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to God through the instrumentality of Methodism in that city.

In those early days, to the history of which we now return, it was not uncommon for the preachers to be removed from one circuit to another every three or six months. Rev. E. Washburn spent a part of the year 1801-2 on Brandon, and the remainder on Vergennes circuit. Our preachers in those days were forced into constant conflict with the dogmas of John Calvin. E. Washburn says of his labors on Brandon circuit, "Here too I was obliged to be a man of contention. If I represented Christ as having tasted death for every man, that was strenuously opposed by the doctrine of particular atonement. If I called on sinners to repent and believe the gospel, I was told that a sinner could not repent till he was converted. If I preached the knowledge of sins forgiven, that was wild and dangerous fanaticism. Indeed the whole budget of Calvinian election and reprobation, with all its concomitant train of errors, was ready to oppose every point of truth in the gospel system, of a free, a known and a full salvation."

As a specimen of what our preachers in those days endured, I will quote again from Mr. Washburn's account of his labors on Brandon circuit; 66 I have had stones and snow-balls cast at me in volleys. I have had great dogs sent after me, to frighten my horse, as I was peacefully passing through small villages. But I never was harmed by any of them. I have been saluted with the sound, Glory, hosanna, amen, hallelujah!' mixed with oaths and profanity." Like their Master, these men of God" endured the cross, despising the shame," and many of them are now "set down" with Him, "at the right hand of the throne of God."

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Speaking of his labors on Vergennes circuit, in

1801-2, Mr. Washburn says: "In Middlebury, I found a small and persecuted class. Our preaching place was at the house of Lebbeus Harris, and our average congregation was from twenty-five to thirty." He formed the first class at Charlotte; it consisted of Major Jonathan Brackenridge, his wife, and five others. "In Starksboro'," he says, "I found a good society. At Hinesburg there was also a good society. The house of Brother Beck, who was a leader and steward, was the principal home for the preachers. About three miles from this place was a wealthy Dutchman, by the name of Snyder, who had a large family, and his youngest child, an interesting little girl about four or five years old, sickened, and suddenly died. They called a Baptist preacher to attend the funeral, who preached a pointed Calvinistic sermon which did not much please the Dutchman, he being brought up to believe the doctrine of Luther. But when the preacher turned his address to the afflicted parents, he told them there was at least nine chances for their child to be lost, to one for it to be saved. The father's heart could bear no more; he gave a heavy stamp with his foot, and said: 'Hold your tongue; I will have no such talk in my house; I am so well satisfied where my little babe has gone, that, by the grace of God, I intend to do just so as to go to it.' He then turned to brother Norton, and said, 'Neighbor Norton, won't you bring a Methodist preacher to see me?' Brother Norton said, 'I will, if you request it? When will you bring one?' said he. Brother N. said, 'I expect one at my house to-night; I think probable I can come here with him to-morrow morning,' 'Do,' said he. The child was buried without further ceremony. The next morning, brother Norton and I went to see him. The whole family were collected together, and I conversed with each one se

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parately, gave a general exhortation, and prayed with them, and then left an appointment to preach there in two weeks, and went on my way rejoicing. When I came round again I found the man, and his wife, and several of their children, earnestly seeking the salvation of their souls. I preached to them and a goodly number of their neighbors. The Lord was with us, and owned and blessed his word. The old gentleman, his wife, and some of their children, experienced religion, and joined the Methodists; and when I left the circuit I left a flourishing class in that place, of which brother Snyder was the leader."

The former part of the year 1801-2, Laban Clark labored successfully on Fletcher circuit, in Vermont. He says that in addition to filling the regular appointments, "I visited and preached in several new places where the preachers had never been. Although the country was new, the roads bad or none at all, the accommodations poor, and sometimes the fare scanty, yet I enjoyed myself well and felt my heart united with the people. My only object was to do them good and I had the satisfaction of seeing numbers awakened and converted to God." At the second quarterly meeting he was removed to Brandon circuit. The last sermon he preached on Fletcher circuit was at St. Albans Point, where his previous ministration had been owned of God to the awakening of several souls. After preaching, he held a class meeting; "a number stayed, and several found peace in believing. I formed them into a class, and we had a melting time. The next morning we all came together, and I took my departure from them with many tears."

During the latter part of the year, while on Brandon circuit, he and his colleague, Mr. Draper, greatly enlarged their circuits by establishing appointments in

Sudbury, Whiting, Shoreham, Orwell and Benson; so that their circuit embraced the whole country between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, and from Salisbury to Danby. They made it a point to meet each other every two weeks at Rutland. In how many of these new appointments they succeeded in establishing societies does not appear. (Stevens' Mem. 2d s., p. 156.)

From the Conference of 1802, William Anson was sent to plant Methodism in Grand Isle. God so blessed his labors that at the close of the first year he returned one hundred and two church members where not a single class had previously existed. See the sketch of W. Anson in another part of this volume.

Among the early fruits of Methodism on those islands, was Asel Landon. He was licensed to preach in 1809, and after faithfully serving the church for twenty years in that relation, he entered into rest. He is honorably represented in the person of his son, Rev. Seymour Landon, an influential member of the New York East Conference, who was born and reared on Grand Isle.

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In the sketch of Rev. W. Anson, in another part of this volume, it will be seen that the first preacher that reached that island, did so at the imminent risk of his life. Other preachers have been "in perils of waters,' in that region since that day. In 1832, Rev. John Frazer, now Dr. Frazer, having completed his labors there, was removing his goods in a small sail boat from that island, one man only being with him. Suddenly a violent thunder storm arose; they prepared for it as well as they could, by taking in sail and other precautions. The rain fell in torrents; the storm approached its height. "It now blew a hurricane, danger became imminent, we expected to capsize every moment and were, as nearly as I can judge, about half a mile from the shore. It was evident that the boat could not live, as we took

in water at almost every wave. We were nearing the shore as fast as we dared, and had recourse to bailing to keep our boat from sinking; but this was unavailing, the water poured in upon us amain, and the boat filled. The waves swept over it, and just at that critical juncture, when hope had almost fled, the boat capsized, and they, with singular presence of mind, succeeded in getting upon it. There they sat, the waves dashing over them, and they exerting themselves to their utmost to maintain their hold. His companion began to yield to despair. Mr. Frazer pointed him to the Christian's hope and he began to cry mightily to God for mercy on his poor soul. "I can not say," writes our itinerant, "that prayer was the principal exercise of my soul; I felt more like confiding in the arm of the Omnipotent, and while wave after wave in quick succession burst over my head, the language of my heart was: Blessed be the God and rock of my salvation; indeed, at one time, these words almost involuntarily burst from my lips, and although a considerable part of my earthly substance was floating around me, I was unmoved. O,' what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits! Unmoved amid the roar of the tempest; unmoved while the vault of Heaven was rent by the tremendous bellowings of the deep-toned thunder, and the terrible. sublimity of the scene was awfully heightened by the vivid flashes of lightning which glared on surrounding objects: unmoved, did I say? It should have been, unmoved by fear; for I was moved, and the emotions. of my heart were wonder, praise and gratitude, and solemn awe."

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Providen' ially, the boat drifted ashore before they became so exhausted as to let go their hold. After having bee. dashed with violence against the rocks, they succeeded in getting ashore, and with great difficulty

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