Oldal 40 [40]
William Smith. He was a good preacher, plain,
clear, chaste, strong, and energetic. A portion of
his family settled in South Crosby. Priest Brown
was the grandfather of the Rev. William Brown, of
the M. E. Church, Rufus Brown, and Cephus Brown,
and the great-grandfather of Arthur Brown, School
Inpector of Dundas, and Dr. Brown, of Morrisburg.
In Wolford, the first building erected expressly as
a place of worship, was the old chapel near the resi¬
dence of Joseph Ferguson, Esq., commenced in 1820.
The second was the Cox Chapel, built principally
by aman of that name, but deeded to the Methodist
Church.
Among the first missionaries to visit the Rideau,
were Coates, Losee, and Dr. Bangs. They were
succeeded by the venerable Case, Whitehead, Jef¬
fers, and others. In the latter part of 1822, the late
venerable Healey, after many difficulties, found his
way to the Rideau Circuit. While moving out with
his family, night overtook them, and they were
forced to take up lodgings at the foot of atree. It
is related that, upon one occasion, he was compelled
to hold service in a shanty, which served the pur¬
pose of kitchen, dining-room, chapel and stable,
his horse being fed at one end of the room. The
service commenced, and much to the astonishment
of the worshipers, the beast stopped eating, and did
not take another mouthful until the benediction
was pronounced.
Samuel Coate, whose life was characterized by a
glowing enthusiasm and tireless activity, entered
Canada in 1796; removed to the United States, and
returned again in 1804. He married Miss Dulmage,
a person of remarkable beauty, and, ever after, hus¬
band and wife were known as the “ handsome pair."
Among the early local preachers in Brockville,
was Luther Houghton, still a hale old gentleman,
and a resident of that town.
Elder Ryan began the agitation for separation
from the American Church, and circulated petitions
to that effect, to be presented at the Conference of
1828. Tohim is due the honor of adopting as a
watchword, " Loyal Methodism against Republican
Methodism.” In his crusade, Ryan was _ nobly
seconded by Captain Breakenridge, who joined
with him in holding conventions and circulating
petitions. Breakenridge visited the General Con¬
ference with Ryan, but the petitions were not
received.
One of the arguments adduced by Ryan, in favor
of the separation, is worthy of more than a passing
notice. It was that the Government regarded the
alliance with dislike, and refused to grant power to
Methodist ministers to solemnize marriages, though
it had made valid, by an Act passed at the Second
Session of the Upper Canada Parliament, “ mar¬
riages by magistrates, commanding officers of a
other public office or employment.” After that
date, marriages were to be solemnized by magis¬
or none living within eighteen miles of either person
to be married.
The result of the action of the Conference was
that Ryan, and a limited number of followers,
mostly along the Bay of Quinte and in the Johns¬
town District, separated from the Church, and
formed a new body, called the “Canadian Wesleyan
Methodist Church ;” but at the General Conference
which assembled at Pittsburg, in May, 1828, the
memorial from Canada was considered and granted,
thus terminating the discussion.
In 1802, Father Vannest made a journey from
Bastard to the Rideau settlement, through the
woods. On the shore of the Rideau River, he
found an Indian encamped, who asked for some
tobacco, which was given to him. The next morn¬
ing, the Indian brought a leg of venison, remark¬
ing: “You um, you eat um ; you welcome—’bacco.”
This savage drew a sketch with a stick, on the sand,
showing the lakes, rivers, and carrying places to
the Castle of the tribe, one thousand miles distant.
hundred miles, a crooked finger for fifty, and a
finger across the crooked one for twenty-five miles.
Among the lay celebrities on the St. Lawrence.
were Alexander Rose, of Williamsburg ; Paul Glass¬
ford, of Matilda; and Colonel Stone, of Gananoque,
all of whom kept open houses for the travelling
ministers.
In 1811, Bishop Asbury paid a visit to Canada,
crossing the St. Lawrence at Cornwall. He pro¬
ceeded westward, calling on Paul Glassford, of
Matilda, Father Dulmage, and the Hecks. One
night was spent with David Breakenridge, at his
residence. near Maitland. Service was held in
Elizabethtown, at Lyn, where the Bishop was en¬
tertained by Brother Boyce (father of Mr. David
Boyce.) At Gananoque he was warmly welcomed
by Colonel Stone. From that point he journeyed
to Elias Dulmage’s, and thence to the Bay of
Quinte.
Among the soldiers of the Cross was John
Reynolds, born in the Township of Oxford, and
an assistant on the Augusta Circuit, in 1808, but
better known as “Bishop Reynolds,” who headed
one of the largest disruptions from the Methodist
body that ever occurred in Upper Canada.
The labors of Wyatt Chamberlain are recorded
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