William M'Kendree,

LATE SENIOR BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EFISCOPAL CHURCH.

BISHOP M'KENDREE was born in King William County, Virginia, July 6, 1757. We know little of the events of his early life. He joined the patriots of the Revolution, and attained, it is said, the rank of adjutant in the army. During a season of remarkable religious interest in Virginia, in 1787, he became seriously concerned for his soul. Twelve hundred members were added to the Church on the Brunswick Circuit, which included the place of his residence, under the preaching of Rev. John Easter, a man of note in those days. M'Kendree, who had before been deeply impressed with religious convictions, says:

"My convictions were renewed. They were deep and pungent. The great deep of the heart was broken up. Its deceit and desperately wicked nature was disclosed, and the awful, the eternally ruinous consequences, clearly appeared. My repentance was sincere. I became willing, and was desirous to be saved on any terms. After a sore and sorrowful travail of three days, which were employed in hearing Mr. Easter, and in fasting and prayer, while the man of God was showing a large congregation the way of salvation by faith, with a clearness which at once astonished and encouraged me, I ventured my all upon Christ.

In a moment my soul was relieved of a burden too heavy to be borne, and joy instantly succeeded sorrow. For a short space of time I was fixed in silent adoration, giving glory to God for his unspeakable goodness to such an unworthy creature.”

From this happy change he passed on to higher experiences. The doctrine of entire sanctification was then preached, perhaps more faithfully than now, by our ministry. He received this great truth, and resolutely sought to attain its experimental knowledge. "Eventually," he writes, "I obtained deliverance from unholy passions, and found myself possessed of ability to resist temptation, to take up and bear the cross, and to exercise faith and patience, and all the graces of the Spirit in a manner before unknown."

He subsequently became impressed with the thought that it was his duty to enter the itinerant ministry. He hesitated, however, at the responsibility of the work. Conflicts profound and most harassing followed; at last, driven by his feelings, he visited his friend, Rev. Mr. Easter, and travelled some time the circuit with him; but again hesitating, he retreated to his home, resolved to resume his secular pursuits. He found no rest there, however, and finally gave himself to the Virginia Conference, and was appointed by Asbury to Mecklenburgh Circuit. He writes:

"I went immediately to the circuit to which I was appointed, relying more on the judgment of experienced ministers, in whom I confided, than on any clear conviction of my call to the work; and when I yielded to their judgment I firmly resolved not to deceive them, and to retire as soon as I should be convinced that I was not called of God, and to conduct myself in such a manner that, if I

failed, my friends might be satisfied it was not for want of effort on my part, but that their judgment was not well founded. This resolution supported me under many doubts and fears-for entering into the work of a travelling preacher neither removed my doubts nor the difficulties that attended my labours. Sustained by a determination to make a full trial, I resorted to fasting and prayer, and waited for those kind friends who had charge and government over me to dismiss me from the work. But I waited in vain. In this state of suspense my reasoning might have terminated in discouraging and ruinous conclusions, had I not been comforted and supported by the kind and encouraging manner in which I was received by aged and experienced brethren, and by the manifest presence of God in our meetings, which were frequently lively and profitable. Sometimes souls were convicted and converted, which afforded me considerable encouragement, as well as the union and communion with my Saviour in private devotion, which he graciously afforded me in the intervals of my very imperfect attempts to preach his gospel. In this way I became satisfied of my call to the ministry, and that I was moving in the line of my duty."

His next appointment was Cumberland Circuit. At the following Conference (1790) he was sent to Portsmouth Circuit, and the year following to Amelia Circuit. When this year's labours were closed, having served four years in the travelling connexion, he was elected and ordained an elder. His appointment from this Conference was to the Greensville Circuit, and he was placed in charge; that is, he had the direction of the ministerial work performed on the circuit. Mr. M'Kendree had already taken a position among the preachers of his day, that, considering his short