rt 'f ^ X ^.^Sz.unce- StcM REV WILLIAM COOKE D.D. Thomas C.Jack,London&Edmbupgh.. METHODIST WORTHIES. CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES OF METHODIST PREACHERS OF THE SEVERAL DENOMINATIONS, WITH ist0rual Sk^ttlj 0f tdt\[ €Qnntnan. BY GEORGE JOHN STEVENSON, I\I.A., AUTHOR OF "MEMORIALS OF THE WESLEY lA.MILY;" "THE METHODIST HYMN HOOK AM) II> A.s>OCIAT10.N>/' \c. VOLUME IV. LONDON: THOMAS C JACK, 45 LUDGATE HILL. EDINBURGH : GRANGE PUBLISHING WORKS. 1885. CONTENTS OF VOL. IV. CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES OF METHODIST PREACHERS. FAGE EBENEZER EVANS JENKINS, M.A., 497 THOMAS M'CULLAGH, ..... 508 THOMAS BOWMAN STEPHENSON, B.A,, LL.D., 519 WILLIAM HENRY DALLINGER, LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. 530 WILLIAM FIDDIAN MOULTON, M.A., D.D. 539 MARK GUY PEARSE, . 54S SAMUEL DREW, M.A., . 557 JOSEPH BUTTERWORTII, M.P., 561 WILLIAM DAWSON, 565 THOMAS FARMER, 569 JAMES HEALD, M.P., 57^ JOHN FERN LEY, 576 SIR FRANCIS LYCETT, KNIGHT, J.P., 580 SIR WILLIAM M\VRTHUR, K.C.M.G., M.P. 584 THOMAS BY WATER SMITHIES, 58S SAMUKL DANKS WADDV, B.A., q.C, M.P 592 AI.KX.VXDER KILIIAM, 595 THOMAS ALLIX, 600 WILLIAM COOKE, D.D., 608 SAMUEL HULME, 616 PHILIP JAMKS WRICHT, 623 JAMES STACEV, D.D., . 628 JAMKS MAUCHAN, (^35 (TIARLES DKWTCK WARD, D.D., S.T.D., 043 JOHN RIDGWAY, 650 MARK FIRTH, J. P., 653 y«/.t.< firnAf. R H; V Vi A R M A 13.! I K F', MILLER Thomas C.Jack, landori x 1- imljurgti. WILLIAM DAWSON ThoinaE C.Jacklondon XEdiaburgh ^^^VT-^^:^ ^^^^iS^-T-V^ ^^ £:n^3>.f^;j^.r.Hl;,-acor from a.riiotogr,-,.pb . [Bom, 1820: Entered the Ministry, 1845: Still Living.] NDIA—or, as it was formerly called, Hindustan—has for three centuries been influenced by European com­ merce ; but for more than two-thirds of that period the influence exerted was not much to the benefit of the native population in either their social, moral, or religious improvement. The missionary who has carried there the Gospel of Christ, and has exemplified the teaching of that Gospel in his life, has done more during the past sixty years to elevate the condition of the people, than was done in the previous two and a-half centuries, by what may be called the civilising power of commerce. Methodism has had her share in the triumphs of the Cross in that vast continent, though the results have been small when compared with the teeming millions of the natives who are heathen idolaters. The great heart of Dr. Coke led him to propose the first Methodist Missions in the far East, and the experiment cost him six thoiisand pounds of his own money, and his life was part of the price he paid to commence the work. He started for India in the winter of 1813, with six young missionaries; he died on the Indian Ocean before the vessel reached land, and his body rests in that Ocean till the morning of the resurrec­ tion. One of the six young men, James Lynch, began the first mission in India, going to Madras in 1817, at the invitation of a few pious Methodists who dwelt there, and who had conducted meetings for 63 498 CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES. prayer for their mutual edification. Mr. Lynch began a new era in the religious life of the populous heathen city of Madras. His state­ ments of his own Christian experience, and the witness of the Spirit to his adoption as a child of God, caused the people who heard him preach to wonder, first at his boldness, then at his success. He remained and preached in that city long enough to see a handsome new chapel erected in Black Town for English services, which he left free from debt in 1824, when he returned to Ireland. The work thus began has been continued in Madras ever since, and has been extending to other parts of India, as missionaries and funds were available. The names of Hoole, Crowther, Eoberts, Cryer, Jenkins, and Simpson are still remembered as men who have left their mark on both the native and European population there. The worshippers in the Methodist church at Black Town, aided by the exertions of the missionaries, secured the erection of a chapel at Madras North for the Tamil native society, and another chapel at Madras South, at Koyapettah, three miles from Black Town, where the Wesleyan Mission concentrates its principal labours. To that place we must proceed to locate the subject of this sketch. «. Ebenezer Evans Jenkins, brother of David James Jenkins, M.P. for Falmouth, and uncle of E. Jenkins, author of "Ginx's Baby," "The Devil's Chain," and other works, was born at Exeter, 10th May, 1820, and was educated at Mr. Gould's Grammar School, Exeter, where, by diligence and perseverance, he laid the foundation of that knowledge which has enabled him to pursue a most honourable career in literature. Although his pro­ gress in learning justified his being sent out into the ministry without what is known as a theological training, yet the careful manner in which he has cultivated his own mind, and used every opportunity for increas­ ing his knowledge, shows what can be done in that department without the useful facilities afibrded by theological training institutions. At the age of fifteen years, he gave his heart to God, and set himself diligently to the use of the means of grace in the Methodist society, of which he early became a member. There are still living in London some who remember his first efi'orts made as a local preacher in Devon­ shire forty years ago. His successful labours in that service led the Kev. Henry Castle, the superintendent minister in the Teignmouth circuit. EBENEZER EVANS JENKINS, M.A. 499 where Mr. Jenkins then resided, to recommend him for the itinerant ministry. He passed a successful examination before the May District Meeting at Taunton, in 1845, and was accepted in the August foUowing as a minister on probation, and appointed to Madras, in India. He was ordained, with four other missionaries, in the Methodist Chapel, Spital- fields, on 31st October, and sailed in the Tigris for Ceylon, with Messrs. Wallace and WiUiams. He had a hearty welcome from his brethren, who were most glad of help ; for in the Madras Presidency, with its 71,135 villages, and 81,814,600 population, Methodism was represented by only thirteen missionaries and seven assistants. A stranger in a strange land, with such surroundings, found discourage­ ments enough; but he had gone out with the intention to succeed, and began his duties with the word SUCCESS before him, and though the process was slow he had his reward. His first station was Manargoody, under the care of the late Eev. Thomas Cryer, a man revered in India and in England. After two years, in 1848, he was removed to Madras, and settled at Royapettah, from which place in January of that year he wrote to the Secretaries in London: " Our work among the native people is growing in interest, and I am not without hope of seeing a prosperous mission here." He then relates his experience of a visit to the people at their homes, carrying with him tracts, and getting the natives to read extracts to him; and adds : ** In this delightful work of carrying the words of eternal life to the dwellings of the people I devote every Tuesday evening." In learning the Tamil language he found opportunity to instruct the native teacher, and in that way they were helpful to each other. Mr. Jenkins built his hopes of successful work on getting the young under instruction, aiul couYey- iug religious truth to their minds, whilst learning to read both their own native language as well as English. To eany out this plan he established a school in ]Madras in 1851, which became a great power for good in many ways. In a letter he sent to London, dated 31st December, 1851, Mr. Jenkins said : " Our average attendance is stiU seventy-five boys ; we might augment this figure, but for the extreme fickleness of the Hindu character. We have been more disposed to strengthen our hold upon the children we have, rather than give the school an imaginary 100 CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES. bulk ; the parents have but little control over their families." When Mr. Jenkins delivered his masterly speech on India in Exeter HaU, at the Wesleyan Missionary Meeting, in May, 1864, he said of this Madras Institution: " The school which I commenced twelve years ago with three boys, now numbers 320, amongst whom aie nearly one hundred Brahmins. We have a collegiate class connected with the Institution who are studying for their degree; these are studying trigonometry and chemistry; they read Shakespeare, Milton, and Bacon amongst English authors; and some of this class are members of the Methodist society and local preachers." He explained the process of their training, and the knowledge they gained enabled the young Brahmins and Hindus to resist and expose the threats of the priests, who try to intimidate them by their old heathen philosophy and legends. The young men turned out of the Methodist High School at Madras axe taking in the country the foremost places as magistrates, engineers, surgeons, and persons employed on public works, who have learned religion with their other studies, and are now so many centres of religious as well as of intellectual and moral .influence amongst the natives. In May, 1854, Mr. Jenkins sent to London a most interesting account of the conversion of Somosoondram, a heathen Indian youth of high-caste, who had been two years in the Mission School.