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Stories WINTER 2018 from the Archives New York Annual Conference C Stories WINTER 2018 from the archives New York Annual Conference C. Wesley Christman Archives Newsletter Methodist repositories participate in Religion in Early America exhibit Historic Saddlebags Travel Again Saddlebags were an important piece of equipment for second floor west wing of the museum. Exhibits in this the early Methodist circuit riders as they traveled from area, entitled “The Nation We Build Together,” focus town to town to preach. So much so, that a pair of on the ideas and ideals of America. There are several saddlebags in the collection of the C. Wesley Christman permanent exhibits, including American Democracy: A Archives made the journey Great Leap of Faith, which from New York earlier the exhibition website this year to be included describes as exploring in the Religion in Early “the history of citizen America exhibit at the participation, debate, Smithsonian’s National and compromise from Museum of American the nation’s formation History. to today,” and Many The leather saddlebags Voices, One Nation, which were owned by Rev. “shows how the many Freeborn Garrettson, who voices of the American is known as the “Father of people have contributed Methodism in New York to and continue to State.” See page 3 of this The Freeborn Garrettson saddlebags at the New shape the nation and its newsletter for more information York Conference Center. communities.” about Garrettson’s life. The Religion in Early America focuses saddlebags, which were donated on the role of religion in the to the Archives by the Methodist formation and development of the Historical Society in New York United States. It addresses themes City in the 1940s, date to the of religious diversity, freedom 1700s. and growth from the colonial era Religion in Early America is the through the 1840s. inaugural temporary exhibit in the The exhibit, which can be explored Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman online at Gallery in the newly renovated cont. on p. 2 “The Circuit Rider,” a bronze sculpture by Alexander Phimister Proctor (located at the Oregon State Capitol) The C. Wesley Christman Archives is located at the New York Annual Conference Center. 20 Soundview Ave, White Plains, NY 10606 - 914.615.2241 - [email protected] - www.nyac.com/archives News from 20 Soundview Avenue Religion in Early America exhibit (cont. from p. 1) What’s Happening Saddlebags Travel http://americanhistory.si.edu/religion-in-early-america, at the Archives “represents the diverse range of Christian, Native Local Church Preservation Grant Deadline: March 9, 2018 American and African traditions as well as Mormonism, Does your local church have historical records in need Islam and Judaism that wove through American life in of preservation? The CAH administers a grant program this era,” according to the museum’s website. through which a total of $1000 is distributed through several small grants. A one-to-one contribution is required In addition to the diversity of early American religion, from the church, and eligible projects include purchase of the exhibit explores the development of religious freedom storage furniture, storage boxes and folders, and equipment and the growth of various religious denominations in the to improve the storage environment. See http://www.nyac. first hundred years of the new nation. In the context of com/localchurchgrantprogram for more information and an the “great awakenings” of the 1700s and early 1800s, application, or contact Archivist Beth Patkus at 914-615- 2241 or [email protected]. the increasing popularity of more emotional, exhuberant types of worship meant that the Methodist and Baptist denominations, which focused on a more personal spirituality, grew much more quickly than older and more established denominations. The exhibit also focuses on specific geographic areas, noting differences and similarities in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the South as Americans struggled with the issues of religious freedom and slavery. Included in the exhibit are national treasures from the Smithsonian’s own collection, such as George District Records Digitization Project Washington’s christening robe from 1732, Thomas Over the last six months, the Christman Archives has been Jefferson’s The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, assisting with a project to consolidate and digitize the non- permanent records of the district offices. also known as “The Jefferson Bible,” and Wampum This project is in support of the beads. Significant objects on loan for the exhibit are relocation of district administrative Massachusetts Bay Colony founder John Winthrop’s services to the Conference Center communion cup, circa 1630; a Torah scroll on loan in White Plains. Thus far the from New York’s Congregation Shearith Israel, founded archivist and other conference staff have traveled to three in 1654; a chalice used by John Carroll, the first Roman districts to retrieve almost Catholic bishop in the U.S. and founder of Georgetown 150 boxes of records and University; and a first edition of the Book of Mormon. bring them to the Conference Center for digitization. Other Methodist-related items in Religion in Early Church and clergy records America include a trunk and powder-horn used by Francis maintained by the district Asbury, who was one of the first two Methodist bishops superintendents to support in America and rode more than 130,000 miles in his their supervisory responsibilities lifetime; a hymnal used by Richard Allen, who founded are being digitized into eBridge, a document management system used by a the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia number of Methodist conferences. This will allow in 1816; candlesticks from Mother Bethel AME Church for easy access by the district superintendents and avoid in Philadelphia; and illustrations of a circuit-rider and a storage of large amounts of paper files. During this process, Methodist camp meeting. records that require permanent preservation are being identified and transferred to the archives. “Religion in Early America” opened on June 28, 2017 Find us at and runs through June 3, 2018, at the National Museum http://www.nyac.com/archives or of American History in Washington, D.C. Admission is call 914-615-2241 or free. email [email protected] 2 Christman Archives Newsletter Winter 2018 Remembering the legacy of circuit riders Who was Freeborn Garrettson? While many in the New York Conference recognize the name York and recruit twelve young itinerant preachers to help him Freeborn Garrettson, the details of his life are not well known spread Methodism throughout the Hudson River Valley and among United Methodists today. He was a prominent early beyond. Methodist circuit rider who traveled extensively in New York Circuit riders knit State and beyond. The Rhinebeck United Methodist Church together chains of was formerly known as Garrettson Memorial UMC in tribute preaching places using to Garrettson, who made Rhinebeck, NY the home base for any available spot, his travels for the last 35 years of his life. including homes, Early Life barns, inns, taverns, forts and clearings. Freeborn Garrettson was born in Maryland in 1752, to a Circuits generally family of land-owners and farmers. He was raised in the covered 200 to 500 Church of England, but converted to Methodism at the age miles, and sometimes of 23 and was admitted more. on trial in the Baltimore Conference in May 1776. Circuit riders traveled Francis Asbury relied on continuously, carrying him to oversee Methodist supplies of clothing, work in Delaware, food, books and paper Maryland, and Virginia in their saddlebags. during the Revolutionary They preached morning and evening, resting only a few days period, when Asbury per month. Travel was extremely difficult, crossing mountains was the only British and rivers, wading swamps and facing wild animals. Of the Methodist missionary to first 700 American Methodist preachers, half died before the remain in America. age of 30. Methodist preachers were Methodism grew quickly in New York State; after the first often distrusted during three years Garrettson reported twelve Methodist circuits the American Revolution due to their perceived ties with the where there had been four. Nationwide, in 1776 less than one Church of England, and Garrettson was especially persecuted out of every 800 Americans was a Methodist; by 1812, one due to his personal beliefs. As a pacifist, he refused to sign out of every 36 US citizens was a Methodist, and by 1850, an oath required by Maryland law to bear arms for the one-third of the entire church membership in America was Americans, and he was also known as an abolitionist, having Methodist. set the slaves owned by his family free. During the war he was Garrettson in Rhinebeck frequently harrassed and beaten, and was imprisoned twice. In 1793, Rev. Garrettson married Catherine Livingston of In 1784 Thomas Coke arrived from England at the direction Rhinebeck, NY, whose earlier of John Wesley to organize the American Methodist societies conversion to Methodism at into a church. In the late fall of 1784 Garrettson and Harry the age of 35 had scandalized Hosier were sent to notify Methodism’s preachers of the her very weathly and politically upcoming Christmas Conference to begin on Dec 24th. This powerful family. They saw Conference would form the Methodist Episcopal Church in Methodism as a religion of the America. lower classes and opposed her “The Father of Methodism in New York State” marriage to Freeborn, although they did eventually relent. At the Christmas Conference Rev. Garrettson and James Wildercliff, the Garrettsons’ Cromwell were appointed as missionaries to Nova Scotia. In home in Rhinebeck, was always 1787 Garrettson returned to Baltimore and within a year was open to traveling preachers. reassigned to New England. On his way there he visited New Rev. Garrettson continued York City and was struck by the need for Methodist work to travel and there.
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