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

When he came to Albany, N. Y., about 1766, he had family worship in his house regularly; in this
exercise some of his neighbors united with him occasionally. On these occasions he sometimes gave
a word of exhortation; no great impression, however, was made by these earliest efforts in behalf of
Methodism, on the descendants of the Dutch of Albany. It was not until 1788 or 1789, that the
Methodists established a society in this oldest town of New York.
Mr. Webb was the leading man in building Wesley Chapel. It might have been some years before
such a place for worship had been erected in New York but for him. He was the most responsible
man connected with the enterprise -- he led the way in obtaining a site on "Golden Hill" -- he headed
the subscription with thirty pounds -- the largest sum put down by any one; and, besides being the
most responsible one in contracting for materials and labor, he collected thirty-two pounds in
Philadelphia, while making his earliest visits to this city to establish Methodism, and paid it over for
the use of the chapel.
Wesley Chapel cost from six to eight hundred pounds. Mr. Embury, the carpenter, received, for
work done on it, a considerable amount. David Morris, another carpenter, was paid more than one
hundred pounds. John Gasner received, for painting and glazing, from ten to eleven pounds. Samuel
Edmonds, the grandfather of Judge Edmonds, the notorious spiritualist of this time, was the stone
mason who put up and plastered the walls. He received for furnishing material, work done, &c.,
more than five hundred pounds. Thomas Bell, a Methodist from England, worked a week upon the
chapel.
It is proper to notice some of the first Methodists in New York a little more in detail. The Heck
family was from Balligarane, the same place that Mr. Embury came from. They were well acquainted
in Ireland, and came to this country together, in 1760. Paul Heck had married Barbara Ruckle before
they came to America. Some of the Ruckles, her relatives, are living near Baltimore at this time. Mrs.
Heck was a Christian of the highest order; she lived much in prayer and had strong faith, and,
therefore, God used her for great good in New York: she roused Embury, and set him to work as
preacher and pastor -- having received an answer to prayer, she encouraged Embury, Webb, and
others, to proceed in the erection of Wesley Chapel. Some of her descendants are still living; and
much of her spirit and practice have been found with her children.
Paul Heck, son of Paul and Barbara Heck, was born at Balligarane, in Ireland, in 1752. He came
to New York with his parents, in 1760, when he was eight years old. He joined the Methodist society
in New York, in 1770, when he was eighteen. In 1774, he was married to Hannah Dean. For many
years he was trustee and leader of a class at Wesley Chapel. Having been an exemplary Methodist
fifty-five years, he departed this life, with countenance mantled with smiles, and the shout of "Glory
to God!" for the purifying blood of Christ, which gave him the victory, in the seventy-third year of
his life.
His companion, Hannah, was a Methodist two or three years before he joined them; she was for
many years a faithful leader of a little band among the Methodists. After surviving him a few years,
she followed him, in joyful hope, to her everlasting rest. She lived longer on earth, and was in
communion with the Methodists more years than her husband.