as quickly in his footsteps was he who stuck to him closer
than a brother. Almost vanquished, Abijah lifted the hatchway
and rushed into the cellar; but lo! Lafayette was there also.
In great confusion Abijah rallied for one more effort, and
grasping a rude ladder started to ascend to the floor above,
but close upon the rounds was the unrelenting Lafayette, with
a determination to learn what power or impulse controlled
the man who was possessed with such strange actions. The
o ning in the floor led to the room in which were assembled
Mother Ann and the Elders* Then for the first time Lafayette
found voice enough eagerly to ask of them what nature of his
malady ? He was informed that it was wholly of a religious
type, and that such swelt among them. The tenet of their re-
ligion was then explained to him, when he enquired to know
why he could not share it as well as others; but Mother Ann
informed him that his mission was of the world, and on the
great earth plane before him; that in the soldier life which
he had chosen, he had a work to do of vast importance, as
in the success of the patriotic arms that of the freedom of
the populace depended, "^

The revival movement was going on in America as well as in England
and the number of converts grew steadily. The numbers in New England

had grown so large that in May 1781, Mother Ann with her brother, William
Lee, and Elders James WMttaker, flunu*! Pitch, Mary Partington and
Margaret Leland, started out to visit the "Believers.11 Most of the Be-

lievers at this time had an opportunity to see Mother Ann personally,
either being visited in their own homes or by visiting her where she
stopped. However, the group met with much persecution, mob rule and
physical beatings (especially in Harvard, Mass.). The hardships and
persecutions were so severe that William Lee, although a robust, sturdy
former British army dragoon, died in July 1784, aged 44, and Mother
Ann died in September 1784, aged 48. James Whittaker succeeded

4. Ibid,, p. 23