and with whom he came in contact, the Major, with weeping eyes, told his sorrowful yet joyful story. But the revival had now commenced, and what a season! The Doctor, his wife, and the Major, were now companions inseparable. Their zeal and piety rendered them conspicuous at all the meetings; and Mrs. Hinde, in particular, met this great revival as if she had been looking for such seasons;--as if it was all familiar to her.

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At the first camp meeting in their own vicinity, several days' labour seemed unfruitful. It was a Presbyterian camp meeting; the Methodists were attending their quarterly meeting. On Sunday or Monday evening, toward the winding up, the Methodist preachers attended. Mr. W. Burke preached, and Mr. B. Lakin exhorted. Under the first there was some stir; hitherto there had been none. Under the exhortation the people began to rise from their seats, and at length began to fall like persons slain in battle! The Presbyterian elders and preachers seemed confounded. At length one of the elders came to Mrs. Hinde, and said, 'Tell me, my dear madam, did you ever see the like among your people?" 'Ŏ yes,' she calmly replied, we have long been acquainted with such things. This is the commencement of a revival of religion, and a glorious revival I trust it will be!' She thus calmed down the fears of her old friend and neighbonr, Mr. F. Those that had fallen were removed into the church. Next came the minister of that congregation himself: Tell me, my dear Mrs. Hinde,' said he, 'what do you Methodists do on such occasions? We talk to the mourners,' was her reply. This was then done, by asking them what was the matter. On a second application, her reply was, 'Pray for the mourners.' These things, however, were new, and not understood, and the revival languished, but broke out among the Methodists, who talked to and prayed with and for mourners, until from a few they became a numerous people.

During the continuance of this great revival, it seemed through the summer season as if the people were doing little else than going to and returning from meetings; yet they had good crops, and lived plentifully.

T. was one

Major M-n's friend T-r became alarmed, lest the Major's family should come to want from this circumstance. of the Major's old brother infidels. Major,' said he, 'you are always going to meeting; I always loved you, but I hope you will not let your family come to want.' O no, T,' replied the Major, I do not apprehend any danger on that score; I do not think there will be any thing lost by serving the Lord.' That year T-'s crop failed. The Major had added one or two more cribs than usual, and all the old cribs were full. T- sent to borrow; a wagon came. "O yes,” said the Major to the servant; "tell your master I have a plenty and to spare; the Lord has blessed me abundantly: tell him to send for as much as will serve him, for all my cribs are full of corn, and I had to build some new ones!”

At the Caneridge camp meeting, on several occasions infidelity met with a downfall. One case is mentioned in the Magazine, in my short sketches. I will give one more. I think I heard Mrs. Hinde refer to this case; but within a few weeks past it was related to me by Mr. Pepper, a neighbour of mine, who was at the meeting. He continued on the ground five days; the meeting lasted a week. Among other singular occurrences he related the following. The people were dispersed over a considerable surface of ground. Three ministers would frequently preach at the same time, without the voice of one interrupting that of the other. There lived within the bounds of Fayette, an adjoining county to Bourbon where the meeting was held, a wealthy individual who was a deist. He had let an adjoining farm to a lady (a widow perhaps) who paid him an annual rent, and worked the farm by her negroes and an overseer. The landlord had induced his tenant to embrace his deistical principles, the fashionable doctrine of that day. This lady had a very fine horse, which her landlord was anxious to possess; but she held him at rather a higher price than he was willing to give.

These two persons had heard of the strange work at the Caneridge camp meeting, and the 'falling exercise,' as it was then called; and anxious to see into these matters, agreed to visit the encampment together. 'Well,' said the gentleman, boasting of his firmness in his deistical principles, if I be such a fool as to fall after I get there, remember, before your overseer as our witness, I will give you the present year's rent.' His disciple, equally confident, immediately replied, that if she fell he might have the horse.' They both attended, accompanied by the overseer, and took their seats at the edge of the encampment; the lady on the side appropriated to females, and the landlord on the opposite, appropriated to the men. The slain of the Lord, or those who had fallen, laid in front for several rods. The scene was awfully sublime. The Spirit of the Most High was moving upon the great deep of the hearts of sinners. The old gentleman, who had supposed himself so strongly confirmed in his infidel principles, did not retain his seat long before he began to tremble: at length he started to run. He advanced but a few paces before he fell,--and as he fell he uttered a cry, with all the horrors of despair, 'Take the rent! Take the rent!' The people gathered, but knew not what was the matter. At length the overseer came up; the gentleman called out to him to go and bring the lady, and tell her to take the rent!' The overseer pressed through the crowd, and at length distinguished the lady's voice, she having also fallen. He heard her cry, Take the horse! Take the horse!' Thus they were situated, and could not be brought together to confirm their bargain. Nor was the affair fully understood, though the overseer told the story over and over again to the inquisitive individuals in the crowd, until, to satisfy the growing curiosity of the people, he mounted a stump or log and explained

the whole matter as a witness to the agreement between the parties, and declared that they had both fallen, and abandoned their deistical principles! Thus it was, Mr. Pepper remarks, that the high pretensions of these two self-conceited infidels were humbled and brought low, in the presence of at least five hundred witnesses in that part of the congregation.

It will be remembered that this great camp meeting was held at a time that Kentucky, comparatively speaking, was a 'wilderness.' Where the meeting was held, the wild cane had not then entirely disappeared. But even in 1801, for twenty thousand souls to meet to worship in the wilderness, was a most wonderful sight to mortal man! From the recollection of Mrs. Hinde many years ago, I nade the following memorandum on the margin of the Magazine: 'There were at this great camp meeting a vast number of carriages, sleds, &c. At one time on the ground, (the meeting lasted a week,) were counted 143 wagons, and 500 covered sleds. These sleds were arranged in order, so as to form an open way to the church, like streets laid off in due form;-the church being head quarters for the preachers. At night the whole scene was awfully sublime. There were 500 candles and lamps, which illuminated the forests by being suspended in the trees along the avenues or streets; and thousands moving to and fro with lamps, candles, and chumps of fire;-the whole scenery produced an inexpressible emotion. Mr. W. Burke preached from a bending tree, holding by a limb. As soon as he concluded and retired the tree fell! An old revolutionary officer measured the ground, and declared that at that time, from his estimates, there could not be short of twenty thousand souls then present! What a time! But we must draw to a conclusion, having already exceeded our prescribed limits.

From this period till 1828, Mrs. Hinde lived happily with her husband and children, in the enjoyment of the great privileges of the Christian religion. For some years she had been deprived of her sight; and on the 28th of September of this year (1828) her husband was taken no doubt from gloom to glory.' She had been wedded to him 61 years. And on the 8th of December, 1830, this venerable mother in Israel departed also, with this dying expression, 'The Lord's time is my time to go!' Farewell, my mother! 'Death ends your wo,

And puts a period to the ills of life.'

I know the language of thy heart and thy practice, through life, was, Carry me my feet to the temple of the Lord, to the beds of the sick, and to the houses of the poor!' and many a sinner on his dying bed raised his hands to heaven and blessed thee.

Yes, she was my mother! It was she who from my infancy watched over my cradle, and when often brought to the door of death, (who, as it was once said, 'knocked for admission,') her tenderness and care brought me back to life! It was she who first taught me how to talk and walk; and O! important duty, how to

pray! It was she who watched over the dawn of youth, cheered me when pursuing a virtuous course, and frowned at vice! It was she who, under God, gave my mind a virtuous cast; and whatever principle exalts the mind, under the same Divine influence, I received from her. Farewell, my mother!— Faith hath built thy bridge across the gulf of death!'

Her funeral sermon was preached, December 9, 1830, by the Rev. William Burke, her old friend and acquaintance, from 1 Cor. xv, 26, The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death!'

A PLEA FOR THE MISSIONARY CAUSE;

By the REV. SAMUEL LUCKEY, D. D., Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MEMBERS and friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church, my present business with you is, to solicit your attention to the high and commanding claims of the Missionary Cause. In this cause, Methodists, above all others, ought to take a deep interest. Their institutions commenced in the spirit of missionary enterprise; their doctrines are calculated to foster and encourage that spirit; and to its influence they owe, in a great measure, their unparalleled success as a denomination of Christians.

The itinerancy is, indeed, a permanent missionary system, providing regularly to furnish the means of grace to the societies raised up through its instrumentality. It is remarkably adapted, in its construction, to the commission given by our blessed Lord to his ministers, to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.' Thus have Methodist preachers gone out into the highways and hedges,' crying with a loud voice to perishing sinners, 'Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.' The soul-animating doctrine of a free and full salvation, proclaimed in the spirit of a true missionary zeal, has been hailed by thousands in both Europe and America, whose feelings have kindled into ardour, as they have marked its progress, and witnessed its triumphs. Even the enemies of Methodism have noticed, with, perhaps, no small concern, the magnanimity of its ministers, in rushing into every open door to preach the Gospel to the destitute, without waiting to be formally stipulated with on the subject of their support; and the generous liberality of its members, in contributing to support its institutions, even beyond their own immediate neighbourhoods, for the benefit of the poor. Thus have Methodists given an example to the world of missionary zeal and enterprise. How far they have been instrumental in stimulating others in this work, I pretend not to say; but they are, and ever have been, from the very nature of

their economy, and the spirit of their institutions, a missionary people. As pioneers and veterans in this cause, it becomes them to occupy the foremost ranks in the missionary field, and to spurn the imputation of relaxing their efforts, as occasions for increased exertions, and their means to aid in the glorious work, multiply. Brethren, that we may not fall under the mortifying disgrace of such an imputation, let me invite your serious and candid attention to the following reflections.

Consider, first, the object of our missionary efforts. If I cannot satisfy you that the object is a worthy one, and equal in importance to the claims made upon you for its support, I have no right to expect that you will engage in promoting it. But if it appear to be of God, and, as such, to claim the patronage and support of his people, you cannot neglect it without a plain violation of duty, and danger of incurring the displeasure of your heavenly Father. Examine it, then, with a religious concern, to ascertain the nature and extent of its claims.

The object is, to provide for furnishing the destitute with the privileges of the Gospel. The Author of the Gospel has declared that it shall be preached in all the world.' This is to be accomplished by the combined efforts of his people. And the signs of the times evidently indicate, that the era has arrived, when this glorious work is about to be entered upon in good earnest, by its friends of all orders throughout Christendom. And will American Methodists, hitherto the soul and life of the missionary ranks, sleep at their posts, when t allhe Christian world seems to be rushing on to a general action with the enemy? Surely not. They have an illustrious part to act in this warfare; and I cannot but believe that they will come up to the work, and acquit themselves like valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ.

To estimate the extent of the object, survey briefly the field to be cultivated. He who has said, 'The seed is the word,' has said also, The field is the world.' Of the eight hundred millions who inhabit the earth, only two hundred millions are estimated to have any knowledge of the Gospel of Christ. All the rest are shrouded in moral darkness. Africa is a vast moral waste. The inhabitants of Asia are, for the more part, carried away with their dumb idols, or shut up in Mohammedan delusion. Their very religious ceremonies are barbarous and licentious beyond description, and calculated to inspire a chaste and benevolent mind with indignation and horror. The light which here and there twinkles in the midst of this vast empire of darkness, emanating from a few Syrian churches, and the missions that benevolent Christians have instituted at different points, serves to render the surrounding gloom more fearfully appalling. Although Europe is, to a great extent, nominally Christian, yet even there, if we except the favored island which gave birth to Methodism, we may see a vast field for missionary labour. And what shall we say of our own continent? We call ourselves VOL. II.-April, 1831. 12