A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

Four preachers were entered, withdrawn from our connection; two of them, James O'Kelly, and
Rice Haggard, continued to travel and preach through the country where they pleased, and they
spared no pains in trying to draw off disciples after them. The other two, John Robinson, and John
Allen settled themselves. Mr. Allen went into the practice of physic, and soon gave up preaching.
He had been living since that time in the district of Maine.
One preacher (James Bell,) was disowned for improper conduct; and two preachers died, namely,
Benjamin Carter and John Sproul. Mr. Carter had been a professor of religion about eight years, and
had been near six years in the ministry. He was a pointed, zealous preacher, and a strict
disciplinarian. He was a happy man, and one that appeared to fear the face of no man. He had
received a wound in the late war, which greatly injured him in his labours. He was blessed with great
consolation in his last hours. He died in August 1792, in Washington county in Georgia, and was
buried at Harris's meeting house.
John Sproul was a simple honest man, who gave himself wholly to God and his work. He traveled
and preached for near three years; and was then taken from toil to rest. Though he was weak in body,
he was fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And we hope, that he went in peace to his eternal home.
In the close of the annual minutes for this year, we had the following CAUTION. "The brethren
are requested to be on their guard against impostors. One of those characters had lately made his way
through North and South Carolina, collected money, purchased a horse by falsehood, and
disappeared. If a preacher is on the traveling plan, he will be sent out from the conferences; if he is
a local preacher, he can be recommended from his quarterly meeting. If doubts arise respecting any
person who may appear under the character of a Methodist preacher, refer him to the preacher who
has the charge of the circuit, for examination, before he is permitted to preach."
After the foregoing caution, we had a plan for district schools, recommended to the members of
the Methodist Episcopal church in America, by Mr. Asbury. This address was drawn up by Mr.
Asbury, and not by the conferences. There were published at the end of the address, "General rules
recommended for district schools." There were 13 rules for the direction of the trustees, and 18 for
the regulation of the schools.
After a while some such institutions were set on foot; one in Brunswick county, in Virginia; one
on the Yadkin in North Carolina; one in South Carolina; one in Georgia; and one in Kentucky. But
most of them fell through in a few years; and at present they are hardly worth noticing in this history.
However, there is a good school kept at present at Ebenezer, in Brunswick county in Virginia. But
it is not under the direction of the Methodists. In the first place there are but few trustees remaining,
some being dead, and others removed. Some of the remaining trustees are not of our society. And
secondly, the present teacher has the entire government of the school: holding the house and
plantation free of expense, and taking in scholars, and governing them as he pleases.
There was a good revival of religion this year, in many of the new circuits, and the way was open
for us to extend our borders in various directions; but we had a great declension in many of the old
circuits. When the numbers in society were taken, we found that we had gained fewer than we had
for seven years before.