Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

54 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
In a short time the people drew up in considerable numbers, and the shop-doors
and other places were crowded. All was very quiet until I had sung and prayed,
when a man in the congregation became rather uproarious but I ; got my eye upon
him, and he was checked. When I had proceeded about half-way through my
discourse, a troop of horse came riding up, and surrounded the congregation and
the preacher. The devil immediately suggested to me that the Lord Mayor had
sent the soldiers to take me, under the idea that I was a radical speaker, inciting
the people to rebellion ;
but I rallied after this shot from the enemy's camp, and
went on exhorting sinners to flee from the wrath to come. I accordingly concluded
my sermon without molestation ;
the soldiers and people retiring in proper order.
Some asked me who I was, and what I was ;
I told them my name was William
Clowes, and that in principle I was a Methodist, and that I would preach there
again the next fortnight. Accordingly, I took up my staff and travelled seven
miles to sleep that evening accompanied by a few friends."
W. Clowes' promised second visit to York was not paid in a fortnight as announced ;
nor it would seem until some six weeks after. But before the summer was over, not
only Clowes, but his colleagues, Sarah Harrison and her husband at separate times
preached in the Thursday Market (St. Sampson's Square), this spot being probably
chosen as better adapted for the purpose than the Pavement. Each of these services
had features in common. Behind the missionary, on each occasion, we can discern the
now somewhat shadowy figures of village friends and abettors especially belonging to
Elvington, some seven miles distant. Here lived the brothers Bond, well-to-do farmers,
whose names frequently occur in the early journals as extending hospitality to God's
servants and in other ways helping to establish our cause in these parts, and notably in
York. Elvington was in a sense the base for the mission to York. Clowes took his
staff and travelled on to Elvington to sleep after his first visit to the city. It was while
at Elvington the friends urged Sarah Harrison to enter York. The villagers by the
Ouse and Derwent were proud of their county-capital, as well they might be. They
were ambitious that their missionaries and their chief city should be on good terms with
each other. To them York with its
twenty thousand inhabitants was the big city.
With its churches and minster, its Lord Mayor and soldiery and Judges of Assize, it
stood for all that was distinguished and impressive. If only W. Clowes and Sarah and
John Harrison would go up in the name of the Lord and take York, who could
tell what great things might follow? So not only did the missionaries go, but the
villagers went with them for company and support only they went with diverse
feelings. For it is very noticeable how in each case these leading missionaries of Hull
Circuit went to York with a weight of anxiety resting upon them that could not be
concealed, and that it was difficult to account for. It seemed as though the dread of
the city rested upon them. So it was with Sarah Harrison who was the next to go.
At first the cross appeared too heavy for her to take up. She was however encouraged
by a promise from several to accompany her, and she accordingly went. When she
was entering the North Gate and having a first view of the city her courage was
shaken, and for some time she felt as if she could not preach. So it was with
Clowes :
" On my way [from Elvington to York] my spirit became greatly exercised ;
heavy trouble pressed upon me ;
I had an impression of fear and uneasy apprehension