THE END.

GETTYSBURG:-JULY, 1863.

O PRIDE of the days in prime of the months | Before our lines it seemed a beach

Francis. He and a little sister were all the children that came to gladden this peasanthome. She, though lovely and most dear to the small family circle, remained in it but a few summers, when the Good Father took her to his own home. The parents and brother cherished her memory in love, and felt that heaven was rendered more dear and attractive by her presThe event, so sad in itself, came accompanied with rich religious blessings. And who can tell the result? Deep impressions in youth often give tone to a long life. So it was here. And when, as in this case, that life is singularly good, and sends out influences that survive it and go down the ages, only the divine mind can estimate the benign results of that early impression.

HERE is a man, not even named in our leading histories, who yet has wrought more deeply into American life in its social, moral, and religious facts than any other who lived and acted his part in our more formative period. His name was FRANCIS ASBURY. His life is overlooked, and so spiritual, pervasive, and effective a force is left unnoticed. And this is but an instance in which history is ever re-ence. peating its own method. How much broader the place occupied by Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte than by Plato and Martin Luther in European history! Yet a tyro in historic study knows that the latter were incomparably the greater forces in forming the real life of Europe. So the names of Ethan Allen and Anthony Wayne have been more familiar to the popular ear of America than that of Asbury; yet how trivial their influence compared with his!

In the parish of Handsworth, in Staffordshire, England, lived Joseph and Elizabeth Asbury, husband and wife, and among the best of the peasant class. In the year 1745 they welcomed to their cottage a little son, and called him

Childhood is ever much the same. The least differences are mainly in fable. Francis slept and waked, smiled and wept, was caressed and corrected much as other children. Still early traits foretokened a good and useful life. He writes: "I remember, when I was a small boy and went to school, I had serious thoughts, and a particular sense of the being of a God; and

ence, but that experience soon had large increase. Soon he began to hold meetings for reading the Scriptures, prayer, and exhortation. Many attended these gatherings, and holy influences rested upon the people. The fervency of his prayers and the eloquence and unction of his exhortations were singularly effective. Persecution soon arose and drove him from one and another place of worship, when the parental home became his sanctuary.

greatly feared both an oath and a lie. Wicked | mon of this day far exceeded his own experias my companions were, and fond as I was of play, I never imbibed their vices." He dates the beginning of his spiritual life in his fourteenth year; though he sincerely prayed and felt God near as early as seven. His parents, intelligent for their class, were anxious for his education, but unfortunately were sadly balked in their plan. When sent to school at the age of seven he fell into the hands of a morose, cruel pedagogue. The wanton beatings which he suffered, and only the severer as their victim was A beautiful fact is given in this connection. the better deserving, gave his feelings an uncon- This lad regularly accompanied his mother to a trollable revulsion from school, and turned his religious meeting of females, where he conducted thoughts to a trade. Their only good result, the exercises, giving out the hymns, and readand certainly one due to the good temper of the ing and expounding the Scriptures. These boy, was a deeper religious feeling and more must have been happy hours to his devout and earnestness in prayer. A sudden transition loving mother. And how pure and good the from under the rod of such a master into a fam-moulding of his own youthful life in such fellowily of wealth and fashion was a very great change. But here while his trials were not felt to be so great his perils were really greater; and it is much to his credit that, with a conscience peculiarly sensitive, the worst he could write against himself is that he became a little vain.

In his fourteenth year he began a trade which for several years he prosecuted with great diligence. Fortunately his home was with a kind family who treated him as a son-a fact that bespeaks his own worth as well as their kindness. His religious feelings, for a while past somewhat abated, now returned with increased force. He was regular in prayer and a devout attendant upon Christian worship. In West Brunswick he often heard Stillingfleet, Baynel, Ryland, and others, men who preached the truth, and who were eminent in the Church. Little thought they that they were ministering to an apprenticed lad who in real greatness and in the breadth of his influence would so far surpass them. His leisure hours were carefully spent in reading and study. His selection of books was most fortunate. While they informed the mind they also nourished his piety and inspired noble purposes of a good and useful life.

ships! After a while he sought fellowship with the Methodists, who highly appreciated his remarkable gifts. Soon he was licensed to preach, and multitudes flocked to hear one so young and yet so effective in his ministrations. At twentyone he began to travel and preach under the direction of the Wesleyans. This was in 1766. Hence it is a fact not unworthy of note that the beginning of his regular ministry synchronizes with the origin of American Methodism, in the founding and building up of which his own life would have its richest unfolding.

John Wesley's thoughts were often beyond the sea, observing the colonics rising on these shores. He anticipated their rapid growth, and looked to them as fruitful fields for the earnest religious movement, with its peculiarly active and aggressive methods, now under his own direction. It was already begun here, but the laborers were very few for fields so broad. So in the Conference of 1771, Wesley said, "Our brethren in America call aloud for help; who will go?" Young Asbury, with others, responded. This call, though unexpected, did not take him by surprise or bring a new subject to his mind. Already, while preaching the Gospel through Northamptonshire and Wiltshire, his As, long ago, devout minds in Jerusalem wait- own thoughts were turned to America, and he ed for the Messiah, and gladly received him felt his soul strongly drawn toward her. Inwhen he came, so now the mind of young As- deed he had, in a measure, reached the conclubury waited for the manifestation of Christianity sion that here would be the field of his lifein its most spiritual form, and with a readiness labor. So, often, souls are moved by unconto receive it. About this time he asked inform-scious influences toward their true mission. Asation of his good mother concerning the Method-bury, in his peculiar nood, regarded this call ists-a sect much spoken against and in many places bitterly persecuted. She communicated the little she knew, and directed him to an acquaintance who would further inform him. Soon his steps were directed to a Methodist preaching. How strange it all seemed! No church; sermon without manuscript or notes even; prayers without books; singing in full and mighty chorus; but the holy fervor that pervaded all the service wrought deeply into his soul. Henceforth he was a Methodist, though he did not formally unite with them till sometime after. The inner religious life as unfolded in the ser

as from the Master, and hence could not decline or even hesitate. Of course so wise an overseer as Wesley promptly accepted him. Immediately he departed for home to commune with his fond parents, and to inform them of his plan. The communication was a trial both to himself and to them. Specially must it have been so to the mother, who had so wisely and lovingly nurtured the son. He makes the following brief note in his journal: "I went home to acquaint my parents with my great undertaking, which I opened in as gentle a manner as possible. Though it was grievous to flesh and

Events widely separated are often strangely united. In the latter half of the seventeenth century the troops of Louis XIV. laid waste the Palatinate on the Rhine. These sorely perse-be formed at different points from New York to cuted Palatines, being Protestants, were scattered abroad, many of them to distant lands. About fifty families, through the favor of Queen Asbury landed, as we have seen, in PhilaAnne, escaped to Ireland, and settled near Rath- delphia. Methodism was introduced there by keale, in the County of Limerick. But isola- the zealous Captain Webb in 1767 or 1768. ted, as they were, and without proper pastors, Through his exertions St. George's Church was they became greatly demoralized. Vice reigned purchased in 1770, and was, for many years, the over them with little restraint. But Wesley's great church, the cathedral of American Methitinerants came early among them, and a won-odism. There it still stands. Mr. Asbury was derful reformation was wrought. Wesley, who visited them in 1758, made record in his journal of the wonderful change. He found "no cursing or swearing, no Sabbath-breaking, no drunkenness, no ale-house among them. They had become a serious, thinking people, and their diligence had turned all their land into a garden." Out of this vineyard came the vine of Methodism for the New World.

far exceed our limits. Brief and rare jottings | ing the rules that he urges upon others, and are all that we can give. These, with a summa- specially self-chiding. We give in illustration tion in the proper place, will suffice for our own a few extracts from his journal, running through purpose and the interest of the reader. several months after his arrival:

After laboring a while in Philadelphia, he set out for New York. But he never forgets the command, "As ye go, preach ;" and hence his journey through New Jersey was a preaching tour. On the way he meets with Mr. P. Van Pelt, who had heard him preach in Philadelphia, and now kindly invited him to his house on Staten Island. Having no fixed time to be in New York, he accepted the invitation, accompanied him home, and preached in his house on the day of arrival, it being Saturday. On Sabbath he preached again, morning and afternoon; and in the evening at Justice Wright's. Van Pelt was a man of worth and position, and his home furnished a favorite resort for Asbury for many years. In the prevalent notion the earlier operations of the Methodists were limited to the poor and ignorant. This opinion is erroneous. Their early history contains the names of many families of affluence and high social position.

Mr.

"I find my mind drawn heavenward. The Lord hath helped me by his power, and my soul is in a paradise. Whatever I do, wherever I go, may I never sin against God, that I am in the order of God, and that there will be a but always do those things that please him!" "I trust willing people here. My heart and mouth are open; only I am still sensible of my deep insufficiency, and that mostly with regard to holiness. It is true, God has given me some gifts; but what are they to holiness? It is for holiness my spirit mourns."

Having stated that he preached three times on a Sabbath in New York, though very ill, and that the next day he rode to New Rochelle and preached twice, he adds:

"In the night I had a sore throat, but through the help of God I go on, and can not think of sparing myself: "No cross, no suff'ring I decline, Only let all my heart be thine.'

"I want to breathe after the Lord in every breath."

Earnest as these words are, and intense as the religious feelings expressed, they are yet the utterances of a man remarkably calm, reflective, and self-poised.

Asbury now went to New York and began his Nor are they the promptings labors there. But though these were abundant merely of youthful ardor, or the inspiration of in the city, they were by no means limited to it. new scenes. They had no abatement, but rathHe made constant preaching excursions through er increase, through all the years of his Ameriall the surrounding country. Thus Staten Isl- can mission, till in a good old age he finished and, Westchester County, and parts of Long his work and went home to rest. The same Island and New Jersey, were soon added to his fervent piety and glowing zeal pervade his jourparish. This was his invariable custom. Wheth-nal to the very close. And never was a life er in New York, or Philadelphia, or Baltimore, more in harmony with a record. or Norfolk, he always added a large circuit, into his inner life is requisite to any proper esthrough which he would travel and preach, timate of his character. mainly during the week-days. And these excursions were often extended many miles. Thus he kept constantly moving and preaching.

He has now fairly entered upon his American work. He has left his home and come over the broad sea to labor among strangers. He has found an open door. Having mingled with the people, and preached from place to place already in several colonies, he has had opportunity for observation upon colonial life, its spiritual wants, and the probabilities of successfully ministering to them. He has had time too for much personal reflection, and a searching inquisition into his own motives and aims. There has been time for reaction, had there been any such tendency, from the enthusiasm that brought him to these shores. Under such conditions observations upon his inner life, such as his journal enables us to make, picture the man to our view more perfectly than any narrative of his daily labors. Here we find as a chief fact his entire consecration to his chosen work. He has no powers to except or hold in reserve. His motives are the purest and noblest. The love of God and man is a fire in his soul. And there is the most utter absence of selfishness and worldly aspiration. Intensely earnest, and formed to rule, he is yet free from all fanaticism, arrogance, and severity: indeed is clothed in humility and kindness, most rigid in observ

This insight

Asbury was a most effective preacher. His manner was plain, direct, fervent, and devout. Often he was eloquent; not so much in the sweep of thought or glow of the imagination as in a marvelous pungency of the home truths which he uttered, and the holy unction which inspired him. He ever looked for immediate fruits, and was rarely disappointed. In all his bearing there was a moral elevation that commanded the respect of the thoughtful. Hence he found a welcome not only in the cabins of the poor, but in the mansions of the rich and refined. It was a common thing for him to be invited into families of the higher circles, and those not Methodists or members of any church. And as he was the representative man of religious societies as yet little respected—indeed, much contemned, this fact clearly shows his personal manners and worth to have been such as to command the esteem and friendship of many who else had regarded him with disfavor.

He was a chief directive force in the Methodist Societies before he became formally their head; and his influence, so judiciously wielded, supplied a pressing need. These Societies wanted a controlling mind. Good men were serving them as pastors; yet each was virtually independent, and some evils had already grown up. The Wesleyan usages were not carefully observed. No primary necessity for these was