His exertions were greatly blessed; and by the following year, 1779, six hundred negroes were joined to the congregation. He now contemplated the erection of a chapel, and for that purpose instituted collections among his people, and adopted every other consistent method to acquire funds to carry out his plans.
Mr. Baxter’s situation was productive of great discomfort to himself; his duties to be performed in the naval-yard were very laborious; and after a long day’s work, his evenings were spent in travelling from plantation to plantation, the harbinger of Gospel news. He had no one to assist him in his self-appointed task, but for some years laboured on alone. In 1782, he mentions in a letter to a friend, “There is no white person in the congregation but myself. At St. John’s, thirty coloured persons receive the Lord’s Supper.”
Assistance, however, was not so far off as he supposed. About this time an Irish family (who were all members of Mr. Wesley’s sect) were persuaded by an unprincipled captain of a trading vessel, to sell all their little property, and emigrate with him to America. Deceived by his plausible manners and fair speeches, they acquiesced in his proposals; and turning all their goods into money, the whole family, consisting of an elderly father and mother, a son, and some daughters, embarked on board his vessel, and sought with him their better fortune in a far-off land. But their false friend having inveigled them into his power, under various pretences, robbed them of their little all, and then deserted them, in a strange country. After suffering many and bitter privations, they found their way to Antigua, where they eventually became valuable assistants to Mr. Baxter.
In the meantime, Mr. Baxter’s great object, the erection of a Methodist chapel in St. John’s, was rapidly being accomplished; and on the 8th of November, 1783, that worthy man, with an overflowing heart, had the happiness of preaching his first sermon in it, to a full and serious audience. In the space of the three following years, the society increased to 2000 persons.
In 1786, Dr. Coke, the Wesleyan missionary and historian, left England, for the purpose of spreading gospel tidings in America. Meeting, however, with violent gales, the ship in which he took passage was unable to make her destined port; and after encountering a series of disasters, as a last and only resort, was obliged to put into Antigua, in distress. Dr. Coke was delighted to find the Wesleyan society in that island in so satisfactory a state—a circumstance he was unprepared for; and in his letters to England, expresses in warm terms his pleasure upon the subject.
The first conference was held at Antigua, in the year 1787; but the annual conferences, or district meetings, were not established until 1793, when, on the returns being made, the society was found to consist of 6570 members; out of which there were 36 white, and 105 coloured persons. Although the Methodist society had progressed so far, and embraced so many members, yet its proceedings were reviled and insulted by the greater part of the white inhabitants. All kinds of petty insults were heaped upon its pastors; while their place of worship was made the scene of vulgar waggeries and ribald jests. One favourite amusement with many of the young men of that period was, to procure a live goat, and after hampering its legs, fling it into the midst of the assembly, while engaged at their devotion at the Methodist chapel. At other times, in order to vary the sport, the goat was secured against the chapel door; and as the minister pronounced the amen, or the members raised their hymns of praise to God, the poor animal was beat and kicked until it joined in chorus with its deep and unharmonious cries, which were received with bursts of applauding laughter by its foolish captors.
Mr. Baxter, although a very good man, was not, I have understood, possessed of very superior talents; and accordingly, many of his discourses produced much merriment among that class of persons who frequented his chapel for the sake of passing criticisms, as well as killing time. He had a favourite servant living with him, whose name was John Bott, and who attended to the lighting up of the chapel, as well as performing his home duties. Upon one occasion, John neglected to snuff the candles; an omission which caused his master so much uneasiness, that, after endeavouring in vain to read the portion of Scripture selected, he was fain to interrupt himself in the midst of a passage—“And Nathan said unto David—John Bott, snuff the candles!” This intervention, as may be supposed, caused a tumult of laughter; nor (said an ear-witness) could his own people restrain their risible faculties. But to return. About 1793, Dr. Coke paid Antigua another visit, and preached upon many plantations; one of which was Sir George Thomas’s, at North Sound. The old chapel at Parham was erected in 1802; the returns of the society made that year were, 4000 persons.
The year 1805 was marked by the Methodists as that in which their friend and pastor, Mr. John Baxter, closed his mortal career, after a well-spent life—twenty-seven years of which he passed in Antigua.[[82]] He died November the 13th, 1805, and was interred in the churchyard of St. John’s; but if any stone marked the place of burial, time has obliterated the inscription, or else shattered the tomb. The visitor may look in vain for such a memento. It appears strange to me, that the Wesleyans of Antigua have never erected monuments to the memories of Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Baxter. I am sure there are members enough to do this; and it would be but paying a proper tribute of respect to the memories of those excellent men, and founders of that sect in this island. Perhaps, they may take the hint, and allow the walls of their handsome chapel to be graced with two neat marble tablets devoted to that purpose.
But to proceed. Since Mr. Baxter’s death, the Wesleyan society has been rapidly progressing, not only in Antigua, but in all the other West India Islands, although Antigua is still looked upon as the parent church; and in 1842, the society in that island consisted of about 2700 members. Beside the chapel in St. John’s, they have places of worship at Parham, English Harbour, Willoughby Bay, and elsewhere.
Thus, from a small beginning—from a few black slaves gathered together by night beneath the roof of a white man—this society has spread far and wide, like some huge wave, until now it boasts a vast increase of number, of every variety of shade, from the ruddy son of Britain, down to the jetty offspring of Afric’s soil. Great success has attended the preaching of this sect; and although an episcopalian myself, and consequently more attached to that form of worship, I cannot let the opportunity pass me without offering my mite of praise to the character of their undaunted and fervent ministers, tendering my hearty wishes for their further progress, and, at the same time, expressing my firm belief that they have, through God, been the means of preventing much crime, and saving many, very many, from the fearful retribution, the inevitable attendant on a misspent life.