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

Several of these conferences were within thirty or forty miles of each other; which was pretty
generally disliked; but at that time the bishop had the right of appointing as many conferences as he
thought proper, and at such times and places as he judged best; but since then, the general conference
fixes the number of annual conferences to be held in each year, having appointed the bounds of each
of them.
At these conferences we took in fourteen new circuits and stations. In South Carolina two, one
was called Bush River, and the other Little Pee Dee. In North Carolina one called Pamlico. In
Virginia two, Greensville and Bottetourt. In Maryland, Baltimore Town, which was separated from
the Baltimore circuit, and for the first time had a preacher stationed in the town. In Delaware,
Wilmington, a station, and a new circuit, called Milford. In New Jersey one circuit was divided, the
new part was called Burlington. In New York state we had four new circuits, Newburg, Columbia,
Coeman's Patent, and Schenectady. We had one new circuit in Connecticut, called Stamford, which
was the first that was ever formed in that state, or in any of the New England States. It was my lot
to go to that circuit alone, and to labor by myself. Another preacher was appointed to the circuit with
me, but he failed and never came, and I had to labor and suffer alone amongst a strange people.
We admitted forty-five young preachers on trial this year: we had ninety-seven circuits, and added
to the society 5911 members which was a great increase.
As some persons had complained of our receding from a former engagement made by some of
our preachers, that "during the life of Mr. Wesley in matters belonging to Church government they
would obey his commands," and as others had thought that we did not pay as much respect to Mr.
Wesley as we ought; the bishops introduced a question in the annual minutes which was as follows:
Q. Who are the persons that exercise the Episcopal office in the Methodist church in Europe and
America?
A. John Wesley, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, by regular order and succession.
The next question was asked differently from what it had ever been in any of the former minutes,
which stands thus:
Q. Who have been elected. by the unanimous suffrages of the general conference, to superintend
the Methodist connection in America
A. Thomas Coke, and Francis Asbury.
Five of our traveling preachers died this year, namely, Henry Bingham, William Gill, John
Cooper, James White, and Francis Spry.
The character given of William Gill in the minutes was, "A native of Delaware, an elder in the
church, and a laborer in it for about twelve years; blameless in life, of quick and solid parts, sound
in the faith, clear in his judgment, meek in his spirit, resigned and solemnly happy in his death."