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

men preach the truth!" The father let him know, in language unmistakably plain, that if he continued
to cleave to the Methodists he would be punished and disinherited. The son replied, "Father, the
influence which draws me to the Methodists, is good, and conscience and heaven approve." Thomas,
finally, made a profession of religion, and joined society. Soon after, it was known to the father, who
invited the son upstairs to a private conference, taking along, as an umpire, a cow-skin or horsewhip.
Thomas pleaded that he had done only what he felt to be a duty. While the father was fiercely plying
the lash, the son caught him round the waist, saying, "Father, how I love you! I have had doubts of
my acceptance with God, but now they are all gone; I have assurance." As they were in close
quarters, the father had lost much of his power in applying the whip; and, as his ire was somewhat
spent, the fray ended.
The old gentleman's sons were in the habit of planting out trees for fruit and for ornament, thus
improving the estate of their father, which they expected to possess. Once when his sons were
planting out trees, he said, "Tom, what is the reason that you do not plant out trees as your brothers
do?" Thomas answered, "It is no use for me to plant out trees, father, since you have assured me that
you will disinherit me. Nevertheless, if my brother's desire it, and will ask me, I will help them to
plant out." When Mr. Robert Wright deceased, and his will was opened, contrary to the expectation
of Thomas and the community, the homestead was given to his Methodist son; and it was a home
for Methodist preachers. Mr. Thomas Wright was a local preacher, and the only one of the family
that ever was a Methodist. He was far the most popular, with the people of Queen Anne's, of all of
this family of Wrights He was sent to the legislature once, or oftener. It appears that he lived and
died in the favor of men and of his Maker.
During this year the Methodists of Thoroughfare Neck, in New Castle county, Del., erected a
small chapel, called Friendship. It was built of cedar logs that were brought from Jersey, that bid fair
to last like the gopher of Noah's ark.
In November, of this year, the Rev. Jesse Lee received a letter from the Rev. C. B. Pedicord [26]
(who was in the South, taking the oversight of the work, supplying the circuits, and changing the
preachers, by Mr. Asbury's direction), requesting him to accompany the Rev. Edward Drumgole to
that part of North Carolina which lies to the north and west of Edenton, for the purpose of forming
a new circuit. With this request Mr. Lee complied, and commenced his eventful career of itinerating.
They arrived in Edenton, and formed some acquaintance with Mr. Pettigrew, the Church minister,
in whose church Mr. Drumgole was permitted to preach. Moving towards the Dismal Swamp, they
crossed the Pasquotank river, and held meeting at Mr. Jones', near the Plankbridge. They next
reached Brother Halstead's, in Norfolk county, Va., where they found some who had been in society
with the Methodists, and had enjoyed regular circuit preaching before the war, which had driven the
preachers from them for the last five years, during which time they had waited and prayed for the
preachers to visit them again, and now their prayer was answered. They made another appointment
at the Northwest Brick Church. They then called on Col. Williams, in Currituck county -- who
afterwards became a Methodist. They made another appointment at Indiantown; and, also, at Gen.
Gregory's, Mr. Sawyer's, and Riverbridge. Mr. Drumgole was, also, permitted to preach in Yeopin
Church. They then went home with parson Pettigrew, and lodged with him. While forming this
circuit, Mr. Drumgole preached, and Mr. Lee generally followed him in exhortation. They had now