Stranica 39 [39]
The following anecdote is related of this fearless
preacher :
“A new-made ‘Squire’ bantered Dunham before
some company about riding so fine a horse, and
told him he was very unlike his humble Master,
who was content to ride on an ass. Dunham re¬
sponded, with his usual imperturbable gravity, and
in his heavy and measured tones, that he agreed
with him perfectly, and that he would most assur¬
edly imitate his Master in the particular mentioned,
only for the difficulty in finding the animal required,
the Government having made all the asses into
magistrates.”
On one occasion, an infidel attempted to destroy
the effect of a sermon which Dunham was preach¬
ing, by turning it into ridicule. At first the preacher
affected not to notice him, but went on ex¬
tolling the excellency of Christianity. All at
once, he turned to the spot where the scoffer sat,
"e Shall
Christianity and her votaries, after having passed
and, fixing his eyes on him, thundered out :
through fire and water, after having vanquished the
opposition put forth by philosophers and kings—
after all this, I say, shall the servants of God, at
this time of day, allow themselves to be frightened
by the braying of an ass?"
In 1792, Dunham had charge of the Oswegatchie
circuit, which consisted of the present Townships
of Edwardsburg, Augusta. Elizabethtown, and
Yonge (comprising the western part), with Matilda,
Williamsburg, Osnabruck, and Cornwall, as the
eastern.
Sylvanus Keeler commenced travelling in 1795,
on the Bay of Quinte District. Carroll says of this
preacher : " The name of Sylvanus Keeler, converted
and raised up into the ministry in Canada, in the
Elizabethtown country, not far from where Brock¬
ville now stands, is worthy of being rescued from
oblivion. He had no advantages of an early educa¬
tion, but by industry surmounted this defect, by
self-culture becoming possessed of a tolerable know¬
ledge of the English language. His zeal and fervor
knew no bounds, and he was frequently, for three
months at a time, absent from wife and family.
He settled on a farm near Brockville, where he was
known as ‘Father Keeler,’ being remarkable in
appearance for his long flowing hair, white as wool.
He lived and died a good man.”
Among the early missionaries was Calvin Wooster,
aman of mighty prayer and faith, who exerted a
powerful influence along the St. Lawrence. At a
prayer-meeting held by Wooster, a stout opposer of
the Methodists, hearing that his wife was present,
rushed violently into the room, seized. his wife, and
4
it, Ae was himself stricken with trembling, his knees
failed him, and he fell helpless upon the floor.
James Coleman. Samuel Coate, Michael Coate,
Joseph Sawyer, William Anson, James Heron, Daniel
Pickett, Samuel Draper, Seth Crowell, James Aikins,
John Robinson. and Caleb Morris, conducted the
missionary work in 1801, and at the Conference of
1802, reported a total membership of 1,502 members.
The celebrated Lorenzo Dow paid two visits to
Canada, and was, in fact, the first regular Methodist
missionary to visit Lower Canada. Proceeding
from Quebec to Ireland, he labored in the Emerald
Isle for sixteen months, returned to the United
States, and came into Canada in 1802, preaching
several times in the Johnstown District, and cross¬
ing the St. Lawrence at Cornwall.
The first class-meeting held in Eastern Ontario
was at Big Creek, in the Township of Augusta,
where the Hecks and other pioneer Methodists had
established services. Among the early converts in
Matilda was a young man named Joseph Brouse,
known for many years afterwards as “Uncle Joe
Other converts in that section were
Michael Carman, Peter and John Van
Camp. In 1797, a great revival commenced in this
section, which spread westward, and resulted in the
Brouse. "
Brouse,
conversion of large numbers.
The first camp-meeting held in Canada was at
Hay Bay, in 1805. The ministers present were
Cole, Ryan, Pickett, Keeler, Madden, and Bangs.
In 1812, Elder Ryan announced to the settlers of
the Rideau that a camp-meeting would be held in
that section, the grove selected being on the plot of
ground where Kilmarnock now stands. The people
assembled, and in a few hours learned that the
United States had declared war against Great
The result was a general stampede for
home, to make preparations for the impending
Britain.
struggle.
The Rev. William Brown, of the Rideau, was a
member of the first class organized in that section,
the number in the class being five. From this little
the reverend gentleman lived to see arise
and flourish the sturdy oak of Methodism, whose
ample branches proved a resting-place for thou¬
sands.
acorn,
William Brown was born in Duchess County,
August 27th, 1769. He came to Canada in 1795,
and first settled not far from the St. Lawrence, on
the town line between Augusta and Edwardsburg.
It is believed that he belonged to the class estab¬
lished by the Hecks. Subsequently he removed to
Wolford, where he was known as “ Priest Brown."
He was thrice married, his second wife being a