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

In 1768 Dr. Wrangle was called home, returning by way of England, where he spent some time,
and formed an acquaintance with Mr. Wesley, whose zeal, usefulness, and economy, he much
admired. Under date of October of this year, Mr. Wesley wrote in his Journal: "I dined, (at Bristol,
England,) with Dr. Wrangle, one of the king of Sweden's chaplains, who has spent several years in
Pennsylvania. His heart seemed to be greatly united to the American Christians; and he strongly
pleaded for our sending some of our preachers to help them, multitudes of whom are as sheep
without a shepherd. He preached at the new room, to a crowded audience and gave general
satisfaction by the simplicity and life which accompanied his sound doctrine." It has been thought
that his pleading with Mr. Wesley had good influence, -- in the following year two preachers were
sent. While Dr. Wrangle was in England, he corresponded with Messrs. Hood and Wilmer and others
of his pious acquaintances in Philadelphia, sending them some of Mr. Wesley's religious tracts, and
advised them in case the Wesleyan preacher formed a society in Philadelphia, to unite with it: thus
were Messrs. Hood, Wilmer and others directed, by this pious Swede, to the Methodists: and when
Messrs. Boardman and Pilmoor were appointed to labor in America it was first known to the
Philadelphia brethren by a letter from him.
The same year, while Dr. Wrangle was pleading for the destitute in Pennsylvania, Captain Webb
formed a Methodist society in Philadelphia, which was the first society raised up in this city. When
first formed, it consisted of James Emerson and wife, Miles Pennington and wife, Robert Fitzgerald
and wife, and John Hood, -- seven persons. James Emerson was the first Methodist class leader in
Philadelphia. Soon after a society was formed, Lambert Wilmer and wife, Duncan Steward and wife,
Burton Wallace and wife, Mrs. John Hood, and Mr. Croft (the proprietor of their place of worship),
were added to it. Not long afterwards, Edward Evans, Daniel Montgomery, John Dowers, Edmund
Beach, and probably their wives, were also added to it. The Rev. Peter Vanest informed us that in
1771 he was in Philadelphia, but knew no Methodists in this city but John Patterson an wife, who
were then members of society. Nor did he wish to know the Methodists then; for, when he passed
by St. George's, he was afraid to go on the east side of Fourth St., and bore away on the west side
to avoid the contagion Methodism.
In 1770, John Hood was made leader in the place of Emerson; and, in 1783, he was licensed to
preach by the Rev. Caleb B. Pedicord. Mr. Hood breakfasted with Mr. Asbury the morning after his
arrival in Philadelphia, in company with Captain Hood, his nephew, who brought Mr. Asbury to
America. Among other sayings, Mr. Asbury remarked to Mr. John Hood: "Your nephew is quite the
gentleman; but I am afraid the devil will get him, for he has not got religion." John Hood continued
a member of St. George's, acting as a local preacher, class leader, and clerk: he was in his day one
of the "sweet singers of Israel." When he stood up to sing in St. George's, his pleasing countenance
seemed to have heaven daguerreotyped upon it, and his sweet voice was in harmony with his face.
He was one of the best of Christians, beloved by all that knew him. "Heaven," was the last word that
he was heard to utter. He had been a Methodist sixty-one years; and at his death in 1829, was
probably the oldest one in America. He was born in 1749, joined the Methodists in his nineteenth
year, and died in his eightieth year. The last twenty-eight years of his life he had been a member of
the Academy or Union.
Mr. Lambert Wilmer was a native of Maryland, but made Philadelphia his home. He was an
officer in the militia, at the time of the struggle for independence, and was in the engagements at