I, I B RA in PRIWCETOW, JS. .1. IKINATION lit' S A M IJ K I . A Ct N K W , Letter j — Rev. Julin Wooilrow— His frrace the archbishop of Tuam— A nealotes— Liberality tuwant M- lii im i--' .. in, j,y to Methodist missionaries— Mr. Ouseley attains a more niaiin I ^^( iiburs asa localpreacheramong the Irish— Scone at a iViucril- \ i ' -u- Pairick pilgrim — Infidel genUeman — Mr. Ouseley lr:ue!; .niil I. ■ ■-■ii;i.iy in the province of Connaught, nearly seven yeare prior lu his jppui.uni. nt by cuntcrenoe —Proceeds as far as Leinslcr— Fruits acconipanyin-- liis curly inimsiry- Fitted by mture, education, an.) grace, for the arduoiu office oi lui Irisli missi'-Tury. . . 53 LETTEH V. La'.>c»ni of Messrs. John and Charles Wesley and their coadjutors— Indirect effects on the native Irish— Direct instruction through the medium of their own language, attempted early in the eighteenth century— L)niit('d anJ siiori-Ii\'i-.l— A/r. Tliomaa Walsh — TesUmony of, by Dr. Mason— Eulogy on, ' \ i.'i , — K riy connection uiih the Church of Rome—Deeply convinced of tfiii ! i n liir^ Church of Rome— Hears Mr. Rob-irt Swindells in the stu i - i l oiivertion — Comni?nce6 prcHching in the county of Tipper.iry— I, ii i>. i.i M> i>) ;— Lonnaught^ 12 CONTENTS. Leinster— The north— Suffers sore persecution from tarious parties— EBecu prodacad OD the Irish by his street preaching— Death in Dublin— Mr. Charltt GraAam— An eminent Irish preaciier— Raised up in the province of Connau^hc— Labors as a local preacher for iwenty-one years— Appointed as an Irish missionary by Mr. Wesley— Mr. BarOioloTHew Qimj>6eZ/— Originally a Roman Catholic— Great diatresa of mind— Pilgrimage to Loug^h Derg— He believes on Christ— Scene in a church-yard— Very useful among the Irisli. Page 83 LETTER VI. State of Ireland previous to the appointment of Mr. Ouseley aa a mitisionary— Inah rebellion of 1793— Irish Roman CvitlioUcs not scLking a true republic, but tlie subjugii- cilies perpetrated by llie rebels, led on by their priests— Irish Conference— Dr. Coke- Address to the British Conftrence—Afleciing description of the Irish rebellion— Confer- ence of 1799— Appointment of the Irish mission— Sanctioned by the British Confer- to Dr. Coke from 107 LETTER VII. A large field of labor assigned the missionaries, suited to Uie taste of Mr. Oiiseley— Success of street preaching in Enniscorthy— Attempted persecution in Wexford— Ex- tract of a letter from Mr. Ouseley to Dr. Coke— Ceiiselesa and diversified labors of missionaries— Preach in several towns in the counties of Wicklow and Wexford— Hacketstown— Priest's threats of penanci-— Bi il-- ofiL-r- J a young woman lo bring her back to mass— Such eflorts vain— P<.i . n in K ilm\ — Mr. Ouseley severely bruised — fc^cap^s the mob — Writes i I > iu-lic bishop — Conference Address— Mr. Ouseley labors nnothr-i \ . M, i,, i (.mi— Feels the waot of suitable tracla for general distrihutiun— i. uiii[.iaN,^ in Coke on the subject- Hb pulses— Great numbers of Roman Catholics hear the word with increasing attention- Several join society— Sketch of the labors and success of Messrs. Ouseley and Graham —Period of their association in the work closes 134 LETTER Via. Mr. Ouseley 's appointment— Mr. William Hamilton— State of reugion in the raelropolii — Miision;iry pro?:ie^s- Persecution at Carlow— Narrowly escapes with his life— Pri' .silv M|.|.r. --iMM— Mi,-i,.i,.ii v > x'Ttions not confined to Roman Cadiolica— Mr. Oi(--i "I his mode of preacliing — Scene at Drogheda— Em ■ • ■ 'vi,;..'nny, &c.— Mr. Ouseley in his native province — (jcLiii [. ii; [111 —>\:j — > 1. f.-iul operations there — Address of the conferencfr— Brief sketch of Mr. Ouscltz'y's ii-ude oi working— Interesting incident— Mr. Ouseley'g vibit to a nobleman— Preaching to the Threshers— Conversions from Komaniam— ward his colleagues— Sleep on the loft— Sustainf persecution— Assaulted by a prie« CONTENTS. 18 --Letter on the Bubject from Mr. Hajnilton— Syinpathy and liberality of the English to Imh miBsioos— Mr. Hamilton no longer able to bear the hardships of the miBsiori— Strong affection for Mr. Ouseley— High opinion of the conferen«« /esprcting Mr. Hamilton — Long and honorable career and triumphant close — Great discoumgements of Mr. Ouseley next year— Explores new places— Great success— Singular conversion of a persecutor in class meeting— Mr. Ouseley preaches in the streets of Burrisokane— forms a society there — Extraordinary exertions during that year — Testimony of conference reUiive to missions— Mr. Ouseley's prodigious labors deserving of notice Page 171 LETTER X. Mr. Ooselev's third year in Galway and Clare— Obtains two colleagues— Entering into Killaloe— Field of labor— Romish devotions at Kilmacduagh— His traveling to remote places— Two women grinding at the mill— Scene in the west— Studious habits of Mr. O.— Tilings the subject of his study— Metaphors appropriate— Sermon in Limerick barraclt— Out- door preaching varied— Villages— Assizes towns— Fields— Baliineven — Engaged in building preaching houses — Visits Connemara — Letter to Dr. Coke— Mr. MaUerly- Rev. Adam Averell— Roman Catholic clergy contribute to the erection of Methodist chapels— Scenery of Lough Derg— Father Keating— Parish priest of Castletown Am— Letter to priest Thayer— Mr. Ouseley in danger of being greatly injured by a stone thrown at him — Tour throiigh Con naught— Controversy with father Glin— Tumult in Longhrea— Persecution in Ballina— Assault in Westport, occasioned by father Jvidge— Curious encounter with a priest in Erris— Travels through the province of Connaught — Returns to Dunmore — Attempted persecution — Successful labors of Mr. 0., for five yeaiBj in Clare and Galway mission ... 193 LETTER XL Irish Conference of 1S13— Dr. Coke presides for the last time— Mr. Ouseley offers him- self for India— Conference interposes- Appointed to labor in the north— Mr. Arthur Noble to be his colleague— Awakened under a sermon preached by Mr. Ouseley in Fintona— Many who were destined for the njinistry converted by means of Mr. 0. — Rev. William Copeland, Rev. James Home, and others— During the first year Mr. Ouseley extends his labors beyond the prescribed bounds— Obtains two more colleagues the second year— Labors very generally through the kingdom — Nut confined to Ire- land-Visits England and Scotland— Mode of preaching, the same as described, pur^ sued with increasing success— Appointed several successive years as a general rnis- sionary- Tours to the south attended with great success— His description of Philip Rorkc— Rebukes a priest at Manoriiamilton— Travels ex teniively— Witnesses won- derful effects of the gospel— Preaches to great crowds in En niskillen— Narrowly escapes with his life from a mob in Killetter fair— Escape in the south of Ireland— In Connaught— Field meeting in the county of Donegal— Rides twenty miles through incessant rain — Labors in Enntskitlen — Dungannon — Monaghan — Supineness of the English with regard (o the encroachments of Romanism— Preaches in the open air in Dublin— Many real converts who from fear dare not avow the change .... 242 LETTER XIL Mr. Ouseley suffers severely from exertions during a snow storm — Richly rewarded by the gracious fruits— An atheist converted— Conversation between a Roman Catholic gendemau and a priest— A soldier converted on the battle-field of Waterioo— Light of the gospel spread by the writings and preaching of Mr. Ouseley— In perils among bis couotrymeitawtaid a«do for % short tin-.s \)y a cold, cauf he while preaching in tbe 14 CONTENTS. street— Preachea by star-light— DeBCribes the first churcli nmon* the Gentiles— Retire* to a watering place — Successful labors while there — Rev. John Feely appointed la travel with him— Mr. Feely's character of Preaches from thineeu to fifteen limes a week— Violent conduct of a priest- Several turn from mass— Novel argument against (lie rout presence — Priest M'Gouran — Mr. Ouseley returns to Dublio ill, after a tour of sixly-six days— Street sermon in Ballina— Great .success in every place — Ingenious and convincing argument from the Rliemish vereion— Conversation with a priest — Prospects of new openings— Laments over tlie state of Ireland — Argumenla with a casuist— Receives a severe blow in Monaglian, while preaching in the street- Cause of the miseries of Ireland — Intolerance of a priest in Kilrush — ^DIbcussIou in CArrick-on-Shaniion— Invited to Easky discussion— Its amicable terrtiinauon in favor of truth- Mode of preaching varied— Argumeuia for a general mission to the Irish, and his peculi;ir c;ili to th.tt work Page 367 LETTER XHI. Mr. Ouseley severely alllicted— Gains strenglh to write- Auimadversioiis on a declara- tion of Oie Rombh hierarchy, and Dr. Doyle's pastoral— Takes a lour through Gal way — Accident in Connemam — Persecuted by a priest ioDunniore — Escapes injury in Mul- Ungar— In danger of a relapse of inflammation of Ihc lungs— Preaches numerous ser- mons in tlie streets— Progress of Scriptural knowledge and inquiry— Movement pro- moled by Mr. Ouseley's wridngsand labors— InsU»nces showing this fact— Reaolutioiu of Scripture readers— Progress of reformation in Cavan— Mr. O. viails the earj of Faniham — Kindly received by the nobility, gentry, and clergy — Lady Faniham requests liberty to pubiisli Old Christianity ai her own expense- Letter firom a gentle* man in Cavan— Religious movement in the sovidi— S riking pecuUarity of Mr. Ouse- ley's mode of street preaching — Instances — Disputing in the market with those that met with him— Visits anoUier scene ol i-eformation near the county of Meath— Again vbils Kind's Court— Preaches on the "ancient f.iith "—Several express their approval- Speech at reformation meeting in Oinagh— Visits England— Tour through Leinslcr and tlie north— Visits Belfast— Answers to father Brennan's Penitential Ad- dress — Vindication of Methodist doctrine and discipline — Visits again the scene of reformation— Answer to the Hon. and Rev. G. Spencer— Letter to Dr. M'Enery, P. P. of Tralee— Conversatiun with Biddy— Persecution in 'I'uam— Kindness of clergytnen of the Estalilishment- Sketch of Mr. Ouseley's labor for a year.' . . 298 LETTER XIV. Affliction of Mr. Ouseley— His letter on the subject— Employs the time in wnting'— Resumes his active labors — Catches cold in street preaching — Tra\*el« In Leinster and Ulster— Interview wilh a friendly priest— Visits King's Court- A priest denounces his Old Ciirisiianily as an heretical book— Two lengthened tours— Supplies the place of Mr. Bayley— Dialogue in the street of Eallinosloe- Attacked by cholera in Sligo— Attends jubilee— Mrs. Ouseley's character- Mr. Ouseley travels through Kerr>*— Conversation with a priest— VisiU Limerick, Ennis, and Tipperary— Strongly urges the employ- ment of Scripture teachers — Proposes to contribute to their support — Travels through the western counties— Visits England— Effect of sermon in Mo untmeilick— Travels in Kerry, Limerick, and Galway — Attacked by robbers on his return to Dublin — Pre- monitory symptoms of his last illness— Letter to the author— Prospects of eternily— Concludes his public ministry by preaching in Mountmellick — Returns to Dublin- Is confined to bed— The closing scene— Mr. Ouseley's character aa a writer— His general cbiracter as given in the Minutes of Confereuco—ConcluaioD .... 326 MEMORIAL OF REV. GIDEON OUSELEY. LETTER I. Moral and political stale of Irekntl— Ita diaorUeis attributed to Improper causes— Meft- Qving to Euglish and Scotch habits of domestic economy as contrasted with Irish— Anta^nist principles — Examples referred to — Subject, fine of fact — Ireland cannot rise while under an oppressive and degrading superstition. My Dear Friend, — In presenting to you an account of the ministerial labors of the Rev. Gideon Ouseley, and of the mission yyiih which he was connected for forty years, it will not be deemed unnecessary to give such an outline of the state of the country itself, as shall show that a necessity existed, in the moral wants of the people, fbr the establishment of such a system of evan- gelical instruction as is brought to bear upon them by the preaching of the Irish missionary. To dwell on the distressing details unhappily con- nected with the L-ish name, is a task by no means agreeable to my habits or disposition. "WTien com- pelled, therefore, by a love of truth, to touch on the evils which exist, and which we all deplore, it is not to indulge an ungrateful or invidious feeling to my coun- try, but, if possible, to trace those evils to their legiti- mate source, to show the inefficiency of the political measures which have been resorted to for their removal, 16 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. and to exhibit the only effectual remedy which can be applied for this desirable purpose. There is no portion of the British empire whose historj' and external aspect are better known than Ireland, and yet whose real state and character are less perfectly understood. The political relations of this country have afforded abundant matter of specu- lation to the theorist ; her moral and social condition has awakened the sympathies of the philanthropist; and her religious state has excited the commiseration of the genuine Christian. The striking peculiarities of her children have supplied subjects for the sentimental tourist, who fancies himself as well qualified to descnbe the character of the rural population as to sketch the picturesque beauties of the scenery which surrounds them. Works of fiction have come to the aid of simple description ; while, alas ! the real miseries of Ireland exceed the most vivid touches of the pencil or imagina- tion. With every natural facility which soil, climate, and situation, can afford for comfort and prosperity, she is degraded, depressed, and wretched ; and, with all the elements of native courtesy, kindness, and hos- pitality, her eliildren are false, treacherous, and cruel. Murder after murder stains the annals of our country. The midnight legislator issues his proclamation, and the threatening notice is soon followed by the foot of the destroyer. "Destruction and misery arc in their Avays ; the way of peace have they not known ; there is no fear of God before their eyes." In one t'rightful feature of its character, Ireland seems to differ from every other part of the civilized woi-Id. The original sentence — " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood bo shed " — is, in other conn- MEMORIAL OF GIDKON OUSELET. 17 ti-ies, by common consent, regarded as irreversible, and the blood-stained culprit is brought to justice. Here, alas! they labor to reverse it; a criminal sympathy prevails for the midnight and noon-day assassin. Him- self concealed, protected, succored; every effort is made to screen the murderer, and defeat the ends of justice. And while the victim of a diabolical ven- geance — though an amiable, worthy, useful gentleman — is brought to a premature grave in the midst of his days, and dies unpitied and unwept ; the villain, if at last brought by a just sentence to suffer the extreme l)enalty of the law, is canonized as a martyr. (See Appendix A.) It docs not come within my design to treat the mat- ter as a politician, nor should I direct your attention to the subject in a political point of view at all, but for the purpose of showing that the anomalous character and state of Ireland, social and moral, are admitted in tlie highest quarters ; that she has engaged the anxious, painful, and repeated attention of the greatest and wisest statesmen of all political creeds; that she is deemed worthy the regard of successive sovereigns; and that, notwithstanding all the plans of policy for the remedy of our national disorders, the core of Ireland's evils is confessedly untouched. It is not by any means my wish to call in question the measures of men in power, in what may be thought acts of national justice, much less to take upon myself to impugn their motives. The difficulties with which statesmen have had to grapple are of giant form ; and the system of religious deception which governs the bulk of the people is so insidious in its character, and tortuous in its workings, as to seem to bid defiance 2 18 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. even to detection. It is not at all surprising, therefore, that mere human legislation, however well intended, has been found, to the present, defective and ineffica- cious. Whether they have enacted penal laws, or repealed them by passing " the healing measure ;" whether they have subjected the people to what they considered a galling impost for the support of a religion which they were taught to hate and anathematize as heretical, or increased the burdens of the state by endowing a Romish college ; whetlier they have sup- ported charter schools to be the nursenes of Protestant- ism, or establislied national schools for the purpose of conciliating the Romish clergy ; — it matters very little : the question still remains, Have these, or any of these, reached the evils of our country, or tended to alleviate our national miseries? Statesmen have endeavored to explore the causes of her disorders, and to apply remedies for their removal, without effect. Commis- sion has followed commissipn, to ascertain her real state ; and the extremes of rigor and lenity have been alternately resorted to, in vain. Has there been a solution given to the enigma? Why have not the means so anxiously applied really succeeded in her regeneration or improvement? Does not the fell disease lie deeper in her moral constitution than the mere pohtical system ? Ought it not to be acknowledged that the palliatives have only tended to aggravate the fatal distemper? Still the disturbers of the public peace are at their work of destruction ; still do the demagogues ply their daily task, by good words and fair speeches deceiving the hearts of the simple. " While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption ;" afl'ecting to deplore, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 19 as patriots, the -wrongs of their countn-, -n-hile tliey fatten on her miseries. Greater concessions have been made to Popeiy ■vvitliin the last few years than for centuries ; and yet, what is the tact now ? Vtliy the necessity of a coer- cion bill ? One of the leading joumals of " the peo- ple," the D. E. Post, has recently stated as follows : — "As we have said repeatedly, the right honorable gentleman (Sir Robert Peel) is not the man for Ire- land. This country has been in a state of ])ollti jal or agrarian (hsturbance since he obtained his present office. AVe are old stagers, and we hardly remember a period of five years — the term of his ministry — in wliich such agrarian outrages, and so much political dissension, prevailed. He foresaw this clearly enough. He predicted that Ireland would be his difficulty ; and he will leave it, socially, much more discontented, dissatisfied, disturbed, than even he could prefigure in his misgivings." And yet Sir Robert has for the greater part been walking in the path prescribed him by the Post. He has been laboring hard in the work of " conciliation." He has been patronizing priests, endowing colleges, and extending enlightenment. The alarming sj-mptoms of those social and political erils with which our ill-fated country is rife', have in- deed been acknowledged by all ; but the causes which give rise to them lie not so near the surface; and without the knowledge of the causes, the remedies can- not be applied with any reasonable hope of permanent success. Where in other portions of our country it happens that a.better state of things is exhibited, men of high intelligence, and otherwise unquestionable competency, 20 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTISELET. ascribe the difference to mere habits of industry and domestic economy by no means indigenous to an Irish climate. Contrasts are formed between the " Saxon and the Celt, the Scotch and the Irish," and the native indolence and improvidence of the aboriginal inhabit- ants but serve to exhibit to more advantage the state of social and civil improvement at which our happier neighbors have arrived. Alas ! the causes of these distinctions, moral, social, and domestic, lie much deeper than the mere political economist is willing to admit. The difference solely consists in antagonist principles. On the one hand, the truths of Christian- ity are diffused, and by one class of people generally acknowledged. In our holy religion are contained the elements of social order, moral elev ation, and do- mestic happiness. On the other hand, there is a slavish subjection of millions to the authority of their spiritual guides, without whose will they dare not exercise, or at least express, a single thought on their own eternal desti- nies ! The revelation of God is carefully concealed, or artfully misinterpreted; a meagre and corrupt sys- tem of human invention is substituted for the gospel, and human authority absolutely supersedes the majesty of the divine law. Have wc not here a solution of the difEculties with ■which the statesman has had to contend? And are not the contrasts fully accounted for, to which the attention of the world has been so frequently directed, and which are so confidently attributed to other causes ? Would the limits of this letter admit of it, I could, from my own knowledge and observation, point out nume- rous examples to confirm the above statements. I could name village standing in striking contrast with MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 21 village, purely on tliis ground ; I could point out the same village or townland at difiFerent periods exhibit- ing the same class of evidence ; individuals might be named who could give testimony in their own case to corroborate the fact; where the rude, ignorant, vm- tutored servant-boy — the willing instrument of the lawless and designing demagogue, and prepared on the next occasion for deeds of violence, is, by the blessing of God on the preaching of the gospel, ele- vated to the rank of a Christian — becomes respectable, intelligent, exemplary ; and, by and by, trains his chikken in those truths of Christianity by which him- self had been rescued from the dominion of darkness and eiTor. With such evidence before us, is it sur- prising that we are not willing to admit of these in- vidious distinctions on the ground of nationality ? As a proof of this : in some very striking instances we are indebted to France for many of those advan- tages of improvement and industry, which stand in contrast with the general wretchedness of the south and west. Many of those who, for more than two cen- turies, have helped to develop the industrial resources of the country, and by their wealth and manufactures tended to enrich it, to diffuse comfort, and to promote habits of industry and domestic order, were the refu- gees, or their descendants, who fled from a persecuting edict of Louis XIV., and found an asyliun in several parts of L-eland. And yet we are gravely told that the difference hes in the domestic habits of England and Ireland. It is not surprising to you that informed men, who have had opportunities, from long residence among them of judging for themselves, are not quite ready to concur in the opinions of men, who, however 22 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. otherwise clever, take upon themselves, after a week or ten days' observation, (it cannot be called acquaint- ance,) to describe the chai-acter, and account for the social condition of the Irish. Two things unite in the minds of genuine Christians in rejection of the conclusions thus drawn by specula- tive men — their love of country and their love of truth. The Irishman, in his native simplicity, is as susceptible of cultivation as either Scot or Saxon ; and the truth, if brought into due operation on his case, would be equally effoctual. But is not the subject, after all, involving, as it does, the dearest interests of the em- pire, presented to the mind as one of fad 1 And ought not the attention of the philanthropist and statesman be awakened to the true nature of the question ? It is regarded by me without the shades that prejudice would cast around it ; in this, at least, I am free from the spirit of sectarianism. I care not under what agency the power of error is abohshed and the influ- ence of truth advanced ; but, until it is done, every scheme to retrieve the nation from disorder and misery, however excellent in itself, must prove utterly abor- tive. Whatever coercion may effect in the suppres- sion of crime, or concession in the allayment of insub- ordination — whatever plans of benevolence may be laid for the improvement of Ireland, or measures of justice for her relief — no lasting benefit can be ex- pected to result, while millions of her interesting chil- dren remain enthralled beneath the iron yoke of spi- ritual oppression. How can our beloved country rise in the scale of being, degraded as she has become under the tyranny of a foul superstition, which im- poses mental bondage, and spreads moral darkness MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 23 through every country over ■which it maintains its sullen doiiiination ? In niy next you may expect some portions of evi- dence from other sources, to corroborate the principles and ai'guments of this letter. Yours, &c., W. R. LETTER n. The Church of Rome eMenUally Ibe same in every a*e and place— Testimonies as to its ehanicter— Archbishop Whately— Dr. H. J. Moncic Mason— Edmand Spenser — Archbishop Dlher— Bishop Bedeil — Gideon Ouseley — Ireland not always subject to Rome — Acknowledged by Roman Catholic wriiere — Its calamities owin* to submission to the yoke of Rome— O'DriscoU— Closing remarks — Proper disLinclions to be pre- served—The gospel, the only means of enli^btenmeot. My Dear Fkiexd, — ^In my last letter, you were led to expect a reference to other sources of evidence, in cor- roboration of the principles which were there assumed. In its professions, and in some of its external aspects, the religion of Rome, chameleon-like, accommodates itself to its relative position. In communities where it is not dominant, it can crouch, and promise, and swear lasting fealty, while in subjection ; and by these means many of the noble minded and unsuspecting in our own eventful day have been betrayed into a persuasion that time has wrought a considerable change in its character. Arrived at ascendency, however, knowing no medium between t)-ranny and slavery, its mask is thrown aside, and the power that was gained by fraud and hj-pocrisy is unblushingly directed to purposes of injustice and oppression. "When," says the cele- brated Edmund Spenser, in his " State of Ireland," "they are wearj- of wars and brought down to ex- treme wretchedness, then they creep a little perhaps, 24 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. and sue foi' grace, till they have gotten new breath and recovered their strength again." But it is to the moral and social ctfects necessarily produced by the inculcation of her avowed principles on the population I would now advert; and, in connection with this, suggest the only means for their enlightenment and conversion. It cannot be regarded as a reproach to the Church of Rome that the character exhibited by it in one age must essentially agree with it in every other. Accord- ing to her own canon of infallibility, it must be immu- table ; it is professedly " unchanged and unchange- able." Those descriptions, therefore, given by the historian, relative to the state of Christendom, pre- vious to the Reformation, answer to her state in the present age. Popery in the nineteenth century is the same it was in the sixteenth century. Numerous as are the authorities which might here be adduced, as to the character of the Western Church prior to the Reformation, I shall satisfy myself with one quotation, from a distinguished author, who, to say the least, cannot be suspected of a want of liberality to the Church of Rome : " Before the reformation of our church, the priest professed, like the Jewish, to offer sacrifice (the sacrifice of the mass) to propitiate God toward himself and his congregation. The efficacy of that sacrifice was made to depend on the sincerity and rectitude of intention, not in the conmiuni- cants, but in the priest ; he, assuming the character of mediator and intercessor, prayed, not with, but for the people, in a tongue unknown to them, and in an inaudible voice ; the whole style and character of the service being evidently far different from what the apostle must MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 25 have intended to ' pray for one another.' The priest undertook to reconcile transgressors with the Almighty, by prescribing penances, to be performed by them in order to obtain /iw absolution; and, profanely copying our only High Priest, pretended to transfer to tlieni his own merits, or those of his saints. He, like a pagan rather than a Jewish priest, kept hidden from the people the volume of their faith, that they might with ignorant reverence submit to the dominion of error, instead of being 'made free by the truth,' which he, as a Christian teacher, was expressly com- missioned to make known ; thus ' hiding the candle under a bushel ' which was designed to be ' a light to lighten the nations.'" — Whatebj's Discourse hefore the University of Oxford. The above description of the Romish priesthood and religion, is but too true a picture of the kind of system by which millions of our interesting popula- tion are enslaved ; by which they are fatally misled, and kept in a state of perpetual hostility to their Protestant fellow-subjects, whom they are taught to regard as heretics, justly doomed to death and per- dition. It mil be seen by Dr. Whately's statements, that their system of teaching is not only deplorably defective, but pregnant with gross and destructive error ; that the religion of Rome is opposed to that of the apostles: that its clergy arc profane pretenders, pagan priests, hiding the candle under a bushel, by wickedbj keeping hidden from the people the volume of their faith, that they may by ignorant reverence submit to the dominion of error. Such, exactly, is the religion of the Church of Eome to-day, " unchanged and unchangeable," which must, in its natural ten- 26 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. dency, lead to results the most disastrous, not only to the interests of tlie nation itself, but to the millions who are under its fell delusions. And is this the system, to conciliate which the learned prelate, in the " National Board," " kept hidden the volume of faith ;" and for whose support and perpetuation he gave his sanction to the permanent endowment of the College of Maynooth ? Alas, my country ! when the most distinguished men in church and state unite in aiding, in their foul designs, those who pollute the streams of instruction at their very source. You will not, I hope, deem me pertinacious on this point. The great barriers to the world's happiness and freedom, I most religiously believe, have been the dogmas and assumptions of the church, to which reference is made in the statements just placed before you. These continue in their full force, so as to obstruct the improvement of our nation ; and, until the minds of enlightened and benevolent Christians are fully awake to this fact, they will be led, by a spurious liberality to the men, to overlook the system of delusion by which they are betrayed ! or, perhaps, fondly to imagine it is considerably ameliorated in its character, and thus, under this mistake, misapply the charity, which might otherwise be efficiently directed to the regeneration of the country. " There is, perhaps, no opinion that manifests more an entire ignorance of Satan's profound artifices, and consummate insidiousness, than that which of late years has crept into the judgments of some of the best men in Great Britain — that Popery had changed its cha- racter with the times. Tliis opinion originated in a practical ignorance of its working, and a blind reliance MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 27 on its assertions ; for even reflecting persons forgot, or believed not, that the system is one of equivocation from first to last. English-bred gentlemen and Pro- testants, generally men of ti-uth themselves, and therefore not suspecting the want of it in others, credited every- thing that was advanced. They had no experience of their own ; nothing to contradict assertion, but what was advanced on the other side ; and having thus no tangible or visible symptoms to assist them in judging of the truth which was carefully concealed from them, they attributed the opposite allegations to bigotry, and tluis were led to seal the death-warrant of England's Protestant independence. " They have many of them, however, at last found out this truth, although, it is feared, too late, that Popery in the nineteenth century is the same in principle that it was in the tenth — the self-same ingenious system of error; with tliis addition, that it is now more setoff with all the gloss of Jesuitism, spread over it to dazzle and pervert." — Dr. H. J. M. Mason's Life of Bedell. The above sentiments coming, as they do, from the judicious pen of Dr. Mason, cannot but carry great weight with them on this question. The patient appli- cation of his accomplished mind to the state of Ireland must have enabled him to form a good judgment on the subject; while his connection with the Irish Society, in furnishing the grand means of Ireland's evangeliza- tion — -the whole of the sacred Scriptures in the Irish language — entitle him to a distinguished place among the real benefactors of his country. In his " State of Ireland," already referred to, Spen- ser says, — " The fault which I have to find in religion is but one, but the same is universal throughout all 28 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. that country ; that is, that they be all Papists by their profession, but in the same so blindly and brutishly infoiTOcd, for the most part, that not one among a hun- dred knoweth any ground of religion, or any article of his faith; but can say his Palo- or his Ave-Maria without any knowledge or understanding what one word thereof meaneth. . . . For religion itself being but one, so as there is but one way therein ; for that which is true, only is, and the rest is not at all." And as to the means by which the Irish may be retrieved from their ignorance and spiritual destitution and wretchedness, the same author observes: — "Yet, in planting of religion, thus much is needful to be ob- served, that it be not sought forcibly to be impressed with terror and sharp penalties, as now is the manner ; but rather delivered and intimated with mildness and gentleness, so as it may not be hated before it be un- derstood ; and its professors despised and rejected. And therefore it is expedient that some discreet minis- ters of their own countrymen be sent over among them, which, by their meek persuasions and instructions, as also by their sober lives and conversations, may draw them first to understand, and afterward to embrace, the doctrine of their salvation. " For if that the ancient godly fathers, which first converted them, when they were infidels, to the faith, were able to pull them from idolatry and paganism to the true belief in Christ — how much more easily shall godly teachers bring them to the true understanding of that which they already professed ?" He then re- proaches the idle ministers for not " winning souls to God," and that they did not " look out into God's har- vest which is even ready for the sickle, and all the MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 29 fields yellow long ago." "Thus I have," he adds, " run through the state of the -whole country, both to let you see what it now is, and also what it may be by- good care and amendment." — Vieiu of the State of Ire- land. Such were the sentiments of this extraordinary man in the reign of Elizabeth ; and if any candid man in- quire into the subject now, and compare the state of things with regard to that church, he will find that, unless in those cases where the gospel has efiected a change, the description is but too faithful to life in the reign of Victoria ; and the very same means which were then requisite for the "amendment" of the con- dition of the people are now requisite for the same great purpose. That illustrious prelate, Archbishop Usher, deeply lamented the errors by which his " poor countrymen " in his day were misled ; and although his natural gen- tleness and mildness, and the extreme tenderness of affection with which he regai-ded the deluded votaries of Romanism, caused him sometimes, perhaps, to act toward them with too much caution, and even occa- sioned a fear that Bishop Bedell had gone to imprudent lengths in his manner of diffusing truth and confront- ing falsehood; yet he abhorred the system of Popery, and denounced it as a foul apostasy from Christianity and from the ancient faith of the country; and de- voutly labored and prayed for its utter extinction, and for the progress and triumph of the truth in the world. In his book on the ancient religion of the Irish, he ex- prcsse; himself in very affecting terms : — " I confess I somewhat incline to be of yonr mind, that if unto the authorities drawn of Scriptures and 30 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. fathers, (-wliicli are common to us witli others,) a true discovery were added of that religion which anciently was professed in this kingdom ; it might prove a spe- cial motive to induce my poor countrymen to consider a little better of the old and true way from which they have been hitherto misled. Yet, on the one side, that saying in the Gospel ran much in my mind : ' If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.' And, on the other, that heavy judgment mentioned by the apostle : ' Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.' The woful experience thereof we may see daily before our eyes in this poor nation : where such as are slow of heart to beUeve the saving truth of God, delivered by the prophets and apostles, do with all greediness em- brace, and with the most strange kind of credulity en- tertain, those lying legends wherewith their monks and friars in these latter days have polluted the reli- gion and lives of our ancient saints." Again, speaking of penance as superseding genuine repentance, which was insisted on by the ancient church in Ireland, he says, — " By the new device of sacramental penance, the matter is now far more easily transacted ; by virtue of the keys, the sinner is very instantly of attrile made contrite, and thereupon, as soon as he has made his confession, he presently receives his absolution, after this some trivial penance is im- posed, which, upon better consideration, may be con- verted into pence, and so a quick end is made of many a foul business." " The Lord of his mercy open their eyes, that they MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 31 may see the light, and give them grace to ' receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved !' The Lord likewise grant (if it be his blessed will) that truth and peace may meet together in our day, that we may be all gathered into one fold, under one Shepherd, and that the whole earth may be filled with his glory ! Ameu and Amen." — Usher's Religion of the Ancient Imh. The state of things which, centuries ago, the great Usher deplored, the pious and devoted Bishop Bedell, as well as his 'distinguished contemporary, mourned over ; and for the efi'ecting of a change in it, he anx- iously and zealously prosecuted the labors of his life. " He observed," says Bishop Burnett, " with much re- gret, that the English had all along neglected the Irish — had left them wholly in the hands of their jjriests. And, indeed, their priests were a strange sort of people, that knew generally nothing but the reading of their offices, which were not so much as understood by many of them, and they taught the people nothing but the sajnng of their Paters and Aves in Latin, so that the state, both of the clergj- and laity, was such that it could not but raise great compassion in a man that had so tender a sense of the value of those souls that Christ had purchased with his blood. Therefore he resolved to set about that apostolical work of converting the natives with a zeal and care that such an understanding required. For they had no sort of notion of Christianity, but only knew that they were to depend upon their priests, and were to con- fess such of their actions as the)- called sins, to them ; and to pay them tithes." Again : " He also thought the ti-ue interest of England was to gain the Irish to a 32 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. knowledge of religion, and to bring them, b}- the means of that which only turns the heart, to love the English nation : and so he judged the wisdom of that course was apparent, as well as the piety of it." — Life of Bedell. Bishop Bedell, in his sermon on Rev. xviii, 4, care- fully distinguishes between the religion of Rome as a system, and those who, though influenced by better principles, were unhappily in her communion ; and shows the duty of Christians in co-operating with Christ to persuade them to " come out of her." " And first, and most properly, to those that this scripture most concerns and is directed unto — the people of God holden in captivity of Roman Baby lon ; but, alas ! they are not here, for this is one part of their captivity, that they are kept not only from hearing the voice of the servants of Christ, or of St. John, the beloved disciple, but of himself speaking here from heaven. Tell them then, that it is acknowledged by their own doctors, that Rome is Babylon ; and it is averred that this is the present Papal monarchy ; that out of this tlicy must depart, by the conmiands of our Lord Jesus Christ's own voice, under pain of being accessory to all her sins, and liable to all her punish- ments. Wish them to use the liberty to read the Holy Scrij^tures, and to come out of the blind obedience of men's precepts and traditions the new and de- testable doctrines, derogatory to the blood of Christ, which moderate men, even of her own subjects, detest. " Give me leave, right honorable, to put you in mind that this also belongcth to your care, to co-opcirjie with Christ in bringing his people out of the Romish cap- tivity. And if to help away a poor captive out of MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELET. 33 Turkey hath been honorable to some public ministers, what shall it be to help to the enlarging of so many- thousand souls out of the bondage of men's traditions, and gaining to his Majesty so many entii'e subjects ? " Finally : let us all beseech our Lord Jesus Christ to give us wisdom and opportunity to further his work, and to give success unto the same himself ; to hasten the judgment of Babylon ; to bring his people out of this bondage : that we, with them, and the saints in the church triumphant, may thereupon sing, ' Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, be unto the Lord our God.' Amen." The recorded testimony of another competent and unprejudiced witness will serve to conform the view I have taken on this subject : — " Having these many years past witnessed, and deeply deplored, the evils that have been distracting and oppressing my native country, [Ireland ;] and been carefully weighing the various opinions and methods from time to time adopted, but in vain, to heal them, I came at length to this conclusion, which I now lay before your grace, that to one point alone, nearly, if not altogether, unob- served, are all these perplexities to the state, injuries to Ireland, and vexatious disappointments to my Ro- man Catholic fellow-subjects attributable. My convic- tion is, that the hidden core of the whole is a dire system of deep-laid religious imposture, combined with a spirit of insatiable domination on the one hand, and on the other a mistake, operating on unsuspecting multitudes, which — if not vigorously and timely check- ed, either by judicious exposure, or the strong arm of the law, to awe the turbulent, for no half measures can avail — vnW, most assuredly, ultimately succeed in sap- 34 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. ping tlie constitution, destroying all genuine civil and religious liberty, and filling these realms with confusion and misery. Let this dire imposture then be laid open, and the fatal mistake removed : so shall all these evils at once cease ; and all our fellow-subjects can then, with perfect safety, be indiscriminately admitted to equal privileges ; and henceforth shall they be united in amity and Christian kindness, to vex or afflict each ' other no more. " This state of things is the earnest desire of every honest heart on both sides, and what I have for many years been laboring and praying for ; and O that my God may grant, that now, at length, I may have the happiness, ere my head be laid in the dust, to see it accomplished. In order to this, I beg to make the following statement*: — The Roman Catholic clergy are sworn to the divinity of the gospel ; that aU faithful followers of it are true Christians ; and that all doc- trines, worship, and teachers, opposed to it, are false, accursed, and idolatrous But they are also sworn to teach mankind the Creed of Pope Pius IV., containing many doctrines, and worship, opposed to the reUgion of Christ, as the only ancient faith, without which none can be saved; and to condemn, reject, and hold accursed, all things — every book, religion, man, state, &c. — opposed to it, as heretical, and to extermi- nate them in every way possible. Here lies the deso- lating imposture. By thus swearing to the truth, they throw dust in the people's eyes; and then palm on them its opposite — theu' fatal creed ! This point should be ever kept in view Now the pope and liis clergy, though sworn to the tinith of the gospel, and to the falsehood of all doctrines and teachers opposed to MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 35 it, are sworu to teach the Trent Creed, that of Pope Pius IV Hence they are, by this last oath and creed, sworn to contradict their first oath and the gospel of God, in order this way to uphold the Papacy, and to subjugate mankind to thcii- wretched domina- tion, or exterminate them where power enough to do so is had." — Ouseley's Letter to the Duke of Wellington, Feb., 1829. Again : " It must be obvious to all Romanists of any information, that the .pope's creed — his ftxtal system of religion, which he and his priests are sworn to each other to teach as the only true laith of Christ — is di- rectly opposite to that gospel which they behcve is his true faith ; and is therefore a sj-stem, a religion, of the most notorious falsehood, idolatry, cruelty, and hypoc- risy, that the world ever witnessed. Hence, when the laity suficr themselves to be so cheated as to follow it, do they not madly follow the broad road to tlieir shame and ruin ; what they must now see is the very contran,- of Christ's sacred religion ? And hence arises, of course, the difference of faith between them and aU true Protestants. Must they not, therefore, now perceive that, while ever they adhere to this per- nicious system and its teachers, they must ever hate Protestants, and earnestly desire to sec them extermi- nated ? [See Appendix B.] Should they not, there- fore, clearly undei-stand that it is solely on this ground that all enlightened Protestants, dreading these prin- ciples as they do, fear so much to intrust them with that power which would enable them to act according to their fatal system, and eventually destroy them and their dearest institutions ? ]Mi-. Plunkett, in his speech, November, 1822, on a ribbonman's trial, said: 'The 36 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. object and oath of the ribbonmen are, it is unques- tionably proved, the subversion of the constitution ; the separation of Ireland from Great Britain ; the ex- tirpation of all the Protestant inhabitants out of the country ; and to establish the Roman Cathohc religion in their stead.' No marvel at all, when their clergy are sworn that ' Protestants are accui-sed heretics, who should be rooted out.'" — Ouseley's Letter to the Bt. Hon. Robert Peel, Feb., 1829. Numerous instances might be adduced to exhibit the system to which the above records refer, as the fruitful source of all our country's miseries and wrongs; but I do not like to swell this letter to an unreasonable length, already, it is to be feared, too much in detail. When, however, these doctrines, which are instilled into the minds of the peasantry from very infancy, are merely adverted to, can it be thought surprising that the peace and security of society are deeply af- fected ? Nay : the wonder is, that more frequent and deadly convulsions do not rend our lovely, though unhappy, land. These views will suffer no diminution in your con- sideration or respect, by the sanction of the venerable name of Ouseley. The letters from wliich the above exb-acts are taken were occasioned by a great political emergency in the state. Though written late in life, and in the midst of important avocations, yet they are characterized by a vigor of thought, force of reason- ing, and justness of conclusion, which give indication of a master-mind, thoroughly acquainted with the sub- ject. His arguments have not yet been answered, and must remain unanswered for ever. Nay, the events which he so devoutly and ardently deprecated MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 37 have but too well confirmed the prediction of the aged seer. Great deference is, in my mind, due to his opinion, as being no ordinary judge in all matters connected ■with the political, moral, and rehgious improYcment of Ireland. No one took a more matured view of the question than did Mr. Ouseley. The discriminating powers of that gifted man having been for half a cen- tury exercised on things involving the best interests of his native land, he saw the evil by wliich its millions were affected, and knew the sole remedy to be resorted to for its removal, and for healing the disorders of the country. His zeal for truth was free from the tinge of party spirit ; he lost sight of mere sectarian distinc- tions — searched out principles — exhibited their ten- dency — and faithfully declared, both by preaching and by epistles, the truth by which the " peoi-le " are to be made free. Thus, while he was the uncompro- mising enemy of error, he breathed naught but pity for those who were under its fatal influence. He spent his life in laboring for the regeneration of his country, and often had he the happiness of witnessing the gracious effects which followed the promulgation of the truths of the gospel, in the enlightenment and conversion of thousands. The various and extensive knowledge of Mr. Ouse- ley, his deep and patient research, and his keenness and accuracy of judgment, were all brought to bear ■\nth admirable effect on the several subjects which are embraced in his writings ; and by his logical acuteness and power of analysis he penetrated the arcana of error, detected its subtilties, and held up to merited 8Corn and abhorrence the corrupt inventions of design- 38 JIEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. ing and wicked men ; that he might haply disabuse the minds of his erring countrjnuen, and lead them out of the gross and dangerous delusions of " Papal novelty," into the uncoiTupted and peaceful truth of " old Chris- tianity.'" " Indeed, if we bring the entire subject to a trial, by the only proper test of genuine charity, whether mani- festing itself toward the bodies or souls of men, the more even there is of the march of intellect to instruct our judgment, and the less there is of bigotry to preju- dice our feelings, so much the more must the system of Popery, particularly if connected with Jesuitism, be jealously eyed by well-disposed mii^ls. Its buoyant ambition, which nothing can ever suppress; its esta- bhshing, wherever it flourishes, an imperiim in imperio, chiefly by means of its confessional, the more powerful as it operates through the conscience, and with the sanction of eternal motives ; its encouragement of igno- rance, for ever shunning the light; its falsehood, by which it lives, and thrives, and reigns, in everything justifying the means by the end ; its slavery, and all such evil consequences that naturally flow from it, must ever make it to be dreaded by the true statesman or the patriot ; while the Christian of any reflection or experience must abhor it in its certain results of lead- ing the devout to idolatry and the indifferent to infi- delity." — Mason's Life of Bedell. I shall close this part of the subject with a reference to a Roman Catholic writer, to show that the history of Ireland's wrongs commenced with its submission to the yoke of Rome : — " There is something very singu- lai- in the ecclesiastical history of Ireland. The Chris- tian church of that country, as founded by St. Patrick MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELEY. 39 and his predecessors, existed for many ages free and unshackled. For about seven hundred years this church maintained its independence. It had no con- nection with England, and differed upon points of im- portance from Rome. The first work of Henry II. was to reduce the Church of Ireland into obedience to the Roman pontiif. Accordingly he procured a coun- cil of the Irish clergy to be held at Cashel, in 1172, and the combined influence of Henry and the pope prevailed. This council put an end to the ancient Church of Ireland, and submitted it to the yoke of Rome. That ominous apostasy has been followed by a series of calamities, hardly to be equaled in the world. From the days of Patrick to the Council of Casliel, was a bright and glorious career for Ireland. From the sitting of this council to our time, the lot of Ireland has been unmixed evil, and all her history a tale of wo." — O'Driscoirs Views of Ireland. Far be the wish from me to draw an exaggerated picture of the misfortunes of my country, or to con- found the distinctions which truth as well as justice would teach me to preserve : the details of a criminal character to which reference has been made, are, alas I too well known, and the evidence, drawn from un- doubted resources, has been adduced, that the question may appear in a fair and true point of light; and I conceive that nothing can be more palpable than that the maladies under which our nation languishes are superinduced by the causes to which, by the high au- thorities above quoted, they have been ascribed. Yet it is not for a moment to be supposed that such repre- sentations as have been made are descriptive of all who are known by the distinctive appellation of Irish, 40 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Thousands and tens of thousands of these there are whose better feelings rise above the prejudices of their system ; who deprecate the evils, political and so- cial, with which they are surrounded ; and who would rejoice to shake off" the ignominious bondage wliich neither they nor their fathers have been able to bear. The great bulk of the Irish population, if left to the un- biased exercise of their own judgment, and protected from violence and persecution, would gladly hear, and in innumerable instances receive, the message of gospel grace and salvation. My opinions may, possibly, not be free from those predilections which the love of country is likely to in- duce ; but, from a long and intimate acquiuntance with the Irish, and having been frequently a witness of the effects accompanying the preaching of the gospel among them, it has become my settled conviction that as there is no portion of the great mission field which has stronger claims on our Christian sympathies, so there is none that would more richly reward our liber- ality and toil. It cannot be thought sui-prising that men whose minds have never been raised above mere secular views — who have never themselves felt the power of the gos- pel — should resort to mere political schemes for the improvement of our country ; but those wlio acknow- ledge the supremacy of XRUxn repose their confidence in the efficacy of the gospel, and the accompanying agency of the Holy Spirit, for its enlightenment and regeneration. The time must come when the claims of truth shall be demonstrated, and this confidence justified before the world; when Christian churches shall be thrown upon their own resources, and roused MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 41 to an energy of action in the great enterprise by wliich the country will undergo a moral conquest ; when their voluntary exertions and conUibutions will be conse- crated to this hallowed end : and the " foolishness of preaching " shall accomplish that which neither penal laws, nor conciliatory measures of the state, have been ever able to effect. Yours, &c. L^ITTER m. Aspect of society— Though d'ucouraginj, not hopeless — Confidence inspired— Effecla of the labors of Wesley, etc., on the present improved condition of religious society — Re». Gideon Oiiseley — Rev. George Whitefield— Nearly shipwrecked — Puts into county of Clare — Passes on through Limerick and Dublin to Park Gate — Rev. Joha Wesley— First visit to Ireland— Rev. Charles Wesley— Progress of Methodism tu Ireland— Diocese of Mealh — Correspondence between the Rev. Moore Booker and the bishop of Meath — Closing remarks. My Dear Friend, — From the concurrent opinions, given in my last, of distinguished writers of various religious views, aud hving in different ages, corrobo- rating the sentiments which I had advanced, it will appear evident to you, that the greatest evil of our nation is a spui-ious system of religion, deeply laid and widely extended, which can only be removed by the light and power of genuine Christianity. However dark ami deplorable this state of things may be, it is far from being hopeless ; the experience of the past inspires confidence for the future, and pl^Dmpts to a still more energetic course of action for the achieve- ment of our hallowed object — the salvation of our counti-y. Tlie patient toils and persevering constancy of the faithful laborers engaged, under the direction of the Methodist Conference, in years gone b}-, in the culti- 42 MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. vation of the moral soil, and casting into it the seed of the gospel; and the wonderful success with which God was pleased to honor liis servants, had no small influence on the religious movement which of late years has distinguished the churches of the country. And the success of benevolent societies during the present century, has, notwithstanding formidable difficulties, been surprising, in the promotion of Scrip- tural education, and in the diffusion of the volume of divine truth, both in the authorized version and in the Irish language. This affords great encouragement to godly men belonging to the evangelical churches, to prosecute their plans with greater ardor and fidelity ; being thus assured, that, in due time, they shall reap if they faint not. I have said that I care not by what agency the progress of error shall be arrested and the interests of truth advanced ; yet I cannot shut my eyes to the fact, that long before the existence of any such agencies as those just adverted to, for the enlighten- ment of the people of this land, a system of missionary- instruction was in efficient and extensive operation, by the instrumentality of the Rev. John and Charles Wesley, and their coadjutors and successors. It might have been said of them, " Your zeal hath provoked very many." Provoked them, indeed, to a " godly jealousy." And it wiU be only known in the light of eternity, how far the Christian world is indebted to the pious and zealous labors of the brothers, and their unpretending followers. Although my principal object is to exhibit to your view the ministerial life and labors of the Rev. Gideon MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 43 Ouseley, in connection with that which may be more strictly and properly denominated, " The Irish Mis- sion," it will be necessary to take a brief retrospective survey of the agency by which the great Head of the church had been pleased previously to diffiiso to a considerable extent throughout this country the know- ledge of his holy word. The Rev. G. Whitefield, without any previous inten- tion of visiting it, had, indeed, been in Ireland, in 1 738. He had sailed from Charleston in the Mary, bound for England; but, after a' long and perilous voyage of nine weeks and three days, he, the captain, and crew, etc., were nearly shipwrecked, and i-educed to the greatest extremity as to provisions, having only one pint of water, and a little bread; but, pro\'identIally, they were driven into a small seaport in the county of Clare, Carrick-a-holt, about eight miles lower down the Shannon than Kilrush. Mr. "Whitefield was treat- ed with the utmost hospitality by Mr. M'Mahon, a country gentleman, who also supplied him with horses for his journey. He reached Limerick on Saturday evening, November 19th, preached in the cathedral next day, and was received with great kindness by Dr. Bouscough, the bishop of Limerick. On Thurs- day 23d he arrived in Dublin, where he was received with great courtesy by Dr. Rundel, the bishop of Londonderiy, and by his grace, the lord primate, Dr. Boulter. He preached on Sunday 26 th, in Werburg's and St. Andrew's churches, to crowded and astonished congregations. Thursday, 30th November, Mr. AVhItefield writes : — " After nearly twelve months' absence from London, 44 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. three months from Georgia, and a pleasant passage of twenty-four hours from Dublin, to my inexpressible comfort God brought me to Park-Gate." Mr. John Wesley was the Jirst of the noble band of Oxford witnesses who came from England to Ireland to unfurl the banner of the cross. He reached it on Sunday, August 9th, 1747, and preached in Maiy's Church. He had been preceded by Mr. Williams, one of his own preachers, in the early part of the same year. Mr. Williams's labors were wonderfully successful, and, ■when Mr. Wesley arrived, he found a people prepared for the word of the Lord. He was soon followed by his brother Charles, who labored successfully for a considerable period through several parts of Ireland, as well as in Dublin ; and when, in the March following, Mr. John Wesley returned to Dublin, he found his brother Charles there, on the eve of embarking for England. Thus the brothei-s succeeded each other during the first year of their evangelical labors in Ireland. In this visit, Mr. Wesley was accompanied by IVIr. Swindells, of whom I shall have occasion to speak when Mr. Thomas Walsh's convei-sion shall be referred to. "Next to their own country," says Mr. Jackson, " the sympathies of the brothers were awakened in be- half of Ireland, where Protestantism had fallen into a profound sleep under the shade of the civil power; and Popery, ever watchful and active for the attiiin- ment of its own selfish ends, was rapidly leading the body of the population into superstition and sin." — Centenary of ]\Iethodism. The masses of darkness ■were soon pierced by gospel light; and the stillness of death disturbed by the voice of these messengers of MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 45 mercy, crying out, " Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from, the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." The success attending those labors of the brothers and their cotemporaries scarcely finds a parallel in Eng- land itself, " so mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed." In less than three years this new doc- trine spread with incredible rapidity. Not only in Dublin, and some of the larger towns and cities, but even through the rural districts, thousands of all classes " received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." The thirsty land became springs of water ; masses of the lower orders of society, and many of the Roman Catholics themselves, became subject to the faith ; several of the upper and middle ranks heard " the joyful sound ;" and some of the " priests them- selves believed, and put salvation on." It cannot be thought surprising that very dissimilar views were formed, and conflicting feelings awakened, by such novel and unheard-of proceedings as those referred to : while many of the regular clergy regard- ed with peculiar and lively interest the preaching of these devoted men, and frankly acknowledged the happy results produced in the religious character of the country, and of the church itself ; it was eyed by others with jealousy and alann ; and those who favored this new religion were ranked among the enemies of church and state. In Dublin, and the adjoining coun- ties, the whole community seemed affected. ^Many of the gentry, and some of the clergy, especially in the diocese of Meath, favored Methodism ; while the bishop and several of bis clergy bitterly opposed it. A most important and interesting recoi'd of those times is 46 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. handed down to us, whlcli shows, at once, the extraor- dinary extent to which it had grown, and the hostility which had been called into operation against it. The Rev. Moore Booker, an aged and respectable clergjman of the diocese of Meath, wrote to his dio- cesan for instruction and advice how to act with regard to this new sect : the bishop took offense, and treated him with unmerited severity ; and Mr. Booker is ne- cessitated, in his own defense, to resort to the publica- tion of his correspondence with the bishop and his vicar-general. The letters, with a preface, were pubUshed in 1 751, by J. Kelburn, George's Lane, Dublin ; and must have had but limited circulation. We arc indebted to the Rev. Wm. Stewart for their republication, in 1810, in the Irish Methodist Magazine. With very little abridgemnt, I shall give you this important testi- mony as to the early progress of ]\Iethodism in those parts : — TO THE READER. It is with no small concern I find myself under a neces- sity of communicating to the public as a finished pcrfonn- ancc, what was only intended for private correspondence, and as such thrown together in the loose form of a letter, without any regard to mctliod or style. That to my bishop was written willi great sincerity, and I really flattered my- self with the expectation of his lordship's thanks and appi-o- bation ; nor had I been more free with his lordship than often before with impunity. But the very severe censure my letter received from a prelate, whose heart and inten- tion I honor in common with mankind, could have pro- ceeded only from the strongest prepossession, t I could never heai- that his lordship or the vicai-general MEMORIAL OF GIDEOX OUSELEY. 47 had shown either of their lettei-s, yet by the cry raised against them, (perhaps of one copy I had given of the first,) it was believed a composition of all false doctrine, heresy, and schism, and rigorous proceedings against me ex- pected before I had the least reason to imagine it, as the reader will find. I hoped my second letter wonld have silenced all this noise, till our late visitation, where his lordship, in his charge to the clergy, (as I was informed, coming too late to hear it.) cautioning them against the delusion that one of their brethren, naming me, had unliappily fallen under, (though his lordship treated mc, when I appeared, with all civility and paternal affection.) My defection has since become a common topic of conversation both in city and country. His lordship having mentioned my letter, but being too tender to expose it, I showed the copy to several of my brethren. It was greatly censured by some, others did not think it prndent to speak tlieir opinion. I received daily requests from distant friends for copies of those letters, and assurances from them all that the pub- lishing them was absolutely necessaiy to the vindication of my character. That to the vicar-general, in the opinion of a great many, contains a more critical apology for my brethren the clei^ than for my clients the Methodists. That the latter should need an advocate, in a Christian, Protestant countiy, seems to mc quite out of character. I believe I have heard all that can be said, with the least propriety, against them, and still think they ought not to be disconraged. How those poor, simple, honest Christians, have rendered them- selves so formidable, is what I cannot account for. I must declare that my church, at least its commnnicn table, owes almost nine in ten of its company to their labors ; and I can affirm the same of one or two neighboring parishes. "Were it not for them, wc should meet as few of tlie meaner sort there as of gentlemen of rank and fortune ; and I take 48 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. upon me to say, if we, with equal skill and care, water, dress, and prune the plants which those poor people have raised to our hands, God will give the increase; and give me leave to add, that learned and zealous as even Mr. Wesley is, and all my parishioners think him, there is not one conscience among them more in his power than in mine. Letter l.—To the Right Rev. tlie Lord Bishop o/Meath. Mt Lord, — I think it my duty to heg your lordship's advice in relation to my behavior to the people called Methodists, who are now greatly increasing in and about my parish. Upon their first appearance, as they were everywhere spoken against, I was far from giving them encouragement till I had very carefully inquired into their tenets, their lives, and their conversation. I found them very strongly attached in the doctrines of the Established Church ; that they professed no singularities, except in a zeal for faith, purity, and devotion, that rises to enthusiasm ; and all this accompanied with a scrupulous exactness in their moral conduct. The more I conversed witli them, the more they insinuated themselves into my esteem. I was very cautious in my endea^•ors to rectify their frequent mistakes of texts of Scripture, and laying before them, in the most gentle and obliging manner, the rational sense of them as preferable to the mystical, of which tliey are too fond. I perceived my church to fill, and chose subjects which might be most edifying to tliem ; and I so far found the good effects, that last Christmas day I had at the sacrament above fifty whose faces I had scarce seen at the church be- fore ; and upon inquiry into their characters, found them mostly to have been persons of very profligate lives. About a fortnight ago one of them told me, it was a great trouble to their society that they had not more fre- STEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 49 qnent opportunities of receiving the communion. I de- sired him to let his brethren know that I was always at their service, and at any time, upon proper notice, I should administer it occasionally, eitlicr at my own church or Drumcrce, at their request, which was done accordingly yesterday at Drumcrce. I have ahva3's kept what are called the best company, but none that ever gave me such solid pleasure before. Some had come that morning, as I was informed, very near ten miles on foot, though the weather was very severe, and had prevented several. I had seventy communicants ; true piety and charity sat smiling on their face ; and I must say, I never saw divine service heard with so much reve- rence and attention. I was told there were but three in tlie whole congregation tliat did not profess tliemselves of that society, and those not of the first rank of them. They hold their assemblies in the afternoon, men and women in separate houses, wjiere they instruct the ignorant, sing psalms, and pray. Arc these, my lord, subjects to set a Popish mob upon, to be railed at by fools, and, too often, from the pulpit? There is scarce a lay gentleman round me that has not taken them under his protection. They were speaking of building a convenient house for holding their Sunday evening assemblies ; two gentlemen of fortune present, told them they would subscribe five guineas each. A servant from tliem is thought a treasure, and greatly en- couraged. Sunday patrons and foot-ball assemblies are quite fre- quent. The champions at those sports are now better em- ployed ; and tlie very Papists arc ashamed of it. I should have told your lordship I had yesterday among my com- municants six Papists ; they have a seventh, but they have not yet made their recantation. I hope your lordship will have the pleasure of sending me your commands to re- ceive them altogether very soon. These, I dare vouch for 50 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. them, are no hypocrites. It was not a little affecting to see the poor creatures open their mouths, for the bread to be put into them, as they had been used. Upon the whole, my lord, in my opinion, the clergy should treat them with all gentleness and indulgence. If we can but reclaim them from their enthusiasm, and pre- vail on the more rational membci-s of tlieir society, for such they have among them, to lead them into a more intelli- gible manner of expressing themselves in their particular assemblies, they may become such omaments to Chris- tianity as may give us a little sketch of the apostolic age ; but this, if possible to be effected, must be done by the most artful and tender address ; and I have reason to think it not impracticable. In the mean time, disobliging methods should not by any means be used. That they are casting out devils in Christ's name, is undeniable; and we have not even the weak pretence of the infant apostles for the forbidding them, since it cannot be said they follow not with us. Besides, if they be irritated, it is to be feared they may entirely desert the church, and make its de- plorable breaches wider. April 27, 1751. Letter II.— To the Kci: Dr. A—m, Lyn—n, Vicar- General o/Meath. Eev. Sir, — Wlien I sat down to write my letter to our bi — p, I had just been reading the Candid Disquisitions. I thought it gave very good authorities for the right of a presbyter, not only for asking his bishop's advice, but for offering his own. When I waited on his lordship, according to his com- mands, I found my letter had been greatly mistaken. I omitted saying, I did not put the bread into the mouths of my Pojjish communicants, who opened them to receive it; not imagining I could ever be thought so ignorant of my MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 51 duty, as to have put it in. I am afraid I was misunder- stood in every paragraph ; but upon a review of my letter, from a copy I had taken, I cannot see what foundation I have there Md for so many of my brethren being so greatly offended, nor did I suspect that any man of candor could have given a diflcrent character of them. They may be the reverse, in other parts of so large a diocese ; and it is impossible the bishop could see them with any other eyes than those of his clergy. But I must insist upon it, my parishioners and neighbors of that society are not the Methodists represented to his lordship. I have made my- self well acquainted with them, have talked with several of their leaders, heard their public lectures and exhortations, and not only heard, but seen and know the happy effects of them. I dare not suspect those of my brethren who liave repre- sented them in a more disadvantageous light, to have been more hasty and rash, in their judgments concerning them, than myself ; and that there are but two or three very young gentlemen among us who have not sufBciently con- sidered the wise man's axiom : " He that giveth judgment in a matter before he hath inquired into it, and understand- eth it, it is folly and shame unto him ;" and are included in too harsh an expression of mine, in my letter to the bishop. The only argument, my lord, made use of against them to me, that I remember, was founded upon a very strict sense of the letter of the canonical law, which was, that they had arrogated to preach without any Icgid designation to that office, being neither bishops, priests, nor deacons : such are indeed very wisely excluded from our pulpits ; but I know no law of God or Protestants, tliat forbids Christians, even of tlio laity, " to assemble themselves to- gether," at hours not appointed for tlic service of God or man, " to e.vliort one another, to confess their sins one to another, and pray one for anotlier, to read the Holy Scrip- tures, and when merry to sing psalms. In psalms, and 62 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." I know this to be their constant practice. Did they, like the Puritans of tlie foiTner age, to which his lordship com- pared them, seduce beiievers from tlie Established Church, we sliould have reason to be alarmed ; but the direct con- ti'ary is manifest, to the great comfort of many whom I know to be very good Christians. I will answer for them : they shall subscribe as many creeds, councils, articles, and homilies, as the most orthodox among us. I don't men- tion this as their supreme excellency : their paying their tithes, as well as tlicir other debts, conscientiously, gives them a stronger title to my esteem My lord blamed me for mixing sometimes among them; but really I thought myself as much in tlic way of my duty, as some tender mothers whom I have kno^vn, when stran- gers had got into the nursery, to steal in, lest they should have brought their pockets full of trash, and poison the children out of stai-k love and kindness. My lord, sir, cannot expect me to pay so implicit a deference to the judgment of the reverend gentlemen he named, as opposite to mine, so as to give those people the least discouragement, witliout some better argument than the weight of their number and authority. I believe I can count double the years of all the disobliged gentlemen except one, wliom his lordship mentioned as a man of learning. I liavc known him a curate above twenty years, and of a very good cliaracter. Tliey may be blessed with more natural sense and penetration ; but they have not read more books, or better, than I Iiave done, thought more intensely, or conversed with more wise and learned men on the subject of religion ; not one of their souls is possess- ed with a more ardent love of truth, or more devoted to the interest of Jesus Christ and his churcli. They have not had more opportunities of conversing witli the people nf tliat society, of my parish and neighborhood, (I speak MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 53 of no others,) and of informing themselves in their tenets and conduct. I have talked to one or two of my offended brothers on this subject. Their prejudices ran high ; but they knew notliing of the people in question, as they told me, but by hearsay, yet were furnished vnth stories of their lewdness and vice, such as the Papists teU of Luther's considting with the devil. Throw a great deal of dirt, and some of it may stick. Keason only can change my opinion of them ; which at present runs so high, tliat I think persecuting and mobbing them, flying in the face of Jesus Christ; and that it would be better for me to be thrown into the sea, and a millstone about my neck, than " to offend one of these little ones that believe in him." The great Gerson's question must be mine : " To what end did God give me a conscience of my own, if another man's must be my rule of living and dying V And I shall always think with Mr. Fos- ter, an author I have heard my lord commend more than once, " that the errors we fall into, after proper care to avoid them and come to the knowledge of the truth, will not be of any great consequence in themselves, or prejudicial to our happiness ; so that it is better to eiT, with an honest, unbiased, inquisitive mind, (for this is often the effect of human infirmity, where there is the best temper, and a true rectitude of will and affections,) than to be in the right from custom, and an implicit reverence for tradition and authority." So that, if I am conscious of having perfonn- ed those requisites for the rendering eiTor innocent, I shall make a compliment to no man of my own sense, reason, and conscience, in a matter of such importance as the sal- vation of so many thousand souls as I have cause to believe are interested in the debate, till convinced that I am mistaken by stronger arguments than my own study and experience can suggest. But I promise all my offended brethren, that if any one of them, from his superior fund of learning and natural abilities, 'vrill be so kind as to show 54 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON ODSELET, me the falsehood or uncharitableness of any of the facts I have allcdged, or conclusions dra^vn from them, I shall glory as much in confessing my fault, as in any conquest I could gain over them. And he may not only recover me from error, but vindicate himself from the imputation of having imposed upon his bishop by misrepresenting to liim some of the best Christians in his diocese. And my reason for thinking them such is drawn from the infallible rule of the most just of critics, their friiiis. Now, if I am commissioned, as well as the Baptist, to judge of causes by effects, and by the things I see and hear, — I may, without much straining of metaphors, say, " The blind see, the deaf hear, lepers are cleansed," &c. ; since, by their successful address, so many of them have been transfonned from darkness to light, fi-om the power of Satan to God, from the worst of men to tlie best of Clu-istians. And if the diligent dischai^e of all the public and private duties of life; constant attendance on the established worship; if never omitting an opportunity of receiving the holy com- munion ; if those mouths that were remarkable for oaths and blasphemies are now tilled with the praises of God ; if the sabbaths, long devoted to rioting and drunkenness, are now wholly employed in the service of their Maker ; if, to my knowledge, card tables arc on that day, by their ex- ample, banished, even from some gentlemen's houses ; if their light so shines before men as to be manifest as that of the sun in the firmament — shall we hesitate to place them in the rank of the best of Christians ? And what I have here asserted is not from hearsay, but from my own personal knowledge. We of the clergy, sir, are undeservedly reproached be- cause our public sermons and private exhortations have not produced those happy effects on the weaker part of man- kind We can fall under such censures only from those who are very little acquainted with human nature. Our discourses are addressed to the reason of the people ; and MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELET. 55 I believe such as hear us, and are susceptible of the force of an argument, cannot pretend ignorance of any one article of their duty. Bat the very low and ignorant are only to be gained by so strong and violent an assault upon theii- pas- sions, that no small degree of enthusiasm is able to carry to eflFect. Wien this is successfully communicated, and weak minds are very susceptible of the impression, it always ex- alts its object to its utmost height, and requires him to cool its ardor. This accounts not only for the little success our rational labors have had, or are likely to have, on such subjects ; but also for the ecstatic pitch df devotion so often mentioned to their prejudice, when no other reproach can lie. If this be a crime, indeed they are very guilty, particularly their new- converted Papists, and may be very justly called enthusiasts. But enthusiasm is a tenn so little understood by the vul- gar, that it passes with them for a very opprobrious imputa- tion. I think it may be defined, an imagination heated and swelled so much above its natural temper, that the bounds of reason are too narrow to confine it ; and it is glorious or infamous according to its object. Zeal is its tnin sister ; and so like, that it is not easy to distinguish between them. What character so detestable as the bigoted zealot 1 who more unhappy to himself, or dangerous to his neighbor who happens to differ from him, in a point never so trivial, when religion is in the least concerned ? But zeal according to knowledge can never rise too high, if '" it is good to be always zealously affected in a good thing." Lord Shaftesbury, whose knowledge of human nature, at lea-st, is undisputed, is of opinion that nothing truly great, of any kind, was ever executed without some degree of en- thusiasm. Impostors have indeed often feigned most violent agita- tions, and succeeded so far as to communicate them like a panic ; and this for no other end than to cheat their hearers into a belief, that they were favored by God vnth such mi- 56 MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. raculous effusions of knowledge and grace as enabled thorn to utter prophecies, ■which these poor people no way pre- tend to, but depend wholly on the ordinary co-operation of the Spirit of God with their own, which, they are persuaded, Jesus Christ has promised them in his gospel, upon the condition of tnie faith and sincere repentance. Their terri- ble agitations arise only from conviction of their sins ; and their joyous emotions, which in sometime succeed them, from the apprehension of" the Sj^rit of God bearing witness with their spirits, that they are the sons of God r if all tliis be nonsense, it is not their own. St. John seems to have ad- dressed his First Epistle, chiefly to such little children, that they might (not only suppose or hope, but) know that they have eternal life ; and I hope that Protestants do not deny the doctrine of assurance that we are in a state of salvation, attainable in this life. My lord, sir, refen-ed me to you for further information and advice, in relation to the great oifease I had given to my brethren, by my letter to his lordship ; and I should have waited on you, but I hope my years may plead my excuse, while the weather and the roads are so bad. I left Ardbraccan [the palace of the bishops of Meath] too late, rode hours in the dark, in great danger from the rugged roads and extreme cold. I believe, sh-, it is expected I should vindicate or retract what I have written. In choosing the latter, I should ex- pose myself to the contempt, not only of every Protestant in my parish, male and female, but of all my neighbors round me, one gentleman only excepted whom his lordship men- tioned. They are all sensible I have studied those people, and know them as well as themselves. I njay be philosopher enough to despise the obloquies of •men, so long as my heart does not reproach me, but dare not boast myself so heroic a Christian as not to fear those who can kill the body. When I returned from Ai dbraccan I |;>uad a letter ^om my S09 in Dublin, acquainting me MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 57 there was a report about town that I was to be suspended for a letter I had written to my bishop concerning the Swaddlers.* I am in no great pain for my reputation on that score, it can be so well supported ; but I may dread a blow which neither reason nor virtue can pany. Alexander Erwiii, a young man, my parishioner, remarka- ble for piety and virtue, passing some days ago tlu'ough Athboy, a town full of Papists, one of them pointing at him, and crying out a Swaddler: he was assaulted by numbers, knocked down and beaten in a most cruel manner, some of the bones of his hand dislocated, if not broken, and it is to be fcai-cd, ho will never reeover the use of it. This, sir, or worse may, nay, shall be my fate, if nothing but joining cry against tliese poor innocents can prevent it. You, sir, doubtless have received very difl'erent accounts of these people as well as the bishop. Could you procure me a sight of one of their letters, (for no one of our brethren, I am persuaded, would either wite or speak injuriously to the character of any, and desii-e it should be kept a secret,) or lay yoiu- commands on some one of them, to give a ra- tional and Chi-istian answer to mine, it might recover me from my mistake. Make this as public as you please. I hope it will be taken for an apologv- for what I wrote to his lordship. It may be the only means to obviate the bad con- sequences with wliich I seem to be threatened. I am, &c. Thus have we seen the commencement and progress of this great work in some parts of Ireland, during the early years of its existence, and have exhibited ample * This is a nickname which was given to the early Methodists in some parts of Ireland. It originated from a drunken fellow looking into a chapel when the preacher was reading in Luke's narrative of the birth of Christ the words '• wrapped him in swaddling clothes," Ac. The fellow's ear caught the unusual word, and he immediately cried out, " I know what these people are ; Ihey are Swaddlers."— Ax. Ed. 58 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. and disinterested testimony in its favor ; and were it consistent with my design, I would gladly show you its spread and influence !n other parts of the kingdom ; but what has been stated, pretty fairly shows its general character and history, and, perhaps, may serve to pre- pare you for those details which are connected with the ministry of that singular Irish evangehst — Gideon Ouse- ley. I am yours very truly. LETTER IV. Irish niissioii— Rev. Gideon Ouseley—Birlh— Early indications of greatnci*— EJucalioii — Serious impressions respecting God Riid eLcrnilj — Methodist preachers — Holy Scrip- tures—young's Night Thoughta, and Centaur not Fabulous— Deeply cooviiiccJ of his sin and danger — Distressing apprehensions of eternal misery — Submits to God — —Receives the forgiveness of sins— Exceedingly happy— Rev. John Woodrow— Hii grace the archbishup of Tuara— Anecdotes— Liberality toward Methodism— Courtesy to Methodist missionaries— Mr. Ouseley atLiins a more matured work of grace— First Ifxbors as a local preacher among tho Irish — Scene at a funeral — Anecdote of a Croagh- Palrick pilgi-im— Infidel gentleman- Mr. Ousetey travels and labors exleusivcly in Uie province of Connaughl, nearly seven years prior to his appointment by Conference — Proceeds as far as Leinster — Fruits accompanying his early ministry — Pitted by nature, education, and grace, for the arduous oSice of an Irish missioDary. My Dear Friend, — From the early times to which the above records refer until the close of the eighteenth century, great prospciity attended the gcucnd publi- cation of the word of the Lord by the Methodist preachers ; and, as will ajipear, there were many in- stances of the dii'ect, though occasional, ministration of the word among the native Irish in their own tongue, — as in Ijlie case of the sainted Thomas Walsh, and others, who were " lights in a dai-k place, holding forth the word of life." Until the year 1799, however, no stated, comprehensive, and permanent system of agency had been brought into the Irish field. Then, immedi- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 59 ately after the Irish rebellion, the mission to the native Irish was appointed by the Methodist Conference. And, as the period chosen by that body indicated great wisdom, so there was a gracious Providence observable in the case of those leading instruments which had been prepared, and were then supplied, by the great Head of the church, for the Irish work. Among those commissioned at that time to publish the gospel of peace through our distracted country, the greatest and most distinguished was Mr. Gideon Ouse- ley, then, for the first thne, appearing on the Minutes of Conference, in the hst of Methodist preachers; though not until then without exercising his talents for the glory of God, and the salvation of his perishing countrymen. Mr. Gideon Ouseley was descended from an ancient family of great respectabihty. He was the eldest son of John Ouseley, Esq., of Dunmorc, in the county of Galway, and was born in that town, in the year 1762. Details connected with the early years of Mr. Ouseley, some future biographer may possibly supply ; and there is no doubt that incidents of great interest might be traced in the juvenile salhes of that remarkable man. I shall not call conjecture to my aid, where facts cannot be furnished ; but from such things as came to my knowledge with regard to his early charac- ter, sure I am that in him were perceptible the work- ings of an ardent and uncommon mind. He would even then take the lead in the gambols on the lawn or on the green ; and, if anything daring or enterprising were to be attempted, young Ouseley would be " The first in danger, as the first in fame." There was nothing common-place in his mental consti- 60 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. tution : bold, generous, intrepid from first to last, with a soul breathing the love of liberty, free as the air in- haled from his native mountains, he would be seen, even then, rushing forward to defend the weak, to crush the oppressor, and to vindicate the rights of his youthful contemporaries. It does not appear that Mr. Ouseley, being the elder son, was intended by liis father for a profession. His brother, ten years younger, was destined for the army ; when young, obtained a commission; was afterward distinguished as I*Iajor General Sir Ralph Ouseley, and, as a military man, ran a brilliant and illustrious career. Ml'. Ouseley, however, received both a classical and mathematical education. He never, even when young, did anything by halves ; and was then, as may be sup- posed, a hard-working scholai*. He learned to love " the sweet-voiced romances of A'irgil, the cold and ex- quisite lyrics of Horace, and the living deeds and men of Homer ;" he carried much of them in his memory throughout his Ufe, and had them often happily at com- mand, to illustrate his arguments in private conversa- tion and debate, as well as in the important topics of his public ministry. From the earliest period of life, Mr. Ouseley was deeply affected with thoughts relative to God and eternity ; indeed, he never recollected the time when they did not, at least occasionally, produce serious feel- ing in his heart ; but he regarded God rather as a stern judge than as the Father of mercies, and looked forward into the future world with emotions of horror. While these views imbittcred his earthly comforts, no ray of gospel hope or light was shed on his path | no MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTTSELET. 61 drop of consolation yet distilled into his soul. He de- rived no pleasure from sources of worldly enjo}Tnent. He was too thoughtful in the midst of gayety to fiincy that such fading trifles as surrounded him were real ; and too honest, at all times, to conceal his convictions ; but, having no one to direct his inquiries to Him who had graciously said, " Come unto me, all ye that labor * and are heavy laden," he was brought to the utmost degree of perplexity, and his reasonings well-nigh re- sulted in skepticism and despair. He would often cry out, in the disappointment of his soiU, " Lord, help me ! What shall I do '? ^Vho will teach me ? Priest and minister no better than myself — as great fools as I am — we are all a pack of fools together !" The language of Beattie's Hermit might then have been adopted by him: — " O pity, jreat Father of li^ht," then I cried, " Thy creature who fain would not wander from thee I Lo, humbled in dust, I relinquish my pride ; From doubt and from darkness thou only canst free." In the year 1 789, the feet of the Methodist preachers were providentially directed to Dunmore. He first heard the gospel from those godly and simple-hearted men, and by their occasional ministrations, as well as by the reading of the sacred Scriptin-es, he became more deeply impressed ivith divine and eternal things. Dr. Young's Night Thoughts also, (especially The Infidel Reclaimed,) and his Centaur not Fabulous, were works which he liked to read, and were pecu- liarly suited to his taste. The sentiments of the latter, as to the folly and guilt of sensual pleasure, accorded with the then views of his own mind ; and the former tended to increase those serious feelings which he 62 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. had entertained on the subject of his own immor- tality. " Immortal 1 ages pass'd, yet nothing gone ! Morn without eve ! a race without a goal 1 Unshorten'd by progression infinite 1 Futurity for ever future !" It was not until 1791, however, that liis convictions assumed a decidedly evangelical character. One even- ing, about this time, he attended preaching, when, after sermon, the preacher invited any seriously disposed persons to remain for the meeting of the society. Mr. Ouseley was an anxious inquirer after the right way, and he was, therefore, desirous to remain ; but feared lest there might possibly be some secret plan with which his mind could not concur. " I '11 wait," said he, " until I see what they are about ; but, if I find any juggling — any Freemasons' tricks — among them, I '11 have nothing to do with them." Thus did Mr. Ouse- ley first witness and join in class meeting. It was the very thing for his then state of mind ; became pecu- liarly helpful to him; and was regarded by him, throughout his after life, as a most important means of grace. Frequently would he say, when inviting seek- ers of salvation to class meeting, — " You would like to appear blameless before the great Judge, when he shall come in the clouds : this is a little judgment-day, dear, once a week, to seek a preparation for the final judgment in the last (jreat day." His inquiries now became moi-e earnest, his convic- tions of personal guilt and danger greatly increased, and, early in May, his burden became intolerable. The cause of his misery was now also more perfectly understood by him, and his mind became more immc- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 63 diately directed to the good which, as an undone and guilty sinner, he required. Before, he struggled against his own corruptions, under vague and indistinct notions of the mode of deliverance, and of that privi- lege of the Christian believer — the assurance of the divine favor : now his views are determinate ; he be- lieves that " God was in Chi-ist, reconciUng the world unto himself," but knows that, without a personal in- terest in Christ, he is undone. The absence of this was painfully felt, and he earnestly sought after it. The language of his heart was, " The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit." He cried out, " O that I knew where I might find him ! that I might come even to his seat ! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ; and backward, but I cannot perceive him : on the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him : he hidcth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see hini." He longed with vehement desire to taste that the Lord was gracious : he had reason to beUevc that otliers had attained this enjoyment, but, as is common, he thought there was something peculiar in his case ; he wanted comfort, and he wanted powei' — pardon, and a new lieart. lie would cry, " O God, my wicked nature ! Fain would I be made a new creature; but, ah ! I can no more do this for myself, than I can touch the stai-s, or create a world." His views of a never-end- ing state of existence were as awful as they were true : — " I shall be ruined most certainly !" he exclaimed, with the utmost dismay. " I got such a sight " — he would say, in adverting to his feelings at that period — " I got such a sight of hell, and of going into it, never, never, 64 MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OrSELET. to be released through all eternity, that I cried from my heart, ' O Lord, I will submit !' " His deeply anxious mind refused to be comforted, until he obtained redemption in the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of his sins. He soon received a clear and well-attested evidence of the divine favor, through the atoning blood, and was made indescribably happy. This bliss- ful change took place while he was engaged in prayer on the morning of the Lord's day ; and often did I hear him gratefully refer to "rtaC Sioifkiij morning" when the language of his disburdened, liberated spirit, was, — " Where shall my wondering: soul begin ! How shall I all to heaven aspire? A slave redeemM from death and sin, A brand pluck'd from eternal fire ; How shall I equal triumphs raise, Or sing my great Deliv'rer's praise ?" The change that passed on ]VIr. Ouseley " that Sunday morning," was as glorious as his previous con- \'ictions and penitence had been marked and distress- ing. He always remembered " the days of the right- hand of the Most High never, till his Litest breath, lost the precious treasure ; and thousands of times ad- verted to it in tones of holy triumph and joy, while tears of gratitude to his great Deliverer streamed down his sainted countenance. The descriptions of his own experience, and of the ways and goodness of God toward him, were often made signally beneficial to my own soul, during those years in which I was privileged to be his " companion in tribulation, and in the king- dom and patience of Jesus Christ," and the remem- brance of them is now as fresh and refreshing to my heart as " rain on the mown grass." MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELET. 65 Soon did the intelligence of Mr. Gideon Ouseley's conTersion spread throiigli town and country. And, indeed, the delightful change was too great and too good a thing to be kept long concealed in his own bosom. The flame of love that burned in his happy- heart, broke out in acts of zeal and devotion ; and othei-s were invited to partake of the gospel blessings which he himself enjoyed. He would then, among his neighbors and friends — as he often did afterward in his pubUc ministrations, when holding out the invitations of mercy to perishing sinners — repeat, with cries and tears, another portion of his favorite hymn : — " Come, O my guilty brethren, come, Groaning beneath your load of sin ; His bleeding heart shall make you room ! His open side shall take you in : ^ He calls you now, invites you home : Come, O my guilty brethren, come I " For you the purple current flow'd In pardons from his wounded side ; Languish'd for you the Son of God ; For you the Prince of glory died : Believe, and all your sin' s forgiven ; Only believe, and yours is heaven I" I often heard Mr. Ouseley make grateftil mention of the Rev. John Woodrow, as a person to whom, in the early stage of his Christian experience, he was much indebted. The pubhc ministry, as well as the private counsel, of that excellent man, proved peculiarly ad- vantageous to him at that period, not only in furnish- ing his mind with information on religious subjects, but in guiding his zeal, which, in his first love, was too heated and impetuous. Some things relative to Mr. Woodrow were com- municated to me by persons who were acquainted with 5 66 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OXJSELET. him in those times, which, with their results, especially as they are known to few, may not be deemed out of place in this record. One of the places on liis then circuit was Ballinasloe. The parish church was un- dergoing some repairs, and the church service was held in the Methodist chapel. The late (and last) arch- bishop of Tuara, the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Trench, was at the time rector, and he and the Methodist preacher held forth alternately the word of Ufe in the same place. The preacher would hear the rector at noon, and he in turn would sometimes hear the Me- thodist preacher in the evening. The Hon. and Rev. gentleman once heard Mr. AVoodrow preach on the new birth, and was afterward heard to say, '• If all the Methodist preachers can preach like that good man, it is not surprising that the whole world follow them." He also heard the Rev. WilUam Smith, and expressed his liigh satisfaction. Persons of intelligence and piety, on whose testimony I can rely, have informed me that the first views of spiritual religion which this distinguished prelate received, were under the ministry of the old Methodist preachers ; and I am happy, from my own knowledge, to be able distinctly to state, that, to his honor, he ceased not to entertain feelings of respect for the successors of these pious men, nor failed to acknowledge them as useful n.inisters of the gospel. When Dr. Trench v.-as bishop of Elphin, he held a visitation in Castlerca. A novel scene took place in the church, which afforded occasion of chagrin to some, gratification to others, and sui-prise to all ; but it was characteristic of the Christian liberality of that noble-minded man. MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 67 " Mr. Blundell," he said, addressing the clergjTuan, " have you any Methodists in your parish ?" " Yes, my lord," replied IVIr. B. ; " but Hipwell, my clerk, knows more about them than I do." Then turning to the clerk, " Are you a Methodist?" he inquired. '■ Yes, my lord," answered Mr. H., " I am." " Have you a large society ?" he added. Hipwell. Not very large, my lord. Dr. Trench. Who is your leader ? Hipwell. I am so myself, my lord. Dr. Trench. Very good. Do your pi-eachers come once in the fortnight ? Uipicell. They do, my lord. His lordship then asked what preachers were on the circuit, with other questions, which showed a familiar acquaintance with the economy of Methodism, and with an interest which showed how cordially he ap- proved of it. At a subsequent period, when Dr. Trench waa archbishop of Tuam, the Wesleyan missionaries ia that part of the country had opportunities of witness- ing his liberality. By his recommendation they had access to some of the leading families in the county, and thereby their field of usefulness was considerably enlarged ; while his gi-ace thus acknowledged them aa ministers of the gospel, and afforded gratifying indica- tion that he possessed a soul far above that spirit of exclusivencss and narrow-mindedness which is so com- mon in the Christian world. Well had it been for the Established Church, for the Methodist society, and for other bodies of Protestant Christians— and well had it 68 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. been for the interests of our common Christianity — if such a spirit had been cultivated throughout every order of tlie clergy in the land. Such instances of liberality are as refreshing as they are rare. The early attachment of that great man to the Methodist ministry was never forgotten; and of the kindness subsequently shown to some of us, we cannot cease to cherish a grateful remembrance. On every subject Mr. Ouseley took strong and de- cided views ; and, on that great and important subject of personal religion, this characteristic of his singular mind was pi-e-eminently distinguished. When he had become saved by grace from the guilt and power of sin, he resolved to be a Christian in earnest. He was instructed by the ministry of the Methodist preachers to go on to higher attainments in the life divine ; to " press toward the mark for the prize of the high call- ing of God in Christ Jesus ;" and he longed to love the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind. He knew that this was " the first and great commandment" — "to love God," as he used sometimes to express it, " affectionately, 'passion- ately, rationally, and with all his power." The pro- mise, he saw, was equal to the command ; the pro- visions of mercy commensurate with both : and then the divine, the Almighty agency, employed to work it in believers — who takes of the things of God, and shows them unto us. He therefore concluded that the privilege of a matured Christian was distinct and clear. " O God," he would say, " cleanse me from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, that I may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name I" No man was more unshackled in his religious views MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY, 69 by the dogmas of a party than Mr. Ouseley. He would, to use his own words, " learn from a child or an archbishop ;" but the teaching, if he would receive it, must be in accordance with the canon of revealed truth. He would, indeed, gladly receive direction from the messengers of the gospel, in guiding his err- ing footsteps into the way of peace, or directing him to higher and purer joys ; but human authority, either as to bodies or individuals, carried no weight in his mind, unless he found their doctrines in the Book. His theology, whether doctrinal, practical, or experi- mental, was taken from the inspired volume. In the views which he formed of the great privilege above referred to, he simply thought that, if God had revealed it, there was no room for doubting the possi- bility of its attainment — it must be infallibly sure ; as he sometimes said, " It is impossible for God ta tell a lie, or to work a self-contradiction ;" he therefore, as in the case of justification by faith, ardently and humbly invoked his gracious Lord for this higher blessing in like manner. He believed that " He " who " is faith- ful and just to forgive us our sins," is also faithful and just "to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." St John declares, " Herein is our love made perfect, . . . because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love ; but perfect love casteth out fear." St. Paul prays for the Epheaians : " That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of Grod." All these scriptures, and numerous other 70 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. " exceeding great and precious promises," which are given us that " we might be partakers of the divine nature," he thought portrayed the spiritual privileges of believers. He " cried mightily to God," to use his own language ; and after a short, but severe struggle, he proved that " the blood of Jesus Chiist his Son cleanseth from all sin." Then could he join in the doxology of the apostle, " Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, through- out all ages, world without end." Eph. iii, 20. He now "rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Whether or not Mr. Ouseley sung the very expressive hymn, beginning, " How happy are they, who their Saviour obey," 1 cannot tell ; but it was at that time, and for many years afterward, a favorite hymn in Ireland. Mr. Ouseley was now supremely happy, or, to use his own words, " as happy as the day is long." He found " the pearl of great price," and, always reasoning on the side of faith, and the efficacy of sovereign grace, neither the cavils of men nor the temptations of the wicked one were ever able to deprive him of the ines- timable treasure until his latest breath. It must be regarded us a matter of great importance in any memoriiJ of ^Ii'. Ouseley, that his personal reli- gion was not only genuine, but that it was of a very high order: he was not only eminently zealous, but eminently holy ; and the great secret of his zeal was the love of God and man that burned in his heart Whatever natural powei-s he possessed — liowever they were cultivated by vaxious and extensive knowledge — MEilORlAI. OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 71 whatever facilities he had in addressing his fellow-men — whatever power of i-easoning in assailing their errors, or persuasion in engaging their affections on the side of truth, — tliat whicli gave the chief grace and efficacy to liis ministry, connected with the blessing of God upon it, was the love of Christ by which he was him- self constrained, and the deathless charity that " bear- cth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things," and that " never faileth." It was thus that this distinguished soldier of Jesus Christ was schooled in a prepai-atory course of painful discipline and gracious instniction ; by deep and heart- rending penitence, and thorough renunciation of self, on the one hand, and, on the other, a rich bestowment of divine grace ; that " by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the lefl," he might be fitted for those hallowed en- terprises and glorious achievements for which he was. destined by the great Captain of our salvation. When Mr. Ouseley had been made a partaker of the rich and abountling mercy of God, he felt more intenselj- still for the utter destitution of the myriads of his fellow-men in the surrounding country, who were Uke sheep having no shepherd. He would cast an eye of wonder and pitj- around him, and yearn over mined and helpless thousands. A favorite text of his was, " This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- ceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" If thy mercy stooped to me, the chief of sinners, thou canst save all the world. Such were the feelings and sentiments 72 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. with which his ardent soul was filled for perishing men, when he himself had found the grace of life. The following verses were peculiarly suited to his state of mind at this period : — " Shepherd of so\ils, with pitying eye The thousands of our Israel see : To thee in their behalf w e cry, Ourselves but newly found in tliee. " See wliere o'er desert wastes they err, And neither food nor feeder have, Nor fold, nor place of refuge, near ; For no man cares their souls to save. " Tliy people, Lord, are sold for naught ; Nor know they tlieir Redeemer nigh ; They perisli, whom thyself hast bought ; Their souls for lack of knowledge die." The inward call of the Spirit was not less urgent than the demands made on his sympathies by the in- numerable objects which crowded before liis aching vision, in the moral gloom and dreariness of " Wilds immeasurably spread." The holy impulse within, and the divine command, said, " Go — go into all the world, and preach the gos- pel to every creature ;" and the voice of misery from without sounded in his ears, " Come over and help us." Yet so did he feel his own weakness and unfitness for such a work, that he would fain have pleaded his total inability ; he would say, " Lord, I am a poor ignorant creature ; how can I go ? Ah, Lord God ! behold, I cannot speak ; for I am a child." Then it would rush into his mind, " Do you not know the disease ?" " 0 yes, Lord, I do 1" " And do you not know the cure ?" " O yes, glory be to thy name ! I do." " Then go and tell them of the disease and the cure." " So then, HEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 73 with only these two things," he would say, " the know- ledge of the disease and the'knowledge of the cure, I went forth. All glory to my divine Master !" It was now that Mr. Ouseley extended his labors beyond his own immediate neighborhood ; and in tlie year 1792, and subsequently, he visited other parts of his native county, and the counties adjoining, and fre- quently, if not regularly, preached from town to town, and from village to village, the two things — " the dis- ease and the remedy." Mr. Ouseley from this time no more doubted the validity of his call to preach the gospel, than he doubted his own existence : and dark and besotted must that spirit be — an object not of envy, but of pity — who, by a narrow, sectarian exclusiveness, would deny to this good man the right of a call to preach the gospel. If the test set up by our divine Master be in this case the standard of appeal — " Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them " — then shall we be at no loss h&w to decide on the merits of this question. And, if this shall be the rule by which the Judge of quick and dead shall decide, when the final destinies of mankind shall hang on the issue, we shall witness then, that "the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous ;" and, that " they that be wise shall shine as tlie brightness of the firma- ment, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Had 'Mr. Ouseley never been recognized as a minister of religion, in any Christian body, still his claim to a divine call would have been vahd ; he would have gone about doing good, and many would be stars in his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. 74 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. The plan adopted by Mi\ Ouseley in going about the country was altogether out of the ordinary way. His first sermon was preached in a church-yard, at a fune- ral ; a place and occasion which he frequently ai'tei^ ward selected, as afibrding a favorable opportunit}' for addressing the assembled umltitudes on the subjects of death, eternity, and salvation ; and urging them to re- pent and accept the mercy offered in the gospLl. As may be supposed, his addresses were desultory ; but they were most pointed and appropriate, both as to the circumstances under which they were deUvered, and the capacities of the people. He not only preached and exhorted in the streets and church-yards, fairs and markets, but was accustomed to attend the wake-houses, or jjlaces where the corpse lay : here he would mingle with the crowds who were collected for the purpose of " hearing mass," and wliile the priest read the prayers in Latin, not one word of which the people could un- derstand, he would translate every part that was good into Irish, and then address the whole assembly, in the presence of the priest, on their eternal interests ; preach to them Jesus, and salvation in his name. One instance of this kind will answer to illustrate his manner of proceeding. Mr. Ouseley one day rode up to a house where the priest was celebrating m;iss ; the large assembly were on their knees; Mr. Ouseley knelt with them, and, rendering into Irish every word that would bear a Scriptural construction, he audibly repeated it, adding, " Listen to that !" They were deeply atfected ; the priest was thunderstruck ; and all were ready to receive whatever he might say. Service being ended, Mr. Ouseley and the congregation rose to their feet ; he then delivered an exhortation on the MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSEtET. 75 need of Laving their peace made with God — of being reconciled to him — submitting to the doctrine of recon- ciliation by real penitence, and bj faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When he had concluded, they cried out to the priest, Father, who is that V" " I don't know," replied the priest, '• he is not a man at all, he is an angel; no mati could do what he has done." Mr. Ouscley mounted his horse and rode away, followed by the blessings of the multitude.* This instance will show, that however desultory the manner, there was regular method in all his proceedings, exactly agreeing with the state of society as he found it, and better adapted to the circumstances and prejudices of the people tlian any set form of ministration could possibly have been ; and, as frequently appeared, great blessing accompanied the -word, thus brought home to the wants and hearts of multitudes. This species of missionary labor did !Mr. Ouseley ceaselessly and indcfatigably pursue, throughout the province of Connaught, and occasionally as fer as * The biographer of Mr. Thomas AValsh preserves the following account, which, as it bears some resemblance to the above, and as I have not seen it m those notices given by Dr. Mason or others, I would here insert by way of note : — The Rev. Nicholas Brown, a rector in tlie diocese of Clogher, ap- plied himself with great zeal and industry to the conversion of the Irish, in the year 1T02. Understanding the language thoroughly, he appointed public meetmgs, and contrived to be wiih them just when mass was ended, and before the congregation was dispersed. He then read prayers, and preached to them in Irish in the open air. Upon one of these occasions, the priest, being much troubled at see- ing his congregation attending with so much pleasure and devotion, told them, witli a loud voice, " that our church had stolen those prayers from the Church of Rome." To which a grave old native answered, " that truly, if it was so, they had stolen the best, as thieves generally do." 76 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Lemstcr, for nearly seven years prior to bis appoint- ment by tbe Methodist Conference to the regular work of an Irish missionary. It was his custom on the week-days to make excursions, as has been already observed, to different parts of tlie neighborhood, to funerals, places of public resort, fairs, and markets; and on those occasions preach Jesus to assembled mul- titudes. He would then, on the Saturday, ride oif to towns and villages twenty or more miles distant, and with all humility of mind preach and exhort several times on the day of the Lord ; return again in the beginning of the week, and, as far as possible, resume his labor of love among liis ignorant neighbors. In those early times of his pious and faithful exertions, he could say, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. I ceased not to warn every one, night and day, with tears." And in this way did the devoted servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, regard- less of health, ease, worldly motives, or even hfe, pur- sue his toilsome course, for the glory of his great Master, and the wellbcing of his countrj'men. Mr. Ouselcy's public and out-door ministry was not the only method by which he endeavored to do good. He taught, indeed, " publicly, and from house to house ;" but his colloquial mode of inculcating the lessons of sacred instruction on those who were igno- rant and out of the way, was then, as it continued through after years, as remarkable as it was success- ful. Two or three specimens will serve to illustrate his general method in this respect. In one of his ex- cursions, about the time we speak of, he met a man who had taken a severe pilgrimage of forty Irish miles, imposed on him by his priest, as penance. Mr. Ouseley MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 77 accosted him In Irish : " Where have you been ?" " At the Reck," was the reply. Mr. Ouseleij. ^ATiat were you doing there, poor man ? Pilgrim. Looking for God. Mr. Omeley. Where is God? Pilgrim. Everj'whene. Mr. Ouseley. Where would you go to look for the daylight when the sun rose this morning ? Would you go forty miles to look for the daylight, when it was I shining into your own cabin door ? Pilgrim. O, the Lord help us ! I would not, sir. Mr. Ouseley. Then would you go on your feet forty I long miles to look for God, when you could get him at your own door ? Pilgrim. O then, may the Lord pity us, gentleman ! It 's true for you ! It 's true for you ! Another case, though of a very different description, was the following : — A gentleman, a stranger, rode up with him one day. After the common salutations had been interchanged, Mr. Ouseley immediately spoke to him about the great salvation that Christ the Lord came down from heaven to give to his creatures, '; equally the privilege of the rich and the poor. The I gentleman expressed some doubts as to the truth of i Christianity. , Mr. Ouseley. Don't you think, sir, that Jesus Christ I was at least a good 7iian ? ' Gentleman. Ye-e-s, I do. Mr. Ouseley. Do you not think that he was a good teacher ? Gentleman. Indeed I must acknowledge I think he j certainly was. I Mr. Ouseley. Another step, sir. Is it not your opi- 78 MEMOEIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. nion that he was really the best teacher that ever the world saw ? Oentleman. [With some hesitation.] Well, in can- dor, I must admit it as my opinion that he was ; but then — Mr. Ouseley. But then ! What then, sir ? Can you blame me for learning from the best teacher that ever the world saw ? The gentleman seemed more surprised and pleased than confounded ; and it is hoped the conversation re- sulted in convincing a skeptical mind of at least the truth of Christianity. At one time, while Mr. Ouseley was at home, he was engaged, as was occasionally the case, in some mathematical pursuit, when a Roman Cathohe gentle- man called on him, and made some remark on the sublimity of the science, as well as the accuracy and beauty of the instrument which he was using. He soon turned the observation to account in reference to the subject which with him was always uppei-most. " Yes," he replied ; " there is Euclid," pointing to the book : " take him up. If you abide by him, he will bear you out ; but if in any one instance you depart from the principles laid down by him, you forfeit all chiim to liis support : you will inevitably go astray." " That is very true," rejoined his neighbor. " Very well, sir," continued Mr. Ouseley : " take up the New Testament ; read it ; and if you abide in the truth re- vealed in it, you will be infallibly right: Christ the Lord, the great Author of that book, will stand by you. If, however, you fors:ike it, you deny Christ ; and, if you were priest, or bishop, or pope, Christ vnW disown you." " O, sir, it is all right," repliwl the gentleman. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 79 These brief, pithy remarks, were generally but the beginning of a series, in which the truths of the gospel were explained and enforced with considerable effect. Instances such as the above were countless ; but they afford specimens of his every-day proceedings and manner, even in the earlier pai-t of his pious efforts to do good. Those acquainted with him in after life will remember, no doubt, many such sayings as those now given, where the readiness with which he met every case, and improved eveiy circumstance, however trivial, and the familiar comparisons by which he illustrated and applied the truth, wei-e made signally beneficial to persons of all classes, high and low, learned and ig- norant, whom he addressed. And those who traveled with him, and were privileged with frequent opportu- nities of hearing him, liaTC been sui-prised at the facility with which, in this conversational way, he brought home the most important things to the minds of every description of persons; and the endless re- sources he possessed, for all occasions, were such as for- cibly to remind them of the word of our Lord and Saviour : " Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth out of his treasure things new and old." Many proofs were exhibited of the gracious fruits which were vouchsafed by tl;c great Head of the church to those pious labors of IVIr. Ouseley. I shall relate one instance, in connection with the scene in the wake- house, (see Appendi.x C) above referred to, which will give evidence of the result in several others. Some considerable time after he had exhorted the priest and congregation, he was riding, and came up 80 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. with a countryman, wboni he addressed as fol- lows : — Mr. Ou^eleij. My dear man, would you not like to be reconciled to God, have his peace in your heart, and stand clear before the great Judge, when he will come in the clouds of heaven to judge the world ? Peasant. O, glory be to his holy and blessed name ! sir ; I have his peace in my heart ; and the Lord be praised that I ever saw your face !" Mr. Ouseley. You have ! what do you know about this peace ? When did you see me ? Peasant. Don't you remember the day, sir, that you were at the berriu, (burial,) when the priest was say- ing mass ? Mr. Ouseley. I do very well ; what about that da}' ? Peasant. O, gentleman, you told us then how to get that peace ; and I went, blessed be his holy name, to Jesus Christ, my Saviour, and got it in my heart; and have it here ever since. These instances exhibit the early character and use- fulness of ]\Ir. Ouseley, while they give indications of one whom God himself had prepared by nature and grace for his work. Had not Mr. Ouseley been I'eceived into the Me- thodist connection as a preacher, he would, in all like- lihood, have taken orders in the Established Church. But his zeal, like that of the founder of Methodism, would have been too ardent and determined to be tied down by the restrictions of the rubric. Though he might not have said, " The world is my parish," he would have said, (and would have acted, too, in con- formity with his own saying,) " Ireland is my parish." No bounds but those prescribed by Providence could MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 81 have limited his fervor of feeling and detenninatlon of purpose. He was carried forward by a vehemence of desire for the salvation of men which nothing could allay, united vnth a firmness and invincibleness of re- solve that could not be impeded until his object was attained. That which, to minds of common mold, ap- peared to be wild and visionary, was in him the result of wcU-digested design. Enthusiasm he bad; but it was the enthusiasm of inspiration that filled and en- larged his soul beyond the common bounds. It was not of that nature, however, which seeks the end with- out the means ; but that which aims at mighty objects that never fail of their accomphshment. His mode of proceeding, then, which to others appeared so iiTe- gular, was inconceivably better adapted to the ele- ments on which he had to bring the truth of God to bear than the plans of the philosopher, or the measures of the statesman ; and evidently effected a great amount of mord good where a regular mode of teaching,, and the most exact system of ecclesiastical order, would have failed. The language of the great apostle of the Gentiles, — " Whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us," — might have been adopted by Mr. Ouseley ; and perhaps this scrip- tui-e has not, in modern times, been more legitimately aj)plied than in his case. He was "instant in season, out of season ;" and the results of those early labors, wliicb were " not in vain in the Lord," demonstrated that the impulses by which he had been directed were divine. The wisdom and goodness of God may be perceived in thus raising up, in tlie darkest part of Ireland, such 82 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELETi an instrument for his own gracious purpose to enlighten the myriads around him who " sat in the region of the shadow of death," in the lowest state of moral and spi- ritual destitution ; and fitting him by such extraordi- nary gifts for the work for wliich he had designed him, and to which he sent him forth ; a work which had been, alas ! long neglected and forgotten by the Chris- tian World — the preaching to the people of Ireland, in their own tongue, " the unsearchable riches of Christ." That a great impulse had been given by indirect means to many portions of that class of people to whom Mi. Ouseley's ministry was from the first directed, is cer- tain ; and that some occasional good of a direct kind had been attempted by benevolent individuals, in some parts of the kingdom, nearly a hundred years before his time, is admitted ; but even then the province of Connaught derived no advantage from those early efi'orts for the benefit of the Irish. It is lamented by good men of all parties that no permanent, systematic agency had been estabhshed to meet the wants of the forlorn and destitute ; and, with all respect to others, it may with safety be averred, that never before had a messenger of the gospel been commissioned to bear the tidings of salvation to the native Irish more emi- nently qualified for this important vocation. Whether we regard the matter of his deep personal piety — the gracious influences of the Holy Ghost with which he was so largely endued — the pecuUar adaptation of Iiis mind and acquirements to the work — his perfect ac- quaintance with the national habits and religious pre- judices of the people — his natural bravery and unbroken resolution — and his great bodily strength, enabling him to pass through a course of patient, persevering toil, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 83 unequaled in modem times, and far beyond the com- mon reach of human energy and health — we must de- voutly acknowledge a divine Providence in the call, the qualifications, and lengthened ministry, of Mr. Gideon Ouseley. Yours, &c. LETTER V. Ijibors of Messrs. John and Charles Wesley and their coadjutors— Indirect effects on the native Irish— Direct Instruction through ths medium of their own language, attemptJHl early in the eighteenth century— Limited and ahort lived^Mr. Thomat WaUh — Testimony of, by Dr. Mason — Eulogy on, by Southey — Kariy connection with the Church of Rome — Deeply convinced of sin^Finda no comfort in Hie Church of Rome— He.iia Mr. Robert Swindells in the street of LimeJicb- His conversion- Commences preaching in the county of Tipperary — Labors in Munster — Cotinaught— Leinstci^Thc north— Suffers sore persecotion from various parties— Eflects produced on the Irisli by his street preaching— Deatli in Dublin— Mr. CharleM , Crafiatn—Au eminent Irish preacher— Raised up In the province of Connaugh —Labors as a local preacher for twenty-one years — Appointed as an Irish missionary by Mr. Wesley— Mr. Bartholomew Campbell — Originally a Roman Catholic — Great distress of mind — Pilgrimage to Loiigh-Derg— He believes on Christ — Scene ui a church-yard— Very useful among the Irish. My Deaii Friend, — I have noticed ]\Ir. Ouseley's conversion, his consequent labors, and, in connection with them, his qualifications for the work in which we shall afterward find him engaged. Before entering on the circumstances under which that work was commenced, our attention is claimed by the preaching of Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, and their coadjutors, because of its effects on the Irish population previous to the conversion of Mr. Ouseley. Indeed we cannot omit noticing this, if we would place the subject in a proper light. Through the iustrumcntaUty of Methodism, ]Mr. Ouseley was brought to a saving knowledge of the truth : the mission, in which he spent hia ministerial life, was entered on under the direction of the Methodist Con- 84 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. ference ; and any details relative to these do, in fact, but sei-ve to exhibit, in one of its departments, that great revival of religion of which the Wesleys were such honored instruments. The preaching of the Messrs. Wesley and their co- adjutors was not without indirect benefit to the native Irish. In the counties where the Irish language is most in use, the doctrines and influence of Methodism had very much prevailed ; great numbers of the upper and middle ranks of society embraced the truth, and in most cases those persons used the Irish language : many of them were employed as class leaders ; they became the faithful interpreters of the word preached, to their neighbors, tenantry, and workmen ; and, by those means, there can be no question that many of the lower orders of the mere Irish had been indirectly reached, by the ministi-y of Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, and the first preachers in Ireland. It was not unusual, even in later times, when the missionary, in his regular visits to a neighborhood, stopped at" the house of a gentleman who understood the Irish lan- guage, to wtness very interesting scenes : the gentle- man would invite the country schoolmaster, who could read Irish, (a Romah Catholic withal,) and there would they spend tlie evening — several of the natives being present — reading the Irish Bible, comparing it witli the English version, and making such useful and practical observations as would be suggested to their minds on the occasion. These means, however, could be brought into but limited operation : though good in themselves, and in their effects, they were by no means commensurate with the moral wants of the native Irish. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 85 But an agency was furnished from the ranks of these devoted men, which exerted a dii-ect influence on the native population. Efforts to teach the people, through the medium of their own tongue, have ah-eady been referred to, as made at the commencement of the last century, in some districts of Ireland, by philanthropic persons of distinction in the Irish Church. Those attempts, however, were circumscribed and short-lived. Dr. Mason, in his work on " Employing the Irish Lan- guage as a Medium for conveying Scriptural Instruc- tion to the native Peasantry of Ireland," having men- tioned those efforts, adds, — " It is the very circumstance that we are how occupied in regi-etting, that the last century does scarcely afford an instance after these, to continue our chain of evidence from experience on this subject : a striking one, however, is to be found among those eminent instruments in promoting the revival of vital reUgion in the latter days — the follow- ers of John Wesley." He then refers to Southey's Life of Wesley, in which the foUowng account is given of the successes of Thomas Walsh, the first of the early Methodist preachers who addressed the L-ish people in their native tongue : — " The command of that language gave him great advantage. It was long ago said in Ireland, ' II" you plead for your life, plead in Irish 1' The Catholics listened willingly when addressed in their mother tongue. His hearei's frequently shed tears, and frequently sobbed aloud, and cried for mercy; and, in countrj' towns, the peasantry who, going there upon market-days, had stopped to hear the preacher from mere wonder and curiositj-, were often- times melted into tears, and declared that they could follow him all over the world." 86 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. The admirable Memoir of Mr. Walsh, witten by his friend ]Mr. J. Morgan * being so well known, renders inexpedient, in this record, any more than a very brief notice of his character and labors ; and yet, as he was a link in tlie "chain of evidence "that continues down to the close of the last century, I conceive that any sketch of the Irish mission would be defective wbich did not include his honored name. Mr. Walsh was born and educated in the Church of Rome, and was, if not a bigoted, a sincere member of that church. While in her communion, he was, with- out any means that could be supposed likely to lead to such an effect, brought under deep concern of mind for his personal salvation. Deeply convinced of his lost condition, he sought relief ; but feeling the strength of his own conniptions, and his utter helplessness, he in vain sought deliverance from the power and guilt of sin. He went to confession to his priest : submitted to the penance prescribed by him ; fasted, and repeated his numerous prayers ; but found no comfort to his troubled spirit in these " beggarly elements," until he was brought to the brink of despondency. Passing, while in this state, to his lodging, in the city of Limerick, on the 17th of March, 1749, being then only in his nineteenth year, his attention was attracted by an uncommonly large concourse of people, assem- bled in a place called the Parade. He turned aside to see what it meant. There stood Mr. Robert Swin- dells in the act of preaching to the surrounding multi- tude. Mr. Swindells had accompanied Mr. Wesley on his second visit to Ireland, and remained some consider- able time in the country, faithfully preaching the goa- ♦Publislied at our Book Concern, in New-York.— Am. Ed. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 87 pel in various parts. His text on this occasion was, Matt, xi, 28, " Come unto me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The very sound of this invitation was as a balm to Mr. Walsh's wounded spirit. Some short time after this, under the ministry of Mr. William Tucker, he obtained a sense of the divine favor through faith in Jesus Christ, The way by which he was led from his first awakenings was dark and distressing beyond description ; but soon, under the preaching of these early heralds of the cross, he was brought by his gracious Deliverer " into a wealthy place." Then, his deep devotion and holy joy equaled his previous penitence and distress. His own account of his conversion is most affecting. His words are : — " There was kindled in my soul a still more vehe- ment thirst after Christ. Noticing could now satisfy me but the knowledge of an interest in his blood. My soul was sick yyith fervent longings." "About four months after my most deep awaken- ings, and joining the Methodist society, the clear day began to shine, and the Lord, ' who is rich in mfercy,' visited me with his salvation. He brought me out of the horrible pit, and set my feet upon the Rock. The particular manner of which was as follows : — Coming into the room where we often met together, I sat musing and meditating. My soul was looking out, and longing for Christ, as the watchman for the morning. The congregation being assembled, the servant of God (Mr. W. T.) poured out his soul in prayer. While he did this, the power of God came down in the midst of us : the ' windows of heaven were opened, and the skies poured down righteousness.' My heart melted, like wax before the fire ; especially at the mentioa of 88 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSKLKY. these words : ' "Who is he that cometh from Edoni, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? This that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?' And again, at singing those words in the hymn : 'Behold the Saviour of mankind, Nail'd to the shameful tree 1 How vast the love tliat him inclined To bleed and die for thee I ' 'Tis done I the precious ransom 's paid ; Receive my soul, he cries ! See, where he bows his sacred head I He bows his head, ahd dies.' " The prayer and the hymn came with such power to my heart, that I was constrained to cry out, ' Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is ^vithin me bless his holy name ; for he hath forgiven all my iniquity, and healed my diseases.' " And now was I diviuely assured that God, for Christ's sake, had forgiven me idl my sins. The Spirit of God bore witness with my spirit that I was a child of God. ' Mercy and truth met together,' in my heart : ' righteousness and peace kissed each other.' Yea, so great was the deliverance, that I could not contain my- self. I broke out into tears of joy and love. Having obtained such mercy, I could not but join with the angels (Luke xv, 10) to sing praises to ' Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb,' who so loved me, and washed me from my sins in his own blood. A new song was indeed put into my mouth, even of thanksgiving unto my God ; — 'Honor, and might, and thanks, and praise, I render to my pard'ninj God ; Extol the riches of thy grace, Aiid spread thy saving name abroad ,- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELEY. 89 That only name to sinners given. Which lifts podr dying worms to heaven. ' Me in my blood thy love pass'd by, And stopp'd, my ruin to retrieve ; Wept o'er my soul, thy pitying eye ; Thy bowels j eam'd, and sounded, Live ! Dj'ing, I heard tlie welcome sound. And pardon in tliy mercy found. ' No condemnation now I dread ; Jesus, and all in him, is mine '. Alive in him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approacli th' eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my oicti.' " I had often in private cried aloud to God, yet it was not till now that I did so in the congregation. But my wound being liealed, a necessity was laid upon me to declare what the Lord had done for my soul. In the same hour another, who sat next to me, was filled with joy and peace in believing. "We both with- di-ew to another room, and gave thanks and praise to God together. ' All glory and praise To Jesus our Lord ! » His ransoming grace We gladly record : His bloody oblation— His death on the tree — Hath purchased salvation, And heaven for me ! 'The Saviour hath died, For me and for you ; The blood is applied, The record is true ; The Spirit bears witness, And speaks in the blood. And gives us the fitness For living with God.' " And now I felt of a truth that faith in Christ is ' the substance,' or subsistence, ' of things lioped for,' and the ' evidence of things not seen.' " — Life, pp. 44-47. He had not been long in the enjoyment of the great salvation before ho longed to make it known to others. 90 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. He had a deep impression on his mind that God had called him to preach to his perishing fellow-countrymen salvation in the name of Jesus. He soon informed Mr. Wesley, and sought his counsel in the ease. The answer of Mr. Wesley is brief and characteristic : — " My Deak BuoTliKR, — It is hard to judge what God has called you to, till trial is made. Therefore, when you have an opportunity, you may go to Shronil, and spend two or three days with the people there. Speak to them in Irish." ]\Ir. Walsh lost no time. Accompanied by one of his own brothers, and by another Christian friend, he walked to the place, a distance of thirty English miles ; and here, in a village in the county of Tipperary, did this young evangelist open his commission. Mr. Walsh was a burning and shining light ; and, during the brief season of his life and ministry, the churches were willing to rejoice in his light. " I knew a young man, about twenty years ago," says Mr. Wes- ley, " who was so thoroughly acquainted with the Bible, that if he was questioned concerning any Hebrew word in the Old, or any Greek word in the New Testa- ment, he would tell, after a little pause, not only how often the one or the other occurred in the Bible, but also what it meant in every place. His name was Thomas Walsh. Such a master of Biblical knowledge I never saw before, and never expect to sec again." This was the first Methodist Irish missionary; and " the voice of one crying in the wilderness." For three years he preached, at all seasons, through his native county and province; through Leinstcr, Connaught, and even the northern province. He suffered perse- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY, 91 cution from clcrgjmcn and magi3trates ; from Church- men and Presbyterians ; and, above all, from Papists ; while, in English, and especially in Irish, he was in- cessant in beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God. Having himself, however, early felt the advantage of street preaching, (for be it remembered, Thomas Walsh was the fruit of street preaching,) he went to the streets and lanes of the city, as well as to the hedges, and highways, and fields ; and even traveling by the way, he sought after those who wandered in the mazes of moral darkness, that he might rescue them from error, superstition, and sin. He yearned with intense compassion over millions of his countrymen, and sought, " With cries, entreaties, tears, to save ; To snatch them from the gaping grave." And his zealous labors were as successful as they were various. His mode of preaching was the veiy best that could have been adopted by a street preacher; though so very young, he seemed in this respect, as well as in others, to be divinely dii-ectcd. Mr. Walsh's preach- ing was without controversy ; and this, with an Irish audience, is the most acceptable and most successful manner. 'When, on one occasion, going to Roscrea to preach, he was met by a large number of men ; nearly eighty having bound themselves by an oath, if not to kill him, that, at least, they would not let him preach. They intended putting Jiim into a well ; but through the interference of the Protestant clergyman, he got out of their hands unhurt. When they mi t him, he said, " I contend with no man about opinions ; but preach against sin and wickedness in all. Supposing," he added, " three persons among you of diflferent de- 92 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. nominations, it may be a Churchman, a Quaker, and a Papist, sitting down and drinking to excess, begin to dispute, each affirming that his was the best religion — where is the religion of all these men ? Surely they are without any, unless it be that of Belial. They are of their father the devil, while his works they do. And if they live and die in this condition, hell must be their portion." This they could not gainsay. Religion, he would tell them, was not a bare profes- sion : that the true way was to forsake sin ; and that, in order thereto, it was needful that a person should be pure in spirit, feel that he is a sinner, mourn on that account with a broken and contrite heart, forsake sin by applying to the Lord for strength, and then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, as it is his blood that cleanseth from all unrighteousness. Then he would enforce on them the indispensable necessity of obeying the gospel, by conforming to the rules therein laid down ; living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. These were the doctrines which that devoted man inculcated on the thousands of his benighted countrymen ; a kind of preaching which is peculiarly suited to the views of the Irish, which cannot at any time fail of effect, in sapping the foundations of all error, and leading sinners immediately to Christ for salvation : and, if delivered in their own loved lan- guage, it would be irresistible. In the fervor of his pious soul he was wont to cry out with tears, — " Hear me ; and if the doctrine I preach be not according to the word of God, stone me on the spot — make a sacri- fice of me, only hear for yourselves." Mr. Walsh was the first, after the few efforts in the early part of the eighteenth century, already referred MEMOEIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 93 to, who proclaimed, in the Irish tongue, the message of Grod's mercy to perishing men; and it cannot be thought surprising that such faithful preaching pro- duced extraordinary effects. Thousands of the Irish heard the word with joy, and received it. The most affecting scenes were witnessed during his powerful and pathetic addresses : crowds would throng around him, cut to the heart, and cry aloud for mercy ; they would weep, and agonize, and some of them confess their sins aloud to him before the congregation ; and it was not an unusual thing for persons alarmed, and deeply convinced of their guilt and danger, with peni- tential groans and tears, to cry for mercy, and cling to the spot, until they found rest to their laboring, heavy- laden souls. O God, send prosperity ! raise up and qualify such men to carry the tidings of salvation through our country, until the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose — till the dark places of the earth shall be enlight- ened by thy truth, and the habitations of cruelty be turned into the abodes of righteousness and peace ! On the 8th day of April, 1759, in the city of Dublin, Mr. Walsh exchanged mortahty for life. Scarcely had ten years elapsed from this event when God raised up another eminent Irish preacher in the person of Mr. Charles Graham, a native of the county of Sligo, who, for twenty-one years, labored faitlifully as a local preacher, principally among the native Irish of his own county, and the county of Lei- ti im. Mr. Graham was born in Tournagrachan, (tower of tlie Rocks,) two or three miles from the town of Sligo. Of his early years nothing has come to my 94 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. knowledge, save that he was proverbial for his fond- ness for daring exploits and scenes of amusement ; and being naturally of a brave, undaunted spirit, he would often head the clan at the large gathering and the fair. No trace of a serious kind is discoverable in his cha- racter until between twenty and thirty years of age. The first religious impressions made upon his mind were under an afflictive dispensation — the last illness and death of his mother. While on her sick bed she was visited by some religious friends from the town of Sligo, who prayed with her. INIr. Graham was greatly affected during the time of prayer, and immediately after inquired, — " In what book is that prayer to be found ?" " I did not get it in a book," was the reply ; " prayer is the gift of God." He could not understand this ; yet it impressed him with the conviction that there was something more in religion than he witness- ed in the state of things around. Religion at that time was at a very low ebb indeed in the neighborhood where he resided ; and becoming anxious on the sub- ject, he began to make inquiries respecting it, but found no person to satisfy liis mind. lie was a Churchman, and attended the service of the church ; but received nothing there to allay his anxieties. He thought he would examine every system within his reach to ascer- tain the truth ; and resolved even to try whether Popery would afford him any light. For this purpose he took hold of an opportunity by which he was enabled to hear the priest without going to the mass-house. A funeral was about to take place ; and he thought this a favorable occasion to seek for spiritual instruction, as, if he were likely to get it under any circumstances, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 95 it was probable he would learn it in the house of death. The body of the deceased was not yet carried out when the priest addressed the people, and Mr. Graham heard for himself. The deceased, it appears, was a poor man, who, by the death of all his cuttle, had been reduced to a state of destitution, and was not able to till his little farm ; his neighbors recommended him to go to the priest, and solicit him to make a collection for him in the chapel, saying they would contribute to it, that he might be enabled to purchase a horse. He applied : the collection was made, amounting to five pounds, and next day the poor man waited on the pi-icst ; but, to his utter dismay, the priest answered his application by saying, " I made no collection for you, it was for myself I made it." The poor man laid hold on a book which lay on the table, and, stung wkli disappointment and vexation, swore that he would never bow his knees before the priest again. The neighbors were greatly exasperated ; but for the poor man there was no re- dress ; he pined away under the pressure of misfortune and wretchedness, and eventually died of a brojcen heart. When he was dying, his friends besought the priest to " administer to him the last consolations of reUgion," by anointing him ; but he utterly refused it. Afterward, however, he was prevailed on to come to the funeral. His address was as follows : — " This man's soul is in hell, for he did not pay the rent of his soul for the last three years ; and you will all be damned likewse if you do not pay the rent of your souls regu- larly." When Mr. Graham heard all this, he turned away with disgust, convinced of the absurdity and wickedness of a system in which such gross violations 96 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. of common sense and decency could be perpetrated Avith impunity, and assured that the truth was not there to be found. About this time he became acquainted with some religious ])ersons in Sligo, who directed his attention more particularly to the reading of the sacred records, and through this means his mind became more and more enlightened ; but he did not find peace. The views of those Christians with whom he then associated were Calvinistic, and from them Mr. Graham imbibed the notion of particular redemption, which he entertained for some time. He shortly after heard the Methodist preachers, and by them was earnestly exhorted to be- lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ for a jrresenl salvation. He heard with eagerness the word of life from their lips, and humbly and penitently sought, and soon found, redemption in the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of all his sins. He was soon led to call sinners to repentance, and, having exercised his gifts, as already mentioned, in his own and the neighboring county, with dihgence and success, in the year 1790 he was appointed, by ]\Ir. Wesley, to the office of an Irish missionaiy. Mr. Gra- ham had enlarged views of the divine grace and mercy. He boldly preached Christ to his benighted countiymen as an all-sufficient Saviour; declaring that he made upon the cross " a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfiiction, for the sins of the whole world;" while he affectionately and ardently invited sinners to come unto him for pardon and salva- tion, beseeching them to be reconciled to God. The field of labor to which Mr. Graham was first appointed as a missionary was the county of Kerry. Many souls MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 97 were brought to God, as the fruit of his pious exertions, and he is still remembered in that country with vene- ration and affection. His name will again come up in conjunction with that of ISIx. Ouseley ; I shall therefore leave him for the present, by gi^dng two or three in- stances which will show his mode of travehng and preacliing, and the success which attended his labors in tlioso earlier years of his missionary life. Mr. Graham opened his commission in the streets of ^Milltown, and found his first lodging by asking a young lad, as he I'ode into the town, " Do you know any one in this town that has a Bible, and reads it ?" " 0 yes," said the lad, " the clerk of the church ;" and directed liim to his house. He rode up to the door, the man appeared, and Mr. Graham told the object of his visit, — that he had been informed he was accustomed to read the Bible, and hoped he would have no objection to receive him into his house. The man seemed utterly surprised and ashamed. " I read the Bible, sir ! no, indeed, I never read it, unless what I read of it at church on Sunday." The incident was not without its good effect on the man's mind : " Come in, sir ; come in, sir," he said ; " make my house your home while you remain." From being a character notorious for wickedness, he became converted to God, and was the first fruits of Mr. Graham's mission to Kerry. The new convert soon joined the Methodist society, his in- fluence became considerable in the town and neighbor- hood, and he continued faithful unto death. Milltown, after a little time, became the head of a circuit. Mr. Graham made two unsuccessful attempts to preach in the streets of Tralee ; but, by a curious cir- cumstance, he in the third attempt succeeded. Two 7 98 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. men had leagued together to assault Mr. Graham, but, by its unexpected result, the plan they adopted provi- dentially put a stop, for that time, to persecution in Tralee. One of them took his stand behind an old •wall, intending from thence to stone the preacher, ■while the other stood near the crowd to watch the ef- fect ; instead of injuring its intended object, however, the very first stone that was cast hit the accomplice, ■who -was conveyed to the infirmary, and died soon after, it is said, confessing his guilt. Numerous conversions from Popery were effected in several places under Mr. Graham's preaching, espe- cially in Dingle. The two following are instances : — The first was a respectable Roman Catholic, who acted as purser in a man-of-war, then in Dingle harbor. Wien Mi\ Graham reached Dingle, this man's wife, being a Protestant, -went to hear preaching ; the -word reached her heart, and she soon found the " pearl of great price." She joined society, but found in her husband a most inveterate opposer. He tried every method in liis power to dissuade her from her attach- ment to this novel sect, till at length he resorted to vio- lent measures. One night, following her to the preach- ing-place, -with a deadly weapon in his hand, in order to watch her coming out, he was induced to make his appearance in the house; the people were terrified; the lion, however, soon became a lamb : "He fell before the cross, subdued, And felt the arrows dipp'd in blood." He soon obtained pardon, renounced the en-ors of Rome, joined the infant society, and for many years adorned the doctrine of God his Saviour. He ■was ultimately removed to England. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OtISELET. 99 The other, a bigoted devotee of Rome, named Roche, who Tvas also an abandoned dmnkard, became a signal instance of the power of divine grace, under the awa- kening ministry of Mr. Graham. This man came to mock, but remained to pray. Tlic v/ord reached his heart; he sought and found mercy through Christ Je- sus; and, aUhough thwarted by his wife, and exposed to the usual modes of persecution, he continued con- sistent and faithful, and, it is said, " finished his course with joy." Many such, doubtless, will this devoted missionary have for his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. ■WTiile treating of this period, our attention is called to another part of the land. In the north-west of Ire- land, about the year 1779, a ver}- extraordinary man made his appearance in the Methodist society, and continued in connection ^rith it till his death — a period of many years. Very different, indeed, was he from tlic men I have been describing ; but such a phenome- non in the religious world as to have attracted great interest at that time ; and such an instance of the sav- ing influence of religion, and so successful among his countrymen, as to render him not unworthy of some place in a record which is intended to exhibit the power of our holy Christianity on the native Irish. Any per- son acquainted with the history of IVIethodism in that part of the country, at the time referred to, must have learned something of Bartholomew Campbell, or Bart- ley, for such was the name by which he was better known. The simple child of nature, " rough at the rustic plough," he who saw him once was not hkely soon to forget his appearance. Ever> thing about him had an air of strangeness ; but his most singular part 100 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. •was performed when at any time a visit of the Rev. Dr. Coke was announced. Mounted on his white horse, taken from the cart or the plough, his saddle covered ivith rough goalrskin, he would ride off to meet the doctor, as county or city oflicials arc wont to do with judges of assize, and then accompany him to seve- ral of the places whither he was going ; nor could a more striking contrast well be conceived than that which presented itself between the doctor and his at- tendant. The visits of Dr. Coke at that time were considered as the visits of some celestial messenger. After the death of Mr. Wesley, for more than twenty years, he filled up a place which hardly any other man could have filled. Every one hailed his approach ; every one loved him ; and thousands flocked to hear him preach. Bartley, on these occasions, would be among the foremost in the cavalcade. Some of the good friends were wont to think that he only encum- bered the doctor wilh help ; yet the latter seemed as much delighted to meet with so wonderful a trophy of the power of divine grace, as he would be to see one of his beloved negro converts, in the islands of the far west. In those counties of Ulster that border on Con- naught, Bartley was well known, as a remarkable con- vert from the Church of Rome. Though rude in speech, yet not in knowledge : retaining the rudeness of ex- terior which had belonged to his origin, yet as a Clu-is- lian he was a diamond of the first water. His own con- version was as genuine as the manner of it was rare ; and his zeal for that of his poor fellow-countrymen was as ardent as it was successful. Without any previous intercourse with those who had experienced religion, or MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 101 any knowledge of the volume of his faith, he became feelingly alive to his eternal concerns. The Spirit of God, without any external means, moved on his be- nighted, disordered spirit, and produced such a vivid sense of his wretchedness and danger as to make Bunyan's well-known description of his Christian pil- grim (save that poor Bartley had no book in his hand) quite applicable to him : " AVith his face from his own house ; a great burden on his back ; he wept and trembled: and, not being able longer to contain, he broke out with a lamentable cry, saying, ' "\ATiat shall I do ?' " His sorrows were deep and unabated ; and, under a sense of the divine displeasure, his soul refused to be comforted. He went to his priest — made con- fession — was enjoined penance — repeated prayers — received absolution from the holy father; but found no rest. His distress increased ; and, to use his own words, " hell lay open before him." He went to other priests ; reiterated liis confession and penances ; but only became more miserable. He at length meditated a pilgrimage to Lough Derg, where, it is supposed, all kinds and degrees of sin can be expiated. Lough Derg is a lake in the county of Donegal, province of Ulster; and is famous for the island which contains what is called ,SV. Patrick's Purgatory. This is a narrow Utile cell, hewn out of a solid rock, in which a man can scarcely stand upright. Thither did he repair, a dis- tance of forty Irish miles. He arrived iit the lough, and passed through the customary routine ; went to the priest, who was always ready to direct the pilgrims; and, the severe penances being prescribed and sub- mitted to, he again received absolution. But, like for- mer observances, these too were unavailing ; his guilt 102 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. pressed still more heavily on bis conscience. He re- turned to the priest, and made known the disappoint- ment and anguish of his spirit. " Did not I give you absolution ?" said the priest. " You did, father," an- swered Bartley. " And do you deny the authority of the church ?" " By no means," was the reply ; " but my soul is in misery. What shall I do ?" " Do !" said the priest, " why, go to bed and sleep." " Sleep !" exclaimed the poor penitent : " no, father : perhaps I may awake in hell." Threatened with the horsewhip, poor Bartley departed under a load of wo ; and, seek- ing some retu-ed spot, cast himself on the ground, and in deep anguish of spirit, with groans and tears, he cried to the Lord Jesus Christ, and pleaded liis precious blood. In a moment his distress was gone : he received a confidence that God, for Christ's sake, had pardoned all his sius, and the peace of God over- flowed his soul. He returned to the priest, crying out in ecstasy, " O father, I am happy ! I have found the ewe .'" His ghostly adviser, having neither lot nor part in the matter, answered only with execrations, and a renewed threat of chastisement. Before his return from the lough, Bartley ran to where a number of persons were pci-forming their rounds of penance ; and, exhorting them to turn from those lying vanities, and seek the living and true God, as he had done, he told them that he had obtained pardon of all liis sins, through the blood of Christ, and that if they would only come to Christ, as he had done, they might also obtain what he called the cure, and the jewel— terms by which he ever after described the great blessing of forgiveness of sins and the love of God. The priest, hearing that he was disturbing the MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 103 penitents, hastened to the spot ; and poor Bartley, to save his life, was obliged to fly from the scene of su- perstition and impiety. He was well known for many years as " The Pilgrim of Lough Derg ;" and the un- usual manner of his deliverance from bondage was talked of by the religious with wonder and delight. I have been more circumstantial on this subject than, perhaps, its importance might be supposed to demand ; but as the description answers to many other places of minor note, and exhibits the manner in which a craft)' priesthood trades on the credulity of an unsus- pecting people, I deemed it not improper to place somewhat in detail the sayings and doings of the far- famed Lough Derg. Bartley Camjjbell returned to hia home a " new creature," happy in God ; but so ignorant and inex- perienced as to be utterly unfit to guide his footsteps. He fondly thought that there was some virtue in the place where he had been made happy, and that his wife by going thither would receive a like blessing. He therefore determined to take her to it; and a scene ensued wliich partook at once of the solemn and the ludicrous. His horse was yoked ; the bed brought out and placed in the cart ; on it were seated their two little cliildren ; and his reluctant wife having taken her position beside them, Bartley and his family were soon on their way to Lough Derg. But his wife was a stranger to the kind of sorrow that had filled his bosom : they arrived at the scene of his foimer distress ; neither the scene, however, nor his exhortation, could put her in possession of the jewel he had found; she went ■without feeling the disease, and she returned without the cure. 104 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Some time after this, a priest in the neighborhood, who was noted for his piety, became an object of interest with Bartley ; and to him he related what he had passed through, and what the Lord had done for his soul. "His confessor," says the lie v. Henry Moore, in whose Autobiogi-aphy several of the above facts arc recorded; "his confessor was exceedingly affected, and felt in some degree like Latimer when Bilney confessed to him, while the poor man, in his simple but energetic manner, told him of the cure, and the jewel which was beyond all price. The poor confessor could only answer by tears ; and, after a few visits, he ac- knowledged that he had experienced a similar work when he was a very young man, bvit confessed on his part that he had lost the blessing, and had long walked in darkness. Campbell exhorted him to look for the cure, and be faithful with his flock, and tell them of the happiness that awaited them if they would turn to God. The priest was alarmed ; and charged him not to speak a word to the people on that subject, for they could not bear it. ' Father,' cried out the happy man, ' they will all go to hell; and you will go thither with them if you hide the cure from them. I will tell all that I come near of the blessedness; and you will soon see what good will be done — only do not oppose me.' The priest reiterated his admonitions ; but Bartley departed, fully determined to speak and labor for the Lord. " Soon after, the priest gave notice that he would celebrate mass in an old burial-ground in the neigh- borhood, where there was only the ruin of a chui'ch — no uncommon thing in Ireland. Campbell attended ; and when the priest had concluded, he stepped up to him, and said, ' Father you are to christen a bairn [a MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 105 child] in the village. Go, and leave the people to me. The dead souls, you see, are standing over the dead bodies ; and I hope the Lord will awaken the uppermost.' ' Take care what you do,' said the intimidated priest : ' make no disturbance, I charge you.' He then de- parted ; and Bartley soon after began to lay before the staring multitude his own former miserable condition, and the efibi-ts he had vainly made for deliverance. But when he came to speak, from the fullness of his heart, of the cure and the jeicel, how Christ had blotted out his sins, and given him to enjoy his love, so that, said he, ' I am happy all the day long, and I no more fear to die than to go to sleep,' — the effect was astonish- ing. A general and piercing cry arose. Almost the ■whole assembly fell upon their knees ; while some lay prostrate, groaning with deep anguish. The cry was heard at the village ; and the priest soon advanced at the head of several followers. He deman(,led of Camp- bell how he dared thus to disturb his flock, but was only answered by vehement entreaties not to hinder the work of God. ' You rascal !' said the priest, ' do you oppose the church ?' ' No, father,' he replied, ' I have found the church.' ' You villain !' said the priest, ' begone !' and struck him over the head with his horse- whip. Poor Bartley felt, as John Nelson said of old, ' an old man's bone in him ;' and, hardly knowing what he did, he gave the priest a push, who, falling over a grave, his heels flew up higher than his head. A gene- ral insurrection was the consequence, the people think- ing he had knocked the priest down. All were eager to lay hands on the culprit. The lamentations for their sins gave place to fury ; and poor Campbell was obliged to fly for his life. He escaped the vengeance of the 106 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. infuriated multitude; but his conscience, which was tender, received a fresh wound, and he went mourn- ing all the day long, not knowing how to recover his happiness, till he almost lost all power. In this state he met with some of the Methodists, who understood his case, and encouraged him to come again to the ' fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness.' " He continued witli the people, and fully recovered his peace, and became useful. He had a strong un- derstanding, and great ardency of spirit; and as he perfectly understood the Irish language, he became an instrument of great good to the poor people of the communion he had left. When I was stationed in Dublin, forty j-ears ago, he walked from his distant dwelling, about a hundred English mUes, to see me ; and I rejoiced for all the good that he had received from the Lord, and also for what he was enabled to do for his good Master. He gave me an account of the work in those parts near the place where he lived. I admired the gi-ace of God which was in him, consider- ing his uncultivated mind ; and was amused with some of his strong expressions. He could not be satisfied with any meeting where there were none convinced of sin, or enabled to rejoice in God, as blotting out their sins; he used to call such a meeting a 'sham fight.' So it is that ' the Lord still chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and base things, and things that are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh may glory in his sight.' I have not heard of him for several years ; but I ti-ust to meet him among those ' whose robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.'" — Life of Henry Moore. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 107 The divine providence is, I conceive, strikingly ex- emplified in tlius supplying, in the darkest parts of the country, an instrumentality adapted to the wants of the people, and continuing the " chain of evidence " fi-om the early labors of the Wesleys down to the close of the eighteenth century ; but this could not have been so distinctly understood had the above facts not been adduced ; and, simple as are some of them, they afford- ed eminent instances of the blessed effects of divine truth and grace on the native Irish ; and, in the order of God, prepared the way for a more general and per- manent agency for the regeneration of our country. Yours, &c. LETTER VI. state of Irelatitl previous to the appointment of Mr. Ouseley as a missionary — Irish rvbcllion of 1796 — lri;>h Roman Catholics not seeking a true republic] but the siibjnga- tion of Ireland to a foreign pontiff— War of extermination against Protestants — Atro- cities perpetrated by tJie rebels, led on by their priests —Irish Conference — Dr. Colte — Address to the British Conference — Afifectin^ description of the Irish rebellion— Confer, encc of 1799— Appointment of the Irish mission— Sanctioned by the British Confer^ ence — Labors of Messrs. Graham and OuBeley— Success — Letten to Dr. Coke from. " Mi'ssrs. Reonick, Davis, Brown, Graham, and Ouseley. My De.vr Friekd, — In the year 1799 the name of Mv. Gideon Ouseley appears, for the first time, in the iMinutes of Conference, as an Irish missionary. Wliile tlie period chosen by the Wesleyan Conference for the commencement of a general mission to the native Irish manifested great wisdom, the attempting to carry out such an arduous enterprise required no small de- gree of godly zeal, and of confidence in the great Head of the church. I cannot with any propriety, I conceive, enter upon the details of Mr. Ouseley's labors and succe.sses as an 108 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. IrisTi missionary without giving a brief sketcli of the eventful period which preceded his appointment to that important work, as well as a view of the condition to which the tragical scenes of those times had reduced the Irish nation. The history of our island is, alas ! written in characters of blood ; but, reserving for an- other place the distressing narrative, I would now satisfy myself with a general description of the state of the country. In the year 1 798, as is but too well known, a fearful and well-organized rebellion broke out in our unhappy country, which threatened the dismemberment of the empire, and, in its course, was marked by atrocities as foul as had ever disgraced any country or times. The revolutionary mania of the age had spread with rapidity, from the year 1795 especially, until the latter part of 1797, when the most alarming symptoms prevailed, and the whole social system became deeply affected. The tendency to revolution among great numbers of the inhabitants of Protestant Ulster had long been ac- knowledged, and now it was evident that it had ripened into a system of insurrection. By paid agents, who bore the name of Protestant, the Popish party carried on their negotiations with tlic Protestants of Ulster ; and, at first concealing their real designs, they suc- ceeded, to a great extent, in effecting a union of very different parties for carrying out one proposed object. Theobald Wolfe Tone, a Protestant by profession, but in reahty an infidel — a needy barrister, though a man of considerable talent — was retained for the purpose of infecting the leading Protestants, whi?h lie, in a great measure, succeeded in accomphshing. The ob- ject at which they aimed was to throw off the yoke of MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 109 England ; and for the achievement of this object they sought succor from France. The principles of the northerns were purely republican, without any dis- tinctions of religion or sect ; hxit — whatever may have been the pi-imai-y design of the republicans of the day, and of the unsuspecting Protestants imhappily frater- nized in their political schemes — the ultimate object of tlie Popish party was the reclaiming of Ireland from Great Britain ; not for the formation of a true repub- lic, but for the purpose of once more placing her under the domination of a foreign pontiff'; and while the mis- guided Protestants resorted to deeds of violence, that tliey might secure, as they fondly conceived, their political rights, the Romanists designed and prosecuted a war of extermination against their fellow-countiy- men who professed the Protestant religion, and whom they proscribed as heretics, and rebels against their lord the pope. This, however, became so palpable by the cold-blooded massacres of Protestants perpetrated in the south, and by the leading part which the eccle- siastics of the Romish Church took in the hoi-rifying scenes, that the northern rebels, convinced of the trcacherj' of their Popish associates, detached them- selves from the union, and ultimately extinguished the flame of rebellion in the north. Without remarking on the veracity of the apologists for rebellion, who boldly affirm that a Protestant government, for idterior purposes, instigated and fomented the national discords by which the country was brought to the verge of destruction — I shall only say, that a reference to well-authenticated records of the times will convince the unprejudiced inquirer that the war was prosecuted on rehgious grounds alone ; 110 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. that innocent unoffending multitudes were slaughtered in cold blood, for no other reason than their being Protestants ; that the rebels audaciously avowed they murdered them because they were heretics ; and that misguided people were led on by their own priests, animating them with motives drawn from their re- ligion ; that they were doing God service ; that they enhanced their own merit in proportion to the number of their victims, and of course would, as a reward, insure their happiness in a future world ! Whoever reads the history of the " Ii-ish rebellion," written, in some instances, by sufferers and eye-witnesses of un- doubted credit, and in other instances by men draw- ing their materials from unquestionable sources, must be awakened to the melancholy and astounding facts above adverted to. But, as it is not my intention to swell this letter, by dwelUng on these hon-ifying de- tails, I shaU only relate two or three cases, wliich were communicated to myself by credible witnesses, and refer you to other authorities on the subject.* Not long since, visiting the town of Enniscorthy, on a missionary deputation, I lodged at the house of Mrs. Cooper, whose father, Mr. George Horneck, had endured sufferings almost incredible in the rebellion. No one had informed me of her character or history, and I was scarcely prepared for the scene which pre- sented itself When I entered the parlor, and was introduced to herself and her sister — both old gentle- women, in whose features were exhibited the lines of deep and long-continued sorrow — turning to Mrs. ■ See George Taylor's History of the Rebellion, Sir Richard Mua- grave's Memoirs, . the plan was formed for teaching the native Irish MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 117 through the medium of their own language. In their Address to the British Conference, the Irish brethren thus express their important design : — " With bleeding hearts we have seen the melancholy consequence of our deluded countrj-men's imbibing the unprincipled views of a blood-thirsty and cruel nation. But we en- tertain the pleasing hope that the time of visitation to that hitherto unfoi-tunate people, composing the ma- jority of our nation, is now at hand. God, in his gra- cious pro^'idence, appears to be opening a door among them. " Two of our respectable brethren, of considerable stantling in our connection, have entered upon one of the most arduous undertakings that have been at- tempted since the primitive times Our ardent prayers are presented to the God of missionai-ies for the success of these men, who have made a sacrifice of every social comfort, that they may bring lost sinners to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls." ! The "two respectable brethren" referred to were •i James M'Quigg and Charles Graham, with whose J names is associated that of Gideon Ouseley, then for f, the first time appearing on the INIinutes of Conference. |l The magnitude of the undertaking in a pecuniary j point of view would have deterred the conference, ' considering the reduced state of their funds, had not f the Rev. Dr. Coke, that never to be forgotten friend } of Ireland, engaged to raise sufficient means for carry- 1^ ing on the work. The British Conference highly ap- j proved of the plan thus commenced, as well as expressed its solicitude for the accomplishment of the great ob- I] ject. " Your Irish mission," say they, " is indeed an ' adventurous undertaking. May the great Shepherd 118 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. and Bishop of our souls preserve those men of God ■who have gone upon this great enterprise, and render their labors abundantly successful." No particular district was to limit the labors of these devoted men. They were, in the largest and most comprehensive sense, Irish missionaries, to can-y the glad tidings of salvation to their deluded fellow-coun- trymen ; and while they were without any pastoral or circuit charge, they were, as evangelists, to go every- where, preaching Christ and him crucified. In the choice of the agents who were in the first in- stance selected for the undertaking, the conference were evidently under divine direction. The qualifica- tions of Messrs. Graham and Ouseley for the Irish work we have already seen ; we shall soon see their united labors throughout the length and breadth of the land, and the glorious and extensive results of their holy toil. The name of James M'Quigg stands at the head of the list. He was an eminent Irish scholar, and an able and acute preacher. His frame soon became so shattered by the labors of the mission that he never fully recovered. Though, some years afterward, he desisted from traveling, his talents as an Irish scholar were for several years usefully employed in editing tlie Irish Bible, under the direction of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I have before me a document, furnishing the best evidence of the estimate which the conmiittee of that society had formed of the abilities and labor of Mr. M'Quigg as an Irish scholar. " At a meeting of the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, held September 23d, 1816, it was re- solved, upon the recommendation of Mr. E. N. Thorn- ton, that a copy of Frey's Hebrew Bible, bound in MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 119 calf, be presented to the Rev. James M'Quigg, who is editing the Irish Bible for the society ; of whose labo- rious and judicious exertions Sir. Thornton gave a most satisfactory account." The above is an exact copy of the resolution, extracted from the minutes of tlic committee. The introduction of it in this place ■will be excused, as it shows so fully the competency of the person thus esteemed for the work of an Irish missionary. j\Ir. M'Quigg put this important work through Sl second edition, in Dublin, some time after, when he IkkI an opportunity of collating the printed copies with Bedell's original manuscript, which is in Marsha library, .St. Patiick's Cathedral. He was, though in a \cry debilitated state, about to prepare a third and ste- reotyped edition, when, in 1831, death put a period to his sufferings and his toils. The time chosen for the commencement of the gene- ral Irish mission, while it evinced an ardent zeal and tender sympathy for those who were perishing for lack of knowledge, showed, as already stated, the influence, in no small degree, of the " wisdom from above." The tumult of rebellion had ceased, and a people who had been terribly chastised by the scourge of civil war, iiad time to reflect on the miseries which they had brought upon themselves and their country. When the land was weary of hostiUty, and sickened by the sight of the surrounding desolation, the people were not unwilling to hearken to the invitations of divine mercy and peace. Indeed, tlie Irish ataU times, when not terrified by the denunciations of their clergy, or excited to preju- dice and hostility by their teaching, arc generally dis- 120 MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSKLEY. posed to attend to tlie preaching of the gospel. " AVhat a nation is this !" says !Mr. Wesley ; " every man, wo- maji, and child, (except a few of the great vulgar,) not only patiently, but gladly, sufier the word of exhorta- tion." And now that their intolerant and fanatical priests, who had deluded them to their ruin, had lost, in some instances, their confidence, and a considerable portion of their authority over them, they joyfully heard words whereby they might be saved. The lenity •with which they had been treated by a humane and mild government made its due impression ; nor was the salutary fear inspired by a recollection of English power without its influence in this respect Great numbers, too, who had been impUcated in the rebelhon, became so horror-struck by the ci-uelties which, under the sacred name of religion, had been perpetrated on the unofi'ending Protestants, and with the sanction of their spiritual instructors, that with disgust they turned from a religion whose history was written in charac- ters of blood, voluntarily united themselves to the Pro- testant church, and were rejoiced to hear the pure and peaceful gospel from the lips of Irish missionaries. And many of them, under the above circumstances, sought repose and spii-itual consolation as members of the Methodist society ; so that, to a great extent through the reaction produced by fanaticism, united with other causes, they were as a people prepai-ed for the Lord. It was at this critical and notable period that these heralds of divine grace unfurled the banner of the cross, and called upon all men everywhere to repent, and turn with all their hearts to God, through Christ alone, for mercy and salvation. The rocks and glens MEilOKIAL OF GIDEON ODSELEY. 121 which had reverberated the clangor of arms and the cannon's roar, now echoed the joyful sound of the gos- pel trumpet; and the streets which had been deluged with human blood were now refreshed wth streams of the river of the water of life, while the voice of the gospel ministers cried out to surrounding multitudes, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price." This is no imaginative description ; it is a true representation of the scenes and of the facts of the ease ; the very places and towns that had been the theatres of sanguinary conflict between hostile ar- mies were soon after visited by the Irish missionaries, and there they proclaimed a free and full salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus; and although they had many adversaries, thousands were cut to the heart, and cried out, " Sirs, what must we do ?" whom they di- rected to Christ for present pardon and acceptance ; " And led them to his open side, Tlie sheep for wliom tlieir Shepherd died." 0 that such an agency could have been extended! O that the evangelical bodies in England and Ireland liad multiplied such instruments as would have become the •' messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ !" but, alas ! little was then done, even by the trLie friends of religion, to bring any efficient agency into operation, adapted to the condition of the country. The means subsequently employed by the Irish Church, and by other Christian societies, for the diffusing of instruction, had then no existence. " The aggressive character which essentially belongs to the ministry of the gospel in spiritual warfare, and which formed a 122 MEMORIAL OF CilDEON OUSELEY. necessary part of it, from the time our Saviour first issited his great missionary command, was but little understood, even until some years of the present cen- tury had elapsed, when our clergy, as it were, quite suddenly opened their eyes to perceive that the souls of all the inhabitants of their several parishes were committed to their charge. And who, it may be de- manded, required their attention so much as the Ro- manists ? They, far from being indifferent to religion, and devoutly bowing to the name of Jesus, were kept in the grossest ignorance by their nominal pastors, and were even taught to blend their devotions with idolatry by those to whom the Protestants would have exclu- sively committed their instruction." — Mason's Life of Bedell. Since the establishment of the Irish mission which is under consideration, evangelical systems have been in- stituted, and beneficial agencies employed, by the Esta- blished Church and other religious bodies, for the instruction of the native Irish ; but, whatever other means may have been resorted to of late years by the Irish Church, or by benevolent societies connected with other evangelical churches, for the benefit of our country, they must not be supposed to supersede the -necessity of the Irish mission. There is no other sys- tem in operation so suited to the Irish people as this extraordinary mode of publishing the gospel. And if ever Ireland be regenerated, there must arise a succes- sion of noble spirits, inspired with the zeal that glowed in the bosoms of Walsh, Graham, and Ouseley, not merely to exercise an efficient ministry in a stated and ordinary way, but to go forth into the streets and ])ub- lie places, to the fields and highways, to persuade siu- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 123 ners to be reconciled to God. That Scriptural schools are, indeed, of great importivncc, as incipient means of instruction, or as auxiliaries to the gospel ministry, no one will deny, and they must necessarily, though gra- dually, tend to sap the foundation of the temple of error and idolatry, so far as they come into operation ; but how many of the teeming milhons of Ireland's sons and daughters have been induced to receive instruction in these schools ? How many of those whom we dis- tinguish by the peculiar appellation of Irish attend on the ministry of godly clergymen in their churches ; or of other Protestant ministci-s in their chapels? If they do not come to us, says Mr. Welse)', we must go to them. And the great Head of the church utters his command, — " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." And again he says, " Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind." " Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Dr. Mason, already quoted, states that " Dr. Samuel Madden, a celebrated and influential philanthropist, in 1 788 warmly advocated the employing of a body of itinerant clergy to i>rcach to the natives in Irish and that Dr. Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne, recommended the same measure as that of Dr. Madden ; and even in- sinuates that, in defect of able missionaries, " persons conversant in low Hfe, and speaking the Irish language, if well-instructed in the first principles of religion, though, for the rest, on a level with the pa rish clerks, or schoolmasters of charity schools, should be sent among the people." lu a subjoined note, Dr. Mason 124 MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELEY. illustrates the subject of teaching the Irish through the medium of their own language, by the remarkable suc- cess attending the preaching of the Methodist mission- ai-ies of Mr. John Wesley. — Life of Bedell. The plan so strongly, though ineffectually, recom- mended to their own church by Drs. Madden and Berkeley, was now adopted by the Methodist Confer- ence ; and highly gifted men, eminently qualified for the arduous work, were set apart, and sent forth as "itinerant ministers, to preach to the native Irish;" men who were not merely " well-instructed in the first principles of religion," but experiencing the deep things of God; "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost;" who fervently longed for the salvation of sinners, and, with a vehemence and ardor worthy of the best and purest ages of the church, pleaded with them in their own tongue, to turn from lying vanities to the living and true God ; men, of whom it might have been said, " These apostolic men, endued with a strong and vigor- ous imagination, know no other success than conver- sions, and no other applauses than tears." Such were the fii-st general Methodist missionaries appointed to travel throughout the kingdom, to publish glad tidings of great joy to all people. The details which follow give evidence of the divine presence and blessing ac- companying them in their various labors, so that they did " not run in vain, neither labor in vain." The success of the Irish missionaries was so great as to induce the conference the next year to add to their number. Mr. James Bell, of whom some future men- tion shall be made, was appointed with Mr. M'Quigg. They and some others traveled through the provinces of Connaught and Lcinster. The scene, however, of MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELET. 125 the labors of Messrs. Graham and Ouseley became most remarkable for the prosperity with -which the word was accompanied. Being associated in their la- bors, it is not easy, nor is it requisite, to speak of them apart, during the first years of their travels. The unweai-ied exertion and zeal of these two men were equaled only by the unprecedented effects which attended their preaching; and which became sur- l)rising even to those who had been long accustomed to witness the power of the gospel in the salvation of sinnoi-s. Men, who had for many years preached the gospel, stood amazed at the ceaseless and exhausting toil of Mr. Graham and Mr. Onseley, and the glorious results which followed in the conviction and conversion of multitudes. Mr. James Kennick, a very excellent man, who was then chaii-man of the Clones district — a person of long experience, sound understanding, and cool judgment — in a letter to Dr. Coke, dated July, 1801, writes thus :— " About the latter end of the month of May, the two Irish missionaries, brothers Graham and Ouseley, met me in Carrigallen, [a fair-town in the county of Leitrim, province of Connaught,] about the borders of the county, where we had the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Other parts of the circuit they had been in, but had not been here before. Brother Ouseley preached, and toward the conclusion a girl was con- verted. Next day (Friday) they came to Arvagh, and brother Ouseley preached in the market (both of the missionaries sitting on horseback, which is their usual way) to a great crowd of people, notwithstanding it rained heavily all the time. In the evening brother Graham preached in a field about a mile from this; 126 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. and good was done. Next day, about two miles off, we were driven into the fields again. Here brother Ouseley preached. Toward the conclusion the cry of mourners broke out, and continued until the clouds of the night drove us into a large barn, where we re- mained a long time, and many, I think, were convert- ed. But next day surpassed all. Being the sabbath, brother Graham preached again on a hill, to many hundreds, when the cry of mourners broke out again. Brother Ouseley preached in the evemng to a large congregation. O, dear sir, how awful to hear persons crying aloud for mercy in the open air; and many finding the pearl of great price ! I am afraid, sir, the Irish missionaries have ruined their constitutions." The late Thomas Davis, writing to Dr. Coke, about tlie same time, expresses himself to this efiect : — " Per- mit me, my dear sir, to say something of the Irish missionai-ies, Messrs. Graham and Ouseley. The mighty power of God accompanied their word with such demon- strative evidence as I have never known, or indeed rarely heard of I have been present in fairs and markets while these two blessed men of God, with burning zeal and apostohc ardor, pointed hundreds and thousands to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. And I have seen the immediate fruit of their labor; the aged and the young falling prostrate in the most public places of concourse, cut to the heart, and refusing to be comforted until they knew Jesus and the power of his resurrection. 1 have known scores of these poor penitents to stand up and -witness a good confession ; and, blessed be God, hundreds of them now adorn the gospel of Christ Jesus. These two men have been the most indefatigable in their la- MEMOIJIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 127 bore of love to perishing sinners of any that I have yet kno^ra. From four to six hours they would preach, exhort, and pray ; and next day, perhaps, ride a joui'- uey, and encounter the same difficulties. Thus, — ' They scorn their feeble flesh to spare, Regardless of their swift decline.' My dear sir, I am wanting both in memoiy and lan- guage to set forth the wonders I have seen wrought by the mightj- power of the Holy Spirit. "WTien I look at the usefulness of these two dear men, I am humbled to the dust ; and, again, when I view them with shat- tered frames and wrecked constitutions stepping into the grave, I am trulj- affected." Another testimony, if added, will not be unaccept- able to the pious reader. Mr. George Brown, a man of eminent piety and sense, writes thus : — " August 4, 1802. Two young men had met in order to fight a duel, but were prevented by means of a wall falling on one of the spectators, and crushing him to death. Some months after this they were converted by means of the Irish missionaries, and joined the society. They now walk in love as dear comrades in the way to Zion, and are as zealous for God as they had been in almost all manner of wickedness. At a prayer meeting, which tlie Irish missionaries held in one of our new places, fifteen persons were converted. As I could not neglect my stated appointment of preaching, I spent very little time with our dear missionaries last year. 'Mr. Ouseley was three nights with us. In that time twenty-four ]/frsons, I believe, found redemption in the blood of the Lamb, among whom were two Roman Catholics ; and another was deeply convinced ; he is now con- 128 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. verted, and has withstood the priest to his face. Two more of them, in the same neighborhood, were con- vinced, and set at liberty while my wife prayed with them in Irish. [Mi-s. Brown was hei-self a convert from the Church of Rome.] We must confess that the Lord has crowned the labors of the regular preach- ers in several circuits with great success ; neverthe- less, under his blessing, I cannot but attribute our late extraordinary revivals in the north to the missionaries. They, sir, have provoked us to jealousy, and made us ashamed to stand still, while they labored with all their powers, day and night. . . . "We added two hundred and twcnt}--six to our numbers (on that circuit) last year. All glory be to God and the Lamb for ever !" It will be observed, that the above statements are made about a year after the first appointment of these men to their mission. Dr. Coke, having heard of the gracious effects produced by their instrumentality, wrote to several of the circuit preachers to furnish him with some details relative to the work of God. The above extracts are from their replies. A letter of Mr. Graham to the doctor, in the following March, will afford some further description of their labors : — " The importance of fair and market pi-eaching never appeared to us in a stronger light than it has of late ; we can assure you, sir, we have our friends among the Catholics. As we came from the conference, brother Ouseley preached in Oldcastlc, in the streets, where there were many Cathohcs; and truly the Lord wiis present, and there was a noise and a shaking, together with cries and tears, in the congregation. The Lord made it a season of great blessing to the people. " Next day, being the market day of Ballyjamesduff, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 129 as we passed through, brother Ouseley went to speak to the market people, who appeared to be like the thirsty ground prepared for the falling rain. I was afraid to b'ust mj-self, therefore I did not go to the market till I thought he stayed too long; and when I came up, I found the poor Catholics in tears, some of them sitting on the gi-ound, wringing their hands, and crying for mercy. I could not help speaking a little, and praying with them, indisposed as I was. We visited Cavan and its neighborhood, where a Catholic was converted, whose husband and daughter were converted last year. A schoolmaster also came to me, inquiring what he should do, saying, ' My jiriest has ordered me to stand in the congregation for hearing you.' I said, ' Will you stand before the congregation to give satisfaction for your attendance on us ?' He replied, ' I never will ; I have never known the priest to do any good ; and I see the country round blessed by your coming into it.' " " Glory be to God, our Catholic converts are going on steadily ; and I trust they will prove a blessing in their families and among their neighbors. Last Thurs- day brother Ouseley preached in the fair in this town, and we had a blessed hearing. The truth, when de- livered in public, bears down all before it." A few months after, Mr. Graham again writes : — " I know you will be glad to hear how we fared in the south. I had my doubts whether I was adequate to the undertaking ; but, hoping against hope, in the name and strength of the Lord I set out, though I had Ijeeii spitting blood the day before. All glory be to God ! it was unto me according to my faith ; for of eighteen weeks that we were in the south I was not confined to my bed except five days, and this was oc- 9 130 MEMOBIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. casioned by heavy colds. I doubt not but tbe Lord intends I should open the way through the island be- fore he lays me by ; for I see clearly this out-door ■work will hasten the downfall of Popery. Glory be to God for what he hath already done among them ! the poor CathoHcs ! they have got a spirit of hearing the word. We had a blessed prospect on our way to Limerick, preaching in the streets and markets. Even in places where we might have expected nothing but persecution we saw them weeping and praying in the open streets. The Lord was with us ; and a great work broke out in the country part, about Limerick. A mighty fire has been kindled, and continues burning. Some Catholics have fled from their parents, and left all, that they might follow the Saviour. We [Messrs. Graham and Ouseley] spent about a month on the Limerick circuit ; and then went to the county of Kerry, where there was an outpouring of the grace of God on all the congregations, and much good was done. We had no opposition, till we came to Tralce, on the sabbath ; and here you would have imagined that hell was let loose. Though my voice is pretty loud, I could not be heard. Such shouting of men, women, and children, I think I never had heard before We got the court-house that evening, and a guard of soldiers, and preached to many hundreds. Many of the CathoUcs saw clearly that their clergy designed to keep them in the dark. One of them said to three priests, in whose company he was that night, 'Your people are in the dark ; and so would you have it.' " From Kerry we went to Skibbereen and its neigh- borhood, where many of the poor Catholics attended preaching. At every meeting we had a gracious water- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 131 ing. Many were awakened out of their long sleep ; nay, the whole country appeared to be alarmed. We preached in the market of Skibbereen, and had an at- tentive hearing. Next day, being the sabbath, the poor Catholics flocked in hundreds about us ; when a priest came up, riding furiously through the people, and lashing with his whip on every hand, like a merciless tyrant. The people ran from him, and, the crowd being great, were tumbled one over another. After he had dispersed them, he called them to the chapel, and lectured them. A Catholic gentleman, a magistrate, who met him, severely reprehended him, and said he would write to his bishop, and have him discarded. This, I beUeve, was one of the worst days the priests ever beheld ; for all the people seemed to be cast down because of his conduct. We kept our ground, and preached after the hurry was over ; and not in vain. Alany of the poor Catholics came to hear us, both in the street and in the preaching house, and were greatly broken down : some of the poor creatures said they would follow us through the world. In Bantiy we had a good time, both in the market and. on the sab- bath-day. AVe had no persecution here, but from an old woman, who made a loud noise in the market, and came out also on the sabbath-day; but one of our friends put her to silence. I thought Satan was very destitute of friends when he had none to bring forward but this poor individual. The power of the Lord fell mightily on the people. A Catholic young woman cried out, being no longer able to restrain herself." While there were many hostile to the word, yet were favorable openings presented for publishing to multitudes of ignorant, lost sinners, the glad tidings of 132 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. great joy, in the name of the Lord Jesus ; and many fell, powerfully convinced, before the word, and then believed, and received it with joy, to the salvation of their souls. " Deep wounded by the Spirit's word, And then by Gilead's balm restored." " In Brandon," continues ISih: Graham, " we had a powerful time. Mr. joined us ; and for six or seven days we labored in the streets, and in and about the town ; and the Lord blessed our labors. I received a letter, informing me that my dear partner was djing, and I was called to hasten home. We took Kinsale and Cork on our way home ; and sounded an alarm in the streets and markets, which I trust has awakened some of the dead. We rode from Cork to Monaghan [the place of Messrs. Graham and Ouseley's nominal residence] in five days and a half, one hundred and seventy-six miles [Irish, or about two hundred and twenty-four English miles.] When I got home, I found my dear afflicted partner just recovered from the jaws of death. And now we are about to set out for Limerick and Cork again, as they think we have not given them half enough of our time. From Cork we intend to visit Waterford and Youghal, and other places where we have not yet been, and continue until June." The fellow-laborers, Messrs. Graham and Ouseley, had just I'eturned from a tour of eighteen weeks, through the south ; and now, after a short interval of alternate labor and rest, we find them preparing for another journey through Munster, which occupied at least three months, and which was prosecuted m the same undeviating and faithful manner. Brief as are the records of the labors of the Irish missionaries dur- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 133 ing this period, they are important. A very gracious revival of religion took place at this time on the Water- ford circuit. The two missionaries visited it during this tour : and by preaching in the public streets, as well as by their other ministrations, greatly assisted in the good work. IVIr. Lanktree -writes : — " We had at this season a ^•isit from the Irish missionaries, Graham and Ouseley. I took my stand with them, on horse- back, in the street of Clonmel. They were violently opposed by a rude mob ; but they preached, notwith- standing, with fearless fidelity. The champions for sin procured a sort of mad person, and set him up to preach, in derision, but he did little harm. Next day, however, they seemed determined on hostility ; and at the time of preaching advanced, blowing a horn to col- lect their forces. Some influential Quakers interfered, and frastrated their designs by applying to the magis- trate, and procuring his protection. On the third day we again proceeded to the street, on horseback. After preaching commenced, some impudent women began an attack with bitter and wicked words, who were soon silenced by a powerful address by ]VIr. Ouseley. The men next advanced, the most forward of whom stooped to procure stones or dirt to throw in our faces ; but received some smart chastisement from the soldiers, and were taken to prison. Another attack was made on them, when leaving town ; but they received little injury. Through the goodness of God, their visit tended very much to promote the cause of truth at Clonmel. In Waterford also, both in pubUc and pri- vate, their word was with power." Whenever the missionaries appeared, according to the testimony of eye-witnesses, the usual order of their 134 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. meetings was laid aside. The spirit of conviction seized the congregations, like as on the day of Pente- cost : the people were not ashamed to fall down in the streets, and cry aloud for mercy. Sunday after Sun- day, immediately at the close of church service, would they take their stand in the streets, and preach to vast crowds of Protestants and Romanists ; and, after re- tiring from the public places, continue at their holy toil till a late hour at night. Such were the gracious effects produced by their visits to the regular circuits that some of the preachers wrote to Dr. Coke, implor- ing him to use his influence with Messrs. Graham and Ouseley, to cause them to revisit the scenes of their former labor ; evidently longing for such fruits as they had already witnessed under the ministry of the Irish rmssionaries. Yours, &c. LETTER Vn. A large field of labor assigned the roiBsionarieB, suited to the taste of Mr. Ouseley— Success of street preaching in Enniscorthy — Attempted persecution in Wexford — Ex- tract of a letter from Mr. Ouseley to Dr. Coke— Ceaseless and diversified labors of Hacketstown — Priest's threats of penance — Bribe offered a young woman to bring her back to mass— Such efforta vain— Persecution in Kilkenny— Mr. Ouseley severely braised — Escapes the mob — Writes to the Roman Catholic bishop — Conference Address— Mr. Ouseley labors another year with Mr. Graham— Feels the want of ■oitable tracts for general distribution- Complains to Dr. Coke on the subject— His letter manifests great acuteness — Commences another year's work under hopeful im- pulses—Great numbers of Roman Catholics hear the word with increasing attention- Several join society — Sketch of the labors and success of Messrs. Ouseleyand Graham —Period of their association in the work closes. My Dear Friend, — At the conference of 1802, Mr. Ouseley was again appointed with Mr. Graham to the Irish mission. With the exception of the county of Clare, which was attached to the Connaught mission, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 135 the field of labor assigned them comprehended the provinces of Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. There was nothing so suited the views and taste of IVIr. Ouse- ley as a wide and unrestricted range among his country- men. The fii-st attention of the missionaries was this year, howevei-, directed to the districts of countiy in which rebellion had some time before raged with vio- lence. The counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare, Cai-low, and Kilkenny, were successively visited by them, where they boldly and faithfully preached the gospel of the meek and mcrcil'ul Redeemer, in the very streets which had flowed with human blood. The first visit which they paid to the town of Enniscorthy was attended with signal success. Mounted on horses, with their black caps on, they proceeded to the princi- pal streets : the first hymn had a wondeiful effect ; the word fell powarfully on the crowds who heard ; and some of the blessed fruits of that day's preaching, to my knowledge, continue to the present time. They seem to have had no interruption in Enniscorthy, but in Wexford, whither they proceeded, and where in like manner they prosecuted their important work, they met some slight opposition. TMiile Mr. Ouseley was preaching in the latter town, in the street, a man who was working on a scaffold pelted him with stones and rubbish. A sturdy person, who heard with great interest, not wiUing to allow the preacher to be inter- rupted or injured, ran to the ladder attached to the scaffold, and thi-eatened to dash the unfortunate man down if he persisted ; but Mr. Ouseley interposed, and mildly said, ''Let him alone, for he knows not what he does." By an extract from a letter of Mr. Ouseley, writt^a 136 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. to Dr. Coke, dated, Athy, January 14th, 1803, :i judg- meflt may be formed of their proceedings through the year; of their diversified and ceaseless labors; the numerous places they visited ; the mode of their minis- trations ; the perils they encountered ; the treatment they experienced ; and the gracious effects -which in some instances followed their pious toils: — " I know you will be gratified at hearing from us. We are just setting out again, having taken a little rest after our last tour, in which, I have the happiness to tell you, our God whom we serve has been powerfully with us. We preached through the counties of Wick- low and Wexford, in most of the towns. We preached nineteen times in the streets of sixteen different towns ; and in houses, both in the towns and in the country. Both Catholics and Protestants have heard us with the deepest attention, and often with flowing tears. The priests, however, exercise great authority over them in this country ; yet they heard, and allowed it to be the truth ; and wherever any of them would fain make any disturbance there were others to keep them quiet — several of them here and there seemed to have been much awakened. " In Hacketstovra, after mass, we went out to the cross with our caps on us. I do not know when my knees so trembled ; the street was full of people ; they made way for us through them ; and when we stood to preach, surrounded us in great crowds. The priest came toward us, and the people seemed somewhat uneasy ; but he passed by quietly, and they stood still. Surely many hearts seemed powerfully to feel the force of divine truth. I had a letter since from that place, saying the people greatly wished our return ; MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 137 and also, that the priest is using every art, by threaten- ings, penances, &c., to deter his people from ever hearing us again. I dispersed many little tracts among them everywhere. " In another little town called Fethard, county of We.x.ford, there were two Catholic maid servants where we lodged; one of them had taken a thought after the rebellion not to go to mass any more, and so went to church for a good whUe; but when her friends found it out, after using many ways, but in vain, to prevent her, they at last, by some art, got her to where tlioy had a priest; after much counsel, etc., he gave her three guineas, which they had given him in order to get her back to the mass ; so they for that time pre- vailed. AYhen I went down to the kitchen, as I gene- rally do, I began to speak to her, and she burst into tears, as did the other girl also, who was very bigoted before. Next morning, at prayer, they both wept very much ; and the bigoted one was so aff(;cted that we had to pray again with her. Afterward I went up stairs, and overheard the two girls talking to each other — one advising the other to break off at once from the mass, and telling each other how their hearts were penetrated. One of the two — the one that was bought off before — came after us four miles that night to preaching, and wept all the time. I know not how things have gone since, but hope the Lord will water the seed. Another Catholic, in another part, joined the societj', and is holding on her way. I hope many more have received the seed of the kingdom ; but we had not time to wait and see. " We preached in the midst of the streets of Wex- ford ; the people were awed into the most uncommon 140 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. He had, as occasion required, written a letter to a priest or bishop of the Church of Rome ; but it does not appear that he had yet published any tracts, either controversial or otherwise, such as afterward issued from his pen. Indeed, his incessant and anxious work as a traveling missionary left no leisure for anything of this kind. He, however, happily conceived the cha- racter of the brief works which would be best adapted to the moral condition of the people. He had agiiin and again, in former communications to the Rev. Dr. Coke, pressed him for a supply of tracts ; and, in a letter, dated, Dublin, August 1, 1804, he points out the necessity of this means of instruction ; suggests the description of tracts which were suited to the wants, and even prejudices, of the Irish ; and strongly and warmly requests a supply for the purpose : — " I would greatly wish that a number of well-chosen, dispassionate little tracts, were sent to us ; calculated by no means to irritate, but to carry conviction to the heart, and gently to remove error in a way of plain reasoning. I think Tillotson's Sermon on Transubstantiation would be very useful, if carefully perused and abridged, leaving out every word that savored of ill-nature, ridicule, or contempt, &c. I do think it would greatly add to it, and render it still more useful, if, in the foregoing part of the same, the sinner's state and danger by nature and practice be laid down in as small a compass as possible, together with the only way of his recovery, and the steps to this — salvation, repentance, faith in the Lord our Redeemer, and holiness of heart and life ; and to have these truths substantiated, not only by Scripture authority, in a few words, but also by a few quotations from some of the eminent fathers, and MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 141 Other Popish, Protestant, Calvinist, or dissenting di- vines. I am sure an attempt of this kind would be grateful to our God, and perhaps of everlasting profit to numbei-s ; and I need not say how jo\-fully I would do my part to spread them along. I also think Mr. Weslej's Popery Caludy Considered, revised, and freed of some poignant expressions, would do good, if sold by our preachers through the kingdom. I would gladly spread a tract on the necessity of read- ing and knowing the Scriptures, in order to obtain a knowledge of the di\-iue mind, &c. ; with some few strong dispassionate arguments for its authenticity; and some authority from the fathers, so called, to urge the reading of this blessed book : I am almost sure it would be very profitable, and would make way for the ' spreading of Bibles and Testaments. Maj- our God stir up many to exert their talents in helping to di&- 1 peree the gross and general darkness that has so long ■ overspreatl the nations, and particularly our poor L-e- \l land ! We have to praise his holy name for those on I each side the water, but especially on that who are al- ji ready moved toward this glorious work." l| Mr. Ouselcy commences this year under hopeful 1 impulses, and determines to visit those places where success had crowned then- efforts the preceding year. He says, — " We have delayed a few days longer than we expected. We mean to set out for our destination to-morrow ; to Wicklow and AVexford first. Brother Graham is blessedly recovered. I hope we sh;ill have a good year. This morning, before I awoke, I dreamed I was preaching and weeping over poor sinners ; I have often found it so these five years past, when a work of God was about to take place. I hope our 140 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. He had, as occasion required, written a letter to a priest or bisliop of the Church of Rome ; but it does not appear that he had yet published any tracts, either controversial or otherwise, such as afterward issued from his pen. Indeed, his incessant and anxious work as a traveling missionary left no leisure for anything of this kind. He, however, happily conceived the cha- racter of the brief works which would be best adapted to the moral condition of the people. He had again and again, in former communications to the Rev. Dr. Coke, pressed him for a supply of tracts; and, in a letter, dated, Dublin, August 1, 1804, he points out the necessity of this means of instruction ; suggests the description of tracts which were suited to the wants, and even prejudices, of the Irish; and strongly and warmly requests a supply for the purpose : — " I would greatly wish that a number of well-chosen, dispassionate little tracts, were sent to us ; calculated by no means to irritate, but to carry conviction to the heart, and gently to remove error in a way of plain reasoning. I think Tillotson's Sermon on Transubstantiation would be very useful, if carefully perused and abridged, leaving out every word that savored of ill-nature, ridicule, or contempt, &c. I do think it would greatly add to it, and render it still more useful, if, in the foregoing part of the same, the sinner's state and danger by nature and practice be laid down in as small a compass as possible, together with the only way of his recovery, and the steps to this— salvation, repentance, faith in the Lord our Redeemer, and holiness of heart and life; and to have these truths substantiated, not only by Scripture authority, in a few words, but also by a few quotations from some of the eminent fathers, and MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 141 Other Popish, Protestant, Calvinist, or dissenting di- vines. I am sure an attempt of this kind would be grateful to our God, and perhaps of everlasting profit to nunibei-s ; and I need not say how joj'tully I would do my part to spread them along. I also think Mr. Wesley's Popery Calmly Considered, revised, and freed of some poignant expressions, would do good, if sold by our preachers through the kingdom. I would gladly spread a tract on the necessity of read- ing and knowing the Scriptures, in order to obtain a knowledge of the divine mind, &c. ; with some few strong dispassionate arguments for its authenticity; and some authority from the fathers, so called, to urge the reading of this blessed book : I am almost sure it would be veiy profitable, and would make way for the spreading of Bibles and Testaments. May our God stir up many to exert their talents in helping to dis- pei"se the gross and general darkness that has so long overspreatl the nations, and particularly our poor L-e- land ! We have to praise his holy name for those on each side the water, but especially on that who are al- ready moved toward this glorious work." Mr. Ouscley commences this year under hopeful impulses, and determines to visit those places where success had crowned their efforts the preceding year. He says, — " We have delayed a few days longer than we expected. We mean to set out for our destination to-morrow ; to Wicklow and AVexford first. Brother Graham is blessedly recovered. I hope we shall have a good year. This morning, before I awoke, I dreamed I was preaching and weeping over poor sinners; I have often found it so these five years past, when a work of God was about to take place. I hope our 142 MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. dear friends and brethren -will, as I believe they do, continue to help us with their constant prayers. I heard of a few Catholics over here that were stiri-ed up to read the Bible ; I hope the little hand will yet become a great cloud. A few days ago I was talking to a lady from the county of Kerry, a part that we only visited once, and that about two and a half years since; she told me of two Catholics near the little village she lived in who had turned from Popery when we were there : one a poor man ; he is happy in God, and bears up against a flood of persecution ; the other, a gentle- man, who is now a constant Churchman, though not so pious as the poor man. I hope many here and there, that we know nothing of now, will yet appear ; and many, many in the day of the Lord. I hope to meet yours in Enniscorthy. By a letter from Ross, received two days ago, I learn that some, who wei"e awakened when we were there, have joined the so- ciety, and are appearing to do well." After visiting the counties of Wicklow and "Wexford, they proceeded to Carlow, Kilkenny, &c., where they were favored with a very different reception from that which has been already mentioned by Mr. Ouselcy. Now both clergy and laity, to their honor, hailed the visit of God's servants. Mr. Lanktree observes : — " We were now visited by the Irish missionaries, Graham' and Ouseley. Their preaching in the col- liery was attended with the power of God, and pre- judice and opposition were borne down by the influence of truth and love. In Carlow, while they preached in the street and chapel, the word of life was blessedly triumphant. After I had read and explained the rules of our society, and invited those who were convinced MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 143 of sin to meet on trial, twenty persons gave in their names for that purjwse. In Kilkenny, where the mis- sionaries were formerly ill-treated, they were now honored. " The first person who attempted disturbance was ordered into confinement by IMr. Edmuns, the mayor. The pious clergy and church people magnified the grace of God in his servants, who preached in public and private, enjoying the most ample protection, while ' the word of the Lord had free course, and was glo- rified.' After their departure, a vestry meeting was held in St. Mary's Church, where a vote of thanks was voted to the mayor, which was afterward published in the newspapers, for his manly and Christian conduct on that occasion." They labored on through this year, and were gra- ciously acknowledged in every place. Some of the circuits were peculiarly visited by the power and pre- sence of God ; and the regular preachers rejoiced to recognize the hand of the Lord accompanjing his honored servants in their evangelical and arduous toil. In the month of May, 1805, they paid another visit to that country, " when several members were added to the society." Mr. Ouseley, in a letter to Mr. Entwisle, (with whom, in the absence of Dr. Coke, he corres- ponded,) gives a brief statement how the work suc- ceeded that year. This letter was accompanied with an account of expenses, in Mr. Ouseley's hand-writing, with a characteristic heading, which, though small in itself, I cannot suppress ; and, as it gives indications of the deep impression on his mind of his peculiar call, I conceive it not unworthy of notice : " A list of expen- ses, from the last conference, in July, 1804, to the 18th 144 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. of May, 1805, as incurred by Gideon Ouseley, minister of the gospel to tbe Irish Catholics." The whole letter — an extract from which I give — -while it expresses the utmost abhorrence and disgust for the dire sj^stem by which the dupes of Popery were deluded, breathes naught but kindness for those who were enslaved, and joy at another and another being rescued from the foul bondage. " We have returned," saj s Mr. Ouseley, " from the country, to rest a Uttle. We had much preaching in the streets these five weeks past. This is a fine time to be preaching among the Roman Catholics; they are still increasing in numbers, and in apparent good-will, to hear us. I have had a letter from a town I had been in, and one from another little village. That from the former says the society increased ten or twelve after I left them ; six of whom were Romanists. In the latter place, thirty had joined the morning I left it : two were Romanists. The letter from it says there is a great revival, and they are doing well. In another town, Carrick on Shannon, county of Leitrim, tv/entj'- one joined the last morning I preached there. Brother Graham was then in Boyle. In short, I can truly say, the Lord was with us in all the towns, streets, and markets ; and do hope that much good is done. I thank you for your letter. Please tell Mr. Butter- worth I received his letter, &c. I wrote twice to the doctor ; but perhaps he was so hurried as not to have time to answer it; or, if he wrote, I did not get it. When I came home, I was quite exhausted : have been a little afflicted, too. We are now recovered much, thanks to our God ! and intend to go out next week again." MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 145 We have hitherto seen the associated labors of Messrs. Ouseley and Graham. For six years did they faithfully and incessantly pursue their toilsome, perilous, and prosperous course. The whole of the kingdom, east and west, nortli and south, witnessed their zeal, and rejoiced in the fruit which the great Head of the church vouchsafed to their ministrations. The preaching of these faithful men was attended with like gracious results in every place. In many instances the Romish clergy themselves mixed with the listening multitudes, and heard in silent wonder the word of the Lord ; and when any of them inter- posed, as they sometimes did, to excite a lawless mul- titude against God's sei'vants, and to disperse their congregations, though they occasionally succeeded in their designs, yet frequently vain and impotent were their efforts to prevent tlieir flocks from hearing the tinth, when preached to them in the streets, in their own loved language. Not all their influence — though invested with the imposing robes of their order, claim- ing the authority which infallibility and antiquity con- fer, with the power to shut and open heaven — could prevent thousands and tens of thousands from hearing the unadulterated go.^pcl from the lips of the Irish mis- sionaries. And thus these indefatigable men went on in their hallowed work, receiving daily new evidences of the validity of their call, and encouraged by cheer- ing indications of the presence of their divine ]\Iaster, in the protection of their persons by his providence, and the power of his Spirit in awakening and convert- ing sinners by their ministry. For several successive months, as may be perceived, did they deny themselves all the comforts of home; exposed to the rigors of 10 146 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. winter and the heats of summer ; subjected to numerous pri-vations and hardships, and liable to indescribable persecutions and perils. And such were their travels and preaching — in the markets and fairs by day ; and in chapels, preaching houses, court houses, and barns, by night ; and frequently in the open fields, until the shades of evening — that their brethren deemed it im- possible they could long exist ; that they must, under such wasting and incessant exertions, become victims to their godly zeal. "With little variation, the tender address to the Trojan hero might have been adopted with regard to these servants of God : "For sure such labor length of life denies ; And ye must fall, your virtue's sacrifice." But God saw far otherwise : " For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." The great Head of the church, who had by his good Spirit inspired them with an intense ardor for his glory, and for the salvation of man, had also blessed them with a strength of constitution to endure varied and increasing toils through future times — Mr. Graham for nearly twenty, and Mr. Ouseley, in labors more abundant, for a period of nearly forty years. The conference deemed it expedient, for the purpose of more effectually extending the work, to divide these men, and unite each in his appointment with a missionary who could only preach in the English language. By tliis judicious arrangement, the united brothers in the ministry, who had become attached to one another by a thousand tender and endearing re- miniscenses, are destined to separate ; and must now move and act in different spheres in the same great and glorious enterprise. Yours, &c. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 147 LETTER Vin. Mr. Onseley'a nppointnicnt— Mr. WillhmHaniilton— Slate of religion In tho metropolla — Miaaionary progress— Persecution at Carlow — Narrowly escapes with bis life- Priestly oppression— Missionary exertions not conflneci to Roman Catholics — Mr. Ouseley appeals for tracts— Instance of his mode of preaching— Scene at Droffheda — Encouraging openings in Carlow, Kilkenny, &c.— Mr. Ouseley in his native province —Occurrences there— Sligo — Successful operations there— Address of the conference- Brief sketch of Mr. Ouseley's mode of working— Interesdng incident— Mr. Ouseley's Tisit to a nobleman— Preaching to the Thresbcrs — Convereions from Komanlsm— Great meeting in the village church of Easky. My Dear Friknd, — Mr. Ouseley was next appointed ■with Mr. William Hamilton, who was a faithful man, well adapted to the place which he had to fill as a minister in the church of Christ. Hi.s gifts were of a peculiar order, not easily delineated. He was simple, yet ingenious : though cool and imperturbable himself, yet possessing great power over the passions ; so that while enunciating truth in the most artless strain he would produce surprising effect on his audience, either in warning them against the dangerous consequences of sin, or winning them to the glorious end of gospel holiness. As a scribe instructed into the kingdom of heaven, he brought forth out of his treasure things new and old. He wa-s apt to teach ; patient, zealous, and persevering. Ilis discourses were attractive and edi- fying, and characterized by originality of thought ; and his illustrations, though sometimes quaint, seldom failed to fix attention, and leave a lasting impression on the memory and the heart. You will have an opportunity of forming a notion of his style and character by two or three brief extracts from his letters, which shall by and by appear. Such was the man who was to supply the place of Charles Graham in connection with Mr. 148 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELEY. Ouseley ; and we shall soon see the wisdom of Provi- dence in the appointment. ♦ From the details which have been made, and the progress of the mission in which Mr. Ouseley was en- gaged, you might naturally suppose that considerable eflects were produced juuong all classes in the religious world. In some instances this was the case: many excellent men among the clergy were excited to a godly emulation, who, far from regarding the work with an eye of jealousy, cordially and kindly held out the right hand of fellowsliip to the missionaries and the Methodist preachers. Several gratifying instances of this may be seen in the Re^v. Matthew Lanktree's Biographical Narrative, from which I have already quoted ; and, in connection with the name of Ouseley, I shall, in the progress of these details, take a further liberty with that interesting and excellent work. According to the statements of some pious persons, the character of religion in the metropolis at the be- ginning of this century was Luncntably low ; and, with very few exceptions, the country did not exliibit a much more cheering aspect. The biographer of the Rev. B. W. IMathias places on record some facts in connection with the spiritual condition of the churches there, even when " some years of the present century had elapsed ;" accounts which I would not have ven- tured to originate, and which are here adverted to for no Invidious purpose. A pious friend, writing to Mr. Matliias, then a curate in a parish in the county of Down, diaws a deplorable picture of the period of which we now speak ; he says : " You are aware that Mr. Hartley [Moravian minister] leaves Dublin ; who his successor may be is unknown, and we can only MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OtJSELEY. 149 hope that he may preach the gospel. Plunket-street [Independent] is a close church, and the preaching in it is dogmatical declamation in favor of speculative points and forms, instead of upholding the gi-eat and essential truths of the gospel. Swift's Alley congrega- tion [Baptist] have split on the essential doctrines of the divinity and atonement. The Seceders of Mass Lane have no niceting-house, and those of Back Lane no minister : and, alas ! the gospel in Mary's Abbey [Orthodox Presbyterian church] is not that gospel under -which vital religion can hope to flourish; it is too often preached as a mixed gospel, and too often jjrophesieth smooth things : and as to all other dissent- ing houses, gross error binds the ministei's, and gross darkness the people. And if we turn our view to the E>tablishment, where shall we find anything of the i;ospel, except in the liturgj- and prayers of the church? Not one to testify the truth as it is in Jesus, save an occasional sermon from any gospel minister who may visit the cit}', and perchance obtain a pulpit. Is not tliis a dreadful situation for so popiilous and wicked a rity to be reduced to? And although we have been and are chastised for our sins by this sore visitation, vet we trust the candlestick will not be utterly taken away from us."* * It is a matter of regret that the correspondent of Mr. Matliias did not take a less desponding view of the spiritual destitution of the churches in the metropolis. There may have been, though not pro- nouncing his shibboleth, seven thousand men wlio had not bowed their knees to Baal. At the period of which lie speaks, there were more than eleven hundred in the Methodist society ; besielcs several large and commodious chapels, crowded with attentive and devout hearers, who statedly sat under the ministry of Messrs. William Smith, Charles Mayne, William Stewart, and other able ministers of the New Testament. 150 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Mr. Mathias, in a letter to Mr. Walker, about the same time, says : — " I am anxious about the use that shall be made of a place [the Bethesda] that has hi- therto been the only house in Dublin connected with the Establisluiient in which the gospel has been statedly preaclied, and which, I candidly confess, I should be very soi ry to see changed from the plan on wliich it was originally opened." And when that eminent and deservedly popular minister took possession of his charge in the "Bethesda," in 1805, the congregation was very small, scarcely amounting to fifty persons. He was inJdbiled from preaching in the churches in Dublin. It was contrary to the positive directions of the then provost of Trinity College that any of the students should attend the Bethesda, and it was not until the year 1828 that Mr. Mathias was licensed by- Archbishop Magee. — See Memorial of Rev. W. B. Mathias, pp. 149, 228. The period referred to was equally barren as to public institutions for the instniction of the young, or for the diffusion of evangelical knowledge thi-oughout the land. " At the time Mr. Mathias and tlie Rev. W. Thorpe became chaplains of Bethesda, the only society in Dublin which was connected with the Esta- blished Church, and seemed to have any care for im- mortal souls, was ' The Society for Discountenancing Vice, &c. ;' but at that time it excited comparatively httle interest, and did not meet with the support it so fully merited, and which has since made it so useful." The Methodist Irish missionaries had now been for several years passing through evil report and good re- port, and, in conjunction with the preachers on the regular circuits, had created a spirit of inquiry, even MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTTSELET. 151 ■where their instrumentality was not Acknowledged. The Rev. George Carr of Ross and the Rev. Thomas Kelly were among the honored names that favored the Irish missionaries. Mr. Kelly at this time gave Mr. Ouseley several hundred copies of the tract com- prising extracts from the life and epistles of St. Peter, and several hundreds of useful miscellaneous tracts, not less than a thousand altogether, for the purpose of circulating among the congregations which attended preaching in the sti-eets. Mr. Carr. in like manner, gave^ a considerable number for the same purpose. These were considered of great importance by IMr. Ouseley, and were received by the crowds attending the ministry of the missionaries with the greatest ea- gerness, and read with delight. In a part of Leinster south of Dublin, wonderfully gracious effects followed the preaching of the word ; in one circuit alone, not less than one hundred joined society, through the means of the missionaries, in a short time, many of whom were Romanists, and, when converted, were not ashamed, in the midst of con- tumely and persecution, to acknowledge Christ. In one town not less than half a score joined societJ^ In the autumn of this year Mr. Ouseley narrowly escaped with his life. He commenced preaching in the streets of Carlow on the Lord's day, before the time the church congregation had reached the place in which he stood : the streets were filled with country laborers, who had, as is common in the south of Ireland, crowded into town to look for employment, with their reaping- hooks over their shoulders; several rushed on Mr. Ouseley, determined, it would seem, to destroy him, but a friendly man, a saddler, near whose house he 152 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. stood, opened the lower half door of lils sliop, and dragged him in from the mob. In :i short time the military marched from church, when ]Mi\ Ouseley re- commenced, and preached his sermon to an attentive congregation. A short time after this, in a letter to Dr. Coke, lie speaks under circumstances of great encouragement concerning the numbers, both Protestants and Roman- ists, that had joined society in the south, and of their steadfastness in the faith. In a letter from him, in January, 1806, written from Coranary, near Coote- hill, in the county of Cavau, he mentions the vast crowds that thi-onged the streets to hear them, and the eagerness wliich they manifested, in the markets and fairs after preaching, in receiving the tracts which were scattered among them ; and " though the weather was so severe, it was surely pleasing and astonishing to see the vast crowds hearing, while the snow, and sometimes rain and snow, descended upon them ; and now," Mr. Ouseley adds, " they are come to this, that they can, calndy, and without the least symptom of displeasure, hear the most profound mysteries and pe- culiarities of their religion opened up and exposed, supposing it to be done in love and tenderness." If it were not so serious a matter, it really would be amus- ing, to think of the mysteries which he would thus open up with " tenderness and love." He would rea- son with them, and they would bear it, that no frail sinner or mortal man could create Christ of a bit of bread ; that it is all invention and finesse to obtain power, honor, and profit ; and that no informed priest believed a single tittle of what he hiniseh' taught. Such were the powerful arguments u-roduced by his MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 159 preaching were surprising: sometimes, during his sermon, the congregation would, iis by a sudden im- pulse, simultaneously rise from their seats, fidl prostrate on their knees, and with strong cries and tears pray to the Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy od them. Mr. Cornwall, speaking of the fii-st visit wliich 'Mr. Ouseley paid to his father's house, about six miles distant from Dunmore, says, " The first time I had the privilege of seeing him was in a class which was met in my father's house. When I was informed by a pereon near me, tliut it was Mr. Ouseley, the mention of his name had a wonderful effect on my mind, so that I shed tears incessantly. When he prayed in the meeting, I felt still more powerfully affected ; but when, after the meeting, he came and shed tears over my head, exclaiming, ' 0 my cliild ! O my child I' my heart was broken. The anticipation of future good then mixed my sorrow with joy. From that hour, his appearance, his prayers, his situjiiuj, his preaching, and all I saw him do, had a wonderful effect upon me." Some time before the appointment of Mr. C. to a circuit, he was the instrument of the happy conversion of Mr. John Ouseley, father of the subject of this ^Memorial. iVIr. Ouseley used to remark, INIr. Cornwall was his own son in the gospel, and his own father was Mr. Corn- wall's son. !Mr. Ouseley had resided in Sligo some time before his being called out to travel ; he had now the pleasure of visiting the scene of his earlier pious efforts, and his heart rejoiced that he had not i-un in vain, neither labored in vain. The counties of Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, and Sligo, especially, invited, in succession, to labor. But in the town of Sligo and its neighborhood 160 MEMO RIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. the word was wonderfully successful ; the missionaries not only preached in the streets and lanes of the city, but held field meetings, to which great multitudes were attracted, and many were brought to a saving know- ledge of the truth. Even when the weather turned out unfavorably, they held prayer meetings until the shades of evening obliged them to retire. In these meetings they were ably assisted by the Rev. Mi-. Cald- well, of SHgo, a devoted minister of the Presbyterian Church. This pious man would remain until near night, even under descending rain, praying with peni- tents ciying for mercy. " As to the work of God here," says Mr. Ouscley, " I do not know i-ightly how to describe it ; but this I say, the whole country seems moved It is only eternity will tell what the Lord has done lately among us." Speaking of a love-feast that was held shortly after one of these field meetings, he says, " I am just come from the meeting this moment — one of the most glorious, perhaps, you or I e^ er saw. After about one hour's speaking, the whole house, crowded as it was from end to end, broke out into one burst of prayer and praise — the cries of peni- tents, and the praises of believers mingled, were most delightful to those ' who know the joj-ful sound.' Not less than thirty souls, it was supposed, were at this time brought into tlic enjoyment of the divine favor." Abundiint blessings accompanied the missionaries in tlicir work in other parts of the kingdom ; but Mr. Ouse- ley's ministry was most signally owned of God. The Address of the Irish to the British Conference speaks in language of rejoicing : " In our former Address we declared our expectation that we should be blessed this year with a powerful visitation from the Spirit of MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 161 the Lord ; and, thanks be to God, we have not been disappointed. On various circuits there has been an ingathering ; and, what we think of far more import- ance, many have been turned to the Lord. In speak- ing o^he prosperity of Zion, we would not pass over in silence our beloved missionaries, whose labors the Lord remarkably owns; a considerable number, through their instrumentality, have been brought from dark- ness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God : many classes have been formed by them, and may God prosper their way more and more." The fathers and brethren in England answer in the language of con- gratulation : " In the success of the missionaries we gi'eatly rejoice, and congratulate you on the pleasing prospect which opens before you. We doubt not, dear brethren, your zeal in this glorious cause, nor shall our prayers be wanting in your behalf, that your labors in this blessed undertaking may abundantly prosper. Even so, Lord Jesus. Amen !" As from the numerous and important public en- gagements which constantly engrossed the attention, and occupied the days and nights of ]\Ir. Ouseley, it might be naturally supposed, that neither leisure nor strength remained for those which might be considered as minor duties. It may not be unnecessary here, in order to a more correct knowledge of his character in this respect, to give a brief sketch of his mode of working, agreeing as well vdth this period of his minis- try, as every other part of it, before and after. The children and young people were the objects of his anxious care. This may be said also of ihose who labored in connection with him. They would cause them to commit to memory portions of the Holy 11 162 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. Scriptures, and of our hymns; and give them little reward books for their encouragement. As we have already seen, great quantities of tracts were dis- tributed, and innumerable copies of the sacred Scrip- tures were put in circulation, among all classes. ]\Ir. Ouseley was furnished with supplies for this purpose by friends in Dublin, and by grants from the Incor- porated Society ; and they were bought up wth the greatest eagerness by all descriptions of persons. More good news," says Mr. Ouseley ; " the poor Romanists buy up the Testaments, in a manner, as fast as the Protestants : we have not one now. O hasten, hasten! let us have the books which we re(pested from the Book Room, and the Bibles and Testaments. The places that did not get them are ci-ying out." The most beneficial results followed these efforts every- where, among young and old ! A spirit of incpiiry was created, and a growing interest excited for the truth as it is in Jesus. This is conveyed by Mr. Ouseley, to his friend Mr. Lanktree, in strong terms : — " We have now received five hundred Testaments within these few months, and we brought seventy more with us from Dublin, yet we had scarce one of them left when the last parcel arrived. The Lord bless you for your exertion in procuring them, and the Incorpo- rated Society for giving them ! Surely it was a charity, the effects of which only eternity will fully disclose ! To have the word of God in the hands of so many who lately lay in darkness, O how blessed ! These three things, out of many, are the consequences : 1st. I sup- pose about one hundred of the youth are getting select parts by heart for us : thus sounding the word of God in the families day by day. Surely this must have a MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 168 good efl"ect. 2d. The grown people who hear us, read the Scriptures, and are reading too the doctrines wo preach in the book of God. Thus their prejudices are removed ; and they yield ■with trembling heai"t3 and flowing eyes to the truth, and lead new lives, to the glory of God. 3d. The Romanists get some ; and whether the priests will or will not, they read together, and compare, at times, ours with the Douay Testament. They begin to find that the Protestant Testament is not false, as was represented — the substance of both being much the same — and then say the Testament alone is right." Mr. Hamilton says : — " There is a great spirit of inquiry among them. They know us everywhere, and we are the conversation of town and country. Upon the whole, the devil is not likely to get near as many souls from this counti-y as he expected. Some of our new members are very happy and useful : our own souls are greatly comforted among them. There is much good doing among the children in every place ; which I think will never be forgotten. A curate in Easkey is zealously on our side." Nor were these the only means resorted to by Mr. Ouseley — he never seemed to cease or tire. By his colloquial addresses, as he traveled or where he so- journed, he found easy access to all classes of persons, and introduced subjects connected with their best in- terests to all with whom he met. Whenever or wher- ever he had the opportunity, he might be said never to have failed in improving it. In this respect I believe he was seldom equaled, and never surpassed. His power was singular, and his success extraordinary. He adapted bis observations, with apparent ease and 164 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. facility, and -mthout offense, to all ranks, employments, habits, and prejudices ; and in every case would with admirable force convey instruction to the understand- ing of the several kinds of persons with whom he con- versed. You could not form a just estimate of the character and talent of Mr. Ouseley as a missionary, if this peculiarity were overlooked. This species of instruction was practiced in all his travels, and in all the circles of society in which he moved. He would express himself on the important subject of his mission, to the merchant in his office, or the man of science in his study ; to the professional man, or the military officer ; to the farmer at the plough or casting in the seed ; to the set of workmen in the field or peat bog ; to the group of idlers at the smith's forge, or collecting round him at the turnpike gate. The peer or the peasant ; the lady in her drawing room, or the servant maid in the kitchen ; all seemed alike accessible to him : no difficulty would obstruct, no rank prevent, his attempts to do good in this way. All appeared to be impressed by the justness of his remarks, and the force of his reasonings ; illustrated as they were by figures most appropriate and familiar to the parties, and best adapted to their views and habits. As an evidence of this, on such occasions, generally speaking, all business was suspended by the persons whom he addressed. Some of his conversations in this way I have already noticed ; here I will call your attention to two exam- ples, which prove my representation. Coming up, one fine summer's day, with a number of men cutting peat, " What are ye doing, boys ?" said he. " We are cutting turf," they answered. " Sure," I'eturned Mr. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 165 O., "you don't reqidre them this fine weather?" " No, sir," they answered, " we don't want them now ; but we '11 want them in the cold days of winter, out here, and in the long nights." " And ye fools," said Mr. O., '• won't it be time enough to cut them when ye want them ? Let winter provide for itself." " O muisha, sir," answered they again; "it would be too late then." Mr. Ouseley's moral on the subject will be easily understood : he urged upon them the need of a present salvation, to make them happy here, and give them a preparation for a long eternity. WTien I last resided in Dublin, a pious gentleman, a friend of mine, was exceedingly anxious about the salvation of a noble friend of his. He frequently com- plained to me that he could get no clergjTnan to go with him and visit his dear old friend, Lord , to speak to him about his soul, although on the very borders of eternity. " I had a promise," he said one day, " from B., [an eminent clergjTnan of the Estab- hshment,] that he would come with me ; but six months have elapsed, and he has not fulfilled his promise. He is like every one else — afi-aid of his lordship. O will nobody come with me to see my dear lord ? I' 11 tfll you ivhal .' I '11 go to Gideon ; he 's in town : he' II come with me." The gentleman seemed quite re- lieved ; went off to Mr. Ouseley, and took him in his carriage to the mansion of the noble lord. The object of their visit being briefly hinted by the gentleman, Mr. Ouseley verj' affectionately and respectfully urged upon his lordship the indispensable necessity of pre- paring for an eternal world. " Mr. Ouseley," replied his lordship, "public business must be attended to; and we have no time for these things." Mr. 0. re- 166 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. joiped, " But, my lord, we must have time to die, and we should be prepared for that inevitable event." His lordship said, " And what am I to do, IMr. Ouseley ?" To which he replied, " There is the New Testament: it contains the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, and tells you what you are to do, my lord." " But, Mr. O., there are many things in that book which I can under- stand, and that I admire. I must confess, however, there are other things I cannot agree with." " Ah ! my lord, that will never do. What if your lordship had a case submitted to you by an individual, for an opinion ; and after your opinion had been drawn up with the utmost care and legal accuracy, he would say, ' Why, my lord, there is part of this I like pretty well, but with other parts I cannot agree :' what would you say, my lord?" "Ah! I perceive your meaning; we must receive the wliole as a revelation from God." " Exactly so, my lord. Take up that book ; believe what it says, and do what it commands, and you will, my lord, be prepared, by His mercy, for the hour of death, and for that day when the great Judge shall appear." " And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come, Felix trembled." The noble- man expressed his feelings of gratitude to IVIr. Ouseley, and invited hun and his friend to dinner. They obeyed ; but Mr. Ouseley, not losing sight of the primary object of his visit, treated his lordship with a faithfulness to which he had been wholly unaccustomed. Whether any beneficial result followed, we cannot tell — we can only hope. "The day of judgment shall declare." MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 167 During the years 1806 and 1807 considerable agita- tion and troubles prevailed through the province, which made it dangerous to travel. A body of nocturnal legislators, calling themselves Threshers, infested the country. They were organized for the purpose of putting down tithes, and reducing the dues of the Romish priests. They committed numerous depreda- tions, and spread terror all around. In the midst of these alarms, God took special care of his servants, who, nothing daunted, passed through scenes of tu- mult, and never ceased to preach the doctrine of the kingdom of peace, publicly and privately witnessing the glorious effects of their ministrations. Even the people who had received the missionaries into their houses had become terrified, and came to the resolution not to allow them to continue their visits. JVIr. Ouseley urged Lis way among them, and dispersed their fears ; and not only retained his ground, but actually preach- ed in the fairs to crowded congregations of the Thresh- ers themselves. A party of them, on one occasion, sUghtly injured Jlr. Ouseley's horse, but they never inflicted an injury on himself; on the contrary, they waraed the priest not to dare to meddle with Ouseley any more at his peril. In a letter written about this time, Mr. O. says : — " I must not omit a circumstance that occurred as I came through the mountains home, after preaching at night in a new place. The couple where I had lodged told me that the preachers could not come there any more, for they were afraid of the Threshers. My grieved soul complained to the Lord agai;ist Satan, ■who wanted to turn us out. Next morning the people came again together. We wept under the meltings of 168 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. divine grace, and then four or five houses were open to receive us. From that, before I tasted food, I rode off to another place, and gathered the people, Roman- ists and Protestants. While I yet preached, through the power of God's holy word and Spirit, an outcry began. Among the rest, a respectable Romanist cried out, and prayed most vehemently. After the meeting, when I was settUng houses to receive the Sligo preach- ers, as it was on their circuit, he spoke out, and said, ' Come, sir, two days in the week to my house, and welcome, indeed.' ' O,' said I, ' only for the priests that are ready to eat you up, many of you would do so.' ' The priests !' said he, indignantly, ' I don't care a straw for the priest ; not I, indeed.' I preached here on Saturday; and on Tuesday last in a fair, in the mountains, among the Threshers. They gave me thousands of blessings. The harvest, the great har- vest, will yet come !" In another letter Mr. Ouseley thus describes his efforts among the young to promote Scriptural instruc- tion ; his unwearied perseverance in bringing lost souls to Christ, notwithstanding the opposition of the Romish clergy ; and liis joy at the gracious indications of pros- perity :— " 1. Then we are getting all the single people we can, with the children, to commit the Holy Scriptures to memory, which they do with great pleasure. One boy said a part of a chapter who does not yet know the letters. " 2. The Lord favored me with witnessing many con- versions in several places ; and, blessed be his name, we had lively meetings everywhere, many weeping, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 169 and many shouting the praises of God, and that, too, amid such troublesome times. Hallelujah ! " In one place, where ten or twelve of the Roman- ists had joined society, the priest, a great drunkard, came among them. This cruel kite came, and greatly terrified and scattered them, threatening to curse, yea, to make the very hair to fall off their head ; and, when dying, not give them the 'seal of Christ,' (the oint- ment !) and then what would they do ? But when I came again I ran into their cabins, and, poor things, they sprang toward me with their eyes dancing with joy and afiection. " I preached them a sermon on false prophets : the Lord greatly blessed it to the congregation ; two souls professed to have obtjiined converting grace ; and all were greatly moved. ' O the priest — the priest !' cried one in Irish, ' why is he hindering us from all this com- fort and sweetness?' Next morning again I had a large barn well filled ; and surely it was heaven upon earth ! The first that fell on her knees was a Romish woman, which affected the whole house. She was soon released from her burden, and praised God aloud. Then a Protestant young woman felt exquisite distress, and was blessedly comforted. The next was a Romanist, who roared from the disquietude of his soul ; after a httle time his heart got light, and he glorified God. Then a Protestant man cried to God most piteously, and soon found peace and pardon, and so on, till 1 sup- posed more than half a dozen in a few moments were made to rejoice in the Lord. ' O,' said a converted Protestant, in Irish,,' God is dealing finely and fairly, for he is giving us one about of each sort.' ' O,' said 170 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET, the Romanists, ' the priest may talk on ; that is all he 'II have for it.' " Thus we see the Lord deigned to smile on his own work : persons of all ranks and creeds became subject to the faith; new societies were formed; numerous congregations established ; places of worship erected ; and many families opened their houses for the recep- tion of the regular preachers. The missionaries now rejoiced to see themselves rewarded with the spoils of the enemy ; while many united themselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant. Great numbers of Roman CathoUcs became savingly converted, and were perma- nently joined to the society. Their children were now instructed in the volume of their faith ; reading of the Scriptm-es and family worship carried on where they had been totally unknown ; the most noted sinners were converted ; and even some of those who, until lately, had known nothing of the power of religion, became helpers together -with God's servants, instruct- ing those who were out of the waj'. In reference to one of these, a person of respectability, Air. O. remarks, " Pie now exhorts and prays most vehemently in Irish and English." And again : " We have two fine fellows that lay buried in these villages, now all on fire, and helping us most valiantly. One of .them, who was a Romanist, and public catechist for the priest, is very expert at the Iiish. God is greatly acknowledging their labors ; many more are beginning to break forth in prayer. Hallelujah !" exclaims he, " more and more are coming to our Redeemer, both in town and coun- try. The good work is prospering in our hands ; ' all glory to Him to whom it belongs ;' the most atrocious sinners are brought to the feet of the Redeemer." In MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 171 one place, where the clergj-man of the parish was very favorable to the servants of the Lord, and esteemed them in love for their works' sake, they obtained the use of the parish church for one of their meetings. " We have had," says Mr. O., " a great meeting in the church of a village called Easky, and the presence of the Lord was with us. Glory to his name ! Two sei> mens were preached. We had a noise and a shaking on every hand." New scenes of labor now open throughout the country to the circuit preachers, who foster the gra- cious work, and guard and edify the body of Christ; wliile jMr. Gideon Ouseley prosecutes au aggressive warfare into the regions beyond, not seeming satisfied until every portion of territoiy, from the L-ish Sea to the Western Ocean, should be in subjection to the Prince of peace. Yours, &c. LETTER IX. Mr. Ouseley distinguished m an Irish miesiouary— Messrs. Bell and Ajcom— Street preaching al Naas — Interesting' effects of, on a clergyman of the Established Church — U«eful ministry and triumphant death— Mr. Andrew Taylor— Id great peril- Heroic conduct— Mr. Bell in Kilwortli- EffecU of eireet preaching— Mrs. Carey — Mr, Ouseley appointed to Galway and Clare— Suffers under severe illness, induced by lying in a wet room— Extract of a letter, descriptive of his feelings— Kindness to- ward his colleagues— Sleep on the loft— Sustains persecution— Assaulted by a priest —Letter on the subject from Mr. Hamilton— Sympathy and liberality of the English to Irish missions— Mr. Hamilton no longer able to bear the hardships of the mission — Sirong affection for Air. Ouseley — High opinion of the conference respecting Mr, Hamilton— F/ong and honorable career and triumpliant close— Great discouragementa of Mr. Ouseley next year— Explores new places— Great success — Singular conversioa of a persecutor in class meeting— Mr. Ouseley preaches in the streets of Burrisokane — Forms a society there- Extraonlinary exertions during that year— Testimony of con- ference relative to missions — Mr. Ouseley's prodigious labors deserving of notice. My Dear Friend, — Although the honored name of Gideon Ouseley stands most distinguished in the an- nals of Irish missions, there were others too who were 172 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. great and eminently useful. The blessing of God was upon the efforts of his faithful servants in other places also, which would deserve to be recorded, did our limits admit of it ; but I shall select a few cases which satisfactorily show "that the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed and turned to the Lord." Messrs. Samuel Alcorn and James Bell, appointed about this time to the Dublin district, entered with great zeal and diligence on their arduous undertaking. Throughout the province of Leinster they preached in the streets on the Lord's day, and on other days in the markets and fairs, with great faithfulness and power. Mr. Bell was a man of peculiar simplicity, remarkable for his sweetness and devotion of spii-it ; he loved his country, and wept over its miseries ; and sought to lead its erring children from darkness to light. He preached in the Irish tongue with fervor and effect. Very often he did more to convince gainsayers of the truth and power of the religion of Christ, and disarm his persecu- tors, when under their savage treatment, by dropping the tear of pity for his enemies, and gently wiping the blood and dirt off his face, than by the strength of argument or the force of persuasion. Mr. Alcorn preached only in English, but was an excellent preacher. To mental gifts of a superior order, he added a popular address and great fluency of expression ; and what gave considerable effect to his ministration was his having a fine voice, and being able to sing our h} mns with taste and judgment — a matter of no small import- ance to an Irish missionary. In the autumn of 1806, Messrs. Alcorn and Bell, 83 at other times, preached in the streets of Naas, a prin- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 173 cipal town in the county of Kildare, on which occa- sion the Rev. John Isaac Harrison, the clergjman of the parish and master of the diocesan school, was among their hearers. Mr. H., a gentleman of accomplished mind, was possessed of more than common talents, and ranked among the most celebrated pulpit advocates on behalf of charitable institutions, in the metropolis, pre- vious to the days of Kirwan. Mr. Alcorn's subject was founded on Matt, ix, 37, .38 : " The harvest truly is plenteous," &c. The word of God was accompanied to the heart of Mr. H. ; he felt that with all his endow- ments he was an unpardoned sinner before God, and must, in order to be saved, enter into the kingdom of heaven as a little child. He " was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." He came forward to Ma-. Alcorn, and, under deep emotion, said, " I am a clergyman of the Established Church ; but, alas ! though I have been a minister for twenty years, I am one of those idlers whom I have heard described in the sermon." He then kindly invited the preachers to his house ; and after IMr. Bell had preached a second sermon, they ac- companied him home. A large company of ladies and gentlemen were engaged at the card table when they entered the drawing room. Mr. H. introduced ^Messrs. Alcorn and Bell as Methodist preachers, whom he had heard in the street. The cards were soon laid aside ; and, after a short interval of silence, a reasonable con- versation was entered on, and the Bible introduced. Mr. Alcorn was requested by Mr. II. to sing the hymn by which he had been so deeply affected in the street: — " From Salem's ?ate, advancing slow, What object, meets my eyes ! What means tliis majesty of wo ; What mean these mingled cries ?" &c. 174 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. During the singing of the hymn every face was suf- fused with tears, and every heart heaved with contri- tion. It was sung a second time with hke effect. While Mr. Alcorn engaged in prayer, the penitent spirit of Mr. Harrison laid hold on Christ as his only Saviour ; he gave up every plea beside, " Lord, I am damn'd, but thou hast died ;" and received the witness of his acceptance with God through Christ Jesus ; and, to the glory of the grace of God, this delightful consciousness he retained until he exchanged mortality for life. The whole family soon participated in his joy, and became heirs together of the grace of life. His parish felt the benefit of this happy change, in his future pious exertions. Mr. Har- rison's career, from this time, was short. In about two years and a half after this scene, he caught fever in visiting one of his parishioners, and in three weeks died in the full triumph of faith. The introduction here of a short letter from him to Mr. Alcorn wiU be permitted, as it shows the effects of his gracious change. " I would have been glad to see you and your family on your way to your circuit, and am rather jealous that you did not so contrive your journey as to give us one night in Naas. What pleasure equal to the conversation of a man devoted to the service of God ! I reckon that a blessed day in which I met with such. Your advice to continue ray sabbath- evening meetings, by the grace of God, I shall take ; and, eternal thanks be to God, it is a day that always returns with additional pleasure and internal comfort to my soul. O may I be the humble means of saving, if but one soul, from the pains of eternal death I We MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 175 hare been in e3q)ectation of seeing the preachers that succeed you in this district. We should unremittingly ' pray the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.' Should I be wthin a few miles of you I hope to pay you a visit. When you write to Mr. Bell and ^Nlr. Ollifte, please remember to give my love to them." A few days after Mx-. Harrison's lamented death, Mr. Alcorn received the following letter from his son, the Rev. John Harrison : — " The public papers must have announced to you the decease of one who was your son in the gospel, my dear father. He knew that by grace he was called from the captivity of Satan, and from the coui-se of this present evil world, in which he had no dwelling, nor indeed desired one ; he was brought from death to spii-itual life, and born again, so that God was his Father by the power of his Spirit, and Jesus a full Saviour by his atonement and righteousness. Religion, which was the zealous object of his latter days, and the love of Christ which was shed abroad in his heart, made him happy in death, and, in his own dying words, ' did cast out fear.' I shall be glad to hear from you soon and often. The diocesan school will be conducted by me, having ob- tained the appointment of the bishop, and, please God, the sabbath-evening meetings shall not be forgotten." It was thus, while in the west the blessed men en- gaged there gathered glorious spoils, their brethren in other parts of the kingdom were richly rewarded by such signal ti-ophies of success. "Let not ambition mock their useful toil ;" let no man assume lliat their vocation was not divine, lest haply he be found to fight against God ; for do not such facts as have been stated. 176 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. which stand out before the world, give evidence of the divine approval of the men and their call, by the power of God so manifestly accompanying their minis- trations ? Mr. Bell, in conjunction with Mr. Andrew Taylor, labored the next year with unabated fidelity and zeal throughout the Cork district. Mr. Taylor, though not acquainted with the Irish language, was so efficient and successful a missionary as not to be undeserving a place in the list of those who lived for the regene- ration of their country. He endured hardness as a good soldier ; and was like-minded with him who ex- claimed, " None of these things move me." In the early part of his ministry he was in perils among his own countrymen ; and when called in these cLrcum- stanees to bear witness of the truth, evinced a spirit worthy of the purest ages of Christianity. During the reign of anarchy, in 1798, he was made a prisoner by the rebel forces, in the garrison of Wexford. While hundreds of Protestants were sacrificed at the shrine of intolerance, and victim after victim, from the points of the enemy's pikes, swelled tlie tide of the blood- stained Slaney, Andrew Taylor was brought before tlie inquisitorial court. The usual interrogatories were put : What are you ? &c. " I knew," said Mr. Taylor, (I heard him relate it,) " I knew if I had said, ' I am a Protestant,' that would have been b.id enough : to have said, ' I am a Methodist,' would have been woi-se, but to have said, ' I am a Methodist preacher,' was the worst of all." Kaising himself up, in calm defiance of the ruffian host, he boldly exclaimed, " I am a Metho- dist PREACHER," not knowing but the next hour would have been his last Strange to say, they JTEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEr. 177 seemed, by his intrepid avowal, impressed with awe ; one of them interposed, and he escaped unhurt. Many years afterward he preached the gospel through that very country, with wonderful success. For further information relative to tliis subject I refer you to a tract, written by the Rev. R. Huston, in the Wesleyan Mission Series, in which he presents the reader with many interesting details of the labors of Mr. Taylor, and their delightful resijlts, throughout the counties of Wicklow and Wexford. The ministrations of Messrs. Bell and Taylor were graciously acknowledged by the great Head of the church. I may be allowed to select one instance, which, with many other interesting cir- cumstances, came under my own knowledge, that will establish this gratifying fact. The town of Kihvorth is beautifully situated at the foot of a large ridge of mountains, called Kilworth Mountains, about twenty-seven English miles from Cork, on the Dublin road, with wild, romantic scenery, rising to the north, and a rich, cultivated country, divei-sified with wood and water, toward the south and west ; it, and the surrounding neighborhood, present a peculiarly picturesque appearance. Many of the inhabitants were, at least at that time, persons of opulence and respectability. Into this town Mr. Bell found his way on the sabbath-day, about the time that divine service commenced. He entered the church, and requested the sexton to show him to the pew of a lady who he had heard was religiously disposed. At the close of the service, he addressed her by saying he was a Methodist missionary, and begged she would have the kindness to order her servant to bring him a chair, as he wa,s about to preach in the street. She 12 178 MEMOKIAI, OF GIDEON OUSEI.ET. said inaudibly, " Lord bless me ! is it not enough for this gentleman to bring the eyes of the congregation upon me ? does he want to make me a spectacle to the Avhole town ?" In a moment, the words of our blessed Lord rushed into her mind: "Whosoever sh;ill be ashamed of mc and of my words, of him shaU the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." She immediately answered, " Not only my servant, but, if requisite, myself." Mr. Bell soon mounted on his chair — the lady standing beside him — and com- menced singing a hymn. The church congregation, not less attracted by the lady taking her stand beside Mr. Bell, and assisting him with the singing, than by the novelty of a street preacher, several of the more respectable among them said, " We '11 not let Mrs. stand alone ;" and immediately another and another drew near them : by and by the church congregation, and then that of the chapel, thronged around the preacher, while he proclaimed liberty to the captives in the name of the Lord Jesus. Soon were the labors of these zealous men followed with the divine blessing ; and Mrs. Carey, the lady referred to, was then among the first-fruits of their preaching. She was a gentle- woman of singular sense, of highly cultivated mind, and of great energy and decision of character. She was of a Protestant family of rank, but married to Roger Carey, Esq., a Roman Catholic gentleman, of considerable property. He was a man of education, and of masculine understanding ; who could iU brook the flagrant errors of the Church of Rome, and the duplicity and disgusting conduct of her clergy. I feel no hesitation in placing these things on record, I had MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 179 them frequentl}-, witliout disguise, from the lips of the lady and gentleman themselves. Unhappily, as is the case with many persons in that rank of life, he became conversant with infidel works, and regarding Christian- it}' as exhibited in the models around him, he sunk into complete skepticism in relation to everything sacred. " He was not an atheist from the love of atheism, but because the iniquities of Rome and its church had made him think that the religion which sanctioned such abominations could not be true ; and in the reck- lessness of a thoughtless mind he concluded that all was false." Such was his state when the Methodist missionaries were invited to his house. The progress of error was soon arrested ; and, although he was not brought under the influence of personal religion, he became favorable to it, and sincerely attached to those whom he believed to be the true ministers of the gospel. I frequently visited him during his last illness, in which he at least manifested feelings of sincere and genuine penitence. I brought the Rev. Thomas Wakeham, a pious clergyman, to administer to him the Lord's supper ; and his death, which I witnessed, was not wthout hope. The grave has long since closed on all that was mor- tal of Mrs. Mary Carey ; I have learned from others that her end was triumphant : though no memorial is preserved of her excellences but that which is che- rished in the bosoms of her friends, save an expression of the debt of gratitude which she owed to the Wes- leyan Methodist Missionary Society, in a bequest to its funds, which stands in its proper place in the General Report. Such were some of the fruits of the gospel in that part of the Irish mission, which afford pleasing 180 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. evidence that the labor of those faithful men was not in vain in the Lord. In the year 1808, Mr. Ouseley, with Mr. Hamilton, found his way to the county of Clare, which was for some considerable time to be part of his field of labor. Tliey soon penetrated as far as Kilrush, a seaport in the west of the county. In the early attempts to cul- tivate that moral waste, peculiar hardships were to be encountered. With these I shortly after became ac- r^naintcd ; and such were they, that, stern as was the resolution of my dear Mr. Ouseley, and firm as was his physical strength, they were sometunes both affect- ed. When contrasting the scene of his toil with well- cultivated circuits, powerful emotions sometimes agi- tated his bosom; and his great sti-ength occasionally sunk under the privations which he endured while seeking after lost and wandering souls in the desert. Having lain in a room in one of his lodgings in the county of Clare, the floor of which was wet, (for it was more than damp,) he caught a severe cold, which turn- ed to ague, and by which he was for a short time laid on a sick bed ; but when at all convalescent, he was eager to be again at his Master's work. These things are best described in a letter of his own : — " I know you are anxious to hear as to my illness, &c. During the year I had not before this one day's sickness. My health was vei-y good : but the night be- fore I came home, I lay in a room, the floor of which was very damp and wet ; so I got a double disorder — a heavy cold and ague. On Friday, through mercy, I got a little change for the better, and have been re- covering since. Now I get up ; and you see, thanks to MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 181 our God, I can write to a friend, and hope soon to be at my Master's work agiiin. " And now as to our circuit But I must first cast my longing eyes on youi-s. How pleasant, my brother, to range through meadows fair, and fields productive of crops in various states or stages, ready to make the tiller's heart to dance; where there are meandering crj'stal streams and sweet fruits clustering all around ! But to have the huge rocks, hard as adamant; wild deserts, where savage beasts seek their prey, and scarcely a green herb, or spring, or fruit, is found; how drear}- is the sight ! Allien the poor traveler does not know where to rest his weary head— how dismal the contrast ! This is our case. Yet, glory to God, my brother, the Lord came with us ; and then ' labor is rest, and pain is sweet.' Some of the solitaiy places are becoming glad; the desert begins to sing and blossom as the rose. Friendship and good-will are beginning to appear. We have now from twentj'- four to thirty places at which to call and lodge ; and in two classes, for which we have got leaders, there are in all about sixty or seventy members, with a pros- pect of more. My friends there will be glad to hear that I am aUve — alive to live for ever ! Hallelujah !" The lodging in which Mr. Ouseley caught his ill- ness, reminds me of a similar place on the same mis- sion, and perhaps not far from it, some circumstances relative to which I shall relate. Mr. Ouseley was re- markable for his kindness and attention to his young col- leagues. He used sometimes to say to mo, that he was more careful of their health and comfort than of his own. Jdmj proofs had I of this when, a short time 182 MEMOKIAL OF GICEO^i OUSLLEY. after, I traveled witli him. In a country so extensive, and' -wliere so many excursions must have been taken to new places, our traveling must have been desultory, and our plans, consequently, irregular. Some of the traveling-plans, drawn up by my revered superintend- ent, were curiosities in their way. One locality never escaped his special attention, and always, with regard to me, forced a smile : " Sleep on the loft," was a stereo- tj'ped note connected with that place. It was the house of a wealthy farmer. The room which was assigned the preacher was indescribably cheerless — though a kind of state-room. It was a small back apartment, with an earthen floor ; a small window, opening into a kitchen-garden, was darkened by nettles and hemlock, which rankly grew outside ; the walls were covered wth a green sepulchral damp, and the room floor, being much lower than the ground without, rendered it liable to continual wet. ^Vhen I at any time entered that dismal apartment, my feet sunk in the floor ; and whenever I lay down in my bed I thought of my grave. It was here, particularly, Mr. Ouseley never failed to write, " Sleep on the loft." You may perhaps be curious to have a description of this loft. It was a small erection over the kitchen, between the rafters of the house, in which you could not stand upright, and ascended to by a step-ladder. Of this, the old couple, the united bead of the house, had long had the undisturbed possession. I found it not easy to remove them ; so that for three years I never but once effected an entrance. I, in this, broke through the anxious direction of my kind superintendent. It was here, or in some place like it, that Mr. Ouseley caught the cold already described. MEilOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 183 Not only did Mr. Ouseley suffer from privations and consequent affliction, but also had to endure sore per- secutions. A few months before his late illness he suf- fered severely from a Popish mob, led on by a drunken priest. After having been inhumanly treated, he was, in the depth of winter, obliged to ride seven miles without a hat. Good jNlr. Hamilton describes this, and other things connected with their mission that year, in a letter to Jlr. Lanktree, an extract of which I subjoin : — '■ Such a year of pei-secution I never had. ' Cruel mockings ' are nothing, and showei"s of stones and dirt are but play ; but ' bloodshed and battery ' are no joke. Last Christmas we were waylaid, and robbed of our books. Ouseley was hurt, and lost his hat in the fray : he had to ride seven miles before he got one. I thought we should never leave the spot. It happened near EjTecourt, on the Shannon. We had preached there that day, and had a battle with the priest and his peo- ple. The priest beat my horse greatly, and the people dragged him down on the street, and I on his back ; but a soldier got me into the ban-ack-yard. Ouseley was hurt there too. The soldiers then got to arms, loaded their pieces, lixed their bayonets, marched out before us, and fonned a squai'e about us both on the sti-eet, until we preached to the market people. They then put us safe out of the town ; but never thought that our persecutors had got out before us, and lay concealed until we came up, and then surrounded us with horrid shoutings, as if Scullabogue barn had been on fire. At another time a big priest and I were in holds with each other as he was going to pull my Ouse- ley down : I could easily have injured him, for he was very drunk. 184 MEMORIAL OV GIDEON OUSELET. " We have penetrated as far as Kilrush, looking over to the county of Kerry. In several places we have a good prospect. Our circuit is near two hundred miles round. Weary work for poor me — full of rheumatism, with which I was confined for some months after con- ference ; and I cannot look less than five years older than I appeared then. ]SIy dear brother Ousoley is coming round from the county of Clare. We have divided for some time past. . . . We have no wonder- ful work this year, as we had about Ballina. We are very glad that we are alive, and the winter over. We have, indeed, a few places opened for preaching that I hope will lead to a good and lasting work. " In the church of Gort there is nothing sung but hymns and hymn tunes. Dean Foster's is one of our lodging places." The Irish Conference expresses itself in terms of strong affection to the EngUsh, at the end of this year, for their sympathy and liberality to the Irish mission : *' The joy you feel at the success of our missionaries greatly encourages us to persevere in this very arduous undertaking ; and we have the pleasure of informing you that three additional missionaries have engaged in the blessed work this year. Our beloved brethren who have retired from it were some of our most useful men, whose health declining under the fatigues thereof, were reduced to the necessity of returning to their regular place. To your kind exertions, and the generosity of the good people of England, (under (lod,) thousands of souls in this country are indebt'?d for the light of the gospel. May God reward you all a thousand fold !" Mr. Hamilton, when no longer able to endure the toils of that mission, parted from Mr. Ouseley vnth re- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 185 gret. He had from the first entertained a lively affec- tion for him ; he had proposed him to the conference to be admitted on trial, a fact to which he always ad- verted with peculiar satisfaction ; and now that he had been for years '■ his companion in tribulation, and in tlie kingdom and patience of Jesus Clirist," his attach- ment became more confirmed ; and to the end of life he cherished a fond regard for his brother and friend. When h? had reckoned what he terms his " eleven years of Sundays," he says, " Mr. Ouseley has been a blessing to thousands in Ireland ; and his zeal has stirred up many of the preachers to open their mouths wider. I am glad I had the pleasure of recommending him to travel about forty years ago. Our connection should value him very much." The numerous priva- tions and labors through which Mr. Hamilton had to pass, reduced his robust constitution, and brought on a speedier decline of his sti-cngth than ordinary circum- stances would have done. A long period, therefore, i was he laid aside from the regular work. But, though i incapable of slmring in the active labors, he for many jl years n aintained a useful place in the church of Christ j The high opinion the Methodist Conference enter- I tained of his worth, is seen in the testimony which is ' on record in the ]\Iinutcs with regard to him: — " He ]j was a faithful and successful laborer in the Lord's l| vineyard. For a considerable portion of that time he It was the companion of the indefatigable Gideon Ouseley !j and Charles Graham ; and while he shared with them i| in their arduous toils and trials, he enjoyed the privi- lege of witnessing many blessed revivals of religion} I' and participated with them in the joy of beholding sin- j ners turned ' from darkness to light, and from the power 186 MEMORIAL Ob- GIDEON OUSKELV. of Satan unto God.' Througli increasing infirmities he was, in 1816, compelled to retire from tlie regular work of our ministry ; but during the years of his compara- tive retirement he labored, as his strength admitted, in the service of his blessed Master, and was made a bless- ing to many in the several localities where he resided. Previous to his last illness, he wrote on a blank leaf of his Bible, ' Even now my soul is on the wing. I am very happy. I bless the day that I was born. AVhat hath the world to equal this ? I bitl its frowns and smiles farewell ; for " angels beckon me away, and Je- sus bids me come." ' Some of his last words were : ' If I could shout so that the world might hear, I would tell of the goodness and love of God my Saviour. Not a cloud ! not a cloud ! Victory over death ! The sting is taken away ; glory, glory to God !' He died October 8, 1843, in the eighty-second year of his age, and the fifty-sixth of his ministiy." Mr. Ouseley commenced his second year on the Galway and Clare mission not under very promising appearances. Mr. Wm. Rutledge was his colleague ; a gracious, prudent, and zealous young man ; but whose constitution was wholly unequal to the duties of that toilsome circuit. He followed his great leader ; " but not with equal steps." He was sometimes heard to say, " Why, Mr. Ouseley preaches more on his horse's back, as he rides on the way, than in all his sermons." He soon sunk under liis oppressive work, and before another year had closed he was called out of a world of suffering and toil, to where the " inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." This is briefly noticed in the obituary of 1811 : " AVilliam Rutledge traveled nearly two yeai-s; one of these was on the Irish mission, the severe labors Mi-jlOKIAL Ui (..lUhU.N OLSiiLEir. 187 ot" which bl•ou^ht on that nffliction from which he never fully recovered." Mr. Ouscley, notwithstanding great discouragements, which were inc reiised by the debility of his pious com- panion, pursued his course «ith undeviating diligence. He made Eniiis (the county town of Clare) his centre, from which he went forth, preaching in the streets of the principal towns, and the smaller towns of the ad- joining counties, not only maintaining the ground which had been already gained, but penetrating recesses, and exp'oring new places, to the extremities of that exten- sive district : and he rejoiced in witnessing great, and, indeed, unexpected success. Many favorable openings were presented to him ; some of minor interest, but others of great impoi-tancc. One of these secluded places, to which at this period he found access, was rendered interesting by an incident which may be re- garded ad not common. The spot itself is within a valley, through which runs the river Shannon. On one side are the rising hills, and on the other are the tanks of the river studded with trees, which, whUe they partly intercept the view of it, add considerably to the effect of the whole scene. Here stood a small village, «and not far from it, along the vale, some comfortable farm houses, occupied, for the most part, by Protestant families. In this serene region, so favorable by nature to tranquillity, it might be supposed that all was order and quiet ; but, alas ! it was quite otherwise ; the bulk of this rural population had received for " doctrines the commandments of men ;" and of them it might have been said, — " Wild as the untaught Indian brood The Christian Avages remain.'' 188 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OU6ELET. The word of the Lord was faithfully and successfully preached in this neighborhood; and in due tune a class formed, of devout and serious persons. In this infant society, as well as others, the principal difBculty was the obtaining of a suitable class-leader ; the person appointed for this purpose had to come on the Lord's day morning from a place several miles distant. This circimistauce, as well as the misfionary's appearance, raised the jealousy of the enemies of truth, who re- solved to extirpate this novel heresy. Several of them banded together for this laudable object, and one, more desperate than the rest, who had gained a bad eminence among them, was to lead on the Intended attack. He entered the house before the meeting coiimaenced, that he might at a fitting time open the door for the gang. The violent character of this in- truder was so well known by the little company within, that a suspicion was excited of some evil being de- signed. The hjTnn, however, was given out and sung. He said, "This is very purty ; I'll not disturb them." Prayer was made: he said again, "I'll let them alone till they have do!fe their prayers." The class meeting began, and Pat, for that was his name, took his seat among them, saying to himself, "I'd like to hear what they have to say !" The leader, who was a judicious man, met the class, leaving the rude stranger for the last, who, before he reached him, seemed under evi- dent emotion, when the leader addressed him to this effect : — " My good man, have you any knowledge of the things of which we have been speaking ? Did you ever feel yourself a sinner before God, and that you deserved for ever to be excluded from his presence ?" He roared exceedingly, from the disquietude of his MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 189 soul, and cried out, " Lord, have mercy upon me ! What shall I do ? I 'm a wicked sinner !" The whole meeting felt the unexpected shock, and their cries and prayers became general. In the mean while, the party without, who had already become impatient for the reappearance of their companion, and could not get in without forcing the door, paced back and for- ward, reiterating, " The devil's among the Swaddlers I" They litde suspei tcd that the strong man armed was bound and cast out ; and the man out of whom he had departed, " sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind." I knew liim afterward, as noble an advocate for the truth as he had been before a daring opposer. Burrisokane, in the county of Tipperaiy, was the principal place of which, this year, Mr. O. took pos- session. Having been informed that there was a very- destitute neighborhootl a few miles fi-om that town, where a considerable number of ignorant Pi-otestants resided, who were like sheep without a shepherd, he went in quest of tliem, and on his way stopped at an inn in Burrisokane. This occurrence took place about the Christmas of 1809; Mr. Ouseley inquired of the innkeeper, " Are there any Methodists hving in tliis town ?" He answered in the negative ; but informed him, however, of three persons of respectability, Messrs. Hackett, Holland, and Reed, who seemed more atten- tive to religious exercises than their neighbors. One of these had been connected wth the Methodist so- ciety, and then, with the other two, attached to the principles of the Baptists. He called on one of these, Mr. Wm. Haskett, whose house was soon kindly opened to receive the servant of the Most High ; and, 190 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. with that of Mr. Anthony Holland, became the home of the Methodist missionaries. These two good men, and their excellent wives, who were sisters, were among the best and most faithful friends and members of the society dunng their life. Mr. Ouseley writes, some time afterward, in a letter to Dr. Coke :— " Our principal Avork is still in the county of Tippcrary. "When I went alone, in the name of my God, into the town of Burrisokane, last Christmas twelvemonth, there was no Methodist in the place but one, and he a Baptist: nor did I know a single person in it. I was told it was a most wicked place, in which very many efforts to preach the gospel had been bafHed." After repeated visits of himself and his colleague, he determined on forming a society. Accordingly, on Easter Monday, 1810, accompanied by his friend and brother, the Rev. Adam Averell, he took down the names of such as were seriously dis- posed. The number of those thus admitted on trial amounted to sixty. Some of those, as might have been expected, afterward declined ; but others became united to the infant society, so that in the July follow- ing, when I first visited this town, there existed in it a large and prosperous society. The coming of Mr. Ouseley at that particular time seemed quite provi- dential. The old church had been pulled down, the building of a new one not yet commenced, and the people in a state of spiritual destitution. With two or three exceptions, the whole town and country were in a deep sleep, from which none but the voice that wakes the dead could arouse them. Such -was the condition in which he found this people ; and while he earnestly cried out to them to turn to the Lord by MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELEY. 191 faith, and to do works meet for repentance, the power of God accompanied the word preached by his honored servant. The tnmipet gave no uncertain sound ; many heard and received with gladness the gospel in- vitation. Among the first-fruits of his preaching was Mr. Thomas Ballard, then quite a youth. He saw Mr. Ouseley mounted on a table in the street, preaching to a crowd, and was attracted to the spot, at first from curiosity, but soon the word preached came home with power to his heart, and his young mind becoming deeply affected with a sense of his condition as a lost sinner, ho cried out, " What shall I do to be saved ?" These early impressions were not transient, like the morning cloud ; they resulted in his happily obtaining redemption in the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of sins, and eventually in the consecration of himself to the Christian ministr)\ Many others believed to the saving of the soul. Doors were opened for preaching, and societies formed thi-ough the surrounding country. Some of those who were then gathered in from the world to the fold of Chi-ist, " remain unto this pi'esent, and some are fallen asleep." The societies formed and edified by Mr. Ouseley were generally well grounded in the principles and discipline of our Methodist economy, and in the nature of pure Christianity ; and, if the character of the ele- ments be taken into accoiuit, would not suffer by a comparison with those churches wliich have been fos- tered by the honored fathers of our connection. As I became acquainted with these societies immediately- after their formation, I had an opportimity of judging 192 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. for mj-self ; and the opinions then entertained have not been altered by years of subsequent experience. There is no portion of liis life which has more im- pressed my mind with admiration for the man, and for the grace of God in him, than the part of wliich we have just taken a survey. Notwithstanding great dif- ficulties and discouragements, he proceeds onward ; nothing seems to impede liis course ; that which would have repressed the ardor of common minds, in his only seemed to inspire confidence, and give a new impulse to his energies. A great enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom was this year witnessed tkroughout Ireland, nearly two thousand souls being added to the society. The conference, in referring to this, says that this revival of the work of God " was partly hy means of our dear brethren the Irish missionaries, whom the Lord has made peculiarly successful in opening new places." But had it been accpiainted mth the peculiar and ex- traordinary efforts of Mr. Ouseley, such as immediately after came to my knowledge, it would very likely have given him a distinct place in the record. With a col- league physically unable to assist him, and an ah-eady extensive field to occupy, he regularly preached in the streets of the several towns through which he tra- veled ; still making advances on the kingdom of dark- ness ; attacking the enemy's strongholds, and achieving conquests through the power of the gospel, until he is led cxultingly to exclaim, in the language of the apostle, " Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place." Yours, &c. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 193 LETTER X. Mr. Ouaeley's third year in Galway and Clare— Obtains Ivo colleagues — Enteiing into Killaloe — Field of lalwr— Romish devotions at Kilmacduagh— His traveling to remote places— Two women grinding at the mill — Scene in the west — Studious habits of Mr. O.— Tilings the subject of his study— Metaphors appropriate — Sermon ia Limerick barrack — Out-door preaching varied — Villages — Assizes towns— Fields — BaUinevcn — Engaged in building preaching houses — Visits Connemara — Letter to Dr. Coke — Mr. Maberly— Rev. Adam Averell— Roman Catholic clergy contribute to the erection of MelhodUt chapels— Scenery of Lough Derg— Father Keating— Parish priest of Castletown A rra- Letter to priest Thayer— Mr. Ouseley in danger of being greatly injured by a stone thrown at him — Tour through Connaught — Controveray witJi fother Glin— Tumult in Loughrea— Persecution in Ballina— Assault in Westport, occasioned by father Judge — Curious encounter with a priest in Erris — Travels through the province of Connaught— Returns to Dunmote— Attempted persecution — Succeasfiil labors of Mr. O., for five years, in Clare and Galwny mission. My Dear Friend, — I have at length reached the time in the career of Mr. Ouseley when it became my privilege to enjoy a personal intimacy with him, from which I was able to form a more perfect estimate of his labors anil hi.s worth. The connection of his public life with the progress of the Irish mission has compelled and encouraged me to enter into it so much at lai-ge ; and I have purposely- delayed the notice of some things iu his movements and habits wliich, though iu themselves moi'e private and minute, are of importance to the entertaining of a correct judgment of his character, and which could be known only by one closely associated with him. To describe the public scenes of succeeding years would, for the most part, be but a repetition of those already acted ; I shall therefore only accasionally refer to these, unless where some incident was connected with them which renders them worthy of specitd notice. Anxiou.s to improve the advantage gained during the two preceding years, Mr. Ouseley strongly urged the necessity of a reinforcement of the mission ; and 13 194 MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELHY. the conference, not unfavorable to his design, granted him two young men, John Nelson and WiUiam Reilly, to assist him. Why the latter was selected for that arduous and peculiar service, unless on account of his Milesian name, I have always been at a loss to know. I received the appointment as from God; and still believe, however inadequate I was to the undertaking, it was in accordance with the design of divine Pro\i- dence. If in this part of the narrative there may ap- pear, more than is consistent, a reference to myself, it is owing simply to the fact of my personal connection with the mission, and my being so long associated with Mr. Ouseley in his travels and his toils. I may here be allowed to state, that such was the extent of this field of labor, and such the incessant attention which it required, that my excellent and valued brother Nelson and myself could not see one another for six months, and then we had to travel fifty extra miles for the purpose. From my retiring disposition, my want of gifts as well as gi-ace,my inexperience and defective knowledge of the world, I was but ill-(jualified for the work to which I was now called. When I had left home, and friends, and Christian associates, I for a few months ministered on the Carlow circuit — little more than a day's ride from the place of my nativity ; and there I mingled with some of the excellent of the earth, with an enlightened, pious, affectionate people. Here were many things favorable to the improvement of my mind, and much to soothe and encourage me in the work. But on the mission very different scenes of travehng and labor opened before me ; and often, over almost trackless wastes of moral destitution, I had to follow, or move onward with, a man possessing MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 195 " A soul inured to pain, To hardship, ^ief, and loss ; Bold to take up, firm to sustain, Tlie consecrated cross." My very advantages became sources of discourage- ment ; that which should have animated to enterprise, at first but served to furnish motives for despair; and, indeed, nothing but the great, unseen power of God, could have sustained my mind in a work so difficult and onerous. It is not my intention to impose on you the task of reading any lengthened extracts from my journal, though occasional reference to it may be al- lowed : and here some brief reminiscences of the first few days will at once afford some notion of the mission field, faintly depict my emotions in my novel situation, and exhibit the first impressions made on my mind of the character of Mr. Ouscley. I started from Dublin on AYednesday, the 18th of July, with instructions from my superintendent to preach in Burrlsokane on Sunday morning, the 22d, and on the evening of that day eighteen miles further on, in the town of Killaloe. I reached Roscrea on Saturday evening, where I had the pleasure of meeting the Rev. Robert Crozier, a Methodist preacher pos- sessing gifts of a high order, and deserveilly and gene- rally beloved and respected by his brethren. He per- ceived my depression, coming, as he observed, to travel among the Shanavests and Caravats of Tipperary and Clare; and he soon, by his kindness and ingenuity, succeeded in cheering me. This timely and thoughtflil attention has not been forgotten by me. Mr. Moses Woods and Ixis excellent wife hospitably received me into their house ; and early next morning he assisted 196 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. me to prepare for my journey of thirteen miles. I reached Burrisokane in time for preaching at ten o'clock. This place has been already brought under your notice, as the scene of the successful ministrations of Mr. Ouseley, for the six or seven previous months. I had now the happiness of witnessing the character and spirit of this infant society, resembling, as it did, the church in primitive days, when " They all were of one heart and sou], And only love inspired the whole." In the evening I reached Killaloe, and there met my beloved and honored friend, Mr. Ouseley. Unfit as I was, after my long journey, I was obhged to preach. When the sermon was closed, Mr. Ouseley delivered an exhortation, in which he related his early Christian experience : That nineteen years before, his divine Master had taken away his intolerable burden of sin and guilt, which memorable event took place in the middle of May, 1791 ; and three months afterward, to use his own language, his " great Prince, who sits upon the throne, said, 'Behold I make all things new.' " It was pecidiarly interesting to me, that the first public address which I heard him deliver on the mission should embody his ovm experience, expressed, as it was, with a tenderness which produced the most hallowing effect on his congregation. This town is pleasantly situated on a rising ground on the western bank of the Shannon, near the noted " Falls of Killaloe," about a mile from Lough Derg ; and is connected with Ballina, county of Tipperary, by an ancient bridge of nineteen arches. Mr. Ouseley's first visit to tliese parts I should have noticed at an earlier period, but that my sixth letter, where, in order MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 197 of time, it should have appeared, has been already too much lengthened by details ; and J, deemed it better to reserve the account of it for this place. In the summer of 1801, Mr. Ouseley rode into town with ISIr. Graham, and, as their custom was, on the Lord's day they attended tlivine service in the church, at the close of which they retired, mounted their horses, with their black caps on, took their stand where four streets met, and just in the place whither, after mass, the Roman Catholic congi'egation generally resorted. They first gave out their hymn in English, but per- ceiving some indications of uneasiness among the people, they turned it into Irish : almost instantly the multitude became as still as night, and continued 80, while, for an hour and a half, the missionaries preached with great power. IVIr. Ouseley's discourse was overwhelming. The whole congregation seemed pierced to the heart : many groans were heard, many tears were shed, and eternity- alone shall disclose the results of that day's preaching. Several of the Roman Catholics, who until then had not heard the joyful sound, were brought under the saving intluenee of the gospel ; and, had it not been for counteracting and hostile agencies, scores of converts would have been, it is believed, the visible fruits of that one day's ministration. Those of the Roman CathoUcs who had become favor- able to the truth were soon subjected to bitter per- secution, and for the most part shrunk from the dan- ger ; while those who remained at all firm were cither secretly or forcibly driven into banishment, so as to place them beyond the reach of the gospel and the heretics. A year after this, the missionaries again visited this 198 MEMORIAL 01' GIDEON OUSELEY. town. Mr. Thomas Barber, of Cloughjordan, to whose kindness I am in^debted for the above account, and who then resided in Killaloe, met Messrs. Graham and Ouseley on the bridge, as they rode into town, and relates the following characteristic anecdote: — There were groups of people on the bridge. Mr. Graham rode on, but Mr. Ouseley halted, and pointing to a neighboring mountain, said to some of them, " Boys, what mountain is that ?" They replied, " It is the slate-quarry hill." He then said, " Are there good slates in it ?" " O yes, sir, very good." Then he preached a nice though short sermon on the words — good and very good. The preaching of these men of God was at this time also attended with blessed effects. Mr. Ouseley witnessed some of these results after many days. We had now a very good congregation on each side of the river, and though not a large, yet a good, society. On Monday, th.e 23d, I proceeded, in company Avith Mr. Ouseley, to Ennis, the principal town of the county of Clare, and the centre of the Galway and Clare mis- sion. This opened new scenes and associations to me, who, until tlie last few days, had never been in Mun- ster province, and had not until then had any inter- course with Mr. Ouseley. The day was peculiarly fine, and the late rains after long-continued drought had produced an agreeable freshness in the air, which enabled me more fully to enjoy the conversation of my excellent friend. I soon discovered Mr. Ouseley to be, what he afterward appeared before the world — a man of varied and extensive knowledge, of profound and just thinking, of great and accurate observation, and MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 199 of much godly wisdom. Nor need I add that all these were combined with ardent love to Christ, inflexible regard to truth, and intense zeal for the salvation of immortal souls. Such, however, were the impressions made on my mind during my very first day's traveling with Mr. Ouselcy. At tliis time the Leitrim regiment of militia was quartered in Ennis. Many of the ofiicers were favorable to Methodism, and several of the non-commissioned officers and privates were in our societj'. A gracious work was among them, and not a few, through the ministry of Mr. Ouseley, had been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. This was most favorable to our infant cause in that town ; it served to give con- sistence to the society ; besides that the presence of the military gave us much greater facility and security, in preaching in the streets. Mr. Ouseley was peculiarly interested for men in the army, and seemed to think that they had a more than common claim on his regard. It was by some pious soldiei-s in the barrack of Dun- more, that the Methodist preachers, in the year 1791, were invited to that town, by means of which the gospel was first brought to his ears by Messrs. Thomas Davis, David Gordon, &c. At that time, too, he be- came acquainted with Quarter-master Robins, of the 4th dragoons, who, though but a private member in society, was made a great blessing to him in the incipient stages of his religious experience. " He was, in the hand of God," says Mr. Ouseley, " the instrument of leading my mind to serious considerations, which, blessed be God, issued in my conversion !" These cir- cumstances, no doubt, gave an additional motive to the mind of Mr. Ouseley in favor of soldiers, and made 200 " MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. him the more anxious to preach to them the word of life. In Ennis, on this occasion, I was first introduced to Mrs. Ouseley, from whose acquaintance, for several years, I derived no small advantage. Thursday 26th, after spending three happy days with my friends liere, I commenced my plan of traveling, and went to a place about eight miles distant, not far from the town of Corrifin, to one of those recesses discovered by Mr. Ouseley. Lonely, and heavy at heart, I rode through a country rude and uninviting ; the rocks wliich presented themselves to the eye, almost unrelieved by any cultivation, resembling but too truly the moral sterility which was spread around. It was not until now that I felt the full pressure of my situation, my total want of qualification for such an onerous under- taking as that on which I had entered. The thoughts of home, and Christian associates whom, some few months before, I had left; and of the societies on a regular circuit, among which I had for some months previously labored — all rushed into my mind ; and the suggestions of the great enemy, in connection with the spiritual desolation which surrounded me, well nigh overwhelmed my broken spirit. My heart was wrung with anguish ! I wept aloud, and cried out in accents of real distress, " O, sin, sin, what hast thou done ! How hast thou, not only riven those tender bonds which endear social life, but spread misery and death throughout the world ! But ' a necessity is laid upon me ; yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the gospel !' " I heard once more the blessed invitation of my Lord and Saviour : " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I humbled MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 201 myself — cast myself on liis unchangeable love and power — and, "coming as at first I came," I found rest to my soul. In a short time after this conflict I reached my destination, and preached to a goodly number, who ardently longed to hear the ^vord of life. Here too a small society was formed of members who ■were " as lights in a dark place." Friday, 27th. In passing the celebrated Kilmacduagh, on my way to Gort, I was attracted by a great crowd of people in irregular movement, at a short distance, about the ruin of an ancient monastery. I turned to see what, to me, at first seemed a tumultuous assembly ; but by perceiving a bush that gi-ew near a well on the road side, covered with old rags and shreds of cloth, of a variety of colors, I became aware that they were con- gregated for a religious purpose. "RTien I rode up to the place, such a sight was presented to my eye as I had never beheld : men and women promiscuously, in the most indecent and unbecoming manner, walking on their bare knees, over rough gravel and stone ; their hands clasped over their heads, lest they should in their progi'css derive any assistance from them ; while you could have traced theii' track by the blood that stream- ed from their mangled knees. I turned with a sick heart from the revolting and disgusting spectacle. In another stage of the penance there were some running round the extensive ruin ; while others descended into a narrow cell as a purgatory, not unlike that described in Lough Derg. At a distance, on the plain, stood the stump of a large tree, which had been for the most part cut away piecemeal, as afibrding a charm against every evil. Such are the frightful supei-stitions by which myriads in our unhappy country are deluded. As the 202 MEMOXUAL Ul- GJDEON OUSELEY. views which they entertain of the virtue of these ob- servances will be best explained by one of the most shrewd and knowing among themselves, I shall set down a conversation which took place at the time between myself and a person who, for his superior sanctity and devotion, had been raised to the office of public in- structor of those persons engaged in these mortifica- tions. He was a proficient in everything connected with the rites of Kilmacduagh ; and he kindly tender- ed his services to me as imj guide. After he had led me over the whole ground, the dialogue commenced : — Missionary. You seem very well acquainted with the nature of these religious performances. Guide. Yes, indeed I am. Missionary. Will you be kind enough to inform me why those people expose themselves thus, and are cut- ting themselves in such a frightful manner ? Guide. O, for penance; for the benefit of their souls. Missionary. What is the cause of so much of that tree yonder being cut away ? Guide. I'll tell you: the saint of this place, IVIac- duagh, traveled round the world on his knees till he came to a place below there, [pointing to the spot,] and there a girdle, he had round him, fell off; there was a tree standing there which received such viilue that a bit of it would preserve from sickness and accident, and, if thrown into a house on fire, would put it out. Missionary. And where is that tree now ? Guide. 0, it 's all cut away. Missionary. Did it then transfer its efficacy to the one which they now arc cutting away ? Guide. When the first one was all gone, why, they -MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUfeELEY. 203 began at the other. Do, sir, take a piece of it with you ; it will keep you from all harm ; nothing can ever happen to you while you have it about you ; nor can any house be burned where it is. Missionary. Thank you; I shall not mind it now. You seem so very well acquainted with these perform- ances, I suppose you have been frequently engaged in them yourself; have you? Guide. Not as often as I ought for myself; but I often have to perform penance for other people. Missionary. How is that ? Guide. A\'hy, when any of them ai-e sick, or theii- children sick, they make a vow to the saint, that if they recover, they w^ill go through so many rounds here ; then, when they don't like to go through them themselves, they get me to perform their vows for them. Missionary. Do they not pay you for thus pei-form- ing their vows for them ? Guide. O yes; if they didn't, there would be no virtue in the thing at all. Duiing this diiilogue, which, on the part of the devotee, was iutemiixed with several oaths, he fre- quently vociferated curses on such of the penitents as had not performed their rounds according to his in- structions. I expressed my unbelief with regard to a system so preposterous and unchristian : and, to add to the absurdity, where the principal actor, himself a pro- fane wretch, could perform works of merit and supere- rogation for the good of the souls of others. Ah '." he exclaimed, " you are not Irish." " Indeed I am," was the reply ; " I have never been in England." " If you are not English," he retorted, " you belong to them, 204 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. SO you do." I then administered some suitable admo- nition, and retired from the scene of moral degradation with sorrow and disgust. You will not, I hope, think these descriptions tedious, as they are given merely for the purpose of affording some outline of Mr. Ouseley's field of labor, and of the moral state of his countrymen, b}' which his pious soul was so deeply affected. To many of the places in this extensive district did he travel with me for the purpose of preaching in the streets of the several towns, and of introducing me to our friends in the preaching places, particularly in remote parts of the country, to which he had found his way. Many houses of respectable fai"^ mers were opened to receive the word ; and, in some instances, the mansions of the more opulent; but the cottages of the poor, and of the small farmers, had been searched out by this servant of God, and there to many he preached the gospel with power and great effect. From what I had conceived of the public life and labors of Mr. Ouseley, no leisure would have remained on his hands to pay attention to smaller places, or preach in remote country districts, much less form so- cieties there, frequently visit them, foster them, and build them up in the faith of the gospel. Yet he did all this with an assiduity and perseverance which sur- prised me. His rides were sometimes very long ; and any town through which he had to pass was sure to hear from his lips, both in English and Irish, the word of life. One day, in the beginning of our first year together, we had ridden several miles to one of the places above described, and halted in Ennistymond, a town near the seacoast, about fifteen miles from Ennis. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 205 Here he sounded an alarm; and after his having preached with great vehemence and power, we passed on five miles further to a remote neighborhood, and never tasted refreshment until the meeting was over at nine o'clock at night This was, however, uniformly the case in this place. There was nothing like a win- dow in the house : there was one broken pane of glass, a sort of irregular pofygon, stuck in a green sod, which served for a sash-frame, and this was the only means of admitting light into the apartment in which we slept. Next day we proceeded to a place, though more inland, still more remote from a town. We reached our des- tination earlier in the afternoon than we had on the day previous, and Mr. Ouseley, as was his custom, as soon as he sat down in our lodging, sung a hymn of praise to almighty God for preserving and redeeming mercies. Two women were the only persons then at home, the men being employed at some distance. The old provisions of the year had been exhausted; the potatoes not yet ripe ; and, to provide a dinner, one of the women went to the corn field, brought some sheaves of oats, scorched them over the fire, and, in a short time, we had a practical illustration of the divine word, ," Two women shall be grinding at the mill." About this time Dr. Adam Clarke gives the etymology of the hand-mills or querns, and states, " So late as half a centuiy ago I have seen these querns or hand-mills in these kingdoms." But here the Irish missionary and his companions were supplied with their dinner by means of the querns, in a remote district in the county of Clare. But far higher were the designs of the Christian missionary than to furnish matter for the antiquarian. 206 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. Hpre, and in many places like it, -were hundreds of immortal souls, wto would never have heard the voice of a gospel minister, if not sought out and followed to these remote regions, to show them the way of life. Before I call your attention to another pai'ticular in Mr. Ouseley's character, I wish to lead you to one more of these places whither the gospel was carried by the subject of this Memorial. Early in the autumn of this year, Mr. Ouseley directed me to a place in the west of tlie county of Clare, many miles beyond the town of Kilrush, and not far from the light-house at Loop-head. Passing Kilkee, than an inconsiderable watering-place, and touching on a small creek, on the strand of which were drawn up some fishermen's car noes, I advanced westward, on a road resembling a goat track, and found myself on the peninsula called the West, bounded on the west and north-west by the Atlantic, and on the south-east by the river Shannon. The land, rising before me and on the left, bare and mountainous, while the cliffs on the right, of ten'ific height and form, bounding the ocean, and presenting a bold and imposing aspect, wakened in my mind new and wonderful sensations. Nor was my surprise much less at the thought, how this retired spot could have been explored. I could not repress my feelings at the mo- ment, and audibly exclaimed, " O, Mr. Ouseley, Mr. Ouseley, how did you find out this lonely retreat !" Proceeding still further, I at length descried a neat cottage on the moor, a short distance from the shore, which proved to be my destination. The family it con- tained had received the word, and formed a little churcli in the wilderness. The solitary place was glad, and this spot in "the desert rejoiced and blossomed as the MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 207 rose." To tliese and some few more I ministered the word of life, with as pure delight as to the crowded congregation in the city. As evening approached I wandered toward the sea ; and, standing on the most elevated part of the cUft', I pondered on the works of an Almighty hand. But such a sight I had not anticipated. The evening was unusually fine ; all around tranquil beyond descrip- tion; and naught to break the silence of the hour, save the flapping of sea-fowl's wing, for the sound of the wave wliich washed tlie base of the cliff did not reach the ear. The sky was cloudless, and the azure vault was reflected by the deep profound. " When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene." All the visions of the grand and beautiful which in childhood had flitted before my fancy were here outdone. I lingered on the lofly summit until, with indescribable glory, as a mass of molten gold, " The setting sun adorn'd the coast, His beams entire, his fierceness lost." I retired under devout and thrilling emotions ; and, quite in keeping with the situation, a hammock, com- posed of gulls' feathers, suspended from the roof of the cottage, invited to repose, in which, after the diversified scenes of the day, I comfortably slept. But not all the wonders of nature, or monuments of art, since beheld, could efface the magnificent images impressed on my heart by the evening scene on the iron-bound coast of Clare. Next morning I returned by another way, across the peninsula, from the elevated parts of which I had 208 MEMORIAI- OF GIDEON OUSELET. extensive view of the KeiTy Mountains, and of the estuary of the river Shannon, which sweeps sixty miles along the banks of the county of Clare. On the right is Carrigaholt, a small seaport, near which I passed, in which, more than a hundred years ago, the Rev. George ^Vliitefield landed, and where he was generously and hospitably entertained by Mr. M'Ma- hon. This fact afl'ords a greater interest to the place than even the majestic and extensive view, or the ruin of the ancient castle of the M'Mahons, that once stood in proud defiance on the summit of the rock. During the years I had the privilege of traveling with Mr. Ouseley, I had frequent, if not constant, opportunities of witnessing his deep and habitu;J devo- tion of spirit. He was pre-eminently a man of prayer. His ardent zeal and vehemence in his public minis- trations were but the result of his private meditations, and his earnest wrestling with God for poor sinners, and for the accompanying of the Holy Ghost ; this, too, under the most solemn impressions of the mysteries of Calvary. Some of the most hallowed reminiscences associated with the character of that saintly man are those in which I witnessed his pure and fervent devo- tion. He made it a rule when we traveled in com- pany, (and sometimes we were several weeks together.) that when we retired we should alternately pray with and for each other, and for the work in which we were engaged. But his devout breathings when alone, which I often overheard, were most affecting. It was difficult on such occasions to determine whether the love of lost men, or the love of Christ, jiredominated. " gracious Master ! my gracious Master !" had generally an accompaniment of, " O poor lost sinners I MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 209 O my deluded countrymen ! O Lord, save my coun- try !" Often have I listened with deep emotion to these pious sounds echoing through the prophet's chamber. Mr. Noble, who was his companion on the mission for eight years, says : " Indeed Mr. Ouseley could not be satisfied in holding any meeting unless souls were brought to God. For this he studied, for tliis he preached, for this he prayed. Never shall I forget the exertions of this faithful man of God to pro- mote the glory of the Redeemer and the salvation of immortal souls. C) how often have I known this blessed man, when all the family with whom he lodged had retired to rest — how ofleu have I known him to spend hours together wrestling with God in ardent, mighty prayer for the conversion of lost souls ! And he would plead -(vith God, in great earnestness, ' If thy presence go not with me. carry us not up hence.' " Next to his spirit of prayer were his habits of read- ing and study. I know some persons have supposed that Mr. Ouseley's sermons were mere extemporaneous effusions, without any previous forethought; but unless when some passing circumstance occasioned a departure from it, they were generally the result of a preconceived plan. Little leisure in the ordinary way, indeed, was allowed for literary pursuits ; yet he was never idle. During a journey, whether long or short, he generally, if not uniformly, carried a book ; and it was his habit to read while on horseback : this, with a companion, at intervals gave rise to observations most instructive and agreeable. Sometimes he would have a work selected from the best of our old divines of the Church of Eng- land, or non-conformist churches ; Gallagher's Irish Sermons ; the Council of Trent, in Latin ; or his Greek 210 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Testament. Thus did Mr. Quseley redeem the time, and prepare his mind for the work in which he was engaged. When he reached his place, while he was instant in season and out of season with all the inmates, from the drawing room to the kitchen, he soon retired, (and his pen and ink were ever at hand,) to resume some piece in which he had beau engaged, or to com- mence a new subject. His sermons, too, were subjects of close study : not, indeed, the style or diction so much as the tliinfj^ wliich were contained in his dis- courses. When necessarily engaged in visitation, he seldom lost sight of the subject on which he next in- tended to preach. When in the city of Limerick at one time, soliciting subscriptions toward the erection of chapels, in the business of which he was then very much occupied, a respectable friend, Mr. Thomas Tracey, accompanied him. Jilr. Ouseley frequently in the course of the day spoke most impressively to those with whom he conversed, on the several topics con- nected with the new birth. He preached in the even- ing, and Mr. T. was one of his audience : the new birth was the subject ; and powerfiilly did he explain its nature, and urge its importance on those present. Mr. Tracey exclaimed, " I always wondered how jMr. Ouseley could get time to study his sermons. I am not now surprised ; for I perceive that wherever he goes the whole day, or however busily employed, he never fails to keep before his mind the subject on which he is to preach. No wonder that he is always ready to address a congregation ; for his thoughts arc engaged as if in his study." Ml". Ouseley was peculiarly happy and successful in the use of metaphors in the illustration of divine truth. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 211 These, however, by no means bore the mark of being studied ; they were generally, after the example of the great Teacher, drawn from some incident, or from the surrounding scenery. I shall refer to one occasion on which, in his discourse, he gave evidence of his peculiar talent in this way. He had been invited to preach in Limerick, at the barrack of the Sligo militia. My friend, the Rev. William Ferguson, who was then stationed in Limerick, was among his hearers, and has kindly furnished me wth an outline of his sermon. " The place and circumstances," says Mr. F., " made Mr. Ouseley's remarks peculiarly striking. It was in the barrack of tlie Sligo militia — the Shannon flowing under the windows of the room in which he was preach- ing. The text was Proverbs xxii, 3. After describing the prudent man — ichere he hideth himself — and his state of perfect safety, he proceeded to describe the character of the simple : ' A man without the know- ledge of God, and a stranger to the wisdom from above. He may be very acute in transacting the business of life — an eminent statesman, a profound philosopher, an eminent artist, or a distinguished scholar — but he passes on according to the course of this world, and dies unconverted. His punishment: — the place — the company — the dueatiox.' Then with more im- pressive emphasis he added : — ' If you were to count a thousand years for every drop of water that ever flowed in the Shannon, from Drumshambo* to tlic sea, it would be but a point, when compared with that eternity through which he will have to eijdure the wrath of God.' It made an impression on my mind," * A small town near the month of the Shannon, well known to his hearers. 212 MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Mr. Ferguson adds, " tbat can never be effaced. Most of his hearers were from the neighborhood of the town mentioned, about one hundred miles from the place where they were assembled — the mighty river flowing on under their windows to the sea in a continuous current : it had flowed for six thousand years — it was rolling on still. What an emblem of duration ! It was a most solemn and instructive sermon " Mr. Ousclcy never, if possible, let an opportunity pass which he did not endeavor to improve, whether riding on the way, or in company at the houses of our friends. I remember spending an evening in his com- pany, in the house of a friend in Burrisokane, where a large company were at tea. A young lady sat at his right hand, who had not discovered any indications of seriousness ; he turned to her sister-in-law, who was on his left, a person of piety and sense, and said, " Is this young lady born again ?" The lady replied, " She is of age, ask her." That moment the young lady was filled with deep emotion — cried to God for mercy, and tasted that the Lord was gracious. The whole com- pany felt under the divine influence; such, indeed, was his general mode of spending a social hour with his friends that these opportunities were turned into means of grace. Very often his occasional conversa- tions, as he traveled, were attended with similar gra- cious effects. One instance of this kind, Mr. Noble mentions. " On one occasion," says Mr. N., " as he was traveling in the county of Wicklow, and while his horse stopped to drink in a stream that ran across the road, Mr. O. saw a young woman standing at her father's door ; he went toward her, took her by the hand, spoke to her a few moments about her soul, and MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 213 at parting prayed that the blessing of the Lord might rest upon her. About two years afterward he happened to be in the country : after preaching in a gentleman's house in that neighborhood, a young man came up to him, and invited him to his house. The next evening, on his arrival, the lady of the house received him in the most affectionate manner, saying, ' Mr. Ouseley, I believe you don't know me.' He replied, ' No, my dear, I do not' She then recalled the circumstance above narrated to his recollection, and added, ' I am the per- son you addressed on that occasion ; up to that period I had known nothing of the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, but the observ'ations you made resulted in my conversion : I am now a married woman ; the young man who invited you is my husband, and is a class-leader. The Lord is with us, and is blessing us ; and we now rejoice to see under our roof my father in the gospel.' " I have not anywhere noticed any remark upon Mr. Ouseley's mode of out-door preaching in smaller places. From a variety of circumstances, he seldom arrived at an early hour in the day ; but time enough, if no chapel was there, to secure a house for preaching in at night : sometimes about the hour in which men were returning from field labor, and the villagers loitered an hour before their supper. At this time would Mr. Ouseley stand up, perhaps under the spreading branches of an ancient tree, "with seats beneath the shade," and give out a verse of a hymn, such as, — " Sweet muse, descend, and bless the shade." This, sung to a plaintive Lnsh air, would produce an inunediate movement to the spot ; and then would he 214 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. turn, perhaps, to a very favorite hymn, and sing a verse in English and Irish alternately. I set down a verse in both languages : — " Behold the Saviour of mankind Nail'd to the shameful tree ! How vast tlie love that him inclined To bleed and die for thee !" Feuchaidh air Slanuighthoir an domhan Fairneatha dhou cran go geur ! Naeh mor e'n gradh do thug e anuas Chum bas dfuUang deun go leir 1" He would then address the congregation in English and Irish. The effect would be generally very great ; preaching published for chapel, or barn, or dwelling- house, as the case might be ; and great numbers would flock to hear the word. In larger towns he generally sat on his horse — and though he passed through the crowd with his black cap on, not seeming to notice anything, he eyed everj'- thing around — placed himself before a shop-window — an apothecary's shop if possible, and the proprietor a Roman Catholic; and there he would preach as has been often described. Another thing is worthy of re- mark : — Mr. Ouseley endeavored to be in the county towns at the tune of assizes ; and on the Lord's day, after service was over in churches and chapels, he would stand forth, and to thousands of all ranks, of town and country, to lawyers, magistrates, jurors, yeo- men, and lower orders, boldly and affectionately de- clare to the multitude the free and full salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a part of his mode, wliich, as well as that mentioned above, though I have not seen noticed, I have often witnessed. Toward the MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 215 close of our first year, wliicli was wonderfully success- ful, Mr. Ouseley held a field meeting in the lawn of Ballineven, near Burrisokane, kindly given for the purpose, by our excellent friend James Wilson, Esq. Here, it was calculated, many thousands assembled, not only from the surrounding towns, and from every part of Lower Ormond, but from the adjoining coun- ties. I never since witnessed such a multitude at a field meeting. Mr. Clegg, from Cloughjordan, first preached, then ilr. Ouseley; and O with what effect! It was indeed in demonsti-ation of the Spirit, and of power." I closed that part of the service with an ex- hortation. You will thus perceive that Mr. Ouseley'a method of out-door preaching was as varied as the wants of the country required, and as the circum- stances admitted; suiting his endeavors to every case, and ever watcliful for new opportunities to run into every open door, and cry, " Behold the Lamb !" The work so increased, and the word so prevailed, that a growing demand was made for the erection of places of worship, as the temporary places obtained were pre- carious in their tenure, and, in some instances, incon- venient and small. This opened a new field of enter- prise for Mr. Ouseley. In eight several towns he pro- jected the erection of chapels, or the fitting up of houses exclusively appropi'iated to the worship of almighty God and the preaching of his holy word. Besides other towns of minor note, Galway, Burrisokane, Ne- nagh, Ennis, and Kilrush, required suitable chapels. Mr. Ouseley, in the spi-ing of 1811, received an in- vitation to visit Connemara, which, notwithstanding his incessant engagements, he attended to; and it soon became one of our stated preaching places. "I was 216 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. yesterday," he wiites to Dr. Coke, " for the first time in Connemara, a mountainous country west of Gahvay. I dined in company with a priest of rather good infor- mation, at the house of a respectable man, who, about two years past, gave over going to mass. The priest and I spoke gently on many doctrinal points in the presence of the family ; and I was, through mercy, enabled to maintain the truth without the least irrita- tion. I preached to three families, and some Papists, last night and this morning; they were all in tears. The gentlemen did not leave me last night till about twelve o'clock. They wished to lay an embargo ; but I came away in the midst of a great stonn, as I must, as it were, fly from place to place." More than fifteen years before, this country was visited by Mr. John Hamilton, (brother of William,) who was a most la- borious, zealous, and ardent preacher. His voice was very tender and pathetic ; and he seldom preached that the tears did not roll plentifully down his benevo- lent face. Mr. Hamilton's journej ings in Connemara were very exhausting, and sometimes his fare veiy scanty ; but he persevered in his work until he sunk into a low fever, in which he was almost destitute of care and ad\ice. The great Physician brought him through ; and when becoming conscious, and in some degree convalescent, he found himself in a hut, in which he had sought an asylum, lying on a pallet of rushes, with his feet toward the door. Soon his appe- tite returned, with scarcely any nourishment, save a mug of cold water laid by his bed-side by the humane hand of a poor woman. Just then, it is related, a dog came into the hut with a large fish in his mouth, which he dropped on the floor beside the bed. This afforded MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 217 a timely supply, and conduced to the return of his strength. What rendered this incident the more re- markable was, that the place was two miles from the lake where the fish must have been caught. Though I entertain no doubt myself as to this strange circum- stance, you may, of course, receive it or reject it as you tliink proper. Throughout the year 1811 the word of the Lord wonderfully prevailed on the mission, especially in Burrisokane and the surrounding neighborhood. In- deed, a blessed revival took place in all that country, and many new and promising openings were presented on every hand for the promulgation of the " glad tidings of great joy." In a letter to Dr. Coke, in April of that year, Mr. Ouseley states :— " Wc have more than one hundred and fifty, perhaps near two hundred, in so- ciety in Burrisokane, there, and about it, and six blessed class-leaders ; and about five hundred at times in our congregation. The most notorious offenders are, by the power of the gospel, reclaimed. Surely the desert blossoms as the rose. We are just about erecting a large preaching house there. I think we have nearly two hundred increase since conference; and in many places on our mission the people are call- ing- for preaching houses. I hope we shall have five or six, some built, and some beginning to be built, before conference. Thanks be to God who hath thus so blessedly opened our way, even in this small degree, in such a wilderness." While the parts of our circuit here referred to gave cause of great joy, there were other portions of it by no means so cheering. Though in the county of Clare many delightful indications of fruit appeared, yet, as a 218 MEMORIAL OP GIDEON OUSELET. whole, it was barren and unpromising. Of this Mr. Ouseley comjilains in his letter to Dr. Coke : — " The county of Clare is the worst ground for the gospel I ever met with ; but even there, in spite of opposition, good is done : even there we have sons and daughters born to God." The attempt to erect such a number of chapels throughout a district so recently reclaimed was no ordinary thing. In a work of such unportance it re- quired no small degree of confidence in the great Head of the church, and of self-denial and perseverance in carrying out the bold and pious undertaking. The friends of religion in England contributed very gene- rously to the design, and transmitted their bounty to the amount of £400 by the hands of the Rev. Adam Averell, the representative of the Irish to the British Conference. This not only formed a foundation for the purpose, but afforded a strong plea in favor of our interests with the friends of the gospel at home. Mr. Ouseley, in referring to it, says, " The money Mr. Averell has brought us from England has greatly en- couraged us." As the origin of the above generous gift is little known — indeed known, perhaps, only to myself — I shall briefly refer to it. We were indebted for this liberality to the spontaneous kindness of a gentleman belonging, I believe, to the Independent body. In the latter end of July, 1810, 1 reached the town of Gal- way; and in the evening of the day (Saturday) went to our preaching place. It was in a miserable back lane, chiefly occupied with herring stores : in the midst of these we occupied a kind of room like a cellar, a most filthy, disagreeable situation. In the congrega- MEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELET. 219 tion appeared an elderly gentleman, evidendy of great respectability. He proved to be a Mr. Maberly from London, whose son, who had been connected as partner in an extensive mercantile house, had lately died ; and Mr. Maberly was there for the purpose of arranging his late son's affairs. "VMien our service had closed, Mr. Maberly, in a ver}' kind and polite manner, intro- duced himself to me. He said most emphatically, " Mr. Reilly, this will never do. The Methodists of Galway must have a fit place for the worehip of God. I am not a Methodist ; I am a dissenter ; but I will, on my return to London, speak to some of my friends, and I think I shall get something to assist you in building a suitable chapel." ]\Ir. Maberly was faithftxl to his pro- mise. Lnmediately on his return he obtained £250, and handed it to Mr. Averell, who was then at the London Conference. Mr. Averell obtained £150 in addition, and b}- that means was able to remit to Mr. Ouseley £400. By the time the chapels, eight in num- ber, were finished, they were found to have cost £ 1 ,300 ; the other £900 being raised by subscriptions, chiefly throughout the province of Connaught, in about two years. Xew scenes opened to Mr. Ouseley in consequence of this undertaking; persons and places were now visited by him that otherwise he would not have seen, anil innumerable opportunities were afforded him for preaching the gospel to many who could not in ordinary cases have had the privilege of hearing it from his lijis. He sometimes said, " It falls to my lot to offer the people that which they don't like to take, and to ask from them what they don't like to give." At the conference of 1811, Mr. Ouseley had three colleagues 220 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. allowed him, by which means he was able to devote more time to this special service ; and by this accession to our number I was enabled to give him some assist- ance in the work. All kinds of people, and all classes of religious society, contributed to the funds for the erection of Methodist preaching houses. The Pro- testant gently and clergy freely subscribed, with many of whom Mr. Ouseley had considerable influence ; and, strange as it may seem, many Roman Catholics, and several of the clergy of the Church of Rome them- selves, were among those who aided him in this enter- prise. In the town of Gahfay a remarkable stretch of liberahty was manifested by the priests on this occa- sion. The Roman Catholic warden subscribed a large sum, and appended to his name a strong recommenda- tion to his clergy and people to follow his example. This is a fact worthy of particular notice. The reve- rend gentleman gave as a reason for his conduct, that it would prevent Mr. Ouseley in future preaching in the streets. This affords no mean proof of the good effects of street preaching. I am willing to ascribe it to higher motives ; but to whatever cause it may be attributed, it was an extraordinary instance of gene- rosity. In other parts, too, the priests and some of the people contributed with surprising readiness to the erection of Methodist houses of worship ; and at the very time too that Mr. Ouseley was publishing his controversial tract against father Thayer. I shall make no remark on the character and style of the chapels built by Mr. Ouseley. Some of them stand to the present day ; and if others have been superseded by buildings of a superior order, very likely those would never have been built, nor had any occasion for them MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 221 existed, had not those been, in earlier times, erected by the pious zeal and toil of Mr. Ouseley. I have heard some complaints of the upper room in Galway. This house was purchased and fitted up at considerable expense; but no suitable site for a chapel could be pi-ocured for any money by ISIr. Ouseley. A dwelling house was offered for sale in Court-House Lane, then (before the erection of the present court-house) a verj- respectable situation. Mr. Ouseley on the occa- sion did the best he could. If now a more worthy and suitable place in which to worship God and preach his holy word exists, I rejoice ; but " let not him that girdeth on the harness boast himself as he that putteth it off." Mr. Xelson, whose ministrations are still gratefully remembered in that country, was removed to another field of labor at the end of one year ; a circumstance of general regret, and which ISIr. Ouseley also regretted : but obtaining two faithful, zealous young men, Messi-s. Edward Johnston and Cobain, he became reconciled, and their labors were made a blessing to hundreds. Mr. Johnston and I, in the absence of Mr. Ouseley, on the 21st of June, 1812, held our annual field meeting in Ballinevcn ; and the great Head of the church honored his own word, and many in the large assembly felt its gracious and enlivening power. Being a good deal engaged with Mr. Ouseley, in my second and third years, in assisting him in raising funds, &c., I hud many more opportunities of witness- ing his character and spirit. Sometimes ^se would meet at the most important places, and then separate for the purpose of visiting isolated districts, where there was any prospect of obtaining pecuniary aid. 222 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. Having, in the month of August, 1812, spent some days in the neighborhood of Mount Shannon, for the above purpose, I sailed with some friends from Cloon- rush, across that part of the river Shannon known as Lough Derg, to my friend, Mr. Franc is Kent's, of Garrykeunedy, to try what could be done in the county of Tipperary. The evening was beautifully fine, which contributed in no small degree to the effect of the delightful prospect which opened on eveiy side. It is impossible to give anything like an adequate delinea- tion of the various views afibrded in crossing this part of the river Shannon. The lough is in length nearly thirty miles, reaching from Portumna to within a mile of Killaloe ; and besides its several extensive bays, varying from three to four miles in breadth, bounded on the south-east by the Mountains of Tipperary, on the north-west by the Woodford Mountains, and on the west, at SkarifF Bay, by the craggy rocks of Clare ; presenting wild and beautiful scenery as far as the eye can reach. This evening we approached the Tipperary side, in full view of the ridge of mountains which stand in bold and striking contrast with the rich lawns, wood- ings, and deer-park, skirting the lake. With other objects which heighten the interest, are the pai-ish church of Castletown Arra, near the margin of the lake, and the i-uins of the ancient castle from which the parish takes its name, casting its shadow on the water. It is impossible not to be deeply interested in the survey of this noble, expansive sheet of water, with its castles, towers, and monastic ruins ; its islands, creeks, and bays; and the numerous beauties which MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 223 crowd upon the eye in this most picturesque and di- versified landscape. WTien, more than two years before this time, I first rode along here, and the scene suddenly burst on my vision, and raised my astonishment, there was no one through that extensive country who received either the gospel or its messengers. Now, thank God, there arc many who hear and believe, and two most respect- i able houses which receive the messengers of the Lord Jesus ; some Roman Catholics converted ; a most in- teresting society fomed ; and large congregations in two places who hear the word. A short time before this I was induced to pay a ■visit to the parish priest, father Keating, to solicit a I subscription toward the erection of the Xenagh chapel. Being introduced to him in his own house, when my name was announced, he exclaimed, " 0 'Rcilhj ! you , are, sii", a real Milesian. TMien I was in college, in France, I had two fellow-students of your n:une. One of them is now primate ; and here I am, a poor parish priest." Upon his understanding the object of my visit, he said, " Indeed, asthore, I will give you a guinea, on account of your name." " You act, father Keating, on higher motives," was the reply. " I could give you the money now ; but I want," said the kind tj old gentleman, "to see you again." I went; and he, P in the most affectionate manner, handed me the money, ' and wrote his own name in the subscription book. I He requested me to lend him some Methodist books. y I said, "Your neighbor, Mr. Caswell, has a good li- brarj', and can lend you any you require " He re- j plied, " No : I would prefer your own selection ; for I [ 224 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. •want to form a judgment for myself of your religion." Before I returned, he was no more an inhabitant of this world. There is another circumstance worthy of being mentioned, as it shows his freedom from the spirit of intolerance so prevalent among the clergy of tlie Church of Rome. Some of his tlock had been aw.akcucd under the preaching of the word, and es- pecially one lady of respectability ; which gave great alarm to his coadjutor, a Mr. Harty. The latter came to him, and said, " There now — what will you do ? Your whole parish are going after the Swaddlers. There is Mrs. K , the most respectable woman in your Hock, gone too." The good old man said, "And what would you have me to do ?" The other replied, " Denounce her from the altar." '• Muisha, then," he said, " I '11 not denounce her, or any one else. Let the decent ivoman go where she likes." In the mean while Mr. Ouseley pressed very urgently his arguments on fother Tha} er. God in his provi- dence overruled the folly and presumption of an American Romish priest, who arrogantly challenged the whole Protestant Hterati to answer his arguments. Mr. Ouseley not only replies in defense of truth, but by aggressive warfare enters into the enemy's stjongholds, routs his ill-fated antagonist, and leaves him no place on which to set his foot. Thayer died shortly after, and it was stated to me, by a Limerick gentleman of respectability and piety, that there was no question his death was occasioned by the mortifi- cation endured by his defeat. Be this as it may, Mr. Ouseley's great work, " Old Christianity," took its rise from this beginning ; and but for the knight-errantry of father Thayer, might never have had an existence. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 225 The work became enlarged from time to time by a variety of circumstances ; generally, when by some temporary illness he was laid aside from his public labors, his pen, when at all able to employ it, was ever ready ; and then would he, to use his own words, "amplify it a little," and produce new arguments in that important work. AMien unable at any time to exercise his public ministry-, he would look so tranquil, and even pleased, and would say, " The gentle hand of my Master is upon me, that I may do something for him with my pen." In the early part of the year 1813, when he got out the second edition of his work, he was so afflicted with a pain in his eye that he could neither preach nor write. He stopped in Limerick, I at the hospitable house of his kind friend, George ' Evans, Esq. While there, two young ladies, one a daughter and the other niece of IVIi-s. Evans, prepared, ' under his direction, his papers for the press, until, if ■ they did not become adepts in polemical divinity, they Ij at least felt perfectly satisfied as to the validity of Mr. )! Ouseley's doctrines. They, however, thought that as ]| they had received such a plenaiy application of ex- I treme unction, it was hardly consistent to detain them j so long in the pains of purgatory. Although the first letter did not exceed forty pages, this second edition reached one hundred and forty pages. On the third of May, 1812, Mr. Ouseley narrowly escaped being dangerously hurt. We met in Ennis, jl and after I had preached in the evening he went to j the stable, to another part of the town, to look after our I horses. Some persons intent upon injuring him watched I his return ; the night was rather wet, and Mr. Ouseley providentially held up his umbrella ; a stone was I 226 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. thrown at him with great force and precision, but in- stead of liitting his head, as was intended, the handle of the umbrella prevented, and his thumb which was on It received the blow, and was laid open from the top to the joint. He calmly said, " Thank you; you have drawn my blood at last." They ran off, and ho proceeded to Mrs. Lloyd's, where, with some friends, we spent the evening. A gentleman present wanted to pursue the assailants, but Mr. Ouseley would not permit it : and, although the incision was exceedingly severe and painful, he rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer persecution for the name of Jesus. By a very remarkable interposition of divine pro- vidence the offender was soon discovered. He was a fine-looking young man, an apprentice to a carpenter, who at the time was employed by Mr. Ouseley in build- ing our chapel. This rendered the assavxlt the more unaccountable. Some few days after this occurrence, the young man went to bathe in the river Fergus, and standing on the wall, which bounded the river, from which he was accustomed to take a pluuge, a stone rolled under his feet in making the attempt, and he fell on his stomach; immediate inflammation set in, and, in a few days, he died in the utmost agony. His associates in the late attack disclosed the affair — he •was the person who aimed the blow at the head of God's servant. We said nothing of it, but the people generally drew the moral; and Mr. Ouseley passed unmolested the rest of his time in Ennis. Two instances of a like fatal nature took place in other parts of the mission — one in O'Brien's Bridge, and another in Barrisoleagh — the circumstances relating to MEMORIAL Ol' GIDEON OTJSELET. 227 which would be too tedious for this place. " Ven- geance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Mr. Ouseley went on his way to the close of the year, " offering the people what they did not like to take, and asking from them what they did not like to give," but succeeding wonderfully in giving and re- ceiving, until, on the one hand, many were enriched with gospel blessings; and, on the other, many con- tributed largely to the work of the Lord. According to the direction of the conference, Jlr. Ouseley visited all the counties in Connaught, and parts of Munster, Leinster, and Ulster ; and in his course preached everj'- where, and solicited pecuniary aid in the work of his great Master, in which he was engaged. It supplied many incidents of a most interesting kind, and ex- hibited Mr. Ouselcy's character very often in some new and striking feature, as he came in contact with a variety of persons. On Wednesday, December 9th, he proceeded on hia tour through the province of Connaught, after jjreach- ing in Birr two or three times ; and on Thursday, 10th, reached Eyrecourt, where he preached. I had to accompany him in this journey, which was one of great interest, and afforded many incidents. We were invited to breakfast on Friday morning, by a magistrate, a relative of Mr. Ouseley ; but, some faioily affairs requiring !Mr. Ouseley's influence and presence, we were delayed beyond our expectation. We proceeded to Killimor, the residence of Mr. Hardy, and, as we could not reach the next place before a late hour, Mr. Ouseley was prevailed on to remain for the night. 228 MEMORIAL OF GIDEOn'oUSELET. Jlist before the family went to tea, a taD gentleman, of vciy marked, intelligent countenance, entered the room ; but it was evident, from his appearance, that his constitution was impaired. His outside coat hung loosely over his shoulders, and he, by his whole man- ner, seemed on a familiar footing with the family. He was no other than the Rev. father Glin, the parish priest; who, as is the habit with many of his order, among respectable Protestants, had cultivated an inti- macy with the family. He very soon gave indications of dissatisfixction at seeing the missionaries there ; and not knowing Mr. Ouseley, he threw down the gauntlet, already imagining himself secure of victory. He said, " It would be a very desirable thing if there were a convention of representatives from all the states in Christendom for the purpose of settlin^the faith of the world, and giving the true sense of Scripture ; and not to have every tinker and tailor that pleases stand- ing up as an interpreter of the word of God." This was too plain to be misunderstood ; and although Mr. Ouseley said, "Indeed, sir, if this could be accom- plished, it would be a very desu-able object," I was aware that there was something in store for the priest, of which he had no anticipation ; and, wishing to give Mr. Ouseley time for the defense, I showed some rea- sons for my dissenting from the opinion advanced. He replied, "It is impossible, sir, that the judgment Ibrmed by such an assembly could be anything but infallible." Mr. Ouseley then commenced his attack on the system of Popi.sh infallibility already existing, and which had stood for centuries. " I feel," he said, " strong and increasing objections to that system." The other inquired, "To what part of it, sir?" "I MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 229 shall," says Rlr. Ouseley, " begin with extreme unction, ■which is no Christian sacrament according to your own definition." He replied, " O, my dear sir, was it not taught by St, James as having been instituted by Jesus Christ?" Mr. Ouseley repUed, "Xo sir; you are aware that, in order to its being a sacrament, it should have been instituted by Christ ; and so was the Council of Trent at a loss, that three hundred bishops, with the pope at their head, could not find a single woi-d of our Lord to sanction its institution. Lest you might suppose me arguing unfairly, I'll quote the words of the Trent Council for you : ' This holy anointing of the sick is i^jstituted, as it were, a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament : hixted at indeed by Christ our Lord, in St. Mark, but recommended and promulgated by the apostle St. James,' &c. And thus you build the doctrine on a mere insinuation, (insinua- tu7n.) Besides, you say it is necessary to salvation, and at the same time not necessary ; for it is forbidden to such as have not come to the use of reason ; and if a man be about to die under the sentence of the law, he cannot receive this sacrament. Therefore you can- not believe it divine, when you say it is necessary and not necessarj'." Many other things he added until the priest, though possessed of considerable argumentative powers, was glad to change his ground, though, unfor- tunately for liis creed, to no better purpose. The next subject was that of half-communion — I need not dwell on their denying the cup to the laity — the doctrine of intention, &c. ; but these various topics are fully treated of in his " Old Christianity." So pressed was he at length, that he hoped to make his escape by exclaim- ing, " 0, my dear sir, if you were to see all the books 230 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. that I saw when I was at college in France, on that one subject — the real presence — you would be afraid to speak a word upon it all the days of your life." Mr. Ouseley rejoined, " My dear sir, there are some things which a child can know as well as an archbishop ; for instance, how many panes of glass in that window," pointing at a window in the parlor. " Poh !" said the priest, "that's a physical fact; any one can tell that." Mr. Ouseley retorted, "Is it not equally a physical fact that John the Baptist was not the son of the Vir- gin Mai-y ?" The priest said, " Very true indeed, sir." " Why," returned Mr. Ouseley, " is he not her son ?" " Because," said he, " John the Baptist was never bom of the Virgin Mary." " Could any man," said Mr. O., " that had never been born of her by any power ever become her son ?" " Certainly not," said the priest. " Could any thiny that never was born of her ever be- come her son ?" " Indeed I think not." " I have you now, my good fellow — can the corn which grew up last year, ground by the miller, baked by the baker, and consecrated by the priest, by any power of God or man become the son of the Vii-gin Maiy ?" " O," said fa- ther Glin, " all things are possible to God." " No," said Mr. Ouseley, " all things are not possible to God ; for it is impossible for God to tell a lie, or work a self- contradiction, which would be necessarily involved in the doctrine of your church. Besides, there are, ac- coi'ding to your own canon, tweh'e cases in which de- fects may occur in the eucharist — defects in the bread —in the wine — in the form — in the ministry, &c. ; so that, according to your own doctrine, it is utterly im- possible to know when there is a true sacrament. And MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 231 how can any rational being believe that the accidents to which the host is liable can happen to the Son of God ? It can be carried away by the wind, and totally disappear ; be devoured by an animal, by a mouse, or rat : a spider can be drowned in the cup ; it can be frozen. M\ on the ground, be vomited by the priest, piously swallowed up again, licked up with the tongue ; and the wine can, if poisoned, be poured on linen or tow, dried, then be burned, and the ashes buried in holy ground. Now, sir, permit me to ask, can you believe the doctrine of your own church ? Can any man in his senses think that any of the above occur- rences take place with regai-d to the true Chiist?" The priest was confounded, and said, " True enough, sir ; a great many people think that all things are pos- sible to God ; but he could not make this stick in my hand without two ends on it, nor make two hills with- out a valley between them." Thus he fairly acknow- ledged himself vanquished. The above conversation lasted four hours, and there- fore there can be no more than a brief summary of the ai^uments employed by Mr. Ouseley on the occasion ; and though the very expressions are for the most part given, I cannot account for the exact form of the argu- ment in every case. There is a note in Mr. Ouselej^'s book referring to this controverey. Next morning the priest came into the gentleman's house, and said to his !-(m. Why, master James, these Methodist preachers ;iri- queer fellows ; I declare I did not think that they WL-ie such men." The young gentleman said, "But what do you think of your own argument, father Glin ?" If it were not for the bit of bread," he replied, " I 232 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. would never celebrate mass as long as I live." This ■was no slight admission in a family in wliich he had sought to ingratiate himself! On Saturday, the 12th, we proceeded on our route through Loughrea. As we approached the town Mr. Ouseley suddenly reined in Ijis horse, and exclaimed, '• I f'oel as if the atmosphere were crowded with devils ; we'll be attacked in town." Before we reached the town Mr. Ouseley rode to the residence of a magis- trate in the suburbs, to request his protection through the crowd. The magistrate not being at home, he turned away, and meeting a military sergeant, he men- tioned to liim the apprehension he was under of being attacked by the mob as he passed through the town, and requested him to walk in company with us. He kindly consented, and turned with us toward the town. It was market day, and the main sti-eet, which is a long one, was exceedingly thronged from end to end, so that we were obliged to ride in single file. Mr. Ouse- ley did not attempt preaching; but the moment he made his appearance a most hideous yell was set up, which never fails in an Irish mob to prepare for the most ferocious acts: we rode on at an easy gait, for we could not possibly ride fast, having to pass through a dense crowd. Every kind of abuse and execration was heaped on the object of their hate by the vile mob ; and all kinds of missiles flung with the utmost fury at his head. At length we reached the guard- house, at which a sentinel was placed, and Mr. Ouse- ley halted, and, facing the crowd, turned his back to- ward the guard-house. It was in vain to expostulate with them on their savage conduct ; they still persisted in throwing everything they could lay hold on, until at MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 233 length a large cabbage-stalk hit the sentinel, and nearly- knocked him down ; he leveled his musket at the per- son ; the mob thinned, and drew back, and the fellow ■was made a prisoner, and lodged in the guard-house ; and, in the mean while, Mr. Ouseley and I rode off un- hurt Then the mob attacked the guard, and would Lave torn down the house had not their companion been liberated. We rode on to 'Mr. Cannon's of MiU- mount, three miles further, and rejoiced togethsr with our friends, at the great deliverance that God had wought out for us. And such an overwhelming power of the divine presence I have hardly ever witnessed as was then manifested. It certainly was one of the most memorable days I have ever yet seen : the awful pre- sentiment on the mind of God's servant — the frightful, unprovoked, and murderous attack of a furious mob on the man of God — passing through thousands of them without receiving any injury, and, at last, under the divine Providence, escaping unhurt.* We passed on to Galway against Sunday, and on Tuesday 15th proceeded to Tuam, where Mr. Ouseley preached without interi-uptiou in the street, and I afterward in the chapel. Mr. Ouseley went to Dun- more on Wednesday ; and I followed him on Thursday, and preached to a room full that evening, in his father's house, and had the pleasure of being introduced to * An account, which had appeared in a newspaper, is given by the Rev. James Caughey, in his Letters, which agrees in some of its cir- cumstances with what I witnessed ; but the attack on Mr. Ouseley is said to have taken place at tlie barrack of Loughrea. There may have been a second attack, but I have never heard of it. And there is some doubt tlirown on tliat version of the affair from the fact, that the barrack is some distance from the main street where tlie guard- house stood. The above is a literal description of the occurrence. 234 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. the old lady and gentleman, the mother and father of Mr. Ouseley. On Friday, 18th, we traveled to the neighborhood of Hollymount, and thence to Castlebar, Mr. Ouseley preaching in the streets as we traveled along. A little opposition to street preaching iu Castlebar, attempted by the mob, was soon put down by the magistrate. Here I received a letter from the county of Clare, informing me of a most disastrous event. Mr. Ouseley had found access to the house of a Roman Catholic gentleman of respectability, whose excellent wife was a Protestant, and who had trained two lon ely daugh- ters in the principles of the gospel. The gentleman himself continued a Roman CathoUc, and high in the esteem and confidence of the clergy. But soon after he heard Mr. Ouseley, his mind was opened to receive the truth, and he was too independent and ingenuous to conceal the change. The consequence was, that a systematic persecution was commenced against him : and by the hand of the incendiary his house, and offices, and farm-yard, were all burned to the ground; and himself and interesting family narrowly escaped in the dead of night, by flying in their night-dresses to the open fields ; thus in the depth of winter were they left to seek shelter in the ditches of their own land. It was too much for husband and father; his gi-eat mental powers received a fearful shock, and his reason for a short time reeled under the calamity, infhcted for no other reason, than for his having received and avowed the trutli of the religion of Jesus Christ ! Mr. Ouseley, on Tuesday the 22d, came to Newport; but his attempt to preach in the street was frustrated by the violence of the mob, and nothing of note « MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 23j occurred until we came to Westport, a beautiful town at the termination of the road from Dublin. I rode round it the day after my arrival, and was greatly struck with the picturesque scenery suiTounding it. Tlie approach from Castlebar is singularly fine, being adorned with the demesne of the marquis of Sligo, with whi-h his splendid mansion is environed. It commands a fine view of the Mountain of Croagh- patrick — the famous Rick : the lofty ranges of Achill and Erris, terminating in the stupendous Mountain of Xcphin ; and of Clew Bay, studded with inniunerable j islands. Here, in street preaching, a singular scene was ex- hibited. Mr. Ouseley, on Thursday morning, about eight o'clock, stood up in the market, in an open part where not much business was going on. Great num- bers ran to hear him ; and he preached with great vehemence in both English and Irish. Two priests took the alai-m, and, repairing to the place, endeavored to scatter the congregation, and in some degree suc- ceeded. They then retired, and Mr. Ouseley again commenced, and rallied the congregation. He cried out, '• My good people, don't mind these men ; they are like persons who utter base coin, and when an honest man comes into the market with his scales and weight, to j^rove that their money is bad, they don't like it/" He proceeded to show the congregation what the genuine doctrine of Christ was, which the priests, though sworn on the New Testament to believe it, endeavor to destroy. One of the priests, of the name of Judge, seeing the multitude reassembled, ran in among them, and wrenching a bludgeon out of the hands of one of the countrj-men, began most unmerci- 236 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEf. • fiiUy to lay around him, and dealt heavy blows on all the people. Mr. Ouseley then addressed father Judge in these words : — " That is it — that is the way to convince the reason of men, by a buille mhaide, (vaide.) the stroke of a stick." Again they were par- tially scattered, and again they were rallied, and Mr, Ouseley continued his discourse. But some man, par- taking the feeling of his spiritual guide, standing at a distance on Mr. Ouseley's right hand, seized upon a hard peat, rendered harder by the frost : I stood on a chair, on 'Mr. Ouseley's left, he standing on another chau' — I saw the missile coming, had not time to warn him of his danger, but stooped instinctively to avoid the blow, when it hit him on the right cheek and temple and nearly knocked him down, producing a severe contusion in the whole of the right side of his head. Though the priest succeeded in evading the ends of justice, he was soon called into the presence of the great Judge. There did not seem a second person in the crowd engaged in this assault: while many with great earnestness heard the word, one only, by the instigation of the priests, raised the hand of persecu- tion. Though Mr. Ouseley preached in every town, in the most public places, very little persecution was he called to endure. In BalUna he was in some danger. In the market of that town, in the beginning of January, 1813, we preached in the street; the spot he chose to stand on, was before the window of a respectable friend, Mr. Oram Lundy. I had first preached, and being greatly fatigued, sat down on the chair on which I had been standing. Mr. Ouseley's manner that day I shall never forget. He held in his hand the tract he had MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 237 ■written to father Thayer ; informed the people that the priest had been a Protestant, and was brought in his own countr)'-, America, to embrace the Catholic faith ; and then he comes over to Ireland to convince us all of the errors of Protestantism, and lead us back to the true church. "I "11 read his challenge for you," said Mr. Ouselcy ; and he read the challenge which father Thayer gives to all the Protestant clergy. "UTiile this was going on, thousands around seemed delighted, and hung upon his lips ; but when he laid open their reli- gion, and stated his own objections, some of them took the alarm. A largo potato was flung at him, but, in- stead of hitting the object for which it was intended, it came with great force against Mr. Bruce, who stood at Mr. Ouseley's left hand ; happily his head was protected by a strong hat, or the elfect of the stroke might have been very serious. Two daring fellows in the crowd, however, were determined to take the preacher down, Hnd one supplied his companion with anmiunition, while he other leveled a stone at the head of Sir. Ouseley. Fust as he raised his hand in involuntary action, the ;tone passed under his arm, and struck the lattice of tfr. Lundy's winflow, bent it, and broke the window nside. Mr. Ouseley, however, escaped unhurt, and ome friends who had been watching the assailants eized on them both, and they were soon lodged in ridewell. Mr. 0. was obliged to lodge informations, s he had in the case of fiither Judge, not for vindic- ve purposes, but to secure the protection of the law in le perfoi-mance of the duties of his important and icred calling. The men were admitted to bail; he •ho flung the stones absconded, while he who sup lied him with them was tried before the assistant 238 MKMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. barrister, at the quarter sessions, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment. Mr. Ouseley at this time passed into Erris, a penin- sula in the west of Mayo ; a part, at such a season, very difficult of access. There, for several days, he labored, as at other times, wth fervor and faithfulness. The Eev. Robert Bruce, who accompanied him in this excureion from the Ballina circuit, regarded it as a high privilege to be associated with Mr. Ouseley, for even a few days, in traveling and labor. He writes in strong and affectionate terms on the subject, and delineates with vivid effect some of the scenes which he on that occasion witnessed. IMi-. Bruce describes him as indefatigable in preaching Christ to all ranks of persons, and the effects to be most powerful. He says : " Accompanied by me, early in 1813, Mr. Ouseley went into Erris, where we remained for a -week. I had never been so long in his company before. His spirit and manner, his zeal for God, and his anxiety to bring souls to Christ, were the subjects of my observa- tion and serious reflection ; and I trust, not without profit. We stopped at Major Bingham's three days ; where he preached to that gentleman and his family, not only generally, but individually, with powerfid effect." The most remarkable incident during that visit was a rencounter between Mr. Ouseley and the parish-priest This scene was also witnessed by Mr. Fcely, then a sincere and intelligent Roman Catholic. IVL-. Bruce continues : " On Sunday morning Mr. Ouseley preach- ed in Major Bingham's parlor ; and, accompanied by the major and myself, proceeded to Bingham's Town. Father Jordan had celebrated ma.ss at the end of an MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 239 old house, and had gone into a shebeen-house to take his grog. A number of people strolling along the shore, and some standing in groups talking to each other, Mi'. Ouseley took his stand in a convenient spot, wth the major on the one hand and myself on .the other. While he sung two verses of a hj mn in English and Irish a large congregation assembled, and he addressed them in Irish. They seemed amazed ; and soon indications of deep interest were evident, the big tears streaming from their eyes, and the heavy sobs which were per- ceptible. All showed that the Holy Spirit applied the word to their hearts. In the mean while father Jor- dan came forth from the cabin in which he had been regaling himself, and such a scene took place as I shall never forget in this world. The reverend father began by driving the people away ; sometimes using Ms stick for the purpose. Jlr. Ouseley spoke to him on the im- propriety of preventing the poor people from hearing the gospel, when a desultory argument took place be- tween them, ]\Ir. Ouseley sometimes quoting Scriptui-e, and sometimes the Council of Trent, and sometimes the fathers. The priest soon reUnquished the con- test, and again used the stick to drive the people away. Mr. Ouseley cried out, ' Don't be surprised, my good people, at what this man is doing. He is sworn on the holy evangelists to prevent you from hearing me.' The priest denied it ; but said he did his duty in pre- veutmg his people from heai-ing heretics. ' O !' said 'Mr. Ouseley, ' you need not tell me. I know your I oath as well as you do yourself Then taking the I Council of Trent out of his pocket, he read part of it in Latin, and translated it into English and Irish, to the no small annoyance of the priest." 240 MEMOEIAI. OF GIDEON ODSELET. A Roman Catliolic gentleman in the crowd, a Mr. O'Donald, who had heard Mr. Bruce in his own house, and was very much pleased, was anxious to hear Mr. Ouseley, and said aloud, " We must hear what the gentleman has ta say. 'We will wait and hear for our- selves." The priest addressed him in a veiy angry tone : " Go home : you have heard mass ; that 's quite enough for you." The gentleman turned at the priest in the most contemptuous manner, and gave him such a reply as was suitable to the character of the holy father ; but, while it exposed him to the ridicule of all present, partook too much of the ludicrous to be inserted here. At the suggestion of Alajor Bingham, Mr. Ouseley rode across a stream at a little distance ; and then, in his usual style and manner, j)reached on, " Thou art Peter ; and on this rock I v;ill build my church," &c. The word was with powerful effect; although the priest in the mean while was beating an old kettle, in order to drown the voice of the preacher ; in which work, according to Mr. Feely, lie was aided by an itinerant tinker, who was there, selling his ware. ]\Iajor Bingham and Messrs. Ouseley and Bruce were all the time on horseback. In the evening Mr. Ouse- ley preached again in the major's parlor. " Thus ended," says Mr. Bruce, " one of the most memorable days of my life." Mr. Ouseley soon rejoined me ; and we isitcd several more towns in the western province — Sligo, Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon, Ballinamorc, Mohill, Strokestown, Elphin, Koscommon, Castlerea, &c.; and even for a short time proceeded into the county of Cavan, and for eight or nine weeks matters of great importance and intere.=5t were of daily occurrence. He visited MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 241 gentry, clergy, and bishops, on his way, and almost in every case met a generous reception ; and I have rea- son to believe that, through the blessing of his divine Master, his visits were not only gratifying but profit- able to the several classes of persons where he called, as were his pubhc ministrations in the numerous towns in which they were exercised. When we reached Dunmore, IMi-. Ouseley's presence was hailed by his friends ; but even here, where a little rest would have been requisite and natural, he must preach in the street. Standing at the end of an inn in the town, with his own father's residence in view, he delivered to a dense crowd a discourse, in Irish, of a full hour's length. Such a torrent of Irish eloquence I never before listened to. One man in the crowd endeavored to interrupt him, but he was soon silenced by Mr. Ouseley ; and the whole assembly was greatly affected. When we came to his father's, the old gen- tleman heard that some fellow had interrupted his son. He was ready to sally forth " to chastise the ruffian that dare, in his own town, to interrupt his beloved Gideon." If one week or day which Mr. Bruce spent in Mr. Ouseley's company was really so memorable, what effect must three years of Christian communion, and of associated labors and travels, have had on my memory and heart '? Some of those unpressions have already been faintly depicted ; but no language could adequately describe the veneration which I entertained for that singular man — veneration increased by every day's acquaintance, and blended with tender aflection, which time cannot efface. But the period arrives when a separation must take place. "WTiile I am ap- 16 242 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. pointed to a more limited sphere, Mr. Ouseley, after five years of almost unprecedented effort, and con-es- ponding prosperity, is removed to another province, to pursue a similar course of unwearied toil, and to wit- ness Uke gracious evidences of divine approval and success. Yours, &c. LETTER XI. Irish Conference of 1813 — Dr. Coke presides for the last time — Mr. Ouseley offerB him- Noble to be his colleague— Awakened under a sermon preached by Mr. Ouseley in Fintona— Many who were destined for tlie ministry converted by means of Mr. O.— Rev. William Copeland, Rev. James Hgrnc, and others— During- the first year Mr. Ouseley extends his labors beyond the prescribeil bounds— Obtains two more colleague* the second year— Labors very generally through the kingdom— Not confined to Ire- land—Visits England and Scotlaotl— Mode of preachin«r, the same as described, pur- sued with increasing success— Appointed several successive yeais as a general mis- sionary — Tours to the soutli attended with greol success — His liescripiiun of Philip Korke— Rebukes a priest at Manorhamilton — Travels extensively— Witnesses won- derful effects of the gospel— Preaches to great crowds in Eunislnllen— Narrowly escapes with his life from a mob in Killetter fair— Escape in the south of Ireland— lo Connaught— Field meeting in the county of Donegal— Rides twenty miles through incessant rain— Labors in Eniiiskilleii— Duiigiinnon— Monaghan— Supinciiess of the Dublin— Many real couverls who from fear dare not avow the change. My Dear Fkieni>, — The conference of 1813 was one of deep interest to the preachers of the Insh connec- tion. It was the hist time that Dr. Coke filled the pre- sident's chair. His mind was deeply impressed with the claims of India, so that he sometimes seemed wholly engrossed by the all-absorbing subject ; Buchanan's Christian Researches before him, his fore-finger em- bossed in his cheek, and at intervals crying out, "I am now alive only for India !" When the question, "Who will offer himself to accompany Dr. Coke to India " was heard in the conference, Mr. Ouseley was one of the first to volunteer for this new and arduous under- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 243 taking. He stood forth in the conference, with tears streaming from his eyes, lamenting that he had been comparatively unsucccssfiil among his countrymen, and that he believed he would be more useful in a strange land. Dr. Coke would have been delighted to avail himself of the offer of his friend as his colleague ; but the conference interposed. "Mr. Ouseley cannot be spared ; he has not yet fulfilled his mission in his na- tive country, and his place cannot be supplied on the Irish mission." In vain the doctor pleaded ; in vain the candidate for India urged, with tears, a variety of reasons why he should go ; his knowledge of the clas- sics gave him facility in learning languages, and that there was a great affinit}- between the Irish language and some of the languages of Europe spoken in Cey- lon, &c. The conference was inflexible, and over- ruled the determination. It will be seen, in the course of this letter, that the Irish Conference was under the direction of divine AVisdom in its decision, and that the providential sphere of Mr. Ouseley's future labors was Ireland. The next appointment of our Irish missionary was to the counties of Antrim and Londonderry ; but in reality a much more general field of usefulness was occupied by him than that nominally assigned him. And whatever restrictions seemed to mark his limits, nothing could control his indomitable zeal and deter- mination in going forth at large to preach the gospel throughout the land. And during the following years he was directed by the same hallowed impulse in his arduous enterprise ; and, as will appear, his labor was not in vain in the Lord. Mr. Ouseley's ministry was effectual, in numerous 244 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. instances, In the conversion of young men, who were themselves destined by Providence for the sacred call- ing, and who became able ministers of the New Testa- ment, not only in the Methodist connection, but idso in other churches. Mr, Noble was among the fruits of his early ministrj-. A short time after their appointment to the Idsh mis- sion, Messrs, Graham and Ouseley, with their Bibles in tlieir hands, their black caps on, rode into the town of Fintona, and opened their great commission to sur- rounding multitudes. Mr. Ouseley was the preacher on the occasion; his text was Rev. vi, 17, "For the great day of his wrath is come ; and who shall be able to stand ?" All heard with the deepest attention and many tears. A youth, about fifteen years of age, was by curiosity drawn to the spot, and was deeply struck with the appearance of that extraordinary man, while tears, mingled with perspiration, rolled down his face. At the conclusion of his discourse, and just as he was riding away through the crowd, he raised his voice, and vehemently cried out, " O Fintona, Fintona ! re- member that on the great day which I have been en- deavoring to describe, you will recall to mind that a man, sitting on his horse in the street, warned you to prepare to meet your God." The lad referred to was overwhelmed with a sense of his sin and guilt, cried earnestly for mercy, and soon obtained forgiveness, and a sense of his acceptance through the atoning blood. This was the person who was now appointed to share for seven or eight successive years in the toils and travels of his spiritual father. " The late venerable Gideon Ouseley," says Mr. Noble, " was my father in the gospel : and little did I think at the period of my MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 245 conversion, that the providence of God would have called me into the mission field, much less that I should one day be appointed by the conference as fellow-tra- veler with this faithful man of God, who had been the instrument of my conversion." The late Rev. William Copeland, about the same period, then a youth, was led to a saving knowledge of Christ by the same instrumentalitj'. By a street sermon of Mr. Ouseley he was brought under spirit- ual^ concern, which issued in his conversion, and sub- sequently to the consecration of himself to the Chris- tian ministry. He many years sustained a high place in the Methodist connection as a man of saintly cha- racter, and a distinguished minister of the gospel. On Mr. Ouseley's fii-st appointment to the Galway mission, the Rev. James Horne heard and received the gospel from his lips, and was always after claimed by Mr. Ouseley as his spiritual child. In one of his letters to the committee he does not hesitate to state this fact. Mr. Horne has long been a useful missionary in the West Indies. Many more might in like manner be named, who, in after years, were through his means made the ministers of grace to others; and some clergj-men of eminence and distinction in the Esta- blished Church received their first religious impres- sions under the ministry of Mr. Ouseley. During 1813, and the three or four succeeding years, the Irish missionarj' extended his labors and travels far beyond the bounds prescribed ; and so convinced was the conference of the value of his exertions in this ex- traordinary way, that he was granted two additional colleagues, and the year following, three ; so greatly grew the word of the Lord. By verj- strong argu- 24:6 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON ODSELET. ments, Mr. Ouseley shows his peculiar call to the Irish generally, and supplies many instances of undeniable evidence confirmatory of his views on this important subject. " I have left Messrs. Kidd and Johnston on their station, Mr. Noble and I having resolved to take the kingdom at large, and preach in the broad places thereof — even in the open streets." So intensely was he engaged in pursuit of the great object, that sometimes he would, in distant places of the kingdom, continue in incessant labors during six months without being more than one week at home. " On the 11th of May," Mr. Ouseley remarks, "I had to lay by my pen before I could close my letter, nor could I take it up again, with preaching, long journeys, &c., till I have at length reached home, not having spent more than one week in all with my dear wife since November last till now, nor ha-(-ing seen her but twice in all that time ; for the work of the Lord so in- creased on every hand that I could not spare time, properly speaking, for anything else but to attend to it. I have been always of opinion, that if I would do good to the Roman Catholics, while my health con- tinues, and as I speak in the Irish tongue so much, there is no better plan for me than to travel through the kingdom as extensively as possible, and to preach all I can, without and within. Thus I come to them unexpectedly, and they hear quietly before the priests can have time to warn them. This has so well suc- ceeded this year that more Roman Catholics have been awakened, and joined our society since last conference, than I have seen for five years together. Even since I last wrote to you, in January, about twenty have joined in my course." MEMORIAL OF GIDEOX OUSELEY. 247 The prosperity attending the extraordinary labors of Mr. Ouseley had been so remarkable, and the pros- pects were so cheering, that the conference was anxious to have the opening everywhere, if possible, entered, and therefore directed that he should, at this time, take an extensive range, not only through the dark places of the earth, but among our societies throughout the kingdom. "Wherever he went his presence was hailed by his brethren, and in every place God vouchsafed unequivocal indications of divine approval. Mr. Ouseley visited the counties of Wex- ford and Wicklow ; and in the towns where I then labored, the visits of this servant of this Lord were attended with unprecedented success. In a letter to Mi\ Ouseley, about this time, I stated my views of the work, which I may here be allowed to quote : — " Xothing can exceed my astonishment at the work in Arklow and Wicklow, &c., since you and brother Noble were there. The most extraoi-dinary conversions which I have ever seen or heard of, have taken place in this country. The subjects of this work, of course, are various ; some very respectable, some abandoned, one atheist, and some most singidar persecutors, have been convinced, converted, and saved from sin ; and some of our old professors have been sanctified. Jehovah smiles over all the land, ' the wilderness rejoices and blossoms as the rose.' " Mr. Ouseley visited these places again with like results. The whole south of Ireland was wonderfully affected ; and every part where he visited the good Lord accompanied his word, untO, according to his o>vn account, not less than two thousand, from Novem- ber to May, were added, by his instrumentaUty, to the 248 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. Methodist societies. Mr. Noble was so exhausted as to require some rest, and he went home for that purpose, while jMr. Ouseley with undiminished strength and ardor continued his toil. I was urgently requested to take a tour with him, leaving Mr. Andrew Taylor in my place. This was mentioned to JMr. Ouseley in a letter to the mission-house : — " Brother Reilly has been on a short tour or two with me, in brother Noble's absence." One short tour" was through nearly all the counties in the south of Ireland, and lasted six weeks. I heard Mr. Ouseley frequently, and again witnessed his uncommon zeal and wonderful success. ■When in the city of Cork I admired him more than on any former occasion. Night and day, in public and private, with unwearied diligence, he endeavored to persuade men to be reconciled to God. I cannot for- get one discourse of his in the large chapel in Patrick- street. The Rev. Tliomas Waugh and I sat behind him in the pulpit, while, on a Sunday evening, he earnestly and affectionately urged the crowded congre- gation to give up their sins, and yield their hearts to God. He placed before them the danger of con- tinuing in sin — that it would he as fatal to the soul as poison is to the body. He illustrated this by a reference to an occurrence which took place in Kilrush, in the county of Clare, some years before. " I knew a lady in the county of Clai-e," — and^as if he wished to confirm his testimony, he turned round suddenly, and said, " brother Reilly knew her too. She one day took a vial off her sideboard, and, mistaking it for another, poured out a glass of its contents, and swallowed it. She felt herself indisposed immediately, and rang the bell most violently ; and when the servant approached MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 249 she cried out, * Vfhat was in that bottle ?' ' Laudanum, ma'am,' was the reply. ' Laudanum !' she said, ' I am a dead woman ! I have swallowed a glass of it.' She ran to the office of her husband, and cried out, ' P , my love, I am a dead woman ! I have swallowed a dose of poison — send for Dr. Elliot immediately.' The doctor was sent for ; he administered a strong emetic, and the poison was dislodged ; but she had not an easy moment while the poison remained. And yet," he added, " you will eat, and drink, and sleep — you will laugh, and sing, and dance — take your pleasure, and transact your business, and the poison of hell in your soul." This was expressed with a gravity and force that were indeed appalling, and must have greatly affected all who heard it. The details of the years of which we have been taking a survey are most interesting and important, but far too numerous to be transcribed into this letter ; yet some of them are so striking and characteristic, that they cannot be dispensed with in a record like this, though the transcriber might earn to himself the charge of prolixitj'. Among those places in which large outpourings of the Holy Spirit were experienced, we have seen numbered the towns of the county of Wicklow. Those of the counties of Carlow and Wex- ford may also be included. The town of Newtown- barry is mentioned by Mr. Ouseley as being greatly ■• moved," especially at a morning sermon, &c. " He jiroached on Monday morning," says Mr. Thomas I'aiber, " and after preaching held a prayer meeting, he had done the evening before, when others pro- 1 - cd to have found peace with God. His mode of j)j'paohing that morning was very peculiar, and did 2o0 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. great execution among the people. Ilis subject was, the opposition between the flesh and spirit, as mentioned in Galatians v, 19. 'Every person under the dominion of the flesh,' said Mr. Ouseley, ' is pos- sessed by a monster with seventeen rjioutlis ; and every mouth seeking food suited to its nature.' He here named the mouths — the people appeared horror-struck, and many of them roared aloud for mercy. The re- sult of these meetings was the addition of sixty mem- bers to the society." In the beginning of August, 1818, he passed on to the city of Derry ; and in a tour of thirty-two days he traveled four hundred miles, and preached in his usual manner, " in and out of doors." He then went home to breathe a day or two, and immediately returned to the work at Derry. He preached in the morning at nine o'clock, at the love-feast, and the meeting con- tinued until one o'clock. Here a Roman Catholic schoolmaster, who had heard him the week before, came that morning seven miles to hear him, remained at the love-feast, was powerfully and deeply afl'ected, trembled, and wept, and cried aloud" for mercy, but soon was able with joy to cry out, " Glory to God for his mercy." Another Romanist near Burrisokane, whose name was Philip Rorke, a great devotee, was, about this period, led ta a saving knowledge of the ti-uth. Before Mr. Ouseley saw him he had become acquainted with some JNIethodists in the neighborhood of Burrisokane, by whose moans he was enlightened, and heard the Bible read, which created wonder in his mind. He was about fifty years of age, and was wholly unedu- cated, though in several orders of the Church of Rome MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 251 — such as the scapular, St. Francis's cord, St. Joseph's habit and ring, &c. He repeated many- rosaries, and was reputed a person of great piety. But the Lord laid great trouble on his mind, and he found no rest because of his sin. In his distress he went to several priests, to inquire what he should do to be saved. One said to him, " Go to Lough Derg ;" another said, " Go to Lady's Island ;" a third said, " Receive the Lord's body ;" to whom he replied, " Does your reverence tliink you can make the Lord's body for me ?" ■• I have that power, Philip," said the priest ; " can you doubt it ?"' " Please j our reverence," said Philip, " I have two little hens, but no cow, now if you can turn them into two milch cows for my children, to give us milk, I shall believe then that you have the power you say." This was too severe a test ; no reply was attempted, but " Get agone, get agone," and so they parted. Mr. Ouseley having to pass through this countiy immediately after the conference, on his way to Con- naught, met with Philip, and got for him a pair of spec- tacles and a spelling book. The experience of this poor man is related by ISlr. Ouseley ; and shows, in a striking degree, the power of divine grace. He was blessedly led out of ignorance and sin into the enjoy- ment of gospel hght, and into the favor and the peace of God ; and he clearly and satisfactorily expressed lilmself on this interesting subject, and in bis own art- k'ss way prayed and talked with his neighbors, so that they would rather have heard him than the priest. Several others that year, especially of the better educated, who had read Mr. Ouseley's work on the Popish controversy, were convinced of their errors ; 252 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OCSELET. and being induced to hear him preach, were more fully enlightened, received the gospel, and joined the Me- thodist society. One woman, Bridget M , in the county of Down, had heard Mr. Ouseley seventeen years before, and received the truth ; but, being kept back by the priest, though she retained her confidence, she was prevented from meeting with the Methodists for ten years, and never all that time heard another sermon than that she had heard from Mr. Ouseley, until she joined the Methodists. He met her now, after her seven years' connection with the society. A singular instance of the power of divine truth is also mentioned by Mr. Ouseley, of one of the Romish priests of Sligo, who preached vehemently against the erroi's of Rome ; and so high was he in the esteem and affection of the people, that the bishop dare not depose him. He soon after died, and they found it very diffi- cult to supply his place. Mr. Ouseley on this tour reached Manorhamilton ; and while preaching in the street was opposed by a Romish priest, but the veteran warrior retorted on his antagonist with powerful effect. " Pray, sir," said Mr. Ouseley, " is it not one of the six sins against the Holy Ghost to oppugn the known truth ? You know that what I am saying is the truth of God. You are sworn on the gospel to believe it, and yet you oppose it. You are guilty of one of the sins against the Holy Ghost." The priest fled as if for his life, and left Mr. Ouseley in possession at once of his argument and con- gregation. He by and by got back again into the skirts of the crowd, crying to the people, " The devil take you all ! what are you doing there ?" Mr. 0. next proceeded to Enniskillen, where a HEMOKIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 253 ■wonderful excitement was produced by his visit. He invited the people in the market to come to the suburbs of the town to hear the word of the Lord. Two thou- sand people followed to hear him preach in the skirts of the town. He rode through the market with his black cap on, and his Bible in his hand, inviting the people to follovv". Many of the Roman Catholics left the market to hear the word ; and it seemed as if all business was suspended, while he preached, in EngUsh and L-ish, the mercy of God, and the unsearchable riches of Christ, to all returning sinners, without re- spect of persons. '• The Lord gave us,"' says Mr. O., " a most solemn season ; while tears flowed, and sighs and sounds of prayer were heard throughout the whole crowd." No remark is requisite in relating these ex- traordinarj' exertions and their blessed effects. In July, 1819, Mr. Ouseley expresses himself in strong and grateful tei-ms on the subject of his toils the preceding year : — " The past year has been the most laborious and most prosperous year, for the con- viction and conversion of sinners, and of the enhght- ening and conversion of Roman Catholics, that I have witnessed in L-eland these eighteen years; nay, or since I commenced my itinerant course, this confer- ence twenty years. I have also kept an exact account of the miles I have traveled on horseback, and all nearly on the same horse — about four thousand four hundred miles." We have seen some of the varied movements and labors of ^Ir. Ouseley in this and former years, and tlie gracious results which followed in every place. Some things are deserving of particular notice, how- ever, and I shall advert to them with as much brevity 254 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. as possible. On the 21st of May, Messrs. Ouseley and Noble preached in the fair of Ballybophay, county of Donegal, to a listening and deeply aS'eeted multitude, who prayed for blessings on them while they rode aw.ay. Very different was the reception they met with in Killetter, county of Tyrone, another town, about nine miles from the former place. It was either a fair or a great market, and the town was filled with mountaineers of a peculiarly ignorant description, and of a very desperate character. They reached the place between three and four o'clock ; and commenced singing in English and Lish, and nearly the whole fair gathered around them, and listened for awhile with a degree of attention ; but some drunken men came into the crowd, and some reckless young men, who began to push and pull one another to ci-eate dis- turbance. Mr. Ouseley spoke to them in Irish, to no purpose ; when they commenced throwing stones at the horses' feet, to disturb rather than hurt, it would appear. Soon, however, the young people seemed intent on murdering God's servants. A person led Mr. Noble's horse out of the crowd ; and an opening being made, Mr. Ouseley followed; but Mr. Keys, who accom- panied them, was detained by the mob. This is most affectingly described by both Mr. Ouseley and Mr. Noble. " My beast flew off," says jMr. Ouseley, " as did brother Noble's; and a shower of cudgels and stones instantly flew after us. One hit him on the head, stunned and bruised him, and knocked off his liat ; but I escaped without any contusion. The whole fair pursued us ; but our horses were too swift for them, and God was with us. Those whom we met on our retreat, seeing our black caps on, thought we were MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 255 running a race, and did not annoy us. Brother Noble was foremost in the flight, for I had reined in when I found wc were out of danger. I began to laugh a little, when I beheld him in such terror, still making otf with all speed, for he feared they would take some short cut, and come in with us and murder us. He almost feared to look behind, thinking I had been J killed, or at least that he should see me covered with blood ; but, to God be the glory ! we escaped with our live.", to praise our great Deliverer. They beat our hats most heartily, when they could not get ourselves. Brother Keys they surrounded, after returning from us. They threw at him, struck his beast, and made her leap from side to side ; and he fell among them. At length one of them spoke out, and said, ' Mr. Keys, I know you. I heard you preach at a funeral a few days ago. I liked your doctrine and yourself No man shall injure you. Fear not.' His hat, however, I fell off, and it they cut up with their cudgels ; but the Lord presen-ed him unhurt He got but one stroke, and was not much the worse for it. The man and his party put him on his horse, led him a piece out of the town, and after he had ridden two or three miles he came up with us galloping, while yet we were wistfully looking behind to see if he were coming, not knowing how he could possibly escape their fury. Thus I have •/iven you the narrative of our happy escape; and iloubt not but you will join with us in giving glory to liiui that sits upon the throne, and hath kept all our bones, so that none of them was broken." ^Ir. Noble says, " AV'hile we were in the midst of the crowd, they seemed afraid to throw the stones with great \iolence, but on our getting clear a shower of 256 MEMOEIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. stoites came after us; one of them struck me on the head and carried ofi' my hat, which I had just put on over my black cap, and I never saw it since. As several of the people followed us, and got through the fields in order to intercept us, we had to put our horses to their full speed ; and in passing men who were re- turning from the fair, and did not perceive the crowd after us, but concluded we were jockeys running a race, they said to one another, 'Dear me; but the little fellow is a good rider ; he '11 beat the old feUow all to pieces.' " We reached brother Mathewson's," continues Mi*. Ouseley, " where was a smile of joy and welcome on every countenance. We got refreshment; and soon a great crowd assembled, to whom I preached once more the words of eternal life. They had not seen me for several years, yet they, and the country round, well remembered the great revival which took place wheo brother Graham and I last visited them. We now again had a season of refreshing from the presence of the I>ord." It must have been peculiarly delightful to the persecuted men of God, to have found such a retreat in Mr. Mathewson's after their narrow escape from the savages who sought their lives. " The village where this attack was made upon us," remarks Mr. Ouseley, " is not far from the place where Mr. Condy of old had a contest with a priest, and was near losing his life." One instance or more of a similar kind will at once sliow the virulence of the persecutors against the mes- sengers of Christ, and the watchful providence of God in favor of his servants. In a tour in the south of Ire- land, Mr. Ouseley resolved to preach in the streets on the Monday, it being the fair day ; but while he and MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 257 his companion were in their room, imploring the di- vine presence and aid, the gentleman in whose house they stopped waited upon them with tears in his eyes, hcgging that they would not make the attempt, as the mob were just preparing to attack them. However, Mr. Ouseley would not be dissuaded from his purpose, " for," says Mr. Xoble, " he was one of the most coura- geous of men." The missionaries took their stand, next door to the bai-rack, thinking that in case of dan- ger they would have the protection of the military. The service, as usual, was commenced by giving out a hymn, but immediately the stones began to fly in every direction. Mr. Noble attempted to reason with them; asked if they were resolved to take their lives; said that they were strangers that had come to tell them of Christ Jesus, who had suffered and died to save them. But he might as well have reasoned with the tide. After they had received many blows and bruises, the sergeant kindly received them into the barrack. " Meantime," says Mr. Noble, " we could easily see the providence of God in our going to the street. Mr. Ouseley, who could never be idle, began to preach to the soldiers, twelve of whom came out to our chapel that night, and to a prayer meeting after preaching; and six out of the twelve were made happy in God, and became steady and useful members of society." So the designs of Satan were frustrated, and God over- ruled evil for good. On another occasion, while Mr. Ouseley was preach- ing to a vast crowd in the street of a town in Con- 7iaught, and many of the people hearing with deep atiention, three or four of their spiritual guides came into the congregation. Their presence intimidated 258 • MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. many", and caused them to run away ; while others commenced on the aged servant of God, when he re- ceived a blow ou the mouth which knocked out two of his teeth. He placed the teeth on his hand, and showed them to the crowd, while the blood flowed from his mouth. " The sight," says jNIr. Noble, " was truly affecting ; and if he had been killed ou the spot, I be- lieve^ he would have offered up that prayer with his latest breath, — ' Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.' " Whenever Mr. Ouseley foimd it practicable he held field meetings, and these were attended with abundant blessings. On Sunday, the 30th, he and Mr. Koble held a field meeting about two miles from BalUntra, in the county of Donegal, at which nearly a thousand persons were present. Mr. Ouseley states — " We both preached at the field meeting, commencing at three o'clock. Divine power attended the word; the pre- sence of the Almighty overshadowed us; and the whole congregation seemed under conviction. How lovely a sight, to see such a multitude on their knees on the grass, and the floods of tears streaming down their fiices, before the Lord ! Some retired to the Lord's supper, and others to an adjacent house to pray. Many were set at liberty. Surely it was a day to be remembered — a day of the Lord ! We then went off to tin; ^lanorliamilton circuit, and a most blessed visit- ation lioiu God had they among them." On jMonday niorning they held a meeting in BalUn- tra, and rode off to Manorhamilton, a distance of twenty miles. The day turned out exceedingly w^et, but, as a meeting had been published for that evening, nothing could induce Mr. Ouseley to rest short of the end of liis journey. ■• A disappointment to an expecting con- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 259 gregation," says Mr. Ouseley, "is to me an evil of such magnitude, that I would prefer running a great risk rather than be the cause of it. We were wet to the veiy skin ; poor dear Noble now and then cried out, ' "\Miat shall we do ? My very boots are full of water ; I am wet all over.' My dear fellow, said I, let us imagine that we are in the water, that we are swim- ming through ; let us push on. When we arrived in Manorhamilton, our dear friends, Mr. and ^hs. Gra- ham, instantly got dry clothes for us, for we had to take off' everything. The people Hocked out in the evening, which was fair, and the gracious Lord our God honored us with a season of delightful refreshing from on high." Mr. Ouseley had been very unwell tbi-ough incessant toil before he left the county of Donegal ; but after the severe wetting and the night's labor, he was quite well the next morning, and, as he expressed it, " through mercy we were able to go on twenty-eight miles to our next appointment." Thus he, without any cessa- tion, travels, and preaches in streets, and fields, and houses. We next find him in Eniiiskillen, he and his colleague mounted on their horses, their black caps on, calling on the people to come and hear the word of the Lord. " Such crowds followed us," says Mr. Ouse- ley, "as that the market-place was comijletely emp- tied. All descriptions of persons seemed equally in- ti icsted. We both spoke, and with all patience did the Romani.sts as well as the others hear. God was among us, blessed be his name." A field meeting had been appointed some distance from Enuiskillen, but the day turning out wet, they could not remain in the field, but went to an adjacent 260 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. village. No two houses could contain the crowds; therefore the men in the congregation proposed, that if the missionaries would remain outside, they would also; and the females got into a pretty large house, while the missionaries preached a sermon each to all present. " The dear men," says Mr. Ouselcy, " stood outside all the time under the rain, and we in all the wet, without refreshment or a change of clothes. We preached again in town, and," Mr. Ouseley adds, " the Lord gave us souls for our hire." He next proceeded to Dungaunon, twenty-one miles. He says, " We were both completely jaded, from our unremitting labors and riding; and when we came to the house of our dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Heathers, we certainly were fitter for our beds than for anything else. Poor Noble was quite done : yet it was the market-day. The magistrate had prevented brother Bayley from preaching in the street a little before. This, and our exhausted state, nught have discouraged us ; but I resolved, as I still retained a little strength, that we would go out, and that I would preach, determined that I would rather go to prison, if God permitted, than not preach. We bowed our knees before our gracious God, went out, took our stand, and met no interi-uption whatever, while I de- clared to them the counsel of God. Glory to him, the hearts of all men are in his hands." Mr. Ouseley then permits his colleague to return homeward to recover his exhausted strength, while he proceeds in his usual way ; next day preaches in the streets of Aughnacloy, and then goes to Monaghan, where he meets brother John Armstrong, who for awhile supplies the place of brother Noble. Mr. Ouse- MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OrSELET, 261 lev says, " I met John Armstrong, a blessed, zealous lad. He and I mounted our horses, and rode through the market ; the people crowded after us, and though it rained, they stayed most patiently ; I preached, and he exhorted.'' INIr. Ouseley had often lamented the apathy of the English evangeUca! churches with regard to Popery. On the 17th of June he remarks: "I rode in the morning about two miles to visit the Eev. Air. P , a friendly clerg}-man of the Established Church. He laments much the growth of Popery, and told me with grief, that he was well informed the Jesuits in England had proselyted ten thousand Protestants in the last year. I should not wonder ; for as I lately passed through that land, I perceived a great supiueness in all ranks and denominations with regard to Popery, as if it were an entirely harmless thing." And he greatly feared that many of the lower orders in England would become an easy prey to its wiles. Alas! that the warning voice of the faithful ministei's of truth was not regard- ed! On Sunday, the 11th of July, Mr. Ouseley says, " Brother Reilly and I preached in the open air in this city to a great crowd indeed. I met a man who ac- costed me he had been an Irish Roman Catholic in the army. He fii"st heard me in Halifax, in York- shire ; he was told that an Irishman was to preach ; he came to hear his countryman, and the Lord awakened him under the sermon, and he is now a consistent member of our Dublin society. How important to be instant in season, out of season, and to preach publicly in the open air the gospel of our God to the erring sons and daughters of men !" We have thus seen, from time to time, not only a 262 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. solitary instance of genuine conversion from the errors of Rome to the truth of the gospel, and from sin and guilt to holiness of heart and life, but considerable num- bers, here and there, who became joined to the Lord in one body with the people ; and some cases have we witnessed, where the converts have themselves become gifted and successful ministers of tlie word to their countrymen. This is cause of unfeigned and devout thanksgiving to the true Christian patriot who looks forwai-d with pious solicitude for the regeneration of his country. But it may be well inquired. Why have not more general and permanent effects appeared from the preaching of the gospel by Mr. Ouseley and other godly men throughout this country ? It has been al- ready stated, that the great obstruction to the improve- ment of our native land is the false system prevailing here under the hallowed name of Christianity, which, alas ! subverts the gospel of Jesus Christ, and contains in it the elements, at once, of corruption and tyranny. It is still a problem, whicli neither statesmen nor philo- sophers have solved, how the greatest and freest empire in the world comprises millions under the foulest bond- age, and over whom is exercised an irresponsible con- trol, (irresponsible to the state,) which forbids freedom of tliought and inquiry: where British subjects are destitute of mental and moral freedom ; where the tyrant is allowed to brandish his scourge, and fix his manacles on the limbs of a noble and naturally generous race. Why does not the British senate vindicate and establish tlie sacred rights of conscience and religion on behalf of British subjects? Let no man be persecuted for his religion, but let all be alike protected in the free exercise of that on which their reason and conscience. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 263 decide. If such freedom as is the inalienable right of Britons and of men were allowed us in this part of the empire, we should soon see Ireland one of the fairest portions of the globe. Some striking facts have been already stated which indicate the spiritual tyranny- existing in our unhappy country: I shall introduce another here, though in reference to an humbler per- son, which will show the malignant power by which the destinies of our country are governed, and which will answer the inquiry above proposed, — " Why have not more general and permanent effects appeared from the preaching of the gospel?" Mr. Ouseley was preaching in the house of a gentleman, in the county of Louth, when a young woman, a Roman Catholic, was, with others, deeply affected. He conversed in his usual way with her and another, and the word of the Lord had a powerful effect on her mind, and she immediately turned from lying vanities to the living God. Mr. Ouseley states, — " Respecting this interest- ing person, she sought mercy from God through the blood of the covenant, with much diUgence, and was soon made conscious of the mighty change and bless- ing of justification. Her grief and hardness of heart fled before the bright beams of the Sun of righteous- ness, and she became very happy through faith in the Redeemer. She at once, as soon as she was convinced of the danger of following human dogmas, and before she had received that blessing from the Loid, resolved that she would go to mass no more. This created a great alarm among the superstitious ; and a plan was laid to snatch her away from heresy and her heretical master. Her sister, a strong girl, and a Carmelite, called on her early in a morning, saying that she 264 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON' OUSELET. ■wanted to speak to her ; she objected to go with her, but she seized her to force her off. Her master heard the bustle, came to her help, and extricated her. When it was found that evil was determined her, she was re- moved to the Protestant clergyman's until she read her renunciation of Popery, wliich she, with another, did in the parish church on the ensuing sabbath. When the priest found that the sister and party missed their aim in getting her off, he, it seems, was horribly morti- fied, and a messenger was instantly sent for her father, who hved forty miles off. The poor soul came to see what was the matter, and by his reverence's advice, he went to demand his daughter ; but in vain ; the gentle- man would not give up his servant ; nor did the father persist much, for he privately owned that himself, wife, and son, had lately read their recantation in the county of Cavan, but durst not let it be known here lest he should be murdered. On his return to the priest, he told him her master would not lot her off till her time would be up. ' Go,' said the zealous divine, ' get a case of pistols charged, and then demand your daugh- ter, and shoot him on the spot, or any one else, who dare detain your child.' ' But I would be hanged for murder ; and what would my poor wife and children do without me ?' said the poor man. ' AVell, then,' said the priest, angrily, ' I '11 tell you what you will do : she will be passing to church on Sunday to read her recan- tation, and he cursed to the rar/abond heresy; seize her then, and there will be help enough at hand to over- power the police themselves if they interfere ; so there shall.' The man replied, ' Maybe lives would be lost, please your reverence, and what would I do then? She is of age ; and if it be her will to do so, how can I MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELET. 265 help her r They, however, watched for the hour of her passing to church, and the place was full of people who had been waiting for mass. But the minister acted wisely, and sent her so early that they missed her, and she and the other persons conformed in peace. The magistrate also signified his purpose to protect her, and punish any that dare molest her in future ; and so the matter ended. All this I received from her master, who also told me that she would go ten miles on her feet to see and hear me again. I have been thus cir- cumstantial in this case to show you the watch the priests have over their dupes, and the vast dangers that lie in the way, and the difficulties those have to grapple with, who would embrace the truth when they know it, where the population around them are influenced by the priests. Many such, at heai't, feel their thraldom and erroi-s in some sense ; but they fear to be mur- dered, or tJieir cattle destroyed, or their houses hurned, should they dare avow it. May almighty God open their way !" Mr. Noble, in stating the effects he had witnessed by means of street preaching, while in company with Mr. Ouseley, expresses himself on this subject in forcible terms. " I must say," he remarks, " that it is my firm conviction that hundreds, if not thousands, of the poor Irish will be found at the right hand of God, in the morning of the resurrection, who heard the gos- ]iel in the streets, from the lips of the venerable ( )iisaley, in their native tongue ; but who had not the I '11 rage to meet the per.-;ccution they would have had M encounter in giving up their fonuer mode of wor- ship, and joining themselves to the Wesloyan society; tliough many of them did break through, and have 266 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OTJSELET. continued to the present day ; while some, to my own knowledge, have died in the full triumph of faith." There were some who, without shrinking from the avowal of the truth in the hour of persecution, took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance. But for many more the ordeal was too severe : they could not sum up sufficient resolution to bear the " trial of cruel mockings and scourgings " which they would have had to endure ; so that either they mourn- ed in secret over their hapless condition, cherishing a hope of future deliverance, or mingled again with those who wandered from the good and the right way. What can true Christians in this case do V They can keep the truth before the world — the pm-e, unadulte- rated gospel ; they can take every legitimate means for spreading genuine Christianity, and exhibiting in their own life and conversation evidences of its saving power ; and by the subduing charities of the gosj^el soften the hostility of the enemies of the cross of Christ. They can offer up fervent, constant prayere to almighty God, that he would take the matter into his own hand, and by liis unerring providence and saving grace ef- fect that change in our country for which we must otherwise in vain look to human means. O God, is anything too hard for thee ! Make bare thine arm in the midst of the nations ; and let our countrjnnen — our interesting countrymen — be brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God ! " 0 let tlie pris'ners' mournful cries, As incense in thy sight appear ! Their humble wailings pierce the skies ; If haply they may feel thee near. MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. 267 " The captive exiles make their moans, From sin impatient to be free : CaJl home, call home, thy banished ones I Lead captive their captivity !" 0 Lord, hasten the time when the morning of Chris- tian liberty shall dawn upon our benighted land ! Yours, &c. LETTER Xn. Mr. Ousetey suffers severely from exenioos dunn« a snow slorm— Richly rewarded by the gracious fruits— An atheist converted— Conversation between a Roman Catholic gentleman and a priest — A soldier converted on the bollle-field of Waterloo — Light of the gospel spread by the writings and preaching of Mr. Ouseley— In perils among liis countrymen- Laid aside for a short time by a cold, caught while preaching in the •Ireel— Preaches by stiu^light— Describes the first church amon^ the Gentiles- Retire* tnwel with him— Mr. Feely's character of ■ Preaches from thirteen to fifleeo times a vecM — Violent conduct of a priest — Several turn from mass — Novel argumeot against the real presence— Priest M'Gouran— Mr. Ouseley returns to Dublin ill, after a lour of sixty-six days— Street sermon in Ballina— Great success in everyplace — logenioua and convincing argument from the Rhemish version— Conversation with a priest — Prospects of new openings — Laments over the sLite of Ireland — Argument* with a casuist— Receives a severe blow in Monaghan, while preaching in the street- Cause of the miseries of Ireland—Intolerance of a priest in Kilrush — Discussion in Corrick-on-Shannon— Invited to Easky discussion— Its amicable termination in favor oftnilh — Mode of preaching varied— Arguments for a general mission to the litth, -LDd his peculiar call to that work. My Dear Fuiexd, — During the year from July, 1819, to 1820, the same course was pursued by jMr. Ouseley, with undeviating fidelity, although sometimes feeling the effects of such ceaseless exertions. In the winter he endured great hardship, traveling through snow- storms ; in one instance the snow being so deep that he was obliged to return to the place from whence he had come. These efforts in such a season, as might be naturally expected, brought on an illness, which last- ed eight or ten days ; from which, however, he had 268 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELET. scarcely recovered when he resumed his loved employ- ment. In his letter of March 8th, 1820, he acknow- ledges that he ran a risk in leaving home before he had fully recovered ; but such are the gracious fruits which result from the toil, that he is richly rewarded. He left home on the 6th of February, although in a state of bodily weakness, after the indisposition above referred to. " It was at a venture," says this self- denying man, " that I left home, I was so weak ; how- ever, I resolved to go as far as I could ; and the Lord has fully restored me, and enabled me to go forward in his work." From the latter end of harvest to the beginning of spring, he rode upward of fifteen hundred miles ; and twenty-seven hundred from the conference until that period. But he rejoiced in witnessing a very gracious work throughout the kingdom, in several pai-ts, notwithstanding all the obstacles that obtruded them- selves. " The Lord favored us with seeing many souls awakened to a sense of divine things, and many joined the society. As I preached in the streets, many of the Romanists heard ; though at times some of them show- ed a disposition to annoy us." In many instances numbers of them heard in the chapels too : some came five miles through storm and rain to hear ; and some became united to the society. Wien Mr. Ouseley traveled through the south, I lay in a dangerous fever, and my dear brother Noble came for some weeks to take my place. Mr. Ouseley continued in the work alone, and sometimes preaching three or four times a day in the street, as well as in houses ; and it was often his custom to pi-each in the winter season two hours before day. In one place he says : " Our congrega- tions were principally Romanists : they refused to be MEMORIAL OF GIDEOX OUSELEV. 269 hindered by the priest One young man, in the county of Kerrj-, who had been a Romanist, and became an atheist, was providentially led to hear Mr. Ouseley, and became deeply con\nneed of his sin and eiTor, fell down on his face, cried aloud for mercy, and was directed to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. During his tour through the county of Kerrj-, verj- gracious effects followed the preaching of the word. In Tralee, one Roman Catholic girl, des<.'ribing the state of the congregation during a meet- ing that Mr. Ouseley held before day. said to her mis- tress, " 0, ma'am, they were weeping all around me; and I cried and wept a gieat deal myself. God for- give me I'' Mr. Ouseley relates a remarkable conversation which took place between an educated Roman Catholic gen- tleman and his priest : — •■ AVe breakfasted with a Ro- man Catholic gentleman, who had been hearing us, and kindly invited us. Ho appears to be under gra- cious awakenings. He told us of several conversations which he had with the priest lately, who told him he had no objection that he should read the Bible, as he was a man of learning. • ^Tiy,' said this gentleman to the holy father, • do you keep tlie cup from the laity in the sacrament ?' The priest replied, ' Don't you know ye are very numerous, and very poor ; the ex- pense of wine would be very heavy.' 'But,' he rejoined, ' do you not make them pay for baptism, for I onfe-reached two hundred and fifty sei-mons, and scattered hundreds of his tracts. lie sent several of them to Popish bishops and priests, with a short letter in Latin accompanying them in every case. Although his generd health was good, he had, at this time, a painful sore on his right leg, by which he was confined for a short season. " This," he says, " was for some good end. To God be the glory !" The sore on his leg increased to what he afterward calls " a painful malady," and detained him at home three months, in which time I had the pri-\ilege of frequently visiting him. He regarded the aiUiction as from the hand of God, as he had an opportunity of vindicating the truths of Christianity, as revealed in God's book, and held by Protestants, against the at- tacks of the noted priest Maguire. The latter had been invited to Dublin during the season of Lent, and, in the Westland-row Chapel, delivered a series of lec- tures on the peculiar dogmas of Home. I\lr. Ouseley obtained information of his subjects as he j)roceeded, and combated them in the public prints, challenging Archbishop IMurray, or any other, to reply ; but, though father Tom gave him abundance of oral abuse, nothing tangible appeared. Immediately on his becoming con- \ alescent, he proceeded iu May on an excursion which lasted for upwanl of a month ; and after conference took a tour of ninety-four days, to which, as well as other laboi's, the missionary committee refers in tJie Ibllowing terms : " The veteran Irish missionary, Mr. 346 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. Ouseley, at the age of seventy-three, continues to be ' in labors more abundant,' and exhibits a pattern of unwearied zeal in the cause of Scriptural truth and piety, which all ministers may contemplate with profit. Probably no one individual living has been permitted to sow so extensively the ' good seed ' of the pure gos- pel in the sister kingdom, as this venerable man. We pray that the fruit may be ' found after many days.' Labors of this description, in conjunction with those of the regular and stated ministry, constitute, under God, especially in the present peculiar circumstances of the country, the chief help and hope of Ireland.'' His communications on the subject of his exertions participate to the end of his career of the same spirit which distinguished his most vigorous days ; and we cannot fail to admire the goodness and power of God so manifest in his servant. In July, 1836, he gives a brief outline of his labors for the preceding year. On his way from the Belfast Conference, in 1 835, his labors were in Ulster and Leinster down to September, and from the end of that month through the counties of Armagh, Down, Tyrone, Monaghan, and Fermanagh, — preaching in the streets from fourteen to sixteen? and sometimes twenty, sermons in the week, to large congregations, especially in the streets; and for the most part without interruption. He says, " I was not sick more than about three weeks. To God be all the glory, who thus supports me, now in the seventy-fifth year of my age !" He visited England in the course of this year ; preached in London — -in Lambeth and Queen-street: in other large towns also — Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, Manchester, Liverpool, and other places. MEJIORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 347 He remained in England for six -weeks, preached several times to vast congregations ; and was received with great kindness and affection by the English friends. It is worthy of remark, that here he did not forget what he believed to be his pecuUar call. " I also wrote," he says, " to the priests, as I went along, a short letter in Latin, and inclosed a printed paper to each in defense of the gospel, and against their fatal Creed of Trent, or Pius IV. Glory be to God. Amen." To the end of his life the power of God accompanied his ministry in the conversion of souls. At this, in every ease, he aimed, and in this the gi-eat Head of the church gave him signal success even to the last. On Sunday, the 24th of December, 1837, he preached in the town of Mountmellick, at ten o'clock in the morn- ing. He gave, in the course of his sermon, what after- ward produced a wonderful effect — a relation of his own experience. A gentleman, Air. Hay, a native of Scotland, who had recently come to reside in L-eland, from a motive of curiosity went to hear him preach. The word was quick and powerful ; he behevert what Mr. Ouseley declared — that God's promises were free for all : he loathed himself and sin ; he went as a peni- tent to the footstool of mercy ; his prayer had power with God through Christ ; and, after a severe conflict, he was led to the Sa^^our, in whom he was made to rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glorv-. Now he has a place in the ^Methodist ministry — preaching to others the great truths by which himself wrs made free.. In a letter to Mr. Croggon, dated Tarbert, October 3, 1838, Jlr. Ouseley writes in a most cheei-ftil strain. 348 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OtJSELEY. " Have just returned from Tralce and its vicinity, where I have been laboring for nine days, preached seventeen sermons, and traveled about one hundred and thirty Irish miles. The congregations were gener- ally very large : in Tralee, especially, uncommonly so. I trust the Lord has blessed his word to many. To his name be the glory ! Our good Meredith, cast down as he was, being there alone, was greatly comforted and encouraged. I preached in the town, between evenings and mornings, no less than ten sermons ; and in other places seven. I was much blessed in my own soul during the whole, thank God. We had on the sabbath a blessed love-feast, and on the next sabbath the Lord's supper. In Ivilrush, too, I had good seasons, and large congregations. I spent two days in Limerick city, and had crowded congregations. I preached four times there. In the country also I had crowds to hear. The Lord strengthens me so, that I am seldom or ever weary. I must set out" on Friday to Ballinasloe, to meet brother Lindsay there." He seemed almost insensible to any decay of his physical strength, until his last illness. His friends, however, perceived indications of declining health. The internal complaint, induced by excessive labor, and which terminated his mortal career, had been gaining on him for four years ; and although l(f never affected him while preaching, he sometimes suffered intense pain in traveling. Nothing, however, was able to repress his ardor, or prevent his using his remaining portion of strength for his divine Master. In the latter end of January, 1839, he arrived in Dublin; and about six o'clock in the evening, when passing from Porto- bello Canal harbor to his lodging in Great Ship street, MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. 349 as he came opposite the residence of the Methodist ministei-s, in AVhitefriar-strect, he was attacked by a gang of robbei's, who knocked him down with great violence, and attempted to take liis watch; but the chain broke, and they missed that part of their intended booty. He grappled with one of the gang, who fell, lost his hat, and made off. The rest succeeded in carrying oft" his carpet-bag, containing his linen, with some bonds and other papers of consequence. He wrote to the priest, and took every step in search of them ; but they were never restored. Excepting the manner in which his clothes had been abused by rolling in the gutter, and the loss of his papers, he did not seem to think he had been much injured by the outrage ; but there is no question that it aggravated the complaint under which he had been for some time sufi'ering, and hastened his dissolu- tion. I received a letter from him, dated February 1st, in which he makes no mention of the attack ; but on the 8th he wrote again, and related the circumstances of the case, but did not say that he had sustained serious harm. At this time his health had much more declined than he himself conceived ; though he found it neces- sary to have recourse to the best medical advice, and liad premonitory symjitoms of his last illness. In his letter to me of the 8th of February, an e.Ytract from which follows, he touchingly describes his feelings and his prospects. "I have been to Surgeon Crampton this day," he says, •' on account of some ailment I did not understand. He examined, and saw I must stop t\w or three weeks under bis c.are. I feel no diminu- tion of my strength, to prevent me from laboring as usual, nor any stomach illness, thank God ; yes, thank God most high, for all his unmerited mercies and 350 MEMORIAL OF GIDEON OUSELEY. loving kindness to me, to this day, now closing my seventy-seventh year. Through waves, and clouds, and storms, he hath gently cleared my way. Praises to Him that sitteth on the throne, and maketh all things new ! Amen and amen ! O eternity, blissful eternity ! ' Sin, earth, and hell, I now defy ; I lean upon my Saviour's breast '.' God be thanked ! Amen ! The end shall soon come. Joyful news ! My good wife is well, thank God. I ex- pect her soon here. She is very uneasy about my having been injured by the robbers. Thank God, they and the devil together could not take my soul. This being safe, all is well, and cause of thanksgiving. ' There, there at his feet, We shall suddenly meet, And be parted in body no more.' May God fully prepare us for that day ! Amen. My love to your beloved Anne. God bless her and hers ! To brother Taekaberry and his partner, &c., &c. _Ac- cept the same yourself, from yours in Christ Jesus, " Gideon Ouseley." The above letter was written, as will be seen, about three months before his liunented death ; and although he could not think there was any dmiinution of his strength, so as to prevent his resuming his labor, yet the eager anticipation of his soul evidently indicated his near approach to that eternity after which he so intensely longeVith an Introduction, Index, Notes, etc. BY S. B. WICKENS. EMBELLISHED WITH A PORTRAIT AND OTHER ENGRATINGS. Large I8nw. Pages 47S. Price Fifty cents. A household book wherever the English language is known. One of the wonders of genius ; a book which charms tlie child before he can comprehend its meaning, which delights and in- structs tlie experienced Christian ; and wliich, in despite of its subject, excites the admiration of the man of letters. To have such a book, with its thousand healthful and refining influences, placed in ajny family, is a lasting good. — Bibli-cal Repertory. Yet another edition, and one that will doubtless meet with a very cordial reception. The Introduction is a judicious, critical, and historical account of this great work, giving new facts and views on the subject, which will greatly interest the admirers of the allegory. The Notes are eminently practical and instructive. We have seen no edition to which we would more willingly accord the title of a "standard edition."— iVcia-Vori Spectator. An e.xcellent edition of this religious classic, and well adapted for younger readers as well as for adults. Bunyan's Progress shou'.d be by the side of the Bible in every Christian family : put it especially into the hands of your children; it will fascinate them from danger- ous books, and lead them in tlie way to heaven.— 2ion'i Herald. This is a book for everybody, as our readers well know. But there is much choice in the editions. Lane andTippett have just published one, which we think decidedly the best we ever saw- It is on good paper, with good print ; has a splendid likeness of Bunyan, a number of appropriate cuts, and an interesting biogra- phy of the author. It also contains an index, and has a good selection of interesting notes, chieily from the writings of Bunyan himself.— Gutrfe to Holiness BOOKS PUBLISHED BY LANE & TIPPETT. The Mother's Practical Guide IN THE EARLY TRAINING OF HER CHILDREN: COXTAININO DIRECTIONS FOU THEIR Physical, Intellectual, and Moral Education. BY MRS. J. BAKEWELL. Large 18mo. Price Forty cents. We have perused this beautiful little volume with nnmingled satisfaction, as a valuable accession to the few unexceptionable works we have met with on the subject of infant training. Every page is marked with the feelings of a mother's heart, oversowing with the milk of human kindness, and regulated by strong good sense and religious principle. — Scottish Guardian. We have treatises on education generally, and on the diseases, diet, etc., of children, whicli are of much value ; but there was yet wanting a mother's practical book, unincumbered witli pro- fessional technicalities, the result of inquiry and matuie e.xperi- once, and one which the young mother could receive as a manual of instruction by wliich she might safely be guided. Mrs. Bake- well, by giving such a book to married females, has, we feel as- sured, performed a most valuable service for hersex, and we hope her work will find access to those for whose use it is so well adapted. — Newcastle Courant. Such a work was much needed ; for although we have many treatises on the education of children, we h^ve nothing so full and judicious, immediately addressed to mothers, on the entire subject of the training of their offspring, in reference to their physical, their mental, and their moral being. The volume is altogether a treasure to Christian mothers. — (London) Evangelical Magazine. This little book is designed to subserve the most useful ends in the training of children ; and it is evidently written by one who has made lierself well acquaftited with her subject. We are sure that every mother who reads itwill be better qualified thereby to execute the sacred trust committed to her by the God of nature. — Ladies' Repository. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY LANE & TIPPETT. Christian Perfection: The Scripture Doctrine Stated and Defended; EXAMINATION OF THE CONTROVERSY, BOTH ANCIENT AND MODERN; Also, Practical lUustralious and Advices. 3^ (©£orge |3cck, ID. One volume 12mo. Pages 484. Price One dollar. This work is well-timed, and Dr. Peck has conferred an important favor upon the Christian public by its publication. The Wesleyan family are peculiarly indebted to him for the clear and able vindi- cation of tlieir views therein contained.— ;Vor(Aern Advocate. Tliough several smaller works have been written on the subject of Christian perfection, the book before us supplies a place not previously occupied.— CArtsdon Repository. We have read this work with great satisfaction, and recommend it to the public with a hearty good will. It is thoroughly Wes- leyan throughout. — Southern Christian Advocate. It is a book for the times, and will do much toward defending and promoting the great cause of liolincss.— irtiftrn Ch. Advocate. A vein of hallowed piety and patient research is conspicuous throughout liie volume. — [London) Weslet/an Methodist Magazine. Peck on Christian Perfection. AN ABRIDGED EDITION. Large ]8mo. Pages 332. Price Fifty cents. As a treatise on the great doctrine of entire sanctijication, it will be found complete in all its parts, being onlydivestcd of the scholastic matter which, however important to ministers and students, pre- vents the general circulation of the original work among the people. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY LANE & TIPPETT. Life of Rev. Charles Wesley, M. A. COMPHISING, A REVIEW OF HIS POETRY; Sketches of the Rise and Progress of Methodism; WITH NOTICES OF CONTEMPORARY EVENTS AND CHARACTERS. By 511)011100 lacksoii. One large volume, 8vo. With a Portrait. $2 50. The name of Charles Wesley will ever be in honorable remem- ' brance as the zealous coadjutor of liis brotlier in that extensive 1 revival of true religion which distinguished the last century, and I as the author of the greater portion of those incomparable hymns, the use of which has for nearly a hundred years formed so pro- minent a part of the devotions of " the people called Methodists." j Although more than fifty years have passed away since he rested i from his labors, there has been no separate memoir of his life until the appc.irancc of the present volume, which is in many respects one of the most interesting and important works on religious biography that has issued from the press for many years. It is chielly prepared from the journals and private papers of Mr. Wesley, which were kept in his family till the death of his daugh- j ter in 1828, when tlioy became the property of the Wesleyan Con- ference. It forms a large and handsome octavo volume, of ; seven hundred and niiu'ty-scven pages ; and the stylo in which ! it is got up is highly ci edilable to our Book Concern. No Method- ist pieacher should be without it. Centenary of Wesleyan Methodism: A SKETCH OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, AHD PRESENT ST.VTE OF THE Wesleyan-Mcthodist Societies through the World. Bj) ©Ijomas lackaon. In one volume, 12mo. Price SL\ty-five ccnis. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY LANE & TIPPETT. THE anEAT EFFICACY OF SIMPLE FAITH IN THE ATONEMENT OF CHKIST, EXEMPLIFIED IN A Memoir of Mr. William Carvosso, SIXTY YEARS A WESLEYAN METHODIST CLASS-LEADER. Written by Himself, and edited by his Sou. He ttaggcred not aL the" promise of God through unbelief ; but was strong iu the faith, giving glory to God.— Rom. iv, 20. (FIFTY THOUSAND COPIES OF THIS BOOK HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED.) [ Large ISmo. With a Portrait. Fifty cents. Tliis Jitlle volume commends itself to the attention of tlie reader ■ by many powerful claims. It contains tlie personal narrative of a man wlio, for a long series of years, uniformly exemplified the graces and virtues of the Christian life in their rise, progress, and rich maturity ; and who at length descended to the grave happy, loved, and honored, — " an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile." It records also an extraordinary number of memorable ' Instances in which, by the agency and blessing of God, he was ' made the instrument of great spiritual good to iinanakened sin- ners, penitent seekers of salvation, and Christian believers. While we peruse its wonderful communicalions, we seem to be carried back to some of the earlier periods of Methodism, which were distinguished by the most remarkable effusions of divine influence. It may further be justly said to imbody a large portion of sound theological truth, placed in the most striking light, and : constantly associated with the privileges and obligations of Christian experience and practice ; and it especially displays the ni.a!ity ellicary of that faith which God's Holy Spirit creales in the heart of humble and praying man, and which man is taught to exercise in firm dependence on His aid. We recommend the ] work with sincere cordiality. A careful perusal of it will, we trust, lead many to aspire after the inestimable blessings which i are so strongly represented and enforced in its pages. — (London) ; Wcsleyan Methodist Magazine. 1 1012 01044 2418