John Emory,

LATE A BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

JOHN EMORY was born on the 11th day of April, 1789, in Spaniard's Neck, Queen Anne's County, Eastern Shore of Maryland. His parents were Robert and Frances Emory, both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which his father was a leader. As the family mansion was the home of the circuit preachers, he was accustomed from infancy to their company and conversation; and, in fact, from that time onward, he was nurtured in the bosom of Methodism.

His elementary education was received in the country schools in the vicinity of his birth-place. His academic training was conducted by two excellent classical teachers of the old school, and completed at Washington College, Maryland. Before he was ten years of age his father had decided to educate him for the bar, and all his studies for several years were directed with set purpose to this end. Nothing, however, but natural strength of mind and remarkable advancement in study could have justified his entering a law-office at seventeen years of age. He worked in that office most thoroughly: reading hard, writing digests and essays, and grounding himself thoroughly in the fundamental principles of law. This training was afterward of great value to him in a very different sphere of life.

His moral character was of high order from his boyhood. "If ever," says his biographer,* "amiableness of disposition and unimpeachable morality of conduct could assure one of the favour of God, it is believed that this would have been Mr. Emory's case. But he had learned that 'whoso keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all;' and that 'by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified ;'-that 'without faith it is impossible to please God;' and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.' And having no such immaculate purity by nature, and no such evidence of justification, his awakened conscience could not rest. His interest in the subject of experimental religion was further increased by the recent conversion of his elder brother and sister. For months he had been labouring under strong convictions; but his naturally retiring and silent disposition made it the more easy for him to conceal the fact from the rest of the family, until the day when he made an open profession of his determination to be on the Lord's side. The following account of the circumstances attending his conversion has been communicated by his surviving sister, who was present on the occasion: 'The evening before the quarterly or two days' meeting, (already named,) several members of our family, among whom were an elder sister and myself, had assembled at our brother Robert's, where my brother John was then living. The hours having been spent in singing hymns and conversing about experimental religion, when family prayer was concluded John betook himself, as he afterward told us, to a retired part of the garden, and there gave vent to the feelings of his burdened spirit. Early on the succeeding Sabbath morning the

Life of Bishop Emory, by his eldest son, p. 26.

family prepared to go to love-feast, expecting that, as public preaching did not commence until an hour or two later, John would not follow until some time after. He himself, however, proposed to accompany us, and on the way introduced the subject of religion to a pious relation, Richard Thomas, but without disclosing the real state of his feelings. This was, however, sufficient to induce Mr. Thomas to invite him to attend the love-feast. To this my brother assented, provided he would obtain permission of the preacher. But before he had an opportunity of doing so, the preacher presented himself at the door, and stated that none but members of the Church need apply for admission, the house being too small to hold them. This was an appalling stroke to him, and he said to his cousin, "You need not apply, for they will not let me in." But this good man, believing that God was at work, succeeded in procuring admittance for him. The house was quickly filled, and the exercises commenced, and soon the mighty power of God was displayed. My sister and myself had secured seats near the door. But few had spoken, when our attention was arrested by a voice which sounded like our brother's. We gazed at each other, and said, "Is it he?" (for we were entirely ignorant, as yet, of all that had passed, and had not the least idea of his being in the house:) "Yes," we said, with eyes streaming with tears of joy, "it must be his voice," for see him we could not. With intense interest we listened, while he there, in the most solemn manner, called upon God and angels, heaven and earth, and the assembly then present, to witness that he that day determined to seek the salvation of his soul. He then sunk upon his knees, and thus remained during the love-feast, calling upon God for the pardon of his sins.

After public preaching the same humble posture was resumed. Many prayers were offered up for him, and much interest manifested. A circle was formed around

him of those who knew and felt that their God was a God of mercy, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. All of a sudden he rose from his knees and seated himself; and with such composure and sweetness as I never witnessed in any, before or afterward, declared that he felt peace and comfort,-that all was calm.""

This was on the 18th of August, 1806. From that time to the day of his death, his Christian convictions, faith, and hope, remained unaltered. The strong character of the man was shown in this as in all things. He knew not how to vacillate.

He was admitted to the bar in 1808, and opened an office in Centreville. Such was the public confidence in his capacity and integrity, that, young as he was, business soon began to flow in upon him. But the young man's mind had received another bent-new impulses were given to him from above, and he felt that he must obey them. He resolved to abandon his profession and devote himself entirely to the work of the ministry. "It was on the 9th of October, 1809," he writes, "that I made a covenant on my knees, wrote and signed it, to give up the law, after much reading, prayer, and meditation, and on the 10th I did so, though my father was very unwilling." This act, and the spirit that animated it, will afford a clew to his entire character. It was not so great a thing in itself, this mere giving up of good worldly prospects to become a preacher of Christ; if that were all, we might say that he had done no more than many others; nay, that he had done less. It is not so great a sacrifice, after all, for a man of any elevation