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

At that time it was but seldom known that a Methodist preacher drank spirituous liquors, unless
in cases of extreme necessity.
The conference appointed two days for public thanksgiving throughout our connection, for the
peace which was established between the United States of America, and the British nation: for our
temporal and spiritual prosperity, and for the glorious revival of the work of God which had taken
place among us. The first thanksgiving day was to be on the first Thursday in July, and the second
was to be on the first Thursday in October. They also appointed two fast days, the first to be held on
the first Friday in the following January; and the second, on the first Friday in April.
They then concluded, that all the assistants, and the preachers to be received into full connection,
should attend the next conference.
There were three preachers who desisted from traveling this year, namely, Richard Garrettson,
Micajah Debruler, and Samuel Watson.
The revolutionary war being now closed, and a general peace established, we could go into all
parts of the country without fear; and we soon began to enlarge our borders, and to preach in many
places where we had not been before. We soon saw the fruit of our labors in the new circuits, and
in various parts of the country, even in old places where we had preached in former years with but
little success.
One thing in particular, that opened the way for the spreading of the gospel by our preachers was
this: during the war, which had continued seven or eight years, many of the members of our societies
had, through fear, necessity, or choice, moved into the back settlements, and into new parts of the
country: and as soon as the national peace was settled, and the way was open, they solicited us to
come among them; and by their earnest and frequent petitions, both verbal and written, we were
prevailed on, and encouraged to go among them: and they were ready to receive us with open hands
and willing hearts, and to cry out "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
The Lord prospered us much in the thinly settled parts of the country, where, by collecting
together the old members of our society, and by joining some new ones with them, the work greatly
revived, and the heavenly flame of religion spread far and wide.
The intercourse being now open between us and England, we thought there was danger of
preachers or members coming from that country, to preach or live among us, whose characters might
not be good. In order that we might not be imposed upon, the following regulation was adopted.
Q. "How shall we conduct ourselves towards the European Methodists, should they come to this
continent?
A. We will not receive them without a letter of recommendation, the truth of which we have no
reason to doubt."