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

Martin Ruter, who was born in Sutton, Mass., in 1785, but sleeps in a missionary grave on the
banks of the Brazos, in Texas, entered the eastern itinerant ranks in 1801, called into them by
Brodhead. He was one of the noblest sons of New England, a good debater and writer, an able
preacher, a leader of the educational interests of the denomination in the East and in the West, one
of its best representative characters for many years, and at last a pioneer evangelist on its farthest
frontier. We shall meet him often hereafter.
Laban Clark also appears on the Conference roll, for the first time, in 1801. Born in Haverhill,
N. H., in 1778, and early removing to Vermont, he heard some of the first evangelists who penetrated
the latter state, and became a Methodist in 1799. In 1800 he was preaching about his neighborhood
with John Langdon, a local preacher, and one of the principal founders of the Church in Vermont.
Brodhead who, the same year, had pressed Ruter into the itinerant service, now summoned out Clark,
and thus presented to the Church two of its most important public men. Clark still lives, after more
than sixty years of invaluable services, which will bring him often before us; his life, like that of
Ruter, has been so extensively identified with the general history of the Church as not to admit of
its individualization here. A man of vigorous physical health, of strong and genial mind, of great
practical capacity, of never-wavering enthusiasm for his Church and all its important enterprises, a
living history of it for more than threescore years, and an able preacher, notwithstanding a marked
vocal defect, he has been prominent among its most exponent characters.
These remaining four years were eventful to the Church all over the Eastern States. They began
with the first session of the New England Conference, as a distinct organized body, at Lynn, Mass.,
July 8, 1800. Revivals prevailed generally, greatly increasing the congregations and societies, The
itinerancy was not only largely recruited, but in a few places tested by severe persecutions. Elijah
R. Sabin was mobbed on Needham Circuit, where he preached in the open air. Some of his brethren,
at the Conference, would moderate his zeal; but Asbury approved him, affirming that "this is the way
Methodist preachers began, and we need warm hearts to carry the work forward." The Boston
Methodists suffered much from the rabble, who besieged their humble temple, begun on Hanover
Avenue (then known as Methodist Alley) in 1795, but not completed till 1800, after which time, say
its old records, "the troubled and persecuted society found, in some degree; rest to their souls;" it was
yet only, however, in "some degree." They had still many a sore conflict before cultivated Boston
properly recognized them. Hibbard fought his way through intolerable trials on Granville Circuit.
He speaks of twenty-six sermons a month as "moderate labor," and only complains when he had
twelve appointments a week, and "no rest week in which to go home and visit his family." "Some
days," he says, "when riding to my appointments, I was almost all the way in tears, often inquiring
of the Lord, in ejaculatory prayers, 'What can I do to save these souls from delusion?' Some threw
stones at me, and some set their dogs on me as I rode along; but the Lord defended me. I never had
a stone to hit me, nor a dog to bite me. Some threatened to whip me; but I escaped all. I heard of
many threats, but none laid hands on me."
In Lancaster, Vt., Langdon, Clark, and Crawford were assailed by the mob. The ruffians cowered
before the courage of Langdon, who was a gigantic and brave man; but they carried off Crawford,
and ducked him in the river, with huzzas. In this same state, now so tolerant and so Methodistic,
Washburn had similar trials, though better escapes. "I have had," he says, "stones and snowballs cast
at me in volleys. I have had great dogs sent after me, to frighten my horse, as I was peacefully