Book^S-i THE LIFE JACOB G RUBER By W. P ^TKI CKLAND. FIFTH THOUSAND. JfetD ijork: (h) PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 200 MULBEEEY-STEEET. 1860. M^./^ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by CARLTON & PORTER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Xew-York. fi; PREFACE "Jacob Geuber was a character, and copied after no raan," was a remark made hj one of his cotemporaries, an aged' minister of the Bal- timore Conference, and whoever reads the sketch of his life presented in the following pages will, we think, be fully convinced of the fact. He was himself always and everywhere, and he never lost his individuality as one of the most humorous, witty, and yet withal grave and earnest preachers of his day. We have aimed at giving a faithful portraiture of the man, pre- senting the salient points of his character as they were developed during a ministry of over half a century ; and as our materials were ample, apart from the recollections of numerous inci- dents connected with his life, furnished by per- sonal friends, the reader need not fear that we 4 PKEFACE. have taxed our imagination to fill up the pic- ture. His whole life was full of incident. Pos- sessed as he w^as of such a striking individuahty of character, it may be safely affirmed, that amons: all the varieties found in the ministerial ranks he stands alone. There are not many Cartwrights or Finleys; there was but one Gruber. A considerable portion of the work is autobi- ographic, and will prove the more interesting on that account. The writer desires to tender his grateful acknowledgements to the Baltimore Historical Society for kindly giving him access to the Gruber papers, and for the facilities fur- nished by its estimable secretary for copying the same. He also desires to mention the kind- ness of numerous ministers in the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other conferences, for the facts and incidents furnished by them, and which have proved of great value in the prepa- ration of the work. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Early Life — Parentage — Itinerant Preachers — Conversion — Simon Mil- ler — Singular Notions about lieligion — A learned Ministry — Valentine Cook — Wicked Wish of a German Woman — Grubei-'s Call to the Min- istry — Goes upon a Circuit — Predictions — Takes his Degrees among the Mountains —Hard Service and Poor Fare — Father Turck — Dumb Man's Speech — W. M'Lenahan — An old Preacher's aversion to Bi- ographies — Second Year's Field of Labor — Power in Prayer — A remarkable Case — A German Indian — Lorenzo and Peggy Dow — An Indian Exhorter — An amusing Incident — Carlisle Circuit — Early Methodist Literature — Winchester Circuit — Ministerial Dig- nity — Bishop Asbury on Solids and Fluids — Dyspeptic Preachers — Asbury's Cure for a Clerical Parvenu — Father Eichards Page 9 CHAPTER n. Bishop George — Story of "Bishop George and the Young Preacher" unfounded — Young Americas — Rockingham — James Ward — Eevival — Strange Exercises — Gruber made Presiding Elder — Camp-meetings — Letter to Dr. Coke from a Presbyterian Minister — Water and Fire — Lost in the Mountains — Death at a Camp- meeting — Wonderful Exercises — Presbyterians shouting — A Young Divine seeking a Call — A Family Quarrel settled — An eccentric Local Preacher — A Backwoods College — Master Workman — Books of the Bar — Getting happy before the Time — Description of Solomon's Temple — Coughing up the Negroes — A Slave-trader — Strangers tested by Prayer — A good Master — Wicked Elders oo CHAPTER in. Camp-meetings on the Greenbrier District — Commendable Emulation among the Preachers — A jolly Wedding — A Slaveholding Preacher — Monongahela District — Statistics of Camp-meetings — Bokl Sinners — A young Man with a Pistol — Conversion of a Major — Camp-meetings aqiong the Presbyterians — An Infidel Club — Assault and Battery — A "strait and stiff" Professor of Religion— A Shout in tlie Wrong Place — A happy Man — A Termagant — Qujuterly Meetings — A Man 6 CONTENTS. in Distress — A zealous Exliorter — Interesting Historical Item — Last Interview with Bishop Asbury — High Heads — Fashionable Dress — Letter to a General Conference Delegate — Opposition to Dogs — A Dandy Preacher — Eestoring Order at a Camp-meeting — Singular Ee- proof — Blowing out the Fire — Fine Style in Preaching — Preaching before the Professors and Students of Dickinson College — Opposition to Tobacco — Preachers reproved for Smoking Page 58 CHAPTER ly. Preaching in Cabins — Appointed to Baltimore — Light-street and Sharp- street Churches — Quaker Opposition — Conversation with a Qiiaker — The Battle at North Point — Preaching to the Soldiers — Bombard- ment — Burial with the Honors of "War — Sermon on the Fourth of July — A Strange Procession — Dreams and Visions — Old Joe's Vis- ion of Jacob's Laddei" 93 CHAPTER V. Opposition to a City Station — Appointed to Carlisle Circuit — Appointed to the District — Great Times in the Mountains — Model Professors — Albright and his People — An honest Dutchman judged — United Brethren Church — Opposition Line — Bishop Asbury's Wish — Gru- ber's Sermon at the Washington Camp-meeting — National Sins — Address to Masters and Slaves — Displeasure of Slaveholders — Letter from Eev. S. G. Eoszel — Warrant issued for his Arrest — Arrested at Quarterly Meeting — Gave Security for his Appearance at Court — Indicted by the Grand Juiy for inciting Slaves to Mutiny and Ee- bellion 123 CHAPTER VL Bill of Indictment — Opening of the Case — Examination of Witnesses in behalf of the State — Opening Address on behalf of the Defendant by Eoger B. Tauey of Washington City — Examination of Witnesses for the Defense — Testimony of Eev. N. Snethen — Eev, J. Mason — Eev. J. Forrest — H. G. O'Neal — Mr. Long — Eev. L. Everhart — Eev. S. L. Davis — Jacob Bowlus — John Bowlus — Messrs. Brazier, Hunt, Bealer, Blake, Middlekauff, White, and Eeynolds — Eev. F. Stier— Eev. Stephen G. Eoszel — Eev. Abner Neal — Closing Argument for the Prosecution — Mr. Martin's Argument for the Defense — Argu- ment of ]\'ii\ Pigman, Counselor for the Defense — Mr. Taney concludes the Defense — Verdict of the Jury 142 CHAPTER Vn. Eev. David Martin — Testimony of the Bible — TraflSc in Slaves — Gru- ber's Sermon at Camp-meeting — Different kinds of Heai'ers — Eepubli- can Slaveholders — History of Arrest and Trial — Eeflections — Eeview CONTENTS. T of the Trial — Lawyers — Inefficiency and Uncertainty of Law — Love of Money — Conference — Bishop lioberts — Exercise of Episcopal Functions — Bishop's Cabinet — The Way Appointments are ijow made — Eight of Choice — Frederic Circuit — Eest Week — Incident ^ illustrating the Power of Bigotry Page 249 CHAPTER VIIL Conference at Georgetown — " Haltering the Condition" — Marriage — Housekeeping — Dauphin Circuit — Preacher's Allowance — Traveling Expenses — Bishop Asbury's Opinion of City Stations — Frolicking Christians — Harvest Sermon— Conference in Philadelphia — Biahop Soule — Questions — Appointments — Something strange 268 CHAPTER IX. Bristol Circuit — Germans and Quakers — Earl^^ Field of Labor- Strange Texts — A Wonderful Preacher — Pointless Sermon — Lancaster Cir- cuit — Pride, Whisky, and Tobacco — Camp-meeting — Sutlers — A Sheep and a Goat — Burlington Circuit — A good Beggar — A Singular Druggist — Chester Circuit — J. B. Finley and his Indian Chiefs — Presbyterians and Anxious Seats — A Baptist Experience — Philadel- phia — St. George's Church — Colleagues — Great Eeform in Baltimore — Mutual Eights — A fine House — Withdrawal of a Eeformer from the Church — Singular Certificate — Salem Circuit — Benjamin Abbott — Eum Drinking — Tobacco Chewing — Prosperity — Sermon at St. George's in 1830 279 CHAPTER X. Waynesburgh Circuit — Dr. Sargent — Bishop M'Kendree — Eemoval to Baltimore — Opposition to Transfer — Port Deposit Circuit — William Hunter — Baltimore, Sharp-street and Asbury — Death of Mrs. Gru- ber — Colored People — Ebenezer, Washington City — A Hollander and a Priest — Questions — Title to Heaven — Extravagance in Wash- ington — Chaplain to Congress — Singular Sermon at a Camp-meet- ing — Carlisle Circuit — Opposition Lines — Feet Washing — Chris- tians — Miracle Workers — Camp-meeting on Huntingdon Circuit ^ — Amusing Discourse — The Crow's Nest stirred up — Card Playing — "A Particular and Confidential Friend" — Sharp-street and Asbury, Baltimore — "Old Wesley" — Colored Preacliers — Spurious Eeviv- als — Profession and Practice — Visit to Eachel Martin 303 CHAPTER XI. Lewistown — Eemoval — Eachel Martin's House — Gruber outdone — An Irish Family — Wesley's Bed — An Episcopal Parson — Undeserved Compliment— A liberal Circuit — A new Thing under the Moon — 8 CONTENTS. Mifflin Circuit — "A better Day coming" — Animal Excitement — Church Building — Preachers' Salaries — A Bargain proposed — Mean- ing of the Word " all" — Trough Creek Circuit — Bad State of Things — Keformers — Camp-meetings — A Slip — Tobacco Chewing and Feet Washing — The " holy Kiss " — Church sold Page 327 CHAPTER XII. Warrior's Mark Circuit — Witches — An Ugly Old Woman — Consist- ency— A Witch tried — Shirleysburgh Circuit — A Friendly Family — Education of Daughters in Catholic Seminary — Anxiety of the Mother — Eeflections — Personal Interview — Admission — Purgatory — Location— Heaven — Priestcraft — Short Way with the Catholics — Conversation with a Priest— "Old Mother Church" — The True Church— St. Peter a sorry Foundation — Invincible Ignorance — A Mass Meeting — High Mass — Low Mass — The Original Languages — Horse and Mass in Latin • 339 CHAPTER XIII. Hints to young Preachers — Treatment of— A Union Meeting-house — Prayer for a young Preacher — Clerical Vanity — Bombast — Eolation of an Incident — Preaching at Conference — A smart young Preacher — Improving the Style — " Going to Heaven by way of the Moon to see the Angels " — A Wonderful Man 350 CHAPTER Xiy. Personal Kecollections — Peculiar Characteristics — Uncompromising — Education— Gruber's Style as a Preacher — The Door of Heaven shut and the Key lost — Dietetic Scruples — Theological Attainments — Deep Piety — Cider and Beer — Augmentum ad Mulierem — Fall- ing from Grace — Fire in the Head — Preaching to the Fishes — The Borrowed Shirt — Indian Squaws — Misquotations — Odd Reproof. 359 CHAPTER XV. Tribute to the Memory of Gruber— Last Pound- Last 'Sermon — Dr. Bond — Right to a Jubilee — Letter to the Conference — Unintermitted Labor of Fifty Years — Work done — Great Sufferings — Attachment to the Sanctuary — Last Sabbath in the Church — Discourse — Relig- ious Enjoyment — Adjustment of Temporal Affairs — Bequests to Chartered Fund, Missionary Society, etc. — Rev. S. V. Blake — Clos- ing Scene — Last Sabbath on Earth, first Sabbath in Heaven — Por- traiture of his Character — In Memoriam 37C LIFE OP JACOB GRUBER. CHAPTER I. Early Life — Parentage — Itinerant Preachers — Conversion — Simon Mil- ler — Singular Notions about Religion — A learned Ministry— Valentine Cook — Wicked Wish of a German Woman — Gruber's Call to the Min- istry — Goes upon a Circuit — Predictions — Takes his Degrees among the Mountains —Hard Service and PoorFare — Father Turck— Dumb Man's Speech— W. M'Lenahan — An old Preacher's aversion to Bi- ographies—Second Year's Field of Labor — Power in Prayer — A remarkable Case — A German Indian — Lorenzo and Peggy Dow — An Indian Exhorter — An amusing Incident — Carlisle Circuit- Early Methodist Literature— Winchester Circuit — Ministerial Dig- nity—Bishop Asbury on Solids and Fluids — Dyspeptic Preachers — Bishop Asbury's Cure for a Clerical Parvenu — Father Eichards. At the beginning of the present century there ap- peared at the seat of the Philadelphia Conference a young man from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, wlio was 'impressed with the conviction that it was liis duty to preach. The homestead whicli he liad loft was the place of his birth, which occurred February 3, 17T8. His parents, whose Christian names were 10 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. John and Platina, were of German descent, and had been brought up in the faith of the great leader of the Reformation. The German Reformed Chm-ch was among the earliest organized in Pennsylvania, and for many years, in the particular section about which we are writing, that denomination had the exclusive control of the religio/us interests of the neighborhood. The time, however, came when this quiet was broken. Two itinerant Methodist preach- ers, who, it seems, without any special ecclesiastical authority, and without any regard whatever for tlie old established order of things, had divided up the country into circuits, and claiming to be successors of the apostles themselves, thought it no robbery to imitate them in traversing the country, and preaching the Gospel whenever they found an open door. The strangeness of their manner, and the wonderful earn- estness that characterized their preaching, attracted the attention of the people, particularly the younger portion, and the cabins and barns where they held forth were crowded. Young Gruber listened to these circuit preachers with amazement ; and though they were denounced by the staid and sober Reformers as wild and fanat- ical, he nevertheless felt stran^^ely drawn to their LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 11 meetings. There was such a fervor in their prayers^ and sucli a zeal and earnestness in tlieir preaching, full of home, practical truths, and such a power in their songs, tliat he was entirely fascinated, and soon became convinced of the need of conversion. To obtain a thing so desirable, he made a solemn vow that he would pray seven times a day. His prayers for a change of heart were soon answered, and witli gladness he went with his parents to the place of meeting, and with them joined the Methodist Church. The names of the preachers who traveled the circuit at this time were Simon Miller and Isaac Kobinson. The former was of German descent. He was a man of genuine piety and deep experience, possessing talents as a preacher much above medi- ocrity. He could preach fluently both in English and German, and this latter qualification gave him an easy access to the German famihes. Constrained by the love of Christ to preach the Gospel, he left a home of affluence, and bidding adieu to ease and comfort, cheerfully endured the toils and hardships of an itinerant life. About this tim.e he was passing through a season of great mental depression. He labored under great discouragements and encoun- 12 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. tered violent opposition. Though large crowds at- tended his ministry, he was not satisfied unless he could witness the fruits of his labors in seeing souls converted ; and the prospect of success being gloomy, he was much dispirited. When young Gruber, how- ever, was converted through his instrumentality he was greatly comforted, and said if he could be successful in getting one such soul converted it would be a good year's work, and amply compensate him for all his labor. The conversion of this prom- ising young man was not, however, the only fruit of his toil, as several others were converted and added to the Church, The revival aroused the prejudices of the old Church, and much opposition was mani- fested among the Germans. They knew nothing about immediate conversion, and their religion con- sisted mostly in a certain course of indoctrination and the observance of the rites of the Church. Tlieir ministers had taught them, that when they were bap- tized and had been confirmed, after having passed a regular course of catechetical instruction, and crowned the whole by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, they were converted, and none could call in question the genuineness of their religion. Being thus initiated into the Church, they w^ere considered LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 13 r.s lijiviiig virtually sworn to adhere to it tlirougli life. An elder of the German Eeformed Church once said to the mother of young Gruber, thai the children must be in religion the same precisely as their parents, even if the parents were heathen. That the reader may have a still more correct description of the religious condition of this particu- lar neighborhood, we give an account prepared by Gruber himself. He says : " The Methodist preach- ers came into the neighborhood, and held several meetings. As the result of their labors a revival commenced, and quite a number of persons were converted and professed a knowledge of sins for- given." Some of the members of the German min- ister's Church went to the old gentleman, expressing a desire to know something about this new doctrine. In reply to their inquiries about the knowledge of forgiveness, he said: "I have been a preacher more than twenty years and I do not know my sins for- given, and indeed it is impossible that any one should know it." It was not considered very won- derful by some that this preacher should be in dark- ness on that subject, as he frequently became intoxi- cated; and on a certain occasion, when the elders were unable to procure wine for the sacrament, he re- 14 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. marked that whisky would answer jnst as well. One of the elders replied, "That would be ofiering strange fire„ on God's altar." An aged Vv'oman, a member of the German Church, at one of the revival meetings where some were praising God for having pardoned their sins, stood thoughtfully shaking her head and said, "It could not be, for if they had to answer a hundred and sixty questions, as she had before she got religion, they would learn that it could not be obtained in sucli quick time." Among the early itinerants who visited Pennsyl- vania about this time was the eccentric Valentine Cook. He was fresh from the halls of Cokesbury College, and perhaps the first native college-bred preacher that had appeared in the American Meth- odist Church". College-bred preachers in that day were held in the highest esteem, and a learned min- ister was looked up to with great veneration. When Cook made his appearance, and it was rum.ored that he was a graduate of a college, he attracted general attention. The German Reformed, like several other Churches we could name, entertained the idea that no man could possibly be qualified to preach who had not received a classical education, and hence vastly more respect was paid to Cook than to any of LIFE OF JACOB CtKUBEK. 15 liis colleagues in the niinistiy. His learning, however, did not always avail to insure him respect, as the fol- lowing incident will show: After traveling a whole day without refreshment in a region' wdiere he was not known, he called a halt in the evening at tlie liouse of a German and asked if he could obtain feed for his horse and something for himself to eat. Being a tall, gangling, rough-looking specimen of humanity, the good woman, who was engaged in spinning, mis- took him not for a German but an Irishman. She was not at all favorably inlpressed with his appear- ance, but at her husband's request she procured a lunch for him and returned to her wheel, saying to her husband somewhat petulantly in German, she hoped the Irishman would choke in eating. After Cook had finished his repast he asked the privilege to pray, which being granted he knelt down and of- fered up a fervent petition in German. In his prayer he besought the Lord to bless the kind woman at the wheel and give her a new heart, that she might be better disposed toward strangers. Such a personal reflection was more than the good w^oman could stand, and she left her wheel and ran from the house over- whelmed wnth chagrin at her wicked wish. We mention these incidents for the purpose of 16 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. giving the reader some idea of the times in which young Gruber commenced his religious career. Being a sprightly lad, he was soon called out to exercise his gifts in public prayer and exhortation. As usual in such cases in an early day, a storm of persecution arose not only from those who were outside of the Church and the family, but such as served to illustrate the declaration that "a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Strange as it was, the father, mother, brothers, and sisters, as if by one consent, rose up against the young exhorter, and he was obliged to leave home and seek more congenial quarters elsewhere. Some of the more zealous Methodists interpreted this differently from what young Jacob had imagined, and persuaded him that it was a clear indication of Providence that it was his duty to abandon everything for the exclusive work of the ministry. This interpretation of provi- dence was soon after verified. As he was on his way afoot and alone to the town of Lancaster he met one of the itinerants, who in a short conversation con- vinced him of the duty of entering upon the minis- try, and sent him to an adjoining circuit to fill a va- cancy. He accordingly procured a horse and went to the appointment. There was some diversity of 1 LIFE OF JACOH G RUBER. 17 opinion about the propriety of this course, even among the preachers. He had a white horse, and one of them jocosely remarked : " Well, you have got on the pale horse; death and hell will follow you; only take care that you don't let them get before you." Another remarked that " he would kill him- self in six months;" and still another affirmed that, such was his zeal and physical exertion, " one montli would put him to rest." Isone of these things, liowever, seemed to move this young son of Yulcan, (for he was a blacksmith by trade,) and, as before stated, he found himself at the place of holding the conference, in the year 1800. He was not, however, without strange imaginings ; and as the conference embraced sickly regions in its territory, he knew not but he might be sent by the intrepid Asbury to some one of these localities, if for no other purpose than to try his faith and mettle. Many a young man has finished his course in one year's service ; but not so with Gruber. He had a powerful constitution, an iron frame capable of en- during an amount of hardship, labor, and fatigue which made him the wonder of all his ministerial companions. He had some intimations that he would be sent down to Delaware; but when the 18 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. appointments were announced by the bishop his name was connected with Tioga circuit. "Instead, there- fore, of going down," as he remarked, "I had to go up — up rivers and mountains, and take my degrees among lakes, rivers, and Indians." Habited in a gray suit of Quakerish cut, and a drab broad-brimmed hat, he mounted his " white horse" and started for his circuit. Though young and inexperienced, being a little over twenty years of age, he buckled on the harness like a good soldier of the cross, and entered the field of itinerant war- fare right manfully. Without a colleague to whom he might look for advice, and from whom he might receive encouragement in the arduous and difficult work of the ministry, he showed himself worthy of the post assigned him, and heroically encountered the difiiculties and met the responsibilities of a large four weeks' circuit. The outlines of his field of labor are thus given by himself: "The lower part of the circuit was Wysock, then Towanda and Sugar Creek, thence up tlie Chemung some distance^ thence up the North Branch above the Great Bend." After travel- ing for six months, for which he received as salary five dollars and sixty-seven cents, his presiding elder relieved him by appointing another preacher in liis LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 19 stead, and sending him, in company with Father Anthony Tm'ck, to Herkimer circuit, to which had been added the Mohawk circuit, embracing all the country from "Jericho to the head waters of the Mohawk Kiver." Father Turck was a native of New York, a de- scendant of one of the Dutch families that emigrated from Holland. He was received into the traveling connection in 1793, at the conference which was held in Philadelphia. He was a man of great zeal and energy, and was remarkably successful in his labors. He died March 13, 1803, in Freehold circuit, Mon- mouth county, 'New Jersey. Gruber gives the following account of his col- league: "Father Turck was a strict disciplinarian. The first time he met a class on the circuit it was his custom at the close to propose the following ques- tions, and insist upon definite answers: 'Are you all in peace with each other?' 'Have you entire con- fidence in each other!' If the answers were satis- factory he made the following note in the class-book : 'Examined this class to-day; found all in peace and harmony ; told them to be watchful and faithful for the time to come, and not bring complaints against each other concerning any matters that occurred 20 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. previously.' He thus kept his books posted every iuld like to see the doctor's wounds, LIFE OF JACOB GRUJ3ER. 67 bruises, broken bones, and batters, causing life to be despaired of. He would be perfectly willing in that case to employ a surgeon to mend up his little body if it was broken anywhere. This was too much both for the doctor and squire, and he was bound over to court. On the day of trial Gruber appeared with a skill- ful lawyer, and after the evidence and pleadings, the jury were not long in bringing in a verdict of not guilty. One of them remarked that the charge was brought against the wrong man, as the doctor should have been fined for disturbing the camp- meeting. Whenever Gruber had opportunity he introduced the subject of religion. He was rough in his man- ners, sometimes exceedingly so, but beneath a rough and somewhat forbidding exterior there was a genial sympathetic heart. Riding to one of his appoint- ments on a certain occasion he fell in company with a gentleman whom he described as " strait and stiff looking." Finding that he was a professor of relig- ion, he inquired into his religious state. ISTot being able to satisfy him in regard to his personal expe- rience, he asked him " if apple trees bore, or had fruit in the winter." 68 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. The stranger replied, "No, certainly not; they bear no kind of fruit in the winter." " Then," said Gruber, " if a man's faith is dead without good works, what kind of faith has he while liis works are bad." " No man can live without sin," he replied ; " as soon as a man is made holy he must die ; he cannot stay in this world any longer." " But how can he serve God in holiness, and have his fruit unto holiness and still live in sin ?" The stranger made no reply, and they parted, both doubtless satisfied that their views on the sub- ject of religious experience were correct. In those days it frequently happened that the min- isters of different denominations were obliged to preach in school-houses and court-houses, from the fact that there were no churches. A Presbyterian minister one Sabbath afternoon preached, by way of reading a sermon, in the village court-house. The discourse was well written, and evinced considerable theological ability ; but it was read in such a monot- onous manner that it lulled many to sleep. All was perfectly quiet, and nothing disturbed the stillness of the hour. No sound was heard but the voice of the preacher; which fell in soft cadences upon the ear LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 69 like the murmur of a distant waterfall. Suddenly a Methodist woman in the court-room broke out into a shout of " Glory ! glory ! praise the Lord for what he has done for my soul !" Those who had fallen asleep under the soothing tones of the minister were awakened, others were frightened, and the preacher himself was entirely overcome. It was some time before he could rally so as to proceed with his dis- course. When the meeting was over the woman was asked why she so disturbed the meeting. She replied: "I was converted at a camp-meeting at East Liberty last year, and while I listened to the dry sermon I thought of old times. It was just the kind I used to hear before I was converted ; I then thought of the wonderful change, and the happy meetings we have now, and forgetting where I was I had to shout." The following from his journal in relation to a happy man and a wicked woman possesses interest: " In Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, a man lived by himself whose name began with M. He was one of the happiest men I saw at a quarterly meeting. Going along the road a man asked me : * Do you see that house across the field V I said ' Yes.' ' There,' TO LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. said he, 'lives M., that you saw so happy at the meeting ; he is a mechanic, lives alone, and has family prayer evening and morning. When some asked why he did so, as he had no family, he said he belonged to the household of faith, the family of God. He identified himself with all the praying families, and while hundreds and thousands were worshiping, he would worship too ; their prayers all met at the throne of grace, and great blessings came down from heaven and made a heavenly place. He would not be deprived of the privilege and blessing of family prayer. He was often heard by the neighbors praying and praising God, and shouting, 'Glory to God ! glory to God!' So did Michael." " I will relate a case somewhat different from this : A man with a family had a wife who would not let him have family prayer, but made a noise and disturbance. He told her she must be quiet, and not interrupt him; he must pray with his family. She got w^orse still. He told her if she did not keep quiet in time of prayer he would have to correct her. She dared him to do that, telling him he would be put out of society. He went and told the leader to cross his name off the class paper, for he must do LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 71 what a member should not do, whip his wife. The leader took the hint, and crossed out the name. The man went home, got ready a rod, told his wife to keep quiet, etc. ; but she rattled the chairs, and made more noise than before. His prayer (I suppose) was not as long as a Pharisee's, but as soon as he was done praying he gave his wife a complete w^hip- ping. After a restless night, she went earl}' to the leader to complain about the bad man in his class, saying, 'My husband whipped me; is that the kind of men 3' on have in your class?' He said, 'Your husband don't belong to it ; he got his name out some time ago.' 'What, is he out? For the Lord's sake take him in again, or he will kill me.' That woman got converted after that, and her husband became a useful itinerant preacher. Here was per- severance in family prayer and success." The quarterly meetings were largely attended in those days. They began on Saturday, and continued until the following Monday evening, sometimes longer. A revival was confidently looked for on such occasions, and it would be considered a very dry and profitless time if some were not converted. At eleven o'clock on Saturday a sermon would be preached by the presiding elder, after which the '72 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. quarterly conference was held. In the evening the circuit preacher would hold forth, and at the conclu- sion of his discourse an exhortation would be de- livered and persons invited to come to the mourn- ers' bench. On Sabbath morning at eight o'clock a love-feast would be held, at which the members of the Church would relate their Christian experience. In times of revival these meetings were exceedingly interesting and profitable. The speaking exercises would be kept up till the time of preaching, when the doors would be opened and outsiders admitted. At this appointment the house generally was literally packed, and the doors, windows, and yard filled with people, many of whom had come a great distance to hear the presiding elder, who then attracted more atten- tion than one of our bishops would at the present day. At one of these meetings, after laboring hard in the pulpit and the prayer-meeting until Monday night, the preachei*s and the members were disappointed and dispirited at witnessing no revival. Not one soul was converted, nor did a single sinner give any signs of penitence. The meeting at length closed, and the congregation separated to the different houses in the neighborhood. There w^ere many at this meeting from a distance, and they were provided for by the LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 73 members living in the neighborhood of the church or the school-house, as the case might be. It frequently happened that the number of strangers was so great, that the men were obliged to sleep in rows upon the floor. At this meeting was a man whose wife and relatives were membei^ of the Church. They had come from a considerable distance to attend it. He was a man of the world, and many prayers had been offered in his behalf that he might be converted at this meeting. His sleeping place was by the side of a zealous exhorter. Some time in the night the exhorter heard him groan, and thinking him under conviction, in an imploring manner asked him what was the matter. " O my dear sir," said he, "I am the most disappointed and unhappy man in the world !" This was glad news to the exhorter, and he urged him not to be discouraged, but to pei-severe in seeking, and he had no doubt but that God would have mercy upon him, and save him from his sins. " But I am sure I can't succeed," said the groaning man, " for I have tried my best ; I got the very best bait I could find, but I can't catch a single rabbit. When I go to my traps in the morning I find them all sprung and the bait all gone. I am the most unlucky and miserable man in the world." 74 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. This was too much for the exhorter, and he turned over, groaning out a prayer that the Lord would pity the poor thoughtless sinner. In Gruber's journal we find many interesting items pertaining to Methodist history. The following reso- lutions, passed at the General Conference of 1812, we do not recollect to have seen in print ; as they possess historic interest, we insert them : "I. Resolved^ Tliat each presiding elder, with the preachers of his district, collect materials for the his- tory of Methodism. They were to have in view the following items : 1. A short sketch of the geography of the district, including boundaries, rivers, mount- ains, soil, climate, customs of the people, etc. 2. The particular moral condition of the people at the intro- duction of Methodism. 3. By whom and at what time the first settlements were formed. 4. The difiiculties the first preachers were exposed to on account of the Indians in frontier settlements, the dangers they encountered, and their success while preaching in forts and out-posts. 5. When and by whom were the first circuits formed, also the first classes, and the revivals in difi'erent places and at diflPerent times. 6. The means by which Methodist preachers were introduced to difi'erent places. 7. How the work LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 75 progressed until it became a district ; the names and numbers of circuits, meeting-houses, private places of preaching, number of classes and members, number of traveling preachers and local preachers, general number attending camp-meetings, number converted, biographical sketches of those who had lived well and died happy among the traveling and local preachers and private members, males and females. " 11. Resolved^ That the presiding elders and preach- ers shall be instructed to procure certificates relative to facts in their collection of materials, which cer- tificates shall have the most respectable signatures that can be obtained and submitted as hereafter directed ; the days of continuance, the order and origin of camp-meetings. " III. Resolved^ That each of the annual conferences appoint a committee of review, consisting of three members, to receive materials submitted by the pre- siding elders and preachers, and report to the re- spective conferences ; and if approved of by the conferences, the committee shall send the materials with their report to the book agent. '' lY. Resolved^ That the Is^ew York Annual Confer- ence be, and is hereby authorized to engage with a historian to digest and arrange the order of the hia- 76 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. tory of the Methodist Church in America, and to give the materials collected as above, with any others that may be collected from journals, letters, manuscripts, or from any other source, historical form and style. " Y. Besolved, That our editor, book agent, and book committee be appointed a committee to read and approve the history before it is published." While Gruber was taking? his last round on the district he met Bishop Asbury on the Alleghany Mountains. The bishop was on a visit to the West- ern Conferences, which proved to be his last. He was much attached to Gruber, and in one of his let- ters to him said he prayed for him twice every day. When they met, Gruber hitched his horse by the roadside and took a seat beside the bishop in his carriage, and had a most pleasant interview. The toil-worn veteran, feeling that his work was nearly done, exhorted the strong and stalwart itinerant to increased exertion and fidelity in the cause of Christ. Among other things he said : " O if I was young I would cry aloud, I would lift up my voice like a trumpet ! O what pride, conformity to the world in following its fashions ! Many of our people are going to ruin ! Warn them, warn them from me, while you have strength and time, and be faithful to LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. T7 your duty." It was an affecting interview, and at its conclusion the itinerant mounted his horse, and they parted for the hxst time. The whole life of Gruber showed how faithfully he carried out the bishop's injunctions in regard to the fashions of the world. Indeed, all the preachers of that day were remarka- bly plain in their dress and manners. The preachers in their conferences solemnl}^ voted against double- breasted coats and vests, and faithfully carried out the rule of the Church to give no tickets of admis- sion to love-feasts to any members of the Church who wore ''high heads, enormous bonnets, ruffles, and rings." The rule was explained by some of the preachers in the olden time thus: "High heads mean three story hats, one story for the head, another for the pocket handkerchief, and the third for a few dozen cigars." Enormous bonnets were something of the style worn by the wife of an eccentric English clergyman, who, it is said, as his wife was coming into church, cried out at the top of his voice : " Make way for Mrs. , as she is coming with a chest of drawers on her head." Gruber was accustomed to say, when speaking on this subject : " High heads have passed away and flat heads are in their place. Enormous bonnets have had their day, T8 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEE. and now little things, not large enough to shade the nose, are all the rage. Ruffles and rings, artificials and bows are round, wrong, and needless." While preaching in a certain place on one occa- sion an unusually tall lady entered. On seeing her he stopped preaching and said : " Make room for that lady ; one might have thought she was tall enough to be seen without the plumage of that pird in her ponnet." Some days afterward the lady met Gruber and complained that he had treated her rudely. '' O sister," he replied, '' was that you ? Well, I did not not know it was you ; I thought you had more sense." He was particularly severe on some of the modern preachers because they did not preach against the fashions of the world. Some in preaching, he said, " draw the bow and take aim at some in the congre- gation, but the arrow does not hit the mark ; it is stopped in the trimming, rigging, muff, drums, bustles, and other fashionable gear of their wives or daughters." About that time a certain article of dress known among the ladies as the "petticoat and habit," came into general use ; and as fashion will sooner or later have its way, it obtained among the young LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. 79 ladies of the Methodist Church. Gruber was at- tending a camp-meeting in the neighborhood of Franklin, Pennsylvania. At this meeting there were several young ladies dressed after this fashion. Their appearance so thoroughly displeased him that, true to his instincts, he determined, if possible, to administer a public reproof. During a prayer-meet- ing some of these fashionables were grouped together, singing a hymn which was very popular in those days. This hymn, the chorus of whicli was, " I want to get to heaven, My long sought rest," they sung with great animation, and their animation increased as they saw the presiding elder advance and join them. It was discovered after a while that he changed the last line of the chorus, and instead of singing, " I want to get to heaven, My long sought rest," he sang. " I want to get to heaven With my long short dress.'''' One after anotlier, as they detected the change in the chorus, ceased singing until all had stopped, and Gruber was left alone. At this he sung more 80 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. lustily than ever, so that all around could hear. The "long short dresses" soon began to disappear, and the conscience of Gruber was not again dis- turbed on that score during the remainder of the meeting. Gruber thus describes an interview he had with a fashionable family : '' In one of the circuits I found a local preacher who had been an itinerant, but got married, settled himself quite easy and independent, got rich, and had a fine family; but none of his children had religion. On a Sunday afternoon, while sitting with him and his wife, a very fine young man and a fine young lady came in. The preacher introduced them to me as his children. After a friendly conversation, I took upon myself to be master of ceremonies, and introduced the father to the son after this manner : 'This is your father; he is a plain Methodist preacher ; he is trying to persuade all to come to Christ for salvation ; the young to seek first the king- dom of heaven, and children to honor and obey their parents. What will his congregation think when they look at you, his son, his oldest son ? The Lord pity you !' Then I spoke to the father: 'This is your son; this fine, gay, fashionable young man, with his LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 81 ruffles and nonsense about him, is the son of a plain Methodist preaclier. "Wliat will your congregation think of you when they hear you preach and see your son as he is? Will they not think of Eli the priest V This was amusing to the fine young lady. I then turned to her and said : ' This is your mother ; this plain, old-fashioned woman is your mother. She pra^^s for you, is trying to get to heaven, and will probably leave you behind, in a world of pride, and vanity, and folly. Look at her. Who that looks at you would guess that you were I'elated to her V I then spoke to the mother : ' This is your daughter, this fine-looking young lady, with her ruffles, rings, curls, locket, and silly, needless ornaments about her. Look at her. What will the people think of 3^ou and her? you a professor of religion and a preacher's wife. Some will think that, though you are plain yourself, you love to see your child gay and fashionable ; but they will wonder who buys those costly toys and trinkets, father or mother. Others will think that your daughter is master and mistress both, and does as she pleases. But some will fear that, with her beau-catchers, she will catch a fool and go to destruction. This would be no comfort nor credit to you or her.' Here 6 82 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. ended the introduction ; but I got little thanks for my ceremony, politeness, and plain dealing." The following letter to a delegate in one of the General Conferences will be found interesting : "As you are in the General Conference — and a very important one it is said to be — let me drop a hint about a part of the Discipline. " One of our general rules forbids the putting on of gold and costly apparel. In another part we read : 'Therefore give no tickets to any till they have left off superfluous ornaments ; and give no tickets to any that wear high heads, enormous bonnets, ruffles, or rings. In visitings, etc., we are to guard against ex- pensiveness or gayety of apparel.' 'Now as soon as this is mentioned some begin to laugh, and say we are superstitious, etc., and perhaps it would not be con- sidered in order to say anything about such small points in some conferences. '' But what shall we do with our Discipline ? ' Mind every point, great and small,' and not mend our rules, but keep them, etc. Now I pray and hope the Gen- eral Conference will do something, so that there may be some consistency among us. Pardon a hint, etc. Yote and put the section on dress out of the Disci- pline ; and let preachers and members, young and old, LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 83 , dress just as tliej please. If there is any danger, after that is done, of any of our preachers or members hm'ting the feelings of any of our fine members, put a little short section in something like the fol- lowing : " ' Question. Should we say anything in our preach- ing or private conversation about dress ? " * Answer. B}^ no means. This is no time to preach or to speak about such little things and small points. There is no religion in dress. Our first preachers were thrust out to raise a holy people, and Method- ism is designed to spread holiness over these lands and through all this country, etc. "We are gaining ground, carrying all before us, going fast, and shall soon be as fine and fashionable a Church as any in this world.' " If this will not pass current (though it is accord- ing to the custom adopted by not a few) then do adopt some plan, or modify the section by leaving out some w^ords hard to be understood, such as high heads, enormous bonnets, etc., and put in plain words, such as enormous sleeves, bags of feathers, or balloons ; require decent and modest apparel that will fit the person whether it fits the fashion or not. " There was a time when the preachers and mem- 84 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. bers of our society were convinced that there was a great deficiency of vital religion in the Church of England in America. It would be an important in- quiry now, when preachers are together from every part of America, What is the state of vital religion now in the Methodist Episcopal Church ? If it would be in order let the inquiry be made, and a re- ply too. If we advance or increase in limits, stations, bishops, colleges, preachers, agents — but not in mem- bers and vital religion — we increase our expenses and burdens till we sink under the weight, and the Lord will raise up another people to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. " I hope you have restored (or will) Mr. Wesley's rule on temperance. It always seemed strange to me when the members of our Church had to join another society to be temperate. "Query. Ought we not to form a plain decent dressing society in our Church, and get as many as we can to join it forthwith? "Another hint. Is there no way to prevent our circuits being ruined, cut up, or crippled, till there are no appointments left that are worth filling except Sundays — good clear Sundays — six or seven for two weeks, or one dozen appointments for four weeks; LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 85 fifty rest weeks in a year, and constant complaints about poor pay or support, and great deficiencies ? In such cases the people are burdened, and the preachers are mortified continually. Is there no remedy for these evils and defects? Lord help, help us! May the fountain of wisdom pour floods of understanding on our delegates in the General Conference, that all they do may be done right, and finished quick and complete, that they may go to their work. And may the Lord send now prosperity everywhere. "A Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist Discipline. The Methodists should let their light shine ; not be like the world, that is in darkness and full of darkness. " Many of our members are gay and fashionable, and do not even appear like Methodists. Do such abstain* from all appearance of evil. " They have had great preachers, and some of the best, who said nothing about sucli things, whose wives were as gay in their dress as any, and the preachers did not dress plain themselves. Now if some have been mindful of great points in our Discipline, some ought to mind the small points ; let me do it. " N.B. If you should have a cloudy, stormy day in your conference, and be at a loss, read some of my 86 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. letter to give some new thoughts, and clear some ideas, and brighten up the sky." As he was himself exceedingly plain in his apparel, wearing a coat without buttons, and plain as any that could be found in Quakerdom, he was particu- larly severe on the preachers who indulged in any superfluities. It would almost throw him into spasms to see a preacher with a cane and gloves, and the sight of a cigar was insupportable. It would seem that he was the sworn enemy of canes, vails, cigars, and dogs. It is said, such was his aversion to the latter, that on a certain occasion he w^ent out of a funeral procession to pelt away a noisy cur who was following. He has been known frequently to expel them from the church or the house where he was holding meeting. A young preacher once thought to escape his ire, when reproved by him for carrying a cane, by telling him that he carried it to protect himself from the dogs. '' Ah," said Gruber, " is that it ? Well, dog-pelting is a poor business." On one of the circuits which he traveled he had what he called "a dandy preacher" for a colleague. This young man would spend his rest days in hunting and fishing, a recreativ?. sport which Gruber thought was entirely incompatible with the ministerial pro- LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 87 fession. His patience was sorely tried, and it seemed that all liis reproofs and exhortations were lost upon him. What added to his '' ])ainfal exercises," as he called them, the young man rose above the dignity of the saddle and saddle-bags, and traveled round the circuit in a gig. Failing in all his eiforts to get the young preacher into the regular itinerant harness he eventually gave him up, and prayed most fervently^ that the Lord would deliver him from a dandy preacher for a colleague. At a camp-meeting on a certain occasion, where considerable difEculty was experienced in getting the people to observe order, from the number of young persons who were walking about, collecting in groups, and engaged in conversation, the presiding elder, in the most respectful and courteous terms, requested them to be seated. Not seeming to understand, or not caring to comply with the request, the young people paid no attention whatever to what was said, but kept up their walking and talking. Gruber, who was present, felt greatly aggrieved, and rising in the stand he roared out: "Mr. Presiding Elder, you called those young folks gentlemen and ladies, and they did not know what you meant!" He then added : " Boys, come right along and take seats 88 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. here," pointing to the right; "and you, gals, come up and take jour seats here on the left," Earnest and peremptory as he was, yet so comical was his manner that their attention was at once arrested, and they came smilingly forward and took their seats. At another time the same difficulty occurred. At the close of a prayer-meeting in the altar, when the time had come for preaching every effort of the elder failed to get the congregation orderly arranged. Quite a number were standing on the seats, and among them several ladies. Gruber again lifted up his voice, the squeaking German accent of which immediately arrested attention, and said : " If those young ladies there only knew what great holes they have in their stockings they wouldn't be standing on the bench where they can be seen by everybody." They all dropped suddenly as if they had been shot. Order was restored, and all was quiet. After the discourse was ended one of the preachers asked how he knew the young ladies had holes in their stock- ings. " Why," said he in his quizzical manner, " did you ever know stockings without holes in them ?" At a camp-meeting near Baltimore, after the trum- pet had been blown announcing the time for closing the exercises in the praying circles, one of them, un- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 89 willing to stop, kept on singing and praying. Grnber, somewhat impatient, and evidently not pleased at their want of obedience to order, after standing near for a short time, shouted out at the top of his voice, "That's right, brothers, blow all the lire out!" He seemed to have as much a horror of anything graceful in a sermon as he had of anything attractive and beautiful in dress, and took real pleasure at . times in trying how rough and uncouth he could be in his expressions in the pulpit. While preaching in Camden, Xew Jersey, one of the stewards of the Church, whose ])rovince it was to tell the preachers what he thought wrong in them, ventured to speak to him on the subject of preaching, and suggested tlie propriety of his paying more attention to system, and to give a little more smoothness and arace to his words. Gruber listened to him with evident uneasiness, and as soon as he had closed his remarks replied : " O very well ; you want me to preach very nice and fine when I come to Camden among the fashionable people. I'll try." When he came round again the house was crowded to hear the preacher in his improved style. He arranged his discourse in as logical an order as he was capable of, and delivered it in a more correct manner. Not- 90 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. withstanding the cliange .in his style, he managed to utter some of the severest denunciations against formal and fashionable professors. He was allowed ever after to preach in his own wa}^ in that place. His last sermon at Carlisle is remembered by one of the professors of Dickinson College, located at that place, as characteristic of his style of preaching. The professors of this institution were Methodists, and the most of them, if not all, were Methodist preachers. Whenever he preached in Carlisle the professors and students all turned out to hear him. On the occa- sion to which we refer they were all present. In the course of the sermon he remarked that the time was when Methodist preachers went round their cir- cuits carrying their libraries in their saddle-bags. They would preach the word as it came to them. '' ISTow," said he, " preachers are made at theological schools, and they spend a long time in making their sermons. They want to make a great effort and pro- duce great sermons, and make the impression that they are great men, and what is the result?'' Look- ing round intently for a few moments on the pro- fessors and students, he added, Vith emphasis, " The result is, great fools !" He was a particular enemy of tobacco as well as LIFE OF JACOli GKUBEK. 91 coffee and tea, and took every occasion to denounce their nse. Woe betide the young preaclier who would cross his path with a cigar in his mouth. He was sure to get a sound reproof for indulging in the " sin- ful practice." He thus discourses on the subject: " How shall we cure or treat a young preacher who preaches self-denial, is very severe on those who take a dram sometimes, but takes tobacco himself without ceasing, and says he cannot quit it, and it does hira good ? Is not his faith strong ? But still it is not as large as a grain of mustard-seed, or it would remove this mountain of sin. It is only as large as a grain of tobacco-seed. What a pity ! I had some acquaint- ance with a good man who was a judge of good to- bacco. One of his particular friends told me that one day he was confused in preaching, and he asked him after meeting what was the matter that he could not get along any better? 'Why,' said the preacher, 'be- cause I had such bad tobacco.' 'What,' said his friend, ' do you chew tobacco while you are preach- ing V ' Yes,' said he, ' I always take a fresh plug when I begin.' ' After this,' said his friend, ' I could always tell by his preaching whether he had good tobacco, and was careful to furnish him with the article.' May the Lord pity us, and save us ! So prays J. G-ruber." I 92 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. The Eev. J. Aslibrook, of New Jerse}^, sends us the following : "At a qnarterl j meeting, held in Springfield, Pa., Brother J. Lybrand, of precious memory, was presiding elder, and Brother Gruber was preacher in charge. After the usual duties of the meeting were over, namely, preaching, quarterly conference, etc., a number of brethren went to the house of Brother Bull to dine ; after, w^hich, and during the absence of Brother Gruber, they indulged in smokinor cio:ars. On the return of Brotlier Graber he exclaimed, ' Dear me, what a smoke,' adding : ' Tobacco is an evil weed, And from tlie deml did proceed ; It spoils your breath and burns your clothes, And makes a chinmey of your nose.' Brother Lybrand said to him, ' Brother Gruber, that is pretty good poetry, but I doubt its theology; I do not believe that the devil made tobacco, and you must make your assertion true.' ' Well,' responded lie, 'I guess I can.' 'Get at it then.' 'I read in the Scriptures that the mustard-seed is the smallest of all seeds, that is, the smallest of all seeds that the Lord has made, and everybody knows that the to- bacco-seed is smaller than the mustard-seed, and therefore the devil must have made it.' " LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 93 CHAPTEE IV. Preacliing in Cabins — Appointed to Baltimore — Light-street and Sharp- street Churches — Quaker Opposition — Conversation with a Quaker — The Battle at Nortli Point — Preaching to the Soldiers — Bombard- ment — Burial Avith the Honors of War — Sermon on the Fourth of July — A Strange Procession — Dreams and Visions — Old Joe's Vis ion of Jacob's Ladder. Hitherto Grnber had been wliat is denominated a traveling preaclier, " holding forth the word of life " in cabins and school-houses and barns, as well as in the woods, in wild uncultivated districts of coun- try. He was thus brought into contact with all classes and conditions of men, and with all grades of society. An itinerant service of thirteen years had qualified him by its vigorous discipline for effective labor in any part of the Methodist field. His expe- rience in ministerial labor, connected with his versatility of talent and his inexhaustible wit and power of repartee, (notwithstanding his asperity, of manner, which caused him to be shunned by a portion of the Methodists who were ill at ease under the restraints of a discipline which, in their 94 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. opinion, more nearly resembled the asceticism of the Jesuit order than the teachings of Jesus,) drew around liim a much larger portion of the Church, who courted his society and regarded him almost in the light of an oracle. He seemed to have a dread of cities ; and what he called " the fashiona- ble flummery of city churches " gave him '' painful exercises " whenever it fell to his lot to preach in them. Notwithstanding all this. Bishop Asbury deter- mined to give him a trial of a city station, and ap- pointed him to Baltimore. That he might not lose all his comfort, and be subjected throughout the entire time of his service to preach to those who did not dress in the same Quakerlike plainness as him- self, and who did not as rigidly, and hermitlike, abstain from all innocent recreation, and were not, like him, economical almost to parsimony, to the Light-street Church was added the colored Church in Sharp-street. The colored congregation, which was quite large, took great delight in calling him their elder, and he took equal pleasure in having it so. He accordingly entered right heartily into the work of preaching to his colored brethren, and tliey enjoyed it amazingly. The meetings in Sharp-street LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 95 were scenes of great excitement, and were entirely too noisy for the Quakers in tliat vicinity, who com- plained to the grand jury, asking that grave body, as a conservator of the peace, to present them as a nuisance. Among the witnesses called was an old Quaker who lived not far from the church, but his testimony was not sufficiently clear and to the point to justify the finding of a bill. One of the Quakers, who was opposed to the meetings of the colored people, called on Gruber to enter his complaint. He said the colored people were very unruly and hard to govern, and proffered his assistance in reducing them to order. This same godl}^ Quaker had already given the colored people a specimen of his ability to govern them. During the wdnter previous to the arrival of Gruber he went one night into their meet- ing, flourished his club, put out some of their lights, and ordered them in the midst of their singing and praying to break up their meeting. The pastor of Sharp-street, aware of this fact, was not only unwilling to accept the proffered assistance of this Quaker, but gave him to understand that the colored people had just as good a right to make a noise in their meetiiags as the Quakers had to sit in silence with their hats on ; and as they had no colored people in 96 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. their churches in Baltimore, he thought it would be advisable for them to endeavor to get them into their meetings and teach them the true Quaker order. He did not seem to have the same admiration for the Quakers that Wesley had, though he approached more nearly that singular sect in his manner of dress than the founder of Methodism, who, if we are credi- bly informed, was not so far removed from the fash- ionable world as to exclude all ornament, and wore wrist ruffles. As Gruber was traveling one day between Cumberland and Uniontown he overtook one of this strait sect. From the plainness of his dress the Quaker supposed him to be one of their number. The Quaker soon entered into conversation with him, and asked him a number of questions. After he had finished, Gruber commenced, and tlie followino^ conversation ensued : "Where did you come from ?" " From Virginia," replied the Quaker. " What part of Virginia ?" " Apple-pie Kidge." "That is a place I have been at in years gone by. Is it improving any ?" "O yes, it is; there are a number of Friends there." LIFE OF JACOB GKUJJKU. 97 "Are there any revivals of religion in those parts among the different denominations? Are any get- ting converted among the Friends at Apple-pie Eidge." " O yes, a good man}^, I hope." " I am glad to hear that; I am always glad to hear of the conversion of souls anywhere, and am particu- larly rejoiced to hear of conversions among the Quakers or Friends, as I never heard of such a thing before." "Thee is uncharitable, very." "I do not w^isli to be so. The good news you bring me gives me a much more favorable opinion of your people. Were there many converts at Ap- ple-pie Eidge f ' "I hope a good many." " Could you give me the names of some, perhaps I might know^ them." " O there are a number." " Please to name two or three, as I want to have it to say that people get converted among the Quakers as well as among other denominations." The Quaker was silent. " Don't leave me as uncharitable as you found me. Have you ever been converted 3'ourself ?" 7 98 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. " We don't look at these things and speak of them as thee does; there is no need of speaking or preach- ing, as every one may tnrn inward and find the true teacher and inward light." " Do you mean by the true teacher and inward light Jesus Christ ?" "O yes, he is the Great Teacher." By this time they arrived at a place where they separated, and the Quaker turned to the preacher and said, " Fare thee well." During the year he was stationed in Baltimore the battle at l^orth Point took place. It was a time of great excitement. The soldiers were encamped around the city. He went out and preached twice in the encampment. While preaching on Sunday morning, at Light-street, the boom of the cannon announced the approach of the British soldiery, and the meeting broke up in wild disorder, in the midst of the preacher's ejaculations " that the Lord would bless King George, convert him, and take him to heav- en, as they wanted no more of him." Gruber thus describes the scene : " Soon after the soldiers marched, and prepared to give the king's troops a warm saluta- tion and reception, and send as many of them as they could to heaven or hell, without praying the Lord to LIFE OF JACOB GRUEEK. 99 convert them. I will not attempt to describe the glory of the clay and night of the bombardment, the bombs and rockets flying in their sublime beauty. Still there were persons, even in Baltimore, who did not like the war, and blamed Madison for it, saying that his administration was like the street called by his name, which began at the poor-honse, went by the jail, then passed the penitentiary, and ended on Gallows Hill." One of the members of his Church was killed in the battle, and buried with the honors of war. He was pained with the military display which he wit- nessed at this funeral, and remarked, that he " would rather be buried with the honors of Lazarus the beg- gar than to have soldiers shoot into his grave, as though they wanted to kill him again, and then fire upward, after his spirit, as though they wanted to kill that too." Previous to the breaking out of the late war he preached a fourth of July sermon, which is so charac- teristic of the man, and his style of preaching, that we give the substance of it to our readers. His text was John viii, 36: "If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." He thus introduces the subject: 100 LIPE OF JACOB aRUBER. *' The word preached by our Lord himself had not the same effect in all j^laces. In some places he could not (or did not) do many miracles, because of their unbelief. The apostle saith : ' The word preached did not profit them, .not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.' The apostles (and their preaching) were the savor of death unto death to some, and the savor of life unto life to others. When our Lord spoke the words of our text there was a mixed multi- tude present, friends and enemies, serious and critical, caviling and opposing hearers. He had spoken dif- ferent things, suitable to and necessary for his hearers to hear and understand. He spoke of his Father hav- ing taught and sent him to speak and do what he did, and adds : ' The Father hath not left me alone ; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words many believed on him.' Then follow the words of our choice : " ' Then said Jesus to those which believed on him ' — ^looking unto him, believing in him, and com- ing unto him, frequently imply the same thing ; we must believe in, look and come unto him, if we would be saved by him. " 'If ye continue in my word :' we must first receive the ingrafted word, as it is called, before w^e can con- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 101 tiiiue in it; hear, and obey it: then hold it fast, con- tinue therein ; try onr experience and enjoyment by it; let it be the rule of our faith and practice; live by it, etc., etc. " 'Then are ye my disciples indeed.' A disciple is a scholar, a learner, a follower, and Christ proposes himself as a master, a teacher, and an example. We become disciples when we deny ourselves, come to Christ, enter his school, learn of him to be wise, meek, and lowly in heart, not in appearance only, in the head, superficially, etc., but deep learning, not high ; deep humility, genuine piety. A scholar must not have his own way, learn where he pleases, and spend his time in looking at pictures ; he must be under the discipline of his master. Christ saith : ' Take my yoke upon you, and learn,' etc. To -be disciples in- deed requires more than a beginning to learn, or to fol- low. There must be a progress, a continuance, till the language, the art, or the science is attained. The scholar that becomes indolent ceases to learn, breaks the rules of the school, is rebellious, etc. ; must be cor- rected, and expelled if he does not reform. We con- tinue disciples of Christ w^hile we obey and follow him. ' Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I com- mand you ;' reverse this, and w^e are his enemies 102 LIFE OF JACOB GPwUBER. when we break his commands. 'He that is not for me is against me.' The disciple may be as his Mas- ter and Lord, have his mind, his spirit, and walk as he walked. He has left us an example that we should follow his steps. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. They were like their Lord in spirit, in self denial, in holiness of life and conversa- tion. All around them might take knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus, and were sent by him to speak and do as they did. The apostle Paul re- proves some professing Christians because they had privileges, grace afforded, opportunities, and time sufficient to have been fathers, teachers, etc., yet they had need of milk, the food and instruction of children. They were not able to bear strong meat ; so far from being able to teach otliers tliey liad need of being taught the first principles of the oracles of God, and were unskillful in the word of righteous- ness ; they were babes, and not of fall age. The Lord have mercy on such. " ' And ye shall know the truth.' God our Sav- iour will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledsfe of the truth. Salvation is free o for all, since the grace of God that bringeth sal- vation hath appeared unto all men. The Lord LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEU. 103 in his plan of salvation requires ns to come to the knowledge of the truth ; he will not force any to the truth. 'No; man need not expect the grace of God to save him unless he obeys its teachings, which is, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godl}- in this present world. Jesus Christ is the truth and the way, and through him we have access, and can come to God the Father. Hence Jesus says : ' Come unto me and I will give you rest.' This is eternal life : to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. The apostle writes in an alarming man- ner to the Corinthians : ' Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God : I speak this to your shame.' They abounded in other knowledge, in gifts, in utterance, etc., and were puffed up ; but they were lacking in the knowl- edge of God. They knew not his reconciling love shed abroad in their hearts; that Christ was in them ; or did not enjoy deep communion with God, or feel and live under the sanctifying influences of his Hol}^ Spirit. This it was their privilege to know, to enjoy. Their ignorance of this was their shame. " ' And the truth shall make you free.' The ex- periii^eutal knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus 104 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. shall make you free from ignorance, from tlie guilt, misery, and death which sin and error has brought into the world or into tlie Church. Those who do not obtain this knowledge and freedom are exposed to the greatest danger. Read an awful passage in point, 2 Thess. ii, 10-12 : ' Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie : that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.' Mark this solemn dec- laration. These persons heard the truth, they had it in reach ; it was in their power to believe it, to receive it, and to be saved or made free by it. But they did not love it; they loved error or darkness more than light or truth ; tliey closed their eyes against the light, and neglected their salvation ; re- fused to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Thus, as a prophet saitli, they have chosen their own wa3^s, (not to learn and walk in the truth,) and their soul delighteth in their abomina- tions. God saith : ^ I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them.' Isa. Ixvi, 4. Thus it is that many believe a lie, plead for sin, have pleasure in unrighteousness, fill up the measure LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 105 of their iniquities, and sink to damnation. But let us return to our text. "'They answered him, We be Abraham's seed" — • they^ those Jews who lieard our Lord speak in sncli a manner to those who believed on him ; not they who had become his disci j3les — " and were never in bondage to any man : how sayest thou, Ye sliall be made free V " It is astonishing how they could speak so to our Lord. They must have known that their fathers had been in bondage, and that they were then under tribute to the Eomans, and, of course, were not free. Strange to tell, many in our day and generation imitate those Jews. Speak to them, espe- cially on this day, about obtaining liberty, or being made free, and they will readily and loudly exclaim, We are free Americans and no slaves, and were never in bondage to any man ! Tliey might remember that their fathers w^ere in bondage until they fonglit for and obtained their liberty ; and they ought not to forget that they may be very dependent even on man. They may read or hear articles of Lide- pendence, write their names on a paper to show that they are true Americans, and yet some of them may be more in debt than they are worth ; even if the old law was in force, which allowed a debtor to be 106 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. sold, with his wife and children, and payment to be made, it would not discharge all their debts. Hence many who make a great sliow, and talk loud about their independence, are dependent on the night to run off from their creditors ; or taken and shut up, and dependent on windows with iron-bars for light in the day, where they don't like to be. Others, who seem to cut a figure and make a great dash, who are great patriots in talk, and wish to be thonglit great friends to their country, especially when an officer is wanting, would be as poor as many of their neighbors, if they would pay their just debts, re- store what they have wrongfully taken, and not oppress, distress, or defraud the poor, the ignorant, the laborer, and the traveler. " What is all this noise and parade about on the Fourth of July ? What means the mirth, the feasting, the expense, the shouts of some, the huzzas of the drunken, and nonsense of others? The secret, the spring of the mighty joy is, we are not under British tyranny or French oppression. We are not in bond- age to king or emperor. A query arises in my mind : Are we then like the locusts who have no king? or why do many go forth in bands to gambling, to ph^ys and balls, to barbecues, horse races, parties, etc., and LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 107 worse. What a pity that Jesus is not oar king ; he would save iis from much hibor, from much misery, and from great expense. It is frequently said we are in a free country ! It is free to all that are not slaves ; but even in a free country there may be miserable slaves. Such are in our own country. May the Lord roll or wipe away this reproach from America ! " Jesus answered them, ' A^erily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.' Here the wretched state of the nnregenerate man is brought to open view. Though not in bondage to any man, yet a complete slave of the worst kind, and in the most wretched condition. 'To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are.' Taken captive by the devil at his will, slaves to pas- sion or appetite ; a free and independent American a slave to avarice, ambition, and intemperance. "The memorable day is come; great or little guns usher it in ; a whistle or a trumpet adds to the luster and glory of the opening morning. Who would not rise early to see the joy? Great preparations are made, and multitudes are gathering ! Great sights ! Common sense and good sense unite with judgment or sound reason to tell some they have no time or lOS LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. money to spend ; but custom and appetite runs away . with the man ; he must show that he is a true Ameri- can. He might be thankful to heaven for liis liberty at home, or among praying persons assembled to worship God ; but he wants something better and stronger to eat and drink than home or place of wor- ship affords. Our situation at this time, as a nation or country, calls aloud for fasting, humiliation, prayer, and intercession, not for feasting and intemperance. The wise man's words are proper at this time : ' It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but tlie heart of fools is in the house of mirth.' Ecclesiastes vdi, 2,4. " A heavy cloud hangs over our head ; it gathers blackness, and tlireatens judgments and punishments for our sins. ' Sin is a reproach to any people.' As a people we have taken great liberty to sin against God ; we have abused great mercy and neglected a great salvation ; we may expect a great chastisement and destruction if our reformation does not prevent it, and the Lord in mercy undertake for us, and preserve and save us. "Where is our dependence for safety, prosperity, or success, in peace or war, if an Almighty arm is LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 109 engaged against us ? ' If God be for us who can be against us?' But will lie not be avenged on such a nation as this ? I do not hesitate to saj, I am more afraid of slavery and infidelity in our country than of the British and French. The sin of oppression prevails in many parts of this country. Men and women who, according to the constitution of the United States, have a right to be free, are held in chains of bondage, degraded dowm to ignorance and wretchedness, on a level with, or beneath the beasts that perish. The cry of blood arises from the ground ; God has an ear to hear it ; the poor and needy shall not always be forgotten. Blood, sweat, and tears testify against the cruel oppressor. The Judge is set against them. They cannot obtain mercy, because they showed no mercy. Infidels glory in their shame, and scatter firebrands, arrows, and death ; sport wath sacred things, and make a mock of sin. Many follow their pernicious ways, their evil and abominable practices. ' By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.' Hosea iv, 2. " And what is more distressing and alarming, re- ligion is at a low ebb ; there is too much lukewarm- ness and formality in the Church ; professors of 110 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. religion conformed to the world in pride and vanity. The power of godliness is lacking in many. In some congregations no conversions or reformation for years past. ' Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach,' etc. Joel ii, 17. May the Lord revive his work ! " It is said some of your society have acted badly ; this is matter for lamentation ; but know this, that w4ien we have found them out we labored to reclaim them; if there was no reformation w^e expelled them from our Church. But why should some throw stones at the Methodists while they have many in their own Church to throw at ? Where is the denom- ination that does not suffer from this cause ? In some there are even ministers, elders, or official characters v^rho are unconverted, and impious, and worse ; at least, strangers to the spirit and mind of Christ, or else they would not be at the head or tail of feasts, and balls, parties, etc., and drink and associate with drunkards, etc. 'Evil communications corrupt good manners.' " There is a great talk about war ; many comfort themselves on a recollection of past favors and pro- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEU. Ill tection; when we were but few and weak we con- rjuered our enemies, the enemies of our country or liberties. But it ought to be remembered our cause was good ; we had many praying, God-fearing leaders or rulers. A Washington ought never to be forgotten ; he had his hours for retirement and devo- tion, and was a firm believer in Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation. His plans were crowned Avith success. The Lord gave us victory. Honor to the general ! he was the glory of his country. But glory to the God he worshiped ! May we fear and obey him ! What can we promise ourselves with compa- nies of profane soldiers, and infidel swearing officers at their head, as too many of them are ? May the Lord undertake for us, and save our country. Mark the spirit that prevails in our country at celebrations of Independence. Is it not the spirit that works in the children of disobedience ? Many eat and drink toasts till they can scarcely get up. Some must be carried home ; others stagger along from side to side ; not able to navigate the highway, they fall and wallow- in the mire, are lodged where they could not get their dog to lie. Others feel strong, are for war on the spot, abuse their friends, break each other's bones, bite, or black each other's eyes, boast of their 112 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. wisdom, honor, riches, or liberty, which are all scarce articles with them, almost out of their, reach. " However, they have kept the Fourth of July like true Americans. But where is the truth of their boast and liberty? "You must pardon me for abus- ing you or speaking as I did ; I was drunk or in a pas- sion." This is the plea ; but this doubles the crime. Keep sober, subdue your passion, maintain your liberty, or you are ruined. For whosoever com- mitteth sin is the servant, or, as it may properly be rendered, the slave of sin. However wise or learned, however rich, however honorable the votaries of pleasure, whosoever committeth sin is a slave ; his knowledge will augment his misery, his honor disgrace him in hell, his riches enhance his damnation. The rust (or abuse) of his gold and sil- ver eat his flesh like fire. All pleasure gone forever. " ' But,' says one, ' I don't profess religion.' What then is your profession ? a sinner, a slave, a rebel against the King of kings ? glory not in this. It is your sin and condemnation not to have religion in the accepted time, and to die without it will secure you a complete eternal damnation. "Fear and tremble. The greatest tyrant, from LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. 113 Pharaoh down to the most cruel slaveholder, has let his slave go free at death, sometimes in some cases before death. But the slaves of sin and Satan must live in chains of darkness and death, everlasting starv- ation and desperation, in everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. It was never prepared for men; they fitted themselves for it. It was their own choice. Christ saith in our text, ' The servant abideth not in the house forever ; but the Son abideth ever.' "The bond person shall be cast out, and have no inheritance ; he can't abide in the world, he is cast out of the Church. ' The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.' Psalm i, 5. They shall not enter, nor abide in heaven. The Judge will say : ' Take the wicked and unprofitable servant, bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew xxii, 13 ; XXV, 30. But Hhe Son abideth ever' in his inher- itance; Head of his Church ; Lord of lords, and King of kings. But ' Christ as a son over his own house : whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end.' Hebrews iii, 6. The Lord has promised to ' make 114 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. him that overcometh a pillar in the temple of God, and he shall go no more out.' They shall live for- ever in the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 'If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.' " The disciples of Moses, the servant of God, had to bear a heavy yoke of ordinances, a grievous bur- den, more than they or their fathers were able to bear. But Christ has blotted out ' the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.' Col. ii, 14. Now, as the Son of God is lifted up, he draws or invites all men to look unto him for salvation, for liberty. " ' The law was given by Moses ;' but the law worketh wrath : *for by the law is the knowledge of sin.' The law is weak through the flesh. It cannot give life ; it pronounces sentence of death on trans- gressors ; but grace and truth came by our Lord Jesus Christ. ' He bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' ' Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.' Gal. iii, 13. ' Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.' 2 Tim. i, 10. LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 115 "Now liberty is proclaimed to the captives; sin- ners are made free from sin b}^ the Son of God ; free from wretchedness and condemnation. The true penitent or sincere seeker is cr} ing, ' O Lord, I be- seech thee, deliver my soul.' Psa. cxvi, 5. ' God be merciful to me a sinner.' Luke xviii, 13. He prays and groans, * O wretched man that I am ! who shall de- liver me ?' Eom. vii, 24. The Lord is nigh unto such, and rich in mercy unto all that call upon him. 'Who- soever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Romans x, 13. A soul engaged in this way obtains deliverance. The dungeon shakes, the chains fall off. Casting every care upon Him, venturing all npon him, believing in him with a heart unto right- eousness, the believer is set at liberty ; he is a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ. There is now no condemnation unto him. Those who read the last part of the seventh chapter to the Romans, ought to read the fii*st part of the eighth chapter before they stop. After the state of a person under the law, in wretchedness and condemnation, struggling for de- liverance, is brought to view, then the state and enjoyment of one under the Gospel in grace is pointed out, free from condemnation ; the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made him free from 116 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. the law of sin and death. The Son has not only made them free, but blessed them with wisdom and power, ' that the righteousness of the law miglit be fulfilled in them.' Eom. viii. And an apostle ex- horts them to ' stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.' Gal. v, 1. Free indeed ; tongue cannot express the joy of the soul made free indeed ; 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' The spirit rejoices in Christ ; the soul doth magnify the Lord ; salvation is the joyful sound, the song, etc. Jesus has the gloiy. What means the noise and shouts of joy ! Has a person found a piece of silver, a sheep, or something that was lost ? Yes, more than silver, or anything this world can afford ; ' a pearl of great price,' ' the white stone,' ' the one thing need- ful,' the kingdom of heaven. What mean the songs of joy and shouts of liberty? The noise is heard afar off. It is the celebration of independence of true Christians made free indeed ; no longer dependent on Satan and sin for pleasure and happiness in sensual delights, nor on the world for riches and honor, they are rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom ; ' an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them.' 1 Pet. i, 4. They have the honor that is from above. LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 11 Y Though they do not drink toasts and give cheers according to fashion, yet they drink of the well of salvation, the river of life, the streams of grace. Their hearts are cheered, their souls are on the wing for glory. "What means the gathering crowd, persons from east, west, north, and south, from far and near, male and female ? Is there a horse-race, or a feast ? 'No, but there are some running the race for eternal life. They eat and drink with mournful joy and glad hearts, in remembrance of Him who redeemed them with his blood, and raised them from slaves to }3rinces, and from beggars to thrones. O glory to God! ho- sannah in the highest ! their hope is full of immortal- ity, their joy is full, their souls are full of glory. They are not drunk ; they can speak the words of soberness, and are ready to give an answer to every one that asketh a reason of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear, etc. They know that they have passed from slavery to liberty, from death to life, feel the powers of the world to come, and claim, in virtue of their birth, a mansion in the skies. "This is a real, heartfelt enjoyment, such as the world can never give, nor the cattle on a thousand hills afford. The world, with all its pleasures and 118 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEli. treasures, can give but little satisfaction, a poor mo- . mentary delight or enjoyment. What happiness is there in gatherings to see and be seen ? Is tliere more happiness in eating at a feast, and paying dollars, than eating wholesome food at home, and saving mon- ey for necessary or charitable purposes? Does it make the soul truly happy to drink many and large toasts, and give many loud cheers ? Does it make a person truly v^^ise to hear the song of fools and huzzas of the drunken ? Does it give more real pleasure to the mind to hear a great gun than it would to hear a pop-gun ? ' Yanity of vanities, all is vanity, saith the preacher.' ^'Cannot a man be a true friend to his country with- out following after lying vanities, and drinking intox- icating and poisonous draughts, in the fashionable way of wishing health ? Must he ' run to excess of riot,' or fall down and wallow in the mire, to celebrate his inde- pendence? Must a person be cursed all over, (and that by persons who are a curse to a country,) over tables and bowls, because he will not drink whisky with drunkards, and keep company with swearers and gamblers, waste his substance and time, neglect his business and his salvation ? It is surely far better to fear God, and fast, and pray for our country and for LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 119 all men, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. " In conclusion : If we would enjoy liberty, peace, and happiness, we must, in the first place, make peace with God, agree with our adversary, submit oui*- selves unto him, humble ourselves under his mighty hand, and he will lift us up ; we shall then enjoy his protection. 'If God be for us, who can be against us.' 'Who will harm us if we be followers of that which is good.' In the next place, we must follow peace with all men ; as far as in us lies, have peace with all. Then the God of peace will be with us, and a wall of fire around us; glory shall dwell in our land, and Jesus reign King of nations, as well as King of saints and Prince of peace. Happy deliverance, thrice blessed freedom from war and bloodshed, con- tention and strife, from every evil work ! Freed from enemies, free indeed ; from corruption, from labor, from suffering and sorrow, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are forever at rest. Not a wave of trouble shall roll across their peaceful breasts ; all tears wiped away, they shine like the sun in the kingdom of God forever. May the Lord bless us with this freedom, and crown us with his glory. And to him be all the glory. Amen," 120 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. He thus describes a strange procession which he^ met between Harrisburgh and Woodstock : "After the war was over, I passed a strange procession. I had passed different droves before, but never such a one as this. It was composed of two or three dozen of colored men chained together with a long heavy chain, and a company of women and children, walking loose along in the procession. They looked sorrowful and pitiful. I gave a glance at them as they passed, and looked sharp at three white men who were driving them. As I passed them, I said, ' Hail ! Columbia, happy land ; is this free trade and sailors' rights V At this they looked cross and replied, ' Yes, we are Republicans.' " As pastor of the colored people he enjoyed himself remarkably well, and was often amused by their peculiarities. He allowed them perfect freedom in the expression of their religious views, and at the love- feasts and general class-meetings many of their white brethren would be present, more, it is to be feared, out of curiosity than for the purpose of deriving any spiritual benefit. The colored people are proverbially superstitious, not more so, however, than others of the uneducated class among the whites ; they place great reliance upon dreams and visions, and among Gru- LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEli. 121 ber's flock there were some wlio had a particular fond- ness for these mental exercises. Of sucli importance did they consider a dream, especially if it liad a relig- ions bearing, that they would relate it in meeting. At one of the speaking meetings alluded to, a colored brother rose, immediately after one of the sisters who had related her dream, and said : "Mass'r preacher, may I tell you de vision I had de oder night ?" , " O yes ! speak on, Brother Joe.'^ "Well, massa, I dreamed I saw Jacob's ladder leanin' up aginst de sky, and I climbed him to git up to heaven. When I got to de toppermost round, I found it was too short to reach up to de gate. I 'eluded to splice him. When dat was done, I begun at de bottermost round, and went up to de top of de toppermost round, and den from de bottermost round of de splice up to de toppermost round, but it was too short yet. Den I come down and splice liim agin. Den I went up from the bottermost round to de toppermost, and from de bottermost round of de first splice to de toppermost round, and from de bot- termost round of de second splice to de toppermost round, and I tell you, massa, it was jist a little too short yet. I could see into de gate, and dar de heav- 122 LIFK OK JACOB G RUBER. enly company was marcliin' along de bank of de river of life, and I saw de angels, and heard de halle- « luiali song, and saw de golden streets. Being some- what snpple in de jints, I thought I could jump clar into de heavenly kingdom from de toppermost round. So I give a spring, and what do you tink, massa, was de circumstance? I tell you. Lor bless your soul, I got de blamedest fall I ever got in mj' life. If I can't git to heaven no oder way, bless you, honey, I'll not try to git dar agin by Jacob's ladder." LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 123 CHAPTEE Y. Opposition to a City Station — Appointed to Carlisle Circuit — Appointed to the District — Great Times in the Mountains — Model Professors — Albright and his People — An honest Dutchman judged — United Brethren Church — Opposition Lin© — Bishop Asbury's Wish — Gru- ber's Sermon at the Washington Camp-meeting — National Sins — Address to Masters and Slaves — Displeasure of Slaveholders — Letter from Eev. S. G. Eosael — Warrant issued for his Arrest — Arrested at Quarterly Meeting — Gave Security for his Appearance at Court — Indicted by the Grand Jury for inciting Slaves to Mutiny and Ke- bellion. The conference of 1815 was held in the city of Baltimore, and was drawing near its close when the intelligence came to Grnber's ear that he was to be returned to the city station. Feeling, as he ex- pressed it, that "his work was done in Baltimore, and "that he did not wish to do it over again," he hurried to the bishop and besought him to change his appointment. He had another reason, he said, for not wishing to stay in the city ; he had been, to use his own language, " like an ox under the yoke, like a slave chained to the oar, and almost at every one's beck and call, treated like a dog ; not a pet one allowed to eat the crumbs which fell from the mas- 124 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. ter's table." Though treated as a dog, he says, "I was not a lazy dog, nor a dumb dog, nor a greedy dog, nor a stray dog that could not find a home." When the appointments were announced his name stood in connection with Carlisle circuit, and he was thus happily relieved of tlie drudgery of a city preacher. He had not made many rounds when, in consequence of the illness of the presiding elder, Hemphill, he was appointed by Bishop Asbury to the Carlisle district. This district was large, and in- cluded the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains. The quarterly-meetings and camp-meetings were largely attended, and there were numerous conver- sions at each. In describing the latter Gruber said : " The shout of a king was in tlie camp ; great was the power, and deep was the work of grace in the heart and the congregation ; glorious were the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The hills and mountains echoed the sound, and the valleys were filled with the glory. Old persons wept tears of joy, and children sung and shouted Hosanna fa the highest !" In speaking of the young converts of that time, he remarked : " They took advice, and re- nounced the vain pomp, glory, and fashions of the world, and would not follow or be led by them. The LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 125 young people did not grow so much in the head then as they do now ; but they grew more in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There was less backsliding, and a greater increase in the membership. " We had," said he, " no opposi- tion line of camp-meetings running then ; the German Methodists, as they were then called, united with us, preached in German, and shouted with us in English." The following account of Albright and his people is given by Gruber in a letter to Dr. Bond : '' Jacob Albright was a German, a good man, very zealous, headstrong, but not headlong. His name was nut so bright in German as in English, bordering in its signification on break or broken. Some say there is nothing in a name, but I think there is great meaning in some. This I know, Jacob Albright w^as a Methodist in Lancaster county, Pa. He belonged to a class in ISTew Holland, and had license to exhort. When he obtained this license, such was his zeal to do good that he went out and preached, and per- formed the rites of baptism and marriage. He de- sired to be employed by the conference as a German missionary; but that body did not think proper to comply with his request. Believing that the Lord hod called him to preach among the Germans, he 126 LIFE OF JACOB GRITBER. set np for himself, remarking that he would not go with Boehm and Otterbine, and other German preachers, as they had no discipline, and were like a rope of sand. He adopted the Methodist discipline, and traveled at large, receiving members into his Church and forming classes. He got some zealous young men to help him. When his Church was fully organized the members elected and ordained him, and he. in turn ordained his preachers. He had a singular idea about secret prayer, and believed that the most profitable way was to pray aloud, which he did ; and as he had a strong voice, his secret prayers were heard all over the neighborhood. I never knew disciples to follow their master more fully than his did. They imitated him, particularly in praying ; and if I heard any of them pray, without knowing them or seeing them, I could at once tell that they were Albrights. Some of his young ])reachers in a short time blew out in the extraor- dinary exercise of their lungs. After his death his people changed their name, and are now known as Evangelicals." One of the preachers of this denomination lived in a part of Western Pennsylvania, and owned a grist-mill. On Sunday he went round in the neigh- LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 127 borhood to preach. From some cause or other liis mind gave way, and he was subject to strange hal- lucinations. He imagined himself to be the judge of the world, and solemnly set apart a day for the performance of that work. He erected his throne in the woods not far from the mill. As no one knew of his movements but his miller, that personage de- termined to watch them. Jacob Fulweiler was the name of this preacher. He had in the same section of country two competitors in the milling business, whom he thought were not exactl}^ as honest as they should be. At length the day of judgment came and the judge ascended his throne, and in loud but solemn tones he exclaimed : " Peter Schmidt ! Peter Schmidt ! Peter Schmidt ! come to the schudg- ment !" After a short pause he said ; " Well, Peter, you have a mill you knows, and de peoples say you dakes too much toll." Pausing again, he then an- swers for Peter : " Yes, ray Lord, I does take too much toll ; but den you knows de times is hard, and de water is low and de taxes is high." " Peter Schmidt, take your place on de left among de goats." The next summons was to John Lang. "Shoij 128 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. Lang, come to scliudgment. You keeps a mill you knows. Does you not dake too much tolls, Shon?" " Yes, Lord, I does ; but I has a large family, and have to pay de breachers, and de times is hard." " Shon Lang, stand on de left mit Peter Schmidt and de goats." After judgment was passed upon his neighbors he then summoned himself '' Jacob Fulweiler, now you comes to scliudgment. Does you not dake too much tolls at your mill ?" After a short pause he responded gravel}^ : " Yes, my Lord, I fears I does dake too much tolls. You know de times is hard, and de water low and de taxes high ; but den I gives some of de stealings to de boor beoples." " Yery well, Jacob Fulweiler, you may go on de right among de sheep ; but it's a very tight squeeze, I dell you." Gruber thus refers to the formation of the United Brethren Church: " Li the year 1815 the Germans had what they called a General Conference in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pa., com- posed of fourteen preachers. " I was at it, but not in it, and was acquainted with ten of the number. LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 129 They made a Discipline, and organized themselves into a Church. Being all Germans, they labored for some years among that people according to their original plan ; but when some English members and preachers joined them, it was not long until they found out that their society was as old as the Methodist Episcopal Church, if not older. Many who were called members were opposed to being classed, or having their names on a class-paper, and for their accommodation they adopted the plan of open doors for class-meetings and love-feasts. De- termined not to be bigoted and contracted as the Methodists, they give their meetings the same name as ours, but conduct them differently. They work with their tools, take our patterns, and alter them to suit their views and fancy, without any kindness to us or credit to them." The bishops about this time desired to have Gru- ber go out as a missionary among the Germans ; but not wishing, as he expressed it, " to run an opposi- tion line," or come in contact with the Albrights and United Brethren, who professed to preach Methodist doctrines, he declined. Bishop Asbury was particularly anxious about organizing a mission iamong the Germans, and in a letter to Gruber from. 130 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. Chambersburgli, a short time before his death, he says : " Let it be known that one of the grand acts of my life was the organization of a capital mission amoncr the American Germans." While Grnber was presiding elder of the Carlisle district, the most remarkable event perhaps in his life occurred. It has already appeared to the reader that, like all the Methodist preachers of that day in the slaveholding states, he bore testimony against the evils of slavery. The rough thunderbolt manner however in which he denounced wicked masters sometimes excited their ire. The event to which we allude grew out of a sermon preached by him at a camp-meeting held in Washington county, Maryland, on the sixteenth of August, 1818. Though presiding elder of the district, he had not the charge of this meeting, and was simply there as a visiting minister. The sermon was delivered on Sabbath evening ; and to show that there was nothing premeditated in it, or that he had the least collusion with any one, white or black, he tried hard to persuade a brother minis- ter to preach in his place. As no substitute could be procured, it became his duty to preach. As usual, when he preached on sucli occasions, there was a large attendance, and the whole force of the encamp- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 131 meut was out to hear liim. There were present four or five tliousand wliites aud between three and four hundred blacks. His prayer was unusually fervent, abounding in petitions for the conversion, happiness, security, and protection of his congregation. His text was Proverbs xiv, 34: "Eighteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." His sermon was divided after the old style of Meth- odist preaching, being a simple textual arrangement, consisting of a question and a declaration. On the question, " What kind of righteous7iess exalts a na- tion f he noticed : 1. '' Right principles, sound doctrine, sentimental righteousness.'*' Under the head of sound doctrines lie noticed the fall and original depravity of man, his redemption by Christ, and the doctrines of repent- ance, faith, and holiness, together with rewards and punishments in a future life. He remarked that a belief in these truths would make the head right, and would make a person or a nation upright, and dis- tinguish them from the ignorant and superstitious, the infidel and the heathen. Sound doctrines would not only affect the head but the heart, producing ex- perimental righteousness. Upon all such the Spirit 132 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. of the Lord would come, which would be a Spirit of grace, peace, adoption, love and liberty ; not a spirit of fear, but of power and of a sound mind, more excellent than the spirit of this world. Such an infusion of the Spirit would make the heart right, and cleanse the inside of a person or a nation ; wliile those who have not the spirit of Christ were none of his. 2. " This righteousness," he said, " would not only- correct the head and the heart, but it would control the conduct and produce practical righteousness. The life would be right, v/ithout which all, sentiments, notions, experience, and professions of righteousness would prove of no value in the dying hour and at the bar of God. According to the Scriptures, it was made known that ' in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him,' ' He that doeth righteousness is righteous even as God is righteous ;' and if it is known that God is righteous, so every one that doeth righteously is born of him and belongs to the heavenly family. The word of the Lord declares that ' the righteous shall eat of the fruit of their doings;' and if they are faithful unto death they shall have a crown of life, an.d share in the triumphs of the first resurrection." He summed up this branch of his subject by remark- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 133 ing that in these particulars were comprised all that was necessary for him to say on the subject of national and personal righteousness, and that who- ever lacks in either of these important particulars was not scripturally, experimentally, and practically righteous. The second division of his subject contained the following declaration : " Sin is a reproach to any people, nation, or person. Sin is the transgression of the law, and the way of transgressors is hard. He that comraitteth sin is the servant of sin, and sin is a reproach to any people, no matter what their position ; and to any person, no matter what his rank. If they are law-makers, it is a reproach to them to break the laws they make at a great expense to the public ; rulers, magistrates, and others, whose duty it is to execute the laws, and who should be a terror to evil- doers, and a praise to them that do well, should not bring a reproach upon themselves by breaking these laws. What! a drunken magistrate to administer solemn oaths to others, and be a profane swearer himself? Shame on him, even if he were a judge. '* Sin is a reproach to the rich, who have many advantages, and ought to be thankful and religious stewards, so that they may be enabled to give a good 134 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. account of their stewardship. It is a reproach to the poor, who have but little in this world, and ought to lay up treasure in heaven and be rich in faith, giving glory to God. It is a reproach to parents, to fathers and mothers, who should set a good example to their children, that they and their house might serve the Lord. It is a reproach to the aged, who are on the brink of the grave, and ought to be in preparation for death. It is a reproach to the young, who should remember their Creator in the days of their youth, and seek the Lord early, that they may be saved from evil habits, which lay a foundation for misery and destruction. " Sin is a reproach to professors of religion. To name the name of Christ, and not depart from iniquity ; to profess in words that they know God, and at the same time in works deny him ; to plead for Christ and advocate the cause of Satan, is an incon- sistency without a parallel, and a hypocrisy unpar- donable. The Lord says, ' Cry aloud and spare not ; show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.' All the righteousness or religion that some people have is, alas for them! only found in their prayer-book, a mere form or ceremony without the power ; and their devotion is carried on LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 135 by a kind of moral machineiy. The organ sings praise, and if a machine could be invented to pray with it would be an accommodation ; it would save the labor and trouble of reading prayers. " But tliere are what might be called national sins, which are a reproach. And first in the catalogue is the sin of infidelity, which consists in denying revela- tion, Christ, and religion, and also denying the power of godliness. The next is the sin of intemperance, fearfully prevalent especially among our national men. Tipphng, which leads to drunkenness, is frightfully common. AVe may safely calculate on a nation of drunkards if the common use of spirit- uous liquors is encouraged and continued. It is lamentable that many of our young men, and even boys, smoke and drink, sport, revel, and gamble, get drunk, and run fast to excess and riot. It would be an honor to them if they would learn sobriety. Then there is the sin of profanity. 'Because of swearing the land mourneth.' It is a great reproach to profane the name of the Lord and the Sabbath, and ordinances of his Church. What dependence can be placed in an oath of a person who, in common conversation, swears a score of oaths per day'^ Can such a man be a friend to his country who 136 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. breaks the law of God and man? or can he be an honest man until he goes before a magistrate and pays the lawful fine for every profane oath uttered by him ? ' The way of transgressors is hard,' and if a man swears he ought to pay for it as the law demands. "The last national sin is slavery and oppression. This in particular is a reproach to the nation. Other nations who are under the yoke of despots are pitied, especially when they are ground down under the iron heel of oppression. This nation is happily delivered from such bondage. We live in a free country ; and that all men are created equal, and have inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness, we hold as self-evident truths. But there are slaves in our country, and their sweat, and blood, and tears declare them such. The voice of our brother's blood crieth. Is it not a reproach to a man to hold articles of liberty and independence in one hand and a bloody whip in the other, while a negro stands and trembles before him with his back cut and bleeding ? " There is a laudable zeal manifested in our coun- try to form Bible and missionary societies, to send the Scriptures and the Gospel to heathen nations. LIFE OF eTACOB GRUBEE. 137 Would it not be well for some to be consistent, and instrnct the heathens at home in their kitchens, and let them hear the Gospel likewise ? What would heathen nations at a distance think if they were told that persons who gave liberally to send them the Bi- ble and the Gospel did not read, believe, or obey it themselves, or teach their own families to read that book, or allow them time to hear the Gospel of their salvation preached ? There is some difference even in this country. We Pennsylvanians think it strange, and it seems qnite curious to read in the public prints from some states an advertisement like this : ' For sale, a plantation, a house and lot, horses, cows, sheep, and hogs. Also, a number of negroes, men, women, and children, some very valu- able ones. Also, a pew in such and such a church.' Again : ' For sale, a likely young negro, who is an excellent waiter, sold for no fault, or else for want of employment.' These are sold for cash, for four, live, six, seven, or eight hundred dollars a head ; soul and body together, ranked with horses, hogs, etc. Look further and see, ' Fifty dollars reward, one hundred dollars reward, two hundred dollars reward.' What for ? Has an apprentice run away from his master ? No : perhaps a reward for him would be six cents. 138 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. A man that ran off has probably gone to see his wife, or child, or relations, who have been sold and torn from him, or to enjoy the blessings of a free country and get clear of tyranny. In this inhuman traffic and cruel trade the most tender ties are torn asunder, and the nearest connections broken. That which God has joined together let not man pnt asunder. This solemn injunction is not regarded. Will not God be avenged on such a nation as this? " But some say, ' We use them well, and even bet- ter than they would use themselves if they were free.' Granted ; but what assurance have they that your children, or those to whom you may bequeath them, will use them as you do. May they not tyran- nize over them after you are dead and gone, and may not the slaves thus abused rise up and kill your children, their oppressors, and be hung for it, and all go to destruction together? The Lord have mercy on their souls! Such alarming and dreadful conse- quences may attend and follow this reproachful sin in our land and nation : ' Is there not some chosen curse, Some secret thunder in the stores of heaven, Eed with uncommon wrath, to blast the wretch That traiRcks in the blood of souls 1' " LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 139 Having delivered his message fully and freely to the masters, he then turned to the slaves, who were seated in the rear of the stand, and thus ad- dressed them : '' Of all people in the world yon ought to have religion ; you have most need of it, in order that you may enjoy some peace and happiness : there is no peace to the wicked. Some of you have good mas- ters. You ought to attend tc^ religious duties. Never be absent from family prayer when it is in your power to attend ; discharge your duty, and it will make your situation more agreeable here, and certainly hereafter. Some of you have cruel masters ; are slaves to them, slaves to sin, and slaves to the devil ; and if you die without religion, you will be slaves in hell, forever ^miserable, wretched, poor, and lost to all eternity. But if you repent and get converted, be made free from sin, serve the Lord faithfully unto death, however hard your situations may be in this world, your sufferings will soon be over, and you may have crowns and kingdoms in glory, where the wicked cease from troubling and every tear is dry, and be happy in heaven forever, while wicked mas- ters are turned into hell, and damned forever." Some of the slaveholders present were much dia- 140 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. pleased at the sermon, and it was rumored that he would be arrested. He, however, continued to fill his appointments. A few weeks after the camp- meeting a warrant was issued for his arrest. lie received a letter from the Rev. S. G. Eoszel, dated Middletown, Oct. 11, from which we make the fol- lowing extract : "I rather suppose your enemies in Washington county will try all they can to injure you. I think you need not fear them. The God whose you are, and whom you serve, will, I trust, deliver you, and laugli to scorn the cruel power and machinations of your enemies. It will be a struggle between vice and virtue. I have seen Brother Pigman on the business, , and he has promised to interest on your behalf, should you be arrested. Lawyer Taney, the most influential and eminent barrister in Wash ington and Frederick. Should they sue the warrant on you, if the magistrate before whom you appear believes the prosecution to be malicious, or that there is no cause for action, he can at once dis- charge you ; if not, you must give bail for your appearance at court. A statement Brother Euhart has from Brother Pigman will show you your rights and privileges, of which, were I in your case, I would LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEB. 141 avail myself; and in case of arrest, when I appeared before the court, remove the trial to Frederick connty. It will also show you how much they will be in your power, if on trial a*jury should determine in your favor. May the Lord be with you, and bless you in all things. I design, if I can, to meet you at your quarterly meeting at Washington ; and, if I can, to bring Brother Snethen with me, that in case they should there arrest you, we may be ready to assist you in the business." About two months after the issuing of the warrant he was arrested at a quarterly meeting in Williams- port. He went before a magistrate and gave the necessary security for his appearance at court. He was obliged to desist from his regular work, and sought the counsel of his lawyers, Messrs. Pigman and Roger B. Taney, now Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of the United States. At the session of the court, which was held in Hagerstown, he pre- sented himself for trial. The case was submitted to the grand jury, who, after two weeks of labor, brought forth an indictment. 112 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. CHAPTER YI. Bill of Indictment — Opening of the Case — Examination of Witnesses in behalf of the State — Opening Address on behalf of the Defendant by Eoger B. Taney of Washington City — Examination of Witnesses for the Defense — Testimony of Eev. N. Snethen — Eev. J. Mason — Rev. J. Forrest — H. G. O'Neal — Mr. Long — Eev. L. Everhart — Eev. S. L. Davis — Jacob Bowlus — John Bo wins — Messrs. Brazier, Hunt, Bealer, Blake, Middlekauff, White, and Eeynolds — Eev. F. Stier — Eev. Stephen G. Eoszel — Eev. Abner Neal — Closing Argument for the Prosecution — Mr. Martin's Argument for the Defense — Argu- ment of Mr. Pigman, Counselor for the Defense — Mr. Taney concludes the Defense — Verdict of the Jury. The following is the bill of indictment found by the grand juiy of Washington county : CHARGE I. " State of Maryland, Washington county, to wit: "The jurors for the State of Maryland, for the body of "Washington county, upon their oath present : That Jacob Gruber, late of said county, clerk, being •I person of an evil, seditious, and turbulent disposi- tion, and maliciously intending and endeavoring to disturb the tranquillity, good order, and government of the State of Maryland, and to endanger the persons LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 143 and property of a great number of the quiet and peaceable citizens of said state, on the IGth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, at the county aforesaid, unlaw- fully, wickedly, and maliciously intended to instigate and incite divers negro slaves, the property of divers citizens of the said state, to mutiny and rebellion, for the disturbance of the peace of said state, and to the great terror and peril of the peaceable citizens thereof. And that the said Jacob Gruber, in prosecution of his said wicked intention and purpose, and for the effecting and accomplishment thereof, on the said sixteenth day of August, with force and arms at the county afore- said, unlaiofully^ wickedly^ maliciously^ and advisedly did endeavor to stir up^ provoke^ instigate^ and incite divers negro slaves^ whose names to the jurors afore- said are as yet unknown, the property of divers citi- zens of the said state, and inhabiting in the county aforesaid, with force and arms, unlawfully, seditiously, and wickedly to commit acts of mutiny and rebellion in the said state, in contempt and in open violation of the laws, good order, and government of this state, to the evil and pernicious example of all others in like case offending, and against the peace, government, and dignity of the state." 144 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. "CHARGE 11. "And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths, do farther present, tliat the said Jacob Gruber, being such person as aforesaid, and unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously designing, intending, and endeavor- ing again to disturb the peace, tranquillity, good order and government of the said state ; and further, to endanger the persons and property of the quiet and peaceable citizens of said state, and to incite a great number of other negro slaves, the property of divers citizens of the State of Maryland, to disobedi- ence, insubordination, and rebellion, to and against their masters, and to break the peace of the said state upon their said masters, to the great peril, annoyance, and disturbance of the quiet and peace- able citizens of said state, afterward, to wit : on the day and year aforesaid, with force and arms, at Washington county aforesaid, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously and advisedly, did endeavor to stir up, ])rovoke, instigate and incite a great number of the last mentioned negro slaves, whose names to the jurors aforesaid are as yet unknown, the property of divers citizens of said state, and inhabiting in the said county aforesaid, with force and arms, unlawfully, LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 145 seditiously, and wickedly, to resist the lawful authority of their said respective masters and lawful owners, whose names to the jurors aforesaid are as yet unknown, and to break the peace of the said state upon their masters and lawful owners to the great damage of the said masters, in contempt and open violation of the laws, good order, and gov- ernment of this state, to the evil and pernicious example of all others in like case offending, and against the peace, government, and dignity of the state/' The third charge was of the same tenor of the first and second, and need not be repeated. The whole was signed by the district attorney of the Fifth Judicial District, and attested by the clerk. On this indictment Mr. Gruber was tried in the Frederic county court, March term, 1819, the case having been removed from Washington county at the request of the defendant's counsel. The Hon. J. Buchanan, Chief Judge, and the Hon. A. Shriver and the Hon. T. Buchanan, Associate Judges, composed the court. 10 146 LITE OF JACOB GRUBER. OPENING ARGUMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION. In opening the case, the District Attorney, in addressing the jmy, observed that it was well known that slaves were property according to the laws of the state of Maryland, and that masters were entitled to the full protection of said property; that any attempt to incite slaves to insubordination and resistance to the lawful commands of their masters ought to be punished. He suggested, how- ever, that, in the prosecution of the inquiry on that occasion, the jury must not forget that liberty of opinion and speech was the privilege of every citizen, and if it should appear that Mr. Gruber had no criminal intent in his sermon, then he was to be regarded as having committed no offense against the law. It was the duty and province of the jury to judge of the intent from the facts which should be elicited in the testimony, and upon which alone their verdict was to be rendered. TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION. The first witness called on tlie part of the prosecu- tion was Dr. Frederick Dorset, who, upon being sworn, was examined by the attorney general. LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 14? Question. Did jou hear Mr. Gruber's sermon at the camp-meeting in Washington countj^? If so, please state to the jury what Mr. Gruber said, to the best of your memory. Answer. I was at the camp-meeting, and heard the sermon. Mr. Gruber spoke on many subjects. He spoke of the tyranny of masters, and gave a dialogue of what was to pass in hell between masters and slaves upon hot gridirons. He drew a com- parison between Pennsylvania and Maryland, and remarked that the people in Pennsylvania were sur- prised to see in the Maryland newspapers advertise- ments of negroes fpr sale, with stock and lands, and that they were sold without fault. He also com- mented upon the cash condition of the payment, the price of the soul, etc., etc. He said, in looking further into these advertisements, he found one run- ning thus : " Two hundred dollars reward ;" another, " Three hundred dollars reward ;" and still another, " One hundred dollars reward" for runaway negroes. A man gone to see his wife, or a wife gone to see her husband, and fear of punishment kept them from home. He said he would not be surprised if the slaves would poison their masters' children, and all go to damnation together. At this there was a 148 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. general response on the camp ground of " Amen ! Amen!" He said it was true that some slaves had good masters ; but what security had fathers that their children, to whom thej left them, would use them well; may not the slaves they leave as property rise against the children, and what security have masters that their children will not tyrannize over the slaves, and the slaves poison them? He said masters had no right to punish, because the negroes were free and born free. He quoted the Declaration of Independence, by which the people in this country had declared all men to be equal, and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He said further that the husband had no right to punish his wife, and on the same principle the master had no right to punish his slave. Dr. Dorsey was then cross-examined by Mr. Pig- man, one of the attorneys for the defense, in the fol- lowing manner : Q. What part of the discourse was addressed to the negroes ? A. A considerable part of it. Q. What were the number of white people on the ground ? ^ LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 149 A. About tliree thousand whites, and from three to five hundred blacks. Q. What was the manner of Mr. Gruber ? A. He preached with energy and zeah Q. What was the text of Mr. Gruber ? A. I do not recollect the text, but he preached the necessity of repentance to the blacks as well as the wdiites. Da.vid G. Yost, Esq., was next called, and the attorney general proposed the following questions: Were you at the camp-meeting in Washington county ? Did you hear Mr. Gruber's sermon ? How many persons were present, and what was the general scope of his sermon ? Mr. Yost stated in answer that he was at the meeting and heard the sermon. The text was in Proverbs : " Righteousness exalteth a nation ; but sin is a reproach to any people." He said in that part of his discourse relating to slavery, that he was opposed to slavery as a man, and much more so as a Christian. He said it was a reproach to the people of America to boast of their liberty while they held thousands in bondage ; that there was a great incon- sistency in holding the Declaration of Independence in one hand and a bloody whip in the other, and 150 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. the blood streaming from a negro's back literally cut to pieces. He spoke of advertisements in the Ma- ryland papers, mixing negroes for sale with stock, land, etc., and offering a reward for men who, perhaps from inhuman treatment, had gone to see their wives and children. He then addressed the blacks, and exhorted them to emancipate themselves from the service of the devil, and warned them if they and their masters lived and died in sin they would all go to hell together. Then he addressed the whites, and said : ^' You say you use them well ; granted, but how do you know your children, to whom you leave them, will use them well? They may tyrannize over them, and the slaves may rise up and poison or cut the throats of your children." In his address to the negroes he particularly ex- horted them to get religion and seek the pardon of God for their sins, and be ha23py. Dk. Hammond, as a witness for the state, was next called and examined by the attorney general. Question. Did you hear tlie sermon in question de- livered by Mr. Gruber? Answer. I did hear it. He spoke in part of it of advertisements in the Maryland newspapers in which men were offered for sale with the cattle. Kesjroes LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 151 were olfered for sale without any fault. I^one need apply without cash. He said the cruelty of some masters was such that he should not be surprised if the slaves would enter their bed-rooms in the dead of night and poison tliem or cut their throats. He seemed to speak in a great passion. A person could hear him half a mile distinctly. He said negroes were sometimes whipped for trifling faults ; that they could not serve God and man. The part of his sermon addressed to the blacks occupied ten or fifteen minutes. Cross-examined by Mr. Pigman. Question. Do you remember that part of Scripture where our Saviour told the Jews and others who heard him, that they could not serve God and mammon? Answer. I do not remember any such Scripture. Me. Claggett was next examined on the part of the state. He was requested by the attorney general to state to the court and jury what he knew about the business. He testified as follows : I was at the camp- meeting and heard the sermon, but do not remember the text. Mr. Gruber said it was very inconsistent for people in this boasted land of liberty to hold the Declaration of Independence in one hand and a whip stained with human blood in the other. He said it was a common thing to see human flesh offered for 152 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. sale in Maryland with cattle and other stock. Horrid it was, he said, to the people of Pennsylvania to hear of these things. He said he would not be surprised if these negroes poisoned or cut the throats of the children of their masters, and all go to destruction together. I think there were about four or five thou- sand persons present, and out of that number about four or five hundred blacks. I did not hear the ad- dress to the blacks, as I left the ground before that part of the sermon commenced. Daniel Schneblt was next examined on the part of the state, and made the following statement : I do not remember the text, but think it was in Proverbs. I got displeased with him early in his sermon and left the ground, but returned again and heard him. In addressing the whites he said he should not be sur- prised if the negroes rose in the night and killed their masters, and entered their bedrooms and poisoned their children. There were from five to six thousand people present, and out of them from three to five hundred negroes. De. Finlet was then called, and testified as follows : I heard Mr. Gruber preach the sermon for which he stands accused. The general scope of his discourse was to entreat the congregation to obtain religion. LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 153 He preached with zeal and vehemence, but not more so on that occasion than usual. I have heard Mr. Gruber often, and he delivered his sermon on that occasion in his usual manner. When speaking on slavery as a national sin, he said, besides the immor- ality of slavery itself, many masters treated their slaves with great cruelty, denying them the comforts of life, and many engaged in the slave-trade would for a tempting price tear asunder the tender ties of husband and wife, parents and children. Under these cruelties he said the slaves might be faithful to one generation, but they might not be so to the descend- ants of the present generation ; that it would not be surprising if the children to whom they were left, treating them with cruelty, should cause rebellion, and end in mutual strife ; the negroes sliould cut their throats, or kill them, be hung for it, and all go to de- struction together. He said some slaves were treated as if they had no souls. Though they were black, he said they still had human feelings, and many of tJiem possessed keen sensibility. He said those who tyran- nized over the negroes might be in hell, while the negro thus used, if faithful, might be in happiness. He said it was degrading to humanity to see human souls mixed with horses, cows, and stock, and offered 154 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. at public sale to the " highest bidder ;" that it was inconsistent with the republican principles of this nation to hold the Declaration of Independence in one hand, while the bloody scourge was brandished over the trembling slave with the other. Me. Ingram was next called, and gave the following testimony : I remember that Mr. Gruber said he should not be surprised if the slaves of some masters entered their bedrooms and cut their masters' throats. I did not pay much attention to the sermon, and don't recollect the text. Mr. Hogmire testified as follows: Mr. Gruber, when speaking on the subject of slavery, observed that the Pennsylvanians thought it monstrous to see Maryland newspapers filled with advertisements ofiering for sale negroes with cattle and other goods. He said he would not be surprised if they were to cut their masters' throats and poison their children. Me. Rench was next called, and testified as fol- lows: I do not remember the text. I got so mad with Mr. Gruber for his severity on other sects of Christians that I do not remember much about the sermon. At the close of Mr. Kench's testimony, the LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 155 attorney general gave notice to the defendant's coun- sel that the proof on the part of the state was closed. Roger B. Tanej having, as above stated, been employed as counsel in the case delivered the open- ing address to the jury. EOGER B. TA^^Y'S OPENmG ADDRESS. He remarked that the statement made by the dis- trict attorney had informed the jury of the interesting principles involved in the trial then pending before them. It was, indeed, an important case, in which the community, as well as the accused, had a deep interest. The prosecution is without precedent in the judicial proceedings of Maryland ; as the jury are judges of the law as well as the fact, it becomes my duty not only to state the evidence we are about to offer, but to show you the grounds on which we mean to rest the defense. I need not tell you, that by the liberal and happy institutions of this state the rights of conscience and the freedom of speech are fully protected. 'No man can be prosecuted for preaching the articles of his religious creed, unless, indeed, his doctrine is im- moral, and calculated* to disturb the peace and order of society ; and subjects of national policy may 156 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. at all times be freely and fully discussed in the pulpit or elsewhere without limitation or restraint. Therefore the reverend gentleman, whose cause I am now advocating, cannot be liable to prosecution in any form of proceeding for the sermon mentioned by the district attorney, unless his doctrines were immoral, and calculated to disturb the peace and order of society. The sermon, in itself, could in no other way be an oifense against the laws. If his doctrines were not immoral, if the principles he maintained were not contrary to the peace and good order of society, he had an undoubted right to preach them, and to clothe them in such language, and to enforce them by such facts and arguments as to him seemed proper. It would be nothing to the purpose to say that he offended, or that he alarmed some, or all of his hearers. Their feelings, or their fears, would not alter the character of his doctrine, or take from him a right secured to him by the constitution and law^s of the state. But in this case he is not accused of preaching immoral or dangerous doctrine. It is not the charge contained in the indictment. The preaching of such a sermon is not laid as the offense. He is accused of an attempt to excite insubordination and insur- LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 157 rection among our slaves; and the intention of the preacher is the essence of the crime. On this in- dictment, no matter what doctrines lie preaclied, no matter wliat hmgnage he used, yet his doctrines or his hmguage could not amount to the crime now charged against him. They would be evidence, I admit, to show his intention ; but they would be nothing more than evidence, and could not constitute the offense itself. Mr. Taney then read and explained to the jury the different counts contained in the indictment. You will perceive, he continued, by the explanation I have given you, that the intent of the accused is the great object of your inquiry. The charge is a grave and serious one. It is necessary, in order to support the prosecution, that the wicked intention charged in the indictment should be made out by proof. The guilty design is the crime imputed to him. You must be satisfied, before you can say he is guilty, that such was his intent, such the object he wished to accomplish, and that such were the purposes for which his sermon was preached. For it is upon this sermon alone that this prosecution is founded. It is true that the words used by him are evi- 158 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. dence of his intentions. But they are not conclusive evidence ; nor are they the only evidence from which the intent is to be gathered. His language is a cir- cumstance from which you may infer his design. It is nothing more. And there are a variety of other circumstances equally entitled to weight, and equally proper for the consideration of the jury. For when it is alleged, on the part of the prosecution, that a clergyman of a Christian society, while professing to be engaged in the high and solemn duties of religion, was in truth seeking to produce insubordination and insurrection among the slaves, and a detached part of his sermon is relied upon as the proof of his guilt, the party accused has a right to refer you, in proof of his innocence, to the general scope and object of his sermon, to the other topics introduced and dis- cussed; to the occasion on which it was preached, to the character of the congregation to whom it was addressed, to the opinions known to be held by the society to which he belongs, and, above all, to the history of his own life, which in this instance would, of itself, be abundantly sufficient to repel such a charge, bottomed on such evidence. Upon all of these circumstances Mr. Gruber relies for his defense, and I now proceed more particularly to LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 159 state them, as you will by and by hear them in proof. You have already been told that Mr. Gruber is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. And it is not necessary to tell you that the religious soci- ety to which he belongs is nearly as numerous as any other society of Christians in this state, and the equal of any other in the general order and decorum of their behavior, in their moral deportment, and in their habits of obedience to the laws. It was at a very early period of his life that Mr. Gruber became a member of this society, and took upon himself the duties of a minister of the Gospel. In this vocation he has faithfully labored for more than twenty years, and he now fills a post of high rank, and great confi- dence in his Church, the reward of his fervent piety and unwearied zeal. We shall also prove to you by a most respectable witness, a minister of the same Church, whose duty it has often been, according to the Discipline of that society, to examine into the conduct and character of the accused, that during the whole course of his ministry, the reverend gentle- man, who is now on his trial, has sustained a charac- ter of spotless integrity. It is well known that the gradual and peaceful 160 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. abolition of slavery in these states is one of the ob- jects which the Methodist society have steadily in view. No slaveholder is allowed to be a minister in that Clmrch. Their preachers are accustomed, in their sermons, to speak of the injustice and oppres- sions of slavery. The opinion of Mr. Gruber on this subject nobody could doubt. And if any slavehold- er believed it dangerous to himself, his family, or the community, to suffer his slaves to learn that all slavery is unjust and oppressive, and persuade him- self that they would not of themselves be able to make the discovery, it was in his power to prevent them from attending the assemblies where such doctrines were likely to be preached. Mr. Gruber did not go to the slaves ; they came to him. They could not have come if their masters had chosen to prevent them. In August, 1818, a camp-meeting of the Method- ist society was held in Washington county. At tliis meeting it was the duty of Mr. Gruber to at- tend. He did attend, and from his official station in the society, the general superintendence and direc- tion of the meeting was in his hands. On one of the days of the meeting, when the usual hour of evening preaching had arrived, the gentleman who had been LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 161 depended upon to fulfill that duty was prevented by indisposition. It was the duty of Mr. Gruber to provide for this unexpected emergency. He applied to several of his brethren, and requested them to ad- dress the congregation. But it so happened, that from different causes, not now material to be stated, he was unsuccessful in all his applications ; and as nobody else could be found to supply the place of the sick brother, Mr. Gruber was compelled to do it himself. He undertook the task without preparation, without time for reflection, and upon the sudden and unexpected call of the moment. I state these facts so much in detail, because this sermon is th6 sole foundation of the charge against him. The language used on that occasion is the only fact relied upon to prove him guilty of the wicked intention of raising an insurrection among the slaves, and converting this peaceful and flom-ishing state into a horrible scene of rapine and murder. At the time this sermon was preached there were present about three thousand persons, of whom only about four hundred were people of color, as they are now generally called. These were separated from the whites, according to the custom on such occasions, nnd placed together, behind the stand from which 162 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. the preacher addressed the congregation. Many of the most respectable gentlemen of Washington coun- ty, and many of the principal slaveholdei'S were there when the sermon in question was delivered. Yet it is at this meeting, thus constituted, that he is accused of conspiring against the peace of this state. It is in his public address to this assembly that he is said to have developed his profligate designs. If he did mean to stir up the slaves to insurrection, it must at least be admitted that he at the same time put the masters on their guard. The address of Mr. Gruber occupied rather more than one hour. His subject was national sin; and after enumerating and rebuking some ofi*enses which he supposed the people of this country to be but too prone to commit, he, in the conclusion of his dis- course, spoke about fifteen minutes, and no more, on slavery and the treatment of slaves. It is not al- leged that he said anything in the preceding part of his sermon* calculated, in any degree, to support tlie prosecution. During all that time he made no allusion to the condition of master or slave, jjind in the latter part of his discourse, when he did speak of them, and used the language on which this prosecu- tion is founded, he addressed himself particularly to LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 163 the masters. His appeal to his hearers on this sub- ject was directed exclusively to the whites. The impression was intended to be made on them. And when the language used by him shall be detailed to you by the witnesses, you will find that he could not have designed, in that part of his discourse, to influ- ence the conduct of the slaves, but was obviously and clearly seeking to reform the hearts of the masters. There may, and probably will be a difference among the witnesses as to the words used on this occasion by the reverend preacher. There will always be this difference where there are many hearers. For some will be negligent, while others are attentive ; some hear only detached parts, others hear the whole ; some are roused to attention only when the angry passions are inflamed by an expected attack on some favorite opinion, and others listen to the whole discourse, in the spirit of soberness and humility, for the purpose of receiving and profiting by the instruction. And in this case a difference is more especially to be looked for because the sermon produced a good deal of excitement, and much warm conversation among different persons even on the ground ; so that the remarks of irritated individuals 164 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. become intimately blended in the mind with the language of the preacher, and make it difficult, after the lapse of some months, for those who list- ened carelessly to separate the one from the other. But we shall be able to fix, beyond doubt, the lan- guage actually used by him ; for we shall produce a most respectable witness w^lio listened attentively to the whole discourse, who was near the preacher during the whole time, and who, on the day afterward, while it was yet fresh in his mind, wrote down the heads of the discourse, and wrote out in full what may be termed the offensive part of it. His statement, too, will be corroborated by the testimony of a multitude of other witnesses concurring with him in all the material parts. We shall therefore confidently rely on it as containing truly and accurately the words delivered. And fronl such a sermon as the witness will detail, preached by such a man, on such an occa- sion, and under such circumstances, without any other act of his life to aid the prosecution, I must be allowed to say that no intelligent mind, free from the influence of passion and prejudice, can infer the guilty design charged in this indictment. The learned district attorney has said that the lan- guage of Mr. Gruber was injudicious ; that it was not LIFE OF JA'COB G RUBER. 165 calculated to do good ; that it would necessarily irri- tate and offend the masters, and make the slaves more dissatisfied with their unhappy condition. And it may, in the progress of this trial, be argued, on the part of the prosecution, that his principles on the subject of slavery were wrong ; that the assertion of his opinions to a congregation mixed like the one to which he was speaking, was impolitic and dangerous, and likely to produce insubordination and disturb- ance among the slaves. N'ow, if all this could be truly said of this memorable sermon ; if the reverend preacher merited all these reproaches, yet, if you should believe that his motives were pure, if you think him innocent of any design to produce this mischief, he would still be entitled to a verdict of acquittal ; for he is not now on trial for preaching doctrines calculated to disturb the peace and order of society. That is not the offense charged in this indictment ; and you are well aware that a man indicted for one offense cannot on his trial on that indictment be convicted of another and a different offense. And if the learned attorney for the state shall be able to satisfy you that the opinions of Mr. Gruber on slavery, and the treatment of slaves, are unsound ; that his arguments were injudicious and 166 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. impolitic ; that his language was inflammatory and calculated to produce evil ; still he will not have advanced one step toward the accomplishment of his object, until he can prove to you that these opinions were uttered, these arguments were used, and this language employed, with the criminal intention and for the wicked purpose laid in this indictment. I might, therefore, safely rest the defense on this ground, and yield to the attorney for the state all the advantage he can derive from placing my client, in this respect, in the wrong ; for the circumstances I have before stated will, in my humble judgment, put the integrity of his motives beyond all question. And whatever may be thought or said of the intem- perance of his zeal, nobody who listens to the proof will be able to doubt the sincerity of his heart. But the reverend gentleman merits a defense on very different principles. The counsel to whom he has confided his cause cannot content themselves with a cold and reluctant acquittal, and abandon Mr. Gruber, without defense, to all the obloquy and reproach which his enemies have industriously and most unjustly heapeS upon him. We cannot consent to buy his safety by yielding to passion, prejudice, and avarice, the control of future discussions on this LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 167 great and important question. He must not sur- render up tlie civil and religious rights secured to him, in common with others, by the constitution of this most favored nation. Mr. Gruber feels that it is due to his own character, to the station he fills, to the respectable society of Christians in which he is a minister of the Gospel, not only to defend himself from this prosecution, but also to avow, and to vindi- cate here, the principles he maintained in his sermon. There is no law that forbids us to speak of slavery as we think of it. Any man has a right to publish his opinions on that subject whenever he pleases. It is a subject of national concern, and may at all times be freely discussed. Mr. Gruber did quote the lan- guage of our great act of national independence, and insisted on the principles contained in that venerated instrument. He did rebuke those masters who, in the exercise of power, are deaf to the calls of human- ity ; and he warned them of the evils they might bring upon themselves. He did speak with abhor- rence of those reptiles who live by trading in human flesh, and enrich themselves by tearing the husband from the wife, the infant from the bosom of the mother ; and this, I am instructed, was the head and front of his oflending. Shall I content myself with 168 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. saying he had a right to say this ? that there is no law to punish him ? So far is he from being the object of punishment in any form of proceeding, that we are prepared to maintain the same principles, and to use, if necessary, the same language here in the temple of justice, and in the presence of those who are the ministers of the law. A hard necessity, indeed, compels us to endure the evil of slavery for a time. It was imposed upon us by another nation, while we were yet in a state of colonial vassalage. It cannot be easily or suddenly removed. Yet, while it continues, it is a blot on our national character, and every real lover of freedom confidently hopes that it will be efi'ectually, though *t must be gradually, wiped away ; and earnestly looks for the means by which this necessary object may be best attained. And until it shall be accomplished, until the time shall come when we can point without a blush to the language held in the Declaration of In- dependence, every friend of humanity will seek to lighten the galling chain of slavery, and better, to the utmost of his power, the wretched condition of the slave. Such was Mr. Gruber's object in that part of his sermon of which I am now speaking. Those who LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 169 have complained of him and reproached him will not find it easy to answer him, unless complaints, re- proaches, and persecution shall be considered an answer. I have now done with stating the testimony we are about to offer, and marking out the grounds on which our defense will be taken. But there is one other topic on which it may be proper to remark before I conclude the opening of the case. The sermon in question was preached in Washing- ton county, and this indictment was found by the grand jury for that county. The cause has been re- moved to Frederic, upon the application of the ac- cused. This circumstance sometimes creates suspicions unfavorable to the character and standing of the party who applies for the removal. If he has been long an inhabitant of the county in which he is indicted, there may be some ground for these suspicions ; but even then they cannot be allowed, in the least degree, to affect the verdict. In this case, however, Mr. Gruber was as much a stranger in Washington as he is in Frederic. He never resided in tha^t county, and therefore has not shunned the decision of the men who knew him. He has removed his cause from one body of strangers, to be decided, indeed, by aaother 170 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. body of men who are equally unacquainted with him. His motive for doing so I will briefly explain to you. Mr. Gruber, as I have already told you, was a stranger in Washington, and consequently incapable of deciding how far a fair and impartial trial could be there expected. He, of course, submitted himself on this point to the decision of his counsel, and formed his own opinion upon the advice and information de- rived from them. I am by no means prepared to say that if he had gone to trial in Washington his cause would not have been patiently heard, and impartially decided, by a jury of that county. But it was well known that great pains had been taken to inflame the puHlic mind against him. The grand jury of that county had found this indictment to be true ; and on that jury were men of high standing and great influ- ence in the county. Many of the members of that body I know personally, and respect highly. They are incapable, I am sure, of willfully doing wrong. Yet they are, like the rest of us, but men ! frail men ! and liable to be influenced by the impulse of passion or prejudice without being aware of it. Knowing, as I did, all the circumstances of this case, and being firmly convinced that there was no just cause for in- stituting this prosecution, the finding of this indict- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. iTl ment, by a body of men so respectable as the grand jury, was of itself sufficient evidence to my mind that the liberty and reputation of Mr. Gruber ought not to be hazarded on a trial there. I so advised him, in the strongest terms ; and if blame is to rest upon any one ^or the removal of the cause, I acknowledge that to me, and not to Mr. Gruber, it ought to be im- puted. Yet I cannot think that the exercise of a con- stitutional right can be matter of censure against the client or his counsel ; nor can it be a reproach to any one that he is willing to abide the verdict of a jury of Frederic county. TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE. After the opening address of Mr. Taney was con- cluded, Mr. Pigman, one of the defendant's counsel, proceeded to call witnesses in his behalf. Kev. N. Snethen was first called, and testified as follows: Mr. Gruber, in his introductory prayer, devoutly prayed for the safety, conversion, and happiness of the whole assembly. When upon the point of slavery, he gave the good and bad masters their meat in due season ; kept up the distinction between good and bad masters. He admitted, in his argument, that many masters used their slaves well ; but then, he said, 172 LIFE OF JACOB GEIJBEE. what security have they that their children will use them well? It is possible that their children may be tyrants ; the slaves may rise and kill their children. When he spoke of killing, it exclusively related to the next generation. He endeavored, in his argument, to convince the good master that slaves were danger- ous property to leave to children ; that tyranny in the children might produce rebellion in the slaves, and mutual destruction might ensue. Mr. Gruber preached that day by accident. He did not appoint the meet- ing ; and before he began he labored very much with one of his brethren in the ministry to preach in his place. He possesses a good general character; is very zealous and devout in the ministry. He is next in office to the bishop, and of an unimpeachable moral character. In his address, in conclusion, to the blacks, he enforced on them repentance ; exhorted them to religion, to obedience, and patience in the service of their masters. He told them without religion they were slaves to their own lusts, slaves to their masters, and if they died in their sins they would be damned forever. When he adverted to the Declaration of In- dependence, he spoke of it as a national thing, and not to slaveholders particularly, and said it had been justly thrown upon this nation as a reproach, to hold LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 173 the Declaration of Independence iu one hand, and the bloody whip in the other. Court. How did you like the sermon ? A. From prudent considerations I would not have preached in the same way, because from his very frank manner persons might misrepresent him. My taste also differed from his, and should have advised a different manner and composition ; but nothing escaped him that could induce me to believe for a moment that he had a criminal intent. When Mr. Gruber spoke of the danger of mutual destruction between the children and slaves in the next genera- tion he offered up a prayer for them all: "The Lord have mercy on them !" and it was then the general response of Amen took place, alluded to by Dr. Dorsey. •Kev. Jeremiah Mason was next sworn by the clerk, and examined on the part of the defendant: I was at the camp-meeting and heard the sermon. His text was in Proverbs : " Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Right- eousness was the first head of the discourse. Sin is a reproach to any people, was the next head. He dwelt considerably on the sin of infidelity, and with great labor on the sin of oppression, under which he con- 1Y4 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. sidered, he said, the whole of invohmtary negro slav- ery. He contended that involuntary negro slavery was a violation of the moral and natural law, and a gross abuse of Christianity ; that it was in violation of the sentiments expressed by the American sages in the Declaration of Independence ; that it was reproachful to this nation to hold that sacred instrument in one hand and a rod stained with blood in tlie other. He spoke of the cruelty of advertising and selling human beings, mixed with cattle. He said it was usual to find in the advertisements on this subject the owners stating to the public that they (the negroes) were sold without fault. In that part of his address directed to the negroes he was very severe on them, and told them, unless they repented and obtained conversion, they would be damned forever. He recommended to them obedience, and entire and patient resignation to their condition. I being a justice of the peace, and hearing an accusation was to be stated against Mr. Gruber, I made immediate notes, after the delivery of the sermon, of its prin- cipal heads. When he spoke of the danger of kill ing, he referred to the posterity of the present gen eration of masters. He said, in the mutual strife that might ensue between the negroes and the chil- LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 175 dren of the present masters, there might be mutual death, and all be sent to destruction together. Then he made a pause, and said, " The Lord have mercy on them!" Then the response spoken of by Dr. Dorsey took place of Amen ! Amen ! Mr. Gruber then said : " Is there not some chosen curse, Some secret thunders in the stores of heaven, Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the wretch That makes his fortune from the blood of souls ;" or words to that effect. At this time he was speak- ing of tlie slave-trade. Cowpt. Have you ever said that you did not ap- prove of the matter and manner of the sermon delivered by Mr. Gruber? A. I have said, from the temper of the congrega- tion, I was fearful the sermon might give offense to some persons present; but I never intimated or thought there was anything criminal in it. Rev. Jonathan Forrest was next examined : I was at the camp-meeting; I heard the sermon. lie took his text in Proverbs : " Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." He spoke considerably on the beauty of righteousness, and the horror of sin, in a national point of view. In his prayer previous to preaching he offered a 176 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. fervent petition to the throne of grace for the happi- ness, peace, conversion, and quiet of the whole con gregation. He discussed negro slavery as a national sin, as being contrary to the natural and moral law, contrary to the Christian religion, and expressly against that command of God which directs us to do to all men as we would they should do to us. He said slaves were dangerous property for fathers to leave to their children. Children might tyrannize over them, mutual destruction might ensue, and all go to destruction together. When he spoke of the danger of killing it was in reference to the next generation of men. In that part of the address directed to the negroes he exhorted them with great zeal to get religion, to seek pardon of God, to obey their masters and mistresses, to let their light shine before men, and perhaps it might be a means of their getting their freedom through some kind turn of providence. He told the slaves if they lived and died in their sins they would be damned forever. I was near Mr. Gruber the whole time he was preaching. I am confident he did not in any part of his sermon say the negroes present were free-born. H. G. O'lSiEAL was next examined: I was at the camp-meeting, and heard the sermon. In his LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 177 first prayer he fervently prayed, as usual, for the peace, conversion, and happiness of the whole con- gregation. In the general scope of his sermon he preached repentance toward God and ftiith in a Sav- iour. He said slaves were dangerous property to leave to children ; that present good masters had no security that their children w^ould make good mas- ters; children might become tyrants, slaves might rebel, kill each other, and all go to destruction to- gether. I do not remember his saying anything about poison. When he spoke of killing, he referred to the next generation of men. He said it was mon- strous to see human souls put up at auction, for sale with cattle and stock ; that it was horrid to a repub- lican and a Christian. In his address to the negroes he was severe on them for their own sins. I remem- ber he preached to them the necessity of their own conversion, exhorted them to be obedient and sub- missive to their masters, and begged those who had pious masters to join them in devotion. I think there was about five thousand white persons present, and perhaps from two to three hundred blacks. Mr. Long was next examined : I was at the camp- meeting, and heard the sermon. I remember Mr. Gruber said, Pennsylvanians thought it strange that 12 178 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. human beings were sold in Maryland at auction with cattle and beasts. He said negroes were dangerous property for fathers to leave to their children, that children might prove to be tyrants, negroes might rebel, mutual destruction take place, and all go to destruction together. Court. Did he tell the negroes they were a de- graded people? A. lS,o. He advised them to be obedient. He preached a mighty good sermon. It was the truth from the Scriptures. Rev. Lawkence Everhakt was next examined ou the part of the defendant : I heard the sermon. In preaching from his text he spoke of the beauty of righteousness first. Then he spoke of various na- tional sins until he came to the sin of negro slavery. He said the Americans had, in their Declaration oF Independence, proclaimed to the world that they hold it self-evident that all men are created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights ; that among these are life, liber- ty, and the pursuit of happiness ; that it was incon- sistent for tliis nation to be holding this scroll of liberty in one hand, and in the other a bloody cow- hide ; that human beings were often mixed with cat- LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 1Y9 tie, and sold at public auction for no fault ; that it would be awful to account for this in the day of judgment. He said, Admit some masters use their slaves well, what security have they, when they leave this sort of property to descend to their children, that their children will be equally kind? The children may become tyrants, and slaves rise against them, produce mutual resistance and mutual destruction, and all go to hell together. The Lord have mercy on them ! There was then a general response of Amen ! Amen ! After addressing the whites he particularly addressed the negroes. He exhorted them to obey their masters, and be resigned to their condition. He preached to them the terrors of hell that hung over them while they remained in an un- converted state ; that they were slaves to their lust, slaves to the devil, and if they died in their sins they would be damned forever. Rev. Samuel L. Davis was next examined : I was at the camp-meeting and heard the sermon. The text he took opened the way to speak of national virtues and national sins. Among other national sins he spoke of negro slavery, as tolerated in this nation. He was very severe upon bad masters, and particularly those engaged in the slave-trade. In 180 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. part of his sermon he made use of a quotation to this effect, I think : " Is there not some cliosen curse," etc. When he made this quotation he was speaking of the slave-trade. The address on this sin was principally directed to cruel masters, and traffickers in human flesh. After preaching to the whites he addressed the blacks, warned them faithfully of their own sins, preached to them the terrors of the law,- exhorted them to obedience to their masters, resignation to their state. I considered the address to the slaves a complete antidote for anything that had gone before. Court. What do you mean by an antidote \ Was there poison to be expelled ? A. I supposed it probable many masters present would be offended at the plain manner in which the preacher delivered the greatest truths, and I thought their wrath would be turned away when the accused warned the slaves so faithfully of their own sins, and exhorted them to obedience to their masters. That is what I mean by antidote. I never supposed there was anything criminal in his sermon. I remember Mr. Gruber said many j^ersons would contribute their money to support Bible societies, to carry the LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 181 Scriptures to the lieatlien in foreign countries, who neglected to teach religion to the heathens in their own kitchens. Court. Kemember, jou must state the truth. A. Sirs, I am on my oath ; that is warning enough for me.^ Me. Yo was next examined : I heard the de- fendant preach the sermon. I remember he en- deavored to prove that slaves were dangerous property to leave to children ; that although fathers might be good, the children might be tyrants, slaves might rise against the children, mutual destruction might ensue, and all go to destruction together. He said slavery was horrid to him as a man and a Christian ; that it was a violation of the moral law, the law of Christianity, and was, in fact, contrary to the sentiments of the American sages, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. He said it was monstrous to see a people holding a scroll * It is proper to state that the court, withont hesitancy, apologized to Mr. Davis, by observing that nothing was intended against his integrity ; but that the court, supposing he was a stranger to such examinations, considered it their duty to inform him that he was bound to state the whole truth, although the interrogatories put to him might omit some- thing. With this explanation the warning of the court was as beneficial to the accused as it was to the prosecution. The explanation was highly honorable to the court. 182 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. of liberty in one hand, and a bloody whip in the other. After he addressed the whites he turned to the negroes, and warned them faithfully of their own sins ; and exhorted them to repentance, to obedience to. their masters, and patient submission to their condition. Jacob Bowltjs was next examined : I was at the camp-meeting and heard Mr. Gruber preach the sermon for which he is now indicted. He preached with great animation and zeal, and in the general scope of his sermon endeavored to con- vince the whole congregation of the great necessit}^ of repentance, of piety and love to God. When speaking of the sinS of masters he brought into view the sin of negro slavery in this country, and said the Americans are very inconsistent when they hold the scroll of liberty in one hand, declaring that all men possess equal rights, and the bloody whip in the other over a poor trembling negro, sometimes by cruel masters literally cut to pieces. He said, " Some mas- ters say, 'We use our negroes well.' Granted: but what security have you that your children to whom you leave them will do the same? Your children may be tyrants over them ; mutual strife and mutual destruction may ensue, and all go to hell togetlier. LIFE OB^ JACOB GRUBEK. 183 The Lord have mercy on them." Then the general response of Amen ! took place which has been men- tioned by Dr. Dorsey. "What he said about the dan- ger of killing or poisoning referred to the next gen eration. John Bowlus (of Nicholas) was next examined : I heard Mr. Gruber preach the sermon in question. When he came to speak of the national sin of negro slavery, he observed that it was a monstrous incon- sistency for a people to hold our Declaration of Inde- pendence in one hand, and the bloody whip stained with the gore of a fellow-creature in the other. He was very severe upon bad masters, and all persons concerned in that sort of commerce called the slave- trade. He said there w^as an awful responsibility resting on them for the day of judgment. He en- forced Christian duties on the masters and slaves. He applauded the good master and the good slave. He said good masters make good slaves, and good slaves make good masters. He endeavored to show by various arguments that it was impolitic to encour- age it ; that slaves were dangerous property to leave to children ; that though fathers might be good the children might be tyrants, slaves might rebel against the children, might kill them, and all go to destrue- 184 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. tion together. After addressing the whites he turned to the negroes. He warned them to serve their masters truly and faithfully, that it was their great duty to be obedient and resigned to their condition. Me. Braziee, Me. Hunt, Me. Bealee, Me. Blake, Me. Middlekauff, Me. White, and Me. Eeynolds were next examined on the part of the defendant, and severally stated that they were at the camp- meeting, and heard Mr. Gruber deliver the sermon in question. His text was, " Righteousness, exalteth a nation, bat sin is a reproach to any people." In his introductory prayer he prayed for the happiness, conversion, peace, and quiet of the whole congrega- tion : and in the general scope of his sermon he, with great zeal, enforced the necessity of repentance to- ward God and faith in a Saviour. He endeavored to show how impolitic it was to encourage slavery. He said good masters liave no security that their children will be equally good. The children may turn tyrants, slaves may rebel and kill the children, and all go to destruction together. As a nation, the Americans were very inconsistent. The sentiments of our forefathers, contained in the Declaration of Independence, are violated every day. The scroll of liberty was held in one hand, and a whip, stained LFFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 185 with die gore of a human being, in the other. Wlien- ever he spoke of the danger of killing, it was in reference to the next generation of men. After he addressed the whites he turned to the %egroes, and preached to them, with great zeal and animation, tlie terrors of the law of God hanging over them while they continued unconverted. He told them they had no chance of happiness, but by leading pious lives in all humility to their condition ; exhorted them to be obedient to their masters, and to show them by an upright walk and godly conversa- tion that they deserved their lenity and kindness. He told them by an orderly, good behavior, they might gain the good-will of their masters, and ia time, and in the course of providence, might ob- tain emaiJ^ipation ; exhorted all of them who had pious masters, to join them morning and evening in devotion. Rev. Fkederick Stier was next examined : Mr. Gruber, when speaking of national sins, brought into view negro slaver}^ in this country. He argued to show it was a national sin of the greatest magni- tude. In reasoning with masters he observed, "Some of you say, ' We use our negroes well.' Granted : but what security have you that your children, to 186 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. whom you leave that sort of property, will use them well. Tour children may turn tyrants, the slaves may rebel, and all go to destruction together." He said it was ^ monstrous inconsistency in the Amer- icans to hold the Declaration of Independence in one hand and the bloody scourge in the other. I do not remember that he said anything about poisoning or killing, except what related to the next generation, as before mentioned. In his address to the negroes, he warned them faithfully of their own sins, and preached to them the necessity of repentance. Ex- horted those who had religious masters to join them in devotion to God. I know Mr. Gruber preached by mere accident. He called on me to preach with very pressing and anxious solicitation several times. I refused. He preached on that occasion frith great reluctance. Eev. George Koszel was next examined : I have known Mr. Gruber for eight or nine years. He holds an office second in rank to the bishop. He possesses a character unblemished. He is pious, zealous, and very laborious in the ministry. I have been one of a committee in the annual conference for many years for the annual examination of the characters of our preachers, and Mr. Gruber's has LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 187 been before me every year, in that way, for several years past. Nothing that could lead to immorality has ever been imputed to him in his ministerial character. Eey. Abner ]S[eal was next examined : I have been acquainted with Mr. Gruber for many years, but I was more particularly acquainted with him in the year 1814. In that year he was stationed by the Cliurch in the city of Baltimore, where I reside ; and while the British were at E'orth Point, threatening Baltimore, Mr. Gruber had under his charge from fifteen hundred to two thousand ne- groes, and kept them under the very best dis- cipline. I have lieard him frequently preach to them ; and he warned them faithfully of their duty to their masters, and patient submission to their condition. Here the counsel for Mr. Gruber gave notice to the attorney general that they had now closed the examination of the witnesses. CLOSmO ARGUMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION. Franklin Anderson, district attorney, closed the argument on behalf of the state in a brief speech. He said he felt the peace and good oi'der of the 188 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. state as much at heart as any man, and would be as wiUing as any man to see a person guilty of crimes brought to condign punislnnent, but he said he never could consent, contrary to his conscience, and the best light of his own judgment, to use any effort to convict any man of any offense charged against him, when he thought from the evi- dence there was no crime committed. He said he should address the jury no further on the subject, except to state to them that he did not wish his own convictions or opinions to have any weight with them. He should leave them free to pass their own unbiased judgment on the case before them, which he hoped they would do, with an eye to the public good. MR. MARTIN'S ARGUMENT FOR THE DEFENSE. The attorney general having closed the argument on tlie part of the state, Mr. Martin rose and ad- dressed the jury as follows : I appear before you as one of the counsel for the accused ; and if the subject upon which we delib- erate involved no other interest than that connected with the right of property, I should be well pleased, after the very just and candid prosecution, to spare the time of the court, aud submit the cause of my LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 189 client, without comment or remark, to the delibera- tion and decision of the jury. But in a trial which wears an aspect different from, and more alarming than any other known in the history of the court ; when a citizen eminent for piety and Christianity is arraigned for doing nothing but what benevolence, piety, and Christianity re- quired ; when the feelings and principles of a vastly numerous Church have been, through the accusation of a member, sensibly wounded ; and when the right of sentiment and of speech is doubted and attacked, silence on our part would be criminal. As for my- self, though young and inexperienced, shrinking from the gaze of public scrutiny, and trembling under consciousness of incapacity, I cannot, under those disadvantages, forbear at least the exertion of defending a client so injured, a cause so just, and principles so important to every American, as to be the very soul of his national independence. It is, however, a consideration of pleasure to know that much time will be saved, and much trouble in this investigation unexpectedly relieved, and, I am happy to say, relieved by the firm and highly hon- orable part the state's advocate has acted. Highly honorable ! for however meritorious it may be actively 190 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. to pursue and strenuously to prosecute the man who would meditate to unhinge the government, and inundate with blood the land', it is surely equally meritorious fearlessly to avow him innocent whose innocence has been proved. The district attorney stands upon the high ground of protecting, not abusing, the law ; to shield from violation, not per- vert it to oppression ; ready to exert his power against the wretch who willfully profanes it, and ready to shelter, under the mantle of authority, the prisoner who is wrongfully accused, whether such accusation arises from the zeal of the misguided, the prejudice of the misinformed, or the uncontradicted information a grand jury gleans from the examina- tion of ex paiie witnesses. Gentlemen, you are impanneled to determine a case of no ordinary kind. You are called upon to dis- charge a trust, the highest that can be discharged by enlightened men endowed with the powers of reason, and empowered with right of decision. Patriots who have suffered for the liberties of our country, look to your verdict with an agonizing care; the Methodist Church bleeds at every pore for the fate of a minister transferred from the pulpit to the prison box; posterity to succeed may have reason LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 191 either to bless or curse the result of this day. The busy crowd that throng the court, though disposed to immolate at the shrine of opinion the man who differs, and condemn him because they condemn his sentiments, will learn to affirm your acquittal. When that film which now obscures the vision alike of the humane and the wise shall have fallen ; when those fumes which float from the heated prejudices of the time shall have passed away, they will learn that the blow leveled at the traverser must fall upon themselves ; that the freemen who condemn a man for uttering the dictates of his heart, commit suicide upon their liberties ; and by sacrificing this reverend gentleman they sacrifice those noble attri- butes of their constitution, the right of free sentiment and the right of free discussion. Who is the accused f What has he spoken ? How were his sentiments dangerous f and with what inten- tion did he sjpeah those sentiments f These, gentle- men, are matters for your consideration ; and while, in pursuing them, I hope duly to regard the duty to my client, I shall not forget that the court, the jury, and the counsel are already much fatigued with the investigation of his subject. Who is the accused? He is a gentleman of tho 192 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. clerical ministry, and after laboring with zeal and fidelity many years in the cause of religion, has been appointed presiding elder of the district. Nursed in the cradle of the Church, and confirmed in its tenets, he has '^ grown with its growth, and strengthened with its strength." Aloof from those cares which incite the ambition, deprave the passions, and multi- ply the misfortunes of the temporal world, his life has been devoted to the service of his God, and his time to the instruction of his fellows. Unconfined to any particular situation, he has traveled from circuit to circuit, shedding in his course the light of the Gospel, and disseminating the principles of morals, philanthropy, and religion. The duties of his office carried him to the place where the supposed crime, was committed, for which supposed crime he has been called from the altar of grace, to answer charges preferred by his country. What has he spolcenf At a camp-meeting held last August, in Washington county, the traverser, according to the will of the ministry, and in opposi- tion to his own inclination, preached a sermon from Proverbs : ^' Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to an}^ people." From that text his deductions were many, and after descanting upon the LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 193 different divisions, he addressed the congregation upon the subject of slavery. He spoke of it as a " national sin," and condemned the practice as being contrary to natural law, national policy, and the principles of humanity and religion. Thus, gentlemen, a religious discourse, embracing the principle of slavery, has given rise to this criminal prosecution. The indictment accuses the traverser of an attemj)t to excite " rebellion ;" and is it necessary to ask whether a minister can be thus criminated for advancing to his own congregation sen- timents upon a subject so often the topic of general remark, and so often the theme of public reproba- tion ? The right of slavery is a question of abstract morals, of natural law, and human policy ; a subject upon which the judgment ponders and the intellect suspends; discussed in the councils of the nation, it has called forth the efforts of the benevolent and learned ; and the matter of that memorable sermon which now arraigns this reverend gentleman has been long since proclaimed by elevated statesmen. We will convince you that sentiments upon slavery, stronger in matter and bolder in expression than any portion of the traverser's discourse, have rolled from the lips and flowed from the pen of the most distin- 194 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. guished Americans. Men high in office, eminent in science, fair in character, and exalted in the confidence of their fellow-citizens, have arrayed themselves the champions of emancipation ; and con- demned a system they conceived unwise and un- natural, dangerous to the morals and strength of the people, poisoning the springs of social felicity, and repugnant to the principles of our free constitution. What says Mr. Jefferson? In his Kotes upon Vir- ginia he thus writes : " There must, doubtless, be an unhappy influence on the manners of our people, produced by the existence of slavery among us. The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degraded submission on the other." Again: "With what execration should the statesman be loaded who, permitting one half of the citizens thus to trample on the rights of the other, transforms those into despots and these into enemies; destroys the morals of tlie one part and the amor jpatri(2 of the other! For if a slave can have a country in this world, it must be any other in preference to that in which he is born to live and labor for another; in which he must lock up the faculties of his nature, contribute, LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 195 as far as depends on his individual exertions, to the evanishment of the human race, or entail his own miserable condition on the endless generations pro- ceeding from him." Continuing, he asks : " Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only iirm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that their liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? I tremble for the honor of my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleej^ forever; that, considering num- ber, nature, and means only, a revolution in the wlieel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Bupernataral influence! The Almighty has no attri- bute which can take side with us in such a contest.''^ Such, gentlemen, are the remarks of Mr. Jeflferson, and I read them for the purpose of proving that the sul)ject has been, before this sermon, examined with great animation, and without an}' suspicion of crime. That philosopher and statesman called the attention of his state to an evil, corroding, as he thought, ^Yery day the morals, inflaming the passions, weak- ening the energies, and endangering, perhaps, the * liberties of a free and manly people. These senti- 196 LIFE OF JACOB GIIUBER. ments were free and unconcealed, circulated in Vir- ginia, so numerous in slaves, and open to general observation, private discussion, or public scrutiny. Yet is Mr. Jefferson infamous? Has he been branded with the epithet of hypocrite and felon ? Has he been subjected to the ceremony of a criminal prosecution, and threatened with the chains and calamities of disgraceful imprisonment ? ^o ! since the publication of his notes he has been elected to the presidential chair, directed for eight years the affairs of the nation, and now reposes, unaccused and unsuspected of anything like treason, in the lap of literature and science. But, gentlemen, Mr. Jefferson is not the only citizen who has freely spoken upon this subject, and who ranks high in the councils of his country. The remarks of Mr. Talmadge, upon the floor of Congress,* at its last session, on the question of the Missouri bill, were much in substance as those preached by the traverser. Discussing the policy of admitting slavery into Missouri, he says : " You boast of free- dom in your constitution and your laws ; you have proclaimed in your declaration of riglits that all men are created equal; that they are endowed with cer- tain unalienable rights; among these life, liberty, LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 197 and the piirsuit of happiness; and yet you have slaves in your country." In another part he con- tinues : "This is a subject [alhiding to slavery] upon which I have great feeling for the honor of my country. In a former debate upon the Illinois ter- ritory I mentioned that our enemies had drawn a picture of our country, as holding in one hand our declaration of rights and with the other brandishing a whip over our affrighted slaves." Thus you learn that arguments upon the evils of slavery, not less powerful than those of the traverser, have been rung by a president of the United States and a representative in Congress in the ears of the whole nation. They have been exalted, not dis- graced ; they have received the benedictions, not the curses of their country ; and I ask by what prin- ciple of fairness can you accord honor to the one and infamy to the other? They are argued from the right of free discussion ; the same right is dele- gated to the traverser. The golden rule of dealing alike to all is just, and the same franchise of speech and of conscience that supported Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Talmadge, and others, when bearing their weapons in the cause of freedom, justifies Mr. Gruber. As an American citizen, he was authorized to dis- 198 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEPw. CUSS the policy of a system interwoven with tlie well- being of his government; as a man, moved by the feelings of benevolence, and glowing with enthusiasm of philanthropy, he was privileged in condemning a practice he thought inconsistent with both ; as a min- ister of the Gospel, directed by the laws of his Church, and instigated by conscience and belief, he w^as bound to tender his advice. Had he not, the sin of " leaving undone those things he ought to do," would have re- coiled upon him ; he would have broken a much more sacred law than he is said to have violated ; he would have sinned against a much higher tribunal (however exalted by learning and virtue) than I have tlie honor to address; he would have sinned against that God before whom you and he and we must appear. Gentlemen, before a man can be subject to the sanction of law, law must be proved to exist. He cannot violate that which is not in being. Has any law been, adduced to you to-day? Have the prosecution exhibited any statute of the state as broken and abused ? ISTone has, none can be offered. It has been remarked that the laws of Maryland allow slavery. Granted. But it does not command it. The distinction is evident. Did the law positively command, then any arguments in opposition might be LIFE OF JACOB GKUBKU. 199 criminal. Where it merely permits, it becomes a subject of private opinion, policy, and conscience; and any citizen has the privilege, by all the abilities of his mind, to remove that opinion or alter that be- lief. Besides, the traverser addressed his own con- gregation, confined his remarks to the pale of his Church ; and surely if any can be authorized, it is the pastor who teaches the doctrines of his Church to those who compose it. The Quakers are principled against bearing arms, and it is unnecessary for me to tell this well-informed jury that the right of advocat- ing those principles in their houses of worship never was denied them. There the Quaker opposes what in fact is declared by law ; and he draws his right from that freedom of opinion and prerogative of speech every man living under the sun of America has exer- cised since the memorable period of seventy-six. Gentlemen, having endeavored to establish that the traverser thus far has neither violated law nor reason, let us dissect the sermon, and before we proceed to the intention., inquire how his sentiments were danger- ous ; and whether, upon fair construction, they can be thought calculated to excite either "rebellion, dis- obedience, or insurrection." You learn from the testi- mony that the sermon consisted of two distinct parts : 200 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. one addressed to the white congregation, and the other to the slaves. And so far from attempting to create insubordination, we will prove that the clear and ostensive purpose was, first, by discussing the principles of slavery, (which we have already consid- ered,) to effect universal emancipation ; secondly, by exposing the cruelty of selling and torturing slaves, to ameliorate and soften the discipline of masters ; and thirdly, by instilling the policy and religion of obeying those entitled to govern, to fasten upon the slaves good conduct and obedience. The internal slave-trade of this country formed the subject of part of his discourse ; and he dis- played in the severest terras, as the witnesses deposed, the sin and wickedness of such atrocious commerce. As to the particular expressions, the testimony differs, but in substance is the same. And where is the crime ? Is there any man on that jury, or in this court, w4io ^ would not respond to such sentiments, who would not raise his voice and power in suppressing a traffic oppo- site to the laws of God, and repugnant to the rights of man? Gentlemen of tlie jury, interest, policy, ne- cessity may compel us to retain an evil which seems to be entailed. It is not for me to say, until the efforts of philanthropy shall establish for these people a suit- LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 201 able receptacle, how far emancipation would be pru- dent. But nothing can justify so flagrant and cruel an abuse of it. ^NTo motive can authorize a trade that separates the husband from tl^ie wife, tlie parent from the child, and the relation from the friend ; that tears asunder all the ties of social connection and breaks apart all the ligaments of natural union ; steeping yet deeper in misery this unfortunate population, and forcing from their embrace the last relic of human happiness. It "would draw iron teai^s down Pluto's cheek." The African slave-trade has eno^aored the attention and attracted the notice of almost every part of Christendom. Your own government have taken laudable and effective measures to suppress it. So proud is England of her exertions that she contends for the right of example ; and Kapoleon of France, amid his mad career of war and carnage, when every call of mercy seemed drowned in the din of battle, and every fiber of humanity eradicated by the power of ambition, forbad the slave-trade. And is that njoi'o to be deprecated than this? The same cruelties are practiced, the same ties are broken, the same agents employed. Traffickers in blood and panderers of ava- rice are engaged in both ; and the vultures who hover 202 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. over the coast of Africa and the vultures that crowd from the sugar farms of America are equally destruct- ive ; alike they feed upon the vitals and fatten upon the miseries of an unfortunate and degraded people. Gentlemen, I -^brbear to press or continue the sub- ject. IVe have proved, I hope, that the traverser has not in this violated the law. In this country, enlightened as we are by rays of Christianity, and illumined with light of liberty, no law can be pro- duced to credit a practice unwise, inhuman, and unjust. I will next call your attention to a passage in which he exhibits the inconsistency of our theory and practice. "Is it not a reproach to a man to hold in one hand the Declaration of Independence, and with the other brandish a whip over the bleeding slave?" This description, though hideous, is true. The same was drawn by Mr. Talmadge, and with the same foreigners have reproached us. The picture of Amer- ican independence, though glowing with the tints of liberty and virtue, cannot but be darkened and dis- colored by such cruelty and oppression. The trav- erser did not apply the remark generally, but made it conditional ; he did not say that such practices existed ; yet if they did exist, they were inconsistent. LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 203 He threw his sentiments to tlie congregation, " qui capita ille facit f^ and the man who so far misuses power which chance has given, well merits the lash of invective. Does any attempt appear to canse " re- bellion or insurrection." The object was to do no more than expose those cruelties wliich, when prac- ticed, degrade the man and stigmatize the nation. This concluded his address to tlie whites ; and as the alleged attempt was to infect the slaves with re- bellious principles, observations to them become more interesting, because more important. Several wit- nesses on the part of the prosecution, and all for the accused, testify that the whole tenor of that dis- course went to impress upon their minds the value of religion, " Of all people in the world you ought to have religion," he says, '^ for when converted, you will disregard the hardships of your life." It is said he spoke of poison, and thereby impliedly recom- mended the use of it to the slave. In that sentence, where he remarks, " that althougli you (addressing the masters) use them well, there is no security but what your children will tyrannize over them ;• the slaves, abused, rise up, and kill or poison your chil- dren, and all he Jiung and go to destruotion together.^'' Admitting this, can any man, without perverting 204 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. common sense and common langnage, see an attempt to induce the nse of poison ? Does he not stamp such conduct with the dreadful doom of death and destruction ? With equal propriety you might say, to desci'ibe futurity was to encourage sin ; and to instigate murder, it would only be necessary to relate the appalling ceremony of criminal prosecutions. In another passage : " Some of you (addressing the slaves) have good masters ; you ought to attend to religion, and discharge your duty to your masters, that it may make your condition better here and here- after. Some of you have cruel masters ; you are slaves to them, slaves to sin, and if you die without religion you will be slaves to the devil.'' What, then, does he declare that religion to consist in ? Re- bellion? Is'o ; for that, he has affirmed, is repugnant to religion. Disobedience ? Mr. Snethen tells you, upon oath, that he fully discharged the doctrines of his Church, and those doctrines command the slave to obedience. Insurrection ? Certainly not, for then he threatens them with the dreadful reversion of future woe. A witness thinks that he said, " If you die slaves to your masters you will be damned." The witness from ineligible situation must be mistaken ; it is too absurd to be believed. Could the traverser LIFE OF JACOIJ G RUBER. 205 say that a man should be punished for an evil he could not avert, and suffer for that which was his niisfortune, not his fault? It is contradicted b}^ cver}^ witness on the part of the accused, who, we may suppose, from situation and attention, better understood and more correctly remembered the expressions of the sermon. We have now, gentlemen, examined each passage of the sermon, and contend that it has been viewed through a false and mistaken medium ; that the observations of the traverser were not, in themselves^ calculated to inspire '^ rebellion or disobedience,'' and therefore hope that the intelligent jury to whom he appeals will wipe that charge from the indict- ment. But if I should be too sanguine in this hope, should we fail to convince you that his sentiments were useful, not dangerous ; much more is necessary to be established — the intention is the life and essence of every crime — and before you can convict tlie accused upon the charge of high misdemeanor, an intention to commit the different offenses in the indictment must be proved, wicked, designed, and felonious. Here let us reflect upon the testimony. In all cases of high capital nature every man is presumed 206 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEH. innocent nntil prov^ed gniltj. Such is the benignity of onr laws ; such the language of Justice Buller, and such is the voice of all English authorities. The case at bar is an accusation of high criminal char- acter, and it is much stronger to prove by conduct than presume from inference. Where, then, is the evidence to establish such guilt? Can it be found in the testimony of any witness ? Can a single fact or circumstance be adduced which even savors of such intention f All the gentlemen of the Methodist clergy -state that the traverser strongly objected to preaching on the day named in the indictment ; that he expressed every wish to decline, and used every means to avoid the service, and did not consent until his duty as presiding elder compelled him to perform what others refused. The congregation of whites he ad- dressed was four times more numerous than the slaves. The witness from Baltimore, Mr. Xeal, in- forms you what his conduct was in the year 1814. Stationed by his Church in Baltimore, he presided over his congregation during the memorable battle of North Point, and at that anxious moment, w^hen every eye watched the destiny and every heart beat for the danger of our gallant troops, the traverser held LIFE OF JACOB GFwUBEE.. 207 in harmless subjection a body of fifteen hundred men. And does this look like an attempt to bring ruin up- on the country; to whet the sword of civil war, or light the fires of desperate rebellion ? Can you sup- pose premeditation to preach on that day, wlien he so often refused the invitation of the ministry? "Would he have, by declaiming before the masters, strong in numbers and power, provoked the very sword of justice ; and would he have failed at a former period in the commotion of Baltimore, when all its nerves were braced against foreign attack, to strike a dreadful and perhaps a fatal blow? ]^o, it is inconsistent with common reason to think it ; and, however the policy of his doctrines may be question- ed, none, unless they have drunk to the dregs the cup of prejudice or folly, can doubt the purity of his heart. His object was to effect universal emancipa- tion ; his intention to teach the law of religion, and to pour into the afflictions of an ill-fated people the comforts and consolations of the Gospel. Gentlemen of the jury, this trial is new in America: it is novel in the jurisprudence of our country. You must for examples unfold the blood-stained page of the fifteenth century. Go back to that season of re- ligious fury ; recur to that black and disgraceful pe- 208 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEll. riod of intemperate opinion wlien bigoted belief was supported by the gibbet and the stake, and the very temples of justice "smoked with bloody execution." I pretend not to sa}^ that this prosecution has originated from such influence; the fair characters of the gentlemen who composed the Grand Jury (though personally unknown to me) defy the suspicion ; but it matters not from whom or from what. You view the case with all its lights and solemnly decide upon the principles. Shall this nation, so long gloried in as the home of the oppressed, the retreat of the per- secuted, the asylum of those w^ho, in the dreadful massacre of individual privilege, have flown from their " altars and their gods," be at this day reduced to the disgraceful level of infuriated despotism? I trust not. The streams of jurisprudence, drawn from the fountains of liberty and virtue, w^ill continue to play through the land free and unpolluted. But it is unnecessary to invoke such sentiments in the bosom of this impartial tribunal. The flrmness, the intelligence and integrity of juries must ever prove a safeguard and barrier against the encroachments of prejudice. The traverser has been introduced to you with the imposing name of a Grand Jury; a host of testimonv has rallied round and ventured to sup- LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 209 port it. Yet, gentlemen, you have seen that not the ingenious examination of the learned district attor- ney, not all the exertions of professional ability, have been enabled to extract one fact or elicit one circum- stance to uphold an indictment b^iseless and un- founded. Sir, I have done; not, however, without offering my thanks to the honorable court for the indulgent attention they have been pleased to extend, on my part undeserved and, except in iny gratitude, unre- quited. Considering the stage of this trial, and the gentlemen who follow me, if I have trespassed too long upon their time my apology must be sought in the deep interest and importance of the case. In defending the honor and liberty of a gentle- man whose life, through a series of twenty years, has passed unspotted and unreproached, I am justified in saying, that it has been not merely beyond censure but irreproachable until this day, and beyond sus- picion. His life has been dedicated to the holiest offices of religion, and employed in relieving those miseries and softening those sorrows which should have awakened the sympathies of a colder heart. Confiding in your virtue, the traverser awaits the verdicl with calmness and security. If acquitted, 14 210 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. glorying in the principles of his country, he will re- turn to his duties with zeal and faithfulness ; if con- victed, supported by the consciousness of innocence, he will bear whatever punishment the law may inflict with the resignation of a Christian and the firmness of a man. MR. PIGMAJs^'S ARGUMENT TO THE JURY. Mr. Pigman, who, as counsel for the defense, con- ducted the examination, then addressed the jury: You perceive from the case before you tliat it did not originate in Frederic county, and I trust you also perceive that the accused was bound in duty to his own character, and tlie still greater duty he owed to the sacred cause of religion, to embrace his legal privilege of changing the venue, to shield himself from an overwhelming and dangerous influence, which, from some strange and nnaccountable infatu- ation, seemed to be seeking his destruction. In this prosecution we have new proof, if any was wanting, that none need to look for angels in the form of men, and that men, however respectable they may be, are involved in the same general condition of mortality, and liable to be nrged on to give pain and uneasiness to perfect innocence itself by erroneous judgment, LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEFv. 211 and the still greater delusion of prejudice and inflated anger. Folly itself, give it time to cool and review what it has done, will shrink abashed from this pros- ecution, and be constrained by the stings of a disturb- ed sensibility to own with silent anguish, if not pub- lic acknowledgment, that there is no criminal fault in the preacher. The intent with which any act is done, is to give it a criminal or innocent complexion. It is lawful to preach or debate against negro slavery in the pulpit as well as in the senate, if the orators have no criminal intent in their arguments ; and stronger proof of an innocent intent never was pro- duced by any person accused of a crime than that brought into court by the reverend gentleman I now defend. It is in proof that the camp-meeting where the discourse containing the supposed crime was de- livered, was not appointed by him ; that the sermon preached was wholly accidental and unpremeditated, after he had labored with great solicitude, but with- out success, with one of his brethren to preach in his place. He being presiding elder of the district it was his duty to preach, as no substitute could be procured. His introductory prayer ushering in the discourse possessed no signs, of a treasonable or re- 212 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. bellious disposition. In this close converse with Almighty God he offered up pions j)etitions at a throne of grace for the peace, quiet, happiness, and • conversion of his congregation ; and by the general scope of his whole discourse it is proved he enforced upon his audience tlie divine doctrines of repentance, faith in Christ, love of God and their neighbor. It is in proof, both by the witnesses for the state and the accused, that in this particular address to the negroes he inculcated the necessity of their seeking the pardon of their sins at a throne of grace ; told them that the love of God (which, of course, would carry with it love for their masters) would ameliorate their condition, would procure their happiness in this life and the approbation of the Lord in that day when he would come to judge the quick and the dead. Tiiat those of them who were yet in their sins, unrenewed by divine grace, were not only slaves to their masters, but slaves to their lusts, slaves to the devil, and if they died without repentance toward God they would be sentenced forever by the right- eous Judge to damnation. It is in proof by a great mass of evidence on the part of the accused, from a great many respectable witnesses, that to prevent all misunderstanding of his motives among the whites, LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 213 and to suppress the least rising of a tlionght that would lead to insubordination among the blacks, he preached to the latter obedience to their masters, resignation to their present condition, and urged those who had pious masters to join them in their devotion ; that bj a strict religious and moral de- portment in the order of Providence they might eventually obtain emancipation. The American sages who formed the constitution of Maryland have, with caution and sagacity highly honorable to their integrity and wisdom, preserved a declaration of rights on record, in which it is declared, " That it is the duty of every man to worsliip God in such a manner as he thinks most acceptable to him ; all persons professing the Christian religion are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty, where- fore no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious per- suasion or profession, or for his religious practice, unless under color of religion any man shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety of the state, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil, or religious rights." These sages were informed by the history of the old world, particularly that of Enofland, that the secular authoritv had often 214 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. assumed unreasonable and unlawful powers against the rights of conscience, and that a dominant and powerful sect, sometimes exercising its power and influence to destroy a sect more w^eak and defense- less, had frequently created strife and dissension in the Christian Church, and greatly annoyed the peace and security of civil society. They had learned in the Book of Martyrs that good men had bled and burnt at the stake for adhering to the testimony of a good conscience, and had skill enough in political economy to know that civil liberty could not long exist in any state where religious liberty was not freely enjoyed. The clause of the bill of rights just quoted was tlierefore made, and is a precious jew^el among the rights of the citizen. The legislature, though possessing more power than any other tri- bunal in the state, has no authority to take this jewel from the citizen ; and however bold and frank a preacher may be in a discourse against the vice of slavery, permitted by law, to a mixed assembly of slaves and masters, yet, as long as he intends to commit no crime, but eradicate the vice, he is inno- cent and inoffensive, and w^orthy of being protected by the laws of God and man. ISTegro slavery, as it exists in this country, is evidently a violation of LIFE OF JACOli GKUJ3EK. 215 natural 'law, and is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Christian religion. When we speak undisguised truth from an honest heart we pro- nounce it an absolute despotism, at which we should all shrink with horror if it were fixed upon our white population ; and to prevent it from involving the whites and drawing into its vortex our own posterity, even in a much milder form, we would readily con- sent to rise en masse, and pledge the last drop 'of our blood and the last cent of our treasure. Tliis, though known to every man of serious reflection and sound philosophy, is a secret to many of the slaves ; and although the relating this great secret to the whites in their hearing might by some remote possibility start a thought of insubordination, which might by another possibility still more remote lead to some ove7't act of rebellion, yet it is not unlawful to do it so long as it is done with an innocent intent. There is not only no law existing in Maryland to prevent it, but the legislature of the state does Jiot possess power to pass any such law, it being pro- hibited by the bill of rights. Consider, gentlemen, the American is rocked in the very cradle of liberty, and is habituated in thinking and speaking to more freedom and independence, and less restraint, than 216 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. the men of any other country. He is disposed to enjoy his privilege to the fullest extent, and neither fears nor suspects any evil while he moves within the limits of the constitution. The preacher is commissioned and sent forth by God to declare his counsel and will to a fallen w^orld, with the whole revelation for his instruction and guide. In those instructions he finds the great Head of the Church hath declared in his in- imitable sermon on the mount : " Tlierefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to 3"0u, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.*' Matt, vii, 12. And again : " For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James ii, 10. By the quotation from St. Matthew it is manifest that slavery is prohibited by the comprehensive meaning of our Saviour ; and by the declaration of the apostle James it is clear, that however excellent any man may be in all other respects, yet if he offend in this " one essential point he is a transgressor of the whole law." IsTow if a preacher, in perusing his instructions contained in the holy w^ord of truth, believes to the best of his judgment and understanding that it is a vice to hold slaves, and that it is his duty as a faith- LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 21 T fill messenger to declaim against vice in every shape, in his worship of Almighty God it becomes his right to do so, and it is a privilege of conscience, as com- jDletely secured to him by our bill of rights as the privilege of believing that Jesus is the Saviour of the world. The same rule that would prohibit the one might prohibit the other, until the civil or secular power might be permitted by piecemeal to assume an authority that would greatly vex and disturb every order and sect of the Christian Church. The Methodist and Quaker ministry both consider slavery as a great vice ; and if it could be said that the act of preaching itself, under circumstances which do not show a criminal intent, would justify the arrest and indictment of a preacher, these two sects of Christians must be silenced, and submit to be deprived of that very liberty of conscience evidently secured to them by the " bill of rights." There are no signs of a treasonable or rebellious disposition to be found in the accused. He did not appoint the meeting. The sermon was delivered with reluctance, without premeditation, and not until after he had solicited another gentleman to preach for him. It is admitted by his accusers that he made no attempt at any other time or place to incite the slaves to 218 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. rebellion. Then they would have you believe that a man in his senses would publicly, in tlie presence of five thousand whites, persuade from three to five hun- dred blacks to rise in instant and open rebellion. All his severity w^as directed to those who used their slaves with cruelty, keeping up the distinction be- tween good and bad masters : and in his arguments he was endeavoring to prove that slaves were dangerous property for fathers to leave to their children ; and that, although fathers might treat their slaves with humanity, they had no security that their posterity might not act the part of tyrants, the slave? rise against the children, kill them, and be liung for their crime, and all go to destruction togetlier. The reference to the next generation is conclusive proof that he had no criminal intent. For he must be a most singular offender indeed to invent a trea- sonable plot to be executed upon the next generation of men when he himself would not live to see it. But tlie peroration of his sermon is still more con- clusive that he contemplated no crime. In the last part of his address he preached the awful terrors of the law of God to the negroes expressly ; w^arned them faithfully of their own sins ; advised them to resignation to their present condition, obedience to LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 219 their masters ; urged them to obtain and keep re- ligion, to se