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History of the M.E. Church, Vol. I

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History of the M.E. Church, Vol. I WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library M. E. Church History HISTORY OF THE M.E. CHURCH, VOL. I By Abel Stevens, LL.D. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” Heb 12:14 Spreading Scriptural Holiness to the World Wesleyan Heritage Publications © 1998 HISTORY of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the United States of America By Abel Stevens, LL.D., Author of "The History of the Religious Movement of the Eighteenth Century called Methodism," etc. VOLUME I The Planting of American Methodism New York: Published By Carlton & Porter, 200 Mulberry-Street 1868 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by Carlton & Porter, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York HISTORY of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH By Abel Stevens VOLUME I The Planting of American Methodism CONTENTS DEDICATORY PREFACE INTRODUCTION Wesley and Watt The Steam-Engine Its Importance to America Necessity of the Methodist System for the Moral Wants of the Country Development of the Nation after the Revolution Great Growth of its Population The "Great West" Ecclesiastical Methods of Methodism Its Development in England It is not a new Dogmatic System Its Theology Arminianism Whitefield John and Charles Wesley Bishop Bohler The Genius of Methodism Evangelical Life Its Ecclesiastical Peculiarities Its Catholicity Its Persecutions Its Success BOOK I FROM THE ORIGIN OF AMERICAN METHODISM TO THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CHAPTER I FOUNDERS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Wesley among the Irish The "Palatines" Their Historical Importance Their Origin Their Character Their Emigration to America Philip Embury He Founds Methodism in the United States Captain Webb Sketch of his Life and Character His Style of Preaching Barbara Heck The First American Methodist Chapel Embury Retires from New York His Death Barbara Heck Curious Controversy: Note CHAPTER II RISE OF METHODISM IN MARYLAND Robert Strawbridge Traces of him in Ireland His Character His Emigration to America His Methodistic Labors Richard Owen, the first native Methodist Preacher Watters' Eulogy of him Strawbridge's latter Years His Death and Funeral Asbury's Opinion of him Original Humility of American Methodism CHAPTER III EARLY LAY EVANGELISTS Immigration The Methodists of New York apply to Wesley for Preachers Interest in England for America Robert Williams hastens to the Colonies Ashton of Ashgrove Williams' Services He founds Methodism in Virginia Rev. Devereaux Jarratt Jesse Lee William Watters, the first Native Itinerant Williams' Death Asbury's Eulogy on him Other Testimonials to his Character and Usefulness John King He Preaches in the Potter's Field of Philadelphia He Introduces Methodism into Baltimore Preaches in the Streets Traces of ins Life His Faults Wesley's characteristic Letter to him: Note CHAPTER IV WESLEY'S FIRST MISSIONARIES TO AMERICA Appeals to Wesley for Missionaries Dr. Wrangle John Hood and Lambert Wilmer of Philadelphia Wesley's Appeal to his Conference The Response A liberal Contribution for America The Conferences Leeds in Methodist Missionary History Sketch of Richard Boardman His Perils by Water Instrumental in the Conversion of Jabez Bunting Joseph Pilmoor A Tempestuous Voyage Arrival of the Missionaries in America Pilmoor preaching in the Streets of Philadelphia His Letter to Wesley Boardman on the Way to New York Whitefield greets them Presentiment of his Death His last Evangelical Triumphs Last Sermon Last Exhortation Jesse Lee at his Tomb: Note Boardman in New York His Success John Mann Pilmoor His Letter to Wesley Singular Introduction into New Rochelle CHAPTER V WESLEY'S AMERICAN MISSIONARIES, CONTINUED America appears in Wesley's Minutes Appeal for more Preachers More sent Early Life of Francis Asbury Methodism in Staffordshire Asbury becomes a Methodist His Character He embarks for America Richard Wright, his Companion Their Arrival in Philadelphia Number of Methodists in America St. George's Chapel The First Philadelphia Methodists Bohemia Manor Asbury in New Jersey Peter Van Pelt Staten Island Methodism there Israel Disosway Asbury enters New York He Contends for the Itinerancy He extemporizes a Circuit In Philadelphia The Itinerancy in Operation Asbury's Preaching and Spirit Wesley appoints him Assistant or Superintendent His Labors in Maryland In Baltimore A Quarterly Conference Asbury forms Classes in Baltimore First Methodist Chapel there Asbury's Baltimore Circuit Quarterly Conference CHAPTER VI WESLEY'S AMERICAN MISSIONARIES, CONTINUED Captain Webb Recruiting the American Itinerancy Charles Wesley opposes him Webb Appeals to the Conference Thomas Rankin and George Shadford Rankin's Early Life Methodism in the British Army Whitefield Rankin's Conversion He becomes a Preacher His Success His Appointment to America George Shadford's Early Life His Conversion His Usefulness He joins Wesley's Itinerancy Hears Captain Webb's Appeal at Leeds and Departs for America Wesley's Letter to him Scenes of the Voyage Arrival at Philadelphia Rankin's Invocation Rankin and Asbury in New York Rankin in John Street Church Shadford in New Jersey CHAPTER VII FIRST CONFERENCE -- RETURN OF ENGLISH PREACHERS First American Methodist Conference Its Members Statistics Laxity of Discipline Proceedings of the Conference The Sacramental Controversy Robert Strawbridge steadfast to the American Claim Its Result Germ of the "Book Concern" Appointments Return of Pilmoor and Boardman Further traces of Boardman His Death Further traces of Pilmoor He leaves the Denomination Retains his Interest for it Richard Wright returns to England Final traces of Captain Webb His Death CHAPTER VIII NATIVE EVANGELISTS William Watters, the first Native Methodist Itinerant His Early Life His Conversion He becomes an Itinerant Robert Williams Rev. Devereaux Jarratt Great Religious Excitement in Virginia Watters on the Eastern Shore of Maryland Methodism in Kent County Its First Chapel Philip Gatch, the second Native Itinerant His Early Life Nathan Perigan Gatch's Conversion He Begins to Preach Itinerates in New Jersey Benjamin Abbott His Character His Early History His Moral Struggles His Conversion The Fall of Abraham Whitforth Abbott Begins to Preach Power of his Word A Remarkable Example Daniel Ruff CHAPTER IX PRINCIPAL EVANGELISTS Rankin after the Conference Pilmoor Boardman Rankin in Maryland A Quarterly Meeting at the Watters Homestead Departure of Pilmoor Rankin in New York Shadford in New York His Character and Usefulness Asbury in Maryland Exaltation of his Spirit Baltimore Otterbein German Methodism "United Brethren in Christ" Sketch of their History Death of Otterbein Boehm and Gueting Otterbein and Asbury's Poetry: Note Advancement of Methodism in Maryland New Chapels Wright in Virginia Its First Two Chapels Williams in Virginia Old Brunswick Circuit Jarratt Jesse Lee Freeborn Garrettson CHAPTER X CONFERENCE AND PROGRESS OF 1774 The Conference of 1774 Rankin's Disciplinary Rigor Asbury Watters and Gatch Statistics Progress in the Middle Colonies The Itinerancy Its Effect on the Ministry Asbury's Sufferings and Labors in New York In Philadelphia In Baltimore Otterbein Williams' Success in Virginia Asbury and the Revolution Perry Hall and Henry Dorsey Gough Rankin at Quarterly Meetings in Maryland Shadford in Maryland Remarkable Incident Robert Lindsey Edward Dromgoole Richard Webster Their Success Philip Catch on Frederick Circuit Shadford's Rule for Effective Preaching Gatch on Kent Circuit Hostile Rencounters "Parson Kain" Gatch's Success He Returns to Frederick Circuit Attacked by Ruffians Enters New Jersey Whitforth and Ebert Benjamin Abbott in New Jersey An Encounter at Deerfield Sanctification Abbott in Salem His Treatment of Diseased Minds His Success Physical Phenomena of Religious Excitement John King and Robert Williams in Virginia Jesse Lee Jarratt Great Success Additional Missionaries from England James Dempster Martin Rodda William Glendenning Asbury and Rankin BOOK II FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, TO THE EPISCOPAL ORGANIZATION OF METHODISM CHAPTER I THE REVOLUTION AND METHODISM Effect of the Revolution on Methodism Providential Character of the Revolution It was the Normal Consequence of the Colonial History of the Country It was not at first Rebellion, but a Struggle for the Maintenance of the British Constitution Chatham's Vindication of the Colonies Effect of the War on Religion Desertion of their Church by the English Clergy Return of English Methodist Preachers Sufferings of the Methodist Itinerants Asbury's Integrity Wesley's "Calm Address" to the Colonies The Sarcasm of Junius Wesley and Johnson Wesley corrects his Opinion on the Colonial Question He Predicts the Success of the Americans His Address to his American Preachers CHAPTER II LABORS AND TRIALS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Asbury's Course respecting the Revolution He goes to Norfolk Alarms of War Burial of Robert Williams Methodists in Virginia Asbury on Brunswick Circuit Shadford there His great Success Examples Conversion of a Dancing master Of a Planter The "Great Revival" of Virginia Jarratt's Account of it Jarratt and Asbury Asbury in Baltimore His Opinion of Wesley's Pamphlet on the Colonial Question Visits the Hot Sulphur Springs On Baltimore Circuit His Character Embarrassments from the War Return of the English Preachers Asbury in Peril In Retirement Abduction of Judge White Eminent Methodists Judge White Mary White Senator Bassett Bohemia Manor Judge Barrett "Barrett's Chapel" Asbury's Visit
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