so,

In Lynn, only twelve miles distant from Boston, how different the prospect! Here he was received with affection and cordiality. Many received the word with gladness, and like the noble Berian's were willing to search and see whether these things were It will be seen from an extract from his Journal, that several persons in Lynn had formed a resolution, to become members of the Methodist church as soon as a convenient opportunity should be offered. Mr. Lee having given them sufficient time to become acquainted with our doctrines, and to make up their minds fully on the subject, he opened the door for their admission, and organized them into a society. This was on the 20th of February, 1791, and on the 27th of the same month an acquisition of several others was made to their numbers.*

In Marblehead, Ipswich and other places he with much difficulty made out to preach; but he could scarcely move a step without being entangled in a

**While speaking of Lynn, we take the liberty of subjoining a short history of the progress of Methodism in that place. On the 14th day of December 1790, Mr. Lee visited Lynn and preached. He providentially arrived at a most seasonable period, and the word preached was singularly blessed. In a little more than two months, a Methodist society was formed, which within one week amounted to more than thirty members, and in the course of the ensuing May, upwards of seventy persons took certificates showing that they attended the ministry of the Methodists. This was necessary to free them from paying their regular quota to the ministers of the standing order.

The society, resolved to provide a place for public worship, in the building of which there was more dispatch used than is common on such occasions. According to Mr. Lee's own account it was beg an on the 14th of June, raised on the 21st, and dedicated on the 26th of the same month. This was the first Methodist Meeting-House ever built in the state of Massachusetts.

It was not untii July, 1792, that a society was formed in Boston For a more particular account, see Lee's History of the Methodist in America.

knot of committee men. These guardians of the town laws and privileges, constantly watched the movements of other ministers. Mr. Lee scarcely ever found them in a humour to give their unanimous consent for him to preach in the houses over which they had the guardianship; but very frequently while they were deliberating upon the expediency, or inexpediency of his preaching, some friendly person would open his doors, and Mr Lee preached to numbers who flocked from every direction to hear the word.

The following extracts from his journal will give the reader some idea of his difficulties, as well as the success of his ministry.

66

Saturday, April 16th. I rode to Salem and called upon Mr. Hopkins, in whose meeting-house I had frequently preached. He told me that some of the people were uneasy about my preaching, and thought it would not do to encourage me, by letting me preach in their meeting-house. He said he could not find any thing particularly, that they had against me, but he was forced to comply with their desires. He said, as to himself he wanted me to preach, and was very sorry that I could not; assuring me that for his own part he had not objection and he hoped I would not take it amiss. So I thanked him for the use of his pulpit till then, and he thanked me for my preaching amongst them; so we parted in friendship. I went to two of the select men, and asked for the court-house, to preach in. They gave their consent, but said, they could not determine on the matter till they all got together so I left them to determine the next time they met. Then I rode to Lynn.

"Sunday, 17th. At Benjamin Johnson's, 10 'clock, I preached on Pea, cxxvi. 5, 6. We had a

weeping time, and a very solemn meeting. Then at 2 o'clock, 1 Tim. v. 22. Keep thyself pure. I found much satisfaction in speaking on this subject. After preaching I met the women's class, and had reason to hope that their desires were increasing to do the will of heaven. Then at night I preached in the meeting-house for the first time, on Isa. lv. 7. I had a very full house, and spoke with a great deal of freedom. I had many to hear me that seldom come to our meetings. Yesterday I was denied the use of a pulpit in which I had frequently preached; and to day, I have obtained liberty to preach in a pulpit, where I have never preached before; so it is, I pass through good and evil report, I have prosperity enough to keep my spirits from sinking, and adversity sufficient to keep me from being exalted above

measure.

"Monday, 18th. I rode to Boston, and at night, in a private house at the north end, I preached on 1 Cor, xv. 33. I had more hearers than I commonly have at this place, and they were very attentive. I believe the word reached some of their hearts.

"Tuesday, 19th. I tarried in town, and at night at the same place, I preached on Gal. iii. 9. The just shall live by faith. We had much of the Divine presence amongst us, and I felt much inward peace, and an increase of faith. The people were more affected than they have generally been in this house; and they expressed a greater regard for me, and appeared to be more friendly than usual. I am still led to hope that the Lord will open the hearts of these people to attend the word spoken by the Methodists, but let the Lord work by whom he will

Monday, 9th of May. I met the men's class in Lynn, in the morning, and they seemed lively and very humble. We had a sorrowful parting. It is not quite five months since I first preached in this place, and there are now in society fifty-eight members. About 10 o'clock, the men who generally attend on my preaching, came to me and obtained certificates, to show that they attended public worship with the Methodists, and contributed to the support of their ministry. After dinner! prayed with those that were present, and then bid them all farewell, and sét out for conference at New-York,"

CHAPTER XII,

Attends Conference in New-York-Is appointed Elder of the New-England District-1792, Conference in Lynn-General Conference in Baltimore--James O'Kelly withdrew—Conference in Alexandria-Visits his friends in Virginia-Makes collections for building a Meeting-House in Boston-Returns to Lynn.

AFTER taking leave of those places which he considered as under his immediate charge, Mr. Lee repaired to New-York, taking on this tour many of the places where he had been accustomed to preach the preceding year. To his no small comfort, he found that things wore a more favourable aspect than formerly. In proportion as labour and diligence had been used, the cause of religion prospered.

On the 26th of June, 1791. conference set in NewYork; from which he received the appointment as presiding elder over several newly formed circuits in New-England. Litchfield, Fairfield, Middlefield, Hartford, Stockbridge, Lynn, and Kingston, composed his district. But, although his name stands thus on the minutes of conference, for the year 1791, yet from his journal, we do not find that any particular superintendance of the circuits was attended to by The presumption is, that he merely had the superintendance entrusted to him, so far as to give direction to the preachers, while he himself confined his labours more particularly to Lynn, and the adja

him.