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IN Amelia county, Virginia, lives this apostolic man, zealous in the service of Christ beyond strength of body, "faint, yet pursuing." For years tortured with neuralgia in the face, the nerves burning like strands of heated wire, yet patient and pressing forward all the while. With other disorders hindering and hurting him, he will not keep silent from proclaiming the grace of God to the people. His presence is a sermon. His discourse stirs his hearers. He has served faithfully and well in different positions. He expounds clearly and with unction, rising at times to thrilling and mastering eloquence. There has never been a trace of ambition in his long career. He followed the injunction: In honor prefering one another. His Conference made him a representative to the General Conference. The Bishops used him in cities, on districts, in circuits. He is enshrined in the affection of his brethren. After much urging a short memorandum was obtained from his pen. Our readers will thank us for its insertion here. "I was born in the town of Manchester, February 12th, 1812. My parents' names were Philip and Mary Michaels. My father was of German descent, my mother was of English. My education was such as could be received in schools of the day. It was my fortune to be under the guidance of the late Walter C. Day, a better instructor than whom it would be difficult to find, especially in classical studies. In these I took great delight, never abating my researches therein while my school life was continued. While my father made no profession of religion, he was sternly moral, and exacted from his children obedience to its principles at all times. It was my happiness to have the guidance of, and to be blessed with the example and counsels of a godly mother, but she was removed to another home, when I was but about twelve years old. Yet she ever lives, in her life and lessons. Although thus highly favored; I do not remember any period of my life, till I was v my twenty-second year, when I felt strong awakenings on the subject of religion. At that time lived with my father in the county of Henrico, but hearing that an extensive revival was in progress in Manchester, and that a number of my friends and school-mates had been converted, I felt that the time bad come when I should seek the pearl of price. My exercises were painful and protracted-I sought with all my might, but not through faith-but as it were by the works of the law. My agony was indeed intense. At that time the venerable J. Boyd was Pastor of Shockoe Hill church. To him I opened my mind, and he pointed me to Christ as all-sufficient to save all who trusted in Him. From that time my mind and heart were stayed on Him, and Him only for salvation. And soon I was enabled to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. My joy indeed was full. My soul was satisfied. I had not then, nor since, a doubt as to my conversion. I very soon felt that it was my duty to preach the gospel, and being duly recommended, received license t preach, and traveled one year under the Rev. Moses Brock, at that time Presiding Elder of the Richmond District. My first field of labor was the New Kent Circuit. "The next year I was received on trial into Conference in 1836. Though at no time have I enjoyed robust health, even through my entire life, yet, I have continued in the regular work of s itinerant preacher, with but little loss of time, till within the last few years. "My itinerant life has been divided about equally between circuits, stations, and the eldership and in every field of labor I have had cause to rejoice in seeing the word of the Lord glorified the salvation of sinners. "In looking over my life, I count nothing in it worthy of mention, but that part of it spent the work of the ministry. And now that my term of activity is closed, I have no regret that entered on the work of an itinerant, only that I did not more fully meet all its demands. With i the lights I have, the Bible, the lives of other itinerants, and my own experience, I think the life an itinerant preacher promises as much good to mankind as any other field we may occupy." Source: Sketches of the Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. by Rev. John J. Lafferty Richmond, Va., Christian Advocate Office 1880. Link: http://genealogyfinds.com/virginia/michaels.htm |