A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

Mr. Downs asked Mr. Chew if he were "a minister of the gospel?" Mr. Chew replied, "Yes." Mr.
Downs then requested him to take the oath of allegiance, which Mr. Chew declined on account of
scruples of conscience. Mr. Downs told him that he was bound by oath of office to execute the law
upon him and send him to prison. Mr. Chew replied calmly that he did not wish him to perjure
himself; that he was ready to suffer the penalty of the law. Mr. Downs, looking at him, replied, "You
are a strange man, and I cannot bear to punish you, I will, therefore, make my house your prison."
He, accordingly, committed him to prison in his own house under his hand and seal, where he kindly
entertained him for about three months, in which time he was fully awakened under the prayers and
exhortations of Mr. Chew, and his lady was truly converted to God. Mr. Downs and his wife became
Methodists; and, assisted by others, built the first Methodist chapel in the county called "Ebenezer
Chapel" -- this house was erected between 1780 and 1784. It was a rallying center for the Methodists
of this county in the last century; and Tuckeyhoe Neck furnished its quota of preachers for the
itinerancy in the Reverends Ezekiel Cooper, Solomon Sharp, Stephen Martindale, and Thomas Neal.
When Dr. Coke first preached in Tuckeyhoe Chapel in December 1784, he says, "The people here
are the best singers I have heard in America."
Mr. John Cooper, who was one of the early and leading Methodists in Tuckeyhoe Neck, used to
relate, with others, a strange phenomenon which was often seen in the evening meetings, during a
great revival, which was going on in Tuckeyhoe Neck, when Methodism was in its infancy in that
neighborhood. An unaccountable light, resembling flame, was often seen hovering over the heads
of the Methodists, when engaged in prayer and class meetings. It was seen several times, by many
people, brooding over different persons. This phenomenon produced not only awe in the minds of
the beholders, but it was a witness to the divinity of the work, and led the unconverted to venerate
the Methodists.
The Rev. William Cooper, of the Philadelphia Conference, son of the above named John Cooper,
who communicated the account to us, says, "I often sat and trembled when my father, mother, and
others were conversing about this, with other strange appearances of those times."
In the course of this year (1775) the Methodists were decreasing in New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania. In Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, there was a large increase. The return of
members to the following Conference was 4921, and no return was made for Kent Circuit, which
returned the previous year 353 -- this added to the above number would make 5174. The increase
was more than 2000. At this time there were north of Mason an Dixon's line 523. South of it 4651
-- nearly nine-tenths of the Methodists at this time were in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.