Conference to attend the Conference in the United
States, and lay before the members the question of Canadian Methodism
retaining its allegiance with the British Conference, a task which was
faithfully performed, though of a very delicate character.

Increasing infirmities kept him in retirement, though he managed in
the spring of 1820 to pay a visit to the United States, where he
preached before Congress, and the passion for souls was still burning
in his soul, for the text of the sermon was, "What is a man profited,
if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Brave and ever
resolute, he maintained his interest in the progress of the churches
which he founded, and it was with a pathos born of love to his
brethren, and the consciousness that his active work was done, that he
wrote to the ministers at the District Meeting held in St. John in
1823, that he was unable to attend, and sent them his blessing.

This man of daring had a definite religious experience and all his
preaching was with the individual in view, his sphere of labours was
not large in extent of territory, but he widened it by incessant
travel, without any show of rhetoric he won his way to men's hearts
and that is eloquence, and he lived to move Eastern British America by
translating his message in words imperishable, and lay foundations
upon which others have built. He was no common man, but an
empire-builder in the brave days of old.

VI.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

A man above medium height, stout in body and well built, clad in the
fashion of the Methodist preachers of the day, with a benign
countenance, his face smoothly shaven, a kindly eye, a mind ever
alert, a genial temperament, and strong force of character which
fitted him well for his aggressive work in a new and rough country,
and you have a fair likeness of William Black. Without any college
education, and with no pretentions as a scholar, he was far from being
deficient in education. The preacher with his saddlebags quickly
learned the value of time, as he travelled incessantly, and preached
every day, and we are not surprised to learn, that he formed habits of
study similar to those of the circuit riders of old England. With an
intensity which is often bewildering, we read of him moving with
incredible swiftness from place to place, studying at every
opportunity to fit himself as an able preacher of the everlasting
gospel.

His letters to John Wesley and other corre