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

On the 19th of April this year we formed a society in Savannah, which was the first regular
Methodist society we ever formed in that city. It was just 70 years from the time that Mr. John
Wesley formed a society, and in the same place, which only continued for a short time, during his
stay among them.
The accounts from various parts of the connection respecting the prosperity of religion was truly
pleasing. The Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia and the lower counties in Delaware, were
remarkably visited of the Lord; and many hundreds of people were truly converted, and made the
subjects of grace. The holy flame of love ran from place to place, and from heart to heart. Ministers
and people were remarkably engaged with God both in public and private, and their preaching and
praying was followed with a blessing from the Lord.
In the course of the year 1806, there was a plan laid which would have overset and destroyed the
rules and regulation of the Methodists, respecting the election and ordination of Bishops. It was said
that the plan originated in the New York conference, which was as follows:
"To call a delegated conference of seven members from each conference, chosen by the
conference, to meet in Baltimore on the fourth of July 1807, to choose superintendents, &c" This
plan was adopted by four of the conferences, viz. New York, New England, the Western and South
Carolina conferences; and delegates were accordingly chosen. But when it was proposed to the
Virginia conference, which met in Newbern, in February 1807, they refused to take it under
consideration, and rejected it as being pointedly in opposition to all the rules of our church. The
bishop laboured hard to carry the point, but he laboured in vain: and the whole business of that
dangerous plan was overset by the Virginia conference. The inventors and defenders of that project
might have meant well; but they certainly erred in judgment.
In 1808, we had eight conferences, the last of which was a general conference.
The 212th conference was held at Chillicothe, Ohio state, on the 14th of September 1807.
The 213th, in Charleston, on the 28th of December 1807.
The 214th in Lynchburg, on the 2d of February 1808.
The 215th in George Town, on the 2d of March.
The 216th in Philadelphia, on the 20th of March.
The 217th at Amenia, on the 6th of April.
The 218th in New London, on the 17th of April.
The 219th was the 5th general conference, held in Baltimore, on the 6th of May.