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

He shared fully, during his presiding eldership in Maine, the sufferings of the early itinerancy: long
journeys on horseback, over new roads, through vast forests, in the storms of winter; fording
dangerous streams, lodging in exposed log cabins, preaching almost daily, and receiving a pecuniary
compensation scarcely sufficient for traveling expenses and clothing. These were the tests, however,
which made strong men of the Methodist preachers of that day.
Such was the prosperity and extension of the district during these two years, that in 1806 it was
divided, and its eastern portion formed into a new one, named after the Kennebec River, along which
it chiefly extended. Soule took charge of the latter during 1806 and 1807. The following four years
he traveled again the other section, then called Portland District. During this period Martin Ruter,
Epaphras Kibby, Ebenezer Blake, Charles Virgin, Daniel Fillmore, Samuel Hillman, and others of
familiar name in the New England Churches, were under his guidance. They had hard struggles but
glorious victories in spreading the truth through the wilds of Maine. In 1812 Soule returned to
Massachusetts, and was the colleague of Daniel Webb at Lynn; but in the following year was back
again, traveling his former district on the Kennebec. He continued there till 1816, when he was
appointed Book Agent at New York. He did good service for the Church in this capacity during four
years, especially by the publication of the Methodist Magazine, the appearance of which, "even at
this late period," says the historian of the Church, "was hailed by the friends of literature and religion
as the harbinger of brighter days to our Zion." Soule was its editor; his original articles were sensible
in thought and dignified in style, though betraying often those minute intellectual defects which
self-education, however advantageous in other respects, seldom eradicates. Its selections were
peculiarly attractive and instructive, and such was its success, that ten thousand subscribers were
obtained the first year. Bangs took Soule's place at the Book Rooms in 1820, and the latter was
stationed in New York city, where he labored two years with Hunt, Hibbard, Spicer, and
Summerfield. The following two year's he spent in Baltimore, and in 1824 was elected to the
episcopacy, in the forty-third year of his age, and the twenty-sixth of his ministry. For forty-three
years he has sustained the onerous responsibilities of that office, traversing the continent, from the
Penobscot in Maine, to the Colorado in Texas, presiding in Conferences, visiting in long and perilous
journeys the Indian Missions, and energetically laboring, by the many facilities of his position, for
the promotion of the Church.
In the discussions of the General Conference of 1844, which resulted in the division of the
Church, he attached himself to the party formed by the representatives of the South, and has since
identified himself with that section of the denomination.
Bishop Soule was erect, tall, and slight in person, and dignified in his bearing; his forehead high,
but narrow, his voice strong and commanding. In the pulpit he was slow, long in his sermons usually
occupying an hour and a half for each; elaborate, almost entirely destitute of imagination or
figurative illustrations, but strongly fortified in the main positions of his subject, and vigorous in his
style. His discourses showed more breadth than depth, but were often overwhelmingly impressive.
The dignity of his bearing, frequently verging on majesty itself; gave to his sermons, at times, an
imposing solemnity; but on occasions less congruous with it, had the disadvantage of appearing, to
the fastidious at least, pompous and repulsive.