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

The General Conference elected another Bishop, and William McKendree of Virginia had a large
majority of votes. On Wednesday the 18th day of May 1808, Bishop Asbury preached an ordination
sermon in Light-street Church, from I Tim. 4, 16. Take heed to thyself, and unto thy doctrine. After
sermon William McKendree was ordained a Bishop by the laying on of the hands of Bishop Asbury,
and four of the oldest traveling preachers present, which were, Freeborn Garrettson, Philip Bruce,
Jesse Lee, and Thomas Ware.
There was a good deal of peace and union among the preachers at that general conference; and
there were 130 traveling preachers, who were members of that conference. Mr. McKendree had been
a traveling preacher just twenty years when he was ordained a Bishop. Most of the preachers returned
from that conference well satisfied with what was done while we were together.
From all that I could learn from different parts of our connection there was a wonderful revival
of religion after the Preachers returned from the general conference to their circuits. In the city of
New York there was a very great revival of religion; many souls were brought into favour with the
Lord, and scores of members were added to the society. In the city of Philadelphia, there was a
considerable stir of religion, and people were frequently converted, and joined our society.
The Camp-Meetings were greatly owned and honoured of God in different parts of the country;
and very few if any were more favoured than one that was held at Boheamy, on the Eastern Shore
of Maryland, where the slain of the Lord were many, and some scores of sinners were converted
during the meeting. From that place many returned home happy in God, who had neither sought nor
found religion before. Indeed we could hardly hear from any of our preachers or people who lived
at a distance, without hearing of the prosperity of religion.
I will mention a revival which took place in the Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia, where there
were about 130 prisoners at hard labour for a term of years. Some for murder in the second degree,
and others for forgery, counterfeiting money, stealing horses, breaking open houses, &c. In Virginia
freemen are not hanged for any thing except murder in the first degree.
In the month of April this year, Mr. Stith Mead, who was stationed in Richmond, began to preach
in the penitentiary, and from that time he provided preaching for the prisoners on every Sabbath;
some times he preached, and at other times he engaged other ministers to preach among them.
Withal, he gave them some small books, and lent them others on religious subjects. In a short time
the good effects were seen, and some of the prisoners began to weep freely under preaching, and the
convictions of some were deep and lasting. At one time when there was a considerable melting
among the people, the preacher proposed for all who were willing to offer themselves as candidates
for heaven, to signify it by standing up: a few of them arose from their seats immediately. At another
time it was proposed by the preacher for all of them, who were truly desirous of obtaining religion
to come forward and kneel down and he would pray for them: several came forward and appeared
to be much distressed on the account of their sins: and afterwards their number increased from time
to time, until their convictions were accompanied with loud cries to God for mercy, while some were
exclaiming against themselves as the worst of sinners, and labouring under awful apprehensions that
there was no mercy for them. But in a short time some of them were happily converted to God, and
gave a very satisfactory account of a real change of heart. The convictions of others were greatly