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

enrolled as Methodists." His brother Benjamin was among these converts, and became a preacher;
the first who bore the standard of Methodism into Illinois.
In 1799 he was laboring as an exhorter amid the great revivals that then prevailed in Kentucky.
In 1801 he was licensed as a local preacher; McKendree met him on his great district, "covering the
whole of Kentucky and Tennessee," and extending into Ohio. "He had been but a few months," says
Young, "on the ground when he understood perfectly his field of labor, moving day and night,
visiting families, organizing societies, and holding quarterly Conferences. It was his constant practice
to travel from thirty to fifty miles in a day, and preach at night. All classes of people flocked to hear
him; statesmen, lawyers, doctors, and theologians of all denominations clustered around him, saying,
as they returned home, 'Did you ever hear the like before?' Some, indeed, were so captivated, that
they would say, 'Never man spake like this man.' He saw that the harvest was truly great, and the
laborers few. Early in the morning and late in the evening, with streaming eyes he prayed God, with
hands and heart uplifted, that he would send forth more laborers into the harvest. He was actively
engaged in forming new circuits, and calling out local preachers to fill them. Whenever he found a
young man of piety and native talent, he led him out into the Lord's vineyard; and large as his district
was, it soon became too small for him. He extended his labors to every part of Southwestern
Virginia, then crossing the Ohio River, he carried the holy war into the state of Ohio, and there he
formed new charges, and called out young men. They found that he gloried in doing the hardest of
the work, and his example inspired them with the same spirit. McKendree, like a noble general, was
always in the first ranks, followed by such men as Thomas Wilkinson, John Page, Lewis Garrett, and
Jesse Walker. Under the supervision of these men the preachers were stationed. Throughout the
length and breadth of the West, as far as the country was settled, McKendree was first in counsel,
and first in action. If he appeared on a campground every eye was upon him, and his word was law.
In private circles, Quarterly Conferences, and Annual Conferences he was the master-spirit."
In 1802 McKendree summoned Young into the itinerancy. Happily, at one of his appointments
on the circuit, lived Barnabas McHenry. "I may truly say," writes Young, "he was a man by himself.
He was, at least, fifty years before the time in which he lived. He had not a collegiate education, but
was one of the best English scholars I ever saw. I feel myself greatly indebted to that good man for
the instruction I received from him at that early period of my life."
He completed his first round of Salt River Circuit in six weeks, traveling five hundred miles,
preaching fifty sermons, holding many class and prayer meetings, visiting many families, and
rejoicing over this laborious field as the happiest scene of his life. "I now," he says, "began to feel
myself pretty well harnessed for the battle. My soul had caught the missionary fire, and I felt
disposed to go on." A great revival spread over the circuit. His next scene of labor was Wayne
Circuit, his colleague being James Gwinn, "then called Colonel Gwinn, afterward General Jackson's
chaplain at the famous battle of New Orleans."
They divided their labors, proposing to form two circuits on Green River. The young evangelist
had now strange work. He must form his own appointments, organize his Churches, and break his
way through the wilderness as best he could. His record shows how such work was done in those
times. "In two days," he says, "I arrived at Manoah Lasley's, where I spent a few days, rested my
horse, and recruited my wardrobe. I found myself at a very great loss to know how to form a circuit