Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-03-12
New England Correspondence.
PORTLAND, Me-, March, Sd, '5a,

ministry. My present purpose is, to mention
some incidents which happened while l remain
cd a sectarian preacher. But before going to
them, it may DO interesting and instructive to
some Of your readers, to go back a moment to
my connexion with the cbur.h, and trace
few Of its attendant circumstances. 1t will H.
lustrate why some Of us are Comeouters.
1t was with trembling step, that entered
the, to me sacred portals of the Orthodox Con-
gregational Church. The Church literally
sought me- not 1 her. And when on beauti.
ful afternoon Of a summer Sunday, stood
! forth before great assembly, and bowed assent
to the Articles Of the Covenant, it was by far
the most sacred and solemn hour of life. And
l entered the Church To labor. With me IL
was for a work-a warfare. a world lay be-
fore me, beclouded in ignorance, bemired in
sin, To do something for its renovation was
my highest hope-my loftcst aspiration.
The field Of my first humble cndcavor, was
the Sunday School. was appointed teacher !;
but declined for the reason that thought more
could be induced to join, II invited them to
go with me as fellow students, than as IL had
been teacher. My success convinced me of
the wisdom of my choice. Nearly every mem
bcr of the congregation, was a member of the
Sunday School in good time.
From the School proceeded most powerful
revival of religion and a very large proportion
of teachers and scholars, became members OF the
church. In that revival, toilcd night and day.
In It, l witnessed the results and triumphs for
which had labored and prayed. From it sprang
a" Young Mems Education Society,"" that at
one time had eleven of its members preparing
for College, with q view to become Ministers
and Missionaries to the hcathcn. was made
the first president of the Association and its
honors would not then have exchanged, for
the Presidency of the United States.
My diligence and fidelity soon attracted the
notice Of the churches and ministers around |;
and began to be invited abroad to protracted
meetings. Soon found it was talked about
among many, that should be minister. 1t
was often mentioned to me. Nothing could
have been more congenial to my own feelings,
had been where the subject could have been
presented in proper season. But was now
too far advanced in life, to think OF it for mo-
ment, though deeply enough did sorrow over
il. felt sure the highest poet of Christian
usefulness, was the pulpit, and often gazcd up
into it, with regrets and longings that no Ian
guage could express.
But labored with more diligence in my
humble sphere. I had never seen any High
Schools or Academies, except at a distance;
and as to reading, the Bible, Pilgrims Prog
rcss," an old abridsement of New England
History, and single volume of Gen. Wash
ington's Military Letters, written mostly at
Valley Forge. and during the winter his army
lay encamped there, were about all the books
ne had, worthy of notice. The three first of
these, l knew better than many of much greater
advantages.
There were those, however, who continued
to urge me forward towards the ministry. I
however contentcd myself by setting two bro
thers of mine on that course, who in time en-
tered college. At length yielded the point in
my own case and at twenty six, with hands
calloused aud irrccoverably bent, and shoulders
bowed with the long and hard labors of the
farm, entered upon a course of Theological
Study.
For three years and half, applied myself
to study with zeal that well nigh ruined my
hcolth. l became too nervous to sleep; and
more than once, in the middle of the night,
have risen and walked away two or three miles.
called up friend, and remained with him ill
morning. felt that my time for preparation
to preach the gospel was short. and must be
improved. 1t was with me, work for worlds
salvation. work for Goo. work for Eternity
And did it with my might.
Time flew swiftly on, and was licensed, (as
they told mel, to preach the gospel. My first
labors were in small parishes, and selected some
what on the principle of the poor negro, whose
clerical master was celebrating one day which
of number of Calls he should accept
The negro said, "suppose massa go where least
money, and most devil"
In one OF my fields, Intemperance had been
for many years, the crime of the church, and
the curse of the town. Indeed, it had become
so common, even among prominent church
members, as to no longer excite surprise, as an
incident will show.
was one day walking with a young man,
(not of the church, but far too good for such
association), and he asked me what intended
to have done with one of the members whom
he named. Why said l, what ails himi Well,
81 will tell you" he repled.-""He does s,oea'
most a,ef4ily sometimes, aud al,oays rhen he il
druaki" What could answeri 1t was bul
too true. Nor was this case by any means q
solitary one. Intemperanoc I then saw, had
become so common. that it alone was not mem
toned in professor of religion. 1t was the
lawful swearing" only that was thought Of
NV course was plain. Our own sins, and