In South Carolina. 249 



skirmish was ended, Col. Slingsby came up with a larger party of 

 men, and the Whigs were dispersed. Recognizing Mr. O' Kelly, the 

 Colonel asked him to preach for them, which he did; and drawing 

 up his men in good order, he stood with his head uncovered during 

 the whole of the service. Mr. O'Kelly said, when relating this 

 anecdote to me, "Ah, child, your grandfather was a gentleman!" 

 An old lady, who was well acquainted with Mr. O'Kelly, tells me 

 that the man at whose house he was taken was also taken, bound to 

 the same tree, and killed in the skirmish. She had heard him re- 

 late the anecdote frequently — I only once. 



The preachers on the Bladen Circuit in 1798 found 

 the names of the New Hope missionaries still fresh 

 in the memory of the people, and conversed with those 

 who had listened with delight to the preaching of 

 James O'Kelly, and had been received into society by 

 Philip Bruce, who was appointed to the New Hope 

 Circuit in 1781. Says Beverly Allen : 



C In May, 1778, I began to preach the go spel. During the summe r 

 I only preached about home, but being earnestly pressed by the cir- 

 cuit preachers to travel, after many sore conflicts, I consented to ride 

 in New Hope Circuit, in North Carolina, including my own place 

 and some people in the county of Wake. During the winter Ave had 

 a considerable work in the circuit, for Brother James O'Kelly trav- 

 eled as my assistant, whose labors were greatly owned of God. Num- 

 bers joined our "society, and many professed faith in the Redeemer. 

 In February, 1779, I took a journey to the South, at the earnest and 

 repeated entreaties of Mrs. D. (a daughter of General Robert Howe), 

 who was under very great distress of mind. It pleased God, soon 

 after we arrived, to give her a clear sense of the forgiveness of sins, 

 and she praised- God with holy boldness. Her husband had gone 

 to Charleston, and knew nothing of this great change till he arrived 

 at home, when, to his great astonishment, he found her praying with 

 her children and servants. The first letter I received from her gave 

 me the pleasing information that he was under deep distress, and 

 wished very much to see me. I accordingly went in autumn, but 

 on my way I called on a society which I had some time before formed 

 in Cumberland county, where many were groaning for redemption. 

 It pleased God to convince a number of them (I think fifteen professed 



