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

convened, a second time, in Wilbraham, Mass. Lee presided, and made the appointments for the
ensuing year, in conformity with Asbury's request, and with the approbation of the preachers. I have
been able to glean but few particulars respecting the session. "The business," says Lee, "was
conducted to the satisfaction of the preachers, and peace and love dwelt among us." Some
encouraging tidings were reported from the circuits. The evangelists from Maine had planned a new
circuit; and extended considerably their former ones. They brought from Bath Circuit, which had
been formed the preceding year, returns to the amount of thirty-one members. From Penobscot,
where Enoch Mudge had labored, chiefly, (though appointed to Bath,) they reported the news of an
extended revival, and an accession of thirty-seven souls. Jesse Stoneman brought word of a gain of
nearly one hundred on Portland Circuit, and Brodhead reported from Readfield, his first appointment
in New England, news of an ingathering of ninety-four converts. Philip Wager, who, after having
traveled as the first regularly appointed Methodist preacher in Maine, had been sent alone the last
year into New Hampshire, to travel the first circuit in that state, came back with the report of a gain
of twenty-four, and of a prospect widening on all sides for the success of other laborers. The
indefatigable Joseph Mitchell had good news, also, from Granville. Under his zealous labors the
word had run and been glorified, and sixty-nine members had been added to the Church. Evan
Rogers reported cheering tidings from Tolland. Opposition had raged, the pulpits of that region had
fulminated against the new sect; but God owned them by powerful outpourings of his Spirit, and they
had gained a net increase of seventy-three, Woolsey had also witnessed good results on Redding
Circuit, where about fifty had been received. Joshua Hall had gone from Needham Circuit to
Sandwich, on Cape Cod, and been the instrument of a widespread revival, and a new circuit was now
reported in that section, with forty-seven members. These were signal results in the estimation of the
hard-working evangelists of the time, and their hearts warmed within them at such evidences of their
progress. They thanked God and took courage.
Asbury had sent to the Conference a communication, proposing the appointment of Lee and two
others (Whatcoat and Poythress) as assistant bishops; the Conference, as we have noticed, declined
[1]
the proposition as being incompatible with the requirements of the Discipline, but at the close of
the session they gave Lee a certificate signifying their wish that he would "travel with the bishop and
[2]
fill his appointments when the latter could not be present." The eccentric Lorenzo Dow was there,
and repeated his application (declined at the Thompson Conference) for admission to the noble
company of itinerants. Their growing success, ardent zeal, and vast labors, enlisted his indomitable
spirit; he felt a heroic sympathy with their cause, but they still feared his aberrations, and rejected
his request. Mitchell and Bostwick pleaded for him till they could plead no more, and sat down and
wept. He was allowed to travel under the direction of the presiding elder, but was not enrolled with
the band. He was a right-hearted, but wrong-headed man, labored like a Hercules, did some good,
and had an energy of character which with sounder faculties would have rendered him as eminent
as he was noted. Joshua Wells, who had been traveling with Asbury, was present during the session,
and aided by his counsels in its deliberations. [3]
Five of the preachers located this year, broken down in health, or tired of the severities of an
itinerant life, but able men, Shadrach Bostwick, Michael Coate, Peter Jayne, William Thacher, and
others took their places.