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

about one hundred and thirteen persons, white and black were joined in society. Many more went
from that blessed meeting under deep conviction, and earnestly groaning for redemption in the blood
of Jesus.
There was a good work of God in Baltimore, and through the Baltimore district, which included
several circuits. It was supposed by the preachers, that upwards of one thousand souls were
converted in that district in the course of a few months. In Annapolis, which is the seat of
government, there was a very great display of the power and love of God, and many souls were
converted, and added to the Society.
About this time CAMP MEETINGS were first introduced. But I never could learn whether they
began in the upper parts of South Carolina, in Tennessee, or in Kentucky. However, I believe they
took place through necessity, and without design: and that there was no plan laid for them in the
beginning. In the new parts of the country, where the people were but thinly settled, there were such
crowds of people collected together, that no house could hold them, and there were not neighbors
enough to entertain them. The ministers were obliged to preach in the woods, and some of the people
to lodge on the ground in order to be at the meetings the next day. Sometimes they had meetings for
three or four days together, and on some occasions where the work of the Lord was uncommonly
powerful, and souls were under deep distress, the meeting would continue all night without
intermission. In some cases persons were struck down by the power of God, and lay helpless most
part of the night and could not be taken away. In such cases ministers and people felt it their duty to
tarry with their friends, and to encourage and pray with such as were under distress. After awhile,
the people expecting to be detained all night at some of their great meetings, began to prepare some
kind of tents, made out of cloth, or bushes, and carried provisions with them, in order that they might
tarry both day and night at the place of meeting, without being a burden to any one; and without
being altogether exposed to the night air, or to the weather when it was wet or disagreeable. As it
became more common to make such preparation for encamping, and the people saw the good effects
of staying together, and keeping up the meeting through the night, where there was a particular
manifestation of the divine presence, it was thought proper to advise the people to come prepared
so to tarry. In some cases public notice was given, for the people to come to meeting prepared to
lodge on the ground, and to bring provision both for man and beast, that they might stay together
three or four days, and wait upon the Lord continually. As the people were invited to come and to
encamp on the ground, they soon gave those meetings the distinguishing name of
CAMPMEETINGS. After that, when the name of a CampMeeting was heard of, the people knew
what provision was necessary to be made for that purpose.
In our annual minutes for this year we published the number of Methodists in Europe and
America; which was as follows:
In Europe, 109,961
In Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland, and the West-Indies, 13,667
In the United States and Canada, 72,874
Total in Europe and America 196,502