CHAPTER XI.

MR. NEWTON took leave of the Conference on the 29th of May, and left Baltimore the next morning for New York, where he arrived at midnight,—a distance of two hundred miles. Here he found that labors of undiminished magnitude awaited him his former services in that city and neighborhood, and the report of his doings elsewhere, having excited general attention, and stimulated the curiosity of some, and the pious feeling of others; so that the desire to hear him was strong, and all but universal, especially among religious people.

The day after his arrival, being the Sabbath, he was appointed to preach at eleven o'clock in the John street church, where Methodist preaching was commenced in America about seventy-two years before. The crowd was immense, and far more went away than could find entrance. After the service

he was invited by Colonel Ross, the commander of the forces, to preach to his officers and men; but the engagements which he had already made rendered it impossible that he should accept the offer. In the evening, when he went to the church in Seventh street, he found it full of people, and about six thousand standing in the street. He therefore ascended some lofty steps, and preached in the open air, on Rom. viii. 32; and then, having dismissed the assembly, he went into the church, and preached to the crowded congregation, who had been waiting all this time, on Rom. xii. 12, and made a collection for the missions. He concluded the labors of the day

about ten o'clock at night. The heat was intense, the thermometer standing at eighty-four in the shade.

The next morning he left New York, for the purpose of visiting New Haven, Middletown, Hartford, Springfield, Boston, and Providence; and having preached at each of these places with his wonted power, interest, and acceptance, he returned to New York, where he arrived at sunrise on Saturday, June 6th. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, he laid the foundation-stone of a new church in Bedford street his name being inscribed upon a piece of white marble, which was to be placed in the building-and preached to an immense assembly, on Psalm xxvi. 8: "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth."

In the morning of the next day he went to the village of Williamsburgh to open a new church, multitudes of people from New York accompanying him. The rain was very heavy, and had been falling from an early hour; yet about five thousand people assembled in and around the building; and more than a hundred vehicles of every description were exhibited in the vicinity. After the service a gold medal was presented to the preacher, as a mark of respect from the congregation, and a beautiful album for Mrs. Newton.

In the evening, he returned to New York, and preached in the Vestry street church, where a similar scene occurred, multitudes being disappointed. The governor of the State of New York, the chancellor, and three or four of their friends, entered into the church through a window near the pulpit, being determined to hear the popular stranger.

This was intended to be his last public service in America; but as the ship which was to convey him to England was not to sail before eleven o'clock the next day, the friends urged him to preach in Allen street church the next morning at six

o'clock. To this he assented; but the persons who accompanied him to the place could not obtain admission, the church having been filled more than an hour before the appointed time. It was observed that such was the eagerness of the people to hear, that when they came within sight of the church, they actually ran, like passengers by a railway or a steamboat, when they hear the bell ring, as the signal for starting. The text from which he preached his farewell sermon was Phil. iv. 6 : "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." He spoke with his usual freedom and impressiveness; and his sermon, taken down in short-hand, was forthwith published in a pamphlet, with an account of the entire service.

Before the congregation retired, the following resolutions were proposed by friends who were present from various places:-"Whereas, our esteemed brother, the Rev. Robert Newton, representative of the Wesleyan Methodists in Great Britain to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, after a brief and most welcome visit to our shores in his official capacity, is about to sail this day on his voyage to England, therefore,

"Resolved, That we have hailed his arrival among us with the most heartfelt joy and gratitude, as it is at once the proof and pledge of that affectionate union which has ever existed between the members of the great Methodist family in our own and other lands, which we pray may be perpetuated to the latest generation.

"That the Rev. Robert Newton, by his public and private labors among us in various parts of our country, has greatly endeared himself to the Church, and is entitled to our highest affection and gratitude; and that, in returning to his family and friends in his native land, he bears with him our warmest

wishes and most fervent prayers for his safety, prosperity, and happiness, in this life, and for evermore.

"That in token of our united esteem and regard for our distinguished friend and brother, this congregation will now rise upon their feet, while, in the name and on behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, the Rev. Dr. Bangs shall bid him a spontaneous and affectionate farewell."

As soon as these resolutions were read, the entire assembly rose, and adopted them; and Dr. Bangs, addressing Mr. Newton, said:

My Reverend Brother, it is with great pleasure that I address you in behalf of this numerous congregation, and repeat the assurances of esteem and Christian affection, which are contained in the resolutions just read, and in which the tens of thousands of our brethren and friends who have enjoyed your society, and listened to your ministrations in various parts of our country, will most heartily unite.

"On this your welcome visit to our country, you have come among us, not as a stranger; though it is for the first time that we have been permitted to look upon your countenance. Your name has long been known to us as that of a venerated minister of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the great Wesleyan family; and your fame, as being in labors and successes more abundant, had led us to anticipate both pleasure and edification from your ministry. Many of us, however, have been most gratefully disappointed, by reason of the erroneous expectations we had indulged in relation to the character of your public ministry; having supposed that one chief excellence and attraction at home might depend upon the adornments of modern oratory. It has been our happiness to discover that we were mistaken in attributing your fame to the cultivation of the refinements of the art of elocution; for, notwithstand

ing that you do come to us with excellency of speech, yet we are constrained most to admire the simplicity of the gospel you preach, the purity of your doctrine, and the divine eloquence with which you inculcate the fundamental articles of the Christian faith and practice. Especially are we rejoiced to hear from your lips the fervid and eloquent inculcation of the distinctive peculiarities of Wesleyan theology: the old gospel truths of justification by faith, the witness of the Spirit, and entire sanctification of heart and life, as the purchased privilege and gracious possession of the people of God.

Moreover, we regard your visit as tending to unite still closer in the bonds of Christian union the entire family of the Wesleyan Methodists in Europe and America, and also to prompt us, if we may not rival you, at least to imitate you in every good word and work. We rejoice in the genuine philanthropy and Christian benevolence which have led you forth in the Bible, tract, and missionary cause, and, under the divine blessing upon British Methodism, enabled you to accomplish so much that your praise is in all the churches. While we participate with you in these labors of love, we bid you God speed. Go on, in the name of the Lord; and while you travel eastward with the word of life, spreading the savor of the Redeemer's name, we will journey westward, bearing the same precious seed; and, still advancing onward with the missionary work, we hope to meet, having circumscribed the globe, upon some favored spot, where we can unite our common rejoicings in songs of victory and triumph, when the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.

"And now that you are about to leave our shores for your own native land, in the name and in behalf of this congregation, of the General Conference, and, if I be not assuming, I would add, in behalf of the whole Methodist Episcopal Church