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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commen9ant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de chaque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent etre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le ('ocument est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmi* d partir de I'angle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. jrrata to pelure, n d a 32X > i 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 R THE LIFE OF THE REV. FRANCIS METHERALL. ■■^■oiBiwerrffirj > ^ BAIXANTYNH, HANSON AND CO. EDINBURGH AND LONDON THE LIFE OF THE Rev. Francis Metherall, AND %ht Sistor^ 0f tire iiMe ©Ijnatian Cljurrlr in f rittre (BiHnarJr lalattir. BY JOHN HARRIS. •»-av LONDON: BIBLE CHRISTIAN BOOK- ROOM, 26 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G. TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA : BIBLE CHRISTIAN BOOK-ROOM, 248 SIMCOE STREET. 1883. 1 I! PREFACE. "P VER since the death of the Rev. F. iMetherall "^ a feeling has existed that there ought to be a more extended account of his life and labours, than the official Memoir, published in the Minutes of Conference for 1876. Year after year passed away without anything being done in this direction. The Prince Edward Island District Meeting ot 1882 took action in the matter, and appointed a committee, con- sisting of the Revs. J. Harris, J. Ball, E. A. Tonkin, and Mr. J. W. Pickard, "to examine the writings of Mr. Metherall, and the accounts of the early history of the Bible Christian Church of Prince Edward Island, with the view of publishing the same." The following Conference endorsed this action, and appointed the Rev. J. Whitlock a corresponding member of the committee. In the month of November the committee placed all the papers and information collected in my hands, and requested me to prepare them for the press. I at once found there were very formidable difficulties to be overcome : I had no personal acquaintance with Mr. Metherall : no district, and only a very few circuit '• — ; VI PREFACE. records were to be found further back than 1864, while some few stores of information were beyond my reach. Many missing links had to be sought for : in some cases they were found, in others only partially so; and, as a consequence, it is possible that there are some persons and things not brought out so prominently as they deserve to be. Much information has been supplied by the different members of the committee, including the Rev. Jesse Whitlock, also by the Revs. John W. Butcher and Jacob Gale. Mrs. Metherall has kindly furnished nearly the whole of Mr. Metherall's official corre- spondence with the English Conference, also a num- ber of other important papers. I have freely drawn from the English Jubilee Volume, in the accounts of " Devauden Green" and '* Plump Hill," found in the third chapter. I have sought not so much to exhibit the weakness and failings of men as to show the work performed and the success achieved, and have purposely been very brief in regard to the work of recent years. I only wish that this work had fallen into abler hands, that the different points might have been brought out with greater force and clearness. JOHN HARRIS. Charlotte! OWN, P. E. Island, January 9, 1 883. ; 1 CONTENTS. CHAKTER I. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND II. THE WORK AND THE WORKMAN . III. PREPARATORY WORK IV. PIONEER WORK • • • V. AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY VI. A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. VII. HEAD WINDS VIII. RECONSTRUCTION . IX, DECLINING YEARS * • • X. CANADIAN CONNECTION PAGR I 7 13 29 46 54 63 78 90 99 o a ti N is th It ne th an exi the !Jol [fail |sur [zan isla Do wer CHAPTER I. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. •' The Isle of Prin ;e Edward is the gem of the Northern Seas." PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, a province of the Dominion of Canada, is situated in the south of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It lies between 46" and 47° north latitude, and 62° and 64° west longi- tude. It is separated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by the Strait of Northumberland, which is only nine miles broad between Cape Traverse, on the island, and Cape Tormentin, in New Brunsv'ick. It is distant fromCaj^e Breton 27 miles, and from the nearest point of Newfoundland 125 miles. Its length, through the centre of the island, is about 140 miles ; and its breadth, in the widest part towards its eastern extremity, 34 miles. " The island was amongst tlie first discoveries of the celebrated navigator Cabot, who named it St. John as indicative of the day of its discovery. Britain [failing to lay claim to it, the French afterwards as- jsumed it as part of the discoveries made by Vera- Izani in 1523. In 1663, it was granted, with other [islands, by the company of New France to the Sieur ^ doublet, a captain in the French navy, with whom [were associated two adventurers, who established a A 2 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. few fisjiing stations, but who did not permanently reside on the island."* In the year 17 13, the Treaty of Utrecht was con- cluded between Queen Anne of Great Britain and Louis XIV. of France, by which Newfoundland and Acadia (Nova Scotia) were ceded to Great Britain. One of the articles of this treaty provided that the French inhabitants of those places should be at liberty to remove to any other place within a year. Many of the Acadians, availing themselves of this liberty, re- moved to the Island of St. John, then under French rule. Some time after, an officer, acting under the instructions of the French Governor of Cape Breton, resided, with a garrison of sixty men, at Port la Joie (Charlottetown). In 1758, Louisburg fell into the hands of the gal- lant Amherst and Wolfe. Immediately after, several war-ships were sent to seize on the Island of St. John, w^hich was easily accomplished. The following year Quebec fell into the hands of the British ; and by the Treaty of Fontainebleau, in 1763, Cape Breton, the Island of St. John, and Canada were ceded to Great Britain. Cape Breton and St. John were placed under the Government of Nova Scotia. The popu- lation at that time was about 4000. The year following, Captain Holland was commis- sioned to make a survey of the island. The whole country was laid out in lots or townships. It was proposed to name the capital Charlottetown, and to build it on a point of the harbour of Port la Joie, betwixt York and Hillsborough Rivers, as being one of the best and most central parts of the island, and furnishing immediate and easy access with the in- terior. A number of persons sought grants of land from Campbell's History of Prince Edward Island. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. ;iently 3 con- n and d and Iritain. at the liberty ;any of rty, re- French ler the Breton, la Joie .he gal- several . John, ig year ind by reton, Ided to placed popu- jmmis- whole lit was md to Joie, ig one Id, and Ihe in- from the Government, on the ground of military or other public services. To prevent disputes it was decided that the allotment should be made by ballot. Thus, the whole island, with the exception of a few reser- vations, was disposed of in one day — July 23, 1767. During the next year, on the petition of the proprie- tors, the island was separated from Nova Scotia and erected into a separate Government. The Governor, in his instructions, was enjoined to permit " liberty of conscience to all persons except Roman Catholics, so they be contented with a quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the same, not giving offence and scan- dal to the Government." He was " to take especial care that God Almighty should be devoutly and duly served " throughout his government. No school- master coming from England was permitted to teach without a license from the Bishop of London. The name of the island was changed from St. John to Prince Edward Island some years later. Although it was stipulated, when the proprietors received their grants of land, that they should settle the same within ten years from the date of the grant, yet very little was done in this direction, for in a return of the inhabitants of the island in April, 1798, by order of Governor Fanning, the total population is given as 4372. But in the early part of the pre- sent century, attention was directed to Prince Edward Island as a desirable field for emigration, consequently there was a considerable increase to the inhabitants of the province, especially from the Highlands of Scotland. Persons interested in the shipbuilding trade in Bristol, Bidefcrd, and other West of Eng- land ports, saw, in the numerous well-sheltered inlets, ri/ers, and timber of the island, admirable facilities and materials for shipbuilding ; they were not slow in turning those advantages to account. The trade that thus sprung up brought ready means of transit within i^i*aa7"'2>^ ..:? "^ ■.i^.tv-::'^t-: PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. easy reach of those who, in the West of England, de- sired to make this western isle tb.eir future home ; and among tl.ose who emigrated were a number who had been connected with the Bible Christian Church in England. In 1825, the population had increased to about 23,000 ; and in 1833, to 33,293. In the former year, 18 vessels arrived at the island from Great Britain, and 128 from British Colonies. The imports were valued at ;£85,337, and the exports at ^^^^,426. The habits of the people, as regards the use of in- toxicants, may be judged from^ tlie fact that there were imported that year " 54,000 gallons of rum, 2500 of brandy, 3000 of Geneva, and 2000 of wine." I'he people had but scanty provision for their spiritual wants in those early days. The Rev. Theo- philus Desbrisay was the only Protestant minister for many years ; he was appointed rector of *' the parish of Charlotte" by Royal Warrant dated September 21, 1774, and arrived on the island the year following. He is represented as a man of " sterling character,"' and a " faithful servant of the Divine Master." He held his position till his death, which occurred March 14, 1823. In 1790, the Roman Catholics had only one church in the island. Dr. Kicr arrived as a missionary under the auspices of the General Asso- ciate Synod of Scotland in 180S ; two years after he settled in Princetown, with the first organised Presby- terian congregation on the island. In 1782, a person, who had visited the island, stated to the Rev. Mr. Black, a Methodist minister in Nova Scotia, " that the people were very dark, and in many quarters openly profane." Black crossed the Strait of Northumberland the following year, and spent two weeks among the people. This visit was not " marked by satisfactory results." He preached several times at Charlottetown and at St. Peter's, but PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 5 d, de- lome ; ;r who hurch about r year, Britain, s were 5. of in- : there ■ rum, • )> vme. : their Theo- 5ter for I parish ber 21, owing. acter,'' " He March id only as a Asso- ter he 'rcsby- lisland, unibter rk, and led the , and lit was cached , but " with no visible tokens of success," and returned to tlie mainland sick at heart over the ignorance which seemed everywhere to prevail " In the spring of 1792, the Rev. Mr. Grandin l^.c his circuit in New Brunswick and spent a few weeks on the island. A revival at Tryon resulted from his efforts. Two years later Black returned for a short time, and organised a society of twenty members. At the close of the last century and the beginning of the present, Prince Edward Island was no longer on the Methodist Minutes of Conference, and the l)revious membership " had been allowed to drop from the list." " jjenjamin Chappell, a Methodist of Char- loltetown, in tiie absence of any prospect of minis- terial supply from the Methodist Conference, had addressed a letter to Bishop Inglis, of Nova Scotia, in which he described the spiritual necessities of the island, and requested aid. To assist him in the selection of a proper person, Mr. Chappell asked, in a somewhat suggestive style, for a man, not full of himself and pride, as of new wine, but a man of sense and experience, able to teach the way of life and salvation."* Such men were evidently as scarce then as now, for the bishop had no such man to spare, and Desbrisay, the rector of Charlotte parish, remained for another period the only Protestant minister in the island. In 1807 the first Methodist minister, the Rev. Mr. Bulpit, was appointed to Prince I'Mward Island ; he was sent from England chiefly through the influence of Dr. A. Clarke. liut little improvement was made under his ministry, and there was hut little connection between him and the Conference on the mainland ; the membership for several years was returned at about fifty. * Miihoiism in Eisterii lit itish America, by T. W. Smith. J '-'^ff;;-,/ 6 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. From 1 8 10 to 1830, as the tide of emigration flowed in, there was some effort made by the diffe- rent denominations to carry the blessings of the gospel to the people who were struggling amid the adversities of pioneer life in the woods of Prince Edward Island ; but this effort, though fairly suc- cessful, was not sufficient to overtake the spiritual requirements of the island. Many settlers had no means of grace within their reach, and for years had been destitute of the ordinances of religion. i ! i i ! i THE WORK AND THE WORKMAN. CHAPTER 11. THE WORK AND THE WORKiMAN. "Son, go work to-day in my vineyard." " Go, work in my vineyard to-day, Be earnest, be active, be strong ; Go, fortli in His might, Who will lionour the right, And give tliee thy wages ere long." WHEN God has a work to be done, He prepares the workman to do it. When a man was wanted to bring out into prominence, before the confederated Provinces of British North America, the sentiment of a Canadian national Hfe and aspira- tions, Dufferin was found, with natural abilities and acquired culture, prepared to gather up the feelings and thoughts of the scattered provinces, and ex- pound and interpret them before the people of the Dominion in a national form. When a man was needed to guide the United States through the great crisis of civil war and slave emancipation, Lincoln was ready; he had been going through a course of training in the backwoods and pioneer settlements, where, though there were privations and difficulties in abundance, defeat and oppres- sion were never recognised, much less experienced. When the work of national unification and political regeneration was to be done in Italy, Victor Em- manuel came forth fully equipped for its perform- ance. When a thoroughly constitutional Sovereign «vi*,s./>JSltJl3S~-' O*. 8 THE WORK AND THE WORKMAN. was necessary in the British Empire, under whose rule commerce might be developed, internal and domestic laws reformed and modernised, the colonies built up, and the semi-civilised dependencies pro- tectee and encouraged in the path of progress, Victoria was found prepared for the work, having learned the philosophy of government in her youth rather than the divine riglit of kings. In the beginning of the nineteenth centu-v, the Lord had a religious and spiritual work to be done in the West of England which no religious organisa- tion then existing was prepared to do. The Master first asked the Church of England to do a part of it, and then offered the Wesleyan Methodist the other part : they both refused, — one was too much taken up with the fashions of society and pleasures of life, and the other was so concerned about its Church rules and procedure, that they heard not tlie voice of the Lord God saying to them — " Go, work in this vineyard." Must, therefore, the little flock at Sheb- bear be scattered or die for the lack of spiritual nourishment? Must the spiritually destitute of the adjoining parishes die for the lack of knowledge? Not by any means ; for at the right moment William O'Bryan is found, having all the requisites to organise and teach the little flock, and to lead them forth in the performance of this great work ; and it was soon discovered that there was a large amount of the same kind of work to be done throughout the country. Now, while O'Bryan was eminently adapted to do the work in its first stages, he was too much in love with personal rule, he was not broad or liberal enough to conduct the infant denomination, through its more advanced work and organisation, to continual exten- sion and permanent prosperity. Must this work then fail, after all, because of this ? Not at all ; the Master again has the men ready for the crisis. There were 1 THE WORK AXD THE WORKMAN. Thorne, Courtice, Reed, Cory, and others, — men who had been raised among the independent yeo- manry of Devon and Cornwall. The wliole course of their training had taught them to maintain their rights and independence everywhere ; in Church or State, before high or low, friend or foe, careless as to whether few or many approved their course, and to rest not day nor night till their purposes were accom- ])lished. These men learned and appropriated from O' Bryan what he had to teach ; they resolved to follow the call of their Lord, and in their obedience they accomplished a glorious success. The Union and Winslow Roads in Prince Edward Island branch off in a northerly direction about five miles from Charlottetown, the former from St. Peter's Road, the latter from Malpeque Road ; the two roads run i)arallel about three miles apart, and terminate near the north shore of the island. The Brockley Point Road lies centrally between the two, and parallel with them. A portion of the land on these two roads was settled, between 1820 and 1830, mostly by people from England. Up to 1832 there had been no State religious services whatever in those neighbourhoods ; the people, in their isolation, and poverty, and wilderness surroundings, had a hard fight for life, and in the struggle too ot'ten forgot ever) thing pertaining to religion. It was no infre- quent occurrence, as the settlers were so engrossed with their worldly affairs, and having nothing to remind them of religious ordinances, for the Sabbath to be forgotten for weeks, until the sound of the flail or axe on the Sabbath would brim^^ a neighbour through the intervening woods with the information that it was Sunday. Mr. Christmas Bryenton, father of the Rev. W. Bryenton, was eleven years old when the first Bible Christian missionary came to the island in 1832; he had lived with his father on the lO THE WORK AND THE WORKMAN. Brockley Point Road. About that time he went to reside with his grandfather on the Union Road ; he had never seen a minister nor heard a sermon, and when he first went to hear the missionary preach, his grandfather found it necessary to caution him not to be alarmed if, during the service, some of the people shouted. This field the Lord placed in the posses- sion of the ])ible Christian Missionary Society to cultivate : the field was not very inviting, it must be confessed. Experienced agriculturists, in selecting land, are not guided so much by what the land is as by what it may become by judicious improvement and careful cultivation ; they know that, though the beech and maple trees stand thick and grow tall, they indicate the richest soil, good natural drainage, and untold future wealth to the faithful and intelligent worker ; they are not alarmed at the sight of a few lime rocks scattered on the surface, for they indicate the presence of those qualities in the earth that will produce the " fattest of wheat ; " and even the morass and bog fail to produce dismay, for a little effort in draining will turn them into the richest pasture. The experienced eye of the observant missionary fifty years ago would see in those neighbourhoods, not- withstanding the uninviting appearances, possibilities of great spiritual fruitfulness : there was a good soil that would enable the earnest worker to rise to com- ]:)arative affluence ; the people themselves had passed through a course of agricultural training, and had been thoroughly schooled in hard work in the old land ; great indeed must be difficulties they cannot overcome ; they also had great reverence for divine things even in their unregenerate condition, and will gladly welcome the ordinances of religion. Here is the field with its work ; but who and where is the workman ? Where is the man prepared for the situation ; to endure the hardships with contentment ; I J THE WORK AND THE WORKMAS. II vine will lere the ;nt; to i)erform the laborious pioneer work necessary to future fruitfulness ? Where is the man that has passed through the preliminary training necessary to bear the burdens, "to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," whose Christian graces have become established, so that he will not waver nor turn back in the day of battle? Has the Lord pre- pared the man for the work ? Among the settlers on the Union Road was Mr. Abbott, who had been connected with the Bible Christian Church in Plngland ; he and his wife were very anxious to see their own Church established on the island. Early in 1831, Mr. Abbott wrote a letter to one of the officials of the English Conference, set- ting forth the religious destitution around him, and earnestly requesting that a missionary be sent. About the same time pressing requests were re- ceived by the Conference for a missionary from persons residing in the townships of Dummer and Darlington, in the Province of Ontario. The English Conference met that year at Hicks* Mill Chapel, Cwennap, Cornwall. The Missionary Society had only been in operation since 182 1 ; the annual income was only about $520, and there was a debt of $330. With this very limited income, the Conference had to meet the requirements of the debt, make provision to aid several Home Missions, and now there were loud calls for help beyond. Under those circumstances, it was no easy task to decide what ought to be done. It must be confessed tiiat feeble or ordinary men would have failed in an emergency of this kind ; but they were men of might ; they lived in such constant and conscious relationship with the Unseen and Eternal God, that they were clothed with a divine power ; their strong faith enabled them to accomplish with ease work that men of weaker faith and feebler religious life would 12 THE WORK AND THE WORKMAN. never dare attempt. These arc their names, they are worthy tvO be kept in remembrance : — James Thome, AN'illiam Reed, Harry Major, Andrew Cory (grand- father of the Rev. A. Courtice, 15. A.), Richard Sed- well, William Courtice, Francis Metherall, Charles iJlake, William Kinsman (ist), William Kinsman (2nd), William Miller, Edward Hocken, William H. Daniel, Ricliard P. Tabb, John Hicks Eynon, Henry Reed, Simon Orchard, and 'J'liomas Leijgo. Of this list of worthies, two only — John Hicks Eynon and Thomas Leggo — survive. The Conference decided to send one missionary to the province of Ontario, and the Rev. Francis Areihcrall — one of its members — to Prince Edward Island. The Conference was greatly encouraged in its decision by receiving a subscription for the Missionary Society from a labouring man amounting to $50. In Francis Metherall we behold the man prepared for his appointed work. He was prepossessing in ])ersonal appearance, evidently disposed to an active life, self-possessed, mild, tender, and somewhat in- clined to a quiet mirthfulness ; he also had a strong and enduring physical organisation that will be tried to the utmost in his new sphere of labour. Francis Metherall was born in North Devon, December 1791. He experienced converting grace under the ministry of the Rev. James Thome, and three years later, at the age of thirty-one, he entered the ministry of the Bible Christian Church. The first nine years of his ministerial toil were passed in England and adjacent islands. PRE PA RA TOR Y 1 1 UR K. CHAPTER III. PREPARATORY WORK. in live in- -'on, *' He holds no parley with unmanly fears, Where duty bids, lie confidently steers ; Faces a thousand dangers at her call, And trusting God surmounts ihcni all." *' Unsliaken, unseduced, unterrified, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal ; Nor number, nor example, with him wrought, To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind." MR. METHERALL'S first appointment was to the Scilly Islands, off the coast of Cornwall. There is little information concerning his labours there, but sufficient to show that a measure of success attended his efforts. He was present at the following Conference of 1823, held at Stoke Damarel; his ap- pointment was Monmouth. Without loss of time, as soon as the Conference closed, he set out for his mission ; Mr. Moses Pearn, who was appointed to Somerset, accompanied him the first day so far as Devonport, where they parted. Pearn went on to his station 77^! Exeter, while Metherall proceeded to Bude, on the Bristol Channel, where he took " ship for Bristol." After some days' delay there, he took ship for Newport. Travelling in England then was a very different thing from what it is to-day. Then it required nearly a week for the missionary to travel from Plymouth to <•■•■ r.'.t'^»P«iL'.»^tV>S «4 PREPARATORY WORh \. the same distance Newport, Monmouthshire ; now, can be compassed in a few iiours. There were but few societies in the county, and the denomination was but little known. The missionary says concerning his arrival at Newport: — "I knew no person there : but as I was going up the street, I incjuired of a man if he knew any people by the name of Arminian* Bible Christians. He gave me directions where to find Elizabeth Dart (late Mrs. Eynon). I found her at a friend's house. I then had to go with Jkother Glass and take his appointment that evening. We had a good time." The first quarterly meeting of the Mission was held at Shirenewton, on September 7 ; there were 34 mem- bers, 35 on trial — total, 69. Mr. Methcrall formed the first society at the same place, October 10. At first, Metherall was greatly troubled, because of the dulness of the people concerning spiritual things. He says : " I had to walk twenty miles to get to my appointment, but I did it with pleasure. I had a very large congregation ; but spiritually a very stupid one." At another time, having to travel a long journey through a storm, and having only a few persons at the service, he observes : *' I was once more called to witness, that many who seem to be followers of the Lord in a sunshiny day will not follow him in a cold frosty night. As I came through the woods I took notice of the oak trees, that there were some with the bark taken off and left standing, but were withered and dead. I thought they resembled the dead pro- fessors among the lively members of the Church ; they fill a place, and that only ; they are without sap or life, and not willing to forward the cause of God either by prayer or contribution." He had occasion * The word Arminian was dropped from the name of the Con- nexion by the Conference of 1829. PREPARATORY WORK. «5 istancc nd the ■ donary 1 knew Lreet, I ; name ections 1^ m). I ;o with vening. as held \. mem- formed ause of 11 things. to my a very lone." Durney f-V ons at called I: of the a cold .:? took th the hered I pro- Lirch ; It sap V God 1 lasion Con- to go to a mhiistcr of the Church of England to hire a house in whicii to preach, but he "soon found tliat the minister was not a friend to the (iospel, but an enemy ; " he had to look clscwlicre lor a preaching- room. But while, on account of his keen spiritual percep- tions, and tenderness of conscience, the coldness and divisions of the Church grieved him greatly, open opposition and persecution roused and nerved him. Under such circumstances, he relied not on the arm of flesh, but placed his whole confidence in the Lord his God, and seemed never to doubt but that the Lord would fight for him and cause him to triumph. He appeared to have no fear in the time of greatest danger. Mr. Metherall found at times, that when he made urgent aj^peals to the consciences of the people many would raise doctrinal objections. He writes : " I met a man who told me he did not believe Christ made atonement for all nien. I made mention of several passages of Scripture, to prove that Christ d/d die for all. 1 asked him to bring one to show that He d/J noi^ but he never attempted it. The Lord gave me power to confound the man. The next day, I fell in with another of the same sort ; I handled him the same as I did the other, and he went his way. I preached at Newchurch ; God was there, and shook some sinners. A man who professed to be a Cal- vinist preacher bade me God speed, saying: I fired some sharp arrows, which gave me to think that some of them stuck in his heart. At another time, a Calvinist told me that God had elected some to be saved, and others to be reprobated for ever ; that those who were to be saved God had elected to tlie end, and had appointed means whereby that end should be obtained. I told him if that were the case, he must allow that God had appointed the means i6 PREPARATORY WORK. whereby the reprobates reach their end, and accord- ing to that they will be in hell for doing the will of God. He said, * 1 akc care or you will make God the author of sin.' I said, ' K?/^ have done that already.' We shook hands and parted." In the midst of his difficulties, Mr. Mcthcrall cried mightily to God in prayer, pleading the divine pro- mises ; light soon began to dawn upon him and the churches under his charge. He writes : " I held a prayer meeting after preaching, and a blessed time we had. The next day I still retained the heavenly flame ; my soul is calm and serene. I can truly say, ' God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.' I went back to friend Moxley's that night, and stayed there the next, this being the ninth ; in family prayer we had a nine-fold blessing. We had such a time as I hope will never be forgotten." The Moxley family was referred to by Mr. Metherall constantly during his stay on the mission with great affection. In this Christian home he evidently found a haven of refuge amid all the storms of that stormy period. He wrote, under date of May I, 1824, ''I returned to friend Moxley's, and found the usual little heaven there." Francis Metherall knew that those blissful experi- ences and " Holy Ghost baptisms " were not given simply to be enjoyed, but that he might be prepared for aggressive work for his Master. He accordingly rebuked and exhorted in season and out of season, wherever and whenever he could find opportunities ; it was his meat and drink to do the will of God. He says : " I held a meeting at the Arch, 1 had a solemn time. After preaching I went to the public inn to stay the night, and there I found a number of men cursing and swearing. I could not sit long without reproving them, and the Lord was pleased to bless ^my soul while doing it." PREPARATORY WORK. ly Metherall's efforts were not to be confined to the bounds of his circuit, and if openings did not present themselves, he would go and find them. On Feb- ruary 19, 1824, he went "to break up new ground in Gloucestershire, beginning at Redbrook, and proceed- ing on into the Forest of Dean. He says : — "At Clearwell, after preaching, I went to the inn to lodge. I found a number of persons at cards, I began to reprove them, and showed them the evil consequences of their course. The cards were soon put aside, and we entered into conversation upon the subject ; some approved, others disapproved of what I said. Some of the men were in liquor. I told the landlord he ought not to draw any more liquor for them ; if he did, he was liable to have his license taken away. I wished the cards were burnt ; as soon as I thought this, the landlady took them up, and threw them into the fire, saying, ' they never had a pack of cards before, and never would again.' I was determined to get all the drunkards out of doors before I went to bed ; I saw the back of the last one about 12.30 A.M. I prayed with the family, and re- tired to rest." Several journeys were made into different parts of the country. Spiritual darkness reigned supreme, much persecution was experienced, societies were formed in every direction. Many very flourishing congregations and churches have grown out of the seed sown in those trying tines. On March i, 1824, Mr. Metherall formed the first society at Redbrook, and a few days later at Berryhill. John H. Eynon, the founder of the Bible Christian Church in Ontario, became connected with the Red- brook society. Mr. Metherall introduced preaching at Brockwear, "where drunkenness, and its concomitant evils, greatly prevailed, and much persecution was endured." One B i i Ml a;! I: iS PREPARATORY WORK. night several wicked men lay in wait for the preacher, who was expected to cross the river Wye at Brockwear bridge, on his return home, for the purpose of throwing him into the river to drown him ; but providentially he did not return that night. Before this the friends could never persuade him to stay with them over- night, but on this occasion he felt that he ought to remain till the next day. A few days after, the same men who lay in wait to drown Mr. Metherall, were proceeding up the river in a boat which struck the pier of the bridge, the men were thrown into the water and drowned at the very place where they had proposed to drown the minister. " It was generally thought that this was a retribution on these perse- cutors, as it was a well-known fact that a family in the village, who had violently persecuted the Methodists some years before, had all been cut off. Persecution now ceased, and a society was formed." * In takinsj his next appointment at Brockwear, Mr. Metherall says : " The Lord gave me power ; the fear of men and devils was taken from me." Metherall went into one neighbourhood that he had been informed was very dark. He writes : — " I conversed with a man and woman, the man was over ninety years of age, and as full of sin as he was of years. A few days after I preached to a people that were very dark ; I tried three places to get lodgings, but'failed. I was then obliged to lodge by the side of a hay mow ; it was unpleasant to the flesh, but I was as liappy in my mind as if I was in a bed of down ; I had a bad cold, and feared it would become worse, but in the morning I was much better than I had been for many days. I went to hold a meeting at Elvington : I soon had a lot of persecutors around me, who made such a noise that I could not preach ; I contended with them, but could not find one * Jubilee Volume, PREPARATORY WORK. «9 preacher, rockwear throwing identially le friends em over- ought to the same rail, were truck the into the they had generally se perse- a family uted the 1 cut off. ^rrned." * Mr. the rear. ver that he ;s : — man was s he was Dple that odgings, s side of ut I was iown ; I e worse, I had eting at around )reach ; id one reasonable person among them. They brought the constable, and threatened to put me in the stocks, and to set the dogs on me ; I told them they must have a commission from my Master first, and then tiiey might do it if they pleased I prayed for their conversion, and left them. " At another place I saw much of the works of the devil. I thought the place was an emblem of hell. We commenced divine worship in the evening, but were so interrupted by the mob that we could not proceed with preaching ; we turned to prayer ; some shook and trembled, others left the house, while others persisted in their master's service. After some time they went out, and threw stones at the door. In all this I was unshaken." Two remarkable open-air meetings were held during Mr. Metherall's stay in the Monmouth circuit, on " Devauden Green," in Monmouthshire. The first was held on Whit-Monday 1824, and the other the following year. From time immemorial, there had been held annually in that place "a large, uproarious revel." In Druidical times, the gathering was held to commemorate the triumph of the sun-god in his con- flict with the powers of the storm and gloom of the preceding winter, and also to pray that the same god would make the coming summer very fruitful. After those pagan rites were ended, the people gave them- selves up to feasting, carousing, and different kinds of revelry. When pagan worship was prohibited, those meetings, with their revelry, did not cease; but the religious rites were suppressed, and the Church gave to those gatherings a slight tinge of Christian colouring. With those exceptions, the scenes on Devauden Green in the beginning of the present century were nearly the same as those enacted there in the days of the Druids. Metherall and his coadjutors resolved on att icking 20 PREPARATORY WORK. this institution, and call the attention of the people there assembled to a subject of the greatest interest to them all. A religious service was held on the Green as the "revel" proceeded.* "The weather was fine, and the meeting began between nine and ten in the morning. J. Arthur, Mr. Metherall's col- league, commenced with singing and prayer. Some of the friends manifested great fortitude, some trembled for fear of persecution. Prayer was kept up for some time before preaching, and also at inter- vals between. The congregation, which at first was small, continued to increase all the day. Many gave great attention to the word spoken, but others treated it with contempt. In the afternoon a determined attempt was made to drive them from the ground. The persecutors made a kind of platform, on which they fixed a chair and an old man with a wooden sword, a number of men and boys accompanying him, some of whom carried guns. Their leader, who was on horseback, gave orders to fire ; but the report of the musketry so frightened his horse that it threw him, and he narrowly escaped a broken neck. The persecutors were now disconcerted for a time; and when they afterwards attempted a dance, they were again disconcerted, for the musician, from some cause, was unable to play a tune. The old man next attempted to mimic the preacher, but while Metherall was praying earnestly and in faith, he started off. The i)reacher then in plain words exposed their folly, warned them of their danger, and exhorted all to seek the Lord. All the friends were greatly re- freshed and encouraged, and after some time con- cluded their day's exercises without further interrup- tion, experiencing the peace of God in their souls, and resolving to repeat the attempt to put down this moral nuisance the following year. * Altered and abridged from Jubilee Volume. PREPARATORY WORK. 21 le people It interest d on the I weather nine and rail's col- r. Some ie, some was kept ) at inter- first was [any gave rs treated Jtermined i ground. on which L wooden npanying ider, who le report it threw :k. The me; and hey were m some nan next letherall rted off. ed their orted all satly re- ne con- nterrup- ir souls, )wn this In a love-feast which was held near the place shortly after, many declared that the persecution they endured on Devauden Green had stirred them up to be more zealous in the service of God, while their faith was much strengthened. The next Whit-Monday, nothing daunted by the rough treatment of the preceding year, Mr. Metherall, with his faithful band of co-workers, were ready for their work. The meeting commenced about ten in the morning, andj while Mr James Staddon, Mr. Metherall, and three of the local preachers, were successively declaring the word with power, tlie people, who from the beginning were very attentive, appeared to receive the word with gladness ; sinners began to cry aloud for mercy, and believers were shouting aloud for joy ; the windows of heaven seemed to be opened, blessings copiously descended, and the arm of the Lord was made bare ; His quick- ening power was felt, the ungodly appeared as if thunderstruck, and the people of God rejoiced abundantly. After some others had spoken, and considerable confusion had been caused by the evil-disposed, F. Metherall resumed ; but the mob caught up the chair on which he stood, and, pushing the friends aside, carried him about for some time, intending to throw liim into a deep pit full of water. With this end in view they approached the pool, and agreed that at the third swing the preacher should be thrown into the water. The swinging commenced, one of the number giving the signal — one^ two, three, when, lo! Metherall quietly leaped from the chair to the dry land, while the men who had hold of the chair, by the force of the momentum of their own swing, were plunged headlong into the pool of water. The late James Moxley, one of the congregation, who for many years was an honoured minister of the deno- 22 PREPARATORY WORK. mination, picked up Mr. Metherall's hat on that occasion. " One man blasphemed horribly, using language too bad to be recorded, mocking the Almighty to His face. The friends stood out nobly to the end, and much good was done. J. H. Eynon, who was present on the occasion, remarked : * It did my soul good to see those so valiant who professed to know the Lord. It appeared that they were grounded on the rock Christ Jesus. When the storms of persecu- tion blew, and the tempests arose, they remained un- shaken ; and when the hills and mountains shall leap from their seats, and rocks are melting with fervent heat, and the world is dissolved with fire, they will rise above the fiery void, and smile to see a burning world.' Mr. Metherall remarked, * I felt my soul very happy in the Lord ; and although they partly rent my coat from my back, and endeavoured to throw me into the pool, I bless God, I felt nothing but love to their souls. Oh may the Lord be merciful to them, and grant them repentance unto life ! ' " Mr. Metherall was anxious for more conquests, and he longed constantly to come to close quarters with the adversary. Elizabeth Dart and Eliza Jew had preached in some parts of the Forest of Dean with some success, and it was thought advisable to hold an open-air service on Plump Hill, where an annual revel was kept up ; consequently Metherall again sounded his war trumpet, calling together his assist- ants and helpers. Staddon, who aided him on De- vauden Green, and Mr. J. Kemeys, who afterwards laboured several years as a missionary in the province of Ontario, and several local preachers, promptly an- swered the call. On the revel day they ascended the hill, singing — PREPARATORY WORK. 23 " Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, Weak and wounded, sick and sore ; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity joined with power : He is able — He is willing; doubt no more." After prayer, one of the ministers preached. A number of the people gathered around, some of whom were very attentive, but others walked about smoking their pipes, and the morrice dancers with their fan- tastic dresses made some interruption. John Jayne led the dancers, headed by a band of musicians ; they marched through the congregation several times, and nearly dispersed it. Jayne's heart, while listening for a short time, relented ; and the thought arose. Why should we disturb the people ? He listened again, and was soon convinced of his lost and sinful condition. He drew nearer the preacher, and his strong athletic form soon awed the baser sort into silence. The meeting was continued till the shades of evening came on, and before it closed Jayne was sorely distressed. He continued under this convic- tion for some time, and so striking was the alteration in his manner and appearance, as led many to in- quire, " What is the matter with Jayne ?" Some said he had been listening to the Ranters, and they had turned his brain. He gave up his vain and foolish talking, and left his drinking companions, bringing forth fruits meet for repentance. One night he asked one of his relatives, " Did not Christ pray all night ? " and, receiving an affirmative reply, he said, " Thou and I have served the devil many nights, and if thou hast a mind to, we will go on Plump Hill and pray all night." They went and con- tinued in prayer till morning. After breakfast he re- tired to a secluded place, knelt down, and cried aloud for mercy, lifting up his eyes and heart to God. The r I ''I I II l4 PREPARATORY WORK. divine influence came upon him while thus looking to the Crucified One ; his bonds were broken ; his burden was removed. He ran into the house, exclaim- ing, " The Lord has pardoned all my sins ! " At another place on the circuit, Mr. Metherall found that the people met every Sabbath on the " Green " (an open space or park set apart for the use of the people), for the purpose of dancing. He at once made war on this practice, and by his efforts those gatherings were broken up, and now there is a large Bible Christian Church near the place ; while the de- nomination has one church within one mile and a half of Devauden Green, and another two or three miles distant. In 1827 the Forest of Dean was made a separate circuit, with a membership of 160 persons, and at the present time several circuits have grown out of the work there commenced. After nearly two years of very successful labour in the Monmouth circuit, Mr. Metherall received a letter from Mr. W. O'Bryan, stating that " the lot is fallen for Paul Robins to go to Weare, and William Caddy to Wales, and Francis Metherall to the Channel Islands." With all speed Mr. Metherall proceeded to his new station. The former part of the year was spent in Jersey, the latter in Guernsey. In the summer of 1826 Mr. Metherall was removed to Somerton in Somersetshire. The following year he was again appointed to the Channel Islands. He took ship for Guernsey, August i; and on the 22nd of the same month was united in marriage to Miss Mary Langley of that place, who shared with him his trials and difficulties during the early years of his labours on Prince Edward Island. For about three months of this year he was on the island of Jersey. At the close of the year he and his wife left Guernsey, PREPARATORY WORK. 25 lookins: en ; his ijxclaim- 11 found Green " i of the \t once ;s those a large the de- 1 a half e miles bparate I at the of the )our in letter en for dy to ands." new nt in oved year He 22nd Miss n his his hree rsey. isey, and proceeded to the Conference of 1828, held at Shebbear, Devon. Mr. Metherall was greatly pained over the conten- tions of that and the following conference, in the effort to secure and define the liberties of the ministry and the rights of the laity ; but he expressed the most unqualified approval of the results of those efforts. The Bible Christian Church of to-day may well rejoice that the fathers of the denomination were enabled, by Divine grace, in that time of trouble and division, to lay the foundations of our admirable church constitution — a constitution eminently adapted to secure the harmonious co-operation of the minis- ters and laity as brethren in the bonds of church fellowship and divine relationship. In our opinion, if ever Methodist Union is to be a permanent success the "basis" of that union must be a near approximation to this constitution. At that conference Mr. Metherall was stationed at Portsmouth, and the two following years were spent in Penzance. He had thus been nine years in the ministry at the time of his appointment to Prince Edward Island. The greatest success of Francis Metherall during those nine years was realised on the Monmouth circuit ; but in all the other places he was well received, and much fruit resulted from his labours. The indifference and coldness of the Church always greatly grieved him, but he rejoiced with abundant joy when he saw a full flow of religious life. Plis heart bounded with delight as he wrote, "Sinners were awakened, careless professors were stirred up to watch and pray, and believers were overwhelmed with the glory of God." Another meeting is referred to as " a time of great power ; six or seven fell under the mighty power of God. There appeared to be 26 PREPARATORY WORK. perfect unity throughout the whole meeting, and many shouted aloud the praises of the Lord." His labours continued to be abundant; here are a few specimens of his Sabbath work ; when in Jersey he wrote: "I walked two miles and held a prayer- meeting at five in the morning ; walked back again and held a class-meeting at nine, preached at half- past ten, held a class-meeting at half-past one, preached in the open air at half-past two, preached again at half-past six in the chapel." When in Ports- mouth he wrote : " This has been a wearisome Sabbath to me ; I walked nine miles to my appoint- ments ; I had no house to which I could go between the meetings, so I walked the reads till meeting time; when my work was done I returned home the same distance. The Lord was very good to me. He gave me strength according to my day." On the Somerton Mission he frequently walked twenty and thirty miles on the Sabbath, and held five services. Mr. Metherall's plain speaking and adherence to duty were far from being acceptable at all times. He says : " I preached on Ham Green ; the enemies of the cross of Christ came to disturb, but the Lord was on my side. They set the bells ringing to drown my voice ; they, however, soon got weary of that practice, and came to hear for themselves. At another time I preached in the open air ; some heard with attention, and others mocked and shouted as loud as possible to prevent my being heard. *' I preached at High Ham from these words — ' The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.' I first endea- voured to show what was implied in a child being 'left to himself;' secondly, Its dreadful effects; thirdly, That the proper use of the rod and reproof would, by the blessing of God, give wisdom to the child. I dwelt closely on the duty of parents to their PREPARATORY WORK. 27 children, and in doing so I offended some of my congregation." At one time, when he had preached a very power- ful sermon, a man in the congregation felt the truth so applied to his conscience, that he said he was " never so tackled in his life." Metherall's appro- priate reply was, " May the Lord tackle you, and put you to draw in the gospel plough." While in Guernsey he wrote: "I have been preach- ing indoors and out, but I find that Satan pursues me in every place. Yesterday the High Constable came to me and stated that he had orders to take me up if I preached again in the open air. I replied that I should do so again to-morrow, if spared, as I thought it my duty so to do. On the morrow I went and held my service, but no one interrupted. Two days afterwards I was informed that I was to be taken before the Royal Court to answer for my conduct in preaching in the open air. I could but rejoice in this, as I fully believed it would terminate to the glory of God. " The day following the constable summoned me before the court. I prepared myself and went; soon after I was called up, and asked my name and the name of the sect I belonged to. I answered that I belonged to what vulgar people called Bryanites, but the proper name was Bible Christians. I was then charged with having preached in the open air, on the pier, and on the new ground. I answered that there was sin committed in those places, such as blasphemy and Sabbath-breaking, and that I had a call from God to preach to the people there, and I should do so if I suffered martyrdom for it. The court said that I might preach as much as I chose indoors, but I could not be allowed to preach out of doors, and that I must either leave the island or give jC^o bail not to offend again. I replied that I intended jS PREPARATORY WORK. to leave the island when the conference year expired, but not before ; and with regard to the bail, I should give none, as that would be an acknowledgment of guilt. After a little conference the court had to reverse its sentence, saying I might proceed as before if the peace was not broken. The constable and those who set him on were much chagrined. ' The Lord put a hook in their jaws, and a bridle in their teeth, and turned them back by the way they came.' " PIONEER WORK. 29 cj)irecl, should ent of lad to before , those Lord teeth, CHAPTER IV. PIONEER WORK, ** What sought they there, whose steps were on the dust Of ihe old forest lords ? Not summer skies, Nor genial zephyrs, nor the amenities Of golden spoils. Their strength was in the trust That breasts all l)illows of the abyss of time, The Rock of Ages, and its hopes sublime." /""'ARLOS MARTYN says—" The influence of that ^<^ mysterious triad, the gold eagle, the silver dollar, and the copper cent, has been over-estimated. Spiritual forces are more potent than the motors of materialism. The Sermon on the Mount outweighs the law of gravity. Ethics make safer builders than stocks. Soil does not make a state ; nor does geogra- phical position." Prince Edward Island would be far different to-day from ^yhat it is were it not for the effort of the churches in supplying it in the early days with earnest gospel ministers. Tlie agricultural, the forest, and fishery wealth would have done but little in building up a prosperous, contented, and peaceful community were it not for the moral and religious training of such men as Francis Metherall. There are many difficulties that physical force can never overcome ; but a true moral sentiment can and does triumph over them with ease. When Mr. Metherall accepted his appointment to Prince Edward Island, he at once set to work to pre- pare for his journey. There was one short month in ■f ■ WW 30 PIONEER WORK, which to get ready. During this time he held a number of meetings, and took up collections and subscriptions on behalf of the Missionary Society. On the 27th of August 1831, Mr. James Thorne sent to him at Plymouth his final instructions con- cerning his mission, accompanied with the prayer — " May the Lord go with you and bless you, and make you a blessing to thousands." Enclosed was also the following certificate of his appointment : — " This is to certify all whom it may concern, that the bearer hereof, Brother Francis Metherall, is an approved minister in the Bible Christian Connexion, and is appointed by the Conference of the said people as a missionary to Prince Edward Island, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, North America, in compliance with the request of some of our friends who have emi- grated thither. *' Signed, in behalf of the said Conference held at Hicks Mill Chapel, in Gwennap, county of Cornwall, England, July 28, 183 1. " James Thorne, President, " William Reed, Secretary^ On September 5th, Francis Metherall embarked with his wife and two children at Plymouth for Prince Edward Island. The wind being contrary the vessel lay in the Sound for more than four days, so that the voyage did not commence till the night of September 9th. For about ten days the weather was fine, winds light but favourable, when the ship sprung a leak, and it was found necessary to put back to Plymouth for repairs. The next spring Metherall and family re-embarked, on the 23rd of April, on board the brig "Amethyst," Captain Mathewson, master. The captain proved to be a " dreadful swearer, but very kind," and the crew PIONEER WORK. 31 *' appeared to be devoid of the fear of God." After a voyage of nearly two months, the island was reached. He landed at Bedeque, June 26th. Nearly eight months had been consumed in the effort to reach his mission, and a large amount of discomfort experienced during that time ; but the hard work of his mission had yet to be done. Union Road was about forty miles from Bedeque, and being inland there was some difficulty in reach- ing it, Mr, Metherall, therefore, left his wife and family behind, and set out on his long tramp to Mr. Abbott's residence. The friends made the necessary arrangements to bring the family goods to the Union Road, and such was the condition of the highways that several days were required for the journey. Mr. Metherall h'mself returned for the family. When the point of the Malpeque Road was reached, about where the Winslow Road begins, there being no cross- road leading to the Union Road settlements, he, with the family, proceeded on foot, following a blazed track irough the woods, carrying one of the children in his arms. Having missed his way, he finally found the residence of Mr. Bryenton, on the Brockly Point Road, of whom direction was sought. Mr. Bryenton conducted them by a path through the woods to Mr. Abbott's. During this last two-mile walk Mrs. Metherall's courage almost broke down. She had been for nearly a year without a home for her little family; had just come from a tedious and prolonged Atlantic voyage, and now, after a tiresome journey from Be- deque and a weary walk of some miles, the wilderness and lonely aspect of her surroundings were more than she could well bear. She had to sit down on a log of wood and weep out her distress, while Mr. Metherall spoke words of encouragement and hope. Francis Metherall was too thoroughly consecrated to his work to occupy his time over the difficulties of I I, ■ jj ( ^1 li 32 PIONEER WORK. ?i.i Ao' his situation ; his ministerial work was at once begun. Regular preaching services were established in the house of Mr. Abbott, and in the house of Mr. Sanders on theWinslow Road. Revival influences were soon ex- perienced, and the strong foundations of the churches in those neighbourhoods were laid. Mr. Abbott and his wife were local preachers in England. " Mrs. Abbott is spoken of as a most estimable woman ; " her sanctified life is still fragrant. " She died a few years after, in the full triumph of faith," and was the first person interred in the Union Road Cemetery. " Mr. Abbott, after the death of his wife, did not appear to manifest the same attachment to the body ; " and ultimately, some little difficulties and misunderstandings aro.ie, he turned his back"on his old friends and left the church. *' He invited the Wesleyan Methodists to preach in the settlement," who accepted his call, and taking advantage of difficulties in the society, formed a small church. For a long time strife and contention prevailed, and the work of God was greatly hindered. Josiah Ayers and wife rendered valuable help to the infant church. Mr. Ayers, as a local preacher and class-leader, has left a lasting impression upon his generation, and now rests from his labours. Here, too, the missionary gathered into the fold the Esserys, noted for their stability of Christian character, de- nominational attachment, and liberality in sustaining the church; the Bryentons, with all their preaching talent and power; the M'Coubreys; the Yeos, and others. On the Winslow Road were gathered in the Sanderses, Pickards, Turners, Holmans, Cudmores, and Rgardons. ^fany men would have rested here, confining their labours to those settlements, but it would have been a strange sight to see the hero of Devauden Green and Plump Hill, and the " Royal " Court of the isle PIONEER WORK. 33 2 begun. i in the Sanders soon ex- hurches :hers in a most ragrant. mph of Union ti of his chment Sculties >ackon ted "the t,"who iculties a long rork of elp to eacher upon Here, jserys, r, de- lining ching , and n the :iores, their been Ireen ; isle of Guernsey to act thus. We have seen how eagerly he sought out new openings in Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire ; the divine fire that burned within him there did not abate wlien he crossed the Atlantic Ocean ; nor did the liardships of his situation allay his passion to save the souls of men. He ever had an eye on the adjacent settlements. The Malpeque Road is the leading thoroughfare connecting the north and the west of the island with Charlottetown. This road, about fifteen miles from Charlottetown, and ten from where the Winslow Road branches off, is commonly known as Princetown Road, because it leads on to that place, which, in Captain Holland's survey, was intended to be the chief town of Prince County. St. Eleanor's, however, occupied the position in early times, but this place has been superseded in more recent years. Prince- town Road had been settled by a number of English families ; these were destitute of the means of grace, and Metherall soon found his way to them. The presence of the Wonacott, Brimacombe, Oxenham, Carr, Darke, and Harris families encouraged the mis- sionary to hope that here a successful church might be built up. " He also visited and took up appoint- ments at Little York, Covehead Road, and Mill River," near New London. At this last place he found John Taylor and his son John, local preachers from the Holsworthy circuit, England. They had collected a congregation in the Mill River settlement, and conducted religious service every Sabbath for some time before Mr. Metherall visited them, the father and son taking charge of the meetings alter- nately. The elder Taylor died May 2, 1840, and the younger " removed to the Township of Usborne, province of Ontario, w^here he did a good work among the new setders." He was a good man, but his life was cut short by that dreadful disease, the " cholera." c v\ ill 34 PIONEER WORK. Mr. Metherall also preached occasionally in South West Bedeque. Here John Adams and his wife, local preachers from England, resided. Through the earnest preaching of Mr. and Mrs. Adams, " a revival of religion was experienced, and a great number of souls were converted." As the Wesleyans had a society in the same locality, Metherall would not form a class there ; consequently the Adamses and their converts united with the Methodist Society. Mr. Adams and wife afterwards removed to the neigh- bourhood of Exeter, Ontario, " where his house was a home for the early preachers." The ground thus taken up in a few months was about forty miles from one end to the other ; but there were regions beyond that required missionary labour. There were other fields that needed cultiva- tion, and Providence directed the active missionary to them. The genuine patient worker will ever have an enlarging sphere ; and faithfulness to present duty will qualify him for advanced positions. "Take, there- fore, the talent from him (the slothful non- worker), and give it unto him that hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." " Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things." The fertile Vernon River Valley is situated near the Georgetown Road, the leading highroad between Charlottetown and Georgetown, the chief town of King's County, midway between the two places, being about fifteen miles distant from each. This place was settled many years before by United Em- pire Loyalists, who preferred to carve out a new home for themselves in a British province, rather than con- tinue in their old homes under an authority that had PIOXEER WORK. 35 resisted the British Government ! Here were found the Haydons, Vickersons, Enmans, Van Iderstines, Tweedys, and Furnesses, families of renown in con- nection with the Bible Christian Church of Prince Edward Island, from that time till the present. Mr. Metherall took up a preaching appointment at this place, then proceeded eight miles further on the Georgetown Road, crossed the Montague River, and entered what was then known as the Three Rivers Settlements, and took up an appointment in Lower Montague. He also crossed over to Georgetown and preached a few times, being the second Protestant minister who ever preached in that place. The George- town appointment was discontinued for some years on account of the large size of the circuit. This was substantially the circuit formed during the first year, the distance through it being about eighty miles. Before the end of the first year, Mr. Metherall saw that Vernon River offered facilities, as his place of residence, that Union Road did not ; he consequently removed his family to that place, and " lived in a house belonging to Mr. Jeremiah Enman for some time." At the close of his first year's labour on the island, Mr. Metherall reported to the Conference, held at Burrington, Devon, that there were forty-seven mem- bers in the societies he had formed, and that, while the circuit he had taken up was very large, there were still many very important openings presenting themselves. The Conference considered the situa- tion, and regarded the field sufficiently inviting to warrant it in appointing the second missionary ; but as there was no one ready to go at that time, and as there was some idea of one of the local preachers on the island entering the ministry, the president was authorised to send an additional missionary as soon as a man could be found willing to go, provided the I J. & 1 i. m f;l! \ M 36 PIONEER WORK. island local preacher did not offer himself for the work. During the winter Philip James, a man of eight years' ministerial standing, offered himself for the Prince Edward Island work, and as soon as con- venient, in the spring of 1834, he was sent to the assistance of Mr. Metherall. When Mr. James arrived from England, he took the work west of Charlottetown, from Union Road to New London, Mr. Metherall rendering him some assistance, while Metherall himself attended to the work east of the Hillsborough River; they, however, exchanged, and aided each other as circumstances required. The work extended in different directions; preach- ing was established in Sturgeon, Beers, near Montague, Gallas Point, near Vernon River, and Rustico Road, which runs parallel with the Winslow Road. At the Conference of 1834 the report states — "We preach in thirty-six places, which are very far apart." The need of suitable places of worship was soon felt ; there were no schoolhouses in those times, as in many backwood settlements of our own times, that could be used for such purposes ; the ark of God had to be set up in the houses of the people, which were for the most part small and inconvenient ; but as a rule there was great unity of feeling and purpose in the congregations that then gathered, the divine glory would frequently rest upon the people, and the noise of their shouting could be heard afar off, for theirs was a religion of joy and triumph. But church-building was not then the easy thing of the«^c days, the people were struggling in their poverty, very little money was to be obtained for any purpose, the settlers had as yet scarcely raised any produce for sale. The people, notwithstanding, re- solved to make an effort and do what they could. Mr. Metherall secured a piece of land on the PIONEER WORK. 37 Princetown Road for a "chapel and burying-ground ;" a- small log church was erected thereon, which lasted for about forty-five years. This was the first Bible Christian Church erected on the island, On the Union Road the services had been conducted in the houses of Mr. Abbott and Mr. Ayers, but finally it was resolved to arise and build. The neighbours rallied to get out the logs, several of the men offered prayer in the woods before the work 'commenced ; the walls of the building were soon raised, and in the evening of the same day Josiah Ayers and a number of others held a prayer-meeting there. Verily they hungered for the courts of the house of the Lord. But here the work ceased for a time ; the chapel was without roof, windows, or floor. The settler had timber and could perform the work, but money was wanted to buy nails, glass, and other requisites. The friends toiled on until finally the church was ready for opening. Some of its fixtures were very primitive, it is true ; the pulpit, for instance, was ascended by steps made of rough hewn blocks of timber. Never- theless, on the day of dedication, a great shout of triumph was heard, for the people felt that their King dwelt among them. In the month of July, 1834, Mr. James Laird gave twelve acres of land at Vernon River to the denomi- nation, for the use of the missionary. An effort was soon made by Mr. Metherall, assisted by the Vernon River people, to erect a parsonage on the land. A substantial frame dwelling was soon built ; Mr. Metherall laboured hard at this work with his own hands. He, with some aid from the Missionary Society, bore a considerable share of the cash outlay. Mr. Metherall lived in this house till he removed to the West Cape Circuit. This house continued the residence of the Vernon River ministers till 1880. The barn seems to have been built some years later ^^1 fl HI 1 ■'■♦I I; i ■ 38 PIONEER WORK. I' ^ than the house. The Sencebaugh Brothers of Murray Harbour prepared the frame-timbers at home, they left with them in the evening, and drove to Vernon River through the night, a distance of twenty-four miles, put the frame together during the day, and returned the next night. Philip James succeeded in getting the people at Wheatley River to erect a small place of worship. The *' new chapel "' was opened for divine service August 26tli, 1838. James, in asking Mr. Metherall to attend, says, "We most earnestly solicit your attendance, hoping we shall not be disappointed of your company. We do not think the chapel will be finished, but we hope it will be fit to preach in against the time, so please do your endeavour to come." The membership gradually increased: in 1835, three years after the mission was opened, the number in church-fellowship was 106. In 1836 the work was extended to St. Eleanor's, near Summerside, and Bideford. Bideford was then an important place in the shipbuilding trade, and a number of persons from the neighbourhood of Bide- ford, in North Devon, England, were residing there. The England, Grigg, Brooks, and other families be- came connected with the society. A church was subsequently built, a flourishing congregation and society gathered, but the shipping interest passed away, the church suffered largely from deaths and removals, preaching was finally withdrawn from the place in 1876, and four years later the church pro- perty was disposed of to the Methodists. James Grigg removed to Lot 10, Roger Brooks to Lot 8, and Mrs. MacDougal, daughter of Mr. England, to Lot 8, where they have been and still are pillars of strength to our churches in these places. The missionary also found his way to Cascumpec, and later to Lot 10 ; he then proceeded across the PIGXEER WORK. 39 island, through the O'Leary Road to the Western Shore, where he established preaching in the neigh- bourhood of West Cape and Cape AVolfe. At this latter place, tradition says, that General Wolfe landed and took breakfast on the morning when he started up the gulf to the conquest of Quebec. The Rev. G. Webber, in writing in 1873 on the opening of this western work, says, " The country was then very new, and but just beginning to be settled, the missionaries had not a few difficulties in opening up this field, but God blessed and prospered them, and we have a West Cape Mission to-day, that promises in a few years to become one of the circuits on the island." In relation to Mr. James Kinley, father of the Rev. W. Kinley, he writes : " I could not pass from this field without referring to one of our number, to whom we owe much in the first opening, and in the subsequent consolidation of this part — Mr. James Kinley, a man of fine natural abilities, good judgment, and strong denominational attachment, who has shown for nearly forty years the most pains- taking and praiseworthy devotion to our cause. It may in truth be said, his debtors we are." From 1837 to 1840 the records are very scanty, and but little information can be gleaned from the few frag- ments available. It seems, however, that the two missionaries were busily engaged in working their large and unwieldy circuits, extending from Sturgeon in the east to Cascumpec and West Cape in the north and west, gathering the scattered people in the churches, taking up preaching appointments in intervening places between the points first occupied, and consolidating the work generally. Theirs was truly a pioneer work. They were building the foun- dations, they were sowing the seed of the kingdom of heaven amidst many anxieties and much tribulation and weariness. Not much fruit appeared for the time. ' ' h i J 40 PIONEER WORK. but they endured as seeing Him who is invisible, relying on the promise, " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." The night had been long and dark, and the toil hard, but already the shadows began to flee away, and divine light to gild the hill-tops. After the log church was built at Wheatly River, revival services were held ; Metherall, James, and some of the local preachers took part in them. One of the latter took the pulpit the first night, taking for his text : '* God be merciful to me a sinner." He spoke for about ten minutes when he said, " I feel it is not preaching we want, but prayer, and left the pulpit to commence a prayer-meeting ; James, who was present, thought there should be a sermon ; he entered the pulpit, commenced to preach from *' What must I do to be saved?" He continued a few minutes, when one of the congregation, being under deep conviction of sin, cried out aloud, " God be merciful to me a sinner." A number of others soon joined in the same prayer. During a few days a large number passed from the guilt of sin to the consciousness of divine favour. The Toombs, Smiths, and many other families in these meetings, dedicated themselves to the Lord. Some of those families were residing in the French settlements of Rustico, and it led to an appointment being taken up in that place. In this revival was converted a young man, named R. Craswell, who lived at Rustico ; he became a very useful local preacher, but in a few years he removed to the province of Ontario. In the month of July 1839 a protracted meeting was held in the Union Road Church ; Metherall and James were both in attendance, the power of God was manifested in the salvation of many souls. Jesse Whitlock experienced a change of heart during those meetings. Mr. Metherall and Mr. James were PIONEER WORK. 41 greatly delighted, and encouraged to labour on in the good work. Mr. Metherall wrote to the Conference of 1839 : " I am happy to inform you, that we have had a consider- able revival at New London ; five of Brother Taylor's family were in distress for salvation at one time, and several others also. This has greatly encouraged me, for we have laboured there a long time without witnessing much good being done. May the Lord pour out His Spirit abundantly." In another commu- nication he wrote : " I am happy to inform you that much good has been done in some parts of the mission, since I last wrote you ; many have professed to be con- verted to God, I do not exactly know the number that have joined the society, but I expect it is between thirty and forty. Oh, may the Lord keep them as the apple of His eye ! I thank God that He is mine, and I am His ; and I feel determined to go forward in the way of holiness. Philip James is well, and much encouraged since the revival took place." One of the distinguishing characteristics of the various Methodist Churches, which God has greatly honoured in the conversion of men, is the employ- ment of local preachers. Christ intends that every member of His Church shall be a worker, and the church organisation that fails to employ the lay talent will comparatively fail. Mr. Meiherall was ever alive to this question, and he found a number of willing workers. Among the local preachers who aided the mission- aries in their work up to the time of which we now write were : — Josiah Ayers of Union Road, who is represented as being an "able preacher of the Gospel of Christ, and was the means of doing much good " — C. Whitlock, father of Jesse Whitlock, who took a lively interest in the estabhshment and ex- tension of the church for many years — Parmenas mmmm. 4a PIOXEER WORK. Watts, "a young man of good ability, and great promise ; lie did liis work well, and was made a great blessing to the infant cause; he subsequently removed to Canada, and from thence to the United States, where he entered the ministry of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church "— ']\ Abbott— W. Clark, 'vho resided on the Glasgow Road ; he lived to Goc d died in peace a few years ago — John Taylor, oen., and John Taylor, jun., of New London. Many congregations, especially such as are not very thoroughly organised, have been partially or wholly broken up by the lack of punctuality, and by disappointments on the part of preachers. Upon those points Metherall and James were in perfect unison ; they were never known to disappoint a congregation, and at the appointed time were ready to commence their services. The summer heats, the winter frosts, or stormy winds of this sea-girt isle, had no terrors for them. It was no easy work, fifty years ago, to pass a one neighbourhood to another, to say nothing of travelling from Vernon River to West Cape. With a few exceptions the roads were only blazed tracks through the woods, and in many cases the only way to travel was to follow the shore when the tide was out ; frequently the tide would catch the missionary, when he would be under the necessity of waiting for the next ebb. In addition to these difficulties, there are all around the island numerous rivers or inlets of the sea ; these had to be constantly crossed. Bridges and feiYy-boats for horses were few, the preachers therefore had to travel many miles, and cross at the head of the tide water or get a boat to carry themselves across, while their horses, if they had any, swam for themselves. Mr. Metherall, in going to China Point to preach, a few miles from his house on Vernon River, was accus- PIO^LER WORK. 43 tomed to walk around by the shore of the river. Mr. 'J homas Tweedy, then a young man, would meet him when the tide was out and carry him across the channel on his back. One of tlie missionaries, travelling in the western part of the island, set out on foot on the western road ; there had been heavy rains, the roads very muddy, and now there had fallen some inches of wet snow on the soft deep mud. After walking eighteen miles, night came on ; he was now in the midst of. the woods, far from human habitation, and several miles from the end of his journey, near where the present Lot lo church is built. The large creek close by the place where Mr. Nicols' house now stands cut off all further advance. In the darkness he sought lo make his way over the fallen timber, and through the dense and tangled undergrowth up the stream, with the hope of finding some means of crossing the ford. Presently he came to i 'Spruce tree, fallen across the creek ; an attempt was made to cross on the tree ; when about half way o\ r, the branches of the tree top were so thick and entangled, that all further advance was impossible in the darkness. He now, supperle'^s and wearied, sat down on the tree, leaned against the branches, and lodged there for the night. During the night the wind shifted to the north-west, and a frost set in ; when the morning dawned, there being no prospect of proceeding, without any break- fast the preacher commenced his return journey of eighteen miles, through the partially frozen snow and mud ; this was accomplished by noon ; he secured for his dinner, there being nothing better obtainable, some coarse potatoes usually used for feeding stock, being scarcely considered fit for table purposes, and a little whey to drink. For three years Mr. Metherall had no horse, and performed all his journeys on foot through the mud 44 PIONEER WORK. and slush of fall and spring and through the storms and snowdrifts of winter. After this he procured a horse. The salary was small, and no allowance had been made for the expense of keeping horses ; he nevertheless bought and provided for his horse out of his small salary, never making any representations to the Missionary Committee or Conference that he ought to be allowed something additional, because of this increased expense. Some years later, other men urgently claimed some consideration on this account. James Thorne and Paul Robins wrote to Mr. Metherall for his opinion upon this subject. Mr. Robins wrote : — " I would advise you to send the committee a full and clear statement on the subject, if you judge it needful. If you want horses, I know not why you should not be allowed to have them in Prince Edward Island as well as the preachers in Canada. If you can do well without them, and let the expense of horses be devoted to more missionaries, of course it would be more preferable, but if they are really necessary, inform us of it There is no doubt great difference between your journeys and ours in Eng- land. But I should be glad to have a horse here sometimes if I could get it." Mr. Metherall replied : — " As to the use of horses on this mission, it is my opinion that we shall not be able to do without them, even if we had more missionaries ; but I think it will be the best way to bring it before the District Meeting, and then give the committee as plain a statement as we can upon the subject. Sometimes the roads are in such a state that a man could not travel at all without a horse. I travelled on foot the three first winters I was on the island, but I found it very great slavery. I have often suffered much, and at one time was likely to lose my life in a storm ; but had I been on horseback I PIONEER WORK. 45 should have been at the end of my journey before tlie storm came on." In 1840 Pliilij) James, having laboured on the island about six years and a half", was removed to Ontario, where he continued in the work of the mini- stry several years, and then died in tlie triumph of the Gospel. He preached his valedictory sermon in the Union Road Church, Mr. Metherall being present. Mr. James was eminently fitted for the work, and rendered valuable assistance to the Church on Prince Edward Island. " His talents and piety, and his solid character and robust health, fitted him for his sphere, and endeared him to all. The memory of this sainted brother is blessed indeed." * The few glimpses we have caught of him make us wish to become much better acquainted with him than we possibly can through the few available records of that period. * G. Webber, in the " Observer." ie I 46 AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. CHAPTER V. s fi AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. "Thou knowest Ms common ; all that live must die, Passing through nature to eternity." " There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, IJut has one vacant chair." THERE are dispensations of Providence that we can never understand. We can only see part of the plans and purposes of God ; but the Lord sitteth on high guiding all the affairs of earth with unerring wisdom ; He makes all things to fit into His designs. Shortly after the Conference of 1840, Francis Metherall was called to pass through the great trial of his life in the death of his wife. Mrs. Metherall had been the sharer of her husband's joys and sorrows for many years. She had aided him in his work, espe- cially at Vernon River. After the parsonage was built, the services were mostly held there ; Mrs. Metherall led the singing, conducted class and prayer meetings in the absence of her husband, and visited the sick. But her labours were finished, and she entered into rest. She was taken very ill suddenly, and in a few hours died, leaving an infant and eight other children, including a son of Mr. Metherall's brother, John Metherall. The eldest daughter Susannah, only about fourteen years of age, had to manage the household until a AFFLICTION^ AND PROSPERITY, A7 suitable person could be found to take charge of the family. Captain Marshall, whose vessel was anchored in Orwell Bay, performed the funeral rites, and ad- ministered Christian counsel and sympathy to the bereaved family. Shortly after, the infant died also, and was laid beside the mother in the Vernon River Cemetery. In passing through these dark hours of domestic sorrow, Mr. Metherall found the promises true, " My grace is sufficient for thee," and " ^ly strength shall be made perfect in thy weakness." " The friends at Vernon River rendered what help they could to lighten the burdens of the saddened and bereaved servant of God." Mr. Metherall always cherished a lively remembrance of their Christian sympathy, and often spoke of their kindness. When, according to human appearance, Mrs. Me- therall was most needed, just then she was taken away from the toils of life to share in the joys of heaven. These dark problems of life shall all be solved when the shadows of earth have fled, and the full light of heaven has dawned. The seed sown in past years now began to produce abundant fruit. The importunate and faithful prayers of God's people prevailed; the heavens began to open, there was a sound of an abundance of rain. The voice of the Lord God was heard saying to the Church : "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with the joy of singing." " Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitation. Spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes, for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left." Richard Cotton had been received into the ministry in 1839. Absalom Pickings was sent from England in 1841 to supply the place of Philip James. For some time Mr. Cot- 48 AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. ton preached on the Western or New London circuit, extending from Union Road to West Cape. Mr. Pickings took this work on his arrival from England, while Mr. Cotton went to the assistance of Mr. Metherall. Mr. Pickings entered on his work with some zeal, and became instrumental in the salvation of many souls, especially on the Winslow Road. He, with Mr. Metherall, held a revival service in the house of Mr. James Sanders, there being no church built as yet ; a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit was ex- perienced, and nearly all the people of the neighbour- hood became converted, and joined the Church. The persons who then embraced Christ have been the strength of the Church in Winslow South from that time till now. There was a considerable increase to the society on the Union Road about the same time. Mr. Pickings soon became entangled in land specula- tion, and in some other difficulties, which led to his leaving our ministry in the latter part of 1843. ^^ joined the Baptist Church, and, after some time, left the island. After the revival on Winslow Road, James Sanders and George Turner were appointed class-leaders. It was a grand sight on the Sabbath morning to see nearly all the adult population going to the class meeting. Those meetings were seasons of great power and spiritual enjoyment. The prayer and experience of the people were — '* Haste again, ye days of grace, When, assembled in one place. Signs and wonders marked the hour ; All were filled and spoke with power : Hands uplifted, eyes overflowed, Hearts enlarged, self destroyed. All things common now we'll prove, All our common stock be love." Mrs. Webb, a daughter of Mr. Wise, of Rustico AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. 49 Road, would get so happy as to shout aloud the praises of the Lord. She, with her husband, removed to FuUarton, Ontario, where Mr. Webb died. She is now living near Strathroy, and often speaks of the seasons of spiritual delight experienced in the Winslow Road prayer and class meetings. In "October, 1842, what is known as the "Great Revival " commenced at the head-quarters of the island missions. The services in the parsonage at Vernon River had been characterised by soul- quickening power; but now the baptism of the Holy Ghost came upon the people. The work spread like fire through the whole neighbourhood and adjacent settlements. In a short time 120 persons sought and found the Lord. Inquiry meetings were held at 10 A.M., and preaching and prayer-meetings every even- ing. Two classes were at once formed ; one met at the parsonage, with Jeremiah Enman as leader, and the other at John Van Iderstine's, with J. Fletcher, leader. In 1843, Jo^n Watson Butcher entered the ministry. For some months he aided Mr. Metherall in the great revival, then succeeded Pickings on the Western cir- cuit. There are very few young men now that would care to be appointed to such a field the first year of their ministry, being nearly ninety miles from end to end. The revival at Vernon River very soon began to spread. In January, 1843, it extended to Three Rivers. Mr. Metherall eagerly followed the Divine leadings, aided by Butcher, Cotton, and Manoah Rowe, a local preacher. In a short time about 100 persons in the neighbourhood of Lower Montague and Sturgeon professed conversion. At Sturgeon, Mrs. Sabine (Martha Jago), the mother of J. T. Sabine, united with the Church. She came from Jacobstowe, Cornwall, and had been a preacher in connection D 50 AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. with the Bible Christian Church there. When she came to Prince Edward Island, she commenced preaching in the market-house, Charlottetown, on the Sabbath. This caused no small stir, but the Lord made her a blessing to many. After the removal of the family to Sturgeon, *' by means of her uniform Christian conduct, exemplary life, and attachment to our people," she was the means of doing much good, and " after helping to build up the cause in that place, she died a few years ago in the triumph of faith, and entered into rest with her children who had preceded her." Murray Harbour, with its surrounding country, lies in the south-east extremity of the island. This port was settled in the first years of the present century by a number of families who came in a body from Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. They had there some acquaintance with the Wesleyan Metho- dist Church ; and through the representations of Mr. Avard, the agent from whom they bought their land, who was a convert of Dr. Adam Clarke in a revival at St. Austell, Dr. Clarke used his influence in getting a missionary, a Mr. Bulpit, sent from England to Prince Edward Island, who was the only Methodist minister on the island for a number of years. He preached in Murray Harbour, and a small church was built He occasionally preached in Vernon River, and two Methodist classes had existed for some time in the Three Rivers district. For about five years prior to 1843 there had been no Methodist preaching in any of those places. The classes at Three Rivers and Murray Harbour were dis- solved. An invitation was now sent to Mr. Metherall from Murray Harbour to supply them with the means of grace, which invitation he complied with. He went, accompanied by the same co-workers who had aided him at Three Rivers. The revival power and i \ > AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. SI i \ influence that had been gathering strength since it began in the parsonage at Vernon River, cuhninated in the awakening and conversion of almost the whole neighbourhood. The Clements, Sencebaugh, Beck, Renny, Roberts, De Jersey, Machon, Davy, Henry, and a number of other families, shared in the benefits of this great work of grace, and have ever been true to the Church that came to them, when left destitute of the ordinances of religion through being forsaken by their former friends. During this year there was a clear increase in the membership of 351 persons. Mr. Metherall was scrupulously conscientious ; *' he would take no undue advantage of the circumstances or necessities of others. He detested trickery or false dealing in everything, especially in the Lord's work." After the revival in Murray Harbour, Mr. Metherall consulted the people as to their future Church rela- tionship, informing them that, as the Methodists had previously occupied the ground, he thought that their ministers should be asked to take charge of it again. They refused to agree to this, desiring to be identified with the Bible Christian Church in the future. Mr. Metherall was not satisfied to proceed thus. He wrote to the chairman of the district in the Methodist Church then stationed in Charlottetown, ** informing him of the great work of grace in Murray Harbour ; that he had formed those who desired to unite with the church into classes, and as this was formerly Methodist ground, he desired him to send a pastor to feed and attend to the flock," when he would retire and leave the people with him. In a short time Mr. Metherall receivevl a letter from the chairman, informing him, "that as God had blessed the labours of the Bible Christian ministers in these fields — Three Rivers and Murray Harbour — the souls gathered belonged to the Bible Christian Church, and he did not wish to interfere ii 52 AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. vitli them." At the same time, he requested Mr. Metherall to take charge of the classes. Mr. Metherall seems to have personally called on the same Methodist minister, to speak to him on the same subject, when he replied : — " We cannot work it ; the ground is yours ; God speed and bless you." From this time arrangements were made to work this ground. Murray Harbour, Sturgeon, and some out- lying settlements, became a Bible Christian Circuit. Fourteen years after, " the Wesleyans took advan- tage of certain difficulties that arose in the church, entered the place while our cause was divided, formed a church out of the disaffected members, and continue there to this day, to the injury and weakness of both parties." The work began now to show the definite out- lines of its present form. On the east of the Hills- borough River, Vernon River, Three Rivers, and Murray Harbour were the centres. Here Mr. Methe- rall and Mr. Cotton were labouring. On the west of Charlottetown was, what was then known as the W^estern or New London Circuit. After Pickings' withdrawal, Mr. Butcher had to work this circuit alone for some time. It required six weeks to get around it. In 1845, the membership had increased to 422. There had not been much done in church building since 1840. J. W. Butcher had been instrumental in getting the people to commence a church on the Winslow Road; but it was not completed till some years afterwards. After the revival in Vernon River, the friends felt the need of better accommodation than the minister's residence furnished, for their preaching services. A frame church was therefore erected, 22 x 30 feet, which was "commodiously finished," and served the neighbourhood about thirty years. ( k > AFFLICTION AND PROSPERITY. 53 The preachers had to endure many privations, and suffer many hardships in their long journeys around their extensive circuits. They had to preach four and five nights in the week, and three times on the Sabbath. The people were very hospitable and kind; but were still, with few exceptions, compara- tively poor, and in many of the outlying settlements, food and accommodation for the missionaries were very meagre. In the midst of all these difficulties, God was with them, blessing their labours, and making them abundantly useful. Mr. Metherall set a fine example of cheerfulness, under the greatest hardships. s| e le 54 A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. il iii CHAPTER VI. A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. " Seize, mortals, seize the transient hour ; Improve each moment as it flies : Life's a short summer, man a flower : — He dies — alas ! how soon he dies ! " " He liveth long who liveth well, All other life is short and vain. He liveth longest who can tell Of living most for heavenly gain." IN all the history of human affairs, there lie scat- tered blighted hopes, unfinished purposes, and fi ustrated schemes. The history of the Bible Christian Church of Prince Edward Island is no exception to this. The tide of spiritual power had set in strongly throughout the churches ; wide-spread attention was aroused. The income of the Missionary Society had unaccountably increased, so that the committee was enabled to send two additional missionaries to On- tario, and two to Prince Edward Island, to assist in extending and consolidating the growing work. Everything seems to betoken great prosperity in the coming years ; man may plan, and sometimes for his own selfish ends, "but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." The two additional missionaries who were ap- pointed to the island were — William Calloway, who had been six, and William Harris, who had been four A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. 55 St lo r years in the ministry. Mr. Harris was considered to be a very suitable person for the island work. " The youth and vigour blooming in his countenance, his good natural abilities, with other requisite qualifi- cations, marked him out as just the man for the work that lay before him." There was every prospect of his " being one of the most efficient and successful of our missionaries." These brethren with their wives sailed on board the " British Lady," from Appledore, on the morning of Tuesday, August 27th, and after being twenty-four days on the bosom of the j^rcat deep, arrived at 13e- deque on the morning of Friday, Sept. 21st, 1844. " The captain was very kind, and appeared to take pleasure in making them comfortable." On Sept. 24th, they arrived at the parsonage, Vernon River, where they found Mr. Metherall holdin;::; his quarterly meeting. Mr. Calloway spent some time at Vernon River, when he went to the New London Circuit with J. Butcher. Mr. Harris went to Murray Harbour, where he continued some time. He wrote : — " We left Brother and Sister Calloway at Brother Metherall's, and I and my wife came on to Murray Harbour. Here we met with a kind reception, and 1 am happy to state that since we have been here we have had no reason to inquire, * Is the Lord among us, or not ? ' Our congregations have been good ; we have had evident proofs that the Holy Spirit has been moving on the minds of the people. Several young j)ersons have been brought to see their dangerous state as sinners and to cry aloud for mercy, some of whom profess to have obtained peace svith God. "This island is not so much like a wilderness as I expected to find it. I have had the pleasure of meeting with many kind friends since I came here, who, I believe, feel deeply interested in the wel- I 55 A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. fare of God's cause. But I am sorry to say tliat trade is dull indeed at present. There is but little money in circulation. The business is generally carried on by bartering one thing for another. This will very materially make against our finances, and lay us under the necessity of drawing more heavily from the missionary fund than we should otherwise do. Siill I believe that we have many kind friends here, who truly love (jod, and will do what they can towards supporting their mission- aries themselves. " I saw Brother Cotton yesterday, and Brother Metherall about a week since; they were both quite well, and appear to be men truly devoted to God ; and unquestionably have been made very useful in this place ; many look up to them as their fathers in Christ. *' I am thankful to say that I still enjoy good health, and feel the love of God shed abroad in my heart. I do not at all regret coming to this quarter of the globe. I trust I am where God would have me be ; and I only wish to be useful in His hands." /At Christmas, 1844, West Cape, New Bideford, and Cascumpec, with their outlying appointments, were separated from the New London Circuit, known for some time as the Ebenezer Mission, but in more recent times, West Cape Circuit. W. Harris was appointed to that field. He entered on this western work with his accustomed ardour and devotion. There were about thirty-nine members on that groun'^ '''b'" mission was about thirty-five miles lom[, r •( tained a circuitous route of ninety mil( ' jui was made once in three weeks; givii ne i) Jay ^ preaching to each place." The Spring quarterly report made by the /larterly meeting of the station states : — *' When Brother James came round these parts. A MYSTERIOUS PKOVIDEXCIC. '7 about eight years ago, in many places there M'as no road at all ; some phices only a blazed or foot path through the woods ; and the inhabitants were very much scattered and destitute of the Word of God. But among these disadvantages, there were several brought to the knowledge of the trulli, and in con- sequence of which he repeated his visits as often as the state of the roads and his other engagements would permit. The work prospered in his hands, notwithstanding he frequently complained of the small apparent good accruing from his labours. After a time R. Cotton laboured with him, and these places had more regular preaching, and the face of things for a time wore a pleasing aspect. When Mr. James was removed from the island, Absalom Pickings took his place ; but the results were not satisfactory. After this we were for a considerable time deprived of the labours of an itinerant preacher. But feeling our destitution we tried to summon up our powers, and see what we could do towards supporting a missionary among ourselves. We ventured to apjjly for a minister ; but, tliough we hoped to have our request granted speedily, we were left to spend a whole year in anticipation. Mean- while, however, J. Butcher laboured among us as much as circumstances would admit. He being an amiable young man, and, as we believed, possessed of deep piety, his visits greatly contributed to the re- storation of good feeling generally : the Lord gave him seals to his ministry. " At present our prospects are rather cheering. Since W. Harris has settled with us, which is between four or five months, the places have been more regularly and frequently attended ; a growing interest is manifested ; a spirit of hearing is increasing ; many seem to be deeply impressed. Several back- sliders profess to be reclaimed, and have again united 58 A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. with us ; and the society generally appears to be possessed of a redoubled zeal and renewed life. " Since these parts were first visited, the roads are vastly improved ; although at present they are exlremely disagreeable to a person just come from England. The forests are giving place to industrious cultivation, the inhabitants are increasing, places of entertainment for the preachers are more numerous ; but still there are many inconveniences to put up with. The greatest prospect we have in this place is from the influx of inhabitants and the rising gene- ration." Mr. Harris, in his quarterly report to the superin- tendent of the district, dated July loth, 1845, says : *' West Point remains just as it was last quarter. The chapel at Lot 7 is sliingled ; but the windows and floor are not as yet put in. New Bideford is decidedly improving, the congregations are very good. I have admitted twelve into the society here during the quarter. There are appearances of good at Lot 1 1 ; I have formed a class there of five persons ; I have also formed a class at Cascumpec. But still we want to see a greater display of God's power." Although the roads had improved on former times, travelling was a very different thing from what it is now, with good roads running in every direction. Mr. Harris says : " I left Lot 7 to take my regular round in the circuit, but as the roads are very bad on account of the thaw, the journev was a very fatiguing one ; the first eight miles on the western road, I had to cross the fences, the next seven miles through the portage, to wade through mud and water, half way to the knees, and about seven miles on the Western Road, to travel through the snow eighteen inches deep. By the blessing of God, I was enabled to walk a distance of twenty-two miles. The next morning I was early on my way to New Bideford, where I A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. 59 preached the next morning, being Sunday ; preached at Port Hill in the afternoon, and at Bideford in the evening. On Monday, I preached at Lot it, on WrestHng Jacob, and hardly knew how to give up. After the service was closed, I began to tell the people how free salvation was, and what they must do to obtain it. After a round of ten days I returned to Lot 7, much fatigued. My work has been hard, and some part of my way home I have had to wade through mud and water nearly to the knees. I have enjoyed true peace, and look forward with pleasure to that blissful period, when I shall rest from all my toils. "On my next trip round my circuit, Mr. Bell loaned me a young horse ; I left home for Cascumpec, the portage was so bad that I chose to wade through the mud and water, rather than run the risk of riding the young animal among the roots. My feet and legs were wet and cold, but by the mercy of God I arrived safely at the end of my journey. On the next day, Mr. Meggison promised two canoes to take my horse across the river, but we found it impossible to get the horse into them, and after two hours' fruitless toil, we had to make him swim over. On the other side, I rode towards the main road ; but sometimes I had to keep in shore, at other times to keep out several yards in the water, to avoid bogs. In-order to get to one of my appointments, I had to pass three miles through a path in the woods. Two friends went with me with an axe, and sometimes cut a tree, out of the way, which obstructed the road. I followed, leading the horse the greater part of the way, as I did not consider it safe to ride. After we had walked some distance on dry ground, the road not being blocked up by wind-falls, one of my companions re- marked, * This is a proper road,' where I suppose to get through with a carriage would be impossible ; to I' i 1 6o A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. ride on horseback appeared dangerous ; and a person walking must be particularly careful in some places, or he would be half way to the knees in mud and water ; and yet this * is a proper road.' At another time he says, * I left home for Kildare about noon ; on the way my horse fell among the roots in the portage, and threw me over his head ; but I received no bodily hurt.' "On July 15, 1845, we removed into our new habitation. It is but a humble cot ; but I dare not murmur : the great missionary Paul had no certain dwelling-place, but we have, and with the love of Christ in our hearts we can live here comfortably. *' My last circuit round in July was a very encourag- ing one ; I experienced the burning influences of the Holy Ghost in my own breast, and I would not part with the confidence I have in Christ for all the fading toys of earth. While I write, the precious seasons I have enjoyed among my beloved friends at home are quite fresh in my mind. I thought, during the time the Conference was sitting, I would gladly take a long journey through Prince Edward Island roads, if I could have the privilege to be with the Con- ference one (lay. The preachers are a body of men I sincerely love, and there are many among my senior brethren in the ministry I very much esteem. I have frequently been profited by their counsel ; but as my lot is cast in America, and the Atlantic Ocean rolls between us, several Annual Conferences must pass away before I can expect to see my dear brethren again. Blessed be God, I feel resigned to His will, and am resolved to pray and labour on till my work on earth is done." In the following February, the society at Lot 7, under the leadership of Harris, resolved to ** lay aside their worldly affairs, and devote a week to the all important business of eternity." There were preach- J h d a| ((| P m| PI tl ai fo A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. 6i ing services twice every day : at 10-30 a.m., and 5 v.m. J. Kinley, Lid stone, Fish, Dalton, and Grigg were his helpers in preacliing and exhortation. " Showers of divine grace were experienced ; hearts were cheered, and hands strengthened." In one of these services " the friends prayed heartily ; the Lord worked powerfully ; sinners were constrained to pray for mercy; mercy was realised ; salvation obtained ; five ])ersons were enabled to rejoice. The Lord turned their captivity, and they were enabled to declare among the people, ' The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.' " The following Sabbath was "a most delightful day." There were *' crowded congregations, the Divine pre- sence was with the people in a very powerful manner." In the afternoon during the singing, "one person began to cry aloud for mercy, then another, and another. They were soon rejoicing in the love of God." The preacher now asked all those who desired '* to flee from the wrath to come by being saved from all sin," to unite with the church ; twenty-four persons at once responded to the invitation. Mr. Harris left the circuit in the summer of 1846. The work had j^rospered to such an extent that the membership had risen to nearly 100. He removed to Lower Montague towards the end of August, and entered on the work of the station with the bright prospect of realising great success ; but alas ! his race was almost run, his course nearly finished. The glorious rest he longed for, when wearied with walk- ing through the snows and slush at West Cape, was near at hand. He preached his last sermon on Sept. 14th, to a crowded congregation; on the Monday following he held a prayer-meeting in the Montague School-hoL'se : twxe he closed the meeting, but it appeared as though he could not tear himself away from the people. He had not been well for some 63 A MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE. days, but now he was taken very ill with dysentery. Dr. Keys, of Georgetown, did all he could to save him, but in vain ; he continued till the Tuesday week following, when it became evident that his end was near. He greatly desired to see F. Metherall and W. Calloway. To his weeping wife he said, " All is well. I have not the least shadow of doubt. I am on the Rock. Had it been the will of God, I should like to have lived a few years longer, for your sake, and little Mary's, and for the church ; but I have no will of my own." To Manoah Rowe and Philip Beers he said, " If I should be taken away, let me lie down at Vernon River." After he had taken leave of his wife and child, and commended them to the keeping of his Heavenly Father, his face became radiant, as though the divine glory rested upon him, while he exclaimed with rap- ture, " Angels are come ; Jesus is come ; the patri- archs, the prophets, the martyrs, the King Himself, are welcoming me ! Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit." Thus died William Harris, on the 23rd day of September 1846, in the twenty-seventh year of his age, and the seventh year of his ministry. " A prince and a great man fell that day in Israel." He had been on Prince Edward Island two years and two days, but had accomplished as much work for his Master, and made as deep and lasting an impression spiritually, as many men do in half a lifetime. His bright but short ministry, and most blessed death, are among the most treasured remembrances of the Bible Christian churches on Prince Edward Island. Mr. Jesse Whitlock says : " He was a man well read, possessing great in llectual powers, and a well culti- vated heart ; he certainly was an eloquent and powerful preac her. God blessed his labours in the upbuilding of believers and the salvation of souls," HEAD WINDS. 63 CHAPTER VII. i HEAD WINDS. " I venerate the man whose heart is warm, Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine, and whose life, Coincident, exhibit lucid proof Tiiat he is honest in the sacred cause." THE new London Mission had been passing through many difficulties, some of them grow- ing out of the disputes connected with the retirement of Absalom Pickings. Mr. Butcher, with all his activity, could only get around among the people in intervals of several weeks. The wonder is, how he could keep such a circuit together at all ; his amiable and genial disposition, and entire devotion to his work, won the confidence of the people and called their attention to divine things. The setting off the western end of the mission into a separate station, and the appointment of W. Calloway to the mission to reside on the Union Road, brought the much needed relief, and the results were very beneficial. The report for 1845 says — "We have had many things trying our patience, as the adversary has been very busy ; but at present the society is in a very thriving condition. Since W. Calloway came among us, and has travelled in connection with J. Butcher, they have been breaking up new ground, and have visited several places which were nearly, if not quife, destitute of the means of grace ; and there have been I j «4 HEAD WINDS. many pressing invitations to which they could not attend. In the places visited about twenty persons have professed to be converted to God." The death of Mr. Harris was a very serious loss to the churches, and there was a considerable difficulty in filling all the appointments. On September 26, 1846, a special meeting of the preachers and circuit officials was called at the Parsonage, Vernon River, to consider the situation. Mr. Metherall had in- tended to remove to West Cape, but was prevented through sickness. It was now arranged that he should remain another year at Vernon River, W. Calloway went to Murray Harbour, while R. Cotton and J. Butcher took the western work, comprehend- ing the New London and West Cape stations. The New London circuit very reluctantly consented to allow Mr. Butcher to spend six months on the West Cape work. About this time Mr. Butcher did a very good work at St. Eleanor's; concerning this place he writes: " The Lord has lately poured out His blessed Spirit, and about twenty souls have been converted to God, and have united with us in church fellowship. The congregation is large, and we much need a chapel. The ground is bought, and the frame put up so far without debt. The people are poor, and therefore need help." Again : " We had a large congregation ; some hardened hearts melted under the power of truth. After I had dismissed the congregation, we held a public class meeting ; God's children spoke their experience in a fervent spirit, and strong cries were sent up to God that He would pour out His Spirit ; sinners began to cry for mercy, and five of them found peace through faith in the blood of Christ. This is what I have been preaching for and expecting ; I am thankful for what I see and feel, and can say from my heart, Abba, Father." HEAD WINDS. 65 Mr. Butcher introduced preaching into different neighbourhoods with success. At one place, on his first visit, some of the people thought he was a false prophet. On this account a certain woman would not attend his ministry. At length, through the i)er- suasion of her friends, she went ; the word reached her soul with power, divine truth took hold of her heart, she saw herself a great sinner, and sought the Lord. One of his contemporaries says, "J. Butcher's patient, zealous, loving, and unassuming manner won for him the greatest respect." A small church had been erected at Sturgeon, but not plastered ; nevertheless, it was opened for divine worship, January i, 1845, "when a large congrega- tion assembled, and the divine presence pervaded the audience. W. Harris preached from John iii. 16. Such a New Year's Day was never before known in Three Rivers ; for whereas the people were formerly engaged in drinking and carousing, now, by means of the Temperance Society, a drunkard is scarcely known ; and by means of Christianity many are con- verted to God, and are urging their flight to the skies. About twenty-two years before this time, a Church of England minister, the Rev. C. Griffin, came to this place, and remained for a time ; but finding little encouragement, he returned home again. Some time later, a Baptist missionary, the Rev. Mr. Crawford, visited the neighbourhood. He had considerable success, especially among his own countrymen from Scotland. Subsequently a Methodist minister occa- sionally preached here, but had ceased some years before Mr. Metherall visited it." * The church then erected in Sturgeon, with some improvements and enlargements, is in use at present. About 1846 preaching services were re-established in Georgetown, and a small church was built, and * R. Cotton, in " Bible Clirislian Magazine." 66 HEAD WINDS. opened for worship by W. Calloway and R. Cotton, September 27th, 1846. The frame of the Murray Harbour Church was raised in the month of November, 1845; and finished the following summer ; this lasted till the spring of 1882. Charlottetown is situated in the centre of the work, being forty miles from Murray Harbour, and about ninety miles from West Cape. The preachers always passed through the city in going from the eastern to the western parts, but no preaching appointment had been established in the town. In the spring of 1845, some months after Messrs. Calloway and Harris arrived from England, the pro- priety of occupying Charlottetown was considered. Some of the preachers and people, as well as a number of our own friends in the city, were of the opinion that an effort should be made in this direc- tion. The district meeting seems to have arranged to have an appointment taken up in the place in connection with the cumbrous New London circuit to the west of it ; W. Calloway was then stationed on the Union Road end of that circuit, which was adjacent to the city. A schoolroom was rented at a cost of j(^S per annum for preaching services. Mr. Metherall's opinion was that this should be regarded as a trial, and if it succeeded, then the next year the English Conference should be asked to send an additional minister to be stationed in Charlottetown. In the month of April, the circuit officials having made some arrangements connected with the renting of the schoolroom, and other matters, forwarded the statement pertaining thereto to Mr. Metherall for his consideration and approval. At the same time, some of the friends in Charlottetown sent to him a paper, setting forth their views upon the subject, which states : " That in our opinion, a stationed missionary HEAD WINDS. 67 is much needed in town, in order to be successful ; or, if that cannot be done, let W. Harris be stationed in one of the nearest districts, so that he could attend regularly to the town congregation ; or, if this cannot be done, let J. W. Butcher be appointed somewhere near, that he may perform the same work. Then we may expect to prosper ; but if the arrangements pro- posed by the district meeting are carried out, pro- sperity will not be possible, and we cannot coincide with it." The superintendent of the district seems to have found it impracticable to take any other course than that marked out by the district meeting, which was soon put into effect. Charlottetown was now taken in the circuit round, and a service was held once in three weeks, and a society organised. These services sufficed to show that there was a very favourable opening in the city, if it could have been properly attended to, according to the wishes of the people there ; and further, that it would be im- possible to build up a church with such means. The people became discouraged, and no aggressive power could be brought to bear upon those beyond. The prospects had become so dark, that on October 2, 1846, a district meeting committee met in Charlotte- town to investigate the affairs connected with the appointment. It was found that " the members of society are steadfast in their profession, and attached to their own people — the Bible Christians. They have exerted themselves greatly to liquidate the necessary expenses. *' The congregation has considerably dwindled away, the probable causes of which are — *' I. A want of more faith, love, and power with God in prayer. " 2. The want of a suitable minister established in the city. 1 63 HEAD WINDS. ** The want of a connexional chapel free of debt, and the permanent means of grace in addition to preaching, such as prayer-meetings, family visitation, weekly class-meetings, love-feasts, and the Lord's Supper." The committee evidently saw clearly enough what was needed ; but did not seem to be in a position to make any improvement ; it gave a good prescription, but was unable to act on it. From this time the city had preaching every five weeks. The little church still cherished the hope of having a stationed minister; but hope deferred made the heart sick, and in about a year the services were given up altogether. Thus was closed one of the best openings that the Bible Christian Church has had in Prince Edward Island. In 1847 Mr. Metherall removed from Vernon River to West Cape. Sixteen years had passed since his appointment to the island, fifteen of which he had lived at Vernon River. A very strong attachment had grown up between him and the people of that place. He had ministered to them in holy things, and taught them how to obtain true riches. They had sympathised with and aided him in all his sor- rows, and had bestowed on him some of their earthly substance. Plenty did not always reign supreme at the parson- age. There were times when supplies were exhausted, and it became somewhat difficult to know how they were to be replenished. On one occasion several persons were expected at the house. The flour-barrel was empty, the last loaf eaten. The concern of the family was not, how the next meal was to be provided for themselves, but how the strangers could be enter- tained. This was the burning question of that day. Mr. Tweedy, of Gallas Point, on that day thought that probably the preacher's family needed a fresh supply of the staff of life, and ordered his sons, Thomas il HEAD WINDS. 69 d r- 1 and Joseph, to take a bag of flour to the parsonage. This came just in time to prepare bread for the even- ing meal, of which the visitors partook in ignorance of the circumstances under which it had been ob- tained. There was little or no money in circulation ; the missionary was paid in the exchange then current — produce. Mr. Metherall had a practical knowledge of agriculture, and was thus enabled to utilise the twelve acres of glebe land given by Mr. Laird to supplement the produce received from the people. Although there were times of straitened circum- stances, he and his family were fairly well provided for while at Vernon River. During Mr. Metherall's earlier years on the island, he had no fur robe for his sleigh, and suffered much from the cold in consequence. Mrs. Whitlock, mother of the Rev. Jesse Whitlock, collected money with which to buy a robe for him. He had managed to buy a horse, after he had walked his circuit for three years. After some time the horse got entangled in a chain and broke his legs, and had to be killed. What was to be done ? There was no money to buy another. He had occasionally preached to the men in the ship- yards on the Vernon River. Benjamin Davis, Esq., father of L. Davis, Q.C., M.P., hearing of the circum- stance, invited him to preach in his shipyard at Davis' Point, when a collection was taken up, which went far toward buying another horse. In his position as superintendent of the district, Mr. Metherall had some very trying journeys to make, considering his advancing years and the condition of the roads at that time. He writes in the autumn of 1845 * "I intended to set off for Lot 7 ; but, finding the enemy very busy in this place (Vernon River), 1 thought it wisdom to stop over Sunday. On Monday I commenced my journey of no miles, which I have i \ 70 HEAD WINDS, to travel in two days. I called on some of our friends by the way, and read and prayed with them. I rode on horseback 55 miles the first day. Started again the next morning, and in the evening got to my journey's end." Though Francis Metherall had a strong constitu- tion, his continual hard work and exposure to storms and cold began now to produce its effects. He evi- dently was beginning to feel this. He had always borne the greatest hardships and performed the hardest work without a complaint ; but now he signi- ficantly writes, as though he felt his strength at times failing under the strain : " My health is tolerably good, considering the unfair play it has met with in past years." Such a sentence as this from a man of Metherall's dispositions and habits signifies more than a whole chapter of complainings from„some men. Mr. Metherall was taken sick in the early part of 1846, and continued ill during during the most of that year. His ministerial brethren concurred in the opinion, that, if his sickness was not unto death, he would scarcely be enabled again to do the full work of the ministry. W. Calloway wrote to the missionary secretary : " We left Brother MetKeraU's for Tiiree Rivers ; he is still looking very poorly ; he is not able to work. I hope you will think of us, and send us help as soon as you can. I think his work is nearly done." Mr. Metherall wrote also to the secretary, Nov. 17, 1846 : " I am happy to inform you that my health is much better ; it has been improving for the last five weeks, and if I can avoid taking colds, I hope I shall be able to supply some part of my appoint- ments, but I am still weak and feeble. ** I hope we shall have an outpouring of the Holy Spirit among us. This station has gone much behind during my illness, which has lasted nearly ten months, HEAD WINDS. 71 so tliat I have not been able to attend my appoint- ments." On Feb. 17, 1847, he wrote: "It has pleased the Lord to restore my health for the last three months ; but I am not able to endure the hardships to which a missionary is exposed in this country, as I could for- merly. I have travelled this winter in all sorts of weather and roads, and I think have omitted but one appointment, and that was on account of a snow- storm. At present I am suffering from a bad cold, and symptoms of my old complaint have returned. How it will terminate I cannot tell, but all things shall work together for my good, if I love and serve God." He seems to have fully recovered his health by the next summer, for he then entered on the full work of the extensive West Cape circuit, where he laboured for six years, amid many discouragements, with acceptance and success. In 1848 Jesse Whitlock entered the ministry, and was stationed at Three Rivers. J. W. Butcher had succeeded Mr. Metherall at Vernon River, and Thomas Inch was with Mr. Cotton on the New London circuit. Mr. Inch had been sent from Eng- land in 1847, having been in the ministry five years there. He is referred to as being a good preacher ; but in about a year and half he retired from the ministry into secular life. Jesse Whitlock continued several years in Three Rivers, where he rendered good service. The Stur- geon Church was not yet plastered. Mr. Hicken, of St May's Bay, offered to do the work of plastering, if some one in the neighbourhood would attend him while so doing. As no one volunteered, the young preacher came forward and mixed the lime and sand, and carried the mortar till the work was finished. Shortly after, a gracious revival was experienced, the little church became the spiritual birthplace of I 72 HEAD WINDS. many souls. About fifty persons were admitted on trial for membership. J. T. Sabine was converted in this revival. ^, There had been preaching services at PhHip Beer's, at the head of Montague River. Montague Bridge was then beginning to improve as a shipping port. After some special services held by J. Whitlock, assisted by R. Wilson, an effort was made to erect a church near the bridge. Mr. Whitlock secured a piece of land, and was successful in taking up a sub- scription. He then organised a party to get out the timber for the frame of the church. The building was soon so sufficiently advanced that services could be held in it, but it was not finisned until some time afterwards. The inhabitants of Grand River, Bay Fortune, and St. Peters, being entirely destitute of the m.eans of grace, invited Mr. Whitlock to pay them a visit. This led to the taking up of regular appointments in those places. Revival services were held at Bay Fortune, and about twenty persons professed to find peace through believing in Jesus. Those persons were at once formed into a class ; they gave evidence of being possessed of genuine Christian grace. At Upper Grand River a good work of grace was experienced ; but contention and division arose, from a minister of another church coming in to hold service at the same hour, which sadly militated against the good work. Our church had a number of warm and true friends in tliose neighbourhoods. A church was partially erected but never finished, and many years afterwards preaching was withdrawn. In 1850, the log church at Wheatly River having become unfit for further use, a new frame church was erected in its place. In the same year Jacob Gale, a man of seven years' ministerial standing, was sent to the island from Eng- HEAD WINDS. 73 ir ;r land to take the place of Thomas Inch. He arrived in Charlottetown on May i6th, and was appointed to the Union circuit. By this time tlie New London station had been divided into the Richmond and Union circuits, the Union station comprehending what is now known as the Union and Wheatly River circuits. This station had been passing through some very trying circumstances, and was in rather a low condition. Mr Gale heartily entered upon the work of building up the cause ; he writes : " When we first came here we found things out of order and very un- comfortable. We were not disappointed, for we had prepared our minds to meet with difficulties. I gave myself to God, and thouglit, however gloomy it was looking, I would try and do my best. The people flocked to hear, and the preaching places were soon thronged. " At Winslow Road we preached in a dwelling- house. 'I'his house, though large, could not contain the people. Some stood at the door, and others at the windows, eagerly striving to catch the sound of the word. Some years ngo they commenced building -i chapel, but they got dispirited and gave it up agai.i. They now look fresh courage, being glad that the committee had sent them another missionary ; so they built the chapel. It was an interesting sight to see all hands at work, both young and old, saint and sinner. It was sometliini^ like it was in Nehemiah's day, ' the people had a mind to work.' Mr. Metherall preached at the dedication from, ' Now, therefore, arise, O Lord God, into Tiiy resting-place.' Mr. Callo- way took the afternoon service; text, 2 Cor. iv. 14, 15. Mr. Butcher preached in tlie evening from Kzek. xlviii. 35. We had three good sermons, and a high day. The chapel was overfilled at night. The chapel is built o( wood, 27 by 21 feet, and high enough to contain a gallery if needed." r 74 HEAD WINDS. The log church on Princetown Road was tho- roughly repaired — W. Calloway, R. Cotton, and P. M'Covbrey assisted in the re-opening services. The Union Road Church was also repaired, so that it be- came '* a good, substantial, comfortable chapel." A society was formed by Mr. Gale at the Rustico Road appointment. In 1853, R. Wilson was received as a probationer for the ministry. He laboured a short time on the Vernon River and West Cape circuits, and then re- tired. About this time Mr. Metherall was married to Miss Mary Nelson, daughter of Mr. J. Nelson, of China Point, who for many years had been a true and de- voted housekeeper to him. He now removed from West Cape to the Union circuit, where he continued three years. The English Conference of 1853 requested Mr. Metherall to attend the Conference of 1854 in Eng- land ; and as Mr. Calloway had asked to be allowed to return to England, the Conference requested him to remain on the island another year, that the work might not suffer in the absence of the superintendent of the district. Mr. W. Reed, the secretary, wrote Mr. Metherall : " I shall be fully expecting to sec you another spring or summer, when I believe a cheer- ful and hearty reception will be given you by the brethren." Circumstances were such on the island that he found it impossible to comply with this re- quest. The Conference had not the pleasure of wel- coming this veteran of the cross. William Calloway returned to England in 1855, having been on the island a little more than ten years. He laboured on all the circuits in the dis- trict. **He was a hard worker, a good preacher, a holy living Christian, and was made a blessing to many." N HEAD WINDS. 75 to An affliction of deafness somewliat militated against him. Mrs. Calloway was a devoted Christian woman, and is spoken of as "having fine preaching gifts, and as drawing large congregations wherever she con- ducted services." The spiritual power connected with the "Great Revival " of 1842-43 was felt over the whole district ; the churches grew in strength and multiplied till the year 1847. After that date, though the preachers, for the most part, worked very hard, and revivals were experienced to some extent, yet there were evident signs of decadence in the churches. In 1856 the member- ship had fallen to about 300. With considerable diffidence we write of the causes of this condition of things ; we will give, however, what appears to us to be the principal ones. I. Mr. Metherall had been overburdened with work and responsibilities, considering his advanced age. The work of West Cape circuit, including Bideford, was enough to try the strength of a man in the prime of life without the added duties of superintending the district, when there was no railroad to pass with speed and comfort from one end of the island to the other. It is well known that in an isolated community, like Prince Edward Island, and at a great distance from confercntial authority, as was the island district from the English Conference, the chairman of the district has far greater responsibilities than under other condi- tions. Such circumstances often favour an undue assertion of individualism, rather than proper subor- dination to central authority. Some time after the death of his wife, Mr. Metherall, realising the increased domestic cares thrown upon him and the waning of his physical strength, and feel- ing that under these circumstances he could not properly work a large Prince Edward circuit, and 76 HEAD WINDS. efficiently perform the duties of the superintendency, urged the Conference to relieve him from the cares and responsibilities of superintendent. The Confer- ence very wisely urged him at that time to continue some time longer in that position. After this, on dif- ferent occasions Mr. Metherall asked to have a suc- cessor appointed, but this was not done till 1856. In our opinion this ought to have been done in 1847 or 1848, about the time that Mr. Metherall re- moved to the West Cape Station ; for in the west, he was comparatively shut off from the body of the work. 2. Very subtle and disturbing elements began to operate very soon after Mr. Metherall's removal to the West. These became so manifest, that attempts were made to prejudice Mr. Metherall's mind against Mr. Barker, after his appointment to the island, before his arrival ; but fortunately Mr. Barker became aware of those proceedings when in England, and was en- abled to frustrate those designs. 3. The failure in the establishment of a church in Charlottetown produced very great discouragement among many of the best friends of the denomination ; the conviction was deepening that, without a cause in the city, it would be very difficult to maintain our position in the country for any great length of time. 4. The English Conference had sustained the mis- sions and made grants for building purposes very liberally, but we cannot resist the conviction that the Conference would have expended some of the money to much better advantage if it had sent one of its trusted officials to the island eight or ten years before it did, to uphold and strengthen the hands of the superintendent nnd relieve him of some of his bur- dens*, and encourage the many willing workers. These are evidently some of the principal causes HEAD WINDS. "7 that interfered with the prosperity of the work. There were doubtless many minor influences that operated in the same direction, such as the death of W Harris and the withdrawal from the work of a num: ber of ministers, and at a time when their services were sorely needed. services I 78 RECONSTRUCTION. CHAPTER VIII. R E C O N S T R U C r I O N. '* Naught shall prevail against us, or disturb Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold Is full of blessing.' IN the year 1856 the missionary committee resolved to comply with Mr. Mctherall's oft-repeated request, to relieve him of the position from superin- tendent ; but before any definite action was taken with regard to his successor, Cephas Barker was appointed as a deputation to visit tiie island work, to inquire into its condition, wants, and prospects. At the lime that Cephas Barker received his appointment as deputation to Prince Edward Island, he had been in the ministry eighteen years, and was thirty-seven years of age. He had attained to considerable prominence among the ministers and churches in England, and shown himself capable of any work the Conference might appoint him to. For some time he had felt himself strongly sympathising with Mr. Metherall, and drawn towards the churches under his charge. When it was finally decided that he should proceed to the island, he wrote Mr. Metherall under date of May 22, 1856 : — " Though unknown to you personally, you doubt- less have seen my name in common with that of others in the ministry ; I have long felt an interest, a RECONSTRUCTION. f9 very great interest, in the field of your labour, have tried to sympathise with you in your reverses, and have rejoiced with you in your successes. I have many times had very strong feelings respecting your island, and have hoped the time would come when I should see you. "The missionary committee has resolved to comply with your repeated request to relieve you from the toils and anxieties connected witii the charge of Prince Edward Island. Previous, however, to the appointment of a successor, the committee has urged upon me, and I have consented, to visit you as a deputation. Our present arrangement will allow of my remaining with you nearly twelve months, during which time I judge that I shall be able to make myself conversant with your affairs on tlie island, assist you in any matters that require adjust- ment, and, I trust, be blest and made a blessing while among you. 1 purpose leaving Knijland at or immediately after the next Conference. I cannot leave before, owing to my position in connection with the Missionary Society. It is proposed that a work- ing man shall accompany me, as an additional missionary to your isle. " I shall feel obliged if you can arranc^e for your missionary meetings through the island to follow from one station to another, so that I may have an early opportunity of seeing the friends throughout the district. I should like to meet the missionaries as early after my arrival as possible, so as to lay down our plan of proceeding during my stay on the island. " Any information you can give me, I shall be glad to receive at your earliest convenience." Mr. Barker was accompanied by Mr. William Woodman, as an additional minister for the island. They left Liverpool, September 14th, on board the " Majestic," and after a stormy voyage were ship- n n 8o RECONSTRUCTION. wrecked near Picton, Nova Scotin. With consider- able difficulty they were taken off the wreck on Sunday, October 22, 1856, and landed at Picton, from whence they crossed to Charlottetown on the follow- ing Tuesday. Mr. Samuel lioundy, from the Ring- siish Circuit, Devon, one of the circuit stewards of the Union Circuit, had arranged with Mr. Cross, a Wesleyan Methodist of Charlottetown, to receive and entertain them when they arrived. Mr. Barker writes, concerning their reception at his house : " We received every attention, and were treated as though we had been tlieir children Their kindness shall be remembered in the day of accounts." Mr. Barker preached his first sermon on the island in the " Bap- tist Chapel " on the following day. A few days after, Mr. Boundy drove them to the Winslow Road to meet Mr. Metherall, where a meet- ing of all the preachers and some of the officials was shortly held, to make the necessary arrangements for the year's work. Mr. Woodman settled down to circuit work ; C. Barker proceeded on his work of investigation. He soon reported, and advised that a stationed minister be appointed to Charlottetown, with the view of organising a church in the city. Many of our people were constantly removing thither, and were joining oiher churches, while our own church was destitute of a base and centre. The missionary committee strongly urged Mr. Barker to take the position himself, which he consented to do, and also appointed him superintendent of the district. Mrs. Barker and family joined him in 1857. Mr. Barker knew that there was plenty of hard work before him ; for in addition to his close super- vision of all the circuits on the district, iie, with another preacher, had for the Charlottetown circuit, in addition to the city, what now constitutes the RECONSTRUCTION. 8i Union and Wheatly River stations ; and during one year the Vernon River and Grand River stations were annexed to it. But Cephas Barker was not a man afraid of work. He took a very strong position on the educational question that was then ripe for settlement, and strongly opposed the last remnants of State Churchism. The first society was formed in Charlottetown on January 25, 1857, and consisted of tliirteen membe''s; eight others united with it the next month ; of these only four continue till the present time. Mr. Tren- neman, who has since died, was one of the most prominent and valuable of the little band. One of Mr. Barker's successors wrote concerning him — " He was a tower of strength to the infant cause ; his ripe experience, sound judgment, good influence, and ample wealth, were cheerlully placed at the service of the church. He both lived and died its benefactor and friend." When the Jews were dwelling in Jerusalem with the walls of the city broken down, and the gates burned with fire, so that they were a reproach among all people, Sanballat and Tobiah and Gesham, who pro- fited by this condition of things, did not molest them, they were not particularly concerned about the moral reformation of Ezra. But when Nehemiah came up from Persia with authority from the king, and commenced building the walls and setting up the gates of the city, that the reproach might be rolled away, and that the people might be more securely protected in the enjoyment of their national and religious liberties, Sanballat and his companions "laughed him to scorn and despised " him. When this produced no effect, for Nehemiah continued at his building and reorganisation, Sanballat ''was wroth and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake unto his brethren, Will they revive the 83 RECONSTRUCTION. stones out of the heaps of rubbish which are burned ? * And Tobiah answered him — " Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall." lUit the source of Nehemiah's strength was not in man ; he was acting under a commission from the King of heaven, and when he was mocked he just delayed his work long enough to exclaim — "Hear, O our God, for we are despised," and pro- ceeded with his work till it was finished. Cephas Barker and his church were not allowed to quietly proceed in building up the walls of their Zion. He was first despised, then mocked. He, however, felt that he had a commission, not only from his Conference, but from his God, to proceed ; and this he determined to do, notwithstanding the scorn and opposition of the enemy. In his attempts to preach in the open air, he was '* mobbed and pelted in the streets." A low vulgar song was made about him, and passed around to be sung by street corner loungers, and all this was evidently inspired by influential church officials. We could easily enlarge here, but we forbear. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining a suit- able site for a church. An eligible spot was purchased on Queen's Square ; but, by reason of adverse influ- ences, the deed was not executed. The place finally secured on Prince Street, though in a good locality in some respects, has not proven to be good for the purposes of our church. Steps were taken during the winter of 1857 to com- mence building operations the next spring. The church was dedicated in August 1858. Mr. Barker ^ writes concerning it : " We had a splendid opening ; receipts upwards of jCs^- Much of the heavenly influence was realised." The whole property, including church, parsonage, and land, cost about $5000, of which Mr. Barker col- RECOXSTRUCT[ON. 83 fe'-f lected about 83000, Mr. Chappie nearly ^looo, and Mr. Webber a little more than 1 1000. Soon after Mr. Barker's arrival on the island, Richard Cotton retired from the ministry. He had laboured in the earlier years of his ministry with ac- ceptance and zeal, and rendered good service to the church ; but he left amid much irritation and un- pleasantness. The cause had been languishing for some time on the Richmond Station. There had been a large amount of work bestowed on that ground ; many conversions were experienced, and a number of genuine friends had gathered around the preachers ; but the societies were unable to withstand the adverse influences that strongly operated against them. Mr. Barker made a vigorous effort to revive the mission, but owing to a lack of men from England, the ground was abandoned. Grand River shared the same fate some time afterwards. Unhappy divisions sprung up in Murray Harbour and Vernon River, which C. Barker and Jesse Whitlock succeeded in largely overcoming. In 1859, there were indications that general confi- dence was being restored ; the ground that could not be held nor worked had been given up. Preachers and people were encouraged to renewed efforts. The opposition and difficulties in Charlottetown had to a large extent subsided. Public opinion began to set in in favour of Mr. Barker, so that his opposers found it necessary to work more secretly. He wrote to the editor of the "Bible Christian Magazine" in 1859 : " It would be easy to fill a number of your periodical with the tale of my troubles, persecutions, distresses, conflicts, and victories, but having obtained help of God, I continue unto the present time. The open persecution with which I was so long assailed has to a great extent passed away." Another writer, referring to t-he same subject, says : »' I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 m IIM 1125 I.I IIM mil 2.2 ill£0 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 6" ► Va ■ O ^>W / Photographic Sciences Corporation i\ # ■^ ^ '^^ A ^ ^ :<> 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y 14580 (716) 872-4503 '<4> ^17 4r ^ to W^^ % ^ 84 RECONSTRUCTION. " I would, wiih heartfelt gratitude, record the great advance in fraternal feeling and co-operation of late manifested towards us by our fellow-Protestants of other denominations. Perhaps our previous estrange- ment was, in part, the necessary result of the stand taken by our people on great and dearly established principles. If so, it must be the more gratifying to us all, that while general peace now reigns, where all but universal conflict lately prevailed, not one cherished principle has been in any way compromised." Revival influences began to prevail in the district. A very gracious work was realised in Murray Har- bour, where J. Whitlock was then stationed. Mr. Barker wrote: " God, our heavenly Father, blessed our united efforts, and more than loo souls professed to find peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The year i860 was a time of great spiritual awaken- ing. The district was visited with showers of bless- ing. On Mr. Barker's own circuit there were 113 conversions ; at Wheatly River^ 56 ; Winslow Road, 50 ; and at Charlottetown, 7. John W. Butcher, on the West Cape station, experienced great success ; 90 persons were led to Christ there. The superintendent of the district was always on the move. At one time we see him in Murray Harbour, aiding and encouraging Jesse Whitlock, then to Charlottetown for the Sabbath, and the next week back to the harbour again, pushing the battle to the gate. In a short time, he was in the West, rallying the people to the help of the Lord against the mighty, lodging over one night at Mr. Nichol's " Pilgrim's Rest," a few yards from where one of the early missionaries rested on a spruce tree all night. Jacob Gale in 1861 removed from the island to the Canadian Conference. Mr. Gale rendered very im- portant service to the churches on the island, espe- RECONSTRUCTION. 85 cially on the Union Circuit. His name inspired respect where he was not known. When he moved to West Cape his cutter * was left behind ; after a time he went to get it. The man who had possession of it received him with much profanity ; the man's daughter, who knew Mr. Gale, ran out of the house exclaiming, " Father ! it's Parson Gale ! it's Parson Gale ! " The profane language suddenly ceased, and the man humbly apologised for having so insulted him. John T. Sencebaugh was at the same time received as a probationer for the rninstry : he preached four years on the island, then removed to Ontario, where he continued to exercise his ministry for some years, then withdrew from i^s. Secular life possessed greater charms for hw> l\~n ihe Bible Christian ministry. In 1862, Jesse Whitlock removed to Ontario. He did a good work on the district, and is held in high respect by all the churches on ^he island. Isaac Ashley took Mr. Whitlock's place. Mr. Ashley previously was on the Hungerford Station, Ontario. He took his family ';v'ith him in his light spring waggon, and drove all the way from Belle- ville to Point Du Chene, New Brunswick, where he took the boat for Summerside. Here there was not very good wharf accommodation at that time, and in landing the preacher's horse it came very near being drowned. Mr. Ashley laboured on several island circuits, when he again returned to Ontario, and on account of an affection of tlie throat he retired to secular pursuits. William P. Hunt was sent from the English Con- ference in 1862. He faithfully laboured some years on the district with acceptance. His health, how- 'I Sleigli. 86 RECONSTRUCTION. ever, broke down, and after he had passed through much suffering and weakness, he died in 1872. In 1863, J. J. Rice entered the ministry, and was stationed at Vernon River. He succeeded with Mr. Hunt in getting a church built on Murray Harbour Road. He also was instrumental in getting a church partly erected at Cherry Valley, and the Montague Church finished. He subsequently held an appoint- ment on the West Cape Circuit, where he built Lot 7 Church, and in 1868 was transferred to Ontario. Thomas Short was sent from England in 1863, but he died in the course of a few years. William Woodman was transferred to an Ontario circuit in 1864. The writer was the first minister to welcome him to that province a day or two after he arrived at the old parsonage in Huntingdon. Mr. Woodman was an earnest, active worker, but after some time, he also retired from the work. The English Missionary Society had for thirty-two years liberally aided in sustaining the Prince Edward Island missions, and sometimes went in debt, rather than withdraw the grants. Efforts had been made to make the district finan- cially independent ; but while the receipts were aug- mented, the desired point was not reached. There had evidently been a growing desire in the district that the island work should be transferred to the Canadian Conference. The district meeting sometime before recommended that this should be done, and had laid the matter before the English Conference. Mr. Barker had visited the Canadian Conference in Cobourg. The district meeting of 1864 passed this reso- lution : — " Resolved : That as we are still of the opinion, that the union of this district with the Canadian Conference would be for the benefit of all concerned ; we have RECONSTRUCTION. 87 \ but to reiterate our former resolution upon that matter." At the same time was adopted this resolution, re- cognising the paternal care of the English Con- ference : — *' Whereas the wants of this district have for over thirty years been kindly met, and ;its varied interests paternally fostered, by the Bible Christian Missionary Committee and Conference : " Therefore, be it resolved, that we deem it incum- bent upon us to acknowledge our indebtedness, and to record our sincere gratitude for the many favours thus conferred, especially in a supply, from time to time, of good men and true, to declare to us the unsearchable riches of Christ ; as well as the liberal means afforded for their maintenance among us during so many years of our early connexional penury." Mr. Barker had been appointed by the parent Conference, President of the Canadian Conference n for the same year, which was held in the village of Hampton. He therefore proceeded to the province of Ontario, and in due time introduced the subject of union between the Conference and the District of Prince Edward Island, when the following resolution was adopted ratifying the union : — "That having heard C. Barker's statement i*^ reference to a union of Prince Edward Island with this Conference, resolved : — That as the English Conference of 1862, by resolution said. We are of the opinion that should Prince Edward Island become connected with Canada, the Canadian Conference must take up its control and its financial responsibilities at the same time. When our friends in Canada and Prince Edward Island desire to become united on these terms, we shall be prepared to entertain the subject. 'V* 1 88 RECONSTRUCTION. «:- Being desirous of promoting the general prosperity of the body, we agree to take Prince Edward Island, and its staff of labourers, into connection with this Con- ference, including its control and financial responsi- bility, provided that, in view of the increase of ex- penditure necessarily involved in such union, the English Conference cease to claim the tenth of our missionary receipts." The English Conference readily confirmed the union, and henceforth the island was part and parcel of the Canadian Conference. In addition to Mr. Barker's building operations in Charlottetown, he succeeded in getting a new church built on the lU^stico Road. After the revival at Wheatly River,' the church there, which was the smallest on the district, was taken to Rustico, and a larger church erected in its stead. About the same |d^0 time, J. Butcher was instrumental in the erection of ' . a parsonage at West Cape. Mr. Barker was removed to Cobourg, Ontario, in 1865. He was editor of the denominational organ, ** The Observer," for fourteen years, and held impor- tant official positions till his death, which occurred in November 1881. Cephas Barker did a grand work in the district : he upheld the ministers in their work ; inspired the laity with courage and hopefulness ; and commanded respect, especially in Charlottetown, from the general public. All his successors in the superintendency have, in very deed, reaped where he sowed. When he left the district, "the societies were peaceful, finances healthy, and the prospects were encourag- ing." The church in Charlottetown had 50 members, and altogether in the district the membership had risen to 607, including those on trial. The storm of persecution and opposition that some , / RECONSTRUCTION, 89 thought it wise to raise against Mr. Barker and his struggling church, did not do either him or it any real injury as in a few years the difficulties that had been raised were overcome. All the injurious results have and will rest upon the instigators; and their actions will be remembered by posterity with con- •will Ut« m 90 DECLINING YEARS. CHAPTER IX. DECLINING YEARS. "Thy task is done ! thy Master calls, • • • • • • • Come, well approved ! my faithful servant, come! No more a wanderer seek thy destined home. • •••••• I've led thee, ardent, on through wondering climes, To combat human woes and human crimes ; But, tis enough ! thy great commission's o'er ; I prove thy faith, thy love, thy zeal, no more. • • • • • • • Thy life, to duty long devoted ends ; \Vhat boots it where the high reward is given, Or whence the soul, triumphant, springs to Heaven." ON Mr. Barker's arrival to take charge of the district, Mr. Metherall went back to the West Cape circuit, where he performed the work of that station till the Conference of 1869, when he was superannuated on the advice of the district meeting. Francis Metherall was now 68 years of age, having superintended the churches on the island for 25 years, and laboured in the active work of the ministry 37 years. He had been faithful amid all the wavering and fickleness of others : he wrought hard and long, and bore the burden of the churches even in old age ; he had more than earned the rest and quiet of super- annuation. We confess that we have a great admiration of the quiet, earnest persistency with which he did his work, DECLINING YEARS, 91 not aiming to make a brilliant flourish, or a great parade of his doings, but to be faithful to God and man, keeping steadily at his post whether men ap- proved or disapproved. His convictions of divine truth had taken such a complete hold of his mind, he rested so thoroughly upon the Holy Spirit for inspira- tion and aid, that he had no need to be constantly halting to inquire whether or not men approved and appreciated his course. If he had so done, much of his life's work would never have been accomplished, and many victories, when just within his grasp, would have been turned into defeats. Though superannuated, Mr. Metherall continued to work to build up the church on the West Cape circuit as best he could to the end of his life. The conference memoir says — " The later years of F. Metherall's life were of much service to the west end of the island, where he dwelt, continuing as he did to exercise his ministry, and preached the Word with much power, until within a few months of his death." For many years he had suffered from an affection of the throat, so that at times he could scarcely speak. At one time he fell over a bridge with his horse and buggy, and was ever lame from a hurt he then re- ceived; but his strong constitution bore up a long time against his multiplying infirmities. When away from home he took a severe cold, from which he never recovered. " As his end drew near his sufferings were very great, but his patience and resignation were still greater ; he expressed to those around him strong confidence in God and a full assurance of hope. He looked upon himself as heir to one of those heavenly mansions, of which Christ spoke as being in His Father's house. One of Mr. Metherall's last utterances to his brethren in district meeting assembled was, "If I was young again, I would give my life and all I have with greater zeal to 92 DECLINING YEARS. the work of the ministry. I have no regret that my life has been so spent, I only wish that I could have done more for Christ." He then urged with tears, "Brethren, you will never regret any work or any sacrifice you make for Christ. His last utterance on earth was, "I am going to be with Jesus." Thus passed away Francis Metherall from the service of God on earth to the service of God in heaven, on June 9th, 1875, ^^ the age of eighty-four years, having been in the Christian ministry fifty-three years. As we think of the death of this veteran pioneer mis- sionary, we fervently pray that his spirit may be caught and his example and self-denial be copied by the young men of the present generation. Mr. Metherall was well adapted to his work, and was possessed of a remarkable power to take in his surroundings at a glance and adapt himself to them. Mr. Gale writes : " He seems to have been specially raised up by God to do the great work assigned him in Prince Edward Island." On one occasion, when he went to visit some of his wife's relations in the neighbourhood of Murray Harbour, before he was invited to preach there, he met a number of men on the road, of whom he sought directions where to find the residence of the family he was in search of; the needed information was readily given. One of the men asked Mr. Metherall his name and profession ; when these were told, the men said — " We make it a rule, when persons come into our settlement to dispose of anything, to make them show their wares ; you say you are a preacher of the gospel, give us, if you please, some samples of your wares, that we may judge whether or not they are suitable to us here." He at once comprehended the situation, and with the greatest self-possession took off his hat, and delivered to the men such a powerful exhortation on repentance and the necessity DECLINING YEARS. 93 on >ion Ih a Isity of consecration to God, that they never shook off the impression made on their minds. They parted with the understanding that whenever this " preacher of the gospel " should in the future pass that way, he must stop and preach in some of their houses, for his " wares " were just the thing they needed. The spiritual influence he brought to bear upon all classes of the community was very great. In the spiritual work of the church he was always at home. The temporal and business affairs of the church he attended to as matters of necessity, but he devoted himself to the spiritual because he loved it, his whole soul was in it. One of his contemporaries says : " The influence he exerted, not only among our own people, but among all classes of society, amounted almost to the marvellous." Everywhere he was recog- nised as a man of God ; Protestants of all denomina- tions, and Catholics where he was known, were prepared to welcome him with hospitality at any time. Francis Metherall excelled as a peacemaker ; he was ever making efforts to secure peace and goodwill among men. Of him it can be emphatically said that he was a man of peace. During his early ministry in England he was very frequently engaged in settling differences. When in Guernsey he A\TOte — " After preaching I had to judge between two parties at variance ; I hope the breach was healed. May the Lord keep us in peace and unity one with another. I dread the spirit of discord ; it strikes at the root of all good, and makes way for all evil to enter our minds." When on the Monmouth mission, he endeavoured to reconcile two neighbours who were determined to go to law. He succeeded in settling everything except which should pay the pre- liminary legal expenses that already had been in- curred. On this point both were immovable; but Mr. 94 DECLINING YEARS. Metherall, rather than let the dispute be unsettled, paid the law bill himself. There had been a misunderstanding between two persons on the Winslow Road ; the next time Mr. Metherall came around, he was called upon to act as umpire between them. When the business was dis- posed of he preached in the house of Mr. Peardon from the text : " The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water ; therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with." He is said to have "cut right and left" into his subject, and among other things he said — " Strife and contention are like the bursting of a mill-dam ; the floods will wash away the mill, and drown the miller in the bargain." It can scarcely be said that Francis Metherall was brilliant as a preacher, but he possessed qualities that were far more valuable. He was always clear, bring- ing out the meaning of his text, and very impressive. His whole soul was thrown into his subject, therefore he was always attractive ; but the grand source of his power as a minister was in his all-prevailing prayers. In prayer he seemed to enter the sacred presence of God, and like a prince wrestle until he prevailed. Mr. Metherall enjoyed the friendship of, and car- ried on a considerable correspondence with, many good men in his day, such as W. O'Bryan, James Thorne, W. Reed, H. Major, W. Courtice, Thomas Leggo, James Brooks, Richard Sedwell, and others. We select a few extracts from letters sent him : — Paul Robins, in writing to him in 1845 ^^om Eng- land, likens the missions to hungry, growing lads ; he says — " Our missionary receipts were ^£"1333 last year, but we found means of swallowing up nearly the whole, and there are mouths still open, and opening, so that I expect we shall but barely supply the cravings of the hungry, thriving lads. What they will come to in the DECLIMNG Yi^ARS. 95 Eng- he end I cannot say. It is to be hoped that they will not be great eaters and bad providers. Should they be like Pharaoh's lean kine, which ate the fat ones and remained as poor as before, it will be bad times with us in the end. I am sorry to say that some of our single stations in England gulp down nearly as much as a district in America, and I am sometimes afraid they are as hungry as ever. " Respecting my coming to America, I do not think my brethren think me fit to send, nor have I any par- ticular impression that it is my duty to offer myself Should the Lord send me to any part of the world, I trust I am quite willing to go." In 1846, J. H. Eynon wrote from Cobourg : — " With a degree of pleasure I take up my pen, humbly hoping this letter will find both you and your dear children possessing the inestimable blessing of health, and that you are pressing further into the holy of the holiest, * through the blood of Jesus.' I am aware that in your circumstances, you must necessarily have a train of trial and difficulties that I am entirely free from. Yet I have no doubt, while you cleave to God, that you find His * grace sufficient for you,' and your strength in proportion to your day, notwith- standing the cares and responsibilities devolving upon you. The fountain opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem stands as good now as it ever did, and the way to it is as plain and easy as it ever was. Strive to live as near to that fountain as possible, then all must be well with you in reference to this life and that which is to come. " I am happy to hear that your labour of love in the island has not been in vain in the Lord, and that you have an increase of labourers to assist you in your arduous but worthy enterprise. I hope God Al- mighty's special favour will attend the labours of both them and you, blessing you with an increase of 96 DECLINING YEARS. f ; converts a thousand fold. I am fully satisfied that our North Amerknn Missions will, if taken proper care of, be of vast importance to our little Zion. " We have six good stations here. Brother James is gone about 230 miles further west to open another. There are sixteen good, neat, comfortable chapels on those stations ; about 700 members, all pretty much united, hoping and living in expectation of greater success. God has blessed our labours here beyond our most sanguine expectations. But what is the pro- sperity we have realised when compared with what we should have, if we were the men of piety we ought to be ? Nothing ! Nothing ! More of the divine unction is greatly needed. O Lord, anoint us afresh. " Brothers Paul Robins, William Hooper, and H. Ebbott are appointed to come to America this spring. Paul will, I suppose, take my place. Two of my colleagues will probably go ; one to Wisconsin, and the other to Ohio ; while W. Hooper and H. Ebbott will take their stations here. When I go to England, I should like very much, if it could be conveniently ordered, to pay your island a visit. During my visit to Ohio last fall I took the fever and ague, and it shook me most awfully. The effects of the fever have not left me yet. I am not allowed to labour, except occasionally at home. I cannot ride nor walk very much ; however I hope, with care, I shall be restored again to health. We are now preparing to enlarge our chapel in Cobourg fifteen feet by thirty, and we liope to have it completed before we leave the town, which I suppose will be about the last week in May. If there be a certainty of obtaining a passage from the island to England, should I and my wife come through that wayj I should be very glad to know. If there is, send me a few lines immediately." James Thorne wrote from Shebbear, Devon, Sept. 1 1 DECLINING YEARS. 97 d that proper Lines is lother. els on much greater )eyond le pro- hat we ought divine afresh, md H. spring, of my :n, and Ebbott gland, iniently jiy visit and it rhave except k very stored nlarge nd we town, May. m the rough ere is, Sept. <» 23, 1868, when they were both on the confines of the next world : — " Health and happiness to you and yours. I should be glad to receive a long letter from you, containing facts and incidents respecting the work in Prince Edward Island, now you have leisure to review the work from its commencement. It would be a valu- able legacy when it shall please the Almighty to re- move you to the better land. " I should be exceedingly glad to look in upon you once in your island. That is not at all probable ; but I hope we shall soon meet in a happier clime. Things are amazingly altered since you left this neighbour- hood. Chapels, some of them commodious, are built in almost every parish for miles around, attended by regular congregations, with good societies and Sabbath schools. I cannot enlarge ; but, in view of the great improvement, one cannot but exclaim with wonder, What hath God wrought ! We are changing too. I cannot now walk from Land's End to this place, as I have formerly done. Well, we will bless God for all the good that has been done, and pray that the work of conversion may go on more rapidly and extensively until — *' * The worlil is overflowed, And the universe filled with the glory of God.' " The question has been raised. Was Francis Me- therall a great man ? We answer emphatically. Yes. He may not have been great according to some of the conventional standards of men ; but, if he is to be measured by the amount of productive work per- formed, the influences for good he set in operation, and the principles of truth stamped on his genera- tion, then Francis Metherall stands out pre-eminently as one of earth's great men. Francis Metherall, though thou wast unknown to ! I 1 t ;i 98 DECLINING YEARS. US in the flesh, yet, while we have followed thee in these pages we have admired thy devoted consecrated life ; we have profoundly sympathised with thee in thy life's sorrows, we have felt some of the movings of the same spiritual power that didst inspire thee to heroic deeds for thy Master ; and now, in leaving thee, the fervent cry of our heart is, may we be faithful to the God whom thou didst serve, and attain to the same Heaven ! CANADIAN CONNEXION. 99 e in ated I thy fthe ;roic , the I the same CHAPTER X. CANADIAN CONNEXION. ** Too happy were men, if they understood, There is no safety but in doing good." " I need not be missed if another succeed me To reap down the fields whicli in spring I have sown ; He who ploughed, and who sowed, is not missed by the reaper, He is only remembered by what he has done." ON the removal of Mr. Barker from Charlottetown. John Chappie was appointed to fill his place. Mr. Chappie had preached in England some years, then proceeded as a missionary to Canada, where he held several appointments. His work on the island showed him to be a good pastor ; the congregation in Charlottetown consider- ably increased. If tradition speaks correctly, the congregation during his pastorate was larger than at any other time in the history of that church, though the membership did not seem to increase proportion- ately. He also succeeded in considerably reducing the church debt, and John Chappie lives in the affec- tions of the people. The district outside of Charlottetown did not pros- per during the five years of Mr. Chappie's superin- tendency. The membership fell to 517. The only building operations carried on were the churches at Lot 7, Murray Harbour Road, and the shell of a church at Clierry Valley. The finances of the district also fell considerably behind. /^^ .T> />v ■^70 J Bi ! P lOO CANADIAN CONNEXION. John Watson Butcher was removed in 1867 to Peterboro', Ontario, after having spent twenty-four years in the island work. He laboured faithfully and long. Mr. Metherall is the only man who has been longer in the island ministry than John Butcher. He is the only remaining connecting link between the early Bible Christian Ministry of Prince Edward Island and our own times. Mr. Butcher was super- annuated in 1882. Let the Sun shine upon him, that his remaining days may be bright. John Chappie gave up the position of superinten- dent in 1870, and was removed to West Cape, where he continued two years. He was superannuated in 1879, ^"^ is settled at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. At the close of his pastorate in Charlottetown the member- ship was sixty. Mr. Chappie's successor was George Webber; he was transferred from the English to the Canadian Conference in 1866, and, after four years of Canadian experience, he entered on his work as pastor of Charlottetown and superintendent of the district. Mr. Webber had a reputation as an active determined worker ; he was known to possess marked abilities for overcoming financial difficulties. He, however, soon discovered that he had ample scope for his powers in his new sphere. In Charlottetown, his tw.) prede- cessors had done well in removing the church debt, but there still remained more than $1000 on the Trust Property ; there were circuit debts on all the stations, aggregating a considerable sum, and a district debt of nearly $300. With a few exceptions, the church buildings were gone to decay or sadly out ofrepair; and, in addition, there was a declining membership. Here, then, was work to be done ; there were bur- dp- ome debts to be paid off, churches to be built, € - oCd, and repaired, and the work of conversion to be carried on. CANADIAN CONNEXION. lOI All effort is not productive. It is not only neces- sary to work for God and the Church, but to do that work in the right way. It is comparatively useless to make special effort for revivals when church finances are in a disordered condition ; the more spiritual-minded are disheartened, and those who have withheld more than is meet, are in no proper moral condition to make proper use of a revival if it were to be vouchsafed. How can God work spiritu- ally when the walls of Zion are broken down, and the legitimate debts incurred in carrying on His cause are unpaid ? The very conditions, in connection with which God works, are absent. " Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But, ye say, wherein have we robbed thee ? In tithes and in offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse : for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." "* The special means of grace that are required under such circumstances, is to " bring in all the tithes and offerings," that the gates of Zion may be set up, and the ministers of the House of God fed and clothed. These means properly used will produce such a con- secrating effect, that the way will be prepared for the incoming of spiritual blessings. " Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." For three years after Mr. Webber's appointment the membership continued substantially as it was when Mr. Chappie left Charlottetown, the city church excepted. He and his colleagues devoted themselves during this time principally to the raising of funds to pay the circuit, district, and church debts, and for the erection and repair of churches and parsonages. Great _^ * Mai. iii. 8, 9. 102 CANADIAN CONNEXION. , 1 success was realised in this department. New churches were erected on the Union Road, Winslow North, Vernon River, and Lot lo. Sturgeon Church was enlarged, while some others and the Murray Harbour parsonage were repaired and improved. Shortly after- wards a good parsonage, though not the most con- veniently planned, was erected on the Winslow Road by the Union circuit. In 187 1 the district meeting recommended the taking up an appointment in Summerside, a growing town in Prince County, and the principal shipping port for the western end of the island. Henry New- combe worked it that year in connection with Bide- ford. In the following year J. H. Collins was ap- pointed to this mission. Mr. Webber himself went to Summerside, and devoted several weeks to the work of securing land on which to build, and the erection of a schoolroom in which the services could be held till a church should be built. The land and building cost about 1000 dollars, which was soon raised. Mr. Collins gathered a considerable congre- gation, and proceeded to the erection of a good church and a parsonage similar to the one built on the Winslow Road. The church, however, was not seated till some years later. During the year 1874, revival influences somewhat extensively prevailed, so that, at the Conference of 1875, when George Webber left the island for Toronto, the membership stood : Charlestown, 112; Summer- side with Bideford, 112 ; total on the district, 643. These figures include those on trial. The member- ship in the Charlottetown church has continued about the same ever since. Mr. Webber intimates that his colleagues, H. New- combe, J. Chappie, J. G. Yelland, R. B. Rowe, W. Medland, and J. H. Collins, acted well their parts, and adds : " While we are ready to concede all our CANADIAN CONNEXION. 103 acknowledgment to the brethren, and of some of them we are justly proud, I say, that the people, our friends here, show a liberality, confidence, and de- votion to the cause, never surpassed in the denomina- tion by so few people in the same circumstances. They are amongst the most excellentand liberal we have found in the connexion." It seems to have been providentially arranged that during the time of Mr. Webber's stay on the island, and when there was need of great effort in the finan- cial department of the church, money was much more abundant, and the business of the island was in a much more flourishing condition than at any other period in its history, either before or since, princi- pally on account of the large expenditure in building the P. E. I. Railway. Mr. Webber was succeeded in 1875 by William S. Pascoe ; he had come from England to the Canadian Conference in 1867. During the four years he pre- sided over the district, he guided its affairs with dis- cretion. E. A. Tonkin, John Ball, and G. Smith in those years came into the district, while W. Bryenton entered the ministry from the Union circuit. J. H. Collins, having been in Summerside four years, was, at his own request, removed ; and was succeeded in 1876 by E. A. Tonkin, who was instrumental in getting the church seated. The following year W. Medland took the pastorate, and held it two years. He raised and paid off nearly 300 dollars debt on the property. J. G. Yelland induced the people of Lot 8, West Cape, to erect a substantial church, and also at Princetown Road on the Wheatly River circuit ; and J. H. Collins commenced a new church at Murray Harbour. In the year 1876 the Conference, against the advice of Mr. Pascoe, the superintendent of the district, gave up the Bideford and Northam appointments, which ii 104 CANADIAN CONNEXION. had been transferred to the West Cape Station the year before. In 1879 there were 603 members, notwithstanding the giving up of Bideford and a great falling off in the Summerside membership. W. S. Pascoe did a good work on the island in firmly dealing with some matters that had either been overlooked or neglected in the hurry and activity of the preceding years. He has left the impression behind him, that he is a prince among preachers. { /^ The superintendency was next held by John Harris, who was sent from England in the beginning of his ministry in 1863 ; he had, therefore, been in the Canadian work sixteen years. With the exception of Summerside the district was in a fairly flourishing condition. During the preceding nine years, as the result of faithful labour, many difliculties had been cleared away, and probably no former superintendent entered on his work under such favourable circum- stances. There were, however, still existing some obstacles which the superintendent, aided by a faithful band of earnest co-workers, have measurably overcome. During J. Harris' stay on the island, J. Ferry, J. A. Dafoe, J. M. Tredrea, W. Down, and W. E. Reynolds came into the district. J. Ferry commenced two churches on the West Cape circuit ; one at Mimini- gash, the other at Nutsford. They were both com- pleted under the supervision of W. Bryenton. About 500 dollars were raised on the Union circuit to clear off the debt on the parsonage, and a new brick church erected during the pastorate of E. A. Tonkin. The new church at Murray Harbour was advanced a stage by W. Medland, and completed by E. A. Tonkin. A neat and convenient parsonage, superseding that built by F. Metherall, was built at Vernon River during the pastorate of John Ball. J. A. Dafoe con- siderably reduced the debts on the Wheatly River Dn the nding off in did a some acted He )rince . .(/S79 arris, •f his I the 3n of ihing s the been dent :um- ome hful •me. .A. Dids two mi- )m- out ear •ch 'he •ge A lat er n- er ■ CANADIAiW CONNEXION. »0S circuit. The vestry of the Charlottetovvn church had been enlarged, and the church had been repaired and Improved at different times at a cost of over looo dollars. Five hundred dollars of this was raised while J. Harris was stationed there. In 1 88 1 a determined effort was made to place the district in a position of financial independence so far as the Missionary Society was concerned. That effort, though the preachers and people raised a special sub- scription for the missionary debt, amounting to 1475 dollars that year, so far succeeded that, while in 1879 the district received, in addition to all its own mis- sionary money, the sum of 350 dollars, in 1882 it was reduced to 95 dollars. In 1879 J- H' Collins was reappointed to Summer- side, where he continued for three years. When he left that station in 1882 the membership, including a small society at Traveller's Rest and those on trial, was 56. Mr. Collins evidently worked hard, and realised considerable success in his Summerside labours ; he spent seven years there, nevertheless it can- not be denied that the success of that mission has not been at all equal to the expectations formed when it v/as opened and for some time afterwards. Some have even questioned the propriety of entering the place at all. But it is our conviction that those who were instrumental in opening that mission were guided by the truest wisdom ; their sanguine expectations can be easily accounted for. It must be borne in mind that under the conditions with which the de- nomination entered Summerside, having but a few adherents in the town, and a very few coming in to reside there from the country circuits, a flourishing church could not be raised in a few years by a few brilliant efforts, however wisely they might be planned or energetically carried out. It requires persistent, plodding effort for many years to accomplish this, io6 CANADIAN CONNEXION. and this kind of work will be the most successful in the end. Summerside is doing very well under the careful management of J. A. Dafoe. While we have been investigating the early history of the Bible Christian Church in Prince Edward Island, we have been led to admire the self-sacrificing Christian principle inspiring the Missionary Society and its supporters in England, and the early mission- aries who consented to leave their homes to bring the blessings of the Gospel to those who were in great need of it. He who has promised a reward to those who give a cup of cold water in His name, will surely remember them in the day of reckoning. Since the island work became connected with the Canadian Conference, the circumstances of the people being much improved, the former difficulties have to a large extent disappeared. For some years some irritations and prejudices prevailed, growing out of what was regarded by many preachers and people in Ontario as clannishness and favouritism manifested by some going there from the island, and what was regarded by the people of Prince Edward Island as dogmatic Ontario provincialisms, in methods and habits, on the part of some coming from that province; but happily those have mostly passed away. We be- lieve the union of the two has fulfilled the opinion of the district meeting of 1865 — "That it would be for the benefit of all concerned." There need not be the slightest hesitancy on the part of any of the ministers in the Conference, especially during the earlier period of tueir ministry, in taking a station in this district, for the circuits here, most of them, will compare very favour- ably with the Ontario circuits. We have a climate in the summer that is unrivalled in America ; and in the winter the frost is not at all so intense as at Toronto, but there are more stormy winds and snow. The question has been asked. How is it that, after CANADIAN CONNEXION. 107 all the labour bestowed and money expended, the church has not attained to larger dimensions ? Some have been ready to reply — Because of so much un- faithfulness and instability. We cannot accept any such reasons as these, for we are not aware that there has been any more of human weakness and failings here than elsewhere. The causes are many ; here are some of the most important — 1. The field was very limited, the bulk of the population being made up of Roman Catholics and Scotch Presbyterians. All other denominations have had a hard struggle to establish themselves. The people who came from the old land, and who had a previous acquaintance with our church, were but few, probably not more than have been found in the Hampton circuit, Ontario. Emigration did not con- tinue to flow from England for any lengthened period after the first missionaries arrived. The ministry on the island has succeeded in reaching out among the population to much larger extent than in any other part of our Canadian work. 2. Constant removals. While the churches were supplemented but little from beyond, there has been a constant drain by removals from the island, not only in recent years, but from the first. I'he island being comparatively small, many people considered that there were better inducements further west ; hence, in the earlier years of our work, there was a continual movement westward, and, in later times, to Boston. There are probably nearly as many who have been members of our church in Charlottetown in Boston and vicinity as there are in Charlottetown itself. A number equal to one quarter of the whole church has removed during the last three years and a half. If, therefore, we can, under such circumstances, hold our own and make a little headway, it is equal to large advances under other circumstances. ' lo8 CANADIAN CONNEXION. Our work is about finished, and before the ink is dry on these last lines, the basis of union between the Episcopal Methodists, the Methodist Church of Canada, the Primitive Methodists, and the Bible Christian churches, comes claiming attention. Is then our work as a separate church accomplished? Must we give up our family feelings and traditions as a church ? These questions are at once suggested. but I must stop, for the demands consideration. (( basis" is impatient and ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PREACHERS. 109 An Alphabetical List of Preachers who have Laboured on Prince Edward Island. Nr ame. Ashley, Isaac Ball, John . . Barker, Cephas . Bryenton, William Butcher, John W. Calloway, William Chappie, John . Collins, James H. Cotton, Richard Dafoe, James A. Down, Wesley . Ferry, John . . Gale, Jacob . , Harris, William Harris, John . . Holmes, John . Hunt, William P. Inch, Thomas . James, Philip Jones, F. O'Connor Kestle, James Kinley, William Medland, William Metherall, Francis Newcombe, Henry Nott, Henry J. . is s •*> o U 1862 1876 1856 1877 1843 1844 1865 1872 1839 18S0 1881 i879 1850 1844 1879 1874 1863 1847 1834 1873 1872 1865 1870 1832 1865 1868 How Removed. To Ontario At Vernon River To Ontario At West Cape To Ontario „ England . „ Ohio . . „ Ontario Retired At Summerside To Ontario Retired To Ontario Died . . At Charlottetown To Ontario Died . . Retired To Ontario Ontario Ontario Ontario Ontario Died . . To Ontario „ Ontario »> »> V JS 's'S V M V. B 0^ ^1 2"" >< 1870 8 1865 7 9 • ■ • 6 1867 24 185s 11 1872 7 1882 10 1857 18 - ... 3 1882 1 1881 2 1861 11 1846 2 ... 4 1876 2 1872 9 1849 2 1840 6i 1875 2 1876 4 1869 4 1881 11 1875 43 1872 7 1868 1 3 months }^/ Pzi no ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PREACHERS. An Alphabetical List of Preachers who have Laboured on Prince Edward Island {Continued). Name. Pascoe, \V. S. . Pickings, Absalom Pooley, John . . Reynolds, W. E. Rice, James J. . Richards, Richard Rowe, Richard B. Sabine, Thomas Sencebaugh, J. T. Short, Thomas Smith, George Tonkin, Ed. A. Tredrea, John M. Webber, George Wilson, R. Whitlock, Jesse Woodman, Wm. Yelland, John G. in V iii u 1875 I84I 1874 1882 1863 1867 1870 1875 I86I 1863 1877 1876 I88I 1870 1853 1848 1856 1869 How Removed. To Ontario . . Retired . . To Ontario . . At Wheatly River To Ontario . . Ontario , . Ontario . . Ontario . . Ontario . , Died . . . To Ontario . . At Murray Harbour „ Union . . . To Ontario . . Retired . . To Ontario . . „ Ontario . . „ Ontario . . M O c4 « e Q « 1879 1843 1877 1868 1869 1877 1876 1865 1866 1880 1875 1855 1862 1864 1879 o 4 3 I 5 2 7 I 4 3 3 7 2 5 2 14- 8 10 ft V ji. Q < C/3 P < Q W o Ph o H u •-4 U O H 1/3 il HAVE o 4 3 I 5 ?^> 4 'f-; 3 ! 3 7 2 5 2 8 lO Q Q W o p-( o H •-< U •-4 u o A LIST OF CIRCUITS. ui \r\ *m vo CO o\ o tn to^ in N Tf vo «.o Tf u-> ON t-^ vo •^88 1 ui sasodjnj jib b o • 8 8 O • o v2 ro joj pasiTJ^ Xauoj^ M t^ t>» N« d 00 -* vo 8 VO 00 o N o t^ »4 "«r •sjBioqos 'S 'S ^^ N CO t>. t-<. t>. vo 'O N N 1-4 P4 >-> O in r^ rf »4 00 N4 vo ON ta4 •sisiiDtJax "S 'S M CO *■* •H fr4 IH N M N N VO r-» »o »^ 00 VO r>. 'sjaqtusj^ ^4 t^ vo t>. N o N*4 to V? •saScuosjBj M M • • H4 M • M M VO 'S3qDani(3 M Tl- N ro N M to M O CI •sjaqDtjajj yeocyj VO vo hH ; • J : : fO « • • • • • • • ^ • • • • • • • ;| • •X3 2 • C c o O 1-1 H • o '• rt Q • 1 K :^ P^ H k4 P5 • o • < • S H o o >— • ^ o W ^ rt • • • • • • 3 • • • • j > O 1-1 • • OJ 1 o Pi rt V 'O U V •»-• ^ H-t G a, '55 4-> o 1 C3 o (3 O > i-i O