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THE 
 
 FEMALE PREACHER, 
 
 OR 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 SALOME LINCOLN, 
 
 AFTERWARDS THE WIFE OF 
 
 ELDER JUNIA S. MO WRY. 
 
 By 
 ALMOND H. DAVIS. 
 
 "The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." 
 
 psalms cxn.: 6. 
 
 / 
 / 
 
 PROVIDENCE: 
 PUBLISHED BY ELDER J. S. MOWRY, 
 
 AT THE BOOKSTORE OF ISAAC WILCOX, 5 MARKET SQUARE. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 FOR SALE BY D. S. KING AND CO., NO. 1 CORNHILL. 
 
 1843. 
 
. 
 
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1843, by 
 
 ALMOND H. DAVIS, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 sj / m*» 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PRINTED BY A. B. KIDDER, 7 CORNHILL. 
 
PREFACE, 
 
 BY THE PUBLISHER. 
 
 "Courteous Reader! — While such a mass of 
 books at the present day, are being published in so 
 cheap a manner, and the tendency of many of them, 
 being to corrupt the public mind, it becomes the duty 
 of the christian community, to use every means to 
 counteract their influence. 
 
 " It was while watching with her, during her last 
 moments, that it occurred to me, that a short sketch 
 of her life and trials, might be a benefit to others by 
 placing in the hands of the public, facts rather than 
 fiction. And in the language of another, — 
 
 " The Memorials of the good, constitute one of 
 the most sacred possessions of the church of Christ. 
 It is not submitted to our choice, whether or not, we 
 will preserve and hand down the character of such 
 as have been eminent in their day, for the savor and 
 strength of their piety — the ardor and steadfastness 
 of their devotion, the consistency and power of their 
 example, and the abundance and success of their 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 labors in the cause of their Crucified King. There 
 is a moral obligation, resting on each successive 
 generation of her children, to perpetuate these living 
 evidences of Christianity" 
 
 " At the time I placed her papers in the hands of 
 the Author, I had but a faint idea of publishing her 
 Memoir. But the additional amount of matter col- 
 lected — and the many interesting facts, embodied, 
 all conspired to increase the conviction that such a 
 work would be highly valuable to the public. But 
 what finally led me to decide in favor of this step 
 was, that I might be more extensively useful, by 
 causing to be placed in the hands of the reader, a 
 1 written monument, ' that will preach after I am laid 
 in the dust with her. These are my only motives in 
 publishing this work ; and if these records of my 
 beloved companion, and fellow laborer in the gospel, 
 shall be instrumental in awakening one impenitent 
 sinner, or of stirring up the minds of any to greater 
 usefulness, I shall rejoice, and my object will have 
 been accomplished. I conclude in the prayer of 
 another, — ' Hand it, O my Savior, to dying men and 
 women, with a blessing from above.' " 
 
 J. S. Mowry. 
 
 Smithfield, R /., May 9th, 1843. 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Apology for this work 9 
 
 Manner of collecting the facts 10 
 
 Objection to female preaching considered . . 12 
 
 Women preached in the days of the apostles 16 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 Birth and parentage 20 
 
 Personal appearance 21 
 
 Private and christian character 23 
 
 Education 26 
 
 Experience 28 
 
 Baptism 31 
 
 Unites with the F. W. Baptist church ... 32 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A CALL T O PRE AC H. 
 
 A call to preach defined 34 
 
 Her own convictions in relation to preaching 36 
 
 Preached her first sermon 43 
 
 Her style of preaching 44 
 
 A sermon at midnight 46 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 At work in the factory at Taunton .... 49 
 
 Leaves Taunton — Anecdote 50 
 
 Goes to Easton 52 
 
 Preaches at Capt. White's, Raynham .... 54 
 
 Conversion of Sophronia Packard 57 
 
 Death of the same " 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE FEMALE PREACHER, 
 
 Introductory remarks ......... 62 
 
 Preaches in Taunton 64 
 
 Meets with opposition in a neighboring town 66 
 
 Preaches at Rochester, Mass., in a grove . . 69 
 
 Visits and preaches at East Falmouth, Mass. . 70 
 
 Conversion of Benjamin and Simeon Eldrich 72 
 
CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE FEMALE PREACHER 
 
 Continued. 
 
 Introductory remarks 76 
 
 Visits Sandwich and East Falmouth .... 78 
 
 From Falmouth goes to Martha's Vineyard . . 79 
 
 Preaches at Holmes' Hole ....... 81 
 
 Preaches in a grove at North Shore .... 84 
 
 Conversion of a friend 88 
 
 Leaves the Vineyard after spending a few months 95 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE FEMALE PREACHER. 
 
 Concluded. 
 
 Introductory remarks 98 
 
 After visiting home, returns to Martha's Vineyard 100 
 
 Visits and preaches at Nantucket 103 
 
 Preaches in Boston 108 
 
 From Boston goes to South Bridgewater . . 109 
 Returns to Boston and stops six weeks . . .110 
 Burning of the Convent at Charlestown . . .112 
 Visits various sections of Maine 116 
 
Vlll 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE WIFE. 
 
 Remarks on the choice of a companion 
 First acquaintance with Elder Mowry 
 
 Labors in Tiverton 
 
 Interesting visit to Martha's Vineyard 
 Marriage to Eld. Mowry, &c. &c. 
 Birth and death of her iirst child 
 Unites with the church at Tiverton . 
 
 121 
 123 
 126 
 131 
 133 
 141 
 143 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE LAST SICKNESS. 
 
 Introductory remarks 145 
 
 Preached her Last Sermon 148 
 
 Last hours — State of mind in view of death . .150 
 
 Suffers extreme bodily pain and death . . . 151 
 
 Funeral Service and burial at midnight . . 153 
 
 Requiem, tyc.fyc 159 
 
 Place of burial 161 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 11 While thus within, contending armies strove, 
 Without, the christian had his trials too. " — Pollok. 
 
 Apology for this work. I am aware, that 
 female preaching at the present day, among a large 
 and respectable body of christians, has become very 
 unpopular. But this is no reason why we should 
 keep silent. Many things which are rejected by the 
 world, are undoubtedly approved by God. Vital 
 Christianity, is unpopular ; as but few embrace its 
 principles, and if an individual would become a 
 truly devoted christian, in the sight of God, he must 
 at the same time, lose the popular favor of the 
 world. But is this a sufficient reason why the minis- 
 ter of the gospel, who believes in holiness of heart, 
 should keep silent ? On the other hand, is it not the 
 very reason why he should cry aloud against every 
 sin, and spare not ? 
 
 From these remarks, the reader will perceive, that 
 
 the author of this work, has not written, expecting to 
 
 gain the popular favor of the world, but from a strong 
 
 conviction of right ; and if by thus doing, he can 
 
 2 
 
10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 promote the cause of virtue and holiness, he will 
 have accomplished all he desires, and the world may 
 regard his labors as they choose. 
 
 Manner of collecting the Facts: — Soon 
 after the death of Mrs. Mo wry, her husband, together 
 with some other friends, were desirous that her life 
 should appear before the public. And at their urgent 
 request, the author undertook the task of preparing* 
 it for the press : — a task, for which, he feels himself 
 but poorly qualified. 
 
 At her death, Sister Mo wry left a Journal of about 
 thirty pages, and that, written during a period of 
 but little importance in her history. Besides this 
 she left nearly, if not quite, one hundred letters, 
 from different individuals. These too, contained but 
 few facts relative to her. Under these considera- 
 tions, we concluded to visit the different places where 
 she had labored, and collect what facts we could, 
 and the letters written by herself. — We collected 
 about fifty, together with many more interesting in- 
 cidents. And from these, together with her journal, 
 we were able to trace her history, from birth to death. 
 
 From the manner her journal has been collected, 
 it would not. be surprising if the reader should find 
 some errors ; especially among the dates. Should 
 this be the case, we trust the above explanation will 
 serve as an apology. 
 
 Reasons why Mrs. Mowry entered the field 
 of labor, as a preacher of the gospel. — It 
 could not have been a love of gain, that- prompted 
 
INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 Sister Mo wry to go out from home, as a public speaker ; 
 as her labors in the gospel field never supported her, 
 neither did she expect it. It was not from a love of 
 ease, as she knew something of the hardships attend- 
 ing such a course, even before she engaged. Neither 
 was it from a love of self-aggrandizement ; as she 
 well knew, from the example of those who had pre- 
 ceded her, that she must certainly meet with the 
 slander, and bitter reproach of the world. This is 
 somewhat peculiar to all devoted christians, but es- 
 pecially Female Preachers. Pollok in speaking of 
 the slander and reproach heaped upon the christian, 
 
 " And slander, worse than mockery, or sword, 
 Or death, stood nightly at her horrid forge, 
 And fabricated lies, to stain his name, 
 And wound his peace. " 
 
 Christ says, — " If ye were of the world, the world 
 would love his own; but because ye are not of 
 the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, 
 therefore the world hateth you." — St. John 15 : 19. — 
 Eut in the language of the poet, 
 
 * * * Still she had a source 
 Of happiness, that men could neither give 
 Nor take away : The Avenue that led 
 To immortality before her lay. " 
 
 I firmly believe, all that ever prompted Mrs. 
 Mowry to take the stand she did, v/as a deep rooted 
 conviction, like Paul; that, — "Woe is tome, if I 
 preach not the gospel." 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Objections to Female Preachers : It is ad- 
 vocated with considerable warmth, that woman is 
 acting out of her sphere, when she takes a part in 
 the public congregation. I once, from a prejudice 
 early imbibed, without searching for the " thus saith 
 the Lord, " maintained the same views. But what- 
 ever may have been my former opinion, I am now 
 satisfied, that God's ways are not as our ways ; and 
 he will choose just such agents to execute his plans, 
 as best subserves his ends. And when he has chosen 
 them, he will give them an evidence, that they are 
 his servants. And if Mrs. Mowry did not have this, 
 we can gain no evidence that any individual has, 
 since the days of the apostles. 
 
 The principal objection to female speaking in 
 public, arises from early prejudice. And in fact one 
 author in a recent article on this subject, speaking 
 of 1 Cor. xiv. 34,35, says — "Having been familiar 
 with these passages from my youth, I have never 
 doubted for a moment, the unscripturalness and 
 impropriety of females becoming public exhorters, 
 teachers and speakers. — " It is somewhat remark- 
 able that whenever this subject is introduced, the 
 objector always resorts to the Fourteenth chapter of 
 1 Corinthians, — as though there were no other 
 passage in scripture, of sufficient strength to meet 
 their preconceived notions. But as we shall soon 
 have occasion to refer to that, we will leave it for 
 the present. 
 
 Another objection to female preaching, is, that 
 
INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 it would be improper for women to become pastors. 
 It is not my intention, to advocate Female Pastors ; 
 but a woman may express her views in public, by 
 way of exhortation &c. ; — without taking upon her- 
 self the care of a church. As in the days of the 
 apostles, there were different gifts in the church, so 
 it is at the present day. "Now there are diversities 
 of gifts, but the same spirit; And there are differ- 
 ences of administration, but the same Lord. * # # 
 For to one is given by the spirit, the ivord of wisdom , 
 to another, the word of knowledge by the same spirit; 
 To another, faith by the same spirit; To another, the 
 gift of healing by the same spirit ; To another, the 
 working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, 
 discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of 
 tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues : " — 
 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 8, 9, 10. 
 
 But some who admit the propriety of women 
 speaking in public conference, deny them the right 
 of going into the pulpit, and taking a text for the 
 foundation of remarks: but I have yet to learn, that 
 the pulpit is a more sacred place, than any other por- 
 tion of the house. And if it is right for woman to 
 speak in public conference, it is right for her to quote 
 passages of scripture, and if right to quote scripture, 
 it is also right to take a passage as the foundation of 
 remarks ; and as the desk is not the sanctum sane- 
 torum of God's house, it is equally right to enter 
 that — with a text selected from the word of God. 
 But the strongest objection in the minds of many, 
 2* 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 is "It is unpopular." Says the same author to whom 
 we have just alluded : — "As to the usages of the 
 Baptist churches, permit me to say, that in England 
 such a practise is not known, and would not be tol- 
 erated. " He also refers to the Middle States of 
 this country. But had he referred to the apostolic 
 dispensation instead of those places, I think the 
 argument would have been better grounded. But 
 leaving this part of the subject; I now proceed to 
 notice the objection raised from the Epistle of Paul 
 to the Corinthians. 
 
 " Let your women keep silence in the chur- 
 ches, " &c. 1 Cor. xiv. 34. The subject of female 
 preaching, can scarcely be introduced, but what this 
 oft repeated passage is rehearsed. But that we may 
 be mistaken in Paul's meaning, is not impossible. 
 Dr. Clark remarks in his comments on this verse ; — 
 " This was a Jewish ordinance. Women were not 
 permitted to teach in their assemblies, or even to ask 
 questions. The Rabbies taught, that icoman, should 
 know nothing but the use of her distaff. " 
 
 The same doctrine is extensively taught, among 
 all the barbarous nations at the present day. But 
 the sentiment, savors too much of oppression, to be 
 advocated in this enlightened age. And again it 
 should be remembered, that it is the doctrine of 
 men, and not of God — It lays no claim to Divine 
 Inspiration. Rabbi Elezar also remarks, "Let the 
 words of the Law be burned, rather than that they 
 should be delivered to woman. " But where is the 
 
INTRODUCTION* 15 
 
 christian, that would be willing now to embrace this 
 sentiment. 
 
 That the apostle did not mean to preclude woman 
 from speaking in public, is self evident, when we take 
 into consideration his remarks on other occasions. 
 11 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with 
 her head uncovered dishonoreth her head, " &c. — 
 1 Cor. xi. 5. Says Dr. Clark, " Whatever may be the 
 meaning of praying or prophesying in respect to the 
 man : they have precisely the same meaning in re- 
 spect to the woman ; so that women, at least as well 
 as some men, might speak to others, to edification, 
 exhortation and comfort. " 
 
 The apostle in making the remark, which he did 
 in the fourteenth chapter of Corinthians, instead of 
 intending to prohibit Pious Females from speaking 
 for the edification of others, alluded to the confusion 
 which frequently occurred in the churches, by the 
 troublesome asking of questions ; and probably wo- 
 men, as well as men frequently annoyed them in 
 this way. This is evident from the three preceding 
 verses, commencing at the 31st — " For ye may all 
 prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all be 
 comforted ? 33 verse. For God is not the author of 
 confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the 
 saints. " * — Then comes the words under consider- 
 ation : — "Let your women keep silence in the chur- 
 ches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak ; but 
 
 * See also : — II Timothy ii. 23. Titus iii. 9. 
 
16 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 they are commanded to be under obedience, as also 
 saith the law. 
 
 Women did Prophesy, or Preach in the time 
 of Christ and the apostles ; and were ap- 
 proved. The term prophesy in scripture, as gener- 
 ally used is nearly synonymous with the term preach- 
 ing as understood at the present day. The term 
 prophesy — signifies explaining scripture, speaking 
 to the church in public, by way of exhortation, sing- 
 ing the praises of God, in the language of inspira- 
 tion, or foretelling future events. * That prophesy- 
 ing and exhortation, or preaching, was understood 
 by the apostle to mean the same, is evident from his 
 words in 1 Cor. xiv. 3. — " But he that Prophesyeih, 
 speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, 
 and comfort. " Again the Revelator declares that 
 the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophesy. — 
 Rev. xix. 10. 
 
 That women were to prophesy is evident from 
 Joel xi. 28 verse, — " And it shall come to pass af- 
 terwards, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh ; 
 and your sons, and your daughters shall prophesy, 
 &c." 
 
 Here we see that the spirit of prophesy, was to be 
 poured out upon woman, as well as man : And that 
 women did Prophesy or Preach in the time of Christ 
 and his apostles is still more evident Mariam and 
 Deborah prophesied. And the Prophetess Anna, 
 
 * See Encyclopedia of Religious knowledge — Article 
 Prophet. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 17 
 
 bore testimony at the coming of Christ, as well as 
 Simeon. The apostle was aware that women 
 prophesied ; For the sacred penman tells us : — 
 Acts xxi. 8, 9. And the next day we that were of 
 Paul's company, departed and came into Ceserea; 
 and we entered the house of Philip the Evangelist, 
 which was one of the seven, and abode with him. 
 And the same man had Four daughters, virgins, 
 which did Prophesy. 
 
 No comment need be made upon these last refer- 
 ences. And I will close by simply adding, that 
 Aquila, and Priscilla, expounded the law unto Apol- 
 los, who himself, was an eloquent man, and mighty 
 in scripture. Acts xviii. 24-26 — Many other quo- 
 tations might be made, to show that women did actu- 
 ally speak in public, in the days of the primitive 
 church. . But enough we think has already been 
 cited ; therefore I will desist. 
 
 It was woman that preached Christ to the Samari- 
 tans, after she had learned of him, at Jacob's well ! — 
 
 It was woman that first preached a risen Savior ! 
 and shame on that man, who will take advantage of 
 the apostle's meaning, in the fourteenth of Corin- 
 thians, by construing it into something he never in- 
 tended ; in order to make her condition still more 
 degraded. 
 
 A. H. Davis. 
 
 Boston, April 28, 1843. 
 
MEMOIR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 " We spend N 
 
 A ten years' breath, 
 Before we apprehend, 
 What 'tis to live or fear a death. 57 
 
 Youth, in many respects, is the happiest 
 period of life. It is then, that the mind, un- 
 burdened with care, is left free to rove ; and 
 like the bee to pluck her sweets from every 
 flower. But as we advance onward up life's 
 steep declivity, ere we are aware, we are 
 immersed in the busy scenes of the world, 
 and we can hardly tell why we live, or what 
 is to be the ultimate object of our existence. 
 But one thing is certain, we do not exist in 
 vain, if we fulfil the design of our creation ; 
 
20 MEMOIR. 
 
 which is, to spend the passing time in such a 
 manner, as not only to benefit the world by 
 our having lived in it ; but also to prepare 
 for another, and a better. But how many 
 there are, who have spent not only ten years, 
 but a whole life — three score and ten ; and 
 died, as the fool dieth, without knowing why 
 they have lived, or what good they have ac- 
 complished. And on the other hand, how 
 many, who have been truly useful in society, 
 have died comparatively in obscurity. And 
 hence it should be the object of the memori- 
 alist, to seek out such, that their virtues, and 
 their names may be perpetuated among the 
 living, for the benefit of coming generations. 
 
 Salome Lincoln, ^ — the daughter of Am- 
 brose and Susanna Lincoln, was born at Rayn- 
 ham, Mass. in Bristol County, September 13, 
 1807. She was the eldest of six children ; 
 only two of which are now living. Her 
 father's residence, where she was born, is 
 situated in the edge of Raynham, about five 
 miles north of Taunton Green. 
 
 Her father was born in Taunton in 1784. 
 
 * We have thought proper to use her maiden name until 
 the time when we shall speak of her marriage ; as many of 
 the readers know her only by that. 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 21 
 
 Her mother, Susanna Weston, was born in 
 Middleborough, Mass., in the year 1782. — 
 They are both professors of religion : Her 
 father having made a public profession, and 
 united with the Christian Baptist Church in 
 1806 ; and her mother, in 1805 united with 
 the Calvinist Baptist Church at Taunton. She 
 afterwards took up her connection, and united 
 with the Free Will Baptist, at Taunton, where 
 she now remains. 
 
 Personal Appearance. In describing the 
 person of Salome, I shall be forced to con- 
 fine myself to tlie testimony of others, hav- 
 ing never seen her myself. And the de- 
 scription, will better answer to her in after 
 life, than in youth. Sister Lincoln in after 
 life, say those who were acquainted with her, 
 was above the middle size. Her hair was 
 black — her eyes, dark and piercing, with 
 an expression of mildness, and her features 
 beamed with intelligence. In her dress, she 
 was plain, yet tasty, and always manifested 
 an excellent judgment in selecting the colors. 
 She was not extravagant ; but dressed in a 
 manner becoming her station. In early life 
 however, before restrained by the influence 
 of religion, she was naturally inclined to gay- 
 3 
 
22 MEMOIR. 
 
 ety ; but after experiencing a change of heart 
 she overcame those propensities. 
 
 Her voice was deep toned and heavy, and 
 well suited to a public speaker. She some- 
 times spoke in large houses, and even in the 
 open air ; and was distinctly heard by large 
 • audiences. " Her manner of speaking " — says 
 one who often heard her, "was self-collected, 
 and yet pathetic ; simple, yet deep in thought.'* 
 When she spoke in public, her feelings usually 
 were engaged in the subject ; and with a soul 
 yearning for the salvation of others, her words 
 would sometimes fall upon the ears of the 
 audience with a power almost irresistible ! 
 Says an individual, who was intimate with 
 her ; u Such exhortations and prayers, are 
 not often heard, as proceeded from her lips. 
 I shall never forget following her in prayer r 
 She had addressed the throne of grace, in 
 her peculiarly solemn and impressive manner, 
 when I immediately followed ; but the con- 
 trast was so great, that I seemed in my own 
 estimation, to have dwindled to the size of an 
 infant. " In the pulpit her appearance was 
 bold and commanding. She used but few 
 jestures, but her manner was such as to gain 
 the attention and interest of those who heard. 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 23 
 
 Private Character. It is the invariable 
 testimony of a large circle of acquaintance, 
 that Salome Lincoln maintained an excellent 
 character through life.. But being reserved 
 in her manners, especially among strangers, 
 she sometimes drew forth the suspicions, if not 
 the enmity of those who knew her not. This 
 trait of character was natural to her from 
 childhood, and she did not entirely over- 
 come it. But to those of her familiar ac- 
 quaintance, and who had gained her confi- 
 dence, she was a faithful and tried friend. 
 There are several instances of this kind, of 
 a marked character, which we shall hereafter 
 notice. 
 
 Salome was naturally mild and amiable in 
 her temper — ready to yield even her own 
 rights for the sake of maintaining peace.— 
 Says her mother : — "I never knew her to 
 strike any one of her playmates, except in 
 one instance, and then she did not seem to be 
 in anger. " She was playing school, as chil- 
 dren term it ; a play for which they seem to 
 be strikingly fond, as it gives them an oppor- 
 tunity to assume authority — and children, as 
 well as men, sometimes like to command, 
 and be obeyed. But it seems in this in- 
 
24 MEMOIR. 
 
 stance, the boy over whom she usurped au- 
 thority, did not prove a very obedient scholar. 
 And for his obstinacy, she did, what teach- 
 ers sometimes have to do, to scholars of a 
 similar character. 
 
 Christian Character. Sister Lincoln, 
 was a devoted christian ! She was not satis- 
 fied with an empty profession — that which 
 satisfies the world ! but she sought to be holy 
 in the sight of God. It is of but little impor- 
 tance how the world regard us ; if our hearts 
 are right! — In her whole intercourse with 
 society, her conduct evinced a purity of heart, 
 a sincerity of action, strength of faith, and 
 warmth of christian love. These remarks 
 will apply to the latter part of her life with 
 force — but to say she sustained this charac- 
 ter through every period, would perhaps be 
 saying more than is strictly true ; as a short 
 period passed, according to her own relation ; 
 and as we shall soon show, when she was in 
 what is commonly termed a backslidden state ; 
 but with the exception of this, the remarks 
 will apply with emphasis to her christian char- 
 acter, from the time of her conversion, until 
 her death. Says one who was familiar with 
 her from childhood, — "Such has been my 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 25 
 
 situation in life as to enable me to form many 
 happy associations, with a large number of 
 devoted christians ; and for a rigid adherence 
 to principle — a uniform and consistent chris- 
 tian life, I must pronounce her one of the 
 first ! It is not too much I think, to say that 
 none among- us stood higher in the estimation 
 of the community, for talents and piety, than 
 Salome. " 
 
 Religion, was her only theme. And she 
 seems to have had a longing desire to become 
 more and more transformed into the image 
 of her Savior. After a careful examination 
 of a large number of her letters, written to 
 different individuals, we have not found one 
 in which she has not mentioned the subject 
 of religion. In one of these she says : — 
 " Religion is the one thing needful ! — I do 
 not know of anything in this world I could 
 put in the balance against Religion ! But 
 O, — I want to be more and more rooted 
 and grounded in the Lord ! " In another 
 letter she says, — " How good this religion 
 is! Truly I receive an hundred fold in this 
 life ; and am expecting Life Eternal in the 
 world to come. " 
 
 It was religion that sustained her in her 
 3* 
 
26 MEMOIR. 
 
 arduous labors for the salvation of her fellow- 
 men ! It was religion, that supported her 
 through all her trials ! It comforted her in 
 sickness — It soothed her in death — And 
 she is now enjoying its blissful influence 
 among the ransomed millions in heaven! — 
 O, blessed thought ! — O, glorious immortal- 
 ity ! — Who then would not be a christian ? 
 
 Education. Salome's advantages for ac- 
 quiring an education were but limited, being 
 confined to a common school. And common 
 schools at the period when she attended, did 
 not afford the facilities which are now offered, 
 for rapid advancement. For the march of 
 time has brought its improvements in this 
 department, as well as in others. This to 
 anxious parents, who are now forced to send 
 their children abroad — unguarded, save by 
 the watch-care of strangers, must be a source 
 of satisfaction ; as they may look forward to 
 the time as not far distant, when they can 
 obtain an education at home, sufficient for 
 all the business transactions of life. 
 
 Though Salome's advantages for obtaining 
 an education, were limited, yet she did not 
 misspend her time. She embraced every op- 
 portunity for improvement ; and by reading, 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 27 
 
 and other means, she had by the time of her 
 death, acquired a large store of useful knowl- 
 edge; and gave an evidence to those around 
 her, that her mind was highly cultivated. 
 She spent much time in reading and med- 
 itation. Says Elder Johnson, — " Salome 
 gathered books around her ! and the time 
 others spent in gossiping and idle chit chat, 
 she spent in reading her Bible, and other 
 books. Pursuing this course, she became 
 retiring in her manners, and less social with 
 those around her, unless it were on religious 
 topics, and then very sparingly, conversing 
 apparently, only when she hoped to get or 
 do good." 
 
 Early History. Except some few facts 
 which have been gathered from her writings, 
 and from her friends, but little of importance 
 is known of Salome, until she was fifteen 
 years of age. Her mind was early led to the 
 subject of religion, and to this fact undoubtedly 
 she owes the formation of the character which 
 she sustained in after life. 
 
 " As the twig is bent, the tree inclines." 
 is a maxim, which ought to be painted in 
 large capitals, in the sitting room of every 
 
28 MEMOIR. 
 
 mother. Children may be taught virtue, ag 
 readily as vice. Mothers look to your chil- 
 dren ! If you neglect to teach them virtue, 
 they will certainly learn vice. * But to return ; 
 Salome was early taught the existence of 
 God, and the necessity of a preparation of 
 heart, to meet him in peace. 
 
 Experience. At the age of thirteen her 
 mind was called to the subject of religion. 
 This w T as sometime in the year 1820. Previ- 
 ous to this, according to her own relation, 
 she had had many serious thoughts, when she 
 reflected that she must meet a righteous God 
 in judgment ; and there render an account 
 for all the deeds done in the body. When 
 alone, she says — "I have often wept bitterly, 
 wishing that I was prepared for death. " But 
 like many others under like circumstances, 
 she said to the Holy Spirit ; " Go thy way 
 for this time, and when I have a more con- 
 venient season I will call for thee. " 
 
 From this time, until 1822, her mind seemed 
 to be wavering, and in doubt. Sometimes 
 we find her earnestly seeking for the salva- 
 
 * Jeremy Taylor once said to a mother. u Madam ! be at 
 pains to educate your son, or be assured Satan will do it 
 for you. M 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 29 
 
 tion of her soul, and at others, among her 
 friends at Middleborough, joining with her 
 voung companions in the vanities of the world, 
 afraid to acknowledge her need of a Savior, 
 through fear of their derision. She continued 
 in this situation until she was fifteen years 
 of age, when she boldly determined to for- 
 sake all, and follow Christ. 
 
 She experienced religion sometime in the 
 year 1822. She was then probably at work 
 at Hopewell, a factory village in Taunton, 
 about one mile from the Court House. It 
 was soon after her return from a visit to her 
 friends at Middleborough, Mass. As the 
 relation of her experience is interesting, I 
 will give it verbatim as recorded in her journal. 
 
 She says : — " I had now returned home, 
 and determined that I would seek the Lord 
 at the loss of all things. But the more I 
 sought, the more I saw the wretchedness of 
 my situation. I attended on the preaching of 
 the gospel, but every word was like a thun- 
 derbolt to my w r ounded soul ! I felt that I 
 was justly condemned, and despaired of the 
 mercy of God. Once as the preacher came 
 down from the desk, he requested those that 
 desired prayers to come forward to the anx- 
 
30 MEMOIR. 
 
 ious seats. While he was praying, I rushed 
 from the seat where I was sitting, and knelt 
 with those who had already come forward. 
 I thought I had now given up my good name 
 and come out from the world ; but still I 
 found no relief. One day as I retired to a 
 small grove near the house, and sat down 
 under a large tree to meditate upon my lost 
 condition without Christ ; it seemed to me 
 as though the heavens were brass, and the 
 earth was iron under my feet. O ! thought 
 I — I have lived but a few years ! but I have 
 become a burden to myself! I felt that I had 
 sinned away the day of grace, and driven 
 the heavenly messenger from my breast ! — 
 While I sat thus meditating ; a thought like 
 this, came to my mind. Has not Christ died 
 for the very worst of sinners ? I cannot be 
 worse than the worst — perhaps there is yet 
 mercy for me ! I will cast myself upon him ; 
 and if I die, I will die pleading — I then 
 threw myself upon my knees, and began to 
 cry : — O, Jesus — If thou wilt, thou canst 
 make me clean ! While praying, it seemed 
 as though the mountains had rolled away, 
 and I heard these words : — u I will, be thou 
 clean ! " My fears subsided. The throbbings 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 31 
 
 of my bosom ceased ; and a heavenly calm 
 ensued. 0, thought I, is it possible, I have 
 found favor with God? I then arose and 
 went towards the house ; but Satan soon sug- 
 gested to my mind, that I had only lost my 
 conviction, and mistaken it for conversion. 
 And now my case if possible, was even worse 
 than before. Again I fell upon my knees, 
 and besought the Lord, that if I had not 
 found forgiveness, to give me an evidence ; 
 and then these words were sweetly applied 
 to my mind : — 
 
 " Be not faithless, but believing. u 
 
 O, what glory filled my soul at that mo- 
 ment ! I arose, and every thing looked new 
 around me ! Every thing seemed to praise 
 the Lord ! and I longed to tell the whole 
 world, what a dear Savior I had found. I 
 knew then, that he had taken my feet from 
 the miry clay ; and had set them upon the 
 Rock, even the Rock Christ Jesus ! " 
 
 Baptism. April S, 1823, Salome with nine 
 others went forward in the ordinance of bap- 
 tism. The rite was administered by Elder 
 Ruben Allen, a Freewill Baptist minister 
 then laboring with the church at Taunton. 
 
 In speaking of the ordinance she says : — 
 
32 MEMOIR. 
 
 "It was a happy day to me. The banks 
 were thronged with a large concourse of 
 people, who had assembled to witness the 
 administration. But my soul was so filled 
 with the love of God, that I did not fear them. 
 I could say in the language of the Poet : — 
 
 " Blest be my God that I was born, 
 
 To hear the Gospel sound ; 
 That I was born, to be baptized, 
 
 When Gospel truths abound. " 
 
 Unites with the Church. In the month 
 of July following her baptism, she was re- 
 ceived, and united with the F. W. Baptist 
 Church at Raynham. This church was a 
 branch of the church at Taunton, and was 
 under the pastoral charge of Elder H. N. 
 Loring. 
 
 Though Salome gained so good an evidence 
 of her acceptance with God, and as confident 
 as others might have been that she would 
 have remained steadfast ; yet we are obliged 
 to record a short period of her life, after her 
 conversion, when she was without the enjoy- 
 ment of religion. In speaking of it herself, 
 she says — "The church began to decline, 
 and I with the rest. " 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 33 
 
 She remained in a backslidden state until 
 sometime in the year 1825 ; when she was 
 again reclaimed and brought back to her first 
 love. This was during a powerful revival of 
 religion in Raynham and the vicinity where 
 she was then laboring. 
 
 The cause of her backsliding, she attributes 
 to a neglect of duty. From the time of her 
 conversion, it was deeply impressed upon her 
 mind, that God had something for her to do 
 as a public laborer in his vineyard. 
 
 A neglect of duty, is the usual cause of all 
 backsliding. When the young convert begins 
 to trust in his own strength, and like Peter, 
 to walk the untrodden deep, he is sure to sink. 
 But as long as he will draw nigh unto God, 
 God will draw nigh unto him. And as long 
 as he will walk in the paths God has marked 
 out, his soul will prosper. 
 
34 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A CALL TO PREACH. 
 
 " Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel. " — Paul. 
 
 "Go then earthly fame and treasure — 
 
 Come disaster, scorn and pain, 
 
 In thy service, pain is pleasure, 
 
 With thy favor loss is gain ! " 
 
 " A call to preach ! " says the reader — 
 What! a woman called to preach ? — Truly 
 this is something new ! 
 
 But stop my dear Sir! — let us reason for 
 a moment. What is a call to preach ? 
 
 The strongest evidence lean name, that 
 an individual is called to preach the gospel, 
 is, a deep conviction that it is his duty — this 
 conviction being from God. The apostle 
 explains the nature of this call, when he 
 says: — " For though I preach the gospel, 
 I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is 
 laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I 
 preach not the gospel. " — 1 Cor. ix. 16. 
 
 This is one of the evidences, but there are 
 others, and I will proceed to name them. 
 
CALLED TO PREACH. 35 
 
 1. An individual called to preach the gos- 
 pel, will feel to weep over sin, in high, as 
 well as low places; and to do all he or she 
 can, to promote the salvation of others. 
 
 2. " A call to preach, requires of the indi- 
 vidual, a holy, blameless life, and abilities 
 suited to the work ; such as knowledge, 
 aptness to teach, courage, &c. — and an op- 
 portunity afforded in providence to be use- 
 ful." * 
 
 These are some of the most prominent 
 points, which we consider constitute a call to 
 preach. Now if a woman has all these qual- 
 ifications ; and there is no prohibition in the 
 word of God, f may she not strictly be said 
 to have a call from God to preach the gospel ? 
 
 The greatest difficulty at the present day, 
 is, that too many preachers, have no higher 
 call than of men. If more were called of 
 God, and less of men, it would be better for 
 the church, and better for the world. 
 
 Whether Sister Lincoln had the qualifica- 
 tions which I have named, or not, I leave for 
 the reader to judge, after he shall have read 
 her convictions, and the testimony of others. 
 
 * Prof. Knowles' Premium Tract, 
 t See Introduction, Page 14. 
 
36 MEMOIR. 
 
 One thing, however, is certain, if she erred? 
 she erred conscientiously. 
 
 It was early evident to the friends of Salome, 
 from her striking gift in exhortation, that she 
 was destined to fill a more conspicuous place 
 in the church, and in society. And although 
 her mind was strongly exercised on this sub- 
 ject, yet it was a long time before she yielded 
 to a sense of duty, and took up her cross. 
 
 Her trials of mind, in relation to preach- 
 ing, as we may naturally suppose, were severe. 
 Situated as she was in a community, where 
 female preachers were but little known : — 
 and where the tide of popular favor was 
 turned against them — with but limited means, 
 without many friends to encourage her on, — 
 while the spirit of God, and the convictions 
 of conscience, said, go, go ! — and on the other 
 hand, Satan, and the world, cried Woma?i, — 
 woman ! — it is no wonder, that at the mid- 
 night hour, while she wept and prayed till 
 her pillow was wet with tears; * she should 
 sometimes exclaim, " Lord I pray thee, have 
 me excused ! " 
 
 * It is related by her friends, that so great was her anxiety 
 of mind on the subject of preaching, that she would often 
 weep hours, after she had retired. 
 
CALLED TO PREACH. 37 
 
 According to her own relation, her mind 
 was first exercised on the subject of preach- 
 ing, about the year 1S23, soon after she 
 united with the church. In a letter addressed 
 to a friend, she says ; — "I was employed in 
 the weaving-room at Taunton. — My mind 
 had often been exercised, in relation to enter- 
 ing the vineyard of the Lord, as a public labor- 
 er. But, O, my soul shrunk from the work ! 
 I thought I could never move forward ; and 
 soon lost the enjoyment of religion. " 
 
 In another letter she says : — "I felt that 
 it was a great undertaking ; and it was with 
 a trembling hand, that I came to the conclu- 
 sion to give up all,- and enter the field. But 
 on making up my mind, I felt the approbation 
 of heaven, and since then, I have been more 
 and more convinced, that these convictions 
 were from the Lord ! " 
 
 In remarking to a friend, she said, that it 
 did not seem right to her, for a woman to 
 speak in public ; and on account of this, 
 like Jonah, she had fled from the presence 
 of the Lord, to get rid of duty. This im- 
 pression was undoubtedly founded on the 
 belief of others. But one eminent writer, 
 (Dr. Watts,) remarks, that truth is to be re- 
 4* 
 
38 MEMOIR. 
 
 ceived, come from what source it may. And 
 the truth of God is no less precious, because 
 it is spoken by woman ; though the world 
 may claim dominion over her, and attempt to 
 seal her lips in perpetual silence. 
 
 Elder Lorenzo Johnson in speaking of her 
 call to preach, in a letter written to her hus- 
 band after her death, says : — 
 
 " Although like most of my brethren, I felt 
 a strong prejudice against female preachers, 
 as they are termed ; and although they were 
 not licensed as such by our conference ; yet 
 my own conviction, produced by an intimate 
 acquaintance with her exercises of mind, was, 
 that if I, or any other person with whom I 
 was acquainted, was called of God to preach, 
 Sister Salome had as great a call, as my- 
 self. " 
 
 So severely was Sister Lincoln's mind ex- 
 ercised on this subject; that she was heard 
 to remark, that sometimes she had almost 
 thought, she should be willing to be lost her- 
 self, if she could be released from preaching. 
 But when she thought of the souls of others — 
 sinking down to hell, without Christ, then 
 she was constrained to preach. 
 
 In a letter written to Miss Liscom, she 
 
CALLED TO PREACH. 39 
 
 says — * * * * * "I have given up all for 
 Christ ! — you know not the sacrifice I make 
 in leaving my dear friends. But I wish to 
 submit to what seems to be duty. I reel that 
 I have sold all, for the cause in whiefa I have 
 engaged. I have given up earthly prospects ; 
 I have taken the parting hand of friends ; — 
 and am now going to seek a bride for my 
 master. In another letter she says — 
 
 * * * * * "I shall soon get through with 
 all my trials ; and if faithful, it will be said 
 to me, child ! your father calls, come 
 home ! and then I shall see, that I have not 
 had one trial too many ; but that they have 
 worked out for me, a far more, and eternal 
 weight of glory." 
 
 The strongest evidence, we can have, after 
 all, that Sister Lincoln was called of God as 
 a public laborer, is, the success which attended 
 her preaching ; and the deep interest which 
 she ever felt for the salvation of others ; 
 together with the untiring zeal which she 
 manifested in all the varied, and sometimes 
 trying circumstances, through which she was 
 called to pass. After she broke loose from 
 the world, she was unceasing in her efforts. 
 Some considerable portion of the time, she 
 
40 MEMOIR. 
 
 used to preach, on an average from three to 
 four discourses a week, besides attending 
 other meetings. And these were made the 
 instrument in the conversion of a large num- 
 ber of different individuals. 
 
 Salome not only "had the witness of God, 
 and the approval of her own conscience, as 
 an evidence of her call ; bul; the hearty co- 
 operation, of several distinguished brethren 
 in the ministry. Her first recommendation she 
 received from Elder Johnson, then pastor of 
 the Reformed Methodist church at Wareham, 
 of which she was a member. The following 
 is a copy : — 
 
 Wareham, Jane 2, 1832. 
 
 " To whom it may concern : — This certifies 
 that having known Sister Salome Lincoln 
 for years, I am prepared to assert, that she 
 sustains an unblemished christian character. 
 Among her friends and neighbors she is held 
 in high esteem. Having also been acquainted 
 with the trials of her mind, in relation to her 
 laboring publicly, I am prepared to say, she 
 evinces a pure sincerity with regard to her 
 duty. And in relation to her labors among 
 the Reformed Methodist, they have been con- 
 ducted with profit, and ability. "***** 
 Lorenzo D. Johnson. 
 
CALLED TO PREACH. 41 
 
 Sister Lincoln, at the time she received 
 the ahove, was a member of the Reformed 
 Methodist, a denomination of respectable 
 christians. She took a letter from the Free 
 Will Baptists, sometime in the year 1826: 
 and joined the class at Taunton. 
 
 About the same time, that she received 
 the recommendation from Br. Johnson, she 
 also received another from Br. Brett ; then 
 Presiding Elder of the Reformed Methodist 
 church. The following is a copy : — 
 
 " To whom it may concern : — This certi- 
 fies, that Sister Salome Lincoln, is a person 
 of unexceptionable character ; both moral 
 and religious, in her own town, church, and 
 vicinity ; and is universally approbated as a 
 laborer in the cause of God." 
 
 Pliny Brett. 
 
 Success as a Preacher. As a preacher, 
 Sister Lincoln was very successful. She 
 seldom preached a discourse without effect. 
 The precise number awakened under her 
 labors cannot be accurately ascertained. The 
 devoted christian knows but little in this life, 
 of the amount of good he may have accom- 
 plished. It remains to be revealed in the 
 world of spirits ! But one *kin«r i s certain. 
 
42 MEMOIR. 
 
 many were awakened and hopefully con- 
 verted under her labors ; and though she 
 received'no official credentials from any body 
 of christians, yet most of the evangelical 
 denominations, were glad to receive her help. 
 The following recommendation which she 
 received from Elder Norris, — now the Editor 
 of the Olive Branch, * in 1S34, will serve to 
 illustrate the manner in which her labors 
 were regarded. 
 
 Boston, August, 13, 1834. 
 " To whom it may concern: — As Miss 
 Salome Lincoln, is about to visit, the State 
 of Maine, and is a stranger there ; I would 
 state, that she is well known to the Christian 
 Public, in this section of country. She sus- 
 tains a good moral character, and her con- 
 nections are among some of the first families 
 in this city, and vicinity. She is also highly 
 respected, as an exemplary christian. She 
 is approved, by a respectable, and in this 
 State numerous class of christians, to help 
 in the gospel ministry, — Many hundreds in 
 this city, and in the neighboring towns have 
 
 * A Paper published in Boston, Mass. 
 
11 E B P II* S T S E R M ON. 43 
 
 listened to her pulpit instructions, with ap- 
 parent pleasure and profit. " 
 
 Thomas F. Norms, 
 Pastor of the Reformed Methodist Church, Boston, 
 
 Preached her first Sermon. Sister Lin- 
 coln commenced her public labors in the 
 vicinity of her father's, by taking part in 
 prayer and conference meetings. Her first 
 sermon was preached October 17th, 1S27 — 
 The meeting was held about two miles from 
 her father's residence. She had just returned 
 from a Quarterly Meeting, held at Rochester, 
 Mass.; and in speaking of the meeting she says, 
 
 " I started expecting to hear Elder Brett 
 preach. But my mind was uncommonly 
 burdened ; and I felt that I should have some- 
 thing to do. As I went up to the door, a 
 little girl met me, and informed me that the 
 preacher had not come. The thought was 
 immediately suggested — he will not come ! 
 I felt almost sure of it. I went into the house, 
 and sat down in the kitchen, while the people 
 were assembling in another room. A large 
 number of young persons were present, and 
 not one among them that had ever professed 
 religion. I sat a few moments trembling 
 under the cross : and then fell upon my knees 
 
44 MEMOIR. 
 
 and commenced praying. While in prayer, 
 the power of God was manifested — and the 
 fear of man taken away. I then arose and 
 began to speak. The promise of the Lord 
 was verified — " Open thy mouth wide, and 
 I will fill it." — While I spoke the eyes of 
 the youth were fixed upon me, and many 
 were affected even to tears. 
 
 After I sat down, one aged woman arose 
 and spoke a few words of exhortation, set- 
 ting forth the importance of attending to the 
 duties of religion while in youth. But not 
 feeling my mind freed, I arose again, and 
 spoke a few words, and then dismissed the 
 meeting. 
 
 I expected that much would be said in re- 
 lation to this meeting ; but I felt that the Lord 
 approbated me. And if the Lord is for me, 
 who can be against me. " 
 
 Style of Preaching. Sister Lincoln's 
 style of preaching, by those who have heard 
 her, is said to have been good. In private, 
 as we have already noticed, she was natur- 
 ally reserved and retiring in her manners. 
 But in the pulpit, she was bold and attracting ; 
 and as she began to warm up in the spirit of 
 her discourse, this reserve was entirely gone, 
 
TALENTS AS A PREACHER. 45 
 
 In the year 1839, after her marriage, she 
 went with her husband to the town of New- 
 port, R. I. * — and preached in one of the 
 largest meeting-houses in that place. Says 
 Elder Mc Kenzie, who was then pastor of 
 the church — "In reference to her preach- 
 ing at Newport, it was thought she would 
 class with any female preacher, who had 
 ever been there. In her discourse, there was 
 no artificial arrangement ; yet clearness of 
 reasoning — the argument sound — and the 
 motives warm, and from the heart. The 
 seats were all filled, and many were forced 
 to stand. " 
 
 She usually preached without notes, and 
 sometimes with but little premeditation. On 
 another occasion a little girl who was accus- 
 tomed to hear sermons read, went to hear 
 her. After meeting, she was asked how she 
 liked. She replied, " It was the best sermon 
 I ever heard ! on being asked why, she said, 
 "because the preacher talkedout of 'her mouth. ," 
 
 Talents as a Preacher. For talents as 
 a preacher, Sister Lincoln ranked above 
 mediocrity, whether compared with male or 
 
 * Newport, a town on the Island of Rhode Island. 
 
 5 
 
46 MEMOIR. 
 
 female. This we conclude from the fact, 
 that she always sustained herself in that ca- 
 pacity, wherever she went ; and frequently 
 she preached to very large congregations ; 
 and from the testimony of individuals who 
 are themselves men of judgment and taste. 
 Says Eld. Joseph Whittemore, the pastor of 
 the F. W. Baptist church at Tiverton, R. I. # 
 " She was the best hand in conference meet- 
 ings, I ever was acquainted with. I heard 
 her preach several times. Her discourses 
 were talented, and delivered with spirit. " — 
 Eld. Johnson's testimony in relation to a dis- 
 course preached at a protracted meeting in 
 Sandwich, is to the point. It was given in a 
 letter, written to her husband after her death. 
 Says he : — 
 
 "Among the many scenes where I was a 
 co-laborer and witness, in the early life of 
 your lamented companion, there is one, 
 which I presume, I, and many others, will 
 never forget. 
 
 We had a protracted meeting in a grove, 
 
 in the town of Sandwich, Mass. ; where we 
 
 spread our tents like a camp meeting, and 
 
 passed day and night on the ground. 
 
 * Tiverton is a town in the east part of the State of Rhode 
 Island. It was formerly called Pocassett. 
 
TALENTS A3 A PREACHER. 47 
 
 On the last day of the meeting, it was pro- 
 posed to have a sermon at midnight. — The 
 lot fell upon Sister Salome to preach, and 
 she consented. The bright moonlight, falling 
 upon the thick foliage, which formed a can- 
 opy over our heads — produced a kind of dim 
 religious light, through all the arena where 
 we were assembled ! — It being thus pleasant 
 and inviting — a large audience collected. — 
 At the appointed time, Sister Salome accom- 
 pained by one or two female friends, took the 
 stand, and announced her text — 
 
 " And at Midnight there was a cry made ; 
 Behold the Bridegroom cometh ; go ye out 
 to meet him ! — Matt. xxv. 6. 
 
 As she entered into the subject, her heart 
 seemed to grow warm, her faith to increase — 
 and her heavy voice echoed through the 
 moonlight grove with rapture ! ***** — 
 Probably she never spoke with greater power, 
 or more effect ! — The stillness of midnight, 
 contrasted with the voice of warning to the 
 impenitent ! 
 
 This sermon, I afterwards learned, was 
 made the power of God, unto the salvation 
 of several immortal souls. — One young man 
 who was awakened, gave himself no rest, 
 
48 M E M O I R . 
 
 until he found peace in believing. He after- 
 wards went to sea, where he made his grave 
 with the monsters of the deep. — But he left 
 an evidence behind, that, though his body 
 might be rolling in the d ep blue ocean, his 
 soul was at rest with God ! " 
 
49 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 " Women are not for rule designed, 
 Nor yet for blind submission. " 
 
 Having in the two former chapters noticed 
 her conversion, and some of the reasons 
 why she supposed God had called her to 
 preach his everlasting gospel, the reader will 
 pardon me, if I now call his attention back to 
 the period where we closed the first chapter. 
 
 At the time of her conversion in 1822, she 
 was at work in the weaving room in the 
 factory at Hopewell, Taunton, for the Rich- 
 mond Company. When she commenced her 
 labors in the factory we are unable to say ; 
 but it was probably about the year 1821. 
 And here I would remark, that combined 
 with piety and talent, Salome was industri- 
 ous. After she began to travel and preach ; 
 as she received but little from others, she was 
 accustomed to work with her hands to clothe 
 herself; and then go out on her missions of 
 5* 
 
50 MEMOIR. 
 
 love, till it was expended ; being too sensitive 
 to say anything in relation to her circumstan- 
 ces, and the church too covetous to inquire. -* 
 Once she was over one hundred miles from 
 home, without one cent of money ; but God, 
 who from time immemorial has supplied the 
 wants of his children, provided friends for her, 
 and thus she was enabled to return. The 
 Psalmist says ; — " I have never seen the righ- 
 teous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." 
 This is a consoling thought to the poor min- 
 ister, who has sacrificed all for the cause of 
 Christ, and embarked on the stormy sea — 
 life's troubled ocean, perplexed with cares 
 at home and abroad — shunned by worldly 
 wisdom, frowned upon by the ungodly — 
 and destined to meet with new difficulties at 
 every corner. He that embarks in this en- 
 terprise, stimulated by hopes of gain, or self 
 emolument, will be very liable to make ship- 
 wreck of faith before he has sailed far ! The 
 faithful minister receives not his reward here, 
 but in heaven. 
 
 Salome continued to work in the factory 
 
 * This remark will not apply to every place — as there 
 were honorable exceptions— and the Lord will reward every 
 one according to their deeds. 
 
AT WORK IN THE FACTORY. 51 
 
 at Hopewell, until the first of May, 1S29, 
 when an unforeseen circumstance occurred 
 which deprived her of work. The circum- 
 stance is briefly this : 
 
 For some cause, the corporation reduced 
 the wages in the weaving department, where 
 Salome was then at work. The girls indig- 
 nant at this, bound themselves under an obli- 
 gation, not to go back into the mill, until the 
 former prices were restored ; and this not 
 being granted, they formed themselves into a 
 procession, and marched through the streets, 
 to the green in front of the Court house. 
 The procession started from Hopewell, about 
 the middle of the forenoon. They were 
 in uniform, — having on black silk dresses, 
 with red shawls, and green calashes. They 
 then went into a hall near the common, in 
 order to listen to an address. Salome was 
 selected as the orator of the day. She then 
 took the stand, and in her own peculiar style, 
 eloquently addressed them at considerable 
 length, on the subject of their wrongs ; after 
 which th-ey quietly returned to their homes. 
 
 For one inducement, and another, nearly 
 all who had turned out at this time, re- 
 turned into the factory again, and resumed 
 
52 MEMOIR. 
 
 their work. But not so with Salome! — She 
 manfully refused to violate her word ; but 
 chose rather, to leave business — and break 
 up all the social and religious ties she had 
 formed ; than to deviate from the paths of 
 rectitude. After this she never worked in 
 the factory again at Taunton ; but sought 
 employment elsewhere, and was successful. 
 
 After leaving the factory at Hopewell, she 
 returned home, where she remained about 
 two weeks, and then went to Easton, Mass. 
 to work in the mill for Mr. Barzilla Dean. * 
 She worked for him at two different periods. 
 First from May 19th, 1829, to May 29, 1830 ; 
 when she left for a short season, but returned 
 in the fall of the same year, and continued 
 to work for him until February 4, 1831. 
 
 While living at Easton, she boarded with 
 her employer. Says Mr. Dean, — "When 
 in my family, she lived a devoted christian 
 life : All her leisure moments, she spent in 
 reading the Bible. " Says another individ- 
 ual ; a member of the same family : — " She 
 always used to kneel before retiring. It 
 
 * Mr. Dean's factory is located in Easton, about one mile 
 from the Meeting-house, and ten miles north of Taunton 
 Greeiu 
 
AT WORK INTHE FACTORY. 53 
 
 looked strange to me then ; but it made no 
 difference if all the girls were present ; and 
 among her associates in the mill, there were 
 some, who were very rude ; but she would 
 frequently check them. " 
 
 While at Easton, she attended meeting 
 with the Episcopal Methodist, and took a 
 prominent part in their conferences, where 
 her talents shone with peculiar lustre. Says 
 Eld. Benton, who was then preaching there, 
 " She possessed an uncommon mind for one 
 of her sex. She was good in Scripture, and 
 was endowed with talents, which, when con- 
 secrated to the service of God, were capable 
 of making her extensively useful. " 
 
 In the month of June 1829, Salome was 
 reduced very low with a fever. She was con- 
 fined to her bed, at her father's in Raynham, 
 for upwards of three weeks ; but according 
 to her own relation her mind was stayed on 
 God. — July 5th, although extremely weak, 
 she was able to attend a Quarterly meet- 
 ing at Rehoboth, and she gradually regained 
 her strength, and by the blessing of God, 
 was soon able to resume her labor. 
 
 Several years elapsed from the time Sister 
 Lincoln preached her first sermon in 1S27, 
 
54 MEMOIR. 
 
 until she gave herself wholly to the work ; 
 yet she was not idle, as she improved the 
 many opportunities that offered of doing good. 
 During this period, she struggled on between 
 hope and despair; and sometimes she would 
 leave the mill for a short season, and go out 
 to attend meetings, and on these occasions 
 her soul would find matter for encourage- 
 ment, and duty would seem clear ! Had she 
 yielded to these impressions ; undoubtedly 
 she would have enjoyed more of the presence 
 of God ; but individuals are not usually wil- 
 ling to conform immediately to the convic- 
 tions of duty, especially when it is crossing, 
 and for this neglect God frequently severely 
 chastises them. 
 
 In April of 1829 — Salome again attempted 
 to preach. Whether she had preached pre- 
 vious to this, since the time of her first dis- 
 course, we have no notice ; but probably she 
 did. This meeting was held at Capt. White's, 
 in Raynham. — It was Saturday evening, and 
 although the night was dark — and the storm 
 fast gathering, a large number collected. — 
 She addressed them from these words : — 
 " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh 
 away the sins of the world." St. John i. 29. 
 
INCIDENTS WHILE AT E ASTON. 55 
 
 After meeting she was requested to give out 
 another appointment. She accordingly con- 
 sented to preach the next day, {Sunday) at 
 two o'clock ; but as she was going home 
 Satan suggested to her, that she had said all 
 that night she could, and she would have 
 nothing remaining to add on the morrow. 
 
 The next day she went to her appointment, 
 but without a subject. The adversary of 
 souls, who goeth about like a roaring lion, 
 hurled his firey darts, thick around her, and 
 led her to believe, that if she attempted to 
 speak, she would get confounded. The peo- 
 ple had began to assemble, she took her Bible, 
 but searched in vain for a text. Here she was, 
 as Satan had told her — the hour arrived — 
 the audience assembled — no text — no sub- 
 ject — and nothing to say ! — What could she 
 do ? — Perhaps she might have felt as Eld. 
 Colby did, when on one occasion, about the 
 first of his preaching, after getting confound- 
 ed, like going to the river and drowning her- 
 self. But in this instance God who is a 
 present help in every time of need, supplied 
 her with a subject, in season to deliver a 
 feeling discourse, from the Psalmist — "If the 
 foundations be destroyed, what can the righ- 
 teous do.'' — Psalms xi. 3. 
 
56 MEMOIR. 
 
 She gave another appointment for the next 
 Sabbath at a Mr. Smith's, and when the time 
 arrived spoke from these words, — 
 
 "So the ship master came to him, and said 
 unto him, what meanest thou O sleeper ? Arise 
 and call upon thy God ; if so be, God will 
 think upon us, and we perish not !" — Jonah 
 i. 6. 
 
 The year 1830, was noted for a powerful 
 revival of religion in Easton, and its vicinity. 
 It is said to have been the most extensive, 
 ever known in that section, and in this work, 
 Sister Lincoln was actively engaged. In 
 speaking of it in a letter to a friend, she 
 says : — ***** « The ark of the Lord 
 seems to be moving on ! The brethren and 
 sisters, labor like those accustomed to the 
 yoke ! about twelve professed faith in Christ, 
 during the first four days, and last evening 
 we numbered about one hundred and twenty 
 at the altar for prayers ! — Since then the 
 work has moved onward with power. This 
 work far surpasses any thing I ever saw, all 
 classes and ages from eleven to ninety, are 
 the subjects of divine grace. It is still spread- 
 ing with power and glory ! " 
 
 Connected with her history at Easton, are 
 
INCIDENTS WHILE AT EASTON. 57 
 
 some pleasing associations. She formed a 
 large circle of acquaintance and friends, to 
 whom she was ardently attached through life. 
 Among her most intimate companions, was 
 Sophronia Packard, who worked in the same 
 room with her, and hoarded in the same 
 family. 
 
 Sophronia experienced religion, during the 
 revival in Easton in 1830. She was then at 
 home, and Salome and another lady was 
 there on a visit, Sophronia was deeply dis- 
 tressed in her mind, and requested Sister 
 Lincoln to pray with her. They then knelt 
 together, the two ladies on either side, while 
 Salome addressed the throne of grace in a 
 solemn and feeling manner ; and when they 
 arose the other lady remarked to her : — 
 
 " Sophronia has received light." 
 
 " I know it — I know it !" replied Salome. 
 
 The clouds of darkness were dispelled 
 from her mind, and the glorious Son of righ- 
 teousness spoke peace to her wounded soul. 
 
 From this time, to the time of her death 
 she lived a devoted christian. She died hap- 
 py, and just before departing this life to be 
 with Jesus, she exhorted her husband to pre- 
 
 6 
 
58 MEMOIR. 
 
 pare to meet her at the judgment seat of 
 Christ. 
 
 The day she was taken sick, seven weeks 
 before her death, she wrote some resolutions 
 to govern her future life ; and excepting an 
 inscription addressed to her husband, to be 
 placed on her tablet, this was her last busi- 
 ness, having been taken sick the same night. 
 The following is an extract : — 
 
 " This day do I fully surrender myself to 
 Thee, to be thine through Time and Eter- 
 nity ! All that I have, and am to be disposed 
 of, as thou seest fit. Grant Lord to give 
 me grace to perform, and strength to fulfil 
 all the obligations I make this day to thee. 
 O Lord, I beseech thee to keep me unspotted 
 from the world ! May every morning of my 
 life, witness a renewal of myself to thee ! 
 #'#' # # # Grant me grace sufficient to keep 
 this resolution ; — and may this solemn vow 
 not be broken, till death seals in silence, my 
 mortal tongue." 
 
 SOPHRONIA II. SNELL. * 
 
 She has gone ! Her happy spirit, freed 
 from its tenement of clay, and accompanied, 
 by angels, took its flight away from earth, Sep- 
 
 * Her name after marriage. 
 
INCIDENTS WHILE AT EASTON. 59 
 
 tember 7, 1837, to reap the rich reward of 
 the christian. She could say with the poet, — 
 
 ° Ye glittering toys of earth adieu, 
 
 A nobler choice he mine ; 
 A real prize attracts my view, 
 
 A treasure all divine !" 
 
 Said one of old, " Let me die the death of 
 the righteous, and let my last end be like his." 
 There is a marked contrast between the 
 death-bed scene of the righteous, and the un- 
 godly, him that is prepared, and him who 
 hath squandered life away, until his glass has 
 run out, without securing an interest in the 
 kingdom of heaven ! 
 
 The ardent attachment formed between 
 these two individuals, remained unshaken till 
 death. The following extract from a letter, 
 written by Sister Lincoln, will serve to show 
 the nature of that friendship. It was written 
 at Easton, and elated June 10, 1830. 
 
 This letter independent of the sentiment, 
 will serve to illustrate her brilliant style of 
 writing. I think it among one of the most 
 excellent productions I have ever read, and 
 would recommend it to the careful perusal of 
 every reader. It reads as follows : — 
 
 "Dear Friend : —In compliance with your 
 request, I now propose to dedicate a few 
 
60 MEMOIR. 
 
 lines to you, as a memorial of that friendship, 
 which commenced with our first acquaint- 
 ance, and has strengthened till I find you 
 twining like a silver chord around my heart— 
 A friendship so sacred that death itself can- 
 not dessolve the tie that hinds us together ! 
 But when life's flickering lamp has ceased to 
 burn, and our bodies are consigned to the pale 
 mansions of the dead, I humbly trust our 
 kindred spirits will rise through the ethereal 
 blue, to those mansions of eternal rest, where 
 no sorrow or distress, will ever have admit- 
 tance for one moment, to mar our felicity, or 
 disturb the aspiration of praise, to the great 
 fountain of all happiness ! 
 
 I rejoice exceedingly in the choice you 
 have made in early life of religion. You 
 have enlisted in the best of all causes, and 
 some experience has taught me that wisdom's 
 ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her 
 paths are peace. 
 
 Though your paths may not always be 
 strewed with thornless roses ; yet you will find 
 by a close walk with God, every trial will 
 be sweetened, and your path will grow brighter 
 and brighter until the perfect day." 
 
 Yours &c, Salome Lincoln. 
 
INCIDENTS WHILE AT EASTON. 61 
 
 Life's flickering lamp in both these indi- 
 viduals has now gone out, and doubtless their 
 kindred spirits are united in heaven ! It is a 
 pleasing reflection to the christian, that though 
 death may sever earthly ties ; yet in heaven 
 we shall be re-united, forever beyond the 
 influence of dissolution. 
 
 At the death of Sister Lincoln, the follow- 
 ing memento was found among her papers : 
 
 TO SALOME. 
 
 " Go lovely girl o'er distant hills, 
 Some friend more blest than I to find ; 
 
 And when the evening dew distills, 
 Let memory call past scenes to mind ! 
 
 'Thy joys — thy sorrows here to share, 
 
 Perhaps will never be my lot ; 
 But thou may'st grant this fervant prayer, 
 Forget me not— -forget me not ! 
 
 And when the flowers of summer, bloom 
 
 Upon the grave where I shall sleep, 
 Come then and on my silent tomb, 
 
 One tear of friendship kindly weep." 
 
 Sophronia H. Packard. 
 
 6* 
 
62 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE FEMALE PREACHER. 
 
 "" Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every 
 creature." — Christ. 
 
 Beautiful upon the mountains, 
 Are the messengers of peace." — Adams. 
 
 Amid all the trials, attending the labors of 
 the faithful minister, there is a pleasure in 
 preachi?ig the gospel, which has its rise, from 
 knowing that we are useful as the servants of 
 Christ, and from complying with the convic- 
 tion which God has implanted in our bosom, 
 that it is our duty. Now if it be true, that 
 man cannot satisfy the requisitions thus made, 
 and hence enjoy happiness ; and if God has 
 implanted the same conviction of duty, in 
 the breast of woman, how can she any more 
 than man, rest satisfied or expect happiness, 
 unless she obey the calls of God ? 
 
 I expect that in heaven, woman will occu- 
 py as high a rank among the happy myriads, 
 as man, and will tune her voice in the praises 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 63 
 
 of God, as high as any of the angels, who 
 have sung in paradise for ages. But her 
 voice will be melodious there, in proportion 
 to her faithfulness here. This being the case 
 there is an incentive for ivoman, as well as 
 man, to forsake all and follow Christ. 
 
 It was this that actuated Salome to leave 
 father and mother, brother and sister, neigh- 
 bors and friends, and to break up all the 
 social relations of life in order to Preach the 
 Gospel ; and if there is joy in heaven over 
 one sinner that repenteth, who would wish to 
 deprive her, or any other woman from par- 
 ticipating in that joy. 
 
 As the spring of 1830 wore away, and as 
 the tender buds began to swell, and summer's 
 splendor to dawn, her heart expanded with 
 benevolence ; and she began to feel still more 
 deeply for the lost condition of a dying world. 
 In view of this she resolved to forsake all, 
 and proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. 
 Accordingly May 18th, she left the factory at 
 Easton, and made preparation for more ex- 
 tended usefulness. 
 
 One week before she left Easton, as she 
 was returning on the Sabbath from meeting, 
 she stopped by the way at five o'clock to at- 
 
04 MEMOIR. 
 
 tend a conference. A cloud of darkness, 
 according to her own relation, hovered over 
 her mind, and she felt as though her soul was 
 barren, and she should have nothing to do or 
 say. She entered the room, and took her 
 seat, but on casting her eye around, discov- 
 ered one with whom she labored. 
 
 This girl was seriously inclined, and one 
 whom Salome highly esteemed ; but of any- 
 thing further, she was not aware. Yet there 
 was a silent whispering within, which told her 
 that all was not right. As the contest was 
 going on between the enemy and the spirit, 
 Salome arose to speak ; and the first word 
 she uttered was like a nail, fastened in a sure 
 place ; it sunk deep into the heart of her 
 friend, and when the meeting closed, she 
 found her under deep concern of mind for 
 the salvation of her soul. From this meet- 
 ing they repaired to a class meeting, where 
 her friend was soon basking in the sunshine 
 of God's Eternal Love, his spirit testifying 
 with her spirit, that she was born again. 
 
 The first discourse that Sister Lincoln 
 preached after leaving Easton, was at Hope- 
 well, at the residence of Mrs. Hall. It be- 
 ing the place where she had formerly worked, 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 65 
 
 and many of her old acquaintance still re- 
 maining, she naturally had fears in relation 
 to what they would think and say. But not- 
 withstanding this she went boldly forward in 
 the discharge of duty, and when the hour for 
 meeting arrived, the house was crowded with 
 spectators, many of whom had doubtless 
 come with no other view, than to hear Salome 
 Li?icoln. There are many individuals, who 
 will turn out to meeting when some stranger, 
 or exciting preacher is to be present, when 
 in the same places, on ordinary occasions, 
 the house of God is left desolate. 
 
 Her text on this occasion, was from Deu. 
 xxxii. 11, 12, "As an eagle stirreth up her 
 nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth 
 abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them 
 on her wings ; so the Lord alone did lead him, 
 and there was no strange god with him. " 
 
 This sermon was preached the 28th of 
 May, and the next day being Saturday, she 
 went in company with Miss Liscom * to a 
 town a few miles S. W. of Taunton, where 
 
 * Elizabeth Liscom, now Freach. To her Salome was 
 ardently attached, and from her she received as much en- 
 couragement during her severe trials, as from any other in- 
 dividual. 
 
66 M EMOIR. 
 
 she spent the Sabbath. During the day she 
 
 attended meeting with the , * and 
 
 listened to the discourse of a young man by 
 the name of B * * * *. At six o'clock that 
 evening, being requested, she consented to 
 preach in a school house, in the immediate 
 vicinity ; but during the interval strong oppo- 
 sition was raised among some of the brethren, 
 and when arrived at the place of appoint- 
 ment, they found that no preparation had 
 been made, and the door fast locked. How- 
 ever, two ladies wjent and obtained the key, 
 and opened the door. The house was soon 
 densely crowded, and as not near all could get 
 in, they were forced to take out the windows, 
 in order that those outside might hear. She 
 commenced the exercises by giving out the 
 following hymn, well adapted, not only to 
 her own feelings, but to the occasion. — 
 
 :" Savior of men, thy searching eye, 
 Doth all my inmost thoughts descry ; 
 
 Doth aught on earth, my wishes raise 
 Or the world's pleasure, or its praise 1 
 
 * The name of the town, together with the denomination 
 and individuals, are kept behind the curtain, as strong sec- 
 tarian prejudice was probably manifested, and the respect we 
 have to individual feeling, leads us not to name them. 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 67 
 
 The love of Christ, doth me constrain, 
 To seek the ivandering soids of men; 
 
 With cries, entreaties, tears to save, 
 To snatch them from the gaping grave. 
 
 For this let men revile my name ; 
 
 No cross I shun, I fear no shame : 
 All hail reproach ! and welcome pain — 
 
 Only thy terrors, Lord restrain ! 
 
 Give me thy strength, O God of power! 
 
 Then let winds blow, and thunders roar ; 
 Thy faithful witn ess will f be, 
 
 Tis fixed — / can do all through Thee V 
 
 No one can tell the conflicting emotions, 
 which filled the breast of Salome on this occa- 
 sion. The embarrassing circumstances under 
 which she was placed, was enough to have 
 put to test the feelings of the harder sex. 
 
 Urgently requested to preach, by those 
 too, whom she reasonably presumed were 
 her friends, and then as she moved forward, 
 innocently, and honestly, as she thought in 
 the discharge of duty — to find herself alone, 
 and unprotected save by a few female friends, 
 the way apparently hedged up, the door 
 locked against her, and to witness the silent 
 whisperings of scornful reproach, was ex- 
 tremely severe. But in justice to our de- 
 parted Sister, and others concerned, we are 
 
6S MEMOIR. 
 
 bound to say ; that if there was any prejudice 
 previously existing, it was of but short dura- 
 tion, as on the next day, she received through 
 the hands of Miss Liscom, the following 
 polite note : — 
 
 " Sister Lincoln : — Without doubt you have 
 heard that I did not like to have you preach 
 in this neighborhood. That report is not 
 true, for I should be glad to have you preach 
 here often. The report was through misun- 
 derstanding, or evil intentions. The reason 
 why I did not attend meeting, was, my busi- 
 ness rendered it impracticable. I should be 
 glad tc have you come and preach here, 
 whenever you can make it convenient. And 
 when our house is finished, our pulpit shall 
 be at your service." 
 
 Yours with Christian affection, 
 
 She remained at * * * * about two weeks, 
 and held other meetings, and then returned 
 to Taunton. 
 
 She next went to Rochester Neck. Roch- 
 ester is a town in the southern part of Ply- 
 mouth county. At Rochester she found many 
 friends, among whom were Eldrs. Johnston 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. G9 
 
 and Minor, and while here she preached sev- 
 eral times ; once in a school house on Roch- 
 ester Neck. The notice had been previously 
 given out by Eld. Johnston, — the house 
 was well filled, and the Lord manifested his 
 presence in the midst. She says: — " I felt 
 rather awkward on account of Elder Johns- 
 ton being present, but I made the best of it 
 I could, and as soon as I had concluded, he 
 gave out notice that I would preach again in 
 the evening. I went to my appointment that 
 evening, as deliberately as ever I went to a 
 day's work in my life. The house was very 
 much crowded, besides a large number who 
 could not get in, and were forced to stand 
 outside." 
 
 The next Sabbath she attended a meeting, 
 and preached in the same neighborhood ; but 
 so large a number assembled at the school 
 house, that it was thought best to hold the 
 meeting in a grove near by. Elder Johnston 
 preached in the morning, and Sister Lincoln 
 in the afternoon. The scene on this occasion 
 was truly sublime. Surrounded as she was 
 by a large concourse of people, of both 
 sexes, and of all ages, some of whom had 
 come miles to hear The Female Preacher^ and 
 7 
 
70 MEMOIR. 
 
 who then stood listening 1 with breathless at- 
 tention to the plain truths of the gospel, as 
 they eloquently escaped from her lips, while 
 she stood sheltered from the scorching rays 
 of the sun, under the spreading branches of 
 a lofty tree. The next Sabbath after, she 
 preached in what is called the Old Spruce 
 Meeting-house in Middleborough. * With 
 regard to her discourse there, but little is 
 known by the author. She spent several 
 weeks in preaching in this section, and then 
 left for the Cape. After leaving Rochester 
 she spent several months in preaching at 
 Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Falmouth and 
 Brewster. At Brewster she was the happy 
 witness of several hopeful conversions. 
 
 She went to Falmouth sometime in the 
 month of September, to a camp-meeting held 
 at a place commonly called Wayquoit, and 
 sometimes East Falmouth. On the fourth 
 day of the meetings the preachers were obliged 
 to leave, but Salome remained. The work 
 of the Lord already powerfully begun, was 
 
 * Middleborough is in the South West part of Plymouth 
 County ; aud the Old .Spruce meeting-house, now standing, 
 is about six miles South East from Middleborough Four 
 Corners. 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 71 
 
 rapidly spreading, and twelve individuals who 
 on the morning of that day were in the gall 
 of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity, 
 before night were rejoicing in the Lord. 
 
 She continued to hold meetings for the 
 several succeeding nights, and a large num- 
 ber more were converted. In speaking of 
 this revival, she says, — "The Lord has 
 worked like himself — a wonder working God. 
 It is the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous 
 in our eyes. It cannot be said in this neigh- 
 borhood, as it is frequently said in others, 
 during revivals of religion, that it is only 
 among the weak and silly women, or the 
 lower classes in society, for it is chiefly con- 
 fined to the young men, and those too of 
 promising talents, and from the first class in 
 society." 
 
 And here I would add ; how frequently is 
 the ear pained, and the heart of the faithful 
 christian melted by expressions like those 
 alluded to in the above, and that too from 
 men, whose convictions of truth and duty, at 
 the same time, teach them better — just as 
 though Heaven and Immortal Glory, was 
 good enough for the poor and despised I — 
 But as for them, they have no concern about 
 
72 MEMOIR. 
 
 the future ! Such men, will do well to re- 
 flect, that they have a soul to be saved or lost, 
 a soul of immortal worth ! — Yes, ten thovsand 
 worldshke this, with all its riches, and hon- 
 ors would not pay for the Ransom of such a 
 soul ! And again they will do well to reflect 
 upon the death-bed scene of Thomas Paine, 
 and some other noted infidels ; who, as the 
 lamp of life went out were left in the most 
 abject misery, calling upon an insulted Savior 
 to have mercy ! 
 
 It was during this revival, that two young 
 men, Benjamin and Simeon Eldrich were 
 converted. They were men of promising 
 talent, highly respected among their acquaint- 
 ance, and devotedly pious. What is still 
 more remarkable, but a short time after their 
 conversion, they had strong presentiment of 
 their approaching death. They both followed 
 the sea, and Simeon but a few days before 
 he left home for the last time, went through 
 the neighborhood — took leave of the hills 
 and trees, and as he left each family, invari- 
 ably remarked, that it was his fixed convic- 
 tion that he should never return. About the 
 same period he attended a meeting in the 
 vicinity, and there remarked, — " Some doubt 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. /<J 
 
 that I am willing to die. They say, it is faith 
 untried ! I will think of it, I am willing to 
 die ! — I will think of it again — I am loilling 
 to die ! — I will think of it thrice — I am wil- 
 ling to die ! — The moment my spirit leaves 
 the body, it will be in immortal glory ! " — 
 Who after witnessing such christian fortitude, 
 can for a moment doubt the virtue of religion, 
 or, that 
 
 " Jesus can make a dying bed, 
 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are. " 
 
 Soon after this, he went to sea in a vessel 
 bound for New York, and was lost ! 
 
 Benjamin, though equally impressed with 
 a conviction that the hour drew near for him 
 to depart this life, yet being more retiring, 
 said less about it, to those around him. He 
 was lost from the Schooner Spy, bound from 
 New York to Baltimore. He was passing 
 the lead in the evening, in order to get the 
 sounding, and unperceived fell overboard, 
 and was drowned. They have gone from 
 whence no traveller returns ; but in the lan- 
 guage of the sacred penman, — " Blessed are 
 the dead that die in ihe Lord." 
 
 Sister Lincoln remained at East Falmouth, 
 and vicinity, until about the last of October. 
 7* 
 
74 MEMOIR. 
 
 Her time while there was well spent, in 
 preaching, visiting and attending conferen- 
 ces. From a letter written home to her pa- 
 rents, we learn that while gone, at this time, 
 she preached between thirty and forty dis- 
 courses. This for a female just beginning, 
 and not in the enjoyment of very good health 
 was a large amount of labor. 
 
 An anecdote is related of her while on the 
 Cape in 1830 showing her ardent attachment 
 to the cause of Christ, and the deep interest 
 she felt in the salvation of others. A party 
 was collected to go to the beach to enjoy a 
 short recreation, and among those who joined 
 them, were two young men, who I should 
 judge had not much respect for themselves, 
 for religion, or for any thing else of a weighty 
 character. They were seated on what is 
 called by those who reside on the beach a 
 Horsefoot. Salome in her usually friendly 
 and feeling manner, went up to them and 
 enquired if they enjoyed religion. The 
 only reply they made was, this Horsefoot is 
 
 hard, and rudely left her. But if their 
 
 consciences were not seared as with a hot 
 iron, they heard those words resounding in 
 their ears for more than one twenty-four 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 75 
 
 hours after, and if now living out of Christ, 
 though her tongue is silenced in death, yet 
 she speaketh in an audible voice, in the lan- 
 guage then used — " young men ! do you enjoy 
 religion ? " Prepare before your day of 
 probation ceases, to answer this question, at 
 the judgment seat of Christ ! 
 
 After returning home, she went back to 
 work in the factory at Easton, where she re- 
 mained till sometime in the month of Febru- 
 ary 1831, when she bid a final adieu to the 
 factories, for a higher and nobler calling. 
 
 " How beauteous are their feet, 
 Who stand on Zion's Hill ; 
 Who bring salvation on their tongues^ 
 And words of peace reveal ! " 
 
 With these passing remarks on the life of 
 Sister Lincoln, I shall now close the chapter; 
 and in doing which, it is becoming that we 
 pause and reflect. In the life of Sister 
 Lincoln, we see exemplified in a striking 
 manner, not only a strong mind, a resolute 
 perseverence — a character signalized for its 
 deep toned piety, and strict adherence to 
 truth; but the saered regard of God for his 
 children. 
 
76 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE FEMALE PREACHER. 
 Continued. 
 
 " Home, thy joys are passing lovely ; 
 
 Joys no stranger heart can tell, 
 Happy home, indeed I love thee — 
 
 Can I, can I say farewell 1 s> 
 
 Only those who have been called away 
 from the endearments of home, can conceive 
 of the feelings that agitate the bosom, as the 
 hour rapidly hastens on, when we are to 
 separate ourselves from those we love, and 
 leave the scenes of youth behind, for a resi- 
 dence among strangers. It is then that the 
 past with all its beauties, and the future with 
 all its forbodings, crowd in upon the mind, 
 mingling pain with pleasure. In youth, time 
 lays her finger heavily upon memory^ and 
 stamps her images with indelible impress; 
 so that on an occasion like the one I am de- 
 scribing, we remember all the pleasing asso- 
 ciations connected with youth. 
 
 It is then, that we call to mind the many 
 happy hours we have spent under the foster- 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 
 
 77 
 
 ing care of our parents — We remember the 
 sports of childhood — Our school-day scenes — 
 and how, that let loose from confinement, 
 our hearts would bound with joy, and our 
 bodies glad to be freed, would keep time to 
 its action, as we sped away to join our m rry 
 companions. And as we sat at the window 
 of the coach, which was bearing us away, 
 gazing upon objects rendered familiar from 
 having been oft visited, we realized, perhaps 
 for the first time, how far short earthly plea- 
 sures fall of imparting happiness ! And then 
 too we felt the uncertainty of life. 
 
 Perhaps this is the last — came to the mind 
 with force, and stole a tear ! I have stood 
 around the bed of a dear earthly relative, * 
 and heard the last expiring breath, as the 
 spirit took its departure, and seen the eye 
 silently close in death, and felt to say, " thy 
 will be done." I felt on such an occa- 
 sion that my loss was his eternal gain. But to 
 tear myself from home, knowing not where 
 my lot might be cast, or how my path might 
 be strewed — and called to gaze upon the 
 faces of those I loved, knowing not where 
 we should meet again, far surpassed every 
 * A Father. 
 
78 MEMOIR. 
 
 thing else, I have ever experienced. Many 
 a time on such an occasion, I have felt to say 
 with the poet, 
 
 Can I — can I say farewell ? 
 
 But after a few more such meetings and 
 partings, have come and gone, we shall all 
 part or meet, to part no more ! 
 
 Sometime in the month of May or June 1831 , 
 Sister Lincoln again left home, to spend the 
 summer in Barnstable and Dukes Go's., Mass. 
 Previous to this date she had spent but little 
 time out of her own immediate circle of 
 acquaintance, except for a short season to 
 visit or preach. But now the scale turned ; 
 as after the spring of 1S31, she only occa- 
 sionally visited home — and from 1S31 to the 
 time of her marriage, she was constantly im- 
 merging into new society, and forming new 
 associations. 
 
 The first place she visited, after leaving 
 home this summer, (1831 ) was Pocassett, avil- 
 lage in Sandwich, * Mass. She went to Po- 
 casset to attend a protracted meeting, and 
 while there stopped in the family of Br. Alvin 
 Swift. She preached several times, and from 
 
 * A town in the North West part of Barnstable County. 
 
THE FEMALE PREACHER. 79 
 
 there went again to East Falmouth, the place 
 where she visited and preached in IS30. 
 
 Her labors here, were in conjunction with 
 those of a young man by the name of Pierce, 
 a preacher among the Reformed Methodist. 
 He had been preaching there for some time, 
 and was successful in winning souls to Christ. 
 At this time Salome preached for several 
 weeks, and occasionally visited there for one 
 or two of the following years. And besides 
 the places which we shall mention, there are 
 probably a large number of others, in the 
 vicinity and adjoining towns, where she vis- 
 ited, of which we have no definite knowledge. 
 
 It is not my object to trace her in all her 
 journey ings from town to town, and village 
 to village, and give a minute description of 
 every place and sermon, and in fact it would 
 be impossible ; and such a course would 
 prove both monotonous and uninteresting. 
 Therefore if I lay before the reader, some of 
 the more prominent details, I shall have ac- 
 complished all he can reasonably expect. 
 
 From East Falmouth she went to Holmes' 
 Hole, a village which takes its name from its 
 harbor, in the town of Tisbury, on Martha's 
 Vineyard. Martha's Vineyard embraces one 
 
80 MEMOIR . 
 
 entire county, (Duke's,) and is situated in 
 the South East part of Mass. It is an island, 
 about six miles from the main land. Holmes' 
 Hole is on the north side. It has a beauti- 
 ful harbor, which makes a safe resort for 
 vessels during a storm. Martha's Vineyard,* 
 like Nantucket is isolated from the rest of the 
 world ; and one would almost suppose that 
 its inhabitants, could enjoy the paradise of 
 Eden. 
 
 Besides the one already named, (Tisbury) 
 there are two other large towns, Chilmark 
 and Edgartown ; at these places Salome spent 
 considerable time. 
 
 She went to Martha's Vineyard about the 
 first of July 1831, f with Bro. Hiram Chase 
 and wife. Bro. Chase was at East Falmouth 
 on a visit, where he spent the Sabbath, with 
 his wife's mother. Salome had for a long 
 
 * Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and I think the Eliza- 
 beth Islands, as related by tradition, derived their names 
 from the three daughters of a wealthy gentleman, Martha, 
 Nancy, and Elizabeth, who received those lands as their 
 possession. For the truth of this I shall not be responsible. 
 
 t Sister Chase states, that they carried her to the is- 
 land for the first time she was ever there, in 1831. She 
 s probably correct ; but I find one reference, and only one 
 of her being there in 1830, which is probably incorrect. 
 
THE PREACHER. 81 
 
 time wished to visit the island ; but till now, 
 the way never seemed to be open. 
 
 On the Sabbath alluded to, Br. Pierce 
 preached in the forenoon, and Salome in the 
 afternoon. She had for several days been 
 unwell, and that day so much so, that she 
 kept her bed, until the time of meeting, and 
 then went to her appointment. 
 
 After meeting Mrs. Chase proposed that 
 she should accompany them to the Vineyard, 
 remarking at the same time, that she might 
 make it her home with them, as long as she 
 remained on the island. * Having had strong 
 impressions that God had something for her 
 to do there, she cheerfully accepted the kind 
 offer, and accordingly made immediate prep- 
 aration to leave East Falmouth. 
 
 The first place she preached on the Vine- 
 yard, was at the old meeting house belonging 
 to the Calvinist Baptist in Holmes' Hole. — 
 Her text was : — " Is there no balm in Gilead ; 
 is there no physician there ?"-Jeremiah viii. 22. 
 
 On this occasion she spoke to a crowded 
 house, and a listening congregation ; and 
 many who heard her, were melted to tears. 
 
 After this she frequently preached there, 
 
 * Br. Chase's residence is at Holmes' Hole. 
 8 
 
82 MEMOIR. 
 
 but not much in the meeting-houses, as the 
 desks were made the sanctum sanctorum^ and 
 were too sacred for the proclamation of Free 
 and unmerited Salvation, from the lips of one 
 of God's Female Servants.^ But we have 
 reason to rejoice that the gospel is the power 
 of God unto salvation, whether it is preached 
 by a D. D., or a common Street Beggar. — 
 And still more, it is declared : — " God hath 
 chosen the foolish things of the world, to 
 confound the Wise; and God hath chosen 
 the Weak Things of the world, to confound, 
 the things which are mighty."! While she 
 remained at Holmes' Hole, she held her 
 meetings principally at private houses ; and 
 by a strict christian deportment, she gathered 
 many worthy friends around her, many of 
 whom, will remember her labors there with 
 gratitude and thanksgiving to God. 
 
 Says a friend : — " I expect to see her in a 
 
 * It is -worth}- of note, that after spending much time in 
 another section of the Island, and witnessing many hope- 
 ful conversions, and after gathering around her a large circle 
 of christian friends, who were attached to her, and that 
 when about leaving, she remarked to a friend, "I have no 
 
 pastor to send them, and Br. B must take charge of 
 
 the lambs of the flock. 
 
 t 1 Cor. i. 27. 
 
THE PREACHER. 83 
 
 feiv days. * Salome will stand in her lot and 
 place ! Her preaching here was powerful. 
 The aged, the middle-aged and young, of 
 both sexes, and from all ranks in society, 
 were awakened and led to seek an interest 
 in Christ." 
 
 On the 25th of July she left Holmes' Hole, 
 and went to North Shore, another part of 
 Tisbury, about four miles from the last named 
 place. The circumstances connected with 
 her going to North Shore, are briefly these : 
 Having heard of her preaching at Holmes' 
 Hole, several individuals from there, came 
 down to attend the meetings ; and after 
 meeting, being urgently requested to visit 
 that place, she consented to go. In view of 
 going there she remarked to a friend : — 
 u It is God that calls, and i" must go / " 
 
 The remaining part of the year 1831, and 
 a portion of 1832 and '33, she spent in preach- 
 ing, and holding meetings at the North Shore 
 and in the adjoining section. The Lord was 
 with her, and witnessed her labors, by giving 
 her souls, as seals of her ministry. There is 
 nothing more encouraging to the christian 
 
 * The individual alluded to here, is a firm, though con- 
 scientious believer in the second advent of Christ in 1843. 
 
84 MEMOIR. 
 
 minister, than to see the sinner turning from 
 the error of his ways, and becoming a devo- 
 ted christian — beloved in the church, and 
 useful in the world ! The sacred penman 
 says : — " Let him know, that he which con- 
 verted a sinner from the error of his ways, 
 shall save a soul from death, and hide a mul- 
 titude of sins." — James v. 20. 
 
 While at the North Shore, she generally 
 preached at the school house, but sometimes 
 at a grove near by, in order to accommodate 
 the large number who came to hear. 
 
 The grove is a delightful spot, fitted up 
 with seats, for the purpose of holding meet- 
 ings during the summer months. On one 
 occasion, while preaching at this place, in 
 speaking of the tree under which she then 
 stood, she said, — "When my body sleeps in 
 the dust, this tree will speak." This remark 
 is now distinctly remembered by those who 
 then heard her, and in 1842, nine years after- 
 wards, when a meeting of a similar character 
 was again to be held there ; they were par- 
 ticular in selecting the same tree for the 
 preachers' stand, and the fact of her hav- 
 ing preached there, was several times men- 
 
THE PREACHER. 85 
 
 tioned. How pleasant a spot is often rendered 
 for having been the resort of departed friends. 
 
 On another occasion, (Sabbath morning,) 
 as she came down from her chamber, she 
 was in tears on account of her trials of mind. 
 But she preached all day at the grove ; in 
 the forenoon from a passage in the twenty- 
 fifth chapter of Matthew, and in the after- 
 noon from Acts xxvi. 13 — " At mid-day, O 
 king ! I saw in the way, a light from heaven, 
 above the brightness of the Sun." Says the 
 individual who related this circumstance — 
 " I seldom ever listened to a discourse, with 
 so profound attention as on this occasion* 
 I should not hesitate in pronouncing it, evan- 
 gelical, beautiful and sublime !" * 
 
 The same individual heard her preach 
 again, a short time after from a text in Isaiah. 
 
 The arrangement of her discourses, was 
 usually very clear, and her divisions dis- 
 tinctly marked, but as they were mental rather 
 than written, we have not been able to give 
 much in relation to the matter. But in this 
 
 * This was related by Mr. Anthony Luce, a gentleman 
 who is blind : and individuals of this class, usually hear 
 more critically, than those who are blessed with perfect 
 organs. 
 
 8* 
 
86 MEMOIR. 
 
 instance Mr. Luce gave us what he thinks a 
 correct skeleton ; and as we have not hereto- 
 fore, and shall not prohably hereafter be able 
 to give a specimen, we will now insert it. 
 
 "And a highway shall be there, and a 
 way, and it shall be called, The way of holi- 
 ness" — Isaiah xxxv. 8. 
 
 She divided the subject in the following 
 manner: viz. — 
 
 I. She spoke of the Highway. 
 Christ is the great Highway. 
 
 II. She considered the way to the High- 
 way. 
 
 We are led to the Highway, 
 
 (1.) By Consideration. 
 
 (2.) By Prayer. 
 
 (3.) By Faith. 
 
 (4.) By Repentance. 
 
 (5.) By living Holy Lives, &c. 
 
 The following is an extract of a letter 
 written to Elizabeth Liscom, and will show 
 more fully the success attending her preach- 
 ing this summer. It was written at 
 
 Tisbury, September 5th, 1831. 
 
 " Dear Eliza: — * * * * * After camp-meet- 
 ing I spent three weeks in East Falmouth, 
 
THE PREACHER. 87 
 
 and from there I came to the Vineyard, but 
 did not expect to stop more than one or two 
 weeks. At the first meeting I had in this 
 place, I felt an uncommon anxiety for the 
 people, yet I left the neighborhood, after 
 spending one Sabbath. ****** J then 
 went to the harbor, * which is about four 
 miles, but the people followed me in my im- 
 agination, and I had no rest, till a few days 
 after, when a man came for me to go back. 
 ###*:* At the first meeting I held after re- 
 turning, one backslider was reclaimed, and 
 I have thought every week since, that I should 
 leave the next, but the time has never come 
 when I dared to go. I have now been here 
 two months, and there is a greater prospect 
 of my staying than ever. The cloud which I 
 saw the first day I was here, has been in- 
 creasing ever since, and a number of back- 
 sliders have been reclaimed, one soul con- 
 verted, and several more anxiously inquiring 
 to know what they shall do to be saved. 
 I have been called to converse with one, who 
 was so deeply distressed that she was obliged 
 to leave her school to come and see me ; and 
 though she went away as she came, yet I 
 
 * Holmes' Hole. 
 
88 MEMOIR. 
 
 believe that she is near the kingdom of heaven* 
 I have had some pretty severe trials since I 
 have been here, yet no more than has been 
 for my good. * ** * * I shall wait with impa- 
 tience to hear from you. 
 
 Yours as ever, 
 
 Salome Lincoln." 
 The young lady referred to in the above 
 letter, was probably Emily Look, now the 
 wife of Mr. Leonard Luce. She was the 
 first individual that was converted at the 
 North Shore, under Sister Lincoln's preach- 
 ing. The meeting where she was awakened 
 was held at Mr. Edmund Luce's, sometime 
 in the month of September 1831.* While 
 Sister Salome was speaking, her mind was 
 so powerfully impressed, that she lost her 
 self-control, and fell from her seat. Sister 
 Lincoln stopped preaching, and went to her, 
 and commenced praying. She exhorted her 
 to say : — 
 
 f c Here Lord I give myself away, 
 >Tis all that I can do." 
 
 The next evening, (Saturday,) another 
 meeting was held at the residence of Br. David 
 
 * It might have been in 1830, though Sister Luce thinks 
 it was in 1831. 
 
THE PREACHER. 89 
 
 Butler. Miss Look was still in great distress, 
 but before the meeting closed, her burden left 
 her, and soon she was singing praises and 
 thanksgiving to him who had delivered her 
 soul from the gall of bitterness and the bonds 
 of iniquity. 
 
 Sister Luce is still living in the enjoyment 
 of religion ; and among all the converts 
 awakened under her preaching, none seemed 
 to produce a deeper effect upon the mind of 
 Salome, as may be seen from a letter written 
 by her ; the following is an extract : # 
 
 Raynham, May 15*A, 1831. 
 11 Bear Sister Emily : — It was with pleasure 
 that I received your letter. I was glad to 
 hear that you were trying to serve the Lord. 
 O Sister, I feel a deep interest in your pros- 
 perity ! You was the first I saw converted 
 while I was on the Vineyard ; and although 
 young, may you be a pattern of piety to 
 those around you, and while others may treat 
 the subject with indifference, may it not dis- 
 
 * This letter had evidently been read and re-read, till it 
 was literally worn up, so much so that it could never have 
 had a place in this memoir, had not the author took a copy, 
 as Sister Luce read a part, and from memory, having almost 
 committed it, rehearsed the rest. 
 
90 MEMOIR. 
 
 courage you in your path to heaven. Emily, 
 be determined to be a christian in every 
 sense of the word ! Pray and watch over 
 your deportment ; and in order for this, let 
 me advise you to spend a short season in 
 prayer every morning. This will prepare 
 you for the employment of the day, and will 
 enable you to enter upon them with a suitable 
 frame of mind. Be determined to do nothing 
 that you cannot feel that God approves ; and 
 never fear to be singular, when the customs 
 of those around you are in opposition to the 
 spirit of religion, but let the world know 
 that you are determined to be the Lord's. — 
 And may he bless you abundantly, and give 
 you strength to resist every temptation, for 
 am sensible you will have many. Dear 
 Emily, my heart almost bleeds, when I think 
 of your youth, and the trials to which you 
 will be exposed, especially while the profes- 
 sors of the religion of Jesus are in a luke- 
 warm state. Should you backslide, and wound 
 the innocent cause of the Bear Redeemer, 
 it would rend my poor heart. Yes, I should 
 much rather hear that you had gone to your 
 long home in the triumphs of faith, than that 
 you had renounced your belief in Christ. 
 
THE PREACHER. 91 
 
 But I will hope better things. I trust that 
 should I ever be permitted to come that way 
 again, I shall find you growing in grace, and 
 in the knowledge of the truths as it is in Christ 
 Jesus ; and should we never be permitted to 
 meet on earth, may we meet, where parting 
 will be known no more ! * * * * * I hardly 
 know where to close, for when I get to think- 
 ing about the Vineyard people, I think of 
 so many that I want to see, and so much 
 that I want to say, that I hardly know where 
 to stop. But I must close. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 Salome Lincoln. 
 Soon after the conversion of Emily Look 
 another individual — an intelligent young 
 man was awakened ; it was at an evening 
 meeting, held in the school house. He had 
 just returned from sea, and went to hear her, 
 and after sermon, Sister Lincoln gave an in- 
 vitation for those who desired special prayers, 
 to arise. He arose, remarking at the same 
 time, that he did not do it from any partic- 
 ular impression, but from a settled conviction 
 of duty. It would be better, I apprehend, 
 for the christian community, if every one 
 acted from this principle. If this were the 
 
92 MEMOIR. 
 
 case, the church would have less occasion to 
 mourn over backsliders. He afterwards pro- 
 fessed a hope in Christ, and is now a worthy 
 member of His visible Church. 
 
 Another fact is worthy of notice. While 
 at the North Shore, she formed a Female 
 Enquiring Meeting. These meetings have 
 been continued until the present time, and 
 have resulted in good. 
 
 Her labors were not confined to the North 
 Shore, nor exclusively to any particular de- 
 nomination. She was not possessed with nar- 
 row contracted sectarian views, it was not 
 congenial with her nature. Whenever, or 
 wherever she found the image of Christ, soul 
 mingled with soul, and to such a one, she 
 felt that she was bound by a chord stronger 
 than earthly, and by ties dearer than those 
 which unite parties, sects and denominations ; 
 and with such a one, though she might differ 
 on some minor points, she could heartily 
 join, in carrying forward all the benevolent 
 enterprises of the day. Her's was a Divine 
 mission ; her credentials she received from 
 the Prince of princes, and to his tribunal 
 alone she stood accountable. Those who 
 are so happy as to get to heaven, will find 
 
THE PREACHER. 93 
 
 but one sect, one sentiment, and one feeling. 
 There we shall all be united in enhancing the 
 bliss of paradise. 
 
 As opportunity offered while on the Vine- 
 yard, she went out into other places, and 
 before the close of the year, she had been 
 nearly over the island ; and on several occa- 
 sions received flattering invitations to preach 
 in societies of a different denomination from 
 the one to which she belonged. The follow- 
 ing will serve as a specimen : 
 
 Tisbury, September 3d, 1831. 
 
 The undersigned, being a committee, legally 
 authorized to supply the pulpit in the Con- 
 gregationalist Meeting-house, of Tisbury with 
 a Teacher, would be very glad to hear Miss 
 Lincoln preach next Sabbath, or any other 
 convenient time. 
 
 We are very respectfully yours. 
 
 C. G. A 
 
 M.M . 
 
 Among other places where she preached 
 
 on the Vineyard, was Edgarton and Chil- 
 
 mark.* She preached at Edgarton sometime 
 
 * In relation to her labors at Chilmark, we know nothing 
 definite, more than that she preached there at the residence 
 of a Mr. Luce. We find notice of her being at Edgarton sev- 
 eral different periods. 
 
 9 
 
94 MEMOIR. 
 
 between the first and middle of December ; 
 but nothing more, than that she was counte- 
 nanced by the collector of the port, can be 
 accurately stated, as to the success which 
 attended her visits, but we may reasonably 
 suppose that heaven smiled on her untiring 
 exertions for the salvation of immortal souls 
 here, as well as in other places. The air she 
 breathed on this secluded spot, was wafted 
 from the atmosphere of heaven. It was un- 
 tainted by party corruption, and unimpreg- 
 nated by the damp vapors of the lower re- 
 gions. 
 
 Party feelings, and the divisions in the 
 church, have done more to promote Infidel- 
 ity than all the combined efforts of Hume, 
 Paine, Voltaire, and a host of others. There 
 will be no jarring or party strife in heaven, 
 but in the language of Dr. Dwight : — " The 
 happiness of heaven is not only unmingled, 
 and consummate ; not only uninterrupted and 
 immortal ; but ever progressive" 
 
 Salome has gone to the haven of eter- 
 nal rest, where many of the ransomed, not 
 only from Martha's Vineyard, but elsewhere, 
 will soon join her. She stands at the portal 
 of heaven, ready to hail their happy spirits, 
 
THE PREACHER. 95 
 
 as freed from the clogs of earth, one by one, 
 they take their flight away to the blessed 
 mansions of the Saints. 
 
 With the close of this year (1831) Salome 
 left the Vineyard, and returned to East Fal- 
 mouth, and from thence to Raynham, to visit 
 her friends. 
 
 Martha's Vineyard is separated from the 
 main land by the Vineyard sound ; * and all 
 communication to and from, is carried on 
 with boats. The mail is transported in a 
 ferry-boat which runs from Falmouth to 
 Holmes' Hole. It sometimes happens, that 
 though the sea is perfectly calm in the harbor, 
 yet before you have fairly made out from 
 land, you find yourself tossed about in the 
 midst of rough water. 
 
 It was in this boat that Salome crossed 
 when she left the Vineyard. When they 
 started from the wharf, Mr. Ray the ferry- 
 man, observed, that he had not had so good a 
 prospect of a pleasant voyage for more than 
 two months. Besides Salome, there was one 
 other passenger. They had not proceeded 
 far, however, before the prospect entirely 
 
 * The distance across the sound, from Falmouth to 
 Holmes' Hole is about six miles. 
 
96 MEMOIR. 
 
 changed — the wind commenced blowing se- 
 verely — the sea was boisterous, and the pros- 
 pect anything but encouraging. The waves 
 dashed so high, and beat against the boat 
 with such violence, that they found it exceed- 
 ingly difficult to keep their seats. They arrived 
 at Falmouth about sunset, having been tossed 
 about on the briny deep for the most part of 
 the afternoon. She says, " I expected to have 
 had to remain at Falmouth until the next 
 morning, but as good fortune would have it, 
 five minntes after I landed, Bro. Kimball, 
 from East Falmouth with a horse and sleigh, 
 called for me, and carried me directly there." 
 Thus closed her labors for the year 1831 ; 
 and in closing this chapter, I remark, that 
 but few individuals have been more incessant 
 in their exertion to do good, than Sister Sa- 
 lome. And though oftentimes wearied with 
 the monotonous round of duty, and often- 
 times severely tried, yet she could respond 
 with the poet — 
 
 u There is a home of peaceful rest. 
 
 To mourning wanderers given ; 
 There is a tear for souls distressed; 
 
 A balm for every wounded breast — 
 'Tis found alone — in Heaven l" 
 
THE PREACHER. 97 
 
 Besides preaching a large number of ser- 
 mons, and attending- other meetings, she also 
 labored with her hands, in order to supply 
 herself with the necessary articles of apparel, 
 and to meet the incidentary expenses attend- 
 ing her travels, and in every way strove to be 
 useful in the cause of Christ by winning souls 
 to him. 
 
 9* 
 
98 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE FEMALE PREACHER. 
 
 Concluded. 
 
 "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after 
 me, cannot be my disciple. 55 — Christ. 
 
 Scenes of love and sacred friendship, 
 
 I will bid you all farewell ; 
 O'er the earth's wide face to wander, 
 
 News of Jesus 5 love to tell ! 
 
 In this life, we anticipate much happiness 
 from the future, and eagerly grasp at objects 
 not yet attained, and ere we reach them, they 
 have like the empty bubble, quickly vanished 
 away — the main happiness being derived from 
 anticipation. 
 
 Reader is not this strictly true ? 
 
 How many sleepless nights you have spent 
 in meditating upon some scene of plea- 
 sure, which you fondly anticipated would 
 yield a full cup of happiness ; but alas ! when 
 the day, and the hour arrived how often has 
 some trivial event, frustrated all your plans,, 
 and sent you away sadly disappointed ! 
 
 " But why is it so !" you ask. 
 
THE PREACHER. 99 
 
 In reply, I would answer, it arises from the 
 unstable nature of all earthly objects, and 
 their insufficiency, without the aid of a higher 
 and nobler principle, of imparting true hap- 
 piness. 
 
 Moses understood this, when he chose to 
 suffer affliction with the people of God, pre- 
 ferring the reproach of Christ, to the treasures 
 of Egypt. * 
 
 The three Pious Jews, understood this, 
 when they chose to obey the King of Kings, 
 and suffer the scorching flames of a fiery 
 furnace, seven times heated, rather than to 
 bow down to a wicked monarch, f 
 
 Daniel understood this, when he chose a 
 den of Lions, to the honors of the Medo- 
 Persian Empire, and to serve the God of 
 heaven, rather than his impious king. J 
 
 The Prophets understood this, as they 
 peaceably yielded their lives between the tem- 
 ple and altar, § rather than to conform to the 
 wicked customs of their backslidden nation. 
 
 Stephen understood this, when he sweetly 
 
 * Heb. xi. 24, 25. 
 
 t Daniel iii. Chapter. 
 
 * Daniel vi. 1-24. 
 
 § Acts vii. 52. Matthew xxiii. 34-36. 
 
100 MEMOIR. 
 
 breathed out his life, in the midst of his per- 
 secutors, rather than cease to testify of Christ 
 and him crucified.*" 
 
 All the martyrs, primitive christians, and the 
 true church, understand, that in order to be- 
 come a disciple of Jesus Christ, and meet with 
 Divine Favor, and enjoy solid, unfading hap- 
 piness, they must bid farewell to all the sin- 
 ful pleasures of the world — be willing to 
 bear his cross, and to have their names cast 
 out as evil ; and if necessary to go to the 
 stake — the scaffold — to the burning flames, 
 and in a word, to suffer martyrdom in all its 
 varied forms, rather than sacrifice truth on 
 the altar of error. Here is the basis of true 
 happiness — it is a choice pearl of great price, 
 and is found alone in religion. He that seeks 
 to find it in the world, will seek in vain, 
 
 Our beloved Sister, whose memoir we are 
 transmitting, understood this, when she at 
 last yielded to duty, (though she knew it 
 would make her unpopular) and began pub- 
 licly to testify of Christ, and him crucified. 
 
 But I am digressing, and to return : — On 
 the first of January 1832, we find Salome 
 again visiting at Raynham ; but by the fourth 
 * Acts vii. 54-60. 
 
THE PREACHER. 101 
 
 of February, she was mingling her prayers, 
 with the prayers of her friends on Martha's 
 Vineyard. 
 
 The year 1832, is one that will long be re- 
 membered in this country, on account of the 
 cholera, which to some extent raged, spread- 
 ing terror through the land. However, it 
 was not so severely felt in New England, as 
 was generally feared. 
 
 When Sister Lincoln arrived at Holmes' 
 Hole, a ship from Europe was lying there, 
 on board of which, two individuals had died 
 of this dreadful malady, and in consequence 
 of this, as might be expected, much excite- 
 ment prevailed over the island. In life, we 
 are in the midst of death ; but so long as we 
 enjoy health and its attendant blessings, we 
 have but few fears. The sailor in calm 
 weather, may vainly boast of his daring ex- 
 ploits, and tell how he can brave the dangers 
 of the deep ; but let the scene suddenly 
 change, let clouds gather — the winds arise — 
 the tempest increase, and the waves roll moun- 
 tain high, tossing his frail bark about with un- 
 manageable fury, threatening to engulph him 
 in immediate destruction ; and you no longer 
 hear him tell of his courage and skill, but his 
 
102 MEMOIR. 
 
 cry is, " What shall I do to be saved?" And 
 this feeling is not peculiar alone to the sailor, 
 but it is witnessed in all the varied walks of 
 life. Let danger approach, and let the last 
 earthly refuge be taken from us, and what- 
 ever may have been our former principles, 
 we seek protection alone in God. 
 
 About the eighteenth of March, (1832,) 
 Sister Lincoln was the happy witness of 
 another hopeful conversion to God. The 
 subject of Divine favor in this instance, was, 
 Mary C. Cottell, wife of Capt. Charles Cot- 
 tell, at the North Shore. She relates the cir- 
 cumstance as follows : — " When I first heard 
 this child of God, in 1832, I was in a state of 
 sin and unbelief ; but as she set forth the love 
 of God to man — the beauties of His holy re- 
 ligion — and His readiness to save unto the 
 uttermost all who came unto him, I felt that 
 I was a lost sinner, and destitute of a hope 
 in Christ. But by Sister Lincoln, I was led 
 to the Savior as my only hope, and through 
 her instrumentality, and the blessing of God, 
 I was converted. Often has her supplicating 
 voice been raised for me, and not for me 
 only, but for many others, who were led to 
 embrace the Savior, through her preaching." 
 
THE PREACHER. 103 
 
 Many more such witnesses might be gathered 
 had we time, and means to devote to it, but 
 were we to multiply them here, it would add 
 but little interest to this work ; and it is my 
 aim to avoid repetition as far as practicable, 
 but in a work of this character it is impossi- 
 ble entirely to do so. 
 
 From a letter dated April 18, 1832, we 
 learn that Sister Lincoln was at Edgarton, 
 Martha's Vineyard, waiting for an opportu- 
 nity to go to Nantucket. 
 
 Nantucket is an island ten miles east of 
 Martha's Vineyard, and twenty-four south of 
 Cape Cod. It is a place of considerable 
 business, and in 1840 contained 9,512 inhab- 
 itants. In 1820 there were belonging to 
 Nantucket seventy-tivo whale ships, whose 
 burden together, exceeded twenty-one thous- 
 and, six hundred tons. 
 
 While waiting at Edgarton, she spent her 
 time in holding meetings. She went to Nan- 
 tucket in a packet ; they started from the 
 wharf about midnight, and the next morning 
 at sunrise arrived at the place of destination, 
 and having never been there before, she was 
 a stranger in a strange land ; but did not re- 
 main such long, as the brethren learning that 
 
104 MEMOIR. 
 
 she was on the island sought her out, and 
 gave her a home among them while she staid. 
 
 She remained at Nantucket several weeks, 
 and preached at various places, and among 
 thejrest, one evening at the African Chapel ; * 
 in speaking of this meeting, she says, — " The 
 house was well filled with a respectable and 
 attentive congregation, about half of which, 
 were whites. To me, it was a novel scene 
 to look into the galleries, and behold it filled 
 with black singers. There is a flourishing 
 society on the island, made up of colored 
 people. I have been to one of their Class 
 Meetings, their leader is a man of color ; and 
 it is interesting to witness the deep toned 
 piety, and union of feelings, which seems to 
 prevail among them." 
 
 Amid all the sweets of life, Sister Lincoln 
 tasted much of the bitter ; and it is truly 
 surprising to see the pains some individuals 
 will take, to render the condition of those 
 around them unhappy. I do not speak in 
 particular reference to Nantucket — I never 
 
 * Says her husband,— "Salome was a friend to the col- 
 ored man, having early manifested that friendship, by uniting 
 herself with an Anti-Slavery Society, while they were in 
 their infancy, and carrying out its principles through life." 
 
THE PREACHER. 105 
 
 was there, but I do not imagine they are worse 
 in that place, if as bad, as in many other. 
 
 Our church — Our minister — and our prin- 
 ciples, with many, seems to be of more im- 
 portance than holiness of heart ! And what 
 is still worse, this is emphatically so with 
 many, who are professedly pious. How 
 long such a state of things will exist, the 
 Lord only knows ! 
 
 I repeat it again, and I wish it distinctly 
 understood, that I do not make these remarks 
 particularly in reference to Nantucket. Let 
 not the reader suppose that because Sister 
 Lincoln met with slight opposition there, that 
 the inhabitants are sinners above every other 
 place ; for had she never met with greater 
 trials, her life would have been compara- 
 tively free from sorrow ! Then let us not go 
 abroad to find this abominable zvickedness, but 
 let us come right home — to our own commu- 
 nity — to our own hearts, and if we are free 
 from it ourselves, we are truly fortunate ! 
 May the Lord grant it ! That Salome met 
 with some opposition at Nantucket, is evident 
 from the following extract of a letter written 
 home. Perhaps it might as well be omitted, 
 but as it is short, and expressive of her feel- 
 10 
 
106 MEMOIR. 
 
 ings, I will insert it. She says, — "There ap- 
 pears to be considerable opposition manifested 
 
 towards me here, by the church. But 
 
 last evening curiosity or something else, 
 prompted them to give up their own meeting, 
 and the 'preacher with all his people attended 
 with us. However, they manifested no dis- 
 position to unite, as after preaching not one 
 of them had any thing to say. God knows 
 their motives — I will not judge them. It was 
 a severe trial of my faith — but I expected 
 trials when I started, I expected it would 
 cost all to gain Heaven, and if I gain it at last, 
 I shall be richly compensated for all I have 
 suffered here I — I shall then come off con- 
 queror, and more than conqueror through 
 him that hath loved me, and given himself 
 for me ! " 
 
 Soon after leaving Nantucket she returned 
 to East Falmouth, and from thence to Ware- 
 ham where she staid one week, and held 
 meetings. She speaks of the meetings as 
 not being attended with any particular inter- 
 est. From thence she went to Rochester, 
 and stopped one night, and the next day in 
 company with Eider Johnston, and Sister 
 Burgess, went to Rehoboth to attend a four 
 
THE PREACHER. 107 
 
 days meeting. At Rehoboth she met with 
 many of her old friends and acquaintance, 
 it was a pleasant meeting ! Such occasions 
 are often rendered delightful, as they give us 
 an opportunity to converse upon the scenes 
 of former days ; and the mind is so con- 
 stituted, that it loves to dwell upon the past 
 as well as the future, especially on such parts 
 as have rendered happiness ; — from Rehoboth 
 she returned home, having now been gone 
 several months. 
 
 She remained at home till September, and 
 took several short journeys — preaching Christ 
 wherever she went, both in her own neigh- 
 borhood, and in the adjoining towns. Sep- 
 tember 12th, she received an invitation to 
 visit several societies in Connecticut ; whether 
 she complied with the request or not, the 
 author is unable to say. The following is a 
 copy : — 
 
 Rochester, September 12, 1832. 
 
 " Dear Sister : — The brethren in different 
 societies in Connecticut, are anxious to have 
 you come through this section this fall. — 
 Should you come by week after next, you 
 will have an opportunity to ride to the Ver- 
 mont Conference. If providence opens the 
 
108 MEMOIR. 
 
 way, please to inquire for Br. Baker, Neiv 
 Hartford; Ethan Walker, Luther Discall, 
 Goshen ; and Josiah Brunson, John May, and 
 Thomas Morgan, Kent. 
 
 Respectfully yours, fyc. 
 
 Ethan Walker. 
 
 For the remaining part of this year, and 
 the most of 1S33, we shall be able to say 
 but little in relation to the labors of our de- 
 parted Sister ; but probably she spent the 
 time in preaching on the Cape, at Martha's 
 Vineyard, and in the neighborhood of her 
 father's. 
 
 In the spring of 1833 she was at Tisbury, 
 where she had been through the winter 
 months ; but soon after she left, and never 
 returned, except in one or two instances to 
 visit and attend a camp meeting, which I 
 shall hereafter notice. Her labors on Mar- 
 tha's Vineyard were appreciated, especially 
 at the North Shore. She w r as respected in 
 every section of the island, and beloved by a 
 large circle of friends, 
 
 Passing over the events of 1833, we now 
 come to another important era in her life. — 
 From the last of May 1834, to the middle of 
 August, she preached in Boston, and the ad- 
 
THE PREACHER. 109 
 
 joining towns, and from the recommendation 
 written by Elder Norris ; we learn she was 
 favored with large congregations ; * and the 
 approbation of those who heard. She was 
 here at two seasons, first in May, and then 
 again in July ; she preached for the Re- 
 formed Methodist in Bedford Street, and 
 had made her arrangements to go to Low- 
 ell, but as the President of the Conference 
 advised her to defer it till some other time ; 
 she put it off. She remained in Boston about 
 two weeks, and preached twelve discourses 
 besides attending other meetings. 
 
 After leaving Boston, she made immediate 
 preparation to return to the Cape, to spend 
 the season ; her cousin Nancy M. Philips, 
 (now White) was expecting to go with her, 
 but providence seemed to order otherwise, 
 as after they had got every thing in readiness, 
 an individual from South Bridge water came 
 after her to go there and preach ; accord- 
 ingly she relinquished the design of going to 
 the Cape, and returned with him. 
 
 East, West, North and South Bridgewater, 
 were formerly one town, situated on the 
 north western boundary of Plymouth County. 
 * See Page 42. 
 
 10* 
 
110 MEMOIR. 
 
 It was first divided into four parishes, and 
 afterwards into four distinct towns. South 
 Bridgewater retaining the original name, and 
 the others taking the name East, West, and 
 North Bridgewater. 
 
 At Bridgewater she preached in a meeting- 
 house belonging to the Universalist. An 
 anecdote respecting her labors there, may 
 not be uninteresting to the reader. 
 
 One evening after she had concluded her 
 sermon, she gave an invitation for others 
 who might wish, to make improvement ; and 
 accordingly a gentlemen who was then under 
 the influence of drink, immediately arose and 
 began to speak. The exhortation would have 
 passed off very well, especially among those 
 unacquainted with him, had not Salome as 
 she was passing out of the house, gone near 
 enough to smell his breath. It was now her 
 turn to exhort, which she did in a faithful 
 manner, and after becoming sober, he was 
 heartily ashamed of his conduct. 
 
 From Bridgewater she returned to Boston. 
 This was sometime in the month of July, 
 and she remained there till about the middle of 
 August, when she left to visit the State of 
 Maine. She was in Boston on this visit about 
 
THE PREACHER. Ill 
 
 six weeks, and the manner she employed her 
 time, may be seen from the following inter- 
 esting letter written to her cousin, Nancy M. 
 Philips. It was dated July 26, 1843, and 
 reads as follows : — 
 
 "Dear Cousin, ***** I am as pleasantly 
 situated as I could be in the city ; and although 
 there are twenty in the family, * yet I have a 
 room, so that I can be by myself almost as 
 much as though there were no other individ- 
 ual in the house. O Mariah ! how I wish 
 you could run in this morning and take a 
 look at my chamber, but as this cannot be, 
 I will tell you how I spend my time. We 
 take breakfast at seven. And Br. Norris has 
 kindly supplied me with books from his libra- 
 ry, so that after breakfast I am able to spend 
 an hour or two in study and meditation. After 
 this, I work, read, receive company, or make 
 calls, just as circumstances may direct. — 
 Every evening I am engaged, either in class, 
 prayer or preaching meetings, except Satur- 
 day. Yesterday I was at Charlestown, and a 
 week from to-day, I expect to go to Maiden, 
 
 * While in Boston, Salome boarded in the family of 
 Sister Crowell, who kept a boarding house near the Boyls- 
 ton Market. 
 
112 MEMOIR. 
 
 and spend the Sabbath. * * * * * You speak 
 in your letter of doubts, respecting your ac- 
 ceptance with God, arising from unfaithful- 
 ness, but this does not prove to me that you 
 have never received a pardon of sin. I well 
 remember the time when I wholly backslid, 
 and I have cause to lament my unfaithfulness 
 even now ; yet I cannot doubt that I have 
 known something of the power of religion. 
 # * * * Determine to be a christian, and follow 
 the Lord in all things, and then you will find 
 the way comparatively easy." 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 Salome Lincoln. 
 One or two evenings before she embarked 
 for the State of Maine, the city was thrown 
 into commotion, on account of the burning of 
 the Ursuline Convent at Charlestown. This 
 institution was located about two miles west 
 of the Bunker Hill monument. The ruins 
 are still to be seen ; and it is said the Pope 
 intends to let them remain, as a witness 
 against the Protestants, and to ivhetthe sword 
 of vengeance, when he shall have gained the 
 ascendency over this country. And how 
 soon this may take place, the Lord only 
 knows ; but this we do know, Catholicism is 
 
THE PREACHER. 113 
 
 rapidly spreading — the power of the Pope is 
 daily increasing, and we have just reason to 
 fear that shortly, if not checked, we shall have 
 to boio our necks in humble subjection to his 
 holiness, the Roman Pontiff. 
 
 But says the reader, " How shall we check 
 it ? " Not by trampling upon their rights, 
 as freemen — plundering their property — rav- 
 aging their dwellings — burning their institu- 
 tions, — and insulting them at every corner of 
 the streets at open noon-day ; but if it is done 
 at all, it must be done by the poiver of moral 
 suasion ; when that fails, our case is hopeless. 
 And here I could wish, that I had the power 
 to make an appeal that should be heard from 
 the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the north- 
 ern to the southern boundary, from the centre 
 to the remotest corners of our nation. — 
 Christian ! if you regard your own interest, 
 if you would preserve the liberty of your 
 country inviolate, and if you would save the 
 church from the foul contamination of po- 
 pery — awake before you find yourselves 
 locked fast in shackles of inquisition ! 
 
 But do you say there is no cause of alarm ? 
 
 Let me remind you of the former history 
 of the church ; and then look about you, 
 
114 MEMOIR. 
 
 and as you witness their wealth, their daily 
 increase of numbers, and the rapid emigra- 
 tion from other countries, let it stimulate you 
 to put forth every exertion to save yourself, 
 and those around you from this monster, 
 " The man of sin ! " Yet not by physical, but 
 moral force I Never act on the principle of 
 doing evil, that good may come. 
 
 The circumstances connected with the 
 burning of the convent at Charlestown, as 
 related by Sister Lincoln, in a letter written 
 to her father, are briefly these, — * * * * * 
 <£ A young lady from the State of New York 
 sent there by her friends to be educated, was 
 prevailed upon by the authorities, to take the 
 veil ; * but soon repenting of this step, she 
 fled from the convent, and sought the protec- 
 tion of a distant friend. But not long after 
 she was visited by the bishop, who promised 
 her, if she would return with him, she should 
 
 * The veil is an article of dress worn by Nuns ; and 
 after taking it, the individuals are supposed to have dedica- 
 ted themselves to perpetual religious seclusion. When the 
 candidate is about to be made a nun, she puts on a religious 
 habit worn by them, and presents herself before the bishop, 
 and sings " The bride of Christ I am !" She then receives 
 the veil 8?c. and an anathema is denounced against all who 
 shall attempt to make her break her vows. 
 
THE PREACHER. 115 
 
 be honorably discharged in two or three 
 weeks. She accordingly returned, and at 
 the end of three weeks her friends called for 
 her, but she was not to be seen. The select 
 men of the town being applied to, went to the 
 convent and demanded her. She was at last 
 brought forward, when she stated that she was 
 at liberty to go when she pleased, but she chose 
 to remain. Her appearance was such as led 
 to the belief that she had been confined in the 
 cell, and severely tortured, and that she did 
 not speak the truth. Last night (Aug. 11,) a 
 mob of about 1000 men * from this city went 
 over at midnight, in disguise, and with lighted 
 torches searched every cell, and at the same 
 time set fire to the building. The alarm was 
 immediately given, and the engine compa- 
 nies turned out, but when they found what 
 it was, they refused to play, and together 
 with the mob, stood and looked on till it was 
 completely demolished." 
 
 However bad might have been the charac- 
 ter of this institution, it was very unwise, to 
 take the course they did to destroy it; and 
 its ruins has done more to build up catholi- 
 
 * Probably several thousand. 
 
116 MEMOIR. 
 
 cism in this country, than all their preaching 
 for the last two centuries. 
 
 Had the lightnings of heaven destroyed it, 
 we might have rejoiced ; but the same prin- 
 ciple that laid that in ruins, would demolish 
 any other institution, when the sentiment ad- 
 vocated clashed with the corrupt principle 
 of their own hearts. And should I be called 
 upon to prove my assertion, I will only refer 
 the reader to the mob of 1842, which assem- 
 bled around the Bowdoin Square church, 
 while Elder Knapp was lecturing there, and 
 undoubtedly might have leveled it to the 
 ground, had not the city authorities promptly 
 interfered. 
 
 Salome in company with Sister Norris, the 
 wife of Elder Norris, and some other friends 
 embarked for Maine on the fourteenth of 
 August. They went down in a packet bound 
 for Augusta, * which left Boston about four 
 o'clock in the afternoon, and after a voyage 
 of two days, arrived within a few miles of 
 the place of destination. They were in- 
 tending to have landed at Augusta, but the 
 
 * Augusta, the capital of Maine, is a flourishing town 
 situated on the Kennebec river, North East of Portland, 
 and nearly in the centre of the State. 
 
THE PREACHER. 117 
 
 weather proving calm, they were obliged to 
 anchor, and land in the boats at a town a few 
 miles this side. At this place they took the 
 stage and proceeded on to Reedfield.* She 
 stopped at Reedfield several days, and while 
 here preached on Kent's Hill,f to a large 
 congregation. She was solicited to preach 
 there again, but some objection being raised, 
 she declined ; but gave out an appointment 
 for a meeting in a village at Fayette ; | and 
 when the time arrived, a large congregation 
 assembled, and among them, many of the 
 students, who had followed her down from 
 the hill, so eager were they to hear. She 
 afterwards preached several discourses in the 
 same neighborhood, and once in a grove. 
 
 She remained in this section, seven or 
 eight weeks, and while gone, visited besides 
 the towns already noticed, Hallovvell, Augus- 
 ta, Wane, Livermore, Green, Minot, Leeds, 
 &,c. &c. 
 
 "In these places" (says Elder Norris) 
 
 * A town a few miles beyond Augusta. 
 
 t That part of Reedfield where the Methodist School is 
 located. 
 
 t The place where she preached in Fayette, is but a shurt 
 distance from Kent's Hill. 
 
 11 
 
118 MEMOIR. 
 
 " she was generally well received, she drew 
 out hundreds, and in some instances thousands 
 to hear her preach ; and she occupied Meet- 
 ing-houses, School-houses, Town-houses and 
 groves, as the occasion and opportunity seemed 
 to direct. In some of these places her ser- 
 mons produced much effect, especially in 
 Reedfield, Leeds, Fayette, Wane, and Liv- 
 ermore." 
 
 Having closed her visit there she made 
 preparation to return again to Boston, al- 
 though her friends were very anxious that she 
 should remain longer ; and accordingly with 
 those who accompanied her, she took a packet 
 bound homeward, and after a prosperous 
 voyage, landed safely in her own native state* 
 While returning, it is stated she preached on 
 board the boat, but nothing more definite can 
 be said in relation to her discourse. After 
 arriving at Boston she returned home, where 
 she probably remained during the rest of the 
 season. 
 
 Leaving the remaining events of this year, 
 I hasten to close the chapter ; I should be 
 glad if it were in my power, to be still more 
 definite during this period ; although I am 
 sometimes led to think, while reading the 
 
THE PREACHER. 119 
 
 memoir of others, that a constant repetition 
 of events, though interesting in themselves 
 render a work of this character dull to the 
 reader, from the sameness in style, which 
 must from the nature of the case, unavoid- 
 ably occur. But notwithstanding this, I 
 should be glad to particularize here, as I am 
 fully satisfied in my own mind, that this was 
 one of the most important periods of her life. 
 But unfortunately as the papers which we 
 have gathered, throw but little light, the rea- 
 der must remain satisfied at present, * with 
 what I have now in an imperfect manner 
 endeavored to lay before him. 
 
 With the close of this, I shall have finished 
 the series of chapters which I have thought 
 proper to head " The Female Preacher, " and 
 shall enter upon another event which though 
 not so important in its nature, is equally in- 
 teresting; and here I would add, that though 
 I shall not designate her by the title of those 
 chapters, let not the reader gain the impres- 
 sion, that I shall no longer notice her in that 
 
 * Should the sale of this edition warrant us in publishing 
 another, many more facts may be added, as we shall have 
 an opportunity of visiting Maine, and many other places 
 where she labored in 1833 and '34. 
 
120 MEMOIR. 
 
 important relation ; as I have yet several very 
 interesting circumstances to relate. 
 
 And now respected reader ! having traced 
 the life of Sister Lincoln thus far, and having 
 learned her trials, the evidence of her high call- 
 ing, the success which attended her labors, are 
 you not satisfied, whatever may be right or 
 wrong on this subject, that she engaged in 
 this work with pure motives, and with a mind 
 deeply convicted that God had made it her 
 duty. If you are not, any thing further that 
 I could add, will fail of its object, therefore I 
 close the subject. 
 
121 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE WIFE. 
 
 " Marriage is honorable." — Paid. 
 
 " Joys serious and sublime, 
 Such as doth nerve the energies of prayer, 
 
 Should swell the bosom — when a maiden's hand, 
 Filled with life's dewy flowers, girdeth on 
 
 That harness, which the ministry of death 
 Alone unlooseth, but whose fearful power 
 
 May stamp the sentence of Eternity ! " 
 
 While marriage is honorable, it is a solemn 
 and interesting rite ; and those about enga- 
 ging in it, should look well to all its relations. 
 
 Much grace — much wisdom — and much 
 prayer, is needed by those about entering into 
 a covenant, so solemn that the poet tells us, it 
 is stamped wfth the impress of Eternity. — 
 And yet how few there are, especially among 
 the young, who are willing to treat this sub- 
 ject in its proper light. 
 
 Franklin, and some other excellent writers, 
 have recommended early marriage, as the 
 most productive of happiness ; and while I 
 11* 
 
122 THE WIFE. 
 
 would recommend candid and prayerful re- 
 flection, I would in no wise repudiate this 
 sentiment, as doubtless one of the principal 
 causes why so many unhappy unions are 
 formed, is that they are formed no earlier in 
 life. Early marriages are the most favorable 
 for the promotion of happiness, from the fact, 
 that in youth our feelings will more readily as- 
 similate with the feelings of others. 
 
 In selecting a companion, it should be our 
 aim to select one, whose views — whose feel- 
 ings — whose temperament—and whose inter- 
 est, shall correspond with our own ! One with 
 whom we can take sweet intercourse — One 
 who shall be a companion in health and pros- 
 perity — a solace and comforter in sickness — 
 a partner of our misfortunes, and a sharer of 
 our joys ! 
 
 He that marries upon this principle, relying 
 on the blessing of God, will not fail to add 
 not only to his own, but the ^happiness of 
 those around him. But let the individual 
 who unites in marriage with another, on any 
 other principle, remember, that he is prepar- 
 ing for himself a cup to drink, which will em- 
 bitter all the social relations of life. 
 
MEMOIR. 123 
 
 Sister Lincoln first became acquainted with 
 Elder Mo wry sometime in the fall of 1831. 
 She was at that time preaching on Martha's 
 Vineyard, and he was laboring with the Free 
 Will Baptist church at Taunton. And while 
 on one of his pastoral visits, he called at her 
 father's in Raynham. Her cousin, Nancy 
 M. Philips was about writing to her, and as 
 she thought Elder Mowry might sympathize 
 with Salome in her trials, requested him to 
 improve a part of the sheet, which he accord- 
 ingly did ; but without the most distant idea 
 that the correspondence thus begun, would 
 ever result in a union. The following is an 
 extract from the letter then written : — 
 
 Raynham, Nov. 8th, 1831. 
 
 " Beloved Sister in Christ : — Permit one 
 who never beheld your face, to address a few 
 lines to you by way of comfort, while you 
 are upon the same errand of mercy to the 
 human family, as he who is penning these 
 lines : — The errand of salvation ! O how 
 delightful to carry it to the sons and daugh- 
 ters of apostate Adam ! What a theme of re- 
 joicing to our souls, that we were made the 
 partakers of that principle, which teaches us 
 the importance of denying self— taking up 
 
124 THE WIFE. 
 
 the cross — and following in the paths that 
 lead to heaven ! O may we at this time though 
 strangers in the flesh, praise that God in the 
 spirit, who is a spirit, " and seeketh such to 
 worship him ; that it may be done in an ac- 
 ceptable manner." * * * * *- Experience has 
 taught me the trials you have to encounter in 
 this vale of tears, but how happy should we 
 be to think that Jesus has marked the way 
 with his blood. * * * * * O Salome, be faithful 
 in all things, and God will bless you ! study 
 the scriptures — pray much — watch over your 
 own spirit, pray for yourself — pray for Zion ; 
 pray for me — pray for all ! " 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 Junia S. Mo WRY. 
 Soon after receiving this, she took occasion 
 to return the following reply : — 
 
 Tisbury, Nov. 27th, 1831. 
 Brother Mowry : — I acknowledge with plea- 
 sure, the reception of a few lines from you 
 in my cousin's letter, and I now propose to 
 spend the few leisure moments I have, in 
 writing to one whom I can address by the 
 appellation of friend though a stranger in 
 the flesh. 
 
MEMOIR. 125 
 
 There is a tie that binds the lovers of Jesus 
 together stronger than anything of an earthly 
 nature, and while reading your letter, I felt 
 that it was the language of one who knew 
 how to sympathize with me. # * * # * — Yes, 
 Br. Mowry, I can praise God with you, for 
 the promise we have beyond the grave, of an 
 inheritance that is better than any earthly 
 possession, and that we have an earnest of 
 this inheritence in the present life ; and thank 
 the Lord that the way is the same now, that 
 it was when the apostle counted all things 
 as loss and dross for the excellency of the 
 knowledge of Christ. I have never repented 
 the sacrifice I have made for the cause of 
 God, and poor souls. There is truly a satis- 
 faction in proclaiming a full and free salva- 
 tion to the perishing sons and daughters of 
 Adam, and pointing sinners to the lamb of 
 God. * * * * # I will now draw to a close, 
 and if we never meet on earth, may we meet 
 around our father's dazzling throne, there to 
 unite in the praises of His great 7iame" # # * * 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 Salome Lincoln. 
 
 Although these letters passed between them 
 at this time, yet they were not favored with 
 
126 THE WIFE. 
 
 a personal interview, till some months after- 
 wards. 
 
 She returned from the Vineyard in the 
 spring of 1832, and while on her visit at 
 home, she attended a meeting held at Whit- 
 tington village ; * where Elder Mo wry had 
 an appointment to preach. After sermon she 
 made some remarks, and the meeting being 
 concluded, they met and conversed familiarly 
 for a few moments, and then separated ; and 
 from this time till 1835, the year of their 
 marriage, they held but little if any corres- 
 pondence. 
 
 After resigning the pastoral charge of the 
 church at Taunton, Elder Mowry left and 
 went to Tiverton, R. I., and became the Pas- 
 tor of the Freewill Baptist church in that 
 place, and preached to them one half of the 
 time, and the other half they were destitute. 
 This being the case, and Elder Mowry learn- 
 ing that Sister Lincoln had no particular 
 place of labor, proposed to some of the 
 friends, that she be invited to make them a 
 visit. The proposition being acceded to, 
 Elder Mowry soon after went into the vicin- 
 
 * A village about two miles north of the Court House in 
 Taunton. 
 
MEMOIR. 127 
 
 ity of Taunton, to attend a protracted meet- 
 ing, where he found Salome. He informed 
 her of what had transpired at Tiverton, in 
 relation to herself, and she consented to re- 
 turn with him. 
 
 " On the way to Tiverton," says Elder 
 Mowry, " our conversation turned on chris- 
 tian experience in the ministry — minister's 
 families, and the choice of ministers in select' 
 ing their companions for life ; and at about 
 the conclusion, I remarked, that I trusted 
 when God thought it duty for me to be thus 
 associated, he would provide some one, with 
 a heart and qualifications suited to my work I 
 She afterwards told me, that this remark 
 was what first called her mind to the subject 
 of marriage. " 
 
 While at Tiverton this summer, she boarded 
 in the family of Mr. Peleg Sanford. This 
 was in the year of 1835. Half of the time 
 on the Sabbath she preached in the old meet- 
 ing-house, belonging to the Baptists, * and 
 the other half wherever opportunity offered ; 
 and during the week she held meetings in 
 
 * This meeting-house stood where the new Freewill Bap- 
 tist now stands, not far from Adam's Corner in Little Comp- 
 ton. 
 
128 THE WIFE. 
 
 that, and in the adjoining sections. At Tiv- 
 erton she was highly esteemed as a christian, 
 and her labors as in other places were pro- 
 ductive of good. She was made the instru- 
 ment in the hands of God of several hopeful 
 conversions, and among the rest was the case 
 of Br. James Manchester, whose mind at 
 that time, if not bordering on skepticism, was 
 in an impenitent state. One evening during 
 the summer, she preached in a school-house 
 in the town of Westport, * from the following 
 text : 
 
 "Quench not the spirit" — I. Thes. v. 19. 
 
 Br. Manchester was present. The word in 
 times past had failed in reaching his heart, 
 and though his wife who was a professor, felt 
 a deep anxiety for his salvation, and often ex- 
 horted him to seek an interest in Christ, yet 
 like many others, he manifested no concern 
 about himself; and when the spirit of God 
 strove with his conscience, like one of old he 
 would say, " Go thy way for this time, when 
 I have a more convenient season I will 
 call for thee." The word now preached, 
 
 * Westport is a town in the South East part of Mass. in 
 the southern part of Bristol County, South East of Tiverton 
 and West of Little Compton. 
 
MEMOIR. 129 
 
 took a deep root in his heart, and he decided 
 on the spot, that he would seek the Lord, 
 while he might be found, and no longer 
 quench his Holy Spirit, He went burdened 
 with sin about two weeks, and then found 
 peace in believing, and is now an active mem- 
 ber in the church. 
 
 Soon after she came to Tiverton, as is fre- 
 quently the case in such places, it began to be 
 whispered about, that a union was contempla- 
 ted between herself and Elder Mo wry. But 
 in this, as in many other cases where such re- 
 ports are flying, there was but little ground 
 to build upon, as they contemplated no such 
 event till some months after. 
 
 From the following letter written by her- 
 self, it would seem she consented to become 
 the wife of Elder Mowry sometime in the 
 month of September 1S35 ; * and as it is ex- 
 pressive of her feelings on that subject, I 
 shall take the liberty to present the reader 
 with a brief extract. 
 
 Raynham, Sept. 28, 1835. 
 
 u Dear Brother in Christ : In compliance 
 
 * It might not have been till later in the fall. I drew the 
 inference from the letter, but as it is of but little impor- 
 tance ; after reading the letter the reader may draw his own 
 inference. 
 
 12 
 
130 THE WIFE. 
 
 with your request, and in accordance with my 
 own inclination, I have now retired to con- 
 verse awhile with you, though absent ! A 
 privilege which I highly esteem — that of re- 
 tiring from the bustle of the world and con- 
 versing with friends far away. It is some- 
 times more pleasant, even to think of distant 
 friends, than to converse with those that are 
 with us ; but more pleasant still to communi- 
 cate with those that occupy our thoughts — it 
 is next to conversing face to face. Nothing of 
 importance has occurred since I saw you. — 
 I stopped in Taunton the next night, and the 
 following day came home, where I found my 
 friends all well. # * * # * You requested me 
 to write my thoughts when I got home, and 
 was alone. I am now alone ; but if as I then 
 understood you, you meant upon the subject 
 about which we were conversing, I must con- 
 fess I know not where to begin. But with 
 regard to some questions which you asked, 
 and which I did not then answer, I have since 
 thought you might impute my silence to in- 
 difference. But if it would be any satisfac- 
 tion for you to know, I will acknowledge, that 
 were I to consult the feelings of my heart, 
 and then be honest, I suppose I should answer 
 
MEMOIR. 131 
 
 the question in the affirmative; but fearing 
 that my affections were too easily gained, and 
 that you were prompted by pity for my lonely 
 condition more than any other sentiment, I 
 had determined to be guarded in my expres- 
 sions and keep them locked up in the secret 
 chambers of my own heart — at least for the 
 present ; and perhaps it would have been as 
 well if I had not expressed what I have here 
 written. * ### # I feel that I can submit all 
 to the ivill and direction of the Lord ! O that 
 we may be guided by him in all the affairs 
 of life — that whether we spend our days to- 
 gether or apart, we may spend them to the 
 glory of God, and be useful to our fellow 
 creatures ! Pray for me, and pardon this im- 
 perfect scrawl ! " * * # * *. 
 
 Yours in the Lord, 
 
 Salome Lincoln. 
 A few months before her marriage, she 
 again visited Martha's Vineyard to attend a 
 camp-meeting. They had a pleasant voyage, 
 and arrived on the island a little after sunset, 
 and just as the services for the evening were 
 commencing. In the language of the poet it 
 
 was a 
 
 u Sweet day, so pure, so calm, so bright, 
 The bridal of earth and sky ! " 
 
132 THE WIFE. 
 
 " The place where the meetings were held," 
 in her own language, " was a delightful spot, 
 shaded with large oaks and inclosed with a 
 circle of tents, upwards of twenty in number. 
 The scenery was beautiful ; and everything 
 around seemed to breathe the spirit of devo- 
 tion ! I felt to say with the poet," 
 
 " O would He more of heaven bestow, 
 
 And let the vessel break ; 
 And let my ransomed spirit go. 
 
 To grasp the God I seek ! " 
 
 Having now been absent from Martha's 
 Vineyard for nearly two years, she met with 
 a hearty welcome from many of her former 
 associates and friends ; and although she did 
 not preach, yet she was very far from being 
 idle, as she was actively engaged in the tents 
 in holding circles of prayer. While engaged 
 in these duties, a lady by the name of Lewis — 
 now the wife of Edward Luce, was struck 
 under powerful convictions. Shs went into 
 the tent where they were praying, but she 
 was in so grea* distress of mind, that she en- 
 tirely broke up the meeting. She was after- 
 wards converted, and attributes her awaken- 
 ing to the labors of Sister Lincoln. In speaking 
 further of her visit, she says, — " The meetings 
 
MEMOIR. 133 
 
 were interesting, and some of them peculiarly 
 so. We had preaching four times a day, 
 with prayer-meetings at every interval ; and 
 about seventy professed to have submitted to 
 Christ. The parting scene was heart-rending ; 
 but we parted in hopes of a meeting, where 
 we shall no more take the parting hand ! 
 About nine o'clock Saturday morning, we left 
 the island, but the wind was against us, and 
 after beating about all day, came to anchor in 
 Tarpaulin Cove, and some of the brethren 
 went on shore, and after obtaining a place for a 
 meeting sent word to the other vessels laying 
 there, so that in a short time we had a large 
 congregation ; and before the meeting closed 
 six were on their knees begging for mercy. 
 One of them was the mate of a brig from 
 New York. At sunrise the next morning, we 
 again started for home, and landed at four 
 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. — 
 I was exceedingly sick all day, and so were 
 many other passengers, but I had the peace 
 of God reigning in my soul." 
 
 Marriage to Elder Mowry : — Sometime 
 in November, Salome left Tiverton and re- 
 turned home, to make preparation to consum- 
 mate her union with Elder Junia S. Mowry. 
 12* 
 
134 THE WIFE . 
 
 They were married at her father's residence 
 in Raynham, December 2, 1835, by Elder 
 Enoch Sanford, pastor of the Congregational 
 church in that town. In the evening they 
 held a meeting at the same place, and Elder 
 Sanford preached. The next day they rode 
 as far as Rehohoth, where Elder Mo wry was 
 called to attend a funeral, and from thence 
 proceeded on to his father's in Smithfield, 
 Rhode Islanpl. 
 
 The Sabbath after marriage, they attended 
 meeting at Greenville, * and Elder Allen f 
 being unwell, requested Elder Mowry to 
 preach for him, which he accordingly did in 
 the forenoon, and after sermon Elder Allen 
 gave notice that Mrs. Mowry would preach 
 in the evening. Their marriage was not gen- 
 erally known at Smithfield, and hence when 
 this notice was given out, it produced consid- 
 erable excitement. She preached in the 
 evening to a congregation much larger than 
 was usual in that place. 
 
 * Greenville is a village in the southern part of Smith- 
 field, about three miles and a half North of Smith ville Semi- 
 nary in North Scituate, R. I., and eight miles west of Prov- 
 idence. 
 
 t Then Pastor of the First Free Will Baptist church in 
 Smithfield. 
 
MEMOIR. 135 
 
 She afterwards preached several times in 
 that vicinity, once or twice in the meeting- 
 house at North Scituate, and for the first 
 church in Smithfield, located at Georgiaville. 
 After concluding their visit, they returned to 
 Tiverton, and commenced the married life, 
 by boarding in the family of Mr. Peleg San- 
 ford. 
 
 Character of the Wife : — I have already 
 in a former chapter noticed her general and 
 religious character, but to sustain a good char- 
 acter as a husband or wife, implies something 
 more than is generally embraced in either of 
 these ; though I may fail properly to define 
 the difference. To sustain a good character 
 as a wife, implies not only moral purity, but 
 that the individual is qualified to discharge 
 the domestic duties upon which she is called 
 to enter — all the little relations connected 
 with household affairs. We have too many 
 trifles, which we class among the non essentials. 
 The little foxes spoil the vines — little drops 
 make up the ocean, and a few little faults 
 make a very essential difference in our char- 
 acters ! But while I make these remarks, I 
 would not be understood to say, that an indi- 
 vidual can be entirely free from fault — but so 
 
136 THE WIFE. 
 
 long as we justify them, either in ourselves or 
 others, we are verily guilty. 
 
 One of the traits of character which we 
 shall mark in the good wife, is, order and 
 neatness about her house. Though an individ- 
 ual may possess every other trait of charac- 
 ter that is amiable and lovely, and fails in this 
 one point, she fails properly to discharge her 
 high office. 
 
 ' According to the testimony of others, and 
 especially her husband, Mrs. Mowry pos- 
 sessed this trait of character in a high degree, 
 says he — " Order was a prominent feature of 
 her mind. Every thing had a place, and every 
 thing was in its place" Another trait which 
 I shall notice in the good wife, is 
 
 Industry. — Sister Mowry as we have al- 
 ready noticed was industrious, through every 
 period of her life, from the cradle to the 
 grave ; and the first year after marriage, be- 
 sides attending to her other duties, she earned 
 between thirty and forty dollars, which she 
 expended for furniture. But while she was 
 frugal and industrious, and provided for her 
 own wants, her heart was also open, and she 
 felt deeply for the wants of others. On one 
 occasion after reading a letter which her hus- 
 
MEMOIR. 137 
 
 band had received from an indigent brother 
 in the ministry, she was so deeply affected, 
 that she mentioned his case in the congrega- 
 tion, and called for aid, and by prompt and 
 persevering exertion, was enabled to render 
 him assistance. I might go on and multiply 
 the qualifications of a good wife, but as it is 
 a deviation from the design of this work, I 
 proceed to notice lastly, that 
 
 Affection for her husband, and family, is 
 another very essential qualification in the 
 character of the good wife. 
 
 Such was the temperament of Mrs. Mowry, 
 that she made no pompous display of love, and 
 hence to others she often appeared indiffer- 
 ent, when at the same time her feelings glowed 
 with warmth. To her husband she was an 
 excellent companion and assistant, and that 
 she loved him with all the ardor of a wife, 
 we cannot for a moment doubt, if we may 
 be permitted to take his testimony, as re- 
 ceived from his lips, and from his letters, of 
 which the following is an extract. 
 
 " My Bear Salome : — Yours of the 25th and 
 29th were received yesterday, with all the 
 heartfelt satisfaction, I trust a husband delights 
 in, from one who is bound to him by ties 
 
138 THE WIFE. 
 
 more than mortal — even the silken chords of 
 affection, and the spirit of Christ. * * * # * 
 I can never repay you for that affection which 
 you maifest towards me, in the tokens of love 
 and friendship, with which your letters and 
 acts abound. You say in your letter ; ( I am 
 comforted in your comfort — sorrow in your 
 sorrow,' &c. &c. I could respond to that 
 sentence : — ' True friends are one in soul y 
 what one has the other enjoys.' " 
 
 I have not noticed these traits in the char- 
 acter of Sister Mowry, because I suppose her 
 to be free from fault. Although she pos- 
 sessed the qualifications of a good wife in as 
 high a degree perhaps, as the majority of 
 women ; yet " to err is human." And as she 
 was clothed with human nature, it would not 
 be surprising, if she sometimes deviated from 
 the standard of the perfect wife. 
 
 Enters upon the duties of the wife. — 
 Sister Mowry entered upon the discharge of 
 her domestic duties, in the spring after her 
 marriage (1836) in a house belonging to Dea. 
 Borden ; soon after which, she was called to 
 pass through new and unexpected trials, 
 arising out of some difficulty between the 
 Freewill and Christian Baptist societies in 
 
MEMOIR. 139 
 
 Tiverton. The circumstances are these. The 
 land on which the parsonage was built, was 
 given to the Baptist society in Tiverton by a 
 Mr. Job Almy for the use of said society. — 
 Elder Mowry at this time was the regular 
 pastor of the church to whom the property 
 belonged ; but Elder Peckham their former 
 pastor continued to occupy the house till his 
 death, when it was advertised to let by the 
 Christian Baptists, who had separated them- 
 selves from the regular church. As soon as 
 this advertisement appeared, it excited them 
 to action, and Elder Mowry was prevailed 
 upon to take immediate possession of the 
 property which rightfully belonged to them 
 as a society, and accordingly his goods were 
 forthwith moved on to the premises ; and for 
 this, acting as he did — agent for the society, 
 he was sued for "forcible entry" 
 
 While all this was transpiring at home, 
 Mrs. Mowry was at Raynham, on a visit to 
 to her friends, and when she returned, instead 
 of finding her furniture where she had left it, 
 she found it set up in one small room in the 
 Parish-house — Widow Peckham occupying 
 the remaining part. 
 
140 THE WIFE. 
 
 The court which set on this case, was held 
 at the Stone Bridge, * and after occupying 
 one day in going through the evidence, the 
 case was decided in favor of the Freewill 
 Baptists. 
 
 While the court was in session, on being 
 told by one of the by-standers, that perhaps 
 her husband would have to go to jail, she re- 
 plied, I am going to stay and see how they 
 decide the case, for if he goes to jail I am 
 going too. This anecdote serves to corroborate 
 what we have already stated in relation to 
 her affection for her husband. 
 
 Though the combined circumstances at- 
 tending this case were naturally irritating, yet 
 through the whole she manifested an excel- 
 lent spirit, and seemed to be willing to make 
 any sacrifice the cause of God required, and 
 had not circumstances forced her husband to 
 be so much from home, leaving increased re- 
 sponsibility devolving upon her ; and had she 
 not been forced to conduct her household 
 affairs in so small a compass, she would have 
 been comparatively happy through the whole 
 of it. 
 
 * A village about five miles from the meeting-house, so 
 called from a bridge which runs across from Tiverton to the 
 island of Rhode Island. 
 
MEMOIR. 141 
 
 Birth and death of her child. — Her 
 first child, Mary Elizabeth, was born Nov. 
 2, 1837, but she was not blessed with its 
 society long, as God in his providence saw 
 fit soon after to take it to himself. God's 
 ways are mysterious. He gives and he takes 
 away ; and when perhaps we cannot tell 
 why, — a valid reason is prominent in the 
 mind of the deity. I have sometimes thought, 
 that the tender bud is thus early plucked, to 
 guard the fond parent against letting his or 
 her affections entwine too closely around 
 earthly objects, to the neglect of higher duties. 
 But to christian parents, when their children 
 are thus taken from them by death, there is 
 a consolation found in the words of Christ : 
 Ci Of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
 
 This child was never well from birth, and 
 was several times brought so low, that it was 
 thought to be dying. The disease which 
 finally terminated its existence, was the dropsy, 
 and after a protracted illness of several months 
 it fell asleep Feb. 5, 1839, leaving its fond 
 parents to mourn its loss. 
 
 At the request of Sister Mowry, Elder 
 James Mc Kenzie, Pastor of the Freewill 
 
 13 
 
142 THE WIFE. 
 
 Baptist Church at Newport, R. I., * attended 
 the funeral, and preached a discourse from a 
 text selected by herself. 
 
 " Is it icell with thee ? Is it well with thy 
 husband ? Is it well with the child ? — And she 
 answered ; It is well" — II. Kings iv. 26. 
 
 She felt the death of her child severely, 
 yet she manifested christian resignation. — 
 Says Elder Mc Renzie — " When I entered 
 the room, there was no boisterous emotions 
 of grief, but her looks and language, was ex- 
 pressive of an entire submission to the will of 
 God." 
 
 In a letter afterwards written to her devo- 
 ted friend Elizabeth Liscom, she says: — 
 " The sweet little pratler has gone to the 
 world of spirits, and I shall soon follow !" 
 But how soon she little realized ! We are 
 often, deeply impressed with the uncertainty 
 of life, but none know how brief a space of 
 time, may intervene between them and the 
 eternal world. I once visited the sick-room 
 of a friend, when she requested me to sing 
 the following lines : — and when I see individ- 
 uals living from day to day, as though there 
 
 * Elder Mc Kenzie is now pastor of the Roger Williams, 
 a Freewill Baptist church in Providence, R. I. 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 143 
 
 were no death — no judgment — no Eternity 
 I often think of them. 
 
 " My days, my weeks, my months, my years, 
 Fly rapid as the whirling spheres, 
 
 Around the steady pole ; 
 Time, like the tide, its motion keeps, 
 And I must launch thro' boundless deeps, 
 
 Where endless ages roll. 
 
 Long ere the sun has run its round, 
 I may be buried under ground, 
 
 And there in silence rot. 
 Alas ! one hour may close the scene, 
 And ere twelve months shall intervene, 
 
 My name be quite forgot! 
 
 But shall my soul be then extinct, 
 And cease to be, or cease to think ? 
 
 It cannot — cannot be ! 
 Thou! my immortal, cannot die, 
 What wilt thou do or whither fly 
 
 When death shall set you free? " 
 
 After her marriage, Sister Mowry preached 
 only occasionally, during the absence of her 
 husband, or as she went out from home to 
 visit with him in different places among their 
 friends. 
 
 In the year 1839 she took up her connec- 
 tion with the Reformed Methodist church, of 
 which she had been a member for a series of 
 years, and united with the Freewill Baptist, 
 
144 THE WIFE. 
 
 at Tiverton. We have now seen her in nearly 
 every relation in life ! We have only to wit- 
 ness her through one more trial, the valley and 
 shadoiv of death, when perhaps we shall be 
 competent to judge of her character, and the 
 motives which governed her actions. This 
 solemn event will be the subject of our next 
 chapter. 
 
145 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE LAST SICKNESS. 
 
 t{ Consult life's silent clock, thy bounding vein, 
 Seems it to say— health here has long to reign 1 
 
 Hast thou the vigor of thy youth, an eye 
 That beams delight, a heart untaught to sigh ? 
 
 Yet fear, youth oftentimes healthful and at ease, 
 Anticipates a day it never sees ! "^Cowper. 
 
 It oftentimes becomes the duty of the nar- 
 rator to record events which his feelings 
 would fain prompt him to pass over in silence. 
 We love to dwell upon prosperity — we love 
 to paint the beauties of nature — and trace the 
 hidden springs of happiness ; but to follow 
 death in all his secret windings, is equally pain- 
 ful, both to the writer and reader ; especially 
 when we are called to record the last earthly 
 scenes of a beloved friend ! 
 
 But says the sacred penman — "It is ap- 
 pointed unto men once to die " — and there is 
 a consolation in knowing, that those of whose 
 virtues we speak, have died in the triumph 
 13* 
 
146 LAST SICKNESS. 
 
 of faith and are now sweetly sleeping in the 
 arms of Jesus. 
 
 It was early evident to the friends of Mrs. 
 Mowry, that the seeds of death were sown 
 in her constitution, and were fast ripening for 
 a premature grave ; and yet for a long time 
 they continued to cherish hopes, that by 
 proper care, she might live many years to ex- 
 tend her usefulness in the church, and in the 
 society around her. But alas, how vain are 
 all our expectations ! Consumption had fixed 
 its firm, though steady grasp upon her, and 
 was silently, though almost impreceptibly 
 bringing her daily nearer and nearer to the 
 grave. 
 
 Consumption is one of the most obsti- 
 nate diseases with which the skilful physi- 
 cian has to contend. One day the patient 
 seems to be in the enjoyment of health, while 
 on the next he is worn down with disease. 
 It is like the waves of the ocean — up and 
 down, only each successive wave sinking 
 deeper and deeper, till finally it places its 
 subject forever beyond the reach of hope. — 
 But after all, it is nature's death! So calm — 
 so sweet, that the poet was led to desire that 
 he might die of the consumption, in order 
 
MEMOIR. ] 47 
 
 that his friends while they stood around his 
 coffin, viewing his remains, might be led to 
 exclaim, " O how lovely ! " 
 
 The disease which terminated the existence 
 of Sister Mo wry was a quick consumption, 
 which had its origin in a cancerous humor, to 
 which she was subject from childhood. 
 
 There are several kinds of consumption, 
 and they are as different in their results, as 
 they are in their nature ; for while one leads 
 its subject gently along as described above, 
 other kinds are attended with great mental 
 and bodily distress. Such was the nature 
 of the disorder w 7 ith which she was afflicted. 
 
 After the birth of her second child, March 
 20, 1841, Mrs. Mowry never regained her 
 health, although some part of the time she 
 was able to keep about the house. They 
 were then living at Warwick, R. I. ; * Elder 
 Mowry having ended his labors with the 
 church at Tiverton, Nov. 1840, and taken the 
 pastoral charge of the Central Freewill Bap- 
 tist church in the village of Aponaug. Miss 
 Nancy Manchester, the present wife of Elder 
 Mowry, was with her, and took charge of her 
 
 * Warwick is in Kent's County, about ten miles South 
 of Providence. 
 
148 LAST SICKNESS. 
 
 domestic. affairs through the remaining part 
 of her life. 
 
 Preached her last Sermon. — It is often 
 the case that individuals think much of the 
 last acts, or the last words of a departed 
 friend; and especially if they were called to 
 take a prominent part in public. The last 
 notice we have of Mrs Mowry's preaching, 
 is contained in a letter written to a friend, 
 and dated April 5, IS 10. In this letter she 
 says : — "To-day, as we were disappointed of 
 a minister, I have tried to preach. I have 
 not attempted it before, for several months, 
 but I had a good time in speaking from these 
 words : — 
 
 " If any man be in Christ, he is a new 
 creature — I. Cor. v. 17. 
 
 After I had done two young men recently 
 converted, brought in their testimony, which 
 was to the point/' After this sermon, she 
 probably never took a text in the public con- 
 gregation, although she may have been en- 
 gaged in conferences, where, as Eld. "Whitte- 
 more tells us her talents shown with peculiar 
 lustre. 
 
 Subsequent to the twentieth of May, 1841, 
 she never left her room, only as she was 
 
MEMOIR. 149 
 
 carried in the arms of her husband : and for 
 about nine weeks previous to her death, she 
 had constant watchers, and every means that 
 could be suggested to the minds of her friends, 
 was resorted to, in order to secure her recov- 
 ery : but all in vain, as from that time she 
 rapidly declined. In a letter dated July 6th, 
 her husband says : — 
 
 " Salome has suffered very much. She 
 often speaks of it. She has been singularly 
 affected — long- continued — and still it looks 
 dark. Saturday I went to Providence and 
 called upon Dr. Richardson, (Botanic,^) — he 
 comes again to-day — she is so low he scarcely 
 knows what to say of her, or the complaint. 
 He gave her medicine, but she takes only a 
 little at a time, and it distresses her exceed- 
 ingly. In some respects she appears better, 
 in others not, — on the whole is more comfort- 
 able than when Brother Whittemore was up. 
 I have still some little hopes of her recovery, 
 but time alone can determine." 
 
 The last two weeks before her death, she 
 conversed but little, owing to the peculiar state 
 
 * She had a Botanic Physician at her own request. She 
 seemed to have confidence that they could restore her to 
 health. 
 
150 LAST SICKNESS. 
 
 of her mind produced by her disorder. Her 
 mind, though in health strong, in sickness 
 seemed to be broken ; but as death drew 
 nearer, she was calm and resigned, and ap- 
 peared more rational, and seemed more like 
 herself. 
 
 Last hours and Death. — A few days be- 
 fore her death, Elder Joseph Wbittemore, 
 from Tiverton, called to see her. He says — 
 "She appeared to know me, and would con- 
 verse rational about the people of Tiverton. 
 She expressed a strong desire for the prosper- 
 ity of the church there ; and when asked in 
 relation to her own feelings, she said she was 
 sensible, she should never get well, and felt 
 resigned to the will of God. She also re- 
 marked, that in prospect of death, she felt 
 more calm then she ever expected ; although 
 if it was the will of God, she should like to 
 regain her health ; but not so much on her 
 own account, as on the account of her hus- 
 band and child." 
 
 On another occasion she remarked to her 
 husband, that she did not have that lively, an- 
 imated state of feelings which she desired, 
 and had not for some months past, — but felt 
 firm, and could rely on Christ as her Savior. 
 
M EMOIR, 151 
 
 At another time she said — > u Christ is my 
 only hope of salvation, on which I lean my all /" 
 
 When asked about her burial, she replied — 
 "I have thought much of it, and should pre- 
 fer to be laid with my child at Tiverton." 
 
 During the last few hours of her life, she 
 seemed to lie almost entirely senseless, and 
 in so great a bodily distress, that her groans 
 were heard in the street ; and at the same 
 time, she was in a state of mental aberration. 
 Her bodily suffering during this period was 
 doubtless beyond conception, and it would not 
 be surprising if under these circumstances, 
 she often appeared indifferent, as to her situ- 
 ation. She remained in this state until about 
 four 6 ' clock Wednesday afternoon, July 21, 
 1841, when she departed this life to be with 
 Jesus. 
 
 She is now free from pain and sorrow — her 
 trials are at an end, and she is reaping a rich 
 reward for all her toils, in the Kingdom of 
 Heaven ! " Blessed are the dead that die in 
 the Lord ! " 
 
 Her earthly pilgrimage is now closed ! — 
 that voice which once sounded the news 
 of salvation so earnestly, will be heard no 
 more ! Her tongue is silenced in death ! — Her 
 
152 HER LAST HOURS AND DEATH. 
 
 eyes which beamed with intelligence are 
 closed — and her mortal has put on immortal- 
 ity ! And while her body sleeps in the cold 
 arms of death — her spirit freed from its 
 earthly tenement, has gone to inhabit the re- 
 gions of bliss — or in the language of the poet : 
 
 " She has gone to the grave — but we will not deplore her, 
 Though sorrow and darkness encompass the tomb : 
 
 The Savior has passed through its portals before her, 
 And the lamp of his love, is her guide through the gloom. 
 
 She has gone to the grave, but 'twere wrong to deplore her, 
 When God was her ransom, her guardian and guide ; 
 
 He gave her — and took her — and soon will restore her, 
 Where death hath no sting, since the Savior hath died." 
 
 At the time of her death, Mrs. Mowry was 
 a member of the Freewill Baptist church at 
 Warwick. This is the second time within a 
 few years, that that church, in the providence 
 of God has been called to follow the remains 
 of their pastor's companion to the grave.* — 
 God is speaking by these events to the church 
 at Warwick, reminding them of the impor- 
 tance of working while the day lasts, remem- 
 bering that the night of death will soon come, 
 when there will be no more opportunity. 
 
 By the death of Sister Mowry, God also 
 
 * Elder Benjamin Phelon, while he had the charge of that 
 church buried a wife and child. 
 
MEMOIR. 153 
 
 speaks to the surviving friends, and especially 
 to those, who have so often heard her voice 
 in prayer and exhortation, and have not 
 profited by her admonitions, but who are yet 
 without Christ ; To you my dear friends ! God 
 is speaking by this providence in thunder tones, 
 saying, " be ye also ready ! " — To her rela- 
 tives and numerous circle of pious friends 
 she soon ivill speak with the voice of an an- 
 gel, in tones of consolatio?i ; " Friends, Jesus 
 calls come home I " 
 
 Among a large circle of 'relatives and friends, 
 Mrs. Mowry left one child ; * then four months 
 old — a bright black eyed little girl ! Though 
 possessing naturally a delicate constitution, 
 yet by the tender care of her parent and 
 guardian, she may live many years, to follow 
 in the footsteps of her mother, — an ornament 
 in society — a pillar in the church, and useful 
 to all around her ! 
 
 FUNERAL OF MRS. MOWRY:— The 
 
 circumstances connected with the funeral of 
 
 Mrs. Mowry, were solemnly sublime / And as 
 
 probably but very few of my readers, have 
 
 ever been called to witness anything like it, 
 
 * Amy Mowry, the second daughter of Salome, was born 
 March 20, 1841. 
 
 14 
 
154 FUNERAL. 
 
 they will pardon me, if I should wander from 
 that deep solemnity which should ever grace 
 these solemn occasions. There is that con- 
 nected with the services performed at the 
 funeral of our friends, which always has a 
 tendency to touch the feelings, and draw out 
 the sympathy of our natures ! The assem- 
 bling of the relatives and friends together — 
 The touching appeals of the devout minister 
 of Christ — The appendages of the dead — the 
 pall, the bier, the shroud, the coffin — and then 
 the solemn tones of the plaintive bell, as the pro- 
 cession moves sloiuly onward to the grave ; — 
 all, all conspire to melt our hearts, and make 
 us weep ! But to witness a burial at midnight ! 
 to lay our friends down, as in the language 
 of the poet, 
 
 " By the struggling moonbeams' misty light, " 
 far surpasses this, and everything else, within 
 the limits of discription ! 
 
 The funeral services of the deceased were 
 commenced at the residence of Elder Mowry 
 in Warwick, Friday morning, July 23. At 
 eight o'clock, Eld. Fifeild, a Methodist min- 
 ister stationed on the circuit, made a prayer 
 at the house, after which they moved in pro- 
 
n emoir. 155 
 
 cession to East Greenwich.* They arrived 
 there about ten o'clock A. M. when the re- 
 mains were taken from the hearse, and placed 
 on board a sloop, waiting for the purpose of 
 conveying them to Tiverton. Says Elder 
 Mowry : — 
 
 " The hours of this day rolled heavily." 
 They were expecting to have arrived at 
 Tiverton by four o'clock in the afternoon, 
 but the day proving exceedingly calm, they 
 made but little progress ; and it was past 
 sunset before they arrived at the Stone Bridge, 
 seven miles from the place of interment. — 
 Tiverton and Little Compton are separated 
 from the island of Rhode Island f by the 
 Eastern Passage of the Narraganset Bay, 
 and the only connecting link is the Stone 
 Bridge, just referred to. The tide which 
 comes in from the ocean, through this pas- 
 sage to Mount Hope Bay, passes and re-pas- 
 
 * East Greenwich lies South of Warwick, and the place 
 where they took the sloop is about three miles from Apo- 
 naug. 
 
 + The island of Rhode Island, from which the State de- 
 rives its name, is situated in the Narraganset Bay. It is 
 one of the most delightful spots I have ever visited, and from 
 its fancied resemblance to the garden of Eden, it has some- 
 times been called the Eden of America. 
 
] 56 FUNERAL. 
 
 ses with considerable rapidity, so that a ves- 
 sel wishing to go through the drawer, must 
 pass in the direction of the tide. 
 
 They were expecting to have landed four 
 miles below the bridge, and within about the 
 same distance of the place of burial, where 
 some of the friends with carriages were to 
 meet them. But when they arrived at the 
 bridge the tide had just turned against them, 
 and they were forced, either to land or wait 
 six hours longer ; and it being in mid-summer, 
 they concluded to land. 
 
 The scene which is now to follow, surpas- 
 ses description — the pen of the poet would 
 fail to paint it ! — Having obtained a sufficient 
 number of carriages, the procession again 
 moved forward — and between twelve and one 
 o'clock, Saturday morning, July 24th, they 
 arrived at the place of burial ; and between 
 one and two — at "dead of night " — while 
 a solemn stillness reigned around, — they laid 
 
 HER DOWN, IN THE SILENT GRAVE " In 
 
 Death'' s cold arms to sleep ! " 
 
 " No more with us, her tuneful voice, 
 The hymns of praise shall swell ; 
 
 No more her cheerful heart rejoice, 
 To hear the Sabbath bell! " 
 
MEMOIR. 157 
 
 Early in the forenoon of the same day, 
 they again assembled at the house of Elder 
 Whittemore, and after reading a portion of 
 Scripture, he offered up a solemn and devout 
 prayer to God ! 
 
 The room where they were assembled, was 
 the same in which she had lived-— It was 
 painted by her own hands — and the same 
 furniture stood in it, which had been used by 
 herself; and as simple as they appear in 
 themselves, these circumstances had a ten- 
 dency to render the scene doubly solemn and 
 interesting ! 
 
 After the services were ended, they retired 
 to the sloop — and returned to Warwick. 
 
 The next day being the Sabbath, two fu- 
 neral discourses were preached to the church 
 at Aponaug ; one in the forenoon by Elder 
 Martin Cheney, a Freewill Baptist minister 
 from Olneyville, * and the other by Elder 
 Waterman a Congregationalist.t Elder Che- 
 
 * Olneyville, is a village, partly in Johnston and partly 
 in North Providence, R I. Elder Cheney's meeting-house 
 is in Johnston, about two miles from the Court-house, Prov- 
 idence. 
 
 t.I should be exceedingly glad to present the reader with 
 an outline of Elder Waterman's discourse, but not having 
 the means, it is out of my power. 
 
158 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 ney's text was from the words of the Apostle 
 contained in the first of Thessalonians : — 
 
 44 But 1 would not have you to be ignorant 
 brethren, concerning them which are asleep, 
 that ye sorrow not, even as others ivhich have 
 no hope." — I. Thess. iv. 13. 
 
 A few Sabbaths after Elder Whittemore 
 preached a funeral discourse to the church at 
 Tiverton, laying before them the life and 
 character of the deceased ; the words of his 
 text were as follows : — 
 
 " That ye be not slothful, but followers of 
 them, who through faith and patience inherit 
 the promise." — Hebrews vi. 12. 
 
 In his exordium he remarked, — " It is 
 the duty of the living, to remember those 
 who have died in Christ, and to copy their 
 example as far as it was good — and in discus- 
 sing this subject, I shall show : — 
 
 I. The advantage of remembering such 
 
 AS THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE 
 PROMISE. 
 
 II. Mention a few things in the char- 
 acter OF THE DECEASED WORTHY OF REMEM- 
 BRANCE. 
 
 Besides these sermons, Elder Whittemore 
 also wrote an obituary notice, which was 
 
MEMOIR. 159 
 
 published in the Morning Star.* He was per- 
 sonally acquainted with her, having lived in 
 their family several months ; and having many 
 other superior advantages over the author, 
 I can only regret that his other duties pre- 
 cluded him from the privilege of transmitting 
 to the world, the memoir of her, who so 
 richly deserves a place, not only in our affec- 
 tions but also in our memory. 
 
 She has left us, and gone to the silent 
 abode of the dead, where, 
 
 " The storm that wrecks the winter skies, 
 No more disturbs her deep repose, 
 Than summer evening's latest sigh, 
 That shuts the rose ! 
 
 But while we mourn her loss, we mourn 
 not as those destitute of a hope in Christ, 
 who is the resurrection ; for when life's flick- 
 ering lamp ceased to burn, her spirit guided by 
 angels, soared away to the mansions of Eter- 
 nal rest — there to unite with those kindred 
 spirits who had gone before her ! — And at 
 the resurrection of the saints she will stand 
 in her lot and place ! 
 
 The following beautiful " Requiem," taken 
 
 from the Philadelphia Gazette, and supposed 
 
 * The Morning Star is a religious paper published by the 
 Freewill Baptists at Dover, New Hampshire. 
 
160 PLACE OF INTERMENT. 
 
 to be the production of the editor, composed 
 on the death of his accomplished lady, was 
 handed to me by Elder Mo wry for insertion. 
 
 " I see thee still ! 
 Remembrance faithful to her trustj 
 Calls thee in beauty from the dust ; 
 Thou comest in the morning light — 
 Thou'rt with me through the gloomy night ; 
 In dreams I meet thee, as of old, 
 Then thy soft arms, my neck enfold, 
 And thy sweet voice is in my ear ; 
 In every scene to memory dear, 
 
 I see thee still ! 
 
 I see thee still ! 
 Here was thy summer noon's retreat. 
 This was thy favorite fireside seat ; 
 This was thy chamber, where each day 
 I sat and watched thy sad decay ; 
 Here on this bed thou last did lie, 
 Here on this pillow, thou didst die ! 
 Dark hour ! once more its woes unfold — 
 As then I saw thee pale and cold, 
 
 I see thee still ! 
 
 I see thee still ! 
 Thou art not in the tomb confined, 
 Death cannot claim the immortal mind ! 
 Let earth close o'er its sacred trust, 
 Yet goodness dies not in the dust. 
 Thee oh beloved ! 'tis not thee, 
 Beneath the coffin's lid I see, 
 Thou to a fairer land art gone — 
 There let me hope — my journey done 
 
 To see thee still!'' 
 
MEMOIR. 161 
 
 Mrs. Mo wry was buried near her child, in 
 the yard a few rods north of the Stone meet- 
 ing-house belonging to the Freewill Baptisls 
 in Tiverton. The grave is situated in the 
 southern part of the yard, near the gate. It 
 is marked by two white marble slabs, on 
 which is inscribed the following appropriate 
 words : — 
 
 OF 
 
 SALOME MOWRY, 
 
 THE WIFE OF 
 
 ELDER JUNIA S. MOWRY, 
 Who died July 81, 1841, in the 34th year of her age. 
 
 She spent more than five years as a public laborer 
 in various places ; mostly in the south- 
 eastern part of Massachusetts. 
 
 And now Dear Reader ! — after having thus 
 endeavored to lay before you in a faithful 
 manner, the life and character of Mrs. Mowry, 
 permit me to take a kind and affectionate 
 leave of you, by requesting that you will 
 
162 PLACE OF INTERMENT. 
 
 strive to profit by her example — to imitate 
 her virtues — and live here in such a manner, 
 that when death shall draw nigh, like the apos- 
 tle Paul you may have it to say,-"I have fought 
 a good fight, I have finished my course, I have 
 kept the faith : Henceforth there is laid up 
 for me, a crown of righteousness, which 
 the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me 
 at that day : and not to me only, but unto 
 all them also that love his appearing" May 
 the Lord grant it ! and may you and I, so 
 spend our days, that when with her we shall 
 be called to stand at the judgment seat of 
 Christ, we may be prepared to render up our 
 account " with joy, and not with grief" 
 
 Errata. Page 46,21st line; for "will never," read 
 "shall never."— 39th page, line 15, read "far more exceeding 
 and eternal," &c.— Page 111, line 4, for 1843, read 1833. 
 
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