come and tell these things to his people. But whiskey was at work also, and had it not been for Bangs' mediation the giddy mirth might have had a fatal ending. Next morning, with assistance, he crossed the swollen stream, wondering at the experiences of the night, and reached his appointment. Steadily he rode, visited and preached until autumn, when an epidemic of typhus fever called him among the sick and the dying. He was seized himself by the dreadful malady, and attributed his recovery to his drinking freely of a pail of water sedulously forbidden. After lying for seven weeks he was so enfeebled and broken in voice that for months he was unable to preach, and his power of speech was marred for life. After two years of hard work on the slender allowance of twenty dollars a quarter, he left the Bay of Quinte circuit for the New York Conference. On his way he visited his aged parents and preached in their house. Another stopping-place he found on the Hudson, in the beautiful home of Freeborn Garretson, whose wife, born to opulence, kept open doors for weary itinerants while her zealous husband was abroad on errands of salvation. By this first visit was Bangs identified for life with this Methodist home and its godly occupants. At the Conference he was ordained deacon and then presbyter, that he might administer the ordinances on his next circuit. In his first year he had received a letter telling of the destitution of the Thames country. He told Bishop Asbury, who said, "You shall go, my son." Conference over, he saddled his horse for a ride of six hundred miles, through swamp and forest, to a region as yet not entered by any itinerant, and noted for miasma as deadly as that which had already shattered his health. With fifteen dollars in his pocket he headed for Kingston, and through the scene of his last year's labors; then with William Anson to Yonge Street, and Daniel Pickett to Niagara, where he visited his sister, who had heard of his illness but not of his recovery. Refreshed in spirit, replenished in purse, and cheered by another wayfarer, he started afresh. August 4th, in Oxford, he met some old friends in a Quarterly Meeting; then thirty miles to Delaware-" a bundle of straw for a bed, mush and milk for supper"; August 10th, at daybreak, off for forty miles-" neither road nor blazed trees, a little Indian bread and dried beef in our pockets. About sunset, lighting upon a Frenchman's hut, we were kindly supplied with Indian pudding and milk. After prayer with the family we slept soundly on a bundle of straw, and arose invigorated in body and mind. Seven miles farther and we were at the Moravian mission, dined with one of the missionaries, and then joined in an Indian service." Fifty-four days after leaving the New York Conference Bangs halted by the Thames, at the home of Mr. Lemuel Sherman, who bade him welcome. By riding many miles on Saturday he had his house filled on Sunday morning to hear the Methodist preacher. He told them of his conversion, preached on repentance, and offered to come again if they so desired. All rose to their feet, and one appointment was assured. Through invitations and open doors he was soon preaching from Mosa in the east, along the shores of Lake Erie, through Tilbury, Romney, Mersea, Gosfield, Colchester and Amherstburgh to Detroit. In the autumn fever and ague compelled him to withdraw to Niagara. His long journeys had not been without trying exposures and memorable deliverances. Once he mounted his horse with a fellowtraveller for the "Long Woods," between Moraviantown and Delaware; a few inches of snow, sleet, mud and swollen streams on their way. By night, on the banks of a stream, further progress impossible, having some food, flint, steel and tomahawk, a wigwam of branches was quickly prepared and a glowing fire kindled. Having fed their horses oats by the trees, they ate, drank and prayed, then slept to the music of the moaning winds. The fire burning low and the cold increasing, they were early astir and by break of day again on their way. No effeminate indulgence, but many a valiant courier ventured beyond his power of endurance. In out-of-the-way places kind hearts were found. I preached,' says Bangs, in the house of an Indian woman, widow of a French-Canadian. She reminded me of the Shunammite, for she prepared for me, in an upper room, a bed, a table, a chair and a candlestick. In this room I, preached, ate and slept. After my first visit, in shaking hands she left a dollar in my palm.' 'In Detroit a thunderstorm caused an early closing of the service before the candles had burned to the sockets-in which some young men had placed powder. So the explosion did not occur.' He In 1803 Samuel Merwin was sent to Montreal. spent some time in Quebec also, but did not find it easy to gain a foothold. In later years he was spoken of as 'dignified in person, powerful in eloquence and mighty in labors one of the most popular preachers of the day.' Joseph Sawyer also visited Montreal and found a few persons who had belonged to the Society in New York. Mr. McGinnis, his sister and others assisted him in securing the use of a school-room, and became his first members. In 1804 Martin Ruter was appointed to Montreal. He was only nineteen, but had been preaching three years. He tried Quebec also, but in neither city did he receive great encouragement. The next year he returned to the United States, where a career of great usefulness opened to him. William Mason, another Canadian sojourner, had also a future of much success. Thomas Madden, with his father and family, entered Canada in 1789, and settled in Ernestown. In 1802 he was received on probation in the New York Conference and sent to Long Point. His next appointment was to Bay Quinte. After his ordination he was given charge of Oswegotchie, and then of Smith's Creek. In 1803 some of the preachers were recalled and their places filled by Samuel Howe, Reuben Harris and Luther Bishop. Population was steadily increasing, and the prospects of the country brightening. About 150 vessels visited Quebec during the summer. Two papers-the Gazette and Mercury-were published in Quebec; and, one-the Gazette-in Montreal. Up to this time slavery had existed in Canada, about 300 slaves being held in the Districts of Quebec, Three Rivers and Montreal. By a decision of Chief Justice Osgoode, in Montreal, in 1803, declaring slavery unlawful, every slave was set free-thirty years before the system was abolished by the home Government. In Upper Canada the further introduction of slaves had been forbidden in 1793. At the second session of the Upper Canada Parliament a bill was passed authorizing some other ministers. than those of the Church of England to perform the marriage ceremony; but it was burdened with unreasonable conditions and did not extend to Methodist ministers. CHAPTER III. 1805-1811. THE FIELD WIDENS AND THE WORKERS INCREASE. Stations-Coate-Ryan-Case-Camp-meeting Stations Whatcoat Falls 1809 Perry Robin - son-Long Point-Yonge Street-Smith's Creek-Marriage STATIONS, CANADA DISTRICT, 1805. Samuel Coate, Presiding Elder. Long Point-Luther Bishop Niagara-Gershom Pearce Smith's Creek-Thomas Madden Yonge Street-Daniel Pickett Bay Quinte-Henry Ryan, Wm. Case Oswegotchie-Sylvanus Keeler, Nathan Bangs Ottawa-Robert Perry Mem bers. 125 500 80 510 457 95 20 1787 THE graceful and eloquent Presiding Elder, according to Dr. Carroll, "was evidently a very extraordinary person for such a day and country. He swept like a meteor over the land and spell-bound the wondering settlers. Nor was it astonishment alone he excited; he was the successful instrument in the conversion of hundreds." 43 |