SECRET MEETINGS.

In any deliberative assembly, a minority composed of men of average intelligence, bound together by secret oaths, unknown to the rest, can generally carry their measures. Scattered about, their concerted action appears to be spontaneous; and so they often secure a favorable decision before their opponents have time to rally. In this way the Jacobin Club gained control of the National Assembly, or Legislature of France. In this way the secret society men of the Genesee Conference obtained the controlling influence.

At several sessions of the Conference, they held meetings so secret that their existence was, not even suspected for some years. They actually did what they falsely charged upon the others. We have proved that the "Nazarite Union " was a fiction. We shall show that those who assumed its existence, held secret meetings and adopted measures to crush those who could not in conscience fall in with their worldly policy. When this was accomplished, they assigned as their excuse, that their victims had formed " The Nazarite Union, having some marks of secresy." Was there ever an inconsistency more glaring?

The knowledge that they had secret meetings came into our hands providentially. A friend gave us the original minutes of one of their meetings. They read as follows:

" LE ROY, SEPT. 3, 1857.

Meeting convened according to adjournment; Brother Parsons in the chair. Prayer, by Brother Fuller. Brethren present pledged themselves by rising, to keep to themselves the proceedings of this meeting.

Resolved, That we will hot allow the character of Rev. B. T. Roberts to pass until he has had a fair trial. Passed. Moved, That we will not pass the character of Rev. W. C. Kendall, until he has had a fair trial. Passed.

Moved, That Brother Carlton be added to the committee on Brother Kendall's case. Passed."

We shall refer to this remarkable document again, but for the. present will only say:

1. That it was read to Conference; and repeatedly published, and its genuineness was never questioned.

2. That it proves that they not only held secret meetings, but had an organization with the usual officers, chairman, secretary and committees.

3. That it not only held its meetings in secret, but that it was pledged to keep its proceedings secret.

4. That it was engaged in the most infamous business of plotting against the reputation and ministerial standing of some of their brethren.

The clue thus obtained was followed up. Several of the men who attended these secret meetings, were called upon to testify in my trial, concerning them. Some reluctantly gave important testimony; others answered by evasions. From these reluctant witnesses it. was ascertained that they had a secret organization as far back as the 'Medina Conference, in 1856 and how much farther was not ascertained.

Rev. Sanford Hunt testified:

"I was present at meetings at the house of John Ryan. I think there was a chairman and secretary at that meeting; we had about three meetings; there were generally twenty or thirty at the meeting."

At the LeRoy Conference, the number who were brought into the conspiracy was increased.

Rev. Thomas Carlton testified:

"I attended three of the meetings at the house of John Ryan during the session of the Medina Conference. I attended some of the select meetings at Le Roy; not all. I should think there might have been sixty at one of the meetings, at another, about forty; they ranged from thirty to sixty."

Rev. D. F. Parsons testified:

" I was chairman of these meetings held at Le Roy. There was a person who kept brief minutes of the meetings."

If Bishop Simpson will not believe the seventeen men who testified that 'there never had been iii the Genesee Conference, a " Nazarite organization," will he believe these three men who testified that they attended, from time to time, secret, organized meetings? They are men to whom he lent a willing ear. If the Free Methodist Church originated " in an association of ministers;" then this must have been the association. For in this association originated the proscriptions and persecutions that rendered its formation necessary.

That this association was remarkably secret is evidenced by the fact that it had been holding meetings for two years at least, before its existence was suspected. It was remarked that about thirty men voted solid on all issues touching old or new fashioned Methodism, but this was supposed to be owing to natural affinities and to the influence of the lodge. Those against whom they were plotting, were not wanting in ordinary sagacity; they were on the lookout; yet the meetings held at two successive Conferences were so carefully concealed, that not a whisper was heard concerning them.

The first action of this association which has come to our knowledge was a successful effort to secure the. removal of Revs. L. Stiles and I. C. Kingsley from the office of Presiding Elders. They were both popular upon their districts and the work of God prospered under their care. But they were not in sympathy with the secret society men who now aimed to gain entire control of the Conference. Therefore it was secretly decided that they must be removed. About thirty of the preachers signed a petition to the Bishop asking for their removal. The Bishop was told that unless they were removed, these thirty men would not take work. This was proved by the testimony of some of the number. At the Le Roy Conference, the following testimony on this point was given.

Rev. Wm. Barrett called:

"I saw at the Medina Conference a petition asking for the removal of Brothers Stiles and Kingsley from the office of Presiding Elders. I can not state the wording of the petition, but understood it to be this: that we would refuse to take work if Brothers Stiles and Kingsley were continued in the Presiding Elders' office."

Rev. J. M. Fuller called:

Ques. Did you state at the Medina Conference that you would not take work under either Stiles or Kingsley?

Ans. " I did."

Cues. Did you hear any one else say the same?

Ans. I heard others say what would amount to about the same."

Were there this amount of testimony that a " Nazarite organization" ever existed, and that it sought to control appointments, it would be regarded as a complete vindication of the extreme measures of the Conference. But is there any justice, anything partaking of the common fairness which we have a right to look for between man and man, leaving Christianity entirely out of the account, for one class of men to turn others out of the church, under the false pretext that they had done. what they were themselves habitually doing? If so, then it would be right for men who live by making counterfeit money to send honest men to prison under the false accusation of passing counterfeit money.

Their next step was to keep out of the Conference. pious young men offering to join who would not, as they supposed, place themselves under their guidance and control. Several young men of good abilities, education, and of deep piety, who professed and preached holiness, were compelled to go to other Conferences. In reference to this action the Buffalo Advocate said of the Conference.

"Hot-heads and fanatics, from any quarter, will find it hereafter difficult soil on which to produce any of their mischief or scandal. Some attempted to gain admittance to the Conference at its last session, but were repulsed at the threshhold, and passed away, disgusted with the forebodings of order and manliness, which a kind Providence permits shall govern hereafter. These, with their sympathizers in and out of the body, are the agencies employed in writing scandal of those who now hold the reins, and who mean to live and govern for God and holiness—and respectable position."

But the worst use that was made of this organization was to shield the guilty and punish the innocent. Charges backed up by the most responsible parties, made against some of its members for dishonest transactions amounting almost to States Prison offences, were summarily dismissed; while men of spotless lives, accused of being Nazarites, were turned out of the church under pretexts so slight as to admit of no defence.

One of the first victims selected was WILLIAM C. KENDALL. He was one of the most godly, laborious, and successful ministers in Western New York, and was the most persecuted. Charges against him were prepared at the last session of the Conference, which he attended; but he was told that they were not prosecuted for want of time, but would be next year. But he died too soon for that. He was removed from the impending evil. His case reminds us of the devout Rutherford, whom he so much resembled in spirit. Rutherford was summoned to answer at the next Parliament on a charge of high treason. The summons found him on his death-bed. On hearing of it, he calmly remarked that he had got another summons before a superior judge and judicatory, and sent the message, " I behoove to answer my first summons; and ere your day arrives, I will be where few Kings and great folks come."

William C. Kendall was of an old, highly respectable, Methodist family in Wyoming Co.., N. Y. He was our class-mate in academy, college and Conference, and a brother beloved. While in college he experienced the blessing of holiness. He kept the flame of perfect love alive, by laboring to bring others into the same blessed state. He graduated in the summer of 1848, and soon after joined the Genesee Conference on probation. God had given him every qualification to labor successfully in his vine-yard. He had a fine, manly form of noble bearing; a frank, open countenance on which, rested a sweet, heavenly smile; a pleasant voice of unusual compass and power, perfectly at his command; a mind carefully stored with divine truth as well. as with classic lore and above all a heart fully sanctified to God.

A remark made by Bishop Hamline left a listing impression upon his mind. The Bishop hearing that some preachers were accused of making holiness their hobby, said: " Woe to that Methodist preacher, that son of perdition, who does not make holiness his hobby."

Brother Kendall went to his first circuit, Cambria, Niagara Co., N.Y., resolved to make holiness his hobby." During his two years there, many were converted and many were sanctified to God. At Royalton, in 1850, he had a good work; and at Pike, the next year, one hundred were converted and added to the. church under his labors. Here, as elsewhere, he strongly insisted on both inward and out-ward holiness, entire sanctification, while he endeavored to keep the standard of justification where God's word has placed it.

The results were, clear and strong conversions, and converts pressing 'into the enjoyment of entire holiness. These were strong to labor, and of course were active in the meetings. This excited the jealousy of some who had been longer in the Church, but had failed to go forward in their experience. A committee was appointed to request the preacher not to preach so much on holiness, " lest he should drive away men of influence needed to the Church." Foremost among those who were afraid of holiness, lest it should divide the church, was a leading member, who had long been prominent in ' the community. It was afterwards proved that for ten years, including; this period, this man had been forging indorsements to bank-notes ! These he paid on maturity; but at last being sick when a note became due, his crime was discovered, and he punished. Chiefly through the influence of this man, Brother Kendall was removed at the close of the year. On the Covington Circuit, to which he was sent, multitudes were saved.

In September, 1854, he was sent to Albion. His predecessor warned him against preaching here as he had done elsewhere, on the subject of dress. But he was very kind, yet very firm, and did not " shun to declare the whole counsel of God." Notwithstanding the most violent opposition of several of his official board, he had one of the most powerful and extensive revivals the place has ever known. Hundreds were converted and sanctified, and over a hundred added to the church.

The next year he was sent to Brockport, where the opposition became still more intense and assumed a more organized form. Many were saved. But they were branded as fanatics, and a pamphlet was written by a former traveling preacher, against the work, and extensively circulated.

In a letter written at this time, Brother Kendall says: " In the afternoon we had our official meeting, at the close of which two hours were devoted to my case. The council of course were divided we have some brethren who are firm on the side of religion. I did, myself, little more than deny untrue assertions. We adjourned without final action on my case. Next Monday evening is our regular meeting again. What will befall me then, I know not." He was accustomed to say in his preaching, ` I stand on the Bible and the Methodist Discipline; when I get outside of them, then lay hands on me."

When the appointments were read out at the Medina Conference, at the close of this year, and it was seen that Brothers Stiles and Kingsley were removed from being presiding elders, and were transferred to another Conference; and it was evident that the party known as " The Buffalo Regency," had every thing their own way, the hearts of most of those who were in favor of old fashioned Methodism sank within them in discouragement. But not so with William C. Kendall. He saw things as the rest saw them. In addition to the generally bad state of affairs, he had been again removed at the end of his first year, and sent to a far less important appointment. But when, in closing the Conference, the Bishop called on some one to sing, Brother Kendall arose, and in clear, triumphant notes called out:

"Come on my partners in distress."

At the close of the first verse, some acted as if they wished to kneel, and so close the singing. But he struck in joyously:

One to have looked on would have supposed from the appearance, that the vanquished were victors. By the time the singing was finished we were all ready to go to the ends of the earth, if need be, to proclaim a free and full salvation.

At Chili, to which he was sent, the opposition was still more determined. Yet many were converted, reclaimed and sanctified.

Speaking of one point on his charge, where some were seeking religion, he says: " Last evening I requested that none come to the altar who were unwilling to pray for themselves. Some who had been as seekers, staid away. Far better than that they should be bolstered up with false hopes Lord give us a thorough Christianity ! Save us from spurious revivals."

At the next session of the Conference two bills of charges were presented to him, which were, as was alleged, laid over till next year, for want of time.

From the LeRoy Conference he was sent to west Falls Circuit. It was considered one of 4 the poorest in the Conference. The presiding. elder told him that " If he pleased the people pretty well, they might board him and his wife around, from house to house, but they would not be able to support him if he kept house." The people had been told. by their presiding elder prior to Conference, that he doubted whether there was a man in the Conference small enough for them."

To this circuit Wm. C. Kendall, a man capable of filling with credit any Christian pulpit, was sent. When he brushed away the last tear at Conference, he smiled, and said triumphantly " I will trust in God to make them repent they ever sent me to West Falls to cure or punish me." He found things were worse than was represented. There was but little of even the form of godliness. But he went to work, with resolute courage and a strong faith, to promote a revival of religion. His labors were helped beyond all expectation. One of the first who contributed to his support was an old friend. Quaker, who, at the close of one of his searching sermons, stepped up and placed a bank-bill in his hand saying, " William, I perceive that God is with thee."

A revival broke out that swept with almost resistless power all through that region. With untiring zeal, he went from house to house and prayed with the people. Whole families were converted. Stout hearted infidels fell prostrate under the power of God, and were glad to have those pray for them whom once they had hated. It was said that for eight miles along the main road there was not a house but that some of its inmates had been converted in this revival. In the village when he entered it there were but three houses that had. family prayer when he left it there were but three in which they did not have family prayer.

But at last, his incessant labors, and the unceasing persecution to which he was subjected, and which originated with his brethren in the ministry, told upon his nervous system, and his strong constitution gave way.

On Saturday, the 16th of January, 1858, he was. threatened with symptoms of the typhoid fever. Yet, the following day, as there was no one to fill his appointment, he rode eight miles to it, preached twice with great power, returned home and went to bed, to die. He gradually grew worse, but was conscious and happy. He would often sing his favorite hymns:

And

One morning on waking he said, " I have.seen the King of Glory, and slept in his palace. I was so intimate with the angels !"

Not a murmur once escaped his lips, in the most severe paroxysms of pain. Sabbath morning, the 31st of January, he was thought to be dying, and his room was filled with a weeping multitude. His voice failed, and he lay gazing into heaven, all entranced with its glories that were beaming down upon him. He was waving his hands in triumph. His wife bent her ear to his lips and heard him whisper, Hail ! hail ! all hail !

After a short silence, he suddenly roused and sung:

His father asked: " William, is all well." With a look of unspeakable joy he answered three times, " All is well."

Gradually the silver cord was unloosed, and on Monday morning, Feb. 1, 1858, at half-past ten o'clock, this Christian warrior, who had ever been valiant for the truth, laid aside his armor to wear his crown. But he was victorious in death, as in life.

After his death, those who had been his violent persecutors seemed to vie with each other to 'do honor to his memory. It has always been so with ' formal, persecuting churches. It was so in our Saviour' s day.

Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Matt. xxiii, 29-30.

The Genesee Conference, at its next session, instead of trying and expelling him, adopted the following tribute to his memory:

" He fell at his post, in the midst of one of the most promising revivals that had ever attended his labors. It was remarked by his presiding elder, Rev. G. Fillmore, that notwithstanding all his previous ministerial success, he had never known a time when there was such a prospect before him of extensive usefulness as when he was taken sick; and he had never known an instance where a preacher had so interwoven himself into the affections of all the people.

It may be said of Brother Kendall, that he fell a martyr to his work. The day after he. was taken sick, he went to an appointment, and preached with much earnestness and power; and when his wife endeavored to dissuade him from going to another, his Christian reply was, " I want to say something to the people at Potter's Corners, which they will always remember." He made the effort, but was soon obliged to stop. This was his last effort. He was taken home, and never after left his house till he was conveyed from it to his resting place in the grave.

His end was such as a life like his can not fail to insure. It was not only peaceful, but triumphant. A short time before he died, he said, " I have been swimming in the waters of death for two days, and they are like sweet incense all over me." Sometimes he would wave his hands in ecstacy, saying, " Why, heaven is coming down to earth ! This is heaven ! I see the angels ! They are flying all through the house." He often sang his favorite hymns, suggestive of the bliss of heaven.

Just before his departing, his afflicted companion held her ear to catch the accents of what he seemed to be uttering in a whisper, and distinctly heard him breathe out, as from his inmost soul, " Hail Hail ! All hail ! I see light, light !" I see was uttered with emphasis. One asked, " Is all well?" He sweetly replied, and repeated it three times, "All is well !" He suffered a brief conflict with the powers of darkness, but soon obtained the victory, and exclaimed, "Jesus the conqueror reigns !" Thus lived and died our beloved brother, William C. Kendall, a man honored of God, and greatly beloved by all who knew him."

Well may the Conference place upon its Records that " HE FELL A MARTYR TO HIS WORK." Would it not be well for the surviving participants in the proscription which sent him upon a large, hard circuit, and who followed him with their calumnies until his sensitive nature could bear no more, to ask who is responsible for his martyrdom?. He belonged to a long-lived family, had a vigorous constitution, and was capable of doing an amount of work which but few men could perform. To all human appearance he should have lived and labored for years.

We close our chapter with the following extract from a letter written to us by Rev. Seymour Coleman, now gone to glory—then a venerable preacher of the Troy Conference:

FORT EDWARD, MARCH 8, 1857.

DEAR BROTHER ROBERTS:.

This morning I received your letter, giving the information of the death of our dear Brother Kendall. You say he died in triumph. Let us raise the shout of victory for him here, while he sings praise above. He will have no more hard appointments;  thank God!

The hours I have spent with him are very pleasant in their recollection. I think the church and the world might have had him longer, if they had used him better.

I shall try to build on the Rock against which the gates of Hell can not prevail. I can yet say, none of these things move me. The truth of God, " the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," I am endeavoring yet to publish to a lost and helpless world, and am not left alone in so doing. I have been at various places the past winter, laboring to bring men to Christ, and have seen the salvation of the Lord.

Please write to me as often as you can. Keep me apprised of all movements that are of interest to yourself or the cause of God.

I remain as ever, your brother and companion in the labor and patience of Jesus, and hope to meet with you and yours in the glorious rest that remains for the people of God.

 

Farewell.

SEYMOUR COLEMAN.