New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ROWLAND HILL.

RQUrHND HILL HIS LIFE, ANEcDOIGs, AND CO rol nn
y 40. l. K Funk & Co.
! Among the early pioneers OF Methodism IN Eng
Haud. Rowland Hill was rena rkabe for the origin
atty of his character not without frequent traces
Nf eccentricity, his glowing religious zeal, the fer
uor Of his pulpit elOquence, and his quaint ana
Nxuberant wit. He was born. August %, 1744, at
8awkston, Shropshire, the seat OF the Hill family,
which held prominent rank among the gentry OF
khe county, and numbered among its members sew
ers persons of distinction both in civil and military
life. While vet a boy, Rowland exhibited preeo-
cious wit, and frank and generous disposition
hhe perusal of Dr. Watts's hymns for children gave
him his earliest religious Impressions ana OH the
time he was eighteen years old lie bad attained
singular maturity and strength of Christian cnar-
acter In the year 1894 he entered the University
of Cambridge in order to qualify himself for
living which was in the gift of his family AT that
time Cambridge was not conspicuous 1or any
excess of religious zeal, but the devoted
neopayte stood by his colOrs without being entIced
from his Christian loyalty by the scenes and asso-
cates of his college life His earnest piety was
made the butt of their rldcule by his worldly and
disspated fellow-students, who treated him with
an affected and supercilOus contempt. Nobody III
the college," he says, lever gave me cordlal
SMILE except the old shoe-black at the gate, who
had the love of CHRIST in his heart" Still he devoted
himself to the conversion of his young companiohs
and had the JOY of leading several Of them to ire
cultivation of religious life. lie also went u INC
villages in the vicinity OF Cambridge ana
preached wherever lie could command an
audience, visiting the prisoners III the county
Jail, and seeking out the sick poor IN theH
homes He thus gained by experience certain prac-
teal wisdom which marked the labors Of his ma
turer years. His zeal, at length, called forth the
hostility of the college officers. who threatened him
with expulsion for irregular conduct. But the
youthful BoanerGes was not to be frightened from
his course and resolved to brave the authorities OF
the college. His diary, at this crisis contains the
following record g. In barn for the first time,
with much comfort. God send, if am to live. that
this may not be my last barn; sweet to rejoice any
where, though in barn. Some gownsmeh were
there but were permitted to do 10 more than gnaSn
with their teeth"
In the Summer of 1907 he returned home for the
long vacation and the opposition Of the college was
now taken up by bis parents. His attempts 20
preaeh the Gospel were considered disgrace to the
family. Returning to college in October he was
more determined than ever TO pursue his labOrs IN
preaching but there was no abatement OF the oppo-
stion on the part OF the authorities. On completing
his academic career in 1863 he sought ordination,
but met with no less than six refusals before he
could obtain orders in the Established Church, on
account of his visiting the sick and eXpOundnG the
Scriptures in private houses His father now re-
duced his animal allowance with the hope Of divert
ing him from his cratic career He went forth
literally without purse or scrip" Journeylng
from place to place on a little pony,
which was purchased for him by friend.
His diary abounds with frequent entries like the
following: There was such noise with beating
of pans and shovels, blowing of horns and
ringing of bells, that could not hear myself speak
Though we were pclted with much dirt, eggs and
what not, was enabled to preach out nv Sermon"
In 1878 lie was married to lady of considerable
fortune and soon after was ordained deacon by the
bishop of Bath and Wells who imposed no
conditions whatever upon the candidate. lie
could now enter upon the work of an ltnerant moro
fully than before, and at set out upon fresh
campaign, on which lie met with numerous adven-
lures, some of them of an amusing character. "On
one occasion an attempt had been made to persuade
him not to go to Richmond because party OF
Young men had hired boat and were coming down
the river with the determination to draw him
through the water. His feelings may be conceived
when informed the boat was upset. and that the
poor misguided enemies of bis ministry had all en-
tered another world. Mrs. Hill accompanied him in
most of his preaching expeditions and their Jour-
news were often relieved by remarkable advcn-
lures. Joumeying toward London on one occa-
sion they were stopped by party Of highwaymen.
i stood mp in the carriage he says, and made all
the outrageous noises could think of, which
frightened the fellows almost out of their wits. and
one of them said, I'VE have stopped the devil by
mistake, and had better be off,"
For period of ten years lie continued his timer
ant labors. His ministry was attended by vast
crowds the conversions were numerOusi and
some of them remarkable. He thus proved
himself worthy member of the Methodist connec-
ton which commenced with the labOTs of White
field and Wesley. " He traversed the three king
doms preaching the gospel, and found JOY i'll his
labOrs which more than compensated the sorrow he
endured from family and priestly prosecutions.
Hampstead Heath and London Fields in the north.
and Remington Common and Blackheath III the
SOUTH were his favorite places for Open-air services
In London. Preaching on Hampstead Heath on one
occasion, shower of rain began to fall, and the
crowd became somewhat restless. He very dellb-
eratey put on his hat, and said Excuse my hat,
friends; but do not let the ram alarm us so
much. What would the condemned souls in
Tophets parched pit give for single drop Of
this consolatOry rain that faeth upon orr delight
full land, and makes fruitful our burnt-up field7T'"
1t was a common thing to send IN acknowledgements
of good received and also requests for special
prayer As his preaching engagements compelled
him TO travel extensively in various directions, he
was the habit OF making constant use OF MS car
rage and horses. "On one occasion rigid Saba
tartan resOrted TO very questionable expedient for
rebukng Mr. Hill, and sent in a request for prayer
Mr. Hill took itand began: The prayers of this
congregation are desired Having proceeded
thus far, he exclaimed. 'Cmph! 'fOr'--umph!
we'll suppose must finish what / have begun
for the Rev. Rowland Hill, that he will not go
riding about in his carnage on a Sunday!' Any
ordinary man would have been Disconnected, but he
looked up very coolly and said If the writer of
this piece of folly and impertlnence is IN the con-
Gregaion aud will go into the vestry after the SER
vice. and lei me put a saddle on his back, Will ride