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

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legislature an Associate Judge. He became a most influential citizen, a patriarch of the commonwealth as well as of the Church. Asbury, Whatcoat, and McKendree were often his guests, and his old eastern fellow-laborers, Watters, Dromgoole, and others, cheered him with letters. For twenty-two years his position, on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas, reflected honor on the public justice. His friend and fellow-preacher, Judge Scott, who, as we have seen, attained the honor of the Supreme Court, says he was "regarded as a man of inestimable worth." His connection with the early history of the Church rendered his old age venerable, and the Ohio Conference placed his name among its superannuated preachers, that he might die with it on their record. After invaluable services to his Church and country, he preached his last sermon on the day in which he was eighty-four years old, and died the next year (1835) "in great peace and unshaken confidence in [25] Christ." His old friend, Kobler, revisited the country six years after his death. "Taking my hand," writes a son of Gatch, "he held it for some time in silence, looking me in the face with a most impressive expression of countenance, which produced in me a sensation that I shall not attempt to describe. At length, in the most emphatic manner, he said, 'Your father was a great man in his day. He fought many hard battles for the Church. May you be a worthy son of so worthy a father!' He visited the graves of my parents, took off his hat, and stood some minutes as if absorbed in deep thought; fell upon his knees for some time, arose bathed in tears, and walked out of the graveyard in silence." He was burdened with great memories, for the two veterans had shared in events which history, ages to come, may commemorate. Henry Smith, with whom we have journeyed so much in these western regions, says of him, "He preached extensively and successfully, and did much toward establishing and extending Methodism in that country, and giving it a proper tone. We all looked up to him as a patriarch, a counselor, and waymark. In a word, he was a prince in our Zion." McCormick, Gatch, Tiffin, Scott, laymen and local preachers, with not a few others of like spirit, gave a character and impulse to Methodism in Ohio, to which must be ascribed much of its subsequent power over all the old Northwestern Territory. McCormick lived and died in a manner worthy of his historical position. In advanced life (1821) he wrote, "I am now grown old, and what can I say respecting Methodism? I believe its plan is of divine origin, and millions with me will have cause to thank and adore the Lord through eternity for it, and for the whole of Methodism. I do not believe there ever was such a set of men since the apostolic day for zeal, fortitude, and usefulness in bringing sinners to the knowledge of themselves and of Christ as our traveling preachers. My journey through life will soon be brought to a close. I have no other plea to make 'but that Jesus [26] Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." In the latter part of his life he was absolved from active service by maladies which were the effects of the exposures and fatigues of his early preaching, but "the evening of his days was cloudless." He died in 1836, and his last words were "Glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life!" [27] John Sale, from whom we have recently parted, was sent to the Scioto Circuit in 1803. The next year he was appointed, says his biographer, to Miami Circuit. These two circuits then embraced all the south and west portions of the state of Ohio. It was while traveling this circuit that he organized the first society of Methodists in Cincinnati. The Conference which had been held at Mount Gerizim, Ky., the preceding year, organized the Ohio District, the first in the state, and appointed Burke presiding elder. We may get some idea of the extent of its fields of labor, and the manner in which they were supplied, from the list of appointments: Muskingum and Little Kanawha, George Askins; Hockhocking, James Quinn, John Meek; Scioto, William Patterson, Nathan Barnes; Miami, John
Sale, J. Oglesby; Guyandotte, Asa Shinn. When we remember the sparseness of the population, the distance between the appointments without roads, rivers to be crossed without bridges, it must be obvious, says a contemporary Methodist, that none but such as felt a necessity laid upon them to preach the gospel would be likely to engage in such a work." From the same authority we learn, more particularly, the organization of the Church in Cincinnati by Sale. Several preachers had been there before. Kobler had visited it in 1798; he describes it as "an old garrison, (Fort Washington,) a declining, time-stricken, God-forsaken place." He wished to preach, but "could find no opening or reception of any kind whatever." Lewis Hunt and Elisha Bowman occasionally ventured into the demoralized place, and preached without result. In 1804 John Collins, who had come the year before to the territory, but was not yet in the itinerancy, went to it to purchase provisions. He inquired of a storekeeper, "Is there any Methodist here?" "Yes, sir," was the reply; "I am a Methodist." The local preacher was taken by surprise at the joyful intelligence, and, throwing his arms around the layman's neck, he wept. He eagerly inquired if there were any more Methodists in the place. The response was equally cheering: "O yes, brother, there are several." The heart of Collins leaped for joy. "O," said the zealous young preacher, "that I could have them altogether!" "In this you shall be gratified, my brother," rejoined the layman; "I will open my house, and call together the people, if you will preach." The upper room of Carter, the merchant's house was fitted up with temporary benches, while every effort possible was made to give the appointment an extensive circulation. Only twelve persons attended, but "it was a memorable time for Methodism in Cincinnati. It was the planting of a handful of corn on the tops of the mountains, the increasing and ever, multiplying products of which were to shake with the fruitage of Lebanon." The next sermon to this infant Church was by Sale in a house in Main Street, between First and Second Streets. The congregation was increased to thirty or forty persons. After preaching, a proposition was made to organize a society in the usual way, according to the Discipline of the Church. A chapter was read from the Bible; then followed singing, prayer, and the reading of the General Rules of the society. All, then, who felt desirous of becoming members of the society, and were willing to abide by the General Rules, came forward and gave in their names. The number was only eight, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Carter, their son and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, and Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair. Mr. Gibson was appointed the leader. A Church being organized, arrangements were made to have preaching regularly every two weeks by the circuit evangelists. The society received an accession in the ensuing spring by the arrival in town of two Methodist families; namely, those of Messrs. Richardson and Lyons, and subsequently by the arrival of Messrs. Nelson and Hall, and their families. This little band of Christians were closely attached to each other, and were one in sentiment and action. Meetings were held in the old log school-house below the hill, not far from the fort. The location of this school-house was such as to accommodate the villagers; and as its site was near the intersection of Lawrence and Congress streets, it is presumed that this portion of the town was the most thickly inhabited. In 1805 the small society began to build their first church, the "Old Stone Chapel." Such was the humble origin of Methodism in Cincinnati. We have already had occasion to note that it was, during these times, invading Ohio from the East as well as from the South. Robert Manly, as early as 1799, formed a circuit reaching from the Ohio River up the Muskingum some forty miles, organized the first society in Marietta, and left some ten [29] or twelve classes on the circuit. Jesse Stoneman followed him, and so enlarged the field, that Quinn was sent by Hitt in the fall to assist him; the townships on Hockhocking were comprehended in it, and many societies were formed, and a host of preachers, local and itinerant, raised up. Asa
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WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library HISTORY O
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HISTORY of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL
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BOOK VI CHAPTER I = PART 58 METHODI
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CHAPTER IX = PART 66 METHODISM IN T
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CHAPTER XV = PART 72 REVIEW OF THE
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disappearance of Coke, Asbury, What
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convened, a second time, in Wilbrah
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yet I did not go out that year; but
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He returned again to New Jersey in
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Asbury pressed on westward with his
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congregation, and meanwhile advanci
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Page 25 and 26: traveled in Massachusetts, Rhode Is
Page 27 and 28: knowledge. His judgment was always
Page 29 and 30: He did great services and endured g
Page 31 and 32: of the itinerants. There was no one
Page 33 and 34: found adequate to the singular exig
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Page 37 and 38: [16] of his decease, sent home for
Page 39 and 40: passing through small villages; but
Page 41 and 42: HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
Page 43 and 44: God. The Scotchman could endure it
Page 45 and 46: [7] Conference till the next year.
Page 47 and 48: y his own hands, and his furniture
Page 49 and 50: there were three circuits, with thr
Page 51 and 52: performed incredible labors and tra
Page 53 and 54: Before he reached the last stanza h
Page 55 and 56: "in the wilds of Virginia, where he
Page 57 and 58: ed, and trembling with agitation. E
Page 59 and 60: this melancholy record. I never rea
Page 61 and 62: at Cabbin Creek, Ky., twenty thousa
Page 63 and 64: in that vast wilderness, and had no
Page 65 and 66: poles. This was their bedstead. Som
Page 67 and 68: Benjamin Lakin, Samuel Doughty John
Page 69 and 70: Gibson. "Here," say his brethren, "
Page 71 and 72: of the Little Miami River. On Thurs
Page 73: Circuit) for this year began at Moo
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Page 79 and 80: twentieth they reached the scene of
Page 81 and 82: the toil and sufferings, of another
Page 83 and 84: ENDNOTES 1 See Extracts by Bishop M
Page 85 and 86: 37 Rev. Dr. Trimble's Address at Oh
Page 87 and 88: my father's neighborhood. The Confe
Page 89 and 90: attempted also to make local preach
Page 91 and 92: tireless apostle completed by the n
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Page 95 and 96: HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
Page 97 and 98: a change which it has always since
Page 99 and 100: Methodism was now entrenched in eve
Page 101 and 102: ENDNOTES 1 Bangs, (II, p. 171,) fol
Page 103 and 104: Methodists in other places, and wis
Page 105 and 106: are reported from Flint Circuit. Th
Page 107 and 108: Russell, fallen as he was from the
Page 109 and 110: ENDNOTES 1 Bangs, ii, 194. Dunwody'
Page 111 and 112: intensely bright by the grateful jo
Page 113 and 114: eached the furthest end of the piaz
Page 115 and 116: his humble shed and the chancel whe
Page 117 and 118: class-meetings, and to no small ext
Page 119 and 120: 1 Minutes, 1858. ENDNOTES 2 Rev. Dr
Page 121 and 122: grandchildren were gay and playful;
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ENDNOTE 1 A few months ago, accompa
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Asbury, in the summer of 180, wrote
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means by which this necessary objec
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I should have to preach, but determ
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themselves, it was resolved that th
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ENDNOTES 1 Bangs, though his narrat
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directions, preaching as far as Buf
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and in the States, from the Ulster
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Conference sent over three missiona
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1814 Michael Coate, of New Jersey,
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1 Peck's "Early Methodism," p. 158.
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limits, when it will devolve upon t
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That very significant and convenien
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Channing, the elder Beecher, Wainwr
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in the eyes of the people, and grea
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HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
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own souls, because ye were dear unt
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Early in the spring of 1808 he retu
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seventeen preachers upon trial. The
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this meeting. Monday, 22d, I turned
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strengthened the whole denomination
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savage men, and venomous serpents."
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indescribable. At one time I saw at
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extraordinary learning, of tireless
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oom; but, finding there no means of
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By the end of our present period th
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some sixty or seventy souls. They a
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stacked away at the end of the cour
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olled over the whole Conference." H
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ashamed of yourselves?' which only
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living; I have outlived every membe
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iographer of the itinerant. Born in
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gentleman. While the circles of fas
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His itinerant ministry in the West
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took a prominent part in the great
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to the people, and to go back to Na
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country. These were about to return
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of preachers had increased thirty-f
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1 Rev. F. C. Holliday, in Sprague,
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Astonishing, superhuman almost, as
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of "through the interior of Louisia
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their children. In ten years, I thi
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hates the nefarious practice. In th
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These extraordinary facts excited n
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15 I must remind the reader that I
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[3] and threatened to return home.
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he prepared for South Carolina, wit
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the expediency of increasing the nu
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1 General Conference Journal,, vol.
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itinerants he said, "See that every
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In our day (1866) the Methodist Boo
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edifice was soon after provided in
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in both hemispheres, and which prop
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even romantic record, but our limit
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He organized the Liberia Mission. H
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and the moral prospects of the worl
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ut we may well hesitate to admit th
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They preached and suffered in Engla
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ENDNOTES 1 An error in the Minutes
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and great labors; his charity, his
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directing the advancing Church with
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history, and presents, in full vita
show all

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