ds, he was thrice dragged out of his bed because he would
not promise not to visit the place (Wrangle) again. Wesley himself, in
his journal (May 10, 1757) says "I preached to a mixed congregation, some
serious, others drunk;" but on the other hand, in 1764, he preached, when
the chapel "though having its galleries, was too small."

We have named John Barritt among the early Horncastle ministers. He was
preaching on one occasion at Boston, when a band of roughs forced their
way into the chapel and interrupted the service, driving some of the
congregation away. He had, however, a more serious experience, from
exposure to the roughness of the elements. He was riding to Boston,
apparently by a somewhat circuitous route, and a violent storm arose at
sea. When he was not far from the coast the sea bank gave way, the
country was inundated, vessels were even carried some distance inland,
Boston itself was deluged, and he might have been drowned, but that he
managed to reach some high ground, and arrived safely at Sibsey.

About this date, we are told, the progress of Wesleyanism excited the
jealousy of the clergy, not so tolerant as they are now, and a meeting
was held at the Bull Hotel, Horncastle, at which it was argued that the
"spread of Methodism was one of the causes of the awful irreligion"
prevalent, that the ministers were "raving enthusiasts, pretending to
divine impulse, and thus obtained sway over the ignorant."

John Barritt was re-appointed to Horncastle in 1801, as Superintendent,
his colleagues being Thomas Rought, John Watson, and Squire Brackenbury
as supernumerary, the latter was also, about this time, appointed head of
the society in Spilsby. {68a} J. Barritt was grandfather of Robert
Newton Barritt, who was very popular in Horncastle, 1882-1884. Wesley's
characteristic advice to him had been "When thou speakest of opinions, or
modes of worship, speak with coolness, but when thou speakest of
Repentance, Faith and Holiness, then, if thou hast any zeal, show it!"
and to these principles he was ever true.

Other ministers of note at different periods were George Shadford, a name
still surviving in the town; Charles Atmore, who wrote sundry Wesleyan
hymns; Thomas Jackson, a great scholar, twice elected President of the
National Conference; Digory Joll, grandfather of the present Mr. Watson
Joll (to whom the writer owes much of the information here utilized); and
to these we may add Benjamin Gregory, 18