03 Flattering Business Prospects Declined 1770-75

3 - FLATTERING BUSINESS PROSPECTS DECLINED 1770-1775

MR. RANDALL spent the summer of 1771 at his trade, in Marblehead and Salem. He lived a watchful and devoted life, and attended religious services strictly with his own sect. During this time he had an offer which gave flattering prospects of soon making him a man of wealth. This, however, he declined to accept, and for reasons that, at the time, he could neither understand nor explain. In referring to the matter he says: " But since, I have seen that God overruled in the matter, having other and more important work for me in prospect."

Randall returned to New Castle in October, hired a sail-loft, and set up business for himself. On the twenty-eighth day of November he was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Oram, youngest daughter of Capt. Robert Oram, of Kittery, Maine. Captain Oram was a native of Topsham, England. In early manhood he migrated to America and landed in the South, but after a brief stay he settled at Kittery, married Joanna Mitchell and, as was the manner of the times, raised up a family of which Joanna, born March 2, 1748, became the wife of Benjamin Randall. The record Randall made in his "Journal" respecting the good providences of God in the person of his wife, he never had occasion to revise: "I believe she was the gift of God to me, and that no woman was ever better suited to the place in which, she was to stand. May God have the praise." When the newly married pair commenced housekeeping they erected the family altar, which stood till death broke in upon the union. In the fall of 1772 Mr. Randall called on his pastor and informed him of the desire, on the part of himself and wife, to become members of the church, and received the reply: "Well, Mr. Randall, I am glad you have come to a sense of your duty; I will propound you next Sabbath." On saying this, the pastor was about to leave the room. But the applicant, having anticipated that he might be examined on his Christian experience and views of religious doctrine, asked for such advice as might seem needful, preparatory to such an important step. To this no answer came. Mr. Randall persisted, however, as he tells us:

After a pause in the conversation I broke the silence and, in short, related to him what the Lord had done for my soul. To this he made no reply, but looked as though he thought it strange. I requested that I might see the covenant and have it explained, that I might be sure that I understood its import. He permitted me to take a copy home for examination. In response to my invitation, he promised to call and interview my wife on the matter. This call he made the next day, staying perhaps an hour, but saying nothing on religious subjects during the time. When rising to leave, he turned to Mrs. Randall and said: " our husband tells me you have a mind to join the church. I will propound you to-morrow."

Mr. and Mrs. Randall were duly received to membership in the Congregational church at New Castle. But Mr. Randall soon found that he had united with a people whose religious experience was not like his own-a people who neither shared with him his heavenly emotions nor his burning zeal for the salvation of souls. But let him speak for himself: On better acquaintance, I found that the church had neither order nor discipline. Men of intemperate and corrupt habits were allowed to come each month to the communion without reproof. This discovery, with a view of the condition in which those were who made no pretense to piety, caused me such great distress of mind that at times it seemed as though I could not live. My food became tasteless, and sleep departed from my eyes. By night, when whole families were sleeping, I would walk the streets, stop before their doors, lamenting their condition, and praying God in their behalf. As opportunity offered, Randall talked with his brethren respecting the importance of a deeper work of grace in the church and efforts for the salvation of those outside. Thus matters continued till the spring of 1774, when Randall felt impelled to go forward in a more open and decided effort.

He conceived the plan of opening meetings in which the people could listen to the reading of printed sermons and exercise their gifts in prayer, exhortation, and singing. This suggestion, when confided to Randall’s special sympathizers, received their hearty approval. The first move was to get the consent of their pastor, which was given with apparent cordiality, and with a promise of occasional attendance himself. These new gatherings caused no little excitement in the place. Whatever the motive on the part of the people, they were largely attended and there were indications of a general revival. The local pastor attended but once, and then showed signs of disapproval. From later manifestations it became evident that he was jealous of Mr. Randall for starting another religious center which, though intended as a helping hand of the church, was regarded by the pastor as a rival. This feeling of alienation on the part of the pastor ripened into coldness, and finally antagonism. As Mr. Randall loved his ancestral church and desired its welfare, as he loved his native town and desired its evangelization, as he loved his pastor and desired to be a worker together with him for public betterment, the developments described in the foregoing paragraphs were the cause of bitter grief to his soul. But they opened his eyes clearly to the fact that it would be neither for his own benefit nor for the glory of God for him to continue his membership with that church. So, after making the matter a subject of fasting and prayer, he sadly, but decisively, withdrew.

How sad, alarmingly sad, was the religious condition of that community! What a demand for a radical reform! But the conditions of reformation were already present and operative. A small cloud was already in the heavens, and the sound of abundance of rain would soon be heard.