THE PROSCRIBED RELIGION.

In showing the kind of religion promoted by the men proscribed by the Genesee Conference, we shall give a specimen of the accounts published about it by their opposers. We shall then, in order to prove the falsity of these representations, give the reports made by disinterested witnesses,. of some of the most objectionable of the meetings held under the auspices of the men accused of promoting " a spirit of wild fanaticism."

For the articles published at that time by the proscribed, responsible names were given. We endeavored to write the truth, and were willing to meet it. Those who wrote against us generally did so over fictitious signatures. For the editorials which appeared in the Buffalo Advocate, and in the Northern Christian Advocate, the editors of course assumed the responsibility. Numerous false and vindictive attacks were made by unknown parties. They did their best to kill reputations, but like assassins, " concealed the hand that struck the blow."

We quote from one of the most respectable of these writings. It was first published in the Medina Tribune, Sept. 11, 1856, a year before " New School Methodism" was written. It is evident that its author was a member of the Conference:

" NAZARITE REFORMERS AND REFORMATION.

Spurious reformers are as plenty as blackberries, and as contemptible as plenty. Incapable of comprehending the moral condition and wants of society around them, and also of understanding the modes or processes by which reformation is to be effected, they believe, or affect to believe, that they are the chosen instruments of some greatly needed social regeneration whose necessity or possibility, none, beside themselves, are able to discover. Mistaking a desire to do something grand, for a call to a great undertaking; and the wish to be known to fame, for a prophetic intimation of some splendid achievement they go forth before the world, putting on strange and uncouth airs, which they expect everybody will regard as proof of the ' divine fury' with which they are possessed; and repeating nonsensical and clap-trap phrases, which they have mistakingly selected as the watchwords of a reformatory movement. The ridiculous figure they cut excites the laughter and jeers of all—save those who are as addled and silly as themselves. By such, however, they are frequently mistaken fol. real prophets; and the gaining of a few proselytes always confirms both in their lunacy.

We, of the Genesee Conference, have such a batch of false prophets such pseudo reformers among us. And such:1 group of regenerators as the Nazarites compose, we can not believe was ever before brought together by the force of a common belief in a divine call to a great work. Whence, or why the idea ever struck them that they were the chosen ministers of a new reformation, will probably never be rescued from the dimness and uncertainty of speculation. They probably felt the motion of something within them—it may have been wind in the stomach—and mistook it for the intimations of a heaven-derived commission, summoning them to the rescue of expiring Method-ism, and the inauguration of a new era of spiritual life in the history of the Wesleyan movement.

Take a look at this knot of men in the light of correctors of spiritual abuses and corruption and it is under this title that they present themselves iii their confederated Nazarite capacity, to the Methodist public. They pretend that many wicked and corrupt practices have grown up in the church and above all in the ministry, and claim that they have come forward as the champions of primitive and gospel purity, simplicity and holiness. In taking up-on themselves this character and office, they not only accuse their ministerial brethren of having ' departed from the faith,' but also, assume that they themselves are preeminent for moral cleanliness and Christian purity. The modesty of these pretensions can not fail to excite the admiration of all. But the truth of these pretensions is what we are more particularly interested in. Are these men so much better morally and religiously than their compeers, as they would have the world believe? What fruits of transcendant godliness do they exhibit? Their professions indeed are loud and pretentious, but what of their works? Does holiness display itself in spiritual pride, in arrogant boastings of goodness, in canting and crabbed long-facedness, in gross and filthy vituperations? In that case the palm of excellence must indeed be yielded to them. Upon what meat, pray, do these Nazarites feed that they have grown good so fast?

To them, religion still appears to be a system of outward forms and symbols, of material ceremonies, and corporal manifestations, of animal influence and nervous sensations. With them, a long face and sanctimonious airs answer for inward purity and goodness of heart. In their creed, a high-sounding profession takes precedence of a holy life, and getting happy in a religious meeting is laid down as an indubitable proof of the divine favor. Boisterous shouting and screaming, . . . . . . . . . while engaged in devotional exercises, they call serving God. An observance of pertain prudential, disciplinary requirements, they esteem a more important duty than the practice of the precepts contained in the golden rule. They consider plainness in dress of greater moment than uprightness of character. An ornamental ribbon or flower upon a lady's bonnet is—in their eyes, an enormity greater than the sin of lying: and the wearing a ring or bracelet they think is more dangerous and damning than covetousness or slander; and generally, they preach with more powerful vehemence against superfluity of outward apparel, than against the breach of the Ten Commandments. With them, a broad-brimmed, bell-crowned hat is equivalent to " the helmet of salvation," and a shad-bellied coat to the robe of righteousness.

But what means do these reformers employ to accomplish their ends? Do they go forth to the people with words of truth and soberness, striving to make men better by pressing, with fervent eloquence and earnest, rational appeals, the declaration of God's word upon the heart and conscience of the hearers? No; their harangues to the .people consist of factious addresses, cant phrases, and rant; of protestations of their own spotlessness, and both open and concealed imputations upon the Christian and ministerial character of their brethren.

JUNIUS."

Among the older members of the. Conference understood to belong to the class to which this article refers, were such men as Asa Abell, Benajah Williams, John P. Kent, Samuel C. Church, and Amos Hard. Among the younger, - such men as William C. Kendall, Loren Stiles, and I.. C. Kingsley, men who, in point of talent, education, and general information to say nothing of piety would not suffer in comparison with those who publicly treated them with such contempt. As the reader compares the tone and spirit of this article with " New School Methodism," let him bear in mind that this is one of the more respectable of its class. There were others too low and scurrilous to be republished.

To prove the state of religion among them, we have given their own testimony.

To show the character of the religion thus denounced, we call attention to the following testimony of ministers in good, and some of them in high standing in other Conferences of the M. E. Church.

We give first a report published in the Northern Christian Advocate, written by the Rev. William Reddy, who, for many years, was a presiding elder in the Oneida Conference. The Bergen Camp Meeting was considered by our opposers the most objectionable of all our meetings. Some of them called it the " hot , bed of fanaticism." The meeting here referred to, was held the spring before we were expelled.

"THE BERGEN CAMP-MEETING.

" There were one hundred and four tents on the ground, in a delightful woods owned by the Association, and which may be very much improved with a little outlay. God was there. I believed, I felt he was there; and many were the living witnesses of his power to save, not only to forgive, but also to cleanse from all unrighteousness. I heard old Methodists from Boston and from Connecticut say, with streaming eyes and bounding hearts, " This is as it used to be forty years ago." I regretted much that I did not see Brothers Stiles and Abell, who had left the ground to attend the examinations at Lima, the former to deliver an address before one of the societies, and the other as a trustee. I confess that I felt my heart strongly united with these " fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God." The doctrine of sanctification after the John Wesley standard, the definite way of seeking the blessing, the spontaneous confessions of having obtained it, on the part of intelligent and mature persons, the duty of exemplifying it by self-denial and universal obedience, the keeping the rules of the Discipline, " not for wrath, but con-science' sake," the patient and loving endurance of opposition and persecution for Christ's sake, if need be, were all earnestly taught and enforced, and many were the witnesses. And some of " the priests [ministers] were obedient to the faith," i. e.; they were wonderfully blest and baptized.

I learned that quite a large number were converted. I left Brother Ives preaching, while Brother Gorham of the Wyoming Conference, was to exhort after him.

AUBURN, JUNE 25, 1858.                                                                                                                                   WM. REDDY.

The following account of the, same meeting is from the pen of Rev. B. I. Ives, D. D., of the Oneida Conference:

"BERGEN CAMP MEETING.

The meeting was by far the largest that I have ever attended, and is said to have been the largest and best that has ever been held in Western New York. There were a hundred and four cloth tents, and many of them were very large, and all of them appeared to be well filled. The congregations were large and very attentive all through the meeting. On the Sabbath there must have been at least, five thousand people present, and yet, so far as I could discover or learn, the best of order prevailed, and all appeared anxious to hear the ' words of salvation.'

There were two things connected with this camp-meeting with which I was particularly impressed. The first was the number of intelligent business and influential men, that were there with their families, tented upon the ground, and who staid ail through the meeting, laboring for God and the salvation of souls. This is as it should be.

The second thing that I noticed particularly, was the spirit of prayer and labor for the conversion of sinners, and the sanctification of believers, that was manifested from the very commencement to the close of the meeting. I saw nothing like mere visiting or idling away precious time, which I am sorry to say we sometimes see at camp-meetings. But here all appeared to feel as though they had come for one object the glory of God and the salvation of souls. So much was this the case that when strangers came upon the ground, they were led to say, as several brethren in the ministry and others did to me, ' God is here. There is power here; there appears to be a stream of holy fire and power, encircling this camp-ground.' And so it was. There appeared to rest upon all, as they came within the circle of tents, a holy impression that God was there in awful power, to awaken, convert, purify, and save souls. This was realized and felt, not only in the public congregation, and under the preaching of the word, but in the class and prayer-meetings, that were held in the different tents. Such was the power of conviction that rested upon many of the unconverted, that in several in-stances they came unasked into prayer-meetings, and, weeping, requested the people of God to pray for them. And I can but believe that this would be the case all over our land, if the Church of God were baptized with holiness and power. Who does not feel like singing,

` 0, that it now from heaven might fall !'

There were over thirty different ministers present, to say nothing of the large band of local preachers who were on hand, ' full of faith and the Holy Ghost,' and who had a ' mind to work.' There were, several preachers at the camp-meeting from other Conferences, such as Bros. Parker, Gulick, Wood, Wheeler, Brown, Tinkham, of East Genesee, Wm. Reddy, of Oneida, and B. W. Gorham, of Wyoming.

Rev. S. C. Church and Asa Abell, (both ex-presiding elders, I believe). had charge of the meeting, and they both appeared very much at home in that kind of business. The preachers all appeared to .vie with each other in trying the most effectually to preach Christ to the people, and of course the blessing and power of God attended their efforts. And not in a single instance were sinners invited to come to the altar and' seek the Lord, but what there were more or less that came, and generally a large number.

I left the ground the night before the meeting closed, so that I do not know the probable number that were converted or reclaimed, but there must have been a large number; and no doubt hundreds will praise God in eternity, that they attended the Bergen camp-meeting,

I must not stop until I speak of the Love-Feast that was held at eight o'clock on Wednesday morning, which was indeed a ' feast of fat things,' and a time of salvation, power, and glory. I was particularly interested in hearing some of the old veterans of the cross relate their experience, some of which were the richest I have ever heard; and to see their countenances beam with joy, and lighted with glory, as they would say,. ' This makes me think of my con-version. This reminds me of the early days of Methodism in this country. This is such a camp-meeting as we used to have thirty, or forty, or fifty years ago.'

I saw nothing that appeared ' like wild-fire,' or mere animal excitement,' during the entire meeting. The motto was: ' order and power.' And all the people of God seemed to be baptized with the real, old-fashioned ` Jerusalem fire.' And I pray God that we may have more of this in all our Churches. Praise God for camp-meetings, and let all the people say, Amen.                                              B. I. IVES.

AUBURN, June 28, 1858.

The next meeting of which we give an ac-count was held on the same ground the next year, the spring following the first expulsions. The writer of this was also a member of the Oneida Conference.

" BERGEN CAMP-MEETING.

We arrived on the ground on Friday morning, (the second day of the meeting) and it seemed that the meeting was farther advanced in interest and power, than some meetings we have attended were, during their last days. It is evident that these persons live nearer to God at home and bring the real fire with them. At ten o'clock Bro. Wm. Cooley, preached from Ps. xxiv, 8, 4—a very good sermon. At two P. M., Brother Herrick preached from Matt. xvi. 15. At seven o'clock Brother Thomas preached from John iii, 9. It was a gospel sermon.

Saturday morning, June 23.

B. T. Roberts preached at ten o'clock. What was remarkable in this sermon, the speaker did not as much as refer to his troubles, but the sweetest and most heavenly spirit seemed to reign through the whole discourse. If he continues to maintain the spirit he now possesses, his foes must all fall powerless at his feet.

Dr. Redfield preached at two P. M. from Matt. v, 16. He showed that the human mind was not capable of concocting a scheme of religion that would meet the demands of our fallen nature. He then argued that sensible men could not be prevailed upon, to embrace a system of religion that did not work in them, and regulate their inward life, as well as the outward man. " Let your light shine," first; by giving glory to God with your voice. Second, by walking in the highway of holiness.

At four o'clock the Laymen's Convention met.

We did not see anything in their proceedings, but what we could endorse. These laymen are men of intelligence, power and prudence. May God give the church more such all over this land. In the evening A. L. Backus, preached from Rom. v. 1, subject Justification by faith. Sunday morning the writer talked a little from Matt. xxi, 22. Subject, Prevailing Prayer. The Lord helped. At ten o'clock Dr. Redfield preached from Jer. ix, 3. ' They are not valiant for the truth.' After this, there were prayer circles formed all over the ground, and the power of God was greatly manifested among the people. Perfect order reigned, though there were probably 12,000. people on the ground. God's order evidently obtained.

At two o'clock, Rev. B. I. Ives preached from 2 Cor. iv, 4. The glorious Gospel of Christ. Sunday evening, Bro. A. B. Gregg, of the Oneida Conference preached from Jer. vi, 16.. At seven o'clock, Bro. C. D. Brooks, of the Indian Mission preached on the Gospel Feast. The Lord. evidently reigned over the great congregation: during this day. Not-withstanding the great mass of people present, perfect order prevailed during the whole day.

Monday morning, Bro. Purdy took for his text Matt. vii, 24-27. He said there were two kinds of people in the world. First, those who hear the words of Christ, believe and do them. Second, those who hear, believe and do not. At two o'clock, Bro. John W. Reddy preached from Phil. iv, 6-7. He preached an excellent sermon. Sister Purdy then spoke of her illness; said she.realized more than ever, that the rules of the M. E. Church were barely strict enough to get us to. heaven. In the evening, Bro. Watts preached from ' Now is the accepted time.' It was a good sermon.

Tuesday morning, at ten o'clock, Bro. Selby of the East Genesee Conference preached from. Lev. xx, 7.

Wednesday, Bro. Wm. Reddy preached on the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Matt. iii, 11-12.

This meeting was one of the strongest we ever attended. We had heard so much about this people, that when we went on the ground, for a little while we were on the come. and see bench, but we soon found that these persons had nothing but what a few of our people have in the Oneida Conference. They are a people full of faith, and when. they pray, they look for immediate results. They are as intelligent a class of people as you will find in any congregation in the State of New York. They are clear in their views of holiness, according to our standard authors, and according to Scripture. We want to be identified with the principles and doctrines held by this much persecuted people: If there is any shame connected with them as long as they stand where they now do, we want to bear our part.

MARATHON, July 15.                                                                                                                               J. F. CRAWFORD.

The Black Creek camp-meeting of which the following accounts were published, was held the same year:

"LAYMEN'S CAMP MEETING.

I have lately attended a Layman's camp-meeting, which was held near Belfast, Allegany Co., N. Y., ably conducted by Rev. C. D. Burlingham. I sat under the preaching of Rev. B. T. Roberts and Rev. J. McCreery, who are charged with fanaticism and enthusiasm. They are in earnest to have the Church gain heaven, and seek full salvation from all sin. These men are blessed of God. I arrived on the camp-ground Sunday evening. The stars shone brightly on. the smiling earth; the voice of prayer rang with music from the leafy temple; a flood of celestial light came down from heaven; the spirit of praise inspired each Christian with the fullness of divine melody; a solemn awe pervaded the hearts of the people; a voice from heaven spake to the impenitent, and rent the vale of sin. Scores were reclaimed and converted to God. Great and powerful manifestations were made. These men of God were con-formed in their instructions to the wisdom of God, which flowed down upon them like, a golden stream of light from heaven. They were animated by inspiring love, while thousands of the assembly were inspired with confidence in the preaching of Eldad and Medad. Swelling raptures burst forth and filled the leafy edifice with songs of universal love. ' Shall they prevail in the combat of evil elements?' In spite of all opposition, and the secret combinations of men, ' They shall prevail.' Jesus says, ' Fear not, I am with you.'

IRA A. WEAVER,

PHILLIPSVILLE, July 25, 1859.                                                                                      A Wesleyan."

The following is by a local preacher from the city of New York:

"OLD FASHIONED METHODISM.

The above is the most proper name I know of to give to the preaching, and exhortations and exercises I heard and saw at a camp-meeting which commenced on the sixth and closed on the thirteenth of this month, near Black Creek, in Western New York, and also at a meeting in Bergen, N. Y., which commenced on the twenty-third of last month. I attended both meetings, and heard the blessing of entire sanctification preached and enforced as it used to be by Wilbur Fisk, B. C. Eastman, A. D. Merrill, Asa Kent and others of the old time. Perfect order was observed, and the wicked, as they came on the ground with their large cudgels, seemed to be awed into reverence by the power of the Spirit which prevailed. Many found the Saviour, some of whom told us they came to make fun, but God answered prayer, and convicted and converted them; and many heeded the warm invitations of God's servants, and sought and found full redemption in the blood of the Lamb. Oh ! that the religion of western New York may spread over these lands.

J. PALMER.

The following account of another layman's camp-meeting, was written by a preacher from, we believe, the Philadelphia Conference.

" MAMMOTH CAMP-MEETING.

Sept. 2nd 1858. We arrived at Gasport about one -o'clock, and took private conveyance to the great, mammoth camp-meeting, about two miles from the depot. This meeting had commenced the day previous, and was in Niagara County, about twenty-five miles from Niagara Falls. Some sixty or seventy tents were pitched on the ground, which has a fine elevation, and is finely shaded with beautiful sugar maple and highland oak.

I had the pleasure of introductions to numerous brethren, and spent some profitable moments with Bros. Roberts, McCreery and Jenkins, and also Bro. Johnson of the Wesleyan connection.

. The preaching of the brethren was eminently experimental and practical. Prayer, praise and shout-lugs were heard from every part of the ground. On Sabbath it was supposed that ten thousand persons were on the ground. I saw no rowdyism during the meeting. I was surprised to learn that camp-meetings were a new thing in that immediate neighborhood. On Sabbath morning, after Brother Roberts had concluded his sermon, Miss Hardy, a member of our church, and a graduate of Genesee College, arose and delivered an affecting exhortation, before the vast auditory. I am glad to see this feature of Methodism revived among us. When Methodism was young and vigorous, we had female class-leaders and exhorters. Brother Ives preached in the afternoon, and notwithstanding the strong wind, his splendid, camp-meeting voice arrested the attention of thou-sands. On Monday morning we left for Niagara Falls, and the meeting was to continue till Wednesday. I have not heard the final result; but no doubt it was glorious.                                                                                           J. D. LONG."

While the Conference was in session at Brockport, in October 1859, Fay H. Purdy held a Camp-Meeting in a meadow a short distance north of the village. The following ac-count of the meeting was given in the Brockport paper.

"CAMP-MEETING.

The services of the camp-meeting continue of the most interesting character. The spacious pavilion is crowded with attentive thousands, listening with eagerness to the heart-stirring appeals made by the ambassadors of Christ. The altar is crowded with weeping penitents at nearly every service. The number of converts we have been unable to ascertain, but we presume the conditions of Mr. Purdy's pledge will be more than met,—that if one hundred souls were converted, he should feel it his duty to appoint a similar meeting at the Conference next year. Mr. Thurston continues to labor with the ability, fervor and success, that have marked all his efforts while he has been at this meeting. He seems more free and powerful and honored of God since that noble stand he took in reference to the Bishop's interference with his labors here. The Bishop peremptorily ordered him to leave the meeting, and not participate in these services. This prelatical assumption of power was met with the manly independence that it richly merited. Rev. Mr. Whitney, of the Troy Conference, made, at different times, some of the most solemn, moving appeals to the hearts and con-sciences of men, that we have ever listened to. He is in feeble health, and looks like one sent from the grave to warn the living to prepare for judgment. The services on Sabbath morning commenced with a love-feast, which reminded the aged of the Methodist love-feasts of by-gone years. At half past ten, Rev. Wm. Hosmer, Editor of the Northern Independent,. preached to a congregation of from six to eight thousand people, a most eloquent and impressive discourse from the text, ' Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness.' Every sentence was a proverb. He is a noble specimen of a Christian man, original, sincere, fearless, and full of faith in God. At the close of the service, Mr. Purdy said ' he was about to make an announcement that no one but himself was cognizant of. He said he never shrunk from responsibility, when God spoke to him. He felt that his duty was clear, and he now offered the platform to B. T. Roberts, an expelled member of the Genesee Conference, to proclaim salvation to the people in the afternoon. He hoped no one would come who believed him to be a bad man.' At two P. i1., the spacious tent was crowded to its utmost capacity, and Mr. Roberts preached an evangelical discourse from ' Son of man, I have made thee a watchman.'

In the evening the Rev. Mr. Thurston again preached an overwhelming sermon from Ye must be born again." The tent was crowded, and a deep solemnity pervaded the entire mass of human beings. Some forty, we should judge came forward as seekers of salvation. Mr. Purdy, who has no equal in the management of such meetings, remarked at the close, that the law of order had prevailed with but slight exceptions who the exceptions were he would not now say, but would say that they were not common sinners. The congregation was dismissed, and re-tired quietly from the ground, carrying impressions that will not soon be forgotten. At 10 A. M., Dr.^* Palmer, of New York City, preached with unction and power. In the afternoon, Rev. Mr., of the East Genesee Conference, preached a powerful sermon from " Be not weary in well doing." He was followed by exhortations by Rev. Mr. Wells and the Rev. L. Stiles of the Genesee Conference. A prayer meeting followed—the altar was filled with penitents —the praying continued till a late hour, and a large number professedly passed from death unto life.

On Tuesday, Rev. Mr. Foster, of the Oneida Conference, preached an able sermon full of power. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered to between four and five hundred. The scene was affecting to all who beheld it. The concluding services on Wednesday morning were most solemn and impressive. After a love feast such as we have never been in before, the multitude of believers marched around the area. embraced within the circle of tents and took the parting hand, never all to meet again till they meet at the judgment seat."

We next give an account of the DEDICATION of the Free Methodist Church at Albion.

A correspondent of the Buffalo Advocate wrote:

"The services of the dedication were conducted by Rev. Asa Abell, one of the fathers of the Genesee Conference, who made the opening prayer; the reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Requa, of the Wisconsin Conference, a sermon from the celebrated Dr. Bowen of the Oneida Conference, after which the dedicatory prayer was made by Mr. Ives, who particularly thanked God for stirring up the people to build a free house of worship, and implored his special blessing upon the various portions of the house, including its fixtures, then and there consecrated to him."

The Buffalo Morning Express published the following account of these services:

" We rejoice in every provision that is made for preaching the 'Gospel to the masses. The tendency of the exclusive system upon which most of the churches in the cities and large towns in Western New York are conducted, is to alienate the masses from religious worship. In a church where a few have their pews which they occupy, as a right, the many will not feel like intruding, nor will they consent to advertise their poverty, from Sabbath to Sabbath, by occupying seats reserved for the poor. Hence,. we are glad to chronicle the success which has crowned the efforts to build a Free Church in Albion. The Rev, L. Stiles, who, with others, were expelled by the Genesee Conference, at its last session, for doing his duty as a Christian minister, was invited by the great majority of the church at Albion, which he had served with great acceptability for the two previous years, to continue his labors among them, as a minister of Jesus Christ, and he accepted the invitation. Rather than have any disturbance, they gave up the church property, to which they were legally entitled, and proceeded at once to purchase a lot, and erect a house of worship. This house was yesterday dedicated to the worship of God by the Rev. E. Bowen, D. D., of the Oneida Conference, of the M. E. Church. Ills sermon, on holiness, founded upon 1 Cor vi, 2: " For ye are bought with a price," etc., was most able, impressive, and made a profound impression upon the vast congregation in attendance. In the evening, the Rev. B. I. Ives delivered one of his powerful appeals from the words: " We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.' The thrilling shouts of the people showed that the truth fell upon ears capable of appreciating it. The house was crowded to its utmost; some 1300 being present, and many left, unable to get in. The house thus dedicated, is a substantial structure, 101 feet by 55. The audience room the largest in the place—pleasant and commodious, will seat about one thou-sand. persons. A basement, the whole size of the building, entirely above ground, affords pleasant and convenient rooms for class and prayer meetings, and Sabbath-school. The lecture room in the basement will hold six hundred persons. The house is plainly and neatly furnished, and lighted with gas. The cost of the whole has been in round numbers about $10,000. The whole has been paid or provided for. About $4,500 were raised yesterday and last evening. For this result, credit is due to Rev. B. I. Ives, through whose indefatigable exertion, the whole amount called for was secured. Mr. Stiles has collected a large and intelligent congregation, a devoted, pious, working church, and with their present facilities for doing good, the best results may be anticipated. The meeting was continued over the Sabbath, the Rev. B. I. Ives. preaching with more than his usual power. The sacrament was administered- to some four hundred or more communicants, and the season was one long to be remembered. In the evening, the altar was filled with penitents."

The following is an account of the first General Quarterly Meeting held in the Free Methodist Church at Albion. It was written by Rev. George Fox, who was at that time a member of the. Wisconsin Conference of the M. E. Church; but who afterwards united with the Free Methodists, and after laboring among them a few years with great zeal and success, died in holy triumph.

" The exercises of the General Quarterly Meeting, from beginning to end, were attended with the divine presence and glory. The scene of the Sabbath, no human tongue or pen can describe; and the effort we here attempt, is but a feeble one. Let the imagination of the reader be brought up to its highest point; and then but a faint idea, can be formed of the glorious scene.

At nine, o'clock, the hour for Love-Feast to commence, there were together not less than a thousand, plainly dressed, and methodistical appearing persons, anxious to catch the first accent of testimony that might be given, in favor of him who gave his life for all. The testimonies given in that Love-Feast, were not the jingling of old rusty coppers of past experience, but the ring of the gold of present communion with God.

Oh ! how my faith in the divinity of our holy religion was increased, as I heard many of my old class-mates, and many that had been converted since I left that country, testify that the blood of Christ, was all powerful to cleanse from all sin. I may be considered " wild, or simple as a child," but I did get blessed in love-feast, AND IT HAS FEASTED ME ALL THE WAY TO WISCONSIN.

Brother Ives preached at ten and one-half. The sermon was a masterly effort; his thoughts were brilliant, his manner pleasing, and his language eloquent. It was taken down by a reporter, for one of the Albion dailies, but I think he failed to report the glory part of it.

I do not understand why it should be a, crime in some countries to serve God, get happy, and shout God's praises.

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered to four hundred and forty persons, while the bright glory of Him, whose death we there celebrated was present, to encourage, sustain and happily.

Brother Ives preached in the evening, and at the close of the sermon, invited such as were sinners and felt their need of a Saviour, to the altar. Fourteen weeping penitents came forward, and in answer to prayer, God came down, and honored the new Church by clearly converting to himself precious souls.

Let me say in conclusion, much has been said in the west in regard to the Genesee Conference  "Nazarites." Now, Brother Hosmer, I have seen for myself, and I can exclaim as one did after being permitted to look upon Solomon's glory and splendor that half was never told me.' I have met tried friends of former years, heard them relate, with tearful eyes, their trials; I have worshiped with them, and I find my sympathies moved in behalf of the oppressed ones within the bounds of the Genesee Conference. 'When that Sister told me that her husband's dying request was that Rev. B. T. Roberts should preach his funeral sermon, and because of complying with that request, his funeral could not be attended in the church, although he had paid his money to erect it, and to support the cause of Methodism in that place; and when I heard devoted Christian brethren (acquaintances of other years) tell of being read out of the church without being tried, and without their consent, I could but say, 'God de-liver us from such ecclesiastical usurpation.'

G. H. FOX".

Asa Abell said in the Northern Independent, March 10, 1859, in reference to the charge of fanaticism:.

"I have been a member of the M. E. Church for over forty-three years, and an unworthy preacher of the Gospel for nearly or quite forty years, and whether I do or not, I am sure I ought to know what is that form of Christianity called Methodism; and although the pressure which some have felt upon them from the strange and unhappy circumstances existing among us for several years past, has, as I have thought, unfavorably modified, in a few in-stances, (but so far as I recollect, in a comparatively slight degree,) the spirit manifested by some, yet am I constrained to declare that to my apprehension, there is nothing among us where I am acquainted, which justifies the charge of a new type of Method-ism. I regard the charge as false and unkind, unless beyond the limit of my acquaintance, sentiments are held and acted on, very different from any I know of. I desire, while God lends me breath, to do what with my feeble powers I can do to preserve undegenerate and in full force and virtue the true Wesleyan views of Christian doctrine, experience and practice, and help propagate the same as extensively as may be among mankind.

I know of no ecclesiastical political designs. If any persons have such designs they have not seen fit to entrust them to me. I have often been associated with those who I suppose are meant in the charges, to have such designs, and I cannot call to mind any expression looking in that direction. I think the one grand design of these earnest people, preachers and others, is to spread vital religion among mankind—that is a real, not a diluted and powerless Christianity."

Men of God from a distance, seeing so much published in the papers against us, came to suspect that the cry of '  fanaticism " was only a new form of the old opposition to vital godliness, and many came among us to see and hear for themselves. Thus the venerable DR. ELLIOTT, author of " Elliott on Romanism," though an entire stranger, came on purpose to see us and attend our meetings. He spent several days with us, in our family, and gave the work his most hearty, public endorsement; and helped it on by preaching and exhorting in the demonstration of the Spirit.

Thus we have given the testimony of disinterested men respecting what Bishop Simpson calls a " spirit of wild fanaticism." These men were intelligent; most of them ministers, and some of them ministers of high standing in the M. E. Church. Which are to be believed—these men—eye and ear-witnesses of what they wrote; or Bishop Simpson's translation into respectable language of the false accusations of our bitterest enemies? 

* Not the well-known physician, but a local preacher.