And God will his Spirit give.
After landing, I felt to be a stranger in a strange land, but the Lord ever provides in time of need. Accordingly I was conducted by a gentleman and introduced to a friend who received me and treated me kindly, and in a few days introduced me to one of the Trustees, who welcomed me to the Church. Now I began to feel the spirit of my station. On Thursday night I filled an appointment. It was altogether a strange thing to hear a woman preach there, so it made quite an excitement, which made my labor very heavy, as the people were all eyes and prayed none. But on Sabbath day we had a crowded house, and an old backslider fell to the floor like Dagon before the Ark. Six joined the church on probation. On next Sabbath, Elder Peters’ quarterly meeting took place, which was greatly enjoyed by all present. I met many of my friends from Pittsburg and other places, and we rejoiced together. One day in the house of the Lord is more than a thousand in the courts of the wicked. The first Sabbath I spoke to the class, five fell to the floor under the influence of God’s power. Two days afterward we left for Gallopeler quarterly meeting; took passage on board of steamboat, which was very pleasant, without distinction. When we arrived, it being night, a gentleman conducted us to our lodgings and introduced us, where we were kindly received. I preached one sermon to a small society that seemed almost without a shepherd to look to their welfare. I was astonished at the situation of the church—after which time the Elder came. A Baptist society occupied the house in the morning, and in the afternoon the Elder preached—it was a dull time indeed, none joined. At night I tried to preach, but could not tell what the Lord had done for them people, for they seemed both barren and unfruitful.
I felt an anxiety to go to Chillicothe, for which place I took passage and arrived on Wednesday; found a large field of labor open. I preached on the next night (Thursday) to a very large and well informed congregation. I then took passage via canal, and my mind was much exercised, indeed, somewhat uncommon. Text 1st, Thessalonians: “Because iniquity abounds the love of many waxed cold, but they that endure to the end the same shall be saved.” Text 2d: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel lest the cause of Christ should be made of non effect.” Text 3d. Prov. 5th c. 6th v., I preached again from these words: “All flesh is as grass.” Fifth and last: “I am the true Vine,” &c. My visit being out, I left for Williamsport in peace with God, likewise the brethren, as the friends had used me very kind. After the quarterly meeting, we all took passage with the Elder for Pittsburg, to meet the conference. I there met the Rt. Rev. Bishop, and others I was glad to see. I remained there two or three weeks, and preached four sermons. Both preachers and people used me like christians. The conference was largely attended with ministers from every direction. The Bishop granted an open house for persons to visit and hear the arrangements and appointments on the circuits. The preaching was very good, and it seemed as if the word fell heavy upon the hearts of the King’s enemies; a general revival took place. The Bishop gave me an appointment during the conference. After my visit came to a close, I was exercised to leave for Philadelphia. A lady, named Mrs. Dorsey, being acquainted with one of the captains of the boats, succeeded in procuring a comfortable passage for me for $15, and $3 for board, making $18 in all, when it was $48 from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. I felt grateful towards God for his mindfulness of me. The captain was a gentleman, and the passengers of the first circle, and I enjoyed their company. When we changed boats at Hollidaysburg, the captain put me on the fast line that I might arrive at Philadelphia in the day. There was a white lady on the boat with me, bound to Philadelphia, who had travelled from New Orleans. A gentleman who was coming to the city, seeing her lonely situation and also mine, he never left the cars until he saw each of our baggages in the omnibus and starting for our doors—a gentleman indeed. Thus ended this journey, Sept. 1839.
After my arrival, my first inquiry was after the state of health of my son and his family, and to my great disappointment I found that my little grandson had died. This was startling news to me, you may think, but the Lord removed him for some wise purpose of his providence, and in this I felt perfectly resigned to his will, with a heart of gratitude for my protection and safe arrival at home. I remained in the city about three months, and received appointments in our churches on Thursday nights, although in years past I always had them at any time, Sunday afternoons not excepted. In Philadelphia, N. York, Baltimore, and all the principal cities, from 100 to 1000 miles distant, as I travelled under the reign of the first Bishop Rt. Rev. Richard Allen, I have been instrumental in the hands of God of gaining many hundreds of dollars for the connexion, by raising societies where there never had been any, since which time they have grown to such a mass as to build large churches, and that in different places, and likewise have spent hundreds, but don’t regret it, as I was about the work of Him that sent me, for which my reward is promised if I but hold out faithful.
Now, pray for me,
That while on earth I roam;
That with the joyful Jubilee,
I may arrive at home.
I again was impressed upon to go into the western part of the State of Pennsylvania and labor for the Lord, as the field appeared large before me. About this time sister Elaw, a speaker belonging under the jurisdiction of the E. Methodist connexion, coming to this place, she received an appointment which had been given to me, and I closed the meeting after her, and we enjoyed good seasons together. The greatest display of God’s power seemed visible in a Protestant congregation; sister preached, and I gave an exhortation and closed, in which there was a great shout for victory. I was informed by those that were in the spirit, that they saw the glory of God like a sun over the pulpit, and a face shone after it, thus the battle was the Lord’s.
My sister leaving for England to visit the world’s convention, I started alone. My first appointment was over Schuylkill—then I was conveyed nine miles farther, preached three sermons, and then returned to the city; on the following week I left again for Lancaster, Pa., but meeting friends going to Columbia I went with them. The meetings were attended by the spirit of God, and the speakers felt the spirit of their station, and the feast was glorious; over thirty were added to the church in less than a week, and many of them found peace with God. From thence I went to Marietta, preached two sermons, and then left for Lancaster. The Lord owned the word spoken, and after preaching, ten joined the church. “Praise the Lord, for He only doeth great wonders.”—Psalms. I then proceeded on to Carlisle. Seemingly the wolf had got in among the fold and had scattered some clear away. But God’s word will have its effect where it is promulgated in its purity. The consequence was, we had a great rejoicing. I preached six sermons, including one for the Protestant Methodists. I employed my time, as usual, endeavoring to explain the effects of the everlasting gospel of the kingdom, even in common conversation. The happy seasons I have seen are ever memorable to me, and my prayer is, that all Israel may be saved, not only from the trials of life, but from the power of hell. I then proceeded to Harrisburg, preached one sermon to a good congregation, and felt considerable liberty in speaking. I left next morning for Marietta; it was a very cold day; sometimes I rode in a slay and sometimes in a carriage. I preached one sermon on Sabbath, and next day took passage in a slay for Columbia. I stopped a few days, preached one sermon, then left for Penningtonville. I preached there on Sabbath day to a good congregation of different denominations—it was a glorious day to my soul. Upon the authority of God’s word, there need be no doubt about religion, for they that have it carry the witness within themselves. Thus, having finished my visit with a peace of conscience, I returned to Philadelphia, March 1st, and found all my friends well. I waited in the temple of the Lord and preached several times. I felt anxious to go to Baltimore on a visit to the general conference, being the first of that kind held there for many years. After mentioning it to the Bishop, he said I should be paid for it if I wished to go, for which I felt very grateful. After making the necessary preparations by arranging my clothes, &c., the morning came for to start; the boat was to leave Philadelphia at 6 o’clock, A. M. My mind had been somewhat divided about going to N. York, as I wanted to see the convention of the American Anti-Slavery Society. But on my way to the Baltimore boat, in company with a young sister, my mind was suddenly arrested by a strange sensation, which proceeded from some supernatural cause, followed by a voice which seemingly spake thus: “a watery grave! a watery grave!!” I told the sister what had been revealed to me, yet not half a square from the house. She believed as I did, and I consequently turned back with an impression I should be drowned if I went, as I seemingly saw the water. “How unsearchable are God’s judgments, and his ways are past finding out.”