Retyped for the page by Diane Payne, 2001

There was Wilson Lee, a man eminent for his talents, as well as for his usefulness in the ministry. He was a native of Delaware, and was raised in the midst of high life in the city of Baltimore. When he was seventeen years old he embraced the religion of Christ, and not long afterwards entered the vineyard of his Lord, and began to labor for the salvation of souls. He came to the Cumberland country in 1790, and at that day our fare was very rough and uninviting to one who had been used to better things; yet he partook of it not only without a murmur, but as though it were good cheer, with thankfulness to God. He was one of the sweet singers of Israel. When he went into the stand for preaching. and arising and stroking back his beautiful black hair, began to sing his favorite hymn-

If you had been present, you would have almost imagined that "the Judge of all the earth" was indeed then "descending on his azure throne." He preached the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven. His voice was sonorous, and his address handsome; and often his appeals to the consciences of his hearers were tremendous, and overwhelming in their effects. In preaching he frequently directed the artillery of heaven against pride and vanity, particularly in the matter of dress-the wearing of ruffles and feathers, jewelry and costly apparel of any description; and he would boldly declare, that the wearing of these things by professors of religion was sinful in the sight of God. Indeed, in the days of Wilson Lee, and for many years afterwards, no one who wore anything superfluous was admitted into the love-feasts. Then the Methodists were plain, simple-hearted people; and I would to God our preachers now-a- days possessed the spirit which distinguished the conduct of Wilson Lee and his fellow-laborers in reference to the matter of dress and kindred subjects. I must mention an incident that occurred at a quarterly meeting in Sumner County, on Big Station Camp Creek. In those days, it was fashionable for wealthy ladies to wear a small beaver hat, with a large ostrich-feather fastened to the front part of the hat, and extending over the crown upon the lady's shoulders. At that meeting there was present a young lady from East Tennessee, Miss Vicey Shelby, then on a visit to her brother, Mr. David Shelby, who lived and died in Sumner county; and she was dressed in the finest style. Wilson Lee preached against the fashions of the day, and he preached with power, so that Miss Vicey Shelby-who was a young lady of excellent sense-was brought under conviction; and so clearly did she see her wrong, she tore the feather from her hat before she left the meeting; and better still, she never rested till God for Christ's sake had pardoned her sins. Soon afterwards, she returned to East Tennessee. and, I was told, made one of the most shining and useful Christians in all that country. So much for faithful preaching. I would to God our circuits and station were filled with such men as was Wilson Lee. He continued to travel and preach, until at length he was superannuated in 1804; and in October of that year, having broken a blood-vessel, he died in a few hours. Such was the death of one of the best itenerant preachers. Most dearly did I love him in my very soul. He received me into the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1790, and I hope at last to meet him in the Church triumphant in the skies.