History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

HISTORY OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By Abel Stevens
CHAPTER XI
METHODISM IN THE WEST, CONCLUDED: 1804 -- 1820
Richmond Nolley and his Band of Pioneers set out for the Southwest -- Lewis Hobbs and Thomas
Griffin -- Death of Hobbs -- Nolley's Extraordinary Labors -- Anecdote -- Makes his Way into the
Interior of Louisiana -- Perishes in the Woods -- Daniel De Vinne in Louisiana -- Mississippi
Conference Organized -- Judge Lane -- Dr. Kennon -- Joseph Travis -- Other Itinerants -- Asbury
in the West -- His Opinion of Camp-meetings -- His great Interest for the West -- His Career closes
-- Great Progress of Western Methodism -- Its Anti-slavery Character -- Ecclesiastical Action on
Slavery -- Camp-meeting Excesses -- The "Jerks" -- Death of William Lostpeich -- Of George Askin
-- Of Hezekiah Harriman -- Aboriginal Missions begun -- John Stewart, a Negro, the first Missionary
-- His Singular History and Success -- Mary Stubbs -- Outspread of Missions
The extraordinary history of Richmond Nolley has heretofore been sketched down to his departure
from South Carolina for the southwest, whither he was sent, with Lewis Hobbs, Drury Powell, and
Thomas Griffin, in 1812. They set out together on horseback, and journeyed through the forests and
Indian tribes three hundred and fifty miles, "swimming deep creeks, and camping out eleven
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nights," till they arrived at Nolley's appointment, the Tombigbee Mission. Alas, that we have no
journal of that tour, and but incoherent references to any of these standard-bearers of the Church in
the wilderness! I have heretofore cited a few allusions to some of them. "Hobbs," says one of our
authorities, "was a lovely spirit. He was called the 'weeping prophet.' He shed tears over sinners
while he warned them. A year or two afterward he was stationed in New Orleans, where his last
strength was spent. Their appointments scattered them widely. Griffin's was on the Ouachita. Few
have been so honored in planting Methodism in the southwest. He lived to a good old age, and his
memory is blessed by thousands. While Nolley persuaded sinners, and Hobbs wept over then; Griffin
made them quail. There was a clear, metallic ring in his nature. By the camp-fire, on the forest-path,
he studied. One of the saddlebags men -- to whom western civilization is more indebted than to any
other class of agents -- he mastered the hardy elements of frontier life; he was sagacious in judgment,
decisive in action, strong in speech, and generous-hearted." The "old Minutes" remark (in 1815) of
Hobbs: "Truly, it may be, said that he counted not his life dear to him so he might be instrumental
in advancing the Redeemer's kingdom; for, although he was of a slender habit, he cheerfully
submitted to the inconveniences of a missionary station, and the almost incredible difficulties he had
to surmount in New Orleans, where he became deeply consumptive. In a lingering and dying
condition he traveled nearly one thousand miles, (great part of which lay through an almost
uninhabited wilderness,) to his native country, where he departed this life on the fourth of
September, 1814, in full assurance of endless life. He was for some time a witness of that love which
casteth out all slavish fear. "I am going, but not a missionary; I am going to Jesus! he exclaimed on
his death-bed. 'When I entered the connection I gave myself to the Lord and the connection. I now
feel no sorrow for having filled the stations to which I was appointed, but a peculiar 'consolation' that
I have preached the gospel to a people who till then had been strangers to it.' ''