Were it not that a Preface seems to be considered as almost indispensable to the existence of a book at the present time, the author would feel an inclination to let this work go to press without the usual prefatory introduction; but as custom is law, he must bow to its mandates, and detain the reader from the perusal of the body of the work long enough to inform him, that the preparation, compilation, abridgment, or whatever else the reader may please to denominate the following sketches, has required the author to examine a large number of different biographical works, such as “Lives,” “Memoirs,” “Journals,” etc. etc. This examination, although somewhat laborious, has, nevertheless, been pleasing, as it has been the means of refreshing his memory in regard to many incidents almost forgotten, as well as putting him in possession of facts never before known to him. The labor of preparing this work, however, has been greatly enhanced, from the fact that no published “Life,” or “Memoir,” of several of the eminent men whose biographies are briefly sketched therein, has ever been given to the public. This is especially true of Bishops Asbury, McKendree, Whatcoat, and George, and of Dr. Olin, recently deceased.

While, therefore, much ground has necessarily been gone over, the author hopes that this attempt to embody in a convenient form the leading events in the history of the great lights of Methodism, will not be unappreciated by a candid and liberal-minded public.

It is proper, also, to observe, that in some cases, there has been a great paucity of materials necessary to give even the brief and imperfect sketch connected with the names of some of the subjects in this book. On the other hand, in regard to the greater part of them, there has been no lack of materials; and the only difficulty has been to make a proper selection of the numerous facts and incidents found in the written Lives and Memoirs of those great men. One object the author had in view, - -to make the work interesting, and profitable. To accomplish these objects, variety was thought to be necessary; hence, the reader who deigns to peruse this work, will find many interesting and instructive anecdotes interspersed through its pages, and what is perhaps of more importance, he will learn something of the self-denial practiced, and the sacrifices made, by the leading ministers of the Methodist Church in Europe and America.

In relation to the authorities consulted, it is only necessary to observe, that they are those who have received the sanction of the Church, except in a few cases, and that the facts and incidents given, may be considered authentic. Justice, however, requires that we should in this connection make particular mention of Bangs’ “History of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” a work which, the more we read and refer to, we learn to prize more and more, and to which, on more occasions than one, we have acknowledged our indebtedness.

The style of the work, so far as composition is concerned, will be found to be somewhat various in different chapters. This is owing partly to the fact that the authorities consulted, have written in a great variety of style, and although the author has not — except in a few instances — copied the exact words of these authorities, unless in the form of quotations, yet as he drank into the spirit of the narrative, he has no doubt in some cases been governed in the style, by that to which his attention at the moment was directed. Further: the comprehensiveness of our plan, forbade the use of an elegant or flowing style, to which the author under any circumstances could seldom lay claim; his object in the present instance has been to give facts, not figures of speech; to present a concise account of the more important events in the history of his subjects, and to induce the reader by a bare and ungarnished statement of facts, to copy, as far as possible, the example of these holy men, that a more intimate acquaintance may be cultivated with them in that “better country” where “there shall be no more death.”