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good effect. Soon it was rumored the false prophets are come, and some were ready to say, 'they that turn the world upside down are come hither also.' But these alarms and prejudices, the effects of bigotry, were soon overcome by the influence of ardent piety and holy zeal. A mighty revival of religion. commenced, and the flame spread like 'fire in dry stubble!' These missionaries were in quest of souls, and were never out of their way where souls and families were to be found. Vivid in my recollections are their first visits to the dwelling of my widowed mother. A word of pathetic exhortation was addressed to each individual, an ardent prayer, whether they tarried all night or made a call in the day-time. Their preaching was characterized by simplicity and earnestness. Ardent in their devotions, and with a zeal commensurate with the importance of their mission, they carried with them the unction of the Holy One. They had but few books, but these they studied thoroughly. They were Bible students, and being 'not conformed to this world' in their dress, they had room in their pockets for a small Bible, which they often consulted, and sought carefully to bring out of that treasury 'things new and old.' Here they found true philosophy and the wisdom that speaks to the heart. To tickle the ear or delight the fancy with fine-spun theories or the flowers of rhetoric, was foreign to their purpose. They were indeed eloquent in the most essential sense, in virtue of the inspiration of that gospel which they preached, 'not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, in demonstration of the Spirit and with power.'

A later writer says: "They were men of great piety and zeal, and God owned their labors."* Sometimes guarded by friends as they traveled from fort to fort, but oftener alone, continually exposed to danger, "they counted not their lives dear," if they could only win souls to Christ.

Such is the testimony concerning these men. Familiar with the Bible, they understood the duties it inculcates; its doctrines; its "exceeding great and precious promises," as well as its threatenings against sin; and, "like a workman that needeth not to be ashamed," whenever they hurled the javelin of truth it reached the object and "accomplished the purpose whereunto it was sent." It is said that Mr. Haw "was a man of much zeal, bordering on enthusiasm," and that "he devoted his whole soul to the work."

Dr. Bascom, afterward Bishop Bascom, in a private letter to a friend,† referring to the early Methodist preachers of Kentucky, said "they labored, suffered, triumphed, in obscurity and want. No admiring populace to cheer them on; no feverish community gazetted them into fame. Principle alone sustained them, and their glory was that of action."

It is to be regretted that the records of the Church for this period are so defective, and that we are enabled to learn so little of their labors. And

*Rev. Jonathan Stamper.

† Rev. Lewis Garrett.

In

sgiving to God. _ncipiency of a system seen in coming time. ations of an edifice sands should in after They were sowing be abundant when chers." Hence their ned and blessed of s of their labors was 1 the mother of the in later times, by his untiring devotion to tributed so largely to n Kentucky. He was ht." Mrs. Stamper* sbyterian Church, but

I., p. 108.

a stranger to the doctrine of the new birth. Messrs. Haw and Ogden visited the neighborhood, in Madison county, in which she resided. She waited upon their ministry, and, under the first sermon she heard, she was awakened, and immediately sought and found Christ in the forgiveness of her sins. She joined the Methodist Church, and, after a pilgrimage of forty years, she passed away in Christian triumph, exchanging the sorrows of earth for the joys of heaven.

VOL. I.-2