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

increased, so that at times the greater part of the prisoners have been seen coming forward and
kneeling down to be prayed for. Prayer was attended to by them, in their own rooms; and they were
frequently engaged in singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, as well as in praying in their
lodgings, until the whole circular building was made to resound with the praises of God. As the
number of converts increased, the preacher advised the believers to form themselves into a society,
to help each other on in their way to heaven; about twenty joined together at that time. Soon after
that, they had about thirty of the prisoners united together, who were happily converted to God,
according to their own profession, and the judgment of their preacher. I visited them myself and
talked with many of them, and could not doubt of the reality of their profession of faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
In 1809 we had the usual number of conferences:
The 220th conference was held at Liberty hill, in Tennessee, on the 1st of October, 1808.
The 221st, at Liberty chapel, in Georgia, on the 26th of December.
The 222d, at Tarborough, on the 1st of February 1809.
The 223d, at Harrisonburg, on the second of March.
The 224th, in Philadelphia, on the 2d of April.
The 225th, in New York, on the 10th of May.
The 226th, in Monmouth, (Province of Maine) on the 15th of June.
We took in several new circuits this year; in the Western conference we took in 9; Watauga,
Tennessee Valley, Elk, Dickson, Green river, Fleming, Cold Water, White Water and Leading creek.
In the Southern conference 4; Alcovi, Ocmulgee, Congoree and Waterree. In the Virginia conference
2; Straits and Green Mountain. In the New York conference 4; Courtlandt, Pownal, Detroit and
Three Rivers. In the New England conference 4; Portsmouth, Booth Bay, Georgetown and Industry.
We admitted 103 young preachers upon trial this year; and lost out of the traveling connection
forty-four. Forty located, three died, and the other was expelled. Those who died were Edmund
Henly, Leonard Cassell, and Henry Martin.
1. Edmund Henly was a native of Person county, North Carolina. He began to travel in 1803, and
after traveling and preaching for a little more than five years, he died in peace on the 26th day of
August 1808.
For some time before his death he appeared to have an impression on his mind that the time of
his departure was at hand. A few weeks before he died, he went home to his father's, erected a stage
at the grave yard, and preached to his old friends and acquaintances. After his death he was carried
home and buried there. He was about thirty years of age. He had professed sanctification for several