whilst the ministry was his legitimate calling, and 
 he had consecrated himself to this work, he was 
 public spirited enough to take some interest in those 
 great enterprises that looked to the advancement of 
 State and National progress. 
 
 By reference to the ".Diary," we see that no unu- 
 sual occurrence transpired till the 27th of Januar}'. 
 Here Bro. Weilons, as he was on his way from the 
 Christian church to his home, says, " I was attracted 
 by a crowd at Mrs. Briggs' residence. After enqui- 
 ring, I found that a 
 
 Negro had been Shot and Killed 
 
 by Mrs. Briggs, and a jury was about being empan- 
 nelled. It was a startling thing to me, and there 
 
120 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 existed much excitement in that locality. It affected 
 my feelings much, and I did not feel like retiring 
 soon. Oh ! how wicked and corrupt are our hearts. 
 In so short a time a deed ma,y be committed which 
 never can be obliterated from the memory of us, or 
 our ancestors. May God deliver me from a hasty 
 and ungovernable temper. 
 
 I have already adverted to Dr. Wellons' broad 
 charity and kind brotherly feelings toward all God's 
 people of whatever name. Yesterday evening he 
 attended the Presbyterian church, and listened to a 
 a good discourse from Rev. Mr. Stratton. And to- 
 day, the 30th, he says, " I called on Rev. Mr. Strat- 
 ton and had a social interview. He is both a gen" 
 tleman and a Christian." 
 
 The first day of February, Bro. Wellons enjoys a 
 little recreation in the way of a pleasant ride out to 
 the Pembroke and Trent bridges. This does not 
 often occur in his " Diary." It is a record of sacri- 
 fices and toil. Therefore on account of its rarity, 
 rest is the more sweet and leisure or innocent pleas- 
 ure a luxury. 
 
 The second of February, he spends in the sanc- 
 tuary of the Lord and in His service. " At eleven 
 o'clock," he says, " I met a good congregation at our 
 church, and addressed them from Matt. 28: 30. The 
 general tenor of my remarks were in opposition to 
 
 Feet Washing 
 as an ordinance in the church. I spoke one hour 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 121 
 
 and five minutes. I trust I did some good by the 
 effort." 
 
 Bro. Wellons did not think that Christ ever de- 
 signed that feet washing should l^e a religious rite, 
 to be perpetuated by his followers ; but was practiced 
 more as a social custom, and an act of humility, in 
 serving and honoring each other, which was es- 
 teemed a virtue. It was a custom peculiar to that 
 country, incidental to its dry and dusty soil, and the 
 necessity of frequent washing ; and the fact that the 
 people wore only sandals, instead of shoes, or a 
 mere sole under the foot fastened across with strings 
 or a latchet. Hence, John the Baptist says of Christ, 
 " Onecomethafter me is preferred before me, whose 
 shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." 
 
 We here come to a little incident in his experience 
 which produced a little excitement, but which is 
 but common to towns and cities. He says, after 
 having transacted some important church business, 
 and had l^in down quite late, " I was suddenly 
 aroused by the alarm of 
 
 Fire! Fire!! Fire!!! 
 
 through the streets. A vat of turpentine was on 
 fire, which was soon extinguished and peace and 
 tranquility restored to our town, and I again lay 
 down quietly to sleep." 
 
 The 8th, he was again called to the "house of 
 
 mourning." He says: " This morning I preached 
 
 the funeral of a little child, the daughter of sister 
 
 Braddy. A few persons were present, and only a 
 
 8 
 
122 Diary foe, the Year 1850. 
 
 few went to the grave and laid the little child down 
 in the earth to av/ait a glorious resurrection. I vis- 
 ited several persons and at night held a very inter- 
 esting prayer-meeting." 
 
 Bro. Wellons was all the time engaged in chris. 
 tian work. In visiting, praying with the sick, at- 
 tending funerals, holding prayer- meetings or preach- 
 ing the Word of Life. He was not idle, he felt that 
 he was called into the vineyard of the Master to 
 work "This morning," February 17th, he says, " I 
 heard an Interesting and edifying sermon from Bro. 
 Boykin. In the evening I heard Rev. Mr. Breaker 
 preach. At night I tried to preach and felt pleasure 
 and freedom in the exercise. And such was the in- 
 terest which I felt in my subject, I could not soon 
 get clear of the impression on my own mind. ! that 
 the effect may be equally as salutary upon the hearts 
 and minds of my hearers." 
 
 The 19th and 20th of February was spent in vis- 
 iting moral and benevolent institutions. On the 
 19th he attended the Masonic Lodge, and on the 
 20th the Temperance meeting at the Christian 
 Church. He was strongly attached to both of these 
 Orders, and took much interest in their meetings. 
 
 On the 25th of February he 
 
 Leaves Newbern for Virginia. 
 
 He says : " This morning I left Newbern early and 
 dining on the road, reached Washington by night. 
 Put up at Sibby's hotel and preached in the Bap- 
 tist church. Sat awhile after service with Elder 
 
Diary foe the Year 1850. 123 
 
 Elwell, and retired at a late hour. For some cause, 
 I did not feel free and pleasant to-night, this being 
 the second time I have tried to preach here without 
 enjoying even my usual liberty." This little cir- 
 cumstsyice shows most conclusively, that even great 
 preachers, men of extraordinary talent, do not al- 
 ways have freedom and liberty. But they, too, have 
 theirydark hours, when their minds are not so clear, 
 or the Holy Spirit seems to leave them to themselves. 
 This however was unusual with Elder Wellons; for 
 although I have heard him on various occasions, I 
 never have heard him make anything like a failure, 
 and but few times when he was not even happy in 
 his delivery. 
 
 Next day he pursues his journey. " This morn- 
 ing," he says, " I arose early, and left Washington. 
 Reached Williamston in time to dine. Here the 
 Superior Court was in session, and many persons 
 from the country were in town. After leaving Wil- 
 liamston and traveling on the low grounds of the 
 Roanoke, I came very near being drowned. I was 
 alone and felt a little frightened, but remembered 
 my trust was in God, and became composed. At 
 night I reached Windsor, put up at the hotel, and 
 was soon recognized and invited to 
 
 Preach in the Court House. 
 
 An attentive congregation was present, and I trust 
 some good was accomplished. After preaching, 
 Bros. Parker, Shepherd and Cherry, of the Masonic 
 Fraternity, sat with me awhile, and we spent 
 
124 Diary foe the Year 1850. 
 
 the time very pleasantly, and at a late hour I re- 
 tired." 
 
 He left Windsor early next morning, the 27th, 
 passing Winton, reached Somerton at night. Next 
 day, he says, " I left Somerton at 12 M., and dined 
 with Bro. E. C. Riddick ; and at night met a large 
 company at Capt. Jet. Riddick's and 
 
 Married Willis S. Riddick and Mary Ann 
 Riddick, 
 
 daughter of Captain Jet. Every thing passed off 
 pleasantly, and at a late hour I retired and enjoyed 
 a refreshing sleep." He dined with Willis S. Rid- 
 dick the next day, and was at Bro. T. J. Kilby's, in 
 Suffolk, March 4th. He says, "all were glad to see 
 me here. 
 
 Rev. Charles H. Plummer, 
 
 of Chester county, Pennsylvania, had arrived just 
 before me, having preached the previous Sabbath at 
 Providence and at Washington Point. I found him 
 a man about 28 years of age, medium size, with a 
 broad and expressive forehead, and rather an intel- 
 lectual face. A sociable and companioiiable man, 
 and a fair and respectable preacher. We had cor- 
 responded and expected to meet at this place. How 
 good for friends who had never seen each other, to 
 meet and hold sweet converse, one with the other ! " 
 He says : " In the evening (March 5th) I went 
 with Bro. Plummer to the Methodist E. Church, and 
 heard him deliver a discourse which was listened to 
 
Diary ifor the Year 1850. 125 
 
 with marked attention." He and Bro. Wellons be- 
 came strongly attached to each other, and like Da- 
 vid and Jonathan, nothing transpired in after life 
 to mar their tender regards and sincere affection for 
 each other. 
 
 In the evening, March 6th, he says, "I rode out 
 with Bro. Plummer and preached the funeral of 
 
 Sister Mary Copeland, 
 
 consort of Bro. Richard Copeland. It was a very 
 solemn time. At night I preached at the Methodist 
 Episcopal church in Suffolk, with some liberty and 
 effect. In returning home, I was overtaken by a 
 tremendous storm of rain, and with difficulty 
 found my way back to Bro. Kilby's. I felt very 
 much impressed with the subject of my discourse, 
 and the sensation lingered in my mind some- 
 time after reaching home. Oh Lord, let thy Spirit 
 attend, the word spoken !" 
 
 " March 7, I rode out with Bro. Plummer again, 
 this evening, to Bro. Jno. Oopeland's, and stayed with 
 him and family all night, and enjoyed the visit. 
 Bro. Copeland may be considered one of the patri- 
 archs of the Christian Church." 
 
 Bro. Wellons also accompanied Elder Plummer 
 to Rev. U. Rawls' on the 8th, and Bro. Plummer 
 preached at Holy Neck the 9th. He also preached 
 at Bethlehem the 10th. Bro. Wellons says : " This 
 morning we met a very large assembly at Bethle- 
 hem, and Bro. Plummer preached a good sermon, 
 
126 Diary for the Year 185&. 
 
 and I followed ia an exhortation, and receiveiS 
 one member into the church.." 
 
 From here he went with, Elder Plummer to Nor- 
 folk, where they reluctantly separated, eacb gaing tO' 
 his field of labor. He says be " gave th« parting 
 hand to Bro. Plummer, perhaps to meet no more on 
 the shores of tim,e. Lord help us sa to liv&, that we- 
 may meet at last in heaven." 
 
 His Return to Newbern. 
 
 He left Virginia the 15th, and was accompanied 
 by Bro. E. C. Riddick to Winton, where be says " I 
 got on board the Fox and passed on to Plymouth, 
 North Carolina, where I arrived a little before mid- 
 night. Here I stopped all night with Col. Hamp- 
 ton, and early next morning,, stepped into the 
 stage, and at noon arrived at Washington, thence he 
 passed on to Newbern, where he arrived at night. 
 He says : " I felt glad ta be again at home. The 
 Lord has blessed me in my visit, and truly I have 
 reason to love and adore him." 
 
 He United with the Sons oe Temperance. 
 
 He says, March l&th, " I was in my room most of 
 the day, and at night went to the Division room and 
 was initiated a member of the Order of the Sons of 
 Temperance, by Newbern Division, No. 37. I was- 
 much pleased with the institution." 
 
 He became a strong advocate of Temperance prin- 
 ciples, and perhaps no man that ever lived in Vir- 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 127 
 
 ginia who has accomplished more for the cause of 
 Temperance than Rev. Wm. B. Wellons. 
 
 Some Indications of a Revival. 
 
 He says the 19th, "I held quite aa interesting 
 prayer-meeting at our church. Three penitents ap- 
 proached the altar of prayer, and a good religious 
 interest seemed to be awakened.'' He also says of 
 the 24th, "At 11 o'clock this morning I met a good 
 congregation at our church and tried to preach the 
 ' word of life.' I had some freedom in delivery and 
 the effect was encouraging. At 3 o'clock P. M., I 
 preached to the colored people and there were indi- 
 cations of good results — they seemed ' in the Spirit 
 on the Lord's day.' Again at night I preached with 
 pleasure to my own feelings, and I hope profit to the 
 attentive and serious congregation. I left the house 
 feeling deeply solemn." 
 
 March 25th, he says : " In the morning I heard 
 Rev. Mr. Deems preach a good sermon on the death 
 of Mrs. Lewis. In the evening heard Rev. Mr. 
 Stratton preach the funeral of Mr. Stover's child. 
 At night attended a meeting of tlie Sons of Temper- 
 ance." 
 
 April 1st, he takes a retrospect of the past, and 
 though he has been actively engaged, he has not 
 met with that success he so anxiously desired, and 
 he complains of himself and his unfruitful labors. 
 " One-fourth of another year," he says, " is past, and 
 O, how little I have accomplished ! In the evening 
 I preached the funeral of Mrs. Howard ; and at night 
 
128 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 attended the Division of the Sons of Temperance. 
 Saw six applicants initiated and the ofiBcers of New- 
 bern Division, No. 37, installed. The services were 
 impressive. 
 
 As we have already made allusion, Bro. Wellons 
 had a right appreciation of the Order of Masonry, 
 and availed himself of the earliest opportunities of 
 being initiated into all the secrets of the Fraternity, 
 and became one of the most eminent Masons of his 
 native State. ' 
 
 On the 3rd, he says, " I heard another Masonic 
 lecture." The 4th, he says, " At night I met the 
 brethren in the Lodge, and received the Mark Mas- 
 ter's degree." The 5th, " In the evening received 
 the Past Master's degree." He says again on the 
 6th : " At 3 o'clock P. M., I met the brethren in the 
 Lodge and received the Excellent Master's degree in 
 Masonry. At night I met them again and took the 
 degree of Eoyal Arch Mason, with Rev. Mr. Breaker 
 and John H. Lane. I was much impressed and 
 well pleased with the ceremonies, and shall not soon 
 forget the occasion. May I be true and faithful !" 
 
 He says of April 7th : " This morning I preached 
 to a large crowd with some liberty and seeming good 
 effect. In the evening I addressed the colored peo- 
 ple, and at night addressed a house crowded full. 
 There was a very deep solemnity and more feeling 
 among the people than I seldom ever witnessed. 
 The colored people felt much. I retired with such 
 feelings as are wholly indescribable by me. The 
 impression made was deeply spiritual and evinced 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 129 
 
 a Holy Ghost power. ' Lord wilt thou not revive 
 us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee.' " 
 
 Dr. Wellons' Love, Courtship and Marriage. 
 
 Here was one of the most important events of his 
 whole life — one that required deep and serious 
 thought and a wise decision. The marriage state is 
 not one to be entered into unadvisedly or without 
 the most careful consideration of the future. In the 
 choice of a wife, we take a companion for life, and 
 it is of infinite importance that we study well her 
 manners, disposition and distinguishing character- 
 istics. Whether or not she has the hapjjy capacity 
 and endearing qualities to be a help-mate indeed 
 to heighten our joys, lessen our sorrows and lighten 
 the toils of life — one that is to be our bosom friend, 
 to know all, the secret emotions of our souls, a sin- 
 cere sympathizer — one who can take a rational, 
 reasonable, common sense view of contingent cir- 
 cumstances as well as domestic, every day duties — 
 with whom we can take sweet counsel, who can 
 whisper consolation, and whose words like magic 
 lifts the load of trouble from our drooping spirits. 
 For in a great measure the wife holds the destiny 
 of her husband in her own hands. If she wills it, 
 he can be happy ; if not, he must be unhappy. 
 
 This was the view Dr. Wellons took of the subject. 
 He says he did not address Mrs. Beasley till he " had 
 made the subject one of fervent prayer, and laid the 
 matter before my Heavenly Father," although the 
 interest he felt in her had ripened into an ardent 
 
130 Diary fok the Year 1850. 
 
 passion, believing all true matches are made up in 
 heaven. He had made the ministry the great work 
 of his life, his pre-eminent pursuit, and the source 
 of his richest consolations; and he did not desire to 
 be cumbered with anything that would lessen his 
 powers for usefulness, or circumscribe his religious 
 privileges. 
 
 But in Mrs. Beasley he found his ideal of a model 
 companion. She was a most estimable lady ; young 
 in years, sprightly, amiable and possessing all the 
 requisite qualifications for the partner of his joys. 
 The union proved to be a most happy one, as per- 
 haps two more congenial spirits rarely did ever 
 meet. But here is an account of it written by him- 
 self. 
 
 " December 24th, 1848, I visited Newbern the 
 third time in order to take charge of the little church 
 in that town. I stopped at Bro. McCoy's and was 
 introduced to Mrs. Sarah L. Beasley. I saw her 
 again the next day, and occasionally for several 
 weeks; but from some cause unknown to me, did 
 not feel disposed to cultivate an acquaintance with 
 her. She seemed to feel equallj' distant towards me. 
 Thus we continued until the last of February, 1849, 
 when a most powerful revival of religion commenced 
 under my labors. Mrs. Beasley was frequently at our 
 church, and heard me preach. I felt some interest 
 in the salvption of her soul, and prayed for her often. 
 On the 14th of March I was sent for to see her sister, 
 Miss Kilpatrick, who was exceedingly distressed and 
 deeply convicted on account of sin. I prayed with 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. ISl 
 
 lier^ and endeavored to point her to. the Lamb of 
 God. In the evening of the same day I visited Miss 
 Kilpatrick again and found her still distressed, and 
 to my joy found Mrs. Beasley also much concerned 
 about her soul. I instructed them and persuaded 
 them to meet me at the church that night and seek 
 Jesus in the public congregation. At night I found 
 them both at the church, and when I invited peni- 
 tents to the altar, they both came forward and 
 kneeled for prayers. Miss Kilpatrick was soon re- 
 lieved of her burden, and had peace by believing 
 and before the meeting closed, Mrs. Beasley was 
 also made happy in the Saviour's love. 
 
 She united with the Christian Church under my 
 charge, and on the 18th of April I buried her with 
 Christ in baptism. I was now an occasional visitor 
 in the family, and a growing interest was felt by m& 
 in her, which soon ripened into an ardent passion of 
 love. Knowing the importance of the step, I did 
 not dare address her until I had made it a subject 
 of fervent prayer. I laid the whole matter before 
 my Heavenly Father, and sincerely prayed his gui- 
 dance and the direction of his Spirit. Still I felt 
 more inclined to unbosom myself to her and make 
 known the secret feelings of my heart, which had 
 heretofore been known o^nly to God. I imagined 
 about this time, that Mrs. Beasley felt some interest 
 also in me. 
 
 On the 15th day of April, I ventured to make 
 known the feelings of my heart to her, and was 
 kindly listened to, and encouraged to persevere. 1 
 
132 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 made known to her without reserve my situation as 
 regards pecuniary matters, and also my deep devo- 
 tion for her, leaving her to decide in her mind upon 
 my claim to plaoe in her heart's affections. We had 
 but little more conversation on the subject till late 
 at night on the 8th of May, or about one hour after 
 midnight when I was about leaving Newbern to re- 
 turn home, when we were solemnly engaged to be 
 married at some future period. 
 
 April 12th, 1850, was the day that had been pre- 
 viously set apart for the performance of one of the 
 most important acts of my whole life. I arose at 
 three o'clock, A. M., awoke Bro. Pittman and we 
 walked together to the residence of Mrs. Sarah L. 
 Beasley's, where we met Rev. Wm. H. Boykiu, and 
 a few other friends, and at 3J- o'clock was united in 
 the holy estate of wedlock with Mrs. Beasley. After 
 a few minutes, we stepped into the stage, having 
 bade adieu to the few friends, and was soon out of 
 sight of Newbern and its many endearments. On 
 our way we dined at Washington, and then took the 
 stage for Plymouth, where we arrived about sun-set 
 and put up for the night at Hampton's hoteL 
 
 I felt very much the responsibility I had taken upon 
 myself by having linked my destiny with another. 
 Perhaps my greatest earthly happiness has now 
 commenced. Marrying with me had not been the 
 production of momentary excitement, or of un- 
 bounded passion. But on the contrary, it has long 
 been a subject of serious meditation and fervent 
 prayer. The only and important question with me 
 
Diary fok the Year 1850. 133 
 
 has been, will marrying aid to my happiness and 
 usefulness in my Lord's service? Reason and in- 
 clinatiou has forced me to the step I have now taken. 
 I have never engaged in any business with more 
 sincere and holy motive, and may the blessing of 
 God rest upon our union, and make it a union of 
 hearts, of hopes, of joys and destiny. God has al- 
 ways provided for me, ^nd directed me by his good 
 Spirit, and I trust he has so guided me in this im- 
 portant undertaking. The circumstances of my ac- 
 quaintance and final union with Mrs. Beasley is of 
 so much interest to me, I cannot forbear to record it 
 here, believing that Providence has ordered and ar- 
 ranged all things. 
 
 In view of all the circumstances, I am constrained 
 to believe firmly that God's special providence has 
 been exercised towards me in the selection of a part- 
 ner for life. I am now united in holy and sacred 
 ties with one for whom I feel a very deep interest, 
 and love — one whom I love more than all others 
 on earth beside. I have reason also to believe that 
 my love is fully reciprocated. ' May God bless our 
 union and make us happy in life and finally save 
 in heaven together ! Lord, thou has blessed 
 me heretofore, continue thy mercy towards me, and 
 ever may I have Thee and holy things in view. 
 Lord make my companion a help-mate to me indeed, 
 and may I ever be to her a comforter, succor and 
 support." 
 
134 Diary for the Year 185'0. 
 
 His Reception on His Return. 
 
 Bro. Wellons returned to Virginia the 15th, and 
 received numerous congratulations from his friends, 
 and met many very warm and pleasant receptions 
 from brethren, who wished to manifest the high 
 sense of satisfaction and appreciation of the wise 
 •choice he had made in a companion and the happy 
 union with one so fully worthy of his marriage vows 
 and conjugal affections. He first reaches Bro. T. J. 
 Kilby's, where, he says, " all were waiting with anx- 
 iety for us. We dined and then commenced pre- 
 paring to receive our friends, who had been invited 
 to meet us. About one hundred were present, and 
 it was an occasion of much pleasure. We retired 
 feeling much gratified at the very kind and gener- 
 ous reception we had received." He next went to 
 Capt. Benjamin D. Smith's, his boarding house, 
 '■' where," he says, " we met a good company of our 
 friends, who were there to greet us on our arrival. 
 The evening passed off most agreeablj'." He also 
 had pleasant greetings at social gatherings at various 
 places among his old, true frien 's and brethren. 
 
 He preached at Cypress the SSth ; had a large 
 congregation, and made some good impressions. He 
 says after services, " much anxiety was manifested 
 by the congregation to see Mrs. Wellons, and this 
 desire was gratified by many." 
 
 On the 29th April, he says: " We left home this 
 morning in company with Bro. Kilby and lady and 
 went to Bro. H. L. Eppes' and spent the night pleas- 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 135 
 
 antly. Early next morning we met a company of 
 about fifty gentlemen and ladies, afld 
 
 Visited Drummond's Lai{:e. 
 
 It was the first visit I had ever made to this place, 
 and I enjoyed it much. The scenery was grand and 
 the company agreeable. This lake has a surface of 
 about six square miles and varies from ten to twenty 
 feet deep, and is a beautiful sheet of water. It is a 
 fine fishing place, and parties of young people visit 
 here every year during the summer months for that 
 purpose — fishing and pleasure. It is situated about 
 the centre of the Dismal Swamp and is accessible by 
 a canal." 
 
 He again has 
 
 Premonition of Coming Trouble. 
 
 He says, after his excursion to the lake, " I re- 
 turned home with some anxiety of mind on some 
 account, which rendered me unhappy. Why it is 
 so, I cannot tell. I am not conscious of having 
 done anything wrong, or of having received wrong 
 at the hands of any other. I can find no fault 
 of any of my friends' conduct towards me, and 
 yet a gloom is hovering ov.er my mind. Lord, why 
 is it so ? I pray thee deliver me from this tempta- 
 tion, and restore me to equanimity of mind and 
 soul. Let the clouds disappear and the Sun of 
 Eighteousness arise with healing on his wings." 
 
136 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 Here is 
 
 The Development. 
 
 " This morning," May 1st, he says, "I went to the 
 post ofiice and received several letters, one contain- 
 ing some startling development. This accounted for 
 my depressed feelings on last evening. At niglit we 
 went to the Methodist E Church, and heard Dr. 
 Cox, of the Presbyterian Church, from Brooklyn, 
 preach a very good sermon, full of originality and 
 good thoughts, and I returned feeling profited by 
 what I had heard." 
 
 On the 2nd, many friends called to see Mrs. Wel- 
 lons, and next day, the 3rd, they paid several pleas- 
 ant visits in town, and at night in company with 
 many others, they went to see 
 
 A Panorama, 
 
 • 
 
 exhibited at the old Episcopal church. He saj's of 
 it : " It was fully up to our expectations ; the scenes 
 represented were very natural and life-liiie, and we 
 retired feeling that we were both edified and ins- 
 tructed." 
 
 Next day, the 4th of May, was 
 
 General Parade 
 
 day, and many friends from the country called on 
 us for the first time since our marriage, to ofter their 
 congratulations." 
 
 For a day or two Bro. Wellons was quite unwell 
 with a cold, and suff'ered with his throat and lungs. 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 137 
 
 But on the 9th he was better, and in company with 
 his " belter-half," enjoyed a very pleasant entertain- 
 ment at Bro. Jos. Duke's. Several of his friends were 
 present, and time passed most agreeably.' 
 
 He preached at Bethlehem on the 11th and 12th. 
 On Sunday he had a good congregation of attentive 
 listeners, and in the delivery of his message had 
 the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and made a good 
 impression. He says, in the evening I baptized Bro, 
 Michael King and wife. 
 
 He now, May i4th, leaves Suffolk with his wife to 
 make their 
 
 First Visit to his Father's after Marriage. 
 
 The first day they reached Elder M. Barrett's and 
 spent the night in company with Rev. J. I. Hobby. 
 " The next we went on to my father's, where a few 
 friends had been invited and we spent the time 
 most agreeably. It had been five months since I 
 had visited my parents, and now I have with me 
 my wife, and all were r^oiced to see us, and gave us 
 a most affectionate and Welcome reception. The 
 reader can better imagine than I can here de- 
 scribe, the pleasure we realized at the hearty satis- 
 faction so visibly manifested by my dearest earthly 
 friends at our union. We remained at home till 
 next afternoon, and then rode out seven or eight 
 ' miles and returned, spending the evening with my 
 parents. I learned with a good degree of pleasure 
 next day, that my father and mother, brother and 
 sisters, were all delighted with my wife, could read- 
 9 
 
138 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 i\j accept her as daughter and sister, and loved her 
 almost as much as they did me." 
 
 Returning to Suffolk, he next attended the quar- 
 terly and communion meeting at Holy Neck, the 
 18th and 19th; preached to a large and appreciative 
 audience and administered the sacrament on the 
 Sabbath, and had a good time; and from thence to 
 Cypress on the 4th Sunday. He next visited Ports- 
 mouth in company with Bro. T. J. Kilby, to witness 
 the 
 
 DEMCATiaN OP St. John's Episcofal Church. 
 
 He says : " Bishop Johns delivered the most beau- 
 tiful and appropriate address I had ever listened to, 
 I was perfectly delighted and charmed with his elo- 
 quence. The other parts of the service I did not 
 feel much interested in, especially the sprinkling of 
 a baby, whereby he declared it regenerated and 
 changed ! It was so different from my understanding 
 of God's word, I felt no satisfaction in seeing it." 
 
 He also visited the Catholic church whilst there. 
 He says, "it was the day of their communion ser- 
 vice. They had many ceremonies ; such as bowing 
 to the cross and the image of the Saviour. There 
 was not much solemnity about it, and to me it ap- 
 peared formal and trifling. But I do not assume 
 the prerogative to judge and condemn. To their 
 own Master they stand or fall." 
 
 Whilst in Norfolk he also visited the 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 139 
 
 City Hall, 
 
 which was then not quite finished. He says of it, 
 " it is a large, magnificent building, and when 
 completed will cost seventy-five thousand dollars. 
 We passed up into the dome and had a splendid 
 view of the city." 
 
 And as he made the visit here, with the view of 
 making it as profitable as possible, he aleo attended 
 the 
 
 Dedication of the New Baptist Church. 
 
 He says, " a crowd was present, and many came 
 and went away for want of sitting room. At the 
 appointed hour services commenced by a very 
 good piece pe^rm6d by the choir, attended by the 
 organ and violihV*' After which the Rev. Dr. Howell 
 arose and offered prayer. Another piece was sung 
 by the choir and then the Rev. Dr. Fuller, of Balti- 
 more, came forward and delivered a pretty good 
 discourse. But I was never more disappointed, in 
 any man. His discourse I thought entirely unsuited 
 to the occasion. Dr. Howell then dismissed the 
 congregation and the services ended." 
 
 From Norfolk he returns to Suffolk and en- 
 gages in 
 
 Christian Work and Benevolence. 
 
 He says, " in the evening Bro. Kilby and myself 
 visited and prayed with five families ; some of them 
 living in poverty and wretchedness. IJound itgooi 
 
140 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 to pray with these unfortunate people ; good to know 
 that I could truly sympathise with them, and in my 
 heart 'weep with those that weep, and desire to help 
 them bear the burden of their sorrows.' At^night I 
 spent a social hour in the Division room of the Sons 
 of Temperance." 
 
 On the 13th, he preached at Bethlehem. He de- 
 livered his message with his usual faithfulness; it was 
 a source of happy satisfaction to his own soul, and 
 it met a most hearty appreciation by the intelligent 
 listeners. The same evening he heard Rev.,Jas. A. 
 Turner preach to the colored congregation, to whom 
 he administered the Lord's Supper, which was much 
 enjoyed by them. Bro. Turner was traveling as agent 
 for the Christian Sun. 
 
 On the 13th, he was again on mercy's mission, 
 "ministering to the sick." This was a work for 
 which he seemed peculiarly fitted. His deep spirit- 
 uality, his sympathetic nature, his large experience 
 as a pastor, and the readiness with which he could 
 present the precious promises of the Gospel, gave 
 him access to their hearts and feelings, and he could 
 dry up the mourner's tear, inspire the sad drooping, 
 almost despondent ones with hope, and fill their 
 souls with comfort. He says of this date, " I rode 
 out to Maj. Wm. Eley's, and from there paid a visit 
 to the fiouse of my afflicted Bro. Jas. T. Carr, who is 
 now in the last stages of consumption. He has an 
 interesting family of a wife and two children." 
 
 The 16th, he preached at Antioch to a large con- 
 gregation, on a sacramental occasion. Had a sol- 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 141 
 
 emn and interesting time, and he says he " felt it 
 was good to be here. In the evening I preached the 
 funeral of Stephen Watkins, s6n of my good brother, 
 Col. Meridith Watkins. He was a most promising 
 young man, of a well cultivated mind, and died in 
 the very morning of life." 
 
 From here, we again hear of Bro. Wellons " at the 
 old homestead, amidst early associations, enjoying 
 the society of loved ones, and having pleasant rem- 
 iniscences of the past, surrounded by the scenes of 
 childhood and striking reminders of "other days." 
 He is at Cypress the 23rd of June. Meets a large 
 assembly and addresses them on 
 
 Water Baptism 
 
 one hour and thirty-five minutes. He says " we met 
 at the water in the evening, and I baptized ten 
 happy believers. The good Lord was with us of a 
 truth and blessed us." 
 
 , We hear of Bro. Wellons again the 4th of July, 
 
 the 74th 
 
 Anniversary oe our Country's Independnece. 
 
 He says, " this morning I called on Mrs. Jos. W. 
 Ballard and prayed with her, commending her to 
 the mercy of a gracious Saviour. She has the con- 
 sumption and is lingering near the shores of time, 
 and is much concerned about her soul. Oh ! how 
 dreadful to find ourselves approaching death with 
 no assurance of the Saviour's presence, or hope ' be- 
 yond the river.' " 
 
142 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 At 10 o'clock we met a large number of people 
 near Holy Neck church, where Captains Elisha Ev- 
 eritt, P. H. Lee and B. D. Smith were parading their 
 companies. About 1,000 or 1,200 persons were 
 present, and there was much military display, as 
 there were usually on such occasions. At the ap- 
 pointed hour all assembled at the church to hear the 
 anniversarj' services. Rev. U. Rawls opened the 
 exercises by a fervent prayer for God's blessing to 
 rest upon the nation, the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence was then read by A. Savage, Esq., after which 
 I delivered an address. I having concluded, Mr. 
 Arthur of the Lower Parish, delivered a short and 
 appropriate address. The companies, visitors and 
 neighbors then retired to the grove, where a sump- 
 tuous dinner, such as the citizens of Holy Neck 
 neighborhood were famous for preparing, was par- 
 taken of to the infinite enjoyment of all present, and 
 all passed off in perfect keeping with the occasion 
 and the place." 
 
 The writer well recollects the circumstances refer- 
 red to above ; it was an interesting occasion, and the 
 address by Bro. Wellons a fine one. And though 
 national in character, it was religious in tone and 
 spirit. In showing the blessings of liberty to us as 
 a nation, the propriety of showing our appreciation 
 of it by the observance of the day, he also drew in a 
 mo§t graphic and fitting style, the analogy between 
 the form of our national government and that of our 
 church polity. The address was well received and 
 no doubt had its effect. 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 143 
 
 On the 10th of July, he says " several friend^s 
 called on us to-day at Capt. Smith's, among them 
 
 Elder Wm. R, Stowe, 
 
 of New York. On the 11th, I went out to Bethle- 
 hem and heard Ero. Stowe preach. Bro. Stowe is 
 an able and popular minister of Jesus. Years ago, 
 he served the church at Holy Neck most accepta- 
 bly as pastor, and was highly esteemed, for his work's 
 sake." On the 14th, Bro. Wellons was again at 
 Bethlehem and baptized twelve believers. 
 
 The 17th, at 10 o'clock, he writes, " I met a dele- 
 gation of 
 
 Royal Arch Masons 
 
 from Portsmouth, and received from them the Royal 
 and Select Master's degrees, and saw the degrees of 
 Mark Master, Past Master, Royal and Select Master, 
 Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch Mason's de- 
 grees, conferred upon eight other brethren." He 
 also says on the 18th, " I was at the installation of 
 the officers of Mt. Nebo Chapter, and was installed 
 in the office of Principal Sojourner and Chaplain." 
 
 Revs. I. N. Walter and Wm. R. Stowe at Cypress. 
 
 Bro. Wellons conducted a meeting of much inter- 
 est at Cypress, at which Elder I. N. Walter of Ohio, 
 one of the most eminent divines, polished gentle- 
 men and graceful speaker I ever knew, was present. 
 Elder Wm. R. Stowe of New York was also present. 
 Bro. Wellons arranged for them to speak alternately. 
 
144 DiAKY FOR THE Year 1850\ 
 
 Rev. J. I. Hobby was also assisting Bro. Wellons. 
 The congregations were o-verwhelmingly large, ands 
 anxiously listened to the word, which was delivered 
 with great power. As was usual, there was two con- 
 gregations, the white and the colored, which was 
 two or three hundred yards apart. Services w^re 
 conducted' at both places at the same hour, and the 
 speakers were changed, so that each eongregatiou 
 had the advantage of hearing all the preachers. 
 And this was the custom at all the churches in the 
 Conference during protracted meetings. The whole 
 community around became interested, there was a 
 great awakening among the unconverted a.nd quite 
 a refreshing shower of grace was enjoyed by God's 
 people. The meeting held several days, and closed 
 on the 7th August. Bro. Wellons says of this day : 
 " We had a good time to-day. It is the last and the 
 best day of the feast. Thus, closed our meeting with 
 five white conversions and four colored ones." 
 
 A Meeting of Much Interest 
 
 at Bethlehem commenced August 10th. Here Bro^ 
 Wellons had with him Eldeis Walter, Stowe, Butt 
 and Hobby. The meeting continued seven days. 
 He says " We had a glorious outpouring of the Holy 
 Spirit. Large congregations came together from 
 day to day. The preaching was full of light aud 
 comfort to the believer, and attended with convict- 
 ing and awakening power to the unconverted, and 
 a blessed influence seemed to pervade the entire as- 
 sembly of each day." Elders Sto.we, Butt and Hobby 
 
DiAEY FOE THE YeAR 1850. 145 
 
 labored faithfully the first days of the meeting. Of , 
 the last day he says : " Elder I. N. Walter came up 
 from Norfolk to-day and met a large crowd and 
 preached a most excellent sermon. After which I re- 
 ceived ten members into the fellowship of the church, 
 and administered the sacrament to a large number 
 of communicants. Thus closed our meeting at 
 Bethlehem. Thirty whites and eleven colored per- 
 sons had been converted." 
 August 20thj a 
 
 Meeting of Days 
 
 commenced at Holy Neck under the pastoral care of 
 Rev.^Eobert Rawls, which Bro. Wellons attended. It 
 was his custom to assist in all the protracted meet- 
 ings of the season. His presence seemed almost in- 
 dispensable to a successful effort. His commanding 
 talent drew together large congregations, and in- 
 spired the friends of Zicfn with renewed energies and 
 brighter hopes, and his peculiar gift for preserving 
 order and keeping alive the revival interest without 
 allowing it to wane, was almost unsurpassed. There- 
 fore his services were earnestly desired by every 
 pastor and church. He labored hard during this 
 meeting, though much of the time quite unwell. 
 
 He says of the 23rd: "This morning we met a 
 large congregation at church. It soon commenced 
 raining. I, however, addressed a deeply serious and 
 attentive audience for one hour and a half; at the 
 conclusion of which about thirty convicted persons 
 came to the altar, and several were converted. This 
 
146 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 evening I was compelled to leave the meeting. Up 
 to this time twenty-four had made a profession." 
 
 The meeting was continued by the pastor, assisted 
 by other ministers and lay brethren and a great 
 revival was experienced, with many additions to 
 the church. 
 
 From Holy Neck, Bro. Wellons went to a pro- 
 tracted meeting at Barrett's. He labored here sev- 
 eral days and a number found the "pearl of great 
 price." From here he went to Damascus, Gates Co., 
 N. C, and held a meeting of a few days and three 
 united with the church. 
 
 Returning from Damascus he heard of the 
 
 Illness of Dr. Elliott 
 
 who was his attending physician, when he was struck 
 with paralysis at Bethlehem a year ago, and who 
 was so kind as to go with him to Suffolk, and stay 
 and watch all night with him, and would not leave 
 him till his condition was more hopeful. Gratitude 
 was one of the strong developed traits of his charac- 
 ter, which prompted him to visit his true friend, in 
 his affliction, to cheer him with his presence and an 
 assurance of his tender sympathies. He says of it, " I 
 visited my friend, Dr. Elliott, who is very ill. I 
 stayed with him a few hours and returned." 
 
 September 8th, he writes : " This morning I went 
 to Bethlehem and preached to a large congregation. 
 After the sermon I received seven members into the 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 147 
 
 church, and in the evening baptized seven happy 
 believers." 
 
 From here Bro. Wellons 
 
 Goes to Union. 
 
 He arrived there the 10th, in the evening, and 
 says, " I found a very pleasant revival in progress." 
 He labored here three days. Of the last day of his 
 staj' he says : " This morning it was my pleasure to 
 hear Elder Wm. R. Stowe preach a good discourse. 
 I then spoke on the principles of the Christian 
 Church, and received eight members into fellow- 
 ship." 
 
 Bro. Wellons went to Antioch on the 15th, to an- 
 other protracted meeting, tie met there Elder 
 Stowe, who was a faithful co-laborer with him in the 
 good work. He says of the meeting, " the church 
 was somewhat revived, and we trust three souls had 
 been saved from death." 
 
 September 24th, Bro. Wellons went to Sussex. He 
 says, " I dined with Rev. M. Barrett, and theu went 
 on to father's, and at night. 
 
 United in Matrimonial Ties Mr. R. C. Wills 
 AND MY Sister Julia. 
 
 I enjoyed a pleasant evening and retired to re- 
 freshing sleep. Reached home the 26th, and re- 
 mained until night, when we went to the Meth- 
 odist church, where a revival was going on under 
 the labors of Rev. Mr. Norfleet. There were several 
 conversions." 
 
148 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 September 27th, he says : " At noon I bade my 
 wife adieu and started on 
 
 A Tour North ; 
 
 mainly for the purpose of attending the meeting of 
 the General Convention of the Christian Church. It 
 was some sacrifice to part with my wife so long ; but 
 by grace I overcome, leaving her in the hands of 
 God, trusting him to take care of me, we separated 
 for a few weeks. I stepped on board the steamer 
 Fox, and by 4 o'clock P. M. reached Norfolk. There 
 I took the steamer Jewess for Baltimore. Had a 
 pleasant trip up the Bay and landed in Baltimore ' 
 about sunrise next morning. 
 
 September 28. I took breakfast at the United 
 States hotel, and at 9 o'clock got on the cars and was 
 hurried on to Newark, Delaware, where I left the 
 cars and took stage to Kimbleville, Pennsylvania. 
 Here I was met by my good brother, Rev. Chas. H. 
 Plummer, who took me to his home about three 
 miles distant. I took tea with him and famil3^ I 
 then went to an appointment which had been made 
 for me at the Temperance Hall at Lewisville. The 
 Hall was crowded and I preached, but did not have 
 much liberty. Returned to Bro. Plummer's, and 
 being much wearied, soon retired and slept sweetly 
 through the night. 
 
 September 29. This was a beautiful day. At 11 
 o'clocli I met a good congregation at Mt. Olivet and 
 addressed them with some liberty and effect. Dined 
 with Bro. Kimble, and in the evening spake a few 
 
Diary for the Year 1850. 149 
 
 minutes to the Sabbath school class, then returned to 
 Bro. Plummer's. At 11 o'clock P. M. we were at 
 Newark, Delaware, and at midnight took thenars to 
 Philadelphia, where we arrived at 3 o'clock A. M., 
 and went to Bro. Freese's and slept until day. 
 
 September 30. Tliis morning at 6 o'clock I left 
 Philadelphia, in company with Bros. Plummer and 
 Freese, and arrived in New York City a little after 
 noon, and called on Rev. Oliver Barr and Bro. J. E. 
 Brush ; and in the evening left in the steamer Isaac 
 Newton for Albany, where We arrived the next 
 morning about day. Next morning at 9 o'clock we 
 left in the cars for the West, Elders Pike, Weston, 
 Sweet and Chesly accompanying^us. We arrived at 
 Geneva, a little after dark and remained over night, 
 being very weary and glad to rest. 
 
 October 2. Early this morning we left for Palmyra, 
 and from thence to Marion, where more than one 
 hundred Christian ministers had already assembled. 
 The Book Association was first organized. And in 
 the evening the General Convention, representing 
 all the Christian Churches in the United States and 
 Canada, was organized. This was a grand meeting 
 to me, and I beheld the faces' of many ministers I 
 had never seen before, and many even, I did not 
 know by character. However, before we separated 
 we had a general interchange of sentiment, and be- 
 came better acquainted with each other. 
 
 October 3. The Convention was still in session, 
 and much business of a general, denominational 
 character came up before the body, and pleasant dis- 
 
150 Diary for the Year 1850. 
 
 cussions were entertained. Eighty ministers were 
 present to day. 
 
 Octdber 4th. The Convention is still in session, 
 and I heard speeches from some of our ablest min- 
 isters upon the various questions before the body. 
 At night I heard Rev. Dr. Holmes, of Ohio, preach. 
 He is a fine scholar, a deep thinker and theologian, 
 and an excellent speaker. 
 
 October 5th. The Convention is still in session. 
 At night I tried to preach. After which, the Book 
 Association and the General Convention both ad- 
 journed, and many of the ministers turned their 
 faces homeward. In the morning, Rev. John Ross 
 preached an able sermon. In the afternoon. Rev. 
 D. F. Ladley preached, and at night Rev. D. P. Pike, 
 of Massachusetts, preached. These are all leading 
 minds, and distinguished ministers. At 9 o'clock, 
 we left for Palmyra, 
 
 " Homeward Bound," 
 
 where we took the packet for Rochester, and ar- 
 rived there early the next morning. Leaving 
 Rochester October 7th, we went to Buffalo and from 
 thence directly to 
 
 Niagara Falls, 
 
 where we remained during the night. Our com- 
 pany to the Falls consisted of the following minis- 
 tering brethren : Ladley, Sever, Philips and Devore, 
 of Ohio ; Kidder, of Vermont ; Pike and Kimball, 
 of Massachusetts ; Bagley, of Iowa ; Weston, of 
 
Diary foe the Year 1850. 151 
 
 Maine ; Oraig, of New Jersey, and lay brother Treese, 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 October 8th was spent in viewing the Falls of 
 Niagara, in examining and satisfying our curiosities 
 as to this wonderful work of nature. I had long 
 had a desire to visit this noted place, and see for 
 myself its grandeur. In the evening left for Buffalo 
 and traveling all night, arrived at Albany in the 
 morning. We walked about the city of Albany to 
 see whatever might attract our attention of unusual 
 interest. At night I preached, by special invitation, 
 for the Rev. Mr. Kingsbury, at Werkimer Street 
 Baptist Church. Stayed that night with Rev. Bro. 
 Warren. 
 
 October 10th. I left Albany in company with 
 Rev. Bro. Weston, and arrived at New York City at 
 night. Rev. Oliver Barr received us kindly, and 
 we were hospitably entertained till next day. Next 
 morning we were still in the great metropolis of the 
 State for which it was named, and remained all day. 
 At night I preached at the Suffolk Street Christian 
 Church, to a congregation of attentive and seem- 
 ingly appreciative listeners. 
 
 October 12th. We left New York and came to 
 Philadelphia, and stayed with Brother Freese. I 
 preached on the morning of the 13th, in the Chris- 
 tian Church in the city. In the afternoon went to 
 the Catholic Church, and at night heard Bro. Butt, 
 of Norfolk, preach in the Christian Chapel. 
 
 October 14th. We were in the city all day. At 
 night stopped with Bro. J. R. Freese. The next day 
 
152 The Christian Sun. 
 
 we left for Baltimore, and in the evening left for 
 Norfolk, where we arrived early the next morning. 
 Here we got on the steamer Fox, and by noon was at 
 home, where, to my joy, I found Mrs. Wellons very 
 well. I had been absent nineteen days, traveled 
 about 2,000 miles, preached six times, attended the 
 General Convention of the Christian Church, and 
 came home without a single accident or loss and 
 very well. Truly, I should feel very grateful to a 
 loving and merciful Father for such watchful care 
 and goodness." 
 
 HIS CONNECTION WITH 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN SUN. 
 
 Dr. Wellons was a contributor to the Christian 
 Sun almost from its very commencement in 1844, 
 when edited by Rev. D. W. Kerr, at Hillsboro, N. C 
 His articles early attracted public attention, and 
 met with general favor by the readers of the paper. 
 They were of a practical nature, his subjects clearly 
 defined, and always written in a spirit of true char- 
 ity. And such was the advancement he made in 
 this gift, and so vigorously did- he wield the pen, 
 that he soon became deservedly popular as a writer. 
 Indeed, his friends were not slow to discover that 
 he had an intellect of high order, a mind capable of 
 comprehending and elucidating topics of a general, 
 moral and religious character, and therefore more 
 
The Christian Sun. 153 
 
 thau ordinary capacity as a journalist; and hence, 
 in the year 1849, appointed him corresponding editor 
 of the Sun. 
 
 At this important position he showed himself 
 fully worthy of the high trust. He not only evinced 
 skill and tact, but a readiness to furnish his quota 
 of reading matter. For rarely did a week pass, or 
 the paper reach its subscribers without carrying from 
 him a message full of instruction and comfort to the 
 reader. He never aimed at great things, but rather 
 to do good in a simple way. ' He desired to be use- 
 ful and was eminently practical — always plain, yet 
 forcible and convincing in his arguments. Time 
 was always too precious with him to while it away 
 discussing abstruse or metaphysical subjects, but 
 there were always subjects enough at hand of an 
 edifying character, and well adapted to the under- 
 standing even of the most simple minded. His 
 articles were not only always perfectly consistent 
 with the spirit and tone of a religious journal, but 
 they always breathed a healthy, religious influence, 
 and contributed to the improvement of the heart 
 and life of the reader. And whilst as an editor, he 
 watched with sleepless vigilance the best interests 
 of the Church and paper, and was a ready defender 
 of Christian faith and principles, he never descended 
 to personalities, invectives and unkind cuts, but ex- 
 ercised a noble forbearance and kindly charity for 
 those who honestly differed with him. He did not, 
 however, quail when duty called him to the front, 
 nor was he intimidated when unjustly assailed ; but 
 10 
 
154 The Southern Christian Association. 
 
 with a manly boldness and intrepidity of spirit, 
 worthy of our beloved and cherished principles, did 
 he buckle on the armor and battle for truth and 
 right. And he almost invariably came out victor 
 from the arena of controversy, and our cause was 
 not allowed to suffer by investigation, but our 
 heaven-born principles were only shown up in a 
 new and increased lustre and beauty. 
 
 The Southern Christian Association. 
 
 Every thing of general interest, of a moral bear- 
 ing or denominational character, and especially 
 every enterprise that immediately concerned us as a 
 denomination, received his profound attention and 
 was kept prominently before the minds of the Sun 
 family. Indeed almost every new enterprise of the 
 denomination was the offspring of his own inven- 
 tive genius or fertile imagination. The " Southern 
 Christian Association," the first effort to unite the 
 Southern church, to betterorganizeitsforces, to turn 
 all its streams of usefulness into the same channel; 
 in a word, to bring all the Southern Conferences 
 closer together in sympathy, love, co-operation, uni- 
 formity and converging efforts, was first advocated 
 by Rev. W. B. Wellons in the year 1846. This was 
 the first general meeting of the Southern church, 
 and was convened in its first session at Good Hope, 
 Granville county, N. C. Its object was to consider 
 the publishing interest of the church, missions, edu- 
 cation, &c., and enlisting the united strength of the 
 whole body and better utilize its available means. 
 
The American Christian Convention. 155 
 
 These meetings which were biennial, had the desired 
 effect of a pleasant interchange of sentiment upon 
 questions of most vital interest to the church and a 
 concert of action ; had a tendency to make all less 
 sectional, or neutralize local interest and making all 
 subservient to common good. They drew -out the 
 talent of leading minds, were a stimulus to the 
 whole denominational machinery and gave it new 
 impetus. 
 
 The American Christian Convention. 
 
 We would not have the reader to understand, that 
 by the formation of a Southern Christian Associa- 
 tion, that we had no affiliation with the Northern 
 church ; but on the contrary, the whole Christian 
 Church, North and South, East and West was one. 
 And whilst there was a slight shade of difference on 
 some doctrinal points, these were not of sufficient 
 magnitude to divide us, with our great fundamental 
 principles of "liberty of conscience and freedom of 
 thought." And the whole Christian Church was 
 represented in the General Convention, or American 
 Christian Convention, whose meetings were quad- 
 rennial. Rev. W. B. Wellons, with others of our 
 Northern, Eastern and Western brethren, strongly 
 advocated these meetings, and he was our represen- 
 tative from the Southern church to the first one 
 which convened at Marion, New York, A. D. 1850. 
 This was a grand meeting of ministers and laymen ; 
 a representation of the very best talent of the whole 
 church in the United States, and over one hundred 
 
156 The American Christian Convention. 
 
 ministers were present. Much important business 
 was transacted, great plans for future operations 
 were devised, and a most glorious future was in 
 prospect and loomed up before the aspiring mind of 
 Bro. Wellons, and he returned to Virginia greatly 
 encouraged by the circumstances of his visit. 
 
 In 1854 the General Convention met again. Rev. 
 W. B. Wellons was again our chosen represeptative 
 from the Southern States. At this meeting which was 
 held at Cincinnati, Ohio, the vexed question of slave- 
 ry as then existing in the South, came up the ultra 
 men of the Northern church brought forward and 
 passed a resolution denouncing the institution as 
 equivalent, to theft and murder. A respectable 
 minority, however, although opposed to slavery, were 
 willing to accord to the Southern church " liberty of 
 conscience " upon this question, this being one of the 
 cherished principles of the Christian Church, every- 
 where. Bro. Wellons, in justice to his constituents, 
 could no longer affiliate with a people who were not 
 willing to allow him and his constitutional rights 
 without being unchristianized, and hence, withdrew 
 from the convention. The separation was painful, 
 but Bro. Wellons saw no other alternative. Rev. I. 
 N. Walter and all the other moderate men of the 
 North, who voted in the minority, fully justified Bro. 
 Wellons' course, though they were deeply grieved 
 on account of the separation from the Southern 
 church. Bro. Wellons, with a sad heart, reported 
 the result of his trip to the Southern Conferences, 
 which soon met in their annual session, and they 
 
Southern Christian Convention. 157 
 
 fully endorsed his course. Thus, to the present time, 
 the Northern and Southern Christian Churches, re- 
 main separate and distinct bodies. 
 
 The Organization of the Southern Christian 
 Convention. 
 
 After the separation of the Southern Christians 
 from the Northern church, they ceased to co-oper- 
 ate in all general measures. This taught the South- 
 ern church a lessen of self-reliance, and she concen- 
 trated her strength and turned her attention to her 
 own cherished institutions. Hence, Bro. Wellons 
 and others began to discuss through the Sun the 
 propriety of a Southern Christian Convection. This 
 measure met with universal approval, and the first 
 meeting was appointed at Union Christian Church, 
 in Alamance county. North Carolina, which met in 
 October, 1856; and the Southern Association was 
 superceded by the Convention, which was to meet 
 once in four years. This first meeting was well 
 represented by ministers and laymen. But few min- 
 isters were absent, and many of the most prominent 
 laymen from almost every locality were present. It 
 was considered the most important meeting in the 
 history of the Christian Church, South ; and it 
 brought together a vast concourse of people, from all 
 sections. Eight or ten thousand persons were sup- 
 posed to be thereon the Sabbath intervening. Ques- 
 tions of vital interest came before the body, and 
 much important business was transacted. The ne- 
 
158 Efforts in Behalf of Education. 
 
 cessity of better organization and the setting forth 
 of a Declaration of Principles was discussed. And 
 the interchange of thoughts and opinions in that 
 body and the inapres^onsmade there, subsequently 
 led to the adoption of our present Declaration of 
 Principles, Form of Government and Directory , for 
 Worship. 
 
 Rev. Wm. B. Wellons remained corresponding 
 editor of the Christian Sun till its removal from Ral- 
 eigh, North Carolina, to Suffolk, Virginia ; he then 
 became editor in chief.* Rev. H. B. Hayes edited it 
 whilst it was published in Raleigh. He was an able 
 and interesting writer, and he issued a most excellent 
 paper ; but -from the want of better patronage, he was 
 forced to suspend its publication, and he necessarily 
 suffered pecuniary loss. After its removal to Suffolk 
 Rev. Wm. B. Wellons labored hard and sacrificed 
 miiich of his means to keep it going. He did, how- 
 ever, after several years of earnest effort, so extended 
 its circulation as to make it self-sustaining. 
 
 His Efforts in the Interest of Education, &c. 
 
 Among other subjects of interest and which spe- 
 cially concerned »s as a people, he advocated general 
 education. He was fully impressed with the impor- 
 tance of our becoming an intelligent people in order 
 to be a prosperous people. That in order to have an 
 intelligent laity, men and women of culture, who 
 could take a high stand in society and exercise a 
 commanding influence, he urged the importance of 
 
Efforts in Behalf of Eeucation. 159 
 
 educating the boys aud girls. And as we already- 
 had a male school at Graham, North Carolina, 
 conducted by Eev. John R. Holt and A. G. Ander- 
 son, A. M., and enjoying a liberal patronage, where 
 we were sending our boys, he advocated the impor- 
 tance of starting a female high school or college, in 
 the bounds of the Eastern Virginia Conference, where 
 we could also educate the girls, children of Chris- 
 tian parents, as well as others ; and it was not desired 
 to make it a sectarian school. Hence, at the Eastern 
 Annual Virginia Conference, which convened a.t 
 Cypress Chapel, November 5, 1853, this subject was 
 introduced, and after a pleasant interchange o£ 
 thoughts, and all concurring as to the importance of 
 the school, a resolution was passed that an effort be 
 made to raise the sum of |2,000, in shares of $25.00 
 each, and Brother Wellons was appointed the agent 
 to solicit stock. He soon succeeded in getting 
 eighty-one shares of stock pledged. But as an un- 
 uoual interest was awakened in the minds of the 
 people at this time on the subject of education and 
 of a Female School especially, several neighborhoods 
 became contestants for the location ; each one hav- 
 ing raised the necessary amount of stock. Several 
 meetings were held, each neighborhood advocating 
 its claims to the location, but without coming to a 
 satisfactory agreement. The stockholders, however, 
 in the neighborhood of Holy Neck, went forward 
 and erected a neat and substantial building within 
 two miles of Holy Neck Christian Church, in a 
 
160 Views on Sabbath Schools. 
 
 healthy locatioH, and in a hospitable, intelligent and 
 thickly settled community. The trustees of the 
 school secured the services of first-class lady teachers, 
 and the school moved on in a most flourishing con- 
 dition till the commencement of the war between 
 the North and the South. The building escaped 
 the desolation of war and stood there a monument 
 of its former glory, but the school was never suc- 
 cessfully revived, and was succeeded by the estab- 
 lishment of the Suffolk Collegiate Institute, a school 
 of high grade, both for boys and girls, which is now 
 well established and in a most flourishing condi- 
 tion. This school was raised up under the auspices 
 of Rev. Wm. B. Wellons. He gave the enterprise 
 much thought and attention, and manifested the 
 deepest solicitude for its success, as an institution 
 that would add greatly to our prosperity as a de- 
 nomination ; and his fond anticipations and cher- 
 ished hopes were realized ; and there has been little 
 or no abatement of its prosperity since his death. 
 
 It is an honor to our cause, and to the able faculty 
 at its head. Boys, young men and young ladies, 
 annually crowd its classic halls. 
 
 His Views on Sabbath Schools. 
 
 The question of Sabbath schools was one in which 
 he was deeply interested ; and he used both tongue 
 and pen to stimulate and enthosethe friends of Zion 
 upon the subject. He saw that they were the most 
 effectual way of bringing the children to Christ ; 
 
Views on Sabbath Schools. 161 
 
 that they were as the rich,- alluvial field where gos- 
 pel seeds could be sown with the reasonable hope of 
 gathering a good yield of ripe, remunerative fruit- 
 He not only had an uncommon capacity for this 
 work in the churches of his own charge, a power 
 over the hearts and wills of his people, of stimulating 
 them to active service, but he always had the love of 
 the children. For in almost all his addresses before 
 the Sabbath school (as he was generally present at 
 the opening exercises), he had a word for the chil- 
 dren. And ke talked to them so affectionately and 
 fatherly, he rarely failed to enlist their attention, 
 and impress their hearts. He spoke of Sabbath 
 schools in the paper and in our Annual Conferences 
 as one of the grandest works in which the church 
 could engage. He urged every minister to look well 
 to the Sabbath school interest of his church, and he 
 generally succeeded in convincing all of their re- 
 sponsibility in this direction, and not to confine 
 their labors simply to their respective congregations, 
 but to carry the gospel into the " high ways and 
 hedges " to " the poor, the halt and the blind," to 
 organize a Sabbath school in every destitute neigh- 
 borhood, where 'a class could be gathered. Thus, 
 many new schools wfere started, and sometimes these 
 " mission schools," as they were termed, resulted in 
 the establishment of a Christian Church. 
 
 But soon after the war, when the churches had 
 somewhat returned to their former organized efi'orts, 
 the work of Sabbath schools seemed to assume still 
 
162 Views on Sabbath Schools. 
 
 greater proportions, or occupy, if possible, a still 
 more prominent place in our Church work, and a 
 " Sabbath School Convention " to meet separate from 
 the Annual_Conference once every year was thought 
 necessary to keep pace with the onward march of 
 moral and religious progress. Accordingly, a Sab- 
 bath School Convention was organized at an Annual 
 Conference at Bethlehem, Nansemond county, with 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons, President, and Rev. R. H. Hol- 
 land, Vice-President, to convene at Cypress Chapel, 
 in same county, the next year in May. The object 
 of these yearly meetings being to discuss all matters 
 of interest pertaining to the Sabbath school cause. 
 
 But Bro. Wellons' sphere of usefulness in this great 
 work was not limited to our own beloved Zion, but 
 it ran out like. the waters to refresh, cheer and in- 
 spire his fellow-laborers in the same good cause of 
 other denominations. He was so devoid of selfish- 
 ness and his heart was so full of benevolence, that 
 he always esteemed it a pleasant work to co-operate 
 with his brethren of other denominations in au.y good 
 cause. If he could impart any information and 
 give strength and encouragement to any moral or 
 benevolent institution, he did not fail to do it, with 
 alacrity and delight. It was a feast to his soul, to 
 be in loving accord with brethren of other denomi- 
 nations in any good work. The Sabbath school 
 question some few years after the war began to ex- 
 cite universal interest, and the leading minds in the 
 different Protestant denominations, met in grand 
 Union Sabbath School Conventions. Bro. ^Yellons 
 
Views on Sabbath Schools. 163 
 
 not only favored and advocated the movement, but 
 he occupied a most conspicuous place in all these 
 meetings. Much good feeling was manifest, there 
 was a oneness of interest, and the Sabbath school 
 cause was greatly promoted. The last one of these 
 meetings, I think, was held at Richmond, Va., and 
 in many respects it was a most profitable one, and 
 was referred to with much satisfaction, by many af- 
 ter its adjournment. 
 
A GENERAL SUMMARY OF HIS LABORS, ffi. 
 
 BY HIS BROTHER, REV. J. W. WELLONS. 
 
 His Sentiments and Feeling on the Subject of 
 Temperance. 
 
 Our mother early instilled in our young hearts 
 the principles' of temperance; and so early did 
 we practice abstinence from all that intoxicate, 
 that the principle might almost be called in- 
 tuitive. I am not sure but he co-operated with 
 every temperance movement from the old " Wash- 
 ingtonian Pledge " up to the latest organized effort 
 to promote this great moral reform. He first united 
 with the "Sons of Temperance," the society that ef- 
 fected such happy results before the war, in New- 
 bern, N. C, in the year 1850, March 18th, whilst a 
 stationed preacher there. He was very much pleased 
 with the Order, and enlisted heart and soul to pro- 
 mote the good work, and he soon became a Temper- 
 ance lecturer of some note. He was not only fre- 
 quently called to assist in the organization of new 
 divisions and the installation of ofiBcers, but he filled 
 many important offices in the division of which he 
 was an honored son, and also in the District and 
 State Division. He not only advocated true Scrip- 
 tural Temperance, or total atstinence from all that 
 
166 A General Summary. 
 
 intoxicates, but no true christian should " make, buy 
 or sell intoxicants as a beverojge," in the Sun of which 
 he was editor; but, from time to time, strong and 
 interesting articles upon the subject from his pen 
 appeared in other journals devoted exclusively to 
 Temperance. He was one of the leading men of the 
 State in this great reform and stpod side by side 
 with its best orators in the advocacy of leading topics 
 in the State Divisions. There was nothing which 
 he detested so much as intemperance, and none 
 whom he more pitied than the poor unfortunate 
 drunkard. And in his Temperance Addresses he es- 
 pecially directed his argument to the boys and young 
 men. He strongly urged them not to acquire the 
 habit of drinking, and to shun those who would per- 
 suade or tempt them to do so, as they would the 
 demon of darkness. For when the habit was once 
 formed, in many instances no earthy power or influ- 
 ence could save them from the dreadful whirlpool 
 of a drunkard's death and a drunkard's hell. He 
 referred to many instances from his own personal 
 knowledge, where men who had once acquired a taste 
 for the accursed beverage that could not reform. 
 They had tried repeatedly, but did not have self- 
 control enough to resist the temptation. Appetite 
 was stronger than their wills, their reason and better 
 judgment. Their vows and resolves were broken ■ 
 they were degraded and sunk into infamy. 
 
 After the war was over he was the same warm 
 advocate of the Temperance reform. But as with 
 many others, thought the old Order of Sons of Tern- 
 
'A General Summary. 167 
 
 peratice had performed its mission, besides it had 
 somewhat sank into disrepute by the improper man- 
 agement of certain parties, and would no longer 
 flourish in a Southern clime, a few others with him- 
 self met and instituted the well known Order- of 
 the Friends of Temperance, of which he was the first 
 president. He was the first, or among the first, per- 
 haps, that conceived the idea, and among the organ- 
 izers of the first State Convention. 
 
 In 1867, June 25th, delegates from the State Coun. 
 cils of Virginia and North Carolina met in the city 
 of Petersburg and organized a Supreme Council of 
 the Order. The follo-ning delegates were present 
 from Virginia : A. W. Waddell, T. J. Evans, Rev. 
 G. W. Dame, G. A. Bruce, Rev. W. B. Wellons, J. B. 
 Blanks, Dr. L. B. Anderson and Rev. J. A. Jefferson ; 
 and from North Carolina, Rev. J. N. Andrews, W. 
 H. Young, Maj. E. Lewis, R. M. Furman and Maj. 
 D. S. Hill. In this meeting Rev. Wm. B. Wellons 
 was elected President of the Supreme Council, and 
 at a subsequent meeting was elected its Secretary, 
 and remained such till his death. He had all the 
 Rituals printed and published, and all other matter 
 for the Order as long as he lived. Thus he stood as 
 one of the most prominent leaders of the Temper- 
 ance cause, among. the various evangelical denomi- 
 nations in the country. 
 
 As a temperance orator he had few superiors. He 
 always riveted the attention of an audience and left 
 a fine impression for good. The writer was present 
 when h'e was appointed by the Supreme Council to 
 
168 A General Summary. 
 
 speak. A very prominent gentleman, a fine speaker, 
 and a member of Congress, was also to speak, each 
 to speak an hour. Oar brother was to speak first 
 and when he closed the congregation, which was 
 large and intelligent, was bathed in tears. The 
 speaker that was to follow had a speech in his mind 
 filled with anecdotes. He worked hard to interest 
 the audience, but never succeeded very well. It 
 would, however, have been a good speech under 
 other circumstances. On another occasion the writer 
 was with him in Fayetteville, North Carolina, when 
 he and two other ministers spoke, and not an anec- 
 dote was told all the time, and the State Council 
 accomplished much good there. On another occa- 
 sion, while attending a State Council in Virginia, 
 he had made one of those telling speeches, and when 
 the Council was about to close, one of its members 
 rose up and said " he supposed he was the only 
 member of the Council but what was a professor of 
 religion," (bathed in tears as he spoke,) "and he had 
 arisen to ask an interest in the prayers of that Coun- 
 cil," when they all knelt together, and my brother 
 was asked to lead in pray6r. After prayer they 
 closed, pledging themselves to pray for the brother. 
 A few months passed away, when the State Council 
 was to meet again, and on his arrival at the place 
 of destination, he was met by the brother alluded 
 to, and could tell him of God's great goodness in his 
 happy change, and as the omnibus drove by taking 
 him to his designated home, it was stopped at the 
 door of the brother spoken of, that his wife might 
 
A General Summary. 169 
 
 shake his haud and express her heartfelt gratification 
 at meeting him. And all the dear little children 
 came to give their hands, and the sweet little pet 
 girl came pressing forward with her ruby lips in a 
 kissing posture and called him Uncle Wellons. 
 
 We have seen and heard him speak to crowded 
 houses of anxious listeners, and at the close large 
 numbers would give their names at once to join the 
 Order of Friends of Temperance or Good Templars. 
 No man in Virginia was more fully identified with 
 the Temperance cause, and no one, perhaps, has ac- 
 complished more good in his day. 
 
 In 1868, we find him at the State Council of the 
 Friends of Temperance, which convened at Staunton, 
 Virginia. He was a leading spirit in that body, 
 composed of the most talented and pious men of the 
 State — public spirited men — men of exalted views 
 of philanthropy, and took an active part in all its 
 proceedings. He was here elected a delegate to the 
 Supreme Council, which met at Louisburg, North 
 Carolina, in June, 1869. And one or two columns 
 of the Christian Sun was especially devoted to the in- 
 terest of Temperance, and it was the recognized organ 
 of the Friends of Temperance, till other arrangements 
 could be made to establish one of their own Order. ! 
 
 As the representative of the Order from his State^ 
 he met the Supreme Council at Louisburg, North 
 Carolina, at the appointed time, as above stated, and 
 the writer was present, and none were moreearnestand 
 zealous in the work of Temperance than. my brother, 
 and he made a most telling speech in advocacy of 
 11 
 
170 A General Summary. 
 
 the cause of humanity and christian philanthropy, 
 and it met a kind reception by all present, and espe- 
 cially the hospitable family of Maj. Daniel S. Hill. 
 At the close of the Supreme Council, we visited our 
 old friend and brother, Rev. Nicholas J. Barham, 
 who lived near our father's in Sussex county, Vir- 
 ginia, when we were boys, with whom my brother 
 had lived, a good portion of his time, for several years. 
 Here he talked and prayed with this venerable 
 brother, who was then much afflicted and nearing 
 the end of his pilgrimage on earth. He was then 
 living near Louisburg. Here they parted for the 
 last time to meet in a brighter and better world 
 above, where parting will be no more. 
 
 We might say much more of the zeal and enthu- 
 siasm he manifested, of the time and means spent, 
 and the work done to advance the interest of Tem- 
 perance, but we cannot do so in this work. The last 
 groat National meeting of this Order that he attended 
 met at Jackson, Mississippi. 
 
 But the anxiety, toil and responsibility attending 
 the publication of the paper, no man knew but him- 
 self, who had "the heat and burden to bear;" but 
 with his indomitable will and untiring energies, 
 the Sun moved on, shedding its glad rays and cheer- 
 ing the hearts of thousands. 
 
 The North Carolina and Virginia Conference met 
 at Hank's Chapel, in Chatham county, October 1856, 
 and he was present and preached to a large congre- 
 gation, possibly several thousands — a camp-meeting 
 going on in connection with the Conference. On 
 
A General Summary. 171 
 
 Sunday morning he had been invited to take part 
 in the ordination of the writer and Wm. M. Craven, 
 now a member of the Deep River, (North Carolina,) 
 Conference. And his app^'opriate charge delivered 
 to the writer will never be forgotten. It was so ap- 
 propriate and tender — making such a pleasant and 
 affectionate reference to our childhood, early training, 
 and to our dear parents, both then living, but are 
 now in the better laud. 
 
 It was the same year, 1856, in October, that the 
 Southern Christian Convention was organized at 
 Union, Alamance county, North Carolina. He was 
 elected President, and filled the chair with much 
 dignity and reflected honor to that large and en- 
 thusiastic meeting. We have already spoken of the 
 character of the business transacted and the promi- 
 nent part he took in all its deliberations. He was 
 still editor of the Sun, and pastor of four churches, 
 which claimed the most of his thoughts and atten- 
 tion. 
 
 In 1857, the North Carolina a;nd Virginia Confer- 
 ence met at Bethlehem, Alamance county. North 
 Carolina. And our beloved Brother was there, tak- 
 ing a lively interest in all its proceedings, and a most 
 welcome visitor to that body of ministers and lay- 
 men. 
 
 Of this year, 1857, I have nothing but my meta- 
 ory to draw from, and recollect nothing special, or 
 worthy of record, as our work was several hundred 
 miles apart. He was, however, busily engaged in 
 his editorial work and in his pastorate, and his 
 
172 A General Summary. 
 
 churches were very much blessed and numbers 
 added to them. 
 
 lu 1858, the regular session of the Southern Ghris- 
 tian Convention was held at Cypress Chapel, Nanse- 
 mond county, Virginia. At this meeting the Edu- 
 cational, Publishing and Missionary interests of the 
 Church were debated and provided for. The future 
 was full of promise and opened brightly upon us. 
 The denominational organ, the Christian Sun, which 
 was commenced by Rev. D. W. Kerr, in 1844, and 
 then being edited by Rev. W. B. Wellons, was well 
 and favorably received and was supported by an 
 appreciative and constantly increasing patronage. 
 In all of these church enterprises Bro. Wellons was 
 the leading spirit and the time had come when he 
 was recognized as the representative man of the de- 
 nomination South. And at this Convention many of 
 us well remember the precious communion season so 
 many of us enjoyed. We might mention the names 
 of Dr. Smith, of Georgia, Rev. G. G. Walker, Rev. 
 Peter McCu Hough, and many others whom we can- 
 not now recollect, who participated and the very 
 pleasant expression of feeling on parting. 
 
 This year, 1859, the North Carolina and Virginia 
 . Conference met at Union, Alamance county, North 
 Carolina, and Bro. Wellons was present and took 
 an active part in the discussions, and was the life of 
 the Conference. During this year, a controversy 
 sprang up between Rev. John Paris, of the Metho- 
 dist Protestant church and Rev. W. B. Wellons, in 
 which Mr. Paris attempted to show that the Chria- 
 
Okganization of Suffolk Church. 173 
 
 tians were Unitarian in sentiment. Mr. Paris wrote 
 six letters, which were published in the Methodist 
 Protestant, and afterwards in pamphlet form. To 
 each of these letters, our Brother replied, clearly 
 defining the position held by the Christians, South, 
 and that we were not responsible for any peculiar 
 views the Northern branch of the Church might en- 
 tertain ; that we were not Unitarians in any sense 
 of the word, or in sympathy with such a doc- 
 trine. His reply to Mr. Paris was afterwards pub- 
 lished in a neat little book of ninety-one pages, with 
 the title 
 
 "The Christians Not Unitarians." 
 
 This littk volume was pretty widely circulated 
 among our own people and extensively read. The 
 controversy produced a little feeling between the 
 Methodist Protestant and Christian Churches; but 
 it soon passed away and we have learned to love 
 each other as sisters of the same parentage, and to 
 co-operate together in perfect union and harmony. 
 
 The Organization of the Suffolk Church. 
 
 About this time his business had so multiplied on 
 his hands that it had become oppressive, and he 
 thought it would be better to somewhat circumscribe 
 his labors and bring them nearer to his home. And 
 as other circumstances seemed to make it necessary, 
 he with the dear brethren and sisters, began consid- 
 ering the propriety of building a Christian Church 
 in the town of Suffolk, that he might have a Church 
 
174 Organization of Suffolk Chuech. 
 
 in which to worship at his own home. Therefore^ 
 in this year, 1859, an effort was made by him to 
 raise the necessary amount to erect a suitable build- 
 ing. The prospects were flattering and a building 
 committee was appointed, and the house was soon on 
 the way. This req;uired considerable exertion and 
 some christian fortitude to bear the brunt of oppo- 
 sition. The effort, however, was a success, and our 
 cause was well established there. 
 
 In November of this year he attended the North 
 Carolina and Virginia Conference, which met at 
 Pleasant Hill, Chatham county, N. C. Among the 
 brethren of this Conference, he always met a warm 
 and cordial reception. At this meeting of the body 
 he earnestly entreated the writer to go to Suffolk 
 and assist him in his arduous work which be con- 
 sented to do. 
 
 The house having been finished in Suffolk a church 
 was organized and my brother was chosen its pastor. 
 He now had this church in connection with his 
 country charges, which he was able to hold only by 
 assistance. The next Sabbath after the dedication 
 of the new bouse in Suffolk, he preached the dedi- 
 catory sermon, and consecrated the new house of 
 worship at Berea, ten miles below Suffolk, in Nan- 
 semond county. We also had charge of this church, 
 and a better pastoral charge was hard to find than 
 the dear people about Berea, and I cannot forbear to 
 mention the names of John R. Lee and wife, who 
 have passed from labor to reward. There were 
 others dear to us we might mention, but we forbear, 
 as most of them are yet alive. 
 
Position on the National Troubles. 175 
 
 His Position as to the National Troubles 
 which Began in 1861. 
 
 About this time the excitement of war was raging 
 everywhere, and the fire-eaters of South Carolina 
 and the Black Republicans of the New England 
 States were growing bloodthirsty. Ah ! we hear 
 the booming of the cannons at Fort Sumter and 
 a cruel war is now waging. South Carolina has 
 seceded and the enquiry was, what is to follow? 
 My dear brother said with his pen through his 
 paper, stand by the Union and contend for your 
 rights in the Union, as he believed the rights of the 
 slaveholding States might be secured by remaining 
 in the Union. And his voice was for peace as long 
 as there was any hope for peace. But when Virginia 
 was forced to take steps to furnish troops to fight 
 one way or the other, and President Lincoln had 
 called on her for her quota of troops, she had either 
 to decide for secession or take up arms against her 
 brethren and Southern rights, and she could not 
 conscientiously do the latter, she had to accept the 
 former. And from that time he went with the South 
 in every sense of the word, and advocated her claims 
 with all the powers he possessed. It was his custom 
 to speak freely, when it was clear to his mind a 
 thing was right, and he declared unreservedly in 
 defence of Southern rights. While tlie war was 
 raging in 1861, he did not hesitate to advocate 
 Southern rights in his paper as much as the charac- 
 ter of a religious journal would allow, even to the 
 
176 Position on the National Troubles. 
 
 severing his connection with some very dear friends 
 in a political point of view. 
 
 Quite a number of Confederate soldiers were sta- 
 tioned in and around Suffolk in 1861 and 1862, and 
 he kept himself well posted in all their movements, 
 and made to himself many friends among the sol- 
 diers by his urbanity and kindness towards them) 
 and his vigilant watchings over the sick and dying 
 in the hospitals. But in May, 1862, the Confeder- 
 ate authorities decided to evacuate Norfolk, Suffolk 
 and Smithfield, with the lower counties of Virginia 
 and North Carolina. And thus the national cloud 
 of darkness that had been slowly rising for several 
 months, had grown darker and thicker; and the 
 hearts of manj;^ dear friends, with that of our dear 
 brother, were made sad to see the soldiers of our own 
 dear Southern States pull down their flags and strike 
 their tents, and their baggage wagons all in line of 
 march, and the last artillery horses hitched and 
 riders at hand, the infantry with arms shouldered, 
 the cavalry mounted in their saddles, awaiting the 
 command march, and the sad farewell of the band 
 to be heard by the citizens of Suffolk, with the many 
 in the other towns and adjacent counties, was one of 
 the gloomiest seasons to our dear deceased brother, 
 with thousands of others, that had ever before trans- 
 pired. But alas! the command march! came and 
 onward they moved, and Suffolk, poor Suffolk! how 
 destitute it looked — a few guns and soldiers left to 
 protect the retreat, and to see all brought up in good 
 order. But the last train of cars has not yet gone, 
 
Position on the National Troubles. 177 
 
 but what is next to be done ? The Christian Sun, 
 that had been shining beautifully from Suffolk near 
 the seacoast for about seven years, is suspended. Its 
 last number had been mailed, its foreman had been 
 called away and was then standing at the fort by the 
 heaving artillery that was sending forth its missiles 
 of death to the approaching enemy. The Sun office 
 must soon be in the hands of the Federal forces, and 
 from it was soon to be published the orders of the 
 Federal authorities, as it ha'^. done for the Confeder- 
 ates, and the entire interest to pass into the hands 
 of a Blue Jacket tyranny — just .such as the horrors 
 of war carry with it. There a conference of the min- 
 isters of the various denominations in the town was 
 held, to know what they should do. To leave their 
 charges and flee before a mighty Federal force, was 
 a sad extremity. But finally the writer decided to 
 remain, all others to leave on the last train. 
 
 Oh ! how sad was the picture and how gloomy the 
 feelings of our deceased brother when he thought of 
 leaving the home that had been such a happy one 
 to him and his little family, with its comforts and 
 endearing ties — to leave the old family servants 
 who had ever been faithful and true in adversity 
 and in prosperity — to leave his pastoral charge he 
 had served so many long and weary years, his 
 brethren and sisters in the Lord, and spiritual chil- 
 dren and dear relatives. In their afflictions his sooth- 
 ing words of promise could not cheer them, the com- 
 forts of religion he could not administer to the dying 
 nor their funeral rites perform. 
 
178 Position on the National Troubles. 
 
 But the decision is made to leave on the last train^ 
 the next morning, to return no more. Oh ! how 
 dark and gloomy was the night. But at a late hour 
 of the night the writer was summoned from his 
 room to their bed chamber for consultation, and the 
 decision was made that they would not leave next 
 morning. The morning came, the train left, our 
 hearts were sad, the town looked lonely and desolate, 
 and not a soldier on the streets to be seen. Now 
 and then a dejected looking lady, slowly passing 
 along, and a few older male citizens could be seen 
 in little squads consulting together, and thus the 
 day passed. But early the next mornipg, whilst 
 looking in the distance, in the direction of Norfolk, 
 what do our eyes behold? An army approaching 
 in blue instead of the grey as the day before. 
 It is the Federals; and slowly the footsteps of the 
 horses came, and presently the bugle sounded and 
 they halted along the streets. Still they were in 
 their saddles and all in line of march ready to move. 
 But the few lingering inhabitants gazed anx- 
 iously through the slats of their windows, while the 
 command was held in almost breathless anxietj', not 
 knowing whether a trap had been set for them or 
 not— not knowing at what moment a full volley would 
 open upon them on every side. Thus they stood, 
 or mounted on their steeds, in readiness to flee if the 
 volley came. But not so, a few of the citizens and 
 our Brother aihong them, waited on the officers in 
 charge to know what was their demand of the citi- 
 zens, left to their mercy. But soon the soldiers were 
 
, Position on the National Troubles. 179 
 
 gone, and Suffolk was left quiet again, but only for 
 a few days, when it was made a stronghold for the 
 Federal authorities ; and we were shut in and could 
 not learn but little of what was transpiring outside, 
 except as we could, hear through the papers, as pub- 
 lished by the Federals. But the booming of the 
 cannon was to be heard, as the battle raged in the 
 distance, many of our brave boys* falling, and our 
 hearts aching and bleeding with grief, whilst sur- 
 rounded by those who mocked at our sorrows. 
 
 At this juncture, the ladies of Suffolk prepared a 
 petition asking that Rev. W. B. Wellons be permit- 
 ted to go to the battle-field on the Peninsula in Vir- 
 ginia to look after their wounded and dead friends. 
 This was taken to General Mansfield (I think) who 
 was thtn in command, when our Brother was sum- 
 moned before him, and after some conversation, the 
 General permitted him to go. But as he left the 
 office a soldier approached him with sword in one 
 hand, and a copy of the Christian Sun in the other, 
 demanding to know if he was the editor of that 
 paper ? He answered in the affirmative. When he 
 demanded of him to know if he wrote a certain 
 article ? He answered he did not write all 
 that was published in the paper ; but he repeated 
 the same demand. About this time a sudden ex- 
 citement was produced by a difficulty with one of the 
 citizens, (Mr. Richard Woodwai;d, whom they cruelly 
 treated,) and the soldier was attracted thither, when 
 my brother went on to the Provost- Marshal's office, 
 and there his'permit was signed by them, after some 
 
180 First Visit to the Battle Field. 
 
 delay. But he had scarcely reached his home on 
 Kilby street, when he was again summoned back 
 before the Provost-Marshal, and again detained for 
 a while; but on his return, we had all the arrange- 
 ments made for him to leave. But after he had 
 gotten in his buggy ready to start, he was sent for 
 again, to appear before the Provost-Marshal ; but 
 was soon on his 'way out of the lines, accompanied 
 by a Seargent of the Federal army through their 
 lines, by order of the Provost Marshal. Thus, he 
 had left behind him his fond wife and dear little 
 daughter, his only child, and many dear relatives 
 and friends, to go in search of the dear Southern 
 boys, and his many spiritual children among them. 
 Fat and healthy as he was then, weighing 270 
 pounds, he made his way through the scorching sun, 
 by the way of Petersburg and Richmond, down to 
 the battle-field, seeking as he passed, the hospitals, 
 speaking words of comfort to the hearts of those 
 there wounded, sick or dying. And his words were 
 as the oil of gladness to their distressed, disconso- 
 late souls. 
 
 His First Visit to the Battle Field on the 
 Peninsula. 
 
 But soon the raging battle was repeated, and the 
 horrid tragedy was to be seen by him for the first 
 time. Oh ! there lies the boy away from mother and 
 the loved ones at home. An exploded shell struck 
 his head and scattered his brains all around him, 
 and he lies silent in death, in his own gore; and 
 
First Visit to the Battle Field. 181 
 
 the question comes, who is it ? Ah ! it may be an 
 Alabama or Louisiana boy, or even a son of a Texas 
 father. But his attention is attracted by one in great 
 pain. His limbs are shattered or torn from his body 
 and he is begging for water ; when another cries just 
 over yonder, "0, my beloved passtor, is that you? 
 I'm so glad to see j'ou in this time of my sore 
 trouble." Oh ! how sad must have been his feel- 
 ings when he busily sets about to procure a 
 litter and ambulance to have him carried, for- just 
 at this time another cry comes from a Suffolk 
 boy, asking for help, and another cries, are you 
 not a minister? and can't you offer words of com- 
 fort to a poor dying boy ? A few minutes more and I 
 shall be gone to eternity ! when the tear of sympathy 
 comes trickling down his manly cheek, and on the 
 cold, damp ground, he kneels by the dying boy and 
 offers up a fervent petition to Almighty God in his 
 behalf. A few moments more and all is over; he 
 closes his eyes in death. But as he passes along, 
 just across the ravine, there lies another; and as he 
 approaches him, he says his time is near at hand, 
 and beckons to him, saying, set down here Parson, 
 I want 3'ou to write to my dear mother. I am d}'- 
 ing, but I die with a bright hope of meeting loved 
 ones "beyond the river." Take this photograph and 
 this little Testament, and send them to my compan- 
 ion and children, dear. I brought this when I came 
 from home ; that is a photograph of my wife. A 
 few moments, and all is silent ! 
 
 As he passes over the field of death and carnage, 
 he is ready to perform every act of kindness possi_ 
 
182 Met his Family. 
 
 ble, and then retire before the approaching enemy. 
 But by his side here is a poor woman desiring assist- 
 ance in getting to the house of some kind family, 
 having fled from her home while the battle was 
 raging. She had just returned perhaps to find her 
 house riddled by shot and shell or consumed 
 by fire — the home that had entertained strangers 
 and the wayfaring man. Next we see him busily 
 engaged in writing to the many dear friends in 
 reference to their sons, brothers or husbands that 
 have just been killed on the field of battle. For 
 months he was thus engaged in his labors of love 
 and mercy; but it was sad for him to think of home 
 and the loved ones there, and the happy daj's of the 
 past. 
 
 Met his family on the Blackwater in 1862. 
 
 On the 29th October, he met his wife and little 
 Florine, and the family servants on the Blackwater 
 river, they having left their home, which was to 
 be made a Federal hospital. At this time the writer 
 was at a loss to imagine how his dear brother could 
 be so happy at meeting his little family, when he 
 knew the sacrifice of his property had been so heavy 
 by their leaving, yet they could not well remain 
 longer. The next day we all reached our dear fath- 
 er's in Sussex county. From there he and family 
 moved to Petersburg and rented a house. But 
 having a large family to provide for, soon concluded 
 with two others to buy out the Bolingbrook Hotel, 
 and there commence a new business, and here he 
 
Death of his Fathee. 183 
 
 spent a few months ; but the business was so en- 
 tirely unsuited to his taste that he reduced down to 
 almost a mere skeleton, when they sold out to other 
 parties. 
 
 The Death of his Father. 
 
 In March, 1863, he was very unexpectedly called 
 to mourn the death of his dear father, who lived in 
 Sussex county, at the old homestead. My brother, 
 and youngest sister who had been recently married 
 and lived in an adjoining county, scarcely reached 
 his bedside before his death. Therefore only two of 
 his children, out of the four, could be there, to see 
 the last of his earthly remains, as he was tenderlv 
 carried by his friends to his last resting place. But 
 he gently passed away, his body rests in hope and his 
 soul was borne by angels to the sweet bye-and-bye. 
 
 In all this time the pulpits of the different denomi- 
 nations in Petersburg, and occasionally in Rich mond 
 and elsewhere, where he had been, were opened to 
 him, and he frequently preached in their churches 
 He also preached in the camps to the soldiers, and 
 spent much time in the hospitals. And on one occa- 
 sion, while on the battle-field looking after the 
 wounded, a Confederate Captain called to him, and 
 seeming to know him well, said, " Don't you know 
 me, Parson ? Don't you recollect James A. Clegg of 
 Chatham county, North Carolina?" ^ButCapt. Clegg 
 was a stranger to him, although a friend of the wri- 
 ter, and he requested him to telegraph to his young 
 wife (who was in Petersburg), of his condition. She 
 
184 Superintendent op Tract Society. 
 
 was soon by his side; but she was forced by circum- 
 stances, over which she had no control, in a short 
 time to carry his dead body to her home, instead of 
 living, happy husband. 
 
 Superintendent of the Tract Society, &c. 
 
 Soon after the organization of the " Evangelical 
 Tract Society," he was chosen its superintendent, 
 and when that society decided to publish the "Army 
 and Navy Messenger," a religious paper for distribu- 
 tion among the soldiers and sailors of the Confeder- 
 ate army, my brother was appointed its editor and 
 manager. Thus, while his own paper, the Christian 
 Sun, was silenced, he continued to speak to the peo- 
 ple through the " Messenger." What an amount of 
 good was accomplished by his self-denying labors, 
 will only be known when the secrets of all hearts 
 shall be revealed ! Much work was here crowding 
 upon him. His labors were not confined to the pul- 
 pit and the editorial sanctum, but the hospital with 
 its suffering occupants received much of his atten- 
 tion. Many an aching heart did he soothe and 
 many a distressing pain did he allay, many a dying 
 man did he comfort by pointing him to the Cross of 
 Christ, and beyond it to the crown of eternal life and 
 glory. Whenever a battle was fought at any point 
 accessible to him, there he was found traversing the 
 field of carnage in the midst of whistling bullets and 
 exploding shells, caring for the wounded, comforting 
 the dying and providing for the burying of the 
 dead. The soldiers especially, who were natives of 
 
He left Peteesburq. 185 
 
 his own section of the country, found in him a guard- 
 ian angel in many a time of need. By those minis- 
 trations, he endeared himself to many who will 
 never forget him. Some of those to whom he 
 ministered have passed on before him to the world 
 of happy spirits; they have already greeted him 
 with joy on the shining shore beyond the river. 
 Many also, who were the recipients of his acts of 
 kindness, survive him. In the hearts of many of 
 them he will be enshrined as long as memory holds 
 the throne and love throbs in ceaseless pulsation in 
 their souls. 
 
 He Leaves Petersburg —Narrow Escape of 
 Death, &c. 
 
 But now as Petersburg was being surrounded by 
 degrees, he, fearing the consequences but hoping for 
 the, better, sent his wife and little daughter to Ala- 
 mance county. North Carolina, as a place of safety, 
 in the kind fanajly of Hon. Bro. Chesley Faucett> 
 where they remained till after the conflict was over. 
 
 When the Federal Forces had entrenched around 
 Petersburg, until it was evident beyond a doubt that 
 the Confederate forces would have to evacuate and 
 leave it to be occupied by an overwhelming Federal 
 force, his trunk was packed and a petition made to 
 leave with Gen. R. E, Lee's shattered army, fleeing 
 for North Carolina, that they might form a junction 
 with Gen. Joe Johnson's army at or about Greensboro. 
 He was accompanied by two faithful servants ; but 
 retreating under the fire of a pursuing enemy for 
 12 
 
186 He Left Petersburg. 
 
 days, he finally reached a Mr. Garnet's, a Virginia 
 gentleman's house, where he was forced to remain, 
 and partake of his kindness. For several days he 
 was between the heavy skirmish of both armies, and 
 on one occasion could only find a protection behind 
 a log in a branch, in water and mud to the depth 
 of many inches, while the trees all around him were 
 being filled with minnie balls. His two servants, 
 Giles and Boston, had got lost from him, his trunk, 
 clothes and contents generally were all lost, and he 
 left thus alone penniless. 
 
 But in a few days he succeeded in getting an old 
 horse and an old worn out buggy, and started in search 
 of his wife and daughter, frequently, however, 
 meeting with trouble by the way, and delay by hav- 
 ing to travel much out of his way, to reach his family 
 in North Carolina. 
 
 On his way from Gen. Lee's army after the sur- 
 render, he stopped at Bro. Archer A. Farmer's, in 
 Halifax county, Virginia, to spends the night, but 
 found a portion of the family confined to the house 
 with small pox. Bro. Farmer came near enough to 
 talk with him, asked my brother to go to one of his 
 neighbors, and tell him he wished him to take care 
 of him as his guest. The old gentleman was hard to 
 believe his statement, and appeared reluctant to take 
 care of him. He inquired to know how far it was 
 to the next house, where he probably might get ac- 
 commodations for himself and horse. He told him 
 three miles. He finally bade him get down, al- 
 though apparently somewhat out of humor. My 
 
He Left Peteksburg. 187 
 
 brother insisted on going on, but he said there was 
 no where to go. He loosed his horse and started to 
 the lot, when he forbade his going, stating he did 
 not know who he was or what he wanted, and told 
 him to go in the house. He obeyed and took a seat 
 near the door, but no one came to entertain him. 
 Soon they announced supper ready and he was in- 
 vited to the table, where he was yet coolly treated, 
 and not requested to ask a blessing. But after a few 
 njinutes' silence, the old lady at the head of the table 
 asked him some questions, which he answered very 
 satisfactorily. And when they had learned his 
 name and where he was from, they became so much 
 interested in his account of the surrender of Gen. 
 Lee, that they remained at the table nearly an hour, 
 and listened to the many interesting statements 
 which he related. He said, I was never treated 
 more kindly by any family, and next morning a 
 nice lunch was prepared for me and feed for my 
 horse to take with me, and many kind wishes for 
 my safe arrival to meet my dear little family. And 
 the kindness of this dear family was never forgotten, 
 and the circumstance was often pleasantly reverted 
 to by him. 
 
 Possibly, the next night he drove up to a Mrs. 
 Robertson's in the same county, and asked to pass 
 the night with them, when they stated that they had 
 been called on by so many soldiers, and had their 
 tithes to pay, that they were almost without supplies, 
 but when they learned his name, they said yes, we 
 will divide the last mouthful with you. And in 
 
188 He Left Petersburg. 
 
 a few minutes the widow of Capt. Fal. Tuck came 
 out, whose mother's house he was then at, bathed in 
 tears, and in deep mourning, whose husband had so 
 recently fallen in the army and had been so kindly 
 cared for by my brother, and rendered her timely 
 service in procuring his remains, that she might 
 take them home to bury in the family cemetery by 
 loved ones at home. He shared their hospitality, 
 and they kindly provided for him on his journey 
 the next day. On his way the next day, probably, 
 h|6 stopped to ask a drink of water, when a female 
 member of the family recognized him, and told him 
 his wife and daughter had passed there the day be- 
 fore in charge of the writer, accompanied by several 
 members of Mr. Faucett's family, that had fled to a 
 desolate place for security, while the armies of Gens- 
 Jos. E. Johnston and Sherman were expected to meet 
 in a bloody conflict in Alamance county. North 
 Carolina. This was the first time he had heard 
 from his family for a long while, and knew not 
 where and under what circumstances he would find 
 them. Oh I how grateful he was to hear from them, 
 and learn that they had been kindly provided for. 
 
 Before reaching his family, he learned that Gen'l 
 Joseph E. Johnston had surrendered and then all 
 hopes were blasted, and the cause so strongly con- 
 tended for was lost. When he reached his family 
 and sat down to relate the narrow escapes and the 
 many dangerous places he had passed through to 
 reach them, his heart would swell with emotions of 
 gratitude for the mercies of God for his deliveranee, 
 
Returned to Suffolk. 189 
 
 and for tlie bringing of him and his little family in 
 unoin again and they sat and wept, child-like, 
 together. Almost entirely penniless, having lost 
 all his possessions, the prospects ahead were exceed- 
 ingly gloomy,, yet " he thanked God and took cour- 
 age." The writer had been there, and took care of his 
 family for a few weeks before his arrival. Then the 
 question for his solution was, what could he do for a 
 living? The Conferences, as he supposed, compos- 
 ing the General Convention, were nearly all broken 
 up; and his former pastorate had then for several 
 years been almost entirely without preaching, and 
 the country about Suffolk was laid waste, many of 
 its houses being in ashes and the farms fenceless. 
 
 Decision to eeturn to his home in Suffolk. 
 
 He finally concluded to return and make an 
 effort to rebuild his home and his churches and re- 
 cuperate his wasted fortunes. Before, however, go- 
 ing home, he consulted with the writer and several 
 other ministers, as to the propriety of getting up a 
 Declaration of Principles and Form of Government 
 for the Christian Church, seeing the necessity of 
 such a work, and Rev. John N. Manning consented 
 to prepare such a work, to be submitted to the next 
 Convention, to be acted upon, revised, and then to 
 submitted to the various Conferences, which wa? 
 accordingly done. 
 
 After maturing his plans, he took his little family 
 and started across the country for home, as the cars 
 were not running over the railroads at that time. 
 
190 Returned to Suffolk. 
 
 And after awhile he reached home. Ah I did I say 
 home? Homeithad been, bat now it was only part 
 of a one. The doors, shutters and window sash and 
 blinds were all gone. The house was abused Dj 
 grease, spitting, cotting, carving, penciling, filth 
 and every cause conceivable, to damage what re- 
 mained of it. Failings were gone, fencing burned 
 and a beautiful yard destroyed, and the shrubbery 
 all taken up and gone. The printing ofl&ce and fix- 
 tures were all removed, and it was simply a frame 
 without floor and weatherboarding, stood alone 
 thus riddled. The other houses of all kinds were in 
 like condition and without any enclosure. Thus, he 
 was almost homeless, and without furniture, except 
 a few pieces which had been saved by a friend, and 
 without anything to eat. But with coat off and 
 sleeves rolled up, he went to scouring and washing 
 and nailing, with his wife standing by his srde and 
 little Flora, with her little chubby feet over the wet 
 floor, anxiously preparing a place to rest their weary 
 heads, and to prepare their scanty meals. But 
 not a chair, stool or block to sit upon. Yet on they 
 toiled until after awhile one room was closed in and 
 temporary seats arranged. Presently a scanty meal 
 was prepared, and without a table to place it on to 
 eat, now they could feel quite happy, and at home 
 once more. But what a contrast I Three years be- 
 fore, when they left their home, they had everything 
 that eontribttted to eomfort and happiness. 
 
His Arrest. 191 
 
 His Arrest by a Federal Ofeigee. 
 
 Only a few busy days were spent, before an ofiBcer 
 dressed in blue came and arrested him, and carried 
 him to Norfolk to appear before the Federal author- 
 ities, charging him with being a leading spiritin the 
 rebellion. But he was released through the interces- 
 sion of a Federal officer, whose wife at the commence- 
 ment of the war was the wife of a Confederate captain , 
 who died soon after the war commenced, and she then 
 married a Federal colonel. Th tough the influence of 
 his wife he kindly rendered my brother all the 
 help it was possible, and in a few days, by the assist- 
 ance of friends in Norfolk, he was permitted to re- 
 turn home to his little family again, to sit down and 
 speak of the scenes passed, and enjoy a little quiet. 
 
 At about this time the season for protracted meet- 
 ings had arrived, the people had raised small crops 
 through the country, and he entered his work anew 
 among the churches of the country and in town ; 
 and, of their littles, they divided with him. And he 
 conducted meetings with other denominations, and 
 at a Methodist Episcopal church, the members got 
 up a subscription, and gave him a horse as a token 
 of their appreciation of his labors. In all that coun- 
 try, his labors were greatly blessed, and many were 
 added to the church under his ministry and changes 
 for the better began to be visible all around Suffolk. 
 
 The indebtedness of the new church in Sufl'olk 
 now began to be agitated, and had to be, if possible, 
 met, as the subscription was lost by the destruction 
 of the men and property in and about Suffolk. Sev- 
 
192 Eecupeeating the Churches. 
 
 eral plans were suggested and tried, but did not suc- 
 ceed in raising the money for awhile, but, by con- 
 tinued, persistent effort they finally raised the neces- 
 sary amount to release it from its obligations. 
 
 Bethlehem, another one of his pastoral charges 
 near Suffolk, had been made floorless and used as 
 barracks for a long time by the Federal pickets, 
 and even for stabling horses, and the remaining 
 plastering was smoked perfectly black, and the whole 
 a mass of ruins. The few remaining brethren, sis- 
 ters and friends, hesitated for a time about attempt- 
 ing to repair the old, rickety house. But finally the 
 work began, and it was made fit for use, and the 
 membership brought together and re-organized. 
 
 Cypress Chapel, Damascus, Berea and Antioch,all 
 received some injuries, more or less ; but as the 
 writer did not pass through that country imme. 
 diately after the war, he does not now remember 
 precisely what damage was done. But the Eastern 
 Viginia Conference bad not met for several years, 
 before the close of the war, and some of the dear 
 brethren were almost ready to give up in despair 
 But there were a few ministers and a few noble lay 
 brethren, and many warm hearted sisters that were 
 not thinking of yielding ; and among that number 
 was our deceased Brother, who stood ready to lead 
 the van, and battle for liberty and truth. And some 
 noble hearts responded, and they jointly moved for. 
 ward, and in the fall of 1865, they met in Annual 
 Conference. Thus the cloud that had so long hung 
 so dark and ominous over their spiritual and de- 
 
The Christian Sun. 193 
 
 nominational sky, began to be dispersed, and there 
 was a sign that the sun's rays would again appear 
 in the horizon. 
 
 The North Carolina and Virginia Conference was 
 the only Southern Conference that had held regu- 
 lar meetings through the war, " and it could do but 
 little more than send its Christian salutations to its 
 bleeding brethren and offer the consolations and 
 comforts of religion to its dying martyrs." 
 
 At the meetings of these two bodies, they took 
 steps to call a meeting of the Convention; and it 
 was not until May, 1866, that the haggard fragments 
 of the scattered body could be called, and even then 
 only a few, comparatively, could summon sufficient 
 courage to meet their brethren in council. The shat- 
 tered church lay prostrate, her beauty trailed in the 
 dust. But the few brethren that met in the Con- 
 vention at Mount Auburn, North Carolina, were filled 
 with a holy purpose, and possessed a determination 
 that masters circumstances and laughs at misfor- 
 tune. They were determined to make the best use 
 possible of the materials left them, and to rebuild 
 the waste places of Zion. 
 
 The First General Convention after the 
 War — Revival of the Sun — Publish- 
 ing A Hymn Book and Decla- 
 ration OF Principles, &c. 
 
 Means were provided for reviving the Christian 
 Sun, publishing a Hymn Book, and other necessary 
 work. The Principles and Government of the 
 
194 Declaration op Principles. 
 
 Church were reduced from a verbal to a written 
 form aud her worship was made uniform. In this 
 Convention Rev. W. B. Wellons was elected Presi- 
 dent, and took a leading part in ail of its workings 
 And when the Declaration of Principles had been 
 brought forward as prepared by Rev. J. N. Manning, 
 he took a decided stand in its behalf, and in bring- 
 ing it prominently before the Convention. And 
 while some were inclined to oppose it in the com- 
 mencement, their objections soon gave way before 
 the strong arguments introduced in the Convention 
 and it finally passed, and was submitted to a com- 
 mittee for revision, to be brought before a called 
 Convention to be held at the same place one year 
 from that time. 
 
 In all these movements he took an active part, 
 and was one of the Committee on Revision. Also 
 in the meeting of this Convention, he consented to 
 bring forward the Christian Su7i, the organ of the 
 Christian Church, South, on his own responsibility^ 
 provided the denomination would pledge a hearty 
 co-operation. And soon the arrangement was made, 
 and the church enjoyed its benefits again. Also at 
 this meeting he consented to compile a Hymn Book 
 for the use of the denomination, and have it pub- 
 lished at his own expense, which was accordingly 
 done. A second edition is now before the people, 
 which contains the Declaration of Principles and 
 Form of Government, as adopted by the denomin- 
 ation. 
 
 In presenting this before the different Conferences, 
 
Declaration of Principles. 195 
 
 foe did so with much zeal, and in his earnest, affection- 
 ate style. But the Valley Virginia Conference did 
 not accept it unanimously. In AngHst, 1869, the 
 Valley Virginia Conference met at Edinburg, 
 Shenandoah county, Virginia, and it was known that 
 the Declaration of Principles would be before the 
 Conference for adoption. And some of those op- 
 posed sent for Elder Marvin to meet E,ev. W. B. 
 Wellons to discuss the subject, which continued for 
 some length of time, and finally resulted in the di- 
 vision of the Conference. A portion of the churches 
 withdrew from the Southern Convention and 
 formed a Northern Conference, which became a 
 member of the Northern Christian Convention. 
 But in this discussion, our dear Brother carried the 
 sympathy of the many spectators and the town with 
 him, and they — the portion of Conference that held 
 on — were at once offered a house by another denom- 
 ination in which to transact the further business of 
 Conference. 
 
 With this amount of work on his hands, as editor 
 of the Christian Sun, and compiling a Hymn Book, 
 and his pastoral charge pressing heavily upon him, 
 taxed his physical and mental powers to their ut- 
 most capacity; but calling to his assistance a little 
 help, he moved onward with a good degree of suc- 
 cess. 
 
 In 1866, Rev. Wm. B. Wellons attended the meet- 
 ing of the North Carolina and Virginia Conference 
 that met at O'Kelley's, in Chatham county, North 
 Carolina, in October. 
 
196 A Geneeal Summaky. 
 
 A motion prevailed that the delegates appointed 
 to the General Convention of the Christian Church 
 which met in Mt. Auburn in May last, be requested 
 to report their action to the Conference at its present 
 session. 
 
 On motion, Eev. W. B. Wellons, President of the 
 Convention, was requested to assist in the report 
 called for in the above named resolution. 
 
 After some appropriate and timely remarks, as an 
 introduction to what followed, he proceeded to lay 
 before Conference the Declaration of Principles, 
 Form of Government and Directory for Religious 
 Worship. The whole then came up for considera- 
 tion and adoption, and was taken up by parts and 
 read, and finally unanimously adopted as a whole. 
 
 At this Conference a petition was received from 
 the ministers and churches of the Deep River Valley 
 to withdraw and form a separate Conference, which 
 was finally agreed to. In this discussion Elder 
 Wellons took part. 
 
 In this Coniference, -the following resolution was 
 introduced by Rev. J. W. Wellons : 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take 
 into consideration and recommend to this body a 
 judicious plan for the organization of Christian 
 Churches composed of colored persons, and for the 
 ordination of Deacons and Elders, and the licens- 
 ing of colored men to officiate in the colored 
 church." 
 
 " On motion, Revs. J. W. Wellons, A. G. Anderson 
 and A. Isley were appointed said committee, and 
 
A General Summary. 197 
 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons was requested to aid said com- 
 mittee." 
 
 We find in the minutes of the North Carolina and 
 Virginia Conference of 1867, which met at Union, 
 Alamance county, North Carolina, the following 
 resolution: " On motion of Eev. A. G. Anderson, 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons, of the Eastern Virginia Confer- 
 ence, was invited to a seat as a fraternal messenger." 
 Bro. Wellons upon taking his seat, made a few well 
 conceived and appropriate remarks. 
 
 At this Conference, Bro» W. K. Martin, a lay rep- 
 sesentative, was elected President, and the following 
 was passed by the body : 
 
 " On motion, it was agreed that Bros. D. A. Long 
 and R. Clay burn Tuck, be set apart to the licensure 
 of the Christian Church, on Sunday morning at 10 
 o'clock, being so recommended by the Educational 
 Committee, and that Rev. W. B. Wellons, President 
 of the General Convention, be requested to officiate 
 on that occasion." 
 
 In 1868, the North Carolina and Virginia Confer- 
 ence met with Salem Chapel, Forsyth county. North 
 Carolina, and on motion. Rev. W. B. Wellons, a fra- 
 ternal messenger from the East Virginia Conference, 
 was invited to a seat as a deliberative member, when 
 coming forward made some seasonable and appro- 
 priate remarks, respecting the duties of the Confer- 
 ence, and expressive of the kindly feelings existing 
 between his Conference and the body then assem- 
 bled. Also mentioning the fact that he came as 
 President of the General Convention to advise with 
 
198 The Christiak Union. 
 
 them, as to the best means by which our cause could 
 be advanced. 
 
 The above named Conference ordered the ordina- 
 tion of Bros. D. A. Long, R. G. Tuck, W. T, Walker 
 and J. W. Hatch. And it requested Rev, W. B. 
 Wellons to preach, the ordination sermon, and to 
 preside at the ordination during the sitting of the 
 Conference, and he was added to the ordaining Pres- 
 bytery. 
 
 As a further business of this body, the Committee 
 on the Publication of a Hymn Book, reported ver-, 
 bally, that Rev. W. B. Wellons would make a prop- 
 osition to Conference, which, if accepted, would re- 
 lieve the committee of any duty in the case. Bro- 
 Wellons proposed to publish an edition of 2,000 
 copies of a Hymn Book within six months, upon his 
 own responsibility, under the endorsement of the 
 Board of Publication, provided Conference would 
 raise $200.00 towards relieving him of embarrass- 
 ment in connection with the Christian Sutl This 
 proposition was accepted by Conference and $215 00 
 was immediately raised and offered as a gratuity to 
 Bro. Wellons in connection with contributions from 
 other sources to enable him to purchase all the stock 
 in the Sun establishment for his own use. 
 
 The Christians and the Christian Union. 
 
 The following article appeared in the Christian 
 iStin of October 30th, 1868, in reference to a union 
 with the Christian Union brethren. And the union 
 would most probably have been consummated, had 
 
The Christian Union. 199 
 
 Rev. J. V. B. Flack, one of their leaders and editor 
 of the Witness, their denoniinational organ, been as 
 ready to act as he was to write about union : 
 
 " In order that our Christian brethren may be 
 fully posted in reference to the correspondence pro- 
 gressing between us and the editor of the Christian 
 Witness, we give below a communication addressed 
 to Rev. A. S. Biddison, on the 8th of September, 
 and his response. Now tljat the two organizations 
 understand each other's position, and find themselves 
 so nearly on the same platform, before further pro- 
 gress is made toward a union, it will be necessary 
 for the ofiBcial bodies of each party to take some 
 steps in the matter. We cannot see why two reli- 
 gious bodies occupying so nearly the same ground, 
 should not co-operate. We have no desire to ' swal- 
 low up ' the Christian Union, or to be swallowed up 
 by them. We are willing, so far as we are concerned, 
 to meet our brethren of the West, on fair and equal 
 terms. We see in the last number of the Witness 
 that a union has already been effected between the 
 Missouri Christian Conference and the Christian 
 Union. We give in another column, the statements 
 of Rev. J. V. B. Flack in reference thereto. 
 
 Here is our letter of the 8th September, addressed 
 to the editor of the Witness in response to his reply 
 to a former communication of ours, which was pub- 
 lished in his paper and copied in ours : 
 
200 The Chkistian Union. 
 
 Rev. a. S. Biddison, 
 
 Dear Brother : Your frank, candid and straight- 
 forward reply to my enquiries, emboldens me to 
 say that I cannot see how two organizations occupy- 
 ing so nearly the same position as yours and ours 
 do, can be kept apart. In this, however, you will 
 regard me as expressing only my own individual 
 opinion. Your reply to my enquiries will appear in 
 full in the columns of the Christian Sun this week, 
 and will in this way reach the great body of our 
 people. 
 
 By your permission, I will give you in as few 
 words as possible, the origin, organization and pres- 
 ent position of the Christians represented in the 
 columns of the Sun. 
 
 As early in the history of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church in the United States as 1784, there were two 
 parties developed ; the one contending for a repub- 
 lican form of church government, and the other for 
 a consolidated form of government. The former 
 party was headed by Rev. James O'Kelley, a man of 
 great popularity, and the latter by Rev. Francis As- 
 bury, who became the first Bishop, with Dr. Coke, in 
 the Methodist Church. At the Conference held in 
 Baltimore in 1792, this controversy culminated into 
 a division of the church. Mr. O'Kelly and about 
 thirty other ministers withdrew from the body. In 
 1794 the seceders met in Conference in Surry county, 
 Va., and agreed upon the following for a new ori- 
 ganization ; 
 
The Christian Union. 201 
 
 1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of the 
 Church. 
 
 2. The name Christian to the exclusion of all 
 party or sectarian names. 
 
 3. The Holy Bible or the Scriptures of the Old 
 and New Testament, a sufficient rule of faith and 
 practice. 
 
 4. Christian character, or vital piety, the only testi 
 of fellowship or church membership. 
 
 5. The right of private judgment and the liberty 
 of conscience, the privilege and duty of all. 
 
 This organization continued with varying success, 
 until 1847, when the Southern Christian Association 
 was organized, and in 1850, the Conferences compos- 
 ing this Association were represented in a General 
 Convention, between a body in New England, which 
 had seceded from the Baptists and were called 
 Christians only, and another body which seceded 
 from the Presbyterians in Kentucky and were called 
 by the same name. This sort of informal union 
 continued only four years ; for at the second meet- 
 ing of the Convention at Cincinnati, in October 
 1854, the introduction of political questions in the 
 body caused the South to withdraw and organize a 
 new Convention in October, 1856. This was called 
 the Southern Christian Convention. The war came 
 on and all our dearest interests were prostrated. At 
 the close of the war, the scattered fragments were 
 gathered up and came together in council at Mount 
 Auburn, N. C, in May, 1866. At this meeting the 
 name of the body was changed to the General Con- 
 13 
 
202 The Christian Union. 
 
 vention of the Christian Church ; and a Declara- 
 tion of Principles, Form of Government for Local 
 Churches, Conferences and a Convention, with a 
 Directory of Worship, was devised and submitted to 
 the Conferences and Churches for ratification. It 
 was ratified with astonishing unanimity and is draw- 
 ing towards us many who would otherwise never 
 have understood our position. I send you herewith 
 a copy of our Declaration of Principles, Ac, from 
 which you will see that your organization and ours 
 occupy almost indentically, the same position, both 
 in principles and government. We are called sim- 
 ply Christians without any prefix. Our yearly 
 meetings are called Conferences and our quadrennial 
 meetings Conventions. Our local churches elect 
 their own officers and our Conferences are composed 
 - of the preachers and a certain number of laymen 
 from each church. Our Convention is composed of 
 an equal number of ministers and laymen, who are 
 elected by the Annual Conference. We number 
 about ten or twelve thousand communicants in the 
 Southern States; our greatest strength being in Vir- 
 ginia and North Carolina, and besides these we have 
 reason to feel and hope that there are many in the 
 North-Western, Middle and New England States, 
 who will eventually shake off' the incubus of hetero- 
 dox views in reference to the character of Christ and 
 stand with us upon a truly evangelical platform. 
 
 Your organization, I perceive, from an examina- 
 tion of your " Church Book," is not yet fully agreed 
 upon any form of government and hardly upon the 
 
Visits as Fraternal Messenger. 203 
 
 name by which you are to be called. I would invite 
 the attention of the Christian Union to our platform 
 of principles and our form of government and direc- 
 tory for worship. It seems to me, Brother Biddison, 
 that your people could, with great safety, stand upon 
 our platform, and unite in our form of government 
 and manner of worship. Indeed you already occupy 
 almost our precise position. 
 
 I write with much frankness, and I appear before 
 your people with these suggestions, which, as before 
 stated, are made on my own individual responsibil- 
 ity. Yours in Christ, 
 
 W. B. Wellons. 
 
 We find in the minutes of North Carolina and 
 Virginia Conference of 1869, the following : 
 
 " On motion. Rev. W. B. Wellons of the Eastern 
 Virginia Conference, was invited to a seat in the 
 Conference as an advisory member." Bro. Wellons 
 on taking his seat stated that he came in the two- 
 fold capacity of President of the General Conven- 
 tion, and as Fraternal Messenger from his own Con- 
 ference to this body. He continued his remarks to 
 some length, giving timely counsel to the members 
 of the Conference. 
 
 We find him freely discussing the subject of Sab- 
 bath Schools, in connection with the report as sub- 
 mitted by Rev. Wm. S. Long — a subject in which 
 he was deeply interested, and he never allowed a 
 suitable opportunity to escape without saying a word 
 
204 Effoets at his Conference. 
 
 in advocac)' of the cause he considered the very life 
 of the church. 
 
 In this Conference, the report on Periodicals made 
 honorable and special mention of the Christian Sun, 
 edited by Rev. W. B. Wellons, at Suffolk, Virginia. 
 And when the report on Temperance came up, he 
 was one of its strongest and most earnest supporters, 
 as it was his invariable custom to give King Alcohol 
 a fire when circumstances seemed to require it. 
 
 In 1869, he was Secretary of the Eastern Virginia 
 Conference ; a position he held in that body for a 
 number of years, and filled with credit to himself 
 and to the denomination. In his Conference this 
 year he is heard in an earnest speech in the advo- 
 cacy of Sabbath Schools, and in support of the re- 
 port submitted by Rev. M. B. Barrett. During the 
 year preceding this Conference, the Executive Com- 
 mittee appointed Rev. W. B. Wellons, Rev. R. H. 
 Holland and Bro. A. L. Hill, Commissioners to meet 
 with Commissioners of the Christian Union in the 
 West. For some cause not fully known to us, the 
 representatives of the denomination in the West did 
 not signify their readiness to meet the Commission- 
 ers appointed by the Executive Committee. Hence, 
 the Conference continued the said Commissioners 
 for the purpose of communicating with the Chris- 
 tian Union in the West. 
 
 We find a report submitted by Rev. R. H. Holland, 
 in this Conference on Temperance, very strong and 
 conclusive in opposition to the habitual use of in- 
 toxicating liquors as a beverage, and in favor o ^ 
 
Assists Rev. J. T. Whitley. 205 
 
 the Friends of Temperance, as represented by Rev. 
 W. B. "Wellons, Rev. R. H. Holland, and others in 
 this Conference. Here Rev. W. B. Wellons indulged 
 in remarks t© some length, ably defending the Tem- 
 perance cause and the Friends of Temperance in 
 particular; showing conclusively that the habitual 
 use of spirituous liquors was injurious to society, do- 
 mestic happiness, the cause of humanity and the 
 Church of Christ, and that the Order of Friends of 
 Temperance was doing a great work in the interest 
 of the Temperance cause, — followed by other speak- 
 ers, all in defence of the position taken in the re- 
 port. 
 
 The following preamble and resolution will be 
 found in the Minutes of 1869 •: 
 
 " Whereas, This Conference recognizes the great 
 necessity for thorough educational training among 
 those called to the work of the Gospel Ministry ; 
 and 
 
 Whereas, One young brother of much promise is 
 now an applicant for license in the work of preach- 
 ing Christ ; therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That this body will during its present 
 session, endeavor to raise at least two hundred and 
 fifty dollars for the purpose of assisting the brother 
 aforesaid in completing his education." 
 
 The above was some of the legitimate work of 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons, and earnest appeals were made 
 next day by different brethren, and two hundred 
 and sixty dollars was subscribed for the assistance 
 of Rev.. J. T. Whitley, in completing his education, 
 
206 High School at Suffolk. 
 
 who was a great favorite of my Brother, and he 
 looked after his interest as if he had been his own 
 child. And it afforded him much gratification to 
 think of him as his successor in life; and he earn- 
 estly and affectionately prompted him to go forward. 
 And in his decline of life was anxious to have hitn 
 fill the positions of trust that he filled, and to preach 
 his funeral when he should die. 
 
 The Committee on Education, of which my 
 Brother was Chairman, recommended at this Con- 
 ference, the establishment of a school of high order, 
 to be located at Suffolk, Virginia, for the education 
 of the boys and girls of Christian parents and all 
 others seeking the benefits of the same. This sub- 
 ject was thoroughly considered, and discussed by 
 Rev.W. B. Wellons, Rev. J. N. Manning and others,, 
 and the Conference adopted the report, with the fol- 
 lowing resolution : 
 
 Hesolved, That we approve of the suggestion to 
 establish a High School at Suffolk, and appoint 
 Bros. Thomas J. Kilby, A. L. Hill and Alexander 
 Savage,, a Committee to co operate with the Educa- 
 tional Committee in devising and preparing a plan 
 for the establishment of such a school, and that the 
 said Committee with the Ilducational Committee, de- 
 vise means for procuring funds to accomplish this 
 purpose." 
 
 At this Conference, Rev. W. B. Wellons and Rev. 
 R. H. Holland was constituted a committee to coun- 
 sel the colored Christians to assist them in the es- 
 tablishment of Churches and in licensing applicants 
 
Address at Suffolk. 207 
 
 for the ministry, and in the ordination of Elders. 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons was appointed to preach the 
 introductorj'- sermon at the next session of Confer- 
 ence, and to fraternize with the North Carolina and 
 Virginia and the Valley of Virginia Conferences. 
 My Brother was pastor this year of Bethlehem, Berea, 
 Antioch, Providence, Cypress and Suffolk Christian 
 churches, and his services were continued with the 
 same churches the ensuing year, and Jerusalem 
 added, and Rev. J. N, Manning assisted him the 
 ensuing year. 
 
 In 1870 he attended the North Carolina and Vir- 
 ginia Conference that met at Union, Halifax county, 
 Virginia, with Rev. M. B. Barrett, and took an active 
 part in all the business of the Conference, and 
 preached on Sunday morning to an immense con- 
 gregation, with great liberty and to the gratification 
 of all who heard him.' In that Conference he in- 
 troduced the idea of publishing the minutes of Con- 
 ference in an Annual, &c. 
 
 We here give in full his 
 
 Opening Address, 
 
 Delivered at the General Convention held in Suffoll^, Virginia, 
 May 6tii, 1870. 
 
 " Brethren of the General Convention: — With feelings 
 of devoutness and gratitude I meet you on this occa- 
 sion. Our denominational form of government makes 
 it my duty to address you at this time, and only in 
 obedience to this requirement ' would I consent to 
 
208 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 speak from my own pulpit, when so many of my 
 brethren from other sections are present. 
 
 I may be permitted, in the position which I occupy 
 to-day, first of all, to bid you a hearty welcome to 
 the hearts and homes of my charge in this place. 
 Your coming has gladdened all our hearts, and 
 every comfort with which Heaven has favored us 
 we are ready to divide with you. All that we have 
 is yours during your stay with us, and may our in- 
 tercourse be mutually profitable and pleasant. 
 
 Our denominational organization is small, com- 
 pared with some other religious bodies, and the Con- 
 vention over which I have been called to preside is 
 small in numbers when viewed by the side of some 
 others ; but although small in number, it is large in 
 sympathy, in aspiration, in a burning desire for 
 usefulness, and in love for souls. 
 
 Providential causes and circumstances led to the 
 Christian organization. No one who has examined 
 into the subject can fail to be impressed with this 
 truth ; and although our success has evidently not 
 been equal to the great providential emergency that 
 brought the society into existence, yet I hope to 
 show in this address that the members of the organ- 
 ization have not lived and labored in vain. Like 
 the man who strews his pathway with acts of benev- 
 olence, that gives with a lavishing hand to every 
 good enterprise which appeals to his benevolence, 
 and is content with present comforts as he passes 
 along, never acquiring largely or hoarding treasures 
 for which he has no immediate use, so has the Chris- 
 
Address at Suffolk. 209 
 
 tian organization accomplished more in communi- 
 cating its spirit to others and diffusing its principles 
 abroad, than in building up for itself a powerful 
 denominational existence. 
 
 The successful introduction of Wesleyan doctrines 
 and principles in this country, laid the foundation 
 for the Christian organization. Seventy-six years 
 ago the principles which now govern and hold us 
 together assumed form and were fashioned for prac- 
 tical use. The few who took part in this fashioning 
 process were assembled in a plain country house of 
 worship, in the county of Surry, in the State of Vir- 
 ginia, with no other light than the Spirit of God 
 which illuminated their hearts, and a love for relig- 
 ious freedom, which led them to fly from the first 
 approach of ecclesiastical bondage, and a determin- 
 ation to see in this new occupied country the right 
 of private judgment and the liberty of conscience 
 extended to all, they set out upon their work, not 
 knowing or even dreaming of the results that would 
 follow. 
 
 With the name Christian as a distinctive title and 
 an expression of their acknowledgment of Christ as 
 the Great Head of the Church ; determined to re- 
 ceive and teach no doctrine that is not clearly re- 
 vealed in the Bible, and to enact no test of Christian 
 or Church fellowship but Christian Character 
 or vital piety, extending the hand of brotherly love 
 and Union to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ and 
 live in obedience to his commands, they spread their 
 banner to the breeze, and for a time so attractive was 
 
210 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 the inscription upon it, that hundreds and thou- 
 sands were ready to forsake former associations and 
 do service under the new banner. 
 
 But unfortunately, the leading men in this new 
 movement were not possessed of any great adminis- 
 trative talent. They were not practical business 
 men. They were godly men — men full of the Holy 
 Ghost, and had power in the pulpit, in the prayer 
 meeting, with penitents at the altar, with the sick 
 and with the distressed. They were such men as the 
 masses loved and delighted to honor, but they knew 
 nothing scarcely about erecting an edifice that would 
 be so supported on every side as to stand the raging 
 storms and the howling winds of persecution and 
 opposition. James O'Kelly, the leading spirit of 
 this new movement, was far in advance of Francis 
 Asbury, then the Bishop of the Methodist Church, 
 as a pulpit declaimer. He had influence with the 
 people and power over the people which Mr. Asbury 
 never could command. But he greatly lacked the 
 administrative talent, and the business capacity of 
 Mr. Asbury. Mr. O'Kelly was great at entering the 
 forest and felling and hewing out the timber, but he 
 had no tact or capacity for bringing it together and 
 fashioning it into an edifice, remarkable for its 
 beauty and strength. Mr. Asbury, on the other 
 hand, was never a great preacher, was slow in felling 
 and hewing, but he knew how to gather up, frame 
 and build, and make the edifice strong as well as 
 attractive. 
 
 James O'Kelly was a reformer — a great reformer, 
 
Address at Suffolk. 211 
 
 but he was a reformer after the Whitfield model. 
 John Wesley and George Whitfield were both great 
 reformers, but they were unlike in many particulars. 
 Whitfield was Wesley's superior in pulpit power and 
 eloquence. He drew together larger crowds to his 
 ministry than did Mr. Wesley. He and Mr. Wesley 
 differed in religious opinions. Wesley was an Ar- 
 minian. Whitfield was a Calvinist. Wesley adopted, 
 from the start, prudential regulations for the gov- 
 ernment of his societies. When converts were made, 
 he immediately organized them into societies and 
 classes, and introduced system and order among 
 them. Whitfield gave to his converts the Bible, 
 without any prudential regulations, or other bond 
 of union. A century tells the result. The Wesley- 
 ans have spread over every christianized land, and 
 are numbered in one form or another by hundreds 
 of thousands, and the great fundamental doctrines 
 of the gospel have been preserved by them in what- 
 ever form or by whatever name their societies have 
 been known. The followers of Whitfield have dwin- 
 dled down to less than half a dozen independent 
 congregations in England, and have no existence in 
 any other land. 
 
 Our fathers in the Christian organization set out 
 to do their work on the Whitfield plan. They were 
 indeed zealous, earnest, godly preachers, but their 
 labors were largely lost for the want of prudential 
 regulations — for the want of system and order in 
 their operations. They followed the land and sowed 
 the seed, but others gathered the harvest. And foy 
 
212 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 full half a century did this scattering and wasting 
 process go on. True, the good seed sown were caught 
 up, and many were carried to other fields and the 
 fruit gathered in other fornas, and in this, the great 
 good aceoinplished may now be seen in more beauty 
 and magnificence than in any other way. 
 
 The principles first enunciated by the early 
 Christian preachers, -doubtless led to the great 
 thoughts which ripened into actioa, and brought 
 into co-operation the difierent Evangelical denomi- 
 nations, in the organization of the American Tract 
 Society ; American Sunday School Union ; Young 
 Men's Christian Association, and of other kindred 
 organizations. These organizations have led to the 
 great union €fi"ort which is now being made, and 
 which is shaking sectarianism to its very centre. I 
 think I see in the growing fields the fruit of the little 
 seed sown by the reformers who lived near the close 
 of the last and at the opening of the present century. 
 But I have no time to enlarge upon this subject, and 
 with reluctance break off the train of thought that 
 brings with it so much that is gratifying and satis- 
 factory. From the reading of a beautiful, interest- 
 ing story, I have to turn aside to some of the sterner 
 duties of my position which demands attention just 
 now, and which cannot be put off. 
 
 And now I retrace my steps to th« point from 
 which I started in the contemplation of the glory of 
 the Christian organization, as developed in other 
 organizations and societies, and the changes pro- 
 duced by the introduction of smch principles. 
 
Address at Sufeolk. 21S 
 
 Only a quarter of a century has been numbered 
 with the past, since with eyes partially opened to 
 our true position and the necessity of abetter organ- 
 ization, a few Christians in Virginia and North Car, 
 olina determined to put forth an effort to introduce 
 system and order, life and vitality, in the organiza- 
 tion which came into existence in 1794, as the fruits 
 of a secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in 1792. This effort resulted in the formation of the 
 " Southern Ohbistian Association," in 1847, the 
 first feeble attempt to bring into full co-operation all 
 the strength which remained after years of scattering 
 and waste. 
 
 This imperfect effort gave way to the organization 
 of the " Southern Christian Convention," in 1856, 
 At the first meeting of their body, brief outlines for 
 the organization of the different departments of 
 church government were proposed and received. 
 At its second meeting much important business was 
 transacted. The Educational, Publishing and Mis- 
 sionary interests of the Church were fully discussed, 
 and plans were considered and matured, which 
 looked to permanency and the spread of the denomi- 
 nation. It has been well said by one, that " the future 
 was full of promise and opening brightly." But 
 alas ! for human hopes and calculations. Alas ! for 
 the bright future that loomed up before us. We had 
 not then dreamed of the terrible and desolating storm 
 thatawaited us and was brooding over us. Although 
 just ready to burst in merciless fury upon our heads, 
 we moved on all unconscious of the fate that awaited 
 
214 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 us. The spring of 1861 brought with it the opening 
 of one of the most terrible civil wars w^hicli the his- 
 tory, of the world affords. Four long years were 
 spent in a struggle maintained on both sides with a 
 ■determination worthy of any cause, however dear. 
 The whole of our Southern land was desolated — 
 overrun, devastated, ruined, and our people subju- 
 gated. All denominations suffered evils unmeas- 
 ured and beyond computation, but the blow fell 
 with prostrating effect upon the Christian body. 
 Our Convention ceased its labors, our Conferences 
 were suspended, our churches were scattered, our 
 public services were discontinued and our whole 
 organiKation lay wrecked and seemingly hopelessly 
 ruined. 
 
 When the war closed and the dark cloud of dev- 
 astation passed over, our condition, as individuals, 
 as Churches, as Conferences, and as a Convention 
 was deplorable indeed. As we arose from the earth, 
 where we found ourselves when the storm was over, 
 and looked around us, there was nothing but dev- 
 astation and ruin to behold. Our educational, 
 publishing and every other interest had been de- 
 molished. Our ministers had been driven by neces- 
 sity, stern and unyielding necessity, to the army or 
 secular pursuits. 
 
 The end had come — the end of fighting. Lee had 
 surrendered, Johnston had surrendered. There had 
 come a calm ; not wholly the calm of peace, but the 
 stilling of the loud battle's roar and the cessation of 
 the storm. It was a sad, a solemn hour. In the 
 
Address at Suffolk. 215 
 
 territory embraced by this Convention, our pros- 
 pects had been blasted, our hopes had perished, our 
 labor and sacrifices were lost, and our comforts were 
 gone. Our ability to rise from our prostrate condi- 
 tion was doubtful ; the policy of those who had de- 
 feated us was yet undeveloped, and the future was 
 all uncertain. Oh 1 who can re-call the feelings and 
 exercises of his mind at that dark hour and not feel 
 sadness creeping over him ? Good men turned pale, 
 and looked one towards another for advice, which 
 none felt competent to give. 
 
 I remember well my own feelings — my own ex-" 
 ercises of mind — and pardon me for referring to 
 them. I looked first towards poor, distressed Mex- 
 ico ; then hastily read the geography and history of 
 Brazil; then thought of burying myself in New 
 York or some one of the larger Northern cities. 
 But I at last determined to take all the conflicting 
 feelings and tkoughts and bind them in one con- 
 fused bundle and lay them down at the feet of Jesus. 
 I earnestly besought the Father of Spirits to give 
 direction. My mind became settled, my purposes 
 became fixed. I resolved to come home and at once 
 set to work to gather up the scattered fragments and 
 preach Christ in adversity as I had preached Him 
 in prosperity: — to the inhabitants of the valley as I 
 had to those upon the mountain top. 
 
 I sought an interview with several prominent 
 ministers and leading minds among us, and we were 
 agreed as to the critical position, denominationally 
 speaking, which we occupied, and the general prin- 
 
216 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 ciples which were afterwards embodied in a volume 
 under the name of " A Declaration of Principles, 
 Form of Government and Directory for Worship," 
 was in substance agreed upon. 
 
 It was deemed a fit time to introduce these im- 
 provements. " Let us," said all, " profit by the ex- 
 perience of the past, remedy our defects, correct our 
 errors, and now lay a foundation that will be per- 
 manent and abiding." There could never have 
 been a, more propitious time. The minds of our 
 people were prepared for changes. Old and long 
 cherished views and opinions could now be more 
 conveniently and with less reluctance given up than 
 ever before. This was the view taken by us all, and 
 thus we were prepared for the undertaking and 
 labor of the Convention which assembled at Mount 
 Auburn, North Carolina, in May, 1866. I come now 
 immediately to the action of that Convention. 
 
 The first and most important step taken was to 
 arrange a fuller and more complete declaration of 
 our principles, as a separate and distinct religious 
 denomination. Not that we desired to destroy or 
 make null and void the platform adopted by Mr. 
 O'Kelly and the pioneer preachers of the Christian 
 Church, but to re-establish them and go on to de- 
 velop and complete the edifice, the foundation for 
 which had already been laid by the fathers. That 
 Christ is the only head of His Church ; the name 
 Christian the most appropriate for the followers of 
 Christ ; the Bible the best rule of faith and practice • 
 Christian character the only legitimate test of fel- 
 
Address at Suffolk. 217 
 
 lowship, and private judgment the duty and privi- 
 lege of all, are settled points with us. Upon this 
 platform our whole denominational structure stands ; 
 nor has there ever been, or is there now, the slight- 
 est disposition to depart from this position or lay 
 down any other platform, or to attempt to rear a 
 denominational edifice upon any other foundation. 
 
 But we clearly saw that the denominational edi- 
 fice erected on this foundation, platform of princi- 
 ples, needed development — needed arrangement- 
 needed uniformity, symmetry, completeness, finish- 
 ing beauty. Up to that time, the timbers for the 
 building, though all ready and nearly in place, had 
 been thrown together, helter, skelter. 
 
 To bring order out of confusion, beauty out of 
 deformity, symmetry out of irregularity, system out 
 of derangement, was the aim of those lovers of our 
 Church who met in council at Mount Auburn in the 
 spring of 1866. 
 
 Previous to that time, when asked for our doc- 
 trinal views, we pointed to the Bible as our creed. 
 When misrepresented by opponents, and sentiments 
 and doctrines were charged upon us which we never 
 held or taught, we had no efficient means of refuting 
 the slander. Consequently, in almost every place 
 designing persons either classed us with Unitarians, 
 Disciples or ICampbellites, when the truth was every 
 where known among us that we never sympathized 
 withj'or held the views of either one or the .other of 
 these parties. We never denied the truth of the 
 Divinity of Christ our Head, or practiced water bap- 
 14 
 
218 Addhess at Suffolk. 
 
 tism for the remission of sins. And yet these things 
 had been everywhere charged against us, and we 
 had been set down by church historian, with sects 
 holding these heretical views, and the door of pros- 
 perity, expansion and denominational usefulness had 
 been long closed against us, and for long years we 
 had seemed content to remain under a cloud, and to 
 be denied sympathy and fellowship with those de- 
 nominations around us \v^hose orthodoxy had never 
 been questioned. 
 
 The Declaration of Principles devised and pub- 
 lished by order of that Convention, sets us right be- 
 fore an intelligent public on these questions. And 
 this has been done without taking us off our original 
 platform. In setting forth our views, all scholastic 
 terms, sectarian and party phrases and unauthorized 
 expressions have been ignored and the plain, simple 
 teachings of the Bible have been presented in the 
 very language which Divine inspiration has used. 
 In this way we relieved ourselves from misrepresen- 
 tation, and have been enabled to take our position 
 side by side with the evangelical denominations of 
 the country. 
 
 Before this, our very history had become unknown 
 to the reading- public. Our denominational organ 
 had passed out of the minds of the present genera- 
 tion. Most men seem to suppose that we were the 
 offshoots of some one of the numerous sects that have 
 arisen in a more Northern clime. It seems tcThave 
 been forgotten that the original founders of the 
 Christian denomination were seceders from the 
 
Address at Suffolk, 219 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and that the reason of 
 our separation was the form of government adopted 
 by the Methodists in America, and not on account of 
 any difference in doctrinal views. In that great di- 
 vision of the Church of Christ, which occurred in 
 the days of Athanasius and Arius, which has culmi- 
 nated in our day into Trinitarians and Unitarians, 
 it will be seen by tracing our organization back to 
 its starting point, that we are properly classed with 
 the Trinitarian division of the Christian family, and 
 cannot be justly numbered with the Unitarian divis^ 
 ion. 
 
 The Declaration of Principles which we have 
 adopted sets us right on this question, and will as 
 clearly show that we are not Disciples or Campbell- 
 ites, and do not hold any of the peculiar doctrines 
 propagated by him. 
 
 Before I pass from these attempts to properly bring 
 us before the public in our true character, let me 
 advert to another fact connected with our govern- 
 ment. This Convention is the chief body in our 
 organization. The local church the highest tribu- 
 nal, is not the rule by which we are governed. The 
 quadrennial Convention is the highest tribunal 
 among us. The churches advise, the'Conferences rec- 
 ommend and the Convention orders. Our churches 
 have power to enforce discipline and good govern- 
 ment, and arrange all internal matters. Our Con- 
 ferences have power to adopt rules for their govern- 
 ment, but the General Convention must have power 
 
220 Address at Suffolk, 
 
 to decide appeals, and is, therefore, the highest court 
 in our organization. 
 
 The business, duties and powers of this Conven- 
 tion have been clearly defined in our form of govern- 
 ment. It has the supervision of all the general en- 
 terprises of the denomination, and it is made the 
 duty of the body to provide for the publications 
 needed by the denomination, to encourage educa- 
 tion, and aid in missionary work. 
 
 And now, brethren, to the work before us. I need 
 not say what every intellig;ent member of this body 
 feels, that the present meeting of the Convention is a 
 most important one, and we should enter upon our 
 work with spirit and determination, and with the 
 full purpose in view that we will do something that 
 will tell upon the future of our beloved Church. 
 General measures must be carefully co'nsidered, and 
 plans for the permanent establishment of our denom- 
 ination should be fully discussed and matured. 
 
 The reports of standing committees for the further 
 advancement of the work assigned them. 
 
 And let me say to you, my brethren, while I as- 
 sume no authority above the humblest Elder in the 
 Church, and do not desire to be clothed with any 
 more power than I now have, yet it is my duty, as 
 President of this Convention, to suggest to you, at 
 the commencement of the regular session, such sub- 
 jects for your consideration as may seem wise and 
 proper to me. 
 
 1st. Consider what plan, if any, you can devise for 
 supplying the denomination with religious litera- 
 
Address at Suffolk. 221 
 
 ture. If no plan better than the one now in use can 
 be devised, then endeavor by, united action to make 
 yet more efficient the present plan. 
 
 2d. Consider the best means of establishing schools 
 and colleges to be under our control and patronage. 
 I need not say what must be apparent to all, that no 
 denomination can succeed that does not arrange for 
 the education of its own children, and the training 
 of young men for the preaching of the Gospel. 
 
 3rd. Home Missions is a question to be considered- 
 Some plan should be devised and sent to the Con- 
 ferences for ratification, looking to the planting of 
 new churches and nurturing of the weak and feeble 
 organizations already in existence. 
 
 And, brethren, let me admonish you^ do not be in 
 haste to pass over these great questions so essential 
 to our future prosperity, if not to our very existence. 
 I protest against the haste which has characterized 
 our work in many of the councils of the church. 
 We meet to elicit information one from another, to 
 impart light one to another, to encourage one an- 
 other, and by our earnest addresses and the agitation 
 of important questions, to enthuse one another in our 
 work. As your presiding officer, while I occupy the 
 chair, I do not desire to control or restrain reasona- 
 ble discussion. I want you, my brethren, to speak 
 your minds freely on every question, and let us thus 
 get all the light we can command. 
 
 I wish to direct your attention to the great sub- 
 ject of Christian Union, which is destined to ab" 
 sorb the minds of the great brotherhood of Christians 
 
222 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 in our country. We must continue in a position to 
 co-operate with all who are laboring for union 
 among the followers of a common Saviour. But we 
 cannot allow ourselves to be lost in pursuit of our 
 object, even as desirable as this is. We must main- 
 tain our organization, and bold ourselves in readi- 
 ness to co-operate with those who may become ready 
 by and by to step on our platform. 
 
 The platform upon which we stand is, to my mind, 
 the only one upon which the Christian world can 
 ever unite. Christ is the only head upon which all 
 can ever agree. The name Christian is the only one 
 which all can ever consent to wear. The Bible is 
 the only rule of faith which all can accept, and the 
 right of PRIVATE JUDGMENT must be accorded, or 
 there can be no union. A moment's reflection must 
 satisfy all ■who desire union that no other bond will 
 answer the purpose than that which we lay down. 
 
 I desire to see this Convention extend the hand of 
 co-operation to all who are engaged in the eflfort to 
 unite those who should never have been divided. 
 A preamble and resolution setting forth to the world 
 the position which we occupy on the subject, will do 
 much to attract the attention of the world's thinkers 
 towards us. Our mission is one of union, and I 
 most earnestly desire that we shall allow nothing to 
 divert us from the subject we have set out to attain. 
 The sneers of sectarians, the opposition of bigots, 
 and the neglect of worldly-minded professors, should 
 not deter us from our work to perform for God and 
 the world,, and let us do it. 
 
Addkess at Suffolk. 223 
 
 I am, happy to see among us the representatives 
 of an organization that came into existence soon 
 after our own, in the New England States. They 
 come with brotherly greetings, and we gladly re- 
 ceive them. It is perhaps full time for sectional 
 feelings to subside and hate to give place to love in 
 the hearts of all who would be followers in truth, of 
 Him who came to set us an example of forbearance 
 and forgiveness. 
 
 No sectional or political feelings should longer 
 separate those who are agreed upon the general 
 principles of Bible truth and the proper grounds of 
 Christian union. 
 
 But looking at the interest of our people as a sep- 
 arate and distinct denomination, we should embrace 
 in our fold those, and those only, who are fully in- 
 doctrinated into the principles and doctrines which 
 we draw from the Bible, our only rule of faith. 
 
 I trust that the coming of our brethren may be 
 productive of great good, and may be but the begin- 
 ning of a tide that will flow on until it sweeps away 
 every obstacle which hinders union and co-opera- 
 tion. 
 
 The adoption of a Declaration of Principles like 
 or similar to that which we have in use, would tend 
 to remove every barrier that stands between the 
 union of all those who bear the family name— 
 Christian. 
 
 In conclusion, my brethren, let us never forget 
 that we are all weakness and imperfection, and that 
 we can do nothing without the assisting grace of 
 
224 Address at Suffolk. 
 
 Him who has promised to be with those who love 
 and serve him, " even unto the end of the world." 
 "We can do nothing great or good without His assist- 
 ance. Let us prayerfully approach him and upon 
 our knees call continually upon Him for light, for 
 guidance, for direction. I want that we show our- 
 selves spiritually-minded, loving, humble followers 
 of Jesus. 
 
 My brethren, I hail you as fellow-laborers in the 
 same cause. Oh I let our hearts be united in our 
 work, and while we express our views one to another 
 freely and without any reserve, let brotherly feelings 
 be preserved, and, with a tender regard for one an- 
 other's interest, let each determine to do his part 
 faithfully and in the fear and love of the Master, 
 and our Convention will prove a blessing to this 
 Church, this community, our whole brotherhood and 
 the world." 
 
 This Convention on the adoption of a resolution 
 offered by Bro. A. L. Hill, Rev. W. B. Wellons was 
 appointed a Fraternal Messenger to attend the New 
 England Christian Convention. 
 
 " The representatives of another organization," 
 referred to above, by our Brother, were Elders Isaac 
 H. Coe and Benjamin Batch elor. They were 
 here as Fraternal Messengers from the Northern 
 Church. They both had flourishing pastoral charges 
 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They were both 
 able ministers of the Gospel, preached with much 
 satisfaction, and delighted us with their presence. 
 They contributed much to the interest of our Con- 
 
Address at Spring Hill. 225 
 
 vention by participating in the discussion of the 
 leading topics, and otherwise made their visit quite 
 pleasant among us. And we felt it but a duty we 
 owed them, to appoint a Messenger or Messengers to 
 carry our Christian greetings, and assure them of 
 our love and brotherly sympathy. And accordingly 
 our worthy Brother, as a representative man, was 
 appointed to meet with them in their Convention in 
 New England. 
 
 The following paper will be of much interest to 
 the reader, and especially to the many admirers of 
 this good man. Dr. Wellons. Like most of his pro- 
 ductions, it partakes much of an experimental and 
 practical character: 
 
 Address, 
 
 Delivered by Eev. W. B. Wellons, at the opening of the 
 Eastern Virginia Conference, at Spring Hill, Nov. 1, 1870. 
 
 I appear before you at the present session of your 
 body in accordance with an expressed wish of the 
 body at its last session to address you. And in 
 another character: The Form of Government 
 adopted by us, makes it my duty, as the President of 
 our General Convention, to confer, counsel and ad- 
 vise with tlie brethren. 
 
 The first part of my duty is to address you as a 
 member of your body, and endeavor to turn the 
 minds of the members into a channel that may pre- 
 pare them for the work before them. It is not true, 
 that the ministers or lay-delegates are either fully 
 prepared for work on their first arrival at the place 
 
226 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 appointed for the Annual Conference. The leaving 
 of our homes and loved ones — the closing up of our 
 year's labors — the prospect of changes in our rela- 
 tions — the greeting of friends from whom we have 
 been separated for a year, and the consequent 
 excitement in our minds, all conspire to unfit us for 
 earnest work at the opening of the session, and one 
 object of the annual opening address is to quiet and 
 compose the feelings of all, and thus prepare all for 
 the great questions to be considered and discussed 
 during the session. 
 
 If I can at this point command your thoughts 
 and turn them all in the same channel, and direct 
 your eyes to the same object, and make you to feel 
 like working in co-operation, then I shall, in a very 
 great degree, have accomplished my purpose, and 
 the object of my appointment will have been 
 reached. 
 
 ■ Can I hope to accomplish this? Can I be so in 
 earnest myself that I shall be able to impart my 
 spirit to others, and all shall become alike interested? 
 This is the point I shall aim at. And may the 
 Holy Spirit help me in the effort which I put forth. 
 
 And here a feeling of embarrassment — a feeling 
 of sadness — comes over me. I am to-day in my 
 old native county. Twelve miles from this place, I 
 was.born and reared. And there lies the remains, 
 in the old family burying ground, of my ancestors — 
 my honored father, my sainted mother. And all 
 the associations of my childhood and youth crowd 
 upon my mind. Twenty-five years ago, I left dear 
 
Address at Spring Hill. 227 
 
 old Susses a mere stripling,, a youth unknown, ex- 
 cept to a few persons in the circle of my rearing; with 
 a limited amount of knowledge of the world, and 
 with nothing but the rectitude of my purposes and 
 the purity of my motives to recommend me, and 
 the grace of the Most High to sustain me. How 
 tremblingly, how timidly, with what fear I entered 
 upon the work of preaching the Gospel of Christ, 
 no one but myself can ever know. I had been, al- 
 most from my childhood, impressed with the idea 
 that God intended to make of me, poor me, a min- 
 ister. The conviction grew upon me, year after 
 year, that the Lord had a work for me to do in his 
 Church. But my confidence was small, my faith 
 was weak, my friends were few, my education defi- 
 cient, my opportunities compressed, and my extreme 
 timidity made me tremble at every step taken, and 
 every advance made. And again and again, was the 
 suggestion made to me, that the attempt could but 
 result in a failure. With this uncertain prospect 
 before me, came the conviction, that grew deeper 
 and deeper in my heart, that I must preach or be 
 damned. Woe I woe! woe! is me, if I preach not 
 the gospel, rang in my ears wherever I went. I 
 would have relieved myself of these impressions if 
 I could have done so. I prayed to the Lord to ex- 
 cuse me, and send another in my place. I tried to 
 absorb myself in other studies and turn my atten- 
 tion to other objects. But the more I struggled the 
 more entangled my soul became in the overwhelm- 
 ing conviction that my salvation depended upon my 
 
228 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 compliance with what I then, and now believe, the 
 Holy Ghost pointed out to me as duty. The 
 names of those who entered into and interpreted 
 my exercises of mind, sympathized with me in my 
 struggles and spoke words of encouragement to me, 
 can never be forgotten. They lifted me up when I 
 was cast down, helped me to move off when I almost 
 stood still, and cheered me as I went forward to the 
 work assigned me. There lived then, in one mile 
 of this place, a Christian gentleman of another de- 
 nomination, whose counsel, whose a4vice, whose 
 sympathy, whose friendship — disinterested friend- 
 ship — I shall never cease to value. And though he 
 has passed to the good man's home above, yet I 
 shall always appreciate the encouragement he of- 
 fered me. 
 
 But where am I wandering? Where do I stand ? 
 And what do I realize? What I see must be real ! 
 One-fourth of a century is gone, and here am I 
 again in my old native county, and as I look out 
 for the friends of long ago, and ask where are they ? 
 there comes from the family cemetery, where their 
 bones sleep, the solemn, sepulchral sound, They 
 are gone! they are gone! Only here and there is 
 left one of the older members of society when I 
 turned my back upon home and friends to become 
 a preacher of the gospel of Christ. The associates of 
 my childhood and youth are scattered, and but few 
 remain. And though I have reached only man- 
 hood's prime, with no gray hairs yet to adorn my 
 brow and my sight undimmed, yet I come home to 
 
Address at Sfring HiLt,. 229 
 
 see a new generation around me, and as I look over 
 the Conference I cannot avoid the feeling that I 
 stand as a father in the Church. So many of those 
 before me have been gathered into the Church under 
 my poor labors, and so many of the clergy around 
 me have been ordained to the work of the ministry 
 by the laying on of my hands, with other members 
 of the presbytery. 
 
 And now, my brethren, up and away to the work 
 before us. Another year of labor is over. The suc- 
 cesses and failures of, the past year have all been re- 
 corded. And we come to improve plans arranged 
 at our last session and to devise new ones. And we 
 will be wise if we can devise means that will open 
 and expand our field of usefulness as a separate and 
 distinct organization from all others. If we cannot 
 devise ways of usefulness and do good in co-opera- 
 tion, then there is no need for our organization. We 
 are organized to do good — to make better the world 
 in which we live. 
 
 The Christina organization, of which this Con- 
 ference forms a part, has a peculiar work to do. Our 
 fathers set out with the idea that Christ is the only 
 Head and Law-giver too his Church, that the name 
 which fully expresses the relation of his people to 
 Him is the only proper name for his followers; that 
 the revelation of God to the world is the only proper 
 rule of faith and practice ; that a christian life and 
 character is the only legitimate test of christian and 
 church fellowship; and that in doctrines not con- 
 sidered essential to the salvation of the soul, the lib- 
 
230 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 erty of conscience and the right of private judgment 
 should be extended to all. 
 
 With these views they opened their hearts and the 
 doors of the church to all who accept Christ Jesus in 
 his Divine character as the Saviour and Redeemer of 
 the world and trusts in the merits of his atoning 
 blood for salvation. 
 
 This has been the foundation upon which we have 
 stood from the commencement of our existence until 
 the present. We are not, therefore, the mere build- 
 ers up of a sect or party. We have no peculiar doc- 
 trines of our own to advocate. We stand upon the 
 great evangelical platform laid in the formation of 
 the Episcopal or Church of England, and the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, from which organization we 
 sprang. To controvert the opinions and doctrines 
 of other denominations is not a part of our business. 
 We are striving to bring into co-operation the good 
 of everj'^ sect and party, and to build up an organ- 
 ization which shall embrace in its fold all who stand 
 upon the common platform which is occupied by all 
 the evangelical denominations around us. It is doc 
 trines not considered by any, essential to salvation, 
 about which we disagree and which leads to contro- 
 versy and contention. 
 
 Our organization was formed for the purpose of 
 effecting a union among all the followers of Christ, 
 and if our practice in any particular has not tended 
 to union, then it is because it has not been consistent 
 with the platform of principles adopted. 
 
 We •do not seek to promote union at the expense 
 
Address at Speing Hill. 231 
 
 of the truth, or at the sacrifice of any fundamental 
 principles of the gospel. We are the advocates of 
 liberty, but not that liberty which may be converted 
 into licentiousness. We require as essential to the 
 very existence of christian fellowship, correct views 
 of God, of Christ, of ihe Holy Spirit, of the Atone- 
 ment, of the Resurrection from the dead, and of 
 future Rewards and Punishment. These are the 
 essential doctrines of the gospel — doctrines which lie 
 at the very foundation of our Christian hope and of 
 the Church of Christ. We seek to promote union 
 by cherishing all these essential doctrines, and in 
 all other doctrines, rites, ceremonies and practices 
 not considered essential to the salvation of the soul, 
 we extend the largest liberty in faith and practice. 
 
 In this way we propose to unite the scattered 
 members of the flock of Christ. With this platform 
 upon which to stand, all evangelical denominations 
 can come together. In our organization Christians 
 of every opinion and sentiment, who embrace as 
 true the fundamentals of religion, may become 
 united. The Methodist, the Episcopalian, the Pres- 
 ' byterian and the Baptist may each become con- 
 nected with our organization without changing his 
 views upon any of the essential doctrines of the gos- 
 pel. It is not in accordance with the principles of 
 the Christian organization to require anything as 
 essential to Christian and Church fellowship, except 
 such as is required by the very essentials of religion 
 and without which no one can be a Christian at all. 
 
 That we should be opposed by any true follower 
 
232 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 of Christ, has always been marvellous to me. That 
 sectarians and party bigots should rise up against 
 us, has never been strange. The propagation of the 
 principles which we hold always puts the craft of 
 sectarians in jeopardy, and a selfish motive prompts 
 to opposition. The only opposition which can legit- 
 imately stand against us, must be when our practice 
 becomes inconsistent with our avowed principles. 
 
 I will not deny that in some instances in our his- 
 tory and in individual cases, our practice has not been 
 entirely consistent with our platform of principles. 
 Such a case occurred in our early history, when sev- 
 eral of the fathers refused to recognize the baptism 
 of believers by immersion as authorized by the word 
 of God. This step separated the Church and led to 
 a division in our ranks which it took a quarter of a 
 century to heal. 
 
 And even at the present all of us are hardly pre- 
 pared to follow out the practical workings of our 
 principles. 
 
 Indeed, for one to stand upon our liberal platform 
 and carry out in his practice the principles which 
 we avow as ours, he must be lifted up so far above 
 sectarianism that he can breathe an atmosphere 
 purified by charity and sanctified by God's presence. 
 No narrow- hearted sectarian bigot can be thus ele- 
 vated. Oh 1 I pity the thousands who have never 
 enjoyed the luxury of breathing the pure atmos- 
 phere of Christian liberty and charity — who, though 
 they possess many virtues, are destitute of the most 
 essentiar of all — charity. 
 
Address at Spring Hill. 233 
 
 "We live at a period in the history of the Church — 
 the great Church of our Lord Jesus Christ — when 
 this great question of Christian Union is being agi- 
 tated, examined and discussed with a spirit of de- 
 termination which has not before been developed^ 
 This is bringing the Christian Church more prom- 
 inently before the public than ever before, and is 
 throwing upon us every day increased respousibili- 
 ties. 
 
 Are we prepared for the work before us ? Are we 
 ready to assume the increased responsibility thrown 
 upon us by the circumstances which surround us 
 and the age in which we live ? These are the ques- 
 tions which should much concern us. When we 
 were small, unknown, uncared for, and wielded but 
 little influence, we were content with small things. 
 But we are no longer unknown and uncared for. 
 And we are no longer without influence and power. 
 The eyes of the Christian world are turned toward 
 the position which we occupy, and as the Christian 
 Union field widens and deepens in the public mind, 
 we shall be brought more and more prominently 
 forward — shall become better and better known, 
 and our influence will become greater and greater, 
 and the responsibilities resting upon us will become 
 weightier and weightier. 
 
 Are we, my brethren, laying the foundation upon 
 which we are to stand as an organization when the 
 responsibilities of the future, surely coming, shall 
 be upon us? 
 
 We nleet to consider and debate questions of this 
 15 
 
234 Address at Spking Hill, 
 
 sort. A conference of this character is not merely 
 for social intercourse, for devotional exercises, for 
 domestic arrangement and the following out of a 
 long established routine of business. We must get 
 away from this idea and now bend our energies upon 
 the opening of new plans and arrangements for the 
 responsible future. 
 
 This leads me directly up to my duty as President 
 of the General Convention of the Church. I am with 
 you to confer upon the great questions of prepara- 
 tion for the future ; to counsel you in the course you 
 should pursue, and advise you of the best means to 
 fedopt in order that you may be successful in your 
 labors. 
 
 Then let us take up several distinct questions one 
 by one. First of all the fostering in our hearts a 
 warmer' spirit of devotion, and greater love for the 
 cause of God and the work of the Church. We must 
 love the Church of Christ more. We must love the 
 service of God more. We must more fully consecrate 
 ourselves to the work of doing good in the world. 
 
 We have too long contented ourselves with the 
 experimental part of religion. We have all the time 
 been longing to feel good, to get happy, to weep and 
 rejoice freely. We have depended almost entirely 
 upon the revival feeling in the Church to prompt 
 us to do our duty. Protracted meetings have been 
 too much depended upon. We must change our 
 ideas, our practice and our plans in this particular. 
 We must learn that religion is practical as well as 
 experimental ; that we must work as well as pray 
 
Address at .Spring Hill. 235 
 
 and sing and shout ; that our work must^be regu- 
 lar, constant, and be performed from a sense of duty. 
 We receive the pardon of sin, the witness of the Spir- 
 it, are adopted into God's family, and become ex- 
 perimental Christians by the exercise of faith. But 
 we go forward in Christian life, grow in grace and 
 our spiritual strength is renewed by work in the 
 vineyard of the Lord — the Church. 
 
 God's vineyard is his Church, and every one 
 adopted into his family is called upon to work in 
 his Church, to work in his own sphere and co-ope- 
 ration with others. To improve his individual tal- 
 ent and to get greater spiritual gain by joining with 
 others in labor. Faith and works must thus be 
 joined together, and the man of God thus goes on 
 toward a state of perfection. 
 
 Again we must become more self-denying, more 
 sacrificing and more liberal in giving. Too long 
 have we satisfied ourselves in doing things conven- 
 ient, and offering no sacrifice incongenial with our 
 feelings. And we have held to the wrong idea of 
 giving only what we could spare. Away with such 
 sacrifices and such giving. We must learn self-de- 
 nial in the Bible school, and present our first offering 
 unto the Lord, and give until we feel it. Giving 
 only what we can conveniently spare brings no re- 
 ward and secures no interest in Heaven. It is giv- 
 ing when it requires self-denial, when we feel it, that 
 secures reward — an hundred fold in this world, and 
 in the world to come life everlasting. We must 
 work more, practice self denial, be more sacrificing 
 
236 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 and give a great deal more to all the works of the 
 Church than we have ever done. And away with 
 the idea that we are going to be burdened or grow 
 poor thereby. It is not giving to the Church and 
 to God that burdens us. It is pandering to our sel- 
 fish desires that burdens us. It is keeping up with 
 the world that burdens us. It is withholding and 
 hoarding that which we should cast in the treasury 
 of the Lord, that makes us poor. Our education, our 
 ideas, our opinions must all be changed, and thea 
 we shall go forward and have abundantly more of 
 religious joy, and have more of creature comforts 
 and live happier in every way. If the Scriptures do 
 not teach us that self-denial is rewarded in this as 
 well as in the world to come, then I do not under- 
 stand the plain, simple words of Jesus. 
 
 Then we must learn to reverence God's ministers 
 more. Brethren in the ministry, we must learn to 
 respect, reverence and love one another more. And 
 the laity of the Church must make the ministers 
 more worthy of reverence. Our young men must 
 be educated. Their minds must be expanded, their 
 ideas enlarged, and they must be prepared to give 
 themselves to the work of the Church, to keep out of 
 secular employment and to live above the drudgery 
 of business life. We must no longer send out men 
 to preach who are destitute of the education neces- 
 sary to command respect among the intelligent and 
 refined in any community. And away with the idea 
 that education begets pride, and nurtures selfishness. 
 'Tis ignorance and want of education that fosters 
 
Address at Spring Hill. 237 
 
 pride, and makes a minister selfish. Our young men 
 must be educated, must be taught to make no other 
 calculation but to give themselves wholly to the 
 work of the ministry, to keep out of secular busi- 
 ness, and to avoid the cares and responsibilities of a 
 family, at least until they have established a char- 
 acter and opened a field of usefulness sufficiently 
 large to sustain themselves and others dependent 
 upon them. 
 
 We must turn our attention to the establishment 
 of schools and the securing of means for the educa- 
 tion of our young men for the ministry. And not 
 only for our young preachers, but for our sons and 
 daughters. If we give our children to the sects to 
 educate, we must expect to see them turned out sec- 
 tarians in most cases. We must educate our own 
 children in our own schools and under the influence 
 of our own teachers. I do not advise this because 
 of sectarian feeling or denominational peculiarity; 
 but that we may the more successfully implant the 
 principles of Christian charity and liberty in their 
 hearts. Let the subject of education stand before 
 you occupying a very prominent position in the 
 proceedings of this body. 
 
 Home Missionary work must receive more atten- 
 tion at our hands. Our ministers must not all be 
 so closely confined to their pastoral work. Tliere 
 must be both pastors and evangelists, stationed and 
 traveling preachers. Oh ! as well as I love the pas- 
 toral work, I do so often yearn for the opportunity 
 -of going abroad and opening the way for .establish- 
 
238 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 ing Churches in localities where the Christians are 
 but little known. I beg that the Conference will 
 turn its attention to the work of Home Missions, 
 and that the Committee appointed to report on this 
 subject will maturely consider it. 
 
 Sabbath School work— the training of the young 
 for God, for Heaven and the Church — is receiving 
 much more attention than formerly among us. But 
 we may make still further advances with profit to 
 ourselves and the Church. Encourage this, the 
 greatest, grandest work of the Church, brethren, in 
 every way. Let the ministers all preach, teach and 
 work in the Sabbath School. 
 
 The cause of Temperance will claim your atten- 
 tion. I commend to the Committee on this subject, 
 the considering of some plan that will be practical 
 in the removal, to a greater extent, of this mighty 
 evil from the doors and altars of the Church. We 
 must not send out young men to preach until they 
 have studic':! and committed themselves against the 
 practice of manufacturing, buying, selling and using 
 intoxicating beverages as a common drink. This 
 is an alarming evil in the Church, in our country, 
 in the world. And as a Christian organization we 
 must set our faces against it, and require our min- 
 isters and ofl&cial members of the Ghurch,if not all, 
 to refrain from the use in any way, other than as a 
 medicine prescribed by a physician when we are 
 sick, of all intoxicating liquors. Oh ! God, how my 
 heart mourns over the ravages of intemperance. 
 And how surely does moderate drinking and traffic 
 
Address at Spring Hill. 239 
 
 in the article lead to intemperance in naost cases. 
 And how clean our hands, as ministers of God and 
 Christian men, should be washed from the foul sin 
 of giving encouragement to the drinking usages of 
 society. 
 
 A few closing thoughts, and I will no longer con- 
 sume the time of this body. We come here as 
 Christian men — ministers of Christ, prominent lay- 
 men in the Church, and the representatives of those 
 principles which we have inscribed upon our ban- 
 ner and thrown to the breeze. Let us remember 
 that we are the representative men of the Church — 
 that we are the servants of God — and in our inter- 
 course with one another let us cultivate a brotherly 
 spirit and show the world how we love one another. 
 And we are to find homes among the families of 
 this community and this neighborhood. Let us 
 eoter the families of those whose hospitality may be 
 extended to us, as Christian men, and when our ses- 
 sion is over, let us go away to our homes with our 
 Christian characters untarnished by any undue 
 lightness, foolish jesting, unbecoming tale-telling or 
 other unguarded conversation. One of the beset- 
 ting sins of the clergy seems to be the habit of tell- 
 ing tales to produce merriment and laughter. Let 
 us, my brethren, guard against this. Go into the 
 families of the neighborhood to make them better 
 and to commend our holy religion. Make the heads 
 of the family happy — the children, the hired helps 
 and all. Strive to impress upon the hearts of all, 
 
240 Address at Spring Hill. 
 
 the beauty, the loveliness and the joy of religion 
 and the pleasantness of God's service. 
 
 The pastor of this Church aad his brethren have 
 invited us to hold our annual session here with a 
 desire to receive benefit as well as to impart it. Let 
 us endeavor to so act and so speak as to exercise a 
 good influence upon the minds of all with whom we 
 are brought in contact. 
 
 And when our work is done and the order for ad- 
 journment has been announced, with hearts ten- 
 dered, and with increased zeal for God, his Church 
 and his cause, let us return to our homes prepared 
 to do battle for the right, and so to live and so to act 
 as to secure a peaceful conscience while we live, a 
 peaceful hour in which to die, and the reward of 
 well-doing in the kingdom of God on high. 
 
 At the Conference held at Berkley, Virginia, in 
 1871, the following resolution was adopted: 
 
 "That Conference now consider the s-ubject of 
 ministerial support and church finance." 
 
 On motion, the body then went into a Committee 
 of the Whole on the above resolution. Bro. A. L. 
 Hill was called to the chair. Rev. W. B. Wellons 
 spoke warmly in favor of some decided course in 
 these matters. His address was of considerable 
 length and was of the most forcible and practical 
 nature. 
 
 At this meeting Bro. Wellons was Chairman of 
 the Educational Committee. Several young men 
 were then in the Biblical Class, and he presented a 
 lengthy report of much interest to the body. A 
 
Favoks Prohibitoey Legislation. 241 
 
 presbytery was appointed to attend to the ordina- 
 tion of Rev. J. T. Whitley. 
 
 Bro. Wellons was in attendance at the meeting of 
 the North Carolina and Virginia Conference that 
 met at Mt. Zion, Orange county, North Carolina, in 
 1871, as a fraternal messenger. In this Conference 
 the following resolution was adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That while, as a religious denomina- 
 tion, we do not wish to enter into political contests, 
 yet we do wish to exert all our influence in behalf 
 of such legislation as will eventually prohibit the 
 manufacture and sale of ardent spirits." 
 
 The Temperance Report was submitted by Rev. 
 W. T. Walker, and the resolution, was added by 
 Rev. Wm. S. Long. The resolution was strongly 
 advocated by Dr. Wellons and others. 
 
 We notice by reference to the Annual 'of 1872, 
 that a petition was read before the Conference from 
 the church at Oakland, Nansemond county, Vir- 
 ginia, organizied by Rev. W. B. Wellons, asking ad- 
 mission as a member of the body. The petition was 
 unanimously granted and the delegates came for- 
 ward and received the right hand of fellowship. 
 We here give his annual ministerial report for Ihis 
 year, which explains itself: 
 
 Ministerial Report of W. B. Wellons. — Have had the 
 pastoral charge of the churches at Suffolk, Cypress, 
 Berea and Antioch, and have established the church 
 at Oakland ; have edited the Christian Sun, and su- 
 perintended all the publications of the Church ; 
 have had the agency of the Suffolk Collegiate In- 
 
242 Suffers Denominational Persecution. 
 
 stitute ; have preached regularly twice every Sab- 
 bath through the year ; held five protracted meet- 
 ings and aided in another — 141 conversions, and 
 about the same number added to the churches; have 
 attended forty funerals and married seventeen 
 couples; have preached on an average three times 
 a week through the year. This has been, in some 
 respects, the most trying year of my life, has enabled 
 me to do more work than in any one year of my 
 life. I came to Conference broken down physically, 
 but with love unabated for my brethren and the 
 cause which I have cherished from my childhood. 
 
 He attended the North Carolina and Virginia 
 Conference as a fraternal messenger and as Piresi- 
 dent of the General Convention, and when invited 
 to a seat he responded in a few appropriate re- 
 marks. 
 
 There had been in the minds and hearts of a bit- 
 ter few, in and about Suffolk, a denominational pre- 
 judice that had been deffusing itself for several years 
 in opposition to Rev. W. B. Wellons and his church 
 enterprises, notwithstanding his untiring energy to 
 build up Suffolk. For it must be acknowledged by 
 all acquainted with the facts, that he did more by 
 his pen and personal influence, to arouse the citi- 
 zens to local pride, public-spiritedness and general 
 advancement than any other man, if not all other 
 men of his day. These few were contracted in their 
 views and bitter in their feelings, and they finally 
 succeeded in drawing many into it as a party of 
 most discreditable persecution. This diffused itself 
 
Suffers Denominational Persecut-ion. 243 
 
 with all its fury about the year 1872, in personal 
 attacks on the character and even person of my 
 brother. That brought about a very strong party 
 feeling that was indeed reproachful to professed 
 phristians. But he bore this with much fortitude, 
 and in his reply to the scandalous attack he showed 
 himself the christian hero. But while the leader 
 of the riot was severely reproved, he was not 
 only viirdicated by. his (the Christian) Church 
 everywhere, but by other institutions with which 
 he was connected, an impartial public, and every- 
 where reason and justice held the throne. And 
 that year he was blessed in his labors equal to any 
 former year. He had large accessions to his 
 churches, and did much to advance the Temperance 
 cause. 
 
 But. whilst this disruption did not lessen his moral 
 worth, or darken the lustre of his brilliant virtues, 
 and his light shone as brightly as in his palmier 
 days, yet it exceedingly annoyed him and helped to 
 hurry him to a premature grave. I have no doubt 
 but there will be a great reckoning in the coming 
 day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. 
 He did a great deal of work this year, which broke 
 him down physically, from which he never entirely 
 rallied. 
 
 This year (1873) there was a grand meeting of 
 Temperance workers which met at Chattanooga, 
 Tennessee. Its object was to consolidate all the dif- 
 ferent Temperance Orders. As a representative of 
 the Friends of the Temperancej he did not feel will- 
 
244 Position on Christian Union. 
 
 ing or at liberty to commit this body to any line of 
 policy to consolidation. 
 
 The Supreme Council of the Friends of Temper- 
 ance met this year in the city of Raleigh. At this 
 meeting he was the Secretary of the Council and 
 spoke one night to an immense crowd assembled at 
 the Chapel of the Deaf and Dumb with great liberty, 
 and it had a most telling effect. He was followed by 
 General Robert E. Vance. 
 
 During this year he preached the dedicatory ser- 
 mon of Linville Christian Chilrch, in the Valley of 
 Virginia Conference, to a large congregation, and 
 that sermon has been much spoken of as one of his 
 best efforts. For he was peculiarly gifted in preach- 
 ing consecrating sermons. 
 
 He, with several other ministerial brethren, visit- 
 ed the North Carolina and Virginia Conference as 
 fraternal messengers — he also in the capacity of Pres- 
 ident of the General Convention. He submitted ap- 
 propriate remarks, and participated as usual in the 
 discussions on various reports. At this Conference 
 efforts were made on the part of the Protestant Meth- 
 odists to affect a union between them and the Chris- 
 tians. A. W. Lineberry, D. D., was there as their 
 embassador and made a speech favoring the union. 
 Dr. Wellons responded in a kind and brotherly way • 
 was in favor of a union upon honorable terms ; 
 could meet them on a liberal polity, but could not 
 give up our denominational name, or compromise 
 general principles. 
 
 This year the great Evangelical Alliance met in 
 
Preaches on a Steamer. 245 
 
 the city of New York, and Bro. Wellons was present 
 as an honored member and a participant in the ex- 
 ercises, and rejoiced much that God in his wisdom 
 had called together his people of every name in a 
 recognition and fellowship meeting. 
 
 This year there was also a union meeting held in 
 Cincinnati. Many leading spirits from the different 
 Evangelical denominations were there, and earnest 
 , efforts were made to lay aside all party and sectional 
 predilections and proclivities and unite upon the 
 name Christian. They agreed upon our name, but 
 could not come to a final agreement upon a polity. 
 
 Rev. John N. Manning and Rev. Sol. Apple ac- 
 companied him to this meeting. On their return 
 home, while gliding smoothly down the Ohio on the 
 Sabbath, they decided to have religious exercises on 
 the steamer, and my brother was called on to preach, 
 and he did so, and all had a precious waiting upon 
 the Lord, and a melting happy season together. And 
 the impression made will never be forgotten by the 
 many passengers down time's rapid, and ever ebb- 
 ing tide. 
 
 His Ministerial Report at his Conference this year 
 will give the reader some idea of the amount of labor 
 he had performed. 
 
 W. B. Wellons — Have been in charge of the church 
 at Suflfolk, where I preached twice every Sabbath, 
 and held a prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening. 
 Have been absent but three whole Sabbaths in the 
 year; once to dedicate a new church in the Valley, 
 once to perform the funeral services of a dear friend 
 
246 Addeess at Graham. 
 
 and once in attendance upon the World's Evangeli- 
 cal Alliance in New York. Have edited the Christian 
 Sun, and superintended all the publications of the 
 Church — have continued in th« agency of the Suffolk 
 Collegiate Institute — preached one hundred and one 
 ■sermons— performed the funeral services of sixty 
 persons, and married twenty-six couples. 
 
 The General Convention met this year (1874) at 
 Graham, Alamance county, North Carolina. He 
 was again elected President. We append liere his 
 opening address. It shows the spirit and feelings of 
 the man. Read it and you will read the true char- 
 acter of William B. Wellons : 
 
 Opening Address. 
 
 Brethren : — I hail you as the servants of a common 
 Master, and children of the one heavenly Parent 
 above. I look into your faces with a proud satisfac- 
 tion. We have not labored in vain, during the four 
 years, since last we met in General Council. God 
 has mercifully preserved the lives of all who com- 
 posed our last meeting, and we are here, according 
 to appointment, for friendly greeting, brotherly 
 counsel, social, spiritual exercises, and earnest Chris- 
 tian work. Let us, first of all, lift our hearts to our 
 Heavenly Guardian and Friend, with grateful emo- 
 tion, for his wonderful goodness to us manifested ; 
 let us fall down and worship Him, with humility, 
 with steadfast confidence and in childlike simplicity ; 
 let us draw up close to Him, and to one another, 
 and realizing the blessed truth that we are brethren, 
 
Address at Graham. 247 
 
 let us be united in sympathy, in love, and enter 
 upon our work determined to pull sweetly together, 
 and endeavor, each one, to please not himself but 
 his neighbor to edification. 
 
 We have a great work before us. Never before 
 was such a position occupied by us, and never be- 
 fore did such a responsibility rest upon us. A new 
 idea was born, a new thought burst into life and a 
 living principle was developed, when the Christian 
 organization came into existence. It was a resur- 
 rection from the dead, of a great truth that had long 
 been sleeping. Jesus had prayed that his discifJles 
 might be one. He had announced himself the 
 Head of his Church — calling it His Church — and 
 had declared that the gates of hell should not pre- 
 vail against it. He had given to his Church his 
 own new name, and when in his death the wall of 
 partition which had so long divided Jew and Gen- 
 tile had been broken down, and the Gentiles were 
 admitted to Church communion, the believers in 
 Him, Jews and Gentiles alike were called Christians 
 first at Antioch. Membership in this Church and 
 the wearing of this new name ceased to be a birth- 
 right, but whosoever should do his will became His. 
 Character became the test of fellowship, and not an 
 inherited birthright. It had been declared that 
 every man should give account of himself to God, 
 and the right of private judgment, therefore, became 
 an inalienable privilege. 
 
 But, men had departed from this position, the 
 Church bad become sectarian, and these first ideas 
 
248 Address at Graham. 
 
 had become obsolete — hatJ long been buried out of 
 sight. The moving spirits in the organization 
 which we, my brethren, represent to-day, resurrected 
 these first ideas and first principles, and held them 
 up again to light. They lived again. They have 
 been reared and cultivated until quite vigorously 
 they stand. The child has been long in reaching 
 manhood, but maturity has at last been attained, 
 and these long hidden principles are now the admi- 
 ration of the whole Christian -world having been 
 in some way infused into every sect, party and de- 
 nomination. The very principles first espoused by 
 our organization are fast becoming the beauty and 
 glory of the earth. The great union army of Christ 
 is forming on earth, and we are in the lead — hum- 
 ble as we have always been, small as our numbers 
 are, yet the eyes of the world are upon us, and the 
 great colony of believers are gathering one by one 
 around the standard which we have resurrected and 
 reared. How responsible is the position which we 
 occupy ! How great is the work before us ! Con- 
 sider, my brethren, we are the representatives of this 
 great movement — this grand work, and we are here 
 from our distant homes for consultation, for confer- 
 ence, for co-operation in devising new plans, and 
 maturing work heretofore commenced. We must 
 at once bend ourselves to the duty, and bringing 
 into exercise all the strength we can command and 
 all the wisdom we possess; relying upon Divine 
 grace, let every one of us determine to do each one 
 his part in the great performance, with faithfulness. 
 
Address at Graham. 249 
 
 Wherein we have failed heretofore, let us not take 
 time to consider, except to make practical the wis- 
 dom of experience and improve upon the past. We 
 might have done more, we might have done better, 
 but let the dead past bury its dead. We are the 
 stewards of a living present, and we have not time 
 to look back and grieve over the missteps, but pres- 
 ent duties claim all our time and all our thoughts — 
 what we do must be done quickly and with our 
 might. 
 
 And now, one and all, brethren, to the work be- 
 fore us. 
 
 To make practical our views of Christian union, 
 permanently establish our organization, and yet 
 steer clear of the sect spirit, and sectarian practice, 
 will require all the wisdom we can command, all 
 the prudence we possess, and a good degree of grace. 
 
 Our union must have truth as its basis ; it must 
 be associated with liberty, and well seasoned with 
 charity. Those like minded must co-operate to- 
 gether, and such prudential regulations as are essen- 
 tially necessary to efficient co-operation must be en- 
 forced ; and yet our devotion to what is generally 
 received as truth, must not lead us to separate our- 
 selves from any who are joined to Christ. There 
 must be much liberty exercised, where the path of 
 truth is not clearly marked out. We have in the 
 writings of the Evangelists, the Acts of the Apostles, 
 and in the Epistles, only a general outline of what 
 we now term church government, leaving much to 
 be filled out by existing necessities, and these neces- 
 16 
 
250 Address at Graham. 
 
 sities must be governed to a great extent by the cir- 
 cumstances surrounding each local church organiza- 
 tion. I conclude, that in a union society like ours, 
 entire uniformity of government is hardly attainable. 
 On general principles we may agree ; in the main we 
 may be alike, but the details of government must be 
 left to each local church. 
 
 Scripture history reveals this fact to us, that all 
 the disciples in any given locality compose the 
 church in that locality. The members of the one . 
 church in any city or town, may have worshiped at 
 different places in the same city or town, but the 
 different bands of worshipers were considered only 
 one church. Hence, we read of the church at Jeru- 
 salem, at Antioch, at Corinth, at Ephesns, and at 
 Philippi. These different bodies were called, when 
 spoken of collectively, the Churches, but when spoken 
 of individually, the Church. I take it for granted 
 that the precise code of laws which governed the 
 Church in Jerusalem, could not in every particular 
 suit the Church at Antioch or at Corinth. Jewish 
 converts exclusively made up some of these Churches, 
 and Jewish and Gentile converts, united, made up 
 others. The same rules or laws, in detail, did not 
 therefore suit every Church alike. 
 
 At the present time Churches on our platform are 
 springing up all around us— union Churches, ex- 
 tending the hand of fellowship to all believers in 
 Christ. But each Church must, of necessity, have 
 its local prejudices, as each member of any local 
 church has educational biases, and his prejudices. 
 
Address at Graham. 251 
 
 Churches, agreed upon the subject of union, and 
 universal brotherhood, must, if they would co-oper- 
 ate and be mutual helpers one of another, allow one 
 another all the liberty which a due regard to truth 
 will permit, and be forbearing one toward another, 
 in all things. 
 
 We must be united. We must co-operate. Our strength 
 must be thrown together, and we must cultivate 
 christian acquaintanceship, and exercise brotherly 
 love one toward another. But due allowances must 
 be made for any difference in educational training, 
 in local tastes, and local peculiarities. We must not 
 hecom.e a sect. We must not become sectarian in 
 spirit. We must not require others to conform to 
 our tastes in every particular, in order to our fellow- 
 ship. On the other hand we must guard well against 
 lax views and practices. We cannot open the door of 
 our fellowship wider than Christ has opened it. 
 Christ accepted all who repented of their sins and 
 believed in Him, of every class, tribe and nation, 
 and we should do the same. All who exercise re- 
 pentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, we should receive to our fellowship. 
 
 Unity of spirit we should earnestly seek after, as 
 laying the foundation for organic Church unity. 
 How shall this unity of spirit and organic Church 
 unity be made practical? This is the important 
 question. Practical union will be manifest, when 
 believers learn to meet together, sing together, pray 
 together and perform all the parts of worship in 
 concert; communing together at the table of the 
 
252 Address at Graham. 
 
 common Saviour of all, and working together where 
 good is to be accomplished. So far, at least, union 
 may be made practical. And is there actual need, 
 in our present state, for more unity than this ? Can 
 we reasonably expect more than this ? "We may be 
 one in mind and in spirit, but we never can be one in 
 sentiment on all questions, because it is utterly im- 
 possible for ns to see all things precisely alike, and 
 when we pretend to see all alike and believe the 
 same things, we practice hypocrisy, and show a lack 
 of honesty which is not becoming. Human minds 
 cannot be so packed, that there will be no crevices, 
 and no difference between them. We have different 
 gifts, different degrees of intellect, we receive a dif- 
 ferent culture, and we are not all possessed of the 
 same amount of spiritual discernment, and we can- 
 not be entirely united in sentiment, but in feeling and 
 spirit we may be one. Let us, therefore, be content 
 with the amount of oneness which is attainable, and 
 not strive to go beyond the ability with which the 
 great Creator has endowed us. 
 
 Let me rehearse the points made. "We are the 
 representatives of an organization now, in the lead 
 of this great reform union movement. The eyes of 
 union men are everywhere upon us. They are 
 anxious upon our account. They are satisfied that 
 the principles which we have espoused are the true 
 principles, and that we have laid down the true basis 
 for the coming together of Christian people. But 
 they anxiously enquire, if we have the right spirit 
 for this great work — have we the new and sanctified 
 
Addkess at Geaham. 253 
 
 affections, the brotherly feeling so often referred to 
 in the gospel, the mighty need of the present hour. 
 Can we stand opposition and not be moved ? Can 
 we bear misrepresentation? Can we endure con- 
 tumely and reproach ? Can we resist evil with good, 
 and thus pour coals of fire on the heads of our ene- 
 mies? Meet with opposition we must; to be mis- 
 represented must be our lot; to be reproached, cen- 
 sured, sneered at and scorned will be a part of our 
 experience. Can we stand all this ? Have we the 
 spirit that will enable us to stand ? Can we go on 
 lovingly, unitedly, preserving the l^uth, hugging- it 
 to our bosoms and bringing forth the fruits of holi- 
 ness ? Can we go on and continue to love as breth- 
 ren, those who differ with us and who do not see as 
 we do? Can we bear misrepresentation and re- 
 proach and not be forced into belligerence — and not 
 be elbowed into a sect ? These are practical, com- 
 mon sense queetione, which we may as well look 
 straight in the face. Many sectarians want to put 
 us into a hostile attitude. Can we prevent them 
 from accomplishing their design ? These enquiries 
 are pertinent^ they are timely. Brethren, we mud 
 Mand; we must show that we are not a mere party ^ 
 not a sect, but simply a band of christian worship- 
 ers and workers — working for God and to save 
 .-souls. If we exhibit fraternal love ; if we show that 
 we are really what we profess to be; if we make 
 plain that we are contending earnestly for a heav- 
 enly principle and not for personal or worldly ag- 
 
254 Address at Graham. 
 
 grandizement, we shall eventually become a resist- 
 less power. 
 
 The great weary heart of the Church, brethren, is 
 aching for our success. From Maine to Texas, 
 prayers this day go up for us, and longing eyes are 
 watching the steps which we shall here take. Oh ! 
 brethren, it is enough to make us tremble, — to cause 
 us to fall down upon our faces to the earth and cry 
 oat, Oh ! Lord, who is sufficient for these things ? 
 
 But to the next point. We have organized — were 
 forced to organize. In organization there is strength. 
 One part of our Ijusiness now is to make permanent 
 our organization. This, you will permit me to say, 
 will be best attained by strengthening, but not alter- 
 ing, our present plan. It may be that our form of 
 government, as agreed upon in 1866, is not in every 
 respect perfect. No human production is perfect. 
 But take it all in all, it meets our wants; it has 
 worked well in the general, and I doubt if we can 
 better it by alteration, without marring its beauty 
 and destroying its harmony. I therefore advise that 
 efforts at change, if any such be contemplated, be 
 abandoned, and let us rally around our platform as 
 it stands, and endeavor to establish it, and this can 
 be effected in no way so efficiently as by letting 
 well enough alone. 
 
 Let us lift ourselves, at present, above the drudgery 
 which has already been done. The foundation has 
 been laid, — has been well laid, and now let us go on 
 to improve, by strengthening our stakes, enlarging 
 our borders, and making room for the thousands 
 
Address at Graham. 255 
 
 that are marching up to the position occupied by 
 us. Behold them coming ! From the North and 
 the South, the East and the West, they are coming! 
 Make ready, make ready to receive them. Unfold 
 your arms, spread them wide, our friends are ap- 
 proaching. Let the doors of our hearts fly open 
 wide to receive them. 
 
 We are' not a sect. Thank God we are not a sect. 
 Our arms are not folded, the doors of our hearts are 
 not closed. 'No pent up Utica is ours. Our sympa- 
 thies, our love and our fraternal feelings are as wide 
 as the boundless universe. See to it, brethren, that 
 these arms are never folded, the doors of these hearts 
 are never closed, that our sympathies, our charity 
 and our fraternal emotions grow and increase in 
 power and energy. 
 
 We must have no controversy with those who 
 differ with us about small matters. Unessentials 
 must never stand between us and any who love and 
 serve Jesus, All are our brethren whom Jesus re- 
 ceives and blesses, and no party or sectarian feeling 
 must ever separate us from them. Never! never! 
 
 And now, brethren, though I have been your 
 President for eight years past, I claim no more au- 
 thority than the youngest Elder among you ; allow 
 me to suggest to you some subjects, in addition to 
 what I have already presented, for your considera- 
 tion. 
 
 Consider what can be done to increase and give a 
 healthier growth to our religious literature — how 
 
256 Address at Graham. 
 
 publications may be increased, and given a wider 
 influence. 
 
 Consider the best means for the promotion of edu- 
 cation, the establishment of schools, and the diffusion 
 of knowledge among our people, and all with whom 
 we have influence. 
 
 Consider and mature, if possible, some plan for 
 the planting of new Churches, and for the reception 
 of ministers and churches drawing toward us and 
 the position we occupy. • 
 
 Be not in haste, brethren, to pass over these things, 
 and return to your homes. Let no one think of leav- 
 ing this place until our work has been completed. 
 For the present, let things at honae and elsewhere 
 take care of themselves, and to the work here before 
 us bend your every effort until our work is done, 
 and then away to our work elsewhere. 
 
 Pardon a personal allusion. In your confidence, you 
 have retained me in my present position, as Presi- 
 dent of this Supreme body of our organization, from 
 the first meeting of our body after the close of the 
 ever to be remembered war, until now. I can put 
 my hand upon my heart and say truthfully, I have 
 done what I could in my position, and yet I have 
 done but little — not half what I desired — not half 
 what I might have performed under other circum- 
 stances. But I do not reproach myself for any lack 
 of effort, but only lament my lack of ability. 
 
 Before me, at the present, there opens a door of 
 usefulness; a field for accomplishing good, is spread 
 out before my vision — it is white unto the harvest, 
 
Address at Graham. 257 
 
 and my soul is panting to enter it. It seems as if I 
 had just emerged from night into day. The future, 
 the future is full of hope and promise. Oh ! shall I, 
 shall you, my brethren, be able to show ourselves 
 equal to the work before us, and capable to fill the 
 position in which Divine Providence seems to have 
 placed us? 
 
 Brethren, one more word, before I close these in- 
 troductory remarks. Do your work in harmony. Be 
 careful of one another's feelings in debate. Shun 
 all personalities. Be not sensitive, overmuch so at 
 least. Cultivate an amiable, loving spirit. Bear 
 with one another's imperfections, and so bear one 
 another's burdens. Let none of us think more highly 
 of ourselves than we ought to think, but let us be 
 sober, watching unto prayer, and let our moderation 
 be known unto all. 
 
 Carry v/ith you, dear brethren, in the families 
 with whom you are domiciled, the spirit of meek- 
 ness, gentleness, and christian cheerfulness, without 
 lightness, with liumility without any display of 
 vanity. 
 
 Make every family feel better because of your tem- 
 porary stay among them, and so act as to impress all 
 with whom j^ou are brought in contact, for good. 
 Put a bridle upon your tongues in the social circle 
 and in the public assembly, and let your conversa- 
 tion be everywhere as becometh the gospel of Christ, 
 and the mission you are on. 
 
 And may this session of our Convention be the 
 most profitable and the most pleasant yet held, and 
 
258 Address at Graham. 
 
 when it is over mav we love to cherish in our hearts 
 a recollection of all its proceedings, and feel ever af- 
 terwards drawn closer together as fellow-laborers in 
 a good and glorious cause. 
 
 At the E. V. Annual Conference this year, he gave 
 a somewhat lengthy and Yery interesting account of 
 his trip to the Union Convention which met at Cin- 
 cinnati. He met there Melish, MeCune, Thrall and 
 many other strong advocates for union upon the 
 name Christian, with a liberal church polity. All 
 except Dr. Wellons, Eev. Sol. Apple and Rev. J. N. 
 Manning were representatives from other denomi- 
 nations. He spoke very touchingly of their disap- 
 pointment in effecting the desired end, on account of 
 one who wished to be called master and leader, and 
 would not acquiesce with the majority in their lib' 
 eral measures, but wished all to come over to him, 
 although he had heretofore so strongly advocated 
 union. He spoke of the delightful Sabbath's ser- 
 vices on the waters ; of the exhortations, prayers and 
 songs, which rangon the rolling, dashing waves and 
 echoed to the distant shores. He expressed himself 
 much gratified at the pleasant trip, and felt sure it 
 would finally result in good to ward liberal Chris- 
 tianity. 
 
 In this Conference he zealously advocated the con- 
 tinuation of Sabbath schools through the winter. 
 That while the Sabbath school was suspended, or the 
 church was idle, Satan was at work upon the hearts 
 of the children to counteract the good impressions 
 made during the summer months, &c. He also spoke 
 
Title of D. D. Conferked. 259 
 
 with much earnestness upon the Temperance ques- 
 tion, and plead very feelingly for the abandonment 
 of the manufacture, traific and use of ardent spirits 
 as a beverage. His Conference elected him a fra- 
 ternal messenger to both the North Carolina and 
 Virginia and the Deep River (N. C.) Conferences. 
 At this Conference he tendered his resignation as 
 Secretary of Conference. He had held this position 
 long and performed the work faithfully, and a rising 
 vote of thanks was offered by the body, for his long 
 and efficient labors. The Sabbath School Conven- 
 tion which met this year, as an evidence of their ap- 
 preciation of his administrative ability, again elected 
 him their presiding officer. He was as usual present 
 at the session of the North Carolina and Virginia 
 Conference, to encourage and cheer the hearts of his 
 brethren of that State. 
 
 The Title op D. D. Conferred upon Him. 
 
 In 1875, the Trustees and Faculty of Rutherford 
 College, North Carolina, conferred on him the de- 
 gree of Doctor of Divinity. This year also the 
 Union Convention met in Suffolk. Revs. Thomas 
 J. -Melish, of Cincinnati, Ohio, W. C. McCune, of 
 Butler, Kentucky, and many other union spirits 
 were present. An address of welcome to the mem- 
 bers of the body in appropriate and feeling terms 
 was made by Rev. Wm. B. Wellons, and was re- 
 sponded to by Rev. W. C. McCune, of Butler, Ken- 
 tucky. 
 
 Dr. Wellons and Rev. James Williamson of QliiOi 
 
260 Earnest Temperance Efforts. 
 
 ably discussed a report submitted by Kev. W. C. 
 McOune on Christian Union, a theme on which he 
 delighted to dwell, a cause that was near his heart, 
 and engaged his sincere and anxious thoughts. 
 
 Dr. Wellons afterwards spoke at large in advocacy 
 of the report of the committee as adapted to remove 
 public prejudices, and draw into the movement many 
 who are standing aloof on mere technical grounds. 
 Dr. Wellons was appointed Corresponding Secretary 
 of the body. 
 
 We find in June, 1876, he was at Marion, South 
 Carolina, attending a session of the Supreme Coun- 
 cil of the Friends of Temperance, and as Secretary 
 of the meeting, and taking an active part in all the 
 proceedings. 
 
 At the meeting the following resolutions were 
 offered : 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of three ministers of 
 the gospel be chosen, whose duty it shall be to pre-' 
 pare an address to professors of religion of every 
 name, urging them to co-operate with Temperance 
 organizations in their efforts to save the young from 
 the evils of intemperance. 
 
 Resolved, That all the Temperance organizations 
 be fraternally entreated to unite with us in earnest, 
 •continued and prayerful efforts to induce that co- 
 operation which the preceding resolution contem- 
 plates. 
 
 The resolution was adopted, and, on motion, Rev. 
 W. B. Wellons was appointed one of the committee. 
 
 At the Eastern Virginia Conference, this year, 
 
Last Confekenck Attended. 261 
 
 Rev. W. B. WelloDS was unanimously elected Presi- 
 ' dent of the Conference. . 
 
 On the second Jay of the meeting, " the special 
 order of the hour being the consideration of the 
 report on Sunday Schools, laid on the table the day 
 before, the matter was taken up and the report re- 
 read. 
 
 Rev. J. C. Ralston had found difficulty in getting 
 
 persons to study after bringing them into the school. 
 
 He recommended the procuring of better teachers. 
 
 Thought the pastor should appoint the officers and 
 teachers. 
 
 Rev. Dr. "Wellons called Rev. J. T. Whitley to the 
 chair, and spoke on the report. He thought, that 
 the Superintendent ought to be appointed either by 
 the Quarterly Conference of the Church, or the Pas- 
 tor of the Church. The office of Assistant Super- 
 intendent was unnecessary. Thought that half of 
 the Sunday School teachers with whom he was ac- 
 quainted ought to resign. Schools generally have 
 too many teachers. Teachers' meetings should be 
 held for the improvement of teachers." 
 
 He was at the North Carolina and Virginia Con- 
 ference, which met at Pope's Chapel, Franklin 
 county, North Carolina. On Sunday morning at 
 eleven o'clock he preached the dedicatory sermon of 
 the new house there, to a large congregation, not- 
 withstanding it was an inclement day. The ser- 
 mon will be published in another place. This was 
 the last Conference he ever attended. 
 
262 President of S. C. Institute. 
 
 He is chosen sPresident of S. C. Institute. 
 
 In the summer of this year, he was chosen Presi- 
 dent of the Suffolk Collegiate Institute by the Trus- 
 tees of the school. He accepted the position and 
 presided with much honor to the school and the 
 cause of education. 
 
 He Attends the Moody and Sanky Meeting at 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 In the early part of 1876, I was on a visit to my 
 Brother's in Suffolk, when we received an invita- 
 tion to attend Messrs. Moody and Sanky's great 
 Evangelical meeting at Philadelphia; and after a 
 little consultation we decided to accept the invita- 
 tion, and in a few days afterwards, we had arranged 
 for the trip, and were off for the meeting, accom- 
 panied by Rev. J. T. Whitley. On our arrival we 
 were kindly furnished a home with the hospitable 
 family of Hon. Charles Gibbons, where we remained 
 for nearly a week and attended the meeting. 
 
 He joined with the writer and said, when he 
 heard Mr. Sanky sing the " Ninety and Nine " the 
 second time, he was paid for coming to the meeting ; 
 and soon he was greatly interested in the meeting, 
 and labors of the enquiry room I reckon this was 
 the last revival meeting he ever attended. 
 
 The writer seeing he was badly care-worn and 
 almost prostrated at the close of the meeting, urged 
 him to go on to New York and spend a week or 
 more, and Eev. J. T. Whitley and the writer would 
 return and look after the interest of the Christian 
 
Failing Health. 263 
 
 Sun and his church for him. We finally prevailed 
 on him to do so, and he parted with us in tears and 
 started for New York, but turned oflf by the way 
 and spent a day perhaps, or more, with his old 
 friend, Dr. J. R. Freese. And from there on to New 
 York, stopped with his old and tried friend and 
 brother, J. E. Brush, and devoted the most of his 
 time in visiting places of interest, such as the 
 parks, &c. 
 
 His Decline of Health — Attends the Supreme 
 Council op Friends of Temperance at 
 Jackson, Mississippi — Attends 
 Centennial at Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 When our brother returned home, he appeared 
 much refreshed and took hold of his abundance of 
 labor awaiting his attention. But he soon found . 
 some difficulty in breathing when he lay down, and 
 was troubled with a choking that he could not very 
 well account for, and wrote me frequently about it. 
 But he stood at his post and right at his work as 
 usual, carrying forward the many enterprises of 
 benevolence devolving upon him, with the many 
 cares of a domestic nature, and which had increased 
 by the misfortunes of others. We all saw his usual 
 \ife and buoyancy of spirits was broken down and 
 his multiplying cares and anxieties were more than 
 he could carry. But such were his energies, there 
 was no holding him back, — work he would. And 
 as the time was approaching for him to attend the 
 
264 At Jackson, Mississippi. • 
 
 meeting of the Supreme Council, we felt much anx- 
 ietj', and an unwillingness for him to leave his home 
 for such a trip. But such was his great love for the 
 Temperance cause, he could not well refrain, nor 
 could we dissuade him from going. But little did we 
 think this meeting of the Friends of Temperance 
 was the last he would ever attend ; an Order of which 
 he was one of the main founders and had labored so 
 earnestly to build up. And the last Temperance 
 speech he ever made, was at Jackson, Mississippi. 
 But alas ! his work was near its close, and rest just 
 ahead of him. 
 
 At the Supreme Council which met in 1876 in the, 
 Senate Chamber of the State House in Jacksonville, 
 the propriety of appointing fraternal messengers to 
 the National Temperance Congress to meet in Phila- 
 delphia on the 13th June, and to other Temperance 
 bodies, was taken up and discussed by Dr. Wellons 
 and others. 
 
 On motion, Eev. W. B. Wellons and Rev. C. B. 
 Galloway were appointed delegates to the Centennial 
 Temperance Congress to convene the next week in 
 Philadelphia, and that these brethren be further au- 
 thorized to appear as fraternal messengers to any 
 other Temperance organization that may meet in 
 Philadelphia during the continuation of the Cen- 
 tennial Exhibition. In this meeting Dr. Wellons 
 presented the following resolution: 
 
 Resolved, That the pledge of the Friends of Tem- 
 perance in its spirit is intended to prevent those who 
 take it, from the use of any and every kind of drink, 
 
At Jackson, Mississippi. 265 
 
 no matter by what name called, that will produce 
 intoxication. 
 
 Here is the last resolution ever offered by Dr 
 Wellons in the Supreme Council or any other public 
 meeting we have any account of. 
 
 Resolved, That we entertain, as Friends of Tem- 
 perance, fraternal feelings towards all organizations 
 having for their object the promotion of the princi- 
 ples and practice of total abstinence from the man- 
 ufacture, sale and use of intoxicating drinks, but we 
 hereby enter our protest against the establishment 
 of any new organization in any place, where it is to 
 work to the injury of a society already existing and 
 working in the place. 
 
 This resolution was in perfect keeping with the 
 life and character of our dear brother, who was such 
 a strong advocate of union efforts and union feel- 
 ings, to promote any and every good work. 
 
 We also find a resolution of thanks in the Supreme 
 Council by Representative Hines, as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Supreme Council 
 are due and hereby tendered to the President elect, 
 Rev. Geo. B. Wetmore, and to the Secretary, Rev. 
 W. B. Wellons, D. D., for the able and eflBcient man^ 
 ner in which they have discharged the duties ap- 
 pertaining to their offices. 
 
 Lastly. He says when the minutes of the Su- 
 preme Council had gone to the press : " Brethren 
 of the Order, the proceedings of the Supreme Coun- 
 cil will show you that our cause is not languishing ; 
 but still hopeful and encouraging. Since the ad- 
 17 
 
266 At Philadelphia. 
 
 journment of the Council at Jackson, I have enjoyed 
 the privilege of mingling freely with the leading 
 Temperance workers of the world in the Interna- 
 tional Temperance Congress in Philadelphia. Every- 
 ^ where Temperance principles are becoming more 
 and more prominent. Let new enthusiasm be kin- 
 dled in all our bosoms, and let us learn to regard 
 our Temperance work as the work of God, and go 
 forward." 
 
 Dr. Wellons left Jackson, Mississippi, and in 
 sixty-one hours he was in Philadelphia. The 
 weather was excessively warm, and when he reached 
 the cily he was wearied, and almost prostrated, but 
 unflinching as he was, he entered the Temperance 
 Congress and did his work there with considerable 
 zeal and earnestness, and then spent a few days 
 looking through the Centennial Exhibition, with 
 some interest. However, his interest in the grand 
 display of articles in all the departments was much 
 lessened by his physical weakness. And he soon 
 discovered trouble about his mind. At times it was 
 delirious and he was unable to give proper attention 
 to his business. The physicians were called in, one 
 after another, and all advised him to leave hom^ 
 and its cares to spend a while in some healthy cli- 
 mate, and the writer was freely consulted about 
 some suitable place to visit. But he discovering his 
 condition, began to make some preparation in his 
 temporal affairs, preparatory to closing them up 
 while living. And a counsel that he thought felt an 
 interest in his welfare and his family was chosen. 
 
At Old Point. 267 
 
 and his will prepared. In a few days lie left in com- 
 pany with his wife for Old Point or Fortress Monroe, 
 thinking the sea breeze would possibly rally him. 
 But he gradually grew more feeble. And seeing he 
 was sinking, without any signs of improvement, he 
 called in two eminent physicians of the village to 
 examine him. After careful examination, and con- 
 sultation together, they returned to his room and 
 told him they were under the painful necessity of 
 making known to him his true condition ; that he 
 had an abscess on one of his lungs that was then dis- 
 charging very freely of a very offensive matter, which 
 was a heavy drain on his system and he would sink 
 under it, if he could not take considerable refresh- 
 ment, and that he never would recover from it, and 
 he had better return to his own home, for the atmos- 
 phere was too damp there for him. " "What !" said 
 he, " I never to preach any more ?" " No," they an- 
 swered, " You may be patched up, but never can be 
 cured, and never preach any more." This was too 
 much for him to bear very well, and he almost sank 
 under it. And when his physician from his own 
 home went down in a day or two, he told him the 
 decision of the physicians there, and he concurred 
 in the opinion that he had tubercular consump- 
 tion. 
 
 ' He left there and came to Norfolk, where he called 
 in an eminent physician that concurred with the 
 others in the nature of his disease. After remaining 
 with Bro. A. L. Hill and kind family in Norfolk for 
 a few days, he returned home, alas I to go no more. 
 
268 Eesolutions of Sympathy. 
 
 Here Dr. Briggs, his regular physician, called in all 
 the physicians in town to consult with him during 
 his lingering affliction, but they all could only afford 
 him a little temporary relief, and he gradually grew 
 worse. When one abscess would get well another 
 would form. And physician after physician called 
 jn to see him, but could not afford him any relief. 
 His many friends that were accessible came in to 
 see him, and every act of kindness that could be 
 bestowed, was performed by his many friends. 
 
 At the Conference in 1876, Rev. J. N. Manning 
 offered the following preamble and resolution : 
 
 " Whereas, Eev. Dr. W. B. Wellons, whose valua" 
 ble and important services have been given to the 
 Church for more than a quarter of a century, and 
 whose heart and soul have been wholly absorbed in 
 the spread of liberal and Biblical Christianity, giv- 
 ing an impetus to religious truth and the progress 
 of evangelical union heretofore unknown among us, 
 is prostrated by lingering illness, preventing his 
 valuable and much desired presence with this body ; 
 therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That Conference feels most sensibly and 
 painfully the absence of Rev. W. B. Wellons, D. D., 
 and we do hereby express our warmest and heartiest 
 sympathy for our dear brother in his protracted 
 sickness, and dp pray to the Father of all mercy to 
 have him continually in His holy keeping, and if 
 consistent with his divine will to lengthen his life 
 for the joy of the Church, and the glory of his ex- 
 cellent name." 
 
Resolutions of Sympathy. 269 
 
 The following resolutions were offered by Bro. P. 
 R. Hardin, of the North Carolina and Virginia Con- 
 ference, and unanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That this Conference has learned with 
 feelings of sincere sorrow, of the long and painful 
 affliction of our highly esteemed and much beloved 
 brother, Rev. W. B. Wellons, of Suffolk, Virginia, 
 whose presence and counsels we have so often en- 
 joyed. 
 
 Resolved, That this Conference tender our beloved 
 brother assurances of our sympathy for him in his 
 affliction, and our prayers for his speedy restoration 
 to health. 
 
 Resolved, That we spend a season of special prayer 
 in behalf of our dear brother. 
 
 At these annual meetings, oh how much he was 
 missed ! We had been so long accustomed to have 
 him with us and have his counsel and his presence. 
 His presence was so inspiring and we had been so 
 long looking to him as our leader, his absence left 
 a sad vaccuum. He had been with us to instruct, 
 stimulate and encourage through many trying years, 
 and his absence therefore cast over us a gloomy pall. 
 
 His disease was flattering, as that disease always 
 is, and on one occasion, when I was with him, when 
 too feeble to be up but little of his time, he thought 
 he would get able to visit the writer and other 
 friends in North Carolina on the approach of spring. 
 He clung to life strongly and felt he was but in the 
 prime of life, and it was hard for him to make up 
 his mind that his approaching end was so near. 
 
270 Gives up the Sun. 
 
 He Gives up the Christian Sun and Chukches 
 ON Account op Declining Health. 
 
 The Christian Sun that he had edited for a quarter 
 of a century, must now be given up to be edited by 
 another. His desire was that it might be continued 
 at Suffolk, from which place its light had so long 
 been shining. It was his own private property, but 
 the organ of the Christian Church, South. He sum- 
 moned the foreman, Maj. D. B. Dunbar to his room, 
 and proposed to sell the Sun office lo him, provided 
 he could procure a suitable person to go in with him 
 to edit the paper for him, at the same time making 
 liberal propositions to him to donate a portion of 
 the oflBce to him, provided he would purchase the 
 balance. This matter was considered by the brother, 
 and he proposed to Rev. J. T. Whitley to join him 
 in the contract, and the company was formed and 
 the contract entered into. 
 
 After Dr. Wellons became so much afflicted he 
 was not able to attend to it, and the Sun suffered 
 mucb in consequence of its not having necessary 
 attention, at least to make it a success. Here a 
 heavy responsibility had been removed from his 
 mind by its transfer, and he felt much relieved. » For 
 while on his bed of affliction he was much troubled 
 about its interest in general, when he was not able 
 to do anything for it. Now for over thirty years, 
 perhaps, he had been connected with it, the parting 
 was painful to his feelings, although it had passed 
 
Gives up His Churches. 271 
 
 into the hands of those he had the most ini' 
 plicit confidence in, and felt it would continue to 
 make its appearance from the town of Suffolk, where 
 he had lived so long. But it would be difficult 
 to find one possessing the deep interest he did in 
 the town of Sufi'olk and surrounding country, or by 
 one possessing such a power over public opinion, 
 that would arouse citizens to enterprise, industry 
 and public spiritedness, or induce strangers to this 
 portion of the country to look for a home, as he had 
 done. 
 
 But alas ! his pen was laid down and his study 
 became desolate and lonely. The exchanges that 
 lay scattered in every direction were gathered up 
 and the room adjusted, the desks closed, the books 
 all arranged in the library. The Christian Sun no 
 longer contained those precious dew-drops that were 
 sought for with such avidity by its many readers ; 
 although it continued to be issued from Suffolk, and 
 was a valuable paper. 
 
 - Next comes the severing of his connection with 
 the church in Suffolk, that he had organized, and 
 had the pastoral care of for so many years, 
 where he had so many spiritual children and so 
 many ties that bound him so closely to the congre- 
 gation. He held to the churches at Suffolk and Beth- 
 lehem until nearly all hope had expired of ever 
 being able to preach again. He employed aid and 
 continued the pastor until he saw his work was 
 ended, when he resigned his connection with his 
 charges, Rev. J. T. Whitley taking charge of the 
 
272 Disease doing its Wokk. 
 
 Suffolk church, and Rev. E. W. Beale the church at 
 Bethlehem. 
 
 This was almost like severing the tender cords of 
 .life, to give up his pastoral work; but he could do 
 no more than yield to kind Providence and to the 
 terrible disease, consumption. 
 
 Conference came, but W. B. Wellons for the first 
 time, for many long years, was absent, and oh ! how 
 we all mourned our irreparable loss ! But he was 
 not there to fill his accustomed position. The meet- 
 ing of this body in 1876 was at Suffolk, his own 
 home. But he could not meet with his brethren 
 and friends, although many, who loved him tenderly 
 and fondly, of the dear brethren and sisters, visited 
 him during the sitting of the Conference. But they 
 saw only an emaciated form, weak and frail, and 
 scarcely able to sit up at all ; gradually giving way, 
 when a kind and loving wife, and affectionate daugh- 
 ter, son-in-law, little grand-children, sisters and 
 brother were waiting alternately by his bed-side, 
 ready to attend to every want, with many dear 
 friends — far more than could be permitted to visit 
 his room, in his severe afiliction ; all ready to do all 
 in their power to comfort him. But gradually he 
 sank, and day after day, and night after night, the 
 old family servant, Dennis, sat by, to render him all 
 the assistance he possibly could in raising him from 
 his pillow when not able to raise himself. And 
 Judia, who felt such an interest in him, was ready 
 to serve up anything in her power that she thought 
 would tempt his appetite, that he might partake o 
 
Official Stations Filled. 273 
 
 Gome refreshment that might give at least some 
 strength to his emaciated form. These old family 
 servants were always in readiness to render him any 
 assistance it was possible to give. His dear wife, 
 like a ministering angel, toiled day and night, and 
 kept her sleepless vigils by his side, counting noth- 
 ing too hard to perform, and every duiy to him a 
 pleasure, and seemed never weary trying to admin- 
 ter relief and comfort. But amidst all these at- 
 tentions and kindness, he gradually yielded to writh- 
 ing, wasting disease. 
 
 Many of his friends who saw his incessant toil, 
 for years had predicted he would give way under 
 his abundance of labor, and when a friend called to 
 see him he could only see him a very short time, 
 before he must necessarily turn back to business, or a 
 printer's boy was after copy, or some one else on 
 business was crowding on him. And the writer has 
 spent hours when he would not permit him to leave 
 his study, but could not find time to talk at all with 
 him ; and that was the experience of many others. 
 And he was almost entirely deprived of the associa- 
 tion of his family, confining himself to business 
 night and day and preaching regularly twice on 
 Sundays, and holding a prayer-meeting every Tues- 
 day night, besides attending fifty or sixty funerals 
 and marrying from twenty-five to thirty couples 
 annually. We have some idea of the amount of 
 business crowding upon his mind and energies when 
 we recollect that he was Editor of the Christian Sun, 
 President of the Suffolk Collegiate Institute, Presi- 
 
274 Official Stations Filled. 
 
 dent of the General Convention, President of the 
 Eafitern Virginia Conference, President of the Sab- 
 bath School Convention of the E. V. Conference, 
 Secretary of the State Council of the Friends of 
 Temperance of Virginia, Secretary of the Supreme 
 Council of the Friends of Temperance of the United 
 States, Corresponding Secretary of the Association 
 known as Union Christian^Church of America, one 
 of the Directors of the Farmers' Bank of Suffolk, 
 Pastor of two churches, besides many private mat- 
 ters of benevolence, known to but few but himself. 
 It would have required, comparatively, an iron con- 
 stitution to endure this amount of labor, for any 
 length of time, without giving way. With these 
 accumulated labors, we do not wonder that his nat- 
 urally frail constitution should have given way. 
 
 The writer was with him in his afflictions as much 
 as health and circumstances would allow and knew 
 much of his feelings, and it required a great effort 
 for him to be entirely reconciled to a separation 
 from friends and loved ones he held so dear, yet 
 finally did so. And when I was spending a few 
 weeks with him, a short time before his death, that 
 was one of his greatest troubles to give up his little 
 family. And sometimes he would talk with me and 
 express a hope of being able in the spring to get out 
 and come and spend a while with me at my home 
 in North Carolina, and with friends in Alamance 
 county, North Carolina. There was one branch of 
 his domestic affairs he had not arranged as he de- 
 sired, and much regretted it, but he gave it all up. 
 
Last Sickness and Death. 275 
 
 His Last Sickness and Closing Scene of Life. 
 
 I left him in the early part of February and came 
 home for a short time to recruit, promising to return 
 in a few weeks and remain with him for a month, 
 which gave him much comfort when we parted. 
 But I had barely reached home when I was notified 
 he was growing worse, and in a few days, just as I 
 was about to leave home to return to his bed-side, I 
 received a dispatch early Monday morning stating he 
 was dying. I was expecting it was not far off, but 
 not supposing it so near, and it effected my nervous 
 sensibilities very much, from which I suffered much 
 through the day in striving to reach his home and 
 sick-room. And when I got there, to my great com- 
 fort, he had rallied, and seeing I was so lame, it gave 
 him trouble. I found him calm and perfectly com- 
 posed, and entirely resigned to his approaching fate, 
 with Drs. Briggs, Kilby and Hines, of Kittrell's 
 North Carolina, an old tried friend, with him. He 
 had given up his family and friends, and much de- 
 sired to be released from his great sufferings, in a 
 happy frame of mind, anxiously waiting the closing 
 scene which he felt was very near. 
 
 But Tuesday came and went and yet he lingered 
 on the shores of time. Wednesday came and yet 
 he was with us. Thursday came and he was giving 
 way rapidly and desiring to go home to his rest. 
 Friday morning about day I was summoned to his 
 bed-side, by his devoted wife, whose physical powers 
 was almost exhausted with watching care and 
 
276 Last Sickness and Death. 
 
 trouble. On reaching the room, from which I had 
 but a short time been absent, I discovered that he 
 was declining more rapidly, and felt that was his 
 last day on earth with us. We were around him 
 and near him all day, and some of the signs of death 
 were visibly marked on his brow. And finally in 
 the evening I said to him, brother, you have fre- 
 quently expressed a wish to go and be with your 
 Saviour. I must tell you your time is drawing 
 near when you will leave us and go home to your 
 rest above. He turned his eyes to me when he ex- 
 claimed, " do you think so, brother James ?" I said 
 I am sure of that. You are now going. He paused 
 but a moment, when he said " send out for the doc- 
 tor ; I must have him to see me die. Send for Jesse 
 (Rev. J. T. Whitley), I want him to come," for he 
 had already arranged for him to preach his funeral, 
 and gave all the directions, and the ministers he 
 wished to be the pall bearers. He then said, " send 
 for my friends, let them come and see me die." In 
 a few minutes the Doctor was by his bed-side and 
 examined his pulse, when he said, " Doctor, what 
 do you think of my case?" when the Doctor replied, 
 " Mr. Wellons, you have long been wanting to go, 
 and be with your Saviour. You will soon be with 
 him ; for you are sinking fast." " Oh ! how long. 
 Doctor, before I go ?" Said the Doctor, " it may be 
 an hour or more." What a message of good news 
 to him when the Doctor said, " you will soon be 
 gone." His mind was perfectly clear and he was 
 perfectly composed. He would repeat one Scripture 
 
Last Sickness and Death. 277 
 
 promise after another, and asked the Doctor to ex- 
 amine his pulse again, and said, " how are they now, 
 Doctor?" The Doctor reluctantly replied, "your 
 pulse is all gone," Then he laid one hand ten- 
 derly on the hand of his weeping wife on one side 
 of the bed, and the other in his only child's, and 
 looked at the silent tears as they traced each other 
 down their cheeks, and repeated the beautiful pro- 
 mises of God's word. And when he could no longer 
 talk distinctly, he asked someone to help him talk, 
 when a dear brother minister, (for several of them 
 were there,) approached the bed and commenced to 
 repeat some of the precious promises in God's sacred 
 word, and among the rest the 23rd Psalm, " The Lord 
 is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Oh ! what de- 
 lightful words these were to a dying christian, just 
 ready to cross over on the other shore. His tongue 
 had began to be palsied, when his faithful physi- 
 cian said, " Mr. Wellons, do you know me?" He 
 said, " yes, it is Dr. Briggs." He then took out his 
 watch and held it before him and said, "can you 
 see this?" " Yes," said he, " it is your watch," his 
 breath growing shorter and he contending with 
 the last enemy, and the damp sweat pouring from 
 his brow and his extremities already cold, and his 
 eyes growing glassy and dim, I stood before him 
 and said, "Brother, do you see me now?" He 
 said, " I can't see you now, brother James." His 
 tongue had then grown stifif in death, but he yet re- 
 tained his mind until he sweetly breathed his last, 
 without scarcely a struggle. For the angels were 
 
278 Last Sickness and Death. 
 
 hovering around, and Jesus in their midst to ac- 
 company him to his home in the realms of light and 
 glory, to meet a dear father and sainted mother. A 
 few lingering breaths and all was over, when his 
 physician pronounced him dead. The struggle had 
 passed, the fight was over, the race was run, the 
 prize was won and the crown gained. His rest was 
 sure and his bliss complete. 
 
 But oh! what a sad day to dear loved ones, who 
 had been so long watching by his sick bedside. The 
 separation had come at last. It was a painful ordeal. 
 The lifeless form was there, but the vital spark had 
 gone out in the dark valley of the shadow of death. 
 The soul had escaped the prison of clay and gone 
 up to its rest. We mourned with aching hearts our 
 irreparable loss. Tears were profusely shed. Yet 
 all mourned with mingled emotions of joy. The 
 fond hope of meeting him again in his glorious, 
 transformed state in his new home in the heavenly 
 Jerusalem, the cheering expectation of seeing him 
 again in our Father's mansion house, to mingle our 
 joys in triumphant song, and no more be separated 
 stilled every thought of murmuring and were the 
 whisperings of peace to our souls. 
 
 He had already engaged the services of Mr. Arthur 
 E. Hall, a friend and undertaker in the city of Nor- 
 folk, to bury him, who had but a few years before 
 buried our mother. A d«ar friend left on the next 
 train to apprise him of the fact that he might be in 
 readiness and on hand at the appointed hour. 
 
 The funeral took place on Sunday morning, Feb- 
 
His Funeeal. 279 
 
 ruary 18th, 1877, at the Christian Church in Suffolk. 
 The house of worship had been draped in mourning 
 for the honored dead. Many dear friends having 
 been notified of it, and others hearing of his death, 
 came to the funeral, and before the appointed hour 
 of eleven o'clock arrived, the house was filled to its 
 utmost capacity with dear friends, anxious to show 
 respect to the memory of the departed man of God. 
 All the congregations in town and the surrounding 
 country were represented. 
 
 At a quarter to eleven, the funeral procession was 
 formed at the family residence on Kilby street, Mr. 
 Arthur E. Hall, undertaker, being in charge, and 
 the following pall-bearers accompanying the corpse: 
 Eevs. S. S. Barrett, Robert Rawls, E. W. Beale, R. 
 C. Tuck, C. J. Ralston and Bro. T. J. Kilby. 
 
 On the arrival at the church, the organ sending 
 forth its solemn strains, the casket was borne through 
 the dense crowd and deposited on a black draped 
 platform inside the altar. The congregation bathed 
 in tears, the soft and tender tones of music and the 
 awful presence of the beloved and noble dead, pro- 
 duced a scene long to be remembered. 
 
 At the close of the music, Rev. J. T. Whitley read 
 the lesson as laid down in our burial services. Rev. 
 E. W. Beale arose and read, and the choir softly 
 
 •' Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep, 
 From which none ever wake to weep ; 
 A calm and undisturbed repose, 
 Uabroken by the last of foes," &c. 
 
280 His Funeral. 
 
 Rev. 0. A. Apple thea read, and the choir sang : 
 
 " Servant of God, well done ! 
 
 Best from thy loved employ ; 
 
 The battle fought, the victory won, 
 
 Enter thy Master's joy," &c 
 
 Rev. Jesse T. Whitley had been selected by my 
 Brother to perform the funeral services, who then 
 arose and addressed the congregation. 
 
 Memorial Address. 
 
 The close relationship of loving intimacy which 
 for more than eleven years past has existed between 
 Dr. W. B. Wellons and myself, renders it far more 
 consonant with my feelings on this occasion to weep 
 while others speak than speak while others weep. 
 The ties that bound him and me together were 
 scarcely distinguishable from those that unite father 
 and son. And yet it may be allowed even to a son 
 to strew evergreens and roses upon the coffin of an 
 honored and departed father ; so it may be allowed 
 to me, though with an emotion which I can neither 
 control nor conceal, to offer here a tribute of loving 
 veneration to his memory. It is not my purpose to 
 announce a text of Scripture and preach from it a 
 regular sermon, but to submit a sketch of his life 
 and a brief analysis of his character and work. Only 
 a very brief time has been afforded for the prepara- 
 tion of this address ; but, such as it is, I offer it to 
 his memory as a tribute, which, however feeble, yet 
 comes from a loving and honest heart. 
 
Memorial Address. 281 
 
 William Brock Wellons 
 
 was born near Littleton, in Sussex county, Virginia, 
 on the 9th day of November, 1821, and was therefore 
 at the time of his death fifty-five years, three months 
 and seven days old. His father, Hartwell Wellons, 
 was a substantial farmer and a prominent member 
 of the Christian Church at Barrett's Meeting House 
 in the adjacent county of Southampton. His mother, 
 Mrs. Mary W. Wellons, was a woman of rare do- 
 mestic qualities and profound, unaffected piety. To 
 the wisdom and godliness of these excellent parents, 
 who endeavored by precept and example to train up 
 their children in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord, is due unmeasured praise for the early train- 
 ing that prepared for a life of usefulness and honor 
 their gifted and distinguished sou. Those parents 
 have long since been laid away to rest in their nar- 
 row beds until the resurrection of the just. But 
 their deeds live after them. Their children, four in 
 number, have trod in their footsteps and lived hon- 
 orable and useful lives. The eldest, stricken down 
 in the prime of life and in the zenith of his usefulness, 
 lies there in that casket. The other son, a pious 
 and beloved minister of the gospel, remains yet a 
 little while longer in the active toil of life before he 
 too shall lay down the implements of labor and 
 " dwell with Christ at home." The two daughters 
 have long been occupying positions of influence and 
 honor in the family circle, in society and in the 
 Church of God, aiming by their fidelity to duty to. 
 18 
 
282 Memorial Addeess. 
 
 accomplish in private life that which their brothers 
 have done through the pulpit and the press — to 
 glorify God in their bodies and spirits which are 
 God's. 
 
 The early boyhood of William B. Wellons was as 
 quiet and uneventful as that of other country boys. 
 Daily labor on the farm during the months when 
 farmers are most busy ; winter sessions at the old field 
 school house, laying the foundation of an education; 
 industriouss, application to books at night by the 
 ruddy glow of the lightwood fire; — in occupations 
 such as these his boyhood passed. On the 21st of 
 October, 1834, at the tender age of thirteen, he bowed 
 his youthful neck to the light and easy yoke of 
 Christ. A camp-meeting was in progress at a place 
 of worship then known as Mars' Hill, and young 
 Wellons was present. During the services it pleased 
 God to call the lad of thirteen out of nature's dark- 
 ness into His own marvellous light. On the fourth 
 Sabbath in the next month, November, he embraced 
 the first opportunity that had been offered, and 
 united with the Church at Barrett's to which his 
 parents belonged. The Christian life thus begun in 
 early youth developed with beautiful symmetry 
 through a period of forty-two years until it reached 
 the triumphant consummation last Friday night in 
 a peaceful and happy death. 
 
 After his conversion he continued with his father 
 cultivating the farm and prosecuting his English 
 studies until 1840, when in his nineteenth year he 
 began to teach school at Barbara's Mills, now known 
 
Memorial Address. 283 
 
 as Airfield, in Southampton county. Here he con- 
 tinued two years. At the end of this time he re- 
 turned to his father's home, and soon began to hold 
 prayer meetings and deliver religious exhortationSj, 
 From the very first he displayed those remarkable 
 powers as a revivalist which distinguished him 
 throughout his whole life. The prayer meetings 
 where he ofHciated were crowded, and under the 
 burning words of the youthful evangelist many sin- 
 ners were convinced of their evil ways and led to 
 the cross. His meetings attracted general attention ; 
 and although he had not yet been licensed to preach, 
 yet his simple, earnest exhortations were instrumen- 
 tal in accomplishing a result which the older min- 
 isters of the neighborhood by their most powerful 
 discourses were unable to effect. The secret of it 
 was that God had a special work for him to do, and 
 a Divine power was operating through him. 
 
 In the midst of this career of usefulness a cruel 
 blow was inflicted upon him — a blow which had the 
 effect of putting a stop to his labors for the time. 
 An aged minister, whose name for obvious reasons 
 I suppress, had with him a private interview in 
 which he a,ccused the young man of improper mo- 
 tives, charging him with seeking popular applause 
 and loving flattery better than he loved the people's 
 souls. With astonishment and mortification the 
 young man replied that so far as he knew his own 
 heart, he was influenced only by the purest motives ; 
 that he sought to honor God and lead souls to JesuS 
 Christ, and was not influenced by a craving for pop- 
 
284 Memorial Addbess, 
 
 ularity. But still the old minister insisted that he 
 was doing wrong, and complained that while young 
 Wellons had crowds at his prayer meetings, he and 
 other old and experienced ministers in the commu- 
 nity could draw together only a handful of hearers. 
 He needed some one to explain to him that the fault 
 was in himself, and not in the youthful servant of 
 Christ, whose popularity he envied and whose use- 
 fulness he was endeavoring to cripple. The result 
 of this indiscreet and unpardonable assault was that 
 the young man was intimidated and discouraged. 
 He abruptly ceased his ministrations and for more 
 than two years was silent in religious meetings. 
 
 Beginning in 1839, he regularly represented Bar. 
 rett's Church in the annual Conferences and took an 
 active part in the business. In August, 1845, hav- 
 ing recovered from the discouragement he had suf- 
 fered, he was received as a licentiate in the Eastern 
 Virginia Christian Conference, and authorized to 
 preach the gospel wherever the providence of God 
 might call him. He was then in his twenty-fourth 
 year, and was looked upon even then as one of the 
 rising young men of the Church. At the next an- 
 nual Conference, which was held in July, 1846, he 
 was advanced to the office of an Eldei; in the Church, 
 and thus took his place at once among the most in- 
 fluential and useful members of the Conference with 
 which he was associated. For several years after 
 his ordination he traveled as an itinerant preacher, 
 dividing his labors among the various Churches of 
 the Conference. In the latter part of 1848, he took 
 
Memorial Address. 285 
 
 charge of the Christian Church in the city of New- 
 bern, N. C, where he remained until 1850. During 
 his residence in Newbern, he forijied the acquaint- 
 ance of Mrs. Sarah L. Beasley, a lady of nearly his 
 own age, who was at the time residing in the city. 
 Acquaintance developed into a tender attachment, 
 which resulted in their marriage on the 12th of 
 April, 1850. The two lives thus blended into a 
 unity of common interests and aims continued to 
 flow on together harmoniously for more than twenty- 
 six years, and were separated only by the rude hand 
 of death. But just as the gently-flowing stream, 
 which has been parted in twain for a little time by 
 some small obstruction, comes together again when 
 the obstruction is past ; so these two lives, driven 
 rudely asunder now by death, shall ere long con- 
 verge into one placid, unbroken life which shall flow 
 uninterruptedly on through the eternal years of 
 God. 
 
 Immediately after his marriage in 1850, Brother 
 Wellons removed to Suffolk, Virginia, where he pro- 
 posed to make his future home. His pastoral charge 
 consisted of several churfches in this and adjacent 
 counties, to which he ministered with great accepta- 
 bility and remarkable success. Under his devoted 
 labors revival after revival was enjoyed in the 
 churches, and hundreds of souls were converted to 
 God. His clear mind brought order out of irregu- 
 larity in the- operations of the churches, while his 
 own example of persevering industry incited his 
 brethren to nobler endeavors. 
 
28& Memorial Address. 
 
 A few years after changing his residence from 
 Newbern to Suflfolk, he became the Editor-in-Ohief 
 of the Christian Sun, the organ of the denomination 
 to which he belonged. He had been a contributor 
 to its columns from its origin in 1844, and was made 
 an Associate Editor in 1849. When the paper was 
 removed from Raleigh to Suffolk, in 1855, it was 
 confided to his management. His career as an Edi- 
 tor, extending through a period of twenty-six years, 
 was marked by untiring industry, almost unruffled 
 sweetness of temper, and a measure of success such 
 as few men with his opportunities ever achieve. On 
 the IGth of October, 1876, he transferred the edito- 
 rial pen to other hands, and severed his connection 
 with the press forever. 
 
 From, the time of his removal to Suffolk to the 
 opening of the great civil struggle between the 
 States, Brother Wellons continued to work quietly 
 but industriously in his twofold capacity as preacher 
 and editor. He was rapidly becoming the recog- 
 nized leader in the Church with which lie was con- 
 nected, and most worthily did he occupy the post to 
 which the Church had called him. At the annual 
 meetings of his own and other Conferences, his elo- 
 quent voice aroused the brethren to action. Through 
 the columns of his paper the interests, of his Church 
 and of a broad, liberal Christianity were fearlessly 
 and untiringly advocated. From the various pul- 
 pits which he occupied, a pure, evangelical gospel 
 was preached with, such sira,plicity and gentle pet- 
 
Memorial Addkess. 287 
 
 suasiveness that many precious souls were won by 
 him to Christ. 
 
 In 1861, when rumors of civil war were filling the 
 country, Mr. Wellons was one of that numerous 
 class of men who deprecated a secession of States 
 from the Federal Union, and thought that the rights 
 of the slaveholding States could be secured by re- 
 maining in the Union. His voice was for peace as 
 long as there was any hope of peace. But when 
 Virginia, his native State, severed her connection 
 with the Union, he remained true to Virginia and 
 went with her. And when the reverberations of 
 that first gun at Fort Sumter were echoing from the 
 Potomac to the Gulf, he decided to do all in his 
 power to aid that cause which was then full of life 
 but which now lies embalmed in history as a mem- 
 ory — the Lost Cause I He continued his work as a 
 minister and an editor through the first year of the 
 war at home. But in Maj', 1862, when Norfolk was 
 evacuated by the Confederate forces and the evacua- 
 tion of Suffolk followed, he decided to go into exile 
 from his home and share the privations as well as the 
 triumphs of those who fought in the cause of the Con- 
 federacy. Into exile he went with his devoted wife 
 and his tender little daughter, taking up his resi- 
 dence in the city of Petersburg, and becoming an 
 army missionary. Separated from his Churches, he 
 yet continued to preach whenever occasion offered. 
 From time to time he occupied most of the pulpits 
 of various denominations in Petersburg, and fre- 
 quently preached to the soldiers at their camps. 
 
288 Memorial Address. 
 
 Soon after the organization of the Evangelical Tract 
 Society, he was chosen its Superintendent ; and 
 when that Society decided to publish, the Army and 
 Navy Messenger, a religious paper for distribution 
 among the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy, 
 he was appointed its editor and manager. Thus, 
 while his own paper, the Sun, was silent, he contin- 
 ued to speak to the people through the periodical 
 press ; and no human arithmetic can calculate th€ 
 amount of good which was accomplished by these 
 patient and self-denying labors. Nor were his labors 
 confined to the pulpit and editorial sanctum. The 
 hospitals with their suffering occupants received 
 much of his attention. Many an aching brow did 
 he soothe ; many a racking pain did he allay ; many 
 a dying man did he comfort in his last moments, 
 by pointing him to the Cross of mercy and beyond 
 it to the Crown of eternal glory. Whenever a battle 
 was fought at any point accessible to him, there he 
 was found, traversing the field of carnage in the 
 midst of whistling bullets and shrieking shells, 
 caring for the wounded, comforting the dying, and 
 providing for the decent sepulture of the dead. 
 Those soldiers, especially those who were natives of 
 his own section of the country, found in him a guar- 
 dian angel in many a time of need. Many a touch- 
 ing incident could be related here, if time sufficient 
 were afforded, illustrating the fatherly care which he 
 exercised over the soldier boys of Nansemond and 
 other counties of lower Virginia. By these minis- 
 trations he endeared himself to many hearts which 
 
Memorial Address. 289 
 
 will never forget him. Some of those to whom he 
 ministered passed on before him to the world of 
 happy spirits; these have have already greeted him 
 with joy on the shining shore beyond the river. 
 Others who were the recipients of his acts of kind- 
 ness survive him ; and let us hope that there are 
 none of them so lost to generous feeling as not to 
 feel a thrill of sorrow for his departure. In the 
 hearts of many of them he will be enshrined so long 
 as memory holds her throne and love throbs in 
 ceaseless pulsation in the soul. 
 
 When the shattered battalions of Lee surrendered 
 at Appomatox in 1865, William B. Wellons was 
 there. But he could not consent to give up the 
 cause he had espoused ; and so, while Lee's battle- 
 scared veterans were dispersed with mingled sadness 
 and gladness to the;r homes, he hastened across the 
 country to join General Joe Johnson at Greensboro, 
 North Carolina. Before he reached his destination, 
 however, he obtained information that Johnston's 
 forces too had surrendered to the stars and stripes. 
 Then, and not until then, did he abandon all hope 
 of the success of the Confederate cause and turn his 
 despondent footsteps eastward. 
 
 When he arrived in Suffolk with his family, and 
 went to the spot he once called home, he found but 
 the battered wreck of his former comfortable abode. 
 Enclosures entirely gone, outhouses demolished, 
 windows and doors of his dwelling carried away, 
 there remained to him but bare walls cheerless and 
 comfortless. His printing office, likewise, was a 
 
290 Memorial Address. 
 
 dilapidated wreck of its former self. Type all gone, 
 press broken and pitched out of doors, there was 
 nothing of a promising nature there. With heroic 
 courage and unfaltering trust in God, he began the 
 tedious and difficult task of repairing his shattered 
 fortunes. In some way he succeeded in placing 
 himself and family in tolerable comfort once more, 
 though the luxuries they had once known were not 
 to be obtained. No sooner had he returned and re- 
 established himself at home, than he began the work 
 of gathering together the dejecta membra of the 
 Churches of his former pastoral charge. Many of 
 the members of these Churches had been killed in 
 battle; some others, under the pressure of those 
 times that "tried men's souls," had apostatized from 
 Christ and his Church ; while those who remained 
 at home and preserved their attachment to the cause 
 of Christ were thoroughly dispirited by the events 
 through which they had passed. Yet, through all 
 these gathering discouragements he pressed with 
 unfaltering step. Meetings were held in the long- 
 deserted houses of worship ; the sound of the Gospel 
 once more fell upon ears which had been so long 
 accustome^d to the clangor of war ; business affairs 
 in the Churches were untangled and once more put 
 in operation ; and thus the tide of spiritual pros- 
 perity turned again toward Zion. At all of his 
 Churches revival services were held during the sum- 
 mer and fall of 1865, and hundreds of souls were born 
 to God in these meetings. In this very house where 
 we meet to-day around hia lifeless body, a meeting 
 
Memorial Ai>deess> 2^1 
 
 was held that year, in which seventy-seven persons 
 were converted. There are some of us here to-day 
 who date our regeneration to that meeting; and he 
 who now addresses you, though not converted in 
 that meeting, became a member of the Church at 
 the close of those exercises. 
 
 Months rolled an. The- aanual Conference re- 
 sumed its sessions, and again the Church at large 
 felt the pressing need ox" a periodical to advocate its 
 interests. Brother Wellons determined to make au 
 effort to revive the Christian Sun. He had no money,, 
 but borrowed a sufiScient amount to begin the enter- 
 prise. He succeeded in his endeavors and issued 
 the first number of the revived paper the first week 
 in February, 1867. The history of his subsequent 
 connection with the Sim is so familiar to the people 
 of this community that it is unnecessary to relate it. 
 In 1866i at the meeting of the General Convention 
 of the Christian Church, held at Mount Auburn,. 
 North Carolina, he was chosen President of that 
 body, the highest official body in the denomination. 
 This position of high responsibility he filled with 
 distinguished honor to himself and great satisfaction 
 to his brethren until the time of his death. 
 
 When the Order of Friends of Temperance was 
 organized in the city of Petersburg, on the 29th of 
 November, 1865, he was present as a prime mover 
 in that philanthropic enterprise. In the election of 
 officers he was chosen President, and was thus made- 
 the official head of a benevolent organization com- 
 posed of many of the most eminent men of the vari- 
 
292 Memorial Address. 
 
 ous denominations in the State. After serving in 
 this capacity for a year, he was transferred from the 
 Presidency to the still more important ofBee of Sec- 
 retary. This responsible position he held, with the 
 exception of a brief intermission, until a few months 
 ago, when protracted illness made it necessary for 
 him to transfer the office into other hands. When 
 the Supreme Council of the Order was instituted he 
 was one of its moving spirits, and at the time of his 
 decease" he filled the position of Secretary to that 
 body. No man in Virginia has been more fully 
 identified with the great Temperance cause than he 
 was for a score of years. In the private halls of 
 Temperance societies ; in the solitude of his office 
 laying plans for others to execute; out in society 
 endeavoring to induce inebriates to forsake their 
 cups ; on the lecturer's stand pouring forth streams . 
 of eloquent argument and pathetic appeal; every- 
 where he was abundant in labors to break the power 
 of strong drink and to redeem its unhappy victims 
 from the galling thralldom of inebrietj'. In the 
 great Day when three worlds are gathered together 
 around the Judgment throne, many will rise up to 
 call him blessed, because of these ceaseless and inde- 
 fatigable labors. 
 
 In the early part of 1874, the Trustees and Fac- 
 ulty of Rutherford College, North Carolina, in rec- 
 ognition of his eminent abilities and long career of 
 usefulness as a minister of the Gospel, conferred 
 upon him the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity. 
 This honor he wore, as he wore all the honors whicli, 
 
Memorial Address. 293 
 
 were so profusely heaped upon him, with exemplary 
 modesty, rightly judging that a man's true greatness 
 consists, not in what he is called, but in what he is. 
 
 In the summer of 1875, he was chosen President 
 of the Suffolk Collegiate Institute by the trustees of 
 that school. He accepted the position tendered him, 
 because the future prosperity of the school impera- 
 tively demanded it, and not because his hands were 
 not already full. His influence and labors contrib- 
 uted very greatly to the prosperity of that Institu- 
 tion ; and now that he has passed away, the Insti- 
 tute will hot find a man to fill his place. It may 
 find a more thoroughly educated man and call him 
 to its leadership ; but it will never find a man to.d6 
 for it precisely what he did and to achieve for it the 
 same measure of success. 
 
 And now we arrive at the last stage of bis earthly 
 pilgrimage. Those who observed his incessant toils 
 of late years predicted long ago that his constitution 
 would break down under the strain. In fact, he as- 
 sumed responsibilities and took upon himself an 
 amount of labor which no one man could safely un- 
 dertake, had he a constitution of steel. One year 
 ago he was pastor of the Suffolk Christian Churchr 
 pastor of Bethlehem Church, editor of the Christian 
 Sun, President of the Suffolk Collegiate Institute^ 
 President of the General Christian Convention, Pres- 
 ident of the Eastern Virginia Christian Conference, 
 Secretary of the Supreme Council Friends of Tem- 
 perance, Secretary of the State Council of Virginia 
 Friends of Temperance, Corresponding Secretary of 
 
294 Memobial Address. 
 
 the Association known as " Union Christian Churches 
 ■of America," and had, in addition to these offices, a 
 thousand other private matters of benevolence about 
 which few persons knew anything except himself. 
 No wonder that he sank under the Weight of these ac- 
 cumulated labors to which was superadded a trouble- 
 some broHchial affection which finally developed 
 into incurable disease of the lungs. 
 
 Some one has said that work does not kill so much 
 as worry. There is a modicum of truth in the say- 
 ing ; and it'Snds illusti'atioa in the decline and 
 final decease of Willi^am B. Wellons. It is true that 
 the closing year=i of his life were spent in herculean 
 labors j and it is also true that these labors alone 
 would have shattered his physical constitution in 
 the course of time. But I question whether any one 
 here thinks that he would liave died so soon had no 
 elements of worry entered into his life. It is not 
 necessary for me on this occasion to allude more 
 -particularly to th* causes of his mental disquietude- 
 Few peopk in the communit)' where most of his 
 life was spent are unacquainted with the history of 
 his peculiar trials within the past five years. I would 
 not disturb the harmony of this hour by evoking 
 ifrom their sepulchre the ghosts of buried discords 
 1 will not even pronounce a judgment now concern- 
 ing those dead issues, although while they were 
 living questions I gave my judgment freely. But I 
 say this : It was not work alone that shattered that 
 iron constitution, and consigned to a comparatively 
 •early tomb that dear man of God. Nor was it the 
 
Memorial Address. 295 
 
 unaided power of lung disease. Worry, for the 
 genesis of which he was in no wise responsible, en- 
 tered as an important factor into the sum of those 
 influences which consigned him to the grave in the 
 maturity of his powers. 
 
 The immediate and tangible cause of his death 
 was tubercular consumption. Ten years ago or more 
 a bronchial trouble of long standing became dis- 
 tressing. An abscess formed on his breast, which 
 was opened by an eminent physician of Baltimore, 
 and the operation gave him relief for years. About 
 two years ago another abscess formed at the same 
 place, and this was also opened to his great relief. 
 But the disease was not uprooted ; it only ceased to 
 be superficial and became more deep-seated. In the 
 month of June last he made a long trip from home, 
 going first to Jack.gon, Mississippi, to attend the ses- 
 sion of the Supreme Council Friends of Temper- 
 iance ; thence to Philadelphia, to attend the Inter- 
 national Temperance Congress and to examine the 
 great Exposition ; and thence home. When he re- 
 turned from his trip his health was rapidly giving 
 away. He endeavored to spur himself up to the 
 performance of his work, but the effort was in vain. 
 He was compelled to abandon the pulpit and vacate 
 the editorial chair, as we fondly hoped but for a 
 season — as it really proved, forever. The last ser- 
 mon he ever preached was a discourse on the occa- 
 sion of the funeral of the late James A. Parker. He 
 was so unwell on that day that he staggered in the 
 pulpit and was compelled to bring his discourse to a 
 
296 Memorial Address. 
 
 premature close. His condition grew rapidly worse, 
 until he was compelled to abandon all labor and go 
 away in search of rest. He sojourned a few days at 
 Old Point without finding relief, and then returned 
 home. From that time his life was that of a con- 
 firmed invalid. First he was confined merely to 
 the house, then to his room, then to his lounge and 
 easy chair, and finally to his bed. For months he 
 cherished the hope of regaining his health and re- 
 turning to the active pursuits of life; but gradually 
 this hope grew fainter until atlastit was extinguished 
 altogether. By degrees, and after painful struggles, 
 he dissociated himself from the pursuits of life. His 
 secular business was so adjusted that death would 
 find all things right. Then he sold the Christian Sun 
 with M'hich he had been identified so many years. 
 Then he resigned his pastoral charge, so that his 
 Churches might have the benefit of others ministra- 
 tions. Thus he calmly closed up his affairs, passed 
 his work into other hands, and turned his face to- 
 wards the tomb. For several months before death, 
 his physical condition was exceedingly variable. At 
 times a slight but superficial improvement inspired 
 in the hearts of his friends the delusive hope that he 
 was on the road to recovery. Soon thereafter some 
 new and alarming symptom would appear and dash 
 all those hopes to the ground. Two or three weeks 
 ago it became apparent to all who saw him that a 
 rapid decline had set in. Appetite entirely failed, 
 frequent fits of coughing and oflfensive expectoration 
 distressed him, and all signs indicated the speedy 
 
Memobial Address. 297 
 
 approach of the closing scene. His relatives and 
 friends stayed much by his bedside, feeling that his 
 days on earth were numbered ; and he, conscious of 
 the same painful fact, earnestly desired the presence 
 and conversation of his friends. He conversed freely 
 about his spiritual state, telling with pleasure the 
 hopes of a glorious immortality which animated 
 his heart. Like the Apostle Paul he was able to 
 say: " I am now ready to be offered, and the time 
 of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good 
 fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the 
 faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown 
 of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 
 Judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me 
 only, but unto all them also that love his 5.ppearing." 
 Looking back down the vista of a well-spent life, 
 and looking to Calvary with its atoning Sacrifice, he 
 was able also to look upon the grave without a shud- 
 der, and with joyful anticipation wait for the coming 
 of the sable messenger to usher him through the 
 gates of life into the city " whose Builder and Maker 
 is God." 
 
 On Sabbath afternoon last his faithful physician 
 observed that a change for the worse had taken 
 place and that he was rapidly sinking. At the close 
 of the evening service in the house of God, learning 
 of his condition, I hastened with others to his bed- 
 side. His relatives and many of his intimate friends 
 had assembled in his room, and his early departure 
 was expected. In view of the immediate approach 
 of death he was fearless and full of faith in God. 
 19 
 
298 Memorial Address. 
 
 Raising his attenuated hands he exclaimed, " The 
 religion that gave me peace in life gives me great 
 peace now in death." Again, looking upward, he 
 prayed, " Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly." I 
 asked him if Jesus was with him illuminating his 
 pathway. " Yes," he answered, " but Jesus has left 
 me in the dark about my family. I can give up 
 everything but my family. Pray that God will en- 
 able me to give up my family." Silent prayer was 
 offered in his behalf and God heard it. Before death 
 finally came, his desire was granted a^d everything 
 was given up into the hands of a faithful Creator. 
 His sister approached him and tearfully said, " You 
 are the oldest of us." His prompt reply was, " I will 
 be the first to get to heaven — that is all." When 
 his end seemed near I asked him, " Have you any 
 message to send to your brethren in the Church ?'' 
 " Tell them Jesus sustained me to the last," was the 
 reply. Thus the hours went by, and under the in- 
 fluence of powerful stimulants, he rallied slightly 
 and the prospect of immediate death was over. Five 
 days more he lived, lingering on the borders of eter- 
 nity, the lamp of life flickering nearer and nearer to 
 its extinguishment. Last Friday evening brought 
 in the closing scene. It was observed by those who 
 nursed him that his condition was alarming before 
 nightfall, and some absent members of the family 
 and intimate friends were summoned. I reached 
 his side about six o'clock, and found the chill of 
 death coming upon him. His pulse was scarcely 
 perceptible, his hands were cold and clammy, and 
 
Memoeiai, Addeess. 299 
 
 his countenance had on it the unmistakable seal 
 of approaching dissolution. At half-past six he 
 seemed about to depart. But again life's forces ral- 
 lied and death was held in abeyance an hour or 
 two more. His mind was perfectly clear up to 
 within fifteen or twenty minutes of the last breath. 
 He not only viewed the near prospect of death with 
 composure, but was anxious to depart and be with 
 Christ. I question whether any of us have ever seen 
 one who longed for death so earnestly as he longed 
 for it. He was unwilling to take the stimulants 
 which he knew could only prolong his life for a few 
 hours at most. " Let me go, let me go," was his 
 pleading. Finally, after conversing rationally with 
 friends until half-past eight o'clock the power of ut- 
 terance failed, his eyesight grew dim, his breathing 
 became more labored, and amidst the solemn still, 
 ness, broken only by the sobs of those who could not 
 repress their emotions, at a quarter to nine o'clock, 
 the heart ceased its pulsations, and the soul of Wil- 
 liam B. Wellons took its happy flight to the throng 
 of God. The sightless eyes were closed, the pulse- 
 less hands were folded above the pulseless breast, 
 and those who stood by turned tearfully away feel- 
 ing that agood man had gone to his rest. 
 
 I have thus traced at length with some minuteness 
 the life of this eminent man of God, because I believed 
 that his history was fraught with unusual inter- 
 est to many, and because without such a sketch we 
 could not form an accurate estimate of his life work. 
 Now I propose to look upon his finished life and 
 
300 Memokial Address. 
 
 say some things about him as impartially and judi- 
 cially as it is possible for me to do. 
 
 William B. Wellons was not a man of towering 
 intellect. God did not endow him with the royal 
 mind of a Shakespeare, an Isaac Newton, or a Francis 
 Bacon. His forte was not the conception of grand 
 thoughts that sway the world, nor the originating of 
 enterprises which mould the character of an age. 
 He could not haye produced the Cosmos of Huru- 
 boldt, nor a drama like those which the great Eng- 
 lish poet wrote. Yet he had, in some respects, a 
 mind of extraordinary capacity. It was a mind 
 adapted to business, rich in administrative qualities, 
 fertile in expedients whereby means are adapted to 
 ends. In these respects he had few equals. 
 
 Again, he was not a man of thorough intellectual 
 culture. He had a sound English education, ex- 
 tended and adorned by years of reading and obser- 
 vation. But the thorough mental development and 
 discipline which come from years spent in Univer- 
 sity halls, he did not possess. I suppose some of 
 you have often wondered, as I have done, why he 
 did not give himself the advantages of a College 
 training. There was a reason for it, and I have 
 found it out. Eecently, by the merest accident, I 
 came into possession of a slight bit of his early his- 
 tory which has shed light upon this matter, and at 
 the same time revealed the innate nobility and gen- 
 erosity of his heart. When a youth of eighteen or 
 twenty, he decided to give himself a thorough Col- 
 legiate education, and, as his father was not able to 
 
Memorial Address. 301 
 
 spare him the necessary funds, he went forth to teach 
 school, expecting to defray with the money thus 
 accumulated the expenses of his College course. 
 After many months and years of toil, the necessary 
 amount was obtained. But before he put into exe- 
 cution his cherished plan, some unexpected reverses 
 of fortune overtook his father, causing his finances 
 to become temporarily embarrassed. Then, with a 
 magnanimity iinsurpassed, the loving son, conceal- 
 ing his own disappointment, insisted that the father 
 should accept and use his money to obtain relief 
 from the strait. Circumstances made it necessary 
 that the proposition should be accepted. The money 
 was devoted to this object, and the young man 
 never went to College. If, therefore, it can be said 
 of him, that he was not thoroughly educated, it may 
 be said also to his everlasting honor, that he sacri- 
 ficed his own brilliant prospects and cherished hopes 
 upon the altar of filial affection. 
 
 "William B. Wellons was not a perfect man. There 
 never has been but one perfect man on earth, and 
 he the Man Christ Jesus. Doubtless our departed 
 brother had some of those frailties which are the 
 common heritage of all mankind. Yet this may be 
 said, that his virtues were numerous and conspicu- 
 ous while his faults were comparatively few and in- 
 significant. He never claimed to be perfect ; and, if 
 he looks down upon us to-day, it would excite his 
 disapproval for me to pronounce his character with- 
 out a flaw. He considered himself only as a frail, 
 helpless sinner, redeemed by the grace of our Lord 
 
802 Memoeiai Addeess. 
 
 Jesus Christ, and kept by the power of God through 
 faith unto salvation. 
 
 I know of no word which so fitly expresses the 
 idea of his life as the word " usefulness." He was 
 pre-eminently a useful man. From his earliest 
 manhood he worked for Jesus constantly and un- 
 tiringly. When he entered the Gospel ministry he 
 gave himself body and soul to the Lord, and thence- 
 forth soul-winning was his occupation. This win- 
 ning of souls he accomplished by different processes^ 
 Thousands were won by his gentle, pathetic, earnest 
 pulpit appeals. There was something impressive 
 and persuasive in his very look as he stood before a 
 congregation, his face all aglow with the fervor of 
 his feelings. There was something still more im- 
 pressive and soul-moving in his words, so full of 
 Christ and his love. It is impossible for me now to 
 state accurately the number of persons who yielded 
 to his appeals and became converts to God under 
 his ministry ; but the number was several thousands 
 at the very least. Besides his pulpit efforts to save 
 souls, he labored privately in many ways to accom- 
 plish the same object. Many a young man has he 
 helped to obtain employment, and then, after gain- 
 ing his confidence, led him to Jesus and into the 
 Church. There are not a few here to-day, who could 
 tell you incidents from their own life-history, illus- 
 trating this phase in his character. Of those wha 
 were converted under his ministry, hundreds joined 
 the various Christian Churches where he labored^ 
 And hundreds of others went into other denomina- 
 
Viewing His Body, 303 
 
 tions, and helped to build them up. So that to him 
 not only does his own denomination stand indebted 
 to an incalculable extent, but other denominations 
 also owe him a debt of gratitude which the most 
 tender respect to his memory can but feebly pay- 
 He was in one sense the exclusive property of no 
 one religious body; he belonged to Christ's Church 
 universal. And now in his death, many interests 
 suffer. The family circle has lost its venerated head ; 
 the community has lost the most valuable member 
 it ever had ; the Church is bereft of one of her 
 staunchest friends and most successful preachers > 
 and the world at large is poorer since he died. 
 
 There are many more things I would like to say; 
 but hours more would not suffice to say them. I 
 forbear to further analyze his character and to ex- 
 hibit his life-work. 
 
 At the close of the address, a fervent prayer was 
 offered by Rev. B. W. Beale. 
 
 The metallic face of the casket was then removed 
 and an opportunity was offered for the congregation 
 to view the body. Slowly and tearfully the crowd 
 moved by, each individual glancing for the last time 
 at the placid features of the dead. Some who thus 
 viewed him for the last time were so overcome by 
 amotion as to sob aloud in uncontrollable grief. 
 Many eyes unused to tears were moistened by drops 
 of sorrow and sympathy. The crowd that pressed 
 forward with eagerness to catch a glimpse of the 
 dead was composed of hundreds of people, many of 
 them residents of Suffolk and many others being, 
 
304 His Burial. 
 
 visitors from a distance. Quite a number of colored 
 people were among the number. We have never 
 witnessed sech universal grief at any one's death. 
 
 Finally, the congregation having all viewed the 
 corpse, the casket was closed, and the face, so famil- 
 iar and dear to many, was hid from mortal sight 
 until the day of resurrection. Slowly and sadly, 
 while the organ's solemn and plaintive notes filled 
 the sanctuary, the procession passed out of the house 
 and the casket was replaced in the hearse. Then, 
 while the bell tolled in melancholy tones, the hearse 
 started toward Willow Hill Cemetery, followed by a 
 long line of carriages and other vehicles, and ac- 
 companied by an immense throng of pedestrians. 
 A great crowd had already collected around the 
 grave before the arrival of the procession, and now 
 the throng became greater than ever. Without de- 
 lay the casket was lowered into the shallow, brick- 
 lined grave, and the crowd stood around with un- 
 covered heads while the beautiful burial service of 
 the Church was read. The first part of the service 
 was read by Rev. J. T. Whitley, and the concluding 
 part by Rev. C. A. Apple. After the last words of 
 the bienediction had been pronounced, the throng 
 slowly dispersed, many hearts feeling that there was 
 now a vacuum in the world which could be filled 
 nevermore. 
 
 In respect for his memory, the evening service at 
 the Christian Church was omitted. Indeed, both 
 pastor and people felt too deeply grieved to engage 
 in any further public exercises that day. The ex- 
 
Tributes of Respect. 305 
 
 haustion of sorrow kept many at home in the soli- 
 tude of their rooms, seeking consolation from Him 
 whose hand alone can heal the wounds of the soul- 
 
 Tributes op Eespect by Churches, Fraterni- 
 ties, &c. 
 
 Immediately after the death of our dear brother, 
 the Christian Church in Suffolk, where he was held 
 up to the time of his death as an honorary pastor, 
 a Chui'ch that he first organized in his own house 
 and which gradually grew up under his ministry, 
 becoming a strong church with a neat and comfort- 
 able building for public worship, passed a series of 
 resolutions in memory of their honored leader, and 
 in sympathy with his family, relatives and many 
 friends, putting their house of worship in mourning 
 for thirty days. 
 
 Antioch, another of his pastoral charges, passed 
 similar resolutions. For he had added hundreds of 
 precious souls to the army of the faithful, some of 
 whom have already met him " beyond the river," 
 and others rapidly approaching the cold Jordan, to 
 cross to the shining shores. 
 
 The Suffolk Collegiate Institute, at a call of the 
 Trustees, Faculty and students, of which he was 
 President at the time of his death, passed resolutions 
 of regret and condolence, for the sad loss they and 
 others had sustained, in the death of their venerable 
 head. 
 
 At a regular meeting of the Lodge at Windsor, 
 Virginia, F. & A. M. ; Suffolk Council, Friends of 
 
306 Tributes of Respect. 
 
 I^emperance ; Petersburg Council, No. 1 ; Waynes- 
 boro Council; Providence Council; Pope's Chapel 
 Counpil, North Carolina ; Graham Lodge of Good 
 Templars, all passed resolutions of sympathy and 
 deep regret at the loss of their champion of Tem- 
 perance, Benevolence and Moral Reform. 
 
 We give below a short article taken from the Bal- 
 iimorean, one of the best weeklys in America, writ- 
 ten by A. F. Crutchfield, its editor: 
 
 " We give to day a faithfully-executed likeness of 
 the late Rev. William B. Wellons, D. D., who died 
 at his residence in Suffolk, Virginia, on the 16th of 
 the present month, after a lingering illness of several 
 months' duration. Dr. Wellons was widely known 
 in Virginia and North Carolina as an able preacher 
 of the Gospel and an eloquent advocate of the cause 
 of Temperance. In Baltimore his face was familiar 
 to hundreds, for here he had intimate business rela- 
 tions as a publisher, and in this city his only child — 
 a daughter — was educated. The writer of these lines 
 had known him for over twenty years past, and 
 with all sincerity does not hesitate to express the 
 opinion, tliat he never knew a better man. He pos- 
 sessed all those sterling qualities that constitute a 
 true man, and discharged all the duties of life with 
 a scrupulous regard for what he considered right. 
 No worldly honor, no monied offer, oould induce 
 him to deviate one iota from the path' of rectitude 
 and virtue. He was not unfrequently sorely tried ; 
 but he invariably proved firm, and walked among 
 his neighbors and his fellow-men everywhere with a 
 
Tributes of Respect. 307 
 
 conscience void of offence toward God and man. As 
 Pyrrhus once said to a noble Roman, ' Admirable 
 Fabricius, it would be as easy to turn the sun from 
 its course as thee from the paths of honor," so say 
 we of the late Dr. Wellons. He has left to his de- 
 voted wife and daughter, and an only brother and 
 two sisters, the richest legacy one can bequeath on a 
 dying bed, viz.: a good name and the undeniable 
 fact that ' he was an honest man — the noblest work 
 of God.'" 
 
 We here also give a short complimentary notice 
 of him by the Petersburg Daily Pod : 
 
 " Rev. Dr. W. B. Wellons, of Suffolk, who has been 
 suffering for some time, died Friday evening at a 
 quarter to nine o'clock. Dr. Wellons was extensively 
 known throughout this portion of the State, and in 
 our city had many warm friends to whom his death 
 will be a source of deep sorrow. He was a true 
 Christian and bore his intense sufferings with entire 
 resignation and submission, and awaited in joyful 
 anticipation the summons that would end them. 
 His last hours were soothed by the kindest attention 
 and ministrations of loving friends. 
 
 The Atlantic Homestead, the Norfolk Day-Book, 
 the Rural Messenger, the Petersburg Index and Ap- 
 peal, The Norfolk Ledger, the Herald of Gospel Lib- 
 erty, the Central Presbyterian, the Southern Church- 
 man, the Christian Examiner, the Friend of Tem- 
 perance, the Methodist Protestant, the Church 
 Union, the Good Templar, the Religious Herald, 
 the Richmond Christian Advocate, the Biblical Re^ 
 
308 Tributes of Respect. 
 
 eorder, the Raleigh Christian Advocate, the Norfolk 
 Virginian, with many other papers, gave honorable 
 mention of Dr. Wellons as an Editor, Christian, Min- 
 ister and Gentleman. 
 
THE CEREMONIES 
 
 AT THE 
 
 ERECTION OF HIS MONDMENT. 
 
 Wednesday, Oct, 15, having been set apart for the 
 ceremonies attending the erection of the monument 
 to the memory of the late Rev. W. B. Wellons, D. 
 D., at 2 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon a large 
 crowd assembled at the Christian church, where a 
 procession was formed as follows : 
 
 1. Drum Corps of Suffolk Greys. 
 
 2. Suffolk Greys, Oapt. Thomas W. Smith, com- 
 manding. 
 
 3. Pupils and teachers of the Suffolk Collegiate 
 Institute. 
 
 4. Congregation of the Suffolk Christian church. 
 
 5. Choir of the Suffolk Christian church. 
 
 6. Orator and ministers. 
 
 7. Citizens generally. " 
 
 The procession was then placed in charge of Capt 
 T. W. Smith, as chief marshal. 
 
 Upon arriving at the cemetery, the grave was 
 beautifully decorated with flowers by friends. 
 
 The stage, which had been erected near the monu- 
 ment, was occupied by the orator and ministers. 
 
310 Prayer on Erection oi? Mondment. 
 
 The ceremonies commenced by the choir singing 
 the hymn: " We Shall Know Each Other There." 
 
 Rev. E. W. Beale read the hymn : " Oh, Think of 
 the Home over There," which was sung by the choir. 
 
 Rev. M. B. Barrett then read the 23d Psalm, be- 
 ginning, " The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not 
 want." 
 
 Rev. W. T. Walker then offered the following 
 
 prayer; 
 
 Our Father who art in Heaven, here in the city 
 of the dead, where the bodies of those who were 
 once numbered among us, with whom we were once 
 associated and took sweet counsel, and who were 
 near and dear to some of us by the ties of relation- 
 ship, are mouldering back to their kindred element, 
 we assume the attitude of prayer. 
 
 Gracious Father, accept, we most humbly beseech 
 Thee, the gratitude of our hearts for the glorious 
 light shed upon this spot by our holy religion, in 
 which we behold by faith the reanimation and resur- 
 rection of this sacred dust, as shadowed forth by the 
 empty tomb of our blessed Saviour. 
 
 Accept, O most gracious Lord, our thanks for the 
 gift of William B. Wellons, around whose dust we 
 are now assembled, and over whom we have erected 
 this shaft. May the memory of his lofty patriotism, 
 his great philanthropy, his broad charity, his un- 
 tiring devotion to principle, his zeal for God and 
 His cause, his force of character, and his exemplary 
 Christian life inspire us with a like spirit. 
 
Pkayer on Erection of Monument. 311 
 
 rorgive, righteous Father, his enemies, if such 
 there be. 
 
 Bless the town, state and nation of which he was 
 a most worthy citizen ; the cause of temperance, of 
 which he was an able advocate ; the literary insti- 
 tution for the existence of which we are mainly in- 
 debted to his efforts ; the paper with which he was 
 so long and honorably connected; the church to 
 which he was so devotedly attached and for which 
 he labored with such astonishing energy and suc- 
 cess ; the cause of Christ, which he loved with a 
 love stronger than life. 
 
 > Comfort and bless his family — the devoted wife, 
 the partner of his joys and sorrows, the faithful 
 companion of his earthly pilgrimage; the children 
 and grandchildren, for whom he felt such anxious 
 solicitude; his brother, sisters and other relations, 
 to whom lie was so warmly attached and so faithful 
 a kinsman ; us who enjoyed his acquaintance and 
 who were lifted to a more elevated plain in the scale 
 of being by our intercourse with him and by the 
 logic and pathos of his manly eloquence. May this 
 monument remind all who look upon it of the short- 
 ness of human life, of the power of the Christian 
 over death, and of the resurrection and glorification 
 of the righteous. 
 
 May we cherish most fondly the memory of Our 
 departed brother, live so that when our summons 
 comes we may meet it with as much calmness as 
 did he, and so enter upon that rest which Thou hast 
 in reserve for Thy people, where we shall be reunited 
 
812 Oration on Eeection op Monument, 
 
 to our dear departed friends who have fallen asleep 
 in Jesus, never more to be separated. 
 
 These blessings with all others that Thou seest we 
 need, we ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour, 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Rev. J. Pressley Barrett then introduced Col. D. J. 
 Godwin, the orator of the occasion, who delivered 
 the following 
 
 ORATION. ' 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — A few years 
 ago — so few, that their twilight seems yet to linger — 
 there walked in your midst a man of God, — a fol- 
 lower of the " meek and lowly Jesus," whose com- 
 manding presence marked him a leader, and the 
 gentleness and kindliness of whose aspect bespoke 
 the Christian gentleman. Whenever and wherever 
 he moved, whether among Christians or worldlings, 
 all eyes turned reverently on him ; and in the faces 
 of all might be seen the joyous light of pride or the 
 mellow tenderness of affection. The hearts, the 
 hopes, the prayers of Christian thousands followed 
 him by day and by night, and rested ever around 
 that banner of God upheld by him. Everything 
 indicated that he was the chosen, trusted and be- 
 loved leader of the Christian cause he had es- 
 poused. 
 
 His achievements in the cause of Christianity, 
 not only attracted the attention of his immediate 
 locality, but thousands in and out of the State paused 
 to read the story of his success. His State — indeed 
 
Oration on Erection op Monument. 313 
 
 the South, grew familiar with his name, and recog- 
 nized in his victories over sin, and zealous conduct 
 in his cause, the appearance upon the historic plane 
 of the Christian world, of another of those few — 
 distinguished few — who, at rare intervals in the course 
 of time, towering above others, stand a prominent 
 figure for all. eyes to gaze at and admire. I need 
 not say, that that man was the Rev. Dr. Wellons, to 
 whose memory yon sculptured marble now lifts its 
 front, proud to perpetuate his name, and to rehearse 
 to the passing traveler his virtues. 
 
 A short time since, and he who is the occasion of 
 this tribute, was the staff not only of his sect, but of 
 his community. He was loved, respected and hon- 
 ored by all. Indeed, he was the friend of all. 
 
 And now, this monument, erected to his memory, 
 fit emblem of his many virtues and purity of his 
 Christian character, reminds us that he is no more, 
 and reopens the wound so freshly made on the hearts 
 of us all by the sad tidings of his death, which 
 . swept like a wave of sorrow over this land, and left 
 it in the drapery of mourning and in tears. 
 
 The form of the Christian hero has been con- 
 signed to the companionship of the kindred dust of 
 his fathers and his great soul, has been welcomed to 
 the upper skies, but the garlands that deck his tomb 
 shall bloom with immortal freshness, watered by the 
 pious tears of a grateful church and community, 
 and protected by Him with whom the memory of 
 the just and good is ever precious. 
 
 That beautiful monument, which human art has 
 20 
 
314 Oration on Erection op Monument. 
 
 raised to human worth and goodness, may decay; 
 nay, must'decay in the round of time, however im- 
 posing in itself, and however tender and dear the 
 associations connected with it. Sooner or later, all, 
 such have perished, and their places know them not. 
 This fact but reminds us how poor and how frail are 
 the temporal works of man. But when man has 
 made to himself — as this meek and holy Christian 
 has done — monuments of work in the service of his 
 God, they live on, from generation to generation, 
 and endure to the end. Christianity constitutes the 
 first, as it M'ill be the last witness and record of our 
 destinies and feelings. The glories of the Parthenon 
 shall fade into oblivion — the Coliseum, with its san- 
 guinary trophies is crumbling to decay, but the 
 works of the man of God — in the field of the Chris- 
 tian religion will remain as fixed as the foundations 
 of the globe and shall never pass away. And, last- 
 ing as the round Earth itself, shall be the memories 
 that hover around his works. 
 
 A traveler in pursuing his weary way through an 
 African desert — a barren, desolate and almost bound- 
 less solitude — found a gigantic sculptured head, 
 shattered and half buried in the sand ; and near it, 
 the fragment of a pedestal, on which these words 
 might be, with pain, deciphered ; "I am Ozymandias, 
 King of Kings ; look upon my works, ye mighty ones, 
 and despair." Who was Ozymandias ? And where 
 are now his woi-k^? What bond of thought or feel- 
 ing links his past with our present? They have 
 gone glimmering through the dreams of things 
 
Oration on Erection os- Monument. 315 
 
 that were — the Arab, with his beast of burden, 
 tramples unheeding over these forlorn vestiges of 
 human art and human grandeur. But the Christian 
 works of the man of God, and the tradition which 
 consecrates them, shall carry down to future ages a 
 lesson — a moral-interest lasting in itself — however 
 the aspect of things and the condition of people 
 change around them. Such will be the memory of 
 the late Dr. Wellons, when that beautiful marble 
 tribute shall have crumbled into dust. And when 
 even the pyramids, those vast vain monuments to 
 human pride and power, have passed away, his 
 works in the service of his God shall endure, and 
 carry his name down to posterity. 
 
 William Brock Wellons was born on' the 9th day 
 of November, 1821, of honorable and highly respected 
 parentage, of the faith of the " Christian Church ;" 
 yet the proudest distinction (I say it with no dispar. 
 agement) was in giving birth to such a son. The 
 early years of his life were passed in the acquisition 
 of the rudiments of education, and those sublime 
 principles of elevated religion and morality which 
 were iu after times matured into the most devout 
 and exemplary piety. At the age of twenty-four he 
 was received as a licentiate in the Eastern Virginia 
 Christian Conference and authorized to preach the 
 gospel. In one year thereafter he became an elder 
 in the Church, and from that day to the time of his 
 death was the acknowledged leader of his Church. 
 In 1850, he settled, permanently, in the town of Suf- 
 folk, where he died. Here, as a minister and editor, 
 
816 Oration on Erection op Monument. 
 
 with zeal and hope for seventeen years he labored^ 
 with what triumphant success I need not tell this 
 people. He was a thorough and accomplished gen- 
 tleman, a fine scholar, an artist, a philosopher, and 
 without which all other accomplishments are but 
 dross — a Christian. What a beautiful, moral and 
 intellectual picture does such a man, at such an age, 
 present? 
 
 " How roust his worth be seeded in his age 
 When tlius his virtues l>ud before their spring." 
 
 From the time he settled in Suffolk he launched 
 at once into the busy tide of the Christian life. He 
 took his post where nature and education both 
 placed him, in the first rank of his calling, and 
 maintained his ground with the ablest editors and 
 divines of his time, gathering from the start in his 
 editorial and pulpit career, " golden opinions from 
 all sorts of people." 
 
 With a spirit, gentle, yet firm, tempered by the 
 most bland and courteous manners ; with a soul 
 alive to all the sympathies and charities of life ; sur- 
 rounded by a small yet devoted and lovely family, 
 he stood the very centre of the social circle of his 
 community, and his influence radiated to the ex- 
 tremest verge of benevolence and hospitality. So 
 nicely blended were all the virtues and accomplish- 
 ments of this good man, with each other, that while 
 the combination was perfect, each intregal part of 
 his character was so beautiful in itself, as to impart 
 loveliness to all around it. 
 
Oration on Erection of Monument. 317 
 
 View the subject of this address from whatever 
 standpoint you please — from that of the citizen, 
 the minister, the editor, tlie husband, the father, the 
 brother or the friend, and he filled the full measure 
 of a great and good man. 
 
 "His life was gentle and the elements 
 
 So mixed in him, that nature might stand up 
 
 And say to all the word — this is a man," 
 
 As a citizen, he was active, progressive and en- 
 terprising, seeking at all times, to advance the mate- 
 rial and industrial interest of his locality especially, 
 and the State generally. 
 
 The " Christian Sun " was the work of his inspira- 
 tion and energy, and the cause of Temperance flour- 
 ished under his management. He was the founder 
 of, the Suffolk Collegiate Institute, an institution of 
 learning worthy of its author and a blessing to its 
 community. Perhaps he, more than any other man 
 in his town, contributed to her rapid and material 
 growth after the war. He inspired the energies of 
 his people, encouraged the arts and sciences, urged 
 her material development and pressed her business 
 energies to success. 
 
 At the time of hi« death he was pastor of the 
 Suffolk Christian Church, pastor of Bethlehem 
 Church, editor of the Christian Sun, President of the 
 Suffolk Collegiate Institute, President of the General 
 Christian Convention, President of the Eastern Vir- 
 ginia Christian Conference, Secretary of the Supreme 
 Council Friends of Temperance<, Secretary of the 
 
318 Obation on Erection of Monument. 
 
 State Council of Virginia Friends of Temperance, 
 Corresponding Secretary of the Association known 
 as "Union Christian Churches of America," and 
 had,, in addition to these offices, a thousand other 
 private matters of benevolence about which few 
 persons knew anything except himself. No wonder 
 that he sank under the weight of these accumulated 
 labors to which was superadded a troublesome bron- 
 chial affection which finally developed into incura- 
 ble disease of the lungs. 
 
 He was my friend, I was his friend — I knew him 
 intimately for twenty-five years. Therefore I am 
 not a partial judge — if the memory of a quarter of 
 a century of friendship — rooted in my boyhood; 
 that has strengthened and spread with each year of 
 my life; never, for a moment shaken by a doubt of 
 his honesty, his frankness, his integrity, his love of 
 right, his moral and Christian worth, darkened not 
 for a moment by distrust, I, here, pronounce that 
 this man was great. " Great in the noble powers of 
 his intellect, great in the lofty powers of his intel- 
 lect, great in the lofty morality of his principles, in 
 the disinterestedness of his life, in the sincerity and 
 depth of his affections." 
 
 Single out from the most resplendent pages of 
 classic history, the proudest models of human ex- 
 cellence — follow them through the mutations of 
 time; mark them in the hour of prosperity; test 
 them by the scale of adversity; contemplate them 
 in a struggle with the grave — where then is their 
 philosophy — where their glory ? 
 
Oration on Erection op Monument. 319 
 
 "To live with fame 
 The gods allow to many ; but to die 
 "With equal lustre, is a blessing Heaven 
 Selects from all the choicest boons of fate 
 And with a sparing hand on few bestows." 
 
 How many heroes, in the all-trying hour of death, 
 have portrayed their weakness and proved them- 
 selves less than men ? Lycurgus, the great Spartan 
 law-giver, fell a timeless victim to liis own over- 
 reaching vanity. Cato, the pui;e and inflexible Cato, 
 in the hour and disaster of his fall, ignobly deserted 
 his post, and rushed untimely to the presence of his 
 God — there to be judged. So, too, with Brutus — 
 Brutus the patriot, the saviour of Rome — possessing 
 not the manhood to meet and endure misfortune — 
 wanting in courage tb brook the billows of adver- 
 sity — quailing before the stbrm, that man, ignomin- 
 iously and ingloriously sought his own end in the 
 gulf of eternity. Such is worldly philosophy. But 
 such is not Christian philosophy. Let us, therefore, 
 for a moment, contrast the practical results of this 
 worldly philosophy with those of the religion incul- 
 cated by the meek and lowly Saviour, and practised 
 "-by his disciples and followers. The distinction is 
 this — the one is the offspring of this world alone, 
 and dies in the death of the objects that inspired it. 
 The other is heaven-born, heaven-descended and 
 heaven-protected. Its origin, its every quality of 
 endurance, and its hopes and rewards are eternal. 
 The Christian lives in this world, but not /or this 
 world. He is of the world, but not with the world ; 
 
320 Oration on Erection of Monument. 
 
 and he dies as he lives, for a world to come — meeklj'-, 
 patiently submitting to his fate, seeking neither to 
 hasten or shun it; but tike a true and faithful sen- 
 tinel, resignedly and unmurmuringly awaits the 
 order of his author and great commander — his 
 God — " who wills to do or to undo in his own good 
 pleasure." 
 
 For more than a year before his death, while 
 chiefly confined to his bed, which proved to be the 
 bed of his death, it was my privilege to see and con- 
 verse with him freely. To me it was a solemn and 
 sublime spectacle. His whole soul had become con- 
 centrated and fixed on things above, " and, growing 
 purer as it looked towards Heaven, was fashioned to 
 its journey." He died the death of the righteous, 
 and passed from his works to his reward on the 16th 
 day of February, 1877. 
 
 "Night dews fall no more gently on the ground. 
 Nor wearv, worn-out winds expire so soft." 
 
 Mr. President : Throw the mind back, if you 
 please, upon the brightest pages of the history of 
 man — to Paul, to Luther, to Wesley, to Craniner, to 
 Butler, or to others, here too numerous to mention — 
 men who figured in the Christian world and whose 
 histories glitter with the most splendid acts and 
 deeds. Looking at these illustrious models, through 
 the medium of centuries, and the flattering glass of 
 eulogy, they present to the view the noblest and 
 purest men that ever lived in the tide of time. But 
 contemplate them as they really were, Christians, 
 
Dkscription of Monument. 321 
 
 pure and simple, great and good, and then compare 
 them, one by one, and tell me, if you can, wherein 
 they excel — in prosperity, or adversity — in private 
 or in public life, in morals, or in intellect — in vir- 
 tue, or in philosophy — in Christian worth and char- 
 acter — this lamented Christian hero, whose life and 
 character we this day commemorate. 
 
 In a state of high civilization — such as the ag'e in 
 which we live, — man in perpetuating memories 
 trusts to the records of brick and marble — the pyra- 
 mid, the column, the temple, the tomb. 
 
 " Then the bust 
 And altar rise— then sink again to dust." 
 
 But when that stout and durable monument shall 
 have moulded to decay and ceased to inform pos- 
 terity of its object, tradition and history shall pre- 
 serve his name and fame, and hand them down, " in 
 accents sweet, to ages yet to come." 
 
 " There is a crown for the striving soul," was then 
 read by Rev. J. T. Kitchen and sung by the choir> 
 after which Rev. R. H. Holland pronounced the 
 benediction and the people dispersed. 
 
 The following is the description of the Monunaent 
 as it stands in Willow Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Vir- 
 gina: 
 
 The monument is of pure white Italian marble. 
 It was constructed by Mr. John P. Hall, of Norfolk, 
 and is a beautiful and tasteful piece of workmanship. 
 The following is the description of it : 
 
 The monument consists of a base of granite, upon 
 
322 Description of Monument. 
 
 which rests a pedestal of white marble, bearing the 
 inscription, " Wellons," in large capital letters. 
 
 Under the pedestal rests the die block, about two 
 feet square and thirty inches high, inscribed as fol- 
 lows in front : 
 
 William B. Wellons, 
 
 Born in Sussex County, Virginia, November 9, 
 1821. Died in Suffolk, Virginia, Feb- 
 ruary 16, 1877. 
 
 On the rear : 
 
 " Dr. Wellons dedicated his heart to God at the 
 early age of thirteen years ; entered the Gospel min- 
 istry at twenty-four, and labored therein with great 
 success for thirty-one years, leading thousands to 
 the 'Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of 
 the world.' He edited the Christian Sun for more 
 than twenty-five years, was a Mason of high order, 
 a warm advocate of Temperance, and an earnest 
 supporter of every measure promotive of the public 
 good." 
 
 The sides bear respectively the inscriptions : 
 
 " Erected by his many friends." 
 
 " Blessed are the dead which die in the ' Lord. 
 Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
 labors, and their works do follow them." 
 
 From the die block springs the shaft, a block of 
 marble about fourteen inches square at the base, 
 and bearing on the front an open Bible and Masonic 
 devices. 
 
Sermons and Addresses. 
 
 Masonic Funeral Sermon of Jacob Kelly. 
 
 The circumstances and the occasion which assembles 
 us to-day, are well calculated to produce solemnity 
 in every mind. We come to-day to mourn with those 
 who mourn, and weep with those who weep. The 
 text chosen for this solemn occasion is : 
 
 ^^ But man diet\ aniwasteth oAoay : Yea, man giveih up the 
 ghost, and where is Ae? " — Job xiv : 10. 
 
 The text contains : 
 
 1. A sad declaration. And 
 
 2. An important enquiry. 
 
 No labored argument is required to prove the 
 truth of the solemn declaration contained first in 
 the words of the text. It is a fact as fixed and un- 
 alterable as fate; it is a destiny which cannot be 
 reversed ; a decree that cannot be annulled. We 
 may be skeptical on other subjects, we may be un- 
 believing in reference to other truths ; but in refer- 
 ence to this subject there can be no skepticism, no 
 unbelief The edict has gone forth from the mouth 
 of Jehovah, and cannot be suspended or revoked^, 
 " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." " It 
 is appointed unto men once to die." " For here 
 liave we no continuing city." " All flesh is as grass 
 
324 Masonic Funeral Sermon. 
 
 and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. 
 The grass witheretli and the flower thereof fadeth 
 away." So fadetli man in his glory. There is noth- 
 ing that we can look to with such unwavering con- 
 fidence, such perfect faith, such absolute, inevitable 
 and irresistible certainty as death. " Man dieth and 
 wasteth away ; yea, man giveth up the ghost." The 
 .seeds of death are implanted in us at our birth. 
 Foul diseases lurk within us, and soon vegetate and 
 bring forth their fruits. We have sinful souls and 
 dying bodies. Death has passed upon all in that all 
 have sinned. 
 
 The experience of all past generations confirm 
 the sad truth. Where now are the countless 
 generations that have preceded the present ? They 
 have all passed away — they are wasted and gone ! 
 Where are the antideluvians? They are gone — not 
 one of them remains. "The days of Methusaleh were 
 nine hundred and sixty and nine years, and he died.' 
 Where are the distinguished characters spoken of in 
 sacred history — such as Moses, the God-appointed 
 leader of the Israelites ; David, the sweet singer of 
 Israel ; Job, the man of patience ; Solomon, the wise 
 man, and Isaiah, the prophet of the Lord? All of 
 them have fallen victims to death. Neither the 
 meekness of Moses, the patience of Job, the right- 
 eousness of David, the wisdom of Solomon, or the 
 holiness of Isaiah, could exempt them from the 
 stern decree. Human wisdom and greatness cannot 
 avert it ; nor can human strength battle M'ith it suc- 
 cessfully. All that is human must fade away and 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 325 
 
 die. Where are the thousands who in ancient times 
 met in mortal combat on the battle field ? Where 
 are the leaders of those mighty armies, terrible to 
 look upon ? Where is Xerxes, Alexander and others 
 whose names will be handed down to the latest pos- 
 terity ? Not one of them has escaped the sad pen- 
 alty. Not one of them has been freed from death. 
 
 Our own experience has impressed indelibly upon 
 our minds the sad certainty of a change in death. 
 Our own feelings announce the unmistakable fact. 
 Where are the fathers who idolized us in our infant 
 days? Where is the mother who dandled us on the 
 kuee, and from whose bosom we drew our very ex- 
 istence and life — who watched over us during the 
 helpless period of infancy and soothed our every 
 sorrow? Perhaps they are gone. If not gone from 
 our sight, they are fading like autumn leaves and 
 will soon wither and die. Where are the associates of 
 our childhood — the companions of our sport and 
 glee? Many of theiH have sunk down into the 
 withering arms of the destroyer, and have ceased to 
 live among mortals. Others are still alive and with 
 us, but are traveling the same path our fathers trod. 
 And soon all of us will have been brought to death 
 and to the house appointed for all living. 
 
 Daily observation confirms the sad reality of the 
 truth asserted in the text: "Man dieth and wasteth 
 away." It has been truly said that " death rides oh 
 every breeze." It is no respecter of persons. It 
 visits the high and'the low — the noble and the igno- 
 ble — the rich and the poor — the learned and the un- 
 
826 Masonic Funeeal Sermon. 
 
 learned — the young and the old — yea, the smiling 
 infant in its mother's arms, and the gray-headed 
 father of three score and ten. It attacks the king 
 upon his throne and the beggar on the streets ; and 
 both alike become his victim. It enters the rich 
 man's palace and the poor man's hovel ; and though 
 always an unwelcome visitor, can never be shut out. 
 Death is the great leveler of the human species. 
 There may be distinctions among men, and differ- 
 ent grades of society, posts of honor and posts of 
 dishonor, but in death there is no distinction — all 
 come on a common level. Verily, "all flesh is grass," 
 and " we all do fade as a leaf." "Man dieth and 
 giveth up the ghost." Our lives are but as the vapor 
 or bubble on the ocean ; and as easily broken as the 
 spider's web in dewy morn. 
 
 But there is more connected with the certainty of 
 death. There is no time peculiar to it ; no place set 
 apart for it ; and no particular mode of attack has 
 been established for it. All ti'mes are his ; all places 
 belong to him, and all modes are free for his use_ 
 He is seen on the battle field amid the roaring of 
 cannon and the clashing of swords, and "garments 
 rolled in blood." Again, he may be seen in the 
 quiet chamber as soft as twilight's falling dews, hov- 
 ering over the innocent babe as it sleeps in its cradle, 
 and ere it awakes has imprinted upon its brow and 
 lips its cold and chilling kiss. He may be seen 
 amid the loud thunder's roar and the forked light- 
 ning's flash; and anon he is seen stealing as soft as 
 the rays of the setting sun into the lonely widow's 
 
Masonic Funeral Seemon. 327 
 
 chamber, and soothingly whispers in her ear, "I 
 have come." He may be seen to clasp the man of 
 giant intellect and noble powers of mind in his arms, 
 and with his cold and chilling influence make him 
 feel that " this is the last of earth." And again he 
 visits the humble, poor man in this world's goods, 
 and lays his hand upon him so softly, stills the beat- 
 ing of his pulse so gently, that life with him wears 
 away like the going out of the burning taper. . Death 
 is truly " in season and out of season," in all places, 
 and everywhere; in the crowded city and the most 
 obscure country place ; on the highway and in the 
 field; in the workshop and the Senate chamber; in 
 the lonely cottage and the holy sanctuary. 
 
 But there is still another thought connected with 
 the subject of death. Its results cannot be changed. 
 As the tree falls so it must lie. Death comes, and 
 after that there is neither " seed time or harvest, 
 summer or winter." The body goes down to the 
 grave, and the soul returns to God who gave it. 
 Death puts an end to our probation and closes our 
 stewardship — cuts off the time of repentance, and 
 fixes our state unalterably unchangeable. At death 
 the dye is cast, and the doom is fixed forever. 
 
 Death then is certain, and as such demands at our 
 hands solemn and serious consideration. It is near 
 to every one of us, even at our doors, and however 
 much we may dread his presence, we must soon 
 stand before him and meet him face to face. Let us 
 then prepare for the battle; have on the armor, 
 " that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, 
 
328 Masonic Funeral Sermon. 
 
 and having done all, to stand ;" and when the battle 
 has closed we may cry out with the great Apostle of 
 the Gentiles, "thanks be to God who giveth us the 
 victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 Such my friends is the sad declaration contained 
 in the text " Man dieth and wasteth away." The 
 awful moment arrives.' The important event tran- 
 spires. Man yields — becomes death's victim. The 
 arm once strong, and the body once athletic, be- 
 comes weak. The cheek once red and rosy, becomes 
 pale and shrivelled. The eye once bright and spark- 
 ling, becomes dim. The hand that once gave the 
 warm grasp, becomes cold. The voice so familiar, 
 which once greeted us, is hushed. The breathing 
 becomes difficult. The pulse gradually ceases to 
 beat, the extremities are chilled. Death's cold and 
 icy fingers grapples the very heartstrings of the 
 man, and soon all is over. " Man dieth, wasteth 
 away, and giveth up the ghost." This is a trite 
 truth, but Oh ! who can contemplate it? Who can 
 realize the fact? Who can look death in the face 
 and not shudder? Who can feel its chill and not 
 tremble ? AVho does not grow solemn at the thought 
 of death I " Man dieth, wasteth away, giveth up 
 the ghost." God of the Universe deeply impress 
 this truth upon all our minds ! 
 
 It is your doom, my hearers, it is mine. Why 
 shall M'e not ponder seriously that which must be? 
 Our destiny thus far is written, signed and sealed. 
 Death is a startling word ; a word of awful moment 
 and transcendent importance; yet not one-half so 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 329 
 
 alarming as the vast or important question contained 
 in the latter part of the text. " Man dieth, wasteth 
 away, giveth up the ghost, and where is he f Ah! 
 where is he? This brings us to the second division 
 of the subject. 
 
 Where shall we look for an answer to this mo- 
 mentous and important question ? Which way shall 
 we turn, and what course shall we pursue? Shall 
 we enquire among the philosophers of the ancient 
 world ? No definite answer can be obtained from 
 them. All the learning of Athens can throw no 
 light upon this all important subject. We may 
 stand amid the ruins of Greece and Rome and gaze, 
 awe-struck, upon the tall pyramids of Egypt, yet no 
 answer is given. The wisdom of the world com- 
 bined is not able to answer the enquiry — to solve 
 the epigma — to unravel the mystery. Human learn- 
 ing cannot penetrate the darkness that hovers over 
 the tomb ; all the human wisdom of earth combined 
 cannot answer the question, " where is hef 
 
 Without the aid of revelation, and devoid of this 
 blessed book, the Bible, in vain may we search. 
 This book is the torch light of heaven to shine away 
 all obscurity and mystery from our dark and be- 
 wildered minds. I turn to these sacred pages and 
 learn that " man dieth and giveth up the ghost," 
 and while his body returns to dust his soul returns 
 to God who gave it. The doctrine of the soul's im- 
 mortality in its fulness is learned no where else but 
 in this precious volume. Here we learn that it is not 
 all of man that dies. The clay tenement or prison 
 21 
 
330 Masonic Funeral Sermon, 
 
 house, the outer garment may perish, but the soul, 
 the vital, the immortal part of man must live on 
 and live forever. Here we learn the cause and cure 
 of death. Sin and transgression brought death into 
 our world ; all must die; but God in his mercy hath 
 provided a ransom, his only begotten son, our Sa- 
 viour, and " whosoever believeth in him shall not 
 perish but have everlasting life." Repentance, faith 
 and obedience will ensure eternal life. Impeni- 
 tence, disobedience and unbelief will ensure eternal 
 death. When the body of man dieth and wasteth 
 away, one or the other state will be the fate of the 
 soul. 
 
 Thus this important question is answered, and our 
 curiosity is gratified. The dark cloud which hovered 
 over the mind shrouding it in darkness is dispersed, 
 and light beams upon our understanding. The doc- 
 trine of the soul's immortality, and the resurrection 
 from the dead, sheds a halo of glory around the 
 tomb, and dispels the fear of death. Take from us 
 this sacred volume and all is lost. In the doctrines 
 of this book our hopes of happiness beyond the grave 
 are centered. Here is the rock upon which our hope 
 of immortality is based. Here the question is an- 
 swered. Repentance, faith and obedience will 
 qualify us to live in heaven after the body dieth and 
 wasteth away. Farther we are not authorized to go. 
 More we need not say. In this book we are assured 
 that Christ is " the way, the truth and the life," and 
 " no man cometh unto the Father but by him." There 
 is no other name given by which men can be saved. 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 331 
 
 Through Christ and him crucified, we are enabled 
 to look across the Jordan of death and say, " I know 
 that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand 
 at the latter day upon the earth ; and though after 
 my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
 shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and 
 mine eyes shall behold and not another." 
 
 Let us then, my friends, labor, that when we die 
 and waste away, that the question, where is he? may 
 be answered by this book. May the enquirer be told 
 that we washed our robes and made them white in 
 the blood of the Lamb. And when we are all cold 
 in our graves, may it be said in the beautiful lan- 
 guage of Revelation, " They are before the throne 
 of God, and serve him day and night in his tem- 
 ple." 
 
 And to my Masonic brethren, may I say, we have 
 met here this day to mingle our tears and sympathy 
 with those bereaved, and pay respect to the memory ' 
 of one beloved by us all. One who 
 
 " Oft has met our social band." 
 
 Here before us is all that remains of our fleparted 
 brother on earth. The news has been borne off on 
 the wings of the gentle zephyr, that Jacob Kelly is 
 no more. Death, the last ruffian, has struck the 
 fatal blow. Cold and motionless he now sleeps 
 before us. And none but the Lion of the tribe of 
 Judah can awake him. Was there no help for this? 
 There was none. If the earnest and fervent peti- 
 tions of a devoted companion, and now fatherless 
 
332 Masonic Funeral Sermon, 
 
 children, could have been heard, our brother would 
 not have died. If the desire of his numerous rela 
 lives and friends could have been granted, then he 
 would have lived. If the attention of a skillful 
 physician could have prevailed, we should not be 
 here assembled. But none of these could change 
 the decree of Deity. "To this complexion must 
 we all come at last." Man dieth, wasteth away and 
 giveth up the ghost. 
 
 Our brother was known to you all, and no eulogy 
 is needed from me, and none will be attempted. As 
 a citizen of the county he was esteemed and beloved. 
 An obliging neighbor, kind master, indulgent father, 
 and most affectionate husband. In every relation 
 he sustained in life, he will be missed ; but in none 
 so much as in his own family, where he was the 
 head and stay. As a Mason he was well tried 
 and found to be true and trustj'^, and as Masons we 
 'taourn his loss. No more in our social meetings 
 will his voice be heard. No more shall we feel the 
 warm grip of brotherly regard and esteem ; and no 
 more shall we have him with us, who was duly and 
 truly prepared to sympathize with us, and assist us 
 in healing the woes of our fellow-men. 
 
 It may be expected, and it is both right and 
 proper, that I should here in the presence of the 
 uninitiated, make some reference to that order of 
 which our brother was a member ; and the sect that 
 has been " everywhere spoken against." In doing 
 this I shall briefly explain some of the leading prin- 
 ciples of Masonry', and attempt an answer to some 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 333 
 
 objections which have been urged against them by 
 the bigoted and prejudiped, and also by the well 
 meaning ignorant. 
 
 Masonry is a social and benevolent organization. 
 Men are social beings. They are thus formed by 
 nature. Much of the happiness we enjoy in this 
 world is in the social circle. The social qualities 
 implanted in our natures have always been exercised 
 in some way. This quality of our nature has con- 
 tributed largely to every scientific and intellectual 
 improvement. The history of mankind is a con- 
 tinued record of societies and associations. We nat- 
 urally crave the sympathies and assistance of those 
 around us. A world devoid of this principle would 
 indeed be a world of woe. The origin of all gov- 
 ernment is founded upon this principle of our na- 
 tures. Men have associated together, having a 
 common object in view, and a common interest at 
 stake. This principle cultivated, introduced law 
 and order in society. Men became associated to- 
 gether as families, tribes and nations, and formed 
 rules of order and law? by which all should be gov- 
 erned. Out of these sprang up several smaller asso- 
 ciations, formed out of a part of the larger bodies ; 
 who united themselves together for certain specified 
 purposes. This led to the formation of a society 
 known as Free and Accepted Masons, which has 
 proved itself to be more durable than any which 
 preceded it, its principles being founded upon a 
 rock which cannot be moved. It is admitted by all 
 who have examined the subject with any- care, that 
 
334 Masonic Funeral Sermon. 
 
 this society has existed from very remote antiquity 
 At an early age of the world its foundation was laid. 
 In its speculative form, however, it is difficult to 
 trace it farther back than the building of the Tem- 
 ple of the Lord, by Solomon, King of Israel. It was 
 handed down from the buildingof the Temple, until 
 the establishment of the Grand Lodge at York. It 
 was the sanctuary where the arts and sciences were 
 preserved secure, until the great improvement in 
 society rendered it no longer useful for that purpose. 
 By its care the sacred writings were preserved 
 through the dark ages of the Babylonish captivity ; 
 and the key for reading them was, in the providence 
 of God, safely lodged in the secret vault of Masonry. 
 God made choice of this association, to transmit his 
 holy word unchanged and unblemished to the 
 world; and to this society we are indebted for the 
 sacred and holy writings. 
 
 Masonry in its speculative form impresses on the 
 mind'of its votaries lessons of morality and virtue, 
 thirough the agency of tools and implements; but it 
 is only those who learn to use them for this noble 
 and glorious purpose, who are benefited by their 
 use. Every tool and instrument used by us in our 
 ceremony and work, teaches a lesson of importance 
 to us. A man may be a Mason in theory, and not a 
 Mason in practice. To be a Mason good and true, 
 he should practice out of the Lodge those noble vir- 
 tues taught in the Lodge. He should carry fully 
 into practice that which he has learned in theory. 
 Believe me, all are not Israel who are of Israel 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon, 335 
 
 neither are all true Masons who wear the name. To 
 be a Mason externally alone, is of but little impor- 
 tance. The internal qualifications of the man con- 
 stitute the true and faithful craftsman. 
 
 The candidate for Masonic honors, on first being 
 introduced in the Lodge room, after acknowledging 
 his belief, in the Supreme Being, is taught to go to 
 him as an infinitely wise and good parent, and im- 
 plore his blessing upon him, a»d to seek from him 
 Divine wisdom, that he may be enabled to display 
 the beauties of holiness, to the honor of his great 
 name. He is not allowed to lose sight of this in 
 any advancement he makes. He is instructed to 
 offer prayer to God, and wholly to rely upon him in 
 every step he takes. He is furthermore taught sym- 
 bolically, in the first degree of Masonry, to divide 
 his time so that one-third part thereof may be de- 
 voted to the service of God, and to relieve the dis- 
 tresses of his brethren, to divest his heart and con- 
 science of all the vices and superfluities of life, and 
 fit his mind for that spiritual building, that " house 
 not niade with hands eternal and in the heavens." 
 He is taught that, only by purity of life and conduct, 
 he can gain admission to the Celestial lodge above, 
 where the Supreme Architect of the Universe pre- 
 sides. He is instructed not only to have faith in 
 God, but hope in immortality, and charity to all 
 mankind. He learns even at his first step in Ma- 
 sonry, that all well governed Lodges are compelled 
 to be furnished with the Holy Bible, Square and 
 Compasses — the Bible being dedicated to God, it 
 
336 Masonic Funeral Sermon. 
 
 being the inestimable gift of God to man; the 
 Square to the Master of the Lodge, that he may teach 
 the brethren to square all their actions by the square 
 of virtue ; and the Compasses to the Craft, teaching 
 them to " circumscribe their desires, and keep their 
 passions within due bounds." Brotherly love, Relief 
 and Truth are taught him. He is instructed to prac- 
 tice strictly the four cardinal virtues of Masonry — 
 Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. Again, 
 he is solemnly charged to inculcate three great du- 
 ties to God, his neighbor, and himself — " to God, in 
 never mentioning his name but with that reverential 
 awe due from a creature to his Creator ;" to his 
 neighbor, in ever doing unto him as he would wish 
 to be done by ; and to himself, by avoiding all irreg- 
 ularity and intemperance which may impair his 
 faculties, or debase the dignity of his profession. 
 He is required to be a quiet and peaceable subject 
 in the State, true to his government, and just to his 
 country ; never to submit to disloyalty or rebellion, 
 but patiently submit to legal authority, and in his 
 outward demeanor to be particularly careful to avoid 
 censure and reproach. 
 
 In the second degree, he is taught universal be- 
 nevolence, and that it is the internal and not the 
 external qualifications of a man that Masonry re- 
 gards as the great worth. To influence him to ac- 
 tion, the Bible is kept constantly before him as the 
 great light in Masonry. The precepts taught in this 
 holy book are to be obeyed, and our lives and con- 
 duct governed thereby. 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 337 
 
 As the candidate progresses beyond this, new 
 beauties open before him, and increasing light bursts 
 upon his mind, making still more plain that which 
 has preceded. He is taught in all his actions that 
 the All-Seeing Eye, whom the sun, moon and stars 
 obey, and under whose watchful care, even comets 
 perform their stupendous revolutions, surveys the 
 inmost recesses of the human heart, and will reward 
 us according to our merits. He is reminded of the 
 swiftness of time, the shortness of life, and the cer- 
 tainty of death, and the necessity of a well grounded 
 hope which reaches beyond the dark and gloomy 
 grave, even into the blissful realms of eternity. 
 
 As he advances onward, his work is tried by the 
 square of the overseer, and he is taught that only 
 those who do their duty are rewarded with wages- 
 He is charged to " lay aside all malice, and guile, 
 and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking;" 
 to " honor all men, love the brotherhood, and fear 
 God ; " ever bearing in mind that " the stone which 
 the builders rejected has become the head of the 
 corner." 
 
 The Temple completed and dedicated to God, aid 
 is rendered in procuring those excellent jewels that 
 stamp with importance the history of the ancient 
 craft. He gains admittance into the earthly sanc- 
 tuary, or that which faintly represents the great 
 tabernacle above, where the great High Priest of our 
 profession presides. Lessons are taught here never 
 to be erased from the memory. 
 
 By figure, we are impressed with our fallen state 
 
SSS Masonic Funeral Sermon. 
 
 by nature ; the destruction by sin of the temple of 
 our hearts where God originally dwelt ; the cap- 
 tivity of our souls to sin and Satan ; our bondage 
 in sin ; the proclamation of salvation through the 
 merits of the Redeemer ; the return to our Heav- 
 enly Father's house ; the difSculties and rugged- 
 ness of the road from bondage to liberty, and the 
 necessity of humility and a faithful reliance upon 
 the instructions of our Great Conductor, to guide us 
 safely in the way through death's veil, to the dwell- 
 ing place of the great I AM, where by the signet of 
 eternal truth, we enter and find rest to our weary 
 souls. 
 
 With all these great truths before us, I ask if Ma- 
 sonry can possibly be what her enemies have repre- 
 sented her? Can it be a corrupt society; a danger- 
 ous institution ? Can our organization do injury to 
 the Church of Christ? Instead of all this, may not 
 Masonry be very justly styled the stepping stone to 
 Christianity ? 
 
 But in spite of all these things and external evi- 
 dences of the purity of our intention, we have been 
 reviled, scoffed at, persecuted and our names cast 
 out as evil, by designing bigots and political dema- 
 gogues. But amid all the opposition which she has 
 encountered, Masonry still stands both sure and 
 steadfast. The time honored institution still rears 
 its head above its opponents, and stands firm and 
 unshaken, and to-day her prospects for the future 
 were never more flattering. What but a Divine 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 339 
 
 hand has sustained her ? Who could have upheld 
 her but God ? 
 
 More than .three thousand years have gone down 
 the tide of time since she began her glorious marcli. 
 The whirlwinds of war and destruction have passed 
 over the earth spreading desolation and death in 
 their train. The monuments of grandeur have 
 crumbled into dust. The sceptre has fallen from the 
 palsied arm of the monarch, and lofty thrones and 
 empires have passed away in the horrid drama of 
 destruction since the sublime edifice of Masonry 
 first dipped its spire in the rainbow of heaven and 
 shed its brilliancy in the benighted bosom of the 
 world. Hand in hand with science, it has kept its 
 march amid the melancholy ruin of ages. The 
 prejudices of bigotry and fanaticism, and the tyr- 
 anny of ignorance has fled before it. Its lamp has 
 illuminated the dark pages of history, and shed a 
 brilliant lustre on the march of science. Persecu- 
 tion has not destroyed, neglect has not dissolved, 
 nor has prosperity severed from its legitimate objects 
 an institution, which unveils in the fear of the great 
 God the sacred tenets of its order. Masonry has 
 outlived the kingdom that gave it birth. The glit- 
 tering towers of Troy have fallen, Greece, the land 
 of glory and of song, is trampled under foot. Rome, 
 who sent forth her edicts to the world, has been 
 deluged and overcome by a barbarian torrent ; and 
 the red arms of her destroyers have prostrated her 
 martial glory forever. Spanish chivalry is quenched 
 in anarchy and confusion, but Masonry still marches 
 
3iO Masonic FaxERAL Sermon. 
 
 onward and shall continue to flourish until time 
 shall grow grey beneath the weight of unnumbered 
 centuries. 
 
 But we must hasten on to notice some objections 
 which has been urged against the Order. It is a 
 secret society. This, to some over nice minds, is objec- 
 tionable. But how this can affect the character of a 
 society I cannot see. A society adopting secrecj' for 
 nefarious and improper purposes must be an im- 
 proper and corrupt association; but adopting se- 
 crecy for the purpose of obtaiuing a lawful and 
 laudable end cannot be wrong, there being nothing 
 wrong in secrecy in the abstract. When has there 
 ever existed an association of any kind that did not 
 have secrets? National associations have national 
 secrets. Military associations have military secrets. 
 State associations have State secrets. There are 
 family secrets, church secrets, and business secrets. 
 For no familj', church, or business firm would be 
 willing to have all their transactions exposed to 
 the view of the whole world. This, to my mind, is 
 one of the peculiar beauties of the order. It ena- 
 bles us to detect all imposture and to open the hand 
 of charity only to the worthy and deserving. It 
 throws around us a shield of protection which 
 nothing else can give, and stamps with importance 
 all our actions. 
 
 Some have supposed that our obligation as Ma- 
 sons would bind us to conceal the faults and mis- 
 deeds of our brethren, and have presented this as an 
 objection to us. But this objection is not a valid 
 
Masonic Funeral Sermon. 341 
 
 one, for we are not so bound and so obligated. We 
 are under no obligation to an unworthy man, even 
 though he is called a Mason. It is only to the wor- 
 thy we are bound. All true Masons are true to 
 themselves, their country and their God. By all 
 such we will stand, in prosperity and adversity, in 
 sickness and in health, the same. Our houses, our 
 arms, our purses and our hearts are all open to 
 them. 
 
 But, says another, are you not commanded to "let 
 your light shine?" " Why put your candle under 
 the bed or under a bushel and not on a candlestick 
 that it may give light to all around ?" But are we 
 not commanded also, when we give alms, not to let 
 the left hand know what the right hand doeth, that 
 our alms may be in secret and our Father which 
 seeth in secrpt may reward us openly ? Do you ask 
 us for our light, we point you to the cottage of the 
 lonely widow, whose tears have been dried by us ; 
 to the wailings of the orphan children whose cries 
 have been hushed, and whose homes have been 
 made happy by us. We point you to the unfortu- 
 nate and afflicted brother who has received in secret 
 evidence of our open esteem and love for him in 
 distress. These are our lights. They shine and 
 will continue to shine, and many will be attracted 
 and drawn by them. 
 
 But some Masons are bad men. This to some is 
 an unanswerable objection. We, however, do not so 
 consider it. I am sorry to say there are some un- 
 worthy men who have been initiated into our order. 
 
342 Masonic Funeral Sermon. 
 
 But the proportion is small when compared to the 
 whole number. There were twelve disciples of our 
 Lord, and one of them was a traitor. This does not 
 prove that all the disciples were bad men. By no 
 means it does not. Neither should it be said be- 
 cause there are some bad men among us that we are 
 a corrupt society. With all our care we cannot so 
 guard onr portals that no unworthy man can get 
 into our order. We labor to prevent such from 
 finding admittance into our Lodges, and do not^ 
 knowingly, allow any to pass or repass but such as 
 are duly and truly prepared, and worthy and well 
 qualified to share the honor we bestow upon them. 
 
 Look on the other side of this picture, and be- 
 hold the good men whose names have adorned the 
 order, and shed a lustre around the Masonic name 
 in their own lives, being living epistles known and 
 read of all men. Names revered by all might be 
 mentioned, but I forbear. Suffice it to say that but 
 few men have arisen and distinguished themselves 
 in the theological, scientific or political world, but 
 what have bowed and worshiped at the shrine of 
 Masonry. 
 
 But, my Masonic brethren, Mas&nry is not Chris- 
 tianity. Masonry cannot save you. She cannot 
 supercede the church. She cannot ransom from the 
 grave. She is human. She cannot renovate the 
 soul and prepare us for death. 'Tis Christianity 
 alone that can disperse the gloom of death, and 
 shed its wondrous light around the tomb. Morality 
 may shed its benign influence upon lis, may lighten 
 
Masonic Funekal Sebmon 343 
 
 our pathway unto death ; but then a stronger arm is 
 needed. Religion can span cold Jordan's stream, 
 and ride its stormy billows in triumph. Let me 
 then, my beloved brethren, exhort you not only tcr 
 be moral men, good men and good masons, but 
 christians, servants of Christ and children of God. 
 Let the impression made on your minds when j'ou 
 first bowed and worshiped at the Masonic altar con- 
 tinue to grow and strengthen until they ripen into 
 fixed principles, and bring forth an abundant har- 
 vest to the glory and honor of God, 
 
 To day, my brethren, we come up in the habili- 
 ments of mourning, to mingle our tears with those 
 who miss from among them one whom they had long 
 looked up to as their head. Let us reach forth the 
 'kerchief of sympathy, and as far as in us lies dry 
 the tears of .those bereaved. 
 
 And now, in conclusion, let me in all the earnest- 
 ness of my soul commend to all here assembled to 
 do that now which sudden death or the racking 
 pains or protracted illness may prevent in your 
 closing hour. Pray God to have mercy. Repent. 
 Believe in Christ; fly to his cross; wash in his 
 blood and be clean ; and when life's short dream is 
 past, we shall gain an abundant admittance into the 
 Celestial Lodge above, where the wicked will cease 
 to trouble, and the weary soul be forever at rest 
 
Masonic Addkess. 344 
 
 Masonic Address 
 
 Delivered at the Constitution of Harmony Lodge, Nansemond 
 County, Virginia, June 24tli, 1857. 
 
 Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren : 
 
 It is a most interesting occasion which assembles 
 us at this time. The subject upon which I am to 
 address you has often engaged the attention and 
 employed the minds of the most gifted and talented 
 of our country. A new Lodge, of one of the most 
 ancient and honorable orders that have ever existed 
 among men, is this day to be constituted in this 
 community; — an order well known in every land, 
 and whose mystic words and signs are understood 
 by every nation. At the formation of this new 
 branch of an association which has often been mis- 
 represented, the principles of which have been often 
 misunderstood by the uninitiated, a true exposition 
 may be expected. Such an exposition I propose to 
 give you. The origin, progress and principles of 
 the order will be each examined, and the objections 
 usually raised against it answered. 
 
 I would remark to those before me that the subject 
 upon which I am to speak is one to which I have 
 given much attention. I profess to be acquainted 
 with all that is private and public in Masonry. It is 
 not, therefore, a matter of theory, but a practical 
 question with me. I have taken all the degrees which 
 can be conferred in this country, and know the things 
 whereof I affirm ; and I am to speak in the presence 
 
Masonic Address. 845 
 
 of those who are qualified by knowledge and expe. 
 rience to detect any erroneous sentiment advanced 
 or any misstatement made. Under such circum- 
 stances my reputation as a man of truth and as a 
 minister of Christ is at stake, and as I value my 
 reputation I would not paint anything in false colors 
 to deceive or mislead the minds of the uninitiated. 
 With this introduction I come to the subject. 
 
 The principles embodied in the Masonic organiza- 
 tion have their origin in man's nature. As man 
 came forth from the hand of his Maker, he had im- 
 planted in his soul the seeds of this institution. His 
 natural disposition are the pillars upon which it rests. 
 We are by nature social beings, and possessed of social 
 feelings. In our own bosoms there is, however, a 
 secret vault in which we deposit and lock up such 
 knowledge and impressions as we gain, and unseal 
 and dispose of such portions of -it at our pleasure as 
 may be of service to ourselves or those with whom 
 we associate. These qualities in man have been in 
 exercise from the days of Adam and Seth until the 
 present time. The history of mankind is one con- 
 tinued record of societies and associations, for mu- 
 tual good, protection, safety, invasion or other pur- 
 poses. We cannot live alone and fill our proper 
 sphere in life. The divine Being who formed and 
 fashioned us did not intend us to live alone, and for 
 ourselves alone. He, in His wisdom, saw that this 
 would not be best. We naturally crave the com- 
 pany, the society and the sympathy of others. We 
 need the assistance and co-operation of others in 
 22 
 
346 Masonic Address. 
 
 order to protect ourselves, our property and our pos- 
 sessions, A world devoid of the principles of sym- 
 pathy aL,d sociability would indeed be a world of 
 woe and misery. The origin of all law and govern- 
 ment is founded upon this principle of our nature. 
 We are compelled to associate together for mutual 
 benefit and protection, and thus we learn to sympa- 
 thize with and love one another. This principle 
 cultivated introduced order, law and civilization in 
 society. Becoming associated together as tribes, 
 families and nations, rules of order and laws were 
 adopted. Out of large societies thus formed, smaller 
 associations were organized. These smaller socie- 
 ties thus formed, having certain specified purposes 
 in view, gave rise to the formation of the society of 
 Masons, which has proved itself to be more durable 
 and permanent than any which preceded it. 
 
 This leads to the origin of Masonry. It cannot, 
 and is not denied, by any who have given the sub- 
 ject an impartial examination, that this society has 
 existed from remote antiquity. Some, over anxious 
 for the dignity of the Order, have represented it as 
 coeval with the world ; others have dated its com- 
 mencement in the days of the Eleusinian ra3'steries 
 of Egypt, That societies, embodying some of the 
 leading principles of Masonry, existed in the early 
 ages of the world, and particularly in Egypt, may 
 be proven to be true; but, aftef examining the sub- 
 ject very thoroughly, I think it very difficult to 
 trace Masonry in its improved and speculative form 
 farther back than the building of the temple of the 
 Lord in Jerusalem under the reign of Solomon, king 
 
Masonic Address. 347 
 
 of Israel. The societies founded on similar princi- 
 ples, which existed in Egypt, had been the nurseries 
 of the sciences and the secrets of architecture. There 
 exist in Egypt at this time monuments of architec- 
 ture which must have been reared in the earlier 
 ages of society. The arts and sciences were first 
 cultivated in that country. The first and only ob- 
 ject of those connected with the secret societies of 
 Egypt was in the mutual communication of knowl- 
 edge connected with their profession as architects, 
 and those onl}' gained admission to the order who 
 could bring with them an experimental knowledge 
 of architecture. 
 
 When God directed Solomon to erect for him a 
 temple in Jerusalem, and gave him the plan of the 
 building, the best architectual skill was needed, and 
 it is fair to infer that numbers of expert workmen 
 connected with the societies in Egypt were employed 
 in the erection of the temple ; and to Solomon may 
 be ascribed the honor of giving to Masonry its pres- 
 ent speculative form. In the building of the temple 
 there were workmen of every grade, from the entered 
 apprentice to the master workman. Workmen were 
 honored as they became expert and advanced in 
 architectural knowledge, and those who were present 
 and saw the completion of the temple, witnessed and 
 were made the recipients of knowledge which had 
 not before been bestowed upon them. Masonry had 
 been the sanctuary for the preservation of the arts 
 and sciences until the improvement in society has 
 rendered it no longer useful for that purpose. But 
 
348 Masonic ADDRESis. 
 
 more than all, the sacred writings were preserved 
 by its care through the dark gloom of the Babylonish 
 captivity, together with the correct key for reading 
 and understanding them, known only to the High 
 Priests of those days. God in his wisdom and prov- 
 idence made this association the preserver of his 
 Word, and devised this means to transmit it to future 
 generations. 
 
 At the commencement of the Christian era Ma- 
 sonry had attained a respectable position among the 
 Jews. St. John the Baptist, the harbinger of our 
 blessed Lord, whose birthday we celebrate in consti. 
 tuting the Lodge at this place, together with John 
 the beloved disciple of the Lord, were both active 
 Masons, and to them Lodges are dedicated in all 
 Christian countries. John the Baptist was born 
 about six months before Christ made his appearance 
 in the world as the babe of Bethlehem. An angel 
 from heaven was sent to make known the event to 
 his mother Elizabeth, when age and infirmity had 
 caused her to despair of offspring. The angel in- 
 formed her that he should be filled with the Holy 
 Ghost from the womb, and be great in the sight of 
 the Lord. He " should turn the hearts of the fathers 
 to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom 
 of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the 
 Lord." Previous to bis birth and mission, the proph- 
 ets spake of him in sublime and lofty strains. 
 Isaiah described him as the " voice of one crying 
 in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
 make strait in the desett a highway for our God.'^ 
 
Masonic Address. 349 
 
 Malachi, the last of the Jewish prophets, proclaimed 
 the heavenly promise — " Behold, I will send you 
 Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day 
 of the Lord." Jesus said, in reference to these prom- 
 ises : " All the prophets and the law prophesied 
 unto John, and if ye will receive it, this is Elijah 
 which was to come." John was eccentric in his ap- 
 pearance — " His clothing was of camel's hair, being 
 bound round with a leathern girdle ; his food was 
 locusts and wild honey." He preached in the wil- 
 derness of Judea, and the people left the crowded 
 city, and from all the regions round about Jordan 
 they flocked to his ministry, and were baptized of 
 him in Jordan, confessing their sins, and were there- 
 by prepared for the coming of the kingdom of the 
 Redeemer of the world. The wilderness was his 
 temple of worship, and the " clouded canopy or 
 starry decked heavens " was the only covering of 
 that temple, denoting the universality of that system 
 of mercy and love of which he was the harbinger. 
 In the midst of his prosperity he was cut down by a 
 ruthless tyrant at the instigation of a weak and 
 wanton woman. This harbinger of mercy and emi- 
 nent patron of Masonry fell after the glorious light 
 of the gospel had da.wned upon the world. His dis- 
 ciples buried his body and bemoaned his death. 
 Other prophets spake of a coming Saviour, he testi- 
 fied of one already come. He saw the glory of 
 Christ eclipse his own, and rejoiced that Jesus in- 
 ereased while he decreased. 
 
 Could there have been a more illustrious individ- 
 
350 Masonic Address. 
 
 ual chosen as the patron saint of Masonry ? Does 
 not the fact that all our Lodges are dedicated to him, 
 together with St. John the Evangelist, with humble 
 dependence and unwavering confidence in the su- 
 preme Ruler of the universe, argue much in favor 
 of the parity and holiness of the doctrines incul- 
 cated in our Lodges and at our altars? It is true 
 that some have, without reason or examination of 
 the facts, pronounced it blasphemy in us to thus 
 use these names. Such persons have always 
 reared a fabric formed of prejudice upon a basis of 
 ignorance, and no reasoning can enlighten a mind 
 prejudiced when that prejudice is founded upon 
 ignorance. 
 
 But we pass to notice the progress of Masonry 
 under the Gospel dispensation. Lodges were estab- 
 lished in Great Britain by those who had been edu- 
 cated in the East as early as the third century. St. 
 Alban was its first patron in that country. At his 
 death Masonry declined, and was not again revived 
 until the sixth century, when Christianity was in- 
 troduced there more fully by St. Austin, and with it 
 the Masonic art. Christianity and Masonry trav- 
 eled together hand in hand until the death of St. 
 Austin, when it again declined. It revived again 
 under the reign of Alfred the Great, and went on in 
 splendor until it acquired a name, which it had not 
 possessed since the days of the wise Kingof Israel. In 
 the tenth century, Athelstein, then the ruling mon- 
 arch of England, established a Grand Lodge, and 
 appointed for Grand Master his brother Edwin, who 
 
Masonic Address. 351 
 
 commanded all the brethren to meet at York, where 
 a constitution was framed and adopted. This gave 
 rise to the appellation of " Ancient York Masons," 
 so well known in all civilized countries. From the 
 adoption of the constitution at York until the pres- 
 ent, its history is clear and distinct. For several 
 years the brethren held their public assemblies, but 
 were sometimes prohibited by legislative authority. 
 It, however, continued to flourish in many places, 
 and in the reign of Henry VII, who ascended the 
 throne of England in 1422, it attracted great atten- 
 tion. But in the third year of his reign Parliament 
 passed a severe act against the fraternity. They en- 
 acted that the Masons should no longer hold their 
 chapters and annual assemblies; that those who 
 summoned such chapters and assemblies should be 
 considered felons, and that those who resorted to 
 them should be fined and imprisoned. When king 
 Henry ascended the throne he was a minor, but 
 when able to take into his hands the government of 
 his kingdom, he not only permitted the Order to 
 hold their meetings without molestation, but hon- 
 ored the Lodge with his presence as a brother. Be- 
 fore he was initiated he examined with scrupulous 
 care the principles and usages of the Order, and en- 
 tered upon his duties understandingly. 
 
 While Masonry was thus flourishing in England, 
 it was at the same time patronized in the sister 
 kingdom by James I. It continued to flourish under 
 the reign of James II, and during tfee succeeding 
 reigns of the Scottish monarchs increased rapidly in 
 
352 Masonic Address. 
 
 numbers and influence. In the seventeenth century 
 Lodges were held throughout Europe, and may now 
 be found among all civilized nations, and even 
 among most of the uncivilized and barbarous tribes 
 of the earth. 
 
 Masonry, in its improved form, was introduced 
 into this country by the early emigrants from Eng- 
 land, France, and other portions of Europe. It 
 found in this land a soil congenial to its growth, and 
 spread with astonishing rapidity. The first regular 
 Lodge was established at Boston in 1773. A Lodge 
 was constituted the ensuing year at Philadelphia, 
 and the world-renowned statesman and philosopher, 
 Benjamin Franklin, was its first Master. The first 
 Grand Master in A merica was Joseph Warren, who 
 fell a martyr to Liberty's cause on the heights of 
 Bunker Hill. In 1775 most of the leading men who 
 engaged in the revolutionary struggle were members 
 of the fraternity. Most of the signers of the declar- 
 ation of independence were Masons, and only one 
 Major General in the revolutionary army is known 
 not to have been a member of the Order, and that 
 man was Benedict Arnold, the traitor. Doubtless 
 many of the distinguished men of those days were 
 brought into the society by the example and under 
 the influence of Franklin, who was admired by all 
 for his purity of character and great wisdom. High 
 on the tablet of Masonic fame stands the name of 
 George Washington, the father of his country, La- 
 fayette, the compeer of Washington, John Marshall, 
 and a host of other kindred spirits. The influence 
 
Masonic Address. 353 
 
 of such men gave the institution a character which 
 caused the number of faithful craftsmen to increase 
 with astonishing rapidity. But few men have dis- 
 tinguished themselves in this country, either as the- 
 ologians, statesmen or men of science, that have not 
 bowed and worshiped at the Masonic altar. And it 
 is a fact worthy of record, that there has not been 
 a single instance in the history of this nation where 
 a Mason has turned traitor to his country. Patriot- 
 ism is taught in our Lodges, and is one of the lead- 
 ing virtues of a true and faithful member of the 
 fraternity. 
 
 Yet with these evidences and external develop- 
 ments of its character, no association has been more 
 misrepresented and more bitterly assailed by its op- 
 ponents. Ignorance, political bigotry and religious 
 superstition have all united to pull down the time- 
 honqred and heaven-favored institution. Political 
 demagogues have mounted the hobby of anti-Ma- 
 sonry and endeavored to ride into office on it, but 
 have soon fallen at the feet of the good sense and 
 better judgment of the people. It has rarely ever 
 occurred that an intelligent, thinking, reading man, 
 liaving made himself acquainted with the principles 
 of the Order, failed to approve of them, even though 
 other circumstances may have caused him to stand 
 aloof from them. Every effort made by the oppo- 
 nents of the Order to put it down has failed. Amid 
 all the opposition which it has met, Masonry still 
 stands firm and unmoved ; and to-day its prospects 
 are brighter than ever before. Go where you will, 
 
354 Masonic Address. 
 
 and you will meet craftsmen good and true. A Mason 
 can never be a stranger, or friendless, where civili- 
 zation exists; and even among savages he may 
 often meet with those who know the signs and un- 
 derstand the obligations of a Free and Accepted 
 Mason. We ask, what but divine power has sus- 
 tained us? Who but God could have upheld us? 
 More than three thousand years have gone down 
 the stream of time since the Masonic altar was erected 
 and Masonry commenced her glorious march. The 
 whirlwinds of war and destruction have passed over 
 the earth, spreading desolation and death every- 
 where; monuments of greatness and grandeur have 
 crumbled into dust, the sceptre has fallen from the 
 palsied arm of the monarch, and lofty thrones and 
 empires have passed away in the great drama of 
 destruction ; since Masonry, closed with the light 
 of heaven, first shed its brilliancy upon the be- 
 nighted bosom of the world. Hand in hand with 
 science, it has kept its march amid the melancholy 
 ruin of ages, the prejudices of bigotry and the 
 tyranny of ignorance. These have all fled before it. 
 Its lamp has illuminated the dark pages of history, 
 and shed its ray of light upon the pathway of science. 
 Persecution has not destroyed, neglect has not dis- 
 solved, nor has prosperity severed from its legitimate 
 objects this noble institution. It has unveiled itself 
 in the presence of the All-seeing Eye and in the 
 fear of God, and to him the sacred tenets of its order 
 are known. Masonry has out-lived the kingdom 
 that gave it birth ; the glittering towers of Troy have 
 
Masonic Address. 355 
 
 fallen; Greece, the land of glory and &f song, is 
 trampled under foot; Rome, who sent forth her 
 edicts to the world, has been deluged in blood, and 
 the r^d arms of her destroyers have prostrated her 
 martial glory forever ,- but Masonry still marches 
 onward ; its influence is still increasing, and thus it 
 will continue until time shall grow grey, fold itself 
 in the arms of death, and the knell of its departure 
 shall be everywhere heard. 
 
 But I must not omit to notice one of the greatest ob- 
 stacles which Masonry has ever met in its triumphant 
 march. I mean the unworthiness of some of its 
 members. This has been the greatest barrier in the 
 way of its success. The deepest wounds the Order 
 has ever received have been at the hands of its pro- 
 fessed friends. If every individual bearing the 
 name was a true Mason, the institution would have 
 nothing to fear. But alas T " they are not all Israel 
 who are of Israel." A man's being a member of 
 the Lodge, and wearing the name of a Mason, no 
 more makes him a worthy brother than does a man's' 
 connection with the church make him a good Chris- 
 tian. Many find admittance into the church who 
 prove themselves unworthy o? the holy connection. 
 Since, then, the church is sometimes imposed upon, 
 and unworthy men find admittance to the sanctuary 
 where only the righteous should enter, and with all 
 our care we cannot so guard our portals as to keep 
 them out, can Masonry expect to fair better? With 
 all her care and scrutiny she cannpt prevent un- 
 worthy persons from sometimes indiug admittance 
 
356 Masonic Address. 
 
 into her sacred chamber. This objeetion to our 
 Order is sometimes made by those whose honest 
 opinions are entitled to respect. There is not a 
 faithful craftsman present who has not felt its force 
 when this objection has been made in his hearing. 
 But it has always seemed to us very unjust to judge 
 of the character of any association by its most un- 
 worthy members. The world should not judge us 
 by the dead branches of our body, or those whose 
 ihonsciences will allow them to- violate their most 
 sacred obligation. One thing we do know, there is 
 nothing in the secret transactions of the Lodge cal- 
 culated to make men biad or worse than before their 
 connection with it. In all the ceremonies of initia- 
 tion, or conferriug of higher honors, moral and vir- 
 tuous lessoiis are taught. There is no precept taught 
 in the lituals of Masonry that does not breathe the 
 purest morality' — that is not sanctioned by the word 
 of God and the approval of all the wise and good. 
 But unless the heart is inspired by holy and virtu- 
 ous motives and desires, the lessons of morality and 
 purity which we teach will be lost to the individual 
 seeking honor at our hands, and will be to him "as 
 a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." By tools 
 and implements impressive lessons of morality and 
 virtue are taught, but it is only those who use them 
 for a noble and glorious purpose who are benefited 
 by the information imparted. A man may be a 
 Mason in theory and not in 'practice. To be good and 
 true he must practice out of the Lodge those noble 
 virtues taught in it, ever bearing in mind that he 
 
Masonic Address, 357 
 
 is traveling " on the level of time to that undiscov- 
 ered country from whose bourne no traveler re- 
 turns." 
 
 Some, in their zeal, may have regarded- Masonry 
 as superior to religion, and have valued the Lodge 
 more than the church. Such persons are sadly and 
 dangerously deceived. This mischievous error 
 should be corrected. No human institution can 
 compare with a divine institution. The church iS' 
 a divine institution ;. — it has a divine Author and 
 Head. Masonry is a human institution, and of hu- 
 man origin ; and whilst we claim for it the protec- 
 tion of the divine Being, we cannot claim entire 
 perfection. The principles and teachings of Chris- 
 tianity are perfect, because they came forth from a 
 perfect Author, Every production of man has im- 
 perfection stamped on it. Masonry is, therefore, in- 
 ferior to the church of Christ. But I most solemnly 
 affirm that I believe that the principles of Masonry, 
 fully carried out, would place us far in advance of 
 any human institution with which I am acquainted. 
 Next to the church of the living God, give me a good 
 Masonic Lodge. Next to Christianity stands Ma- 
 sonry. Let the duties of religion and the require- 
 ments of religion ever stand paramount to all others. 
 Masonry enjoins no duties and presents no claims 
 thai may not yield to religious requirements. It 
 does not profess to be a religious institution, bufc 
 merely claims to be a benevolent institution, founded 
 upon the principles of virtue and morality. A man 
 may be a Mason and not a Christian, but every 
 
358 Masonic Adbkess. 
 
 Christian must practice the principles of Masonry. 
 Every true Mason is a practical Christian ; but one 
 may practice the principles of Christianity and yet 
 not be a Christian in experience, having never ex- 
 ercised "repentance toward God and faith in our 
 Lord Jesus Christ," and had "the Spirit given to 
 bear witness with his spirit that he is a child of 
 God." Every true Mason is a moral and virtuous 
 man. He practices rigidly the principles of mo- 
 rality and virtue, and is in practice a Christian, if 
 not in experience. St. James says, " Pure religion 
 and und«filed before God and the Father is this: to 
 visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction, 
 and to keep himself unspotted from the world." 
 Pure and undefiled Masonry visits the fatherless 
 and widow in their afflictions, reaches for the 'ker- 
 chief of sympathy and wipes away tlieir tears, pours 
 the balm of consolation in their wounded bosoms, 
 extends the hand of charity and promises to he a 
 constant friend in every time of need. By such acts 
 she is kept " unspotted from the world." Believe 
 me, the Masonic Lodge is not the place for the 
 drunkard, the profane swearer, the Sabbath breaker, 
 the gambler or the libertine. No man guilty of such 
 things can be a true Mason, and no man initiated 
 into the secrets of the Order can be guilty of such 
 sins without violating his solemn obligation and 
 perjuring his own heart and conscience. The prin- 
 ciples of Masonry enjoin love to all mankind, but 
 more especially to the brotherhood. In the Lodge 
 our religious and political opinions, be they what 
 
Masonic Address. 359 
 
 they may, are all buried, and all meet on a com- 
 mon level. Here men of every religious and politi- 
 cal persuasion unite and form one common, one 
 universal brotherhood. Every member of the fra- 
 ternity has to profess faith in the Deity, and ac- 
 knowledge his dependence on Him, before he can 
 take the first step in Masonry. No man has ever 
 been, or can be, initiated into the secrets of Masonry 
 who holds atheistical sentiments. If any such have 
 ever entered our doors, it has been with perjury on 
 their lips and guile in tlieir hearts. This principle 
 brings the Christian, the Jew, the Turk, the Hottentot 
 and the Indian of our own country together, and 
 assenting to this great truth they meet on a common 
 level. In Masonic language they can converse to- 
 gether and feel themselves brethren. The Mason 
 may, therefore, travel through the world and find 
 friends among all nations, and secure from Masons 
 of every clime friendship and confidence. 
 
 The candidate for Masonic honors on first enter- 
 ing the Lodge room, after acknowledging his belief 
 in the existence of the Supreme Being, is taught to 
 go to him as an infinitely wise and good Parent and 
 implore his blessings upon him ; to seek from lnim 
 divine wisdom, that he may be enabled to display 
 the beauty of holiness in the honor of his holy 
 name. He is not allowed to lose sight of this »t 
 any future step he takes. He is instructed to offer 
 prayer to God, and rely upon him in every advance 
 he makes. He is furthermore taught in the first 
 degree of Masonry to divide his time, so that one- 
 
360 Masonic Address. 
 
 third part may be devoted to the service of God and 
 to relieve the distresses of the worthy, to divest his 
 heart of all superfluities and vices of life, and fit 
 his mind and soul as a living stone for that spiritual 
 "building, not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens." He is taught that only by purity of life 
 and conduct he can gain admission into the celestial 
 'Lodge above. He is instructed not only to have 
 faith in God, but hope in immortality and charity 
 to all mankind. He learns that all well governed 
 Lodges are compelled to be furnished with the Holy 
 Bible, Square and Compass — the Bible being dedi- 
 cated to God, the square to the Master of the Lodge, 
 and the compass to the craft, teaching them to " cir- 
 cumscribe their desires and keep their passions 
 within due bounds." Brotherly love, relief and 
 truth are impressed upon his mind, and he is in- 
 structed to practice strictly temperance, fortitude, 
 prf dence and justice, as the four cardinal virtues of 
 Masonry. Again, he is most solemnly charged to 
 inculcate three great duties to God, his neighbor, 
 and himself — to God, in never mentioning his 
 name but with that reverential awe due from a crea- 
 ture to his Creator; to his neighbor, in doing unto 
 him as he would be done by ; and to himself, by 
 avoiding all irregularity and intemperance which 
 may impair his faculties or debase the dignity of his 
 profession. He is required to be a quiet and peace- 
 able subject in the State, true to his government and 
 just to his country, never to countenance disloyalty 
 or rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority 
 
Masonic Address. 361 
 
 and conform with cheerfulness to the laws of the 
 land in which he lives ; and in his outward demeanor, 
 to be particularly careful to avoid censure and re- 
 proach. These moral, wholesome and salutary les- 
 sons are all taught him at the time of his initiation, 
 and constitute the foundation for all that is to fol- 
 low as he advances in Masonic knowledge. 
 
 In the next step or second degree in Masonry, he 
 is taught to walk uprightly, to square his actions by 
 the square of virtue, to practice universal benevo- 
 lence, and always remember that we are journeying 
 to that undiscovered country " from whose bourn 
 no traveler returns." He learns that the internal, 
 and not the external, qualifications of man are re- 
 garded by Masonry. To influence him to action, 
 the Bible is kept constantly before him as the great 
 light in Masonry ; the precepts taught in this Holy 
 Book are to be obeyed, and his life and conduct to 
 be governed by it. 
 
 As he progresses beyond this, new beauties open 
 before him, and increasing light bursts upon him, 
 making plain and still more impressive the lessons 
 already learned. He is taught to fear God, pray to 
 him, and in all his actions to remember that the 
 All-seeing Eye, whom the sun, moon and stars obey, 
 and under whose watchful care even comets perform 
 their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost 
 recesses of the human heart and will reward all ac- 
 cording to their merits. He is reminded of the 
 swiftness of time, the shortness of life and the cer- 
 tainty of death, and the necessity of a well grounded 
 23 
 
362 Masonic Address. 
 
 hope, which reaches beyond the grave even into the 
 blissful realms of eternity. 
 
 As he progresses onward, and passes the overseer's 
 square, he is charged to " lay aside all malice, and 
 guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speak- 
 ing," " to honor all men, love the brotherhood and 
 fear God," ever bearing in mind that " the stone 
 which the builders rejected has become the head o{ 
 the corner." 
 
 Another moral lesson follows, in which we are 
 taught to conceal a secret treasure in our hearts, 
 that when the emergencies of life are over, we may 
 be prepared to complete our spiritual temple with 
 the hidden treasure provided. 
 
 The temple completed, we render aid in finding 
 those excellent jewels that stamp with importance 
 the whole history of the ancient craft. We gain 
 admittance into the earthly sanctuary, or that which 
 faintly represents the great tabernacle above where 
 the great High Priest of our profession presides. 
 Lessons are taught here never to be erased from the 
 memory. By figure we are impressed with our fallen 
 state by nature ; the destruction by sin of the tem- 
 ple of our hearts^ where God originally dwelt; the 
 captivity of our souls to sin and Satan ; the procla- 
 mation of salvation and deliverance through the 
 merits of a Redeemer ; our return to our heavenly 
 Father's house ; the difficulties and ruggedness of 
 the road from bondage to liberty, and the necessity 
 of humility and a faithful reliance upon the in- 
 structions of our great Conductor to guide us safely 
 
Masonic Address. 363 
 
 in the straight and narrow way, through the vale of 
 death, to the dwelling place of the great I Am, where, 
 by the signet of eternal truth, we enter and find rest 
 to our weary souls. 
 
 And yet the seeker of truth, still desirous of ad- 
 vancing in usefulness, argues his cause before those 
 high in authority, and is encouraged with the uni- 
 versal declaration that " truth is great, and mighty 
 above all things, and will prevail." 
 
 When the highest point of our noble Order is 
 reached, the faithful and persevering knight com- 
 mands skepticism and infidelity to stand aside, and 
 pledges eternal consecration to the God of the Bible 
 and the religion of Jesus. 
 
 With all these facts before us, I ask if Masonry is 
 not a good institution? Can it be what its enemies 
 have represented it? Can the Society be corrupt? 
 Can our organization conflict with the church of 
 Christ? Nay, may I not say that Masonry leads us 
 right up to the door of the church and bids us enter 
 and be eternally saved ? 
 
 But we must hastily glance at some objections 
 which have been made against this noble Order. 
 "It is a secret society," I am proud that it is the 
 mother of secret societies. Mere secrecy cannot 
 affect the character of any society. Secrecy for 
 an evil purpose would be highly improper, but 
 secrecy for the purpose of obtaining a lawful end 
 cannot be wrong, since there is nothing wrong in 
 secrecy in the abstract. Where has there ever been 
 an association without secrets? Every association 
 
364 Masonic Address. 
 
 has its secrets. There are secrets in the councils of 
 the nation, in the councils of the State, in churches, 
 in families. No family would have every family 
 transaction made known to the world. Secrecy is 
 one of the greatest beauties of the Order. It enables 
 us to detect all impostors, and to open the hand of 
 charity only to the worthy and deserving. It throws 
 around us a shield of protection which nothing else 
 can give, and stamps with importance all our 
 actions. 
 
 I have sometimes been asked, if my Masonic obli- 
 gation would not compel me to conceal the faults 
 and misdeeds of a brother Mason, and even cause 
 me to refuse to give evidence in a court of justice 
 where a Mason was on trial for a violation of law? 
 I have always answered emphatically. No. So I say 
 to day. One of the fundamental principles of the 
 Order is, that it is not to interfere with our duty to 
 ourselves, our countrj', or our God. All true and 
 worthy Masons are true to themselves, their country 
 and their God. We are under no obligation to an 
 unworthy man, even if he should wear the name of 
 Mason. It is only the worthy to whom we are 
 bound. By a worthy brother we will ever stand ; — 
 in prosperity, in adversity, in health, and in sickness 
 the same. When the world smiles on him we re- 
 joice, when fortune frowns we mourn with him. 
 Our houses, our arms, our purses and our hearts are 
 always open to him. 
 
 But we are reminded by some, that we ought to 
 let our light shine, and not to " put it under a 
 
Masonic Address. 365 
 
 bushel" or a bed, but on a candle-stick, that it may- 
 give light to all around. Are we not also com- 
 manded, when we give alms, " not to let the left hand 
 know what the right hand doeth, that our alms may- 
 be in secret, and our Father which seeth in secret 
 will reward us openly?" Do you ask us for our 
 lights ? We point you to our afflicted brethren, who 
 have received in secret that which has cheered them 
 on life's journey ; to the cottage of the lonely widow, 
 whose tears have been dried by us ; to the wailings 
 of orphan children, whose cries have been hushed 
 and whose homes have been made happy by us. 
 These are our lights. To them we point. They 
 shine and will continue to shine. 
 
 Brethren of the mystic tie, I now turn to you. Let 
 it be your constant aim to preserve untarnished and 
 unimpaired the legitimate character of Masonry. 
 Remember that the world will look at you, and 
 judge the cause by your walk and actions. Let your 
 walk be such that you may be as shining lights to 
 all around you. However pure and holy our pro- 
 fessions may be, and however wholesome our private 
 instructions may be, yet the world will judge of the 
 institution by our external actions. By our fruits 
 we shall be known. If our pathway is strewn with 
 acts of benevolence and brotherly kindness; if we 
 exercise charity to all men, visiting the fatherless 
 and widow in their afflictions, rejoicing with those 
 who do rejoice and weep with those who weep, we 
 shall exent a good influence in the world and insure 
 the approbation of our great High Priest above. Ah ! 
 
366 Masonic Address. 
 
 methinks angels behold with sensations of pleasure 
 and delight the true Mason dispensing charity to 
 the needy, binding up the wounds of the distressed, 
 feeding the hungry and clothing the almost naked. 
 Let us to-day, my brethren, renew our allegiance to 
 Masonry, and dedicate ourselves anew to its holy 
 principles, and let us live and act as becomes Masons. 
 If we cleave to our principles, and carry fully into 
 practice the lessons taught us in our secret meetings, 
 superstition, ignorance, bigotry and prejudice may 
 all unite against us, but they cannot harm us. Our 
 temple must stand, being founded on a rock which 
 even the gates of hell shall not prevail against. 
 
 To the brethren who compose Harmony Lodge 
 particularly, let me give a word of council. The 
 uninitiated will look at you, and judge the cause by 
 you. Be very discreet in your conduct, and let no 
 stain ever rest upon our Order by auj' unworthy act 
 of yours. Guard well the outer door of your sanc- 
 tuary, and see that none enter but the worthy. 
 And if at any time an unworthy man shall find ad- 
 mittance, be in haste to reform or disown him. Let 
 not the grossly immoral man find a shelter in your 
 bosom. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, remem- 
 ber the fatherless, pity the widow, and be kind to 
 the poor. Live in union, remember well your ob- 
 ligations and the tie that binds you together. Act 
 as brethren towards one another, and the God of 
 peace shall be your God, his protection shall be 
 yours, and his blessing shall rest upon you here and 
 hereafter. 
 
Masonic Address. 367 
 
 But let none be deceived. While I recommend 
 so earnestly the principles of morality and virtue, 
 and rejoice in the good to be accomplished by Ma- 
 sonry, I must in candor say to the fraternity that 
 'tis Christianity alone that can disperse the gloom 
 of death, and shed a halo of glory around the tomb- 
 Morality and the principles of Masonry may shed 
 their benign influence upon us through life, and 
 down to the gates of death ; but then a stronger 
 power is needed. Religion can span cold Jordan's 
 stream, ride its stormy billows in triumph, and con- 
 duct us safely to the port of eternal rest, where the 
 wicked cease to trouble and the weary soul finds 
 sweet repose. Let me exhort you, my brethren, not 
 only to be moral men, and Masons good and true, 
 but to be Christians in» experience and Christians in 
 practice — servants of Christ, and children of God. 
 Let the impressions made on your mind, when you 
 first bowed at the Masonic altar to invoke the bless- 
 ings of Deity upon the step you were about to take, 
 continue to grow and strengthen, until they shall 
 ripen into fixed principles, and bring forth fruit to 
 the glory and honor of God. Then shall you be 
 permitted " to eat of the hidden manna, and a white 
 stone shall be given you, and in the stone a new 
 name, which no man knoweth save him that re- 
 «eiveth it." 
 
 I cannot close this address without offering a few 
 words to the fair ones who have honored us with 
 their presence today. I know that many of you 
 sympathize with us in all our labors, and smile ap- 
 
368 Masonic Address. 
 
 provingly at every advancing step we take. You 
 may, however, feel disposed to complain at the reg- 
 ulation in our laws which excludes you from the* 
 Lodge-room, and the secret transactions of our 
 meetings. Permit me to say to you, ladies, that it 
 does not belong to your sphere in life thus to inter- 
 mingle with us. There are duties devolving on the" 
 Order which do not belong to your position. The 
 softness and delicacy of your nature disqualify you 
 for them. You are excluded on the same principle 
 that you are excluded from the ballot-box and the 
 battle-field. But let me assure you that you are not 
 uncared for. Masonry teaches and cultivates prin- 
 ciples which causes you to live in our hearts' warm- 
 est affections, and compel us to look upon you with 
 profound veneration. We can most solemnly pledge 
 to your protection and defence. It is made our duty 
 to watch over the widow and orphan, and with the 
 love of a brother, or the devotion of a parent, to 
 minister to their wants. I hesitate not to say that, 
 could you be made acquainted with all the secrets of 
 our Order, and know fully our obligations to you, 
 we should have your undivided sympathy and sup- 
 port. Not an intelligent lady in the land would be 
 so blind to her own interest as to oppose the march 
 of Masonry. I regret to say that Masonry has, in 
 some instances, suffered at your hands. Wives, 
 mothers, and sisters have raised the warning voice 
 against us, as though we were the enemies of your 
 sex. But we know that this has resulted from a lack 
 of information, for woman never errs of choice. 
 
Masonic Address. 369 
 
 Her errors are always errors of the head. But we 
 have never known a single lady to be uaade ac- 
 quainted with the nature and design of our organi- 
 zation, who did not bid it God-speed. Are there 
 " Daughters of Sion " present today ? if so, I know 
 that in the fullness of your hearts you say to us, go 
 on. If your husband, your father^ or your brother, 
 is present, clothed in appropriate regalia, you feel 
 for him a tenderness greatly increased by the com- 
 pany he keeps. These, these, our brethren, will be 
 your friends under the most trying circumstances. 
 
 The ladies cannot be made acquainted with all 
 the Secret workings of Masonry, is to some a great 
 objection to the Order. But permit me to say that 
 the most important secret maybe communicated; 
 and I may, without any violation of my obligation, 
 make known to you, ladies, one of the most impor- 
 tant secrets of Masonry, by relating a circumstance 
 that actually occurred. 
 
 A lady in a Western city was much opposed to 
 Masonry because she could not be made acquainted 
 with its secrets. Her husband was a Mason, and 
 true to his profession, but much against her wishes. 
 On a cold, dark, and rainy night in winter, he re- 
 turned home from the Lodge, and, without saying 
 anything to his wife, went to the hired woman, and 
 directed that a warm quilt and a shawl, which his 
 wife had ceased to use, should be brought to him, 
 and putting them in a basket containing some other 
 things, he opened the d6or, and quietly went out. 
 His wife, who had seen all this from another room. 
 
370 Masonic Address. 
 
 seized her bonnet and shawl, and followed on after 
 hiin. He passed through several streets until he 
 came to a dilapidated building, when he ascended a 
 flight of steps, knocked at the door, which was 
 opened by a female, whose form was visible by the 
 dim light within the room. He handed in the bas- 
 ket, said nothing, and immediately left. Noticing 
 the number and the street carefully, the wife hurried 
 back home through the rain and hail, almost be- 
 wildered by her reflections, and what she had seen, 
 and arrived there & little in advance of her husband, 
 who came a different route. When he camie in, she 
 waited for an explanation, but not a word did he 
 say about it. They retired — he was soon quietly 
 asleep, but no sleep came to her eyes. Her curiosity 
 was excited to the highest pitch ; her jealousy was 
 aroused, and her mind was just ready to receive the 
 unwelcome thought that the love promised her at 
 the bridal altar had been given to another. Morn- 
 ing came, but its brightness brought no peace to her 
 troubled bosom. Her husband went to his place of 
 business, and she went and communicated what had 
 transpired the previous night to a female friend, a 
 widow lady, living near by. They determined to 
 visit the place where the basket was left, and if pos- 
 sible ascertain the true character of the inmates of 
 that old dilapidated building. That afternoon was 
 the time appointed to execute the plan devised. A 
 stormy night had been succeeded by a bright and 
 lovely day, yet the wind blew, and the weather was 
 very cold. They reached the place, ascended the 
 
Masonic Address. 371 
 
 steps, knocked at the door, which was soon opened, 
 and before them stood a tall, spare girl, with blue 
 eyes, light hair, and pale cheeks, with a care-worn 
 countenance, holding in her hand, a piece of goods 
 on which she had been sewing, who politely invited 
 them to come in, and handed them seats. The first 
 thing that met the eyes of the distressed wife, was 
 her quilt spread on the bed, and her shawl hanging 
 on the back of a chair. Some one soon moved in 
 the bed on which the quilt was spread, and on turn- 
 ing their eyes in that direction, a female turned over 
 with difficulty, and commenced coughing, and the 
 girl who met them at the door, hastened to her as- 
 sistance, called her mother, dear mother, and raised 
 her up to prevent her from losing her breath. After 
 awhile she became more composed, and entered into 
 conversation with them. They at once saw that she 
 'was almost in the last stage of consumption. Her ap- 
 pearance told them but too plainly that she had seen 
 better days. They inquired how long she had been 
 sick, and then she told them how long, and how 
 much she had suffered. She spoke of former days, 
 when her circumstances were prosperous — told them 
 of her husband's success in business, how he came 
 to that place, prospered as a merchant, grew rich, 
 stood security for a friend, the house with which his 
 friend was connected failed, his friend failed, her 
 husband lost all, soon after died, leaving her pen- 
 niless, with that only daughter, pointing to the girl 
 sewing. They lived by sewing ; her health failed ; 
 for a long time she had been confined to her bed, 
 
372 ' Masonic Address. 
 
 and all that they had to subsist on was what her 
 daughter earned by sewing. Said she, " we have 
 had to part with our bedclothes, piece by piece, to 
 get food and wood, and yesterday we concluded we 
 shouldperish with hungerand cold, but God, in whom 
 we trust, sent some messenger, to us unlsnown, and 
 made us happy. A gentleman knocked at the door 
 last night, and handed in a basket nearly filled with 
 provisions, and this quilt which covers me, and that 
 shawl, which my daughter put on, and went out 
 early this morning and procured some sewing from 
 a lady, and thus the Lord blesses us ; but my suffer- 
 ings will soon be over, and I shall rest in heaven, 
 but that poor child," pointing to her daughter, 
 " what will become of her?" 
 
 By this time all eyes were filled with tears, and, 
 said the jealous wife, with her heart tendered, "For 
 the first time in my life I found out the secret of 
 Masonry." "What is it?" inquired one. "To do 
 good and say nothing about it." So I say to you, ladies, 
 the greatest, and the most important, secret of Ma- 
 sonry is "to do good and say nothing about it." 
 
 In conclusion, let me say to you, my brethren, 
 who compose Harmony Lodge, be true to your 
 name — your principles— your sacred obligations. 
 May you show, by your example, how good and how 
 pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. 
 And when life's busy day is past, may we all have 
 washed oui* robes, and made them white in the blood 
 of the Lamb, and, clothed with immortality, rest in 
 " that house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens I " 
 
Laying Corner Stone. 373 
 
 Laying Corner Stone 
 
 Of the New House of Worship at Cypress Chapel, Sept. 10, 1S70. 
 
 Ladies, Gektlemen, and 
 
 Brethren of the Fraternity : 
 The ceremony of laying the Foundation Corner 
 Stone of Masonic Temples and other public edifices, 
 has always been an important and solemn one, and 
 the practice has prevailed for a long term of years. 
 It is peculiar to this Ancient Order, the representa- 
 tives of which sit and stand so thickly around me — 
 an Order that has existed from very remote an- ' 
 tiquity, and has honored every age with its moral 
 attainments, its strict devotion to the ancient land- 
 marks, its unchanged ritual, its works of benevo- 
 lence, and its daily exercise of Brotherly Love, Re- 
 lief and Truth, cardinal virtues of the great brother- 
 hood — an Order which has alike withstood the bit- 
 terast persecutions and the most cunningly devised 
 flatteries, and has swerved not from its purpose and 
 its object — which has passed through adversity in 
 its lowest forms, and stood upon the very pinnacle 
 of the mountain of prosperity with admiring mil- 
 lions to gaze upon its triumphs and shout hallelujahs 
 to the victory attained, and yet it has never felt de. 
 jected by the one or exalted by the other. It has 
 pursued its quiet course and practiced its principal 
 virtues in secret, without even seeming to fully re- 
 alize its great worth and its unestimatea value in the 
 great family of the world. Kings and potentates 
 
374 Laying Coener Stone. 
 
 have worshiped at its altar, and the humblest of 
 earth's workers have sipped moral sustenance from 
 its public and private lessons. Masonry has outlived 
 the kingdom that gave it birth ; it has outlived its 
 vilest persecutors ; it has flourished in monarchies 
 and in republics; amid the highest grades of civili- 
 zation and among the unlettered savages that roam 
 the forests of Asia, Africa and America. Its lessons 
 have been everywhere the same, and its secret signs 
 (all emblematic of its obligations and duties) have 
 never changed. I think I can safely say that no 
 human organization has ever accomplished so much 
 in the elevation and enlightenment of the human 
 race, and in the development of all the gifts and 
 feelings of refinement and morality, which lie hid- 
 den in every human breast, and which need nur- 
 ture and cultivation as much as the seeds of plants 
 and fruits in horticulture and agriculture. And to 
 the praise of Masonry, I may say that it has never 
 turned aside from its legitimate work. It has cul- 
 tivated a class of virtues important and essential to 
 the well-being of society, and has given a helping 
 hand to every other virtue, akin and united, or de- 
 pendent upon those so highly esteemed and so assid- 
 uously cultivated, and which adorn and beautify 
 the character of every true Mason. Masonry has 
 never assumed the prerogative of the Church; it 
 has never sought to control the politics of any coun- 
 try ; it has formed no alliance in any land with any 
 public or secret political party ; it has interfered 
 with no other society in its work, and it has not 
 
Laying Corner Stone, 3-75 
 
 taken pattern of any. It stands forth on its own 
 responsibility, unentangled with any other organi- 
 zation, and is not responsible for the actions of any, 
 save its own body. The road of its march was 
 marked out at the beginning, and it has kept on in 
 its own course, and has given forth its own light, 
 and has turned neither to the right hand nor to the 
 left, entangling itself with no society having a dif- 
 ferent object in view, and burdening itself with no 
 other obligations and responsibilities. By some our 
 Order has been considered selfish and arbitrary, 
 because of its devotion to its own principles. But 
 not so. Masonry lends its influence and extends a 
 helping hand to all who walk in wisdom's paths 
 and practice its cardinal virtues. And in proof of 
 this position, you behold its representatives here ou 
 this occasion to do their part in laying the founda- 
 tion stone of an edifice which is not to be dedicated 
 to either of the Saints John, but to the Most High 
 God ; to be used not for the secret workings of the 
 ancient and honored Order, but for the public wor- 
 ship of the Great I Am, his son Jesus, and the Holy 
 Spirit. Masonry, though not claiming to be a 
 church in any sense of the word, in the develop- 
 ment of its cardinal principles, is so interwoven with 
 religion that it brings its votaries under the strong- 
 est obligations to pay respect to the Deity, and prac- 
 tice the virtues of Christianity. Masonry must, 
 therefore, sympathize with every good movement in 
 every community, and its sympathy for the church, 
 for religion, and for Divine worship, is shown in the 
 
376 Laying Corner Stone. 
 
 part it takes in laying the foundation of a house of 
 God, here to be erected. And as the work shall pro- 
 gress till the temple shall stand forth complete, the 
 watchful eye of Masonry will be upon it, and the 
 helping hand of Masonry will be extended toward 
 it. The little company that meets regularly in yon- 
 der temple, humble and unpretending as is their 
 meeting place, will, around an altar which they 
 have erected, acknowledge the same God whose wor- 
 shipers in the house here to be erected shall own. 
 They will be taught to put their trust in Him, as 
 the Priest in the Lord's house will instruct the wait- 
 ing assembly in this house to do. 
 
 Is not the ceremony here performed, then, a fitting 
 one in laying the foundation of this edifice to be 
 raised and consecrated to the worship of God ? And 
 Christian Masons see in these ceremonies a beauty 
 most striking and impressive. This corner-stone 
 represents in emblem Christ Jesus, who is the chief 
 corner-stone of his Church ; and though he has been 
 oft rejected by tlie infidel world, yet in every Chris- 
 tian heart he is in truth the head of the corner, and 
 in their faith he stands forth as an edifice full of 
 beauty and attractiveness. 
 
 These relics, which have been so carefully, depos- 
 ited, remind Bible students of the sacred relics which 
 God commanded the Priests of Israel to deposit in 
 the Ark of the Covenant, that they might be care- 
 fully preserved, and ever remind devout worship- 
 ers entering the temple, and drawing near the holy 
 altar, of the goodness of the Lord to Israel, and of 
 
Laying Corner Stone. 377 
 
 the mighty deliverances which he wrought for 
 them. 
 
 In the building here to be erected, the corner- 
 stone of which we -lay to-day, amid music, vocal and 
 instrumental, and prayers to Jehovah, earnest and 
 devout, and general joy and gladness, a mercy seat 
 is also to be erected, and God will come down and 
 dwell in the Temple made with hands, and if only 
 two or three assemble around that mercy seat, his 
 promise is sure — he will be in their midst. 
 
 Around this mercy seat, the grave, the venerable, 
 the pillars of the community, will assemble and pay 
 their devotions ; and the young men and maidens 
 may chant songs of praise to him, who from off the 
 sacred place will dispense pardon to the guilty. 
 And the voice of little children shall be heard — yea, 
 out of the mouths of babes and sucklings shall his 
 praise be perfected. 
 
 Brethren of the Mystic Tie, this is holy ground 
 upon which we tread — tread lightly, breathe softly, 
 and let your aspirations ascend toward the throne 
 of the Great Eternal. The beauties of nature around 
 us and the loveliness of this day, should teach us a 
 lesson of profit. These venerable oaks, now begin- 
 ning to decay, should remind us of our own mor- 
 tality. The strength of some has already began to 
 diminish. The yellow leaf of life has already ap- 
 peared ; the stern autumn of their days has been 
 reached, and they have now to make ready to lie 
 down in the dust, and await the budding of the tree 
 of immortality. These thrifty elms which shade us 
 24 
 
378 Laying Corner Stone. 
 
 should remind us of the strength and buoyancy of 
 youth, and of manhood's prime, and learn us so to 
 live and act as to afford shelter and protection to all 
 coming within our radius. The birds that flit from 
 twig to twig, and stop to listen to strains of music 
 imitating their own, should remind us that above 
 and around us heavenly visitants may behold us 
 and interest themselves in these ceremonies, which 
 we have performed in the name of him in whom we 
 have all been most solemnly taught to put our trust. 
 'Tis to me, and should be to all — I trust it is to all — 
 a most solemn, a most interesting, a most important 
 hour. May Masons, members of the church, and 
 this whole assembly, now lift up their hearts and 
 devoutly worship him who made heaven and earth; 
 and as we gather around the place where the corner- 
 stone of God's house is laid, may all our souls be 
 liilled with holy joy, and may all of us feel that it is 
 .good to be here, because God is here. 
 
 But I must pass to another point which I want to 
 make in this address — the sacred associations and 
 reminiscences connected with this place. This has 
 long been a place of worship. It is, perhaps, the 
 oldest place of worship in this section of the country. 
 The first house of worship erected here stood out 
 yonder, and was a small, unpainted, unplastered 
 building, and to us in all its parts would look un- 
 •comely. To this place ministers of the Church of 
 England came, and the services of the Episcopal 
 ■Church were performed. I have read with interest, 
 ^mong th« records of the parish still preserved by 
 
Laying Corner Stone. 379 
 
 the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Suffolk, 
 the names and doings of the vestry of that time in 
 reference to " the chapel on Cypress Swamp." These 
 go back beyond the revolution of 1776. In what 
 particular year this became a place of worship, 
 neither the records of the parish or county will give 
 us. That swamp, so studded with tall cypress trees, 
 suggested its name to the early settlers of this part 
 of Virginia, and the contiguity of this place of wor- 
 ship to the swamp, gave to the place and house of 
 worship the name which it still bears — Cypress 
 Chapel. 
 
 When the war of the revolution closed, and an in- 
 dependent government was set up by the people of 
 the British Colonies in America, the Church of Eng- 
 land, which had prevailed in Virginia, lost much of 
 its influence, and waned for years after, until the 
 places of worship were abandoned in many parishes, 
 and the priests were few, and other forms of worship 
 were introduced, and other denominations of Chris- 
 tians began to flourish where before they were not 
 known. 
 
 Nine years after the close of the revolutionary 
 struggle witnessed the first disruption, in this coun- 
 try, of the Wesleyan societies that had been here 
 planted. Mr. Wesley, a member of the Church of 
 England, had set out, in England, to reform certain 
 evil usages, which he believed to exist in the Church 
 of his fathers, and in the progress of his work a sep- 
 arate organization was born, with more of life and 
 vigor than the parent body then possessed. This 
 
380 Layino Corner Stone. 
 
 new organization came, in process of time, to be 
 called Methodists, and the new religious party, with 
 the new name, spread with great rapidity all over 
 this new country, and soon became a body of great 
 power. When the leading Superintendents of this 
 new organization in the United States permitted 
 themselves to be ordained and called Bishops, 
 it led to a division in their ranks, and a secession 
 on the part of those who opposed this, as they con- 
 sidered, assumption of power on the part of the 
 Bishops thus ordained. 
 
 This brought into existence another new organi- 
 zation, which, while discarding the office and power 
 of Bishops, discarded also the names of the Church 
 of England and Methodist, and assumed the sim- 
 ple name Christian. The ministers of this new 
 society, being shut out from the Methodist pulpits, 
 naturally took possession of the houses which had 
 been left vacant by the Episcopal clergy, and in 
 that way the old house of worship at this place 
 came in possession of the Cliristians. At what time 
 a Christian Cliurch was first organized here we have 
 no records to show — perhaps as early as 1798 or 
 1800. The first regular Conference of the Christians 
 in Eastern Virginia assembled at this place on the 
 25th of September, 1818. 
 
 The old Episcopal house of worship was repaired 
 and enlarged about the year 1820, and was again 
 repaired some years later. In 1846, a new house of 
 worship was erected a little south of the old spot> 
 and near where we now stand. This continued to 
 
Laying Corner Stone. 381 
 
 be a house of worship until recently, when it was 
 so much decayed that it was no longer considered 
 safe for this purpose, and was torn down and its 
 timbers lie scattered around us, and we this day lay 
 the corner-stone of a new house to be erected for 
 the use of the Christian congregation worshiping 
 here. , 
 
 Among the first members of the Christian Church 
 at this place, I have the names of John Harrell, 
 Arthur Jones, Barsheba Jones, Abram Harrell, Pris- 
 cilla Harrell, Sallre Norfleet, Mary Riddick, Mourn- 
 ing Parker, Henry Skinner, and Samuel Wilkins. 
 These all have passed away, but their descendants 
 , are all around us, and make up a large proportion 
 of those who still worship here. 
 
 Among the ministers who composed the Confer- 
 ence of 1818, at this place, the names of Burwell 
 Barrett, Joshua Livesay, John Livesay, Mills Barrett, 
 James Warren, Francis Williamson, Nathaniel P. 
 Tatem, and Nelson Millar, appear. And of the lay- 
 men, the following, among other names.are recorded : 
 Thomas Hollowaj', Stephen Smith, Herod Burt, and 
 John Copeland. At this Conference, John Livesay 
 became the pastor of the church at this place. 
 
 Not one of the ministers or laymen who com- 
 posed this Conference are now living — all, all have 
 gone to their homes in the skies. 
 
 It would be interesting to me to trace the history 
 of the religious organization for whose use a new 
 house of worship is to be erected, and the history of 
 ihis church ; but i must not weary those who so 
 
382 Laying Co'KNer Stone. 
 
 patiently and attentively wait upon my words. I 
 took charge of this congregation in February, 1846 — 
 in the days of my boyhood. I was here licensed 
 and here ordained to the work of the ministry, and 
 all the days of my manhood have I here labored 
 as pastor of this congregation. It may readily be 
 imagined that this place has become sacred indeed 
 to , me. When I first became the pastor of this 
 church, the names of 1S6 members stood upon its 
 record. Only twenty- four years have been num- 
 bered with the past, and but very few of those 
 whose names then stood upon the church record, 
 live. They have left for the better home above, one 
 after another, until only here and there a remaining 
 one may be foupd. The church now numbers i32. 
 communicants, nearly aJl of whom have been re- 
 ceived into its fellowsliip under my ministry. They 
 are mostly tbe children and grandchildren of my 
 early friends, and I stand to-day as a father among 
 his spiritual children. Although I am yet in the 
 prime of my life, with my sight undimraed, my 
 physical strength UBabated, and no gray hairs to 
 adorn my brow, yet when I look around me, I can- 
 not avoid the impression that I must be growing 
 old, and the remaining work which I have to do 
 must be done quickly. 
 
 And do not many around me thus feel ? Brethren,, 
 friends, all, up and away to the work of the Master^ 
 The season of "labor and refreshment"' on earth 
 will soon be over, and we shall be gathered to the 
 garner of the skies. Qh L see that when you appear 
 
Literary Address. 383 
 
 in the presence of the Master above that you are 
 found " true and trusty" — that your lives have been 
 " squared " by the rule of virtue, your work on earth 
 "well done," and that you have built your hope of 
 salvation upon Him who is the Chief Corner-Stone 
 of His Church. Soon, and the sound of the " mal- 
 let" of death will be calling us to our account. 
 Soon, and all of us will be gone. May we be pre- 
 pared, when our change comes, to appear before the 
 Great Inspector of all our work, and all our hearts, 
 and may each receive the welcome plaudit, when 
 the inspection is over, " Well done, good and faith- 
 ful servant." 
 
 Literary Address. 
 
 Delivered at the close of Rev. 0. W. Neal's School, at Frank- 
 llnton, N. C, in 1867. 
 
 Young Oentlemen of the Academy : 
 
 Called, as I have been, by your kindness, to ad- 
 dress you on this most interesting occasion, I appear 
 before you under circumstances not wholly devoid 
 of embarrassment. I come from my editorial sanc- 
 tum, where amid volumes hoary with age, and piles 
 of the current literature of the day, I am forced to 
 spend many a weary hour, and perform much of 
 the drudgery attendant upon such a position. I 
 turn aside from the yet more serious and important 
 duties of a pastor, and as I stand before you, with 
 another laudable object in view, there are so 
 
384 Literary Address. 
 
 many topics that present themselves to the 
 mind as eminently suitable to an occasion of this 
 sort, that to choose between them, of itself, becomes 
 most embarrassing. 
 
 We live in a changing period of our country's 
 history. Our political, our social, our industrial, 
 and I had almost said our moral fabric, is changing. 
 The aims, objects and aspirations of the future must 
 be affected by the general change, and the counsel, 
 advice and instruction suited to young men in 
 former times, would be partially stale if presented 
 now. We are compelled to conform, in part at least, 
 to circumstances surrounding us, and it is well for 
 us, when changes are thus progressing, if we can 
 hold with a tightened grasp to the great principles 
 of morality and right, which can and ought to know 
 no change. 
 
 When four years of war and bloodshed had been 
 experienced and the struggle ceased by the men of 
 the South laying down their arms and yielding to 
 overpowering numbers and resources, then came 
 time for reflection and earnest enquiry. The bright 
 future, which the young men of the South had ac- 
 customed themselves to gaze upon, went out in dark- 
 ness; their hopes perished, and when the shock of 
 disappointment was partly over, and sober, practi- 
 cal reason resumed its seat in the mind, the en- 
 quiry came with force to every one — what now? 
 And with this question all stood still, and for a sea- 
 son there was silence throughout all our tents. 
 What now? said every one to himself. What now? 
 
Literary Address. 385 
 
 said every one to his neighbor. What now? was the 
 great question for discussion, the mighty problem to 
 be solved. 
 
 My own exercises of mind, if you will pardon the 
 allusion to myself, perhaps was a fair type of the 
 thoughts and exercises of thousands of others. 
 When from the surrender at Appomattox, Virginia," 
 I fled to Greensboro, North Carolina, and saw there 
 the last glimmering hope of success expire, my 
 thoughts and my eyes first turned toward unsettled 
 Mexico; then I read hurriedly and with an interest 
 never before realized, the history and geographical 
 description of Brazil ; and then I thought to bury 
 myself in some one of the great cities of the North, 
 and there amid the hurry and bustle of busy life 
 remain unobserved and uncared for. But more se- 
 rious reflection, and a more prayerful spirit, settled 
 me in ray purpose and made permanent my plans. 
 I determined to go home, gp to work, conform to 
 the unpleasant circumstances surrounding me, and 
 as far as possible build up the waste places and re. 
 store former cooQforts. When my own course ap- 
 peared plain and the path of duty was clear before 
 me, I determined to advise others to pursue with me 
 the same course. I said to the young men who had 
 escaped death on the many battle fields, and those 
 who were approaching the age to take their places 
 beside their elder brothers in the ranks, stay at 
 home, stand by your native land, sorrow-stricken as 
 it may be, guard the graves of your ancestors and 
 gather up the bones of your fallen comrades, and 
 
386 Literary Address. 
 
 let all classes unite to dig up the briars and thorns 
 of disappointment, losses and poverty, and plant in 
 their places flowprs to charm our eyes and fruits on 
 which to feast our palates in years to come. This 
 was the general conclusion arrived at by the young 
 men of the South, and instead of turning their 
 backs upon their former liomes, or sitting down to 
 weep and mourn over the past, the enquiry now 
 comes, " What can I do ? " " What door of useful- 
 ness can I enter? " " In what field have I an invi- 
 tation to labor? " These enquiries were answered 
 bj' soon finding the young men of the country like 
 a swarm of bees which had yesterday left the parent 
 hive, all busy, and each one pursuing some peaceful 
 avocation in life. 
 
 Before me I see an interesting little division of 
 this mighty army of young men. They are panting 
 to attain a position of usefulness, of honor, and to 
 enterupona courseoflife when labor will be rewarded 
 with good. You stand ready to seize every advan- 
 tage within reach. You would grasp the learning 
 and experience of older persons — you would apply 
 what they have gained to your own use, with their 
 permission. With this object in view and for this 
 purpose, you have invited me to appear before you. 
 Would that I were more competent to counsel, 
 advise and instruct you. With more than half the 
 years allotted to man on earth behind me, and a 
 varied experience, with a yearning interest in the 
 welfare of the young, such as I have shall be cheer- 
 fully spread before you. 
 
Literary Address. 387 
 
 To reach a sphere of usefulness and attain a posi- 
 tion of honor among j'our fellows, all the native 
 powers of mind and body should receive that cul- 
 ture and exercise that is so necessary to develop 
 their strength. Exercise and culture will not only 
 develop and augment the strength, but will prepare 
 you to seize upon the attainments of others and to 
 generate new power, and this generative power will 
 enable you to advance step by step beyond and 
 above those whose attainments you have already 
 grasped and appropriated to your own use. 
 
 To reach the position of a man well formed, well 
 developed, well balanced, and worthy of admiration ^ 
 the mini], the body and the heart must each receive 
 their due proportion of culture. The intellectual, 
 the physical, and the moral parts must be equally 
 developed. The teacher of youth should himself 
 be well proportioned, well balanced. The instructor 
 of young men should himself be a man. The Prin- 
 cipal of every Academy, the President of every 
 College and the head of every University, should be 
 thoroughly developed in mind, body and heart, in- 
 tellectually, physically and morally. Unfortunately 
 for the past history of our countr}'^, and our institu- 
 tions of learning, this great fundamental requisite 
 has not been always regarded as important, and the 
 barren harvest of such disregard has too often been 
 gathered in sorrow. Some of those regarded the 
 best scholars have been weighed and found wofully 
 lacking in this perfect development; and they have 
 imparted their imperfections to those trained by 
 
388 LiTERAKY Address. 
 
 them. Who has not seen in years agoue, young 
 men retiarning home from a college course, having 
 graduated with honor, without any business, practi- 
 cal, common sense — mere book machines, with 
 minds full of other men's thoughts and no strength 
 to generate an idea of their own? Again, we have 
 seen them come home from halls of learning like 
 hot-house plants to wither in the sun or perish in 
 the cold of the practical duties of life. And more 
 melancholy still, we have seen them return with all 
 their moral powers defaced ; with habits of intem- 
 perance, lewdness, profanity and other immoral 
 practices, so engrafted upon them as never after to 
 be able to shake them oflF. 
 
 We live in a changing period in our country's 
 history. In the present changed position of our 
 political and social relations, all interested in the 
 subject of education should seek a remedy for these 
 evils. And that remedy can only be obtained by a 
 change in the training of our young men, and by 
 ■divesting their minds of false ideas and unsound 
 principles. With this object before me, I would 
 advise, first, the careful culture of the minds of our young 
 men. This of itself affords matter for a full dis- 
 course. There is in the proper culture of the mind, 
 a theme of so much importance, that view it from 
 ■whatever standpoint you may, its elevating, enno- 
 bling qualities appear. In the true and thorough 
 culture of the mind lies the foundation of much of 
 that happiness that flows through the affections and 
 the beart. The more expanded the powers of the 
 
Literary Address. 389 
 
 mind, the freer the affections flow and the more sus- 
 ceptible of happiness the heart becomes. My young 
 friends, if you would live in the true sense of the word, 
 drink deep of the waters of happiness by cultivating 
 the mind, enlarging its capacities and giving vent 
 to the pure and noble feelings and aspirations. 
 , But how shall I cultivate my mind ? How shall 
 I become educated? Surely a mere superficial 
 knowledge of the sciences, and the learning of a 
 few Latin and Greek phrases is nat education in its- 
 most exalted character. The mind, properly culti- 
 vated, must be taught to think — to think consecu- 
 tively — to confine itself to one subject until every- 
 thing connected with it has been grasped, digested, 
 and mastered. In this sense it may be said of many 
 who have never attended any of the higher schools 
 or enjoyed advantages of this sort, that they are ed- 
 ucated. Close, persevering, patient study has de- 
 veloped the native power of the mind. Education 
 which comes in this way is generally practical, use- 
 ful, enduring. Every young man should determine 
 ■to acquire the habit of thinking — tying the mind t® 
 the pursuit of knowledge, and to be thorough in his 
 researches, remembering the truism : 
 
 "A little learning is a dangerous thing." 
 
 But by drinking deeply in the fountain of knowl- 
 edge, by being thorough in our researches, we be- 
 come settled, sobered, balanced, practical, efiicient. 
 A mere smattering does in truth but intoxicate the 
 brain, while consecutive thinking and thorougb 
 
390 Literary Address. 
 
 training imparts clearness and soberness, and pre- 
 pares us to pursue steadily a path of usefulness to 
 ourselves and to others. The time for mere exter- 
 nal show, for theorizing and for abstractions is pist. 
 Now is the time for thorough, practical working. 
 Subjects must now be examined on all sides and at 
 every bearing rigidly criticised, weighed and ap- 
 plied, in order to be profitable and practical. 
 
 The mind thus trained and cultivated is always 
 fresh and green, and having acquired in youth the 
 habit of expansion, continues to widen and enlarge 
 in manhood's prime, and even to old age. The 
 thinking man shudders and shrinks from that fee- 
 bleness of intellect that comes to the uncultivated 
 mind in old age. When the intellect has no food 
 on which to sustain itself, the very soul withers, 
 fades, dies. The well trained intellect and properly 
 cultivated mind never grows old, never withers, 
 5iever becomes seared. The body may fail, but the 
 treasure within is still sprightly and active. Such 
 was the experience of John Quincy Adams, Benton 
 Clay, Calhoun and others of the past generation. 
 Their minds, in old age, were still fresh and vigo- 
 rous. Thoy maintained their position, high as it 
 was, to the last. Not so with those who negkct the 
 proper culture of the mind, the intellect. Their 
 reasoning powers become enfeebled, and their happi- 
 ness and pleasures often depart, while their bodies 
 are yet buoyant and strong. 
 
 Now, young gentlemen, is the time for pushing 
 forward by consecutive thinking, the plant of knowl- 
 
Literary Address. 39 i 
 
 edge. It is spring-time with you. Summer will 
 soon be here, and autumn will follow quickly. Stir 
 the soil of the mind, plow deep, let the roots of the 
 tree of knowledge spread out and gather in all the 
 riches of the earth around. You have not a mo- 
 ment to idle or trifle away. You have no time to 
 " sow wild oats " and fritter away the precious mo- 
 ments of the spring-time of youth. Lay a good 
 foundation, get a good start and the storms of sum- 
 mer and the frosts of autumn shall not prevent you 
 from filling your barns and storehouses with plenty 
 for winter. 
 
 But I pass, in the second place, to the proper culture of 
 the body — to proper physical as well as mental devel- 
 opment. A noble mind and a great soul confined 
 to a little, weak, feeble, sickly body, always brings 
 over me a melancholy feeling. It is so like the green 
 plant that has come up among rocks, and where 
 there is no depth of earth. It withers ior the want 
 of nourishment. The mind should be cultivated 
 and developed, but physical development must go 
 along with it. Physiology and the laws of health 
 have been too slightly regarded in our high schools 
 of former years. Physical and intellectual devel- 
 opment must go hand in hand. The one cannot 
 well mature without the other. One may for a time 
 rise high above the other but they soon settle to a 
 common level. Exercise strengthens and expands 
 the mind, and exercise strengthens and enlarges the 
 powers of the body. Physical, manual labor is so 
 far from retarding the powers of the mind by weary- 
 
392 LiTEKAKY Address. 
 
 ing the body, that the temperate use of the one, the 
 hoe, the plane and the hammer, benefits both the 
 physical and intellectual powers. And this brings 
 me to a point which I would present impressively, 
 because it becomes more important in our changed 
 condition. In the years of the past, labor, manual 
 labor, if not despised by the higher and more re- 
 fined classes, the educated, w^as not considered very 
 honorable. Consequently the more favored classes 
 of the young men, the best educated, those occupy- 
 ing the highest social positions, were in the habit of 
 looking to law, medicine or mercantile life, and 
 turning away from mechanical and agricultural 
 pursuits. Students of medicine and law were con- 
 sidered as occupying a little higher social position 
 than those preparing for pursuits regarded more 
 humble. Ihese errors we must unlearn. The princi- 
 ple was wrong, and the whole fabric was reared on 
 a foundation without solidity. Why should the 
 man who mixes medicine and makes pills for the 
 sick be considered better than he who plans a build- 
 ing, planes the timber and puts it together? Why 
 should the man who unravels the intricacies of the 
 law be better than he who studies the character of 
 soils and drives the plow, sows his seed, and gathers 
 at harvest time the crops? Why is it less respect- 
 able to throw the hammer and sound the anvil, than 
 to stand behind the counter and measure calicoes 
 and weigh sugar ? Can any one tell ? Society needs, 
 society must have physicians, attorneys, farmers, 
 carpenters, blacksmiths and merchants. Each class 
 
Literary Address. 393 
 
 fills a necessary and a useful position. And each 
 occupation ought to be considered equally respect- 
 able. One may be a little easier or a little more 
 cleanly than another, but all are important. The 
 engineer on a rail train may at the end of the road 
 have a little more ashes, dust and smut about his 
 clothes and person than the conductor, but who dare 
 say that lie did not fill a more responsible and a 
 more important position than the conductor? Why 
 should the former be less respected than the latter? 
 Away with all such unjust and unfair distinctions, 
 and let us accustom ourselves to think and feel that 
 labor is honorable, not degrading. Let no young 
 man be ashamed to be seen with axe, with hoe, with 
 hammer in hand. Let him not feel degraded when 
 he follows the plow or drives the plane. And let 
 him not suppose that he cannot, while punctually 
 and regularly attending to honorable labor, improve 
 his mind also. It is a mistake that says a laboring 
 man may not be an educated man. Hugh Miller 
 stood by the rough granite day by day with a mallet 
 in one hand and a chisel in the other moulding 
 polishing and fashioning to his will the unseemly 
 rock. The chips and fire flew, but his mind was 
 still active, and in the "Old Red Sand Stone" and 
 the " Testimony of the Rodks," he built for himself 
 a monument which will never crumble with time 
 and age. 
 
 Elihu Burritt beat upon the anvil and shaped 
 iron and steel to suit his purpose day by day and 
 25 
 
394 Literary Address. 
 
 from year to year, and during the time became ong 
 of the first linguists in his country. 
 
 Intellectual culture, industrious habits and vir- 
 tuous conduct will fix a man's social position. Not 
 the clothes he wears, the business he preiends to 
 follow, or the family with which he is connected. 
 These antiquated ideas are passing away, and in the 
 future labor, industry, sobriety and virtuous con- 
 duct will mark a man's worth. Go to work, swing 
 the scythe, make the anvil ring and the red iron 
 sparkle, develop the muscle and sinews of the body, 
 and let the mind be active all the time. Thus shall 
 the intellectual and physical powers alike be en- 
 larged. The " mill boy of the slashes of Hanover," 
 enchained the Senate of the nation with his elo- 
 quence, and impressed the world with the powers of 
 his well cultivated, gigantic mind. The orphan 
 child, the little cheerful boy that guided oxen, and 
 hauled logs from the woods to a saw-mill, became 
 the " Stonewall " of the late war, and obtained not 
 .only a world-wide reputation for military prowess, 
 but is the patron saint of millions of the purest 
 most patriotic and refined people which the sun in 
 the heavens ever shone upon. The tailor boy of the 
 old North State reached the highest position which 
 the American people could assign him. Let these 
 instances, which might be increased by many, little 
 less brilliant, in every State, county, and neighbor- 
 hood of the Union, stimulate and encourage every 
 young man to close, patient study, and regular, con- 
 tinued labor. Most of the young men of the coun- 
 
Literary Address. 395 
 
 try are now poor. The result of the war to the 
 South was a great leveller. But poor as we all jire, 
 the road to usefulness, to distinction, to position, is 
 still open before us. The student, the man of in- 
 dustry and perseverance, the virtuous man, can never 
 be entirely disfranchised. He will rise with weights 
 around him, with obstacles before him, and hin- 
 drances on every hand. You cannot tie him down, 
 you cannot confine him in darkness, you cannot 
 prevent his light from shining. Put his feet in the 
 stocks, close the door of his gloomy cell, make fast 
 the outer doors, and his midnight hymns will kindle 
 a light about him that shall make even his worst 
 enemies to fall down at his feet and seek instruction 
 from his lips. It is ignorance, sloth and vice that 
 enslaves men, and shuts up the avenues of useful- 
 ness and distinction to them. No intelligent, re- 
 fined and virtuous nation can be enslaved or be- 
 come broken in spirit. 
 
 But I must not digress or anticipate the third 
 point which I designed to make — 
 
 Moral Culture or Moral Development. 
 
 The mind may be nurtured and. the intellectual 
 powers may be largely developed by exercise. Spark- 
 ling wit may flash in every sentence uttered and 
 mental expansiveness may stand out prominent to 
 the view of every one. The body may be well 
 formed, well adorned, and health and vigor may 
 loom up in mighty dimensions, and yet if the man 
 be wanting in moral principle, in moral stamina — if 
 
S96 Literary Address. 
 
 moral culture be neglected and moral worth be nat 
 developed in every day. life, ia public duties, and if 
 morality, refined, cultivated morality, adorn not the 
 character of the man, then will be found lacking the 
 chief pillar of his strength, and his other acquire- 
 ments will eventually melt into weakness, inefiB- 
 ciency, obscurity, or forgetfolness. Washington and 
 Paine were co laborers and compeers in one impor- 
 tant paint. They loved liberty ; they hated tyr- 
 ranny and slavery. The latter possessed a largely 
 developed intellect, wielded a powerful pen, was 
 physically all that could have been desired. The 
 former exercised a well cultivated, well balanced 
 mind, with physical powers capable of great endu- 
 rance, and the moral powers of the soul bloomed in 
 rich fragrance. Strict morality, unyielding virtue 
 and religious principle, governed and controlled all 
 his actions and words. Paine was wanting in these. 
 The moral power in him were shrivelled and wholly 
 unfruitful. He tried to steer himself over the rough 
 sea of life "by his intellectual power and physical 
 ability. He died a bloated inebriate, in deep poverty, 
 in great obscurity, unmourned, unwept even ; char- 
 ity provided him. a grave ; and he is only known to 
 history by the poison of his infidel principles which 
 have been instilled into the veins of others brought 
 under his influence. Washington, with his intel- 
 lectual, physical and moral powers, all equally de- 
 veloped, occupies a place in the world's history from 
 which were he removed, would leave a blank, a 
 vacancy which never could be supplied. Glorious 
 
Literary Addeess. 397 
 
 Washington will ever stand before the world as 
 "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of 
 his countrymen." 
 
 I have placed these two characters pronainently 
 before you, young gentlemen, that you may the 
 more clearly discover the great importance — the 
 actual necessity of bidding to your mental culture, 
 and your personal charms, the beauty, the finish, 
 the essential of a moral character. And let me tell 
 you, that now is the time for your moral powers to 
 begin to develop in beauty and grandeur. Moral 
 training should commence at the mother's knee, in 
 the lullaby hymn and in the evening ditty ; and as 
 the child advances toward manhood, the plant 
 should be all ready to branch, and on the hardy 
 stock of intellect, and the well formed branches of 
 physical strength, at manhood, should appear in 
 effulgent beauty the large open flowers of morality, 
 sweetening the very atmosphere with their fragrance, 
 and attracting toward them all admirers of the 
 beautiful and the sweet — all the refined, the pure, 
 the virtuous, the gentle, the modest, the choice of 
 earth. 
 
 The ruggexl, crooked and powerful trunked oak may 
 be admired for its strength and its endurance in 
 the storm. Green leaves may adorn it in summer, 
 but our eyes turn away from it to the straight, 
 smooth, well-formed tree that presents first the flower 
 and then the ripe fruit. It fascinates and delights 
 us with its flowers of beauty and then feasts us upon 
 its rich, delicious fruit. So stands the man of iutel- 
 
398 Literary Addkess. 
 
 ■\ 
 lectual power, like the rugged oak ; physical pros- 
 perity may weave for him a garment of green, but 
 if the flowers of morality be lacking, the fruit will 
 also be lacking, and he finds at last that he is only 
 fit for the woodman's axe and the furnace, while he 
 who adds to a trunk of power, the beauty and value 
 of the flowers and fruit of morality will be watched 
 over with care, pruned with gentleness, and valued 
 because of his native and acquired worth. 
 
 Boarding schools, academies and colleges, presided 
 over by men whosemoral powers have been dwarfed, 
 have in many instances been but nurseries for cul- 
 tivating immorality and the suppression of virtue 
 and morality. ,1 am glad the number of immoral 
 instructors of youth is yearly growing less, and that 
 a moral and religious life added to scholarship' is an 
 important recommendation to any man who aspires 
 to the responsible position of a teacher. Moral 
 teaching both by example and precept is now ex- 
 pected to go hand in hand with intellectual training. 
 Let the principle be everywhere established, that 
 education must include the mind, the body and the 
 heart; that it must be intellectual, physical and 
 moral ; that young men must be tauglit to think, 
 to work and to bear the fruit of morality. 
 
 When this shall be fully admitted and practiced, 
 the young men of our country will have the idea 
 indellibly impressed upon their minds that every 
 man chooses and makes his own social position. 
 There will be no first families and second, families, 
 but every young man will be weighed and valued 
 
Literary Address. 399 
 
 / 
 according to his own merits, and all will be made 
 to feel their own individual responsibility. And 
 this principle will be right. Let the fact be con- 
 ceded at once, that every gentleman makes himself 
 so. Birth and family position make no man a gen- 
 tleman. Thought, labor and virtue make the gen- 
 tleman. Thought lays the foundation, work puts on 
 the adorning, and virtue and morality crown the 
 gentleman, and a gentleman will never lack for 
 social position. 
 
 Young gentlemen of Franklinton Academy, there 
 is before you a most inviting field. The world 
 is before you, and what you cannot reach from one 
 point you may from another. But there is a rich 
 and inviting field here in your own — your native 
 land — in glorious old North Carolina, so abundant 
 in all that is necessary to make it one of the great- 
 est States in the South. Seize the golden opportu- 
 nity and move forward with a steady front to victory 
 and to glory. 
 
 One other thought I would impress, and one for 
 which the matured mind and heart will be prepared 
 to appreciate : It is undeviating integrity, unwaver- 
 ing devotion to principle and decision of character. 
 Sacred history presents us with a model character 
 in this particular, and holds him up to the admira- 
 tion of every age. A man who, in the moving pan- 
 orama of history, stands before us, first blessed with 
 wealth, health, social position, civil distinction, and 
 every comfort which heart could desire. A devoted 
 wife, dutiful children, obedient and loyal servants. 
 
400 Literary Address. 
 
 hosts of friends and a conscience unburdened with 
 any imperfection, for he was perfect 
 
 We next look at him, devoid of wealth, of civil 
 distinction, childless and sinking out of the world's 
 sight in the vale of poverty. 
 
 Again we behold him, aflBicted in body, lying in 
 ashes, scraping the filth of ulcerated disease from 
 his body with a potsherd — reproached by his friends, 
 censured and forsaken by his wife, mocked at by 
 former servants, and spit upon by them who had in 
 the days of his prosperity shared his bounty, and 
 yet unwaveringly holding to his principles, his con- 
 victions of right and declaring : " Mine integrity I 
 hold fast and will not let it go — my heart shall not 
 reproach me so long as I live" 
 
 i^s much as Job deserves to be admired for his 
 patience, he is more to be admired for his integrity. 
 
 Imitate the integrity of the suffering, patient man, ' 
 and so long as you live, J'oung gentlemen, never 
 consent to be ruled and governed in your conduct 
 by a time-serving policy. Plant your feet firmly 
 upon the rock of principle, of integrity', of virtue, 
 and determine never, never under any circumstances 
 to be moved. Be in haste to unlearn errors and to 
 divest your minds of false principles and prejudices, 
 but hold to truth with a grasp that knows no re- 
 lenting in life or in death, in time or eternity. 
 
 The task which your kindness has assigned me, 
 my young friends, has nearly been completed. It 
 is, perhaps, time for me to close these remarks, and 
 yet my heart would reproach me, my conscience 
 
LiTEEAEY Address. 401 
 
 would smile me, and I should feel that, as a minister 
 of Christ, I had not discharged my whole duty, if I 
 did not in conclusion commend to you that experi- 
 mental religion which Jesus came into the world to 
 teach, as the crowning, the chief, most important of 
 all attainments. A cultivated intellect united 
 with full moral development, elevates man above 
 the wasting, perishing things of creation around 
 him, and enables him to ascend step by step until 
 the topmost round of the ladder of earthly enjoy- 
 ment and earthly glory have been reached. Re- 
 ligion lifts him from this exalted position to one 
 yet more exalted in the heavens. Religion gives 
 to life and health and prosperity its sweetest pleas- 
 ure, blunts the arrows of pain and brightens the 
 gloom of sorrow ; is a light to our pathway through 
 the world, dispels the cloud of death, sheds a halo 
 of glory o'er the tomb and opens the gate of the 
 eternal city, and bids the purified spirit enter and 
 dwell forever amid the light and glory of eternal 
 felicity. 
 
 My heart warms within me and my soul utters 
 with emotion the earnest desire, the fervent prayer, 
 young gentlemen of the Academy, that to your 
 other attainments may be added communion with 
 God, the sweet sense of sins forgiven, spiritual life 
 and a home at last — 
 
 " Where the paints of all ages in harmony meet, 
 Th<^ir Saviour and brethren transported to greet : 
 ■While tlie anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, 
 And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul." 
 
402 Address before "Cosference. 
 
 An Address 
 
 Delivered before the North Carolina and Virginia Conference 
 in 1866. 
 
 Brethren of the N. C. Christian Conference : 
 
 The action of the late meeting of the Southern 
 Christian Convention makes it my dnty, as the 
 President of the Convention, to visit as many of the 
 annual Conferences connected with that body.as I 
 can with convenience, and counsel and advise with 
 ministers and brethren, and offer such suggestions 
 for the consideration of the Conferences as maj' seem 
 to be for the good of the cause which lies so near all 
 our hearts. 
 
 I come to you, brethren, at considerable personal 
 inconvenience, but with an ardent, earnest desire to 
 aid you in your deliberations, with such counsel as 
 I may be able to give and such co-operation as cir- 
 cumstances may permit me to afford. Let it be un- 
 derstood at the .commencement of my labors in this 
 direction, that the Convention has assumed not to 
 clothe its presiding ofHcer with any authority to lord 
 over others, but sends him forth to the brethren as 
 a counsellor and adviser. Every Elder upon this 
 floor is his equal in power and authority. But every 
 Elder has not been placed in his position and may 
 not have occupied a place enabling him to take an 
 extended view of our whole work. Every advan- 
 tage which the President of the Convention Jias en- 
 joyed in this particular will the better qualify him 
 
Address before Confekence. 403 
 
 to counsel and advise with you on this most inter- 
 esting occasion. 
 
 The close of the late terrible war left us, as a de- 
 nomination, in a most deplorable condition. Dur- 
 ing the four years of forming armies, marching, 
 fighting, maiming and killing, all our denomina- 
 tional enterprises were suspended, and in the second 
 year of the struggle our printing establishment fell 
 into the bands of the invaders of Virginia, and was 
 by them entirely demolished, leaving not a dollar's 
 worth of material unharmed. The College building at 
 Graham wasthenextyear unwisely hurried into mar- 
 ket to meet outstanding claims against it, and proved 
 an entire loss to the founders. Holy Neck Female 
 Seminary was suspended not to be revived again 
 soon, if ever. The meetings of the Eastern Vir- 
 ginia, Central Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri 
 Conferences were suspended, and nearly all the ter- 
 ritory covered by these Conferences fell into the 
 hands of those whose business it was to destroy and 
 sow broadcast the seed of desolation and ruin. Ne- 
 cessity drove most of our ministers either to the 
 army or to secular pursuits, the flocks were scat- 
 tered, and our Zion languished and bled at every 
 point and on every side. 
 
 The dark cloud of war passed over, the thunders 
 ceased, Lee surrendered, Johnston surrendered. 
 There came to us a calm; not wholly the calm of 
 peace, but a stilling of the loud battle's roar — a ces- 
 sation of the storm, and we had time to open our 
 doors, and throw aside the curtains of our windowsi 
 
404 Address before Conference. 
 
 and look out and realize the widespread desolation — 
 the wreck — our ruin. It was a sad, a solemn hour. 
 Our pros[)p('ts were blasted, our hopes had perished, 
 our labors lost, our couiforts gone — our ability' to rise 
 from our prostrate condition doubtful, the policy of 
 those who had conquered us undeveloped, and the 
 future all uncertain. Oh! who can recall the feel- 
 ings and exercises of his mind at that dark hour 
 and not now feel sad. Good men turned pale and 
 looked one to another for advice, which no one was 
 competent to give. 
 
 I remember well my own exercises of mind. I 
 looked first toward Mexico, then grasped a book and 
 hastily read the history and description of Brazil — 
 then thought of burying mj'self in New York or some 
 one of the larger Northern cities. But all these con- 
 flicting feelings and thoughts in one confused bun- 
 dle were taken to the feet of the Father of spirits, 
 and his direction was most earnestly besought. My 
 mind became settled — I resolved to go home, and at 
 once set to work to gather up the scattered frag- 
 ments and preach Christ in adversity as I had 
 preached Him in prosperity — to the inhabitants of 
 the valley as I had to them on the mountain top. 
 
 I sought an interview with several of the leading 
 minds of this Conference and we were agreed as to 
 the critical position, denominationally speaking, 
 which we occupied, and the general principles em- 
 bodied in a fuller Declaration of Principles, and im- 
 proved form of Government, and Directory for wor- 
 ship, devised by the late Convention were not only 
 
Addeess before Conference. 405 
 
 discussed, but the plan agreed upon in general 
 terms. 
 
 It was judged by us a fit time to introduce these 
 improvements when we are engaged in re-organiz- 
 ing our churches, our Conferences, our Convention 
 and all our general interest in the denomination. 
 Let us all profit by the experience of the past, 
 remedy our defects, correct our errors, and now lay 
 a foundation that will be permanent and abiding. 
 There could never be a more fit time. The minds 
 of men are now prepared for change. Old and long 
 cherished views and opinions may now be more 
 conveniently and with less reluctance given up, than 
 ever before. This was the view taken by us all, and 
 thus we were prepared for the undertakings and 
 labors of the ( -onvention which assembled at Mount 
 Auburn in May last. 
 
 I come now immediately to the action of the May 
 Convention. The first and perhaps the most im- 
 portant step taken by that body was to prepare and 
 arrange a fuller and more complete declaration of 
 our principles as a separate and distinct religious or- 
 ganization from all others — not to destroy or make 
 null and void the old platform adopted by Mr. 
 O'Kelly and the pioneer preachers of the Christian 
 Church, but to re-establish it, and go on to de- 
 velop and complete the edifice, the foundation for 
 which had already been laid by the fathers. Christ 
 ^esus is the only Head of the church; the nam© 
 Christian, to the exclusion of all party or secta- 
 rian names, the most appropriate; the Bible the 
 
406 Address before Conference. 
 
 best rule of faith and practice ; Christian character 
 the only sure and certain test of fellowship, and pri- 
 vate judgment th« privilege and duty of all, are set- 
 tled points with us. Upon this platform our whole 
 denominational structure rests, nor is there the 
 slightest disposition to lay down any other, or to at- 
 tempt to rear our edifice upon any other foundation. 
 
 But the denominational edifice, being erected on 
 this foundation-platform of principles, needed de- 
 velopment — needed arrangement — needed uniform- 
 ity, symmetry, completeness, finishing and beauty 
 
 To bring order out of confusion, beauty out of 
 deformity, symmetry out of irregularity and system 
 out of derangement was the aim of those lovers of 
 our church who met in council at Mount Auburn 
 last spring. Heretofore when we have been asked 
 for our religious opinions, we have pointed to the 
 Bible as our creed.- When we have been misrepre- 
 sented by opponents, and views and opinions 
 charged upon us which we never held or taught 
 we have liad no means of refuting these slan- 
 ders. Consequently in almost every place design- 
 ing persons either class us with Unitarians or 
 Campbellites, when the truth is everywhere known 
 among us that we have never sympathized with or 
 held the views of either the one or the other of 
 these parties. We have never denied the Divinity 
 of Christ our Head, or practiced water baptism for 
 the remission of sins. And yet these things have 
 everywhere been charged against us, and we have 
 been set down by church historians with these sects 
 
Address before Conference. 407 
 
 holding and teaching heretical views, and the door 
 of prosperity, expansion and denominational use- 
 fulness has been, closed against us, and for long 
 years we have been content to remain under a cloud 
 and denied sympathy and fellowship with those de- 
 nominations around us whose orthodoxy has never 
 been doubted. The declaration of principles de- 
 vised and adopted by the Convention sets us right 
 before an intelligent public on these questions. And 
 this is done without getting off our original plat- 
 form. In making known our sentiments, we have 
 carefully avoided scholastic terras, and sectarian and 
 party phrases, and have used only the plain, simple 
 teachings of the Bible, bringing together those pas- 
 sages which clearly express our views and using 
 only the words of Divine revelation. In this way 
 we will relieve ourselves from misrepresentation, 
 and be enabled to take our position side by side 
 with the evangelical denominations of the country. 
 Our very history has become unknown to the 
 reading public. Our denominational origin has 
 passed out of the minds of the present generation. 
 And most men suppose that we are the offshoot. of 
 some one of the numerous sects that have arisen in 
 the Northern States — a section prolific of sects, par- 
 ties, isms and heresies. It has been forgotten that 
 the original founders of the Christian denomination 
 were seceders from the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and that the reason of our separation was the form ' 
 of church government adopted by the Methodists 
 in America, and not on account of any difference in 
 
408 Address before Conference. > 
 
 doct;rinal views. In this great division of the church 
 of Christ in the days of Athanasius and Arius, 
 which has culminated in these last days into Trini- 
 tarians and Unitarians, it will be seen by tracing us, 
 as a denomination, back to our starting point, that 
 we are properly numbered with the Trinitarian 
 division of the Christian family. And I with 
 you, my brethren, in common with our whole de- 
 nomination, do avow that the doctrines generally 
 preached by them who are called Trinitarians is 
 the doctrine which I hold to be true, because it is 
 the doctrine which the Bible, our only rule of faith, 
 teaches, and the views which I hold are generally 
 the views of the Christians in all the Southern States. 
 We are not Unitarians and when numbered with 
 this branch of the Christian familj', our true position 
 is not assigned us. The declaration of principles 
 adopted by the Convention will set us right before 
 the public on this long disputed question. And the 
 same declaration of principles will as clearly show 
 that we are not disciples or Campbellites, and do 
 not hold the peculiar views believed and taught 
 by the late Alexander Campbell and those who 
 acted with him. That our form of government, 
 until the year 1856, needed improvement, has long 
 been apparent to every thinking member of our 
 church. The New Testament contains the princi- 
 ples of all correct church government; but in the 
 formation of a separate and distinct denomination, 
 with a peculiar bond of union, and peculiar princi- 
 
Address before Conference. 409 
 
 pies, certain prudential regulations are essential to 
 the very existence of such an organization, and 
 without these no power can long hold such an or- 
 ganization together. Instance the course pursued 
 by those great reformers of the last century, John 
 Wesley and George Whitfield. Whitfield was Wes- 
 ley's superior in pulpit power and eloquence. He 
 drew larger crowds to Lis ministry than did Mr. 
 Wesley. He and Wesley differed in their religious 
 opinions. One was an Arminian, the other a Cal- 
 vinist. Wesley adopted prudential regulations for 
 , the government of his societies. Whitfield gave to 
 his the Bible without any prudential regulations or 
 bond of union. A century tells the result. The 
 Wesleyans have spread over every christianized land 
 and are numbered in one form or another by hun- 
 dreds of thousands. The followers of Whitfield 
 have dwindled down to less than half a dozen inde- 
 pendent congregations in England. 
 
 Our fathers attempted an organization after the 
 Whitfield model. Our preachers were zealous, earn- 
 est, godly men — many of them eloquent and pos- 
 sessed of great power in the pulpit, but thfeir labors 
 are not now seen for the want of prudential regula- 
 tions, government and discipline. They were great at 
 entering the forest, felling the great trees, cleaning 
 up the undergrowth, the thorns and briars, fallowing 
 the rough land, sowing the seed and rejoicing in the 
 growing crop ; but they did not harvest the fruit of 
 their labors — they gathered not the crop. Others 
 
 26 
 
410 Address before Conference. 
 
 gathered the fruit of their labors in part, and much 
 was wasted and lost. 
 
 This constant scattering and wasting of our labors 
 led to the formation of the Southern Christian Asso- 
 ciation in 1847, and the Southern Christian Conven- 
 tion in 1856, and the first attempt at government, 
 was adopted by the latter; meagre and imperfect 
 as it was, it was better thati nothing. 
 
 The late Convention has attempted to perfect as 
 near as possible that which was commenced in 1856. 
 And in doing this, they propose to chatge entirely 
 the basis for government then laid down, in one 
 essential particular. Heretofore the idea has pre- 
 vailed among us that a local church was the highest 
 tribunal among us, and all regulation and govern- 
 ment, before adoption, had to be ratified by the local 
 churches, as the highest tribunal and only organiza- 
 tion known among us as possessing any power. The 
 annual Conferences and Conventions have been con- 
 sidered merely advisory bodies. Experience has 
 taught us that this principle is wrong. The Quad- 
 rennial Convention should be the highest tribunal 
 known to the church. Our local churches are com- 
 posed of all who, by the exercise of repentance 
 toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, are 
 regenerated and made children of God. Many, 
 and may I not say a majority, of the membership 
 of our churches are incapable of understanding the 
 principles of church government; many are uned- 
 ucated, and while they are good men, such as we 
 delight to receive to our fellowship, they are wholly 
 
Address before Conference. 411 
 
 incapable of looking beyond their own immediate 
 locality and cannot coaiprehend the science of gov- 
 ernment either in church or State, and yet these 
 have been our judges in all the great movements of 
 the denomination. Every individual member of a 
 local church has certain rights which should be ac- 
 knowledged and respected by the body; every local 
 church has certain rights which belong to it as an 
 organization which should be acknowledged and 
 respected by the Conference ; and every Conference 
 has certain rights which should be recognized and 
 respected by the Convention. But in becoming a 
 member of the church, each individual sacrifices a 
 portion of his previous rights to the church ; the 
 church does the same in its connection with the 
 Conference, and the Conference does the same in its 
 connection with the Convention. There must there- 
 fore be power in a church, power in a Conference, 
 power in a Convention. In all general measures 
 in which the whole connection is interested, the 
 churches should advise, the Conferences recommend, 
 and the Convention order. Things which concern 
 an individual member of a church alone, he may 
 decide for himself; things which concern an indi- 
 vidual church alone, may be decided by the church ; 
 and things which concern the Conference alone, may 
 be decided by the Conference. But that which con- 
 cerns the whole denomination must be acted upon 
 and decided by the highest tribunal— the Conven- 
 tion. To submit to the local churches the recom- 
 mendations of the Convention is as if the United 
 
4X2 ArrtTREss BEFOKE Confeeencb. 
 
 States Senate should submit its doings to the county 
 courts for their examination, ratification or rejec- 
 tion ; or the Sopreme Court of the United States 
 sending its decisions to a single magis'trate or the 
 mayor of a city, to be examined and adopted or 
 rejected. Our chtrrches must have power to enforce 
 discipline and good government in the body ; our 
 Conferences must have power to make their own 
 rules and see that they are enforced ; and the Gen- 
 eral Convention must have power to decide all ap- 
 peals from the chttrches and Conferences, and the 
 decision of the General Convention must be final. 
 The General Convention must be the acknowledged 
 highest tribunal. This change in our polic}' of gov- 
 ernment has been made in the improved form of 
 government, which has been devised and adopted 
 for the rule and regulation of our denominational 
 interests. I think that every reflecting man among 
 us, who has a correct idea of government, will con- 
 cur in the plan adopted by the May Convention. 
 
 The General Convention also devised and adopted 
 a plan for uniformity in our religious services and 
 manner of worship. The necessity for something 
 of the sort has long been apparent, especially to the 
 ministry. In our public services on the Sabbath 
 there has always been considerable uniformity, but 
 in scarcely any other particular. The ordination ser- 
 vices of Elders and Deacons have differed in differ- 
 ent Conferences and churches, and even the com- 
 munion and baptismal service have not been uniform. 
 Scarcely any two ministers use the same marriage 
 
Abdre«s before Conperencb. 413 
 
 eereinooy, and we have never had a burial service 
 of our own. Those of our preachers who use any 
 service in the burial of the dead are dependent 
 upon other denominations for a suitable service. 
 This has always been to us, denominationally, hu- 
 miliating. The Convention, looking to our wants, 
 has devised and adopted such a Directory for wor- 
 ship as, I think, will give satisfaction to our whole 
 brotherhood, and I do most heartily advise its use 
 by all our ministers. 
 
 The action of the Convention as before given has 
 been a step in the right direction, and if generally 
 adopted, as I have reason to believe it will be, will 
 mark a new era in our history, and the future will 
 reveal to us ^ prosperity and success that we have 
 scarcely dared to hope for. 
 
 The plan for a publishing house, and the rais- 
 ing of funds for that purpose, is most earnestly 
 recommended to the consideration and patronage of 
 this body, and the ministers and churches compris>- 
 ing this Conference. 
 
 Let me most solemnly invoke union and harmony 
 in carrying out the plans which have been devised- 
 Let no captious or contentious spirit be indulged, 
 cultivated or encouraged by any, but rather let all 
 labor for the unity of the spirit in the bonds of 
 peace. 
 
 There is a subject which I want to bring promi- 
 nently before this Conference at the commencement 
 (Of its labors. 
 
 In our plan of organization it is made the duty 
 
414 Address befobe Conference. 
 
 of every church to procure its own pastor on such 
 terms as he and they may agree upon, the amount 
 of salary to be paid quarterly by the church. It is 
 the duty of the pastor to minister to the church and 
 congregation in spiritual things, taking the over- 
 sight of the flock ; to see that the church is well 
 ofBcered and its business transacted properly and 
 promptly ; that proper discipline is observed ; the 
 ordinances attended to; the Sabbath School sus- 
 tained, and faithfully to attend to all the duties of 
 his office. 
 
 It is the duty of the church so to minister to the 
 temporal wants of the pastor as to free his mind 
 from worldly care and anxiety, that he may give 
 himself whollj'^ to the work of preaching and Jabor- 
 ing for the welfare of the church and the good of 
 the community in which he lives. A preacher 
 should be a man of one work, that is, one species of 
 work. So taught the Apostles, and so ought we to 
 feel and believe ; and ministers should govern them- 
 selves accordingly. 
 
 Is this the course which has been pursued in this 
 Conference by churches and pastors, people and pas- 
 tors ? Such has not been your course, and the bitter 
 fruits of departure from scripture teaching on this 
 subject is being experienced by us. 
 
 No denomination can succeed, no church can 
 grow and prosper destitute of an efficient ministry. 
 Is our ministry efficient? Can it be efficient under 
 the present arrangement? Let thinking^ observing 
 men answer the question. 
 
Address before Conference. 415 
 
 What avails our annual gatherings, our resolu- 
 tions, our reports on Sabbath Schools, Temperance, 
 Education and other important subjects, when we 
 have not efficient pastors to push these things at 
 home? 
 
 But with whom is the fault? with the ministry or 
 the laity? I answer that both parties are to blame 
 for the present state of things, which is threatening 
 our very denominational existence. Nine out of 
 ten of our ministers have become secularized. We 
 have ordained them to plow, to hoe, to sell goods, 
 to practice medicine, to teach school, and follow 
 other secular pursuits, making preaching a secon- 
 dary matter altogether — seeking first the things of 
 the world and afterward the kingdom of God; thus 
 inverting the command of the Master. Why is 
 this ? Most of the preachers are ready to reply, from 
 necessity. And in many instances it would be a 
 correct answer, but not in every case. The truth 
 is, our preachers have been too willing to become 
 secularized — too ready to turn aside from their le- 
 gitimate work. They have coveted the wealth and 
 riches of the world, and have engaged too readily 
 in worldly pursuits. Our young men have been iii 
 too much haste to become the head of a family, to 
 become husbands and fathers, and to grow rich in 
 worldly pursuits. Our older men have become 
 weary and grown superannuated in their own esti- 
 mation too soon. Grey heirs have scarcely adorned 
 their brows ere they have become too old for active 
 work in the ministry. What is the result? We 
 
416 Address before Conference. 
 
 have quite a respectable number of ordained lay 
 preachers and exhorters, but precious few are the 
 active, good [)astors — men who are giving proof of 
 their ministry and showing themselves approved of 
 God. 
 
 The laity on their part have withheld from their 
 pastors their dues, and thereby forced the pastors to 
 this course. 
 
 The pastors have never seen their churches prop- 
 erly organized, have never pressed the duty of giv- 
 ing upon the laity, and the laity have been slow to 
 learn without a teacher, and thus things have gone 
 on from year to year, until we find ourselves upon 
 the very verge of dissolution. 
 
 Am I making the picture too dark ? Do I not 
 know that not a few of the most intelligent laymen, 
 and the most promising ministers of the denomina- 
 tion are already casting around in their minds for 
 a home among some other people? 
 
 Look around you. Nearly all those who are called 
 pastors are farmers, merchants, teachers, or are fol- 
 lowing some other calling for a living.' They do 
 not look to the ministry for a support, but they are 
 unwilling to give up preaching altogether. They 
 crave some sort of a charge. They find some church 
 willing to employ them because they work cheap. 
 Some of their charges pay them not a cent ; some a 
 few dollars and a few bushels of wheat or corn. 
 They go monthly to their appointments — working 
 with their hands until late Saturday afternoon, ride 
 to the church on the Sabbath, preachy and scarcely 
 
Address before Conference. 417 
 
 take time to have their horses fed, before thej' are on 
 the way to their homes so that they and their horses 
 may be in their farms on Monday mornings at six 
 o'clock. They never visit the members of the churchy 
 never see them when they are sick, or encourage them 
 when they are weak ; are not present at the burial of 
 their dead, and county justices solemnize their mar- 
 riages and pocket the fees. Is it strange that our 
 preachers m^ke uO improvement in preaching? Is 
 it strange that many of our preachers do not preach 
 as well now as they did ten and twenty years ago? 
 For no pay and poor pay, they give their congrega- 
 tions poor preaching, and often no preaching at all. 
 
 Can any church prosper under such a regime? 
 Brethren, it is the providence of God alone that has 
 preserved us from oblivion, with such arrangements. 
 
 But what do you advise? This question may 
 have been silently propounded. I advise, that first 
 of all, your Missionary Committee be chosen and 
 composed of the best and most active Elders and 
 Laymen, or if deemed better, let a special committee 
 be appointed for this purpose to examine into the 
 condition of all the churches, and those who have 
 not secured efficient pastors be aided At once by the 
 committee. Let districts be laid out, and then in- 
 vite the ministers to leave their ploughs, their work- 
 shops, their counting rooms, and other kinds of 
 secular pursuits, and enter actively into the work of 
 preaching and building up the waste places of Zion. 
 Let all the churches be properly organized, and 
 every member assessed according to his ability to 
 
418 Address before Conference. 
 
 pay, and let the churches see the preachers giving 
 themselves to the work, and they will be more dis- 
 posed to give to their support. If any of our lay- 
 men are too stingy to give, let them be tried by the 
 church for covetousness, which is idolatry, and be 
 brought to repentance, or thrust out of the church. 
 And those preachers who give secular pursuits the 
 preference, and will not give themselves to the work, 
 should be content to occupy retired and nominal 
 positions among the Elders of the church. Having 
 taken to the plough, let them live by the plough, or 
 to the yard stick and measure, let them live by these 
 things. 
 
 And yet it is a fearful thing to contemplate a man 
 called of God to the high and holy work of the min- 
 istry to turn aside, of choice, to serve tables — serve 
 the world and seek its riches ! 
 
 But, says the '^minister, what am I to do? No 
 place is made for me — nobody invites me. I am 
 not appreciated. Go, my brother, and seek a place. 
 Go preach and be in earnest about your work, and 
 invitations will be plenty. Show yourself a work- 
 man that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing 
 the word of truth, and you will be appreciated. Do 
 not sit down and smoke, and eat, and grumble, and 
 complain until you get yourself in a bad humor 
 with all the world, and become discouraged and 
 give up. Do no such thing. Up, and at your work. 
 All the cities, towns, and the whole country is be- 
 fore you. Be willing to work, and somebody will 
 
Address before Conference. 419 
 
 employ you. Be willing to preach, and a floor will 
 be opened for you. Try, and prove these words true. 
 
 Brethren, a crisis is upon us. A most critical and 
 trying period has been reached in our history. We 
 cannot, we must not falter. We must prove our- 
 selves men in this trying season — men equal to the 
 emergency. Begin from this very moment to weigh 
 and discuss the subject before us. Lay aside all 
 selfishness and sectional feeling, and come up to the 
 work before you. Take no time to smoke and crack 
 jokes, and tell tales, and enjoy social life, until every 
 church has been supplied with an efficient minister, 
 and our brethren in the ministry have been induced 
 to come out of their tobacco barns, their cotton gins, 
 and wheat fields, their counting rooms and other 
 places of hiding from the Lord, and are willing to 
 once more shoulder the cross and with the sword of 
 God's word in their hand, go forth to fight the bat- 
 tles of the Lord of Hosts. 
 
 I hope that I will not hear brethren talk about 
 being compelled to go home until the work of this 
 body has been done and well done. Let no one 
 think of leaving this place until after the Sabbath. 
 I fear, my brethren, that the ourse of God has rested 
 upon the labors of many of our Conferences and 
 Conventions, because we have violated God'^s holy 
 Sabbath by traveling a part or all the way home 
 on that sacred day in order to save a day in the 
 next week for secular labor. Just as well plough or 
 hoe on the Sabbath to save a day as to travel on 
 that day to save time for work in the week. For 
 
420 ANNIVER6AEV SeRMOST. 
 
 one time, brethren, let us resolve to stay until our 
 work is done, and whether done or not, not to vio- 
 late God's eominand by starting home on the day 
 which God commands us to keep holy and not to 
 profane by any kind of labor, except works of neces- 
 sity and mercy. 
 
 These thoughts are presented to you in the spirit 
 of love and with a burning desire to aid our good 
 cause. My all has been invested in the Christian 
 ■Church, and I have long since determined to swim 
 or sink with her. With this feeling, I cannot be 
 otherwise tlian earnest in my efforts to promote her 
 interests. 
 
 May the Lord Jesus, our Head and Lawgiver, pre- 
 side over ns, and by His Holy Spirit direct us in 
 our labors, so that all may redound to the glory ol 
 God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, forever.' 
 
 Anniversary Sermon 
 
 Delivered in Suffolk Christian Chureli, 1876. 
 
 " Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shen 
 and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying. Hitherto hath the Lord 
 helped tts." 1 Samuel 7: 12. 
 
 It was a happy day for Israel when the memorial 
 stone inentisned in the text was set up. For more 
 than twenty years Israel had been tormented by the 
 Philistines. Their fields had been laid waste, and 
 their possessions destroyed. Their men of war had 
 
Anniversary Sermon. 421 
 
 been slain or captured, and made slaves. Their 
 strongholds had been taken, and with fire and sword 
 their country had been overrun. 
 
 Israel became penitent, and felt that their sins 
 had caused these judgments to come upon themv 
 And they appealed to Sanauel the prophet to inter- 
 cede with God in their behalf. 
 
 Samuel assembled all the tribes of Israel at Miz- 
 peh, subjected them to a season of fasting and humil- 
 iation, and caused them to offer a propitiatory sacri- 
 fice. And while thus engaged, their attention was 
 suddenly att. acted to an approaching army. The 
 Philistines were marching upo'n them in battle 
 array. The people of Israel were entirely unarmed 
 and defenseless. And down upon them in their 
 powerless condition their enemies came, threaten- 
 ing them with entire annihilation. They prayed, 
 and the Lord heard them — the Lord al ways hears 
 prayer^and he appeared in their behalf and for 
 their relief- An angry storm-cloud suddenly arose, 
 thunders roared, the forked lightnings flashed, and 
 the fiery thunderbolts leaped upon the armies of 
 the Philistine host, and amid terror and dismay 
 they threw down their weapons and fled in great 
 confusion from the field; and Samuel seeing their 
 flight as the storm subsided, and their arms upon 
 the field, commanded the Israelites to seize upon 
 their arms and chase them. They pressed upon the 
 fleeing Philistines and utterly destroyed them with 
 their own arms. 
 
 To commemorate this merciful and timely deliv- 
 
422 Anniversary Sermon. 
 
 erance — the help from above and the glorious vic- 
 tory — Samuel erected a memorial stone between 
 Mizpeh and Shen where the victory was won, and 
 called it Ebenezer — the Stone of Help. 
 
 Just as Samuel, the servant of the Lord, erected 
 this stone commemorative of Divine help, so ought 
 we, as servants of God and disciples of Jesus, to set 
 up from time to time our Ebenezer; to commemo- 
 rate the events of our lives when mercy and good- 
 ness have been manifested to us. 
 
 We have all passed through emergencies and en- 
 dured sore trials. To some of these I would direct 
 your attention tonight. 
 
 1. There is an Ebenezer which they ought to set 
 up who have passed through sore pecuniary trials 
 and have been helped. Set up your Ebenezer and 
 declare " Hitherto the Lord hath been with us." 
 
 2. There is an Ebentzer for the children of sorrow 
 and affliction to set up — a sorrow you saw coming — 
 when mother died, when father died — when your 
 dear child was dying. The Lord helped you — come 
 and set up your stone. 
 
 3. There is an Ebenezer for the tempted and tried 
 one. You had well nigh slipped but the Lord de- 
 livered you. Sing to-night, 
 
 " 'Tis ofrace has brought me safe thus far, 
 And grace will load me home," &c. 
 
 And set up your stone and call it Ebenezer. 
 
 4. There is an Ebenezer for the faithful toilers who 
 are working for Jesus, We have toiled long. Oh 1 
 
Anniveesary Sermon. 423 
 
 can we not say tonight, "Hitherto hath the Lord 
 helped us." 
 
 This church — the assembly of believers that wor- 
 ship statedly at this place, would, to-night in its 
 15th anniversary, set up its stone, call it Ebenezer, 
 and declare " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 
 
 Some facts connected with the establishment of 
 this church and its subsequent history will show 
 how much reason we have for feeling that " Hith- 
 erto hath the Lord been with us." 
 
 In mentioning these facts, my hearers must par- 
 don allusions to myself. I have been so closely con- 
 nected with all the history of the church that I can 
 scarcely separate myself from the facts which I 
 would bring out on this occasion. 
 
 I came to Nansemond county early in the year 
 1846, now thirty years ago. I was then a mere 
 stripling, without a name, without influence, and 
 without a Collegiate course of educational training — 
 thought to have weak lungs, and presented but little 
 promise of a long life or any great degree of use- 
 fulness in the world. 
 
 At this time there were two Christian chufches in 
 the county — Cypress Chapel and Holy Neck. Beth- 
 lehem church was organized by me the succeeding 
 year. 
 
 I became a permanent resident of Suffolk in 1850. 
 
 The propriety of erecting a house of worship in 
 the town was discussed soon after I came here. But 
 the work was deferred until 1859, the main reason 
 
424 Anniversary SERMoNi 
 
 being that my time was completely absorbed in my 
 work in the surrounding country. 
 
 A society was organized at my residence on Kilby 
 street in October, 1860, composed at first of 22 mem- 
 bers. 
 
 This house was completed and consecrated on the 
 2d Sabbath in March, 1861— this day fifteen years 
 ago. 
 
 Five weeks after the dedication war was declared, 
 and the whole country was thrown into the greatest 
 confusion and disorder, and anarchy prevailed all - 
 over the land. 
 
 Services were continued by the present pastor un- 
 til Suffolk was occupied by Federal troops in May, 
 1862, and then by my brother, who was assisting me 
 that year until November, 1862, when he followed 
 me into the Confederate lines and the house was 
 closed, the bell hung quietly in its place, and no 
 longer invited worshipers to the house of prayer; 
 the spider wove his web from corner to corner, and 
 the green grass and the thrifty weeds grew up to 
 the very steps of the door. At the time the doors 
 were closed our membership had increased to thirty- 
 one, and about half this number followed the for- 
 tunes of the Confederacy and became soldiers and 
 refugees in the Confederate lines. 
 
 When the war was over. * * * * 
 
 My return. **>«*** 
 
 Opening the house of worship anew in May, 
 1865 ******** 
 
 The revival of August, 1865 — 77 converts — 25 
 
Anniversary Sermon, 425 
 
 additions to this church. Many converted at this 
 meeting are now prominent members of the other 
 churches in town. 
 
 Of the first 22 members of the church, 7 have 
 gone home to the better land. One has severed her 
 connection with the church — the others remain. 
 
 Of the 25 who joined the church from the revival 
 August, 1865, 16 have stood firm, and are now mem- 
 bers, and 9 have returned to the world. 
 
 During the 15 years of our existence 370 persons 
 have been converted here — 265 have been received 
 into the fellowship of the church — and about 105 
 have been converted at this altar who have found 
 homes elsewhere. 
 
 19 have died — 62 have removedor joined other 
 churches — 17 have been expelled — making 98 in 
 all. The present number of members is 167. 
 
 Of the 6 ministers present at the dedication, 3 
 are gone. 
 
 Only 1 member of the choir who sung on that 
 occasion is with us. 
 
 We reared our temple here fifteen years ago, and 
 dedicated it to God, and all holy and sacred purposes, 
 with Christ as our Head, Christian our only name, 
 the Bible our only creed, Christian character our 
 only fellowship, and private judgment and liberty 
 of conscience our privilege. And what I said 
 then, I now repeat : Our purpose is not to interfere 
 with other denominations, but to live in peace and 
 cultivate fraternal feelings, not to seek profit by others' 
 reverses, to grow strong only as other grow weak ; 
 27 
 
426 Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 
 
 but to advance as the enemy of souls recedes; to 
 gather fruits from our own earnest, faithful labors, 
 and be rewarded for spiritual- mindedness and self- 
 consecration to God's cause. We desire, most sin- 
 cerely, to live in loving accord with all whose pur- 
 pose it is to honor God ; to become fellow-laborers, 
 helpers in every moral and benevolent enterprise, 
 and especially in the work of saving souls and ad- 
 vancing the cause of our Redeemer. 
 
 Let us, then, in view of God's goodness to us, be- 
 cause he has helped, blessed us, erect hereto-night 
 our own memorial stone, Ebenezer — and declare 
 " Hitherto hath the Lord been with us," and as we 
 gaze upon our memorial stone, let us " thank God 
 and take courage." 
 
 Note. — The blanks left in the preceedhig sermon, were filled 
 ' by the speaker, with well-chosen, vigorous, extemporaneous 
 thoughts. These cannot, of course, be reproduced ; but as we 
 glance over the vacant spaces, let us think of the author as we 
 have heard him in some of his best efforts, in his own happy 
 style, delivering a most impressive, edifying sermon, and we 
 shall not fall far short of a true estimate of its merits, as the 
 writer heard it. — R. H. H. 
 
 Dedication of Pope's Chapel, 
 
 In Franklin County, North Carolina, November 21, 1875. 
 
 Christian philanthropy, Christian love, and Chris- 
 tian enterprise, in the years gone by, erected in this 
 grove, and on this eminence, a house of worship, 
 and generation after generation have here assembled 
 
Dedication op Pope's Chapel. 427 
 
 to pay their vows and their adoration unto the Most 
 High. This union in worship has begotten and 
 cultivated holy emotions in the bosoms of many who 
 have passed beyond the river and are resting on the 
 other shore, and it is still a centre from which irra- 
 diates spiritual light, health, life and peace. 
 
 The Christian Church and congregation at pres- 
 ent worshiping here, seeing their old house of wor- 
 ship crumbling with age, and becoming unsightly 
 and uncomfortable, conceived the idea of erecting a 
 new and more beautiful house for the Lord, and for 
 their comfort in worship and work for Him. Their 
 labors have been blessed, and the purpose of their 
 hearts have been crowned with success, and here 
 stands a new and beautiful house, and this opening 
 service has been arranged for the purpose of solemnly 
 consecrating it to God, and all the holy objects con- 
 templated in its erection. 
 
 'Tis the blessed Sabbath day of the Lord ; 'tis the 
 rest-day of all his people. The spring and sum- 
 mer have come and gone, and autumn, with its fading 
 and falling leaves, standing on the heels of stern 
 and cold winter, is upon us, and I have come from 
 my distant home to join in these holy exercises with 
 the brethren around me. How all our hearts should 
 swell with emotion, and how brightly our counte- 
 nances should shine, as we stand, and sit, and kneel 
 together in the consecration service ! 
 
 The sentiment from God's word, selected for this 
 deeply interesting occasion, is taken from the Proph- 
 ecy of Haggai, second chapter and 9th verse : " The 
 
428 Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 
 
 glory of this latter house shall be greater than of 
 the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this 
 place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." 
 
 Of Haggai, through whom God spake these 
 words to his peculiar people, but little is known. 
 He has ever been regarded one of the minor proph- 
 ets—was probably born in Babylon during the captiv- 
 ity of Israel, and seems to have been the first prophet 
 sent to the Jews after their return from captivity. 
 His mission was to encourage the people of Israel 
 to proceed with the re- building of the Temple, which 
 had been interrupted and delayed, and to assure 
 them of the near approach of the day of the Lord, 
 and the ushering in of a dispensation of grace and 
 peace. 
 
 Cyrus, who had issued an edict allowing the Is- 
 raelites to return to their native land and re-build 
 the Temple in Jerusalem, which Temple Ezra and 
 Nehemiah had commenced, after two years revoked 
 that edict, and for fourteen years that Temple stood 
 still and its partially erected walls crumbled, and the 
 wild weeds sprand up upon the ruins thereof, and 
 the owl and the bat made it their place of habita- 
 tion. 
 
 When Darius, the successor of Cyrus, came to the 
 throne he gave the Jews permission to go forward, 
 but they were dispirited and disheartened, and 
 hesitated. 
 
 God appealed to them through Haggai and said 
 chap. 1, 4th verse : " Is it time for you, ye, to dwell 
 in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste ?" 
 
Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 429 
 
 Of the second house he said, its glory shall be 
 greater than that of the former Temple. 
 
 And in this place, says God, I will give peace. I 
 enquire 
 
 Why should it be greater ? 
 
 Or why its glory greater ? 
 
 Because God promised that in it he would give 
 peace — that in this latter Temple to be erected, 
 which should in time be completed and then beau- 
 tified and adorned by Herod, the Redeemer's feet 
 should stand, and in it His voice should be heard 
 proclaiming salvation and peace — peace between God 
 and man ; between man and his fellows, and peace 
 to every disconsolate spirit. 
 
 The glory seen in Jesus, as he stood in the Tem- 
 ple, and the divine purity of his teachings, did in- 
 deed outshine the glory of anything before seen in 
 the Temple. 
 
 I would now lay down these positions in the ap- 
 plication of the subject : 
 
 L The beauty and glory of every Temple of wor- 
 ship consists in its being erected according to God's 
 plan and will. 
 
 II. In the presence of God in His Temple. 
 
 III. In the spirit in which worshipers enter. 
 
 IV. In the peace which should ever be found 
 among the worshipers. 
 
 HOW SHALL THIS PEACE BE FOUND? 
 
 1. By cultivating a spirit of love, one for another. 
 
 2. By working together in co-operatioa. 
 
430 Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 
 
 3. By having respect to one another's rights^-by 
 seeking agreement in essentials, and practicing for- 
 bearance one toward another in unessentials. 
 
 4. By each one's Walking closer with Jesus, and 
 living in holy communion and fellowship with Him. 
 
 Whoever walks with Jesus, walks in love, walks 
 in humility and walks in peace. 
 
 direct application. 
 
 This has been long a place of worship. It is per- 
 haps the oldest place of worship in all this section 
 of country. For a full century this has been a place 
 for the meeting of the Lord's people. The first 
 house of worship was probably erected for the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. Bishop Asbury, in his 
 journal, mentions a visit to this place, and of his 
 preaching here before the Christian organization 
 had an existence. The lot of land on which the old 
 and this new house stands was given to the adhe- 
 rents of Mr. Wesley by a gentleman named Pope, 
 and the house of worship received the name, Pope's 
 Chapel, after the donor of the land upon which it 
 stood. 
 
 When James O'Kelly and those acting with him 
 seceded from the Methodist Episcpal church in 1792, 
 the Methodist society at this place went with the 
 seceders, and it is understood that the Christan so- 
 ciety was formed here under the ministry of the 
 sainted O'Kelly. 
 
 Plow interesting is the thought that the feet of 
 Francis Asbury and James O'Kelly have stood on 
 
Dedication op Pope's Chapel. 431 
 
 these grounds, and Ihey have walked about in this 
 grove, and these old trees have waived their branches 
 over the heads of these great men. In this grove 
 their voices have been heard — Asbury in his soft and 
 silvery tones, and O'Kelly in his burning eloquence 
 and natural logic. Here O'Kelly won souls for his 
 Master, and here he held up high the banner of the 
 cross of Christ, and gloried in the name of his Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 I first heard of Pope's Chapel when a boy of thir- 
 teen years. Then the good John P. Lemay was the 
 preacher here, and in this community he lived, hon- 
 ored and respected by all. 
 
 I first came to this place in the Spring of 1855, 
 and in conference with brethren discussed an im. 
 portant enterprise from early afternoon until the 
 dawning of the next day, when an agreement was 
 reached, which resulted, I trust, in much good to 
 the church. 
 
 Scores and hundreds who have worshiped iu 
 yonder old house have passed over the river of death, 
 and are on the other shore forever happy. They 
 await the coming of their descendants who still 
 worship here. In yonder old house hundreds have 
 bowed at the altar and received pardoning mercy, 
 and the spot will ever be dear to them — dear to them 
 on earth and dear to them in heaven, dear to them 
 to all eternity. 
 
 And now, brethren, you who are to be regular 
 worshipers here, love one another, grow in grace, be 
 wise and good and great. Study to keep up with 
 
432 Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 
 
 the age in which you live, and remember that we 
 live in an era of progress and improvement. Do 
 what you can, do it faithfully. 
 
 And may the glory of this new house excel in its 
 beauty and splendor the glory of the former house. 
 For the purpose of promoting the interest of the 
 Redeemer's kingdom on earth has this house been 
 erected, and may it here long stand, and be rever- 
 enced as God's house. 
 
 Behold this new edifice, beautifully pleasant, well 
 built, tastefully ornamented, and an honor to the 
 community. 
 
 And now as we come here and gather around and 
 enter this house, let it ever be considered a holy 
 place. 
 
 Let this pulpit be sanctified for the diffusion of 
 the truths of God's word. 
 
 Let this altar be for us a meeting place with God. 
 
 Let these pews be used for holy meditation, spir- 
 itual aspiration and pure thoughts, and for listen- 
 ing to God's word faithfully preached. 
 
 Let this house be used alone and exclusively for 
 religious service and the worship of Jehovah. 
 
 Let no political meeting ever here assemble, and 
 no secular business ever here be transacted. 
 
 Here may believers in Christ and lovers of Jesus 
 meet and worship the Father in spirit and in truth. 
 
 Here, may the stranger find a home ; the bur- 
 dened heart find relief, and all who trust Jesus find 
 rest. 
 
 And here may our children and children's chil- 
 
Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 433 
 
 dren, meet to' worship our common Father and be 
 happy. 
 
 And here may love and union ever prevail among 
 all the followers of the blessed Saviour. 
 
 May this building, these grounds, these oaks 
 around the house, and every thing hereabouts ever 
 be considered sacred. 
 
 And in stepping upon these grounds may we feel 
 that they are holy, and on entering this house, may 
 worldly thoughts, worldy cares and worldly anxie- 
 ties depart from us, and may the meditation of our 
 hearts, the desire of our souls and the aspiration of 
 our minds all be heavenly and pure. 
 
 [Let us all now arise and stand before the Lord, 
 while we give this house which we have erected to 
 Him.J 
 
 And now most solemnly do we dedicate this house 
 to God, the Father, Almighty, the only living and 
 true God. 
 
 We dedicate it to His supreme and unrivaled 
 majesty; to His paternal love; to His free grace; to 
 His supreme worship. 
 
 We dedicate it to the Lord Jesiis Christ, the only 
 begotten Son of the Father; the "manifegtation of 
 God in the flesh ; the only Mediator between God 
 and men ; to the memory of His dying love ; to the 
 celebration of His divine perfections ; to the preach- 
 ing of that gospel which He sealed with His blood, 
 and confirmed by th'e resurrection from the dead. 
 
 We dedicate it to the Holy Ghost, the regenera- 
 ting and sanctifying power, emanating from the 
 
434 Dedication of Pope's Chapel. 
 
 Father and the Son ; to those heavenly influences 
 which bring back the rebellious sons of men to the 
 smiles of a Heavenly Parent ; to those celestial visi- 
 tations which communicate peace, joy and strength, 
 to the devout soul. 
 
 We dedicate it to the cause of Christian liberty 
 and the right of private judgment; the union of all 
 the followers of Christ, under the one Divinely .ap- 
 pointed name ; to social worship ; the keeping of the 
 ordinances; to religious intercourse; to the commu- 
 nion of saints. 
 
 We dedicate it to Christian morals ; to social or- 
 der; to diffusive benevolence ; to universal good 
 will. 
 
 We dedicate it to those solemn warnings, affec- 
 tionate entreaties and persuasive arguments by 
 which perishing sinners are won from error's ways 
 and brought back to a Father's house. 
 
 We dedicate it to the precious promises of the 
 gospel, which pour consolation into the pious soul 
 and lightens the burdens of human woe. 
 
 We dedicate it to the hope of a blessed immortal- 
 ity in that bright world of glory where one eternal 
 day of rest, and peace, and joy are experienced. 
 
 We dedicate it to the great work of preparing the 
 soul for that eternal state of blessedness, and for 
 nearer approaches to God its maker. 
 
 We dedicate it to God the Father, to Jesus the 
 Saviour, to the Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier, now and 
 forever, and let all the people of God respond with 
 devout hearts and grateful emotions : 
 Amen and Amen. 
 
Letter fRom Rev. S. S. Barrett. 435 
 
 Letter from Rev. S. S. Barrett. 
 
 Norfolk, Va., Feb. 7th, 1881. 
 
 Rev. J. W. "Wellons, Franklinton, N. C: 
 
 Dear Brother : — Yours to hand informing me 
 you were preparing a book containing sketches of 
 the life and labors of your brother, Rev. Wm. B. 
 Wellons, deceased, and you would like for me, as one 
 among the oldest ministers in the Eastern Virginia 
 Christian Conference, of which he lived and died a 
 worthy and useful member, to furnish you with a 
 short sketch of his life and work for your book, and 
 I here comply with your request. 
 
 I knew Rev. W. B. Wellons from a child up to 
 his death. He was an obedient child and grew up 
 an humble, inoffensive, unassuming man. In his 
 early life, he became convinced that it was his duty 
 to serve God, and he sought and found peace in be-, 
 lieving in Christ. And in reading God's word he 
 became satisfied that it was his duty to do what he 
 could to build up the cause he espoused. Therefore 
 he commenced using his talents in prayer and ex- 
 hortation at meetings held in the neighborhood, 
 where he was raised. My father, Rev. Mills Barrett, 
 thought with myself there were signs of his becom- 
 ing a useful man among us. But he was quite 
 timid, and we had to stimulate him all we could to 
 get him to take up his cross and go forward to work 
 in the vineyard of the Lord. And as the Confer- 
 ence sustained him iu his efforts, he took courage 
 
436 Letter from Rev. S. S. Barrett. 
 
 and pressed forward with great energy, and showed 
 signs of great usefulness in all his efforts to do good. 
 I remember one circumstance that took place shortly 
 after he entered the ministry, that gave evidence of 
 his deep piety and sweet communion with his God. 
 We were attending a protracted meeting at Cypress 
 Chapel, Nansemond county, Virginia. On one oc- 
 casion Rev. Wm. R. Stowe preached to a large, atten- 
 tive congregation, and after the sermon I called on 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons to lead in prayer, and while 
 praying he became so completely carried away under 
 the influence of the Spirit, that he almost lost use of 
 himself and had to be taken from the house by 
 friends and placed in a carriage, where he lay for 
 sometime apparently unconscious. The good Lord 
 blessed his labors in the commencement of his min- 
 istry, and continued with him to the end of his 
 work. 
 
 In his early ministry he was taken sick while 
 attending one of his appointments at Providence, 
 Norfolk county, Virginia, and came to our house, 
 where he was confined to his bed for nearly two 
 months, and a portion of the time we expected him 
 to die, and his labors cut short. But God had more 
 work for hini to do and spared his life for many 
 years. And he made a prominent and useful minig- 
 ister in the church. He was a popular preacher, 
 and his popularity and influence was very great in 
 and out of the church wherever he labored. He was 
 engaged in every enterprise where he thought he 
 could accomplish good ; for to do good was the 
 
Letter ekom Rev. S. S. Baeeett. 4S7 
 
 delight of bis life. We were frequently together, 
 and all our social meetings were generally exceed- 
 ingly pleasant, and we always agreed in our views 
 in relation to the interest of the church, as well as 
 in the social relations of life. 
 
 On his return from Old Point during his last 
 affliction, I met him at Brother A. L. Hill's, in Nor- 
 folk, when he said to me, " Cousin Stephen, (for we 
 were cousins,) I have made all my arrangements 
 that I want carried out when I die." He said he 
 thought the nature of his disease was such that he 
 could not live long, and " I want you with other 
 ministers and brethren to be present and a'ssist iii 
 my burial." After I went home he was too feeble 
 to attend to his churches and he wrote me that he 
 wished to see me. I went to see him and he re- 
 quested me to preach at his church in Suffolk for 
 him, and I did so until Conference, when he gave up 
 his pastoral work, and lived only a few months 
 longer. 
 
 In my visits to him I always found him calm, 
 reconciled to the will of God, waiting patiently for 
 the summons. And when he died, I complied with 
 his request and attended his funeral and acted as a 
 pall-bearer with others, as he requested, and assisted 
 in conveying his body to the tomb, where he is rest- 
 ing from his labors and his works do follow him. 
 
 S. S. Bareett. 
 
438 Letter from J. E. Brush. 
 
 Letter from J. E. Brush. 
 
 New York, Feb. 20, 1881. 
 Rev. J. W. Wellons : 
 
 Dear Sir : — Feeling a deep interest in the work 
 of fraternal love which you have undertaken, I 
 would like to add a leaf for the memoir, drawn from 
 personal recollections of your distinguished brother, 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons, D. D. 
 
 We met for the first time in the year 1850. He was 
 passing through our city on his way to Marion, N. 
 Y., to attend a religious Convention in which he felt 
 sufficiently interested to leave his Virginia home for 
 a season to attend it. The acquaintance then formed 
 soon ripened into a personal friendship which lasted 
 till he was called from earth to heaven. It embraced 
 twenty-five years of the most eventful history that 
 our beloved country ever experienced ; it arrayed 
 section against section, first in a war of words, which 
 finally culminated in the dreadful four years of war 
 and carnage. While both of us maintained our 
 convictions as to the merits of the national strife, it 
 did not interrupt our personal friendship ; he was 
 always a welcome guest at my house, and one of my 
 most valued friends and correspondents. I cannot 
 soon forget the sadness of our last parting in New 
 York, six weeks before the war commenced ; refer- 
 ring to the subject then uppermost in all minds, he 
 said, "I am loyal to Virginia if she stays in the 
 Union, I shall be glad and will stay with her, but 
 if she goes out of the Union, my fortune being wed- 
 
Lettee prom J. E. Brush. 439 
 
 ded to her, I shall go too." We parted to meet no 
 more till that " cruel war was over." It was not 
 long after mail communications were re-established 
 that I again heard from him, and soon enjoyed the 
 pleasure of greeting him in New York. His errand 
 was to obtain assistance to -repair the wastes of the 
 conflict which had left the South in a deplorable 
 condition. He seemed to take in the situation at 
 once, and said the citizens of the Southern States 
 should set to work immediately to repair their shat- 
 tered fortunes. Setting the example, he took upon 
 himself labor sufficient to employ the time and at- 
 tention of two men. After a few years, excessive 
 labor began to make heavy inroads on his excellent 
 constitution. One day he came to New York physi- 
 cally exhausted, and said he must drop the cares of 
 business and seek rest. In a few days the quiet repose 
 of our home life produced a surprising effect upon 
 his health and spirits. It was when the members of 
 our family circle could say, 
 
 " Now from labor and from care 
 Evening hours have set me free," 
 
 that we most enjoyed his society. He entertained us 
 with reminiscences of his experience as army mis- 
 sionary in the war, and other adventures during 
 those four eventful years. When the time came, for 
 his departure, he expressed his gratification with his 
 visit, how much he had enjoyed it, and expressing 
 the hope that we would visit Suffolk and partake of 
 the hospitality of his home. That was the last time 
 
440 Letters prom Friends. 
 
 I ever saw him ; in less than two years, he passed 
 from labor and toil to the rest which remaineth to 
 the people of God. 
 
 With my best wishes for your success in perpetu- 
 ating his memory, 
 
 I remain fraternally yours, 
 
 J. E. Brush. 
 
 Letters from Friends. 
 
 H. H. Hines, Esq., of Jackson, Mississippi, Secre- 
 tary of the State Council Friends of .Temperance in 
 that State, says: 
 
 It is with a sad heart that I read this morning a 
 notice of the death of dear Dr. Wellons. Truly 
 hath it been said that " death loves a shining mark;" 
 and that he is " no respecter of persons." If such 
 were not the case, this great and good man would 
 not now be lying in the cold and silent grave, his 
 heart pulseless, his voice hushed and his eyes closed 
 in death. 
 
 The death of Dr. Wellons is a national calamity, 
 and his loss will be severely felt throughout the 
 borders of our whole country. But his influence, 
 the great good that he has done, will live and be 
 felt and seen for long years to come. Yes, the name 
 of William Brock Wellons can never die. It is 
 firmly enshrined in th& hearts of our people, and 
 generations yet unborn will venerate and cherish 
 his memory as the great " apostle of Temperance." 
 
Letters from Friends. 441 
 
 Last June, ■when the Supreme Council met in 
 Jackson, Mississippi, he, as Grand Secretary, was in 
 attendance, and by his courtly bearing, his polite man- 
 ners and his general Christian-like deportment won 
 the heart of that whole body, and all with whom he 
 came in contact. He seemed to be in fine health, 
 and not one of us expected that he would so soon 
 be called away from his labors to meet his reward 
 in the " bright beyond." 
 
 Notwithstanding! had for several months past been 
 expecting daily to hear of his death, yet when I re- 
 ceived the Friend of Temperance — saw it draped in 
 mourning, and the announcement, " Dr. Wellons is 
 dead," — a thrill of sorrow pierced my heart, and 
 great, briny tears filled my eyes. I loved him be- 
 cause he was a great and good man. I now grieve 
 because he is dead and I can see him no more on 
 earth. Who can fill his place? 
 
 May the flowers ever bloom, the winds blow 
 gently and the birds sing sweetly over the grave of 
 the great Dr. "Wellons. 
 
 Rev. John Goodrich, a minister in the Methodist 
 Protestant Church, of Enfield, N. C, said in the 
 Ghristian Sun : 
 
 REV. W, B. WELLONS, D. D. 
 
 This renowned servant of God was the man who 
 first took me by the hand, led me to the altar of 
 prayer and pointed me to Him that taketh away 
 the sin of the world. It was he who first gave me 
 
 28 
 
442 Letters prom Friends. 
 
 the hand of church fellowship , who took me kindly 
 to his own house when I was but a boy, and gave 
 me good advice and good books to read ; who has 
 continued disinterested kindness towards me from 
 the time of our earliest acquaintance until the close 
 of his life. And oh 1 how my heart saddens and 
 mourns in reflecting that I shall see him no more on 
 earth. But blessed be the Lord for the prospect of 
 meeting him in Heaven to part no more. Ever 
 since I have known Brother Wellons, I could but 
 love him; but I never knew how well I loved him 
 until I heard of his death, which has made a void 
 in my heart the world can never fill. I am per- 
 suaded that I speak the language of thousands when 
 I say he was a great and good man, and has accom- 
 plished a vast amount of good in the world. 
 
 Let a monument be erected to his memorj^, to tell 
 coming generations who and what he was. And let 
 a book be written to tell the world about the toiis 
 and labors of that devoted man of God. So that 
 although gone from earth, his deeds may continue 
 to admonish the world and encourage his thousands 
 of heart stricken friends who are now lameriting 
 their great loss, to imitate as far as possible his al- 
 most spotless life of devotion to his Master's cause. 
 Oh ! bfiloved friend and brother, thou shalt not be 
 forgotten, but shalt live in our memory until heart 
 and flesh shall fail and we meet beyond the confines 
 of time to part no more. 
 
Letter from Rev. R. H, Whitaker. 443 
 
 Letter from Rev. R. H. Whitaker. 
 
 Few men have lived,within the recollection of 
 the present generation, who labored more earnestly, 
 zealously and successfully for the cause of humanity 
 and for the extension and promotion of Christ's 
 kingdom upon the earth, than Rev. William B. 
 Wellons, I>. D., of Suffolk, Va., who departed this 
 life on the 16th of February, 1877. 
 
 The writer knew him well, being for ten years 
 associated with him in the great temperance work, 
 and meeting with him often in the State and Su- 
 preme Councils of The Friends of Temperance, 
 an order of which he was one of the founders and 
 to which he was ardently attached, and for the suc- 
 cess of which he earnestly labored until stricken 
 down with the disease which terminated in death. 
 
 We met Dr! Wellons for the first time, at Suffolk, 
 Virginia, in the year 1868. The State Council of 
 Virginia, and the Supreme Council of the Order of 
 The Friends of Temperance were holding their re- 
 spective sessions there. He was then the President 
 of the Supreme Council, which office he held until 
 that body met in Louisburg, N. C, in 1869, when 
 he was chosen the Secretary, in which position he 
 faithfully served the Order until his death. 
 
 The first public address to which we ever listened 
 from Dr. Wellons impressed us deeply, for it was 
 one of the best we had ever heard delivered by any 
 one upon the subject of Temperance. Unlike mosi 
 
444 Letter from Rev. R. H. Whitaker. 
 
 temperance speakers, he told no anecdotes, but spoke 
 as solemnly and as earnestly as if preaching the 
 gospel of Christ. Indeed, he made it the burden of 
 his addresses to show the close relationship existing 
 between temperance — or total abstinence as a rule — 
 and religion ; and so fervently and earnestly did he 
 impress this idea, he made his audiences feel that 
 it were almost impossible to serve God acceptably 
 and be a habitual, or even a moderate user of ardent 
 spirits. 
 
 It was a difficult task for a speaker to follow Dr. 
 Wellons. When he closed an address nothing re- 
 mained to be said, so completely would he cover the 
 ground. On several occasions, w,e saw eloquent and 
 far-famed speakers completely discomfited in trying 
 to follow him, after he had made one of his solid, 
 serious, religious temperance addresses. 
 
 One of the most impressive addresses we ever 
 heard from Dr. Wellons was delivered at a ses- 
 sion of the State Council of Virginia, at Abingdon, 
 Va.^ some five or six years previous to his death. 
 The writer was appointed to follow him on that oc- 
 casion, and the reader may be assured that he had 
 no easy task. The effect of tlae Doctor's address was 
 manifest as he proceeded, and. at its close, there 
 seemed not lo be an inch of ground for another 
 speaker to occupy. We began, however, by telling 
 a little anecdote, the application of which paid a 
 compliment to the Doctor, and greatly amused the 
 audience. He enjoyed it very much also ; and hav- 
 ing thus relieved the situation of its embarrassment^ 
 
Letter from Rev. R. H. Whitaker. 445 
 
 we managed to make an address that seemed to 
 meet the demands of the occasion. But, we never 
 liked to follow him. 
 
 We afterward heard of that evening's exercises, 
 and the good that was accomplished was mainly at- 
 tributable to the serious, solemn effort of Dr. Wel- 
 lons. 
 
 Dr. Wellons was not what the world would call 
 an eloquent or flowery speaker ; but he was more — 
 he was a successful one, for he always carried his 
 audiences with him, and the reason was, he made 
 every hearer feel that what he said he conscien- 
 tiously believed. 
 
 He was very happy in relating incidents — indeed 
 he had few if any superiors in that line. We have 
 seen him move great audiences to tears by simply 
 relating an incident, which, if it had been told by 
 another, would, perhaps, have had no effect what- 
 ever. 
 
 One of the happiest efforts of his life was in a 
 speech delivered in Fayetteville, N. C, during the 
 sitting of the State Council there, in 1872. The 
 effect of it was perfectly, overwhelming upon the 
 audience, and so different was it from the ordinary 
 temperance addresses to which the citizens of that 
 town had been accustomed to listen, it won scores 
 to the side of Temperance who had hitherto held 
 aloof. 
 
 The last address of his to which we ever listened 
 was delivered in Marion, S. C, during the sitting of 
 the Supreme Council there, in 1875- It was em- 
 
446 "Wak Incident. 
 
 phatically the address of the occasion, notwithstand- 
 ing many other distinguished speakers preceded 
 and followed him. 
 
 We met Dr. Wellons no more after that session of 
 the Supreme Council, though we corresponded fre- 
 quently until near the close of his life. 
 
 As a minister Dr. Wellons enjoyed great popu- 
 larity and was eminently successful in winning souls 
 to Christ. As a temperance worker, in which field 
 of labor we "knew him best, he was zealous and ar- 
 dently devoted. As an editor he was a model. In 
 fact, in whatever field he entered he did his work 
 well, fiut bis life-work is ended, and he has gone 
 hence to be seen no more among men. Neverthe- 
 less he liveth ; for his works do follow him, and 
 eternity only can tell the full measure of his use- 
 fulness. 
 
 Rev. W. B. Wellons, D. D. 
 
 An Incident oi the War. 
 
 The Rochester Morning Herald, in giving an ae- 
 count of the reunion of the Third New York Cav- 
 alry, which took place on the 14th of June, 1881; 
 says: 
 
 " Col. Simon Mix was killed June 14, 1863, in 
 front of Petersburg, and bis body fell into the hands 
 of the rebels. He was recognized as a Free Mason, 
 by a ring which he wore ;. and the Rev. W. R Wei- 
 
War Incident. 447 
 
 Ions, who was Chaplain on General Lee's staff, caused 
 the body to be enclosed in a handsome casket and 
 forwarded to the regiment. This act of kindness 
 was appreciated. From the acquaintance thus 
 formed, a strong friendship grew up between the 
 Chaplain and some of the officers which lasted until 
 the present time." 
 
 This incident is only one of a mighty multitude 
 in which the lamented Wellons displayed a kind- 
 ness of heart, devotion to the happiness of his fel- 
 lowmen and faithfulness to obligations possessed by 
 few ; and is another proof of the fact that acts of 
 kindness are never lost, though done even to ene- 
 mies. Of this act of kindness to strangers and faith- 
 fulness to Masonic obligation, the great majority of 
 Dr. Wellons' friends and acquaintances would, in all 
 probability, have died ignorant but for the account 
 of the reunion of the Third New York Cavalry pub- 
 lished in the Rochester Morning Herald, and the 
 mere accident by which that paper fell into our 
 hands. 
 
 No doubt scores of such acts performed by him 
 are still unknown to us ; but heaven has kept the 
 record, and he is now reaping his reward. To a 
 number of the members of the aforesaid regiment a 
 copy of this paper will be sent, and for their infor- 
 mation we publish the following : 
 
 Dr, Wm. B. Wellons is no more among mortals. 
 After several months of suffering, from consump- 
 tion, he passed quietly to the spirit world on Friday 
 eveniAg, February 16th, 1877, in his fifty-sixth year. 
 
448 War Incident. 
 
 He had been a faithful and eflScient minister of the 
 gospel for more than thirty, and the Editor-in-chief 
 of this paper for more than twenty-six years. For 
 a time during the war, extending to its close, he was 
 Editor of the Army and Wavy Messenger. 
 
 His death was as triumphant as his life had been 
 useful. He left a widow, one daughter, two grand 
 children, one brother, two sisters and other relatives 
 to mourn their loss. — Christian Sun.