primitive Methodism. She was not only a good wife, but an excellent mother, training up her children for God and educating them for immortality. "Her house Was order'd well, her children taught the way Her blessed." Nor did she confine her labors to the domestic circle. The poor found in her a friend. She was "careful to maintain good works." For several years she was a member and treasurer of the Female Assistance Society. She died in triumph on February 15, 1838, in the seventy-second year of her age. She was a member of John-street Church for nearly half a century. The Rev. Nathan Bangs preached her funeral sermon in John-street Church, from Prov. xxxi, 27, 28: "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." She lived to see her four sons and their wives, and some of their children, converted to God. The sons' names are Gabriel P., Cornelius R., William Phoebus, and Israel Doty Disosway. ROBERT BARRY Was an excellent man, and very useful in the Johnstreet Church. When Israel Disosway came to this city he was quite young, and Mr. Barry exhibited a peculiar interest in his welfare, and threw his mantle over him. Mr. Disosway never forgot it, but ever acknowledged his indebtedness to him. Mr. Barry afterward went to Nova Scotia. He married a sister of the Rev. William Jessop, missionary to Nova Scotia. Joseph Smith Is a name familiar as household words to the early Methodists in New-York. He was born on Long Island, February 11, 1765. Mr. Smith was a member of John-street Church over fifty years. He was an efficient leader, a faithful trustee, and an excellent steward. He did much for the Church, both in temporal and spiritual things. Mr. Smith was emphatically the servant of the Church. He was president of the board of trustees for several years. He was honored with a seat in the Legislature of the state as a representative, but he carried his religion with him. Mr. Smith was a local preacher. I once heard him preach a good sermon from, "Agree with thine adversary quickly," etc. He was deeply interested in camp meetings, and superintended the tents and their arrangement on the ground. This he did for years gratuitously. The late John M. Smith, formerly professor in the Wesleyan University, who was a fine scholar and a gentleman, was son of this old patriarch in Israel. If I wished to draw the portrait of Father Smith at one stroke, I would say, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." His death was as peaceful as his life had been pure. When he was aware that the time of his departure was at hand, he shouted aloud the praises of God, and gave directions concerning his funeral. He said: "I want no pomp, no parade, no scarfs; I want the preachers stationed in the city to attend; the place, whether here or at the church, I leave with my brethren; but tell the brethren, all is well! glory to God, all is well! And tell the congregation to be sure and make a death-bed friend of Christ, for I find him all-sufficient now." Soon after angels whispered, "Sister spirit, come away;" and away his happy spirit fled to the bosom of his God. Mr. Smith was so highly esteemed that a tablet was placed in the church edifice in John-street with the following inscription: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOSEPH SMITH, ESQ., Who departed this life on the 28th day of May, A. D. 1840, Aged 75 years. "The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." ERECTED IN JOHN-STREET BY THE TRUSTEES. CHAPTER LXI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LAITY-CON CLUDED. Andrew Mercein-His History, Character, and End-George SuckleySketch of Character-Gilbert Coutant-Brief Description of— Stephen Dando - Mary Dando-William Mead - William CooperEarly Women of Methodism - Longevity of the early Methodists. Andrew Mercein was of Swiss descent. His parents came to this country from Geneva in 1756, and, like many Huguenot families, settled in New Rochelle. Andrew, their son, was born there in 1763. The family removed to New-York City soon after his birth. His father left his family to visit New-Orleans, with a view of settling there. Whether he reached his place of destination is unknown, as he was never heard from after. His wife, a stranger in a foreign land, year after year looked for his return in vain; an impenetrable mystery is thrown over his end. Young Andrew was but a boy when the Revolutionary War commenced. At the age of sixteen he was pressed and put on board a British man-of-war lying in the Hudson River. Determined not to fight against his country, he seized an opportunity, one dark night, to escape. He stripped himself, and tying his clothes on his back, he dropped from the deck into the water, and began to swim for the shore. His escape was immediately discovered, and they fired several shots at him as he was swimming boldly for terra firma, but, most fortunately, none of them hit him, and with the greatest delight he reached the land in safety. Mr. Mercein was familiar with the stirring and trying scenes of the Revolutionary War. He was an apprentice to a baker who made bread for the army. He stated that a part of the time during the war, there was a great scarcity of bread; that the Cork provision fleet overstayed their time, and he dealt out sixpenny loaves as fast as he could for a hard half dollar apiece. The baker at that time gave twenty dollars a hundred weight for flour. They had to make oatmeal bread for the navy. Often, Mr. Mercein said, he saw the people pay seven shillings a pound for butter, which before the war was only two shillings. He saw the British evacuate New-York, and Washington and his noble compeers enter the city in triumph. Mr. Mercein was awakened under the powerful preaching of Dr. J. H. Livingston of the Reformed Dutch Church, but through the influence of two young men older than himself, Israel Disosway and Robert Barry, he was induced to attend John-street. |