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

A SHORT HISTORY
OF THE
METHODISTS
By
Jesse Lee
CHAPTER 10
From the beginning of the year 1800, including the third General Conference, to the end of 1803.
In 1800 we had eight conferences; however one of them was a general conference.
The 154th conference was held in Charleston, on the 1st of January 1800.
[*1]
The 155th, at Blunt's, in Virginia, on the 9th of April.
The 156th, at Holstein, on the 1st Friday in April.
The 157th, at the Stone Chapel, on the 1st of May.
The 158th was a general conference in Baltimore, on the 6th of May.
The 159th, in Duck Creek, on the 2d of June.
The 160th, in New York, on the 19th of June.
The 161st, in Lynn, on the 18th of July.
The whole of these conferences were held in less than seven months time, at which we took in
several new circuits which were as follows: Natchees in the Mississippi territory; Orangeburg in
South Carolina; Wilmington in North Carolina; Sciota in Ohio; Chenango west of New York;
Landaff in New Hampshire; Bethel in the Province of Maine; and Grand River in Canada.
We admitted upwards of forty young preachers on trial this year, which was a great help to us. But
on the other hand we lost 31 out of the traveling connection: 24 located, 3 withdrew from our
connection, and 4 died; viz. William Early, Thomas Haymond, Benton Riggin, and Robert Bonham.
William Early was a native of Virginia, brought up in Bedford county. He acted as a local
preacher for a few years, and was then received on trial, as an itinerant, in 1796. He was a zealous
man, and a powerful preacher. His labours were greatly owned of God, and rendered a blessing to
many souls. It was supposed that he took the yellow fever in Newbern, North Carolina; but he
continued to travel till the fever came on him so severely that he was forced to lay down by the side
of the road, where one of the neighbors found him and asked him to his house, where he went and
took his bed, and after a few days died of the fever, in September 1799. In the hour of death it was
said that he was happy in God. In him the church lost a faithful, laborious, and useful servant.