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

This year, at the several conferences, we admitted about eighty young preachers upon trial.
There was some alteration made in the annual minutes of the conference this year, and for the first
time we were told into which of the conferences each of the preachers were admitted on trial, or
admitted into full connection, &c &c as follows. Q. Who are admitted on trial? A. In the Western
conference, such persons: In the South Carolina conference, such persons, &c. which gave us a better
view of the state of the connection than we could have from the former plan.
We lost 37 preachers out of the traveling connection this year: 25 of them located; 2 withdrew
from us; 4 were expelled, and 6 died. Those that died, were Benjamin Jones, Tobias Gibson,
Nicholas Waters, Wilson Lee, John Durbin, and Daniel Ryan.
1. Benjamin Jones was born near Georgetown in South Carolina. He was admitted upon trial in
1801, and died in the latter part of January 1804, having traveled just three years. He was found dead,
and lying in the water, in a branch of the Brown Marsh, which runs into the Waccamaw lake. It was
supposed by some people that he died in a fit, and fell from his horse into the water, where it was
about two feet deep. But others think there was reason to believe that he was murdered by some
person, and thrown into the water. However, we have never been able to determine by what means
he died. He was a solemn, serious, pious man; and we have no doubt but what he left his sufferings
with his life.
2. Tobias Gibson was born in South Carolina, near Pee Dee, in 1771. He traveled considerably
in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, and then went to the Mississippi territory, and was
the first missionary to the Natchees where he spent five or six years, and then died in peace on the
5th day of April 1804, in Claiborne county. He was very soft, affectionate, and agreeable in his
conversation; his voice in preaching was very piercing, and melting. He was much devoted to God
in private, and was very fond of reading, and of private prayer. He was beloved by all christians; and
his labours were greatly owned of God. He laboured and preached in the circuits till his strength
failed, and he could keep his station no longer. He then traveled about for the benefit of his health
for a season; and wishing to be of some use to his fellow creatures, he concluded to go to the
Natchees, and sat off by himself, without being sent by the conference: after he got to his destined
place, his ministerial labours were so much owned of the Lord, that he was satisfied that the Lord
had directed him to that part of the world. After that he was appointed by the conference to the same
place, from year to year, till he died in peace.
3. Nicholas Waters was born in Maryland, and began to travel a circuit in 1776, and after traveling
two or three years he located, and continued in a located state for about 20 years. He began to travel
again in 1799, and after traveling upwards of five years, he died in Charleston on the 10th of August
1804, in the 65th year of his age. He was quite resigned to death, and left the world in peace.
4. Wilson Lee was born in Sussex county, in Delaware state, in November 1761. He began to
travel in 1784, and after traveling steadily for a little more than 20 years, he died October 11th 1804.
He professed to be a witness of the perfect love of God, for many years before he died. He was a very
animating speaker, and spared no pains in trying to bring souls to God. In private conversation, he
was cheerful and solemn. He had a good turn for taking care of the church of God. When he acted