In South Carolina. 149 



son, who in the service of his Master traversed mount- 

 ains and valleys, frequently on foot with his knapsack 

 on his back, guided only by Indian paths in the wil- 

 derness, waded through deep morasses, satisfied his 

 hunger with a piece of bread and pork, quenched his 

 thirst from the running brook, and rested his weary 

 limbs on the fallen leaves of the trees. Mr. Hickson's 

 " name is very precious to the lovers of early Method- 

 ism," says Wakeley. He was " a man of splendid 

 talents and brilliant genius," which shone the' brighter 

 by contrast with the shattered casket that inclosed 

 them, for his whole public life was oppressed by phys- 

 ical suffering and feebleness. He labored in Virginia, 

 Maryland, and New Jersey, and, though fast hastening 

 to the grave by consumption, volunteered to go as a 

 missionary to Nova Scotia, but was forbidden by Bish- 

 op Asbury, and sent, in 1787, as a substitute for Henry 

 Willis, to assist John Dickens in New York. During 

 this year he had the distinguished honor of introduc- 

 ing Methodism into Brooklyn, which is now the " City 

 of Churches." From a table in Sands street, directly 

 in front of the spot where a Methodist church now 

 stands, he preached his first sermon in the open air, 

 and at the close offered to visit them again if any 

 person present would open his house for preaching. 

 Peter Cannon at once invited him to return, and fitted 

 up a cooper-shop for the reception of the congrega- 

 tion. Here Mr. Hickson formed the first class in 

 Brooklyn, and appointed Nicholas Snethen, afterward 

 so famous as a preacher, the first leader. He died 

 and was buried in New York, and is briefly commem- 

 orated in the Minutes as a man of promising genius, 

 upright life, snatched away by consumption, seven 

 years in the work. 



