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

When Wesley Chapel was being erected, in 1768, Mr. Embury, being a carpenter, wrought much
upon it; he made the pulpit, and afterwards preached the dedicatory sermon, from Hosea x. 12, on
the 30th of October, 1768. He was both trustee and treasurer of the enterprise at this time. The chapel
was forty-two feet wide, and sixty feet long.
Mr. Embury continued to live in New York in 1769, and during a part of the year 1770. While he
remained he was preaching and laboring for the Methodists, who were inexpressibly dear to him.
When he was about to leave them, as a token of love to him, the Methodist Society contributed
twenty-five shillings, to pay for a copy of Cruden's Concordance, which he carried with him to his
new home; this book, with Embury's autograph in it, was in the possession of a son of his, in 1845,
who was then "seventy-eight years old, little of stature -- his head thickly set with hair white as
wool." He had been a Methodist for fifty years. He was then living in East Canada, near the line
which divides it from Vermont. Here he was found by the Rev. Isaac Stone, from whose letter, in
the Christian Advocate and Journal, this extract is taken. It is highly probable that this book is still
carefully preserved in some branch of his descendants.
In 1770, Mr. Embury, after a sojourn of ten years in New York, bade a final adieu to it, and settled
in the town of Camden, Washington county, N. Y. He was accompanied to his new home by Peter
Switzer, most likely his brother-in-law, Mr. Ashton, who paid the Rev. Robert Williams expenses
to America, in 1769, and others of the New York Methodists.
In this place he continued to preach, and raised a small society, which consisted chiefly of his own
countrymen. Here he was held in such esteem by the people that he filled the office of justice of the
peace. He did not, however, live long; he died suddenly in 1775, from an injury received while
mowing in his meadow; at the time of his death he was about forty-five years old. His surviving
friends were well satisfied that his end was that of a righteous man. His remains were interred on the
plantation of his friend Peter Switzer, about seven miles from Ashgrove, where they rested until
1832, when they were removed to the Methodist burying ground, in Ashgrove, and a marble tablet
placed to perpetuate his memory.
Mr. Embury was a preacher that gave evidence of feeling what he said to others; he often wept
while he preached; and if he did not possess a scintillating genius, he had what was of far greater
value, the adornment of the modesty and meekness of Christian piety, and was owned of his Saviour
in life and in death. He was the instrument chosen by the Head of the Church to lift up the standard
of Methodism in what is now acknowledged to be the empire city of the nation; and, although such
abilities as he possessed as a preacher would not attract a congregation at this day in New York, yet
he will be held in grateful and lasting remembrance on account of the work he once performed there.
And while Mr. Strawbridge must be regarded as the apostle of Methodism in Maryland, the same
must be accorded to Mr. Embury in relation to New York.
His widow married a Methodist by the name of Lawrence, and settled in Upper Canada. A
grandson of Mr. Embury, whose name was Fisher, was in New York, in 1853, at the anniversary of
the Ladies Union Aid Society, in Bedford Street. It was a great matter for the people of New York
to see a descendant of his among them. See "Lost Chapters," by Rev. J. B. Wakeley, p.134.