Meteoric phenomenon.

phenomena occurred. Early in the morning, before the day broke in the country where I lived, the family arose affrighted and dismayed. We saw the stars flying, shooting, and apparently falling in every direction. There were none in the family versed in astronomy, and we could not assign a cause for it. But there were a number of poor sinners in the family, greatly terrified ; for we supposed "the great day of wrath had come, and we were not able to stand." No one, out of the bottomless pit, I thought, could be more miserable. And all with whom I was associated, were terrified awfully; because we knew we were not prepared for "the day of vengeance of our God." I then felt, though a very insignificant boy, between eleven and twelve years of age, if I could I would have given all the world for religion, a preparation to meet my God. After finding that our conclusions were incorrect, I again vowed to the Lord to be his servant. Some two years passed before I paid this vow; as I have already stated to my reders, I gave my heart to God in the month of August, 1835, at the camp meeting, by simple faith in the Redeemer. "This poor" boy "cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

I desire to present to my readers another incident in my history, which occurred while travelling my first field of labour. I was spending the night at the house of a worthy brother, who was the postmaster in the town

g

other circumstances, aroused me sudd from the bed hastily; and, for the time b is the end of the world." But I had night in a happy frame of mind; and, moment I realized, in my feelings at lea soon see the Judge descending upon throne; yet I was enabled to say, feelin riches of grace in Christ Jesus ready,

"Hallelujah, God appears on earth to

Though I had no father or mother to religious course (my good old Quaker r very much attached to her children, dy very young, and my father soon followin Lord and the Methodist Church have tal leaders of prayer meetings and ministe career, began occasionally to call on me t

Appointed class leader.

First exhortation to whites.

It was somewhat novel to see a small boy thus officiating. And, when I was very young, the preacher in charge appointed me to lead class for the people of colour in the town of Denton. In this sphere, I learned much, and found it was good for me to be there. One of the first efforts I made in the way of exhortation, among the white people, was in the church at Denton, on a certain Sabbath evening, when, from some cause, the minister failed to be at his post. I was much embarrassed; and, having been in the habit of labouring among the coloured people exclusively, I forgot my position, and, over and over, I addressed the audience as "coloured friends." I did not know that I had made such a mistake, until a kind old friend told me of it after the meeting was over. But the people threw the mantle of charity around me, and winked at this matter, owing to the circumstances.

In the year 1841, there were several vacancies on the Caroline Circuit. That year, three ministers on that field of labour died; viz. Rev. Wm. Torbert, Rev. Wm. W. Williams, and Rev. Wesley Henderson; and it may justly be said they were all faithful and true men, and the loss which their families and the Church sustained was their gain, for they were "ready to be offered." The Presiding Elder of the district, to my surprise, desired me to fill a vacancy there, and sent me an official paper to that effect. Circumstances would not admit of a compliance with this request. My business arrangements

to Frederica Circuit, was to hold the Meeting for that Conference year. We f ance very large, even on Saturday. I to the brethren and the preacher in char kindly and treated affectionately.

The evening appointment for Satur filled by myself. I did the best I could no balm in Gilead?" &c. The effort greatly mortifying to myself, and, I hav to others. I had but little sleep that Sunday morning, the clouds dispersed, feast, my soul did "swell unutterably fi of God." At the close of the love fea the crowd that it was deemed proper coloured people to vacate the gallery for an arrangement was made for them, a who could not get a seat in the church, t

Preached to coloured people in the grove.

of the Lord under the trees with which the church was surrounded. And the lot fell upon me to perform this service. I had for my pulpit a wagon, and I endeavoured to lift up my voice like a trumpet from "Go ye into all the world, and preach my Gospel to every creature." This was the largest congregation to which I ever had tried to preach. We found the presence and power of God was not confined to the edifice, but, under the foliage of those stately trees, he manifested himself to us most gloriously. I verily believe good seed was sown that day, and that it found a lodgment in good ground.

The point at which this Quarterly Meeting was held was "Barratt's Chapel," one mile from the town of Frederica. This place is the most celebrated, decidedly, for large Quarterly Meetings of any on the peninsula. A person attending a meeting of this kind at this point would see all the interest of a quarterly visitation that characterized such occasions generally forty and fifty years ago, especially in reference to attendance. And, God be praised! Quarterly Meetings here are still interesting in a religious aspect. At this period, we deemed it proper, from “the signs of the times," to continue our meeting for several days, which resulted in the conversion of a number of precious souls; among whom was a Quaker lady, who had recently located with her husband · in this neighbourhood. This was the first soul over