History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org

separated, and set out as reformers." At Petersburg he held a conference. "The preachers," he writes,
"were united, and the Lord was with us of a truth. There were fifty-five present. I had some
difficulties respecting the stations; but there was a willingness among the brethren to go where they
were appointed, and all was well. Our disaffected brethren have had a meeting at the Piney Grove,
in Amelia circuit, and appointed three men to attend this conference. One of these delegates appears
to be satisfied, and has received ordination among us since he was delegated by them; the other two
appeared, and we gave them a long talk. My mind has been closely employed in the business of the
conference, so that I have slept only about sixteen hours in four nights."
By the 9th of December he is in Lewisburg, North Carolina; and holds a conference, about a mile
from the town, at Green Hill's. "Great peace and unity," he says, "prevailed among us. The preachers
cheerfully signed an instrument, expressing their determination to submit to, and abide by, what the
General Conference has done."
Through all sorts of hardships he again penetrates South Carolina, to face the trials of Charleston.
Hastening from Camden about the end of December, be writes: "We set out early, and came through
pine and oak barrens, twenty-five miles: about one o'clock I was willing to sit down and rest. I have
lately felt all the grace I had put to trial; through mercy I am kept from sin, and long to be perfect in
faith and patience, love and suffering: I am sometimes tempted to wish to die; but I fear it is wrong:
I rather choose to wait the Lord's time."
On the last day of the year his brief record introduces us to a characteristic scene of the country
and the times -- a conference in the wilderness -- no town or village is named as its locality, only the
humble huts of the brethren. "We rode," he says, "forty-five miles to Brother Cook's, on Broad River;
and the next day to brother Finch's: here we are to have about thirty preachers from South Carolina
and Georgia. We were straitened for room, having only twelve feet square to confer, sleep, and for
the accommodation of those who were sick. Brother B. was attacked with the dysentery. On
Wednesday, January 1, 1794, we removed Brother B. into a room without fire. We hastened the
business of our conference as fast as we could. After sitting in a close room with a very large fire,
I retired into the woods nearly an hour, and was seized with a severe chill, an inveterate cough, and
fever, and a sick stomach: with difficulty I sat in conference the following day and I could get but
little rest; Brother B.'s moving so frequently, and the brethren's talking, disturbed me. Sick as I was,
I had to ordain four elders and six deacons; never did I perform with such a burden. I took a powerful
emetic. I was attended by Doctor D. I found I must go somewhere to get rest. The day was cloudy,
and threatened snow; however, Brother R. E. and myself made out to get seven miles to dear old
Brother A. Yeargin's house. The next day came on a heavy fall of snow, which continued two days,
and was from six to ten inches deep. I had to let some blood. I must be humbled before the Lord, and
have great searching of heart."
His next record is that of a thirty miles' ride, though he was so weak "that his exercise and
clothing almost overcame" him. On the 20th of January, 1794, he was again in Charleston, where
he spent nearly a month preaching; visiting from house to house, and confirming the Church.
Meanwhile he writes, "I feel restless to move on, and my wish is to die in the field. I have had a time
of deep dejection of spirits, affliction of body, loss of sleep, and trouble of soul. I find this to be a
barren place; I long to go to my work. When gloomy melancholy comes on, I find it best to think as