Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-11-07
Interesting incidents.


noon. he reached manufacturing village,and
finding both himself and his horse much lad
ed, he concluded to remain over the Sabbath.
Finding the preacher and his wife both absent
from the parsonage, he went to the public
house near by. After dinner he inc uired of
the landlord who were the principal men
among the Methodsts in the place-intending
to seek the hospitality of some one of them
rather than remain at the public house over
the Sabbath. The landlord gave him the
name and pointed ouS the residence of one
who. he said, was the principal man in the
church, and also in the village. The Bishop
Immediately wal ed over to the house, and
made known his wish to the lady. Instead of
giving him reply, she sent for her husband.
When the man came in, he introduced him
self to HIM, las Methodist preacher OH jour.
ney, and said, that as he knew of no place he
could reach before tie Sabbath, he would like
to pass it in that place, if he could be enter
tanned. The man made no reply, but turned
the conversation to some other subject. After
waiting a reasonable time, and no reply being
made to his request, the Bishop took his hat,
and said, 4" Goo afternoon. sir, intending to
return and spend the Sabbath at the tavern.
The man then said, i'll a cold and heartiess
manner. 4" / guess you'd better stay here. =
The Bishop replied that he would like to stay
II IL hOuIu llOb Ue d BuEuSll " Hlill VI Ills HILL
lily; but he did not like to make himself bur
densome anywhere. ''Oh, you can stay, said
the man, with the same cold, apathetic indif-
ference. "Well" said the Bishop, 81 have
a horse at the tavern have you horse keep
ingi'' 81 have barn and hay,' replied the
man, A" but no grain The Bishop then said,
" can procure grain at the tavern, if YOU
have good hay; but if your hay is not good,
will keep him there, as have a long Journey
to perform" The man replied, with some
little rritability, 1.-The hay is good enough for
your horse"
Upon this slender prospect of hospitality the
Bishop went to the tavern, procured oats
brought them in his sulky, and put out his
horse. and took care of him while he remain
ed. When evening came his host said to HIM,
" There is prayer meeting at the meeting
house: you can go if you please l canot
go" The Bishop went 10 the p. aver meeting,
took his seat in the congregation and Mt a
suitable time, prayed along with the other
brethren. After the meeting closed he re-
turned to his lodgings.
The honse of his host was large, and elegant
furnished but at the hour Of rest they sent
the Bishop to a small, remote chamberlain
from being clean. Here he had three apppren.
tice boys Tor his companions one of them &C.
cupyIng the same bed with himself.
In the morning, his host, i'll half-invitng,
half-repelhng manner, remarked that there
was to be a love-f asst, and inquired if lie
would go. 80. yes, certainly" said TIE
Bishop. Soon after he had taken his seat in
the congregation, the preacher came in. He
observed his host go up and speak to the
preacher, when both turned their ewes on
him. The preacher had seen him before, and
instantly recognized him. A fame of fire
| seemed to oyerspread the face of his host, as
he skunk away to a seat. At the request of
the preacher Bishop Hedding took charge of
the love- feast, and then preached for him. He
also engaged to accompany the preacher and Of
iciate Tor him at his afternoon appointment
almost glad of the opportunity to escape from
| his host at this iuncture. AS soon as the SER
vice closed, he left the church to get his horse
| His host soon came up with him, took his
| arm, and-haf- mad, half gracious, and quite
| thoroughly confused-sailI, in quick, i'm
| patient manner "Why didn't you tell me you
was Bishop" go, said the Bishop, ~
| ain a plain Methodist preacher" Both the
man and his wife seemed completely overcome
with modification, and it was relief to the
| Bishop TO get away.
aeeaeel aiso'' n6I oHly the wisdom Of the SER
| pent and the harmIessmess of the dove. hnt
hrmhess, determination, and courage finding
occasion for their exercise within the church
as well as without. In one of the Societies
where Mr.. Hedding mnistered, two brothers.
ln-law, members OF the church, and connected
IN family relation with nearly all the other
members, had bitter feud respecting some
property, and the church was on the eve of
being rent in twain by the dispute. Mr.. He'd
ding called church meeting, that the diff
Guilty might be settled. The scene and its re-
suit are thus described -
Dir. liedding sat between the two men, and
nc VIE OF each sat beside her husband
1hey began to talk over the bject OF dis
puie, when one Of them suddenly warmed
up and called the other liar, instantly botb
started TO their feet and rushed at each other.
the females screamed and general alarm en-
sued. Sir. Kedding provsd himself equal 70
Inc a~kN ard emergency He rushed between
mem seized each BY the collar Of his coat;
and with MS herculean frame aud strength.
hela them al arms length, face to face, but
uhaoie to strike each other. They STRUGGLED
Tor moment, but found themselves as thongb
elutched IN the jaws OF vice. HOLDING them
al arms length lie commenced to lecture them
IN round terms. From the hearing
OF this entire lecture there was no escape. and
they wrlthed under its whitening power
Mheh they were somewhat cIlmed, Mr.. He'd
albg suddenly exclaimed, 81 Let us prav''
euSS'ee oO"Hi bringing the two men
Win MIN 10 their knees upon the floor. Still
retaining ms grasp, he prayed for them in a
most iervent and powerful manner. When
he had closed, he shook the one he held bv
ms night hand, saying "Pray, brother, pray."
Boon ne commenced praying and weeping.
eontesslng his sins and beseeching God md
ms brother to forgive him When the brst
had concluded, Mr. Hedding shook the orber
and called upon him to FRAY. lie was the
most pugnaci5us Of the two, and it was hard
"oIA ior MN 10 give uttersnce TO his thoughts.
a thousand frogs seemed clogQing his |
speech, but he at length broke through his
difficulty, and prayed God and his brother 10
forgive MIN. When he SAID "Au,en" Mr.
heaoing relnquished his grasp. and they ell
rose TO their feet. Nov snake hands bTetb-
rem, said he, " and live as brethren, and love
each other as long as you live" They imme-
diately embraced each other, and almost as
quickly settled their dispute.
The two men ever after lived on the hest
terms OF iraternal and Christian fellowship.
There was need Of sell. denial, aud no hone
OF emolument or profit. for a Methodist min
lister IN those days. Mr.. Hedding mentions
that during the first ten years 4 his ministry
part OF which time he was presiding elder,
ne travelled on an average three thousand
miles year, and preached nearly every dav
IN the yesr, and all the pay he received for
those four years was $3.50, or an average of
$40 year. One year he received on his dr.
NOT g