Nathan Bangs · 19 of 23

Chapter 2. From the Close of the General Conference of 1812 to the Death of Bishop Asbury, in 1816 · Part 1

Soon after the adjournment of the conference, namely, on the 18th of June, the United States declared war against Great Britain. Though this event had been expected for some time, yet it created a great sensation throughout the country, and particularly among those who regarded religion as breathing naught but peace and good will to man. The note of preparation, however, was soon sounded through all our borders; and as it was expected that the war would rage principally along our western and northwestern frontiers, where the inhabitants of the United States and of the Canadas approximated each other, it was foreseen that the Methodists in these two countries must necessarily come into unhappy collisions with each other, and perhaps be obliged, however reluctantly, to spill each other’s blood.

Only one preacher, therefore, Thomas Burch, who volunteered for Canada from the United States, arrived there; the other, Nathan Bangs, who was appointed presiding elder in the lower province, but was to have charge also of Montreal, by the consent of the bishops, relinquished his journey, after removing from New York as far as Lansingburgh, and remained in the United States.

In consequence of this state of things the brethren in Upper Canada were prevented from attending the Genesee conference, to which they were now attached; and as all friendly intercourse between the two countries was suspended, they were necessarily left to take care of themselves in the best way they could. This laid the foundation of that uneasiness in the Canadas which eventuated in the separation of the work in those provinces from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and led to their connection finally with the Wesleyan Methodist Conference.

The great success which accompanied the labors of the Methodist itinerants in the western states and territories, and the growing importance in a national point of view, of those parts of the federal union, began to attract the attention and to call forth the energies of other denominations. Hitherto these had, on many occasions, affected to treat the Methodists with silent contempt, as unworthy of notice. But their growing prosperity in almost every direction, seemed at length to awaken others to activity in striving to imitate them but their zealous efforts to extend the gospel by means of missionary labors in the new countries and elsewhere.

In 1810 the American Board of Commissioners commenced its operations, and not long after, with a view to furnish them with suitable agents, who might be willing to endure the fatigues and privations incident to a missionary life in the new countries, “The Charitable Society for the Education of Pious Young Men for the Ministry of the Gospel" was instituted. And in order to ascertain the true state of things in the western country, a commission was sent about this time on an exploring expedition through the new states and territories, and Schermerhorn and Mills were intrusted with its execution. The report of their travels was published; and as they animadverted quite freely upon the economy of the Methodist Church, upon the conduct of its ministers, and general plan of operations, it roused the indignation of many, and more especially of those who had spent their life and sacrificed their all of mere earthly enjoyments to plant the standard of the cross in those new countries.

One thing seemed to astonish these gentlemen very much, and shows their want of information in regard to the economy of our Church, and that was in almost every settlement they visited they found not only Methodists and Methodist preachers, but also Methodist books, and the query was, whence they came when, lo and behold! they were informed that these were sold, and the proceeds forwarded to New York to furnish means to print and circulate more! And thus the imagination of those gentlemen and their honest readers was filled with the alarming apprehension that the country was in danger of being flooded with Methodist publications.

Another danger to be apprehended was the pernicious consequences resulting to the population of the west from the prevalence of Methodist doctrine and usages; and, in order to give effect to the note of alarm, and the danger to be apprehended from the rapid increase of the societies, they told their readers that persons were received into the Church with only the “expression of desire,” thus mutilating the language of the “General Rules of the United Societies,” for the purpose, as it would seem, of lowering the character of Methodism in the public estimation; for the readers of this report would not know whether the condition of membership was a “desire" for riches, for honor, or a desire merely to become Methodists — whereas the “rules" specify. The character of the desire, and likewise state the evidence of its real existence — “a desire to flee the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins,” affirming that evidence of such a desire is manifested “by avoiding evil of every kind, and doing good of every possible sort, according to their power and opportunity.”

Those who read this pamphlet, and who were acquainted with the state of things in the west, were somewhat surprised that while the people there were growing up into settlements, towns, and villages, destitute of the ordinances of religion, those who sustained the present commission manifested no concern at all for their spiritual welfare; but that now, since the towns were built, the “wilderness turned into a fruitful field,” and Methodist circuits, societies, districts, and even annual conferences established there, they should all at once awake as from a profound sleep, and casting a hasty glance over the land, should discover that the people were going fast to destruction, and that Methodism was poisoning the fountains of knowledge and religion with its pestiferous breath!

These things are mentioned because they form, in some respects, a new era in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, particularly in the west, and led to a new sort of warfare which we have been called upon to sustain in order to rescue our institutions from reproach, and to preserve our plans of procedure from being frustrated by new modes of attack. The sequel of our history will develop all these things, and place them in a true point of light.

Bishop Asbury, though he continued his annual tour of the continent, and attended the conferences in company with his colleague, Bishop McKendree, began to totter under the infirmities of age, and frequent attacks of disease. He was in New England when the proclamation of the president of the United States announced to the people that war was declared against Great Britain. He who had passed unscathed through a bloody contest of seven years’ duration, suffering numerous hardships in striving to preserve a pure conscience while propagating a religion of peace and good-will, could not behold the approach of another struggle of a similar character, without feelings of anxiety and alarm. These he expressed in a very emphatic manner to the writer of these pages, remarking, in reference to our intercourse with our Canadian brethren, “there is no mercy in war, and hence we must expect much suffering on our frontier settlements,” and concluded by saying, that “doubtless our sins as a nation had provoked the divine indignation against us, and therefore we must expect to suffer.”

He, however, kept on his way, exclaiming with pious resignation, “I live in God from moment to moment.” Beholding the demoralizing tendency of strong drink, in a certain neighborhood, he observes, “They are decent in their behavior, and would be more so, were it not for vile whiskey. This is the prime curse of the United States, and will be, I fear much, the ruin of all that is excellent in morals and government in them. Lord, interpose thine arm!" How would his soul have expanded with gratitude and delight to have beheld the temperance reformation which began its salutary operations since his day! And would he not have deprecated any effort to weaken its force, especially by those who claim to be his sons in the gospel?

After traversing various parts of the country, often trembling under the infirmities of a sickly body, crossing the Allegheny mountains, and descending into the valley of the Ohio, attending several camp-meetings in his route, he says, “I shall have traveled six thousand miles in eight months, met in nine conferences, and have been present in ten camp-meetings.” But then he adds soon after, in reference to his labors and physical sufferings, for such was his debility that his friends sometimes had to lift him into his carriage, “O let us not complain, when we think of the suffering, wounded, and dying of the hostile armies! If we suffer, what shall comfort us? Let as see — Ohio will give us six thousand for her increase of members in our new district.” This indeed was his reward; all he asked or sought of his labors and sufferings. And it shows also, that notwithstanding hostile armies were already measuring swords, the God of Israel was still at work for the salvation of the people.

It appears, indeed, that in the midst of the agitations occasioned by the war which began to rage on the frontier, and in some places upon the sea-board, God wrought in a powerful manner in various parts of the country, particularly on the James River district, where not less than six hundred were brought into the Church, chiefly through the agency of camp-meetings. In the New London district also there was a gracious work of God, including some towns in Rhode Island, in which upward of one hundred souls were brought into gospel fellowship, some of whom connected themselves with other denominations.

Forty-eight were located this year, ten returned supernumerary, eighteen superannuated, one was expelled, and six had died. These last were Samuel Mills, Nathan Weedon, Jesse Pinnell, Lansford Whiting, Samuel Thomas, and Greenleaf N. Norris. Some of these had labored long and faithfully, and they all died witnessing a good confession, and are, no doubt, gathered to their fathers in a better world.

Numbers in the Church: Whites This Year: 156,852; Last Year: 148,835; Increase: 8,017 — Colored This Year: 38,505; Last Year: 35,732; Increase: 2,773 — Total This Year: 195,357; Last Year: 184,567 — Increase: 10,790 — Preachers This Year: 678; Last Year: 668; Increase: 10.