[Illustration:
Painted by Tho. Cole. Engraved by Geo. W. Hatch.
]
“FATHER CLARK,”
OR
The Pioneer Preacher.
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS
OF
REV. JOHN CLARK,
BY AN OLD PIONEER.
NEW YORK:
SHELDON, LAMPORT & BLAKEMAN,
No. 115 NASSAU STREET.
1855.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by
SHELDON, LAMPORT & BLAKEMAN,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.
JOHN J. REED,
_Stereotyper and Printer_,
16 Spruce street.
INTRODUCTION.
The incidents, manners and customs of frontier life in the country
once called the “Far West,”--now the valley of the Mississippi, are
interesting to all classes. The religious events and labors of good men
in “works of faith and labors of love” among the early pioneers of this
valley, cannot fail to attract the attention of young persons in the
family circle, and children in Sabbath schools.
The author of this work, as the commencement of a series of PIONEER
BOOKS, has chosen for a theme a man of singularly benevolent and
philanthropic feelings; peculiarly amiable in manners and social
intercourse; with habits of great self-denial; unusually disinterested
in his labors, and the first preacher of the gospel who ventured to
carry the “glad tidings” into the Spanish country on the western side
of the GREAT RIVER.[1]
The writer was intimately acquainted with this venerable man, who, by
all classes, was familiarly called “FATHER CLARK,” and induced him
to commence sketches for his own biography. His tremulous hand and
enfeebled powers failed him soon after he had gotten to the period of
his conversion, while a teacher in the back settlements, and he was
unable to finish the work.
By correspondence and personal interviews with many who knew Father
Clark, and from his verbal narratives in our interviews for many years,
the writer has been enabled to give a truthful sketch of the most
important incidents of his life.
While seriously disposed persons of every age and station may derive
pleasure and profit in contemplating the moral portraiture given, _it
is to the young reader, more especially, the author dedicates the
memoir of_ FATHER CLARK.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
Birth--Ancestry--Misfortune of Becoming Suddenly Rich--A
Religious Mother--Fate of an Elder Brother--Mathematics--
Purposes of Life--Deportment in Youth--Views of War. 9
CHAPTER II.
Clark becomes a Sailor--Privateering--His Subsequent Reflections
--Last Visit to his Parents--Sails as Mate to the West Indies--
Pressed on Board the Man-of-War Tobago--A Fight and Death of the
Gunner--Admiral Rodney--Escapes from the Tobago--Visits his
Brother--Ships for England--Taken by the Spaniards--Obtains
his Freedom, and again Pressed on Board the Narcissus--Deserts a
Second Time, and Swims Ashore on James’ Island, off Charleston, at
Great Risk. 16
CHAPTER III.
Mr. Clark arrives at Charleston--Meets with Friends--Interview
with John Scott--The Story and Fate of Duncan--Alarmed, and
Relieved by an Old Shipmate--Stationed on Cooper River--
Returns to Charleston--Protected by Three Scotch Tailors--
They all Escape--Adventures in a Swamp--Reach Gen. Marion’s
Army--Clark Proceeds to Georgetown--Enters a Row-galley and
reaches Savannah--Sails to St. Thomas--Voyage to New York--
Proclamation of Peace--Returns to the West Indies--Shipwreck--
Various Voyages--Distress of Mind--Forsakes a Sea-faring Life. 37
CHAPTER IV.
Retires to the Back Settlements in South Carolina--Teaches a School
--Self-righteousness--His Experience for Twelve Months--
Despondency--Reads Russell’s Seven Sermons--Conversion and firm
Hope--Removes to Georgia and Becomes a Teacher there--First
Methodist Preachers in that Quarter--Mr. Clark joins the
Society. 51
CHAPTER V.
Appointed Class Leader--Desires to Visit his Native Country--
Takes a Berth on the Royal George--Singular Notions on Board--A
Storm--Interview with Tom Halyard--His Conversion--Arrival in
London--Sabbath Morning--Visits the Foundry and hears Rev. John
Wesley--Parting with Halyard--Sails for Inverness. 60
CHAPTER VI.
At Moorfield in London--Returns to Georgia--Received as a
Preacher on Trial--Richmond Circuit--Testimonials--Character
as a Preacher--Walked the Circuit--Views on the Methodist
Episcopal Government--Views on Slavery--Blameless Habits--
Thoughts on Marriage--Love Cured by Prayer--Gradual change
of Views--Contemplates a New Field--Quarterly Conference--
Conscientious Scruples--Philanthropy to Negroes--Withdraws from
the Conference--Parting Scene. 86
CHAPTER VII.
Clark Journies towards Kentucky--His Dress and Appearance--
Colloquy--Hospitality of Mr. Wells--Recognized by a former
Convert--Description of a “Big Meeting”--Persuaded to Stop and
Preach--Effects Produced--Mr. Wells Converted--A Revival--
Shouting--Family Religion--Departs--The Wells Family turn
Baptists. 105
CHAPTER VIII.
Mountain Range--Manners of an Itinerant--Preaching in a
Tavern-house--How to avoid Insults--Hospitality--Reaches
Crab-Orchard--Preachers in Kentucky--Baptists, “Regulars” and
“Separatists”--Principles of Doctrine--School-Teaching--
Master O’Cafferty and His Qualities. 134
CHAPTER IX.
Schoolmaster Equity in 1796--New Customs introduced--Mr. Birch
Discarded--Enrolment--Books Used--New ones Procured--
Astonishing Effects--Colloquy with Uncle Jesse--The New
School-House--A Christmas Frolic--Shocking Affair by the Irish
Master--A Political Convention--Young Democracy--A Stump
Speech--New Customs--A True Missionary--Trouble about Money
--Mr. Clark leaves Kentucky. 152
CHAPTER X.
Journey to Illinois--Story of the Gilham family, captured by
Indians--Hard fare--Mr. Gilham attempts to recover them--
Indian War--Peace made--The Family Redeemed--Removes to
Illinois with Mr. Clark--Navigation of Western Rivers--Story
of Fort Massac--Terrible sickness--Settlement of New Design
--An ungodly race--First Preacher in Illinois--A Stranger in
meeting--First Baptisms--Other Preachers--First Church Formed
--Manners and customs of the French--Indian War--Stations or
Forts Described--PIONEER BOOKS projected. 179
CHAPTER XI.
Religious families noticed--Capt. Joseph Ogle--James Lemen, Sen.,
--The three associates--Upper Louisiana--Attack on St. Louis
--The Governor a Traitor--The assailants retire--American
Emigration encouraged--Baptists and Methodists go there. 208
CHAPTER XII.
Forms a Methodist Class in Illinois--Gradual change of Views--
Mode of Inquiry--Circumstances of his Baptism--Practical
progress in Baptist Principles--Zeal and influence in promoting
education--Early Schools in the Illinois country--A formidable
obstruction to a pupil--Three fellows in the way--Want of books
--A whiskey-loving teacher rightly served--Effects of Father
Clark’s teaching--Visits Kentucky again--Visits to West Florida
--Interview with a Sick man--Efficacy of Prayer--A
Revolution. 235
CHAPTER XIII.
Baptists, “Friends to Humanity”--Their Anti-slavery position--Mr.
Clark joins them--Manner of his reception--His Views of African
Slavery--Views of African Colonization--Made Life-member of a
Colonization Society--Circulars on Slavery--Personal behavior
--Conversational Gifts--Writes Family Records. 256
CHAPTER XIV.
His mode of Traveling--Excursion in Missouri, 1820--His monthly
circuit in Missouri and Illinois--A night Adventure--A
Horseback Excursion--Origin of Carrollton Church--Faith and
Prayer--Interview with Rev. J. Going--A “Standard” Sermon--
An Affectionate Embrace--Comforts of Old Age--Last Illness and
Death. 268
SKETCHES OF “FATHER CLARK.”
CHAPTER I.
Birth.--Ancestry.--Misfortune of Becoming Suddenly Rich.--A
Religious Mother.--Fate of an Elder Brother.--Mathematics.--
Purposes of Life.--Deportment in Youth.--Views of War.
Cast your eyes, reader, on a map of Scotland. Look towards the
north-eastern part, and you will find distinctly marked, the _Frith of
Murray_, a narrow channel of salt water, like a bay, penetrating a long
distance into the interior of Scotland, and named after the Earl of
Moray, or Murray.
Follow up this channel to the city of Inverness, once regarded as
the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Near this city is the small
and secluded parish of _Petty_, which we notice as the birth-place
of Father Clark, on the 29th of November, 1758. Here his father,
grandfather, and other ancestors, for several generations, were born,
lived and died. A brother of his grandfather, whose name was _John
Clark_, became an eminent scholar, and taught the parish school for
many years. All the family connections, for many generations, were
strict Presbyterians, who paid careful attention to the morals of their
children. The classics and mathematics, the Presbyterian catechism, and
their forms of religious worship were taught the children in the parish
schools, and in families, in that part of Scotland. They were taught to
do justly, love mercy, and always speak the truth.
The father of our John Clark was named Alexander, who, in the early
part of his life, owned and worked a farm. He had a brother named
Daniel, who was educated for the ministry in the Presbyterian church;
but he had no taste for that business, and became qualified for a
merchant. In this capacity he sailed for South Carolina; then went
to Georgia in company with some Scottish traders by the name of
Macgilvary, who monopolized the trade with the Creek Indians. In that
connection he gathered a large fortune, and dying, left his estate
to his brother Alexander, who had previously married a respectable
and religious woman. They had two sons, Daniel and John, and three
daughters, one of whom lived many years after her mother’s death.
The fortune of Daniel the elder proved the ruin of the father of our
hero. He neglected his farm, kept open house for his friends, drank
intoxicating liquors freely, lived in a style of luxury and grandeur,
gave his name and credit on the notes of his companions; loaned his
money to sharpers, and in a few years was reduced to bankruptcy.
He lived to old age, and after a long period of intemperance and
wretchedness, was reclaimed and died a penitent, past the age of
three-score and ten.
The mother of John Clark became a very religious woman, and taught
him to pray in early childhood, and that he was a sinner against
God, and must have his heart changed, be converted and saved through
Jesus Christ. Before he was eight years of age he had many serious
impressions about his salvation, many alarming fears about death and
hell, and thought he experienced a saving change at that early period
of life. He often declared to his Christian friends, that to the
instruction and prayers of his mother at that tender age, as means
under God, he was indebted for his salvation. And rarely have we known
a man more earnestly devoted to the religious instruction of children
and youth. It would come out from a gushing heart in almost every
sermon, and by kind and gentle hints and friendly expostulations leave
a deep impression on every family he visited.
His elder brother Daniel was a moral and amiable youth while under the
charge of his mother; but he was sent from home to a grammar school at
an early age. He became an excellent scholar, was taught the mercantile
business, went to Jamaica where he soon became rich. But he lost two
ships, taken by privateers in the war between Great Britain and the
American Colonies, became disheartened, gave way to temptation, and
followed the footsteps of his father by becoming intemperate, and died
a bankrupt and a miserable drunkard in the 37th year of his age.
John Clark’s father knew the benefits of a good education, and spared
no pains or expense in providing his children with the best means
of instruction that Inverness could afford. John was sent to school
at the age of five years. He read the Scriptures and other English
books before he was seven; and at that period was put to study Latin.
He learned the grammar, read Corderius, and studied the elementary
classics for two years; but he disliked the study of Latin and Greek,
for which he often sorrowed in after life. During this time he was at
a boarding school, away from home and all the kind influences of his
affectionate mother.
“All these circumstances,” he writes in the sketches before us,
“laid the foundation for an invincible prejudice against the
acquisition of that useful language;--useful because much of the
English tongue is derived from it. Also it disciplines the mind,
corrects desultory habits, and forms a taste to imitate in oratory
and composition, classical authors. I think it highly necessary for
those, who aim at common education, to memorize a Latin vocabulary.
Study mathematics to discipline the mind, and study well our
English classic writers.
But my early and deep-rooted aversion to the dead languages
prevented me from receiving much advantage from Latin and Greek
authors, so that I acquired but a smattering knowledge of those
languages.”
When his father learned his aversion to classical studies he sent him
to an excellent school in the parish of Nairn, to learn arithmetic,
book-keeping, mathematics and natural philosophy. The purpose of
his father was to qualify him to join his brother in the mercantile
business in the island of Jamaica. At this school he studied geometry,
trigonometry, mensuration, surveying, astronomy, and navigation in all
its branches.
Two objects occupied his youthful mind, and which he craved in all
his studies. They engaged his thoughts by day and flitted through
his dreams by night. They were the only airy castles his fancy ever
built. First, to spend about eight years on ship-board, and visit
foreign countries and see the manners and customs of other nations.
And, secondly, then to settle for life in one of the American colonies.
With his mind fixed on these objects, with a steadiness of purpose that
never tired, he entered on those studies connected with navigation
with an eagerness and zest rarely equalled in youth. He could not
divest himself of this propensity to a sea-faring life for the period
proposed. He had no inclination to be a mere sailor, or to spend his
days with the profane and drunken of that class of men. He saw enough
of such specimens of degraded humanity in the port of Inverness to
excite feelings of disgust and sympathy. In all his longings to be on
ship-board, his benevolent nature sympathised with the heedless and
wicked sailors. He would often retire and weep over their miseries, and
think of plans for their reform and relief, when he should attain the
command of a ship.
During the period of youth, Clark was singularly amiable, moral,
kind-hearted and generous. He lost no time by idleness, had no
inclination to the vain amusements and frivolities of youth, and
sustained an estimable character for personal sobriety, good order
and morality. The unfortunate example of his father excited pity and
disgust; the devoutly religious character of his mother confirmed and
deepened the impressions of childhood. There was more of puritanical
strictness, form, and rigid orthodoxy, than active piety and the
outpourings of the religious emotions, in the Church of Scotland at
that period, and young Clark neither felt nor manifested those feelings
of ardent love to the Redeemer, and comfortings of the Holy Spirit,
that had been awakened in his young heart at the early age of eight
years, or which distinctly marked his religious character in after life.
Our youthful friend became an enthusiastic lover of liberty and of the
rights of man, at an early age, and which continued the ruling passion
during life. In the period of old age he records these facts.
“When I was very young, I deeply imbibed the spirit of war--owing
chiefly from hearing much of the success that attended the British
arms by land and sea, during the war in Canada. When in the
seventeenth year of my age, the Revolutionary war between Great
Britain and her Colonies commenced, and I soon found myself as much
opposed to the spirit of war as I was formerly in favor of it.”
This feeling remained after he became connected with the navy, and
caused him to desert the service, into which he had been forced by the
press-gang. And yet, as if to show us that a young man so amiable,
kind-hearted, and philanthropic as Clark, was far from perfection,
or even consistency of character, he engaged in the business of
privateering; a business now regarded by civilized nations as barbarous
and immoral.