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

out of the house with airs of disrespect; the doctor reproved them, whereupon their father resolved
to horsewhip him, but, as the colonel's brother sided with the doctor, who made some apology, he
escaped this time also. Some of his religious services lasted six and a half hours, which time was
spent in worship, teaching, and administering the ordinances. In some sections, he observes, "the
people eat but two meals in the day, taking breakfast at 9 o'clock A.M., and dinner at 4 or 5 PM."
When the doctor came near the Blue Ridge it reminded him of his native country, and he remarked,
"That it was more like Wales, in its mountainous aspect, than any part of America he had seen."
In Alexandria, Dr. Coke and Bishop Asbury met, and proceeded to General Roberdeau's, who was
a great friend to the Methodists, and who was to introduce them to General Washington. On the 27th
of May they arrived at Mount Vernon, and received a very polite reception. General Washington
gave them his views on slavery, which were adverse to it. Dr. Coke remarked, "I greatly loved him.
Surely we are kindred spirits. O that my God would give him the witness of His Spirit." At
Annapolis, in the play house, most of the great lawyers came out to hear the doctor preach; also, next
morning at 5 o'clock, most of the fine ladies, as well as the gentlemen, attended again.
In this tour through the South, Dr. Coke had attended two Conferences: one at Brother Green
Hills, in North Carolina, where twenty preachers met. The increase in this southern district was 91.
At this Conference, Beverly Allen was ordained elder. The other Conference was at Brother Mason's
in Virginia. Here the people were much agitated with the late rule on slavery, and the petition to the
Virginia Assembly for emancipation. To make matters worse, Mr. O'Kelley preached against slavery,
and they were angry enough. Some intimations were given that the preachers had a mind to withdraw
their labors from slave holders; but, at the Conference held in Baltimore, June 1st, the obnoxious rule
ceased to operate. At this Conference, the Rev. Le Roy Cole, one of the elders ordained six months
before, was suspended; and Messrs. John Tunnell, Gulch Boyer, Ignatius Pigman, Thomas Foster,
and John Baxter of Antigua, were raised to the office of elders; and Michael Ellis, and William
Ringold, were made deacons. After this, Dr. Coke sailed for England.
In the Minutes of 1785, the death of two valuable itinerants is noted -- Pedicord and Mair; the
former died in the beginning of 1785, the latter soon after: of Caleb B. Pedicord, the Rev. Thomas
Ware says, he was the first that fell after the Methodist Church was organized. It is said that he was
a man of tears, and often wept while holding up to the view of his congregations a crucified
Redeemer. He was dead to the world, and alive to God, and lives -- and ever shall live with God.
Mr. Pedicord was a ready scribe, and acted as such for Mr. Asbury on several occasions. He wrote
an elegant hand. As may be seen in the Bible which he used while he preached. Which is in
possession of George Sparks, ex-Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware.
In 1798, when Mr. Asbury was so broken down with affliction as to be obliged to give up
traveling, for a while he spent the time among his Virginia brethren, Saunders, Selby, Pelham,
Myrick, and Drumgole. While in this condition his sympathy led him to say, "I feel for those who
have had to groan out a wretched life dependent on others -- as Pedicord, Gill, Tunnel, and others
whose names I do not now recollect; but their names are written in the book of life, and their souls
are in the glory of God." The wretchedness of life of these good men consisted in their sufferings of