”The following account of Dr. Chandler’s labours is from the pen of the venerable Thomas Ware, who, at the time referred to, was Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District:—

‘Such was the state of things on this (Strasburg) circuit, when I prevailed on Bishop Asbury to appoint Dr. Chandler to it, as the most likely, in my opinion, to be useful in stirring up the people. Dr. Chandler was a dentist, and, at the time I obtained his consent to travel, he was reading Medicine with Dr. Hush. He had been, for some time, a licensed preacher. He was gifted, enterprising, and every way well qualified for the itinerant work; and in that capacity I thought he would be most likely to be useful. I had a particular friendship for him, as I had long known him, and I did not doubt that he would be eminently successful in the work of saving souls, provided he would give himself up wholly to the service of the Church. I, accordingly, communicated with him on the subject, but he pleaded his engagements with Dr. Rush as a barrier against his engaging in the work. I then waited on the venerable Rush, and expressed to him my views in respect to the duty of Dr. Chandler, when perfectly agreed with me in the matter, and cheerfully released him from his engagements; whereupon Dr. C. entered with all his heart into the work.

At the commencement of the second quarter, Dr. Chandler began covenanting with the people. He obtained a pledge from them to wholly abstain from the use of ardent spirits, and to meet him at the throne of grace three times a day.—namely, at sunrise, at noon, and at the going down of the sun, to pray for a revival of the work of God on the circuit, and especially that He would visit them, and give them some token for good at their next meeting. As the time for the meeting approached, he pressed them to come out without fail, and expressed a belief that the Lord would do great things among them. Soon after he commenced this course, there were evident indications that the work was beginning to revive; and many began to predict with the preacher that something great would be done at the Quarterly Meeting.

On Saturday, many people attended. I opened the meeting by singing, and then attempted to pray; but in two minutes my voice was drowned in the general cry throughout the house, which continued all that day and night, and indeed for the greater part of three days. A great number professed to be converted, we stood fast and adorned their profession. But the best of all was, many, who had lost their first love, repented, and did their first works, and God restored them to his favour.

Cecil circuit had been added to the Philadelphia District. The Quarterly Meeting on this circuit was at hand, and I urged Dr. Chandler to attend it. He came with a number of the warmhearted members from his circuit. On the first day of the meeting, there were many present, and the prospect was very encouraging. But there were appearances of rain, which, it was thought, might discourage the people from coming out in the evening. Dr. Chandler, however, pressed them to come, saying that he believed God would be present, and do wonders among them. ‘Some of you,’ he added, ‘will be kept away from the apprehension that it will rain; but, mark my word, there will be no rain in this vicinity until the Quarterly Meeting is ended.’ I was startled at this bold prediction, and was on the point of requesting him to recall or qualify it, but finally concluded to let it pass.

Night came, and the house was crowded. A gracious work commenced. Some, of whom it was least expected, were found upon their knees, crying for mercy. The morning of the Sabbath was the most dark and threatening I ever saw. The clouds appeared surcharged with rain, and it was the expectation of many that Dr. Chandler would be proved a false prophet. But still it so turned out that the rain was withheld until the meeting closed, and the people generally had reached their homes. The clouds then began to empty themselves upon the earth, and the fall of rain exceeded any thing that had been known for many years before.”

Reference Data:

Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. 7, by William Buell Sprague, 1859, pages 287-8