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

in the different of temperament; but the major cause, undoubtedly, was in the different religious
trainings which the people had received. In the South the region of the Church of England prevailed;
and as the Methodists preached the same doctrine, and, to a considerable extent, fellowshipped this
religious community, they had much success among them; in some regions nearly every serious
Churchman became a Methodist. The Calvinistic sects of the North had stubborn prejudices; the
doctrine taught by the Methodists was denounced by them as monstrous. In some regions, the
language in which they preached, was but little understood by the German population. In the
beginning the Quakers came in considerable numbers to hear them preach, seeing in them plainness
of dress, and that spirituality which was part of their system; yet it was not long before they
denounced them as hirelings, and used their influence to keep their people from hearing, and more
especially from uniting with them. These causes, backed by general phlegmatic character, disputed
every inch of the way with Methodism in the North.
After the Christmas Conference ended, Dr. Coke went to New York, to make arrangements for
Messrs. Garrettson and Cromwell, the missionaries for Nova Scotia, to sail thither. Returning
through New Jersey, he preached, for the first time, in Burlington, in the church, by invitation of the
vestry; at the same time he paid his first visit to New Mills. From here he went to the Peninsula. He
noted in his Journal that there was a revival among the Methodists in Wilmington, Del. After visiting
Duck Creek, Dover, Judge White's, Henry Down's, Colonel Hopper's, Dudley's, Chestertown,
Abingdon, and Mr. Gough's, he came to Baltimore, where there was another revival of religion in
progress. At this time he prevailed on the Methodists of Baltimore to build a new church; the Lovely
lane Chapel was sold, and the original Light Street House was built. From here he started on a tour
through the South. At Elkridge he had service in the old church, and was entertained by Mr. Dorsey.
Going from here to Alexandria, he saw what to him was a novel sight, -- the trees hung in icicles,
resembling trees of ice. Between Alexandria and Colchester, he was near being drowned while
crossing a swollen stream of water. He reached Portsmouth by the middle of March. While in the
South he often officiated in the churches of other denominations, especially those of the old Church
of England. This was the case at the Brick Church, Coenjock, Sandy Hook, St. John's, Bridges,
Roanoke, Bent, and some other places. Sometimes in court houses, as at Edenton, and Pasquotank;
but most commonly he preached in Methodist houses. This was the case at Jolly's, Williams'
Campbell's, Moore's, Malone's, Johnson's, Dawsing's, Almond's, Bedford's, Martin's, Baker's,
Kennon's, Taylor's, Hill's, Jones', Merritt's, Mason's, Spain's, Granger's, Finney's, Briscoe's, Agee's,
Bransford's, Hopkin's, Key's, Grimes', Fry's, and Watson's. Some, who made no profession of
religion, and were ranked among the rich, not only kindly entertained him, but had him to preach at
their houses, -- such were Messrs. Outlaw and Lovings. In passing through some parts of North
Carolina, he noticed that it was very remarkable for water, and frogs, and sickness, and there had
been much mortality just about this time. As Dr. Coke was strongly opposed to slavery, he did not
cultivate Mr. Jarratt's friendship as Mr. Asbury and some others had done. Mr. Jarratt was the owner
of twenty-four slaves, and a strenuous asserter of the justice of slavery. While the Doctor was in
Virginia, he began to exhort the Methodists to free their slaves. At a quarterly meeting at Brother
Martin's, he preached directly against slave holding, which caused much excitement; one lady flew
out of the house and offered fifty pounds to any one who would give that little doctor one hundred
lashes. At his next appointment many came out prepared to beat him if he said anything on the
subject; but, as he was silent on the matter, he escaped. At another place, while holding quarterly
meeting in a fine church, two gay young ladies, daughters of the principal owner of the church, went