INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF METHODISM

By

The Reverend John Elmore DuBois

Edited by Elizabeth A. DuBois
(c) 1998  DuBois Publishing Co, Simsbury, Connecticut. All rights
reserved.

THIRTEEN

First Great Revival in Greensboro

	The first great revival of religion in Greensboro was in 1841, and
began under the most unfavorable circumstances.  The pastor, Rev. Mr.
Boatwright, innocently became the subject of persecution.  He was
boarding with Robert Dickens, the main support of the Church and a man
greatly beloved and respected by all who knew him.

	It became necessary on one occasion for Mr. Dickens to correct an
unruly servant of great strength.  It was with difficulty that he and
the overseer could prevent the Negro's using a knife on them.  Mr.
Boatwright did not think it necessary to interfere, and consequently did
not come out of his room to assist them, for which he was condemned by
the public generally.  His congregations diminished very rapidly and
some of his leading members refused to hear him preach at all.

	Rev. E.V. LeVert, his Presiding Elder, advised him to leave his work,
which he agreed to do, provided Mr LeVert would dismiss him and appoint
him to another work.  This the Presiding Elder was unwilling to do; so
he continued to fill his appointments with his accustomed punctuality
and faithfulness.

	In the fall of the same year, he was invited to assist ministers in
neighboring fields of labor; he cheerfully accepted an did the work of
an earnest and efficient servant.  On his final return, he agitated the
propriety of holding a protracted meeting in Greensboro.  He was
dissuaded on the ground of his own personal standing, and the callous
character of the unconverted portion of the community.

	Full of the Spirit, and burning with zeal for the conversion of souls,
he replied that it was just like other places where sinners were to be
converted--that he intended to do his duty in the fear of God and leave
results with him--and accordingly announced the meeting to begin on a
certain day.  Calling to his aid the Rev. Mr. Lambuth, the father of our
missionary,  Mr. Smith and a revival preacher whose name I have
forgotten, he began the work.

[To be continued]

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