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

stature, and of a very youthful appearance. The odds were fearfully against him. Of success there
would seem to be no human probability. But "his weapons were not carnal, but mighty, through God,
to the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan." His faith was strong in proportion to the weakness
he so often felt and deplored.
He was the first preacher sent as a regular itinerant into New Jersey. The Minutes of the
Conference for 1773 set down J. King and William Watters to that appointment. But this is supposed
to be an error in the record. It is certain that neither of these gentlemen traveled in that state at the
time specified. Mr. Watters, in a short account of his ministerial labors, written by himself, says, that
in October, 1772, he accompanied Mr. Williams, a local preacher, to Virginia; that he remained there
eleven months, and in the following November took an appointment on Kent Circuit, Md.; that he
never saw Messrs. Asbury and Rankin till his return from Virginia. It must have been about the same
time he went to Kent Circuit, or before, that Mr. King accompanied Mr. Gatch to his appointment
in New Jersey, but did not remain on the circuit.
* * *
The narrative of Mr. Gatch is resumed. He says:
"Three considerations rested on my mind with great weight: first, my own weakness; secondly,
the help that God alone could afford; and, thirdly, the salvation of the souls of the people to whom
I have been sent. The Lord was with me, and my labors on the circuit were crowned with some
success. Not many joined at that time to be called by our name, for it was very much spoken against.
Fifty-two united with the Church, most of whom professed religion. Benjamin Abbott's wife and
three of her children were among the number. David, one of the children, became a useful preacher.
Though I found the Cross to be very heavy while serving the circuit in my imperfect manner, when
I was called to part, with the friends for whom I had been laboring, I found it to be a great trial, for
we possessed the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Mr. William Watters did not attend the first Conference held in Philadelphia, in July of this year,
nor did he go to New Jersey, the place to which he was appointed; but, at the request of Mr. Rankin,
went in November, 1773, to Kent, Md., where he preached with greater liberty and success than ever
before. Here the work was enlarging, and he had invitations to new places; the people of Queen
Anne's county began to open their door, and he was sent for, to preach to them. Mr. Fogwell was the
first in this county that received the preachers. He had been much under the influence of strong drink.
A benevolent lady, who knew something of Methodist preachers, and their usefulness to men beset
as he was, advised him to send for them to preach at his house, which he did. Here Mr. Watters was
met by Parson Cain, the parish minister, who threatened to prosecute Mr. Fogwell, if he allowed him
to preach in his house, which was not licensed, as the law required at that day. Not wishing to
involve his new friend in difficulty, Mr. Watters invited the people to follow him out of the house,
where he preached to them in the open air. After the discourse was ended, Mr. Cain put a number
of questions to Mr. Watters, before the people, all of which he carefully answered. A society was
raised up at Mr. Fogwell's, in this or the following year, which was the first in the county, and is still
represented at Holden's meeting house. Tradition says that a blind woman -- a Mrs. Rogers -- was