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

a Biography of William Adams printed, and went into New Jersey, as far as New Mills, and found
all the Methodists alive that he left seven years before; and only one had left the society -- during
which time their number had more than doubled. He spent the year 1782 in Fluvanna and Hanover
Circuits. In 1783 he went to Calvert Circuit; and in the latter end of the year located and settled
twelve miles from Alexandria, in Fairfax county, Va. In 1786 he was appointed to Berkley Circuit;
but after six months stopped again. In 1786 his wife's mother, Mrs. Ann Adams, died. She was
among the first in Fairfax county that was brought to the Lord by the preaching of the Methodists
in 1773: she had shown herself to be a mother in Israel. In 1801 he re-entered the itinerancy and was
stationed in Alexandria. In 1802 he was in Georgetown. In 1803 he lost his mother, in her ninety-first
year. In 1803 and in 1804 he was stationed again in Alexandria; and in 1805 at Georgetown, D. C.
In 1806 he located finally. He was alive in 1818 at which time he was sixty-two years old. We are
not in possession of the time of his death; but as he had lived well, we have no doubt but that he died
well. Such is the account of the first native American itinerant Methodist preacher. Mr. Gatch says:
--
"A captain came from the army to visit a brother living the neighborhood, who was a Methodist
and a captain also. While at his brother's he became concerned for the salvation of his soul. He came
to my house when I was about leaving home to fill a round of appointments. I prevailed on him to
accompany me, and on our tour he got religion. Immediately he took his knife from his pocket, cut
the ruffles from his bosom, and had his hair -- which, according to the custom of the time, was long
-- cut off. After preaching at a quarterly meeting on our route, I felt so exhausted that I thought I
could have no further enjoyment of the meeting; but God frequently makes his power manifest in
our weakness. In love feast the captain's servant became graciously wrought upon. My eye affected
my heart. Faith comes by seeing as well as by hearing. The Spirit of the Lord came upon me. In a
short time the house appeared to be filled with his presence, and the work became general. Some
were converted. I never had so great a blessing before in a public congregation. A preacher present
sought to stay the exercises, but could not. He called it my wildfire, but it was the Lord who was
carrying on the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire. The flame was sweet -- one like unto the Son
of God was with us.
"During the summer I took a tour into Hanover Circuit. I was at George Arnold's, in company
with another preacher, and we took a walk into the corn field. The corn was in beautiful silk. We
separated for the purpose of secret prayer. Here the Lord visited me in an uncommon manner. His
gracious Spirit so operated on my body, soul, and spirit, that it was visible to the preacher who was
with me. After waiting some time on me, he started to the house, but the cases of Enoch and Elijah
came to his mind, and he turned back to see what would become of me. I felt in a measure like I was
in heaven, and some that I knew were with me.
"When I heard of the death of Bishop Asbury, that took place at George Arnold's, it brought fresh
to my recollection what I had enjoyed at the same place, and I felt assured that he had gone to rest.
I was much blessed in this journey, and returned home in safety. My wife's heart was in the work
when I left home to serve the Church; we parted in peace, and when I returned we met in love. I once
started to be absent some time from home, and finding that I had forgotten a book I intended to take
with me, I returned, and my wife met me with her arm bleeding, where it had been pierced by the
spindle of a big wheel which had fallen against her. She was so injured that I thought it would be