Haime, John

Haime, John a soldier in the English army, and one of Mr. Wesley's preachers. He was born at Shaftesbury, Dorsetshire, in 1710, and was bred a gardener, and afterwards a button-maker. From early life he lived in great wickedness, and in constant agony of conviction. In 1739 he enlisted in a regiment of dragoons, and some time after he was converted; but, being very ignorant, he alternately lost and regained his hope, but constantly forced to save others. At last he heard and converse with Mr. Wesley, much to his comfort. The regiment was sent to Flanders in 1743, from which time till Feb. 1745, he was in despair and great agony. At that time, while marching into Germany, his evidence of pardon returned, and encouraged by Mr. Wesley's letters, he began to preach in the army. At the battle of Dettingen he showed great gallantly. In May 1744, the army went to Brussels, and here his labors were the means of a great and remarkable revival in the army and city. Part of the time Haime had six preachers under him, although the regular chaplains opposed him. But the duke of Cumberland and general Ponsonby were his friends and patrons, and his piety of life, and the valor of his "Methodists" in every battle, commanded universal admiration and respect. On the 6th of April, 1746, he fell into despair, and from that date he lived for twenty years "in agony of soul;" yet all the time, in Germany, England, Ireland, he ceased not with all the energy of despair to labor, preaching often 20 or 30 times a week, and seeing thousands of souls converted under his efforts, while his own soul was filled with anguish and darkness. At the end of this time he once mere obtained the evidence of acceptance with God. He died Aug. 18, 1784, at Whitchurch, in Hampshire. — Jackson, Lives of Early Methodist Preachers, 1, 147, Stevens, History of Methodism, vol. 2.