Oldal 39 [39]
OCR
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 responded, with his usual imperturbable gravity, and in his heavy and measured tones, that he agreed with him perfectly, and that he would most assuredly 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 preaching, by turning it into ridicule. At first the preacher affected not to notice him, but went on extolling 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 Brockville now stands, is worthy of being rescued from oblivion. He had no advantages of an early education, but by industry surmounted this defect, by self-culture becoming possessed of a tolerable knowledge 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 crossing 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 thousands. 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 established by the Hecks. Subsequently he removed to Wolford, where he was known as “ Priest Brown." He was thrice married, his second wife being a
