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 59
The Conference of 1784 began at Ellis Chapel, in Sussex county, Va., on the last of April, and
ended its business in Baltimore, in the last of May. This year, for the first time, the question, "What
preachers have died this year?" is found in the Minutes. The names of two were set down, but
nothing was said of their character or the manner of their death.
Another question embraced a plan for erecting new chapels, and paying the debts on such as were
already built, by directing the assistant preacher to raise a yearly subscription in every circuit.
The eleventh question was intended to prevent superfluity in dress among the Methodists, by
obliging the preachers to carefully avoid it in their own clothes, and to speak frequently and faithfully
against it in all the societies.
Another question directed the preachers to improve their knowledge of singing by note; and to
keep close to Mr. Wesley's tunes and hymns.
The following new circuits appear this year on the face of the Minutes: In North Carolina --
Camden, Halifax, and Wilmington. In Virginia -- Accomac, on the Eastern Shore, Hampton,
Richmond, Amherst, Bedford, and Orange, on the Western Shore and Portsmouth substituted
Norfork. In Pennsylvania -- Redstone and Juniata; New Jersey -- Trenton appears again as a third
charge this state; and Long Island as a second charge in New York state. The number of circuits was
forty-six, on which eighty-three preachers were stationed.
The Redstone Circuit, in Pennsylvania, was the first circuit formed beyond the Allegheny
Mountain. General Braddock opened the first road through this wilderness, when he broke up his
camp at Fort Cumberland, in Maryland, in 1755, and marched over the Allegheny, at the head of his
army, to attack the French and Indians at Fort du Quesne, now Pittsburgh; in which expedition he
lost his life. This road, in many places, is yet distinctly visible, and for many miles pursues the same
course nearly as that occupied by the present National Road. The first emigrants that settled beyond
the Allegheny would, for good reason, avail themselves of this, the only road in this wilderness.
Hence the first settlements made by the whites in this region were along this road. What was called
the "Redstone Settlement" was, we opine, in Fayette county. Methodism had crossed the Allegheny
as early as 1781; and now, three years after, a circuit is formed and appears on the Minutes, with
John Cooper and Samuel Breeze stationed on it. The preachers, who had cultivated Allegheny
Circuit the last two or three years, had extended their labors into these parts and formed this circuit.
They were such men as Francis Poythress, James Haw, and Benjamin Roberts. Methodism was also
much strengthened in the mountains of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia by the labors of certain