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ELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
In compliance with current
copyright law, Cornell University
Library produced this
replacement volume on paper
that meets the ANSI Standard
Z39.48-1992 to replace the
irreparably deteriorated original.

2001
 

 

Cornell University Library

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

FISKE ENDOWMENT FUND

THE BEQUEST OF
Willard Fiske

LIBRARIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY 1868-1683

1905

Lot Lee el ts

 

i 97o6

 
 

ali
THE

WESLEYAN-METHODIST
MISSIONS,

IN JAMAICA AND HONDURAS,

DELINEATED:

CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE
PRINCIPAL STATIONS.

TOGETHER WITH A CONSECUTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE RISE
AND PROGRESS OF THE WORK OF GOD AT EACH.

ILLUSTRATED BY A MAP AND THIRTY-THREE LITHOGRAPH VIEWS,

EXECUTED FROM DRAWINGS TAKEN ON THE SPOT.

BY THE REV. PETER SAMUEL,

TWELVE YEARS A MISSIONARY IN JAMAICA.

LONDON:

PARTRIDGE & OAKEY, 34, PATERNOSTER ROW;
SOLD BY J. MASON, 66, PATERNOSTER ROW.

MDCCCL
v0

THE REVEREND ROBERT NEWTON, D.D.,
WHOSE UNWEARIED, ELOQUENT, AND
SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY
OF TUE BVANGHLUIAZATION oF
A PERISUING WORLD,

WAS LARGELY CONTRIBUTED TO RENDER
TUE WESLEYAN-METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIENY
ONE OF THER NOBLEST
CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS OF WILE AGE,
The following Volume
IS RESPECTFULLY [NSCRILED

BY

THE AUTHOR.
Caar,

il.

(Ll.

Iv.

Vi.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

l. Origin or tne Wesr Uxpra Missrox.—Difficulty of establishing a

Mission—Conversion and efforts of N. Gilbert, Esq.—Baxter’s arrival
and labours—Dr. Coke driven to the West Indies—Rapid extension
of the Mission,

Port Rovau.—First impressions of the Isiand—Scenery—A ccount
of Port Royal—Rise and Progress of the Mission,

Kixesron.—Origin and aspect of the city—Religions destitation—
Dr. Coke begins the Mission—Mr. Hammett—Parade Chapel opened
—Persecution—Mr. Werrill dies—Mr. Brazier leaves the Island—
Success of Messrs. Fish and M‘Vean— Messrs, Alexander, Campbell,
and Fowler arrive—Fresh Persecutions—Mr. Campbell escapes to
England—Mr. Fish returns home,

Kixesroxn—(Continued)—Messrs. Bradnack and Gilgrass arrive—-
Great prosperity—Mr. Knowlan—New persecuting Acts passed—
Mr. Gilgrass imprisoned—the Missionaries silenced—Iome Govern-
ment memorialized—a new Act of persecution passed—Mr. Wiggins
imprisoned--the Mission prospers—Parade Chapel re-opened—Mr.
Shipman arrives—Circuits formed—First District Meeting held—a
Second Chapel opened in Kingston—Rapid Progress of the Mission,

. Kivasron—(Continued)--Messrs Duncan and Young arrive— Wesley

Chapel erected—Arrival of Messrs, Whitehouse, Jenkins, and Allen
~—Death of Mr. Allen—Objectionable resolutions passed—A Dis-
trict Auxiliary Missionary Society formed—A new persecuting Act
passed by the Legislature—Ebenezer Chapel built—Death of Mis-
sionaries—Another attempt at legislative persecution—Mr. Barry
prosecuted for libel—First wateh-night service held—Alarm of the
Colonists at the progress of Anti-Slavery principles—The insurrec-
tion—Colonial Union formed—Report of the House of Assembly
denounced by the missionaries,

Kinastoxn—(Continued)—Earl of Mulgrave succeeds Lord Belmore—
Collision between the Governor and Assembly— Royal Proclama-
tion against Unions—Fury of the Unionists—Encouraging aspect of
the Mission—Departure of the Earl of Mulgrave—Addresses by the
Missionaries,

3h

au

53
CONTENTS.

VIL. Kixcsrox—(Continued)—Preparations for Emancipatioa—Gilt books
of the Bible Society—Celebration of Freedom—Rev. Valentine
Ward and party arvive—Mortality among the missionaries—a Tem-
perance Society formed—Prosperity—Educational efforts—Rev. T.
HL. Bewley appointed General Superintendent of Schools— Agitation
of the Societies—Termination of the Apprenticeship system—J ubilee
of the Mission—Marriage Act—New Coke Chapel opened—Great
Fire—Special Mission of Mr. Young—Promising appearance of the
Mission, : 74

Vill. Moyrego Bay.—Situation and appearance of the town—<Arrival of
Dr. Coke and Mr. Werrill—Mr. Fish—Conflagration—Maroon War
—Mr. Fish leaves—Mr. Campbell driven away—Messrs. Shipman,
Ratcliffe, Whitehouse, and Orton successively appointed—A new
Chapel built by Mr. Duncan—The Insurrection—Mr. Murray prose-
cuted—Conduct of Magistrates censured—Mr. Murray imprisoned—
Persecution put down—Messrs. Wedlock and Corbett—Emancipa-
tion—Death of Rev. Valentine Ward—Advancement of the Mission
under Messrs. Kerr, Edney, Mearns, and Fraser, . » 5 « BL

(X. Seanisu Town.—Description of Spanish Town—The mission com-
menced by Dr. Coke—Mr. White—Mr. Ratcliffe—Death of Mr.
Adams—Mr. Binning—a Society formed at Old Harbour— Messrs.
Crofts, Young, and Barry—a new Chapel erected in Spanish Town
—Mr. Kerr—a Chapel built at Old Harbour—Persecution—Prospe-
rity—Messrs. Edmondson and Harding— Mr, Chapman stationed in
St. Thomas-in-the-Vale—a Chapel erected at Linstead—Extent of
the Circuit, ° é 4 1g

X. Moranv Bay.—Situation and appearance of the town—Commence-
ment of the Mission—Messrs. Williams and Campbell persecuted
and imprisoned— Mr. Bradnack placed in favourable circumstances,
labours successfully, builds a chapel—Mr. Burgar prospers in his
efforts and dies—Mr. Wiggins—Messrs. Horne and Underhill—
Mr. Ratcliffe—Mr. Hartley dies—Death of Mrs. Ratcliffe and chil-
dren—Messrs. Johnstone and Duncan—Death of Messrs. Johnstone,
Underhill, Parkin, Penman, and Barr—Messrs. Atkins and White-
head labour with great succegs— Messrs. Rowden and Burrows—
Account of Yallahs, - ‘ ‘ ‘ 126

XL. Grarerun Hii.—Scenery of St. Thomas-in-the- Vale—Origin of the
mission—Grateful Hill Chapel built—First missionary meeting held
—Prosperity of the mission—Mr. Whitehouse—A chapel erected at
Unity—Abortive attempt to destroy Grateful Hill Chapel—Mr
Wedlock— Electric phenomena—Heavy rains—Emancipation of the
slaves—Earthquakes—A negro family— Prosperity of the mission—
Religious 'l'ract Society’s gifts—Baptist friends— A rude buok-keeper
—a temperance association formed---Agitation, re-action, and im-
provement, i : » Lk
CONTENU vii

XL. Stovey Hin1.—Situation of the station—Commencement of the mis-
sion by Mr. Young, and rapid progress—A chapel opened at Red-
hills—Mr. Grimsdall—Mr. W. Wood—Mr. Bleby—Effects of perse-
cution on the mission—Mr. Edney’s prosperity—a new chapel built
at Redhills—Death of Mr. Greenwood—Mr. Sergeant, . ; 186

XT. FaLtmMoutu.—Situation and appearance of Falmouth—Dr. Coke
preaches at Martha Brae—Mr. Shipman begins the Mission—Mr.
Binning—Mr. Ratcliffe forms a Society—Successful efforts of Mr.
Box—The insurrection—Mr. Box imprisoned—The people persecuted
—Robert Lamont and John Baillie—The Chapel destroyed by
‘Colonial Unionists "—Mr. Bleby assaulted—Meeting of the “ Co-
lonial Unionists ''—Suecess of Mr. Walters—The Chapel re-erected
—The mission advances—Duncans—A prosperous day-school—A.
Chapel erected—Affecting death of a negro child, . : 176

ALY. Sr. Ann's Bay.—Situation and appearance of the Parish of St. Ann
—A mission begun at Bellemont—Mr. Shipman invited by Mr. 8S.
D. Drew—Mr. Ratcliffe forms a Society at the Bay—Outrage on Mr.
Ratcliffe and family—Persecution and death of Mr. Grimsdall—
Messrs, Whitehouse, Orton and Watkis imprisoned—Magistrates
dismissed—Mr. Orton tried for perjury—Death of Mr. Saxton—Per-
secution—Chapels destroyed—Messrs. Wood and Greenwood driven
from St. Ann’s—Mr. Greenwood imprisoned, and again driven from
the parish—Cheering Success of Messrs. Greenwood and Barr—
Messrs. Whitehouse and Wood—Death of the latter—Death of Mr.
Walters— Efforts to rebuild the chapels—A chapel built at the Bay
—Great success— Noble liberality of the people—The Circuit divided
—Mr. Kerr—Liberality and disinterestedness of the people, « 192

XV. BEECHAMVILLE, WATSONVILLE, AND Guy's Hrrt.— A Chapel erected
at Bellemont—The first Missionary Meeting—Death of Mr. Drew—
Prosperity of the mission—Bellemont vacated—The Society removed
to Blackheath—T wo years’ persecution—Re-establishment and pros-
perity of the mission—Blackheath vacated—Beechamville and Wat-
sonville Stations formed—Guy’s Hill—Commencement of the
mission—CGeorge Stanbury—A Society formed by Mr. Edney—
united to Oracabessa circuit—Mr. Ritchie—a Chapel erected by Mr.
Hodgson—FEnlargement of the circuit,

w
~

XVL. Ocno-Rios, Brown’s Town, axp Stewart's Tows.—Ocho-Rios—
Mission begun— Imprisonment of Mr. Grimsdall—A Chapel opened
—The Chapel burnt down by the Colonial Unionists—The people
compelled to hold their meetings in the open air for six years—Mr.
Whitehouse’s success—Death of Miss Jarvis—A new Chapel built
—Prosperity of the station—Want of sufficient Ministerial help—
Brown’s Town—A circuit formed—My. Randerson—Mr. Seccombe
—Mr. Foster—Stewart’s Town—Mr. Box forms a Society—Mr
Hornby—Death of Mr. Bewley—DProsperity of the station, . » 230
wil CONTENTS.

XVIL baru, Sr. THOMAS-IN-THE-EAst.—Situation and appearance of Bath
A mission proposed to Messrs. Underhill and Horne—Premises pur-
chased and a Society formed—Successful lubours of Messrs. John-
stone, Duncan, Tremayne, Whitehouse, Orton, and Crookes—Mr.
Samuel appointed to the circuit—Discipline—a Negro Funeral—
Moral evils of Slavery—Death of a slave—Messrs. Bleby and
Ritchie—Prosperity of the Mission under Messrs. Simmons, Edney,
and Rowden—a New Chapel erected—Mr. Atkins, A 243

XVIIE. MancironeAL anp Porr Moranr.—Situation and appearance of
Manchioneal—Mr. Bradnack begins 4 mission—Messrs. Underhill
and Horne—Messrs. Johnstone and Duncan—A Chapel built—Pro-
gress—Mr. Rowden imprisoned— Persecution of Mr. Barr—Ad-
vancement of the station under Messrs. Gregory, Rowden, Atkins,
and Williams—Port Morant—Origin of the Cireuit—A Society
formed at Rocky Point—A Society formed at Port Morant by Mr.
Atkins—A Chapel erected— Rapid extension of the mission—Port
Morant made the head of the Cireuit—Prosperity of the Societies, 257

NIX. Port Anronro AnD Mount Frercuer.—Description of Port An-
tonio—Captain Reece and Mr. Thaxter—Mr. Kerr forms a Society
—Death of Mr. Ratcliffe—Mr, Edney—Death of Mr. Vowles—Mr.
Greenwood erects a Chapel at Hope Bay—Persecution—Mr. Row-
den—Mr. Crookes—Mr. Samuel—Success among soldiers—Emi-
grants—Happy Deaths—Mr. Williams builds a chapel—Death of
Mr. and Mrs. Davies—Mount Fletcher—Situation—Mr. Harding
erects a Chapel—Mr. Hornabrook, . : 3 ¢ : 271

XX. Cuarenpon AnD Biack River.—Extent and aspect of Clarendon
Circuit—Halse Hall visited by Mr. Crofts—A Station begun at Lime
Savannah—Persecution—Success of Messrs. Corlett, Bird, Burrows,
and Wilcox—A Society formed at Vere—Death of Messrs. Wilcox
and Corbett—Messrs. Rowden and Jackson—Death of Mr. Jackson
—A Chapel erected at Lime Savannah, and a Schoolhouse at Vere
—Messrs Samuel and Davies—Schools opened—Success—Liberality
of the people—Messrs. Hodgson, Lewis, and Thompson—Black
River—A Mission begun by Mr. Simmons—Messrs. Curtis and
Burrows—Death of Mr. Redfern, . ‘ . 289

XXL. Savayya-ra-Mar, Lucea, axp Mounr Wakrp.—Desceription of
Savanna-la-Mar—Mr. Box begins a mission—Persecution—Messrs.
Inglisand Bleby re-organize the mission— Mr. Curtis—Mr. Lofthouse
erects a Chapel—Death of Mr. Lofthouse—Messrs. Randerson and
Moss—Lucea—Situation of the Town—A mission begun—Messrs.
Bleby and Seccombe—Mr. Chapman erects 2 Chapel and enlarges
the Cireuit—Mount Ward—Situation—Mr. Murray begins a mission
—Two years’ persecution—Mr. Wedlock revives the Society—Mr.
Ritchie appointed resident missionary—Mr. Lofthouse commences a
Chapel—Mr. Curtis—Mr. Chapman dies, . a 3uUL
CONTENTS.

X XI. Honpuras.—Description of the settlement—Belize—Mr. Wilkinson
begins the mission—Death of Mr. Wilkinson— Death of Mr. John-
ston—Mr. Wedlock erects a Chapel—Mr. Pilley fails to establish a
mission among the Mosquito Indians—Mr, Edney extends the mis-
sion—The Charibs build a Chapel—Messrs. Greenwood and Jefferies
—State of the Mission under Messrs. Webster and Collier,

ix

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SHYRSSSEAS

ORDER OF THE VIEWS.

. The House in which the Mission was begun to face the

title page.

. Map of the Stations to face

. Port Royal Chapel,

. Parade Chapel,

- Wesley Chapel and Shoat aise:
. Ebenezer Chapel, ;

. Coke Chapel and Schoolhouse,

. Montego Bay Chapel, :

. Beecham Chapel, Sandy Bay,

. Spanish Town Chapel,

. Morant Bay Chapel,

12.
. Grateful Hill Chapel and Pace.
. Stoney Hill Chapel and House,

. Falmouth Chapel,

. Duncan’s Chapel,

. Mission House at St. Ann’s ng

. St. Ann’s Bay Chapel,

. Beechamyille Chapel and Louse,

Yallahs Chapel,

\ Watsonville and Guy's Hill Chapels,

. Ocho Rios Chapel,

\ Brown’s Town and Stewart's Town Chapels,

. Bath Chapel and Premises,

. Manchioneal Chapel,

- Port Morant Chapel,

. Port Antonia Chapel,

. Mount Fletcher Chapel,

. Lime Savannah Chapel, .

. Savanna-la-Mar Chapel,

32. Lucca Chapel,

3. Mount Ward Chapel,

. Belize Chapel, Honduras Bay,

PAGE.

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oo Rt ee

126
146
148
166
176
186
192
212
217

230
234

243
257
267
271
284
289
301
304
306
311
 

 

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CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE WEST INDIA MISSION.

Difficulty of establishing a Mission—Conversion and efforts of N. Gilbert, Esq.—
Baxter's arrival and labours—Dr. Coke driven to the West Indies—Kapid
extension of the Mission.

THE success which has crowned the efforts of Evangelical Churches
to diffuse the glorious Gospel, within the last half century, calls for
devout thanksgivings, more earnest prayer, and enlarged exertions
on the part of all who long to see the day when “ the fulness of the
Gentiles shall be brought in, and all Israel saved.” As various
circumstances have operated to acclerate or retard the progress of
the glad tidings of salvation among the heathen, the Mission field
presents a variety of features, more or less interesting to the religi-
ous public. Each Mission has its extraordinary, as well as its
common-place aspect: its period when incidents, full of all that is
exciting in disclosures of the degraded condition of the human
family abound: when the Missionary has penetrated the dark
places of the earth, with the torch of Gospel truth, and witnessed
the ravages of sin among his fellow-creatures, his discoveries are
sought after with an eagerness proportionate to their novelty, which
gradually dies away, as the ameliorating influence of Christianity
assimilates the once degraded heathen to the ordinary condition of
the professing Christian world.

This fact has received a striking illustration in West Indian Mis-
sions. Who that remembers the thrilling tales generated by
slavery, and the struggle that terminated in its annihilation in the
British colonies, can forget the deep interest felt by every Christian
and philanthropist during these periods ?

As a field for Missionary enterprise the British West Indies were
far from encouraging, from the sacrifice of health and life required
by a climate inimical to European constitutions ; the resistance inhe-
rent in slavery to the spirit and claims of Uhristianity ; the heteroge-
neous character of the population, from physical as well as social
and political causes; the mental degradation and absence of educa-
tion; the pernicious influence of Obeahism and African superstition;
the stringent discipline necessary to extort labour ftom the unwilling
captive ; the suspicious light in which every religious teacher was

A
10 ORIGIN OF THE MISSION.

viewed by those whose intelligence made them aware of the fact,
that their power must be proportioned to the blindness of their vic-
tims.. The immense influence possessed and exercised by West
Indian proprietors in the Parliament of the mother country, as well
as in the Colonial Houses of Assembly, gave a respectability, a con-
sistency, an air of justice, and a degree of power sufficiently formi-
dable to the apparently weak efforts of a few humble missionaries,
whose whole strength lay in the blessing of Him who is pleased by
the most insignificant means to bring about the grandest results of
his moral government.

It is a remarkable as well as pleasing fact, that the Methodist
Mission in the West Indies was originated by a slaveholder, who
was also Speaker of the Honourable House of Assembly in the
Island of Antigua. This gentleman, whose name was Nathaniel
Gilbert, being on a visit to England, was brought to God by the
ministry of Mr. Wesley, who notices him in his Journal of Feb.
17th, 1758 :—‘‘I preached at Wandsworth. A gentleman come
from America has again opened a door in this desolate place. In
the morning I preached in Mr. Gilbert’s house. Two negro servants
of his, and a mulatto, appear to be much awakened.” Again, in
December, he observes :—‘‘ I rode to Wandsworth and baptized two
negroes belonging to Mr. Gilbert, a gentleman lately come froin
Antigua; one of these is deeply convinced of sin; the other
rejoices in God her Saviour, and is the rirst African Christian I
have known. But shall not our Lord in due time have these
heathens also ‘for his inheritance?’” Here we have the first-
fruits of the West India Mission: the master and his slave,—a
happy pledge of future success.

Mr. Gilbert began to call sinners to repentance ere he left Eng-
land. In 1760, Wesley, on arriving at Bristol, remarks :—“ I per-
ceived by the liveliness of the people that Mr. Gilbert’s labours
had not been in vain.” The anxiety he felt for the happiness of
his fellow-men was now particularly diverted towards those in dark-
ness around his West Indian home. He tried to prevail on the
illustrious John Fletcher to accompany him as the first missionary
to his benighted people, as appears from the following extract of a
letter written by that good man, to the Rev. C. Wesley, dated
March 22, 1759 :—‘‘ A proposal has lately been made to me to
accompany Mr. Nathaniel Gilbert to the West Indies. I have
weighed the matter ; but, on the one hand, I feel that I have neither
sufficient zeal, nor grace, nor talents, to expose myself to the temp-
tations and labours of a mission in the West Indies; and, on the
other, I believe, that, if God call me thither, the time is not yet
come. I wish to be certain that I am converted myself, before I
leave my converted brethren to convert heathens. Pray, let me
know what you think of this business: if you condemn me to put
the sea between us, the command would be « hard one; but T might,
QRIGIN OF THE MISSION. 11

possibly, prevail on myself to give you that proot of the deference
I pay to your judicious advice.”

Returning to Antigua, Mr. Gilbert invited one or two to join him
in his family worship. ‘On the afternoon of the first Sunday six
besides his own family attended; on the second, nine; and on the
third, about eighteen.” It was immediately reported throughout
the island that he had turned preacher; from this time he lost all
relish for the practice of the law, and felt an exclusive desire to pro-
claim the glorious Gospel; a natural shame and fear of man to which
he had been subject, entirely left him as soon as he began publicly
to proclaim the word of God. His brother, Francis Gilbert, supported
him; general attention was excited; his house, though capable of
accommodating about two hundred, soon became too small for the
growing congregations. Unmoved by the ridicule with which he
was assailed, he continued his efforts as long as he lived; and
when called to rest from his labours, two hundred negroes, convinced
of sin or converted to God by his ministry, wept over his grave.
Left as sheep without a shepherd, a few were picked up by some
Moravian Missionaries, who arrived about this time in the island,
and the remainder were found by Mr. John Baxter, who, against
the earnest remonstrances of his friends, proceeded to Antigua in
1780 to pursue his business of shipwright in his Majesty’s dockyard
in English Harbour. This excellent man, who had been a local
preacher at Chatham, in England, full of zeal to do good, returned
from the exhausting toils of the day only to spend the evening in
instructing the slaves on the plantations; while all his Sabbath
hours were sacredly devoted to religious labours. Not “ counting
his life dear unto himself,” he continued steadfast in his career of
usefulness, though assailed by much opposition and persecution.
At length he gave up his situation of storekeeper, with a Govern-
ment salary of £400 currency per annum, trusting his Heavenly
Father for bread, in order that he might be at full liberty to
pursue his apostolic toils among a willing people, who hungered and
thirsted for the bread and water of life. His end was in harmony
with his character ; he was ardently loved by the negroes, for whose
eternal happiness he sacrificed all he possessed, and toiled inces-
santly, till, in 1805, he went to glory from among them in the full
triumph of faith.

From his success his toils became so severe, that, unless relieved
by some assistance, he must soon fall a sacrifice. Mr Wesley was
repeatedly and earnestly written to, but no help arrived, till, by a
singular Providence, Dr. Coke was brought to witness with his own
eyes the necessity of the case. This distinguished missionary hav-
ing, in 1785, left England for Nova Scotia, accompanied by Messrs.
Hammet, Warrener, and Clarke, was unexpectedly carried to the
Island of Autigua, the scene of Baxter's labours. The voyage
proved one of the most perilous ever witnessed bv those on hoard
12 OKIGIN OF THE MISSION.

the ship: one tempest followed another in rapid succession ; the
vessel sprung a leak; the stores were nearly exhausted, and all
hope of reaching America given up, when the captain resolved to
run for the most convenient port that might present itself in the
West Indies. During this season of trial the missionaries con-
tinued in earnest prayer to “ Him who holdeth the winds in his fist
and the waters in the hollow of his hand ;” while the captain raved
like a maniac, erying out, “There’s a Jonah on board! there is a
Jonah on board.” In a fit of superstitious frenzy he rushed on Dr.
Coke, seized his books and papers, cast them into the raging sea,
and vehemently declared that, should he again dare to pray while
he remained on board his ship, he would throw him overboard !

As they approached the West Indies, the weather gradually
became mild, and with it the temper and conduct of the captain.
The first port they reached was St. John’s in the Island of Antigua,
at which they arvived on Christmas-day. No sooner were they
put ashore than the Doctor and his companions met Baxter, who
was on his way to preach to a large congregation of black and
coloured people.

The mystery of their disastrous voyage was now solved : the set
time to favour the West India islands was come; a great and effec-
tual door was opened for missionary efforts ; the fields were “ white
into the harvest ;” “Ethiopia was stretching out her hands unto
God.” The joy of the devoted Baxter and his people was fully
shared by their unexpected visitors. The pious heart of Coke was
stirred in him at the sight of a thousand Africans listening with
intense interest to the glad tidings of salvation from his lips, and
receiving at his hands the memorials of the Redeemer’s dying love.
[lis reception by all classes was cheering. A salary of £500 per
annum was offered if he would settle in the island, and he was in-
vited, as a mark of respect, to a public dinner, at which the Duke
of Clarence, aftewards William the Fourth, was one of the guests.

If the soul of Columbus was thrown into ecstasy at the sight of
these enchanting islands, where nature has poured out in rich pro-
fusion her choicest beauties, the sight of the moral condition of their
inhabitants engaged the deepest sympathies of the devout missionary,
who was so providentially cast upon their shores. Fired with the
thought of diffusing scriptural Christianity throughout the islands
of the Caribbean Sea, he left Mr. Warrener to assist Baxter, and
proceeded to some of the neighbouring islands, in order to extend
the mission. St. Vincent’s presented an open field; a society was
formed which soon numbered 500 members. St. Christopher’s gave
sunilar encouragement. The success which crowned their labours
at St. Eustatius kindled the rage of the enemies of the Gospel.
“Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort’? set on, and encouraged
by the inagistrates, succeeded in driving the missionaries from the
island. The flock being thus deprived of their shepherds continued
ORIGIN OF ‘THE MISSION. 13

to assemble, and encouraged each other to hold fast, and hope for
better days.

In 1788 the missionaries visited Tortola and Nevis, where they
met with a cordial welcome from many who received their message
with joy. At the latter island a society was formed, which gave
great encouragement; whilst at Tortola their success was still
greater; within six years 1500 were received as members, who
gave genuine evidence of a desire to “ fice from the wrath to come.”
An extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit accompanied the
preaching of the word, by which it had “free course” and was
“ plorified.”

In the month of December an attempt was made to establish a
mission at Barbadoes, but the determined hostility of the planters
rendered it impracticable. At this time, Dr. Coke arrived at Port
Royal, in Jamaica, and commenced a mission amidst mingled oppo-
sition and encouragement.

Thus, in the short period of two years, promising missions were
established in Antigua, St. Christopher’s, St. Eustatius, Nevis, St.
Vincent’s, Dominica, Tortola, and Santa Cruz, under the care of
thirteen missionaries, who succeeded in uniting about four thousand
souls in church membership.

The rapid progress of the Mission in its commencement continued
unabated; the more it was opposed, the more it multiplied and
grew; persccution assumed many forms, and plied its energies in
vain. In the British Senate, the Missionaries were denounced as
incendiaries, and Government earnestly urged to save the colonies
from their mischievous hostility ; while colonial laws were enacted
to arrest them in their efforts in the islands. Missionaries were im-
prisoned, their people scourged with the whip, chapels and meeting-
houses destroyed, while a venal press kept the minds and passions
of the colonists in a constant fever of suspicion and rage against the
preachers of the Gospel. Still all failed to hinder the advancement
of the truth, and its genuine results—civil and religious freedom.

The progress of the Anti-Slavery Society in England rendered
the colonists desperate ; and, though the missionaries had no con-
nexion with that philanthropic society, they were denounced as its
agents, in spite of their protestations, and the evidence furnished by
their simply evangelical labours and devoted lives. The length to
which their opposition proceeded in 1832 gave the final blow to a
system which set itself against the best interests of mankind in both
worlds. The sufferings of the missionaries and the people of their
charge roused the British public to demand of the legislature the
termination of Slavery, as abhorrent to humanity, justice, and reli-
gion. The public voice reached the ear of Parliament, and of the
throne, and the demand was responded to in a manner which re-
flects imperishable glory on the Crown and Government of Great
Britain. The memorable lst of August, which wiped away the
14 ORIGIN OF THE MISSION.

darkest stain that ever marked the escutcheon of our country, re-
moved every barrier to the diffusion of Christianity in the West
Indies. If, under slavery, cheering success attended missionary
effort, it increased a hundred-fold after it was removed. :

The Wesleyan Mission in the West Indies has assumed a magni-
tude that must astonish all who calmly consider it. There are now
5 districts, 55 circuits, 197 chapels, 186 minor preaching places, 86
missionaries and assistant missionaries, 7 catechists, 143 day-school
teachers, 1464 Sunday-school teachers, 181 local preachers, 52,086
church members, 1290 on trial, 107,267 hearers, and 18,359 scholars
in the schools ; and, besides contributing largely towards the support
of the Gospel among themselves, in building churches and support-
ing their own pastors, for many years the members have assisted the
General Mission Fund, for the diffusion of the Gospel in other parts
of the world : last year the sum they thus contributed amounted to
near £3000, though suffering to a lamentable extent in temporal
matters |

That a mission, among one of the most despised and injured sec-
tions of the human family, should be distinguished by such unex-
ampled prosperity, is encouraging to all who are engaged in promot-
ing the grand object of evangelizing the world.

Though the painful tales which formerly gave interest to the
West India Mission, during slavery, no longer assail our ears, and
excite our feelings, yet the sober-minded Christian will continue to
regard with deep interest the peaceful triumphs of the Gospel.
India, Western and Southern Africa, New Zealand, and the Islands
of the South Sea, will long continue to furnish materials for striking
incidents to stimulate the Church to further efforts. Something has
been accomplished towards saving the world; but, alas! what is it,
compared with what is yet to be done? More than 600,000,000 of
our race are still unvisited by the messengers of the Churches!
While past success abundantly encourages, let future triumphs be
earnestly sought by every disciple of Him who shall yet have the
heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth
for his possession.
 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CHAPTER II.
PORT ROYAL.

First impvessions of the Island—Scenery—Account of Port Royal—Rise and
Progress of the Mission.

Barriep by unfavourable winds, sixty-eight days were consumed in
the voyage between London and the Island of Jamaica. During
the night of January 3d, 1832, the rain poured in torrents, giving
us a specimen of those tropical showers so often witnessed and
spoken of with astonishment by travellers from more temperate lati-
tudes. Towards morning it cleared up, and, as it began to dawn,
Blue Mountain was descried by a seaman from the mast-head. The
discovery was instantly communicated to the captain, and by him
to the slumbering passengers below, who, in a few minutes, were
all assembled on deck, one with a cloak half-thrown over his night
habiliments, another in gown and slippers, with night-cap in hand;
the absence of sufficient covering was wholly lost sight of in the
hurry to catch a first glance of the object which promised a termi-
nation of our marine captivity. The peak, as usual, being enveloped
in dense white clouds, it was some time ere the unpractised eyes of
those on deck could make out what appeared so plainly from the
topmast. Curiosity accelerated the process of dressing : a few
minutes sufficed to place each new comer in the best position for
feasting the eyes on every striking object that might present itself
as we sailed along the shore.

As our barque glided along, the majestic mountain that rears its
cloud-capped head in solitary grandeur above the island, gradually
enlarged to the view, deep dyed in purple, slightly tinged with
green and grey, mingled with streaks of fleecy mist, till, as we drew
nearer, it became more defined, breaking into piles of mountain and
hill of minor magnitude, whose bases terminated in luxuriant vales
aud plains under cultivation, adorned with whitewashed plantation
works, dwelling-houses, negro huts, cane fields, and pastures of
guinea grass, whose clear verdure contrasted beautifully with the
deeper green of the cocoa nut, Palmetto Royal, Mangoe, and other
trees, of richest foliage. Morant Point, Port Morant, Movant Bay,
the White Horses, and Yallahs, successively came into view. The
sun beamed with dazzling brilliancy over sea and land, imparting a
vividness of beauty surpassing the most glowing conception we had
formed of even tropical scenery. On nearing the east end, a canoe
was seen making towards us, rowed by two coal-black Africans,
Lb PORT ROYAL.

nearly naked, and steered by a mulatto. The tiny vessel breasted
the waves of the beautiful blue sea in gallant style. As soon as it
shot alongside of our barque, the blacks sprang on board with sur-
prising ease: in an instant, greetings of recognition were passed be-
tween them, our captain, mate, and steward. The mulatto proved
to be a pilot ; at once he was invested with command of the ship.
The other two plied the captain with a profusion of begging compli-
ments :—“ Dat Massa, be so good as gib we someting for nyam ;
only one piece v’ beef like Massa use for do, for old ’quaintance
sake, bekuysen we sperience Massa’s yoodness from time.” Having
paar they quickly took to the canoe, and pulled towards the
and.

Our pilot, a tall, well-formed man, of graceful address, announced
that the slaves on the north side of the island were in a state of
open insurrection, and that alarming intelligence was arriving in
Kingston every hour. Our captain looked unutterable things, and
our military fellow-passengers observed that they seemed to have
come just in time to get into a kind of active service, on which they
had not calculated.

Towards evening, we anchored at Port Royal, and were instantly
surrounded by canoes, whose sable occupants were clamorous for
the honour of taking us ashore. The health officer paid his official
visit, cast a scrutinizing glance at each on board, asked some ques-
tions of the captain, and in a few minutes was comfortably seated in
his canoe, and out of sight. The Rev. J. Corlett, who had long ex-
pected our arrival, now hailed us. We dressed with all possible
speed, arranged about our luggage, bade farewell to our fellow-pas-
sengers, and, for the first time, trusted ourselves to a frail canoe,
and were soon landed at the wharf.

The gorgeous colouring of every surrounding object produced a
kind of admiration, as if we had arrived in some fairy land; it was
only now that the rich glowing tints of Italian pictures we had seen
appeared to have any resemblance in nature. The clear deep blue
of the sea, gently ruffled by the expiring trade wind,—the face of the
heavens, bright, cloudless, and calm, glowing with the golden efful-
gence of the setting sun, produced in the western sky a scene of
aerial glory that bids defiance to any attempt at description. The
land was no less imposing ; the lofty mountains, lighted up by the
solar beams, threw their broad shadows over the deep ravines and
vales below ; while Port Royal, almost level with the sea, presented
its batteries, barracks, hospital, wharves, and houses, surmounted by
clusters of the cocoa nut tree, whose palmy foliage gracefully yielded
to the evening breeze. On landing, we were subjected to the scru-
tinizing gaze of a motley crowd of all classes and colours of people,
from the pale-faced European to the jet-black African. On our way
to the mission house we were politely saluted by some who recog-
nized us as newly arrived missionaries. Mrs. Corlett gave usa
PORT ROYAL. 17

kindly welcome, and the first specimen of the Chiristian hospitality
for which West Indian missionaries and their wives have ever been
distinguished.

After tea, my brother missionary and fellow-passenger, Mr.
Burrows, preached to a most attentive congregation of black and
coloured persons, the singing -was soft, sweet, and devotional. At
the end of the service the people crowded about us, shook hands,
enquired about our voyage, health, friends, England, missionaries
who had formerly preached to them, or whatever the inspiration of
the moment suggested, expressed their delight at seeing us, and
poured forth a thousand good wishes for our happiness and useful-
ness amoug them. ‘he rest of the evening was spent in conversa-
tion about home, friends, travelling incidents, our new circumstances,
the missionary work, the country, the people, climate, the best
methods of preserving health, aud promoting the object of our mis-
sion. After family prayer, we retired, with grateful feelings to-
wards Him who had so mercifully brought us to our desired
haven.

No sooner were we prepared to enjoy the luxury of sleeping on
shore, than the crowing of cocks, whose shrill clarions resounded on
every side, mingled with the chirping of insects, and the hum of an
army of mosquitoes, effectually prevented sleep ; the atmosphere was
sultry and stifling, and, though a single sheet was all our covering,
it seemed too much to bear. We felt as if breathing the air of a
brick-kiln. After a restless night, we sallied forth betimes, to
breathe the morning air, and see the town.

Under the guidance of a young friend, we wandered about this
famous locality. The town is erected at the west point of a narrow
tongue of land, composed of coral rock, thinly covered with arid sand,
partially overgrown with mangrove, sea-grape, and several species
of cactus. It stretches in an easterly direction, and joins the island
at Rock Fort, about seven miles distant, forming a powerful barrier
to Kingston Harbour against the incursions of the sea, which, in
stormy weather, breaks over, and lays portions of it under water.
Though Kingston Harbour is considered large enough to shelter all
the navies of Europe, its entrance at Port Royal is narrow and in-
tricate, and so defended by batteries that no hostile armament can
attempt to enter, without certain destruction. Fort Charles stands on
the south-west of the town, bristling with heavy ordnance, which
completely command the mouth of the harbour. The barracks
accommodate a large body of troops. The Royal Hospital is a re-
markably neat, light, and handsome structure, iron being the prin-
cipal material of which it is built: for the sick in such a climate, it
is well adapted, being quite exposed to every breath of air, and fur-
nished with every convenience. Lverything about the Fort is cha-
racterized by strict attention to cleanliness and order. Directly
west, on the opposite shore, on an elevated rock, stands a battery of

B
[s PORT KOYAL.

twelve guns, significantly titled “the Apostles’ battery.” At the
north-west angle of Kingston Harbour, on a small peninsula of coral,
which joins the hills at Port Henderson, by a narrow isthmus of
sand, the long level walls of Fort Augusta appear, the guns of
which sweep completely the channel. The buildings of the fortress
occupy the entire area of the point. The south face of the batteries
is washed by the waters of the ship channel, while the wall on the
north and west rises from a shallow lagoon lying in that direction,
the effluvium of which is carried off during the day by the trade
wind. The barracks are well ventilated, and atford accommodation
for four service companies. In 1763, the magazine of this fort was
struck by lightning; in en instant three thousand barrels of gun-
powder exploded, the buildings, bastions, and guns were blown to
atoms, and three hundred human beings swept into eternity! The
royal dockyard presents a perfect contrast to what it did formerly,
when it was the chief naval establishment of the West India and
American colonies. The harbour will contain a thousand large
ships ; it swarms with sharks, and such other fish as dare to keep
their company. The parish church, government buildings, and a
few respectable dwellings, along with the Wesleyan Mission Chapel,
a sketch of which is here given, are the only objects worthy of
notice in this once celebrated town, whose history is one of the most
remarkable on record. Under the government of Sir Charles Little-
ton, the first Elouse of Assembly held its sittings alternately here
and at St. Jago, the one heing the seat of government, the other the
centre of trade. It was also the head rendezvous of all the pirates,
corsairs, and buccaneers, that infested the seas of the New World ;
to it they brought the immense treasures they tore from the
Spaniards, by deeds of startling valour on the high seas, which they
squandered in licentiousuess and riot, with a rapidity onlv equalled
by that which imarked their attainment. Attracted from every
European nation by the treasure-laden ships of cruel and haughty
Spain, these desperadoes, banding together, acted frequently under
the patronage of the island governors, who divided the spoil with
them, as the price of their non-interference. So immense was the
prey taken by the celebrated Morgan, in one expedition undertaken
by Lim and his buceancering companions in 1666, that the plate,
jewels, and other treasures, were piled in heaps under the eaves of
the houses in Port Royal, from want of warehouse room to receive
them. On war being proclaimed against Spain, by beat of drum, at
Port Royal, in July, 1670, Morgan, joined by several young men of
family from England, having received a commission from the gover-
nor to harass the enemy, sailed out with a fleet of thirty-seven
ships, having on board two thousand soldiers, in addition to large
crews of experienced seamen. In this, his last expedition, after a
desperate conflict, he captured Panama, and brought away one hun-
dred and seventy-five mules, laden with gold, silver, and jewels.
VORT ROYAL, 19

Jlis companions, suspecting him of practising fraud in the division
of the spoil, mutinied, on which he precipitately left them, and es-
eaped to Jamaica, carrying with him two or three ships, and a por-
tion of the treasure; on his arrival, he retired to private life, pur-
chased a plantation, devoted his attention to its cultivation, conducted
himself with so much propriety that he gradually rose into favour
with the public, was made naval commander in his Majesty’s ser-
vice, obtained the honour of knighthood, became president of the
island council, and thrice filled the office of lieutenant-governor.
Some state that he was impeached, and sent prisoner to England,
where he sank under the disgrace heaped upon him, and the trials
he had to suffer, through the machination of his enemies; others,
that he died at Port Royal, in peaceful retirement, beloved by all
who knew him. That a town, inhabited by such desperate cha-
racters bearing the Christian name, while familiar with deeds of
blood, rapine, and licentiousness, who braved the seas, like spirits of
the storm, fought like fiends, carrying terror and desolation wher-
ever they appeared, strangers alike to the fear of either God or man,
should altogether escape some token of the displeasure of Him “ who
is angry with the wicked every day,” was too much to expect.

The day of retribution at length came. On June 7th, 1692, when
the stores and wharfs were laden with the glittering treasures of
Mexico and Peru; the governor and council sitting in deliberation on
the affairs of this strange community ; the inhabitants pursuing their
usual course, unawed by consciousness of their crimes and guilt,
about mid-day, they were suddenly alarmed by an unusual noise in
the distant mountains, which reverberated through the valleys, and
proceeded towards the shore. The sea instantly rose, the wharf
with their rich treasures sank, the ground opened, and swallowed
whole houses with their living inhabitants, thousands of whom in-
stantly perished. Some, up to the neck in fissures, were strangled
by the earth closing upon them. In a few minutes, with the excep-
tion of the fort and two hundred houses, the whole town was buried
five fathoms under water, the ruins of which long continued to be
visible through their briny winding-sheet. The “ Swan” frigate,
then in the harbour, driven by the concussion from her moorings,
over the roofs of the sunken houses, afforded a means of escape to
many who were struggling in the water: among whom was a
gentleman, who, after being swallowed up by the earthquake, was
ejected by a second shock ; being taken on board, he lived to a good
old age, and was buried at Green Harbour, west of the town, on
the opposite shore, where his tombstone tells the sorrowful tale of
this catastrophe! Along with the wealth of this wicked community,
all the official papers and records of the island perished, as if the
very memory of it was doomed to oblivion.

This calamity was immediately followed by a fatal epidemic,
arising from the noxious miasm generated by the bodies which
20 PORT ROYAL.

continued to float about the harbour, by which pestilence three thou-
sand of the survivors were swept awav. In the course of eleven
years the town began to recover a little, when it was consumed by
fire, kindled by an explosion of gunpowder; the conflagration con-
tinued to rage, till nothing remained except the forts and magazines.
During the next quarter of a century, the town was re-erected, but
fire once more ravaged it, which completed the ruin of many of the
inhabitants. After a respite of sixteen years, during which it was
partly rebuilt, a tremendous hurricane prostrated the greater part
of the town, tearing in pieces the newly-erected houses, and burying
their inhabitants in the ruins. The fierceness of this storm was
such, as to rend the strong batteries of Fort Augusta in a thousand
pieces. In 1781, a similar tempest drove ninety ships ashore in
Kingston Harbour, and thirty vessels of war then lying at Port
Royal. The shore was strewed with the bodies of seamen who
perished in the storm, which, on being picked up by the survivors,
were buried on the Palisadoes.

In 1815, another fire broke out, which destroyed every building
except the church, those belonging to government, and a few scat-
tered houses. Such a series of calamities clothe the history of this
place with thrilling and painful interest. From the look-out at the
roof of the commercial room, the view is truly grand: towards the
north-east, Blue Mountain, rising eight thousand feet above the
waters of the Carribean Sea, is seen to advantage, and as the eye
ranges along to the left, the mountains of Port Royal, St. Andrew,
Ligunea, St. John, and St. Dorothy, appear in Alpine majesty,
richly clothed to their summits in perpetual verdure, presenting a
sublime back-ground to the plains of Ligunea and St. Catherine.
The city of Kingston, with its church spire and ships at anchor, en-
liven the scene, while, directly north, at an elevation of two thousand
feet, the whitewashed barracks of Stoney Hill appear, but which
military station is now abandoned for Newcastle Barracks, on a
more elevated ridge to the east, where the health of the troops is
better secured by the temperate air of the lofty mountains.

The glare of the sun at Port Royal is exceedingly painful to
tender eyes; and, but for the sea breeze during the day, and land
wind at night, the heat would be insufferable. The inhabitants are
supplied with water from Rock Fort, by sailing tanks. The wells
in the town are so impregnated with salt, as to be fit for nothing
besides washing household utensils.

On visiting the burial ground at the Palisadoes, where thousands
of the slumbering dead await the summons of the last trump, we
were mournfully impressed on not being able to trace a single grave,
no ‘‘ storied urn or animated bust,” no little hillock, or mouldering
gravestone, arrests the attention of the visitor, to remind him of his
mortality, or tell him who lies there. A few days after an inter-
ment, the loose sand which covers the coffin is levelled by the sea
PORT ROYAL. 21

breeze, leaving no trace of the new-made grave. The only relief
afforded to the eye in this place of skulls are a few creeping prickly
shrubs, the mangrove, and several species of cactus, some of which
are about twelve feet high.

Accustomed to associate in our ideas of a great sea-port town,
crowds of busy people, actively pursuing their avocations; streets
all alive with passengers, on foot, horseback, or in carriages ; dis-
cordant sounds, and a lively confusion; we were struck with the
still lifeeverywhere apparent. Neither horse, ass, cart, nor carriage,
disturbed us with its noise, or endangered us in our walks. Only,
we were informed, that one gentleman in the town, in government
service, kept a horse, on which he performed his journies to and
from Kingston, from an aversion to salt-water travelling.

We were struck with the apparent listlessness of several well-
dressed females, idly squatting at the doors, or under the verandahs
of their houses. We thought that, like their sisters in England,
they might be engaged in knitting, sewing, or something uscful ;
but such is the legitimate influence of slavery, which brands industry
with disgrace, and dignifies idleness as gentility.

The mission-house and chapel are under the same roof ; the lower
portion of the building being occupied as a dwelling by the mission
family, and the upper by the congregation, the inconveniency of
which is sorely felt during sickness. The chapel accommodates
between three and four hundred worshippers. The house consists
of a hall or parlour, two bedrooms, a study, pantry, kitchen, and
ont-offices of a humble description. The absence of fire-places, car-
pets, and several articles of furniture, indispensable to comfort in the
mother country, is in this climate a positive luxury.

The fact that Dr. Coke landed here in January, 1789, to begin the
Jamaica Mission, gives Port Royal a special interest in the estima-
tion of all its friends. An innocent difference of opinion exists be-
tween the Methodists of Kingston and Port Royal as to whether the
Doctor preached his firsé sermon at the former or latter place. One
thing is clear, that here he was joyfully weleomed, and hospitably enter-
tained, by Mr. Fishley, master builder at the Roval Naval Yard,
and that he preached at his house at a subsequent visit, about three
years after his first arrival in the island.

During this interval, Mr. Hammett, the first missionary sent by
the Doctor, preached with considerable success at Port Royal, which
so offended some that they laid a plan to assassinate him, which
was defeated by the spirited conduct of the magistrates, who, for a
time, gave him the use of the Court House to preach in; but they
were induced to revoke the permission through the faithfulness of
his ministry ; on which Mr. Fishley opened his house, that the
services might be continued, which brought upon him a share of the
opposition experienced by the zealous missionary.

In 1796 a society was formed which gave some promise, hul, on
22 PORT ROYAL.

the renioval of Mr. Fishley by death, it came to nothing. This
worthy man steadfastly maintained his integrity, and after adorning
the doctrine of God his Saviour by a holy, consistent, and useful
life, his health gradually declined ; his sickness was severe and
long-continued ; but patience had its perfect work. Death found
him prepared for his change; at length he died in sure and certain
hope of eternal life through the merits of the Redeemer. Thus one
of the first members of the Jamaica Mission, who had the honour of
receiving the first Methodist Missionary, was safely conducted to
the rest which remains for the people of God.

Six and twenty years of barrenness succeeded, when the Rev.
Messrs. Elorne and Young, then stationed at Kingston, turned their
attention to it in August, 1822. Furnished with letters of introduc-
tion by some magistrates and gentlemen of Kingston, the Rev. R.
Young applied to the Court of Quarter Sessions for leave to preach.
A license was granted, a house hired, and the mission once more
begun. In July of the following year, Mr. Horne observed that he
had spent half an hour in conversation with the widow of the late
Mr. Fishley and her son-in-law, when the good old lady expressed
her grateful wonder at the change that had taken place in the public
mind since the days of bitter persecution, when the missionaries used
to be assailed by infuriated mobs, while engaged in preaching the
Gospel. At the end of the following year, the brethren reported
that much good had been done, and more was expected, as a spirit
of hearing became general, and no opposition was offered to their
efforts. In another year, a promising society of one hundred and
thirty members was the fruit of their ministry, while the congrega- :
tions continued large, serious, and attentive.

Froin the extensive field occupied by the missionaries, and the
manifold duties daily devolving on them, they found it impossible
to give sufficient pastoral attention to this infant church. Still it
continued to prosper, till, in 1829, after overcoming many obstacles,
the present mission premises were erected, and the chapel opened
on the 30th of September, which gave fresh stimulus to the good
work. Accommodation for a resident missionary having been pro-
vided early in 1830, the people were favoured with the pastoral
care of Mr. Murray, who, with his family, removed hither. The
result was an immediate improvement in all the concerns of the
society ; enjoying the immediate oversight of a pastor, their spiri-
tual interests were more fully attended to, the means of grace better
attended by the people, and a goodly number led to embrace the
soul-saving truths of the Gospel. Many of whom enjoyed a clear
seuse of their acceptance with God, through faith in the blood of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Several young men were reclaimed from habits
of gross sensuality and vice, who gave promise of becoming useful
members of the church, and creditable members of civil society.

In conversation with several of the people, I was impressed with
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PORT ROYAL. 20

the spirit of genuine piety, and the knowledge of the word of God
they possessed, One poor aged female slave spoke affectingly of
what she owed to her Redeemer: “ Me, Massa, when me Saviour
Jesus die fu me, me owe Him meself, an all me hab, an all too lille
(little) fu him lub fu me sinner.”

The Rev. Messrs. Duncan, Barry, and Rowden, hearing of our
arrival, came to see us. Their accounts of the progress of the insur-
rection were alarming; martial law had been proclaimed ; all busi-
ness suspended throughout the island, and every one capable of
bearing arms called out to do militia duty. Some of the island
newspapers were savagely urging the colonists to take vengeance on
the sectarian missionaries as the authors of their disasters. Under
these circumstances, we were directed to continue at Port Royal till
the way should be open for our proceeding to Kingston. A copy of
the “ Jamaica Courant” newspaper was brought us, in which our
arrival was noticed, accompanied by an urgent editorial recommen-
dation to the magistrates to send us instantly back to England, ere
we had an opportunity of doing mischief.

In the evening, our ship’s captain called, along with two of the
officers. He exclaimed, “I really don’t know what to do. I am
attacked on every side for having brought you. Several declare
loudly that 1 ought to be hanged for it.” The military gentlemen
observed, “* We are ordered out to fight the rebels, but bush fighting
we don’t relish at all. If they would meet us in the open field we
shouldn’t mind it, but to be shot like dogs from behind rocks and
trees, without seeing the enemy, isn’t just the thing.” Couriers
arrived every few hours with painful accounts of estates being con-
sumed by fire, and slaves seized, tried by court martial, and imme-
diately led to execution ; while in the woods the poor creatures were
rapidly falling by the fire of parties sent out in search of them. The
carrion crows from all parts of the island were observed flocking
around these scenes of carnage to prey upon the carcases of the
slain.

Mr. John Clarke, a Baptist Missionary, and his wife, came to the
mission house in deep distress, informing us that several of his mis-
sionary brethren in Trelawny and Hanover had been arrested and
were to be tried by a court martial at Montego Bay, on charges of
instigating the slaves to rebellion. ‘The Courant” continued to
give rabid counsel to the colonists against the missionaries, ‘ to
shoot, drown, or hang them by the neck in the woods of Trelawny.”
The only paper that took up the cause of the persecuted missionaries
was the ‘ Watchman,” conducted by Edward Jordon, a gentleman
of colour, who fearlessly maintained their innocence, and challenged
the editor of the ‘ Courant” to prove his charges against them and
their suffering people.

After spending a peaceful Sabbath in the enjoyment of the ordi-
uances of the house of God, when Mr. Corlett preached in the
24 PORT ROYAL,
morning, and the writer in the evening, for the first time in the
mission field, we were cheered on the following morning by the
arrival of the Rev. Messrs. Kerr and Rowden, but their accounts of
the state of the affairs were painfully discouraging. The cireum-
stances of several of the missionaries, with their families and flocks,
were distressing. Mr. Kerr informed us, that the chairman of the
district, Mr. Berry, and himself, had waited on the governor, to
challenge investigation of the charges preferred against the brethren,
and claim legal protection for themselves and families against the
attempts of lawless and unreasonable men. His Excellency received
them graciously, and promised protection. In the evening, a special
meeting for prayer was held in the chapel, when Messrs. Kerr, Cor-
lett, Rowden, and Burrows poured out strong cries to Him who has
the hearts of all men in His hand, that He would look down from
His holy habitation, and send deliverance to His afflicted people.
While thus engaged, the welcome news arrived, that everywhere the
burning of estates had ceased, the slaves were returning to their
work, and the arrested missionaries set at liberty.

The storm having greatly subsided, it was now deemed safe for
us to go forward to Kingston. After public service, on Wednesday
evening, the kind-hearted people flocked about us, to bid us adieu, Mr.
C. having announced that we should leave Port Royal early in the
morning. “ Farewell, me dear Minister, de Lord bless Massa an
Missus, keep you in good healt, an pare you long fu labour fu Him
own glory,” were among the parting expressions of these sons and
daughters of deeply-injured Africa.

The Society here has always had to struggle against the wither-
ing influence of licentious soldiers and seamen, who necessarily visit
the town in considerable numbers, and infect the inhabitants with
a moral pestilence, against which nothing but the grace of God can
furnish a defence. Hence it has always fluctuated : sometimes giv-
ing great encouragement to the missionaries, and again causing them
to bewail the spiritual declension of their people. In 1843, the
number of members in the church was 197, and 18 candidates for
membership, whose attendance on the ordinances was highly en-
couraging to the resident missionary, the Rev. H. B. Foster.
CHAPTER III.

KINGSTON.

Origin and aspect of the city—Religious destitution—Dr. Coke begins the
Mission—Mr, Hammett—Parade Chapel opened—Persecution—Mr. Wer-
rill dies—Myr. Brazier leaves the Island—Success of Messrs. Fish and
M‘Vean—Messrs. Alexander, Campbell, and Fowler arrive—Fresh Persecu~
tions—Mr. Campbell escapes to England—Mr. Fish returns home.

By sunrise we were seated in a canoe, along with several pas-
sengers, bound for Kingston. The lightness of these vessels is such,
that caution is required in order to avoid overturning them. Usually
they are formed of a single piece of cedar or cotton tree, scooped out,
trimmed, and painted so as to present some resemblance to the boats
of the Thames watermen. Ours was rowed by four slaves, and
steered by a free sambo, who, seated at the stern, used a short broad-
bladed paddle, while the bondsmen pulled with oars. Though their
only article of dress was a pair of trousers, the perspiration streamed
freely as they tugged at the oar. Gliding along, our attention was
soon called to the north-west point of the Palisadoes, as the spot
where several pirates were hung in chains some years ago. The
only remaining memento of this tragedy was a black gibbet, along
with some corroded chains and rings, which held the bodies fast, till
carrion crows, sun, wind, and rain, entirely consumed them. On
rounding the point, the city of Kingston, with its wharfs and
shipping, gilded with the morning beams came into view. While
we were sailing over the ruins of old Port Royal, we thought of its
past history with solemn feelings. On nearing the wherry wharf,
the ships in the harbour presented a formidable appearance ; all were
arranged in battle order, with their broadsides presented to the city,
having their guns in readiness to sweep the streets, in the event of
a large body of rebels appearing, whose design, according to report,
was to destroy Kingston, and assassinate all the white inhabitants !
Many ladies and children were sheltered in these vessels, to be out
of harm’s way, in case their fears should be realized by remaining
on shore.

On passing along, we found the streets almost forsaken of in-
habitants. Short as was our walk between the wharf and the
Parade, it was very wearisome, from the fierce rays of the sun act-
ing on the deep loose sand of the unpaved streets. On our arrival
at the mission house, we were kindly received by the mission
family.

G
26 KINUSTON,

The city of Kingston owed its origin to the terrible earthquake
which destroyed Port Royal in 1692. The survivors of that catas-
trophe erected temporary huts on the site now occupied by the city,
which, in process of time, gave place to more comfortable habitations.
The plan of the city was drawn by one Colonel Lilly. The streets
intersect each other at right angles, running east and west, north
and south. ‘he best houses are on the north or upper side, though
several of a superior order are to be seen here and there, among
dwellings of the humblest description, in various parts of the city.
The stores, warehouses, and principal places of business, are in the
vicinity. of the shipping. The extreme heat of the city is consider-
ably mitigated by the sea breeze, which is freely admited through
the jalousics and windows of the houses, with which the piazzas and
rooms are plentifully supplied. As the area of the city inclines to
the sea, during the rainy season the streets are frequently impassable,
from the large quantity of water which rushes towards the harbour,
carrying the sandy soil and rubbish along with it, so that fragments
of walls, and masses of steps in front of the houses, may be seen
overhanging the street, whose original level, in many places, has
been reduced several feet by repeated torrents. The principal
buildings are the Church, two Chapels of Ease, a Scotch Kirk, the
Court-House, three Wesleyan, three Baptist, one Independent, and
two Roman Catholic Chapels, two Synagogues, the barracks, and a
theatre, besides the extensive military establishment of Up Park
Camp, on the north-east of the city, and several villas in the vicinity,
adorned with palm, orange, cocoa-nut, kenip, and tamarind trees,
which give a perfectly Indian aspect to the city and suburbs. The
streets are infested with numbers of goats and ugly starved swine,
to the annovance of all except their selfish owners, who send them
forth to get a living as they best may. The population amounts
to between forty and fifty thousand, of all colours and classes, who
boast that their city is one of the most healthy localities in the is-
land, owing to the dryness of the soil, and consequent freedom from
miasm. Large numbers of “John Crows” (the turkey buzzard)
find a sufficient quantity of offal, and decaying animal matter, to
encourage their stay about the streets and neighbourhood.

The negro market furnishes a constant and plentiful supply of
all sorts of vegetables and fruit peculiar to the climate. Fish is to
be had in great variety, and butcher meat of the best quality the
island affords.

Being the great seaport of the island, the people are more active
and enterprising in their habits than in other parts, where the same
stimulating influences do not exist.

The religious state of the inhabitants of the island previous to
the close of last century presented ample room for the efforts of the
Christian missionary. Over the character and conduct of the clergy,
the historian Long draws a veil, which we necd not take away. It
KINGSTON, 27

is sufficient to remark, that they ridiculed the idea of communicating
the blessings of Christianity to the slave population, while they
- adapted religion to the taste of their white paymasters ; in many in-
stances they also indulged in their sins.

As early as 1732, a Moravian mission was commenced in the
south-west part of the island, but the missionaries laboured on for
fifty years with heavy hearts, complaining of the fruitlessness of
their labours, and sighing for success in their efforts to bring souls
to the Saviour.

The Rev. Dr. Coke having determined to attempt the establish-
ment of missions in all the islands of the Carribean Sea, he paid a
short visit to Jamaica in January, 1789, and after preaching four
times in the house of a gentleman in Kingston to small but increas-
ing congregations, he was offered the usc of a larger room fre-
-quently employed for public concerts. On the first evening he
preached from John iii. 3—“ Except a man be born again, he can-
not see the kingdom of God,” which was attentively listened to by
a large audience. The next evening, about four hundred white and *
two hundred black and coloured people attended; for about ten
minutes the Doctor freely expatiated on the glorious prediction—
Ps. lxviii. 31, ‘ Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God,”
when a company of gentlemen, warmed with liquor, became very
turbulent, and cried out, “ Down with him, down with him,” and
then pressed forwards through the crowd, in order to scize him,
vociferating “‘who seconds that fellow?’ On which Mr. Bull, a
gentleman at whose house the Doctor was entertained, stepped
between him and the assailants, saying, ‘‘ I second him against men
and devils.” At the same moment Mrs. Smith, a white lady, came
forward, and reasoned boldly with them on the impropriety of their
conduct, and placed herself in an attitude to do something more in
defence of the Doctor. Perceiving that nine-tenths of the congre-
gation disapproved of their conduct, they retired discomfited and
ashamed, vociferating, “‘ Down with him,’ as they descended the
stairs, and disappeared, leaving the Doctor to compose the congrega-
tion, by giving out a hymn, and taking a less offensive text. The
serious and attentive demeanour of the people greatly encouraged
him: He observed, ‘the attachment to the Gospel which was mani-
fested by many, both among the enslaved and free, made it evident
that a small society of truly awakened persons, both among whites
and blacks, might he immediately formed in Kingston.”

“ The island itself was too populous to sanction neglect, and too
wicked to leave any room to conclude that the inhabitants were in
the road to heaven. .Between three and four hundred thousand
souls, living chiefly without hope, and without Cod in the world,
forbade all supineness, and the attention of many among those who
heard, by giving an early promise of a productive harvest, pre-
sented an opening which pointed out out our path.
28 KINGSTON.

‘In addition to these circumstances, justice obliges me to observe,
that no place, either in Europe or America, in which the Gospel had
not been preached, was ever visited by me, where so many civilities
as I received in Jamaica were conferred on me by the inhabitants. A
train of circumstances pointed out our road; our work lay plainly
before us ; and God, who has promised never to leave or forsake his
faithful people, provided for our safety, and supplied our temporal
wants. The prospects before us were supported by promises of assis-
tance from many of the respectable inhabitants, and we felt as much
reason to exercise gratitude as faith. Four or five families of some
property opened their houses, and very evidently their hearts, also,
to me, and assured me, that any missionaries we should in future
send to the island should be welcome to beds, and to everything
their houses afforded.”

The Doctor lost no time in sending a missionary. The Rev. Wm.
Hammett, who had laboured in some of the Windward Islands, ar-
rived in August, and was kindly received by a Mr. and Mrs. Lungren.
He immediately hired a small house situated in the south-east part
of the city, a lithograph of which is here given. In this humble dwelling
a society of eight members was soon formed, whose names were—
Peter Lewis, Mary Lewis, Catherine Dawson, Daniel Coe, James
Fead, William Harris, Venus Harris, and Mary Ann Able Smith,
the heroic defender of Dr. Coke; and soon afterwards were added
Mr. and Mrs. Lungren, Messrs. Cook and Bull, besides Mr. and
Mrs. Fishley of Port Royal. Mrs Smith became a distinguished
ornament of the society, and a most successful promoter of its inte-
rests: a class of females was committed to her care, over whose
spiritual interests she diligently and affectionately watched. Spared
to witness the vicissitudes of the mission, through a period of more
than thirty years, she entered into her heavenly rest on the 4th
March, 1823, after a pilgrimage of about fourscore years.

William Harris was a free black man, who had left America
during the war of independence ; he also became a useful leader of
a class, and for many years superintended certain arrangements for
the funerals connected with the society in Kingston. He was a
man of a cheerful and peaceable temper. What may be termed his
last public appearance took place in Wesley Chapel, when the Jubilee
of the Mission was celebrated, in 1839; on that occasion he was
introduced on the platform as one of the eight members of the first
class, which handful had now become a flock of more than twenty
thousand, under the pastoral care of thirty-one missionaries. Hav-
ing thus seen the prosperity of the church to which he had been so
long attached, a few months afterwards, at a good old age he was
gathered unto his fathers.

Though Mr. Hammett laboured chiefly in Kingston, he preached
wherever he found an open door, either at Port Royal or elsewhere.
The congregation soon became too large for the small place at first
KINGSTON. 29

rented ; on which Mr. H., after full inquiry, and with the approba-
tion of Dr. Coke, purchased a large dwelling-house, situated on the
Parade in the centre of the city, which was altered and fitted up for
a chapel and dwelling for a missionary and family. Including a
covered balcony in front, it measured eighty feet in length, by forty
in breadth. The upper part was supplied with a gallery on three
sides, which, with the body of the chapel, accommodated about
twelve hundred hearers. The lower part of the building was
divided into bedrooms, a study, hall, and pantry, and a large apart-
ment called the “ band room,” which was used for meetings connected
with the society, and a Sabbath school. Dr. Coke described it as
“built exactly on the plan of the Methodist Chapel at Halifax, in
Yorkshire, known to, and admired by, numbers of friends in Eng-
land.’ The situation was one of the very best for publicity, airi-
ness, and convenience. Along with the church, the theatre, and
barracks, it formed one of the most prominent objects on the spacious
square. A sketch of this place of worship is given in this work.

Mr. Hammett’s success at once encouraged and distressed him.
While many received the truth in the love of it, others cruelly per-
secuted him. After many struggles he succeeded in finishing and
opening this place of worship before the close of 1790, which so ex-
asperated the persecutors that they sought to destroy both the build-
ing and the missionary. After enduring all the insults and brutal
assaults of the mob, who sheltered themselves under the shadows of
night, Dr. Coke observed, ‘ To depart from persecution was to flee
from duty, and to apply for justice was but another name for sus-
taining wrong. To abandon the chapel altogether, was to expose it
to ruin and demolition, and to persevere in the usual course was to
endanger life. To quit the scene of action was to give up the con-
test, and to arm those by whom we were oppresed with that victorv
for which they had been contending, and which would become a
formidable weapon on every future day.”

One who remembered those scenes remarked, “Mr. Hammett
was the bravest man he ever beheld; he stood, calm and collected,
proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation, while stones, eggs, car-
eases of dogs and cats, and such offensive things, were flying about
him!’ The sufferings of both preacher and hearers led to the aban-
donment of the evening services. After which, about twelve o'clock
one night, a party of rioters broke down the gates of the yard lead-
ing to the chapel; and, but for the timely interference of four ma-
gistrates, who were called out through the strong remonstrances of
a friendly gentleman of the city, they would have destroyed the
building.

The matter was taken up by the public press, which for several
months teemed with letters for and against the missionaries. Many
anonymous articles appeared on behalf of the persecuted ; two of these
secret friends were “‘ masculine writers,’ and did good service. In
30 KINGSTON,

genuine colonial style, Mr. Hammett was charged with everything
low and criminal, while Dr. Coke was represented as having been
tried in England for horse-stealing, and flying to America to escape
justice.

: Some of the rioters were prosecuted at the Grand Court, but as
usual, the jury acquitted them, in the face of the clearest evidence
of their guilt. Mr Bull, the steady friend of Mr. H., suffered much,
and several times narrowly escaped with his life, particularly one
night when he eluded the vigilance of the persecutors, disguised in
a suit of regimentals. The Doctor again visited Jamaica in
January, 1791; and on his third visit, in 1792, he found Mr. Ham-
mett dangerously ill of fever and ague, worn to a skeleton, and
brought to the border of the grave, through excessive labours and
severe sufferings: for a whole month he had been laid aside, unable
to do anything. Mr. Brazier, who had been sent to his assistance,
landed only a few davs before the Doctor.

The evening service, which had been long suspended, was re-
sumed by Dr. C., as soon as he got to Kingston; some disturbance
was made, but he took no notice of it. After visiting and preaching
at Spanish Town, where he left Mr. Werrill, he returned to King-
ston—preached on Sunday, and met the society after the morning
service, which gave him great pleasure. The number amounted to
about one hundred and fifty members, besides eighty-four in the
country places.

Mr. Hammett, previous to his illness, had several interviews with
a young African prince, son of the King of Mandingo, who had
made two trips to Jamaica with the captain of a slave ship. Seve-
ral years previously he lost a sister, whom he supposed to have
been stolen away ; to his surprise he found her in Kingston, having
been actually taken and sold into slavery. She was now a member
of the Methodist Society, along with her husband, a free black man,
who acted as a class-leader and exhorter. The prince promised to
send two slaves from Africa, in exchange for his sister, that she
might return to Africa, and take her husband along with her.

The only probable means left for the recovery of Mr. Hammett
was a change of climate, which determined Dr. C. to take him along
with him, in order, if possible, to prolong the life of so talented and
useful a missionary.

In March, 1793, the Doctor paid his fourth and last visit to the
island. In the interval, Mr. Brazier’s health so failed as to compel
him to leave the island for a season, which left Mr. Werrill, whom
the Doctor had brought in 1791, to labour alone. Though little
success attended his efforts at Port Royal and Spanish Town, in
Kingston they were greatly blessed, till he fell a martyr to his zeal.
He constantly preached five nights in the week, and almost every
morning, aud led five classes in addition to his Sabbath duties,
which, in such a climate, could only last for a brief period. He was
KINGSTON. 3l

seized with malignant fever on the 6th of November, 1791. During
his illness, he greatly enjoyed the prayers of his friends, particularly
of Mrs. Smith, who tenderly watched him. To this pious friend he
said, “Glory be to God, my soul has ever since (she prayed in the
morning) been so filled with love and joy that my cup runneth
over.” Towards evening, on the 16th, he seemed just expiring,
when Mrs. 8. said, “I trust you now feel that God is love ;”
he revived, and answered, “ Blessed be God, I do.” She again said,
*“ And you find his strong arm supporting you in these severe con-
flicts.”” He replied, “ Indeed, I do. I have the assurance that
Christ is my righteousness. and full and perfect salvation!” <A few
minutes before seven he sweetly fell on sleep, amidst the weeping
ae who sorrowfully witnessed his sufferings and triumph over
eath.

Thus fell the first of many kindred spirits, who have followed
him in his toils, trials, and end, in the same important mission,
whose ashes await the call of the Lord, when “ They shall shine
forth as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever
and ever.”

The flock being left without a shepherd were exposed to the
wolf, who soon excited them to evil surmising and disputing between
themselves, which called for the greatest prudence and vigilance on
the part of Mrs. Smith, and John Constant, who proved himself, in
this trying season, worthy of the name he bore, and of the office of
leader which he held. He was a free black, and well known by the
blessed title of the “‘ Peace Maker.” At this threatening crisis, Mr.
Brazier, who had left the island from ill-health, having recovered,
suddenly returned, and succeeded in restoring peace and harmony
among the people.

The Rev. Wm. Fish arrived in May, 1792, just in time to relieve
Mr. Brazier, whose health again failed, which compelled him to
leave the mission altogether. Dr. Coke having traversed the island,
as far as Montego Bay, and returned by the north side, crossing
Mount Diabolo to Kingston, where he arrived on the 12th of April.
The following morning he had some “ refreshment in the public or-
dinances of God’’ with the beloved people! In the afternoon,
accompanied by Mr. Fish and several friends to the packet, he bade
a final adieu to Jamaica, and next day set sail for England.

Mr. Fish found the state of affairs rather better than he had anti-
cipated. The members in the city and on the estates amounted to
one hundred and seventy ; yet, though the violence of persecution
had passed away, peace, rather than prosperity, marked the state of
the mission. Till the close of July, 1794, Mr. I’. was left alone to
carry on the work, which continued peacefully to prosper in his
hands. The magistrates encouraged him, by their protection, against
some who disturbed a prayer meeting; they granted a warrant,
which made the persecutors glad to escape with paying costs and
32 KINGSTON.

damages ; after which the persecution died away. On the arri-
val of Mr. M‘Vean, it was found that one hundred and ten members
had been added to the Society, through the labours of Mr. Fish, who
now left Mr M‘Vean in his place, while he proceeded to follow up a
promising opening effected by Dr Coke at Montego Bay.

Towards the close of the year, a considerable improvement was
seen, through the zealous efforts of the new missionary. Port Royal,
which had been in a discouraging state, now revived, while several
avowed enemies of religion began to feel some relish for saving
truth. The Society, which had been reduced to a mere remnant, in-
creased in numbers, “ and a work of grace shone out afresh in almost
every heart.”” In March, 1795, Mr Fishley informed Dr. Coke of
this missionary and his work as follows :—“ I trust, through your
assistance and advice, our present worthy minister will be able to
give a happy account of his ministry. He is, in my opinion, well
adapted to it; he is simple, loving, persevering with all faithful-
ness, sparing not himself. I hope he will soon have work enough
to employ two or three more, for there are daily invitations for him
to preach to the poor blacks, from those who were not long since
avowed enemies of all religion. I, therefore, think it highly neces-
sary that he should have assistance as soon as convenient.” In May
following, the missionary himself writes :—“ I use my endeavours to
remove prejudice from the minds of the people, and, blessed be the
Lord, I have met with great success. I have introduced evening
preaching on Thursdays, and, instead of twenty or thirty hearers,
whom we used to have ou Sundays, at four in the afternoon, we have,
I suppose, eight or nine hundred. Many merchants and principal
inhabitants attend, and all are very quiet and attentive. May the
Lord, in tender mercy, lay to His hand, and build us all up for
his glory. We greatly need ministers that will speak boldly and
ery aloud—men who are alive to God, and who will venture their
lives, their all, for God, and for the poor negroes.”’

Two mouths afterwards he again wrote, “ Blessed be God, we
are increasing in number. We have no storms or persecutions with-
out. Our chapel is frequently filled with quiet and attentive
hearers. I hope many of our society are growing in grace in the
love of God, and of one another.”

The encouraging prospects of the mission were not confined to
Kingston. Some proprietors of estates containing hundreds of
slaves were friendly, and encouraged the missionaries to visit and
preach on the plantations. Among whom the Honourable Henry
Shirly may be mentioned, as one of the most distinguished.

A variety of circumstances united to counteract the efforts of Mr.
Fish at Montego Bay, and prevent his success. He therefore
resolved on returning to Kingston, to unite with Mr. M‘V. in his
multiplying, onerous, and successful labours. His departure from
the small flock he had gathered was hastened, by intelligence of the
sudden and severe illness of his brother missionary.
KINGSTON. 33

On his arrival in Kingston, he found a large increase of members
in the society, into whose character and conduct he made strict
inquiry ; the result was the expulsion of fifty-one. ‘‘ Some for the
wilful neglect of the means of grace; some for disorderly conduct,
and others for acts of immorality, which would admit of no excuse.”
From the unsuspecting, hopeful temperament of Mr. M‘V., and his
extensive labours, discipline had been neglected,—hence the admis-
sion of improper persons, and this act of Mr. F., who was a man of
exact order, and a strict disciplinarian.

In September, 1797, Mr. Fish wrote to Dr. Coke as follows :—
“ Surely if you saw the prospect of success which we have in this
part of the Island (Kingston and Port Royal), and knew how dis-
tressed we are for want of more help, you would send us at least two
or three fellow-labourers without delay. My regard for the people
of Kingston is such, that I could rejoice to spend my last breath in
serving them. Though I have so much work that sometimes I
scarcely know what to do first, yet it is all pleasant and delightful :
and though constantly engaged, in public or private, abroad or
at home, from four in the morning till ten at night, I bless God, I
scarcely know what fatigue or weariness is, so graciously has the
Lord renewed my strength during my vovage from Montego Bay,
and since my arrival here.”

The urgent appeal for more missionaries was answered by the
arrival of Mr Alexander, in March, 1798, and towards the end of
April, of Messrs. Campbell and Fowler, which was an ample supply
for the necessities of existing societies, and for making trial of open-
ing new places.

The loyalty of Wesley to the Sovereign and Governinent of his
country, which formed so prominent a feature in his character,
spread its influence through all the societies raised up by his labours,
and those of his coadjutors at home and abroad. A voluntary sub-
scription being set on foot in Jamaica, to aid the Government in
carrying on the war, afforded the Methodists in the island, few and
poor as they were, an opportunity of exhibiting the political spirit
of their religion. In afew days £150 was raised and presented as
an evidence that, while they feared God, they honoured the King,
and felt for their country, which was now exposed to the attacks of a
powerful foe.

In 1801, throughout the island, the number of members amounted
to about six hundred, many of whom enjoyed the pardoning love of
(rod, and all appeared earnestly sceking to enjoy His favour. Nine
local preachers or exhorters, all blacks or persons of colour, whose
lives were exemplary, and their gifts far from contemptible, were
raised up to assist in the work. Four evening prayer meetings
were held in different parts of the city every week ; and also at the
chapel every morning at five o’clock, while on Thurssday evening a
sermon or public lecture was given, With such means and agencies,

n
3+ KINGSTON.

the mission was attended with increasing prosperity. The hopes of
the missionaries were never so high as now.

Just as prosperity began to pour its cheering beams over the
mission, a storm was gathering which soon darkened the scene, and
threatened to spread desolation and ruin through the infant churches.
Success once more awakened the demon of religious persecution.
The conversion of some females of colour, who used to be the easy
prey of licentious men, exasperated the enemies of religion, many of
whom were armed with wealth, place, and power. The rabble,
under such patronage, began to interrupt the meetings, and disturb
the public peace. On which the missionaries applied to the autho-
rities to have the houses in which the meetings were held licensed,
but were refused: while, on the other hand, these houses were al-
lowed to be represented at the Court of Quarter Sessions as public
nuisances, on which a prosecution was immediately commenced ; but
nothing, except the innocence of the missionaries, and the lawfulness
of their work being proved, the prosecutors failed in their mischiev-
ous designs. The good cause having triumphed, went on to
prosper, till a heavier blow was aimed at it by the Island Le-
gislature.

Opposition to the mission now assumed a truly formidable cha-
racter. The whole power of the colony was arrayed against the
few missionaries, and the people collected by their evangelical
labours, chiefly from among the helpless victims of slavery.

On the 25th December, 1802, the day commemorative of the
richest display of heaven’s grace to a perishing world, there came
forth, in the public newspapers, an Act of the House of Assembly,
duly signed by His Excellency Governor Nugent, forbidding obedi-
ence to the Redeemer’s command, to preach the Gospel to every
creature.

By this Act, every principle of justice, truth, and mercy was out-
raged. Without enquiry, charge, or trial, and contrary to all evi-
dence, the missionaries were stigmatized, insulted, silenced, and
robbed of the rights of British subjects, though their loyalty was
unimpeachable, their lives blameless, their exertions purely be-
nevolent, and their spirit untainted by feelings of unkindness to
any inhabitant of the island.

This oppressive Act described the missionaries as “ ill-disposed,
illiterate, or ignorant enthusiasts,” who, by their preaching “ to
meetings of negroes and persons of colour, chiefly slaves, unlawfully
assembled,” not only perverted the minds of their hearers with
fanatical notions, but afforded them opportunity of “ concocting
schemes of much public and private mischief.” And that, after
the passing of this Act, any of them presuming to preach, “not
being duly qualified and authorized or permitted, as is directed by the
laws of this island, and of Great Britain, under pretence of being
a minister of religion,” ‘shall be deemed and taken to be a rogue
KINGSTON, 35

and vagabond,” “ and be punished in the manner hereinafter men-
tioned.”

It armed each magistrate with power, ‘‘on complaint made to
him on oath, or upon his own hearing or view, to cause the offender
to be apprehended, and committed to the common gaol, and forth-
with to associate with himself two other Justices of the peace of the
same parish, and to summon all persons capable of giving evidence,
to appear before them ; which three magistrates, so associated, shall,
upon due conviction of the offender, adjudge him or her, if of free
condition, to be committed to the workhouse (7.e., the parish prison)
there to be kept to hard labour, for the first offence, for the term of
one month, and for every subsequent offence six months each :”
And should the offender be a slave, he was, “ for the first offence,
to be committed for hard labour to the nearest workhouse for one
month ; and for every subsequent offence to receive a public flogging,
not exceeding thirty-nine lashes.” If the offender should be a white
person, his appearance was to be secured at the following “ supreme
or assize court, by sufficient bail or imprisonment, to answer for the
offence, and, on conviction, to suffer such punishment as such court
shall see fit to inflict, not extending to life.”

As for the “ owner, possessor, or occupier of any house, out-house,
yard, or other place whatsoever.’ who, knowingly, “‘ permitted any
meeting or assembly of negroes, or people of colour, for the purpose
of hearing the preaching or teaching of any person, above de-
scribed,” on conviction thereof, before the Court of Quarter Ses-
sions, should “incur a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, at
the discretion of the said court, and be committed to the common
gaol until such fine be paid, and until the offender shall have given
security for his future good behaviour, by recognizance, for such
time, and in such sum, and with such sureties, as the court shall
judge fit.”

As this Act was clearly intended to put an end to the religious
instruction of the slave and coloured population, its evil effects were
specially felt by the native assistants.

Under this Act, Mr. Campbell having been thrown into gaol at
Morant Bay, Mr. Fish saw it to be advisable to apply to the Court
of Quarter Sessions in Kingston for a license, and after great hesi-
tation on the part of the court, on producing his letters of ordination,
and taking the oaths prescribed by the Toleration Act of Great
Britain, he succeeded. The difficulty experienced by Mr. F. in
obtaining a license, took away all hope of licences being got for the
local preachers, even Mr. Reid, the Scotch minister, though a pious,
worthy man, was refused along with Mr. Swiegle, a person of
colour, pastor of the Baptist congregation, so that both were con-
demned to silence.

On Mr. Campbell’s term of imprisonment expiring, he returned
to Kingston, and obtained a license at the May Court of Quarter
36 KINGSTON,

Sessions. Deprived of the assistance of the local preachers, Messrs.
F. and C. laboured diligently in Kingston, uncertain whether their
licenses would be of service in any other parish. Under these cir-
cumstances, the congregations in Kingston improved, and the num-
ber of members, in six months, increased from 435 to 515.

Messrs. Fish and Campbell soon after repaired to Morant Bay,
to apply for licenses at the Quarter Sessions, but the Court refused
their application, which showed that a license extended only to one
parish, and might be denied or granted. A warrant was then
issued to apprehend Messrs. Campbell and Williams, and to lay
them under a penalty of £100, as occupiers of an unlicensed house.
Mr. C. frequently eluded the officers sent to apprehend him, and at
length finding it useless to contend where no protection or justice
could be obtained, he consulted with his friends, who fully approved
of his determination to leave the island altogether, in order to avoid
perpetual imprisonment. Accordingly, he set sail, and arrived in
London in November, 1803.

Mr. Fish being once more left entirely alone, and shut up by the
law in Kingston, he diligently applied himself to his work, which
continued to prosper in his hand: he was kept in peace, the congre-
gations continued large, and the society still increased.

As the persecuting Act of Assembly could not become permanent
law unless it received the approbation of the King in Council, its
existence was terminated soon after its cruel operations had begun
to be experienced by its innocent victims. His Majesty exercised
his royal prerogative by refusing it his sanction. The Colonial
Legislature were, of course, chagrined, while the persecuted mis-
sionaries rejoiced, and hailed its abrogation with gratitude to God,
who has the hearts of all men in his hand, and can turn them
whithersoever he will.

The zeal of the missionary was immediately quickened—the con-
gregations increased, and new doors of usefulness were opened by
this happy change ; as is usually the effect of cruel measures being
employed to crush religion.

Mr. Fish having witnessed the end of this storm, and the return
of religious liberty, found his health so impaired, by thirteen years’
labour and trials in the island, that he resolved on visiting his
native country. His departure was a loss to the mission, which
long and severely felt by all who wished its prosperity. This truly
excellent man died at Guernsey only a few months before the writer
was appointed to labour there. The following obituary, entered in
the minutes of the Conference, shows on what ground he stands so
high in the esteem of his brethren :—

“William Fish was brought to God in early life, and gave de-
cided proofs of a sound conversion, by the uniform consistency of a
holy and devoted life. He entered upon the work of the ministry
in the year 1785, and laboured with success in circuits at home for
KINGSTON. 37

several years ; but such was his love to Christ, and his zeal for the
conversion of the world, that, at the request of Dr. Coke, and from
a conviction of duty, he left Engiand, in 1792, for Jamaica, where
he was associated with men who suffered ‘ bonds and imprisonment’
for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and faithfully and judiciously
assisted in laying the foundation of the great work of God, which
has since been so successfully carried on in that island. In 1805,
on account of the failure of his health, he returned to his native
land, but was enabled to continue his efficient labours until 1816,
when he became a supernumerary, and spent the closing part of his
life in the island of Guernsey, where he diligently employed his
remaining strength in the ministry of the word, the visitation of the
sick, and other important duties, until prevented by ‘age and feeble-
ness extreme.’ His piety was deep; his views of Gospel truth
were correct and scriptural; his preaching was clear and convine-
ing; his manner affectionate and winning; and his labours were
owned of God in the conversion of souls. The doctrines of the
atonement of Christ, the justification of the penitent sinner by faith in
the blood of the Redeemer, and the enjoyment of personal holiness,
by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, were the themes on which he de-
lighted to dwell. He was highly esteemed and loved by all who
knew him as a consistent, self-denied, laborious, and useful mission-
ary. For sometime previous to his decease, he was much debilitated
and afflicted, and fully aware of the approach of the last enemy,
whom he met with unshaken confidence in Him who hath abolished
death, and brought life and immortality to light. On the 9th of
August, 1843, he entered into rest, in the eightieth year of his age,
and the fifty-seventh of his public ministry.”

Though he never married, he was a pleasant companion, and a
great favourite with young persons and children. On missions being
made the theme of conversation, his soul awoke—the missionary
flame that fired his youthful heart rekindled, and he expatiated with
pleasure and freedom on the incidents of his missionary career in
Jamaica, to the delight of his listening friends.
38

CHAPTER IV.

KINGSTON—(CONTINUED).

Messrs. Bradnack and Gilgrass arrive—Great prosperity—Mr. Knowlan—New
persecuting Acts passed—Mr. Gilgrass imprisoned—the Missionaries si-
lenced—Home Government memorialized—A New Act of persecution passed
—Mr. Wiggins imprisoned—the Mission prospers—Parade Chapel re-opened
—Mr. Shipman arrives—Circuits formed—First District Meeting held—a
Second Chapel opened in Kingston—-Rapid progress of the Mission.

On the way being opened, by the repeal of the persecuting Act,
Mr. Bradnack, who had laboured since 1801 in the Windward
Islands, arrived in Jamaica, and soon afterwards Mr. Thos. Gil-
grass, who immediately found that “the fields were white unto
the harvest,” and doors of usefulness open on every side, inviting
them to enter, in various parts of the island.

Mr. Gilgrass wrote—“ The society in Kingston is the most de-
voted. We have here many precious souls who are enabled to
rejoice in God their Saviour, and whose hearts are warm with
divine love. Many young persons have joined us of late, most of
whom are in good earnest, and promising fair for the kingdom of
heaven. Our congregations greatly increase, with both whites and
coloured people of respectability. These give great attention, and,
therefore, we have reason to hope that God will soon lay hold of
some of their souls.”

Mr. Bradnack observed—“ The blessed work of God not only
spreads wider, but it sinks deeper in the hearts of our members.
We are constantly comforted with the enlivening declarations of
those who are born of the Spirit, and made heirs of God and
joint-heirs with Christ. Our whole number now, in town and
country, exceeds one thousand. So that, during the last two years,
an addition of more than five hundred members has been made, be-
sides many who have gone to glory, praising God for sending His
ministers among them to preach the ‘ Great Word,’ and tell them
of Jesus Christ !”

Some of the poor people were severely punished for refusing to
give up praying and listening to the preaching. Mr Gilgrass wrote
—“T saw a woman, a few days since, who told me that her master
had laid her down, and sentenced her to receive thirty-nine lashes if
she persisted in going to the chapel. She replied, ‘Massa, me
must pray.’ She then received nine strokes, with great severity,
when the blood ran in streams from her back; a gentleman, on
learning the nature of her offence, interposed and released her. A
KINGSTON. 39

young black man, on the day he was baptized, received thirty-nine
lashes, for no other crime than that of praying.”

Still the work went on till, in Kingston, the chapel became too
small for the congregation ; while, in the country parts, the Lord
poured out His blessing upon the preaching of the word, and opened
the hearts of many to receive it. The prospect became ominously
pleasing. Everywhere the missionaries went, they were received
with respect, and invited to preach to considerable numbers ; past
troubles were forgotten, and days of peaceful success were calcu-
lated on.

In March, 1807, Mr. Knowlan arrived to strengthen the mission,
much to the comfort of the brethren, whose work had become too
heavy for them. Mr. Bradnack, whose health was severely shaken
through sickness and fatigue, was quite revived with the hope that,
as soon as Mr. K. was seasoned to the climate, they should “ have
a glorious work in different parts of the country.”

Leaving Mr. K. in Kingston, Mr. B. went into the country to
visit the estates to which he had access. No sooner was he gone
than many leading persons in Kingston, who were indignant at the
growing prosperity of the mission, devised a plan to arrest, if not
destroy it altogether. Finding private opposition and individual
petty persecution of little avail, they moved the Corporation of the
city to take up the matter, and use the strong arm of civil authority.

Mr. Knowlan hearing of this, and feeling himself unable to decide
on what steps were proper to be taken in order to ward off the
coming blow, wrote to Mr. Bradnack, who was in St. Mary’s. But
before he could reach Kingston, the Corporation had taken the affair
into serious consideration, at the instigation of a powerful party, who
complained that “the meetings of the slaves and others were held
at unseasonable hours; that people could not pass through the
streets without being annoyed with singing and praying (the
music that used so to delight good Baxter at Kidderminster) ; that
they were at it all night; that the orderly inhabitants could not
rest in their beds without being disturbed; and that there was
nothing but singing and praying through all Kingston.” Such
were the crimes which the law was invoked to punish! which places
the success of the missionaries in a very strong light, and also the
animus of their enemies who made no complaint of being disturbed
by the’riot, dancing, song singing, billiards, drinking, and theatrical
amusements, that abounded through the city when the “ orderly in-
habitants’ were in their beds!—such sounds gave no disturbance
to their balmy slumbers !

Mr. B. received the painful intelligence while he was in the act
of preparing to preach and administer the Lord’s Supper to a small
country society. As soon as the service was over, he mounted and
rode to Kingston, in order to appear before the Common Council,
who were about to enact a law that would prohibit all religous
40 KINGSTON.

meetings being held before sunrise, or after sunset, which would
at once put an end to the usual services of the missionaries except
on a part of the Lord’s-day, and effectually exclude the slave popu-
lation from religious instruction, as it was an easy matter for owners
of slaves to keep them away between sunrise and sunset on the
Sabbath, as well as on week days.

Mr. B. drew up a petition to present to the court, but after wait-
ing two hours in the Court House, the affair was postponed for a
week. Meanwhile a man was arrested and thrown into prison for
praying too loudly in his own house, between eight and nine o'clock
in the evening! ‘

The object of Mr. B.’s petition to the Council was to inform their
Worships that the hours of service in the chapel were from five to
six o’clock in the morning, and between seven and eight in the
evening—of the doctrines they taught, and duties they inculeated—
the loyalty of Methodists as a body, and the beneficial effects of
their teaching. Having consulted some professional gentlemen on
the character of his petition, and the nature of the impending law,
Mr. B. was assured that he might calculate on success. On which
he committed the petition to his colleague for presentation, and
returned to his country mission, greatly cheered with the hope that
all would be well.

On the appointed day, Mr. Knowlan appeared before the court,
and, on presenting the petition, had the mortification to see it treated
with contempt. He was asked several questions, his answers to which
appeared to give satisfaction to the most prudent and best informed ;
others would listen to nothing that could be said, though several
seemed to be dissatisfied with the “Ordinance.” Only one gen-
man had the courage to speak in favour of the missionaries, and he
declared, that ‘he thought they had no right to pass such a law ;”
and that, “ however he might differ from others in modes of religion,
he was utterly averse to those principles which contracted the
liberties and fettered the consciences of such as wished to worship
God.” This noble-minded gentleman had no supporter! and the
“ Ordinance” was passed into a law. Which began by setting forth
the duty of magistrates “to uphold the due, proper, and solemn ex-
ercise of religion, and worshipping of God.” And “ whereas nothing
can tend more to bring true devotion, and the practice of religion,
into disrepute, than the pretended preaching, teaching, and expound-
ing of the word of God” “by uneducated, illiterate, and ignorant per-
sons, and false enthusiasts : and whereas the practice of such pre-
tended preaching, teaching, and expounding the Holy Scriptures, by
such description of persons as aforesaid, to large numbers of per-
sons of colour, and negroes of free condition, and slaves assembled
together in houses, negro houses, huts, and the yards thereunto
appertaining, and also in divers lands and by-places within this city
and parish, hath increased to an alarming degree,” &e. : “it is hereby
KINGSTON, Al

enacted that, from and after the first day of July next, no person,
not being duly authorized, qualified, and permitted, as is directed by
the laws of this island, and of Great Britain, and in the place men-
tioned in such license, shall, under pretence of being a minister of
religion of any sect or denomination,* or of being a teacher or
expounder of the gospel, presume to preach, or teach, or offer up
public prayer, or sing psalms, in any meeting or assembly of
negroes, or persons of colour, within this city and parish,” &c. A
white offender was to be fined to the extent of £100, or imprisoned
in the common gaol for the term of three months, or both: if a free
black or coloured person, £100, or three months’ confinement in the
workhouse (z.¢., the bridewell) or both: if a slave, six months’ im-
prisonment, and hard labour in the workhouse, or by whipping, or
both! For holding a meeting in any licensed place, earlier than
the hour of six in the morning, or later than sunset in the evening,
the preacher, though licensed according to law, was subjected to a
fine of £100, or three months imprisoment, or both. And the
owner, possessor, or occupier of any house, out-house, yard, or other
place, who permitted preaching, if a white, coloured, or free black
person, or a slave, he was to be treated exactly as the preacher as to
fines, imprisonments, hard labour, with whipping, &c. !

The reader is left calmly to consider this exercise of the civil
power, in order to see the painful position to which it reduced the
most peaceable, if not always the most prudent, members of the
community.

The victims of this law were now exposed to every species of
calumny, slander, and insult, because “on the side of the oppressors
there was power,” which was the more keenly felt, as no ccloured
man could prosecute a white person, however ill he used him.
Their only refuge lay in Him “ whose eyes are over the righteous,
and his ear open to their cry.” Hence they were driven more than
ever to secret prayer, watchfulness of spirit, and diligent improve-
ment of the limited means of religion still spared to them. As this
law did not extend beyond the precincts of the city, a gentleman of
Kingston offered the missionaries a piece of ground on which to
build a chapel in the suburbs; but want of funds, and an unwilling-
ness to seem to bid defiance to the magistracy, kept them from avail-
ing themselves of the kind offer.

No case presented itself to call this Act into operation till
November following, when an opportunity offered itself to the ene-
mies of the mission to level a still heavier stroke at its existence, by
cutting off every slave from missionary instruction.

The various laws enacted from time to time for the treatment of
slaves, being arranged and consolidated into one law, the religious
instruction of slaves was enjoined to be given by their masters, mis-
* The French and Spanish priests and Jews were allowed full liberty and protec-
‘tion. ,

E
42 KINGSTON.

tresses, owners, or overseers, who were to endeavour their in-
struction “in the principles of the Christian religion, whereby to
facilitate their conversion, and do their utmost endeavour to fit
them for baptism.”

The second clause goes on, ‘“ Provided, nevertheless, that the in-
struction of such slaves shall be confined to the doctrines of the
Established Church in this island : and that no Methodist missionary,
or other sectary or preacher, shall presume to instruct our slaves, or
to receive them into their houses, chapels or conventicles of any
sort or description, under the penalty of £20 for every slave proved
to have been there, and to be recovered in a summary manner
before any three Justices of the Peace, who, or a majority of whom,
are hereby authorized and empowered to issue their warrant for
recovery of the same; and, on refusal of payment, to commit the
offender or offenders to the county gaol until payment of the said
fine or fines.”

This severe and sweeping law passed the House of Assembly on
11th November, 1807, the Council on the 27th, and on the follow-
ing day the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Eyre Coote, gave it his
assent.

The first victim of the city ‘‘ ordinance ” was Mr. Gilgrass, who
had been in the habit of teaching the young people to sing hymns
from five to six o’clock in the evening; but on the 20th November
he was led to continue singing fifteen minutes after six, thereby
violating the law by a quarter of an hour! The house was imme-
diately surrounded by the police-officers and a magistrate, with the
night-guard, who entered and arrested Messrs Gilgrass and
Knowlan, in order to carry them to the cage; but the officer, on
receiving sureties for their appearance at the Court-House, by 10
o’clock next morning, retired, and, on farther entreaty, promised to
“let the matter drop;’”’ but the magistrates being informed of the
circumstance, summoned them to appear on the 30th, when, after
two hours standing in the court, the following judgment was pro-
nounced by the Mayor :—“ William Gilgrass, you are found guilty,
by a large majority of this Assembly, of a breach of the resolution
of the late ‘ordinance,’ keeping your house a receptacle for that
purpose, for which you are to be confined in Kingston common gaol
one calendar month.”

Mr Knowlan was pardoned on the ground of the infirm state of
his health. After being a few days in prison, several friends went
to see Mr. Gilgrass, who gave ont a hymn, the singing of which
brought several debtors into his room, and around the door: one
asked him to pray, and they all begged him to preach to them on the
following Lord’s-day ; but next day all singing and praying in the
gaol was forbidden by the magistrates! At the end of a fortnight
he was set at liberty ; but on account of the new persceuting Act
of the Assembly, the chapel was shut up, which almost. broke his
KINGSTON, 43

heart. The difficulty of knowing who were or who were not slaves,
rendered this step imperative ; however, he ventured to open the
chapel, after appointing door-keepers to watch and keep out every
slave that could be recognised. Thus, while persons of free condi-
tion were admitted to the house of God, the poor slaves crowded
about the doors with looks of deep anguish, while, with many tears,
they wrung their hands, exclaiming, ‘‘ Massa, me no go to heaven
now ;” “ White man keep black man fra serving God ;” ‘‘ Black man
got no soul;” “ No body fu teach black man now.” As the mission-
aries silently gazed, and listened to their plaintive language, the
iron entered into their souls ; it was a harrowing picture of lega-
lized cruel oppression of the poor childen of miserable Africa !

Within a fortnight, Messrs. Bradnack, Gilgrass, Knowlan, and
Wiggins—the latter of whom had recently come to the island—
were cited to appear before the magistrates. On making their ap-
pearance, they were interrogated, and warned not to preach without
a license. They replied, that they were all licensed according to the
laws of England; but they were informed that the laws of England
were nothing to the magistrates of Jamaica. Mr Knowlan then
moved these gentlemen for a license; but they said—‘ indeed you
will not get one,” on which they retired.

Mr G., in a letter to Dr. Coke, informed him fully of the peri-
lous state of the mission, observing, ‘If we can have no redress
from home we must leave the island; but I hope better things.
Till then we must patiently wait in expectation of hearing from you,
and learning what we are todo. At present, I cannot read in the
family, or pray, without being cursed worse than a pickpocket, and
that by white men who are called ‘gentlemen.’ We dare meet no
more classes ; the corporate hody having given orders to the police-
officer that if he can discover us (one or more), either by day or
night, he is immediately to take us down to that offensive prison,
the cage; and that all the punishment which is in their power shall
be inflicted. Nothing appears to satisfy them but our banishment.”

When the Court of Quarter Sessions was held on the 18th
January, 1808, Mr. Wiggins applied for a license, but in vain.
Mr. Bradnack made a similar application, but with no better suc-
cess. It was of no use for him to exhibit the license he had re-
ceived in England, bearing the signature and seal of the Lord
Mayor of London, or to plead the Toleration law of the mother
country.

Mr. Johnston, along with Mr. Wiggins, having been sent to assist
the brethren, found the mission reduced to this condition on their
arrival. Rumours were afloat that a plan had been entered into to
destroy the chapel by fire under cover of night; and while some
friends were at family prayer the house was assaulted on both sides
with a vollev of stones, the effects of which were eluded by closing
all the windows.
44 KINGSTON.

At the March Quarterly Meeting of the Society, the 15th of
April was fixed on as a day of fasting and humiliation before God,
on account of the afflicted state of the church.

It was also resolved that the missionaries should wait on the Go-
vernor with an address, and crave his protection ; and also to peti-
tion the Quarter Sessions to be allowed to take the oaths and qualify
by license ; but all their hopes were extinguished, no attention
being paid to them.

Their only resource now was an appeal to the Throne. The mat-
ter was taken up by the Committee in England, whose business it
was to guard the religious and civil privileges of the Methodist
Church, who presented a memorial “To the King’s Most Excellent
Majesty in Council,” setting forth the large amount expended in
sending missionaries to Jamaica and erecting places of worship and
dwellings ; the success which crowned the efforts of the mission-
aries, who had about thirteen hundred negroes and persons of colour
under their pastoral care ; that against these a grievous religious
persecution had been commenced, by which the missionaries were
silenced, and their chapels shut up; that the few clergy in the
island confined their attention to the whites; and about four hundred
thousand slaves were, by this law, effectually excluded from all pub-
lic worship—a measure of persecution unexampled in the Christian
world—and praying, that on the arrival of the law to receive the
approval of his Majesty, counsel might be heard against it; and,
finally, that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to disallow the
said acts. Soon after this “The Right Honourable the Lords of
the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations” were
memorialised by a Committee of Deputies of the three denomina-
tions of Protestant Dissenters, expressing regret that an act, di-
rectly contravening the rights and privileges secured to them by
the Toleration Act, 1 W. and M., cap. 12, should be passed by the
Assembly of the island of Jamaica—pointing out its intolerance—
the danger of allowing it to be passed into law—and praying that
the Most Honourable Board, as the more immediate guardians of
the law, and trustees for the liberties of the subjects in the depen-
dencies of the empire, would, in their wisdom, be pleased to advise
his Majesty to prevent the said Act from passing into a law, by refu-
sing thereto his Royal assent.

Aware that such an Act could not possibly receive the Royal
assent, it was not forwarded to England for that purpose till further
delay was impossible. At length an agent arrived with it, who was
instructed to enforce all its clauses, if at all practicable.

In the spring of 1809, the Board of Trade took up the matter.
Dr. Coke had anxiously waited in London for about eight months,
in two successive years, to get the painful affair settled. At
length his anxieties were terminated by the receipt of the
following :—
KINGSTON. 45

“Office for Trade, Whitehall, 26th April, 1809.

‘‘ Lord Bathurst presents his compliments to Dr. Coke, and ac-
quaints him that the late Act passed in Jamaica, in November, 1807,
‘for the protection, subsisting, clothing, and for the better order and
government of slaves, and for other purposes,’ was, this day, disal-
lowed by his Majesty’s Council.”

The decision was immediately transmitted to the Methodist So-
cieties throughout the United Kingdom and the colonies, which gave
universal pleasure, and fresh stimulus to the loyalty of a people
whose attachment to the House of Hanover has ever been enlight-
ened, warm, and sincere.

This important decision was not publicly announced in Jamaica
till the following August. On which Messrs. Johnston and
Wiggins applied to the Town Council in Kingston for leave to
re-open the chapel, promising to regulate the hours of public service
according to the prescriptions of the city “‘ ordinance ;” but though
their petition was read, its prayer was refused, and the following
record entered in their minutes :—‘ Resolved, that the prayer of
this petition be, and it is hereby denied !”

In 1810, another persecuting Act passed the Assembly, and re-
ceived the approval of His Excellency the Duke of Manchester, the
Governor, on the 14th November. By this law the Judges of the
Supreme Court were to approve or disapprove of any person present-
ing himself to take the oaths and qualify according to law, &c., as a
preacher to the negroes and people of colour: that four successive
weeks’ notice should be given in theisland newspapers previous toany
one applying for a license, and the same for any houses or place of wor-
ship: that should any one, after being qualified, be complained against
as an unfit person to teach, his qualification to be declared null
and void; and any party feeling himself aggrieved by the decision
of the court, might appeal to the Governor and Council, whose
decision should be deemed final.

As this Act was limited to a certain period, ending in December,
1811, cre it could receive a formal rejection by the King in Council,
it would be about expiring: however, it kept the missionaries under
the tender mercies of their oppressors till then. Meanwhile, the
persecutors had the modesty to ask for the use of Kingston chapel
for the temporary accommodation of the free school, which was
readily granted by the injured missionaries, from October, 1811, till
Angust in the following year.

After the removal of the free school, Mr Wiggins resolved on re-
opening the chapel, as the persecuting law had run its course, and no
law was now in existence to forbid him. Accordingly, on the 26th
August, 1812, he preached in the forenoon to a large congregation,
but one of the city guard was sent to warn him not lo preach again
in the afternoon ; to which inessage he replied, ‘ Tell the police-
46 KINGSTON.

officer that the people will come again in the afternoon, and that I
shall preach, if spared, because there is no law of the Imperial
Parliament, or of the island, to prevent me.” About a thousand
hearers attended in the afternoon, who listened with deep attention
and feeling, after being so long deprived of the privilege of publicly
worshipping God.

Next morning, as Mr. W. had anticipated, he was summoned to
appear before the sitting magistrates, who, after a trial of two hours,
during which he was not allowed to speak, without the most uv-
seemly interruptions, he was, without any daw or reason, committed
to the common gaol for a month; the magistrates acting at once in
the capacity of law makers and administrators !

His confinement was close; no one being allowed to see him,
except a faithful negro hired servant, who suffered and sympathised
with his oppressed master; his name was Thomas Wallace. He
continued with Mr. W. till he left Jamaica, in 1818, when the
people, desirous of giving a token of affection and esteem for their
faithful minister, presented him with a handsome sum of money,
which he accepted, and with it purchased the freedom of this faith-
ful slave. :

The imprisonment of Mr. Wiggins procured for him many friends
even among such as had hitherfo felt no interest in him or his
mission. The legal injustice inflicted on him excited a considerable
degree of public sympathy altogether unlooked for : many advocates
were raised up in his favour. During this persecution, a fearful
hurricane, followed by a terrific earthquake, desolated and shook the
island, which were regarded by many as expressions of the Divine
displeasure against a guilty land. Under this impression, they
flocked to prayer meetings in large numbers, where their souls were
more abundantly blessed than they usually had been under the
preaching of the Word in the public assemblies. A powerful re-
action took place; the leaders now began to meet their classes
regularly, and attend the weekly Leaders’ Meeting, while general
prosperity attended the mission.

In a letter, dated 4th April, 1813, Mr. Wiggins observes—“ In
October, 1811, when the care of the Society devolved upon me, the
number therein was about 560, which has increased to 1723; and
the people’s growth in genuine piety and holy zeal is, I think, in
proportion to their numbers. We have upwards of fifty prayer
meetings, in which we sing as well as pray; notwithstanding we
are not yet suffered to preach in our chapel; however, we feel that
(sod is with us.”

Early in 1814, Mr. John Davis was sent to assist Mr. W., but it
was not until the Quarter Sessions, held on the 17th May, that he
was allowed to qualify. A special meeting for fasting and prayer
was held on the 13th, by the members of the Society, 10 implore the
Flearer of prayer to influence the court in farour of the application.
KINGSTON. AT

The favourable decision of the court diffused joy and gladness
throughout the island, among the people who longed to see the day
of religious freedom once more dawn, after a long and stormy night
of sorrow. By the 3d of July, the chapel having undergone certain
necessary cleaning and repairs, was once more opened, after having
been shut up seven dreary years. The people sung, prayed and listened
to the word with feelings under the full influence of their new cireum-
stances, and anticipated days of peace and happiness for the future ;
but in three months they were called to witness the end of Mr.
Davis’ labours. On the 8th Oct. he was seized with yellow fever,
and in five days he was consigned to the grave. “ He was a native
of London ; his piety was eminent; he lived in the spirit of his
Christian profession, and died joyfully declaring that ‘heaven was
his.’ ’’ As the grave closed upon his ashes, the grief of the people
was heightened by the circumstance that the privilege of entering
the house of God was buried with him, he being the only licensed
missionary at the time for Kingston.

A few weeks afterwards, Mr. and Mrs. Shipman arrived ; but, as
the Quarter Sessions were just over, he was too late to apply for a
license to be allowed to preach, on which he lost no time in present-
ing a petition to the Court of Common Council for leave to open the
chapel, until he might be qualified by the next Cowt of Quarter
Sessions ; but though politely received, his request was refused—the
majority being still hostile to the instruction of the slaves.

After waiting till February, 1815, Mr. 8. applied to the Quarter
Sessions, but was again refused, as was the case also in the follow-
ing May,and again in August. By this time his heart was deeply
grieved, as the Society, from want of the public means, was rapidly
falling into decay ; the meetings were deserted, and the prospects
growing darker from month to month. At length he resolved to make
a final application to the Quarter Sessions in November, and, in the
event of a refusal, toleave Kingston altogether. Having called several
of the leading friends together he requested them to supplicate the
throne of Him who has the hearts of all men in his hands, while he
proceeded to the court in order to make his application. Their cries
entered the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth, and succeeded—a majority
of the gentlemen on the bench voted in his favour. He was allowed
.to take the oaths, and soon returned to the mission house with the
cheering intelligence. The anxious brethren could scarcely believe
the fact, from mingled feelings of joy and long-deferred hope.
Though the license was granted, under certain limitations, it gave
great pleasure. The conditions were, that no public services should
be held after dark, nor on anv week-day, excepting at such times
as there was service performed in the parish church.

The re-opening of the chapel was an event which diffused uni-
versal joy among the people. On the Lord’s-day, 3d Dec., 1815,
Mrs. Smith, the heroic defender of Dr. Coke, who had till now con-
48 KINGSTON,

tinued one of the most consistent, pious, and zealous leaders in the
society, was appointed to open the doors of the house of God. After
having been so long closed, she performed the delightful task with
many tears of grateful joy, and earnest prayers that God would
never again suffer them to be shut against his people.

The soul of Mr. Shipman was revived and encouraged. The
leaders were afresh baptised with a spirit of pious zeal, and through-
out the society there was a general quickening. The chapel was
soon found to be too small for the numbers that crowded to hear the
Gospel, so that a large opening was made in the floor, through which
the preacher might be heard, though not seen, by those who listened
in the large school-room below.

Hitherto the whole island had been considered a single circuit ;
but as it consisted of several stations widely separated, and the num-
ber of members in the Society 2700, with four missionaries, at the
suggestion of Mr. Wiggins, it was divided into four, viz., “ Kingston,
Spanish Town, Morant Bay, and Above Rock ;” to supply which
more missionaries were earnestly solicited.

In Kingston the brethren were much encouraged in their work ;
to the Committee they wrote :—“ Our prospects are truly pleasing.
We have enlarged our chapel, but it is far too small. Could we
raise another as large, in a convenient part of this populous city, we
are persuaded it would be filled with attentive hearers. The word
of the Lord has free course, and is evidently glorified in the conver-
sion of immortal souls. Great peace and harmony exist in our Zion.
We meet with no opposition from the civil power.”

The Methodist Conference of 1816 having formed Jamaica into a
District, and appointed Mr. Wiggins chairman, who was to direct
the labours of the missionaries, the first Annual District Meeting
was held in Kingston, in March, 1817.

The rapid increase of the Society in Kingston rendered a second
place of worship immediately necessary. A large house, with a
spacious yard and out-houses, being offered for sale, in a wide street
south-east of the Parade, a subscription was entered into and the
purchase made. The liberality of the members on this occasion was
highly honourable to them. A general spirit of kindness towards
the undertaking was shown by the inhabitants, many of whom con-
tributed handsomely. The upper part of the building was fitted up
to seat about 600 hearers. The affair was zealously carried forward,
so that, at the Court of Quarter Sessions, the magistrates were taken
by surprise when the building was presented for registration. One
of whom exclaimed, “‘ How far are these people to spread! how high
are they to rise!” It was opened for public worship before the
close of 1818, by Mr. Johnston, who, after labouring in the Wind-
ward Islands, was again appointed to Jamaica as chairman of the
District. The last instalment of the expense incurred was paid in
two years afterwards, by Mr. Ratcliffe. This place of worship was
KINGSTON, 49

named Wesley Chapel; and, even with this addition, in 1819 there
was not sufficient accommodation for the members, who amounted to
3271 in the circuit, while in the whole island there were 6540,
being an increase of 1053 during the year.

Along with much to encourage the brethren, at the District
Meeting held at Kingston, in January, 1820, there were various
circumstances which rendered it a solemn season. Mr. Adams and
Mrs. Horne had been carried off by malignant fever; Mr. Under-
hill’s health was in a precarious state; Mr. Shipman intimated his
wish to leave Jamaica; an unusual mortality prevailed around, and
trade was in a depressed state; all of which tended to sadden the
hearts of the brethren and people generally, though in the District
1000 members were added to the Societies during the year.

Mr. Ratcliffe, in expressing his gratitude to God for having been
preserved and enabled to labour successfully for nearly three years
in the hot city of Kingston, took notice of the terrible ravages of
the fever among the military at Up-Park Camp. The 92d and 50th
regiments suffered severely ; their place of interment looked like a
newly-ploughed field. Mrs. Godden, the wife of a minister, who had
been only six months in the island, and the Rev. Mr. Kitchen, a
Baptist minister, who had been fifteen months, were carried off.
He was esteemed as a faithful and laborious servant of the Re-
deemer ; his death was deeply lamented by the members of his
chureh, and by all who knew him. It is a striking fact that, at
nearly equal intervals every few years, the fever becomes exceed-
ingly general and fatal in the island, and this seemed to have been
one of these seasons when the king of terrors holds his carnival.
CHAPTER V.

KINGSTON—(CONTINUED).

Messrs. Duncan and Young arrive—Wesley Chapel erected—Arrival of Messrs.
Whitehonse, Jenkins, and Allen—Death of Mr. Allen— Objectionable resolu-
tions passed—A_ District Auxiliary Missionary Society formed—A new per-
secuting Act passed by the Legislature—Ebenezer Chapel built—Death of
Missionaries—Another attempt at legislative persecution—Mr. Barry prose-
cuted for libel—First watch-night service held—Alarm of the Colonists at
the progress of Anti-Slavery principles—The insurrection—Colonial Union
formed—Report of the House of Assembly denounced by the Missionaries.

A rortTNicHT after the sittings of the District Meeting, held in
January, 1821, had closed, Messrs. Duncan and Young arrived in
the island; the former proceeded to St. Thomas-in-the-East, and
the latter remained in Kingston, along with Mr. Horne. The
growing prosperity of the mission called for more chapel accommo-
dation than the late addition afforded, which led the brethren to
determine on raising subscriptions towards the erection of a
suitable building on the site of Wesley Chapel. Accordingly,
Mr. Young made a commencement, by announcing from the pulpit,
on 21st April, 1822, that subscriptions would be gladly received for
this purpose. Early next morning a worthy woman brought a
dubloon, declaring that “ Jesus loved her much, and that by giving
this she did him no service, for all she had was his.” In a subse-
quent letter, Mr. Young observed—‘ The foundation-stone of our
new chapel was laid on the 18th of July, in the presence of an im-
mense crowd of people, who witnessed the ceremony with great
interest. The building has since been getting rapidly forward, and
many handsome donations have been received from this community
towards its erection. Mr. Horne and myself have called upon the
members of the corporate body, and other gentlemen in the city,
and all have subscribed liberally, with the exception of a few indi-
viduals, who, we have reason to believe, did not withhold their
favours from any hostile motive. I have also called on several
gentlemen in St. Andrew’s parish for their aid, and in not one case
have I been refused. I have also received very handsome sub-
scriptions from both Jews and Roman Catholics, and, in that parish
alone, obtained nearlv £100 from the white population; thus is
prejudice dying away!” There were now in Kingston Society
alone—free persons, 1793 ; slaves, 2217 ; total, 4010 members.
After great exertions on the part of Messrs. Horne and Young,
the new chapel was opened on 21st December, 1823—a remarkably
 

 

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KINGSTON, jl

short space of time for the erection of such a building in such a
climate and under such circumstances; but all parties vied with
each other in pushing it forward. The accompanying lithograph
represents the front elevation and part of the west side of the chapel,
with a school-house which was attached to it early in 1843. It
is eighty-four feet by seventy-four, forty-two in height, and built of
the best brick. The front elevation has a commanding aspect: four
pilasters of chalk stone, surmounted by a balustrade and cornice
of the same material, along with a rather massive door- piece, render
it a noble object; and as it towers above the neighbouring houses,
it forms a good sea-mark. The view from the roof is magnificent,
as the streets of the city, the plain of Liguanea, with the lofty moun-
tains which bound it, the harbour and shipping, the palisadoes, Port
Royal, the Carribean Sea, stretching far towards east, south, and
west, with a variety of striking objects, present themselves to the
eye of the spectator. A feeling of poetical sublimity steals over
the soul while gazing around. The arrangement of the interior is
greatly injured by the height of the gallery, which separates the
preacher from the congregation occupying the body of the building.
The pulpit being constructed to command the hearers occupving the
gallery, is of such a height as to try the nerves of every preacher
till he gets accustomed to it, especially as it has a swinging motion.
The gallery and roof are supported by fluted Corinthian columns
of cedar, of which wood the pews also are made, while the front of
the gallery presents a deep cornice with panels and rails of maho-
gany. There is room for nearly 2000 hearers. Most of the sittings
below are free. Malicious reports were diligently spread throughout
England as soon as this building was erected, in order to impress
the supporters of the Missionary Society with the importance of
inquiring into the way in which their contributions were expended,
as £30,000 was the amount stated, in a certain religious periodical,
to have been laid out on this place of worship. It is true that fully
£9000 were laid out, but it was ALL contributed in the island by the
people themselves, many of whom had no connection with the So-
ciety, but gave liberally to show their good will, as is frequently
the case in England when a good work is going on, and against
which no good natured person will object or wish to hinder.

Mr. Young observed, in reference to the opening of this chapel :
— The congregation assembled on the occasion was large and re-
spectable, there being present several magistrates, and other persons
of influence. The service was commenced in the morning at a
quarter-past ten, by singing ‘ Lo, God is here,’ &e., after which I
read prayers. Mr. Horne then preached from Matt. xiii. 32. In
the afternoon, the chapel was again crowded, when it fell to my lot
to officiate. I preached from Ps. cxxxii. 13-16. The greatest order
was preserved during both services, notwithstanding the concourse
of people; and the joy which beamed in the countenances of our
52 KINGS'TUN,

wembers during the day, was, uo doubt, the true index of their feel-
ings. The presence of God was powerfully felt among us, and the
season will be long remembered by many, as a time of refreshing
from the presence of the Lord. The collection for this day amounted
to £80.”

In March, 1824, the mission was strengthened by the arrival of
Messrs. Whitehouse, Jenkins, and Allen; but the latter, after
preaching once in Kingston, was seized, first with inflamation in the
kidneys, then inflammation on the lungs, accompanied with violent
fever, which baffled every remedy that was applied by the best
medical skill that could be procured. For some time he was sorely
troubled with the thought of being out of his providential way, but,
at length, he got relief, and said: ‘The Lord hath not sent me to
Jamaica to labour, but to praise him.” He exhorted all his breth-
ren to assist him in praising God, and repeatedly told Mr. Young
that he felt Christ was with bim; and, a few minutes before he ex-
pired, he lifted up his trembling hand, and waving it in token of
victory, exclaimed, with emphasis, “‘ Praise! Praise! Praise!” and
immediately ceased to breathe. Thus, in three weeks after he ar-
rived in the island, he was safely landed on those shores where there
is “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.”

About this time the missionaries began to feel the influence of
certain events which placed them in a trying position, and led them
to publish certain resolutions, which brought upon them the severe
censure of the committee in England. The British Parliament hav-
ing taken up the momentous question of ameliorating the condition
of the slave population, with the view of preparing them for full
emancipation at some future period, the colonists took alarm, and
immediately became the prey of every report calculated to feed their
jealous fears. The missionaries were represented as the paid agents
of the African Institution, and sowers of disaffection among the
slaves, under pretence of teaching them Christianity. News of an
insurrection in Demerara, and the treatment given by the colonists
to Smith the missionary having arrived, heightened the alarm, and
suggested that a similar method might be tried with the Wesleyan
missionaries in Jamaica, who, at this period, were the only religious
teachers in the island suspected to be hostile to the system of
slavery, with the exception of two or three clergymen of more than
ordinary piety and zeal. Rumours were also industriously spread
that in several parts of the island the slaves were becoming dissa-
tisfied, and making attempts to gain their freedom by violent and
sanginary means.

About this time, also, the free black and coloured people presented
a petition to the Legislature, praying to be relieved from certain
pains and penalties inflicted on them for no other reason than their
heing tainted with African blood. On this ground they were disqua-
ified for aspiring to a seatin the [sland Legislature ; of voting at the
KINGSTON. a0

election of a member of Assembly; of becoming a magistrate
or officer of militia; of appearing on a jury, or possessing the
powers of a vestryman, with sundry privations of a similar civil and
social description. This application was regarded as another evi-
dence of some deep-laid scheme of the missionaries in order to over-
throw colonial institutions. Under all these circumstances, an Act
was passed by the House of Assembly, authorising the Governor to
remove from the island any suspected person.

At Kingston, a missionary, who had been several years in the
island, found great difficulty in obtaining a license from the Court
of Quarter Sessions; while, in the parish of St. Ann’s, two who ap-
plied were peremptorily refused. A proposition was at length
made in the Supreme Court to send all the missionaries off the
island, under the late Act authorising the Governor todo so. In
this emergency, four out of ten missionaries then stationed in the
island, met at Kingston, and drew up some resolutions with the hope
of averting the coming evil, which were sent to each of the absent
brethren, to get his opinion upon them. ‘Three utterly condemned
them, and the others objected to certain portions. On which the
chairman appended his signature, and sent them to “The Jamaica
Royal Gazette,” from which they were copied into several London
papers, and sounded from one end of the nation to the other, in
triumph by the advocates of slavery.

The whole Wesleyan body were compromised. The committee
felt called upon to pass five stringent, counter, explanatory, excul-
patory, and apologetical resolutions, and place two of the mission-
aries under censure for allowing themselves to be betrayed or
frightened into such an act of indiscretion.

A copy of these resolutions was forwarded by the Secretaries to
the Right Honourable Earl Bathurst, one of his Majesty’s principal
Secretaries of State, and to His Grace the Duke of Manchester,
Governor of Jamaica.

The admirable character of these resolutions, and the measures
taken by the committee, produced salutary effects on all parties in-
terested in them, without placing the missionaries in a worse
position than they were in before. The mission still advanced in
extent and interest, and the congregations in Kingston continued
very large. In June, 1826, Mr. Duncan observed—" Our week-
night services continue to be delightfully attended. I think a sight
of these congregations would convey a seasonable reproof to many
of our friends at home. In this city we have two chapels, and we
are forced at present to have them both open for week-night preach-
ing at the same time. The average of the two congregations, taken
together, is not less than two thousand five hundred, and the num-
ber of hearers on the Lord’s-day also is evidently on the increase.”

The want of schoo/s was painfully felt at all the stations. Ade-
quate means for their establishment and support in the way of
dd KINGSTON,

teachers and funds could be attained only to a very limited extent.
To supply this deficiency, as far as possible, in Kingston, a school
was opened at Wesley Chapel in December. It was formed of a
range of out-houses belonging to the original premises. The ex-
pense of fitting it up was about £60; and it served the purpose till
1843, when a suitable building was erected. :

One of the most interesting events of the year was the formation
of a District Auxiliary Missionary Society, to aid the general fund
of the parent Society. Branches had been formed at several stations
some years previously. A public meeting was held in Wesley Chapel,
when Henry Foskey, Esq., took the chair. The noble edifice was
thronged with nearly 3000 people, who manifested an intense interest
in the business of the meeting, in which all the missionaries took a
part. The collections were above £100, which, along with the
contributions of meetings held at other stations, amounted to £572
1Us. ld. It was a season of great joy to the brethren, who beheld
with gratitude this evidence of the success of their labours among
the people in their sympathy for a perishing world.

Ere the year ended, the Legislature once more determined to
assail the missionaries, by enacting a new consolidated slave law,
which passed the Assembly on the 7th December, the Council on
the 22d, on which day also it received the consent of the Governor,
the Duke of Manchester, being the second time he had thus exer-
cised his high authority. The clauses affecting the mission were
the 84th and 85th, which imposed a penalty of not less than £20,
nor more than £50, on any sectarian minister or other teacher, who
should dare to keep open any meeting after sunset or before sunrise ;
to be recovered before these justices, one half to be given to the in-
former, and the other to the poor of the parish; and, in default of
payment, to be committed to the common gaol for one month.
From which Presbyterians, Jews, and Roman Catholics were
expressly exempted, by a proviso introduced by Mr. Batty, who
also proposed and carried a clause imposing a fine of £20, or one
month’s imprisonment in the common gaol, on any religious teacher
who should receive any money, or other chattel, whatsoever, from
any slave or slaves, inasmuch as ample provision was furnished, by
public and private funds, for their religious instruction.

This Act was not to take effect till May, 1827, nor to continue in
force longer than three years. Taught by experience of the past,
the missionaries determined to disregard this disgraceful attempt to
rob them and their people of their religious and political privileges,
and to pursue their labours as formerly, confident of support from
the parent Goverment and the committee in England.

In 1827, Messrs. Barry and Kerr were stationed in Kingston, at
which time the circuit, through continued prosperity, had become
excessively onerous, the number of members amounting to 4182,
called loudly for additional labourers and chapel accommodation. In
NOLSONIM’ TadVH) YSZANAG 4

ATL aio BSL

 

 
KINGSTON. aa

order to meet the latter necessity, Messrs. Barry and Kerr arranged
for laying the foundation-stone of a third chapel in Kingston, on a
piece of ground a little west of the city, on the Spanish Town
Road, a sketch of which is here given. The ground was the gift of
a Hebrew gentleman, Abraham Rietti, Esq., on condition that,
within four years after the conveyance, the building should be
finished. The foundation was laid on the 21st October, 1827, on
which Mr. Duncan remarks—“ Besides Messrs. Barry and Kerr,
who were then stationed in the circuit, the preachers who assisted
on the occasion were Messrs. Murray, Morgan, and Duncan. A
sermon was preached from the well known words, ‘ What hath
God wrought!” and though it was computed that not fewer than
8000 persons were present, yet as the speakers stood on an elevated
platform, all were able to hear. Few more imposing spectacles than
this had ever been witnessed on the island. The services commenced
about five o’clock, and immediately afterwards the sun became
hidden in a cloudy tabernacle, which screened the immense multitude
from the fierceness of his rays. The sight was truly solemn ; and
the vast assembly, either listening with the stillness of death, or
lifting up their voices in praise, as the noise of many waters, seemed
to anticipate that day when the whole church of God shall join in
the new song in our Father’s kingdom.” It stands prominently
forth to the view of passengers sailing between Port Roval and
Kingston, as well as of travellers between the city and Spanish Town.
It is a plain, substantial brick building, of good workmanship, sur-
rounded by a brick wall, which also encloses a large burying-
ground. ‘The chapel measures 60 feet bv 45 outside the walls, and
was completed and opened about the close of the following year.

The hand of death fell heavily on the Kingston missionaries in
the autumn of 1828. Thomas Charles Morgan, who arrived in
1826, fell a victim to fever. He was distinguished by deep piety,
a spirit of prayer, and eminent devotedness to God. Asa preacher,
he was zealous, faithful, clear, and forcible, and many souls will be
the crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord. He attended a
prayer meeting in Wesley Chapel, August 29th, went home, and was
immediately seized with fever, which numbered him with the dead
ina few days. While suffering, he exclaimed, “Oh, this dear
atonement! the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin—from
all sin!’ Then he called to those around him, “Oh, brethren,
trust in God—trust in God; O praise—O praise!” and having
prayed for all present, and for the prosperity of the work of God,
fell peacefully asleep in Jesus at 7, p.a., September 2d, in the 26th
year of his age, and in the midst of his ministerial usefulness. The
tears of the multitude, who followed his remains to the grave, told
eloquently how much he was loved.

Three weeks had scarcely passed over, when the wife of Mr.
Murray was also taken away. She was distinguished “ for a meek
ob KINUSTON,

and quiet spirit, and the practice of every personal, social, and rela-
tive virtue.”

Two weeks later, another promising young missionary fell a
victim to fever. Mr. Mark Harrison, who landed on the island in
February of the preceding year. ‘ His ardent piety, amiable dis-
position, and constant discharge of pastoral duties, gained him
general esteem. He was an intense student, and his profiting emi-
nently appeared in his public ministry, which excited considerable
attention, and was instrumental in bringing many souls to Christ.”

While his brethren and the Church were looking with hope to
his being long spared and becoming an eminent minister, he was
suddenly called away to serve in the courts above, on the 7th
of October, in the twenty-third year of his age, and third of
his ministry. He departed in great peace, after speaking delight-
fully of his entire dependence upon the atonement of Christ, and,
with tears, expressing his gratitude to God for being kept in pos-
session of his reason, while the malignant fever was carrying him
rapidly to the grave. Mr. Murray, thus bereaved, was placed in
circumstances of deep anguish, in the midst of a sorrowing people,
who sympathized at once with him in his loss, and bewailed their
own.

The Island Legislature, unabashed by past defeats, determined on
a new crusade against the missionaries. Accordingly, a “ sectarian
committee” was appointed, whose task it was to gather, by exami-
nation of witnesses, good, bad, and indifferent, matter of accusation
against them ; and, having done so, they prepared a report, in which
they ‘laid many and grievous complaints against the brethren,”
which they could not prove, without once giving the accused an op-
portunity of proving their innocence. This famous report was pre-
sented to the House of Assembly, when it met in 1828, in which it
set forth that the missionaries were guilty of extorting money from
their congregations by every possible pretext, and of resorting to
the most indecent expedients in order to get it: that, in order to
gain ascendancy over the negro mind, they taught the “doctrines of
equality and the rights of man,’’ preached sedition even from the
pulpit, cast odium on the public authorities of the island, not except-
ing the representative of majesty itself, produced abject poverty, loss
of comfort, and discontent among the slaves frequenting their chapels,
and deterioration of their masters’ property; and concluded by re-
commending the House to adopt the most positive and exemplary
enactments to restrain them. On this being received by the As-
sembly, it was moved that the slave law of 1826 should be passed
and enforced ; but it was too late in the day. The Governor, Sir
John Keane, refused to sanction such clauses, and thereby main-
tained his own honour and the civil rights of the missionaries.

The missionaries were indignant at the obscenity and falsehood of
the witnesses, whom they publicly charged with being bribed to
KINGSTON. 57

swear falsely. Mr. Barry and the Baptist missionaries repelled and
exposed the shameless falsehoods of the wretched witnesses through
the columns of the “ Jamaica Watchman,” of December 7th; while
the “‘ Montego Bay Gazette” gave forth a sound, clear, strong, and
appalling, to the accusers of the missionaries, and concluded a power-
ful article by calling upon them thus—‘“ Declare openly your oppo-
sition to these missionaries to have its origin in the consideration of
religious instruction having a tendency, too rapidly for your views,
to enlighten the negro minds, and to militate against the continu-
ance of slavery. Say at once manfully—‘ We consider your in-
fluence as detrimental to our interests. We desire and covet the
brute labour of our slaves alone. They labour for us contentedly, if
in ignorance; but open their eyes to the comforts of human life,
of divine salvation, and we cannot extort from them one-third of
that emolument which they anteriorly accomplished for us.’ This
we say would be compressing the lengthened arguments used against
their ministry into a few words. Candour would then prevail over
deception ; and, instead of resorting to subterfuges and restrictions,
to cause their expulsion from the island, you might more ingenu-
ously, if not so politically, exclaim, ‘Go hence, we need you not.’”

In April, 1829, an action fo: libel was brought against Mr.
Barry by Mr. Beaumont, editor of the “ Courant,” a newspaper that
did more than all others to damage the cause of the slaveholder, and
hasten emancipation by the extreme violence and recklessness
of its articles. This gentleman, long accustomed to victory in
Jamaica courts of law, no matter which side of a question he took,
or who his opponent, thought that he could easily inflict chastise-
ment on the mission, by prostrating a popular missionary. The
libel was founded on some remarks made by Mr. Barry on the un-
seemly conduct of the prosecutor at a missionary meeting held in
Spanish Town, the proceedings of which he disturbed, and threat-
ened to dissolve it, in his capacity of magistrate, on the ground of
one of the speakers having alluded to the tyrannical conduct
of some magistrates of St. Ann’s. Stung by some strictures con-
tained in a letter of Mr. Barry to the “ Kingston Chronicle,” in
which he observed that he had never seen “ the magisterial dignity
sunk so low ” as on that occasion, the prosecutor laid his damages
at £2000, and confidently waited for the day of expected triumph.

As each of the parties determined to plead his own cause in per-
son, the whole population of the island expected the result with a
degree of interest and excitement beyond what had ever been mani-
fected in any similar judical contest. The past achievements of
the editor with pen, tongue, or more deadly weapons, rendered him
so formidable an opponent, that even gentlemen of the long robe
were afraid to meddle with him. :

On the appointed day, the Court-House in Kingston was crowded
at an early hour with spectators of every grade of society, all anxious

Ge
58 KINGSTON,

to witness the result of this strange affair. The plaintiff having
stated his case, proceeded to call witnesses, all of whom were cross-
examined by Mr. Barry, who declined calling any witnesses on his
own side, and requested that Mr. Beaumont would proceed at once
to address the jury, after which he would reply. Unprepared for
this movement, the plaintiff would have declined, but the court
ruled that this method should be observed. Mr. Beaumont having
delivered a bitter, abusive, and inflammatory address, Mr. Barry rose,
recapitulated the evidence, and delivered an address to the jury, in
which he drew such a picture of the character of the prosecutor,
and his past conduct in the island, in language at once chaste,
clear, and elegant, as excited astonishment throughout the court,
and obtained from the jury an immediate verdict of “ Nor Guiury !”
On the verdict being pronounced, the court rang with the cheers of
the excited crowd, while the multitudes which thronged the outside
re-echoed the joyous sounds, with such hearty goodwill, that they
pealed through the whole city, accompanied by handkerchiefs and
hats waving in the air, as if an event had taken place in which
every one felt he had an individual interest, and from which he ex-
pected great things. Mr. Beaumont never recovered this defeat,
nor did he again meddle with any sectarian missionary. Even those
who had no goodwill to the mission secretly rejoiced that this
troublesome man had at length received what he had given to so
many, who were still suffering from the wounds he had mercilessly
inflicted on them through litigation, or the medium of his vile
journal.

Little that is worth recording transpired in 1830, excepting that,
for the first time, a watch-night service was held in Parade Chapel,
Kingston, when 2000 persons assembled to spend the last hour of
the old year, and the first of the new, in solemn religious worship.

t was a season of gracious influence, as were also those in connec-
tion with the services held on Christmas and New-Year’s-Day. A
day-school, which was opened in November, 1829, gave as much
encouragement as could reasonably be expected. The Ladies’
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in London, engaged to
pay for the education of twenty slave children, which example was
followed by a few other friends in Kingston. Six of the scholars were
received as members of the church in the course of the year, while
the progress of the children in the Sabbath-schools was cheering to
the teachers and friends.

During 1831, elements were collecting for the last and most
threatening storm that ever burst upon the mission. The efforts of
the friends of the negro to effect the abolition of slavery hy this
time were telling so powerfully on the Government and the public
of Great Britain, that the colonists, alarmed at the prospect of
slavery sharing the fate of the slave-trade, by British legislation,
resolved to avert so dreaded an event by every available means.
KINGSTON. 39

The press was brought into active play both in the colonies and in
England. Agents were employed; seditious and fiery speeches
were delivered in the House of Assembly, and at parochial
meetings held throughout the island, while the planters and others
interested uttered threats and hurled defiance against the mother
country, whose cruel injustice, they exclaimed, absolved them from
their allegiance to Britain. Members of Parliament, emancipation-
ists, especially Wilberforce and Buxton, along with the sectarian
missionaries, were held up as objects of execration for daring to
interfere with their slaves. In the presence of their servants
they spoke extravagantly of their determination and power to per-
petuate slavery, though the whole world were arrayed against them !
These unguarded proceedings and speeches suggested to the slave
population that the King and people of England either had or were
about to set them free, but that the planters kept them in bondage,
without holding out to them even a distant prospect of liberty. The
result was a determination to take, by force of arms, what they consi-
dered no man had anyright to keep from them—the birth-right of per-
sonal liberty. A plot was laid, and the flames which burst forth in the
parish of St. James, on the night of the 28th of December, 1831,
told the terrified inhabitants that its execution was begun.

Suspicions were awakened, as usual, against the missionaries,
as the authors of this rebellion, and summary vengeance was invoked
on their heads by the editor of the “Courant,” Mr. Bruce. This
thoroughly bad man did all he could to excite the colonists to mur-
der the victims of his cruel counsel. Martial law having been pro-
claimed by the Governor, Lord Belmore, on the 31st, the whole
militia of the island were called out, and courts-martial established
in every parish; and then commenced those scenes of blood which
will for ever disfigure the annals of the island. With regard to the
missionaries, the editor of the “Courant” observed—“ Shooting is
too honourable a death for men whos2 conduct has occasioned so
much bloodshed, and the loss of so much property. There are fine
hanging woods in Trelawny, and we do sincerely hope that the
bodies of all the Methodist preachers who may be convicted of sedi-
tion may diversify the scene. After this, our hostility, even to
men so reckless of blood, carnage, and slaughter, shall cease!’

As the Annual District Meeting was about to be held in Kingston,
and the rebellion being confined chiefly to the parishes of Trelawny,
St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, the mission-
aries were daily expected from the disturbed districts.

On the morning of January 13th, we were cheered by the arrival
of Mr. Box, who, after five days’ imprisonment in Spanish Town
gaol, by order of the Governor, was set at liberty, no evidence being
produced of his having had anything to do with the rebellion,
except the groundless accusations contained in the “ Cornwall
Courier” and ‘ Courant.”
60 KINGSTON,

The following day Messrs. Barry and Duncan, accompanied Mr.
Burrows and the writer to the Mayor of Kingston, in order to
obtain a license to prosecute their missionary work, but his [fonour
informed them that he could not act during the existence of martial
law.

On the evening of the 19th, Messrs. Whitehouse and Wood came
in from St. Ann’s, bringing painful information of the cruelties exer-
cised on some of their slave members. Henry Williams, being
caught praying in his house, was sentenced to receive 450 lashes,
and two other slaves 500 each, for refusing to swear that Henry was
guilty of exciting the slaves to rebellion.

The next day, Messrs. Pennock, Barry, Whitehouse, Kerr, Wood,
and Corlett, appeared before the Governor, with a memorial on the
subject, which his Excellency assured them would be inquired into,
along with other outrages complained of.

“The Jamaica Watchman” and “ Kingston Chronicle,” to some
extent, were of great service in repelling the shameful charges
brought against the missionaries by the hostile journals. Jt was a
pleasing circumstance that no interruption of the usual public religi-
ous services took place in Kingston during this season of alarm and
outrage.

By the beginning of February, the storm, in which great numbers
of the slaves, besides a considerable amount of property perished,
had entirely passed away, and on the 5th martial law terminated.
No time was lost by the missionaries in assembling in Kingston, in
order to hold the Annual District Meeting. Amidst much that was
painful, they had great cause to thank the kind Providence which
preserved thelives of all the brethren, and along with this, the clearest
evidence of their innocence during this fiery trial. They could not
but feel grateful that the 12,025 members then under their pastoral
care, with one or two exceptions, continued unimpeached, though
every expedient was resorted to to involve them in the guilt of par-
ticipating in the rebellion.

Scarcely had the mission weathered this tempest, when one of a
new character sprung up, which, after sweeping away several places
of worship, and exposing the lives of several of the missionaries to
extreme peril, was hushed into a calm that continues to the present
day. On the 26th January, a confederacy was formed at St. Ann’s
Bay, styled “The Colonial Church Union.” Presidents, Secretaries,
Treasurers, and a Committee were chosen, and their object made
known at a meeting held on the 15th February following. Unions
were to be formed in each parish, and a general one to represent the
whole island. Their design being to prepare a petition to the Le-
gislature for the expulsion of all sectarian missionaries from the
island—to carry out a more rigid discipline among the slaves, in
order to counteract sectarian influence—to publish a periodical for
the refutation of every statement inimical to the continuance of
KINGSTON, ol

slavery, and to use every means to extricate from punishment any
one who might violate law in carrying out the intention of the union.
Anticipating prosecutions for the lawless deeds they intended to
perpetrate, they observed, through the columns of their leading or-
gan, the “ Courant,” “ For this we must be prepared by our unions;”
but nothing was to be feared so long as the Jury Bow was within
their range! These unions were to protect all those who, for the
the general good, were active in expelling from their veins the poison
of sectarianism, and preventing its farther infusion. One of its first
efforts should be to destroy those organs of sedition and blasphemy,
which have assisted in disseminating that poison (the “ Watchman ”
newspaper); to support or countenance, in short, xo press or person
who should advocate the hateful cause of the Dissenters !

The grand achievement of this confederacy was the destruction of
several chapels on the north side of the island; but, to the mortifi-
cation of these zealous defenders of slavery, Kingston refused to
follow the example of eleven parishes in forming a union. To make
up for this strange apathy in so noble an enterprise, a number of
the north side chapel-destroyers engaged to be in Kingston on a cer-
tain evening, to unite with the editor of the ‘‘ Courant” and his
friends in the destruction of the sectarian chapels in the city. The
first selected for demolition was Ebenezer Chapel, it being a little
way out of the city, where, it was expected, no interruption would be
given. However the plot came to the knowledge of some friends
of the mission, and means were instantly prepared to defeat it. On
the evening fixed for the assault, an unusually large number of men
appeared at the evening service at Parade Chapel, apparently pre-
pared for something extraordinary. At the close of the service, a
gentleman disclosed the whole to the missionary, informing him that
a sufficient guard was to be placed at each of the Wesleyan and
Baptist chapels in the city, while the main body was to defend the
first that should be attacked Soon after nine o'clock, large num-
bers of armed men were seen moving towards Ebenezer Chapel. On
two of the missionaries going about midnight to see what was doing,
they were challenged by the sentinels, and informed that all was in
readiness to repel any attack, and that they had better retire to
rest, leaving them to take care of the chapels.

These movements showed the conspirators that their designs were
discovered and provided against. ‘lhe Mayor of the city saw the
necessity of providing a “ civic guard” for the protection of property,
lest mischief should result from parties under such excitement com-
ing into collision. A proclamation was accordingly put forth as
follows :—* Whereas the attention of the magistrates of the city has
been attracted by a paragraph in this day’s ‘Courant,’ of a most
wanton and highly exciting character, having a tendancy to influ-
ence the minds of the population of this city, and to induce outrage
and violence on the sectarian places of worship. Notwithstanding I
62 KINGSTON.

feel the most entire confidence in the morality and good disposition
of all classses of the inhabitants, which would render futile any
attempt to bring so dire a disgrace upon Kingston, yet I feel it pro-
per to, and hereby do enjoin, and call upon all magistrates, all
members of the civic guard, and all special and other constables, to
be on the alert, and to use their most active endeavours to protect
the Baptist, Wesleyan, and other sectarian buildings from outrage
or spoliation,” &c. Ke.

On the following evening, the friends again took possession of the
chapels, and were challenged by two of the mounted city guard,
who desired them to go home, and leave the protection of the pro-
perty to those appointed by the Mayor. However one of the guard
put on this duty being the notorious editor of the “‘ Courant,’’ some
of the friends remained all night in the vestry, distrustful of such a
guardian, who, when taunted with his conduct, protested Azs inno-
cence, and denied being the instigator of the mischief, or entertaining
a wish to injure the missionaries !

The House of Assembly having appointed a committee to inquire
into the causes of the late insurrection, received and ordered the re-
port to be published on the 26th of April, in which the missionaries
were directly charged with being instigators of rebellion.

This brought the missionaries, with the stewards and leaders of the
several circuits, to Kingston on the 10th of Mav, 1832, and after fully
considering the charges, they passed eight resolutions vindicating
themselves, and their system of instruction andchurch discipline, from
every one of the statements and charges contained in the report of the
Rebellion Committee, fearlessly denouncing them “as utterly false
and unfounded,” and challenging any and all the members of Assem-
bly to produce a single fact in support of their injurious allegations.

The editor of the ‘“‘ Watchman” had nobly stood forward in de-
fence of the missionaries throughout the long-continued conflict, he
was therefore a marked man. During his absence from Kingston
on wilitia duty, an article appeared in the ‘‘ Watchman.” charging
the Kingston Presbyterian minister with being the writer of a cer-
tain inflammatory article against the missionaries which appeared in
the “Courant.” On this ground, the accused prosecuted Mr.
Jordon, as editor of the “‘ Watchman,” for libel, as he refused to
give up the name of the writer. The result of the lengthened trial
was Mr. Jordon’s condemnation to six months’ itaprisonment, and a
fine of one hundred pounds ; but, on the case being represented to
the Home Government, he was released before the term expired, and
the fine never was exacted.

While such speedy justice was executed on a defender of the mis-
sionaries, no jury could be found in Jamaica to convict any of their
persecutors! On Mr. Jordon’s release, he entered on the duties of
an alderman of the city, having been elected while in gaol to that
office by the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, as a mark of their
esteem for, and sympathy with him.
63

CHAPTER VI.
KINGSTON—(CONTINUED.)

Earl of Mulgrave succeeds Lord Belmore—Collision between the Governcr and
Assembly—Royal Proclamation against Unions—Fury of the Unionists—
Encouraging aspect of the Mission—Departure of the Earl of Mulgrave—
Addresses by the Missionaries.

Arver three years’ residence in the island, Lord Belmore sailed
from Port Royal, on the 12th June, to the great mortification of the
members of the “ Colonial Church Union,” who had nothing to fear
from a governor whose administration gave full scope to their pro-
ceedings. That the missionaries should suffer him to depart in pro-
found silence told significantly that their loyalty owed nothing to
his conduct as as a governor. His successor, the Earl of Mulgrave,
arrived on the 29th of July, 1832. The various religious and poli-
tical parties lost no time in giving him such a reception as his rank
and their respective interests suggested. Congratulatory addresses
came from every quarter; nor were the missionaries behind their
neighbours in this matter.

In an address, they congratulated his Excellency on his appoint-
ment to the government of the colony, and safe arrival—alluded to
the difficult cireumstances in which he was placed by late disturb-
ances, and hoped that his administration would tend to remove un-
happy feelings, and promote tranquillity—spoke of the loyalty of
their people during the late insurrection—hoped for protection in
the enjoyment of their civil and religious privileges—that his Ex-
cellency’s government would prove the commencement of a glorious
era—and concluded by wishing him every personal, official, and do-
mestic blessing and happiness.

His Excellency’s reply was satisfactory. After thanking them,
&e., it concluded thus :—“ It will be my duty, as a uniform sup-
porter of the cause of religious liberty to extend to you that protection
in the enjoyment of your rights and privileges which our constitution
has granted, and which, whilst acting upon the principles put for-
ward in your address, I see no reason to suppose that you will ever
forfeit.”

His Excellency lost no time in visiting all the parishes in the
island, and inquiring minutely into the condition and movements of
the different parties into which the community was divided. He
visited alike the negro in his hut, or in prison, and the great houses
of the aristocracy, that he might discover the discordant elements he
was called to keep in peace, and, if possible, form into something
like a harmonious whole.
64 KINGSTON,

On the Legislature meeting in October, the hopes and fears of all
in the island were called into full play as to the line of policy the
Governor would pursue, his prudence having hitherto kept all in sus-
pense. His opening speech was characterized by a due regard for the
interests of all concerned in the real welfare of the colony, as well as
the supreme authority of the Imperial Government, and, of course,
inimical to the principles and designs of such an association as the
“‘ Colonial Church Union.”

The effect of the address may be seen in the reply of his Excel-
lency to the remarks made on it by the Assembly. After thanking
the gentlemen of the Assembly, for their expressions of confidence
in his character, and their approval of his first acts of government,
he proceeded, “‘ I wish that, consistently with my sense of duty, I
could here close my reply, and refrain from expressing to you the
extreme surprise and the deep disappointment excited in my mind
by various sentiments, and by much of the general tone of your ad-
dress. The speech with which I thought fit to open your sessions,
was one which, there is none amongst you can doubt, was conceived
in the most conciliatory spirit; nor do I believe that any one has
thought of accusing it of containing one word at variance with such
a spirit. It broached no theory—it required no sacrifice. It an-
nounced only for the present a boon and a concession; and, for the
future, patient examination at home, and a determination on my
part to report fully and faithfully from hence. I know not, there-
fore, how it called for a reply of so extraordinary and desultory a
nature. You state mutual forbearance and conciliation to be the
principles by which the Legislature of Jamaica has always been
guided. I regret the more, that this day, when I thought I
had the least right to expect it, you should have shown to-
wards me this excepéion to your general rule. Many of the
topics you have introduced I consider most inopportunely ad-
dressed to me on this occasion, and to them, therefore, I hold
it to be needless to make any reply.’ On their denial of the
right of the British Parliament to interfere with island legislation,
his Excellency observes :—‘‘I regret most deeply that, on such an
occasion, you should have chosen gratuitously to raise so invidious
a question, by stating that you never did admit the right of the
Tlouse of Commons to legislate on the internal affairs of Jamaica.
For all your established privileges, I shall always maintain the
most inviolable respect. I cannot listen to the declaration of any
such doubt addressed to me without asserting, in the most unequi-
vocal terms, the transcendent power of the Imperial Legislature,
regulated only by its own discretion, and limited only by restrictions
they may themselves have imposed. The long experience of the
past, as to the right which has always existed, is your best security
for the future, that it will never be exerted but in extreme cases;
and no one would more deplore than myself, should imperious
KINGSTON, 65

necessity ever require such direct interference. But it is unfortu-
nate at this moment, that you should not have rather preferred a
temperate appeal to the justice, than a vain denial of the rights of
the British nation. The undisturbed consciousness of strength on
the part of a great and generous people, is the surest safeguard that
the nicest sense of equity will continue to act as a self-imposed re-
straint on the exercise of unusual but indisputable power.” On
some complaints, grounded on jealousy, he remarks—* It is such
premature complaints, such groundless accusations, which alienate
the public mind in Europe from the cause of the colonists,
and if you continue thus to speak for yourselves, I much fear
es it will be in vain that any one will attempt to speak for you
there.’

This inauspicious opening of the Assembly was the first expres-
sion of the spirit that pervaded it throughout, and led ultimately to
its dissolution.

On the 20th November, the Speaker laid before the House three
messages of his Excellency; one of which was “ Instructions
received from Government as to the repairing and rebuilding of the
sectarian chapels,” which had been destroyed by the members of the
“Colonial Union.” The answer proposed was—“ If Government
will rebuild the estates works, and compensate us for the injuries
done through the sectarians, we will rebuild the chapels, and twenty
more besides, if required !”’

The dogged temper of the Assembly rendered it impossible for the
Governor to proceed in his plans of benefiting the colony, and
therefore he resolved to use his prerogative in ridding himself of a
body of men blindly bent on ruining their own interests by their
unreasonableness. On the 14th December, his Excellency, in
releasing them from the duties of legislation, spoke thus :—“ Mr.
Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,—I could not
but foresee, by the tendency of your very first proceedings, that I
might at any time find myself obliged to take the disagreeable
steps which are this day forced upon me. When inflammatory topics
were wantonly introduced into your first address to me, it was im-
possible to caleulate how soon the most conciliatory intentions might
be diverted from their original direction by an imperious sense of
duty. In continuation of the same line of conduct, you thought
proper afterwards to place certain resolutions on your journals on
the subject of your address and my reply. As these resolutions
were not communicated to me by message, I thought that, acting
upon the intention I expressed, under any provocation, steadily pur-
suing the course which I conceived to be for the benefit of the
colony, I might avoid taking immediate notice of it, and allow the
public business to proceed to its close; and to this determination [
should have adhered, but for this difference between you and

H
66 KINGSTON.

the other branch of the Legislature,* with which [ have myself
no concern. But I cannot dismiss you from your attendance here,
without noticing a resolution in which you have stated that a doc-
trine advanced by me was subversive of your acknowledged rights,
and dangerous to your lives and properties. The doctrine you have
thought fit to stigmatizeis not mine. It is one laid down by every
constitutional lawyer. It is maintained by the practice of your
own courts. It has been uniformly asserted in official communica-
tions with my predecessors, by all successive advisers of the Crown
under every different administration. When you speak, therefore,
of your acknowledged rights, I am at a loss to conceive by whom
and when those rights which you now assume were ever acknow-
ledged. The right of the Imperial Parliament of legislating for all
his Majesty’s subjects, when it thinks fit, is inherent in that body,
and has never been abandoned, except as it regards the internal
taxation. The 18th of Geo. III., which makes that an exception,
proves the general right of legislating over the colonies. You must
always recollect that I never originated this discussion. The ques-
tion is of your own raising—the dispute is of your own seeking—the
provocation was given entirely by you, and with you must its con-
sequences rest.

“T have no intention of enumerating other instances in which
you have disappointed long expectations. So much of your conduct
appears to court that crisis which is now arrived, that you cannot be
surprised when I announce to you, that it is not my intention again
to call together the present House of Assembly. As soon as the
circumstances of the present season render it expedient, I shall
direct new writs to be issued; and it is a matter of satisfaction to
me that, upon this occasion, I shall appeal to an enlarged constitu-
ency The liberality of that enactment which did away with all
distinctions of colour, I duly appreciate. I have no doubt that the
newly enfranchised frecholders will show they deserve the trust
reposed in them, and that, in its exercise, there will be no more
emulation, on all sides, than a desire to prove the soundness and
moderation of their principles,—the extent and devotion of their
loyalty.”

This was a heavy blow to those who had hitherto possessed the
power of speaking and acting with little or no control ; and, on the
other hand, it ministered encouragement to the persecuted mission-
aries and their flocks, whose chapels, in several places, had been
reduced to ruins, by the hands or counsel of the men whose power
was thus suddenly broken. Though this had been a year of un-
precedented persecution of the mission generally, Kingston felt little
ofit, as it was at a considerable distance from the scenes of outrage

* On the right of the Council to originate bills, which the Assembly denied and
resisted.
KINGSTON, 67

connected with, and following the insurrection, as well as from the
public opinion which existed in favour of the mission in and around
the city. Atthe close of the year, it was observed that, though
the chapels had been kept open, and the usual public services held
without any interruption, yet many of the good and faithful people
had been oppressed in their circumstances by their employers, on
account of their attachment to the missionaries ; but they were pre-
pared to suffer the loss of all things rather than renounce their reli-
gion. Many of the slave members were severely punished for
attending the services, and others kept in constant fear lest their
attendance should come to the knowledge of their owners.

Strenuous efforts were made to allure or drive the slaves from
attending to religion, which, to some extent, succeeded. One
gentleman announced to the House of Assembly with every expres-
sion of pleasure, that “he was happy to inform the House that a
great improvement had taken place in the morals and manners of
the negroes in the parish he had the honour to represent, since the
sectarians had been expelled therefrom. Before, they were always
melancholy, and nothing but singing and prayer and religion would
do for them ; but now, he was happy to say, they were returning to
their old plays, dances, and other amusements, and were picking up
all their old songs !”

In January, 1833, the Annual District Meeting was held as
usual in Kington. The ordeal through which the mission had
passed, and was still passing, produced a corresponding effect in the
minds of the brethren, whose time was taken up with many painful
details of persecution, and the consideration of what was proper to
be done, in order to avert approaching evils. The lawless and
headlong course of the “ Colonial Unionists” was daily bringing
matters to a crisis. Their reckless proceedings produced a powerful
excitement among the free black and coloured population, who iden-
tified themselves with the cause of the persecuted missionaries, and,
as many of these were not under the influence of religion, there was
every prospect of a civil war; in the event of which nothing could
be looked for except the ruin of all parties and interests in the
colony.

While these things were agitating every mind, another blow was
inflicted by the Imperial government on those who denied its right,
and defied its power to chastise their insolence and folly. On the
25th January, there went forth to all the islaud authorities an explicit
declaration of the Royal will respecting the ‘“ Colonial Church
Unions,” accompanied by a circular from the Governor. To omita
word of either document would be an injustice to the memory of
King William IV., and the Earl of Mulgrave.

“ CIRCULAR.
“ King’s House, 25th Jan. 1833.

*Sin,—I aim commanded by His Excellency the Governor to
68 KINGSTON.

transmit to you, for promulgation within your parish, the enclosed
proclamation of His Majesty in Council, against certain societies
calling themselves Colonial Church Unions ; and, at the same time,
to recal to your recollection that one of His Excellency’s first acts,
upon assuming the administration of the Government, was to for-
ward to you the Attorney-General’s opinion on this subject, and to
impress upon you the propriety of cautioning all persons within
your districts against entering into any association founded on what
was thus declared to be illegal. All the circumstances connected
with the origin and objects of these societies have been since
reported to the King. His Majesty now, in this marked manner,
expresses his displeasure on the subject. His Excellency therefore
trusts that implicit obedience will be henceforth paid to the King’s
commands, and that no further attempts will be made illegally to
molest the ministers of religion of any sect or persuasion, in that
free and undisturbed exercise of their sacred calling which the con-
stitution sanctions ; but should any person within your knowledge
still persevere in acting in defiance of his Majesty’s proclamation, you
are expected immediately to report the same to His Excellency, as
he will feel it to be his duty, should they bold any appointments,
civil or military, under the Crown, forthwith to deprive them of the
same, that all others, concerned in similar proceedings, may perceive
that neither actual violence, nor a repetition of illegal threats, will be
allowed to pass unpunished.

‘“‘T have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

(Signed) “C. Yorks, Secretary.”

“ By the King— A Proclamation.

“WituiAmM R.—Whereas it hath been represented to us, that
divers of our subjects, resident in our Island of Jamaica, have asso-
ciated themselves together into certain voluntary societies, under
the name of Colonial Church Unions, or other similar designations,
and that public meetings of such societies have been holden in dif-
ferent parts of our said island; on which occasion resolutions have
been entered into for the forcible removal from our said island of
divers teachers and ministers of religion, dissenting from the doc-
trine or discipline of the Established Church of England and Ire-
land: and whereas it bath been farther represented to us, that
the several resolutions aforesaid have been printed and dispersed
throughout the said island, to the great disquiet and alarm, not only
of such religious teachers as aforesaid, and of their several congre-
gations, but of all other peaceable and well-disposed inhabitants of
our said island: and whereas such proceedings as aforesaid are
contrary to law, and tend to the imminent danger of the public
peace in our said island: now, therefore, we do hereby declare and
make known to all whom it may concern, that we are purposed, and
firmly resolved, in the exercise of our lawful authority, to maintain
KINGSTON. 69

within our said island the principles of religious toleration, and to
protect and defend all our subjects and others resident there, in the
public worship of Almighty God, according to their own consciences,
although such worship may not be conducted according to the doc-
trines or discipline of the Church of England and Ireland aforesaid,
so long as such persons shall conform and be obedient to the laws ;
and we do hereby admonish all persons resident within our said
island, that if any attempts shall be made to carry into effect any
such resolution as aforesaid, for the forcible removal from our said
island of any such teachers and ministers as aforesaid ; or if any
such society, or any other persons within our said island, shall
republish any such illegal resolutions as aforesaid, that then,
and in every such case, we will enforce against all persons
presuming so to offend, all such pains and penalties as they
may incur by such their offences. And we do hereby strictly
warn and admonish our subjects, and all others resident within
the said island, that they do abstain from associating them-
selves with any society formed, or which may be formed, for
any such illegal purpose as aforesaid, as they will answer the con-
trary to us at their peril. And we do especially and strictly com-
mand all judges, custodes, justices of the peace, and all our officers,
civil and military, in our said island, and they do not only ab-
stain from associating themselves with any such society as aforesaid,
but that, according to their several charges and trusts, they do, to
the utmost of their respective abilities, and according to their several
trusts, give full effect to the law for the maintenance of toleration in
matters of religion, and do co-operate in bringing to justice all per-
sons who may offend in the premises. And we do further admonish
all our faithful subjects in our said island, who may feel themselves
aggrieved by such illegal proceedings, that they themselves do ab-
stain from the adopting of any violent or illegal measures for obtain-
ing redress in the premises, as they shall answer the same at their
peril : it being our firm purpose and resolution to use the power in
us vested by the law in such a manner as may ensure effectual pro-
tection to all our subjects, within our said island, in the peaceable
and orderly discharge of their several callings, and in the enjoyment
of all the rights, privileges, and franchises, to them or any of them,
belonging.

“Given at our Court, St. James’, this third day of December,
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and in the third
year of our reign.

“ God save the King.”

No sooner did this important proclamation appear, than the organ
of the free coloured and black people gave utterance to the joy it in-
spired. The editor observed :—‘' The loyal and the good will read
it with mingled feelings of joy and gratitude,—gratitude deep and
70 KINGSTON.

lasting to the ministry who framed, and the monarch who consented
to, such a document. The coloured inhabitants of Jamaica have
now an important duty to perform—a duty which they owe, not
only to themselves, but to posterity. The period has arrived when
they must rally round the representatives of majesty in the island,
determined, to a man, to maintain the supremacy of their king, and
enforce at the hazard of their lives all his lawful commands.
Remembering that the eyes of Britain, of his Majesty’s ministers,
and the Executive are upon them, may we not venture boldly
to assert that they will not be disappointed in their just expec-
tations.”

On the evening of the same memorable day, about two thousand
congregated in Wesley Chapel, to listen to an official sermon from
the chairman of the district, who took for his text Acts xi. 24 ; after
which, twenty-seven missionaries, besides several of their wives,
partook of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. A sacred influence
pervaded the vast assembly, whose right to worship God in peace
had just been proclaimed by a tolerant Sovereign. The business of
the meeting having terminated on the twenty-ninth, the brethren
took an affectionate leave of each other, and departed to their re-
spective spheres of labour, with feelings of loyalty, heightened by
the assurance of being protected by Government in the prosecution
of their work.

The appearance of the circular and proclamation aroused the
Colonial Church Unionists to put forth their whole strength, in
order to avert their doom. Meetings were held in various parts of
the island, at which resolutions were passed, urging all the magis-
trates and vestrymen throughout the island to resist every applica-
tion that should be made by sectarians for licenses to preach to the
slaves, or for licensing places of worship, which, they observed,
would only be licensing the strongholds of rebellion, and secret dens
for extorting the gains of the deluded slaves—that special constables
should attend meetings for the purpose of dispersing them, and that
funds should be raised to sustain prosecutions, &c.

They spared no expressions of hatred or contempt for the Gover-
nor, and members of the Home Government, whom they represented
as the adversaries of the colonists, and patrons of the hated secta-
rians. During this season of excitement, several of the missionaries
were called to suffer the loss of health, liberty, and property—cases
of imprisonment and confiscations occurred, which will be noticed in
their proper places.

However, writs for a new elcction of members of Assembly were
issued, and several coloured gentlemen, and others of liberal prin-
ciples, were chosen by the enlarged constituency to represent their
interests in the Island Legislature, while the power of the persecut-
ing faction declined from day to day.

At the annual district meeting, held in January, 1834, the mits.
KINGSTON, Th

sionaries found themselves in circumstances which called for warm
expressions of gratitude to Him “ who maketh the wrath of man to
praise Him.” Systematic persecution no longer kept the brethren
from prosecuting their important labours. In the course of the year,
the congregations in Kingston, as elsewhere, had been large and at-
tentive. Several had been received into church communion. The
conduct of members had been consistent, and several had died in
the Lord; while the political changes taking place opened prospects
of the most cheering character.

Sermons on behalf of the parent Missionary Society having been
preached in all the city chapels on the Lord’s-day, a public missionary
meeting was held in Wesley Chapel on the 27th. Long before the
hour appointed for beginning, the pews were filled with those who
anticipated a large attendance, and, ere the chair was taken, the
crowd became so great, that large numbers were compelled to go
away, being unable to get even near the doors. The speakers were
powerfully influenced by the vastness of the missionary cause, the
state of the world, the circumstance of the audience, the zeal they
manifested, and the recent trials of the mission, which rendered it
one of the most delightful assemblies of the kind ever witnessed in
Kingston.

With the storm which threatened the existence of the mission,
the prejudices and passions which raised it were now happily passing
away. The question of emancipation was now settled by the Im-
perial Parliament, and twenty millions sterling awarded to the pro-
prietors as compensation for the loss of their slaves ; while all parties
were acknowledging that, however inimical the instructions of the
missionaries might be to a system of slavery, they were the only
means calculated to meet the moral aud social state of society about
to commence.

Hence, instead of the brethren being annoyed by sounds of insult
and threatening, they were beginning to have their principles tested
by the more dangerous voice of flattery and applause. Governors,
legislators, proprietors, and other influential persons, condescended
to acknowledge that they had suffered without deserving it, and had
therefore claims upon the respect and support of all who really
wished well to the interests of the country.

The brethren now felt the pressing necessity for additional mis-
sionaries being immediately appointed to existing stations, and also
to several localities now open to the gospel, in various parts of the
island. Their entreaties were fully considered by the committee,
and seven were added to the number already employed.

The financial difficulties of the mission were generously and
nobly met by the friends of the mother country, who, in addition to
their regular contributions, gave above £6,000 to sustain and enlarge
the missions among the West India Islands generally.

The extraordinary mental and physical efforts of the Governor
72 KINGSTON.

having seriously affected his health, he announced his intention of
resigning the government, and returning to England. The intelli-
gence produced a universal feeling of deep concern. With the ex-
ception of a few incurably mistaken men, all felt that his removal
would be a calamity to the island, at the important juncture when
so extensive and radical a change was about to take place in the
constitution of society. Even his revilers, as if suddenly convinced
of his abilities and character as a ruler, altered their tone, and
yielded to the feeling which vented itself in addresses, from every
party in the island.

Having fixed on the 14th of March for his departure, the mis-
sionaries felt it to be their duty to present the following address :—

“To His Excellency the Right Honourable Constantine Henry
Earl of Mulgrave, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal
Hanoverian Order, and one of His Majesty’s Most
Honourable Privy Council: Captain General and Gover-
nor-in-Chief of his Majesty’s Island of Jamaica, and the
other Territories thereon depending in America, Chancel-
lor, Vice-Admiral, &e. &e. &e.

“« May it please your Excellency,

“We, the Wesleyan Methodist missionaries of the Jamaica
district, beg leave to approach your Excellency in behalf of ourselves,
and our societies in this island, to express our sincere and universal
regret that you have resigned the government of this important co-
lony. We are especially sorry to know that the cause of your Excel-
lency’s resignation, and contemplated departure from this colony, is
personal indisposition. We beg leave to tender to your Excellency
our grateful acknowledgment for the protection of our religious
liberties which we have receivedand enjoyed under your Excellency’s
administration of this government. And we feel happy in avail-
ing ourselves of this opportunity to acknowledge that your Excel-
lency’s administration has given the highest satisfaction to all
classes of our societies, and has conferred upon them substantial and
invaluable benefits.

“ Your Excellency entered upon this government at a time when
it was involved in difficulties of uo ordinary kind; but we have
been most happy to observe that your Excellency’s talents, zeal, and
unwearied exertions, under the blessing of Divine Providence, have
carried you through them in such a manner as is, we are persuaded,
highly creditable to your Excellency’s exalted rank, pleasing to
your Sovereign, and satisfactory to the British Government and
nation.

“ With your Excellency’s government of this island, we connect
the re-establishment of law and justice, the suppression of anarchy,
confusion, and unmerited persecution, the final settlement of the mo-
mentous question of colonial slavery, and the commencement of a
new era of religious toleration, which places His Majesty’s subjects
KINGSTON. 73

in Jamaica on the same high and commanding ground as their fel-
low-subjects in Great Britain.

“ We cannot conceal from your Excellency our fears that your
extraordinary exertions to accomplish objects of such magnitude, and
to secure their permanency, have materially tended to induce that
indisposition which we deeply lament, because it will deprive us of
the almost incalculable advantages which we are confident would
result from your Excellency’s presence amongst us at this particu-
lar crisis.

“We assure your Excellency that you will leave Jamaica
attended with our fervent prayers, and those of the thousands of our
people, that your return to your uative country may, under the
divine blessing, promote the restoration and re-establishment of your
health ; that Almighty God may be graciously pleased to prolong
your life for valuable purposes to mankind in general, and to our
own nation in particular; and that every personal, domestic, and
spiritual blessing may always attend the Earl and Countess of
Mulgrave.”

To this address his Excellency returned the following answer :—

“ GrntLemen,—lI most truly assure you of my gratitude for your
feelings of regret at my departure, and for your expressions of espe-
cial sorrow at its cause.

“T will not attempt by repetition to weaken your enumeration of
my services during my government; but I should be insensible in-
deed to your favourable construction of my conduct, if I did not state
that that part of your address contains a comprehensive recapitulation
of all the grounds upon which I should desire to be justly remem-
bered.

In conclusion, I most earnestly trust, that the new era of religious
toleration to which you allude, may be such as shall enable you,
as zealous and discreet servants of the Lord, to execute beneficially
your high and sacred functions.”
T4

CHAPTER VII.

KINGSTON—(CONTINUED).

Preparations for Emancipation—Gift books of the Bible Society—Celebration of
Freedom—Rev. Valentine Ward and party arrive—Mortality among the Mis-
sionaries—a Temperance Society formed—Prosperity—Educational efforts—
Rev. T. H. Bewley appointed General Superintendent of Schools—Agitation
of the Societies—Termination of the Apprenticeship system—Jubilee of the
Mission—Marriage Act—New Coke Chapel opened—Great Fire—Special
Mission of Mr. Youug—Promising appearance of the Mission.

As the day drew near on which 800,000 free subjects were to be
added to the British Crown, the Committee of the parent Society
forwarded a circular to the missionaries recommending that the 1st
of August should be devoted to special religious services, in which
many of the friends of emancipation in the mother country would
feel it to be their duty to unite, as it would afford a “fine opportu-
nity to the missionaries for giving a holy and salutary direction to
those feelings of joy which the glorious event of that day would na-
turally excite in the minds of the Negroes for leading them to a
grateful acknowledgment of the Providence of God, whose hand had
been so visible in the whole business, and for administering to them
such instructions, cautions, and exhortations to an orderly, peace-
able, and industrious deportment, as might help to render their
release from slavery a permanent and substantial blessing to them-
selves and to all connected with them.’’ Special caution was given
against “‘ all unnecessary reference to past grievances and injuries ;”
and to promote these feelings of amity and goodwill which our reli-
gion strongly inculcates on it professors, this was accompanied
by a resolution of the British and Foreign Bible Socicty, in which
the Committee of that magnificent Christian institution expressed
their joy at the prospect of so important an event; and, in order to
promote the spiritual freedom of the emancipated, “a copy of the
New Testament, accompanied by the Book of Psalms, in a large
type, and substantially bound, should be tendered to every person
receiving the gift of freedom on the Ist of August who could read,
or who, though not able to read, was the head of a family in which
there were readers, or children learning to read, on such parties
receiving a recommendation from a minister, teacher, or em-
ployer.”

The next expression of sympathy with the mission was a special
effort to provide about a thousand guineas to meet an overture of
the British Government for an equal amount, in order to rebuild or
KINGSTON, 75

repair the chapels destroyed by the Colonial Unionists, during their
outrageous proceedings in 1832. It was recommended that a pub-
lic collection should be made for this purpose in connection with the
religious services of the 1st of August. It ought to be mentioned
that the Wesleyan missionaries, in forming their estimate of the loss
of mission property, calculated the very lowest value of the buildings
as they stood before they were destroyed, whereas it was afterwards
found, that, to erect them, a far larger amount was absolutely
necessary, which eventually involved them in considerable financial
difficulty.

The only circumstance that may be mentioned in connection with
the Kingston Society about this time, was the removal of an aged
member, who, among others, died in hope of eternal hfe. Mr. Kerr
observed—“ Several of our members have lately died happy in
God, among whom was a woman named Catherine Hammer. She
arrived here in a slave-ship, just three days after the sinking of
Port Royal in 1692: she was then just seven years old. The cargo
of slaves was landed on one of the estate wharfs, on this side of the
water, there being no buildings where Kingston now stands, except
a small church and a few wharf stores. The distressed families
who escaped the calamity at Port Royal were living in tents in the
bush, where the slaves were landed. It appears from old Ca-
therine’s tickets, that she joined the Methodist Society about the
year 1810, at which time she must have been one hundred and
twenty-five years of age. She continued to adorn her Christian
profession for the space of twenty-four years, when, after having out-
lived all her friends and thirteen children, she died in the faith of
the Gospel, in the hundred and forty-ninth year of her age. She
retained her faculties of hearing and sight to the last, and also, what
is of greater importance, her interest in Christ, and her hope of
eternal life by him.”

After every thing had been done that prudence could suggest to
the Government, and all interested in the grand experiment of
abolishing slavery, the wished-for day arrived, bringing with it a
thousand visions of enjoyment to those who were about, for the first
time, to breathe the air of liberty, and stand forth invested with all
the rights and privileges of free British subjects; while, on the
other hand, many dreaded its approach as the period when massacre,
conflagration, and universal ruin would burst forth with irresistible
fury, and turn the lovely isles of the Western Sea into haunts of
lawless savages.

However the extensive influence of missionary instruction became
apparent when the evening of the last day of their bondage arrived.
Due preparations were made for celebrating the approaching day,
not by indulgence in revelry and irrational mirth, but, as hecame
the occasion, in devout acknowledgement of the goodness of Him,
who was about to turn their captivity, and put it into their power to
76 KINGSTON.

worship Him under their own vine and fig-tree, none daring to
make them afraid.

Everywhere the slaves assembled in large numbers in their re-
spective places of worship, and spent the last hour of their bondage,
and first of their freedom, in prayer, praise, and listening to suitable
instruction from the lips of their religious teachers.

In Kingston, appropriate services were held. Long ere the morn-
ing light broke upon the city, Parade Chapel rang with the songs and
supplications of the newly-enfranchised worshippers and their friends,
who rejoiced in the Lord, who had broken their bonds and set them
free. At 11, a.t., they again repaired to the house of the Lord, to
listen to a faithful discourse on Luke xii. 48: “ Unto whomsoever
much is given of him shall much be required,” when their attention
was directed tothe many blessings bestowed upon them on this day, and
their responsibility, both to God and man, for the proper use of
them. And, ere the sun went down, they were again worshipping
before the Lord, pouring out their grateful acknowledgments, and
supplicating promised grace, to enable them to improve their mani-
fold privileges. Never was a Sabbath more sacredly observed than
was this memorable week-day : it was universally and fully conse-
erated to Him who claims the first-sruits of all he bestows on his
creatures.

The following day being a Saturday, meetings for prayer took
place, but, as might be expected, the attendance was small. How-
ever, the day following, the several chapels were crowded with those
whose attire and conduct told plainly their consciousness of having
escaped the degradation, pains, and penalties of slavery. It was
the first Sabbath of a new era, a day to be remembered ; a complete
cessation from everything secular universally prevailed, while every
place of worship was thronged at each service: from the infant car-
ried in arms, to the gray-headed sire, whose tottering frame was
supported to the house of God by the muscular arm of sympathizing
youth—all who could move, or be moved, appeared before the Lord.
The change wrought wonders: it seemed to infuse new life and
spirit, where heartless inactivity had frozen up the springs of physi-
cal and mental action. Although it could not be regarded as a boon
of full freedom to all, seeing that some years of compulsory service,
under the name of apprenticeship, were still to be given by a large
number ; yet the day of complete emancipation being fixed, beyond
which no man could deprive them of freedom, all felt, spoke, and
acted, as if already invested with its blessings.

Every obstacle to successful missionary effort, presented by slavery,
being now removed, and the fields everywhere white unto the har-
vest, the call for more labourers was answered by the arrival, on the
19th December, of the Revs. Valentine Ward, J. Edmondson, John
Randerson, and R. Inglis, with the wives of the three latter.

The circumstances and magnitude of the mission required the pre-
KINGSTON, V7

sence and counsel of some minister of experience and standing, es-
pecially as a spirit of disaffection began to manifest itself in the
Kingston societies, through the injudicious and divisive conduct of
one of the missionaries, whose age, office, family afflictions, and the
kindness shown him by his brethren, ought to have kept him the.
steady friend of peace, order, and unity. The joy diffused by this
increase of agency was considerably chastened by a fear of Mr. Ward
being physically unfit to resist the influence of the climate of
Jamaica; the writer, in common with some others, anticipated the
fatal termination of his mission, which will be noticed, in connection
with an account of the place where he preached his last sermon,
only a few months after his arrival.

The annual district meeting, held in January, 1835, in old Parade
Chapel, was one of much interest. During its sittings, Mr. Ward,
as chairman and representative of the Conference, preached special
sermons to the assembled missionaries on the Pastoral Office, which
was characterized by clear, sound, practical Scripture sense, and
delivered with the bold, earnest, and affectionate warmth of spirit and
manner, which ever distinguished his pulpit ministrations. How
he and the brethren felt during the sittings of this meeting, may be
gathered from a letter addressed by him to the Rev. J. Beecham :—
“T heartily thank God for his manifold goodness to me, and his
ministers aud people, both at home and in this colony, for their fer-
vent prayers. To what else can I attribute my present good health,
and the strength which enables me, with comparative ease to gothrough
the duties of my present laborious situation; and to what cause
can I assign the almost universal respect and affection manifested to
me, and the influence given me over my exccllent brethren of this
district? They, individually and collectively, desire me to express
to the Committee, through you, their unfeigned sorrow that anything
should have taken place among them to give their brethren, whom
they so highly respect, any uneasiness; and, at the same time, to
assure you of their deep-rooted attachment to the blessed cause and
plan of Methodism. Their abhorrence of all strife and division, and
their unabated desire to do the work of evangelists, to make full
proof of their ministry, and so take heed to themselves, and their
doctrine, as to save themselves and them that hear them.”

On returning from this meeting, the writer made the following
entry in his journal :—‘‘ The whole of the affairs of the district
mecting were brought to ahappyconelusion. The differences which
existed between some of the brethren were satisfactorily adjusted.
Mr. Ward’s conduct as chairman was at once highly creditable to
himself, and of great advantage to the cause of religion. Soundness
of judgment, strict impartiality, good temper, and a deep sense of
the Divine presence, characterized the whole of his proceedings. So
that, were he to return immediately to England, the good he has
been the instrument of effecting will remain a monument to his
78 KINGSTON,

honour, and to the glory of Him who is pleased, by human agency,
to establish his kingdom among men.”

As forty-five years had passed away since the mission was com-
menced in Kingston, and the civil condition of people having just
undergone a radical change, it may be mentioned that, at this annual
meeting, it was found that the members in the Kingston circuit
amounted to three thousand five hundred and fifty-seven, including
those at Port Royal, while the total number throughout the island
was thirteen thousand three hundred and sixty-five, under the pastoral
care of twenty-two missionaries: a result calculated to encourage
the hope, that the removal of many formidable obstacles would ren-
der the fields still more fruitful, provided an adequate agency were
seasonably supplied to seize the favourable opportunity.

Never had a year opened to the missionaries so bright with pro-
mise of prosperity to the mission, yet never did any one year furnish
so many humbling lessons on the frail tenure of human life. Ere
the next annual meeting took place, six of the missionaries, besides
several wives and children, were consigned to the tomb, and, among
these, the man on whose judicious counsel and management so much
seemed to depend. Besides these, another promising young mis-
sionary, Henry Fell, was compelled to leave the island. Soon after
commencing his missionary work, he caught a severe cold, which
fixed on the lungs, and laid him aside. No prospect of recovery
presenting itself, he returned to England, and soon sank into the
grave, happy in the hope of eternal life, telling his sister not to make
herself unhappy about him, for “all was well.” Humbled under
the chastisement of the Divine hand, the missionaries observed the
24th of July as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, that the
Lord would be pleased to show compassion, and spare the lives of
those who still remained to carry on the mission.

The temperance movement, which had proved so beneficial to
many in Great Britain and America, engaged the attention of several
of the missionaries, who feared that a state of civil freedom would
place many temptations to intemperance in the way of the labouring
population, and so defeat their spiritual efforts. To anticipate such
an evil, a few missionaries and clergymen united in the formation of
a temperance association. Public meetings were held in Kingston,
and, in several places in the country, sermons were preached, and
tracts distributed, with such success, that, at the close of the year,
above five hundred members were enrolled: and, it was remarked
by many, that, within the range of this movement, the Christmas
holidays passed over without the usual noise and revelry. Through-
out the district of St. Thomas-in-the-Vale, only one instance of in-
toxication was discovered.

The Kingston societies in 1836 gave great encouragement, while
the congregations were larger than they ever had been. Wesley
Chapel was well filled, and Parade and Ebenezer so crowded, that
KINGSTON, 79

large numbers were unable to gain admission. ‘The necessity of
more chapel accommodation had been felt for some time, and strenuous
efforts were made by the people to raise funds for the erection of a
new chapel on the Parade, as the old one was not only far too small,
but considered scarcely safe under the pressure of the dense crowds
that attended it. In order to stimulate the friends to renewed exer-
tion, the Rev. Messrs. Kerr, Atkins, Randerson, and Hodgson, then
stationed in the circuit, resolved on laying the corner stone of a
new chapel, though there was no immediate prospect of raising an
amount to warrant a commencement of the building. Accordingly,
on the 29th of June, a sermon was preached in Wesley Chapel, and
at 6 p.a., the stone was laid by James Taylor, Esq., one of the
members of the House of Assembly, who also succeeded in obtaining
a grant of £500 from the House towards the erection. At the com-
mencement of the ceremony, the platform on which those stood who
were appointed to address the multitude assembled, gave way, owing
to its being overcrowded: the only effect to be regretted was the
shock it gave to the excellent wife of Mr. Randerson, from which
she never recovered. At this period, the number of members was
4,249, and, throughout the island, above 17,000. The increase on
the returns of the previous year was 2,500.

The altered views of the Island Legislature, with regard to the
mission, appeared by the remarks made by the members who advo-
cated the grant above mentioned. One said,—‘‘ When the House
reflected on the advantage which had resulted to the island at large,
from the zealous and efficient labours of the Wesleyan Missionaries
—on the increasing influence of the Wesleyans, and at the change
wrought in our peasantry by their exertions, he trusted that the
House would at once exercise its usual liberality.” Another re-
marked—* In Kingston the good that had resulted from this par-
ticular persuasion was astonishing.” ‘The Wesleyans,” said an-
other, “have been of incalculable service to the country.” These
sentiments show clearly the powerful influence of social institutions
in forming the public mind. During the existence of slavery, hon-
ourable members of the Assembly were wont to regard and treat the
missionaries as unprincipled men of sinister designs, whose presence
in the island was its bane! So that one is apt to conclude that the
mental and moral emancipation of the free colonists was as striking
as the liberation of the slaves from their civil bondage.

The views of His Excellency the Governor, Sir Lionel Smith,
were expressed in an address delivered by him on opening the As-
sembly in November. He observed—‘ Gentlemen, we have hardly
four years more to watch over the experiment of the apprenticeship ;
give every facility you can to the missionaries’ labours; banish
from your minds the idea that they are vour enemies. I will an-
swer with my head for their loyalty and fidelity. Encourage their
peaceable settlement amongst your people. Let every four or five
80 KINGSTON,

contiguous estates combine for the erection of chapels and schools ;
and, knowing as you well do, the attachment of the Negro to the
place of his birth, and the burial-place of his parents, you may, I
sincerely believe, by these means, finally locate on your estates a
contented peasantry.” Well might it have been for the country
had this advice been followed ; but its general neglect, accompanied
by a fearful amount of legal oppression in various forms, ren-
dered the apprenticeship system, in some respects, more dreaded
by the nominally enfranchised peasantry than slavery itself, as
some of the stipendiary magistrates shamefully abused the trust re-
posed in them, and descended to the contemptible position of mere
tools to those who could not refrain from indulging in a spirit of
malignant disappointment, at the prospect of their slaves being
placed on a civil equality with themselves.

Among the means of benefiting the liberated slaves which
engaged attention, was that of education—a boon which slavery
denied them—as at once inimical to its spirit, and likely to hazard
its very existence. To the Wesleyan Missionary Society, a Parlia-
mentary grant of £5000 was made for the establishment of schools
throughout the West Indies, on condition that £2500 were added to
it by the Society, and certain terms observed which were calculated
rather to facilitate than retard the free prosecution of the mission
As to the character of these schools, the Committee were very par-
ticular that they should be primarily and distinctively religious
institutions. They observed—“ Had it been determined that the
schools should all be conducted strictly on such a svstem as would
merely give the children an acquaintance with the Scriptures but
would not allow that the schools should be commenced and close with
singing and prayer, nor admit catechetical instruction, nor make any
provision for the pastoral visitation of the schools by the ministers
of the Gospel—all of which the Committee regard as indispensably
necessary to make the schools so many nurseries of religion and
morality,” they could not have accepted the proffered aid of Parlia-
ment.

Wherever a school should be established, they made it imperative
on the resident missionary to pay it due and regular pastoral atten-
tion, as a part of his stated ministerial work. In a circular for-
warded to the missionaries on the subject, the Committee observed:
—" In order to secure the efficiency of the schools, it has been re-
solved to place them under the superintendance and direction of two
or more competent and confidential persons, who shall be invested
with full power to carry into effect the designs of the Committee.
The Rev. Thomas H. Bewley, who has been long accustomed to
tuition, and the management of schools in Scotland and Ireland, is
appointed General Superintendent of the Society’s Schools in Ja-
maica. His character, abilities, and experience, and the lively in-
terest which he takes in the welfare of the rising generation, have
KINGSTON, st

marked him out asa very suitable person for this oftice, and he
Icaves his native land to enter upon his important duties, in the full
confidence and atfection of the Committee.”

My, Bewley left England, with his wife and family, on the 25th
of November, and after a tedious voyage, arrived in Kingston on
the 2d of February, 1837. Seldom, if ever, had so interesting a
familv group landed in Jamaica. Each appeared in the full bloom
of health; but, alas! this lovely circle was ere long broken by
the ruthless hand of death, cutting off both parents, and leaving the
ovphans to the care of strangers in a strange land, as will be noticed
in connection with the account of the Stewart’s Town station, where
the dust of the head of the family awaits the call of Him who is the
resurrection and the life.

The varied forms of external opposition which the mission had
sustained from its commencement only tended to strike its roots
deeper, and to throw its branches over a gradually widening
area. It survived each assault only to flourish with increasing
vigour. So long as the foe was without the church, life, peace, and
power continued within ; but, along with the prospect of still greater
prosperity, trials were at hand from within. For a period of nearly
four years, one of the missionaries who held the responsible office
of Chairman of the district, had shown a disaffected spirit, and so
conducted himself as to shake the confidence of the Committee, and
of his brethren, in his ability to discharge duties which called for
great prudence, integrity, and firmness. The result was the appoint-
ment of a successor, which so mortified him that, from that period,
he pursued a systematic course of opposition to his brethren, which
threatened to inflict serious evils on the Kingston mission especially,
in which he had laboured for several years. To arrest a career of
sowing discord, the Committee recalled him, that he might give an
account of his conduct; but, instead of obeying, he forwarded to the
Committee in England a long list of charges against some of his
brethren, along with certain objections to ‘“‘ Methodism,” “ Infant
Baptism, and the Eternal Sonship of Christ.” The brethren, on
learning this, held a Special District Meeting in Kingston, in June,
1837, at which he refused to meet his injured brethren, or substan-
tiate, mitigate, or recal his accusations. The charges were gone
into seriatim, at great length, and elicited such a state of mental
and moral aberration, as cut off all hope of accommodation. The
recusant having inflicted, as he thought, a severe blow on those
whom he was pleased to denominate the “‘ Conference Missionaries,”
withdrew froin the mission, in order to escape expulsion, and imme-
diately began to form a new church, which, he promised, would be
a model of ecclesiastical polity and doctrinal purity. For sometime
the pulpit, the platform, and the press were kept in active play to
influence the public mind, keep up agitation, disorganize the socie-
ties. and draw away the people from their old pastors, who had

K
S32 KINGSTON,

sympathized with them during their days of bondage and persecu-
tion! For several months large numbers continued to receive the
oft and fully-refuted statements, to trust in the fair promises, and
to approve of the plausible plans of this accuser of his brethren, who
engaged that every poor member of Ais new church would be well
provided for; that the greatest freedom should be enjoyed by all,
and that an educational system was to be adopted for training ua-
tive youths for the ministry !

In the course of a few months, it was rumoured that about two
thousand had left the old societies, in order to join the newly-formed
one. Though the missionaries stationed in Kingston were placed
in most delicate and painful circumstances, they acted with admir-
able prudence, fortitude, and zeal; and, as might be expected, the
blessing of the Lord crowned their labours. No better picture of
the state of the mission in Kingston, up to July, 1838, can be given
than in the following extract of a letter forwarded to the Committee
by the Rev. Messrs. Edmondson, Bleby, and Inglis, who were hon-
oured with the difficult task of piloting the mission through this
storm. They wrote—“ We are happy in being able jointly to
address vou under circumstances favourable to ourselves, and which,
we have no doubt, will be gratifying to you. The Lord continues
to gladden our hearts, and to encourage us in our labours in this
Cireuit, by delightful indications of Elis presence and blessing.
From the beginning of the year, we have rejoiced in witnessing a
decided enlargement of our public congregations, and weekly addi-
tions to our societies, and in the hallowed influence which has gene-
rally attended the ordinances of the sanctuary. We are happy to
say, at the close of the second quarter, that this pleasing state of
things still continues; a delightful spirit of peace and harmony per-
vades all our societies in this city; all our services are well at-
tended ; a holy unction accompanies the ministration of the word of
life; and in the goodly number brought into the fold of Christ, we
have the best and strongest proofs that the Lord is with us. The
interest which has been excited by the open-air preaching continues
undiminished ; and every Sabbath, except when the weather is un-
favourable, we preach in the strects to thousands that Gospel which
is able to make them wise unto salvation. We have also open-air
preaching in different parts of the city, once or twice on other days
of the week; and the attention with which we are listened to, by
many who never go the house of God, is most pleasing. A con-
siderable number of instances have come to our knowledge in which
street-preaching hxs been blessed to the hearers, and led them to
renounce the error of their ways. Our quarterly schedules show
that we have a net increase of members in this Circuit, during the last
three months, of about two hundred, while forty have been received
on trial. Glory be to God, who overrules the devices of the wicked
for his own glory, and causes the wrath of man to praise him !
KINGSTON, SO

“ Unwearied efforts are made to promote the unhallowed cause of
agitation and strife; but, thank God, without success. Consulting
the wishes of our faithful people, as well as our own inclinations, we
maintain unbroken silence towards the opposing party, and do not
even go out of our way to contradict the shameless falsehoods which
they send forth to the world. The miserable success which they
desire can only be promoted by agitation; and we best defeat their
object by pursuing the even tenor of our way, regarding them with
perfect inditference, and giving ourselves to the great work to which
we are pledged—the work of saving souls. And this, by the grace
of God, we intend to do; confiding i in, and looking for, the blessing
of Him whose we are, and whom we serve.

“Tt may not, however, be amiss for us here to observe to you, that
whatever statements respecting their success in Jamaica may be put
forth by that party, they are to be received with extreme caution.
Only last week an advertisement appeared in one of the island news-
papers, stating that the members of our society in Kingston are
going over to the association, as they call themselves, at an average
of nearly twenty per week. The state of our schedule, as above-
mentioned, will show you that, instead of this being the case, we have
been receiving persons into the society in nearly that proportion.
We mention this only to show you to what they can stoop to sup-
port their unworthy cause, and that you may know how to appre-
ciate their statements, should any of them come under your obser-
vation.

“Last week we had a tea-meeting in the Parade Chapel, for the
purpose of bringing the subject of education more fully before our
people. Five hundred of our friends took tea together ; and, after-
wards, others were admitted till the chapel was crowded, and great
numbers had to go away who could not get in. Our friend Mr.
Taylor took the chair, and several of the preachers addressed the

“meeting. A powerful interest was excited, and we believe the
happy effects of this meeting will hereafter appear both in our Sab-
bath and day-schools.

“We are still kept back from commencing the new Parade
Chapel, partly by the non-completion of the school-house, and partly
by the architect, who has frequently disappointed us with the plan
and specifications. He is pledged, however, to give them in next
week; but it will not be possible to commence the chapel till after
the first of August, as things will probably be too unsettled for a
little while to allow us to do anything effectual.

“ We are looking forward to the approaching first of August with
much interest. The island Legislature has passed the Act for the
abolition of the apprenticeship on that day, and the Governor has
issued a proclamation for all places of worship to be opened, and the
day to be observed as a day of thanksgiving. On several properties
the apprentices have already heen made free, and are doing well,
se KINGSTON.

nor do we anticipate anything like confusion when all shall pass
into unrestricted liberty. It will be a day long to be remembered,
and we are making arrangements to celebrate it with services suit-
able to the occasion, and “which we hope to make interesting and
profitable. It is a pleasing reflection to us that the body to which
we belong has been, under Providence, largely instrumental in bring-
ing about an event which will, we hope, be to this country the dawn
of anew era of unexampled prosperity and true piety. May that
body still be honoured by the Great Head of the Church, as a
powerful instrument of good, till everything contrary to the spirit
of the Gospel shall be destroyed, and the world shall be filled with
the knowledge of the glory of God !”’

All parties being fully convinced of the bad working of the appren-
ticeship system, as a preparative to the enjoyment of full freedom.
The determination of the Island Legislature to bring it to a close
was hailed with pleasure by the majority of the inhabitants of the
colony, who were heartily sick of the continual beart-burnings, agi-
tations, and punishments, to which it gave rise. In Wingston, as in
all parts of the island, appropriate services were held. On the even-
ing of the 31st of July, a watch-night service was held in Parade
and Wesley Chapels. The congregations were large, and the ser-
vices deeply interesting. At Parade Chapel, Mr. Edmondson
preached from Deut. vi. 12., and then proceeded to Wesley Chapel,
and delivered a suitable address; and Mr. Bleby, having preached
in Wesley Chapel, from Leviticus xxv. 10., went to Parade Chapel
and delivered an address. ‘ The deep and hallowed feeling of joy
which pervaded the congregations during these interesting services
was not expressed in noisy and tiumuliuous acclamations, but in sup-
pressed and fervent aspirations of praise to Almighty God, by
whose unerring wisdom, and powerful arm, the great event had
been brought to pass. On the Ist of August, services were again
held, when the large congregation which attended were instructed
in the best way of improving the blessing of civil liberty now fully
conferred upon them, that by their spirit and conduct they might
prove themselves wortly of the privileges conferred on them. In
the afternoon, Messrs. Edmondson and Bleby held a service in the
open-air on the Parade; on which occasion the congregation was
the largest cver witnessed in the city, and was composed of all
classes of the inhabitants. The conduct of the people was admirable
throughout the day. Nothing unbecoming took place. There was
no drunkenness, noise, disorder, or folly, but each conducted himself
with such a scnse of propriety as perhaps never had been witnessed
on an oceasicn so likely to tempt people to irregularities. After the
time alloted for sober “festivity had passed away, the people pro-
eceded quietly to their respective employment, according to such
agreements as they had made with their employers, without au
Aaealienn about. wages, a question which agitated some in the
KINGSTON. So

country, through the injudicious interference of those who ought to
have known better.”

The time for erecting the new chapel on the Parade had now ar-
rived; the venerable building, which had so long afforded accom-
modation to numerous hearers of the glorious Gospel, and been the
spiritual birth-place of many souls now before the throne of God, was
to be taken down. Its very dust was dear to the people, who associated
with it some of the sweetest reminiscences of hallowed hours which
they had spent within its walls. The last service was held in it in
October, 1838, on which occasion Messrs. Bleby, Chapman, Inglis,
and Simmons officiated. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was
administered to a crowded congregation, after the evening service,
which kept them together till a late hour. The sacred ordinance
was administered in the first place, to the two surviving members
of the first cluss, James Harris and Sarah Wilkinson, and then to
the whole society. It was a solemn season: the Master of assem-
blies was in the midst of his people, who felt deeply the circumstance,
that they should no more assemble in the place where the Lord had
often poured his Spirit upon them, while listening to the glad tidings
of salvation, and pouring out their supplications before Him.

Notwithstanding the assaults made on the mission, it never pre-
sented so encouraging an aspect as at the annual meeting of the
district, in January, 1839. ‘The reports from all the stations were
most gratifving, and particularly so in Kingston, where the storm
had been hushed into a great calm, and multitudes flocked to the
religious services held both in the chapels and in the open air. Trifty
years having passed away since Dr. Coke first landed in Kingston,
the event was celebrated by a breakfast meeting being held in
Wesley Chapel, where about a thousand of the friends met the mis-
sionaries. After breakfast, the doors were thrown open, when the
spacious building was immediately crowded by a respectable audience,
who listened with deep and joyous interest to the addresses which were
delivered. The interest was greatly heightened by the circumstance,
that the friends of Methodism throughout the world were giving
expression to their gratitude for the mercies and blessings so richly
showered upon the Methodist Church, during the hundred years of
its existence, in which the Jamaica Methodists took a lively interest,
and contributed to the Centenary Fund above £600. The interior
of the chapel was tastcfully decorated with abundance of branches
and young fruit of the cocoa nut tree, evergreens, flowers, mottoes,
pictures, and naines of eminent Methodist ministers, whose labours
had been eminently owned of God, in promoting His glory in the
world. As the Rev. E. Fraser was expected from England every
hour, one of the resolutions was kept for him, but the vessel did not
reach the harbour till the following Sabbath. While one of the
inissionaries was speaking, he alluded to the erection of the new
chapel on the Parade, and proposed a subseription towards defraying
SO KINGSTON,

part of the expense. The proposal was cheerfully entertained, and
£400 forthwith promised, each missionary aiding a liberal people in
the good work.

The progress of the mission appeared from the pleasing fact an-
nounced, that, in Kingston circuit alone, there were now four chapels,
four missionaries, a general superintendent of schools, 3964 members,
and 179 leaders, with a day school attached to Parade Chapel, hav-
ing more than 100 children receiving instructions in reading,writing,
aritametic, grammar, geography, and sewing; while throughout
the island, there were 17 circuits, 31 missionaries, 22,88-L members,
being an increase of 2723 during the past year, and 15 day schools,
besides numerous Sabbath schools.

The interest of the meeting was heightened by Sarah Wilkinson
and James Harris, the only two remaining members of the first
class, formed at the commencement of the mission, in 1789, appear-
ing on the platform. These venerable witnesses of the rise and pro-
gress of the mission held on their way through every change and
trial, and were now permitted to see its prosperity, and express
their gratitude to God, before entering into their long-expected
rest.

One of the most important legislative measures affecting West
India missions, was the passing of a Marriage Act in 1840. ‘The
licentiousness which universally pervaded West India society pre-
viously to the spread of the Gospel, was a legitimate effect of slavery.
A mistaken, corrupt, and niggardly policy led proprietors to dis-
countenance marriage on the estates, as likely to affect their finan-
cial interests : hence, attorneys, overseers, clerks, and book-keepers,
were compelled to conform to “the custom of the country,” with
very few exceptions, and these only of recent date. As to the slaves,
it was left for many years to the caprice of the planter, whether thev
should be allowed to marry or not. Hence, though none were ad-
mitted to church membership till they were either married or had
abandoned every illicit connexion, the marriages celebrated by the
missionaries were generally regarded as valid, there being no law
in existence to forbid them ; however, some questioned their legality,
without being able to assign a reason. The termination of slavery
rendered the clear settlement of this question of great importance,
as it involved the character, relations, interests, and comfort, of mul-
titudes of the people. The Government, urged by the religious
friends of the negro, took this question into consideration, and the
result was, the passing of “an Act to Legalize, Register, and Con-
firm, Marriages by Dissenters, and other Ministers, not connected
with the Established Church.” A special Committee, which had
been appointed by the annual district meeting to watch the progress
of this Act, met in Wesley Chapel, Kingston, on the 29th April,
eighteen days after it passed the Legislature, and made immediate
arrangements for securing its full benefits to all parties concerned.
  

 

 

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‘This important measure settled the minds of thousands, and placed
the missionaries in a position to prosecute their labours with in-
creased influence.

While the missionaries were assembled in Kingston, at their
annual meeting, in January, 1841, the new chapel on the Parade
was completed, and opened for public worship, to the great joy of
the people, who had been put to considerable inconvenience during
its erection, from want of accommodation. The appearance of this
place of worshlp, along with the Normal School-house adjoining, is
imposing. From all parts of the great square, on the east side of
which they stand, they arrest the eye of the spectator. The accom-
panying sketch gives a fair representation of the external aspect.
The interior of the chapel is light, chaste, moderately elegant, and
capable of seating a large congregation.

The reports presented to the meeting from every station in the
island were of the most encouraging description. Seventeen hundred
members had been added during the vear, many new openings had
presented themselves, and two thousand pounds of additional contri-
butions had been given by the people.

Mr. Armstrong having been appointed successor to Mr. Bewley,
endeavoured to establish a training school for teachers in Kingston,
besides local schools throughout the island, towards the support of
which his Excellency the Governor became an annual subscriber of
£100. However, the very success which followed the efforts of the
brethren embarrassed them exceedingly : their labours became
very great, health was sacrificed, and several fell victims to excessive
toil, being unable to resist the calls for help which reached them
from every quarter. Atleast twelve additional missionaries were
immediately needed, and earnestly craved of the Committee; but
the state of the fund did not admit of a favourable answer; hence,
in the course of the year, Messrs. Greenwood, Redfern, and Loft-
house sank into the grave, leaving large flocks to mourn the loss of
pastoral attention.

At the close of the ycar 1842, with only four missionaries, King-
ston societies consisted of 5149 members, 187 candidates; 4 Sabbath
schools, 559 scholars; 2 day-schools, 3 salaried teachers, 215 scholars.
A mission having beea begun in Port Royal Mountains, rendered
the work overwhelming to the brethren; and, though there was an
additional missionary given the following year, the supply was still
seanty for the circuit, there being, besides the Kingston congrega-
tions, to supply those also at Port Royal, Mount Fletcher, Provi-
dence, Union, Bethesda, and Red Hills.

On the 26th August, 1843, the city of Kingston was threatened
with utter destruction. About noon a cry of fire was heard by the
inhabitants residing at the south-east end, and, in a few minutes,
James’s foundry was enveloped in flames, which were carried by the
sea breeze rapidly towards the saw-mills and timber-yard of Messrs.
ss KINGSTON,

Da Costa and Maxwell. The devouring element next swept along the
north side of Harbour Street, and on to Thames Street, consuming
in its way a range of houses between them. The houses on both
sides of Gold Street were speedily consumed. With irresistible
power, the fire next took its course up Rum Lane, reducing every
dwelling to smoking ruins. Meanwhile, burning shingles, and frag-
ments of combustible matter, were driven by the wind over the city,
setting on fire houses and buildings in various places. A house in
Law’s Street, formerly occupied by the Athenzeum Club, tool fire,
and became the nucleus of a new conflagration, even more disastrous
than the original one. ‘The flames seized the adjoining buildings,
passed along George’s Lane, up East Street, John’s-land, and Duke
Street, destroying every house in their way, and terminating their
terrific career northward, at the Roman Catholic Chapel, near the
Parade, which also fell a sacrifice. At the same time, the original
fire continued its ravages, threatening destruction to Port Royal
Street. About five in the evening, the land wind began to turn the
flames back to the south, which brought destruction to many houses
on the east side of Hanover Street, including the coach-building
establishment of Mr. Wilcox.

Under Providence, the lofty walls of Wesley Chapel, along with
the welldirected exertions of Mr. Mdney and the people, saved it from
the fate of the buildings around it. The roof was frequently on fire
by burning fragments being carried up by the strong wind. While
this was going on, a cry was heard, “‘ Coke Chapel is on fire!” on
which Mr. Edney hastened to the Parade, ascended the roof of the
chapel, and succeeded, with the aid of many friends, in keeping off
the flames, which blazed about it. A range of houses close to the
east end of the chapel perished. The missionary’s residence then
took fire, but, after considerable efforts, the flames were subdued.
Some buildings next to the school-house then began to blaze, and
soon the school-house itself. ‘To arrest the progress of the confla-
gration, the vestry and out-building between the missionary dwell-
ing and chapel were pulled down to the ground.

Most efficient assistance was rendered by C. Lake, aud James
Taylor, Esqs., both members of the House of Assembly, in direct-
ing the exertions of the people. While the fate of the chapel was
doubtful, “‘ many of the negro members of the church stood on the
Parade, wringing their hands, and lifting their streaming eyes up to
heaven, imploring the Hearer of Prayer to spare their beautiful
temple.” At Wesley Chapel, the new school-house, out-houses, and
fences, were entirely destroyed. The damage sustained at both
places was estimated at about £1000.

The property which perished throughout the city in about sixteen
hours was valued at nearly half-a-million sterling. By this
calamity, multitudes were reduced to utter destitution, among whom
were many of the members of the Methodist Society. And but for
KINGSTON, sy

the heroic efforts of a party of the Royal Artillery, under the com-
mand of Major Rowland, the officers and men of the 60th Rifles, the
2d West India Regiment, and the officers and crews of Her Majesty’s
ships Albatross, Imaun; and Ringdove, the whole city must have
perished; as the roofs of the houses, with few exceptions, instead
of being slated, were covered with wooden shingles, while timber
was the chief material of which most of the buildings were composed,
and being kept perfectly dried by the sun, were easily set on fire,
and quickly consumed.

The Committee had long been impressed with the importance of
sending a special deputation to the West Indies, in order to ascer-
tain the state and resources of the several missions, with the view
of adopting such alterations and improvements as might be found
necessary to meet the altered state of society since the abolition of
slavery. ‘To carry out this design, the Rev. R. Young was selected,
as he had laboured several years in the mission. He left England
by the steam packet, on the 12th of December, and arrived in
Jamaica on the 31st. lis reception was highly gratifying. Many
who remembered him gave expression to feelings which proved that
they had not ceased to love him, though years had passed away
since he had left them.

The signs of improvement, which everywhere met his eyes, in-
spired him with gratifying feelings. The influence of the mission
was strikingly apparent to his view, when he called to recollection
the state of the people and the mission when he laboured in Kingston
in 1822. At that period, throughout the island, there were six cir-
cuits—ten missionaries—seven thousand members, and no schools.
Now there were eighteen circuits—thirty-six missionaries, and assis-
tant missionaries—a general superintendent of schools—sixty-one
chapels—fifty minor preaching stations—five catechists—thirty-nine
day-school teachers—one hundred and fifty-four Sabbath-school
teachers—thirty-eight local preachers—twenty-six thousand seven
hundred and seventy-two members—seven hundred and eighty-eight
candidates for membership—three thousand seven hundred and
twenty-five scholars; with an average of about forty-one thousand
hearers, and an auxiliary missionary society, contributing nearly
£1600 towards the general fund of the parent Society.

In the course of the year four additional chapels had been built,
and five were proposed to be erected, without any help from the
Committee. Loans, advanced by the Committee in former years, in
cases of emergency, were now to be repaid as early as possible.
Special efforts were to be made in order to render the mission self-
supporting ; and in hope of succeeding to some extent, the brethren
inthe District Meeting voted the return of £1000 of the £2500
granted by the Committee towards meeting the ordinary deficiencies.

Kingston circuit, in 1843, included nine congregations, viz.,
Purade, or Coke Chapel, having two thousand three hundred and

1.
90 KINGSTON,

thirty members, besides one hundred and ten candidates. Wesley
Chapel, one thousand two hundred and sixty-four members, and
and eighty-three candidates. Ebenezer, four hundred and forty-six
members, and fourteen candidates. Port Royal, one hundred and
ninety-seven members, and eighteen candidates. Mount Fletcher,
eight hundred and three members, and thirty candidates. Provi-
dence, near the base of Port Royal Mountains, one hundred ard forty-
two members, and twenty-seven candidates. Union, forty-nine
members, and five candidates. Bethesda, about fifteen miles from
Kingston, in the midst of a thick population, in a most destitute
condition, fifty-two members, and five candidates; and Redhidls, an
old station, formerly attached to Stoney Hill, two hundred and
twenty-six members, and nine candidates—making a total of five
thousand five hundred and nine members, and three hundred and
one candidates. There were four Sabbath and three week-day
schools ; the former attended by five hundred and sixteen scholars,
and the latter by two hundred and forty-nine, with three salaried,
and sixty-two gratuitous teachers, under the pastoral care of five
missionaries. Thus had the little flock become thousands; and
though the mission had been exposed to a succession of storms that
frequently threatened its extinction, it flourished amidst the chil-
ling blasts and shadows of slavery, the fires of persecution and
internal agitation, and, having outlived them all, spread its benign
influence through many a happy home within its range, and
lightened the path of multitudes in the way to glory, honour, im-
mortality, and eternal life,
wie JaNMRS

 

 
OL

CHAPTER VIII.

MONTEGO BAY.

Situation and appearance of the town—Arrival of Dr. Coke and Mr. Werril—Mr.
Vish—Conflagration—Maroon War—Mr, Fish leaves—Mr. Campbell driven
away—Messrs. Shipman, Ratcliffe, Whitehouse, and Orton, successively ap-
pointed—A new chapel built by Mr. Duncan—The Insurrection—Mr. Mur-
ray prosecuted—Conduct of Magistrates censured—Mr. Murray imprisoned—
Persecution put down—Messrs. Wedlock and Corbett—Emancipation—Death
of Rev. Valentine Ward—Advancement of the Mission under Messrs. Kerr,
Edney, Mearns, and Fraser.

Tux town of Montego Bay is situated near the mouth of Montego
River, in the parish of St. James, in the county of Cornwall, on the
north-west side of the island, and distant from Kingston about 120
miles. It is well laid out; many of the buildings and houses are
of brick or stone, and the dwellings of the respectable inhabitants
are characterized by regard to what may be termed West India ele-
gance and comfort, having gardens or grass-plots attached, adorned
with various characteristic trees, shrubs, and flowers,—while ver-
andahs, piazzas, and other features of tropical architecture, render
the houses as pleasant and cool as possible in this extremely warm
neighbourhood. The bay being sheltered on the east and south by
a semi-circular hill, the sea breeze by day, and the land wind by
night, are alike kept from the greater portion of the town; hence, on
the bay, it is almost always extremely sultry. The anchorage for
the shipping ranges from four to thirty-four fathoms water, with
abundance of room for a large fleet. The entrance is not good, nor
is it well defended by artillery, as the bay is very open and exposed.
When the north-west wind blows it is not safe for ships. To ob-
viate this, great efforts have been made to form a break-water to
keep off the swell; but, like many projects of a public character in
Jamaica, nothing has been achieved besides burying an ineredible
quantity of large stones in the sea—which have been swept away by
the violence of the waves—and the expenditure of vast sums of money
and labour, which might have been saved, had a competent engineer
been employed to plan and superintend it at first. Kingston is on
the one side of the island, what Montego Bay is onthe other—the great
emporium of trade. The plantations not only skirt the shore, but
extend inland for many miles. They are very numerous within
the parish, and the slaves attached to them used to amount to about
twenty-four thousand ; with above eighteen thousand stock, consist-
ing of cattle, horses, mules, &c., for working the estates.

From the missionary residence at Upton, the prospect of both
92 MONTEGO BAY.

town and country is crowded with objects of interest. The buildings
on the bay contrast beautifully with the foliage of the cocoa-nut,
orange, star-apple, plantain, banana and others trees and shrubbery,
with which they are mingled. The Church, the Baptist, Wesleyan,
and Episcopal Chapels, the Presbyterian Church, along with nume-
rous respectable houses, stores, and wharfs, are the most prominent.
The clear, blue water of the sea, bounded by the verdant shore,
stretches far to the west, and dies away in the distant horizon, towards
the Island of Cuba on the north. Along the shore, as far as the eye
can reach, the hills, which terminate in the mountain chain that
stretches from east to west along the centre of the island, are seen
rising one above another, richly studded with clumps of bamboo,
trumpet, broad-leaf, prickly-yellow, cocoa-nut, and majestic wild
cotton trees, from whose far-extending branches innumerable
wreaths of wild flowers, parasitic plants, and creeping vines are seen
waving in the breeze, forming beautiful festoons, while strong withes
reach the ground and take root, as if intended to aid this giant of
the forest against the assaults of the hurricane. The cane fields,
with the various buildings and negro huts of the estates, crowned
by the mountain heights which form the back-ground, all conspire
to render the scenery deeply interesting to the eye that can delight in
gazing on the beauties of nature, so pleasantly, plentifully, and har-
moniously mingled in this tropical landscape.

On the 5th of January, 1791, just about two years after his first
visit to the island, Dr. Coke landed here, along with Mr. Werrill, a
young missionary. [His own account is too interesting to be omit-
ted :—" We we were without a friend or single acquaintance in the
place ; and, to those who are endued with the tenderest social feel-
ings, this is no insignificant trial—though I do know, in the gene-
ral, to the glory of the grace of God, that the Lord is a sufficient
consolation in every climate and country. We had, however, a
strong persuasion that there was work for us to do in this town.
We walked about the streets looking and inquiring, but every door
seemed to be closed against us. To preach in the open air is almost
impracticable in this burning climate ; besides, the negroes, in gene-
ral? are not able to attend till the evening, when the heavy dews
would render it ina high degree imprudent and dangerous to preach
abroad.” Though the Doctor had a letter of introduction to a gentle-
man residing at the Bay, all it procured was a polite invitation to
an elegant dinner.

Every door being closed, they resolved on proceeding to Kingston,
but as their boxes could not be got from the ship for about four
days, they were compelled to wait. On the following day, the
Doctor made known his desire of preaching, to a company with
whom he was dining at an ordinary, provided he could get a place;
on which one suggested that the Assembly Room, which had for-
merly been the Church, would do. The proprietor generously gave
MONTEGO BAY. 93

it, and lighted it at his own expense. The Doctor observes—“ The
first evening I had most of the gentry to hear me, who attended,
invariably, during the remainder of my stay ; but hardly any of the
coloured people were present. The man whom I sent round the
town calling only on the whites; but every evening afterwards the
blacks attended, and their numbers increased beyond expectation.
Each time the congregation, in general, heard with deep attention.
A few rakes only twice clapped their hands, and cried out ‘ encore,’
‘ encore,’ but were afterwards prevented by some gentlemen. The
last evening I preached there, I had about five hundred hearers ;
and after as faithful a sermon as I was able to give them, on the
necessity of the new birth, I informed them that they would soon,
I believed, be visited by another of our ministers, at which all
seemed satisfied. Having thus, under the Divine blessing, opened
a little door for the Gospel in Montego Bay, I set off with my friend
for Kingston, on the 10th January.”

Though the Doctor visited the island in 1792, he confined his at-
tention to Kingston and Spanish Town; but, in March, 1793, he
again arrived at Port Royal, when he found that Mr. Werrill had
been carried off by a malignant fever. Mr. Fish, his successor, and
a young man from America, set off to Montego Bay, along with the
Doctor, ‘ to improve the opening which Divine Providence had fa-
voured him with two years before.” But Mr. F. being seized with
violent headache, was compelled to return to Kingston. After a
toilsome journey on horseback, through some of the most picturesque
and magnificent scenery of the island, the Doctor was again kindly
received by Mr. Brown, the proprietor of the assembly-room, who
again generously gave him the use of the room.

A very considerable congregation assembled in the evening ; but,
while the Doctor was zealously enforcing the grand truths of the
Gospel, a band of rakes, led on by a printer, put him to silence by
loud clapping of hands, on which he returned to Mr. Brown’s
dwelling-house ; but, in the confusion, the young man who accom-
panied the Doctor was left in the hands of the rioters, who were
about to ill-treat him, when a British officer drew his sword, and
threatened to run it through the body of the first man who dared to
touch him—all instantly made their escape. The next day, after
attending church in the morning, the Doctor preached inthe assembly
room in the evening, to a deeply attentive congregation, from 1 John
v. 12—“* He that hath the Son hath life,”"—all was peace.

On the following day, a gentleman, who professed great regard
for the Doctor, endeavoured to dissuade him from preaching, as a
plot was laid to do him serious injury. On which the intrepid mis-
sionary replied: “ That he was in the way of duty, and if his great
Master was pleased to take him to Himself that evening, by the
violence of wicked men, or any other way, he was perfectly satisfied,
well knowing, that it was easy for Elim to raise a far better instru-
94 MONTEGO BAY.

ment than he was, for his gracious purposes ; and that, through the
Divine assistance, he should endeavour to preach at the time ap-
pointed.” The evening came; the rioters were there, but silence
was imposed by the presence and authoritative language of one of
the magistrates. After this, the Doctor was treated with great respect
by several gentlemen of the town; but the happy influence of his
preaching and conversation on several of the negroes, inspired him
with far higher delight than any expression of mere politness could
do. With feelings of thankfulness to God, he took a last farewell
of Montego Bay, and turned his face towards Kingston.

Mr. Fish, being left alone on the island for about two years, had
too much to engage all his time and strength, in and around King-
ston, to admit of even paying a visit to Montego Bay; but, on the
arrival of another missionary, about the end of July, 1794, he im-
mediately set off for the Bay. The magistrates consented to his
preaching, the assembly-room was again obtained, and for several
months he continued to address good congregations, including many
of the principal inhabitants, who all behaved well.

On the 6th of June, 1795, about 2 o’clock, p.m., a fire broke out
in the centre of the town, and raged with great fury. In about five
hours, a great portion of the town was utterly consumed, and, among
the buildings destroyed, was the assembly-room, in which a ball had
been held the evening preceding. This calamity reduced the inha-
bitants to great distress. It was remarked that, though the flames
frequently played near the houses of the members of the Methodist
Society, not one of them was injured. The loss was estimated at
£500,000.

A calamity still greater followed this, which was the breaking out
of the Maroon war, which filled the inhabitants with great alarm, as
Montego Bay was near Maroon Town, the seat of the insurrection.
Every mind became absorbed by the perilous state of affairs. The
congregation dwindled away,and Mr. Fish foundit expedient toreturn
to Kingston, in August, 1797, especially as his colleague there was
dangerously ill. He endeavoured to induce the free blacks and
coloured members to accompany him, that they might enjoy religious
means, but without effect. He therefore took an affectionate leave
of them, and proceeded to Kingston. The arrival of three additional
missionaries enabled Mr. Fish to send Mr. Campbell to their aid, in
May, 1799; but, instead of being welcomed, he was treated with
insult and opposition. He applied to the civil authorities, pleaded
his letters of ordination, and his rights as a British subject; but so
fully had the tide turned against the Gospel, since the principal in-
habitants tveated Dr. Coke and his preaching with polite attention,
that one of the persecutors cursed both Mr. Campbell and the King’s
laws in the presence of the magistrates! The late judgments of fire
and sword failed to humble or awaken the inhabitants, and now they
drove away the missionary, and rejected the counscl of God against
themselves.
MONTEGO BAY. 95

ln a letter addressed to Dr. Coke by a private gentleman, dated
23d September, 1806, the religious destitution of Montego Bay is
thus mentioned :— My dear Sir,—We are really in a pitiable
situation at Falmouth and Montego Bay. I hope you will take
us into consideration, and do all in yout power to send us a
minister. One might supply both places for the present till another
can be spared, as from Falmouth to Montego Bay is only a pleasant
ride of twenty-two miles. Myself and family have resided at Fal-
mouth nearly six years; and I have not the smallest doubt that the
Gospel would spread if we had a pious minister.”” Sickness, death,
and manifold difficulties prevented a favourable answer being re-
turned to this plaintive request for a missionary ; and nearly twenty
years rolled away, ere one appeared to succeed Mr. Campbell, whom
the inhabitants drove away.

In 1818, Mr. Shipman, then stationed at Falmouth, received two
letters, which made his way plain to re-commence the mission. The
first was from a pious soldier, Sergeant Waugh, of the Royal Artil-
lery, who observed: ‘‘ There are not more than four or five of the
old members in this place now surviving, whom I was enabled to
lead for more than twelve months. But I firmly believe there are
many souls still, who would be led in the way of salvation, were
there labourers to clear away the old foundation, and to dissolve the
leaven of the Pharisees.” The second was from a Mr. J. Jones, a
merchant, whose active measures showed his pious zeal and sincerity.
He writes : “‘ Under God’s blessing, which we lave begged upon our
undertaking, we have purchased the old court-house in this town for
a chapel, payable by subscription, for £400. We have also to beg
you to put us in the way of getting a license for the place. We,
whose names are subscribed, will be ready to meet your wishes in
any way in which our weak endeavours may prove useful. As our
list increases, we shall inform you of it, and hope to enjoy a portion
of your labours in this place; and trust, yea, we believe, the Lord
will make a fruitful vineyard here. Many wish to hear the sound
of the Gospel, and have expressed great pleasure at the prospect be-
fore them. Larnestly entreating an interest in your prayers, we
beg leave to subscribe ourselves affectionately yours, &c.”

Towards the end of the following year, Mr. Shipman gave a pleas-
ing account of the success of his labours at the Bay. He writes :—
“Thank God, we are going on in this town very well ; our congre-
gations are good, and the Lord is adding to the number of our society.
We are, I think, every week encouraged by seeing or hearing of
some inquiring the way to Zion; and, from appearances, this will
become a very important and desirable missionary station.” Such
was the desire of the people to hear the Word of God, that, for some
time, Mr. S. held meetings, for reading, preaching, or prayer, alinost
every day. On the 5th of October, the first Love Feast was held,
which proved a season of special blessing to the people, and awakened
96 MONTEGO BAY.

in Mr. 8. feelings of lively gratitude to the God of all grace. In
the country, as well as at the Bay, he felt encouraged in his labours,
especially at Blue Hole estate, where the owner, the oldest magis-
trate in the parish, manifested great kindness, and lent his influence
in aid of his mission.

On the removal of Mr. Shipman, in January, 1821, Mr. Ratcliffe
succeeded him, having just left St. Thomas-in the-East, where he
had suffered much from fever, and been deprived of his beloved wife
by death. At the close of tha year, he reviewed his labours with
thankfulness to God. Many had joined the society. and, though
most of the members were young, their attention to the means “of
grace, progress in knowledge, and consistency of deportment, gave
him much comfort. He also succeeded in establishing a Sabbath-
school, which was attended by seventy children.

During the following year, the prospect continued to brighten ;
those who formerly opposed, now favoured the mission; many
marriages took place among the coloured people; the congregations
increased, and many were soundly converted to God. Mr. R. re-
marked: “I have often witnessed a more rapid work in other
places, but a more regular and genuine increase of members, and of
Scriptural experience, I never beheld.” Still, the joy of this devoted
missionary was chastened by the consider ation, that there were about
two hundred and fifty thousand souls, on the north and west sides of
the island, living without God, and without religious instruction !
To meet the case of these, as far as possible, he took three estates
under his pastoral care, in addition to his congregation at the Bay :
these were Barrett Hall, Blue Hole, and Spring, containing about
one thousand negroes. On this ground, he pathetically pleaded that
a second missionary might be sent to his assistance, especially as
Falmouth and St. Ann’s presented favourable openings.

On Mr. Whitehouse succeeding Mr. Ratcliffe, his testimony to
the state of the mission, in April, 1825, was as follows :—“ During
the last ten years, I have known in England many pious people, but
a people more eminently devoted to God, than a considerable part of
this society, I have not known. Their steady perseverance and
prayers have often lifted up my hands, and their zeal for God has
stimulated me to increased exertions to promote his glory.” At the
close of the year, he rejoiced to see among the people a general
hungering and thirsting after righteousness, consistent deportment,
and the prospect of an abundant harvest of immortal souls being
gathered into the garner of the Lord.

To meet the mental wants of adults, an evening school was esta-
blished. Several free persons of colour, who began i ignorant of the
alphabet, were seen, by the close of the year, using their hymn-
books and Bibles during public worship.

The labours of Mr. Crofts were crowned with similar success. On
his removal from the circuit, in April, 1827, his successor, Mr. Orton,
MONTEGO BAY. OF

was delighted to find the society in good order, and likely to prosper.
Many of the members were “ deeply-rooted in Divine things,” and
brotherly love reigned amongst them. He observed : ‘ It may be said
of Montego Bay and neighbourhood, ‘ the field is white unto the har-
vest.’ There are doors opening on every hand, into which we can-
not enter. There is abundance of work already prepared for two
missionaries on this station alone. We are exceedingly grieved to
turn a deaf ear to the ery of the solicitous!” About this time Mr.
Orton also visited the Maroons of Accompong Town, in the moun-
tains, thirty-six miles distant, and found them willing not only to
hear the Gospel, but to give a piece of land, and assistance in erect-
ing a chapel; but his other engagements left him little time or
opportunity for beginning a mission among this singular and inte-
resting, but much-neglected, people. This year, 210 members were
added to the Society, and the congregations became so large as to
render it desirable that a more suitable chapel should be built as
early as convenient.

The need of a chapel having been considered by the District
Meeting held in January, 1829, Mr. Duncan was authorized to
carry out the object. On the 12th of March the foundation-stone
was laid in the presence of a large assembly of the friends; and on
Easter Sunday, the 24th of March, the year following, the building,
being finished, was opened by Mr. Kerr. A sketch of this place of
worship accompanies this account. The walls are of stone faced
with brick ; it is 46 feet by 66; the interior accords with the out-
side in plainness, but it is commodious, and may contain about 800
persons, having a gallery at the end opposite the pulpit. Mr. Dun-
can records the exemplary efforts and liberality of the members of
the society on this occasion, and names Miss R. White, Miss Ann
Yatman, along with Messrs Anderson and Appelton, as specially
zealous and generous in giving and raising contributions, and for-
warding the work in every possible way.

As was anticipated, the new chapel tended greatly to forward the
interests of the mission. In the town, the congregation continued to
increase, while the stations in the country became still more pros-
perous, till the storm of intestine war, at the end of 1831, burst forth
with fury, threatening it with utter destruction. When the insur-
rection began, the Society consisted of nearly eleven hundred mem-
bers, two hundred and twenty of whom were free persons, and the
rest slaves, located on the neighbouring estates, and exposed to all
the evils and dangers of the rebellion, which broke out in the very
midst of them, and involved great numbers of their fellow-bondsmen
in guilt, sufferings, and death. For sometime, Mr. Murray, who
had charge of the mission, was kept in deep anxiety, lest any of the
Methodists should be sufferers. However, though many of the poor
misguided slaves were slaughtered by the military, and one hundred
and twenty publicly executed at the Bay, not oneof his flock waa

M
98 MONTEUO BAY.

found to have taken part in this unhappy method of shaking off the
unrighteous yoke under which they groaned. The moral effects of
martial law were very painful; for a long season morality and reli-
gion appeared to be trampled under foot. The chapel was occupied
by the military as a guard-house, and every religious service, pub-
lic and social, was suspended, none daring to assemble publicly in
order to worship God. During this reign of terror, the free mem-
bers behaved with great prudence, courage, and loyalty. Those
who were called out to assist in putting down the insurrection main-
tained their Christian character, amidst scenes of crime, carnage,
and licentious indulgence; while those who were slaves, exerted
themselves with equal zeal in exhibiting the influence of the religion
they professed, when assailed with every temptation to yield to the
withering examples everywhere seen around them.

As soon as the storm was over, and the restraints imposed by
martial-law were removed, Mr. Murray opened the chapel, and re-
sumed his regular ministerial work, though still subjected to many
annoyances and threatenings of violence. The “ Colonial Unionists”’
were kept from attempting the destruction of the chapel by the vigi-
lance and courage of the free members of the Society, who armed
themselves and watched by night to prevent attacks which were
intended to be made on it.

On the 28th of July, 1832, a general gathering of the Colonial
Unionists took place in the Court-House at Falmouth, when the
Montego Bay members were taunted with cowardice for sufferin
Mr. Murray still to preach. Stung with the remarks of their fellow-
conspirators, they determined to act with decision; but afraid to
attempt putting the missionary down by violence, they adopted a
plan that seemed to indicate their respect for the laws. Accordingly,
Mr. Murray was cited to appear instantly before the Court of
Quarter Sessions, held in the Court-House at the Bay, on the 31st
of July. On his arrival, he found about twenty magistrates, with
John Coates, Esq., as President, seated on the bench, and evidently
waiting for him, whose temper was indicated by the fact, that the
presiding Justice, on sending the constable for Mr. Murray, directed
him to say,—“ If he does not come immediately, we will send a
bench warrant for him!” The charge preferred against Mr. M. was
that neither he nor the chapel was licensed. From the records of the
court, an extract was read to show that the old chapel had been
registered by Mr. Shipman in 1819; but as that chapel had been
taken down and another erected, without being licensed, the magis-
trates had been set at defiance by the omission, and that they were
determined to enforce respect for the laws. Mr. Coates then read
apart of Ist William and Mary, remarking that, ‘“ by the latter
clause, a place of worship must be licensed every year.”

Mr. Murray stated to the court that he was aware that the new
chapel had not been licensed ; but that as the new chapel was built
MUNTEGO BAY, 99

on the same site as the old one, and instead of it, it had not been
considered necessary to license it—no such practice having obtained
among them in such cases. However, if the court deemed it neces-
sary, he now begged to present it for registration, at the same time
handing up a form he had prepared. Several read it; and on the
President asking the other gentlemen on the bench if it were their
pleasure that the chapel should be licensed? several exclaimed
“No.” Mr. Guthrie gave it as his opinion that “ the chapel should
be recorded,” as Mr. Murray had conducted himself prudently and
peaceably during the late disturbance, and that no charge whatever
had been brought against the Wesleyans, and therefore he could see
no objection to it.”’” Another gentleman agreed with Mr. Guthrie,
but all the rest resisted the application, no doubt under fear of their
brethren of the “ Union,” who had taught them their duty towards
missionaries, both by example and precept. Mr. Murray, in notic-
ing the charge of his not being himself licensed, assured the court
that he had been legally licensed before leaving England in 1822 ;
that he had preached in several of the Windward Islands ; that on
his arrival in Jamaica, in 1826, he had taken the required oaths in
Spanish Town, and had acted ever since under the full conviction of
having conformed to the law in all things, and that he was prepared
even now to take the oaths required by law, if the court would ailow
him to do so. However, he was told that the court decided that he
should not preach, on which he said that he had broken no law, and
should feel himself bound to proceed as usual in his duties; he was
then warned that the penalties were heavy, that they would be
enforced, and he would be held to bail!

With the determination to go on in the discharge of his duties, he
left the court ; and, on the other hand, the magistrates resolved to
arrest and throw him into prison, should he attempt to disobey their
injunction. Mr. Murray’s friends seeing that a breach of the peace
was unavoidable, in the event of his preaching, as it was whispered
a warrant was issued to apprehend him while in the pulpit, and he
having made up his mind not to offer bail, he must therefore be
taken to jail—an event his friends were resolved should not take
place. They therefore advised him to yield for the present to the
illegal mandate of the magistrstes, as religion must suffer should a
riot take place, and perhaps blood be shed. Mr. Murray, influenced
by these considerations, gave up his design of preaching; the
chapel was shut up, and the usual service suspended.

As the Sabbath following was the day fixed for the sacrament of
the Lord’s Supper being adininistered, a large number of the coun-
try members came into the town, expecting to enjoy that hallowed
ordinance, but they found the doors of their sanctuary closed against
them. On this Mr. Murray writes—“ You would have been deeply
affected had you witnessed them flocking into the preacher’s resi-
dence, and enquiring, with deep anxiety, why there was no service,
L100 MONTEGO BAY.

When informed that the magistrates had forbidden it, some sighed,
and others wept. Many had come for the first time this year; but
IT could only sympathize with them, and give them private counsel
to live to the Lord, and wait patiently until our services should be
restored to us. Then they had to return (some many miles) without
hearing the word of God, or partaking of the Sacrament. I con-
fess, I felt this to be a severe trial, and had to retire more than once
to relieve my feelings.

“ You will be gratified to know that, under this persecution, our
members maintained with meekness their Christian character. They
feel the injustice and cruelty of this act of oppression, whereby they
are deprived of the public worship of Almighty God,—of the com-
fort of hearing his holy word, and of the enjoyment of their privi-
leges as members of a Christian church. But they cannot forget
that they are Britons, and have an undoubted right to the protec-
tion of British laws. They feel that they are British Christians,
and that they belong to the great family of Wesleyan Methodists, in
which relationship, under God, they glory. They are the thankful
fruits of missionary labour, but they are in distress—their sanctuary
is closed—their minister silenced—their means of grace cut off.
They have been taught, however, to ‘ bless them that curse—to do
good to them that hate, and to pray for them which despitefully use
and persecute them.’ ”

While Mr. Murray and his injured people were thus suffering
affliction, according to the will of God, with patience and meekness,
there were others who took up the matter publicly, and denounced
the flagrant abuse of magisterial power, in terms at once respectful
to the magisterial office, and indignant at its prostitution to purposes
of religious persecution, and factious opposition to the laws. On the
6th of August, at Montego Bay, a public meeting of free persons, un-
connected with either the Wesleyans or Baptists, was held, at which
addresses were delivered, and resolutions adopted, expressive of re-
gret at the agitated state of the colony, and abhorrence of the
“ Unions,” which they pledged themselves to oppose in every possible
way. The following were the resolutions :—I1st, That this meeting
deeply deplore the present unsettled condition of the community, and
feel anxious to avoid the dangerous results consequent on such a
state of society: they are therefore compelled to express it as their
opinion, that any body of men congregating for the purpose of form-
ing resolutions to circumscribe the liberties of a portion of the com-
munity, on account of their religious tenets, is guilty of gross in-
tolerance, and such intolerance becomes exceedingly tyrannical and
oppressive, when manifested by men holding His Majesty’s commis-
sion, civil and military. 2nd, That, as British subjects, they are
determined to oppose the execution of the impolitic resolutions of the
body, styled “ the Colonial Church Union,” or “ the Colonial Union,”’
and pledge themselves, ‘individually and collectively, to repel anv
MONTEGU BAY. 101

illegal attempt to control them in the exercise of their civil and re-
ligious liberties, secured to them by the British Constitution.” 3rd,
That a congratulatory memorial be presented to the Right Honour-
able Constantine Henry Earl of Mulgrave, in the most respectful
manner, couched in terms of loyalty to owr king and country,
showing the danger in which a large portion of His Majesty’s sub-
jects are placed in this island, by the machinations of a society of
men, assuming the designation of ‘Colonial Church Unions,” and
“Colonial Unions” having a tendency to deprive them of the means of
existence and religious toleration, as expressed in certain resolutions
which they have published, and which resolutions are founded on
the disinclination, and, in many instances, the positive refusal of in-
dividuals to identify themselves with these factions ; and that his
Lordship be solicited to use such measures as are calculated to pre-
vent anarchy and bloodshed, which may ensue on a continuance of
misrule and oppression.

And also that a committee be appointed to prepare the memorial,
and correspond with thecommittees of other parishes upon the subject
of these resolutions, and report progress to the general meeting,
whenever it may be deemed expedient.

A memorial founded on these resolutions was immediately pre-
pared, and signed by one hundred and sixty-three persons within
two days, and forwarded to the Governor, who, through his secre-
tary, assured the memorialists that ‘the proceedings of any associa-
tion of individuals, with reference to objects by which the peace or
interests of the community might be affected, would ever engage his
Excellency’s attention and anxious observation,” and that those only
could expect to receive the support of the Government, who employed
legal means for the furtherance of any purpose whatever.

Mr. Murray laid the affair before the Governor, but, as it involved
a point of law, his Excellency declined to interfere, and at the sug-
gestion of the Attorney-General, he referred him for redress to the
Grand Court, to be held in February, 1833. Meanwhile, to pre-
serve the flock from suffering spiritual loss, from want of the usual
public services, the classes were regularly met, leaders’ meetings
held, and the people diligently visited from house to house. How-
ever, this attention was necessarily confined to such members as
resided in the town; those in the country were exposed to the
machinations of their enemies, who failed not to make their malignant
power felt by their helpless victims. The missionary not daring to
visit them on the estates, he was compelled to commit them to Him
who is the helper of the helpless.

The Attorney-General not only advised the Governor as to the
legal mode of obtaining redress by the persecuted missionaries, but
also favoured the persecuting magistrates with an opinion that their
treatment of them was constitutional !—on the strength of which
they proceeded to carry out the oppressive schemes of the “ Colonial
102 MONTEGO BAY.

Unionists.” After nine months’ abstinence from the performance of
his public duties, during which time the chapel continued shut up,
Mr. Murray, encouraged by the Royal Proclamation, and the
Governor’s Circular against persecution and “ Colonial Unions,”
opened the chapel, and resumed his public ministry. This apparent
contempt of the will of the local magistracy, immediately subjected
him to their displeasure. Accordingly, a warrant was issued for
his apprehension, on the 25th of March. His account of it is as fol-
lows :—" About two o’clock yesterday, two constables came to our
house, one of them had a warrant for my apprehension, stating that
I must go with him to the Court-House. On my arrival there, I was
conducted to a private room,where were assembled twelve magistrates,
I was then told that I stood charged on oath with preaching without
a license, and that I was to give security not to preach again, or be
committed to prison. I was anxious to know how it was that 1 was
to be adjudged by a seeret tribunal, and by what law I was to be
committed to prison; but I was told that I was not allowed to ask any
questions, and that the magistrates had determined not to permit
any conversation. I was then asked again if I would give security
not to preach. I replied I could give no such security. They then
directed the clerk of the peace to make out my commitment, which
he accordingly did, during which all was profound silence. When
it was made out, the question was again put, when I replied, I had
already answered. The constable was again called, and he was di-
rected to convey the body of Mr. Murray to gaol, the nearest way. I
was then taken into another room, where I remained for about half-
an-hour. When I was called in again, I found two Baptist mis-
sionaries (Messrs. Nichols and Abbot). Great precaution was then
used—a posse of five constables conducted us from the Court-House
to the gaol, through the streets, like felons.—I am having my cell
lime-washed, as the stench was very bad last night and early this
morning,—indeed, it is too strong for the sea breeze in the day
time.”

The editor of the '' Watchman” took a deep interest in what was
going on. On this new exhibition of the abuse of magisterial power,
he observed: “The imprisonment of the Rev. Messrs. Murray,
Nichols, and Abbot, in the gaol at Montego Bay, is the crowning-
stone to the no longer tolerable system of persecution. The former
of these gentlemen has been several years in this island, and, wher-
ever stationed, has acquired the respect of all classes. He exercised
his ministry in some of the Windward Islands with great credit and
usefulness, esteemed by the most influential inhabitants, and enjoy-
ing the confidence of some of the Governors. Even at Montego Bay,
where he has been stationed since 1830, and in the height of the
rebellion, his character was untouched by the breath of slander, nor
did suspicion for a moment rest upon him. It has been admitted by
all that neither himself, nor any member of his congregation, had any
MONTEGO BAY. 103

concern in the rebellion, and the ‘ Cornwall Chronicle’ gratuitously
spoke in the highest terms of him. Notwithstanding all this, we
find, by accounts from that place, that for preaching to his very
respectable congregation, composed chiefly of coloured persons, he,
together with the Baptist missionaries, have been committed to pri-
son. What the magistrates can urge in extenuation of this arbitrary
act remains to be seen. That part of the public more immediately
concerned with this transaction, have expressed their feelings on the
occasion, nor will they longer submit to their rights being trampled
under foot. They are British subjects, claiming every right and
privilege granted and guaranteed by the constitution. Their feelings
are outraged, the expression of them is now before the public, and
their memorial before the Executive. We shall continue this sub-
ject in our next, giving the names of the magistrates concerned in
this affair, and the inquisitorial manner of their proceedings, which,
we are sure, will rouse the feelings of every man, not rendered in-
sensible by malice and prejudice.”

Lord Seaford and John Manderson, Esq., remonstrated against the
imprisonment of the missionaries, but without effect.

The day after their arrest, a meeting was held in the Wesleyan
Chapel, when resolutions were passed, and a memorial prepared.
The 3d resolution was, “ That the imprisonment of Messrs. Thomas
Murray, Samuel Nichols, and Thomas F. Abbot, ministers of the
Gospel, for refusing to give bail not to preach is a gross oppression,
and appears to this meeting to be in direct opposition to the King’s
proclamation, and in defiance of the instructions of his Excellency
the Governor, as contained in his circular accompanying that docu-
ment.”

The appeal to the Governor, and an application to the Chief-
Justice, brought a release after eight days’ imprisonment, on con-
dition of security being given that the prisoners would appear at the
Cornwall Assizes. As soon as they were set at liberty, they
resumed their public ministrations, to the great joy ofthe suffering
people, and vexation of their persecutors. For some time constables
attended at every service to annoy the people by their presence, and,
if possible, deter them from coming to the chapel. However, this
mode of frightening the timid worshippers soon lost its charm, and
was given up as a powerless expedient. Persecutions were again
attempted against Mr. Murray at the Court of Quarter Sessions, and
also the Assize Court, but both failed, and all proceedings terminated,
to the great mortification of those whose hopes and plans utterly
failed. By the month of July the storm cleared away, giving pro-
mise of better days. All the regular services, public and private, were
fully re-established, and earnest prayers ascended to the throne of
grace, that the Lord would graciously look down and revive his work.
Special leaders’ meetings were held, after the morning services, every
second Sabbath. Several of the most pious and intelligent members
lot MONTEGO BAY.

from the country were called together, and urged to look after the
slaves on the estates who formerly had been members, to ascertain
their condition, inform them that persecution was put down, and ear-
nestly encourage them to venture again to the house of God, as they
had been accustomed before the insurrection began. All united in
zealous efforts to restore the mission to the happy position it occupied
when assailed by the withering blasts of anarchy and its attendant
evils. Gradually the scattered flock was gathered; many rejoiced
on being again privileged to enter the house of the Lord, and being
enrolled among the members of the church. By the close of the
year, one hundred and twenty were re-admitted, after full inquiry
into their state, character, and conduct, during’ the long season of
persecution through which they had just passed. Everything had
been done to corrupt and induee them to give up their religion;
promises, threatenings, and false statements were incessantly plied,
but most of them remained firm; and now they rejoiced in the pros-
pect of obtaining civil freedom, when under their own vine and fig
tree, they should be allowed to worship in quiet, none daring to
make them afraid.

At the end of the following year, it was reported that, through
the Divine blessing, the scattered society had been again gathered,
and was equal in number, if not also in piety, to what they had been
previously to the insurrection. The congregation became large, and
the school prospered—not only were children learning to read the
New Testament, and to repeat the Catechism, but adults, wearing
spectacles, were essaying to learn. Of church members there were
six hundred and fifteen, and scholars, two hundred and thirty-six,
under the care of thirteen teachers. The labours of Messrs. Wed-
lock and Corbett were greatly blessed to the people. The trials and
sufferings they had endured prepared them to hail the memorable
ist of August with feelings of great joy. On that exciting occasion,
Mr. Wedlock wrote: ‘The 1st and 3d of this month were glorious
and ever-memorable days in this place ; such congregations, such at-
tention, such joyous and grateful feelings as were depicted in every
countenance, I never before beheld. They were jubilee days indeed,
and many on these days, through the mercy of God, obtained a two-
fold freedom. Could the friends of freedom at home have seen the
thousands of clean, well-dressed, and well-behaved Negroes who
poured into the town on the Ist instant, they would have heartily
rejoiced. The places of worship here were crowded on the Friday
and Sunday. Our commodious chapel was literally crammed, yea,
almost to suffocation, and many stood in the yard, exposed to the
rays of a scorching sun, so anxious were the newly-liberated people
to express their thankfulness to God for the great deliverance he has
wrought out for them. On Friday forenoon I preached from 1 Sam.
xil. 22, afterwards I read and explained the Governor’s excellent
letter of advice, and then I announced the noble intention of the
MONTEGO BAY. 105

Bible Society, when the happy and grateful smile which had fre-
quently been witnessed during that service, again evinced itself in a
very clear and distinct manner, and the congregation simultaneously
gave praise unto God.”

Mr. Bleby, who had witnessed the confusion, cruelty, and law-
less proceedings connected with the insurrection in 1832, arrived at
Montego Bay in October, and was amazed at the happy change
which had taken place. He observed: “At that time our chapels
were closed or demolished, our societies for the greater part were
scattered, our congregations dispersed, and their ministers silenced.
But now, we behold a very different state of things—we have peace
in our borders, the congregations are large, our societies are every-
where increasing, and our prospects are of the most encouraging
description. On the first Sabbath after my arrival here (the 5th
inst.), I preached thrice to congregations which surprised and de-
lighted me, and gave the Lord’s Supper to a goodly number of
communicants.”

Interesting as the mission at Montego Bay had hitherto been, its
interest became yet deeper by the circumstance, that here the
highly-esteemed and lamented Valentine Ward finished his minis-
terial work, and entered the grave. It was his design to visit all
the stations in Jamaica, make a tourof all the other West India
Islands, and then return to England, to be present at the Conference
of 1836.

On Monday the 9th of March, 1835, the writer was in Kingston,
and saw Mr. Ward for the last time. He inquired kindly after his
wife, who had formerly been under his ministerial care in Scot-
land. His last words were, ‘ Good-bye; give my kind love to B—,
and tell her that, as soon as I return from this tour, I shall go to see
her at Grateful Hill.” In the morning, he sailed for Black River,
and the next day was detained at Alligator Pond, which gave him
an opportunity of making inquiry into the religious state of the in-
habitants of that part of the island, which he found to be very
deplorable. No minister of the Gospel had as yet visited them. On
reaching Black River, on the 12th, he urged Mr. Simmons to visit
them without delay, observing : ‘‘ The poor people there most piti-
fully supplicated help, saying, ‘Ah, Sir, your missionaries will go
anywhere else, but they will not come near us to teach us the good
word.’”” On Friday, he was very cheerful, and spent the day
writing letters to go by the packet, which was to sail next day.
These were probably the last letters he ever wrote. The day fol-
lowing, he accompanied Mr. Simmons to Mountain Side, and preached
an excellent sermon to the Negroes, from Rom. v. 1-5. And, on
Sunday evening, he walked to the chapel, and conducted the whole
service, preaching from Prov. ii. 10,11, with great fervour and ef-
fect. At the conclusion, several gentlemen waited on him, and gave
him a cordial invitation to visit them at their own houses.

N
106 MONTEGO BAY.

On Monday evening, he conducted family worship with much
seriousness, kindly and attectionately addressing the servants. After
reading the Word of God, singing, and earnest supplication for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people of Jamaica, and the
friends of missions in Great Britain, he rose from his knees greatly
fatigued, and passed a very restless night. On Tuesday morning,
Mr. 8. gave him medicine, and in the evening he felt able to preach.
Anxious to procced to Savannah-la-Mar, he rose very early on
Wednesday morning, and left in company with Mr. Simmons, at
half-past five o’clock. During the journey, he was in excellent
spirits, and remarked that “ the attack of sickness he had at Black
River might prevent something worse.” He spoke with much feel-
ing and affection of the preachers at home, how much he lovedthem,
He spoke also of his family—of the new chapel he proposed to be
built in Kingston—and of the educational institution he longed to
see established in the island for the training of native teachers—of
his coming out again to Jamaica, after his return home in 1836, if
the Committee would send him—his willingness to end his days
here—and also his intended journey through the West Indies, adding
frequently, “if God be willing,’ and occasionally lifting up his
heart in ejaculatory prayer for success.

About 3 o’clock, p.m., they arrived at Savannah-la-Mar, and were
received by Mr. Inglis. On the following evening, he preached
earnestly to a large and deeply affected audience; and on Friday
the 20th, Mr. Inglis, and Mr. Hutchins, Baptist missionary, accom-
panied him to Ramble, where Mr. Wedlock had been all day
expecting him. The day following, along with Mr. W., he visited
Argyle Pen, the station of Mr. Betts, of the Church Missionary So-
ciety, who, with his wife, received them with great Christian kind-
ness. After visiting some gentlemen in the neighbourhood, and
expressing his admiration of the scenery, he preached in the evening,
from Matt. xi. 6. Next morning, he began his last earthly Sabbath,
by attending a service conducted by Mr. Wedlock, at six o’clock.
After Mr. W. had read and expounded a portion of Scripture, Mr.
Ward concluded with a very fervent and impressive prayer. Mr.
Wedlock’s account is touching. He writes: “I then proceeded to
give tickets to our members, under the shade of some fine trees, as
the house in which we preach was oceupied by several classes. On
witnessing the order which prevailed, the earnestness and simplicity
of the people who came forward to receive their tokens of Church
membership, and the altogether mission-like character of the scene,
Mr. Ward was much affected, and burst into tears ; and, on my going
into the house to breakfast, he observed, ‘O! brother Wedlock, if I
had a pencil, and could use it, I would have taken a sketch of you
just now, and sent it home. O, my soul is affected! I feel thank-
ful to God for what my eyes see!’ After breakfast, I attended to
the school children, catechised them &c., and at ten, I read prayers ;
MONTEGO LAY. 107

after which Mr, Ward preached a powerful and very affecting ser-
mon, from Prov. ii. 10,11. The people sat in breathless silence,
interrupted only by the sighs of the contrite. I saw many eyes suf-
fused with tears, and what the people heard from the lips of our
venerable friend, this forenoon, they will not, Iam persuaded, soon
forget. After the service was closed, the members of the different
classes retired to their various trees, and were there met, on behold-
ing which, Mr. Ward was again affected, and expressed to me the
joy he felt. ‘Indeed,’ he observed, ‘this has been one of the most
interesting days of my life.’ ‘Through God,’ he said, ‘ you mis-
sionaries are doing a great work, and yet the heartless men on the
other side of the water would stop the supplies, if they could! But
God will still carry on his work, and take care of you his ser-
vants. And, I am convinced, our missionary fund, and, indeed, all
our funds, will be as large, if not larger, than they have been for
years past.’ ”

After the services at Ramble were over, Messrs. Ward and Wed-
lock left for Montego Bay, where they arrived between five and six
o'clock in the evening. The rain fell abundantly during the jour-
ney, but Mr. Ward was well covered; however, he was much
fatigued ; took medicine, and retired early to bed, hoping to be better
in the morning. In the morning he felt much disposed to sleep,
having passed a restless night. During the day he slept much ;
about four o’clock he rose, but appeared very feeble; took a little
wine and water; lay down on the sofa, and was assisted to his
lodgings, by Mr. Wedlock, in the evening.

Next morning he was anxious to breakfast with Mr. Wedlock’s
family, but appeared very poorly ; could eat nothing; lay on
the sofa; and, in about two hours, returned to his lodgings to get
into bed, hoping to feel much more comfortable there. Mr. W.
begged him to allow a doctor to be called in, but he replied, ‘‘ Oh,
no, I shall feel better after the effect of the medicine has subsided.”
As Mr. Wedlock was about to write to Kingston, he said, “ Desire
brother Kerr to tell my son that I am very feeble, sickly, and
feverish. But, also, let them know that the last Sabbath was one
of the most interesting days of my life.” After being assisted to
his lodgings, he dozed a few hours, during which the fever increas-
ed. Again Mr. W. urged the propriety of calling in a medical man.
He consented; observing, “ Perhaps it is well that you do so at
once.” On arriving, the doctor bled him largely, and sent some
medicines, which Mr. Ward took with great punctuality. Next
day Drs. Lawson and Spence declared that he was in great danger,
there being a detcrmination of blood to the head. About six p.u.,
Messrs. Corlett and Bird arrived from Falmouth with Mr. W. ‘They
were deeply distressed on witnessing the sufferings and danger of
their venerable friend. All three engaged in earnest supplication
with Godin his behalf. Sceing Mis. Wedleck standing near the
108 MONTEGO BAY.

bed, he affectionately took hold of her hand, and wept. She said,
“‘T am sorry to see you so ill, Mr. Ward.” He shook his head, but
made no reply. Between eight and nine o’clock he became quite
delirious, frequently laying his hand upon his head and pressing it,
and also resolutely refused to take any more medicine. A little
after nine his medical attendants arrived, and were alarmed at the
state of their patient. A blister was immediately applied between
the shoulders, and cataplasms to the arms. One of the medical
gentlemen kiudly stayed through the night. As the missionaries
and several of their friends gazed with the deepest anxiety and
sorrow on the sufferer, the delirium became more distressing, till
about half-past two on the morning of the 26th, it gave way to entire
insensibility, which terminated in death at four o'clock. In the
evening of the same day, his remains were buried in the church-
yard, amidst expressions of deep sympathy and sorrow—not only of
the missionaries and their families, and their people, but of the inha-
bitants of the town at large. At the funeral, the pall was borne by
the Hon. John Manderson, custos of the parish; A. F. Robinson,
Esq., collector of his Majesty’s Customs; the Rev. J. Patterson, of
the Scottish Missionary Society ; the Rev. G. Robbins, Moravian
missionary ; and the Rev. Messrs. Burchell and Dendy, of the
Baptist mission.

Thus terminated the life of one on whose ability, experience, and
special mission, so much seemed to be suspended. This good minis-
ter of Jesus Christ was taken away in the fifty-fifth year of his age,
and thirty-fourth of his ministry. He was born at Madley, the
village immortalized as the scene of the labours of the illustrious
Fletcher. Throughout his career as a minister of the Gospel, he
displayed unwearied zeal and fortitude; ever pursuing the path of
duty, even under circumstances of extraordinary difficulty and trial.
Those who best knew him admit the following account to be just :-—
“His ministry was plain, perspicuous, instructive, forcible, affec-
tionate, and fervent; adapted to awaken the careless, interest the

young, comfort the mourners, and build up believers. In every
circuit to which he was appointed, God blessed him, and made him
a blessing. His acquaintance with the doctrines and discipline of
Methodism was extensive and accurate; his zeal in propagating them
great; and his courage in defending them was steady and uncompro-
mising. His disposition was frank and unsuspecting ; his heart was
syropathising and tender; his mind, on the great subjects of the
Christian ministry, was well informed; his knowledge of mankind
was deep. His manner in the pulpit was solemn; his language
always proper; the subjects of his discourses were well selected
and various ; and his appeals to the consciences of his hearers were
pointed and pressing. To the young his ministry was especially
useful. He was constitutionally sanguine ; and in his endeavours to
benefit others, he both expected and attempted great things. Some
MONTEGO BAY 109

of his chapel building schemes have proved unsuccessful; but, while
the prudence of several of his plans may be questioned, none who
knew him can, for a moment, doubt the purity of his motives. As
a friend, a husband, and a father, he was faithful and affectionate.
To all the benevolent and religious institutions of our favoured
land he was a liberal friend.”

So warmly did he interest himself in the great cause of foreign
missions, that he preferred the West Indies to London as a field of
usefulness ; and when entreated not to expose his life by going to
Jamaica, he replied, “I count not my life dear unto myself, so that
I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have
received of the Lord Jesus.”

Though the delirium brought on by the fever prevented him
giving a dying testimony, it is cheering to find that, only a few
days before he died, he said to Mr Simmons, while on their way to
Savannah-la-Mar, ‘(I have lived in all good conscience before God
until this day. I have not known the hour when I have lost a sense
of my acceptance with God; and there is not a moment but I am
ready to enter fearlessly into the presence of my Maker, to give an
account of my stewardship.”

Intelligence of this mournful event spread rapidly through the
island, throwing sadness and gloom over the several mission families,
who were fondly anticipating a promised visit of the deceased, whose
office and character commanded an unusually large measure of res-
pect and affection. This painful stroke was followed by others of a
similar kind. Several of the missionaries, in a few months after-
wards, were called to rest from their labours, by which thousands of
the people, for a season, were left as sheep without shepherds.

Thus were the hopes suspended on the successful accomplishment
of the plans of the Committee suddenly cut off, just as they began
to be realized—reminding us of the uncertainty of the result of
even our most benevolent designs. His views of the Christian
ministry were forcibly exhibited in the official sermons which he
delivered to the missionaries while assembled in their annual dis-
trict meeting. On that occasion he grounded his remarks on Ist
Cor. iii., 10th and following verses. Observing that all Christians,
and ministers in particular, were raised up in order to advance the
work of God.upon the earth—that the increase of the Church of
Christ should be their great aim—that the materials of the building
should be of the right kind, and each member be put and kept in
his proper place, as stones in a temple. On the caution to ministers,
he denounced those who entered the ministry without a Divine call ;
and urged ministers to take heed—<o their Pizry, that it be sound,
deep, scriptural—to their Conpucr, that it be characterized by
sobriety, self-control, justice, mercy, truth, and piety—to their
Spreit, that it be meek, humble, kind, loving, zealous—to their
Motives, that they be pure in the sight of God—to their Deren-
110 MONTEGO BAY.

DENCE, that it be not in sedf, or any ereature, but upon the Lord of
Hosts alone—to their Docrrrne, that it be the pure truth of God,
scriptural, essential, suitable—to the Drtivery of it, to seek out
acceptable words, pure, correct, forcible language—to DiscirLine,
that it be strict, yet administered with kindness, aiming at produc-
ing aright state of mind and heart in the offender. In addressing
the Propte, he called on them to take heed of—weakening the hands
of ministers, by a worldly, carnal, captious spirit. To HELP Mryts-
TERS, by aiding in instructing the ignorant, reproving the guilty,
presenting a consistent example, making a right use of influence,
and a righteous distribution of property. On the reason for such
conduct, he remarked, that their work would be tried by trials in
this present life—by a death bed—and at the day of judgment—
when, should the work be burned—how great would he the loss, even
though the soul be saved; but if it should stand, how great the
reward! He concluded by a most searching application, reminding
his hearers that there is a possibility of aiding in the erection of the
building, and yet being no part of it, except as scaffolding and rub-
bish, to be removed after the fabric is reared! With great power
he plied his questions :—Are you a true Christian ?—are you mak-
ing yourself useful in the church of Christ?—Oh! meditate on the
worth of the soul—the infinite love of God—the sufferings of Christ
—the miseries of the wicked—the joys of salvation on earth, and
eternally in heaven—the example of Paul, and all the illustrious
servants of the Redeemer. Such are a few hints, jotted down by
the writer, while listening, for the last time, to the voice of this
faithful preacher of the gospel. His portly figure; his ease and
command of his subject, and power over his audience, rendered it an
oceasion of much profit to the crowded audiences who were privileged
to hear him.

After this melancholy event, the mission continued to advance,
not only in extent, but also in the moral and spiritual improvement
of the people. In a letter written by Mr. Foster, towards the
close of 1836, he remarks :—‘‘ The manner in which the people are
spending this season of the year (the Christmas holidays), power-
fully convinces us of the salutary influence of Christianity and civi-
lization ; for, although in former years this was a time in which
drinking, dancing, singing, beating the gumbay, and other riotous
exercises prevailed, there is now so little of any of these follies to
be witnessed in this part of the island, that it appears to be only like
the expiring gasp of heathenish practices. On the evening of the
24th (Dee.), I held a prayer meeting at one of our country places,
and was assured that they had never known a Christmas eve to
have been spent there in so quiet and peaceable a manner; not a
sound of either riot or revel was heard in the neighbourhood. The
meeting was held in the house of one of our members, who isa
striking instance of God's sparing mercy and saving grace; for,
 
MONTEGO BAY. 111

though once gay and dissolute, he is now truly converted, and ex-
periences the abundance of ‘joy and peace in believing.” Three
of the members of his family have also joined the society, and they
are doing something for the still further spread of the Gospel, by
collecting for the missionary cause. 1am happy to say, also, that
our numbers are increasing. When the losses by deaths, removals,
and expulsions have been made up, our net increase will be about
two hundred, not including those on trial—for which we thank God,
and take courage. ‘Our missionary collections in this town have
been doing well; the amount brought in at our collector’s meeting
last evening, from their books, the produce of missionary boxes, and
a donation of five pounds, was fifty pounds currency.”

This shows most satisfactorily that this mission was in a state of
prosperity calculated to stimulate the missionaries to “labours more
abundant.” The resistance of the fascinating scenes of the Christ-
mas holidays, which were wont to carry them to shameful excesses,
their delight in the means of grace, growing knowledge, morality,
and piety, and their liberality in supporting foreign missions, all
showed that a most gratifying change had been produced on them,
through the preaching of the Gospel ; and that, though a strict dis-
cipline was observed by those who were over them in the Lord,
their numbers increased.

The labours of Messrs. Kerr, Ednev, and Mearns, were owned by
the Head of the Church. Mr. Edney succeeded in erecting a chapel
at Maroon Town, which he named Mount Edmondson, and another
at Sandy Bay, which is known as Beecham Chapel; it is a neat,
light, and comfortable building of wood, on a stone foundation—it
presents a pleasing contrast to the hovel which used to shelter the
congregation previously. The writer attended a missionary meeting
here, and was delighted with the large attendance, deep interest, and
liberality of the people in supporting the mission fund, in order to
send the Gospel to the regions beyond.

During 1841 and 1842, Mr. Edward Fraser was left alone in this
circuit, on account of the inadequate number of missionaries in the
island. A few of the neighbouring brethren gave what assistance
they could. It was with great pleasure that the writer made a few
visits to Montego Bay for this purpose : rarely has he enjoyed such
sweet Christian intercourse as with Mr. Fraser and his excellent
wife, whose solicitude to render all around them happy, has endeared
them to the hearts of a large circle of friends.

In January, 1843, the Annual District Meeting was held at Mon-
tego Bay, when the state of the mission was thus reported by Mr.
Fraser :—“‘ Our supply of missionary strength in this circuit was,
at the beginning of the year, reduced below complement. The want
has, however, been relieved by occasional visits from the brethren
of the neighbouring stations, to whose pious and acceptable labours
we are thankful to say, God has puta gracious seal, in the strengthen-
112 MONTEGO BAY.

ing and refreshing of the souls of the people attending their minis-
trations. It cheers us that, by the popular delusion of Myalism, rife in
the country parts of the circuit, our rural members have been very
little affected.” This Myalism is a species of Obeah, a pernicious
African superstition, which was introduced among the people at this
time by a number of Africans who were rescued from a slaver by a
British ship of war, and located as apprentices on some of the estates.
“The society at Montego Bay is adorned with some steady and sin-
cere Christians, who have long borne the hallowed cross, evincing
thereby their attachment to, and dependence upon Him, whose badge
is that cross. To these have been added, by conversion this year, a
few, over whom we rejoice, as hopeful specimens of exemplary piety,
and usefulness to the Church of God. The members amounted to
593. At Beecham, the society is made up mainly of plantation
people, who are evidently a superior sample of that class of the popu-
lation of this island. Their attendance on the public means of grace,
and willing liberality in support of their church and school, are gra-
tifying. The place and people are altogether such as would encour-
age the principal attention and labour of a missionary. Number of
members, 582. At Mount Edmondson, it is the day of small things ;
nevertheless, the little band on these mountains give practical proof
of a lively interest in the religion so lately set up among them. The
height and distance of the place, the toil of the journey, and almost
daily raining as you ascend, render this station difficult to be served
by a non-resident. Yet we have, considering its infantine condition,
paid more than its share of the ministerial attention at our disposal
this year. The members amounted to 85. Total church members
in the circuit, 1260; candidates, 8; 2 Sabbath-schools—133
scholars ; 3 day-schools—280 scholars ; 3 paid teachers ; 18 gratui-
tous teachers.”

To several of the missionaries this station has many endearing
associations ; and though the writer was only an occasional visitor,
the remembrance of his visits is still sweet, and it will be long ere
he can forget the kindness of the friends who used to greet him on
those occasions, and especially their attention to the glad tidings of
salvation which he preached to them.
NMOL HSINYdS Td VHS NVAGISIM

 
CHAPTER IX.

SPANISH TOWN,

Description of Spanish Town—the Mission commenced by Dr. Coke—Mr. White
—Mr. Ratcliffe—Death of Mr. Adams—Mr. Binning—a Society formed at
Old Tarbour—Messrs, Crofts, Young, aud Barry—a new Chapel erected in
Spanish Town—Mr. Kerr—a Chapel built at Old Harbour—Persceution—
Prosperity—Messrs. Edmondson and Harding—Mr. Chapman stationed in
St. Thomas-in-the-Vale—a Chapel erected at Lintstead—Extent of the
Cireuit

Looxina west of Kingston from any convenient eminence in the
city, the eye ranges over the vast plain of St. Catherine, bounded
on the north and west by the mountains of Liguanea, St. John’s,
and St. Dorothy, and intersected by numerous boundary-lines of
sugar estates, and cattle pens or farms, richly adorned with the
perennial foliage of orange, kenip, bread-nut, log wood, cocoa-nut,
and other trees and shrubs—all of which, however, yield the palm
to the wild cotton-tree, some specimens of which, on the road
between Kingston and Spanish Town, are of extraordinary dimen-
sions. These arrest the attention of the traveller, excite his
wonder, and invite him to turn aside from the fierce heat and
glare of the sun, in order to enjoy a temporary shelter under their
cool and ample shades, that he may gather a little strength to
enable him to pursue his weary way along the burning plain. The
action of the sun fills the air with a thin vapour, which slightly veils
the landscape, and blends its varied hues into a soft beauty and
harmony rather to be felt than described. Fed by several tribu-
tary rivers and streams, originating in the mountains which enclose
St. Thomas-in-the-Vale, the Rio Cobre winds its way through
rocky beds and chasms in the mountains, and, after meandering
through the plain in an easterly direction, reaches the sea at Hunt’s
Bay. On the banks of this river, and about twelve miles west of
Kingston, stands the metropolis of the island, founded about the
year 1520, by Diego, son of Columbus, the illustrious discoverer of
the New World. Its original naine, St. Jago de la Vega, was ex-
changed by its English captors for that of Spanish Town.

Though far inferior to Kingston in point of population, business,
and general interest, it is the seat of Government, and the perio-
dical or occasional resort of those who may be termed the aristo-
cracy of the island. The houses of the inhabitants are of a miscel-
laneous character, ranging from mansions of the first class down to
the most miserable sheds in which human beings may submit to
take shelter; and these frequently are to be seen side by side,

o
114 SPANISH TOWN

forming the most grotesque contrast, and distinctly revealing to the
beholder the taste or circumstances of the tenant. Here, it may be
emphatically said, the rich and poor dwell together, yet maintaining
the widest distance from each other in everything that is calculated to
generate a spirit of equality or congeniality of views, feelings,
tastes, circumstances, or sympathies. All regard to order, unifor-
mity, or architectural rule, is utterly set at defiance in the erection
of a large number of the dwellings. Each proprietor consults his
own taste or whim, regardless of anything like plan in the formation
of streets, lanes, or rows.

The centre of architectural attraction is the square formed by the
Government buildings. On the west side is the King’s or Govern-
ment House, erected at an expense of £50,000, and paid for by
the contributions of the wealthier inhabitants and proprietors of the
island, and regarded by many travellers as the most superb affair of
the kind in the British colonies. This range contains not only the
residence of the Governor, but also the Council Chamber, Court of
Chancery, and a variety of subordinate offices. On the east side,
directly opposite, the range consists of the House of Assembly, the
Speaker’s Chamber, the Court-House. and Jury-Room, and under-
neath these, on the ground floor, are several offices for the Provost-
Marshal, Registers of the Court of Chancery, and Clerks of the
Crown and of the Courts of Law. In the erection of these thirty
years was spent, as the money came only by instalments, which
regulated the progress of the work. The north side is taken up
with two sets of buildings, separated by a semi-circular colonnade,
in the centre of which there is a handsome open temple, with a
marble statue of Admiral Rodney, erected in commemoration of
his famous victory over the French fleet, under the command of
Count de Grasse, in 1782. It was executed by Bacon, and cost
3,000 guineas. Nor was this the only public reward of his success-
ful defence of the West India Islands: the thanks of both Houses
of Parliament were voted to him, his officers, and seamen. He was
appointed Vice-Admiral of Great Britain, and also raised to the
peerage, by the title of Baron Rodney of Stoke, in Somerset-
shire. So popular did he become in Jamaica, that half of the
horses, and a large number of Negroes’ donkeys and dogs, were
honoured with his name, as if the English vocabulary afforded so
few names for bipeds and quadrupeds that Rodney must serve for
a host! At one end of this range is the Arsenal and Guard-House,
and at the other the offices of the Island Secretary. On the south
side there is a range of magnificent rooms for public amusements,
parochial offices, and a Savings’ bank. The centre of the area is
railed in, and laid out as a garden, intersected by gravel walks, with
a variety of select trees, shrubs, and fowers—all kept in excellent
order, and accessible to the principal inhabitants of the town. The
Cathedral is a nobie building, and reminds one of similar religious
edifices in the mother country. The interior is sombre, and well
SPANISH TOWN. 115

supplied with sepulchral monuments of departed greatness, among
which are the tombs of several governors, proprietors, and mer-
chants. The Barracks, Baptist and Wesleyan Chapels, the Hospi-
tal, and Workhouse or Prison, are among the most prominent public
buildings. Like Kingston, the streets are unpaved, irregular, and
by no means kept in a state likely to gratify a stranger, or render
his street walks pleasant. The population amounts to about 10,000
of all classes and colours, many of whom live in the extreme of
even Jamaica gaiety, frivolity, and sensual indulgence.

In 1791, Dr. Coke having landed at Montego Bay, preached,
and set out for Kingston, via the north side St. Ann’s and St.
Thomas-in-the-Vale. Passing through Spanish Town, he remarked,
“On our arrival at Spanish Town, I found a strong desire to bear a
testimony for Jesus Christ in this benighted place, and for that
purpose made various applications for a room to preach in, but in
vain, till at last a tavern-keeper told me that his long-room was at
my service. It was now too late to send notice round the town, so
I deferred my attempt till another time.” Thus we find that the
Doctor regarded this as a benighted place, andin need of the light
of pure Christianity, though it was the most civilized place in the
island.

In the following year he again visited Jamaica, landing at King-
ston, He lost no time in going to Spanish Town, taking with him
Mr. Brazier, who had arrived only a few days previously. He
writes—“ In the evening I appeared in the long-room of the tavern,
according to the before-mentioned permission, having previously sent
notice round the town. When I entered, I found it nearly filled
by the young bucks and bloods (as we used to term the debauchees
at Oxford), and not a single lady was present. Soon afterwards
many of the coloured people of both sexes came, and filled the
vacant places. During my sermon, the bucks behaved so rudely,
that I observed, before I concluded, that, if any housekeeper would
lend me a hall, I would preach again the next evening, otherwise I
should probably be obliged to leave the place. ‘ Farewell, Sir,’ said
one ; ‘Good luck to you, said another ;’ and thus they went on till
I withdrew, when Mr. Brazier and I consulted together on the
subject. We were fully persuaded, from the countenances and
behaviour of the coloured people, that the Redeemer’s kingdom
might be enlarged by preaching the Gospel to them, and that we
ought not by any means to give up the point. Before bed-time,
two gentlemen came to me at my lodging, and offered me their
halls to preach in; but, alas! when I called on them next morning,
they had been frightened by their friends, and both of them re-
tracted their engagements. We were then determined to move on
the true Gospel plan, ‘from the least to the greatest.’ Accord-
ingly, we hired a poor cheap house (if it may be called by so lofty
aname) in the outskirts of the town, of a mulatto, from month to
month. Here I preached in the evening to a considerable number
116 SPANISH TAWA,

of people of colour; and, notwithstanding the poverty of the place,
some of the bucks attended, and were ruder, if possible, than the
night before. During the height of the noise, [ felt a spirit which I
think I never felt before, at least in the same degree. I believe it
was a spark of the proper spirit of martyrdom. At the conclusion,
therefore, of a pointed address to the rioters, I told them I was
willing, yea, desirous, if the kingdom of Jesus could be promoted
thereby, to suffer martyrdom; and my words seemed to have a
considerable etfect on their minds. I then published myself for the
Thursday evening following; and on the following morning, after
giving directions about making some wooden candlesticks, to be
placed against the wooden walls, we returned to Kingston.” Ac-
cording to his announcement, he returned to Spanish Town on
Thursday evening, when he had a considerable number of coloured
people, and some of the white rioters, whose conduct led him to
address them pointedly at the close of the sermon, declaring it to be
the intention of the missionaries to go forward, and to apply to the
legal authorities for justice, if perseveringly insulted and abused ;
and that if no justice was to be had in Jamaica, he was assured of
obtaining it at home. Early next morning, he preached to an
attentive congregation of coloured people, and enlarged on the na-
ture of Christian discipline ; and having bought some boards to be
made into benches for the preaching house, he left Mr. Werrill, but
in returning to Kingston, his horse fell down with him on the road
from sheer weakness! The day before he embarked at Port Royal
for England, Myr. Werrill came to take farewell of the Doctor, and
brought the cheering tidings that he had, for three days successively,
preached there to peaceable and attentive congregations of coloured
people, and that he had begun to form a catechumen class among
them.

Thus was the foundation of the mission at Spanish Town laid in
the midst of contempt and opposition: yet, however inauspicious
in its beginning, it outlived every form of assault, and continued to
prosper, through the Divine blessing, upon the faithful and prayer-
ful labours of the missionaries who successively devoted themselves
to its advancement.

As the mission advanced, and the number of missionaries increased,
Mr. Wiggins proposed a division of- it into sections or circuits, ac-
cording to the number of the principal societies in the island, which
were the following :—Kingston, Spanish Town, Morant Bay, and
Above Rocks. When this arrangement was made in 1816, Mr.
White was appointed to Spanish Town. This missionary was born
in London, but, when a child, he was taken by his parents to the
United States, and from thence to Kingston in Jamaica, where he
received a liberal education. In early life he became a partaker of
the religion of the heart, and joined the Methodist Society. While
yet a mere youth, he was entrusted with the charge of a class, and
exercised his gifts as a local preacher; and during the ten years’
SPANISIL ‘TOWN. LL7

persecution, through which the mission passed, and the chapel was
shut up in Kingston, he maintained unshaken integrity and ardent
zeal, continuing to preach the Gospel in country places, and to
small assemblies in private houses. His judgment was clear and
discriminating; his heart sincere, and his decision of character
striking. In his life and conversation he exemplified the nature
and reality of the religion he taught to others. He was thoroughly
acquainted with Methodist doctrine and discipline, and maintained
them mildly, firmly, and perseveringly, till the fatal day, when he,
along with his wife, three children, a servant, and five of his mis-
sionary brethren, perished by the shipwreck of the Maria mail-boat,
off Antigua, in the month of February, 1826. Of the society at
Spanish Town, in 1816, he wrote :—‘‘ When I came to Spanish
Town, I found the society only 65 in number, and the prospect in
general far from encouraging. However, I have the pleasure to in-
form you, that we now have 78 members, 38 of whom profess to
enjoy peace, and, I believe, nearly all are truly in earnest to work
out their salvation. We think, if a convenient chapel could be pro-
cured about the centre of the town, that much good would result
from it; and there are persons who offer to contribute towards the
expense, if we commence the undertaking.’

Mr. Ratcliffe succeeded him, and laboured with much diligence
and success. The congregations were large, and deeply serious,
and several respectable free persons of colour became members of
the societv. A valuable house was purchased, with suitable pre-
mises, and so altered and fitted up as to form a neat chapel, and a
dwelling for the missionary. The zeal and liberality of the people
in this undertaking, gave the missionaries great encouragement to
pursue their important evangelical work among them.

Mr. Ratcliffe, having laboured with great acceptance, was suc-
ceeded by Mr. Adams, who, after some delay, obtained a licence at
the Court of Quarter Sessions. As some base young men of colour
had been disturbing the public services, Mr. Ratcliffe asked the
Bench how the evil could be remedied. The presiding magistrate
observed :—* All places of religious worship that are sanctioned by
the law, as your chapel is, ave under the protection of the law; and,
in case such grievances occur again, give charge to the town con-
stables to commit them to prison:” Mr. R. remarks on this: “ It
ought to be recorded, to the honour of the Governor, the Duke of
Manchester, and the magistrates of Spanish Town, that, since the
commencement of our mission in that place, nothing like opposition
has been manifested.” It is pleasing to note this, as a set-off to the
opposite spirit and conduct of some magistrates in Kingston and
elsewhere. On leaving this station, Mr. R. spoke of the people in
the society, as “ noted for their stability, and sound experience of
Divine things.” ;

Mr. Adams, being now legally qualified to proclaim the Gospel,
endeavoured to make full proof of his ministry, not only in the
1{8 SUANISH TOWN,

town, but also in the country, though his applications for leave to
preach to the slaves on the estates were by no means successful.
To enable him to enlarge his sphere of usefulness, the friends pur-
chased him a horse, by private subscription, as the funds of the
society were inadequate to meet the expense. However, this de-
voted missionary soon fell a victim to the fever. Only five days
before he was seized, he wrote as follows:—‘I am happy and
thankful to say, that my health is good. I have not yet experienced
any sickness. My wife has been very ill twice, but medical aid
being procured, she recovered, and, I trust, her health is now esta-
blished. We have had some increase in our society since I have
been here, though not very considerable; but the members in
general seem thirsting after holiness, and I have reason to believe,
“God is with us.’ Since I have been here, my mind, has not been
a little exercised ; but I hope in God, and feel that he supports me.
I hope to persevere in the work to which God has called me, with
increasing diligence, and that my time and talents will all be de-
voted unto Him, to whom my more than all is due.”

While he was penning these words, the angel of death was enter-
ing many a house around him, and cutting off numbers, particularly
of the white inhabitants. On the 12th of August, 1819, he was
seized with malignant yellow fever. Medical assistance was promptly
called in. On the fourth day, favourable symptoms appeared, which
gavea gleam of hope, but the day following, delirium came on,
during which he was sometimes engaged as though with his
trembling hands, he was delivering the elements of the Lord’s
Supper, at other times attempting to sing hymns. At the early
stage of his sickness, ‘‘he was serene and resigned; he uniformly
walked with God, and the cheering light of His countenance beamed
upon His servant, while treading the vale of affliction and death.”

Mr. Johnston, who, with his excellent wife, witnessed this death-.
bed scene, observed: “ He said he had no hope of life, but felt his
mind perfectly resigned to life or death, as God should think fit.”
This was on the 16th, and, on the 18th, he remarked: ‘ His head
was so much infected with the malignant contagion, that his reason-
ing powers were much interrupted ; but, so far as he had power to
think and speak, he gave evidence to all his attendants that he pos-
sessed the joyful hope of eternal life. He often spoke in a whisper,
smiled, and pointed upward. At one time, he imagined himself in
the act of dispensing the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and men-
tioned the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ with great
fervour. He was often engaged in fervent attempts to pray, and,
one time said, with peculiar emphasis, ‘ Other foundation can no
man lay, save that which is laid, the Lord Jesus Christ. Glory be
to God! Iam built upon it.’ About eight o’clock in the evening
of the 18th, his happy spirit took its flight. His corpse was in-
terredin the churchyard of Spanish Town, by Mr. Hamilton, the
Rector, who refused the usual fees, out of respect for the deceased.”
SPANISH TOWN. 119

Not only was his death lamented by the members of the society,
but was noticed in the ‘‘ Royal Gazette’ of Spanish Town, and in
the “ Kingston Chronicle” in terms rather unusual. After alluding
to his early history, and his arrival in the island, his character and
conduct was thus noticed: ‘‘ The truly unaffected piety this gentle
man evinced during the short time he has been resident in this com-
munity, and the diligent and successful discharge of his mission,
have endeared his memory to an extensive circle, who will long re-
gret the loss of so worthy and excellent aman. The liberty granted
him by his honour the Custos, in April last, to preach and teach the
Gospel, has never been more deservedly used by any; and it can
justly be said, that, were such characters allowed to dispense instruc-
tion to the unenlightened throughout the island generally, that no
alarm need be entertained that any improper doctrines would be
disseminated among that class of persons. Indeed, he was formed
in every view for the arduous duty of working that change in the
minds of the slave population, so ardently desired by his Majesty’s
Ministers, as well as by the Legislature of this colony.” Mrs.
Adams lay ill of fever at the same time, but was able to see her
dying husband the day before he expired, bearing her calamity with
that fortitude inspired by the hope of the Gospel, which brings life
and immortality to light.

On the removal of this promising missionary, Mr. Binning was
called from Montego Bay to take his place. On his arrival in
Spanish ‘Town, he was kindly received by the Rector, and his honour
the Custos; and he found great encouragement from many of the
members being much alive to God, and athirst for the fulness of the
blessings of the Gospel. The effects of Mr. Adams’ life, labours,
and triumphant death, were visible in their spiritual state. Mr. B.
observed: “Our congregations are good, respectable, and deeply
attentive. I enjoy much comfort in dispensing to them the bread
of life and find an increasing desire for their welfare. Yes, blessed
be God! my heart is enlarged towards them, and [ am frequently
constrained to ery—

‘Extend to these thy pardoning grace,
To these be thy salvation shew’d,
O, add them to thy chosen race !
O, sprinkle all their hearts with blood !'"

He prosecuted his mission, with great comfort to himself, and
profit to the people. Animated with love and zeal, the congrega-
tions continued good, while the members of the church lived in peace,
unity, and affection for each other, desiring to grow in grace, and
to walk consistently with their profession before the world. He re-
marked that, under the preaching, “that deep seriousness was ap-
parent in almost every countenance; tears and sighs often inti-
mated that the word was attended with Divine unction.” In the
band meetings and love feasts, the experience of the people was
{20 SPANISIT TOWN,

simple, spiritual, and affecting. fe writes: ‘* When listening to
the people relating their Christian experience, [ often think, if our
dear brethren and friends at home could but hear them for a few
minutes, it would fan their missionary zeal into a flame.”

In 1821, Mr. B. found it necessary to alter and improve the in-
terior of the chapel, in order to accommodate the gradually increas-
ing congregations. The seats were eut narrower, and put closer
together, and benches were placed wherever sufficient space could
be found in the aisles or corners of the building ; but still the room
was fax too small for the numbers that attended. At the end of the
year, the members in the society amounted to 235, whose spiritual
progress was gratifying ; their Christian experience was sound, deep,
and Scriptural. The number of leaders was increased, and their
piety and zeal contributed greatly to the prosperity of the mission.

At Old Harbour, about twelve miles to the south-west of Spanish
Town, Mr. B. succeeded in commencing a minor station. Of the
place, people, and prospects, he thus writes: ‘It is only small of
itself, but contiguous to many large estates, which render it a place
of considerable hope. There is a great spirit of hearing excited
among them, and several of them are very piously disposed. A
young man, lately from England, has been a leading instrument in
this infant work, and he is likely to be a great blessing to them.
Hearing of such an opening, I embraced the first opportunity of
paying them a visit, and had the pleasure to form a small class, out
of a number who had been meeting together for some time. There
is every encouragement that could be expected in such a place, and,
if properly attended to, it will no doubt become a flourishing and
useful branch of the circuit.” Of the general state of the society, at
the time he left the circuit, at the end of 1822, in order to labour in
St. Ann’s, he remarked: “ I am happy to say, things are in a state
of considerable prosperity. The congregations for several weeks
previous to my removal continued to increase greatly, so much so,
that the place was again quite too strait for us, and the word
preached, as multitudes could testify, was evidently attended with
unusual power. It was truly animating to see such crowds flocking
to the house of God, with the profound attention paid to the word
of life, and especially to witness the happy effects produced. Dur-
ing the quarter we had an addition of twenty-two members.” Still,
however cheering these statements were, the great mass of the in-
habitants were without God, and without hope in the world. In the
town, the regular attendants on the public worship of God, in all
places of worship, did not exceed twelve or thirteen hundred, in-
cluding the Established Church, Wesleyan, and Baptist Chapels.
Thousands, especially of the slaves, were still unvisited by a Chris-
tian instructor, and so left to the grossest superstition, sensuality,
and spiritual misery.

While Mr. Crofts laboured in the circuit, he established a Sunday-
school, in the month of June, 1824, which soon numbered 105 boys,
SPANISH TOWN, fee

62 girls, and 30 adults; in addition to which, Mrs. Crofts had a
class of female catechumens on a week-day, a few of whom were
adinitted into church communion, having given evidence of early
piety and consistent conduct. The little flock at Old Harbour was
doubled, and a new station was opened at Halse Hall, in the parish
of Clarendon, at the special request of the proprietor, Mr. de la
Beche, which will be noticed in the account of the Clarendon circuit.

When Mr. Young was stationed here, in 1826, he was cheered
by witnessing a revival of the work of God, which had begun to
decline through the personal and family affliction of the missionary.
Several new inembers were added to the Society in Spanish Town,
and the infant cause at Old Harbour still afforded encouragement,
though the poor people had no chapel nor any Sabbath assistance
of the missionary. At Passage Fort, a small village about six
miles east of Spanish Town, Mr. Y. preached once a-week, but he
had little encouragement to proceed, as was the case also with
Mr, Adams and Mr, Binning, who formerly visited its few benight-
ed inhabitants, in hope of leading them to the Redeemer, but with-
out success.

The ministry of Mr. Barry, who followed Mr. Young, excited
considerable notice in Spanish Town. His pulpit talent was of an
order calculated to please «s well as profit the more intelligent of the
community. The congregations were doubled; the people pressed
into every corner of the chapel, and filled the piazza and lower hall.
He observed, in April, 1828,—“' I cannot avoid wishing that our
people at home could witness the intense desire which prevails to
hear the word of God. The impossibility of procuring seats, as
well as the overpowering heat and crowding, prevent many from at-
tempting’ to come to hear; and you would be pleased to see some
bringing little benches, with the expectation of being able to find
sufficient room to sit, happy in being fortunate enough to secure a
space of nine inches square to stand on. I have been frequently
obliged to invite ladies into the pulpit, and request the men of the
Society to give up their seats to strangers. The prospect at Old
Harbour continued to give encouragement.” He remarked— Se-
veral have joined us within the last few weeks, A lady there, a
member of our Society, offers land for a chapel, and I intend to
turn iny attention immediately to it; indced, a few pounds are al-
ready subscribed, and I think [ could erect a chapel for £400 at the
most.”

The inconvenience felt from want of a proper chapel in Spanish
Towa was removed by the opening of one in the month of November,
measuring 45 feet by 60 within, having galleries on three sides.
The walls are of brick, which sometime afterwards were rent by an
earthquake, which threatened the demolition of the building. Irom
the lithograph of this place of worship accompanying this account it
will be seen that it is neat, plain, and respectable in appearanec.
But for the complexion of the worshippers, and the oppressive heat

bP
122 SPANISIL TOWN.

of the atmosphere, the preacher is ready to imagine himself officiat-
ing in a comfortable Methodist Chapel in England. While this
building was in course of erection, the people showed great diligence
and liberality in giving and soliciting contributions towards defray-
ing the expense. Increased prosperity was the result of this effort
to meet the circumstances of the congregation. At the end of the
year the prospect was very encouraging, both in Spanish Town and
at Old Harbour, where the little Society was stimulated to effort in
order to raise the means of erecting a chapel, by the success of
their brethren in Spanish Town. In the cireuits there were 610
members; of whom 6 were whites; 307 free coloured and_ blacks,
and 237 slaves.

In the following year, Mr. Kerr being the resident missionary, a
new station was taken up in St. John’s Mountains, and a small So-
ciety formed. Ground was given for a chapel by a Mr. Hutchison,
and arrangements begun for proceeding with the erection. At Lime
Savannah, in Clarendon, a temporary chapel was fitted up by Mr.
i. Muir, and a class formed, which beeame the nucleus of an exten-
sive circuit. The increase of members for the year was above 100.

In 1830 the chapel at Old tfarbour was completed, through the
exertions of the missionaries and the people on the spot {[¢ mea-
sures 28 feet by £2, and may seat between two and three hundred
persons. It is boarded and painted, and looks well among the
numerous cocoa-nut and mangoe trees with which it is encireled,
and shaded from the intense heat of the mid-day sun.

In common with all the stations in the island, those of Spanish
Town circuit suffered from the insurrection in 1831-32, particularly
in the country places. At Old Harbour attempts were made to de- -
stroy the mission. An unprincipled man laid information before one
of the magistrates against Mr. Wilcox for preaching on the Lord’s-
day, and was soon afterwards called away by death, to give in his
account to God. The attorneys and overscers peremptorily forbade
the slaves attending the chapel, which kept many away from dread
of punishment. At Lime Savannah, violent measures were threat-
ened, and the services put an end to for a long while. In St. John’s
Mountains the same spirit and conduct prevailed, so that, for a sea-
son, the storm terrified and scattered many of the flock, and tested
the faith and patience of the pastors. In Spanish Town the mem-
bers stood nobly forward, and contributed to the utmost of their
resources towards making up the deficiencies oceasioned by the suf-
ferings and privations of the country members.

As the cloudy and dark day gradually passed away, the mission-
aries entered with increasing zeal into their work. In the town
great success attended their ministry ; and in Old ILarbour, Claren-
don, and Vere, towards the close of 1834, they were invited to enter
more fully into open doors of extensive usefulness In the prospeet
of terminating about three years’ labour among this people, Mr.
Corlett wrote—‘* My ministerial path among this people has been
SPANISH TOWN. 123

brighter and brighter. The first year, we had prosperity; the
second more and more, and this year has been more abundant.
Nearly six hundred have been added to the Society throughout the
circuit. About forty or fifty pious and gifted persons have been
raised up, who are found qualified to help, in subordinate offices, those
who through grace have believed, and many young persons are
growing up in the courts of the Lord’s house, who will, I trust, in
their day, be a seed to serve Him. We have been called, in some
instances, to follow some of our best members to the house ap-
pointed for all living; but there was hope in their death, and they
have left a testimony that they are gone to their Saviour.”

In 1836, Messrs. Edmondson and Harding continued to prosecute
this mission with great zeal and success. In the month of August,
a new station was opened at Redhills, about eight miles from Spanish
Town, among a population of free settlers, who were entirely left
without instruction, unless they chose to go to Spanish Town for
it. The prospect of haviug the Gospel brought to them gave them
much pleasure. Mr. Harding began preaching to them under the
shade of the mangoe trees. Mr. Martin, a leader who settled there,
began a class, built a shed in which to meet, and the Jocal preachers
from the town supplied them with preaching on the Sabbath morn-
ings. Throughout the cireuit, abundance of work presented itself,
but the number of missionaries was altogether inadequate to under-
take it.

The late excellent J. J. Gurney held a service in the chapel in
Spanish ‘own, on the evening of the 8th of April, 1840. The con-
gregation was immense. Mr. Candler, another of the Socicty of
Friends, addressed the people, from ‘ Art thou in health, my
brother,” and Mr. Gurney expatiated on the spiritual manifestation
of the Son of God: with great fervour and energy he urged the
people to come to Christ. These peaceable men came to the West
Indies to see, with their own cyes, the real civil, moral, and re-
ligious state of the people, with the benevolent intention of doing
justice and showing kindness to all parties interested in the great
change taking place in the colonies, by the abolition of slavery.
Mr. Gurney, in his ‘ Winter in the West Indies,” thus reveals his
unsectarian policy : ‘‘ We always endeavoured, during our residence
in Jamaica, to hold the balance even between the Baptists and the
Methodists, the chapels of both denominations being freely offered
tous. In the afternoon, a meeting was held, in pursuance of public
advertisement, in the Wesley Chapel (Kingston), a house of vast
size. The congregation was very large and promiscuous, consist-
ing of persons of all ranks, parties, and colours. Much had the
colony been preplexed and agitated by the strife of all parties; no
wonder therefore, that we felt it to be our duty to preach peace and
charity, and to uphold the efficiency of evangelical and vital religion,
as the radical remedy for all abuses.”

Mr. Randerson, superintendent of the circuit at this time, was
124 SPANISH TOWN.

delighted with the spirit and conduct of these good men. LHe re-
marked: ‘I am persuaded, they will be made a blessing whereso-
ever they go. They told us that they were highly gratified with
the state of education and religion, as far as it had come under their
observation, and that it far exceeded their expectations.”

The want of a sufficient number of missionaries, rendered it im-
possible to give due attention to the town and country congrega-
tions. As many of the members resided in St. Thomas-in-the- Vale,
Mr. Paul, an aged local preacher from Spanish Town, visited them
in 1833, and preached in the house of a Miss M‘Catty. A grant of
£60 having been made by the parent Committee, ground was pur-
chased, and a temporary chapel erected in 1835. Mr. Chapman was
stationed here in 1837, till which period one sermon on the Sabbath
was the only service the people could have for a whole week. He
established week-night preaching and prayer meetings, and a Sab-
bath-school, which was attended by many adults, who showed great
anxiety to be taught to read. With much that was cheering, he
complained that there was an overflowing of ungodliness among the
people generally : that they seemed totally unconcerned about God,
and, even among some who had been called members of society,
there was a want of the vital principle of Christianity, and much re-
maining ignorance about Divine things. The house he oceupied
was at Russel Pen, contiguous to the chapel, and pleasantly
situated.

In June, 1838, Mr. Sargeant succeeded Mr. Chapman. By this
time the chapel was in a state of great dilapidation, he therefore
exerted himself in raising funds for the erection of anew one. Mr.
Randerson, his colleague, entered heartily into the work : contribu-
tions came from all quarters and classes of the people. Messrs.
Edbury and Lowndes gave a piece of ground, at the new township of
Linstead, and a handsome subscription. The vestry of the parish
voted £100, and the House of Assembly, £180; and operations
were commenced, which were fully carried out by Messrs. Inglis
and Whitchead, their successors in the cireuit, the latter of whom
was residing here when the writer paid his last visit to the station,
in April, 1843. The chapel was completed in 1841 ; it.is fifty feet
by thirty, and cost £630. The members in the society amounted to
313. The population around was increasing, and the prospect
encouraging. As the chapel is embosomed among trees, it has
a pleasing appearance, but, of course, cannot be seen at any
distance.

After several outposts had been cut off from the circuit at
different periods, to form separate stations or circuits, it em-
braced the following, at the time the writer left the island :—
seven stations, five chapels, two missionaries. two assistant mis-
sionaries, two local proachers, two day-school teachers, 1960
members, with about 3000 regular hearers, besides day and Sab-
bath-school children. The work, to be regularly attended to, was
SPANISH TOWN. 125

sufficient to occupy the full time and strength of double the number
of missionaries, but the mission fund would not warrant the addition
of more labourers.

Under these circumstances, Mr. Whitehead wrote the Com-
mittee thus :— Notwithstanding the difficult and discouraging
circumstances in which we have for some time been placed, we are
still, upon the whole, improving spiritually, numerically, and finan-
cially. This is encouraging ; but the efforts which, under God, have
led to these results, have proved exhausting both to the physical and
mental energies of your missionaries: they are efforts which cannot
long be made, without sacrifice of health, and, eventually, of life
also. In this circuit particularly, our circumstances are peculiarly
difficult: the number of places connected with it, their distance
from one another, the importance of the societies, and various local
circumstances, render the circuit one of the most necessitous of the
whole district. At Linstead, we have every prospect of a large and
flourishing cause. Our congregations are continually increasing,
and the chapel is already insufficient for the accommodation of the
people attending it. It is frequently crowded to overflowing, and
we already think of enlarging it. Our people here are a willing
people; they have contributed according to their ability, and, in
some cases, beyond their ability. Ido not think there would be
much difficulty in obtaining funds for its enlargement, as it is al-
ready so far finished, without one farthing of debt; but we are
straitened to supply it. Permit me to speak boldly ; you must help
us, you must send us another man. The seed sown must be watered
regularly, continually, judiciously ; if not, it will perish; and
thus, where we reasonably expected, by the blessing of God, and
your assistance, to reap an abundant harvest of immortal souls, we
shall have but a scanty gathering. I do not think that an addi-
tional preacher to this circuit would be an extra expense to the
general fund, further than his passsage out. To work this circuit
properly, there ought to be four missionaries—two in Spanish Town,
one at Linstead, and one at St. John’s Mountains. I once more
beseech you to remember us, and that speedily.”
126

CHAPTER X.

MORANT BAY.

Situation and appearance of the town—Commencement of the Mission—Messrs.
Williams and Campbell persecuted and imprisoned—Mr. Bradnack placed in
favourable circumstances, labours successfully, builds a chapel~Mr. Burgar
prospers in his effurts and dies—Mr. Wiggins—Messrs. Horne and Underhill
—Mr. Ratcliffe—Mr. Hartley dies—Death of Mrs. Ratcliffe and children—
Messrs. Johnstone and Duncan—Deaths of Messrs. Johnstone, Underhill,
Parkin, Penman, and Barr—Messrs. Atkins and Whitehead labour with
great success—Messrs. Rowden and Burrows—<Account of Yallahs.

Uncertarn how long martial-law might continue in force, or when
the missionaries might be placed in circumstances to hold their
Annual District Meeting in Kingston, it was concluded that the
writer should proceed to Bath, which had just been deprived of a
resident missionary by the removal of Mr. Crookes. Accordingly,
on the morning of February 3, 1832, we were up by half-past two
o’clock, and busily occupied in adjusting ourselves and travelling
gear, in order to get as far on our way as possible ere sunrise. Mr.
Corlett took the lead to pilot us along the dark highway. The sky
was spangled with myriads of stars, whose magnitude appeared
enlarged, and their lustre heightened by the clear and cloudless
atmosphere, which was gently agitated by a cooling breeze from the
mountains. As we drove along the sea-shore, the silence of the
morning was occasionally disturbed by the waves as they broke
upon the beach, giving forth sounds grateful to the soul susceptible
of being touched by the voice of nature, whispering the presence
and power of Him who sits above the water floods. As we passed
those parts of the road skirted by trees, we were sometimes almost
bewildered by myriads of fire-flies, whose scintillations resembled
the sparks of artificial fire-works, only their erratic and wayward
movements showed that they were actual creatures, full of life and
energy, performing their evolutions from an exuberance of con-
scious insect enjoyment.

On reaching Rock Fort, we were challenged by the sentry posted
at the archway, and our passport demanded ; by help of a lantern,
its authenticity being acknowledged by the officer of the guard, he
gave orders to open the gate, and allow us to proceed. The silence
and darkness around contrasted strikingly with the gleaming of
bayonets and warlike aspect of the soldiers as the dim light fell upon
them. Before daybreak, we were making our way through the
Four Mile Wood, which was still very dark, from the thick foliage
of the trees. This used to be the favourite hiding place of a famous
 

 

BAY CHAPEL AND HOUSE.

MORANT
MORANT BAY. 127

robber, whose daring exploits spread dismay among travellers, and
the iuhabitants around, who were exposed to his depredations. His
name was Bristol, or Three-fingered Jack : hehad several associates
in crime. A prize being set upon his head, his retreat was traced
out by one John Reader, a Maroon, and a party who volunteered
to accompany him. Jack defended himself with all the desperation
of a perishing man, After receiving three balls in his body, he
threw himself down a precipice forty feet deep. Reader instantly
sprung after him, overpowered him, and cut off his head, and the
hand with the three fingers, which gave him his title; these he car-
ried in triumph to Kingston. His reward was a pension for life.
Though we had no fear of a visit from such a Turpin as this, we
felt some concern while threading our way along the edges of the
hill where,"on the side next the sea, there is nothing to keep one
from driving headlong over. As the sun was about to rise, a thick
bank of clouds skirted the horizon, the edges of which were bril-
liantly illuminated, while broad fan-shaped beams of light shot up
high in the heavens, which soon died away into one vast field of
sunshine.

During the heat of the day, we rested at cur mission chapel at
Yallahs, where we were regaled with humble fare, and made an in-
effectual effort to obtain a little slecp on the chapel benches, having
placed the gig cushions for pillows, and wrapt ourselves in cloaks.
About 3, p.aL, we resumed our journey, keeping along the sea-
shore, instead of taking the road across the summit of the hill called
the White Horses. We passed under the cliff, which is perpendi-
cular and lofty, and being formed of a cream coloured friable marl,
the sand between the base and the sea is covered with masses and
fragments which, from time to time, have crumbled down, rendering
it a trial of skill worthy of a London cabman to thread his way be-
tween them without endangering one’s neck, shattering the vehicle,
or injuring the horse—evils to which Jamaica travellers are by no
means strangers. This cliffis a celebrated sea-mark, familiar to all
sailors who have visited this part of the world. Nothing special
occurred till we got near the end of our journey, when, on crossing
a small river, we were shocked at witnessing a number of black
and coloured females, washing clothes in a stream near the road-
side, under the shade of clusters of bamboos, almost in a state of
nudity, the only covering with some being a pocket handkerchief
around the middle. They seemed unconscious of anything being
amiss, and appeared not a little amused, when the step of my gig
broke off against the leg of a‘mulc, whose wilfulness put it out of
my power to avoid the catastrophe.

Morant Bay is thirty-one miles east of Kingston, in the parish of
St. Thomas-in-the-East, and county of Surrey. The harbour is con-
sidered one of the largest and most beautiful in the island. The
anchorage ground is defended by a coral reef, and a battery, which
render it safe for the shipping. Most of the houses on the bay are
128 MORANT BAY.

built on elevated ground. The public buildings present nothing
striking : the Church, Methodist Chapel, and jail or workhouse, are
the most prominent. The profusion of cocoa-nut trees, interspersed
with the plantain and bananas, give the whole a most West Indian
appearance, by no means uninteresting. It is a painful fact, that
most parts of it are unhealthy. The mortality of missionaries and
their families here, has been greater than at any other station in the
island, as will appear in the sequel.

In the month of April, 1802, Morant Bay was visited by some of
the Kingston local preachers, one of whom, Mr. T. Warren, after-
wards was called to the regular ministry, and still survives, though,
from ill health, unable to discharge his wonted duties. The recep-
tion given them by many persons, encouraged them to proceed.
Messrs, Fish and Campbell followed up their efforts. In July, aso-
ciety of thirty members was formed, and, by November, they in-
creased to ninety, with the prospect of still further success.
Meanwhile, a spirit of persecution was awakened, as soon as some,
who felt the power of the Gospel, refused to run any longer to the
same excess of riot they used ‘todo. To conversion of some co-
loured females exasperated those whose licentiousness blinded them
to the pure truths of the word of God. The rabble were encou-
raged by their superiors to do mischief, the meetings were inter-
rupted, and the preachers insulted. The magistrates refused to
licence either them or the houses in which the services were held,
and directed that, at the next Quarter Sessions, they should be pre-
sented as nuisances. However, this prosecution fell to the ground,
as nothing could be proved them against contrary to the laws of either
God or man; so that they continued their useful labours, and were sup-
ported under the opposition of the base disturbers of the worship of
God, by witnessing several souls brought to salvation, through faith
in the sacrifice of the Redeemer, till the sweeping Persecuting
Act, mentioned in the account of Kingston mission, came into
force.

Among those brought to God at Morant Bay, was Mr. Williams,
a free person of colour, whose piety, talents, and acquirements, fitted
him for acting as a local preacher and greatly promoting the interests
of the mission. As soon as the Act was proclaimed, he gave up
speaking in public, and determined to apply for a licence at the
Court of Quarter Sessions.

On the 4th of January, 1803, accompanied by two other local
preachers, he proceeded to the Court, and made application, on which
the chief magistrate ordered them off, observing, “that they ought
to be committed for daring to address the Court.” The following
evening, about twenty serious persons met together, sung a few
hymns, engaged in prayer, and then retired, without any preaching
or address being delivered. An information was instantly lodged
against those who were at the meeting. The nextday, Mr. Williains
was seized, and taken before five magistrates. Several witnesses
MORANT LAY. 129

appeared to testify, that, though Mr. W. did not preach a sermon,
he actually surg and prayed, which their worships deemed to be
identical, though Mr. W. endeavoured to point out the difference
between singing, praying, and preaching, but without success. The
trial elicited from the witnesses a clear testimony to the peaceable
tendency of the doctrines taught, and duties inculeated on the peo-
ple by Mr. W. Still this did not turn cither the heads or the hearts
of their worsbips in his favour. He was sentenced to one mouth’s
hard labour in the workhouse, and was immediately taken to prison.
Though he was not chained aud put to labour with the run-away
slaves, the gaoler received directions to keep him closely confined in
the gaol during the period fixed by the sentence. He was continued
in a damp brick-paved room, calculated to destroy health and en-
danger life, in this very unhealthy locality.

He felt the presence and supperting grace of the Redeemer, for
whose sake he was now in bonds. He did not murmur; his mind
was preserved in perfect peace ; and, after patiently waiting, he was
suffered to leave his cell without any bodily injury,—though, at
other times, occasionally a sutferer from rheumatism. On the ex-
piration of the term of his imprisonment, he was required to find
bail for his appearance at the following Quarter Sessions, in order
to be tried as the owner or possessor of a house in which praying
and preaching had been conducted. To this he demurred, on which
he was sent back to prison; and, after being confined another day,
his prosecutors let him go.

No sooner was Mr. Campbell spprised of the imprisonment of
Mr. Williams, than he travelled from Kingston to Morant Bay,
persuaded that he was properly and legally qualified to preach to
the people—who were now in aftliction, being deprived of the help of
Mr. W., and exposed to the insults of their enemies. Neither he
nor Mr. Fish imagined that the Act of the island legislature was in-
tended to extinguish, or set aside, the Toleration Act of the Impe-
rial Government ; but he was soon undeceived on this point. The
first evening he preached, he was apprehended and taken before one
of the magistrates, who questioned him closely. He produced his
license, and was dismissed without compromise or conditions, as one
clearly exempted from the penalties of the new Act. For several
days he continued to hold services and to preach without interrup-
tion. But at length he found that a fresh attempt was about to be
made to silence him, on-which he repaired to Kingston, and took
the advice of counsel. The legal gentleman whom he consulted
assured him that his British license gave him full protection. He
accordingly returned to the Bay, and resumed his public duties,
which he continued till the 7th of February, 1803, when he was
again seized and taken before four magistrates, among whom was
the one who bad already adinitted that he was exempted froin the
penalties of the new Act. On being questioned as to his authority
for preaching, he produced his liceuse, declaring that he had qualified

Q
130 MORANT BAY.

himself under the laws of England. On one of the magistrates
giving it as his opinion that Mr. Campbell’s license was not suffi-
cient, and that he came under the penalty of the new law, Mr. C.
replicd that he had not come before their worships without advice.
He was then called upon to make his dzfence, on which he asked
what law of the island was against his license. They replied that
he might put questions, but they were not obliged to answer him;
which led Mr. C. to remark, that, if that were the case, it was use-
less for him to say any thing in his defence. He was forthwith
committed to prison.

“ In this abode of solitude, Mr. Campbcll was not long confined ;
but, while he continued in prison, he was kept so closely that none
but his wife and children were (during part of the time) permitted
to remain in the room with him. Through the iron gratings of his
windows, his friends were permitted to converse with him occa-
sionally; and he found means, though thus immured, to exhort
them to be stedfast and immoveable in the ways of God, and to look
beyond the cloudy dispensation which then overshadowed them.
From the consolations which he felt in his own soul, he was enabled
to impart comfort to others, and to exhort them to hold fast where-
unto they had attained, and to urge, undaunted, their way to eter-
nul life.”

The Supreme Court happened to be holding its sittings at this
time, which induced Mr. Campbell to apply for a writ of Habeas
Corpus, that he might, without loss of time, have his case decided.
Accordingly he was taken before the Court in order to have his
cause heard by the Chief Justice of the island and two assistant
Judges.

“ My. Campbell’s counsel pointed out, in a masterly and perspi-
cuous manner, that he did not come under that description of per-
sons which the law intended to forbid ; but that he had been legaily
qualified under the laws of Great Britain; and he challenged the
opposite counsel to produce any law of the island under which Mr.
Campbell could further qualify to exempt himself from those charges
which were now brought against him. The opposite counsel en-
tered largely into those imaginary dangers which resulted from
preaching to mulattoes and slaves ; but, without attempting to bring
home the charges upon Mr. Campbell, or to adduce any specific
instances in support of the theory which he advanced. It was a
declamation, which rather apologised for the law than criminated
the defendant; and rested upon hypothetical possibility, without
any personal application.”

The Chief Justice deemed Mr. Campbell’s license sufficient, but
the majority of the Court were of an opposite opinion. It was
sufficient that Mr. C. was found guilty of having preached at Morant
Bay. Nothing that could be said in his vindication availed; he
was accordingly pronounced guilty, and punished according to the
new island Act. The validity of his commitment being called in
MORANT BAY. 131

question, two days after this a hearing was given on this point,
when it was clearly proved, from several adjudged law cases, that
it was not valid, either in form or substance. The Chief Justice
seemed to be of opinion, that the imformalities and defects in the
commitment were fatal to it; but again the other judges gave a
different opinion. So that all hope of relicf was taken from Mr.
Campbell, who was taken back to his prison at Morant Bay, and
kept in confinement till the term for which he was committed ex-
pired; when he repaired to Kingston and succeeded in obtaining a
license at the Quarter Sessions held in the month of May.

Though deprived of their minister, the people at Morant Bay
continued faithful in the midst of foes ; and those of them who were
able used to travel to Kingston to enjoy the ordinances of the
Gospel—a distance of 31 miles! On receiving his license, Mr.
Campbell, accompanined by Mr. Fish, proceeded to Morant Bay.
“ They went at the time of the Quarter Sessions, and presented a
written petition to the magistrates, praying for a license for a house
in that place in which they had been accustomed to mect. At the
same time, they observed that they had been duly qualified in
Kingston according to the Toleration Act of England, but that they
were willing to take the oaths again, if required. The petition was
read, and returned by the chairman, with this reply, ‘‘ The magis-
trates are unanimously resolved to grant no licenses !”

“ Not satisfied with what they had already done, the magistrates
now revived a branch of the prosecution, which had been dropped
for the space of three months, and issued a warrant to apprehend
Messrs. Campbell and Williams; and to lay them under a penalty of
£100, which, according to their interpretation of the new law, they
had incurred, as occupiers and possessors of the meeting-house, at
the time of their being prosecuted for preaching.”

A constable was repeatedly sent to Kingston to seize Mr. Camp-
bell, who eluded his vigilance, as he was assured that the magistrates
were resolved, not only to enforce payment of £100, but compel
him to give such securities as were out of his power, or keep lim
shut up in prison. With the advice of his friends, he left the islind
altogether, to escape the perpetual machinations of such unreasonable
and relentless men.

The persecuting law which Icd to such disgraceful proccedings
being repealed, Mr. Bradnack repaired to Morant Bay, to checr the
afflicted flock, and help them out of the difficulties in which they
had been placed. One of the first objects on his arrival was to en-
deavour to complete the erection of a chapel, which had been
already begun. Wheresoever he applied for pecuniary aid, he was en-
couraged beyond expectation. Even from England, several unlooked
for donations were received, and everything seemed to concur in
favour of the object being carried to completion.

Not content with preaching at the Bay, Mr. Bradnack extended
his labours to the neighbouring estates, towns, and villages, as far
132 MORANT BAY.

as to Manchioneal. He was soon enabled to make a return of nincty-
seven members, of whoin two were whites, and ninety-five coloured
or black persons. In January, 1807, he observed: “ At Morant
Bay, 1 have admitted fifty members this quarter, so that their
number now amounts to one hundred and fifty-five. There are
many places to which we have not been able to attend, for want of
another preacher, and want of money to erect chapels. Through
my illness, Morant Bay Chapel has been nearly neglected during
some months past: for our funds being nearly exhausted, the work
was at a stand, and we found no means of recruiting them, till my
returning health enabled me to apply to our charitable benefactors.
T have lately collected fifty pounds, and the tradesmen are again at
work. The blessed work of God not only spreads wider, but it
sinks deeper in the hearts of our members. We are constantly
comforted with the enlivening declarations of those who are born of
the Spirit, and made heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” On
Sabbath, the 26th of April, the chapel was so far advanced as to ad-
mit of its being opened ; on which occasion, Mr. Knowlan preached
to large and attentive congregations, and continued to officiate at
the Bay till the 26th of May, and then returned to Kingston.

The cheering circumstances in which the mission was placed was
followed by great prosperity. Openings continued to present them-
selves on the estates, affording fields of usefulness too numerous for
the time and strength of the missionary to enter into. In 1814,
when Mr. White, who was employed at first as a local preacher,
left it, he remarked: “ It is confidently expected that, at Morant
Bay, from its growing state, it will want a second preacher. I left
this place early in November last, on Mr. Burgar’s removal thither.
It was then in a thriving state, and was likely to continue so. The
number in society was somewhat more than six hundred, and I hear
that it has been increasing and prospering in every respect since.”
In 1815, it was made a scparate circuit, and Mr. Burgar was sent
as Mr. White’s successor. On the 10th of April he wrote: “ We
have had about two hundred increase since my arrival, the most of
whom are negroes. To say that they are all fully converted, is what
Iby no means believe; yet some are converted, many more are
deeply serious, and all profess to have ‘a desire to flec from the
wrath to come.’ ”

The conduct of Mr. Burgar was such, that not only did the mis-
sion greatly prosper in his hand, but prejudice gradually gave place
to a favourable feeling among all classes of the inhabitants. Even
some of the magistrates became friendly, and several of the leading
inhabitants attended the preaching.

A transient reaction took place from the following incident :—
One of the members of the society, a female slave, having died, her
quarterly ticket or token of church membership fell into the hands of
the overseer of the estatc, who lost no time in showing it to a magis-
trate. Suspicion instantly arose that the missionary was organizing
MORANT BAY. 133

a conspiracy among the slaves, to destroy the whites, and take pos-
session of the island. A meeting of the magistrates and vestrymen
was convened, and Mr. Burgar cited to appear before them. The
ominous ticket was exhibited, bearing the alarming inscription,
“The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take
it by force!” After several grave suspicions as to the meaning of
these awful words had been expressed by some of their worships,
one of their number, who had known something of Methodist Church
polity in the mother country, observed, that, “ though he was ready
to admit that Jamaica was a lovely island, it would be going rather
too far, in setting forth its loveliness, to call it ‘the kingdom of
Heaven !’” He then gave his brethren information of the practice
of the Methodists, with regard to giving certificates of membership ;
and, on Mr. Burgar fetching a similar ticket, which his wife had
received before she left England, their fears were dissipated, and
the affair concluded by the Custos admonishing Mr. B. to “ preach
the necessity of good works, but to say nothing about faith, for
that was dangerous doctrine for the negroes !”

This little cloud being cleared away, Mr. Burgar continued his
labours with great acceptance, till the 15th of July, 1816, on which
day he removed to Kingston, where the people received him with
much affection, and fondly hoped that his ministry would be owned
of the Head of the Church among them. But these expectations
were suddenly terminated, for, only five days after his arrival in
Kingston, he was seized with yellow fever—prompt measures were
adopted, a favourable change took place, but, in a few days after-
wards, the fever returned with increased virulence, and carried him
off on the 1st of August. His death caused a great sensation : thou-
sands accompanied his remains to the grave, with feelings of genuine
sorrow. The news produced a corresponding effect at Morant Bay.
At the next vestry meeting that took place, £100 was voted to his
widow, as an expression of the esteem in which he was held by the
magistracy and people, who had witnessed his conduct as a Christian
missionary among them. He was a native of London, a decided
friend to the doctrines and discipline of the church of which he
was a minister. His career was eminently successful, though short,
being finished ere he reached his twenty-eighth year.

In October following, Mr. Wiggins, having obtained a licence,
laboured with much success. The morning congregations were
large and attentive, and, in the evening, many white, and free brown
and black persons attended, while the members of the church in-
ereased to 1246, by the close of the year. In 1817, the missionaries
contemplated establishing stations at Manchioneal, Pomfret, and Port
Antonio. 242 were added to the society, and many respectable
white persons became regular hearers. The moral and religious
improvement of the people advanced, according to the attention
bestowed on them. The report of 1818 stated, that this was con-
fessed by the leading persons of the community, who were wont to
134 MORANT BAY.

view the mission with suspicion and dislike. In death, many of
the members had given happy evidence of the reality of their faith,
and hope of eternal life.

Messrs. Horne and Underhill having been appointed to Morant
Bay early in 1819, they were licensed by the magistrates on the
21st of February, and the latter began his missionary work by
preaching his firsé sermon in Jamaica at Morant Bay, on Sabbath
the Sth of March. These devoted men entered upon their work
with enlightened zeal, and prosecuted it with cheering success.
Several influential parties treated them with attention, and lent
assistance in various temporal matters. They reviewed the year
with grateful feelings, observing that the piety and morality of
their people were truly gratifying. The experience of numbers
possessed all the evidences of a sound, sober, deep, and scriptural
godliness; observing that the acquaintance of the negroes with
Divine truth was, in many instances, surprising, though scarcely
any of them could read, and the only way they had of obtaining
this knowledge was by hearing it from their ministers. The influ-
ence of the instruction given them was seen in a decisive moral
change. Previously, the most inveterate habits of adultery, forni-
cation, polygamy, and drunkenness prevailed among them ; but
now temperance, uprightness, and godliness, were conscientiously
practised by those who professed to receive the Gospel.

On the 27th of January, 1820, Mr. Ratcliffe arrived at Morant
Bay with his family, just in time to witness the death-bed scene of
Joseph Hartley, a young missionary, of amiable disposition and
considerable ministerial promise, who had been appointed to the
missionary work only about eighteen months previously, being then
in his twentieth year. Mr. R. was alarmed on entering the room ;
he found him suffering from a relapse of fever. His mind was
much affected ; at short intervals his memory returned. On asking
him the state of his mind, he replied, “ Happy, very happy, bless
the Lord.” The next morning he was seized with a strong convul-
sion, sank into a stupor, and continued insensible till five o’clock
in the evening of the following day, when he quietly expired. His
superintendent remarked of him :—‘ Brother Hartley was, from the
day of his landing till his death, not only under my care, but a re-
sident in the same house with me; and justice obliges me to say,
that in him the Church has sustained a great loss.” Mr. R. ob-
served :—“The death of a Christian missionary I have always
thought had in it something peculiarly afflictive, not so much be-
cause remote from the much-loved spot of his nativity, or deprived
of the sweet solace of parental attention during the hours of
languishment and disease, but more particularly on account of the
loss of-those means which promised eternal life to thousands of
perishing heathens.”

To add to My. Ratecliife’s trial, Mr. Underhill’s health was so
shattered that he could give no assistance in a field of labour
MORANT BAY. 135

embracing seventy miles of country, with 2,680 souls united in
church membership, and looking to the missionaries for the atten-
tion essentially necessarv to their spiritual advancement. To en-
able him to visit Bath and Manchioneal, the brethren stationed iu
Kingston, preached once in six weeks either at Moraut Bay or
Pomfret. Though lis labours were exceedingly onerous, his mind
was sustained by the success with which he was favoured.

For more than a year, death had been gleaning among the mission
families throughout the island, and, ere this year closed, Mr. Rat-
cliffe was called to resign two of his children, and their much-loved
mother, into the hand of the irresistible destroyer, while he barely
escaped with his own life. On the 31st October, Mrs. R. was seized
with fever, and, two days after, Mr. R. himself. Both were speedily
reduced to utter helplessness, the one not having strength to move
into the adjoining room to see the other. Mrs. R.’s fever being ac-
companied with violent hysterical affection, premature labour was
brought on, and she was delivered of a son. After a short inter-
mission, the fever returned with increased power—entire prostra-
tion followed. Mr. R. mustered his remaining strength, staggered
into her room, on Monday, November 6th, about two, p.u., and had
a last interview with her; in seven hours afterwards she was nuin-
bered with the dead, ere she reached her thirty-second year. Her
first religious impressions were reccived under the Baptist ministry,
in Northamptonshire, while on a visit to her uncles. The heart-
searching sermons of the Methodists deepened her convictions, and
led her to the atonement of the Redecmer for pardon. Her views
of justification by faith, and the witness of the spirit, were remark-
ably clear, her experience deep and solid. Constrained by love to
Christ, and the souls of perishing sinners, she gave up her friends
and home, entered the mission field, did what she could, and found
agrave. About the same time, the Rev. Messrs. Cole and Stainsby,
of the Established Church, were placed in the same mournful cir-
cumstances as Mr. Ratcliffe, both their wives being carried off by
the fever.

The following year was marked by a recurrence of scenes of
mingled joy and sorrow. Messrs. Johnstone and Duncan succeeded
Messts. Ratcliffe and Underhill, entering fully into their labours, their
encouragements, and their trials. It was a season of great toil and
anxiety, to Mr. Johnstone especially, who exerted himself beyond his
strength in order to get a chapel erected at Bath. The result wasa
termination to his earthly labours. For some time his health was per-
ceptibly failing, though he continued his labours till near the middle
of September, when he was suddenly seized with fever, the news
of which brought Mr. Duncan from Manchioneal, and Mr. Undev-
hill from Kingston, to witness, and, if possible, alleviate the
sufferings of the venerated and much loved missionary. A day
or two after his arrival, Mr. Underhill became ill of fever. His
constitution, already much weakened by former attacks, was unable
136 MORANT BAY.

to grapple with it, and on the 24th of September he entered “ into
the joy of his Lord;” and, eleven days afterwards, he was followed
by the excellent man whose sickness drew him to Morant Bay.
Mr. George Johnstone was a native of Berwickshire, and must ever
be regarded as one of the best missionaries sent by the Committee to
the West Indies. The following record, entered on their minutes
on receiving the afilictive intelligence of the death of these mission-
aries, shew the regard they had for him :—“ Resolved—That whilst
the Committee most deeply deplore the above melancholy account
(furnished by Mr. Duncan) of the loss which the mission has sus-
tained by the removal of Messrs. Johnstone and Underhill, they
cannot but record upon their minutes the high sense they entertain
of the upright, faithful, and zealous conduct of the late Rev. G.
Johnstone during the long period of eighteen years, in which he
acted as a Methodist missionary in the West India islands. In
every place he acquired the confidence and esteem of the public,
and the warm attachment of the congregation and societies to whom
he ministered. He wasa man most truly devoted to the service
of his great Master; and, notwithstanding the increasing infirmities
of his later years, which required him to moderate his labours, he
continued a course of unabated activity, ever intent upon the ad-
vancement of the work in which he was engaged. ‘Lo his colleagues
in the ministry, he manifested uniform kindness and affection ; and
by all the societies over whom he was placed, he was looked up to
as a father and a friend. Tis public ministry and pastoral conduct
were always faithful, judicious, and well adapted to the state of
socicty in the West Indies. During some periods of his mission in
Jamaica, he had to contend with powerful opposition, but he con-
ducted himself in all respects as the servant of the Lord Jesus, and
had the happiness to witness for years past opposition declining ;
the religious labours of himself and brethren highly appreciated by
those in authority; and the most gratifying success in the conver-
sion of souls, and the increase of our societies in that island.

“In the death of so excellent and experienced a minister, our
West India mission has sustained no ordinary loss.”

Mr. Underhill was a native of Staffordshire. He was a young
man of considerable ability ; his diligence in study, and his accu-
rate acquaintance with Methodist doctrines and discipline, qualified
him to give sound instruction, and to manage the affairs of the
societies committed to his charge with wisdom and diseretion, which
gained their confidence and affection. He finished his course in
the twentysseventh year of his age.

Mr. Duncan observed :—“ In Mr. Underhill’s death the Church
has sustained a great loss. He was very attentive to the flock of
Christ over which he was appointed, watching over them with all
the affection and vigilance of one who was most feelingly alive to
their welfare. The little society among whom he chiefly laboured,
since he returned from America (whither he had gone for change of
MORANT BAY. 137

climate, after his last severe illness at Morant Bay), bore towards
him a great affection.

On Sunday morning last, whilst I was endeavouring to improve
the mournful event among them, my voice was frequently drowned
with their unaffected sighs and groans; and, after preaching, the
weeping negroes frequently observed that they had lost a good
father. In Kingston, Mr. Young preached a funeral sermon for
these two excellent missionaries, from Phil. i. 23, to a large and
deeply affected congregation, whose weeping on the occasion was
quite overwhelming. Thus was their departure bewailed by those
who knew them, both at home and in the West Indies.

These painful events placed the mission in a state of comparative
destitution, in consequence of which the spiritual state of the people
began to show symptoms of decay ; frequently they were left with-
out any preaching, on account of the want of missionaries; the
field was large and white unto the harvest, but the labourers were
few. Some improvement took place while Messrs. Kerr, Jenkins,
and Beard were labouring here, between 1824 and the year follow-
ing. Many of the free people of colour were zealous and useful;
a great number of slaves were much devoted to God, and consis-
tent in their deportment; and most of the head men on the estates
within the parish were members of the society.

Little change took place in the mission till 1827, when death
again swept away several from the mission family. Mr. Rateliffe,
Mrs. Crookes, and Mr. Parkin, were of the number. The
latter was stationed at Morant Bay. He was born at Barnard
Castle, in the county of Durham, and went as a missionary to
Antigua in 1820, where he suffered severely from ill health, which
compelled him to return to England for a year ; after which he pro-
ceeded to Jamaica. and was appointed to Morant Bay. Though still
far from being fully restored to health, he continued his labours till
August 18th, when he received notice from Mr. Crookes, at that
time stationed at Manchioneal, that Mr. Ratcliffe had died of fever
at Port Antonio, on which he determined on going to sympathise
with Mrs. Ratcliffe in her affliction ; but that night a hurricane set
in, which continued till the following evening, when another express
arrived with the distressing intelligence that Mrs. Crookes was
numbered with the dead, and that Mr. Whitehouse was so ill that
his recovery was doubtful. Poorly as he was, he immediately set
out for Bath, and the next day proceeded to Manchioneal to consign
the remains of Mrs. Crookes to the tomb; after which he travelled
to Port Antonio to see Mrs. Ratcliffe. No sooner had he returned
home than he was called to attend a Special District Meeting in
Kingston. On his way back he stopped at Yallahs to preach on
the Sabbath, being so weak as to be unable to go on to Morant Bay
to do his Sabbath duties. After this, he revived and continued
better till Sabbath, September the 9th. When at breakfast, he
remarked that he had not felt so well for some time as he did then.

R
138 MORANT BAY,

“At ten o’clock he read prayers and preached to a large and atten-
tive congregation with great freedom, and announced his intention
to preach a funeral sermon for Mr. Ratcliffe in the evening. He
then baptized a child, and met three classes, but he was so ill that
some of his friends felt alarmed, and Mrs. Parkin endeavoured to
dissuade him from attempting to preach in the evening. However,
he observed, ‘ That as he had published to preach the funeral ser-
mon, and had received a letter the previous evening from the Rev.
Mr. Trew, that, through the sickness of himself and curate, there
would be no service in the church, and that he hoped the chapel would
be opened that his people might have an opportunity of hearing the
word of life, he should not feel himself justified unless he made
the attempt.’ When he ascended the pulpit he was very ill. He,
however, sang and prayed ; and gave out these words (forgetting to
mention where they were recorded), ‘I know that my Redeemer
liveth” He apologised, stating that he was unwell, and that no-
thing could have induced him to preach that evening but the death
of his much respected brother, whose decease he would endeavour
to improve to their profit. He spoke a few minutes from the text,
and then added, * Perhaps this is the last time we shall meet here
below,’ and read a letter he had received, stating the particulars of
the death of Brother Ratcliffe. He soon concluded, and returned
home.”

The fever was kept at bay for a day or two by medicine, when
it was deemed expedient to call in a physician, who used the most
prompt and decided means, but in vain. His colleague seeing that
he was dying, asked him “how his soul was, in reference to eternity.”
He answered, “ Bless God, there is not a cloud upon my mind that
can give the least cause for any doubt of my acceptance into his
eternal glory.” Soon after, he exclaimed—

“ Worthy the Lamb that died,” &c.

Mrs. Parkin said to him, “ Fear not, my dear, God has brought us
through many troubies and dangers, and he will not forsake us in
this trying hour.” “ No,” he added “ bless God, he will never leave
nor disappoint us, if we trust in him, but will bring us through all
in safety.” With great emphasis, he repeatedly said, “ I know that
my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall be happy with him for ever
and ever.” He continued in the same frame of mind, till six o’clock
on Saturday evening, September the 15th, and then entered “into
the joy of his Lord.” On the following evening, his remains were
committed to the dust, in a burial-ground about half a mile out of
the town, which had been recently purchased for the members of
the society ; and, on the evening of the following day, his death
was improved by his colleague, to a weeping congregation, from
Numbers xxiii. 10—* Let me die the death of the righteous,” &c.
Besides this devoted missionary, many useful members of the
MORANT BAY. 139

church under his care died happy in the Lord that year, leaving a
blessed testimony of their faith in the Redeemer, and hope of enter-
ing into his rest. The members generally gave proofs of their sin-
cerity, and several were added to their number. The Sabbath-
school was in an encouraging state, through the attention and zeal
of the teachers, though the number of scholars was comparatively
small. The conduct of some of the peoplein the early part of 1828
called for prompt and decisive exercise of discipline, which had a
salutary effect on those who were expelled, and on the society
generally. However, the want of a sufficient supply of preaching
and pastoral attention, arising from the small number, the sickness,
and deaths of missionaries, was much felt, and the evil was greatly
aggravated by the civil bondage of the people, which allowed them
no opportunity of attending the public worship of God, except once
in two Sabbaths, while it entirely cut them off from week-evening
instruction. From the death of Mr. Parkin till the appointment of
Mr. Penman, the general state of the society was discouraging: the
zeal and affection of many of the leaders and members greatly de-
clined, while others, through old age and infirmity, were kept from
the means of grace.

In 1830, death once more left them as sheep without a shepherd.
Mr. Penman was cut off in the twenty-seventh year of his age, and
fifth of his ministry. He was a young man of sound piety and
great promise. After exercising his ministry upwards of two
years in England, he was sent to Jamaica, where he arrived in
March, 1829, and, after a useful career of about twenty months,
was cut down at Morant Bay, on the 8th of November, 1830.
For some time previous to his fatal sickness, he appeared to
be more than usually serious and spiritually-minded, and left
satisfactory evidence of having passed “through death, triumphant
home.”

About this time, the society sustained a heavy loss by the death
of the circuit steward, Mr. Charles Robertson, whose consistent
conduct, and active zeal for twenty years, contributed greatly to
advance the interests of the mission. Asa leader, he was one of
the most successful in the island. His excellent wife, who died a
few years before him, was like-minded. Both employed their
talents and influence in the service of the Redeemer, and were uni-
versally respected and loved by the missionaries and the people,
who, in seasons of affliction, witnessed and experienced their kind
Christian offices.

During 1832, Mr. Barr was the resident missionary, and the
writer, then stationed at Bath, frequently exchanged Sabbath-day’s
labour with him. Thongh considerable alarm pervaded St. Thomas-
in-the-East during martial law, very few indications of insurrection
among the slaves appeared. One poor fellow, a man of colour, a
run-away slave, who was caught by a party of Maroons, while mak-
ing a wooden bowl in the woods, was taken to Morant Bay, tried,
140 MOKANT BAY.

condemned, and executed, and his head, on being cut off, was
fixed upon a pole, and set up on the Bay.

Great pains were taken by many of the whites to prevent the

slaves attending the chapel, who also, in many instances, burned or
tore down the thatched houses in which they were accustomed to
meet for prayer on the estates; in consequence of which, the spiritual
state of the society suffered declension. However, towards the end
of the year, considerable improvement took place, especially among
the leaders, both as it regarded their unity, affection, and zeal to do
good.
: Having removed to the north side of the island for some
time, Mr. Barr returned to Morant Bay, in 1835. In October
he was seized with fever, and died on the 17th. He was a consis-
tent, pious, acceptable, and useful missionary.

At the time when the people were set free from their civil bond-
age, Mr. Atkins was alone in the circuit, with 2000 members under
his care, owing to the paucity of missionaries in the island. Under
feelings excited by his circumstances, he wrote to the Committee
in 1838: *“*I must beseech you, send me help; nothing less than
three missionaries can work this circuit, as it is, ‘even if they are in
labours more abundant,’ to say nothing of the very numerous and
important openings around us, to which I have been invited again
and again. There isa fine feeling in this parish in our favour.
The people are ripe for us. O, send some hard-working men to
help us, and we shall soon reap a glorious harvest.”

A few months after this appeal, Mr. F. Whitehead was sent to
his assistance. They were greatly cheered by the good conduct of
the members on the estates, which was highly commended by their
employers. No bickerings about wages took place among them,
but all seemed contented to go on with goodwill, as free labourers.

An attempt was made by some agitators from Kingston, in 1839, to
injure the mission, but without effect. The congregations were over-
flowing, new stations were taken up at Port Morant and Blue Mountain
Valley, at the former place a chapel was erected, and the chapel at
Morant Bay considerably enlarged, towards which the people con-
tributed most liberally, and the number of members greatly in-
creased, which led to renewed and urgent calls for additional mis-
sionaries to carry on the work. Mr. Whitehead observed: “‘ We
do what we can, we travel beneath the burning rays of noon,
and amid the pernicious dews of the evening, but we cannot do
enough.”

In the midst of these excessive efforts, Mr. Atkins was deprived
of his excellent wife, who had a presentiment, on going to Morant
Bay, that she should die there. Under this impression, she planted
two young cocoa-nut trees in the chapel yard, and, pointing to the
space between them, said, ‘“‘ When I die, I wish to be buried there.”
As the writer was taking a last look at these mission premises, the
verdant plumage of these trees overshadowed the tomb in which her
MORANYT BAY. 141

ashes silently repose, till summoned back into life, on the resurrec-
tion morn, in hope of which her redeemed spirit passed into the
mansions of light.

The following extract of a letter from Mr. Atkins, towards the
close of the following year, though referring to the mission gene-~
rally at this time, was specially applicable to Morant Bay Cir-
cuit :—“ The mission cause is still prospering in Jamaica. The
brethren are united in heart and hand in this glorious work, and the
Lord is with them. At our several stations, the work is in pros-
perity, and our people are rapidly increasing in numbers, and, we
trust, in piety. The fields are already white unto the harvest, and
everything unites to tell us, that the time to favour Jamaica, yea,
the set time, is come! I need hardly say how we are cramped in
our efforts for want of men. ‘The harvest truly is great, but the
labourers are few.’ When the grain is ripe, if it be not speedily
gathered in, it is liable to perish. We forego ease, and endure
fatigue, to secure it! yet thousands around us are destroyed for
lack of knowledge! There is at present a general move amongst the
people, an earnest seeking after more religious light and knowledge.
We pity them, we pray for them, but our hands are full, we have
more than we can do. Let it not be argued that Jamaica has its
share of missionaries, compared with other parts of the great mission
field. Look at the circumstances of this circuit, and Bath circuit,
and other circuits in this district, and say, in what other place is it
that two missionaries are placed in charge of upwards of three thou-
sand members of society. It is not the climate only, but the ex-
cessive labour that has made Jamaica such a grave of missionaries.
We have pressing invitations, and doors of usefulness thrown wide
open, which we cannot—dare not enter, because we have already
taken too much work upon ourselves—work that we cannot expect
to endure any length of time. We heard the cry of our brethren
for whom Christ died, ‘ Come over and help us,’ and we went, re-
posing, as we have always done, confidence in you, and in Britain,
that her sons would be sent forth amongst us—

‘To spend and to be spent for those,
Who have not yet our Saviour known.’

And now, how are we disappointed—our hands are made to hang
down, and we could almost wish ourselves from this interesting
scene of labour. Hundreds who have been encouraged by our ex-
pectations of help from you, who have always been the friends of
the neglected and destitute, must be left to seek elsewhere what is
out of our power to give. Of Jamaica, we say, ‘ Behold, now is
the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” The pre-
sent is superior to any opportunities we have ever had, and, if not
seized, they may be looked for afterwards in vain. Friends of the
mission cause, help us!’
142 MORANT BAY.

When the writer visited this circuit in 1843, Messrs. Rowden and
Burrows were the resident missionaries. The latter had taken up
his residence near Yallahs, in order to attend more fully to the so-
ciety there. At Morant Bay, the people generally were improving
in knowledge of Divine things. The Sabbath morning congrega-
tions were overflowing, and deeply attentive to the word spoken—
the members amounted to 1140. At Yallahs, the previous want of
a missionary was much felt. Port Morant presented great encou-
ragement. The conduct of the members was consistent, and their
liberality exemplary. The progressive improvement of the people
at Blue Mountain Valley was cheering—the number of inembers
was 360. While at Providence, near the White Horses, a neat
chapel had been erected, which was well filled with hearers—233
members were joined in church fellowship. The total number of
members in the circuit was 2757, with a Sabbath and week-day
school. ‘The improvement since 1832 was everywhere apparent,
but the want of a sufficient number of missionaries to do the work
of the circuit, was discouraging to the brethren, and injurious to the
people.

Though the station at Yallahs has never risen to importance, it
has always been interesting to the missionaries who have travelled
between Kingston and the stations lying to the east. It is an in-
variable resting-place in their journies, during the heat of the day.
It is situated about twelve miles west of Morant Bay, and nineteen
east of Kingston; and, though close to the sea, is remarkably dry
and warm, which contributes to render it a favourite retreat for
snakes, lizards, scorpions, centipides, mosquitoes, and sand-flies.
Water melons, pumpkins, sweet and sour sops, papaw, and such
productions as grow here, are of excellent quality. The houses on
the bay are few, and the population small. No object in the neigh-
bourhood requires to be particularly noticed, except the river, which
is sometimes exceedingly dangerous, and, since 1815, few or no
fish have been found in it, though all the streams and rivers in
the island are remarkably well supplied with the finny tribes. This
fact is noticed in the following extract from Mr. Barclay’s work on
slavery :—

“JT have mentioned that evecy stream and rivulet in Jamaica
abounds with fish, but Yallahs River, since 1815, is perhaps an ex-
ception. The dreadful storm of the 18th and 19th of October in
that year, having swept away or destroyed every description of fish
init. This river, which, in wet weather, is the dread of travellers,
has its source among the highest of the Blue Mountains, whence
collecting its waters froma number of rugged glens in a moun-
tainous district, where the scenery is beyond description awful and
sublime, it rushes down its short course to the sea, with such im-
petuosity, as to carry stones of great size along with it.

“ The unexampled rain that accompanied the storm or hurricane of
1815, the effects of which will be seen for ages, loosened the soil
PORT MORANT. 143

on the hill sides, and repeated shocks of earthquake taking place at
the same time, the ground in several steep places gave way, and
slid down into the ravines. The torrent of water was thus for
a time dammed back ; but, forcing its way at last over these ob-
stacles, it speedily swept away the earth, stones, and trees that
obstructed its course.

«“ The works of many of the sugar and coffee plantations were de-
stroyed, some swept away, and others buried deep under stones and
gravel. The number of lives lost was considerable, and the case of
a Mr. Smith and his family was particularly distressing. His house
stood on a small plain, at some distance from the river, which, how-
ever, overflowing its banks, and cutting a new channel on the other
side, between him and the mountains, left him no means of escape.
His house was carried away, and, when last seen, he was clinging
to a tree with some of his family ; they were carried away by the
torrent, and their bodies so mangled, that only some of their legs
and arms were ever found. A large iron bridge was swept away
at the same time, not a particle of which has ever been seen since.
Happening to be in Kingston at this time of the storm, and Yallahs
River continuing for several weeks impassable—(several years
elapsed before it ran clear)—I embarked in a coasting vessel, to
return to Port Morant by sea. Passing off the mouth of Yallahs
River, we were obliged to take a considerable offing, to keep clear
of the enormous quantity of floating trees, which literally covered
the water to a considerable distance, while the interior of the coun-
try bore scarcely less striking traces of the storm. The white
chasms in the mountains marked the broken ground that had been
carried away, and the usual green appearance of the forests being
changed into a brown colour, they looked exactly as if they had
been scorched with fire. Eight or nine sail of West India ships,
and all the smaller craft of every description, in Port Maria, Annotta
Bay, Port Antonio, and Manchioneal, were driven on shore and
lost. In the county of Surrey, the crop on the ground, both of cane
and provisions, was nearly destroyed, but the leeward parts of the
island sustained little injury.

“Jt is worthy of remark, to how small a space these visitations
are frequently confined. In the present instance, the centre of the
storm passed from north to south, across the island, from Annotta
Bay, down the course of Yallahs River; on the other side, at
Spanish Town, about forty miles west, it was scarcely felt, and a
vessel, off the Morant Keys at the time, about fifty miles to the
east, experienced only a fresh gale.”

The writer has often had perilous work in crossing this river, after
it has overflowed its ever-changing banks; only a few years ago,
both the river and the mountains on the north presented striking
marks of the ravages of repeated storms, since the great one above
mentioned.

The first intimation of a station being formed in the parish of
14£ MORANT BAY.

St. Davids, was given in the report of 1817, and the year following,
four places of worship, instead of one, had been opened in Morant
Bay Circuit. On Messrs. Horne and Underhill being appointed to
this field of labour in 1819, they took licences for both the parishes
of St. Thomas-in-the-East and St. Davids. On the 4th of April,
they appeared before the vestry of the latter parish, and presented
their letters of ordination, and other credentials, and requested per-
mission to open a place of worship. After looking at the documents,
and asking a few questions, the matter was referred to the rector of
the parish, who fully approved, and expressed his wish that the ser-
vices should be held at the same time as he had his in the church,
which met the approbation of all the gentlemen present. Cheered
by this success, preparations were made, and Mr. Underhill opened
the preaching-house, a fortnight afterwards when he preached to a
crowded audience, who listened attentively to the word spoken.

A few years before this, the attention of Mr. Burgar had been
called to this neighbourhood by one of the members, a female of
colour, who, though born in slavery, had been liberated in her in-
fancy by her owner, Mrs. Geoghegan, a white lady, who also brought
her up with care; her name was Catherine Harris, who, with her
husband, a kind-hearted worthy man, were still alive when the
writer paid his last visit to Yallahs. She was brought to God in
Kingston, and became a consistent and useful member of the so-
ciety; but, on her kind mistress removing to Pomfret, a property
of her own in St. Davids, Catherine accompanied her, though greatly
distressed at the loss of her religious advantages and friends. On
being settled, she began to speak to her neighbours, and succeeded
in raising a class, and bringing her mistress also to Christ for salva-
tion, who took her servant for her spiritual guide. No sooner did
this take place, than Mrs. Geoghegan fitted up her house with
benches, called her neighbours together, and invited the missionary
stationed at Morant Bay to come and preach to them. In two or
three years she died, the property was sold, and the congregation
was removed to a temporary house near by, erected for their ac-
commodation. Mr. Underhill gave an interesting account of the
conversion and death of an aged slave, named John Scott. Four
score years had passed away, leaving him not only a stranger to
God, but notorious as a drunkard, a swearer, and a thief. An aged
female fellow-slave, who had been awakened to a sense of her sin
and danger, and found redemption through the blood of Christ, no
sooner felt the love of God shed abroad in her heart, than she en-
deavoured to bring others to the Redeemer for salvation. *“ She,
like John, had grown old in sin, but, being brought to the means of
grace, the spirit of convietion took hold upon her, and feeling the
sentence of condemnation in her heart, she fled, by faith, for refuge,
to the hope set before her, and found, by a joyful experience, that
‘there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,’ and
that ‘the law of the Spirit of Life, in Christ Jesus, had made her
MORANT BAY. 145

free from the law of sin and death.” As she had formerly lived
with John, after the custom of the country, she knew how deep he
was sunk in sin, yet for his salvation she felt the utmost solicitude.
‘She began to pray for him, and to speak to him; for which labour
of love she received nothing but curses and abuse for a considerable
times yet, still seeing him upon the brink of ruin, she could not
give him up: but the more wickedly he opposed the counsel of God
against himself, the more earnestly did she intercede with God for
him, until at length the Lord, in answer to her importunity,

‘Spake with that voice which wakes the dead,
And bade the sleeper rise.”

With joy she led him to the house of God, where his convictions
were deepened. She next took him to a class meeting, in deep
anguish of soul; but the leader would not receive him, on account
of his exceeding bad character. But she brought him again, and
pleaded for him with great fervour; but still the leader continued
sceptical about his sincerity, upon which the hoary-headed sinner
fell upon his knees with tears, and entreated that he might not be
rejected and sent away without instruction. Struck with the sin-
gular importunity of the aged supplicant, the leader asked why he
wished to come to class, when, only a few weeks previously, he did
all in his power to injure those who came? ‘ Why,” said he “me
be a great drunkart, great tief, great sinner; me see some bad as
me come, been saved—-me want to be saved too.” He came once
after this, and was them taken sick; recovered—came twice more,
and was then confined to his house entirely. His pious fellow-
slaves visited and prayed with him, and urged him to look to Christ
for the pardon of his sins. At length he ventured to hope for
mercy, and cast his soul upon the atonement of Christ. “He
could now say ‘O Lord I will praise thee; for though thou wast
angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest
me.” He now began to exhort all his old companions, who
came to see him, to break off their sins by repentance, before it
was too late, and particularly his children; for these he expressed
great concern, and affectionately exhorted them not to ery and
grieve for him, but for their own sins, and to join the Society, and
God would have mercy upon them, as he had mercy on him. In
this happy state of mind he continued praising God, and preaching
to all around him, until July 23d, 1818, when he slept to wake no
more, until the morning of the resurrection.” Such was an instance
of the power of Divine grace, in saving one who was deemed
“ignorant and wicked beyond all human hope of recovery ; but with
God nothing is impossible.”

In 1820, when Mr. Ratcliffe was deprived of the assistance of
Messrs. Underhill and Hartley, the former being compelled to
remove to America on account of ill health, and the latter being

8
146 MORANT BAY.

cut off by death, the brethren stationed in Kingston visited Pomfret
or Morant Bay once every six weeks, in order to allow Mr. R. to
visit Bath and Manchioneal. He observes—“ This they have done
to the great joy of our people, who otherwise would have been
partly deprived of the ordinances ; and it is with gratitude I remark
that, under all the disadvantages arising from loss of ministerial labour
and superintendence, God has mercifully visited the people with his
presence, and added to their numbers far beyond my expectations.”

In 1824, the Society was removed from Pomfret to Yallahs; a
building having been purchased, which had formerly been used as an
inn or tavern,—a sketch of which is given with this account of the
mission. At the opening of this place the prospects were highly
encouraging. The congregations were frequently much too large
for the accommodation it afforded. The members amounted to
311; many of whom came from a great distance to hear the glad
tidings of salvation. In consequence of which it was enlarged in
1825, and the Society continued to increase in number, piety, know-
ledge, and zeal. Three years later, the missionaries reported that
the state of the Society was good, and atforded great cause of encou~
ragement. The experience of the people was such as proved that
the Gospel had not come to them ‘in word only, but in power,”
and that they had received it in the love thereof. From their state
of civil bondage, they could attend only every alternate Lord’s-day ;
but still their attention to the means of grace, along with their walk
and conversation in general, was as became the Gospel of Christ.

Though the members had some trials to endure at the time of
the insurrection, their innocency was made clear; and, by the kind
providence of God. they were allowed to enjoy their religious ser-
vices without interruption.

Lying betwen Kingston and Morant Bay, this station has been
sometimes attached to the former as an outpost. This was the case
in 1833, when Kingston was divided into two circuits, and called
Kineston North, and Kineston South. The former, embracing the
congregations at Parade or Coke Chapel, Ebenezer, and Port
Royal ; the latter, Wesley Chapel, Yallahs, and Redhills. At this
period, Mr. Burrows spoke of his labours at Yallahs with consider-
able pleasure, and expressed his conviction that there was a great
work to be done at this station. A spirit of hearing and enquiry
had come upon the people ; and if an active missionary could have
beenlocated among them, many would have been brought to receive the
Gospel. About two years afterwards, the brethren stated, that it
afforded them great pleasure to be able to say, with confidence, that
the Society was doing well; perhaps, never better than then. The
work of God was evidently going on in the souls of the people, and
the chapel was much too small to contain the congregations. The
number of members was three hundred and eighteen: and though
there was an addition to this number of about one hundred and
seventy in 1843, the want of a resident missionary was_pain-
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
MORANT BAY. 147

fully and discouragingly felt. So many doors of usefulness were
thrown open to the brethren, that their energies were spent, while
multitudes remained but partially supplied with preaching and pas-
toral superintendence. This, however, was about to be obviated,
by Mr. Burrows being appointed to reside at the station.

The writer having left Kingston early on the morning of the 21st
of March, 1843, arrived at Yallahs to breakfast, where he was most
hospitably and affectionately received by Mr. and Mrs. Harris, who
were now rapidly descending the vale of life; but in conversation about
the rise and progress of the mission in this locality, they became
animated and deeply affected. This aged and worthy couple were
among the earliest friends the writer met with in this part of the
island, and had experienced their kind attentions every time he had
occasion to rest here in his travels. Finding Mr. Burrows’ residence
was about two miles from the Bay, he was sent for, and came im-
mediately down : as this was to be possibly the last interview, after
about twelve years kindly intercourse, it was felt by each. Having
proceeded to the Chapel, to take a sketch of the mission pre-
mises, we returned to Mr. Harris’s: conversed on the ever chang-
ing circumstances of the present life—the hope of the Christian
beyond the grave, and a portion of the Gospel of St. John, uniting
in supplication for each other, that we might be preserved while
in the world; and, if not permitted again to meet on earth, we
might be found at the right hand of the Redeemer, in that day
when he shall gather together his elect from the four winds.

Taking an affectionate farewell of his friend and fellow-labourer,
with whom he left England for Jamaica in 1831, and the two aged
and tender-hearted Christian friends, whose kindness will ever
keep Yallahs in remembrance, the writer drove off, amidst their un-
feigned tears and earnest prayers that Divine Providence might
guide him safely to his native land.
148

CHAPTER XI.
GRATEFUL HILL.

Scenery of St. Thomas-in-the- Vale—Origin of the mission—Grateful Hill Chapel
built—First missionary meeting held—Prosperity of the mission— Mr. White-
house—A chapel erected at Unity—Abortive attempt to destroy Grateful
Hill Chapel—Mr. Wedlock—Electrie phenomena—Heavy rains—Emancipa-
tion of the slaves—Earthquakes— A negro family—Prosperity of the mission
—Religious Tract Society’s gifts—Baptist friends—A rude book-keeper—a
temperance assuciation formed— Agitation, re-action, and improvement.

Havine passed through the first two years of our missionary work,
with its mingled cares, hopes, and fears, we left Bath for Grateful -
Hill, in January, 1834, with feelings of deep gratitute to the God
of all grace, not only for his sparing mercy, but also on account of
the large measure of heartfelt enjoyment vouchsafed to us during a
period of unusual excitement and danger to the mission.

The business of the Annual District Meeting having been termi-
nated by the end of the month, the writer was detained in Kingston
by heavy rains till Friday, February 7, when, with his family, he set
out for his new station in St. Thomas-in-the-Vale. After leaving the
city, we drove northward, through the plain of Liguanea, for about
seven miles, passing Half-Way-Tree, leaving several pens and small
settlements on the right and left of the road, and meeting with
many individuals and small groups of negroes, with head loads of
ground provisions and poultry, and a goodly array of donkeys on
their weary way with well-filled panniers, the products of the moun-
tain provision grounds and gardens, for the supply of Kingston
market. On reaching the foot of Stoney Hill, we rested for a short
time at the tavern, and then commenced our slow ascent to the
summit of the hill. On our way upwards, Constant Spring estate,
situated on the right between the hills, gladdened our eyes with the
refreshing verdure of its lovely cane pieces, contrasting pleasingly
with the deep foliage of the hills with which they are hemmed in.
On account of the night coming on, and the dews falling heavily,
we were compelled to stay in the house of Mr. Sanches, on the hill,
till morning. The cold during the night we felt to be severe, after
being accustomed to the hot atmosphere of Bath. As soon as we
had light to see our way, we descended the hill on the north side,
leaving the estates of Golden Spring and Temple Hall on the right.
We wound our way along the side of Wag-Water River for two or
three miles, and having climbed a steep and narrow road, we pur-
sued our journey along the mountain ridges, till we again descended
to Cassava River, and rose on the opposite side to a considerable
 

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a
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i
I

GRATEFUL HILL CHAPEL & RESIDENCE,
GRATEFUL HILL. 149

elevation. We then threaded our way through many a tortaous
path, till we arrived at our picturesque mission premises, perched
on ahill, surrounded by innumerable hills and eminences of various
sizes, and these again all encircled by lofty mountains rising on
every side. The vast number of small settlements scattered through-
out this hilly region, which is richly adorned with luxuriant vegeta-
tion, render it enchanting to the lover of nature, while the sugar
and coffee plantations, pimento walks, and grass pastures, which
abound on every side, contribute to heighten its rural magnificence.
Travel in what direction you may, new features of loveliness pre-
sent themselves in endless variety. Between the hills, springs,
streams, cascades, and rivers abound, while every evening a thick
white fog sets in, enveloping the whole vale, and reaching even the
tops of the loftiest mountains, as if the whole were covered with
snow. As it condenses on the leaves of the trees, or any substance
of a lower temperature, it falls in large drops, and forms small
streams, as if rain were falling from the leaves. So thick does it
become, that the traveller, if not well acquainted with the roads,
cannot find his way. Soon after the sun breaks forth in the morn-
ing, it gradually disappears, disclosing the tops of the mountains,
then the hills, according to theirelevation, giving the vale the appear-
ance of a vast white sea, studded with lovely floating islands, dis-
playing their beauties to the beams of the morning sun. ‘Though
this fog is so dense and drenching, it is not considered injurious to
health. On all sorts of goods liable to rust or spot, it operates
powerfully. Clothes, books, paper, and articles of steel, suffer
rapidly from its corrosive and mildewing qualities. Its effects on
the fertility and verdure of the country is striking : one leaving the
dry hot plains of Liguanea, or St. Catherine, and ascending these
heights, is amazed at the contrast between the apparent barrenness
of the one, and the rich fertility of the other. The air also is so
much cooler, that there is considerable danger of one taking cold or
fever, by leaving the lowlands in the evening, and getting exposed
to the chilling airs and dews of the night. For some time, our ad-
miration of the scenery was kept in lively exercise by the ever-
varying loveliness of the country. The only drawback to the
pleasure of new comers, is the apparent danger of travelling: the
roads being narrow, steep, winding, and crumbling. It is no uncom-
mon occurrence, that the soil gives way under the feet of the horse,
just over a dangerous declivity, in which case both horse and rider
must just save themselves as they can !

The dwellers in this vale were first visited by the ambassadors of
Christ through the entreaties of some of the inhabitants, who used
to travel to Kingston to listen to the glorious Gospel of the blessed
God, at Coke Chapel. Having “tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come,” they thought of their perishing
friends and neighbours who knew not the Lord, and besought the
missionaries to ‘come up and help them.” In 1815, they could
150 GRATEFUL HILL,

take up the joyous language of Isaiah, “‘ How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that pub-
lisheth peace, and bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation.” They were visited, and two small societies formed, one
at Grateful Hill, and the other at Unity, a distance of about four
miles. The year following, the missionaries observed : “Though the
societies are small, yet we have cause to believe that they (the
members) are truly pious, and earnestly contending for the faith
once delivered to the saints; and, had they been favoured with the
constant labours of a missionary, doubtless, their increase would
have been considerable.”

A piece of ground having been given by one of the members, Mr.
S. Rogers, at Grateful Hill, a chapel was erected, and opened in
January, 1818, which gave an impulse to the good work. The con-
gregations became large, serious, and attentive, and evidences of
genuine piety appeared among the people, while several new open-
ings presented themselves. Mr. Hudson, who was stationed here
in 1819, thus expressed his circumstances and feelings: “I thank
God, his hand has been with me. Though in the solitary moun-
tains, I find the consoling and supporting presence of the Lord. 1
am happy to be where God would have me be, and would rather be
an humble missionary, calling sinners to salvation, with one meal
a-day, than in any other station. I feel my heart in the work, and
Iam sure that work is of God, from the wonderful effects produced
on the minds of the poor negroes. We have a beautiful little chapel
on Grateful Hill. O, how would you an: the dear people at home
be affected to see the negroes coming over the hills for miles on the
Lord’s day, making the woods resound with the praises of God.
On the Lord’s day our chapel is crowded with attentive people:
they seem as if they would eatthe word. We have had an increase
of seventy souls in eight weeks, and still the prospect brightens. I
have had the pleasure of seeing many die happy in the love of
Christ. Thanks be unto God, who maketh us to triumph, and
spreadeth by us the savour of his knowledge in every place.”

A growing concern about Divine things appeared among the
people, many of whom came from great distances to hear the word
of life, which gave great encouragement to the brethren to go for-
ward in the prosecution of their important work. About two years
after this, the prospects of the station still continued to brighten.
Many of the proprietors and overseers of the neighbouring estates,
on witnessing the effects of Christian instruction on their slaves,
were constrained to confess that its tendency was to make them
far better servants; and also, that masters ought to feel an interest
in promoting, rather than hindering, the labours of the missionaries.
The increasing seriousness of the hearers, and the earnest enquiries
which many made after instruction, inspired the hope that God
would give his blessing to the instituted means of grace, and that,
with the increasing attendance, great good would be done. At this
GRATEFUL HILL. 151

time there were 479 members in the Society. From the peculiar
circumstances of the people, it was found difficult to raise an effi-
cient Sabbath-school. Still, among those who did attend, there was
a spirit of emulation shown in seeking acquaintance with the word
of God. They were “storing their memories with selections from
the sacred Scriptures, and from hymns; while great pains were
taken to instil into their minds, by catechetical instructions and
familiar remarks, the first principles of the religion of Christ.”

In 1823, in consequence of the increasing congregation, Grateful
Hill Chapel became far too small, which prevented the growth of
the Society. At Unity, the members increased to 203, most of
whom showed a spirit and conduct consistent with their Christian
profession. The openings on the properties around the neighbour-
hood were many, and some cases were of a very pressing nature.
Most were anxious to obtain the benefits of missionary instruction.
Magistrates and managers were not only favourable, but lent such
assistance as they could to the missionaries, in order to carry out
their plans of usefulness.

On the 18th of October, the first missionary meeting was held at
Grateful Hill, an account of which was given by Mr. Young, who was
stationed at Stoney Hill at the time. His notice of this interesting
circumstance is as follows :—‘‘ A Branch Missionary Society was
formed this evening at Grateful Hill. The Rev. Mr. Ratcliffe was
called to the chair on the occasion, and the meeting was addressed
by the Rev. Messrs. Binning and Barry, and also by Mr. S. Rogers
and others. The chapel was so crowded that several were prevented
from getting in; but many of the negroes being most desirous of
hearing, climbed upon the roof, which, being under repair, afforded
them several peep-holes, through which they could see the speakers.
The scene was, therefore, as novel as it was interesting ; for eyes
darted through every aperture, and human countenances supplied
the place of covering to the roof, which were sad or enlivened ac-
cording to the subject of the speaker. Mr. S. Rogers, in address-
ing the meeting, observed that the missionary cause ought to be
supported by the people of Grateful Hill, as to that cause they owed
their very all; being miserable, ragged, and without hope, before
missionaries came among them; but, since these men had come,
they were happy, improved, and had a blessed hope of heaven. He
then said, ‘Grateful Hill Society, who sent these servants of God
to us? We did not collect money and send to England for them:
—No; but they were sent by Christians in that far country, who
beheld us in a state of great wretchedness, who pitied us and sent
us help. We ought, therefore, to consider that, as we have so freely
received, we ought as freely to give,—that the same blessings may
be sent to other heathens which have been sent to us.’ The collec-
tion amounted to £5, and the sum of £40 was immediately entered
upon the list of subscriptions, and much more would have been
obtained, had the people not so very lately subscribed towards the
152 GRATEFUL ULL.

enlargement of the chapel. Iam fully convinced that missionary
meetings in this country are of great importance, inasmuch as they
not only secure a hearty co-operation with the Parent Society, but
give much information which our people could not obtain through
any other medium, which tends greatly to raise the tone of Chris-
tian feeling among them.”

Concern for the salvation of those who are destitute of the Gos-
pel, is one of the most pleasing indications that its influence has
been felt in the soul. Sound conversion generates the missionary
spirit; hence the interest taken in the missionary enterprise by all
whose hearts have been touched with sympathy for the miseries of
a sinful and perishing world ; and the happy reaction of such
views and efforts on the piety and happiness of those who heartily
do what they can to make the Saviour known. Such was the case
with the people at Grateful Hill. The year following this meeting,
it was stated :—“ The congregation and Society are rapidly increas-
ing at this place ; and the members appear not only to feel a more
lively interest in the extension of religion, but to grow in grace.
The influence of which has extended to the inhabitants in general,
so much so that many respectable inhabitants, unconnected with our
Society, acknowledge the greatness of the moral change in this
part of the country; while at Unity, both the congregation and
the society advanced in numbers and the conduct of the members,
with few exceptions, was consistent with their profession. A
new station was taken up at Highgate, which gave encouragement
to the missionaries. Throughout the circuit, the members amounted
to 740, of whom six were whites, 138 free persons of colour, and
596 slaves.

The same cheering success attended the preaching of the word
throughout the next year. At Unity, a most gracious influence
pervaded the society, and the prospect of an increase of members
was never more pleasing. The chapel was enlarged, and put in a
state of repair, which afforded accommodation to many who were
anxious to attend. In addition to Highgate, Port Maria Bay was
taken in by Mr. Whitehouse, who was in labours more abundant:
travelling in every direction, and entering into every open door that
presented itself, so far as his time and strength enabled him. Early
in the year, the Sabbath-school was re-established at Grateful Hill;
however, the progress of the scholars was retarded from want of a
proper supply of suitable elementary books, which lack was in some
measure met by a gift of some from “ The Ladies’ Society for the
encouragement of the Education of Negro Children, and Children
of Free Persons of Colour in the West Indies,” of which society the
Duckess of Beaufort was patroness. To which were added some
from friends in the Dudley and Wednesbury Circuits. Mr. and
Mrs. Whitehouse also taught a day-school on Mondays and
Thursdays—the progress of the children gave great encourage-
ment. At Unity, similar exertions were made to meet the mental,
GRATEFUL HILL, 153

moral, and religious wants of the young. A lady, a member of the
Society, opened a day-school, and received as many as choose to
come for instruction, without any charge, whether they were chil-
dren or adults—the only condition imposed was a desire to receive
instruction.

In 1827, through some circumstances, the state of the Society
was not so satisfactory; among which, long continued rains were
mentioned as operating unfavourably on the people, who were kept
away from the means of grace. An adult class for reading the
word of God gave great satisfaction: some of these pupils evinced
a degree of ability to read and understand the sacred volume highly
creditable to themselves. The prevalence of fever, after the cessa-
tion of the long-continued and heavy rains, detained many from the
chapel during the early months of the following year. And through
the ravages of death among the missionaries at some of the stations,
the missionary could be with the people only occasionally on the
Lord’s-day, being called away to supply the places of deceased
brethren, and leave Grateful Hill to be attended to by two local
preachers, who diligently did what they could to supply his lack of
service. At Unity, where the work had been checked, ‘“‘ God was
pleased to revive true piety among the members. A number were
added, who gave promise of doing well. A spirit of hearing was
manifest, and the congregations became larger than ever they had
been.” At the close of 1829, it was observed of Grateful Hill :—
That in the course of the past year, the Society had not been
visited with any particular revival, but many of the members had
grown in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ ; six members had died; seven had been removed to other
parts of the island; several had backslidden, still, forty new mem-
bers had been received. While at Unity, the Society advanced in
experimental and practical holiness, and the congregations con-
tinued large. The attendance of the children at the Sabbath-
schools was much interrupted by continued rains ; but this has ever
been the case in this locality, when the rains are very abundant,
and render travelling a difficult matter.

The chapel at Unity having fallen into a most dilapidated state,
the congregations, during the rainy seasons, were miserably cir-
cumstanced from exposure to the weather, which led them to exert
themselves in order to erect a new one. One of the friends gave
a piece of ground at Fern Hill, not far from the old chapel, and,
after considerable effort, a neat frame building was put up, capable
of accommodating about 300 hearers. Scarcely had this been
accomplished when the insurrection broke out; and, though no
symptoms of rebellion appeared among the slaves located on the
estates in the vale, a general fear and suspicion took possession of
every mind, and for a while affected the working of the mission.
Mr. Edney, who was stationed here at the time, had the satisfac-
tion of stating in January, only about a fortnight after the insur-

r
154 GRATEFUL HILL.

rection commenced, that, in the Societies throughout the circuit,
“there was not a single negro who was not steadily engaged at
his owner's work.” ‘‘ Such,” he exclaimed, “is the influence of
the grace of God on this degraded race!” And he added, “ It is
stated in the ‘ Kingston Chronicle,’ that no member of the Metho-
dist Society, in the parishes where the rebellion has been the most
painful, has been detected; and some of them have even perished
in the flames while striving to save their master’s property from the
general destruction.”

During the latter half of the year previous to the insurrection,
the people in the vale had suffered much from scarcity of food, and
a fatal epidemic by which many were cut off. Still the work of
God advanced; the public services were well attended, and the
number of members greatly increased. And though there was
peace throughout the vale, both during and after the rebellion, an
attempt was made one night by a party of whites to destroy Grate-
ful Hill Chapel. The mission family happened to be from home,
but Mr. 8. Rogers and his wife were in the mission house, in order
to take care of the premises. One night Mr. R. was awakened
by a strange noise, on which he awoke Mrs. R.,—both listened, still
the noise continued, as if some one were working with a saw at one
of the chapel windows. At last he arose, seized his musket, and
called out “ Who is there ?” at the same time rushing towards the
spot from which the noise came. He opened a door, and sprang to
the brow of the hill, discharged his piece, the parties instantly dis-
appeared, and no further attempt was made to injure the building.
After this incident, parties were formed to guard the premises, who
were to be ready to muster at the sound of a shell, which was to be
blown when any danger was threatened.

One night, the party appointed to guard being rather late in
coming, and Mrs. Curtis, the wife of one of the missionaries, being
alone, she felt uneasy, and took up the shell to try whether she
could sound it, in case of necessity ; and so effectually did she suc-
ceed, that the alarm was heard by the expected party, who in-
stantly seized their arms, and rushed towards the chapel, expecting
to have a mortal combat with the “ Colonial Church Unionists,” in
defence of their house of prayer; but the ferment subsided as soon
as Mrs. C. gave an account of her essay of blowing the shell! In
the course of this eventful year, fourteen of the oldest members
of the Society finished their pilgrimage—all of whom gave evidence
that they ‘‘ died in the Lord.’ ‘Several of them, as death approached,
were enabled to triumph in a most blessed manner,’ giving pleasing
proofs that they had not received the grace of God in vain.”
Thirty-four new members were added, after filling up the places of
such as removed to other stations, or left the Society to return to
the world. Many of the members at Unity were kept from the public
services by their managers ; and the many engagements of the mis-
sionary prevented him from giving sufficient attention to the Society
GRATEFUL HILL. 155

on the Lord’s-day, which operated very injuriously on the spiritual
state of the people. A new station at Guy’s Hill, about twenty-
six miles distant, called for special attention, and took up much of
of the missionary’s time.

During Mr. Wedlock’s appointment to this circuit, the Lord put
his seal to his labours. In June, 1833, he wrote—‘ The Lord is
beginning to revive his work in our midst. Blessed be his holy
name for ever! Last evening we had such a visitation as will not
soon be forgotten. It was our missionary prayer meeting. I read
some of the cheering intelligence contained in our May magazine,
and afterwards made a few remarks, and urged the people to look
for salvation by faith just now. I felt liberty and power in speak-
ing, and then engaged in prayer, and was blest with much enlarge-
ment. Brother R. now prayed. I then called upon those who felt
their need of pardon to pray for themselves. Two poor slaves suc-
cessively engaged in prayer. They prayed with fervency and
mnch good sense, and the Lord blessed them there. My soul was
so filled with gratitude to God for what I now saw and heard, and
especially for hearing and answering the prayers which I have been
offering up for this people during the last eventful year.” Mr. W.
and Mr. R. followed each other’in prayer, and, in closing, he
directed the people, many of whom were slaves, to go home quietly
and thankfully. He adds—‘ TI think, taking those and other signs
of the times into the account, that the Lord will speedily visit the
Jamaica mission in a most blessed manner; that our Societies will
rise and flourish ; our chapels will be rebuilt, and many sinners will
be converted to God. He closed his report of the state of the mis-
sion at the end of the year thus—‘‘ At Grateful Hill our congrega-
tions are generally good, and a blessed influence has been frequently
felt during the year. The Society, in general, is obviously advanc-
ing in spiritual knowledge and true piety. In the course of the
year twelve of our members have been removed into the eternal
world. ‘ We have hope in their death.” Two of the number had
been steady members of the Society for above ten years, and who,
though slaves, eminently adorned their profession, and died in a most
triumphant manner.”

The writer succeeded Mr. Wedlock at this interesting station, on
the first Sabbath after his arrival. The chapel was not only crowded,
but. numbers were compelled to stand listening at the windows and
doors outside. Deep attention and solemn feeling marked the con-
gregation. Finding that, since the October rains set in, there had
been no Sunday-school work going on, he preached on the Thurs-
day evening following, expressly on the religious education of the
young. The chapel was filled, and, after the service, a committee
and teachers were appointed, and a plan fixed on for reorganizing
the school, which soon presented the animating spectacle of more
than a hundred scholars, under the care of a proportionate number
of teachers plying their tasks, and progressing in the knowledge of
156 GRATEFUL HILL.

our catechisms and the word of God. At Unity, the Society was
in a miserable state, owing to the missionary not being able to give
more than one Sabbath-day’s labour out of four. The effect on the
spiritual state of the people was most discouraging. In April,
symptoms of revived feeling appeared. From a sermon preached
from “So run that ye may obtain,” many seemed excited to arise and
run. A love feast was held in the afternoon, which was declared to
be the most animated known for a long season by the people. In
visiting this station, he called at Mount Charles, the Baptist mission
station near by, and made acquaintance with Mr. Whitehorne, the
missionary,—a man of most upright, devout, and conscientious
charaeter, who had been bred to the law, but felt called to relinquish
that, in order to preach the glorious gospel. His piety rendered
him a catholic Christian, of gentlemanly and agreeable manners.

In these magnificent mountains, lightning is a striking and inte-
resting phenomenon, Almost every night, sheet-lightning is seen
playing on the tops and between the mountains, as if beacon fires
were suddenly kindled and extinguished. On the evening of the.
22d of April, 1834, a sublime spectacle presented itself. The moon
shone in the zenith clear and full, in a deep azure sky, slightly
mottled by a few fleecy clouds, *hile the mountain range, towards
the E.N.E. was enveloped in a large dark grey cloud, out of which
forked lightning shot with great rapidity, gleaming with the bril-
liancy of sunbeams reflected from polished steel. The corruscations
assumed every form peculiar to this formidable element. At inter-
vals, the whole cloud became illuminated as if one body of fire,—
meanwhile the hoarse thunder pealed and murmured through the
distant mountains, dying away amidst the solemn stillness that per-
vaded the whole scene above and around beyond the range of this
electric display. While gazing, an awful feeling of veneration of
the Divine majesty stole over the soul, humbling it to the dust in
the presence of Him who seecth under the whole heavens ‘to make
the weight for the winds, a decree for the rain, and a way for the
lightning of the thunder.”

A few weeks after this, the writer became experimentally ac-
quainted with the effects of the heavy rains which fall in these
mountains on the working of the mission. The May season rains
having kept him six weeks from holding any meeting of the leaders
at Unity, he set out on the 11th of June for the purpose of visiting
them, under apparently favourable circumstances. As soon as the
business was over, he commenced his ride of four short miles home-
ward ; but, ere he got five hundred yards on his way, the rain sud-
denly began, and poured in streams, which instantly drenched him.
To turn back was useless, having no change of clothes: to sit the
horse in the narrow path was exceedingly hazardous, as it was
rapidly crumbling from under the horse’s feet. Having dismounted,
in order to lead him down the hill, an aged slave came up, and
seeing his difficulty, kindly offered to take the horse and pilot him
GRATEFUL HILL. 157

to the river side. He soon lost sight of both his guide and the beast,
and followed as he was able, sliding, splashing, and wading through
water, mud, brushwood, and over stumps of lately-felled trees, till,
almost breathless, he overtook them at the ford of the river, which
was every moment becoming more deep, rapid, and dangerous to
cross. He offered the negro a tenpenny (é. e., sixpence sterling) for
his kindness, but he refused—half the sum was then presented, but the
venerable son of Ham exclaimed, “‘ No, me dear Massa,” and point~
ing towards heaven with a smile indicative of the Christian hope, he
added, “ My Jesus, him pay me. God bless me deur Massa, and take
good care o im.” He then took the bridle firmly with one hand, and
grasping the horse’s mane with the other, told Massa to “ sit tiff, an
no be fraid,” he resolutely dragged the frightened beast into the fu-
rious stream, and safely reached the opposite bank with his charge.
Deeply touched with the generous sentiments and conduct of this
aged man, who stood for a while up to the waist in the river, pour-
ing forth expressions of goodwill, and earnest wishes for “ Massa’s”
safe arrival at home, the writer bade him farewell. Is this a slave,
one who is denied the attributes, and deprived of the natural and
social privileges of a man and a brother, insulted, neglected, ma-
ligned, and degraded, because his skin is black, were the momentary
reflections suggested to the writer as he contrasted his temper and
conduct with those of many who pass for enlightened professors of
that religion which teaches that God hath made of one blood all
nations of men, to dwell on all the face of the earth, and is no re-
specter of persons. If missionaries feel a deeper interest in the
sons of injured Africa than any other class of men, it is because in-
cidents like this have created the interest: they have seen in them
those traits of character that endear one human being to another.
As the day of freedom approached, every mind was directed to-
wards it, with feelings excited by the respective interests involved
in emancipation. The Lord’s Day preceding the first of August,
the writer was closely engaged for seven hours and a-half in preach-
ing, and examining the scholars, in order to select such as had a
claim to receive the gift-book of the British and Foreign Bible So-
ciety. The wished-for day at length arrived : three hours before
the usual time of morning service, groups of well-attired negroes
began to wend their way through the mountain passes towards the
house of God, which was soon crowded and surrounded. The scene
was exciting; every countenance was expressive of deep emotion.
From 1 Peter ii. 17, the enfranchised slaves were directed to a
proper use of their newly-acquired privileges. For above an hour,
every ear was attent, and every eye fixed; no sign of listlessness
appeared in any face in the crowded assembly. The appearance
and conduct of all excited the admiration of the intelligent free per-
sons who were present on the occasion. At the close of the service,
several young persons came forward, earnestly imploring that they
might be taught to read the Word of God. The following Lord’s
158 GRATEFUL WILL,

Day presented numerous scenes and incidents deeply interesting.
The morning was clear, not a breath of air disturbed a leaf of the
gorgeous foliage of the mountains, which seemed to assume an un-
wonted loveliness, as if arrayed for the festive occasion in nature’s
richest hues. As the writer rode to Unity by the main road, no
vestige of secularity was to be seen. No travellers on their way to
the Sunday market were anywhere in view. The provision-grounds,
which used to be diligently cultivated on this sacred day, were de-
serted, and the beasts of burden were ranging undisturbed on the
pastures, or by the way-side. Every inhabitant seen was repairing
to some place of worship to acknowledge the Divine hand in the
great change they were called to celebrate. On reaching the chapel,
he found some difficulty in making his way to the pulpit, as the con-
gregation crowded the building within and without, till, in a short
time, the pulpit steps, and within the communion vail, were
crammed.

The conduct of the people was exemplary. Thenumber of com-
municants who celebrated the dying love of the Redeemer was
larger than on any former occasion.

At Grateful Hill, sixty-four scholars were added to the Sunday-
school, making a total of two hundred. On the following Lord’s
Day, the congregation was as large as on the day of the celebration
of freedom, and the number who appeared at the Lord’s Table very
numerous.

The missionary spirit formeriy manifested among the people ga-
thered a fresh impulse from the change in the circumstances of the
people. A week or two before emancipation took place, one of the
members called at the mission-house with eighteen shillings and
fourpence, as a contribution to the mission fund, to aid in sending
missionaries to Africa. He was a slave, and the sum was made up
of the small contributions of his fellow-bondmen. It was the FIRsT
contribution towards the mission fund I ever received from a SLAVE,
and also the dast. As I knew him to be distinguished for the con-
sistency of his conduct, and the sincerity of his piety, I received it
with satisfaction.

On the 26th, a public missionary meeting took place, probably
the first held in the island, if not in the West Indies, since the
people were delivered from bondage. Mr. Corlett occupied the
chair, and Messrs. Burrows, Bird, and Wilcox addressed the meet-
ing. A lively interest was taken in the object of the meeting by
the people, who contributed liberally. The collection and subscrip-
tions amounted to more than twenty-nine pounds sterling. And,
though most of those present had many miles to travel, through
miserable paths, they continued listening with evident delight to the
things spoken till near ten o’clock, p.m., and departed to their homes
with joy, though the night was exceedingly dark, dreary, and
damp.

About two o’clock in the morning of the Lovd’s Day, on the 7th
GRATEFUL HILL. 159

of September, the mountains were shaken by an earthquake. The
shock instantly awoke the writer from asound sleep. The mission
premises trembled, and seemed to bend in a westerly direction;
every timber creaked, like those of a ship when strained in a swell,
under a press of canvas. The sensation was appalling; he sprung
out of bed, and endeavoured to open the door of the apartment, but
being thrown out of the perpendicular, it was fast jammed, but
opened of its own accord as soon as the building was thrown back
to its original position. Part of a piazza in front of the house of
one of our people, on a neighbouring hill, was shaken down. In
consequence of the terror inspired, the chapel was crowded, and
numbers, unable to get within, remained listening most attentively
outside. An unusual unction attended all the services of the day,
and the number of communicants was much larger than had ever
been witnessed at this station. How lamentable that, unless some-
thing extraordinary happen, sinners sleep on till they perish in their
sins! Several concussions were felt after this during the latter quarter
of the year, particularly on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of Oc-
tober. The first of these occurred at half-past two o’clock on the
Sabbath morning, which again brought numbers to the house of
God, who rarely had a thought about their latter end. About the
middle of the following day, the rain fell in torrents, after which the
vale became enveloped in white mist. Towards the east, thick,
dark, rolling clouds covered the tops of the mountains, and the sky
in the south and west was streaked with a fiery red. About half-
past seven o’clock, the vale was again shaken with two successive
shocks of earthquake, which were followed by other two about mid-
night, and again by another on the following night. Yet, through:
the mercy of Him who is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, no lives were lost. Oh! that men were wise to
consider the things that belong to their peace, and lend an atten-
tive ear when the God of glory thundereth, whose voice thus shakes
the earth, and will, ere long, shake not the earth only, but also
heaven.

Early in 1835, the writer was requested to visit a part of the
vale, distant about six miles to the south-west of Grateful Hill,
where many small free settlers, some of whom were French, were
located, but for whose spiritual wants no provision was made, till
some of our local preachers were induced by one of our members
residing there to pay them a weekly visit.

The effects of the Gospel were delightfully exhibited in the family
at whose house the service was held. The father, mother, and some
of the children had been slaves on a neighbouring estate, till the
parents heard the Gospel preached at Grateful Hill. Their minds
were enlightened to see that they were living in a state of sin ; both
became true penitents, got legally married, and sought salvation
through faith in the atonement of the Redeemer. Anxious to keep
the Sabbath holy, they strove hard to save money from the sale of
160 GRATEFUL HILL.

the produce of their provision ground, in order to purchase their
freedom. Through extraordinary exertion and patience, they ef-
fected this object. They purchased a few acres of land, and having
erected a cottage, diligently cultivated their little estate, and got into
decent circumstances. On arriving at the tiny settlement of this
worthy man, the writer was struck with the neatness and order of
everything about it.

The cottage, though small, was equal to the requirements of the
family, and as clean and tidy as anything of the kind could possibly
be. Barbecues, or plastered terraces, for drying the coffee berries and
corn were in front, with a small storehouse erected close by, for laying
up the produce of the grounds, under which was a stable for a pony
and a donkey; while, in the grounds around, coffee, cocoas, plan-
tains, yams, guinea grass, and a variety of vegetables, indicated
that idleness was no characteristic of this well ordered negro family.
At each subsequent visit the attendance increased, and some were
favourably impressed, and led to attend Grateful Hill Chapel.
From the state of the weather, it was sometimes necessary for the
writer to stay through the night. On one of these occasions, he was
awakened about three o’clock in the morning by some one speaking ;
on listening he found that it was Mrs. Richards, the mother of the
family, pouring out her soul in fervent supplication to the hearer of
prayer for her family, her minister, the church, her neighbours, and
the unconverted world! Fora considerable time she continued her
address to the throne of grace, in language indicating acquaintance
with the great truths of the Gospel—her own spiritual state, and
that of those around her. Simplicity, fervour, and faith were impres-
sively prominent. The darkness and stillness of the night added
to the effect of this scene of early devotion. The appearance of
this family at the house of God on Sabbath-days was delightful.
Both parents were tall, athletic, well formed negroes, and their six
boys very like themselves. They were always in good time at the
services, though they had six miles to walk.. The sons were taught
to read, and always carried their bibles and hymn-books to the
chapel. The father of the family became chapel steward, and dis-
charged the duties of this office, and that of class leader, with great
fidelity and consistency.

While many were rendered happy through the influence of reli-
gion, others continued to harden themselves in their sins, till they
miserably perished in their impenitence. On the 17th of February,
1835, one of our members died, and was buried: no doubt she was
taken away from the evil to come. She had a son of a desperate
character, who pursued a course of vice till he became an outlaw:
by him the laws of both God and man were alike disregarded. For
a long period he had refused to do militia duty, and dared any man
to attempt to compel him, threatening to shoot the first that should
be sent to apprehend him. Only three days after his mother was
laid in the grave, a party of militia was sent to conduct him to
GRATEFUL HILL, 161

prison. As soon as they reached the house, this desperate man
seized a stone jar and foundered the serjeant; he then attempted to
choke him, but was taken off by the two privates; on which he
sprang to seize a double-barrelled gun in order to shoot them, but,
ere he reached it, they fired, and shot him dead! Such was the
miserable end of this lawless man, whose wickedness had just
brought down the grey hairs of his afflicted mother with sorrow to
the grave.

The prosperity which attended the labours of the missionaries in
all parts of the island, was shared by the Grateful Hill circuit. In
the month of March, it was found that, after filling up the vacancies
arising from deaths, removals, and expulsions, there was an addition
of fifty-two members on the number returned in 1634, The con-
gregations were large, regular, and attentive: every sitting in the
chapel was let, except those reserved for the poor. The general
contributions were increased : the conduct of the people was consis-
tent, and the Lord’s-day was observed with great attention. The
chapel, which had fallen into a state of dangerous decay, was put in
a state of complete repair; two sides of the walls were rebuilt, and
stone substituted for wood ; the floor was laid with planks, instead
of crumbling tiles; several new pews were put up, and such im-
provements made as were practicable, still it continued much too
small for the accommodation of those who were anxious to attend.

The proprietor of Montrose estate, in the parish of St. Mary,
about ten miles off, where there were nearly two hundred appren-
tices, wrote to his overseer to invite the missionaries to visit the
property, and preach to the people, who were exceedingly destitute
of religious means. The writer took an early opportunity of going,
and, on his arrival, he soon found a congregation which filled the hall
and piazza of the Great House, among whom were four overseers.
He regretted that such an opening could not be followed up, on
account of the work in which he wasalready engaged. The people
were anxious to listen to the glorious Gospel that they might be
saved On every side such openings presented themselves; but
though the harvest was great, the labourers were very few. At
Lewisburgh estate, having nearly 300 apprentices, a similar invita-
tion led the writer to visit and preach to the people ; still his regu-
lar engagements were too much for his time and strength to admit
of entering fully into such pleasing fields of usefulness.

The Religious Tract Society of London came forward to express
its sympathy with the newly emancipated slaves. The Committee
nobly voted a very large supply of their excellent publications, in
order to form libraries at the several mission stations. Small re-
ward books, tracts, and broadsheets, were distributed to the most
deserving, as far they would go, which excited great interest.
About a week afterwards, on visiting Water Vale, the writer found
the broadsheets tastefully distributed on the walls of Richards’ cot-
tage which had been newly whitewashed, both inside and out, pre-

U
162 GRATEFUL HILL.

viously to fixing them up. His six boys were diligently reading
them to their parents and neighbours, who were not a little de-
lighted with having such ornaments wherewith to decorate their
humble dwelling. Thesight of so much literature greatly increased
the spirit of emulation among the apprentices with regard to learning
toread. At shell blow (i. e., breakfast or dinner time), groups
might be seen in the flelds, or under the trees, struggling to com-
prehend the mysteries of the alphabet, short syllables, or sentences.

On receiving an acknowledgment of the safe arrival of the above
supply, the Committee generously sent some more, in order to sa-
tisfy such as considered themselves under the displeasure of the
missionary, from the circumstance of their not having received any
of the publications.

At this time, Mr. Whitehorne, along with his brother-in-law, Dr.
Prince, called at Grateful Hill, and spent some time in agreeable
Christian conversation, at the close of which the Doctor, who was
one of the audience at Unity Chapel on the previous Sabbath, pre-
sented two pounds, remarking that. the sermon on that occasion con-
strained him to do something towards spreading the knowledge of
the Bible ; the nature of which had been set forth in the discourse.
His name was not to be entered in the report, but, instead of it,
“A Baptist, £2.” All the subsequent intercourse between the
writer and these Baptist friends only tended to confirm his esteem
and affection for them. The Doctor has for several years been
labouring in Western Africa, along with Mr. John Clarke, as an
agent of the Baptist Missionary Society. The writer feels con-
strained to state that, however his sentiments on many points of
religion and politics might differ from those entertained by his Bap-
tist brethren, he does not remember a single instance of personal
intercourse he had with any of them, that he has not recalled with
pleasure.

On visiting Lewisburgh estate the day after the above agreeable
visit, the writer was informed by Mr. Lindop, the overseer, that
the people were neglecting the estate’s work. At the close of a
discourse from Acts xxii. 30, 31, he mentioned the painful informa-
tion given him, and assured them that should they neglect their
work, they must not expect to see or hear him again at Lewis-
burgh. Some spoke for the rest, and promised amendment. About
the middle of the service, a white man entered and looked mortified
and indignant at findiug the great house crowded with the people,
and a religious service going on. He walked to and fro, as if to
hide his chagrin. However, this did not prevent a good feeling and
gracious influence among the attentive part of the audience.

At the end of the service, Mr. L. invited the writer to take lunch,
(or, as it is termed in Jamaica, second breakfast), with him. Having
come ten miles, and having as far to return, he accepted the invita-
tion. Meanwhile the rude stranger accosted Mr. L. in the style
characteristic of a low-bred book-keeper, at the same time eyeing the
GRATEFUL HILL. 163

missionary with an air of suspicious malignant disdain. Mr. L.
coolly desired him to partake of what was on the table. Scarcely
was he seated when he began an attack on the missionary by re-
marking to Mr. L., “ This preaching must hinder the work of the
estate ;” “* The people are not fit to be instructed ; they don’t under-
stand anything that has been said to them.” Mr. L. replied, ‘* What
was said was too plain for them not to understand it.” Turning
from Mr. L. to the missionary, he said, ‘‘ You had no business to
tell the people that they were to have all the time to themselves in
afew years. They are expected just now to rebel, and what you
said is dangerous, and will lead them to it;” “ You had no business
to say anything to them ;” “ You know nothing about the Bible; it
is too deep a book for either you or me to understand, and the
negroes can never know anything about it. You only lead them into
dangerous whims.” It was replied :—‘“ The way of salvation is so
plain that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err with re-
gard to it.” Kindling into rage, he exclaimed, “ You know just
nothing about it.” Taking his Maker’s name in vain, he asked, with
an air of defiance, “ Which was the first religion?” The mission-
ary, looking him full in the face, said, “Sir, I fear God.” ‘ Ah!
but you don’t regard the king,” was the retort. ‘ Yes, I do both,”
replied the missionary, who began to feel a little excited. Nothing
abashed, he was about to get into a rage and pour out rude abuse,
when Mr. L. called him to order, telling him that he would not
allow such conduct at his table. He was struck dumb, and re-
mained in sullen silence till he departed. When he departed, Mr. L.
observed that he had never seen the man in his life before; and begged
that, so long as he found no fault, no notice should be taken, adding,
that if such preaching did the people no good, he knew of nothing
that would. It is due to Mr. L. to observe, that his conduct was
gentlemanly and courteous. No doubt the unhappy man expected to
ingratiate himself with his host by such a display of ill-breeding
and impiety, but the day was past for such conduct finding a patron
and a reward!

An apprehension that as soon as the people were fully emanci-
pated they would be tempted to follow the example of those free
persons who indulged freely in the use of distilled liquors, induced
the writer to form a temperance society. On the 19th of July, he
preached on the subject of temperance from | Pet. v. 8. The so-
ciety steward, chapel steward, eighteen leaders, and ninety-one of
the members immediately signed a pledge “ to abstain from the use
of spirituous liquors, except when necessary as medicine.” Several
of the missionaries entered into the movement. Sermons were
preached, public meetings held at Grateful Hill, Mount Charles,
Stoney Hill, Scott’s Hall, and Kingston. By the use of the public
press, the distribution of tracts, and personal conversation, great
numbers were led to take an interest in it; so that, by the middle of
October, between six and seven hundred were enrolled as members.
164 GRATEFUL HILL.

At Scott’s Hall, Mr. Livingstone, the superintendent of the Ma-
roons, took the chair at the public meeting, and became a member :
about twenty joined at the same time. On the 30th of November,
Stoney Hill Chapel was crowded, and there was a large supply of
speakers, among whom were Messrs. Whitehorne, Edney, Curtis,
and Harding. A few white gentlemen, and a half-intoxicated copper-
smith, a Welshman, endeavoured to disturb the meeting, but after
a little noise and confusion, they were fairly driven out by the
cutting reproofs of one of thespeakers. The coppersmith declared
that his craft was in danger by such meetings, as he made his living
by fitting up distillery apparatus on the estates: on which one re-
marked, that he might turn his hand to the manufacture of copper
tea-kettles, and cooking utensils.

During the sittings of the Annual District Meeting, a large public
meeting was held in Wesley Chapel, Kingston, at which several
persons of various denominations were present: clergymen, Baptists
and Wesleyans, united with several respectable laymen, in forward-
ing the object of the association. Fifteen of the Wesleyan mis-
sionaries became members, whose object was to lend the influence
of their example, in order to promote the welfare of the people. A
vast amount of good was done. One case may be mentioned :—
About a year after the writer had left St. Thomas-in-the-Vale, he
paid a visit to his old flock, preached, and administered the sacra-
ment. One of the communicants asked him “if Massa had forgotten
him.” He looked again and again, but could not recognize him,
till his name, and something of his former history was related, which
brought to his recollection that he was no other than T.M. About
two years previously, as the owner of this man was superintending
some negroes at work, he pointed to one of them, and said: “ Do
you see that man? he is one of the greatest liars, thieves, and
drunkards I ever met with—he is almost naked, his ground neglected,
his house in ruins—I can make nothing of him.” But now he was
respectably attired in a suit of broadcloth, and his account of him-
self was as follows—‘“ Massa no member, how him preach about
rum, an bid we no fu drink it? Fra dat time, me Massa, me no
touch it ; an now me hab good house fu lib in, good ground, good
clothes pon me back, maccarroni in me pocket, and what is far mo,
me Massa, me member in society, an feel quite tankful and happy,
an so all come fra dat sarmon Massa preach pon rum drinking. Me
bless me Saviour, Jesus, fu all him goodness to sichin a poo sinner
as me.”

When the usual estate allowance of rum was offered at Christmas
to the negroes, many of them begged sugar in place of it. The
holidays passed off in great quietness—no sign of intemperance was
to be seen around.

The general state of the Society was greatly improved. The
congregations continued large. Many were brought under deep
concern about their salvation; the members were quickened, and
GRATEFUL HILL. 165

123 added to their number during the year, while a deepened con-
cern for the salvation of the heathen was manifested by them; so
that, on leaving this mission at the end of 1835, the writer had great
reason to bless the Lord that he had not been left without fruits of
his labour.

The missionary alluded to in the account of Kingston circuit as
having excited a spirit of disaffection, and drawn away many disciples
after him, succeeded the writer at Grateful Hill; and here it was
that le devised his scheme of agitation, and began to put it into exe-
cution. Toa lamentable extent he succeeded in poisoning the minds
of the people against their ministers, and all who continued attached
to them. The mischief done was painfully exhibited in divided
families; in the estrangement of long attached and affectionate
friends; a spirit of jealousy, evil surmising, backbiting, and censo-
tiousness, among those who used to walk together to the house of
God in company. A thatched house was erected within a stone’s
throw of the chapel, in which the alienated congregated to listen to
the instructions of such preachers as their owu number could supply.
The havoe made among the flock by these reformers, plainly showed
that the tendency of their movements was not to peace, purity, unity,
love, the glory of God, or the good of man. On visiting Grateful
Hill, after the evil had been done, the writer found those who re-
mained firm in an improved state of spirituality and devotedness to
God, having been driven to the throne of grace for succour during
this sifting season ; but, alas, their numbers were greatly reduced.
However, this storm passed over. Many who had been carried
away by partial, exaggerated, or false statements, soft words, and
fair promises, gradually recovered their feet, and were restored to
the privileges they had been led to throw away under feelings of
irritation ; while those who had gone too far were entirely severed
from their original Christian fellowship, and failed to realize the
hopes they fondly cherished of placing themselves in improved
circumstances, either temporal or spiritual, by their schemes of
church reform.

The reaction was rapid and extensive. When the writer visited
the station only a few days before he left the island, he found Mr.
Inglis labouring successfully, though, like all his brethren, over-
burdened with work. The chapel had been considerably enlarged
and improved, from what it was a few years before. A day-school
had been added, which appears at the left of the view of the pre-
mises, accompanying this account. At that time Stoney Hill was
attached to it, from want of missionaries. There were three chapels,
two day-schools with teachers, eight hundred and sixty-six mem-
bers, two hundred and nineteen scholars, and nearly fifteen hundred
regular hearers in the circuit.
CHAPTER XIL.

STONEY HILL.

Situation of the station—Commencement of the mission by Mr. Young, and rapid
progress—A chapel opened at Redhills—Mr. Grimsdall—Mr. W. Wood—Mr,
Bleby— Effects of persecution on the mission—Mr. Edney's prosperity—A
new chapel built at Redhills—Death of Mr. Greenwood—Mr. Sergeant.

Locatiry, rather than the period when the mission was commenced
at Stoney Hill, requires that it should be noticed after Grateful
Hill Station, as it lies about mid-way between it and Kingston,
and has alternately been the head of a circuit, or attached as a
minor station to the former or latter circuit, just as the increase or
diminution of the number of missionaries in the island has altered
its relation by regulating the amount of pastoral attention the
brethren have been able to bestow upon it. It has been kept in a
fluctuating state, not only from the frequent change or total want
of missionaries, but also being considered a cool and healthy station,
sickly brethren have been removed to it in hope of deriving benefit
from the salubrity of the air. From its contiguity to Kingston,
missionaries about to return to England have sometimes been sent
to it to wait till a homeward-bound ship could be found for them.
And to add to its disadvantages as a station, the influence of the
military has usually been of a deleterious character; and, if occa-
sionally some soldiers have become members of the church, they
have soon been removed, and their place supplied by those whose
habits of sensuality and dissipation have spread moral pestilence
through the neighbourhood. The scenery around is mountainous,
except towards the south, where the plain of Liguanea, with King-
ston, Fort-Augusta, Port Royal, and the Palisadoes in the distance,
meet the eye, beyond which the Carribean Sea is seen stretching
away to meet the southern horizon. The objects which give variety
to the plain appear extremely small from the summit of the hill.
Noble first-class merchant ships and vessels of war, which glide
along under the gentle pressure of the trade wind, seem as diminu-
tive as fishing-boats to the eye of the spectator. Towards the
west, north, and east, there are ranges of lofty mountains, which, to
a considerable extent, are under cultivation. Coffee, pimento, yams,
cocoas, plantains, ginger, arrow-root, ochros, and other productions of
the mountain district, abound in these lofty and lovely regions; while
the valley, through which Wag-Water River flows northward, as
far as Anotto Bay, is adorned with sugar estates.

The main road over the hill, till within the last few years, was
steep and rough, passing through the gorge of the mountain, near
 

CHAPEL AND HOUSE.

HELL

STONES
STONEY HILL. 167

the Barracks ; but a new one has been opened a little to the east,
taking the base of the hill, by which the dangers of the old one are
avoided. The removal of the military to Newcastle Barracks,
situated on the ridge of a lofty mountain to the east, has reduced
Stoney Hill to a place of no consideration. The population on the
Hill itself is small, but, within a circuit of a few miles, it amounts to
several thousands. The land-wind, which blows here during the
night, is extremely cold; of which all who have been accustomed
to the sultry air of the plain are very sensible.

The mission was commenced in this locality by Mr. Young to-
wards the close of 1823, an account of which he communicated to the
Committee, and from which the following is an extract:—‘“In a
former communication I informed you that we had purchased a
house at Stoney Hill, and were about fitting it up as a chapel.
Since that period it has undergone the alterations necessary to re-
ceive a congregation, and will now accommodate very comfortably
about 360 persons, exclusive of the missionary’s apartments.

“The ill state of Mrs. Young’s health having required a change of
air, and the climate of Stoney Hill being famed for its salubrity, we
were strongly advised by her medical attendant to remove thitherfora
few weeks, which was accordingly done, and, I am happy to say,
has had a very salutary effect. During our stay here I preached
twice every Sabbath, and on the week-evenings expounded, in a
very familiar way, some portions of the holy Scripture to the people
on the Hill, and a few more that attended from the missionary
settlements ; which labour, I have reason to believe, was not alto-
gether in vain, as a few were led to see the evil of their ways, and
to manifest a deep concern for their salvation. I also opened a
subscription in the neighbourhood to assist in defraying the expenses
incurred by the purchase and fitting up of the chapel; and you will
be gratified to hear that it met with the most liberal encouragement
from all classes the community—for, with the exception of a soli-
tary case, my applications were never refused, but succeeded far
beyond my most sanguine expectations.

“‘ From what I know of Stoney Hill, [ am fully convinced that it is
a very desirable mission station, and ought, if possible, to have the
entire labour of a missionary ; indeed, the appointment of one seems
urged by a number of very powerful considerations, which, in my
humble opinion, merit the early attention of the Committee. Ist,
It is in the centre of a large population; there being, as appears
from the parish list of “Givings-in,” upwards of three thousand
slaves within four miles of the chapel, besides many peopie of free
condition, settled in the immediate neighbourhood, who are at too
great a distance from the parish church to be much benefited by it,
and therefore have need of a missionary that would visit them from
house to house, to instruct them in the things of God, of which
many of them are lamentably ignorant, but willing to be taught.
2d, The leading persons in the vicinity are our decided friends.
168 STONEY HILL.

Whilst we were stopping there I took the liberty of calling upon
most of the proprietors and managers of the surrounding estates ;
all of whom expressed their cordial approbation of our new estab-
lishinent, and their willingness to facilitate its object to the utmost
of their power. They have on different estates, to my own certain
knowledge, given the negroes strict orders to attend the chapel, and
encouraged them by their own example. Surely this field is already
white unto the harvest, into which a labourer should be sent with all
possible despatch.”

Having given this pleasing picture of Stoney Hill as a desirable
locality for the labours ofa resident missionary, the Committee sent
forth more labourers early in the following year, which enabled the
brethren at the district meeting to appoint Mr. Young himself to
this new field of labour, instead of sending him to Port Royal, to
which he had heen appointed by the Conference. However, as the
missionaries did not arrive till the month of April, Mr. Young con-
tinued to assist Mr. Shipman in Kingston till their arrival, when he
took an affectionate leave of the people among whom he had la-
boured pleasantly and successfully for upwards of three years. On
Sabbath, May 2d, 1824, he preached to about 300 persons, and on
the Thursday evening following to about 200, forty of whom were
soldiers; and rarely had he enjoyed so happy a season in preaching
the glorious Gospel. On Saturday he held the first Leaders’ Meet-
ing ; appointed a society steward and another leader, a white person
who was a proprietor in the neighbourhood; and also admitted some
persons on trial for membership. He now extended his labours
into the openings which presented themselves around. Having
waited upon Mr. Falconer, of Mount Friendship, the proprietor of
a coffee plantation having forty-five slaves attached to it, he was
kindly received, and made arrangements for preaching to the
people once a fortnight. Mr. Young next turned his attention to
Mount Cressey, the estate of Mr. John Fox, where there was
ninety-six slaves. He remarked :—“ Having some time ago en-
gaged with John Fox, Esq. of Mount Cressey, to instruct
his negroes, I took a ride there this morning, which is a distance
of nine miles, I spent the day with Mr. F. In the evening I
preached to his people in the hot-house (or hospital) from “ Why
will ye die?” The word seemed to be with power; for, after ser-.
vice, sixteen of the people requested to be allowed to join the So-
ciety, to whom I explained our rules, formed them into a class,
and put their names down as candidates for membership.” To the
military he directed special attention. Several soldiers of the 33rd
Regiment, who removed to Falmouth about the time Mr. Y. arrived
at Stoney Hill, were zealous and devoted members of the Society ;
and now several of the 77th Regiment, who succeeded them, began
to attend the means of grace, and show signs of being graciously
impressed. Having visited the military hospital, spoken to the
patients, prayed with them, and distributed tracts, several desired to
STONEY HLL. 169

be admitted on trial as members. Early in June he collected them
together, explained the rules, and formed them into a class.

Several of the proprietors and managers of the neighbouring
estates began to visit the chapel, and to show a friendly temper.
Finding that the ground about the chapel was greatly in need of
being put in order, they generously sent eighteen negroes for a
whole week to clear, fence, and plant it with guinea grass, so that
the station was greatly improved in appearance. Towards the end
of June, there were about two hundred and sixty-three in the
Society, including a considerable number of candidates newly
received on trial, and seven leaders, who were much alive to their
personal piety, and the welfare of the souls committed to their care.

The first Love Feast was held on the 28th of June, which was
attended by the greater number of the members. On this occasion
Mr. Young observed—“ Many of them spoke of the work of grace
in their souls with so much clearness as proved them to be taught
of God, and a few stood forth as witnesses of his power to save.
I hardly need add that I ranked this day with the happiest of my
life.” Again, he wrote,—‘I am now almost daily applied to by
some one for instruction in the way of salvation. ‘This morning, a
poor woman came nine miles to inquire what she must do to be
saved. I endeavoured to give her suitable advice, and prayed with
her; after which she departed, with many tears, leaving me confi-
dent that she was not far from the kingdom of heaven, for a more
hopeful and sincere penitent Ithink I never beheld.” About a
week after this he adds—* This week I have been very busily
engaged in putting up pews in the chapel, seven of which are
already taken by white people, chiefly planters. This is rather a
novel thing in Jamaica, and indicates a decrease of prejudice in this
parish against missionary labours.”

These pleasing indications of prosperity were multiplied in the
course of the year. There was a gradual increase of candidates for
church membership, along with increasing congregations. He re-
marked in September,—“ The spirit of hearing in this place is so
much increased that the chapel will no longer contain the people
that attend. To-day, every aisle was filled, and upwards of a hun-
dred negroes stood in the chapel yard, under a burning sun, during
the whole service. Many white people were present, and some, not
being able to get within the doors, were necessitated to go away.”

On Friday, the 8th of October, the first quarterly meeting was
held, which excited great interest among the leaders, It was found
that seventy members had been added to the Society during the
quarter, besides thirty who formerly belonged to Kingston Society,
making a total of three hundred and sixty-six members. The evi-
dences of genuine piety given by many of the older members
afforded ground of much encouragement to continue to take care
for their eternal welfare. While Mr. Young was thus successfully
pursuing his missionary work at this station, Mr. Jenkins was

x
170 STONEY HILL.

devoting himself with similar pious zeal to the advancement of the
work of the Lord at Grateful Hill, where the growing congregations
called for an enlargement of the chapel; and the increase of the
members proved that the spirit of God was accompanying the minis-
tration of the word of life.

Though the number added to the church in 1825 did not equal
that of the preceding year, it was pleasing that many gave evidence
of growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ ; and, notwithstanding a strict exercise of church discipline,
only a few were found unworthy to be continued as members. The
incidental evidences of success which Mr. Y. met with gave him
much encouragment. On his way home from Kingston one even-
ing, he observed,—*‘ It was quite dark before I reached the summit
of Stoney Hill, where 1 halted for a few minutes to observe an
electric clond. My attention was suddenly arrested by the voice of
melodious singing to the right, and, on listening, I heard the tune
was one which had been taught in our chapel. I now traced the
sound to a hut in the cleft of the rock, which had been built by our
members of his Majesty’s 77th Regiment for religious purposes, and
in which they were now met to worship God. Whilst many pleas-
ing thoughts crowded upon me, I heard singing in an opposite direc-
tion. The tune I recognized; it was sung by a company of
negroes met together to minister consolation to a poor sick man.
The voice of prayer succeeded that of praise.”

Such sounds have often cheered the writer, especially when tra-
velling late in the evening, or before sunrise in the morning.
Either after the labours of the day, or befure going forth to begin
them, the negroes have given such proofs of the influence of reli-
gion upon their hearts as are by no means common among the
generality of professors in our highly favoured and enlightened
land, indicating that they found ‘“ Wisdom’s ways to be ways of
pleasantness.”

An encouraging opening having been effected at Redhills, a lofty
locality about ten miles west of Stoney Hill, Mr. Young opened a
small chapel on the 21st of August, 1825. It had previously been
a house, but having undergone alterations and improvements, it ad-
mitted a congregation of about 200, besides having a small apart-
ment for the missionary. The walls were wattled and plastered,
the roof thatched, and the floor terraced. Though the day was
wet, the congregation was so large that only a part could be accom-
modated inside the chapel, among whom was several proprietors,
who seemed very friendly.

At this time the yellow fever prevailed throughout the island,
and swept off great numbers, in some instances even whole families.
Mr. Young’s family was the only one that escaped at Stoney Hill,
where, in a few months, 150 soldiers were cut off in the garrison ;
and at Manchester, which was generally considered the healthiest
part of the island, the mortality was great. Messrs. Hague and
STONEY HILL, 171

Berger, Moravian missionaries, with their wives, were among the
victims ; and, on the north side of the island, Mr. Phillips, Baptist
missionary, and his wife, were taken away, leaving an infant only
a few months old.

In October the first missionary meeting held at Stoney Hill ex-
cited considerable interest among the people, who contributed freely,
according to their ability, to send forth more labourers into the
spiritual harvest field.

The success which cheered Mr. Young was shared in by his suc-
cessor, Mr. Grimsdall, who, in giving an account of it, remarked,
early in January, 1827 :—‘* We have reason to be thankful that the
cause of the Redeemer is prospering in this circuit; for, since I
last wrote, we have received ninety-seven on trial, making, with
those taken on trial in June, 132. 1 cannot say that all those were
deeply awakened, but I have confidence that all of them are desirous
of fleeing from the wrath to come.” On one property near Red-
hills, several young persons became hopeful candidates for church
membership, among whom was the leading dancer on the estate,
who now gave evidence ofa gracious change of heart by turning from
all his former ways of folly and sin. Mr. G. also mentioned the
hopeful death of a white man on the 3d of January. He wrote :—
“I was much surprised by Mr. Harris, our Society steward for
Redhills, informing me of the death of a person who was hearing
me the preceding Lord’s-day. He had received a liberal education,
and came to this country many years ago to survey some land for
a proprietor, since which he had held the place of overseer on
several properties in this island; and, as he informed me. at one
time under our friend, Mr. Drew; but of late he had resided on a
small piece of land in the neighbourhood of Redhills. He was read
in Latin and Greek, and was very conversable ; but had, unhappily,
imbibed deistical sentiments, and was opposed to Christianity. By
repeated persuasions he was led to our chapel in that part, and
there he was not only convinced of the truth of the Gospel, but the
Holy Spirit convinced him that he was a sinner. His conduct
became changed, and he promised fair to be a bright Christian, but
the Lord has removed him hence. He complained to me on the
Lord’s-day that he had an unusual pain in his throat, and on Mon-
day evening he died of a locked-jaw.”

Mr. T. C. Morgan. about six months after this, gave a similar
testimony to the progress of the good work throughout this circuit.
“He expressed his belief that in no part of the island had God
wrought as great a work in so short a space of time as at Stoney
Hill. He observed :—‘‘ Here are many who, three years ago, were
unconscious that Jesus came into the world to save them, but can
now exult in Him as their Saviour and friend, while they walk in
all His ordinances blameless. Thank God, the blessed work con-
tinues to prosper; for, since the District Meeting, we have added
upwards of forty to the Socicty, while the expulsions have been
172 STONEY HILL.

few.” One effect of the missionary meeting, which had been held
at Redhills, was that a few of the poor members dedicated every
thirtieth plaintain-tree to the missionary cause, the proceeds of
which were to go to the funds of the Society. About thirty of
these consecrated trees were at this time flourishing in different
parts of the circuit.

Mr. Morgan mentioned the following interesting circumstance in
connection with this station :—‘ A native of Yorkshire, who re-
members Mr. Wesley preaching in his father’s house, and who
has Jately joined our Society, related to me the following account
of his recent religious impressions:—A short time since, he was
reduced from a state of affluence to one of great distress ; so much
so that in the time of sickness he was destitute of home, money,
medicine, food, and friends. Just in this time of need, an old negro
man of our Society offered his assistance; which being gladly
accepted, this “neighbour to him” bought medicine, and adminis-
tered it himself; furnished nourishment ; sat up three nights; and,
in short, acted the part of doctor, nurse, and host! Through the
blessing of Goa, the old negro’s efforts were rendered successful in
the recovery of the sick man ; who inquired what expense, &c., he
had been at, and promised remuneration as soon as possible. The
generous aged Christian replied, ‘“ Massa, you no owe me nothing, me
owe you much still.” “ How do you make that out?” said the
restored man. ‘* Why, massa, me neber able to pay you; because
you taught me to read de Word of God.” This reply so affected
the man that he resolved from that time to seek the Lord.

The report at tne close of the year indicated the growing know-
ledge, faith, purity, and consistency of the members, who now
amounted to 386; and at Redhills the people were mentioned as
diligent in their attention to the means of grace, and earnest in
seeking the salvation of their souls; but the want of a suitable
place of worship was much felt, as the members alone could more
than fill the humble thatched building in which they had from the
beginning met to worship God. In the circuit there were 726 mem-
bers, and though the want of teachers and other hindrances pre-
vented the successful operation of Sunday-schools, there was one at
each place.

The circumstances of the district, through the death of several
missionaries, deprived Stoney Hill of a resident missionary in 1828.
The brethren in Kingston and Grateful Hill gave as much attention
to it as the state of their health and their more immediate pastoral
work enabled them, but the evil effects of the absence of a shepherd
was seen in a decline of spiritual life among the people. At Red-
hills matters were more cheering ; the labours of the local preachers
were owned of God in the conversion of sinners and building up of
believers in their most holy faith. In the circuit, at the end of the
year, there was a decrease of ninety-six members. The year fol-
lowing Mr. Wood was sent to them, and the congregation gradually
STONEY HILL. 173

increased, and several were awakened to a sense of their sin and
danger. The Sabbath-school also was revived. At Redhills the
school was countenanced by several of the proprietors in the vicinity
and carried on with very considerable success. Of Mr. Lee, a
black man, Mr. Wood observed, “ Brother Lee, who is of the
longest standing in this place, has lived to see prejudice fall ; for
many who were once his enemies have been constrained from his
steady perseverance and good conversation, to acknowledge him a
man of principle and a man of God.” This very worthy man was
long justly esteemed by the missionaries as an upright, pious, zeal-
ous, useful, and steady member of the Society, whose services con-
tributed greatly to promote the prosperity of the station. Efforts
were made at this time towards the erection of a new chapel, which
was greatly needed.

Toward the end of the year, Mr. Wood observed that the people
manifested great eagerness to attend the means of grace; that the
congregations were increasing, and that a divine and powerful influ-
ence generally attended the preaching, producing visible and salu-
tary effects. He extended his labours to some new places, in men-
tioning this, he remarked—“ Mr. S. a member of our Society, who
resides on a property ten or twelve miles from Stoney Hill, invited
me to come over and preach to the negroes, saying that the attor-
ney for the property would sanction my coming. From this [ was
led to make further enquiry, and waited on Mr. B. for permission,
which he politely gave; and, accordingly, on the 31st of July, I
made the adventure without a guide, and arrived at Mount Pelier
about mid-day. The scenery, as I passed along, was exceedingly
romantic, the road being down the river bank, and the hills on
either hand rearing their lofty heads, so that they are frequently
wrapped in the clouds; while the stream below rolled with velocity,
and its violent bickerings over the mossy stones that intercepted
its course made a perpetual murmur, which added solemnity to
grandeur. In the evening we had a congregation of fifty adults,
and upwards of twenty children, to whom I preached from 1 Tim.
i. 15. They paid great attention, and seemed pleased when [ in-
formed them of my intention of coming again the next week.
Being anxious to see the population of the neighbourhood, and to
ascertain the prospect of a congregation, I tock an excursion the
following morning, accompanied by Mr. S., and called at Mount
Zion, the property of a Mr. Thame. It is an elevated spot; to ar-
rive at which we had to ascend a way the most rugged and difficult
I ever met with. Riding was impracticable; I therefore took off
my coat, giving it to a negro who led my horse, and proceeded on
foot till I had literally gained the summit of Mount Zion. Mr.
Thame received me with every mark of courtesy, and introduced |
me to Mrs. T. and family, who expressed their joy unanimously at
my visit. They also entered spiritedly into the objects of my
visit, informing me that they were once members of our Society at
74 STONEY HILL.

Grateful Hill; but their purchasing and removing to this place had
torn them from the Society, and rendered them destitute of the
means of grace. Mr. T. further stated, that if I would visit them,
and should succeed in planting a mission, he would give the Society
six or eight acres of land, for the purpose of building a chapel.”
‘With wonder and joy I now gazed around me; the prospect being
extensive in every direction, and the spot on which I stood highly
salubrious. But the most enchanting was its eligibleness for the
preaching of the Gospel. It is at a distance of some miles from
any place of worship, none appearing nearer than Stoney Hill. It
is surrounded by a very considerable population of slaves and free
settlers. On one property there are nearly two hundred slaves,
many of whom are ignorant of God, and have not heard of a Sa-
viour.” Though Mr. W. continued for sometime to visit this pro-
mising place once a fortnight, it was impossible to continue to
attend to it from want of missionaries. About four years after this
the writer visited it, and found the poor people as sheep left in the
wilderness to pine away and perish from want of pastoral attention.

The health of Mr. Curtis failing in 1832, compelled him to retire
to Kingston in order to obtain efficient medical advice and treat-
ment, and Mr. Bleby was removed from Montego Bay in the month
of August to supply his place at Stoney Hill Afraid to travel by
land with his family, he proceeded by sea, and barely escaped a
watery grave when within a few miles of Port Royal, from the little
vessel being overtaken by a hurricane. The change of locality was
immediately felt. He observed :—‘ Since our removal hither we
have experienced comparative tranquillity, which is the more grate-
ful by reason of the perpetual anxiety and alarm to which we have
been subject on the north side from the beginning of the year.”
With regard to the circuit, he wrote :-—“ No acts of outrage have
been committed; but, owing to the threats held out by some of the
depraved book-keepers and overseers in the neighbourhood, some
of our free members nightly guard the chapel; and the coloured
people generally, whether connected with us or not, are determined
to protect it from violence. The congregations are small, and the
classes but indifferently attended, owing to the nefarious means
adopted to prevent the slaves from coming to the house of God.
We hope, however, soon to hail the approach of that day when the
hindrance shall be removed, and the persecuted sons and daughters
of Africa shall be at liberty to worship God according to the dictates
of their own conscience, none daring to make them afraid.”

As the ferment excited by the insurrection subsided, the people
gradually returned to the services, and the circuit began to improve.
On the removal of Mr. Bleby, Mr. Murray was appointed to succeed
him, till he could make arrangements for returning to England with
his family in 1834, when Mr. Atkins took his place and diligently
laboured to advance the mission.

Mr. Edney having returned from Honduras Bay in 1835, en-
STONEY HILL 175
feebled in health, was appointed to this station, when he and Mrs.
E. were soon restored by the change. The prosperity which ap-
peared throughout the district at this time was shared by Stoney
Hill circuit. The congregations greatly increased; many were
added to the Society, and a spirit of liberality possessed the people,
which led them to do beyond what they either did or could do
previously towards supporting the temporal expenses of the stations.

A new chapel was erected at Redhills, fifty feet by thirty, with a
room ten feet square for the accommodation of the missionary, when
remaining through the night at the station. The appearance of
this chapel was very imposing and respectable for the locality. The
whole of the expense was borne by the people, except forty pounds,
which the committee granted. Mr. E, felt greatly encouraged by
the state of the Society, both at this place and at Stoney Hill, and
also with the promising aspect of the Sabbath-schools.

Mr. Simmons followed Mr. Edney, and continued in the circuit
till the arrival of Mr. Greenwood from Honduras in 1840. This
excellent missionary was appointed to Jamaica in 1829, and shared
in all the toils of the mission, and endured its trials, even unto bonds,
as will be seen in the account of the north side persecutions of
1832. He was seized with fever, and cut off on the 7th of January,
184], only a few days before the brethren assembled at their
annual District Meeting. He was distinguished for simplicity of
character ; modesty, piety, kindness, and devotedness to his work as
a Christian missionary, were the leading features which greatly
endeared him to his brethren This was a severe stroke to this
circuit, as his removal deprived it of a resident missionary for two
years, and Stoney Hill was, therefore, attached to Grateful Hill
during that period, and Redhills to Kingston. The people pined
under the want of that pastoral care to which they had been accus-
tomed.

In 1843, Mr. Sergeant was appointed, and, under his ministry, a
gradual and visible improvement took place in the congregations
and among the members of the society. It was at this time, the
writer paid his last visit to this neighbourhood; on which occasion,
he could not avoid being impressed with the recollection of many
pleasant hours which he had passed with his brethren when resting
on his way between Kingston and Grateful Hill, during the period
of his missionary labours at the latter place.
CHAPTER XIII.

FALMOUTH.

Situation and appearance of Falmouth—Dr. Coke preaches at Martha Brae—Mr.,
Shipman begins the mission—Mr. Binning—Mr. Ratelitfe forms a Society—
Successful efforts of Mr. Box—The insurrection—Mr. Box imprisoned—The
people persecuted—Robert Lamont and John Baillie—The Chapel destroyed
by ‘‘ Colonial Unionists’’"—Mr. Bleby assaulted—Meeting of the ‘ Colonial
Unionists "—Success of Mr. Walters—The Chapel re-erected—The mission
advances—Duncans—A prosperous day-school—A Chapel erected—A ffecting
death of a negro child.

Tue town of Falmouth is situated near the mouth of Martha Brae
River, which, rising in the mountains, pursues a winding course of
thirty miles from the centre to the northern boundary of the parish
of Trelawney. The original town, named from the Brae, about
two miles inland, has, for many years, resigned its pretensions to
Falmouth, both as to convenience for the shipping and general
business—the latter excelling all the towns on the north side, ex-
cept Montego Bay, while its general aspect is more English, or
rather American, than that of any other in the island. The ground
on which it is built was originally a mere swamp, scarcely elevated
above high water mark, while a lagoon of several miles in extent
hems it in on the east, south, and west, covered with mangrove, sea
grapes, and other semi-marine trees and vegetation, affording shelter
and nourishment for myriads of crabs, mosquitoes, and sand-flies ;
while its sends forth a most offensive miasm, which is felt strongly
during the night, when the land wind carries it over the town to-
wards the sea. While strangers consider it very unhealthy, the
inhabitants are, happily for themselves, of a contrary opinion. The
streets are laid out at right angles, and most of the houses being
kept well painted with stone or lead colour, to preserve them, look
remarkably neat and clean. In the centre of the town there is a
large reservoir of water, which is supplied through pipes reaching
the riverat Martha Brae, where there is a hydraulic engine to keep
up the supply when the river is too low to work the water wheel.
The most prominent building is the Court House, which is of stone,
having a portico supported by four massive pillars; a broad flight
of steps, branching off right and left, leading to two large halls,
into which the upper part of the edifice is divided. The parish
church has nothing rewarkable about it. The Scotch Presbyterian
church is a plain brick building. The Baptist chapel, erected by
Mr. Knibb, is substantial, commodious, and respectable. The
Wesleyan chapel—a sketch of which is here given—is a plain
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FALMOUTH, 1i7

building, calculated to accommodate about 1600 persons when well
filled.

The harbour affords safe shelter for ships, being defended on the
north by a coral reef, running parallel with the shore, anda fort on
the point, forming the extreme north of the town, the guns of
which fully command the entrance of the harbour; however, the
progress of the coral formation threatens soon to close up the mouth
entirely, already first-class ships have not room to enter, and are
compelled to go to Montego Bay. A few years ago, a large amount
of British and American shipping frequented it, and a considerable
trade was carried on. The population is large, and the effects
of religion among the people are very visible, especially on the
Sabbath.

The first Methodist missionary who proclaimed the Gospel here
was the illustrious Dr. Coke, who having left Montego Bay ia
April, 1793, in order to proceed to Kingston, rested at Martha
Brae, where he consented to stay and preach in the evening, at the
earnest solicitation of a captain of a London merchant ship, and
several gentlemen.

In the evening, the Doctor had a large audience in the Assembly
Room, whom headdressed on the vital doctrine contained in John iii.
3. For about twenty minutes all listened with deep silence, when the
captain, who was so urgent for a sermon, exclaimed, “ Sir, if what
you say be true, we must all be damned: I do not like your doc-
trine at all.” In an instant he was joined by all the rakes present.
Still the dauntless missionary elevated his voice above the impious
storm, and continued his discourse twenty minutes longer, in the
midst of confusion and noise, cheered by the devout attention ‘of
some ladies, whose minds were too deeply riveted to be diverted by
the senseless conduct of the profane scoffers around them. One
lady addressed one of them thus—“ Till this time I always consi-
dered you as a decent, virtuous young man, but now I find you are
a vagabond, and I forbid you ever to darken my door again.”

This usage drew several friends around the Doctor, and among
them two pious captains from Liverpool, one of whom was ridiculed
in the Island as the preaching captain, and another from Hull, who
travelled with the Doctor, and offered him.a free passage in his ship
to England, but want of time kept him from availing himself of this
friendly offer.

To annoy the Doctor, the rakes took away his horse, which was
restored in order to appease a young man, who took in hand to de-
fend him against the world. This unhappy man placed himself
beside the Doctor in the room of the tavern, and “ began to swear,
and bawl, and roar, till the whole family were in consternation.”
The horse was immediately brought. On which the Doctor says,
“he took me aside, and, staggering, (for he was very drunk) ad-
dressed me as follows :—‘ Sir, I was once a Methodist, of the Coun-
tess of Huntingdon’s connection in Bristol, and had the honour of

Y
178 FALMOUTH,

being sometime a steward of that Society. I have now in my
custody several letters written with the Countess’ own hand: these
I have shown to many in the island; but, O, Sir, they only laugh
at them, and at everything that is sacred. And though, Sir, I find
myself obliged to live and converse as the rest do, or I should
become an object of universal contempt and ridicule, yet (says he,
beating his breast) Ihave it here, Sir; I have it here: I have
faith, Sir; I have faith.’ Poor young man, thought [, if the great
woman, whom you so justly commend, and whose memory will be
ever reverenced by the truly pious, were to hear you, she would
say, as that eminent minister of God, Mr. G. Whitefield, observed
on a similar occasion, ‘I clearly see you are one of my converts,
and not a convert of Jesus Christ. ”

The Doctor having slept on board one of the ships lying in the
harbour, rose and pursued his way in the morning. This was the
first message of salvation to this place by a Methodist missionary,
and a quarter of a century rolled away ere another appeared to bear
witness to the same truths.

In 1816, the missionaries remarked to the Committee—“ At Fal-
mouth, we have similar prospects (as at Montego Bay) and are
strenuously urged by a respectable gentleman, a member of our
Society, to begin the work ; and, moreover, he begged to add, that
Mr. Shipman has received direct encouragement from one of the
first political characters in the island to the same effect.”

Though Falmouth was added to the list of stations this year, it
was not till 1818 that Mr. Shipman was able to take active steps in
commencing the mission in earnest. In September, he reported to
the Committee, that one Serjeant Waugh, of the Royal Artillery,
had sent him four dubloons, two of which were to be appropriated
to the erection of a chapel in Falmouth, one for the Bible Society,
and another for general purposes. Early in 1819, Mr. Binning suc.
ceeded Mr. Shipman, whose labours produced a most favourable im-
pression on the public mind, though little spiritual fruit appeared.
Mr. B. stated—“ We have met with every encouragement. The Hon.
Mr. Stewart, who is the Custos, has shown us very marked appro-
bation,” which rendered it an easy matter to obtain a licence at the
Quarter Sessions.

There were also two stations in the country, where the small
congregations were very attentive. It was remarkable that most. of
the hearers were white people, who approved of the doctrines
preached, and treated the missionaries politely. Though greatly
depressed by the want of success in saving souls, they trusted that
they were instruments of preparing the way for better days.

The claims of other parts of the island would not admit of con-
tinuing a missionary here, which led Mr. Ratcliffe, in 1823, to
lament that Trelawney, with a slave population of 27,000, besides
3000 free people, and its town the third in commercial importance
in the island, should be left without a missionary. In November,
FALMOUTIL. 179

he spent a week in Falmouth, and preached on Sunday and Tuesday
evenings, in the Court-House, to large congregations, which gave
him encouragement to return as the resident missionary at the fol-
lowing District Meeting, when it again appeared in the minutes as
a station.

On Sabbath, May 9th, 1824, Mr. Ratcliffe opened a small chapel,
which he succeeded in getting up. The sensation produced led
some to resolve on closing their shops on the Lord’s-day—about
twelve begged to be received as candidates for church membership,
while some viewed slave instruction as a dangerous innovation. As
to the difficulty of bringing slaves to a just sense of religion, he
could not see it after seven years’ experience and observation. He
felt encouraged by witnessing the benign influence of the Gospel
‘on the inmates of a negro cabin.”

On the 30th, he united William Earle and Judith James in mar-
riage, in presence of the congregation, which excited intense inte-
rest and curiosity, as they were slaves: intimating the lamentable
licentiousness prevalent in the island, marriage being viewed as a
novelty.

In about a week after, he married two couples, baptized five,
and divided the candidates into four classes, besides one of seven-
teen members in the 33rd Regiment, all pious men, at the close of
the following year. Though the Society continued sinall the mem-
bers were consistent ; the congregations large ; and many were under
deep anxiety about salvation, and hungering and thirsting for the
word of life. Thenumber reported was sixty-six members, thirty-four
of whom had been added in the course of the year. Messrs. Crofts
and Morgan expressed themselves as greatly encouraged with the
state and prospects of the mission in 1826.

Though the field was white unto the harvest, and the people
flocking to hear the word with earnest desire, yet they were de-
prived ofa resident missionary for a considerable time, till Mr. Box
was appointed in 1830, whose active zeal was crowned with great
success ; his labours were extensive, and the numbers and spiritual
state of the members rapidly improved. At the end of the year he
observed :—“ Our Society is improving in numbers and stability,
while the largeness of our congregations warrant the pleasing hope
that soon it will be necessary to enlarge our borders. The whole
of the pews are let, with the exception of a few single sittings,
while £75 has been taken for them. By extraordinary efforts our
people haveraised £100 currency towards liquidating the chapel debt.”

A burial ground having been purchased, Mr. Box addressed a
large concourse of people who witnessed the first interment in it of
a pious slave member, on October 31st, 1830. A few weeks after
this he was called to dedicate a dwelling to God, built by a Mrs,
Hindmarsh, a respectable female member, at Salt Marsh—
about five miles west of the town—being, as he remarked, the first
house ever so consecrated by a religious service in the parish.
TRO FALMOUTIL

Great interest was excited ; numbers of rich and poor, bond and
free, were attracted, and joined devoutly in the pleasing service.
In this same house the writer has frequently preached to a company
of attentive listeners, who always hailed the visits of the missionary
with pleasure. At the annual District Meeting it was reported
that ‘*In this part of the vineyard the word of the Lord has had
free course and been glorified, during the past year. Several have
found peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and many
have been led to a serious concern for the salvation of their souls.”

Mr. Box continued his labours at Falmouth during 1831, with
cheering success. The number of members in the circuit rose to
960. But, just as he was preparing to remove to another station,
the trump of civil war announced the insurrection of the slaves, and
awakened the spirit of persecution against all missionaries as sus-
pected sympathizers with them. As the rebellion began in St.
James’s and Trelawney, Mr. Box used all his influence with his
members to keep them from joining in it; and, wishing to avoid
being compelled to take arms as a soldier, he preached his farewell
sermon at Falmouth, on New-Year’s-Day, 1832. After preaching,
he was summoned to attend at head- quarters, where he found several
Baptist missionaries collected, all of whom were ordered to return
the next day. As martial law was proclaimed, Mr. B. applied to
the colonel fora passpgrt to Kingston, in order that he might attend
the District Meeting. Having reached Spanish Town, he was
seized as he was walking the streets with the Rev. D. Kerr; being
first hurried off to the guard-room, he was subjected to the insults
of the military and several heartiess spectators, who loaded him with
contemptible epithets and unfeeling abuse. He got permission to
read his Bible amidst oaths, curses, and profane language. He
endeavoured to get some rest by leaning on a table during the night,
as no bed was allowed him, after a fatiguing ride of thirty miles.
In the morning he was, by an order of the Governor, committed to
the common jail, and thrown among felons, some of whom were
condemned convicts, others were guilty of high crimes and misde-
meanours ; but the greater number were imprisoned for their owners’
debts, waiting till they might legally (!) be sold by public auction.
The number was fifty-four, some of whom were afflicted with small
pox, others with cutaneous diseases, and all in a state of offensive
filthiness. When he attempted to sleep, myriads of mosquitoes and
other insects rendered it impossible, and the following night he
paced his cell for nine hours to keep off the vermin. Along with
these evils, the suffocating heat and effuvium so affected him that,
on the third day, he began to sink under them; on which the
marshal proposed that he should exchange cells with a highway
robber, which rendered the last two days of his confinement some-
what easier, as he obtained some sleep. He was watched with as
much care as if the fate of the island depended on his being closely
shut up. However, all this time, his mind was kept stayed on God
FALMOUTH, Ist

and in perfect peace. None of his brethren visited him during his
confinement, on account of the degrading conditions and restrictions
imposed on them, when they applied for leave to see him.

Though his arrest was at the instance of the Custos of Trelawney
there was no charge—even after his imprisonment of five days a
second despatch brought no accusation, on which the Governor set
him at liberty !

While his luggage lay at the wharf to be shipped it was ransacked
for letters or anything that might criminate him; his journal was
taken away, and basely given to a malignant editor, who published
forged or garbled extracts; and some members of the House of
Assembly searched it diligently in order to glean anything that
might fasten upon him the guilt of exciting the slaves to rebellion,
but without effect ; his innocence, and that of his brethren, shone
with lustre amidst the dark insinuations and reckless charges of an
unscrupulous and malignant press, that laboured keenly to procure
the destruction of every supposed friend of the poor slaves—who,
at this time, were butchered in a manner that must fix indelible
infamy on their cowardly destroyers.

One of the hostile journals, «‘ The Cornwall Courier,” being pub-
lished in Falmouth, vied with the “Courant” of Kingston in
urging that “ irnmediate steps should be taken to place the whole of
the sectarian preachers in the island, if not in elose custody, at least
under a most rigid surveillance ; as facts of the rebellion having been
actually preached to the slaves, and instilled into their minds, are
hourly coming to light !”

The flock, left without their pastor, were soon scattered and
treated as if guilty of all the charges so shamelessly brought against
them. Two of their number were selected as victims. Robert
Lamont, a head man on Georgia Estate, and recently appointed to
actas aleader of one of the Falmouth classes, on account of his
intelligence, prudence, and piety. On the 28th December, while
working in his provision ground, he, with some others, were seized
by a party of militia, carried to Falmouth, tried by a “ drum-head”
court martial, sentenced to receive 500 lashes; to be imprisoned in
the workhouse, and to work in chains during the term of his natural
life. He was torn from his wife and children; sent to Port Maria
workhouse; imprisoned among felons; gradually sunk under his
accumulated sufferings ; and was brought down to the grave in less
than a year—his only crime being that he prayed to God and
helped others to seek the Redeemer, and his salvation.

Their next victim was a relation of Lamont’s, also a coloured
man, belonging to the same property, named John Bailie, son of a
former attorney, whose father left him £50 to aid in purchasing his
manumission ; but when, by his own industry and savings, he had
as much as his estimated value, he was not allowed to escape from
his chain, as the estate needed his services rather than his money !
Ile was sentenced to receive the same punishment as his kinsman and
}s82 FALMOUTH,

fellow-christian ; but he fainted under the lash, and was pronounced
by the attendant surgeon incapable of surviving more. He was
then sent off to Kodney Hall workhouse, a place of punishment
of appalling notoriety, whence he was cruelly treated till his Excel-
lency, on inquiring into his case, set him free, in 1838.

During martial law, the chapel was used asa guard-house for the
military, and as the St. Ann’s Western Regiment of Militia, “ who
were also Colonial Church Unionists,” were on their way home
early in February, they pulled down the Baptist meeting-house, and
attempted to do the same to the Wesleyan chapel, but its strength was
such that their efforts were useless, till afew weeks after, a party of
whites was formed in the town and neighbouring estates, who, with
the aid of some captains and sailors, whose vessels were lying in the
harbour, who brought jackscrews, ropes, tackle, saws, and crowbars,
with which they effected its demolition; but not till they had spent
fourteen nights successively at it—as coolly as if engaged in doing
lawful work. The authorities pretended not to see it. While
working, a miserable drunken fiddler was employed to amuse them
with his wretched performances on a violin. As fast as the mate-
rials were torn asunder they were carried off by thieves, which
system of robbery suddenly ceased as follows:—A fellow who used
to express his sorrow at tle materials of God’s house being sacri-
legiously stolen, went with some companions one night to do what
he hypocritically condemned. Having fixed his eye on a loosened
beam, he resolved to carry it off, but, while tugging at it, it suddenly
gave way, and one end striking him in the neck pinned him to the
ground. Another had his leg broken ; on which the rest took fright
and fled. On the following morning the wretch was found in the
position his companions had left him—a stiffened corpse—with the
end of the beam sticking in his neck! A coroner’s inquest was
held, and a verdict of accidental death returned. No thief would
touch a nail of the ruins of the house of God after this!

At the annual District Meeting, which was held in February, Mr.
Bleby was appointed to succeed Mr. Box at Falmouth; but so
powerful was the faction against the missionaries that no landlord
felt it safe to hire a house to him, from fear of having it destroyed
by the Colonial Church Unionists. However, after considerable
importunity with the proprietor of the house formerly occupied by
the missionaries, he removed to it on the 4th April. On the follow-
ing morning several of the people joined him at family prayer,
notice of which was instantly conveyed to the editor of “ The Corn-
wall Chronicle,” who, as a magistrate, ordered the constables to take
all into custody who might be found doing so. The next morning
the people came again, but as soon as they were gone, several con-
stables waited on Mr. Bleby to inform him that his house was un-
licensed, and that no preaching would be allowed there. The
proprietor endeavoured to persuade him to leave the house, but Mr.
B. having nowhere else to go to, advised him to apply to the civil
FALMOUTH, 1X3

authorities to protect his property if he thought it in danger. Soon
after this an anonymous letter was picked up near the house,
threatentng him with tar and feather unless he left the town. It
was in a disguised hand signed “ Mod.” On the evening of the
third day,justas Mr. B. had sat down totea, several whitemen entered
the house, armed with bludgeons. On Mr. B. inquiring the object
of their visit, they said, ‘We have come to‘take tea with you.”
Some of them instantly seized and drove him backwards to the
opposite side of the room, cursing him as a preaching villain. One
struck him a heavy blow on the head; another brought a keg of
tar, with which they proceeded to cover his head, face, and breast.
One seized the candle from the table and endeavoured to set his
clothes on fire. Mrs. Bleby now rushed forward and dashed the
candle from his hand. The noise attracted several friends, which
scared the villains, who quickly made their escape.

In the dark, some of them mistook their own companions for Mr.
Bleby and Mr. Whitehorne, the Baptist missionary, who had left the
house only a short time before their arrival, on these they inflicted
some murderous blows, by which one had his collar bone broken,
one his skull fractured, and another his thumb dislocated. One of
them never recovered his reason, but died a wretched maniac from
the wounds he received! Inthe scuffle, Mrs. Bleby was thrown
violently on the floor by one of the miscreants, and another at-
tempted to lock her up in the pantry. The infant which lay on the
sofa, disturbed by the noise, began to ery, on which one exclaimed
“throw it through the window” Mrs. Bleby hearing this, snatched
it up, and succeeded in making her escape with it in her arms by
the back door, without her bonnet, and having only one shoe, while
her dress was covered with tar. Mr. Bleby, in endeavouring to get
away, was met in the yard by the man who had attempted to set
him on fire, who aimed a blow at his head, but, by stooping, he
avoided it. He then rushed up-stairs, and narrowly escaped a
heavy blow from a bludgeon, which fell heavily on the stairs, and
resounded through the house. At length he effected his escape,
and found shelter in the house of a person of colour. He was then
taken under the protection of Mr. Miller and the military, and
found an asylum for the night in the barracks, while Mrs. Bleby was
kindly received and sheltered by the lady of Mr. Jackson, Clerk
of the Peace.

Before Mr. Bleby found protection from these cowardly ruffians,
some coloured friends of the militia came to his rescue; but this
was deemed a crime, for which they were threatened to be tried by
a court-martial.

Bills were filed against the above-mentioned rioters, but the
Grand Jury of the County of Cornwall ignored them, as did the
Grand Juries in every similar case, during this season of infamous
misrule and persecution. In July, the “ Colonial Unionists” of
the several parishes throughout the island assembled at Falmouth,
Ist FALMOOTE,

in order to make a last desperate effort to destroy the missions.
The “ Cornwall Courier” gave the following account of this grand
assembly :—“ The meeting of the Colonial Union, which was held
at the Court-House in this town, on Monday last, was one of the
most numerous and respectable that has been held in Trelawney for
a long time. The unanimity which pervaded it was wonderful—
every man seemed bent on accomplishing its objects—the expul-
sion of the canting crew who have so long preyed upon the very
vitals of this community, and, with a baseness unparalleled, endea-
voured to destroy the country, which has afforded them so many
‘days of fat things.’

“ These meetings are wormwood and gall to the saints; they feel
that by them their influence, their trade is destroyed: and they
yell and groan most piteously at every thought of those words of
horror, the ‘ Colonial Union’ This shows the efficacy of the insti-
tution, and proves that it is the only way to get rid of them.

“ The resolutions were carried by acclamation.”—“ They are un-
exceptionable, especially that one which pledges the members of
the Union to employ no person of any description whatever
who is a supporter of the sectarians. The adherence to this
resolution will do more to drive them away than could be effected
by any other plan; and the sooner the saints are ejected the better
for Jamaica.” So great was the infatuation of these “ Unionists”
that they expressed the utmost contempt of the Imperial Parliament,
the Governor, and the British public, whose united voice condemned
their folly, and proclaimed a determination to protect the mission-
aries from their lawless violence.

At this meeting a “ Solemn Declaration” was formed, a copy of
which was to be kept in each parish, and whoever refused to sign
it was to be a marked man—+to be crushed by every possible means,
by loss of situation, trade, &c. ; and on the other hand promises of
strong encouragement and support were held out to all who would
join in expelling the missionaries from the island. It is easy to
imagine what the poor flock had to endure when their pastors were
called to suffer such treatment at the hands of those who possessed
the means of giving full indulgence to their unbridled passions
among the helpless and unprotected slaves.

The storm was too violent to last long. British justice appeared,
armed with power to shield its victims, and hush the tempest into a
permanent calm. In the following year the clouds began to break,
though about six months passed away ere it was deemed safe for
a missionary to begin his labours publicly in Falmouth. In June,
1833, Mr. Walters ventured to take up his residence in Falmouth.
At the close of August he gave the following pleasing account of
his situation and prospects :—‘ Our enemies are at peace with us.
For the last two months this has been my residence, and I must
say I have been treated kindly by the authorities; and I feel
confident, notwithstanding former occurrences, that, if protection
FALMUUTH, 185

or even redress should be required by me, I should have it. Upon
the whole, our prospects are exhilarating ; the cloud is dispersing ;
the scattered victims of persecution begin again to be collected, and
the church will, we trust, once more flourish, to the glory of that
God who has thus far brought us through the water and through the
fire.” “Twenty months our chapel has been demolished. Our
present place of worship is crowded to excess. The building is
low—the heat intense. It is at times rendered almost insupportable
to the people, and it cannot but accelerate the death of the mission-
ary.” By the end of the year, the scattered members had been
almost all gathered in, and several new ones added to the number.

During 1834, the prospect continued to brighten; the people
eagerly flocked to hear the word; large numbers received it joy-
fully, and gave evidence of its renewing influence on their hearts
and lives; and so greatly had public sentiment changed, that,
when Mr. Walters was about to leave Falmouth, the Vestry gave
him the use of the Court-House for two Sabbaths, in order to ac-
commodate the large congregations desirous of listening to his fare-
well sermons.

As soon as arrangements were made by the missionary committee
for giving some pecuniary aid by. direct grant or loan towards the
re-erection of the destroyed chapels, Messrs. Corlett, Bird, and
Hornby were appointed to the Falmouth circuit, which at that
time extended to several distant stations in the country. Mr. C.
laboured with great zeal in rebuilding Falmouth chapel; but, in
executing his noble design, he far exceeded the pecuniary means at
his command, which involved him in much anxiety of mind, and
placed him in a painful position with his brethren, who considered
that in this matter his zeal had carried him beyond the line of pru-
dence. Still, the labours of Mr. C., as well as of his colleagues in
this circuit, were of the most self-denying character. He found,
on his arrival, that the people had been thrown into a state of dis-
union by a young man who had left the army, and became for a
while a promising assistant to the mission; but Mr. C. recovered
most of those who had been led astray, and greatly increased the
Society ere he left the station.

The chapel is seventy-five feet by fifty, with a capacious gallery
at the end and sides, and a vestry behind the pulpit end twelve feet
square, beyond which there is a piece of enclosed ground. It is a
plain building, bearing evident marks of regard to decency, eco-
nomy, and comfort. It was opened, though unfinished, by Mr.
Bleby, on the 31st July, 1836, who felt the contrast between his
position on that day, and the dark night when he was assaulted by
the infuriated “ Colonial Unionists” in his own house near by.

In 1838, efforts were made to establish schools in the circuit.
With regard to this, Mr. Foster observed—‘‘An adult school,
which has been formed here, is prospering even beyond our expec-
tation. I believe the number of scholars is now above seventy.

z
1386 FALMOUTH.

We can have it only once a week, in consequence of other services,
still the learners are making some proficiency. The weekly school
for our children, which has been established here, is in successful
operation.” Two years afterwards, His Excellency Sir Charles
Metcalfe, the Governor, while making a tour in the island, came to
Falmouth, and through one of the magistrates, informed Mr. Sec-
combe that he wished to visit the day-school. After witnessing
with pleasure the progress of the scholars, he, unsolicited, presented
£50 towards the erection of aschool-honse. This act of his Excel-
lency was only one of a series which marked his good will and
princely liberality during his government of the colony. A more
conciliatory, judicious, impartial, firm, and universally beloved
ruler, it would be difficult to conceive of, and unreasonable to ex-
pect. His name is embalmed in the memory of all who witnessed
his public and private conduct during his government of the island.

On the 23d of April, 1840, Mr. Seccombe purchased a piece of
ground for a school-house adjoining the back of the chapel, and
resolved, along with his excellent colleague Mr. Richard Harding,
to beg from door to door to raise funds for the erection of the
building.

The prospect of success continued to brighten, old prejudices
rapidly disappeared, the congregation and Society increased, and a
spirit of zeal and liberality wasawakened. Public missionary meet-
ings were held in September,—the chair was taken by one of the ma-
gistrates, and £100 contributed in aid of the general mission fund,
while the Vestrymen of the parish voted £60 toward the school-
house.

The following year, when the writer was appointed to the cir-
cuit with Mr. Seccombe, several improvements were made on the
chapel—a clock was placed in front of the gallery, a chandelier
hung from the centre of the roof, two additional windows were put
in the pulpit end of the building, and the whole painted—all of
which was paid for by the people with great cheerfulness. The
members increased to abont a thousand, who earnestly strove to
maintain their own ministers, and to defray local expenses, inde-
pendent of any aid from the general mission fund.

One peculiarity of this place of worship was, that in the morning
the congregation was composed of our country members, along with
those resident in the town, and in the evening of a large assemblage
of all classes of the inhabitants, including, in addition to our own
people, others belonging to the Church, the Presbyterians, the Bap-
tists, and the Hebrew persnasion, who listened attentively to our
views of the word of God, and manifested a most friendly disposition.

Asa considerable number of the members belonging to Falmouth
Society resided in the neighbourhood of Duncan’s, a village about
ten miles eastward, Mr. Corlett was induced to form a station at
that place, in order to meet their circumstances, By strenuous
 

DUNCAN'S CHAPEL.
FALMOUTH, 187

efforts, he and his colleagues made a commencement, and proceeded
to erect a wooden chapel of large dimensions; but ere his plans
were carried out he was removed. From the large number of
estates within the range of a few miles, the prospects of a pros-
perous mission were encouraging. Of this place Mr Foster wrote
in 1838 :—“ At Duncan’s, where our congregations, as well’ as our
Society is composed (almost entirely) of those who are just liberated
from the shackles of slavery, we have still encouraging prospects of
extensive usefulness. The congregation has within the last few
months been increasing, and in the course of the last quarter sixty-
eight have been received on trial. The school at this place is in
a very flourishing condition ; several new scholars are admitted from
amongst those who were above the age of six years when the ap-
prenticeship term commenced, and who, consequently, during that
term were deprived of the opportunity of securing learning, and
who wish to secure it now, while the means are within their reach.
Others of the adult population are manifesting an anxiety to learn
to read and write, and are devoting a part of their time to that
object. I have been delighted to hear some of the negroes refer to
their temporal freedom in such a manner as to show that, while they
gave God the praise for that blessing, they did not allow it to have
the pre-eminence in their estimation above that far more glorious
liberty which they enjoy as children of God.”

The prosperity of the day-school at this place was owing chiefly
to the well-directed exertions of Mr. H. Adams, the teacher. His
qualifications were highly respectable, and his energy far beyond
what the state of his health led any of his friends to expect of him.
He had great influence among his scholars, from his peculiar
management, and succeeded to an extent by no means common in
the island in this department of the work of benefitting the people.

In the following year Messrs. Ritchie and Harding laboured with
zeal and success in advancing the moral and spiritual welfare of the
people. About this time certain parties were keeping the people in
a state of painful excitement and agitation on matters of a merely
secular and political nature, which ministered strifes rather than god-
ly edifying. Interference between masters and their labourers and
servants on the adjustment of work and wages led to jealousies,
feuds, and bickerings, injurious to the real temporal and religious
welfare of all parties. Against such a spirit and such proceedings
a faithful, scriptural, and affectionate testimony was borne by the
missionaries—the effect of which may be seen in the following
account given by Mr. Harding of a service held at Duncan’s, on the
eve of the Ist of August, 1839 :—“ The services of the ‘ First of
August’ were to me highly interesting. On the eve of the day on
which the anniversary of Freedom was to be celebrated, we had a
watch-night meeting at Duncan’s. In consequence of the very
serious indisposition of my excelient superintendent; Mr. Ritchie,
I was deprived of his valuable assistance and direction on this occa-
18

Rw

FALMOUTH.

sion ‘The service was commenced at nine o’clock. We sang, and £
read a portion of our excellent liturgy, and then read Exod. xii., and
endeavoured to explain, and made a number of observations on it,
which enabled me to apply the doctrine of this portion of scripture
with peculiar advantage, to a large congregation, who were at the
time closing the first year of civil liberty. We then sang and
prayed, and I gave the people a short address on the interesting
character of their present circumstances, endeavouring to impress
upon their minds the fact that civil liberty is a general blessing. I
now called on some of the leaders to give us their views of the
present state of things. The first that spake gave an account of
his own conversion, and of the bad state of things when the Gospel
found them, contrasting their present happiness with the past. He
said—‘ We no know there is a God; we hear nothin’ o’ Jesus
Christ ; we no know we have soul to save. Minister learn we all ;
we owe all to minister. The Gospel learn we, and make we free.
Dem say one great one do dis for we; some say dat society and dis
society do dis here free, and bring it to we country. But God is
dat great one dat do dis great ting. August! Time aback we
know nothin’ about August. Now ebry (every) man, ebry woman,
and ebry child know it ; and we will never forget it while our head
be hot. Iam free man! free as Briton! free as Queen himself.
God bless Victoria! God bless our ministers ! dem our best friend.’
Another spoke in a similar strain. He said—‘ I use go to Church
of England, but nothin’ please me but organ. By and by Wesley-
ans came to Falmouth ; dey preach so plain, so strong, dat dey stick
my heart. Den me begin pray; God change my bad heart, and
now religion my great comfort. When I first began to pray I
could not read; I buy me spelling book and begin to learn. Now
I read Testament. When the war come, dem search for the
book among all we people, and took dem away. But I go take one
strap, tie my spelling book and Testament together, and put dem
in one dry place under the house. Me use go look at dem some-
time, but fear to touch-dem. Because dey stop dare long time, the
hants (ants) make dem nest upon dem; den me took dem away, and
put dem in anoder place. Now I got plenty book, and nobody take
dem away. O dis change, how sweet! Minister tell we dis good,
we know nothin’ before dem come. We live like hog in de wood ;
we no know how to dress we food ; how we sarve we God; how to
save we soul. We know no day but Tuesday and Thursday, beef
days, and Monday, turn out day. Now we know Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and blessed Sunday.
Before time we flog for looking in book, for pray, for picking up
bit paper and reading it. Now no flog! no chain! no workhouse!
We free; Gospel make we free. My broders and sisters make we
use dis free well; make pray for our dear minister; for dem dear
wife ; for our Queen, and for good English people; and make we
neber forget de Gospel which minister stand upon de pulpit and
FALMOCTIL 189

preach to we poor sinner.’ I then addressed the people for about
half an hour more, on the necessity of watching against an ungrate-
ful Spirit, grounding my observations on Deut. vi. ‘ You have now,’
I reminded them, ‘your liberty; many of you have houses and
lands, and horses, gold and silver; you eat and are full, and are
unquestionably in better circumstances than the peasantry of most
other free states. Beware lest your hearts be lifted up, and you
forget the Lord your God, who, you have acknowledged, has given
you the blessing of freedom ; be careful to observe the precepts of
the blessed Gospel, which in the days of your grievous and oppres-
sive bondage were your only comfort and safe consolation.’ After
singing and prayer we repaired to our homes, and God was glorified
for the second year of liberty on which we had entered.”

Mr. Seccombe being appointed to succeed Mr. Ritchie, the work
at Duncan’s continued to prosper. A residence for the missionary
was built, and occupied for a short period by Mr. Harding before
he left the circuit, after which Mr. Seccombe removed with his
family to it. It was not till the middle of March, 184), that the
writer visited Duncan’s, on which occasion he was surprised and
delighted with the extent and respectable aspect of the congrega-
tion, and though the chapel was far from being finished, it afforded
room for between ten and eleven hundred hearers, who gladly
listened to the Gospel message with serious attention.

Having freely received the glad tidings of salvation the people
felt their obligation to do something towards conveying them to the
regions beyond. ‘To afford them an opportunity, a missionary
meeting was held on the Ist of September, in the early part of the
day, when the claims of the perishing heathen were advocated by
Messrs. Edmondson, Randerson, Edney, Chapman, Curtis, and Sec-
combe. The chapel was crowded; the collection amounted to
twenty-one pounds, a sum much below what it would have been
had they not been contributing most liberally towards the comple-
tion of their spacious chapel. During Mr. Seccombe’s residence at
Duncan’s he laboured with diligence, and succeeded in finishing the
chapel and advancing the mission in all its departments.

On the removal of Mr. Seccombe to Brown’s Town, Mr. W. H.
Hann was associated with the writer asa fellow-labourer in the cir-
cuit. He was a young man of great simplicity of character, emi-
nent piety, ardent zeal, and very successful in the conversion of
sinners from the error of their ways. The progress this mission
had been making under his predecessors, was continued during his
stay here. About the middle of 1842 the Sabbath-school presented
an animating appearance. About 200 children and adults (some
of the latter old and grey-headed) were diligently striving to learn.
Among the teachers was a very respectable person lately from Eng-
land, who had been tutor in the family of the proprietor of a neigh-
bouring estate. His intelligence, humility, and zeal to do good,
were such as are rarely witnessed in the island. In connection
190 FALMOUTH.

with the anniversary services of the “ First of August,” there was
an examination of the scholars, after a school sermon had been
preached to them. The parents and friends mustered largely ; the
children acquitted themselves well. The day was concluded by a
treat of cakes and lemonade tothe scholars. The spectacle was as
cheering as novel in a locality so long enveloped in the darkness of
slavery—during which the mind of the slave was left without the
least cultivation.

About this time a most afflictive incident occurred. One Lord’s-
day, while the writer was preaching to a crowded congregation,
which filled and partly surrounded the chapel, a negro child, having
lost sight of the mother, wandered away. After service was over,
search was made everywhere about the neighbourhood, and along
the road for several miles, as far as the estate to which the parents
belonged, but no trace of the little wanderer could be found. The
poor woman returned to the neighbourhood of the chapel, and spent
the whole night in searching and wailing over her lost child. Her
plaintive cries echoed through the hills, but morning came and the
day passed away, still no discovery was made; night again threw
its darkness over the afflicted mother, whose moanings disturbed its
wonted stillness. On the following day, some carrion crows were
seen hovering over a spot not far from the highway side. A negro,
attracted by their movements, went into the pasture, and there
beheld the lost child half eaten up by these voracious birds. The
little creature was a lovely negro child, about four years of age,
plump and healthy. It appears that, having climbed over a dry-
stone wall and fallen asleep among the tall guinea grass, on awaken-
ing it could not find its way out, but laying help of some blades of
the grass, it walked round and round till it fell exhausted, and ex-
pired through fear and starvation, and so became a prey to the vul-
tures. After a coroner’s inquest had been held, the writer per-
formed the mournful task of consigning the lacerated corpse to the
grave. From the time the body was found, the poor mother ceased
to give any audible expression to her grief, but seemed to bow
silently to the Divine will What rendered the matter the more
touching was, that this had been the first time the child had ever
been brought to the house of God, on account of the distance, and
the spot where it perished was only a few hundred yards from the
chapel, and a very short way from the roadside, along which hun-
dreds of people had passed, without hearing or seeing it.

At this time, the writer was called to resign one of his children
up to Him who hath appointed the bounds of our habitation upon
the earth. After lingering six weeks, he was taken away from the
evil to come, at two o’clock in the morning of the 30th July, and
at six o’clock in the evening his remains were committed to the
grave by Mr. Kerr, Messrs. Seccombe and Hann assisting. fle was
named Thomas Coke, after the founder of the Jamaica mission, and
had scarcely reached his sixth month when he was cut down like a
FALMOUTH. 191

tender flower. In the view of the chapel and mission-house, ac-
companying this account, his grave is seen in front of the latter,
on the brow of the hill above the chapel.

Onthel6th of October, as the writer was preaching at Duncan’s, he
was seized with fever; with difficulty he got to Falmouth the next
morning, when he was taken alarmingly ill, every remedy seemed
to fail, till, on Sabbath evening, his medical attendants announced
that they had done all they could, and if his wife had anything to
say to him, to say itat once, for that in three or four hours all
would be over. However, it pleased the Hearer of prayer to spare
him, in answer to the supplications of his people, though the pro-
cess of recovery was slow. Kettering, the residence of the late
Rev. William Knibb of the Baptist Mission, is within a short dis-
dance of this station. The reminiscences of this locality are of a
mingled character—much that is cheering, and not a little of an
opposite nature, occurs to the memory of the writer, while he re-
cals past scenes. For a long period his esteemed brother Harding,
whose labours at this place ought never to be forgotten, has been
an invalid in England, in consequence of his devoted exertions as
a Christian missionary in Jamaica.

From the large number of members located inland at a consider-
able distance from both Falmouth and Duncan’s, a new station was
begun at Duan Vale, about eight or ten miles south of the former.
In June, 1842, Mr. Marrett, the attorney of the estate, granted a
piece of land, and a temporary wattled building was erected, which
afforded shelter for the congregation till a better could be built. In
1843 Mr. Walton succeeded the writer at Falmouth. At the close
of the year the members amounted to ten hundred and twelve ; the
hearers to thirteen hundred; the day scholars to one hundred and
twenty; while two hundred attended the Sabbath-schools—at which
time Duncan’s was taken from Falmouth circuit and added to
Brown’s Town.
192

CHAPTER XIV.

ST. ANN’S BAY.

Situation and appearance of the Parish of St. Ann—A mission begun at Bel-
lemont—Mr. Shipman invited by Mr. S. D. Drew—Mr. Ratcliffe forms a
Society at the Bay—Outrage on Mr. Ratcliffe and family—Persecution and
death of Mr. Grimsdall— Messrs. Whitehouse, Orton, and Watkis imprisoned
—Magistrates dismissed—Mr. Orton tried for perjury—Death of Mr. Saxton
—Persecution—Chapels destroyed—Messrs. Wood and Greenwood driven
from St. Ann’s—Mr. Greenwood imprisoned, and again driven from the
Parish—Cheering Success of Messrs. Greenwood and Barr—Messrs. White-
house and Wood—Death of the latter—Death of Mr. Walters—Efforts to
rebuild the Chapels—A chapel built at the Bay—Greaé suecess—Noble libera-
lity of the people—The Circuit divided—Mr. Kerr—Liberality and disinte-
restedness of the people.

Leavine the hot, dry, and dusty road which leads northward, from
Spanish Town through St. Thomas’ in the Vale, the traveller soon
finds himself, apparently, arrested in his progress by formidable
rocky barriers, rising, at one part, perpendicularly, on either hand,
to a great height, where it is plainly visible that the mountain has
been cleft in two by a strong convulsion of nature. Along the
base of this fissure the Rio Grande flows over or between masses
of rock with a velocity and sound regulated by the quantity of rain
which has fallen in the mountains. Emerging from the Bog-walk, and
crossing the river by an iron bridge on the left, the vale soun opens
to the view, with the magnificent mountains on the north,
which must be scaled ere St. Ann’s can be reached. On arriving
at the foot of Mount Diabolo, the formidable task begins. The
road soon becomes steep, winding, or zig-zag, yet sufficiently ro-
mantic to alleviate in some measure the tedium of the long and
weary ascent. At certain points the view becomes really enchant-
ing, till, on arriving near the summit, the vale and its encircling
mountains present one of the grandest displays of scenery which
even fancy can conceive. The rich colouring of the varied objects
which throng the level of the vale, enclosed by the perpetual verdure
of the mountains, iiluminated by a tropical sun sparkling in a cloudless
sky, excite in the mind of the spectator a vivid impression of
the sublime and beautiful in nature, as if to reward the toil of
clambering this formidable mountain. After reaching this height,
the road winds along a level for nearly two miles, then descends on
the north side of the mountain for a considerable way, and again
crosses an extensive level, which is laid out in breeding pens, having
some of the most beautiful pastures in the island. The climate
2Zg81 NI AVGSNNY iS LY 3SNOH NOISSIW

87 ING RTE sl2T lenmer 4

 
ST. ANN’S BAY 193

and scenery of this locality reminds one of some parts of England
in the summer season. The various productions of the mountains
are cultivated to a considerable extent all around. On reaching
the northern extremity of this table land, the road again descends
for several miles till it reaches the seaside at St. Ann’s Bay, after
which it keeps along the shore both east and west, towards the ex-
tremities of the island.

The numerous and prosperous societies which have for some
years existed in this part of the island originated at Bellemont, the
property of Stephen Drew, Esq., Barrister-at-law, and one of the
magistrates for the parish. At the earnest request of some very
intelligent and respectable relatives, particularly of a sister, who
was a member of the Methodist Society in the West of England, he
was induced to read Wesley’s sermons, which had such an effect
upon his mind that, in writing to a gentleman whom he wished to
persuade to read them, he observed—‘ If you would examine the
excellent sermons of Mr. Wesley (which, together with the great
men of the Reformation, are the model by which all their, 7. e.
the missionaries, preaching is framed, and which I would lend you
very gladly at any time, or you could get from any of the minis-
ters), you would approve them as much as I do, and would say
that they are the most useful ever written, and that such preaching
is the very thing needed to promote the welfare and security of the
island, and to make us all what we ought to be. I assure you, that
I am thankful to God for bringing me to the knowledge of them.”
No sooner was he thus enlightened and impressed, than he called
his household and slaves together every Lord’s-day, and read the
church prayers, and one of Wesley’s sermons to them ;—a marked
change soon appeared, which encouraged him to goon. Having
occasion to be in Spanish Town about business, in August, 1817,
he visited the Methodist Chapel, and introduced himself to Mr.
Shipman. In the course of conversation, he expressed his desire
of having his negroes instructed, stating, at the same time, his own
efforts to enlighten them. Mr. S., pleased with the proposal, pro-
mised to visit Bellemont for that purpose. However, it was not till
the 24th of November that he was able to leave Spanish Town.
The health of Mrs. Shipman having suffered from repeated attacks
of sickness, a change of air was urged by her physician, aad Mr.
and Mrs. Drew earnestly invited her to their salubrious neighbour-
hood. She was kindly entertained by these good friends for nearly
three months, during which she was of great use, especially to
several of the negroes. On New-Year’s-Day Mr. Shipman bap-
tized between thirty and forty of them, and formed a Society, of
which Mr. and Mrs. Drew became members, and the former was
by Mr. S. appointed to act as Steward. Mr. Shipman being ap-.
pointed to Falmouth the year following, he could visit this new
station only once in six weeks, as it was distant fifty miles, and
nearly forty from Spanish Town, with the tremendous ascent of

2a
194 ST. ANN’S BAY.

Mount Diabolo to increase the difficulty. However, Mr. Drew
diligently instructed and watched over the infant Society, and with
such effect, that Mrs. Shipman was forcibly struck at observing
while there during Christmas holidays. that there was no drumming
or sports among them, such as were universally practised by the
slaves at this season; but all spent the time in the worship of God,
or in a sober and rational manner, and, instead of singing their old
songs in the fields, they were singing the hymns they heard in
their religious meetings, while at night the voice of prayer might
be heardfrom their huts—all indicating that Divine influence accom-
panied the instruction given them.

In a letter to a gentleman, Mr. Drew wrote— Will you allow
me to avail myself of this opportunity to state to you the very great
benefit I have derived in respect to my slaves through the teaching
of the Wesleyan ministers. I have tried the result of their system,
and, after two years experience, I am enabled by the event (and,
therefore, I think, bound in justice to them) to declare that my
negroes are altogether an altered people, since they have been
brought by them to a proper and deep sense of real religion. All
outward immoralities of every kind have been banished from among
them ; most of those who are marriagable live in the decencies of
a married life, and the rest, I do assure you, refrain from every
illicit connection ; I mean, excepting a few on whose minds no very
serious impression has yet been made, and even they begin to feel
and abstain from all gross irregularity. The Sabbath is regularly
spent by all of them under my own eye, as a day of devotion and
rest. That they may not suffer, I give them weekly a day for their
own ground, which loss of time is, I am assured, more than com-
pensated to me by the health and cheerfulness which, after the rest
of the Sabbath, they can begin their work on Monday. These are
of themselves great steps towards moral improvement, yet are but
little compared to my being able to say that, under the peculiar
views of religion impressed on them, I believe their hearts and
tempers are much reformed, so that 1 have the strongest proofs,
arising from their more willing obedience, and their much better
work, that they are become more valuable as slaves, and more use-
ful as members of the community. Surely, therefore, these minis-
ters, who thus act from a conscientious impulse, and without fee
or reward, do deserve well from every gentleman who has a real re-
gard to the permanent security of the island, and whose properties
may be so strengthened and benefited by their unwearied labours.”
Such were the views of a West India proprietor, not only at that
period, but up to the moment of his death.

In October of the following year, Mr. Binning, on his way to
Spanish Town, observed—‘] rested two days with our kind friend
Mr. Drew,—one of these being the Sabbath, I spoke twice to the
people, and afterwards administered the Sacrament of the Lord’s
Supper to the family, and in all the Lord was graciously present.
st. ANN’S BAY. 195

I was really much pleased with the manner in which the negroes
conduct themselves under divine service. They sing our hymns
charmingly, and hear the word with deep reverence and attention.”
In little more than a year, Mr. Ratcliffe received from Mr. Drew £21
Gs. 8d. towards Wesley Chapel in Kingston, and the chapel at Mon-
tego Bay, and with it the following with regard to the good work
at Bellemont :—“ We have had very great and merciful manifesta-
tions of the love of God, and, since that, some very heavy trials.
The Lord, however, gives us to rejoice exceedingly, and our souls
are firmly staid upon him. The Sabbath that is gone to render in
its account was a day of great comfort to me, and so indeed was
the former, as.much as I ever experienced ; I had whites, browns,
and blacks, from different quarters, who came to hear the word of
God. They now begin, God be praised, to inquire after the things
which make for their everlasting peace.”

Though Bellemont was the spot first visited by the missionaries,
the Bay was chosen for the principal station in the circuit, on
account of its being the parish town, the centre of traffic, and con-
taining the largest amount of concentrated population, besides being
a gonvenient radiating point. On the removal of Mr. Ratcliffe to
Montego Bay, in January, 1821, St. Ann’s became part of his field
of labour, as it had been of that of Mr. Shipman. In the month
of April he visited the Bay, and was introduced to the Custos by
Mr. Drew, who received him most politely, and granted him a
license on his taking the oaths prescribed by the law of 1812. On
the following evening he preached to a very genteel congregation,
who behaved with great attention, some of whom were deeply
affected. On the Lord’s-day he preached twice, and also every even-
ing while here, and formed a Society of about twenty members,
who all seemed in earnest to save their souls. In soliciting assis-
tance from the Committee, he wrote—‘“ I hope the Committee will
assist us liberally in this new mission; and [am certain it will form
a most important acquisition to our cause in Jamaica. The parish
is beautiful; the population large; the magistrates friendly ; and
when the missionary is fixed there, he will have a circuit of five
places, viz., St. Ann’s Bay, Run-away Bay, Dry Harbour, Ocho
Rios Bay, and Bellemont.”

In the following year, Mr. Parkinson laboured successfully ; the
congregations were excellent, and the Society increased in numbers.
The prospect of establishing a mission became very cheering ; pre-
mises were secured capable of being altered and improved, so as to
form a chapel, a dwelling-house, and a burial-ground. Mr. Ratcliffe
wrote—“ St. Ann’s Bay Chapel will stand about thirty feet above
the level of the sea, commanding a beautiful view of the harbour ;
and, to the east, an extended verdant landscape, richly clothed with
corn, sugar-cane, and pimento groves. These scenes, where nature
displays her charms, I would hope, are but faint emblems of the
moral beauties which are soon to overspread this part of the country.”
196 ST. ANN’S BAY.

News having arrived in Jamaica of the insurrection at Demerara,
and the outrage committed on Mr. Smith of the London Missionary
Society, and also on Mr. Shrewsbury, of the Wesleyan Society at
Barbadoes, when an infuriated mob demolished the new chapel
and compelled him to flee to St. Vincent’s to save his life, the
magistrates of the parishes of St. Catherine, St. George, and St.
Ann’s, influenced by the advice of the persecutors, refused to grant
licenses to two Baptist and two Wesleyan missionaries, who applied
to them for that purpose ; in consequence of which St. Ann’s was
left without a resident missionary during 1824, and enjoyed only a
third part of the labours of Mr. Ratcliffe, who resided at Falmouth,
but being licensed for St. Ann’s, had the privilege of preaching.
However, in 1825 he removed to the circuit altogether, and resided
at the Bay till the month of August, when he found it advisable to
remove his family to the mountains, to a house connected with a
chapel at Bellemont, which was nearly completed, in order to enjoy
the cool air during the hot and sickly season of the year. Of the
Society at the Bay he observed—“ I rejoice much in witnessing the
simplicity and piety of our negro members at St. Ann’s Bay. They
are a fine set of people, and their Christian experience is very con-
siderable. Last Sunday I added six on trial, and married one
couple. Among those admitted on trial are two aged Africans, Mr.
and Mrs. Johnston, whose great love to the means of grace has often
affected me. Though they live at the distance of six or seven miles
from the chapel, and are very feeble in body, scarcely has the sun
risen when they enter the mission premises to wait the commence-
ment of the Sabbath morning’s exercises. Their snowy locks form
the most striking contrast with their faces, whilst every look and
every expression show how much they are engaged in the work of
devotion. These are precious fruits of the hallowing influence of
the doctrine of the cross.”

It was not till the close of the year that any attempt was made by
the enemies of the mission to follow the example of the Barbadoes
rioters. The Light Company of the St. Ann’s Regiment of Militia
being called out to guard the town during the Christmas holidays,
was disgraced by an attempt of a party of young Creoles belonging
to it to murder Mr. Ratcliffe and his wife and children, at midnight
on the 25th of December. While they were supposed to be asleep
these sanguinary men loaded their muskets, and deliberately fired
into the premises—the chapel and house being under the same roof.
Seven balls were extracted from the chapel; two were found loose
on the floor, and one was bedded in the pillar nearest the pulpit; a
ramrod was found within a few feet of the window of the house.
By the special providence of Him who numbers the hairs of the
heads of his people, all the family escaped. The reader may con-
jecture their danger by observing the drawing of this building—
which accompanies this account. Most of the balls penetrated the
window on the right hand of the door, and so nearly on a level with
ST. ANN’S BAY. 197

the beds in which Mr. R. and family lay. A small building may also
be observed in the distance, meant to represent the jail in which
Messrs. Grimsdall, Whitehouse, and Orton were afterwards incarcer-
ated, of which notice will be taken. Mr. R. having informed the
officer in command, left the magistrates to dispose of the affair. Mr.
Drew put the matter in a train for legal inquiry, but he died before
the trial came on. The guilty were screened, and nothing more
would have been heard of it had not Dr. Lushington moved in Par-
liament that inquiry should be made into it. The Duke of Man-
chester, then Governor, alarmed at this, endeavoured to ward off
the disgrace which attached to him and the Jamaica magistracy,
but without effect. The rector of the parish who was his com-
panion and counsellor, has ever been regarded as the instigator of
this outrage, by a sermon he preached to his flock! The Vestry
offered a reward of £50 for the discovery and conviction of the
delinquents ; but, while this was done, they were perfectly acquaint-
ed with and determined to shield them by a feigned ignorance and
pretended abhorrence of the atrocious deed !

The spirit of persecution, thus awakened and winked at by the
public authorities, grew bold and active. No sooner had Mr.
Grimsdall succeeded Mr. Ratcliffe than he felt its malignity. Mr.
Drake, the head constable, took the lead in the crusade against the
missionaries. This truly malignant official laboured to prevent
Mr. Grimsdall obtaining a license at the Quarter Sessions, and
would have succeeded had not the Custos, the Hon. Henry Cox,
Esq., used his influence in favour of Mr. G., who obtained a certi-
ficate after paying £2, 13s. 4d. and taking the oaths. The mission-
ary having been thus taken out of his hands, he next strove to
frighten the slaves from attending the services, by taking his stand
near the chapel and threatening them with imprisonment. At
other times he would place himself at the door of the chapel to mark
the slaves who entered, in order to inform their overseers that they
might be flogged. One evening he laid hands on some of them,
which brought Mr. Grimsdall out to expostulate with him on his
illegal and persecuting proceedings. This untiring man next had
Mr. G. brought before the magistrates on a charge of preaching in
Miss Jarvis’ house at Ocho Rios Bay, which was not licensed. Till
now no hindrance had been offered, though Messrs. Shipman, Bin-
ning, and Ratcliffe had been in the habit of doing so before him.
In his defence, Mr. Grimsdall said that the law under which he was
summoned had never been published ; that he had given in a paper
to the Clerk of the Peace, signifying that he desired the place to be
acknowledged as one in which he held public service, and that he
thought all that could be done was to compel him to have the house
licensed. The magistrates admonished and warned him not to hold
any service till a license was granted. The next charge of the
constable was, that Mr. G. had been preaching to slaves at unlaw-
ful hours, according to the Persecuting Act, which had passed the
198 ST. ANN’s BAY.

House of Assembly only a few weeks before. He swore that on
Thursday the 3lst of May, between the hours of seven and eight
o'clock, P.M., he stopped opposite the Methodist Chapel in his
rounds, accompanied by Mr. Hodges; on looking he recognized
several negroes whom he knew to be slaves, sitting on benches in
the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at St. Ann’s Bay. He waited till
Mr. G. was done, and then laid hold of several negroes as they were
coming out, which excited some noise, and drew the attention of
Mr. Grimsdall, who remonstrated with Mr. Drake. The result
was, Mr. G. was committed to jail for ten days, as he refused to
pay the fine imposed by the new law. He requested a copy of his
examinations and commitment, but till he paid six dollars this favour
could not be granted him. Thus, for the crime of preaching to slaves
a little after sunset, he was condemned to ten days’ imprisonment.
Though the law named eight as the hour beyond which it was un-
lawful to hold such meetings, he had not exceeded that hour—yet
was he condemned and punished.

On his confinement in jail he observed—*“ The place of my con-
finement was rendered unpleasant by many things, but by none
more so than by its being on a level with the hospital, which was
only divided from my room by a very narrow passage, and greatly
annoyed me with a most intolerable stench.” At sunset on Satur-
day the 16th of June, the jail-keeper informed him that he had “a
full and free discharge from St. Ann’s Bay jail.” On which Mr. G.
remarked—“ I was not sorry for this liberation, for I felt anxious
to be engaged in my duty of preaching the word of life, from which
my confinement had prevented me,—though they could not hinder
me from singing and prayer, nor from those manifestations of God
that made me happy and joyful, and made my prison like a palace.
The members of the Society were very kind, and did all they could
to make me comfortable.” The next day he preached twice at the
Bay.

Having applied for a license for the house at Ocho Rios Bay,
his application was rejected, though the Custos and another magis-
trate considered him entitled to it. Conscious of acting legally he
again preached there, and was again cast into jail, where he was
kept till bail was given for kis appearance before the Court in the
month of December. However, ere that day arrived he was placed
beyond the reach of his persecutors. On the 30th of November he
was seized with fever, which terminated fatally on the 15th of
December. Mr. Orton, whu saw him on his death-bed, wrote—
“ Having to go to Spanish Town, I called at Bellemont on my way
thither, and was exceedingly sorry to find our dear brother very
unwell, though immediate danger was not apprehended. Upon in-
quiring into the state of his mind, it appeared that he was some-
what exercised with temptations; but he assure me that he had
a firm reliance on the merits of Christ. I had the satisfaction to
find that, by conversation and prayer, his mind was delivered froin
ST. ANN’S BAY. 199

the temptation, and the Lord was pleased to impart the comforting
manifestations of His presence. My business being urgent, I was
under the painful necessity of leaving him to pursue my journey
to Spanish Town. Having completed my business, I returned to
Bellemont as speedily as possible, with the flattering hope of find-
ing him better, but was painfully disappointed by perceiving marks
of an early dissolution deeply graven on lis countenance. I con-
versed pointedly with him for a short time on the state of his
mind. His answers were— O, everything is quite different now !’
His reliance was on the cross of Christ for salvation. He was
perfectly resigned to the wiil of God, and his patience under his
sufferings was exemplary. During the few last hours of his life
he suffered occasional delirium; but, even then, he gave frequent
tokens of his happy frame of mind, often waving his hand, with
an expressive countenance, which seemed to say to the sur-
rounding mourning friends ‘ Angels beckon me away!’ Thus are
his dear partner and lovely infant bereaved of an affectionate hus-
band and a tender parent; and we, as his brethren, are called to
sustain the loss of a much esteemed brother; and you and the
Church the loss of a faithful, zealous, and useful missionary.”

Mr. Whitehouse being appointed to succeed Mr. Grimsdall, he
soon began to partake of his sufferings through the determined hos-
tility of the head constable, who, having lost his late victim by
death, now seized upon his successor.

On the 9th of August, 1828, soon after Mr. Whitehouse had left
Bellemont for St. Ann’s Bay, he was met by Mr. Drake, who
said, ‘Sir, I have a warrant for you.” Mr. W. replied, “I am
going to St. Ann’s Bay, and shall not attempt to conceal myself
there.” He then rode a few miles towards the Bay, and pulling
up his horse said, “Sir, I am directed to take you before the
first magistrate, and there is one here waiting for you.” They
then went to the house of an elderly lady, and, after waiting a consi-
derable time, a gentleman arrived, and proceeded to write out a
commitment to the common jail, observing that he ‘“ must do his
duty.” Mr. W. then said, “ Sir, I should think it a favour to be
sentenced to be bound in irons in the market place, instead of being
sent to the cell to which my predecessor was committed, as it is
pretty generally believed that his death was occasioned by his con-
finement there.” The answer was—“ The magistrates of St. Ann’s
were determined to do their duty ; that they did not care for,what
the public said of them, and that whoever might come, he should
be treated just as he (Mr. G.) had been.” The constable forthwith
conducted him to jail. Mr. W.’s account is as follows :—“ On my
arrival at the jail, I was conducted to the apartment in which that
man of God, the late Mr. Grimsdall, had been twice imprisoned.
On entering, I found it occupied by an insane black woman, whom
the jailer immediately ordered to be removed to another apart-
ment. The cell was exceedingly filthy, and the stench unbearable.
200 ST. ANN’S BAY.

It was now eight o’clock, and the jailer said he ‘must lock up.’ I
desired that the cell floor might, at least, be swept, which a few
friends immediately attended to. There was no bed provided for
me,—not even one of straw; and it was not until I made several
remarks to the jailer, that a few benches from the chapel were al-
lowed to be brought in, on which to makea bed. A large quantity
of vinegar, and of strong camphorated rum, was thrown upon the
floor and walls, for the purpose of counteracting the very disagree-
able effluvia which proceeded from the filth, with which the place
abounded, but this produced very little effect. The sea-breeze had
subsided, and the only window from which I could obtain the least
air was was just above the place in which all the filth of the pre-
mises was deposited. There is a second window inthe apartment,
but it had been nailed up for the purpose of preventing the poor
deranged woman from making her escape from the jail. There are
three other apartments upon the same floor, which are separated
from this only by low walls, above which is wood lattice-work ; two
of them form the hospital, and one is now occupied by three sick
men. The four apartments occupy a space of twenty-five feet
square. Underneath the floor are three other apartments; one of
them is occupied by about a dozen unhappy creatures, who are to
be tried for various offences at the ensuing Quarter Sessions; an-
other by two men under sentence of death for murder; and the
third by a number of slaves, who have been taken by the Marshal
for debt, and are waiting to be sold. One of the wretched men,
now under sentence of death is very sick; his groans, together
with the grating noise of the irons of several of the prisoners, and
the intense heat of the place, prevented me from sleeping many
minutes together; besides, I was so much affected by the stench of
the jail and hospital, that I was obliged to he constantly dipping
my handkerchief into strong camphorated spirit, and applying it
to my nostrils. This morning the Deputy-Marshal came to me,
and said that he had ‘one favour to request. of me, which was, that
I would not attempt to preach, nor hold any meeting, as he had
received from the magistrates very particular directions concerning
me.’ Asa very large congregation assembled at the chapel, the
constable ordered them to disperse; but Mr. Watkis, a free person
of colour, who had been educated in England, and who was a
Leader and Society Steward, said to him that as they had met to
worship God, as soon as they had sung and prayed they would
separate.”

Mr. Orton having received a note from Mr. W., hastened to St.
Ann’s Bay, and arrived on the morning of the 12th, and having
preached in the evening, was next day committed to jail. The 17th
being the Sabbath, a few of the people having met in the chapel
and engaged in prayer, the constable went and took Mr. Watkis to
jail, for preaching and praying on the previous Lord’s-day. Onthe
20th he was brought before one of the magistrates, who liberated
ST, ANN’S BAY. 201

him, after binding him over to appear at the following Court of
Quarter Sessions—himself in a bond of £100, and a friend in one
of £50. In order to be saved from the persecution of the constable,
Mr. W. offered to take the oath prescribed by the law, that he
might be allowed to worship God in quiet, but his request was
refused.

While in prison, Messrs Whitehouse and Orton endeavoured to
instruct the prisoners, some of whom were as ignorant as the beasts
of the field. Through the heat and stench of the prison, Mr.
Orton became seriously ill, which was increased by the distracting
noise of the prisoners. Mr. Whitehouse wrote to the Deputy-
Marshal, to apprise him of the danger of keeping Mr. O. any longer
in confinement; on which that officer immediately allowed both to
remove as prisoners of honour. As soon as this took place, Mr.
Drake, the unwearied tormentor of the missionaries, rode off to a
magistrate to complain of this indulgence of the Deputy-Marshal,
who granted it on his own responsibility. On the 23d, a messenger
arrived with a writ of Habeas Corpus, and directions to the Deputy-
Marshal to remove his prisoners to the jailin Kingston. On the
29th, they were brought before his honour the Chief Justice, who,
after remarking that he had carefully examined the whole proceed-
ings, said, that he had no hesitation whatever in discharging them,
which was accordingly done. To this happy consummation, the
brotherly and zealous efforts of Messrs. Duncan, Barry, and Mur-
ray greatly contributed. The conduct of the authorities in Kings-
ton was a perfect contrast to that of those of St. Ann’s. Nothing
could exceed it in politeness and kindness: to this praise the con-
duct of the Deputy-Marshal of St. Ann’s also is justly entitled.

The Chief Justice, who so nobly discharged his duty on this
occasion, was Angling Scarlett, Esq., who soon after sailed for
England. But the affair did not rest here. His Excellency the
Governor, Sir John Keane, dismissed those magistrates from their
office who had illegally imprisoned the missionaries, which so vexed
them that they laid a plot to prosecute Mr. Orton for perjury!
Accordingly, on the 22d of October, he was placed at the bar of
the Grand Court, charged with wilful perjury, &e. Though he was
extremely ill and weak, he was kept in court during the whole day,
where he shuddered at the depositions that were made by the un-
happy men, who were actually committing the crime which they
endeavoured to fix on him. The first witness was Mr. S. Rose, one
of the dismissed magistrates; the second, Mr. Drake, the active
persecuting constable; the third, a Mr. Robertson ; and the fourth,
one who was not even in St. Ann’s Bay. Tlie evidence for Mr. O.
were Messrs. Duncan and Barry, and Mr. Bromley, Baptist mis-
sionary, besides several who were not required by the court, For
the prosecutors, the Attorney-General and Mr. Batty were retained
as counsel; and for the prisoners, Mr. Dallas. After nearly an
hour's consultation, the jury brought in a verdict “Not Guilty,” on

2B
202 ST. ANAS BAY.

which Mr. Orton was instantly surrounded by congratulating
friends, who rejoiced that truth had triumphed over prejudice. The
charge was, that ‘ Messrs. Barry and Duncan had not offered bail
for Mr. Orton at St. Ann’s Bay,” which Mr. O. had sworn to in his
affidavits, when applying for a writ of Habeas Corpus.

The health of Mr. O never fully returned after his confinement
at St. Ann’s Bay. In the midst of all these persecutions the work
of God continued to prosper. At the close of the year, the report
was—* The great work of our Divine Lord is in a very prosperous
state on this station. Notwithstanding the opposition and serious
persecution we have been called to endure in the course of the past
year, we have been enabled to rejoice in our God and go forward.
The Lord has deigned to favour us with many seasons of the out-
pouring of His Spirit, so that when we have been weak, then we
have been strong. Our congregations have been increasingly large
and attentive, and we are looking for the special effusion of the
Holy Ghost.” The number of members was two hundred and
ninety-two.

During the following year, the mission branched out in all direc-
tions as far as to Port Maria. Mr. Saxton, Mr. Whitehouse’s col-
league, in October, 1830, wrote— The prospects throughout this
extensive and important circuit, are delightfully encouraging—the
fields are white unto the harvest.’ The people around us are cry-
ing ‘come over and help us.’ Last week an invitation was sent
to us to visit the interior of St. Mary’s, about twenty-five miles
from Oracabessa Bay, where there is a large slave population, and
a great number of free settlers, but at present we cannot comply ;
for, notwithstanding the exertions of my respected superintendent,
who labours beyond his strength, and the mercy of my heavenly
Father towards me, in giving me such a measure of health, so that,
with little exception, I have been able to attend to my appoint-
ments, the places at present upon the plan are very inadequately
supplied. I trust, however, that very soon these mountains will
re-echo the praises of Immanuel.” Just on the same day of the
following month on which he wrote the above he was numbered
with the dead! Having been seized with fever, Mr. Whitehouse
had him removed to Bellemont, as soon as he was able to bear the
journey. The change produced by the mountain air excited hope
that all danger was over, but on the second day he relapsed. Mr.
Whitehouse expressed his fears to the doctor that he was in dan-
ger, soon after which a change took place, and his spirit took its
flight. Mr. W. wrote—“ In his death the connexion has lost a
zealous and faithful missionary ; the Societies on this extensive cir-
cuit, an affectionate and useful minister; the rising generation, a
sincere friend, and I, a beloved brother and fellow-labourer. He
appeared to have but one object in all he did, and that was the
promotion of the glory of God. To accomplish this he was instant
in season and out of season. To the children of the school at St.
ST. ANN'S BAY. 203

Ann’s Bay he had greatly endeared himself. Although the intelli-
gence of his death did not arrive at the Bay until late on Satur-
day evening, yet at midnight about a dozen of them arrived at
Bellemont, wet and weary. They collected around the corpse of
their friend, instructor, and minister; their throbbing hearts were
ready to break, and they wept aloud; and, at this solemn hour, a
number of persons having come to the misson-house from various
quarters, I read the forty-ninth and fiftieth chapters of the book
of Genesis. At an early hour, we began to prepare for removing
the body of our departed brother to Ebenezer, and the children
who had walked fourteen miles already, resolved to follow the
corpse eleven miles farther to the place of interment.” A short
time before he died, Mr. W. read the first chapter of Philippians,
and prayed with him, when he was so happy as scarcely to ‘* know
whether he was in the body or out of the body.” On asking if he
felt the presence of the Lord, he replied, “ O, yes; the Lord is
better to me than I deserve.” Again, Mr. W. said, “Have you
firm hold of Christ?” He answered, “1 am on the right founda-
tion; I feel I am an unprofitable servant, but the Lord is very good
to me.” On Mr. W. saying “ There is a fountain open for sin and
uncleanness.” He said, in reply, “ Yes, that is all my hope,” and
soon after entered into the joy of his Lord. His earnest and affec-
tionate manner of preaching greatly endeared him to the people
who enjoyed his ministry. He was in the twenty-eighth year
of his age, and second of his ministry.

That the spirit of persecution which had long given St. Ann’s
a bad eminence among the parishes of the island, should slumber
when the insurrection broke out at the close of 1831, was not to be
expected. Already there were elements prepared for a display of
intolerance, that brought prominently into view the real character of
West Indian slavery. No wonder that “the Colonial Church
Union ” should have originated in St. Ann’s, where the Rector, and
others high in office, had already displayed a temper indicative of
determination to destroy the mission if possible. The conduct of
the persecutors was such that the missionaries were compelled to
escape for their lives to Kingston, and for many months it was im-
possible for them to venture to return without the risk of assassi-
nation. When “the Colonial Unionists” had resolved on destroy-
ing the sectarian chapels, they proceeded to carry out their plans
of extermination in St. Ann’s, and so effectually did they execute
them, that not a fragment of either Baptist or Wesleyan mission
property was spared. While outrageous mobs were demolishing
the chapels, a member of the House of Assembly, magistrates, cap-
tains of militia, the Head Constable, the Deputy-Marshal, and other
leading men of the parish, headed and stimulated them in their sa-
crilegious work. A house, which was rented at Blackheath by the
missionaries, was spared, through the proprietor, Mr. Foreman,
taking possession of it himself, placing a notice on the gate—‘“ This
house to be let,” and guarding it day and night with his slaves.
204 ST, ANN'S BAY.

The missionaries having eluded their persecutors, all that they
could do was to hang them in effigy! Mr. Wood wrote,—‘ In my
last, 1 mentioned Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Nichols, (Baptist mis-
sionary,) and myself having been hanged in effigy on St. Ann’s
Bay, subsequently to the demolition of the chapels. This exhibi-
tion occurred in the Market-place; and while it was made, his
Honour the Custos came into the town, when he ordered the whole
to be taken down, which was accordingly done. At this conduct
of the Custos the mob was much enraged; and, after his Honour
had left the Bay, a Jew of the name of Israel, who was one of the
leading characters in destroying the chapels, caused the gallows to
be re-erected on his own premises, and our effigies again dangled
in the air; while the same individual boasted of his determination
not to allow any one to interrupt him, as he was then on his own
ground. We were thus represented for several days and nights ;
and two or three of our leaders were, on this second occasion,
added ‘to diversify the scene,’ and volleys of musket shots were
fired at us every morning by daybreak. What renders this affair
the more worthy of notice, is the circumstance of Satan being re-
presented as at the top of the gallows, and uttering the following
words, painted in very large characters:—-‘ These are my beloved,
in whom I am well pleased.’ This shows, at one view, the active
part the Jews have taken in our persecutions, their hatred to
Christianity, and their blasphemous contempt of the Son of God
himself.”

How the poor slaves suffered during this reign of terror may
easily be imagined. Among the victims of the oppressors Henry
Williams was one of the most distinguished. For having spent
the last night of the year, with some of his friends, in prayer to
God, he was seized, tried, and sentenced to be cruelly flogged ; and
while he was under the lash, the Rector is reported to have stood
by, and as the blood was flowing from Henry’s back and sides, he
exclaimed, “ d-——-n him ; I wish it was his heart’s blood that
was coming from him!” This miserable man lived long enough to
become an object of pity to the whole public of Jamaica, and to
stand indebted to the Christian sympathy of Baptist and Wesleyan
missionaries, who hastened to show him kindness, when he was de-
serted by his former associates, in a season of overwhelming do-
mestic calamity.

Messrs. Wood and Greenwood, being appointed to St. Ann’s,
felt deeply anxious to enter upon their labours among the scattered
and sutfering congregations ; but it was not until the month of June
that they durst venture to make the attempt, nor was it concluded
to be safe to go by land. They accordingly embarked in a small
sloop, called the Athol, and arrived at St. Ann’s Bay on Monday,
the 11th of June. They observed: “ A boat from the barque Juno
was immediately sent to take us to that vessel. We remained
on board about half an hour, and then went ashore, accompanied
hy several friends who had come to congratulate us on board the

 
ST. ANN’s BAY. 205

ship. We landed without the least appearance of molestation;
in fact, the profound stillness of the place at that moment, (which
could scarcely be exceeded if all the inhabitants of the town had
fled as rebels to the woods,) together with the disgraceful and
melancholy sight of demolished buildings, &c., made an indescrib-
able impression on our minds. As we moved along the streets,
the negroes and others gazed upon us as if we had been ‘ dead and
were come alive again ;’ and not a few expressed their joy at see-
ing us where vengeance had been sworn against any missionary
who should ever dare to make his appearance in that parish.
Several white men were in the street towards the upper part of the
town, who came a few paces to meet us, as if to offer an insult;
but, seeing their situation, they judged that rudeness would not be
good policy. Having arrived at the house of one of our friends,
our own free people and other well-wishers on the Bay were soon
gathered around us, when we engaged in the pleasing exercise of
singing and prayer,—a privilege which the mighty as well as the
vulgar have endeavoured to banish for ever from that persecuted
people. We then proceeded to our lodgings, where we remained
until Friday, the 15th instant.

‘From the day we landed to the day of our leaving, great agita-
tion prevailed in the Bay, as appeared from the foolish and insult-
ing placards stuck up in different parts of the town, and from what
the Jews and others who pulled down the chapels were doing, as
rumour said, to collect their forces for a desperate attack on our
persons, and also on the house in which we lodged. An attempt
was designed to be made on Wednesday, the 13th; but resistance
being contemplated by those who were determined to protect us at
the hazard of their own lives, the members of the Colonial Church
Union judged it safer to defer the matter until Saturday, the day
of muster for the Militia.

‘ The brave-hearted freemen, who had hailed our return to the
parish with gratitude and pleasure, had agreed among themselves
not to be tame spectators while their ministers should be ill-treated
or murdered. We deemed it advisable, therefore, to acquaint his
Honour the Custos with our arrival in the parish, as well as of the
threats of our enemies, and to request his protection. The follow-
ing is a copy of our correspondence with that gentleman :—

‘St. Ann’s Bay, 14th Jan., 1832.

‘Honourep Sir,—We take the liberty of respectfully informing
your Honour that we have arrived at this place, for the purpose of
re-opening our mission in the parish of St. Ann; but we are under
the painful necessity of stating that placards have been placed at
different parts of the town of St. Ann’s Bay, threatening violence
to our persons, if we do not immediately quit the place.

‘ We have also to inform your Honour that we have come to
the parish in accordance with the wishes of no inconsiderable
206 ST. ANN’S BAY.

number of respectable free persons, who formerly attended these
places of Divine worship, which have been wantonly destroyed by
lawless mobs; which free persons have entered into a determina-
tion to defend their ministers against any outrageous attacks from
those whose past conduct every Christian must deeply deplore.

‘We cannot justify ourselves in attempting to leave the parish
while the entreaties of our people are so general and urgent for us
to remain; and, fearing the appalling consequences of any violent
steps on the part of the infuriated, who have issued their threats
in almost every way, we feel ourselves called upon to request that
your Honour will adopt such measures for our protection in this
parish against the assassin and bloodthirsty as shall secure to us
that safety which his Majesty’s peaceable and most loyal subjects
have a right to expect and claim.

‘ We beg further to state that it is currently reported on the
Bay that Saturday next, being muster day, is appointed for at-
tempting violence on our persons and lives, or the Friday night
preceding. Therefore, we do hope that your Honour will lose no
time in affording us that ample protection which our very peculiar
and painful circumstances render necessary, and urge us to request
at your hands.

‘We have the honour to be, honoured Sir, your most obedient
humble Servants,

(Signed) Je OOD, Wesleyan Missionaries.
OHN GREENWOOD, f

‘To the Hon. Henry Cox, Custos of St. Ann’s.’

‘Epping, June 14th, 1832.

‘GrntTLEMEN,—I most deeply deplore the unfortunate violence
that has been displayed in the destruction of the chapels in St.
Ann’s, and I am sorry to observe that a violent spirit still exists in
almost the whole of the parishioners ; so much so, that I have not
the means of protecting you I, therefore, most strongly urge you
to desist from holding meetings till that spirit has subsided ; for, at
present, it rages to that degree, that they seem reckless of any
danger attending their outrageous and unlawful acts. J should not
consider my own person safe were I to attempt to interfere on your
behalf.

‘Iam, Gentlemen, your most obedient Servant,
(Signed) Hewry Cox.

‘To Messrs. Wood and Greenwood.’ ”

Such was the helpless condition to which the Chief Magistrate
was reduced. What, then, must have been that of the missionaries
and their oppressed people? What provocation was given to these
sanguinary men? The missionaries were peaceable, and so were
all their people, during martial law, while all the white men were
away from the properties on militia duty, the slaves continued to
ST. ANN’S BAY. 207

attend regularly to their accustomed work! No alternative being
left but either to stay and be the victims and witnesses of a sangui-
nary affray, or leave the parish, the latter step was taken, as be-
coming the ministers of a peaceful religion, which enjoins on its pro-
fessors, ‘‘ When they persecute you in one city, flee ye into an-
other.”

After continuing in Kingston till the 6th July, Mr. Greenwood
left for Port Maria, one of the stations in, the St. Ann’s circuit,
but in another parish (St. Mary’s) and at a considerable distance,
presuming that no one would interfere with him. He preached on
the morning of the Lord’s-day, the 8th, without any interruption ;
but in the evening, a Jew, named Henry M. Lee, along with some
companions, behaved in a disgraceful manner, to the annoyance of
the minister and the congregation. Next day he made an affidavit
before the magistrates, who granted a warrant for the apprehension
of Mr. Greenwood. He was forthwith taken to the Court-house, be-
fore R. L. Stephens, G. Vidal, and H. Cox, jun., Esqs., and charged
with preaching contrary to law. Mr. G. rested his defence upon
his having been licensed in one parish, which the Attorney-General
had decided was sufficient for any parish in the island; but Mr.
Cox indignantly told him that they did not send for him to teach
them the law, as they had laws of their own, and also that he was
not licensed for the parish of St. Mary, and never would be. After
a most humiliating exhibition of magisterial meanness, they bound
him over to appear at the Court of Quarter Sessions, which was to
be held on the 17th, in two sureties of £50 each, and himself in
£100. To this he demurred, on which he was at once sent to jail.
On entering the jail yard, he observed—“ My feelings were har-
rowed up at seeing the bare, lacerated, and bleeding backs of seve-
ral negroes, chiefly women. These negroes liad come to the ma-
gistrates to complain of the ill-treatment they had met with from
their overseer, but their complaint was declared to be frivolous,
and they were ordered to be severely flagellated. The jailer said
he did not know what to do with me, as the jail was in such a bad
state. After showing me the condemned cells, and asking me to make
choice of one of them, he took me to the Marine Hospital, in the
same yard, and he said he had no objection to my remaining there.
The matron very kindly engaged to make me as comfortable as she
could. But when night came on, I found that efforts had been
making to get me among the rest of the prisoners. To this I had
no particular objection ; but the jailer being absent, and a slave
only being sent, I refused to go below, saying, ‘ If any one requires
me to go below, let him come and take me himself.’ My friends
having called to see me, we prayed together, which gave great
umbrage to our enemies, but we chose to obey God rather than
man.”

Two days after he was committed, he was advised to give the
required bail. Of his place of confinement he observed—“ The
208 ST. ANN’S BAY.

floor is nothing but damp clay; a very nauseous effuvium comes
from the walls and ground; the jail door is generally locked from
six P.M. to six a.M,, add to this the place is very confined, scarcely
a breath of air can be admitted either day or night: this circum-
stance rendered the place very unhealthy.”

On the 24th of August he again returned to Kingston, which left
the people once more entirely destitute of pastoral attention, and
exposed to the numerous wily, malignant, and powerful enemies
who sought to extirpate every vestige of real religion from among
them. At the following Annual District Meeting the brethren, in
reporting on the state of the mission, observed—* We feel incom-
petent to give anything like a correct report of this very extensive
and promising circuit ; but from what we have seen, and from what
we can learn by means of correspondence with some of the official
characters connected with several of the places, it affords us cause
of sincere thankfulness that the people generally, notwithstanding
their extremely distressing privations, in the destruction of their
chapels, the absence of their ministers, and their consequent exclu-
sion from the public ordinances of religion, hold fast their profes-
sion, and endeavour to keep themselves in the love of God. We
regret to hear that some of our slave members, under the influence
of that fear ‘which bringeth a snare,’ and in order to avoid perse-
cution, have left the way of life, and joined themselves to the ene-
mies of God and his people. These instances, however, we believe,
are few ; and while we gratefully acknowledge the Divine influence
manifested in those who stand fast in the Lord, we cannot but sym-
pathize with as many as have been compelled, from the peculiarity
of their circumstances, to go back again to the world, and we look
forward with earnest solicitude to the time, and pray that it may
not be distant, when God shall visit and redeem this deeply injured
people out of all their distresses.”

The Chief Justice, in an address to the Grand Jury for the county
of Surrey, decided that the Toleration Act of lst William and
Mary, and the 10th of Anne, were both in force in Jamaica, but
from which Justice Bernard dissented. Mr. Greenwood having, in
the Bishop’s office, licensed five houses in St. Ann’s circuit, coura-
geously recommenced his labours,—even at St. Ann’s Bay, where
the power of His Excellency the Earl of Mulgrave had recently
been exercised to curb the insolence of the “Colonial Unionists.”
On the first Sabbath, some of the cashiered magistrates made an
effort to get up a mob to assail him, but without success. The
battle was turning to the gate, and the blow given to the faction
that terminated in its extinction, though not immediately.

When the Court of Quarter Sessions for St. Ann’s came round,
Mr. Greenwood applied to be qualified according to the provisions
of the Toleration Act, declared to be in force in the island by the
Chief Justice. But the spirit of persecution, though partially
chained, was in no way mitigated. Some of the magistrates con-
SI. ANN’S BAY. 209

ducted themselves in so violent a way, that the Custos urged Mr.

Greenwood to retire from the court, to save himself from personal

injury. Immediately several persons made a rush towards Mr. G.

in order to seize him, but, providentially, he made his escape

aoe a private door, and got out of their reach without receiving
urt.

Again he was compelled to take refuge in Kingston till the 16th
of September, when he and Mr. Crookes set out in order to visit
the persecuted flock. The next day they arrived at St. Ann’s Bay,
where matters looked a little settled, in consequence of three com-
panies of his Majesty’s troops having been quartered in the parish.
At Port Maria and Morely they were pleased with the state of the
people, who listened gladly to sermons preached on Friday and
Sabbath morning. Mr. G. wrote—“ After preaching in the morn-
ing we returned to St. Ann’s Bay, and on the way we had several
pleasing opportunities of praying with different families connected
with religious societies. We met several of the ‘ Unionists,’ but
not one attempted to insult us, though twelve months ago it was
running considerable risk to travel the road. On Sunday, the 22d,
in the morning I preached at St. Ann’s Bay, in a house that had
been registered in the Bishop’s office, to about 500 people. The
joy that beamed in the countenances of the auditors was indescrib-
able; so glad were they to hear the Gospel once more. In that
parish, where the God of Christians has been so insulted, in the
destruction of his houses, and the banishment of his messengers,
the fields are white unto the harvest; and we have sanguine hopes
that, when proper attention can be paid to the moral culture of the
people, religion will spread very extensively.”

In 1834, Messrs. Greenwood and Barr were permitted to witness
the first great step towards freedom and its effect on the long
afflicted slaves in St. Ann’s. In October, they wrote a most cheer-
ing account of the prospects of better days which were opening up
before them. At St. Ann’s Bay, they observed—‘ The members
of our Society here are not weary in well doing; many of them,
we believe, enjoy that inward kingdom which consists in righteous-
ness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The classes are well at-
tended. Our Leaders are diligent and faithful in the discharge of
their responsible duties ; and, although our people have very indif-
ferent accommodation, having only a smadl shed, which covers about
two-thirds of them from the sun, yet their attendance on the ordi-
nances of God, their contributions towards the support of religion,
and their pious deportment, prove that they love both God and his
cause. During the last quarter we have had an increase of sixty-
six members.”

Messrs. Whitehouse and Wood prosecuted their labours in 1835
with diligence and success, till the latter was cut of by fever on the
24th of May. He had recently returned to the island after visiting
his friends in England. He was a young man much loved by his

2c
210 ST. ANN’S BAY.

brethren for his humility, piety, kindness, and zeal in his work as a
missionary. His superintendent, Mr. Whitehouse, gave some ac-
count of his death-bed to a few of the missionaries in Kingston soon
after his decease, of which the writer recorded the following :—
“ On Saturday evening previous to his death, his medical atten-
dant called to see him, and, as he left him, he begged Mr. White-
house to call him back. Mr. W. smiled, and asked what he wanted
with the doctor. He replied, ‘I have something to say to him
that deeply concerns his interests—do call him’ On which Mr.
W. followed the Doctor to the gate, and begged he would return
Just to please his patient. As he stepped into the room the dying
man said, with great emphasis, ‘ Doctor, I only wish to tell you 1
am going to glory.” The doctor laughed and went away. During
the evening he continued in full possession of his senses, but would
touch neither food nor medicine. Asking the friends who offered
them, ‘ Why they wished to keep him back from heaven? To-
wards morning he seemed to rest quietly. About six o’clock, Mr.
Whitehouse asked him if it was all fair before him? He answered,
‘There is not a cloud.’ Soon afterwards,-he exclaimed, ‘ There he
is.’ Mr. W. asked ‘Who? ‘My Redeemer,’ was the reply, and
in a few minutes his happy spirit most peacefully entered into rest.”
Mr. W. said it was the most blessed death-bed scene he ever wit-
nessed, and that it made a deep impression upon the medical gentle-
man who attended him. His excellent wife, to whom he had been
married only afew months, was thus left the second time the widow
of a Jamaica missionary. She was the relict of the late Mr. Jen-
kins, mentioned in other parts of this work.

Mr. Walters was sent to supply the place of Mr. Wood soon
after his decease; but, alas! he, too, was consigned to the tomb in
the course of two weeks after his arrival at St. Ann’s Bay. Mr.
Whitehouse gave the following account of this painful event :—
“ Brother Walters arrived in this circuit on Saturday, June 27th,
and on Sunday, the 28th, opened and closed his commission at St.
Ann’s Bay. It was remarked by several of the people that Mr.
Walters had preached his own funeral sermon. The subject of
death occupied a prominent place in his Sabbath labours, and it was
evident that he considered the time of his departure to be at hand.
He even ventured to assert, whilst preaching on the Sunday, that
he was come to St. Ann’s to be buried. His apprehensions were
the more remarkable, as he appeared quite to enjoy his removal
from Spanish Town to St. Ann’s. I saw him on Monday, the 29th,
when I thought he appeared more cheerful than I had seen him for
some time past. In fact, I remarked, that I thought he seemed to
be more healthy than I had ever seen him. He informed me that
the preceding day, Sunday, was one of the happiest he had ever
enjoyed. Indeed, I believe he was so led out in public exercises as
to have exceeded his strength. He said he felt as if he had lost a
burden, On the evening of the same day he complained a little ;
ST. ANN’S BAY. 211

on the following day, Tuesday, he took medicine; on Wednesday
the doctor was called in; and on Sunday, July 5th, there was little
hope of his recovery ; however, there appeared a favourable change
afterwards, and for several days, we hoped that God would restore
him; but on Saturday morning, the 11th inst., at half-past six
o'clock, the Lord was pleased to terminate his sufferings, by taking
him to himself. From the commencement of the attack, Mr.
Walters spoke of nothing scarcely but death, and his last words

were—
‘Then ask the monster, Where's thy sting ?

And where’s thy victory, boasting grave ?’

He was a most affectionate young man, diligent in visiting the sick
and the poor, and in the pulpit fervent and earnest in urging his
hearers to seek salvation through faith in the blood of the Re-
deemer.” Thus were two young missionaries cut down in the same
house, within a few weeks of each other, and their wives left
to drink the widow’s cup. On the north east of the chapel, not far
from where they died, their dust lies side by side, resting in hope of
the resurrection.

The loss of these missionaries was much felt, especially as the
season of trouble was now rapidly passing away, and one of peace
and prosperity opening. Mr. Whitehouse now felt it to be impera-
tive to make every effort to get the demolished chapels re-erected,
and, if possible, an additional number built, to accommodate the
vast numbers who flocked to hear the Gospel from every part of
the parish, and even beyond its limits for many miles. He therefore
laid the matter before the Committee, through the District Meet-
ing, and also by numerous statements of great importance. He
proposed a division of the circuit into three, and earnestly called
for two colleagues to help him, without delay. For sometime
the want of a sufficient grant towards making a beginning retarded
his plans, but at length the Committee responded to his calls, and
he began to carry them into execution. As soonas Mr. Edmondson,
the chairman of the District, received the decision of the Committee,
he wrote, under date March 11, 1836, “I am exceedingly glad
that the Committee have been able to raise their grants for St.
Ann’s Bay, and Ocho Rios chapels to £600each. Mr. Whitehouse
will now proceed with the erection; and the persecuted, long-
neglected, but persevering people of those places will soon, through
the Divine blessing, and British liberality, be favoured again with
a covering from the sun and rain while worshipping God. Imme-
diately after receiving your letter of January 15, I wrote to Mr.
Whitehouse respecting Blackheath, and about a week after had an
interview with him. The case seems to me a very distressing one,
and to have claims on the sympathy and aid of the Committee be-
yond any other I know, or have ever known; and I most sincerely
wish the superintendent’s request may by some means soon be met.
212 ST. ANN’S BAY.

I fear very little can be done by local exertions. St. Ann’s has
been the seat of the most violent persecutions ; and although the
congregations are now protected by the strong arm of the law, and
are permitted to worship in peace, there is no general disposition
to help a cause like ours; and the negro, distressed as he still is,
cannot be expected out of his pittance to do much beyond contribu-
tions of the ordinary kind. But Mr. Whitehouse has calculated on
receiving something, and has asked the Committee so much less in
the way of grant than he otherwise must have solicited. A school-
house at either of his new places would be far too small. To this
idea you must add the consideration of future increase, in a parish
where our mission has gained firm footing among the poor, and
where there are vast numbers yet to be gathered into the fold of
Christ. Under these circumstances, permit me to recommenda re-
consideration of this subject ; and rest assured I would not do so if
I could view it as one of an unimportant kind. In this affair various
reasons operate on my mind. The people have long worshipped
under a vertical sun, or in the midst of rains, comparable to nothing
but your thunder showers. The effect that must be produced on
the constitution of the missionaries, who, in reading the liturgy,
preaching, catechising, meeting the Society, examining candidates,
baptizing, marrying, cailing class papers, &c., &c., are exposed to
the weather, from nine or ten in the morning till near after dark at
night, will perhaps soon be found to be very serious to the men
themselves, their families, and the church of God. Our cause, too,
is, in my opinion, in some measure at stake. The expectations of
our people have been raised, and if they are disappointed, again
their hearts will sink within them.”

Arrangements having been made, the foundation-stone of the new
chapel at the Bay was laid by the Rev. Jonathan Edmondson, on
the 25th of March, 1837, and an appropriate address delivered by
the Rev. Thomas H. Bewley, General Superintendent of Schools.
Though, from the very brief notice that was given, the congrega-
tion was small, and consisted chiefly of negroes, yet the collection
amounted to £24, 5s. 1d.—showing the liberality of the people, and
their anxiety to see the good work accomplished. Mr. Williams
mentioned an instance of noble self-denial and liberality in a poor
free black woman, who had to support herself and a sick husband
by retailing fish and small wares. Having called to pay £11 to a
gentleman, he said that she might keep it till he wanted it; on
which she traded with it, and gained £5, Os. 5d., which she brought
to Mr. W., as a contribution towards the erection of the chapel,
saying, “Ihave brought you the money. I was afraid I might use
it if I kept it longer.” Her aged husband was like-minded;
he did what he could by devoting the produce of a few cocoa-nut
trees, which in eight months brought £2, 13s. 4d. Thus these two
humble negroes showed the value they set upon that Gospel which
was to be proclaimed in the building about to be raised.
T3adVHJ AVG S.NNY 5S

HOU] TQtg % Garay
acy ainwes

 
ST. ANN’S BAY, 2135

Though the process of building in Jamaica is rarely quick, yet
Mr. Whitehouse and his colleagues were diligent in hastening for-
ward the chapels ; so that he wrote, in August, 1838, to the Com-
mittee. After referring to the opening of Watsonville Chapel, he
says—“ It is also my pledsing duty to inform you that on the Ist
of this month we opened our new chapel at St. Ann’s Bay. It is
true that it is not quite finished, but I was anxious to have it con-
secrated to the service of God on the memorable Ist of August;
and though I had considerable difficulty in accomplishing my object
I succeeded beyond my expectations ; and our people were delighted
beyond measure at the idea of having their chapel opened for the
first time on the first day of their freedom! Mr. Inglis preached
on the occasion, and we had an immense congregation. Multitudes
were unable to get into the chapel, or to hear distinctly the voice of
the preacher ; but they gave substantial evidence of their deep con-
cern in the delightful events of that glorious day ; and the collec-
tion at the close of the service amounted to £175, 9s. 44d. To
God be all the praise! It was exceedingly gratifying to me to
perceive, as soon as the service was over, the hundreds of individu-
als connected with our Societies bending their course homewards,
in accordance with advice I had previously given them—each one
to enjoy a cumfortable dinner in his own house and with his own
family, on the first day of freedom! By this means they escaped
the riot and confusion of public feastings, and, in this respect, their
conduct formed a striking contrast with the proceedings of some
others; and when I saw the grace of God in them I was glad!
Our chapel at this place is 58 feet by 38; it is a strong and elegant
building ; and, when finished, will be an ornament to the town.
But I must add, in reference to this place also, that already it is
too small. This is one of my greatest embarrassments in every
place, and yet it is encouraging. Permit me again to remind you
that when the grant was made by the Committee for the erection
of this chapel, the purchase of the premises amounted to £450
currency, or £321 sterling, was not included in the calculations
upon which that grant was made.

“T rejoice to state that the good work, in which we are engaged
in this circuit, continues to prosper in every place. Since the
commencement of the year there have been many pleasing indica-
tions of increase in knowledge and growth in grace among our
people, and of a lively interest in the extension of Christianity. A
few weeks ago, [ was at St. Ann’s Bay, on the evening for holding
the missionary prayer-meeting. Brother Lewis read an appeal in
behalf of the Fegees. I had not seen or heard it before, and there were
but few persons present on the occasion. However, it occurred to
me that something might be done, and, therefore, before closing the
meeting, I addressed the small congregation, and endeavoured to
shew the practicability of affording some assistance in a case so
urgent ; and, judging that example might be of some avail, I offered,
214 ST. ANN’s BAY.

by way of challenge, to give one pound. ‘The effect was astonish-
ing. A poor black man at my left, an apprentice, said—*I will
give twenty shillings, sir ;” a gentleman present said, “I will give
£5 for myself and family ;” and in a few minutes upwards of £20
were promised, and have since been paid, by a congregation from
whom it might have been supposed. not twenty shillings could have
been obtained. Finding this appeal so cheerfully responded to at
St. Ann’s Bay, myself and colleagues resolved upon what might be
done in other parts of the circuit, and the result is that £50 at least
will have been raised in this circuit in behalf of the Fegee mission,
and this principally from the late apprentices. I intend to close the
account in a few days, and will inform you of the exact amount
when I next write you.”

When the accounts were closed it was found that instead of £50
for the Fegee mission, there were £120, besides £142 for the Ge-
neral Mission Fund—making a total of £262 towards sending the
Gospel to the heathen—a noble offering for this long persecuted
people—who were at the same time striving to meet their own
local expenses. On this point Mr. Whitehouse, in writing the
Committee, observed—* At our last District Meeting provision
was made for this circuit to draw on the District Treasurer for
£150 currency, to meet the deficiency of March, June, and Sep-
tember quarters, but [am happy to inform you, not only that we
shall not need it, but that there is a prospect of our having a surplus
of receipts at the end of the year, which I shall be glad, with your
permission, to carry to the chapel account ; and I would avail my-
self of this opportunity of recommending the appointment of a fifth
missionary for this circuit at the next District Meeting. Judging
from present appearances (and I have no fear of our declining) the
circuit will support him, without dependence on the Committee’s
funds. Ido indeed rejoice at the prosperity of our Zion. In 1827
I was on this circuit alone. We then had two preaching places,
and were dependent on the Committee’s funds to a considerable
amount for the support of the missionary and his family. We have
now eight preaching places and four missionaries (requiring a fifth),
and the circuit is independent of the funds of the Committee, except
that we still need help for our chapel. I mention these things in
gratitude to God, and also to show that the funds of the Society
have not been spent in vain in this place.” No wonder that such
a review awakened gratitude in the soul of this devoted missionary
and his fellow-labourers.

On the removal of Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Kerr succeeded him in
the superintending part of this circuit, which was now divided into
two, named St. Ann’s East and St. Ann’s West—the latter embrac-
ing St. Ann’s Bay, Ebenezer, and Pope’s Bay, having above nine
hundred members, and about two hundred children in the schools.
Mr. Freeman’s exciting accounts of Ashantee having been read,
Mr. Kerr, following the example of Mr. Whitehouse, took the lead
ST, ANN’S BAY. 215

in a special subscription for that interesting mission, and, though
there were only thirty persons present, eighteen of them contribut-
ed £25, 6s. 8d. currency, which was greatly augmented at a special
prayer meeting held a week after; and at the close of the year
there were for the General Mission Fund £130, 12s. ld., and for
Ashantee £102, 2s, 11d.—though, by the division of the circuit,
less than one-third of those who contributed previously were mem-
bers of the new circuit. Their contributions towards the support
of the Gospel among themselves averaged above four shillings per
member for the June quarter, showing the value they set upon the
Gospel for themselves, and their desire that it should be communi-
cated to others also. Nor did they confine their sympathy to mere
financial aid, they even parted with one of their ministers to meet
the circumstances of bereaved societies, as will appear from the
following :—
*‘ Wesleyan Chapel, St. Ann’s Bay,
“ October 25th, 1841.
*« At a Leaders’ meeting, held as above,
‘Resolved Unanimously—

“J. That this meeting having taken into consideration the af-
flicted state of the district, occasioned by the death of several of the
missionaries in the course of the year, and especially the ease of the
Savannahi-la-Mar circuit, in consequence of the recent death of the
Rev. Wilson Lofthouse, feel it a connexional duty, in the spirit
of sacrifice, to relinquish, for the present, the valuable services of
our greatly esteemed minister, the Rev, W. H. Hann, in order to
supply the lack of service in the St. Ann’s East circuit, occasioned
by the removal of the Rev. Henry Bleby to Savannah-la-Mar.

“2. Having also heard with great concern the increasingly em-
barrassed state of the Mission Fund, and cordially approving of the
measures adopted by the Committee in promoting the work of
God, the members of this meeting pledge themselves to raise im-
mediately, (in addition to what may be done for ordinary mission
purposes,) the amount necessary to pay the passage of a single
missionary to Jamaica, with the view, first, of supplying one of the
vacancies occasioned by death, and that the second preacher may
be re-appointed to this circuit at the approaching district meeting ;
and, secondly, in the hope that some other circuits may be induced
to take up this important subject in such a way as to them shall
seem likely to contribute to the immediate relief of the district, by
securing a supply of missionaries from the parent society, and also
the speedy liquidation of the debt.

“ Signed in behalf of the meeting,
“D. Kerr, Y  Winéster
“W. H. Hann, f TAISLETS:
*“ Thomas D. Jefferson, Leader and Circuit Steward.
“Richard Carter, Leader and Society Steward.”
216 ST. ANN’S BAY.

Mr. Kerr concluded with an urgent appeal to the Parent Commit-
tee for immediate help, on account of the peculiar circumstances of
the district generally, but of his own circuit in particular.

At the District Meeting held at Montego Bay early in the month
of February, 1843, the writer was appointed to St. Ann’s Bay cir-:
cuit, till a missionary could be sent from England to fill his place.
Along with Mr. Sinclair he continued till he left, in order to return
home. The intercourse he had with the people was of the most
pleasing character, though it was only for a short period. At the
Bay the members amounted to nearly seven hundred; at Ebenezer
about two hundred, and at Pope’s Bay, nearly as many. Ebenezer
is about ten miles above the Bay, in the mountains, close to the
Grand Interior Road. From the coolness of the climate the people
of light complexion look as rosy as if they were inhabitants of the
mother country. Many English garden stuffs are cultivated in the
neighbourhood, but the fogs which prevail keep up a humidity that
is by no means agreeable, though it preserves a perpetual verdure.
The chapel was well attended, and the Sabbath-school in good order.
There were three Sabbath-schools in the circuit, having 250
scholars, and one Day-school, with 120 scholars. Among those
remembered by the writer with peculiar interest and affection on
account of their piety, zeal, and usefulness, are Mr. and Mrs. Jeffer-
son, who, from the beginning of the mission, were courageous,
consistent, and stedfast in their profession of the faith. The latter
endured much in the beginning of her Christian career. The
Messrs. Carter were young men of colour, respectably educated,
decidedly pious, and promising to become increasingly useful.
Mr. Richard was steward of the Society, one of the brothers was
called to the work of the ministry about the time the writer left the
island, and the other was a consistent and amiable member of the
Society. There were others also who had maintained ‘their jinteg-
rity during the fiery ordeals through which this Society had passed
during the times of persecution, whose names shall be had in re-
membrance when the memory of their troublers is blotted out.
Their sufferings were not lost upon them—the effect on their views,

temper, and deportment was decidedly favourable to their Christian
character.
oD

amuel

 

P'S

BEECHAMYILLE MISSION RESIDENCE & CHAPEL.
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CHAPTER XV.

BEECHAMVILLE, WATSONVILLE, AND GUY’S HILL.

A Chapel erected at Bellemont—The first Missionary Meeting—Death of Mr. Drew—
Prosperity of the mission—Bellemont vacated—The Society removed to Black-
heath—Two years’ persecution—Re-establishment and prosperity of the mission
—Blackheath vacated—Beechamville and Watsonville Stations formed—Guy’s
Hill—Commencement of the mission—George Stanbury—A Society formed by
Mr. Edney—united to Oracabessa circuit—Mr. Ritchie—a Chapel erected by Mr.
Hodgson—Enlargement of the circuit.

Tue origin of the numerous stations in and adjacent to St. Ann’s
having been mentioned in the account of the station at the Bay, it is
necessary to trace the progress of the mission begun by S. D. Drew,
Esq., at Bellemont, in order to arrive at Beechamville, Watsonville,
and others, which sprang from it. In this beautiful and salubrious
region, the properties and settlements are very numerous. The
parish contains two hundred and forty-three thousand eight hundred
and thirty-six acres of land; and at the period when the mission was
begun there were, besides the free inhabitants, nearly twenty-five
thousand slaves, and about twenty-six thousand head of cattle,
horses, mules, and other stock.

No sooner had Mr. Drew succeeded in securing the visits of the
missionaries, than he became a most zealous, judicious, and success-
ful assistant in carrying forward the mission which he had planted.
As the attendance of the people increased, the necessity of having a
place of worship became more and more felt, but from the difficulties
which presented themselves, it was not till August, 1825, that the
object was so far accomplished as to admit of Mr. Ratcliffe removing
his family from the Bay to Bellemont; on which occasion, he
observed that, through the zealous co-operation of Mr. and Mrs.
Drew, his plans, relative to the station, were nearly completed. The
building was seventy feet by forty-two, the east part of which
formed the residence for the missionary and his family; and the
chapel was calculated to accommodate from five to six hundred
persons.

Only a few weeks after Mr. Ratcliffe’s removal to it, a circumstance
occurred which gave the station a peculiar interest ; and that was the
holding of the first missionary meeting ever held in the island. On
this occasion, Mr. Young preached a sermon, and addressed the meeting
on the grand theme of evangelizing the world. He was pleasingly

2D
218 BEECHAMVILLE.

disappointed with both the chapel and the congregation,—“ the
former being superior in every respect, and the latter much more
numerous” than he had anticipated. The meeting was held in the
afternoon. Great interest was excited among the people, who con-
tributed liberally, in answer to the appeals which were made in
behalf of the perishing millions in heathen lands. The interest taken
by the people in missionary efforts was to be looked for, seeing that
they themselves owed every blessing they enjoyed to the interest
taken by others in the great missionary cause. One of the most
delightful features of the success attending the mission, is the
missionary spirit of those who feel their personal obligation to com-
municate freely the blessings they have so freely received.

About this time, a station was begun at Goshen, an estate at some
distance to the north-east of Bellemont, near the parish of St. Mary,
where the slaves gave great encouragement to the missionary, by
their desire of instruction, serious deportment, and attention to the
means of Grace, At the end of the year, Mr. Ratcliffe observed of
Bellemont—* This station presents encouragement. An interest is
excited among the respectable free people, and also among the
slaves ; and the chapel being now in a good state of accommodation,
they attend well, and the seriousness with which they listen to the
truths of the Gospel, together with the steadfastness of the Society,
afford considerable hope that, even in this dark parish, many will be
brought to know God in truth.” This pleasing state of the mission
continued through the following year—a spirit of hearing and
increased piety appeared, and many were added to the Lord.

However, the removal of Mr. Drew, by death, early in the year,
was severely felt. Myr. Ratcliffe gave the following account, in a
letter to the Committee :—“ You will be deeply affected to hear of
the death of Counsellor Drew, who has long held, and very deservedly
sO, a very prominent situation in the Wesleyan Mission in Jamaica.
His health had long appeared to be declining, but the evident im-
provement of his mind in the spirituality and holiness of the Gospel,
afforded the best data from which to calculate the certainty and
solidity of his future hopes.

‘On the 30th of December (1826), he attended service, with his
large and amiable family, in the chapel, which had been raised, in a
great measure, by his zeal; and, with a number of free people and
slaves, partook of the emblems of the Saviour’s passion : he then met
his large slave class; and after taking an affectionate leave of Mrs.
Ratcliffe and the children, retired to his own residence (about a mile
from the mission premises), to sicken and to die; but his death was
as satisfactory as his life had been pious and devoted.

“* Mr. Drew was a man of considerable erudition. When he first
received the Wesleyan Missionaries, he was floating on a sea of
scepticism ; his soul had no anchor ; his mind no resting place; but
the first sermon he heard, which was from John iii. 3, made a deep
BEECHAMVILLE, 219

impression on his heart. He saw his lost condition, and trembled at
himself, and the contrite tear succeeded the heartfelt petition, ‘ Lord
what wilt thou have me to do?’

** Asa Christian, Mr. Drew’s experience was deep, serene, and
undoubting ; ‘his faith stood not in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God.’ As an agent in this mission, he was undaunted,
thoughtful, and persevering; his motto was—Veritatem audiamus ;
and when once convinced of the truth of his position, a host could not
move him from his purpose. Whether in the vestry, on the bench,
or before rulers, he never shunned the Cross, or betrayed the cause of
the Redeemer, but ‘ by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering,
by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the Word of
Truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness, on the
right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report
and good report,’ he steadily pursued his way, and, impelled by the
force of truth, and the commanding influence of the religion of the
Son of God, he escaped the terrors of the wicked, ‘ entered into peace,
and now walks in his uprightness.’

** The last sickness of Mr. Drew was of short duration. He com-
plained on Monday—on Tuesday, I went up to see him, and prayed
with him—his mind was tranquil, and stayed upon God. All his
thoughts were for the safety of the mission ; and he was very desirous
of attending the second sitting of the Magistrates, appointed to investi-
gate the circumstances of the disgraceful outrage committed on
the mission premises at St. Ann’s Bay, on the night of
the 25th of December, or early on the morning of the 26th; but
though he had, with the most laudable promptitude, as a Magistrate,
hastened to my assistance, and put the matter in a train of legal
inquiry, he did not live to see its issue. Wednesday I attended him
again, and advised medical aid to be procured. I thought I saw an
evident sinking in his case, and said, ‘ I hope, Sir, you will soon
recover; for, at this critical moment, how great would be our loss
were you taken from us?’ He replied, ‘O, don’t say that; I ama
poor worm, there is no room for boasting ; I cannot look to anything
I have done—the whole science of divinity is compressed into a very
narrow compass—

© 1 the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.’

I found him the next day in a very happy state. He had no fear,
and every expression was marked with peculiar simplicity and affec-
tion. At one time he said, ‘ I have been assaulted, since I saw you,
with the temptation that my religion is mere form, but, thank God,
He gives me power to look steadfastly to the Cross, and all is clear
before me.’ He felt a peculiar interest and concern for the salvation
of the Doctor, to whom, on his giving him his medicine, he said,
‘ Now, Doctor, you must attend whilst Mr. Ratcliffe reads a portion
of Scripture and prays with me; it will do you good as well as
220 BEECHAMVILLE.

myself,’ Though very weak, he exerted himself, to the astonishment
of all present, in singing that fine hymn—

« I know that my Redeemer lives,
And ever prays for me, &c.'

“On Thursday, I left Bellemont, to attend at the formation of a
Branch Missionary Society, at St. Ann’s Bay, where we had fondly
hoped our dear friend would have presided, as he had done in almost
every other parish, and again cheered us by his eloquence and fer-
vent piety ; but whilst we were on the platform pleading the cause
of Missions, the King of Terrors was throwing his last dart at one of
its best, its ablest patrons. A messenger met me, at the foot of the
stairs, with the distressing news that Mr. Drew was worse. I
hastened away immediately, accompanied by Messrs. Crofts and
Orton. At ten o’clock, we reached the summit of the mountain,
where we alighted, and spent some solemn moments in prayer ; and
whilst we were thus engaged, as near as we could calculate, he calmly
sunk in death, to be numbered with ‘ the spirits of the just made
perfect.’ We arrived about 1, a.m., but it was the house of mourn-
ing. We knelt by the side of the widow and nine lovely children,
and besought the ‘ Father of mercies’ and ‘ the God of all consola-
tion,’ to be their ‘hiding place from the storm,’ and their pavilion in
this ‘ time of trouble.’ Mr. Drew was interred on Saturday, in the
family burying-ground, at Bellemont. At the close of the funeral
service, Brother Crofts gave a most impressive address, and Brother
Orton offered the concluding prayer. The pulpits of Bellemont and
Spanish Town Chapels were hung with black, and a funeral sermon
was preached at the latter place, during the sitting of the District
Meeting, from Isaiah lvii. 1-2.” The year so mournfully begun, was
as mournfully ended, by the death of Mr. Grimsdall, which has been
already noticed in the account of St. Ann’s Bay station. During the
next three years, the mission continued to prosper. The labours of
Messrs. Whitehouse and Saxton were greatly owned of God. At the
close of 1880, it was reported thus of Bellemont :—‘‘ We have cause
of rejoicing: the good seed of the Word of God has been sown, and
during the last few weeks, the fields have become more and more
white unto the harvest; and, notwithstanding great cfforts have
been made to blight our hopes, many are beginning earnestly to
inquire after the Friend of Sinners. Our congregations, on a Lord’s
day, were never so large as they have been of late.”

These delightful indications of prosperity were suddenly blighted
by the insurrection of 1831-2, previously to which, the premises at
Bellemont were vacated, on account of some flaw in the title to the
ground on which they were erected. In the middle of 1831, the
Society was removed to Blackheath ; and in about six months after-
wards, the missionaries were driven away by the violence of persecu-
tion, which continued for about two years, during which there was
BEECHAMVILLE. 221

no preaching, on account of the sanguinary threats of the persecutors.
During this suffering season, so great was the anxiety of many of the
people to hear the Gospel, that they walked to St. Ann’s Bay, a
distance of nearly twenty miles, where there was preaching. Towards
the close of 1833, the means of grace were partially restored to them,
for which they were exceedingly thankful. There was the prospect
of an abundant harvest; and in no part of the circuit was shewn
greater promise of success. About one hundred and thirteen of the
scattered members were gathered.

In the course of the following year, the labours of the missionaries
were eminently successful. Of the Society at Blackheath, they
observed :—

“In giving an account of this Society, we cannot but advert to its
scattered state in the beginning of the year. In consequence of in-
tolerance and persecution for two years previous, our people were as
sheep having no shepherd. When we had an opportunity of re-
opening our mission among them, while we had to rejoice over the
steadfastness of the majority, we had to mourn over a few who, over-
come by temptation, had relapsed into sin and misery. Most of
these have returned, confessing their sin and begging to be re-ad-
mitted into soziety. The attendance on our ministry has been un-
precedented, and the deep and lively interest our hearers evince is,
we believe, seldom exceeded, and is highly cheering to ourselves.

“We cannot but particularly notice the great discouragement
under which this excellent and increasing Society labours—namely,
that of having no chapel, and no immediate prospect of one being
built ; a circumstance which has no parallel in the West Indies, nor,
perhaps, in any part of the mission field. This evil was painfully
felt by both preachers and people in the last quarter of the year.
Our people are willing to do all they can towards the purchase of
land, and the erection of a suitable chapel, but as most of them are
very poor, their utmost exertions, in a pecuniary way, will necessarily
be small.

** Another privation they have to endure, is preaching only every
alternate Sunday. They should have regular service every Lord’s
day, and greatly desire it; but this they cannot have unless a third
missionary be sent to the circuit.

‘* Of the piety of our members, in general, we have clear evidence.
During the time they were deprived of the pastoral care of their
preachers, when they were called to endure cruel and relentless per-
secution, they showed to their enemies and slanderers that forbear-
ance and long-suffering, which are peculiar to those who have been
taught by God to pray for men who despitefully use them and
persecute them. Many of ow young members manifest a great
desire to learn to read. Numbers in Society, 826, exclusive of
upwards of 50, who remain on trial. Leaders, males, 9, females, 13 ;
total, 22.”
222 BEECHAMVILLE.

The circumstances of privation under which both the missionaries
and the people laboured at this period, are thus described by Messrs.
Greenwood and Barr, who were the resident ministers :— It is very
distressing to our minds, often to have our services interrupted by
torrents of rain, and to see our people, though drenched with wet,
still persevering in meeting their classes in little groups. August
24th was a memorable day. The morning was fine; but about ten
o’clock, a.m., a heavy West Indian shower suddenly descended, and
rendered our worshipping God together very uncertain. As many as
could, rushed into the house: we sang, prayed, and read the Scrip-
tures. About eleven o’clock, the rain abated, and hundreds of people
who could obtain no shelter, and were dripping wet, assembled in
front of the house, and listened with great attention to a short sermon
preached from Rom. viii. 32. In the afternoon of the same day,
upwards of thirty applied for admission into the Society.” Thus
the health of both missionaries and people was placed in jeopardy,
from exposure to a burning sun, or drenching rain, alternately, which
rendered them exceedingly anxious to have a chapel as soon as
possible. However, it was sometime ere this could be accomplished.
In August of the following year, Mr. Whitehouse urged the case
earnestly on the attention of the Committee, observing, that if some-
thing was not speedily done, it would be impossible to preserve the
people, or maintain their ground. He remarked—‘ The field is
already white unto the harvest. Our congregations are exceedingly
large, frequently amounting to about two thousand, and God is blessing
the work of our hands. But the inconvenience of being obliged to
worship out of doors, in all sorts of weather, is felt by all; and some
of our oldest and best people are becoming loud in their expressions
of dissatisfaction. Besides, many who are favourably disposed
towards us are prevented from attending our services by the risk
incurred in sitting or standing so long upon the wet grass, and often
during the falling rains.”

In July, 1836, a house having been procured instead of the one
at Blackheath, one of the Missionaries removed to it; and on the
21st of the following month, the Blackheath Society was divided, and
two new stations taken up, to which the members were removed.
The one was named Beechamville, and the other Watsonville. At
the former, land having been purchased, a portion of it was cleared,
by cutting down the trees and underwood, leaving a sufficient number
to shade the congregations till a chapel could be erected. The people
flocked in great numbers, and shewed the greatest earnestness to
listen to the Gospel message; a school was established, and the
attendance of the children became large and increasing. However,
from the want of sufficient funds, the number of chapels and schools
to be erected, along with the difficulty of hastening the process of
building, it was a considerable while ere a place of worship could be
erected at this very interesting and important locality. Mr. White-
 

WATSONVILLE CHAPEL

 
WATSONVILLE. 223

house pleaded hard and perseveringly with the Committee for a
sufficient grant to enable him to erect a School-house in connection
with the Chapel, as it was by far the most important station in the
circuit, and promised to become equal to any one in the island; and
though other stations had been formed between this and the resi-
dences of the bulk of the people, still the congregations gradually
increased.

With admirable zeal and perseverance, Mr. Whitehouse succeeded
in erecting a spacious chapel, and a comfortable residence for a mis-
sionary and his family at this station, though, on account of being
removed at the close of 1840, neither were quite finished. However,
Mr. Edmondson, the Chairman of the District, who succeeded him,
entered into his plans, and fully carried them out. Towards the end of
April, 1841, the writer spent a Sabbath with Mr. E., and assisted him
in administering the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The congrega-
tion was large and attentive. The chapel looked capacious, airy, and
respectable. As the residence was not then completed, the mission
family were, in the meantime, occupying the out-houses. It may
be seen, from the sketch prefixed to this account, that the premises
form a very interesting country station. The liberality of the people,
in their contributions towards the buildings, and supporting the
Gospel, did them great credit. The first year of Mr. Edmonson’s
residence among them, they gave altogether about seven hundred
‘pounds.

When the writer paid a visit, early in 1843, the station being
settled, it presented a pleasing aspect. In addition to Beechamville,
two new stations had been established, one about ten miles distant,
on the road leading to Clarendon, where several of the lately
emancipated slaves were settling on small freeholds, which they had
purchased. At this place, a piece of land having been given by two
ladies, a shed was erected in the month of May, to accommodate the
congregation till a chapel could be built. Mr. E. named this station
Bensonton. The attendance was about three hundred; two hundred
and forty-five of whom had been members at Beechamville. The
other station, named Epworth (formerly Aberdeen), was taken up
early in 1841, but it was not till April in the following year, that it
could be supplied by the missionary with service on the Lord’s day.

The total number of members at the several stations was above
eleven hundred. The day School was attended by about one hun-
dred and twenty scholars. Altogether it formed a compact circuit,
and presented a fine field for usefulness.

Though not equal to Beechamville, the station at Watsonville
became increasingly interesting from the time it was taken up. Mr.
Whitehouse furnished the following interesting account of the open-
ing of the chapel, on the 2d of June, 1838, on which occasion Mr.
Edmondson officiated ; and the next day, being Sabbath, Mr. Ran-
derson conducted the services. ‘‘ The weather was exceedingly
224 WATSONVILLE.

unpropitious, and yet the people came from every direction. The
circumstances connected with the opening were pleasing and painful.
Some of the people present on the occasion came a distance of fifteen
or twenty miles; and it was distressing to see them, after walking
for miles through heavy rain, dripping wet all the time of the service,
and some of them were confined to the chapel from 11, a.m., on
Saturday, till nearly the same hour on Monday, the rain continuing
to descend in. torrents, and not abating sufficiently to afford a con-
venient interval for leaving the premises ; but it was truly gratifying
to witness the deep interest they took in the service. Our poor
people were indeed grateful to witness the completion of this edifice,
after having been compelled, by circumstances, to worship out-of-
doors, in all sorts of weather, for more than six years. The collections,
on the occasion, amounted to £44 6s. 8d.—a sum exceeding what
might have been expected, all things considered. The chapel was
commenced 54 feet by 34; but it was soon perceived that it would
be too small for the rapidly increasing congregation, ten feet were
therefore afterwards added to the length of it, so that its present
dimensions are 64 feet by 384. It is a substantial and neat stone
building, with a roof of country hard-wood, and the interior is so
fitted up that the best is made of every inch of room. A neat and
comfortable vestry-room is erected about fifty feet in the rear of the
chapel. These premises are situated about a mile and a quarter to
the east of the Moneague, in a delightful part of the country, and
salubrious climate; they contain twelve acres of excellent land, all
enclosed within stone wall fences. It is very desirable that a resi-
dence be erected here ; it isin one of the most healthy situations of the
island, and the amount which would be saved to the mission in rent
and house expenses would, in four years, pay for the building. Our
people here are now becoming clamorous for a School for the children.
We have abundance of land, and the situation is eligible, and could
we erect a School-house, I doubt not, we should obtain from a hun-
dred to a hundred and fifty children immediately. This is, in fact,
a very important station. Already the chapel is too small, and if
a missionary residence were erected here, it might become at once
the head of a circuit. Our prospects are cheering.”

In 1841, it was made the head of a circuit, to which Mr. Bleby
was appointed as resident missionary ; and the year following it was
united to Ocho-Rios, and some new stations were added. The con-
gregation having become far too large for the chapel, about a hundred
of the members were cut off to form the nucleus of a station about
seven miles distant, on Mount Diabolo, which was named Mount
Rosser. From this spot there isa magnificent prospect of St. Thomas
in the vale. Another of the new stations was named Mount Bunting.
Throughout the circuit there were thirteen hundred members ; two
Sabbath and two day Schools, with two salaried and seventeen
gratuitous teachers.
GUY'S WILL 225

In the month of September, the writer attended a Public Mission-
ary Meeting here, which was held at noon ;- though the meeting was
not large, it was interesting, and the collection liberal.

On leaving Ardoch, the residence of Mr. Bleby, about noon the
following day, in order to assist at another meeting to be held in the
evening at Ocho-Rios, an accident occurred which endangered the
life of Mr. Randerson, who was in a gig along with the writer.
Near the house, where the road is remarkably steep, the horse backed
the gig down the hill; the writer sprang out and caught him by the
head, but down all went, with accelerating velocity, till one of the
wheels struck a stone wall. At this moment, Mr. R. was in the act
of jumping out, but was too late. The shock threw him down; he
fell heavily on one side, turned over, and lay for some time unable to
breathe or move. All the brethren immediately returned. Scarcely
had they reached the house when the rain began, and poured in
torrents for nearly three hours. By the time it cleared off, Mr. R.
was so far recovered that he was able to procced, in the evening, to
Ocho-Rios, where he obtained the assistance of a medical gentleman,
who let blood, and gave him some medicine, which enabled him to
bear the journey to his own residence, at Brown’s town, the next
day. From the badness of the roads in the island, especially in the
mountains, such catastrophies are very frequent, and sometimes fatal :
that it was not so in this instance, was matter of great thankfulness
to Him, without whom “ not a sparrow falls to the ground.”

GUY’S HILL.

Tuis interesting station is situated in an elevated region, near a point
where the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary, and St. Thomas in. the
Vale, meet. The land is fertile, and abundantly supplied with rain
and heavy dews. Pimento groves, Coffee plantations, pastures,
and provision grounds abound. White River, which falls into the
sea about four or five miles east of Ocho-Rios Bay, has its source
not far from the station. As may be expected from its elevation,
it is a cool and healthy part of the country.

As early as 1823, Guy’s Hill had been visited by the Wesleyan
Missionaries, who returned it in connection with the St. Ann
circuit, along with St. Ann’s Bay, Bellemont, and Goshen Estate, as
a place of great darkness and wickedness, destitute of the means of
moral and religious knowledge, save what they afforded; but that
many had a desire to hear, which could not be met, except to a very
limited extent, from want of a sufficient number of missionaries to
supply existing stations.

This desire may have been excited by the efforts of George Stan-
bury, a black man, mentioned by Mr. Sergeant, in his “ Letters
from Jamaica.” Having been brought to God under the ministry

ZE
226 GUY's HILN.

of Mr. Shipman, this worthy man, though a slave, rejoiced in the
liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free ; and feeling a strong
desire for the spiritual emancipation of his fellow-men, he visited his
friends residing at Guy’s Hill, in order to tell them what the Lord
had done for his soul—a work for which his superior mental endow-
ments, and sound conversion to God, eminently fitted him. The
first night he spent with his father, for whose salvation he continued
in conversation and prayer from six o’clock in the evening till four
the following morning! Zealous to do as much good as possible, he
exhorted and prayed with as many as he could have access to, till
the overseer of one of the estates being informed of his proceedings,
stirred up several of the people to insult and ill-use him, on which
he was compelled to flee to the woods for shelter, whither he was
followed by his persecutors, who had ‘orders from the overseer to
bring either him, ‘or his head!” That night he slept in a
mango tree, and next morning he escaped and returned to Spanish
Town. However, he ventured to pay a second visit sometime
afterwards, when he was seized, put in irons, and had his feet made
fast in the stocks, by order of the overseer, who sent him bound next
morning to Rodney Hall prison. His word did not fall to the ground;
a desire for the reception of the Gospel was created; and the people
longed to hear it preached by some faithful teacher.

Mr. Edney, being stationed at Grateful Hill in 1831, was urged by
a black man, who had settled there, to visit the people. With his
accustomed zeal to do good, Mr. E. took an early opportunity of
forming a station, and supplying it on the Lord’s day, once a month,
though it was about six and twenty miles distant from Grateful Hill,
and the roads, in many parts, were narrow, steep, and wearisome,
winding through mountains, and across rivers, whose fordings were
anything but easy or pleasant.

He found the people eager to listen to the Word of God. The
population being large, they flocked from every side to the preaching.
An unusual divine influence accompanied the Word. A promising
society was formed. Most of those who joined were slaves.

On Easter Sunday, Mr. E. preached to a crowded congregation,
who listened with deep emotion, tears, and sighs, while he expatiated
on that sweet text, ‘‘ Then were the disciples glad when they saw the
Lord.” After the congregation was dismissed, the members
assembled to hold their first Love Feast. Mr. E. observed that about
seventy spoke, and that he was struck with astonishment while
listening to the simple, artless, and clear testimonies which were
borne to the power of divine Grace. At the evening service, the con-
gregation was numerous and deeply attentive, while he preached from
** How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” The
services of the day were closed with a prayer meeting, when several
engaged in supplicating the Throne of Grace ; and the power of God,
to convince and to heal, was evidently felt.
GUY'S HILL. 227

In the month of May, a Sabbath School was commenced; and the
people continued to manifest great earnestness in listening to the
Word of God, so that from the encouragement presented, Mr. E.,
while expressing his regret at not being able to spend more than one
Sabbath in the month among them, earnestly besought the Committee
to send a missionary to occupy the station, and spread the saving
light of the Gospel around the neighbourhood, which was still over-
shadowed with spiritual darkness. However, as the insurrection
broke out at the end of the year, this infant church was exposed to
those trials which threatened for a time to crush the efforts of the
missionaries. After the removal of Mr. Edney to Honduras Bay, Mr.
Wedlock, who had just returned from that part of the mission field,
took his place at Grateful Hill, to which this new station continued to
be attached. This was a year of difficulty ; the people were perse-
cuted by the Colonial Unionists, and Mr. Wedlock was exposed to
danger in his journeys to and from Guy’s Hill. Yet, it was a pleasing
circumstance that numerous threats were followed by nothing worse ;
the storm passed over without any serious injury to either the mis-
sionary or the people. Towards the end of the month of June, Mr.
W. observed of one of his visits to Guy’s Hill, “I preached here
this forenoon, with enlargement, from an awfully solemn subject—
the Omnipresence of God; Psalm cxxxix. 7, and following verses ;
afterwards, I gave tickets, and admitted six on trial, and received
three into society, who formerly belonged to the Bellemont society
in the St. Ann circuit, where they were formerly wont to worship,
and hearing of a Methodist Chapel on this hill, they have travelled
many miles to mingle with the people of God. These poor men, and
hundreds of others besides them, have been for more than a year
deprived of the means of Grace, and it is only just now that they
venture to steal away privately to the house of God, on the Sabbath
day.” At the close of the year, the number of members returned
was 108, most of whom gave pleasing indications of having received
the grace of God in truth. Amidst their trials they maintained their
integrity, and adorned their profession. The need of a chapel was
much felt, and the people were willing to contribute towards the
erection of one, according to their ability.

In 1834, Oracabessa, Port Maria, and Guy’s Hill were united and
made a circuit, to which Mr. Ritchie was appointed as the resident
missionary. At this time, the writer paid a few visits to Guy’s Hill,
and witnessed the zeal of the people in attending the services which
were held. A thatched chapel had been erected, capable of contain-
ing a considerable congregation, but by no means sufficiently large to
accommodate the members who assembled to hear the preaching.
This led to its enlargement; but by the end of the year it was found
still too small. Mr. Ritchie stated that it would not contain half the
number of those who came to hear “‘ words whereby they might be
saved.” The prospects were cheering, and if sufficient pastoral atten-
228 GuY’s WILL.

tion could have been paid to it, a prosperous society would soon have
rewarded the labour bestowed upon the people.

For several years following, the Brethren who were appointed to
the circuit found abundance of work to do, by new places inviting
their attention on every side. Messrs. Burrows, Seccombe, Williams,
Hodgson, Foster, and Mearns were successively employed in this
very extensive field of usefulness, which, like most of the circuits in
the island, never has had sufficient ministerial supplies; and, to add
to the difficulty, the heavy rains which prevail, especially in the upper
part of the circuit, along with the nature of the soil, keep the roads
in many directions exceedingly unfit for travelling.

While Mr. Hodgson laboured in the circuit in 1840, he succeeded
in erecting a convenient chapel, a view of which is prefixed to this
brief account. It is a frame building, on stone pillars. The ground
on which it is built was the gift of Robert Roach and James Macin-
tosh, Esqs.; and there was, in addition, a grant of £120 from the House
of Assembly, an equal amount from the vestry of St. Mary’s, and £60
from the vestry of St. Thomas in the Vale. The people contributed
£263, besides 500 days’ labour, shewing that the mission had, by this
time, made a considerable and favourable impression on the public
mind; and that Mr. Hodgson had spared no pains to get a suitable
place of worship for the accommodation of the people.

When the roads were in a state to admit of travelling, the congre-
gations continued large both on Sabbaths and week day evenings.
In 1841, there were five Societies in the circuits, including Guy’s
Hill, viz. :—Morley, at Oracabessa, which was divided this year, and
half of the members taken to form a new station in Oracabessa
mountains, Port Maria, Guy’s Hill, Beechamhill, and Ramble. At
each of these places, the people gave great encouragement to the
missionary, considering their few advantages.

At Ramble, a chapel was opened on the Ist of August, and a most
cheering prospect of success presented itself. The number of mem-
bers was about 600. When the writer visited Guy’s Hill, early in
1843, Mr. Mearns was diligently labouring to promote the interests
of the several societies, but from the number and distance of the
stations, along with the badness of the roads, he found it impossible
to give all the attention he wished to some of them. Still, at Oraca-
bessa, there had been an accession of members, chiefly of young
persons, who promised fair to walk consistently with their profession.
When the writer visited this station, on the 31st of March, he arrived
about 9 o'clock in the morning, altogether unexpected by any of the
people. However, a few kind friends soon assembled at the chapel,
who prepared breakfast, and shewed great kindness and attention.
While he was enjoying their hospitality, a bell was rung, which brought
thirty of the people together, to whom he preached a short sermon,
under which some of them appeared to feel and weep much. At the
conclusion of the service, they gave vent to their kindly feelings, and
GUY'S HILL. 299

feelingly pictured out their need of more instruction, imploring him,
as he was going home to England, that he would do all in his power
to procure another missionary for the circuit, that they might more
frequently enjoy the preaching of the Gospel. All around, small
settlements were springing up, and the necessities of the people daily
increasing.

The chapel was a thatched building, thirty feet by fifty, in front of
which, and close to the gate, on the right hand, the tomb of one of
Mr. Seccombe’s children remains as a mournful memento of his
having laboured and suffered here.

The small society at Port Maria appeared to be in a state of great
depression. When the writer arrived, he stayed a night at the resi-
dence of one of the leaders, whose house faced the small rented place
in which their meetings were held. A few of the members were got
together with whom he sung an hymn, read and expounded a chapter
of the New Testament, and engaged in prayer. For several Sabbaths
they had had no visits of the missionary, owing to his many engage-
ments. The Society at Beechamhill was reported to contain many
members whose deep experience in divine things, and zeal in the cause
of God, furnished ground for abundant rejoicing over them. At this
period, the total number of members throughout the circuits was
670, with one day school, two Sabbath schools, having 92 scholars
attending the former, and 60 the latter. From the situation and
success of the station at Guy's Hill, it became the principal station
and head of the circuit in 1843.

Throughout the circuit Mr. Mearns has laboured ardently to pro-
mote the spiritual good of the people, without meeting with such
encouragement as could be wished. In a letter, dated August, 1847,
he wrote thus—‘“* Throughout this circuit, the most extensive in the
district, placed under the care of one missionary, there is much to
humble, and induce anxiety for the future. In common with other
churches, we have to complain of the worldly-mindedness of many of
our members, and to witness daily occurring proofs that their religion
is of a very superficial kind. Some have abandoned the Christian
profession ; and others, by their indifference, show how little value
they attach to their eternal interests. Gloomy, however, as appear-
ances are, there are also, I think, indications that a brighter day will
soon dawn upon us. All the discouraging events which we have
beheld during the two last years, and the trying scenes through
which we are now passing, might have been, and in fact were, fore-
seen by diligent students of the human mind. Let us be thankful
that so much real enduring good has been done. Let us persevere
in our labours, and increase the amount of our agency, and in due
time we shall reap a glorious harvest. During the two. last
quarters, we have been advancing a little in point of numbers and
finances, at most of the stations in this circuit; and I trust that
our people have at the same time been ‘ growing in grace.’ ”
230

CHAPTER XVI.
OCHO-RIOS, BROWN’S TOWN, AND STEWART’S TOWN.

Ocho-Rios—Mission begun—Imprisonment of Mr. Grimsdall—A Chapel opened—'The
Chapel burnt down by the Colonial Unionists~The people compelled to hold their
ineetings in the open air for six years—Mr. Whitehouse’s success—Death of Miss
Jarvis—A new Chapel built—Prosperity of the station—Want of sufficient Minis-
terial help—Brown's Town—A circuit formed—Mr. Randerson—Mr. Secconibe
—Mr. Foster—Stewart’s Town—Mr. Box forms a Society—Mr. Hornby—Death of
Mr. Bewley—Prosperity of the station.

Wuen the mission was established at St. Ann’s Bay, the missionaries
extended their visits to several other places, among which was Ocho-
Rios Bay, about seven miles to the east of St. Ann’s Bay, where week
night services were held in the house of Miss Catherine Jarvis, a
person of colour, who became a most consistent, zealous, and useful
member of the Society. No interruption to these services was offered
till 1827, when Mr. Grimsdall was called to suffer for righteousness’
sake, which terminated in his death, as has been noticed in the
account of St. Ann’s Bay station.

On the 7th of June, a special Sessions of the Peace was held at
the Court-house, for the purpose of ‘* inquiring into certain misde-
Mmeanours committed in the Parish of St. Ann,” before Sam. W.
Rose, B. W. Smith, and David Brydone, Esquires. The culprit was
the Rev. Joseph Grimsdall, and his crimes were—his having held and
been present at Sunday meetings at Ocho-Rios, and teaching and
preaching at an unlicensed place of worship. The first witness
stated that, as he passed through Ocho Rios, on his way home on the
12th of April, about half-past eight o’clock, he heard several persons
singing in a house occupied by Miss Pennock, (the mother of Miss
Jarvis), and looking in, he did not observe any white persons whatever.
A constable gave a similar testimony as to singing and prayer, and
also of having frequently warned them of the illegality of such pro-
ceedings. Miss Jarvis admitted having given her house gratis for
the purpose of holding religious meetings, provided the missionary
was duly licensed. She declared that no collections of money had
been made at Ocho-Rios, though a class of free persons had met in
her house. Miss Pennock stated that the missionaries began their
services at four, p.m., and concluded by eight at the latest. As Mr.
Grimsdall had not been licensed to preach at Ocho-Rios, the Justices
admonished him not to attempt to hold any service till he was duly
licensed.
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OCHO-RIOS, 231

That he might continue his visits to Ocho-Rios, he applied for a
license for Miss Jarvis’ house, which was refused by the Magistrates,
though the custos and another magistrate were in favour of granting
it. Believing that the refusal was contrary to law, Mr. G. recom-
menced his preaching without the license, on which he was thrown
a second time into jail, where he lost his health, and soon after sank
into the grave.

Notwithstanding the persecution which the missionaries and their
people were subjected to, a small society was formed in 1828, which
consisted of twenty-nine members, who, though destitute of Sabbath-
day services, were zealous for the cause of God. Their adverse cir-
cumstances only stimulated them to greater efforts, so that early in
1829, a chapel was opened, and regular services conducted on the
Lord’s day, to which the people flocked in such numbers that the
chapel was soon found to be too small. Nor were the week night ser-
vices less encouraging, One hundred and twelve of the St. Ann’s Bay
members were removed to this society, which, at the end of the year,
consisted of nearly two hundred members. With the prospect of
increasing success to stimulate to further exertions, a Sabbath School
also was established, which gave encouragement, though the want of
a few effective teachers was felt.

When the “Colonial Unionists” began their crusade against the
missionaries in 1832, they not only chaced them from the Parish of
St. Ann, but destroyed all the mission property. At Ocho-Rios
they burnt the chapel down to the ground, and persecuted the poor
people by every method in their power for more than two years. On
the 2nd of September, 1833, Messrs. Crookes and Greenwood visited
the suffering people at St. Ann’s Bay; and in the afternoon proceeded
to Ocho-Rios, where Mr. C. preached to a large assembly of the
people, under the shade of the cocoa-nut trees, near the ruins of
the destroyed chapel. About thirty of the Unionists were reported
to be in the neighbourhood, in order to disturb the service, but their
courage failed them, so that they did not show themselves.

From this time the people continued to meet for the worship of
God among the ruins of their sanctuary, exposed to sun, wind,
and rain, for several years, during which both the congregation and
society greatly increased. At the end of this year the missionaries
observed —“ Here also the hand of God has been visibly manifested
in behalf of his servants. For a time the preaching of the truth
was prevented; but the congregations that now assemble under the
cocoa-nut trees are large and encouraging. Our hopes are sanguine
that God will over-rule our trials for the good of the community.”
And the report at the close of the following year was still of an
encouraging character. It was stated—‘‘ Our congregations are large,
and our members give evidence that they know the things which make
for their peace. The missionary here is (still) obliged to preach,
administer the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, marry, and baptize
232 OCILO-RIOS.

in the open air, under the wide-spreading branches of the cocoa-nut
trees, near the sea beach. We have often thought that to see our
congregations, and to hear our people express the gratitude they feel
to the pious and benevolent friends in Britain by whose liberality
they are joyfully anticipating the re-erection of their chapel in a short
time, would afford great pleasure to our friends at home. Our num-
bers have increased considerably every quarter, and God has here
ealled many his people who were not his people.” So greatly had
the labours of the Brethren been blessed, that the number of members
now amounted to four hundred and thirty-eight.

In 1836, Mr. Whitehouse removed to Ocho-Rios with his family,
which tended greatly to advance the interests of this station. One
of the missionaries, who was appointed colleague to Mr. W., observed
—*‘T have been three times to Ocho-Rios Bay. Our prospects here
are more and more cheering. We have large and increasing congre-
gations, sometimes amounting to eight hundred souls; and a more
intelligent and attentive people I have not seen in this island. The
society is much improved, and fast increasing in numbers. At one
of my visits I admitted upwards of thirty on trial, and a considerable
number at my other two appointments.”

A day School was established at this time, under the direction of
Mr. J. Green, who, in addition to conducting the school on the week
days, acted as an assistant to the missionaries on the Lord’s days, and
afterwards was fully employed as an assistant missionary. The
number of scholars was nearly eighty, who made a pleasing degree
of progress in general and scriptural knowledge. The only available
source of income for the support of this school was the small fees of
the scholars, which were found to be inadequate.

In March, 1837, the society at Ocho-Rios suffered no small loss
by the death of Miss Jarvis, whose piety, zeal, courage, and liberality,
contributed greatly to the prosperity of the station. In noting the
death of this excellent person, Mr. Williams observed—‘“‘ We have
lost by death one of the most useful and efficient members in this
circuit, Miss Catherine Jarvis, of Ocho-Rios. She departed this life
on Wednesday, March the 12th; and the day following I committed
her remains to the earth, amid the tears of many to whom she had
been eminently useful in both temporal and spiritual matters. She
was taken sick of measles about the 1st of March, and from the first
she had a strong and rather gloomy apprehension of her approaching
dissolution; for some time the enemy of souls severely tempted her ;
she lost her confidence in God, and she had strong suspicion that,
after all, she would be a cast away. I saw her on the 5th, and God
blessed my own soul much whilst talking with her and praying for
her; and from this time she had abounding joy, save when her
malady overpowered her mind, and she sank down into a state of
stupor. It was found, by her will, that she had made some provision
for the establishment of a day school at Ocho-Rios, to be under the
direction of the Wesleyan Ministers.”
OCHO-RIOS, 233

The writer was favoured with a visit from this excellent person
when he was stationed at Grateful Hill. Her description of the cir-
cumstances of the people, and their interesting services in the open
air, was very touching, and tended to illustrate the reality and
strength of their piety. There was something in such scenes calcu-
lated to stimulate the missionary spirit, and lead to extraordinary
efforts.

After long patience, much privation, and great labour, the chapel
(a view of which is prefixed to this account), was erected, and
opened on the 2d of December, 1837. Itis sixty-four feet by forty-
four, and looks a neat and comfortable place of worship. The opening
services were very interesting. The collections amounted to
£37 3s. 9d. On the 1st of August, in the following year, Mr.
Whitehouse held a very interesting service, when he preached in
the new chapel to a crowded congregation from Deut. vi. 22-24.,
pointing out the duty of parents to sct before their children an
example of obedience to the commands of God, the result of a faith-
ful discharge of parental duty, and the obligation of mortals to
acknowledge the hand of God in all their mercies ; and concluded
with an application of the subject, which was attended with the
divine blessing. At the close of the service, several persons were in
distress of soul on account of sin, and some appeared indisposed to
leave the chapel. He observed—‘ I conversed and prayed with the
individuals under conviction for two hours or more, and never was
more satisfied of anything than that what I saw was the work of
God. The people were in an agony, under a deep conviction of their
guiltiness and danger, and the language of their prayers was as rational
and scriptural, as they were earnest in its utterance. ‘ Lord have
mercy upon me!’ ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ ‘ What must
I do to be saved ?’ was heard from every part of the chapel. At the
close of the meeting, 1 took down the names of fifteen persons
who professed to have received the blessing of peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. We had been favoured with tokens of an
outpouring of the Spirit, three weeks before, at a watch-night service,
and since then we have had indications of a coming shower of
heavenly influence, in other parts of the circuit. I pray that this
may prove the beginning of a mighty work, which shall triumph
over the evils around us.”

When a new arrangement of the stations in St. Ann’s circuit was
made in 1841, Ocho-Rios, Beechamville, Watsonville, and Mount
Bunting were comprehended in St. Ann’s east circuit, to which were
added, the next year, Mount Rosser and Epworth. To form the
latter society, about a hundred members were removed from the
society at Ocho-Rios, but the large number of stations occasioned the
removal of the missionary to a more convenient position for attending
to them, which had an unfavourable influence on the Ocho-Rios
society, as it was impossible to give it more than one service in the

2r
234 BROWN’'S TOWN,

week. A further change took place in 1848, which left three.chapels
and two other places to be supplied by two missionaries, who had under
their care twelve hundred and fifty members, with about two thousand
hearers. There were four day schools, with about two hundred and
fifty scholars, besides nearly two hundred in the Sabbath schools.

BROWN’S TOWN.

It was not till 1835 that the attention of the Wesleyan Missionaries
was particularly called to this locality, as one suitable for a new sta-
tion, though some years previously Mr. Box and others had preached
frequently at Stewart’s Town, which is only a few miles westward.
The town is situated in a beautiful mountain district, to the south-
west of St. Ann’s Bay. All around, the land is fertile and richly
wooded, except where cleared for estates and small settlements. Most
of the estates are situated on the slopes and level lands towards the
sea, and present many interesting views to the eye of the traveller
as he ascends the declivities leading to Brown’s Town and the neigh-
bouring properties, and settlements of small freeholders. When Mr,
Whitehouse and his colleagues were favoured with extraordinary
success in other parts of the extensive parish of St. Ann, after the
cessation of the long continued persecutions to which both mis-
sionaries and their people had been subjected, he was urged, by re-
peated deputations, to add Brown’s Town to the stations already ex-
isting ; but the want of a sufficient number of missionaries to attend
to the work of the circuit, rendered it impossible for him to accede
to their earnest entreaties for a considerable time. When writing to
the Committee in August, 1835, he earnestly pleaded that two col-
leagues might be given him, to enable him to attend to the neigh-
bourhood of Brown’s Town, where there were many thousands, who
had not yet attached themselves to any religious society, willing to
hear the Gospel, and who had repeatedly sent to him, begging that
he would visit them. He proposed that Pope’s Bay and Brown’s
Town should be formed into a circuit, in the event of more mis-
sionaries being sent.

After giving all the attention to their neighbourhood that the nu-
merous engagements of the missionaries would admit of, Brown’s
Town at length appeared as the head of a circuit, embracing stations
at Brown’s Town, Tabernacle, Sawyer’s Market, and Crooked River.

In 1841, Mr. Randerson, whose residence was at Enfield, about a
mile and a-half west of Brown’s Town, laboured with great zeal to dif-
fuse the light of the glorious Gospel among the inhabitants of these
mountains. At the end of the year, the general state of that circuit
was found to be encouraging, though, from the number and distance
of the places from each other, one missionary could not give that
amount of attention necessary to insure extensive and solid pros-
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BROWNS TOWN CHAPEL.

  

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STEWATS TOWN CHAPEL.
BROWN’'S TOWN. 235

perity. Brown’s Town gave much encouragement; the number of
members was 130. Stewart’s Town was prospering, and the mem-
bers amounted to 318, At the Tabernacle, there were 368 members.
A blessed work had been going forward. An unusual degree of Di-
vine influence had rested on the means of grace, and a goodly num-
ber, who had been resting in the form, began to experience the
power of religion. The members at Sawyer’s Market amounted to
88 ; and those at Crooked River, to 44. This latter station was
about thirty miles distant from the residence of the missionary,
through some of the worst roads in the island, which, in bad weather,
were altogether impassable. On the removal of Mr Seccombe from
Falmouth circuit, early in 1842, he took the place of Mr. Rander-

son in this extensive field of labour. He found much encourage-

ment at Brown’s Town and Stewart’s Town; while, at the Taber-

nacle, the large congregations rendered a new chapel very desirable.

The total number of members at the end of the year was nearly a

thousand, with above eighty candidates. There were two Sabbath

and two day Schools, with two salaried and eleven gratuitous

teachers.

In the month of August, the writer attended a missionary meeting
at Brown’s Town. The congregation was large, respectable, and
attentive; while the Rev. Messrs. Clarke (of the Baptist mission),
Edmondson, Seccombe, Randerson, and Sinclair, pleaded with them
in behalf of perishing millions of the human family, who are still un-
visited by the light of the Gospel. The day following, a similar
meeting was held at the Tabernacle, which was densely crowded,
and the roof of the building being very low, rendered it almost suf-
focating. The contributions of the people to the mission fund
throughout the circuit for that year, was above sixty pounds ster-
ling.

En 1844, while Mr H. B. Foster laboured in this circuit, he felt
encouraged, though, at the same time, deeply sensible of the neces-
sity of an additional labourer, in order to meet the urgent wants of
the several stations. In November, he wrote:—“‘ Our missionary meet-
ings at Brown’s Town, Stewart’s Town, and Kingswood, held in
October, were delightfully interesting and hallowed seasons ; and,
considering the present depression, the amounts raised were very en-
couraging. The additional help of another missionary is greatly
wanted; and the appointment of another would, I am confident, soon
be amply remunerated in the ingathering of souls, now straying for
want of more attention, which it is not in our power to pay them.
On Sunday last, I visited one of our most distant stations in Claren-
don. The booth was filled, and numbers were outside. After service,
the leader said to me, ‘ Minister, can you not appoint a local preacher
from St. Ann’s to visit us every Sunday, when you do not come ?
for now Mr. Clark is dead, we shall miss him so.’ I was obliged
to reply, ‘I feared I could not appoint one every Sunday, our num-
236 STEWART’S TOWN.

ber not being sufficient, and the roads from Brown’s Town to Clar-
endon so bad, it is with difficulty either they or I can go.’ Sickness
is prevailing to a very alarming extent in this and several other
parts of the island. The lamented death of our brother Davies will
have reached you ere the receipt of this. Fever is fearfully raging,
even in these (generally healthy) mountains. Last week we lost
one of our valuable local preachers, a black man, named John Clark,
above alluded to; the loss of whose useful labours, as a local
preacher, leader, and society steward, will be deeply felt in this cir-
euit, and especially im the society at Kingswood. Yesterday, a
Scotch lady, a few days before in perfect health, the wife of a gentle-
man residing on the property adjoining our mission residence, fell a
victim to fever, after three days’ iHness. Truly, it may be said in
this land, ‘ In the midst of life we are in death.’ ”’

During this season of general sickness, the health of Mr. Foster
suffered, and for a time prevented him giving his full attention to the
demands of this laborious and extensive circuit. With regard to
the day-school at Brown’s Town, he observed that the children were
decidedly improving in behaviour, both in and out of school, their
knowledge of the Scriptures and the catechism, were pleasing and
satisfactory. In reading, their improvement was evident ; in writ-
ing, some had done well; their acquirements in grammar were mo-
derate ; and in arithmetic, they were not deficient. At Greenhill, a
similar degree of improvement was manifest. The want of a suffi-
cient number of missionaries affected this, along with many other
stations, in the island, though the most recent account of it was of a
favourable character. | Notwithstanding the lamentable financial de-
pression of the whole community, the contributions of the people in
this circuit, last year, amounted to nearly forty-five pounds, shewing
that the people have not ceased to feel for a world lying in wick-
edness, and for whose miseries the Gospel is the only remedy.

STEWART’S TOWN.

Wuen Mr. Box was stationed at Falmouth in 1829, he extended his
labours to several other places, some of which were at a consider-
able distance, among which was Stewart’s Town, where he was en-
couraged to form a Society, which promised to become a valuable
addition to the circuit. The place in which the people assembled
soon became too small for their accommodation, so that, the next
year, they were compelled to enlarge it. Still it was found to be
inadequate. Mr. B. observed, in September, 1839, that the place
was crowded as usual, that he felt it extremely hot, and the labour
of speaking very oppressive ; yet the sight of so many precious souls
secking the Lord, inspired him with more than common vigour.
Four months after this, he wrote,—‘‘ Our cause at Stewart’s Town
STEWART'S TOWN. 237

promises to do exceedingly well, and will certainly do so, provided
we can bestow more attention upon it next year. We have found it
necessary to get the landlord to enlarge the place to thrice its original
size ; and he now wishes us to purchase the premises, which I am
disposed to think will be the best step we can take.” Their con-
tinued attention to the services and earnest reception of the truths
preached to them, greatly encouraged him. In October, he observed
that he was delighted with the attention of the people, while he was
enlarging upon the narrative of blind Bartimeus. They drank in
every word, and he had no doubt but that many of them would be
living witnesses of the power of Christ to save.

From the suffocating heat of the chapel, he held a service in the
open air in November, of which he gave the following brief ac-
count :—“‘ After renewing the tickets, I commenced divine service ; but
as the place was intensely hot, and numbers could not get in, I re-
quested them to stand under the plantain trees, by the side of the
house, and taking my station upon an eminence, preached to them
from John iii. 16. The novelty of the thing excited much interest
among them ; while the high sounding praises of God which they
uttered, formed a striking contrast with the din of the Sunday market,
at a short distance from us.” The debilitating effect of preaching to
crowds, huddled together in small low-roofed places in Jamaica, has
been painfully felt by the missionaries ; while, on the other hand,
preaching in the open air has been attended with injury to health,
and in some cases proved fatal. A few weeks after this, he visited
an Irishman, whom he found to be a Roman catholic, but stated that
he was looking to Christ for salvation. He exhorted and prayed
with him; and in an hour after he left his bed-side, he closed his
eyes in death! On the 19th December, he preached a funeral ser-
mon from 1 Cor. xv. 22, in order to improve the death of the first
member who joined the Society at Stewart’s Town—she was a free
black woman.

Though the preaching place had been sufficiently enlarged to ac-
commodate the congregation, yet he expected, from the attendance
and concern of the people, that it would soon be again too small.
However, these promising appearances were soon blighted by the
breaking out of the insurrection, and the severe and long-continued
persecutions which followed, all which tended to make the love of
many wax cold, till, in 1834, the brethren were again able to an-
nounce that their hearts were cheered in reference to this place,
where God was dispensing his blessings and saving souls; and the
indifference which had for a time marked the state of the people, had
been succeeded by their diligent attendance on the means of grace.
The number of members at this period was two hundred and fifty-
two, and the leaders seventeen. Prosperity continued to crown the
efforts of the missionaries at this station till, in 1838, 2 mournful in-
terest was given to it by the death of the General Superintendent of
238 STEWART S TOWN,

the Schools, who was arrested in his career of usefulness at this place.
The arrival of Mr. Bewley in the island has been noticed in the
account of Kingston circuit, The circumstances of his death were
communicated to the Committee by Messrs. Ritchie and Hornby, in
the following letter, dated July 16th :—‘ It becomes our painful duty
to communicate the mournful intelligence of the death of our excel-
lent and esteemed fellow-labourer in the vineyard of the Lord, the
Rev. T. H. Bewley, Superintendent of all our Schools, who died
at this place on Saturday morning last, of yellow fever. Mr.
Bewley left Kingston on Thursday the 5th instant, for the purpose
of visiting our Mission Schools, on the north side of the island ; and,
according to a previous arrangement, reached this place on Sunday
the 8th, in order to preach the Annual Missionary Sermons, and at-
tend the Missionary meeting; intending to proceed through Dun-
can’s and Falmouth to Montego Bay, by the following Sabbath, for
similar purposes. On Sunday morning, the 8th, Mr. Bewley
preached an excellent sermon from Matt. xi. 25, 26——‘ At that time
Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father,’ &c. ; and in the
evening, with his usual ability, from 2 Cor. vi. 1, 2—‘ We then as
workers together with him, beseech you that ye receive not the
grace of God in vain,’ &c. The latter part of the text, ‘ Behold now
is the day of salvation,’ he dwelt upon with peculiar feeling. From
the time of his arrival in Stewart’s Town, our deceased brother com-
plained of fatigue, but was under no apprehension of any fatal con-
sequences. On Tuesday morning, the 10th, he was attacked with
fever, unattended with any dangerous symptoms. A medical man
was, however, immediately sent for, and prompt measures were re-
sorted to. On Thursday morning, Messrs. Ritchie, Williams, and
Foster, and Mr. Knibb, Baptist Missionary, being here, having at-
tended the missionary meeting the preceding evening, were alarmed
by the symptoms which appeared, and, after consultation, decided
upon sending an express to his wife, requesting her immediately to
come over. We also despatched a messenger to Falmouth for ad-
ditional medical aid. Five medical men attended upon the deceased,
one or more of whom never left the house. Mrs. Hornby and our-
selves were in constant attendance, day and uight, doing whatever
was necessary in his distressing circumstances. On Friday morning,
the symptoms became still more alarming, and the doctors held out
little hope of recovery. Towards the evening of Friday, Mr. Bew-
ley became delirious, and continued so all night, and, with little in-
termission, till his death. On Saturday morning, consciousness of
outward things seemed to have left him. Convulsive fits came on ;
the black vomit indicated death’s approach; and at twenty minutes
before eleven he breathed his last.

‘“* While we lament the departure of one so dear to all his brethren,
and whose labours were so highly appreciated, wherever he exercised
his ministry, we are relieved from overmuch sorrow, by the assur-
STEWART'S TOWN. 239

ance that, in the full triumph of faith, he entered upon his reward.
About mid-day on Friday, he was asked if he was happy. His
words were nearly as follow:—‘O yes! from the age of sixteen
I have never wickedly departed from the Saviour. I have been un-
faithful ; but I know he will never say anything about my unfaith-
ness. I cast myself at his feet.

© JT the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.’

I have delightful views of the heavenly world. I now give up every-
thing earthly ; my only care was about my wife and children; but I
now give all up; they are in good hands. Iam ready to go.’ He
expressed a wish that we should pray withhim. We tried to read
John xiv., but neither of us could proceed. He then requested to
have the book, and himself read and expounded several verses, in
an animated and delightful manner. We prayed with him, and re-
ferred in prayer to the ‘dark valley of the shadow of death.’ ‘O! it
is not dark! It is not dark !’ said the dying saint, ‘all is light.’
Mr. Bewley, however, after this, experienced considerable exercise of
mind ; but his faith was unwavering, and the promises of God were
his unfailing stay. About two hours before he expired, he was
asked if Jesus was precious to him, ‘O yes! O yes!’ he replied,
while a heavenly smile beamed upon his countenance. Mr. Bew-
ley talked extremely familiarly about the heavenly world. ‘O!
said he, ‘it is all right. There are Valentine Ward, my father,
my grandfather, my little boy, and many more waiting for me.’ He
spoke with considerable emotion of God’s faithfulness to the children
of the righteous, remarking that his father and grandfather were
godly persons, and that he was the child of many prayers. We all
felt, while standing or kneeling by his bed, that—
©The chamber where the good man meets his fate

Is privileged above the common walks
Of virtuous life, just on the verge of heaven.’

His strong faith and perfect resignation produced a hallowed impres-
sion upon our minds. We inwardly prayed—
0! may I triumph so,
When all my warfare’s past,
And dying, find my latest foe
Under my feet at last.’

“On Friday, Mr. Bewley wished to have his will made: we
zomplied with his request; and after he had thus ‘set his house in
order,’ he appeared to have nothing to do but wait the coming of his
Lord. On Sunday morning, within a few minutes of the very time
he arrived in Stewart’s Town, on the preceding Sabbath, the remains
of our deceased brother were consigned to the silent grave, in sure
and certain hope of a joyous resurrection. The Rev. D. Kerr, from
Montego Bay, read the funeral service. The Rev. J. Vine, of the
240 STEWART’S TOWN.

London Missionary Society, delivered an appropriate and impressive
address toa large company, who had assembled to testify their respect
for the departed. The Rev. J. Clarke, Baptist Missionary, offered a
devout and affecting prayer at the grave. The whole of the service
was peculiarly solemn, and, we trust, the event will produce a salu-
tary effect in the neighbourhood.

‘“* & few hours after Mr. Bewley was laid in the tomb, his bereaved
widow arrived, accompanied by the Rev. Robert Inglis, who had
travelled with the utmost possible haste. Her feelings may be better
imagined than described. An affectionate husband has been taken
away from an affectionate wife! Mrs. Bewley is still here, expecting
to return to Kingston to-morrow morning.

“We cannot but say, ‘A great man has fallen in Israel ;’ but
while God buries his workmen, he still carries on his work.”

On the arrival of the intelligence of his death in England, the
Committee expressed the estimation in which they held him, by
recording in their minutes the following :—

* The Committee have received, with deep and poignant sorrow,
the intelligence of the sudden removal, by death, of the Rev. Thomas
Henry Bewley from the scene of his useful labours, as the superin-
tendent of the Wesleyan Mission Schools in the island of Jamaica.
The amiable spirit and manners of the deceased, his sincere and
ardent piety, superior ministerial talents, zeal, and diligence in the
work of the Lord, and the success ‘vith which it pleased the Great
Head of the Church to crown his brief but honourable career, in the
peculiar department of service recently assigned him, have caused his
death to be mourned as a public loss in the colony in which it has
occurred ; and the Committee cannot but feel that by the affecting
event they have been deprived of one of their most valuable agents.

‘* The Committee deeply sympathise with the bereaved widow and
fatherless children, with the other esteemed relatives and numerous
friends of the deceased, and with his surviving fellow-labourers in the
foreign field, under this mysterious visitation of Divine Providence,
and earnestly pray that He who ‘ comforteth the distressed,’ may pour
into their sorrowing hearts the ‘strong consolations’ of his Holy
Spirit.

“The Committee desire meekly to submit to this painful visita-
tion of Him who cannot err. They are relieved and consoled by the
reflection, that death, although it was sudden, found their esteemed
and lamented brother blessedly prepared for his departure to a
glorious immortality, and that his end was eminently peaceful and
triumphant.”

It was the privilege of this excellent man to have had a pious
father, whose instructions and example were made a lasting blessing
to him, so that when he was ten years of age, he saw and felt the
importance of true religion, whichled him frequently to the throne of
grace to plead for the pardon of his sins, through faith in the blood
STEWART'S TOWN, 24d

of his Redeemer. At the age of sixteen, he obtained a clear and
satisfactory evidence of his acceptance with God, the remembrance
of which cheered him on his death-bed. In 1823, he was called to
the work of the ministry, and appointed to the Whitehaven circuit,
where God blessed his labours, and crowned them with great success,
Afterwards, he laboured in Treland, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
While in Scotland, the writer for a time sat under his instructive
ministry, with pleasure and profit. In 1829, he was afflicted with
severe mental depression, and bodily affliction, which compelled him
for a season to retire from his ministerial work. On recovering his
health and peace of mind, he again felt strongly constrained to return
to the work of calling sinners to repentance. The Conference
cordially received him, and appointed him to the important mission,
in the prosecution of which he was called away by Him who hath
appointed the bounds of our habitation, and who, although he buries
his workmen, still carries on his work.

In the view of the chapel, prefixed to the account of Brown's
Town, Mr. Bewley’s tomb may be seen, near the front of Stewart’s
Town chapel, to the left of the steps.

Mr. Hornby felt exceedingly happy in his work in this circuit.
With abundance to do, he went on cheerfully in the discharge of his
manifold duties, as may appear from the following extract of a letter,
written early in November :—

“ It affords me real pleasure to be able to report of the continued
and increasing prosperity of God’s work amongst us. Since the
ever-to-be-remembered Ist of August, we have witnessed a steady
and pleasing advancement of the Redeemer’s interests. Our con-
gregations have materially improved, both in number and respecta-
bility, and our societies have become proportionably larger. In con-
nexion with this, as might naturally be expected, the weekly and
quarterly contributions have become considerably larger. I have
tried to persuade the people under my charge, that as they are now as
well off as the generality of those in England, who have long con-
tributed to support their missionaries, they ought now to _prove
themselves grateful for the blessing received, by supporting their own
missionaries, and even assisting others; and I am glad to find that
the people respond to the appeal. The pleasing prospect around me
inspires the thoughts as I pen them. I have been at this place
keeping school for a week; and, though each night greatly fatigued,
IT cannot think of giving it up. I have had about sixty pupils, all
sable sons of Ham each day. Many of them are adults who have
been slaves ; they work one week, and come to school another; they
can afford to do it, and their anxiety to learn is delightful. They
begin at six in the morning, and I have literally to drive them away
at night. My hands are full of work. Expecting to go away from
the circuit at the end of the year, I do not care to have another
teacher, and I attend to one school myself. I preach often, travel

26
242 STEWART'S TOWN,

much, and have much circuit business to attend to, but I have good
health. I love the people, God is with me, and I labour on at his
command.”

Mr. Hornby’s successors continued to labour zealously for the ad-
vancement of the welfare of the society here, and throughout the
circuit generally. In August, 1842, the writer was present at a
crowded missionary meeting, at Stewart's Town, at which Messrs.
Knibb and Clarke, (Baptist Missionaries) besides several of his
Wesleyan brethren, spoke. There was an excellent spirit in the
meeting, which indicated that Messrs. Randerson and Seccombe had
not laboured in vain, in urging the people to aid in diffusing the
Gospel throughout the world.

While attending this and some other meetings, a pleasing incident
occurred, which showed the great revolution which had taken place
in public sentiment, with regard to the mission. As Mr. Randerson
and the writer were travelling towards Brown’s Town, an elderly,
keen-eyed, intelligent, fresh-looking gentleman saluted Mr. R., and
asked him how he was, and whither he was travelling ; on which Mr.
R. intimated that we were on our way to hold a missionary meeting
in his neighbourhood. The gentleman regretted that he was going
from home, or he would have been present; but though he should
not be there, his son-in-law and daughter would. He then, in the
most friendly manner, expressed his hope that the meeting would
prove a good one. When he was gone, the writer asked who he was,
and, on hearing his name, he was most agreeably surprised to find
that he was a member of Assembly, and had once been one of the
most determined opposers of the mission and the missionaries, even
in the persecuting parish of St. Ann; but that he now occasionally
visited the chapel, and mingled in worship with those whom he for-
merly would have disdained to sct with the dogs of his flock, and took
every opportunity of giving expression of friendly feeling towards the
missionaries. In 1843, when the writer visited this place for the
last time, there were 224 members in the Society, the congrega-
tions were very large, and the prospect encouraging.
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213

CHAPTER XVII.
BATH, ST. THOMAS IN THE EAST.

Situation and appearance of Bath—A mission proposed to Messrs. Underhill and
Nornc—Premises purchased and a Society formed—Successful labours of Messrs.
Johnstone, Duncan, Tremaync, Whitehouse, Orton, and Crookes—Mr. Samuel
appointed to the circuit—Discipline—a N. egro Funeral—Moral evils of Slavery—
Death of a Slave—Messrs. Bleby and Ritchie—Prosperity of the Mission under
Messrs. Simmons, Edney, and Rowden—a New Chapel erected—Mr, Atkins.

Forry-rour miles to the east of the City of Kingston, the lovely
little village of Bath is situated, at the southern base of a pile of hills,
which terminate in the majestic Blue Mountain range. The traveller
having left the sea at Port Morant, turns northward, by a road in
some parts extremely difficult to travel in wet weather, on account
of the depth of mud through which he must struggle to get forward.
For five miles the luxuriance of the vegetation is extremely interesting:
bread-fruit, mango, cocoa nut, plaintain, star-apple, and other trees
abound, along with the varied productions of negro provision grounds.
For a considerable part of the way, the road lies on the left of two
hills, parallel with each other, with a valley between them. On
reaching Plaintain Garden river, the lofty Blue Mountain range pre-
sents its southern side to view, thickly clothed with the verdure of
trees and shrubbery of every lovely tint. Near the fording place,
where Plantain Garden river is joined by Island river, the eye is
arrested by a magnificent specimen of the wild cotton tree, whose
gigantic light grey trunk is surmounted by a few horizontal limbs and
branches, in keeping with the massive column which supports them,
and from which lichens, withes, and creeping vines depend. As the
village is buried in the foliage which surrounds it, this monarch of the
wood appears as if reared to mark the spot in which it lies. A little
way beyond the crossing, the road turns to the right, and preserves a
perfectly straight line as far as Sulphur river, which bounds the
village on the east. Most of the houses, and a few stores, are
arranged on each side of this road, which is bordered by rows of what
the inhabitants call the South Sea apple tree, along with cocoa-nut,
and palmetto royal, and bread-fruit trees. The other houses lic to
the east of the Botanic Garden. The situation is beautiful, and
bordering on the romantic. The chapel and mission-house are
opposite to the church, and a large building erected for baths, a club-
room, and ball-room ; in looking from which, the mission premises
appear at the mouth of a ravine, whicu leads to the celebrated mineral
spring which originally led to the fu-mation of the village. The
2h BATE

mountains present a magnificent scene, not only from their abrupt-
ness and elevation, but by the richness and variety of the foliage with
which they are profusely clothed. The orange, cocoa-nut, bread-fruit,
mango, star-apple, palmetto-royal, mahogany, avocadoe-pear, jack-
fruit, lime, citron, guava, and the graceful bamboo, appear in the
greatest luxuriance, interspersed with shrubbery, guinea-grass, and
tropical esculents, and flowers, kept in perpetual verdure by the rains
which fall in great abundance throughout the year in this region.
The medicinal springs are about a mile and a-half above the village.
There are two of them, the one hot and the other cold; the latter
flows in several small streams out of a cleft of the rock which con-
fines the middle part of Sulphur river on the east, as it flows south
towards the village. At its source, the hot spring is very high in
temperature, though not hot enough to boil an egg, as some have
asserted—the experiment having been tried by the writer. The
water is light, and ‘ plentifully charged with volatile particles of
mineral acid, combined with sulphurous steam, slightly engaged in a
calcareous base. The cold spring is more fully charged with sulphur.”
Both have been found beneficial in cutaneous disorders, obstructions
of the viscera, and other diseases. For the accommodation of patients
and visitors, there are several baths, in a building near the springs,
into which the hot or cold water can be admitted in any proportions
desired. Considerable sums of public money have been spent in
order to establish and keep up the Botanical Garden ; but hitherto
little good has resulted from it. The physician to the bath had the
management of it; but there was little encouragement held out to a
scientific naturalist to render it what it might be under proper culture.
The estates in this part of the country are among the richest and
most profitable in the island. The parish contains one hundred and
twenty-eight thousand acres of land, divided into five districts, named,
severally, Manchioneal, Plantain Garden river, Port Morant, Morant,
and Blue Mountain districts. Previously to the abolition of slavery,
there were twenty-five thousand slaves on the estates, besides stock.
The principal properties were Golden-Grove, Amity-Hall, Stoakes-
Hall, Rhine, Duckenfield, Holland, Hoardley, Wheelers-Field,
Winchester, Green Castle, Pleasant Hill, Potosi, in the Plantain
Garden river district, with many more of considerable size.

Though the mission at Morant Bay had existed from 1802, it was
not till 1819 that Bath, which is only twelve miles to the N.E. of it,
was fixed on as a station, owing to the abundance of work the
brethren had to do in other places.—At length, an opening presented
itself, when Messrs. Horne and Underhill were appointed to St.
Thomas in the East. The latter began his work in the country parts
of the circuit, on the 18th of March, of which he gave an account on
his first visit to Bath. He observed—‘ In the evening, I arrived
safely in Bath, and was entertained with great hospitality and respect
by Dr. West, Physician to the Bath, who, on my leaving in the
BATH. 245

morning, gave me a letter of introduction to an estate twelve miles
farther on, at which place I took dinner, and in the evening rode on
to Manchioneal Bay.” Towards the end of the following month, he
again spent part of a day with Dr. West, at whose house he met
with Mr. S8., a magistrate, and several other gentlemen, who assured
him that they were determined to have a preaching house at Bath,
if he and Mr. Horne would supply them with preaching, on which
Mr. E. assured them that if they would provide a place, he and Mr.
H. would give them all the labour they possibly could. This was
encouraging, as above five hundred of the members, belonging to
Morant Bay Society, lived in the vicinity of Bath, which compelled
them to walk from eight to sixteen miles to attend the services on
the Lord’s Day.

It was sometime ere this favourable opening could be attended to,
as My. Horne was removed. His successor, Mr. Hartley, was cut
off by fever. Mr. Underhill’s health failed, which compelled him to
leave the circuit for a time; and when he returned, it was only to
suffer and die. Mr. Ratcliffe, who followed, was brought to the
brink of the grave; and his beloved wife and two children were car-
ried off by fever, which compelled him to go to another part of the
island, to seek the recovery of his health, and a mitigation of his
sorrows, by engaging in new scenes of labour.

Early in 1820, the above gentlemen secured premises, capable of
being fitted up fora chapel. Mr. Ratcliffe observed, that, having
been kindly entertained by Dr. West, they went after dinner to view
the premises lately purchased for a chapel, remarking that if means
for fitting it up could be raised, it might soon be equal to the support
of a married missionary. However, it was above a year after this
that Mr. Johnstone, after a great deal of labour, succeeded in getting
the necessary alterations and improvements completed. Mr. Dun-
can, his colleague, then but recently come to the island, noticed these
exertions of his aged and devoted superintendent, in a letter dated
May, 1821, as follows:—‘ The chapel is now nearly finished, and
is a very decent looking place, but without any superfluous orna-
ment. Mr. Johnstone has had, however, a great deal of fatigue and
anxiety about it ever since he came to the Bay; for, as we could
hire no waggon to carry up the materials from Port Morant to Bath,
he had many a hot ride between the different places. Nor would he
allow me to take any journey but to parts of the circuit in the regular
course of duty, lest, by not being seasoned to the climate, my
health should be injured.” This short extract presents a touching
picture of the paternal kindness of this truly devoted missionary to-
wards his young fellow-labourer, and his self-sacrificing zeal in his
missionary work. These exertions brought him down to the grave
in a few months after the accomplishment of his object at Bath, as
has been noticed in the account of the Morant Bay station, where he
died in the month of October.
246 BATIT,

In 1822, Bath appeared as one of the stations in the Morant Bay
circuit. No sooner was the chapel opened than the people flocked
to the service in such numbers that it was soon found to be far too
small. There was a spirit of religious enquiry awakened, not only
among the slaves, but many of the free people also began to give
heed to the things spoken. A gradual and visible improvement in
character and conduct marked the members of the society, and the
prospect of the station becoming one of great importance, cheered the
missionaries in their efforts to evangelize the benighted thousands
who had hitherto been left to the full influence of the evils of slavery
and African superstition. The chief difficulty felt in carrying on the
mission here, was the want of efficient local assistants. While the
greatest anxiety was shewn by the people to attend the means of
grace, there was too limited a supply of missionaries, and of persons
competent to aid in watching over those who were placed in circum-
stances of difficulty, with regard to their spiritual improvement.
From the hindrances slavery threw in their way, it was impossible
for the people to attend the chapel above one Sabbath in three or
four.

An extension of the labours of the missionary as far as to Port
Antonio, in 1826, along with other things, prevented that degree of
religious prosperity which was anxiously desired. In reporting at
the close of the year, the brethren observed,—‘ Many circumstances
have contributed to make the work go on heartily in this circuit
during the past year—viz. the great lack of service, there being still
but one missionary ; the long-continued wet season; the general
sickness that has prevailed among the people ; and our visiting Port
Antonio : yet it is cheering to be able to state, that the Word of Life
has not been preached in vain. Many also have died in the Lord,
leaving behind them the most satisfactory evidence that they have
not only ceased from their labours, but entered into rest. Con-
sidering the largeness of the Society, expulsions have not been so fre-
quent as might have been expected.” At this period the members
amounted to about thirteen hundred. The state of the people the
year following, gave greater satisfaction; many were in earnest for
salvation, and the spiritual experience of others was considerably
improved up till 1828. Messrs. Tremayne, Beard, Whitehouse, and
Orton, had successively laboured in this laborious and enconraging
field of usefulness, with increasing effect. At the end of 1828, the
state of the society was more satisfactory than at any former period.
Many of the members were living in the enjoyment of “ peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” who shewed the reality of their
piety by their consistent conduct. The brethren remarked,—“ If we
may judge of the spiritual state of many of them by their experience
in our love-feasts, and at the quarterly visitations, and the blessed
influence felt and evinced in the general ordinances of God’s house,
we may conclude that, during the past year, many have improved in
BATU, 247

the knowledge and love of God. We believe this is the case; se-
veral have, in their last moments, given satisfactory proof of their
union with Christ, and hope of endless life.”

Circumstances having rendered necessary the removal of Mr.
Orton in September, 1829, Bath was without a resident missionary
for more than a year, which was greatly felt, especially as Mr. Pen-
man, who was stationed at Morant Bay, and used to preach at Bath,
was cut off by fever, which, for a time, left the people as sheep with-
out a shepherd. However, the leaders discharged their duties with
zeal and faithfulness, as far as they were able. Discipline was pretty
well kept up, till Mr. Crookes was appointed to Bath in 1831; after
whose removal, the writer, having arrived in the island, was ap-
pointed to succeed him.

On the arrival of the writer at Bath, towards the end of Ja-
nuary, 1832, he was affectionately received by the people; and,
though the spirit of persecution was abroad, making havoc of the
mission in many parts of the island, at Bath there was a degree of
peace, which enabled us to continue the services on the Lord’s Day,
and to hold the weekly meeting of the leaders. At the latter, a case
of discipline was brought forward on the 18th of February, which
throws some light on the state of the Society. At six o’clock on Fri-
day morning, all the leaders assembled, some from a distance of eight
or nine miles. The meeting having been opened by singing and
prayer, and the usual financial business disposed of, a woman appeared,
charged with having been insolent to her owner, while she was being
flogged by his order. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that
she had employed language, and shewn a temper at variance with
her religious profession. On having this pointed out to her, she
wept bitterly, clasped her hands, and, in impassioned language, ex-
claimed, “‘ Me minister, me pray, me hebenly Fader, fu forgib me dis
sin, an dat me no do sich like any mo!’ Her feelings were power-
fully excited, and her penitence appearing to be really sincere, she
was admonished and put on trial. The manner in which this case
was conducted, shewed that there was among the leaders a strong
sense of the importance of consistency in the conduct of those who
united themselves to the Society, and that even strong provocation
was no justification for sinning against God. The Society Steward,
Charles Christie, a free black man, was very zealous, upright, and
useful. The anxiety he and others shewed to keep the church pure,
gave powerful evidence of the purifying and elevating influence of
the Gospel among them. There was no attempt at concealing sin,
or screening an offender from church discipline, when deserved. In
this respect the writer feels constrained to state, that they were ex-
emplary.

On the afternoon of the same day, the mother of the above-named
Steward was consigned to the grave. She had been the mother of
fourteen children, and had reached her ninetieth year. For about
248 BATH.

seven years she had looked forward to the hour of her departure, and
had, according to the custom of pious negroes, provided her grave-
clothes ; but, in the interval, she had been called to bury her husband
and one of her children. At length, she was laid upon her death-bed.
The day before she died, her leader, Mrs. Marsden, a person of
colour, called to see her. After some conversation and prayer, the
aged dying woman said, ‘‘ Me now go die.” On being asked if she
was not afraid to die, she replied, ‘‘ No me no fraid ; me trust in me
Saviour ; an me goto him; fo be wid him fo eber an eber.” Soon
after which, ‘‘ the weary wheels of life stood still.” The effects of
the Gospel were exhibited in a pleasing light, not only in the death
of this aged African, but also at her funeral. Towards evening, the
writer rode to the hamlet, where the company was to assemble for the
funeral. It lay a little way out of the village, at the western ex-
tremity of a sugar estate, where the canes were waving luxuriantly in
the breeze. The negro houses were encircled with bread-fruit, cocoa-
nut, plantain, and other trees; and their little gardens and grounds
were filled with yams, ochros, Indian corn, peppers, arrow-root, and
other productions, which indicated both industry, and plenty as its re-
ward. On reaching the house there was a very large number of the
friends and acquaintances of the deceased congregated, all decently
dressed ; the females in white muslins, with large flat-brimmed bon-
nets, trimmed with black ribbon, or their heads, tastefully adorned
with a richly-figured kerchief, adjusted in the form of a turban. The
men were either attired in a black suit, or black coat and vest, with
white trowsers, and broad-brimmed straw, panama, or ordinary black
hats, so that the appearance of the whole indicated a degree of Chris-
tian civilization, that was deeply interesting to a new comer.

As soon as the arrangements were completed, the missionary took
the lead ; the coffin was borne on the shoulders of four athletic negroes,
which was covered with a mortcloth ; the relatives took the ribbons,
according to seniority; then the whole company followed slowly
along by the base of the green mountain towards the chapel, where
part of the burial service being read, an address delivered, and a
hymn sung, the company proceeded to the burial-ground in the
chapel-yard, where the rest of the burial service was read, and prayer
offered. The appearance and conduct of the people was equal to
anything to be witnessed in England on like occasions, if not rather
more becoming. As the funeral of a heathen African took place
while the writer was in Kingston, the contrast between that and this
was very striking. On that occasion, the scene was deeply humiliat-
ing. The coffin was carried on the heads of two negroes, who were
running, stopping, turning, and making jestures, as if for the amuse-
ment of children ; while crowds ran together shouting, laughing,
or staring in amazement, as if it were a rabble following a company
of drunken maniacs. As the writer knew not of a single heathen
burial during his two years’ residence in St. Thomas in the East, it
BATH, 249

may be concluded that the labours of the missionaries had not been
in vain. What funerals used to be previously, may be seen in
the accounts given by all who have written of the superstition of the
Africans. Stewart, who resided above twenty years in Jamaica, ob-
served that, at their funerals, they ‘use various ceremonies, among
which is the practice of pouring libations, and sacrificing a fowl on
the grave of the deceased—a tribute of respect they occasionally re-
peat. During the whole of the ceremony, many fantastic motions
and wild gesticulations are practised, accompanied with a suitable
beat of their drums, and other rude instruments; while a melancholy
dirge is sung by a female, the chorus of which is performed by the
whole of the other females, with admirable precision, and full-toned
and not unmelodious voices. When the deceased is interred, the
plaintive notes of sympathy are no longer heard, the drums resound
with livelier beat, the song grows more animated, dancing and ap-
parent merriment commence, and the remainder of the night is usually
spent in feasting and riotous debauchery. Previous to the inter-
ment of the corpse, it is sometimes pretended that it is endowed with
the gift of speech ; and the friends and relatives alternately place
their ears to the lid of the coffin, to hear what the deceased has to say.
This generally consists of complaints and upbraidings, for various in-
juries, treachery, ingratitude, injustice, and, in particular, the non-
payment of debts due to the deceased. This last complaint is some-
times shewn by the deceased in a more cogent way than by mere
words ; for, on coming opposite to the door of a negro debtor, the
coffin makes a full stop, and no persuasion or strength can induce
the deceased to go forward peaceably to his grave, till the money is
paid, so that the unhappy debtor has no alternative but to comply
with this demand, or have his creditor palmed upon him, as a lodger,
for sometime. Sometimes, however, the deceased is a little uncon-
scionable, by claiming a fictitious debt. In short, the superstitious
practice is often made subservient to fraudulent extortion. A negro,
who was to be interred in one of the towns, had, it was pretended by
some of his friends, a claim upon another negro for a sum of money.
The latter denied any such claim; and, accordingly, at the funeral
of the deceased, the accustomed ceremonies took place opposite to
the door of his supposed debtor ; and this mummery was continued
for hours, till the magistrates thought proper to interfere, and com-
pelled the defunct to forego his claim, and proceed quietly on to his
resting place.”

The only relic of this practice discovered by the writer, was
brought to his notice by a charge which was preferred against an old
African slave, who was reported to have been guilty of offering a
fowl at the grave of a deceased daughter, or near relative, for which
she was expelled from the society. The conduct of this poor woman
was evidently regarded as indicative of her being still a heathen in

ZH
250 BAT.

heart and life, and therefore utterly unfit to be allowed to connect
herself with those who had embraced the Gospel.

Though the congregations continued large, and seemed deeply at-
tentive, and sometimes much affected, under the word, it was only
a portion of the people who ventured to attend the services during
the early part of the year, as everything was done to deter them
from venturing near the mission chapels. In reviewing the year,
the following’ circumstances and events were too important to be
passed by, without remark, as they exhibit the moral and religious
state of the several classes of the community at this period. Though
the writer was allowed to go on with his work at Bath, he was ex-
cluded from the estates ; and a proposal was made to the Custos to
arrest and cast him into jail, at the time when Mr. Rowden was im-
prisoned, which will be noticed when giving an account of the Man-
chioneal station. On several of the estates, the thatched houses in
which the slaves used to meet for prayer, were destroyed, to prevent
them assembling as they had been accustomed ; while everything
was done to corrupt their morals, and reduce them to their former
heathen state. They were compelled to attend their grounds and
the markets on the Lord’s Day, that they might have no time left
for attending the public worship of God, so that many of the people
got to the chapels in disguise, carrying with them their hoes, bills,
and cutlasses, as if engaged in their ordinary work. Several of the
clergy and missionaries petitioned the House of Assembly to abolish
Sunday markets ; but while eight honourable members appeared in
favour of the prayer of the petition, twenty-four were against it.
Concubinage was so general that, out of the whole population of the
district, only a very few of the free people, whether white or brown,
were married. So little evil appeared to be connected with what was
called ‘‘ the custom of the country,” that the coloured females, who
were living in keeping, regularly appeared in the congregation, as if
perfectly virtuous. However, these victims to a destructive system
felt that the pleasures of sin were only for a season. An affecting
illustration of this was given about the middle of the year. The
writer having been called to visit a coloured female who was dying
of dropsy, after being tapped twenty-six times, on entering the
room where she lay, she eagerly fixed her eyes upon him, seized
his hand, and cried with feelings greatly excited, “O! Mr. S.
do what you can for me.” ‘ Help me, I am a great sinner.”
She bewailed the life she had lived—she vowed to attend the means
of grace, and seek the salvation of her soul, if her life should be
spared ; but the decree had gone forth, and her soul was required of
her. Her funeral was attendéd by. great number of white men,
every one of whom was living in “sin,” as the negroes term it.
These gentlemen were greatly incensed because no well-founded hope
of a glorious resurrection to eternal life was expressed in reference to
the deceased, during the reading of the burial service! One, in pre-
BATIL. 251

sence of the rest, demanded a reason for the omission. The reply
was, that Wesleyan Missionaries, not being under the jurisdiction of
the Established Church, were under no obligation to make an indis-
criminate use of the burial service.

Otten has the writer been amazed at the apparent calmness with
which this class of persons have sat under the severest denunciations
of the sin in which they were living. As parents trained their
coloured daughters for the very purpose of disposing of them to the
highest and best bidder, as soon as they came of age, it was of es-
sential importance to aim at opening their eyes to the evils of con-
cubinage. Stewart, in noticing this evil, observes, “Most of the
females of colour think it more genteel and respectable to be the
keep-mistress of a white man, if he is in opulent circumstances, and
can indulge their taste for finery and parade, than to be united in
wedlock with the most respectable individual of their own class.
They view marriage, indeed, as an unnecessary and unnatural re-
straint.” “ These are the sentiments of nine-tenths of the females of
colour in this island, and accordingly, at least, that proportion are in
the situation of housekeepers, as they are here styled by the white
men; while the males console themselves in the same way, either
with one of their own colour, or with a sable companion.”

It is evident that nothing less than the religion of the heart could
rescue the victims of such a system. One of the members who had
lived many years in this way, was anxious to preserve her daughter
from it; but, after using every means in her power, she followed her
mother’s early example, telling her that, “if she had not wished,her
to live in sin, she should not have begotten her in sin.” The writer
having seen something of the nature and extent of the system, gave
notice publicly from the pulpit, that any member of the Society,
known to countenance their daughters in this sin, would be expelled
from the Society. A short time afterwards, the daughter of one
received the addresses of a very decent and industrious young man,
of her own colour. The day for the marriage was fixed. He was
on his way from Kingston, with some articles for the occasion ; but
ere he reached his home, a white man went to the parents, bargained
with them, and carried off the expected bride as his housekeeper,
exulting in his heartless immorality. The mother, who was a party
to this wickedness, endeavoured to wash her hands of suspicion.
She was told that as soon as she was discovered sharing the wages of
her child’s iniquity, she should be cut off from the Church. Some-
time after, both the parents openly frequented the white man’s home,
and gave unqualified support to the proceedings of her daughter,
which settled the affair of her church membership.

Sabbath desecration was another of the great evils which struck the
mind of the writer during this year. The whites, with few excep-
tions, spent the sacred day either in their ordinary pursuits, reading
newspapers or novels, writing letters, fishing in the rivers, shooting
252 BATH.

in the woods, or in feasting, carousing, and unlimited debauchery,
and sometimes in quarrels and duels; while the slaves were com-
pelled to till their provision grounds, under the eye of a book-keeper,
attend the market, wash clothes at the rivers, or, during crop, go
on with the estate work ; so that, though there might be a con-
gregation on the Lord’s Day of many hundreds, there were still
many thousands living as if there were no Sabbath to be kept, or
eternity to prepare for. In the month of June, the races were to be
held at Bachelors’ Hall, a little to the east of Bath. Great ef-
forts were made to get the new ball-room ready for the occasion ;
and, in order to this, Sabbath, the 24th, was specially devoted to push
forward the work. The congregation was unusually large at the
chapel; and the quarterly love-feast, for the members, was held ;
but the conflict between Sabbath desecration and Sabbath sanctifica-
tion, was as complete as it could be. From early dawn the air was
rent with the sound of saws, hammers, and human voices; and as
the workmen were putting up rails and steps outside, right opposite
the chapel, and within a hundred feet of it, we were painfully an-
noyed, and hoped that there would be a cessation by the time the
morning service commenced, but there was no intermission. The
poor slaves driven by their task-masters were compelled to proceed ;
while, in other parts of the village, an unusual amount of market
business was going forward. Though the village swarmed with
whites, only five found their way to the Church. Having accom-
plished their object, a ball took place on the Tuesday evening, dur-
ing which a terriffic thunder-storm occurred, with flooding rain, which
continued most of the night; but, while the building was illuminated
by the lightning, and shaken by the thunder, “the sound of the
viol” continued. No interruption of the dance took place; for
“ they regarded not the work of the Lord, nor considered the opera-
tions of Fis hands.”

The all but total absence of Schools for the population was
another evil resulting from slavery. With the exception of a small
School, in which a few coloured children—the offspring of the whites
—were taught a few plain things, there was no provision for above
twenty thousand souls within the district: hence the difficulty of ex-
hibiting the truths of the Gospel in sufficient simplicity to be under-
stood by untutored minds. Another source of many evils was the
fear generated by slavery. The dread of punishment led to the sa-
crifice of judgment and conscience : suspicion, low-cunning, fraud
and falsehood, were the legitimate results; yet, amidst the most
varied and formidable moral evils, it was amazing to witness the in-
fluence of the Gospel, which became the power of God unto salva-
tion tomany. In looking at the Society towards the close of the
year, there was good ground for encouragement. The people not
only travelled far to attend the services, but earnestly listened to the
sound of the truth ; and many gave evidence that they received it in
BATH. 253

the love of it. Sometimes they forded the rivers at the risk of their
lives, rather than be absent from the house of God, when they had
an opportunity of getting to it; and, in the hour of death, many gave
evidence that they died in hope of a glorious resurrection. Among
these one may be mentioned, the circumstances of whose death were
somewhat singular:—David Milner, a slave belonging to Wheelers-
field estate, fell asleep in Jesus on the Ist of August. About three
weeks before he died, he attended Bath chapel in his usual state of
health, and partook of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. A few
days afterwards, he was taken ill, and believed that his sickness
would be unto death. Deeply impressed that his ‘ work in this world
was done,’ he earnestly prayed that, ere he died, God would permit
him to pay one visit more to the chapel. On the 29th of July, he
was so far restored as to be able to travel to Bath, and attend the
service, where he listened to a sermon on 1 Tim. iv. 8. David heard
as a dying man, being under the full impression that he should no
more worship with the people of God on earth; his soul was greatly
refreshed during the service, as he assured some of his friends. On
leaving the chapel, he proceeded to the house of Charles Christie, his
leader, whom he met along with many of his Christian brethren. On
rising to speak, he looked around him, and said in a solemn
tone, ‘Dis day me hab come fo take farewell of me leader, an me
class broders.’ Then turning to his leader, he said, ‘ Leader, me
tank you fo all de good advice you gib me ; me feel happy fo see you
once mo, an hope hereafter fo meet you in heben, wid all me class
broders, where we shall part no mo fo eber. Me now bid you all
farewell, till we meet in de last day, when me Saviour shall receive we
all to him ownself ; me shake hands wid you all, an once mo say fare~
well.’ He then shook hands with each, and went away. On his
way home, he called at Suffolk Park Estate ; saw his friends, and
bade them farewell. He then proceeded to his family burying place,
where he spent sometime in serious meditation and conversation about
those who were buried there. Next day he called his children and
friends around him; spoke seriously and pointedly to each about the
salvation of their souls, and distributed to each a portion of his little
property. Except himself, no one had any expectation that his death
was near at hand. However, the day following, he was suddenly
seized with sickness; and, in twenty-four hours, entered into the
joy of his Lord. Though a slave and uneducated, he shewed a de-
gree of intelligence somewhat unusual. As a member of the Society,
he was consistent, sober, and attentive to the means of grace ; and
the manner in which he met the last enemy, shewed that he was par-
taker of the hope, that ‘when Christ shall appear, he shall appear
together with him in glory.’

In July, 1833, there was a pleasing instance of the recovery of a
backslider which occurred. She was a coloured young woman, who,
some years previously, had so far shewn a concern about her salvation,
25-4 BATS.

that she met in a class, and promised to become a consistent member ;
but being under the power of a vicious overseer, she was seduced
and compelled to live with him as his concubine, or suffer from his
eruelty. The convictions of sin she had experienced never left her.
She felt miserable and restless to escape from her course of life ; but
her companion would not listen to her proposal. She then made
known the state of her mind to a white gentleman, who observed that
his own case was similar to her’s; but when he might return to
God, as she was about to do, he did not know. Highly approving
of her determination, he sent a boy and two horses to enable her to
return to her family ; after which she found her way to Bath chapel,
where she used to meet in class. She acknowledged that, from the
time she left the means of grace, she had not known what happiness
was. Her deportment indicated genuine repentance. The quarterly
love-feast, which was held previous to the termination of the writer’s
appointment to this station, was one of the most delightful and spiritual
he had witnessed ; the spirit and language of those who spoke, indicated
the enlightening and purifying power of the Gospel. On leaving
with his family early in January, 1833, the people gave expression
of their sorrow at parting, in a way truly affecting. At day-break,
many of the leaders and members came to assist in preparing us for
our journey, sorrowing at the possibility that we should meet no
more on earth. At this period there were eleven hundred and three
members, of whom only fifty-three were free persons.

Myr. Bleby succeeded the writer at this station ; but, for a consider-
able time, he suffered severely from fever, which prevented him from
prosecuting his missionary work ashe desired. Still the congregations
continued good ; and when the great change in the civil condition of
the slaves took place, the chapel was found to be incapable of ad-
mitting one-fourth of those who flocked to hear the word of God.
The spiritual state of the members was encouraging, and their attend-
ance on the means of grace regular. Considering the circumstances
of the people, their state was far better than could reasonably have
been expected. The state of Mr. Bleby’s health rendered his re-
moval necessary at the end of the year; and Mr. Ritchie, who suc-
ceeded him, having not only suffered in the same way, but also lost
his wife by death, left the station early in 1836, on which Mr. 8.
Simmons was appointed. By this time the chapel was falling into
such a state of dilapidation, as called for immediate attention. Even
when the writer was at Bath, the roofs of both house and chapel
were so decayed, that, during the season rains, the water poured in
streams; so that, in the house especially, it was necessary to place
every available utensil to catch it, as it poured into the several apart-
ments ; while-umbrellas were employed to keep the inmates dry, even
while in bed. This was remedied before the writer left the station,
and Mr. S. succeeded in getting the chapel put in order; but the
want of one sufficiently large was felt more and more. The
BATIL. 950

spiritual state of the Society, as set forth in a letter by Mr. Simmons,
was highly encouraging. He observed,—‘‘ We may be allowed to
judge of the reality of our improvement by evidences ; and if we can
tell you of souls going triumphantly to heaven—of our people clearly
and distinctly assuring us of their acceptance with God—of back-
sliders returning to the Lord—and of sinners ‘ inquiring the way to
Zion with their faces thitherward,’ you will rejoice and believe that
‘the Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.’ Such
is the state of the case. I have visited the abodes of the dying, and
witnessed with what holy confidence they have testified that Jesus is
the Saviour of sinners. At our love-feasts, I have heard the poor
negroes speak of the interest they feel in the all-sufficiency of the
atonement, till my eyes have been suffused with tears, and my heart
melted. I have seen the contrite sinner grieved at having grieved
his God, and beheld the prodigal return to his offended Father.”

Mr. Edney, who succeeded Mr. Simmons, had great encourage-
ment to labour for the salvation of souls. It fell to his lot to wit-
ness the deliverance of the people from civil bondage, which placed
them in circumstances to keep the Sabbath holy, and attend all the
means of grace. The conduct of the people gave him great satisfac-
tion. On every property where fair wages had been offered, they
fulfilled their engagements faithfully ; and it was only where injus-
tice was indulged in by the overseers of estates, that any misunder-
standing took place. At Rocky Point, where ground had been pur-
chased and a station formed, a day-school was established, which
promised to become a blessing to the people. In September, 1838,
Mr. E. wrote—‘ In every department of our work in this important
and interesting circuit, we have cheering prospects. Our preaching
house at each place has become too small; and the Lord is bearing
testimony to the word of his grace. At our last quarterly meeting,
we had a net increase of seventy-eight members, besides about
seventy that remained on trial; and our finances are so much im-
proved, that all our expense will be met without any help from the
Committee.”

A serious loss was sustained at Bath by the death of Mr. Rogers,
who had settled as Superintendent of one of the Schools of the Mico
Charity. This excellent man was full of pious zeal and energy,
which led him to remove with his family from London to Jamaica,
in order to promote the best interests of the negro. He laboured
hard in the erection and establishment of a large day-school, and in
aiding Mr. Edney on the Lord’s Day ; but, alas! he was cut off by
fever, just when his efforts were producing delightful fruits, and, to
add to this loss, Mrs. Edney died on the 26th of the following
May.

Mr. Rowden, who followed Mr. Edney in the circuit, succeeded in
erecting the handsome chapel, a view of which (with the oid premises
to the right) is prefixed to this account. It is a frame building, on
256 BATIL.

stone pillars, with a portico, and a flight of stone steps in front. It
measures seventy-six feet by fifty-six, and has a vestry behind six-
teen feet square; the materials and workmanship are superior ; the
expense was borne by the members and friends, and amounted to
about £2500. It is an ornament to the village ; the interior is re-
spectable and commodious. When the writer visited it in March,
1843, the contrast between what he witnessed, and the appearance of
the old chapel, about a eleven years before, was striking, while the
very few faces he could recognize, reminded him that we were all
strangers and sojourners on earth. The whole aspect of this country
was changed; numerous villages were rising up, where he had been
accustomed to see nothing besides luxuriant vegetation or fallow
land. Mr. Atkins, along with Mr. Williams, were labouring with
great success here, and throughout the circuit, which included
Manchioneal and Rock Point. At Bath, there was 1500 members,
and in the circuit, 2917, with three day, and three Sabbath schools,
having three salaried, and eight gratuitous teachers, The day scholars
were 412, besides those of the Sabbath schools.

On account of the increase of preaching places throughout the
circuit, Mr. Atkins removed from Bath to Barking Lodge, in the
neighbourhood of Rocky Point, in order to reach them the more
easily, there being eight places, besides three chapels, to supply with
preaching, and nearly 3500 hearers who regularly attended the pub-
lic services. The removal of the missionary from Bath operated
against its prosperity, while other places were benefited by the
change ; besides which, few of the missionaries have ever been able to
preserve their health in Bath, on account of its extreme heat and
moisture, which generate malaria, and produce a fever peculiar to the
locality. In 1845, Bath and Port Morant were united. The year
after, Port Morant stood alone, and Bath was again joined to Man-
chioneal, with six chapels, six other preaching places, and only one
missionary, and an assistant missionary, to supply them! The fol-
lowing year, the report of the state of the people of Bath was dis-
couraging. Some of them appeared to be strangers to the Divine
life ; yet there were others who lived in the fear of God, walked in
the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and adorned their Christian profes-
sion, by a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel. At Airy
Castle, not far from Bath, a small society which had been formed was
much injured by the influence of a revival of Obeahism, through some
native Africans, who, along with some Hill Coolies from the East
Indies, had been located on the estates around them, whose super-
stition, sensuality, and moral degradation, spread like a pestilence
wherever they were.
“TIGVH] TVINOIHINVA

pre
Pras wares

 
CHAPTER XVIII.

MANCHIONEAL AND PORT MORANT.

Situation and appearance of Manchioneal—Mr. Bradaack begins a Mission — Messrs.
Underhill and Horno—Messrs. Johnstone and Duncan—A Chapel Built—Pro-
gress—Mr. Rowden Imprisoned--Persecution of Mr. Barr—Advancement of the
Station under Messrs. Gregory, Rowden, Atkins, and Williams—Port Morant—
Origin of the Circuit—A Society Formed at Rocky Point—-A Society Formed at
Port Morant by Mr. Atkins—A Chapel Erected—Rapid Extension of the Mission
—Port Morant made the head of the Circuit~—Prosperity of the Socicties.

Mancutonear Bay is sixteen miles N.E. from Bath. In travel-
ling from the latter, on the right, lies the vale of Plantain Garden
River, with its magnificent estates, an extensive and delightful view of
which is presented from Quahill, where the road ascends to a con-
siderable height, overlooking both land and sea. From this, Morant
Point, the most eastern extremity of the island, and Holland Bay, into
which the river flows, are seen to advantage ; while the beautiful sca,
bounded by the horizon, forms the background. After this, the road
turns northward, having on the right hand the sea, and on the left
the east end of the mountain chain, which stretches through the cen-
tre of the island. The village has nothing particularly striking about
it ; the position seen from a part of the road overlooking Muir-Town
estate, and the river which flows through it, are the most interesting.
The houses and stores are not numerous, nor is the population large;
while the harbour is small and difficult of access, being crowded with
rocks, and open to the trade wind and current of the sea, which
sweeps westward, and passes down the Gulf of Florida. The adjacent
coast is exceedingly rocky, and destitute of shelter for vessels.
Previously to the early part of 1806, when Mr. Bradnack visited
this place, some unsuccessful attempts had been made to introduce
the Gospel among the people, who were left entirely destitute of re-
ligious means, no church being nearer than Port Antonio or Morant
Bay ; the one twenty-two, and the other thirty miles distant. Mr. B.
preached to a congregation of about fifty, who seemed to be utterly
unconcerned about salvation, excepting six who appeared desirous of
“ fleeing from the wrath to come,” and these he formed into a society,
but without the prospect of being able to give such attention as they
required. Persecution kept the missionaries away for several years,
and ere any of them could reach the place, Mr. William Moodie, son

of one of the Kingston leaders, settled there as a schoolmaster, and
21
258 MANCINONEAL,

laboured for the spiritual good of the people, by reading the Church
service, and meeting the people in a class, in which he was aided by
one Robert Jones, also a coloured man, but a slave, who hired him-
self from his owner, in order to command time for doing good, and
providing for his family. Both these were seals of Mr. Bradnack’s
ministry, and were made a great blessing to the people at the Bay.

Early in 1819, Mr Underhill arrived, and found several anxious
to listen to the sound of the Gospel, which had not been proclaimed
by any missionary for many years at Manchioneal. By the end of
April, Kendal Castle house, having been hired, was opened for public
worship by Mr. U., after having undergone some needful repairs.
The congregation was crowded, and very attentive, as it also was a
week after, when Mr. Horne preached twice, and met the classes,
which gave him great satisfaction, though he remarked — ‘‘ Our
enemies hate us with a bitter hatred.” The following year, Mr. Un-
derhill’s health failing, and Mr. Hartley being cut off by fever, Mr.
Ratcliffe was enabled to visit Manchioneal, by getting assistance at
Morant Bay from the brethren stationed in Kingston. Mr. R. bore
pleasing testimony to the success of Mr. Underhill’s labours. The
congregations were large, and anxious to hear ‘‘ words whereby they
might be saved.” This was the case not only with the slaves be-
longing to the neighbouring estates, but also with the free people of
colour residing at the Bay, who were much alive to the things which
belonged to their peace.

In 1821, Messrs. Johnstone and Duncan were encouraged by the
increasing prosperity of the station. The house, which had been
rented, was found far too small, so that large numbers crowded
around it, to shelter whom an awning was put up, but still many
continued to be exposed to the flooding rains and scorching sun,
while listening to the glorious Gospel. To obviate this inconvenience,
a very eligible piece of ground, on which to erect a chapel, was given
by two of the members, Miss Agnes Grier and Miss Esther Burke ;
and as there were no available funds to enable them to proceed with the
building, Mr. Johnstone found a tradesman, who kindly offered to do
the greater part of the work, and to be paid for when convenient ; on
which the foundation-stone was laid in August, to the great joy of
the people. However, the death of Messrs. Johnstone and Under-
hill, and also of Robert Jones, the leader, prevented the execution of
the work at the time expected ; still it was ready to receive the con-
gregation by the month of March, when Mr. Shipman preached the
first sermon to a congregation, not half of whom could get within
the building. The collection amounted to £84 currency.

From the view of this place of worship prefixed to this chapter, it
will be seen that the site is elevated, and commands a view of the
harbour, and a considerable portion of the neighbouring country,
with the commencement of a blue mountain ridge in the background.
Three sides of the chapel walls were of brick, and one boarded, in
MANCHIONEAL. 259
order to render an enlargement easy and economical. It measured
forty feet square, but has been extended twenty feet backwards,
making it forty by sixty, besides which a tower, with a bell, has been
added to the front, which gives it a respectable appearance. It ac-
commodates a very large congregation. Towards the end of the fol-
lowing year, Mr. Duncan wrote—That he was more than ever im-
pressed with the importance of the station, though he confessed that
the erection of the chapel had placed them in financial difficulty.
The members now amounted to 540, among whom there were several
free young men of colour, who promised to become useful members
of the society, as leaders, and stewards, as some of them had received
a respectable education, and their conduct was becoming the Gospel.
As to the estates’ negroes, their habits were greatly improved.
Thieving, which used to be very general among them, had disap-
peared; while their deportment in the house of God was exemplary,
and the knowledge of Divine things possessed by some was surpris-
ing. Even the prejudices of the planters began to give way, and
several attended the chapel.

A little more than a year after the chapel was opened, an effort was
made to erect a chapel of Ease to the parish church, at Manchioneal.
Both clergymen, Messrs. Stainsby and Trew, were men of evangeli-
cal principles, and full of zeal for the spiritual welfare of the people.
At the end of the year, the report of the brethren was that, at Man-
chioneal, the chapel had already become much too small for the con-
gregations, and the prospect of greater prosperity was most encourag-
ing. In 1824, notwithstanding the non-residence of a missionary,
the congregations continued very large and respectable, and the pros-
pect was better than ever at Bath, where the missionary was located.
However, as there was a most friendly understanding between Mr.
Duncan and the excellent Curate of the Established Church, who by
this time had two chapels to attend to, they arranged that when the
one was away from Manchioneal, the other should be there, that the
people might enjoy service every Lord’s Day, by which they were
not only instructed in the grand truths of the Gospel, but kept from
contracting a spirit of sectarian bigotry. Yet the want of a missionary,
where there were such congregations and so many members requiring
attention, operated greatly against that amount of prosperity that
would have been secured by the constant presence of a pastor on the
spot. In 1827, a Sabbath School was established, which promised to
do well, as both teachers and scholars were regular in their attend-
ance. Two years after this, Manchioneal was united to Port An-
tonio circuit, when several conversions were reported, some back-
sliders recovered, and, on some of the estates, prayer meetings re-
vived, where they had been given up.

Early in 1832, Mr. Rowden was stationed as the resident mis-
sionary ; but the insurrection interfered with his labours, as its in-
fluence was so felt or feared at Manchioneal, that the magistrates
260 MANCHIONEAL.

applied to the governor for a company of the regular troops, not
deeming the local militia sufficient to preserve order in the district.
On the arrival of the soldiers from Port Antonio, on Sabbath the
12th of August, the magistrates, who had applied for them, discovered
that they had not provided a lodging for the officer who commanded
the party ; not that this essential provision had been quite forgotten :
for, some weeks previously, the Custos of Portland, along with two
gentlemen, called at Mr. Rowden’s residence, during his absence
from home, and having examined it outside and in, without notice or
leave asked or offered, observed—~‘‘O, this house will do well for the
officer!’ As the officer was married, notime was lost in endeavour-
ing to secure a proper lodging. So that, on the Monday, James
M‘William, Esq., one of the magistrates, accompanied by the officer,
called at Mr. Rowden’s residence ; and, on entering, with some trepi-
dation, said to Mr. R.—“ Sir, I am taking a great liberty in coming
into your house; but it has been hinted to me that this house would
do for the officer.” To which Mr. Rowden replied—‘ Indeed, sir,
Ihave rented this house, and I have no intention to leave it.” On
which the magistrate said—‘‘ Do you not preach in the adjoining
chapel?” He was answered in the affirmative, which led to the in-
quiry—‘‘ Have you got a license, sir, to preach in this parish?” Mr.
R. replied—* At a proper time and place I will show you my au-
thority for preaching; but my preaching has nothing to do with the
house.” On which his worship took his leave, saying—‘‘ I will call
on you in the course of the day.” During this singular dialogue,
the officer behaved with the good breeding characteristic of a British
officer, and was evidently ashamed of his companion, which led Mr.
Rowden to say, that, had he been single, he would have been happy
to accommodate him; but as his house consisted only of a hall,
pantry, and one bed-room, it was out of his power. At two o’clock,
the above-mentioned magistrate called again, bringing with him
another magistrate, W. H. Speed, Esq., and desired Mr. R. to shew
them his credentials, on the authority of which he exercised his
ministry. On examining them, they pronounced them to be in-
sufficient, as there was a law of the island which required dissenting
ministers to take out a license in each parish before attempting to
preach. Mr. R. observed, that he was not aware of the existence of
any such law; but that he was willing to take and subscribe the
oaths, whenever called on to do so by any Justice of the Peace; and
from a conviction of duty, and acting according to law, he felt bound
to proceed in the discharge of his duty. On which their worships ob-
served, with undue warmth, that should he preach again they would
take legal steps. On reaching the Bay, their worships declared that
““ifhe did not give up the house, he should not be allowed to preach.”
Accordingly, on the Thursday following, they prepared a warrant,
and swore in a special constable to execute it at sight; at which
time Mr. Rowden was at Morant Bay, attending a special mecting of
MANCILIONEAL. 261

the missionaries; but, having returned the day after, he was again
waited on by Mr. Speed, the officer, and J. N. Scott, Esq., who pro-
posed that Mr. R. should remove to another house, and that they
would be responsible for any difference of rent ; which proposal was
respectfully declined by Mr. Rowden. On which Mr. Speed said—
“This is another link to the long chain which dissenting preachers have
been putting together to thwart the designs of the magistrates, and
bring them into trouble. I suppose, sir, that you consider your so-
ciety of greater importance than stationing the military here; you
were never invited to this place by the magistrates, and you do not
belong to the Established Church.” Mr. Rowden here interrupted
his worship, saying, “Sir, I respect you as a magistrate; but you
must remember that you are in my house, and I shall not allow you
to talk in this way here. I have heard the declaration made by one
of your worships at the Bay the other day.” His worship observed—
““T knew that you would take hold of that;” and as they left the
house, he was overheard saying, ‘‘ Let him preach, and he will see
what we will do.”

Soon after they were gone, the constable appeared with his war-
rant, and took Mr. R. before James M‘William, Esq., ‘ who ex-
pressed regret that Mr. R. should have had the trouble to come to
his house, as it was not intended that the warrant should be executed,
unless Mr. R. preached !”

A fresh warrant was issued on the 18th, by J. N. Scott, H. W.
Speed, and J. M‘William, Esqs., to be executed in the event of his
preaching! Thursday evening, the 23d, being the time for the regu-
lar week evening service, Messrs. Kerr and Barr called at Bath, on
their way to Manchioneal, to see Mr. R. After resting a while, the
writer accompanied them, and attended the service in the evening,
when Mr. Rowden preached; after which the constable served his
warrant, and took him before Mr. M‘William, who signed his com-
mitment. On the following day, we returned to Bath; and, on Sa-
turday morning, they went forward to Morant Bay, where Mr. R.
was shut up in jail! As the cell in which he was confined was very
damp, he caught a severe cold the first night, which brought on a
violent attack of fever, which rendered it necessary that he should be
removed to the mission house on Monday, after giving bail, himself
£100, and Mr. Barr £50, for his appearance at the following Quarter
Sessions. The fever assumed an alarming aspect; little hope was
entertained of his recovery ; but at length it so far abated as to admit
of his being removed to Kingston. His medical attendant, Dr. Cook,
strongly urged his removal from the West Indies. At this time, Mr.
Barr was so ill of the fever that his life was despaired of. On the
13th of September, the writer drove Mr. R. to Kingston, when the
fever returned, and again threatened his life. His continued sick-
ness kept him from appearing at the Court of Quarter Sessions ; a
certificate to that effect having been given in. Mr. R. was informed
262 MANCHIONEAL.

that, by the Attorney-General, his case was removed to the Assize
Court, to be held in Kingston, in the month of January following,
when he was to ,be tried for the high crime of preaching without a
parish license, and for which he had already been imprisoned like a
felon!

In 1833, Mr. Barr, who had been stationed at Morant Bay the
year before, succeeded Mr. Rowden at Manchioneal; but, in-
stead of being allowed quietly to pursue his labours as a christian
missionary, he was subjected to the treatment which so nearly proved
fatal to his predecessor. The following account of the conduct of the
magistrates, furnished by one of the members of the Society, who
was present and saw and heard the whole, was inserted in one of the
island papers :—‘‘ On Monday the 18th ult., (February), H. W.
Speed and J. M‘William, Esq. magistrates, called upon the Rev. Mr,
Barr, Wesleyan missionary, at his own house in Manchioneal, to dis-
pute his right to preach in this parish, although he has preached in it
for nearly two years, without any magistrate condescending to trou-
ble him.

“They stated, without any attempt to prove the correctness of
their assertion, that he was acting illegally, and advised him to de-
sist from preaching, till he was authorised by the magistrates of the
parish to do so; but said that, if he would not, they must and would
do their duty. Mr. B. replied, that, if their advice did not interfere
with his duty, he would gladly follow it; but as they had said no-
thing to convince him of the illegality and impropriety of his con-
duct—as he knew that his preaching was calculated to do good and
not harm, and no one could prove the contrary—as he had already
taken and subscribed to the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, and
was ready to produce authentic documents to substantiate his asser-
tion—and as he was willing to take the oaths whenever tendered by
any magistrate, or bench of magistrates, or at any Court of Quarter
Sessions, and was ready to give bail for his own appearance at the
ensuing Session, if required to do so—he would not, he could not, as
a conscientious man, compromise his feelings, or relinquish the im-
portant duties connected with his office, merely to meet the views, or
gratify the prejudices of men. He further stated, that he had con-
sulted a senior magistrate in the parish, relative to the necessity or
propriety of his applying to a Court of Quarter Sessions, who inti-
mated that, although it was well to submit to the magistrates as far
as he could consistently with his duty, yet no magistrate in the
parish could ever oppose or trouble him, and that probably his ap-
plication might lead to an unpleasant discussion, particularly as it
was merely a matter of opinion whether he ought to apply or
not, &c.

On Tuesday, the 26th ult., Mr. Barr was summoned to appear
before Messrs. H. W. Speed and J. M‘William, to answer to the
charge of ‘ preaching in the Wesleyan chapel in this place, without a
MANCHIONEAL. 263

license from the Quarter Sessions of the parish, and contrary to law,’
and on the affidavit of the Constable, Mr. Blake, stood convicted of
the charge. The magistrate then informed him that, as he had acted
contrary to law, it was their duty to proceed against him, but wished
to know if he was willing to enter into recognizance, in order to pre-
vent imprisonment.

“Mr. Barr said that he was prepared to do so; but they said,
‘You must give bail, not only to appear at the Quarter Sessions, but
also to desist from preaching till then; and no other bail can be ac-
cepted.’ Mr. Barr thought that they had no right to require bail for
his appearance to answer a charge of an anticipated violation of law,
supposing his preaching were proved to be illegal; and stated that
no friend of his would give such bail. He also said that, until his
conduct had been proved to be illegal, he could not desist from
duties, to the preformance of which he felt bound by the dictates of
conscience and reason—by the precepts, injunctions, and examples of
Scripture—and by the most recent statutes of Britain, relative to re-
ligious toleration. The magistrates then said—‘As Mr. Barr re-
fuses to give bail to desist from preaching in this parish, we must
proceed to commit him to gaol.’ Mr. Barr remarked that he had no
wish to go to gaol for preaching the Gospel; but as they seemed to
think that that was the only means of preventing his preaching, and
were determined thus to act, they might do as they pleased. After
deliberating a while, they thought it best to write out, and deliver to
the constable, in Mr. B.’s presence, the following warrant, observing,
‘We have considered it best to adopt the most lenient measures in your
case; but if you preach again, you will be fined forty pounds; and
for the third offence, will be sent to gaol.’

(cory OF WARRANT.)

‘To James Blake, Constable: Manchioneal.

‘ Whereas Daniel Barr, a dissenting minister, is this day convicted
before us, Hugh William Speed and James M‘William, Esqs., of
having, on the twenty-fourth day of this present month, unlawfully
preached to a congregation of free persons and slaves, for which
offence we do hereby adjudge him to pay the sum of twenty pounds,
current money: these are therefore to authorize and require you to
receive the said sum of twenty pounds from the said Daniel Barr,
for the use of our Lord the King.

‘Given under our hands and seals, this twenty-sixth day of
February, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.

(Signed) ‘H. W. Spcep.

‘James M‘Witrram.’

*“ Accordingly, on the Tuesday following, the Constable went to
Mr. Barr’s house to execute his warrant. He read it over to Mr.
264. MANCHIONEAL.

Barr, and asked him if he intended to pay the fine, and being ans-
wered in the negative, he said, ‘Then I must levy upon your goods.’
But he first went to Mr. M‘William to know if he was to proceed,
and did not return till the following Saturday, on which day M‘Wil-
liam called at his house to know if he had executed the warrant, and
understanding that he had not, told him to go and mark, and take Mr.
Barr’s goods to the store, and after eight days to sell them. Blake
replied, ‘There is not furniture enough in Mr. Barr’s house to pay
the fine, and Mr. Barr has gone to Port Antonio to preach, and
taken his horse.’ M‘William then ordered him to go to Port Antonio,
and take the horse from under him. The Constable, however, went
again to Mr. Barr’s house ; and although he had been previously in-
formed that the furniture in the house was not the personal property
of Mr. Barr, but belonged to the Society, and was in the charge of
the Steward appointed by them, yet he marked, in the King’s name,
the tables, chairs, bedstead, mattresses, &c. &c., to the amount of
nearly £30, according to his own valuation, though not half their
worth.

“ Having acquainted Mr. M‘William with the proceedings, and
that Mr. Rowden’s horse and chaise were on the chapel premises,
(though not on Mr. Barr’s,) he was ordered by him to take away the
horse, having already marked the chaise, although he had already
marked goods to the amount of nearly £10 more than the amount of
the fine. Mr. Rowden, however, remonstrated with Mr. Blake, and
told him that he would not allow him to take his horse, as it was not
on Mr. Barr’s premises, and he was not responsible for the payment
of Mr. Barr’s fine. The Constable, notwithstanding, had the audacity
to persist in taking the horse, but was prevented by superior
strength.

‘* Where, or when, or in what manner the furniture will be disposed
of, and how the infatuated magistrates and obstinate constable intend
to proceed, we know not; but I intend, when the matter is brought
to aclose, to acquaint the public through the medium of your useful
paper.

“Tt is quite evident, Mr. Editor, that the most desperate mea-
sures are being adopted, and the most strenuous endeavours made, to
defeat the objects of a benevolent public, and humane government at
home, viz., the religious instruction and moral improvement of the
slave population in this island; and that, too, by men in authority,
but evidently blinded by colonial prejudices, hardened in their
wickedness, and utterly destitute of principle, honour, and conscience;
and knowingly and intentionally acting in defiance of his Majesty’s
gracious proclamation, the just and good intentions of his ministers,
and the British parliament. Is it not high time that we should have
a Chief Judge, who both properly understands, and will seasonably
and fearlessly perform his duty, with a promptitude and impartiality
that would maintain the dignity of the high office which he holds,
MANCHIONEAL. 265

and which would coincide with the principles of British jurisprudence,
and the just and acknowledged rights of British subjects ?

“ H, W. Speed and James M'‘William imprisoned the Rev. Mr.
Rowden, because he disobliged them in refusing to give up his house
to them, and would not desist from preaching in a parish in which
he had laboured unmolested for several months; and his imprison-
ment nearly cost him his life. The same gentlemen imposed a fine
of £20 on the Rev. Mr. Barr for preaching in the same parish,
although he had preached in it for nearly two years, and never did so
but in regularly licensed chapels; and, on the false pretence of
levying for the payment of a penalty of £20, endeavoured to take
away goods, &c., to the amount of at least £30.

“And now, only let an observing and impartial public, whose
minds are unbiased, whose views and principles are uninfluenced
and uncorrupted by the evil example of the majority of the ‘au-
thorities’ of this colony, and who are acquainted with the ‘ indisput-
able rights of British subjects’ in any part of his Majesty’s dominions,
connect the circumstances and proceedings which mark the conduct
of the above-named magistrates, and then ask, Is it possible that
such conduct can pass unnoticed and unpunished? Reason and jus-
tice reply, No; the justly excited feelings of injured thousands re-
peat, No; the united energies and unanimous voices of a liberally
constituted, a liberal-minded Parliament, re-echo, No; and the retri-
butive justice and interposing Providence of heaven resound, No;
for ‘who hath hardened himself against God and hath prospered.’ ”

The furniture thus taken away was sold by public auction. Mr.
Barr memorialized the Governor, the Earl of Mulgrave, on this offi-
cial persecution, who, after a full investigation of the proceedings,
dismissed the above-named magistrates from their office. But what
became of the money realised by the sale, the writer has never been
able to find out. Thus was a missionary, with his wife and family,
left without an article of furniture, in a house which, at the best, was
but a poor affair.

When the missionaries were thus treated, what could their people
look for, especially the poor slaves, who were at the mercy of the
persecutors? No wonder that, for a considerable time, the means of
grace were but thinly attended. Towards the end of the year, Mr.
Rowden’s health was again in such a state as rendered it absolutely
necessary for him to leave the island, and take a sea voyage. For
a while he sojourned in the United States of America. As his re-
moval left Port Antonio without a missionary, Mr. Barr removed
thither, and Manchioneal was left to be supplied by the writer, who
was residing at Bath at the time.

As the power of the Colonial Unionists died away, under the vigor-
ous measures of the Governor, the Society gradually recovered its
former state. Mr. Bleby observed, that though in the early part of

2k
266 MANCHIONEAL.

the year, it was in a very low condition, the congregations improved
in the course of the year; and the members of the society shewed in-
creasing attention to the means of grace. He also mentioned the
temporal difficulties they had to grapple with from poverty, arising
from the want of a market for the sale of their surplus ground provi-
sions, which used to be purchased, and taken by boats to Kingston.
These having ceased to visit Manchioneal, the people were placed in
worse circumstances than they ever had been.

In 1836, this station was again favoured with a resident missionary,
Mr. Gregory being appointed to it, the society prospered under his care.
During this and the following year, Bath and Manchioneal were
united, and Rocky Point added to them, in order to meet the spiritual
destitution of the people in that locality. Towards the end of 1837,
the fever prevailed in the neighbourhood to a lamentable extent.
The writer having engaged to assist at the annual missionary meet-
ing, took with him his wife and two children, for a change of air.
With difficulty he spoke for a short time at the meeting, as he was seized
with fever; then his wife and the children ; after which the magistrate
who occupied the chair at the meeting ; then Mr. Edney, who also ad-
dressed the meeting, were successively taken ill. For about three weeks
we were unable to return to Port Antonio, and even then it was with
extreme difficulty, one of the children being seized with convulsions
on the road, and the writer again seized with fever, when within five
miles of home. Prompt medical help, under Divine providence,
saved both lives. From this time to the close of the year, the mor-
tality was very great among both the white and coloured inhabitants.
Mrs. Atkins was cut off at Morant Bay. Mr. Gregory was called upon
to bury members of both Established and Baptist churches, while
their ministers were laid aside with the fever. As the people were
released from slavery the year following, the chapels throughout the
circuit were found to be far too small for the crowds who attended
them.

The labours of Messrs. Atkins and Davis were greatly blessed,
both at Manchioneal and the other places in the circuit, during 1841
and 1842. The members increased to above seven hundred, many
of whom gave encouragement to the missionaries, by their consistent
walk and conversation. Mr. A. succeeded in getting the chapel en-
larged and improved. When the writer paid his last visit to Man-
chioneal, towards the end of March, 1843, he was affectionately re-
ceived by Mr. Williams and his excellent wife, with whom he spent
a few hours; after which, accompanied by Mr. W., he pursued his
journey to Port Antonio. The improved aspect of the chapel, and
general state of the people, were highly interesting, as he called to
mind the low state of this station ten years before, when he used to
visit it from Bath.
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PORT MORANT.

From the accounts given of the stations at Morant Bay, Bath, and
Manchioneal, it will be seen that no adequate provision had been
made to meet the spiritual wants of thousands in the S.E. part of
the island. Between Morant Bay and Manchioneal numerous es-
tates, thickly peopled, were too far from these stations to feel their
influence. Hence a wide field of usefulness offered itself all along the
shore from Morant Bay eastward, into which the missionaries wished
to enter, but found themselves too few in number, and the work of ex-
isting stations too onerous, to allow them to do anything effectual till
within a comparatively recent date, when Mr. Atkins and his fellow-
parte succeeded in forming a new circuit, named Port Morant, in
846.

The earliest attempt to carry the light of the Gospel into the dis-
trict comprehended in this circuit, was made by Mr. Orton in 1829,
when he visited Rocky Point, and formed a Society of 160 mem-
bers, most of whom belonged to the Bath society, but through old
age or infirmity were unable to travel so far. An agreement was
made for a piece of ground on which to erect a chapel; but when the
‘title was examined, it was found to be invalid. So the preaching
was continued in the house of one of the friends ; but the removal of
Mr. Orton, and the sickness and death of Mr. Penman, which were fol-
lowed by the insurrection at the close of 1831, prevented any fur-
ther effort, till Mr. Simmons, in 1886, made a new attempt. He
observed that about £20 had been contributed by the people towards
the purchase of land, and the erection of a chapel, at Rocky Point ;
and as soon as sufficient funds should be raised, the design would be
carried out. At this period there were nearly five hundred of the
Bath members residing in the neighbourhood of Rocky Point, who
had to encounter not only the weather, but bad roads and rivers
which, during the rainy seasons, were exceedingly dangerous to
ford.

The following year, Mr. Simmons was succeeded by Mr. Edney,
who erected the proposed chapel at Rocky Point, and commenced the
erection of a day-school. While Mr. E. and his fellow-labourer, Mr.
Gregory, were working in that direction from Bath and Manchioneal,
Mr. Atkins, who was stationed at Morant Bay, was extending his
efforts eastward, to meet the thousands in the neighbourhood of Port
Morant, who were several miles distant from either of these stations,
though a goodly number were members of the society at Morant Bay.
Early in 1838, Mr. Atkins formed a society at Port Morant, though
the only place he had to shelter himself and the people during the
public service, was a shed on the sea-beach, where from eight to, ten
hundred congregated to listen to the Gospel; but the proprietor of
this humble covering, after a while, refused to allow the people to
268 PORT MORANT.

meet under it, unless they would pay an exorbitant rent, which they
could not comply with, so that they were shut out without having any
other place to go to. Up to this period, the houses at Port Morant
had been very few, and the population in the immediate locality thin,
as it was regarded as nothing more than a convenient port for ship-
ping the produce of the estates ; but Alexander Barclay, Esq., hav-
ing projected a township, several lots of land were purchased by the
emancipated slaves and others, and the town began to rise, which led
Mr. Atkins to purchase a site for a chapel. When the people were
thus driven into the open air, they speedily put up a temporary
chapel, with posts, bamboos, cocoa-nut leaves, and an old sail, which
served them till they could be better accommodated.

Early in 1839, Mr. Whitehead was sent to assist Mr. Atkins in
his important field of labour, which might have given full employ-
ment to double the number of missionaries. Arrangements having
been made, the foundation-stone of the chapel was laid on the 29th
of March, by Mr. Barclay, who was member of Assembly for the pa-
rish, and founder of the new town. On the 7th of July following,
it was finished, when the opening services were conducted by the
Rev. Edward Fraser ; but it was soon found to be too small for
the congregation, though it was forty-eight feet by twenty-six. The
lithograph view of the building, accompanying this account, shews
that itis elevated, and overlooks the harbour. The financial exer-
tions of the people did them great credit. The trustees engaged to
pay off, within four years, the debt which was left on the premises,
amounting to £801.

While great spiritual destitution and moral degradation marked the
condition of the people around, the state of the society continued to
improve. In April, 1840, Mr. Whitehead wrote thus—‘“ The pre-
sent state of this society is encouraging ; we have five hundred and
six members, and seventeen leaders. It requires all the attention
that can be bestowed upon it, being but a newly formed society; yet,
I think, it comes under the designation adopted by the venerable
founder of Methodism—‘ a company of men having the form, and seek-
ing the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to re~
ceive the word of exhortation, and to watch over each other in love,
that they may help each other to work out their salvation.’ ”

Meanwhile, the day-school at Rocky Point was built, and put into
successful operation under Mi. Cullen, the master, who soon had one
hundred and thirty scholars under his care ; while his presence and
exertions in the neighbourhood, had a most favourable influence over
many of the people. Still the want of a resident missionary was
long felt to be a great hindrance to the spiritual prosperity of the
socicty, though the congregations continucd large, and the members
of the society increased in number. In 1841, they amounted to
six hundred and seventy; while at Port Morant there was an in-
crease, and the leaders and members were going on in great peace
and harmony.
PORT MORANT. 269

In 1848, the mission was considerably enlarged. Some new
places were visited, and the prospects were highly encouraging to
the brethren ; and about the middle of the following year, the work
of chapel-building and enlarging engaged their attention. In May,
Mr. Atkins wrote as follows—‘‘ We are, I am happy to report, mak-
ing progress in our circuit. On Good-Friday we laid the foundation
of a new chapel at Airy Castle. This place is situated about half-
way between Bath and Port Morant, and it is a township of consider-
able extent, and continues rapidly to increase. We have secured
two acres of the best land in the most centrical situation; and as it
is thickly covered with cocoa-nut trees, we shall have an abundant
supply of oil for our evening services there. We have upwards of
a hundred members living close round the chapel; but they will
continue to meet in class for the present at Bath or Port Morant, as
we are not anxious to form the society until the chapel is finished.
At Dalvey our new chapel, fifty feet by thirty, with a vestry seven-
teen feet square, was opened for divine service on Good-Friday, and,
on Easter Sunday, the society was formed, which continues rapidly to
increase. Every Lord’s day the chapel and vestry are crowded to
excess, and yet there are scores standing outside. This place is one
of considerable importance, and will of itself very soon support a
missionary. The society has been composed chiefly by a division of
the Rocky Point society. Sixty or eighty, belonging to Bath, and
from one to two hundred, have been reclaimed from the world
and sin. It now consists of about five hundred members ; and if
we had but the means to set about an immediate enlargement of the
chapel, it would, there is no doubt, greatly increase, as many are
kept away from want of room. As to the society of our old members,
I hope it is becoming more and more scriptural and solid. Our
attendances on sacramental occasions are more numerous than they
have been, which I regard as a good sign.”

At this period, Bath and Port Morant were formed into a circuit,
embracing thirteen preaching places, including five chapels, and
nearly two thousand five hundred members, with two missionaries,
and an assistant; and, in 1846, Port Morant appeared alone, as a
distinct circuit, and Mr. Atkins as the resident missionary, having
the societies at Port Morant, Rocky Point, and Dalvey, under his
care. At the close of the year, he reported that, at Port Morant, the
society had been preserved in peace, and that the congregation had
greatly improved in the course of the year; so much so that mem-
bers were kept away from want of room in the. chapel, which ren-
dered a large addition to the chapel absolutely necessary ; while the
applicants for pews were so numerous, that it was feared it would be
impossible to meet the demand. It was observed that, although the
people were comparatively poor, and were called to suffer many trials,
and that too of a peculiar kind, yet they mostly continued to keep up
their usual contributions towards the support of the Gospel. At
270 PORT MORANT.

Rocky Point the people continued to grow in grace. During the
year, there had been many “ times of refreshing from the presence of
the Lord ;” and the people generally seemed more concerned for the
full salvation of the Gospel. One of the oldest and best of the
leaders had been struck with palsy while in the chapel, and some
others had finished their course with joy. Others were raised up to
take their place, and many young persons were inquiring what they
must do to be saved. The fidelity and stability of the members at
Dalvey afforded great encouragement. There had been a gradual
advancement in the number of members, and in willingness to meet
the expense of having the means of grace amongst them. The in-
fluence of the mission in the neighbourhood was becoming more ex-
tensive and beneficial. There were three chapels and four other
preaching places, three day-school teachers, fourteen hundred and
fourteen members, two Sabbath and three day-schools.

The following extract of a letter from Mr. Atkins shews the state
of the people in this circuit in the early part of last year : —“‘ During
the year we have been visited with an unusual quantity of rain.
The May seasons were so extraordinary as to produce frightful
havoc in different parts of the island. This parish, perhaps, sus-
tained the greatest injury ; and the damage was estimated at several
thousand pounds. Many of the members of our society fell in for
their share; indeed, few families in the vicinity of this circuit es-
caped. Some had their houses, and others their provision-grounds,
swept away; so that they were obliged to seek shelter amongst
their more fortunate neighbours. In the latter part of the year, fever
and ague were awfully prevalent ; and the result of all this is, that
the labouring-classes find themselves reduced to a state of poverty,
altogether unlooked-for and unexpected.

** Our societies have suffered numerically from the removal of a
large body of Africans, belonging to the West India corps, who had
been residing in this locality, and were steady members of our so-
ciety for the last three years. One hundred and seventy-three of
our members are found on the list of removals and deaths, &c. ; yet
we are happily able to report only a deficiency of nine in the num-
ber of last year, and that is more than made up by the number on
trial for church-membership.

“ Our chapels continue to be well-filled on the Sabbath-day with
attentive hearers ; and the great Head of the church vouchsafes to us
many tokens for good. We have seen among the young people a
desire to flee from the wrath to come ; and many who for years have
been living in concubinage have been persuaded to get married, and
are now steady and consistent members of our society.”
“VAdVHJ OINOLNY LYOd

TT ag Y MY eC Pumes g

 

 
to
ee
om

CHAPTER XIX.

PORT ANTONIO AND MOUNT FLETCHER.

Description of Port Antonio—Captain Reece and Mr. Thaxter—Mr. Kerr forms a
Society—Death of Mr. Ratcliffe—Mr. Edney—Death of Mr. Vowles—Mr. Green-
wood erects a Chapel at Hope Bay—Persecution—Mr. Rowden—Mr, Crookes—
Mr. Sanuel—Success among Soldiers—Emigrants—Happy Deaths—Mr. Williams
builds a Chapel—Death of Mr. and Mrs. Davies—~Mount Fletcher—Situation—Mr.
Harding erects a Chapel—Mr. Hornabrook.

Porr Antonio is situated in the parish of Portland, and about eighty-
two miles from Kingston. The parish is small, and one of the
poorest in the island, from the comparatively limited portion of land
it contains capable of being put under cultivation. It contained only
about seven hundred and fifty slaves previously to the abolition of
slavery, and between sixty-four and sixty-five thousand acres of
land. The principal properties were Prospect, Sion Hill, Bog, Nor-
wich, Shrewsbury, Snow Hill, Spring Garden, Seaman’s Valley,
Whydah, Hermitage, Red Hassell, Anchovy Valley, Boston, Cold
Harbour, Hope, Golden Vale, Mount Pleasant, Castle Comfort, Fair-
field, Fairy Hill, Burlington, Unity Valley, and Williamsfield. It is
bounded on the north by the sea; on the south, by the loftiest ridges
of the Blue Mountains ; on the east, by the parish of St. Thomas in
the East; and on the west, by the parish of St. George. The ge-
neral aspect of the scenery is interesting and grand. Mr. Arnold, a
medical gentleman, who resided many years in the parish, describes
it thus—‘“‘ In a picturesque point of view, no country on earth can
surpass this little parish. Rock, wood, and water, the finest cultiva-
tion, and the most bewildering solitudes, smiling valleys, and moun-
tains really awful, present themselves in one grand, variegated, and
yet harmonious mass. The highest peak of the Blue Mountains
is eight thousand feet above the sea ; its outline is no less elegant than
conspicuous ; and, though cut by nature into ridges, precipices, im-
mense hollows, and ravines, this mighty chaos is yet crowned with
everlasting verdure, and is a forest nearly to its summit. If there
be any deficiency in the component parts of the landscape, it is in
the article of water, so far as the eye can desire it at least. The
gigantic proportions of the mountains, and even the minor hills, take
all dignity from most of the rivers, not one of which is at all na-
vigable, in spite of the deluges of water which at times they dis-
charge. The size and luxuriance also of the foliage screen a great
many of the rivulets from observation, and, in not a few instances,
272, PORT ANTONIO.

the temporary rivulets disappear for miles, and spring out again on
reaching the sea-shore.”

The soil is generally vegetable mould, mixed with some clay,
reposing upon porous lime and chalk-stone. The first interspersed
with fissures, the latter soft and more compact, and fit for building
purposes. Along the coast, honey-comb rock abounds, on which it
is dangerous to walk, asit is so pointed and sharp that it cuts through
one’s shoes like broken glass. The shore abounds with creeks,
bays, and harbours; but Port Antonio is the chief one, or rather
there are two, called the east and west harbour. The former is well
defended, from north winds, by Navy Island, which contains about
eighty acres of land. |

The town of Port Antonio is in a very unhealthy situation, owing
to the miasma which is perpetually generated in the morass around
it. During the prevalence of westerly winds, towards the fall of the
year, sickness becomes general. Most of the houses are but ill-cal-
culated to defend the health of the inhabitants, on account of the
impossibility of draining off the stagnant waters everywhere about
them. However, there is a small elevated peninsula, called Upper
Titchfield, between the harbours, at the north point of which the Fort
and Barracks are erected, which is considered a healthy spot, as it is
fully open to the sea breeze, and above the level of the malaria which
poisons the air of the lower part of the town.

The officers’ barracks run northward, and overlook the east har-
bour, with a verandah, both back and front; but the rooms are low,
and by no means comfortable, especially for such a climate. The
barracks for the men are about equal to any in the island, and the
hospital is an excellent building. The former cost £9000, and the
latter, £6000.

The Fort occupies the point, and commands the channel, to both
harbours. The houses in Titchfield are few in number, and no one
has any resemblance to another, either in size or form; and although
there are streets laid out at right angles, they are overgrown with
weeds and grass, and afford pasture for goats, horses, and donkeys ;
while hogs are allowed to range about at their pleasure. From the
highest part of this locality, the appearance of the mountain scenery
is as sublime as can be witnessed from any spot in the island. Often
has the writer gazed with interest from his residence on a magnificent
waterfall, near the summit of Blue Mountains, which appeared only
when there was an unusual fall of rain on the ridge, where it rains
during the greater part of the year, few days being without a
shower.

In the vicinity of the town, there is a cavern of considerable mag-
nitude, on the steep side of a chalk-stone hill, about a hundred feet
above the level of the sea. As the path leading to it was overgrown
with bushes, which required to be cut away, as the writer and his
guide endeavoured to reach it, it may be conjectured that its
PORT ANTONIO, 273

silence is not very frequently disturbed by visitors. On entering, by
a fissure, and descending a short flight of steps, the visitor finds him-
self in a sort of vestibule, the roof of which is ornamented with a
variety of stalactites; while the floor fecls soft and elastic to the
foot, as if treading on a thick bed of moss. This is occasioned by
the floor being covered with bats’ dung, several feet in depth. This
apartment is partially lighted from the door-way ; but on leaving
this it is necessary to have a torch to proceed inwards, where there
are several apartments of various sizes, curiously furnished, and
adorned by manifold formations of the calcareous water, which is
perpetually dropping from the roofs, and which look as if richly car-
ved after the manner of Gothic architecture ; while the stalagmites,
which cover the floors, look like so many pillars, fonts, couches, and
fancy articles of furniture, all of which sparkle with imposing lustre,
as the explorer turns his torch in various directions. While he is
prying, the poor bats keep actively on the wing, flying from one
room to another, till their unwelcome visitors again leave them in
possession of their dark, silent solitude.

The earliest efforts to introduce the light of the Gospel into this
benighted part of the island, was made by sailors or soldiers, mem-
bers of the Methodist Society, who were brought to Port Antonio by
their professional engagements. Maintaining their christian cha-
racter in the midst of the pollutions of heathenism, they used to dis-
tribute tracts, hold meetings for prayer, and do what they could to
bring sinners to the Redeemer. Among these worthy men, Captain
Reece, from the United States of America, was one of the most use-
ful. While he was in port, he fearlessly preached Christ crucified,
and laboured to do good to souls. He at length settled in the island,
and carried on a coasting trade between Kingston and Port Antonio.
About the year 1818, a Mr. William Thaxter, who resided at Port
Antonio, hearing of the handful of pious souls, who met at Man-
chioneal, to take sweet counsel together, united himself with them ;
and early in the following year, with them he enjoyed the ministry of
Messrs. Horne and Underhill, who visited Manchioneal from Morant
Bay ; but having to travel about twenty-two miles, Mr. T. was fre-
quently prevented going thither; but to make the most of his cir-
cumstances, he welcomed such as were disposed to his house to join
him in worshipping God, among whom he frequently numbered
several devout soldiers and seamen; and, though no mission-
ary had yet visited them, those who regularly met considered
themselves as members of the Methodist Society. To meet the case
of poor neglected children, Mr. T. opened a Sabbath School, and
taught as many as came to him. In 1819, he got Messrs. Horne
and Underhill to visit Port Antonio, in order to recognize this little
company, and to take them under their pastoral care; but on apply-
ing to the magistrates for liberty to preach and form a socicty, they
were refused and forbidden “to speak to the people that they might

ZL
274 PORT ANTONIO.

be saved.” This magisterial hostility continued for eight years, dur-
ing which the little flock was deprived of the assistance of a mis-
sionary. At length, Mr. Thaxter died; and Mr. William Moodie,
an excellent coloured young man, who had been his helper, removed
to Manchioneal. However, on the 14th of August, 1826, Mr. Kerr,
who was then stationed at Bath, accompanied by Mr. Moodie, and
another of the brethren belonging to the Manchioneal society, visited
Port Antonio. He called on Peter Anderson, Esq., one of the
magistrates, and another gentleman, to whom he made known his in-
tention of opening a mission. He was encouraged by the reception
they gave him. In the evening, he lodged at the house of Mr.
Thomas Brown, a coloured person, of excellent character, who had
often heard Mr. Hamett, and other missionaries, preach, when he
visited Kingston. As Mr. Kerr was advised not to attempt to
preach till he was duly licensed, he read and expounded the rules
of the Methodist Society to a goodly company. A fortnight after
this visit, he returned, and found the people hungering and thirsting
for the Word of life; and without the formalities of preaching, he
quoted part of the service book of the Church of England, and, in a
colloquial way, called their attention to the fundamental doctrines of
the Gospel. At the Quarter Sessions he succeeded in obtaining a
license. He then hired Mr. Brown’s house, fitted it up for the re-
ception of a congregation, and commenced evening preaching. It
was not only crowded, but numbers thronged the steps, and outside
wherever they could hear the voice of the preacher. By the close of
the year, thirty-five were united as a society.

The station having been thus taken up, the chairman of the dis-
trict, Mr. Ratcliffe, who had had so narrow an escape with his family
at St. Ann’s Bay, was appointed, early in 1827, as the first resi-
dent missionary. For several years Mr. R. had felt deeply anxious for
the people in this part of the island, and had written to one of the
leading magistrates to inform him of the wish of the Committee to ap-
point a missionary to the parish of Portland; but the other magis-
trates, as we have seen, were determined not to allow a missionary to
settle within their bounds. However, a happy change had taken
place; and he found favour in the sight of the magistrates and inha-
bitants generally, who were won by his christian spirit and consistent
conduct as a minister of religion. By the month of May, he not only
had a Society of ninety members under his care at Port Antonio, but
one also begun at Hope Bay, ten miles westward, in the parish of St.
George, whither he had been invited by Mr. Brown above-mentioned,
who, with his family, lived there. He took down the names ofseven
persons as candidates for church-membership, and confided them to
the care of Mr. Brown as their leader.

Mr. Ratcliffe felt the importance of getting a chapel built as early
as possible ; and, in order to secure this important object, he com-
menced soliciting subscriptions. Everything seemed to promise fair
PORT ANTONIO. 275

for the success of the mission; but, alas! in the month of August,
Mr. R. was seized with fever, which terminated fatally on the 16th.
The Rev. G. Griffiths, who was acting as Curate to the Rector, Mr.
Bunting, was with him when he died, and furnished an account of
the death-bed scene of this devoted and successful missionary. When
Mrs. Ratcliffe saw that the fever was assuming an alarming aspect,
she sent for him, He wrote—‘ After I arrived at his house, he
called Mrs. Ratcliffe from the other room, and requested me to en-
gage in prayer without delay, as his sand was descending fast, which
being complied with, he appeared more composed and easy. I re-
mained in his room a considerable time alone, with the exception of
a female servant. He gave the most comfortable and animating
account of the state of his mind ; he exhibited a noble example of the
infinite value of the Gospel, of the solid peace, the firm hope, the joy
unspeakable and full of glory, which it inspires. I asked him if there
was anything I could do for him. His answer was, ‘That having
already made such arrangements of his temporal and spiritual affairs,
he had nothing to do but to wait patiently the hour of his departure.’
About half-past seven, anumber of persons coming in, we retired into
the hall, to lay his case before the Physician of Gilead. I believe
our petition to the throne of grace was signed with the hearty amen of
every individual present. His memory and sight now began to fail
him together ; yet the Lord was evidently supporting and consoling
his servant with abundant vouchsafements of Divine grace. Never
before did I witness such composure, resignation, fortitude, and
heavenly-mindedness, as were manifested during the burning rage of
the fever, which terminated in the death of this man of God. He
declared that the light affliction he was then enduring, was working
out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and
that death had lost its sting. He exhorted all the by-standers to be
also ready, and maintained, in the agonies of death, the truth of the
Gospel which he had faithfully propagated in his life. When he
felt the King of terrors rapidly undermining his tenement of clay, he
exclaimed with uncommon energy, ‘ That death had laid hold on the
vitals, life was drawing to a close, the world receding, and eternity
bursting on his view:’ ‘but,’ continued he, ‘I feel under me a
glorious foundation ; not anything that I have done, all boasting on
my part is for ever excluded in shame: O the blood, the blood, of
his Son Jesus Christ, it cleanseth from all iniquity!’ He was now
sinking fast ; but recovering a little, he broke out once more as in a
foretaste of the world to come, and exclaimed, with growing confi-
dence of soul, ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ It was now
twelve o’clock, and he spoke no more ; but making signs for me to
come near, he laid hold of my hand and pressed it very cordially,
which he never loosened but with life itself; and at two o’clock, a.m.,
August the 16th, 1827, he fell asleep in Jesus, in full possession of
the peace of God which passeth all understanding. His countenance
276 PORT ANTONIO,

even after death had a most heavenly appearance.’ No invitation.
was sent to any one to accompany his remains to the grave; yet
such was the influence his conduct had given him over the public
mind, that a larger number attended his funeral than had ever been
witnessed in the parish on similar occasions. Magistrates, merchants,
planters, and others, joined the humble flock of which he had been
the pastor, in expressing their sense of his worth as a Christian
minister. Thus ended eleven years’ useful toil of a missionary,
whose talents, deep and exemplary piety, united with attractive man-
ners, gave him favour in the sight of even his enemies, and tended
greatly to advance the mission in several parts of the island.

The year after the death of Mr. Ratcliffe, Mr. Edney was appointed
to the circuit ; but from want of missionaries Manchioneal was united
to Port Antonio, which, however, did not prevent him extending his
labours as far westward as Buff Bay, which is twenty miles from
Port Antonio. Here he found the people willing to hear the Gospel,
and about sixteen were formed into a society. The population
around was large, and ina state of great spiritual destitution. The
number of free persons in the circuit who joined the society was con-
siderable. The congregation at Port Antonio continued large. The
members ‘ walked in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the
Holy Ghost.” At Hope Bay, a spiritual work of God was going on
among the people who joined the society, while their numbers con-
tinued to increase, which made them anxious to have a chapel as
early as possible, as the place where they assembled was too small.

In 1829, an attempt was made to establish a week-night service
at St. Margaret’s Bay, where the people were in a state of great dark-
ness. Sabbath Schools also were established at Port Antonio, Hope
Bay, and St. Margaret’s Bay, in which there were above one hundred
and seventy children, who were taught the simple elements of the
Gospel. Some of the teachers were devoted to their work, others
rather negligent.

While Mr. Edney was thus pursuing his course of missionary la-
bour, his wife was taken from him by death, and his own health suf-
fered severely, which rendered it necessary that he should be re-
moved to another station.

On the removal of Mr. Edney, Mr. Vowles took his place, and
laboured with great zeal to promote not only the spiritual interests of
the people, but also the erection of the wished-for chapel at Port
Antonio, till the month of August, when he was seized with fever,
which, in seven days, numbered him with the dead. His death
happened on the 16th, the same day on which his predecessor, Mr.
Ratcliffe, had died, three years before him. He was in the twenty-
fourth year of his age. {t had been his happiness to have pious
parents, whose instructions, examples, and prayers were answered by
his conversion to God when he was fifteen years old. His talents
were respectable, his disposition amiable, and the prospect of his be-
VORT ANTONIO. 277

coming a very useful missionary satisfactory to his brethren and
the people.

After the death of Mr. Vowles, Mr. Greenwood was appointed to
the circuit, at which time, a piece of land having been given at Hope
Bay by Mr, Harrison, and the contributions of the people augmented
by a grant of the Committee, a chapel was erected, measuring fifty
feet by twenty-five ; about ten feet was cut off by a partition behind
the pulpit, and formed into two apartments for the missionary’s ac-
commodation. It was a very slight frame building, raised about
four feet on a stone foundation. It was opened for public worship on
Christmas-day, 1838, just as the insurrection broke out, and being
in a convenient situation, it was taken possession of, and used as a
barracks by the military, during that alarming period.

The Colonial Unionists laid a plot to burn it down; but the
vigilance of the friends of the mission defeated their vile purpose.
During martial law the enemies of religion made several attempts to
injure the mission. The poor negroes, who were put to death by
courts martial in the market place, were buried in the sand under the
chapel windows at Port Antonio, in order to annoy the congregation ;
and the magistrates put a large padlock on the chapel door, locked it
up, and took away the key, to save it from being pulled down
by the Unionists, as they said! The opposition became so strong
that the labours of Messrs. Greenwood and Rowden were interrupted
for some time. However, when his Majesty’s pleasure, with regard
to the proceedings of the Colonial Unionists, was proclaimed by the
Governor, the tide of opposition gradually subsided. Mr. Thomas
M‘Morine, a respectable person of colour, assisted in wrenching off
the padlock, and opening the door of the chapel for the admission of
the people, who longed to enjoy the public services of religion. Con-
scious of having acted illegally, those who put it on quietly allowed
the missionary to go on as usual; nor did any one put in a claim for
the padlock! The services were further interrupted by the sickness
of the resident missionary. The piety of most of the members was
improved by the things they were called to suffer. At Hope Bay
the Society was kept in peace, though much deprived of the presence
of the missionary. The leaders were deeply pious, and the good
work continued to advance. Though the little society at Buff Bay
could be visited only once a month, and had no proper place in which
to meet for holding public service, the members walked worthy of
their profession.

In 1833, Mr. Rowden’s health, which had been greatly injured
by the fever he caught at Morant Bay jail, the year before, became so
bad that he was compelled to leave the island for change of climate;
on which Mr. Barr removed to Port Antonio, for the remainder of
the year; while his place at Manchioneal was partially supplied by
the writer, who resided at Bath, as has been noticed in the account
ofthe former station. The two following years, Mr. Crookes laboured
278 PORT ANTONIO.

in the circuit with much acceptance and success. His labours were
blessed not only to the people resident at the several stations, but
also to the soldiers stationed at Fort-George; some of whom were
converted from the error of their ways through his ministry. At the
close of 1834, when the civil change in the circumstances of the
slave population began to take effect, he wrote—‘‘ At Port Antonio,
God has blessed the ministry of the word, and the other ordinances,
to the instruction and edification of his children, and to the conver-
sion of sinners. A few backsliders have been restored to the church,
and, we trust, to the Divine favour also. Several members and one
leader have died in peace, and now enjoy the rest for which we la-
bour. The congregations, which are serious and attentive, have im-
proved since the memorable first of August. In the course of the
year, we have admitted forty-five new members; and, after deduct-
ing the expulsions and deaths, we have a net increase of thirty mem-
bers, making the total one hundred and fifty-one.” With regard to
Hope Bay, he observed —‘‘ We have here an interesting and promis-
ing people, most of whom have passed from death into life, and adorn
the doctrine of God our Saviour. The leaders are united and zeal-
ously devoted to their important work. A few persons have been
expelled ; but more have been admitted. The congregations are
good and attentive, and the blessing of God crowns his ordinances.
Since the first of August, our prospects have become more cheering ;
and we look forward to days of glorious prosperity.” The members
amounted to one hundred and forty-three. Such was the state and
prospects of the mission when the writer was appointed to it early
in 1836.

The want of a chapel became more apparent every day, as the dis-
position of the people to flock to places of worship increased with
the prospect of their being placed in circumstances favourable to Sab-
bath sanctification. At Port Antonio, the house in which the ser-
vices were held was badly situated, small, and as shabby as any
building in the town, while sixty pounds was annually paid for rent;
yet it was always crowded with attentive hearers. Throughout the
circuit the congregations continued large all the year; and the Word
was made the power of God into salvation to many, some of whom
were soldiers of the sixty-fourth regiment. The zeal and exemplary
conduct of these men produced a happy effect on their comrades, in
restraining them from excesses so common among military men in
the West Indies. The writer had the pleasure of recommending
some of them as suitable persons to be trained as teachers for the
Schools of the Mico Charity. Their removal was felt by our people,
as they had been useful in the Sabbath School, under the superinten-
dence of Mr. Moody, as well as in the prayer-meetings, where their
fervent addresses to the throne of grace were owned by the Hearer of
prayer, in kindling the flame of devotion among the people. They
had besides a prayer-meeting in the barracks, in order to induce their
PORT ANTONIO, 279
comrades to join them; while they often retired for reading, prayer,
and spiritual conversation, to the rocky recesses by the sea-side,
where no mortal eye witnessed their devotions. The oldest inhabi-
tants used to express their wonder at the good conduct of the men of
this regiment, though, when they arrived in Port Antonio, there was
not a serious man among them. In October, the commanding officer
received a letter from Head Quarters, expressing the highest praise
of the conduct of his men, on which he remarked—* That, during
the thirty-one years he had been in his Majesty’s service, he never
had received so gratifying a letter.” When they were removed to the
neighbourhood of Kingston, in May, 1838, they felt much at parting
with the religious friends they had been associated with. Several
sent the writer letters, expressing their sorrow at the prospect of se-
paration. One observed in his letter — “We expect shortly to
remove from this station, and God only knows whether we shall ever
meet again in this vale of tears; but if not, I hope we shall spend a
glorious eternity together. I have reason to bless the Lord that ever
I came to Port Antonio; for when I landed here, twelve months
ago, Imay say, with the Apostle, ‘I was the chief of sinners’; but I
bless the Lord that you were made the instrument in his hand in
awakening my guilty conscience; for when I was invited to attend
the preaching, I went with indifference and hardness of heart ; but
He who caused the waters to flow from the flinty rock, smote my
hard and stubborn heart. While sitting under your impressive dis-
course, the Word came home as with a voice of thunder to my
guilty soul. From that hour I was constrained to say, ‘ Lord save
me or I perish.’ I laboured long before I beheld the light of his
countenance ; but through reading the Scriptures, attending the
means of grace, and the encouragement I received from the brethren,
who were members of the Society, [ joined a class, and cast myself,
by God’s assistance, fully upon the atoning blood of Christ; and
now I am spareda monument of his saving power, and can truly say,
that, though He was once angry, his anger is now turned away, and
he comforts my poor soul. O that his grace may not be bestowed in
vain; and, my dear sir, may you continue to find encouragement,
may the Lord prosper his work in your hands, and give you many
precious souls for your hire and seals to your ministry, that, at the
morning of the resurrection, you may be enabled to say, ‘ Behold
here am I, and the children thou hast given me.’

“J. S. (64tH Reer.)”

Another wrote—‘ At the end of 1836, I came to Port Antonio a
most abandoned wretch, thinking of nothing but drinking and ut-
tering the most blasphemous words against both myself and my
comrades, without thinking I should have to give an account unto
my heavenly Father for every idle word. In November, I was asked
by a young man to go to the chapel. I went and returned quite
unconcerned, and continued in my wretched condition until Feb.
280 PORT ANTONIO.

12th, 1837 .The words of the text, in Isaiah iv. 6, 7, ‘Seek ye the
Lord while he may be found,’ &c., came home with such force to my
heart that, on leaving the chapel, I could not rest, knowing that
should I be called away before morning, I should be cast into hell
fire. 1 knew not what to do, and was afraid to tell any one. I then
attended all the services and meetings, and joined a class in March;
but still I felt no relief, till I was taken sick, and then I always felt
pleased when you visited the hospital. I got better, then relapsed,
and at this time, while searching the Scriptures, I found that Jesus
Christ was the only Physician for the broken-hearted, and I was
led to look to Him, as I expected every hour to be taken away. On
recovering, I had a thousand temptations to return to sin as the dog
to his vomit. After many a conflict, during which I was terrified
both night and day, in March last, I was encouraged by Brother
Randell to lay hold by faith on the blood of the Redeemer. I saw
my sinfulness, and the sufficiency of his atonement; and while on my
knees in prayer at the chapel, my soul received consolation, though I
wept much, thinking that the Most High should have been abused by
such a sinner. I bless the Almighty for the sweet hours I have sat
under your ministry, receiving words of sweet consolation to my poor
soul. I can say that, ‘ Wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and
all her paths are peace.’ I cannot conceive how the great change
came over me, and I feel uneasy when I cannot do something for the
glory of my Redeemer. What I once hated, I now love, and what I
once loved, I now hate. I bless God for the day I came to this
place, and the day I joined the Wesleyan Society ; and I pray that
the Lord may own me in that day when he shall come to make up
his jewels.
“J. P. (Sorprer, 647TH Reet.)”

Several others wrote in a similar strain, shewing that many a wan-
derer in distant lands may be brought to salvation, through those who
have been sent as ambassadors to the heathen. How many of these
poor fellows has the writer visited when hastening into eternity under
the burning fever !

The writer felt encouraged by the state of the little society at Hope
Bay, at the head of which was the venerable Thomas Brown, like
one of the primitive patriarchs, with his numerous family of children
and grand-children around him. Though sinking under the weight
of years, he was still a fine old man, tall, well-proportioned, and
muscular ; with a countenance indicative of peace with God, and
good-will towards all men—“ an Israelite indeed in whom there” was
“no guile.” His conduct, during his long life, had secured the respect
of all who had known him of every class of the inhabitants ; while
his own family shewed him the greatest reverence and filial affection.
Being ill in bed when the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was ad-
ministered, in the month of June, the writer administered it to him
afterwards privately. On receiving the emblems of the love of his
PORT ANTONIO, 281

dying Redeemer, he clasped his withered hands, and looking upwards
said, with much emotion—“ O Lord, whenever thou are pleased to take
me away, may I depart in peace with thee, and in harmony with all
the world.”

The visits of the writer to this locality were heightened in interest
by the opportunities they gave him of intercourse with the Rev.
Joseph Williams, one of the island Curates, whose residence was on
the hill overlooking the Bay. Many sweet hours of Christian inter-
course were enjoyed with this excellent person, who sincerely loved a
pure Gospel, and all who loved God. His decided piety subjected
him to many privations, and much annoyance from those who had
no taste for real religion.

Among the various schemes adopted by the planters to supply the
estates with labourers, after the abolition of slavery, was that of in-
troducing emigrants from various parts of the world—the East Indies,
Africa, Portugal, Germany, and Scotland—at an enormous expense
to the country, and an awful sacrifice of health and life to the poor
creatures, who were induced to come to Jamaica, in the hope of im-
proving their fortunes. Hearing of a number of families from Scot-
land, who had recently been located at a township called Altamont,
in aromantic vale beyond Moore Town, the Maroon settlement, above
Port Antonio, the writer paid them a visit in March, 1837. The
scenery around is sublime. The lofty rugged mountains present
nature in her wildest luxuriance. The woody recesses of these ap-
parently inaccessibie heights are seldom penetrated, except by the
fearless Maroon when in pursuit of the wild hog, or ring-tailed pigeon.
The vale is traversed by a river, whose music is regulated by the
mountain rains, which almost continually pour in this woody region,
and sometimes in torrents, which threaten to flood the plains below.
Though the climate is comparatively cool, it is very humid: the
people say that it rains about three hundred days in the year! There
were several cottages already erected, about twenty feet square, di-
vided into about three apartments. Each family had one of these,
with a piece of ground for a garden, besides a provision ground. On
my arrival, one of the emigrants called four of the families into his
cottage. Having sung, prayed, and expounded the twenty-third
Psalm, they warmly expressed their gratitude for the visit, lamenting
their isolation from any place of worship, especially as they had been
assured, before leaving Scotland, that they were to have a minister
and a schoolmaster provided for them and their children ; but, alas !
no church-going bell echoed through the silent vale where they were
secluded. No sign of the Sabbath, with its holy and sacred asso-
ciations, gladdened their eyes or ears, after six days’ toil, ina far dis-
tant land! The Superintendent of these poor people was indignant
when he heard of this visit, and endeavoured to prejudice the minds
of the people, which was to be looked for, as he was the same magis-
trate who put the padlock on our chapel door at Port Antonio, during

2m
282 PORT ANTONIO.

martial law, in 1832. After a second visit, the writer ceased to go.
In a short time these families all perished through fever, disappoint-
ment, and neglect. Some were drowned in the river; and the whole
affair ended in a miserable tragedy, as was the case with the emi-
grants in all parts of the island.

In the month of August, two of the members of Hope Bay Society
died. One, a son of old Mr. Brown. He was named after his father,
and was also a leader. Being in the act of repairing a mill-wheel on
one of the estates, he hearda man cry for help, and as he made an
attempt to save him, a large wheel turned round and set others in
motion, between which he was instantly caught, and had the lower
jaw-bone broken into three pieces, the teeth driven out, and the left
hand and arm crushed to atoms. On visiting him, the writer could
not recognise him, he was so disfigured ; the face and throat were
swollen, and the left arm amputated. On seeing the writer, his eyes
kindled, and he attempted to move to salute him, as he was wont.
With his remaining hand he seized one of his, pressed it first to his
heart, then to his lips, and shook his head, with a look that eloquently
told his sufferings and expectation of death. Having read a portion
of Scripture and prayed with him, the writer asked if Jesus was pre-
cious to him. On which he motioned fora slate. Several of his
friends held him up in bed, while he attempted to write. He began
—‘T feel I cannot move my tongue. Jesus has done great things,
if I could only gasp his name, he would do greater.” Here he sank
exhausted; yet, till the writer left the room, he struggled to shew
the happiness this visit gave him. On the 15th, his mangled frame
was laid in the grave, amidst a large number of affectionate friends
and relatives, who lamented the unexpected removal of one whose
gentle piety endeared him to them.

The other who died was Catherine Lecky, a young woman of
colour, who was carried off by fever in a few days. When dying,
she “asked the hour,” and on being told, she said—‘‘ Why do you
keep me. Ihave heard the trumpet sound three times, and there is
my Saviour ready to receive me.” Soon after which she entered into
rest.

At Port Antonio, in the early part of the following year, the con-
gregations were crowded, and several were received on trial for mem-
bership, two of whom were young persons, children of members, who
seemed. to be in earnest about salvation.

There was a gradual increase of interest taken in the evangelization
of the world by the people, who showed, by their contributions, that
they felt for those who were still destitute of the Gospel. The an-
nual public meetings, at Port Antonio and Hope Bay, were crowded.
At each meeting one of the local magistrates presided. The ad-
dresses were excellent, the interest lively, and the contributions
£93 17s. 43d. currency—the largest amount ever raised for the
general mission fund in this circuit in one year. In addition to this,
PORT ANTONIO. 283

contributions were received and a site for a chapel purchased at Port
Antonio, besides the foundation of a chapel laid at Buif Bay, on a
piece of ground given by Miss Matthews, the very kind friend at
whose house the missionaries were entertained, and the congregations
accommodated, till a chapel could be built. After labouring three
years among the people in this circuit, the writer had much reason
to acknowledge the Divine goodness for the tokens of his approval,
which appeared in the degree of prosperity granted to the mission.
Never can he forget the happiness he experienced in witnessing the
Christian spirit and walk of many of the people, and the happy
deaths of those who were called away. After his removal, he was
succeeded by Mr. Hornby, who was followed in 1840 byMr. Williams,
who laboured with a noble and successful zeal in the erection of the
long-wished for chapel, which was opened in 1841 ;—a view of which
is prefixed to this account. It is a large, respectable, and substantial
place of worship, measuring fifty feet by thirty-five, with walls twenty-
five feet in height. It is seated for a congregation of five hundred,
and has a vestry behind, which appears in the lithograph.

In March, 1848, the writer visited Port Antonio, and spent some
time with Mr, and Mrs. Davies, who were comfortably circumstanced
and happily employed in doing good. On Tuesday evening, the
28th, on a very short notice, the new chapel was crowded, when the
writer had an opportunity of preaching to his friends, to whom he
had so often held forth the word of life. After service they crowded
into the vestry to take an affectionate and final farewell, which re-
vived many pleasing reminiscences. On the following day, he
visited Hope Bay, accompanied by Mr. Davies, where Mr. Brown
appeared more patriarchal than ever, being still found in the way of
righteousness—- his hoary head was to him a crown of glory. Taking
farewell of him and his numerous family, he hastened on to Buff Bay,
and though it was dark ere the writer arrived, on a bell being rung,
the chapel soon filled with an attentive congregation, to whom he
delivered his last massage. Having rested for the night, he journeyed
westward on the following day, after bidding adieu to Miss Mat-
thews and Miss Foster, whose kindness left a pleasing impression,
and added a degree of mournful interest to the word farewell. The
little chapel, overshadowed by the cocoa-nut trees, looked very neat,
and seemed to answer the little society for whose accommodation it
had been erected. The liberality and zeal of the friends just named,
were exemplary ; they not only gave the ground, but raised almost
all the money necessary to defray the expense of the building.

The following year, Mr. and Mrs. Davies, and their infant, fell
victims to fever. On the 18th of July, Mrs. Davies finished her
pilgrimage at Port Antonio; and, on the 1st of November, Mr.
Davies died at Morant Bay, rejoicing in the God of his salvation,
having gone there for change of air, after the death of Mrs. Davies.
For two years, Mr. D, laboured in the Clarendon circuit immediately
284 MOUNT FLETCHER,

after his arrival in the island, as the colleague of the writer. He was
a pious, zealous, and useful missionary ; and when the writer saw
him and his excellent wife at Port Antonio, both seemed likely to be
long spared to promote the cause of the Redeemer.

MOUNT FLETCHER.

Tuis station is the most elevated of any in the island, and the most
difficult of access, After leaving Kingston, there is a carriage
road for about ten miles, though the latter part of it is by no
means either safe or easy, as it approaches the steep ascent of the
mountain paths, where the scenery becomes highly interesting, from
the rugged, rocky chasms of towering mountains, whose rich foliage
overhangs the bed of the river, the sight and sound of which is
refreshing to the traveller, after leaving the hot neighbourhood of the
city. On crossing the river, the work of climbing commences,
which lasts for several hours, calling for the utmost courage and
caution, especially on the part of such riders as are unaccustomed
to Alpine travelling. Height after height must be scaled, with lofty
cliffs on the one hand, and yawning chasms or ravines on the other, while
the path, in many parts, is so narrow as not to admit of two passen-
gers passing each other. On reaching a part where the road seemed
hardly wide enough to allow of the pony putting one foot before the
other, we were told that an overseer with his horse had been pre-
cipitated into the frightful gully below, where both perished. The
only wonder is that such catastrophes are not more frequent. The
excessive labour of ascending is considerably mitigated by the
gradual reduction of the temperature of the air, which becomes like
that of England during a moderate summer season; hence many of
the vegetables, flowers, and fruits of temperate latitudes grow in the
gardens of the inhabitants. The coffee grown in these mountains
has been considered equal, if not superior, to any in the island. On
account of the distance of the plantations situated in these regions from
the city of Kingston, and other places, where the population is large
and concentrated, the people have been left to themselves ; hence
African superstition, with all its demoralizing effects, has had its
full influence among them.

In 1839, the missionaries stationed in Kingston felt exceedingly
anxious about extending the mission towards the mountain districts,
which led them to press the Committee to send some additional mis-
sionaries to enable them to do so. In February, 1848, Messrs.
Fraser and Bleby paid a visit to Mount Hybla, where a house had
been rented, and a school begun, in order to make trial of that loca-
lity for a mission station. Mr. F. thus expressed his views of the
climate, and the prospect of establishing a mission—‘“‘ There is an
astonishing difference of climate between these mountains and the
 

MOUNT FLETCHER CHAPEL;
MOUNT FLETCHER. 285

plains beneath them; and it might be included among the reasons
which recommend the fixing of a station upon them, that it might be
used as a health station for any one of the Society’s missionaries who
may become invalid. No one need think of going to Bermuda, when
he might go to Mount Hybla, unless it be that the physician pre-
scribe a sea-voyage. Here is a garden, cultivated by a neighbouring
gentleman, filled with the fruits and flowers of England successfully
cultivated, a proof of the northern temperature of the climate. The
house in which we lodged had a fire-place; and not only I, but Mr.
Bleby, who has much good English blood in him, was glad, at night,
to use it. We visited the school, and spoke to about forty children.

‘In the evening, there came together, from the neighbouring
coffee plantations, a large number of labourers, and I preached to
them from ‘The grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath ap-
peared to all men, &c.’ They were attentive to the Word; and, in
general, it seemed to me that there was good hope of fruitful service,
if a missionary were resident on the spot. After service, to-night, I
begged the people to stay until the moon should arise, to show
them over their craggy roads, for I had heard that even those best
acquainted with the mountains would be liable to falls, if they tra-
velled at night.” The following day he left Mr. Bleby, who was to
stay over Sabbath, and as he descended, his top coat, so necessary in
these lofty mountains, became an intolerable burden as he reached
the heated atmosphere of the plain.

The visits of the brethren led them to see the lamentable state of
spiritual destitution of the people, many of whom had never heard a
sermon till now. A temporary chapel was fitted up, which was, in
a short time, twice enlarged, without affording accommodation to the
numbers who attended the services. Mr. Harding took an en-
thusiastic interest in these mountaineers, which led him to labour for
their salvation with a self-sacrificing zeal, which eventually destroyed
one of the healthiest and most robust constitutions. He seemed to
be actuated by the same spirit that inspired Neff, when pursuing his
career of usefulness in the Alps. The following is a specimen of his
excursions in these mountains, contained in a letter dated August,
1842—“‘A short time ago, in compliance with earnest invitations
from persons resident in the neighbourhood, I visited Cocoa-Walk,
which is distant, from our preaching place here, about ten miles, and
is situated on the banks of Yallah’s River, in the parish of St. David.
After about three hours’ ride, over narrow mountain roads, steep and
dangerous, I reached the place, and called at one of the first houses
I came to on the way-side. The poor man who occupied it kindly
received me into his house; and, at my request, called his neigh-
bours together, to whom I declared the Gospel of the blessed Jesus,
which they heard with considerable attention. On leaving this
people, I engaged to be with them again in two weeks’ time, on the
same day (Saturday). In this visit I observed that very few of the
286 MOUNT FLETCHER.

inhabitants ever attended a place of worship ; that they are extremely
immoral, the majority living in open disregard of the seventh com-
mandment, and many unblushingly defend the practise; that the
population is dense, and greatly on the increase ; and that they have
no place of worship within ten or twelve miles. Meeting with se-
veral gentlemen of considerable respectability and influence in the
neighbourhood, I introduced myself to them, and told the object of
my visit. Most of them not only expressed their entire approval of
my proceedings, but seemed grateful that some hope was now pre-
sented that they might have a place of worship in their own neigh-
bourhood; at the same time, they did not conceal their regret that
they had not been thus favoured at an earlier period. One said, ‘I
have not been in a place of worship for four years;’ another said, ‘ I
have only attended three times since I came to the island;’ and a
third, an interesting young man, deplored his inability to attend the
distant places of worship as often as he would. After giving, as I
was able, a word in season to each of these, I proceeded on my way.
Some whom I afterwards met and conversed with, spoke in a similar
spirit and manner. The next time I visited the place, I had a large
audience; and nearly twenty children, with some adults, were brought,
and applied for baptism. These, in consequence of the parents living
together in an unmarried state, I was obliged to refuse; at the same
assuring them, if they broke off their sins by marriage, gave their
hearts to God, and themselves to his church, I would with pleasure ad-
minister the ordinance to their children. The adults I also examined,
and promised, if they continued to seek the Lord, to baptize them in
the course of two or three ‘ moons.’

“ Having made arrangements for the supply of my Sunday ap-
pointment, I visited Cocoa Walk on Sunday, and preached under a
large spreading tree, to a respectable and orderly congregation.
After the preaching, I invited all those who ‘ desired to flee from the
wrath to come,’ to retire with me to a neighbouring house, where I
would coverse with them individually. Many followed me, and, after
some conversation with them, fourteen of them were formed into a So-
ciety. These I commended to the blessing of God, and departed.
A few days after this I received an invitation from the Hon. J. Leslie,
Member of the House of Assembly for the parish of St. David. As
soon as possible I waited on him. After some enquiries re-
specting my objects in visiting that part, my religious connections,
&c., he kindly offered me the use of a large house for preaching,
which he holds in the neighbourhood of Cocoa Walk. Iexpressed my
gratitude, and left him. In a short time after my interview with the
honourable gentleman, I opened the house for preaching, when a
large company was present. On this occasion I baptized some
children, and two adults, one of whom is a cripple, and not able to
walk, and nearly eighty years old. The service was interesting and
impressive. After the service, more were added to the Society ; so
MOUNT FLETCHER. 287

that now our number is about twenty. To God be all the glory.
Amen, and Amen !”

The prospect of usefulness continued to brighten, and new open-
ings presented themselves in many localities. By the middle of the
following year, no less than six invited the immediate attention of
the missionaries, some of which offered a wide field of usefulness ;
but already there were 5,000 members in the Kingston circuits, un-
der the care of only five missionaries, so that without an increase in
their number it was impossible to enter the open doors everywhere
presented to them.

In 1844, a new circuit was formed in these mountains, named
Mount Fletcher, from the principal station, to which Mr. Harding
was appointed as resident missionary, though he had removed thither
with his family in 1843, in order to superintend the erection of the
chapel, a view of which is prefixed to this account. It isa stone
building, twenty-four feet by forty. When the writer visited the
station in the month of May, 1843, it was in course of erection. It
promised to be a superior building, the walls being of hard lime-stone,
the architecture chaste, and the workmanship superior, so that it
would have done credit to Kingston itself. In pleading with the
Committee, at this time, for additional missionaries, he observed, after
depicting the spiritual destitution of these mountains—“ I am so im-
pressed with the truth of these representations that I could, upon my
bended knees, implore you to listen to our appeals, and send us help,
and send it without delay. I have frequently ridden from the dawn
of the day till long after sun-set, through the populous districts for
which I plead, preaching the Gospel from house to house, and have
wept over the spiritual destitution of the thousands, around the
borders of whose dwellings your missionaries have been hovering for
nearly half a century, and, up to the present moment, are unable to
go up and taken possession of the land. Must this state of things
continue?” At the end of the following year he had about 2000
hearers, and about 800 members in Society, who were, of course, as
yet but in an infant state as Christians.

In 1846, Mr. Harding removed to Yallahs and Bethesda circuit,
where his health failed, which compelled him to return to England.
On his removal, Mr Hornabrook was appointed to Mount Fletcher ;
but a discouraging change in the temper and circumstances of the
people gradually appeared. Instead of hungering and thirsting for
the bread and water of life as they were wont, many of them grew
careless. In August of the following year, he observed—‘“‘ I am led
to fear, from the intemperance, drumming, and dancing which prevail
in the neighbourhood, that only a few had heard so as to profit there-
by. Iam sorry to say a humiliating change has come over many of
the inhabitants of Jamaica. A blighting influence rests upon some of
the churches; but although we are cast down, we are not destroyed.
We are still going forth weeping, scattering the precious seeds of
288 MOUNT FLETCHER.

eternal life ; and, notwithstanding, we have no immediate prospect of
being rewarded for our toil, yet we believe we shall successively be-
hold the blade, the ear, the full corn in the ear, and then the ap-
pointed ‘weeks of harvest. During the whole of my missionary ca-
reer, I have never felt more than I do now the need of falling back
upon first principles, or of taking hold by faith of the covenant en-
gagements of God, and the many predictions which insure
the universal spread of the Redeemer’s kingdom. I feel en-
couraged to buckle on the harness a-fresh, and patiently wait at the
post of duty, until He shall pour out his spirit from on high.”

The causes of the decaying aspect of the mission are judiciously
pointed out in the following extract of Mr. Hornabrook’s report, at
the close of 1848. After noticing a decrease in the number of the
members, he writes—‘‘ We have, however, the satisfaction of know-
ing that our present discouragements have been brought upon us by
a concurrence of events, over which we had no control. In the first
place, scarcely was this mission organized, when the difficulties con-
nected with the transition state of society began to be experienced
by all classes. Many who had joined us were deplorably ignorant,
and therefore ill-prepared to meet them. These, yielding to the nu-
merous temptations arising out of their change of circumstances, and
thereby proving themselves unworthy of their civil and religious
privileges, we have been under the painful necessity of putting away
from us ; for, while we feed the flock committed to our care, we are
resolved to guard the sheep-fold from the profane and incorrigible,
being fully persuaded that Christian discipline is essential to Chris-
tian order. Inthe second place, the panic occasioned in the agricul-
tural and commercial world has seriously affected the prosperity of
this mission. The people in these mountains are entirely dependent
on estate cultivation for support; consequently, any thing which
proves prejudicial to the planter, is severely felt by the labouring po-
pulation in this neighbourhood. For sometime they have not been
receiving a fair remuneration for their services. Many of our people
have been working on coffee properties, for three, six, and even
nine months, without receiving payment of their wages. This, to-
gether with the late dry season which has raised their provisions, has
involved them in great poverty, so that many who are conscientiously
attached to our cause, and who deem it a privilege to contribute to
its support, have been prevented from doing so for want of means.
In the third place, the cause of God among us has been greatly ob-
structed by our not having suitable agency to work the circuit effi-
ciently.” Here we see the evil results of the missionaries not being
able to reach this mountain people, years before they were brought
into possession of civil freedom. Had they been earlier favoured
with the Gospel, this would have been one of the most delightful mis-
sions in the island.
‘NOQONIYVIZ  TadVHJ YNNVYAYS FWIT

 

 

 
289

CHAPTER XX.

CLARENDON AND BLACK RIVER.

Extent and aspect of Clarendon Circuit—Halse Hall visited by Mr Crofts—A Station
begun at Lime Savannah—Persecution—Success of Messrs. Corlett, Bird, Bur-
rows, and Wilcox—A Society formed at Vere—Death of Messrs. Wilcox and Cor-
bett—Messrs. Rowden and Jackson--Death of Mr. Jackson—A Chapel erected at
Lime Savannah, and a Schoolhouse at Vere--Messrs. Samuel and Davies—
Schools opened—Success—Liberality of the people—Messrs. Hodgson, Lewis,
and Thompson~Black River—A Mission begun by Mr. Simmons—Messrs. Curtis
and Burrows—Death of Mr. Redfern.

CLARENDON circuit is very extensive, as it embraces stations in the
parishes of Clarendon, Vere, and Manchester, at a considerable dis-
tance from each other. Lower Clarendon and Vere is a vast plain,
bounded on the north by the Mocho mountains; on the west, by the
mountains of Manchester ; on the south, by the sea; and on the east,
by the parish of St. Dorothy. It abounds in estates, some of
which are very extensive. A great variety of the hard and beautiful
woods of the country grow in this plain, which is exposed to a flam-
ing sun, which renders it one of the hottest parts of the whole island.
At intervals, it is almost entirely burnt up from want of rain; so
that the cattle and small stock perish from want of grass and water,
unless they be removed in proper time to the mountains for pasture.
At other times it is deluged with rain, especially in May and Octo-
ber, when it is difficult or impossible to travel it from the softness of
the soil ; after which the malaria, produced by the decaying vegetable
and animal matter, spreads sickness and death around. The moun-
tain districts form a perfect contrast in aspect and climate, being well
watered and richly covered with grass, and all the varieties of
shrubbery and trees generally to be found in the highest parts of the
island. The parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, and Vere, in which
the principal stations are situated, contain above 400,000 acres of
land; and, previous to the abolition of slavery, there were nearly
50,000 slaves on the estates, besides free persons, for whose spiritual
necessities there was but slender provision.

In no part of the island has African superstition exerted so exten-
sive or pernicious an influence as in this district. Till within a compa-
ratively recent period, gross spiritual darkness covered the people,
though some of the properties are the oldest and richest in the
island.

The attention of the missionaries was first called to this part of the

2N
290 CLARENDON,

island by a gentleman, whose scientific researches have brought him
prominently before the public. On the 13th of July, 1824, Mr.
Young writes—‘ H. T. De la Beche, Esq., proprietor of Halse Hall
Estate, Clarendon, having expressed a wish to have his negroes in-
structed by the Wesleyan Missionaries, and our district Committee
having appointed Mr. Crofts and myself to wait upon him and make
arrangements to meet his views, we left Kingston last evening, and
by three o’clock to-day, reached Halse Hall, where we met witha
most polite reception. As it is the proprietor’s intention to exempt
the negroes from work a day in the week, exclusive of the Sabbath,
for the purpose of their attending to religious instruction, Mr. Crofts
readily engaged to visit them every week. This will, however, be
hard upon Mr. C., the place being twenty-four miles from his sta-
tion ; but as every facility will be afforded him in travelling, and as
the prospect of good being done is so very pleasing, he is determined
to make the attempt. This opening may be viewed as a very fa-
vourable one, because it not only commences under auspicious cir-
cumstances, but stretches our line into another parish, containing a
population of nearly 20,000 slaves, and which has not as yet had the
advantages of missionary labours. We may therefore hope that this
opening will lay the foundation of a permanent establishment in this
beautiful and extensive parish.”

For a while Mr. Crofts continued to visit this estate; but the dis-
tance from Spanish Town where he resided, his other numerous en-
gagements, and sickness, united to prevent him giving that attention
which was essential to any real and lasting good being done. Be-
sides this, the slaves were ever suspicious of any movement that
seemed to be a part of estate discipline, in which light they were ever
ready to view the establishment of a mission on an estate. To which
may be added, such a limited mission would naturally shut out the
people of other estates, who could only be allowed to attend worship
as a matter of courtesy. Of the honourable and kind intentions of
the proprietor of Halse Hall, the writer had the strongest evidence
some years after this, when he was offered ground, timber, and every
facility for the erection of a place of worship, through his Attorney,
James W. Turner, Esq. It ought to be mentioned, that many of the
proprietors of West India estates have been anxious to have their
slaves instructed by the missionaries; but the local obstructions,
thrown in the way by the system of slavery, have ever defeated their
wishes and intentions. To be useful, the missionaries have been com-
pelled to occupy neutral ground, and live and act “ as the friends of
all, the enemies of none ;” though denounced as “ sectarian,” they have
been actuated by the most exalted spirit of generous catholicity.

In 1829, an opening presented itself at Lime Savannah, which is
within two or three miles of Halse Hall, where Taylor Muir, one of
the Spanish Town members, settled. A temporary chapel was fitted
up, and a small class formed. However, the visits of the missionary
CLARENDON. 291

were only occasional, owing to other engagements; but the follow-
ing year, Mr. Kerr having got a colleague in Spanish Town circuit,
more attention was afforded, and more good done. Mr. Muir gave
an acre of land on which to erect a chapel, as soon as funds could be
raised. Matters seemed in a fair way for prosperity, till the insurrec-
tion broke out at the close of 1831, when the infant mission was
bitterly assailed by the enemies of slave instruction. Mr. Muir was
insulted, threatened, and intimidated. As he depended for his living
on the planters, he could not stand against their opposition, and
yielding to it, he shut his door against the missionaries, to save his
little property from demolition, and his person from violence. The
little society was completely scattered for a time. During the whole
year only one public service could be held, and had not one of the
members boldly opened his door to the missionaries, even this would
have been impossible. By the end of 1832, the storm so far sub-
sided, as to allow of two classes meeting, and seventeen members
being united as a society. As the prospect brightened, Messrs. Cor-
lett and Wilcox earnestly sought to evangelize this large and desti-
tute part of the island. Their efforts made in 1833 were crowned
with distinguished success. The ground given for a chapel was en-
closed, and put in a state of readiness for commencing the erection
ofa chapel. Many seemed to be awakened to a sense of their guilt
and danger under the preaching of the Word; so that there was a
considerabie increase of members to the society. Throughout the
following year, still greater encouragement was given to the brethren ;
so that, with great labour and much travelling, they held public ser-
vice almost every Lord’s Day, though there was no chapel nor any
lodging for them where they might stay over the night, which com-
pelled them frequently to travel from fifty to sixty miles, besides
doing a hard Sabbath Day’s ministerial work, before arriving again
in Spanish Town. The prospect of freedom, by the commencement
of the apprenticeship system, gave great encouragement to the people
to attend the services; so that ‘‘the society increased in numbers, in
spirituality of mind, m acquaintance with the doctrines, precepts, and
privileges of our holy religion ;” and, although nearly all were ap-
prentices, they were remarkable for punctuality in their attendance
on the means of grace. Mr. Corlett purchased a piece of land at
Vere, where, for a while, large congregations continued to assemble
for worship, under the shade of the Mango trees, with which it was
covered. At this period, Messrs. Corlett, Bird, and Burrows, were
quite overburdened with work, from the number of stations, and ex-
tensive travelling required to reach them.

In August, 1834, Mr C. wrote—‘‘ On Friday morning last, I left
home for Clarendon, where the Lord is pouring out his Holy Spirit,
reviving his work, and gladdening the hearts both of his people and
his ministers. The person who has contracted to erect the new chapel
is preparing the bricks, and is bound to finish his contract by the
292 CLARENDON.

first of December. This building (at Lime Savannah) will be more
expensive than I calculated on, as the whole is to be brick-work ;
but I shall use every effort to secure the approbation of the district
Committee, by not incurring a large debt, and at the sametime pro-
viding a commodious and substantial chapel. The society is in a
very blessed state, and is increasing weekly.”

The following year, Clarendon was cut off from Spanish Town
circuit, and Messrs. Wilcox and Corbett appointed to it as a new
circuit, presenting a wide field of usefulness. At Lime Savannah, a
thatched cottage was erected for the accommodation of Mr. Wilcox,
and one at Vere for Mr. Corbett, as no lodging could be procured for
either the one or the other. Till the month of May, these brethren
laboured diligently and successfully ; but, within a few weeks, both
were consigned to the grave. Having received intelligence that Mr.
Wilcox was deceased, the writer hastened from Grateful Hill to
Kingston, where he met Mr. Corbett at the mission house, who gave
the following account of this melancholy event :—-On. Saturday, May
16th, about four o’clock, rp.m., Mr. Wilcox was seen looking at the
work going on at the new chapel, and after staying a short time, he
went towards the Rio Minho River, by a path through the wood.
As he did not return home to tea, enquiry was made whether he had
been to see a person who was sick, but no information could be got ;
and as night set in, fears began to be entertained by a few of the
people that something had happened to him; the night became very
dark, and the rain poured down in torrents. About eleven o’clock, a
number of the people having procured lanterns, scoured the wood for
a considerable time, while others searched the river. At length, his
clothes were discovered on the bank, and his little dog shivering
among the long grass, pelted by the teeming rain. The alarm was
given, which soon brought the party tothe spot. The cry, ‘‘ Here
are minister’s clothes and his dog,” at once excited their worst fore-
bodings, which were soon confirmed by one of the people finding
him a little farther down, on his feet and breast high in the water,
with his head bent down, and his arms turned towards his stomach,
and the whole skin nearly black, plainly indicating that he had been
seized with cramp on stepping into the river. The body was per-
fectly stiff. A Coroner’s inquest was held; and the body buried in
the evening, which happened to be the Sabbath. A few weeks be-
fore this, Mr. Corbett asked Mr. Wilcox to accompany him to the
river, in order to bathe; but Mr. W. observed, that he had felt
afraid to bathe for many years, as his mother once dreamed that she
saw him drowning! What gave additional melancholy interest to
this event was, that he perished on his birth-day, and just as he was
looking for a letter by the packet, which was to call him to England,
to be married to a young person to whom he had been engaged for
seven years. Before leaving home, he made an entry in his journal,
which indicated that his soul was prepared for this unexpected ter-
mination of his useful life.
CLARENDON, 293

The effect of this on the mind of Mr. Corbett was exceedingly
painful. He told the writer that he could not think of it, without
experiencing a distressing melancholy, and that he felt an aversion to
return to Lime Savannah. He went to Spanish Town, where he
was kindly entertained at the house of Mr. Edmondson; but on
Friday, June 5th, he was seized with fever, and continued worse the
following day. Medical aid was sent for. He was blooded twice,
and had strong medicine administered; still the fever advanced.
Another medical gentleman was called in on Sabbath, and everything
that could be done, both by the medical attendants and Mrs. Ed-
mondson, whose kindness and experience were fully displayed on the
trying occasion, was done ; but at two o’clock, on the morning of the
9th, he had black vomit, and expired in five hours afterwards. On
the evening of the same day, his remains were consigned to the
tomb. In conversation with the writer, about the death of his col-
league, Mr. Wilcox, he referred to the heart-rending hour when he
parted with his own mother and sister, in order to sail for Jamaica.
“« Ah!” said she, ‘‘ I shall never again see you in this world!” “O
yes,” replied he, “at the end of four years I shall return to England,
and find you all well.” He was a young man, of sound judgment,
and sincere piety ; a distinct and impressive speaker; affectionate
towards his brethren ; and anxious to do the work of an evangelist,
to make full proof of his ministry.

Thus was this extensive circuit at once deprived of both mis-
sionaries, and at a time when the angel of death was cutting of many
of the brethren and their families ; so that, for a time, it was impossible
to obtain for the bereaved people such assistance as they needed. In
1836, Mr. Rowden was appointed to the circuit ; and in June, he was
joined by Mr. Jackson, who had just arrived in the island. These
brethren continued to prosecute their labours diligently. In order
to extend the mission towards the mountain district, Mr. Jackson
took up his residence beyond Chapelton, at a place called ‘‘ The
View,” which commands a gorgeous range of mountain scenery. The
people flocked to hear the Gospel ; and a Sabbath School was begun,
in which adults, as well as children, appeared as learners ; but it was
afterwards found that the locality was tco far from the centre of the
circuit for the residence of a missionary. In a letter written by Mr.
Jackson, soon after his arrival at this place, he observed—‘“‘ There
are many estates (coffee) surrounding this place, on which there is a
vast population of negroes, to the whole of which, we trust, we shall
be able to preach the Gospel. But there is one circumstance, in con-
nection with this people, which gives great encouragement, and which
is worthy to be noticed. They have long desired and prayed to be
visited by a missionary, that they might hear ‘ words whereby they
might be saved,’ and have public religious ordinances established
among them. I think we have reason to say, that ‘the harvest truly
is plenteous ;’ and we are furnished with the strongest incentives to
294 CLARENDON.

the consequent duty, ‘pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that
he will send forth labourers into his harvest.’ ”’

On the 31st of August, 1837, Mr. Jackson was arrested in his
career of usefulness by fever, which terminated in death, in four
days. He was seized while at the residence of his Superintendent,
Mr. Rowden, at Lime Savannah. Till within a few hours of his
death, neither himself, medical attendant, nor wife apprehended any
danger. About nine o’clock on Saturday evening, he raised himself
in bed, and took a little tea with Mrs. J. In about an hour alarming
symptoms appeared, and at half-past twelve, he expired.

Mr. Rowden was left by this painful stroke of Providence to do
as well as he could to meet the spiritual necessities of the people,
and to finish the chapel begun by Mr. Wilcox, at Lime Savannah,
which, in honour of the late Rev. John James, was named James’
Place. A view of this building accompanies this account. The
tomb at the left covers the remains of one of the sons of the writer,
who was named Richard Watson, and close by, the dust of Messrs.
Wilcox and Jackson awaits the sound of the last trumpet. In ad-
dition to finishing this chapel, Mr. R. erected a schoolhouse at Vere,
which was remarkably slight ; and owing to the want of proper sup-
port for the floor, it afterwards gave way, being far too weak to bear
the congregation. This place was called Watsonton, in memory of
the lamented Richard Watson, who, with Mr. James, were dear to
the missionaries whom they sent out.

Early in 1839, the writer along with Mr. Davies, was appointed to
the circuit. The lamentable ignorance that pervaded the whole re-
gion round about was very apparent. The people had been kept in
utter darkness till the missionaries began to visit them. No schools
were provided for the tens of thousands who were now beginning to
breathe the air of civil freedom. At Lime Savannah, as well as at
each of the stations, there was an earnest desire among the members
that their children should be taught, until a school could be es-
tablished. The writer met a large number of the children in the
chapel at Lime Savannah, whom he continued to instruct on the week
days, till Mr. Armstrong, the general superintendent of schools, sent
ateacher. In the month of May, a schoolmaster was appointed to
Vere ; but from want of a proper place, he was compelled to use the
building as a schoolhouse and lodging for himself, which called for no
small self-denial on the part of the worthy man who was so usefully
employed and poorly cireumstanced. At Manchester, a schoolhouse
was erected, and named Gunnersbury, after the residence of Thomas
Farmer, Esq. Throughout the circuit, the congregations were large,
and the people deeply attentive. The experience of the members in
many instances was sound and scriptural, and their conduct consis-
tent. Several places were visited, besides the regular stations; and
as the station at “ View” was rendered of minor importance by one
of the missionaries of the London Society having taken up a station
CLARENDON. 995

close by, the writer gave it up, and took up a new station on a
mountain, at some distance, which was thickly inhabited by small
settlers, who were in a state of utter spiritual destitution, and very
anxious to have the Gospel preached to them. On the 27th of
April, a large number of people assembled in a house, near Mount
Moses ; every apartment was filled, and a great many were congre-
gated outside. The writer occupied the centre of the piazza, in order
to see the people. After having catechised some children, he
preached to the congregation, from John iii. 3; but soon after he
began, about two-thirds of the floor gave way, when he and thirty or
forty of the hearers were precipitated to the ground floor, leaving the
greater number still above, staring after us, wondering where we were
gone! For sometime all was alarm and confusion; but on dis-
covering that no one was seriously hurt, the writer retired under the
shadow of an orange tree, and gave out a hymn, which soon brought
all around him, and gave him an opportunity of directing their atten-
tion to the Providence which numbers even the hairs of our head.
Many were the conjectures of the negroes as to the hand the devil
had in this circumstance. Some said, “‘ Fo true Satan, him angry
too much, when him see minister come for turb him kingdom mong
we sinna, an so him try fo brok massa neck!” Others observed,
“ My king, sichin a fright we’s minister got, sure him no come fo see
me sinna any mo.” On which Francis Graham, who accompanied
the writer as guide, assured them, ‘‘ Dat massa no so soon feared, fo
if him tink Satan no want him come, Massa will sure come back
all the sooner jist fo spite him.” This catastrophe led the people to
erect a temporary thatched chapel, on a piece of ground belonging
to Thomas Robertson ; but as soon as it was up, a tremendous rain
set in, which soaked the grass, with which the roof was covered,
made it too heavy for the posts supporting it, so that it came flat to
the ground! The next erection was more substantial, and withal
was wattled and plastered with adhesive mud, which looked like
cream-coloured lime. For benches short posts were put into the
ground, and poles or bamboos nailed horizontally, allowing a breadth
of two or three inches to situpon. The pulpit was formed of three
poles, fixed perpendicularly, and a bit of board on which to place the
bible. In this primitive place of worship, some hundreds continued
to assemble, in order to hear the glad tidings of salvation. A mis-
sionary meeting was held in 1840 ; and the poor people, just emerging
from the darkness of heathenism and slavery, contributed above £60
currency. One of the difficulties in the way of supplying this sta-
tion, was the bad state of the roads, during wet weather. In some
parts, the struggling and plunging of the horse to get through mud
some feet in depth, and tough as clay, endangered both horse and
rider; besides which, it was at least twenty miles from the residence
of the missionary. ;
The proprietor of Halse Hall having again requested our Committee
296 CLARENDON.

to accept of land on which to erect a chapel, Messrs. Edmondson,
Bleby, and Randerson, arrived at the residence of the writer in June,
and we proceeded to the estate, and fixed on a very eligible site ; but
the number of pre-occupied stations was greater than could be at-
tended to, especially as both the missionaries were called to suffer
much through fever, from July till the beginning of the following year.
The writer and his family were brought to the brink of the grave.
One of the children died; and Mr. Davies narrowly escaped. After
trying the mineral waters at Milk River Bath, all were ordered to the
mountains of Manchester, where the change of air had a very pleasing
effect. At this time, the thermometer at Lime Savannah was ninety-
two degrees in the shade, without a breath of air, and the whole
plain was filled with deadly malaria. While in the mountains it was
the happiness of the writer to have some very friendly intercourse
with Messrs. Patterson and Scott, of the Scottish Missionary Society,
both devoted to their missionary work ; but, alas! the latter soon
fell a victim to fever, and the other was killed by being thrown out
of his gig.

The attendance of the people on the week evening services at Lime
Savannah, in order to listen to the Word preached, and for prayer,
was most cheering; the chapel was crowded, Divine influence evi-
dently rested on the people. In supplicating the throne of grace,
there was a simplicity, and acquaintance with the grand truths of the
Gospel, and a spiritual unction that was most refreshing. If the
writer had drank a more bitter cup this year than ever had been given
him, he had also to bless God that it was a year full of encourage-
ment to him to go on with his ministerial work.

‘Throughout 1840, great prosperity attended the efforts of the mis-
sionaries, Three day schools were in active operation. On every
hand, new places for week evening preaching presented themselves.
A deep interest was taken by the people in missions to the heathen,
and a larger amount was contributed by them to the general mis-
sion fund, than by any other circuit in the island ; while to the Cen-
tenary fund, also, they gave an amount unequalled by any other of
the circuits. The incidents which indicated the advancement of the
work of God among the people, were numerous and encouraging ;
among which may be mentioned the conduct of the members belong-
ing to Seven Plantation Estate. A stranger, having come to work on
the property, accidentally set fire to a field of sugar-cane, while cook-
ing his breakfast. Thomas Davidson, steward of the society at Lime
Savannah, who was a head man on the estate, called the people
together, represented to them the great loss sustained by the owner
through this accident, and proposed to work without wages till the
amount was made up; to which they agreed. Davidson then in-
formed Mr. Shaw, the overseer, of their design; but he did not ac-
cept this generous offer, as not one of them was to blame for it. As
none, except members of the society, would make the offer, it was
CLARENDON, 297

clear that this noble feeling was the effect of the Gospel upon their
hearts. Their liberality in endeavouring to support their own minis-
ters was highly honourable to them. The increase of members in the
course of the two years was about three hundred, which made the
total, in all the stations, amount to one thousand and seventy-three ;
while above two hundred children attended the day-schools, under
three salaried teachers. An excellent residence was secured for the
missionary, at a reasonable rent, at Lime Savannah, the want of
which no doubt was a painful cause of the sickness and death of so
many within a short time. On leaving the cireuit at the end of
1840, the writer and Mr. Davies had reason to look back with grati-
tude to the Head of the Church, that he had not withheld his bless-
ing from their labours.

Messrs. Hodgson and Lewis followed in this circuit early in 1841 ;
but the health of the latter quite failed, so that, soon after the middle
of the year, he was laid aside. He wrote this to the Committee.
“The Chairman has now written to inform me that I am at liberty to
return. But what a serious affair, to leave the Clarendon circuit,
with four societies, scattered over a hundred miles in circumference,
to one missionary! I have so pitied Mr. Hodgson and the people,
that I have several times rode in the rain, and endangered my life, to
assist him. But do our English friends allow this? Must we go
to our appointments when ill of fever, and so weak as to be obliged
to preach sitting? Iam fully persuaded that if our dear friends
knew our labours and sufferings, they would do more than they have
ever done to send others to assist us.” By three physicians Mr. L.
was urged to return to England, in order to save his life.

On the removal of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Thompson was sent to the as-
sistance of Mr. Hodgson, both of whom laboured with self-denying
zeal and great success in 1842. At Vere, achapel was erected. The
former building having been intended only for a school-house, was
found to be too small and weak for the congregations which thronged
it. The chapel at Lime Savannah underwent a thorough repair, to-
wards which the people contributed most liberally, besides entirely
supporting their own ministers, without any assistance from the mis-
sion fund, and pledged themselves to support another, should he be
sent out, in order that more pastoral attention might be given them ;
besides which a chapel was begun at Manchester, where, as at Vere,
the school-house had hitherto been used to accommodate the con-
gregation. Since then this important circuit has suffered severely
from a variety of causes. Sickness, poverty, and want of a sufficient
number of missionaries, have united to test the faith and patience of
both minister and people. The last time the writer travelled through
Lower Clarendon and Vere, the whole face of the land was bumt up
with drought. For many months not a drop of rain had fallen; so
that scarcely a blade of grass was to be seen for miles around; while
the pastures were covered with the whitened bones of the cattle which

40
298 BLACK RIVER.

had died from want of pasture and water. ‘The scene was heart-
withering; the poor people were in a state of desolation, being
threatened with famine, as their small stock had all perished, and
their provision grounds were utterly empty, and reduced to barren-
ness by a burning sun.

BLACK RIVER.

Ir was not till 1834 that the missionaries were able to extend their
labours to the extensive parish of St. Elizabeth, which is situated in
the south-west part of the island, containing above two hundred and
fourteen thousand acres of land, with nearly twenty thousand people
on the estates.

Mr. Simmons was the first missionary appointed to this field of
usefulness. On his arrival, he turned his attention to Black River,
Lacovia, Mountain Side, and Pedro Plains. Of these he observed,
in October—‘ At Black River crowds of people flock to hear the
Word, and appear anxiously desirous to become acquainted with the
truth. A small society is formed; the establishment of a Sabbath-
school is commenced; and contributions are made to promote the ob-
ject of the mission. At Lacovia, some vile characters have been led
to abandon their sins, and embrace the religion of our Saviour.
About twenty are meeting in class, and giving proof of their sin-
cerity, by their obedience to the commands of God. Mountain Side
is, in my opinion, the most important part of this circuit. The po-
pulation, including that of the surrounding properties, is immense. [
have paid the utmost attention in my power to this place ; and every
time I visit the neighbourhood, I am convinced of the urgent call for
another missionary in this part of the island. I grieve when I think
of the spiritual destitution of so great a multidude, and deeply regret
the impracticability of visiting them oftener. In this neighbourhood
a missionary’s life might be honourably and gloriously spent. The
inhabitants generally are ignorant and superstitious, and many have
lived in the practice of the most disgusting abominations ; yet they
now seem intensely desirous to be instructed in the things of God.
At present, I conduct Divine service in a very small house, which is
always crowded almost to suffocation ; while sometimes numbers of
hearers outside suffer from the fervid beams of a vertical sun,
followed by drenching torrents of rain. Some of them have
already abandoned their sins, several meet in class, and others, who
have for years been living licentiously, are about to be united in ma-
trimony.

“The inhabitants of Pedro Plains are principally free, but de-
plorably ignorant, superstitious, and heathenish. Some years ago, a
large school-house or chapel was erected in the centre of the Plains,
under the sanction, and with the assistance, of the Bishop of Jamaica,
BLACK RIVER. 299

and a person appointed to teach the people, receiving a small stipend
for his trouble. The attempt failed, and the house is abandoned.
Being desirous to occupy it, [ made a personal application to his
lordship for the present use of it, which was kindly granted.” There
were many places to which Mr. S. was invited ; but without another
missionary, it was impossible for him to avail himself of them. The
prospect on the west side of Santa Cruz Mountains, continued en-
couraging. Hundreds gladly listened to the Gospel; and, by the
close of the year, above thirty were on trial for church membership ;
while at Black River the society consisted of nine members.

Mr. Simmons was followed in this circuit by Mr. Curtis in 1836,
who felt much encouraged by the degree of success that attended his
ministry among the people, and which would have been much larger
if suitable chapels could have been erected, as the people feared the
missionary might at any time go away and leave them, as there was
nothing to guarantee their stay among them, in the way of mission
property. Towards the end of the following year, Mr. C. wrote—
‘“‘Is the work of the Lord standing still? Thank God it is not.
During this year, some of our members have been brought into the
enjoyment of a clear sense of God’s pardoning love, and are now, I
believe, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the
Holy Ghost. Onr congregations continue quite as good as they
ever have been since I came to this circuit. Our small place at
Black River is in general uncomfortably crowded, especially on a
Sunday evening. I preach there every Sunday and Wednesday
evening. It was my fixed purpose to erect a chapel at Mountain
Side, in the course of this year, without any, or a very trifling ex-
pense to the society; but I have been unhappily disappointed of the
land which had been promised, and have also failed hitherto in pro-
curing any other. I do not, however, despair of finally succeeding in
this important point, and that soon. Our pcople here are willing to
do anything and everything they can, in the way of labour.”

Mr. Burrows having visited England, was appointed to Black
River on his return to the island; and after his removal, Mr. Red-
fern took his place, but he soon fell a victim to fever, from which Mr.
Burrows also had suffered considerably during his residence in this
circuit. The moral and spiritual state of the people excited the deep
concern of Mr. Redfern, and led him to preach in the open aiz, which
no doubt tended to bring on his fatal illness. In a letter, found
among his papers, by Mr. W. Whitehouse, after his death, he wrote
under date Sune 15tu, 1841-1 find, on the south side of this
island, our work is mach behind that in the north and east; in fact,
there exists among the black and coloured population generally a
strong prejudice against us in this parish, which feeling has kept many
from coming to hear us at all. In no part of the islund are the plain
heart-searching doctrines which we preach more required than here.
I therefore resolved to preach in the open air. On several occasions 1
300 BLACK RIVER.

have done so, and some hundreds of persons attended and listened
with great attention. I believe good has been done in this way ; and,
although we have considerably enlarged the room in which we wor-
ship, yet, on Sunday evenings, it is so full as to render it very un-
comfortable, being as hot as an oven. I regret to see the tone of
morality so low in this vicinity ; in the lower classes, ignorance and
vice are awful, and in the better informed, love of the world and
pleasure, and other sins, prevent them from thinking about the sal-
vation of their souls. In the country, our prospects are more en-
couraging than on the Bay. We have a large congregation near
Santa Cruz Mountains, which continues to increase; but here also
we are straitened for want of room, many persons being obliged to
stand outside. A piece of land has been given us, and a shed is to
be erected upon it immediately, as we have not the means to build a
chapel.”

In the midst of his usefulness he was seized with yellow fever,
which cut him off on the 15thof July, 1841. He died in peace, and
was lamented by the people, to whom he had endeared himself by
his efforts to bring them to the Saviour.

Just at this time, Mr. Whitehouse was ready to sail with his
family to England, after many years successful labour in the island ;
but just before he closed with the Captain of a ship for a passage,
news of Mr. R.’s death arrived, which led him to delay his departure,
that he might supply Black River till the end of the year. Though
the cause continued low at Black River, Mountain Side station gave
much encouragement. The congregations were large and attentive,
and most of the respectable proprietors in the neighbourhood began to
attend the public services. Some seemed seriously disposed, and
expressed much anxiety to see a chapel built, promising to give
liberally towards defraying the expense.

In the following year, while Mr. Lockyer was in the circuit, the
proposed chapel was commenced; the people came forward nobly
with their contributions, and offers of gratuitous labour. At the end
of the year, there were forty-six members at Black River, and one
hundred and forty-eight at Mountain Side.
     

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301

CHAPTER XXI.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, LUCEA, AND MOUNT WARD.

Description of Savanna-la-Mar—Mr. Box begins a Mission—Persecution—M essrs
Inglis and Bleby re-organise the Mission—Mr. Curtis—Mr. Lofthouse erects a
Chapel—Death of Mr. Lofthouse—Messrs. Randerson and Moss—Lucea—Situa-
tion of the Town—A Mission begun—Messrs. Bleby and Seccombe—Mr. Chap-
min erects a Chapel and enlarges the Circuit—Mount Ward—Situation—Mr.
Murray begins a Mission—Two Years’ Persecution—Mr. Wedlock revives the
Society—Mr. Ritchie appointed resident Missionary—Mr. Lofthouse commences
a Chapel—Mr, Curtis—Mr. Chapman dies.

Tue town of Savanna-la-Mar is situated in the parish of Westmore-
land, which terminates the island on the south-west. For several
miles around, the land is quite a flat. Towards the west, there is a
morass, of several miles in extent, covered with mangroves, and
being below the level of the sea, it cannot be drained. From this a
pestilential miasma is constantly exhaled, rendering it destructive to
the health of Europeans. From the mountains, a considerable por-
tion of the plain appears to be under good cultivation, and presents
a beautiful landscape, in connection with the hills and sea which
bound it. The town is built by the sea-side, on an alluvial soil,
which is scarcely raised above high water mark. Great quantities of
rain fall here, which render it uncomfortable and unhealthy. The
harbour is by no means a good one. The water is shoaly, and ves-
sels have nothing to shelter them. The town consists of one prin-
cipal street. The court-house, and a few good dwellings belonging
to merchants, besides the church and the chapels belonging to the
Baptists and Wesleyans, are the only buildings of consequence. In
October, 1780, the town was destroyed by a hurricane and an earth-
quake, which also ravaged a great part of the county of Cornwall, and
consumed much property. The inhabitants of Kingston contributed
£10,000, and the British Parliament, £40,000, towards extricating
the sufferers from this calamity. When the writer visited this town
in September, 1842, in company with Messrs. Fraser and Chapman,
we found the temperature to increase, as we descended the mountains,
till, on our arrival, the thermometer stood at 90 degrees in the shade.
Two hours afterwards, a thunder storm began ; the lightning and peal-
ing of the thunder were awful, and being accompanied by deluges of
rain, the temperature of the atmosphere was reduced about 20 de-
grees in a short time. The night became very dark, and with great
difficulty we found our way to the chapel, having to hop, step, jump,
and splash, through the water and mud, which covered the street.
302 SAVANNA-LA-MAR.

The sensations of the writer gave him a most unfavourable impres-
sion of the town and neighbourhood, with regard to the possibility of
escaping fever in such a swamp. The parish comprehends nearly
one hundred and seventy-six thousand acres of land. The estates
are numerous, some of which are rich and extensive. Above twenty
thousand slaves used to be employed in their cultivation, besides the
free inhabitants.

The missionaries in 1829 requested Messrs. Barry and Box to
visit this part of the island, in order to see whether any stations
could be taken up. On the evening of the 6th of June, they arrived
at Savanna-la-Mar. Mr. Barry wrote—‘ We at once perceived, on
entering Savanna-la-Mar, that it was our ground. The town is
much larger than I expected. It has an elegant church, and a most
respectable court-house; and I think the population cannot be less
than two thousand, perhaps it is more. As soon as possible we took
a house for the purpose of preaching, and at a reasonable rent, pro-
cured a place, which will accommodate a large congregation, as well
as lodge Mr. Box comfortably. We then paid our respects to Tho-
mas Hardin, Esq., one of the magistrates, and afterwards to Doctor
Dystin, another magistrate, who appears a very polite, respectable,
and intelligent gentleman. We expressed our regret that we were
not in time to present the house to the Quarter Sessions, and hoped
Mr. Box would not in consequence meet with any obstruction. The
Doctor observed, that he was certain none whatever would in-
terrupt the discharge of Mr. Box’s duties. Savanna-la-Mar is the
key to a great number of populous estates.” On the following Sab-
bath, Mr. Box began his work. In the evening he was delighted to
see about two hundred listening attentively to the ‘‘ Words of eternal
life.” The majority of the hearers were free persons of colour.
Such was the increasing desire to hear, that many came an hour be-
fore the time of beginning service, in order to secure seats. Some of
the most respectable merchants and storekeepers attended regularly.
The morning congregations were chiefly composed of slaves belong-
ing to Bath estate, who also manifested a desire to “ flee from the
wrath to come.” Some time after, he wrote—‘‘ I have, through the
blessing of God, already formed a society of twenty-four persons,
chiefly slaves, some of whom worship God in the spirit, rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Of these I enter-
tain a hope that they will continue to adorn the doctrine of God our
Saviour, in all things, and be the foundation of a rising church here,
against which ‘the gates of hell shall never prevail.’ The coun-
tenance given to our infant cause by the judicious and highly re-
spected magistrates of this parish, and the absence of all opposition
to our progress, on the part of the inhabitants, are circumstances
which I would mention as indicative of the better state of mind with
which the glorious Gospel of the blessed God is now received than
formerly.” Again, he observed—‘ A few weeks since, I open-il a
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, 303

Sunday School, which promises to be highly beneficial ; but in con-
sequence of the excessive rains which have fallen this season, the
roads are almost impassable, and consequently comparatively few
have as yet attended; but I intend, as soon as practicable, to make
a general survey in the town, at least, for the purpose of ascertaining
the state of the rising generation, and of increasing the schools.
Since my residence here, the mortality has been very great, arising,
in a great measure, from the situation of the town, which is sur-
rounded by extensive morasses, that, in times of excessive heat or
wet, are very deleterious; but blessed be God I have enjoyed un-
interrupted health, and feel strong to labour in the delightful work of
pointing sinners to the Lamb of God.”

Mr. Box continued to labour with great energy and success, feel-
ing much encouraged by the proofs he had that he was not labouring
in vain. From the limited number of estates in the vicinity of the
town, the attendance of the slaves on the services was comparatively
small—most of those who attended were free persons. Mr. B. also
paid great attention to the prisoners in the jail and workhouse, who
seemed to feel grateful for the interest he took in their spiritual wel-
fare.

The pleasing anticipations of Mr. Box, with regard to this new
field of labour, were soon threatened with disappointment. Mr.
Crookes, and after him Mr. Bleby, were appointed to the circuit ; but
when the insurrection took place, the mission was given up, from the
bitter persecution which was raised against all the missionaries in
that part of the island. In 1834, Savanna-la-Mar was visited by
the Montego Bay missionaries, who succeeded in re-organizing the
scattered society ; but the numerous stations calling for their atten-
tion, put it out of their power to give the people a sufficient amount
of attention.

In June, 1834, Mr. Wedlock wrote—‘‘ On the 15th,.1 preached
twice at Savanna-la-Mar. At the evening service, the house which
I have hired was filled, and many were obliged to stand without.
The people heard the Word with great attention. Some of the late
violent persecutors were present, and conducted themselves with great
propriety. At the close of 1831, we hada small society there; and,
though they had not seen the face of a preacher for more than two
years and a-half, I found many of them had continued faithful, and
therefore formed a little society of sixteen members. Because of
the distance of Savanna-la-Mar from this place (i.e. Montego Bay),
and farther, on account of the overwhelming congregations we have
here and at Ramble, we shall not be able to visit it more than once in
three weeks, if so often.” However, in the following year, Messrs,
Bleby and Inglis being appointed to the west-end of the island, they
laboured with energy and success at Savanna-la-Mar, Lucea, and
various other places between them. On the 18th of March, 1835,
the Rev. Valentine Ward arrived at Savanna-la-Mar, and after stay-
304 LUCEA,

ing till the following evening with Mr. Inglis, he preached his last
sermon but one, to a large and deeply affected audience. New Shef-
field and Amsterdam stations were added to Savanna-la-Mar circuit,
while Mr. Inglis was stationed there. After his removal, he was
succeeded by Mr. Curtis, under whom the spiritual state of the
people advanced. At the close of 1840, there were six hundred and
thirty-four members in the circuit, and one hundred and seventy-
eight children in the schools.

In 1841, Mr, Lofthouse laboured with great zeal throughout the
circuit, in preaching the Gospel, and in the erection of the chapel,
represented in the Lithograph prefixed to this account. It is a brick
building, in the Gothic style, measuring fifty feet by forty, and cal-
culated to seat six hundred hearers, having a gallery opposite the
pulpit. Early in the month of October, Mr. Lofthouse began to feel
unwell. On Tuesday the 5th, he was seized with fever; and on the
Sabbath following, he expired, in steadfast hope of eternal life. As
if hastening to finish his work, his efforts to save souls, just a little
before he was called away, were extraordinary. Many professed to
have been brought to the Redeemer by his ministry at the time. In
order to take care of the bereaved flock till a successor to Mr. L.
could be sent, Mr. Bleby removed from St. Ann’s to Savanna-la-Mar.

During 1842, Mr. Randerson’s labours were rendered a blessing
to the people. There were five stations, viz., Savanna-la-Mar, with
two hundred and sixty-three members, and a fine prospect of useful-
ness ; while the state of the society was in the highest degree satis-
factory. At the Cave, there was an excellent day-school, forty feet
by twenty-four, commanding a beautiful view of both sea and land,
with Savanna-la-Mar in the distance. The congregation met in the
school, till a chapel could be built. The number of members was
two hundred and thirty-two. At New Sheffield, there were seventy-
one; at Amsterdam, forty-seven; and at Hope, thirteen—making a
total of six hundred and thirty members, and sixty-three on trial;
one Sabbath and two day-schools, with four salaried and fifteen
gratuitous teachers.

As Vr. Randerson returned with the writer to England the follow-
ing year, he was succeeded by Mr. Moss, in this important sphere of
missionary labour.

LUCEA.

Tue town of Lucea is situated near the north-west end of the island,
in the parish of Hanover, and in the county of Cornwall. Though
the harbour is only about half a mile across at the entrance, it forms
nearly a circle inland. The anchorage is good, there being from
four to six fathoms water all over it. The town stands on the south-
west side of the harbour. There is one large street close to the shore,
 
LUCEA, 305

above which there are many houses on the sides of the steep hill
which overlooks the sea. Many of these are perched on heights,
which threaten to give way, and descend towards the beach. It is
an affair calling for some effort for a stranger to climb to these dwell-
ings; but on reaching them, the splendour of the scenery is a rich
reward for the breath wasted in panting up the steep paths which
lead to them. There are some respectable buildings in the town,
as the church, the Presbyterian and Methodist chapels, and a few
others. There are about a hundred and fourteen thousand acres of
land in the parish, and a very large number of properties, on which
there used to be more than twenty thousand slaves. It is very
hilly, well-watered, full of picturesque scenery, and the shore abounds
in bays and creeks.

In 1829, this town was visited by Mr. Duncan, who was stationed
at Montego Bay, and a society was formed. The congregations were
large and attentive, and the prospects pleasing. The report of the
following year, by Mr. Murray, was—‘ The cause of God prospers.
Several deaths have taken place during the year. Several persons
also have been dismissed; but considerably more having been ad-
mitted, the number of members has increased. The congregations
are generally pretty good.” A small Sabbath school was established.
From the time the insurrection took place, till Mr. Bleby was ap-
pointed in 1836, the station had been vacated, on account of the de-
termined hostility of those who united themselves with the notorious
“Colonial Union.” At this time, Lucea and Savanna-la-Mar, with
some minor stations, were united into one circuit, under the care of
Messrs. Bleby and Inglis. At the close of the year, the members
amounted to seven hundred and forty-three. In 1838, Lucea again
appeared as a separate circuit, to which Mr. Seccombe was appointed.
As the people were fully emancipated in August, a spirit of dissatis-
faction spread throughout the parish on the question of wages, which
did great evil. Mr. Seccombe observed, in a letter dated September
10th—“ Since the date of my last communication, we have had much
to demand our exertions, and to try our faith. The Ist of August,
and a few days immediately following, passed away with as little ex-
citement, disturbance, and immorality, as could have been anticipated.
The rate of wages, however, to be agreed upon between the people
and their employers, soon furnished a subject of contention. This
matter has greatly convulsed this parish. As might have been ex-
pected, the agitation of the wages question has been unfavourable to
morality and the growth of Scripture piety, vain and sinful amuse-
ments have been much revived, and a few of our people have un-
happily attended them, and, as a matter of course, they have either
been suspended, or in the absence of any sign of sorrow or repent-
ance, have been excluded from the church. On the whole, I bless
God we have no need to be discouraged, although party spirit has
been very rife. Disputes have been very numerous, and we have

2?
306 MOUNT WARD.

had much additional labour and anxiety ; yet we look forward cheer-
fully and confidently to the period when these local affairs will settle
down into their wonted quiet, and when the agents of truth and
righteousness will pursue their work with a success without a pre-
cedent in the history of Jamaica.” The evil here noticed existed in
other parts of the island, and led to serious mischief in many instances,
as might have been anticipated.

In 1841, Mr. Chapman erected the chapel represented in the
Lithograph accompanying this account. It is a neat little place of
worship. In addition to this, he purchased a house at Dunalva,
in the mountains; and having altered and repaired it, so as to con-
vert it into a chapel, named it Mount Hannah. He also opened a
new station at River Side, directly south of Lucea. Mount Hannah
lies south-east of the town, at a distance of about eight miles, in a
mountainous locality, where the beautiful palmetto royal and mango,
in their perfection, abound. In July, 1841, the writer, along with
Messrs. Edney, Randerson, Seccombe, Chapman, and Mearns, at-
tended a missionary meeting at Lucea, and one also at this station.
At both places the congregations were large, and deeply interesting,
and the collections liberal ; and although there never had been such
a meeting held at Mount Hannah, the contributions exceeded those
at Lucea. Just as we were mounted, in order to descend the moun-
tain, a flash of lightning struck a tall cocoa-nut tree, which towered
above us, and instantly the thunder followed, with a crashing noise,
as if the whole mountain were rent in pieces by the bursting ofa shell.
The horses trembled, plunged, and darted in different directions, to
the no small danger of their riders. However, by the kind Pro-
vidence of God, no one was injured. For the greater part of the
way, the rain poured upon us as we travelled back to Lucea. Mr.
Chapman was most indefatigable in his exertions to promote the
prosperity of this circuit ; but it never has given the missionaries, who
have laboured in it, that success which they sought to secure. In
1848, Mr. Curtis followed Mr. Chapman. At the end of the year,
the members at Lucea amounted to one hundred and twenty-three ;
at Mount Hannah, one hundred and fifteen; and at River Side,
twenty-nine, with seven candidates. In the following year, two
day-schools were added.

MOUNT WARD.

Tue original name of this station was Ramble, which was changed
to Mount Ward, in memory of the late Valentine Ward, who preached
his last sermon here only four days before he died, as has been stated
in the account of Montego Bay mission.

It issituated in an elevated and beautiful part of the island, about
sixteen miles south-west of Montego Bay, near the south-eastern ex-
 

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L

 
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tremity of the parish of Hanover. For several miles around, the
land is nearly level ; after which it descends towards the sea, north
and south. The climate is cool, and the aspect of the country rather
English. During slavery, within a range of about eight miles of the
station, the slave population was estimated at about ten thousand,
besides free people.

This place was first visited when Mr. Murray was stationed at
Montego Bay. If the memory of the writer serves him, Messrs.
Murray and Box were travelling between Montego Bay and Savanna-
la-Mar, and calling at the blacksmith’s shop, near the present pre-
mises, they saw the lamentable spiritual destitution of the neigh-
bourhood, and were encouraged todo something towards supplying
the people with the Gospel, as far as possible. The smith’s shop
was offered, and accepted by Mr. Murray, for the accommodation of
a congregation, till a chapel could be built. The prospect of this
becoming an interesting and important station, was very cheering
till the insurrection began, which, for a while, threatened its utter
extinction, as that storm burst with its greatest fury around this
neighbourhood, and kept the missionaries away for two years. Dur-
ing the season of misrule and persecution, a plot was laid to assassi-
nate Messrs. Murray and Bleby when they visited this place in 1832 ;
but by the good Providence of God, they were preserved, and de-
livered out of the hands of their enemies.

After the storm had passed away, the blacksmith’s shop was again
offered for the use of the missionaries, though the owner had been
called away by death. The people anxiously implored that they
might again have the Word of Life preached to them. The report
was—‘A great feeling after God is already awakened. Some of
our enemies are not only at peace with us, but are inviting us into
the country, to preach the truths of that Gospel which they have
laboured to extirpate and destroy. On a review of the past year,
we may in truth say, that though great and numerous have been the
trials of the members of this society, yet greater far has been the Holy
One in the midst of them, who, by his grace, has preserved them
from fainting in the dark day of their deep adversity.”

In 1834, several of the magistrates and influential gentlemen
shewed a degree of kindness, which intimated that the day of or-
ganized opposition had passed away. One gentleman, a magistrate,
and attorney for several estates around the mission station here, sent
the following note to Mr. Wedlock, enclosing £50. ‘‘ To the Rev.
Mr. Wedlock.” ‘‘ The sum of fifty pounds currency, enclosed, is
presented to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, for the purpose of
aiding its efforts towards the religious instruction of the inhabitants
of this neighbourhood.” With regard to the people, he observed,
that at each visit fresh encouragement was given by the anxiety of
the hearers to profit by the Word, and that between twenty and thirty
at a time offered themselves again as candidates for membership, who
308 MOUNT WARD. Z
had been united before the insurrection broke out, but scattered in
the cloudy and dark day.

Mr. Corbett, who was appointed colleague to Mr. Wedlock, was
with them on the memorable Ist of August, which was an event
of deep interest to those who had felt the bitterness of slavery
during the recent severe trials. Mr. C. wrote—‘‘ Our preaching
place at Ramble was crowded at an early hour, and surrounded by a
vast number of persons, who, though they could not get seats,
listened very attentively to the sermon, in which they were directed
to Him who is able to deliver them from the bondage of sin.” ‘I
shall just add, that the conduct of the negroes, during this eventful
period, has been such as will, I should think, raise them in the eyes of
all their friends.” In the month of October, Mr. Bleby visited this sta-
tion, on which he observed—‘ On reaching Ramble, about 8 o’clock in
the evening, I found a large number of our kind and affectionate
people awaiting my arrival; and though much fatigued with my
journey, I complied with their request to preach to them immediately.
You are aware that our people had to pass through very trying scenes
during the eventful year 1832; and many of them I had not seen
since I preached to them on the day before the insurrection broke
out. It was with heartfelt joy and gratitude to the Lord that I was
again privileged to meet with them, under such favourable circum-
stances, and to offer up our united prayers and praises to Him ‘ who
rides on the whirlwind and directs the storm.’ There was one indi-
dual especially, who is a class-leader in our society here, with whom
I was glad to meet. He was a slave; and through the base machi-
nations of a certain person, had been unjustly condemned to die as
an insurgent. Brother Murray and I were, through the blessing of
God, instrumental in saving him from an untimely and ignominious
death. Lord Mulgrave found him in the Hanover Workhouse ; and
having ascertained that he bore an excellent character, restored him
at once to his family and hishome. The wicked and malicious part
which the person to whom I have before alluded had taken, was dis-
covered by his employer, and he was immediately dismissed. The
poor fellow has been much injured by confinement, and by the heavy
irons with which he was bound; but he is still what I ever knew
him,—a holy, devoted, and useful servant of the living God. I spent
a happy Sabbath with the people, and could not help exclaiming,
when I witnessed the change which has taken place here, ‘ This is
the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ ”

On the 22d of March, 1835, the late Rev. Valentine Ward spent
his last earthly Sabbath at this station, wondering at what he beheld,
and exclaiming, ‘‘ Indeed, this has been one of the most interesting
days of my life!” Fora full account of the circumstances of his
sickness and death, the reader is referred to the chapter on the Mon-
tego Bay station.

A school having been established here that year, the progress of
MOUNT WARD. 309

both children and adults was pleasing. Some who scarcely knew the
alphabet at the beginning of the year, by the close of it were read-
ing the Scriptures. The number returned was one hundred and
twenty-nine, of whom thirteen were adults.

In 1836, Mr. Ritchie was appointed the first resident missionary
to this station, which proved most beneficial to it, in all its interests.
He was greatly encouraged by the regular attendance of the people
on the means of grace. He remarked—‘ Their regular attendance
on all the means of grace, is a proof that they have duly appreciated
their privilege (i.e. of having a missionary residing among them).
Catechetical instruction has proved a great service, in enabling them
more fully to understand the great doctrines of the Gospel when de-
livered from the pulpit. Our Sabbath School is in a state of grow-
ing prosperity. Several have learned to read the Word of God, and
have become efficient teachers. There is a great desire manifested
by those who can read to have copies of the Scriptures. Some have
purchased quarto Bibles, for which they have given the reduced price
of £1 15s. currency. We had hoped that, before this time, the pro-
posed new chapel would have been built for the accommodation of
this very interesting society ; but, on account of the land not being
secured, we have not yet commenced.”

Mr. Ritchie was followed by Mr. Lofthouse at this station. His
impressions of it were expressed in a letter, written about a month
after his arrival. The want of a chapel was much felt, as only a por-
tion of the congregation could get within the place occupied for
preaching ; so that, after the members were accommodated, there was
no room for strangers, He observed—‘ Sabbath after Sabbath many
of our old people not being able to stand at the windows, sat down
upon the grass, until the hour for the class-meeting, when they ge-
nerally go to some shady tree in the pasture adjoining.” The ex-
clusion of the children from the public services was also very in-
jurious; but the prospect of a chapel being erected, tended to keep
the people from being discouraged. At this time, William H. Heaven,
Esq., of Bristol, proprietor of Golden Grove, Silver Grove, and Ram-
ble Estates, wrote to his Attorney, to make a grant of land and some
money, in order that a suitable chapel might be erected. With re-
gard to the religious state of the people, Mr. L. wrote—‘ The reli-
gious experience of our members is most gratifying. It is true there
are many aged, who are so dull that they seem never to comprehend
the plainest truths—persons whose faculties have been so benumbed
and stupified by the past, that to them the privileges of the present
day seem to have come too late to remedy the evil of their case.
Those, however, who have had opportunities of obtaining informa-
tion, and have listened to the truths of God’s Word, not only under-
stand them, but satisfactorily state their religious experience. In
some places I have been disappointed in not finding a stronger desire
for knowledge; but here the adults, as well as children, are truly
athirst for instruetion.”
310 MOUNT WARD.

In 1837, Ramble was cut off from Montego Bay circuit, and made
the central station of a new circuit, which was designated Mount
Ward, which led Mr. Lofthouse to visit all accessible places around
its neighbourhood, so far as his time and engagements allowed him.
The minor stations of Nairn and Carlton were taken from Montego
Bay and joined to Mount Ward; but being at a great distance, and
in the same direction, Mr L. took up anew place between them, and
united them into one, which was named Mount Reece. He also
opened a station between Mount Ward and Savanna-la-Mar, which
he named Coke’s View, from which a splendid prospect is had of the
vast plain lying towards the south part of the parish of Westmoreland.

Unwilling to proceed with the erection of the proposed chapel un-
til the ground was legally secured by the due execution of the deed,
he was encouraged to make preparations by its arrival from Eng-
land, in the month of August. He remarked—‘ The gentlemen in
the neighbourhood shew their good feeling towards us in the most
handsome manner. One of them, on finding that I would not pro-
ceed with the erection in the absence of the deed, offered to guarantee
me £1000; but I thought it most prudent to wait. Another said,
that snoner than the chapel should stand still, he would send his
work n for a month, which he actually did, and raised the founda-
tion four feet in front, and levelled it ready for the joists of the floor.”
At this time, above a hundred scholars were on the books of the day-
school, which had been recently opened.

Mr. Curtis followed Mr. Lofthouse in the field of labour; and
when he left, there were six hundred and sixty-seven members, and
one hundred and sixty-eight scholars in the day-school.

The last visit the writer paid to this station was on the 7th of
March, 1843, at which time Mr. Chapman was busily engaged in the
erection of a house for the mission family, close by the chapel and
school-house; all of which appear in the Lithograph view accom-
panying this. The house is at the left, the chapel in the centre,
and the school-house beyond it. The small building in the distance,
used to be the station of the Church missionary. Having spent the
night with Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, and taken sketches of the mission
premises, and also of the blacksmith’s shop, where Mr. Ward preached
his last sermon, and where the society used to meet, the writer bade
Mr. and Mrs. C. an affectionate adieu, as he was hastening to prepare
for his departure for England ; but, alas! before he left the island,
Mr. C. was numbered with the dead. He was seized with fever, and
died on the 17th of May, in peace and triumphing over the last enemy.
He was a promising missionary, talented, pious, enterprising, and
devoted to his work.
“AYG SVHYNGNOH
‘3Z11399 W3dVH} NVASTSSM SHL

 

 

 
3ll

CHAPTER XXII.
HONDURAS.

Description of the Scttlement—Belize—Mr. Wilkinson begins the Mission—Death
of Mr. Wilkinson—Death of Mr. Johnston—Mr. Wedlock erects a Chapel—My.
Pilley fails to establish a Mission among the Mosquito Indians—Mr. Edney ex-
tends the Mission—The Charibs build a Chapel—Messrs. Greenwood and Jeffries
—State of the Mission under Messrs. Webster and Collier.

Art the suggestion of the Rev. Mr. Wedlock, who laboured with much
success at Honduras, the writer is induced to give a short account of
that mission, as it is comprehended in the Jamaica district.

The British settlement at Honduras is situated in the southern
part of the continent of North America, in the Province of Yucatan,
between the parallels of 17 and 19, north latitude, and 88 and 90,
west longitude, on a peninsula, which forms the Bay of Campeachy
on the west, and the Bay of Honduras on the east.

The line which embraces the settlement commences at the mouth
of the Rio Grande, or Hondo River, whose course it follows, and
afterwards runs parallel with it for thirty miles; it then turns south,
passes through the New River Lake, in a straight line to the River
Belize, up which it ascends for a considerable distance, till again
bending in a southerly direction it meets the head of Libun, whose
course it follows to the sea. Its area is 62,750 square miles. It
was discovered by Columbus in 1502.

The coast of the Bay lies low, and is crowded with small islands,
or keys, which are covered with verdure. So like are many of
these to each other, that the most experienced seamen often get be-
wildered among them; so that to approach the coast without a pilot
is deemed dangerous, and the risk, on leaving it, is, if possible, more
so. These keys used to be the favourite retreat of the Buccaneers,
who felt secure from pursuit, while they could conveniently sally
forth to carry on their work of plunder and blood, both on sea and
land. The key of St. George, about three leagues distant from
Belize to the N.E., is a most agreeable and beautiful spot, and has
many good houses upon it, to which the inhabitants resort for retire-
ment during the hot months. The sick and convalesent are greatly
benefited by the purity of the air, and other conveniences to be had
at this little island. For many years, this was the chief place of
trade in this part of the world. Here the merchants principally re-
sided, and the ships delivered and took in their cargoes, till a transfer
was made to Belize, as a more convenient situation, though less
312 HONDURAS.

healthy. ‘‘ Receding from the coast, the land rises into a bold and
lofty country, interspersed with gigantic forests, rivers, and lagoons.
The island frontier is formed by an immense chain of mountains,
covered with luxuriant forests and underwood. Through this un-.
penetrable barrier, there is but one pass, which leads to Peton, and as
it is only a foot-path, a few men might keep back an army. The
lagoons, falls, and rapids of the rivers constitute the most sublime
features of the scenery of this country. The river and lagoon of
Manatee, ten leagues south of Belize, is considered to be very grand.
About a mile from the mouth of the river is the lagoon—a vast sheet
of water stretching for several leagues in a northerly direction. In
many places lofty mountains ascend from its margin, overtopping ex-
tensive woody valleys, where the tiger, armadillo, opposum, antelope,
racoon, quash, and several species of deer abound, with a variety of
the feathered tribe, who range securely in their shady retreat. Eight
or ten miles from the lakes, the rapids begin, and the high rocky
banks of the river assume a romantic and beautiful appearance. Far-
ther on, there is a cataract of about a quarter of a mile in length, and
of considerable acclivity. A cluster of beautiful caves, through which
the river winds its way, and beneath which the traveller must pass,
is next reached. These magnificent natural excavations of the moun-
tains are semicircular at the entrance, and about five yards in diame-
ter. Within the cave, the arch rises to the height of a hundred feet,
and leads to another low arch, which being passed a second cavern
of large size opens, beyond which is a third, with a circular orifice,
through which the river enters. During the floods, the mouths of
these caverns are filled with water, which boils up with prodigious
fury, and thus detains travellers many days, before they can pass
through the caves or tunnels. In the rainy season, as the water in-
creases on the upper or inland sides of the mountains, the river forces
its passage through the interstices and openings in its sides with tre-
mendous noise, forming an indescribably grand cascade of from forty
to fifty feet high, issuing from fifty to an hundred orifices.” All
the fruits and vegetables to be found in Jamaica, are to be found in
Honduras, with abundance of mahogany and logwood, which are the
staple of trade. These latter attracted some adventurers from Ja-
maica, who fixed their first settlement at Cape Catoch ; and as their
numbers increased, they extended their settlements as far south as
the river Belize, and westward to the neighbourhood of Campeachy.
These aggressions on their territory were resisted by the Spaniards,
but without success. The hardy wood-cutters, aided by the seamen,
whose ships they freighted, repulsed them, and, in 1659 and 1678,
so effectually, that the town of Campeachy itself fell into their hands.
After a succession of expeditions sent by Spain against the settlers
—the last was made in 1798—when 3000 Spaniards, led by Field-
Marshal Don O’Neil, were forced to retire from St. George’s Key.
The thanks of his Majesty were tendered to Lieutenant-Colonel Bar-
HONDURAS. 313

row, and Captain Moss of the Martin sloop, along with the troops
and seamen under their command, and to the settlers, for their
bravery on this occasion. From that time no renewal of hostilities
has taken place.

Belize, the capital of the settlement, is situated at the mouth of
the river from which it takes its name. ‘The part of the town which
is situated upon the south or right bank of the river, along the
eastern edge of a point of land, is completely insulated by a canal on
its western side, which runs across from a small arm of the sea, and
bounds the town on its south side. The houses are above 500 in
number. Many of these, particularly such as are owned by opulent
merchants, are spacious, commodious, and well-furnished. They are
entirely built of wood, and generally raised eight or ten feet from the
ground, on pillars of mahogany. The stores and offices are uniformly
on the lower storey, the dining and sleeping apartments on the up-
per. Every habitation has its upper and lower piazzas. The two
parts of the town are connected by a bridge, which was built in 1818.
It is twenty feet in width, and its span 220 feet. It is entirely con-
structed of wood, and is well secured by ballustrades on each side.
The streets are regular, ‘running north and south, intersected by
others, The main one runs in a north-easterly direction to the
bridge, from the government house, which is situated on the south-
east point or angle of the island, on the right bank of the river, and
bounded on the south and east by the sea. Behind the government
house is the church, on the east side of the main street. The whole
town is embowered in groves and avenues of cocoa-nut and tamarind
trees.” Fort-George is situated on a small low island, about half a
mile from the river.

The population is of a very miscellaneous character, consisting of
Europeans, Indians, Mosquito men, and a mixture of others. Some of
the Honduras blacks are said to be little inferior to the whites in ori-
ginality and vigour of intellect, though, as a body, they are very low.
The coloured people are a medium between these and the whites.
The Mosquito men are remarkable for a fine muscular form, but des-
titute of intelligence. Their whole fortune is a canoe, a paddle, and
a harpoon. These meet the cravings of nature, and no more is sought
by this class of the people.

The Indians are a timid inoffensive set of creatures ; but the moral
state of the whole, until the influence of the Gospel began to be felt,
was very low.

Towards the end of 1825, Mr. Wilkinson arrived at Belize, where
he was kindly received by several gentlemen, who gave him much
encouragement to establish a mission. After spending eleven weeks
in the town, preaching on the Lord’s Day and on Wednesday even-
ing, holding a prayer-meeting on Friday evening, and catechising on
Tuesday evening, he proceeded into the country, taking the course of
the river for about a hundred and fifty miles. During this tour he

Za
314 HONDURAS,

witnessed the lamentable state of religious destitution of the logwood
and mahogany cutters, employed in these isolated parts. After this
journey he remarked—‘‘ From what I have already witnessed of the
disposition of the few people, who have come under my notice at
Belize, and in this country, I am fully persuaded (notwithstanding
the wickedness which long has reigned, and still reigns in various
forms,) if faithful labourers were placed in this field, their labours
would be rendered successful. The population of Honduras is prin-
cipally of the slave condition, who are employed up the different
rivers during the day, cutting mahogany and logwood. After having
cut a large quantity, they convey it into the rivers, and follow it
down the rivers with the floods. At present, the British possess a
line of sea coast of about 250 miles, extending from the River Belize,
under the ultimate boundary of the Mexican Republic, to the River
Sarstoon, on the commencement of the State of Guatimala. A few
gentlemen in this town (Belize), who have no connection with us,
have offered to contribute towards the erection of a chapel. I in-
tend to receive their subscriptions shortly, and then calculate what
expenses will attend the building of a chapel, and the purchase of a
lot of land.”

In conducting the prayer-meetings, he was assisted by Messrs.
Jeckel and Rees; while John Armstrong, Esq., shewed him very great
kindness, and gave him every possible aid in his work. Towards
the end of March, 1826, he expressed the encouragement he received
from a class of catechumens, which he had formed previously to taking
his journey into the country ; there were about thirty of them, two of
whom entered into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, and who
could adopt the language of the Apostle, “‘Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The object of the Missionary Committee in appointing Mr. Wil-
kinson to Honduras, was to visit and instruct those persons located
on the banks of Belize River. But the earnest entreaties of the in-
habitants of Belize, and the promising field of usefulness it presented,
led him to entreat the Committee to allow him to take the town,
rather than the river banks, as a promising station; after which he
might extend his attention to the country settlements. Having
yielded to the wishes of the people in the town, premises were pur-
chased, and subscriptions liberally given towards the erection of a
chapel and a dwelling-house. In the midst of his efforts and schemes
of usefulness, Mr. Wilkinson was seized with a violent fever, which
cut him off on the 20th of August, 1827, in the thirty-second year. of
his age, and fifth of his ministry. He was a missionary of no ordi-
‘nary promise, deeply pious, and of an amiable temper, and very
zealous for the salvation of souls.

Mr. Wilkinson’s place was supplied by Mr. Thomas Johnston, who
arrived in the early part of 1828; but, alas! scarcely had he com-
menced his work, when he was called to receive his reward. The
HONDURAS, B15

following account of his labours and death was furnished by J.
Armstrong, Esq., ina letter dated July 3d, 1838—-“ 1 have now the
painful duty to communicate to you (the Committee) the mournful
information of the death of our dear friend, Mr. Thomas Johnston,
who departed this life on the 14th of June last, at a quatter after
three in the afternoon. Mr. Johnston’s ministry was eminently suc-
cessful. He never preached without the chapel being crowded.
Characters that seldom or never before had entered a place of wor-
ship, were seen in our chapel, and behaving with the greatest rever-
ence ; even the officers of the garrison and the magistrates were some-
times present. How mysterious are the dispensations of Almighty
God! A zealous and faithful servant of God cut short in a career
of usefulness, whilst proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation, through
the merits of a crucified Saviour. The little flock are again left ;
but we will pray the Great Shepherd to protect us, and watch over
us, until another under-Shepherd comes to guide us the way of life.
He complained of indisposition a month before he was laid up; but
he would not lose a day. Even the Rev. Mr. N., the clergyman,
endeavoured to persuade him to rest a little, and recruit himself by
medicine, but to no purpose. He said he had a duty to perform—a
great field to work in; and he could not get time to rest himself.
On Sunday, June Ist, I heard him preach thrice. His last text was,
‘What think ye of Christ?’ Monday morning, according to an
arrangement previously made, he was called out of bed to go
and preach at Freetown, a place about thirty miles up the river. The
heat of the sun was very great that day. On Wednesday the 4th,
about seven o’clock in the morning, he came down, being quite un-
well, and had lain in the bottom of the dorey (é.e. the boat) on the way
down, which was during a part of the night. From this time, the
sickness commenced, from which he never recovered. We pray you
may send us another as soon as possible. Mr. Wilkinson and my-
self used to say, that when we could see the chapel filled with people,
we would be satisfied. Yet, if Mr. Johnston had lived, I was about
to raise another subscription, in order to enlarge it. Itis about sixty
feet by forty ; but would not hold the hearers. I can assure vou, I
am much weighed down. I hope, however, that the little church will
be kept together pure. There never was anything like Mr. John-
ston’s ministry in this country before. He seemed to cause a general
desire for religion to prevail through every description of persons in
our community.”

On the death of Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wedlock was appointed to take
his place. However, he did not arrive at Belize till March, 1829,
when he found that the little flock had been called to endure some
persecution, which, with other things, reduced their number to six-
teen.

Mr. W. devoted himself with energy to his work; the congrega-
tions soon revived ; and the Sabbath school was brought into a
316 HONDURAS,

state of order, and increased efficiency. The. miserable circum-
stances of the Indians on the Mosquito shore having been frequently
and earnestly urged upon the attention of the Missionary Committee,
in order that a missionary might be appointed to labour among them,
their case was taken into consideration, and Mr. Pilley appointed.
Along with Mrs. Pilley he left England on the 9th of October,
and reached Belize on the 6th of December, after a rather unpleasant
passage, which, however, was mitigated considerably by their having
J. Armstrong, Esq., for a fellow-passenger. After being detained
three months, until a vessel could be found to carry them to Mos-
quito shore, Mr. and Mrs. P. sailed to Cape Gracias a Dios, where, after
suffering many privations, encountering great difficulties, and suffer-
ing much in health, without being able to effect any improvement in
the spiritual or moral state of the objects of their mission, they sailed
to Jamaica, where they were so far restored to their wonted. health
and strength, that they returned to Mosquito shore with renewed de-
termination to prosecute their missionary work among the Indians.
However, fresh discouragements and trials awaited them, along with
much personal affliction. Their expectations were disappointed ; so
that, with shattered health, they were compelled to return to Eng-
land, without seeing any fruit of their labours and prayers in behalf
of this unhappy people.

The labours of Mr. Wedlock continued to be crowned with success
at Belize, which rendered a new chapel absolutely necessary. The
original premises were often crowded almost to suffocation, which en-
dangered the health of both the missionary and his hearers. Some
opposition was encountered; still the mission advanced. A new
chapel was erected, a Lithograph view of which is prefixed to this
sketch of the mission. On Christmas-day, 1830, it was opened for
public worship, on which occasion Mr. Wedlock preached in the morn-
ing, from Gen. xxviii. 17 ; and, in the evening, from Luke ii. 10-11.
Itis a neat, commodious, substantial, and West Indian looking place
of worship. From its being the first Wesleyan chapel erected in
this part of the world, it excited considerable interest among the in-
habitants. It is built principally of cedar and mahogany, and cost
about £900 Jamaica currency, £700 of which was raised in Hon-
duras. Many of the respectable inhabitants contributed handsomely,
and the members of the society, some of whom were poor slaves,
gave to the utmost of their ability. J. Armstrong, Esq., the kind,
consistent, and liberal supporter of the mission, gave great assistance
in this effort, as did Captain John Weller of London, for whose ad-
vice and contributions, Mr. W. felt himself much indebted, in carry-
ing out his plans. After labouring, with great zeal, usefulness, and
acceptance, for above three years, Mr. W. left Belize for the island of
Jamaica, in April, 1832, when he was succeeded by Mr. Edney from
Jamaica. The departure of Mr. W. was much regretted by the
people and inhabitants generally, who had profited by his ministry.
At this time the members amounted to fifty-three.
HONDURAS. 317

Mr, Edney began his mission under very favourable circumstances,
and continued to prosecute it with growing prosperity. In a letter
dated January, 1833, he wrote—‘ With unfeigned pleasure I inform
you of the continued prosperity with which we are favoured. The
Lord is still very gracious unto us. We realize his presence in our
assemblies. The ordinances are becoming more profitable, and many
are turning from their sins unto God. The members of society, in
general, are endeavouring to ‘walk even as he walked,’ and they
have ‘a good report of them that are without.’ In the first quarter,
twenty-two have been admitted on trial; and, during the last nine
months, the society has increased twofold. Our late congregations
have been so overflowing that the new commodious chapel is already
become. too strait, so that we have been necessitated to erect a gal-
lery sufficiently large to seat an hundred persons. It is now nearly
completed. The whole expense of its erection will be about £120
currency, which amount the kind friends at Belize will enable us to
meet, without making any application to the Committee for help ; and
it will afford you pleasure to know, that every pew in the gallery, as
well as in the body of the chapel, is engaged, and several of them by
the most respectable families in the settlement.”

Mr. E., anxious to extend his mission to the settlers along the
coast, was favoured with the loan of a boat, which enabled him to
visit Mullin’s River, which lies about twenty miles south of Belize,
where he found the people anxious to listen to the Gospel. On re-
presenting this design, the Committee granted Mr. E. a boat, to
enable him to carry it out. He also earnestly besought the Commit-
tee to send another missionary, in order that the country parts might
be visited, where the people were left entirely without religious
means. He observed—“ The settlement of Honduras presents a large
field, which is already white unto the harvest; but what is one
missionary in such a sphere of usefulness. I am willing to employ
all my powers in this vineyard, and to die in this work ; but after all I
can do, comparatively little is done. With only one missionary in
this important station, we shall never be able to visit the slave popu-
lation. The Belize congregations are composed mostly of white and
free persons. The slaves (with the exception of a few house servants)
are all employed at the mahogany works, at a considerable distance
from town ; so that they are in a morally wretched condition, with-
out any knowledge of God or of salvation. As they are not in town
above three weeks in the whole year, they are entirely destitute of
the means of grace. _I believe there is no slave-owner that would
prevent our visiting his works and preaching to his people, in any
part of Honduras. Surely did the friends of slaves at home know
the awful state in which they are living, and that to the present mo-
ment nothing has been done for them, they would, without delay,
put the means in your (the Committee’s) power of sending a second
missionary. The expense of a single man here, as he would reside
318 HONDURAS,

with the mission family, would not be very considerable. I am not
rich; but I will give £10 sterling, towards sending out an additional
missionary. Could you send us a second, one would always be at
liberty to attend to the various establishments and settlements out of
town ; and thus means of instruction would be afforded to several
thousands, who are now in the regions of death.”

While Mr. E. was thus pleading for a fellow-labourer, he was la-
bouring with self-denying zeal to enlighten the Charibs at Stern
Creek ; and although he was compelled to avail himself of the aid of
an interpreter, his success was such that, by the middle of 1834, the
natives voluntarily erected a chapel in which to meet, in order to hear
the Gospel, and a day-school, with about sixty adults and children,
was in operation. The opening of this, the first place of Christian
worship for the Charib nation, was thus noticed by Mr. Edney—
“* March 11th, 1848. His Excellency Colonel Cockbourne having
kindly lent the government schooner, in company with Commissary
Lindsay, and some other respectable friends, we sailed for Stern
Creek, for the purpose of opening the place which the Charibs had
built for Divine worship, where we arrived about four o’clock, p.m.,
when nearly all the inhabitants of the town appeared at the sea-side,
to welcome us on shore.” On the following day he observed—
“‘ With the Charibs this was a great day of general rejoicing, and
completely devoted to the opening of the house of God, which they
had so willingly put up, without any expense to the Committee. Male
and female, old and young, were all cleanly dressed, and well-be-
haved. Early in the morning, the British colours were hoisted, and
drums beaten through the whole town, to warn the people to prepare
for Divine service. At half ten o’clock, a.m., the shell was blown
as a signal for assembling. In a short time after, the place was so
crowded, that I had some difficulty in forcing my way to the pulpit.
There were many also at the windows, who could not press within
the doors. I preached from Haggai, ii. 19—‘ This day will I bless
you.’ After the service, we took down the names of the children
who are to be taught in the school. In the same manner was the
place crowded at the evening service. The subject was Luke xix.
9,10. Deep attention was paid ; joy was visible on the countenance
of every Charib; and, at the conclusion, some of them resorted to
the house in which our Belize friends stayed, and begged that they
might be taught to pray.”

Next day, school operations were commenced, and Mr. Edney re-
turning to Belize, Mrs. Edney was left behind, in order to carry on
the instruction of those who came as scholars. Mr. E. continued to
visit this station and the one at Mullin’s River, with much diligence,
and frequently at great personal risk, from the winds and currents.
He found on inquiry, that within halfa mile of the chapel, there were
about eight hundred souls needing instruction. The difficulty of sup-
plying the Charibs, without another missionary, led him to express
HONDURAS, 319

his fear that his attempts must cease, as his own health, and the cause
of God at Belize, were likely to suffer.

This opening appeared to be too visibly providential, and import-
ant to be neglected ; therefore the Committee resolved to send another
missionary, with the special view of supplying the Charibs at Stern
Creek with the ordinances of the Gospel. At this period, Mr. E., in
addition to Belize, hada station at Free Town, where the people gave
deep attention to the Word of God, and where a small class was
formed—one at Mullin’s River, besides the one at Charib Town.
The members throughout the circuit amounted to 114, fifteen only of
whom were slaves.

In 1835, Messrs. Greenwood and Jefferies were appointed to Hon-
duras. As the different stations could now be better supplied, there
was a gradual improvement of the mission, and an increase in the
number of members. Mr. Jefferies made honourable mention of the
kindness of Colonel Macdonald, who did everything in his power to
forward the interests of the mission. As the hire of a boat to go to
Charib Town cost about £4 currency each trip, the Colonel saved the
society a considerable sum, by placing the government schooner at
the service of the missionaries, whenever she was at liberty. A new
station was taken up at Boom, on Belize River. In July, 1838, Mr.
Jefferies gave the following account of the state of the mission :—
‘“* During the last dry season, (i. e. from February to June) our cha-
pel at Belize has been much better attended than during any previous
year since my appointment to this station. We speak of that parti-
cular season when, through domestic migration, our congregations
have ever been seriously afflicted. But, thank God, we see now a
change for the better. We require more room to accommodate those
who come to hear the Word of life, and hope soon to possess it by the
erection of a suitable chapel, provided the Committee allow the sum
formerly solicited for the accomplishment of this object. Our Boom
station on the Belize River presents a still more encouraging scene for
missionary labour. ‘These are a people who were a short time since
enveloped in the most lamentable state of darkness, and had not the
least sense of morality or religion; but now, God be thanked, they
are a people seriously inquiring the way to heaven; and what has
brought such things to pass in this heathen land, but the blessing of
God attending the labours of your missionaries? We have at this
place a rising society, chiefly females, and we cannot but lament that
they have no resident missionary to afford, both to parents and chil-
dren, that instruction so much inquired after, and so much needed.
The case of this spiritually destitute people, we have already laid be-
fore the Commiteee, by recommending the immediate appointment
of an additional missionary to watch over their souls.” By the close
of the year, a class of fourteen members was formed at this station;
and several appeared to be deeply convinced of their state as sinners
in the sight of God. The stations at Mullin’s River gave but little
320 HONDURAS.

encouragement at this time; and, among the Charibs, only one, con-
vert gave evidence of decided piety. He was the son of the native
commandant, named Santiago Benney. He was employed as inter-
preter; and, during the absence of the missionaries, he conducted
the schools. He seemed ardently desirous of the salvation of his
countrymen, and diligently cultivated his mind, and the graces which
adorn the christian character. Towards the end of 1838, My. Jefferies
stated that this school was in a prosperous state, having between forty
and fifty Charib children in daily attendance; while the native
teacher discharged his duty faithfully.

In 1848, Messrs. Webster and Collier reported that, amidst poverty
and sickness, God had been with them, and they were happy to be
able to report, that after deducting for deaths, removals, and back-
sliders, they had, throughout the circuit, a net increase of ninety
members, and ten remaining on trial.

At Charib Town their work had not made the progress which they
could desire. The Gospel, however,-was exerting an influence on
the habits and practice of the people. Their “ devil feasts” had been
discontinued. Their annual feasts used to be times of dissipation
and licentiousness ; but they were happy to say, that, during the two
preceding years, no feast of this kind had been held. The Sabbath
also is now regarded. The chapel was well-filled with attentive
hearers; and about fourteen of the Charibs were meeting in class.
The day-school was improving ; and, on the whole, there was ground
for encouragement. At Ruatan, there were nearly one hundred mem-
bers in the society, who were visited as often as possible; but no
minister of any denomination had as yet been stationed on the island—
the inhabitants amounted to about fourteen hundred. At Mullin’s
River, they had obtained permission to hold Divine service in a Ca-
tholic chapel. A large number of the people were willing to join in
Protestant worship. A suitable plot of land had been presented for
mission premises. The bush had since been cleared away, a
school-room was in course of erection, and a suitable teacher had
been engaged to keep the school, and hold services both in Eng-
lish and Spanish. At the Boom, the people continued to ‘“ walk
worthy of their high vocation.” Humility and benevolence to the
ministers were distinguishing features in their Christian character and
practice. The number of chapels at Belize, Charib Town, and
Ruatan stations, were four; missionaries, two; day-school teachers,
five ; Sabbath-school teachers, eight ; local preachers, two ; full and
accredited church members, four hundred ; on trial for membership,
ten; Sabbath schools, three ; Sabbath scholars, of both sexes, two
hundred and fifty ; attendants on public worship, one thousand two
hundred and sixty; which shews that there had been a pleasing de-
gree of advancement from the time when the mission was commenced
by Mr. Wilkinson in 1825.
ARERDEERN:
VRINTED BY W. bENNETT,

12, CASTLE STREET.
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