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

Mr. Thomas Ware, having been recommended to Mr. Asbury by his spiritual father, Mr. Pedicord,
was sent, in September, 1783, to fill a vacancy on Dover Circuit. This was the beginning of his
regular itinerant life. His name appears in the Minutes of 1784, for the first time. According to his
own account, he was born in Greenwich, Gloucester county, N. J., December 19, 1758. In 1776, he
volunteered as a soldier in the service of his country, to assist in gaining Liberty and Independence.
After passing through some of the severe vicissitudes of war, he was awakened, and converted to
God in a remarkable manner. Having united with the Methodist society in Mount Holly, when Mr.
Pedicord came to the place to preach his farewell sermon, Mr. Ware went to a house where a number
of his old acquaintances had met the same evening for a ball; as soon as he entered the room some
seemed delighted; but those who best knew him, seemed sad. He was invited to be seated and take
a social glass, which he declined, and said, "You know me, and how delighted I have often been in
your company, and in the amusement in which you have met to indulge. But my conscience will not
allow me now to go with you; and I am persuaded none of your consciences forbid you to go with
me. I have come to invite you to go with me and hear the excellent Mr. Pedicord preach his farewell
sermon. Pardon me, my friends, I am constrained to tell you the Lord has done great things for me
through the instrumentality of this good man." No reply was made to what he said. Some of the
company were affected, and soon left, after he withdrew; but none of the party was offended,
believing that he acted from a divine impulse.
Not long after, Mr. Mair being suddenly called from his work in Jersey, on account of family
affliction, Mr. Ware, in his zeal, went to his appointments to inform the people of the cause of the
preacher's absence, and assist in keeping up the appointments by helping to hold meetings; and
occasionally, he was led to exhort the people, who sometimes wept much under his addresses. This
led Mr. Pedicord to recommend him to Mr. Asbury, who sent for him to meet him at New Mills,
where they first saw each other. At this time, he was examined on doctrine; and as Mr. Asbury
referred to the matter of the ball, and his going on the circuit in Mr. Mair's place, Mr. Ware, thinking
that his zealous course was referred to in order to mortify him, observed, "If the person who
informed you against me had told me of my errors, I should have acknowledged them." Here Mr.
Asbury interrupted him by clasping him in his arms, and saying, in an affectionate tone, "You are
altogether mistaken, my son; it was your friend Pedicord who told me of your pious deeds, and
advised that you should be sent to Dover Circuit."
With a heavy heart, Mr. Ware went to the Peninsula; sorry to leave some of his old companions
in Mount Holly, who were serious on account of sin; and for whom he labored, in hope of seeing
them converted to God. He felt, like many others, that it was engaging in an awfully responsible
calling, and with, going among strangers; but, the simplicity, urbanity, and fervent piety" of the
Methodists on Dover Circuit, made him feel that he was in the right place; after visiting a society,
he longed to return to it again. Here he found some Methodists in the first circle of life; who, in the
midst of wealth, were flowing the self-denying Saviour. Some of the females, such as Judge White's
wife, Mrs. Bassett; and her sisters, Mrs. Ward, and Mrs. Jones, were distinguished for piety and zeal,
above any that he had ever seen. He found many young people seeking religion, and had the
happiness of receiving many of them into society. In his public ministration he was often constrained
to weep over the people, whose tears answered to his; in tears he sowed, that he might reap in joy.