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

Mr. Garrettson was the most efficient laborer in this field. The beginning of this year was the most
trying time that the Methodists had experienced. The storm had been gathering for three years. The
first blood had been shed in defense of the rights claimed by the colonists in 1775. The same year,
the barbarous Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, had burnt Norfolk, and sent five
thousand homeless men, women, and children wandering through the country. The king had sent
forth his proclamation, calling on the colonists to submit. Mr. Wesley had, most unfortunately for
his followers here, dipped his pen into the polities of America. His assistant, Rankin, had declared
from the pulpit of St. George's, that he believed God's work would not revive until the people
submitted to King George. Mr. Rodda had been detected, while on Kent Circuit in 1777, in
circulating the king's proclamation, and had to leave the work and take refuge in the British fleet,
then in the Chesapeake; and Chancy Clowe, who had been a public speaker, and a Methodist of some
note, raised a company of three hundred men, having his headquarters in Kenton forest, Kent county,
Del., where the lines of his fortifications are still to be seen intending to make his way through the
country, and join the British in the Chesapeake Bay. This company was dispersed, and Clowe their
leader was tried, condemned, and executed in the state of Delaware. There was but one, besides
Clowe, found in this rebel company that had ever borne the name of Methodist.
Add to all this, that the Methodists, however well affected to their country, were conscientiously
opposed to bearing arms and fighting. All this gave pretext to their enemies to call them Tories, and
look upon them as enemies of the rights and liberties of their country. Hence the storm of persecution
that came upon Mr. Wooster, who was imprisoned at Annapolis; upon Mr. Jonathan Forrest; upon
Mr. Asbury, who was fined, and driven out of the work for a short time; upon Mr. Hartley, who was
arrested in Queen Anne's, and subsequently put in Talbot jail; upon Mr. Garrettson, who was beaten
in Queen Anne's, and afterwards put in Cambridge jail; upon Judge White, for harboring them; upon
Pedicord and others.
In June, 1778, Mr. Garrettson commenced his labors at Kent meeting house, on the Eastern shore.
Here the Methodists had many friends; and, we may add, the people of this county never so violently
persecuted the preachers. The friends here advised him to remain with them, and not expose his life
by traveling at large. He tried to comply with this advice, but in the course of a week his spirit was
stirred within him: he cried to God to know his will, and felt an impulse to go forward, believing that
the Lord would stand by and deliver him. With this Divine assurance he left his Kent friends, not
fearing his worst enemies, and went through Cecil county, and part of Delaware state as far as Judge
White's, unmolested; but when he went into Queen Anne's he was threatened with imprisonment.
As he was going into Kent, Mr. John Brown met him, and seizing the horses bridle told him he must
go to jail. Mr. Garrettson remonstrating against his order, he commenced beating him over the head
and shoulders with a stick. Just then Mr. Garrettson, breaking away from him, put whip to his horse
and endeavored to make his escape. But Mr. Brown took a nearer route, and heading him, struck at
him, but missed him. Just then Mr. Garrettson's horse, stopping suddenly, threw him to the ground
in an insensible state. He was taken to a house near by and bled by a doctress, who just then was
passing by, and who carried her lancet when called out. This restored him to his senses. Mr. Brown,
fearing that if his victim died he would be tried for murder, was much agitated, while Mr. Garrettson
was exhorting his persecutor to repentance, as happy as he well could be. But as soon as Mr. Brown
thought him out of danger of death, he brought a magistrate to have him sent to prison. But when Mr.