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Click
on the link to the left to visit the Martson Memorial Historical Center's
web site. B. T. Roberts' Supporting Cast Rev. William C. Kendall (1822-1858)  A
small gravestone in the rural community cemetery of Covington, Wyoming County,
New York, about 35 miles southwest of Rochester, marks the grave of William
C. Kendall, one the closest friends and companions in ministry of Benjamin
T. Roberts. A native of Wyoming County, Kendall first met Roberts as an academy classmate at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima, New York. From there, the two were classmates at Wesleyan University, both graduating in the Class of 1848. Like Roberts, Kendall took an appointment in the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Kendall served at Cambria in Niagara County and Roberts at Caryville in Genesee County. Over the next nine years Kendall served at Royalton, Pike (where he followed Roberts), Covington, Albion (where he preceded Roberts), Brockport and Chili. Each place Kendall served saw revival, as he preached holiness, an experience that he had sought and obtained during his days at Wesleyan University and that he lived in word and action. At the 1857 Genesee Conference charges of "unchristian and immoral conduct" were brought against Roberts and charges of "inacceptability" against Kendall. Roberts was convicted, but still given an appointment in the country village of Pekin. Conference ended without taking action on Kendall, and he was sent to the "starvation" appointment of West Falls. There the support would not provide a home and he was left to live from house to house among the people. Kendall, blessed with a beautiful voice, led singing schools and preached holiness. Blazing revival came to West Falls in just a few months. But in January of 1858, Kendall was taken ill with a fever and died shortly thereafter at the age of 35. At the Genesee Conference in 1858, rather than a trial on the charges brought the year before, Kendall was honored with a memorial service. The conference selected Roberts to preach the memorial sermon even though the same conference would later expel him. At his death those who loved Kendall and shared in his preaching of holiness accorded him respect as one of the most godly and successful soul winners. Even those who had unfairly treated and charged him falsely could not deny the truth of his Christian character and his devotion to preaching salvation and holiness. -- Charles Canon, Roberts Wesleyan College [Sources on Kendall include a biographical sketch by B. T. Roberts in Elias Bowen, History of the Origin of the Free Methodist Church (1871), 325-33; Wilson T. Hogue, History of the Free Methodist Church (1915), and Francis W. Conable, History of the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1810-1872 (1876).] |
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