Nathan Bangs · 24 of 28

Chapter 8. From the Close of the General Conference of 1824 to the Commencement of That of 1828. · Part 6

These words, delivered, apparently, with a heart overflowing with feelings of kindness toward all men, left an impression upon all minds, I should think, if I may judge others by myself, as favorable to the speaker’s heart and affections, as did his arguments upon those who were most partial to his views. I remember well that Bishop McKendree, who was pointedly opposed to the theory of brother Smith, and who had heard some cutting remarks in the course of the speech, a few minutes only after this peroration was pronounced, took the orator in his arms in the most affectionate manner, as a token, I supposed, of his fellowship and kindly feelings.

It was thought, however, by some of his intimate friends, that these discussions, which were continued in various forms, from one year to another, until they terminated at the Conference of 1825, so wore upon the nervous system of Mr. Smith that it accelerated the disease of which he died. His sensitive mind and warmth of affection led him to espouse any cause in which he engaged with the enthusiasm of an able advocate, and his delicate nerves vibrated under the continual irritation produced by coming in constant collision with other minds equal to his own, and with other arguments with which he found it difficult to grapple with success. He therefore finally sunk under the pressure of those causes, which surrounded him, and was consumed by the fires which burned within him.

But that same talent which qualified him for a powerful debater enabled him to shine in the pulpit, and to develop the truths of the gospel with clearness and precision. If there was any fault in the style of his pulpit eloquence, it consisted in an apparent effort at originality, and a labor after a diction somewhat pompous, instead of being entirely natural, plain, and pointed. This caused an occasional obscurity, painful to the hearer, and which prevented the full flow of truth from entering the understanding and the heart.

It could not be otherwise than that a man thus constituted should be amiable in his manners. Brother Smith, indeed, possessed the social qualities in a high degree, and was therefore a pleasant and edifying companion, and warm in his attachments. And nothing would tend so quickly and so effectually to relieve his soul from the burden of melancholy to which I have alluded as social intercourse, when some anecdote happily introduced would drive away the demon of gloom which occasionally hovered over his mind, and restore him to his wonted cheerfulness and colloquial vivacity.

There were also a candor and frankness in his disposition and communications which at once allayed all suspicions of his intentions, and threw him into your arms “as a brother beloved.” No double-meaning phrases, no studied ambiguity, like the responses of the heathen oracles, which might be susceptible of an interpretation to suit the occasion, marked and debased the conversation or conduct of James Smith. When you heard his words you knew his heart. When you received his declaration you had a pledge of his sentiments in the sincerity and candor with which he spoke, and therefore always felt yourself safe in his society, and no less pleased than edified by his conversation.

It is indeed pleasant to linger along the path of such men, and call to our recollection those excellences which beautified their character, and made them so estimable in their day and generation. But we must check the current of our thoughts, and give place to some others equally entitled to notice, while we may be allowed to anticipate the day when, unencumbered by those infirmities “which flesh is heir to,” kindred spirits shall mingle their songs together around the throne of God and the Lamb.

Seth Crowell was another who died in the meridian of life, and left behind him memorials of his fidelity in the cause of God. He entered the traveling ministry in 1801, and finished his course in the twenty-fifth year of his public labors.

In the early days of his ministry he volunteered his services for Upper Canada, where he exhibited those talents for preaching, and that ardency of zeal, which much endeared him to the people in that province; and he left behind him many witnesses, converted under his preaching, of the power and skill with which he wielded “the sword of the Spirit.” In 1806 and 1807 he was stationed in the city of New York, under the charge of the Rev. Aaron Hunt. Here a revival of religion commenced, such, I believe, as had never before been seen or felt in that city, and brother Crowell was one of the most active instruments by which it was promoted. It was during this powerful revival that the practice of inviting penitent sinners to come to the altar for prayers was first introduced. The honor of doing this, if I am rightly informed, belongs to brother A. Hunt, who resorted to it to prevent the confusion arising from praying for them in different parts of the church at the same time.

In the midst of the shakings and tremblings among the congregations during this great work, Seth Crowell was eminently useful, preaching with the “Holy Ghost sent down from heaven,” beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God, and accompanying all his efforts with mighty prayer and faith.

But his great exertions and his abstemious manner of living soon made inroads upon his physical constitution, and this produced often a depression of spirits which rendered him sometimes quite unhappy. In consequence of these things he was obliged at times to remit his regular preaching, and seek to recruit his exhausted strength in a more retired sphere of labor.

When, however, in the vigor of his strength, the warmth of his affections and his longing desires for the salvation of souls led him forth with great zeal, both in and out of the pulpit, and he sometimes preached with a power and eloquence which overwhelmed his congregations “with speechless awe and silent love.” Nor was it mere declamation. His sermons were sometimes deeply argumentative, and his positions supported by Scripture texts so appositely, that it amounted to a moral demonstration of their truth; and not infrequently sinners would be constrained to cry aloud for mercy while he was making his searching appeals to their consciences.

His preaching was frequently of a controversial character. Against the peculiarities of Calvinism and Unversalism he bore a strong and pointed testimony, delighting to exhibit the universal love of God to man on the one hand, and the great danger of abusing it on the other, by obstinately refusing to comply with the conditions of the gospel And his sermons on these occasions were sometimes delivered with great point and power, and could not do otherwise than offend those who tenaciously held the sentiments which he opposed. That the indulgence of this spirit of controversy had an unfavorable bearing some times upon the tranquillity of his mind I think was evident; and hence he affords an example of the danger to be apprehended from carrying on a theological warfare on doctrinal points, lest it contract the heart, and degenerate into a querulous disposition respecting points of more minor importance than those which first awakened the Spirit of discussion.

This, together with the many bodily infirmities which brother Crowell suffered toward the close of his life, no doubt, at times, interrupted that sweet flow of brotherly affection which binds the hearts of brethren together in the bundle of life, and leads to that reciprocity of those kindlier feelings which render social intercourse so agreeable and edifying.

He has, however, gone to his rest. He lingered for several months under a slowly wasting disease, during which patience and resignation were exemplified in an eminent degree, and his soul was buoyed up with the blissful prospect of entering into life eternal. He left behind him many warm and admiring friends who had been profited by his ministry. If he had enemies he forgave them; nor could they suffer their disaffection to follow him beyond the tomb. The grace of God in Christ at last gave him a victory over the sting of death, and transmitted his soul to the regions of the just. And whatever infirmities may have occasionally eclipsed the glory of his character, human sympathy ceases to weep over them in view of the many excellences which beautified his mind, inspired as they were by that grace which carried him through the storms of life safely to the harbor of eternal rest. Nor will this record be misinterpreted by those who were acquainted with the intimate relation sometimes subsisting between the writer and his deceased friend; while to others it is enough to say, that death not only dissolved all earthly ties, but was also a period of cementing that union of spirit which, it is humbly hoped, will be more fully consummated in the kingdom of glory and of God.

Numbers in the Church: Whites This Year: 327,932; Last Year: 309,550; Increase: 18,382 — Colored This Year: 54,065; Last Year: 51,334; Increase: 2,731 — Total This Year: 381,997; Last Year: 360,884 — Increase: 21,113 — Preachers This Year: 1,576; Last Year: 1,406; Increase: 170.

Among the colored members above enumerated are included five hundred and twenty-three Indians, all in Upper Canada except one; but there were many more converted Indians than are here reported. It seems that at this time the conferences were not in the habit generally of returning the number of Indian converts separately in the Minutes; and as the reports of the Missionary Society were all consumed in the disastrous fire of the Book Concern in 1836, it is not now possible to ascertain their exact number at that time.