In the autumn of 1854 Mr. Kendall was sent to the Albion charge. He went to his circuit strongly determined as ever to “know nothing among men save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,” and to preach through Christ salvation to the uttermost. He was warned, however, by his predecessors that it would never do to insist in his preaching here, as he had done in other places, on plainness of attire, since the people would not receive it. He did not swerve from his convictions of duty in the least because of these warnings, however, but firmly yet kindly declared what he believed to be “the whole counsel of God,” regarding members of the Methodist Church as under peculiar obligations, because of their Church covenant, to accept and also to exemplify the truth as he was accustomed to preach it regarding dress.

     His fidelity to conviction and to the distinctive principles of Methodism excited violent opposition from his Official Board, and involved him in a most unpleasant strife, but God was with him, and his labors resulted in one of the most extensive and thorough revivals Albion had ever known. “Hundreds were converted and sanctified, and over a hundred added to the Church.” Several years later the author was pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Albion, where he ministered to many of those who had been saved in that revival, and where he found Mr. Kendall’s name as “ointment poured forth.” The fame of the Kendall revival in the Methodist Church Of Albion was still alive on every hand.

     At the close of one year he was removed from Albion and sent to Brockport. Why we can only guess. At Brockport he was doomed to encounter fiercer opposition than he had known before. The opposition here was of a more organized character. He steadily pursued his course, however, and saw many graciously saved under his ministry. Instead of rejoicing at this, the dominating elements in the Church branded the converts as fanatics, and a former traveling preacher took it upon himself to write a pamphlet against the work, which was put into extensive circulation.

     Some further insight into the trials which oppressed this minister of Jesus Christ is given in the following extract from a letter which he wrote about this time:

     “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.” [1]

     Amid all these difficulties he was ever accustomed to say in his preaching: “I stand on the Bible and the Methodist Discipline; when I get outside of them, lay hands on me.”

     At the close of one year he was again removed, and this time was sent to Chili, a much less important charge. This was at the Medina Conference, referred to in the preceding chapter. We have already seen the composure with which he received this appointment, and how, when the hearts of the faithful were sinking in despondency over the triumphs of the Regency party, he rallied them with one of the inspiring songs of Zion. In this calm and triumphant optimism he proceeded to the charge assigned him, determined to do more thorough work for God than ever.

     The next session of the Conference was held at LeRoy. Here is where the two bills of charges were brought against him, which were not prosecuted for lack of time. From this Conference he was sent, with the two bills of charges still pending against him, to the West Falls circuit, generally considered one of the poorest in the Conference. It appeared as though, other measures of the Regency having failed, they intended to try starving him out. His Presiding Elder informed 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 on the charge had also been told by their Presiding Elder, prior to the Conference, that he “doubted whether there was a man in the conference small enough for them.”

     Such was the reward this faithful man of God received from the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for his years of earnest, self-sacrificing, and fruitful service on the various charges to which he had been sent. Here was a man eminent for piety, endowed with rare natural gifts, a graduate of the foremost University of American Methodism, thoroughly cultured, and in every way capable of filling the very best pulpits of the land, who had proved his efficiency by successful labors on seven different charges, now appointed to the most obscure, unpromising, and unremunerative circuit within the bounds of the Conference!

     To this “starvation circuit” Mr. Kendall meekly but courageously went. Perhaps a few tears fell when it fully dawned upon him what the action of the Conference in his case meant, but he soon brushed away the tears, and, smilingly and triumphantly, he was heard to say: “I will trust God to make them repent that they ever sent me to West Falls to cure or punish me.” On reaching his circuit he found things worse than they had been represented. Of vital godliness there was practically none, and even the form of true religion had well-nigh disappeared. He went to work, however, with much faith, courage and zeal, in hope of seeing a genuine revival; and his labors were soon abundantly blessed, and fruitful beyond all his expectation. One of the first who rallied to his support was an old Quaker friend, who, at the close of one of his most searching sermons, approached him, placed a sum of money in his hand, and said: “William, I perceive that God is with thee.”

     His biographer, writing of his labors on this charge, says:
 

     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.

     Some twenty years later West Falls was embraced in the Conference District over which the author was appointed to preside, and here again he found precious fruits of the Kendall revival, and learned that, though the man of God had fallen on sleep a score of years before, his memory was fresh and inspiring to all who had known him and who had attended upon his ministry.

     His labors on the West Falls circuit, and his persecutions by the Regency, finally proved too much for his strength, however, and his naturally strong constitution was at length undermined and gave way. On Saturday, January 16, 1858, he manifested symptoms of typhoid fever. As there was no one available to fill his appointment the following day, he undertook to do it himself. He rode eight miles to reach it, preached twice with much unction and power, after which he returned home, and feeling ill, took to his bed, and that to rise no more. His condition gradually became more alarming, but he remained conscious and happy. At times he would sing some of his favorite hymns. At one time it would be:
 

“How happy every child of grace,
     Who knows his sins forgiven ;“

and again:

 
“My soul’s full of glory,
     Inspiring my tongue.”

     On waking one morning he exclaimed: “I have seen the King of Glory, and slept in His palace. I was so intimate with the angels !“

     His sufferings at times were excruciating, but were borne without murmuring. On “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 sang:
 

“‘We’ll praise Him again
     When we pass over Jordan.’

     “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, February 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.” [2]

     No sooner was the good man gone than those who had been his most bitter persecutors were foremost in proclaiming his sterling and manly virtues, and in otherwise vying to do honor to his memory. Such has been the agelong custom with religious persecutors.

     At its next session after Mr. Kendall’s death the Genesee Conference, instead of prosecuting the two bills of charges presented against him at the previous session and left over till another year for lack of time (upon which, in all probability, they would have expelled him from the Conference and the Church had he lived), adopted the following deserved and glowing tribute to his memory, which is recorded on the Conference Journal, has since been published in “Why Another Sect ?“ and, with some omissions, in Conable’s “History of the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church :“
 

     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 fall 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 be would wave his hands in ecstasy, 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.

     According to all human appearances William C. Kendall should have lived and labored for a score or more of years. He was descended from a family quite distinguished for their longevity, possessed of a strong and vigorous constitution, and for years had exhibited unusual capabilities for hard work and unusual powers of endurance. But the strongest constitution could not indefinitely bear the strain of such indignities and hardships as were forced upon him for years simply because of his loyalty to God and to the principles of Methodism.

     If the foregoing suggestion seems to be uncharitable, let it be remembered that it expresses a view which was held at the time of Mr. Kendall’s death by many of his friends, not merely among those who were in derision called “Nazarites,” but as well among those who were never suspected of being schismatics, or in any wise disloyal to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The following extract from a letter written to the Rev. B. T. Roberts by the Rev. Seymour Coleman, a prominent member of the Troy Conference, a man who lived and died in the Methodist Church, illustrates the thought and feelings of many regarding the responsibility for Mr. Kendall’s apparently untimely death:

     This morning I received your letter, giving the information or 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.

     The closing words of this extract, “I think the Church and the world might have had him longer if they had used him better,” are expressive of the general conviction of all who knew the circumstances save those who were his bitter enemies; and we doubt not that at heart they also regarded him as a martyr victim of the persecutions that had raged so long and fiercely against him.

[1] “Why Another Sect?” p. 74.
[2] “Why Another Sect?” p. 78, 79.