The Journals & Notebook of
 Nathan Bangs 1805-1806, 1817

 

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G.F. Playter on Divine Retribution
Playter History of Methodism in Canada 83

The moral condition of the settlers was indeed lamentable. They had no means of grace, and little desire for any, loving drinking, dancing, horse-racing, and other sports. A Baptist exhorter, from the United States, used to have meetings occasionally, but was highly prejudiced against the Methodists, and brought the people to have similar feelings. Nathan Bangs was the first Methodist preacher on the Thames, the St. Clair, and the north-western shore of Lake Erie. On his first visits [in 1803], a number of houses were opened for him to preach in; but, through the Baptist, they were soon closed again. A rich man had opened his house for preaching, and afterwards turned the preacher out of doors, in the presence of the congregation,—when taking out his handkerchief, and lifting his feet, the preacher "wiped the dust off as a testimony against them." [cf. Lk 9.5, Mk 6.11] A few months after the affairs of this man began to reverse. He learned to drink, and became a drunkard. His wife went off with another man. His children ran to ruin. In years after, he wandered about as a vagrant, indebted to friends for daily food. In 1833, he was visited by the preacher on the Gosfield circuit [Horace Dean], who found him on the verge of the grave with no preparation, and no desire for it. His mind was weak, and his body enfeebled by disease. He lived in ignorance and disobedience to God, and so he died.

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Edited by Scott McLaren
Book History Practicum
University of Toronto