African Methodism appeared, bringing an array of obligations and duties in which she could bear an active and untrammeled part, she hailed it with that joy and readiness which only the spirit of God can impart. Many intelligent Methodist women seemed to take it as a God-sent blessing. They flocked to its standard and enlisted heartily into the work. In the early days of the Church when its ministers were illiterate and humble, and her struggles with poverty and proscription were long and severe, and it required perseverance, and patience, and fortitude, and foresight, and labor, the women were ready, with their time, their talent, their influence and their money, to dedicate all to the upbuilding of the Church. No class of persons did more to solicit and bring in the people than they. They raised money to build churches and to support the ministers. They assisted in the prayer-meetings and class-meetings and Sabbath-schools, and taught there to love the ordinances of the Church and to respect the ministry. Where there were no churches built they opened their doors for public worship and gladly received the care-worn and weary traveling preachers into their families and provided bountifully for their necessities. They were not only zealous in labors, but were talented in speech. Some were gifted in prayer; so much so that persons were often convicted by hearing them pray, and were led to God and soundly converted and became useful members of the Church. Others carried great power with their religious experience when related in class-meetings or love-feasts. Many who had been hardened sinners dated their conviction and con-
