States were, therefore, obliged to find some other place to hold their session. For some time we were in a state of suspense, no one having authority to make another appointment. But at length, Bishop Asbury assumed the responsibility to appoint it at Judge Dorsey's, in Lyons, then in Ontario country, N. Y., where it had held its first session two years before.

We assembled accordingly: and what a simple-hearted, loving, happy little company we were; numbering only forty-eight, members and probationers all told, excepting those in Canada. But we seemed to be all of one heart and mind; aiming at the single object to glorify God in the salvation of souls. No jealousy, no bickerings, no strife but to excel in doing good, were in our ranks or borders: for preachers and people were generally of one spirit. The preachers were ready to receive their appointments without choosing; and the people were ready to receive the preachers without selecting for themselves beforehand.

If there were exceptions to the above description, they were few. I often look back to those days with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain. In some things we have undoubtedly improved; in others, I think we have not. I am no croaker, and do not intend to utter

denunciations against my brethren in the ministry or membership: and yet I cannot but desire and pray, that in some things we might return to the simplicity and spirit of former days. Some who read this will probably say, "This is the language, and these are the views, of an old man." This is true; and were I not old, I should not be able to compare the present with former times from personal observation. And after making all proper allowance for the feelings and views of an old man, I cannot but think that some even of my younger brethren are prepared, from historic information, to concede, that in some things, at least, we have changed, not for the better.

At this conference I was admitted into full connection, and ordained a deacon by the venerable Bishop Asbury, together with P. Hollett, J. Huestis, S. Mattison, S. L. Rawley, W. Brown, R. Farley, J. Kinkaid, D. Barnes, N. Bigelow, S. Thompson, and B. G. Paddock: some of whom have finished their course and gone to their last account; while others, like myself, are still lingering on the shores of time.

The sessions of our conference were held, and the solemn rite of ordination performed, in Judge Dorsey's storehouse, or granary, the frame of which, I believe, is still standing,

though removed from its former site and covered anew. From this conference I was removed to West Moreland circuit, with A. Cummings, where W. B. Lacey had traveled the preceding year, and where he probably had during the year made arrangements for leaving our church, and uniting with the Protestant Episcopalians. He was appointed this year to Herkimer circuit; but in the course of a few weeks offered himself to the last-named church-was accepted, and came to serve a congregation at Paris Hill; which at that time was included in Westmoreland circuit. He had many warm friends on this circuit, and had calculated that at least one half of the membership would follow him to that church.

This was a time of trial and great solicitude with my colleague and myself. But God interposed. Mr. Lacey was disappointed, and the church was saved from being rent or divided in any degree. He did in one instance so far succeed as to induce one of our most wealthy members with his wife to withdraw from our church. But before they had united with his, the lady was taken dangerously sick, and expected to survive but a short time. Being in that part of the circuit, a messenger came from them to me, at a late hour of the night, desiring me to visit them immediately. In compliance, I ac

companied the messenger to their house; and as soon as I arrived, the lady, who supposed she had but a short time to live, desired me to be seated by her bedside, and immediately commenced making the most humble confession of her error in leaving the church; and desired to know of me if I would take the responsibility upon myself to receive her confession and bear it to the church, and register her name that night upon its records, saying she could not die in peace until this was done. When I told her I would do so, she thanked me most heartily, saying, "When this is done, I have nothing more to ask, only that God will forgive my error, for the discovery of which I am thankful to him." She, however, finally recovered from this sickness, and proved the sincerity of her repentance by coming to the church, as soon as her state of health would allow, and personally, together with her husband, humbly asking to be forgiven, and restored to the fellowship and confidence of the church. This was readily granted, and for years afterward they were an honor and a blessing to it.

The name of this brother stands honorably connected with the early history of the Wesleyan University at Middletown, as one of its officers and most liberal patrons. But they

have both passed away from earth, and have, no doubt, entered upon their reward in heaven. It was during this time of trial, occasioned by the efforts of Mr. Lacey to divide the church, that I was led to seek for closer communion with God; which I then found, and by which I was greatly supported and comforted.

NUMBER XVI.

OUR conference for 1813 was held in Westmoreland, and was attended by Bishops Asbury and M'Kendree. The former exhibited the strength of habit in his disapprobation of the practice, which had very generally obtained among the preachers, of wearing pantaloons. Of the whole number belonging to our conference, Seth Mattison alone, I believe, wore his knee-buckles and gaiters; which was the bishop's manner in dress. On the arrival of brother Mattison, the bishop manifested his approbation by embracing him most cordially.

At this conference I was reappointed to Westmoreland circuit, and had for my colleague Thomas Thorp, a young man who had traveled one year on probation in the New-York Conference, but was now transferred to ours through