History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

y Methodists as a constant prayerful spirit more than hours of time in the closet. The world-wide
evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, made a discovery it is well for the ascetic to study when he
substantially declared, "It would have been better had I devoted some of the time I have spent in the
closet to a more careful study of the Word." But it made a race of spiritual heroes for Methodism,
whose line is not yet ended.
During the year 1773-74 Asbury formed the acquaintance of William Otterbein of the German
Reformed Church. He came to America in 1752; discovered his need of heart religion; found it;
established a church in Baltimore, partly by Asbury's influence; became Asbury's lifelong friend and
counselor; organized "The United Brethren in Christ," or the German Methodists; became, with
Martin Boehm, father of Henry Boehm, one of its first bishops, in 1800, after the first Conference
in 1789; and died in 1813 in the eighty-eighth year of his age. By his adverse criticism he saved
Asbury from publishing a volume of inelegant verse — Asbury did not escape the verse-making
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malady — he heeded, and burned the manuscript. The Church Otterbein founded shows the
Episcopal features of Asbury's Methodism, though liberalized in after years. Jesse Lee was converted
in Virginia and Freeborn Garrettson in Maryland this year. Asbury labored in and about Baltimore.
Rankin, from New York, was exercising discipline, and having incipient trouble with the sons of the
Revolution which impended. Five chapels were built or building, notably the two in Baltimore. As
the Conference year closed, under the call of Rankin the scattered itinerants wended their way toward
Philadelphia.
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