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 Title: Record of events in primitive Methodism 
 
 Author: Russell, Thomas 
 
 Publisher, year: London : William Lister, 1869 
 
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 ISBN of reproduction: 978-1-77096-034-3 
 
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RECORD of EVENTS 
 
 IX 
 
 PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 BY THOMAS RUSSELL, 
 
 PBIMITIYE METHODIST MINISTER. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM LISTER, SUTTON- STREET, 
 
 COMMEBCIAX-BOAD, EAST; 
 
 LEEDS : JOHN PARROTT, BRIGGATE. 
 
 MAT BE HAD OF ANT PRIMITIVE METHODIST MINISTEB 
 
 M DCCC LXIX. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 F OR many years I felt it a great pleasure when 
 I went liome to Middlewich, in Cheshire, to visit 
 my mother, to spare a day to walk fifteen miles 
 further to Bemersley, in Staffordshire, to see and con- 
 verse with our fathers in the gospel, as I always found 
 this to he beneficial to me. 
 
 The last time I went during Mr. Hugh Bourne’s 
 life, he was very ill, suffering severely from inflama- 
 tion in his foot ; he asked me to examine it, which I 
 did, and I was sorely grieved to see him in such 
 anguish, but all was done that could be done for his 
 comfort by his brother and the family. 
 
 After staying several hours, we engaged in prayer, 
 and a very solemn time it was ; we then sat down in 
 silence for some minutes. It was our last interview. 
 My venerable father in the gospel lifted his drooping 
 head as well as he could, and looking affectionately on 
 me, said, “ Brother Russell, mind, I wish you to com- 
 mit to the press a history of your life, that the next 
 generation may have something to look at when you 
 are gone.” And again, as if he wished to make the 
 impression deeper, he looked at me intently, and said, 
 
IV. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 “ Mind, I request that you will print the whole of 
 your labours, and see to it yourself.” We felt much 
 at parting. Mr. Bourne could no longer take his usual 
 little walk (accompanying me a short distance) as he 
 had been accustomed to do on occasion of the visits of 
 any of our preachers ; but this act of kindness his 
 brother supplied. 
 
 And now, though sixteen years have passed away, 
 Mr. Bourne’s injunction is still fresh in my memory, 
 and I venture to write down as much as seems to me 
 of utility. And I trust this will reach the eye of some 
 pious, enterprising, vigorous youth, who may be made 
 a blessing by his labours, and may more efficiently 
 carry out the great work, and do more good than ever 
 I have seen. As time advances, and facilities are 
 greater now than they were in my early days, there 
 is a probability of this being the case. 
 
 Dr. Clarke said, “ the reading the life of David 
 Brain erd made me a missionary and, I may remark, 
 the reading of our Magazines and Lorenzo Dow’s 
 Journals had the like effect on me. I trust that these 
 pages may have a similar influence, then all the cost 
 and labour will be amply repaid. 
 
RECORD 
 
 OF 
 
 EVENTS IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM 
 
 PART I. 
 
 hP TCAS born in the Barony of Ivinderton, near 
 4 |L Middlewich, in Cheshire, Dec. 21st, 1806. Of 
 my ancestors I have learned but little. I never 
 knew anything bad of any of them ; and in this I 
 have found some degree of comfort. I ever esteemed 
 them very much, and I felt solemn when my father was 
 carried to the grave ; I was then about four years old. 
 The same solemnity came over me several years after 
 when I attended my father’s grandfather’s funeral. 
 The drinking customs of those days were ruinous. 
 My mother had some knowledge of religion in her 
 early days ; so had her mother ; but there had been a 
 drawing back, and there was little done in these 
 matters. 
 
 However, about 1817, the Primitive Methodist 
 Connexion by mission labours made a great move in 
 religion, and was the means of stirring up other 
 churches to greater diligence ; and these churches 
 having places of worship and societies formed, got a 
 good increase from the camp-meetings and street- 
 
6 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 preachings of the Primitive Methodists. About that 
 time my mother, having been married again, sought 
 and found religion ; and she became anxious for the 
 salvation of her family. When about twelve years of 
 age, I accompanied my mother to the first Primitive 
 Methodist prayer-meeting in Middlewich. The Rev. 
 Thomas Jackson had preached in the open air amidst 
 persecution ; but this opposition did not deter him 
 from continuing his labours ; and the cause in that 
 town has held on ever since. My mother’s house in 
 time became a free home for the preachers, and there 
 the meetings were frequently held. After a time, a 
 beautiful chapel, thirty feet square, was built, and a 
 Mr. May lor several years sent a sovereign a year to 
 the chapel anniversary. Having omitted this one year 
 he learnt that the friends had some difficulty in making 
 up their interest. Hence he sent for the minister and 
 steward to make inquiry. Bros. Graham and Barnett 
 went, and gave him satisfaction ; and this kind gentle- 
 man cancelled the whole debt, and made the house of 
 the Lord free. 
 
 My first impressions of good began from reading the 
 old Small Hymn Book. I came into possession of this 
 excellent production by means of my brother Elijah, 
 who was an apprentice at Sandbach, in Cheshire, when 
 Mr. Jackson missioned that town. Mr Jackson sold 
 the books, and my brother obtained one, and he thought 
 this would be serviceable to me, so he kindly gave it 
 me. These hymns I read with great delight, and often 
 very eagerly, and I was soon designated a Methodist ; 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 7 
 
 I also sung the hymns with pleasure. Two of 
 my youthful companions having been converted, caused 
 my attention to be more closely drawn to these things : 
 their names were James Dale and Joseph Lea, and 
 towards them a strong affection has continued in my 
 heart above forty years. I had a long struggle for 
 salvation; and being out of the reach of Christian 
 friends, years passed away before I got fully settled. 
 Often did I wish to become acquainted with the author 
 of “ The Book of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, to be 
 used in Camp-meetings and Revivals.” At length, for 
 the first time, I heard Mr. Bourne preach at Congleton, 
 on the nature and necessity of the new birth, and was 
 very much benefited. The first clear sense I had of 
 pardon was at a class-meeting, when, on stating that 
 during the week while praying alone I felt blessed and 
 comforted, the leader said, £; Thank God, brother 
 Bussell, for so clear an account of your conversion to 
 God.” This cheered me, and at once Bom. v. 1, rushed 
 into my mind, — “ Being justified by faith, we have 
 peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
 Hence I took courage, and felt delighted in the work 
 of the Lord. 
 
 Soon after obtaining salvation I felt a strong desire 
 for the good of others, and our friends urged me 
 to strive to be useful ; and when eighteen years old, I 
 made my first attempt at preaching, and though I had 
 but a heavy time, yet I had hope, and endeavoured to 
 go forward. Going to reside near Congleton, in 
 1826, the friends there kindly encouraged me, and I 
 
8 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 was glad to help all I could ; and I often walked thirty 
 or forty miles on a Sabbath day to take my appoint- 
 ment in some house, and preach the word of life. In 
 Congleton chapel I preached my trial sermon, and was 
 at once put on the plan ; and in many instances I with 
 others saw precious souls saved : these things were 
 cheering. 
 
 I had long had a desire to be more fully acquainted 
 with our fathers in the Lord ; so at Christmas, 1827, 
 I went to live at Bemersley. Here I had rest, and 
 greatly delighted in the conversation and prayers of 
 those blessed men of God, who had accomplished so 
 much in the world in establishing the camp-meeting 
 cause. We often journeyed together, and I was much 
 edified and strengthened in the things of God by their 
 advice. Here, as a local preacher, I missioned Brown- 
 edge, and formed a society of above a dozen members. 
 Quarter-day coming on, Mr. James Bourne asked me 
 how many I was going to count. I said, “ I suppose, 
 sir, all of them.” He replied, “ Count one-third, then 
 you will have a good reserve.” This proved to me a 
 life lesson. W e also saw a good work start at Bradley 
 Green, Wickerstone Rocks, and other places. 
 
 Things steadily moved on. I had above twelve 
 months of usefulness, and all my brethren more or less 
 enjoyed the revival spirit. 
 
 It had some time been on our minds for Tunstall 
 ( 'ircuit to send missionaries to America, and this was 
 ultimately determined on. And now, as one had to be 
 taken out to travel at Tunstall in place of the removing 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 9 
 
 missionaries, tlie quarter-day resolved to give me a call. 
 Mr. James Bourne was delegated to name it to me, and, 
 though with fear, I consented. And on May 26, 1829, 
 after Conference, I set off on my first day’s journey as 
 a travelling preacher. Brandside, near Buxton, in 
 Derbyshire, was my first appointment ; I had eighteen 
 miles of a walk after dinner. I felt solemn on the 
 road, as I had now fully engaged in the itinerant work, 
 and my mind was much drawn out in prayer as I 
 walked along, and I felt somewhat comforted. I felt 
 a pleasure in meeting the friends. There was no local 
 preacher within eleven miles of this place, but they 
 had nobly kept up their Sabbath school, and paid the 
 rent of the place ; and though they often had to hold 
 prayer-meetings instead of preaching services, yet all 
 kept well together, which was a great credit to these 
 poor people. I had often preached to them, and felt 
 benefit. The next day I had time to visit a few fam- 
 ilies, and had liberty of soul amongst them. Afterwards, 
 I walked eleven miles to Macclesfield, and preached in 
 the open air. On Wednesday, I went eight miles to 
 Congleton. Here I was amongst my old friends, and 
 they prayed much for me. Then I went to Sandbach, 
 where I had comfort at brother Dean’s ; and after 
 preaching, I went five miles to Middlewich, to see my 
 mother. On Friday, I went to Wornish Xook, and 
 many old friends met me. The Lord was mightily 
 present. 
 
 During the week end and following days, I regularly 
 took all the work that I could attend to ; and on 
 
lo RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 •Saturday, went twelve miles to Checkley, where a great 
 revival had gone on. This place supplied a part of 
 Wrinehill congregation. At these places brother Wm. 
 Paddison had been made a great blessing ; and from 
 hence the work had run like a mighty river. During 
 the service the power of God brought me to the floor, 
 so that there was no preaching that night. The 
 leader, a very tall strong man, fell like a log of 
 wood by my side, and there was a great shout in the 
 camp. I lay about two hours under the power of God, 
 and felt much more fitted for the work afterwards. 
 Early next morning, we started for Englesea Brook 
 Camp-meeting, and processioned through Wrinehill and 
 neighbourhood to Betley, where Mr. Hugh Bourne 
 met us, and directly came to me and said, “ What ! 
 the Lord came and preached last night 1 ” I certainly 
 felt very solemn. On reaching Englesea Brook, we 
 commenced the camp-meeting, and had a very glorious 
 time. I knew my venerable father in the gospel 
 prayed for me. At noon, I left for Hanley, and 
 preached there twice, and not in vain. With all the 
 diligence I could, I got things ready for quarter-day. 
 A charge was here brought against another preacher, 
 who had left the station, for the neglect of an appoint- 
 ment at Pitt’s Hill. Mr. H. Bourne said, “As brother 
 Bussell is superintendent, he should have seen to it •” 
 and moved that it should be answered for as such. 
 This was a lesson ; yet I made my defence that as I 
 was renewing tickets at Checkley, thirteen miles away, 
 and had to see to matters on that side, I could not be 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 11 
 
 in the Potteries at the same time. All was amicably 
 settled, and we had a powerful meeting. Dining the 
 next week, brother John "Wedgwood, my colleague, 
 assisted me in making the plan, and we got it to the 
 press at Bemersley. I saw it through the press ; and on 
 Tuesday morning, June 29th, about five o’clock, I left 
 Bemersley for Brinkworth. Mr. James Bourne accom- 
 panied me a little on the road, and then bade me farewell. 
 Pearing my want of success, for I was low in spirits, 
 I left my box to come after me. I took with me only 
 part of my clothes and a few books, so as to last me 
 awhile, but it was twelve months before I had courage 
 to send for my other luggage. 
 
 On reaching Darlaston (forty-three miles) I called 
 on Mr. David Bowen, who, on inquiring where I came 
 from, was pleased when he heard that I was from 
 Bemersley. He showed me kindness. Wednesday, 
 30th. — Walked to Tipton, where I preached in the 
 chapel. Thursday, July 1st. — "Walked to Worcester, 
 and met brother and sister Davies on their way to 
 their station ; and the day following to Stroudwater, 
 where brother Towler showed me friendship. The day 
 after, he accompanied me and brother Edwards to 
 Xailsworth, where we parted, and I reached Brink- 
 worth, and went on to Mr. Bide’s at Wootton Bassett. 
 All seemed very solemn. They inquired from whence 
 I came, and of my origin : this was soon told, as also 
 my hopes, for they were few. 
 
 Sunday, July 4th. — A wagon load of us went ten 
 miles to Wanbro’ Camp-meeting, and here I preached 
 
12 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 from. “ Remember Lot’s wife.” I felt a weighty sense 
 of responsibility as I looked over the many hundreds 
 who were present. At night, preached at Stratton ; 
 and from hence followed my appointments, yet with 
 sorrow and pain, not knowing at times whether to 
 return home or not. 
 
 At Cricklade I had a violent persecution. A mad- 
 man in appearance rode a racehorse furiously again and 
 again through the congregation for a considerable time. 
 X early all over this circuit there had been generally a 
 violent opposition, and especially in this place. But 
 yet a great work had gone forward, and numbers had 
 been saved. The names of many of our ministers who 
 had laboured there were as ointment poured forth, — 
 they were much esteemed. Methodism, before our 
 friends came here, was scarcely known. John Cennick 
 had seen a great revival in these parts nearly a hundred 
 years before. But it had long been forgotten. How- 
 ever, under the labours of our friends much good had 
 been done, and in several places the congregations 
 were large, and the societies were lively. But there 
 was one place where there was neither congregation 
 nor class of any particular account, but a chapel with 
 nearly £100 debt on it, and it was a cause of much 
 trouble. Being planned there one Sabbath day, I 
 took the open air between the hours of service, which 
 was a cause of good. I also visited from house to 
 house all the families ; and so, instead of only having 
 two or three to preach to, I got about fifty of a con- 
 gregation, and saw a good move. A trustee’s wife 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 13 
 
 who was very difficult to deal with, said when she saw 
 me, “ There is no use in your going to clack, for the 
 people won’t come to hear you hut after hearing of 
 my success, she said. “Ah! you frighten them to come, 
 hut I’ll not go.” 
 
 The ministers of this circuit had heen labouring in 
 Berkshire with the hope of enlarging its borders. 
 Messrs. Bide, Petty, Jukes, and Moore, with Miss Clarke, 
 had severally been engaged in this work from April to 
 September, 1829, yet no society had been formed, and 
 there was but little encouragement. My mind was at 
 times very low, but the friends were sympathising, 
 and gave me my choice either to go to Stroudw'ater, to 
 remain in the circuit, or to go into Berkshire. Thinking 
 that there was nothing on the mission to lose, even if 
 I failed, I made choice of Berkshire ; and at September 
 quarter-day I went there with Mr. Jukes. Certainly 
 all was very gloomy, and I was very sorrowful. 
 
 PAET II. 
 
 MY first appointment in Berkshire was at Lam- 
 boume, where I preached in the open air, and not 
 in vain, for a man desired me to go and pray with 
 his mother, who was far advanced in life. I had 
 a solemn time ; soon a number came in, and I 
 sung — 
 
 “ Come, all ye weary travellers, 
 
 And let ns join and sing 
 
14 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 The everlasting praises 
 
 Of Jesus Christ our King.” 
 
 While singing this hymn a man wept much, and fell 
 down under conviction ; and this was followed up hy 
 several more getting a deep concern, and they began 
 to cry for mercy. Some found peace ; and here I 
 formed a class, which was our first society in that 
 county. This was a matter of great encouragement, 
 and these tidings were cheering to our friends in 
 Wiltshire, who said, “ You bring us good news from a 
 far country.” We also during the quarter saw several 
 brought to the truth in each of the following places, — 
 Ashbury, Wanbro’, Eastbury, and East Garsdon. At 
 Bishopston Mr. Jukes was much esteemed ; and I 
 thought, by Mr. Smith’s help they would be able to 
 raise a good class. The time was appointed, and a 
 society of eight members was formed. This was a 
 matter of thankfulness. But all through the quarter 
 we knew the severity of cold from open-air preaching, 
 and had trials of a severe kind. 
 
 A degree of fever came on me ; and having slept at 
 Wanbro’ one Saturday night, on rising on the Sabbath 
 morning, such a stiffness was all over me that I could 
 scarcely stand ; but I ventured to start through the 
 swampy meadows, where at nearly every footstep I sunk 
 ankle deep. Erom my heels to my brains it seemed 
 that every inch of my whole frame was affected. But 
 I walked four miles to Bourton-on-the-Hill, and 
 preached on the cross in the open air. Thence I 
 walked eight miles to Baydon, but on the road I 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. IT* 
 
 suffered much ; and having to walk over the downs, 
 as I was rising a very sharp hill, I could not keep my 
 feet, there being a sharp frost. However I crawled up 
 as best I could. On reaching the village, I began to 
 sing a hymn under a thorn hedge • and about one 
 hundred listened ; one or two seemed affected. I then 
 hastened down to Aldbourn, and was glad to get a cup 
 of tea at Mr. Farmer’s, and at six o’clock commenced 
 my service in the barn ; and though the keen winds 
 cut through the crevices of the building, yet I had 
 strength to go through the work. Here a labouring 
 man wept much, and said to me, “ 0 sir, will you 
 please get me one of your prayer-books ? I will give 
 you any amount of money that I have to get one of 
 your prayer-books.” As this fine tall man stood before 
 me in his clean white frock, weeping bitterly, I felt 
 my heart much drawn to him, and I pointed him to 
 Jesus. He sought and found mercy, and gave me his 
 name to be a member. Here, too, we formed a class, 
 and good was done. 
 
 Our homes were scarce, and we often knew what 
 hunger was ; but we had a few friends who were kind. 
 Yet being fearful of being a burden, we invariably left 
 each place early, and were often glad to get nuts or 
 berries from the hedges to eat. Some degree of scan- 
 dal of character was cast upon us, and Mr. Jukes was 
 almost determined to prosecute a man of property for 
 reproach ; but I advised him to let it alone. He then 
 said, “ Well, brother Eussell, I shall soon have done 
 with this severity, and at Christmas shall go to Salts- 
 
16 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 bury ; then I can more easily prosecute my studies, 
 and get prepared for better stations.” This seemed 
 almost as a prophecy, for Mr. Jukes became a proficient 
 with his poems and pen. He has made hymns for the 
 million, such as “What’s the news'?” “Heaven’s my 
 home,” “The cross,” etc., etc. These being set to 
 popular tunes, have been sung by sailors and landsmen 
 in every quarter of the globe. Some hymn-book com- 
 pilers have pillaged my friend’s productions, and 
 attached their own names to them. It would only 
 have been honest to have said, “ Composed by the 
 Eev. Eichard Jukes, of the Primitive Methodist 
 Connexion, by whom, under God, he was rescued from 
 an ungodly course, after having been a chieftain in 
 village sports, and a ringleader amongst his compa- 
 nions; but he found religion.” Mr. Jukes says of him- 
 self : — 
 
 “ ’Twas in a cottage near a wood, 
 
 I was convinced of sin : 
 
 And there my race for endless life, 
 
 Through mercy, did begin. 
 
 “ ’Twas there I heard those cheering words, 
 
 ‘ Thy sins are all forgiven !’ 
 
 And there I joined the little band 
 Whose names are wrote in heaven. 
 
 “ I always shall revere that place, 
 
 That cottage near the wood, 
 
 For there I lost my load of sin, 
 
 And there received my good. 
 
 “ And when I reach that better land, 
 
 And stand on Zion’s hill, 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 17 
 
 The humble cottage near the wood 
 Will be remembered still. 
 
 “ There in that sinless world on high. 
 
 Before Jehovah’s feet, 
 
 Many who used to worship there 
 I hope at last to meet. 
 
 “ Amongst the rest, the good old man, 
 
 His wife, and children too ; 
 
 And may I ask my reader now, — 
 
 Shall I there meet with you ?” 
 
 Mr. Jukes maintained a good course, and has now 
 been gathered home to endless rest. The Rev. James 
 Pritchard has written a valuable life of my dear friend, 
 called, “The Poet of the Million : the Life of the Rev. 
 Richard Jukes which may he had at the Primitive 
 Methodist Book-room, Sutton Street, Commercial 
 Road, E. • or at Mr. Hurd’s, 122, Mile-end Road ; or 
 of any of the Primitive Methodist Ministers. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 WE had raised forty-eight members on trial this 
 quarter, and £5 5s. 1 1 \d. One of the men converted 
 
 was a day labourer, with whom Mr. Jukes was much 
 pleased ; when he told me of him he said, “ He is a 
 householder.” This brother, out of his seven shillings 
 a week, regularly gave his weekly contributions to the 
 society. We had a great struggle at quarter-day as to 
 who should go with me into Berkshire. I contended 
 for Mr. Ride ; the Quarter-day argued his two years 
 would be up, and that he would have to leave. I 
 said, “ Xay, we must keep him, and I will take him 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 into Berkshire.” The contest lasted above two hours, 
 hut I carried my point ; and to this day I believe I was 
 right. However, one of the principal lay brethren 
 said, “ 0 Bussell, you unwiseman to yourself, you are 
 doing all the work, and you should have the 
 honour.” However, I held my friend fast ; and I now 
 more fully inquired into his life, and from whence he 
 came, and where he had chiefly been. He said : — “ I 
 am from Turnditclr, in Derbyshire. I was convinced 
 of sin when Mr. Bourne first came there. However, 
 it was some time before I found religion : but I once 
 obtained some good by hearing Mr. Clowes ; but lost 
 all, and was again miserable. But one day, while 
 ploughing in the field, I found salvation, and shouted 
 for joy. The lad said I was gone mad, and ran home 
 weeping, and told my father. 
 
 “ In those days preachers were few ; but praying- 
 labourers were raised up, amongst whom were Sarah 
 Ivirkland, John Harrison, Martha Doncaster, Thomas 
 Jackson, and many others from that locality, and we 
 missioned extensively, and opened Belper. John 
 Benton was the leading missionary, and was very 
 mighty in the Lord ; also John Wedgwood did much 
 good ; and the visits of the Bournes were always bene- 
 ficial, and we looked to them as the fathers and 
 founders. I made several attempts at preaching, but 
 made little out; however, I strove to go forward. 
 One day, my wife drove our covered cart to fetch 
 Lorenzo Dow to preach at our place ; and several other 
 women were with her. They had put Lorenzo in a 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 19 
 
 comfortable seat at the back of the conveyance ; but 
 on the road he said, in his singular fashion, ‘ I want 
 to have some talk with that woman on the fore-board,’ 
 and he made over to the front; he then said, ‘Thou hast 
 a husband 1 ?’ She said, ‘ Yes, sir.’ ‘Thou thinkest 
 thy husband cannot preach V She replied, ‘ He is 
 not sufficiently learned to preach.’ I should remark 
 they all understood ‘ silent waiting.’ Then Lorenzo 
 said, after some quietness, ‘ Well, I have this to tell 
 thee : thou must let thy husband alone, or the Lord 
 will remove thee from him, for he will have to preach.’ 
 This ended the conversation ; and afterwards they had 
 a powerful meeting at Turnditch.” 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hide had by diligence saved a little 
 money, and they thought that they had better go to 
 America ; so they sold all off, and emigrated to the 
 United States, and had some hopes of succeeding. 
 But Mrs. Ride was taken ill, and sunk into a decline. 
 This sickness prevented Mr. Ride attending the annual 
 camp-meeting in those parts, so he never saw one in 
 America. This affliction was a cause of great distress. 
 However, one day Mrs. Ride said, “John, I shall die, 
 and I want thee to promise me to take the children 
 and return to England, when I am dead, for there the 
 Lord has a work for thee to do.” Of course the whole 
 was very solemn. Weeks rolled on, and still the 
 ■decline knew no abatement. Mrs. Ride finished well ; 
 and soon after her death my friend got ready to return. 
 And I think I understood him that when he and his 
 two children landed in Liverpool, he had but little 
 
20 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 left. However, he got hack to his native place, and 
 joined himself to his brother William in his farming 
 operations. 
 
 Mr. Hide was gladly hailed by his old friends, and 
 put again on the plan. The local preachers formed of 
 themselves a mission plan, and opened several new 
 places. Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, was one, and there 
 Mr. Ride went to preach, near fifteen miles off ; hut 
 he was decoyed by some footman to stand on the steps 
 of a gentleman’s doorway. While in this service, the 
 constable came and commanded him to surrender ; but 
 some wicked men said, t- A ay, constable, he was 
 directed to stand there, and you shall not move him.” 
 At this the man of the staff went away, and the gang 
 accompanied Mr. Ride out of the town, and advised 
 him to make the best of his way home : he did so. 
 In a day or two after, two constables with a warrant 
 came to Turnditch, and got to Mr. Wm. Ride’s, and 
 asked for his brother, saying they were come to see 
 him, for he was wanted at Ashbourne. Mr. Ride 
 said, “ My brother is gone with the team, taking a 
 load of grain and he invited the strangers in, aud 
 gave them some refreshment. During the day, the 
 under-constable told Mr. Ride not to let his brother 
 come into their presence, as they had a warrant to take 
 him up for preaching at Ashbourne. This was a 
 serious affair ; and Mr. William went across the 
 country to meet his brother, and advised him to go off 
 to Turnditch, and consult the friends what was best 
 to do. This was soon settled, and they advised 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 21 
 
 him to go to Bemersley and consult the Bournes 
 about the whole affair. He set off that night, and 
 walked forty miles to Bemersley, and arrived early the 
 next day. He was received with tenderness, and Mr. 
 Hugh Bourne, after hearing the whole affair, said, 
 “ Brother Ride, you had better stay here a little while, 
 and we will make it a matter of earnest prayer.” In 
 a fortnight, Mr. Hugh said*“ Brother Ride, we have 
 thought you had better go to the Chester mission, and 
 leave the Derbyshire affair for a while.” This was the 
 commencement of our friend’s entering the itinerancy, 
 which was in 1822 ; and he travelled at Chester. 
 Burland, Tunstall, Liverpool, Wrockwardine Wood, 
 Blaenavon, Darlaston, Frome, and was now on Brink- 
 worth Circuit. During those seven years he had seen 
 much good done. 
 
 I was much affected at the whole history, and I 
 determined to stand by him, and have him with me in 
 Berkshire ; and afterwards had the satisfaction of 
 bringing the second Mrs. Ride and the family to that 
 field of labour, to live at Shefford, where they 
 remained seven years, and then removed to another 
 part of Shefford Circuit, (Reading), where they 
 remained other seven years. Thence they removed 
 to London, where I last saw them, having gone above 
 three hundred miles, in 1849, to bid them farewell, 
 on their embarking for Australia, where our dear 
 friend finished his earthly course ; and no doubt he 
 has ere now met numbers of dear old friends who had 
 gone before, and ‘‘are now inheriting the promises.” 
 
22 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 Mrs. Ride wrote me after her husband’s death, 
 to ask for any events that I remembered of him. 
 I wrote some twenty or thirty particulars, and posted 
 them by the overland mail from Portadown, in Ireland. 
 I very highly esteemed my friends and all their family, 
 andhope, when I shall have finished my course on earth, 
 to meet them all in heaven. It was a solemn time 
 when, at four a.m., we ^prayed with each other and 
 wept together, as we parted for the last time. 
 
 After quarter-day, and after we had made the plan, I 
 returned to my mission toil. Mr. Ride came in 
 January, and I gave him every information of what 
 we had to do ; noticing all our friends, and what I 
 .■judged to be the best course to take where we had no 
 friends. Weeks rolled on, and occasionally we met 
 I advised for him to get home to Wootton Bassett as 
 often as he could, Mrs. Ride being very poorly, and 
 they had sickness amongst the children. But I gene- 
 rally knew where my colleague was, so all was satis- 
 faction, and we laboured in great harmony. 
 
 Jan. 17th, 1830. — After preaching at Eastbury and 
 East Garsdon, and having two powerful meetings, and 
 joining two to society, I hastened five miles to Upper 
 Lambourne, to help brother Ride. The power of God 
 came down, and two souls found salvation. On our 
 road for Church Lambourne, a man fell down under 
 the power of God. On our arrival, we at once began 
 a prayer-meeting, several cried for mercy, and found 
 salvation. One night, while preaching by star-light, I 
 threw up a quantity of blood, which alarmed some ol 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 23 
 
 tlic bystanders. In tliis village I had suffered perse- 
 cution ; "but Mary "Wentworth getting converted, and 
 slie "being of a desperate mind, not even the opposers 
 durst attempt to hinder us there ; and in her house 
 we formed a society ; her husband and brother-in-law 
 found religion, and became useful. But the journeying 
 thirty miles to Salisbury over the plain, to get a 
 license, with snow ankle deep on the ground, made 
 it tiresome after my night’s sickness. 
 
 Sunday, Feb. 7tb. — A meeting early at Lambourne, 
 then preached at Eastbury and East Garsdon, and 
 held another meeting at seven, in which good was 
 done ; but I felt bitterly the pressure of the work, and 
 was glad to rise early next morning, and walk ten 
 miles to meet Mr. Bide at Bishopston. The journey 
 was rather tiresome, as the country was covered with 
 snow, and it was in places in a melting, sloppy state. 
 -My friend was glad to see me. "When in his work I 
 always knew where to find him, for we had regular 
 rounds, and set times for family visits ; so we knew 
 where to meet each other. At nine, we commenced a 
 course of prayer in a cottage, and had great access. 
 About eleven we left, and he accompanied me four 
 miles over the downs to Ashdown Park corner. I 
 said, “ Let us turn in here, and have another round at 
 prayer before we part.” My agony of mind was very 
 great ; and we both pleaded in anguish of spirit, and 
 for hours we laboured in deep distress of soul ; when 
 at length I rose up and said, “ Brother Bide, yonder 
 country is ours, and we will have it.” He replied, 
 
24 
 
 RECORD OE EVENTS 
 
 “Hold fast! I like thy confidence of faith.” We 
 parted — he for Ashbury, and I for Lamhonrne, where 
 the Lord’s power was mightily felt, and I saw one soul 
 find salvation that night. 
 
 PART IY. 
 
 Tuesday, Feb. 9th. — I set off to Shefford for the 
 first time, where, after asking liberty to preach at the 
 doors of several houses, and being denied, I at length 
 saw a vacant place, and took my stand by an old cot- 
 tage wall, and sung — 
 
 “ The gospel news is sounding 
 To nations far and near ; 
 
 Come, listen to the echo 
 "While it is sounding here. 
 
 “ It brings you news of pardon, 
 
 Of joy, and love, and peace, 
 
 And everlasting happiness, 
 
 If you will it embrace.” 
 
 Ere I had sung the hymn and prayed, nearly two 
 hundred people had come together, to whom I preached, 
 and had the happiness of afterwards learning several 
 souls hadbeen brought under the power of conviction and 
 turned to the Lord, one of whom became a very active 
 local preacher. Mr. Herman very kindly invited metoliis 
 house ; but I had not time, it being nearly dark, and 
 I had two miles to go to my appointment, where I 
 saw good done in the name of the Lord. I pursued 
 my regular work in family visiting and preaching, 
 sometimes in the open air, though the weather was 
 very cold ; meeting our classes after preaching every 
 evening, and oftener ; and having new members added) 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 25 
 
 which, was very pleasing. The week following, I 
 again went to Shefford, and a great company attended ; 
 when Mr. IV ells met me on the road, and offered me a 
 piece of land, his own property, on which to preach. 
 This was very acceptable, as I was threatened for 
 trespass by standing on waste land, the lord of the 
 manor supposing that that was his private property. 
 And in addition to this kind offer Mr. Wells desired 
 me to make his house my home whenever I came that 
 way. This became a great help tome in my mission toil. 
 
 The following week I was again at Shefford, and 
 many came from a distance. William Hawkins, of 
 Weston, obtained a sense of his lost condition, as did 
 many others ; and I formed a ring for mourners, several 
 of whom found comfort. Mrs. Wells being amongst 
 the convicted ones, desired her husband to build a 
 house on this (what we might call) consecrated ground, 
 for on that ground many a precious soul had felt the 
 arrow of keen conviction. Very jocularly Mr. Wells 
 replied, “ On condition of one thing I will do so.” 
 “ Well, Eichard, what is that 1” was her gentle reply. 
 “Well, Hetty, that you give up the snuff-box.” She 
 answered, “ La ! Eichard, you know I only take one 
 pinch a day, and that is the last thing at night” “Ah ! 
 that is it I want to be put away.” The reply was, 
 “ For how long T and he said, “ Three months.” “It 
 shall be done !” The bargain was now settled, and 
 Mr. Wells built us a house of seven rooms, one of the 
 nicest in the village ; and it had one large room in it 
 for meetings. The first service we held in that house 
 
26 
 
 RECORD OR EVERTS 
 
 Avas a camp-meeting lovefeast, when nearly twenty souls 
 Avere brought to God, some of Avhom, of Ramsbury 
 friends especially, became very mighty in the Lord, and 
 ultimately carried the good news to America and other 
 distant lands, whither they emigrated to better their 
 condition in life. 
 
 Sunday, March 7. After a morning service at 
 Lambourne, I preached at half-past ten at Eastbury, and 
 led a class, and one more joined. At half-past two, 
 preached at East Garsdon, and joined another. We 
 had very poAverful times in praying for Shefford, where 
 I preached to hundreds of very attentive hearers, and 
 made a collection for the first time to help the Circuit 
 funds, and I had invitations to Weston, and other new 
 places. I felt a fixed determination for an enlargement 
 of the work. What I said to Brother Ride in the 
 avoocI, — “Yonder country is ours,” uoav rang in my 
 ears, and I resolved to go fonvard, God being my 
 helper. 
 
 March Quarter-day came on, and again the contest 
 about my friend being removed ; but I contended for 
 him to be re-stationed, ibid though the contest was 
 severe, I got it carried. We had fifty-two increase for 
 the quarter, and eight guineas income. Also as it Avas 
 Mr. Ride’s turn to go to the District Meeting, I asked the 
 Quarterly Board to alloAV me to ha\ r e Miss Smith as a col- 
 league until his return. They consented, and she took the 
 management of the old places. One circumstance reflects 
 great credit on this brave young friend. After preach- 
 ing to hundreds in a barn at Lambourne, a man offered 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 27 
 
 her a donation of five shillings, thinking it 'would pay 
 her expenses. But she bravely refused it, and thus an 
 impression of independence was made on the minds of 
 the people, as many had been affected under the word. 
 
 March 30. For the first time I entered Bamsbury, 
 as I knew by preaching at five o’clock in the afternoon 
 I could reach Aldbourn for seven, it being only three" 
 miles off; I commenced singing at the top of the street, 
 
 “ ITy days, my weeks, my months, my years, 
 
 “ Fly rapid as the whirling spheres 
 “ Around the steady pole.” 
 
 FT umbers flocked out, and many manifested a vile 
 determination to oppose. About two hundred soon got 
 sheep bells, old tins, and anything they could use for 
 making a noise. And they were very annoying. Soon 
 they threw stones and other missiles, and shouted with 
 vehemence, so that few could hear what I said. I felt 
 a little alarmed as the stones rattled in the boughs of 
 the great tree where I stood in the middle of the town, 
 but I felt calm as I delivered the word, and thank God 
 the service was beneficial. Under the same tree about 
 fifty years before, Dr. Coke preached, when the town 
 authorities brought out the fixe engine, and tore his 
 gown.. But the Doctor told them, “ Before long you 
 will want the engine for something else.” And it was 
 so, for a fire broke out and burned a great part of the 
 town down. Some had it in their minds to put me in 
 thy mill pond, but I escaped by going into a friend’s 
 house after meeting, and through the back garden Igot off 
 
28 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 to my night’s appointment. I thought when my work 
 was done to run away (and I could run in those days) • 
 was not cowardly. Their cry was, “Church and King! 
 no Ranters here !” and they rattled their old tin cans. 
 
 Sunday, April 4. I preached at Ramshury again, 
 at seven in the morning, to several hundreds, in the 
 open air. About twenty young men sung wicked 
 songs all the time, and shouted out “ Church and King, 
 no Ranters here, no preaching here,” &c. Xevertheless 
 the word preached had its desired effect ; good was 
 done. I went a third time before any other preacher. 
 jSumbers crowded round me as soon as I entered the 
 place, children and young men ringing hand bells, 
 sheep hells, horse hells, and blowing horns, shouting, &c., 
 to a strange pitch. I walked down through the place, 
 amidst hundreds of spectators. Shame would have 
 crept in, but I remembered what Mr. James Bourne 
 once said, “ When shame would come, it is generally 
 the spirit of the people would fly upon us.” This 
 much encouraged me. I walked towards the lower 
 part of the town, and on the road a Baptist minister’s 
 widow, with true sympathy and kindness, and with 
 heroic courage, rushing into the midst of these ruffians, 
 cried shame upon them for their conduct, and took me 
 into her house. She gave me some refreshment, and 
 spoke kindly to me, saying, “ You are like Paul and 
 Silas, at Philippi, but the Lord will stand by you.” 
 After a few minutes, and praying with this kind friend, 
 I again encountered the mob, and crossing to a heap of 
 stones, I ascended it, and preached as well as I coidd 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 29 
 
 collect my thoughts. At the close I told them if they 
 would behave better I would send them a female to 
 preach, and then left them. But about twenty youths 
 followed me nearly a mile out of the town, and on 
 bidding them farewell, I told them I would pray with 
 them. AYe all kneeled down, and while at prayer 
 most of them wept. There was evidently a good work 
 begun on their youthful minds. This very much 
 encouraged me, and though sorrowful, yeti could rejoice. 
 On seeing Hiss Smith I gave her an account of the 
 persecutions, and also of the prospect of good, and left 
 it with her either to go or not as she judged best, as I 
 feared for her safety. But when the time came she 
 went, and the friend who put me through his house to 
 escape the fury of the mob on my first visit, now 
 prepared his barn for the service. The persecutors 
 attended as before in order to create a disturbance, and 
 molest the worshippers, having their pockets filled with 
 stones, eggs, and other missiles. As they walked up 
 the avenue leading to the barn, Miss Smith, dressed 
 with characteristic neatness, in the garb of a female 
 Friend, was singing a hymn with her usual sweetness 
 and pathos. As soon as the ringleader of the mob saw 
 her he was awestruck, and nearly overpowered. Turn- 
 ing to his companions, he said with authority and 
 determination, none of you shall touch that woman.. 
 And some of them went away in confusion. 
 
 The impressions made at the former meetings were' 
 deepened at this service, and other persons were also 
 affected. About twenty became decided to lead a new 
 
30 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 life. A society was formed, and Mr. John Alexander 
 opened his carpenter’s workshop for our meetings, 
 which I got licensed, by going near thirty miles to 
 Salisbury. In Eamsbury very considerable good was 
 done, for many souls were converted to God, though 
 persecution continued to rage. One night a gang of 
 thieves was passing to a certain sheep fold to commit 
 depredations. But the ringleader stood and listened, 
 conviction struck him, and he became a converted man, 
 as did many others. And one night I joined fourteen to 
 society. We soon had above a hundred members, 
 but the spirit of persecution often ran very high, su 
 that I had to bring several up before Dr. Merrick, and 
 showing him our license we had peace for a time after 
 this magistrate’s reproof to the mob. 
 
 Sunday, April 11. 1 preached at seven in the 
 
 morning, at Lambourne, and tears flowed in abundance. 
 At ten and two preached at Eastbury and East Garsdon, 
 and at five to hundreds at Shefford, where much good 
 was done. We came back to East Garsdon and held a 
 prayer meeting, and while I was praying in order to con- 
 clude, the Lord set one soul at liberty who had conic 
 twenty miles to seek salvation. 
 
 Saturday, April 17. 1 missioned Crooked Soley. 
 
 On the road I said to the young man that -was with 
 me, “ We shall either see a good work start to night, 
 or have a heavy opposition.” But happily the evening 
 closed with seven precious souls setting out for heaven. 
 And here afterwards Are formed a society. One man 
 Avent home and forbad the usual desecration of the 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 31 
 
 sabbath in his family, saying, *• AAA will lead a new 
 life.” The next day, he in company with others, met 
 me some miles off to hear the word, for which he was 
 turned out of his house, and was deprived of his 
 employment by his merciless and ungodly superiors ! 
 But he notwithstanding held fast his integrity, and 
 persevered in his Christian course. Had this poor man 
 continued in his sabbath breaking and wicked ways, 
 he would have been allowed to retain his cottage and 
 employment. But fearing that he would be a help to 
 the missionaries, the church authorities sought his ruin. 
 This was grievous. 
 
 PART Y. 
 
 AYE made arrangements to call out Bros. James 
 Hurd and Thomas Adams, to travel, so that we had an 
 opportunity of entering on an extensive line of labour 
 for one preacher’s entire work, as one of our brethren 
 was called on to go to America. 
 
 All being in readiness, Sunday, April 18, I com- 
 menced an entirely new course of labour. After prayer 
 meeting at East Garsdon, about twenty friends accom- 
 panied me to Hungerford-new-town, where I preached 
 in the open air, at nine o’clock. At eleven, preached 
 at Kintbury, and under the word several were awakened. 
 At one o’clock came to Hoe Benham, singing as we 
 entered the place, — 
 
 “ 'Wandering pilgrims, mourning chistians, 
 
 Weak and tempted lambs of Christ ; 
 
 Who endare great tribulation, 
 
 And with griefs are much distressed. 
 
32 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Christ hath sent me to invite you, 
 
 To a rich and costly feast ; 
 
 Let not shame, nor pride prevent you, 
 
 Come, the rich provision taste. 
 
 CHOKUS. 
 
 I am bound for the kingdom, 
 
 Will you go to glory with me, 
 
 To sing Hallelujah ! 
 
 To God and the Lamb.” 
 
 There were now about fifty in my travelling con- 
 gregation, and most of them seemed to enter joyously 
 into the devotions. The whole village was roused, 
 and we commenced our service in the gravel pit. I 
 thought there were near five hundred people assembled. 
 And as I stood on the bankside preaching with all my 
 energy, I perceived an uncommon emotion run through 
 the assembly. Several cried for mercy, and many 
 wept. It was a great time. At five I preached at 
 Boxford, to about one thousand, for the whole country 
 seemed moved. Several from this service started for 
 heaven, and became useful. Here a pious woman said 
 she saw me in a dream preaching many years ago. We 
 then moved on in a great company to Wickham, where 
 over one thousand people listened very attentively to 
 the word of life. And a great time we had. After 
 that I went to Weston, to sleep at Mrs. A ewton’s- 
 This kind lady’s miller and his man had accompanied 
 me nearly all the day, and it would have been woe to 
 any one that should have dared to molest me. But all 
 was peaceable through the day, and I was glad of a 
 night’s rest. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 33 
 
 Weston was amongst my new mission places, and 
 here I formed a class in Mr. Hawkin’s house. And 
 much good was done there. We soon had upwards of 
 twenty members, and though they endured great trial 
 and opposition, yet they bore up, and several became 
 mighty in the work. 
 
 Monday, 19th. — I pursued my labour in another 
 direction, and during the week opened Peasemore, 
 Fawley, Farnbro’, Lilly, and Chaddleworth. Mow 
 and then I had the comfort of meeting with one and 
 another who had received good under the word, and 
 who though poor were yet kind. And as I did not like 
 being a burden to my new or old friends, I kept as 
 close as possible to every fresh place, and when I had 
 no food I went without. A . person offered me three 
 middle sized apples. These delicacies served me a whole 
 day for food, and at Lilly I slept in a cart-house. 
 
 The last mentioned places were bordering on Woolley 
 Park, and soon the spirit of persecution arose, and 
 especially at Chaddleworth, where shouting, blowing 
 horns, ringing sheep bells, beating tin cans, cursing, 
 swearing, and all manner of opposition prevailed. But I 
 bore up and struggled on as best I could. And even here, 
 I had the pleasure of learning that several obtained a 
 sense of their lost condition. There were scenes of 
 violence ; and one spirited young man who had 
 got some good, rushed between me and a persecutor. 
 They soon came to blows, but my friend was the victor. 
 However all settled down, and we parted peaceably. 
 
 c 
 
34 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Sunday, 25th. — At East Garsdon, at prayer meeting 
 at four a.m. At Shefford, at six. In each place good 
 was done by our members getting a deeper impression. 
 I followed on the same route as the Sabbath before, 
 only adding Wickham Common ; great numbers 
 attending me all the day, and crowds in every place. 
 Also during the week I followed up my daily toil, and 
 had invitations to new places. 
 
 Blit I saw watchers were set to know who of the 
 villagers attended the meeting, as all who did were 
 to be excluded from parish gifts at Christmas. This 
 was very trying, and I felt pain of heart for the poor 
 people. But I cautiously watched my steps, and was 
 guarded in my proceedings, earnestly looking to the 
 Lord for help, and giving myself to constant prayer. 
 
 Friday, May 6th. — According to promise went to 
 Chaddleworth, and on entering the village the constable 
 met me and politely said, “ How do you do, Sir T I 
 replied, “ Very well, Sir.” He then asked me if I had 
 any of the books that I used, such as hymn books and 
 magazines. So I innocently said, “ Yes, Sir.” He 
 procured several from me. Then he asked, “ Have you 
 a license,” and I said, “ Ho, Sir.” At this he said, 
 ‘‘ Then you must go with me to the magistrate.” I 
 replied, “ I should like to preach first, as the people 
 will soon be coming together.” At this he took out 
 his staff, and shook it before my face, and said, “ If 
 you don’t go with me, I shall compel you.” I then 
 replied, “There needs no compulsion, I will go with you.” 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 35 
 
 So we at once set off to W oolley Park. But on the road I 
 found he did not like his job, for he said to me, “lam com- 
 pelled to take this course, or I should lose my farm, 
 and being overseer and constable, besides holding 
 other offices which are beneficial, I am obliged to do as 
 I am bid, or I shall lose all.” I replied, “ Do your 
 duty.” On the road I read Luke xii. 11, 12 ; 
 “ And when they shall bring you unto the synagogues, 
 and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought 
 how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall 
 say : Por the Holy Ghost shall teach you in that same 
 hour what ye ought to say.” 
 
 On our arrival, standing in front of the hall for 
 some time, several young ladies came out, looked at me ; 
 laughed, and went away. An elderly lady also came 
 out, stood before me for some time, and then went 
 away, talking in an undertone. 
 
 The clergyman came out and asked me, “ Do you 
 know Greek and Latin 1” I replied, “ I know sinners 
 must be converted, or there will be no getting to 
 heaven.” He said, “ I have read Mr. Wesley's works ? 
 and he would not encourage his preachers to go where 
 there was an evangelical clergyman.” I replied, “ I 
 respect Mr. "Wesley’s works and his people, but I don’t 
 belong to that denomination. I am a Primitive Metho- 
 dist.” He replied, “ You are not needed here, as the 
 gospel is preached in this parish.” I replied, “ Unless 
 sinners get converted, they cannot get to heaven.” 
 And I believe in our Lord’s command, Mark xvi. 15 : 
 
36 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 “ Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to 
 every creature. He that believeth, and is baptised, 
 shall he saved, but he that believeth not shall be 
 damned.” At this he went away. And soon after the 
 magistrate came and said to the constable, “ Whiting, 
 who have you got here ?” He replied, “ This is the 
 man that goes about preaching.” He said, “ What do 
 you mean V “"Why this is the man that goes about 
 preaching.” 
 
 It was soon clear to my mind, if I had had no other 
 intimation, that the plan had been pre-arranged for the 
 constable to take me up, and bring me to the magi- 
 strate for some jesuitieal purpose. But I was not aware 
 of the cunning on their part until now. 
 
 And afterwards I understood there had been parish 
 meetings to contrive some means to put a stop to our 
 proceedings. 
 
 At one of these meetings a gentleman farmer said, 
 “ It is no use attempting to put a stop to these people, 
 unless that Bussell, a black devil him, gets driven out 
 of the country. Bor one morning, at five o’clock, as I 
 was going to my far farm, I spied him going towards 
 one of our cottages, so I thought' I would see what 
 he was after ; and I went quietly round, but by the 
 time I got there he was on his knees praying as if 
 heaven and earth were coming together. I was glad to 
 get away. How its him that makes all the Banters- 
 Let him be put away, then all the others will be 
 frightened, as he makes way for all the rest. He 
 goes first everywhere.” 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 37 
 
 Tlie magistrate evidently did not wish me to think 
 that he knew anything of my being taken up. But 
 the constable persisted that “ this is the man that goes 
 about preaching and praying, that I had to bring up to 
 you. ” 
 
 Then the following interrogations took place : — 
 
 Magistrate. — Where is your home, and what do you 
 do >. 
 
 Bussell. — I am from Bemersley, and am a Primitive 
 Methodist preacher. 
 
 Magistrate.- — "What do you go about preaching for ? 
 
 Bussell.— I go about preaching that rogues may learn 
 to become honest men, Sabbath-breakers to go to some 
 place of worship, and that swearers may learn to pray. 
 
 Magistrate. — Swearers pray ! Why I never heard of 
 any man swearing like you swore the other night at 
 Pawley. 
 
 Bussell. — Me swear at Pawley. 
 
 Magistrate. — Yes, you did. 
 
 Bussell.— Xo, Sir, I did not. 
 
 Magistrate. — You did. 
 
 Bussell. — I did not. 
 
 Magistrate. — You did. 
 
 Bussell — I did not. 
 
 Magistrate. — I can prove it. 
 
 Bussell— Well, then, prove it. 
 
 At this he made a beck with his hand, and up came 
 a man from behind a large shrub. 
 
 Magistrate. — I say, keeper, did not you hear this 
 man swear the other night at Fawley ? 
 
38 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 Keeper. — Well, Sir, I never heard any talk so much 
 about hell fire and the devil, and damnation as that 
 man did, ’till I felt horrified. 
 
 Magistrate. — Turning to me, Don’t you call that 
 swearing 1 
 
 Russell. — I did not swear. 
 
 Magistrate. — If that is not swearing, what is ? 
 
 Russell. — Well, if that is swearing, then our Lord 
 swore, for he said, “ He that believeth not shall be 
 damned.” And, “ How can ye escape the damnation 
 of hell?” 
 
 The Magistrate, evidently not liking this, suddenly 
 broke in with, Oh, Pooh, Pooh, none of your preaching 
 stuff here. 
 
 Russell. — Then, Sir, don’t ask for it, but it is the 
 truth. And without being born again, we cannot get 
 to heaven. Without being converted, there is no 
 getting to heaven. 
 
 Magistrate.— Being of the church we are right, and 
 yours is a scliism. 
 
 Russell. — Our Lord said, “ Ye must be bom again.’’ 
 
 Magistrate. — Being baptised and confirmed, and 
 taking the sacrament, we are all right. 
 
 Russell. — Without holiness no man can see the 
 Lord. I tell you, Sir, we must have a change of heart, 
 or we can never get to heaven. 
 
 Magistrate. — Well, now I shall make you an offer. 
 If you will give me your word of honour that you will 
 cease preaching in several places round here, I will set 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 39 
 
 you. at liberty. For I have had applications from the 
 clergy and gentry to put a stop to this sort of preaching. 
 And if you 'will give me your word of honour to give 
 up this work, then I will set you at liberty. 
 
 Russell. — Xo, Sir. I am an Englishman, and a 
 minister of the gospel, and shall keep my liberty and 
 go on preaching the gospel. Our Lord said, “ Go ye 
 into all the world and preach the gospel to every 
 creature,” and this command I shall abide by. 
 
 Magistrate. — Then there is a fine of £10 on you. 
 
 Russell. — It will not be paid, Sir. 
 
 Magistrate. — Then you must take what follows. 
 
 At this the constable took me behind him on his 
 horse, upwards of seven miles, across the downs to 
 Wantage, and before ten o’clock at night I was again 
 interrogated as before. 
 
 Only now on my promptly refusing his proposition 
 the magistrate called me a fanatic. I replied, Sir, I 
 shall keep my liberty. At this he said, Then I shall 
 com mi t you to prison as a vagrant. Thus “ having no 
 certain dwelling place,” he wrote out my mittimus, — 
 To hard labour, confined to gaol allowance for three 
 calendar months, in default of payment of £10 fine : 
 which I considered thoroughly unjust. By midnight 
 I was put into the hands of the Wantage constable. I 
 got supper, and also breakfast next morning, and 
 prayed with him, and he told me I might take a walk 
 round the town to see the place, and with half an in- 
 timation that if I ran away he would not run after me. 
 
40 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 But no, I respected my calling, and wished well to my 
 country, and would not do a mean thing. About ten 
 o’clock he had his trap ready, and off we started to 
 Abingdon. 
 
 The constable offered me leave to call on any one 
 that I thought well, so having learned that the Bev. 
 J ames Loutit, Wesleyan, was in that town, I called at 
 his lodgings, and he kindly sympathised with me, and 
 took a copy of my mittimus, and after praying with 
 him I bade him farewell. 
 
 At the sight of the prison I began to feel about 
 my mother and home, and many old friends. On 
 being delivered up to the gaol keeper I was put into a 
 solitary place, and had a stone seat. Here I kneeled 
 down to pray. In an hour the doctor came in and 
 ordered me to strip, which I did, and felt a little glad 
 to show him as fine a body as it was his general custom 
 to look on. I was pronounced fit for the prison, so I 
 •was taken to the upper part of the prison. And they 
 took my own clothes away from me -with my travelling 
 bag, and gave me the gaol clothes to put on, consisting 
 of a check shirt, yellow stockings, jacket, waistcoat, 
 breeches, and cap, all of the same colour, and a pair of 
 clogs. I wished the gaolor to let me have my bible 
 and hymn book, but was refused even these. So I 
 was brought down amongst the felons, and at once put 
 to the wheel. There was a poor fellow in for poaching 
 that recognised me, and he said, “ Sir, what has 
 brought you here 1 ” I said, preaching at Chaddle- 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 41 
 
 worth. At once his features indicated sympathy with 
 me, and he bore a good testimony for me before the 
 other prisoners. Saying, “ I have seen Mr. Russell 
 preaching in the frost and snow while the sweat has 
 run down his face. He is a good man.” 
 
 I talked to him and our fellow-prisoners, and indeed 
 preached to them, and not in vain, for I saw after a 
 week’s abode with them, a reformation amongst them. 
 But there came another gang in, and these were of a 
 bitter wicked kind. One a large blustering man, 
 fearfully swearing, I reproved him. At this he rose 
 up with violence, and gripped his fist in my face, 
 and swore he would split my bloody head against 
 the wall if I said anything to him. At this my 
 acquaintance stood up and gripped his hand in his 
 face, and said, “ if thou touches bim ; I will split thy 
 head on these flags,” saying, “ Mr. Russell does not 
 wish thee nor any of us any harm.” 
 
 I certainly felt a deep sympathy for these poor 
 creatures. But I saw a prison life was not the way 
 for either poachers, thieves, or robbers to get their 
 hearts changed. At their leisure time their con- 
 versation was on their former exploits in wickedness. 
 And there was a development of crime, and badness* 
 such as I had never known or heard before. 
 
 The grinding at the mill was severe, and this made 
 the men swear. They said the treadmill was not near 
 so hard work as our handmill was. At this mill ten of 
 us were placed, five on one side, and five on the other, 
 
42 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 and we had to throw our whole strength on the wheel 
 for half-an-hour at a time, grinding corn, and then we 
 had half-an-hour in another part of the prison pulling 
 old ropes to pieces with our fingers and thumbs, 
 untwisting the different folds of rope, thus making 
 oakum for shipbuilders. 
 
 The mill work was severe, and ere we had been two 
 minutes on the iron handles, the sweat would roll 
 down us ; and thus for thirty minutes we were bathed in 
 perspiration. We had to work hard to keep the stones at 
 full speed, and the harder we wrought the easier it was, 
 as being on full swing they ran the more freely. But 
 the strain going through all our bones shook the whole 
 system, so that those who had been used to the scythe, 
 in mowing hay-grass, or any other heavy labour, said it 
 was not more severe than this mill work. Thus we 
 had half an hour’s labour in a very hot close room on 
 the wheel, then half an hour’s cooling at the oakum 
 work, and so we spent ten hours a day in hard labour. 
 
 I had a cell to myself ■ an iron bedstead with no 
 bend in it, and a very hard straw bed, something like a 
 sack, light covering, but no pillow, so I placed my 
 clogs near each other and put my small clothes over 
 them to rest my head on ; and being locked in with a 
 great chain across the gate or door of the cell, and the 
 loose boards for a window, just opposite the gate, I 
 had a full draught through my stone cell during the 
 night. However, I could sing the 22nd Hymn, large 
 book, and did sing it often, — 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 43 
 
 Xor exile I, nor prison fear, 
 
 Love makes my courage great ; 
 
 I find a Saviour every where, 
 
 His grace in every state. 
 
 Xor prison walls, nor straw bed cells, 
 
 Exclude his quickening beams ? 
 
 Here I can sit, and sing, and weep, 
 
 And dwell on heavenly themes. 
 
 A Saviour succours me in toils, 
 
 And sweetens all my pains ; 
 
 His strength in my defence employs, 
 
 Consoles me and sustains. 
 
 I fear no ill, resent no wrong, 
 
 Xor feel a passion move, 
 
 When malice wets her sland’rous tongue, — 
 
 Such patience is in love. 
 
 The words in italics are my own insertion, as suitable 
 to me in the house of my hard bondage. 
 
 And again, often at the midnight hour I sang, — 
 
 My' soul’s full of glory, which inspires my tongue, 
 
 Could I meet with angels, I’d sing them a song ; 
 
 I’d sing of my Jesus, and tell of His charms, 
 
 And beg them to bear me to His loving arms. 
 
 But the man who knew me said, “ You must sin" 
 
 7 O 
 
 slow,” or you will be put in the dungeon for dis- 
 turbance, as noise is not allowed ; so I patiently sung in 
 my heart, and a little over the top of my voice. 
 
 On my entrance into the prison they asked me if I 
 would go to hear the minister of the establishment. 
 
44 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 I replied, “ Yes,” as I knew none of our ministers 
 were within twenty miles of me, and I did not like to 
 give trouble ; however the Eev. William Pad di s on 
 came all that distance, intending to see me, hut was 
 not allowed, hut had to go hack without. But Mr. 
 Lou tit got access, as he lived in. the borough ; and so 
 did the Rev. Mr. Wilkins, Congregationalist. On one 
 of these occasions I got a cup of tea, and a thin slice of 
 bread and butter. This was refreshing, and I felt 
 thankful for it. 
 
 One day the under turnkey, a kind young man> 
 said to me, for he knew what had brought me 
 there, “ If I was you I would join some respectable 
 body of Christians, as your demeanour would procure 
 you preferment, and not be connected with so mean a 
 body as the Ranters.” “ Sir,” I said, “ What do you 
 mean by the Ranters 1” He said, “ Those who shout 
 and bawl, and make a confusion of noise in worship.” 
 I said, “ Hay, Sir, you Church of England people are 
 the persons who make a confused noise. When ye are 
 in your Church service, ten or twelve of you clamour 
 out and say, “ We have erred and strayed like lost 
 sheep, have mercy on us,” &c. Then when you come 
 down into the ward, cursing and swearing comes on. 
 Now, Sir, that is ranting. The Primitive Metho- 
 dists are a very honourable people and sing in harmony, 
 pray in faith, and preach with sense, and are very 
 moral and upright in their conduct. They are good 
 citizens, and I never knew one put in prison for any 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 45 
 
 misdemeanour.” At this he a vent away rather confused. 
 
 There was sometimes a little humour at the dinner 
 time on those days we liad dinner — which consisted of 
 a platter of potatoes, about half-a-dozen for each man 
 On the dish being emptied out, the whole was divided 
 about as equally as possible, and all in the ward passed 
 judgment whether all the lots were equal. All being 
 amicably settled, one of the elder prisoners stood 
 in a corner so as not to see the lots, and had to answer 
 another elder, who pointing out the lots one by one 
 said, “ Whose is this 1 ” The man who was in the 
 corner answered by name for any one he thought well . 
 And each one knew his name, or what stood for his 
 name, ily title was “ The Parson,” or “ Our Clergy- 
 man,” and without a murmur the lot was taken up in 
 our hands, and when all was settled I asked a blessing. 
 The dinner was soon oyer, and not even a bit of 
 potatoe peel was destroyed. At breakfast we had a 
 little skilly and bread, and the same in the evening. 
 There was plenty of salt, and plenty of water, but all 
 the rest was scant enough. And hunger pinched 
 severely, so that I often wondered why a human being 
 could not eat the ground to pacify the cravings of hunger. 
 This new mode of life brought on an illness. One man 
 was taken sick and kept his cell for two days. In my 
 mealtimes I had to wait on him, and I got a few in- 
 structions from him as to prison life. I talked to him, 
 and prayed with him, so my services were beneficial 
 to him in more than one way. However, sickness 
 
40 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 c.ime on. me, and the doctor was sent for to see 
 me. And as I conld not stand to the wheel, I missed 
 work several turns. But when he came, he said, 
 “ Here he came to be punished, and here he must he 
 punished.” And I was ordered to the wheel again. 
 Thus I found that scripture was true, “The tender 
 mercies of the wicked are cruel.” 
 
 I suffered much through weakness for several days, 
 and I felt much for my fellow prisoners in then.’ 
 sufferings. A visit of the magistrates one day caused a 
 little excitement. One of them, of great size, amused 
 himself by saying, the preacher should have a few 
 faggots under him. This man’s name I forbear men- 
 tioning, but a Dr. Merrick said, “ I prize a man who, 
 for conscience’ sake, sticks to his principles,” and looked 
 kindly at me. 
 
 When pinching want was felt severely, the prisoners 
 would quaintly say to each other, “ Woidd you do the 
 like again ?” and they would answer, “ No, only let 
 me get out of this place, and I will not do the like 
 again.” Sometimes they would say to me, “Would 
 you do the like again!” I invariably answered “Yes, 
 as soon as I have an opportunity.” They said, “ Then 
 you are not ashamed of what you have done ?” I replied, 
 “ Oh, no, mine is a good work.” 
 
 At length June 5th arrived, and by nine a.m., Bros. 
 Bide and Moore, with Messrs. Pinegar, Habgood, 
 White, and Morse, were in the town waiting for my 
 release. After a few turns on the wheel, and at making 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 47 
 
 oakum, I was separated from my companions in tribu- 
 lation. I gave them good advice, and prayed with 
 them. They said, “ We are sorry that you are leaving 
 us, but glad for your sake : for had you stayed it must 
 have put an end to your life.” I felt solemn. We wept 
 at parting. I bade them farewell. My friends with 
 a carriage were at the prison gates, and I was handed 
 in. Br. Bide with his sweet sonorous voice gave out a 
 hy mn , and we sung up to the market-place, where Br. 
 Moore preached on the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, 
 at P hili ppi. Br. Bide gave an account of the rise and 
 progress of our Connexion, and I preached from Acts, 
 xxviii. 15., £ ' Whom when Paul saw he thanked God, 
 and took courage.” I felt thankful for this meeting, 
 and after refreshment we drove to Marston Manor 
 House, where Mr. Pinegar told me to stop as long as I 
 liked. I here rested a little, and then made off to 
 other scenes of our labour, where friends were glad to 
 see me. 
 
 PART VI. 
 
 June Quarter-day came on. And an invitation had 
 been sent for me to go to London to see John Wilkes, 
 Esq., a very noted solicitor, who was Secretary for the 
 Society for the Protection of Beligious Liberty. Ho 
 also sent £2 towards my expenses up. So it was 
 d.eemed proper for me to go, and I went. And my 
 reception was gracious indeed, for he gave me a another 
 pound. 
 
48 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 On examination, Mr. Wilkes said, “ Mr. Bussell, you 
 are very much, like Mr. Hugh Bourne, your founder, in 
 your cautious answers, for he would say hut little. He 
 was cautious, but a great lawyer.” 
 
 Then Mr. Wilkes kindly offered me to enter an action 
 against the magistrate for false imprisonment. But I 
 thought it better not. Then he said, “What would you 
 wish 1” And I said, “ Only to be allowed to go 
 unmolested by that magistrate. We will not seek his 
 protection against persecution, but we don’t want his 
 hindrance.” 
 
 The reply of Mr. Wilkes was, “Mr. Bussell, your 
 spirit is that of a Christian, go on, Sir, about your work 
 and we will protect you.” He then gave £2 more 
 towards my expenses, in all £ 5 . This was really 
 kind. I felt thankful to the Lord, and left my friend. 
 
 During my stay in London, Mr. and Mrs. Friskin, 
 with Mrs. Gardner, of Long Acre, and others, showed 
 me kindness, and their minister gave me lodgings at his 
 house, and I took appointments every night. On the 
 Sabbath I preached four times, viz., in the morning at 
 nine, on the spot where John Rogers* was burned. 
 
 * I little thought that in the evening of life I should 
 marry a descendant of this brave man of God, one of the 
 seventh generation. He was the first martyr under the bloody 
 Queen Mary. She was led by the Papal party, and Eogers, a 
 Protestant clergyman, was married and had a family of ten or 
 eleven children, one an infant not long born. This man of God 
 very much wanted to speak to his wife, to give her some advice. 
 But his bloodthirsty persecutors denied him this privilege, and 
 hurried him to Smithfield, where he was burned at the stake. 
 
 1 his was cruel work. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 49 
 
 At half-past ten I preached to the sailors at Shad- 
 well, we had a weeping time. At half-past two preached 
 at Cooper’s Gardens to a crowded congregation, and three 
 precious souls were converted. Glory he to God ! I 
 afterwards led class, and joined several fresh members. 
 We had a great time. At six, in Goswell-street chapel, 
 and a blessed time. My soul was free in the work. 
 This is a source of thankfulness. 
 
 I one day accompanied our friends to Woolwich to a 
 tea meeting. This was the first public tea I ever was 
 at. They told me they had to take this course to raise 
 the rents of their places of worship. From tea to the 
 time of the public meeting I preached in the open air, 
 under the Barracks wall, and had a solemn time. 
 Several soldiers paid good attention. I felt much for 
 therm After tea meeting we had two souls saved. 
 This was good indeed. Glory be to God ! 
 
 On my leaving London, Br. James Gamer (1st.) 
 accompanied me to the coach, I offered him pay for 
 
 John Rogers was much engaged in translating the Matthew 
 Bible, and seems to have completed Tyndale’s work. They had 
 been connected some months at Antwerp, but when Tyndale was 
 dead the work lived, and John Rogers finally completed the 
 translation. And thus the Bible is given to the world, and plough 
 boys, sailor boys, factory boys, collier boys, and indeed all 
 classes now have the privilege of reading God’s most glorious 
 truth. Of the three worthies, Coverdale, Tyndale, and Rogers, 
 the first had fled to a foreign country. The second had died a 
 martyr. And now Rogers was the only one left, and being con- 
 sidered the ringleader of the Protestants, the Papists seised him, 
 passed him through several mock trials, then burned him, 
 February, 4, 1555. Shall not God be avenged ? 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Ms kindness in giving me lodgings, but be refused any- 
 thing, but thanked me for my help. But after mounting 
 the box I threw him down half a sovereign, and I saw 
 he picked it up. So we bade each other farewell. 
 
 On my return into Wiltshire, our friends wanted me 
 to enter an action against the magistrate, or let Mr, 
 Wilkes do it. But I still thought if even I could beat 
 him in the Court (wMch I did not fear doing), yet it 
 was the best way to leave the affair -with the Lord, and 
 calmly pursue my ministerial work. Accordingly I 
 soon returned to my children in the gospel, on my new 
 held of labour, and was glad to find that though they 
 had been much tried, yet from the labours of Mr. Moore 
 and Elizabeth Smith, the ground had been kept good, 
 and the work had gone on. The new classes I had 
 formed held on, and scores of souls were still under 
 good impressions. At Chaddleworth, where I was taken 
 up, I had the comfort of forming a society, which has 
 done well. Praise the Lord for it. 
 
 The Friday I went to prison, J0M1 Coxhead went 
 four miles to hold a prayer meeting at Weston, where 
 he began to preach. This young man had been Brought 
 to the Lord under my labours four months before- 
 There was great praying at Weston that night, and 
 several found peace. Amongst these was Mr. William 
 Hawkins. And now on my return I found he had 
 started for heaven, at a meeting I held on my first 
 going to Shefford, on the ground where our house was 
 built. This news I had from Mm many years after. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 51 
 
 At which time he told me, “ The master I then was 
 carter for turned me off and out of house and home 
 for taking the preachers in. But God has blessed me 
 ever since, and I am now a trustee for nearly every 
 chapel on this circuit. But poor Mrs. Hawkins felt 
 keenly when the bailiff put all their furniture out 
 in the road, and she and her little children stood 
 weeping under the drenching rain.” That certainly 
 was cruel work. 
 
 In process of time another farmer offered William the 
 situation of head carter. But this brave man said, “ Sir? 
 I am converted to God, and a local preacher on the 
 plan, and shall go to preach.” “ I don’t care for that,” 
 said the farmer, ‘ ; if you will come you shall.” He 
 went and served that gentleman some years. 
 
 One Monday morning the master said, “ Well, Wil- 
 liam, were you holding forth yesterday?” “ Yes, Sir,” 
 was the reply. “ Where V inquired the master. “ Up 
 in Hampshire, for we have a great work in that county.” 
 Said he, “ Are not you very tired ?” “ Xot much, Sir.” 
 
 He then said, “ Mow, William, I advise you when you 
 take these long journeys, take the Mistress’ pony, as she 
 does not often use it, and scarcely ever of a Sunday.” 
 Hence this brother, in his white smock frock, was better 
 off than most of his brethren. Though he had occasion- 
 ally no objection to ride and tie with his fellow 
 labourers. He maintained a good course, and served 
 God for upwards of thirty years, and finished well. 
 
 Coming back to my labours, I found the magistrate 
 
52 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 was not content with, his violence towards me, but 
 strove to injure others. One Sabbath morning, when 
 I was in prison, Miss Smith, with other friends, went 
 to Chaddleworth to have service. Scores of Mends 
 met them. And at the meeting the service was well 
 attended by the villagers, and many from neighbouring 
 villages wept under the word, and good was done. 
 But a number of musicians came with their instruments, 
 and began to play. There were some young men, 
 however, who were determined Miss Smith should 
 have a hearing. And they threatened to kick the end 
 of the drum in, and break the other instruments, it 
 they persisted. So the musicians went into a house and 
 soon a lad was seen running with a note in his hand 
 to the church, as by this time the service was about 
 to begin. The magistrate said to a neighbouring squire, 
 “ Come, let us have a fray with the Banters, and put 
 them down, for they are determined to go on.” 
 
 So they made their way to the street meeting. And 
 on their arrival the minister was closing her last prayer, 
 and as she was kneeling in the conveyance the magis- 
 trate took hold of the horse’s bridle and inquired 
 whose it was. He also took hold of a young man and 
 gave him into custody, and then several others in like 
 manner were given up to the constable. And there 
 was a creating of constables at the same time, as far as 
 the magistrate’s word seemed to go. But there was a 
 vigorous strong man, who had come five miles to the 
 meeting, who said to himself, “ if thou touches me, Til 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 53 
 
 fit thee out,” and, indeed, rather stood to be assaulted. 
 The magistrate took hold of him, hut he being accus- 
 tomed to "wrestling, at once gently put his hand to the 
 magistrate’s breast, and with his foot just tripped up 
 his heels, and turned hi m on his back in the nettle 
 ditch. The brother squire rushed forward to his help, 
 when he was served the same. Then two or three 
 gentlemen farmers, who were as troublesome as their 
 superiors. And these, too, were made companions of 
 the squires amongst the nettles in the ditch. However 
 all was quiet in the congregation, and the service closed 
 The magistrate got first out of his company, and said, 
 “ I hope there is no harm done.” “ JSTo,” said the 
 vigorous young man, “ Only behave yourselves next 
 time you come. We are peaceable people, but wont 
 be interrupted.” 
 
 The two village squires and their farmer friends went 
 to church, and the congregation of worshippers went to 
 their own homes. 
 
 Al l we heard of the affair further was, that the 
 magistrate went to a neighbouring justice for advice, 
 and to get out summonses for the people. But this 
 one said, “ From your statement, you began the fray ; 
 and now as you have burnt your fingers in Bussell’s 
 case, don’t bum your hands in this.” So the matter 
 dropped, for our people were not inclined to punish 
 them for interruption. 
 
54 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS. 
 
 PART VII. 
 
 During the time of my severe imprisonment, Mr. 
 Goddard showed kindness, and told his friend Mr. 
 Edward Kirby, of Bradfield, of what was doing, which 
 excited in Mr. Kirby’s mind a desire to see and hear 
 for h i m self. And on taking my appointment at 
 Hermitage, he met me and attended the service in 
 the grove. After the meeting he made himself known 
 to me, and gave me a pressing invitation to visit his 
 place, where he had a chapel. I went, and was 
 kindly received by his family, and I preached in 
 several other places ; amongst the rest at Beenham 
 Green, where I preached on the road, and a good work 
 ultimately broke out. At Bucklesbury Common the 
 word ran with power, and Mr. David Berry, a boy in 
 that neighbourhood, turned to the Lord, and he is now 
 a very active local preacher in London. At Burnt- 
 hill, in a barn, the word ran. But Aldermaston became 
 a scene of violent persecution in after years ; and, 
 indeed, such was the abuse that some of our friends 
 met with there, that the painful effects lasted for a 
 long time. Yet the seed soon took root in those parts, 
 and grew up to a good harvest. To God be all the 
 glory. Amen. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dance, of Hampstead Xorris, had 
 invited us there ; and for doing so they were ordered 
 to leave their house ; but the Lord inclined Mr. 
 Louseley to promise to build them premises at a reason- 
 able rent. This was thankfully accepted, and the 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 55 
 
 family and infant cause continued to live in tlie village. 
 This kind benefactor to our friends also ordered our 
 magazines, and took them in for years. But all these 
 friends are long since gathered home, while the cause 
 of the Lord still flourishes. It was in this village the 
 Bev. David Kent, when a youth, joined us, and soon 
 became a useful member, then exhorter, and in time a 
 travelling preacher, and he was a successful missionary. 
 He finished life well. 
 
 At this early stage of our labours my young friend, 
 the Bev. James Hurd, was one evening having an 
 open-air service on Wickham Common, and I think I 
 shall never forget with what vigour he gave but the 
 hymn — 
 
 “ You all are invited with Christ to embark 
 On board his rich ship, the ancient Noah’s ark, 
 
 Which was launched at Eden, has long been at sea, 
 
 And comes into harbour for you and for me.” 
 
 There was a glory in that service ; goodhvas done. 
 
 I had long wished to open Hungerford ; so, one 
 Sabhath night, after a long day’s labour, I found my 
 way there, and stood on the market [steps. Hundreds 
 surrounded me ; but by the time I had read my text, the 
 chief bailiff came and ordered me down. I paused 
 for a moment ; and just then, a youth of ruddy coun- 
 tenance, was pushing his way head foremost through 
 the crowd. It was Bro. Hurd. At once, that scrip- 
 ture rushed into my mind, “ With whom hast thou 
 left those few sheep in the wilderness V And I said 
 
56 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 to him, “What of Ramsbury?” He replied, “I 
 preached a little earlier, and left the friends holding 
 a prayer meeting, and got a horse and galloped over to 
 meet you these five miles, as I heard you meant to he 
 here.” I said, “ Where is your horse ?” He replied, 
 “ A hoy, for a penny, is holding him outside the con- 
 gregation.” I said, “ Let me have it.” So I was 
 soon mounted, and preached my sermon riding along 
 the streets. Some young men said, “ It is easier to 
 understand that sermon than the parson’s in the 
 church.” We kept on in this town. Mr. Wooldridge 
 opened his house for preaching, in Moon Lane, where 
 I formed a society, and afterwards a chapel was huilt. 
 Then another chapel was huilt at the other end of the 
 town, a mile distant. But since, in place of these two, a 
 large chapel has "been huilt in the main street, very 
 central. I had the pleasure of assisting to open this 
 beautiful place of worship, by the solicitation of 
 Mr. Phelps, and here saw numbers of old friends. 
 Mr. Peck had long desired me to go to Hungerford. 
 Bros. Jukes and Moor had preached there once or twice 
 eighteen months before I went. But the hurling of 
 flint stones by the mob made it dangerous, and they 
 declined any further visits for the time. However, 
 blessed be God, we were now able to hold on, and saw 
 much good done at the place. 
 
 Mr. Wells, of Shefford, having commenced, at 
 Mrs. Wells’ request, to build us a house for preaching 
 and to reside in, this gave me some care, and with other 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 57 
 
 concerns induced me to walk from Peasemore to 
 Wootton Bassett, thirty-four miles, to tell Bro. Bide. 
 But on my arrival there I found him in trouble about 
 other matters, so did not unbosom my grief ; and after 
 holding a meeting with him, I returned to my mission 
 toil. 
 
 Mr. Ashley, the minister of the Union Chapel, in 
 Newbury, sent me an invitation to preach in his place 
 of worship. I accepted it, and fulfilled the appoint- 
 ment. This was the first sermon of a Primitive 
 Methodist minister in this town. 
 
 A gentlemanhere having learned from us the polity of 
 the body, and that lay delegation to Conference was one 
 part of our government, said, “ Then they will not go 
 down, but live as a denomination.” This encouraged 
 me, for he was judicious and wise, and I believed him 
 to be a good man. 
 
 During the autumn quarter, matters were at times 
 very trying. The ground was disputed for several 
 inches where Mr. Wells had built the house. However 
 our friend maintained that he was right, but the 
 Marquis had ordered his men to measure the ground. 
 And such was the exercise going on in this affair 
 when Mrs. Bide and the family arrived^ But prayer 
 was made incessantly, and especially one Saturday when 
 we were all met in the house, and in a deep struggle 
 we pleaded, and not in vain. Miss Smith rose from her 
 knees and exclaimed, “ The Lord has heard our cry, 
 and the house will not be removed.” At this our faith 
 was strengthened, and we heard no more of the affair. 
 
58 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 This gave us great relief of mind, and caused con- 
 fidence to be established in the society, and with our 
 friends in general. 
 
 Besides keeping our old ground, we opened several 
 new places. And I bordered on Hampshire in my 
 labours, with a prospect of good. At one place a man 
 came in where I was, and said, “You don’t need make 
 the bad place appear worse than it is.” I asked his 
 reason for saying so, and he replied, “You talked of 
 streaming brimstone and burning pitch, and a lake of 
 fire.” I referred him to Isaiah xxxiv. 8, 9, 10. “Bor 
 it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of 
 recompence for the controversy of Zion. And the 
 streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust 
 thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall 
 become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched 
 night nor day ; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever : 
 from generation to generation it shall lie waste ; none 
 shall pass through it for ever and ever.” 
 
 My friend rather disputed my applying this language 
 to hell fire. But when I referred him also to Isaiah 
 lxvi. 24, “Their worm shall not die, neither shall their 
 fire be quenched especially when I referred to 
 Mark ix. 43, 44, “ And if thy hand offend thee, cut it 
 off ; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than 
 having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that 
 never shall bo quenched. Where their worm dieth 
 not. and the fire is not quenched and Bev. xx. 14, 
 15, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 59 
 
 fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was 
 not found written in the hook of life, was cast into the 
 lake of fire.” — At this application my friend yielded, 
 and turned to the Lord, and he invited me to his 
 his house, and it became a home. 
 
 TVe also opened several other places towards Sil- 
 chester, and not in vain, for at Ashfordhill and neigh- 
 bourhood to this day there is a blessed work. Though 
 we had a few friends yet I feared burdening them, so 
 often left early, and wandered through new localities 
 in quest of fresh openings, and often hungry enough. 
 But one day finding a bean stalk with several full pods 
 on it lying on the road as I was passing Baughhurst, 
 I made a dinner of it, and came to my appointment near 
 King’s Plaid. 
 
 September 5th. — We held our preparatory quarter 
 day at Stratton, and it was a good time. At night we 
 sung in a body up the street to the chapel, and had 
 a powerful service ; good was done ; one soul was saved. 
 
 Tuesday, 6th. — I walked thirty miles to Hampstead 
 Korns, and preached to several hundreds of peaceable 
 people in the open air, lighted by a lanthem hung on 
 a pole. This answered very well. I felt much for 
 these parts, and hoped to see good days. Compton 
 was only two miles off, where a^Mrs. Baker lived, who 
 had heard Miss Smith preach on Illsley Downs. She 
 was brought under deep convictions, and this led to 
 our going there. At Alder, I preached first in the 
 open air, where I believed much good would be done. 
 
60 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 These three places lying convenient to Burnet Hill, 
 gave us a great opportunity of family visiting on an 
 extensive scale. During the week I visited and 
 preached in several more neighbourhoods, which ser- 
 vices were profitable. 
 
 Sunday, September 11th. — Attended the seven 
 o’clock prayer meeting, at Eamsbury, and preached in 
 the open air; many wept. Miss Smith was there, 
 and had great liberty in preaching after I had done. 
 We had peace, which was a matter of thankfulness, 
 as our persecutors were not up 1 they were not aware of 
 this service. This meeting was powerful. Walked nearly 
 near seven miles to Ogboum St. Andrews, and preached 
 to a hard-hearted few in the open air. All was cold 
 and dreary. By two o’clock I walked to Ogbourn St 
 George. We had a powerful time in the sacrament. 
 Glory, glory be to God ! As I wanted to be at Broad 
 Town, to take the road by the turnpike was a great 
 way round ; but by walking over the wild downs, I 
 could save several miles. It now being star light, 
 with little intermissions of clouds, I took my aim at 
 starting; my point being H.W. by W., I kept a good 
 course by observing the stars, and came, to my sur- 
 prise, in two hours, just to the farm house of Mr. 
 Thomas Tuck, one of our local preachers, but they 
 were all gone to bed. However, they gladly rose to 
 let me in, and I soon lay down, being very much tired. 
 They were glad to see me. 
 
 Monday, Sept. 12th, was Quarter-day, and I was 
 very thankful that we paid our way. Bro. Eide and 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 61 
 
 family were removed from Wootten Basset, in. Wilt- 
 shire, to Shefford, in Berkshire, to the house Mr. 
 Wells had "built, being a much better residence than 
 the one they had left. 
 
 I had now entered on another quarter, and prayed 
 that God would help and bless me. Last quarter 
 many were brought to the Lord ; the sayings of our 
 opposers were confounded. Some said, “ They will 
 come to naught, and all their stir is but as the rattl- 
 ing of an empty wagon down a hill, or the running of 
 a stream that ebbs over the gravel beds ; they will soon 
 be exhausted or gone entirely out of the country.” 
 Others gave us one month, six weeks, or three 
 months. An officious man said, while he was holding; 
 a meeting one night at Chaddleworth, “ In twelve 
 months they will be gone ; aye, they are like a cloud 
 passing over.” These sayings discouraged many from 
 joining us. However, all their sayings, blessed be 
 God, were put to silence. We took out another 
 preacher; so that we were now five travelling preachers, 
 and preached at about forty places. We opened 
 several more neighbourhoods. When I preached first 
 at Beenham they could scarcely tell what to make of 
 us. The people stood peeping by their doors ; a few 
 came near to whom I preached, and I gave out for 
 Miss Smith to preach there. This being a new thing 
 many came out to hear her. The parson’s son came 
 and fired a gun off four or five times close to the con- 
 gregation, in order to make an annoyance. But she 
 
62 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 held her service, and the Lord helped. Soon after, 
 Messrs. Clemens and "Warner, with our friends Goddard 
 and Kirby, and others, became trustees, and we built a 
 chapel in twelve months after opening this place, and 
 much good has been done in it. Glory be to God ! 
 
 Sunday, 19th. — Held a prayer-meeting at Shefford, 
 at six a.m. At half-past eight preached at Chaddle- 
 worth, and gladly met the newly-formed society ; also 
 held several more meetings that day that were profit- 
 able. 
 
 Sunday, 26. — Preached at H. Hewtown, at ten, at 
 Boxford, at one, and lei class • and atFawley, at five, I 
 preached to a hardened few. But at seven, our house 
 was full, at Shefford, and we had a good time. The fol- 
 lowing week I walked about seventy miles, and held a 
 number of meetings. I visited from house to house 
 in many places. 
 
 Sunday, Oct. 3rd, 1830. — Spoke atKintburyin the 
 morning ; then at Hungerford, and held a meeting out 
 of doors. From there I went to Wickham and 
 preached. One soul got powerfully awakened. At 
 seven, I held a prayer-meeting at Weston ; two glo- 
 riously converted. Here the Lord is carrying on his 
 work ; and in many places the societies which had 
 been formed in the summer now were gaining ground. 
 When I look at these things I am almost lost in won- 
 der. 0 that God would open our way more and more. 
 
 Dec. 12th, 1830. — I attended Quarter-day. What 
 before had been called Berkshire mission was now called 
 Shefford branch. We stood as follows : — fifty preach 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 63 
 
 ing places, tliree hundred members, ten local preachers, 
 and five travelling preachers. Glory he to God ! A 
 good work was going on, so that, by God’s blessing, 
 we were able to pay our way, though amidst much 
 opposition. The people, too, laboured in visiting, prayer 
 meetings, &e., holding services in what houses they 
 could, or in the open-air, and in as many new places as 
 they could. Thus the infant churches raised last sum- 
 mer grew stronger, and became useful. To God be all 
 the glory ! 
 
 During this winter we had many difficulties, 
 as at numbers of our places we had to preach in 
 the open-air, and meet our classes in the same way. 
 However, by dint of labour, with the Lords’s help, 
 we continued, though uuder great trials. 
 
 A severe affliction came on two or three of the 
 preachers that made, in some cases, our sleeping dif- 
 ficult, and, in some instances, lodgings were scarce. 
 Our trials in this were severe. I left Shefford one 
 Saturday forenoon, in the winter, and walked ten miles 
 to a new place, and preached in the open-air by moon- 
 light, but had nowhere to stay, and was many miles 
 from my Sabbath work. After some miles’ walk I 
 lay^down in a barn, but was so cold I could not sleep ; 
 so I left my lodgings, and walked on the road, when 
 sleep again seemed oppressive. I lay down under a 
 hedge, and slept an hour, and on awaking I seemed 
 nearly frozen to the ground ; but I rose and started. 
 After a run for some distance, I felt better, so took my 
 
64 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 regular pace ; but when three miles past the World’s 
 End, sleep again was irresistible ; and seeing a cart- 
 house, I found I could lie down between the wheel 
 and the bank. This formed a little shelter, and I slept 
 nearly two hours ; then rose, and by seven o’clock was 
 at my appointment, and had a good meeting. Got 
 breakfast at Mr. Kirby’s, then preached at half-past 
 ten. Two miles off, I preached at Beenham Green at 
 two o’clock ; then back to Bradfield and preached ; 
 after which, I walked to Shefford, fifteen miles, to 
 sleep. After adjusting some matters the next day, I 
 set off by way of Newbury, seeing to some of our 
 affairs, and walked on to Compton, where I was glad 
 of a cup of tea at Mr. Middleton’s, and had a blessed 
 meeting, when one more started for heaven. We had 
 invitations to several new places, but the Quarter-day 
 had shewn much opposition to this, and especially so 
 as several contemplated a change of the married 
 preacher; but I still contended for Bro. Ride to remain, 
 and urged an enlarging of the work, as I knew he was 
 well adapted to keep the old ground good, while I was 
 missioning new places. This caused a sharp struggle, 
 yet I believed we were right in striving to forward the 
 work ; and so Bro. Ride returned with me to Shefford. 
 Afterwards, I was told by one of the travelling 
 preachers, that one of the friends went out of the 
 Quarter-day with all glee, rubbing his hands, and 
 saying, “ We have clipped Mr. Russell’s wings this 
 time.” But I determined to proceed in missioning 
 new places, as the Lord should open the way. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 G5 
 
 Jan. 2nd, 1831. — Preached at Chaddleworth, and 
 led class ; one more joined. At two, spoke at Little 
 Hungerford, and at six, at Cold Ash, to crowded con- 
 gregations. 
 
 Monday, Jan. 3rd. — Preached at Beenham to a full 
 congregation, and spoke to them of forming a society. 
 I read the rules, and explained the nature of a class- 
 meeting, as these things were new in this neighbour- 
 hood ; and several gave me their names. 
 
 Tuesday, 4th. — Visited extensively, and preached at 
 Ashford Hill ; formed a society, and six joined. 
 
 'Wednesday, 5th. — Visited twenty families, and 
 preached at Bradfield to a steady congregation. After 
 sermon, I invited all who wished to escape hell and 
 get to heaven to stay. A number stayed, to whom I 
 read the rules, and I exhorted them to join more fully 
 together. We formed a society, and Mr. Kirby became 
 the leader, and was very diligent. 
 
 Thursday, 6th.— Met Bro. Bide at Coombe, and 
 spoke ; we had a very mighty time at prayer ; and one 
 got very powerfully awakened while I was preaching. I 
 had missioned this place a little while before, and I 
 had fixed for Mr. Bide to be there that night, but deemed 
 it to be the best way to meet him. They asked me to 
 give them a comfortable sermon, as we should not have 
 many that night, it being so very stormy. However Mr. 
 Bide said afterwards, “You gave them a very alarming 
 discourse, and the only vile sinner in the company got 
 powerfully awakened.” 
 
 E 
 
66 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Friday. — Visited extensively by way of Newbury 
 and Kintbury, and had a good meeting at Weston. 
 
 Saturday. — Returned to Shefford, and was very glad 
 to hear that at the lovefeast Bro. Ride held last Sun- 
 day night, in this place, seven were converted, and 
 they joined Mrs. Ride’s class the night following. 
 
 During the next three days I was at Aldbourne, 
 Wanbro, Bishopstone, Hinton, and Ashbury, but was 
 under a severe cloud of darkness. 
 
 Wednesday, Jan. 14th. — At Hungerford. Preached, 
 and afterwards led class ; three more joined. 
 
 Thursday. — Visited nearly every family in the place, 
 and formed a class at Coombe ; and while praying that 
 that place might become the nursing mother in that 
 part, a woman and girl from Cosen-street got power- 
 fully brought into the good way. This I looked 
 on as a token for good. 
 
 PAET VIII. 
 
 Friday, Feb. 6th, 1831. — I preached at Hermitage, 
 and formed a class at Mr. Miller’s ; many wept, and 
 five joined. I stayed there all night. 
 
 Saturday, 7th. — Preached and had a powerful time 
 at Faccombe, in Hampshire. The snow was hard frozen, 
 *;o it was slippery getting over the hills, but reached 
 Coombe by half-past nine a.m. ; had a powerful time 
 in family worship. I preached there at half-past six 
 the next morning, then walked back thirteen miles to 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 67 
 
 Hermitage by noon • preached and led class : one more 
 joined. 
 
 Friday, 16th. — Preached at Faccombe for the first 
 time of onr missioning here. But oh ! the sorrow of 
 my mind when entering this place. I thought, as I 
 did at Pams bury on my first going there, the powers of 
 hell were sprung, and made at me. But God is greater 
 than all. Glory be to his name. Amen. 
 
 Saturday, 17th. — Visited through Beenham, Box- 
 ford, Weston, and other places, and was glad to find 
 the revival on the move in almost every place. 
 
 Sunday, 18th. — Preached at Eastbury, East Gars- 
 don, and Shefford, to crowded congregations, and met 
 the classes ; several more started for heaven. I was 
 glad to see our friends on these occasions, and they 
 were equally glad to see me. 
 
 .Monday, 19th. — Preached and formed a society at 
 < 'ompton. 
 
 Tuesday, 20th. — Visited extensively, preached, and 
 formed a society at Hampstead X orris. 
 
 Wednesday, 21st. — At Burnthill, and not in vain. 
 As I was singing across the common a man started for 
 heaven. I little thought that here a friend would rise 
 to become a general help, especially as to giving the 
 preachers a free invitation to his hospitable home, and 
 finding money for chapel purposes in after years to the 
 amount of many hundreds of pounds, and himself 
 becoming a trustee. His son, then a child, grew 
 up quite in love with Primitive Methodism, and 
 
68 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 also became a travelling preacher; and he being 
 the only child and sole heir, after his father’s 
 death he willed some hundreds of pounds to chapel 
 purposes, besides freely giving the debts on Plumstead, 
 Wallingford, Quicksgreen, and other places of worship. 
 So that Mr. Nullis’s name will be held in grateful 
 remembrance by the church of which he was an orna- 
 ment. I doubt not but father and son have met in the 
 better world, along with numbers who went be- 
 fore ; and I trust ere long, after life’s toil is over, 
 to gain the same company, and spend an eternity 
 of glory with them. What a difference now in that 
 locality to the night I was nearly perished with 
 cold, while sleeping in an open cartshed, at my first 
 missioning those parts. Here a thought suggests itself: 
 How much more permanent the satisfaction, besides the 
 good accomplished, from money thus expended, than if 
 spent in dogs and sporting pursuits, or even in adven- 
 tures of a doubtful course of secular matters. Mr. 
 Hullis was always willing to return the last part of 
 interest when any part of the principal was paid him 
 back ; thus encouraging the friends to be diligent in 
 getting their chapel debts cleared off. 
 
 Our kind friends were very anxious about Heading, 
 which has now, with the Bradficld side of the Sheffori 
 Circuit, become a very powerful circuit itself. I may 
 remark our first entrance into that town was to visit a 
 young person who had gone from Beenliam to service, 
 and I had to walk nine miles through the snow to get 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 69 
 
 there, and return for my evening appointment. Tin* 
 labour was great, but not in vain, as many rejoice for 
 the good done in all those parts. Mr. Nullis upwards 
 of thirty years since, exerted himself in procuring the 
 first connexional chapel at Reading, and became a trus- 
 tee ; the cost of which chapel was nearly eight hundred 
 pounds. It stood in a very central situation, but in a 
 back court, and was often too small for the congrega- 
 tion. Mr. Baker helped much in building school-rooms. 
 I was at Brother Ride’s, in Reading, at the time of the 
 purchase, and felt much delight in his perseverance. 
 Mr. Ride desired me to accompany him to the gentle- 
 man, some miles away, who let them have the mort- 
 gage. We stayed all night ; and after prayer the next 
 morning, the gentleman acceded to our request by 
 allowing his son John to be a trustee in that very 
 weighty undertaking. 
 
 Some years since, Mr. Thomas Waite, of Beenham, 
 went to reside at Reading, and the work of the Lord 
 progressing, their chapel was at times not convenient ; 
 so he, with others, contemplated a larger and better 
 place, and they had a good opportunity of selling their 
 old chapel very advantageously. And ultimately, 
 when the Rev. P. Coates was there, they purchased a 
 spacious lecture-hall, with convenient rooms, in one of 
 the best streets in Reading ; and here often above one 
 thousand people listen to the word of life. Mr. I. S. 
 " Willis not only helped in this effort, but has left 
 five hundred pounds towards our building a second 
 chapel in the town. 
 
70 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 But now, resuming my narrative, I have to speak 
 of opening up new ground. 
 
 Thursday, Jan. 22nd. — Preached at Stanmore ; and 
 one started for heaven at this meeting. 
 
 Friday, 23rd. — Visited and preached at East Illsley. 
 Miss Smith first came here ; "but a vile man came up, 
 and swore that none of us should preach here ; but 
 she believed the Lord could turn the lion into a lamb ; 
 and it was so, for conviction seized his conscience, and 
 he turned to the Lord. So did Mr. Charles Wilsher. 
 This excellent brother became very useful in the Maid- 
 enhead Station; and at Chalvey was the means of 
 purchasing a good chapel, and promoting good. 
 
 Saturday, 24th. — I walked eighteen miles through 
 the snow to .Eaccombe, preached, and joined three 
 together as a society. 
 
 Sunday, 25th. — At Hungerford ; preached at seven, 
 and had a mighty time. At ten, at Kintbury ; a 
 crowded congregation ; tears flowed here also. At one 
 p.m., preached at Hungerford, and led class; one 
 more joined. Held a meeting again at six, which was 
 powerful 
 
 Monday, at Peasemore ; Tuesday, East Garsdon ; 
 Wednesday, at Hungerford; Thursday, at Combe; 
 and Friday, at Faccombe : visiting, preaching, and 
 meeting the societies every day, and I saw good done. 
 I had invitations to some new places further on in 
 Hampshire. During the following week I was on 
 Bradfield side, and saw a prospect of good. 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 71 
 
 Friday, Feb. 6th.— I preached at Hermitage, and 
 formed a class at Hr. Miller’s ; live joined. 
 
 Saturday, 7th. — Preached, and had a powerful time ; 
 and also, Sunday, Stli., at seven a. in., preached again at 
 Coom.be ; thence thirteen miles hack to Hermitage by 
 twelve. Preached and led class ; one more joined : it 
 was a soul-melting time. At two p.m., we had a great 
 congregation at Little Hungerford ; and also at Cold 
 Ash at night we were crowded. I do long for more of 
 the Lord’s power. "When I visit diligently, good is 
 done ; when I neglect this, I have no rest, but much 
 sorrow, as if something was wanting. My heart is 
 •Ira wn out for a new mission. At the time I missioned 
 Shefford, my thoughts were, — God blessed East 
 Garsdon society for their labours at Shefford. I often 
 thought we were blessed more at Shefford after making 
 the first collection there than before, though I was 
 opposed in making that collection. The more we mis- 
 sioned the more God blessed us, both in grace and 
 substance. 
 
 It was much now on my mind to fully go into a 
 fresh line of labour in Hampshire ; but Mr. Eide 
 reminded me of the last quarter-day resolution, “ not 
 to open any more places, but cultivate the parts we had.” 
 This I felt quite determined for us to strive for, but 
 not to let the other be undone. So I offered to go on 
 the new ground at my own risk, and thus to bear the 
 cost or loss, if the new ground did not raise my salary. 
 Hence my application to quarter-day was complied 
 
72 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 with, and I began to make arrangements accordingly. 
 
 Sunday, April 10th. — I walked thirteen miles to 
 Ashfordhill, and preached twice. Walked twenty 
 miles after to Lambourne to sleep. 
 
 Monday morning. — W alked twenty miles more to 
 Brinkworth, and was glad indeed to meet my old 
 friends, Messrs. J. Bourne and Gr. Taylor, with many 
 other friends who had come to the District Meeting. 
 I was appointed to speak at night in the missionary 
 meeting. We had a good time. The Bey. John 
 Britain especially prayed for me and the intended 
 Hampshire mission. It was a weighty undertaking, 
 my encountering the Hampshire concern. I had seen 
 difficulties surmounted in Berkshire, hut how it would 
 he now I knew not. The work had gained a good 
 stand in our former mission labours, but now I was 
 going alone to a strange part. The newly missioned 
 places which I had seen success in I gave up to Bro. 
 Bide ; and as he had some faithful, vigorous colleagues, 
 I knew they would be well attended. So in that I felt 
 a gladness of heart j and particularly as I could occa- 
 sionally go to see them, and believed the work would 
 go on in the low country, and beyond the Bamboume 
 Downs. 
 
 Thus with mingled feelings I started on my new 
 enterprise ; and on Sunday, April 17th, 1831, 1 began 
 at Hurstboum Tarrant (commonly called Up Husbourn). 
 Here no religious community could ever make any 
 headway ; so for years it had been void. “ Church 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 73 
 
 and King !” was their cry ; “ Xo Kanters here !” But 
 a champion for pugilism encouraged ns on. I went 
 first singing — 
 
 “ Come, 0 come, thou vilest sinner, 
 
 Christ is waiting to receive ; 
 
 "Weak and wounded, sick and sore, 
 
 Jesu’s balm can cure more. 
 
 Hallelujah, HaUelujah to the Lamb.” 
 
 The few friends who came from Coomhe and Faceombe 
 helped me in singing. Mr. John Jones had given his 
 word that no one should molest us, or it should he to 
 their hurt, for he declared he would lose the last drop 
 of hlood in his body sooner than I should be hindered 
 in my work. Besides this, a Roman Catholic gentle- 
 man came to listen ; and while preaching I told them 
 that “ the Bible was not sent for the black and blue 
 coats to get a good fat living by, but to teach the 
 people the road to heaven.” This remark struck the 
 gentleman amusingly, and he laughed heartily, and 
 said, “ This is the sort of preaching that is wanted 
 here.” And he further said, “If any one of my servants 
 opposes Mr. Russell, or persecutes him, he shall leave 
 my service ; or, indeed, if any tenants of mine try to 
 hinder him, they will have my disapproval.” Besides 
 this, he afterwards invited me to call ; and as a 
 Friday was the only day I could look in, I made that 
 appointment. He very kindly received me, and had 
 lunch prepared for me, a great round of beef. On our 
 sitting down he remarked, “We Catholics don’t eat 
 
74 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 flesh meat on Fridays.” I remarked, “ I hope, sir, you 
 allow liberty of conscience.” His reply was, “ Yes, sir. 
 It is no command of God; it is only a command of the 
 Church, and you don’t belong to us.” Many a visit I 
 afterwards paid him, and told him to invite my col- 
 leagues, and shew them the same kindness. I after- 
 wards had the pleasure of introducing our venerable 
 father in the gospel, and Mr. Blunt said, “ Mr. Bourne 
 looked more like one of the old prophets than any one 
 that I have ever seen.” The same day I preached at 
 Littledown and Lincolnholt with great freedom of 
 spirit, and several were awakened to a sense of their 
 danger. 
 
 Monday, 18th.— I preached at Vernham Dean to a 
 steady congregation. At the close, a woman came, 
 weeping bitterly, and said, £ - Sir, my husband heard 
 you preach yesterday at Littledown, and he desires to 
 turn into the better way ; and I want to find mercy.” 
 I felt much as she stood weeping; and then she added, 
 “ We have a comfortable cottage : I will sleep with 
 the children, and you can sleep with my husband at 
 any time when you like ; and we shall both be glad to ; 
 see you.” This was cheering. 
 
 The Monday after in the same place, after preaching, 
 a man came to me in bitter distress, weeping, and said, 
 
 Mr. Russell, I shall have to thank God to all eternity 
 that I ever heard your voice in Berkshire above a year 
 :igo : God then awakened me. I now have the care of 
 a farm two miles from here. I have a good bed, and 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 75 
 
 plenty of every thing. Come at any time, by' night or 
 by day r , and make my house your home.” I could not 
 but be thankful for these instances of the Lord’s mercy 
 and goodness \ for I had prayed that He would give me 
 a home to go to at any time ; and in these cases I 
 acknowledged a direct answer of prayer, and saw the 
 hand of God in thus making my' way plain. 
 
 During the week I was every* day engaged in mis- 
 sioning at YToodhay*, High Clere, and Burgh Clere, 
 visiting by day', and preaching every night. Being 
 cautious not to burden my new acquaintances, I spent 
 Saturday' in Berkshire, and had a blessed course of 
 services -with my old friends. 
 
 Sunday, April 24th.— Preached for the first time at 
 Ashmansworth. It was a powerful time : tears flowed. 
 All was peaceable except the constable, but he made a 
 disturbance. After I had done, the people thanked 
 me, and asked me to come again. At ten, I preached 
 at Paccombe : the Lord was with us. At two, preached 
 at Up Husbourn to about two hundred ; several were 
 serious, but others seemed inclined for a disturbance. 
 But the Lord, who has helped elsewhere, I believe will 
 help here also. At five, preached at Little Down ; at 
 seven, at Lincolnholt : we had good times. At Lin- 
 colnholt I was struck with the great attention which 
 the largest family in the village seemed to pay to the 
 word. This family became great helpers in different 
 ways. Mr. Michael Osmond gave me the first shilling 
 towards helping on the new mission. He became our 
 
76 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 first member ; then afterwards fiis brothers Eiehard 
 and Stephen also joined, and became local preachers ; 
 their sister also became a very eminent minister with us, 
 and was highly esteemed. Others also of their family 
 did much good ; their labourers and workpeople attended 
 our meetings, and many were converted there. This 
 evening, after preaching, I held a prayer meeting, and 
 then formed the first class in this mission. So here is 
 a beginning. This was to me a comfort. I believe 
 and labour for a revival. 
 
 Monday, 23rd. — I visited many families, and preached 
 to a large congregation at Yemham Dean. We had a 
 powerful time : several were awakened. 
 
 During the week I laboured at Inkpen, East W ood- 
 hay, High Clere, and Burgh Clere, and had solemn 
 times. 
 
 Saturday, 30th — Extensive visiting, and saw good 
 done. 
 
 Sunday, May 1st. — At Ashmansworth. I preached 
 at eight a.m. on the green ; good was done. Then 
 hastened to Faccombe, and heard Bro. Bide ; we had a 
 powerful time. I took him with me to Hurstbourne, 
 where he preached. I preached at l T pton. I under- 
 stand there never was any preaching here before ; so 
 the aged people informed me. On my approaching 
 the great tree, a number of young men were lying 
 round its banks. At first they seemed inclined to dis- 
 pute my standing there, but my speaking kindly to 
 them caused one to let me stand where he was lying. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 77 
 
 I had a powerful time. From hence Thomas Cummin 
 followed us. We had great times at Littledown and 
 Lincolnholt. He got awakened to a sense of his dan- 
 ger, and turned to the Lord. Some time after, Bro. 
 Cummin, with five or six others, in one meeting I held 
 at Upton, found salvation. That was a glorious night ; 
 indeed, never to be forgotten. Also, a younger brother 
 of Thomas had some inclination to attend the meeting, 
 but he enlisted ; and since his return home, he told me 
 he was determined to make the best he could of it. So 
 he resolutely learned his exercise ; and before the time 
 was up for him to be considered a full private, he had 
 become a corporal; ultimately he ascended to the different 
 degrees of sergeant, and. acting sergeant-major. During 
 the Crimean 'War he with his comrades suffered much. 
 When the assault was made on the Redan, he led his 
 men right into the thickest of the conflict, and entered 
 that desperate scene of slaughter. Seeing two of the 
 Russian cannon vomiting great slaughter and death 
 amongst the English, he said, “ I saw those two guns 
 must be spiked, and I rushed forward and put the 
 plugs in them, while my men followed me close up. I 
 was just under a Russian soldier, who was wielding his 
 great heavy sword to cut me down. I quickly drew 
 my sword, and severed his sword arm from his body, 
 and cleared all before me. But our bugle sounded a 
 retreat, and as many of us as could returned. I felt 
 solemn, but believed God could save me walking as 
 well as running ; so I used my sword as I would a 
 
78 
 
 EECOED OF EVENTS 
 
 walking-stick, and safely got back.” After that, he was 
 promoted to be an ensign. And he shewed me several 
 instruments signed by the Queen, all of which spoke of 
 “ Our beloved Isaac Cummin, gentleman,” &e., &c. 
 This friend was, when I saw him in February, 1867, a 
 half-pay officer, and glad was he to see me, and talk of 
 our early days. Thomas held fast to religion, was soon 
 put on the plan, and made good progress. In three 
 years he became a travelling preacher, and was much 
 esteemed in our itinerant ranks ; but he is now super- 
 annuated, and living at Newbury, three miles from 
 where his brother lives. I little thought that Upton 
 and the Hampshire mission was going to be so renowned. 
 Also another youth in Upton, nowtheKev. Mr. Johnson, 
 obtained religion (I think when at school), and became 
 an Independent minister, and now spends several weeks 
 yearly in London and among other principal Congrega- 
 tional churches, being much respected by that worthy 
 body of Christians. I believe that gentleman received 
 his good amongst them. He now resides at Upton, 
 where he has built a chapel, and also another chapel at 
 Hurstbourn Tarrant ; and they have an excellent helper 
 constantly labouring as a village preacher. 
 
 Monday, May 2nd. — Visited in many places, and 
 preached at Vernham Dean to hundreds in the open 
 air, and commenced a class. 
 
 Tuesday, 3rd. — At Inkpen. I commenced my ser- 
 vice in the road, after extensive visiting ; but a man 
 came and blew a French horn with great eagerness. I 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 79 
 
 let him £0 on till he was tired, then. I preached until 
 he had taken breath ; and then he began again. So I 
 let him have his swing at the horn until he ceased ; 
 and then I took my turn. Thus after a number of 
 rounds each, I concluded after he was gone away. 
 
 "When I first went to Coombe I was afraid of a confu- 
 sion. One night the son was blowing at the only 
 candle the father was fighting us with. I shifted my 
 stand, and stood just before him, and altered my sub- 
 ject to Luke xiii. 5 : “ Except ye repent ye shall all 
 likewise perish and preached at Jura at the very top 
 of my voice. Afterwards he said, “ Mr. Bussell is the 
 only man there or in that part that durst stand before 
 me.” This man’s sister obtained some good, and joined 
 our class with her father and mother. And when mis- 
 sioning a place two miles off, a very tall man, a gentle- 
 man’s servant, came to annoy us, and would look close 
 under the women’s bonnets, and ask, “ Axe you born 
 again!” “Are you converted!” “Have you repented of 
 your evil deeds 1” &c. With this kind of work Miss J ones 
 felt annoyed, and said, “I will tell my brother of thee.” 
 She. on arriving home, fulfilled her word, and her bro- 
 ther asked when the next meeting would be held there, 
 and said, “ I’ll go and see if I can pick a quarrel with 
 him.” Accordingly he came ; and the gentleman’s foot- 
 man was there, following his usual course. At the close 
 of my service I gave out for another meeting. The man 
 in livery shouted at me some slang talk ; but Master 
 Jones gently touched him, and said, “ If thou canst 
 
80 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 not behave thyself, walk out of the company.” At 
 this he struck Jones in the breast. “ Is that it?” said 
 the young woman’s brother. A battle ensued, and 
 soon both were sprawling on the ground. They soon 
 had each their backers, and stripped. A regular com- 
 bat ensued ; but the man in gay clothing was glad to 
 give it up ; so we all peaceably parted, and I saw him 
 no more. However, I saw a good work of religion in 
 these parts. 
 
 Thus I went on until Quarter-day; I had joined 
 thirty members, and raised all the cost of the mission, 
 so we were no burden ; and the Shefford side paid its 
 way. I was thankful for this. Having invitations to 
 new places, I applied to Quarter-day for another 
 preacher, and they allowed me Miss Smith. My 
 labours had been extensive, and I mostly walked about 
 one hundred miles and visited as many families in the 
 week, besides preaching twelve or thirteen times, form- 
 ing societies, holding prayer meetings, &c. Thus my 
 time had been fully occupied ; and now I thought we 
 might principally confine our labours to Hampshire. 
 But Elizabeth had her mind set on A ewbury, which 
 took us into other places in Berkshire, and our borders 
 were enlarged. 
 
 At Little Hungerford a large camp meeting was held, 
 and while Miss Smith was preaching, a man from Xew- 
 bury was powerfully awakened, and he invited us to 
 his house. I went, and preached there, and soon 
 formed a society ; and after some time, we took the old 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 81 
 
 building that Mr. "Wesley preached in. This place ;ve 
 fitted up, and it became our place of worship until the 
 chapel in which I preached soon after my liberation 
 from prison was offered for sale. Our friends intended 
 to purchase ; but the auctioneer and his friends ran it 
 up to a great price, and our people stopped at £650, 
 which was as far as they durst go. But some days 
 after, the owners sent word it could be had for that 
 money, and our friend at "Weston found the money on 
 mortgage. It has imdergone great improvements, and is 
 now galleried, and school-rooms have been built ; and 
 there is a double house for the preacher’s residence. It 
 must have been a great undertaking for Mr. Price and 
 the friends to venture on so large a purchase, when it was 
 said the mahogany pulpit and pulpit stairs would hold 
 all the members we had in X ewbury. But a revival 
 set all agoing. And when Air. Sharman built the 
 house he had little prospect, until he laid the case 
 before our friend Mr. Baker, of Beading, who kindly 
 promised nearly all the cost, if the friends in Xewbury 
 would raise the rest. This was done. Mr. "Wallis has 
 done well in the recent improvements. The whole is 
 now a beautiful property, and hundreds have been 
 converted there. Glory be to God ! And it is now 
 the head of a very powerful circuit. 
 
 I had for some weeks had invitations to preach in 
 other places in Hampshire ; so now made my way to 
 Bindley, where Miss Parr [(now Mrs. Price) got 
 awakened and converted. Her parents, too, joined 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 society, and afterwards scores were converted in their 
 house. It was the Bethel for that side of the country. 
 I also missioned Stoke, where the Rev. Henry Yeates 
 has lately built a beautiful chapel, and also one at 
 Hur8toourn Tarrant. In both villages many have been 
 saved. And I went to St. Mary Bourne also. In one 
 place there was a man living unmarried, who had by 
 the same woman a large family, who got deeply 
 awakened, and was very anxious now to get married. 
 But the authorities to whom he applied said, “ Hast 
 not got a woman 1 what more dost want ?” The poor 
 man replied, “ I wish to be married, as I am doing 
 wrong in my present way of living.” It is a joy to 
 think great numbers have here experienced a change 
 of heart, and some have become very useful in the 
 work. 
 
 I felt great joy three years since in preaching at the 
 anniversary of their excellent chapel at Bourne, when 
 they raised about eighteen pounds ; whereas, from the 
 appearance of the place one would have thought they 
 could not raise eighteen pence. They requested me to 
 go again, and I did so ; and they raised upwards of 
 twenty pounds. And Bro. James Hurd, who laboured 
 with us in Hampshire, had a great service at their last 
 year’s anniversary. These things are very cheering. 
 We have a sound good church there. 
 
 What a difference between this poor looking village, 
 in Hampshire, and a place in the further end of the 
 nation where the circuit was short of paying their 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 83 
 
 preachers’ salaries. I went to help them ; walked 
 nineteen miles, had nineteen people to preach to, and 
 got nineteen pence at a collection. But I may say the 
 people were kind and rendered further help afterwards. 
 Here I had a pleasing account of Mr. John Oxtoby, 
 whom they knew well, and highly esteemed. 
 
 From hence I had invitations to Down Hurstbourne 
 and Mitcheldever, Winchester, and other places. I 
 urged them to write to Quarter-day, and Mr. Ride 
 thought we might accede to their wash ; so we agreed 
 for Miss Smith to take the first round there. She 
 went ; the Lord was with her, and many were con- 
 verted. Here Bros. Robert Langford and Henry Green 
 became members and preachers — first local, and then 
 travelling, — and have maintained a good course. 
 
 During this summer, one morning early, a letter 
 came from my brother William, saying my mother was 
 dangerously ill, and that she was anxious to see me. I had 
 not seen her for more than two years, so I at once made 
 what arrangements I could, and hastened to Mewbury ; 
 it being the general market-day, saw many of our friends, 
 and I made further arrangements for my work. Then 
 walked on to Mars ton, where Bro. Ride was planned, 
 and told him that I was going into Cheshire. He asked 
 me what money I had ; I told him, “A few shillings.” 
 He said, “ And what is that to do in nearly four hun- 
 dred miles’ travelling 1 ” So he at once took out his 
 purse, and handed me all he had, which was about 
 thirty shillings. Thus replenished, next morning at 
 
84 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 four o’clock, I set out for Worcester, which, was fifty-five 
 miles, and in sixteen hours was in that city, having 
 walked every step of the road ; thus making ninety 
 miles’ walk in two days. 
 
 Here I met with Bro. Samuel Turner for the first 
 time ; he was supplying for a travelling preacher, and 
 he shewed me great kindness. Next morning, he went 
 with me to the coach-office ; and hy five o’clock I was 
 seated, and I rode to Newcastle in Staffordshire for 
 sixteen shillings. Then I walked round by Shelton 
 and Hanley, and other places in the Potteries, to 
 Bemersley, ten miles. I had been away above two 
 years. All were glad to see me. We had a blessed 
 time together in conversation and prayer. 
 
 Next morning, I walked ten miles to Sandbach, and 
 preached ; then on five miles further to Middlewich, 
 and went to the meeting : John Buxton was preaching. 
 The whole congregation was almost instantly bathed in 
 tears. I feared for my mother, and durst scarcely ask 
 about her health ; but was soon told she was a little 
 better. A friend ran home to say that I had come, 
 thus to prepare my mother’s mind for my arrival. After 
 tea, I preached in the street, and old companions list- 
 ened attentively, and they followed me to the preaching 
 room, the old malthouse, where we had a glorious 
 time. 
 
 During the week, I spent four days with my mother, 
 and held several meetings; then went to Manchester; to 
 see my brother Elijah. Mr. Sugden asked me to supply 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 85 
 
 tliree appointments. The Bev. Wm. Paddison, then 
 superintendent, shewed me kindness. 
 
 On the Sabbath, I preached at half-past ten in Dean’s- 
 gate ; at half-past two, in Oxford-street, both times in 
 the open air ; and at six, in Jersey-street Chapel, and 
 gave an account of our southern enterprise and my 
 imprisonment. Many wept, and two souls were con- 
 verted to God. 
 
 The next day, I returned twenty-five miles'to Middle 
 wich. Spent the following days with my mother, father, 
 and brother ; they were very kind. And on Sunday, 
 accompanied by my sister, I went to Congleton camp- 
 meeting, where Mr. Hugh Bourne met us. We had 
 eight souls converted. And the day following, we had 
 a tender parting ; we all wept. During the week, I 
 got back to Hampshire. 
 
 PAET IX. 
 
 September Quarter-day. — Mr. Bide desired me to 
 throw all our Hampshire labour into the Shefford 
 department, and for us to travel round. We had in 
 Hampshire more than paid our way, and we had a 
 good prospect before us. On Mr. Bourne crossing this 
 country, he thought the Hampshire hills might form 
 the boundary of two circuits, and I might take Hamp- 
 shire. But I said, “ Ao, Sir,” as I was very much 
 attached to Mr. Bide, and we wrought well together. 
 Besides, I wanted Shefford circuit made stronger before 
 
86 
 
 KECOKD OF EVENTS 
 
 a separation ; and I felt for Mr. Ride’s family, and 
 Mrs. Ride was a great counsellor to all of us, and I 
 respected them very much. 
 
 During the coming quarter we made preparations for 
 becoming a circuit, separate from Brinkworth circuit. 
 Our income was over forty pounds, which was five 
 pounds above paying our way. We were upwards of 
 six hundred members, and Brinkworth about four 
 hundred. They could better pay their way, as they 
 were only single men ; and we had more preachers, and 
 besides, one was a married man with a family. So in 
 this I succeeded in argument, and the parent circuit 
 yielded to let us go. And we took our farewell, with a 
 good understanding that we would help each other at 
 any suitable time. Mr. Samuel West took charge of 
 Brinkworth circuit, but often came to see us at Shef- 
 ford, and Ave were always glad to see him. He was 
 mighty in prayer. 
 
 After our return, and having made our plan, we deter- 
 mined on moving on in our new line of mission labour. 
 Miss Smith had been to the Mitcheldever side, but had 
 returned, and Avas spending a feAv days at Shefford. 
 When the morning came that she had to go away, a 
 long course of affliction had so Aveakened her, that in 
 rising she could scarcely take any breakfast ; and she 
 felt distressed for Sutton Scotney, Avhere the appoint- 
 ment Avas that night. I at once offered to go ; the 
 distance was twenty-five miles. At seven I started, 
 and Avalked there, making a feAV visits on the road, and 
 reached the place in nine hours. I walked through 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 87 
 
 the place, and ascertained which was the cottage ; and 
 calling on a few families, I got a little information, and 
 hy seven the house was crowded. I preached, and had 
 a cry for mercy : several wept bitterly, and good 
 was done. The day after, I returned, after having 
 made arrangements for future appointments, and I 
 fell into my own work on the Shefford side. 
 
 In a few days, Elizabeth got back to her labour, but 
 we took that part also into the circuit round ; and thus 
 we pursued our way with diligence in this extensive 
 tract of country, nearly fifty miles long and about 
 thirty miles wide, all to be done by walking, except 
 when we became known to the carriers on the high 
 road, when they sometimes felt glad to give us a lift by 
 the way. 
 
 During this winter, we had one hundred and ten 
 increase, and an extra income of money in proportion ; 
 and we called out another travelling preacher. Mr. 
 Bide and I divided our appointments as well as we 
 could, that we might be at the different places, to see 
 to the management in the best way possible. We 
 had excellent colleagues, in whom we could confide, 
 which was a matter of great thankfulness. But there 
 was evidently a need of making regulations for an 
 extended line of missionary labour the coming season. 
 
 Accordingly, at March Quarter-day, we fixed for 
 Miss Smith to spend as much time as possible on the 
 Mitcheldever and Winchester side. She opened some 
 new places, at one of which a number of young men 
 
88 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 very maliciously strung up a lot of dead rats, and after 
 tearing them open, hung them in arow on a long stick, and 
 suspended them just before her face ; and as she turned 
 they still waved them before her. But happily Elizabeth 
 could preach with closed eyes, and thus she got through 
 her service. But one place failed, and she blamed me 
 for it. But I said, “ Being near forty miles away on 
 another round, how could I be there 1 " “ Yes,” was 
 
 the reply ; “ you would have gone if your heart had 
 been in it.” I then replied, “ I did go, and a young 
 farmer came and bitterly cursed at me, and hawked 
 and spit in my face, and in a malicious manner offered 
 to fight me, gripping his hands, and quavering them 
 before me nearly all through my sermon.” This ended 
 our debate, but not our grief for that village in the 
 wood. 
 
 The time was now drawing nigh when we should, 
 fully fix our minds for our spring campaign in 1832, in 
 another part of Berkshire. We had braved many a dif- 
 ficulty, and had had much to endure and undergo ; and 
 I suppose the Lord permitted those things to come 
 upon us, to fit us for trials of a worse kind and perse- 
 cutions of a bitterer cast. 
 
 Wantage had long lain on my mind. We had seen 
 many converted at Childrey, and here we had above 
 thirty meeting in class. It was pleasing to look at 
 their class-paper ; for though many of the young people 
 were only getting on an average about sevenpence per 
 day for working in the fields, and even young men 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 89 
 
 about tlie same for farm labour, and they had to sleep 
 in lone barns, to mind the horses or sheep, and this 
 sum had to find them food, and about four or five 
 pounds at Michaelmas was allowed them to buy clothes : 
 and the labouring men had about seven shillings a 
 week : yet notwithstanding this low state of wages 
 they kept up their weekly contributions. So at times, 
 a whole quarter’s class-paper of twenty or thirty mem- 
 bers would be presented to a leaders’ meeting with not 
 even an s, a b, a <1, or even a p ; but with the well- 
 known figure 1 in every column. And as to their con- 
 tributions at ticket-renewals, scarcely any was over a 
 shilling, and scarcely any under sixpence. And all 
 other calls were equally bravely responded to. 
 
 Mr. Jukes and I, at my first going there, were hold- 
 ing a meeting in the street, when a rough-looking man 
 shouldered a large dog, and thrust him at us, saying, 
 “Convert this dog;” another brought an ass’s foal, 
 saying, “ Convert this young donkey.” Another mo- 
 lester, as I was passing the road one dark night, 
 assaulted me, and beat my head and shoulders, which 
 caused me to think in future I had better not carry a 
 lighted lanthorn, as in the dark I could better protect 
 myself. 
 
 However, notwithstanding these things, we made 
 headway ; and afterwards Miss Smith, with others, 
 became a great blessing at Childrey ; and the young 
 women took to her neat pattern in dress, besides 
 becoming very mighty in prayer, and labouring for the 
 
90 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 good of others ; and some good labourers were Taised 
 up. Such a society as this wasjvorthy to have extra 
 labours opened out by its side ; yet the likeliness of 
 heavy persecution had its weight on our minds. But 
 I felt fixed to arrange my labours for that part of the 
 circuit, and to commence at Wantage. 
 
 I think the following, taken from the History of the 
 Connexion, by Mr. Petty, may be inserted here. At 
 page 229 we read as follows : — 
 
 “ Mr. Russell entered upon the Farringdon Mission 
 in full expectation of severe persecution, in which he 
 was not deceived. Before four o’clock in the morning 
 of the third Sunday in April, 1832, he prepared for his 
 journey to the scene of his intended missionary opera- 
 tions. His mind was oppressed with the burden of the 
 work before him, and the dread of persecution and 
 suffering ; but he was supported by a sense of the 
 divine approval and the hope of success. When he 
 arrived at the summit of a hill about two miles from 
 Wantage, he saw the town lying before him, and 
 instantly a dread of what awaited him well nigh over- 
 came him. He met two men who knew him, and they 
 advised him to return on account of the severe persecu- 
 tion which they expected he would have to encounter. 
 He thanked them for their sympathy, but went forward 
 on his journey. At nine o’clock he stood up in the 
 market-place, and began to sing a hymn. He next 
 knelt down and prayed, and concluded without molest- 
 ation. But ere he commenced preaching, a number of 
 
IN' PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 91 
 
 ruffians surrounded him, and he had not spoken long 
 when a more violent company arrived, and pushed him 
 from his standing-place, driving him before them like a 
 beast. He heard some of them cry, ‘ Have him down 
 Mill-street.’ ibid suspecting, perhaps properly, that 
 they intended to throw him into the river, which flows 
 at the bottom of that street, he determined if possible 
 to prevent being driven down it, and managed to keep 
 in the market-place. After being driven to and fro an 
 hour or more, his inhuman persecutors paused, when 
 Mr. Russell threw open his waistcoat, and in the true 
 spirit of a martyr cried, ‘ Lads ! if the shedding of my 
 heart’s blood will contribute to your salvation, I am 
 willing for it to be shed on these stones.’ At this 
 moving statement, those who were nearest him drew 
 back a little, and seemed to relent ; but a violent gang 
 outside the throng pushed forward, and urged the rest 
 to action. A respectable looking person, who Mr. 
 Russell afterwards learned was the chief constable, 
 came to him and said, ‘ If you will leave, all will then 
 be quiet.’ Mr. Russell replied, ‘ If I have broken the 
 law, punish me according to the law, and not in this 
 manner.’ The constable then withdrew, without ever 
 attempting to quell the lawless mob, who again assailed 
 the solitary missionary with ruthless violence. At 
 length the beadle came in his ch.urch livery, and seized 
 Mr. Russell by the collar, and led him to the end of 
 the town, and with a thrust pushed him along , and 
 hade him 1 Begone /’ Mr. Russell’s strength was 
 
92 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 almost exhausted with the violent usage he had suf- 
 fered in the market-place, but determined, if possible, 
 to address those who had followed him thither, he 
 stood on the side of a hedge bank, and preached as 
 well as he was able. But his persecutors were not yet 
 satisfied ' they pelted him with stones, eggs, mud, and 
 everything they could render available for the purpose. 
 Even women, unmindful of the tenderness of their 
 sex, joined in this cruel treatment ; some of them 
 knocked the dirt out of their patten rings to cast at the 
 preacher. When Mr. Bussell concluded the service, 
 he was covered from head to foot with slime, mud, 
 rotten eggs, and other kinds of filth ; and his clothes 
 were torn, and his flesh bruised. As soon as he got 
 alone by the side of a canal, he took off his clothes and 
 washed them. Then putting them on wet, 4 enduring 
 hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,’ he pro- 
 ceeded to Farringdon, where similar treatment befel 
 him. When he came to a pool of water outside the 
 town, he washed his clothes a second time, and then 
 went five miles further to Shrivenham, where he met 
 with another violent reception. At a brook he cleansed 
 himself a third time, and then proceeded to another 
 village, where he preached in peace, except that a per- 
 son threw a stone or other hard material at him, which 
 cut his lip. After this he walked six miles to Lam- 
 bourne, to rest for the night. He had been on foot 
 eighteen hours, had walked thirty-five miles, had 
 preached four times, and gone through an amount of 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 93 
 
 suffering such, as none but a strong healthy man could 
 have endured. X ext day, however, he walked twenty 
 miles to the other side of his mission, and during the 
 week preached at several fresh places. On the follow- 
 ing Sabbath, he visited Wantage and Farringdon again, 
 as well as another place or two, and held a service with 
 a large camp of gipsies. At this time Farringdon was 
 more violent if jiossible than Wantage. Mr. Fox, of 
 Farringdon, a respectable gentleman belonging to the 
 Society of Friends, thinking that his house and the 
 neighbouring ones of Messrs. Reynolds would awe the 
 persecutors, kindly offered Mr. Kussell the privilege of 
 standing in front of these mansions. The next two 
 Sabbaths, Mr. Russell had some peace ; but on the 
 third, the mob had recovered their diabolical courage, 
 and again became violent. The next time Mr. Russell 
 went, Mr. Fox met him, and said, ‘Friend Russell, 
 dost thou find it in thy heart yet to come to Farring- 
 don V Mr. Russell assured him that he intended to 
 persevere in his efforts. ‘ Then,’ said Mr. Fox. ‘ thou 
 must not stand near our residences, for we cannot bear 
 to see the hard usage thou hast to endure.’ Mr. Russell 
 therefore repaired to his former standing-place, and 
 encountered a violent mob, as before, who pelted him 
 and his friends with potatoes, eggs, and other missiles, 
 till his spirits were at length broken, and he could not 
 refrain from weeping. An inhabitant of the town said, 
 
 ‘ If I had a dog which had to suffer what that man 
 endures, I would cut his head off, to put h im out of 
 
94 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 his misery.’ Mr. Fox wrote to a clerical magistrate of 
 his acquaintance in behalf of Mr. Russell ; and this 
 worthy replied, ‘ The people have as much right to 
 take the course they do, as the preacher has to preach 
 in the streets.’ With such gentlemen as he for magis- 
 trates, it was no wonder that an uneducated and irreli- 
 gious populace should assail the humble messenger of 
 Christ with maddened fury. The propriety of continu- 
 ing to visit this town, under these circumstances, was 
 seriously questioned by some of Mr. Russell’s best and 
 most judicious friends ; but he determined to persevere 
 in spite of all the opposition he had to encounter, and 
 the sufferings he had to endure. T hink ing that five 
 o’clock in the morning of a working day would be the 
 best time for preaching at Farringdon, he decided upon 
 preaching there at that hour, though he should have 
 eight miles to walk thither for the purpose. He kept 
 this resolution, and nobly persevered in his perilous 
 enterprise. Good was done in the midst of the violent 
 persecution, and he was cheered with the hope of 
 ultimate success. Friends also were raised up at other 
 places on the mission, who rendered liberal aid towards 
 Iris support. So encouraging on the whole was the 
 aspect of things at the June Quarterly Meeting of the 
 circuit, that Mr. W. Wiltshire was appointed to assist 
 Mr. Russell, that the borders of the mission might be 
 enlarged.” 
 
 Besides Mr. Wiltshire, we thought well to take out 
 Miss Wheeler, but this pious young woman could not 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 59 
 
 bear up under the toil ; then Miss Evans, hut the jour, 
 neys were too severe, and persecution too violent ; 
 afterwards Miss Godwin, who became useful. But 
 half of one of the preacher’s labours had to be partly 
 on the Shefford side. My labours were chiefly on the 
 new ground, but we kept all the vale as one station; only 
 the Rev. James Hurd 'had opened a line of labour at 
 Marlborough, and I changed with him. This faithful 
 friend accompanied me one Sunday morning to Wan 
 tage, and going into the town I said, “ X ow, be sure, 
 mind and stop and preach where I give you the twitch 
 by the arm, and do not leave till you have preached ; 
 then follow me to the west end.” He replied, “ But 
 when you are gone they will abuse me." I said, “ X ay, 
 the rebels do not know you ; I am their game, and 
 they will follow me, and I will soon have them outside 
 the Town, out of your way, and preach to them too 
 before I have done with them.” James obeyed, and 
 stood to his arms like a man ; and afterwards told me 
 he had above two hundred peaceable hearers. When 
 he came up, I had above five hundred, to whom I was 
 preaching from a hedge bank, and numbers of them 
 were vile, such as I never wish to look on again. 
 
 Mr. Ride accompanied me one Sabbath day’s round 
 in this mission, when we were pelted most fearfully by 
 the mob. I was sorry to see my friend’s clothes nearly 
 destroyed, and at night he was very weary. 
 
 In one place I had borrowed a chair to stand on 
 while preaching ; the mob came down on me with vio- 
 
96 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS, 
 
 lence, and bore me off my feet. They broke tbe cbair to 
 pieces, and beat me with, tbe fragments, and I bad to 
 pay tbe family three shillings to replace it. Seeing a 
 large stone, about four feet high, I got upon it, hoping 
 there to finish my sermon ; but the constable came 
 behind me slyly, and suddenly pushed me off, and but 
 for being active with my feet, I must have gone head 
 foremost on the gravel road ; but I managed to keep 
 my feet amidst this vile usage. My thumb was cut, 
 however, and bled profusely for a considerable way on 
 my journey, which was nearly fifteen miles to the next 
 place, at which I held an open-air meeting on a hill 
 side, and the meeting was refreshing. 
 
 When missioning Blewbury, a place much noted for, 
 the growth of cherries, tons of which were yearly sent, 
 to London market, I felt the cold keenly ; but I saw a 
 very steady-looking young man in the meeting, and 
 my heart was drawn to him. I followed him after 
 sendee, as he went towards his home, to have some- 
 talk with him, and I found he had got some good that 
 night. So I asked his name, and where he lived. He 
 replied, “ William Jones ; and I live on the DownsJ’ 
 
 I advised him to join society, and fully give his heart 
 to God. He very willingly joined, so became the first 
 member there, and soon obtained salvation. He became 
 useful as a local preacher; and in some years after, 
 came out to travel. I have with joy beheld the fruit 
 of his labours in some of the stations on which he 
 travelled, and his memory is much esteemed ; but now 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 97 
 
 he rests from his labours. 0 may I meet him in a 
 better world. I returned to Mr. Barlow’s to sleep, at 
 Compton. Mr. and Mrs. Cozens, now of Windsor 
 Forrest, early obtained good ; they are now both useful 
 pious local preachers in the Maidenhead circuit. 
 
 At one place, a little boy came to meeting with 
 stones in his pocket, to throw at the preacher • but the 
 poor fellow was much struck, little as he was, with the 
 sermon on Jer. viii. 20: “The harvest is past, the 
 summer is ended, and we are not saved.” I discoursed 
 on preparations for harvest, tilling the ground, plough- 
 in the cold of winter, and how the driver often was 
 tried when the horses or oxen did not go well ; and 
 then spoke of sowing the seed and harrowing, and 
 sometimes cross-harrowing, and remarked it was some- 
 times vexing, and caused the man to say bad words 
 and beat the driver. But that, by persevering, all was 
 overcome ; and then, afterwards, how “ the seed sprung 
 up, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in 
 the ear and the broad acres looked very beautiful 
 ■when the crops waved in the wind. Then, 'when fully 
 ripe, how the grain bent down at the ear, especially the 
 golden wheat, the bearded barley, and the dangling- 
 oats. Then soon the harvest men and women, with 
 boys and maidens, all got ready with scythes and 
 sickles, and went in .joyous companies to reap. This 
 sort of talk amused the lad ; and instead of throwing 
 the stones, he listened. I called the attention of the 
 congregation to Matt. xiii. 39 : “ The harvest is the 
 
 a 
 
98 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 end of the world, and the reapers are the angels and 
 sung — to the tune of “ Eule Britannia” — 
 
 “ And soon the reaping time will come, 
 
 And angels shout the harvest home.” 
 
 And as I opened out “the terrors of the judgment day,” 
 and showed that “ the wicked will he turned into hell, 
 with all the nations that forget God,” the poor hoy 
 dropped the stones one by one till all were gone ; and 
 he ran home, and told three other children that the 
 preacher had been talking about the end of the world, and 
 he said “ that should it come after harvest how awful it 
 would be.” They all became serious, and began to weep 
 and pray, and got into the way of religion. Of these 
 youths, one became a Wesleyan local preacher, another 
 a Baptist missionary, another an Independent minister, 
 aud the other a Primitive Methodist local preacher. 
 This information I had from Bro. I. S. Hullis in after 
 life, and it gladdened my heart to learn it. 
 
 During the above time of persecutions I went a long 
 way to Peasemore, to meet Mr. Bide. He accompanied 
 me some miles when leaving. We had serious talk 
 on the way about the Farringdon mission, when he 
 advised me to give it up, saying, “ I expect some day 
 to hear thou wilt be murdered.” But I said, “ Bay, 
 sir, I will tug at it.” We paced the hill side a con-» 
 siderable time, and now and then knelt down to pray. 
 I felt my mind much relieved, and we parted under 
 covenant to pray constantly for each other. 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 09 
 
 At Wantage tlie persecution continued very severe. 
 Never shall I forget one Sabbath morning, as I 
 stood at the upper end of Back-street. The vicious 
 mob drove on at a terrible rate ; but scores of my 
 friends from Childrey, Bamsbury, and many other 
 places, had met me, and they formed a treble line in the 
 form of a crescent of some space, from my right hand 
 to my left. Then the wicked throng would rush on 
 them with a violent pushing force, but my friends stood 
 hrm and patient, as they formed a bodyguard, protecting 
 me from violence. Among the wicked throng, one man 
 more vile than the rest, who Avas about ten yards distant 
 from me, aimed vv'itli all vengeance an underhand Avhirl 
 of a brick right at my face ; but I had then just turned 
 my head rpiickly round the comerto speak to the people at 
 my left, so it scarcely grazed the right side of my face ; 
 else I am of opinion, from the force with which it 
 struck the wall behind me as I stood on a chair, I must 
 have fallen into the hands of death at this time. After 
 service, when leaving the town, as I was passing the 
 old embankments of the place AA T here they said King 
 Alfred Avas born, some one threw a stone from behind 
 a hedge, which struck me on the head ; and if I had 
 not had a strong felt hat on, my head must haA'e been 
 severely cut. But Charles Carter kindly took hold of 
 me and held me up, and helped me on, for I was very 
 Aveary and sickly, being stunned from the bloAV. 
 
 At another tinny a young man stepping up behind 
 
100 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 me as I was preaching, ingeniously drew a cabbage net 
 over my head, to raise a scornful and contemptible 
 laugh. And afterwards the town constable, seizing the 
 collar of my coat, dragged me along the streets to force 
 me out of the place. But I sung as he led me on, — 
 
 “ Wicked men I’m not to fear, 
 
 Though they persecute me here ; 
 
 Though they may my body kill. 
 
 Yet my King’s on Zion’s hill. 
 
 I his soldier sure shall he, 
 
 Happy in eternity.” 
 
 It certainly was grievous to see our young friends from 
 Childrey and elsewhere, with their plain neat bonnets 
 crushed down on their heads, and them clothes torn. 
 The brave men with white smock frocks had them 
 so besmeared with mud and filth, that they required to 
 be washed before wearing them again. Yet all was 
 borne with Christian patience, and a determination to 
 perseverance. 
 
 At Farringdon, one Sabbath day, a very competent 
 judge said, “ There were more than trvo sacks of pota- 
 toes lying in the street that had been thrown at the 
 preacher.” I advised our friends to leave me, and get 
 away \ many did so, as I wished to keep the mob back 
 from them, and partly succeeded : but one brother 
 kept close to me, and he got sorely abused, as well as 
 myself. Several of our friends picked some of the 
 potatoes up, carried them home, and planted them, 
 giving them the name of “Farringdon Bussells.” Some 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHOD]- '!. 101 
 
 years after I learned that a woman was so struck with 
 the sight of the persecution that she started for heaven. 
 She maintained a good course, and ultimately died 
 happy in the Lord. 
 
 I thought if I tried "Wantage at five o’clock of a 
 working day morning, as I did other places, I might 
 escape the fury of the mob ; and the Baptist minister 
 toll me that I should he welcome to stand at his 
 chapel door, thinking that situation woidd he safer for 
 me, I went accordingly, and had for once a peaceable 
 hearing ■ hut as I was returning, a stout man cried out 
 after me, “ Eh ! my tight fellow, you -were too soon for 
 us this morning, hut we will he ready for you the next 
 time.” However, by the next time, some sudden 
 deaths, which some thought were judgments, caused 
 an alarm, and I perceived a degree of dread had come 
 over the people, insomuch that I was allowed to pass 
 along the streets unmolested for a season, and hoped 
 for more peaceable times. 
 
 At Littleworth a large savage dog attacked me. I 
 stood calm and still, he only shook my umbrella ; so I 
 felt humbly thankful for the preserving care of my 
 heavenly Father from this danger. 
 
 It gave me some concern lest this station should 
 become a bnrdm or a failure ; the thought of either I 
 could not bear, and determined to try to raise collec- 
 tions ; but the beginning was small. A poor woman 
 at Kingston Lisle one evening went round with a tea 
 saucer, first putting in a shilling herself, saying to the 
 
102 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 people, “Well, friends, if tlie gentleman lias a little 
 matter of something, we ought to do a little for the 
 cause ;” and raised in all two s hillin gs and twopence. 
 This effort to me was cheering. This brave woman 
 came next morning to the five o’clock meeting at Spars- 
 holt, two miles, where I preached in the open air to the 
 people before going to their labour ; and there she was 
 minded again to make a collection. But this did not 
 seem to me to be the best way, so I hindered it there ; 
 but during the summer I made collections in all the 
 other places, and saw to the class contributions where 
 we had formed societies. 
 
 On my reaching Shefford the Saturday before Sep- 
 tember Quarter-day, and on Mr. Eide’s inquiring about 
 my money matters, he was gladly surprised when I 
 informed him that I had enough to pay our way. 
 Then he asked about the appointments of the next 
 day. I replied, “ All is right on the side I have left, 
 and the other preachers are to be in their work.” “Bay,” 
 he said; “Susan is. here, and says she has a had 
 knee." We felt at a loss for the moment to know 
 how to act ; then Mr. Bide suggested, “ Tiy Gabriel 
 Turton for his old jack ; thou knowst he will do any 
 thing for thee.” And then he added, “ I fear we shall 
 ho short in some places : couldst not manage to make 
 a collection or two 1” I said, “ I’ll see.” 
 
 On Sunday, September the 9th, very early, I set out 
 on horseback to go to Chilton-in-the-V ale, ten miles, 
 and left old Jack to feed on the downs; then set out 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 103 
 
 on foot to Harwell, preached, and made a collection of 
 ten shillings ; then to Haghonm Cross, and after 
 preaching, made another collection, and got ten shil- 
 lings and sixpence ; then preached at South Moreton, 
 and by this time I had a great company of people who 
 had come from other places. On reaching North 
 Moreton, I received a letter signed by the clergyman 
 and churchwardens, informing me that I was not 
 wanted any more there, as they had the gospel preached 
 by an evangelical clergyman. I just put the letter 
 into my pocket, stepped up on my stand, glad to see 
 so many, and preached to a large congregation 
 I then told the people about the contents of the letter, 
 and also said I intended to proceed ; and I further in- 
 formed them that as Quarter-day was to-morrow we 
 would now have a collection. On this occasion we 
 raised one pound. This was excellent. A very tall 
 respectable man, when I had started, as I was now get- 
 a lift on Mr. Pope’s donkey, handed me two shillings, 
 saying, “ Sir, one of these is for myself and the other is 
 for my father.’-’ On returning to Chilton, and carrying 
 with me the collections, amounting to between two 
 and three pounds, mostly in coppers, and after having 
 walked ’ twenty miles and preached four times, I was 
 glad again to mount the beast, as he was now well 
 prepared by a day’s feeding to carry me home to 
 Shefford. But my weariness made me sleepless. 
 
 Next day all was in comfort, and the business 
 amicably settled, with forty increase, and an advance 
 in every department of the work. On the next morn- 
 
104 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 ing, who should come in while we were at family 
 prayer hut our venerable father in the gospel, the Eev. 
 Hugh Bourne. I most gladly hailed him, and intro- 
 duced him to those who did not know him, though 
 they had heard and read of him so much. He stayed 
 with us several days, and preached with good success 
 round the neighbourhood ; after which I got a convey- 
 ance, and took him to within seven miles of Salisbury, 
 on the Winchester road. I was much interested with 
 a circumstance which happened. As we were passing 
 a large flock of sheep feeding, we saw a number had 
 got over the hedge bank, and sidled round the road, 
 and gone into the new turnip ground. At this, a dog 
 started up, then looked round, and without any one 
 bidding him, he ran past the strayed sheep, and brought 
 them round the hurdle point, and drove them into the 
 flock again ; then he went and laid down in the 
 same place. This astonished me, as I had never seen 
 anything like it before. 
 
 Mr. Bourne’s conversation was truly instructive 
 about former times, and especially on the itinerancy, 
 saying, “ God never intended otherwise than to have 
 men set apart for the work of the ministry ; as people 
 in business Lhad not time to see after church affairs, 
 they being so much engaged in their secular employ- 
 ment, they could be great helpers in their own sphere.’’ 
 He especially referred to the Independent Methodists 
 of different places, who professed to preach “ without 
 hire or reward but he added, “ Such could not be 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 105 
 
 consistent, if even they took a cup of tea or meal of 
 dry "bread, at other people’s cost ; for that was part hire 
 in its way as much as a preacher’s salary.” TTe prayed 
 at parting, and I returned with redoubled resolution to 
 my station in the vale ; and was glad that in some 
 measure persecution began to abate, and the way to 
 open for good. 
 
 At Xortli More ton, an old malthouse was lent me 
 for preaching in ; and there one night I sold twenty- 
 six plans, at twopence each, while I was singing the 
 hymn on it, Good night.” This was a great help. 
 
 At Blewbury, the Independents had long ceased 
 preaching in an old chapel, which was becoming 
 dilapidated. They offered it me free of rent, and I got 
 our friends to help me in cleaning it, and we enjoyed 
 blessed seasons there, and good was done. 
 
 At Aston, a kind friend fitted up a barn for preach- 
 ing in, and gave something weekly for its support ; 
 and we saw a good work there, and a large class was 
 formed. I was glad to see a prospect of good at West 
 Hagbourne and Didcot, where several shewed us kind- 
 ness, and souls were saved. 
 
 Mr. M ill i am Leaker requiring time to go to see his 
 friends, Mr. Eide said, “ I fear for the Hampshire 
 side, unless one of us go on that part while he 
 is away.” I consented to go, and laboured there four 
 weeks, during which time I saw thirty precious souls 
 converted and join society. I felt solemn as I entered 
 Stockbridge, which was near one of the places, as I 
 
106 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 liad seen that town in a dream two years before, but 
 had not time to give them a service ; and, indeed, it 
 was not then opened. 
 
 While on this round I became acquainted with a 
 young man, a shoemaker, who professed to be an 
 infidel, and he having one night to go to Barton 
 Stacy, where I was planned to preach, desired 
 my company back to Sutton Scotney ; and on 
 our return I introduced religion, and he his infidelity. 
 But passing some very large trees near a graveyard, I 
 suddenly stopped, and he also stood still. I touched 
 him on the shoulder, and said, “ How would you like 
 to be here alone V’ He replied, “ Sir, my philosophy 
 cannot account for my timidity ; but I durst not be 
 here alone, and that is the reason of getting your com- 
 pany this dark night, to pass this graveyard and this 
 lonely road.” Then I said, “ Infidelity will not do to 
 die with.” But I fear there was but little impression 
 made ; yet he invited me to breakfast with him the 
 next morning, and I went and prayed with him and 
 the family where he lived. But oh ! what a difference 
 was this compared with the following Sabbath morn- 
 ing, at the seven o’clock prayer meeting, when a con- 
 victed one cried out while I was singing — 
 
 “ Break the tempter’s fatal power, 
 
 Turn the stony heart to flesh, 
 
 And begin in this good hour 
 To revive thy work afresh.” 
 
IIT PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 107 
 
 Liberty was proclaimed, and we sung — 
 
 “ Hosannah ! Glory to the bleeding Lamb !” 
 
 I felt a great desire to open a mission in the New 
 Forest, as it was now getting more inhabited. But bad 
 to return, and on mj way calling to see my old friends in 
 tbe first missioned places in tbis county, and so over to 
 Newbury ; and I hastened back to Farringdon or tbe 
 Yale mission, and I spent what time I could on tbe 
 Sbefford part of our circuit during the next few weeks. 
 
 At March Quarter-day we bad a great attendance. 
 We fixed for two lines of new mission ground. Bros. 
 G. Wallis and W. Wilshire were appointed to open 
 Andover, and other new places. From tbe first of our 
 going into Hampshire we bad a great desire to mission 
 that town. But our two excellent brethren paid dearly 
 for it ; they were sadly abused, and their lives were 
 jeopardised. Yet they succeeded ; and years afterwards 
 I felt very thankful to see Mr. Wallis here in a very 
 good chapel that had been built, and all was tolerably 
 peaceable, as persecution had somewhat ceased. 
 
 I had been to Wallingford, and felt determined to 
 make that my next stand point for mission ground. 
 But ere the time came, I was wishful to see my parents 
 again. This was my second visit home during the nearly 
 four years of my missionary enterprise. 
 
 And as Elisabeth Smith and I had corresponded a 
 year and a half with the intention of marriage, (she was 
 now travelling in Darlaston circuit), I wrote accord- 
 
108 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 i n gly? an <l we arranged that on my return we would 
 fulfil this most important engagement. So I went on 
 my journey, calling at Newcastle, in Tunstall circuit. 
 I heard of Bro. Thomas Jackson as one likely to be 
 able to travel ; and after some conversation with him, I 
 directed him to get ready to return with me. 
 
 After visiting my friends, and preaching at Middle- 
 wich and Manchester, I returned to Darlaston, where 
 Elizabeth was in her appointments, and I preached for 
 her on Friday night. Saturday, I went to Birmingham. 
 On Sunday, Mr. Haynes drove me to Stratford-on-Avon, 
 twenty- two miles, in his conveyance, to open their place 
 of worship. AVe had a good day. Then we returned 
 the same evening, and next morning early, it being 
 Easter Monday, I walked nine miles to meet Elizabeth, 
 and we were married at Tipton ; and in the afternoon 
 attended our Dudley lovefeast, where I gave them an 
 account of our labours and success in the south, and 
 preached at night for my wife, and again the next night 
 at AYalsall. 
 
 I spoke to Messrs. David Bowen and J olm Abilshire 
 about their getting another preacher as soon as they 
 could, and they kindly promised me that they would 
 do so. 1 left my wife in her appointments, and as Bro. 
 ,1 ackson had promised me to be in Birmingham, we 
 there met and went to our station. Abe called at Strat- 
 ibrd-ou-Avon, then by the horse-run we came to More- 
 ton, and on ascending to Stow on-the-AA T old, having a fine 
 view many miles in the distance to AA T hite Horse Hill, 
 my young friend, with surprise, inquired, “ Must we go 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 109 
 
 to yonder mountain T I replied, “ Yes, brother, and to 
 bills beyond.” So we went forward, and by Saturday 
 reached Shefford. I had sent Mr. Eide intelligence of 
 my marriage, and of the new preacher. All was- 
 thought to be rapid work. But now though the 
 Quarter-day had affectionately requested me to stay as 
 the leading missionary, which position I had held all 
 through their station, being married, Mr. Eido 
 thought I had better remove, and spoke to me about it. 
 I left the affair with him and the District Meeting. 
 So I was stationed to Birmingham ; but at the ad- 
 journed Quarter-day there was an agitation, as the friends 
 wanted me to remain. 
 
 However, I pushed to my new scene of labour. My 
 ground was disputed ■ but I persevered. And dread- 
 ing meeting with the same kind of ill-usage as I had 
 endured at Wantage and elsewhere, I got my friends 
 at the different country places to meet me ; and on 
 our arrival we fixed to stand in St. Leonard’s Square. 
 I set my back against the pump, and my friends form- 
 ed a phalanx round me while I preached ; and blessed 
 be God, the word, like a shot, entered the heart of one 
 of the worst men in those parts. And now, upon reflec- 
 tion, I reckon this something like my friend Mr. Cum- 
 mins spiking the two great Eussian guns in the Eedan, 
 at Sebastopol The man who was awakened had not 
 been in a place of worship for years ; but he went 
 home and told his wife what he had seen and heard, 
 and then added, “ I shall go to chapel, and you go 
 
no 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 after dinner.” His going caused a great consternation, 
 as many wondered to see him at a place of worship, and 
 others besides him were brought under deep convictions, 
 and in three weeks I saw a happy turn of affairs, by 
 numbers being brought to the Lord, and I formed a 
 class of twenty members. Here I crossed the river 
 Thames into Oxfordshire, where I missioned a number 
 of places, and the Lord gave his blessing with the 
 word, for which I felt humbly thankful. 
 
 By the middle of May, Elizabeth came, but rather unex- 
 pectedly as to the time of her coming. She was three days 
 before she could find me, as I was away missioning new 
 places. However, the Aston friends advised her to stay 
 there, saying, “Mr. Bussell will be sure to be at Walling- 
 ford on Sunday morning.” And when they were half 
 way across the meadows I saw the company as I was 
 coining with another company making to the same 
 point of the pathway. The well-known attire con- 
 vinced me at once .that my wife was there, and we had 
 a gladsome meeting. That day we held five powerful 
 services, and walked nearly twenty miles, numbers 
 accompanying us, and all was peaceable, except the 
 constable at Dorchester, and he annoyed us a great 
 deal, and was about to pull Elizabeth down while she 
 was preaching ; but a Baptist gentleman said, Let 
 him touch the lady, if he dare, and I will make it cost 
 him dearly.” At this he was terrified, and retired. 
 In years afterwards this officer came to me where I had 
 been preaching, and weeping, said, “ I grieved after 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 Ill 
 
 giving you molestation on your first coming to our vil- 
 lage ; "but I am now converted, and we are doing well 
 at Dorchester, and have built a chapel.” 
 
 Mr. and ISIrs. AVebb, with their family, showed us 
 great kindness while in that part, as did other newly 
 raised up friends who had received good. 
 
 I was truly thankful at June Quarter-day to report 
 .£5 8s. Sd. income, and nearly fifty precious souls 
 joined to society, all out of the world. 
 
 Mrs. Eide desired me to take for my text at my fare- 
 well sermon, Gen. xxxii. 10., “I am not worthy of the 
 least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou 
 hast showed unto thy servant ; for with my staff 1 
 passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two 
 bands..” And I could feelingly sing — 
 
 “ 0 ! the fathomless love that has deign’d to approve 
 And prosper the work of my hands 1 
 "With my pastoral crook I went over the brook, 
 
 And behold I am spread into bands !” 
 
 The service was very solemn at our parting. AVe 
 had a blessed increase this quarter. I had spent what 
 time I could on the circuit from March to June, besides 
 opening the Wallingford mission. All had gone we]], 
 for which we were truly thankful. 
 
 The circuit now numbered altogether nearly thirteen 
 hundred members, and was able to support fifteen minis- 
 ters ! 
 
 -After paying all the salaries and incidental expenses 
 there was thirty-five pounds seven s hillin gs and one 
 penny to spare. To God be all the glory ! 
 
112 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 It was not likely that so miglxty a work could he 
 carried on and so great a foundation he laid for a fur- 
 ther extent of labours, without oppositions and great 
 trials, and indeed our cups of trouble, at times, were 
 full to the brim ; hut by perseverance we saw the 
 Lord’s hand for good, and this became more visible 
 afterwards. For the work extended, and Shefford cir- 
 cuit led out in three directions, and became very suc- 
 cessful courses. 
 
 PART X. 
 
 — Bradfield side opened out into Heading cir- 
 cuit, and Mr. Hide went to reside there, and stayed 
 upwards of seven years. And that circuit has been 
 made a blessing to other parts, besides taking up High 
 Wycombe circuit and other stations ; and ultimately, 
 by its missions, assisted in the formation of the General 
 Missionary organisation, when Mr. Ride removed to 
 London ; and Bro. John Guy saw much good done at 
 Baldock, which is now a circuit in Hertfordshire. 
 
 Secondly .- — The Hampshire mission opened out a good 
 course of labours, which led to Mitchelde ver (now Basing- 
 stoke) and Winchester, (where Bros. Ride and Bishop 
 were imprisoned for preaching in the open-air at 
 Mitcheldever), Andover, and its Hew Forest mission, 
 where Bro. Maylard laboured with Mr. Brewer and others, 
 and succeeded Avell ; and Andover took to Southampton 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 113 
 
 mission, and ultimately made the whole into a circuit. 
 Thus four powerful circuits are formed in Hampshire. 
 
 Thirdly . — Farringdon mission opened at a time of 
 great trials and severe persecutions, yet success attended 
 those labours ; afterwards Bro. Heys had it made into 
 a circuit, and saw many saved. My way opened to 
 Wallingford, where we had a glorious prospect • and 
 hence Bros. Wiltshire and Peaceful!, and Miss Wool- 
 ford, of Childrey, opened a way into Buckinghamshire* 
 by missioning Thame (now Chinnor circuit), and Mr. 
 "West opened Oxford, from "Wallingford. The Eev. I. 
 Hedges, now of Leeds District, suffered much, and 
 was a blessing in those parts. Shefford circuit also 
 sent Brothers Price and Jefferies to Aylesbury ; and 
 IMr. Waite opened the way to Stanbridge, near Dun- 
 stable, and the neighbourhood, and saw much good 
 done. Bros. Samuel Turner and Henry Higginson 
 missioned Luton, and Bro. Higginson amidst much 
 opposition preached at St. Albans ; and from these 
 labours our brethren opened Leighton Buzzard in 
 Bedfordshire. Thus Shefford circuit has been very 
 successful, and made good progress in the Connexion. 
 To God be all the glory. Amen and amen. 
 
 As to figures. The present number of members on 
 the stations made from the above labours, is seven 
 thousand four hundred and eighty-one, besides a 
 clear paying in this year, 1868, to the General 
 
 * Thi* county had long been on our minds, and much prayer 
 had been made for those parts. 
 
 H 
 
114 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 Mission Fund, of nearly tliree hundred pounds 
 oveT and above paying their circuit ministers. Thus 
 in mainly a thinly inhabited part of the nation, and in 
 the face of violent opposition, we maintained a success- 
 ful course of missionary toil, which, instead of “ coming 
 to nothing in three, six, or twelve months,” which some 
 gave us for our continuance, has stood nearly forty 
 years ; and in some places large chapels have been 
 built and well sustained, besides numbers of other 
 chapels and schools for both Sabbath and week-day 
 tuition. Numbers of labourers have been raised up, 
 some of whom are gone to heaven, others are yet 
 bravely holding on in the great work, while some have 
 gone to replenish other churches, and have done credit 
 to their pulpits. 
 
 Our camp meetings in Shefford circuit became very 
 mighty ; indeed the people were well disciplined to 
 these heavenly exercises from our processional mission 
 enterprises. 
 
 The union camp-meeting between Shefford and 
 Brinkworth circuits, on Bishopstone Down, near Ash- 
 down Park, (or the wood of famous notoriety that Mr. 
 Bide spoke so extensively about) when he accompanied 
 me over that Down in February, 1830. Of this 
 I here give a written statement as taken from the 
 Magazine. Bishopstone Down was in the midst of 
 Shefford circuit for many miles round; but there 
 was no village near for upwards of two miles. 
 Yet in a circle of ten miles round we had some hun- 
 dreds of pious people in church membership with us, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 115 
 
 and ' these very diligently came forward with many 
 others from more distant parts. .Some scores of pious 
 people came out of Brinkworth circuit, a distance of 
 ten or fifteen miles. 
 
 Our Magazine of 1835, page 331, has the following 
 account : — 
 
 It was truly delightful to see the friends between 
 eight and nine o’clock in the morning, coming on foot, 
 and in gigs, carts, and waggons, in every direction, 
 singing the praises of the most high God. For some 
 time we were employed in placing the vehicles, more 
 than fifty in number, in the form of a crescent. This 
 having been done, we placed the horses on the lee-side, 
 and fixed the preaching stand in the centre, so that the 
 congregation was half bound with a semi-circle of the 
 vehicles and animals. 
 
 A little after nine o’clock in the morning we com- 
 menced with fervent prayer to Almighty God. A 
 move went through the camp — faith rose, grace de- 
 scended, and the feeling was great. The second ser- 
 mon produced a very gracious effect ; but afterwards, 
 during the forenoon, the powers of darkness were very 
 heavy ; yet the first going out in companies for prayer 
 was very powerful. The second going out seemed to 
 open heaven. In one of the companies converting 
 grace was poured out from on high like a flood. This 
 company continued permanent, nearly to the close of 
 the meeting ; and during the dinner hour they went 
 on with their work. 
 
116 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 “ When the time was come to renew generally the 
 afternoon services, it was considered proper to suspend 
 preaching altogether, for some time, for the praying 
 had by this time become so powerful, and the influence 
 so great, that the whole of this mighty assembly ap- 
 peared more or less affected. Accordingly the preachers 
 all set to work in making large rings in different 
 directions amongst the vast multitude. These rings 
 were made as large as possible, perhaps about sixty 
 yards in circumference, that the mourners and praying 
 people might not he crowded, and that order might he 
 preserved by giving all an opportunity of seeing every 
 movement. 
 
 “ This plan worked well, as it brought into opera- 
 tion so mighty a force of prayer, and gave an opportu- 
 nity to bring the mourners together. In these rings 
 the preachers kept walking round to preserve order, 
 and exhorting the people ; as this prevented the rings 
 from being broken. 
 
 “ And now the meeting presented a scene of all 
 others the most delightful we ever beheld. More, it 
 was thought, than four thousand persons were assem- 
 bled together. Hundreds of pious people on their kuees 
 pouring out their souls to God in mighty prayer — 
 scores of broken-hearted sinners crying to God for 
 mercy. Bursts of praise from different companies 
 when mourners were set at liberty. Gentlemen and 
 ladies were on horseback, or seated in their gigs, 
 watcliing us with eyes bathed in tears. 0, what a 
 shower of grace descended ! This work went on for 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 117 
 
 about two hours ; and then, after two short sermons, 
 this glorious camp-meeting was concluded by singing, 
 with uncovered heads,- — - 
 
 ‘ Praise God from whom all blessings flow,’ &c. 
 
 “ From, the time the converting work commenced 
 till it stopped, which was about two hours, we judge 
 we shall not exaggerate in the least in saying that 
 more than fifty precious souls obtained a sense of 
 God’s pardoning mercy, or were sanctified wholly. To 
 God be everlasting praise. Amen, and Amen. 
 
 “ This camp-meeting produced a blessed quickening 
 in both circuits. 
 
 “ J. Fide and S. West.” 
 
 A T . B. The above glorious service was held a year 
 after I left Shefford circuit ; but I deemed it well to 
 insert the account in these records. I might further 
 add, union camp-meetings, union lovefeasts, and sacra- 
 mental services have been a general blessing. 
 
 Miss Eleanor Brown told me in London, as she was 
 about to emigrate to Australia, in 1849, in the same 
 ship with Messrs. Bide and "Wiltshire, together with 
 their wives and families, that she was with Mrs. Wells, 
 of Shefford, during her last illness, and that she died 
 inmuch peace. This caused me to feel great thankfulness 
 to the Lord ; especially so as that lady rendered us good 
 help in our early labours by her kindness, and also 
 by building the Shefford house ; and though a proper 
 rent was constantly paid to Mr. Wells for the house, 
 yet it was a great benefit to us, for some hundreds 
 
118 
 
 RECOBD OF EVENTS 
 
 were converted in that place, and there was a 
 home for ns there when we had no other home. 
 
 At June removal of 1833 , we found it no little trial 
 to leave friends for whom we had ever felt the greatest 
 affection ; however, the Conference had stationed me for 
 Birmingham. Elizabeth made up our accounts, when 
 I found, after disposing of many of my books, some of 
 which were valuable, and that I had bought before 
 leaving home for the itinerancy, and all was pro- 
 perly cleared up, that we had eight guineas to the good 3 
 and with this sum we set off on foot for our new sta- 
 tion. The first day we reached Childrey, and had a 
 powerful meeting, when two souls found salvation 3 
 during the next four days we reached Birmingham. 
 
 At this Conference, Tunstall district was divided, 
 and my station continued in the parent district, and 
 Brinkworth district had all our Berkshire side. 
 
 In years after, when Brinkworth district was divided^ 
 Mr. Bide was very anxions that the Berkshire side 
 should form the southern district 3 but we yielded for 
 Bristol, as the 'Welsh and Cornish with other circuits 
 lay most convenient for Bristol. And ultimately, 
 Beading, with other circuits which had been missioned 
 from Shefford circuit, aided in forming the London 
 district. And also a general mission establishment 
 was formed from the Beading circuit missions, Hull 
 circuit missions, with missions of other circuits 3 and 
 the whole Connexion has aided in keeping this great 
 course of labour going on 3 and I have ever felt a 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 119 
 
 pleasure in pleading tlie cause of missions on our 
 numerous platforms and in our pulpits. 0 that 
 speedily “ the earth may he full of the knowledge of 
 the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. xi. 9. 
 
 We soon found the Birmingham circuit was very 
 extensive, including Coventry, Stratford-on-Avon, and 
 Worcester, with intermediate towns and villages, which 
 parts had been missioned from various sources ; conse- 
 quently a managing element was required. But my 
 excellent colleagues, Adams, Pritchard, and Tharme, 
 were brave youths, and all were useful, and especially 
 in the Worcester chapel case, and the building of a 
 new chapel in Birmingham. Yet there was a sore of 
 some years standing, which now fully broke out, and 
 caused a division of one hundred and forty members, 
 which gave us great pain of mind. But the Lord 
 helped us, and we had a good increase, besides paying 
 our way, clearing off an old circuit debt, and raising 
 much help for chapel purposes. 
 
 The Conference was held in Birmingham in 1834. 
 The services were very great. Our friends processioned 
 from five different parts of the town to the Bullring, 
 where Air. James Bourne preached a very powerful 
 sermon on the new birth, and there was a gracious 
 move. We were a great company, and thousands of 
 people formed the procession as we went through Hew- 
 street and on to the five ways. I felt very solemn as 
 I gave out the hymns, and got our fathers and brethren 
 to take their several parts in this mighty course of 
 
120 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 labours. Some thought there were nearly twenty 
 thousand people at the camp meeting 3 and the love- 
 feasts were very powerful 3 much good was done. Such 
 were the good impressions that our brethren made, 
 that had the next year’s Conference been held in 
 Birmingham, and double the number of delegates 
 attended, they would have been much better provided 
 for. 
 
 Our second year, Mr. Richard Ward supplied the 
 place of Mr. Adams 3 and we called out Mr. Jones 
 that we might better work the ground that we had, 
 and open other ne w places. Having had an invitation to 
 W arwick, I walked twenty miles there, and saw some 
 good done 3 but my mind was drawn to Leamington, a 
 new town then rising up, which was not far beyond 
 Warwick. We also succeeded in opening Stockgreen, 
 Malvern, and other places. We made some provi- 
 sion for chapel building at Redditch and Quinton, 
 which our friends carried out some years after. At 
 the close of my second year on this extensive circuit 
 (and I was requested to stay a third year), we had one 
 hundred increase, though we had our full share of 
 trials. 
 
 The District Meeting and Conference stationed me 
 for Prees circuit, in Shropshire. There had been a 
 great work of religion on that circuit for many years. 
 Many pious people had been much in mission work, 
 and they were deeply devoted to God. It was mostly 
 in the neighbourhood of Hawkstone, whence the Eev. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 121 
 
 Rowland Hill came : and I felt some desire to live 
 among these pious people. But as the married minis- 
 ter’s residence was at Lane End, now called Longton, 
 the south part of the Staffordshire potteries, we repaired 
 thither in July, 1835 ; and this being only about 
 eight or nine miles from Bemersley, I was glad indeed 
 to he so near our fathers in the Lord. We had Stoke, 
 Skelton, or Lane Delph, Tean, Cheadle, Threapwood- 
 head, part of Hanley, and Moddershall, with 
 another place also that Hr. Walford had missioned ; 
 and on the whole we had one hundred and fifty 
 members. Miss Henshall was appointed with me, and 
 stayed four months. 
 
 At September Quarterly Meeting, we were made into 
 a separate circuit, and I commenced mission labours at 
 Stone. But ah ! alas ! sickness overtook us ; our 
 lovely Julia died. This was a stroke. She was six- 
 teen months old ; and in four months after, my wife 
 died. This again seemed an . opening of wounds 
 severe. She had for above six years been a great 
 helper to me in religion ; was the most strict, laborious, 
 and upright of women. She would never allow any 
 time to be wasted in walks of a needless order, and 
 would very rarely allow me to walk with her alone 
 before our marriage ; and I seldom had her company 
 except in the presence of others, and even that not 
 very frequently. After our engagement, in August, 
 IS 31, and this was by the recommendation and influ- 
 ence of Mr. Ride, she resolved to leave the Shefford 
 
122 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 circuit at the following Conference, that there should 
 he no needless surmisings amongst the people. So she 
 was stationed to Darlas ton, in. 1832 , during which 
 year her labours were much owned of the Lord, espe- 
 cially during the time of the cholera ; and in particular 
 at Bilston, where eleven hundred died in a few weeks. 
 But nothing daunted her in the work of the ministry, 
 especially in street preaching and family visiting, and 
 she was a comfort to many. I felt much struck with 
 her earnestness one night, as she stood by me in the 
 open air at Stratford-on-Avon, when a gang of strolling 
 play-actors attacked me in the street as I was preaching. 
 She looked up, and said, “ is ever mind them, dear] 
 thou hast endured many a worse conflict than this : 
 the Lord will help ; preach on, and don’t be dismayed.” 
 And even while the rebels beat her bonnet down on 
 her head, and damaged her clothes, she patiently 
 endured, and prayed at the conclusion, after the perse- 
 cutors had gone away. 
 
 On our arrival in the Potteries, she commenced a 
 new class, and was succeeding well with it in our 
 residence. Many applications were made for her ser- 
 vices in the neighbouring circuits. Thirteen applica- 
 tions were pending when sickness prevented even one 
 more being fulfilled. For the benefit of her health, 
 she contemplated a visit with her mother to Ludlow, 
 her native place. They arrived by coach ; but alas ! 
 this proved to be the last journey, and she even could 
 not reach home, but stopped at Bro. John Graham's, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 123 
 
 in Ludlow. Her anxiety had been very great for me, 
 and her affection strong. She said, “ If my husband 
 knew I was so ill, he would walk night and day to be 
 with me.” I had serious dreams, but was just opening 
 the Stafford mission. She felt much for me, and 
 nearly her last words were, “ I have had the assurance 
 of heaven for the last seven years then said, “ Loose 
 him and let him go.” But our friends thought she 
 meant loose me and let me go. But I now think she 
 meant the quotation, “ Loose him.” Thus, not many 
 yards from where she was born, was converted, and 
 began to preach, after labouring in the gospel in many 
 counties she died, and there I buried her. A letter 
 had been sent from ]\Ir. Graham, but it was nearly a 
 week on the road. I did not get it, but only heard 
 of it; and at once I set off, walked to Shrews- 
 bury, then took the night mail, and my first cer- 
 tainty of her death was by the watc hm an coming to 
 the little group of passengers, at three o’clock in the 
 morning, as we lighted from the coach, and on my 
 asking for Old-street, he said, “ Are you Hr. Bussell ?” 
 I said, “ Yes, sir.” He was one of our members, and 
 soon disclosed the sorrowful news. This was melan- 
 choly. She was about thirty years old. We had 
 the funeral on the Monday ; nearly two thousand 
 attended, such was the love the people bore her. Thus 
 was I deprived of child and wife in a few short weeks, 
 which visitations were severe. But in a few days I 
 returned to my labours, though with a nearly broken 
 heart. 
 
124 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Mr. Growcott, of Longton, had told me of Mr. Ben- 
 jamin Brown, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, who was 
 likely to be useful. This excellent brother came, and 
 was to me a comfort and a great helper. Leaving him 
 on the Pottery side, I took to the new ground, and 
 missioned Stone, Leigh, Eccleshall, Stafford, Bugeley, 
 Great Heywood, Little Heywood, Bridgeford, and 
 other places. The Lev. John Wedgwood came a few 
 times, and was a blessing, but he felt his call to be 
 elsewhere. Mr. Brown ardently yoked in the work ; 
 and at the recommendation of Mr. Britain, of Brierley 
 Hill, I called out Miss Woodhouse to travel. She had 
 not preached often ; but took counsel, and became a 
 good labourer, and the Lord was with us. At this 
 time I was taken sick of fever, and was laid up six 
 weeks ; but as soon as I could I went to Bemersley, 
 and remained till I was better. During this prostra- 
 tion of health, Mr. Goodwin took my appointments. 
 Then, by opening Dividy Lane, near to Ford hays, 
 where Mr. Bourne was born, and several other places, 
 we soon had- work enough for four preachers ; and we 
 moved on successfully, and saw much good done. The 
 first lovefeast that I held in Stafford, I could only 
 rely on one believer, who had to come several miles ; 
 but I knew there were several seeking mercy. After 
 giving an account of my own conversion, I desired 
 any one to speak ; so the distant comer spoke. Then 
 the thought struck me, shall all be at a standstill? 
 and must I preach? But I waited a few minutes, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 125 
 
 when a seeking penitent spoke, and found liberty 
 while she was Speaking, and she praised the Lord for 
 delivering mercy ; then another obtained peace in the 
 same way, till five or six had found salvation. I then 
 called on the sinners to speak, and a very strong man 
 said, “ I came through that door a vile rebel, and came 
 to oppose and persecute ; but I mean to turn to the 
 Lord.” Others too felt much. These things strength- 
 ened my hands in the work, and we closed the meeting 
 with joy. 
 
 The District Meeting was held at Ludlow. And at 
 the camp-meeting, while Mr. H. Bourne was preaching, 
 a man dropped down as one shot in battle. The ser- 
 vices were all very powerful, and much good was 
 dona 
 
 The Sunday before the Conference of 1837, Mr. 
 Brown assisted me to hold a large camp meeting at 
 Stafford. The processioning was very powerful. The 
 meeting was well attended, and generally the people 
 behaved well The word ran with power, and at night 
 I left Mr. Brawn jiolding a lovefeast, as I had to get 
 to Manchester by the next day. ' I set out and walked 
 seven miles, when I overtook an old travelling waggon, 
 and for a penny a mile, at the rate of three miles an 
 hour, got to ISTewcastle, where the man stopped to rest, 
 but I went forward on foot to Manchester, and the 
 next day to Sheffield, and was glad to meet many 
 old friends. But the sorrowful tidings came of the 
 death of Mr. George Taylor, one of the Deed Poll 
 
126 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Delegates. He was with us at the District Meeting at 
 Ludlow. We had some very serious conversation 
 about the work, especially about stations’ sinking, 
 which he said often was reported between March and 
 July. I little thought that that would be our last in- 
 terview. Here I renewed the friendship of Mr. John 
 Reynard, of Leeds. We had only met once before, which 
 was at the Tunstall Conference of 1828. But our affec- 
 tion continued, exchanging many a friendly letter, to 
 just before he left mortality for life. Here Mr. Clowes 
 again spoke to me about going to America. 
 
 But Manchester made application for me to go to 
 Weymouth, in Dorsetshire, which station they had 
 taken up from Sunderland. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Sugden laboured hard for me, and Tun- 
 stall district delegates laboured to keep me there, for 
 Longton. The contest lasted over an hour, when 
 Mr. Sugden said, “It is my conviction if Brother 
 Russell is not stationed there, Manchester will give 
 Weymouth up to the Connexion.” This seemed to 
 settle it, and I was appointed for Weymouth. The 
 following is from the Magazine of 1838, page 152, 
 “ Sunday, June 18th — Preached a farewell sermon at 
 Stafford* in the morning, and a farewell sermon at 
 Levedale in the afternoon. I felt keenly to see the 
 friends weep at parting : and more especially so — 
 
 * Stafford is now a distinct circuit ; Longton, with other 
 places, are now in Hanley circuit ; Stoke is with Newcastle 
 circuit ; and Tean, with other places, are joined to Ramsor cir- 
 cuit. Were all together, Hanley, or the South Staffordshire 
 circuit, would be very powerful. 
 
IN' PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 127 
 
 1 While I ask in amaze, Who hath begotten me these ? 
 
 And inquire from what quarter they came ; 
 
 My full heart replies, They are born from the skies, 
 
 And gives glory to God and the Lamb.’ 
 
 “ It is now sixteen months since I first opened this 
 part of the country ; and we have had powerful times 
 on it. and many have heen saved. 
 
 “ Stafford and its neighbourhood had been tried by 
 all the surrounding circuits, hut as often it had heen 
 given up hut now I trust a foundation is laid for per- 
 petuity. The entire circuit has had one hundred in- 
 crease since we came to it two years ago. 
 
 “Monday, June 19th, 1837. — I came to Birming- 
 ham, and found several standing firm in the truth, who 
 were brought to the Lord in meetings we held here 
 more than two years since. A number of friends 
 accompanied me out of the town ; and, after singing a 
 hymn, we kneeled down on the roadside, and while I 
 prayed, the gushing tears rolled down the cheeks of 
 these affectionate friends. I again found it hard work 
 to bid them farewell. Two years before this, I and 
 my wife, accompanied by our child, bade them adieu. 
 But now I am sorrowfully alone, travelling to a strange 
 part. Lord help me. Amen.” 
 
 Partly by coach and partly by’ walking, I went 
 round by Reading, to see my old friends Air. and Mrs. 
 Ride, and I opened them a new place by preaching in 
 the open air, and was told afterwards that from that 
 service one soul started for heaven. Thence on to 
 
128 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Poole, where I saw Mr. Robert Langford, and preached 
 for him on the quay to about three hundred peaceable 
 hearers. Several wept much, and I had hope of a 
 little hoy and his mother getting some good. 
 
 The day following, which was Saturday, June 24th, 
 we took boat across the hay, and I felt much as I 
 looked on the ruins of Corfe Castle, which Mrs. Banks 
 bravely defended with a few men against an invading 
 army, two hundred years before ; and I felt much 
 inclined to preach there. We landed near Wareham, 
 and I walked on twenty miles to Weymouth, my 
 station for the coming year. 
 
 Sunday, 25th. — Preached at Weymouth three 
 times : several wept much. My God, lay to thy 
 helping hand. 
 
 During the following week, I visited Portisham 
 and Sutton, and saw Mr. King (his colleague, Mr. 
 McPherson, had gone away before I arrived). Mr. 
 King gave me every direction for the mission ; inform- 
 ing me where the regular places of preaching were, 
 Weymouth, Bridport, Portisham, in each of which 
 places there was a class, and Sutton with no society, 
 and the members in these classes amounted to fifty- 
 nine. I was very much pleased with Mr. King’s kind- 
 ness, but found it a very hard trial to follow my pre- 
 decessors, and had some fear of not being able to keep 
 the ground good after them. 
 
 And now being alone on the ground where previously 
 two preachers had been stationed, and formerly three, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 129 
 
 I felt the difficulty of my situation : Sutton being four 
 miles X; E., Portisham eight miles, and Bridport 
 twenty miles westwardly from Weymouth. I saw I had 
 plenty to do. I was advised to give up Bridport, and 
 was told Sutton would be no good ; and by giving it 
 up also, I should only have two places. But this 
 advice I could not follow. So I arranged my plan for 
 Weymouth, Sunday; Bridport, Tuesday ; Portisham, 
 Wednesday ; Weymouth, Thursday ; Sutton, Priday ; 
 and to visit at Weymouth on Saturday, and preach 
 in the open-air. 
 
 Having Monday at liberty, I sought out another 
 place; and opened Loder. This place our preachers 
 had formerly preached at once a fortnight, but it had 
 been given up. I visited it from door to door, and not 
 in vain, for one young man who was ill in a loft was 
 brought to the Lord while I was visiting him, and soon 
 after he died happy. 
 
 But this new method, (namely, the ministerial 
 family visiting), caused many things to be said. One 
 woman, in coming from the market, said, “ The gentle- 
 man is either a god or a devil, for he came into my 
 house and talked about the Lord, and then kneeled 
 down among all the dirt, and prayed with me.” 
 
 This method excited the attention of some people at 
 Xettlecomb, and induced them to come over to Loder 
 to hear me preach. They received good, and I made an 
 appointment to go and preach there. 
 
 I opened Xettlecomb at nine o’clock on a working 
 
 i 
 
130 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 (lay morning ; and nearly all in the house wept. I 
 formed a class, and appointed for Fridays at Hettle- 
 comb. 
 
 One night, as I was preaching at this place, several 
 got powerfully awakened ; one of whom was Mrs. 
 Simon Hansford, who stood outside the door during the 
 sermon. She was cut to the heart, and went home 
 weeping — sorely distressed. But early one morning she 
 found peace. She states that she saw a beam of light, 
 then a body of light, then like clouds revolving 
 before her eyes ; and she received the assurance that 
 her sins were forgiven : then she praised God aloud. 
 Some time after, as some of our members were con- 
 versing in her house, her husband obtained pardon also. 
 Others were awakened, and some found salvation, who 
 are still holding on their way. 
 
 From this place the way opened to Hook. At Brid- 
 port I preached to several hundreds at times in the 
 street, and saw a little good done. Here we had to 
 contend with difficulties, but several joined society. 
 
 At Portisham, visited about twenty families each 
 week. In one house was Elias Godding lying ill; 
 and being invited I went to see him. I read out of 
 the early notices of the life of Mr. Hugh Bourne, and 
 continued reading until the glory rested. Being My 
 sensible of this, I kneeled down, and, while praying, 
 Elias said, he saw a light as a shadow on me, and 
 then it came to him, and all at once he felt, as he said, 
 a great change ; his soul seemed overjoyed, and he 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 131 
 
 wished lie could see his former companion to warn him 
 from' going to public-houses. His last words were, 
 "Happy, happy!” He died in peace about fifteen 
 days after his conversion, leaving a good testimony. 
 
 On the last two occasions of my being here we had 
 cries for mercy, and several found peace ; and we had 
 an addition to the society. 
 
 Weymouth partook of the blessing in part. Here 
 a young woman, Lucy Aim Thresher, was in a decline, 
 and one day, when I went hi from my appointments, 
 Airs. Thresher said, “ Hr. Russell, there is no time to be 
 lost. Lucy Ann is falling off from her food, and she 
 is not saved ; and she will not live long.” I went in- 
 to the drawing-room, and talked freely, and prayed 
 with her several times. She began to weep, and ever 
 after sought the Lord, until she obtained pardon. She 
 said, “ The Lord appeared to me and said, ‘ Thy sins 
 which are many are all forgiven thee ; and I will never 
 leave thee nor forsake thee.’ ” Her last words were — 
 “ Happy — happy. Glory, glor, glo — gl — ” the word 
 failing on her lips. 
 
 I buried her, and had a solemn time in speaking over 
 the grave, and, according to her request, I preached 
 her funeral sermon, and had a great congregation. 
 Many wept, and one started for heaven. Brother 
 Thresher said, “ I have proved the saying of the Lord 
 true, ‘A cup of cold water shall not lose its reward.’ ” 
 At Weymouth, during the summer months, I, on a 
 Sabbath, generally preached once in the open-air, be- 
 
132 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 sides three times in the room, and attending the 
 Sunday-school, leading classes, holding prayer meet- 
 ings, &c. 
 
 The last time I preached there in the street, it was 
 by candle light, one week day evening, from “ Bemem- 
 ber Lot’s wife.” It was a solemn time. A very care- 
 less sinner got very much alarmed, and said, “ What 
 an end that woman came to 1” The congregation and 
 society increased. I held several lovefeasts ; at each 
 of which souls were converted. Every time I admin- 
 istered the sacrament good was done. Mondays, at 
 four a. in., I generally started eighteen miles to Loder, 
 and stopped on Bridport side four or five days, visiting 
 and preaching daily. 
 
 Saturday, Jan. 6th, 1838. — Preached at Sutton, and 
 commenced a class meeting. This week I walked 
 eighty-four miles, preached to ten congregations, 
 visited nearly one hundred families, and met about 
 sixty people in class meetings. 
 
 To-day I received a letter from Mr. Hussey, of Swan- 
 age, pressing me to go there and open a mission. 
 
 Sunday, Jan. 7th— At Weymouth. Formed a Sun- 
 day evening class. Three joined. 
 
 'Monday, 8th. — Visited at Weymouth, and preached. 
 Led class, and three more joined. 
 
 The last fortnight I have joined eighteen members. 
 We now stand more than ninety in society, in this 
 mission, making about forty increase since I came to it. 
 
 Tuesday, 'Jth. — Set off for the Isle of Purbeck, so 
 
IN' PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 133 
 
 called, though it is only a peninsula, and preached at 
 Swanage. The next day I came back, round by 
 several villages, twenty-seven miles : a bad road, over 
 the cliffs, by the sea side, and I was ill of a violent 
 cold. 
 
 Friday, Jan. 12th. — At Weymouth Missionary Meet- 
 ing. Messrs Langford and Bartley helped me. Bro. 
 Joseph Best, from Poole Circuit, came here to assist me 
 on the mission. I was also under the necessity of 
 hiring a local preacher. 
 
 Sunday, Jan. 21st. — I preached at Helston, a village 
 near Swanage, in the morning ; and at Swanage after- 
 noon and night. I formed a society of seven mem- 
 bers at Swanage, and we had a good time. 
 
 Monday, Jan. 22nd. — Visited Corfe Castle and 
 AY orth, and preached at night at Langton. So here is 
 now one preacher’s work in Purbeck. But having 
 slept in a bed that had not been lain in for nearly two 
 years, though I took the precaution of sleeping in my 
 clothes, I was very ill the next day. I rose at four 
 a.m., but it was with difficulty I walked twenty-one 
 miles, and prayed with a few families. 
 
 Wednesday, Jan. 23rd. — Much better in health, and 
 to-morrow, God-willing, I purpose to comply with re- 
 peated invitations to open a mission in the Island of 
 Portland. 
 
 Accordingly, on the following day, I went through 
 all the villages there, and preached at night with good 
 liberty. Then I went a second time ; and on my third 
 
134 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 visit, as I went down to the Ferry to get a • boat, a 
 man said, “ Are you the Methodist preacher 1” I 
 answered, “ Yes.” He then struck me a severe blow 
 over my right shoulder with his walking stick, and 
 held me fast. I w T as glad to get away when he loosed 
 his hold. I pray God may save him. 
 
 During this winter we had much snow. One Satur- 
 day, as Brother Best came home, he said, “ Mr. Bus- 
 sell, you will not he able to go to the "West, as the snow 
 is so deep.” I replied “ I will be at Hook to-morrow 
 morning if it is drifted to the neck.” So when we 
 had settled our affairs I set off for Loder though the 
 storm was severe. It took me seven hours to walk 
 eighteen miles, and I often found the snow several feet 
 deep ; but I got in safely by eight o’clock. It took us a 
 quarter of an hour to pull my boots off, and next 
 morning longer to get them on again. The hedges 
 were often lost to view in consequence of the drifts of 
 snow ; but happily a sharp frost made it hard, and I 
 got to Hook, nearly six miles, by ten o’clock. Preached 
 and formed a class ; then returned to Powerstock, and 
 preached at two o’clock, and at Bridport at six. 
 
 During the week, I stayed on that side until Friday, 
 taking my regular work every day ; but on my return 
 for Portisham, such was the frost over the country, 
 that the snow was like a glaze of ice. and I had hard 
 work to keep my feet. But in five horns I walked ten 
 miles ; and what with the sleet at times, then sharp- 
 frost. my umbrella was unshuttable, and my top-coat- 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 135 
 
 like a double board round me. I bad to climb over 
 the snowdrifts, which had covered the hedges, 
 which were many feet high ; but got to Portisham in 
 time for the meeting, and preached from “ Pray ye that 
 your flight be not in the winter” (Matt. xxiv. 20), 
 and had a solemn time ; and I got a nice home to sleep 
 at, which was a comfort ; and they had kindly got my 
 clothes dried by the next morning. This was better 
 than either the public-house or doctor’s shop loft. 
 Xext day, I got well home to 'Weymouth : praise the 
 Lord. 
 
 Thus we went on through the winter, and pursued 
 our labours with good success, especially amongst the 
 pottery-clay getters at Corfe Castle, and amongst the 
 quarriers in other parts of Purbeck. 
 
 Peeling fearful of burdening our friends at Manches- 
 ter, we took every precaution to make the best we 
 could of our littles. A friend having made me a present 
 a penny bun one Monday morning, I kept it in my 
 pocket till Saturday, thinking every meal time I should 
 want it by the next time, so I kept my morsel ; but I 
 was glad to eat it on my journey twenty miles home at 
 the end of the week, and I got a drink of water for my 
 beverage. Pearing to get lodgings on hire, I used to 
 take every precaution to get a bed when I could, so as 
 not to incur expense ; but sometimes this was danger- 
 ous. In one place I slept with an aged man who 
 seemed nearly covered with something like leprosy. 
 When I have thought of this since, I have often shud- 
 
136 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 <lered at the danger I was in, hut I ever felt thankful to 
 the Lord for his preserving care. 
 
 Saturday, May 5th. — In addition to visiting and 
 praying with a number of families, I walked twenty- 
 three miles to Corfe Castle, a small town in the Isle of 
 Purheck, where several weeks before I had formed a 
 class ; and was happy to find the work going on. Our 
 friends here had been in the habit, before their conver- 
 sion to God, of spending some time most Saturday 
 nights in public-houses ; but now they met for prayer. 
 I joined them gladly, but refused to lead the meeting, 
 because I wished them to do it. They commenced ; 
 and 0 how glad I was to hear these young converts. I 
 gave them an exhortation, lie had a blessed time. 
 Praise God ; he made me forget all my toil. When I 
 visited this place in January, 1838, all was dark. But 
 the people say since the Primitive Methodist mission- 
 aries have been in the habit of preaching to the men in 
 the clay pits, and in the streets of Corfe Castle, a great 
 change for the better has taken place ; as now people 
 can pass unmolested along the road. We have now 
 seventeen members, and other churches have reaped 
 the fruits of our labours by additions to their society. 
 
 Sunday, May 6th. — At seven I attended the Corfe 
 Castle prayer-meeting. At nine, preached at Aston in 
 the open air. After which I took the friends out, in 
 praying companies, and they were pleased to have a 
 little camp-meeting. At eleven, opened a new place. 
 At two, I preached at Kimmeridge, iu the open air. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 137 
 
 At four, on the market cross, in Corfe castle, to about 
 five hundred hearers. Two were awakened. At seven 
 I hastened on and preached at Swanage, and there led 
 the lovefeast. The speaking was powerful and pointed : 
 one young man said, “ The Lord pardoned my sins to- 
 night while Mr. Kussell was preaching.” This was 
 cheering, as I was labouring under a cloud. Live per- 
 sons spoke of having been awakened under a sermon I 
 preached here three months before. That sermon was 
 delivered under a heavy cloud, and through a severe 
 conflict. This was the first lovefeast we held here, 
 and we had a powerful prayer meeting at the close. 
 To-day, I walked twenty miles, and held nine meetings ; 
 saw several vile characters awakened, and one, if not 
 more, converted. I need not say I was much tired. 
 Lord help me. Amen. 
 
 Monday, 7tli. — Visited twenty families and preached 
 at Worth ; led class, and one joined. 
 
 Tuesday, 8th.— Visited a number of families and 
 preached in the open air at Swanage ; then met the 
 class, and formed them in two praying companies. 
 Most of these (fourteen in all) have been lately brought 
 to God, yet they can hold prayer meetings and give 
 exhortations in the houses at Worth and Acton, and 
 on Carrington Common, and good has been done by 
 them. 0 Lord, bless them in their labours. Amen. 
 
 Wednesday, 9th. — Visited a new place. 0 for a 
 mighty outpouring of the Spirit in this country. 
 
 Thursday, 10th— At Corfe Castle. Preached in the 
 
138 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 dinner hour at the clay pits, while the men were eating 
 their food. In the evening I preached at the Market 
 Cross. Led class, and four joined. 
 
 Friday, 11th. — Preached in the dinner hour at the 
 upper clay pits. At night opened Bushey, a new 
 place. Our travelling preachers can supply it once a 
 fortnight, on Fridays ; and the Corfe Castle members 
 can hold prayer-meetings on the alternate Fridays. 
 
 Saturday, May 12th. — This was the day I dreaded, 
 because it was Corfe Castle fair ; and I feared the 
 members losing ground. I visited hard all day. A 
 meeting was appointed, but scarce any were ex- 
 pected to attend, yet the house was filled. I took 
 a chair and said, “ All that were afraid to go out might 
 stop in the house.” I preached to about two hundred 
 peaceable hearers ; and read a piece out of the 
 Magazine, which had a good effect, and I got another 
 subscriber. Our friends afterwards held a prayer- 
 meeting. One man Avas so awakened under the sermon 
 that he could scarcely sleep. He has since joined us. 
 
 We held a camp-meeting of nearly two thousand 
 people in Purbeek, Avith very good effect. On 
 the whole through this peninsula Ave had a general 
 awakening, and many were converted to God. A very 
 pious man, nearly eighty years of age, joined us, who 
 could read small print Avithout glasses, and he often 
 preached. He said, “ there never was so great a work 
 of religion in Purbeek before. In this revival the 
 Holy Spirit took hold of the curate of Corfe Castle, 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 139 
 
 and a young man professed to get good under Iris 
 ministry, which was a matter of joy to tlnis clergyman, 
 and Ire often spoke of it gladly, winch caused James, 
 Morris to say, “ Our parson is as proud of this single 
 convert as a hen is with one chick.'' 
 
 The beautiful Congregational church became well 
 attended ; and their minister contributed ten shillings 
 towards our mission, which manifested a spirit of 
 Christian love. Everything steadily moved -on, and 
 labourers began to rise ; but at the end of two years, 
 we had to remove. Bros. Best and Holloway went to 
 Brinkworth, and Bro. Bolls to Motcombe. I felt 
 sorrowful at leaving this station, as the chapel matters 
 were moving, but not sufficiently settled ; yet I had a 
 hope of their success. We had a great missionary 
 meeting in Bridport town hall, to which Mr. Paddison 
 came twenty miles gratuitously to help us. This took 
 well, and the way was opening for a good course of 
 collecting for the chapels. Messrs. Hansford, Cosens, 
 and others were becoming helpers. 
 
 But I was now stationed to Stroudwater, and I 
 resolved, after above three years’ widowhood, again to 
 marry ; and Elizabeth Duke, who had obtained salva- 
 tion at our services in Weymouth, and had been a 
 very steady active member with us for nearly two 
 years, and was likely to be useful ; so we were mar- 
 ried the same day with Mr. and Mrs. Bartlet, and we. 
 all came the same day to Abbey Milton. 
 
140 
 
 RECORD OE EVENTS' 
 
 PART XI. 
 
 AFTER a course of labour for Manchester circuit in 
 the Weymouth mission of two years and two weeks, 
 I removed to my new station, and found on our arrival 
 at Stroudwater a very beautiful locality, very pleasing 
 to the eye ; and I hardly knew which to admire most, 
 Purbeck, on its west end looking eastward — 
 
 “ Far in the windings of its wooded yale 
 
 or Litton hill, looking westward over Loder and Brid- 
 port, and its numerous high lands and scattered villa- 
 ges ; or Eversham vale, looking towards the Severn, or 
 Glossop vale, near Manchester ; or this beautifully 
 picturesque locality, hills covered with fir groves, and 
 various other forest trees ; vales sending out their 
 meandering streams forming the river Frome at the 
 foot of Stroud, then for miles down being fed with 
 other streamlets, and at length assisting to swell the 
 gigantic Severn. 
 
 But I soon found these great beauties of nature and 
 profitable waters for dying cloths and turning the numer- 
 ous wheels of the factories had a drawback. The working 
 people were very poor. The hand-loom broad-cloth weav- 
 ing had given place to machinery, so that now in many 
 oases women had to go to the mills, and men to stop at 
 home to mind their children. Many a family 
 had to subsist on six or seven shillings a week, and 
 had to walk several miles, every night and 
 
 many 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 141 
 
 morning to secure these small wages ; one of our 
 friends, near her confinement, came home, and that 
 night the child was horn ; and for fear of losing her 
 employment she went to the mill the next morning, 
 to keep her place of work, and thus still secure a living 
 for her family. But when the master learned the case 
 he sent the carriage to take her home, and assured her 
 that her place should not be lost. 
 
 The loss of work had caused many to remove to 
 Yorkshire and other parts, and these things had caused 
 a declension in the once flourishing religious societies. 
 But a few years before my station there, Mr. James 
 Baker, an active local preacher in Brinkworth circuit, 
 living on the borders of our Berkshire mission, 
 was determined to make an effort for further usefulness, 
 and offered himself to go out as a regular minister 
 on single man’s pay, and he missioned Highworth, and 
 went with Mr. S. Turner to Chippenham and other 
 places. He had been stationed at Stroud, and saw a 
 revival amongst some young people ; this caused a 
 need of a larger place of worship, so they commenced a 
 chapel at Stroud ; they also built at Boundwick another 
 chapel, but these both became a burden. Mr. Edward 
 Eoizey had hard work in getting pews and seats after 
 he came to the station ; but knowing joinering, he 
 preached at night and wrought by day ; yet on my 
 arrival, the debts were more than could be borne. I 
 kept clearing out these outstanding accounts until all 
 we had was gone. There being a bill in the bank of 
 
142 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 twenty pounds for Houndwick, which was due, and 
 the hankers would not renew it unless the trustees 
 would pay off costs and sink it one pound, all of us 
 put together could not raise this sum ; hut I went to 
 Mr. Pegler, the broker, and offered him my watch in 
 pledge for the sum required, telling him what it was 
 for. I saw a tear start in his eye, and he said, “ Sir, I 
 have heard you preaching in the streets, and believe 
 you will do much good. Put your watch in your 
 pocket : hut I will lend you the pound without inter- 
 est ; and only keep your payments good, then never 
 want a pound.” This was a deliverance ; and by 
 ardent perseverance I succeeded better than I expected. 
 Mr. Hawkins, the solicitor, put me in a better way of 
 collecting, and advised me in many particulars, and 
 showed us kindness. 
 
 The house wanted replenishing in its furniture ; on 
 naming it to Mr. Bucknal, the printer, he said, “ My 
 uncle, Mr. Clissold, should know of this.” So we went 
 to Field Place, and were kindly helped. This was 
 encouraging. 
 
 My way opened step by step, and through the 
 Lord’s goodness we saw the chapel matters improved. 
 The work moved, and several were saved. At Walls 
 Quarry, Bros. Hill and Brihkworth got revived ; and at 
 a tea-meeting several were saved. The congregation so 
 increased, that they had to have a gallery put into the 
 chapel. 
 
 Custom Scrubbs was two miles from any place of 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 143 
 
 worship, and onrs was the only preaching place in the 
 hamlet. Seeing the way somewhat open, I applied to 
 l\Ir. Hawkins for his influence, and he took me to Mr. 
 Hobson, who had some influence with Mr. 1ST. Marling, 
 and this gentleman gave us land at Scrubbs, in a very 
 eligible situation, and to be seen miles away. We 
 amalgamated Scrubbs’ effort with the old debts of 
 Stroud and Roundwick, and through mercy got out of 
 our difficulties, for gentlemen often would give for one 
 who would not help for the others. 
 
 Being straightened for ten pounds for Roundwick, 
 I one morning set out early, and coming to the beau- 
 tiful lofty hill of the residence of J oseph Partridge, 
 Esq., the servant announced my name ; Mrs. Partridge 
 came to the door, and the first question was, ‘ Sir, 
 have you had your breakfast V This was replied to, 
 and the viands were soon got ready in the best parlour. 
 After which, we had prayer, when my business was 
 inquired into. I then opened my case, and the good 
 lady said, “ Leave your book, Sir, with me, and I will 
 see what I can do ; and you go home, as you seem very 
 weary and careworn.” This was a very gracious act, and, 
 in a few days, with all items regularly entered from 
 one shilling to five s h illings, &c., the sum was raised 
 within £3. Mr. Partridge’s book-keeeper then gave 
 one pound, and the gentlemen gave the other two, so 
 that matter was settled j and it settled ten pounds 
 more. Thus step by step we moved on, clearing off 
 different debts. I went twenty miles to request Mr. 
 Hugh Bourne to visit our station. He kindly came, 
 
144 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 and wrote in the Magazine, page 77, 1841, — “ I had 
 "been greatly pressed to come to Stroud to preach their 
 anniversary sermons, our friends there being in a great 
 strait to Taise a sum of money to liquidate an outstand- 
 ing deht pertaining to that chapel. * * During 
 
 the year nearly all the chapels have heen raised out of 
 their embarrassments, and the circuit is nearly on its 
 feet. This was happy news to me, as I went thither 
 expecting to meet with nothing but distress. 
 
 “Thursday, Sept. 24th, 1840. — I preached one of 
 the anniversary sermons, and Friday at Walls Quarry. 
 
 “ Saturday, Sept. 26th. — I and Brother Thomas 
 Russell, the superintendent preacher, waited upon S. 
 Clissold, Esq., and he kindly presented us with five 
 pounds towards the present difficulty. For this we felt 
 thankful both to God and him. 
 
 “ Sunday, Sept. 27th. — I had to preach all the three 
 sermons. By the mercy of God, the collections, toge- 
 ther with Squire Clissold’s kind gift, fully released our 
 friends out of this difficulty, and something more.” 
 
 That brave gentleman aided us at times in all our 
 troubles. !\ot forgetting the times of the birth of our 
 two children, Elizabeth and Hannah. 
 
 Fearing that he might be led in his sympathy to 
 burden himself, one morning, when Mr. Browning 
 brought me five pounds for Scrubbs, I asked, knowing 
 t here° was a family at Field Place, “ Does Mr. Clis- 
 sold do too much ]” “ Sir,” said the steward, “ don’t 
 
 you trouble about that ; but take and dispose of as he 
 directs all that he gives you, for he has laid by four 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 145 
 
 thousand pounds for charitable purposes ; and his 
 family are well provided for.” 
 
 The Rev. John Burder, with the Rev. Mr. Griffith, 
 Congregationalist, Rev. Mr. Jones, of Mr. Whitefi eld’s 
 Rodbrogh Tabernacle, and the Revs. Xewman, lates, 
 Parsons, and other ministers showed us kindness. But 
 most of these have since gone to their rest. The Revs. 
 Joseph Marsh and John Stevens, Wesleyans, felt a 
 sympathy, for they knew the state of the poor, and of 
 my difficulties. The former of these two told me “ he 
 preached at the first Mow Camp-meeting.” 
 
 After three years labour I left this circuit with up- 
 wards of twenty per cent, increase, and felt as if I 
 should have liked to stay longer. All were so agree- 
 able, and though poor, were kind. 
 
 Mrs. Whitfield, one of our members, being asked by 
 an evangelical clergyman, what place of worship she 
 attended, said, “ The Primitive Methodists.” The 
 clergyman then said, “0 that is not the way.” “ Well, 
 Sir,” asked the woman, “ will you tell me which is the 
 way V’ He answered, “ The church is the way.” She 
 then said, “Sir, I beg to differ from you, for the 
 Lord said, ‘ I am the way.’ ” 
 
 It was often a great trial for our members to be 
 exercised in this way amidst their poverty. Yet, 
 through mercy, they bore up, and we enlarged our bor- 
 ders by opening Cam and Bevington, near Dursley and 
 and Berkley as I thought there was a prospect of good 
 there. 
 
 K 
 
146 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 At the Conference of 1842, I was stationed for 
 Bristol, which was a greatly populated part, and might 
 he called the city of the West. There seemed to be a 
 prospect for good at a camp-meeting at Brandon Hill. 
 Nearly one thousand people attended, and behaved 
 well. I was much struck with the fine view from this 
 eminence, about two hundred feet above the river 
 Avon, on which ships float on its surface. The view 
 is several miles over the city, and to Kingswood H ill. 
 I wondered that no more could be done than was, as 
 th ere were upwards of two hundred thousand inhabitants. 
 Yet there had been some sterling good accomplished. 
 Bros. West, Turner, Harvey, and Coxhead were remem- 
 bered in affection. I was much pleased with Mr. W. 
 Tanner and his street meetings. There were some very 
 pious people there. My colleague, the Bev. H. Yeates, 
 was a pious excellent young man. We spent our time 
 together in comfort, and saw some good done. We had 
 an increase of upwards of thirty, and I believe there 
 was a prospect of mission labour at Thornbury and its 
 locality. Had I stayed I believe Mr. Clis3old, of 
 Stroud, would have helped us in getting a chapel, 
 which was Avhat we wanted, as he promised me to that 
 effect. Bro. C. T. Harris has since built a good 
 chapel in the Dings, near the old market, in Bristol 
 They have also made Kingswood into a separate 
 station. The Lord give them a great course of useful- 
 ness and prosperity, and bless them more abundantly. 
 Amen. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 147 
 
 From Bristol I removed at the Conference of 1843 to 
 St. Austell, in Cornwall. Calling at Redruth, we stayed 
 at a large camp-meeting, with Mr. Preston. He had 
 often helped me at Stroud, and I was glad to assist 
 him now. 
 
 On our arrival at St. Austell, I found things in 
 good order, as far as Brothers Thos. Jackson and John 
 Excell could leave them. These brethren laboured in 
 Berkshire successfully, and I felt a great regard for 
 them. They did much good there. 
 
 My colleague now was Mr. W. Axton, the author of 
 the hymn — “ I’d be a missionary.” I should have been 
 better pleased had the different editors of the many 
 periodicals that have published this hymn said, 
 “ A Primitive Methodist Minister composed it.” But 
 it has done good, and we will rejoice for this. I had 
 learned something of Cornwall from a visit to their 
 missionary-meetings, at St. Ives, when Brother Samuel 
 Wiltshire travelled there and Brothers Driffield and 
 Cummins were at Rudrutli. 
 
 We had not long been at St. Austell before a call 
 from Stroud caused me to return there for some weeks. 
 We agreed for Mr. Axton to go to that station ; and now 
 necessity was on us to get another preacher, who did 
 well for some time. Bros. Preston, of Redruth, and 
 Sharman and Foizey, of St. Ives, often desired him to 
 go to those stations. Mr. Causer came to our station 
 at the change. We had a great move, and much good 
 was done. But it was a time of trial, as the mining 
 
148 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 business went down, and numbers of our friends re- 
 moved to other parts in search of employment, and so 
 were heyond reach. But those who went to Liskeard, 
 twenty miles off, we were able to go to, and we formed 
 a society in that town ; and there was a prospect of 
 good. Now, if we could have had a missionary for that 
 part I believe we might have extended our labours to 
 Loo and along the coast successfully. Instead of this, 
 however, Bro. Causer had to go to Motcombe to supply 
 Mr. Smith’s place, and I was left alone at St. Austell, 
 which was then a circuit thirty miles long, and ten 
 miles wide. This caused excessive travelling. I often 
 had to walk many miles after preaching at night ; and 
 was frequently coming home as the miners were going 
 to work at four or five in the morning. It was cer- 
 tainly no little work to walk nearly twenty miles home 
 from Liskeard to St. Austell, after preaching at night, 
 to be ready to go forward to my appointment the next 
 day. 
 
 Our chapel matters, too, were rather a difficulty. 
 The Tregreham chapel was so dilapidated that even 
 animals of the common could go through the gate and door 
 and lie down in the pews. However, I bought it, and 
 formed a trust, and put it into repair, and it once more 
 belonged to the Connexion. Me reduced the entire 
 debt of this chapel to £6 10s. 2d. This is a debt 
 still owing, which I should be glad to see paid. 
 
 Cornwall has been much noted for Methodism. The 
 Bible Christians have a powerful interest, and have 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 149 
 
 been a great blessing. I bad the honour of once or 
 twice having visits from Mr. O’Bryan, the founder. 
 He was a good man. I ever felt a great respect for 
 him and them. The "Wesleyan Association, (now Tree 
 Church Methodists,) and the Xew Connexion and 
 Wesleyans had some of their first-class ministers in 
 Cornwall I calculated that there were as many 
 Methodist members of society as would equal one- 
 third of the grown population of the county. And 
 there were many very pious people. 
 
 The revivals were at times very powerful ; but I used 
 to think they were periodical, — some coming every 
 seven years, some every five years, and others every 
 three years. But as often as the people looked for a 
 revival, and prayed for it, they obtained one. Then 
 why not have the revival continually ! Only that 
 revivals require excessive labours. This shows the 
 necessity of complying with our Lord’s command, 
 Luke x. 2 : “ Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that 
 he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” 
 Excessive toil will wear thebody down. But Bev. xiv. 
 13, says — “Write, Blessed are the dead which die in 
 the Lord from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that 
 they may rest from their labours, and their works do 
 follow them.” So that here is rest fully promised. 
 
 We had at St. Austell the best and most systematic 
 order of “ Christian union” of any I had ever seen. 
 The Bev. James Cope, Congregationalist, was the 
 president on nearly all occasions ; and he was worthy : 
 
150 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 for a more generous and kind good man I scarcely 
 ever met with. The Messrs Drew, sons of Mr. 
 Samuel Drew, who wrote the “Essay on the Soul,” 
 took an active part in this union. 
 
 There were six dissenting places of worship, four of 
 the Methodist order, a Baptist, and an Indepen- 
 dent. The system was, First, a union prayer meeting 
 once a month — this service came in regular order at 
 all the six chapels. Second, sacrament once a quarter 
 alternately. Third, exchange of pulpits half-yearly. 
 And Fourth, a meeting for conference at some friend’s 
 house once a quarter, who could entertain all the 
 ministers and two or three of the leaders or deacons 
 of each church. This custom had a good effect ; for 
 we never had a slack missionary meeting, or thinly 
 attended tea-meeting, as all came together as one 
 body in union. Or should any extra help for any 
 church he needed, all cheerfully came forward to the 
 help of that individual denomination. 
 
 At my winding up of affairs on this station, the 
 Quarter-day was a little behind. Mr. Cope and Mr. 
 Barlow hearing of it went round the town, and in a 
 few hours raised the needful to clear all out. This 
 altogether was the best and most practical “ Christian 
 union” cause of anything I have ever known before or 
 since. 
 
 There was a friendly kindness : “ One and all" was in 
 general their motto. They hore a love to their 
 ministers, and carried it out as far as their means 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 151 
 
 would go. Captain Dunn, of Mevagissey, grand- 
 father to the four Dinnicks, now travelling with us, 
 was universally esteemed by all of us. But names 
 are too numerous to mention ; space forbids me to 
 tell them. At my removal, after three years, I felt 
 a depth of sorrow even to weeping, and it sunk into 
 sore distress. But at Mevagissey we went aboard the 
 Mary Drake ; our friends gratuitously went out to 
 sea with us to meet the steamer. My wife and child 
 were very ill ; they went into the cabin. The rest 
 of us stayed on deck to save expense to the General 
 Missionary Committee ; and so we sailed to our next 
 destination, which was Jersey in the A orman Isles. 
 
 The A orman Isles lie along the coast of Aoimandy. 
 Barclay says — “ Aormandy, a ci-devant province of 
 France, on the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean, 
 about one hundred and fifty miles in length, eighty 
 in breadth, and six hundred in circumference. The 
 Aorman people of Denmark and Aorway, having 
 entered France under Rollo, Charles the Simple ceded 
 this country to them in 912, which from that time 
 was called Aormandy. Hollo was the first duke, and 
 held it as a fief to the crown of France, and several of 
 his successors after him, till William, the seventh 
 duke, conquered England in 1066, from which time it 
 became a province of England, till it was lost in the 
 reign of King John, and re-united to the crown of 
 France ; but the English still keep the islands." One 
 would wonder why Aapoleon I. did not get this fine 
 
152 
 
 EECOED OP EVENTS 
 
 group of English territory and annex it to the 
 empire. But I judge he deemed it best not even to 
 pluck a hair out of the lion’s tail. Happy day when 
 “ nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither 
 shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah ii. 4. 
 
 The islanders found it more profitable to cling to Eng- 
 land, as they were allowed duty free to carry their pro- 
 duce to the English market ; and get all they needed, 
 duty free from other countries. One of the chief punish- 
 ments to any who had misbehaved was, they had, at 
 their own expense, to go out of the island and stay 
 fourteen or twenty one days. This was easier to the 
 state than keeping them in prison at a greater cost ; 
 and sensible people say it is a very good plan. But 
 I was concerned for my sick wife and child and the 
 rest of my family ; also for the people where I was 
 stationed. Mr. Wesley says — “Jersey is as much 
 superior to the Isle of Wight as that island is to the 
 Isle of Man.” 
 
 St. Heliers was our landing place, and I found 
 it dear enough : for it cost us eight shillings to get 
 ashore ; and other eight shillings to get to our chapel- 
 house in Aquilla-road. What a difference to the hrave 
 fishermen under Capt. Dunn, of Mevagissey. 
 
 Several friends met us at the quay and “ hade us 
 welcome.” On inquiring into the state of affairs, I was 
 told that the chapel interest was over due ; and I at 
 once had to lay down nearly twenty pounds, or be in 
 danger of losing the property ; this was nearly all we 
 had at command. And on inquiring about the state 
 
IK PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 153 
 
 of the congregation, I was told — “You may get forty 
 of a Sunday night at the best of times ; and twenty of 
 a Sunday morning ; and ten at the week-night preach- 
 ing ; and half-a-dozen at the prayer meetings.” This 
 was sorrowful news to me, as we had no other place 
 on the island. But I visited the friends as soon as I 
 could, and found out several who had formerly attended. 
 Thomas Drew again brought his bass viol, and I 
 found he could use it well, and so encouraged him to 
 try to form a singing class with my children and other 
 young friends. Mr. Daniel Lucas, who was a steady 
 young man, paid good attention to the sabbath school, 
 and Mr. Hill with others rendered help. 1 was told 
 Mr Hartley used to preach on the weigh bridge with 
 good effect, and of the hard toil he had in begging money 
 towards building the chapel ; and I found he and 
 others were still respected. But the friends were 
 sorry that a division had taken place; and several 
 persons had joined another church, and ultimately 
 they built a large chapel. This had been a great draw- 
 back, and had much enfeebled our society. However, 
 I tried to encourage our people and took the streets 
 in earnest, and preached out of doors, and processioned 
 through the whole neighbourhood round our chapel 
 for about half-a-mile. This caused the inhabitants to 
 look on with wonder. 
 
 One Sunday morning, after preaching out of doors 
 at nine o’clock, seeing a gentleman crossing the square 
 I, from impression of mind ran over to him, and put 
 in his hand “The Life and Labours of Elizabeth 
 
154 
 
 RECORD OR EVENTS 
 
 Russell lie took it with him to church, and while 
 the clergyman read the litany he read the memoir, 
 and was much affected; he came afterwards to our 
 chapel, was impressed under the word and joined 
 society. Others also obtained good, and our beautiful 
 large chapel got better attended, and the societies 
 increased, so that our processioning became a very 
 mighty movement, and ere I left St. Heliers the 
 congregation had trebled : indeed of a Sabbath night 
 we have had nearly three hundred people. We got 
 the interest paid up. In this effort Mr. Hartley, who 
 was much esteemed, rendered us very great service 
 at our chapel anniversary. Mr. Lucas told me at the 
 Chester Conference that Jersey had never looked back 
 from the time I went there. They are now a circuit. 
 
 In July, 1847, I was stationed at Guernsey, and my 
 excellent friend, the Rev. Thomas Knox, succeeded me 
 at St. Heliers ; his labours were owned of the Lord, 
 and the friends put a gallery in the chapel. Mr. Le Bau 
 continued a member and rendered good help. I 
 attended the missionary service, and after this gentle- 
 man had given one pound at each of the three sermons 
 on Sunday, and another pound at the public meeting 
 on Monday, on my descending from the platform he 
 laid his arm on my shoulder and wept much, saying, 
 “ 0, sir, I have not given as much as I should, 
 please put me down five pounds more.” 
 
 But, alas ! the cup of sorrow was again to he my 
 lot. My wife sickened more and more ; our excellent 
 friend, Dr. Collenette, gratuitously attended her for 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 155 
 
 some months ; but all was of no avail. Again I was 
 bereaved, and I bad four children, and the youngest 
 was very ill, and bad to go to the infirmary by Dr. 
 Collenette’s directions, where every help that this 
 gentleman and others of the faculty could give was 
 given her. Her mother had made a most triumphant 
 end ; yet I dreaded the loss of the -child. I had 
 much trouble, and my mind somewhat sank. But I 
 had friendship amongst the people. Also our friends 
 in Jersey and Alderney, on my visit to them at their 
 special services, expressed their sympathy. And 
 though I laboured hard and they were kind, yet I 
 could not rally up to the tone of energy which I had 
 experienced in other parts ; but I saw some good done. 
 We built a chapel at Bouet ; this was a village of 
 mostly English speaking people, and as there was no 
 other place of worship in it, I hoped that it would do 
 well ; but having failed to get sanction for its erection, 
 after five years the burden fell upon me, and when 
 my children required all that I could spare from my 
 salary for their schooling and trades, I had to pay 
 nearly thirty pounds towards this loss, only that rule 
 allowed me several years to pay it in : one fourth of 
 my salary quarterly. Mr. James Bourne expressed 
 great sympathy with me in this trouble, but could 
 not help me. But I saw good done in Guernsey, and 
 formed a friendship with them. Also, Mr. De Putron 
 and Mr. De La Rue, at the death of my wife, showed 
 me kindness, and so did others. Mr. Knox came 
 
156 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 all the way from Jersey specially to perform the last 
 sad office. The Lord reward them and their families 
 for their love to me in this time of great distress. W e 
 had some increase in society. 
 
 At the District Meeting of 1849, I was put down 
 for Portsmouth, and hoped to go there that I might 
 have another course of labour in Hampshire, believing 
 then that in the south of that county I should see 
 as great a work as I had seen when I missioned single- 
 handed the northern part. Indeed I had a longing 
 desire to go there ; but the Conference gave me a 
 a district exchange, and I was appointed to Stockton- 
 on-Tees, in Sunderland district. Happily, just before 
 the removing time Captain Eobson, of the Ariadne , 
 of Sunderland, was at St. Sampson’s, and having a 
 pious member of ours with him, they came to hear 
 me preach at Bouet, and both were much blessed under 
 the word. 1 formed a friendship with them, and held 
 a service aboard their ship, and felt comfort. 
 
 Tidings reached me of my future destiny just before 
 their sailing, and I requested that they would take 
 my luggage ; but this could not be done without 
 passengers : so we agreed that Elizabeth and Hannah 
 should sail with them, and I gave the captain ten 
 shillings more than he asked for their passage and 
 support, as I expected he would have to take them 
 home to his house for some days before my arrival. 
 Ann had a desire to comply with her aunt’s invitation 
 to go to Portland. So after winding all up, we took 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 157 
 
 the steamer to Southampton, and as I had given her 
 plenty to make her comfortable she went to Portland, 
 and' I took Charlotte with me on to London the next 
 morning. Our parting was painful, as I loved Ann 
 much for her mother’s sake. 
 
 On our way to London we had in the same compart- 
 ment a mariner from on board a man-of-war ; his 
 dialect reminded me of early accents, and learning 
 that he was from Derbyshire, near Brandside, I felt 
 a warm affection for him, and we had a talk of former 
 times. He asked me were I should stay for the night 
 in London, and offered to go to the same lodgings 
 and help me with the child and our luggage, as he had 
 none to burden him. So we got to a temperance hotel, 
 and having a few hours to spare I went to see Mr. 
 Bide’s family. Mrs. Ride felt much as we talked 
 of former days. But I had to return to our lodgings, 
 upon which 1 felt a little amused when they told me 
 that, after I had gone away from the temperance hotel, 
 they thought — “ Should he be a London sharper and 
 have absconded, leaving us the sickly child — what 
 should we do 1 ” The brave sailor said — “ I say, Mis- 
 tress, I have plenty of money, and you see I shall 
 have more, and have a pension settled upon me for 
 life, and I want a wife ! You and I will get married 
 and we will keep the bairn.” All this and the rest of 
 their talk, on my arrival, amused me much; but I 
 said — L\o friends, not for all the wealth and power 
 of the British empire would I part with my child.” I 
 
158 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 read the scriptures and prayed with them, after settling 
 my bill ; and next morning took train at Euston 
 Square for "W insford in Cheshire, and went to Middle- 
 wich, where I left my precious infant in charge of my 
 mother and went on to Leeds, where I preached for 
 my brother, and then hastened on to Stockton. 
 
 PART XII. 
 
 THE day I entered Stockton was wet and gloomy, 
 and but very little was stiring in the place, so I looked 
 on all as dreary and sighed for the south. But I was 
 bent on doing my best for the station, and after a full 
 examinatian of the affairs, I at once commenced my 
 labours. YTe had service at Middlesbro’, and here I 
 learnt that the Ariadne had arrived at Seaham har- 
 bour. Mr. Tweedy very kindly offered to go with 
 me with his waggon for the children and luggage. I 
 had some trouble to get him to take even the cost of 
 the toll-gates and horse feed. But we secured my 
 treasure, and put all a going, and I pursued my labours. 
 Mr. John Snowdon was my colleague, and Mr. Thos. 
 Yates was on the Guisbro’ branch. "VVe all occasionally 
 changed. I felt a fear lest I should not succeed in 
 these towns, as they had, according to the statements 
 of the leaders, always had first-rate preachers, and I 
 had come from the south “ a district exchange.” My 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 159 
 
 mind was bowed down and as gloomy as the day when 
 I entered the station. All this added to my grief, my 
 wife being dead, and my family hundreds of miles 
 apart. But Airs. Bippon and Mr. and Mrs. Bobinson, 
 with others, were kind to the children. 
 
 A camp-meeting at Middlesbro’ was cheering, espe- 
 cially the procession, and I thought Mr. John Garbutt 
 was much in spirit, voice, and labours like my dear 
 friend Mr. John Bide. At night we had the joy of 
 seeing three precious souls converted in the lovefeast. 
 These things cheered me a little, and I felt a great 
 liking for that town, which had risen in thirty years 
 from thirty inhabitants to upwards of thirty thousand. 
 This success is mainly attributable to the Messrs. Pease, 
 of Darlington, in their rail and shipping progress. 
 
 At Hartlepool, where Air. Snowdon resided, I thought 
 we should have a move ; but great abilities were 
 required. But when I learned Mr. Petty was one of 
 the first missionaries there, I felt some comfort and 
 assurance. They had here a great work, and it pro- 
 duced nearly half the support of the station, and only 
 took half the labours of one of the preachers. Here I 
 often preached in the open-air, and our congregations 
 increased ; and, indeed, Hartlepool very long stood 
 well ; it was a powerful society, and they took in 
 many copies of our magazines. But I felt a dread that 
 I should not keep pace with my predecessors ; but I 
 laboured in the open-air, and, blessed be God, not in 
 
160 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 vain. The chapel kept densely crowded ; and I have 
 met scores of people on a Sabbath evening going 
 away because they could not get in, which caused 
 me to say, “ Pull the place down, then our friend 
 Mr. Whitelock and the Trustees will be obliged 
 to get land.” They soon after built a chapel, 57 feet 
 square, with a very deep gallery, where much good has 
 been done. 
 
 One night while singing in the Hartlepool market 
 place — 
 
 “ Hear the Christian pilgrim sing 
 Heaven’s my home ! 
 
 Through the telescope of faith 
 He looks o’er the river death, 
 
 And exultingly he saith — 
 
 Heaven’s my home 1” 
 
 a man heard me a mile off, and conviction struck him 
 to the heart ; he came home, gave up his dog and gun, 
 and gave his heart to God, which was a matter of 
 thankfulness to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce, his parents, who 
 had long been members with us. 
 
 Mr. Lupton had requested me to assist in Darlington 
 circuit missionary meetings, with Mr. Hebbron. I 
 went and preached, and IVm. Stoddart started for 
 heaven. Our friends asked me how I liked the ISTorth ; 
 and I replied, “ I would rather be on the poorest sta- 
 tion in the South than the richest in the Xorth.” They 
 said this was different to what others said ; but I 
 repeated my statement. I felt what I said. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 161 
 
 Captain Eippon brought me 'word that Mr. Eide had 
 expressed a strong desire to see me before he left for 
 Australia. This was on my mind for some weeks ; 
 and during this time I saw a number saved and joined 
 to society. Mr. Snowdon preached a temperance ser- 
 mon at Middlesbro’, and just before the service, a 
 man, who had laid down to sleep after dinner, and 
 dreamed somet hin g about the chapel, rose and came, 
 and uuder this sermon was very powerfully awakened, 
 and afterwards joined the society. 
 
 Also at Middlesbro’ I saw a man converted who 
 had led his wife a punching life through his drunken 
 habits. She was a member of another denomination, 
 but when her husband got saved, she joined the same 
 class with him to endeavour to keep him in the good 
 way. This was a very sensible act. They both joy- 
 fully held on together serving the Lord. 
 
 At Stockton and Yarm we saw a move, but yet not 
 so rapid as at Middlesbro’ and Hartlepool ; at the 
 former place I was questioned whether I did “ right in 
 appointing street and other extra meetings without 
 first getting liberty from a leaders’ or committee meet- 
 ing.” I told them I thought so. At Yarm, Brothers 
 Clapham and Dryden encouraged me to do the best I 
 could, for they were low enough. A vessel here from 
 Goole was convenient for me to preach on, and I got 
 liberty from the captain. This seemed new to many, 
 so numbers came, and I preached to nearly three hun- 
 dred people. Stepping ashore, I saw a man to whom 
 
 L 
 
162 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 my heart was drawn, and I went to him and offered 
 him my hand, but this he doggedly refused. But I 
 pressed my point, and kindly took him by the hand, 
 and said a few words about his soul, and then left 
 him. But afterwards he said, “ As Mr. Bussell took 
 hold of my hand, it went to my heart, and I turned 
 to the Lord, though I had not been in a place of wor- 
 ship but once in seven years.” This man became 
 afterwards an active leader and local preacher ; and at 
 Yarm I saw a move. Glory be to God ! Much good 
 was done. 
 
 In compliance with Mr. Bide’s request, I went to 
 London to see him and bid him farewell. We had 
 seen much good done together, and I yet hoped for 
 another line of labour with him | but no, we must 
 now part for ever in this world ; yet not for ever, for I 
 believe we shall meet in heaven with loved ones who 
 have gone before. 
 
 I was thankful for the revival for some weeks before 
 the cholera set in, as many had been saved, and the 
 older members had got into a better course of labour. 
 
 The following is from the Magazine of 1849, page 
 692 : — 
 
 “ Sept. 3rd, 1849. — I had a special baptism at our 
 morning’s five o’clock prayer meeting ; in Hartlepool, 
 at one o’clock in the afternoon, showers of mercy fell 
 upon an audience of two hundred people, while I pro- 
 claimed in a back street the all-sufficiency of Christ to 
 save to the uttermost ; and about one thousand people 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 163 
 
 heard me gladly in the evening in the market-place. 
 A woman, with her infant in her arms, was deeply 
 affected, and followed our precession to the chapel, 
 where she turned fully to the Lord. Next morning, I 
 was called to see her twice, while the cholera was 
 raging in her system. In twelve hours she was a 
 corpse. Lo ! a brand plucked from the burning. In 
 about a week afterwards, her husband became a victim 
 to the same disease ; but he had hope also in his death. 
 Praise the Lord ! 
 
 “ During this week I preached thirteen times, con- 
 ducted eleven prayer-meetings, met three classes, and 
 visited one hundred families ; and nearly twenty souls 
 joined our societies. The cholera has removed from 
 us nearly twenty members at Hartlepool. How desir- 
 able that we should keep pace with the disease by 
 supplying the vacancies which death occasions, thus 
 helping to people the realms of light. We saw several 
 converted at W est Hartlepool, and the class increased. 
 At Kirklevington, a woman was convinced of her lost 
 state while I was preaching, and by believing in Christ 
 she was justified. I went to see her at her own house, 
 where I found her rejoicing in the Lord, and had an 
 excellent opportunity of speaking to her and her hus- 
 band, and two other women and their husbands and 
 families, about the salvation of their souls. God was 
 in our midst, and spiritual profit seemed to be enjoyed 
 by all present. 
 
 Middlesbro has been doing well ever since we 
 
164 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 Lad tLe camp-meeting. There Lave been some fatal 
 cases of cLolera tLere ; and tLe converting work is still 
 moving on. Stockton is loo kin g np a little, and tLe 
 friends seem on tLe eve of a gracious work. At Soutb 
 Stockton I Lave been missioning in the streets ; seen 
 good done, and formed a pro mising class of seven 
 members. ‘ 0 Lord, revive thy work !’ sincerely prays, 
 Yours in the Lord, “ Thomas Russell.” 
 
 In addition to the above accounts, I may state I felt 
 very solemn at the time of Yarm Fair. I Lad told my 
 children I meant to go and preach; they said they would 
 go with me, as they wished to be with me if I died, that 
 they might be there at the time ; for the cholera had been 
 several days in that town. On our getting near there, 
 we were told that the people durst not stop in the 
 place because of the affliction ; but we went forward, 
 and I found Mrs. Robert Clapham had taken the 
 disease. I went up into her room, and had a solemn 
 time in conversation and prayer. But after all that 
 could be done by her excellent husband and the doc- 
 tors, the day following she died. 0 for meeting in a 
 better world ! 
 
 I received the following from Mr. Clapham to send 
 to the Editor for the Magazine : — 
 
 “ Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees Circuit, 
 April, 1850. 
 
 “ To the Rev. John Flesher, — 
 
 “ Dear Editor, 
 
 “ I know yourself, with our numerous hearty friends, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 165 
 
 are glad to hear of any little improvement in our Zion. 
 As the shouts of victory in one part of the field of 
 battle stimulate the friends of the victors in another 
 part, where victory is uncertain, so does prosperity in 
 one place encourage soldiers of the cross to look for 
 and expect triumphs in those places where the battle 
 has long been doubtful. Many of our preachers and 
 friends have laboured long and hard to see the work of 
 God revive in this place; but for years the labour 
 bestowed, and the good seed sown, appeared to pro- 
 duce little fruit. But notwithstanding past discourage- 
 ments, prosperity has at length dawned upon us, and 
 our ‘ labour has not been in vain in the Lord and 
 now, they that have sown and they that reap may 
 rejoice together. For the last six months we have 
 had a steady, gradual revival of religion, without much 
 outward excitement, during which time about forty 
 souls have been converted to God, and, with rare 
 exceptions, they stand well. During the fore part of 
 the revival, many of those who were converted died of 
 the awful epidemic that visited our town, and went 
 triumphant home, leaving bright testimonies behind 
 that they had gone to be with Jesus. Our chapel, for 
 the last few years, has been in most distressing circum- 
 stances, and would, in all probability, have been lost 
 to the Connexion, had it not been for this revival • 
 but, thank God, in this respect we are now doing 
 wonders. Most of the sittings in the chapel are let, 
 and the trustees are placed in comfortable circuin- 
 
166 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 stances. Some of oui warmhearted friends thought that 
 while we were doing well we ought still to do better, 
 and to pay off the debt of the chapel altogether. A 
 plan was suggested, that at every Easter we should 
 have a special effort for this purpose, by means of a 
 tea meeting and public collections. The experiment 
 was tried on Easter Sunday and Monday last. Two 
 sermons were delivered on the Sunday by Mrs. Fryer, 
 to crowded congregations. On Monday, we had one 
 of the largest gatherings to tea ever witnessed in these 
 parts, and the greatest satisfaction was realised by all 
 present. After ample justice had been done to the 
 tea, the company adjourned to the Association Chapel, 
 kindly lent for the occasion, which was crowded to 
 overflowing. The meeting was addressed by T. Eus- 
 sell, T. Seymour, T. Sadler, M. Truet, and Mrs. 
 Fryer ; Eobert Bell, Esq., in the chair. It was a 
 most triumphant meeting ; and, we trust, lasting credit 
 to our cause was the result. If we are to judge from 
 public interest in our favour at our first effort, and 
 from the noble sum raised, we shall, ere long, have 
 God’s house free from debt. We are bound to give 
 thanks, hearty and sincere, to many kind friends who 
 fitted up the spacious room with all kinds of designs, 
 greens, roses, oranges, and ornaments, and who provided 
 the tea gratis. The public saw, admired, and rewarded 
 by their presence and support such disinterested con- 
 duct. Some of our friends say they will help us in 
 future if we continue to pray for them, and that they 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 167 
 
 seek no other thanks. For one, I pray that they all 
 may have the smile of heaven through life, and possess 
 hearts and means to help us in our work of faith and 
 labour of love ; and, finally, that they may die in 
 peace and go to heaven to receive their reward. 
 
 “Kobert Clapham.” 
 
 Further particulars : — 
 
 “ Dear Brother Flesher, 
 
 “ I am thankful for the account the post has just 
 brought me from Bro. Clapham, one of our local 
 preachers at Yarm, who is diligent in pushing forward 
 the work of God. I hereby cheerfully send it to you. 
 I may add, never shall I forget the anguish of mind I 
 felt for Yarm upon my first coining to this circuit. 
 The congregations often contained only five or six 
 persons, and sometimes at a prayer-meeting only two or 
 three met together. 
 
 One night I had a solemn time in the Market-place, 
 and while singing on my way to the chapel, I was 
 powerfully struck at seeing thirty or forty fine-looking 
 men, railway labourers, standing together by the road 
 we had to pass. I felt overawed, and stopping the 
 procession, I took off my hat in deep reverence, being 
 much depressed in spirit before the Lord on their 
 account. I begged them to go with me to the chapel, 
 and to turn to God. Most of them followed ; and that 
 night, while I preached from “ Remember Lot’s wife," 
 deep went the arrows of conviction into some hardened 
 hearts, and the cry was heard “ What must I do to be 
 
168 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 saved 1” Several stout-hearted ones that night set out 
 for heaven, and are still pursuing their way thither. 
 
 ‘‘Another night, while preaching in Yarm, from 
 “ the pale horse,” many felt much divine power. Had 
 no other good been done in Stockton circuit than that 
 we have seen at Yarm, I should ever have been thank- 
 ful that I came to the banks of the Tees.” 
 
 “ Thomas Russell.” 
 
 I had my difficulties here, having no one but the chil- 
 dren with me, and I feared for them, having to leave 
 them at home so often alone ; so I determined to take 
 them to be with their sister at my mother’s, at Middle- 
 wich, in Cheshire. 
 
 They had not long been there when Elizabeth deter- 
 mined, when ten years old, to go and learn the bonnet 
 business with her cousin, in Manchester, at Mrs. Over- 
 end’s. She stayed there some time, and at Midsummer 
 I went to the preachers’ meeting ; and on the Sabbath, 
 the Manchester camp-meeting was held. Mr. Sugden 
 came to the side of the waggon and urged me to 
 announce the Connexion’s progress, as there were num- 
 bers of other denominations there, and he wanted them 
 to know how we had been getting on. In the lovefeast 
 at King Street we had nearly twenty converted to God. 
 My daughter wept much. It was a solemn time. She 
 afterwards went to the stay business, at Mr. Parker’s, 
 and stayed there twelve months. Mr. and Mrs. How- 
 croft with their daughter showed her great kindness ; 
 and Mr. H. one day gave her sixpence for deliberately 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 169 
 
 saying the Lord’s Prayer, in French, at his desire. I 
 often had much exercise of mind for my children, but 
 they all got religion, and were to me a great comfort 
 though we were far apart. 
 
 At the March Quarter-day of 1850, I was requested 
 to stay again; but the District Meeting determined 
 otherwise ; and I was stationed to Brough, in West- 
 moreland. I attended Conference at Nottingham, and 
 was solemn as I thought of former days, and perceived 
 that many old friends were absent, and others were 
 filling their places. 
 
 The Eev. Hugh Bourne invited me with him to Mr. 
 Spencer’s, and prayed much with us ; and was glad 
 that I took up his brother’s case as to getting some 
 compensation, seeing that he had done so much for the 
 Connexion’s support, in its early days, especially for more 
 than twenty years at its commencement. John Gordon 
 Black, Esq., of Sunderland, helped me in it. 
 
 As we had had so great a work at Stockton, Mr. 
 Bourne wished me to stay there another year ; but my 
 word had gone for Westmoreland; so this station was 
 sanctioned, and I prepared for Brough. 
 
 On making up my accounts I found we had two 
 hundred and fifty-two increase of members for the year, 
 and about thirteen pounds increase of Quarter-day 
 income, and I left the circuit with thirty-three pounds 
 in hand ; so that all was getting on well. To God be 
 all the glory. Amen. 
 
 In July Mr. Abraham Hilton met me at Darlington 
 
170 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 with his waggon. But having to wait sometime for 
 him, as I was standing hy my luggage in the street, 
 Wm. Davies, Esq., came and spoke kindly to me, 
 and, though a stranger, he invited me to his house to 
 take some refreshment. A firm friendship sprung up 
 between us which continues to this day. The Lord 
 reward him. Amen. 
 
 The journey and conversation as we passed through 
 Barnard Castle and over Stainmoorwas very interesting. 
 On reaching Northside, looking down the Eden valley, 
 as the sun was setting, all appeared very fine for man y 
 miles ; and I soon found some very pious people in the 
 station. My predecessor, Mr. Wm. Fulton, had left 
 all in as good order as could he expected ; I was glad 
 for this brother’s sympathy as it cheered me. 
 
 PART XIII. 
 
 THIS station had four chapels, viz. : Brough, Mouth- 
 lock, Dufton, and ISTewbiggin, all of small dimensions ; 
 hut all large enough for the population in the several 
 localities. Here, Bros. Batty, John and Thomas But- 
 cher, with other of our friends, who had often crossed 
 Stainmoor in many a winter’s blast, to mission these 
 parts, were held in great respect. To write of Brough 
 circuit, without a record of the Messrs. Hilton, Jackson, 
 Buck, and Slinger, together with Mr. Swales, the 
 schoo lmas ter at Kaber, and also Esquire Ewbanks and 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 171 
 
 others, would hardly he in order ; for the converting 
 power had been on them, and their families, friends, 
 neighbours and relatives had many of them received 
 good. 
 
 Mr. Wm, E. Parker, of Manchester, wished to come 
 out to travel, and he joined me in this extensive 
 circuit. The journeys were at times long and tiresome 
 for one so much used to a good home and kind friends 
 as he was ; but the Lord made him useful. Glory be 
 to God. 
 
 I opened Kirby Stephen, the largest town in the 
 circuit, and second in the county, by preaching 
 in the market place. Many years after, as I was one 
 day near Coverdale, I met a gentleman on horseback, 
 of whom I asked the road. He said, “ Have not I 
 seen you here before!” I said, “Ho, sir.” “Well,” 
 he replied, “I think I must have seen you somewhere.” 
 I said, “I have been in Westmoreland, but that is 
 about fourteen years ago.” “ Ah ! that’s it,” he 
 replied ; “and I lent you a chair to stand on to preach 
 in Kirby market-place.” “Yes, sir,” I said, “and 
 you took me in to get a cup of tea.” He then said, 
 “ My wife and I were talking about yon last night, 
 and wondering what had become of you.” I replied, 
 “ The Lord came before me.” And he then said, “ Go 
 on to the house, and tell Mrs. to get you some dinner.” 
 “ Ho, sir,” I replied : “ but if you will go with me, I 
 will call and stop an hour with yon.” He said, “ I 
 have about five hundred acres of land here, and I am 
 
172 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 looking after the stock ; but I will return with you, 
 and hope you will call some time, and spend a week 
 or two with me, for we shall be glad of your company.” 
 He returned with me, and his good lady provided me 
 a dinner of beautiful fish from their own moun- 
 tain river ; and then he drove me several miles in his gig 
 until he got me another lift. This was real kindness ! 
 At Kirby Stephen, Mr. Jarvis Close, and Mrs. Close 
 and family, shewed me respect. Miss Close, with 
 their servant Sophia, had joined us ; and I formed a 
 class there. These two brave young friends soon 
 became useful, and were put on the plan as exhorters ; 
 and it was pleasing to see them afterwards frequently 
 crossing the Fells, neatly attired, on their horses, going 
 to take their appointments in distant parts of our 
 circuit. Since then, Mr. John Hilton has aided in 
 building a good chapel in that town, and they are 
 doing well. 
 
 We knew what storms in Westmoreland were. The 
 Him Winds were of a peculiar order : at times, great 
 gusts, then a dead calm, as if to make way for other 
 strong currents rolling in the air, such as I never knew 
 anything like it before ; and, indeed, the people said 
 that “ only in South Africa, off Table Mountain to 
 Table Bay, is there supposed to be any thing like it.” 
 Such have been the statements of travellers. 
 
 I had on the last day of the year, one of the most 
 severe journeys that had fallen to my lot. At noon on 
 the 31st of December, I was set down from a steam 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 173 
 
 engine at Ingleton, -where they were forming a new 
 railway line, and was then nearly thirty miles from 
 where I knew any friend. I set out and walked up 
 Xing Dale five miles, where I could scarcely see 
 "building or tree all the way, and the waters looked a 
 "blackish colour, and the ground seemed hare and 
 barren ; hut coming to the head of the dale, I saw a 
 house, and called to buy some bread and milk, and 
 paid for it. Then I asked them how far they were 
 from any place of worship, and they said, “ JMearly 
 five miles.” I asked liberty to pray with them ; hut 
 they said, “ Xay, we haye no praying here ; we go to 
 church.” However, I kneeled down and prayed while 
 the family continued busy about their employment. 
 I then left them and wend on my journey. My 
 feelings were very peculiai ; everything wore a 
 sombre aspect, and my mind yas deeply bowed within 
 me. A storm speedily set in, and I got a severe 
 drenching with rain • but I pressed on my way as best 
 I could, and went over the .mountain for Dent, the 
 most lonely way I thought that I had ever travelled ; 
 but I had my pocket map whidh was my guide. The 
 rain set in more furiously, and the storm became very 
 severe. By the time I was at the top I was wet 
 through, and had a long distance before me ; but on I 
 went to Dent and Sedbergh, by which time the night 
 set in, and I was fourteen miles off my destination. 
 The mountain torrents rolling in a futfous manner down 
 the hills, and in the dart' made all very gloomy, even 
 
174 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 to melancholy. On the road. I passed an inn, and 
 thought to have called to stop all night ; but it being 
 late I feared, as my clothes would be wet to put on in 
 the morning, it might he injurious ; so I determined to 
 get forward, and at about ten o’clock this dreary night, 
 I reached Mr. Close’s, of Kirby Stephen. This kind 
 friend received me with tenderness, and said, “ I 
 wonder that you are not cast away, for many have 
 been lost on these mountains in better weather than 
 tlxis •” and at once he told his daughter and servant to 
 get all in readiness for me to instantly go to bed, and 
 for them to wash my clothes. So I went at once to 
 rest ; and in ten hours I felt much better to get on the 
 remainder of my way to Brough, where I had 
 engaged to help at a temperance meeting, and where 
 they had got music in abundance. I sung them “ The 
 poor drunkard’s child.” This had a wonderful effect : 
 many wept, and several signed the pledge. That 
 melody was new, both as to words and tune, in 
 Brough ; and after giving them an account of my ad- 
 venturous journey the night before, that I might reach 
 them, I begged permission to go home ; and in my 
 lonely dwelling X laid down to rest. 
 
 Many a wearisome journey I had that winter in the 
 mountain ranges of Westmoreland ; but spring coming 
 was more pleasant. And one day, after a long course 
 of visiting from Dufton to Tebay, I came to Orton 
 very tired. Learning that Mr. Shepherd had come 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 175 
 
 there, I called, after many hours’ toil. Mrs. Shepherd 
 came to the door, and this kind lady said, “ 0, sir, 
 come in. I was thinking about you an hour ago, and 
 wondering where you were.” And I at once thought 
 the Lord had impressed her mind before my arrival, to 
 make way for me : this I looked on as providential. 
 Mr. George Yare, one of our local preachers, had made 
 a good impression while living with this family. 
 
 March Quarter-day had a great gathering; for 
 nearly thirty assembled. Mr. Close, of EounthAvaite, 
 with all the distant comers assembled, and they 
 unanimously requested the district meeting to re- 
 station me ; but I was removed to be with Mr. Lupton, 
 at South Shields. The adjourned Quarter-day appeal- 
 ed, as they wished me to stay, but the Conference 
 confirmed the appointment to the banks of the Tyne, 
 whither I went in July, and I found our friends 
 had two chapels in Shields. The Glebe would seat 
 nearly one thousand people ; but their burden of debt 
 was great. However, they had for some time before 
 resolved on public collections eveiy other Sunday, and 
 private contributions the alternate Sabbaths. The 
 public collection was from seat to seat with the boxes. 
 The last of these which I made, amounted to thirty- 
 four shillings ; as we were generally well-filled of a 
 Sabbath evening. The other Sabbath, a dish on a 
 three-legged tressel stood at the door, and two brethren 
 minded it : this generally brought in eight or ten 
 s h illi n gs. And by these means our friends, in years, 
 
176 
 
 RECORD OR EVENTS 
 
 got down their ponderous debt. They had a valuable 
 Sabbath school, and to my astonishment, at the anni- 
 versary recitals, my daughter, Elizabeth, was awarded 
 the first prize ; this astonished me, as she was only 
 eleven years old : hut Ann had returned from Portland, 
 and had had her in training for the occasion. I felt 
 humbled and thankful. The March Quarter-day 
 decided for a removal, and the district meeting left me 
 without a station ; but Mr. Richard Bulmer, and 
 the other leaders in Shields, appealed against this, and 
 forwarded my historical record of above twenty years’ 
 itinerancy, and of above nineteen-hundred increase on 
 my stations with increase of temporal matters accord- 
 ingly : they declaring “ That Brother Bussell should 
 either have a station or they would not have a second 
 preacher.” I was put back to South Shields ; yet my 
 mind was much bowed down, and to my sorrow I say 
 it, I sunk in spirits, and had hard work to get through 
 the second year at Shields. I grieved and became 
 very low, and feared for the future, as my confidence 
 was shaken. 
 
 At a round of missionary meetings in our cir- 
 cuit, the general committee delegate of the last dis- 
 trict meeting was the deputation, and when returning 
 from the last meeting, the following conversation took 
 place : — 
 
 G. C. D . — “ I hear, Mr. Russell, that you blame me 
 for your being left without a station.” 
 
 My reply was, “ As General Committee Delegate, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 177 
 
 you should not have suffered the District Meeting to 
 close until all its business was done.” 
 
 G. C. D . — “ All its business was done.” 
 
 I replied, “ Its business was not all done.” 
 
 G. C. D. — “ Its business was all done.” 
 
 I replied, “ It was not all done.” 
 
 G. C. D. — “ But I say it was all done.” 
 
 I still said, “ Xo, sir, it was not all done.” 
 
 G. C. D. — “ But I say it was all done.” 
 
 I still declared that “ It was not all done.” 
 
 G. C. D. — “ What was there not done i” 
 
 I respectfully said, “ There was a travelling preacher 
 left unstationed.” 
 
 G. C. D. — “ Adi, I did not see that.” 
 
 Then again, I said, “I waited eleven days for notes of 
 allegation which you should have seen that I had got 
 concerning it, why it was so.” 
 
 G. C. D. — “ There were none.” 
 
 I said, “ Then you should have said so, and have put 
 me in the best track to proceed. But I found it 
 necessary to review my labours and appeal to Confer- 
 ence. That appeal ought to have been fully read in 
 Conference, for it was respectfully written. I feared 
 that I might be too much tried to fully have respect to 
 a respectful course, so I desired Mr. Lupton and our 
 circuit committee to read it before I sent it to the 
 General Committee.” I felt assured I had not over- 
 rated my remarks. 
 
 M 
 
178 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 My t)ro tlier Elijah came and spent a few days 
 with me previously to his going to Australia. 
 In my low and gloomy state of mind I felt sorrowful, 
 and several friends suggested the thought of my 
 going into business to support my motherless family. 
 However, I could not see this, clear, as I thought my 
 work in the ministry was not dons. I, therefore, 
 dragged on, still feeling as if I was delivering my 
 message to the wrong people. 
 
 At the following District Meeting I was put on Dar- 
 lington circuit. At the July removal of 1853 I re- 
 paired to that station. I had previously received a 
 letter from the superintendent minister as to the state 
 of the circuit. He informed me that the quarterly in- 
 come was about twenty-three pounds, and the missionary 
 meeting yearly income was about twenty-five pounds. 
 What were two families to do on these sums towards 
 support? I felt thankful for this frank statement. 
 But money matters had ever been with me but a 
 secondary consideration in the ministry. 
 
 On our arrival at Shildon I found it just as stated ; 
 but I resolved to gird the armour on afresh, and I earnestly 
 prayed and humbled myself before the Lord, and 
 sought help from His merciful hands ; and before the 
 quarter was up I saw some indications of good ; yet I 
 was very sorrowful. Other trials befell me in connec- 
 tion with chapel matters ; but Mr. Handley who had been 
 a travelling preacher came from South Shields, thirty 
 miles to Darlington, to encourage me to keep my 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 179 
 
 station as a travelling preacher, for though, he was 
 doing well in business, yet he knew the sorrows of 
 mind attendant on leaving the work of the ministry. 
 So I bore up and endured as best I could. These 
 were amongst some of the trials of life that I had to go 
 through. 
 
 I well recollect kneeling down in the snow one dark 
 morning near Aycliffe, and begging the Lord would 
 seal his mercy afresh on my heart and help me once 
 more. This reminded me, and does even to this day, 
 of Sampson at Gaza, Judges xvi. 20. I prayed, I 
 wrestled, I struggled, and felt much, my sorrow at 
 times was unbearable ; I had much to mourn over. 
 But ere long my captivity seemed to turn ; the station 
 rose ; I felt cheered with visits to my old friends at 
 Yarm, Middlesbro’, and Hartlepool, at their chapel 
 anniversaries, and seeing good done with them. This 
 was truly a matter of thankfulness. 
 
 Besides this I saw good doing on our own station, 
 and our congregations rose, and we saw the societies 
 increase, and precious souls were saved. This answered 
 every purpose, for when sinners turn to God they 
 become good supporters of his cause, as when any fail 
 they get slack in their contributions ; first the heart 
 goes ; then, second, the hand is withheld, 'and all 
 becomes a drag, the preachers a burden, and they 
 invent other modes. 
 
 Though at our September Quarter-day we were ten 
 
180 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 guineas short of paying our way, by Midsummer fol- 
 lowing we got all straight with a good increase of mem- 
 bers. To God be all the glory. Amen. 
 
 Mr. Smith left and Mr. Clarke came. The work 
 went on ; and on the Shildon side and at Tof thill we 
 saw many saved. The Kev. Mr. Barlow, the church 
 clergyman at Cockfield, was very sociable. I told 
 him I should like to see him in the revival. He 
 replied, “We think it right, Mr. Bussell, to do our 
 duty, and then leave the event with God.” However, 
 he was kind hearted, and visited our members, or any 
 otheis, carrying them medicine in their sickness, and 
 ofttimes a good dinner from the parsonage, when it was 
 required. I liked him much, and hope to meet him in 
 a better world. I take the following from the Maga- 
 zine of 1854, page 53 : — “Anniversary sermons were 
 preached at Aycliffe, on Sunday, Xovember 6th, 1853. 
 Capt. John Welburn in the afternoon, and the Bev. T. 
 Bussell in the evening. The Lord was with us, and 
 the collections were in advance of those of any former 
 year. Several of our friends had removed from the 
 place, and those who remained had nearly grown faint- 
 hearted | but we are thankful to say that a fresh im- 
 pulse was given to the work, and hopes are now enter- 
 tertained of things doing better.” It now affords me 
 pleasure to say that it proved to be so. I stayed a 
 second year, and, thank God, not in vain. During my 
 time on this station 1 had the honour of a visit to the 
 AVestgate circuit, to supply for Mr. Bastow, while he 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 181 
 
 visited our circuit. During this change his son 
 Eichard cried for mercy, and found salvation. 
 
 At Darlington, I generally slept at Mr. Gair’s> 
 though I had afterwards numbers of friends, for nearly 
 every time I went there we had good done. Mr. 
 Davies, of another denomination, though up in life 
 as to business and property, gave me a general ‘invita- 
 tion, and his affection has ever continued. And our 
 own leaders and friends, too numerous to mention, all 
 were warm-hearted, and I liked them much. 
 
 During my second year here we saw the work move 
 on still more rapidly. 
 
 June 10th, 1 855 . — I attended Evenwood camp- 
 meeting. The processioning through the village was 
 good, and on the camp ground the whole course of ser 
 vices was beneficial. The lovefeast was one of the 
 most powerful I ever witnessed ; nearly one hundred 
 persons spoke in less than two hours, and at the 
 close six precious souls professed to receive pardon. 
 Glory he to God. At this place Bro. Bowman joined. 
 AY e also regained our chapel which had been lost to the 
 Connexion for some years. 
 
 Sunday, June 17th.— We held a camp-meeting at 
 Aycliffe. The processioning was powerful, but the 
 heavy rain prevented our being out all the day. 
 Between five and six o’clock, however, we held an 
 open-air service on the green, and good attention was 
 paid to the word preached. At the lovefeast five souls 
 obtained salvation ; one of them was a man who came 
 
182 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 out for a walk from near Darlington, live miles off, and 
 one of our friends invited him to the camp-meeting. 
 He complied with the invitation, stayed at our lovefeast, 
 and found liberty. He said, “ I little thought of this 
 when I left home.” 
 
 “ Monday, June 18th, was Quarter-day, at Darling- 
 ton. "We had a good increase for this quarter. We 
 are also doing well in schools, chapels, and finances. 
 I am happy to say that during the past two years we 
 have had an increase of above one-third both in money 
 and members. May the glorious work still roll on, 
 and the earth he filled with the glory of the Lord !” 
 
 At the suggestion of Mr. Robson, the Quarter- 
 day very generously made me a present of two 
 pounds on leaving this station. We cleared all off, 
 and left nearly nine pounds in hand ; so that pros- 
 perity did mark our steps. 
 
 Having spent six years in this district, it now 
 became a question as to the future of my labours. 
 Though while I had much to mourn over in the north, 
 I had some things to rejoice about ; for Mr. Petty, in 
 his History of the Connexion, at page 403, refers to 
 Sunderland district as having had in most circuits more 
 or less increase, and says ; — “ Wolsingham, Darlington, 
 and Stockton. These three named increased more than 
 the rest.” 
 
 It was during the period that I was on the two last 
 named circuits that those increases took place, and 
 the first circuit of the three was alongside of us ; though 
 I don’t attribute any good from our labours in particu- 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 183 
 
 lar to the AYolsingham circuit. The greater part of 
 that circuit, Mr. Lupton told me, had been taken from 
 Darlington circuit. A further reflection gives me 
 pleasure, i.e., Stockton and Darlington, ever since 
 those revivals, have gone on, or rather maintained 
 their ground quite equal to the rest of these powerful 
 circuits of the Sunderland district. This is a matter 
 of great thankfulness. 
 
 But now the Conference had closed, and I met the 
 train at Darlington in which two of our lay delegates 
 from the north had arrived ; and one gentleman told 
 me that my station was at Portadown, but he did not 
 know whether it was in England, Scotland, or AYales. 
 However, I knew Portadown was in Ireland ; and, I 
 may say, I would rather have received tidings of a 
 station in Caffre-land, in Africa, amongst the blacks. 
 For Ireland was the last country in the world that I 
 would have chosen to go to, and Portadown was the 
 last town on our list of Irish stations : — the last town 
 of the last station of the last country in the world that 
 I should have thought of going to. 
 
 I wrote home to Shildon to let the children know, 
 and this caused them no little sorrow. Hannah cried, 
 and Ann cried, Charlotte cried, and Elizabeth cried. 
 This lamentation got known amongst the neighbours, 
 and Betty Galloway came, as did others, and these 
 brave women could not refrain from tears. It was to 
 me too a source of grief and severe bitterness. 
 
 Again, my friends from Shields and other places en- 
 
184 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 couraged me; and on calm reflections I determined to go 
 to what I deemed a transport station, and make the best 
 I could of it. As to the name of the town, I supposed 
 it indicated some meaning. For instance, “ Port’’ 
 means a place where vessels lie ; “ Down,” I knew in 
 the Anglo-Saxon language meant “ hill;” so jo inin g the 
 two words by “ a” or “ of,” gave to me some idea of 
 a place of commerce. And I meant as soon as possible 
 to see something done there. 
 
 I deemed it proper to leave Ann in her business in 
 Shildon, and Hannah with her, and to take Elizabeth 
 and Charlotte with me. It was no little thing to thus 
 break up my family. I had lost dear ones by death. 
 The Eev. Hugh Bourne was dead ; 1 went two hundred 
 miles to his funeral, and preached at his grave ; and 
 never shall I forget his weeping, trembling brother, 
 who stood by the graveside in bitter sorrow. The 
 effect on me was like a shock. My mother, too, 
 was dead, with whom for more than thirty years I had 
 the greatest Christian union ; and I had had great 
 spiritual support both by Mr. Bourne and my mother. 
 But now these ties were loosed ; yet I had loved ones 
 still in England. 
 
 PAKT XIV. 
 
 BUT I made all as ready as I could — feeling thank- 
 ful for what the Lord had done for me — and in July I 
 sailed from Liverpool. On the next morning, while at 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 185 
 
 sea, about three o’clock, as I was looking over my map, 
 in Bradshaw, a young man came to me and said — “ Sir, 
 can you please tell me where Domore is ?’ I said 
 “Xo, for I am a stranger to Ireland.” He seemed 
 anxious about his affairs. So I asked him what 
 business he was of. He replied, “ I am a minister, 
 and want to go to Domore, near Dublin, in Ireland.’ 
 I asked what denomination he belonged to, for from 
 his attire he did not look very clerical. He said, “ I 
 am a Primitive.” I said, “What Primitive — an Eng- 
 lish Primitive or an Irish Primitive ?’ He said, “ I 
 did not know there were two sorts : but I belong to 
 those vulgarly called Ranters.” And with this last 
 sentence he stooped near me, and whispered the last 
 word. I at once asked him where he was from, and 
 he said “ York.” I asked him how Mr. Davies was. 
 This rather astonished him. I then asked where were 
 his credentials. He said, “ In my box, which is 
 amongst the luggage and he was going to get his 
 document ; but I told him to never mind it then. I 
 told Elizabeth to give him some food. And then I 
 asked, “Did you ever see me before?’ He re- 
 plied, “Yes, I saw you last night as you were buy- 
 ing some pigs’ feet of an Irish woman in Liverpool.” 
 I then said, “It’s not ‘ Domore’ you are going to, 
 hut Donaghmore ; and it is not near Dublin, but 
 near Xewry.” I said, “We are going to Lisburn, and 
 you shall go with us there, and to-morrow, I see by 
 the guide, you can get a train ; so you may make 
 
186 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 yourself comfortable.” Had this young man landed 
 with, his enquiries “ For Domore, near Dublin,” tbe 
 railway people and car drivers would soon have light- 
 ened him of his heavy purse. So it was well he fell 
 in with us, and we all reached Belfast, and made to 
 our excellent friend’s, Mr Knox, then stationed there, 
 who kindly received us. Mrs. Knox wept when she 
 saw the children, — and thought of the death of their 
 noble mother eight years before. I shall ever feel 
 thankful for the kindness of these dear friends, and 
 for the welcome they gave us on the Irish shores. 
 After a rest and refreshment we went on, and Mr. 
 Knox saw us safe in Lisburn, about six-and-a-half 
 Irish miles, eight miles English from Belfast. 
 
 We found all feeble enough, for though the people 
 were made acquainted with our arrival, I had only 
 two to preach to on the Sunday morning, besides my 
 own children. So I had time for reflection after 
 service, and to get ready for night, when we had a few 
 more. I think the morning collection was one penny, 
 and the night threepence. 
 
 During the week I visited and preached at several 
 country places, and tried to make the best of every- 
 thing ; and began to gather up former readings, and 
 to read more about this part of the British Empire. 
 
 And ultimately I learned that the noted Irish linen 
 trade was not native in its origin. William, Prince 
 of Orange, who was a Protestant, and had married 
 Mary, daughter of James the II., had been invited 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 187 
 
 to England to be king, and a conflict ensued ; but 
 at tbe battle of the Boyne, in Ireland, William con- 
 quered. An old poet puts this sentence into tbe 
 mouth of the Prince of Orange : — 
 
 “ God shall be the King to-day, 
 
 And I’ll be general under.” 
 
 The battle of the Boyne closed the conflict, and 
 England had rest ; but there was a doggedness amongst 
 the Papists of Ireland, and the priesthood hung to the 
 old system, and felt a fixedness of purpose to adhere 
 to Popery. But for some time the Covenanters of 
 Scotland had found a refuge in Ireland, and they and 
 other Presbyterian clergymen had some large congrega- 
 tions in Ulster, and in particular in the counties of 
 Down, Armagh, and Antrim ; and here many of the' 
 Lord’s saints had had refuge during the reign of 
 Charles II., and had laboured hard to get places of 
 worship. And William III., after settling on the 
 British throne, turned his attention to the bettering 
 of the condition of the Irish population. He invited 
 Louis Crommelin to undertake the direction and 
 management of the manufacturing of linen, hoping 
 this would be beneficial to the country in general. It 
 had long been the policy of English monarchs to 
 induce foreign artizans to settle in Ireland, and 
 establish new branches of skilled industry there. 
 It was hoped that the Irish people might be induced 
 to follow their example, and that thus the unemployed 
 
188 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 population of that country, instead of being a source 
 of national poverty and weakness, might he rendered 
 a source of national wealth and strength. An act was 
 passed in 1 697, containing various enactments calculated 
 to foster the growth of flax, and the manufacture of 
 linen cloth. 
 
 Crommelin belonged to a family who had carried on 
 the linen manufacture in its various branches in France 
 for upwards of four hundred years, and he had himself 
 been engaged in the business for more than thirty years 
 at Ormond-court, near St. Quentin, in Picardy, where 
 he was born. He was very well fitted for the office 
 to which the king called him, being a person of 
 admirable business qualities, of excellent good sense, 
 and of remarkable energy and perseverance. Being a 
 Protestant, and a man of much foresight, he had quietly 
 realised what he could of his large property in the 
 neighbourhood of St. Quentin, shortly before the Revo- 
 cation of the Edict of X antes, and he migrated across 
 the frontier into Holland before the bursting of the 
 storm. 
 
 In 1698, Crommelin, having accepted the invitation 
 of William, left Holland, accompanied by his son, and 
 shortly after his arrival in England he proceeded to 
 the north of Ireland, to fix upon the site best adapted 
 for the intended undertaking. After due deliberation, 
 he pitched upon the ruined village of Lisnagarvay as 
 the most suitable for his purpose ; and just across the 
 wooden bridge over the river Lagan his first bleaching 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 189 
 
 ground was started at a place called Hilden ; towards 
 which concern Crommelin advanced £10,000, and 
 William granted him a patent. And the king approving, 
 appointed him “ Overseer of the Boyal Linen Manu- 
 factory of Ireland and Crommelin at once sent invi- 
 tations abroad to the Protestant artizans to come over 
 and join him ; and numbers of them who had fled 
 from the cruel exterminating persecution in Prance, 
 and some too who were yet lingering in that Papal 
 country, responded to his call ; and a little colony of 
 refugees of all ranks was soon planted at Lisnagar- 
 vay, which place had been formerly burned down. 
 And now, as a memorial of this fact, its name was 
 changed to Lisburn, and the place shortly began to 
 exhibit an appearance of prosperity. 
 
 But what was Louis Crommelin, many may wish 
 to know. I answer, this brave enterprising man 
 was a Huguenot, the name given to French Protes- 
 tants ; and this noble race of people were the back- 
 bone of Prance, but the papal priests and dignities 
 resolved on their destruction. To go back to the 
 Massacre of St. Bartholomew on the 24th of August, 
 1572 : A pretended friendship was fostered by Cath- 
 erine de Medicis, who artfully contrived a marriage 
 between her daughter Margaret and Henry of Bern, 
 King of Navarre, chief of all the Huguenots ; and 
 many of the Protestants hoping thus to have peace, 
 fell into the snare, and so went to Paris in large 
 numbers to celebrate the event. The marriage 
 
190 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 was performed with great splendour in the cathedral 
 church of Notre Dame on the 18th of August, 1572. 
 There followed a succession of festivities, in which the 
 leaders of both sides participated, and the fears of the 
 Huguenots were completely disarmed. But between 
 two and three o’clock on the morning of the twenty- 
 fourth of the same month, the great papal bell of St. 
 Auxerrois rang for morning prayers. This was the 
 pre-arranged signal for the dreadful butchery to begin ; 
 and for three days followed a wholesale perfidious 
 massacre of an unarmed and unsuspecting and innocent 
 people. These dreadful events in the capital were 
 almost immediately followed by similar deeds all over 
 France. The numbers killed have been variously 
 estimated. Mr. Bourne, in the Ecclesiastical History, 
 says 50,000 ; Sully, the French historian, says 70,000 ; 
 while other writers estimate the victims at 100,000. 
 
 This information is derived from Smiles’ Book on the 
 Huguenots, and from the History of the Archeology of 
 Ulster, and from other sources. And further, the infor- 
 mation runs to show that though afterwards there was 
 some cessation of persecutions, yet ultimately, after the 
 Bevoeation of the Edict of Nantes, the Papists ran on 
 with their cruelties, until France got drained of the 
 best of her subjects, who then fled and carried away 
 their arts and trades, so that in a great measure France 
 was pauperised, while other countries derived the benefit 
 of the presence of some of the most industrious people 
 the world had in it. England, with its silk manufacture, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 191 
 
 and Ireland, •with its linen trade, were hoth successful. 
 I noticed in particular in Lisburn churchyard the grave- 
 stone of its great benefactor, and also of others of the 
 French refugees who lie buried there. While travel- 
 ing this mission, I found many families who claimed 
 descent from the Huguenots, and they could give me 
 very touching statements of the persecutions of their 
 forefathers. This endeared them to me, and especially 
 so when I saw some of them converted to God. 
 
 My station in Ireland at first gave me pain of mind, 
 as I had only formed my judgment of the Irish people 
 from the many labourers who came to England in time 
 of our harvests, and most of those were people who did 
 not leave any impression of favour concerning either 
 themselves, their families, or their country ; so that I 
 felt a great difficulty at first in forming any friendship, 
 or making any acquaintance with the people. How- 
 ever, after some twelve months, my trial in these 
 matters a little subsided ; for hunger will make a man 
 eat, and weariness will make him lie down whether he 
 would or not. And as I had come to do the best I 
 could in the name of the Lord, I laboured at it with 
 all diligence ; and, thank God, not in vain ; for at 
 Drumclough I saw several obtain good, amongst whom 
 was a man who had a brother who lived at Hillsboro’, 
 and he desired me to see him. I did so, and called 
 again ; but when I was on that side afterwards he had 
 removed, and I had a difficulty in finding him out ; 
 but at length I learned he had gone to Shamrock Yale. 
 
192 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 There I got another interview, and told them I would 
 preach in their house. This they consented to ; and 
 on the day appointed I went early, and visited the 
 whole neighbourhood ; and several came, to whom I 
 preached. A lady present seemed to receive the word 
 in a praying spirit, and I requested her to pray. A 
 gracious influence attending that service, I appointed 
 another meeting and another, until my way opened for 
 meetings in other houses ; and at length I formed a 
 class, and this excellent lady became the leader, and 
 she also formed a Sunday-school. The toil was not in 
 vain, for good was done in other places, and labourers 
 were raised up. Glory be to God ! 
 
 Our lovefeasts became very noted ; and at the time 
 of these quarterly services, the Friends, whose place of 
 worship was opposite, had their quarterly meetings. I 
 used to fear lest our lively singing would interrupt 
 them, but there was no complaint ; and we were glad 
 to see their twenty or thirty carriages lining our street. 
 We could .joy in each other’s prosperity. 
 
 The following is taken from the Magazine of 1858, 
 page 108 : — 
 
 “ Dear Editor, — 
 
 “We have just finished our second round of mis- 
 sionary services in this station. This is the third 
 anniversary since my coming hither ; and thankful I 
 am to be able to say, each of the three years has 
 exceeded its predecessor, which, considering the low 
 state of the financial world will give you and all our 
 friends great pleasure. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 193 
 
 “Our first and chief round was attended by the Rev. 
 George Kidd, of Haslingden circuit, Lancashire, who 
 rendered us efficient help. At Lisburn, also, the Kev. 
 AVm. Mulloy, Wesleyan, preached ; and Alexander 
 Riddell, Esq., took the chair. At Drumsill, Mr. Mat- 
 thew Totton presided ; and Mr. Rollins at Whitemoun- 
 tain, where at the second round Airs. Rollins preached 
 with good effect. Xov. 1st, Mr. Totton preached at 
 Drumclough. Xov. 8th, the Rev. T. Knox preached at 
 Culcavey and Shamrock Yale ; and, the same day, Mr. 
 Riddell preached at Cross Lane. Xov. 12th, the Rev. 
 Win. Bickerdike preached at M’Clutchy’s ; the writer, 
 too, had to take part in both rounds of services. 
 
 ‘•Missionary meetings. — Saturday, Xov. 7th, the 
 Rev. T. Knox aided us at Drumclough. Monday, 9th, 
 at Shamrock Yale, Bro. Greenfield assisted us ; at this 
 place Miss Barnsley has a Sunday-school, which is 
 doing well, in our preaching-house. Tuesday 10th, at 
 Air. Graham’s, of Drumbeg, where Mr. James Wier 
 took the chair. On Wednesday, 11th, at Culcavey; 
 H. Hart, Esq., presided, and helped us nobly. At 
 Killulta, James Maze, Esq., presided ; the Rev. John 
 Maze, who has written many of the Crayon Sketches 
 that have been published in our London papers, 
 assisted. At Ballinderry we preach in their uncle’s 
 house. These kind brothers always help,* and so do their 
 parents, who are descendants of the French Huguenots; 
 and here we have always rest. At Ballypitmave we 
 had a successful service at Air. M’Magra’s. 
 
 N 
 
194 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 “ I am happy to inform you, that though with much 
 trembling I left the shores of my native land, and 
 though I dreaded coming to Ireland, yet I do praise God 
 my feeble labours have not been in vain in the Lord. 
 I know many of my spiritual children and friends in 
 England have prayed for me, and the numerous friends 
 of our missions have stood as a united band, swelling 
 the solemn cry, ‘ Thy kingdom come !’ We have seen 
 souls on this mission converted to God, and some too 
 who are useful in the church. 
 
 “ Our advance in members is twenty per cent. ; 
 Quarter-day money, twenty-five per cent. ; and mis- 
 sionary money, fifty per cent. For these things we 
 are truly glad, and much humbled before the Lord. 
 May we still go on and prosper, and every part of our 
 beloved Zion increase and abound more and more. Amen. 
 
 “ But this success has not been without much and 
 ardent labour ; we have nearly twenty places, besides 
 new openings, and I do not like to miss 'one, which 
 causes much toil to be undergone. My usual course 
 of sermons numbers from nine to eleven each week, 
 besides often leading classes and visiting one hundred 
 families, and averaging nearly fifty miles walking. But 
 for the good I have seen I am thankful that I ever 
 was born. During the late riots at Belfast concerning 
 street-preaching, it was thought the storm would come 
 upon us in Lisburn ; and I was threatened that if I 
 did not keep my preaching indoors that I should suffer 
 for it. But having contended with mobs in former 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 195 
 
 years, and been very much persecuted in the south of 
 England, and never foiled, but having seen a number 
 of stations formed amidst great perils, I was not going 
 to be frightened in the north of Ireland at a few tlireats ; 
 and, indeed, I can adopt the Apostle’s language, Acts 
 xx. 24 : ‘But none of these things move me, neither 
 count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish 
 my course with joy, and the ministry which I have 
 received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the 
 grace of God.’ 
 
 “ Begging an interest in your prayers, that I may be 
 made more useful, and that our beloved Zion may still 
 prosper, I am, Yours in the Lord, 
 
 “ Thomas Russell.” 
 
 I had the pleasure of attending the Jubilee camp 
 meeting on Mow, May 31st, 1857. My daughter 
 Elizabeth went with me, and we stayed by request at Mr. 
 James Bourne’s, at Bemersley. Our venerable sire 
 accompanied us nearly four miles daily to that great 
 service, and I found him very vigorous in his memory 
 of former times, distinctly pointing out the spot where 
 the blacksmith’s shop stood, and where Daniel Shoe- 
 botham, Matthias Bailey, and Thomas Cotton lived. 
 He also told us where the Ashes Farm was, all near to 
 or at Harriseahead ; also which was the Trubsham col- 
 liery. 
 
 On our nearing the camp ground on the Cheshire 
 side of Mow, Mr. Bourne showed us the road where 
 his team drew the timbers that Mr. Hugh Bourne 
 
196 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 bought and constructed into buildings, in order that 
 he might have them licensed in the Bishop’s court. Also 
 he named his servant-man who drove his team at the 
 time, to carry those timbers fifty years before, when at so 
 great a cost they maintained the camp meeting cause, 
 and when only he and his brother bore the burden in 
 that great work. 
 
 On coming on the ground, Mr. Bourne’s memory 
 was as fully occupied in reminiscences of the first 
 camp meeting, and he pointed out to us where each 
 stand was, and also the house where his brother 
 preached his first sermon July 12th, 1801 ; and the 
 whereabouts the great course of prayer went on after 
 the sermon. I felt a great pleasure in receiving all 
 this information. 
 
 At the commencement of the meeting, the Bev. W. 
 E. Saunders, superintendent of Tunstall circuit, desired 
 me, as I was one of the oldest ministers present, with 
 Mr. John Coulson, to take the lead. This kindness 
 to this day I very highly appreciate. 
 
 The first stand was well sustained. Bro. Jonathan 
 Ireland, of Manchester, with Bro. Williams, from 
 Chester, effectually led the singing, and laboured hard 
 at that meeting. Mr. Ireland asked me to commence 
 a second stand, several joined me in doing so ; soon 
 after which I was remarkably struck with the melodi- 
 ous voice and powerful ministry of the Rev. John 
 Simpson, now of Leeds. This certainly was to me 
 very cheering. After which, we had a third preaching 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 197 
 
 stand ; and during the afternoon, a fourth stand ; and 
 I was glad to meet Bros. Samuel Turner, Benjamin 
 Brown, and many other companions of our early labours 
 in the mission field. 
 
 It was supposed that we had more than thirty thou- 
 sand people present. Mr. Bourne accompanying me 
 often leaning on my arm at every praying company ; 
 this honour I felt, and joyfully appreciated ; I felt his 
 influence as on former times. The day was fine, the 
 sight grand, the meeting glorious — many received good, 
 and I got a deeper baptism in my own soul. Glory 
 for ever be to God. Amen. 
 
 On Monday, June 1st, Mr. Bourne was up at four 
 a.m., and prepared our breakfast, when we again 
 repaired to the camp meeting. The conversation was 
 again renewed of the early times of the Connexion, 
 especially of the Standley class, and of Mr. Hugh 
 Bourne’s forming it, and appointing his brother James 
 to be the leader. 
 
 From the top of Mow we could see a great stretch 
 of country, over Cheshire to the borders of Lancashire, 
 and far in the directions of Derbyshire and Shropshire, 
 and our minds were much drawn on former mission 
 toils. 
 
 The services were well supported through the day, 
 and at night we had a powerful meeting in a large tent. 
 
 June 2nd. — We finally broke up, and I returned to 
 Bro. Broad’s, at Congleton, and thence back to Ireland. 
 
 Through mercy our increase was still on the advance, 
 
198 
 
 Record op events 
 
 and Lisburn, instead of being tbe lowest in number, 
 became tbe highest. I very much wanted to build a 
 chapel there, but it was thought we had better remain 
 as we were, though I saw the way to accomplish it, and 
 to this day I feel grieved that I was not allowed to 
 purchase the property at the top of Bridge-street, where 
 we might have built a good chapel. 
 
 PART XY. 
 
 AT the Conference of 1858, my removal was to 
 Donaghmore and Portadown, which latter place is a 
 busy, active market-town. On my first entrance I 
 found our friends were renting a small room over the 
 shambles gateway, for which they paid a heavy 
 enough rent ; and many a good sermon was preached 
 there to two or three people, and often the preacher 
 had to go and return without any other person attend- 
 ing ; and on my going I could not find the iron gate 
 keys, as this was a sort of union possession. My only 
 plan was to take the street ; so I laboured often out of 
 doors when I might have been indoors. After my 
 first sermon in the street one man, who was blessed, 
 started for heaven, and joined us. 
 
 Donaghmore had a chapel of sufficient dimensions 
 for the thinly inhabited locality where it stood, but it 
 lacked comfortable seats. Mr. Wilson and his three 
 noble sisters upheld the Sabbath-school ; and Miss 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 199 
 
 Marshall was a great helper. The Messrs. John and 
 William Kidd, with Mr. M’Connell, were very accept- 
 able local preachers. My friend and predecessor, Mr. 
 Knox, had maintained a firm and useful course for the 
 previous two years, and he and his wife and family 
 were much respected. Mr. John Taylor, who had 
 been some time on the station, was my colleague. I 
 felt a desire for extending the mission ; and as Mr. 
 Thomas George Crosby under Mr. Xullis’s labours in 
 England had got converted, of whom Bro. Xullis wrote 
 me to say where he lived (for he had returned home to 
 Mahon House), I went there and found him. This 
 opened my way to Drumnakelly ; and there, I am 
 thankful to say, a good revival began under our labours, 
 and we saw many converted to God. Mr. Joseph 
 Lee, of Mullyhead, with several of his family and 
 Mr. Quin’s family, came to our meetings and obtained 
 salvation. This opened that part also ; and there I 
 met with Sergeant Taylor, who had married a pious 
 woman of Embourn, in Berkshire. He told us at a 
 large camp-meeting that I held at Mullyhead, that the 
 Primitive Methodists had done much good in Berkshire 
 and the neighbouring counties, and that there was 
 scarcelya hamlet, village, or town but inwhich there was 
 preaching by them, and a society formed, and in many 
 places chapels had been built ; and that some of those 
 chapels were costly, valuable places. This statement en- 
 couraged our new friends, and gave a tone of greater con- 
 fidence to them, especially so as the sergeant was a pious 
 
200 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 man belonging that locality. Indications of good pre- 
 sented themselves in some of the other places, and the re- 
 vival became pretty general through the station. The 
 room at Portadown was so crowded, that at a sacramental 
 service I have had to administer the elements to some of 
 the communicants outside ; and the lovefeasts, from 
 the many that attended, had to be held in the open 
 air. These things stimulated the thoughts of building 
 a chapel, and in twelve months we got liberty to do so. 
 However, the work went on, and we opened Drumcree 
 and the Munchis. Mr. John Russell became a valua- 
 ble local preacher, and other labourers were raised up. 
 
 The General Missionary Committee granted us ano- 
 ther preacher, a young man from Scotland, so that I 
 was able to enter the town of Lurgan. Here I first 
 met with Mr. Archibald M’Kinley, who told me a 
 rather singular circumstance. The people in Lurgan 
 were very shy at coming out, and it was circulated that 
 I “had one only the town pump to preach to.” A 
 blacksmith said, “Well, if he will preach without 
 seeing any one as he stands by the pump, I will hear 
 him.” He heard, and not iu vain, for he turned to the 
 Lord and found salvation. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Hibbs, our missionary to Swansea, in 
 Wales, at his first entrance there “ had scarcely any 
 one to come near him ; but while he was preaching 
 several heard in their houses, and found salvation.” 
 This information I had from Mr. James Bourne as a 
 matter of encouragement, who at a District Meeting 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 201 
 
 heard Mr. Hibbs give tbe statement ; and this often has 
 encouraged me "when but few have come near. While 
 reading these sheets as they go through the press, my 
 wife informs me that as Mr. Wm. Kidd was preaching 
 in the open air at Lisburn, her grandmother, who was 
 great granddaughter of the proto-martyr John Rogers, 
 as she was sitting with her window open, heard the 
 gospel, which came with power to her heart, and led 
 to her conversion : “ In the morning sow thy seed, and 
 in the evening withhold not thine hand ; for thou 
 knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, 
 or whether they both shall be alike good.” — Eccles. 
 xi. 6. 
 
 The following I take from the Magazine of 1859, 
 page 681 : — 
 
 “Four years since I came to this country, three of 
 them I laboured on the Lisburn mission, and we had 
 a good increase on that station, for which I rejoice. 
 
 Twelve months since I came to Donaghmore and 
 Portadown station. My predecessor left the station 
 in an improving condition. This mission requires 
 much labour ; the journeys are long; from S lie vena- 
 man-by-Cons and the Three Loughs to Ballymagin is 
 nearly fifty miles. And we have frequently sixty or 
 seventy Irish miles walking weekly, besides visiting 
 mostly eighty families, often preaching nine sermons, 
 as well as meeting classes. Much of the labour has to 
 be performed- in the open air, either for want of places, 
 or for want of places large enough to accommodate the 
 people who are wishful to hear. 
 
202 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 “ At Drumnakelly, Thomas Crosby, Esq., has very 
 kindly given us a building, twenty-four feet by sixteen 
 feet. It is neatly fitted up, and much good has been 
 done in it. Mr. Croshy has now given his son, Thomas 
 George, liberty to go into our itinerancy. May God 
 remember them for good. Amen. 
 
 “ The revival movement has steadily made headway 
 all through the year ; and I have in every round on 
 this station seen souls brought to God. But the pre- 
 sent rapid revival of religion in Ireland has done 
 wonders in all the churches. Many clergymen testify 
 of their now having become new creatures ; so that I 
 have not now to battle with street preaching and 
 processioning nearly alone, but the clergy of the 
 Established Church and the Presbyterian congrega- 
 tions take the streets, lanes, and fields ; so do our 
 Wesleyan brethren, and not in vain. 
 
 “ The work made its appearance in our Donaghmore 
 chapel the last Sabbath Bro. Taylor was there, and 
 four were stricken. He remained several days over 
 his time to help on the revival. Bro. George A aim, 
 my present colleague, came ten days before his time, 
 at my request, and assisted me at a street meeting on 
 the day of his landing in Ireland, with good effect. 
 
 “ July 3rd. — We held a camp meeting at Knock. 
 Mr. Stephen Gladwin, my son-in-law, from Darlington 
 circuit, being over here on a visit to us, kindly helped 
 us, and preached several sermons at Knock ; souls 
 were saved, and great good done. The Lord’s name 
 be praised. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 203 
 
 “ Sunday, July 1 7 tlu. — TV e held an afternoon camp 
 meeting at Ballina-cor, and six or seven persons found 
 salvation. 
 
 “ July 24th. — The camp meeting services at Donagh- 
 more were much owned of the Lord, and great good 
 was done ; the Bros. Kidds, M’Connells, Wilson, and 
 others laboured welL The services here have frequently 
 been held till past midnight ; and, in some instances, 
 the people have had to he carried home in carts. Mr. 
 Gladwin was much owned of the Lord in this place, 
 as well as at Knock and Portadown. His singing gave 
 a very vivid influence, and many were saved at meet- 
 ings he held. I was thankful for this. 
 
 o 
 
 “Monday, July 25th. — I preached in the open 
 air at Drumnakelly and Portadown. At the latter 
 place Bros. Xairn and Crosbie had begun the service. 
 I was glad to learn one hardened sinner was cut to the 
 heart; he had come to the town on business from 
 some distance. 
 
 “ July 26th. — At Ballyhannon. We had service in 
 the open air ; while I was praying, just before sermon, 
 as I thought, a woman ‘ was stricken,’ and cried for 
 mercy, then another, and others, until Bros. -Kingshoro, 
 Urwin, and Bulla thought I must not think of preach- 
 ing. So this was set aside, and the praying went on 
 until past ten o’clock : five or six were saved. The 
 work has gone on here all the week. 
 
 “ July 27th. — We had the mightiest meeting I have 
 seen in Ireland. During the sermon one was stricken 
 
204 
 
 RECOBD OF EVENTS 
 
 to the ground, then another, and a third, until the cry 
 became general ; so I gave up preaching, and praying 
 began. A respectable farmer of another denomination 
 was advising me, in an after stage of the meeting, not 
 to preach so loudly, and telling me of other ministers 
 who were more mild. Just at this time several men 
 were hearing, from a distant side of the congregation, a 
 fine, tall young man screeching at the top of his voice 
 in great agony. My adviser said, ‘ Why, that’s our 
 Lewis !’ And so it was. At this the father himself 
 turned pale, and said no more to me then on loud 
 preaching. They carried the young man into a back 
 room, and laid him on the floor ; he lay nearly two 
 hours, and then suddenly sprang up, and shouted, 
 
 ‘ God has pardoned all my sins ; and if you will come 
 to Jesus he will pardon you.’ About twenty were 
 stricken, and all received peace except one, who got 
 comfort the next day. I think nearly twenty more 
 were converted in the ordinary way, viz., without being 
 stricken. It was two o’clock in the morning before I 
 could get the meeting broken up at Miss Neal's. 
 
 “ July 28th. — I preached in the open air at Lavagh- 
 rey, and eight were brought to the Lord ; the struggle 
 was mighty. Bro. Kingsboro preached here last 
 Monday, and several were stricken. This evening, 
 after ten o’clock, a boy came and told me there were a 
 thousand people at or near Knock, and they could not 
 get them dismissed ; Bros. Patton, Black, Cluelow and 
 M’Cain had nearly lost their voices, the work seemed 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 205 
 
 so great. I hastened over about a mile and a half, 
 and helped until past two o’clock. Much good was 
 the result. 
 
 “ July 29th and 30th. — Held service in the open 
 air, and several were saved. 
 
 “July 31st. — Three sermons in the open air, and a 
 lovefeast and one sermon indoors ; two stricken, and 
 five converted ; nine joined society. 
 
 “ I am glad to hear our brethren are doing well at 
 Lisburn and Belfast. 0 that the whole world may he 
 brought under this great revival ! 
 
 “Thomas Bussell.” 
 
 Also, at Portadown, Bichhill, Bracka, Duck-street, 
 and other places, the Lord’s arm was made bare, and 
 many were stricken, and many saved. At one camp- 
 meeting in Air. Moor’s field at Portadown, before the 
 general revival began, I saw twelve souls brought to 
 the Lord, several of whom became useful. 
 
 I felt much at a camp-meeting revival service at 
 Donaghmore, with Messrs. Whitfield and Booth, who 
 rendered me great help, especially as the former was 
 praying over his son William, who then obtained sal- 
 vation, and he is now a powerful local preacher in 
 Dublin, and wants a missionary to be sent there. 
 
 But now when the revival became so general, other 
 churches, with their leaders and ministers, took hold of 
 the power, and they had great ingatherings ; but I told 
 one minister there was a danger of their counting too 
 fast, that I had seen many revivals, but always found 
 
206 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 it prudent to be cautious in numbering. One third in 
 a great revival ; one half in a steady revival ; and 
 three-fourths in an even revival, I found might be far 
 enough to go in numbering the people, at least for 
 several quarters. Mr. James Bourne told me when 
 missioning Brown Edge, “ that one-third in the revival 
 there, counted the first quarter would be as well.” After 
 all my caution, the new converts by many were fully 
 counted, and then afterwards they had to count back- 
 wards, which was a cause of sorrow to them, and grief 
 at their annual assemblies or conferences. 
 
 However, the work with us stood fully as well as I 
 expected; and indeed steadily kept its ground con- 
 stantly on the increase. Necessity was on us to build 
 in Portadown ; I showed Mr. Lupton two sites ; he 
 chose Mary-street, so I closed in with Mr. Moor’s pro- 
 posal as directed. After getting sanction I made ar- 
 rangements for building; Mr. Wright assisted me much, 
 and the work went on. Mr. Patton guided the masons, 
 and Mr. Johnston gave me some insight in the work ; 
 so that we proceeded the year after the great revival, 
 as we had only then obtained liberty. The chapel is 
 forty-three feet long, and thirty-three feet wide, and 
 eighteen feet high. Mr. W. Antliff said the building 
 of that chapel was a praiseworthy act ; so did Air. 
 Austin and the preparatory District Meeting that 
 assembled therein. We raised above £200 at the time, 
 borrowed £120 on ten years certainty, and the remain- 
 ing debts stood until two years ago, when I went over, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 207 
 
 and in three weeks in the depth of winter, begged £60 
 to clear off outstanding debts, which was a great effort 
 then to make. I pray God reward all who assisted us 
 in that great undertaking. We also raised for Donagh- 
 more before I left that side money enough to put pews 
 into the chapel, and to put the property into good 
 order ; but we were much indebted to Master Joseph 
 Marshall, of Tully Murry House, for this help. That 
 chapel now is nicely furnished, and looks well. 
 
 I saw a necessity of building at Knock as a chapel 
 was needed on account of our having three or four 
 preaching places 'within one mile circle, and several 
 classes in the locality; also, at Drumnakelly, where Mr. 
 Crosbie would have assisted us to get land in a 
 good situation ; and at Lurgan. All these things were 
 pressing on me ; and, had I stayed in Ireland, I believe 
 I should have got through with them ; but I had to 
 leave. Mr. Bernard Kenny offered himself to our min- 
 istry, and I sent his application to Mr. Lupton, and he 
 was taken out and became useful. Since then 
 he has gone to Australia as a missionary. At the 
 dividing of Donaghmore and Portadown stations there 
 was only half a preacher’s labour on the Donaghmore 
 side, and the labours of three preachers and a half on 
 Portadown side ; but Mr. Lawley with a colleague 
 took the Donaghmore side with the hope of doing 
 more for Xewry and enlarging their borders. An 
 extra preacher was taken out, and we were to have had 
 four preachers at Portadown ; but in consequence of 
 
208 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 Mr. Stroud wanting an additional preacher for Belfast, 
 Mr. Rayner was detained there ; so we were only 
 three, though four stood on the Minutes for us ; and 
 Mr Moseley, one of my colleagues, was taken very ill, 
 and had to return home. But afterwards Mr. Baxter 
 and Mr. McKinley were taken out, though it was near 
 March before we could get all righted ; hut I found 
 Mr. Kullis a valuable colleague, and he laboured hard, 
 and was very much esteemed. 
 
 We had several protracted camp meetings ; the first 
 at Portadown was held in Mahon Wood, by permission 
 of Mr. Croshie. It lasted fourteen days ; and there 
 were tents, so that distant comers slept in the wood all 
 night. They brought their camp equipage with them, 
 and there they cooked their food ; some had come a 
 hundred miles to this camp meeting. A Mr. Greaves, 
 from the United States Episcopal Conference, had 
 set this affair agoing ; and I was glad to see our 
 Wesleyan brethren coming out so bravely. So I took 
 hold with them, and was mostly there in a morning 
 by six o’clock, stayed until afternoon, then went off 
 invariably to my appointments ; and often in returning 
 home at ten o’clock at night, was highly delighted at 
 hearing the singing in the wood when above a mile 
 away, or meeting groups of pious people processioning 
 in true Primitive style, for they had learned this of us in 
 our revival the year before the revival began, and now 
 it was fully carried out by pious people of all denom- 
 inations. 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 209 
 
 The incessant rain for some days made the ground 
 wet, hut a spirit of perseverance was clearly seen 
 in the Irish ladies, who on other occasions would be in 
 their beautiful mansions or riding in their carriages, 
 yet were now seen standing ankle deep in mud, listen- 
 ing with all earnestness to the word of life. 
 
 On one of these rainy days there were nearly three 
 thousand people, one-third of whom were crowded in 
 their tents holding services, and about two thousand 
 at the preaching stand. The rain descended like a 
 flood ; a thousand umbrellas were soon put up ; but 
 the minister next to speak could not manage it. All 
 seemed at a standstill. I felt for the whole concern, 
 and now saw that I had better preach ; so took Acts 
 xvii. 30, 31, and devoted my whole energy as I 
 described the judgment at the last day. The word 
 ran; many were deeply affected. All certainly was 
 very solemn, as the torrents of rain from the thunder- 
 ing and lightning clouds rushed through the great high 
 trees, which creaked and bent to the terrible storm. 
 But I felt the power of God on me while preaching 
 the word of life, and many wept. The Messrs. 
 Shillingtons, Eobbs, Pauls, Johnston, Montgomery, 
 and others, made good provision, and laboured hard at 
 these memorable camp services. The last general camp 
 meeting I was at was Enniskillen, where Dr. and Mrs. 
 Palmer, of America, attended. People from all parts 
 of Ireland were there ; and I had invitations for 
 Dublin, Dungannon, Armagh, and other parts of the 
 
 o 
 
210 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 country. I felt much for Sligo, and wished to see that 
 town. Several wished me to take an extensive course 
 of missioning through all the provinces, as they said 
 they were sure my way would open, and they would 
 guarantee my support. But no ; I did not go into the 
 ministry for support, nor enter the priests’ office that I 
 might thereby be able to eat a piece of bread. I was 
 a regular Primitive Methodist travelling preacher, and 
 wished to keep my station, for I loved the house of my 
 fathers. My last sermon at that camp meeting was 
 delivered in the presence of a great crowd, from Lam. 
 i. 12 : “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? 
 Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my 
 sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord 
 hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.” I 
 noticed : 1. Jeremiah’s experience at the sight of the 
 ruins of Jerusalem. 2. The sufferings of our Lord on 
 Calvary for a ruined world, and to procure our salva- 
 tion by his sacrificial death. Then, 3. The baptism on 
 the church ; and the church’s duty to strive for the 
 eternal welfare of the human race. 
 
 There was a gracious influence, and many wept, 
 some to loud sobbing, while I was preaching. After 
 the sermon, a very general course of prayer began. 
 There were about thirty ministers present ; and Dr. 
 and Mrs. Palmer sung in power. All laboured hard 
 and well, and about twenty souls that night obtained 
 salvation. Glory be to God ! 
 
 My time was up, and my daughter with others left 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 211 
 
 the camp early in the morning. Bro. jSTullis accom- 
 panied us to the hanks of Lough Erne, and for some 
 time he lingered on the shore ; when we were part 
 way across he called out, “Bro. Bussell, pray for me.” 
 We did not see each other for years after ; he has since 
 gone to glory. 
 
 The midsummer of 18(12 approached. The labour 
 had been great during the time of building Portadown 
 chapel : I bought the materials and hired the men to 
 do the work. My daily reading and writing had to 
 be done from four to six a.m. ; then I had to meet the 
 men (with Mr. Wright) at the works as they came to 
 their labour; about three o’clock I started for my 
 appointments, varying from four to six miles, and I 
 returned by eleven p.m. 
 
 This kind of labour lay on me for about three 
 months; begging daily at all my leisure time for 
 money to pay the wages ; and, through mercy, I don’t 
 remember .that any workman ever had to stop one 
 single hour for his money, and I often gave them a 
 little over. One Catholic man said, “ I would rathe 
 work for Hr. Bussell than any man, either priest or 
 gentleman, for he so cheerfully pays us, and tells us 
 good things.” 
 
 But such incessant labour took hold of my system, 
 and I feared for life’s continuance. One morning, 
 coming from Mourn Mountains about six o’clock (I 
 had then walked five miles), a pain struck me 
 right into the small of my back, and I could not walk, 
 
212 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 "but lay down by the roadside very ill as the sun was 
 rising. After a little rest I made a further effort, and 
 seeing a cart, I got a lift. The driver sympathised 
 with me, and began to talk cheerfully, and showed me 
 the house where he said John O’iSTeil was bom ; and 
 told me of his giantlike powers, “ that if he only 
 weightily laid his hands on a man, he would be sure 
 to die, as the serpents did when St. Patrick put his 
 rod on them, or banished them out of the country." 
 With great difficulty I got through that journey, as I 
 did many another of twenty miles, which I often 
 walked, by Ballycashon from Slievenamon to Bess- 
 brook, where my daughter Elizabeth lived, and had a 
 school under the patronage of J ohn Grub Bichardson, 
 Esq., a member of the Society of Priends ; and where 
 Elizabeth had commenced a Sunday-school, which now 
 numbers many scores of children and young people of 
 all persuasions; and where now her husband, Mr. 
 William Hobson, together with Mr. Harris, the chief 
 manager, and other managers, feel a delight in training 
 the juveniles of this newly risen town of between three 
 and four thousand inhabitants, all domiciled like families 
 in first-class English manufactories. I hardly knew 
 which to admiie the most — Bessbrook and its spacious 
 mills, in Ireland ; or Saltaire and its great factory, not 
 far from my friends, Messrs. Fletcher and Baron, of 
 Silsden, in Yorkshire. Mr. Bichardson has just pur- 
 chased a long tract of country, the Camlough Moun- 
 tains, to secure the waters of the Lough for the benefit 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 213 
 
 of liis mill operations. Tlie cost, I think I under- 
 stood the owner to say, was .£95,000. 
 
 Seldom would this kind Friend let me walk my 
 journeys ; for at any time when he overtook me going 
 along the road he gave me a ride in his carriage, or 
 lie would even send his saddlehorse and footman 
 with me ; also Mr. Make field and other Friends, and 
 indeed friends of other churches, would kindly help 
 me. So that now, instead of Ireland being in my 
 mind as ‘ - a transport station,” I looked on it as a 
 colony of first-class order. 
 
 But then, again, as my children had formed matri- 
 monial acquaintances in Ireland very creditably, it 
 was a pain for me to be separated from them. So that 
 though I went to Ireland with reluctance, I left it 
 with regret ; and particularly so as I had seen much 
 good done, by many being brought to the knowledge 
 of the truth; and our society was nearly doubled 
 in numbers to what it was when I went there seven 
 years before. 
 
 I understood that three generations back, there was 
 one man, a Mr. Bichardson, who had three sons ; 
 these had fa m i li es, and two cousins of them in suecess- 
 sion to each other represented the borough of Lisburn 
 in parliament. I also heard of one of the family 
 whom the Queen would have knighted ; but Friends 
 don’t value titles. There are now several very wealthy 
 families of the Richardsons living at or near Lisburn, 
 and they have done much towards providing labour in 
 
214 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 tlieir mills for the working people, besides the gigantic 
 concerns at Bessbrook and other places, thus giving 
 great energy to business, and finding work for thou- 
 sands of the Irish population in the linen trade. 
 
 In addition to Friends being enterprising, other Irish 
 Protestant gentlemen are pursuing the like advantage. 
 John M’Masters, Esq., and Co., at Gilford have a very 
 large establishment, and numbers more in other places. 
 So that Louis Crommelin and the Protestant refugees 
 of France and other countries have done much for the 
 sister nation in establishing trade and manufacture. I 
 always loved to hear the rattle of the weaver’s shuttle, 
 and see the people in their clean, 'nice working attire, 
 especially the thousands at Bessbrook. 
 
 The country people always liked the week-night 
 services during the winter at sunset, which gave me a 
 good opportunity to hold a second service the same 
 night in the town on my return home. 
 
 PART XYI. 
 
 BUT I had to leave the land of my daughter Elizabeth’s 
 adoption, and Mr. Riddell accompanied us to the ship ; 
 and I for a time bade the Irish shores adieu, leaving 
 the same two children behind that I first took there, 
 the elder for teaching, and the younger for learning ; 
 and Hannah accompanied me to Grassington, my 
 station for the coming year. The first thing that 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 215 
 
 met me was, “ Notice,” tliat tlie money affair of 
 Hebden chapel was lodged in the hands of a 
 lawyer, and “that it must be paid;” and there 
 were none able to meet it, for all were poor indeed. 
 I hastened off to Bolton Abbey, and found the rightful 
 owner, and saw that the debt stood at nine pounds more 
 than the few friends we had said it was. Then the 
 same day I hastened off to Skipton, saw the solicitor, 
 and stopped proceedings ; then walked on nine miles 
 more to Grassington ; but was so weary when I got to 
 bed that I could not sleep. I had often had head-ache 
 and heart-ache, but I never had leg-ache before that 
 night ; I lay two hours before I could get to sleep. 
 However, I got all settled after some weeks’ toil, by 
 Mr. Eichard Ibbotson lending the required sum that 
 Hebden chapel needed, which was £85. But the 
 affair of Hebden had not been long finished before the 
 mortgagee for Grassington chapel called his money in, 
 £300. Messrs. J. Fletcher and George Baron very 
 kindly promised help if we could get all settled ; so 
 the money was brought down to £205, and this became 
 the mortgaged sum, and a new trust was formed. I 
 was thankful for the help of our Silsden friends in this 
 particular. 
 
 Directly almost on Grassington getting on its feet, 
 Barden chapel money was called in. There was £260 
 on a small chapel with a dwelling-house under it, and 
 the foundations were saturated with springs, so that 
 the house floor was often covered with water. The 
 
216 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 members told Mr. 'Fletcher the state it was in, and 
 that it was untenantable ; he said, “ Tell Mr. Russell 
 that he must see to it.” And at once I consulted Mr. 
 Wall, and he believed the way would open ; so I got 
 Mr. Walton to bring us some drainage tiles from Skip- 
 ton, and our friends gave much labour, and dug out to 
 the back wall, where was water pent up, and no 
 way out for it. But we got a clear passage ; and at 
 the cost of nearly £20 made the whole tenantable. 
 I laid the whole affair before the society, and 
 they appointed me to try to get all settled. This I 
 strove hard for, and formed a new trust ; and by the 
 help of the mortgagee, Mr. Wm. Clarkson, and our 
 Silsden friends, and the General Chapel Fund Com- 
 mittee, we got the debt down to £65, which two of 
 our friends kindly lent on notes of hand ; so that this 
 long and hard struggle, which gave me a great deal of 
 extra toil, sometimes with bleeding and blistered feet, 
 was all settled, and the house was made a comfortable 
 residence, and the chapel a respectable place, and some 
 good was done. Bro. Broadley, with others, assisted. 
 
 When the Rev. Charles Proctor travelled in this 
 station, Mr. Swale took a farm at Starbotton, eight 
 miles above Grassington. Our brother followed up 
 after this friend, and missioned there ; but as he had 
 to go through Kettlewell, an ancient market-town, he 
 missioned that place also, and a society was formed, 
 and precious souls were saved. Our people had been often 
 sliiftedfromhouse to house, and they hadfrequently been 
 tempted to give the place up. But on Air. Wethereld 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 217 
 
 having taken a farm, he let them have a granary or 
 small loft, and we had many a powerful time, and 
 souls saved there. Glory be to God. 
 
 But they had long desired to get a chapel, only the 
 property in general was so situated that no site could 
 he procured. However, after I had got partly through 
 the old chapel cases, as I was one day at Kettlewell, 
 wondering that no land could be got, I saw an old 
 ruin in the centre of the town ; I inquired after its 
 owner, and was told it was Mr. Wiseman, of Burnley. 
 I at once applied to Mr. Gaukrodger, and he took a letter 
 to Mr. W., in which I said, “If you will give us land 
 we will build a chapel.” This offer he at once accepted, 
 on condition that it was built under three years. I 
 was now coming on my third year, so I had to be in 
 earnest, or leave the work undone. The whole was 
 set about, and Mr. Proctor lent us £80, the rest was 
 begged ; and so we built as beautiful a chapel as any 
 of the size in all those parts. It is twenty-six feet by 
 twenty-three feet, and fourteen feet high, besides room 
 under, in all twenty-three feet from the foundation 
 to the ceiling. But this caused me very much labour 
 in an extra way to my regular ministerial work. 
 
 Mr. William Garrett, a most valuable, pious leader 
 and local preacher came from Ireland, he was converted 
 to God under the labours of our brethren above twenty 
 years since. He maintained a good course, was highly 
 esteemed,' not only by our own friends, but in all the 
 churches. 
 
218 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 He came to Keighley, in Yorkshire, to better his 
 circumstances ; and, also, for the benefit of his family. 
 F or some time all seemed to do well, his excellent wife 
 and family came over, and all went on prosperously. 
 Alas ! our brother sickened and died ; but he finished 
 his course with joy. Bro. and Sis. Kingsboro too 
 came from the Portadown station to Keighley, and 
 told me of the good progress of Bros. M’Cann and 
 Mugladery, Mr. Dickey and others also pressing on 
 for heaven. 
 
 In addition to Wharfedale, Mr. Lupton wrote me 
 that I had to take to Settle in Ribblesdale, and this 
 had to be attended to at once ; and in time we had 
 Mr. Baxter for that side. But the journey ings were 
 severe in winter. My colleague got once so far bewil- 
 dered on Kollfell, near Malham Tarn, that hours had 
 to be wandered away before he could get his right 
 track. I suppose this must have been the time that 
 ho walked nearly one hundred miles in eight days. 
 
 PART XVII. 
 
 THE following account I have before me in writing of 
 one of my own journeys : — 
 
 “ Dec. 3rd, 1864. — I came by the mail coach to 
 Kilnsey Rocks, about two miles east of Kettlewell, on 
 the banks of the river Wharfe. I then went up the 
 Arncliffe Dale, where I got lunch at a gentleman’s 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 219 
 
 lxoiiso, who had given me ten shillings for Kettlewell 
 chapel. I hastened on to Litton, and then to Foxup, 
 and here I seemed nearly fell-hound ; as it seemed from 
 Foxup a heap of mountains all ahead and either side, 
 and the river had swollen to a flood, and I had to creep 
 along a ledge of rocks so as to escape the stream up 
 the foot of the south-west fell. It was then three 
 o’clock. I asked a farmer the road ; hut he said that 
 many had been lost on those moors, and it was a dan- 
 gerous way. However, I asked him to direct me to 
 the 4 Top,’ which was the farm-house I wanted to go 
 to, where Hr. Parker lived. After other cautions, he 
 did so ; and he pointed me the direct line of the 
 house with his long staff, and I then took my aim hy the 
 course the wind hlew, as this was now my only guide 
 Though there was a great mist, I ventured and helted 
 the fell. I had a blind track for half a mile, but 
 noticed the footprints of a large horse, which I could 
 trace for near a mile, and was then fairly on the 
 trackless and noted Penygant, a parallel mountain 
 to Pendlehill, which is in Lancashire, of which it 
 is said by these mountaineers, 4 When Penygant and 
 Pendlehill do meet, the world will be at an end.’ I 
 was on the north side of the Penygant, and had to 
 cross the floods as best I could, for there had been 
 much rain, and now the mist was very thick. The 
 long grass and ling soon wet my feet and legs to 
 above the knees, and the thick mist and now and then 
 heavy showers soon completely drenched me ; and by 
 
220 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 four o’clock I lost all trace of path or road, and now 
 had fell walk to the full. But I knew Penygant, the 
 famous lowering mountain, was to my left, or due 
 south, and my friend’s house lay on the north-west 
 side; so though knee deep in fern, ling, and long grass, 
 I went on my dreary way, and I felt assured the wind 
 had not changed ; hut I now and then plunged my foot 
 in a water hole below the surface of moss or bog ; yet 
 I kept in the right direction, until at length by live 
 o’clock I got to a lane, or rather walled-in enclosure, 
 and some symptoms of an inhabited country appeared ; 
 I also saw some fir trees. But it was so dark with 
 mist, though the moon was up, I could scarcely see 
 my watch, but the current of air full in my face was 
 my guide ; and on I went, passing many a deep ravine 
 where the wild mountain torrents rolled down ; and 
 by half-past five I reached a house, and was glad once 
 more to hear a human voice. I went in and prayed 
 with them, and asked for a drink of water ; they gave 
 me a cup of tea, which was refreshing, and directed me 
 the road for the next two miles, and I got to the house 
 I wanted before eight o’clock. I then found that I 
 had been about one mile off when I entered the lane 
 two hours before ; only that even those who tftlerably 
 knew the road could scarcely have found it in the 
 dark without great danger of being lost or cast away in 
 some dangerous pit or bog. So I felt thankful that 
 I had safely arrived, and they soon gave me some 
 refreshment. After I had had worship with them, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 221 
 
 they put on a little more firing, and I dried my clothes 
 one by one as fast as I could, and by midnight all weie 
 moderately ready for morning, and I then went to bed. 
 
 “ Sunday, Dec. 4th.— After family prayer, reading 
 the Scriptures, and giving them an exhortation, I 
 walked eight miles by ten o’clock, and preached ; then 
 one mile to Settle, and preached at half-past two and 
 at six in the chapel, besides speaking to the Sunday 
 scholars, and visiting a few families between the public 
 services.” 
 
 Another time going to Settle, I went by Airton ; 
 but when six miles otf, the snow had fallen so thick, 
 and it had become so deep and in drifts, that at times 
 I could scarcely keep the road, and when reaching the 
 gate going into the open fell, the storm was so severe 
 that I could scarcely breathe, and had to shelter knee 
 deep in snow for some time behind a wall ; but yet in 
 three hours I walked the six miles. But Mr. and Mrs. 
 Graham, and the few friends we had in Settle, were 
 kind, which seemed to make amends ; and also Mr. 
 and Mrs. Cay gill, who were Friends, always received 
 me kindly. Invariably when my work was done on 
 the Settle side, or any other part, I made the best and 
 quickest of my way back to Grassington, sometimes 
 over night, if I finished on a Sabbath-day, or started 
 two or three hours before daylight the next morning ; 
 and at times I was on the summit of those high tops 
 near Malham Tam before the break of day, that I 
 might get home to breakfast. The distances I had to 
 
222 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 walk from Bibbledale to "Wharf edale varied from thir- 
 teen. to eighteen miles, as the case might be, according 
 to the road I went. But it generally took me five or 
 sometimes six hours to get over this journey. 
 
 On one of these return journeys my daughter 
 Hannah was with me, and we had to come to Star- 
 botton. A friend accompanied us five miles to direct 
 us the nearest way, and then showed us what course to 
 take • but there were so many blind tracks that we 
 both seemed at a loss which would be the right one. 
 I said, “ Let us kneel and pray for the Lord to guide 
 us •” and we did so. Then rising up, I felt in my 
 heart drawn to leave a deep dale to our right, and so 
 found we were not wrong, but we came direct down 
 on Arncliffe. I then knew our whereabouts ; but to 
 have gone round would have been about seven miles ; 
 but over a high fell it was only half way, so we took 
 the nearer. The ascent was very steep for about a 
 mile and a half, and when a little over the top the 
 descent is about the same distance. But soon we 
 had to face a wood ; I tried for a track, but could not 
 find any, so my daughter advised that we should go 
 through the wood. I took off my topcoat, and she put 
 it on, to save her own clothes from the thick brush- 
 wood, briars and thorns, which were very thick, grow- 
 ing out of the cliffs of these nearly perpendicular rocks. 
 Sometimes I bent the slender trees down, and so we 
 slung ourselves down as best we could, and in half an 
 hour got three-quarters of a mile ; then, by the help of 
 
IX PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 223 
 
 a hedgestake, we each sustained ourselves down the 
 next descent of this terrible road, glad enough in two 
 hours to reach our place and have a good meeting 
 with Mr. Harrison, which made amends for all. 
 
 But though dreary in -winter and stormy wet 
 weather, yet -when calm in summer there was a plea- 
 sure in travelling these long journeys ; and Mr. and 
 Mrs, Parker, with Mrs. Walton, Mr. Harker, Hardacre 
 Wiseman, and other friends, showed me kindness. 
 
 My daughter Elizabeth and her husband being over 
 from Ireland, we had a day’s comfort together at 
 Grassington ; but having heard that I had to go to 
 Settle to preach on the Sabbath, William r offercd to go 
 with me. So, on Saturday, May 27th, 1865, at noon 
 we set out and went through Tlireslifield, over Boss- 
 moor, Bordsley-moor, and to Gordale Scarr, which is 
 supposed to be one of the grandest sights in England. 
 
 Going off the high road, and turning to the dell for 
 nearly a quarter of a mile, one seems to be coming to 
 the breast of a surrounding mountain ; but it requires 
 ■one to go round the corner to get the great sight, which 
 appears to have beeu rent by some terrible convul- 
 sion of nature. Here one enters a kind of amphitheatre, 
 perhaps six hundred feet in circumference. On the far 
 side is a most beautiful fall of water, rolling down 
 the face of the rocks, dashing amongst the broken 
 crags -with terrific impetuosity, and through a hole or 
 tremendous chasm, through which we can see the sky, 
 but we cannot climb, because of the overhanging cliffs. 
 
224 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 From the bed of the stream to the top is said to he 
 three hundred feet. I think such a sight I never 
 beheld : thousands of tons of limestone overhanging, 
 and this too the greater part of the way round. I 
 felt almost as solemn as I did the first time I stood 
 under the Clifton Cliffs, at Bristol, as we were about 
 to sail down the river Avon for Cornwall. 
 
 Now while in Gordale I sat on a prominence to 
 rest, and sung — 
 
 “ Rock of Ages ! cleft for me, 
 
 Let me hide myself in thee.” 
 
 William took off his hat, and joined me ; it was a 
 solemn time. I may remark, the stream which issues 
 out at the foot of Gordale Searr from a subterraneous 
 passage, joined by the stream from above, is said by 
 some to be the commencement of the river Aire ; but 
 others think the stream from the foot of Malham Cove 
 is the original source ; however, in little less than a 
 mile they both meet, and form one beautiful stream, 
 which runs down a fine valley to Airton. Malham Cove 
 is like a fender, stretching a quarter of a mile, and for 
 nearly three hundred feet it is almost perpendicular. 
 At Malham Cove William fully enjoyed his leaps over 
 the streamlets, as he was desirous to go round and be 
 acquainted with the whole scenery. There is another 
 sight close by, viz., Janet’s Cove. It has a low 
 entrance; but when -within you find it spacious, 
 with a beautiful waterfall teeming twenty feet over 
 a fine level limestone rock, like soft silken robes ; 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 223 
 
 and tins third grandeur of nature seemed almost 
 as enrapturing as the two others. 
 
 We went on to Airton, and I held a service 
 with a few friends ; and then went to Settle, where 
 I held three services on the Sabbath, and William 
 spoke to the children in the school. We returned 
 home over the mountains, and I had the opportunity at 
 near ten at night, of showing him the entrance of part of 
 the stream running into the ground, where we listened to 
 the hollow sound as the water rolled through the 
 subterraneous passage to the coves just mentioned. We 
 reached home before one o’clock on the Monday 
 morning, thankful for preserving mercy. 
 
 PAST XVIII. 
 
 AFTER adjusting my concerns, and seeing to the 
 station work, I went with my children to Shildon to 
 see Ann and her family. We went through Bolton 
 Woods and on to Bradford, where I saw two fine 
 portraits of Mr. Hugh Bourne and Mr. Clowes at Mr. 
 Johnson’s. I suggested the idea of Mr. James Bourne 
 being added to make a trio. Applying to the Rev. 
 Robert Smith, Mr. Johnson obtained the loan of a fine 
 portrait ; so now we have the three hanging on oiir 
 walls, and they are indeed thoroughly life-like, as I 
 knew our fathers looked forty years ago. We enjoyed 
 our journey to Shildon. But on Saturday afternoon we 
 
 P 
 
226 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 had to pait ; both families now numbered eleven. I 
 thought of Jacob’s saying, “ I passed over this J ordan with 
 my staff, but now I am become two bands.” I thought 
 of my first crossing the Tees alone in 1849, when my 
 children were all young ; now, Hannah and her husband 
 were gone to Australia, and I felt solemn for them, as 
 I knew my brother Elijah died there after a few days’ 
 illness. About the time that my brother died, I 
 dreamed that I saw him, and thought he looked well, 
 and that I asked him if he was happy, and he said, 
 “ Happy,” turning his face aside with a smile. As I 
 thought of these things, I felt still more deeply serious. 
 
 The same evening I went on to Richmond, and after 
 three hours’ sleep rose on Sunday at two a.m., walked 
 fifteen miles into Coverdale before I took any refresh- 
 ment ; and calling at a farmhouse, I asked if they were 
 going to Horsehouse camp meeting. They asked, 
 “Have you had your breakfast 1 ?” I said, “ I have come 
 from Richmond.” This at once stimulated them to 
 hurry me a cup of coffee ; then on I went, and found 
 our friends had begun a prayer meeting in the chapel. 
 I advised at once to go to the camp ground ; so, after 
 processioning the village, I helped through the fore- 
 noon service ; and while I was preaching, Bros. Chap- 
 man and Simpson arrived from Grassington ; and Air. 
 Clarke sent me three miles in his conveyance to the 
 foot of Whernside, one of the highest mountains in 
 Yorkshire. I then sent the conveyance back, and 
 walked five miles over to Kettle well, where I was 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 227 
 
 planned, and had good services both afternoon and 
 night, and the new chapel was well filled. 
 
 During my station at Grassington, I went to Scotter 
 to their missionary anniversaries. As I had to stay a 
 night in Hull, I went to Thornton-street fellowship 
 meeting ; many pious people were present, and spoke 
 well. Mr. G. Lamb saw me, and left the meeting in 
 my hands, as he had to go to a trustees’ meeting for 
 Spring Bank chapel. While in that service, Mr. John 
 Dale, a railway guard, a relative of Mr. Clowes, recog- 
 nised me as having heard me preach on the borders 
 of Cheshire twenty-five years before, and we had a 
 happy meeting, especially was it so to me in this 
 strange place ; and he kindly invited me home with 
 him. At Scotter and Kirton I saw Messrs. Bywater 
 and Sanderson, and we had good services through the 
 week. They have very good chapels. The preachers 
 were doing well. 
 
 I also had a good course of services in different 
 circuits in Leeds district, and was much pleased to 
 see Bros. Bodwell, Huscroft, with their families, and 
 meet old friends • and was glad to meet Bro. Isaac 
 Hedges, and to see him doing so well in those powerful 
 circuits. A few nights before going to Halifax circuit 
 to help Bro. John Simpson at missionary meetings, I 
 dreamed that I saw a fresh broken lily lying in the 
 curve of a road in a cemetery ; and while there I felt 
 very solemn at the sudden death of a very valued 
 friend. 
 
228 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 After three years’ toil in those parts, I made ready 
 to leave ; but this was rather too soon, for there were 
 a few pounds of outstanding debts on Kettlewell 
 chapel, which I was sorry to find gave my successor a 
 little trouble ; and I heard of it pretty freely in 
 London. But I could not help it, for the time had 
 not arrived for extra begging to clear off these little 
 items. 
 
 In July, 1865, I was stationed for St. Albans ; and 
 on our way thither we called at Bemersley. But oh ! 
 now our fathers were no more. Mr. Hugh Bourne 
 had been gone to his rest nearly thirteen years. Mrs. 
 James Bourne had been “ a succourer of many, and of 
 myself also,” for many years, and she had been a 
 mother in our Israel from the beginning, or even before 
 the Standley class was formed, or the first camp meeting 
 was held. She also held up the hands of her husband 
 in the great camp meeting struggle, and rendered great 
 help to her husband and brother-in-law, assisting too 
 herself in all the Mow and Horton affairs, and through 
 a long course of years in the camp meeting cause. 
 After her hard day’s work was done in the farmhouse 
 and dairy, even carrying her children at times to a 
 prayer meeting two or three miles’ distance ; and thus 
 Sustaining all around her in diligent comfort. But at 
 length she was gathered home in peace six months 
 after her brother-in-law, and was buried in the same 
 vault, at Englesea Brook, in Cheshire. 
 
 And now five years had gone by since Mr. James 
 
IN' PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 229 
 
 Bourne departed this life, the supporter of the founder 
 and a great helper in Primitive Methodism, who kept 
 all agoing at Bemersley, where was the home for all 
 comers and goers for upwards of half a century. ow 
 none of this noble trio left — all are gone ; and I felt 
 solemn as I thought of former days. But Mr. J ames 
 Bourne, Jun., was glad to see me once more at 
 Bemersley, as his sisters also nvere in Cheshire ; and 
 I spent a few days with my former colleague, the 
 Bev. Jas. Pritchard, and preached several times in his 
 appointments in Staffordshire and Cheshire. 
 
 I was glad to see a chapel built at Harriseahead, where 
 Mr. Bourne commenced his first mission labours ; and 
 also, the enlarged chapel at Tunstall, which must have 
 cost Mr. Pugh much care and labour. I preached in 
 this beautiful, spacious building for Mr. J. Lea, who 
 told me he had determined on a chapel near Bemersley 
 farm, as a memorial of Mr. Bourne. This our excel- 
 lent brother has lived to see accomplished at Brindley 
 Ford j Mr. Heath gave the land. 
 
 PAET XIX. 
 
 AT Talk-o’-th’-Hill, I had some very refreshing conver- 
 sation with Messrs. Alcock and James Bea, and at 
 Englesea Brook with Bro. James Clayton, who told me 
 of the last interview he had with Air. James Bourne, 
 and how very mightily the power of God rested on 
 
230 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 them, and he further said, “ I believe Mr. James Bourne 
 was an honest, laborious, upright man, and did much 
 good with his brother Hugh, and he had an inti- 
 mate acquaintance with them nearly fifty years.” 
 
 We reached our new station in time, and on 
 reflection, I was thankful to be located on ground 
 missioned from Shefford circuit, and in the town where 
 Mr. Henry Higginson oame to mission, and I found 
 his name and the names of many others of our brethren 
 were as ointment poured forth. But I soon saw several 
 things that might be done to advantage for St. Albans 
 chapel ; for though twenty years built, it was not yet 
 finished ; and now after expending £50 on this chapel, 
 at length it is as nice a place of worship as I could 
 wish to be in, only a poor situation. I tried to get 
 them a better but could not get liberty. 
 
 The Hertford side was full twelve miles from us, 
 and I wanted Bro. George Dowson to be more at home 
 than our going round permitted ; so at length got that 
 side made a station by itself, and I trust they will do 
 w'ell. Bro. Trenwith has been able to build a com- 
 fortable chapel at Goff’s Oak, on that station ; and 
 Mr. Seabrook tells us they are prospering in other 
 matters. 
 
 I found Mr. Thomas Bryant a valuable, willing 
 colleague, and the work revived at several places, 
 especially at Berkhampstead, where our members had 
 been from ten to fifteen for many years. On my 
 arrival they had only a rented room in a back yard, 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 231 
 
 through a narrow passage, and in the wet weather the 
 road was very uncomfortable. They numbered eleven 
 members, and raised fourteen shillings ; hut Mr# 
 Dockrell having come, had given an impetus to the 
 work ; and here we have had a move, and good has 
 been done. Then Mr. Harbourn coming, who was 
 also a valuable local preacher, we saw a further move, 
 insomuch that the room, nine feet by thirteen feet, 
 would not hold the numbers who wanted to hear. 
 Mr. Palmer, a local preacher who was here some time, 
 urged the friends to try to get a chapel. The trial 
 had often been made to get land, but all of no avail ; 
 until Mr. Morris, of Eickmansworth, had decided to 
 sell, and at once I applied, and we secured an eligible 
 site, thirty-sis feet wide and one hundred and ten feet 
 deep, in High-street, with a commanding view to the 
 Grand Junction Canal and the London and Morth 
 Western railroad. The price was £116. Our society 
 requested that I would use every exertion to secure 
 this desirable spot ; and ultimately I succeeded, and 
 we built a chapel forty feet by thirty feet, and twenty- 
 three feet high. Seeing there would be a nice view of 
 the back gable from the canal and railroad, and from a 
 beautiful highland park and property, I thought that 
 our name might be set to great advantage at the square 
 of the building. The letters, two feet long each, are 
 set in black bricks, and the rest are greyish ones ; so 
 that the name “ Primitive” can be seen by the naked 
 eye a mile off on the northern hills. The chapel is 
 
232 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 lighted by nineteen windows, and has a turret on the 
 top, which answers well as a ventilator ; and the 
 eeiling has sixty-four ventilators, which a boy can 
 either shut or open with ease from the platform. The 
 entire cost has been £550 ; £300 of this sum is yet 
 owing. Mr. Penrose, with Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth 
 and Mr. Bailey, helped us much at the foundation 
 services. 
 
 On the south part of our station, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Butler had come to reside at Bushey, and they told 
 Caleb Vines, Esq., the need there was of a place of 
 worship at Watford and Bushey ; and that kind friend 
 generously secured to the Connexion a valuable chapel 
 in each place free of debt. One day when reconoitering 
 the neighbourhood, I -saw a new locality, Croxley 
 Green, with about one hundred families. They had 
 plenty of public-houses, but no school nor any place 
 of worship ; so I resolved on something. And as 
 Bro. James Pearce had come there from Hampshire, I 
 consulted him, and soon obtained ground, and our 
 friend yoked in with me, and also Mr. Eevel, from 
 Norfolk, and Mr. Foster ; all became trustees, with 
 several of our friends at Watford. Bro. Martindale 
 was anxious for this locality ; Messrs. Butler and Gibbs' 
 saw to the seat department ; and a very beautiful 
 chapel, thirty feet by twenty feet, was erected, which 
 is an ornament to the neighbourhood ; and precious 
 souls have been converted there. A church has also 
 been formed, and a Sunday-school established, and as 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 233 
 
 it is only one mile from Rickmansworth, and two miles 
 from Watford, our friends came to assist. 
 
 Mr. IS' orris gave us great help by advice and making 
 the affair known. The public received us kindly ; my 
 colleague, Mr. Hadfield, plodded from house to house 
 begging. I received three leaves from the banking 
 books of three gentlemen, Messrs. Barnes, McMurry, 
 and Sedgewick, of twenty pounds each ; Mrs. Worley, 
 and Messrs. Austin and Proctor gave five pounds each ; 
 and other friends as circumstances allowed ; so that we 
 got above half the sum, and all the sittings in the 
 chapel let, and Mr. Green tells me the congregation 
 keeps up. Watford side being so comfortably situated, 
 the Committee made them into a separate station from 
 St. Albans, with those three chapels, having each a 
 Sabbath-school ; and they have seventy-seven members 
 in society. So they are a distinct station from St. 
 Albans, as Bro. Jobling, the secretary, deemed this to 
 be the best way ; and I trust all will go on to prosper, 
 for there is room for extended labour. 
 
 Having often been advised by my family and friends 
 to alter my situation in life, and having formed an 
 acquaintance with Miss Barnsley, one who possessed 
 every quality suitable for the wife of a Primitive 
 Methodist minister, I gladly availed myself of the 
 opportunity of accomplishing this desirable connection, 
 and we were married in Aewry, January 8th, 1868. 
 
 In returning we were kindly received by Messrs. 
 Walford and Heath, at Crewe. 
 
234 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 During our correspondence, when I was in York- 
 shire, I one day received a letter from this lady saying : 
 “ I have just read the life of John Rogers, by Joseph 
 Lemuel Chester, published by Longman and Co., 
 London. The author came from America to search 
 for records of the proto-martyr of the Marian persecu- 
 tion. He has travelled through different countries on 
 the continent, and all likely places in Great Britain, to 
 get information ; and he has printed a valuable life of 
 the great helper in the translation of the ‘ Matthew 
 Bible.' ” She then went on to say : “ John Rogers 
 had a son who became a cornet of horse ; he had a son 
 who became a captain of horse ; he had a son who was 
 vicar- general of Clough ; and he had a daughter who 
 was my grandmother, whose name was Hannah 
 Barnsley.” 
 
 From another letter from Miss Barnsley, I learned 
 that on her mother’s side she was a descendant of those 
 worthies “ of whom the world was not worthy” — the 
 Huguenots of the continent, who established the Irish 
 linen manufactory, and who maintained a good course, 
 and numbers of whom were distinguished for their 
 piety. 
 
 These pious connections were more endearing to me 
 than other associations of estates or of royal descent. 
 I love more the memory of the martyrs of Jesus, and 
 esteem them as of a far greater value than the relation- 
 ship of royalty and dignity, where there is not the fear 
 of the Lord. The father and grandfather of Miss 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 235 
 
 Barnsley had the fear of God, and were much esteemed. 
 Mrs. Barnsley had several brothers "who held offices 
 under government and in the army, and they all 
 maintained a good course. I was often much delighted 
 when this aged lady told me of the piety of her 
 brothers and two sisters, the Misses Smith, who with 
 herself were class-leaders, and supported Methodism in 
 Lisburn and Donaghadee, and liberally helped the 
 cause for many years, and helped Mary Carey and 
 other poor but pious Methodists in Ireland. 
 
 My esteemed correspondent was brought to know 
 the Lord in her youth, and has maintained a course 
 of piety and usefulness for above thirty years ; and 
 now in our second year of union I am thankful to 
 say ours is a happy home, and I have a helpmeet indeed. 
 The increase of our station is this year ten per cent., 
 and this too to me is a matter of thankfulness. 
 
 I may remark, that by right of descent, and by right 
 of will, and now by right of marriage, I have a legal 
 right of sepulture in the same grave where the best 
 benefactor of Ireland lies ; I mean Louis Crommelin, 
 who by the linen trade gave bread to millions in that 
 fine but poor popish inhabited country. 
 
 Last summer, as my wife had business in Dublin, 
 she went round by Bessbrook, and in company with 
 my daughter Charlotte and William Hobson, brought 
 Elizabeth’s only daughter to stay the winter with us, 
 Elizabeth hoping to come about April to take her back- 
 But ah, alas ! this lovely child sickened in January ; 
 
236 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 and after six days’ suffering from scarletina and bron- 
 chitis, she died February 4th, 1869, aged four years 
 and three weeks. 
 
 She was one of the most upright, truthful, lovely, 
 and intelligent of children I ever met with. She 
 greatly delighted to attend our Sabbath-school and 
 prayer meetings ; and, indeed, all the means of grace. 
 She was always much pleased to give food to the 
 needy. She had a firm recollection of all events at 
 home, and especially of the names of her two brothers, 
 Russell Benjamin and William Fulton, both younger 
 than herself. She was especially firm on one point, 
 that is, in ending her prayers by saying, “For the sake 
 of Jesus Christ our Lord and this point she would 
 freely maintain when talking with her little companions 
 about saying their prayers, and all of whom were very 
 fond of her. I always admired her intent earnestness 
 at asking a blessing and giving thanks at meal-times, and 
 her great seriousness at family prayers. Her business 
 habits, too, were of the first order, both as to her neat- 
 ness and going errands ; also her care over her own 
 little articles ; and she contemplated returning home 
 in April, when her mother would come for her. But 
 ah ! how was every hope disappointed ! Charlotte 
 Elizabeth sickened ; yet we hoped from day to day 
 she would recover. I wrote every post to her parents, 
 and sent the doctor’s opinion daily ; and, indeed, we 
 all hoped that she would recover. But, alas ! Thurs- 
 day, February 4th, at ten minutes past seven a.m., 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 237 
 
 1869, she died. I sent off a telegram, which in three 
 hours after the child died her parents received ; and a 
 message was returned the same day “ that her father 
 expected to he with us the next morning.” William 
 travelled in the night across the sea from Dublin to 
 Holyhead, and via London, and came here the next 
 morning. I had consulted Friends as to interment, 
 and we huried this lovely jewel in the Friends’ burying 
 ground, Sweetbriar-lane, St. Albans. This has been 
 a drawback on our comfort, and tells us that “ here we 
 have no continuing city.” 
 
 PART XX. 
 
 DUEING my time here I have had the comfort of 
 visiting stations in Berkshire and Hampshire, Buck- 
 inghamshire, and Bedfordshire, that were raised from 
 the Shefford circuit — where 1 have seen children and 
 children’s children in the gospel. Some dear aged 
 friends who helped me in my youth, and when they 
 were young themselves, now are bending towards 
 the grave ; but with a bright hope of our meeting in 
 a better world. 
 
 When at Quick’s Green Chapel anniversary, I was 
 anxious for Bro. A ullis to come j and late on IMonday 
 he arrived. I was glad to see him. When he stood 
 upon the platform, he said, “ I am going now to tell 
 Mr. Bussell what he has not heard before, that I claim 
 
238 
 
 RECORD OP EVENTS 
 
 him as my spiritual grandfather ; James Holmes under 
 Mr. Bussell's labours received good, and I received 
 good under the labours of James Holmes.” This in- 
 formation to me was cheering. 
 
 When at the anniversary at Islington, in. London, I 
 met with Mr. David Berry, he told me that he came 
 from Bucklesbury, in Berkshire,: and that he obtained 
 good when he was young, under the labours of our 
 friends when we were missioning the Bradfield side of 
 Shefford circuit. I was also thankful to meet with 
 many others in London, who could give me similar 
 statements. I was indeed glad to find in this great 
 city our children in the Lord “ walking in the truth” 
 in the hurry of the world’s metropolis, and the place of 
 refuge for all nations, from which have issued the 
 great workings of the Bible Society, giving the Holy 
 Scriptures to all nations ; and though John Rogers was 
 burned in Smithfield, three hundred and thirteen years 
 ago, for the great labour he rendered in the translating 
 the “ Matthew Bible,” (for it is generally concluded 
 that this was the real offence that caused his martyr- 
 dom by the Papists), yet not far from where he (my 
 wife’s ancestor) suffered, the Bible is now issued in all 
 languages, and is the book for all sensible people of all 
 classes the wide world over. Also, the Tract Society, 
 and other kindred institutions are here established ; 
 and in particular the varied departments of the Mis- 
 sionary Societies which have their agents in nearly 
 every quarter of the globe. 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 239 
 
 ?he Primitive Methodist Connexion has risen to 
 it it is by dint of missionary labours ; so that of 
 ministers it may be said, out of their toil have risen 
 eight score thousand members ; over a quarter 
 i million scholars in the Sabbath-schools, and above 
 ie thousand Connexional places of worship, besides 
 ve three thousand other places of worship, such as 
 ted chapels, rooms, barns, cottages, &c., &c. And 
 keep alive this mighty move, now there are over 
 e hundred regular ministers, fourteen thousand 
 il preachers, and forty-three thousand gratuitous 
 iday-school teachers ; but there need much patience 
 . constant toil, with prayer in abundance to keep all 
 ts regular course of working. 
 
 PABT XXI. 
 
 E good work is moving in several stations in this 
 a of our beloved Zion, as well as in other churches. 
 iunday, Feb. 21st, 1869. — I left home at six o’clock 
 he morning, and walked ten miles of the twelve to 
 khampstead, and was glad to find the Sabbath-school 
 ig well. Had a very respectable and increased 
 gregation in the forenoon. The chapel was nearly 
 d in the afternoon, and I had power in preaching 
 h. times. Met one of the classes, and joined another 
 nber to society. At five, preached on the deck of 
 of Mr. Foster’s boats lying in the canal. The 
 
240 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 captain, who is a member of our Connexion, is a very- 
 pious man, and comes from Tipton, in Staffordshire. 
 Hundreds attended, standing on the bridge and towing 
 path. The word was with power. A Mr. Hatton gave 
 me five shillings towards our chapel fund. On the 
 road to the chapel I was glad to see Thos. Head, Esq., 
 who had given us twenty pounds for the same object. 
 At six o’clock the chapel was crowded, as is the case 
 every Sabbath evening. I had a fine time in opening 
 the lovefeast, and was glad for the help of Bros. Har- 
 bourn, Dockrill, Evans, and others in this great con- 
 gregation ; and am thankful to state three precious 
 souls were converted to God. 
 
 Sunday, Eeb. 28th.— At Bro. Aldridge’s I left my 
 colleague, Mr. B. J. Westbrook, and walked to Ley- 
 hill, where I was glad to find six teachers with nearly 
 forty children, all finely engaged. I preached at eleven, 
 and had a solemn time ; then went to Chesham, a 
 large market-town in Buckinghamshire. There is uo 
 Methodist society except our own in these parts, but 
 there are four Baptist churches and one Congregational. 
 Mr. Plato said that there should be a regular Primitive 
 Methodist missionary here. I was glad to find from 
 Air. Barnes’ statement that their cottage prayer meet- 
 ings are well attended, and that they think they should 
 have a chapel at Newtown. I was thankful to find 
 several fresh members joined. 
 
 This week I have a letter from Bro. Samuel Antliff, 
 appointing to meet me at Bedbourn on Friday, March 
 
IN PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 241 
 
 5th, to inspect a site for a new chapel there ; also, a 
 letter from j\Ir. John Wilson, of Leighton Buzzard, on 
 the subject; and he intends to hear Mr. Antliff preach 
 a sermon, and to assist to make collections towards 
 this noble object; Mr. Wilson brings a princely dona- 
 tion from Mr. Palmer towards this great work of need. 
 
 It was to Bedbourn the first missionary to Veralam 
 fled when the Romans martyred Alban for receiving 
 the man of God ; bnt they followed the missionary 
 four miles to this place, and there burned him ; his 
 blood from the stake ran into the brook, thus 
 making the water red, and so the name Redbourn was 
 given from that circumstance. 
 
 Here our friends came out of Berkshire, and preached 
 under the fine tall old elm trees on the common, when 
 they missioned this county. 
 
 During my stay here Hertford mission with fifty-five 
 members and one chapel has been made from this 
 station ; also W atford mission, with seventy-seven 
 members and three chapels, has been made from 
 St. Albans. Both the above stations have improved, 
 and I trust will go on to prosper. 
 
 This year, 1869, St. Albans’ increase is eleven per 
 cent. W e have had a gradual rise all these four years, 
 or ever since I came here ; and we are now preparing 
 to build a chapel by the silk mills on Redbourn com- 
 mon, towards which J. Palmer, Esq., and Mr. Wilson are 
 helping nobly ; and a second in the best and 
 most central situation in Crouchfield. In this last 
 
 Q 
 
242 
 
 RECORD OF EVENTS 
 
 place, only for Primitive Methodist labours, fifteen 
 hundred inhabitants might have been without preach- 
 ing services, or Sabbath-school tuition, or any prayer 
 meetings amongst them. Brethren, pray for us. 
 
 My colleagues, the Revs. T. Bryant, T. Hadfield, and 
 B. J. Westbrook, with Bros. G. Dowson and T. S. 
 Cariss, have been useful during the time of their 
 being in this county. 
 
 Since my coming to this station above two thousand 
 pounds worth of chapel property has been added to the 
 Connexion, and all is doing well. Besides our average 
 increase of members is good, though many have passed 
 away and landed safe in heaven. 
 
 Redbourn is a beautiful place, and here open 
 air preaching and camp meetings have been held with 
 very great effect. On my coming to this station, we 
 had here fourteen members ; we now have double the 
 number. Our congregations are very large ; often 
 sixty or seventy people crowded into Mrs. Moody’s 
 cottage house, which is not seven feet high to the 
 ceiling. Bro. Holliman, our leader, told me last night 
 when I was there, that they have had one more added 
 this week to society. Glory be to God. 
 
 Sickness has this Spring overtaken me, and I cannot 
 now do as I have done. I have been obliged to ask 
 for an helper, which I am promised — Bro. Da we. Bro. 
 Thomson is appointed in Bro. Westbrook’s place. But 
 I have had to get Mr. Gladwin some weeks. He brought 
 his daughter to see us. I felt delighted to hear my 
 
IN PBIMITIVE METHODISM. 
 
 243 
 
 granddaughter read a chapter in the Bible at four 
 years old. 
 
 I may now add as 1 Kings viii. 57 : “ The Lord our 
 God he with us as he was with our fathers ; let him 
 not leave us, nor forsake us.” How solemn to me the 
 reflection that out of the nine hundred and sixteen 
 ministers of our Connexion, there are only two of our 
 brethren in active service of longer standing in the 
 work than I am, viz., Bros. Lister and Lace ; then there 
 are four of the same year, viz., Bros. Harland, Garner 
 Howchin, Stansfield, and Lamb, and I believe all the 
 rest are our juniors in the ministry ; several are older 
 and many younger on the superannuation list. How 
 closely the messenger approaches ! In a few weeks I 
 shall have accomplished my forty years’ itinerancy. 0 
 for being fully ready ! a\Iy only hope is in and through 
 the sacrificial death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ ; and that, by the assistance of the Holy Ghost, 
 I may overcome the wicked one, and find mercy with 
 God our heavenly Father, and finally find my way to 
 heaven. 
 
 Deut. viii. 2, forcibly strikes my mind : “ And thou 
 shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God 
 led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble 
 thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine 
 heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments 
 or no.” The sixteenth verse says : “ That he might 
 humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee 
 good at thy latter end.” 
 
 Thomas Russell. 
 
JNYB. — 1st. The copyright of this work is secured. 
 
 2nd. The Author begs to acknowledge Ms obligation 
 to the Rev. Wm. Antliff for editing the sheets ; and 
 also to the Rev. J. Phillips, and the London District 
 PublisMng Committee, for their promptness in passing 
 them through the Connexional Courts. 
 
 T. R. 
 
 J. PARROTT, PBINTHR BY STEAM POWER, BRIGGATE, LEEDS.