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

A HISTORY
OF THE
RISE OF METHODISM IN AMERICA
by
John Lednum
CHAPTER 16
Having followed the march of Methodism for several years, we have come to the time when the
first yearly -- or, as it has been more commonly called -- annual Conference, was held. On the 14th
of July, of this year, Conference commenced in this city, where it was also held in 1774 and 1775,
which makes the Philadelphia Conference older, by three years, than any other Conference in
America. Conferences, at this time, lasted but two or three days.
Mr. Rankin, in virtue of his office, being Mr. Wesley's assistant, presided. All the preachers
present at this Conference were Europeans. They were Thomas Rankin, Richard Boardman, Joseph
Pilmoor, Francis Asbury, Richard Wright, George Shadford, Thomas Webb, John King, Abraham
Whitworth, and Joseph Yearbry. Messrs. Boardman and Pilmoor took no appointment, in view of
returning to England, and Captain Webb was more a spectator than a member. The preachers agreed
that Mr. Wesley's authority should extend to the Methodists of this country; and that the same
doctrine should be preached, and the same discipline be enforced that were in England.
At the first Conference there was, for the first time, a return made of the number of Methodists,
as follows: -- For New York, 180; for Philadelphia, 180; for New Jersey, 200; for Maryland, 500;
for Virginia, 100. A nearly half of the whole number of Methodists, at this time, were in Maryland,
we regard it as collateral evidence that Methodism was older there than in any other of the Provinces.
The whole number was 1160.
Mr. Rankin was stationed in New York, but labored some time in Philadelphia. In October of this
year, he first visited Maryland, and held a quarterly meeting at Mr. Watters'. He says, "Such a season
I have not seen since I came to America. The Lord did indeed make the place of His feet glorious.
The shout of a king was heard in our camp. From Brother Watters' I rode to Bush Chapel, and
preached there, where the Lord, also, made bare His holy arm. From the chapel I rode to Brother
Dallam's, and preached at six o'clock. This has, indeed, been a day of the Son of Man. On
Wednesday we held our love feast. It was now that the heavens were opened, and the skies poured
down divine righteousness. The inheritance of God was watered with the rain from heaven, and the
dew thereof lay upon their branches. I had not seen such a season as this since I left my native land."
Mr. Shadford was stationed in Philadelphia. His next remove was to New York, where he spent
four months, and saw religion revive. While he was there he added fifty to the society -- leaving two
hundred and four members when he left it. He spent the winter of 1774 in Philadelphia, "with a
loving, teachable people. The blessing of the Lord was with us, and many were converted to God.
There was a sweet spirit of peace and brotherly love in this society." When he left this society, to go
to Baltimore, after the Conference, in May, 1774, he left two hundred and twenty-four members. He