MORGAN'S HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE Page 27
for their churches. At the next conference, held at Reading, Pa., he was stationed at Reading, where he paid off the debt of $1300. The church here at this time was in the Sheriff's hands. He was next transferred to the New Jersey Conference and stationed at Burlington, N. J. He served part of two years during which time he was appointed agent for Paul Quin Chapel.
Theodore Gould was born in Bridgeton, Cumberland county, New Jersey, August 12, 1830. November, 1846, he was received into the A. M. E. Church, at Gouldtown, near Bridgeton, by Deacon A. W. Wayman, now Bishop. He did not express saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ until the fall of 1850, but during the four years he was greatly exercised in mind and spent much time in reading his bible and in solitude. He spent hours upon his knees in prayer out in the woods, in the barn, in his chamber, even until midnight, wrestling with God for that peace which the world cannot give. "Baxter's Saint's Rest" was of great comfort to him, and "Pilgrim's Progress" reflected much light upon the promises of God, aided by the Holy Spirit. While kneeling at a chair in his father's house, he witnessed the change of heart. A short time after he sought and found the witness of the spirit. He was exercised upon by the spirit to hold meetings and exhort sinners to repent. His first meeting was held in the same room where he was converted; the next was at Jonathan Gould's; he gave out the hymn in the old A. M. E. hymn book, page 302:
He read the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, "Who hath believed our report," etc. A great revival broke out, the church was opened and several weeks were spent in revival meetings. During the meetings a number of young people from Salem came to Gouldtown to visit; several were convicted and some converted, and the fire was carried to their home. He went to Salem and
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