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

headwaters of the Nanticoke, near Bridgeville, in Sussex county; up to this time there was but one
circuit on the Peninsula.
Mr. Shadford was preaching on the Western shore of Maryland, during the summer and fall of
1777, and ended his labors in America, spending his last winter on the Eastern Shore, in Kent
Circuit. Here he, in company with Mr. Asbury, held quarterly meeting at Mr. White's, which was the
last meeting they were at together.
This was the most trying time, in regard to the preachers, that ever was in America: a time when
both the preachers and their friends, in certain quarters, had to keep a lookout by day and by night,
that they might not fall into the hands of their violent enemies. About this time, Messrs. Asbury and
Shadford were, for a short time, secreted among the White's. A part of this time they spent in an out
house [out building], separated by a skirt of wood[s] from Judge White's domicile. When Mr. White
would take their meals to them, in a stealthy manner, the servants, who were not ignorant of the
arrangement, would sometimes say: "Massa goes through the woods to feed his swamp-robins." Dr.
Edward White, in like manner, sometimes carried their meals to them. They kept a fast day, to know
the will of the Lord concerning them; and while Mr. Asbury believed it to be his duty to remain, Mr.
Shadford felt that he must return. On the 10th of March, 1778, he left Judge White's, and moved
towards Philadelphia, on his way to England, having procured a pass from a colonel to travel to
General Smallwood's camp. When he arrived, he was brought to his apartments, and told him that
he was a Methodist preacher, and considered himself a subject of King George; and asked for a pass
to go to Philadelphia, on his way home. The general roughly replied, "Now, you have done us all the
hurt you could, you want to go home." Mr. Shadford replied, "That he left home, and came here to
do good." He, however, gave him a pass, after he made him swear that he would go directly to
Philadelphia, and thence to England.
As he was proceeding to Philadelphia, a man sprang from behind a bush, and, pointing a loaded
gun at his breast, swore if he did not stop and dismount, he would be a dead man; but, learning that
he had a pass, he suffered him to go on his way, and he arrived in Philadelphia, which at that time
was in possession of British soldiers; and, on the first opportunity, sailed for England.
Reaching his native land, he continued in the regular work of the itinerancy under Mr. Wesley,
until infirmity arrested him in his course. About 1791, he became supernumerary. In this relation,
he continued to the end of life. His last words were, "Ill praise, Ill praise, Ill praise;" and soon after
fell asleep in Jesus, in the seventy-eighth year of his life, and forty-eighth of his itinerancy.
There was the closest union between Mr. Shadford and Mr. Asbury, while they labored and
suffered together in America. Their souls were knit together more closely, if possible, than the souls
of David and Jonathan; and, after the broad Atlantic had separated them thirty-eight years, their
triumphant spirits entered paradise, within ten days of each other. Mr. Shadford lived just thirty-eight
years and one day, after he left Mr. Asbury at Judge White's; and died March 11th, 1816; and Mr.
Asbury followed him, on the 21st of the same month and year. The pious may soliloquize on the joy
their happy spirits realized, on meeting each other so near the same time, in the presence of that
Saviour whom they delighted to hold up to the view of sinners, while ministering here below.