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 29
Mr. Shadford, after spending a year and a half in Virginia, started for Maryland, in the midst of
winter, and was lost in the woods, where the snow was a foot deep; and, as the weather was very
cold, he knew he must perish if he remained there all night. He kneeled down there, on the snow, and
prayed to God to direct him. He arose, believing he would be directed; and as he listened, he heard
a dog bark, at a distance, and following the sound, he found a plantation and house, where he was
sheltered, and probably saved from death.
In the latter end of this Conference year, Mr. Asbury was preaching in and around Annapolis. This
seems to have been the commencement of Methodism in Anne Arundal county. Of those who first
received Methodism in this region, we may name Messrs. Weems, Childs, Griffith, Heneliss,
Bignell, Gray, Dorsey, Ridgely, Bennett, Wood, and Wilson.
One of the first Methodists in Annapolis, was Mr. Wilkins. This family afterwards settled in
Baltimore, and was a leading family among the Methodists of this city. In the region of Annapolis,
was the Guest family. Richard, and Dorothy Guest, his wife, were of the first race of Methodists, and
died happy, in a good old age. The Rev. Job Guest was of this good stock. The Watkins family was
an important family in after years. In this section, were Simmonds and Williams.
In Annapolis, as in Norfolk, the play house was the preaching house. At that time, there was much
avowed infidelity in the Bible, in the capital of Maryland, and very few believed in inward religion.
While preaching in Annapolis, the Assembly was in session, and a gentleman invited Mr. Asbury
to Worcester county, to preach. About four years after this, the Methodists found their way into this
county, and raised up societies.
The war spirit had wrought the enemies of Methodism into a rage. Mr. Asbury had been fined £5,
near Baltimore, for preaching. On another occasion, not far from Annapolis, his chaise was shot
through, but the Lord preserved his person. It seems that Mr. Asbury was endeavoring to form a new
circuit around Annapolis, and although there were some societies raised up about this time, it was
several years after, when Annapolis Circuit first appeared in the Minutes.
In the course of this year, a very wicked man, that lived at Deer Creek, in Maryland, was
summoned into eternity, in way that led religious people to interpret the event as a judgment of God.
His sin was cursing the Holy Spirit, when he was instantly struck dead. God is not an indifferent
observer of the conduct of mankind, though most men act as if they believed Him to be such. The
great reformation that had been in this region, had left some obdurate sinners unconverted. The
history of Christianity shows, that the more powerfully God works, the more does Satan rage; and