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

A SHORT HISTORY
OF THE
METHODISTS
By
Jesse Lee
CHAPTER 2
From the beginning of the first Society in New York in 1766,
to the first Conference, which was held in America in 1773.
Previous to the year 1766, some of the members of the Methodist Society from Europe, settled
in the United States (then British colonies) but were scattered about as sheep having neither fold nor
shepherd. In the beginning of the year 1766 the first permanent Methodist society was formed in the
city of New York. Mr. Philip Embury, an Irishman, began to hold meetings in his own house, and
to sing and pray with as many as would assemble with him. Soon after that, he collected and joined
a few of them together in society, chiefly of his own countrymen. In about three months after, Mr.
White, and Mr. Sause, from Dublin, joined with them.
They then rented an empty room in their neighborhood adjoining the barracks, in which they held
their meetings for a season: yet but few thought it worth their while to assemble with them in so
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contemptible a place. Some time after that, Captain Thomas Webb, barrack-master at Albany,
found them out, and preached among them in his regimentals. The novelty of a man preaching in a
scarlet coat, soon brought great numbers to hear, more than the room could contain. Some more of
the inhabitants joining the society, they then united and hired a rigging loft to meet in, that would
contain a large congregation. There Mr. Embury used to exhort and preach frequently.
There are a few persons still living in New York, who formerly met with the society in the
rigging-loft; and are pleased at the recollection of what the Lord did for them in their little society,
when they were weak and ignorant in the things of religion; but were united together in Christian
love and fellowship, and were willing to be despised for the sake of their Lord and master.
Not long after the society was formed in New York, Robert Strawbridge, from Ireland, who had
settled in Frederick county, in the state of Maryland, began to hold meetings in public, and joined
a society together near Pipe Creek. Mr. Strawbridge was a useful man, and zealous in the cause of
God; and spent much of his time in preaching the gospel in different places before any regular
preachers were sent over by Mr. Wesley to this country.
The first Methodist meeting house that was built in the United States, was that in New York. By
the influence of Captain Webb, the society purchased a lot of ground in John street, for the purpose
of building a house for public worship. -- The house was built in 1768, and was sufficiently large
to hold twelve or fourteen hundred people. On the 30th day of October, 1768, it was first opened for
divine service, and Mr. Embury preached the dedication sermon. This was about twelve months
before we had any circuit preachers in America.