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

of their head men, moving out of the neighborhood, left some of his old papers with a friend, who,
on examining them, found the deed of the chapel -- by which means the house was restored to the
Episcopal Methodists.
In 1779, Methodism was commenced at the following places in the state of Delaware: In Sussex
county -- at the Head of the Sound; at Wood's; at J. Gray's; at Evans'; West's; Gibbon's; and among
the Vincents, near the Line Chapel. In North West Fork -- at Solomon Turpin's; and John Cannon's,
near the Chapel Branch; at William Laws', near St. Johnstown; at Lewistown; at Abraham Harris';
and Rhoads Shankland's, near by. About this time, the Zoar meeting was commenced.
Near St. Johnstown lived and died that good old Methodist, David Owen -- a spiritual son of Mr.
Asbury. His son, James Owen, was a local preacher; and was known as a holy man in Milford, in
Baltimore, and in Norfolk, Va. To the St. Johnstown Society belonged several of the Laws, Fowlers,
and Carlisles, with many others. Mr. Charles Cavender, who joined the Philadelphia Conference in
1795, was from this neighborhood; some of his descendants are in Philadelphia.
From the region of Lewistown, came the Rev. Wilson Lee; also, the Rev. James Paynter, who,
as itinerants, did good service to Methodism. The former was a flaming herald.
This year, Methodism had its commencement in Thoroughfare Neck, in New Castle county. Also
in Kent county, at Mr. Wells', who lived near Blackiston's Cross Roads; this meeting is now
represented as Blackiston's Chapel. In the Alley, there was preaching at Joseph Wyatt's, who
commenced preaching this year; also at Wilde's and Stockley's. Near Kenton, at Scotten's, and the
Widow Howard's. At Mr. Sturgis', who lived between Kenton and Dover. At Heather's, who lived
towards Holden's Meeting house. At Mr. Stradley's, not far from Templeville, where there was a
society. At Stephen Black's, whose name we find in the Minutes in 1781, who died soon after this:
at his house there was a society. Below Dover, at Jonathan Sipple's, and Widow Brady's; these
appointments are, probably, now represented in Jones' Neck. At Denadway's, William Virden's, and
Maxfield's; Green's Chapel seems to be the representative of these appointments now. This chapel
was called after Philemon Green.
At Callahan's, not far from Spring Branch, there was preaching. Still lower down in Kent, at the
widow Mastin's. From Canterbury to Berrytown there was preaching at Joseph and Andrew Purdin's.
The society that was raised up this year at Andrew Purdin's, is represented at Purnell's Chapel. This
was a very wicked place. Mr. Asbury called it "Satan's synagogue;" but so great was the reformation
that a bad tavern was broken up. The people of this region were given to horse racing as well as all
other kinds of sport and wickedness; The preachers did not fail to declaim against their vices. Some
of the sons of Belial took Mr. Asbury's horse, without his knowledge, and secretly practiced him on
the racecourse. Soon after, as he was going to Brother Purdin's he came to the course, when the
brute, not discriminating that his master was no racer, put off at full speed and ran over the course,
stopping at the end. In vain did the rider use the laconic monosyllables, "Wo, Spark -- wo, wo, wo,
Spark -- wo, wo, wo, wo, Spark -- wo." Mr. Asbury, in his terrified feelings, found it necessary to
lift his heart to God, by whose mercy he was preserved; and for which his heart was deeply humbled
before the Lord. This served the wicked as some reprisal for his preaching against their vices: as they
could say that his horse had run, and he, the head Methodist preacher, had rode a race; although it