History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

HISTORY OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By Abel Stevens
BOOK VI
FROM THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1804
TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1820
CHAPTER I
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
The period upon which we now enter trenches, in some degree, upon our own times. Some of the
itinerants who, at its beginning, and scores who at its close, were active in its scenes, still survive.
We approach also events which assumed party aspects, and have left disputed questions and disputed
reputations; the task of the writer becomes, therefore, more delicate, and in some of his person
references, at least, he must become more reticent, but with no sacrifice of essential truth.
During all these years Methodism was rapidly matured and consolidated throughout the South,
now its chief field, possessing nearly half of its numerical strength. It reported at their beginning
thirteen districts, eighty-seven circuits, and one hundred and sixty-four itinerant preachers, with more
than fifty-five thousand members, including, however, the ultramontane portions of the Baltimore
and Virginia Conferences, which I have thus far geographically assigned to the West. At the close
of the period it reported 23 districts, 162 circuits, and 272 preachers, with more than 101,500
members. Methodism had taken ecclesiastical possession of the South.
It had been for some time entrenched in the principal southern cities, except Savannah, and now,
after long opposition, was established there. We have seen Hope Hull driven from that city in 1790.
Jonathan Jackson and Josiah Randle invaded it in 1796, but had to retreat. John Garvin repeated the
attempt in 1800, but failed of permanent success. In the South Carolina Conference of 1806 Asbury
appealed to the preachers in behalf of the hostile post, and Samuel Dunwody, who had just joined
the itinerancy, volunteered to enter it. He hired a small room, taught a school for his living, and
began to preach, almost exclusively, however, to the family where he resided, and the alms-house
[1]
and the hospital. The year closed with but twelve members, seven of whom were Negroes. This
little band seems to have been organized by Jesse Lee, who made a preaching excursion southward,
[2]
as far as Florida, in 1807, and spent a short time in the city. On the nineteenth of April he writes:
"At night, at Mr. Myers', I preached on 1 Peter ii, 5. I had a crowded house, and more attended than
could get in; many were forced to remain out of doors. I preached to them with some freedom, and
they fed on the word with much apparent pleasure. All were solemn, and some were affected. It was
a good time to many souls. After I dismissed the congregation I requested all that had been