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

A HISTORY
OF THE
RISE OF METHODISM IN AMERICA
by
John Lednum
CHAPTER 57
In 1783, Methodism was introduced into Salisbury, N. C., and a small class was formed. One of
the original members of this class was living in 1854. A very interesting account of her has lately
been given by her pastor, the Rev. S. V. Blake. She was the daughter of Mr. William Temple Cole,
and his wife Sarah, born at Cheraw Hills, in 1763, near the Great Pee Dee river, in South Carolina.
At the age of two years, her parents moved to Salisbury. Losing her father, her mother married Mr.
William Thompson. At this time the war was raging; and Gen. Gates being defeated, she, with her
relations, was obliged to fly before the British and Indians, to Frederick county, Md., where she lived
two years. While here, Miss Henrietta Cole was married to Philip Fishburn. The war being over, they
returned to Salisbury.
Miss Cole, now Mrs. Fishburn, had received some early religious instruction from her father,
which had made a good impression. She formed a taste for reading very early in life, which was
never lost, and which accounts for the rich store of information she possesses. Her earliest conviction
for sin dates back to her ninth year, of which she has a distinct recollection, as follows:
She gave her mother a thoughtless and improper answer, for which she was instantly reproved.
Such was her sense of guilt, shame, and sorrow, for this rudeness to her mother, which she felt was
a great sin against God, that she went to a dark room and wept and prayed to God for forgiveness.
From this period, till her fifteenth year, she read everything within her reach, but was deprived of
proper spiritual advisers, or she would have become religious much sooner than she did. In her
sixteenth year, while at her mother's, in Virginia, she became very serious, and her reading was
altogether religious. She began now to feel the need of something to make her happy, and was
earnestly seeking, without knowing what it was. She had five books, which she constantly read, and
which were the only food she had for her seeking soul -- the Bible, Thomas aKempis, Drelincourt
on Death, the Family Instructor, and Pilgrim's Progress. These were her only counselors -- for she
had no ministers to consult, no religious meetings or church privileges. Most of the ministers of the
Established Church had left their parishes and gone to England, in consequence of the war. She
seems to have been led and taught by the Spirit of God alone. A sincere seeker of something to make
her happy, she knew not what, her room and the woods were regularly visited for prayer. Next to her
Bible, she received most light and encouragement from Pilgrim's Progress. In these exercises she
continued until all sense of guilt and sorrow was gone, she knew not where, nor how, and felt her
heart melted down into tenderness, gratitude, and love. Now she was very happy, knew not why, only
that this was the state of mind she had so earnestly sought. Such was her experience at sixteen years
of age. At that time she had never heard of the Methodists. She had lost all relish for foolish and
sinful amusements, and utterly refused to participate in the exercises of a dancing party at her
brother's greatly to the astonishment of all present. During her residence in Maryland, she diligently
sought, in all religious meetings within her reach, food for her soul, but found none. She went to the