Elizabeth: The Disinherited Daugheter | Page 3

consisted of a suitable number of misses from wealthy families,

as cheerful as the larks and as gay as butterflies. Her opulent friends
very readily entered into her father's plans, and were especially
delighted with her experience and skill in horsemanship; and a
sufficient number equipped and joined her in this healthy movement to
insure her the best of company in her morning and evening rides. And
her popularity as an equestrienne fed her pride, and her gay letters
home were full of it, and very agreeable to her proud father. Nor did the
rapid improvement of her associates in this elegant accomplishment,
under her teaching and example, escape the notice of their fond parents
and of their townsmen, and "The way that tall schoolmarm rides is
wonderful!" was spoken by many an observer, and many a young
woman envied the proud troop "their chance to learn how to ride
a-horseback."
In the daily excursions of these gay cousins they sometimes passed, on
a retired street, the meeting place of "a new and strange people called
Methodists." Jesse Lee, George Roberts, Francis Asbury, and others,
mighty men of God, had just gone over New England like a thundering
legion, proclaiming everywhere a "free salvation for all, even for John
Calvin's 'reprobates.'" They had glorious success, even in cold New
England, and of the fruit of the revivals which attended their labors
formed many small but excellent "societies." One of these was
established in Pittsfield.
The sweet and moving singing of these people arrested the attention of
our heroine and her friends as they occasionally rode by; and, pausing
in their saddles to listen, enough of a tune would get into their heads
and keep ringing there to turn their course that way again. Catching a
charming tune, they "must get the words, at least a verse or two." So,
from pausing outside to listen, they grew bolder, tied their horses, and
civilly sat down inside, not only charmed with the songs, but curious to
hear the fervent prayers and testimonies and occasional shouts of this
bright-faced company. When their friends said anything against this
people as being "unpopular," or "despised," these young fashionables
would sing them a Methodist verse or two, and perhaps join in the
ridicule by mimicking their shouts. And yet in their sober judgment
they honored these honest and devout worshipers for their fervent piety

and zeal, and wondered at their rapturous joys. But they were quite
mistaken in their confidence that an occasional attendance upon
worship so spiritual was perfectly safe. The Holy Spirit dwelt with this
people. These gay young attendants became the subjects of mighty
prayers and powerful exhortations. Bows, "drawn at a venture," threw
arrows with great force. The Spirit directed one to the proud but honest
heart of Elizabeth Ward, and she was "thoroughly awakened." Perhaps
in the few prayer meetings these young people had dropped into within
the past year they had imbibed more gospel truth than in all their
former lives. But the songs which had so captivated them, many of
which they had learned to sing, had struck those truths into the mind
indelibly, and had so enlisted the moral nature of Elizabeth that the
Holy Ghost had written convicting impressions upon the inner tablet of
her heart. She did not long resist this new "conscience of sins." She
clearly saw and deeply felt that she was a sinner, and on the way to ruin.
In more of desperation than hope she set out to "flee from the wrath to
come."
In this state of alarm, she walked alone to the Methodist prayer meeting,
made known her convictions and purposes, and sought instruction and
help. She returned from that meeting feeling that she had almost
entered a new world. Gospel hope, now for the first time in her life,
began to spring up in her heart. She had settled the question of
submission to her Maker, and began to seek Him with purpose of heart,
resolved to confess and forsake her sins and seek pardon and peace in
Jesus Christ. Still, as to several of the counsels of her new religious
instructors she was undecided, because not yet convinced. They
advised her to seek the Lord "by prayer and supplication." To "ask," to
"knock," to "call upon Him," and especially to "cry unto the Lord with
her voice." But she had been taught from infancy that "none but the
elect should pray; nor even they until regenerated by sovereign grace;"
and that "no woman should pray or speak in a public assembly." But a
heart overwhelmed with a crushing sense of sin at length broke out,
almost against her decision, and cried, "God be merciful to me a
sinner!" and such hope of relief sprang up while she prayed as to