History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

course was the effect it seemed to have upon other preachers of the native-born stock in refusing to
take the test oath, leading to their arrest, imprisonment, maltreatment, and increase of usefulness.
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It is no wonder, on the other hand, that the Revolutionists could not excuse them. The light they
had was reflected during the Civil War, from 1861-66. Test oaths of the most binding nature were
applied to all who were suspected as out of full sympathy for the preservation of the Union. In the
North, not even ministers were exempt from the draft. Men who took the position as to American
independence, such as Asbury and other of the preachers, were dealt with with greater severity.
Jonathan Forrest and William Wren were arrested at Annapolis, Md., with some others and
committed to jail. In Queen Anne County Joseph Hartley was bound over in 500 not to preach in the
county. Freeborn Garrettson was beaten with a stick by one of the county judges, pursued on
horseback, and nearly killed. Hartley was also whipped in Talbot County and imprisoned. Caleb
Peddicord was whipped and bore the scars to his grave. Isham Tatum of South Carolina must be
mentioned as a local preacher of renown. Francis Poythress, already named, was a distinguished
character of early Methodism. He was a Virginian, and held in the highest esteem by Asbury for his
labors in Virginia, Carolina, Maryland, and Kentucky. He was designated by Asbury for a
superintendent, or bishop to peer with himself, in 1797, and would have been elected probably, but
for the fact that the preachers took the ground that it was not competent for a yearly Conference to
elect bishops. It illustrates how little Asbury cared for precedents or constructions, if his will could
be gratified. Poythress died insane. Jesse Lee was a giant in those days, and did for New England
Methodism, as elsewhere, an immortal work. Richard Webster and John Watters were local leaders
in their day, and Maryland owes much to them. Dromgoole lived to an old age, and, though he never
changed his church relations, was in sympathy with O'Kelly and the later Reformers, whose day he
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lived to see. Dickins was a leader in the southern movement to liberalize Methodism, but
afterward became Book Agent in Philadelphia and, as will be seen in not a few other cases, official
position made a change in his sentiments. Thomas Ware labored for fifty years, and his sketches of
his life and travels are the best contributions to early Methodist history. John Tunnell was a saintly
man of great gifts, who, in East Tennessee and the far West, did pioneer work for thirteen years. He
died July, 1790, and Asbury preached his funeral sermon. William Gill, his bosom friend, was
another great light of the day. The famous Dr. Rush of Philadelphia pronounced him "the greatest
divine I have ever heard." He died in Chestertown, Md., but his grave is unmarked, says Atkinson
in his "Memorials." His last words were, "All is well," and he closed his own eyes as he expired.
Reuben Ellis of North Carolina was among the leaders, with few as his equal. Le Roy Cole, a
Virginian, for fifty years ranked high, lived to 1830, nearly eighty-one years old. John Littlejohn was
an Englishman of superior parts, who settled in Virginia, served the Church for sixty years, and died
in 1836. All these were men who would rank with the ablest of ministers in this day. Richard Ivy
must be added to this roll of the worthy. As a preacher he was known from New Jersey to Georgia,
and after eighteen years of service retired to care for his aged mother in 1794, and died in peace in
1795. John Major was known as the "weeping prophet," owing to his pathetic eloquence, which kept
his congregations in tears. Henry Willis, now scarcely remembered, is a name history will not suffer
to die. After thirty years' labor he died in 1808 at Pipe Creek, Md., and Asbury, on visiting his grave,
apostrophized: "Henry Willis! Ah, when shall I look upon thy like again! Rest, man of God!" James
O'Kelly needs but to be named, as his prominence will call shortly for special notice. As the memory
of these noble men fades away the printed page must preserve Ruff, Boyer, Baxter, Mair, Bruce, and
others whose record is on high. They were nearly all native-born south of Pennsylvania, as the