on; a good many new members having been added to the
roll in his absence, three or four of them upwards of fifty years of
age. Two elders and two deacons were now appointed, and a formal call
was extended to Mr. Alline to remain as their settled pastor. This
call he did not see his way clear to accept, but promised to revisit
them shortly. He got back to Fort Howe on the 6th of November, and
preached there while awaiting a chance to cross the bay to Annapolis.
He returned to St. John, April 22, 1780, staid a week and preached on
Sunday, after which he again went up the river. Several weeks were
devoted to visiting the various settlements and great interest was
manifested, crowds of people attending his preaching. In his diary he
tells us that much company went with him from place to place, some
times six or seven boats loaded with people. Edward Coy's daughter
Mary (afterwards Mrs. Mary Bradley) who was then a child in her ninth
year, gives, in her book her recollections of Henry Alline's visit.
"My parents," she says, "took me with them twice to meeting. The first
text was, 'And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet him.' My attention was arrested, and for
many days after I was engaged in ruminating and repeating over some
parts of the sermon. * * After the sermon and worship was over, I was
astonished to see the people talking and shaking hands as I never
before had witnessed. Some looked of a cheerful, loving and happy
countenance; others were in tears, and cast down. * * It soon became
the common subject of conversation that such and such persons were
converted."

On Mr. Alline's return from Maugerville to the mouth of the river he
staid there a fortnight, waiting for a passage, and during that time
preached and visited among the people. On June 25th he sailed to
Annapolis.

Two years later he again visited the River St. John. He left Windsor
on the 29th April and arrived at the mouth of the river in four days.
"When I came to the river," he says, "the vessel did not go up that I
was in, but God gave me speed, for there was another vessel just going
over the falls to go up the river, so that without the least delay I
crossed Pot-Ash[135] and went immediately on board.... I remained on
the river, preaching from place to place among the people almost every
day, and often twice a day until the 26th of May, during which time I
had happy days and much of the Spirit of God mov