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

on the east side of the North River. He then returned to the city of New York, and died; and was
buried in the city.
4. "Elijah Ellis, a deacon, four years in the work; steady, solid, humble, diligent and faithful; who
spent himself in the work of God, in Lancaster."
From this conference in 1788, Mr. Freeborn Garrettson was appointed presiding elder of the
district north of the city of New York, including all the circuits from New Rochelle to Lake
Champlain. His labors, and the labors of those preachers who traveled under his direction, were
greatly prospered, and many souls were brought to the knowledge of God by their ministry.
Hundreds and thousands of people in the new circuits in that district, will have cause to be thankful
for the gospel truths that were disseminated among them in the course of that year. Many were
awakened, and many were converted; and old professors much revived.
The revivals of religion this year were great in many places. The revival in the south parts of
Virginia in the latter part of the past year exceeded any thing of the kind that had ever been known
in those parts, and indeed, it has never since been equaled. But the work this year was more
extensive, though not as great in any one place. In many parts of Virginia and North Carolina, souls
were coming home to God so frequently, that it was no strange thing to hear of people's being
converted; and frequently many of them at the same meeting.
There was a blessed revival of religion in many circuits in Maryland, both on the Eastern and
Western shores. In Baltimore town and circuit the revival was great, and about 300 joined the
society.
The work of God greatly increased in Baltimore town in the course of the summer 1788, which
was partly owing to a plan that was adopted, of preaching on the common, or in the Market-house
on Howard's hill, every Sunday in the afternoon, after the public service was ended in all the
churches. By this means we had thousands to hear us, who did not usually attend our meeting. Many
persons had been converted in town before the conference came on in September.
During the time of the conference, we were highly favored of the Lord, and souls were awakened,
and converted. On Sunday the 14th of September at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Asbury preached
in Mr. Otterbein 's church; and the people were generally solemn and much affected; he then asked
another preacher to pray and conclude: and whilst he was praying, an awful power was felt among
the people. Some of them cried out aloud. The preachers went among them and encouraged the
mourners to look to the Lord, and prayed with them; and in a little time there was such a noise
among them, that many of the Christian people were measurably frightened, and as there was no
opportunity for them to escape at the door, many of them went out at the windows, hastening to their
homes. The noise had alarmed hundreds of people who were not at the meeting, and they came
running to see what was the matter, till the house was crowded, and surrounded with a wondering
multitude. In a short time some of the mourners lost the use of their limbs, and lay helpless on the
floor, or in the arms of their friends. It was not long before some of them were converted, and rose
up with streaming eyes giving glory to God that he had taken away their sins. This meeting continued
about two hours and a half, after the sermon was ended; in which time about twenty persons