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

efore us, and gave us favour in the eyes of the people. And it was not long before we saw some fruit
of our labours in that place also.
I have taken a particular view of the beginning of Methodism in the Province of Maine, and have
been particular in giving an account of its spreading through various parts thereof for a few years
after we first began to preach in that part of the country. And we must acknowledge the work is the
Lord's.
In 1809, we had eighteen circuits in the Province of Maine, and 2848 members in society. -- And
the prospect was pleasing. A considerable number of preachers have been raised up in those parts,
and others are coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. We will now take a view of
Methodism in New Hampshire state; which was the last state in the union, where we formed
societies. The first circuit was called Chesterfield, which lay in the south west corner of the state,
near to Connecticut river, which divides New Hampshire from Vermont. The first society formed
in the state was in Chesterfield, some time in the latter part of the year 1795. At which time, there
were but a few that felt freedom to unite with us; yet after some time a few more cast in their lots;
and other societies were soon formed in other places. The circuit was not entered on the annual
minutes until the year 1796.
Some time after this there was a circuit formed higher up the state called Landaff; and in that
place religion prospered very much, and many souls were soon brought into the liberty of God's
children; and the work of the Lord spread greatly among the people. The first sermon that the
Methodists preached in the state, was in Portsmouth, on the 15th of July, 1790. We used to preach
occasionally in that town from that time; but we never made any particular stand till last year, 1808,
which was eighteen years from the time of our first beginning there. In the course of the last year,
one of our preachers took his station in the town, and purchased an old meeting-house that was
formerly occupied by another denomination; and he had a good congregation to hear him. We may
consider the year 1808, as the beginning of Methodism in the town of Portsmouth.
For some years past, we have had a society in Poplin. The first time that the Methodists preached
in that town was on the 17th of October, 1795, and on the next day they first preached in Brentwood.
We continued to preach in Poplin occasionally, till at last the people united and built a
meeting-house for the use of the Methodists: before that time they had no house for public worship.
We have prospered considerably in that state within a few years past, and have now (1809) as
many as nine or ten circuits there, and between one and two thousand members in society. The way
appears to be open at present for us to do more good in that state than we have ever done before. One
advantage in our favour is the change that has taken place in the laws of the state, which compelled
the people to pay, or support the settled minister of the town or parish. But the people are now at
liberty to pay or not to pay, and we have found many more places open for us to preach, than there
were formerly.
The first circuit that we formed in the state of Vermont, was called Vershire. This circuit was
taken on the minutes in 1796. We had been preaching in that town, and in many of the neighboring
towns some time before that, but had no societies formed. We had some societies in the state which