Cornell University Library BX 8495.M479F55 1889 John B. McFerrin :a biography /by O.P. F 3 1924 010 118 374 A Cornell University y Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92401 01 1 8374 JOHN B. McFERRIN A BIOGRAPHY. BY O. P. FITZGERALD, D.D., Editor of the Christian Advocate, SSztli Thossaad. Nashville, Tekn.: Publishing House op the M. E. Church, South. J. D. Barbee, Agent. 1889. Entered, acconling to Act of CoiiKiess, in the year 18S8, BY J. A. McFERRIX, in tlie oflice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. NOTE. Considerations sacred and imperative have in- duced the writer of this Biography, busied and bur- dened with official labors that engross his time and heavily tax his strength, to hasten in its preparation beyond his first intention. His supreme purpose has been to make such a book as virould glorify God and do good, while fulfilling a friend's request and dis- charging a labor of love. (3) CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE PROLOGUE r I. NATIVITY AND ENVIRONMENT U II. A GENEALOGICAL GLANCE 15 III. LOVE, EMIGRATION, AND WAR 22 • IV. A GREAT CHANGE 28 V. THE BOY CHRISTIAN 33 VI. THE MARTIAL METEMPSYCHOSIS 39 VII. GREEN AND McFERRIN 45 VIII. ADMITTED INTO THE. CONFERENCE 50 IX. HIS FIRST CIRCUIT 55 X. HIS SECOND YEAR 69 XI. AMONG THE INDIANS 62 XII. PREACHES TO WHITE PEOPLE AGAIN 71 XIII. A STATIONED PREACHER 76 XIV. A RISING MAN 80 XV. GOES TO NASHVILLE 86 XVI. ANTITHETIC EXPERIENCES 93 XVII. AN UNEXPECTED TURN 104 XVIII. RIDING THE CUMBERLAND DISTRICT 109 XIX. GEN. JACKSON AND THE PREACHERS...,. J 1.5 XX. BECOMES AN EDITOR 118 XXI. UNDER FULL HEADWAY 129 XXII. BELLIGERENT AND MOVING 137 XXIII. TRIPOD, PULPIT, AND PLATFORM 14() XXIV. THE METHODIST CATACLYSM 1.53 XXV. DISPUTING, PREACHING, TRAVELING 159 XXVI. AT THE LOUISVILLE CONVENTION 171 i6] 6 CONTENTS. CHAP. PACiB XXVII. EDITING, FINANCIERING, FIGHTING IWl XXVIII. THE NEW REGIME 20.: XXIX. CONVERSION OF PRESIDENT POLK 219 XXX. THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE _ 22:) XXXI. THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR 233 XXXII. VIEWS, DOINGS, JOL'RNEYINGS 2W XXXIII. A BRIDAL TOUR, AND OTHER THINGS 257 XXXIV. ROUGH TIMES 2G7 XXXV. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1866 288 XXXVI. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1870 292 XXXVII. MEASURES AND MEN 29.5 XXXVIII. RUNNING NOTES 303 XXXIX. TWO ORATORS ON THEIR METTLE 309 XL. WITH THE VIRGINIANS IN 1858 317 XLI. AFTER MANY DAYS 321 XLII. A GENEALOGICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA 326 XLIII. THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S HERO 331 XLIV. HIS ANTAGONISMS 335 XLV. WITH THE BOYS IN GRAY 340 XLVl. DR. McFERRIN AS BOOK AGENT,.... 357 XLVII. McFERRIN'S GREAT BOND CAMPAIGN 363 XLVIII. AT THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE 368 XLIX. AT THE CENTENARY CONFERENCE 376 L. HIS LAST GENERAL CONFERENCE 384 LI. GROWING CHARITY 392 LII. IN THE FIRES 401 LIII. DOWN-GRADE AND UP-GRADE 407 LIV. SUNSET FLASHES .'. 413 LV. SAFELY LANDED 419 LVI. BISHOP McTYEIRE'S FUNERAL SERMON 435 PROLOGUE. TO a great figure perspective is helpful; to a small one it is fatal. Distance symmetrizes and smooths the one, but practically annihilates the other. McFerrin will not lose by the perspective. He tow- ered the peer of the greatest men of his day, and he will always hold a front place in the picture the Church his- torian will paint of the stirring times in which he lived and acted his part. The foot-prints of a giant will be seen by those who in coming generations shall trace his life, and at least the anatomy of a mighty frame will be left to posterity. Whether they will see the contour and color of life and feel the heart-throbs of the living man depends mainly on what is here written. A phonograph is needed to bring back McFerrin's tones, as well as his words; the soul of the man flashed forth in inflections, cadences, and trumpetings that left the earth forever when he died. No one who once met him can ever forget him; one who never saw him can never fully know him as he was. The effects of his peculiar oratory may be described, but who can tell its secret? It is buried with him. He was altogether original. No homiletical professor will ever hold him up as a rhodel ; all his imitators will fail. Nature never duplicates its productions. Grace molds every regener- (7) 8 PROLOGUE. ated soul into the image of Christ, but no man is ever modeled into the exact likeness of another. McFerrin influenced multitudes, but begat no spirit- ual or natural son in his own image. As well expect the reproduction of the megatherium of the tertiary period in this year of our Lord 1888 as another man like McFerrin. His like will be seen no more among us, but his tracks were made in the plastic season of American Methodism, and when the moist clay of con- temporaneous knowledge shall be hardened into his- toric stone the student of Church history will say there were giants in his day. And the student of compar- ative ecclesiology at that future time, finding even a fragment of the life or speech of this typical Method- ist, will be helped in his effort to discover what sort of men were they who planted the gospel west of the Al- leghanies, and under w^hose lead Southern Methodism gained nearly 600,000 members in the two decades ex- tending from 1866 to 1886. The preparation of this biography was undertaken at the request of Dr. McFerrin himself. Several years before his death he said to me: "There seems to be some expectation that my life shall be written after I am gone. I feel imw^orthy of such special remem- brance after death; but should my life be written, my wish is that, if you outlive me, you should be the writer." In his last will and testament this request was repeated in a more formal manner, and his papers were accordingly jjhiced in my hands. PROLOGUE. Three of the requisite qualifications for the per- formance of my task I may claim: genuine affection for my honored friend, the intimacy of a long and un- broken friendship, and general agreement of opinion concerning the doctrines, polity, and usages of the Church of which we were fellow-members. It may be that some temperamental contrasts between my glo- rified friend and his biographer may not prove a dis- advantage; the law of the affinity of opposites is no new thing to the thoughtful reader. If some were more alike they would be wider apart. But m.y work is done, and whether well or ill done, it speaks for itself. It was written while the echoes of McFerrin's living voice were still sounding in my ears, and while from day to day, forgetting for the moment that he was gone, I listened for his familiar footfall. At times it has seemed to me that his fatherly presence was at hand, and that the lips that had so often spoken to me in words of wise counsel and kindly admonition whispered to me to be faithful to truth as well as to friendship as I penned these chapters. This has been my aim, knowing that I shall meet both my friend and my book at the judgment-day. O. P. Fitzgerald. Nashville, 1888. S^i^-^ NATIVITY AND ENVIRONMENT. "T)ORN in a cane-brake and cradled in a sugar- -L/ trough " was- the sententious account given of his nativity and early environment by the subject of these chapters. In Rutherford County, Tennessee, on the 15th day of June, 1807, a boy-baby was born. He was of unusual size, healthy, but not pretty, except to the eyes that looked upon his large, uneven features in the trans- figuring light of maternal love. That he was not weak-lunged or lymphatic in temperament was doubt- less demonstrated very soon. That he liked to have his own way, and was apt to get it, -wns not less evi- dent. But he was too sound in his bodily make-up to be cross, and too good a sleeper to wear out the young mother by keeping her awake o'nights. He was of Scotch-Irish blood. The best of this blood is very good — the worst is as bad as Satan would have it. Its cal- endar of militant saints is long and glorious; its muster- roll of great sinners is not short. The McFerrins were of this peculiar stock. The very name has the Celtic ring. One curious and expert in etymology might find in it the clannishness of a warlike, iron-handed race. The family came to America not, as did the defeated and broken-down Cavaliers, to get away from debt at home, or to repair their broken fortunes ; or, as did the Puri- tans, to worship God as they pleased, and to make other (11) 12 JOHN B. McFERRIN. people do likewise. They came because there was to them a fascination in the largeness and liberty of a new world. That there was a spice of adventure and dan- ger in it was perhaps another attraction to these inquis- itive and daring people whose God is the God of bat- tles. They are great fighters. When a battle is going on you will find them on one side or the other. Neu- trality is not possible to them. In the presence of a foe they kindle, they strike, they keep striking. Whether on the march, psalm-singing as they went, to battle for Kirk and country in the Old World, or to encounter the savage Indians and wild beasts amid the forests and cane-brakes of America, they are the same undaunted, unconquerable race. Tennessee owes much to the Scotch-Irish pioneers who w^ere among its first settlers. Robertson, Jackson, and Polk and Bell were of this lineage. They had their faults, but these faults were associated with splen- did virtues. They would fight "at the drop of a hat;" they were horse-racers, they were adepts at an off-hand profanity remarkable for its emphasis and rhetorical ring; they were cock-fighters and card-players. On the other hand, they exhibited such magnificent courage that they have made heroism fashionable among their descendants unto this day. They had such a high stand- ard of veracity that the slightest imputation of falsehood was cause for deadly combat. To give the lie was the same as to give a blow. Their personal honor was so ingrained and so fortified by family tradition and public sentiment that, whatever might be the bitter rivalries and fierce passions evoked by partj' strife, peculation or corruption in official life was scarcely known. They were a fiery, free-and-easy, sport-loving, gallant people. N ATI V ITT AND ENVIRONMENT. 13 When these hot-blooded, hard-headed men took to re- ligion they did not go at it in any half-way style. In that day the Church and the world were farther apart than they are now. Whether God or Satan was chosen, the service was hearty. The Calvinistic theology dom- inated. It was no rose-water system. Its God hated sin with a perfect hatred and dealt sternly with sinners. The men and women molded by it were strong and steady, with heavy Rembrandt shadows in the back- ground of their natures. Their belief in the divine sovereignty had fatalism enough in it to give them a power of endurance and a perseverance under difficul- ties that fitted them for the part they took in the subju- gation of the wilderness and the founding of new States. The granite of their composition was hard ; it only took a higher polish from the attrition under which a softer material would have crumbled. All honor to those grand old Calvinists! Their theology has been largely modified by a sunnier and, as we think, a truer view of God and the gospel ; but it was the stock upon which was grafted the system which has borne the sweetest blooms and richest fruits in this western garden of the Lord. Though it fought Methodism at first with the fierceness of honest hatred of heresy, it gave to it much of what w^as best in its own system, and happily modi- fied tendencies which, if left unchecked, might have led to disaster. Arminian and Calvinistic theology hap- pily reacted on each other at that early day, and both are better for it now. The women at that day were better housekeepers than theologians. They knew how to cook, wash, iron, weave, quilt, milk the cows, ride horseback, manage the garden, and cut and make all sorts of clothing. Of 14 JOHN B. McFERRIN. course they knew all those little arts and winning ways that are instinctive to their sex. But they had no time or inclination for polemics. While their husbands, brothers, and sons, in and out of the. pulpit, were giv- ing and taking hard knocks in doctrinal debate, they kept the social life of the times sweet with their wom- anly ministries, their patience, their tenderness, and their charity. They were not lacking in strength of character, but it was in their homes that they ex- pended their life-force. Their affections were not frittered away in the vapid conventionalities of fash- ionable city life. They were keepers at home. They took time to read the Bible, to teach the catechism to the children, white and black, and to go to church once a month, more or less. They were free from most of the diseases that result from luxury and irregular habits of living, and were the healthy mothers of healthy children. They possessed the elements that make hero- ines, and many of them were heroines without know- ing it. They were unknown to the rostrum and to the newspaper; they made no books, thej' wrote no poems; they left no written record of their lives. But these healthy, home-loving, sweet-souled women were none the less efficient co-workers with the men of their time in laying broad and deep the foundations of the institu- tions, civit and religious, that are the priceless inherit- ance of their posterity. It was into this society and amid these conditions that the large-framed, large-featured child whose life we are to portray was born on that summer day eighty years ago. A GENEALOGICAL GLANCE. (To be skipped if you will.) THE McFerrins emigrated from Ireland to America about 1750. They settled in York County, Penn- sylvania. The family connection consisted of three brothers and their young families. The descendants of one of the three removed to the western part of that State. The Rev. Dr. McFerrin, an able and respected minister of the Presbyterian Church, lived for many years near Pittsburgh. William McFerrin, the grand- father of John B. McFerrin, removed to Augusta Coun- ty, Virginia, in 1765, where he was married to Jane Laughlin. John Laughlin, the father of James, was married to Jane Matthews, and was reared within two miles of Belfast, Ireland. They emigrated to America in 1753) ^"'^ settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His son James married a Miss Duncan, and the grand- mother of John B. McFerrin was one of their numer- ous offspring. These Duncans indulged a pardonable pride in a family tradition that they were remotely con- nected with the once royal family of Scotland. (The most democratic of Americans are seldom indifferent to the fact of having a noble ancestry.) The Laughlins and Duncans became numerous fami- lies, and intermarried with the Singletons, the Kings, the Sharps, the Prices, the Vances, the Berrys, the Youngs, the Porters, and many others. The Laughlins were noted for their muscular strength and courage. These qualities were highly valued at (15) 16 JOHN B. McFERRIN. that day, and many striking incidents were related con- cerning these strong and dauntless people. One of these was the grandmother of J. B. McFerrin. She was small of stature, weighing only one hundred and ten pounds, but was a woman of extraordinary bodily strength. She became the mother of nine children, all of whom lived to reach maturity and developed into re- markable physical vigor. Some of this Laughlin fam- ily became noted, also, for their intellectual power and culture. There seem to be remarkable exceptions to the law that unusual brain power is to be looked for in connection with a vigorous fhysique, but the law holds good in general. The sound mind is found vvrith the sound body. The human being is a unit, and all its faculties and powers are correlated and interdependent. It is not an unwise or heartless thing to inquire into the physical as well as the moral soundness of the family with which you may become allied by marriage. Pas- sion will not pause to consider this question in most cases, but rushes blindly on to secure its object, leaving future generations to pay the penalty. Martin McFerrin, who was captured by the Indians when a lad and kept as a prisoner for several years, be- longed to a branch of the family that removed from Pennsylvania to Virginia and located near the present site of the town of Fincastle. He was finally rescued, and became a popular and influential man in Virginia, representing his county for many years in the General Assembly! From this branch of the family sprung a numerous posterity, who are scattered through Kentucky, Missouri, and Colorado. To this branch belonged Judge William McFerran, of Glasgow, Kentucky, and his son, the late Gen. McFerran, of the United States army. A GENEALOGICAL GLANCE. 17 (This way of spelling the family name was adopted in accordance with the American custom of naturalizing names, as we do the owners of them in our own way. ) The grandfather of John B. McFerrin at an early age entered the Army of the American Revolution. He was one of the bold and hardj' band who, at the bat- tle of King's Mountain, broke the backbone of the Brit- ish invasion of the Carolinas, and prepared the way for the glorious end of tlie great struggle for liberty at Yorktown. It was the valor and unflinching fortitude of these men that beat back the heavy onsets of the British regulars, led by the brilliant and ill-fated Fergu- son, who fell with his cause on that bloody day. This McFerrin followed the banners of Washington and Greene against the British, and under Col. Christy had also a taste of Indian warfare. When the war ended he married a blooming maiden and settled in South- western Virginia, locating a farm on the banks of the beautiful Holston River, about nine miles from the town of Abingdon. The soil w^as rich and the country new and romantic. He erected a comfortable dwelling in the old solid style, and it is still standing in a good state of preservation, though nearly a hundred years have elapsed since it was bixilt. Here the father of John B. McFerrin was born, and received the name of his maternal grandfather — James. The nine children, of whom mention has already been made, were all born on this Holston farm. In that new country educational advantages were limited. Families lived so far apart that schools were few, and in most cases the teachers were poorly paid, and of course were not distinguished for scholarship or skill. The peda- gogue who could " cipher " as far as the Single Rule of 2 18 JOHN D McFElili/A'. Three in DaboU's Arithmetic was a prodigy in the eyes of many of his patrons, among whom he boarded around, and by whom he was regarded as half-monitor and half- mendicant. It was a teacher of this type who threat- ened to flog a pupil for leaving the " t " out of the word " which " in his copy-book ! Now and then a man of a different sort would be found in these wilds teach- ing the children of the pioneers. Educated Irishmen, . exiled for political offenses, or self -expatriated from other cavises, penetrated into these distant regions and opened schools in which many distinguished men got their first lessons in learning. They were stern and ex- acting pedagogues. In the corner behind their desks they kept a number of hickory or gum switches — not for ornament, but for use. The frequency and vigor with which they wielded these disciplinary instruments was in many cases made the measure of their popularity with their patrons, who believed in no mild theory of government, human or divine, and with whom obedi- ence to rightful authority was the chiefest of virtues. There w^as no little tyranny and brutality in some of these schools, but somehow they managed to mold man- ly men and modest women. The religious privileges of these Holston pioneers were superior for the times. The family resided near the famous " Green Spring Meeting-house," erected by the Presbyterians, where they had a regular ministry and able preaching. The Bible was their one book, and it gave tone to their thought and shaped their lives. They believed in election and predestination, in a real heaven, and a real hell. They believed in chastity, debt-paying, reciprocal neighborliness, and in standing up manfully for one's opinions and rights. The Church A GENEALOGICAL GLANCE. 19 was the great conservator of the moral Ufe of the com- munity. Their children were baptized and faithfully catechised. Pastors and parents believed what they taught, and thus were able to impress upon the plastic mind of the young that faith in the supernatural, that reverence for sacred things, that sense of accountability to God that gave strength, stability, and dignity of char- acter. The standard of morals was high. If classical scholars were few, grown men and women who were ignorant of the fundamental principles and facts of Christianity were fewer still. The Bible m their homes broadened and sweetened their lives, and was the torch that lighted the march of civilization in its westward course. May its light never be quenched in the homes of their children to the latest generation ! This grandfather was a farmer, and bred all his sons to the same calling ; and all his daughters were married to farmers. He was a man of medium size, about five feet ten inches high, weighing about one hundred and sixty pounds. His florid complexion, blue eyes, and auburn hair attested his pedigree. He possessed good common sense, his general reading was considerable, and he was particularly well read in the Holy Scriptures, being a Presbyterian of liberal views. He lived to be ninety years old, and died in the State of Mississippi.; Will- iam, the second son, was a man of great physical strength. In his old age he became very religious, was licensed to preach, and died in the faith. Burton L., the third son, after living many years in Tennessee, removed to Missouri, where he became an active and prominent member of the Methodist Church. He was roughly treated during the late war, and his son, an excellent young man, was murdered without provocation — one of 20 JOHN D. McFERRIN. the many shocking and inevitable episodes of a conflict in which the political blunders and evil passions of two generations came to their disastrous culmination. Tab- itha was married to Burton L. Smith, a devout Chris- tian and an ardent Methodist. Eleanor D. was married to Cullen Curlee, Esq., an excellent man. They be- came Baptists, and honored their Christian profession by their godly lives. Mary was married to Poston Sto- vall. She was a beautiful and cultured woman who died in the bloom of young womanhood, leaving a small family. The father of John B. McFerrin was the first son and second child of his parents. He w^as born in 1784, and was married on his twentieth birthday to Jane Campbell Berry, who was two years younger than him- self. She was the youngest of eight children, the daugh- ter of John Berry and Jane Campbell. The Campbells were an extensive family from Eastern Virginia, and were related to Col. Campbell of King's Mountain ce- lebrity. Jane Campbell Berry was also born on the banks of the Holston River, at a place afterward known as Berry's Iron Works, about three miles from the birth- place of her husband. Her father was connected with a large family, and possessed the remarkable physical strength which was a family characteristic. He was a zealous Presbyterian, and a ruling elder in the Church. His wife's widowhood lasted more than thirty years. She lived to be more than ninety years old, and was at last buried in the same grave with the husband of her youth. She reared eight children, who took respectable positions in society. They were all married; the first- born of each family was a son, and his naine John Berry. The Berry family of course became numerous, and are A GENEALOGICAL GLANCE. 21 scattered widely. They may be found in Virginia, Ten- nessee, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and California. Sallie was married to John Gilliland, and became the motlier of a large family of sons and daughters. One of her sons, the Rev. Samuel Gilliland, became a useful minister in the Methodist Church, as did also one of her grandsons. Two great-uncles of John B. McFerrin — James and Andrew — settled at an early day in East Tennessee, near the Virginia line, where they reared large families, some of whose descendants remain in Tennessee, while others removed to the South and West. In Oregon and Illinois are descendants of this branch of the Mc- Ferrin family. A great-aunt married a Martin, from whom sprung the families of the Rev. Thomas Martin and the Rev. Patrick Martin; both were Methodist preachers, and both died in Robertson County, Tennessee. This genealogical glance shows a prolific, sturdy stock, full of vitality, addicted to fighting, praying, and matrimony. LOVE, EMIGRATION, AND WAR. CLEAN-LIMBED, athletic, about five feet ten inches high, with ruddy and clear complexion, blue ej'es, and reddish hair, when James McFerrin cast ad- miring glances upon the gentle and affectionate Jane Berry, he was not repulsed. They were born for each other — the bold and fiery soldier, and the quiet, trusting maiden. The wooing was in the good old country fashion — solitary walks on the hills, or along the banks of the sparkling Holston, or galloping over the rude highways with the mountain breezes in their lungs, the glory of nature around them and its voices mingling with the music of young love in their happy hearts. He wooed her in manly fashion and won her. They were married — he being twenty years old, and she eighteen. There is no record of the bridal festival; the bride's trousseau was not described by any newspaper reporter of that day; but we may be sure there was a joyful wedding at her home and an equally joyful " infair " at his, with abundant feasting, merry games, and shy jokes at the expense of the blushing, smiling couple. And we may believe also that a mother's tears, the crystal drojDS from love's sacred font, bedewed the fair young head in that glad yet solemn hour when the bride went out from the old home to meet what might fall to her lot in the wide, cold world. A tide of emigration was then moving westward, as it is still moving now. The energetic young hvisband, (22-) LOVE, EMIGRATION, AND WAR. 23 James McFerrin, caught the prevailing impulse. He had heard of Middle Tennessee — its rich lands, its noble forests abounding in wild game, its beautiful streams teeming with fish. He proposed to go and try their fortunes in this new field ; and the young wife, as was her way, yielded to his wishes. They were soon ready and on the march. The journey was made on horse- back, his little stock of ready cash in his pocket, and their worldly goods taking up no more room than can be found in a portmanteau, or one of those packages in which a woman can stow away such incredible quanti- liep of things solid and things hollow, things square and things round, things tough and things brittle, things useful and things otherwise. That was a bridal tour for you ! It is to be hoped that the season was mild and the weather fair. The route they took lay along the banks of the ever-beautiful Tennessee River, in sight now and then of the great Smoky Mountains, looking dim, distant, and weird through the gaps of the Cum- berland and Clinch ranges; and for w^hole days through almost unbroken forests where towered the majestic yellow poplar, the monarch of the Southern woods, with the oak, the hickory, the chestnut, and endless un- dergrowth and wild flowers of bewildering variety, from the snow-white dogwood blossoms to the glowing red Indian pink that lent its modest gayety to the scene. The world was before them, and love and hope were in their hearts. The hardships and dangers they encount- ered spiced their journey with a fresh fascination. She had confidence in her husband, and he relied on his own brave heart and stalwart arm. Descending the steeps of the Cumberland Mountains, the young couple came to the waters of Stone's River. 24 JOHN B. McFERRIN. Struck by the advantages and attractions of that region, here they stopped and set about making a home in the wil- derness. Bubbling springs and running streams abound- ed, the virgin soil was rich, and the country was abun- dant in undeveloped resources. There were but few settlers, and neighbors were few and far apart. The first thing to be done was to build a house. It did not take long to do it. The logs were cut and hewed, a day was set for the " raising," the neighbors gathered in force with their axes, saws, hammers, and before the setting of the sun the walls were erected, the clapboard roof put on, and all made ready for the daubing, floor- ing, and chimney. These house-raisings were great oc- casions in the new settlements in those days. A dinner of barbecued meats was usually one of its features, and a pleasant one to hardy, healthy woodsmen, whose ap- petites did ample justice to the brown, crisp, and juicy shoats, the fat and tender venison, the young lambs and plump yearlings roasted over the glowing coals in the trenches. It was not uncommon on such occasions to have other and stronger drink than the sparkling spring water and fresh, cold buttermilk. Total abstinence from strong drink might have had here and there a solitary adherent, but the drinking of ardent spirits was a universal custom. A capacious jug of whisky from the nearest store or still-house would be set in the midst, and its corn-cob stopper withdrawn and replaced with great frequency during the day. It was seldom that anybody got drunk, but everybody became lively as the jug got lighter, and now and then a weak-headed fellow showed that he had taken more than he could decently carry. House-raising was not easy work, but these backwoodsmen had such abimdant energy and mingled LOVE, EMIGRATION, AND WAR. 25 SO much good humor and fun with their labor that they did not mind it, and their redundant spirits were exhib- ited at the close of the day in trials of strength and agility in wrestling, running, and leaping. The " best man " in these contests was proud of his honors, and was only second to the best marksman with tlie rifle as a neighborhood hero. In all these accomplishments James McFerrin was proficient. He could shoot, wrestle, run, or jump with the best ; and he soon won the esteem and goo J-will of his neighbors. There was also a dignity of presence and a prompt and incisive way with him that inspired respect and confidence. The young couple from Vir- ginia soon got a footing in their new home. The cane- brake was cleared, the farm was fenced, and the tasseled corn took the place of the wild pea-vine and the sweet honeysuckle; and they settled down to housekeeping, a healthy, hopeful, and happy pair. If they lacked the luxuries they might have enjoyed in an older commu- nity, they had large compensations in the freedom and freshness of their fives in their new home on the banks of Stone's River. James McFerrin was a pretty good farmer and a bet- ter hunter. He was, as already intimated, an expert ri- fleman, and could bring down a bear or deer at long range, or knock a squirrel from the top of the tallest tree. When a call was made for volunteers to fight the In- dians, his bold and ardent nature made him one of the first to take the field. He was chosen captain of a com- pany raised in his neighborhood, and learned what were the real hardships of soldier-life in a march to Natchez, Mississippi, to which point he was ordered. Soon after 26 ' JOHN B. McFERRIN. his return from this expedition to the South, trouble broke out with the Creek Indians, who were then close and dangerous neighbors, and he again entered the field. He exhibited notable courage and skill in this campaign, and won the confidence and special commendation of his fiery chieftain, Gen. Andrew Jackson, afterward President of the United States. The Creek War ended, and Capt. McFerrin resumed the peaceful life of a farmer. But the military spirit within him was not quenched. Military glory was the aim of all ambitious souls in those w^arlike times. The State militia was a very different thing then from what it became afterward ; and so w^hen Captain McFerrin rose to be Major, and then Colonel, these increasing honors showed that he was looked upon as a man among men. The associations of military life were not favorable to religion. Profanity was looked upon almost as a sol- dierly accomplishment, and examples in high places were not wanting to give countenance to this and other sins that were regarded as venial. His early religious im- pressions, if not obliterated, were greatly weakened. The life he lived was not favorable to the acquisition of j)roperty. The loss of time in the militia musters, the purchase of costly uniforms, the claims of a generous hospitality — all made drafts upon the proceeds of the Stone's River farm ; and so it happened that, as Col. McFerrin rose in reputation, he rather sunk in fortune. What cared he.? Freedom, honor, manly sports, and robust health were the things he prized, and these he had. If others were willing to slave and stint and grab for money, let them do so ; they were welcome to all they got. He preferred a grand militia parade to a finer house, an exciting hunting part}- to an extension of his LOVE, EMIGRATION, AND WAR. 27 farm, and the glory of being the bravest rather than the richest man of his neighborhood. Perhaps his choice was not wholly unwise. There are better things than money for a possession and to be transmitted to poster-- ity. If this soldier had had a greater love of money his elder children would have been more liberally edu- cated and exerted a wider influence upon the world — perhaps. Money has ruined more boys than it has re- dly helped in life's battle. A GREAT CHANGE. THE Methodists had found their way to Middle Ten- nessee, and at this time — 1819 and 1820 — a great religious excitement pervaded that part of the State. Col. McFerrin had strong prejudices against the Meth- odist people, of whom he knew but little except by hear- say. They were not seldom made the subjects of his sarcastic remarks. In this he was no worse than others of that day, when the odium theologicutn was bitter be- yond what we can now reajiee. Methodism was a storm- rocked child in this land where it is now so great and strong. Though far from being a Christian, the doughty Colonel retained his early-taught belief in the Bible and respect for religion of the Presbyterian type. A camp-meeting was held by the Methodists at Salem, not far from Col. McFerrin's. The name then truly described these peculiar gatherings — they were camp- meetings. A spacious bush arbor was constructed in the midst of the forest, usually near a cool spring of water; rude seats were provided; log-cabins or cloth tents were erected, and the people from far and near came in wagons, carry-alls, barouches, and gigs, on horse- back and on foot. These crowds sometimes were num- bered by thousands, attracted by curiosity or impelled by the mysterious impulse that sometimes moves the popular heart so strangely and unaccountably in times of religious excitement. - Col. McFerrin attended the Salem camjD-meeting, (28) A GREAT CHANGE 29 drawn thither with the crowd. The wave of spiritual excitement rolled high. The preaching was of a kind he had never heard before. That son of thunder, Thomas L. Douglass, was then in his prime. His direct and burning appeals to sinners were irresistible. There were others of the same spirit who, as soldiers of the militant Church, demanded immediate and unconditional surrender to Jesus Christ. The power of God was manifest. The stoutest sinners felt it, and many stub- born hearts were melted and subdued. An arrow reached the heart of Col. McFerrin. He felt that he must yield or fly. Awed, agitated, alarmed, the awak- ened, but still resisting, soldier mounted his horse and galloped homeward. But he found no relief in flight. The pains of hell had gotten hold on him. He w.as a convicted sinner, and in vain did he seek to banish the impression made upon his mind. "Now or never," said a voice within him. Reining in his horse, he paused in the road, and then and there decided the question of all questions. He surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the surrender was complete. His conversion was sudden and thorough — after the type of those marvel- ous times. He turned around and galloped back to the camp-ground, a changed man. He was not slow in tell- hig what the Lord had done for his soul, and we may imagine the sensation produced by the conversion of this stout, fiddling, profane, hospitable, popular sinner. Who can estimate the conseqtiences of his visit to Sa- lem Camp-ground? It tuimed from its former channel a life that drew after it a series of influences that are still widening in their sweep, and which can be fully measured only when " the day " shall declare all things. The converted soldier went home and told the won,. 30 JOILV D. McFERIilN dering family of the great change that had come upon him, and on that night he held family prayer for the first time. The erection of that family altar was a de- cisive movement, commiting the new convert fully to his new life in the presence of the dear ones at home. If all heads of families would do likewise, how many homes, now spiritually barren, would bloom out in all the blessedness of family piety! The conversion of the other members of the family quickly followed. The quiet, loving, faithful wife felt her heart strangely stirred, and the two older sons — John and William — knelt at her side as penitents. Soon they were all converted, and it was a joyful household. Though his former predilections were all in favor of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was reared, Col. McFerrin, after due deliberation, united with the Meth- odists, and thenceforward never wavered in his devotion to Methodist doctrine, polity, and methods. When Methodism is thus grafted on good Presbyterian stock you have almost the ideal Christian character — the stead- iness and solidity of the one type, and the spontaneity and warmth of the other. (Perhaps this would work just as well in reverse order.) Two w^eeks after the conversion of the mother and two sons they too joined the Methodist Church, being received into the " Society " by the Rev. James San- ford, a local minister, formerly a traveling preacher in the Virginia Conference. Soon Col. McFerrin began to exercise his gifts " in public," exhorting and holding prayer-meetings among his neighbors. He laid aside his fiddle, and the places that knew him before knew him no more. Though the martial element in his nature was still there, hence A GREAT CHANGE. 31 forth he is to be the soldier of Jesus Christ, and the only enemies he will fight will be the devil and sin. About one year from his conversion he began to preach. He labored two years as a local preacher, and then joined the Tennessee Conference, and traveled nearly twenty years, filling various important positions as preacher in charge, presiding elder, delegate to the General Confer- ence, etc. ' In his diary there is this record : " Up to the 15th of October, 1839, ^ h^'^'^ preached 2,088 sermons, baptized 573 adult persons and 833 infants, and taken into the Church 3,965 members." A minute that he kept on the last page of his pocket Bible showed that he had read it through eighteen times on his knees. He died September 4, 1840. The impression was on his mind from the beginning of his sickness that he would not recover. " Twenty years ago," he said to one of his sons, " God for Christ's sake pardoned my sins. I then dedicated myself to him in fervent prayer, and asked that my life might be spared for twenty years, that I might devote that time to his service and promote his cause. That time has just, expired, and I think my heavenly Father is going to take me to himself." His last hours were full of joy and triumph. " When it was evident to all and to himself that the hour of departure was near, he had all his family gathered around him, and addressed them one by one, suiting his exhortations to their various ages and conditions; but when he came to take leave of his wife and pronounce a blessing on her the scene became indescribable. He spoke of the number of years during which they had sustained to each other the relation of husband and wife, and re- ferred to the children God had given them ; talked of the sorrows and joys w^hich they had shared together, 32 yOHJV B. McFERRIN. exhorted her not to grieve, for the Lord would take care of her, and their separation would not be long. He then told her that, with God's permission, he would be her guardian angel through the valley of death." ( Mem- oir by Dr. A. L. P. Green.) This was a touch of nature, and an example of the ruling passion strong in death — the brave, loving heart going out in tenderness and protection to the woman who had journeyed on by his side from the day that she, a blushing bride, had put her hand in his in pledge of union for life. " He then lay for a few moments with his eyes closed, and, with a smiling countenance, commenced singing with a loud voice, 'Jesus can make a djing bed Feel soft as downy pillows are,' and continued in this frame of mind until he breathed liis last. In answer to a prayer I often heard him offer to God he died in his senses, with Christ in his arms and glory in his soul," (Dr. Green's Memoir.) THE BOY CHRISTIAN. THE turning of the McFerrins to Methodism was no half-way movement. It took all the older mem- bers of the famll}^ — the impulsive, courageous father, the wise, steady, loving mother, and the two stout, grow- ing boys. John was large and " forward " for his age. He began to walk when he was but seven months old — a sort of prophecy of his itinerant career. He grew rapidly, being equal in weight and stature to other boys two years older than himself. He was full of boyish life and loved fun. But, fortunately for him, there were such safeguards thrown about him at the time as were much needed by one of his temperament. He was kept busy, and that was a good thing. Perhaps he thought at times he had too much of this good thing; a healthy boy likes play, and feels cheated if he does not get it. John w^orked hard on the farm ; he rode on all sorts of errands through the country; he went to mill; he did almost every thing, and throve on it, body and mind. Self-reliance was thus early developed in a nature al- ways inclined to mark out its own course. The stout- limbed boy, with . his large, uneven features and quick, energetic way, was his father's right hand on the farm, a factotum in the family service. A wise thought it was in his father to call on John now and then to lead in family prayer. " This made me more careful," he said in after years, " of my con- duct at home; for how could one pray in the family 3 (33) 34 JOHN B. McFERRIN. when his spirit and conversation contradicted his pro- fession ? " In this connection he also said : " My father watched over me with great vigilance, often conversed with me as to my Christian experience, and always en- couraged me in the work of my personal salvation. Never, perhaps, was a son more indebted to a parent for his affectionate, Christian watchfulness over a child than I was to my beloved father." These glimpses indicate the family life, and give a beautiful picture of the home religion of the McFerrins. Its mingled currents flowed sweetly together, and it was made easier for each one to be true and earnest in the Chiistian life. About the saine time John was called on to "pray in public." To us now this would seem premature. Four- teen is a very early age for such a function as this. But the boy's development was, as we have already seen, unusually rapid, and the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. It was not in his nature to hold a passive attitude toward any thing that interested him, and al- ready a hand was pointing him to the path he was to travel through life. Those old Methodist preachers had a way of trying the metal of their converts, and many a rough diamond was thus found by them, and afterward polished into brightness and beauty. And, it may be asked, if a delicate young girl may " show off " at a graduation, at concerts, or in solos in church-choirs, why might not young McFerrin make a prayer when called on "in meeting?" The " old-field school " was then the people's univer- sity. To it John went part of the year, picking up in snatches the elements of a partial English course. His knowledge of farming, wood-craft, and human nature THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 35 was greater than his knowledge of books. He learned to read from the New Testament — a book not specially adapted for school vise by beginners, and not found in any series of school-readers now used in our graded schools. The genealogical table in the first chapter of Matthew must have been puzzling to John, and it is likely that some of his teachers did not too easily han- dle such names as Onesiphorus and Diotrephes. How much of its language he retained, and how much of its spirit he absorbed, is not known; but that that well- thumbed copy of the New Testament made its impress upon the plastic mind of the boy we cannot doubt. Among the memoranda of his life written in his last years is found this entry : " I never received any pun- ishment at school, except that one teacher boxed my ears once when I was five years old." That was a brutal blow, we suspect. The memory of it was vivid seventy years afterward. The heavy-handed tyrant had no right to strike a five-year-old child that way. Do not box the ears of a child, O ye mothers, fathers, elder brothers, sisters, and teachers! You may forget it, but the hasty blow leaves a scar upon the tender soul that it carries to the grave. It is matter of surprise that he only got one blow at school in those days when the moral suasion methods of school discipline wrere scarcely thought of. It is also known that the use of the rod was a rare thing in the home of the McFerrins. The secret was this: The old Scotch idea of implicit obedi' ence to parental authority was adopted as a matter of course, and the children were born and grew into moral consciousness in an atmosphere of obedience. At the house of the Rev. Thomas King, in Madison County, Alabama, John boarded and went to school the 36 JOHN B. McFERRIN. greater part of a year, and made good use of the op- portunity thus given. Returning home, the Rev. Mr. Field — a Presbyterian preacher of whom he always spoke gratefully — taught him for a season, the last of his school-life. The sum total of his acquisitions, he says, " amounted to a partial knowledge of the English language and a few of the sciences — reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, history, and a smattering of geography and astronomy. To this might be added what I had read of a miscellaneous character and stud- ied at home during my leisure hours." During this time John's religious life steadily devel- oped. " My Bible," he says, " was my companion ; it was taken to the secret jjlace, and often on my knees did I pore over its sacred pages, and ask God to give me wisdom and understanding according to his revealed will. My class-meetings were attended with pleasure, and I found peculiar benefit in the use of this means of grace. Often was I made happy in communing with God and my brethren in the class and prayer-meetings; and now, after many yeai^s' experience, I take pleasure in recording my firm belief in the utility of these social meetings for worship and for mutual edification among Christians." It was not lofig before he was called to lead in these social meetings, for which service he must have show^n special adaptation. A class-leader at sixteen ! This was fine schooling for the youth. In those class-meetings, among the plain, earnest Methodists on Stone's Riv- er, was given the direction to his ministry which it rilvvays maintained. Spirituality, insight into human nature, directness of appeal, and ready tact in dealing with the varied wants of the people, were its marked THE SOT christian: 37 features. The class-meeting is the best theological sem- inary for the equipment of a young preacher for the practical duties of an overseer of the flock of Christ. When the solid old fathers and saintly old mothers in Is- rael w^ere willing to be led in class by this beardless boy, just of the gawky age, it is evidence enough that they sscsff in him wisdom beyond his years, and gave promise of good things to come. That word about his Bible- reading " in the place of secret prayer " is significant, and we can read between the lines of the internal struggles, the wrestlings, the partial falls, and the victories of the youthful Christian just fairly born into the world of thought and listening with awe to the Interior Voice sounding a divine call within its holiest depths. The thick forest was his oratory, the whispering winds an- swered to his sighs, and the overarching sky above him typed to him the Infinite for which he yearned. This is the period for morbidness, but he had no time for that. He had time to work, to read and pray, and " go to meeting," but none to mope and whine in self- pity and mawkishness. His inner life was sound and sweet. This was in 1821. Sixty-five years afterward (in 1886), reverting to this period, he says: " Two weeks after my conversion I united with the Church. We had preaching generally every two weeks, and prayer or class-meeting every week. Though a lad, I was soon called on to lead in the prayer-meeting. At first the cross was heavy, but I never refused to bear it. In class-meeting I aWays spoke either voluntarily or in answer to questions propounded by the preacher or leader. In family prayer my father occasionally called on me to lead. In all these exercises I was much blessed, and realized new strength in my heart. I also, 38 JOHN B. McFERRIN. at about the age of seventeen, went into a band with two others, and we had our meetings frequently. These band meetings were very profitable. We spoke freely and without reserve to each other, and received great encouragement, one from another. But of all the social meetings I enjoyed most the class-meeting. At a little past sixteen I was made leader of a very large class; indeed the whole membership in the Church present often met together, and we held what we called a gen- eral class-meeting. These meetings were greatly blessed, and did much in building up and enlarging the Society. ■We read the Scriptures, we sung, we prayed, we spoke often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was kept. Here I heard much of Christian experience, and learned to understand the wants of others. Here I learned to give words of exhortation and comfort, and here I learned to appre- ciate the trials and temptations connected with the life of a Christian. Fifty years have passed, to the time of this writing, and the precious seasons that I enjoyed then are still fresh in my memory. I regard class- meetings as among the greatest providential means of grace ever instituted in the Church. They did much to keep me in the path when young, and many encour- agements I had by the experience of older and wiser Christians than myself. Class-meeting is about the best theological school ever organized by the Methodists. It was a sad day when it declined in the Methodist Church; and I hope and pray the time may come when it will be revived in the Church that has gathered so much rich fruit from this glorious institution. J. B. McFerrin." March 8, 1883. THE MARTIAL METEMPSYCHOSIS. THE doctrine of the metempsychosis hints at a pro- found truth in its application to the great move- ments of human society. Moral forces do not die ; they transmigrate. The soul of a seemingly spent move- ment enters a new^ body. When Judaism had taught its lesson, its vitalizing spirit passed into the new move- ment initiated in the wonders of the Pentecost. The soul that animated the body of the visible Church until its corruption culminated in the reign of Pope Leo X. found a new body when liberated by the Monk of Er- furt. The doctrine of the conservation of forces is as true in the moral as in the physical sphere. Tides of energy reach their limit in one direction, and then gath- ering again in mighty volume sweep with resistless power in a new path. Herein may be found an explanation of the fact that early Tennessee Methodism was so pre-eminently a militant movement. The echoes of the guns of York- town were still in the air; heroes who fought at King's Mountain were still living; Revolutionary fires were yet burning hot in the hearts of a generation who fresh- ly remembered the fears, the suspense, the agonies of the seven-years' struggle for liberty. The several In- dian wars and the second war with Great Britain kept alive the martial ardor of the people. The literature of the day was ablaze with it; the " Star-spangled Ban- ner " and similar lyrics were sung everywhere ; Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, was the popular idol. The (39j 4:0 yOHJV B. McFERRIN. military spirit pervaded the nation. Martial courage was the chief est virtue of the people, cowardice the un- pardonable sin. Thus Methodism found a prepared people when it came to Tennessee. The unflinching heroism of its preachers, its aggressive methods, its hymnology reso- nant with the paeans of Christian soldiers in their victo- rious march to the conquest of the world — all combined to mold the converts and proselytes of early Methodism in Tennessee into the militancy that made it a disturb- ing, revolutionary, invincible force wherever its banner was unfurled and its doctrines promulgated. Men who had for conscience' sake broken through the meshes of ecclesiasticism, who had led a successful religious revo- lution, and who feared neither man nor devil, the Meth- odist preachers of that day reflected in their character and methods the very genius of that heroic time. The soul of the civil revolution seemed to animate the relig- ious revival; the fires of 1776, refined into a holier flame, kindled anew in the West; the new nation that had been born into freedom amid blood and flame was being born again to God as the itinerant hosts moved westward, singing and shouting as they marched. It was a martial metempsychosis. These early Methodist preachers in the West had lit- tle use for defensive weapons. They wielded the sword of the Spirit with a skill peculiar to them as men of one Book. They made no compromises with the world, the flesh, or the devil ; they thundered against the strong- holds of sin with the artillery of the law, and demanded unconditional surrender in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their battle-song was, "Am I a soldier of the cross?" — a lyric that still rings along the lines. THE MARTIAL METEMPSTCHOSIS. 41 The stimulus of a warlike time was not needed to give to the ministry of young McFerrin an aggressive character. He did dearly love a fight, and was sprung at once when the call of duty summoned him to battle for the truth. If he sometimes thought he saw the red flag when it was not visible to others, and charged with headlong energy where no enemy was, we need not be surprised. He started out as a preacher with the notion that this is an evil wrorld that must be righted, a world in error that must be corrected, a rebellious world that must be subdued, by the gospel of Jesus Christ. On this line he started, and he followed it to the end. But his courage was happil}' balanced by caution; he was daring, but not rash. He knew his own resources, and measured quickly the difficulties to be overcome. He rarely failed to carry his point. He could reason in his own way, and persuade with winning force; but the bent of his nature led him to employ a method of his own. Selecting the most salient points in the errors he wished to combat, he bore down upon them with Scripture quotation usually apt, with playful touches of humor that made his hearers smile, but sent a barbed arrow through a joint in the enemy's mail;, then he would deliver a succession of blows so rapid and so stunning that, under his final declamatory onset, vic- tory was complete. This pugnacious method was fol- lowed by him with success even in dealing with con- gregations that were all on his own side. He would personate and catechise an imaginary antagonist, and then pierce him through and through, using the reduc- tio ad absurdam with such effect that the error he at- tacked was ever after made to look more ridiculous and more hateful to his delighted auditors. Thus he was » 42 JOHN B. McFERRIN. man of war from his youth up; sword in hand, he was always ready for an encounter. Universalism sought but vainly to get a footing among the people of the West in that day when it was finding a lodgment in New England with other isms that came in with the re- action against ultra Augustinianism. This heresy found no mercy at the hands of McFerrin ; upon it he exhaust- ed all the sharpness of his wit, the drollness of his hu- mor, and the vehemence of his invective. It was indeed a hold man who would confess himself a believer in it after he had thus riddled and gibbeted it. His Presby- terian pedigree did not prevent him from running full- tilt against the sharp angles of the Westminster Con- fession when they seemed to get in his way. If a good Baptist or other immersionist wanted to dispute about the^mode of baptism, he was ready to wrestle with him at the shortest notice. If a brother preacher of his own Church showed signs of unsoundness in doctrine, or al- lowed metaphysical speculation to entice him into the region of misty and doubtful disputation, the first thing he knew McFerrin was after him, cudgel in hand, to drive him back into the beaten path. Fortunately for himself and for the Church, McFerrin's pugnacity was of the conservative sort ; it did not incite him to break down or to break over the w^all of orthodoxy, but rather to set himself for its defense, to restrain restless spirits within, and to repel all assailants from without. Had he been destructive rather than conservative in his spirit and purposes, he would have made some thrilling chap- ters in Methodist history. He possessed all the elements of an ecclesiastical or political revolutionist — boldness, shrewdness, the magnetism that attracts and the will- power that controls men. Had he taken the role of a THE MARTIAL METEMPSTCHOSIS. 43 reformer of the radical type, what a stir he would have made among the Methodists whom he had joined! Had he been a politician, what a commotion he would have made in the political arena! Tennessee would have rocked under his tread. If Andrew Johnson and John B. McFerrin had met " on the stump," when both were in the prime of their powers, the collision would have been indeed terrific. He was not inferior to that sharp- angled, forceful, audacious man of the people in his ability to impress the masses, and was' his superior in the wit and tact that were such potent factors in the suc- cess of that other great commoner, Abraham Lincoln. What McFerrin would have been without religion is a speculation perhaps more curious than profitable. But if he had chosen the service of Satan rather than that of Jesus Christ, who can tell how greatly would have been changed the currents of history within the circle of his movement? As a soldier of fortune he would have made his mark on his time ; as a soldier of Jesus Christ, under the Methodist system, his extraordinary powers reached their maximum of development, and his name will perhaps be spoken by men as long as that of any of his distinguished contemporaries who climbed to the high places of secular ambition. The key of McFerrin's life is found in those charac- teristics of his times and in his own organic tendency. A sanctified pugnacity was its unifying principle. It will not be claimed by any that his pugnacity was al- ways sanctified in the sense that he made no mistakes, that he never struck amiss, or that in all cases he knew when to put his sword back into its scabbard. He was very human, and when in the full tide of excitement — ■ whether it was pathetic, humorous, or combative — the 44 yOHN B. McP'ERRIN. play of his genius and the intensity of his feeling bore him beyond the barriers where other men of weaker natures and cooler passions paused. In the heat of bat- tle he thought of nothing but victory, and every lawful weapon within reach was used by him. He did not scru- ple to employ the argumentum ad hominem when hard pressed, and from force of habit he o^'erthrew with it many a brother, who was made to feel exceedingly un- comfortable under the storms of laughter raised at his expense, while he found it impossible to get angry with the victor who had struck him so hard and yet without the least malicious intent. When it is said that sanctified pugnacity was the dominant trait in his character, and the key to his career, the meaning is that he was a true soldier of Jesus Christ, whose consecration was gen- uine. He fought a good fight and kept the faith through all the long and stormy years of a ministry of sixty years in the Church of God. McFerrin's nature -was, a harp of many strings tuned by a hand divine, its dominant note the battle-call. Its discordant notes — and no life is wholly without them — were the expression of the human infirmities that differ- entiate every human life from that of the Divine Man, whose banner he bore in the forefront of the fight with a devotion that never cooled and a courage that never failed. GREEN AND McFERRIN. IN the autumn of 1823 Rev. James McFerrin had removed to Alabama, and settled near the village of Bellefonte, In Limestone County, where he had charge of the circuit. His colleague was a young man whose name is now familiar to the whole Church — A. L. P. Green. He was a year older than John B. McFerrin — tall, well-propoi-tioned, with chestnut hair slightly curl- ing around a broad forehead, a blue eye that often twink- led in quiet merriment, but w^ith an expression that be- tokened a thinker who could go deep into things. His motion was deliberate, but gave the impression that he would always be in time; his voice was full and mu- sical, and held his hearers without apparent effort. It is likely that his preaching on the Limestone Circuit was crude enough, for he was very young, and had sprung up as a spontaneous grov/th in those days when preach- ers called of God went at once, like Amos from his sheep-cotes, to deliver the message of the Lord. Aleck Green and John McFerrin were often thrown together this year, young Green making frequent visits to the family of his senior colleague. The young men were fine specimens of vigorous young manhood. They were just at the age when their whole natures were alive and aglow. Young Green, in the family of the McFerrins, could unbend from the severe gravity ex- pected of the clergy, and indulge in the playfulness and mischief that never wholly deserted him. A wrestling- (45) 46 JOHN B. McFERRIN. match between the young men was prophetic of many a hard but friendly tussle in after years. " I threw Green the first fall," said McFerrin, « but he downed me on the second trial. I wasn't anxious to try him again." The genius of the two men is here indicated — the impetuous temper of McFerrin that bore down his adversary before he had time to think or brace himself to meet it, and the cool, watchful, steady attitude of Green that made him more likely to succeed in the sec- ond round than the first, and who won many a fight in the councils of the Church that seemed hopeless at the start. From this time the history of these two young men. ran in parallel lines and close together. They were fel- low-soldiers and chieftains in a conquering army, inspir- iting, balancing, supplementing each other. They were rivals too, but in no bad sense. The friends of each have said that with either one out of the way the other would have been made a Bishop. This is perhaps true. But it matters not. The office would have made neither of t'.iem a greater man. They were sui generis, and filled the places they were born for — Green, the wise counselor whose head was steady in the midst of the wildest storm; McFerrin, the man of action, the right arm of executive energy. Their friends in after years sometimes put them into sharper contrast and more an- tagonistic attitudes toward each other than either would have liked. When they met in heaven the friendship that bloomed so sweetly among the North Alabama hills in their youth was not marred in its blessedness by the slight jostlings that took place when they were fighting side by side in the Church militant. The Methodist preachers were frequent visitors to the McFerrin family, and John had the benefit of their so- GREEN AND McFERRIN. 47 ciety and the inspiration of their enthusiasm for their sacred calling. " From these servants of the Church," he said, " I gained riiuch valuable information on the doctrines of Christianity. I exercised myself in prayer and in exhortation, which proved beneficial to me if not to others. The class-meeting I led grew to a large and spiritual congregation in which many were converted." At the age of seventeen young McFerrin was li- censed to exhort by William McMahon, presiding elder — a strong man of a unique individuality, who doubtless left his impress upon the young exhorter. McMahon was a natural orator of no mean order, and a thinker withal. "How is it?" asked a studious and ambi- tious young preacher who was traveling and preaching with him, " how is it. Brother McMahon, that though I read and study all the time, and you hardly ever look into a book, yet you beat me preaching.?" "I have here," said McMahon, tapping his forehead, " what books are made of — brains!'''' McMahon was from Virginia, of Irish descent — a bold, rugged, deep-chested, muscular, hot-blooded man, whose courage was equal to any emergency, and whose faith ignored impossibilities. Day after day he could preach or exhort in the open aif at the top of his voice, without apparent fatigue or hoarseness. He was a powerful preacher, but it is said that his special gift was exhortation. It was the custom in those days, when the preachers in apostolic fashion went forth in pairs, to follow the sermon at each service with an exhortation. It was then that McMahon rose to the full height of his power as an orator. His thought would kindle under the suggestions of the pulpit, his emotional nature would take fire, and, rising as the preacher sat down, he would pour forth a tide of elo- 48 JOHN n. McFERRIN. quence that swept all before it. His appeals woukl startle the most apathetic; he would flash divine truth upon the guilty conscience as with an electric light, and then he would plead with the sinner with a pathos so melting that the hardest hearts would yield. His dis- trict embraced a vast territory, and with untiring energy he rode his rounds, stirring the masses of the people, winning the wanderers, and confirming the faithful. He was a " son of thunder," and yet had in him also the elements of a Barnabas — a mighty man of God in his day. The existing type of Methodism in all that region bears the indelible impress of the fervent, fearless, force- ful men who first planted the Church among the forests and cane-brakes of Tennessee and North Alabama. In those days the exhorter's license was the usual pre- liminary to the pulpit. Gifts and graces were tried in this way by the Church, and the neophyte thus felt his way along the untried path. It is not surprising tliat young McFerrin now began to look more earnestly toward the ministry. His own words will best tell what were his thoughts and feelings at this time: " Now I began to think more seriously of preaching. Indeed, the subject had long lain with much weight on my mind. I strove against it. I had other plans and prospects in view, and these I did not like to abandon. And then the thought of the vast obligations of a min- ister of Christ, and my utter disqualification for so high and holy a calling, distressed me. Again and again I resolved to suppress the conviction and betake myself to an active life of business. Once I w^ent so far, by the consent of my father, who did not then know my mind on the subject of preaching, as to make a contract to go into the store of a merchant, where I was to act as a GREEN AND McFERRIN. 49 clerk and acquire a knowledge of the mercantile busi- ness. This project failed, and it was impressed on me that it wa.s providential, for continually it bore on my mind, ' Woe is me if I preach not the gospel ! ' But how could a stripling of eighteen, with a limited education, take on himself the work of the gospel ministry? O the deep anxiety of mind and the many struggles of heart in settling the question whether, under all these disadvantages, to go forward and make the trial, or to plunge myself into worldly pursuits and acqviire fame or fortune as I might! At last I broke the subject to my beloved father, and he quietly, yet decidedly, en- couraged me to preach." Only a preacher's heart can fully enter into the spirit of that memorable interview between father and son. Beneath the father's quiet manner was a joy too deep for words in being called on to ratify the call of God. That was a glad hour to him, and a solemn one to both. The memory of it was vivid and precious when more than half a hundred years had passed. His name was brought before the " Society ; " he was duly recommended, and at the District Conference held at Cambridge, Alabama, October 8, 1825, he was pub- licly examined, licensed to preach, and recommended for admission on trial as a traveling preacher in the Ten- nessee Annual Conference. 4 ADMITTED INTO THE CONFERENCE. THE session of the Tennessee Conference for 1825 was held at Shelbyville in the month of Novem- ber. Young McFerrin determined to attend it. " It was," he says, " the first I ever attended. My feelings on leaving home I will not attempt to describe. As I rode away, and turned for the last lingering look, my eyes overflowed with tears and my bosom swelled with emotion. To leave my mother was a hard trial, and to bid farewell to brothers and sisters made the trial doubly hard. And then the fears entertained; it was very doubtful whether or not I would be received; and, if admitted, I doubted my ability to do the work." A. L. P. Green was his companion in the journey to the seat of the Conference. Their way led across the spurs of the Cumberland Mountains. In that altitude, in the bracing keenness of the November air, with youth and health and hope, and the divine undersong in their souls, whatever may have been the heart-struggles of the two young preachers, theirs w^as not a gloomy ride to Shelbyville. No part of their talk liy the way has come to us, but it would take but a few sentences to illu- mine these pages with the rosy light that bathes the mountain-tops in life's bright morning. It is likely that, snatches of sacred song woke the echoes of the hills, and startled the squirrels that were frisking and feasting among the hickory and chestnut trees by the road-side ; or, with subdued voices and moistening eyes, after the (50) ADMITTED INTO THE CONFERENCE. 51 fashion of the times, they exchanged " experiences," and made the forests through which tiiey rode sacred as the temples of God. They reached Shelbyville, and here for the first time young McFerrin saw a Alethodist Bishop. Bishops Roberts and Soule were botli present. " They were," he says, " men in the vigor of life. Their appearance made a deep impression on my mind. They were re- markably plain in their dress — wearing broad-brimmed hats, short breeches, and the old-fashioned Quaker or Methodist coats. They looked like patriarchs. Their preaching, too, affected me. Bishop Roberts preached in the forenoon on Sunday, and Bishop Soule in the aft- ernoon. The fine voice, the wonderful pathos, and the natural oratory of Bishop Roberts greatly delighted me, while the profundity and great intellectual strength of Bishop Soule overwhelmed me." The session of the Conference was stormy and long. The " radicals," as they were called, had made agitation in many places in Middle Tennessee. The passions of both parties were aroused, and in the Church trials that had taken place patience and forbearance had not been conspicuous. Several local preachers who had been ex- pelled had appealed to the Annual Conference, with grievous complaints against some of the presiding elders and preachers in charge. So impartial were the rulings of the Bishops, and so just was the action of the Con- ference in dealing with these cases, that the tide of de- fection was stayed, and Tennessee Methodism hardly felt a movement that shook other parts of the Church like an earthquake. The head of Soule and the heart of Roberts were both needed for that crisis in the Ten- nessee Conference, 52 JOHN B. McFERRIN. Young McFerrin, not yet admitted, did not hear the discussion in the Conference, but he was waiting with an anxious heart to know his fate. " The case," he says quaintly, "in which I felt the most interest was my own. I often asked myself the questions, ' Shall I be admitted? If so, where shall I be sent?' The Con- ference was well supplied, and there were many candi- dates for admission ; but there was a call for men to go to Mississippi. I was willing to go anywhere, but felt myself incompetent to take charge of an important mission-field where the people needed instruction in the grand doctrines of Christianity. I needed the help of some one deeply experienced in the things of God and the work of the ministry to teach and lead me. I com- mitted all to God and to my brethren. I was admitted on trial, and here began a work to which I resolved to consecrate my whole life." He was appointed to Franklin Circuit as junior preacher. Finch P. Scruggs being preacher in charge and Alexander Sale supernumerary. William McMa- hon was the presiding elder. Franklin Circuit was then in the Huntsville District. Of the young itinerant's ini- tiation we let him tell the story in his own language: " The Conference adjourned on Saturday afternoon, and many of the preachers left immediately in crowds for their respective fields of toil. The Bishops re- mained with a few of the brethren who were going South. They preached again on the Sabbath, and rode a few miles in the afternoon to the house of a friend, intending to set out on Monday morning for Mississippi. Their route led them directly through my circuit, and I was anxious to have company, as the road was new and the distance at least three days' journey. I accordingly ADMITTED INTO THE CONFERENCE. 53 ordered my horse (I was stopping at the hotel by the special invitation of Col. Cannon, the proprietor, an in- timate friend of my father, who was also his guest). When my horse was brought out he was rigged off with an old saddle and bridle not w^orth five dollars, instead of an entirely new and valuable outfit. Upon inquiry, the hostler said that on Saturday some man had gone into the stable and led out his own horse, and he doubt- less had taken my saddle and bridle. The name of the thief was ascertained, and the hostler posted off twelve miles into the country in search of my goods. He found the man and recovered the property. " On Monday morning, alone, I set out for my cir- cuit. The feelings of my heart no one can imagine who has not had a similar experience. Young, going among strangers, and going as a freacher., going to fulfill the high commission of Heaven — how could I go? But 1 had given myself to God and to his work; my hand was on the plow, and I dared not look back. In the name of God I went forward with a sense of my re- sponsibility and insufficiency. While riding alone, full of these solemn reflections, I was overtaken by the Rev. James W. Allen, who accompanied me two days on my journey. He was a young preacher of great promise, and an interesting traveling companion. The first night we reached the house of Mr. McGehee, a wealthy planter in Madison County, Alabama, where we were kindly received and hospitably entertained. He and his family were Methodists. The second night we reached Brother Allen's father's house, in Limestone County, Alabama. The next inorning I set out alone for my circuit. At Brown's Ferry, on the Tennessee River, T came up with the Rev, Thomas J. Brown, who had 54: JOHN B. McFBRRIN. been transferred to the Mississippi Conference, and was pushing on to overtake Bishops Soule and Roberts, who were a few miles ahead. At night we came up with the company at the residence of the Rev. Alexander Sale, near Courtland, Alabama. Here we tarried till morning, and witnessed the baptism of one of Brother Sale's children by Bishop Soule. I was now in the bounds of my circuit, but the Conference had been pro- tracted so long that the appointments were falling through. I however pushed ahead, and came up with the regular plan." HIS FIRST CIRCUIT. HIS first attempt at preaching on the circuit was at Tuscumbia, wlnich was then a new and thriving village in Franklin County, Alabama. This experience is thus told by himself: " There was no house of worship in the place. The various denominations occupied a small school-house, and worshiped together, or separately, as occasion might suggest. I learned on my arrival in town that the cir- cuit preacher was expected to hold forth on the next day, . which was the Sabbath. I felt easy for a time, for it was expected that my colleagye. Brother Scruggs, would occupy the pulpit. But he came not. The morning came, the hour of service arrived, and with kind friends I went to meetings supposing I would have to address the people. How my heart throbbed as we approached and saw the house crowded with a well-dressed, intelli- gent audience! To my great relief, as we drew near, I heard the voice of a minister who had risen to begin the service. My heart leaped for joy, and I turned away and took my stand on the outside of the building, and listened to the sermon. Before the minister (a Pres- byterian) dismissed the congregation he announced that the new circuit preacher was to deliver a sermon in the same house that afternoon. The announcement struck me nearly blind. I had thought that I was relieved for that day. At three o'clock I appeared, and did the best I could for some thii-ty minutes. The text was, ' Who (55) 56 JOHN B. McFERRIN. then can be saved?'' Of the sermon I can say nothing, only that it was delivered with fear and much trem- bling. Here began my career as a Methodist traveling preacher. Our circuit embraced Franklin County and a portion of Lawrence County, including the villages of Tuscumbia, Russellville, and La Grange, with the adja- cent country. We had some twenty or more appoint- ments in four weeks, with more territory to be taken into our work. The country was new, having been purchased from the Indians only a few years before ; yet it was in many places settled by the best class of citi- zens — wealthy planters from the older States, who had been attracted bj' the fertility of the soil in this fine cot- ton region. There was, however, some very rough and uncultivated country through which we passed, where w^e had coarse fare, small congregations, and miserable houses in w^hich to worship. In some instances we preached in private houses. The people were hospita- ble and made us welcome, and this was better than lux- uries without cheerful hearts. " Nothing very remarkable occurred during the year. My health was good, my colleagues and presiding elder kind and courteous, and the people bore with my imper- fections and inexperience, treating me as a son. I gave myself to reading and study, and availed myself of all the helps within my reach. I adopted as far as practi- cable a regular and systematic plan. The Bible was my daily companion; it was read cai-efully, and with refer- ence to commentaries whenever T could have access to them. [The italicized words are significant. J My ser- mons were studied with a good deal of care, and I strove to observe some system in all my discourses. I was rather a sober preacher, haAing not quite so much fire HIS FIJiST CIRCUIT. 57 and enthusiasm as many young inen; yet my heart was in the work, and my zeal inci"eased with my experience and practice. We had a very prosperous year; many precious souls were converted and added to the Church, and the cause of God was more thoroughly established. I formed many vakiable acquaintances, and contracted friendships that will be renewed, I believe, in heaven." He says he was at this time a " sober preacher." No doubt he tried to be so, and had reason to emphasize the effort. At that early day he would startle his congrega- tions by those sudden sallies of wit, sarcasm, pathos, and nasal effects that made so many thousands laugh and cry and wonder in coming years. A "sober" preacher! Poor youth! he was trying to keep off of the rock of levity on which it was feared by his seniors he might split. How hard he held in, and how much he suffered while wearing the strait-jacket he needed, can not be told. This self-restraint vi'as no inconsiderable part of the training of a raw but high-mettled youth who had so much to learn and so much will to curb. Among the friends of this pei'iod he always spoke with special affection of the fainily of the good Al- exander Sale. "No family," he says, "contributed more to my happiness and improvement than that of the Rev. A. Sale and his kind wife and affectionate chil- dren. Brother Sale was a man of sterling worth, souiid sense, and genuine piety. He took much pains with me, and did much to help me forward in my studies and public exercises." This year was erected the celebrated " Mountain Spring Camp-ground," near Courtland, Alabama — a place where hundreds of souls have bean converted to Christ. In this neighborhood, besides the Sale family, many othei 58 JOHN B. McFERRIN. excellent families resided. Here was the home of Rev. Turner Saunders, Rev. Freeman Fitzgerald, the Har- pers, the Garretts, and others. The center of religious attraction for this region was Ebenezer Church; thither the tribes went up to worship in great numbers and with great fervor. The foregoing touches from his own pen indicate the profound sense of responsibility and the unaffected diffi- dence felt by the young preacher in beginning the sacred work of the ministry of the gospel. Self-reliant as he was, and independent as he was in his attitude and rela- tions with his fellow-men, his humility toward God was always a marked trait in his disposition. No young preacher ever entered upon his high vocation feeling more fully that his sufficiency was of God. No flip- pant, irreverent, self-parading youth has in him the ele- ments of a great preacher. He will either seek a fitter sphere foi himself in secular things, or he will sink down into the ranks of the nobodies that infest the ho- liest of avocations on earth. HIS SECOND YEAR. HAVING closed the labors of this first yeai, the young preacher visited his parents and had a grateful, joyful reunion with the loved home circle. The father rejoiced in the belief, after the year's trial, that he had advised wisely when consulted by his son concerning his call to the ministry; and though her words were few, the quiet mother looked upon her preacher-son through tears of joy, her loving heart swelling with maternal fondness and pride. The next session of the Conference was held at Nash- ville. Young McFerrin attended in company with his father. Bishop Soule presided. No memorabilia of the session are at hand — so it must have been harmonious and pleasant. Young McFerrin was continued on trial, and appointed to the Lawrence Circuit with his friend, Alexander Sale, who had become " effective." Gf this appointment and the year's work he says : " This field of labor was immediately adjoining my first circuit, and embraced a portion of Law^rence Coun- ty, and the whole of Morgan County, Alabama, and included the villages of Courtland, Decatur, and Som- erville. Taken altogether, it was a pleasant appoint- ment, yet it embraced some very rough and mountainous country. I was pleased with my work, and especially with my colleague, who proved himself to be my spe- cial friend. The year was one of considerable prosper ■ ity. Many souls were converted and added to the (59) 60 , JOHN B. McFERRIN. Church, and we introduced preaching in some neigh- borhoods which before had been without the regular means of grace. Decatur, then a young town, situated on the soutli side of the Tennessee River, had never had any regular preaching by the Methodists; so we took it into our plan, and I trust made some steps toward the permanent establishment of Methodism in that vil- lage, which has since grown to be a place of consider- able importance. " ' Summer Seat Camp-ground,' a few miles south of Decatur, was this year established. It became a place celebrated for Methodist camp-meetings. We had sev- eral interesting camp-meetings in the bounds of the cir- cuit during the year, where the power of God was dis- played in the salvation of sinners. My colleague was a strict disciplinarian. He was careful not only to preacl; and visit from house to house, and hold class-meetings regularly, but to maintain the honor of the Church by a faithful administration of the rules of the ' Society.' "A singular case occurred under his administration. There lived an aged man in the circuit who had been for many years an orderly member of the Church. He had reared a family and buried his wife. The old gen- tleman, after a suitable time, sought to repair the loss he had sustained, and becoming acquainted with an aged widow lady in the neighborhood, he proposed the sub- ject of marriage. He soon found that she was an ac- quaintance of his youth, and had formerly been his wife I They were married when they were both young, but by some means had become^ accidentally separated, and-lost all knowledge of each other, each supposing the other 1.0 'be dead. Each had married agam and raised a fam- ily. Now, in their old age, the)' were brought together I//S SECOND TEAR. 61 again. As soon as the facts were all well authenticated they joined their destinies once more, and became man and wife without any formal or legal ceremony. A ques- tion then arose as to the morality and legality of the sec- ond union. Had they a right to recognize their first marriage contract, and live as man and wife without a second formal marriage ceremony? The question was brought before the Church and taken by reference to the Quarterly Conference, and the case was determined, if I remember correctly, that they w^ere lawfully man and wife by virtue of their first marriage. My colleague dissented from the decision." He and the wise and kind-hearted Sale were well matched. The pushing, rousing, persistent young itin- erant was ballasted by the steady, benignant senior preacher. They preached, prayed, visited the people, pioneered new points, brought vast crowds together in great camp-meetings, and the work of the Lord pros- pered in their hands. With grateful pertinency he quoted the Psalmist's words in relation to the results of this year's work: " The little hills rejoice on every side, the valleys also are covered with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing." fAMONG THE INDIANS. AT the Annual Conference which met at Tuscumbia, Alabama, McFerrin was admitted into full connec- tion, and ordained deacon by Bishop Soule, who pre- sided during this session of the body. " The services to me were very solemn and impressive. The vows taken deeply affected my heart, and I trust have never been erased " — thus he wrote when he was an old man. At the same Conference his father was ordained elder. When his appointment was read out it must have been a surprise to the young preacher. He was sent as a missionary to the Cherokee Indians. It was a singular appointment for a youth not yet twenty years old. On what ground was it made ? Was it to tame the too exu- berant animal spirits of the youthful itinerant? This, we know, was not an unusual procedure in those days, when the leaders of the Methodist host were usuallj' strict disciplinarians and suspicious of the least tendency toward "airiness" or levity. Both Bascom and Pierce had to run this gantlet at the start. It may have been thought that a campaign among the Cherokees would, if he survived it, rub off the sharpness of some of his angles, and act as a dose of humility. Or it may be that Bishop Soule and his advisers in the Cabinet saw in the young man a sagacity and prudence beyond his j'ears, and thought the work among the Indians required a man of strong physique and daring spirit, and without ^family incumbrance, (62) AMONG THE INDIANS. 63 It was a perilous appointment in every sense. The Cherokee Indians had passed througli the usual experi- ences of the red men in dealing with the white people in America; they had been cheated out of their lands, and goaded to desperation by repeated wrongs; and when at last in their frenzy and despair they resorted to war they were overwhelmed by superior numbers, de- spite the savage cunning and valor that made it cost so dear to the victors. But the severity of their fate was mitigated by the benign influences of Christianity, to which this tribe seemed to be more responsive than most other Indians. This was not the first time nor the last in the history of these United States when the con- servative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ has as- serted itself in the alleviation of race difficulties and in happily modifying conditions otherwise invincibly diffi- cult and embarrassing. It may be that the Cherokees were not more responsive to the gospel or more ready to assimilate with the civilization of the white race; but the conditions were more favorable to their evan- gelization. At any rate, the Christianization of this tribe pi'esents one of the most romantic and thrilling chapters in the history of modern missions. The Cher- okees intermarried more freely with the whites, and with exceptional results. The half-breed Cherokees were a fine race physically, exhibiting the best charac- teristics of both races. The men were tall and well formed, and the women, with their queenly carriage, brilliant dark eyes, clear complexion, expressive features, and vivacity tempered by a natural dignity peculiar to themselves, were remarkable for their beauty. The weak and strong points of both races are visible in their moral constitution. They are by turns generous, moody,. 64 JOHN B. McFERRIN. brave, suspicious, true to friends, and implacable to foes, with a tragic element that flames out with terrific energy ■when least expected. All these characteristics are con- trolled or modified by the gospel of Jesus Christ which is to make a new heaven and a new earth, and which is destined to mold all kindreds, tribes, and tongues of men into the image of their risen and reigning Redeemer. With what feelings the Cherokees first received the young missionary may be imagined. Timothy was not less than thirty-five years old when Paul admonished him to let no man despise his youth. The Indians, ac- customed to associate wisdom with age, and prone to look upon all white men with more or less suspicion, doubtless subjected young McFerrin to a sharp scrutiny and unsparing criticism when he first appeared among them. He gives us a glimpse of the situation in this statement: " My station was Creek Path. It lay south of the Tennessee (now near Carter's Landing). My work embraced three regular preaching- places, besides a small school of Indian children. To this work I went with an anxious heart. I wanted to do good and bring souls to Christ, but I distrusted myself." And well he might, for it w^as a new and trying poitsion in which he was placed. " My work," he continues, " was not arduous, but it vs^as delicate and responsible. I taught the children dil- igently and preached faithfully, often making tours to different parts of the Cherokee Nation." It may be taken for granted that the appliances and methods of that school for the Indian children were of the most primitive kind. And we run no risk in saying that this part of the missionary's work was that which was least suited to McFerrin's genius and tastes. He never had much to say about this experience in peda- AMONG THE INDIANS. 65 gogy among the Cherokees. It was not his way to neg- lect any work committed to him; but, with our knowl- edge of his temperament and preferences, we are inclined to pity the little brown-faced boys and girls who learned from him their A B C's, made " pot-hooks," and were carried from their " a-b abs " onward into the higher mysteries of education^ — such as reading, ciphering, and history and geography in the mild form suited to their undeveloped minds and to the resources of that first and last institution of learning that had the direct benefit of McFerrin's service as a teacher. Though ignorant of his methods, we are safe in the assumption that he ex- acted from his pupils the prompt obedience to which he himself had been bred at home. McFerrin's home w^as at the house of Edward Gun- ter, a half-breed. He was a man of considerable prop- erty, who spoke the English language fairly, and was a fluent speaker in his native tongue. He was also an earnest Christian, and exercised much influence among his people. He was McFerrin's interpreter. Their method was for them to stand side by side, and in short sentences to address the audience — a method said to be very difficult to unpracticed persons, but one to which a deliberate speaker soon becomes accustomed, and by which he can speak with ease to himself and with effect upon his hearers. " Gunter and myself," said Mc- Ferrin, "soon became so familiar with each other's mode of speaking that we could make considerable headway. The words went with a kind of double forced'' That is rather an original view of the matter. And do we not get a hint here concerning McFerrin's life-long habit of repeating his emphatic and weighty sentences? He wanted the words to go with a kind of double force, 5 66 JOHN B. McFERRIN. and so he acted as his own Gunter. " The effect," he continued, " was often visible, and a powerful impres- sion was made on the multitudes. We saw many awak- ened and converted, and their after-lives demonstrated the genuineness of the work of grace upon their hearts. Untutored, and given to lives of idleness, and crime, it was hardly to be expected that a reformation in man- ners would be sudden and thorough; yet many of the converts were so transformed by the power of grace that they really became new creatures in Christ Jesus. Many Cherokees died in the faith, giving glory to God. " The work at this time was enlarging in the Cher- okee Nation. The Tennessee Conference employed ten w^hite missionaries, besides a number of native preachers; The field cultivated extended from the Alabama State line to the mountains of North Carolina. There were several large circuits, besides the station and mission- schools. Camp-meetings were common in several por- tions of the Nation, and hundreds were brought to God by the preaching of the word. In this work I took part, while I kept up the school. Some of the children made progress in their studies, and I had the pleasure of teaching a number of them to read understandingly the New Testament Scriptures. One of my pupils — Loony Campbell, a sprightly lad — died during the year. He gave evidence of piety, and left testimony that he was going to heaven. " In the latter part of February I made a tour into Will's Valley, which lay east of the Raccoon Mountain, for the purpose of holding a meeting. Having brought the meeting to a close, I left on Monday, in company with Samuel Gunter and his sister Patsey. We crossed the mountain, and in the afternoon reached the Tennes- AMONG THE INDIANS. 67 see River at the mouth of Short Creek, a deep stream. Heavy rains had fallen, and the river was overflowing its banks in the lowlands. We found no canoe, and were at a loss how to cross the stream and make our way home. Night was approaching, and we could find no comfortable place for lodging. After consultation, I determined to take a log, lodged near the mouth of the creek, and work my way across the stream, and find a canoe on the margin of the river below. Half undress- ing, I addressed myself to my work. Little difficulty w^as found in dislodging my craft from its moorings, but I soon found it impossible to control the vessel. I was directly in the middle of the stream, rapidly descending, with no prospect of landing for six or eight miles. The log on which I floated was large and unwieldy, and I had neither paddle nor oar. What was to be done ? Finally I came in sight of a canoe tied to the shore. I determined to abandon my ciraft. So, parting with what apparel I had retained for the voyage, and placing it on the log, I leaped into the stream and swam ashore. Chilled as I was, I made my way back, secured the canoe, and ascended the stream, where I refitted my clothing, swam our horses across the creek, and, half dressed, with cloak wrapped about me, we rode home in haste. Before we reached the landing below my craft had ar- rived — was espied by some boatmen, who recovered my clothes, supposing they had made a speculation in be- coming the rightful owners of the property of some hapless voyager who had found a watery grave. But their joy was soon gone when on dry soil the proper claimant appeared, took the property, and went on hij> way rejoicing. This was my first and last ride on horse back without ' unmentionables.' 68 JOHN B. McFERRIN. " During this year I had a great trial of my faith. Reading much and studying the sciences, my thoughts often wandered and Satan assaulted me sorely. I was tempted, to infidelity or to atheism. I struggled and prayed, obtained temporary relief, and then Satan would come again with double force upon me. During the summer I visited a camp-meeting in the Franklin Cir- cuit, where my father had charge. I preached and joined in the exercises of the altar, but my soul was cast down within me. My difficulties I had made known to nobody, yet I prayed earnestly for deliverance from the power of the Evil One. During the meeting my struggle became powerful, and final deliverance came. My soul was overwhelmed with love. Such expansive view^s of the love of God, the power of grace, and fullness of redemption I had never before realized. My doubts were gone, and from that day till the j^resent I have been measurably free from temptations to unbelief. O it was a bright and glorious season! " The camp-meeting was remarkable for its success. About one hundred and eighty souls professed saving faith in Christ. Many of the best citizens of the coun- try were added to the Church, and Zion w^as greatly enlarged in her borders. It was a time of unusual power. "At the close of this year the Conference convened at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Here we met Bishop Soule again. The Conference was an interesting ses- sion. We had several Cherokee preachers present who took part in the missionary anniversary. This meeting was held in the upper room of the court-house. The congregation was large, the house crowded to its utmost capacity. Soon after the exercises began a great panic was produced by the report that the floor of the room AMONG THE INDIANS. 69 was giving way. Consternation seized the audience, and many shrielied for help. The alarm was false, and after some effort the people were quieted and the meet- ing went on. At this meeting I delivered my first mis- sionary address. The effort, I judge, was rather feeble, yet I did the best I could. I was very much excited. " From this Conference I was returned to the Cher- okee Nation, and was appointed to the Will's Valley Circuit and Creek Path. It was four hundred miles in circumference, extending from Gunter's Landing across the Sand Mountain to the mouth of Will's Creek, south of the Coosa River; east as far as the junction of Eto- wah and Oostanaula Rivers, where Rome now stands in the State of Georgia; then north, over the Pigeon Mountain, to the point of Lookout Mountain, where Chattanooga is now situated; thence across Lookout Mountain, down the Lookout Valley, into Will's Valley, and then across the Raccoon Mountain to the beginning point. This circuit I traveled round once in four weeks. The rides were long, the fare in most places hard, and the labor performed heavy. We often swam rivers, sometimes taking our horses beside a canoe; at other times we made rafts of light timber, and placing our saddles and baggage on these, we swam the water- courses, pulling the rafts after us, having for a tow-line a grape-vine gathered from the forest. Joseph Blackbird, a full-blood Indian, w^as my traveling companion. He was my interpreter. He was educated among the whites, so that he could read and speak English with some fa- cility. This was one of the hardest years of my itin- erancy, but in many respects it w^as pleasant. We saw many Indians converted to God, and took a number into the Church. I baptized at one time the mother, her 70 JOHN B. McFERRIN. daughter, and the grandchildren. Often did the wild woods ring with praise to Jesus for his pardoning mercy, " The remarkable men converted among the Chero- kees and added to the Methqdist Church, during our mis- sionary labors among that people, were Richard Riley, the Gunters, Turtle Fields, Young Wolf, Arch Camp- bell, John F. Boot, John Ross, the principal chief, etc. " During my labors there I preached the gospel to some of the natives who had never before heard the tidings of salvation. Among the converts was an aged squaw nearly one hundred years old. I was the first preacher who ever visited the celebrated ' Dirt Town Valley.' Here the Indians erected a log church, and we established a congregation. In after years it became celebrated as a camp-ground among the whites who succeeded the Cherokees. "Altogether, I trust my , two years were profitably spent among the ' red men of the forest.' It had one effect upon my preaching — it led me to be more plain, pointed, and perspicuous in my style. Preaching through an interpreter produced these results. But my oppor- tunity for study was limited during the last or second year, and then I was cut off in a measure from intelli- gent and congenial society. " In reviewing these two years I feel thankful to God that it was my privilege to preach the gospel to the poor Indian." PREACHES TO WHITE PEOPLE AGAIN. AFTER his two years of service as missionary to the Indians McFerrin went up to the Tennessee Conference, held at Huntsville, Alabama, in the autumn of 1829. The two years' pastoral limit precluded his return to the Cherokees, but he never forgot them, and they never ceased to love him. He emphasizes the fact that he " passed the Conference examination " and was elected to elders' orders. That he dreaded the ordeal of that examination is quite apparent — and with good rea- son. It was no child's play. The fathers were not al- ways highly cultured men after the pattern of the schools ; but they knew the Bible, which, was the prin- cipal text-book of the undergraduates, and on doctrine and discipline they were " posted " in every thing that a Methodist preacher ought to know, from the Armin- ian side of the " five points " to the intricacies of the most difficult questions that could complicate a trial in a Church court. McFerrin passed — and breathed more freely. His two years among the Indians did not fit him for a technical inquisition as would the Biblical school of Vanderbilt University or Drew Theolog- ical Seminary. But if he read less, and recited to himself alone, it is possible that he did more real think- ing than many a theologue who is content to think only other men's thoughts and to repeat other men's words. The self - educated man is always at a dis- advantage in some particulars; and most men of this class feel and deplore it all their lives. The j)oor creat- (71) 72 JOHN B. McFERRIN. lire whose mind is made a lumber-room of forms of words held and delivered memoriter is doubly a failure, having neither the ability to assimilate and use with skill and vigor his scholastic acquisitions on the one hand, nor to develop on the line of natural endowment on the other. What classical culture might have done for McFerrin is a question not without interest. It is most likely that it would have made his intellectual life broader and deeper, and given a higher polish to the solid granite of his genius; it is also possible that in the proc- ess much of the flavor of his originality and of the ele- m«;nts of his peculiar power may have been lost. Where the blade is tliin and of poor metal much whetting de- stroys it; where it is heavy and of fine quality the whetstone need not be feared. Bishop Roberts, whom McFerrin held in the highest veneration, performed the sei-vice of his ordination. It was done at the private residence of Thomas Brandon, the Bishop being too sick to preach and conduct the or- dination service in the church. Of Bishop Roberts little is left to the Church save the. meager outlines of his official work, but he was so reverend in presence, so humble, so devout, so full of faith and the Holy Ghost that where he passed it seemed that a breath of heaven had come with him, and its aroma lingered long after he had gone. His name was always spoken by Mc- Ferrin with tenderness and reverence ; and to the end of his life, on recalling that solemn hour at the house of Brandon, he remembered the awe and ecstasy that filled his soul when the hands of the man of God were placed on his yet youthful head and he was ordained an elder in the Church of God, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. PREACHES TO WHITE PEOPLE AGAIN. 73 He was appointed to the Limestone Circuit, in North Alabama, lying immediatel}' west of Huntsville, and embracing a portion of Madison County, the whole of the County of Limestone, and one or two appointments in Giles County, Tennessee. Of his work here he may speak in his own words. The personal allusions, though in most cases of persons unknown to fame, preserve the names of some who deserve to live in the memory of the Church they helped to plant and which they nurtured in its infancy, and the incidents have the true flavor of the times : " The country was finely settled with enterprising planters, Methodism was strong, and society good. The Rev. W. L. McAlister was my colleague, and the Rev. Joshua Boucher my presiding elder. Two more zeal- ous, faithful, congenial spirits are seldom found. "Brother McAlister and myself formed friendships this year which were never broken. He was a noble specimen of a Christian gentleman and a fine preacher He finally died in Texas a most triumphant death, being at that time a missionary to the Indians. Brother Bou- cher was an elderly man, but of buoyant spirits — a man of great native eloquence and much pulpit power. He also has gone to his reward. He long lived and labored in the cause of Christ in the Tennessee Conference, and especially in North Alabama. " During this year we had a good work of grace, many souls were happily converted, and the Church prospered. We had several good camp - meetings. Camp-meetings in those days were numerously attend- ed, and were productive of happy effects on the public mind. « On this circuit there were many valuable men, min- 74 JOHN B. McFERRIN. isters and laymen. Among the most estimable was the Rev. David Thompson, a venerable minister. He w^as a Scotchman by birth; he came to America when he was young ; was a teacher by profession, a man of much learning and pulpit ability. He lived for many years in the vicinity of Huntsville, where he exerted a happy in- fluence on the public mind. He died during this year a most peaceful and happy death. " Mr. Thompson solemnized the rites of matrimony in many of the best families in the country. On one occasion he rode some ten miles through a snow-storm to perform the marriage ceremony for two highly re- spectable young persons. When he arrived at the place of the wedding he was very much overcome with cold. Some one persuaded him to drink a glass of wine, which he did, afterward seating himself by a warm fire. The gentleman who lianded him the wine, out of kindness, put a dash of brandy into the glass without Mr. Thompson's knowledge. The effect on his brain was sudden and unexpected, so that when he arose to solemnize the rite he found himself intoxicated. Yet, having his right mind, a friend supported him, and he went through without any blunder, but was profoundly mortified. He reported the case to the Quarterly Conference. The Conference excused him, in view of all the facts; but he, not satisfied with the verdict, suspended himself for • three months, both from the ministry and sacraments of the Church." A STATIONED PREACHER. THE next session of the Conference was held at Franklin, Tennessee. If there was any event of special interest or importance in connection with the oc- casion, McFerrin makes no mention of it. He does not even mention the name of the presiding Bishop. The presumption is that the session was peaceful; that the people of Franklin — the county-town of Williamson County, in the very heart of the ridiest and loveliest region of Middle Tennessee — were then, as now, famed for hospitality and comfortable living; and that his two busy and fruitful years on the Limestone Circuit had brought him into notice as a successful preacher and a rising man in the body. He was " read out " for Hunts- ville Station. This was decidedly an upward step for so young a preacher. How he took this appointment, and how he filled it, he himself may tell us: " This was an important appointment. Huntsville was a beautiful town in the heart of a wealthy and in- telligent community; the Methodist Church was strong in numbers, and had many members of intelligence. The young people were gay and fashionable. Alto- gether, it was regarded as rather a difficult charge to fill. I was young, had never filled a city appointment, and had gloomy apprehensions — great fear that I would fail and the cause would suffer in my hands. Besides, I was to follow an able minister, the Rev. W. P. Ken- drick. With this state of feeling I proceeded to my (75)- 76 JOHN B. McFERRIN. work depressed in spirit. I made the matter a subject of prayer to God, as I had always done in all my pre- vious efforts to do good. I strove, moreover, to increase my religious enjoyments and to cultivate the graces of the Spirit, that I might grow to be a wiser and better man. " When I reached Huntsville I was kindly met and cordially received by some personal friends I had made the previous year. An office was soon procured and a place for boarding selected, and I went to work in earnest. " My congregations were large and attentive. I di- vided my time according to strict method. So many hours were devoted to study, so many to pastoral visit- ing, and so many to meals and recreation. I usually preached three times on the Sabbath — morning and evening to the whites, afternoon to the Negroes. One night in the week we had preaching, and one night pub- lic prayer-meeting. Besides these, we had class-meetings at different times in the week, in addition to funerals and visiting the sick. " For several months during the spring I preached at sunrise on Sabbath mornings. My congregations at the sunrise appointments were frequently good and our meetings pleasant. One would suppose that here was work enough to employ our heads, hearts, and hands. Surely there was no time to idle away. " But my health was good, and God helped me. We had some prosperity : several were added to the Church, and a number were brought to God. Some most val- uable acquisitions to Methodism were inade this year, and peace rested upon the congregation. " The Church had been agitated by personal difficul- ties in previous years, especially the year immediately A STATIONED PREACHE.R. 11 preceding. These had involved the preacher. Now^ they were in a measure healed, and it was hoped a foundation for jsrosperity in future was laid. So it proved. " We set on foot a plan to bulla a new and more spa- cious church, which was accomplished the next year. To me it was a year of labor and trial, and in many re- spects a year of peace and Christian enjoyment. My personal associations were very pleasant. One of the most agreeable friends I had was Hon. and Rev. John M. Taylor. He was a local preacher of great worth and a man of fine intelligence. He had been a lawyer, and was a judge of the court, deeply pious, and of good report. His family was pleasant, and contributed much to my happiness. There were others who did much to promote my happiness, and usefulness, whose names I re- member with great pleasure — the Brandons, Mannings, Cains, Withers, Ewings, etc. — some poor, some rich; the salt of the earth. " During this year w^e had a visit from the Rev. Henry B. Bascom, afterward Bishop Bascom. He attended a camp-meeting at Blue Springs, about four miles from Huntsville. He preached several sermons of great abil- ity, but on Monday he delivered the celebrated sermon on " The Resurrection of Christ." The effect on the congregation was overwhelming. After years and years had passed away that sermon was fresh in the memory of hundreds. Perhaps Dr. Bascom never preached a more powerful sermon; the writer certainly never wit- nessed an effect so overpowering by any other sermon he ever heard. " The effect of Dr. Bascom's presence at the camp- meeting had a very paralyzing influence on most of the 78 JOHN B. McFERRIN. preachers present. He was at every' service ; his praise was on every lip, and each preacher seemed to shrink from public gaze. The Rev. William McMahon was present. He was Dr. Bascom's old and long-tried friend. He brought the Doctor to the meeting ; it was his own neighborhood, and he of course took but little part in the preaching, though himself an able and popular min- ister. The writer felt deep interest in the success of the meeting; many of his own congregation were present, and hence he had to bear the brunt of labor when the pulpit was not occupied by Bascom. He worked with zeal, and strove to address himself to his task with as much fortitude as possible." There are modest but unmistakable intimations in the foregoing extracts that McFerrin's mental development was rapid and his extraordinary individuality making itself felt and recognized. There was micommon metal in a man of his years w^ho could preach in turn with Bas- com while McMahon was on the ground. The Hunts- ville Station, that he had dreaded, tested but did not over- tax his resources. Even thus early was begun his life- long habit of being equal to the occasion, exhibiting that reserve force which is perhaps the surest mark of greatness. His methods of study and work are given by himself. He fails to tell us what books he read, but it would require no great shrewdness to make a pretty good guess about it. The Bible first and most of all; the works of Wesley, Fletcher, Clarke, Watson, and the Methodist standards generally ; the Armintan Mag- azine j a sprinkling of the best books of Calvinistic writ- ers, read inquiringly and dissentingly ; " Dick's Philoso- phy of the Future State;" a few of the best standard authors in English literature in the departments of his- A STATIONED PREACHER. 79 tory, biography, and possibly some of the essayists. Did he then, or ever, read Shakespeare? His writings and his speech give no sign tliat he ever did so. The only poetry he ever quoted was from the sacred lyrists, save that at times, when he was in his most rollicking mood in debating, he would venture on a couplet or stanza of humorous doggerel that would upset at once his antago- nist and the gravity of his audience. He read no nov- els or serial stories, such as now flood our literature; nor did he read any daily newspaper, that scatterer of the thought and robber of the time of this later generation. He digested and assimilated what he read, and was there- fore better read than many who have gone over a him- dred books to his one. Let it be said here, the indis- criminate and excessive reading indulged in by many persons in the ministry and out of it, in this age of cheap printing and freethinking, is worse than illiteracy itself. A literary junk-shop is worse than an empty room. Keen-sighted and wise John Wesley had in mind the dissipating and enfeebling effects of overreading and aimless reading when he advised his preachers to draw all their studies one way. The temptations to do other- wise were less in his and McFerrin's day than now. So let young preachers and all other Christian people who mny read these pages take this kindly hint. A RISING MAN. McFERRIN was now recognized as a rising man in the Church. He rose by force of character and the quality and quantity of the work he did. He made the blunders inseparable from inexperience, and thus educated himself for better and still better service, as all other men who have risen in the world have had to do. It is said of him that when he was a boy-Chris- tian, just after his conversion, his father would occa- sionally call on him to pray at family worship. He never hesitated, but was willing and ready to do the best he could. In the service of song in the family he would sing as if he were at a camp-meeting, but was now too high and again too low; his father often had to stop him and correct his blunders. This did not seem to dis-, courage him ; but, with a desire to imjarove, he contin- ued to pray and sing when called on to do so. The oftener he was told of his blunders the harder he would try to avoid them. This characteristic exhibited itself now when he was making his way to the front among his brethren. He was not backward in taking part in the discussion of questions that came before the Church. On one occasion an exciting question was sprung, in which he took a prominent part. After the meeting adjourned, the old preacher with whom he had crossed swords said to him: " Brother John, I am much older than 3-ou are, and I wish to give you some good advice. If you keep on (80) A RISING MAN. 81 talking so much in Church dehberations you will soon talk yourself down." " Well, if I do, I will talk myself up again," was the quick reply. Never was a declaration of the sort more perfectly fulfilled. For nearly fifty years there was no question of interest to the Church in the discussion of which he did not take part. He got many a hard blow, and gave many a blow in return. It was impossible for him to keep quiet when a contest was going on. He was like that officer in the late war who on the day of battle w^as guided in his line of march by the sound of the enemy's guns, taking the nearest way to where the fighting was hottest. The three elements of a ready and effective debater were his — conscious strength, strong convictions, and undaunted courage. With the frame and untamed energy of an athlete, the vigor of his onset was a won- der to all and a delight to those who were on his side. His vim was splendid, exciting the admiration even of his antagonists. He took one side or the other with un- doubting confidence, and put his whole soul into its ad- vocacy or defense; he was no trimmer or compromiser, but a fighter who went in for victory and felt able to win it. His courage rose with the occasion; he was never at his best until he encountered some unexpected opposition. A rebuff that would have overwhelmed a timid man only roused him to greater exertion and evoked fresh resources. " What a man McFerrin is! " exclaimed George W. Brush on one occasion v\rhen, at the Louisville Conference, he had met and overcome formidable opposition in the consummation of some work he had in hand. " His resources are inexhausti- ble!" continued Brush, in a burst of admiration, as Mc' 82 JOHN B. McFBRRIN. Ferrin stood before the body a gladiator, master of the arena. Antagonism never intimidated, but only spurred him ; apparently impending defeats were turned by him into most signal victories. Such a man could not be kept down. If by any blunder he stumbled, he was sure to be instantly on his feet and ready to renew the fight. Had he been the only man of mark among his col- leagues, McFerrin's rapid rise would not have been sur- prising. But belonging to the Tennessee Conference at that time were several men of extraordinary genius, and not a few who stood above the line of mediocrity. There was Robert Paine, the future Bishop, who had the dig- nity of a Roman Senator, the wisdom of a practical philosopher, the soul of a hero, a wit that was bright and keen, and at times an eloquence that was magnifi- cent. There was Green, already rising before the Church in his gfand proportions as a preacher of raie powers, an ecclesiastical statesman wise and strong, a conversationalist who in the social circle charmed those who were thrilled and won by his sermons from the pulpit, a massive, tactful man whose figure would have towered among the highest in any company. There was Fountain E. Pitts, a very magician among preach- ers, who sung like a seraph, whose marvelous discourses were oratorical cyclones set to music, and who at camp- meetings and other great popular assemblies swayed the multitudes at will, producing effects that prove his title to be ranked with the greatest modern masters of pop- ular eloquence. There was John W. Manner, whose budding genius was exciting the admiration of the peo- ple, and whose silvery voice and almost matchless elo- cution took captive the hearts of the multitude, and who rose in pulpit power until his fame filled the Churches. A RISING MAN. 83 There was Thomas L. Douglass yet on the stage, a mighty man of God, one of the giant-like men whose tread shook these Western lands. There was Thomas Maddin, as clean as a snow-flake, as wise as a sage, whose preaching made truth as clear as sunlight, and whose ways were as winning as talent and goodness could make them. And there were others, still young- er men, who became distinguished in Tennessee and elsewhere, and whose names are at this hour shining with steady luster among the lights of Methodist history in the West. Grand, gifted, holy men! He- roes, saints, martyrs, each one is worthy of a volume to himself; but the limits allowed in these pages per- mit only passing glances as the noble figures pass be- fore us in the march of events. Their names are re- corded in the book that shall be opened in the great day. Their monument is the great Church whose foundations they laid.' It was among such men as these that McFerrin was thrown in these early years of his ministry, and the stamp and power of leadership must have been seen and felt in him when they put and kept him in the front of the battle. But we shall miss the mark widely if we omit to mention that which was, after all, the chief fac- tor in his success — absolute fidelity to all the trusts com- mitted to him. He never slighted any work given him to do. He was willing to give to it the hard labor, the attention to details, the concentrated energy necessary to all real success. He was willing to pay the price, and the law of sowing and reaping worked its sure and gracious result for him. He was in a good sense a thrifty man; but it may be safely claimed that, during a ministry of more than sixty years, he never in a single JOHN B. McFERRIN. instance was known to subordinate tlie interests of the Church to his own, to evade a responsibility, or to shirk a duty because it was laborious or difficult. It was this quality that won for him the confidence of the people at the start, and held it to the last. He possessed extraor- dinary popular gifts, and would have contested for the highest prizes on any arena; but it was this one golden talent of fidelity that ennobled and irradiated his whole career. He was not lacking in what might be called the arts of popularity; they were with him inborn and ineradicable. He could be grave in the pulpit, playful in the parlor, ready at repartee with an assailant, sympa- thetic with saints, and sociable with sinners, hail-fellow- well-met with casual acquaintances, and solemn and ten- der at the bedside of the sick and the dying. " What a politician he would have made!" exclaimed his friend. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, after an hour with McFerrin in his office in 1880; "he could have had any thing he wanted." This was true enough, but he had what too many politicians lack — a Christian heart, a Christian conscience, and a Christian purpose in life, and so made a straight line from the day he took upon himself the vows of a minister of the gospel until he surrendered his commission with his life. The popular instinct is infallible; it recognizes a true man. It may be tempo- rarily misled or confused; like the magnetic needle, it may at times be affected by disturbing forces, but it will at last point in the right direction. Let every y_pung preacher, and every other young man who may read these chapters, take the lesson : honesty, trueness, fidel- ity come first in the conditions of real and lasting suc- cess in life. It is the core of genuine manhood, the fulcrum of the lever that moves men and communities A ItlSING MAN. 85 onward and upward, the grace that elicits the commen- dation that will make the judgment-day a day of tri- umph to every true-hearted man and woman : " Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." GOES TO NASHVILLE. THE Methodist itinerants truly itinerated in those early days. It was no evidence of failure or cause of complaint for a preacher to be changed at the end of one year. Asbury and his colleagues had set the fash- ion that way. They were called traveling preachers, and it w^as no misnomer. The session of the Tennessee Conference the following year (1831) was held at Paris, a new and thriving town west of the Tennessee River. The journey from Huntsville to the seat of the Confer- ence was a long one, and was made on horseback by McFerrin. Of that long ride we have only this item of information: "On the way I preached at Perry ville, a little village on the Tennessee River." It was one of the many sermons dropped on the way-side by a man who was always ready to preach at shortest notice. In this respect he was like his great contemporary, Dr. Lovick Pierce, who never declined an invitation when able to preach. Preaching was a passion with them both. The preacher who does not love to preach may yet be called thereto, but needs . to take a higher degree in preparation for his holy vocation. The devout Bishop Roberts presided at this Confer- ence. A revival — " a good work of grace," as McFer- rin called it — blessed the session and hallowed it in his memory. There was usually a great stir whenever the Methodists met in Conference. Finding the people ex- pectant, they left them rejoicing in the salvation of God. (8C) COES TO NASHVILLE. 87 In the election of delegates to the General Confer- ence thfc name of John B. McFerrin appears as a re- serve — no small token of confidence for a man only twenty-four years old. A young Church legislator in- deed! It so happened that he was not then required to exercise legislative functions, but this vote was signifi- cant and prophetic; the elements of leadership had al- read}' appeared in the robust, ready, and resolute young preacher. The rapid rise of McFerrin as a preacher was made apparent in the next appointment assigned him. He was sent to Nashville, which was not the Nashville of to-day, but was even then not only the capital of the State of Tennessee, but remarkable for the number of its distinguished men and the intelligence and refinement of its society. The star of the self-taught young man, divinely called, commissioned, and equipped for the work of the ministry, was climbing upward in obedience to the law enunciated by Bishop Bascom, that "a measure of success always attends ministerial fidelity." We will let McFerrin himself speak of his first ministry in Nash- ville: " I was appointed, with the Rev. Lorenzo D. Overall, to the city of Nashville. From Paris to Nashville we had a very pleasant ride and good company. One of my traveling companions was the Rev. Edward Drom- goole Simms, who afterward w^as Professor at La Grange College, and in the State University of Ala- bama. He was a young man of sweet spirit, and be- came very distinguished as a ripe scholar and successful teacher. He died suddenly in the vigor of manhood. His death was much lamented. " On our arrival at Nashville Brother Overall ano&y and everlasting life after death.'' Has he any reason- able ground on which to entertain these delightful views, these glorious aniicipatiions .' We answer that he has a strong founda-- tion, a sure base, on which to build these desires, these expectations. He believes in the resurrection of the body, the certainty of the resurrection of the body, in view of the fact that Jesus Christ rose from tlie dead. If Christ be not risen, the dead will rise not ; and if the dead rise not, our preaching is vain and your faith is vain, and we are yet in our sins and are found false witnesses before God. But if Christ did rise from the dead, if he did take human- ity to heaven, if he did carry his crucified and risen body to the riglit hand of the Father, and thus became the first-fruits of them that slept, then we have reason to believe that those who sleep in Je.'ius God will bring with him. But questions preceding this arise in our minds: Did Christ die.' did the Son of God veil himself in the t)ody of the flesh, lead a life of toil and labor and useful- ness and of great notoriety.' and was he put to death.' Did he die on the cross as a malefactor? was he crucified.' did he yield up his spirit.' was lie buried in Joseph's tomb? did he come forth from the tomb the third morning? does he live again? and is he making intercession for his saints at the right hand of God? These are important questions, and demand a sincere and satis- factory answer. We are not dependent upon the records of Mat- thew, Mark, Luke, and John alone for the history of the life and la- THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE. 225 bors and death of the Son of God. That Jesus of Nazareth was born nearly nineteen hundred years, ago, in the days of the Csesars, that he grew up to manhood, that he preached in the temple and in the synagogue and in the streets of Jerusalem, in the land of Judea and throughout Galilee, and wrought many notable mir- acles and attracted great attention of multitudes of people, both learned and illiterate, rich and poor, can not be doubted at all. We have just as authentic information of the history of the life of Christ and of the notoriety of the Nazarene, as he was called in the days of the Caesars, as we have of any other event of im- portance in those ancient times. Jewish history and Roman his- tory, and the traditions of the ancients that came from the fathers in the beginning of the first century, go to testify that Jesus, the son of Mary and the Son of God, lived and preached in the city of Jerusalem, and died within the outer walls of that great city. His trial was official. He was brought before Pilate, the gov- ernor of the province; he was accused, witnesses were introduced, a formal investigation ensued. He was then sent to Herod, who was still king with subordinate power ; by Herod he was examined, and then sent back to Pilate. Pilate, after testifying to his inno- cence and purity of character, affirmed that he found nothing in him worthy of death, yet consented to his execution, signed the death-warrant, and handed him over to the officers to be put to death according to the law. Above his head was written in Greek and Latin and Hebrew, " This is Jesus, the King of the Jews ; " and when he was requested to alter the supei-scription and write " He said, I am the King of the Jews," Pilate answered, " What I have written, I have written.'' AH this trial and this condemna- tion and this crucifixion and his burial were official transactions, known to the citizens of Jerusalem, and published abroad every- where throughout the civilized world; and no man, Jew or Gen- tile, Christian or heathen, pretends to doubt the fact that these scenes of the suffering of the Son of God were endured in the days of Pilate by the son of Mary, the Saviour of the world. From the grave he rose the third morning and was seen by the disciples, talked with them, ate with them, and at twelve different times appeared in his risen form in such manner as to remove all doubt as to his identity. His disciples went abroad, having seen the Christ, testif^-ing to the world that God had raised him from the dead. Finally he was seen of Stephen, when he was stoned 15 226 JOHN B. McFERRIN. to death; kneeling down, he looked up to heaven and said, "I" see Jesus standing at the right hand of God," and committed his spirit into the hands of the risen Saviour. He was seen by Paul,' the great Apostle of the Gentiles, who was caught up to the third heaven and saw things unlawful for man to utter, but affirmed that he saw the risen Saviour, who was living at the right hand of the Father. Again this risen Saviour lives in the heart of every genuine believer. Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has the witness in himself, and can say with the ancient patriarchy " ' I know that my Redeemer liveth.' I have the consciousness in my heart that the life I live is a life of faith, that it is no more I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me." Now, then, Christ having risen from the dead, and the question of his resurrection being forever settled in the mind of the gen- uine Christian, he believes that those who sleep in Jesus God will bring with him ; that all they that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man and shall come forth; that this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption, and death shall be swallowed up in victory, and bodies redeemed, like the crucified body of the Son of God, shall be admitted into everlasting habitations, there to join with the multitudes that sing unto Him that hath loved us and hath washed us from our sins in his own blood — to him be glory forever. But we now proceed to look at the next grand pillar that sup- ports the truth of this doctrine that constitutes the broad founda- tion on which the hope of the Christian rests : " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope.'' Here you perceive that there is some- thing more to be wrought in the soul than the mere faith in the death and resurrection of the Son of God. The idea is that we are to be born again and conformed to the image of our risen Lord. All men will be raised at the last day, but some will come forth to a resurrection of damnation; it is only a special or pe- culiar class that will rise to a resurrection of life. Christ says, i' Except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God." The text says, "We are begotten again unto a lively hope." Mr. Wesley translates it, "We are- regenerated and made new creatures in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus becoming the sons of God." The idea of the Apostle is the ten- der relation existing between the father and child ■, -we are to be- THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE. 227 come children of God by the new birth, by the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost; we are to be changed in our moral nature, transformed into the likeness and image of Christ. Un- less this change is wrought in the soul, and unless this glorious transformation is brought about in our moral and spiritual char- acter, we have no well-grounded hope of future happiness. Man may desire to be happy, may desire to escape the sorrows of death, may desire to enter upon the joys of the glorified ; but he has no well-grounded hope of entering into those joys until he is born again ; born from above, born of the Spirit, adopted into the fam- ily of Christ, begotten again unto this lively hope. Wherever this change is really wi'ought in the soul, and man is brought into fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ, he has the witness that he is born of God. Then he can adopt the lan- guage of the Apostle and say, " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Upon these two grand pillars rests the hope of the Christian — the res- urrection of the Son of God, and the realization in our hearts that we have been raised to newness of life in him ; the life we are now living is a life of faith in the Son of God. We come now to consider : The Nature of This Hope. — It is called by the apostle " a lively hope ; '' not a dead, inactive, joyless hope, but a living, vital principle in the soul, imparting* vigor to the mind, and creating exhilarating joy in the heart. The hope of the Christian, compre- hending a desire for the joys of the celestial world and expecting the realization of the promise of the everlasting covenant, creates a lively emotion in the soul, which enables the Christian to know by happy experience that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved he has a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Being conscious of his acceptance with God, he re- joices with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The Christian religion does not consist in mere forms and cer- emonies and outward observances ; it is not a mere ritualism, but it is a religion of the heart. It sanctifies the affections, elevates the feelings, imparts joy to the soul because the believer is con- scious of his acceptance with God ; consequently he has in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, and his joy in re- ligion enables him to triumph in the God of his salvation and te 228 JOHN B. McFERRIN. count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. In a word, it is what we call experience — a glorious realization in our hearts that God's Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God ; and thus being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have access into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God ; and not only so, but we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh pa- tience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us — a joy un- speakable and full of glory. The Object of Hope. — We hope for an inheritance. Here you see again the idea carried out by the inspired Apostle — the idea of sonship, of heirship. A child of God inherits the promised good that awaits hira in the future. It is not to be anticipated by those who have not been born again, but by the heirs of God according to the promise. The legitimate child inherits the estate of his father ; so the child of God inherits the blessings that are promised. It is not given to hypocrites. It is not given to the unregenerate, or to those who are strangers and aliens from God, but is given to God's children, to those who have been born of the Spirit, to those who have been adopted into the family of God, to those who are heirs of the kingdom. This inheritance is dSscribed as " incorruptible, unde- filed, and that fadeth not away." It is undefiled, and therefore it is incorruptible; and being undefiled and incorruptible, it shall nei'er fade away. All the pleasures and treasures of earth are temporary, evanescent, passing away, withering as the grass, and all glory of man as the flower of grass; the grass withereth, and the flower falleth and returns to dust. So the pleasure of sin shall perish and fade and wither as the grass of the field, as leaves of the forest; because all things in this life are defiled, and the earth itself was cursed for man's sake; thorns and briers and nox- ious weeds it brings forth, and it is in the sweat of his face that lie makes the bread upon which he lives, and then his brightest hopes go down to the dust like his own putrid flesh; but the in- heritance of the saints in heaven, being pure, undefiled, unstained, incorrupt by sin, will know no depreciation, no decay, no death, no end. The soul will spring into immortal youth, and all the THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE. 229 joys of paradise will be as an ever-blooming garden of Eden be- fore it was cursed by sin. " There," as we ofttimes sing, " ever- lasting spring abides, and never-withering flowers." Every thing on the earth has been cursed because of man's sin. In paradise, before man violated God's law, all was pure, all was bright, all was beautiful ; but sin entered and drove man out of his original Eden. All earth was cursed for his sake ; and now, amidst toil and strife, many disappointments and losses, and a thousand cares, he must work his way through his earthly pilgrimage, and finally he drops into the tomb and is closed from life forever ; but in heav- en, that pure world, that city of our God, that home of the faithful, he shall live forever, free from turmoil and free from death. This is a reserved inheritance ; it is kept for you ; it is reserved and kept in store for those who are faithful ; for those who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be re- vealed at the last time. This is the glorious inheritance of which the Apostle speaks, and shall be the crowning glory of all of God's children who have been made pure by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost, who have continued steadfast to the end. The Source of This Hope. — All this rich inheritance is of grace, of the mercy of God, of the abundant mercy of God — that mercy manifested in the gift of his Son, who himself counted not his own life dear to him, but according to the will of the Father, by his own voluntary action, laid down his life to redeem a sinful and ruined world. Sinners are saved by God's mercy. There is no salvation by good works — no inheritance enjoyed as a reward of our virtue separate and distinct from the great scheme of redemption. Man owes all to God, all to God through Jesus Christ, who is the gift of the Father's love; who suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. It is to this abundant mercy that we are indebted for that hope, that pre- cious hope, that lively hope that stimulates us in the conflicts of life and enables us to rejoice in the prospect of a brighter and better home in heaven. St. Peter, filled with a sense of God's goodness, and over- whelmed by his inspiration of mercy, introduces this passage by a note of praise: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Praise to his name! Honor and majesty and power and adoration be unto him whose mercy endureth forever, 230 JOHN B. McFBRRIN. and who in his abundant goodness redeemed a lost and ruined race by the death o£ his only begotten Son ! We should all join with the Apostle in the language'of inspiration, and say : " Blessed be the God and p'ather of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inherit- ance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time." And now we come to apply this subject to our friend and dis- tinguished fellow-citizen whose remains lie before us incased and ready for interment. Mr. Polk, as we have seen, seemed almost a man of destiny. His success in life was remarkable. He was modest, cultivated, high-toned in his morals, a man of untarnished reputation, and was loved and admired by all classes of his countrymen. Against his moral character no charge was ever brought. No man in the United States, filling the high otBces that he has occupied, ever maintained a purer character for sound morality'. His Christian principles were genuine; his belief in God and the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures was firm, unshaken. He always had the highest respect for the Christian religion, and always exhibited i-everence for the hous(5 of God and the institutions of the gospel. He was a regular attendant at public worship, and observed the Christian Sabbath with great punctuality. In all his demeanor, during the time of his presidential administration, he maintained the character of a Christian gentleman and paid due respect to the institutions of our holy religion. He was brought up by a Christian mother, who early trained him in the doctrines and duties of Christianity. She was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. On one occasion she took her infant son to the chi^rch to have him dedicated to God in holy baptism, but through some misunderstanding between his father and the pastor in charge, in regard to the rules and regulations of the congregation, it was deferred, and he reached maturity without having received the ordinance of baptism. He was a Wesleyan in sentiment, and believed in the doctrine and polity of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ?Iis wife, an in- telligent Christian woman, was also a member of the Presbyterian Church; but it was understood by her, as well as by Mr. Polk Tim CIIRISriAN'S HOPE. 231 himself, that he was ii Methodist in his views, and from the year 1S33 he determined that when he joined the Church he would con- nect himself with that organization. On his return from Washington in 1849 he determined to make Nashville his permanent home, and for a time he was busily em- ployed in fitting up his residence. His health was feeble, but ha hoped that rest from political labors and the recreation of prepar- ing his mansion foroccupancy would soon restore him. But com- ing hoine through cholera atmosphere, he seemed to some extent affected by the poison of that malignant disease, and was soon brought to his room and to his bed. Early in his sickness he sent for Rev. Dr. Edgar ^his Avife's pastor, who had charge of the First Presbyterian Church in this city — and your speaker, and had a free religious conversation with them, and they joined him in pra^'er and supplication, and asked God in his providence to restore him to health; and in any event,, whether for life or for death, that he might be taken under special guardianship of his heavenly Father and prepared for the great future, as well as for the respon- sibilities of the present life. Soon after, he sought a private in- terview with your speaker, and made known to him his desire and purpose to receive the ordinance of baptism, and to be admitted into the communion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to re- ceive the sacrament of the Lord's-supper, and thus identify him- self with the Church of his choice. He said: "My mother is a Presbyterian, and I love her and respect her pastor; my wife is a Presbyterian, for whom I have the fondest affection as a Christian, and her pastor is a man whom I respect, and I respect the Presbyterian Church; but I am a Methodist, and desire to identify myself with the Methodist Church, and I have sent for you as my old friend, with whom I have long been acquainted, and desire that you shall adininister the ordinance of baptism and receive me into the Church and give me the emblems of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ." In due time his wishes were met, and in the presence of his family, and of the pastor o£ his mother and his wife, and other friends, he was bap- tized, admitted into the Church, and received the hoi} commun- ion. His faith was strong, his confidence unbounded, and he was brought into fellowship with the Church after strong assurances of his belief in the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. He said to his brother V.'illiam : " I am now about to join the Church 232 JOHN B. McFERRIN. a duty that I long since should have performed, and that long ago I made up my mind to perform, but in the hurry of the business of life and the political affairs of the country I postponed it till now. But I go forward in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who I hope and believe has pardoned all my sins and washed me from all my iniquities." Upon this confession he was baptized and received into the Church, had his name en- rolled upon the Church Register, and thus died in full fellowship with the MtKendree Church of this city. Such in brief is the religious life and experience of the Honorable James K. Polk — a man whom we all loved, and whose death we all mourn this day, and whose departure will be regretted throughout the length and breadth of this great land. During- this year McFerrin had what 'le termed " a little discussion " with Dr. Patton, of the Methodist Episcopalian^ published at Knoxville, Tennessee. Some one charged the Methodists ■with Toryism during the Revolutionary War, and he warmly repelled the accu- sation. He had also " a little turn " with the Methodist Expositor and the Southern Methodist Pulpit. These contests seemed to him necessary, and he mentions in connection with them that the Christian Advocate still li\'ed and grew in favor with the people. In the year 1875 McFerrin wrote down some mem- oiabilia of his life during a period of great interest — from 1849 to 1878 — extracts from which are given here. The narrative is a little broken, being the crowding memories of a busy old man reviewing events in Church and State that were startlingly rapid ■ in their evolution and tremendous in their consequences. The kind reader who follows him will get a contemporaneous glimpse of a vast, shifting panorama from a man who had eyes in his head and was not tongue-tied. THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. AT the Tennessee Conference for this year (1849) we had Bish ops Soiile and Capers as presiding officers. Bishop Soule, however, was in feeble health, and most of the labor was per- formed by Bishop Capers. lie gave general satisfaction ; indeed, he was one of the most accomplished gentlemen and eloquent preach- ers America ever produced. The Conference was a delightful season of refreshing. Sinners were converted and saints rejoiced. Delegates to the General Conference, which was to meet in May, 1850, were elected. The following were chosen: J. B. McP'errin, F. E. Pitts, Thomas W. Handle, A. L. P. Green, M. M. Henkle, J. W Hanner, Edward Wadsworth, J. F. Hughes, G. W. Mar- tin, and \V. D. F. Sawrie. At this Conference resolutions were adopted warmly commend- ing the Chrtsttati Advocate and Lady's Comfanipn., and asking the General Conference to locate a Publishing House for the Church in the city of Nashville. The Advocate paid this year a handsome dividend to the several Conferences sustaining it. On my return I left Nashville for H0II3' Springs, Mississippi, the seat of the Memphis Conference. I made the trip by watei to Memphis, thence by stage to Holly Springs. Bishop Capers presided. The Conference was remarkably pleasant. The mis- sionary anniversary was a success. Bishop Capers made a fine address. I followed. Collection over $i,ooo. Holly Springs at that time was a beautiful and growing town, full of hospitality, and entertained the Conference in fine style. In the month of January of this year (1850) I visited the Ala- bama Conference, which convened at Columbus, Mississippi, on Wednesday, the i6th. Bishop Capers presided, assisted by Bishop Paine. I made the trip to Columbus on horseback — two hundred and forty miles — in company withMaj. H. P. Bostick and the Rev. E. H. Hatcher. The weather was unpleasant and the roads.rough, yet we had a pleasant and safe trip. In all my controversies I seldom came in contact with ministers (233i 234 JOI/jV B. McFERRlN. or iiieinbers of our own Church. Sometimes, however, it was necessary to have sharp contests even with brethren beloved. Wlien such conflicts are necessary, they should be conducted in the spirit of Christian meekness. A man's personal religious en- joyment depends much on the spirit with which he meets tlie com- mon conflicts of life and the manner in \vhich he performs his work before the public. And surely the honor of our holy Chris- tianity should lead all public men, and especially all ministers, to conduct themselves with great propriety. I always found that, to discharge my duties faithfully and successfully, much prayer ■was essential. Amidst all my duties I tried to keep up the spirit and practice of godliness. Family prayer I never neglected. Secret prayer was ray daily habit; and as for preaching, I did much of that — not only on Sundays, but during the week, at fu- nerals and at protracted meetings. Thank God ! religion was to me a great comfort in all my trials and labors. The session of the General Conference of 1850 was remarka- ble for its brevity, mainly on account of the prevalence of cholera in St. Louis. I was on the Committee on Itinerancy, and chair- man of the Committee on Revisal. Amidst all the sickness I kept entirely well, Jiaving had during the whole time no symptoms of the disease prevailing in the city. The election of Dr. Bascora to the office of Bishop was one of the important occurrences of the session. He was ordained after a great sermon delivered by himself. He lived to preside only at one Conference, and then fell in the prime and vigor of his man- hood. Dr. Bascom was a great preacher and a man of masterly intellect. I was re-elected editor of the Christmn Advocate^ and Dr. Henkle was elected editor of the Lady's Compamon. On the 31st of May I made my introduction for a new term of fouryears, ha\'ing edited the paper and managed its finances for ten years. Dr. Henkle now became sole editor of the Lady's Companion, though it was still printed at the Advocate office. Soon after the General Conference had adjourned a prospectus •was issued for the publication of a paper at Memphis. This called forth an editorial on the multiplication of papers, which is found in the Nashville Christian Advocate of June 28. In that editorial I expressed myself freely, and delivered thoughts and made predictions of which I am not ashamed now after a lapse of twenty-five years. It was a sad mistake when the friends of the THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. 235 Church in the South resolved to increase the number of their weekly journals to so large an extent. I say nothing against the worthy brethren who conduct these papers. They are good men and true; but it is simply absurd to suppose a newspaper can be made a first-class publication without capital. And I wish here and now to record the fact that I have always opposed thJ multi- plication of papers in our Church, and also of schools and colleges under our supervision. An ably conducted religious journal is a great auxiliary to the pulpit, and a grand help in pushing forward the cause of Christ among men; but alas! oftentimes they become instruments of evil. After many years' experience, I am fullv of opinion that the most important thing in conducting a religious paper is to know what to keep out of its columns. It requires sound judgment, good taste, and a knowledge of human nature, as well as learning and general intelligence, to make a good and popular paper. In June and July of this year the cholera prevailed again in Nashville to an alarming extent. Many persons died, but it was most fatal among the colored people. Several citizens of promi- nence were its victims — among the rest our principal clerk and book-keeper. Col. John McClellan. He died on the 4th of July He was a noble man. Finely cultivated, with a heart warm with benevolence and a soul full of wit and good humor, he was a great favorite with those who knew him. Withal, he was a devout Christian and an ardent Methodist. I greatly deplored his loss. In September, in company with Bishop Soule, I attended the Louisville Conference, at Greensburg, Kentucky, where we met Bishop Andrew. Bishop Soule was not in good health, though he stood the trip (stage-riding) very well indeed. On the 8th of this month (September) Bishop Bascom died at the house of the Rev. E. Stevenson, Louisville, Kentucky. At the Greensburg Conference we met his brethren, who sorely la- mented his death and gave us many particulars of his last illness and his victory over the fear of the last enemy. The Tennessee Conference met this year at Athens, Alabama, Bishop Capers presiding. I was providentially hindered ; the first that I had failed to attend since I was admitted on trial. The autumn of this year was devoted to the interests of the Christian Advocate. In the meantime I preached a great deal and strove to culti:-ate personal pict^-. 236 JOHN B. McFERRIN. The Louisville and Kentucky Conferences became satisfied tiiat they could not sustain the Louisville Christian Advocate without pecuniary loss ; hence it was proposed to merge it into the Nash- ville paper, and to call the consolidated sheet the Nashville and Louisville Christian Advocate. To this proposition the Book Agents and Publishing Committees of both papers agreed, and the union was made, which took effect January, 1851. The Lou- isville department was to have an editor who should act as a cor- responding or associate editor. The paper was still to be pub- lished at Nashville, and I had charge of its finances. Those representing the Louisville department selected the Rev. C. B. Parsons as the Louisville editor. Enlarging our paper and pro- curing soon thereafter new type and a fine Hoe's power-press from New York, we began Vol. XV. under favorable auspices. Dr. Parsons was a popular preacher, and it was hoped he would make a useful and successful editor. He had been, long before his conversion, a stage actor; but, having abandoned the stage, he entered the ministry and became a very popular preacher. He was a man of commanding talents and popular pulpit style; was a little fickle, and in after years he united with the Northern MetKodist Church. He died a few 3'ears afterward. He still had a warm heart for the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, and his family continued therein. I think Dr. Parsons was a good man, and I hope he died at peace with God. He and I were al- ways on good terms. Stability, firmness, settled principles are great things in a Christian, and especially a Christian minister. I now had eleven years' experience in conducting the paper ed- itorially and financially. Five years I had had the help of Dr. Henkle, but the other six I had managed it alone ; and while he aisled me I gave a portion of my time to the Ladies' Companion. When I was first elected editor we had no patronage worth naming north of Tennessee. When, however, we had gained Kentucky and Missouri, our brethren began to see the importance of having a paper on the border. Hence, as I have elsewhere said, the Methodist Expositor was set up in Cincinnati, then trans- ferred to Louisville, and now, after a failure at Louisville, it was merged into the Advocate at Nashville. Now all this cost a great deal ; but it was a pleasure to me to know that among these in- terests and failures the Nashville Christian Adx'ocate was prosper- ous, and continued to increase its circulation. After reviewing THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. 237 the whole history of our publishing enterprises, and now after a lapse of many years, I am surprised at the success that attended our efforts. I was young (only thirty -three years of age) when as- signed to the difficult and delicate work of conducting an impor- tant Church journal. I had no experience in this line, and the business of the office was financially embarrassed. Yet God gave us success. Our paper grew all the time in the number of sub- scribers, and I trust in influence. In the issue of February 13 I made another appeal, having started our new press and put on our new dress. In June of this year, I preached, by request, the annual sermon at La Grange College^ Alabama. I traveled from Nashville to La Grange in a buggy, in company with the Rev. Joseph Cross, who was then stationed at McKendree, in the city of Nashville. We were three days on our journey, and reached La Grange on Saturday evening, the 7th. On the 8th the sermon was delivered. The Rev. P. P. Neely preached in the afternoon, and Dr. Cross at night. At this Commencement, quite to my surprise, the college con- ferred on me the honorary degree of D.D. This is a title to which I did not aspire. I felt myself unworthy the honor. The Rev. R. H. Rivers had the same degree conferred upon him at the same time. Randolph-Macon College, in Virginia, honored me with the same degree about the same period, neither college having any knowledge of what the other intended to do. I was much obliged to these two institutions for their good feeling and for the honors conferred ; nevertheless, these favors in no wise impressed me that I merited such distinction. The calling and work of a freacher of the gosfcl I esteem the highest honor ever conferred upon mor- tal man. My journey with Dr. Cross was very pleasant. He was intel- ligent, sprightly, and full of good humor. He impressed me that he was a Christian in experience and w-as striving to be one in practical life. I have no reason now to change my opinion, not- withstanding Dr. Cross afterward, and often, gave evidence of fickleness of mind. In October of this year I visited the Louisville Conference at Elkton, Kentucky. Bishop Paine presided. ■ The meeting was one of interest. From this Conference I returned, spent a few days at home, and proceeded to Lebanon, the seat of the Tennes- 238 JOHN B. McFERRIN. see Conference. Bishop Paine presided. We had a good Con- ference, nothing unusual occurring more than a pleasant season. In the month of November I visited the Memphis Confer- ence at Paducah, Kentucky. While we were rejoicing in our prosperity in the South, the great Church suit at New York was decided in our favor. This decision gave great satisfaction to the South, and insured to our Church the means of prosecuting its publishing interest. It for a time quieted the public mind, and seemed to put an end to the heated discussion of the questions at issue. The country needed rest. On January 8, 1852, we issued the first sheet of our paper. No. 2 — having omitted No. i for Christmas week — for the year 1852. Eleven years had passed since my connection with the establish- ment. We still had prosperity. About this time I had a discus- sion with a Baptist paper published in Louisville, Kentucky, on Methodist Church polity. The paper made the oft-repeated charge of the aristocratic and oppressive character of our Church government. I defended my Church, of course. This discussion was lively, and extended through several weeks. About those times there was a wonderful disposition to assail Methodist doc- trines, Methodist government and usages. In March we held a grand missionary meeting on the depart- ure of the Rev. John Matthews as a missionary to California. During this year I dedicated the new Methodist Church in Mc- Minnville, and also an elegant and spacious house of worship in Pulaski. This was a new house, built mainly through the instru- mentality of Thomas Martin, long a prosperous and wealthy mer- chant in Pulaski. At many places I was in revivals of religion this year, and enjoyed the preaching of the word. This year the Tennessee Conference met at Pulaski, Bishop Andrew presiding, assisted by Bishop Soule. The session opened on the 15th of October. The occasion was a season of refreshing to the preachers and time of revival in the Church. Souls were brought to Christ and a deep impression was made on the public mind. Dr. Rosser, of the Virginia Conference, was with us, and preached with zeal. During this year Dr. Latta, of Cincinnati, died. He was a man of fine talents, and his death was regarded as a great loss to the Church. I had occasion to note this year the resignation of Bishop Ham- THE FIRS7 PERSON SINGULAR. 239 line, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, North. This was the first instance of a Bishop resigning in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Hamline's views differed from those of the preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His pecul- iar notions are set forth in his speech in the General Conference of 1844, where he represents the Bishop as a moderator, or a mere president or officer, who could be removed with or without a cause, at the will of the General Conference. In January, 1853, we began a new volume of the Advocate un- der some apprehensions. Several new papers had been started, and I feared that the Church would suffer by too great a draw upon the people. Hence in February I wrote several articles on the publishing interests of our Connection. These articles were not well received in certain quarters. Local demands were pleaded and local prejudices were awakened. Nothing daunted, however, I stood my ground. We all inourned the death of the Revs. E. H. Hatcher and B. R. Gant, two of our excellent brethren who finished their work in 1853. Gant was a noble Christian man. Hatcher was only about thirty-five years old, but was a man of superior gifts. Very few men of his age surpassed him in "gifts, grace, and usefulness." He is buried at Columbia, Tennessee. In the Memphis Confer- ence, too, we lost two highly gifted preachers who took their start in the Tennessee Conference — the Rev. B. H. Hubbard, D.D., and the Rev. Wesley Warren, M.D. — both eminent preachers. About this time we had a great excitement on the subject of temperance. I was at one time " Grand Worthy Patriarch " of the State of Tennessee. The temperance men not only advocated total abstinence, but the passage of a prohibitory law. I made many temperance speeches in various parts of the State, and the cause was very prosperous. But in the course of time the friends of the great reform gradually cooled in their zeal, and the Order waned. From time to time the friends rallied and made new fijhts.' Much good was done. Some drunkards were reformed, and many young men were saved from plunging into hopeless dissipation. Altogether the ev-ils of drunkenness can never be es- timated, and every true philanthropist and every genuine patriot should stand against the ilood of ruin that seems at times to sweep the land. Woe to the miserable drunkard, and woe to him that for gain putteth the bottle to his neighbor's mouth! 240 JOHN IS. McFERRIN. On the 4th of July I dedicated a new church called " Bethel," in the vicinity of Shelbyville, Tennessee. It was on the same ground where a " meeting-house '' had long stood, and where much good had been accomplished. It was called " Warm Cor- ner" because of the zeal of its members. Near by lived the Rev. William Mullens, once a traveling preacher, a man of zeal and great usefulness. In the evening I preached at Shelbyville, and reached home on Monday. Church dedications, funeral sermons, and temperance speeches occupied much of my time. In the camp-meeting season I vis- ited many of these popular gatherings, and labored with as much earnestness and zeal as my time would allow. My health was generally fine. I had a powerful constitution, and could work and travel, preach and write, visit the sick, and keep up the finances of the office, and experience but little weariness. I was seldom tired in those days; my physical vigor never flagged. We had a visit from Dr. Means, of Georgia, this year, which gave us much satisfaction. Nashville in those days was a place of great resort. This year was one of great distress in the South, especially in New Orleans, on account of the yellow fever, which prevailed to an alarming extent. We lost some of our Nashville friends who had settled in New Orleans and Mississippi. Among these was H. R. W. Hill, long a resident of Tennessee, a prince in liberality and a life-long Methodist. He united with the Church when he was quite a young man. His excellent wife had preceded him to the grave. The cause of Missions about this time was exciting much interest. Bishop Soule had visited California and given the work a new impetus in that new field. Dr. Jenkins, from China, with a live Chinaman in his company, visited Nashville and many of the Conferences ; and D. C. Kelley was set apart as a mission- ary to China. The collections were large, and the people enthu- siastic at the prospect of success. In September I left home for Versailles, the seat of the Ken- tucky Conference. On my way I called at Frankfort Kentucky, the capital of the State, and visited the cemetery where many of the sons of the "dark and bloody ground" — as Kentucky was once called — sleep in death. There rest the remains of Col. Dick Johnson, once Vice-president of the United States, famous for hav- ing killed the great Indian chief Tecumseh in a single-handed combat. There, too, are buried the remains of the great pioneer^ THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. 241 Daniel Boone, and his wife. I saw them re-interred some time previous while attending a Conference in Frankfort. I was in- debted to Jacob Swigert, Esq., for many courtesies at Frankfort. Versailles is a pleasant town in the heart of a grand country, some twelve miles from Lexington. Bishop Capers presided at the Conference. Here I heard the Rev. H. H. Kavanaugh preach a funeral sermon in memory of the Rev. William Gunn. The effort was a great one, and the effect was wonderful. On Sunday I went to Lexington, with the Rev. W. C. Dandy and Dr. J. H. Linn, where Dr. L. and myself preached to large congregations. The missionary meeting was a time of great excitement. Dr, Jenkins and his Chinaniian were on hand, and wherever John Chinaman went a crowd followed. On my return I spent a day or two at Louisville, Kentucky, then, as now, the commercial center of the State, I visited the cemetery, and saw the grave of Bishop Bascom, and the resting- place of others. The grounds were beautiful. In company with Dr. Parsons (my associate editor). Bishop Capers, and others, I went by steam-boat to Owensboro, the seat of the Louisville Conference, where I remained till it closed. The session was a very agreeable one. Bishop Capers preached with great power, and the word generally, as preached, seemed to be in the Holy Ghost and with much unction. Here I preached twice, and made a missionary address. God was with me in the pulpit. From Owensboro Dr. Parsons and myself proceeded by the way of Smithland to Nashville by steam-boat. We met with many detentions because of low water, fog, etc., but reached Nashville on Saturday, and I found my family in health, after an absence of some three weeks. On the Sunday after our arrival Dr. Parsons dedicated our new church in Edgefield, called " Hobson Chapel," in honor of Mrs. Hobson, the mother of Nicholas Hobson, who gave the lot on which to erect the building. In 1849 I had removed to the country, having bought a house and lot of land about a mile and a quarter from the Public Square. Here we erected a church, and Dr. Parsons, by request, came to dedicate it to the worship of God. The crowd on Sunday was large, and the Doctor was very suc- ces.sful. The remainder of the debt was fully provided for. The church at Hobson Chapel prospered until 1862. It suffered dur- ing the war, and was finally sold and a new and more commodious 16 242 JOHN B. mcferrin: house was erected, bearing the same name, where, at the time of this writing, there is a flourishing little congregation. The new house is farther from the city. ■■. My object in moving out of the city was to provide a more rural home for my family and to provide especially for the com- fort and moral training of my servants. My slaves were family servants. I never sold or bought one; but took those in my pos- session to keep families together and to properly settle my father'* estate. I fed them well, clothed them comfortably, worked them moderately, and gave them full religious privil^es. I feel that, under the circumstances, I did my duty, and when they were freed I felt that a great responsibility was removed from me. I was re- lieved, but ray freedmen did no better. I would not have them back if I could, though they were worth at the time the war began at least ten thousand dollars in gold. The loss I never regretted. I think I did my duty by them. The Tennessee Conference met at Franklin, Tennessee, Octo- ber 12, 1853. Bishop Capers was to pi-eside. He was not present at the opening, but appointed A. L. P. Green to preside till he should come. In those days a Bishop had the right to appoint a substitute in his absence, provided always that he selected a pre- siding elder. Dr. Green filled the chair well till the arrival of the Bishop, which I think was on Friday the 14th. This Conference was one of interest. Dr. Jenkins and his Chinaman were present, and David C. Kelley, son of the Rev. John Kelley, was elected and ordained both deacon and elder in view of his going to China as a missionary. The service was solemn, the more so because he was presented by his father; his mother also was present. David was an only son, and the only living child of his parents. At this Conference delegates were elected to the ensuing Gen- eral Conference, which was to meet at Columbus, Georgia, May 1, 1854. Eleven were chosen on the first ballot, an extraordinary oc- currence. My brethren, as usual, honored me by placing my name at the head of the list — a distinction I did not deserve; but such was their kindness to one who duly appreciated their good feeling and partiality. The Memphis Conference held its session for 1853 in Novem- ber. I had the pleasure of meeting the brethren. Bishop Capers presided. I overtook the Bishop and Mrs. Capers at Tuscumbia, Alabama, lodged by the way. I made arrangements and got |hem THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. 243 off, and we had a most tiresome ride by stage to Holly Springs, Mississippi. There we left Mrs. Capers, and the Bishop and I, in a hack or carriage, traveled ''leisurely to Grenada, Mississippi, where the Conference convened. We consumed nearly two days in the journey. I found Bishop Capers to be one of the most pleasant and entertaining traveling companions it had been my good fortune to enjoy. Genial, intelligent, communicative^ one never tired in his company. The Conference was pleasant, and the missionary meeting was a success. Grenada was a pleasant town, situated on the margin of Yalabusha River, in the heart of a rich cotton country. December 18, 1853, by request, I visited Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, and preached a funeral sermon in memory of Mrs. Sarah Polk Phillips and Mrs. Joanna Jetton, daughters of Dr. W. R. Rucker. They were nieces of Mrs. President Polk. About three years before I had married both parties under one cere- mony, and now in one funeral discourse the last tribute was paid to two excellent Christian women, both members of the Meth- odist Church. On Christmas-day I preached a dedicatory sermon in the new church erected in Nashville for the benefit of the colored, Meth- odist congregation. It was named "Capers Chapel," in honor of Bishop Capers. Bjshop Soule was present, and after the ser- mon offered the house to God in prayer. He also made a pres- ent of a Bible and hj'mn-book to the congregation. Dr. R. Mar- tin, a prominent layman, also presented the brethren with a copy of the Holy Scriptures. A number of white persons were pres- ent, and much interest was taken in the prosperity of the colored people. The same church has been deeded to the " Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America." It was always a great pleasure for me to minister to the slaves. They were cared for by white preachers, who did much to elevate and save them from sin. The next day after the dedication Bishop Soule set out for California via New Orleans. He was more than seventy years old. This was years before the railroad across the Rocky Mount- ains was constructed. Bishop Soule was an example of zeal and perseverance. In January, 1854, began the eighteenth volume of the Advocate, and my foui-teenth year in conducting the paper. From February 2M JOHN B. McFERRIN. till May I was busy with my work, getting every thing ready for the approaching General Conference. I preached nearly every Sabbath, made temperance addresses during the week, and wrote and read of nights. Several writers attempted to draw me into a discussion in reference to the propriety of establishing a Pub- lishing House for the use and benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. I avoided the discussion, believing it would ac- complish no good at the time. I had every thing ready by the first of May to make a full report to the General Conference. Many of the delegates passed through Nashville on their way to Columbus, Georgia, where the Conference was to convene. The condition of my family detained me for a few days. My beloved wife was in a situation which would not allow me to leave in com- pany with the body of the delegates. Finally, by the persuasion of my wife, I left home with great reluctance. She was in the hands of a favorite physician, Dr. Robert Martin ; the Rev. S. P. Whitten was an inmate of my family with his daughter, and my wife's mother was a member of the family. So she felt secure in the hands of friends and in the hand of God, and urged me to leave. I did go with a heavy heart, but apprehended no evil re- sults. Cut alas! to leave home was to see my affectionate wife no more this side the spirit land. When I received the dispatch announcing her dangerous illness I was overcome with sorrow, and left on the first train for home. On my arrival I found that my dear wife was buried and the whole housq was full of grief. The child, which was born four days before her death, was healthy and promising, and 'has lived to be grown. She bears the name of her mother. But little Bettie, her sister, three years and seven months old, and a fine child, was taken suddenly sick, and within ten weeks after the death of her mother went to meet her in the skies. She said before taken ill that she would die and go and see her mother. She was buried by her side. She was a lovely child, and her loss was much deplored. Having left the General Conference, I did not return before the session ended. Before I left the question of the establish- ment of a Publishing House was discussed. T took ground in its favor, and made a long speech. After I left the question was decided in the affirmative, and the House located at Nashville. The Rev. E. Stevenson and the Rev. F. A. Owen were elected Book Agents; Dr, T, O, Summers was elected Book Editor and THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. 245 editor of the Sunday-school literature of the Church; the Rev. L, D. Huston was elected editor of the Home Circle, a monthly period- ical which was to be published instead of the Ladies^ Coinf anion. I was re-elected editor of the Christian Advocate; the Louisville department was discontinued, and I alone had charge of the paper. The election took place in my absence, and the office was again conferred upon me without any solicitation on my part. I was also run for Bishop in my absence, and received several votes tor Book Agent. The office of Bishop I never desired. It is a responsi- ble station in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and involves duties that I never wanted to assume. Many spoke to me on the sub- ject, and I was assured by friends that had I remained at the Con- ference I would have been elected ; but that, owing to recent fam- ily afflictions which I was called upon to endure, it was thought better to retain me in the editorial chair. How much there was in this I do not know; but certain I am that I much preferred the office of editor to that of Bishop. I have a high appreciation of the office of Bishop in our Church, but I can truly say that I never felt that I was called of God to this position, and never felt disappointed or mortified that I was not chosen as one of our Gen- eral Superintendents. On the 15th of June I entered upon my work again. This was the fifth time I had been selected for this office. We had now a great work to perform. The Advocate in its finances was now to be placed in the hands of the Book Agents. This relieved me of a burden that I had borne for fourteen years. I had more time to devote to the literary department of the paper; but still to sustain the interests of the Church at this central point, and to maintain the honor of the Methodists in conducting its central organ, re- quired much attention and unceasing labor. This new arrange- ment brought a number of brethren to Nashville: Dr. Stevenson and F. A. Owen, Dr. Summers, Dr. Huston; Dr. Sehon, Secre- tary of the Missionary Society ; and finally Dr. Jefferson Hamil- ton, as Secretary of the Tract Society. With all these brethren I lived in the greatest harmony. Each respected each, and all loved one another. During the summer of this year we had a visitation of cholera in Nashville, which produced much excitement, but I passed through it without any inconvenience. I attended to the sick, buried the dead, and continued to conduct the paper. 246 JOHN B. McFERRIN. On the 4th of July, in companj' with tlie Rev. Adam S. Riggs, I visited Cornersville, Tennessee, where I dedicated a new church. During this trip we suffered much with heat and loss of sleep, being required to travel late at night to reach our appointment. The public conveyance on which we had depended failed, and we had to make private arrangements ; hence the delay and the se- verity of the journey. About three o'clock in the afternoon our horse seemed to become exhausted from heat. We drove up to a spring by the wayside and cooled him as well as possible, and then pursued our journey. Six" or eight persons who drank at that spring on that day were taken with cholera, and several of them died. To this day the spring is called the " Cholera Spring." I do not pretend to account for the fact, but it is certain the deaths occurred. The remainder of the year was taken up in the discharge of my usual duties. My home was lonely, and the cares of my house- hold increased. For my children I felt great concern, and spent as much time with them as possible. My revered mother-in-law, Mrs. Sarah New, a widow, gave me much aid. She was an ex- cellent woman, was devoted to my children, and loved them as if they were her own. My servants did pretty well without a mis- tress to direct and manage, but the main support of my household was gone, and I felt the loss seriously. Who can estimate the loss of .1 mother .'' Whenever I see a family of young children with- out a mother my sympathies are enlisted, and I feel as though I wanted to extend to them a helping hand. I had a warm debate about this time with the Nash-uille Union, on the theaters and circuses. See Advocate of those times. On the 17th of this month (September) I dedicated the new church at Bethphage, in Sumner County, Tennessee. I met the Kentucky Conference at Maysville October 20, where Bibhop Early presided. The Bishop at that time gave great satis- faction in the chair and in the pulpit. He was prompt, and preached with unction. The Tennessee Conference this year convened at Florence, Alabama, Bishops Soule and Paine both present. I was detained on account of the extreme illness of my brother, A. P. McFerrin, who was expected to die; but by good nursing, skillful practice, and the pro\'idence of God he survived, and was restored to good health. Here it was, on his sick-bed, that he consented to preach THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR. 247 the gospel. He had long resisted the call of the Spirit and his convictions of duty, but now he yielded, and soon after his recov- ery applied for license to preach. He is now a traveling preacher. It was a sore trial to me to be absent from the Conference, but duty and affection kept me by the side of a sick brother whom 1 dearly loved. Soon after I was permitted to visit the Holston Conference, which met at Cleveland, Tennessee. Here Bishop Pierce pre- sided at his first Conference. He displayed tact and talent, and ■preached with great power. He evinced at once that there had been no mistake in his election and ordination to the office of a Bishop. The Rev. Samuel Patton, D.D., editor of the Holston Christian Advocate^ had died before the meeting of the Confer- ence. I was commissioned by the Book Agents to buy out the concern and consolidate the paper with the Christian Advocate at Nashville. After a tremendous struggle I succeeded in my mis- sion, and the Holston paper was merged into the central organ of the Church. This, I think, was a wise move. After this I visited Somerville, the seat of the Memphis Con- ference, and was commissioned by the Book Agents and Book Committee to make an effort to have the Memphis Christian Ad- vocate ti-ansferred to Nashville, so as to have but one Church paper in the State. I made the effort, but did not succeed. The Mem- phis paper was continued, and the ensuing General Conference made an appropriation of four or five thousand dollars out of the funds of the Publishing House to relieve it of debts contracted in sustaining its publication. In the latter part of i8.';4 the Book Agents resolved to reduce the price of the Advocate to $1.50, invariably cash in advance. This was wise for two reasons: i. It increased the number of sub- scribers, and thereby became the medium of communication be- tween the Publishing House and the members of the Church to a much larger extent. 2. As the terms were cash in advance, many bad debts were avoided. We had lost thousands by the credit system. This, however, gave great dissatisfaction to the conduct- ors of some of the other papers, and a war on the Agents was commenced, which resulted in a sharp conflict between myself and brethren whom I greatly respected. I defended the Book Agents and their policy. Some brethren thought there was not a proner- division of the funds of the Church between the different 248 JOHN B. McFERRIN. offices. Among others, I had a sharp discussion with H. N. Mc- Tyeire, editor of the New Orleans paper. He was sprightly, and at that early time gave promise of eminence in the Church. He has met the expectation of his warmest friends. He is now one of our prominent Bishops, and wields a large influence in the Church. I write him down at this day as a man of ability. He has a great power for good, and I pray he may prove an honor to the Church and a blessing to Methodism. I believe he will. May God sustain him and all our General Superintendents in their arduous and oftentimes thankless work! The Bishops are held to strict accountability, and not infrequently are judged un- kindly. I am a friend to all our distinguished brethren occupy- ing this high position, and hope none of them will ever bring a reproach upon the cause which they so ably defend. VIEWS, DOINGS, JOURNEYINGS. AND here I wish to record my opinion of the ofKcers of the General Conference who were with me at the inauguration of the Publishing House. Dr. Edward Stevenson, the principal Book Agent, was a man of age and experience as a minister of the gospel, and was a very effective preacher. As a Book Agent he was honest, vigilant, and indefatigable. He of course had but little experience in the man- ufacture and sale of books, and consequently he labored under pe- culiar disadvantages in organizing a great concern like the Pub- lishing House. He was in a measure dependent on others; but, all in all, he was faithful, and did a great work for the Church. Although I did not regard him as a very skillful financier, in his integrity I had confidence. Dr. Stevenson was arrested and put in prison by the Federal authorities because of his Southern pro- clivities. Out of prison, he soon died — a good man and true. The Rev. F. A. Owen was a genial, popular man, and a good counselor. He was regarded as the Associate Agent, although he had equal authority. He alwai's deferred to his senior, and was very modest in his suggestions. He never coveted the position, and at one time resigned. He, however, was re-elected, and served out his full time. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. Dr. Thomas O. Summers, who still lives at the time of this writing, is in many respects a remarkable man. His early ad- vantages were limited. He was brought up a mechanic, and had not the advantages of early literary or scholastic training; but he has been a student all his life. For close application, hard work, a retentive memory, and the rapid acquisition of knowledge, he has few superiors. He is decidedly the most indefatigable man in the study of books and in his editorial life that I have ever seen. Withal, he is a pure, sound-hearted Christian and a man of great integrity of character. He loves the Church, and gives his whole time and strength to advance tlie cause of his Master. He is ar! (249) 250 JOHN B. McFERRIN. able preacher and a sound expounder of the Holj Scriptures. He always lacked magnetism, and hence had not as much power with the people as many others of far inferior attainments. I regard him as a noble-hearted Christian and a man of wonderful knowledge. L. D. Huston was a peculiar man. In person he was attract- ive, in voice and manner in the pulpit almost inimitable. He was a very elegant and eloquent speaker. As a writer he was chaste and beautiful ; but he lacked industry. He was so fond of social life that it was difficult to confine him to his vocation as an editor. He was finally expelled from the Church for immorality. I thought he was not guilty of the charges and specifications on which he was excluded. In this I might have been in error; but I am of the same opinion now. The trouble in his case was that he had many evil reports following him. These had their effect upon the public mind, and weighed much In his trial. Poor man! I loved him much, and still hope that he may be saved. His wife was a charming Christian woman. Dr. E. W. Sehon, Missionary Secretary, was a noble specimen of a high-toned Christian gentleman. His person was command- ing, his manner pleasing, his voice full and mellow, and his ora- tor}' popular. Hehadbutone fault — he was a poor financier ; but his soul was full of generosity. He did not know the worth of money. He was very sanguine, and hence he was often misled in nis calculations. Dr. Jefferson Hamilton was a great preacher and good man, but had no particular adaptation to the agency of books and tracts. The pulpit and pastoral work were his field of labor. There he w.is a host, and he died in the harness. His death was glorious. Few more successful preachers ever blessed our Church in mod- ern times. During this year the Rev. Alexander Campbell visited Nash- ville. He preached in McKendree Church, and lectured several times in the city on spirit - rappings and Universalism. Mr. Campbell was now an old man, but still had a great intellect. He had modified his former teachings very much. On the doc- trines of the divinity of Christ, the Godhead, and the operation of the Holy Ghost he gave many of his own followers great dis- satisfaction. He seemed, to Trinitarians, orthodox, and evinced a meek and Christian spirit. Bishop Soule heard his sermon on VIEWS, DOINGS, yOURNETINGS. 251 "The Divinity of CVirist, and the Deity, Personality, and Work of the Spirit," and expressed himself as agreeably surprised. Mr. Campbell was a great man, but many of his early teachings, I think, did much harm. Yet he seeined to be sincere, and closed his life, I trust, in peace with God and man. He was the founder of a sect that has become numerous ; but as he had no creed, no confession, no articles of religion, his followers are not united, and have no common bond of union. They believe any thing or noth- ing as they choose. Mr. Campbell was much more orthodox than most of his followers. About this time one of his preachers, the Rev. Jesse B. Fergu- son, became one of the most attractive and popular ministers in the city. He drew large crowds, and was much admired. Alas for him! he became unsettled in his religious views, if he ever had any well-defined sentiments. He became a believer in spirit- rapping, embraced Universalism, and finally, I think, became a skeptic. He lost his influence, lost his church by fire, lost his congregation, and died in middle life. I often looked upon hijn with sadness, and mourned to see one so gifted, so popular, and calculated to do so much good waste his precious talents and fail to accomplish the good he might, if he only had had genuine principles in him and had been governed by proper motives and sound Christian sentiments. I always tremble for " star preach- ers," as they have been aptly called. January i, 1855, began a new volume. I visited the Georgia Conference, which was held at Atlanta. Bishop Capers and one other Bishop were present. This was my first visit to this Con- ference. I met a cordial reception, and procured many new sub- scribers to the Advocate. The missionary meeting was good — - about $1,200 collected. It was my lot to be one of the speakers. About this time McFerrin and Hunter (A. P. McFerrin) sold out their book-store to Stevenson and Owen, and they were both employed in the House, as they both had large experience in the book trade. During this month, too. Dr. Hamilton entered upon his duties as Secretary of the Tract Society. This enterprise, while it distributed many valuable books, in the end proved a se- rious financial loss to the House. The Doctor, as I have said elsewhei-e, was a great preacher and a good man, but he was too kind and too credulous to conduct a business that required rigid management. 252 JOHN n. McFERRIN. February 8 of this year we announced the death of Bishop Ca- pers. His death was unexpected and much lamented. In his palmy days he was one of the finest pulpit orators in America. He was the first to move in sending missionaries to the slaves of the South. His name is still precious to the Church. About this time the temperance question ran high. Many of the friends of the cause were in favor of a prohibitory law, I among the rest. If nothing better, all wanted an optional law. I made many temperance addresses, and took an active part in the work of reform. During this month I visited Lebanon, Tennes- see, where I made a speech on Saturday night, and preached twice on Sunday to large congregations. The Rev. W. C. Johnson was then stationed preacher in Lebanon. In the months of February and March Dr. E. Stevenson, the Book Agent, was very sick in Louisville, Kentucky. He had not as yet removed his family to Nashville. ' The Rev. F. A. Owen and myself went by boat to visit him — quite a trip in those days. We were two or three days reaching Louisville — a journey that can now be completed in eight hours by railroad. We found Dr. Stevenson very ill, but improving a little. At his request I acted as Agent for him till he was able to remove to Nashville. He complimented me with a fine gold-headed cane, an elegant pencil, a gold pen, and a pair of gold-framed spectacles. The spectacles I did not much need, for up to that period my eye-sight continued good. In Aprjl of this year the Bishops of our Church had a meet ing in Nashville. It was also the time of the anniversary of th^ Missionary Board of our Church. Bishop Pierce preached a ser. mon on the death of Bishop Capers. It was a very fine discourse, and was published by request. The missionary meeting was \ grand success. We collected about $2,250. I took the lead in the collection, and was assisted by Dr. A. L. P. Green, who in hi* palmy days was a good missionary speaker and a good solicitor. Bishop Pierce and Dr. Sehon made the speeches. The occasion was one of great interest. Three of the editors were also pres- ent: Dr. Myers, of Charleston; McTyeire, of New Orleans; and C. C. Gillespie, of Galveston. They were all comparatively young men, and all men of promise. McTyeire was afterward made Bishop. Myers was true, and died in 1876 much respected and greatly lamented. Gillespie apostatized, and died in 1876, VIEWS, DOINGS, JOUIiNEi'INGS. 253 near its close, or about the beginning of 1877. He made a wreck of himself. Poor fellow ! he was a man in his day. In the month of May of this year the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church met in Nashville. It was an able body of ministers and laymen. Among the most distinguished preach- ers present were Dr. Boardman, of Philadelphia, and Dr. Thorn- well, of South Carolina. During the session the Rev. Dr. Philip Lindsley died of apoplexy. He was a man of fine learning, and had been for many years before his death President of the Nash- ville University. His death was lamented in Nashville, where he was so well known. About this time I visited Gallatin, where there was a gracious revival of religion. The Rev. A. F. Lawrence was the preacher, a good man and a successful minister of the gospel. He lately died in Christ. His death is lamented. In the month of June I visited Charleston, South Carolina, as tt member of the National Division Sons of Temperance. The meeting was an occasion of special interest. Some of the first men of the nation were present, and made addresses to large pub- lic assemblies. Judge O'Neal, of South Carolina, was present, and made an address. As Grand Worthy Patriarch of Tennessee I attended a number of mass-meetings during the year. Among other places, I visited Jackson, Tennessee, where we held a series of meetings with considerable success. Poor W. T. Haskell was present. He was one of the finest orators in the State, but had fallen by strong drink. Many efforts were made to save him. He took a new start at this meeting, but he lacked stability, and fell back into his old habits. He was a man of superior powers on the stump or platform. His excellent wife still survives, a warm Methodist and a highly cultivated lady. When Mr. Haskell was young he professed religion, united with the Church, and was firm and steady for a season ; but finally law, politics, stump-speak- ing, and ungodly associations led him away. I have heard it stated that he was solemnly impressed when young that he was called to preach ; but he resisted the call, and the train of evils al- luded to followed. I have known other instances of the kind. It is a fearful thing to resist the Spirit of God and fail to do the work to which we are distinctly moved. On this journey I visited and spoke and preached in Trenton, Tennessee. During this summer I visited Winchester, Tennessee, and ded- 254 -JOHN B. McFERRIN. icated a new church. I preached three sermons. The Rev. A. F. Drlskill, the presiding elder, and Brother J. G. Rice, the sta- tioned preacher, were present, and took an interest in the services. In the latter part of the summer of this year I visited the towns of Athens, Courtland, and Huntsville, Alabama. These were fa- vorite places with me, having spent much of my early ministerial life in North Alabama. I made a very pleasant tour, and preached a number of sermons. At Athens I visited the grave of my old friend and presiding elder, the Rev. Joshua Boucher, and the resting-place of the Rev. Albert G. Kelly, who both lie buried in tho cemetery there. August 31 of this year the Rev. Thomas Martin, of Robertson County, Tennessee, died ; and, according to his request, I preached his funeral sermon. He was a good man, and left the savor of a good name. His son, the Rev. G. W. Martin, still lives at the time of this writing. Like his father, he is a man above reproach. They are kinsmen of my family. I preached a funeral sermon of another aged local preacher this year— the Rev. Alexander Rascoe— who had been preaching, as well as Mr. Martin, for more than fifty years. Father Rascoe died near Goodlettsville, some twelve miles from Nashville. It is a pleasant task -to review the life and sketch the character of a good man who has long been a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, and who closes his mortal career in hope of a glorious immortality. In September, 1855, I preached a funeral sermon on the death of E. P. McGinty, editor of the True Whig, Nashville, Tennes- see, and of Miss Catharine Louisa McGavock, daughter of Mr. John McGavock. They both died the same day. Mr. McGinty was the son-in-law of Mr. McGavock, and died at his house. A large concourse of people attended the funeral. Mr. McGinty was a talented, respectable Christian gentleman, and Miss McGav- ock was a fine-looking, amiable young lady — a Christian ready to die, and who departed this life in peace. Soon after this I visited Walton's camp-meeting near Good-I lettsville. The meeting was very profitable. There were many preachers present— among others, the Rev. F. E. Pitts and the Rev. Dr. A. L. P. Green. On Sunday morning fifteen infants «.nd twelve adults were baptized at one time. The scene was very impressive. About this date I buried at Liberty Hill — the home of Col. Hill— the wife of the Rev. William Burr. She died near VIEWS, DOINGS, JOUKNETINGS. 255 Pulaski, and was brought to Williamson County for interment She was a good woman, and belonged to one of the oldest Meth- odist families in Tennessee. In the paper of October ii will be found reflections on the meeting of an Annual Conference. The Tennessee Confer- ence just now convened in Nashville. Bishops Soule and Kav- anaugh were both present. Bishop Soule was feeble, and most of his work devolved on Bishop Kavanaugh. During the session Bishop Paine passed through Nashville and made a short sojourn. The Conference was an interesting occasion. We had many vis- iting brethren: The Book Agents, Stevenson and Owen; Dr. Sehon, Missionary Secretary; Dr. Summers, Dr. Hamilton, and others. While the Conference was in session my neighbor. Hardy Bryan, died at the house in which I now live. I preached his fu- neral sermon to many sympathizing friends. He was a good man and a sound Methodist. By special invitation I visited Knoxville, Tennessee, the last week in October. It was a grand temperance occasion. I made several addresses, and preached five sermons. When I arrived at the depot in Knoxville I found the Rev. W. G. Brownlow waiting to receive me. He conducted me to his dwelling, where 1 enjoyed his hospitality while I remained in the cAy. Mr. Brownlow was then a Southern Methodist preacher in good standing, was the editor of a paper, and was a strong temperance man. I was entertained handsomely at his home. His family treated me with great hos- pitality. Mr. Brownlow is a character. He still lives at this writ- ii.g. Few men in this country have attained to greater notoriety. He was born in Virginia, and was brought up at a trade. He was a carpenter, I think. When young he professed converrion, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was the nephew of the Rev. Robertson Gannaway, long a worthy member of the Holston Conference. Mr. Brownlow was admitted on trial in the Holston Conference in the autumn of 1826, and was appointed this first year to Black Mountain Circuit, North Carolina. For several years he continued in the Conference, and had several debates, or conflicts, with the Baptists and with the Presbyterians. He soon made a noise in the world, and as early as 1832 was elected a delegate to the General Conference, which m&t in Phil- adelphia in May of that year. After a few years he became the editor of a secular paper, and went into politics. As a journalist 256 yOHN B. McFERlilN. he gained great notoriety. He was severe, fearless, and I may say reckless. From one position to another he went forward till he became Governor of Tennessee during the Civil War, and then was elected Senator to the United States Congress. He has from time to time had many friends and numerous enemies. He has been loved and hated as much, perhaps, as any one in the State. He has always been friendly with me and treated me with respect. He has some excellent traits of character, and in many i-espects he has led a life very ill suited to the calling of a minister of the gos- pel of Christ. He is now old and infirm — a member, as I under- stand, of the Methodist Episcopal Church (North), having gone off from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, during the war He is a riddle, I hope he may end his life in peace. He has surely had much strife in his time, I think he is perhaps a better dis- posed man than many people judge him to be. He is said to be a good husband, a kind father, an excellent neighbor, and a gener- ous and charitable citizen. Altogether, he is a remarkable man, and has had a curious career. / cfinSe) A BRIDAL TOUR, AND OTHER THINGS, ON the evening of November I2, 1855, I was married to Miss Cynthia Tennessee McGavock, daughter of Mr. John Mc- Gavock, who lived a near neighbor to me. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. William C. Johnson, the pastor of Hobson Chapel, where the family held their Church-membership. It Was just eighteen months after I had lost my first wife. The idea of marrying the second time, especially where there are children in the family, is a very serious one. Second marriages oftentimes end in misfortune. To marry a wife, and introduce her into a household where the remembrance of the departed mother is fresh, is a risk. All this and more I considered well, and made it a matter of sincere and solemn prayer. I had a family of four children. Their mother was an only child, and hence had no near relative to whom the children could be committed. T had but two sisters, and they lived at a distance, and had large families of their own. I was from home much of my time ; my children needed a mother to watch over them. To marry a stranger I feared ; so I se- lected one whom I had known from her young days, one whom my children knew well, and whom they approved. She was younger than I by several years, which might have been a serious objection, and yet I hoped that the match would prove a happy one. And so it did. And now, after more than twenty -one years, I feel that the hand of God led me. She has been a great help to me in my work. Industrious, vigilant, and a good managei", she relieved me of many cares. God has blessed me with two good wives, for which I am truly grateful. To both of them I was tenderly allied. I do not love the memory of the first the less because of my connection with the second, nor do I love the second the less because of my affection for the first. Both were worthy, and both alike had my sincere love. I have in all my married life been true and sincere in my affections, and have sa- credly in my heart, as well as in my life, kept my marriage vows. 17 (257) 258 JOHN B. McFBItRIN. On the evening of our marriage, with mj- oldest daughter (Sa- rah Jane), we set out on the train for a visit to the North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina Conferences. After a pleasant jour- ney we reached Wilmington, North Carolina, on Friday morning, an hour before daylight. A porter urged us to stop at a certain hotel, but when we reached the establishment we could find no room, and had to put in our time as well as we could till breakfast. We were treated very rudely by the proprietor. He first refused us a room, and then became enraged because we would not re- main in his house. The Rev. Mr. Frost, the stationed preacher, found for us a charming home at the house of Brother Bawden, whose family made us welcome and treated us with marked at- tention. This was my first visit to the North Carolina Confer- ence. Bishop Andrew was present and presided. The Confer- ence gave us a hearty reception, and the visit was pleasant, and I trust profitable. I represented the interests of the paper and of the Publishing House. I also made a missionary address at the anniversary, besides preaching to a large congregation. From Wilmington we proceeded to Baltimore and back to Washington City and to Richmond. My wife and daughter took much delight in visiting these old and famous Southern cities. We spent the Sabbath in Richmond, where I preached. In the early part of the week we proceeded to Petersburg, where the Virginia Conference convened. Bishop Andrew presid- ing. Here we were entertained in a most hospitable manner by that great and good man, Mr. D'Arcy Paul — a inan noted for his piety, liberality, hospitality, and good inanners. His wife was a charming Christian woman. Both are now in heaven. From Petersburg we went to Marion, South Carolina, the seat of the South Carolina Conference. Here we were entertained by Mrs. Mclntire, an excellent Presbyterian lady. Bishop Early pre- sided at this Conference. Dr. Sehon was also present. On Sun- day evening Dr. Wightman, now Bishop, preached a funeral dis- course in memory of Bishop Capers. The sermon was a great one, and the effect on the audience was wonderful. Bishop Capers was a native of South Carolina, and was long a member of the South Carolina Conference. He was greatly beloved and highly ' esteemed. The preacher was fully prepared, and the sermon was Worthy of the occasion. From Marion we went to Charleston, where we spent a day oi A BRIDAL TOUR, AND OTHER THINGS. 259 two with the family of Dr. E. H. Myers, who was then editor of the Southern Christian Advocate. Our visit ended, we returned to Nashville after an absence of nearly one month. Our return was greeted with pleasure by our families and friends, and xay wife entered upon her new duties in life. January 3, 1856, we began the twentieth volume of the Advo- cate, and I entered upon my sixteenth year of editorial life. Dur- ing this month a discussion sprung up between Dr. D. R. McAn- ally, editor of the St. Louis Christian Advocate, and myself in re- gard to notices of the Publishing House and its publications. The Doctor, I thought — and he made the impression on the minds of many others to the same effect — was not friendly to the concern at Nashville, and consequently was unnecessarily severe in his criticisms upon the issues from the Church press. We had sev- eral articles pro and con., and wound up good friends. Dr. Mc- Anally I regard as a good man, an able editor, a sound Method- ist, and as one of my best friends. He has lived long and ren- dered valuable service to the Church. And then, again, I had a little cross-firing with my old and long-tried friend, the Rev. William Hicks, of the Holston Confer- ence. The Book Agents had bought out the Holston Christian Advocate, and it was understood that the influence of the preach- ers and members was to be given to the Advocate at Nashville. Mr. Hicks, after this, proposed to start, and did begin, the publica- tion of the Herald of Truth at Henderson, in the bounds of the Holston Conference, and invoked the aid of the preachers. This I considered unfair, and consequently opposed the enterprise of Brother Hicks, or rather held that the Holston Conference was bound in good faith to give all their influence to the paper at Nash- ville. And here I wish to record, as perhaps I have done in other places, my protest against invoking Church patronage on private interest when that interest comes in conflict with the good of the Church. Every man has a right to write and publish in this free land, but he has no moral or religious right to injure the Church through its own agents. Brother Hicks is a good man, whom I dearly love, and is one of my warm friends. All along through this year we had many discussions with our Northern brethren on the slavery question, and the relations of the two Churches, North and South, to the institution. We maintained the well-settled views of the Church on that question, 260 JOHN B. McFBRRIN. Avhile some of our friends North contended earnestly for its im- mediate abolition. The controversy oftentimes waxed warm, es- pecially so as it involved other matters of importance. Two unusual editorials appeared about this time, written by request. The first was an article against allowing one's self to grow old too soon, and the other was against remaining young too long. I bestowed some pains on both these articles, and they were highly approved. In the number of the Advocate of March 6 there is an article written by Dr. E. W. Sehon, called "A Model Paper," in which he passes a high encomium on our sheet. This was of course gratifying to one who put forth his best efforts to make a first-class Christian journal. Nothing should be charged to the account of vanity or egotism. To please men for good to their edification is commended by an apostle. Selfish or personal ambitious views are to be avoided, but to do good by securing the respect and confidence of men is not to be condemned. Along during February and for several succeeding weeks I had a sharp controversy with some Presbyterian and Baptist editors and their correspondents. Indeed, our location at Nashville, our Publishing House, and the growth of Methodism seemed to excite jealousy and provoke opposition ; hence I found it necessary to defend our Church, our doctrines, our polity, and ovir usages. All this I did with a good will, believing I was in the right. Angry controversy, strife, contention, bickering, are all unbecoming a Christian, and especially a Christian minister; but a manly de- fense of the truth is to be approved and commended. So I be- lieved, and so I endeavored to conduct myself. I was conscien- tious. Toward the close of this winter, which was marked for its se- vere coldness, the Rev. Thomas E. Bond, Sr., M.D., died in the city of New York. He was an able writer and » very popular and powerful editor. Though a Marylander, he, after fighting the Abolitionists for long years, took sides against Bishop Andrew and the South in the great conflict in 1844. He was a formidable opponent, and did much to mold public sentiment in the North, and especially in the middle Conferences. He and the paper which we controlled had many fierce battles, but he always treated me with due respect. He told some of my friends that he regarded the Nashville paper as his most formidable opponent, but at the same time passed a high eulogy on the manner in which it was A BRIDAL TOUR, AND OTHER THINGS. 261 conducted. He said its editor never misrepi-esented any one with whom he toolc issue. Dr. Bond was a, great man; so was his son, Dr. Thomas E. Bond, Jr., who was a strong advocate of the rights of the South, and who died much lamented by the whole Church. In the spring of 1856 there was a very important educational convention at Nashville, and also a meeting of the Bishops of our Church, the Missionary Board, the Book Committee, and man- agers of the Tract Society. The occasion' was one of deep inter- est. Many of our distinguished ministers and educators were present. May 29 was published an editorial on the progress of Method- ism. This was written in answer to many bitter things uttered against our Church, as well as to strengthen our cause and en- courage our brethren. In the month of May the General Conference of the Method- ist Episcopal Church (North) met in Indianapolis. We had a cor- respondent on the ground, who kept us well posted. He wrote many interesting letters, which were published in our columns. The writer was the Rev. W. C. Johnson, now editor of the West- ern MetJiodist. Most of the members of the Northern General Conference about this time were extreme on the question of slavery, and many hard speeches were inade. Some of the body, however, were temperate, and in a measure held the majority in check. For some cause, or without a reason, the Union and American, a secular paper advocating the Democratic party, made an attack on political preachers, and before the matter ended a sharp con- troversy sprung up between the Christian Advocate and the afore- said publication. In my defense of the preachers I published sev- eral editorials, which maybe found in the Advocate of June 19 and July 31, 1856. To show the sentiments the Advocate maintained it is only necessary to refer to those issues. By invitation I visited Washington, Georgia, where, on the night of the 3d of July, I preached to a large congregation. On the 4th I addressed a mass-meeting of the Sunday-schools of the *;own The crowd assembled in a beautiful grove in the outskirts of Washington ; the audience was very large and the attention marked. A fine dinner was served, and the occasion passed off pleasantly and profitably. At night I preached again, and on the 262 JOHN B. McFERRm. following Sunday I delivered a Commencement sermon at Madi- son to a large congregation. The sermon was at the instance of the Faculty of the flourishing Methodist female school in the beautiful town of Madison. The Rev. Messrs. Echols, Bass, and J. L. Pierce were all connected with the institution. My obser- vation has led me to the conclusion that well-conducted schools for the education of girls exert a tremendous influence upon so- ciety. In thousands of ins-tances women control the religious sentiments and Church relations of their male friends, and espe- cially of their husbands. How important, then, that schools for girls and young women should be conducted on Christian prin- ciples ! In August, 1856, I visited Manchester, Coffee County, Ten- nessee, and made an address at the laying of the corner-stone of the Methodist Church. A subscription was raised for building the house. During the autumn I visited the Kentucky Conference, at Win- chester; the Tennessee Conference, at Huntsville, Alabama, and the Memphis Conference, at Jackson, Tennessee. At Huntsville a great revival followed the Conference, resulting in the conver- sion of some two hundred souls. At Jackson I preached at the Baptist Church. Notwithstanding my many controversies with the Baptists, I was very often invited to preach in their houses of worship. January i, 1857, we began the twenty-first volume of the Chris- tian Advocate. January 8 a notice of the Rev. Samuel Gilliland is published. He was older than I, but we were converted on the same day, united with the Church together, were licensed to preach at the same time, and ordained deacons and elders together. He was a good man, an able preacher, and his death was greatly lamented. Our souls were knit together in love. February 18 my mother-in-law (Mrs. Sarah New) died at my house. She had lived with my family for many years before my firot wife's death, and continued with us till she died. She was an excellent Christian woman, one whom I greatly loved and re- spected. Her death was a sore trial to my children, especially to the youngest, who could not realize for a time that she was mor? than sleeping. On Christmas-day, 1856, my daughter Lulu was born. She still lives to bless hei- parents. On the 22d of March I dedicated the new church at Spring- A BRIDAL TOUIi, AND OTHER THINGS. 263 field, and on the zSth the Methodist Church at Goodlettsville, twelve miles from Nashville. There was a. large collection of our Bishops and preachers in Nashville in April, and the 19th was a day of special pleasure. The pulpits were filled by our distinguished friends. Early in May, with Bishop Early, Dr. A. L. P. Green, and Dr. Sehon, I visited Petersburg, Virginia, where was held the anni- versary of the Missionary Society. Sunday was devoted to preach- ing and prayer-meetings — missionary. On Monday evening the missionary meetings proper began, and were continued several e\enings. The results were good, for, besides a good spirit per- vading the congregation, collections amounting to over $3,000 were realized. From Petersburg I accompanied the Rev, Dr. Sehon to Clarks- burg, Virginia, where, on the second Sunday in May, we formally dedicated an excellent new Methodist Church. I preached twice on the occasion, and Dr. Sehon once. Here his venerable mother lived. Here he was converted, and from this place went out as an itinerant Methodist preacher. Dr. Sehon had many friends and admirers at the place of his early home. On the 27th of May the wife of Bishop Soule died near Nasji- ville. Her fimeral was largely attended by the friends of the Bibhop and his family. On June 14 I preached the Commencement sermon at Colum- bia, Tennessee, before the Faculty and students of "the Tennessee Female College. June 21 I dedicated the new church at Bethel, Sumner County, Tennessee. Here Bishop Asbur^' often preached, and here the first Methodist Conference convened that ever as- sembled in Tennessee west of the mountains, and here on the day of dedication was exhibited Bishop Asbury's portable pulpit. June 25 I buried Dr. Alexander Graham, of Sumner County, a young man comparatively, full of promise, but God called him home early. He left a wife and small family, but he died in liope. The fourth Sunday in July I preached at Tullahoma, then a new town. Here I encountered Mr. Haile, a Baptist preacher, who made a furious attack upon all Pedobaptists, and especially upon the Methodists. His sermon was reviewed in the afternoon and at night, quite to the comfort of the Methodists. Mr. Haile promised • to return to Tullahoma and respond, but I learn he never again appeared in the place. 264 JOHN B. McFERRIN. We had frequent attacks from the Baptists during this summer. Dr. Hall, of England; Dr. Fuller, of Baltimore; and Mr. Spur- geon, of London, and many others, have greatly modified their views. Religious controversies are unpleasant, but they are some- times essential. Erroneous and strange doctrines must be ex- posed and opposed. The war on slavery continued, and it seemed that the Churches in the South were to have no rest on this vexed question. We took, as we believed, scriptural grounds on the subject, and de- fended the course pursued by the Southern Church. The Tennessee Conference convened this year early in October at Murfreesboro. Bishop Early presided. The anniversary of the Missionary Society was held at two churches on Saturday evening. Dr. Green spoke at the Presbyterian Church, and the editor of the Advocate at the Methodist Church. The coIlec«ons were liberal. On Monday twelve delegates were elected to the ensuing General Conference. The brethren honored me by plac- ing ray name at the head of the list. In the afternoon of that day I left for Nashville, that I might prepare for a visit to Arkan- sas in the interest of the Publishing House. On my way I visited my mother, two brothers (William and James), and my two sisters, Mrs. Gilliland and Mrs. Applewhite. They all lived then near Marshall Institute, in Marshall Counlj', Mississippi, and in Shelby County, Tennessee. My mother's chil- dren all met together during this visit. Several of her grand- children were also present. It was a joyful meeting. I preached on Friday night at the Institute. Twelve or thirteen were con- verted, a revival being in progress. The Sunday follo\yii1§ I preached in Memphis three times. On Monday I left for Jack- sonport, the seat of the White River Conference. Mj! journey was by water — down the Mississippi, up White River. Here I met Bishop Kavanaugh, who presided at the Conference. He was in fine trim, and during the Conference preached one of his great sermons. It was on Mondaj' night. The effect was so wonderful that the people rose to their feet, stood on the seats, and actually climbed upon the backs of the seats. There was a great religious vtproar. From Jacksonport I descended the river, and spent sev- eral days at Augusta, a pleasant town on the eastern bank of White River. There I preached several times, and saw signs of good. Monday I left for Little Rock, the seat of the Wachita A BlilDAL TOUR, AND OTHER THINGS. 265 Conference, via Searcy, a pleasant village on the road. I was in a buggy with a little boy, Brother and Sister Whitworth in com- pany Yd another vehicle. My buggy broke down about midday. Patched up a little, I progressed with fear, and finally down we came, utterly disabled, with no chance for repairs. We were in an unsettled country, some six or eight miles from Searcy. I was forced to go; had an appointment to preach that night in Searcy, and no place to lodge had we remained only in the wild woods. Loosing my horse from the buggy, I mounted him bareback, took the boy behind and my valise before. I rode into Searcy, and reached the town in full time to meet my engagement. My en- trance into the village created some excitement, but the end of the day's journey was pleasant to me, especially as the bareback ride was any thing but easy and comfortable. But I had never found a difficulty that there was not a way out. At Little Rock we had a fine Conference, notwithstanding Ihe heavy rain that fell during the session. I lodged with Col. Absa- lom Fowler, a lawyer of distinction, whom I had known in Ten- nessee when we were both young. He was a man of good cult- ure and of superior legal attainments. Our missionary meeting was a grand success. Dr. J. Hamilton, Bishop Kavanaugh and the writer all made short speeches. Here I met the Hon. Solon Boland, said to be the finest orator in the West. He was a ISIeth- odist, and a man full of generosity. Mr. Boland died compara- tively young, and his loss was mourned by many. I came from Little Rock to White River in a stage-coach, thence by river to Memphis. On my return I wrote and addressed through the Advocate a series of letters on the " Glory of Methodism " to Bishop Soule. They will be found in the Advocate of December 17, and on through the months of January and February. In these letters I gave my views of Methodism. Up to this time I have very slightly changed those views, if at all modified them. December 20 Dr. A. L. P. Green, Dr. L. D. Huston, and my- self attended the dedication of the new Methodist Church at Lebanon, Tennessee. The house had cost a large sum for those days, and was two thousand dollars in debt on the day of dedica- tion. The plan was to have three sermons — morning, afternoon, and night — and lift a collection at the close of each serinon, hop- ing thus to pay oft the entire debt. The day was beautiful, the 266 JOHN B. McFBRRIN. congregations large, and the spirit of the people good. Dr. Hus- ton preached the first sermon, and at the close the first collection was taken, and to the surprise of everybody the whole sum was contributed. Then we had a happy people and a fine new house out of debt. From about this time till May, 1858, all hands were busy pre- paring for the General Conference, which was to meet in Nash- ville. Several subjects were discussed. Among the most impor- tant were the Publishing House and the support of the Bishops. ROUGH TIMES. ON the first day of May, 1858, the General Conference assem- bled at Nashville. The Hall of Representatives was offered and accepted, and the Conference assembled in that spacious room. The month of May was perhaps the most busy and laborious month of my life. I was conducting the Advocate as usual, edited the Daily Advocate during the session, was chairman of the Com- mittee on Books and Periodicals — the most laborious committee of the Conference that session — and had my house full of visit- ors. But my strength was according to my day, and I did not fully comprehend my condition till the General Conference had adjourned. I then felt that I was well-nigh exhausted. A few days' rest, however, and I was myself again. At this General Conference I was elected Book Agent, an office to which I did not aspire, and even tried to avoid. I was in favor of the election of the Rev. E. H. Mj'ers; but he insisted that he could not accept the office, and urged that I should allow myself to be run for the position. The matter was submitted to my own delegation, and I begged my colleagues to vote for Dr. Myers and let me pass. The matter remained in that attitude till the hour of balloting arrived. Both were put in nomination, and on the first ballot I was elected by a considerable majoi-itj'. This to me was a sore disappointment. I desired the election of Dr. IMyers; but, knowing the diflnculties connected with the operations of the institution, I reluctantly yielded to the wishes of the Con- ference, which were expressed by a decided vote. The House was seriously in debt, and there was not that full harmony in its sup- port which was essential to its success. I gave up the editorial department of the paper with mingled emotions. I had been at its head for nearly eighteen years, most of that time alone. I had had success. The subscription-list had been run up from three or foiu" thousand to above thirteen thousand; all its debts had been paid, and it was a source of revenue to the Church. I (267) 268 JOHN B. McFERRIN. had many friends, and the excitement of an editorial life suited my temper. Hence, it had been an agreeable life to me, and I parted with the patrons and correspondents of the paper with re- gret. And yet it was a relief, after so many years of toil and labor, to be released from the responsibilities of duties involving so many interests of the Church. Having bid adieu to my read- ers, I entered upon ray duties as Book Agent with a determina- tion to succeed, if at all posoible. It was a Herculean undertak- ing, but by God's help I proposed to address myself to the work. My time now was fully employed in supervising the publishing interests of the Church, The Rev. H. N. McTyeire was the ed- itor of the Christian Advocate, Dr Summers of the ^arterly Re- ■vie-w and Books, and Dr. L. D. Huston of the Home CircU and Sunday-school books. We had a large force in the composition- rooms, press-rooms, bindery, etc. These all had to be provided for, while in the book-store we had to keep a full supply of clerks and salesmen to transact the large business of the House. Still, I had time to preach, especially on Sundays, and never failed to do full work in this department as opportunity offered. I visited the Annual Conferences as far as possible, and made interest for the House wherever I could. The Rev. R. Abbey was elected Fi- nancial Secretary of the House. It was his business to form book and tract societies in the various Conferences, and to encourage the establishment of depositories in different sections of the < Church. He succeeded in some places well; in other parts the scheme was not so much in favor. In his field, as well as in my department, all suggested by the General Conference, we worked to the utmost of our skill and ability. We had some success; indeed, I might say considerable success. Finally, in i860, after a very heated canvass, Mr. Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States over Stephen A. Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. This event created much excitement in the country, especially in the South, as Mr. Lincoln was regarded as the Abolition candidate. The questions of slavery' and aboli- tion had been discussed till the whole country was in commotion. Politicians, and statesmen in the Southern or slave States believed that slavery was doomed if Mr. Lincoln carried out the princi- ples avowed in the Republican platform ; and of this they had no doubt. They also saw, as they believed, that the doctrines of " State rights '' would be assailed and the sovereignty of . the ROUGH TIMES, ' 269 States destroyed. Hence arose a determined opposition to Mr. Lincoln. Then followed agitations in Congress, mass-meetings among the people, evincing a purpose to resist, then war, with all its horrors. After Mr. Lincoln made his proclamation calling out troops I made a few speeches at the earnest solicitation of many friends. I never preached a political sermon. Tennessee seceded, but I went on with the duties of the Publishing House. We had a large business, and made handsome profits on our sales, and by February, 1862, I had reduced the liabilities of the House about $38,000. Fort Donelson fell, and Gen. Sidney Johnston, then in command, evacuated Bowling Green, Kentucky, and passing through Nashville, crossed the Tennessee River, leaving Middle Tennessee to the mercy of the Federal army. After consultation, I took my family south of the Federal lines, and halted finally at Cornersville, Giles County. I left because my friends thought it advisable, and because Gen. Johnston so counseled, as I was told. I understood that the prejudice against me in the North was very strong, because I was Book Agent, and because I was known to be a thorough Southern man in sentiment. After the war was over I was told that there was a strong desii-e to arrest me and to deal with me severely. I left my house and furniture — most of it in the hands of oth- ers. I also left most of my servants, expecting, perhaps, soon to return home. After several months, some persons went to my home, captured twelve or thirteen of my servants, ran the block- ade, and brought them to Giles County This was all without my knowledge or direction, and I was really sorry they were brought out. Some of my friends ad\ised me to sell them, and rid mj'self of the trouble. I said; "No; I will find them homes. Should the war go against the South, they will be freed. In that case, I wish no one else to sustain the loss. I want no one's money with- out value received." And besides they were family servants, and I did not intend to dispose of them on any terms, unless they wished me to sell them. I had never bought or sold a slave, but those which 1 had were family servants. I had treated .them hu- manely, and never intended to wrong them in any sense. In my heart I believed slavery to be an evil — more of an evil to the mas- ter than to the slave — but under the circumstances, and in view of the teachings of God's word, I did not believe it to be a sin 270 JOHN B. McFERRIN. fer se. After the war they all returned, and were free, but fared not so well as when I had them at home and provided for all their wants. And now, though I do not justify the means by which they were emancipated, I am glad that I am free from the responsibility of owning slaves. I did the best I could with them and for them. I fed and clothed them well, gave them good houses and plenty of fuel, worked them moderately, provided medical treatment for them when sick, and gave them ample re- ligious privileges. I strove to preserve their morals and to teach them to fear God and work righteousness. Going south I tarried a little by the way, but finally stopped at Cornersville, Tennessee, where I was kindly received and enter- tained by my friends, Mr. Ange Cox and the Rev. James R. Mc- Clure. Their families were especially generous in our entertain- ment, and I here wish to leave on record my grateful remem- brance of the hospitality and generosity of these two families, par- ticularly of J. R. McClure and of his excellent wife. Leaving my family at Cornersville, I went to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet the Bishops and Board of Missions at their annual meeting. While here the Federals crossed the State and occupied all Ala- bama north of the Tennessee River. This cut me off from my family. I had no chance to return to Middle Tennessee. It was a sad and sorrowful day. There I was in Georgia, my wife and children in Tennessee, from home, and full of anxiety because of a separation from me. This was in the early spring of 1862, Our • General Conference was to have met in New Orleans April i, 1863, but now all hope of convening was given up, and I was left out of employment and out of hearing of my family. Seeing no prospect of returning, I visited my relatives in West Tennessee^ went to Gen. Johnston's army at Corinth, Mississippi, where I re- mained a. short time, visiting my friends among the soldiers, and looking to the sick in the hospitals. This was soon after the battle of Shiloh, where Gen. Sidney Johnston was killed. The Confed- erates gained a great victory on the first daj' of the battle, but Gen. Johnston having fallen, and the triumph considered complete, the Confederates did not follow up their victory, so that on the second dav, the Federals having been re-enforoed, the Confeder- ates lost what they had won, or at least the battle was drawn, and each side took time to rest and jirepare for another conflict. I went to North Alabama, where I spent the summer in preaching ROUGH TIMES. 271 in Russell's Valley and about Guntersville and in Jones's Val- ley« I passed many days at the house of Maj. Green, a most hos- pitable gentleman, who resided a few miles above where Birming- ham now stands. There was no town at that time where this young city is now growing so rapidly. In the meantime my family returned to Nashville, and I could hear nothing from them. They could receive no communica- tions from me, or if any thing was sent it was uncertain as to its reaching its destination. Thus we were ignorant of each other's whereabouts or of the condition of either party. While at Gunters- ville Rev J H. Gardner volunteered to run the blo'ckade and see my family and bring me word, while I traveled his circuit and filled his appointments. He made a safe and expeditious trip, saw my family, brought some clothing, and reported all well. Mr. Gardner was an Ohio man. He had come to Tennessee some years before as a teacher. I had been his friend. He united with the Tennessee Conference, and Avas a very promising man. Tliis act of kindness and heroism I shall ever remember with gialitude. Gen. Bragg, who succeeded Gen. Johnston in the command of the Ariny of Tennessee, in the latter part of the summer made a raid into Kentucky via Cumberland Gap. This drew the Federal army out of Middle Tennessee south of Nashville, so that in Oc- tober I i-eturned to Cornersville, where the Tennessee Conference met "on the 15th of the month. No Bishop being present, I was elected President of the Conference, and conducted the business to the end. We were in session five days. The attendance was tolerably full, though some-of the bretluen were too far north to reach the seat of the Conference. "After the Conference I met my family at Mr. Ab. Scales's, a few miles from College Grove, not having seen them since early in the spring. The ineeting was joyful. They went again to J. R McClure's, near Cornersville, where we remained most of the winter. Gen. Bragg i-eturned from Kentucky and occupied Murfrees- boro, Tennessee, where, during the wmter, there was a heav^- bat- tle. I was. in Georgia at the time of the figlit, but soon returned and visited anii preached to the soldiers. In the course of the spi-ing Gen. Bragg fell back to Shelbyville and Tullahoma. In April I visited Macon, Georgia, in company with the Rev. A. S. Riggs, where there was a meeting of the Bishops and Missionary 272 JOHN B. McFERRIN. Board. Bishop Kavanaugh, however, was not present. He was in Kentucky, and Bishop Soule was in Nashville. At this meet- ing it was determined to send missionaries to the Confederate army. These were to be supported by the Missionary Society, and were to co-operate with the chaplains in the army. At this meeting I was appointed by the Bishops in charge of all the Methodist missionary work in the Army of the Tennessee. The Rev. Dr. Myers, who was Assistant Treasurer, and resided in Augusta, was to push the collections at home and to act in con- cert with the preachers in raising money to support the men in the field. On our return to Shelbyville, Tennessee, we found our mutual friend and brother, the Rev. S. S. Moody, a coi-pse. He had lingered long with consumption. I visited him often while he was sick, and always found him patient and trusting God. I preached his funeral sermon and laid him away to rest. He was a noble Christian minister, and had been for many years a popular and useful member of the Tennessee Conference, filling many impor- tant appointments. He said to me in our last conversation that he only reproached himself for want of courage to preach against popular sins. This, he said, arose from timidity, or fear of hurt- ing some one's feelings, but said it was a duly from which a min- ister of the gospel should never shrink. His was a lovely char- acter. I entered immediately on mj' work in the armj', and as rapidly as I could engaged as many preachers as I thought the Mission- ary Society could sustain. There was, however, no lack of men or means. Many faithful preachers were ready for the work, and the people were willing to contribute to sustain them. I began my work in Shelbyville. I was hailed with pleasure by the offi- cers and soldiers, and especially the chaplains. Among my first sermons as a missionary I preached in the Presbyterian Church to a crowded house, made up of officers, privates, and citizens. Among my hearers was Gen. (Bishop) Polk. He lingered in the aisle after the benediction, gave me a vei-y cordial greeting and bade me Godspeed in my vocation. He said he much preferred to be> there as a minister of the gospel than in any* other capacity. During my whole stay in the army I was treated with great court- esy by all classes. Not a single word was unkindly spoken to me by any one who knew me. ROUGH TIMES. 273 Gen. Bragg gave me authority to draw rations and forage, and issued an order tliat all the missionaries should be allowed a like privilege. For some time I remained about Shelbyville, TuUa- homa, and the neighborhoods adjoining, preaching day and night. A great work of grace had commenced in many of the commands, and the cliaplains and preachers in the neighborhood were act- ively engaged in the precious revival that was springing up in almost every direction. Preachers of the various denominations were united in the cause of Christ. A few extracts from my diai-y will indicate the state of the work. On May 17 I preached at 10 o'clock in the Presbyterian Church; house crowded; mostly officers and soldiers; serious at- tention. At 3 o'clock I preached in Bate's Brigade; a very good time ; revival in the brigade. On May 19 I preached in Bushrod Johnson's Brigade; thirty to forty mourners ; glorious work in this command. On May 20 I preached at night in Gen. Polk's Brigade ; many mourners; several conversions. On May 21, at night, I preached in Gen. Wood's Brigade; forty to fifty mourners ; fifteen or twenty conversions. Powerful work here. On May 22 I made an address in Gen. Riddle's Brigade; a great work here ; already more than one hundred conversions in this command. And so the work went forward. June 15 I rode to Cornersville to visit my family. Here I w^as taken with the yellow jaundice, which rendered me unfit for duty. Early in July Gen. Bragg retreated from Shelbyvilie to Chat- tanooga. I was sick at the time at Cornersville, and had no knowledge of hi^ movement till he was across the Tennessee River. Sick as I was, I made my way on horseback south to the Tennessee River, crossed at Lamb's Ferry, and readied Court- iand, Alabama, where I remained a short time, and then spert about two weeks with Dr. Smith at Mountain Home, recruiting my health. Having improved, I set out for Chattanooga, where I was to join the ai-my. Preaching on Sand Mountain by the way, I reached Chattanooga and preached in Gen. Wright's Bri- gade on the night of August 14. He was camped a few miles from the city. Thei'e were five conversions that night, among them a captain of one of the companies. 18 274 JOHN B. McFERRIN. August i6 I preached in Chattanooga lo a large congregation at the Methodist Church. Here I met for the first time William E. Munsey. He was a ^loung man, simple in manners and sweet in disposition, just beginning to take high rank as a preacher. From this till the 19th o£ September I was constantly engaged in preaching, visiting, and holding prayer-meetings in various parts of the army. At Chattanooga, Missionai-y Ridge, Harrison, Tyner's Station, and La Fayette, Georgia, many precious souls were converted during this revival. On the 19th and 20th of September, 1863, the great battle was fought at Chickamauga, some fifteen miles from Chattanooga. The slaughter was tremendous on both sides, but the Confeder- ates held the field, while the Federals retreated to Chattanooga. Had Gen. Bragg followed up his victoi'y on the morning of the 2ist, his triumph would have been complete. I remained on the battle-field eleven days, nursing the sick and ministering to the wounded. The sight was awful. Thousands of men killed and