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

In after years, the preachers found homes and accommodations, on the Atlantic coasts, in the
families of Brothers Peacock, Peterson, Richards, Brown, Chamberlain, Woodmassie, Newman,
White, and Derrick Longstreet, with his sixteen fine healthy children.
It was in 1780 that Mr. Hugh Smith and several of the friends went to quarterly meeting, leaving
Mr. Abbott at home sick. Mr. Abbott followed them. R. G., i. e. Richard Garrettson, preached. Mr.
Abbott followed in exhortation, speaking of his inability to come to the meeting, -- of his impression
to try to ride, -- as soon as he put his foot in the stirrup he felt the power of God come upon him, &c.
As he spoke these words the power came upon the assembly. Mr. Smith, with many others, fell to
the floor, crying aloud. Mr. Smith was not as yet born again. A glorious time followed at that
meeting. (See Abbott's Life, pp. 282, 283.)
It seems to have been about the year 1780 when Methodism was established in Deerfield. Mr.
Abbott received a letter from a pious Presbyterian of the place, telling him "that his house and heart
were open to receive him, and that they had sinners in Deerfield, desiring him to look upon his lines
as a call from God." An appointment was made, which was filled by Mr. Abbott on the following
Sabbath. There was some tenderness manifested by the hearers; and under his next discourse the
people were melted. This and several other places in the neighborhood, became regular preaching
places for the itinerants, and were taken into the circuit. A revival followed, and two societies were
raised up. In this revival the people fell like men slain in battle. Many of the Presbyterians joined the
Methodist society and stood fast, though some of them were brought before the sessions of the
Church for so doing.
It was a common occurrence in that age for the pulpits of other ministers to ring with
denunciations of Methodism and its propagators. At New England Town, the Presbyterian minister
solemnly warned his congregation against hearing Methodist preachers. At Cohansey (now
Bridgetown), Mr. Vantull dealt his blows unsparingly on the first Methodists, and their friends in
that place. To specify, would be an almost endless task; it was a rule that had but few exceptions,
for the Methodists to meet with such treatment from ministers of other denominations. The
consequence was, that it taught Methodist preachers to fight, who, as soon as Methodism was
established, turned upon them, and gave battle to them until they were glad to haul down their colors,
and ask a truce. We heard the Rev. Charles Pitman, at a camp meeting in Jersey, give certain
ministers a talk that made some of their people, who were present to hear it, cry like whipped
children. A gentleman once said, that he would not for five hundred dollars have been in the place
of a certain Church minister who sat under the scathing rebukes of the Rev. Solomon Sharp, at a
camp meeting in Talbot county, Md. This war between the Methodists and other Protestant
denominations, with the exception of a little skirmishing occasionally, seems to be over.
According to the Rev. Thomas Ware, there was a great work going on in Mercer county, N. J.,
in 1780, in which year it is supposed he became a Methodist. There is reason to doubt the accuracy
of the above date. In 1780, Mr. Pedicord, who was the instrument of Mr. Ware's conversion, was
appointed, according to the Minutes, to labor in Delaware state; and the Journal of Mr. Asbury shows
that he was preaching on the Peninsula; nor is there any conclusive evidence that he was in New
Jersey at all in 1780 -- and Mr. Mair was appointed to Philadelphia Circuit this year. As Mr. Ware
wrote his Life when he was old, if we suppose that his memory failed as to the above date, as it