DOCSLIB.ORG

Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, and Captain Thomas Webb Barbara

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, and Captain Thomas Webb Barbara Founders of Founders of John Street John Street Church Church 1766-1768 1766-1768 Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, and Captain Thomas Webb and Captain Thomas Webb everal heartbreaking years in New York City left an Irish everal heartbreaking years in New York City left an Irish immigrant named Barbara Heck frustrated and concerned immigrant named Barbara Heck frustrated and concerned Sabout the path she and her friends were travelling. These Sabout the path she and her friends were travelling. These concerns boiled over when Barbara (1734-1804) discovered concerns boiled over when Barbara (1734-1804) discovered a group of her friends gambling. After throwing the playing a group of her friends gambling. After throwing the playing cards into the fireplace, Barbara rushed to her cousin Philip cards into the fireplace, Barbara rushed to her cousin Philip Embury’s house and urged him to begin an unprecedented Embury’s house and urged him to begin an unprecedented ministry. ministry. Before coming to New York, Philip (1728-1773) was a Method- Before coming to New York, Philip (1728-1773) was a Method- ist preacher in Ireland. At Barbara’s insistence, Philip picked up ist preacher in Ireland. At Barbara’s insistence, Philip picked up his old trade and, on October 12, 1766, preached in his home his old trade and, on October 12, 1766, preached in his home to a small group she assembled there. Church historians trace to a small group she assembled there. Church historians trace the beginning of John Street Church in New York City and the the beginning of John Street Church in New York City and the oldest Methodist church in the United States to this event. oldest Methodist church in the United States to this event. Captain Thomas Webb (1724-1796) offered his services to Captain Thomas Webb (1724-1796) offered his services to Bar- Barbara and Philip’s group in February 1767. bara and Philip’s group in February 1767. (over) (over) (Heck, Embury, and Webb, cont.) (Heck, Embury, and Webb, cont.) A British army officer, an associate of John Wesley, and a Meth- A British army officer, an associate of John Wesley, and a Meth- odist preacher, Webb quickly assumed a leadership role in the odist preacher, Webb quickly assumed a leadership role in the growing congregation. His passionate service and financial gen- growing congregation. His passionate service and financial gen- erosity ultimately allowed the group to build their own chapel on erosity ultimately allowed the group to build their own chapel on John Street in 1768. John Street in 1768. For Discussion For Discussion • Neither Heck nor Embury nor Webb could have established • Neither Heck nor Embury nor Webb could have established John Street Church alone. How do those with different gifts John Street Church alone. How do those with different gifts and talents work together in your church? and talents work together in your church? • Barbara Heck fought against activities that were taking her • Barbara Heck fought against activities that were taking her friends away from the church. What conditions or activities friends away from the church. What conditions or activities work against participation in church today? What might you work against participation in church today? What might you do to change this? do to change this? • New York City had several established churches when Em- • New York City had several established churches when Em- bury began preaching. What was different about what the bury began preaching. What was different about what the Methodists taught? Do those beliefs differ from what is being Methodists taught? Do those beliefs differ from what is being taught today? taught today? New York Annual Conference New York Annual Conference Commission on Archives and History Commission on Archives and History C. Wesley Christman Archives C. Wesley Christman Archives [email protected] - 914-615-2241 [email protected] - 914-615-2241 © 2016 NYAC Commission on Archives and History © 2016 NYAC Commission on Archives and History.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • November 1976
    THE DETROIT CONFERENCE HISTORICAL MESSENGER Published by the "Friends of the Archives" Ronald A. Brunger, Editor Vol. IV. No. 5 November 1976 TABLE OF CONTENTS PHILIP EMBURY, METHODIST PIONEER by Wm. Cardwell Prout Let's Keep Selling Our Books Page 1 Philip Embury, Methodist Pioneer 1-2 One root of United Methodism in Amer­ Our National Methodist Shrines 2-3 ica goes back to a group of second and Historic Sites in Michigan 3 third generation Germans, descendants of A Centennial Service 4 the Palatines who nad settled in Limerick An Outdoor Bicentennial Service 4 County Ireland, to escape persecution in An Arduous Early Life 4-5-6 their homeland. One young man, Philip Embury, born about 1728, was converted under t he prea­ LET'S KEEP SELLING OUR BOOKS ching of John Wesley on Christman Day 1752. In his diary, Embury has this comment on Our new history of Michigan Methodism his conversion: "The Lord shone into my covering the 20th Century to date, was pub­ soul by a glimpse of his redeeming love: lished six months ago. Volume I, by Dr. being an earnest of my redemption in Christ Margaret Macmillan of Western Michigan Jesus to whom be glory for ever and ever. University, has 4j0 pages, over 50 pictures Amen.•• plus charts, appendices, and index. Volume A carpenter by trade, he became a Me ­ II, by Dr. A. Douglas MacNaughton of Adrian thodist local preacher . In 1760, some of College, has 650 pages, about 100 pictures, these Germans living in Ireland, including plus charts, appendices and index.
    [Show full text]
  • “Redeeming the Time”: the Making of Early American Methodism
    “REDEEMING THE TIME”: THE MAKING OF EARLY AMERICAN METHODISM By Michael Kenneth Turner Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Religion May, 2009 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Dean James Hudnut-Beumler Professor M. Douglas Meeks Professor James P. Byrd Professor Dennis C. Dickerson Copyright ©2009 by Michael Kenneth Turner Al Rights Reserved To my ever-supportive and loving wife, Stephanie and To my father, Thomas, who helped every step of the way iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The idea for this dissertation took nascent form during my time as a participant in the 2006 Wesley Studies Seminar. I am very grateful for the fellowship from Duke Divinity School that enabled me to participate in the seminar and do early research on the dissertation. In particular, I would like to thank that group’s helpful leader and organizer, Dr. Richard Heitzenrater. I am also appreciative of the conversations, suggestions, and encouragement I received from Dean Laceye Warner (Duke Divinity School), Dr. Jason Vickers (United Theological Seminary), Dr. Sarah Lancaster (Methodist Theological School of Ohio), Dr. Rex Matthews (Candler School of Theology), and Dr. Steve McCormick (Nazarene Theological Seminary) both during and following the seminar. I am also thankful for all my colleagues and mentors at Vanderbilt University. First and foremost, I would like to thank the members of my dissertation committee. Dean James Hudnut-Beumler, my chair, is among the most knowledgeable students of American Religious History that I know. I am very grateful for his guidance through the program.
    [Show full text]
  • Forever Beginning 3
    Forever Beginning 3 FOREVER BEGINNING by Stephen W. Barninger, 1966 [editor’s note: This paper was prepared for the Bicentennial Oratorical Contest for senior high youth sponsored by the Conference Historical Society in connection with the celebration of the Bicentennial of American Methodism held at the 1966 annual conference. The 1966 date uses the 1766 preaching of Philip Embury in New York as the start of Methodism in America, but it has since been established that Robert Strawbridge began the work a few years earlier in Maryland.] We can trace our American Methodist heritage back to the fall of 1735, when General James Oglethorpe, founder of the colony of Georgia, made known his need for a clergyman in his American settlement. John Wesley was the answer to this need. Thus, he sailed from Gravesend, England, in October of that same year. When John arrived in America in February of 1736, accompanied by his brother Charles, he made a very auspicious beginning. The people looked forward to the blessings of an ordained ministry, and Wesley had great anticipation of converting many Indians in the immediate area of the infant colony. But time proved this enthusiasm to be transitory, and within the period of one year John Wesley returned to England a discouraged and disheartened man, realizing that he didn’t possess the very gift that he had hoped to give. Yet when his successor George Whitefield came onto the American scene, he was led to make this statement: “The good John Wesley has done in America is inexpressible. His name is very precious among the people, and he has laid a foundation that I hope neither man nor devils will ever be able to shake.” And so one disheartened, weary and undone John Wesley struck the spark which strangely warmed the hearts of people now some ten million strong.
    [Show full text]
  • Captain Thomas Webb
    WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library Biographies CAPTAIN THOMAS WEBB Compiled By Rev. Duane Maxey “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 © 1997, 1998 CAPTAIN THOMAS WEBB The First Apostle of American Methodism Compiled and Edited By Duane V. Maxey From the writings of: Nathan Bangs in "A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church," Abel Stevens in "History of the Methodist Episcopal Church," and Matthew Simpson in "Cyclopaedia of Methodism" CAPTAIN THOMAS WEBB The First Apostle of American Methodism Compiled and Edited By Duane V. Maxey The First Apostle of American Methodism Francis Asbury was the key human instrument used of God for the early spread and organization of Methodism in America. Stirred by that pious "Mother in Israel," Barbara Heck, Philip Embury became the pastor of the first Methodist Society in America, and his John Street Church was soon after followed by the Log Meeting-house of Robert Strawbridge. Thus, Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, and Robert Strawbridge were very much involved in the planting of Methodism in America. However, the recognition of being the primary human instrument in the planting of Methodism on this continent should, perhaps, go to Captain Thomas Webb. He, it appears, can be accurately called: "The First Apostle of American Methodism." Methodist historian Abel Stevens says: "To Embury unquestionably belongs chronological precedence, by a few months, as the founder of American Methodism, but to Webb belongs the honor of a more prominent agency in the great event; of more extensive and more effective services; of the outspread of the denomination into Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; the erection of its first chapels, and the introduction of Wesleyan itinerants.
    [Show full text]
  • 1966 Historical Papers Presented at American Methodism's
    FOREVER BEGINNING 1766 - 1966 Historical Papers presented at American Methodism's Bicentennial Celebration Baltimore, Maryland April 21 - 24, 1966 Published and Copyrighted by Association of Methodist Historical Societies Lake Junaluska, North Carolina Bishop T. Otto Nall, President Albea Godbold, Executive Secretary and Editor 1967 THE LAY PIONEERS OF AMERICAN METHODISM by Frank Baker American Methodism began in England before 1766, and it is there­ fore fitting that we should study our lay pioneers of 1766-1769 against the background of earlier Methodist laymen. During the winter of 1711-12, over 250 years ago, the father of the Wesleys was in London fulfilling his duties as a men1ber of the Convocation of the Church of England, leaving a somewhat ineffective curate in charge of the parish of Epworth. Susanna Wesley not only conducted prayers and read sermons for her own large family, but threw open her home for as many of the parishioners as wished to crowd into her kitchen. On occasion as many as 200 assembl ed on Sunday evenings, most of them standing a11 the time. Others cou ld not get in and decided to come earlier the next time. The jealous curate complained to the Rev. Samuel Wesley that his wife was turning the parsonage into a dissenting meeting house. She herself, indeed, spoke of the 11 11 gathering as our society • Samuel Wesley wrote asking her to desist. She refused to do so unless he expressly commanded it - as a good seventeenth century bride she had promised to obey her husband, and was indeed prepared to do so .
    [Show full text]
  • In New Yorlt by Samuel J
    Philip Embury, Founder of l\1:ethodism in New Yorlt by Samuel J. Fanning 1\nETHODISM will officially celebrate the Two Hundredth An­ J.a' 1 niversary of the founding of the first Methodist societies (churches) in America in 1966..As this significant anniversary ap­ proaches, there may be some question as to just when Robert Straw­ bridge organized his first l\1ethodist society in Maryland, but all agree that Philip Embury established Methodism in New York City in 1766. Philip Embury, an ethnic German, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1728 and emigrated to New York in 1760. Embury is the anglicized version of the German name Emmerich. To explain Embury's birth and early life in Ireland, it is necessary to note brief­ ly conditions on the continent of Europe in the latter part of the seventeenth century. France under King Louis XIV was the greatest power in Europe. Louis ascended the throne in 1661 follo\iVing the death of his great mentor, Cardinal IV[azarin. Before his passing, the adroit cardinal had sn1ashed the power of the nobility in France; Colbert worked wonders for the country's finances; and Louvois was providing Louis with the largest and best trained army Europe had seen since the days of the Roman Empire..AJI of this set the stage for Louis to indulge his inordinate passion for "military fame, beside which every other kind of reputation seemed to him to be of little value." 1 Between 1667 and the close of his reign in 1715, Louis' armies fought four wars for the sole purpose of expanding the borders of France.
    [Show full text]
  • History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Virginia Conference by A
    Abram Paul Funkhouser HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE BY REV. A. P. FUNKHOUSER, A. M., D. D. COMPILED BY OREN F. MORTON, B. Lit. Author of "Under the Cottonwoods," "Winning or Losing?" "Land of the Laurel," "A Practical History of Music," "The Story of Daniel Boone," "A History of Preston County, W. Va.," "A History of Pendleton County, W. Va.," "A History of Highland County, W. Va..," "A History of Rockbridge County," "Annals of Bath County, Va." Dr. Funkhouser died before the work was completed. The material gathered and the language used by the Author has been carefully preserved by the Compiler. The Virginia Conference ordered the publication of this History and appointed Drs. A. S. Hammock, W. F. Gruver, J. H. Brunk, Rev. J N. Fries, Mr. W. I. Good and J. K. Ruebush as a committee on publication. We present to the Church this History which we regard as of the the greatest value to the church, not only of to-day but for the future. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Apostolic Christianity before Otterbein II. William Otterbein and the German Reformed Church III. Martin Boehm and the Mennonites IV. German Immigration in the Eighteenth Century V. The Evangelical Movement among the German Immigrants VI. Early Years of the Church VII. Planting the Church in Virginia VIII. Extracts from Newcomer's Journal IX. The Early Preachers X. Reminiscences of Some of the Early Preachers XI. The Transition from German to English XII. The Church in the War of 1861 XIII. The Church in Recent Times XIV.
    [Show full text]
  • HERITAGE 2000 This Slideshow Is in Adobe Acrobat “PDF” Format
    HERITAGE 2000 This slideshow is in Adobe Acrobat “PDF” format. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view this slideshow. It is available from www.adobe.com. We recommend using the most recent version available from Adobe. In normal PDF viewing format, use the page forward / backward arrows at the top of the page to advance to the next slide or review a previous slide. If you wish to view in full page view, you must first download the slide-show to your pc, then open it in Adobe and click on “View”, then on “Full Screen Mode”. You may then left-click to advance to the next slide, or right-click to review a previous slide. The cursor need not be visible to you for this to work; however, it should appear as a small hand. We recommend the full screen mode. Download and switch to the “Full Screen Mode” now. To end the slideshow, press the “Esc” button on your keyboard. HERITAGE 2000 Welcome to Heritage 2000, a pictorial history of the growth of Methodism through the years. This presentation was originally displayed on April 30, 2000 in the fellowship hall of Geneva United Methodist Church, Geneva, Ohio, as part of the Heritage Sunday celebration for the new century. Please note that the presentation is in more of a subjective than chronological order. Our heritage tour begins with the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses on the door of the chapel at Wittenberg. This was the start of the Protestant Reformation. While we tend to think of the Church of England as a result of the Protestant Reformation, its formation is more accurately called the “English Reformation.” MARTIN LUTHER Augustinian Monk and Roman Catholic Priest Luther is attributed with starting the Protestant Reformation when he posted his “95 Theses” to the door of the chapel at Wittenberg.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Central Pennsylvania Methodism: from Whitefield to Asbury by Charles Berkheimer, 1968
    Early Central Pennsylvania Methodism: from Whitefield to Asbury by Charles Berkheimer, 1968 Editor’s note: This was a major document in progress at the time of Dr. Berkheimer’s death, and not an article ready for publication. To keep the flow of the paper, some of the author’s “tangents” have been converted to footnotes. Footnotes added by the editor, that were not part of the original manuscript, conclude with “-ed.” Otherwise, the material is presented as prepared by Dr. Berkheimer in 1968 and preserved in the conference archives with his other research notes. Covering the origins of Methodism in Central Pennsylvania in a single paper is a difficult assignment. Now that the Northern Tier of counties previously served from New York and several southern charges previously served by the Baltimore Conference have been placed within our boundaries, the paper must also include material not previously found within our historical collections. My approach shall be to present the introduction of Methodism into Central Pennsyl- vania in broad terms, and then to discuss the expansion of the work and the creation of smaller circuits year-by-year beginning in 1789 and continuing until the death of Asbury in 1816. This paper, then, shall concentrate on the develop- ment of the circuits. Treatments of camp meetings, Sunday Schools, contro- versies, conference agencies and the like must wait for another time. George Whitefield The title “Methodist” is now borne with honor by the spiritual descendants of John and Charles Wesley, but it was not conferred at first as an honorable one at all.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to the Embury Family Collection 1728-1943
    Guide to the Embury Family Collection 1728-1943 Published for Drew University Methodist Library by General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church P.O. Box 127, Madison, NJ 07940 3/18/2004 Guide to the Embury Family Collection Embury Family Collection 1728-1943 1.72 cu. feet drew.ms.2764 The purpose of this finding aid is to help you understand the nature of this collection and to assist you in the retrieval of material from this collection. The following pages contain a brief biographical history of the person, or persons, who created or collected these papers, followed by a general description of the collection in the scope and content note. If more detailed information is warranted then series descriptions also appear. The container listing appears last and is the listing of material in each box, or container, of this collection. To request material you need to turn to the container listing section. It is essentially a listing of file folders, or artifact items, in the collection. Each folder, or item, has a call number associated with it. Each folder also lists the inclusive dates of the material in the folder. On the material request form list both the call number and the folder, or item, title. Use a different line for each folder, or item, requested. When your request sheet is complete, or full, bring it to the archivist and the material will be retrieved. Biographical Note Philip Embury (1728-1775) was the founder of John Street Church in New York City. He was born in Ballingrane, County Limerick, Ireland.
    [Show full text]
  • The Story of the Churches the PRESBYTERIANS
    The Story of the Churches The Methodists By JOHN ALFRED FAULKNER, D. D. Professor of Historical Theology in Drew Theological Seminary. NEW YORK: THE BAKER & TAYLOR CO. 33-37 EAST SEVENTEENTH ST., UNION SQ. NORTH Copyright, 1903, By THE BAKER & TAYLOR CO. Published, September, iqo3 Publishers' Note The aim of this series is to furnish a uniform set of church histories, brief but complete, and designed to instruct the average church member in the origin, development, and his­ tory of the various denominations. Many church histories have been issued for all de­ nominations, but they have usually been volumes of such size as to discourage any but students of church history. Each vol­ ume of this series, all of which will be written by leading historians of the various denominations, will not only interest the members of the denomination about which it is written, but will prove interesting to members of other denominations as well who wish to learn something of their fellow workers. The volumes will be bound uni­ formly, and when the series is complete will make a most valuable history of the Chris­ tian church. Contents CH.iP. PAGB I. THE EISE OF METHODISM 7 II. THE MEANING OF METHODISM 22 III, THE PLANTING IN AMEBICA 37 IV. THE FIEST CONFEEENCES 54 V. THE OEGANIZATION OF THE CHUECH . 81 VI. EIGHTEENTH CENTUBY HEEOES .... 104 VII. TEEKITOEIAL EXPANSION 141 VIII. A MOTHEB OF CHUECHES 160 IX. CANADA 179 X. EDUCATION 199 XI. " THE WOELD IS MY PAEISH " . 224 STATISTICS 247 LITEEATUBE 250 INDEX 259 The Methodists CHAPTER I THE RISE OF METHODISM THE Methodist movement was the provi­ dential response to the moral and spiritual destitution of England.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Footsteps of Our Irish Palatine Ancestors
    In the Footsteps of our Irish Palatine Ancestors 11 days: September 13-23, 2018 New York State and Québec Includes: 11 days: September 13-23, 2018 • Luxury motor coach transportation • Admission to Fort Ticonderoga • 10 nights accommodation & Crown Point • 10 breakfasts • Domaine du Ridge Winery Tour • 4 lunches • Admission to Missisquoi Museum • 10 dinners • Ferry to Grosse Île Come with us on this grand sightseeing tour and see it all! • Admission to 9/11 Memorial • Services of a Tour Director • NYC guided tour • All gratuities and applicable taxes • Ticket to Broadway show • Historical tour of Bennington Battlefield, $3785 Twin $3675 Triple Saratoga Battlefield & Saratoga Monument $3565 Quad $5285 Single Grosse Île Irish Monument Philipsburg Methodist Church Old Methodist Cemetery To book, contact Great Canadian Holidays: 519 896 8687 or 1 800 461 8687 ext. 280 Sponsored by the Irish Palatine Special Interest Tour Notes: Please refer to the Terms and Conditions as outlined in the General Information section of our current catalogue (available on request). We recommend that Group of the Ontario Genealogical Society. everyone have travel insurance, especially when travelling outside of Canada. A deposit is required at the time of booking an overnight tour in order to guarantee the reservation.Travel arrangements made by: Great Canadian Holidays Inc., 353 Manitou Drive, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L5 TICO# 2280154 PLEASE NOTE: A valid passport is required for entry into the United States. www.GreatCanadianHolidays.com www.GreatCanadianHolidays.com Montréal cityscape New York City Day One: Our tour begins in the vibrant city of lunch, we board the coach and travel to Saratoga and travel the route the Palatines and other Loyal- join an optional walking tour or continue to explore Montréal, our home for the night.
    [Show full text]