from their "first love," as to be mingling | searching ministry of the Rev. John Wesin the frivolities and amusements of the ley, in the city of Bristol, England, about world. The knowledge of this painful the year, 1765; and, though a military fact excited her indignation; and, with a character, such was his thirst for the salzeal which deserves commemoration, she vation of immortal souls, that he was suddenly entered the room in which they constrained to declare unto them the lovwere assembled, seized the pack of cards ing kindness of God. with which they were playing, and threw them into the fire. She then addressed herself to them in terms of expostulation, and turning to Mr. Embury, she said: "You must preach to us, or we shall all go to hell together, and God will require our blood at your hands!" This pointed appeal had its intended effect, in awakening his attention to the peril of their condition. Yet, as if to excuse himself from the performance of an obvious duty, he tremblingly replied: "I cannot preach, for I have neither a house nor congregation." "Preach in your own house first, and to our own company," was the reply. Feeling the responsibility of his situation, and not being able any longer to resist the importunities of his reprover, he consented to comply with her request, and accordingly he preached his first sermon "in his own hired house," to five persons only. This, it is believed, was the first Methodist sermon ever preached in America.

As they continued to assemble together for mutual edification, so their numbers were gradually increased, and they were comforted and strengthened by " exhorting one another daily." Notwithstanding the fewness of their number, and the secluded manner in which they held their meetings they very soon began to attract attention, and they accordingly found that they must either procure a larger place, or preclude many from their meetings who were desirous to attend.

His first appearance as a stranger among the "little flock" in the city of New York, in his military costume, gave them some uneasiness, as they feared that he had come to "spy out their liberties," or to interrupt them in their solemn assemblies; but when they saw him kneel in prayer, and otherwise participate with them in the worship of God, their fears were exchanged for joy, and on a farther acquaintance they found Captain Webb had "partaken of like precious faith" with themselves. He was accordingly invited to preach. The novelty of his appearance in the badges of a military officer, excited no little surprise. This, together with the energy with which he spoke in the name of the Lord Jesus, drew many to the place of worship, and hence the room in which they now assembled, soon became too small to accommodate all who wished to assemble. But what greatly encouraged them was, that sinners were awakened and converted to God, and added to the little society.

To accommodate all who wished to hear, they next hired a rigging-loft in William Street, and fitted it up for a place of worship. Here they assembled for a considerable time, and were edified in faith and love, under the labors of Mr. Embury, who was occasionally assisted by Captain Webb.

While the society was thus going forward in their "work of faith and labor of love" in New York: Captain Webb made excursions upon Long Island, and even went as far as Philadelphia, preaching, wherever he could find an opening, the gospel of the Son of God; and success attended his labors, many being awakened to a sense of their sinfulness through his pointed ministry, and were brought to the

This led them to rent a room of larger dimensions in the neighborhood, the expense of which was paid by voluntary contributions. An event happened soon after they began to assemble in this place, which brought them into more public notice, and attracted a greater number of hearers. This was the arrival of Captain" knowledge of salvation by the remission Webb, an officer of the British army, at that time stationed in Albany, in the State of New York. He had been brought to the knowledge of the truth, under the

of sins." In consequence of the accession of numbers to the society, and the continual increase of those who wished to hear the word: the rigging-loft became also too

small, and they began to consult together | preachers, namely, Richard Boardman on the propriety of building a house of worship.

most willing people to hear, and the pros-rious societies. At this conference, they pect every where brightening before him. adopted the Wesleyan plan of stationing Other local preachers occasionally came the preachers, and taking minutes of their over, and were employed with various de- doings. grees of usefulness.

From this encouraging representation of things, Mr. Wesley was induced to adopt measures for furnishing additional laborers in this part of the Lord's vineyard. Accordingly, the next year, 1771, Mr. Francis Asbury, and Mr. Richard Wright, offered themselves for this work, were accepted by Mr. Wesley, and sent with the blessing of God to the help of their brethren in America. They landed in Philadelphia, October 7, 1771, and immediately repaired to the meeting, and heard a sermon from Mr. Pillmore, whom they found at his station and in his work. They were most cordially received. "The people," says Mr. Asbury, "looked on us with pleasure, hardly knowing how to show their love sufficiently, bidding us welcome with fervent affection, and receiving us as angels of God."

The first meeting house in the city of Baltimore was built early in the year 1774.

It appears that God blessed the labors of his servants this year, and that they extended their labors into the State of New Jersey, and into various places in the states before mentioned; for we find that at the next conference, which was held May 25, 1774, in the city of Philadelphia, they had so increased that there were returned on the minutes 17 travelling preachers, and 2073 private members.

During this year, Messrs. Boardman and Pillmore left the continent, and returned to England; the former, who had much endeared himself to the people by his truly Christian deportment, and faithfulness in preaching, never to return; the latter soon came back, was admitted and ordained a minister in the Protestant Episcopal Church, in which he remained until his death. Through the labors of Mr. Williams, the work extended to Petersburg, Virginia, and from there over the Roanoke river some distance into North Carolina ; so that three preachers were sent from the conference into that part of the vineyard, and towards the close of the year a most remarkable revival of religion followed their efforts. Such were the blessed effects of their evangelical labors, that they had increased, as was found at the next conference, to 3148, and the number of preachers was 19.

On his arrival, Mr. Asbury, who had been appointed by Mr. Wesley to the general charge of the work, commenced a more extended method of preaching the gospel, by itinerating through the country, as well as preaching in the cities; by which means a more diffusive range was given to the work of God. His energetic example excited the others to a more zeal ous activity in the cause, and hence many new societies were established, and brought under disciplinary regulations. In Kent county, Maryland, and various places in Virginia and North Carolina, through the labors of Mr. Strawbridge and Robert Williams, preaching was commenced; and these places were visited by Mr. Asbury and Mr. Pillmore, the latter of whom visited Norfolk, Virginia, and penetrated into North and South Carolina; nor did he stop until he reached Savannah, Geor-ple, among whom was Mr. Shadford, whose gia.

In this way the work of reformation went on until the arrival of Mr. Rankin, in June, 1773, who, being appointed to supersede Mr. Asbury as general superintendent, held the first conference in the city of Philadelphia, July 4, 1773, at which time there were 10 travelling preace 3, and 1160 members in the va

No one individual contributed more to extend the work of God on every hand, than Mr. Asbury, who travelled extensively and labored most indefatigably for the salvation of souls, devoting his whole time and attention to this holy work. Others, to be sure, imitated his noble exam

labors were greatly blessed; as also the Rev. Mr. Jarrat, a pious and evangelical minister of the English Church, who entered heartily into the work, giving the weight of his influence in favor of experimental and practical godliness, and assisted the Methodist preachers much by his cordial co-operation with them, as also by administering baptism and the Lord's

Supper, to the children and members of their congregations. And though the minds of the people began to be much excited on the subject of the war which was then approaching; they were blessed with one of the most remarkable revivals of religion which had ever been witnessed in that part of the country, or, indeed, in any other portion of America. An account of this great work, written by Mr. Jarret, was published and extensively read at the time.

God began now to raise up men in this country to preach that gospel which they had found "to be the power of God unto salvation." Among others, we find Freeborn Garrettson, whose name appears on the minutes of conference of 1776, and who became one of the most zealous and successful ministers of the Lord Jesus.

It is not to be supposed that this great work would go on without opposition. The lukewarm clergy and the wicked of all classes manifested their hostility in a variety of ways; but they were so far from retarding the work, that their persecution only tended to add a fresh stimulus to the fervent zeal of God's servants, and to make them more bold and courageous in the cause which they had espoused. In the year 1776, after the revolutionary contest had commenced, persecution against the Methodist missionaries found a pretext in the fact, that most of them were from England, and that some of them had manifested a partiality for their king and country, and moreover that they were all under the direction of a leader who had written against the American principles and measures. In consequence of this, all the English preachers, except Mr. Asbury, returned home before the close of the year 1777, and early in the year 1778, he was obliged to seclude himself from public observation, which he did by retiring to the house of Judge White, a pious member of the society, in the State of Delaware, where he remained, only occasionally visiting his friends and preaching privately, for about one year.

He was not the only sufferer during that troublesome time. Mr. Freeborn Garrettson was whipped, thrown from his horse, bruised and mangled, and finally cast into prison, for preaching the word

of life. Mr. Joseph Hartley, also, was persecuted in a variety of ways, and at last imprisoned. Their friends, however, interceded for them, the hearts of their enemies were softened, and finding no just cause for their condemnation, they were liberated, and soon they preached the gospel with such power, that in those very places where the persecution had raged, God poured out his Spirit, and thousands were converted to God, among whom were many of their most violent persecutors.

might be expected, the preachers and During the war of the revolution, as people had to contend with a variety of difficulties; some places, particularly New York and Norfolk, had to be abandoned entirely, and others were but partially supplied. Yet they held on their way, efforts; so that at the conference of 1783, and God owned and blessed their pious at the close of this sanguinary conflict, they had 43 preachers, and 13,740 private members; so greatly had God prospered them, even in the midst of war and bloodshed.

portant era in the history of Methodism. We come now, in 1784, to a very imThe independence of the United States had been achieved, and acknowledged by the powers of Europe; and the churches in this country had become totally separated from all connexion with the hierarchy of England, the Methodist societies as well had been considered merely as lay-preachas others. Hitherto the Methodist preachers ers, and of course had not authority to administer the ordinances; and hence the members of the societies had been dependent upon other ministers for the rite of baptism and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This had created so much dissatisfaction among them that, contrary to the wishes and advice of Mr. Asbury and many others, some of the southern preachers, in the year 1770, had ordained each other, and began to form a party to whom they administered the ordinances. Through the persuasive influence of Mr. Asbury and these malecontents had desisted from their those who believed and acted with him, disorderly proceedings; and now, at the close of the revolutionary struggle, they united in urging upon Mr. Wesley the necessity and propriety of his adopting

bers of the newly-formed church, all of which were adopted by the conference.

Being thus regularly organized, they went forth to their work with renewed faith and zeal, and were every where received by the people in their proper character, as accredited ministers of the Lord Jesus, duly authorized to administer the ordinances of God's word, and to perform all the functions belonging to their holy

As this organization has frequently been assailed as being unscriptural, and contrary to primitive usage: it may be well to state a few of the arguments on which it rests for support.

measures to afford them relief. Though
he had hitherto resisted all solicitations to
exercise the power with which he fully
believed the great Head of the Church had
invested him, to ordain preachers for the
benefit of his own societies, because he
did not wish to disturb the established or-
der of things in the Church of England:
yet now, that that church had no longer
any jurisdiction in this country, he felt
himself at full liberty, as he did not inter-office.
fere with any man's right, to set apart
men whom he judged well qualified for
that work, to administer the sacraments to
the Methodists in America. Accordingly,
on the 2d day of September, in the year
of our Lord, 1784, assisted by other pres-
byters, he consecrated Thomas Coke, LL.
D., a presbyter in the Church of England,
as a superintendent, and likewise ordained
Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey to
the office of elders, and sent them over to
America, with instructions to organize the
societies here into a separate and indepen-
dent church, furnishing them, at the same
time, with forms of ordination for deacons,
elders, and superintendents, and likewise
with forms for administering baptisms and
the consecration and administration of the
elements of the Lord's Supper. Being
thus furnished with proper credentials,
Dr. Coke, in company with Messrs. What-
coat and Vasey, sailed for this country;
and at a conference which was called for
the express purpose of considering the
plan prepared by Mr. Wesley, convened
in the city of Baltimore, December 25,
1784, the measures were unanimously
approved of; Dr. Coke was recognised in
his character of superintendent; Mr. As-
bury was unanimously elected a joint
superintendent with him; and, on the 27th
day of the same month, he was consecrat-
ed by Dr. Coke, assisted by several elders,
having been previously ordained deacon
and elder, to his high and responsible
office. Twelve others of the preachers
were elected and consecrated deacons and
elders, and three to the order of deacon.
Mr. Wesley had also sent an abridgment
of the Book of Common Prayer, contain-
ing the forms of service above mentioned,
and also twenty-five articles of religion,
accompanied with various other rules for
the regulation of the ministers and mem-

1. In the first place, there appeared to be a loud call for these measures, arising from the general state of things in this country. As to the clergy of the English Church, the most of them had fled from the country during the stormy day, and those who remained, with very few exceptions, were fit for any thing rather than for ministers of the gospel. From the hands of these men the Methodists were unwilling to receive the ordinances. As to the Presbyterians and Congregationalists, they would neither baptize the children unless at least one of the parents professed faith in their doctrines, nor admit these to the communion table, unless they became members of their church. The Baptists were more rigid than either, as they would admit none to church-fellowship unless they had been baptized by immersion. To none of these conditions could the Methodists conscientiously submit. Hence a necessity, originating from the state of things in this country, compelled them either to remain destitute of the ordinances, to administer them with unconsecrated hands, or to provide for them in the manner they did.

2. Those who laid hands on Messrs. Whatcoat and Vasey, namely, Mr. Wesley, Dr. Coke, and Mr. Creighton, were all regular presbyters in the Church of England; and those who laid hands on Dr. Coke, and thereby set him apart for a superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, were also presbyters, regularly ordained to that order and office in the Church of God.

3. It appears manifest, from several