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 27
Of the great work in Virginia, its origin and progress, the reader will find a further account in what
follows.
Hitherto Maryland had been the field where the labor of Methodist preachers had been crowned
with the greatest success; but now, Virginia, especially that part of it south of James River, became
the hotbed of Methodism. Candor requires us to say, that the foundation of the great spiritual
prosperity of this region had been laid by the evangelical ministry of the Rev. Devereaux Jarratt, of
the Church of England. Mr. Jarratt studied divinity under the Rev. Samuel Davies, who was the
Presbyterian minister in Hanover county, Virginia; and experienced a change of heart, of which he
was fully sensible while a student.
As the circumstances that led to the settlement of Mr. Davies in Hanover county are singular, we
will relate them. He was of Welsh descent, born within the limits of what is called the "Welsh Tract,"
in New Castle county, Delaware, on the farm owned and occupied by Mr. Alman Lum, near the
Summit Bridge. The Rev. William Robinson visited Virginia in 1743, and was invited to preach at
Morris Reading Room -- a building that Mr. Samuel Morris, and others, had erected for the people
of the neighborhood, to hear Luther's Commentary, Boston's Fourfold State, and Whitefield's
Sermons read in, as they had no minister at that time. The night before Mr. Robinson preached at the
Reading Room, he stayed at a tavern where he had occasion to reprove the landlord for profanity,
who wished to know who Mr. Robinson was, that he took such authority upon him. Mr. Robinson
replied, "I am a minister of the Gospel." The landlord replied, "Then your looks belie you very
much." Mr. Robinson's features were very homely; his face much disfigured by the smallpox, by
which he had lost the use of one of his eyes. Mr. R. said, "If you will accompany me tomorrow, you
can hear me preach;" to which the landlord consented, provided he would preach on "I am fearfully
and wonderfully made." This text was given by the landlord as a sarcasm on Mr. Robinson's face.
Under the discourse, the tavern keeper was made to see that his sinful soul was as uncomely in the
sight of God, as Mr. Robinson's face was in his eye, and led to his reformation. A collection was
made and sent to Mr. Robinson to pay him for his preaching; which he received on this condition,
that it should be applied to educate some pious indigent young man for the ministry with a further
understanding, that the young man should come and preach for them when he was prepared. This
money was applied to educate young Samuel Davies, who afterwards was settled in Hanover county,
Virginia.
While ministering here he was -much interested for the slaves, many of whom attended his
ministry and belonged to his church. Some of them, in the improvement of their few leisure hours,
had learned to read, and were very desirous to have books. He supplied them to the utmost of his
means. About this time Mr. Wesley was much affected by one of his letters, and sent a donation of