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

that church, and to partake of the ordinances at the hands of the ministers: for at that time the Church
people were established by law in Maryland and Virginia; and the ministers were supported by a tax
on the people. In many places for a hundred miles together, there was no one to baptize a child,
except a minister of the established church; the greatest objection to this plan therefore was, that by
far the greatest part of them were destitute of religion.
As it was thought improper to have many people among us where we were speaking of our
experiences and of the deep things of God, a rule was adopted, "That no person should be admitted
into our Love-feasts, more than twice or thrice, except he becomes a member." This prudent rule has
continued among us ever since.
The rule formed for putting a stop to the printing of Mr. Wesley's books without his authority, and
the consent of the preachers in this country, was well enough. Previous to the formation of this rule,
Robert Williams, one of the preachers, had reprinted many of Mr. Wesley's books, and had spread
them through the country, to the great advantage of religion. The sermons which he printed in small
pamphlets, and circulated among the people, had a very good effect, and gave the people great light
and understanding in the nature of the new birth, and in the plan of salvation and withal they opened
the way in many places for our preachers to be invited to preach where they had never been before.
But notwithstanding the good that had been done by the circulation of the books, it now became
necessary for the preachers to be all united in the same cause of printing and selling our books, so
that the profits arising therefrom, might be divided among the preachers, or applied to some
charitable purpose.
At that time there were ten traveling preachers, and six circuits, which were as follows: New
York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Petersburg. The two last were in Virginia.
The number of members in society were 1160, In the following places:
New York, 180; New Jersey, 200; Philadelphia, 180; Maryland, 500; Virginia, 100.
During this year there was a considerable revival of religion on the Eastern shore of Maryland,
especially in Kent county, where many souls were awakened and brought to the knowledge of God.
There was a class formed also in New Rochelle this year, about twenty-five miles north of New
York. There was some revival also in Baltimore; and in November the society at Fell's Point engaged
to build a meeting-house, and agreed with a man to do the brick work of the house. The first
meeting-house that was built by the Methodists in Baltimore, was that at Fell's Point. At present
(1809,) we have five meeting-houses in Baltimore: four for the white people, and one for the black
people.
In the beginning of the year 1774, John King, an Englishman, came first to the south parts of
Virginia, where his labors were made a blessing to many people. He was a sensible, zealous
preacher, and was very useful while he continued to travel.
1774. -- In February, this year, the Methodists engaged to build a meeting-house in Baltimore
town, and on the eighteenth day of April the foundation of the house was laid in Lovely-lane. The