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TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Life Diary Entries
NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Work originally published in 1834. Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center. Electronic edition ©2006 United Brethren Historical Center Suggested Citation:
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The Life and Journal of the Rev'd. Christian Newcomer transcribed, corrected and translated by John Hildt |
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1814
January 1st, 1814—This day I was in Hagers-town ; heard Mr. Rahauser preach in the German Reformed church. Sunday 2d—I preached at Schnebly's, from Luke 2, v. 27, 28. Sunday 9th—I preached at Henry Frey's, in Loudoun county, Virginia, from Zachariah 9, v. 12. 10th—I rode across the Blue Ridge to Charlestown, and staid for the night with Henry Guth. 12th—I came to my son Jacob's. 14th—I returned home. Sunday 16th—I was at home ; my son-in-law and daughter had come on a visit. 22d, and Sunday 23d—I attended a Quarterly meeting in Chambersburg ; Sneethen spoke in the forenoon, from Psalm 100, v. 3 ; I preached in the afternoon from John 3, v. 17, 18. 24th—I preached at the Rocky Springs, from Psalm 32, v. 8, 9; lodged with Abr. Huber. 25th—I had meeting at S. Wenger's ; staid for the night with Flickinger. 26th—I came to my son David's. 27th—Returned home. 28th—Rode to Jacob Bowlus's. 29th —Attended meeting at Schnebly's. Sunday 30th—We had meeting in Hagers-town. 31st—At Flickinger's. February 1st—This day I have attained the age of 66 years. O Lord! how hast thou borne with my infirmities : glory be to thy name forever. 2d—I returned home.
Sunday 7th—This forenoon I preached in Williams-port, in the German,
and in the afternoon in the English language ; staid for the night with Peter
Light. 12th—This forenoon I Sunday 14th—Many people were this day assembled, I spoke from Luke 17, v. 13. We had a blessed time ; rode to Hagers-town, and preached from Romans 8, v. 17 ; staid with John Hershey. 15th—Returned home. 19th—Rode to Jacob Bowlus's, and staid for the night. Sunday 21st—This forenoon Br. Sneethen preached in Middle-town; I spoke at night from Luke 18, v. 29, 30 ; lodged for the night at Valentine Bowlus's. Sunday 28th—We had meeting at Schnebly's meeting house. March lst—This day I felt very unwell, and was at home all the week. Sunday 6th—This forenoon I spoke in the old church, near Jacob Thomas's ; in the afternoon at Huber's. 12th—I preached a funeral. Sunday 13th—I preached a funeral discourse ; D. Newcomer's wife was buried. 14th, and 15th—I preached at two funerals. 16th—I set out for Baltimore ; rode to Middle-town and lodged with Valentine Bowlus. 17th—I rode in company with Jacob Bowlus ; we staid for the night at a public house 21 miles from Baltimore. 18th—We arrived in the city ; the Methodist Conference is in session here. 19th—We attended the Conference and delivered a communication from our Conference. Sunday 20th—This forenoon Jacob Gruber preached in Otterbein's church ; in the afternoon, Jacob Bowlus ; I spoke at night. 21st, and 22d—We visited the friends in the city. 23d —This day the Conference came to a close ; in the forenoon Bishop Asbury preached a funeral discourse for the late Wm. Otterbein, from Revelation 3, v. 10, 11. The congregation was so numerous, that the church was much too small to contain all the people. Here were ministers of different persuasions assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to this servant of the Most High ; Methodists, United Brethren, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians,—all mingled together to pay homage to departed worth. Bishop McKendree closed the service with fervent prayer. This afternoon we left Baltimore; rode 21 miles and lodged at a public house. 25th—We reached Jacob Bowlus's, near Middle-town. 26th—I arrived at home, and heard that three of my neighbors had died during my absence. Sunday 27th—I preached at Schnebly's. 28th—At Flickinger's, from Psalm 146, v. 8, 9. April 1st—This day I was in Hagers-town ; rode to Christian King's, find staid for the night. Sunday 3d—I attended a meeting of the Albright Brethren at Wagner's. 5th—I rode with my brother Peter to Waterford, in Loudoun county, Va. ; we lodged at Manual's. 6th—I attended a Quaker meeting. For a considerable time silence reigned throughout ; presently a Sister arose and addressed the congregation in a brief, but intelligent manner. She then sat down, and another Sister rose up, spoke short also and powerful, then humbled herself and prayed fervently. I also would cheerfully have given my testimony, but was afraid I might by so doing infringe upon the rules and order of the meeting. Rode this afternoon to the widow Kemp's, in Maryland, where I staid for the night. Sunday 10th—I attended meeting with the River Brethren. 11th—I preached at Henry Kumler's, from John 20, v. 7 ; staid for the night with Wenger. 12th—I had meeting at Rhodes'. 13th—I crossed the North mountain, and lodged at a public house in Landistown. 14th—I came to Joseph Hoffman's. 15th—Lodged with David Long. 16th—With Philip Hoffman. Sunday 17th—I preached at George Hoffman's, from John 21, v. 5, 6 ; rode to Mr. Crow's, and staid for the night. 18th —I preached in Millers-town, from John 20, v 27 to 29. 19th —I lodged with Mr. Miller. 20th—With John Neidig. 21st—Came to Lancaster, and staid with my sister. 22d—I arrived at my father's-in-law ; he is now 88 years old. 23d—Visited my old associates in the neighborhood. Sunday 24th—This forenoon I preached in a school-house, from John 3, v. 16, 17, 18 ; rode to Christian Hershey's, and staid for the night. 25th—Came to Christian Smidt's. 26th— To-day I rode through Columbia. They are building a bridge across the Susquehanna river at this place ; this is a wonderful undertaking : where will the inventive genius of man stop? I came to Br. Strickler's, where I was cordially received. Rode to John Spangler's, and staid for the night. 27th—Came to Yost Herbaugh's. 28th—Arrived at home. Sunday, May 1st—This forenoon I preached at John Reis's ; in the afternoon at David Newcomer's. 2d—At Sherer's. 3d —At Witmer's. 4th—I was at Michael Thomas's. 5th—At Valentine Doub's. 6th—At John Cronise's. 7th—At Simon Cronise's. Sunday 8th—This forenoon I attended meeting in Frederick-town ; Br. Hanson spoke first, I exhorted. In the afternoon I preached at Valentine Doub's ; rode to Jacob Bowlus's, and staid for the night. 9th—Returned home. 14th, and Sunday, 15th—I attended a Quarterly meeting in Hagers-town ; lodged with John Hershey. 21st, and Sunday 22d—We had a Sacramental meeting at Henry Kumler's; we had a good time, several persons were under deep conviction, and some obtained peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. At night I preached at Middlekauff's, from Romans 8, v. 14. 24th—This day our Conference commenced in Hagers-town, and continued until the 27th. More preachers were present than at any Conference before. The Brethren elected poor unworthy Christian Newcomer as Bishop and Superintendent, for three years. May God have mercy on me, and grant me his assisting grace to discharge my duty faithfully. 28th, and Sunday 29th—We had a Sacramental meeting at the Antietam. 30th—I attended the funeral of Mr. Hamilton. June 1st—This day I rode to Virginia ; came to Chr. Crum's and staid for the night. 2d—To-day Br. Crum accompanied me ; we rode through Winchester, and tarried for the night with John Senseny. 3d—We lodged with Zehring in Woodstock. 4th—We arrived at Mr. Artz's, in Shenandoah county, where a Sacramental meeting was appointed ; Br. Geo. Geeting spoke first, then Henry Spayth. At night we had a blessed time; many were in deep distress for the salvation of their souls ; we prayed with them. The people could not leave the place but continued to sing and pray during the whole night. Several were enabled to rejoice in the pardon of their sins ; unto God be all the glory. Sunday 5th—This forenoon I preached from Ephesians 2, v. 17 to 20. We then administered the Sacrament ; many drew near the table of the Lord with streaming eyes. In the afternoon we returned to Zehring's and staid for the night. 6th—This evening we lodged with Philip Crantzdorf. 7th—With Haman. 8th—We arrived at Peter Meyer's ; they rejoiced to see us. I was also very well satisfied to come to so friendly a shelter from the rain to which we had been exposed all day. 10th—We came to Staunton, dined with Mr. Raab, and proceeded on to Lewis Shuey's 11th, and Sunday 12th—We had a Sacramental meeting here ; preached from Luke 15, v. 22, we had a blessed time; Br. James Sewell, a Methodist preacher, a fine young man, assisted us in the exercises. 14th, and 15th—We had a two-days' meeting at Peter Meyer's : I spoke from 2d. Peter l, v. 5, 6, 7, Br. Creavens followed me : at night I preached at Mr. Zimmerman's, near Kiseltown, to a numerous congregation, in the English language. 16th—I rested here. 17th—I rode more than forty miles to Millers-town, and preached at candle light, from 1st. Chronicles 4, v. 10. 18th—We came to Mr. Funkhouser's ; his wife is sick, and to all appearance near the close of her mortal life. We prayed with her, and at her request staid for the night. Sunday 19th—I preached at the widow Funkhouser's ; in the afternoon at Abr. Neuswander's. 20th—I came to my son Jacob's, 21st—To Hess's, my son-in-law. 22d—I returned home. Sunday 26th—I preached at Hauser's. This week I remained at home and assisted in the harvest field. Sunday, July 3d—I preached in Shank's church. Sunday 10th—We had a blessed meeting at Peter Stadtler's. Sunday 17th—I was at home ; having received an injury in one of my legs, it was very much swollen and inflamed, so that I was not able to be about. I therefore remained at home, and made preparations for a journey to Ohio. Sunday 24th—I preached at home with great liberty. 25th —I set out in company with Peter Beeler and Michael Ewi, for the State of Ohio ; at night I preached in Mercersburg, from Romans 8, v. 17. 26th—I lodged with Mr. Barndoler, at Bloody Run. 27th—We came through Bedford, and lodged with Matthias Smidt, 28th—We came to Jacob Blauch's, and staid for the night. 29th—To Br. Worman's, in Westmoreland. 30th—I lodged with Abr. Draksel. Sunday 31st--This forenoon I preached in Mount Pleasant ; in the afternoon at Mr. John Draksel's, where I tarried for the night. August 1st—To-day I preached at Conrad Roder's, from Jeremiah 21, v. 8, 9 ; lodged with old Mr. Stecher. 2d—Preached to an attentive congregation in Wyand's church, and lodged with Mr. Huert. 3d—I preached at Winters's, and staid for the night. 4th—We crossed the Ohio river, stopped at a public house for the night. 5th—We pursued our journey, and lodged again at a public house. 6th—Lodged with Mr. Andrew Derner. Sunday 7th—This day we reached Zanesville ; staid for the night with Henry Huber. 8th—To-day I preached in Middletown, and lodged with Mr. Sturm. 9th—This day I visited Mr. Lyday, and lodged at Herman's. 10th—I came to Brother Hiestand's, found him sick, and staid for the night, 11th—I preached at Frederick Herman's, from Jeremiah 48, v. 11 ; lodged with Peter Seitz. 12th—To-day I came through Lancaster; rode to Benedum's, thence 4 miles to George Raul's, where I staid for the night. 13th—This forenoon 1 had to ride 20 miles to a Quarterly meeting at Jacob Lutz's, on Salt Creek; Br. Benedum and Hiestand spoke this afternoon, I lodged with Jacob Stump. Sunday 14th—A large congregation was assembled, I preached from Luke 24, v. 45, 47; on the whole it was a tolerable good meeting : rode 10 miles in the afternoon to Samuel Holtz's and tarried for the night. 15th—I preached at Benedum's. 16th—At Philip Kremer's. 17th—I came through Columbus and lodged with Mr. Grubb. 18th—Rode this forenoon 20 miles and preached at Gabriel Markle's, from Romans 8, v. 17, in the English language. 19th—I preached in Springfield. 20th—At Jacob Herring's. Sunday 21st—This forenoon I preached at the widow Eli's, from Luke 18, v. 29, 30 : in the afternoon I preached in Dayton, in the Methodist meetinghouse; Br. Finley was present, and concluded the meeting with prayer. I lodged with Peter Lehman. 22d—I arrived at Br. Andrew Zeller's, where our Conference is to be held. Here I found several Brethren who had arrived before me. 23d—This morning our Conference is to commence: O! may the Lord take the helm into his own hands, grant us grace and wisdom to transact our business, patience and brotherly love to bear one with another, and that all we do may be according to His will and tend to His glory : Amen. As president, I opened the session of the Conference with prayer ; the Conference continued until the 27th. We had considerably less difficulty than I expected, and closed the session in great harmony and unanimity. Praise the Lord for it. Sunday 28th—To-day I preached from 2d. Peter 1, v. 5 to 8; had great liberty to declare the counsel of God; lodged with Frederick Wolf. 29th—To-day we had meeting again, and administered the Sacrament. After meeting the preachers dined once more together at Br. Andrew Zeller's. We then bid each other an affectionate farewell and departed to our respective fields of labor : may the Lord make each of us a fit and useful instrument in his hands to work in the vineyard. Rode to Chr. Hahn's and staid for the night. 30th—Last night my horse took sick, and this morning he died; I borrowed one of Hahn, rode to Cincinnati and lodged with Mr. Mason. 31st—This day I spent in the city ; at night we had meeting at Mr. Ernst's. September 1st—This forenoon Br. Hiestand and myself preached in the Presbyterian church. To-day I bought myself a horse, rode 19 miles to Daniel Ewi's, and preached from Luke 19, v. 10. 2d—I lodged with Matthias Young. 3d—I preached at David Lehman's, rode to Herring's and staid for the night. Sunday 4th—I came to a Camp-meeting ; I was astonished at the vast multitude of people that were assembled on the occasion, and could not conceive from whence they possibly could have come, it being only a few years since this country is inhabited by a white population. The first Brother I heard preach was John Seals ; he spoke wonderfully. In the afternoon I addressed the congregation, and bless the Lord he granted me grace and liberty on the occasion. The power of God was displayed ; many souls were convicted of sin and I trust not a few happily converted to God. O! said I to myself, the power of God is every where the same, and works in the heart of man nearly in the same manner in every place, from the first Pentecost even unto the present day. Singing and prayer alternately was continued during the whole night. The meeting was near Xenia, in Green county. 5th—I rode to George Kremer's. 6th—I came through Chillicothe, lodged with Henry Musselman, who received me very kindly and entertained me with the most liberal hospitality. 7th—I preached at Frederick Pontius's, from Ephesians 2, v. 18, 19; rode home with Martin Dreisbach, and staid for the night. 8th—I preached at John Conradt's, in Fairfield county ; rode to Lancaster, thence to Conradt Fetter's, where I staid for the night and rested well. 9th—This morning I felt a restless desire for a deeper work of grace in my soul ; visited Stocker, Arnold and Mechlin, and lodged with Brother Froemmer at Herman's. 10th, and Sunday 11th—We had a two-days' meeting at Dewalt Mechlin's ; a great number of people were assembled, I spoke from Luke 24, v. 47. The Lord's Supper was administered and we had a blessed time ; I lodged with Jacob Mechlin. 12th—The meeting continued to-day ; in the morning we had our Love-feast : many praised God and confessed freely what the Lord had done for their souls. I rode to Daniel Lyday's, and staid for the night. 13th—I preached in Middle-town. A gentleman who keeps a public house insisted on my going home with him, which I did; he entertained me very kindly. 14th—I stopped with Henry Huber for refreshment, rode through Zanesville and lodged with John Bowers, 15th—We rode to Mr. Hoffman's, a public house. 17th—Was a rainy day, and the roads very deep; reached Mount Pleasant, Ohio. 17th—Today I crossed the Ohio river, and staid for the night with Perry McCoy, in Washington county. Sunday 18th—This day I preached in Washington, in the German church ; the hearts of the hearers were sensibly effected : dined with Chr. Harnish. At night I preached three miles from town, at John Moser's. 19th—We had a blessed meeting at Stecher's. 20th—I came to Worman's. 21st—To old Br. Draksel's. 22d—I preached at Bonnet's school house. 23d— I rode to Liganor Valley and lodged with Mr. Drapp. 24th, and Sunday 25th—We had a Sacramental meeting here; Winter, Dreyer, and Berger were present; I spoke from Acts 16, v. 30, 31, and lodged with Chr. Senft. 26th—I preached in Somerset, and staid for the night with Adam Sneider. 27th—I came to Mr. Smidt's. 28th—To McConnelsburg. 29th—To Henry Kumler's, here they had just commenced meeting; Abr. Meyers spoke first, I followed him ; we had a blessed time, some jumped and shouted for joy. 30th—I arrived at home : bless the Lord for all his goodness and mercy. October 1st and Sunday 2d—We had a Quarterly meeting in Hagers-town ; in the afternoon I attended a funeral at Samuel Newcomer's. Sunday 9th.—We had meeting at Schnebly's, visited sister Hess found her near the close of life; attended a prayer meeting at Simon Geeting's, returned to old Br. Hess's. Sister Hess died about 4 o'clock, white we were praying. 11th—I attended the funeral, and spoke from John 5, v. 24. 12th—I set out for Sherman's Valley, in Pennsylvania; came to John Cryder's, and staid for the night. 13th—I came to Shallenberger's. 14th—To Mr. Hock's, a pious family. 15th, and Sunday 16th—We had a Sacramental meeting at John Sneider's, in Sherman's Valley, we had a good time, Chr. Berger, John Neidig and David Sneider were present; I lodged with Mr. Dunlop, rode 17 miles to Abr. Meyer's. 17th—I lodged with Joseph Knegi. l8th—This morning I set out before day, rode through Shippensburg took refreshment in Chambersburg with Br. Brasher; at night I reached my son David's, found him very ill, to all appearance near his end ; he confessed with a contrite heart that the spirit of God had often convicted him of the error of his ways, but that he had resisted the grace of God continually; he desired, with tears in his eyes, to be prayed for, and expressed his fears that it might be too late, that he had grieved the holy spirit, and God would no more have mercy on him. We all humbled ourselves before a throne of grace and mercy, crying mightily to God not to cut him off in his sins, but have mercy and prepare him for the awful change which he perhaps may shortly have to make. 19th—Returned home. 20th—I rode again to my son David's, found him still very ill. 21st—He was somewhat better : O! that the Lord may truly convert him, before he shall be removed to an awful eternity. 22d, and Sunday 23d—We had a Sacramental meeting at Shank's church; I rode in the afternoon, 19 miles to my son David's. He still continues very ill. 24th—I returned home. 25th— Last night my sick son sent a messenger to me to come and see him again. On my arrival I found him exceedingly distressed; he chattered like a crane and mourned as a dove; said "O! father, what shall I do? I have to die and meet a God whom I have so often offended,—whose mercy I have so often refused : a God to whom I am not reconciled; no hope, no assurance of a better world in my soul.' This language pleased me greatly; I prayed with him, encouraged him not to despair, but fly for his life to the outstretched arms of sovereign mercy, cry mightily to God for the pardon of his sins, and pray him to have mercy for Jesus' sake. 26th—I remained with him. 27th—Returned home. 29th, and Sunday 30th—We had a Sacramental meeting at the old church near Jacob Thomas's. 31st—I set out for Lancaster, came to Br. Bowlus's, where I lodged. November 1st—This evening I preached at Valentine Doub's from 1st. Peter 1, v. 3, 4. 2d—I had meeting at Benjamin Sauder's. 3d—I staid for the night at Henry Sneider's. 4th— I visited the Rev. Mr. Grubb, in Taneytown, dined with him and rode to Bishop's. Sunday 5th—This forenoon I preached here, rode in the afternoon to Spangler's. 6th—This forenoon I preached in the Pigeon hill church ; at night in York. Lodged with W. Bentz. 7th—Br. David Sneider met me to-day ; we rode across the new bridge at Columbia, came to Chr. Herr's, where we had a blessed meeting. 8th—I preached at Abr. Herr's, from Eph. 2, v. 16, 17; at night we had meeting in Millerstown. 9th—I visited my sister in Lancaster, rode to my father's-in-law, who is now 89 years old, and staid for the night. 10th—I visited several old friends, and lodged with John Garber. 11th—I visited Buckwalter, and lodged with John Cryder. 12th—Preached at Christian Hershey's. Sunday 13th—This forenoon I preached in Rupp's school-house, from Hebrews 2, v. 3 ; at night in Lancaster, from Matthew 15, v. 24; lodged with my sister. 14th—I came to John Neidig's. 15th—Came through Harrisburg, stopped with Erb for refreshment, rode to John Stemm's where I staid for the night. 16th—I preached at David Sneider's, from Isaiah 3, v. 10, 11. l7th—Lodged with Abr. Bauman. 18th—This day I came to my son David's. I had left him very sick, but found him considerably better. 19th—Returned home. Sunday 20th—We had meeting at Schnebly's; I lodged with old Mr. Hess. Sunday 27th—I preached at Leymeister's, in Virginia. 28th —I staid for the night at my son Jacob's. 31st—Rode with Br. Henry Spayth to Mr. Shaffner's. December 1st—To-day I came through Winchester, stopped with Mr. Lauck, rode to Newtown and lodged with Peter Geeting. 3d—I called with John Senseny, rode to George Shepler's and staid for the night.
Sunday 4th—I preached at Abr. Neuswander's, from John Sunday 11th—Preached at Schnebly's. 17th, and Sunday 18th—I attended a Quarterly meeting in Shepherd's-town. 19th—Returned home. 21st—I set out for Baltimore, came to Middle-town and lodged with Valentine Bowlus. 23d—I reached the city ; Br. Joseph Hoffman is now stationed here : I lodged with Benjamin Macher. 24th—I visited some of the friends in the city. Sunday 25th—This morning at 4 o'clock we had prayer meeting; the Lord was near. Br. Hoffman preached in the forenoon, I exhorted after him ; we then administered the Sacrament. I preached in the afternoon from Luke 2, v. 12 ; had meeting in the evening at Mrs. Bender's, lodged with John Hildt. 27th—I staid all day with John Hildt; we were engaged in forming or revising our discipline. 28th—To-day Br. Bowlus also came to the city ; I attended class meeting and returned again with Bowlus to Hildt's, where we lodged. 29th—I visited Brs. N. Reed, Baker and Rehman ; at night I preached at Lewis Kalbfus's, to a large congregation. 30th— To-day old Mr. Weller and myself visited many of the friends in the city ; at night we had a blessed meeting at Mrs. Bender's which continued till after midnight. |
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