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

A HISTORY
OF THE
RISE OF METHODISM IN AMERICA
by
John Lednum
CHAPTER 26
In May, 1776, the fourth Conference was held in Baltimore. This is the first time that Conference
was held in this town. The two circuits in Jersey were put into one. Chester was merged into the
Philadelphia Circuit. Norfolk was burnt down, and the name of the circuit disappears. Four new
circuits appear on the Minutes -- Fairfax, Hanover, and Pittsylvania, in Virginia, and Carolina, in
North Carolina. Fairfax was taken from Frederick circuit, and Hanover, Pittsylvania, and Carolina,
were taken from Brunswick Circuit. There were eleven circuits, and twenty-five traveling preachers,
including Mr. Rankin.
In the days of St. Paul, "not many mighty, not many noble," were brought into the fellowship of
Christians by the preaching of the gospel; very few of this description have been found among the
Methodists; nevertheless, there was now and then one who was reached by the Methodist ministry
[11]
in the beginning. About this time, "Mr. Fairfax (a relation of old Lord Fairfax), a gentleman of
large estate in Fairfax county, Virginia, was savingly brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ. He was at the Conference held in Baltimore, in 1776, and in the love feast, he spoke of what
God had done for his soul, with such simplicity and unction from on high, as greatly affected every
one that heard him."
Mr. Francis Hollingsworth was the first gentleman of much wealth, that consorted with the
Methodists. Next, Mr. Gough, who it seems, was worth nearly a quarter of a million of dollars. Now,
Mr. Fairfax. In 1780, Mr. Richard Bassett, who, in his day, was wealthy and influential. About the
year 1787, Mr. James Robert, of South Carolina, a man of much wealth, became a Methodist. In
1790, General Hardy Bryan, of North Carolina, and General Russell, of Virginia. About the same
time, Lieutenant Governor Van Courtlandt, of New York, and General Lippett, of Rhode Island.
These individuals, as nearly as we can ascertain, were the most distinguished by their wealth and
position in society, of any that became Methodists in the last century, when Methodism was planted
in their respective neighborhoods. But, let it be remembered, that no one was retained in society at
that day, merely on account of his money. These wealthy families conformed to Methodist rule and
discipline as strictly as the poor slaves, with whom they mingled in worship.
Kent Circuit had three preachers -- Nicholas Watters, William Wren, and Joseph Hartley sent to
it.
Mr. Nicholas Watters was an elder brother of William Watters, born in Maryland, in 1739. He
began to exhort in 1772, and in 1776 was received as a traveling preacher, and sent to Kent Circuit.
In 1779 he located, and remained in that relation to Methodism for many years. He came in the
traveling connection again, and ended his life and his labors in the work, in Charleston, S. C., in
1804, in his sixty-fifth year. He was a Christian of great moral courage, and nothing delighted him