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

Wednesday was a "great day," says Asbury. The Conference began its usual business very early,
and closed it by eight o'clock A. M., in order that the rest of the time might be devoted to public
exercises. An immense throng had gathered in the village. At nine o'clock the doors of the new and
yet unfinished chapel (the first erected in Maine) were thrown open for the "large number of
Methodists, and none else." Shut in from the throng, they held a love-feast together. Representatives
of their common cause were there from all the surrounding regions, and from several distant places.
"It was a good time," says Lee; "they spoke freely and feelingly" of their Christian experience, and
renewed their vows with God and each other. The multitude without heard their fervent ejaculations
and exhilarating melodies, and waited impatiently for the public services. At eleven o'clock the doors
were opened. From "one thousand to eighteen hundred souls," says Asbury, attempted to get into the
building; it was a solid mass of human beings. The galleries, which were yet unfinished, cracked and
broke under the pressure, producing much alarm, and slightly injuring a few; but the services
proceeded. Asbury ascended the rude pulpit and addressed his itinerant brethren from 2 Cor. iv, 1,
2: "Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.," etc.
Thus did their great leader, bearing in his own person the marks of his excessive labors, exhort
the pioneers of Methodism in Maine to "faint not" in their extraordinary privations and toils, They
gathered strength from the veteran's words, and welcomed the daily journeys, the incessant
preaching, the wintry storms, and the spiritual victories of another year. Lee tells us that it was a
"good sermon," and that, though the bishop, before the meeting, appeared to be weak, yet during the
discourse he waxed "strong and courageous." The ordination services followed, and were witnessed
with great interest by the throng. Lee describes it as a scene of deep solemnity.
The ordination being over, Lee, whose heart was full, mounted the pulpit, and proclaimed to the
multitude of Methodists present, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Rom.
xvi, 20. A divine influence fell upon the assembly; tears flowed in all parts of the house. "My soul,"
he says, "was animated with the presence of the Lord. It was a precious time to many." He could not
but feel profoundly under the associations of the scene; only five years before he wandered a solitary
evangelist through the province, without a single Methodist to welcome him; now multitudes of
them were rising up over its length and breadth, and spreading into bands, and these were but the
beginnings of a great work, which he unwaveringly believed would go on prosperously through all
time.
Protracted as the services had been, there was still another exercise before they dispersed. They
partook of the Lord's Supper together. It was, Lee tells us, "a most solemn time." More than two
hundred persons communed. "I stood astonished," he exclaims, "at the sight! to see so many people
at the Lord's table, when it is not quite five years since we came into this part of the world."
Thus closed the first Conference in Maine. The preachers immediately hastened to their
appointments. Asbury was away the same day. Lee tarried to complete some unfinished business,
"thankful to God for the privilege of being at the first Conference ever held in the province of
Maine."
Let us now pass to the western session at Granville, Mass., held shortly afterward.