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

street, and organized and established what has since been known as the Union Methodist Episcopal
Church. Here Mr. Haskins continued to act as a local preacher. His second wife was a lady of New
Jersey, Elizabeth Richards by name.
About the year 1811, a number of the leading members of the Academy in Fourth street, and Mr.
Haskins among them, engaged in erecting a Methodist church in Tenth street, below Market, which
they called St. Thomas' Church. As Mr. Haskins, as a business man of Philadelphia, was somewhat
favorably known to Stephen Girard, he, in company with a friend, called on Mr. Girard for a
donation. It is well known that the last named individual had no partiality for churches; yet, on the
ground that the house they were building would improve the city, he contributed five hundred
dollars; the only money that we ever heard of, as coming from him, that helped to build a church.
About the same time, Dr. Staughton was erecting the Sansom street Baptist Church; and, having
heard of the success of the Methodists with Stephen, he concluded to try him for a gift. Whereupon
Mr. Girard filled up a check for about half the amount that he had given toward St. Thomas'. When
the Doctor read the check, he remarked, "Mr. Girard, you gave the Methodists so many hundred
dollars; how is it that you give me only about half that sum?" To which Stephen responded, "Let me
see the check again." It was handed back to him with a hope that he would double the sum.
Whereupon he tore it to pieces, saying in broken English, "If you be not contented wid dat, den me
gib you noting."
An opinion prevailed among the poorer members of the Academy congregation, that St. Thomas'
church was built to accommodate a few wealthy Methodist families, and they refused to attend it.
Its friends did not succeed in raising a congregation; and, after a few years, it was sold, and the
Protestant Episcopalians bought it; and having remodeled and greatly improved its appearance, it is
now known as St. Stephen's Church.
In 1816, the Rev. Thomas Haskins yielded to the stern decree, "Unto dust shalt thou return," aged
fifty-six years. The marble slab that covers his remains is in the rear of the Union M. E. Church in
Fourth street, Philadelphia. His widow survived him for forty years. Her last years were spent in New
York, where she died. Her obituary was written by her old friend Dr. Holdich, and published in the
Advocate. The remains of her husband have been removed from the Union Church, to repose with
the rest of the family in a cemetery at New York.
Mr. Peter Moriarty was born in Baltimore county, Md., in 1758. His parents were Papists, and
raised him in that faith. When sixteen years old the Methodists came into his neighborhood, in 1774,
and made a great stir. His parents and his priest warned him not to go near them. At length
Providence opened a way for him to hear them. They seemed to him more like angels than men, yet
he concluded they could not be right, as they preached that men must know their sins forgiven in this
life, in order to be happy here and hereafter. He continued to hear them until his eyes were opened
to see that his confessions to the priest were delusions, and that he was in the way to hell. It was then
said by priest and people that the Methodists had made him mad. His father threatened to turn him
out of his house, if he did not cease weeping and wailing on account of his sins. He continued to read
his Bible; and in the light he had, to seek the Lord until be found peace, and knew that he was
reconciled to God. He then united with the Methodists. Soon after he began to be exercised about
calling sinners to repentance. In 1781, he gave himself up to the work of the ministry; and in 1782