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SKETCHES

or

THE LIFE AND TRAVELS

OF

REV. THOMAS WARE,

WHO HAS BEEN

AN ITINERANT METHODIST PREACHER FOR MORE THAN
FIFTY YEARS.

‘

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

REVISED BY THE EDITORS.

NEW-YORK:

PUBLISHED BY T. MASON AND G. LANE,

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE OFFICE,
200 MULBERRY-STREET.

J. Collord, Printer.
1839._
“Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839,
by T. Mason and G. Lane, in the Clerk’s Office of the Dis-
trict Court of the Southern District of New-York.”
ADVERTISEMENT

TO

MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Tue Rev. Thomas Ware is one of the old-
_est Methodist travelling preachers in the United
States. He commenced his labours in early
life, and is now more than eighty years of
age. His connection with the work during
the first stages of its progress, in this coun-
try, furnished him with an opportunity to col-
‘lect many facts and anecdotes, calculated to
illustrate the principles and spirit of Method-
ism in its primitive form. Nothing so happily
illustrates the spirit and intrinsic character of
a system of operations, in religion or other
social interests, as a detailed account of the
feelings, dispositions, and conduct of its de-
voted friends and advocates. If we would
have a correct understanding of primitive
Christianity, we should make ourselves fami-
liar with the influences which everywhere,
and under all circumstances, affected the first
and most eminent Christians. So, also, if we
4 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

would have a correct knowledge of true primi-
tive Methodism, the surest way to attain it is to
become familiarly acquainted with the lives and
conduct of its first and most eminent votaries.
That influence under which an individual is
led to persevere in a life of self denial and
much labour for half a century or more, with-
out turning aside at any time, must be pre-
sumed to constitute, ina very eminent degree,
the principal element of his faith and practice.
Hence are the biographies of the early Me-
thodist preachers profitable to those who
would imbibe their spirit and imitate their vir-
tues—those who would be primitive Method-
ists—as well as interesting to all.

Although we could wish our much respected
‘father in the gospel, the Rev. Thomas Ware,
had preserved a great deal more of what
passed under his observation during the early
part of his ministry, we cannot but believe
that many will be thankful for what he has
furnished in the following pages. They con-
tain many things calculated to impart instruc-
tion as well as edification ; and through them
this venerable man of God will speak to thou-
sands after he is dead.

We deem it proper to say, in conclusion,
that as it appeared desirable in publishing the
work to preserve the auto-biographical form
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 5

in which it was furnished, although very con-
siderable corrections were necessary to pre-
pare it for the press, we have been at the
pains of having the whole read to the author
since it was corrected, so that it is published
from the manuscript approved by him, with-
out alteration. This was deemed necessary,
as it contains historical facts and allusions
which may in some future day be consulted
for purposes of interest to the Church, when
all will desire to be satisfied that the record is
in his own words. We trust this little volume
will be perused with much satisfaction by
many, and be rendered a blessing to them.
PUBLISHERS.
PREFACE

TO

MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

THE writer of the following sketches has
neither capacity nor disposition to employ
his pen merely for the purpose of amusing his
fellow men. But having been called, in the
order of Providence, to act a part upon the
stage of life at a period when every thing
connected with the history of this great nation
was stamped with interest, he may, without
ostentation, perform the humble task of record-
ing some things which passed under his ob-
servation, and thus preserving from oblivion
incidents connected with those days, which
might otherwise be lost.

In surveying the past, he has reason to
regret that he has kept a record of so small a
proportion of what might have been useful and
interesting to posterity. But a conviction of
the importance of making a register of every
thing worth preserving, at the time, came too
late. In regard to this, the writer has been
guilty of a fault too common with the soldiers.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 7

of the revolution, and the first Methodist
preachers in this country.

Still there were many things connected
with his early experience, which, from their
peculiar nature, or the circumstances under
which they occurred, made an impression upon
his mind never to be erased. This induced
him to note them down at the time of their
occurrence. From the scraps containing such
notices, the following sketches are principally
made out.

As itis the object of the following narrative
to instruct, rather than amuse—to give correct
information relative to the facts alluded to in
it, rather than dazzle the imagination of the
reader with an exhibition of marvellous events,
the writer claims, as the chief merit of his
production, strict fidelity to truth, He has
recorded only what he has seen, and heard,
and experienced.

If the work possess no other interest, it is
believed that the circumstance of the writer’s
connection with the early Methodist preach-
ers, and acquaintance with the history of the
Church since its organization, will give it a
degree of value in the estimation of many.
The humble individual, who furnishes these
brief sketches for the perusal of posterity,
was acompanion in labour and suffering with
8 MEMOIR OF REY. THOMAS WARE.

the Methodist preachers of 1784. He was
present at the Christmas Conference in that
year, when the Methodist Episcopal. Church
in the United States was organized. He has
lived, however, to witness great changes. His
“old companions dear” are allgone. He lives
as in a new world; yet not new, because,
though other men inhabit it, they are engaged
in the same cause. Methodism, in its radical
principles and prominent features, is the same
as when the writer first entered the field.
That it may continue so to the end of time,
and equal the highest expectations of its early
friends and advocates, as an instrument of
spreading evangelical holiness through these
lands, is the sincere prayer of
T. W.
Salem, N. J., March 28, 1839.
MEMOIR

OF THE

REV. THOMAS WARE.

CHAPTER I.

Mr. Ware’s account of his ancestors—His birth—Early reli-
gious training—Doctrinal views of his parents—Death of his
father—Distress and gloom of his mother—Partakes of her
spirit of despondency—Troubled with the subject of doctrines—
Methodists begin to be talked of in that country—The minister
of the parish induced, in consequence, to dwell largely on the
doctrine of decrees—Attends school—Contracts a friendship for
an eccentric schoolmate, and endeavours to shake off his seri-
ousness—His friend endeavors to reason him out of his Cal-
vinistic views, but to no purpose—Becomes less serious, and
more fond of play—Anecdote of a preacher who revived the
agitation about Methodists, by representing them as driven from
England by their antagonists, and therefore flocking to Ameri-
ca—Arminianism, not understood by those who were led to hold
it a dreadful heresy—Doctrinal disputes among the people—
Students who played at cards, and excused themselves when
rebuked, by taking shelter under the doctrine of decrees—
School broken up in consequence of the schoolhouse being
burned—Mr. Ware returns to his mother, and aids her on her
little farm—Greatly harassed again on the subject of doctrines.

My paternal grandfather was an English-
man by birth, and a captain in the British
service under Queen Anne. I remember
him well, as he lived until I was sixteen
years old. His personal appearance was

*
10 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

fine, and his mind cheerful. The caresses,
anecdotes, and lessons of instruction, re-
ceived from him, are among my earliest
recollections. He had high notions of liberty,
and was the first man I ever heard eulo-
gize the Indian character. Most people
seemed to think the Indians ought to be
“exterminated.

When this venerable old man came to
spend a few days with us, we were always
delighted, and vied with each other in our
efforts to please him. His company was
interesting on account of the cheerfulness
of his spirits, and the stories with which he
was always ready to entertain us. He was
in the habit, too, of advising my father with
respect to the education of his children —
On this subject he used to say, the mind
must be made strong as well as the body.
‘Though minds differed—some being natu
rally stronger and others weaker—yet much
depended upon management in their educa-
tion. And in view of this, a beginning could
not too soon be made to guard children
against the fears which vulgar stories about
ghosts, &c., were calculated to produce, and
to store their minds with correct ideas. My
grandfather lived to the great age of more
than fivescore years. To his uniformly cheer-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 11

ful temperament, as a means under God, I
have always attributed his long life.

My maternal grandfather, whose name was
Reed, I neversaw. He was a native of Scot-
land. On his passage from that country, he
was wrecked off the capes of Delaware, and
lost all but his life. He reached the shore by
clinging to some fragments of the broken ship,
and was found nearly exhausted on the beach
by a farmer, named Garrettson, who took him
to his house. With this person, who rescued
him from his perilous condition, he was con-
tented to remain. He afterward married a
daughter of his benefactor. He died at mid-
dle age, leaving a large landed estate, and a
numerous offspring.

My grandmother Reed I knew well. She
possessed fine powers of mind, and a happy
faculty of communicating her thoughts. Al-
though not very conversant with books, she
knew much of the history of the world, and
her conversation was always rendered inte-
resting by her numerous anecdotes about
former days, when the country was infested
with beasts of preyand savage men. The
young people were delighted with her society,
and profited too, as she was accustomed, in
entertaining them with her conversation, to
draw many of her anecdotes from the Scrip-
12 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

tures, which she would tell in a soft and pious
strain, that made an impression on my mind
lasting as life. She was one of the few whose
condition may be said to be enviable in old
age. With intelligence and cheerfulness
beaming in her countenance, and the law of
kindness dwelling on her tongue, her last
days were among her most happy days. Who
that have had the pleasure of being conversant
with such a person in the decline of life, have
not felt a wish mingling with secret aspirations
of the heart to God that they might live to be
old, and their last days be equally tranquil and
happy?

My father and mother were pious persons,
and lived, while they were permitted to live
together, in the fear of the Lord. But my
father died in the prime of life—I think at
about thirty-eight years of age. My grand-
father Ware used to say that he was the
kindest of all his sons. He was the only one
of them who professed to know that God for
Christ’s sake had forgiven his sins. His mind
was improved by considerable reading. Mil-
ton was his favourite poet; and persons of
good taste were always delighted to hear
Paradise Lost read by him. He loved his
family much; and in the estimation of those
who knew him best, he was considered one of
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 13

the most excellent men. These amiable pa-
rents taught me the fear of the Lord, by both
precept and example. The whole deportment
of my father tended to fix in me a habit of
serious reflection on the subject of religion;
and his triumphant death made an impression
on my mind that time could not obliterate.
He left my mother a widow with eight chil-
dren, the eldest only seventeen years.

Respecting the date of my birth there is no
authentic record, a part of the family register
having been by accident so effaced as to ren-
der it illegible. For the only knowledge I
have of it, therefore, I am indebted to the
memory of my excellent mother, from whom I
learned that it was the 19th of December, 1758.

Though my father and mother were both
pious, they did not agree in their views of
doctrine. My mother was a firm believer in
the Presbyterian faith ; but my father was not,
and refused to join the church unless he could
be permitted to think for himself on the subject
of divine decrees. He believed, as my mother
often told me, in the universality of the atone-
ment; but, in compliance with her wishes,
suffered me to learn the Larger and Shorter
Catechisms. Alas! how many children are
injured, and go halting all their days, for want
of skilful nursing.
14 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

It had been usual for my mother, in my
father’s absence, to pray with her children
morning and evening. But after his death
she was tempted to abandon it. The scéne
was deeply afflicting. She collected her chil-
dren, as usual, around her. While thus
seated, eight in number, and the eldest only
in her seventeenth year, she attempted to read,
but could not. She satand wept. My eldest
sistér at last said, “My dear mother, why do
you weep?” “Alas!” replied she, “death
has made you all orphans, and your mother a
disconsolate widow. I am not worthy to fill
the place of your excellent father. Had I
been so, and you been dutiful children, we
should not have been left in this forlorn con-
dition. Go, my children, and pray for your-
selves. These little ones, (meaning the
younger four of the number,) I will take with
me into my closet.” On hearing these remarks
from my bereaved and much afflicted mother,
T arose quickly, went out into the field, and
wept bitterly. I said to myself, It is doubtless
as my mother has said ; at least we have been
naughty children.

No wonder that a providence so mysterious
as the removal of my father in the prime of
life, should deeply affect my poor afflicted
mother. The gloom which hung over her
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 15

mind, occasioned by his death and her being
left with eight young children, who were des-
tined no more to see the smiling face or hear
the charming voice of so kind and affectionate
a father, was heightened by the doubts she
often indulged about her own election, or gra-
cious state, asshe would express it. She was
harassed with fears, that what she had fondly
taken for saving grace, was nothing more
than common grace.

About this time, a neighbour who had long
been a communicant in the church had fallen
into doubts respecting his election, and in his
despondency had taken his own life. This
man, she now concluded, had never been
operated upon by any thing more than com-
mon grace. And it occasioned her much
painful exercise and sore conflict of rhind.

Listening to those who came to console my
mother under the pressure of her grief and the
doubts which were preying upon her feelings,
a spirit of melancholy seized me, and I became
subject to desponding fears. In this state I
wandered in lowly places; and having heard
that departed spirits did sometimes return as
messengers of good to those they loved on
earth, I often invoked my father’s appearance,
hoping that for the love he bore to us while
he was with us, he would return and tell me
16 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

if my mother’s name and my own were writ-
ten in the book of life.

From this, some idea may be formed of the
gloom cast over the morning of my days in
consequence of my early instruction in the
principles of the Calvinistic faith. There are
some minds which cannot digest the doctrine
of decrees as set forth in the system of
Calvinism. And such was mine.

It was not long before the younger two of
our family were taken away by death. As
they died in infancy, there were no just
grounds to doubt of their being happy. But
to a mind exercised as mine then was, there
was no Satisfactory assurance of it; for, ac-
cording to our creed, the condition of infancy
could not be considered as a security against
being fifally lost. There were three, one bro-
ther and two sisters, older than myself; and
none of these appeared to give themselves any
uneasiness about our little Lydia and Enoch,
whom we had followed to the grave, not doubt-
ing that they were with their father in hea-
ven. Why it was that I alone should infer,
from our common creed, that they were more
likely to be in hell than in heaven, I am at a
loss to conceive, unless Providence designed
that I should be the means of bringing our
family to embrace the doctrinal views of my
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 17

father, rather than those of my mother, who
herself died in principle a Methodist. In the
distinguishing features of my father’s faith I was
never instructed until I became a Methodist,
and my mother’s prejudices had somewhat
subsided. She then told me that my father
was a Methodist in his views, and, she doubt-
ed not, would have joined them, if he had lived
to hear them.

When the Methodists began to be talked of
in our section of the country, our minister,
fearing lest their principles should be intro-
duced and infect the minds of his people, was
led to dwell largely on the doctrine of divine
decrees, which, being opposed by some, occa-
sioned much controversy among all classes.

Atthis time I was attending school. Among
my school-mates was one, named Constan-
tine, some years older than myself, for whom,
notwithstanding some peculiarities of charac-
ter which rendered him offensive to others, I
contracted a strong attachment. He was
ordinary in his person, and possessed great
muscular strength. His genius was of the
highest order,—especially in the study of the
mathematics. By competent judges he was
considered to possess a maturity of thought
far above his years. His fellow-students
hated him ; but it was probably because they
18 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

dreaded his wit and satire. They were cau-
tious not to go too far, lest bruin, as they
called him, would give them a deadly hug.
By some, too, he was deemed as a prodigy of
wickedness, because he did not believe in
the decrees of God, as set forth in our Cate-
chism and Confession of Faith. He had, what
some thought, the audacity to say, that the
time spent in learning them was worse than
lost. This extraordinary young man, who
was, in fact, a good-natured and fast friend,
laboured hard to persuade me out of my Cal-
vinistic views. But he could not succeed.
Becoming weary, however, with my continued
struggles of mind, and concluding that nothing
was to be gained by self-consuming care, I
made an effort to dismiss serious thoughts
from my mind, and soon became as passion-
ately fond of play as any in the school.

The noise about the Methodists had died
away. For a considerable time little was said
of them, except now and then a silly tale or
groundless report was put in circulation re-
specting them. One of these was, that they
preached that there were children in hell not
a span long. This wasstated in a circle of
persons, all of whom, except one, were pre-
destinarians. An individual remarked that it
might be true; “but there are,” said he, “two
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE, 19

kinds of Methodists ; the followers of Wesley,
and those of Whitefield. The latter are pre-
destinarians, and some of them do probably
preach such doctrines; but it ill becomes us,
who are predestinarians, to circulate this tale.”

Soon after, a preacher of this class—one
of the most rigid predestinarians of that age—
came into the place, and revived the clamour
against the Methodists. The story which was
put in circulation was, that the two Mr. Hills,
Richard and Rowland, had written them down
in England, and that they were flocking to Ame-
rica; and a clergyman of an adjoining parish,
apprehending, as it seemed, that there was no
time to be lost, commenced a course of ser-
mons on the decrees of God, in which he
extended their application to the falling of
every leaf in autumn. He told the people
that England was overrun with a set of wild
fanatical heretics, who had revived the errors
of James Arminius, and would, it was feared,
inundate America with their damnable Armi-
nian, Pelagian, and popish heresies. Many,
however, were not very well pleased with the
old gentleman’s strong doctrine and harsh
invectives.

As to Arminianism, they knew not what it
meant, but thought it must be something very
bad. Some, however, took the liberty to draw.
20 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

their own conclusions from what the parson
preached, and argued that if it were true, no
one could consistently be blamed for any thing
he thought, said, or did. During this agita-
tion, a son of Col. S., one of the minister’s
principal parishioners, returned from college,
with two of his fellow-students, to spend a
short time at home. He and his companions
were studying for the law. They attended
church for two successive Sabbaths, and
listened to the discourses of the preacher on
divine decrees. On the following Sabbath,
however, instead of attending service, while
the parson was pursuing his subject in the
church, they were playing at cards in a plea-
sant shade near it, without any apparent con-
cern about being concealed from public view.
Of this daring impiety the pastor was readily
informed; and on the following day, in com-
pany with two of his elders, he waited on Col.
S., whose son had evidently taken the lead in
this open contempt of the day, the ordinances,
and the minister of God. The clergyman
opened the subject to the father; and the son
was called in to answer for himself. The
youth frankly confessed what he had done;
and on being sharply rebuked for an offence so
enormous and shocking tothe moral sense of all
good people, he boldly took refuge under the
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. Q1

doctrine taught him from the pulpit. “If your
reverence please,” said he, “the Lord made
me to do this bad deed; and I hope you will
excuse, or at least pity me—seeing it was
from all eternity decreed ;” and then drew
from his pocket, and handed to the preacher,
an abstract which he had taken of one of his
sermons, in which it was affirmed that the
decrees of God extended to all the actions of
men. With this repartee the colonel saw that
the parson was evidently embarrassed; nor
could he relieve him other than by an exer-
cise of his parental authority in reproving his
son for being guilty of so wicked an act as
playing at cards on the Sabbath, and obtain-
ing from him a promise that he would not be
guilty of the like again. But the son gave
point to the whole, by begging of his father,
in the most respectful manner, that he would
forbear urging his demand with too much de-
cision, lest he should be guilty of greater im-
piety, not knowing how the decrees of God
might run.

This circumstance was a subject of much
conversation in our neighbourhood. By some
the young student was highly commended ;
and by others severely censured. Had those
who applauded the boldness and intre-
pidity of the youth, laid the blame at the mi-
22 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

nister’s door, as they ought to have done, and,
in renouncing the doctrine he had taught,
sought for the truth, it might have been a be-
neficial occurrence to them; but being led to
suppose that what the minister taught, false
and absurd as it appeared to them, was the
doctrine of the Bible, because it was preached
from the pulpit, some were led to think and
speak lightly of that holy book.*

The school-house in which I attended
school when I contracted an acquaintance
with the eccentric Constantine, whom I have
mentioned, having been burned down, and the
schoo] thereby broken up, I was deprived of
the means of regular instruction—there being
no other one within my reach. My time was
now employed in aiding my mother to culti-
vate her small farm; and, by the assistance
she gave me, I improved some in reading. A
code of laws drawn up by our excellent
teacher, for the government of his pupils, and
copied by my friend Constantine, I had care-
fully preserved; and also a fragment of my
father’s journal, when a school-boy. These

* After a lapse of many years from this occurrence, I travel-
led the district embracing the place where it transpired, and
inquired of an intelligent gentleman who belonged to the same
church at the time, whether he recollected it. He replied that

he did very well, and that the preacher immediately changed his
course, and undid what he had done before.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 23

were calculated to carry my mind back, and
cause me to think of events that were past
Some of my first attempts at journalizing had
also been preserved. As portrayed in these,
I have often looked at myself with much inte-
rest, and viewed myselfas ayoungimmortal, left
as it were alone, in search of intellectual food,
or doomed to go without. The lower ani-
mals are instinctively directed to what is good
for them, and select the nutritious from among
the poisonous. Man has no such instinctive
faculty to obtain what is needful for the mind.
On the contrary, he too often shows the
keenest relish for the deadly poison. I had
indeed a pious mother ; but her education was
too defective in this respect, essentially to
benefit me. Her thirst for Christian know-
ledge led her to read much; and she could
read well. Her precepts and example were
also highly instructive and beneficial ; yet her
occasionally pleading for the necessity of conti-
nuing in sin until death, and the like, by no
means contributed to satisfy my inquiring
mind. As she was deeply afflicted, however,
and needed all the aid I could give her toward
supporting the family, a sense of duty induced
me to remain for a time with her.
24 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

CHAPTER II.

Mr. Ware leaves nis mother, and goes to live with an uncle—
His uncle an irreligious and trifling man—Was brought to hear
skeptical conversation among those who frequented his uncle’s
house—Was caressed by them, and much injured—The war
breaks out—His feelings in favour of the revolution—He becomes
ardent in the cause of freedom by reading—His uncle takes op-
posite sides—He leaves his uncle, and volunteers in the service
—Reflects upon his course—Is carelessly exposed with the rest
of the regiment at Perth Amboy, and threatened with punish-
ment for his remarks on the occasion—Volunteers to reinforce
General Washington on Long Island ; but is prevented by the
enemy, and falls sick at Powle’s Hook.

In my sixteenth year, my mother thinking
she could spare me, I left my native town,
and went to live with an uncle in Salem,
N. J., about twenty milesdistant. This uncle
was an ingenious mechanic; and deemed, in
the circle in which he moved, a ready wit.—
But he was lax in his moral and religious prin-
ciples. He was in the habit of indulging in
sarcasms on all occasions calculated to call
them forth, especially in reference to the insti-
tutions and habits of the people of New-Eng-
land. He had made himself familiar with
their history, and particularly detested their
treatment of the Quakers ; probably the more,
because his mother was of that order; and
their blue laws, as they were called, which he

appeared to understand well, were particularly
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 25

offensive to his feelings, and the subject of his
Severest remarks.

My creed, also, which had so much bewil-
dered my mind, but which I now began to
trouble myself but little about, was often made
the subject of my uncle’s biting ridicule. Ha-
bitually listening tothe skeptical conversations
of those who frequented his house, and who
appeared to be the gayest and happiest peo-
ple in the world, I soon imbibed their spirit
and sentiments, and joined with them in their
merriment. Having learned some of their
songs, and being favoured with a good voice,
I was soon caressed by them, as being able to
sing a good song, and say some smart things.

While I was residing with my uncle, the
quarrel between us and the mother country
became more threatening, and the alarm of
war waxed louder and louder. I was young
and ardent; and all my feelings were on the
side of America. I was delighted, therefore,
to hear the bold and unfaltering voice of the
undaunted Henry raised in defiance of the
sovereign who was endeavouring to crush us,
and of his minions among us. Still more de-
lighted was I when I learned that, seeing we
must resort to arms in defence of our rights,
the election for a commander-in-chief fell upon
Washington, the youthinl hero whose skill in
26 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

saving the vanquished army of the ill-fated
Braddock was a pledge for his success when
his country should need his services. Brad-
dock’s defeat was well understood, and much
talked of; and in connection with it, the emi
nent skill displayed by young Washington in
rescuing the army from being entirely cut off
was familiar to all. I knew a man who had
been a soldier under Braddock, and had heard
him speak of Washington as every way supe-
rior, in person, demeanour, courage, and skill
in war. In such a cause, and under such a
leader, my ardent feelings inclined me to
desire to serve my country.

The spirit of liberty was abroad. A sense
of the rights of man with which the American
people were imbued, had roused the people
from their lethargy, and produced some of the
greatest statesmen and heroes the world ever
saw. The invincible spirit they manifested
had spread itself among all classes, and agi-
tated the whole civilized world. The general
feeling which prevailed had some redeeming
influence on me, as it directed my mind to a
particular object. I had an ardent desire to
peruse the news of the day, and this led me
to improve in my reading. If I heard any
thing interesting read in the periodicals of the
day, I borrowed the paper and read it over
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 27

myself, while it was yet fresh in my memory,
which aided me very much. The cause of
freedom was advocated, too, by the free circu-
lation of pamphlets, one of which was very
popular, and had much influence on the minds
of the people generally. ‘There were doubt-
less some who did not approve of it; but they
were silent. In all conversations among the
people you would hear the measures of the
British government toward this country con-
demned as arbitrary beyond endurance, and
that we were justified in resisting them, and
throwing off the yoke. The pamphlet which
so ably advocated these views, as all agreed,
I procured, and got persons to read it for me
who could read well, and then read it myself,
by which I continued to improve in the art of
reading, and became more deeply imbued with
.the spirit of the revolution. I was at this time
in the seventeenth year of my age.

An elderly man, having heard me say that
I claimed to understand the principles of the
revolution, and meant to be governed by them,
inquired what they were. I replied, “ Never
to invade the rights of others, nor suffer others
to invade mine, at the risk of life. But un-
derstand me, sir, I do not mean as a duellist,
for no man in his individual capacity has the
right of life and death;” and I proceeded ‘to
28 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

explain an invasion of rights, as consisting in
attempts to compel us to believe and act con-
trary to the dictates of our rational convictions.

When the struggle commenced, my uncle
was on the side of America. But on the
declaration of independence, he changed sides.
Influenced by the views and feelings I have
expressed, I left him, and volunteered as a
soldier in the service. In seventy-six, I was
one of the nine thousand quartered at Perth
Amboy.

After I had enlisted, one said to me, ‘ You
are an adventurous youth—it is a desperate
cut—independence or the halter.” All seemed
at first to agree in dispensing with such arti-
cles as were taxed, in a way, as they thought,
to oppress the colonies. But they were not
equally united in having recourse to arms in
defence of their alleged rights. The chief
difficulty seemed to be, a fear that we should.
not be able to contend with a power which
we had been accustomed to consider invinci-
ble; and then, to those actively engaged in
the conflict, it would probably be death instead
of independence. This, I doubt not, led many
to take neutral ground. But on such ground
circumstances would not long permit them to
remain. All who professed to occupy it were
represented as disaffected, and constantly
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 29

pressed on the subject until many became
really so, and went over tothe enemy. Others
pleaded conscientious scruples against bear-
ing arms, and were excused on that account,
though their property was laid under requisi-
tion to support the war. Having now abjured
my king, and taken up arms against him, I
had time to think and reason with myself on
the part I had taken in this great national
conflict; and some of my reflections I can
never forget while memory lasts. The cause
I held to be just. On this point Ihad no mis-
givings. But whether we should be able to
sustain our ground, appeared to me a much
more doubtful question. There must be, I
was sure, much hard fighting, and many
valuable lives sacrificed, to gain the boon of
our independence, if we should succeed at
last. And what will they gain, thought I,
who fallin the struggle? The thanks of their
country? No; they will be forgotten. But
then the principles for which we were con-
tending, it appeared to me, were worth risking
life for. Our example would be followed by
others, and tyranny and oppression would be
overthrown throughout the world. Still the
question recurred, “Can you meet the mar-
tialled hosts of the British nation—you, who
know little or nothing of the arts of war, and
30 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

whose officers know not much more than
yourselves—with any hope of success?” This
was an appalling view of the subject. Yet,
with the views I entertained of the justness of
our cause in the sight of Heaven, I could not
doubt, and resolved for one on liberty or
death. “But there is a hereafter,” was sug-
gested to my mind. ‘True, thought I, but I
will do the best I can, and trust in God. And
so it was, that as a soldier in the army I was
more devout than when at home; and I
prayed until a confidence sprang up within
me, that I should return to my home and
friends in safety, or not be cut off without
time to make my peace with God.

After we had lain a short time at Perth
Amboy, to make a show of our strength, as
was supposed, our general reviewed us in full
view of the enemy. As was expected by some,
they opened their artillery upon us. Had their
fire been directed with skill, many must
have been slain. But they shot over us.
Although none were injured, yet many were
dreadfully frightened, and indignant at the
officers for unnecessarily exposing their lives
to such imminent hazard. This was indeed a
useless exposure of life. To call out nine
thousand men in full view of the enemy, and
before their cannon, with only a narrow river
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 31

or sound, not exceeding, I think, two hundred
yards, between them and us, was an indiscre-
tion sufficient to alarm the soldiers. Still
there was occasion enough to exercise us.
Having been a lieutenant in a juvenile com-
pany, and taken much pride in studying the
tactics of the field, I thought our officers blame-
worthy in neglecting to drill their men, unpre-
pared as they appeared to be for the discharge
of theirduty. Butinstead of this, they permitted
them to spend their time in running foot-races,
wrestling, jumping, &c. By an inadvertent
remark on this subject, I came near getting
into a serious difficulty. I said our officers
undoubtedly depended more upon our heels
than our arms, alluding to our being indulged
in running and jumping, rather than trained
to duty. For this I was reprimanded, and
threatened with an arrest.

After being quartered one month at Perth
Amboy, I volunteered to reinforce Washing-
ton, on Long Island. We marched with all
possible haste to Powles’ Hook; but before we
arrived, the British had got command of the
Hudson River, and we were prevented from
crossing over to Long Island.

After this forced march, the day being very
sultry, and having no tent or quarters for the
night, except a damp filthy hovel, I was seized
32 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

with what was called the camp fever. The
physician pronounced it a hectic. Whatever
it was, it cost me several years of the prime
of my life.

CHAPTER III.

Gloomy aspect of affairs throughout the country—Soldiers
refuse to continue in the service after their terms expire—
Many leave—Mr. Ware leaves with the rest, but is unable to
proceed far—Stops with a relative—Finds him a violent enemy
to the revolution—Learns that Washington is on the retreat—
Sets forward for West Jersey—Witnesses the distress of the
people in flight before the enemy—lIs insulted and abused at a
public house—Suffers much in a snow-storm—Finds a friend,
with whom he puts up—Is delirious by reason of his exposure
and late sickness—Leaves his hospitable friends, with whom he
is pressed to stay, and hastens home.

Durine the autumn of 1776, things wore a
very gloomy aspect. The tempest of war had
swept over the plains and heights of New-
York, and then burst with impetuosity on
New-Jersey, my native state. The conti-
nental troops could not bear up against the
veteran hosts of the British army, by whom
they were outnumbered more than two to
one. The American army had been reduced
much by various conflicts with the enemy:
but what added to the causes of discourage-
ment was, that the soldiers had become disaf-

fected in consequence of their extreme suffer-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 33

ings, especially for want of clothing: and an
impression began to obtain among them that
congress cared very little about their suffer-
ings, and that there were too many in the
national councils who cared as little about the
independence of the country ; and as the term
for which many had enlisted expired at that
time, no persuasion could induce them to enrol
their names again, or to postpone their return
to their homes.

While such was the condition ofthe army,
the enemy was advancing in triumph, and the
people flying in consternation before them.
There are many now living who have heard
their parents tell of the scenes which then
transpired—of whole families in flight—wo-
men and children homeless, in winter, hasten-
ing to make their escape, not knowing whi-
ther they went—-men who had accumulated a
competency forsaking their farms and effects,
giving them all up to be destroyed, rather than
remain to improve or protect them, with the
enemy at their heels—there are many, I say,
who have undoubtedly heard these scenes
described ; but I witnessed them in all their
horrors.

Of all wars a civil war is the worst; and
the revolutionary war had much of this cha-

racter. The animosity between the friends
Q*
34 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

of the revolution and the British was great;
but that between the friends and the enemies
of the revolution—the whigs and tories—was
greater. Some of the latter were violent and
cruel beyond comparison. But for them our
independence would have been accomplished
with ease: and in consequence of what I had |
witnessed in the conduct of individuals who
manifested so much hostility against those that
were labouring to achieve our independence,
I imbibed a settled aversion to them; but
on my retiring from the camp, I became con-
vinced that I had erred in supposing them all
alike in this matter.

On leaving the army to return home, I
found myself unable to keep up with my com-
panions in arms, who had received their dis-
charge, and were also returning to their
homes ; and I accordingly turned aside to
spend afew days with a relative who lived a
few miles from the main road. The man IJ
had never seen, though I had seen his wife and
daughter; nor did I know any thing of his
views and feelings respecting the war. When
I arrived, I was received with expressions of
kindness by my relations. The sympathies
of the mother and daughter were strongly
moved by my affliction. During the absence
of fever there was an unnatural paleness on
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 85

my countenance, which made me appear more
like adead than a living man ; and then, when
the fever came on, being much bloated, a
crimson hue flushed my cheek, which gave
me the appearance of being in health. But
the sudden transitions of these two extremes
caused those who observed them to suppose
me under the influence of a hectic fever.

The second day that I was with this fami-
ly I overheard my cousin say to his wife,
“This relative bears a remarkable resem-
blance to my aunt, his mother, and appears
to be a kind, honest-hearted fellow; and,
though you have heard me say, rather than a
rebel should escape I would turn hangman
myself, he looks so much like my mother, and
is so young, I should not like to put a knot
about his neck; but, as for the ringleaders
of this nefarious rebellion, them I could hang
with a free good-will.” ‘O, Jacob,” said his
wife, “I fear you will yet bring ruin upon
yourself and family.” Through the kindness
and importunity of this amiable woman and
her daughter, my cousin was so far softened
toward me as to manifest some tenderness ; and
as I remained with them ten days, my health
and spirits were much improved.

The following circumstances led to my
sudden departure from this place:—While
36 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

walking in the woods one day, I saw a man
pass with a horse, and heard him say, while
viewing the animal, “Well, if the news be
true, the money I gave the rebel isn’t worth
sixpence.” I hailed him, and inquired if his
horse was for sale. He said he was, for hard
money. Having taken a few guineas with
me when I left home, lest I should be taken
prisoner and need them, I finally contracted
to purchase the horse, saddle, and bridle, for
all the hard money I had. I took the horse
to the stable ; but did not ask the man about
the news of which I heard him speak. On
coming into the house, my cousin met me
at the door, with the newspaper in his
hand, and said, “There, I always expect-
ed it would come to this. The rebel army is
destroyed. Washington is on the retreat, and
cannot escape. So, cousin, you will tarry
with us and take protection. You are young,
and may easily obtain a pardon. I will go
with you to the British officer; and, if you
have fears, we will take Eliza (his daughter)
as your advocate.” My feelings were not
prepared for such a proposition; and, for a
moment, I struggled between consternation
and contempt. But soon my course was de-
cided. The feelings of indignation, being
roused in my bosom, flashed in my face.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 37

When he saw this, he threw down the paper
and went into anotherroom. Eliza,I saw, was
in tears; and her mother was absent with a
sick neighbour. I walked several times across
the room, and then went to Eliza, and giving
her my hand, bade her adieu, adding that we
should never meet again. I told her that I
should go and see Captain Dubois; and, if
the news were true, I should continue my
course to West Jersey ; but, if not, I might re-
turn, as I very much wanted to see her mother
before I left. She was too much agitated to
speak ; but, after a while, became more calm,
and desired me to stay until her mother should
return. ButI told her I could not delay ; that
her kindness, and that of her mother, I could
never forget; and I hastened away.*

* The fears which I had overheard Eliza’s mother express
to her father that he would bring ruin upon his family, were,
in a great measure, realized. When the British were driven
from New-Jersey, he, in conscquence of his violence against
the American cause, was forced to flee, leaving his farm and
possessions, which were confiscated. He went with his family
to Nova Scotia, where, in a state of extreme poverty, he ended
his days. O how often has my heart been pained for his amia-
ble wife and daughter! After the war I saw a preacher from
Nova Scotia, who knew the family. He said the climate
proved too severe for Eliza’s constitution, and she soon lost her
sprightliness, and went into a decline. She, however, re-
nounced the world, and gave her heart to God, and finally died,
enjoying the consolations of religion. A more lovely and inte-
resting sufferer, he said, he had seldom seen.
38 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

I found Captain Dubois making ready to
move with his family to some place of safety,
being quite sure that New-Jersey must fall
into the hands of the enemy; so I set for-
ward toward home. Fully to judge of my
feelings, at this time, one must witness the
scene I did, of distressed families in flight
before the invading foe. The horror of the
scene was heightened by the inclemency of
the day. A chilling storm of rain, hail, and
snow, which finally became a settled snow,
rendered the day most dismal. About noon I
halted at a public house to see if I could ob-
tainsome refreshment. The landlord anquired
if I had any hard money ; and, being inform-
ed that I had not, he gave me to understand
that I could get no refreshment there. There
was a number of persons collected at this
place, who, it appeared, were greatly delight-
ed with the news of the disasters which had
befallen the army, and had come together to
feast upon the miseries of their fellow-beings.
They would call out to the distressed families
as they were passing, curse them as fools and
cowards, and tauntingly say, “If you are the
friends of Washington, why do you flee from him
—they say he is dodging among the hills off
the road—can he not give you protection?”
In the midst of these, cold, and hungry, and
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 89

sick, I endeavoured, for a short time, to obtain
the benefit of the fire to warm myself. One
of them addressed me, and said, “I perceive
by your garb* that you are a soldier. You
have doubtless deserted your colours, and de-
serve to be hanged.” ‘‘O,” said another, sar-
castically, “he is fasting and praying for kind
death to come and save him from a British
halter; do not disturb his devotions.” A
young man present interposed and said, “ This
is brutish. The young man does not think as
we do; but he is a man, and, as such, he has
a claim upon our humanity. If he will go
with me to my father’s house, he shall have
what refreshment he wants, and be treated
with civility.” I, however, chose to proceed
on my journey; and, having warmed myself,
I shook the young man by the hand, and
thanked him for his kindness, expressing, at
the same time, a wish that he might never
need a friend, and went on.

Night was now approaching, and the falling
snow, darkening the atmosphere, rendered my
lonely travel exceedingly dreary. I felt that
I must have refreshment and a shelter for the

* When I volunteered, at Perth Amboy, to reinforce Washing-
ton, on Long-Island, our ensign refusing to go, the colours were
given me, as a reward for being the first to follow our captain,

who was the first in the regiment that turned out and called for
volunteers.
40 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

night, and saw I could not reach the place I
had in view; I therefore resolved on calling
at the first house which made a show of being
a house of entertainment, and asking for shel-
ter through the night. I was soon overtaken
by a well-dressed, good-looking young man,
who hailed me with, “ Well, soldier, which
way are you travelling in the storm?” “To
West Jersey,” I replied. “Are you lately
from the army?” he inquired. I replied in the
affirmative. “Have left it in disgust, I sup-
pose,” said he. “I have thought, sir,” said I,
“that the American people love their ease,
their money, and their present safety, more
than their liberty. I am, however, no deserter,
the time for which I enlisted having expired.”
“New-Jersey,” said he, “is doubtless lost;
and with men of thought it is a plain case
that independence cannot be sustained.” I
replied that it appeared doubtful; but had the
friends of the cause shown that they were
true to themselves, by furnishing the soldiers
with such things as they wanted, and sending
their sons to share in their toil and danger,
instead of leaving them to hazard their lives
and suffer for food and clothing, it might be
otherwise. If they went on in this way, they
would see who would defend their rights.
For my part I meant to go home, and put off
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 41

the badge of a soldier. I themtold him how
I had been treated at the public house, and
that I had not broken my fast that day. I
perceived he viewed me with pity; and I
asked him how far I must go to find a place
of entertainment. ‘‘ There,” said he, pointing
to a house in sight, “lives my father. You
must go with me. My father is a friend to
the king; but, whatever your sentiments may
be, he will treat you with kindness.” So I
went with him.

It was time my day’s journey closed, for
when I lighted from my horse I could scarcely
walk. Being chilled through with my long
ride in the cold and snow, in my weak state
of body, when I came into a warm room I
soon became speechless, and on my counte-
nance appeared the paleness of death. I was
not, however, wholly insensible of what
passed. And here again I witnessed the ten-
der sympathies of kind-hearted woman. The
mother and sister of my generous young friend
became such to me, and exerted themselves
to relieve me in my distress, as much as they
could have done if I had been a son and
brother. Revived by the cordial they pre-
sented to my lips, I could not help exclaiming,
“J thought I was among strangers, but I have
found a mother and a sister too.” My clothes
42 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

were wet through to my body, and they fur-
nished me with a dry suit. While putting
them on, I thought I had erred in supposing
that there was no virtuous sensibility in the
hearts of those who were denominated tories,
as the kindness I received from this family
plainly showed. The father and son were
royalists, but of the better sort, as I had good
reason to suppose; though the mother and
daughter sympathized with the friends of the
revolution.

All the efforts of kindness on the part of
these friends, however, could not save me
fromachill. This was followed by a burning
fever, which threw me into a delirium. In
this state [imagined myself to be at the house
I had left in the morning, and the daughter of
my host to be my cousin Eliza. During the
ravings which the paroxysm occasioned, as
she was sitting near me, I reached out my
hand and said, “See, Eliza, how my hand
burns. But, Eliza, where are the old people?
Will your father ever forgive me for having
been in arms against his king?” “The young
lady saw I was delirious, and endeavoured to
pacify me by saying, “My father loves the
king ; but he thinks well of Washington, and
hopes when the Americans find that they
cannot maintain their independence, they will
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 43

submit to honourable terms, and the king will
make a great man of Washington.” “ But,
dear Eliza,” said I, “does your father think
the king will pardon any of those who have
been in arms against him?’ Upon this the
old gentleman replied, “ O yes, he will pardon
them all, and we shall all be friends again.
The king knows he has dealt hard with the
Americans, and he will yet do them justice.”
When I heard the old gentleman’s voice, I
knew where I was, and my reason soon
returned. I then took some refreshment, and
retired to rest.

Next morning the daughter told me the
conversation that had passed the night before ;
and I informed her what my impressions were,
and that I mistook her for my cousin, whose
father’s house I had left that morning. The
old gentleman, who was present, said, “Young
man, I was much alarmed on your account
last night. I felt that I was a father, and
thought what if this were my son, a youth far
from home and in distress—I will do by him
what I would wish another to do by my son
in a similar case.” And he concluded with
some explanatory remarks on what I had said
the night before, evincing the intelligence of
his mind and the goodness of his heart. The
young doctor who had invited me to his
44 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

father’s house, and was probably the means
of saving my life, insisted on my staying with
them for a day or two longer; and such was
the kindness of the family, that I cheerfully
and thankfully consented. But the British
army was approaching; and my own safety,
and that of the generous family who had
manifested so much kindness to me, rendered
it expedient for me to depart without delay.
I accordingly left them with many acknow-
ledgments for their hospitality, and in a few
days reached my native town, to the great joy
of my mother and friends, who thought I was
dead, or a prisoner, or perhaps had enlisted
in the continental army. This latter, which
my mother very much feared, would probably
have been the case, had not my affliction pre-
vented it, as a number of the officers endea-
voured to flatter me into it, by promising that if
I would join them I should have the honour of
wearing a sword, and of being the youngest
standard-bearerinthe army. But Providence
ordered it otherwise.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 45

CHAPTER IV.

Mr. Ware enlists again—Hears of the victory at Trenton—Is
not called into service—Sick among strangers—Considers his
country’s cause as safe, and turns his attention to the state of
his soul—Confused and perplexed with his doctrinal views—
Expresses to his mother his doubts respecting his creed, which
gives her much uneasiness—His faith becomes unsettled, and
his mind troubled with infidelity—Restrained from gross vice by
physical imbecility and checks of conscience—Mind much dis-
turbed—Reads much, but to little purpose—Tempted to doubt
Providence—Gloomy and desponding—Forms an acquaintance
with a young man studying navigation, and enters into arrange-
ments to pursue the study, and to go to sea with him in a vessel
to be commanded by his brother—Providentially rescued, by
being accidentally drawn to hear a Methodist preacher preach,
under whose discourse he wa8 much enlightened and strength-
ened to seek the Lord—-Finds peace—Writes to the preacher—
Reflections respecting Mount Holly, where he was converted—
Anecdote of a Quakeress—Love feast.

I conTINvED brooding over the gloomy
destiny of my native state, in which all the
horrors of war were experienced, attended
with the most disheartening circumstances,
until the intelligence arrived that the Hessian
army were made prisoners. On hearing this,
a glow of health reddened my cheek, and I
again volunteered for the service. But, after
starting for the army, we were met with the
cheering intelligence of the brilliant affair at
Trenton, and my companions in arms returned
home singing for joy. I, however, was destined
46 ‘MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

to remain long among strangers, sick, and
nigh unto death,

From this time I considered my country
safe, nor ever after sickened at the thought of ;
wearing the chains of civil bondage. But,
alas! I wore chains infinitely more galling
than any ever forged by an earthly tyrant.
My soul was in bondage tosin. Civil freedom
I thought I understood, and gloried much in
it. But the perfect law of liberty, promul-
gated by Jesus Christ the Son of the living
God, I understood not. This law is indeed
suited to the lapsed state of man. To all it
affords grace to accept of its provisions—asks
not holiness as a condition of pardon and
mercy, but faith; and by love are its requisi-
tions fulfilled. When the trembling jailer
inquired of Paul and Silas what he must do
to be saved—saved from the guilt he felt and
the vengeance he feared—they replied, “ Be-
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved.” But alas! I knew this not. My
views were confused, and I understood not
the plan of salvation. I thought of man as
under the law purely, which gives no strength
to keep it, and requires perfect obedience, on
pain of suffering its penalty. If some were
elected, they could no more live by such a law
than those who were passed by. But to these
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 47

the curses of the law were quite harmless; for
although it called for vengeance on them, and
thundered its anathemas against them, they
were averted by a mighty arm, and fell with
double force upon those devoted to eternal
pain. Such were my confused views about
religion. Now. what could such a one as I
do? My physical powers were prostrated
by disease, and my mind bewildered by the
religious opinions I had been taught in my
childhood, without being able to understand
them. It is true, I sometimes read; but su-
perstitiously believing that God’s effective will
was hidden from man, I doubted much if what I
read was true. For if God does not will that
all should come to him, through Christ, and
be saved, I inquired, what in fact does he
will? If salvation be not conditional, may
not some who live and die in sin escape at
last? Can it be consistent with the divine
veracity to say, that God secretly wills the
death of most men, though he plainly declares
he is “not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance?” 2 Peter
iii, 9. As well may we suppose that he se-
cretly designs that all shall live, though he
has denounced eternal punishment against the
finally impenitent. Such were my reason-
ings.
48 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

I had been led to infer, from the effect my
reading of the Catechism and Confession of
Faith had produced on my mind, that no
human being was ever properly in a state of
trial, not even Adam himself. I accordingly
expressed to my mother my disbelief, for the
reason I have named, in the doctrine set forth
in those works. She seemed much concerned,
and said, “ Beware, my son, how you believe
a doctrine false which is so clearly proved by
Scripture. “I know,” said I, “our minister
told us last sabbath that God’s decrees ever
had in view his own glory and the salvation
of the elect by Jesus Christ; and that this
was true even in respect to the transgression
and fall of our first parents; but tell me, my
dear mother, whose glory and benefit had he
in view when he decreed the damnation of
millions of his unborn, and consequently unof-
fending creatures? Alas! how canI love a
God whom I view as making man, willing
him to sin, and then punishing him eternally
for it?” Here I was silenced by my mother’s
tears. But I could not longer hold to this
system. In leaving it, however, I did not find
the right way. I resorted to nature’s laws as
my guide, preferring to believe that the Deity
had revealed no will, rather than admit that
he had revealed one so much at variance with
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 49

himself and the dictates of reason—that he
had made no decree with respect to the future
destiny of man, rather than entertain the
opinion that he had made one in which he has
sworn by himself he has no pleasure.

In this state of mind a wide door was open
before me to launch forth into all the vices
and follies of that dark and cloudy day. But
two things, providentially, operated as a check
upon me. My physical powers were para-
lyzed by protracted affliction; and my con-
science, though greatly darkened, had yet
some influence to restrain me from licentious
freedom in a course of wickedness. But how
easily is man blinded by the deceitfulness of
sin? When reason, always proud, silences
conscience by a too hasty decision against
its dictates, what is man? A steed broken
loose, bounding over hill and dale, gambolling
in the wilderness and on the barren waste.
Thus was it with me, fool that I was. But
the horrifying profaneness of scoffing infidels,
with whom I came in contact, so shocked my
feelings that I sped my way back, or rather
turned aside, and sought an asylum from my
woes in gloomy solitude.

I was now, for several months, little better
than a maniac. I delighted in nothing so

much as in being alone. To wander in re-
3
50 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARw

tired places, and indulge in the reverts of my
own mind, or among the works of God, with
which I was surrounded; sometimes cherish-
ing the delightful tho«ght that I had an inte-
rest in the great Parent of all, and was an ob-
ject of his pity, accorded most with my state
of feeling. And, on such occasions, I was
sometimes melted to tears. At-other times I
was led to adopt thu language of the poet,—

“Ten thousand midnights roll’d their midnight gloom,
Tn sullen pomp, along a starless sky!”

At times I devoted myself much to reading.
Interesting histories I preferred to any other
solid works; but novels took the lead, and I
devoured all I could procure. With my
jaundiced eyes I could find nothing in the Bi-
ble whereon to build, but a doubtful perad-
venture—a mere shadow—and with this I
dare no more converse than with a spectre
from the dismal shades. In such a state
where or to whom could I go for instruction
and relief ?

There were indeed in the place a little pray-
ing, self-denying band of Christians. But
they were held in derision by the laughing
multitude, and denounced as fanatics by the
graver sort. These could have told me what
I so much desired to know, and led me to the
Rock cleft for me and all mankind. But of
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 51

this I was ignorant; and I fled to gloomy so-
litude, foster-mother of moping melancholy
and sad despair. Look which way I would,
all was darkness—darkness through which
no ray of light could pass, except a sudden
flash like vivid lightning, too quickly gone to
show from whence it came.

I was urged on by the subtle foe to doubt
of providence and of the immortality of the
soul—at least of consciousness to those who
sleep in death until the end of time; and that
sleep I sometimes much coveted. But some-
thing gently whispered in my ear, “Be on
your guard—these melancholy thoughts may
pave the way to suicide, and bring upon your
name an indelible stain. Think how the tale
of horror would petrify the heart of your dear
mother, in whose fond maternal arms you
were so lately caressed, and from whom you
have so often received the affectionate charge
to lead a virtuous life. If her peace weigh
aught with you, beware!”

But it is not in solitude alone that the insidi-
ous foe works ill to man, although few escape
who devote themselves to gloomy meditations
upon the condition into which their conduct,
or the errors of an appalling creed, have
brought them. With almost as much reason
might one expect to hail the dawn of day.
52 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

who makes the hungry lion’s den his retreat
for the night, as to hope to escape uninjured
by dwelling upon these things alone. But he
who meditates my ruin cares not which way
I take, the pleasurable or the forlorn, so it
leads me to the ruin he meditates.

About this time I contracted an acquaint-
ance with a young man of insinuating man-
ners, who was completing the study of navi-
gation. He was expecting to go to sea with
a brother-in-law, who was an experienced
commander, as his mate in a brig which was
nearly fitted for the voyage. He had the
address to induce me to engage in the
same study with him, promising to give
me all the aid he could until the brig was
ready, and that I should have the steward’s
berth on board, when he would assist me in
my studies until I had acquired a knowledge
of the art. And he said he doubted not that
we should make our fortunes. The brig was
to carry a few long guns, have a picked crew,
and outsail every thing on the seas. Such
were the inducements held out to me to enlist
in the enterprise. But I knew not the deep-
laid scheme. The truth of the matter was, as
it turned out, that the owners were their coun-
try’s enemies; and the brig was designed to
carry on a contraband trade with the British.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 53

Between the owners and the enemy there was
an understanding. The vessel, laden with
provisions, was to be thrown in their way, and
to be captured; and then a liberal price was
to be paid for the cargo, and she permitted to
escape. Some of the persons engaged in this
adventure had held offices under the govern-
ment, and were still deemed friends to their
country. They had, besides, enticed some
who had borne a conspicuous part in the ser-
vice to favour their plot, not doubting of suc-
cess ; and, if they could not persuade those who
were not in it that their capture was real and
unavoidable, they hoped to quiet them with
money.

Ignorant of all this design and treachery, I
was drawn to the very verge of the abyss, and
suspected it not. The brig was ready to sail,
and the captain was in our village. I had
been introduced to him, and the time was set
for me to prepare, at a moment’s warning, to
embark and enter upon the duties of my of-
fice. Thus things stood, when a merciful
Providence interposed, and prevented my
name being enrolled upon the scroll of infa-
my. I was as a frail bark tossed upon a
stormy and unknown sea. The sea had be-
come calm, but I had neared a vortex, and
had been well nigh swallowed up. But a kind
54 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

breeze sprung up at the moment of imminent
danger, and I was wafted into a harbour of
safety and delight.

Impatient for the hour to arrive when I was
to enter upon an enterprise on’ which I was
fully bent, I wandered to a neighbouring
grove, not merely to indulge in reverie, but to
think more minutely on the subject of our ad-
venture than [had beforedone. While I was
labouring to find arguments to justify the
course I was about to pursue, a stranger passed
me, though I was so merged in the thicket
that he did not see me. As he was going by,
he began to sing the following lines :—

* Still out of the deepest abyss
Of trouble I mournfully ery,

And pine to recover my peace,
And see my Redeemer and die.

I cannot, I cannot forbear

These passionate longings for home;
O! when shall my spirit be there?

©! when will the messenger come t"”

As he walked his horse slowly I heard
every word distinctly, and was deeply touch-
ed, not only with the melody of his voice,
which was among the best I ever heard, but
with the words he uttered, and especially the
couplet,—

“T cannot, I cannot forbear
These passionate longings for heme.”
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 55

After he ceased, I went out and followed
him a great distance, hoping he would begin
again. He however stopped at the house of
a Methodist, and dismounted. I then con-
cluded he must be a Methodist preacher, and
would probably preach that evening. I felt
a wish to hear him; but thought I could not in
consequence of a previous engagement.

As yet I knew very little of the Methodists.
My mother, who was strongly prejudiced
against them, charged me to refrain from go-
ing after them; and I had heard many things
said against them, especially that they were
disaffected against their country. There was
one Methodist in town, however, to whom I
was under some obligation. This good man
had noticed me; and, suspecting that I was
under some religious impressions, he came
and told me that Mr. Pedicord, a most excel-
lent preacher, had come into the place, and
would preach that night, and he very much
wished me to hear him. I told him I pre-
sumed I had seen the preacher, and mention-
ed the lines I had heard him sing on the road.
On inquiring of him if he knew such a hymn,
he replied that he did very well, and imme-
diately commenced and sung it to the same
tune; and, as he was an excellent singer,
I was deeply affected, even to tears. I told
56 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

him I would be glad to hear Mr. Pedicord,
and probably should hear a part of the sermon,
and possibly the whole, if it were not too long.
I accordingly went, and was there when the
preacher commenced his service. I thought
he sung and prayed delightfully. His text
was taken from the 24th chapter of Luke:”
“Then opened he their understanding, that
they might understand the Scriptures. And
he said unto them, Thus it is written, and
thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day, that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in
his name among all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem.” Soon was I convinced that all
men were redeemed and might be saved—
and saved now, from the guilt, practice, and
love of sin. With this I was greatly affected,
and could hardly refrain from exclaiming
aloud, “This is the best intelligence I ever
heard.” When the meeting closed, I hasten-
ed to my lodgings, retired to my room, fell
upon my knees before God, and spent much
of the night in penitential tears. I did not
once think of my engagement with my sea-
bound companions until the next day, when I
went and told the young man who had induced
me to enlist into the project that I had aban-
doned all thoughts of going to sea. They,
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 57

however, proceeded in their perilous under-
taking, were betrayed, their officers thrown
into prison, and the brig and cargo confisca-
ted. When I heard of this, I praised the Lord
for my deliverance from this danger and in-
famy, which I considered worse than death,

I now gave up the study of navigation, and
abandoned all company but that of the pious.
The New Testament I read over and over,
and was charmed with the character of God
our Saviour, as revealed in it; and I esteem-
ed reproach, for his sake, more desirable than
all earthly treasure.

Mr. Pedicord returned — to our village.
I hastened to see him, and tell him all that
was in my heart. He shed tears over me,
and prayed. I was dissolved in tears. He
prayed again. My soul was filled with unut-
terable delight. He now rejoiced over me
asa son—‘an heir of God, and a joint heir
with Christ.” I felt and knew that I was
made free. And, as I had been firm in my
attachment to the cause of civil freedom, I did
hope that I should be enabled to stand fast in
the liberty wherewith Christ had made me
free.

I was now brought to reflect upon the cir-
cumstance which had led to this change in me
—this happy onengene sudden, so great, as
58 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

hardly left a vestige of my former self. By it
all worldly maxims were reversed, and prin-
ciples, quite new, of honour and of shame,
were introduced as governing the whole man.
It had been said that the Methodists, with
Wesley at their head, were bringing shame
upon the whole Christian world by preaching
up free will, and causing men to err and even
blaspheme against the doctrine of divine de-
crees; that they maintained that all were re-
deemed and might share alike in the blessings
of the gospel-féast ; and that one of these
preachers, mighty in words, would, were it
possible, deceive the very elect. Such re-
marks respecting them induced a desire and
determination in me to hear them, though I
doubted much whether this new sect were
sustained by the sacred oracles. It was soon
after I formed this determination that the ex-
cellent Pedicord came to our village, and I
was providentially led, as before stated, to
hear him.

Soon after I wrote to the good man, in a
manner expressive of my feelings when I first
heard him preach, as well as those which fol-
lowed. In the ardour and simplicity of my
soul, I said, “A thousand blessings on the
man who brought me this intelligence. On
my bended knees I owned the doctrine true,
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 59

and said, it was enough—I may be happy—
heaven may be mine, since Jesus tasted death
for all, and wills them to be saved! ButI am
not myself; my hopes and fears are new.
O may I never lose this tenderness of heart.
Yes, my friend, I am thy debtor. To me
thou hast restored my Bible and my God.
And shall I be ungrateful? No. I will see
thee and confess the whole. Thy God and
thy people shall be mine.”

Mount Holly,* a pleasant village in the
county of Burlington, New-Jersey, was the
place of my spiritual birth; and, on that ac-
count, it has ever been to me the most lovely
spot I ever saw, not even excepting Green-
wich, the place of my nativity. I was here

* Here, in the summer of ’76, we halted on our way to Perth
Amboy. We were all volunteers, and chiefly young. Walking
one day thoughtfully in an unfrequented part of the town I came
near to a neat little dwelling, rather tastefully surrounded with
fruit trees. A lady, in the habit of a Quakeress, invited me in,
remarking that she had something to say to me. So saying,
she took me by the hand and led me into the house. When I
was seated, she inquired with an affectionate look, “ Hast thou
a mother?” I replied that, when I left home, I had, and that
there was such aresemblance between her and my mother, both in
person and tone of voice, that I could not but be moved at see-
ing and hearing her speak. ‘‘ Was thy mother consenting at
thy becoming a soldier 1” she inquired. I stated that she had
many fears on my account; but, believing that many mothers
must be called to part with their sons in the nation’s struggle for

independence, she gave her consent, hoping that it might be the
will of God to preserve me.” “Thy mother, then, is pious,”
60 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

in former years as a soldier, on my way to
the army, and this was my retreat, when, in
a state of melancholy bordering on despair, I
sought concealment. Here, now, while the
joyous villagers sought me in vain on the
playful green, I passed the solemn twilight in
audience with my God. Here, too, I had
spent the livelong day in fasting and melting
thoughts on Calvary, agitated with petrifying
fears and gloomy horrors ; sometimes imagi-
ning sounds of ominous import, as though the
mountain-tops had become the rendezvous of
fiends or beasts of prey. But when the dis-
quietude of my mind was allayed by the

she added. “Yes,” I replied, “my mother is pious; but she is
a predestinarian in her views, and fondly hopes that it is the
will of God that our country shall be free; and, on that account,
gave her consent the more readily.” ‘‘ Thee knows,” said the
kind-hearted woman, “the Friends do not hold to war; and my
heart is pained to see so many goodly young men called from
home, and exposed to the dangers of the camp—many doubtless
to be slaughtered or led away captive. It may be, as thy mo-
ther supposes, the will of our heavenly Father that we should be
free. But, were it so, it might doubtless be effected without
the shedding of blood. For thy sake, and for thy mother’s
sake, I hope the Lord will preserve thee; and, if thou cast thy
care upon him, in well-doing, he will preserve thee.” Then,
giving me some choice fruit, she charged me to abstain from the
use of strong drink, saying, “It is a destroyer, and I fear it has
destroyed my youngest son.” ‘‘ Now,” added she, “if thou
dost, from the fear of God, abstain from strong drink, I am sure
he will preserve thee.” And, from that hour, I have only used
it medicinally. When I drew my rations, as a soldier, I poured
it upon the ground. :
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 61

peaceful enjoyment of the grace of life, I no
longer sought concealment; and it was
Strange to see with what amazement many
listened while I told them what the Lord had
done for me. Some wept bitterly, confessed
their ignorance of such a state, and pro-
nounced me happy ; while others thought me
mad, and on the Methodists, not on me, laid
all the blame of what they conceived to be
my derangement.

The spirit and character of the work which
was prevailing through the country at this
time may be gathered from an account of a
love feast, as furnished by me for the Chris-
tian Advocate and Journal, and published in
that paper.

In the year of our Lord 1780, when we
were contending for independence, not with
Great Britain alone, but with her Indian and
Hessian mercenaries, and what was worse,
with many of our fellow-citizens who despised
independence, or, in despair of obtaining it,
had joined the enemy ; when our country was
laid waste by fire and sword, and many hun-
dreds who had embarked im the cause of
freedom were perishing in captivity, with
hunger and cold; when many bosoms were
agitated with the thoughts of revenge on our
cruel and unnatural enemies, and resolved
62 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

with independence to live or die—it was at
such a time as this, when little was known, or
thought, or said about the way to heaven, a
missionary of the Methodist order volunteered
for East Jersey, and was instrumental in pro-
ducing a religious excitement of a very inte-
resting character. Many who seemed to have
forgotten that they were accountable creatures,
and lived in enmity one with another on
account of the part they had taken in the great
national quarrel, were brought to follow the ad-
vice of St Paul, “Be ye kind one to another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even
as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you.”

Of this I saw a pleasing exhibition in a love-
feast, at a quarterly meeting held by our mis-
~ sionary, Mr. George Mair, previous to his
taking leave of his spiritual children in the
north-west part of East Jersey. J saw there
those who had cordially hated lovingly em-
brace each other, and heard them praise the
Lord who had made them one in Christ.
The meeting was heldin a barn, attended by
several preachers, one of whom opened it on
Saturday, and great power attended the word;
many wept aloud, some for joy, and some for
grief; many, filled with amazement, fled, and
left room for the preachers to have access
to the mourners to pray with and exhort them

4
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 63

to believe in the Lord Jesus, which many did,
and rejoiced with great joy. Such a meeting
IT had never seen before.

Next morning we met early for love-feast.
All that had obtained peace with God, and all
who were seeking it, were invited, and the
barn was nearly full. As few present had
ever been in a love-feast, Mr. Mair explained
to us its nature and design, namely, to take a
little bread and water, not as a sacrament, but
in token of our Christian love, in imitation of
a primitive usage, and then humbly and briefly
to declare the great things the Lord had done
for them in having had mercy on them.

Mr. James Sterling, of Burlington, West
Jersey, was the first who spoke, and the plain
and simple narrative of his Christian experi-
ence was very affecting to many. After him
rose one of the new converts, a Mr. Egbert,
and said, “I was standing in my door, and
saw @ man at a distance, well mounted on
horseback, and as he drew near I had thoughts
of hailing him, to inquire the news; but he
forestalled me by turning into my yard and
saying to me, ‘Pray, sir, can you tell me the
way to heaven? ‘The way to heaven, sir!
we all hope to get to heaven, and there are
many ways that men take.’ ‘Ah! but,’ said
the stranger, ‘I want to know the best way.’
64 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

‘Alight, sir, if you please; I should like to hear
you talk about the way you deem the best.
When I was a boy I used to hear my mother
talk about the way to heaven, and I am under
an impression you must know the way.’ He
did alight, and I was soon convinced the judg-
ment I had formed of the stranger was true.
My doors were opened, and my neighbours
invited to come and see and hear a man who
could and would, I verily believed, tell us the
best way to heaven. And it was not long
before myself, my wife, and several of my
family, together with many of my neighbours,
were well assured we were in the way, for
we had peace with God, with one another,
and did ardently long and fervently pray for
the peace and salvation of all men. ‘Tell
me, friends,’ said he, ‘is not this the way to
heaven? \
“Tt is true, many of us were for a time
greatly alarmed and troubled. We communed
together, and said, It is a doubtful case if God
will have mercy on us, and forgive us our
sins; and if he does, it must be after we have
passed through long and deep repentance.
But our missionary, to whom we jointly made
known our unbelieving fears, said to us,
‘Cheer up, my friends, ye are not far from
the kingdom of God. Can any of you be a
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 65

greater sinner than Saul of Tarsus? and how
long did it take him to repent? Three days
were all. The Philippian jailer, too, in the
same hour in which he was convicted, was
baptized, rejoicing in God, with all his house.
Come,’ said he, ‘let us-have faith in God,
remembering the saying of Christ, Ye believe
in God, believe also in me. Come, let us go
down upon our knees and claim the merit of
his death for the remission of sins, and he will
do it—look to yourselves, each man, God is
here.’ Instantly one who was, I thought, the
greatest sinner in the house except myself,
fell to the floor as one dead, and we thought
he was dead; but he was not literally dead,
for there he sits with as significant a smile as
any one present.’” Here the youth of whom
he spoke uttered the word glory, with a look
and tone of voice that ran through the audi-
ence like an electric shock, and for a time
interrupted the speaker; but he soon resumed
his narrative, by saying, ‘The preacher bid
us not be alarmed—we must all die to live.
Instantly I caught him in my arms and ex-
claimed, The guilt I felt, and the vengeance I
feared, are gone, and now I know heaven is
not far off; but here, and there, and where-
ever Jesus manifests himself, is heaven.”
Here his powers of speech failed, and he sat
66 MEMOIR OF REY. THOMAS WARE.

down and wept, and there was not, I think,
one dry eye in the barn.

A German spoke next, and if I could tell
what he said as told by him, it would be
worth a place in any man’s memory. But
this I cannot do. He, however, spoke to the
following import :—‘‘ When de preacher did
come to mine house, and did say, ‘Peace be
on dis habitation; I am come, fader, to see
if in dese troublesome times I can find any
in your parts dat does know de way to dat
country where war, sorrow, and crying is no
more; and of whom could I inquire so pro-
perly as cf one to whom God has given many
days?’ When he did say dis, I was angry,
and did try to say to him, Go out of mine
house ; but I could not speak, but did tremble,
and when mine anger was gone I did say, I
does fear I does not know de way to dat
goodist place, but mine wife does know; sit
down, and I will call her. Just den mine
wife did come in, and de stranger did say,
‘Dis, fader, is, I presume, yourn wife, of
whom you say she does know de way to a
better country, de way to heaven. Dear wo-
man, will you tell it me” After mine wife
did look at de stranger one minute, she did
say, I do know Jesus, and is not he de way?
De stranger did den fall on his knees and
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 67

tank God for bringing him to mine house,
where dere was one dat did know de way
to heaven; he did den pray for me and mine
children, dat we might be like mine wife,
and all go to heaven togeder. Mine wife did
den pray in Dutch, and some of mine children
did fall on deir knees, and I did fall on mine,
and when she did pray no more de preacher
did pray again, and mine oldest daughter did
cry so loud.

“From dat time I did seek de Lord, and
did fear he would not hear me, for I had
made de heart of mine wife so sorry when I
did tell her she was mad. But de preacher
did show me so many promises dat I did
tell mine wife if she would forgive me, and fast
and pray wid me all day and all night, I
did hope de Lord would forgive me. Dis
did please mine wife, but she did say, We must
do all in de name of de Lord Jesus. About
de middle of de night I did tell mine wife I
should not live till morning, mine distress was
too great. But she did say, Mine husband,
God will not let you die ; and just as de day
did break, mine heart did break, and tears did
run so fast, and I did say, Mine wife, I does
now believe mine God will bless me, and she
did say, Amen, amen, come, Lord Jesus.
Just den mine oldest daughter, who had been
68 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

praying all night, did come in and did fall on
mine neck, and said, O mine fader, Jesus has
blessed me. And den joy did come into mine
heart, and we have gone on rejoicing in de
Lord ever since. Great fear did fall on mine
neighbours, and mine barn would not hold all
de peoples dat does come to learn de way
to heaven.” His looks, his tears, and his
broken English, kept the people in tears,
mingled with smiles, and even laughter, not
with lightness, but joy, for they believed every
word he said.

After him, one got up and said, For months
previous to the coming of Mr. Mairs into their
place, he was one of the most wretched of
men. He had heard of the Methodists, and
the wonderful works done among them, and
joined in ascribing it all to the devil. At
length a fear fell on him; he thought he
should die and be lost. He lost all relish for
food, and sleep departed from him. His friends
thought him mad; but his own conclusion was,
that he was a reprobate, having been brought
up a Calvinist; and he was témpted to shoot
himself, that he might know the worst. He at
length resolved he would hear the Methodists ;
and when he came, the barn was full; there
was, however, room at the door, where he
could see the preacher, and hear well. He
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 69

was soon convinced he was no reprobate, and
felt a heart to beg of God to forgive him for
ever harbouring a thought that he, the kind
Parent of all, had reprobated any of his chil-
dren. And listening, he at length understood
the cause of his wretchedness; it was guilt,
from which Jesus came to save us. The
people all around him being in tears, and
hearing one in the barn cry, Glory to Jesus,
hardly knowing what he did, he drew his hat
from under his arm, and swinging it over his
head, began to huzza with might and main.
The preacher saw him and knew he was not
in sport, for the tears were flowing down his
face, and smiling, said, “‘ Young man, thou art
not far from the kingdom of God; but rather
say, Hallelaey) the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth.” Several others spoke, and more
would have spoken, had not a general cry
arisen when the doors were thrown open that
all might come in and see the way that God
sometimes works.
70 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

CHAPTER V.

Anecdote of Richard Ivy and two American officers—Mr.
Ware’s-religious friends signify their belief of his call to preach
—He doubts—Bishop Asbury sends for him and examines him
respecting some things reported of him and his doctrinal views—
Sends him to Dover circuit—He is kindly received on the
circuit—Sees fruit of his labours—Preaches in a church where
the vestrymen undertake to turn him out, but are defeated.

Soon after I joined the Methodist society,
Messrs. Pedicord and Cromwell were removed
from our circuit, and Dudley and Ivy ap-
pointed in their place.* In one part of the
circuit there were several families who had
received the preachers from the beginning.
Some of these were the most wealthy and
respectable in the vicinity, only they were
suspected of being unfriendly to the cause of
their country. ‘They had joined the Method-
ists before the war commenced; and though
they had committed no act by which they
could be justly accused of opposition to the
declaration of independence, yet as they re-
fused to bear arms they were considered
hostile to it, and the preachers suspected of
disaffection on account of continuing to preach
at their houses.

* Jt appears from the minutes that this change took place in
1780. The circuit was then called Delaware.—Editor.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 71

Learning that a company of soldiers, quar-
tered near one of these appointments, had
resolved to arrest the first preacher who
should come there, and carry him to head quar-
ters, I determined to accompany him, hoping,
as I was acquainted with some of the officers,
to convince them that he was no enemy to
his country. The preacher was Richard Ivy,
who was at that time quite young. The
rumour of what was about to be done having
gone abroad, many of the most respectable
inhabitants of the neighbourhood were col-
lected at the place. Soon after the congrega-
tion were convened, a file of soldiers were
marched into the yard and halted near the
door; and two officers came in, drew their
swords and crossed them on the table, and
seated themselves, one at each side of it, but
so as to look the preacher full in the face.
I watched his eye with great anxiety, and
soon saw that he was not influenced by fear.
His text was, “ Fear not, little flock, for tt ts
your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.” When he came to enforce the
exhortation, “Fear not,” he paused, and said,
‘Christians sometimes fear when there is no
cause of fear.” And so, he added, he pre-
sumed it was with some then present. ‘Those
men who were engaged in the defence of their
72 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

country’s rights meant them no harm. He
spoke fluently and forcibly in commendation
of the cause of freedom from foreign and do-
mestic tyranny, looking at the same time first
on the swords and then in the faces of the
officers, as if he would say, This looks a little
too much like domestic oppression; and in
conclusion, bowing to each of the officers and
opening his bosom, said, “Sirs, I would fain
show you my heart; if it beats not high for
legitimate liberty, may it for ever cease to
beat!” This he said in such a tone of voice,
and with such a look, as thrilled the whole
audience, and gave him command of their
feelings. The countenances of the officers at
first wore a contemptuous frown; then a sig-
nificant smile ; and then they were completely
unarmed, hung down their heads, and, before
the conclusion of this masterly address, shook
like the leaves of an aspen. Many of the
people sobbed aloud, and others cried out,
Amen! while the soldiers without (the doors
and windows being open) swung their hats
and shouted, Huzza for the Methodist parson!
On leaving, the officers shook hands with the
preacher, and wished him well; and after-
ward said, they would share their Test shilling
with him.

From the time I made a public profession
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE, 73

of religion, many of my brethren thought I
was called to preach, and told me so. But I
believed them not. The affectionate solici-
tude I felt for the salvation of sinners, which
had prompted me to some bold acts that I
had performed from a sense of duty, I did not
construe as a call to the ministry, but as a
collateral evidence of my adoption into the
family of God. That a knowledge of the
learned languages was essential to qualify a
man to preach the gospel, as many seemed to
think, I did not believe, for some of the best
preachers I ever heard had it not; but they
had other qualifications—a good natural un-
derstanding and discriminating powers, which
fall not to the common lct of men, however
pious and learned they may be. When my
feelings were moved on the subject of reli-
gion and the salvation of souls, I could talk
somewhat readily ; and I sometimes had the
eloquence of tears. My capacity and know-
ledge were, in, my own estimation, too limit-
ed ever to think of being a preacher. I was
a leader and an exhorter; and more than
these I never expected to be.

Such were my views and feelings when
Bishop Asbury came to New-Mills, about
seven miles from Mount Holly, and sent for me

to come and see him. I had not been intro-
4
74 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE,

duced to him, nor did he previously know me.
On entering his room, he fixed his discrimina-
ting eye upon me, and seemed to be examin-
ing me from head to foot as I approached
him. He reached me his hand, and said,
“This, I suppose, is brother Ware, or, shall I
say, Pedicord the younger.” I replied, “ My
name is Ware, sir, and I claim some affinity
to the Wesleyan family, and Mr. Pedicord as
my spiritual father.” “You then revere the
father of the Methodists?” said he. “I do,” I
replied, “greatly; the first time I heard his
name mentioned, it was said of him, by way
of reproach, that he had brought shame upon
the Christian world by preaching up free will.
Free will, said I, and what would you have
him preach? bound will? he might as well
go with St. Patrick and preach to the fish, as
preach to men without a will. From that
time, I resolved to hear the Methodists,
against whom I had been so much preju-
diced.”

“Sit down,” said Mr. Asbury, “I have some-
what to say unto thee. Have all men since
the fall been possessed of free will?” I re-
plied, that I considered they had since the
promise made to Adam, that the seed of the
woman should bruise the serpent’s head.
“Can man then turn himself and live?” said
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE, 75

he. “So thought Ezekiel,” I replied, “ when
he said, Turn yourselves and live ;” remarking,
as I understood it, that he can receive the tes-
timony which God has given of his Son; and
thus, through grace, receive power to be-
come a child of God. “ Are all men account-
able to God?” he still further inquired. I
replied, “The almighty Jesus says, ‘Behold
I come quickly, and my reward is with me,
to give to every man according as his works
shall be.” “On what do you found the doc-
trine of universal accountability ?”” he added.
“On the doctrine of universal grace— The
grace of God which bringeth salvation hath
appeared unto all men,’” &c., was my reply.
He then looked at me very sternly, and
said, “ What is this I hear of you? It is said
you have disturbed the peaceful inhabitants
of Holly, by rudely entering into a house
where a large number of young people were
assembled for innocent amusement, and when
welcomed by the company and politely invited
to be seated, you refused, and proceeded to
address them in such a way that some be-
came alarmed and withdrew, and the rest soon
followed.” To this I answered, “My zeal in
this affair may have carried me too far. But
I knew them to be generally my friends and
well-wishers, and felt to do as the man
76 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

out of whom Christ cast a legion of devils
was directed, namely, to go and show my
friends how great things God had done for
me. It is true, when I entered the room,
some appeared delighted to see me, and
heartily welcomed me; but those who knew
zoe best appeared sad. And when invited to
take a glass and be seated, I told them I must
be excused, for I had not come to spend the
evening with them, but to vite them to spend
it with me. ‘You know me,’I said, ‘and how
delighted I have often been in your company,
and with the amusements in which you have
met to indulge. But I cannot now go with
you. My conscience will not permit me to
do so. But as none of your consciences, I am
persuaded, forbid your going with me, I have
come to invite you to go with me and hear
the excellent Mr. Pedicord preach his farewell
sermon. Pardon me, my friends, I am con-
strained to tell you, the Lord has done great
things for me through the instrumentality of
this good man.’ The circle was not very
large. Not a word of reply was made to
what I said. Some were affected, and soon
left after I withdrew. It is true some of the
citizens were offended, and said it was too
much that the Methodists should give tone to
the town. ‘Must the youth of Mount Holly,’
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 17

said they, ‘ask leave of the Methodists if
they would spend an evening together in in-
nocent amusement?” Others said, ‘The young
man must have acted from a divine impulse,
or he could not have done it, as he is natu-
rally diffident and unassuming.’ But I never
knew that any one of the party was offended.”

Bishop Asbury listened to this simple ex-
planation of the matter attentively, but with-
out relaxing the sternness of his look, or
making any reply to it. He then branched
off to another subject. “ Was it not bold and
adventurous,” said he, “for so young a Method-
ist. to fill, for a whole week, without license
or consultation, the appointments of such a
preacher as George Mair?” [replied that Mr.
Mair was suddenly called from the circuit by
sickness in his family, and I saw that he was
deeply afflicted, not only on account of the
distress his family were suffering, but, espe-
cially, because of the disappointments it must
occasion on a part of the circuit where there
was a good work going on; that some of these
appointments were new, and there was no
one to hold any meeting with the people what-
ever ; that I was therefore induced, soon after
he was gone, to resolve on going to some of
these places and telling those who might come
out the cause of the preacher’s absence ; and
78 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

that if I was sometimes constrained to exhort
these people, without a formal license, it was
with fear and trembling, and generally very
short, unless when the tears of the people
caused me to forget that I was on unauthor-
ized ground.

He still said nothing, either by way of re-
proof or commendation, more than the manner
of his introducing the subjects might seem to
imply. And being under an impression that
his remarks were designed to mortify me for
my course in the matter of the ball, and in
taking the circuit in the absence of Mr. Mair,
I said, “ Mr. Asbury, if the person who inform-
ed you against me had told me of my errors,
I would have acknowledged them.” Here he
stopped me, by clasping me in his arms, and
saying in an affectionate tone, “ You are alto-
gether mistaken, my son—it was your friend
Pedicord who told me of your pious deeds,
and advised that you should be sent to Dover
circuit, saying that he would be responsible
that no harm, but good, would result from it.”
He then told me that I must go down to the
peninsula, and take the Dover circuit, which
had but one preacher on it; that I could tell
the people, if I pleased, that I did not come
in the capacity of a preacher, but only to
assist in keeping up the appointments until
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 79

another could be sent; and that he would give
me a testimonial to introduce me. Butif they
did not cordially receive me, he said, I might
return, and he would see me and compensate
me for my time and expenses.

Here I was caught, and how could I decline?
If, when my zeal prompted me to take a cir-
cuit in the absence of a preacher for one week,
I had found favour in the sight of the people,
so as to occasion my being recommended to
Mr. Asbury inthis way, howcould I refuse when
he requested me to go and assist in keeping
up the appointments on a circuit which need-
ed aid, being now regularly licensed to exhort,
until a preacher could be sent to it? SoI told
him, if he insisted on it, I would go and do
the best I could; but I feared I should do
more harm than good, and be unhappy in con-
sequence of not being in my place.

Having pledged myself not to delay, early
in September, 1783, I set my face toward the
peninsula, with a heavy heart. Some of my
old companions in sin were under religious
impressions, and were very much afflicted at
the thought of my leaving them. In Mount
Holly I thought I might do some good; but
at Dover it seemed doubtful. Yet my pledge
was given, and must be fulfilled.

I was kindly received by the people on
80 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Dover circuit, and soon saw that that was the
place for me. I was made to forget that I
was among strangers. The simplicity, urba-
nity, and fervent piety, of the Methodists, on
Dover circuit, were such that, after visiting a
society once, it seemed long before I was to
return to it again. Some of the members
were wealthy and in the higher circles of lite ;
but they were not ashamed to bear the cross.
Among these there were some, particularly a
number of females, distinguished for piety
and zeal, such as I had never before witness-
ed. The lady of Counsellor Bassett, and her
two sisters, Mrs. Jones and Ward, possessed
an uncommon degree of the true missionary
spirit, and greatly aided. the young preachers,
by whom, principally, the Lord was carrying
on his work on that favoured shore. To these
might be added others, and especially the
wife of Judge White, who was a mother in
Israel in very deed.

There was, at almost every appointment, a
goodly number of young people, who were
seeking the Lord. To these I could preach a
Saviour whom I knew ; and some, at almost
every meeting, were brought into glorious
liberty, which had a great effect on others.
I had the happiness of receiving many of
these young people into society. In class-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 81

meetings, too, I felt much at home ; and fre-
quently our rejoicing in the Lord was great.

In my public exercises I was sometimes
greatly embarrassed, when tears came to my
relief, which was often the case; and there
are few who can resist the eloquence of tears.
In the meantime I prayed, read, and wrote
much. My Bible was my chief book. From
this, with such helps as were within my
reach, I endeavoured to ascertain the great
outlines of the “doctrinal map, exhibiting the
boundaries of truth, the crooked shores of the
sea of error, the haven of peace, and the dan-
gerous rocks on which unwary theologians
have been wrecked.”

I began my public labours by quoting a
passage which had been studied with much
prayer, and which I thought I understood, and
by making some practical remarks upon it.
After having been often blessed in at-
tempting to preach, I ventured formally to
take a text; but not until advised by some
whom I considered competent judges that my
gift was rather to preach than to exhort.

While on Dover circuit we were invited to
preach in the Protestant Episcopal Church at
Duck Creek. Here I met with an occurrence
which, for the moment, gave me some alarm;

but it was soon over, and with it the fear and
4*
82 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

confusion of the large congregation in whose
presence it happened. I had gone through
with a part of the morning service, and was
still in the desk, where I gave out my text;
but, before I had finished my introductory re-
marks, three men came marching into the
church in Indian file, and halted just before
the desk. The foremost one announced him-
self as a vestryman, and ordered me out of
the desk and the church, or, he said, he would
compel me to goout. Finding I did not com-
ply, he seized me by the collar and dragged
me from the desk. On seeing this, a giant of
a man, near by, seized him in like manner,
and, raising his huge fist, told him if he did
not let me go he would knock him down.
Here Judge Raymond called out and said,
“Don’t strike him, Mr. Skillington; and if he
does not let the preacher go, and cease to
disturb the congregation, I will commit him.”
He, however, had let go his hold of me when
threatened by Mr. S.; and with his few
companions retired. So we got rid of our
zealous Churchman.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 83

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Ware attends conference, for the first time, in 1784, in
Baltimore—Observations upon the preachers—Is impressed
that he ought to go home ; but yields to the advice of his friends
and spiritual advisers to remain in the work—Is appointed to
Kent circuit, eastern shore of Maryland—Anecdote of a cler-
gyman seeking a settlement—Thoughts on the pretensions of
the advocates of exclusive prelacy.

In the spring of 1784, the conference sat
at Baltimore, which was the first I attended.
There was quite a number of preachers pre-
sent. Although there were but few on whose
heads time had begun to snow, yet several of
them appeared to be way-worn and weather-
beaten into premature old age. The whole
number of itinerant preachers in America, at
that time, was eighty-three ;—stations and
circuits, sixty-four ; and members in society,
fourteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-
eight. I doubt whether there ever has been
a conference among us, in which an equal
number could be found, in proportion to the
whole, so dead to the world, and so gifted
and enterprising, as were present at the con-
ference of 1784. They had much to suffer
at that early period of our history, and espe-
cially during the revolutionary struggle.

Among these pioneers, Asbury, by common
84 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

consent, stood first and chief. There was
something in his person, his eye, his mien,
and in the music of his voice, which interested
all who saw and heard him. He possessed
much natural wit, and was capable of the
severest satire ; but grace and good sense so
far predominated that he never descended to
any thing beneath the dignity of a man and
a Christian minister. In prayer he excelled.
Had he been equally eloquent in preaching,
he would have excited universal admiration as
a pulpit orator. But, when he was heard for
the first time, the power and unction with
which he prayed, would naturally so raise
the expectation of his auditors, that they
were liable to be disappointed with his
preaching ; for, although he always preached
well, in his sermons he seldom, if ever, reach-
ed that high and comprehensive flow of
thought and expression-—that expansive and
appropriate diction—which always character-
ized his prayers. This may be accounted
for, in part, at least, from the fact stated by
the late Rev. Freeborn Garrettson in preach-
ing his funeral sermon. ‘“ He prayed,” said
the venerable Garrettson, “the best, and he
prayed the most of any manI ever knew.
His long-continued rides prevented his preach-
ing as often as some others ; but he could find
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 85

a throne of grace, if not a congregation, upon
the road.”

Next to him, in the estimation of many,
stood the placid Tunnell, the philosophical
Gill, and the pathetic Pedicord. It would be
difficult to determine to which of these primi-
tive missionaries, as men of eminent talents
and usefulness, the preference should be
given. Tunnell and Gill were both defective
in physical strength. Pedicord was a man
of much refined sensibility. They were all the
children of nature, not of art; but especially
Tunnell and Pedicord. A sailor was one day
passing where Tunnell was preaching. He
stopped to listen, and was observed to be
much affected; and, on meeting with his
companions after he left, he said, “Ihave
been listening to a man who has been dead,
and in heaven; but he has returned, and is
telling the people all about that world.” And
he declared to them he had never been so
much affected by any thing he had ever seen
or heard before. True it was, that Tunnell’s
appearance very much resembled that of
a dead man; and, when, with his strong
musical voice, he poured forth a flood of
heavenly eloquence, as he frequently did, he
appeared, indeed, as a messenger from the
invisible world.
86 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Gill was eagle-eyed, and, by those whose
powers of vision were strong like his, he was
deemed one of a thousand; but, by the less
penetrating, his talents could not be fully ap-
preciated, as he often soared beyond them.
On this account, Gill was not a favourite
preacher of mine. But, in conversation,
which afforded an opportunity for asking
questions and receiving explanations on deep
and interesting subjects, I have seldom known
his equal. Jonathan and David were not
more tenderly attached to each other than
were Tunnell and Gill.

Pedicord was a man of a fine manly form,
and his countenance indicated intelligence and
much tender sensibility. His voice was soft
and remarkably plaintive ; and he possessed
the rare talent to touch and move his audience
at once. I have seen the tear start, and the
head fall, before he had uttered three sen-
tences, which were generally sententious. Nor
did he raise expectations to disappoint them.
Like Tunnell, he arose as he advanced in his
subject; and if be could not, with him, bind
his audience with chains, he could draw them
after him with a silken cord. Never was aman
more tenderly beloved in our part of the coun-
try than he; and if the decision of their rela-
tive claims devolved on me, I should say there
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 87

was none like Pedicord. “But he was my
spiritual father.

Besides these, I might mention perhaps
twenty others of nearly equal standing; and
a number of them, perhaps, the superiors of
those I have mentioned, in some respects. It
is a pity that so few of this class of primitive
American Methodist preachers have left any
written memorial of themselves and their early
labours.

I went to this conference under an impres-
sion that I ought to go home and endeavour to
obtain an increase of knowledge and grace
before I entered wholly into the work; but
when I saw so many of the preachers broken
down, and so great a call for labourers, I yield-
ed to the advice of my spritual father, and
consented to take an appointment. Iwas ap-
pointed with James O. Cromwell and William
Lynch, on the Kent circuit, Eastern Shore of
Maryland.

Here, as on Dover circuit, I found a great
number of young people, some of them con-
nected with the first families; and I witness-
ed the pleasure of seeing many of them lead-
ing lives of piety and adorning the doctrine
of God our Saviour in all things. Being young
myself, it pleased the Lord to render me use-
ful to this class, of whom I admitted more into
88 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

society than both of my elder brethren. When,
in 1800, I had charge of the whole peninsula,
I found many journeying toward the holy
land, who, in sixteen years, had advanced
from babes in Christ to fathers and mothers
in Israel.

In September of this year, (1784,) I was at
the house of a member of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church, whose wife was a Methodist.
Tn conversation with him he remarked that he
had some hope of seeing the old church re-
suscitated. “The people,” said he, “are
gathering about our long-forsaken church ; a
clergyman direct from England is to preach
a trial sermon, and will probably be settled
among us ; come, will you go and hear him?
he is said to be very learned.” I told him I
had come to spend the day with him, and

‘should be pleased to go and hear the stran-
ger. I accordingly went, and, for the first time,
heard the divine, exclusive, and unchange-
able right of prelacy preached up, but not,
as I thought, very skilfully. The parable of
the good Samaritan was the theme of the dis-
course. The preacher made the man who
fell among the thieves to mean Adam; the
good Samaritan, Christ; the inn, the church
into which bleeding humanity was brought to
be bound up and healed; and the two pence
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 89°

given to the host, the sacraments of baptism
and the Lord’s supper.

“But who,” said the preacher, “is the host
—the keeper of the inn, to whom the two
pence were given? This is the main thing
to which our attention is called.” Here, he
added, he hesitated not to say, fearless of suc-
cessful contradiction, that the apostles were
the prelates of the primitive church; and that
diocesan bishops were their successors ; that
to them appertained the exclusive right of or-
dination, confirmation, and government; and
that this order was unchangeable, having, for
its author and foundation, Christ and his apos-
tles. “These things,” said he, “being un-
questionably true, having the sealof the church
whose infallibility is attested by Christ where
he says, ‘The gates of hell shall not prevail
against it,’ it follows, of course, that fallen
humanity has never been by Heaven intrusted
to any claiming to be clergymen, who cannot
trace their ministerial succession from the
apostles.”

These assumptions he endeavoured to sup-
port by quoting some authorities, and pouring
out a flood of invective uponenthusiasm. “It
was,” he said, “ under the magic influence of
enthusiasm that some men of distinction in the
Church had given up diocesan episcopacy as
90 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

apostolic ;” and he admitted that the infatua-
tion had at times become general, though not
universal ; “for had it been so,” said he, “the
gates of hell would have prevailed, the decla-
ration of Christ to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. John Wesley,” he continued, “was the
prince of enthusiasts. He, with his babblers,
as Rowland Hill calls them, has filled England
with enthusiasts. And mark! no stream can
rise higher than its source; consequently the
preaching of the Methodists can only kindle
an enthusiastic flame—a mere ignis fatuus—
in any one.” As he thus expressed himself,
a very interesting, pious female cried out,
“Glory to God! if what I now feel be enthu-
siasm, let me always be an enthusiast!”

This was a quietus, and threw the clergy-
man into serious embarrassment, as it was too
evident not to be perceived by all that this re-
buke from a lady highly esteemed for her
accomplishments and piety, was approved by
the congregation generally as justly merited.
But he had gone too far to retreat, or even to
make an apology; and if he had been dispo-
sed to do the one or the other, there was still
a serious difficulty—it was not written. So
he hesitated before entering upon his third
head, which was to note the literal meaning
of the two pence mentioned in the text. But
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 91

he ventured to proceed, and said, this, in his
opinion, referred to the support of the clergy,
which he did think was more in accordance
with the order of God in England than in
America. At this allusion his audience evi-
dently manifested much dissatisfaction. They
were not in a state of mind, at that juncture,
to bear such comparisons between the institu-
tions of the two countries. The union of
church and state, which was evidently implied
in the allusion, had no advocates in this coun-
try, except among the disaffected—and espe-
cially not here, as the people were imbued
with the principles of the revolution. He
could, therefore, hardly have uttered any
thing more offensive to their feelings.

After the sermon was over, a conference
was held with the preacher, which soon term-
inated. Of what transpired I was informed
by one of the officers of the church, with
whom I was acquainted. In narrating the
facts, he said, “‘ Having been a vestry-man,
it fell on me to open the business. This I
did by informing his reverence that I feared
we should not be able to give him a very libe-
ral call; that the Methodists were numerous,
and the preachers generally acceptable, so that
if they had been in orders there would hardly
have been a serious Churchman left. He was
92 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

then requested to name the sum we must pay
in order to secure his services, which he did.
He was informed, however, that so large an
amount could not be raised; but as he was
single, and his perquisites would be consider
able, and as he had said we were perishing
for lack of knowledge, we expressed a hope
that he would think of the case, and lay on us
as light a burden as possible.”

The gentleman then stated that fifty dollars
a year was all he was willing to pay for the
support of the gospel, twenty-five to the Me-
thodists, and twenty-five to the Church; and
added, addressing himself to the minister,
“But for one, sir, I must tell you my mind
freely. I do not much admire your preach-
ing, nor your spirit. My wife is a Methodist,
and she is no more an enthusiast than your
reverence. Such preaching, sir, will drive
the people from the Church.” At this, the
preacher appeared agitated, and remarked,
“T did say many Churchmen in America, I
feared, were perishing for lack of knowledge ;
and here we have an evidence of the truth of
it. Here is a vestry-man who places Method-
ist preachers, the propagators of enthusiasm,
on an equality with the divinely authorized
clergy of the Church of England. From him
I will receive nothing.” “ Pray, sir,” said
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 93

another gentleman, interrupting him, “ we
cannot divorce our wives and turn our daugh-
ters out of doors, because they have joined
the Methodists. ‘There are but two clergy-
men on this whole peninsula, and one of
these is a drunkard. I have been a Church
warden in another state, and have often said
I would never leave the Church; but I had
much rather hear a Methodist preach than a
drunken Churchman.” “Pardon me, sir,” said
the parson, “do you think I am a drunkard ?
I perceive you mean to insult me. But we
will make the matter short. I have told you
for what I would serve you; and I now say
plainly, that you may perish for all me, be-
fore I will serve you for any thing less.” On
hearing this, they all silently retired, leaving
the priest intoxicated with passion, as some
thought, if nothing else.

This was a singular and extremely impru-
dent course. Such abuse of the Methodists,
would, I was quite sure, be very unlikely to
pave his way for a settlement in that place;
for at that early period of their history they
numbered among them some of the most re-
spectable citizens in Kent and Queen Anne’s
counties,

The exclusive rights of prelacy I did not
believe, but could not deny but that I was
94 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARRF.

uninformed onthe subject. They were not the
Methodists only, however, who were, in the
estimation of this clergyman, acting without
a divine commission, but all others also who
claimed to be ministers without Episcopal ordi-
nation. ‘The first thing that struck me, on
having my attention called to this subject,
was, that without a commission from God it
would be unreasonable to suppose that any
man, especially the unlearned, could by
preaching be instrumental in reforming sin-
ners. But there were many, very many, on this
favoured shore, who had been awakened and
converted to God through the instrumentality
of the Methodist preachers, and especially
that of Joseph Cromwell, who, though he
could not write his name, preached in the
demonstration of the Spirit and with an au-
thority that few could withstand. By his
labours, thousands, of all classes and conditions
in society, had been brought into the fold, and
were walking worthy of their profession. And
yet, a matter of which I could not help think-
ing, no Episcopal hands had been laid on his
head. In a word, the Methodist preachers,
who were generally young, and knew but
little of these abstruse questions, or of theo-
logy generally, except what they learned from
their Bibles, had been instrumental in waking
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 95

up a religious concern throughout this whole
peninsula ; and as the fruits of their labours,
many had become praying, self-denying, happy
Christians.

A second thought that occurred to my mind
was, if the Episcopal clergy were really the
only divinely authorized heralds of the gospel,
then doubless would God put his seal upon
them, and they would be known to all men
as his accredited messengers, clothed with his
panoply.

But I most marvelled that it should be pre-
sumed that the American people would tamely
submit to have their right of private judgment
in matters of religious faith and practice so per-
emptorily denied on the ground of the papisti-
cal infallibility of the Church. The church
visible, the preacher said, was one and.indivi-
sible, and indefectible as to faith and order;
and added, “Who is he that will venture to
say, that.in the visible church man has not
always had ample security against ignorance
and errorin religion?” Alas! thought I, what
would have been the fate of the world, if the
Jewish church had been consulted on the
Messiahship of Christ, in the days of his ad-
vent? And what better guarantee had men in
the days of Luther from the Latin Church?

While my mind was exercised on this sub-
96 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

ject, to which it had been directed by the cir-
cumstances already named, I was called, ac-
cording to the custom of the place, to preach
a funeral sermon. The deceased was a per-
son of large possessions, and extensive fam-
ily connections, some of whom were Method-
ists. ‘These wished me to preach ; but others
expressed a preference for Dr. S., the Epis-
copal clergyman. My wish was, that he
should preach, for I knew not how to preach
the funeral sermon of a man who was allowed
to be one of the most wicked men in that part
of the country. He was a pilot; and in a
gust of passion, while boisterously pouring
forth a volley of curses against the sailors for
not managing the ship to his mind, he fell
upon the deck in an apoplectic fit, and spoke
no more. Understanding that the doctor
would be there, and knowing that he would
preach if he had the opportunity, I delayed,
that he might commence. This he did; and
I arrived just in time to hear his text, which
was, Singular as it might seem for the occasion,
“T have kept the faith.” But it answered his
purpose. With the general character and
habits of the man the doctor was perfectly
familiar, having often been his guest, and, in
fact, his bowl companion. But it was his
faith, rather than his practice, which he was
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 97

about to commend; and from what he said it
would seem that he considered the terms
Churchman and Christian to be synonymous,
and that nothing could make a man, who had
been baptized by a duly authorized clergy-
man a son of perdition, but apostacy from the
Church. At east the manner in which he im-
proved the occasion was calculated so to im-
press the minds of his hearers.

He acknowledged that his parishioner had
been a man of pleasure; that he had been
employed in a sea-faring life ; and, sailor-like,
was addicted to the use of expletives, and
excess of wine. “ But he had many fine traits
of character. He had been true to his coun-
try; was complete master of his calling, and
always faithful to his employers; and, what
was best of all, he was sound in his religious
theory, and might be said, in the language of
the text, to have ‘kept the faith.” Nothing,”
said he, “could induce him to forsake the
Church into whose bosom he had been receiv-
ed by baptism, while many of his connections
who outshone him in morals have shown them-
selves less tenacious of the faith once deliver-
ed to the church than he. The doctrines, the
liturgy, and the apostolic government, he held
fast without wavering; and if in practical
piety he came short, yet who will venture te
98 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

say he is not at rest, if in his last moments
he lifted a penitent, suppliant eye to Heaven!”
The doctor, who well knew how he stood in
the public estimation, and sometimes lament-
ed his too great weakness in the use of wine,
by a rather delicate reference to himself, en-
treated his hearers not to do as he sometimes
did, but as he always said. This was an
illustration of the principles of the creed and
moral code which had been to me matter of
much reflection, that tended greatly to settle
my mind respecting them. It did appear that,
in his view, there was no hell for orthodox
diocesan Episcopalians, whatever else they
might be. :

Nor was J alone in this. Conversing not
long after with an intelligent Churchman re-
specting the doctor’s sermon, he said, “If he
did not send the pilot to heaven by the way
of purgatory, it was because he was not en-
tirely sound in the faith—he is papistical,
though not a papist outright; he is what we
call a high Churchman, and is in the habit,
especially when a little excited with wine, of
preaching all Churchmen to heaven, and of de-
nying the right to any man to preach, baptize,
or bury the dead, who has not a regular Epis-
copal ordination. But there are few Church-
men in this country, or even in England, who
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 99

hold principles so nearly allied to popish infalli-
bility.” This gentleman was an Englishman,
in orders, but had no parish; and he seemed
to think himself scandalized by the sermon.
He knew Mr. Wesley well, and had once
heartily despised him, not as a fanatic, but
as the most ambitious man, in his opinion, on
the earth. But his views respecting him had
been changed, and he said he then esteemed
him as one of the greatest and best men in
England; that he had preached, written, and
lived down all the violent opposition which
had been raised against him; and that he now
had more of the confidence, love, and admi-
ration of the people in England than any other
man. He made some other remarks expres-
sive of his disapprobation of the high Church
notions which the doctor had shown so much
zeal to vindicate, and he said the claim of
succession was generally acknowledged to be
a fiction.

This conversation, in connection with what
had previously transpired, made a deep and
lasting impression on my mind. While re-
flecting on the subject, I opened my Bible on
the following passage: “And Jesus came, and
spoke unto them, saying, All power is given
unto me in heaven and earth,” Matt. xxviii, 18.
These words were spoken to the disciples on
100 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

their receiving the commission of their Master
to go and evangelize the world. On reading
them, I said to myself, “ How explicit—how
sublime are these terms! The reading of them
inspires me with veneration and awe. Cer-
tainly here, if anywhere, are we to look for
the exclusive rights of prelacy. But are they
here? No ;—nor have the apostles informed
us that any such rights as are thus arrogated
were taught among the private instructions
they received from their Master.” To me, then,
it appeared evident, that if diocesan episcopa-
cy be nota fable, it can be nothing more than
a human institution. Moreover, if bishops
and presbyters be not the same order, I could
not conceive how the terms could be con-
vertibly used by the apostles, as all who read
the New Testament know they are. Here
all my agitation and solicitude on the subject
of succession subsided.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 101

+

CHAPTER VII.

Dr. Coke arrives in America—Meets Mr. Asbury at Judge
Rarrett’s, in Delaware—A. conference called to meet in Balti-
more on Christmas, hence denominated the Christmas con-
ference—Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church—
Beneficial effects of church privileges on the societies—Re-
marks on Dr. Coke and his views of his brethren in America,
particularly Mr. Asbury—Reflections on the state of the socie-
ties before their organization into a church—Mr. Asbury’s
influence in preserving peace among them—Views entertained
by the Christmas conference on the subject of education—
Abingdon college.

TuHE Methodist Episcopal Church in the
United States was organized in 1784, soon
after the close of the revolution. It was not
practicable during the war for Mr. Wesley,
the father and founder of the Methodist so-
cieties, to furnish an organization suited to
our necessities. But after its termination,
Mr. Asbury, who lived in the feelings and pos-
sessed the entire confidence of both preachers
and people, according to their general wish
and expectation, made application to Mr.
Wesley in behalf of the American societies,
and he resolved without delay to send over
Dr. Coke, whom he first set apart by the im-
position of hands to the office of superin-
tendent, with instructions to carry his plan
into effect. He furnished the doctor with
call

102 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

forms of ordination for deacons, elders, and
superintendents; and appointed him, jointly
with Mr. Asbury, to preside over the Methodist
family in America.

When Dr. Coke arrived in America he first
saw Mr. Asbury. at Judge Barrett’s, (Barrett’s
Chapel,) m the state of Delaware, and exhi-
bited to him his credentials. Mr. Asbury
rejoiced for the consolation of being able to
hope that relief would be afforded to the so-
cieties, but said, “Doctor, we will call the
preachers together, and their voice shall be to
me the voice of God.” It was accordingly
agreed to have a conference, to meet in Balti-
more, on the ensuing Christmas.

Nearly fifty years have now elapsed since
the Christmas conference ; and I have a thou-
sand times looked back to the memorable era
with pleasurable emotions. I have often said
it was the most solemn convocation I ever
saw. I might have said, for many reasons, it
was sublime. During the whole time of our
being together in the transaction of business
of the utmost magnitude, there was not, I
verily believe, on the conference floor or in
private, an unkind word spoken, or an unbro-
therly emotion felt. Christian love predomi-
nated; and, under its influence, we “kindly
thought and sweetly spoke the same.”
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 103

The annual meetings of the preachers, sent,
as they hold themselves to be, to declare in
the name of the Almighty Jesus terms of
peace between the offended Majesty of heaven
and guilty man, were to them occurrences of
interesting import. The privilege of seeing
each other, after labouring and suffering re-
proach in distant portions of the Lord’s vine-
yard, and of hearing the glad tidings which
they expected to hear on such occasions of
what God was doing through their instrumen-
tality, encouraged their hearts every step they
took in their long and wearisome journeys,
and served as a cordial to their spirits. But
never before had they met on so important
and solemn an occasionas this. Fifteen years
had passed away since Boardman and Pillmoor
arrived in America, in the character of itine-
rants, under the direction of Mr. Wesley.
This was the fifteenth conference. During
all that time, those of us who would dedicate
our infant offspring to the Lord by baptism,
or would ourselves receive the holy sacrament,
must go for these sacred rites to such as knew
us not, and were entirely mistaken respecting
our character. The charge preferred against
us was not hypocrisy, but enthusiasm. Our
opposers did not blame us for not living up to
our profession outwardly, but for professing
104 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

too much—more than is the privilege of man
in this life, in speaking with Christian confi-
dence of the knowledge of a present salvation
by the forgiveness of sins and the witness of
the Spirit. There were, indeed, a few who
harmonized with us in sentiment and in feel-
ing. But, in the general estimation, we were
the veriest enthusiasts the world ever saw.
Humiliating indeed was our condition. Not
a man in holy orders among us; and against
us formidable combinations were formed, not
so much at first among the laity as among the
clergy. But being denounced from the pulpit
as illiterate, unsound in our principles, and
enthusiastic in our spirit and practice—in a
word, every way incompetent, and only to be
despised—the multitude, men and women,
were imboldened to attack us; and it was
often matter of diversion to witness how much
they appeared to feel their own superiority.
All these things, however, we could have
borne without concern, as the work of God
was prospering, and the societies increasing
more rapidly than any other denomination in
the country; but the want of orders had a
tendency to paralyze our efforts. Many,
very many, who had been brought to the
knowledge of God through our instrumentality
were kept from uniting with us because we
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 105

could not administer to them all the or-
dinances.

At the Christmas conference we met to
congratulate each other, and to praise the
Lord that he had disposed the mind of our
excellent Wesley to renounce the fable of
uninterrupted succession, and prepare the way
for furnishing us with the long-desired privi-
leges we were thenceforward expecting to
enjoy. The announcement of the plan de-
vised by him for our organization as a church
filled us with solemn delight. “It answered to
what we did suppose, during our labours and
privations, we had reason to expect our God
would do for us; for in the integrity of our
hearts we verily believed his design in raising
up the preachers called Methodists, in this
country, was to reform the continent, and
spread scriptural holiness through these lands;
and we accordingly looked to be endued, in
due time, with all the panoply of God. We,
therefore, according to the best of our know-
ledge, received and followed the advice of
Mr. Wesley, as stated in our form of Disci-
pline.

After Mr. Wesley’s letter, declaring his ap-
pointment of Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury joint
superintendents over the Methodists in Ame-

rica, had been read, analyzed, and cordially
5*
106 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

approved. by the conference, the question
arose, ‘‘ What name or title shall we take?”
I thought to myself, I shall be satisfied that
we be denominated, The Methodist Church,
and. so whispered to a brother sitting near me.
But one proposed, I think it was John Dick-
ens, that we should adopt the title of METHoD-
ist EpiscopaL Cuurcu. Mr. Dickens was,
in the estimation of his brethren, a man of
sound sense and sterling piety; and there
were few men on the conference floor heard
with greater deference than he. Most of the
preachers had been brought up in what was
called, “The Church of England ;” and, all
agreeing that the plan of general superintend-
‘ence, which had been adopted, was a species
of episcopacy, the motion on Mr. Dickens’
suggestion was carried without, I think, a
dissenting voice. There was not, to my re-
collection, the least agitation on the question.
Had the conference indulged a suspicion that
the name they adopted would be, in the least
degree, offensive to the views or feelings of
Mr. Wesley, they would have abandoned it at
once; for the name of Mr. Wesley was inex-
pressibly dear to the Christmas conference,
and especially to Mr. Asbury and Dr. Coke.
After our organization, we proceeded to
‘elect a sufficient number of elders to visit the
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 107

quarterly meetings, and administer the ordi-
nances ; and this it was which gave rise to
the office of presiding elders among us.

From what I have said, it will be under-
stood that, when the Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized, I was present. But,
as I was little more than a spectator of the
interesting transactions of the Christmas con-
ference, I shall take the liberty to speak of
the character of the preachers who consti-
tuted that body, as if not numbered among
them.

In practical wisdom they appeared to me to
excel; and, although few of them affected
the scholar, yet they prized learning as a de-
sirable accomplishment. Some of them were
acquainted with the learned languages ; and
most of them were not deficient in general
and polite literature. But what eminently
distinguished them as a body of Christian
ministers was, that they possessed, in a high
degree, the happy art of winning souls. In
preaching and in debate they were workmen
who needed not. to be ashamed; and they
made wise and useful improvement of the
knowledge they possessed, and the talents
God had given them. Hence the high esti-
mation in which they held the Bible. Many
of them were in the habit of reading it regu-
108 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

larly on their knees; and some made it a
point to read it once through every year in
that attitude. We may, therefore, venture
to say, that few men, in any age of the
church, knew better how to estimate the sum
of good which Heaven kindly wills to man,
and few have been so successful in recom-
mending the Bible and Bible religion to their
fellow-men.

Dr. Coke, on his way to the Christmas con-
ference, passed through our circuit. I met
him at Colonel Hopper’s, in Queen Anne’s
county, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. At
first, I was not at all pleased with his appear-
ance. His stature, complexion, and voice, re-
sembled those of a woman rather than those of
aman; and his manners were too courtly for
me. So unlike was he to the grave, and, as I
conceived, apostolic Mr. Asbury, that his ap-
pearance did not prepossess me favourably.
He had several appointments in the circuit, to
which I conducted him ; and, before we part-
. ed, I saw so many things to admire in him
that I no longer marvelled at his being select-
ed by Mr. Wesley to serve us in the capaci-
ty of a superintendent. In public, he was
generally admired; and, in private, he was
very communicative and edifying.

At one time, in a large circle, he expressed
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 109

himself in substance as follows:—‘“I am
charmed by the spirit of my American bre-
thren. Their love to Mr. Wesley is not sur-
passed by that of their brethren in Europe.
It is founded on the excellence—the divinity
—of the religion which he has been the in-
strument of reviving, and which has shed its
benign influence on this land of freedom. I
see in both preachers and people a resolution
to venture on any bold act of duty, when
called to practise piety before the ungodly,
and 1o refuse compliance with fashionable
vice. I see,” continued he, with a counte-
nance glowing with delight, “a great and
effectual door opened for the promulgation of
Methodism in America, whose institutions I
greatly admire, and whose prosperity I no less
wish thanI do that of the land which gave me
birth. Inthe presence of brother Asbury I feel
myself a child. He is, in my estimation, the
most apostolic man I ever saw, except Mr.
Wesley.”

These remarks of Dr. Coke made an im-
pression on my mind not soon to be forgotten.
He was the best speaker in a private circle or
on the conference floor I ever heard. But his
voice was too weak to command with ease a
very large audience. Yet this he could
sometimes do; and, when he succeeded in it,
1130 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

his preaching was very impressive. Some of
the first scholars in the country have been
-heard to say, that Dr. Coke spoke the purest
English of any man they ever heard. His
fine classical taste did not raise him, in his
own estimation, above the weakest of his
brethren. To them he paid the kindest at-
tentions ; and the most diffident and retiring
among them, after being a short time in his
company, were not only perfectly at ease, but
happy at finding themselves associated with a
brother who had learned to esteem others
better than himself.

In reflecting upon the condition of the Me-
thodist societies in America before the Christ-
mas conference, I can only wonder at the pri-
vations to which they submitted for so long a
time, out of reverence for Mr. Wesley. He
had said he would never forsake the Church
in which he was brought up ; and the Method-
ists felt for him a tie of affection stronger than
the ties of blood. Hence they continued to
suffer on, hoping for relief when the war
should terminate.

The struggle, however, continued so long
that there is reason to believe, if it had not
been for the influence of Mr. Asbury, the so-
cieties in America would have assumed the
character of an independent church, and had
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 111

the ordinances of God duly administered to
them. To men of thought it seemed unrea-
sonable and unchristianlike that preachers
who had grown gray in preaching the word,
and succeeded in gathering a numerous peo-
ple to the Lord, should refrain from adminis-
tering to them the ordinances. Nor was the
influence of Mr. Asbury, great as it was,
sufficient to restrain the societies and keep
them in that condition much longer. This I
learned the first conference I attended.

I would not insinuate that, in this serious
business, Mr. Asbury exerted any undue in-
fluence, or misapplied his talents. It was
best, probably, that the Methodists in this
country should remain as they were, until
Mr. Wesley felt himself at liberty to exercise
the right, which he unquestionably had, to
ordain preachers for them. Neither Mr.
Asbury, nor any of his coadjutors, believed
in the divine, exclusive rights of prelacy, any
more than they believed in transubstantiation ;
but they did believe that a divine interposi-
tion was manifest in the rise and spread of
Methodism, and that Mr. Wesley was an ex-
traordinary man, who was the chief instru-
ment in the hand of God in this work. They
therefore looked up to him with deference
and respect, and cherished a fond hope that,
112 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

by his counsel and instruction, means would
be devised to invest them with all the privi-
leges of a church, in a way to continue the
Methodists in both countries one family. This
they now realized, much to their satisfaction.

I have said the preachers who composed
the Christmas conference did hold human
learning to be a desirable accomplishment.
They knew, indeed, that learning and piety
had no necessary connection, from the fact that
there have been some eminent scholars, whose
lives have evinced that they were far from
being pious, and there have been many picus
souls who have made no pretensions to hu-
man learning. Yet, when learning and piety
are united, they are mutually beneficial in
promoting the best interests of man. Such
views prevailed among the preachers at that
early period of our history. In proof of this,
it may be sufficient to mention that, at the
Christmas conference, they passed a resolu-
tion forthwith to erect a college, or public
school, and to publish a plan of it immediate-
ly after the conference should adjourn.

The design was, to board and educate,
and, if the finances would permit, clothe the
sons of the travelling preachers, and poor or-
phans ; and to provide a seminary, under the.
patronage of the church, for the education of
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 113

the children of our friends, where religion
and learning might go hand in hand—where
the means of instruction might be enjoyed
by the young, without endangering their
moral and religious principles through expo-
sure to those temptations which were too
common at most public schools. They also
contemplated the benefit of those who might
give evidence of being called to preach the
gospel, but be so destitute of literary qualifi-
cations as to need some aid in this respect,
before entering wholly into the work. In
conformity with this resolution, a college was
shortly after erected at Abingdon, Maryland ;
but it was soon after burned down. This was
supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
But so intent were the Methodists upon hav-
ing a public school, that a suitable house was
soon after purchased for that purpose in Bal-
timore. ‘This also was, in a little time, wrap-
ped in flames and destroyed! I could not
believe, as some did, that these occurrences
were judicial visitations. They were pro-
duced by incendiaries, and not the work of
the beneficent Parent of the human family.
And yet we trace the providence of God in
them. He suffered. wicked men to do us
wrong, and we were enabled to trust in him,
and throw ourselves upon the veracity of his
114 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

word, that all things work together for good
to them that love him. But we would not
indulge the impious thought, that bad men
were impelled by him to burn our literary
institutions, because he did not deem it proper,
by a miracle, to protect us, as he protected
Abraham and his family, when, small and few
as we were, they sojourned among strangers
and enemies.

CHAPTER VIII.

From the Christmas conference Mr. Ware returns to the
peninsula—Dr. Coke visits that section—Multitudes flock to
hear the word, receive the sacrament, and get their children
baptized—Mr. Ware’s labours interrupted by sickness—He
partially recovers and resolves to return home—Is induced to
change his course by an extraordinary manifestation of di-
vine influence at a meeting he attended, just about the time he
had made arrangements to leave—Has a second attack—Did
not attend conference, and wrote to be discontinued for at least
one year—Was, however, continued, and appointed to Salem
circuit—Had to contend with error—Saw many of his relatives
brought into the church—Account of the introduction of Me-
thodism into this section—Anecdote of Capt. Sears—Prosperi-
‘ty of the work—Reflections on the benefits of having the ordi-
nances—Extension of the work—Mr. Ware is sent to Long
Island, N. Y.—Crosses over on the main shore and visits New-
Rochelle, Bedford, and Peekskill—Detained at a public house
—His detention proves a blessing to the landlord and his wife.

From the Christmas conference I returned

to the peninsula, in every part of which Me-
thodism was flourishing, and the work of the
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 115

Lord gloriously prospering in our hands. The
administration of the ordinances at our quar-
terly meetings was singularly.owned of God.
Vast multitudes attended, and the power of
the Lord was present to wound and to heal.
The whole peninsula seemed moved ; and the
people, in multitudes, flocked to hear Dr.
Coke, who returned with us, and spent some
time on this favoured shore. Never did I
see any person who seemed to enjoy himself
better than he did, while thousands pressed
to him to have their children dedicated to the
Lord by baptism, and to receive themselves
the holy supper at his hands. Daily acces
sions were made to the church.

For a time I enjoyed myself well in this
work. I preached with greater ease than
formerly, for the hearts of the people seemed
to be open to receive the word; and our
class-meetings were little bethels to us. But
I was suddenly attacked with a kidney com-
plaint, that brought me near the door of death.

My sufferings were most excruciating. After
the first paroxysm was over, doubts in swift
succession arose in my mind with respect to
my call to the ministry ; and, being informed
that my spiritual father, the respected Pedi-
cord, was dead, I felt a wish, if it were the
will of God, that I might follow him..
116 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

After passing through many sore conflicts
relative to my duty with respect to preaching,
I yielded to a belief that I might safely aban-
don for the present an itinerant life, if not the
ministry. Under these impressions I went on
to an appointment where few usually attend-
ed, with an intention, if the people came out,
to give them a word of exhortation; and then
write to the conference, which was soon to
hold its session, not to depend on me to fill an
appointment for at least one year, and direct
my course toward home.

When I came in sight of the place I saw a
number of carriages, and a large concourse of
people collected; and I trembled at the sight.
My watch told me it was past the time to
commence, and I was entirely unprepared to
meet the congregation. In this condition I
said to myself, “‘ What shall I do?—I must
commence.” I finally determined that I would
read the chapter on which I first. opened my
Testament, and select a passage from it ; and,
if I were confounded before the people, I
would confess [had been mistaken in my call.

The chapter on which I opened was the six-
teenth of the Acts of the Apostles. This read,
I selected for a text the latter clause of the
30th verse, “ What must I do to be saved?”
After announcing these words I proceeded in
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 117

the following strain :—‘‘ Since the world began
there was never a proposition by man to man
of greater import than that which the Philip-
pian jailer made to Paul and Silas in the words
of our text. He was doubtless a sinner, and
saw himself in danger; and he feared—fear-
ed what? Not temporal, but eternal, death!
He believed that something must be done to.
escape it, and that the apostles could tell him
what to do.

“There is, we presume to say, in all men,
at times, a conviction that they are in danger
of eternal destruction, that something must be
done to ensure their salvation, and that the mi-
nisters of the gospel can tell them what that
something is. But alas! for you who are
here to-day (pardon my tears!*) I feel incom-
petent to answer the anxious inquiry which I
perceive many are disposed to make about
their salvation. Incompetent did I say? For-
give me! I will recall it. I do know what
you may do—what you must do—what I
begin to think, blessed .be God, some of you.
will do—to be saved—will do and be saved,
this very day. True, I cannot answer this
inquiry in the style and manner I could wish.
But is this a just cause for tears? No, I will
dry them up, and press you with all my soul

* These now began to flow freely.
118 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that you
may be saved. If Paul himself were here,
he would do the same.”

This simple address was owned of God in
deeply affecting the hearers. Tears flowed
plentifully from the eyes of many; and all in
the congregation were greatly moved. What
a sudden transition! When I stood up, a gloom
like the darkness of midnight rested upon me.
Now not a vestige of a cloud remained. I
continued by remarking :—

“ Our text is the language of a true peni-
tent. All such are concerned to know what
they must do to be saved,

1. From ignorance and error in religion ;

2. From the tyranny of sin ;

3. From the curse of God’s violated law ;

4. From the damnation of hell.”

To all which I replied by directing the
humble penitent to believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, that is, to venture on him for wisdom,
strength, absolution, and purity of heart and
life. When I was done, many desired the
privilege of being present in the class-meet-
ing, which was granted; and most of those
who remained united with the church on pro-
bation.

I now went on cheerfully for a time. But
it was not long before I was attacked by my
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 119

old complaint ; and as my physician did not
understand it, arid doctored me for another, I
was again, to appearance, brought near the
gate of death. An elderly gentleman, how-
ever, providentially fell im where I was, and
after some inquiry, informed me of the nature
and seat of my disease. He recommended
the free use of parsley (apium) tea, which I
drank freely, and in about twelve hours it gave.
me signal relief.

In the spring of 1785, I did not attend the
conference, but went home, and wrote to Mr.
Asbury, declining to take an appointment for
at least one year, on account of loss of health.
I was, however, appointed to Salem circuit,
with William Phoebus and Robert Sparks.*

Here we had to contend with high-toned
Calvinism on one hand, and mysticism on the
other. But the Lord gave us some fruit of
our labours, and many cheering hopes that
the moral waste we were traversing by long
and dreary rides would one day bud and blos-
som as the rose.

While on this circuit I had the pleasure of
seeing many of my near relatives brought to
the knowledge of God, and received into the
church. Among these were my eldest and

* The territory contained in this cireuit is now occupied by
more than half a score of preachers.
120 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

youngest sisters. The latter was from a child
admired for the good natural qualities of her
mind, and for her amiable disposition. In her,
grace shone with peculiar brilliancy. She
was eminently gifted in prayer, so much so
that many of the preachers remarked they
had seldom known her equal. Her husband
was also an amiable and interesting man. It
was through her influence that he was brought
to embrace religion; and their house was long
a pleasant home for the preachers.*

* This amiable man, being in feeble health, was advised by
his physician to take new milk and sugar in a little brandy.
By following this prescription he contracted a love for strong
drink, and lost not only his religious enjoyment and character,
but also his property and his little remaining health. He was
greatly pitied, and the fullest confidence was placed in his inte-
grity to the last; and there was some hope in his death. He
was ardently attached to his pious wife; and in his last hours
he could not bear her out of his sight a moment, but listened
with deep interest to her encouraging assurances that God
would receive the returning penitent, and was melted to tears
while she offered up her ardent prayers in his behalf.

Ah, my sister, how often have I mingled my tears with thine,
on account of this once amiable man, ensnared and overcome
by the foul destroyer! He was lost to thee and to thy little
ones, but, we trust, not eternally lost! Thou, my best beloved
sister, hast ceased to weep and to suffer. Thou art for ever at
rest; and thy children, the objects of thy tenderest solicitude
when thou wast about to leave them orphans, have been pro-
vided for by Him who feeds the ravens, and, with one exception,
are following thee in wisdom’s ways; and that one, we hope,
will be given thee in answer to a pious mother’s prayers, long
since registered on high!
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 121

This excellent woman was not only my
natural sister, but my spiritual child. After I
knew the blessedness of believing, I travelled
sixty miles to see her and tell her what the
Lord had done for me. During our first inter-
view she became convinced of the necessity
of religion; and she never after rested until
she was brought to enjoy it.

Methodism had found its way into this sec-
tion before us. The war which had just ter-
minated had raged mostly in the upper part of
New-Jersey; but here its effects were less sen-
sibly felt. Many parts of Cumberland and
Cape May were but thinly inhabited; and the
inhabitants were generally favourable to the
cause of the revolution. When the state of
things in West Jersey, in consequence of its
becoming the seat of war, rendered it next
to impossible for the preachers to labour
longer there, they turned their attention to the
west; and one of them visited Cumberland
and Cape May.* His manner was, to let his
horse take his own course, and, on coming toa
house, to inform the family that he had come to
warn them and the people of their neighbour-
hood to prepare to meet their God; and also
to direct them to notify their neighbours that

* We learn from Mr. Ware that the name of this preacher
was James.—Epiror.

6
122 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

on such a day one would, by divine permis-
sion, be there to deliver a message from God
to them, noting his appointment in a book
kept for that purpose ; and then, if he found
they were not offended, to sing and pray with
them, and depart. Some families were much
affected, and seemed to hold themselves bound
to do ashe directed. Others told him he need
give himself no farther trouble, for they would
neither invite their neighbours, nor open their
doors to receive him if he came.

This course soon occasioned an excitement
and alarm through many parts. Some seem-
ed to think him a messenger from the invisi-
ble world. Others said, “He is mad.” Many,
however, gave out the appointments as direct-
ed; and when the time came, he would be
sure to be there. By these means the minds
of the people were stirred up, and many were
awakened. While thus labouring to sow the
seed of the gospel, he came one evening to
the house of Captain Sears, and having a de-
sire to put up for the night, made application
to the captain accordingly. Captain S. was
then in the yard, surrounded by a number of
barking dogs, which kept up such a noise
that he could not at first hear what the preach-
er said. At this, the captain became very
angry, and stormed boisterously at them, call-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 123

ing them many hard names, for which the
preacher reproved him. When they became
silent so that he could be distinctly heard, he
renewed his request to stay over night. The
captain paused a long time, looking steadily
at him, and then said, “I hate to let you stay
the worst of any man I ever saw; but as I
never refused a stranger a night’s lodging in
all my life, you may alight.”

Soon after entering the house, he requested
a private room where he might retire. The
family were curious to know for what purpose
he retired, and contrived to ascertain, when it
was found that he was on his knees. After
continuing a long time in secret devotion, he
came into the parlour and found supper pre-
pared. Captain Sears seated himself at table,
and invited his guest to come and partake with
him. He came to the table, and said, “ With
your permission, captain, I will ask the bless-
ing of God upon our food before we partake ;”
to which the captain assented.

During the evening the preacher had occa-
sion to reprove his host several times. In a
few days the captain attended a military
parade ; and his men, having heard that the
man who had made so much noise in the
country had spent a night with him, inquired
of him what he thought of this singular per-
124 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

son. “Do you ask what I think of the stran-
ger?” said he, “I know he is a man of God.”
“Pray how do you know that, captain?” in-
quired some. “How doI know it?” he replied.
“T will tell you honestly—the devil trembled
in me at his reproofs.” And so it was. The evil
spirit found no place to remain in his heart.*
By such means the work was commenced in
this region, and spread among the people.
The year 1785 passed away much more
pleasantly than I expected. My health was
much improved ; andthe gloom of mind which
had nearly driven me from the itinerant ranks
now seldom troubled me. The. presiding
elder appointed to attend the quarterly meet-
ings in Jersey was an exceedingly popular
man, and his presence gave a consequence to
these meetings which left no doubt on our
minds of the advantage of having men in holy
orders among us; and we praised God for
the providence which had brought about this
new order of things, and established us as a
branch of his militant church. Two years
had now elapsed since the organization of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in America,

*I have spent many a comfortable night under the hospitable
roof of Captain Sears. He lived long an example of piety—the
‘stranger’s' host and comforter, and especially the preacher's
friend.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 125.

during which time our harmony continued the
same as it was before, while our labour had
been crowned with much greater success, in
consequence of having had the ordinances of
God duly administered among us. In these
two years we admitted thirty-four preachers,
and had an accession of three thousand eight
hundred and three members. We also greatly
enlarged our borders, extending our labours
to Georgia at the south, and the great valley
of the Mississippi at the west.

In 1786 my field of labour was Long Island,
in the state of New-York. But I did not
confine myself to the Island. With the con-
sent of my presiding elder, a local brother
was employed to take my appointments, and
I visited New-Rochelle, across the sound,
twenty-five miles above New-York. A class
had been formed in this place previously to
the taking of New-York by the British. But
at this time there was not a Methodist on the
east side of the Hudson, above New-York.

From New-Rochelle I went up to Bedford
and Peekskill. In every place where I went
the people flocked to hear the word; and I
was treated, generally, with great kindness.
At Croton, Lieut. Governor Van Courtland and
lady took me to their house, and charmed me
with their Christian courtesy and hospitality.
126 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

At Bedford, on Christmas day, I dwelt
largely on the universality of the atonement,
with which subject I felt deeply affected my-
self, as the people also appeared to be. When
I was through, a Calvinist minister stood up
in the congregation and accused me of preach-
ing false doctrine. The sum of his argument
was, “If Christ died for all, then must all be
saved; but we know some are lost, therefore
he did not die for all.” It was an unfortunate
time for him to attack the doctrine in the
manner he did, as the feelings of the people
were evidently enlisted in favour of it while I
was endeavouring to illustrate and enforce it
with tears. They were therefore on my side.

Before the minister sat down, he requested
the people not to let any thing he had said so
prejudice their minds against the young man
as to call in question his piety. Here he was
interrupted by an elderly man, who arose and
said, “I am surprised, Mr. H s, that you
have so little discernment. What you have
said, instead of exciting our prejudice against
our young friend, who has preached the truth to
us, has, on the contrary, filled us with disgust
against yourself. There is not a person pre-
sent but must condemn your spirit ; and very
few, I hope, who do not despise the sentiments
you have advanced. If there be one here

 
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 127

who approves of the rude attack you have
made upon this youth and stranger among us,
let him get up anddefend you.” At this sharp
rebuke, Mr. H. arose to defend himself; but
the people manifested their unwillingness to
hear him, by rising up and beginning to talk.
A Mr. Eames then, in the audience of the
people, invited me to go with him and make
his house my home; and to preach the same
doctrine to his neighbours. I accepted of this
kind invitation, and went.

When we arrived at Mr. Eames’ house, he
introduced me to his wife as a Methodist
preacher, and said, “You know I told you
God would send the Methodist preachers
among us, when I dreamed that I saw Mr.
Wesley riding through the country with his
Bible open in his hand.” After spending a
short time with this pious and interesting
family, during which I preached repeatedly
and formed a class, I set out on my return to
New-Rochelle, but was overtaken by one of
the most dreadful snow-storms I ever wit-
nessed. I was accordingly driven to the
necessity of putting up at an inn, where I was
detained for a week. The landlady was ten-
derly impressed the first time I spoke to her
on the subject of religion ; but the inn-keeper
himself, though civil, appeared to be out of
128 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

my reach. Both of them were very fond of
singing ; and as my voice was good, they
seemed much delighted with some spiritual
songs which I sung for them. - On the third
night of this tremendous storm, while sitting
around the cheerful fire, listening to the howl-
ing of the wind, and the beating of snow and
hail against the windows, as if resolved on a
forcible entry, I perceived my host and hostess
were pensive ; so I sung them one of my fa-
vourite pieces, with which they were much
affected. I then kneeled down to pray; and
they, for the first time, fell upon their knees.
After prayer, I retired, leaving them both in
tears. He afterward, during my stay, made
many efforts to resume his former gayety; but
his vivacity was gone.*

* After thirty years I was again appointed to Long Island,
where my host visited me. On meeting me, he said, “ Father

Ware, I am happy to see you once more. Have you forgotten
the snow-storm which brought you and salvation to my house ?”
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 129

CHAPTER IX.

In 1787 Dr. Coke again visits this country—Gives dissatis-
faction to some of the preachers by changing the conference—
Mr. Whatcoat accompanies Dr. Coke, as a superintendent, ap-
pointed by Mr. Wesley—Some uneasiness about the manner of
doing business in the conference—Feelings of respect enter-

-tained by the conference for Mr. Wesley—Fear that Mr.
Asbury would be called away—Brief notices of deceased
preachers—Mr. Ware volunteers to accompany Mr. Tunnell to
the Holston country—Character and state of the country—
Moral condition—The work of God prospers notwithstanding
the difficulties it has to contend with—Call for preachers down
the Holston—Mr. Ware agrees to go and form a new circuit—
His way infested with savages—-Narrow escapes—A woman
killed by the Indians near where he was preaching—Preaches
her funeral—The people favourably affected—Crosses over to
French Broad—,Finds some who had been Methodists—Soon
raises a society—Suffers reproach on account of the conduct of
wicked men who called themselves preachers—Narrowly es-
capes from a company of infuriated men who became offended
at him—Arrives at a friend’s house, and thanks God for his
deliverance.

In the spring of 1787, Dr. Coke visited us
again, and called the preachers to meet in
conference at Baltimore, on the first day of
May. The liberty he took in changing the
time and place of holding the conference gave
serious offence to many of the preachers. But
this was not all, nor even the chief matter,
which caused some-trouble at this conference,
Mr. Wesley had appointed Mr. Whatcoat a

superintendent, and instructed Dr. Coke to
6*
180 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

introduce a usage among us to which, I may
safely say, there was not one of the preachers
inclined to submit, much as they loved and
honoured him. Mr. Wesley had been in the
habit of calling his preachers together, not to
legislate, but to confer. Many of them he
found to be excellent counsellors, and he heard
them respectfully on the weighty matters
which were brought before them; but the
right to decide all questions he reserved to
himself. This he deemed the more excellent
way; and as we had volunteered and pledged
ourselves to obey, he instructed the doctor,
conformably to his own usage, to put as few
questions to vote as possible, saying, “If you,
brother Asbury, and brother Whatcoat are
agreed, itis enough.” ‘To place the power, of
deciding all questions discussed, or nearly all,
in the hands of the superintendents, was what
could never be introduced among us—a fact
which we thought Mr. Wesley could not but
have known, had he known us as well as we
ought to have been known by Dr. Coke. After
all, we had none to blame so much as ourselves.
In the first effusion of our zeal we had adopted
a rule binding ourselves to obey Mr. Wesley ;
and this rule must be rescinded, or we must
be content, not only to receive Mr. Whatcoat
as one of our superintendents, but also, as our
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 131

brethren of the British conference, with barely
discussing subjects, and leaving the decision
of them to two or three individuals. This
was the chief cause of our rescinding the rule.
All, however, did not vote to rescindit. Some
thought it would be time enough to do so when
our superintendents should claim to decide
questions independently of the conference,
which, it was confidently believed, they never
would do.

We were under many and great obligations
to Mr. Wesley, and also to Dr. Coke, who
had done much to serve us, and all at their
own expense. As to Mr. Wesley, there were
none of us disposed to accuse him of a de-
sire to tyrannize over us, and, in consequence,
to withdraw our love and confidence from
him. But there was, perhaps, with some, a
lack of cautiousness not to cause grief to
such a father. There were also suspicions
entertained by some of the preachers, and,
perhaps, by Mr. Asbury himself, that, if Mr.
Whatcoat were received as a superintendent,
Mr. Asbury would be recalled. For this none
of us were prepared.

At the conference of 1787, we had to record
the death of two young men, who had fallen
in the itinerant ranks, namely, John Lambert
and James Thomas. The former was a
182 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

native of New-Jersey, taken from the common
walks of life. He had, in four years, (when
the Methodist Episcopal Church was organ-
ized,) without the parade of classical learning,
or any regular theological training, actually
attained:'to an eminence in the pulpit which
no ordinary man could reach by the aid of
any human means whatever. He was most
emphatically a primitive Methodist preacher,
preaching out of the pulpit as well as in it.
The graces with which he was eminently
adorned, were intelligence, innocence, and
love. These imparted a glow of eloquence
to all he said and did. The other, Thomas,
was young, sprightly, blameless, and much
esteemed as a pious and good preacher.

At this conference I volunteered, with two
other young men, who esteemed the reproach
of Christ greater riches than earthly treasures,
to accompany Mr. Tunnell to the Holston
country, now called East Tennessee.

The district of country where we laboured
is finely watered by five rivers, the principal
of which is the Holston. On-the margin of
these rivers the soil is deep and immensely
rich. Here, of course, the first inhabitants
fixed their dwellings. We found the popula-
tion spread over a territory of country equal
in extent to Kast Jersey, almost wholly desti-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 133

tute of the gospel. That people everywhere
need the gospel, no Christain would deny.
But these, especially, needed it. In almost
all new settlements there are always some to
be found, whose principles and practice exert
a pestilential influence on the morals of soci-
ety. In this section there were many of this
description—refugees from justice. Some
there were who had borrowed money, or were
otherwise in debt, and left their creditors and
securities to do the best they could. Persons
of such principles cannot be expected to exert
themselves in promoting moral order in
society. But there were others whose influ-
ence was much more pernicious, especially
against the introduction and progress of Me-
thodism. These were such as had been
guilty of some heinous or scandalous crime,
and fled from justice. Some of them had
left their wives, and were living with other
women. Among these there were a few who
had made a profession of religion, and two in
particular who had been preachers. In their
wickedness they retained all their bigotry in
favour of their opinions, and their inveterate
prejudices against the Methodists They were
among our most violent opposers. They la-
boured hard, and, with some people success-
fully, to brand us as false prophets, because
134 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE,

we held it possible for men to fall from grace,
and that infants were proper subjects of bap-
tism. One of them said, publicly, that he
verily believed the greatest sin he ever com-
mitted in his life, was that of yielding to the

‘i

desire of his wife to have their first child.

baptized.

But, notwithstanding the violent opposition
we had to contend with from these and other
causes, God prospered us in our work. Me-
thodism had, indeed, reached this country
before us. In many of the settlements we
found some who had heard the Methodists
preach, and they hailed us with a hearty
welcome. Societies were formed, anda num-
ber of log-chapels erected; and, on the cir-
cuit, three hundred members were received
the first year.

In the fall of this year, (1787,) our presiding
elder received letters from persons low down
the Holston and French Broad, deploring
their entire destitution of the gospel, and
entreating him, if possible, to send them a
preacher. These letters he read at the quar-
terly meeting conference ; and it was agreed
that I should go, and see if I could form a
circuit in those parts. Accordingly I went.
There were many things which rendered
itinerating in that section of the country, at
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 135

the time I went, peculiarly painful to.a person
like myself.* I was still young in the minis-
try, and deeply sensible of my want of quali-
fications to act well the part of a pioneer ; but,
having pledged myself to go, and having evi-
dence that my feeble efforts had been crowned
with some success, nothing could deter me
from redeeming my pledge.

The winters are shorter and the climate
less frigid in East Tennessee than in New-
Jersey ; but sometimes the cold, for a few
days, is mtense. At these times, especially
when I had to ford rivers and creeks at the
risk of life, as I often had to do, and to lodge
in open log-cabins, with light bed-clothing, and
frequently with several children in the same
bed, I was much exposed to taking cold; and
travelling there, on these accounts, was ren-
dered exceedingly crossing to nature. But, in
addition to these, much of the time my path
was infested with savage men, the deadly foe
of white men, who had but too justly incur-
red their resentment; and more subtle and
terrible enemies, among human beings, could
not be imagined, than were the native red
men, incensed at the wrongs inflicted upon

* T have always considered this a season of the most severe
sufferings I have passed through, in an itinerant life of more
than forty years,
136 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

them by the whites. Several families and
individuals had been murdered by them in
places directly on the routes I had to travel ;
and once, at least, I narrowly escaped being
murdered or taken prisoner. My course led
through a fine bottom covered chiefly with the
crab-apple tree. I passed along very slowly,
making my observations upon the richness of
the soil, the timber, and grass, which, at that
late season, was yet green, and had thoughts
of halting to muse a little in the grove; but,
recollecting, at the moment, that I had heard
a rumour about hostile Indians in that vicini-
ty, I concluded not to stop, but rather mend
my pace. I had now approached a lofty
grove, when, suddenly, my horse stopped,
snorted, and wheeled about. As he wheeled
I caught a glimpse of an Indian, but at too
great a distance to reach me with his rifle. I
gave my horse the reins, and hastened to the
nearest settlement to give the alarm. I had
been told that some horses were singularly
afraid of an Indian. Be that as it may, I
have reason to suppose that the sudden fright
which mine took at seeing one, was the means,
under God, of saving me from death or
captivity.

At another time, while I was preaching
at the house of a man who had invited us
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 137

by letter to visit their settlement, we were
alarmed with the cry of “Indians!” The
terror this cry excited at that time none can
imagine, except those who witnessed it. In-
stantly every man flew to his rifle, and sallied
forth to ascertain the ground of the alarm.
On coming out, we saw two lads running with
all speed, and screaming, “The Indians have
killed mother!” We followed them about
a quarter of a mile, and witnessed the affect-
ing scene of a woman weltering in her blood.
It was what the people called a good sugar
day ; and Mrs. Carter, a brother’s wife of the
man at whose house we had met, chose to stay
at home for the purpose of making sugar
rather than go to meeting, though it was in —
sight, and several of her friends had endea-
voured to persuade her to go with them.

The maple grove, or sugar-bush, was, near
their dwelling, skirted on the side next the
river by what they call a canebrake. Here
Mrs. C. sat by the side of a large buck-eye
tree, which had fallen down, spinning and
watching her sugar, while her sons were
gathering wood. They happened, at the
time, to be at a distance, and in the direction
of their uncle’s house. The Indians were
concealed in the canebrake ; and, coming up
slily, behind the fallen tree, so as not to be

\
138 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

discovered by her, they drove the tomahawk
into her head before she knew they were
near. The Indian who did the bloody deed
was seen by the boys just as he struck their
mother; but they were at a sufficient distance
to make their escape.

The next day we attended the funeral, and
almost the whole settlement were out, and
were much affected during the discourse I de-
livered on the occasion. It was my practice,
when any peculiar effect attended my unpre-
meditated remarks, of committing them, as
nearly as I could from recollection, to writing.
So I did in this case. I held my Bible in my
hand, and said :—

“T have been listening, my brethren, to
your conversation respecting the afflicting
occurrence which has brought us together.
You think, from what you discover, that the
Indians are numerous in this vicinity, suffi-
ciently so to cut all of you off in your present
defenceless state ; and you propose, without
delay, to provide a place of refuge for your
exposed wives and children, to which they
may flee in times of danger, and be safe from
the tomahawks of your merciless enemies.
In doing this you would doubtless do well.
But there is a death more dreadful than the
most ferocious savage can inflict! Against
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 139

this I have not heard any talk of a defence.
Iam come to tell you how you may escape
this death, of which, I doubt not, your con-
sciences have told you there is danger, and
to point you a place of safety, for yourselves,
your wives, and your little ones. Some of
you may doubt my ability to do this. But,
see! I hold my Bible in my hand. In this
blessed book the will of God our Saviour is
revealed, and brought down to the weakest
capacity. St. Paul has cast up the sum of
good which Heaven kindly wills to all men.
And here it is: 1 Tim., 2d. chap., ‘God our
Saviour will have all to be saved, and come
to the knowledge of the truth.’ Salvation,
not only from savage, but from infernal cru-
elty! This is the swm, and coming to the
knowledge of the truth is the means. Do
any of you ask what is implied by coming to
the knowledge of the truth? It is to be
brought to know that Christ, by his sacrificial
death, has made atonement for all our sins,
original and actual; and that this is the ‘man
who receiveth sinners.’

“ Again, I ask, can any of you doubt of my
sincerity, when I have taken my life in my
hand, to bring these glad tidings to your
doors? Tell me, my dear people, what would
you have to fear, if Jesus were your friend?
140 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

The winds and the seas—the devils and the
dead—were subject to his word! And he is
still the same almighty Jesus! With you I
mingle my tears. You weep for your depart-
ed, murdered friend; and say, Alas! that it
had not been. She was, you say, an affec-
tionate wife, a tender mother, and one of the
best of neighbours. She was the better pre-
pared to meet her tragical death. But, dear
woman, she sinned against her own life. Had
she been with us at the house of worship, she
would still have lived to comfort and cheer
her family and friends. I mean not to insi-
nuate that her death was a judicial punish-
ment. I cannot believe that God sent the
savage to murder this amiable wife, mother,
and friend, because she did not attend our
preaching. And yet we trace a providence in
her death. God, who numbers the hairs of
our heads, did not see cause to interpose a
special providence to save her. In this sense
her enemy was permitted to perpetrate this
cruel act. At the same time God did much to
draw her from the place of danger. In the
first place, his providence directed that there
should be preaching near, at the hour the
prowling savage was approaching the fatal
spot; and in the second, that her friends
should call her. attention to it, and solicit her
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 141

to go with them to hear the word of salvation
which the Lord had sent unto them. Ah!
my sister, for such I will style thee, I sorrow
much on thy account, but not without hope.
I have seen thee tenderly affected, have heard
thee bewail thy native depravity and actual
sins, and more than once seen thy counte-
nance lighted up with a celestial ray of hope.
Yesterday I marked thy vacant seat. It was
the first time. I had been told that much
pains had been taken to prejudice thy feeling
mind against this way. By whom? Those
who are in affinity with him who said to the
Son of God, ‘ All this will I give thee, if thou
wilt fall down and worship me?” And are
these they who have gloried in keeping thee
from the place where Christ was preached?
Alas! these are thy murderers. They bound
thee with the hempen cord of prejudice, and
delivered thee into the hands of savage men.
But he, I hope, who ‘ was in all points tempt-
ed as we are,’ had pity on thine infirmities,
and saved thee from the gulf of eternal ruin,
to the brink of which they who had conspired
against thy soul had brought thee.

“T did hear one of you say, ‘It was to be so ;
the dear woman was born to die by the hand of
an Indian!’ Rather say, she died by the
hands of her professed, but deluded friends!
142 MEMOIR OF REY. THOMAS WARE.

She was born a candidate for immortal
honours, as we all were. Such is the import
of the words I have quoted, ‘God our Saviour
will have all men to be saved, and come to
the knowledge of the truth.’ Hitherto my
labours among you have been apparently
abortive. One bud, indeed, appeared; but
before it fully bloomed, it was plucked. And
what shall Inow say? Shall I bid you adieu,
and leave you to waste your powers in your
worldly pursuits, and in self-defence against
the red men of the wilderness? I am invited
to more places than I can attend. Probably
in some of those places which I have neg-
lected, to serve you, I might have succeeded
in winning souls to Christ, and raising up a
little family with whom I could have felt my-
self at home.”

After concluding my remarks, which were
designed to improve the occasion for the be-
nefit of the living, many came around me, and
some who had not heard me before, and en-
treated with tears that I would not abandon
them. The next time I came there, ten or
twelve united with purpose of heart to seek
the Lord.

From this settlement I went down to the
lowest on the Holston. I found the people
assembled in several places, in a state of great
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 143

alarm, devising means of defence against an
enemy from whom they expected no mercy.
Many seemed struck with astonishment that I
should hazard my life to visit them at such a
time. They were full of kindness, heard
with interest, and guarded me from place to
place, as I travelled about.

From this section I crossed over to French
Broad river. This journey was dreary enough.
No regular road, and for much of the way not
a vestige of one to be seen, except the marked
trees leading to the lower settlements on the
French Broad, in the vicinity of the Cherokees.
Nor was there a cabin to be seen. I was
sometimes roused from my monotonous revery
by flocks of deer, wild turkeys, or an affright-
ed bear, dashing through the underbrush.

Among the white children of the forest in-
habiting the region I visited, there were some
Methodists, who had come from distant parts,
and brought their religion with them. These
hailed me as a welcome messenger; and,
leading the way, many followed them in the
service of the Lord. So in a short time we
had a flourishing society; and there were
men capable of taking a part in conducting its
operations.

On the French Broad, and other parts of
the circuit, I had nothing to fear from the
144 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Indians. But I had to stem a torrent of oppo-
sition from another quarter. Not indeed from
the people at first, for they received me kindly.
But there were a few preachers whose cha-
racters stood -fair, and a number of others
most decidedly Antinomian in their sentiments,
who came here as professed ministers of the
gospel; and these succeeded for a time in
gaining the attention of the people, and preju-
dicing their minds against the Methodists, and,
finally, against all religion. Of these, some
of the most gifted turned out very badly.
Two of them,* the loudest in their defence of
Antinomian principles, and their opposition
against us, eloped under circumstances of
great scandal, having ruined the domestic
felicity of several families. This had a ten-
dency to bring the profession of the ministry
into much contempt.

Some time after the infamous conduct of
these men became notorious, while travelling
to visit a new place, I was taken sick upon
the road, and found it necessary to halt and
lie down in the woods. It soon began to rain
freely, which admonished me that I must go.
After several attempts I succeeded in mount-

* One of these, in haranguing the people on the subject of

the impossibility of falling from grace, assured them that no
falls after. conviction could endanger the salvation of any.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 145

ing my horse, and proceeded on, so slowly,
however, that I did not reach a settlement
through which I had to pass, until night came
on. I accordingly called at the first house,
and solicited shelter from the rain during the
night, but was abruptly refused. I had been
told that there lived in the neighbourhood a
wealthy Quaker, and requested the churl to
direct me to his house, which he did with a
very significant shrug. I soon reached the
house ; but instead of a kind-hearted Friend,
I found a sarcastic Deist. He soon gave me
to understand that my intended visit, with my
character, was well known to them, and that
neither he nor his neighbours had any great
liking for priests of any kind; he thought,
therefore, that I might as well pass them by.
I told him that whatever the differences of our
religious views might be, there was a debt of
humanity which we owed to each other, and
if there was any flesh in his heart he would
not deny a fellow-being a shelter from the
storm during the night. He replied, ‘ Young
man, if thou wouldst follow some honest call-
ing, honest men would make thee welcome.
There,” said he, “is neighbour Hodge, whose
wife i i old and ugly; he may give thee lodg-
ings.” By this, with some other indecent

allusions, I understood what he meant, and
7
146 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

that the scandal brought upon religion by
those persons named above was employed to
disparage us, and said to myself as I rode off,
“Alas! how has the Antinomian wolf, in
sheep’s clothing, infested this new world.”*
Old Mr. Hodge was indeed much less inhu-
man than the apostate Quaker, for he per-
mitted me to tarry, provided I would turn my
horse into the woods, and take my lodging on
the floor-planks. So, after turning my horse
loose and changing my wet clothes, while sit-
ting by the fire, I placed my hand on the old
man’s knee and said, “ Father, you have not,
I presume, lived to this good old age without
having had many serious thoughts on the
subject of religion?” He gave me an angry
look, and replied that I need say nothing to
him on the subject of religion. He believed
all the professors he had known were hypo-
crites; and the preachers a set of rascals,
no better than pickpockets. He supposed I
was one; but, said he, “ We don’t want more

*JIn an itinerant life of nearly half a century, and sometimes
as pioneer, I have been thrown upon the hospitality of all sorts
of people; but I beg to be delivered from the necessity of ap-
proaching the door of an infidel or a fanatic, above all others. In
such I have always found the milk of human kindness dried up.
Who but an infidel, having ample accommodations, would in-
sult a stranger and turn him from his door, to spend the night
in the chilling rain, barely because his occupation was that of
a preacher of the gospel?
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 147

of ye here. He then ordered his wife to “ bear
a hand,” and give him his supper ; and, when
it was ready, they sat down and partook
without inviting me, or seeming to care any
thing about me. This was not, however, a
common thing with the people of that coun-
try. They generally made me welcome, and
treated me with great kindness.

In addition to the difficulties I had to en-
counter from the causes I have mentioned, an
unpleasant occurrence took place which pro-
duced others. A dispute had arisen between
a Colonel Tipton and the governor, which
terminated in a short civil war. The colonel
was opposed to the execution of certain state
laws in his section, to which the governor
resolved to compel him and his party to sub-
mit, by the employment of a military force.
Coming to one of my appointments on French
Broad, in the afternoon of one of the coldest
days I ever witnessed in that country, I found
a large company of armed men there, going
to attack Colonel Tipton in his own house,
where he had fortified himself ; and they were
endeavouring to persuade the men who came
to hear preaching to go with them. Captain
Turner, at whose house we were met, was
from home. Not observing that many of
them were intoxicated, I ventured to address
148 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

them, and endeavour to dissuade them from
their purpose. But they at once concluded
that I was Tipton’s friend, and became out-
rageous. Some were for despatching me at
once. Others deemed it better to take me
before the governor, who was about ten miles
distant, and have me tried as a spy. This
was a device of some of my friends, with a
view of giving me a chance to make my
escape. While they disputed, I withdrew to
an adjoining room, and hastened to the sta-
ble by a back way, saddled my horse, and
was out of their reach before they knew I was
off. Thus I escaped the vengeance of infuri-
ated men, but became exposed to imminent
danger from another quarter. It was now
near night; and I had twelve or fifteen miles
to ride in order to reach the first settlement.
The river I had to ford was fifty rods wide,
and filled with floating ice, which, in some
places, was congealed into large cakes, ren-
dering the passage extremely difficult and
dangerous. But my noble beast carried me
safely over.

I had avery imperfect knowledge of the
way; and, as the marks on the trees were
my principal guide, it was matter of much
doubt whether I could find it in the night.
As I feared, so it happened. I took a path
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 149

which soon came to an end. By this time I
had become so chilled that I could scarcely
keep myself awake upon my horse. I was
apprized of my danger, dismounted immedi-
ately, and ran to and fro until I became
warm. After taking several cow-paths which
led from the river into the forest, all of which
shortly came to an end, I concluded to throw
the bridle on my horse’s neck, and let him
take his own course; and, a little before mid-
night, he brought me to the house where I
wished to go. ‘The night was so exceedingly
cold, and the house of my friend so open, that
he and his family had found it more comforta-
ble to remain up and: keep a good fire, than to
retire to rest. In this condition I found them ;
and never was a good country fire and a kind
reception by friends more welcome to my
feelings. After recounting to them the ad-
ventures of the day, how I had escaped
from the enraged fury of men and the fierce-
ness of the wintry frost, through the instru-
mentality, first, of the sagacity of kind friends,
and then that of my faithful horse, I called
upon them to unite with me in returning
thanks to the Christian’s God, who himself is
the preserver of man and beast.

The men who put me in fear went and be-
sieged Colonel Tipton’s house ; but Colonel
150 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Maxwell; who was in his interest, came upon
them unawares, and totally routed them,
taking from them their arms, baggage, and
horses. I afterward met a number of these
men returning without their arms, and among
them some whom I had admonished not to
go, and was strongly inclined to remind them
of the admonition I had given them; but I
concluded that they were sufficiently mortified
already, and that it might only arouse their
indignation against me, so I let them pass.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 151

CHAPTER X.

First conference, in Holston, in 1788—Bishop Asbury de-
tained for company to pass through the hostile tribes of Indians
—Preachers labour during the time—The work of God breaks
out—General Russell and lady first fruits—The effect of their
change upon others—Mr. Ware is appointed to East New-
River circuit—Difficulties of travelling in that new country—
Storm on the mountains—Suffering and exposure in conse-
quence of not being able to cross a stream—Frequent baptisms
and their effects upon the minds of the people—Anecdote of a
young Baptist preacher—Mr. Asbury passes through the circuit
and takes Mr. Ware with him to North Carolina—Prospect on
the summit of the Blue Ridge—Conference at M’Knight’s
chapel—Mr. Wesley’s name restored to the Minutes—At this
conference Mr. Ware is appointed to Caswell circuit—Is poorly
clad—Loses his horse—Finds friends and goes on—Visits a
neighbourhood of Episcopalians—Administers baptism—The
power of God is revealed among the people—A blessed work
follows—He is appointed to a district—Conversion of General
Bryan and lady, with many other members of their family—
Anecdote of Mrs. Jones—Wonderful manifestations of the
power and grace of God at a quarterly meeting—Liberal offer
made Mr. Ware to remain with an aged couple, and take charge
of them and their business, which he declines, and leaves the
south to return to his friends in New-Jersey.

Our first conference in Holston was held
in 1788. As the road by which Bishop As-
bury was to come, was infested with hostile
savages, so that it could not be travelled
except by considerable companies together,
he was detained for a week after the time
appointed to commence it. But we were not
152 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

idle ; and the Lord gave us many souls in the
place where we were assembled, among whom
were General Russell and lady, the latter a
sister of the illustrious Patrick Henry. I
mention these particularly, because they
were the first fruits of our labours at this
conference.

On the sabbath we had a crowded audi-
ence; and Mr. Tunnell preached an excellent
sermon, which produced great effect. The
sermon was followed by a number of power-
ful exhortations. When the meeting closed,
Mrs. Russell came to me and said, “I thought
I was a Christian ; but, sir, 1 am not a Chris-
tian—I am the veriest sinner upon earth. I
want you and Mr. Mastin to come with Mr.
Tunnell to our house, and pray for us, and
tell us what we must do to be saved.” So
we went and spent much of the afternoon in
prayer, especially for Mrs. Russell. But she
did not obtain deliverance. Being much ex-
hausted, the preachers retired to a pleasant
grove, near at hand, to spend a short time.
After we had retired, the general, seeing the
agony of soul under which his poor wife was
labouring, read to her, by the advice of his
pious daughter, Mr. Fletcher’s charming ad-
dress to mourners, as contained in his Appeal.
At length we heard the word “ Glory!” often
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 153

repeated, accompanied with the clapping of
hands. We hastened to the house, and found
Mrs. Russell praising the Lord, and the gene-
ral walking the floor and weeping bitterly,
uttering, at the same time, this plaintive ap-
peal to the Saviour of sinners: “O Lord,
thou didst bless my dear wife while thy poor
servant was reading to her—hast thou not a
blessing also for me?” At length he sat
down, quite exhausted. This scene was ina
high degree interesting to us. ‘To see the old
soldier and statesman—the proud opposer of
godliness, trembling, and earnestly mquiring
what he must do to be saved, was an affect-
ing sight. But the work ended not here.
The conversion of Mrs. Russell, whose zeal,
good sense, and amiableness of character,
were proverbial, together with the penitential
grief so conspicuous in the general, made a
deep impression on the minds of many; and
numbers were brought in before the con-
ference closed. The general rested not until
he knew his adoption; and he continued a
faithful member of the church, and an official
member, after he became eligible for office,
constantly adorning the doctrine of God our
Saviour, unto the end of his life.

From this conference I was appointed to

East New-River, with a colleague younger
7*
154 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

than myself. We were instructed to enlarge
our borders from a two, to a four weeks’ cir-
cuit. This we did with great ease. There
was not within the bounds of our circuit a re-
ligious meeting except those held by us. The
hearts and houses of the people were open to
receive us, so that we hesitated not to call at
any dwelling which might first come in our
way when we wanted refreshment. Here
had been a goodly number gathered in the
preceding year. These needed to be nursed
with care. Of these we lost, by death, re-
moval, and otherwise, during the year, twenty;
and we received eighty into the church.
During the mild season we had little incon-
venience to encounter in travelling this circuit.
But when dreary winter set in, our sufferings
and privations were severe in the extreme.
We had to cross Walker’s mountain in our
route. Early one morning, toward the close
of the year, I. commenced its steep ascent.
Much rain had fallen the previous night; but
it was a lovely morning, the air being exceed-
ingly soft and pleasant for the season. When
I had gained the summit of a ridge or spur of
the mountain, and looked toward the heights
yet to be ascended, where winter was collect-
‘ing its howling forces, my heart failed me,
and I began to retrace my steps. Where I
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 155

stood it was quite calm; and when I cast my
eyes to the east, not a cloud was to be seen.
But on the mountain’s top all was raging
tempest. The wind blew from the south-
west, and the cloud, which had been hid from
my view by the mountain, arose, and in thick
and dark columns, loaded with vapour con-
gealed into snow, which, as the sun shone
upon it, had the appearance of a solid body
of water, rolling in awful majesty, and threat-
ening a general inundation. This, with the
tremendous commotion of the agitated ele-
ments upon the summit of the mountain, pre-
sented the most terrific scene I had ever
witnessed. I fled with all possible speed
from this approaching cloud, which I sup-
posed to be surcharged with rain; but it ulti-
mately proved to be snow.

I then directed my course to the gap
through which I had to pass; and being
somewhat sheltered from the wind by the
mountain, I supposed the storm had abated.
But when I came to dispute this passage with
the furicus gale, peltng me with snow and
hail at every step, it called for all the resolu-
tion I possessed to force the defile in the face
of so formidable a foe. It was almost night
when I came in sight of the hamlet for which
I had long been anxiously looking ; but, alas!
156 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

a creek which crossed the way had so swol-
len by the late rain that I could not pass it.
The sun had gone down clear ; and the cold
was intense, and becoming more so every
minute. I called aloud for assistance until I
became hoarse; but no one answered. See-
ing near me a few stacks of hay, with.a num-
ber of cattle shivering around them, as they
appeared to be my only resort to save myself
from perishing, and furnish my horse with
something to eat, I repaired to them, placed
my horse in a situation to eat, and provided
as well as I could to make myself a bed of
the hay to spend the night, unless some one
should come to feed the stock, who might
assist me over the creek. It was soon dark,
and no one came. My blood began to be
chilled ; and I felt that to stay there was to
jeopard my life. So I resolved on returning
to a sorry-looking hut which I had seen about
five miles back, and seek for sheltér there.
I found the hut warm, and inhabited by a
young couple with twosmall children. Whe-
ther they thought me intoxicated, or what
else, (as the cold had very much affected my
speech,) I do not know; but the man gave
me to understand, at once, that I could not
stay there. I looked at him, and smiling,
said, that would depend upon our comparative
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 157

strength. It was true he might demand the
assistance of his wife to put me out; but I
fondly hoped she would be on my side. At
this he laughed pleasantly, and began to stir
up the fire. When they ascertained who I
was they treated me with great kindness, and
furnished me every thing in their power to
render me and my beast comfortable. In the
morning I baptized their children; and the
man kindly accompanied me to a safe fording
place, where I crossed, and soon reached the
house of a friend, where I had an appoint-
ment the preceding day. But my sufferings
ended not with that day, nor have they termi-
nated yet. My feet were sore for a long
time ; and they have ever since been subject
to a death-like coldness, for which there is no
remedy this side of the grave.

“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoic-
ing the heart ;” nor is that the least of these
statutes which provides a fold for the lambs
of the flock. Hence those who followed
Christ as their shepherd rejoiced to hear him
say, “ Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not; for of such is the king-
dom of heaven.” There were many on this
circuit, both of those who had taken the Lord
for their portion and those who as yet had not,
who manifested a desire to have him the
158 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

God of their children, and therefore presented
them to be baptized. Of the latter class, the
hearts of the parents were usually touched
when their children were dedicated to God in
accordance with his own institution. Some-
times the scene was truly affecting, when the
thought was impressed upon the minds of pa-
rents that their children, according to the
declaration of the Saviour, belonged to the
kingdom of heaven, while they did not.

I cannot but regret that I did not keep, for
my own satisfaction, a record of the number
of these lambs of Christ’s flock which I have
held in my arms, and dedicated to Him. I
doubt if any travelling preacher could produce
a more extended list. Fora time I attempted
this task. But in Holston, Clinch, French
Broad, and New-River, there were so many
children presented for baptism that I found
it difficult, and gave it up. Alas! who can
retrospect his life, and find nothing to regret!

As the Presbyterians on New-River had no
minister, they brought many of their children
to me for baptism. Neither had the Baptists,
of whom there were a few, any minister when
we came on the circuit. A young licen-
tiate of that order came, however, before we
left. He appeared to possess much of the
spirit of love, and was with me several days.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 159

He frequently exhorted and closed our meet-
ings by prayer. He was present one day at
a meeting in a Presbyterian settlement, where
several children were brought forward to be
baptized. On this occasion I stated some of
our reasons for baptizing infants, and then
called on my young friend to close as usual.
He rose.up, and to our surprise, whether by
previous understanding or not I cannot say,
a Baptist woman in the congregation pre-
sented him her child. He took it into his
arms, pronounced a blessing upon it, and re-
turned it; and then proceeded to say, ‘‘Jesus
took little children into his arms, not to bap-
tize, but to bless them. No, my friends,
neither Jesus nor his disciples ever spent their
time in baby-sprinkling.” Here he paused,
holding his hand to his eye as if in great
pain; and the people were at a loss to know
what was the matter. He finally told them
that a hornet had stung him in the eye; and
the woman upon whose child he had _ pro-
nounced a blessing stated that she knew a
remedy for it, at which he immediately left
and went with her, and I never saw him after.

I passed two years ix this country very
pleasantly to myself, and so it would have
been in Greenland itself, with the sentiments
and feelings I possessed.
160 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.,

In the spring of 1789, Bishop Asbury vi-
sited my circuit, and took me with him to
North Carolina. From New River to the
“Flower Gap,” a distance not exactly remem-
bered, we gradually ascended till we reached
the summit of the Blue Ridge, on the border
of North Carolina. When we arrived here,
I was enchanted, and should have spent
hours in surveying the scene below, had I
been alone; but it was all familiar to Bishop
Asbury, who immediately dismounted and
began to descend the mountain. I, of course;
must follow him, which I did with a sublimity
of feeling that I cannot describe. From this
lofty eminence you see the world spread out
below you, extended in one continued grove,
excepting here and there a spot, until vision
is lost in the blue expanse which limits its
powers.

Our conference was held this year at
M’Knight’s church, commencing on the 11th
of April. -It was one of the most interesting
conferences I had attended. Great grace
rested on both preachers and people, and
much good resulted. There was much tender
solicitude felt and expressed on account of
Mr. Wesley. He was grieved with the man-
ner in which his name had been expunged
from the Minutes; and it was the wish of the
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 161

conference to introduce it again-in the most
respectful way they could. Accordingly they
adopted the question and answer contained in
the minutes for the year, viz. :

“Quest. Who are the persons that exercise
the episcopal office in the Methodist Church in
Europe and America?

“Ans. John Wesley, Thomas Coke, Francis
Asbury.”

My appointment was Caswell circuit. At
the close of conference, I set out for my field
of labour, poorly clad and nearly pennyless,
but happy in God. In the Holston country
there was but little money, and clothing was
very dear. My coat was worn through at the
elbows; and I had not a whole under gar-
ment left; and as for boots, I had none. But
my health was good, and I was finely mount-
ed. I could have sold my horse for sufficient
to purchase another to answer my _ pur-
pose, and clothe myself decently; but he
had borne me safely through so many dan-
gers, and once, at least, by his instinctive
sagacity, rescued me from perishing, that I had
resolved that nothing but death should sepa-
rate us. This, however, soon occurred ; for
i a few days this noble animal, my sole pro-
perty in the world at that time, sickened and
died. So there I was, an entire stranger,
162 MEMOIR OF REY. THOMAS WARE.

several hundred miles from home, without
horse, decent clothing, or funds. But I was
not without friends. The good brother with
whom I stayed gave me a horse for four
weeks on trial; and I determined to go to
Newbern, and try my credit for clothing.

On my way I called at the house of a gen-
tleman by the name of Howe, who, though
not a Methodist, was friendly. His inquiries
about the western country led to a develop-
ment of my destitute condition, with which I
saw he was touched. He pressed me to
spend a few days with him; but I told him
time was a talent with which God had
intrusted me, and it was all I could call my
own, and I must hasten on to my work.
Earthly treasures I had none, and had aban-
doned all means of acquiring them. But a
heavenly inheritance I hoped, with increasing
zeal and activity, to seek throughout my life.
I then informed him of my business to New-
bern, where I knew no person. After I had
mounted and left this gentleman, he called me
back, saying he had a store in Newbern, and
wished me to hand a letter which he gave
me to his clerk. Little did I think, at the
time, that it contained directions to his clerk
to let me have what I might want out of the
store to the amount of twenty-five dollars, for
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 163

which he would never afterward allow me to
pay him a single cent. Thus did the Lord
provide !

Soon after commencing my labours in
North Carolina, I visited a pleasant settle-
ment consisting almost exclusively of Episco-
palians. In the time of the revolutionary
war, their ministers had left them, and they
had long been without the form of religion
among them. At their request, I went to
preach to them, and baptize their children ;
and I found them ripe for the gospel.

The sight of so many children, brought to
be dedicated to God in baptism, for there
were scores of them, deeply interested me. I
addressed the parents, who were much affect-
ed, and their cries so increased my sensibili-
ty that, for a time, my power of speech was
wholly suspended. I could not, by any ex-
ertion I could make, articulate the name of
the child. This was observed, and occasioned
great excitement of feeling among the people.
But when I had so recovered as to be able to
proceed, many were melted into tears.

After the meeting was concluded, many
followed me to the house where I went to
lodge. At night, although no appointment had
been given out, the house was filled with peo-
ple, and I could not decline preaching to
164 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

them. In the midst of my discourse, the
mother of the family got down upon her
knees ; and such was her state of feeling that,
in that attitude, she made her way to the
table, where I was standing, and begged me
to pray for her. In a few moments the
whole congregation was in commotion. I was
alone, much exhausted, and unskilled in the
management of such a work. I, however,
continued to pray and exhort till midnight.
The work advanced; and in six weeks we
had a society in this place of eighty members,
mostly heads of families. This event I have
always deemed a divine sanction of infant
baptism. If I ever witnessed a work of God
among any people, I witnessed it here; and
this work evidently commenced with the bap-
tizing of infant children.

My second year in this section was on
a district, consisting of eight circuits, em-
bracing a part of Virginia. At one of our
quarterly meetings on New River, a reli-
gious concern was waked up in many, which
pervaded a large district of country, and
suspended for many weeks almost all world-
ly concerns. In one family, where I passed.
many happy days, there were thirty who
claimed to be born again, twelve of whom
were whites, the fruits of that meeting. This
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 165

was the family of General Bryan, who was
a barrister at law, and, previous to the meet-
ing, a professed deist. His lady had watched
a favourable opportunity, and had obtained a
promise from the general to attend her to the
expected quarterly meeting. When the day
arrived, the coach was in readiness to convey
Mrs. Bryan to the meeting, and servants to
attend her, but the general declined going
himself. This was a disappointment that
went to the heart, for she had said she would
not go without him. After a little pause, she
stepped to the door and ordered the coach to be
put up, and then, with a forced smile, said, “I
must forgive you, general, this ungentlemanly
act, as it is the first I have had to complain
of. If you, sir, can lightly get over your
pledge, I cannot get over mine. I have said
I would not go without you ;” adding, “If my
husband was a Christian, I should be one of
the happiest of women.” She then burst into
tears, and was about to leave the room, when
the general caught her in his arms, and said,
“T cannot resist the eloquence of tears; dry
them up, and I will go.”

On Sunday morning the general and his
lady were seated again in the congregation.
Preaching, with short intervals, continued
for several hours, and the whole assembly
166 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

were, from time to time, bowed down like the
slender reed before the passing breeze ; but
none of them as yet lost their elasticity. Many
hearts seemed bruised, but none broken. The
last that spoke melted his auditors on these
affecting words, namely, “ Which none of the
princes of this world knew, for had they known
at, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory.” Under this discourse General Bryan
was seen to weep, and when the collection
was made many wondered much to see him
volunteer in making it, at the close of which
he asked the privilege of addressing the peo-
ple, and, having mounted the stand, spoke
nearly in the following strain :—

“ Fellow-citizens,—I have sometimes trem-
bled before the majesty of courts. But where
am I now? and what? An advocate? Yes!
Before a judge wedk and erring like myself ?
No, but before the Judge eternal! To plead
the cause of truth against myself, and against
many of you, who, like myself, have crucified
the Lord of glory! Had I known it, I would
not have done so wickedly, nor would you,
nor you,” pointing to two of his deistical fra-
ternity. ‘You see my tears; they are tears
of penitential grief, for myself and for you,
for we have denied the Lord that bought us
with his own blood.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 167

“Ye dear heralds of the gospel! I aman
advocate for Christ. You have convinced me.
You say, when the Eternal would save the
world, he chose a way known only to himself.
None of the princes of this world knew it,
and they could not until it was told them, and
then they would not believe! So neither
would I until you melted me into the belief.
Some may doubt it, but I know God has sent
you, and your God and people shall be
mine.”

During this speech, the people were silent
as death, save now and then a sob or shriek ;
but now a loud cry arose, and continued with
many until the going down of the sun; and
the slain of the Lord were many.

General Bryan lived, I think, not quite two
years after this happy change; but he lived
truly an advocate for Christ, and died happy,
lifting his arm in token of victory when his
tongue failed to articulate words.

During my labours on this district, I formed
an acquaintance with some of the most devo-
ted, holy, zealous, and faithful people I ever
knew. Some of them had been called to
pass through fiery trials; and their steadfast-
ness was proverbial. A sister Jones, of Meck-
lenburg, was a remarkable instance of this.
She was a person of superior gifts as well as
168 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

grace; and her courage and perseverance in
the service of the Lord constrained all who
knew her to acknowledge her deep sincerity.

Her husband cherished the most bitter and
inveterate prejudice against the Methodists ;
and, being naturally a man of violent passions
and a most ungovernable temper, he, by his
threats, deterred her, for a time, from joining
them. Nor did he stop here, but positively
forbade her going to hear them. Soon after
this, Mr. Easter, a man remarkably owned
of God, and a favourite preacher of Mrs.
Jones, was to preach in the neighbourhood.
Mrs. Jones told her husband she believed it
to be a duty which she owed to God and her-
self to go and hear Mr. Easter, and begged
his permission. But he refused. She then
said, she should be compelled, from a sense
of obligation to a higher power, to disobey
his command. At this, he became enraged,
and, in his fury, swore, if she did, he would
charge his gun and shoot her when she
returned. But this tremendous threat did not
deter her. During preaching she was re-
markably blessed and strengthened ; and, on
her return, met her infuriated husband at the
door, with his gun in his hand. She accosted
him mildly, and said, “My dear, if you take
my life, you must obtain leave of my heavenly
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 169

Spouse ;” and, thus saying, approached him
and took the deadly weapon out of his hand,
without meeting with any resistance.

This virulent temper God in due time
softened and subdued, so that the tiger be-
came a lamb. When on my way to my first
quarterly meeting in Mecklenburg in this dis-
trict, I called on Mr. Jones, and had the whole
history of this transaction from the parties
themselves, who, now united with one heart
in the service of God, accompanied me to the
meeting. :

On Saturday many people attended, and
great power was manifested during the public
exercises. On Sunday morning the love-feast
was appointed to commence at eight o’clock.
By seven the house was nearly full, and
many were prostrate on the floor; and the
surrounding grove was made vocal by the
shouts of men, women, and children, as they
were approaching the house, some of whom
were supported on their horses by those who
accompanied them. When the house was
filled, those who could not get in were en-
gaged in some religious exercise without, and
numbers were slain under the trees. A son
of Col. Taylor, of Tar River, supported by
two men, went about among the people,
praising God, and telling them what the Lord

8
170 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

had done for his soul; and wherever he came
they were melted into tears. His appearance
was sufficient to disarm the most stout-hearted
of them. As to preaching, it was out of the
question. Nor did there appear to be any
need of it; for all seemed to yield to the gra-
cious influence, and with melting hearts to
say, “This is the work of God.”

Something like this had been witnessed
under the ministry of Mr. Boardman, King,
and others; but Mr. Rankin, Mr. Wesley’s
general assistant, so violently opposed it that
it soon declined. This circumstance was re-
‘membered ; and all who were the real friends
of experimental religion agreed that it be-
hooved us to let the Lord work in his own way.

A little before I was called to bid a final
adieu to North Carolina, I was, by indisposi-
tion, confined at the house of a very aged
couple, who had no children. They had lived
in good repute as Christians, and deemed
themselves such, until the baptizing in the
woods. On that memorable day they were
brought to see themselves sinners, without
God and without any well-grounded hope.
They were the first who offered themselves
for membership among us; and they con-
tinued to adorn their profession by well-
ordered lives.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE, 171

They had given me many demonstrations
of their affectionate regard for me; but until
this visit I had not known the extent of it.
Being in possession of a farm and mill, with
other property, and advanced in life, they de-
sired me to write their will. I objected on
the ground of not understanding the form
which might be requisite. They said their
will was simple, and might be easily drawn ;
it was, that, on condition of my remaining
with them through their short stay in this
world, all they had should be mine. This
presented a strong inducement to exchange a
life of poverty and toil for one of affluence
and ease. Had I accepted the offer, my his-
tory would doubtless have been very different
from what itis. But I could not do it with a
good conscience; so I bid them and North
Carolina adieu for ever, and returned to see
my friends in New-Jerscy.
172 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

CHAPTER XI.

Mr. Ww are arrives in time to attend the conference at Phila-
delphia—Is appointed to Wilmington, in Delaware—Reflections
upon the dealings of God with the church since its organiza-
tion—The prosperity of the work—The character of the
preachers—The doubts among the preachers—Locations and
causes of them—The effect of frequent locations upon the gene-
yal work—General council—Barely tried and abandoned—
Success in ministerial labours—Manner of conducting them—
Sabbath schools—Difficulties to encounter in Wilmington—
Preference for the back woods.

Havine spent two years very pleasantly in
this country, and witnessed many signal
manifestations of the power and grace of
God, I set out for the north. During my six
years’ absence I had no passionate longings
for home ; but when I commenced my journey
with a view of visiting it, the attraction, like
that of a loadstone, drew me lightly over the
vast tract of country which separated me
from it; and I was sometimes led to exclaim,
“O that I had wings !”

I arrived in time to attend the Philadelphia
conference for 1791, and was appointed to
Wilmington, in the state of Delaware.

At this point it is natural for me to pause,
and review the past—the spiritual warfare in
which we have been engaged as a body of
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 173

Christian ministers. Seven years I have been
engaged in this cause. Great and signal has
been our harmony and success. In many
matters there may have been slight dif-
ferences; but in every thing essential we
were one; and believing the doctrines of a
free and full salvation, and that God raised
up the Methodists to spread, by means of
these doctrines, evangelical holiness through.
the land, we were one and all for active war.
During our seven years’ conflict with the
powers of darkness, we had received an ac-
cession of sixty-seven travelling preachers,
and sixty-four thousand thirty-nine members ;
fifty-one thousand one hundred and fifty-five
whites, and twelve thousand eight hundred
and eighty-four coloured.

I have given some account of the character
and progress of the work in Maryland, New-
Jersey, Long Island, Tennessee, and North
Carolina, where I was called to bear an
humble part in it; but in truth in almost every
part of the United States the enemies of the
Lord were overcome by thousands ; for the
work was of God, and who can contend with
the King of kings, while the instruments he
has chosen to carry on his work are faithful?

Since the Christmas conference, we have
lost, by death and location, many skilful
174 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

warriors in this holy cause. The first that fell
in the field was Pedicord, emphatically the
man of feeling. The next was the grave,

undaunted Mair, who was invincible to every
thing but truth. Then the dove-like Lambert
and the blameless Thomas. All these in
two years, 1785 and 1786. ‘The third year we
lost none who were in full membership or had
a seat in conference when the church was
organized; and it is of those only that I
speak. There were many local preachers
who were both talented and eminently useful;

but I had no personal knowledge of the larget
proportion of them.

In 1788 we lost four by death, and two by
what was worse than death. ‘hese two,
whose manner of leaving the work it is pain-
ful to record, were men who stood high in
rank and gifts. ‘‘ What,” said one, “ shall
sing the dirge or perform the obsequies of a
soul intombed?” I would say, “ of a preacher
lost!” The four who died in the work were
burning and shining lights. I knew them all
personally, except one. Curtis and Major
were adorned with artless simplicity, and
armed with the irresistible eloquence of tears.
But which, on the whole, was pre-eminent, it
is difficult to tell until the trophies they won
shall be numbered in the great day.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 175

People love the preacher who makes them
feel. Hence there were many even among
the unconverted who could not bear to hear a
whisper against either of these sons of conso-
lation. They would have risked their lives
to rescue them from insult or injury. I have
seen an audience sit quietly and listen to a
masterly discourse, without a tear to moisten
the eye of an individual ; and then Major, by
an exhortation of five minutes, produce such
an effect that all seemed to melt before him,
so that there was scarcely a dry eye in the
whole assembly. I once heard this good
man, when the Methodists principally for
forty miles around, and some for more than
fifty, were collected at a quarterly meeting,
on the favoured peninsula. His text was,
“Unto you who believe he is precious ;” and
before he closed his pathetic discourse his
voice was lost in the cries of the people; and at
the close of the meeting we had occasion to
rejoice over many sons and daughters, re-
deemed by power as well as by price.

Woolman Hickson, distinguished by his
thirst for knowledge, both human and divine,
travelled our circuit soon after I became a
Methodist ; and from his excellent example I
profited much. Few men among us ever ob-
served with greater exactness “the rules of a

\
176 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

preacher,” especially these:—‘“Be diligent.
Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly
employed. Be serious. Let your motto be,
Holiness unto the Lord. Avoid all lightness,
jesting, and foolish talking.” Having a strong
and discriminating mind, by his diligence and
application according to these rules, he could
not but make proficiency both in gifts and
grace. But his physical powers were feeble;
and nothing but a miracle, with the exertion
he made, could save him from an early grave.
Accordingly the term of his labours was short.
But to such a man as Hickson it must be
“pain” to “die.”

We lost a number also by location, and
some of them eminently distinguished for
their talents, experience, and usefulness.

The first on this list, after the organization
of the church in 1784, was Samuel Row. He
had travelled five years. Three desisted
from travelling in 1785; but Row was the
most conspicuous of the number. He was,
while with us, a man of amiable and dignified
manners, both as a Christian and a minister.
He had the most tenacious and retentive
memory of any man I ever knew; and the
use he had made of this noble faculty evinced
that the bent of his youthful mind had been
toward piety. He thought, as he used
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 177

sometimes to say, if the Bible were lost, he
could replace by his memory the four Evan-
gelists, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistle
to the Romans, and the greater part of the
Epistle to the Hebrews. He was a great ad-
mirer of Young’s Night Thoughts, and never
did I hear any person repeat them with such
effect. He was much admired by many as a
preacher; but some believed he dealt too
much in flowers and in other men’s thoughts.

Caleb Boyer and Ignatius Pigman, who
commenced travelling in 1780, located in
1788. These were reckoned among the first
preachers. They were esteemed men of
superior claims ; and it is presumed that there
have been few im any age or country who
could extemporize with either of these primi-
tive Methodist missionaries. Be that as it
may, in preaching, Boyer was the Paul, and
Pigman the Apollos, of the Methodist con-
nection at that time. When Whatcoat and
Vasey heard them at the Christmas confer-
ence, they said they had not heard their equal
in the British connection, except Wesley and
Fletcher. These men, who copied with great
fidelity and exactness the example of hu-
mility and self-devotion set by the apostle of
the Gentiles, were held in high estimation by

the Methodists of 1788. It was accordiagly
R*
178 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

a matter of much grief to them when they
abandoned the itinerant ranks.

The sentiment, at this period of our history,
was prevalent, that those preachers who had
been called, by the grace and providence of
God, into the itimerancy, could not, imnocently,
abandon it unless in case of bodily disability.
It would have been well for the people if they
had understood their duty to their preachers
as well as they professed to understand the
preachers’ duty to the church and their God.
Some, indeed, did ; but had all felt the force
of the obligation on themselves to render the
preachers a comfortable support, as they saw
the duty of the preachers to be faithful in
their work, with the few we had at that time,
none of their families would have been allow-
ed to suffer.

With the small amount allowed by Disci-
pline, some could not economize to support
their families. To retain such preachers in
the travelling connection, provision was made
to allow those who had children, sixteen dol-
lars for every one under six years of age, and
twenty-one dollars and thirty-three cents for
every one between six andeleven. With this
provision, however, many of our people were
dissatisfied, and, in 1787, it was rescinded.
When this was done, Boyer and Pigman
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 179

thought it their duty to locate. But in this I
have always thought they erred. Had they
continued, with unabating zeal, in the work
of God, he would have given them friends,
and they and their families would have suffer-
ed as little, perhaps, as they were destined to
in a local capacity. They had been too long
abstracted from the business of the world to
return to it with encouragement to prosecute
it with safety and success.

Four other preachers of useful talents,
namely, S. Dudley, William Cannon, M.
Ellis, and Joseph Wyatt, were returned as
having a partial location. These excellent men
had laboured successfully, and suffered much,
in the blessed cause ; and they never should
have been permitted to locate for want of the
small means required to support their families,
while they would have been content with
such support. But the day of missionary zeal
had only begun to dawn upon the people,
while, with the preachers, the sun was up
and at its zenith—for there has been no day
since as dark and tempestuous to them as that
which had now gone by.

All did not locate, however, on account of
their families. Some were broken down with
labour, and should have been placed upon the
supernumerary list. But, at that time, we had
180 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

none, nor until 1791, when I proposed that
Henry Willis should stand in that relation to
the conference. Wyatt was among those
worn down by labour. Except his want of
physical strength, he was little inferior to any
among us, and, in purity, perhaps to none.
His sermons were short, but composed of the
best materials, and delivered in the most
pleasing manner. He was, for many years,
chaplain to the Maryland legislature.

The vacancies made in the itinerant ranks
by locations were soon filled up by young
men; and the work of the Lord went on and
greatly prospered throughout our borders, so
that we became less sensible of the loss of
those who had been reduced to the necessity
of pursuing some other avocation for the sup-
port of their families, and of our obligations
to them. Some of them might easily have
obtained a good support in other churches ;
for in however contemptible a light they were
held while labouring as Methodist preachers,
the moment any of respectable talents pro-
posed leaving and going over to others they
were cordially received. But few of the
preachers of this period could feel themselves
at home anywhere but among the Methodists.

For Mr. Asbury I had the profoundest
veneration, and was often touched with the
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 181

affection he manifested toward me, notwith-
standing that, against some things in which
he discovered a deep interest, I continued to
cherish an opposite opinion. The first offence
against him, of which I was conscious, was
my opposing a new plan, proposed by the
bishops, to supersede the necessity of a gene-
ral conference, by instituting a general coun-
cil, to consist of the bishops and presiding
elders. The first plan allowed all the elders
to be called ; but the number should not be less
than nine. The council should have power to
mature every thing, and must be unanimous in
recommending ; but nothing should be decisive
until approved by the annual conferences.
The loss of time in attending the general
conference was great; to which, if we add
the expense and fatigue, we may see the mo-
tives that influenced the bishops to propose a
council. That these were weighty reasons,
none could deny; and an unwillingness to
oppose Bishop Asbury led a majority of the
preachers to yield, so far as to permit the
experiment to be made. A minority, how-
ever, opposed it from the first ; and I happen-
ed to be one of that number. I had ventured
to say, if there must be a council to consist
of bishops and presiding elders, the latter
should be chosen, not by the bishops, but by
182 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

the conferences, and every thing done in coun-
cil should be by asimple majority. Much
as I respected our superintendents, for one I
could not consent to give them a negative
on all future proceedings. I was not disposed
to charge the projectors of the plan with any
other than the purest motives. Others, how-
ever, I was persuaded, would do so. And,
on the whole, it was better, in my opinion, to
abandon the council altogether. He then
gave me some severe rebukes ; but, neverthe-
less, appointed me a presiding elder. The
experiment of a council was made; but, after
its second meeting, it was abandoned for ever.

Eight years had now elapsed since I enter-
ed the itinerant field, and I still remained sin-
gle, and held myself at liberty to go wherever
I might be appointed. As Bishop Asbury
was never married, he was thought to have a
partiality for those preachers who followed
his example, and might hold me in some
higher estimation on that account. But with
those preachers who married prudently, he
found no fault. Nor had the preachers’ wives
cause to complain of any want of attention or
kindness toward them from the bishop. On
the contrary, he uniformly manifested a
paternal tenderness and solicitude for their
welfare.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE 183

Next to Mr. Wesley, Bishop Asbury was
the most unwearied itinerant the world ever
saw. No man I ever knew cherished a
higher Christian regard for the female cha-
racter than he; yet, for the sake of the itine-
rancy, he chose a single life, and was doubt-
less well pleased with those preachers who,
for the same reason, followed his example.

At the close of the several conferences for
1790, we had the satisfaction to find that
there had been gathered into the fold more
than fourteen thousand, a greater number
than had crowned the labours of any pre-
ceding year. But there were many lambs of
the flock, and the question occurred, “‘ What
can be done for these ?”

We had made it a point, in visiting families,
to attend especially to the children, to con-
verse with them about Jesus, and to impress
upon the minds of parents the importance of
a religious care for the spiritual health of their
offspring. We now resolved, as the heart of
one man, to establish Sunday schools. Our
impression was, that by these, many, very
many, of the rising generation might be se-
cured on the side of virtue and religion. But
we erred in confining the benefits of these
schools chiefly to the poor, and to the
acquisition of human learning. Our suc-
184 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

cess was not, therefore, commensurate with
our confident expectations.*

During the year before last, (1789,) Gill
left us to sorrow, not on his account, but our
own. His death was truly that of a righteous
man. After witnessing a good confession,
leaning upon the bosom of his God, he closed
his own eyes, and sweetly fell asleep. This
was characteristic of the man. Was it not
saying to spectators, “ See how assured I am
that all is well?”

And now, 1790, intelligence was brought to
the conference that Tunnell also was among
the dead, and that he was no less. tranquil in
his death than in his life. I have said that
Jonathan and David were not more ardently
attached to each other, than were Tunnell
and Gill. What raptures must they have
felt at meeting in their Father’s house above!
Few purer spirits, I verily believe, ever inha-
bited tenements of clay.

We lost this year, also, by location, threv
who were members of the Christmas con-
ference. They were all gifted and successful
labourers in the Lord’s vineyard. Henry
Willis, however, stood pre-eminent. I knew

* Standing where I now do, and looking back on the last
forty years, I wonder that we did not sce at once the necessity
of forming a Sunday-school union.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 185

him well. He was a manly genius, and very
intelligent. He well understood theology,
and was a most excellent man and minister.
His life, as a travelling and local preacher,
and a supernumerary, was, I believe, un-
blemished. I followed him to the south as
far as North Carolina, to the east as far as
New-York, and to the west as far as Holston;
and found his name dear to many of the ex-
cellent of the earth. His physical powers,
however, were not sufficient to sustain the
ardour of his mind. But of this he was often
wholly unmindful, until his bow nearly lost
its elasticity, when a local or supernumerary
relation became inevitable.

Thus briefly surveying some of the promi-
nent features of the work during the seven
years that were past, I commenced my la-
bours in Wilmington. This was my first
station; but I sighed for the back woods,
which were a paradise to me, compared with
this suffocating borough, infected with a mys-
tical miasm, on the subject of religion, which
had a deleterious effect on many, and espe-
cially on the youth. They had imbibed this
moral poison until it broke out in supercilious
contempt of all who were by one class de-
nounced as hirelings and _ will-worshippers,
and by another as free-willers and perfection-
186 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

ists. Hence the house in which we worshipped
was surrounded by hundreds of those sons of
Belial night after night, while there were
scarcely fifty within; and such were their
character and conduct that females were
afraid to attend our meeting at night, and we
had no alternative but to commence service
in time to dismiss the congregation before
dark. Gladly would I have exchanged this,
my first station, for the western woods. I
had, however, the pleasure of numbering
among those of my charge some of the excel-
lent of the earth, and much satisfaction in
marking their growth in grace.

CHAPTER XII.

In 1792 Mr. Ware is appointed to Staten Island, in the state
of New-York—Remains on this circuit but a short time—Is
appointed to the Susquehanna district—Extent of his distriet—
Moral destitution of the people in the remote parts of his dis-
trict—Anecdote of a young man pretending to be a preacher—
Interview with a minister of the Reformed Dutch Church—
Ignorance of the people of his charge on the subject of religion
—Introduction of Methodist preaching into his neighbourhood—
The effect of it. :

In the spring of 1792, I was appointed to
Staten Island, where I laboured a short time
with much satisfaction and some success;
and then took charge of the Susquehanna
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 187

district. From this time to 1808, I continued
to fill this very laborious office, which was, I
believe, a longer time in regular succession
than had fallen to the lot of any other man
since we became a church.
' My district embraced only six circuits; but
between two of them, Flanders and Wyoming,
the way on the Susquehanna was dreary
enough; and from thence to Tioga, all but
impassable, especially in winter. The first
time I attempted this tour in the winter, when
I came to the mountain through which the
river passes, the road being full of ice, it was
impossible to keep it; so I had no alternative
but to turn back and take the ice in the river.
I was afterward told that it was believed no
person had ever passed the dangerous defile
in this way before. In several places there
were chasms in the ice of several feet in
width running nearly across the river, occa-
sioned by the water's falling until the ice,
resting upon the ridges of rocks underneath,
was broken. Over these my horse had to
leap. But a greater danger arose from the
wearing of the ice by the current below, so
that in some places it was plaimly to be seen.
Protected by a kind Providence, however, I
passed safely through.

At this time none seemed to care for these
188 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

poor people in the wilderness, except the
Methodists. One man, indeed, did visit Tioga,
who pretended to instruct the people on the
subject of religion, though not much to their
benefit. After hearing the preacher who la-
boured in that part, he rose up and told the
people he had some objections to the doctrine
they had heard. That doctrine to which he
was particularly opposed was, the possibility
of final apostacy, or falling from grace. He
said he perceived the preacher did not under-
stand the original, or he would not have
quoted and applied Scripture as he did ; and
he recited several passages which he had
quoted, stating how they read in the original
Greek. When he was done, the preacher,
who was familiar with the low Dutch, replied
that the gentleman had made a small mistake,
for it was not Greek, but low Dutch, in which
he had been speaking. “No,” replied one,
“it is no mistake, but a contemptible imposi-
tion; for I understand the Greek, and the
fellow has not uttered one word in that lan-
guage.” He called himself a Baptist preach-
er, but was doubtless an impostor.

At this time we had much to contend with
from the opposition which prejudice had every
where raised against us and our doctrines.
The following is an example of it. While
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 189

travelling on this district, I one day fell in
with a minister of the Reformed Dutch Church
by the name of Benscoter.* I was passing a
public house where he was, on my way to
Wyoming; and he mounted his horse and
overtook me. On coming up he inquired if I
was not a missionary. I replied that I was
a Methodist, and we were all missionaries.
Observing that he was surveying me very
closely, I said, “I presume, sir, you have not
much knowledge of the Methodists.” He re-
plied, “I know enough of them to know that
they hold egregious errors.” “Do they, in-
deed,” said I, “then they are greatly to be
pitied.” He replied, with much sternness,
“They are greatly to be blamed ; for if I am
rightly informed, and IJ believe I am, they are
not only unlearned men, but despise learning,
and are altogether incompetent to teach men
the science of salvation.” ‘In one thing, sir,”
said I, “you are misinformed. We do not
despise learning ; on the contrary we hold it
to be desirable. But we do not deem it an
essential qualification of a gospel minister.
Grace, rather than human learning, qualifies
aman to preach. St. Paul was one of the
most learned men of his day; and he acknow-

* Van Benschoten, probably, contracted by common use into
Benscoter.— Epiror.
190 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

ledged that his qualifications to preach the
unsearchable riches of Christ were the gift
of God. But, sir, as you have the advantages
of age and education, and I am comparatively
young, and make no pretensions to classical
learning, be so good as to point out to me my
errors.” ‘ You,” said he, “have embraced
the creed of Arminius, with the addition of
the blasphemous article of falling from grace.
This I hold to be the quintessence of error.”
I replied that we did hold it possible for a re-
generated person to fall away and perish;
and that we thought ourselves supported in
this opinion by the Scriptures, to the testimony
of which we were willing to appeal; but as
this could not be conveniently done on the
road, I should be pleased to hear from him
on what he founded his views of the impecca-
bility of the saints. ‘On what I found it!”
said he, “‘why, on the unchangeableness of
God.” ‘“DoI understand you, Mr. B.,” said
I, “to affirm that such is the unchangeable-
ness of God, that his love, once placed on a
creature, can never be detached from that
creature, and that to say it can, is the blas-
phemy with which you charge us?” He said
he claimed to be so tnderstood. I then asked
him whether, when God made the angels, his
love was not placed upon them—whether he
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 191

did not love them? “Angels! sir,” he replied:
“angels never had the promise made to
Christians.” “That I grant, sir,” I said, “but
did he not love them at all?” “Jesus took
not upon him the nature of angels,” was the
answer. “TI know that, sir,” I continued, “but
did not God love all the angels when he called
them into being? You say the love of God
can never be detached from a being on which
it is once placed; and I wish to know if the
love of God was not once placed on those who
are now in chains under darkness, reserved
unto the judgment of the great day?” “You
are a bold, adventurous young man,” said the
old gentleman, “and doubtless think you
have placed me in a dilemma out of which I
cannot extricate myself.” I told him if he
did not feel that he was in a dilemma, I
thought he would not hesitate to answer my
question, which could be done in a word.
“ And what,” said he, “if I should say he loves
them still, as his creatures?” “TI would ask
you,” I replied, “to explain to me how God
can love devils! Can he love their nature?
Surely not. Can he love their persons, and
yet hold them in chains under darkness? This
is a strange token of his love. If he does still
love them, it is a plain dictate of common
sense that he will restore them to communion
192 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

with himself; and if devils will be restored,
doubtless all wicked men will be also, and
hell-redemption is true.” Here Mr. B. inter-
rupted me, and said with an air of contempt,
“T perceive it is useless to converse with a
man who cannot draw a just conclusion from
self-evident premises.” So we parted. Mr. B.
did me great honour by warning the people
against me, as one who would, if it were pos-
sible, deceive the very elect. Mr. B.’s parish
was very much secluded from the surrounding
settlements. It was separated from them by
mountains which were difficult to pass over;
and being the regularly settled minister in
that place, which was inhabited almost entire-
ly by Low Dutch people, who have always
been proverbial for the deference they pay to
their ministers, he held an unlimited sway
over them in religious matters. And this he
seemed determined to improve to his own ad-
vantage. But he overdid the matter. The
Methodists had heen kept out of the valley by
the assiduity of the minister and his particu-
lar friends, until the following circumstance
occurred. Mr. B. was called on by one of his
poor parishioners to baptize his child. He
however deferred it in a way to satisfy the
poor man that it would not be done until the
accustomed fee of fifty cents should be paid
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 193

him. This gave offence to the person con-
cerned, and he invited a Methodist preacher
to preach at his house and baptize his child.
This sorely afflicted Mr. B., especially as it
soon became evident to him that the people
did not consider these preachers altogether so
incompetent as he had represented them to
be, or at least that they could understand
them, and many closed in with their doctrine.
And his disquietude on account of the intro-
duction of the dreadful heresy of Methodism,
as he had been in the habit of calling it, into
his parish, was by no means lessened when
some of his people told him plainly, that if
what he had so long preached to them were
true, they stood as good a chance to be saved
among the Methodists as any where else.
Having said so much about the ignorance of
the Methodist preachers, and their incompe-
tency to instruct the people in the doctrines
of divine revelation, when they had obtained
a footing in the valley, Mr. B. seemed to con-
sider it necessary to become a little more
active in instructing his own flock. Indeed,
there was need enough that something should
be done to instruct the inhabitants of this val-
ley. I passed through it every quarter, on
my way to Wyoming, and had an opportunity
of knowing something respecting them; and
9
194 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

I verily believe I never xnew a people more
grossly ignorant in matters of religion than
many of them were. Mr. B., in adopting
measures to instruct his parishioners, esta-
blished something like a Bible-class, in which
adults as well as children were admitted; and
it was told me as a fact by one whose vera-
city I had no reason to suspect, that when he
asked an elderly woman in the class who
was the oldest man, she replied that she did
not know, but she believed in her soul it must
be old Hans Brooks. Such had been the
benefits the people had received from being
trained up under the man who claimed to be
a competent religious instructer, and who had
liberally denounced the Methodist preachers
as incompetent. But the people would jtrdge
for themselves. And Methodist preaching,
after it obtained an introduction into the
place, was listened to by many with respect
and profit, and has been productive of great
good to that secluded people.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 195

CHAPTER XIil.

~

In the spring of 1793 Mr. Ware takes charge of the Albany
district—Account of an impostor assuming his name—His de-
tection and exposure—State of the country in many parts of
the district—Pecuniary sufferings of some of the preachers—
Success of the work—Revival commenced through the instru-
mentality of a woman—Opposition from the established deno-
minations—How met and managed—Account of the introduc-
tion of Methodism into New-England by Rev. Jesse Lee—Some
of the first preachers in this work—Hope Hull—Daniel Smith
—The effect of their labours—Annoyances to the preachers by
the practice of attacking them on the subject of doctrine, after
preaching—The preachers in the district innocent, unassuming
men—Thoughts on the subject of providing for the comfortable
support of the preachers, especially when superannuated, and
thereby preventing so frequent locations.

In the spring of 1793 I took charge of the
Albany district. This district was constituted.
of ten circuits, and embraced a portion of four
states, namely, New-York, Connecticut, Mas-
sachusetts, and Vermont.

Soon after I got within the bounds of the
district, I met on the road one of the preachers
who had not attended the conference; and
although he had never seen me before, he
introduced himself as if he had been ac-
quainted with me. On my informing him
where his appointment was, he said, with
tears in his eyes, “ My dear brother, I cannot
go. I have paid all the little demands against
196 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

me, and am now left pennyless.” I replied,
“Cheer up, my brother, here are six dollars,
for which I will never ask you. They will
bear your expenses to your circuit.” He took
them, and I saw him no more.

When I came to Albany, I found there a
preacher who had not attended the conference,
and whom I had never before seen. When I
told him my name, and that I was the suc-
cessor of Mr. Garrettson on their district, he
seemed embarrassed. After a while he said,
“Tt will not, I presume, offend you, if I give
you my reasons for requesting to see your
credentials. About this time last year a man
came to this place, and told us that his name
was Thomas Ware—that Bishop Asbury had
sent him on from the south with directions to
report himself to Jesse Lee, and that on his
way he had lost his horse, and had been ad-
vised to come to Albany, presuming that he
might find Mr. Garrettson there, who, he had
been told, would help him on to Mr. Lee. By
walking, he said, and carrying his bundle, he
had overheated himself and taken a violent
cold, so that his voice had been for some time
quite gone, and he was still unable to preach,
or even pray in family devotion. Your name
we had often seen in the Minutes; and as
his appearance was decent, we were too
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 197

delicate and tender of his feelings to ask him
for his credentials. We accordingly assisted
him by making some collection for him, and
then directed him to Mr. Garrettson. In a
few days after he departed I became uneasy,
and set out in pursuit of him; and on my ar-
rival at Rhinebeck, ascertained that he had
been there, and they had made a collection
for him. But he had left that for some other
place.”

When he was done, I told him that I had
heard of this impostor before. He went on
for a while without being detected. But on
one occasion he met a preacher on the road
who knew me, and reported himself to him,
assuming my name. The preacher imme-
diately challenged him as an impostor, and
threatened on arriving at the next town to
have him arrested. He was well mounted,
and, on hearing this threat, put whip to his
horse. Brother Merrick, the preacher who
detected him, pursued him for some time, but
finally gave over the chase, and he was heard
of no more.

My venerable predecessor, the Rev. Free-
born Garrettson, had greatly interested him-
self for Albany, which is the metropolis of
the state of New-York, and had succeeded in
erecting a small church there. But the time
198 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

of much fruit was not yet. My district was
immensely large, and the country principally
new. Accommodations for the preachers
were, for the more part, poor; and the means
of their support exceedingly limited. While
passing through one of the circuits, soon after
I came on the district, I called at the preach-
er’s house. He happened at that time to be
at home. It was near noon, and I of course
must dine with him. He had a wife and
seven children; and our bill of fare was one
blackberry pie, with rye crust, without either
butter or lard to shorten it. After we had
dined, when I was about to depart, I put a
few dollars into the hands of this poor bro-
ther, who, on receiving them, sat down and
wept so heartily that I could not avoid weep-
ing with him.

The Lord was with us in a very glorious
manner, at some of our quarterly meetings,
during the first quarter; and there appeared
to be a general expectation that he would do
still greater things for us throughout the vast
field we had to cultivate. Here, as in Ten-
nessee, there were multitudes of people wholly
destitute of the gospel, until it was brought to
them by the Methodists. The means of their
introduction into different places were vari-
ous ; but always such as evidently indicated
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 199

that the finger of God was in it. In one re-
mote settlement there were about twenty
families, who, to use.the language of the
messenger that invited us to preach to them,
had been destitute of both law and gospel.
“We had,” said he, “a number of us lived
like atheists, until last spring. Then there
came a few families in among us, and with
them an old lady whohad heard the Methodists
preach, and often told us that they would
come and preach for us if they were invited.
We had not, as yet, any civil officers ; and to
most of us all days were alike. At length
this woman persuaded a number of her friends
to meet at her house, telling them that a
young man who could read well would read the
Scriptures or some good book for them, and
they would sing hymns together, &c., for she
said it was a shame for us to live so much like
heathens. This was done on the sabbath ;
and at the close of the first meeting, they
agreed to assemble again on the next sabbath.
When the time came, almost all the people in
the settlement were present. This so alarm-
ed the young man that he refused to read;
nor could any other person be persuaded to
read, or give outa hymn. At length the wo-
man, at whose house they were assembled,
began to weep, and many, moved by feelings
200 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

of sympathy, wept with her. She then fell
on her knees, and cried to the Lord to have
mercy on her and her neighbours ; and soon
almost all in the house were on their knees
crying aloud, ‘Save, Lord, or we perish.’
Thus they continued to call upon the Lord
until he came to the relief of some of them,
and turned their mourning into joy.”

This, the man said, was one of the most
affecting scenes he ever witnessed. “Since
that memorable day,” added he, “we have
spent much of our time together in reading
the Bible and prayer. We wish to be united
in Christian fellowship, and have the ordi-
nances of the Lord administered among us.”
A preacher was accordingly sent to them.

In Granville and Pittsfield, the current of
opposition was very strong against us. In
these parts religious societies were systemati-
cally organized, and sustained by law. With
churches in the centre of their towns and pa-
rishes, they prided themselves on having a
learned, competent ministry, whom, they sup-
ported by a tax upon the people. But with all
their boast of learning and competency, I found
many of the clergy in these parts so far from
being really great men, that I soon lost all
fear of them.

The preacher on the Pittsfield circuit called,
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE, 201

on his way to an appointment, at a public
house to feed his horse. The inn-keeper,
perceiving that he was a Methodist preacher,
said to him, “ How is it that you Methodists
skulk into the dark corners and retired places
to preach, and do not show yourselves in our
towns and principal places, that we may hear
you and judge for ourselves?” The preacher
replied, “ You are so priest-ridden that none
of you dare to open your doors to us.”
“Well,” said the man, “you shall not have
that to say again. Tell me when you will
preach here, and if the meeting-house cannot
be had, you shall preach in my parlour.” So
the arrangement was made for an appoint-
ment, and the meeting-house opened. At the
close of the sermon, the preacher said that,
with permission, he would give out an ap-
pointment for the presiding elder to preach
there, when, he presumed, he would dwell on
the peculiarities of Methodism, and then they
could hear and judge for themselves. The
preacher, having made the appointment, met
me and gave me information of what he had
done; but I was far from being pleased.

When the time arrived, we found the house
well filled, and the minister of the parish pre-
sent; and it was quite apparent that much
interest was felt by the people.

9%
202 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Under these circumstances it seemed neces-
sary, as in those times Methodist preachers,
in going into new places, generally found it, to
‘suit the discourse to the occasion, and not
disappoint the expectation of the people. I
had learned the state of public opinion, or at
least the views of those who were attached to
the standing order, as the Congregationalists
in New-England were called, respecting us
and our preaching. But a short time before
this meeting, I had a conversation with a dea-
con, or principal officer of the church, who
expressed himself without any apparent dis-
guise or restriction on this subjeet. “ My ad-
vice to you, sir,” said he, “and to your itine-
rant brethren, is, to go home; or, at least, to
desist from disturbing the order of things
among us. We want none of your instruc-
tion; and, indeed, you are not competent to
instruct us. You make the people commit
sin in the loss of so much precious time as is
wasted in attending your meetings on week
days when they ought to be at labour ; or, on
the sabbath, in leaving the places where they
ought to worship to run after you. We have
learned and able ministers, and all the neces-
sary means of grace among us, and we do
very well without you. Why, then, do you
trouble yourselves about us ?”
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 203

Such views, I ascertained, pretty generally
-prevailed, and were employed, with a constant
cry of heresy, &c., to prejudice the public
mind against us. I accordingly endeavoured
to suit my remarks to the circumstances of the
case ; and for this purpose selected the words
of our Lord to Martha, Luke x, 41,42: ‘“ Mar-
tha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled
about many things ; but one thing is needful ;
and Mary hath chosen that good part which
shall not be taken away from her.”

I proceeded to say that the Saviour re-
proved with great tenderness the kind-hearted
but not altogether faultless Martha, and com-
mended her more devout and amiable sister.
“Your attention,” said I, “is invited to a
consideration of the characters of these two
amiable sisters as they are exhibited in the
text. We are told by the Evangelist John,
that Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary,
and Lazarus. O happy family! to be be-
loved by the Saviour of the world, and to
enjoy the privilege of entertaming him! Who
would not envy the distinction ?

“The two sisters were loved, tenderly loved,
by the Saviour, but not equally. Their piety
shone with different degrees of lustre. The
character of Martha was amiable, but not
faultless. She was a great economist, but
204 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

not a great Christian. Her love was sincere,
but it was mixed too much with worldly pru-
dence. The order of the family concerns
must be attended to in accordence with her
habits and taste. No matter how great the
guest she was entertaining, she and her sister
must be excused from spending their time in
listening to him while their own concerns
called for their attention.”

After introducing the subject with some
such remarks, I stated what the deacon above
alluded to had said to me, and proceeded :—

“But Mary was more heavenly-minded.
She understood more perfectly the true cha-
racter of their guest, and the benefit of his
instructions, and therefore availed herself of
the privilege of listening to him without al-
lowing her mind to be troubled about many
things, as was Martha’s. For this Martha
censured her, and called on the Saviour to
bid her attend to her domestic concerns.
This was rude in Martha, and merited reproof.
It indicated a worldly spirit—a state of feel-
ing unsuited to the occasion. Here Martha
seems to reprove her Lord for allowing Mary
to sit at his feet and listen to his word, and
to rebuke her sister for doing so, while she
thinks she ought to be engaged in her ordinary
business. But the Saviour tenderly chides
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 205

her, ‘Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and
troubled about many things.’ This feeling
allusion to her worldly-mindedness, her anxious
care and trouble about many things at a time
when the subject of her soul’s salvation should
engross all her thoughts, followed by an un-
qualified commendation of Mary’s conduct in
choosing the good part, must have made a
deep impression on her heart. Was it not a
spirit similar to that manifested by Martha
which influenced the person I have mentioned
to charge us with causing people to sin, by
calling them from their worldly business for
an hour or two to listen to the gospel of the
Son of God? One thing is needful! Doubt-
less our Lord meant religion—the religion
of the heart—a perfection in the Christian
graces.”

I then took occasion to show in what Chris-
tian perfection, as believed by the Methodists,
consists, and how it must be obtained; that
the soul, to be saved, must, according to the
teaching of Christ and his apostles, be quick-
ened, regenerated, and sanctified ; and that,
being sanctified, it was raised above the in-
fluence of those worldly passions and feelings
which seemed so much to trouble Martha.
This one thing is needful—essentially so—in
the estimation of Him who cannot err. Other
206 ‘MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

things may be desirable ; as health, reputation,
friends, competency, &c. But they are not
essential to the salvation of the soul. Their
absence may occasion suffering for a season,
which, however, may be compensated in an-
other world. But what will compensate a
man for the loss of his soul? Mary chose this
better part. It became hers, not of necessity
but by choice.” -

Here I took occasion to explain and defend
the doctrines of Methodism respecting the
universality of the atonement, the free offer of
salvation to all men, and those other points
by which they are contradistinguished from
Calvinism, the creed professed by the stand-
ing order in that section. ‘Thus, with more
than ordinary liberty and freedom of speech,
I went through with a discourse which may be

regarded as a sample of the manner by which

Methodist preachers had to introduce them-
selves among the people of the New-England
stategin those early days.

After I closed, the preacher who was with me
in the pulpit stated that if any one wished to
remark upon the doctrine advanced in the dis-
course, or to make any observations, there
was an opportunity to do so. But no one
signified a wish to speak, so he concluded the
meeting. The good natured inn-keeper invi-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 207

ted us home with him, in company with the
minister of the parish. , He treated us very
politely, but said not a word about the dis-
course.

Methodism was at this time a new thing in
the land of the pilgrims. It had indeed but
lately been introduced. In 1787, when I left
Long Island for the west, it had not yet found
its way into the New-England states; and it
was doubted by some whether it could live in
that frigid zone. But Jesse Lee, who has
been styled the apostle of New-England, was
persuaded that it could live where man could
live, and therefore, in 1789, offered himself
as a missionary for that field, and was ap-
pointed to it.

All who knew Mr. Lee will agree that he
was peculiarly fitted for that work. He pos-
sessed uncommon colloquial powers and a
fascinating address, calculated in a high de-
gree to prepossess the mind in his favour.
His readiness at repartee was scarcely
equalled; and by the skilful use of this ta-
lent he often taught those disposed to be
witty with him at his expense, that the safest
way to deal with him was to be civil. But
what was of more importance, he was fired
with a missionary zeal. The truth which
had made him free he wished to proclaim to
208 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

others, and especially to the inquisitive and
enterprising descendants of the pilgrims. He
did not doubt but that it would make its way
into that land of priests, and open a wide
field for action and usefulness. He was,
moreover, a man of great moral courage, and
more than ordinary preaching talents. He
preached with more ease than any other man
I ever knew, and was, I think, the best every-
day preacher in the connection. Such was the
man who, but four years before I came into
this district, first lifted the standard of Method-
ism in the New-England states. He com-
menced his Jabours in Norwalk, Connecticut,
and progressed onward to the east, taking
New-Haven and Boston in his course. At
first he was obliged to preach in the open air,
not being able to procure a house for that
purpose. “When he stood up in the open
air,” said a person who was present, “and
began to sing, I knew not what it meant. I
however drew near to listen, and thought the
prayer was the best I had ever heard. He
then read his text, and began, in a sententious
manner, to address his remarks to the under-
standing and consciences of the people; and
I thought all who were present must be con-
strained to say, ‘It is good for us to be here.’
All the while the people were gathering he
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 209

continued this mode of address, and presented
us with such a variety of beautiful- images,
that I thought he must have been at infinite
pains to crowd so many pretty things into his
memory. But when he entered upon the
subject matter of his text, it was with such an
easy, natural flow of expression, and in such
a tone of voice, that I could not refrain from
weeping ; and many others were affected in
the same way. When he was done, and we
had an opportunity of expressing our views to
each other, it was agreed that such a man
had not visited New-England since the days
of Whitefield. I heard him again, and thought
I could follow him to the ends of the earth.”
During the four years which had elapsed from
the time that Mr. Lee first preached in this
country to that of my coming on to this dis-
trict, a number of eminent men had been em-
ployed in this section of the work, whose
memory was precious to many that had been
profited by their ministry. Among .these,
Hope Hull and Daniel Smith were often
spoken of in terms of great respect and ten-
derness. Scarcely two other men could have
been found so well calculated to second the
efforts of Mr. Lee in the easteérn states. I
knew Mr. Hull, and almost envied him his
talents. I thought, indeed, if I possessed his
210 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

qualifications I could be instrumental in saving
thousands, where, with my own, I could gain
one. This extraordinary young man drew
multitudes after him, who, disarmed of their
prejudices, were, under the influence of his
discourses, like clay in the hand of the potter.
It seemed that he could do with them just as
he pleased. And yet in the midst of this as-
tonishing influence and career of usefulness,
he sighed for a southern clime; and at his
own request he was permitted to retire to an-
other portion of the field. Perhaps it was
best, lest, if he had remained, he might have
been idolized by the devoted people among
whom he laboured, to his own injury and
theirs.

A man of some distinction represented him
to a skilful musician, who could excite any
passion he pleased. “In our ‘part,” said he,
in speaking of Mr. Hull, “ Arminians were
deemed guilty of abominable heresy, and our
minister had often denounced them, and con-
signed them to certain perdition. But Mr.
Hull came to a neighbouring town, and an
influential individual invited him to ours, and
informed our minister that, if he refused him
the meeting-house, he should preach in his
house. The meeting-house was opened, and
it was crowded to overflowing. Our minister
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 211

was present, and was the first who began to
weep. “My eyes,” said the man, “ were al-
ternately on the minister in the pulpit and the
one in the pew; and I was surprised to see
how soon and how completely the latter was
unmanned. Mr. Hull, it is true, soon left us ;
but by his unequalled power to move the
feelings of the people, he so far secured their
attention as to commend to their understand-
ing and hearts the gospel he preached, and
Arminians have been permitted to live among
us. From that time to the day of his death,
our minister was never heard to say a word
against them.”

The oratory of Daniel Smith was different
from that of Hope Hull. It was not calcu-
lated to excite violent emotions, but to concili-
ate and soothe. I recollect to have heard
Bishop Asbury say, that D. Smith had a
faster hold on the affections of the eastern
people, than any other preacher who had
ever been sent among them. Such were
some of the men who had been instrumental
in introducing Methodism into this section ;
and, every thing considered, they had been
remarkably successful in their work. Many
were the seals of their ministry. Still the
prejudices with which we had to contend were
numerous and inveterate.
.

212. MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

It was common for the Methodist preach-
ers, when they preached in new places, and
often in their regular appointments, to be at-
tacked by some disputant on the subject of
doctrines, sometimes by ministers, but more
frequently by students in divinity or loqua-
cious and controversial laymen. And, so far.
as my experience on this district extended,
I discovered much rancour and bitterness
mingled with these disputes. I am obliged
to say that, during the three years of my
labours in this section, I found not so much
as one friendly clergyman professing the doc-
trines opposed to Methodism. There may
have been such; but all with whom I con-
versed, or whose sentiments I knew, were
violent in their opposition to us; and the
rough manner in which I was usually treated
by them, rendered me unwilling to come in
contact with them. But when it so happened
that we must try our strength, I found no dif-
ficulty in defending the cause I had espoused ;
for a foe despised has a great advantage.
And when a man has a system which is
clearly scriptural, he needs only a little plain
common sense and self-possession to maintain
his ground, though a host of learned theolo-
gians should unite against him.

My district spread over a large territory of
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 213

country. At first it embraced, as I have
stated, a part of four states; and the last
year it extended from Staten Island to Herki-
mer, more than three hundred miles in
length. And here I experienced, for the first
time in my life, what Milton meant by “joint
racking rheums.”

The preachers on the district, both tra-
velling and local, were innocent unassuming
men, who cheerfully embraced the happy toil.
They were always glad to see me when I
came, and especially when they had intelli-
gence to furnish me which they knew would
gladden my heart; and, thanks be to God, we
had at each visitation some returning prodi-
gals over whom to rejoice together.

It was about this time that my mind
became more especially interested in the sub-
ject of the support of the ministry. Finding
a growing disinclination among the preachers
for an itinerant life, which was evinced by
their frequent locations, I pondered much on
the subject, and wrote to John Dickens,
our book agent in Philadelphia, a man of ex-
cellent sense and a most amiable spirit. To
this good man I could open all my heart,
knowing that, if I erred, he would correct me,
and do it too in a spirit which would increase
my obligations to, and esteem for him.
214 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. \

I thought our system too severe. It called
us in youth to sacrifice all means of acquiring
property, and threatened to leave us de-
pendant on the cold hand of -charity for
our bread in old age. Some plead that we
had no asylum for our sons, so that, while
we were travelling and preaching to others,
they had none to take care of them; and
they said they must locate to preserve
them from ignorance and crime. And the
fact that there was no provision made for
superannuated men, induced many to forsake
the itinerant ranks in order to provide, while
they had health and strength, against absolute
want in time of infirmity and old age. And
who could blame them? To me it appeared
in vain that we should ever hope to perpetu-
ate the itinerant plan, unless the wants of the
preachers were better supplied, and some
security given them that in advanced life, or
when their powers should be prostrated, their
bread and their water should be sure.

My proposition to my excellent friend, Mr.
Dickens, was, to have the Book Concern
incorporated, and to hold the proceeds sacred
for the superannuated preachers. In this pro-
position he agreed with me. But in the year
1796 the ‘Chartered Fund” was instituted, the
proceeds of which were to be applied toward
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 215

making up the deficiencies of the preachers
generally; and thus the superannuated might
be said to be placed on the charitable list,
where, instead of their annual allowance, they
generally received not more than one-third.

This, I believed, would have an injurious
effect on the itinerancy, as it would keep the
_ ranks filled with young men. In ten years,
reckoning from 1784, we lost, from the tra-
velling connection by locations, two hundred’
and ninety preachers, among whom were
many of long standing, and the most com-
manding talents.

The Rev. John Dickens, with whom I cor-
responded on this subject, was not only one
of the most sensible men I ever knew, but
one of the most conscientious. The subject
of ministerial support was with him one of
serious import. The plan which he deemed
the truly Methodistical one, was, simply to
supply the wants of all the preachers, as well
after they should become superannuated as
while they were effective, and to provide
to have this done without fail. Then there
would be no inducement, on the one hand, to
make merchandise of the gospel, nor, on the
other, to abandon the field in view of being
left to suffer in the decline of life. But to
raise the expectations of the preachers, by
216 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

promising all this, or seeming to promise it,
by setting it forth in the Discipline as allowed
them, he deemed an offence against justice,
whether practised upon ourselves or others.
He therefore believed, that, when it became
evident that the pledge made to the superan-
nuated preachers could not or would not be
redeemed, it would become an imperious duty
to disannul it and change the plan. He was
persuaded, however, that the time was not far
distant when the Methodist people, who loved
the itinerancy because God had so signally
owned it in spreading scriptural holiness
through the land, would deal justly toward
those self-denying men who had faithfully
laboured in the Lord’s vineyard.

Such were the sentiments I received from
John Dickens on this subject, in answer to my
inquiries and suggestions. At the same time
he remarked that the responsibility lay chiefly
upon the preachers. The fund proposed
might be productive of much good; but the
main thing was to copy more after the parent
society in our pecuniary matters, a subject on
which I had long thought of writing.

Although most of the preachers on this
district were young in years, or the ministry,
or both, and a heavy tide of opposition bore
down upon us; yet under the direction of our
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 217

divine Guide we were enabled to stem the
torrent; and at the end of each year we found
that we had gained a little, and had acquired
some more strength and skill to use the wea-
pons of our spiritual warfare. At some of our
quarterly meetings the sacred influence was
so evidently present that it neutralized all
opposition, and we seemed, as the boatman
descending the Mohawk in time of flood, to
have nothing to do but to guide the helm.

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. Ware attends the New-York conference in 1796—Goes
with Bishop Asbury to the Philadelphia conference—Is ap-
pointed to the Philadelphia district—Attends the General
Conference, which sits this year in Baltimore, before going to
his district—Reflections on the feelings which the last General
Conference occasioned—The secession of James O’Kelly—
The spirit the party manifested—The good feelings which pre-
vailed at this conference—Fault of neglecting to provide for the
superannuated preachers—Effect of continued neglect of this
matter on the itinerancy—Commendation of the practice of our
English brethten on this subject—Enters upon the duties of the
district— Marriage—Strasburg circuit—Great revival com-
mences under the labours of Dr. Chandler—It spreads to other
parts of the district—Becomes general and powerful.

On the 30th of September 1796, the annual
conference commenced its session in the city
of New-York. From this conference I went
with Bishop Asbury to the Philadelphia con-

10
218 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

ference, which commenced in Philadelphia on
the 20th of October. Here I was appointed
to the charge of the Philadelphia district,
which extended from Wilmington, Delaware,
to the Seneca lake, in the state of New-York.

I did not, however, enter upon the duties
of my charge until after the General Con-
ference, which commenced its session in Bal-
timore on the 20th of the same month.

The commencement of another General
Conference was a period suitable for reflection.
Four years had now elapsed since the first
one, and, all things considered, the most
interesting ecclesiastical council ever wit-
nessed in this country, had been held. We
had now tried the system, and had come
together to review the past and confer with
each other respecting the future. I was at
the conference of 1792, and some of the pain-
ful sensations I felt during its session have
caused me at times to wish I could forget
there had been such a meeting. Christ
prayed that his disciples might be one, that is,
as I understand it, to “kindly think and
sweetly speak the same.” This was pre-
eminently the case among the primitive Me-
thodists, and especially the first Methodist
preachers. But there is one sense only in
which man may be said to be perfect, and
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 219

that is in Jove. Love, one apostle says, casts
out fear; and another calls it the bond of
perfectness. In knowledge and judgment
man is imperfect, and therefore liable to err.
And from adhering obstinately to views found-
ed in error of judgment, we are sometimes
led away from the simplicity of the gospel.

At the General Conference of 1792, Mr.
James O’Kelly, who had long officiated as a
presiding elder, and acquired very considera-
ble influence in the Church by his labours
and perseverance, introduced a proposition to
this effect, namely, “ After the bishop appoints
the preachers at conference to their several
circuits, if any think himself injured by the
appointment, he shall have liberty to appeal
to the conference, and state his objections ;
and if the conference approve his objections,
the bishop shall appoint him to another cir-
cuit.”

This was a delicate subject. There is no-
thing more contrary to the nature or inclina-
tion of man than to sacrifice his will; and yet
this must be done for the preservation of
order, not only by Christians, but by the citi-
zens of any commonwealth. A sensible man,
who, when under awakening, resorted to a
ledge of rocks for prayer, and there found
mercy, sententiously remarked in relating his
220 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

experience, “I lost my will among the rocks.’
To the real Christian who wishes in any ca-
pacity to be devoted wholly to the service of
God, it is always pleasing to revert to the time
when he lost his will. But when the adjust-
ment of the powers of the officers in church
or state is the subject of reflection, we are not
always certain how far we ought to yield our-
selves in voluntary submission. We may
give up too much—more than the object is
worth, or the exigence of the case requires.

It was allowed, on all hands, that no sacri-
fice could be too great to accomplish the
object we had in view, namely, the salvation
of souls; but the question was, whether the
means were the most perfectly adapted to the
accomplishment of that object. Whether for
this purpose so large a body of men should
hold themselves ready to go wherever the
general superintendent should deem it best in
his judgment to send them. The number of
travelling preachers was at this time two hun-
dred and sixty-six.

Had Mr. O’Kelly’s proposition been differ-
ently managed it might possibly have been
carried. For myself, at first I did not see
any thing very objectionable in it. But when
it came to be debated, I very much disliked
the spirit of those who advocated it, and won
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 221

dered at the severity in which the movers and
others who spoke in favour of it indulged in
the course of their remarks. Some of them
said that it was a shame for a man to accept
of such a lordship, much more to claim it;
and that they who would submit to this abso-
lute dominion must forfeit all claims to free-
dom, and ought to have their ears bored
through with an awl, and to be fastened to
their master’s door and become slaves for life.
One said that to be denied such an appeal was
an insult to his understanding, and a species
of tyranny to which others might submit if
they chose, but for his part he must be ex-
cused for saying he could not. The advocates
of the opposite side were more dispassionate
and argumentative. They urged that Mr.
Wesley, the father of the Methodist family,
had devised the plan, and deemed it essential
for the preservation of the itinerancy. They
said that, according to the showing of brother
O’Kelly, Mr. Wesley, if he were alive, ought
to blush; for he claimed the right to station
the preachers to the day of his death. The
appeal, it was argued, was rendered imprac-
ticable on account of the many serious diffi-
culties with which it was encumbered. Should
one preacher appeal and the conference say
his appointment should be altered, the Bishop
222 MEMOIR OF REV. FHOMAS WARE.

must remove some other one to make him
room; in which case the other might complain
and appeal in his turn; and then again the
first might appeal from the new appointment,
or others whose appointments these successive
alterations might interrupt. Hearing all that
was said on both sides, I was finally con-
vinced that the motion for such an appeal
ought not to carry.

We had now met in general conference
again, and our number was one hundred and
twenty. We went through our business ami-
cably ; and there was a gracious work of
revival in the congregations throughout the
city. As to the conference, I was pleased
with the spirit in which the business was
transacted, but not with all that was done, or,
in other words, that something was not done
which I had hoped would be done. I had
hoped that some measures would be entered
into by that body to retain the preachers in
the itinerant ranks. During the four years
between the two general conferences we had
lost by location one hundred and six preach-
ers. This appeared to me a great evil, and
one that ought to be remedied. I recollected
that, during the revolution, congress for a
long time neglected to do any thing by way
of providing a pension for those who should
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 223

remain in the service during the war; and
the consequence was, that many of the best
officers left when their experience and ability
rendered it most desirable to keep them in it.
This much distressed Gen. Washington, who
remonstrated with congress, and told them
that he could procure plenty of officers, but
they could not supply the place of the old
ones. He urged that it was unreasonable to
expect that men would spend the prime of
their lives in the public service, and sacrifice
all the means of acquiring a competency for
old age, encountering the fatigues and hard-
ships of the camp and the perils of the field,
unless some provision should be made for
their comfortable support through life.

These views appeared so rational that no
one could avoid feeling their force. But they
appeared to me as applicable to Methodist
travelling preachers as to the officers of the
revolution. Their allowance is limited to
what they need for their present support; and
we say they shall be entitled to so much
when they are worn out, or, in other words,
that they shall have a specified annuity. But
no adequate means are devised to raise it.

I am one who voted for the rule which
says, that the church shall not be accountable
for the deficiencies of the preachers in case
224 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

of debt; and yet it is not easy to conceive
of any thing more sacred than the pledge
made to superannuated preachers, widows,
and orphans, that a competency shall be
furnished them while they remain dependant
on. the church. If the effective men are
neglected, they may resort to some other em-
ployment, unfriendly as it is to the interests
of the church to compe] them to do so, and
thus prevent actual suffering from penury. But
those who have worn themselves out in the
service of the church, or the widows and
helpless children of such for whom they have
not provided, because they were exclusively
devoted to the work of the ministry, what
are they todo? There is cruelty in neglect-
ing them. The rule I have named seemed
to be necessary. But I did hope some pro-
vision would be made to meet the exigency
of the superannuated preachers and their de-
pendants. I desired to see some plan adopted
which would assure the preachers that they
should be comfortably provided for in the de-
cline of life. But I was disappointed. I do
believe, if such a plan had been adopted and
carried into effect at the commencement, we
should have been a more numerous, and, per-
haps, a better people than we now are. None,
I think, who have examined our history, will
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 225

doubt that we have sustained much injury by
the location of so many of our ministers, at a
period, when they were best qualified to be
useful, and the necessity of supplying their
places by young and inexperienced men.
When we look at the economy of the father
and founder of Methodism, and of our bre-
thren in England, we are furnished with a
lesson of instruction on this subject. Few
preachers, after being admitted into full con-
nection in the British conference, are known
to locate. And how do they retain them?
The old men in that connection are treated
with the greatest respect and tenderness ; and
none of them are left in the decline of life to
contend with the world for bread. A compe-
tent provision is made for them, so that their
sun may go pleasantly down.

After the close of the conference, I hasten-
ed to my work. The labours of the district,
I was apprized, would be very severe. But
through mercy I ws enabled to perform
them.

The first year on this district presented
nothing remarkable for record. The second,
however, was more propitious. A glorious
religious excitement commenced on Stras-
burg and Chester circuits, which spread

through the whole peninsula, exceeding any
10*
226 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

thing I have ever witnessed. This revival
embraced all classes—governor, judges, law-
yers, and statesmen,—old and young, rich
and poor—including many of the African
race, who adorned their profession by a well
ordered life, and some of them by a triumph-
ant death.

For Strasburg circuit I felt a particular
interest, as it had now become the place of
my residence. Here I had formed an ac-
quaintance with Miss Barbary Miller, a per-
son whom I selected, above all others, as a
suitable companion for me; and on the 15th
of October, 1797, we were joined in holy
matrimony, she being thirty-five years of age,
and I thirty-eight. On this circuit there were
some excellent members ; but there had been
no revival for several years. Many of the
children of the early Methodists were nearly
grown up, and but few of them professed
religion, and some who had long prayed for
a revival had become almost discouraged.

Such was the state of things on this circuit,
when I prevailed on Bishop Asbury to appoint
Dr. Chandler to it, as the most likely, in my
estimation, to be useful in stirring up the peo-
ple. Dr. Chandler was a dentist; and, at the
time I obtained his consent to travel, he was
reading medicine with Dr. Rush. He had
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. Q227

been for some time a licensed preacher. He
was gifted, enterprising, and every way well
qualified for the itinerant work; and in that
capacity I thought he would be most likely to
be useful. I had a very particular friendship
for him, as I had long known him and his
habits, which I believed were such as would
render him eminently successful in the work
of saving souls, if he would give himself up
wholly to the service of the church. I ac-
cordingly communicated with him on the
subject ; but he pleaded his engagements with
Dr. Rush as a barrier against his going out
into the work. I accordingly waited on the
venerable Rush, and expressed to him my
views respecting the duty pf Dr. Chandler,
who perfectly agreed with me in the matter,
and cheerfully released him from his engage-
ments ; and he entered with all his soul into
the work.

At the commencement of the second quar-
ter, Dr. Chandler began covenanting with the
people. He obtained a pledge from them to
abstain wholly from the use of ardent spirits,
and to meet him at the throne of grace three
times a day, namely, at sunrise, at noon, and
at the going down of the sun, to pray for
a revival of the work of God on the circuit,
and especially that he would visit them and
228 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

give them some token for good at their next
quarterly meeting. As the time of the meet-
ing approached, he pressed them to come out
without fail, and expressed a belief that the
Lord would do great things for us. Soon
after he commenced this course, there were
evident indications that the work was begin-
ning to revive; and many, with the preacher,
began to predict that something great would
be done at the quarterly meeting.

On Saturday, many people attended. I
opened the meeting by singing, and then
attempted to pray; but m two minutes
my voice was drowned in the general cry
throughout the house, which continued all
that day and night, and indeed for the greater
part of three days. A great number professed
to be converted, who stood fast and adorned
their profession. But the best of all was,
many who had lost their first love repented,
and did their first works; and God restored
them to his favour.

Cecil circuit had been added to the Phila-
delphia district. The quarterly meeting on
this circuit was at hand, and I urged Dr. C. to
attend it. He came with a number of the
warm-hearted members from his circuit. On
the first day of the meeting there were many
present, and the prospect was very encourag-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 229

ing. But there were appearances of rain,
which it was thought might discourage the
people from coming out in the evening. Dr.
Chandler, however, pressed them to come out,
saying that he believed God would be present
and do wonders among them. “Some of
you,” he added, “ will probably be kept away
from the apprehension that it will rain: but,
mark my word, there will be no rain in this
vicinity, until the quarterly meeting is ended.”
Iwas startled at this bold prediction, and was
on the point of requesting him to recall or
qualify it, but finally concluded to let it pass.

Night came, and the house was crowded.
A gracious work commenced. Some, of whom
it was least expected, were found upon their
knees crying for mercy. The morning of the
sabbath was the most dark and threatening
ITeversaw. The clouds appeared surcharged
with rain, and it was the expectation of many
that Dr. C. would be proved a false prophet.
But still it so turned out that the rai was
withheld .until the meeting closed, and the
people generally had reached their homes;
after which the clouds emptied themselves
upon the earth, and the fall of rain exceeded
any thing which had been known for many
years before.

This meeting, though not equal to the one
230 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

last named, was nevertheless a very profitable
one. Some twenty or thirty professed to
receive an evidence of the remission of their
sins, and united with the Church. From this
the fire began to spread to the south, and
soon the whole peninsula was in a flame of
revival. At the north also the influence was
felt. Sparks were kindled in Middletown,
Northumberland, Wilkesbarre, and quite up
in the Genesee and lake country in western
New-York.

CHAPTER XV.

In 1800 Mr. Ware is appointed to a district on the peninsula
—Attends General Conference in Baltimore before entering
on the labours of his district—Again deplores the neglect of
providing for the superannuated preachers—Annual conference
at Smyrna—A great revival goes on during its session, and one
hundred added to the church at its close—A meeting appointed
by request at Dover, to be called the yearly meeting—A season
of extraordinary power and gracious influence—Family affliction
—Death of a son—Leaves the district at the end of the third
year, and returns to the Philadelphia district—In 1803 takes
charge of Jersey district—On leaving this, two years at St.
George’s, in Philadelphia—Is sick—In 1809, supernumerary—
In 1810, superannuated—In 1811, stationed at Lancaster—1812,
is elected by the General Conference held in New-York one of
the book agents—1816, appointed to Long Island—Continues
effective till 1825, in all forty years.

In 1800 I was appointed to a district on the
peninsula. There were in this district ten
circuits, twenty travelling preachers, and about
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 231

x

nine thousand members. This I deemed one
of the most important charges I ever filled.
With the care of all these circuits and preach-
ers, and my dear family—a wife, child, and
aged mother—I had enough to occupy all my
time and attention. To my family, indeed, I
could devote but a small part of my time.
The fertile soil we occupied employed all our
labour and care, for the fields were white to
the harvest. The scenes which I witnessed
at Smyrna, Dover, Milford, Centreville, Eas-
ton, and many other places, I have not ability
to describe. During the times of revival in
these places, thousands of all ranks were
drawn to the meetings, and spent days to-
gether in acts of devotion, apparently forgetful
of their temporal concerns. Should any one
ask what influenced them to this, the answer
is, they expected to find the Lord there, and
their expectations were realized to the joy
and satisfaction of their souls. Thus some
came, and then returned and told others, who
in turn came, and went away in like manner
to inform others still. In this way the work
continued to extend until it became general.
My first year on this district was one of the
happiest in my whole life. My health was
continually good, as was that also of my
family—my wife and child. The vine we
232 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

were exerting our utmost skill to dress, grew
until it shaded all the land and regaled us
with odoriferous flowers and delicious fruit.
Every thing went on pleasantly. The wants
of the preachers were supplied with the ut-
most ease; and the affectionate solicitude
manifested by the members for each other’s
happiness, and that of their fellow men, was
delightful. Here, as in Tennessee, I hesitated
not to call at any house when I wanted re-
freshment or a night’s entertainment. The
candle of the Lord shone brilliantly about my
path; and my cup was oftentimes full to
overflowing.

Previously to my entering upon the charge
of this district I attended our third General
Conference, which was held in Baltimore
in the month of May. At this conference we
had occasion of rejoicing on account of the
prosperity which had attended our labours
during the four years past. In the last year
our number had increased three thousand five
hundred and forty-three; and we had peace in
all our borders. ‘There was one thing, how-
ever, at which I was, as before I had been,
deeply grieved, and wondered that a matter
of such magnitude should be so slightly
passed over. It was the neglect of providing
some means to prevent so many locations.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 233

During the four years which were past one
hundred and twenty preachers had located;
and though our ranks were filled up in num-
bers, our loss in age and experience was
great. Of this we were sensible in my
district, which at the close of the second year
embraced fourteen thousand one hundred and
sixty-eight members, being an increase in two
years of more than six thousand.

On the second day of June our annual
conference commenced its session in Smyrna.
“Here,” Mr. Lee says in his History, “a great
work began.” But it had in fact begun two
years before in Pennsylvania, and had made
some progress on the peninsula, though not
without considerable opposition from persons
of influence who did not like it, at least from
the report they had heard respecting it.

At the Smyrna conference the work mani-
fested itself in its true character, and the
opposition ceased. ‘There were persons pre-
sent from almost all parts of the Eastern Shore,
who witnessed the general excitement and
gracious influence from the beginning to the
end of the conference, during which time
hundreds were converted to God. These re-
turned home, revived in their spirits, and
wondering at what they had seen, and heard,
and felt; and through the instrumentality of
234 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

some of these the fires of revival were kin-
dled up in their neighbourhoods before the
preachers arrived.

At the close of this conference one hundred
persons were received on trial in the church;
and Governor Bassett, Dr. Ridgly, and others
requested that a meeting might be appointed
at Dover during the ensuing May, to be called
the yearly meeting, to continue for one week.
In compliance with this request the appoint-
ment was made; and the meeting was no less
extraordinary than the one held at the con-
ference. There were but few of the principal
houses in this metropolis in which there were
not some converted during the meeting; and
more than once the whole night was employ-
ed, both in the church and private houses, in
prayer for penitents, and in rejoicing with
those who had obtained an evidence of par-
don, or were reclaimed from their backslidings.

_Having the charge of this meeting, its weight
would have béen more than I could bear,
only that I had brothers Cooper, Chandler,
Spry, and many others to sustain me in the
arduous task; and the best of all was, God
was with us.

But a cup of unmixed felicity does not fall
to the lot of any mortal in this world. On re-
turning from my first route around the dis-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 235

trict for the second year, I found my wife,
who had been confined during my absence,
exceedingly ill, and duty obliged me to remain
with her for a season.

The work of the Lord was still going on
rapidly ; and as soon as I could leave my
afflicted companion and my infant son, I
hasted away to see how the garden of the
Lord flourished.

Camp meetings had not yet been intro-
duced; and we knew not what to do with the
thousands who attended our quarterly meet-
ings. Sometimes we were forced to resort to
the woods, and even to hold our love-feasts in
the grove. Our membership increased rapidly ;
but we refrained from urging any to join the
Church until they had taken time to reflect and
examine whether they had fully made up their
minds to be religious, and could unreservedly
take upon themselves the vows of their God.

After finishing my third tour around my
district, on my way home I called on my
friend Dr. Ridgly, and inquired if he could
make it convenient to be at home on a
certain day, as I wished, Providence permit-
ting, to come down to Dover on that day and
get my little son vaccinated. The doctor was
a man of much feeling, and I saw that he was
greatly embarrassed at my mentioning my
236 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

little son. But I was not long kept in sus-
pense. Alas! my first-born was no more.
He had died during my absence. It was a
consolation to me, however, that I was not
absent on my own account, but in the cause
of my heavenly Master.

Before I left Philadelphia, the people were
greatly excited on the subject of politics.
Party spirit ran high. Mr. Adams was presi-
dent ; and addresses were presented to him
approving his administration and promising
him support. A proposition was made in our
conference to address him in like manner.
To this I objected. And in opposing the
introduction of politics into our ecclesiastical
councils, I made some remarks on the changes
which would be likely to take place in the
administration of our government, upon which
those who were influenced by a political frenzy
put such construction as suited them.

While labouring on the Eastern Shore, the
political fever began to affect the people in
this region; and, some how or other, my re-
marks came to be known to them, and I was
thereby rendered exceedingly popular with
one party, but lost all influence with the
other. These, though they treated me with
great kindness, had the address to effect my
removal from the district.
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 237

In 1802, I returned to the Philadelphia dis-
trict. The next year, 1803, I again took
charge of the Jersey district, and continued
on it four years. After this, I laboured two
years in the St. George’s charge, in the city
of Philadelphia. In all these places I saw
Methodism still on the advance, but not with
the rapidity which distinguished its march on
the Eastern Shore.

Toward the close of my charge in Philadel-
phia in 1808, I was attacked with a violent
fever, and my physician deemed it proper for
me to be bled. Until this time, I had not been
sensible of any material decline in strength,
agility, or sight; but now I could distinctly
perceive failures in each of these.

In the spring of 1809, my debility was
snch as rendered it necessary for me to take
a supernumerary relation ; and the following
year I was superannuated. In 1811, Lancas-
ter Town was the field of my labour.

In 1812, the General Conference was held
m New-York. At that conference, I was
elected one of the book agents. I continued
im this office four years, and was then appointed
to Long Island. From that time, 1816, I con-
tinued to be effective till 1825, so that I was
an effective travelling preacher, in all, forty
years.
238 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

CHAPTER XVI.

Reriections.—The moral condition of the country when
Methodism was introduced—The adaptation of the itinerancy
to the condition of the people—The character and labours of
the early preachers, and the purity of their motives—Reflections
on our treatment of the Indians—On our ecclesiastical organi-
zation—Misrepresentations respecting it—Mr. Wesley’s letter
to Bishop Asbury—Probable origin of it—Spirit of revivals—
Retrospect—Concluding remarks.

Wuite the United States were yet strug-
gling for independence, an infant sect, denomi-
nated Methodists, began to attract considerable
attention. ‘The more prominent peculiarities
which distinguished them in the view of the
public were, their itinerancy, and economy of
ministerial support. While, in these respects,
others deemed them singular, in their own
estimation they were primitive. There was
something peculiar also in their conceptions
of truth, by which they were led to the itine-
rant plan, the more generally and effectually
to disseminate it.

When the independence of the country
was achieved, and her liberal and wholesome
institutions established, there was nothing in
this new world, that is, no legal impediment,
to hinder the progress of the gospel. None

1
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 239

presumed to prescribe to others what they
should believe, and how they should wor-
ship; and all were left to be guided by the
dictates of their own consciences in these
matters. In these respects, all things were
as they should be.

While the civil institutions of the country
provided for the unrestrained dissemination
of evangelical truth, its moral condition loud-
ly called for it. The sword of the Lord
had fallen upon the idol shepherds, as pre-
dicted by Zechariah of old; the arm of pre-
lacy was withered, and her right eye utterly
darkened. Seeing their power and influence
gone, many who occupied the place of shep-
herds fled and left their flocks. Then might
it be said of thousands :—

“ Lost are they now, and scatter’d wide,
In pain, and weariness, and want ;

With no kind shepherd near to guide.
The sick, and spiritless, and faint.”

Fa

There was then a fair opportunity for those
who were zealous for God, to exert themselves
in seeking the lost sheep of the house of
Israel; and soon the voices of scores and
hundreds of the Methodists: were heard ex-
tending to every quarter of the new empire,
and proclaiming that Christ, in whose blood
all men have redemption, came into the world
240 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

to save even the chief of sinners, and inviting
all to come unto him and be saved.

None but those who were eye-witnesses of
the scenes transpiring in those days, can fully
appreciate the advantages of the Methodist
itinerancy to our scattered population. It was
spread out over a vast territory of country,
and constantly extending ; and in most places
the settlements were too small and poor to
support a settled minister. In many instances,
too, in the new countries, they were without
the regular forms of law, bound together only
by social intercourse and common interest.
But none of these places were too small, or too
poor, or too remote from the older settlements,
or too destitute of orderly government, to be
found out and regularly visited by the Method-
ist preachers. They went out into the high-
ways and hedges, seeking the most destitute
and needy, and were successful in establish-
ing the institutions of the gospel among them,
There are some still living who remember the
quickening, regenerating, and sanctifying in-
fluence, which attended the promulgation of
the glad tidings of peace by these heralds of
the cross. So mightily grew the word of the
Lord, that multitudes both of men and women
believed and were added to the church, inso-
much that, in one-half century, they have
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 241

increased to half a million. O that they
may so live, that it may always be said of
them, “This people have I formed for my-
self—they shall show forth my praise.”

With feelings which cannot be described, I
recall to mind those happy days of primitive
Methodism, when a young and growing band
of Christians and Christian ministers were
labouring together in the common cause, and
united by feelings of Christian sympathy and
affection infinitely stronger than the ties of
blood. A loquacious man was descanting the
other day in my hearing on the pleasures of
friendship. He congratulated himself as the
happiest man in the world, because, he said,
he did not know that he had an enemy on
earth. Well, then, thought I, does it follow
that all men are our friends, because we do
not know that we have any enemies? Friend-
ship is not so unmeaning a thing. Many who
know us may cherish no enmity against us,
while at the same time they feel no sympathy
or friendship for us. If without their assist-
ance we can get any thing good we may be
permitted to enjoy it without incurring their
envy or malignity. But they care nothing
about us; so, if we be overtaken with a storm
of adversity, or be driven into the disheartening

regions of cheerless porery or sink under
242 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

the gloom of a hopeless despondency, it is the
same to them—they have no feeling on our
account. Are these friends? Not such as
are ever present to my mind while contem-
plating the scenes of 1784, ’5 and ’6,—the
members, and especially the ministers, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. In connection
with them one could not fail to appreciate the
truth of this axiom,—‘‘ He who has friends
can never be alone in prosperity or adversity.”
The nominal friend, like the priest and the
Levite, will pass by on the other side ; but the
true friend will bind up our wounds, and pour
in the oil and the wine.

The preachers in those days had many
things to suffer—many dangers and toils to
pass through. Those who went into the great
valley were often in jeopardy from the red_
men of the forest, who saw their primitive
possessions wasting away before the white
man’s approach, and were frequently stimu-
lated by a sense of the wrongs they were
suffering to sell their inheritance at the dear-
est possible rate. Savage-like, in the pa-
roxysms of their fury, they would wreak their
vengeance alike upon the innocent and the
guilty ; and many hapless families, children
and all, were slaughtered or led into captivity
by them. As I have said before, my own
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 243

path has been infested by these ferocious sons
of the forest, so that I narrowly escaped; but
I could never find it in my heart to acquit the
white man of all blame in this matter and cast
it upon the natives. The history of their
wrongs and their sufferings is familiar to all
intelligent Americans; and who, knowing
how they have been treated from the begin-
ning—in what manner the soil which we cul-
tivate in peace has been obtained from them—
does not feel a wish that some just compen-
sation may be rendered to them? From the
readiness which this interesting people have
manifested to receive the gospel, and the evi-
dence of its saving and sanctifying efficacy
upon them, we are sustained in the opinion
that they might have been Christianized and
civilized from the first, had proper measures
been pursued toward them. And how God-
like would it have been, had men come to
them with the Bible in their hands, and hearts
glowing with love and pity; and, instead of
robbing them of their inheritance and exciting
their hostility, taught them the principles of
pure Christianity, and baptized them in the
name of the Holy Trinity! I sometimes
figure to myself a nation of red men, enjoying
the institutions of Christianity and civiliza-
tion—educated in the sciences, and adorned
244 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

with all that dignifies the noblest work of
God—and i inquire, “Might not the aborigines
of this country now have presented such a
nation if they had been properly dealt with ?”
In native sagacity, heroic fortitude, and elo-
quence, they are not surpassed by any people
in the world. What, then,. could prevent
their becoming a refined, moral, and Christian
people?

With all we had to suffer, a single motive,
to serve God and save souls, has actuated the
body of Methodist preachers from the begin-
ning; and, as I have before said, there was
one who knew that it was our highest ambi-
tion to keep the church pure, and to devote
ourselves wholly to the work. In view of
this, we loved the rules drawn up by Mr.
Wesley for the preachers, and cordially
adopted them at the Christmas conference by
a unanimous vote. ‘These rules are so excel-
lent in their composition, and admirably adapt-
ed to the promotion of sound morality and
practical piety, that we may challenge a com-
parison of them with any thing found among
the different denominations of Christians. It
is true that some of them are peculiar to an
itinerant preacher ; and I am prepared to say,
after an experience of nearly half a century,
that among all whom I have known, those
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 245

preachers who have observed the rules most
closely-and conscientiously have been the
most happy and useful; all who have neg-
lected or violated them have suffered loss;
and some entirely fallen away.

It is not to be supposed that all the mea-
sures adopted by the Church at its organiza-
tion were perfectly satisfactory to all who
took part in the deliberations of the conference
at which they were adopted. I am not there-
fore going to enter into a minute and unqua-
lified defence of all that was done on that
occasion. But the motives which influenced
the ministry to retain the modifications and
conduct of the itinerancy in their own hands
were pure; and I may offer a few remarks
respecting them.

We were ttinerants ; and he whose servants
we were knoweth that we were influenced by
a desire to spread scriptural holiness through
the land, and to preserve the ministry and
membership pure from error and sin. The
plan of a general superintendency had not
only been submitted to, but was universally
approved by both preachers and _ people.
The system was simple and familiar to us all.
Every thing went on as it had before our or-
ganization, with this advantage, that in our
church capacity the delightful privilege was
246 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

furnished us of bringing our children to be
dedicated in baptism at our own altars, and
of receiving the sacrament of the Lord’s sup-
per at the hand of our own ministers.’ Ordi-
nation was the only thing we had seemed to
lack ; and this lack was now supplied.

That our ecclesiastical polity and discipline
were not formed on the model of our civil
institutions, or that of other churches, we well
knew ; but we did believe, and so did our
people, that it was expedient to form them as
we did, in order to keep the itinerant system
in operation. And as this was a paramount
object, it was wisdom to conform the general
organization in a way to accomplish it. In
this, also, we followed what we thought to be
the plain view taken of the whole subject by-
Mr. Wesley, the father of the Methodist
family, and the founder of the itinerancy.
We did not deny the right to any people to
choose their pastors, or to have lay represent-
atives in their ecclesiastical councils if they
saw proper. But it was evident to us, that if
our societies should demand this they would
assume a fearful responsibility, as it must
subvert the itinerancy at the foundation, and
overthrow the whole system. But this they
had no disposition to do, and they understood
the effect of such a course, and prized the
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 247

plan for its intrinsic excellency and efficient
operation too much to wish any thing done to
injure it. Moreover we knew, and our people
knew, that we were wholly dependent on
them for our support; and that they could
wield this check over us at any time they
might deem it necessary. Such was the talk
among ourselves and among the most intelli-
gent of our people at the time. We assumed
nothing, made no new terms of communion,
(except one relating to slavery which we could
never enforce, and were obliged to rescind,)
and so far were we from discarding Mr.
Wesley, that we said, during his life we would
be subject to him as his sons in the gospel,
and, in matters belonging to church govern-
ment, obey his instructions. In this we un-
doubtedly went too far. But it was from the
best of motives. We loved Mr. Wesley, and
as far as it was consistent to be subject to
any individual under similar circumstances,
we delighted to serve him. But he was a
man, and was several thousand miles from
us; and he might become prejudiced against
us by misinformation or otherwise, and direct
what, if he knew us better, he would not.
Still in the ardour of our love and zeal we
did not enter extensively into such reflections.

Had I been told at the Christmas confer-
248 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

ence, that before I should go hence men
would rise up among us, calling themselves
Methodists, who would endeavour to make
the world believe such things as I have seen
put forth to the public and dogmatically as-
serted as truth, I would have replied, “ No, it
cannot be; none can ever be found to cogitate,
or even retail, so foul aslander!” But I have
learned how easy it is to place too much con-
fidence in men.

These allegations have been amply refuted
by Dr. Emory, in his work entitled “ Defence
of our Fathers,” so that it would seem need
less to say any thing bearing on that subject ;
yet, having had a long and intimate know
ledge of Messrs. Asbury and Coke, an old
friend who made a considerable journey to
see me and converse with me respecting
those times, has satisfied me that I ought to
state what I know in reference to these mat-
ters of which so much has been said. “Were
you not,” inquired my friend, ‘‘a member of
the Christmas conference?” I replied that I
was. “How did it happen then,” he con-
tinued, “that you suffered Dr. Coke and Mr.
Asbury to introduce into your Discipline
statements which were false in themselves?
They could not have done it,” continued he,
“ without your knowledge.” After thus intro-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 249

ducing the subject, he proceeded to say, that
there were a number in his vicinity who were
publishing such statements respecting those
men, and their conduct in regard to the or-
ganization of the Church. ‘“ There is one,”
said he, “‘ who has long been a local preacher,
that publicly affirms these things, and says
that Asbury did more harm to the Americans
by introducing Episcopacy than was ever
done by that arch infidel, Tom Paine.” He
further remarked that they were in the habit
of industriously circulating these statements
through the press, in pamphlet form, and
otherwise, without taking any notice of the
refutations they had received; and _ that,
knowing I was acquainted with the events of
those days, he had an earnest desire to see
me, and hear what I had to say with respect
to these things.

I perceived from what my friend said that
the insinuations which had been made, that
Mr. Wesley was dissatisfied with Mr. Asbury,
and soured against him, on account of his
taking the name of bishop, and therefore re-
buked him as acting contrary to what he
intended, had made some unfavourable im-
pressions on the minds of sincere and well
meaning persons; and this fact, among others,

induced me to comply with his request,
Li
250 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

Of Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury I can
say, I believe, from my intimate acquaint-
ance with them, that they were as pure in
morals and. motives as Mr. Wesley himself—
they were incapable of the acts ascribed to
them. They were, indeed, men, and as men
liable to err. But that they aspired to obtain
power with which it was not the will of Mr.
Wesley and the conference to invest them, is
an imputation which no one as intimately ac-
quainted with them as I was, could believe
for a moment. Nor was the Christmas con-
ference composed of a class of men to be so
easily imposed upon. They understood the
subject in all its bearings; and no considera-
tion would have induced them, at that june-
ture, to barter away their rights and _privi-
leges, especially in a manner contrary to
what they understood to be the views and
instructions of Mr. Wesley.

That Mr. Asbury did receive a letter con
taining the language of rebuke from the man
whom he delighted to serve and honour, I
knew soon after he received it; andI knew
also to whom he ascribed the work of sour-
ing the mind of his father and friend against
him. He afterward informed me that he had
received a letter from Mr. Wesley, in which
he said, “I am nevertheless- glad that you
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 251

remained in America, and rejoice that the
Lord has opened so wide a door before you.”

Mr. Asbury did not name the man who, he
thought, had done him the unkindness of en-
deavouring to disaffect Mr. Wesley’s mind
toward him. But I thought I knew to whom
he alluded. He was an elder brother, a chief
man among the preachers while in this country,
and a high-toned loyalist. After the declara-
tion of independence, he deemed it his duty
and that of all the preachers sent by Mr.
Wesley to America, to return home. Not
being able to prevail on Mr. Asbury to accom-
pany him, he forsook his charge, and went
over within the British lines, they being then
in possession of Philadelphia ; and there he
declared from the pulpit that he did not be-
heve God would revive his work in America,
until the people submitted to their rightful
sovereign, the king of England; and he ex-
pressed himself, in similar terms to Mr. As-
bury in a letter. In reply, Mr. Asbury said,
he was so strongly knit in affection to many
of the Americans that he could not tear him-
self away from them; that he knew the
Americans, and was well satisfied they would
not rest until they had achieved their inde-
pendence ; and plainly intimated that he be-
lieved they would become a free and inde-
252 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

pendent nation, and that there was a great
work to be accomplished in this country, under
the direction of Divine Providence, through
the instrumentality of Methodist preaching.
The letter from Mr. Asbury containing these
remarks providentially fell into the hands of
the American officers, and was the unpremedi-
tated cause of changing their views and feel-
ing respecting him, so that he was afterward
treated with more favour than he had been
before. Of this fact I was informed by a
man who was afterward governor of the state
of Delaware.

The preacher to whom Mr. Asbury attri-
buted the agency of endeavouring to disaffect
Mr. Wesley’s mind toward him had, from the
first, suspected him of being favourable to the
cause of the Americans; and when he be-
came fully satisfied of it, he manifested strong
opposition of feeling against him. And, be-
sides this, Mr. Asbury had offended him in
debate in conference on the spirit of the Ame-
ricans. This was a delicate subject to be
discussed at that time, as there were some
preachers as warm on the side of freedom
as this elder brother was against it. In his
remarks he said, he had been at the south,
and was alarmed at the noise—the wild enthu-
siasm—which he had witnessed in the south-
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 253

ern states ; that a stop must absolutely be put
to the prevailing wild-fire, or it would prove
ruinous to all we held sacred; and that he
had done all he could to suppress it, but was
ashamed to say that some of his brethren,
the preachers, were infected with it. In
this, he alluded to the peculiar character of
some of the great revivals then going on at
the south. Mr. Asbury became alarmed at
these imprudent remarks, and interposed to
put a stop to them in a way which was alike
gratifying to the preachers generally, and
mortifying to the person concerned. He evi-
dently returned to England with no very kind
disposition toward Mr. Asbury ; and with such
feelings as he cherished would not be likely
to make a very favourable representation of
him to Mr. Wesley. This was probably the
source of the letter which has been used in so
exceptionable a manner, since the death of
both these holy men, between whom malignity
itself could not effect a permanent breach,
however it might for a season weaken confi-
dence, and produce an unwonted jealousy.
On the subject of the spirit which attended
the revivals then in progress, Mr. Asbury
used to say, “ The friends of order may allow
a guilty mortal to tremble at God’s word, for
to such the Lord will look ;—and the saints
254 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

to cry out and shout, when the Holy One of
Israel is in the midst of them. To be hasty
in plucking up the tares, is to endanger the
wheat. Of this we should be aware, lest we
touch the ark to our own injury and that of
others.”

Much was said in those days on the subject
of order, especially by professors in other
churches. On this subject they erred by mis-
taking the order of man for the order of God.
God has his own way in carrying on his mar-
vellous works in the earth; and they who
would serve him in simplicity, must mark that
way, and not fight against him.

I once knew a pious female, a member of a
church, remarkable for her good sense and
propriety of conduct, who was constrained,
under a pathetic address of her minister, to
cry out and shout aloud. The effect was
thrilling. Numbers in the congregation trem-
bled and wept. The minister, however, sharply
rebuked her, and told her to be silent, or to
leave the house. She chose the latter, and
immediately retired to a grove, where, with-
out rebuke or interruption, she could give
vent to the swelling emotions of her pious
heart. Had the minister continued his ad-
dress instead of checking the impulse of feel-
ing uttered by this devoted Christian, and
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 255

called upon those who were weeping and
trembling, to humble themselves before God,
and seek his mercy, and the pious part of the
congregation to unite in prayer for them, he
would no doubt have had a great and glori-
ous revival of religion, and many souls would
have been rescued from the thraldom of sin.
But setting his face against the first manifest-
ations of God’s special presence among the
people, the serious impressions which some
had soon died away; and the good woman
who would have been a valuable helper to
him if the revival had gone on, was set down
as an enthusiast. Thus was she restrained
while she continued in connection with that
church. In process of time, however, she
removed to another place, where she opened
her doors for Methodist preaching, and was
the first to join class when an opportunity was
offered. After this, she lived long as a nurs-
ing mother in our Zion, greatly beloved and
respected by all who knew her.

From the diary of this excellent person I
took, by permission, the following extracts,
relating to the grove in which she retired for
devotion :—

“The grove to which I fled from the re-
buke of my minister, for disturbing what he
called the order of God, where nevertheless
256 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

the presence of my God, which attended me,
shone so bright that its foliage seemed tinged
with his glory, was long my favourite retreat.
Here were lofty trees, whose cooling umbrage,
in the sultry season, I often enjoyed, and
whose towering leafless heads I have seen in
winter wave to Him who bid them be, and I
ardently desired to be as pure from sin as they.

“The last time I visited this delightful re-
cess, on the one side a marshy swamp through
which no one could pass, and on the other an
open wood through which none could ap-
proach unseen, (for I wished to be unseen by
all but Heaven,) I renewed my covenant with
God, and received a delightful assurance that
he would go with me in the way I was about
to go ;—and, retiring, I cast back on this rural
temple a last and lingering look, and, sighing,
said, ‘Adieu! adieu, ye trembling aspens, em-
blems of myself, ye tremble without fear,
corroding fear! Adieu, ye towering poplars,
oaks, and elms! ye sweet magnolias, and
ye mantling vines, adieu! Beneath your am-
ple shade I’ve sat, I’ve knelt, I’ve sung, and
shouted out, Amen! without rebuke, and
made you witnesses of my solemn vows to
Him whose sacred hands were fastened to
a tree, and whose blood I hold to be the
source, the price, the sum, of all my hopes,
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 257

for time and for eternal ages. Hallelujah!
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!’”

In 1832, I attended the General Conference
in Philadelphia. After it closed, I made the
following communication to the Christian Ad-
vocate and Journal, which was published in
its columns :—

On the first day of May last, I took my
seat in the General Conference with senti-
ments and sensibilities that would have made
me happy in a desert or a dungeon. With a
palpitating heart, I surveyed the representa-
tives of more than half a million of Method-
ists, bound together by ties more sacred than
the ties of blood ; but among all these there
was not one of that band of brothers who
originally constituted the Methodist Episcopal
Church—no not one! all had been shrouded in
the grave or in the shade before my name
was transferred to the superannuated list.

All to whom I was personally known, ex-
cept a few old men, on shaking me by the
hand, called me father. And if I may be allow-
ed to take that appellation, where is the man
since the flood who has lived to see so nume-
rous a family grow up around him? Did I
hear one say, that would be arrogance,
indeed, to number among thy sons the Me-
thodist sanhedrim, with the venerable M’Ken-
258 MEMOIR UF REV. THOMAS WARE.

dree at their head, whose discriminating and
descriptive powers, though trembling on his
staff, still charm his listening auditors—with
his coadjutors, whose well-earned fame in the
Church is all abroad? That be far from thee.

And was it never known that sons sur-
passed their sires? But I am not afraid. No
one will deem it arrogance in me to say, of
all this goodly group in the itinerant ranks, I
am the first ; that is to say, I am one of those
who went before to smooth the rugged way
for those who came to rear the tender plant,
whose seed had been deposited by their fore-
runners, and to reap the field made ready to
their hands.

When the conference closed its session,
I said to myself, This has been to me the most
interesting General Conference I have attend-
ed, except the first. I could not help being
gratified that the ratio of delegates had not
been reduced, for I did not doubt but that the
coming together of such a body of ministers,
of the M. E. Church, in Philadelphia, would
be for the glory of God. They were men,
and, of course, not without defects; but such
a body of men, so talented and so richly im-
bued with missionary zeal, have, in my esti--
mation, seldom been together.

Our number, it is true, was rather large
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 259

for the despatch of business. All was not
done that I wished, but I have lived to believe
it were better to do too little than too much.
Our sky was generally clear. True, some
clouds did arise, and slight electric shocks
were felt, causing some painful solicitude,
which soon subsided—for our excellent presi-
dents, who lived in the entire confidence and
esteem of their brethren, to whom they were
personally known, could easily allay the
rising storm. The men over whom they pre-
sided well understood the nature, the necessi-
ty, and the desirableness of Christian amity.
They had been in the habit of telling their
auditors that unity among brethren was more
beautiful than the morning, sweeter than the
breath of spring, and richer than the Peruvian
mines ; and when admonished, you are now,
brethren, beginning to feel and act unworthy
of yourselves, they stood reproved, and the
gust of feeling, which, had it been indulged,
would have distorted the face, racked the
breast, and alarmed the spectators, soon died
away, and there was a great calm: ‘“ Blessed
are the peace-makers, for they shall be called
the children of God.” Several things conspired
to render this meeting agreeable to me. My
health was better than it had been for years,
insomuch that I felt no distressing lassitude,
260 MEMOIR OF REY. THOMAS WARE,

though generally at my post in the con-
ference, in committee, and at preaching. I
heard with pleasure many whose voices I
shall never hear again in time, and said, in my
heart, “The best of all is, God is with us.”

I have oftey heard it said, Past time seems
short, just like a well-told tale, or like a dream
when one awakes. Not so to me. To me
past time seems long, and so I sometimes
think it must, in fact, appear to others. Many
of my brethren seemed pleased to see among
them one who had a voice in the organization
of the Church in 1784, not without some
surprise that I should have breasted the
storms of life for so long a time, and was still
able to take a seat among them. Did not
past time to these, at least, seem long?

I was gratified, not flattered, I think, to
find my few sketches of our early history had
given pleasure to many. After I became an
itinerant, had I carefully attended to the rules
of a preacher in our excellent form of Disci-
pline, “Be diligent; never be unemployed ;
never while away time; neither spend any
more time at any place than is strictly neces-
sary.” Had I done this, there would have
been no want of knowledge in my ministerial
career. The harmony of the past and pre-
sent had never been lost, and, instead of a
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 261

sketch, I might have given at least a complete
portraiture of Methodism up to the present
day. Moreover, such is our predilection for
the past, as to render precious every fragment
that portrays some characteristic feature, espe-
cially of the venerable dead whom we have
known and loved; nor of these alone, but of
all who have deserved well of their fellow-
men. Let those who read, and especially thy
young itinerant brethren, understand and act
accordingly. Much may be gained by think-
ing with the pen, but let them not be content
with a general knowledge of the language in
which they think, but study its minutie before
the frost of age forbids a genial growth.

The General Conference manifested an
undeviating attachment to the plan of general
superintendency, and were, I think, happy in
the choice they made of two additional su-
perintendents. It is now ended, and my
brethren have gone to the four quarters of our
widely extended work, and my love, my
prayers, and my ardent wishes have gone
with them. God is love, and as he is, so are
we in this world. He, it is true, is an unbe-
ginning, never ceasing, and a for ever over-
flowing ocean; in this respect, we are not
like him ; but if there is a drop of this bound-
less ocean in our hearts, it flows out in a
262 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

thousand channels, pursuing its object over
lands and floods, without the least diminution
of the original drop. Some variation in minor
things we have known, but love has predomi-
nated, has so softened and mixed the shades
that, when we parted, as when we met, all
was peace and good will) To God be all the
glory. Such were my reflections at the con-
clusion of the General Conference in 1832.

IT am now approaching toward the close of
my earthly pilgrimage; and I may presume
to say, that there are few of my fellow-Chris-
tians who are more deeply affected with the
signs of the times thanI am. The zeal mani-
fested for the promulgation of the gospel
throughout the world, and the enterprises set
on foot for the promotion of experimental
godliness, I firmly believed more than half a
century ago would characterize this age,
though I might not live to see it. Before I
knew the Methodists, I had heard that they
claimed to be raised up of God to spread
scriptural holiness through the land; and this
claim had been denounced as monstrous arro-
gance. But the first time I attended their
preaching, and listened with interest to it, the
effect it produced upon my mind and that
of others, satisfied me that God was with
them, and would render them instrumental
MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE. 263

in stirring up such a spirit as we witness at
this day.

In this my expectations have been realiz-
ed. It has pleased God to permit me to live
to see it, and to mark its progress, which
affords me more satisfaction in my decline
of life, than all the wealth or honours of the
world could do. Methodism has been from
the beginning a peculiarly missionary system.
The operations of the day I regard as only
an extension of this system, varied and
modified to meet the openings of Providence
for the universal spread of the gospel
throughout the world. May God hasten the
day when the earth shall be filled with the
knowledge of his glory, as the waters cover
the sea.

For many years that are past, I have sighed
and said, “I alone am left of all my father’s
house.” A short time since, I made a visit to
the place where I was born. I found one
only of my early companious, and he was
trembling on his staff. At first he did not
know me, though we were particular friends.
And where are those who, in 1783, filled the
itinerant ranks? Are any of them left?
Not one. All of them were in their graves,
or in the shade, before I retired. Yet a little
while and I shall go the way of all flesh.
264 MEMOIR OF REV. THOMAS WARE.

And what, the reader may inquire, is my
hope for the future ?

For this life I have little to excite my hope.
I cannot expect to be released from putting
my feeble powers in requisition to supply my
daily wants. I do hope, however, to be sus-
tained, let the remnant of life’s current flow
as it may. But of future bliss in heaven, I
have a strong and well-grounded expectation.
Whatever claims I may suppose myself to
have upon the justice of my fellow-men, for
whose salvation I have ardently laboured, I
have none on God, except through him “who
was made sin for us, that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.”
Through his merits and mercies, I have a
well-grounded hope of a glorious immortality
beyond this vale of tears.

THE END.