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

Next at Annamessex Chapel. Then down to the Lower Chapel. Thence to Downing's, Burton's,
Paramore's, Burton's, Garrettson's, Accomac Court house, John Purnell's, in Wocester county, Snow
Hill Court house, Elijah Laws', in Indiantown, Line Chapel, Mr. Airey's in Dorchester county,
Colonel Vickar's; Sunday, at Cambridge; here the ladies wanted the church opened for him, but the
gentlemen locked it, and took the key away. Next, at Bolingbroke, in Talbot, housing with Dr. Allen,
"a precious man." Thence to the Bayside, in a large church. Then to Tuckeyhoe Chapel, Col.
Hopper's, and Kent Island -- here the man who invited him, shut the church upon him. Next, at
Brother Chair's. Thence to Church Hill, where, by invitation of the vestry, he preached in the church.
Sunday, 12th of December, at Chestertown Chapel. Next, at Kent and Werton Chapels. From here
to Gunpowder Chapel. Next, at J. Dallam's, at Abingdon. And on the 17th of December, at Henry
Dorsey Gough's elegant mansion.
From Barratt's Chapel, Mr. Whatcoat, in company with Mr. Asbury, moved for the Western Shore
of Maryland, visiting Dover and Bohemia Manor, where they fell in with Mr. Vasey. During this
week they attended a quarterly meeting at Deer Creek. He visited and preached at Messrs. Dallam's,
Grover's, Watters', Cromwell's, Hunt's Chapel, Baltimore, and Abingdon, where he received a
pleasing account of the work of God in Nova Scotia, from the Rev. William Black, whom he met
here; and on the 19th of December, met the preachers at Mr. Gough's.
Mr. Asbury attended quarterly meetings on Frederick and Calvert Circuits. That he might know
the will of God, as to the matter that was soon to come before the Conference, he kept a day of
fasting and prayer. He says: "The preachers and people seem to be much pleased with the projected
plan. I am led to think that it is of the Lord. I am not tickled with the honor to be gained; I see danger
in the way; my soul waits on God; O that He may lead us in the way he would have us go."
The week before Conference, Dr. Coke, Messrs. Asbury, Whatcoat, Vasey, and a few more of the
senior preachers, spent at Mr. Gough's, considering some of the rules and minutes of Methodism,
as necessary to the furthering of the work of the Lord in America. Friday, 24th of December, they
left Perry Hall, and rode through a severe frost to Baltimore, where they met a few preachers; and
at ten of the clock Conference began in the Lovely lane Chapel. The preachers arrived from day to
day, and before Conference ended there were about sixty, out of eighty-one, present. Dr. Coke being
in the chair, presented Mr. Wesley's letter to the Conference, in which he gave the reasons of the
course he had taken, n giving orders to the Methodists of this country, leaving them to follow the
Scriptures and the primitive Church, in carrying out the details of his plan. This letter was
considered, and Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury, who had been appointed by Mr. Wesley, joint
superintendents, were unanimously elected to that office by the preachers present. They agreed and
resolved to form a Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the Liturgy, as presented by Mr. Wesley,
should be read, the sacraments administered by superintendents, elders, and deacons, who shall be
ordained by a presbytery, using the Episcopal form, as found in Mr. Wesley's prayer book. The
persons to be ordained, to be nominated by the superintendents, and elected by the Conference; and
ordained by imposition of the hands of the superintendents and elders; the superintendents had a
negative voice. This power to nominate for orders, and negative, was soon taken away from the
superintendents.