"In the second meeting," he says, "I saw two young ladies who appeared much disposed to vanity and opposition, but at the close one of them requested prayers, and within one week both became happy converts, and have been baptized. From this occurrence the work began rapidly among the youth. About a dozen have been hopefully converted, and a great number more are now under serious conviction. Difficulties have healed by the power of God, and backsliders have returned with confessions, repentance, and tears. I have been surprised during this revival to find popular professors of religion its worst enemies. What a shocking inconsistency it is for people to pray for reformation in foreign countries, and fight the work of God at their own doors; to bestow their funds for the conversion of the heathen, and live and act worse than heathens themselves. In the present age, the opposition of the infidel, drunkard and profane, is modest when compared with the wrath and vengeance of popular professors."
He speaks of Rev. Asa C. Morrison as greatly successful in Salem, Ohio; of Elder Blodget, as having witnessed a large revival during his three months' sojourn in the Province of Upper Canada. "I have found it duty on many accounts," he adds, "to adjourn my southern journey till next fall." In Royalton, he continued to remain, where, assisted for about three weeks by the labors of Elder Levi Hathaway, he saw many converted. Writing from that place, he says:—
"The first day of the present year was a precious time to us at Royalton. I gave a sermon appropriate to the occasion; the number and attention were great, and the saints had a satisfactory evidence that the Lord was about to revive his work, and many spoke in a feeling manner. Several young people requested prayers, and at the close of the meeting I requested all who would covenant together and live anew for God the present year and pray for each other fervently, to come forward and join hands; about forty came with melting hearts. I then called for those who were resolved to set out the present year to seek salvation, to come into the circle and kneel; I think five came forward. We had a solemn and glorious time in prayer, and felt the sweetest influence of the Good Spirit while we sang,
"'From whence doth this union arise,
That hatred is conquered by love?'"
"By request of Mrs. Wiley (a woman in the last stage of consumption, but recently converted), I preached two sermons in her room. The season was solemn and glorious. Many spoke, and she declared that she could now rely on the promises, and trust in the Great Redeemer. As she drew near her end, her faith grew stronger. Just before she expired her husband heard her whisper; he asked her what she said, to which she pleasantly replied, 'I was not speaking to you; I was talking with my God.' Oh, how triumphant was the death of this good woman, and with what solemn pleasure could we follow her to the grave! It is far more pleasant to me to preach at funerals of converts than to have them live and backslide from God, and wound the precious cause."
"On the third day of February we met for the organization of a religious society according to law; at the close of the business, a young man who sat on the back seat sent for me to come to him; he had many days been under serious conviction. He said that he should like to speak if there was liberty. He then arose and told what God had done for his soul. February 20 was a day of the Mediator's power; the congregation was large, solemn and attentive. At the close we repaired to the water, which is but a short distance from our meeting-house, where I baptized the bodies of twelve happy souls. I led into the water at once six young men; and when I had baptized ten, a young man who had not come forward, passed through the crowd and proposed to his wife to join him; they took each other by the hand and came into the water together. This was one of the most pleasant scenes I ever saw. The saints praised their God aloud, and many of the congregation wept."
Sometimes it has been customary among sects to measure the power of a religious faith by the strength and joy it imparts in the dying hour, which certainly is bringing the reality to a solemn test. Judging by this standard, and from almost innumerable instances, the faith inspired by the labors of Mr. B. and his associates was a strong spiritual power, holding the element of triumph in the last, low hour; for not unfrequently did the departing spirit rise to a calm and joyful enthusiasm as the rays of the eternal morning began to fall upon their inward vision.
June 1825 finds Mr. Badger actively engaged in organizing a plan for an evangelizing ministry, an idea he had previously recommended in his correspondence, and in his address to the Conference, as the best means, at that time, for promoting the life and success of the churches. A full report was made on his suggestion, and with his assistance such a ministry was appointed for the year, of which he was, with four others, a member. Perhaps an extract from this address, delivered at Byron, Genesee County, N. Y., June 24, may more perfectly give his views.
"Furthermore, my brethren, to facilitate the union and prosperity of this Conference, let every church within its boundaries be advised to represent themselves by delegates and form a part of the Conference. Let every church be considered as under the care of individual ministers whom they may elect, or under the care of a travelling ministry which may be organized by this Conference. I here call your attention to a subject of the first magnitude. On a travelling connection, in my opinion, much is depending; and indeed I see no other way for our numerous vacant congregations to be supplied. Then as many preachers as feel it to be their duty to devote their whole time to travelling must be sanctioned by this body, and divide themselves into districts or circuits, as will best commode the local state of the churches. Their support must be received if possible from the congregations of their care; if not, a Conference Fund must supply them, that they be perfectly independent and devoted to their work. By this method, poor as well as wealthy congregations will have a stated ministry. But be assured that the organization of a Conference Fund will be the mainspring to give energy to the whole plan, without which all our calculations are but castles in the air."
Whilst we have this excellent address in hand we cannot dismiss it without quoting a few more lines, particularly as they show the views and state of things at that time. He begins thus:—