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

He observes, "I rode down in the Neck (most likely Jones' Neck), and preached near Delaware
Bay. Four years ago (1778, when he was first in this region), I preached in this house, when the
whole Neck seemed to be in Egyptian darkness. I never visited them again until now; and, as I
thought then, labored to little purpose; I now find among them twoscore professing the knowledge
of Jesus Christ, many of whom date their conversion from that day."
Meeting with George Moore of Broad Creek, they rejoiced together greatly in considering the
great amount of good which God had done in this part of his vineyard during the last four years.
About this time he preached at the funeral of "our dear brother Smith," who had lived a life of piety.
He bore his afflictions like a Christian. He lost his speech, in a measure, some months before his
death; but the signs he made and the tears which so plentifully flowed removed all doubt of his
readiness for death. He lived happy and died happy, and left a family happy in God. It appears that
he lived and died not far from Barratt's Chapel.
Under date of January, 1783, he [Garrettson] says, "I am once more among my Dover friends.
Surely God is among this people. The last Sabbath I preached here the Lord in mercy laid his hand
upon one of the greatest persecutors in this town. In his distress he cried mightily to God, until he
converted his soul; and also his wife, and his sister-in-law; and now he is resolutely determined on
helping to build a brick chapel. I visited Sister Bassett, who, in her affliction, is one of the happiest
women I have met with a living witness of sanctification, whose soul seems to be continually
wrapped in a flame of love. Several of this family are happy in the love of God; and four of them
profess to enjoy perfect love. Surely God has a church in Mr. Bassett's house."
While visiting the societies in Kent and New Castle counties, he enjoyed sweet consolation among
them. He found many of the members going on to perfection. He generally preached once or twice
every day, besides meeting the classes; and while engaged in this work he realized the happiness of
a father visiting his spiritual children; and could say with St. John, "I have no greater joy than to find
my children walking in the truth." As he was wholly given up to the work of saving souls, he often
"wept between the porch and the altar," and felt that "the burden of the Lord was upon him." In this
way he went on until the May following, when he repaired to Baltimore to attend Conference.
It was about the year 1782 that Mr. Robert North Carnan became a Methodist. He was a citizen
of Baltimore county, Md., and had rendered active service during the Revolutionary war. He
belonged to the upper strata of society -- being cousin to Gen. Ridgley, afterwards governor of
Maryland; also, to Mrs. Prudence Gough. Mrs. Carnan had already attached herself to the Methodists
as a seeker. Brother Richard Owen, one of the early preachers, spoke searchingly to her in class
meeting on a certain occasion, at which she was much wounded in her feelings; but it resulted in her
happy conversion to God. Her husband was too much of a gentleman to use violent measures to
throw her off of her religious course, and undertook to laugh her out of her religious enthusiasm; but,
instead of jesting her out of her enjoyments, he soon became seriously concerned for his own
spiritual welfare. Like most of the Maryland gentry, he was fond of the turf, and, at the time of his
awakening, was engaged in a horse race. He now had trouble enough between consummating the
race and hushing the clamors of an awakened conscience. Being a member of the so-called Church
of England, he advised with his parson, who told him that all that he knew of religion, or of
Christianity, consisted in attending to the ordinances and services of the Church; that if Mr. C.