William Losee
Encyclopedia
William Losee was a Methodist minister, who acted as a circuit rider
in the United States
and Upper Canada
.
after 1791). He had previously worked the Champlain circuit in New York. He was appointed by Elder Garrettson to Lower Canada with wide latitude in how to conduct his preaching. Both his relatives in the area and his favourable feelings toward the British Government contributed to his appointment. His first conversion was one of these relatives, Joshua Losee. There were very few ministers in The Canadas
at this time, William Case would later recall that he knew of only four, but guessed there might have been as many as six. His preaching resulted in immediate conversions in what was then largely wilderness regions punctuated by tiny villages and isolated cabins. An early source reports that Losee was famous for vehement preaching and imploring God to smite sinners. On one occasion, while being heckled during a religious meeting, he pointed at the heckler and proclaimed "Smite him, my God!" The man, whose name is reported to have been Joseph Brouse, fell to the ground writhing in agony only to later rise and repent of his sins.
In 1791 Losee returned to Upper Canada
to ride the Kingston
(or Cataraqui) circuit. The circuit included the village of Kingston and settlement within about 100 km. Losee set up classes in Augusta
, Niagara, Adolphustown
, Earnestown and Fredericksburgh. One hundred sixty five Methodists were count in his circuit that year. In 1792 the circuit was divided into two and Losee was returned by the New York Conference with a second Methodist circuit rider, Darius Dunham. Dunham took over the Cataraqui circuit and Losee assumed the new Oswegotchie circuit. It would seem, however, that Losee had fallen deeply in love with a woman living on the Cataraqui circuit. Dunham fell in love with the same woman, Elizabeth Detlor of Fredericksburgh. She chose Dunham and Losee almost lost his sanity as a result. He quietly resigned from the ministry, returned to New York, and spent the rest of his life working a trade.
Circuit rider (Religious)
Circuit rider is a popular term referring to clergy in the earliest years of the United States who were assigned to travel around specific geographic territories to minister to settlers and organize congregations...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
Biography
Although not the first Methodist to preach in what was then the single British colony of Quebec, William Losee was the first to be officially appointed by the New York Conference to preach in Quebec (in the region known as Upper CanadaUpper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
after 1791). He had previously worked the Champlain circuit in New York. He was appointed by Elder Garrettson to Lower Canada with wide latitude in how to conduct his preaching. Both his relatives in the area and his favourable feelings toward the British Government contributed to his appointment. His first conversion was one of these relatives, Joshua Losee. There were very few ministers in The Canadas
The Canadas
The Canadas is the collective name for Upper Canada and Lower Canada, two British colonies in Canada. They were both created by the Constitutional Act of 1791 and abolished in 1841 with the union of Upper and Lower Canada....
at this time, William Case would later recall that he knew of only four, but guessed there might have been as many as six. His preaching resulted in immediate conversions in what was then largely wilderness regions punctuated by tiny villages and isolated cabins. An early source reports that Losee was famous for vehement preaching and imploring God to smite sinners. On one occasion, while being heckled during a religious meeting, he pointed at the heckler and proclaimed "Smite him, my God!" The man, whose name is reported to have been Joseph Brouse, fell to the ground writhing in agony only to later rise and repent of his sins.
In 1791 Losee returned to Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
to ride the Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
(or Cataraqui) circuit. The circuit included the village of Kingston and settlement within about 100 km. Losee set up classes in Augusta
Augusta, Ontario
Augusta is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.-Communities:The township comprises the communities of Algonquin, Bisseltown, Blue Church, Charlieville, Domville, Garretton, Glenmore, Herrons Corners, Lords Mills, Maitland,...
, Niagara, Adolphustown
Adolphustown, Ontario
Adolphustown is a geographic area located in Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada, at on the Adolphus Reach of the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario. It was founded in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists. The original Loyalist Landing site is now the U.E.L...
, Earnestown and Fredericksburgh. One hundred sixty five Methodists were count in his circuit that year. In 1792 the circuit was divided into two and Losee was returned by the New York Conference with a second Methodist circuit rider, Darius Dunham. Dunham took over the Cataraqui circuit and Losee assumed the new Oswegotchie circuit. It would seem, however, that Losee had fallen deeply in love with a woman living on the Cataraqui circuit. Dunham fell in love with the same woman, Elizabeth Detlor of Fredericksburgh. She chose Dunham and Losee almost lost his sanity as a result. He quietly resigned from the ministry, returned to New York, and spent the rest of his life working a trade.