The Spiritual Journals of Warren Felt Evans: From Methodism to Mind Cure
318
The Spiritual Journals of Warren Felt Evans: From Methodism to Mind Cure
318eBook
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
Warren Felt Evans (1817–1889) converted to Methodism while at Dartmouth College, became a minister, and spent his Methodist years as a spiritual seeker. His two extant journals, edited and annotated by Catherine L. Albanese, appear in print for the first time and reveal the inner journey of a leading American spiritual pilgrim at a critical period in his religious search. A voracious reader, he recorded accounts of intense religious experience in his journals. He moved from the Oberlin perfectionism he embraced early on, through the French quietism of Madame J. Guyon and Archbishop Fénelon, then into Swedenborgianism, spiritualism, and mind cure with distinct theosophical overtones. His carefully documented journey is suggestive of the similar journeys of the religious seekers who made their way into the burgeoning metaphysical movement at the end of the 19th century—and may shed light too on today's spirituality.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780253022554 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Indiana University Press |
| Publication date: | 12/19/2016 |
| Series: | Religion in North America |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 318 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Catherine L. Albanese is J. F. Rowny Professor Emerita and Research Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is former president of the American Academy of Religion. Her most recent book is the award-winning Republic of Mind and Spirit: A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion. In 2014, she was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Read an Excerpt
The Spiritual Journals of Warren Felt Evans
From Methodism to Mind Cure
By Catherine L. Albanese
Indiana University Press
Copyright © 2016 Indiana University PressAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-253-02255-4
CHAPTER 1
Journal I (1850-1857)
Ms Journal July 23. 1850.
July 23, 1850. Newport N.H. At our Conference in May, held in New Market, I was appointed to this place. I am the first Methodist preacher ever stationed in Newport village. Some {fifty} 25 or 30 persons, members of the Congregational Church, withdrew their support for their preacher, and subscribed for Methodist preaching, and sent to Conference for a preacher. This secession originated in a difficulty among the singers, some three years since. It was taken up by the Church, and resulted in this rupture. I hope God will make the wrath of man to praise him. A Methodist Church is much needed in the place. Many souls will go down to hell, who might have been saved, unless there is one. We have hired the use of the Universalist Chapel. Our congregation has been large & respectable, numbering thus far, about three hundred souls. I should rather have begun on a smaller scale, for I do not suppose that I, or an angel from heaven, can succeed in holding all these people. In the name of God I go against this host. Wilt Thou, O Lord, deliver them into my hand? Our Sabbath school numbers about one hundred teachers & scholars. Some two or three persons have been converted as the result of our meetings. I have felt at times a burden upon my soul sufficient for an angel to bear. It has seemed as if God would tear me in pieces. But I can say in the language of King Asa, "It is nothing for thee to help, whether with few or many. Help us O Ld, for we rest on thee." Amid all my trials of mind my health has been poor. But God has enabled me to visit much fr house to house. I have called upon about one hundred families. May there be from this some ripe fruit.
July 24. Last evening we had a class meeting at our house, and one person who has been converted since I came here, joined the class. May she be faithful unto death. This morning I visited three families. Had some peace and comfort in laboring for Christ. May I not live in vain. I am still oppressed with dejection of spirit. May God help me to conquor this state of mind. I have often prayed since I came here that God would adapt me to the work he has for me to do in this place. I have recently read a work entitled "Methodism in Earnest" which gives an account of the labors of Rev. Mr Caughey in Great Britain, which resulted in the conversion of 20,000 souls. I have been much pained with my own want of success. It often seems to me that I labor in vain; but I hope to live in my influence after I am dead. It has sometimes appeared to me that I shall soon finish my course unless I am better. After my work is done I do not wish to stay. My hope of heaven is bright and strong.
"Hope like the glimmering taper's light,
Adorns and cheers the way,
And still as darker grows the night.
Emits a brighter ray." Goldsmith.
July 26. (Have just returned from visiting a mountain which stands some two or three miles N. West of my residence. It is said that God loves the mountains. True it is, that some of the most remarkable events recorded in the Bible, took place on their summits. I have always since my childhood loved to wander in the solitudes of mountains. I have delighted to pray on their lofty tops. There is scarcely a mountain or high hill in Eastern Vermont or the South-Western part of N. Hampshire, upon which I have not given myself to God in an everlasting covenant. They stand and raise their venerable forms, in the blue heavens, as monuments of my consecration to Christ. This afternoon I found near a large oak tree, a flat stone, laid upon another stone. It was laid there by the hand of God as an altar. Upon this I prostrated myself after taking off my shoes, rendered thanks to God for his good Providence, which has watched over me all my days; and upon that rude altar I gave myself anew to Christ. I called earnestly upon God who gave the law to Moses on Sinai, & who vindicated his own character upon Mt Carmel, by sending down fire upon the sacrafice of his servant Elijah, to invest me with power from on high, and to give me a deep & lasting influence over the minds of men. It was good to be there. I was in the mount with God. Returning home I felt my heart burn within me. My spiritual strength has been renewed.) (In the West from where I stood, Ascutney is seen, on whose top fifteen yrs ago, all alone I knelt and prayed. In the dim distance behind this were seen the Green Mts of my native state. They are the home of freedom. I felt like repeating to them the address of Tell to the mts of Switzerland. In the East stood old Kearsarge, a giant among pigmies. To the North I caught a glimpse of the White Mts. All these I take to be witnesses of my consecration to Christ. It is also written in God's book of remembrance. May my covenant never be forgotten. O how I pant to be a burning and shining light. On all the hills around my fathers house I have prayed for this. This has been the burden of my prayer upon every eminence around Chester Academy, or Dartmouth College. May those prayers be answered while I live or after I am dead.)
In the evening we had a prayer meeting at our house. One soul was converted to God.
July 28th. Had some freedom in preaching. In the morning I preached on the Temptation of Abraham. In the afternoon I used Mat 12:41. The preaching of Jonah and its effects upon the Ninevites: In the evening I preach in a schoolhouse on Isa 5:4. and showed that God had done all he could do to save men. We had a solemn time. I hope impressions have been made on some hearts as lasting as eternity. I enjoy myself much in the Sabbath School. It is an important institution. For the last three yrs about 21,000 have been converted in the Sabbath Schools of the M.E. Church. This is a great religious fact. There are in England 250,000 S.S. teachers and 2,000,000 of scholars. In the U. States, 500,000 teachers, & 3,000,000 of scholars, making in both countries 750,000 teachers & 5,000,000 of scholars. Let these scholars take hold of hands and stand three feet apart, they would reach 2840 miles. From Boston to Liverpool via Halifax is 2550 miles. These children might connect the two countries by a Sunday School telegraph.
Aug 5. 1850. Last Sabbath was our Quarterly meeting. We had an interesting day. In the morning I baptized a man by immersion. On Saturday evening we had had a good prayer meeting at our house. Two persons rose for prayers. God has been good to me. I have had some communion with God. (I wish to "rise to all the life of God." (I have made during the quarter 140 pastoral visits. May God water the seed sown.)
Aug {6} 8. Today bought me a horse, for which I pay seventy five dollars. I have much needed a horse & carriage. I have been under the necessity of walking in all my pastoral visiting. This had made me much hard work.
Aug {8} 6. This evening had a class-meeting at our house. One young lady was converted to God. May she be kept by the power ofGod through faith unto eternal salvation. She was deeply affected on account of her sins.
Aug 11. Had much liberty in preaching today. In the morning I preached on Phil. 3:13, 14. (In the afternoon an Episcopalian minister, Rev. Mr Presby, from Mississippi, whose father is a member of my congregation, preached for me from these words: "These things I command you that ye love one another." It was a good sermon, practical and evangelical. I afterwards learned that he was a slaveholder. Had I known it before I would not have admitted him to my pulpit. May God have mercy on him, and help him so to love his slaves as to deal justly with them, & make them free.)
Aug 13. It is the evening of our class meeting, but being a very stormy time no one has come in. May God carry on his own work. I have not enjoyed that sweet peace of mind, which I sometime have, but Christ is all my hope & trust. I have lately read an account of the life of Swartz. The secret of his eminent usefulness in the cause of Christ, is, he was wholly consecrated to God, by a pious mother. Few men have ever labored more for Christ or will receive a brighter crown.
Sep 2. 1850. Since I have written in my Journal, I have visited at my father's in Rockingham. Found it pleasant once more to visit my native place. I returned Aug 31t, the [day] on which Prof. Webster was hung. Thought of him much on the way, especially when the time set for his execution arrived. He was hung for the murder of Dr Parkman of Boston. Yesterday I had a very good day in preaching. Since our Quarterly meeting, two souls have been converted. May the Lord carry on his work. Have had some seasons of peace in believing. My trust and hope are all in Christ. On the 23d of Aug nine men, heads of families, joined the M.E. Church, from the Congregational Church. They seem to be good men & real Christians. As they could receive no letter from their Church were under the necessity of receiving them without. They were received in full connection.
July 19th 1851. It has pleased God in his good Providence to return me to this station. The last year was a year of prosperity, and I hope of usefulness. I trust I have not lived in vain. I returned to Conference fifty six members. I have seen the salvation of God during the present year. One Saturday evening I earnestly besought God to give me fruit on the following Sabbath. In answer to prayer one soul was converted & others awakened. I do pray God that I may see more fruit this year than last.
I have just recovered from a short but severe sickness. I was attacked with an erysipelas in my right foot. At one time it suddenly affected my whole system. It occured to me at first that I was dying [.] I felt myself sinking. It seemed very much like death. But this passage was suggested to my mind while I was committing my spirit to Christ, "I was brought low & he helped me." Last Sabbath I was confined to my house. It is the first Sabbath I ever lost from ill health, though I have often preached when I was sick. Through the mercy of God I still live. May I live to his glory. Tomorrow I hope to preach. May Christ stand by me.
July 20. Today attended meeting at the Baptist Church. Was not able to preach. May God give me strength once more to cry "behold the Lamb." I love to preach Christ & the cross. It is hard work for me to hold my peace. May it please the Lord to give me more than my former strength. I will spend it in his employ. I have been greatly afflicted with a want of sleep. I not slept only about three hours in twenty four for a week. Sleep is the gift of God. "He giveth his beloved sleep." It is a choice gift, equally valuable with our daily bread. I have read not long since of a man in China who was condemned by the government to suffer death by being kept from sleep. After some days, he entreated of his guards to put him to death. He lived in great agony eighteen days. I would as lief go without food as sleep. Wesley had the power of putting himself to sleep any time. It seems to have been under the control of his will. He gave his beloved sleep. If God would give me that power, I would value it more than a monarch's crown. Will he not give it me? Lord help. Great Redeemer, is it not the purchase of thy blood. I cast myself upon they mercy. Disappoint not my trust. Fail me not, in my time of need.
Sept 26. 1852. It has pleased God to call me to labor this year in Concord. I have been here about three months. It is a hard field. There are backsliders and lukewarm professors enough to curse a whole nation. I have preached with great weakness. I have carried into the pulpit a load of bodily infirmities, enough to cause me to sink in any other work. Sometimes Christ has stood by me, and the rush of the divine energy into my soul has raised me above all my weakness. The last two years have been the most useful of my life. I have often prayed that this year I might be more useful still. O Lord come to my help. Stir up thy power & come and save me. Make me adequate to this great work.
Feb 13. 1853. Today is our last Quarterly Meeting for the year. In three months, the Conference year will end. I have most earnestly prayed that my ministry might this year be more useful than any previous year. Yet I have seen but little fruit of my labors. I know not that a single soul has been converted to God through my labors, in this place. I would not spend my strength for nought. I have preached as plain & pointed as I ever did. I have not attempted to preach for the sole edification of the Professors of the Biblical Institute, nor the students, nor of Bishop Baker, who has been one of my hearers most of the time. I have been saved most of the time from the least embarrassment in consequence of their presence.
Yet to day God has humbled me. He laid me in the depth. All my bones are broken. I have suffered more mental distress than I ever did before in so short a time. I have been embarassed in every thing I have done. I could not read a notice without my flesh quivering with fear. In passing the sacramental elements I could hardly utter a word. In making the last prayer, I could not proceed, and soon finished. It was a time of greater horror, than any person, as it seems to me, ever suffered out of hell. Such feelings are unworthy the ministerial office, and make me ashamed of my self. More fierce temptations have assailed my soul than I ever met before. I have felt terribly angry with myself. Profane thoughts have wanted to find a lodgement, in my heart. I have been dreadfully shaken. But my God will deliver me. It ill becomes an ambassador of God to tremble like dry a [a dry] leaf in the wind. God called me to the ministry for some nobler purpose than to quail before the face of clay. I have felt at times that my mind was not in the ascendancy — that it was not dominant, but was crushed beneath the weight of mind in my presence. I hope I am not always to feel that I am imprisoned beneath such a mountain. God will give me strength to upheave the mass that is piled upon my soul, and to trample it under my feet. I pray God to give me nerves of iron, and a tongue that shall be a sharp sword to the enemies of the cross. Instead of being as weak as a sick girl, whose nerves are thrown into a tremor by the rustling of a leaf, I want such a mental power, and such a dauntless valor, that I can look {the devil} Satan in the eye, and cause him to turn pale, and fly tremblingly back to hell for very teror. God give me power from on high. This day will be a crisis with me. I have felt that my fears and embarassment are to end forever. O my God bring me not again to so fiery a trial, lest I fall. Break not the bruised reed. Give me a gigantic vigor of mind that shall hold my hearers in chains, and draw them to the cross of Christ. Infuse a part of thine own creative energy into my soul. Prop up my will with thine own omnipotence.
God has most powerfully revived his work in Newport, my former station. Up to this time 137 have joined the Methodist Church, 60 the Baptist, and more than fifty the Congregationalist. It is a great work. I have greatly rejoiced at the glad tidings. O that I could see such a work in this place.
March 10. 1853. I have enjoyed deep and sweet communion with God since I last wrote in my journal. I have resolved to be holy, to present to God my whole being as a living sacrafice holy & acceptable to God. It is now spring. May my soul be renewed.
"And see where surly Winter passes off,
Far to the North, and calls his ruffian blasts;
His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill,
The shattered forest, and the ravaged vale;
While softer gales succeed, at whose kind touch,
Dissolving snows in livid torrents lost,
The mountains lift their green heads to the sky. ["]
May 22. 1853 — Concord N.H.
On the 11th of this month our Conference commenced its session at Newport. We had a very pleasant session. It has pleased Providence to return me to Concord. I hope my labors may tell upon the extension of the kingdom of Christ. The day after my return, I was siezed with a very violent attack of fever, but immediately sent for a physician, and succeeded in throwing it off. It has left me very weak, so much so: that I did not deem it advisable to attend Church. I am at home, and enjoy sweet communion with God. Jesus is my all; heaven is my home. I hope that during the coming year, I may grow in grace, and become more assimilated to the image of Christ. I hope to have more to do with Christ, than I have had the last year. Unless each successive year shall leave me better, more heavenly-minded, more Christ-like I am not fully answering the end of life. I pray that my life may not prove a failure. I do hope, through Christ, at length to reach the goal and be crowned. I long more than ever to be useful as a minister; but if I do not see the fruit of my labor, I may see that the cross of Christ is exerting its saving energy upon my own soul. I may realize that I am steadily growing in piety. O for a heart that beats in unison with God, a soul in sympathy with the world's Redeemer —
May 24. I have enjoyed this day some peace & sweet communion with God. I found it good to draw near to him in my closet. I have had ardent desires to be eminently pious. How sweet it is to feel a conscious union with Christ. May the blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be upon me. I would commit the keeping of my soul To Christ.
May 25. Am exceedingly weak in body; not able to walk about in visiting from house to house. I trust the inner man may be renewed day by day. Have had during the day some gleams of peace. May the Lord restore me again to health, that I may be strong to labor for him —
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Spiritual Journals of Warren Felt Evans by Catherine L. Albanese. Copyright © 2016 Indiana University Press. Excerpted by permission of Indiana University Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Warren Felt Evans
A Note to Readers
Journal I (1850-1857)
Journal II (1857-1865)
Notes
Index