FIRST VISIT TO THE SOUTH.
The next day after the Western Conference adjourned the two bishops and
myself started for the South Carolina Conference, which was to meet in
Liberty Chapel, Green County, Georgia, on December 6, 1808.
There was a novelty and variety about my present large field of labor
which made it peculiarly interesting. I had been to what was then the
West, (it would be difficult to tell where it is now,) and I was highly
delighted, and now I was on my way to the sunny South. And I had the
wisest and best companions in the world. This was the first tour which
M’Kendree made with Bishop Asbury after his ordination to the episcopal
office. Everywhere the old and the new bishop were objects of interest,
and their appearance hailed with joy.
On Monday we reached Dr. Henry Tooley’s. This was a family of note, and
their house one of the best of homes. Here we rested and refitted, and
prepared to climb the mountains and to penetrate the wilderness, for all
this must be done before we could reach Georgia. On we went, preaching
every evening, till on Saturday we fell in with a camp-meeting at
Ohaver’s.
On Sunday morning Brother Learner Blackman, Presiding Elder of Holston
District, preached at sunrise, I preached at ten o’clock, and then Bishop
M’Kendree gave one of his overwhelming discourses, after which I preached
again in the German language. Bishop Asbury then preached with great
liberty. We were at it five hours without intermission, during which time
the people heard four sermons in English and one in German, and yet we
were not through, for in the evening John Henninger preached, and Nathan
Barnes exhorted. Thus ended this memorable day. It was a time of uncommon
power, and many were converted. What would people think now of listening
to six sermons in one day? How would they get along who can hardly endure
one?
The next morning the bishops preached again: Bishop Asbury first, and
Bishop M’Kendree immediately after him. I have written, “It was a solemn,
searching time.”
To benefit the Germans I took a little tour by myself, while the bishops
went forward. Bishop Asbury makes this entry in his journal: “Henry Boehm
has gone to Pigeon River to preach to the Dutch.” I preached six times,
and then rode on to overtake the bishops. After riding twenty miles I
learned they were still far in the advance of me, and had gone on to
Buncombe. On Thursday I hastened on to overtake them. I went over the
lofty hills and mountains and solitary valleys along the banks of the
French Broad. This is an astonishing river in its meanderings through
beautiful valleys and mountain gorges, with overhanging rocks. Here
nature is seen in her beauty and grandeur, and I wonderfully admired that
day the works of nature as one scene after another broke on my delighted
vision.
That night I lodged at Barnett’s Station.[19] This was a public house,
partly over the mountain, where multitudes of travelers put up. We
carried our religion wherever we went, and always hoisted our colors.
Bishop Asbury taught us, both by precept and example, to be valiant for
the truth. So the travelers were called together, and I gave them an
exhortation, and prayed with the family. All were civil, respectful, and
attentive to what was said.
On Friday I rode to Buncombe, expecting to find the bishops there.
Buncombe County is in the western part of North Carolina, joining
Tennessee. It was nine days before I overtook them. On Monday, November
2, I found them at Samuel Edney’s,[20] one of the bishop’s choice homes.
We were overjoyed to see each other.
It was a tremendous task to descend from the lofty mountain. The ascent
was rough and fatiguing, but the descent still more difficult. On we
went, the bishop preaching every day and several times on the Sabbath
till we reached Waxhaw, South Carolina, famous for being the birthplace
of Andrew Jackson. Here at this time Bishop Asbury ordained Robert
Hancock, who was a respectable local preacher. There were many private
ordinations of that kind in those days.
We arrived at Camden and put up with Samuel Matthis. On Sabbath morning
Bishop Asbury preached from Ephes. v, 8, on walking as children of the
light. At three I held forth from John i, 9, and in the evening Bishop
M’Kendree preached from “worship God.” Immediately after the first sermon
Brother Jackson, who was the preacher, met the colored people, about
three hundred in number, to whom I preached from Luke ix, 62, on putting
the hand to the plow and looking back. The colored people are fond of
figures; such a text suited them. I told them if a man was plowing and he
should look back, he would make a very crooked furrow. A circle of smiles
passed over their black faces when they heard this. A colored brother
in a love-feast said, “I have put my hand to the Gospel plow, and I am
determined to plow my furrow clean up to glory.” Another, in relating
his experience, said, “Bredren, I cannot exactly tell it, but when I was
converted two suns rose dat morning sartin.” This was a beautiful figure.
He was converted just as the natural sun was rising, and that moment the
Sun of Righteousness arose with healing in its wings and shone into his
dark soul, and he was all light in the Lord.
The next day we went to James Rembert’s. Camp-meeting began here on
Wednesday, November 23. Bishop M’Kendree opened the campaign by preaching
at seven o’clock from 1 Cor. xv, 48, “Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye steadfast,” etc. A mighty man was Bishop M’Kendree on great
occasions: they woke up the giant, and he put forth all his strength. In
the afternoon Bishop Asbury preached one of his massive sermons from “Go
through, go through the gates, prepare ye the way of the people,” etc.
The next day there was preaching by James Jenkins, Morris Mathis, Bishop
M’Kendree, and myself. I wrote in my journal: “The Lord was in his word
through the day and evening. A general shout in the camp this evening;
some powerfully converted.”
On Friday there were five sermons, the preachers being Lovick Pierce,
Bishop Asbury, Henry Boehm, James Jenkins, and I again at night. There
were forty tents and cabins. It being very late in the season they had
fireplaces in the tents, so the people kept very comfortable. The meeting
was held late in the year, not only because the people were in the spirit
of camp-meetings, but also to have the presence of two bishops. There was
a cabin neatly fitted up with its chimney and fireplace for the bishops.
In regard to the result of this meeting Bishop Asbury says: “There was
a powerful work among white saints and sinners, and the poor oppressed,
neglected Africans.” And Bishop Capers says: “The camp-meeting was one
of the best I have ever known.” I had attended four camp-meetings in the
West, and this was the first in the South.
It was here I first saw the Southern preachers, and for the first time
that beautiful and amiable youth, William Capers. He, as my readers know,
became one of the strong men of the South. At this time he had not been
licensed to preach; he had traveled as an exhorter, and at a quarterly
conference held at this camp-meeting he was licensed to preach and also
recommended to the Annual Conference. Two of William Capers’s brothers,
John and Gabriel, were here converted, and his father was reconciled with
Bishop Asbury. Mr. Asbury used to preach at his father’s house years
before, but Mr. Hammett had prejudiced his mind against the bishop, and
for seventeen years he had been estranged from him. But I prefer that
William Capers tell his own story. “At this camp-meeting I first saw
Bishop Asbury. I was introduced to him immediately on his first coming
to the camp-meeting, as I happened to be in the preachers’ tent at the
time of his arrival. I approached him timidly, and with a feeling of
veneration; but, ‘Ah,’ said he, ‘this is the baby; come and let me hug
you,’ meaning that I was the baby when he was last at my father’s house.
On my father’s entering the tent, he rose hastily from his seat and met
him with his arms extended, and they embraced each other with mutual
emotion. It had been seventeen years since they had seen each other, and
yet the bishop asked after Sally and Gabriel, as if it had been but a few
months, and repeated, gleefully, ‘I have got the baby!’ It was evident no
common friendship had subsisted between them; and how much happier had
those years of estrangement been to my honored father if they had been
passed in the fellowship he had been seduced to leave.” Mr. Capers well
adds the following, worthy to be written in a conspicuous place: “I hate
schism; I abhor it as the very track and trail of him who, as a roaring
lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”[21]
All the preachers who were at that camp-meeting in 1808 have gone the way
whence they will not return, except Lovick Pierce and myself.
James Rembert, with whom we were staying, was a large man in body, and
equally large in soul. He was very wealthy and very benevolent. He
lived in a place called Rembert’s Settlement; there was a church called
Rembert’s Chapel, and James Rembert was the honored patriarch. Bishop
Asbury had been here to Rembert’s Hall several times before, and always
had a hearty welcome.
On Monday the 28th we left Rembert’s Hall and started for Charleston.
On our arrival we were the guests of Dr. William Phœbus, who was the
stationed preacher. In former years I preached at his brother John’s, on
the eastern shore of Maryland. The doctor was a most eccentric genius.
There was dignity about him, and yet he was peculiarly odd. He was,
however, quite a philosopher, and did noble service for Methodism.
We remained in Charleston for several days, and both bishops preached
almost daily. I also preached there several times. Never was I more
delighted than with my visit to Charleston and the Charleston Methodists.
There was a zeal and warmth among them I much admired. They not only
lived in a warm climate, but had warm hearts. I wrote thus in my journal:
“The Lord has a kind and loving people in this city. The prospects of
Zion are very promising in this place.” Wonders has God done for the
Methodists in Charleston since I made this record. But alas, what a
change has come over the city! How has the fine gold become dim! It was
a sad day for them when secession was born, and they fired upon Fort
Sumter and the old time-honored flag.
We were several days in reaching the seat of the South Carolina
Conference, and crossed several rivers on the way. On Wednesday the
15th Bishop M’Kendree preached a very ingenious sermon on 1 Peter i,
13, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,” etc. He was perfectly
original in his mode of illustration. He said the loins were the weakest
part of the body, and therefore the necessity of strengthening them.
We were to gird the weak places. He applied to diligent attention,
watchfulness, etc. It was a striking discourse, impressive both in matter
and manner.
On Saturday we reached Augusta in Georgia. This day we dined in the
woods. It was nothing new; and the bishops were just as grateful over
their dry morsel, and would ask a blessing as fervently over it as over
some of the sumptuous dinners of the wealthy.
Bishop Asbury preached in Augusta in the morning, M’Kendree in the
afternoon, and I in the evening. Mr. Asbury makes this mournful record:
“Sunday, 18, my flesh sinks under labor. We are riding in a poor
thirty-dollar chaise, in partnership; two bishops of us, but it must be
confessed it tallies well with the weight of our purse: what bishops!
Well, but we have great views, and we have great times, and the Western,
Southern, and Virginia Conferences will have one thousand souls truly
converted to God; and is this not an equivalent for a light purse? And
are we not well paid for starving and for toil? Yes. Glory to God!” This
record is characteristic of the sainted Asbury. The bishops rode in a
carriage, and I on horseback, a kind of body-guard.
On Saturday the 24th we reached Liberty Chapel, near Milledgeville, the
seat of the conference. It was held in the house where the bishops were
entertained, commencing on Monday, December 26, 1808. The day before
being Christmas, Bishop Asbury preached a sermon from John iii, 17, on
the design of God in sending his Son into the world.
At the opening of the conference Bishop Asbury, in a very appropriate
manner, introduced the new bishop to them. The preachers received him
joyfully. Every member, one after another, went forward and gave the
bishop his right hand, and bade him welcome. The scene was beautiful, and
to Bishop M’Kendree it was as refreshing as the dews of heaven. Sixteen
were received on trial, among others the excellent and eloquent William
Capers. They are all dead. Nine deacons were ordained and six elders.
There were nearly seventy preachers, and the sweetest spirit prevailed.
In connection with the conference they held a camp-meeting. I had never
thought of attending a camp-meeting between Christmas and New Year’s.
I wrote thus: “My heart feels united to my southern brethren in the
bonds of a peaceful Gospel.” Peace and harmony continued throughout the
progress of the conference; preaching, praying, exhortation, shouting,
crying, rejoicing. There were about forty or fifty converted. There were
quite a number of tents and fifteen cabins, and about a thousand people
attended every day.
On the last day of the year a love-feast was held, and it was a precious
time both with preachers and people. Bishop Asbury preached at noon from
1 Peter i, 10-12, “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired,” etc.
It was a masterly sermon, delivered to three thousand people. We had the
sacrament in the evening. There was over three thousand increase in the
South Carolina Conference during the year. It was a glorious year for the
South.
There was a noble class of men in this conference who helped lay the
foundation for the future prosperity of Methodism in the South, James
Jenkins, Hilliard Judge, Lewis Myers, Daniel Asbury, and many others that
we might name.