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and danger climbed up the rugged steep to a place of safety; after which they knelt down and gave thanks to the Preserver of men. (Chn. Adv., vol. vii, p. 12.) Rev. H. B. Taylor, one of our .faithful itinerants, while laboring upon those islands was subjected to a similar trial. Like the apostle of old, he was a night and a day in the deep." He was crossing to the Isle La Motte in December, 1847, with two other men, on a scow, loaded with lumber for a new church. The wind capsized the scow, and the falling snow prevented their being seen, while the roar of the waters hindered them from being heard. They secured a few pieces of their lumber on which they sat or lay, and held on to the edge of the boat, while the waves were breaking over them. Far away from the shore, a watery grave seemed inevitable. "The capsizing took place about four o'clock in the afternoon, and the boat, by drifting, reached the shore about three o'clock the next morning. After being eleven hours in the water, they gained the land, in so chilled, frozen and exhausted a state, that they could not stand. By locking arms and bracing against each other, they managed to get to a house near by, and raised the inmates. Brother Taylor was at this time engaged in transporting lumber for a church that he was building. He had the privilege, too, of preaching faith to his two companions, who were irreligious, and who expected to perish."

In June, 1803, the New York Conference held its session at Ashgrove. Nearly seventy preachers were present. The Conference Sabbath was a high day with the Methodists of that region. About two thousand persons crowded in and about the little church, and the power of God attended the ministrations of that occasion.

One of the first circuits ever formed within our bounds bore the name of New City, the name by which Lan

singburgh was formerly designated; but it is not known to the writer precisely when the first society was formed in that village. Laban Clark and Martin Ruter preached there in 1803. Under Mr. Clark's first sermon, Mr. Chandler Lambert was awakened and converted; he afterward became a useful traveling preacher. His memoirs may be found in the Black River Conference Memorial. In 1810, the first Methodist church in Lansingburgh was built, mostly through the instrumentality of Joel Ketchum and Elijah Chichester, both of whom had retired from the itinerancy. This was situated on the bank of the river, and occupied by the society for about twenty years. They then erected a church on Congress street, which they also occupied for about twenty years. In 1849, while the writer was stationed there, the present commodious and beautiful house of worship was erected, since which they have been visited with a glorious outpouring of the Spirit under the labors of Rev. H. W. Ransom, and our position as a church is now second to none in that place.

In 1803, Rev. Mr. Draper is said to have preached the first Methodist sermon in Whiting, Vt. Some time in 1818, one of our preachers, by the name of Jones, went from house to house in that town, telling the people that he would preach there on the following sabbath. His reception was any thing but flattering. One person, a member of another church, followed him around and told the people "there would be no preaching," "the man was not going to preach." Subsequently, that man was converted to God and became a member of the church which he had persecuted and despised. No society, however, was organized in that town until 1828, when, under the labors of Mr. G. Esty, a local preacher, several were converted, and a class of five members was formed by Rev. Joshua Poor. (Chn. Adv., vol. xxiv, p. 75.)

In tracing the farther progress of the work, the details are too numerous for our narrow limits, and a few particulars only can be given. The following extract from an article in the Christian Advocate of April 21st, 1847, gives a connected view of our history in Schenectady up to 1842, since which time no very special changes have taken place in the affairs of the church in that city:

"In the early part of the year 1807, fifteen or twenty persons were hopefully converted to God in this city, in social meetings held at the house of Richard Clute, in Green street; of whom there are now living but two, Richard Clute and Cornelius L. Barhydt.

"About this time the first M. E. church in this city was organized by Rev. A. M'Kain, then preacher in charge on Albany circuit, New York Conference.

"In the minutes of the next Conference, which was held May 2, 1807, the name of Rev. Samuel Howe appears as preacher in charge of Schenectady circuit, with which the society in the city was connected until 1816; when it became a separate station, numbering about fifty members, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Laban Clark.

"The society, few in numbers and feeble in strength, struggled through various difficulties, holding their meetings first in private houses, and afterward in a school-house in Liberty street, until 1809; when, by the blessing of God, they succeeded in erecting a house for divine worship.

"In this sanctuary, the little flock continued to assemble for twenty-six years, and here the doctrines of a free, present and full salvation, were proclaimed, and signal displays of the divine power exhibited in the conviction. and conversion of sinners. During this period, the names of the Rev. Messrs. William Thatcher, S. Luckey, W. Phœbus, James M. Smith, D. Brayton, George Coles,

B. Goodsell, Coles Carpenter, S. Stebbins, and J. B. Houghtaling, appear among those who were appointed to the pastoral oversight of this department of Zion. The circumstances under which these brethren labored were frequently marked by great and painful discouragements. Methodism, during a part of this time, was yet comparatively in its infancy. Its doctrines, usages, ministry and membership, were held in small reputation, frequently misrepresented, and generally misunderstood. Yet this advanced guard of the Lord's host pressed nobly and perseveringly onward. Their prudence, intelligent zeal and devotion to the cause of Christ, gradually and surely gained the confidence and respect of the community, and were owned by the conversion of many souls to God; so that in 1834, the number reported to conference in full membership with the church, was two hundred and thirty-five.

"In 1834, and during the administration of the Rev. J. B. Houghtaling, a change of circumstances made it necessary to erect a more spacious and convenient sanctuary for the worship of God. Arrangements were accordingly made, and the foundation of a large and commodious brick church edifice was laid in Liberty street. The year following, the Rev. Truman Seymour was appointed to the charge, and by his hearty cooperation and efficient aid, and the untiring zeal of the Hon. J. C. Burnham and Peter Banker, Esq., the house was finished; and in the early part of the year 1836 it was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God by the Rev. John Kennedy, D. D.

"The labors of brother Seymour were eminently useful in the regulation and arrangements of the internal affairs of the church, so that when at the following conference he was appointed to another charge, he left the station in a state of real and gratifying prosperity.

"The following year, the church was favored with the very able and efficient ministry of the Rev. N. Levings, D. D. In the winter of that year the charge was blessed with a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and many were added to its communion, who are still pillars in the house of God. Dr. Levings was succeeded by the Rev. E. Goss, A. M. Under his vigorous and efficient administration, the church was greatly edified. A most powerful revival of religion attended his labors; hundreds were added to the Lord, and each of the important interests of the church was most nobly sustained."

The year 1809-10 was one of glorious prosperity in various parts of Ashgrove district, during which over six hundred were added to the church within its bounds. In 1810, Rev. T. Spicer traveled Brandon circuit; it was his first year in the itinerant work. That circuit then embraced thirty-one towns, had thirty regular appointments, and it was about four hundred miles around it. Here, as every where within our bounds, Calvinism presented the most determined resistance to the cause of Methodism. An interesting account of Mr. Spicer's labors on that circuit may be found in his Autobiography, p. 17. In 1811, we find the indefatigable Asbury passing through our bounds preaching at Ashgrove, Middlebury, Vergennes, Charlotte and Plattsburgh. At Middlebury he opened a subscription to build a church, expressing his full conviction that the Lord would visit the place. Some interesting incidents connected with what in 1818 and 1819 was called Schenectady circuit, may be found in Rev. G. Coles' First Seven Years in America.

In the former chapter, some account of the early history of Methodism in Albany is given. The erection of the church in Division street, in 1813, formed an im portant era in the history of the cause in that city.

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