Excerpt from Showers of Blessing From Clouds of Mercy: Selected From the Journal and Other Writings of the Rev. James Caughey
After taking an affectionate leave of David, I hastened up to London by railway, in company with Joseph Webb, Esq. We rode all night, during which I worked hard upon an index for my fourth volume of Letters; but about daybreak sleep quite overcame me, and I sank down on the oor of the car and slept.
James Caughey was an Irish-born emigrant to the United States who was converted in the times of revival in 1830-31 and soon after ordained to the Methodist ministry. He experienced powerful revivals in Canada but it was his revival labours in Great Britain during the 1840's, for which he is most well known.
His early ministry fitted him for the work that was yet to come. Ordained as an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1836 he was groomed in revival practices and camp meetings.
From 1841-1847 he was led to minister in England, mainly among the midlands and north among the Methodists. During this time he earned the title 'King of Revivalist Preachers.' It was during this time, when preaching at Nottingham, that William Booth was converted under Caughey's preaching.
He claimed over 20,000 converts during this time, nevertheless he found himself out of favour with the 'High Church' party within Methodism who frowned upon his conversion contrivances and 'mushroom converts.'
On his return to America his fame had gone before him, mainly through his 'Letters' describing the success of his labours in England. This resulted in innumerable invitations to preach the north-eastern United States as well as in Canada.
He returned to England for a further two years, in 1857, again reaping a great harvest of souls. There were two further visits in 1860 and in the mid-60's.
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