[ 26 ]
the facts, and who is one of the very few remaining who remember the doings of those early times, that Drs. Green, Janeway, Potts, and Alexander, together with Messrs. McMullin, Markoe, and Ralston, joined their earnest importunities in favor of obtaining the services of Mr. Gloucester. To these importunities Dr. Blackburn yielded, relinquishing, on his part, all pay or emolument from any labor that Mr. Gloucester might perform as a missionary among the people, and freeing him at the same time from "any service or labor which to him (Dr. Blackburn) may be due." Mr. Gloucester was not long in Philadelphia before a wide door was opened unto him for preaching the Word of life to many anxious people; he, too, was not long deciding upon his proper course of action ; he saw the field white for the harvest, and few laborers therein; looking to God, he stripped himself for the work, and cheerfully entered upon his duties. He first commenced his missionary efforts by preaching in private houses ; but such were the number of people that attended his ministry, that in a very short time no private house could be found to contain the people that flocked to hear him expound God's Word. It was very evident that the time had come when it must be said This place is too narrow for us.
The result of this success led to street preaching. He notified the people that, at least in clear weather, he should preach at the corner of Seventh and Shippen Streets; and, when the weather was not favorable, he had obtained the use of a school-house near by To these places his hearers resorted, and there each consecutive Sabbath, this devoted servant of God preached the Gospel to a large number of serious hearers. Through these meetings this branch of Christ's Church was gathered, and, from the most reliable information
