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

Pilmoor, Richard Wright, and Francis Asbury, who in passing from Philadelphia to Maryland, took
these places en route, preaching to the people "Jesus and the resurrection."
Mr. Isaac Hersey, beyond Christiana, who was an early Methodist, "of the old stamp and steady,"
is still represented by his son John Hersey, who is extensively known for his plainness, simplicity,
and zealous preaching of pure Christianity, in Africa, and in the United States, -- north and south.
Cloud's Chapel received its name from the Cloud family that settled in the upper end of Delaware,
near the line of Pennsylvania. In the Colonial Records, vol. i., p. 229, we find an account of William
Cloud buying of William Penn, in England, five hundred acres of land. This land was located so near
the line dividing New Castle and Chester counties, that the proprietor was called upon to pay tax in
both counties.
Several of this family became Methodists, when Methodism was introduced into their
neighborhood. Robert, and Adam Cloud, who were brothers, were of this family, and both of them
were traveling preachers part of their life. Robert was among the first preachers from Delaware.
Several others of them were in connection with the Methodists; and, even at the present time, some
of this name and family may be found among the Methodists, -- some east of the Allegheny
Mountain, and some west of it.
From the foregoing, it is seen that the first Methodist society in the present state of Delaware, was
formed at New Castle as early as 1770, that it was about fifty years before the Methodists had a place
of worship in this ancient town; and, even now, after the lapse of ninety years, the town is still small,
and the Methodist society and congregation are small.
The commencement of Methodism in Wilmington was less encouraging than in New Castle. It
was twenty years before the first Asbury Church was built, which has been twice enlarged and
improved to bring it to its present condition. The first church was erected the same year that the
Burlington Methodists opened their first church. In the same year (1789), the second place of
worship for the Methodists of New York, called "Forsyth" now, -- was put up. The people of
Southwark, in Philadelphia, were also moving in the erection of Old Ebenezer.
After Methodism had struggled in Wilmington for two ages, it began to be better known, and
received more attention from the citizens generally. A second church, called St. Paul's, with pews,
was built in 1845. Union, the third church, was established in 1850-1. The fourth, called Scott
Church, was began about the same time. With growth of Wilmington Methodism has grown. The
city now has nearly twenty thousand people. Its Methodist churches are Asbury, St. Paul's, Union,
Scott Church, Brandywine, Mount Salem, and Ezion, for people of color. The number of white
Methodists connected with these churches are about fifteen hundred, over whom there are six pastors
stationed.
The Philadelphia Conference has held five sessions in Wilmington, the first in 1832, the second
in 1838, the third in 1842, the fourth in 1847, and the fifth in 1857.