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

The above rules and regulations I have taken from the first part of our Form of Discipline. At this
conference we concluded to print the Form of Discipline in two parts; the first to be called the
spiritual, and the second the temporal part of the discipline. It was also determined, that the first part
of the discipline should be published alone, for the benefit of the black people in the south, who were
members of our society, and were taught to read.
In the second, or temporal part of the discipline, we made some alterations. We determined that
the Book business should be removed from Philadelphia to New York; and the printing and binding
of our books, &c should be done in the last mentioned city. Ezekiel Cooper was re-elected as
General Book Steward; and John Wilson was afterwards chosen an Assistant Book Steward, to assist
Mr. Cooper in the book business. There were a few regulations made for circulating the books,
collecting bad debts, &c
There was a motion made at this conference to appoint another bishop, but there were only a few
members in favour of it, and of course there was not much said on the subject.
The conference closed in peace, and the preachers parted in much love; but we had to lament
before the Lord, that there was very little stir of religion among us during the sitting of the
conference. One principal reason of our barrenness I believe was owing to an improper plan which
was adopted by the conference in the beginning of their business, which was this; to admit men,
women and children into the galleries of the meetinghouse to hear our debates. After a few days we
were obliged to close the galleries and sit in private, according to our usual plan. It was to the
preachers a good conference, but there was very little visible good done among the people in general.
Religion prospered among us very much during this year also; and we had pleasing accounts from
almost every part of the connection.
In June there was a camp-meeting about ten miles from Wilmington, in North Carolina, where
the power of God was present, both to wound and to heal. The cries of the distressed, and the shouts
of joy from those that were healed, were truly awful and pleasing. The work broke out the first day,
and continued to increase until Sunday evening. The slain of the Lord were many, and it was
supposed that as many as seventy souls found peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Other
meetings in that part of the country were greatly favoured of the Lord; and some persons of all
descriptions were the subjects of the pardoning love of God, from the hoary-headed sinner, to
children of nine years old. It was thought, that in the space of four or five months time there were
three hundred souls converted in and about Bladen circuit.
In various places in Virginia the work of the Lord was very great. A letter from Harrisonburg,
Rockingham county, mentioned, that at a quarterly-meeting in June, at Moffit's meeting-house, there
were about 27 persons converted. Another quarterly-meeting was held at Edward Mitchell's, in
Bottetourt county, which continued for five days; during that time eighteen professed to be
converted. The next noted meeting was on Indian Creek, at Bethel, near Cook's, which continued
four days, and it was thought that 30 souls were savingly delivered from their sins at that time. There
was another quarterly-meeting held for Greenbrier circuit at Mount Tabor, in the Little Levels, which