f, ■ ill |((|4II1 'ORAjT|:^^'»QPA ]mm FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ZMvifiiou Pcctioa ital} '^^^".tS^sBB^d^S^J^ k^]\^z.\p\i]%\Lm\L \m\Lm\i\n V SEP 2.9 1931 THE -^x. m sr .'I) POSSIBILITIES OF CHUISTIAN WOMANHOOD, 13 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. INTRODUCTION rpWENTY-THREE years ago, I first formed the ac- ^ quaiiitauce of the beloved and lamented Mrs. Phoebe Palmer. She was then in the vigor of health, and was but fully commencing that remarkable career, in which she became so distinguished. I was appointed to preside over the session of the New York East Conference, which met in Allen Street, in 1853. Dr. and Mrs. Palmer sent me a cordial in^'itation to make their home my home, and it gave me great pleasure to accept. The session was unusually protracted by some investiga- tions, which at that time w ere conducted in open conference, and it did not close until the early part of the second week. I thus enjoyed many opportunities for solid conver- sation, as well as for noting the spirit and manner of thought and Hfe of our departed friend. The acquaint- ance thus formed, was renewed subsequently, by visits from time to time, and continued until her ascension to a higher world. / I had read the first volume which had issued from her pen, and was pleased with its general character, especially with its simplicity and directness of style, and its single- INTRODUCTION. V ness of aim. I bad some apprehension however, lest siie might have imbibed something of that mysticism wliich aflfects Madame Guyon, and which to a greater or less ex- tent, has enfeebled the Christian activity of many a truly devoted disciple. Instead of this apprehension being real- ized, I was delighted to find her warmly interested in every form of practical Christianity. In her own city, she was anxious for church extension and enlargement, and was ready to perform her part in the distribution of tracts, and in earnest effort for the rescue and salvation of the unfortunate and the fallen. Beyond her own city, she was interested in the pros- perity of every part of the work. She sympathized witli our struggling literary uistitutions, and was anxious for the higher culture of our young ministers, as well as for their richer baptism of the Holy Ghost. While many came to her for si>iritual counsel, and while she was deeply interested in many who visited her Tuesday afternoon meetings, she found time to conduct a wide correspondence, and to commit to paper the thoughts which we find so profusely scattered over the pages of this volume. At the same time, she was i)leasant and genial to the guests that visited her hospitable home. I was also pleased with the quiet simi)licity and regularity that marked the family order, and the spirit of Christian cheer- fulness which was constantly manifested. In conducting the religious services in her meetings, she was, so far as I observed, always calm and collected. Sbe urged those who attended, to an immediate Jind uncondi- Vi INTRODUCTION, tional submission to God's will, and to an entire consecra- tion to His service. She loved to dwell on the fullness of Divine love, and on the deep and abiding joy whicli was the privilege of the true believer, yet her constant and apparently chief effort was to persuade her friends to trust, at ono3 and perfectly, the simple word of God. Every question found there its solution, and every i)lau or movement was referred to that standard, and not to feeling or impulse. This constant habit preserved her, on the one hand, from the wildness of fanaticism, and on the other, from the depths of mysticism. On a few occasions, subsequently, when I heard her at camp-meetings, I noticed the same constant and persistent ai)peal to Di- vine truth. It was to this abundant element and habit, I ascribeit in Prayer— FastiMg-Submissiveness-Dependence on God— Prayer a Physical Force— Special Providence— Keen Observer— Bishop Janes— Peacemaker- Disinterested Liberality— Rev. Dr. Perry-Humor— Ed- itorial Dinner— Letter to Queen Victoria— Observance of the Lord's Dav— Christian Faithfulness— Growth in Grace— Explicit Testimony —Endured as Seeing the Invisible— A Tireless Worker— Dominant Purpose in Life— The Master Passion. CHAPTER III. Domestic Life 139-168 Conjugal Uuity— Brido of Forty-and-Four Years— Dread of Bereave- ment—Eminent Usefulness largely due to Dr. Palmer — Love for her Children- Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Foster— Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kuapp— Love for Relati\ es— Mrs. Jjankford— Parents — Mrs. Kellogg — An Ideal Meth- odist Home— Dedication Hymn — Successive Consecrations — Early Riser— Worship ill the Night Seascm- Enjoyed S(K"ial lleligious Life- Literary Laltors- " Way of Holiness"—" Guide to Holiness" — A family' Mcal-DomcsticOrdcr— InfluJiuce on Sen'ants— Habitual Hospitality — Subjects of Conversation- Duty always First Birth- day Surprises. CHAPTER IV. ClIUKCH LAIJORS 169-204 In the Sunday School— Preparatory Teacher's Class — Conversion.s — Cen- tenary of MethodJHui— Visits after Resignation — Compositions for Christinas Celelirations- In the Sanctuary— Love for the Means of Grace— ClaRH-meetings—" Hiding of Methodism's Power" — Appointed Class-leader— Rules of Ministration— Successes— Interest in the Indi- vidual Meiiibeis— Fidelity— Plain, Pithy In struction.s— Personal Ap- peals—Alien St. Church—" Going to the Altar"-— Family of Eleven TABLE OF CONTENTS. j^ Converted— Transfer to Norfolk St. Church— R(^a8()ii.s thorcfor— Tiiti- inate kuowled^e of Class-nuMubers — Revival in Norfolk 8t.— Hov. James Caii^liey— Rev. J. Roclu', 1). D.— Re\ . W. K. Boole— Fiftieth Street Church—" Old Duaue Street." CHAPTER V. PHILANTiniOPrC ENTERPRISE 20r)-237 Distribution of Rcliirious Tracts— Warm Dinner— Methods— Ti-inmplia —Visitation of the Po(»r and Sick— Mrs. P, Clothes the Naked— Leo- pold Solomon— Adopted— Apostatized— Ministrations to I'risouers in the Tond)s — Reli,i;i«>us Meetiuics— Mrs. Morris— Mrs. Upham— .Associa- tion with Beneticeiit Societies— Recaptui-ed Slaves- New York Female Assistance Society— Corresi)ondiii,iX Secietary— Visitor— Home loi- tlie Friendless — Work and Wa^es—" Johnny Palmer N."—Estalilishment of Domestic Missictns — liadies' Honje Missionary Society— ITeddini; Church — Five Points— Meeting in Tiiplei- Hall— Father Ciivazzi— Mis- sion to the Jews— Rev. C. E. Harris— Foreign Missions— China— Dr. Maclay — Palestine. CHAPTER VI. Tuesday Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness 238-257 Origin — Converted into a Union Meeting — Mrs. Upham's Experience of Perfect Love — Prof. Upham and Mrs. Palmer— Grateful Letters- Members of the General Conference — Rev. Dr. Oliu— Management of Meeting — Rev. Dr. Bradley, of Siam — Mis. Coi>way — Significant Tend- encies— Similsir Meeting Establi.shed in Rock Island, 111.— Description of the Tuesday Meeting by Dr. Roche— Bible the Text-Book. CHAPTER VII. Evangelistic Expeditions 2.".s-;u7 The Bible, Mrs. Palmer's Infallible Guide— " Way of Holiness"- ISiO : Rye, Williamsburg, Caldwell's Landing, Baltimore. 1841 : Hempstead Harbor, N. Y.— Burlington, Mount Holly, N. J.— Incidents by the Way— Jersey City. 1842 : Bethlehem, Pa.— Moravianism— Ramapo Val- ley—Sing Sing, N. Y. 1843: Bridgeport, Fairtield, Conn. 1844: Sing Sing — Drowning of Rev, Elijah Andrews— Trenton, N. J.— Conductor Converted— Bordentown. 1845: Mrs. Garrettshn Wesley. 1863: Leeds— Bramwell—Sigston — Contimious Lahor— Walsall— Methodist Unity— Sympathy of Wesleyan Ministers— Birmingham— Marriage of the Prince of Wales— Chimney Sweeps and Noble Lords Pleaching the Gospel— " Five Weeks' Work for Jesus"— Manchester— Nottingham— Enniskillen, Ireland— Louth, England— " Head Grown Weary, Very Weary" —Mr Caughey— Man- chester — Revivalist Independents —Retrospect— Return. CHAPTER IX. Evangelistic Expeditions- Continued 403-478 1863: Immediate Recommencement of Labor— Allen St.. New York- Congress St., Troy— P«»ssibilitie8 of Voltaire and Tom Paine if Converted in Youth— N(utli Second St., Troy— Personal Holiness Necessary to Succesisful Revival Effort— Lawrence, Mass.— Conversion of a Gentlemanly Skeptic— Boston— Percy, Pictrtu ,C. W. 1865 : Canip- nieeting in Canada. 1866: Newark, N. J.— Saratoga Springs— Vanity Fair— Working Faith— Upper Newton Falls, Mass.— Difference Be- tween Universalisin and Unitarianism— Albion, Mich.— Choice of Harvest Ficjld—Greenbush— Niagara Suspension Bridge— Morris- burgh- Brooli8— Col. Kay —Fort Wa^ ue, Ind.— Montreal— Gak's Corners— Minnesota State C. M. — " We are Immortal till our Work la Done." 1870: Labors in Minnesot.-i — Illinois— Kansas— California—" A Jubilant Time"— Paci tic Universi- ty—•'Ebeiiezcr of Praise." 1871: Expedition to Canada— Toronto- Owen Sound— Ohio State Camp-meetinj;:— W. Virginia State C. M.— Chatauquii Lake. 1872: Mas-^ena Springs— Potsdam— " Passion for Soul-Saviu£r"— Woonsocket, 11. 1.— Bath, N. Y.— Death of Prof. Upbam — London, C. W'.— Ten days of "Kemarkable Conquest," 1873 ; Toit)i.to — Jackson, Mich—Divisions Healed— Port Clinton— Mysterious Providence— Tilsonburg, Out.— Albany— " Holiness to the Lord." 1874: Rochcsfei — Jacksonville— Waves of Salvation in Florida— Holiness Convention in New Haven-— Lake Side— Illinois State Camp-meeting —Ohio State C. M.— Close of Last Expedition. CHAPTER X. Literary PRODrcxiONS. 479—510 Peculiarities of Style— Early Literary Aspirations— Busy Pen— Way of Holiness—" Thkuk is a SHoRrKii Way' "—Contributor to the " lAuHes* IieposUor!f''—l^mnenni» Testimonials to Beneficence of Works— Editor of " Christian AOvocale "— " Phrebe, our Sister "—"Present To Mv Christian Friend "—Mrs. Bishop Janes— Poem, " That Thky Am. May Bk Onh"— ' Faith, and Its Effects"— Dislike to Controversy— T. S.— Correspondin.i^ Secretary— Ex-Governor of Indiana— Wondrous Power of an Open letter -Encoura.irement of Others — Sale of Work.s— *' Incidental Illustrations of the Economy of Salvation" — Desicn of Methodism— Dr. Bond— Reception of Works in Great Biitain — Mrs. Dr. Butler of Essex, Vermont— Translation of Books into French— Adam Clarke's Granddaughter— Soul-saving B.inds— "Life of Bishop Hamline"— "Pioneer Experiences"— "Promiseof the Father" — An Unanswerable Volume— Editorial Usefulness and Popularity — Beautiful Triliute to Rev. Alfred Cookman — Vast Correspondence — "Sweet Mary"— "Life of Mrs. Marj' Gardner" — "A Wreath for My Darlings"— "Four Years in the Old World"— End and Ai:u of all Endea- vor—Wi'ote ami Spoke for the Multitude. CHAPTER XI. Doctrinal Opinions .511-558 " God's WWd Written" the Infallible Guide— The Second Advent— Letter to Rev. William Miller— Own Vlew^s as to the " Coming One "— Caieful Adherence to the Letter of Holy Writ—" Ashamed of My Words "—The Holy Spiiit Speaking Through The Word— Dr. Spicer— Saved from Error— Faithful in Warning— x*rofessor and Mrs. Upham— '• Deceiv- ableness and Lying Wonders"— Belief in a Literal Heaven and Literal Hell— Realization of tlie Invisible— Confession of Faith—" What is Go.spel Holiness, or, Sanctitlcationi' —Holiness not Ecstatic ICmotions and Wondrous Visions— Justification and Entire .Sanctificatlon Dis tiuct but ;'«.ss«7>/y Simultaneous— " Consecration INIust Precede Faith '* —Origin of the " Altar Phraseology"— Theologian Instructed— Faith and Its Functions— " W^hat is the Evidence— Dr. Bangs — Effects of Doctrinal Teaching— Duty of Believing— Profession of Faith, lutt Feeling, to be Held Fast— The Sealing of the Spirit— Proximate Ends of Entire Sanctiflcation— Praise should be Co-extensive Nvith Divine Blessing— Important Letter to Dr. Hamllne on the Eve of bis Election to the General Superiutendency— Letter to Bi.slH»i> Jiines— " Laity for the Times"— "A Word to Methodist Preachers."— I^'tter from a liritish Wesleyan Miuister— Original Letter of John Wesley— Siluncjid Prcsby- 3^ TABLE OF CONTENTS, Page teilan Lady— Fallacy Exposed— Influence of Godly "Women on Reli- gious Cultiire— Necessity of Profession— Dr. Oliu — The Full Baptism of the Holy Spirit a Gift of Power f()r Useful Work — Mrs. Gov. Wright- - Prof, anil Mrs. Upham— Calvinistic Convention on Holiness— Rev. Dr. BrinsuKule- Letter to Bishop Huntington- Rev. Mr. C— Yearly Meet- ing of Orthodox Friends— The Soul, when Justified, not w oily Siincti- I fled— "An Absurdity; or. Believe That Ye Have it, And Ye Have it" —Hue and Cry after an Ignis Faluns— A. little Cross-tiring — Mystical Madam Guyon — Testimony of Dr. Nathan liangs to Theological Accu- racy—" Concurrence of Many of Our Best Minds"— Dr. Abel Stevens. CHAPTER XII. Ethics AND Esthetics 589-619 Ethics and Esthetics Inseparably United— Martha and Mary— Grace to be Hiisdhf Used — Self-abnegation — Family Ethics of Scriptural Type — Susaniiah Wesley — Unnecessary Household Drudgery — Christ- tauity not Communism — Social Gradation— Friends — Evils of Religious Romance— Mrs. H. B. Stowe — Female Class-leaders — American Depar- ture from Primitive Usage— Woman's Status and Wojk in the Church of Christ— Has she the Right to Preach ?— Method of Religious In- etruction- Inconsistency of the Sileutists— Historical Precedents- Teachings of St. Paul— Usage of Post-Apostolic Church— Practice of Reformed Churches— Queen Victoria— Geraldine Hooper— Susannah Wesley— Miss Bosanquet, etc.— Mrs. Dr. Taft— License of Sarah Mallet by John Wesley— Results of Female Preaching— Plioebe Palmer. CHAPTER XIII. UYENG TESTEtfOXT 620-626 Christiana's " Shining Token"— The Beulah Land—" Beautiful Hour"— Visit to Greenwood— Crowning Testimony— Death of Sister Caroline— " Put My Name In It"— Teaching Correct— Exultant Praise— " Blessed Bible"— Severe Sufferings— The Chariot Comes—" Glory !"— Dissolu- tion. CHAPTER XIV. iH MemorIAM , 627-636 "Crowned Princess"- Dr. J. B. Wakeley— Funeral Services— Bishop Janes— Beautiful Testimony of Rev. Robert Young— Rev. W. H. Boole —Rev. John Parker— Rev. Dr. Lowry— Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage— Rev. L. Young, of Canada— Mitcliell Neville, Esq.,— Rov. A. Atwood— Merited Encomium. MEMOIRS CHAPTER I F0R3IATIVB FORCES AND CONDITIONS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE — PARENTAGE. SAYS an honored biographer* of the subject of these memoirs : " When we look ui^on the stream of Christian piety as it gUdes along in its narrow channel, till, from the mere rivulet, it becomes the majestic river, deepening and mdening as it sweeps onward to the ocean of Divine fulness, we naturally indulge the inquiry, whence it arose, and how it attahied its present exi)ansion f '' Mrs. Palmer was favored with a i)ious ancestry. Her forefathers, from time immemorial, were natives of Eng- land, and as members of the Established Churcli, li\e