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

particularly for attending our conference in Sussex, both in public and private; and we advise the
preachers in the south to consult him, and to take his advice in the absence of brother Asbury.* [1]
There was however a great revival of religion this year, in the north of Virginia, and in some parts
of Maryland. Some of our preachers left their circuits to keep out of the way of the enemy: but others
having more courage, continued to travel as usual, and to trust the Lord with their bodies as well as
their souls.
Considering all things, our societies were greatly blessed, and the number of our members greatly
increased: and notwithstanding we were scattered, and in some places suffered loss, yet taking the
whole connection throughout, we were highly favored of the Lord.
In 1783, the eleventh conference began at Ellis's meeting house, Sussex county, Virginia, on the
6th day of May, and adjourned to Baltimore to the 27th day of the same month. At this time we took
in eleven circuits, which are as follows. In Maryland, Caroline and Annamessex: in Virginia,
Alleghany, Cumberland and Holstein: in North Carolina, Guilford, Caswell, Salisbury, Marsh, Bertie
and Pasquotank. We also took in two of the old stations which had been left out of the minutes for
some years, on account of the war, i.e. Norfolk and New York.
We had thirty-five circuits, and eighty-two preachers to travel in them. We added to the society
this year 1955 members. We took nineteen young preachers upon trial, so that all the circuits were
well supplied.
At this conference the preachers fell upon a new plan, in order to provide a support for the
preachers' wives: they required such circuits as they thought able, to raise a certain sum of money
for the support of the preachers' wives in other circuits. The minute stands thus: Q. "What sum is to
be raised for the support of the preachers' wives? A. North circuits £200, south circuits £60." The
wives to be provided for, the circuits which were to raise the money, the sum to be raised, and the
particular sum to be given to each preacher's wife, were all specified in the minutes. This plan was
quite new, and some of the leading men in particular circuits did not approve of it; and thought it
unreasonable that they should raise money for a woman they never saw; and whose husband had
never preached among them.
But the Methodist cause is but one in every place; and he who loves his neighbor as himself, will
feel for every circuit, every preacher, and every preacher's family.
There was a new minute formed respecting our local preachers who held slaves, where the laws
of the state would admit of their being free. It says, "We will try them another year, in the mean time
let every assistant deal faithfully and plainly with them, and report to the next conference. It may
then be necessary to suspend them.."
The following was one of the questions, "Shall our friends be permitted to make spiritous liquors,
sell, or drink them in drams? A. By no means; we think it wrong in its nature and consequences; and
desire all our preachers to teach the people by precept and example to put away this evil."