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

The circuits were not numbered in the minutes this year, which was contrary to our custom for
several years past. We took in 45 young preachers upon trial, which was very encouraging to us; but
on the other hand, we lost out of the traveling connection forty preachers and some of them had
traveled many years. Considering the standing of those we lost, we were not as strong a body this
year as we were the last; notwithstanding we had more preachers to travel and labour, 32 preachers
located, three left us, and five died. Those who died were Hardy Herbert, John Ahair, Thomas Boyd,
Emory Prior, and Simon Miller. Part of their characters were as follows:
1st. "Hardy Herbert, was a native of North Carolina, but was brought up in South Carolina, near
the banks of Broad river. He professed faith in Christ when he was 16 years old. He began to travel
when he was young, and laboured in the work of God about six years; in which time he traveled in
several circuits in South Carolina and Georgia, and in the north parts of Virginia. He was a youth of
genius, and was a pleasing speaker. He was an elder in the church of God. Finding his constitution
weak, he wished to decline traveling at large; and went to Norfolk, where he married. Soon after that
he was taken sick, and after a short illness he died; and as was generally believed, in the fear and
favour of God, on the 20th of November 1794, and in the 25th year of his age.
2d. "John Ahair, was a native of North Carolina; he was of a meek spirit, and was a zealous man.
He was weak in body, but was strong in faith and in love. He traveled about three years, and then
departed this life in November 1794. He was about 26 years of age.
3d."Thomas Boyd was a deacon in the church. He was born in Europe, and died in Bedford county
in Pennsylvania, in September 1794, and in the fourth year of his public labours. He was a man of
a tender spirit, and was much afflicted before his death. After giving strong proof of his piety, by an
innocent life and conversation, he went to his long home in peace.
4th. "Emory Prior, was an elder in the church. He was a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
and died May 1795, having been traveling about six years. He was a man of a very slender
constitution, and was much afflicted for four years last past. He was a man of an excellent spirit, and
of a sound judgment. Being worn out with affliction, he closed his feeble life on earth, with a death
answerable to his life, in sweet peace and consolation. He was about forty-five years old.
5th. "Simon Miller, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lancaster county, a German by descent.
He laboured faithfully for four years, through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware states. He was
a man of deep experience and useful gifts. He could speak both in German and English. He departed
this life at Milford, in the state of Delaware, in September 1795, and was much lamented."
We found our number of members was less this year by 6217, than it was last year. Such a loss
of members we had never known since we were a people. There was a restless spirit in most parts
of our connection and many were scattered by the division in the south of Virginia.
This year we had an alteration in the form of our minutes. The numbers in society were put down
before the stations of the preachers. Which method has been generally pursued ever since.