mary political meetings, and give your voice for good and true citizens to hold the places of public interest and trust. We add, that as the pastors of the Churches are "separated unto the Gospel of God," as says St. Paul, while they ought to exercise their individual rights as citizens in voting, it is not meet or profitable to the pastor, or the Church in which he serves, to stand forth in a political canvass, so as to make the impression that he has given himself unduly to worldly affairs, and to this extent failed to devote himself to the holy ministry unto which God has separated and consecrated him."

ART. IV.-EARLY METHODISM IN THE BOUNDS OF THE OLD GENESEE CONFERENCE.

Early Methodism within the Bounds of the Old Genesee Conference, from 1788 to 1828; or, the First Forty Years of Wesleyan Evangelism in Northern Pennsylvania, Central and Western New York, and Canada. Containing Sketches of interesting Localities, exciting Scenes, and prominent Actors. By GEORGE PECK, D. D. 12mo., pp. 512. New York: Carlton & Porter. 1860.

THE history of Methodism the world over is most extraordinary. It abounds in incident unequaled in the annals of any other period or portion of the Christian Church. It is, indeed, a history of marvels almost from beginning to end. The youngest of all the evangelical Churches, the Wesleyan body, is now much the largest. Though less than a century old in America, and not much more than a fourth older in Europe, it numbers its millions of adherents. Wherever the Protestant religion has found lodgment, or has been able to command patronage, there Methodism is now exerting its saving agency. It is felt indeed to be a power in the earth.

Its greatest triumphs have, however, been achieved in the New World. The state of society here has been found, from the very beginning, to be well suited to the aggressive character of Wesleyanism. The popular mind has been taken by it on the very wing. Where all has been excitement and activity, expansion and enterprise, the masses have been compelled to pause and listen. The voice of one crying in the wilderness has been heard, and the wanderer called back to his father's house.

Nor is there any other portion of the American continent from which more striking examples of the truth of what has been said. can be selected, than that covered by the history named at the head of this article. "Old Genesee" may well challenge a com

parison, so far as the success of Methodism is concerned, with any other portion of the nation-one might almost say, any other portion of the globe. The moral and relative changes affected by it can hardly be appreciated by the present generation. Fifty years. since, in all these regions, Methodism was deemed either contemptible, or utterly beneath contempt. Wherever its heralds went, they were sure to be regarded and treated, with here and there an honorable exception, as the filth and offscouring of all things. They were saluted with gibes, and groans, and derisive songs, and in some instances with foul-mouthed blasphemies, nay, with even personal violence.

But how great is the change! Those whose memories enable them to compare that time with the present can hardly imagine themselves in the same world. Contempt has given place to respect, prejudice to candor, neglect to deeply interested attention. So complete has been the revolution, that a Methodist preacher of respectable talents and attainments, would now find a cordial welcome and a comfortable support in almost any neighborhood within the geographical area comprehended by the history before us. The actual increase in the number of ministerial laborers is wonderful. Some idea may be formed of the rapid extension of the work, when it is stated that what Dr. Peck denominates "The Old Genesee Conference" comprehended the whole of the two Canadas, and the territory now included in the Black River, the Oneida, the Wyoming, the East Genesee, and the Genesee Conferences, together with considerable fractions of the present Erie, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York Conferences. Where less than fifty ministers were employed half a century since, there are now from nine hundred to one thousand: and yet the actual demand is far from being supplied. Nor is this increase in the number of laborers wholly attributable, by any means, to the increase of population, great as this unquestionably is; but quite as much, perhaps even more, to the change in public sentiment touching Methodism and its authorized teachers. The latter are no longer regarded as a set of ignorant and fanatical propagandists, but as men capable of instructing and blessing the public. They have been found not only honest and pious, but competent and eminently effective. And considering what, as instruments in the hands of God, they have actually accomplished for this part of the country, it would be strange indeed, if candid and discriminating men did not award to them a high character both for talent and moral goodness.

Nor is the salutary influence they have exerted to be seen in the moral history of the country merely: they have contributed

The man who forms

essentially to its general elevation. Its material wealth should be largely credited to them. No community, at least in our country, has ever been prosperous, even in temporal things, where the religion of the cross has not been a pervading and controlling element. Habits of vice are always expensive. Sin is not only a reproach to any people, but is ever a clog upon their prosperity. In all its relations and bearings moral evil has uniformly been found, in its final summing up, to be an unprofitable concern. On the contrary, godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. his character upon the model of a pure and elevated religion is necessarily industrious, temperate, frugal, economical, and hence must be more or less prosperous. And what is true of individuals is equally true of communities. Facts abundantly demonstrate it. One of the most palpable results of Wesleyan Methodism has ever been the material thrift of those who have been subdued by it to the obedience of the faith. Just as soon as they have found pardon and salvation, everything in relation to their fortune has taken an upward direction. This was particularly observed in the days of the Wesleys, and has been equally apparent in our own country and times. Nor need we suppose any preternatural interpositions of Providence to account for the fact. The philosophy of it lies upon the very surface. The essential elements and graces of the Christian religion, as has already been shown, tend directly to the specified result. That portion of country included in "Old Genesee" furnishes a triumphant demonstration. Methodism has carried a simple Gospel to its every neighborhood, has permeated the masses with its blessed spirit, and has thus counteracted the groveling and dissipating tendencies of vice.

Mark the result. The wilderness and solitary place are made glad, and the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose. A more prosperous population can scarcely be found on the face of the globe. Agriculture, commerce, and the arts are beautifying and enriching the land, and consequently every material interest of the community is in the ascendant. Doubtless this picture has its shades, but is, on the whole, by no means overdrawn. Central and Western New York may be viewed as the garden of the continent, while Northern Pennsylvania and the Canadas furnish the proof of what can be accomplished by pious and intelligent industry. Very possibly what is here said of Old Genesee would be equally true if said of other portions of our common country which have been brought under the same general influences, but a more ample survey would hardly fall within the legitimate range of the present article.

Nor should we lose sight of the mental elevation consequent upon the spread of Methodism through this portion of country. The Gospel itself acts directly upon the intellect. When God would save a man, he always begins by pouring light into his mind. He shows him what he is. The mind thus illuminated at once takes an upward direction. What surprising developments of intellectual character not unfrequently follow the triumphs of the cross. A sparkling genius has started up where we had looked for nothing but downright stupidity. Many a man is now exerting a wide and salutary influence upon the world of mind around him, who, but for his religion, would never have reached a state of mental mediocrity. Illustrative facts might be multiplied to almost any extent. Such facts, indeed, always teem in the wake of successful Methodism. Stimulated and elevated in its aims, the mind at once demands educational facilities. Schools of course become a public necessity, and multiply with the increasing demand. This is not presumption; it is the dictate of experience. In all this region we see it exemplified. Wherever the itinerant has gone, and societies have been formed, food has, immediately thereafter, been demanded for the mind; not only for the minds of those who have become subjects of converting grace, but of others. The whole community has felt the impulse. Hence, not only common schools have been called for, but higher institutions-academies, seminaries, colleges, universities. And being demanded, they have been supplied. How strange that those very men who were supposed to be not only unlearned themselves, but the real patrons of ignorance, should have been, as they really have, the pioneers of education in all this region. Their descendants are now the educators of the land?

To aver that all the moral teaching and moral influence which may be regarded as the basis of this extraordinary prosperity, as well material as intellectual, should be credited to Methodistic agencies, would be the sheerest bigotry. Others have toiled nobly, and are entitled to a large share of honor. But that the itinerancy of the Methodist Episcopal Church has opened the way, and laid the foundation for those other workmen, will probably be questioned by few who know anything about the facts in the case. Settled pastors could do nothing till the country was somewhat opened and populated, and the means of supporting them had been accumulated. Methodism was under no necessity of waiting for either. Her economy enabled her to occupy the very outposts. Ere the cabin was completed, or the first acre inclosed, the itinerant was on hand. He could lodge in the loft, and subsist upon the cheapest fare. In quest of souls, he thought little of anything else. No

matter what were his privations or sufferings so long as his chief objects were being accomplished. Living among the people, a very small salary would suffice for him. A single man thought himself amply supported if he obtained his disciplinary allowance-from eighty to a hundred dollars per annum-a thing that rarely occurred. More frequently he had to live on a moiety of that sum. Nor did the man of family get much more. The people gave what they could, and upon that the preacher had to subsist, whether married or otherwise. But they were glorious men, and their memorial shall not perish. Indeed, the time will probably come when the historian will award to them a higher niche in the temple of fame than that assigned to the heroes of the American Revolution.

Some of the men of that day did, however, faint and quit the field. Reduced to absolute poverty, with families calling for their protection and care, they thought themselves justified in leaving the itineracy-perhaps, indeed, in a sense, compelled to do so. Some such, after recruiting themselves, and making more ample provisions for those dependent upon them, returned to their work again, while others never did. The history of the Church shows that the number of those who, under the operation of these or similar causes, have left our Conferences is truly appalling. There were still others who left the communion entirely, and attached themselves to other ecclesiastical bodies. These, however, we are sorry to say, seldom prospered. Sometimes they did, but not often. For the most part they either totally backslid, or lived deeply to regret the step they had taken. An instance may not be out of place.

Dr. Peck, speaking of one of the preachers who traveled the Otsego circuit in 1811, says, p. 374: "The news that R. was college bred came on in advance of him, and great expectations were raised. He made his first debut at the house of Luther Peck

on a week-day evening. A full house was gathered at a short notice, but some one else preached. R. was well dressed; his jet black hair hung in curls on his shoulders; he was tall, his figure was imposing and his countenance benignant, but his manner was singular. While the preacher proceeded with his discourse R. held his face in his hands, and often sighed and groaned. All that was well enough, as it was common, but scarcely met the idea of a man from college. The sermon concluded, R. arose, and before he was fairly up began,

"Soon as from earth I go,

What will become of me?"