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

In April there was laid a plan for Mr. Joseph Pilmoor to travel to the South, and Mr. Boardman
to visit the North.-- Mr. Pilmoor traveled and preached through Maryland to Norfolk, in Virginia;
and left Norfolk in the beginning of 1773, and traveled through the lower parts of Virginia, and
North Carolina to Charleston in South Carolina; and from thence to Savannah in Georgia, and then
to the Orphan House, which was begun by Mr. Whitefield, in March, 1740. After which he returned
again to the North sometime in the following spring. Mr. Boardman went as far to the North as
Boston, and then returned to New York.
In the first part of the year 1772, Mr. Robert Williams made his first visit to Norfolk, in Virginia,
and without any previous notice being given, he went to the court house, and standing on the steps
of the door, and beginning to sing, the people collected together; and after prayer, he took his text
and preached to a considerable number of hearers, who were very disorderly; as they all thought the
preacher was a mad man: and while he was preaching the people were laughing, talking, and walking
about in all directions. The general conclusion was, that they never heard such a man before: for they
said, Sometimes he would preach, then he would pray, then he would swear, and at times he would
cry. The people were so little used to hearing a preacher say hell, or Devil in preaching, that they
thought he was swearing, when he told them about going to hell, or being damned if they died in
their sins. As he was believed to be a mad-man, none of them invited him to their houses. However,
he preached at the same place the next day, when they found out he was not insane, and they were
glad to get him to their houses. This may be considered as the beginning of Methodism in Virginia.
And it was not long before a Methodist Society was formed in the town of Norfolk.
In October, Mr. Asbury received a letter from Mr. Wesley, appointing him to be the assistant in
America.
Mr. Wesley being the founder of the society, was considered as the head; and all the preachers
were considered as helpers to Mr. Wesley in their different stations.
In this country, they formerly stood in three grades, 1, Helpers, 2, Assistants, 3, General
Assistants. The Helper, was the young preacher in each circuit where there were generally two
preachers in a circuit. The Assistant, was the oldest preacher in the circuit, who had the charge of
the young preacher, and of the business of the circuit. The General Assistant, was the preacher who
had the particular charge of all the circuits, and of all the preachers, and appointed all the preachers
to their several circuits, and changed them as he judged to be necessary, for the good of the
preachers, or the benefit of the people. For we are well convinced that it is not good for a preacher,
or a society, to keep the same preacher long in one place. His being called a General Assistant, also
signified that he was to assist Mr. Wesley in carrying on the work of God in a general way, without
being confined to a particular circuit, as another preacher.
During this time the preachers regulated their business at the different Quarterly Meetings, one
of which began on Tuesday the 23d of December, on the Western Shore of Maryland, where they
inquired, "How are the preachers stationed?" Three on the Eastern Shore, two in Frederick, and Mr.
Asbury in Baltimore. They then asked, "Will the people be contented without our administering the
sacraments?" John King was neuter; Mr. Strawbridge plead for the ordinances, and so did the people,
who appeared to be much biased by him. But Mr. Asbury would not agree to it at that time.