A HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By Nathan Bangs Volume I From the Year 1766 to the Year 1792 Third Edition, Published in 1839 CONTENTS [Transcriber Note: After considerable thought, and after having tried this and that method of dividing the various portions of this first book, of the four-volume work by Dr. Bangs, it has been finally decided to place the chapters in files titled as "Parts" with numbers to run consecutively through all four volumes. This was done to eliminate confusion resulting from the same Book number or Chapter number being repeatedly used in the author's volume and book divisions of this work. In this Table of Contents, I have inserted, within brackets, each Part of this electronic edition and its number to the right of the author's Chapter and number. -- DVM] PREFACE INTRODUCTION Sketches of the first settlements in North America; its discovery; Florida the first settlement made on the continent, Virginia next, in 1607; landing of the Pilgrims; New Hampshire, 1623; Maryland 1634; Rhode Island, 1636; Connecticut; New York, 1615; Delaware, 1631; New Jersey, 1664; North Carolina, 1660; South Carolina, 1670; Pennsylvania, first visited by Penn in 1682; Georgia, 1733; Vermont, 1744; general character of the colonists; motives by which they were actuated; and effect of their conduct; object of this sketch; general state of the colonies in the 17th century; efforts to convert the Indians; general state of religion and morals; tribute of respect to New England; pure religion rather low; Whitefield's labors, and their effects; state of religion in Virginia; in the middle provinces; in the southern; general state of things about the middle of the 18th century; favorable to missionary effort; Slavery in the colonies; historical sketch of slavery; its introduction into the colonies; object of these remarks; proper divisions of the history. BOOK I From 1766 to 1773 CHAPTER 1 Sketch of Methodism in England; birth and education of Mr. Wesley; enters the ministry; first Methodist society; his visit to Georgia; results of this visit; ends in his conversion; visits Hernhuth, in Germany; his return and commencement of his preaching; general spread of the work; Mr. Wesley qualified for his work; it was the work of God; he was providentially led into it; with a view simply to do good. CHAPTER 2 Introduction of Methodism into the city of New York providential; first society established by Philip Embury; moved to it by Mrs. Hick; attracted public notice; rented a larger room and were much assisted by Captain Webb; sinners awakened and converted; the rigging loft in William Street; plans for building a house of worship; greatly encouraged; Wesley Chapel built in John Street; letter of T. T. to Mr. Wesley, detailing their wants and asking for a preacher; Mr. Wesley sends them help; arrival of Messrs. Boardman and Pilmoor; commencement of Methodism in Maryland; preaching of Mr. Strawbridge; anecdote of him; result of these things. CHAPTER 3 Missionaries enter upon their work; Mr. Pilmoor visits Virginia and North Carolina; his letter to Mr. Wesley; good effects of Captain Webb's labors; Mr. Boardman comes to New York; interchange of preachers; letter to Mr. Wesley; others enter the itinerant field; arrival of Mr. Asbury; his birth and education; his conversion and call to the ministry; motives for coming to America; his voyage, views, and feelings; lands in Philadelphia, and his kind reception; enlarges the field of labor; Methodism planted in Kent county, Maryland; Mr. Pilmoor visits the south; R. Williams, in Norfolk, Virginia; Mr. Asbury appointed an assistant; minutes of a quarterly meeting conference; Rev. Mr. Jaratt's labors and success; Robert Williams greatly blessed; Mr. Wesley thought of visiting America, but instead of that sent Messrs. Rankin and Shadford. BOOK II From 1773 to 1784 CHAPTER 1 First regular conference, and minutes of; stations of preachers; numbers; reason for a particular rule; Mr. Rankin sets himself to correcting abuses; labors of Mr. Asbury; Mr. Rankin in New York, and Mr. Asbury in Baltimore; Light Street church begun; second conference; minutes of; increase of members; Boardman and Pilmoor return to England; Mr. Asbury enlarges the sphere of his labors; others imitate him; the former sickens from excessive labor; third conference; Mr. Rankin takes too much authority; symptoms of war; Mr. Asbury goes south; great revival in Virginia; death of R. Williams; Mr. Jarratt's account of this revival; corroborated by others; letter from Mr. Wesley; differences between Mr. Rankin and Mr. Asbury. CHAPTER 2 Symptoms of hostilities; English preachers suspected; Deer Creek conference; disastrous results of war in some places, and revivals in others; English preachers consult about returning home; imprudent conduct; effects of Mr. Wesley's pamphlet; Mr. Asbury left alone; Leesburgh conference; Mr. Asbury's seclusion; sufferings of Mr. Garrettson; of Mr. Hartley; Mr. Asbury's liberation; conference at Judge White's; troubles on account of the ordinances; Fluvanna conference, and ordination of the preachers; causes a temporary division; minutes of conference; reason for one item; rule against the use of spiritous liquors; breach healed which had been occasioned by administering the ordinances; salutary effects of this adjustment; sad effects of the war; farther sufferings of Mr. Garrettson; Choptank conference; labors of Mr. Jarratt; capture of Lord Cornwallis; tenth conference, numbers, &c.; eleventh conference, numbers, &c., rules; peace proclaimed, and its effects; Mr. Wesley's letter; end of an apostate; twelfth conference, numbers, &c.; revival; minutes not printed. CHAPTER 3 Important period of Methodism; state of the societies in Europe and America; independence of the country; Mr. Wesley determines to grant them a church organization: the steps taken; his letter to Dr. Coke, &c.; credentials of Dr. Coke; his arrival in America; Mr. Asbury's account of their meeting; Mr. Garrettson sent to call a conference; conference assembles in Baltimore, Dec. 25, 1784, when Mr. Asbury is elected and consecrated bishop; others elected and ordained elders; defense of these measures, 1. A call for those things; 2. Character of those who did them; 3. Presbyters and bishops the same order; 4. The doctrine of succession not defensible; 5. Mr. Wesley's right; 8. He invaded the right of no one else; 7. He ordained ministers for the Methodists only; 9. He did not separate from either the English or Protestant Episcopal Church; 9. Form of church government not prescribed; 10. Proved; 11. Distinction between the power of ordination and jurisdiction; 12. Character of those who established the Methodist Episcopal Church; the people acquiesced in these measures; blessed results of these things; articles of religion; rules adopted; method of holding conference; constituting elders, and their duty; deacons; receiving preachers, and their duty; of making collections; class meetings; duty of preachers; necessity of union; manner of singing; rules for preaching; against Antinomianism; how to provide for circuits, &c.; of employing time, &c.; baptism; Lord's supper; unlawful marriages; perfection; dress; privileges to nonprofessors; visiting from house to house; instruction of children; building churches; raising a general fund; for superannuated preachers, &c.; printing books; trial of disorderly persons; of immoral ministers; of stewards; general rules; rules on slavery. BOOK III From 1785 to 1792 CHAPTER 1 Effects of the recent organization; Mr. Garrettson goes to Nova Scotia: state of things there; Allenites oppose; sample of their doctrine; letter of Mr. Wesley; good effects of Mr. Garrettson's labors; introduction of Methodism into Charleston, South Carolina; labors of Mr. Willis there, and the erection of a house of worship; fall of B. Allen, and its effects on the Church; William Hammett and his secession; Bishop Asbury enters upon his work; commencement of Cokesbury College; its plan; general rules; for the students; dedicated by Bishop Asbury; consumed by fire; rebuilt, and again burned; Dr. Coke returns to Europe; three conferences; revivals of religion; origin of the presiding elder's office; short analysis of the entire economy of the Church; death of preachers; number; settlement of Kentucky; character of the settlers; first visited by the Baptists, and then by local preachers; first traveling preachers there; Methodism introduced into Georgia; labors of Bishop Asbury; death of preachers; who desisted from traveling: case of Glendenning; number in the Church. CHAPTER 2 Conferences and circuits for 1787; Dr. Coke arrives; satisfies the conference; his conduct commended; Mr. Garrettson proposed for a Bishop; reason why not elected; title bishop, why assumed; its assumption vindicated; care for colored people and children; Bishop Asbury comes north; Mr. Lee's account of the revival; death of preachers; numbers; conferences and circuits for 1788; Mr. Garrettson forms the New York district; general state of things in that part of the country; Bishop Asbury crosses the Allegheny Mountains; revivals of religion; deaths of preachers; numbers; conferences and circuits for 1789; minute respecting obedience to Mr. Wesley; constitution of the United States; address of the bishops to President Washington and his answer, together with vindicatory remarks; Methodism in New England; general state of things there; J. Lee in Norwalk, Conn.; disputations; first Methodist Societies and house of worship; opposition to Methodism; work of God in Baltimore; this work aided by the labors of Bishop Asbury; Philip Embury; the work extends in New York district, particularly on Long Island; remarkable answer to prayer; council; its authority; its defects and dissolution; Book Concern; deaths of preachers; numbers, conferences, and circuits; Sabbath schools; Bishop Asbury visits Kentucky; his return; Methodism in Boston. Mass.; in Lynn; other towns in Mass.; anecdotes of J. Lee; house of worship built in Boston; deaths and numbers; numbers, conferences, and circuits; Methodism in Canada; impostors; work of God in New England; Bishop Asbury visits that country; his judgment of the state of things there; death of John Wesley; Dr. Coke proposes to return to Europe; gives offense to his American brethren; the conference vindicated; Mr. Wesley's letter to E. Cooper; Dr. Coke's cold reception; is cheered by a letter from Bishop Asbury; the field of labor enlarges; numbers. CHAPTER 3 Conferences and circuits; first settlements in Tennessee; Bishop Asbury in Tennessee; expulsion and deaths of preachers, and numbers in the Church; General Conference of 1792; its doings; O'Kelly's resolution for an appeal rejected; Bishop Asbury's letter; rules for election and trial of a bishop; of presiding elders; allowance for preachers' wives, and rule respecting marriage fees; rules respecting deficiencies, to prevent impositions and the settlement of disputes; respecting immoral ministers, receiving presents, the worship of God, and supernumerary preachers; another General Conference ordered; rule on sowing dissensions; Mr. O'Kelly's secession; reasons for it; takes the name of "Republican Methodist"; societies formed; spread into North Carolina; disastrous results of the secession; name changed to "Christian Church"; dwindles away, and its leader with it; Bishop Asbury's interview with him; hope in his death; influence of these things upon the public mind, from which it gradually recovers; Concluding remarks. END OF VOLUME ONE