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History of the M.E. Church, Vol. Iv WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library M. E. Church History HISTORY OF THE M.E. CHURCH, VOL. IV 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 IV The Planting of American Methodism New York: Published By Carlton & Porter, 200 Mulberry-Street 1867 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, 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 IV CONTENTS BOOK V, CHAPTER XVIII = PART 53 METHODISM IN THE EASTERN STATES, CONTINUED: 1796--1804 Asbury in the East -- Success -- Wilbraham Conference -- Lorenzo Dow -- Continued Success -- Evangelical Adventures of Hibbard and Vannest -- First Conference in Maine -- Scenes there -- Conference at Granville -- State of the Church -- William Beauchamp -- Daniel Webb -- Epaphras Kibby -- Hardships in Maine -- Conversion of General McClellan's Family -- Joshua Soule -- Results -- Lorenzo Dow -- Elijah Hedding's Services and Character -- Methodism in New England in 1800 -- The Bishops in the East -- Lee's Farewell Tour -- Itinerant Recruits -- Thomas Branch's Death in the Wilderness -- Martin Ruter and Laban Clark -- Persecutions -- Great Success CHAPTER XIX = PART 54 METHODISM IN THE WEST, 1796 -- 1804 Western Methodism -- The Redstone Country -- Valentine Cook -- His great Public Debate -- Daniel Hitt -- James Quinn -- His long Services and Character -- Lasley Matthews and Chieuvrant, Converted Papists and Heroic Evangelists -- Thornton Flemming -- Asa Shinn -- Methodism Penetrates to the Erie Country -- The Roberts Family -- Local Preachers -- Robert R. Roberts -- His Early Life and Character -- He becomes a Bishop -- His thoroughly Western Character -- His Episcopal Residence a Log-cabin -- Illustrations of his Character -- Curious Rencounter with a Young Preacher: Note -- Methodism in the Erie Conference -- Reaches Ohio -- Progress in Western Virginia -- Quinn's Labors there -- Ministerial Recruits -- General Morgan -- The Holston Country -- McKendree and Bruce -- The "Western Conference" -- Benjamin Lakin's Labors and Character -- Valentine Cook in the Holston Country -- His subsequent Life His Death and Character -- Henry Smith -- James McCull -- John Sale -- Judge McLean's Estimate of him CHAPTER XX = PART 55 METHODISM IN THE WEST, CONTINUED: 1790 -- 1804 McKendree takes Charge of the Western Field -- Poythress' Decline and Insanity -- Introduction of Camp-meetings -- Remarkable Scenes at them -- Grenade -- David Young -- Making a Circuit -- The Southwest opens -- Tobias Gibson at Natchez -- He falls a Martyr to his Work -- Recruits for the Field -- Learner Blackman -- Methodism in Ohio -- McCormick -- Dimmitt -- Kobler sent to Ohio -- Hunt and Smith there -- the Miami and Sciota Circuits -- Advance of the Church -- Philip Gatch in the West -- Kobler at the Grave of Gatch -- McCormick's End -- Sale in Ohio -- Methodism in Cincinnati -- At other points in Ohio -- Bostwick in the Western Reserve -- Methodism enters Indiana and Illinois -- Benjamin Young -- Hardships there -- Methodism in Michigan -- Planted at Detroit -- Asbury in the West in 1797 -- terrible Trials there -- He has to retreat -- Returns in 1800 -- Conference at Bethel, Ky. -- Its Academy -- The First Camp-meetings -- Sufferings on the route Eastward -- Returns in 1801 -- Conference in Tennessee -- Back again in 1802 -- Reposing on the Holston Heights -- Conference at Bethel -- The Bishop in a Storm -- Reflections on his Sufferings -- Again in the West in 1803 -- Conference at Cynthiana, Ky. -- Early Life in the West -- Statistics CHAPTER XXI = PART 56 THE GENERAL CONFERENCES OF 1800 AND 1804 Coke returns to America -- Session of 1800 -- Ordination of Whatcoat -- Accounts of the Conference -- Lee -- Coke -- Asbury -- "Allowance" to Preachers -- Other Provisions -- Anticipatory Measures -- Richard Allen, the first African ordained in the Church -- Antislavery Enactments -- William Ormond against Slavery -- Leading Members follow his Example -- Additions to the Law of the Church on the Subject -- Religious Excitement -- Catherine Bruff (Catherine Ennalls) -- Coke revisits the United States -- General Conference of 1804 -- Its Members -- Unequal Representation -- Necessity of a Delegated General Conference -- Revision and Changes of the Discipline -- Important Declaration on the National Sovereignty -- Slavery again Discussed -- The Adjournment CHAPTER XXII = PART 57 REVIEW OF THE PERIOD 1796 -- 1804 Numerical Gains -- The Ministry -- Locations -- The Local Ministry -- Joshua Marsden's Views of American Methodism -- Itinerants who fell by the Yellow Fever -- John Dickins' Character and Death -- Deaths of Preachers -- Geography of the Church -- Its rapid Growth, especially in the West -- Ratio of its Growth compared with that of the Nation -- Conclusion BOOK VI CHAPTER I = PART 58 METHODISM IN THE SOUTH Statistical Strength of the Church -- Methodism in Savannah, Ga. -- Jesse Lee there -- Charleston, S. C. -- Richmond, Va. -- Character of Lewis Myers -- William M. Kennedy -- James Russell -- He learns to read on his Circuit -- His Eloquence -- President Olin's Estimate of him -- Lovick and Reddick Pierce -- Richmond Nolley's Conversion -- His Early Ministry -- A Camp-meeting Scene -- Samuel Dunwody CHAPTER II = PART 59 METHODISM IN THE SOUTH, 1804 --1820: CONTINUED Job Guest -- Alfred Griffith -- Wilson Lee and Black Charles -- John Early -- His long Services and Character -- Major Capers -- Conversion of William Capers -- Begins to Preach -- Interview with Asbury -- A Negro Founds Methodism in Fayetteville -- His remarkable story -- Capers at Charleston -- Colored Preachers -- Change of Antislavery Policy -- Capers' Success and Character -- Beverly Waugh -- John Davis -- Alfred Griffith -- Robert R. Roberts CHAPTER III = PART 60 METHODISM IN THE SOUTH, 1804 -- 1820: CONCLUDED Asbury's Last Visits to the South -- His Episcopal Equipage -- John Bond -- Rembert Hall -- Perry Hall -- Last Interview with Otterbein -- Asbury in Old Age -- Ministerial Celibacy -- Prosperity -- Asbury's indomitable Persistence -- Southern Methodism -- Obituary Notices CHAPTER IV = PART 61 METHODISM IN THE MIDDLE AND NORTHERN STATES, 1804 -- 1820 Condition of the Church -- Camp-meetings -- John Emory -- He forsakes the Bar for the Pulpit -- Emory's further Career and Character -- Jacob Gruber tried for opposing Slavery -- Garrettson and Ware -- Marvin Richardson -- A Camp-meeting -- Nathan Bangs -- Heman Bangs -- Robert Seney -- Samuel Luckey -- Origin of the African Methodist Episcopal Church -- Richard Allen becomes a Bishop -- Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church -- Methodism up the Hudson -- In Troy -- Noah Levings "Exhorting" -- Albany -- Schenectady -- Ministerial Reinforcements CHAPTER V = PART 62 METHODISM IN THE MIDDLE AND NORTHERN STATES, 1804 --1820: CONCLUDED Methodism in the Interior of Pennsylvania and New York -- Old Canaan Circuit -- Peter Vannest crosses the Genesee River -- First Class and first Camp-meeting beyond it -- George Lane -- Glezen Fillmore "Exhorting" -- Thomas Smith's Northern Adventures -- A Scene in Lyons, N. Y. -- Organization of Genesee Conference -- Methodism in Canada -- William Case, the Apostle to the Indians -- Progress in Canada -- The War -- Robert Hibbard perishes in the St. Lawrence -- Declension of the provincial Church by the War -- Its renewed Prosperity -- Genesee Conference meets in Canada -- Great Revival -- Continued Success -- Canadian Methodism in 1820 -- Methodism of the Middle and North in 1820 -- Obituary of Preachers -- Asbury CHAPTER VI = PART 63 METHODISM IN THE EASTERN STATES, 1804-1820 Review -- Lee -- Aaron Sandford -- Ministerial Recruits -- Wilbur Fisk -- Importance of his Services -- His Character -- Edward T. Taylor, Mariners' Preacher, Boston -- His Romantic History -- Joshua Soule - Elijah Hedding -- His Review of his Itinerant Life -- George Pickering -- Martin Ruter -- Progress of the Church CHAPTER VII = PART 64 ASBURY AND LEE IN THE EAST Asbury in the East -- His Views of New England -- At Buxton Conference, Maine -- Great Religions Excitement -- At Lynn, Mass. -- Characters of Preachers -- Great Revival -- At Canaan, N. H -- Travels and Labors -- At Boston -- The First Conference there -- at New London, Conn. -- Increasing Prosperity -- Newport, R. I. -- Captain Beale -- At Boston -- Conference at Monmouth, Me. -- At Pittsfield, Mass. -- At Winchester, N. H. -- Lee Revisits the East -- Scenes on his Route -- Final Views of New England Methodism -- Deaths of Preachers -- Statistical Progress CHAPTER VIII = PART 65 METHODISM IN THE WEST, 1804-1820 Geography of Western Methodism -- Progress In Western Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Conference -- Robert R. Roberts' Hardships -- Gruber -- Usefulness of Shewel, a Local Preacher -- Thomas Branch's Death in the Wilderness -- A Society formed there -- James B. Finley's Character -- A great Western Camp-meeting -- Finley's Conversion -- His Labors and Sufferings -- Sketch of William Swayze -- Charles Elliott's Services -- Alfred Brunson -- Quinn in the Northwestern Territory -- Whatcoat's Salutation -- Jane Trimble -- Review of Quinn's Labors -- Primitive
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