HISTORY AND NATURE OF FATHER BOEHM’S REMINISCENCES—THE LAST TEN YEARS OF
HIS LIFE.
Father Boehm’s valuable life has been marvelously prolonged to such a
very old age that he is now regarded every-where, in Europe and America,
as the patriarch of Methodism, and so many interests cluster around the
aged veteran that we add a few chapters to his Reminiscences.
There are several classes of men. There are those who live wholly in the
past, others live wholly in the present, and others wholly in the future.
These are all in the wrong.
The man who lives with an eye on the past, the present, and the future;
who looks backward, and forward, and around him; who makes the past
tell on the present, the present on the future—he is the live man; he
understands the true philosophy of life; he will accomplish the most
good, and secure the greatest happiness. The inspired penman says:
“Inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the
search of their fathers: (for we are but of yesterday, and know nothing:)
... shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of
their heart?”
The reader will readily see why we add a few chapters to the original
volume. “Boehm’s Reminiscences, Historical and Biographical,” is one of
the richest volumes in Methodist literature. It is remarkable, first, for
the antiquity of its contents, taking us back to the origin of American
Methodism: second, for its originality; the old gentleman drew upon his
own resources; there has never been any thing like it, and it is doubtful
whether there ever will be again; in it he testifies what he has seen and
heard, and he has seen much, for he has lived a great many years: third,
for the description he gives of men and things, and the simplicity of its
style: fourth, for its facts; he never gives wings to his imagination;
on the contrary, he deals in sober history and truthful biography. Had
it been written in another style it would not have been his, for he is a
plain, matter-of-fact man; he stated truth in its simplest form, without
any embellishment.
In his volume there are no false colorings, no exaggerations; it is
true to nature and true to life. All honor to the truthful veteran who
introduces to us so many of the heroes of Methodism, whose names and fame
are immortal! He presents before his readers Robert Strawbridge, the
apostle of Methodism in Maryland; Dr. Thomas Coke, the founder of modern
missions, whose heart was large enough to hold four continents, and who
found a grave in the Indian Ocean; what a graphic description he gives
of Jesse Lee, the apostle of Methodism to New England, and the first
historian of American Methodism! We hear him preach his last sermons,
and these were delivered in God’s great cathedral—nature’s magnificent
temple; we are taken into the chamber of the dying saint; we see Father
Boehm wetting the parched lips of the dying hero, smoothing his pillow
of agony, speaking words of cheer; we see him kneel down by his bedside
and commend the dying one to Him who is “the resurrection and the life;”
we hear a shout of joy from the dying one; we see him as his breath
grows shorter and shorter, till he heaves one long, deep-drawn sigh, and
all is over; we see Boehm with his own hands close his eyes and put the
muffler around his face; we see the open grave, and Father Boehm laying
him quietly to rest. Sleepless nights, restless days, watching, waiting,
trembling, hoping, till all was over. What affection, what care, what
solicitude, what unwavering faith, what ardent love!
He introduces us to Bishop Whatcoat, that seraphic man. We have a
description of his person, of his preaching, of his last sickness, and
his triumphant death. He gives the best description of Bishop Asbury ever
written; and no man ever knew him better, for he was with him in the
closest intimacy for five years. We have a description of his person,
his dress. We have Asbury in the family, Asbury in the pulpit, Asbury in
the conferences, Asbury among friends, Asbury among strangers, Asbury
among the children. He describes so vividly the bishop’s sermons and
exhortations we imagine we see and are listening to the great apostle of
American Methodism. O how graphic is Boehm’s description of Bishop Asbury!
In regard to the volume, let me say, it was prepared with the greatest
care. For years we were employed on it at different intervals. We took
his own journals and read them carefully; then we read Asbury’s journals
to refresh his mind; then we questioned him concerning men and places,
and in regard to General and Annual Conferences. We took down, from his
“own lips,” anecdotes and incidents till we were sure there was not one
left. The work was complete; it was finished; the stock was exhausted.
Not an original idea but we had obtained, not an anecdote but we have
recorded it. We never stopped pumping till the water was out of the well.
There is no chance to glean over the fields we passed over, for we not
only gathered the grain, but we gleaned as we went along. We never could
get the old veteran to say what he did not distinctly remember. We might
ask him over and over again, “Did not such a thing take place? Were you
not there?” “_I do not remember_,” was the emphatic answer. After the
chapters were written we read them over to him, and he appended the
following to each:—
“This chapter is correct. HENRY BOEHM.”
NOTE.—Each chapter was dated at the place where it was written.
Some were written in New York, others in Harlem, still others in
Yonkers, Poughkeepsie, and other places.
It is ten years since the first edition of this volume was published.
Since that time Father Boehm has enjoyed a peaceful old age. He has
visited an Annual Conference occasionally, where he has been an object of
great attention.
He visited his own Conference, Philadelphia, which he joined in 1801,
and his visit was as welcome as if he had been an angel from heaven.
Its members hung upon the lips of the old Methodist patriarch in silent
wonder as he described the fathers who had fallen asleep, and the early
days and scenes in which he was such a prominent actor, and then drew
a contrast between the past and present, showing how Methodism had
advanced. He was an object of great interest at the great Centenary
Meeting in the city of New York, at Cooper Institute, in October 1866,
Daniel Ross, Esq., presiding. Rev. Thomas Sewall, D.D., delivered one
of the most eloquent addresses I ever listened to. The venerable Boehm
was on the platform, and his appearance gave additional charm to the
intensely interesting meeting. In the midst of his address, replete
with beauty, abounding in historical reminiscences, the speaker turned
to Father Boehm, and delivered a personal address to him. He said: “We
thank you, venerable father, for lingering so long among us to cheer us
by your presence, your example, and for giving us so many interesting
reminiscences of the past. Thou art a representative of the former age of
Methodism—thou art a splendid representative of the fathers. Venerable
man, friend of Coke and Asbury, Whatcoat and M’Kendree, we thank you for
your presence here; you are the great link that connects the past with
the present.”
After invoking many blessings on his head, and a glorious future, he
concluded his address of beauty, eloquence, and power, one that will not
soon be forgotten. Now his voice is silent in death.
Father Boehm has of late years led such a quiet life that there are
few additional reminiscences, or anecdotes to record. He is a grand
specimen of religion in old age. His days glide on, calm and peaceful
as a summer evening. The autumn of life is peculiarly beautiful in him.
It is charming to see grace thrive, when nature decays; while the outer
man is perishing, to see the inner man renewed day by day in vigor, in
knowledge, and in joy. It is delightful to see his fading eye brighten
at the promise, “Where I am, there shall also my servant be;” to see his
aged, wrinkled countenance glow with seraphic beauty.
Happy, happy old man! splendid specimen of the venerated fathers. He has
“fought the good fight,” he has “kept the faith,” and will soon “finish
his course.” The past, the present, and the future smile upon him. It
will soon be said concerning him:—
“Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare’s past;
The battle’s fought, the race is won,
And thou art crown’d at last.”