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

Mr. William Meredith, who had been in connection with Mr. Hammit, went to Wilmington in
North Carolina, and built a meeting-house, and collected a large society of black people, and brought
them into good order; and many of them appeared to be deeply pious. Some difficulties arose
between him and Mr. Hammit, and they parted some years before either of them died.
Some time in 1798, Mr. Meredith's meeting house in Wilmington was burnt down, together with
the dwelling house adjoining to it, in which he lived. Not long afterwards he built another meeting
house, which was much larger than the first. He then wished to be united with us, and requested of
us in case he should die, that we would take charge of his society. In the latter part of the year 1799,
Mr. Meredith died in peace, and left his meeting house, dwelling house and his society to us. Since
then we have kept a stationed preacher in that town.
This may be considered as the beginning and end of the division which was made by Mr. William
Hammit.
The first class of white people that was formed in Wilmington in North Carolina, was joined
together on the 24th of December 1797. There were at that time, a few pious persons among the
white people in that town, and one man that joined with us was a young preacher. But the blacks
were much more attentive to religion than the whites.