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Ebook has 758 lines and 118210 words, and 16 pages

PAGE 9.

Parentage and Childhood; "Lord" Timothy Dexter; At School; In Haverhill; Shoemaking; Early Aspirations; Converted; Must be a Minister; On a Plank; Attend School; A Long Walk; Studies with J. C. Waldo and Dr. Cobb; First Preaching; With W. S. Balch; First Tour; First Debate; Came out Second Best; Talk with an Englishman about American Coarseness; Conversation on Slavery; In Maryland; Talk with an Episcopal Clergyman concerning Endless Woe not being Taught in the Old Testament; Traveling and Preaching on the Eastern Shore; Return to Baltimore; A Storm; Where Truth Flourishes and Where it Does Not; Another Location; Self and Faith Abused; Preach in Harper's Ferry, Charleston, Winchester, Va.; A Hard Battle; Cross the Alleghany Mountains.

PAGE 33.

In Pittsburg; S. A. Davis, Wife and Daughter; The West; Preach in Pennsylvania and Ohio; Western Reserve; Talk with a Bigot; Conversation on a Steamboat; Forbidden to Preach; Grave Creek; A Mound; My Study; What is Salvation? Proceedings in Bainbridge; Mud; In Cincinnati; General Harrison; In Rising Sun; Patriot; Preach in Louisville, Ky.; E. M. Pingree; On the Mississippi River; Preach in a Steamboat; In New Orleans; Battle Ground.

PAGE 47.

A Sea Voyage; A Meeting at Sea; Tornado; Strange Vessel; In Texas; Travel to Houston; Hard Fare; The Country; Sleeping on the Ground; Very Thirsty; Must have Water; Colorado River; Sound Asleep on its Banks; Cross the River on Logs; Corn Cake; A Surprise; In Houston; General Houston; The Attorney-General of Texas; San Jacinto Battle Ground; A Pandemonium; Buck Wheat Cakes; Embark for New Orleans; A Condemned Vessel; On Allowance; In New Orleans; A Contrast; Ague and Fever; Up the Mississippi.

PAGE 55.

Labors of E. B. Mann; N. Wadsworth; Owner of a Horse; Preach in Indiana and Kentucky; A Profane Life; General Clarke; Atheism; The Eyeless Fish; A Presbyterian Minister's Wisdom; No Hell, No Heaven; Travel in Ohio; Another Preacher Replies; Labors in Dayton; D. R. Biddlecom; George Messenger; R. Smith's Somersault; J. A. Gurley; George Rogers; Start for Indiana; Battle in Harrison; Universalism an Old Doctrine, and of God; Partialism an Old Doctrine, but of Satan; Grove Meeting; Father St. John: Badly Treated; John O'Kane on his Creed; In Indianapolis; A. Longley; A Horse; Questioned by a Methodist; In Terre Haute; Very Unpopular.

PAGE 74.

Journey in Ohio; Intemperance; General Baldwin; In Columbus; Death Penalty; How to Deal with Offenders; Preach in Newark and Zanesville; Hell Discussed; Mrs. Frances D. Gage; Invited to Settle in Marietta; W. H. Jolly, In Chillicothe; Opposition in Richmond; --. Webber; In Kentucky; Dr. Chamberlin; Opposition in Lexington; Is Universalism Infidelity? A Slanderous Story by a D.D.; In Paris; Excursion to Patriot; A Discussion; Daniel Parker; Cure the Ague; Good Health.

PAGE 87.

A Journey East; Talk with a Baptist Minister; Preach in Delaware and Centerville, Ohio; W. Y. Emmett; Doors Closed; A. Bond; A. B. Grosh; In New England; On the Sea; A Storm; Methodist Preacher Frightened; Blow the Trumpet; In Philadelphia; In Delaware; In Pittsburg; Return to Cincinnati; Go to Chicago; Bad Roads; In Richmond; Talk with a Quaker; A Spirit Returns to Earth; A Spirit Out of the Body; A Strange Sight; Preach in God's Temple; Preach in Chicago; Preach in Joliet; Aaron Kinney, an Early Preacher; Bill of Fare; Hard Luck in Magnolia; Why Preach; In Hennepin; Political Humbugs; Opposition in Washington; Justice of God; In Pekin and Tremont; Frozen; A Preacher Replies.

PAGE 103.

Located in Lafayette; The Christian Teacher Commenced; A Circuit; Society Organized; Meeting-house Built; All Alone; Conflict in Frankfort; Old Testament Doctrine of Punishment; Debate Proposed in Frankfort; Discussion in Independence; Character of my Sermons; Slander Refuted; Debate in Burlington; Endless Woe; Some Voting; The Use of Discussion; A Traveler.

PAGE 119.

PAGE 140.

Questioned J. O'Kane in Dayton; He Beat a Retreat; He Replied in Crawfordsville; Three Resurrections, National, Moral, and Immortal; Conversation in West Lebanon; Everlasting, Forever; Kingdom of God; Sin, Error, Suffering not Endless; In Southern Indiana; Why Live a Christian Life? Bigotry in Breckenridge; Discussion with Mr. Dickerson; Calvinism; Arminianism; Universalism; Debate in Chambersburg.

PAGE 161.

Move to Terre Haute; Lecture in Fort Wayne; A Discussion There; Dr. Thompson; Visit Illinois; Opposition; Discussion in Charleston; Prayed For; Called Infidel; Debate in Green Castle; Conditions of Salvation; God's Will; All are Spirits; Form of the Teacher Changed; J. Burt and J. H. Jordan, Editors; Oliver Cromwell; Foundation of Character; In Many Places; A Celebration; Meeting in the Rain; Fourth of July Celebration; Debate in Martinsville.

PAGE 172.

Journey into Northern Illinois; Temperance Lecture; Result of Temperate Drinking; Married; Homeward Bound; High Waters; Difficult Traveling; Trouble in Crossing Streams; A Cold Bath; End of the "Bridal Tour"; A Hard Ride; Debate with E. Kingsbury; In Northern Indiana; Conversation with an Indian; Dark Man and Dark Night; Explanation of Hebrews ix. 27, 28; End of the World; The Earth and Man.

PAGE 193.

Discussion in Franklin; Justice of God; What the Gospel Is; Society Organized; Discourse on Total Depravity; Conversation with a Presbyterian Minister on Christian Rewards; Talk with a Catholic; A Methodist; A Presbyterian; A Campbellite; Salvation; A Mormon Sermon; Reply to It; A Journey to Louisville and Cincinnati.

PAGE 213.

Move to Indianapolis; Extensive Traveling; Henry Ward Beecher; A Fossiled Calvinist; Supposed to be an Orthodox Preacher; Debate in New Philadelphia; Strife Between the North and South; The Old Convention Dead; The New Convention Organized; Discussion in Springfield, Ill.; Abraham Lincoln; God is Love; Is Merciful; Is Just; Is Holy; Travel in Illinois; Conversation with a Presbyterian Clergyman on the Origin of Hell; In Iowa City, and Other Places in Iowa; Home Again; W. J. Chaplin; Discussion with Benjamin Franklin; Debate in Covington; Discussion with Mr. Russell; Publish the "One Hundred and Fifty Reasons"; Review of "Universalism Against Itself"; Publish Another Book; Olive Branch Discontinued; Travel Far and Near.

PAGE 231.

Conclude to go to St. Louis; Commence the Golden Era; Association in Crawfordsville; Debate in Dayton; Man in God's Image; God the Father of All; Man Immortal; Man a Spirit; High Waters; In St. Louis; Why Moved to St. Louis; But Few Friends; First Journey in Missouri; Wet, Hungry, Out in the Cold; In Troy; In Ashley; Four Brothers; In Louisiana; Opposition in London; In Hannibal; Good Friends; Questioned in Palmyra About Slavery; Conversation on Judgment; In Memphis; Questioned; A Presbyterian Preacher Replied; Was to Debate in Newark; Covered with Ice; Missouri River; Discussion in Georgetown; In Southern Missouri; Questioned in Warsaw; In Jefferson City; Hard Work in Danville; Return to St. Louis.

PAGE 251.

The Golden Era Issued Semi-Monthly; The Missourians; Slave Holders; Travel in Southern Missouri; If Endless Woe is True all Nature would Weep; Region of Iron; Dunkards in Millersville; In Southern Illinois; Philosophy of Christ Being the Savior of the World; Refuse to Debate; Discussion in Carlyle; Inspiration; Our Name; Partialism Approaches Infidelity; Three Downward Steps; Reply to a Sermon; Hayne's Sermon; Mr. Lewis Debating on his Knees; Written Discussions with two Methodist Ministers; In Northern Missouri; A Preacher Replies; A Log Cabin; Talk with a Slave; Thomas Abbott; Negroes Hung; The Golden Era; Mrs. Manford Lecturing; Let Woman Work; A Circuit in Missouri; Travel in Cold Weather; Debate in Quincy.

PAGE 277.

The Golden Era; Extensive Traveling; In Missouri and Kansas; Talk with a Deist in Jefferson City; Moses; The Prophets; Replied to in Pisgah; Talk with a Rum-seller; In Kansas City; In Wyandotte; Conversation with a Clergyman Concerning Christ and his Work; Lectured in Leavenworth; Destruction of Man's Enemies; In St. Joseph; The Mercy of God; In Kingston; Rich Man and Lazarus.

PAGE 293.

The Rebellion Commenced; What Senator Douglas Said; Defenders of our Country; Camp Jackson; Rebel Flag; Great Expectations; Subscribers Lost; Money Lost; All but Two of the Religious Journals Stopped; Could do but Little in Missouri; Society in St. Louis; G. S. Weaver Left; The Unitarian Society; Published Pamphlet on Water Baptism; Discussion with B. H. Smith; Extracts from the Discussion.

PAGE 315.

Discussion in Pontiac; The Apostle's Faith; His Argument in Romans; Extensive Traveling; In Kansas and Missouri; Price's Raid; In Ohio and Indiana; Dark Night and Walk in Toledo; Conversation on Destructionism; The Victory; The Death; President Lincoln; Debate in Milford, Ohio; The Restitution an old Doctrine; The Sentiment Wide Spread; At Work in Iowa; Laborers There; Murderers Saved and the Murdered Lost; Intellectual and Moral Growth; What Man Was; What He is to Be; The Victory; Spiritualism; Immoral Preaching; Saved Without Repentance; Preaching a Means of Salvation; A Methodist Minister Believes; The Suicide.

PAGE 346.

Last Campaign; In Galesburg, Ill.; The United States Convention; Lombard University; Other Schools; Journey to Missouri; In Macon City; In Brookfield; St. Joseph and Other Cities; Grove Meeting; On the Missouri Bottom; Beautiful Country; Preach in Fillmore and many other Places; Return Home; Anti-Orthodox Preaching; Funeral Sermons; Death; Life; Conclusion.

PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD--LORD TIMOTHY DEXTER--AT SCHOOL--IN HAVERHILL--SHOEMAKING--EARLY ASPIRATIONS--CONVERTED--MUST BE A MINISTER--ON A PLANK--ATTENDS SCHOOL--A LONG WALK--STUDIES WITH J. C. WALDO AND DR. COBB--FIRST PREACHING--WITH W. S. BALCH--FIRST TOUR--FIRST DEBATE--COMES OUT SECOND BEST--TALK WITH AN ENGLISHMAN ABOUT AMERICAN COARSENESS--CONVERSATION ON SLAVERY--IN MARYLAND--TALK WITH AN EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN CONCERNING ENDLESS WOE NOT BEING TAUGHT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT--TRAVELING AND PREACHING ON THE EASTERN SHORE--RETURNS TO BALTIMORE--A STORM--WHERE TRUTH FLOURISHES AND WHERE IT DOES NOT--ANOTHER LOCATION--SELF AND FAITH ABUSED--PREACHES IN HARPERS FERRY, CHARLESTON, WINCHESTER, VA.--A HARD BATTLE--CROSSES THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS.

Having been often solicited, by my friends, to publish an account of my travels and labors in the West, after much hesitation and doubt, I have concluded to accede to their wishes. But before doing so, I will say a little about my early life. Newburyport, Mass., is my native place. My father, whose full name I bear, was from Denmark; my mother from Amsterdam, Holland. I was the first born of a family of three boys, one of whom, Frederick, many years since passed the way of all the earth. The other, James, resides in Texas. My father was a sailor, and was lost at sea in a terrific storm, when I was seven years old. I have a faint recollection of seeing him two or three times, and the only memento I have of him, is a large pitcher he had manufactured in Liverpool with his name and the picture of a ship on one side, and my mother's maiden name and a picture representing Liberty, Peace and Independence, on the opposite side. My mother was left in indigent circumstances, with not a relative in the New World, save her three helpless boys. She married some years after my father's death, and resided till her death, which took place two years since, in Princeton, Mass. I have then a father, mother and one brother on the other side of the river, and one brother on this side, and not many years can elapse ere the whole family will be reunited in the land beyond the flood. I well remember the spot where all of us once lived, although I have not been in Newburyport for thirty years. It was on High street, between the Court House and the residence of "Lord" Timothy Dexter. To me, that street seemed a paradise, and it was, and still is, a magnificent thoroughfare. It is on high ground, runs parallel with the Merrimac river, overlooks the harbor, and is bordered with rows of grand trees, with fine residences embowered in lawns and flower gardens. In this charming locality, I spent the first decade of my life. Here I ran, played, and frolicked with my brothers, and other little associates. The Mall around the Court House, the pond in the rear, and a neighboring cemetery, were places of frequent resort. On Sunday, I attended Dr. Morse's church, where, I am told, I was christened by the good doctor, who was an Episcopalian. But the bud came near being suddenly blasted. An old-fashioned cent which I put into my mouth, slipped down my throat, and was extracted with much difficulty. I distinctly remember the circumstance. When the copper was taken out, blood flowed copiously from my mouth. My poor mother was much frightened, and I suffered for a short time severely. If my father had lived, I should probably have been a sailor. He was first mate of the ship in which he made his last and fatal voyage, and was to have been promoted to captain on his return. I have ever loved the sea, and a ship is a thing of beauty in my eye. But it was written that the solid earth, not the treacherous deep, should be the field of my operations.

One word about Lord Timothy, just referred to. He was a very eccentric man, had many soft spots on his head, but knew enough to accumulate a large fortune. He built a magnificent residence, which he adorned in a very extravagant manner, with sculpture and pictures. He was very vain of his house and wealth. It is said that a stranger, passing his house, was attentively observing it, when Dexter, who was sitting at a window, remarked: "Do you not think this is paradise?" "I should," replied the man, "if I did not see the devil at the window." He was dubbed "Lord" for his vanity and ostentation, and the title delighted him as much as "Corsica" prefixed to Boswell, delighted the well known biographer of that name.

I commenced attending school at an early age, but have no pleasant memories of school-hours in my native town. My teacher would read a chapter in the Bible, and make a long prayer every morning, and then whip and pound his pupils till the time for his evening devotions. If I escaped a day without two or three hard thrashings, I deemed myself very fortunate, and I think I was as dutiful as school boys generally were of my age. He was doubtless a believer in total depravity, and was sure that nothing but blows and knocks would make a good impression on our corrupt hearts.

From my tenth to my eighteenth year, I resided in Haverhill, Mass., with S. George. He was a farmer and shoemaker--made shoes in the winter, and tilled the soil summers, and I worked on his farm and in his shop, except winters, when I attended school. I remember my first attempt at horseback riding. I went to live with him in the spring, and he soon put me on a horse to ride when ploughing corn. The beast was contrary and spirited. He would go like jehu a few rods, and then stop short, and I would go over his head on to the ground. But I was as spunky as the horse, and would scramble up, and tell Mr. G. to put me on again. I was always eager to remount the beast, although he threw me twenty times a day. Since then, I have rode over the Western country horseback, and consider myself a good horseman.

When in Haverhill, I came near losing my life. I never could swim, but with a plank three feet long, one end pressing against my body, I could paddle far from shore into deep water, without any fear. On one occasion, when indulging in one of my aqueous excursions, while in deep water, a comrade, who was ignorant of my helpless condition when off the plank, took it from me, when down I went, but by the aid of other boys I reached the shore, and I never went into deep water again on my frail craft. In my boyhood, I was subject to violent attacks of colic and sick headache, but otherwise my health was good. My physical frame was small and of fine texture, and consequently I was not very strong, and could not cope with boys generally of my age in athletic exercises.

When I was eighteen years old, I left old Haverhill, and repaired to Princeton, where I attended school one year, and made considerable progress in English branches. But my purse being nearly empty, I was obliged to replenish it before I could further prosecute my studies; and having no one to aid me, I went to Boston, hoping something would there turn up in my favor. I knew no one in that city, and no one knew me, and soon became satisfied I had better try my fortune elsewhere. I noticed in a city paper, that school teachers were wanted in Eastern New York, and I resolved to go there and seek a school, although I had only three dollars in my pocket, and it was one hundred and eighty miles to the place of destination; but my empty purse did not prevent my making the journey. On foot and alone, I traveled the whole distance. Although my feet were sore, and my bones and muscles ached, I pursued my weary march, and finally reached the neighborhood of Bethlehem--I think that was the name of the place. I found myself in the midst of a German settlement, with a people of unknown tongue, and of manners and customs all new to me. I remained there but a few days, became distressingly homesick, and resolved to return to Boston. Repaired to Albany, where I sold my watch to pay traveling expenses, went on a steamboat to New-York city, and from thence to Boston by sea. This was my first tour; this was the beginning of my ramblings, but it was rather an unpropitious beginning. When I went on this school-hunting expedition, my intention was, after securing a school, to devote my leisure hours to study, and if opportunity offered, to speak occasionally in public, and thereby prepare myself for what I deemed the chief business of my life. But that Dutch Bethlehem broke up all my calculations, and I returned disgusted, but not discouraged.

In a few days I walked out to Lynn, the great shoe manufacturing town of New England, where nearly all the men, women and children are shoemakers, and recommenced cobbling, earning enough to defray current expenses, and continued my studies. J. C. Waldo was then pastor of the Universalist church in Lynn, and I soon introduced myself to him, and made known my intentions of preparing for the ministry, and he kindly offered me the use of his books, and such instruction as I might need in prosecuting my object. I remained in L. six months, working, reading and writing, when Mr. Waldo advised me to go to Malden, and study with Sylvanus Cobb. To Malden I repaired, and made arrangements with Mr. C. to reside in his family, and devote all my time to study.

When I had been with Mr. Cobb about three months, he went to the state of Maine, and left me to preach for him one Sabbath. My heart jumped when the first bell on Sunday morning told me to prepare for my first pulpit services; but I went through the exercises of the day without much embarrassment. My texts were: "God is love"--"They hated me without a cause." When Mr. C. returned, he seemed well satisfied with my effort, for he had heard his friends speak of it, and gave me words of encouragement. While with him, I preached in Lynn, Haverhill, and several other places, but devoted most of my time to hard study.

Soon after returning from this journey, I noticed a statement by Otis A. Skinner, a minister in Baltimore, Md., in one of our denominational papers, that several young men were wanted to preach in Maryland, and Mr. Balch advised me to go there. Heeding his advice, I went by stage across the Green Mountains to Albany, thence to New-York. In the latter place, I had the following conversation with an Englishman, right from his foggy island:

"I do not like this country," said he.

"Why not?" I inquired.

"I have many reasons. One is, the people are not refined enough. I did not encounter as much coarseness during the thirty years I lived in England, as I have in this country the past six months."

"You have been very unfortunate in the company you have kept. There are coarse people in all countries, and a man can eat and sleep with them all his lifetime if he chooses. But that there are more coarse people in this country than in England, I am sure is an error. But what do you mean by coarseness?"

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