A." Thomas Coke (when present in the states) and Francis Asbury."

At this conference it was agreed, that no married preacher should demand more money than the allowance for himself and his wife.

In the month of April this year, Mr. Freeborn Garrettson left Nova Scotia, and returned to the United States; and from that time he has continued in his own native country. Mr. Wesley had given directions for brother F. Garrettson to be ordained a superintendant for Nova Scotia ; but when the business was taken under consideration, some of the preachers insisted that if he was ordained for that station, he should confine himself wholly to that place for which he was set apart; and not be at liberty to return again to this part of the country. Mr. Garrettson did not feel freedom to enter into an obligation of that kind, and chose rather to continue as he was; and therefore was not ordained.

Mr. Wesley also directed that Richard What. coat should be ordained a joint superintendant with Mr. Asbury. When this business was brought before the conference, most of the preachers objected, and would not consent to it. The reasons against it were, 1, That he was not qualified to take the charge of the connection. 2. That they were apprehensive that if Mr. Whatcoat was ordained, Mr. Wesley would likely recall Mr. Asbury, and he would return to England.

Dr. Coke contended that we were obliged to receive Mr. Whatcoat, because we had said in the minutes taken at the Christmas conference, when we were first formed into a church in 1784, "During the life of the Rev. Mr. Wesley, we acknowledge ourselves his sons in the gospel, rea. dy in matters belonging to church government, to obey his commands.”

Many of the members of that conference argued that they were not at the conference when that engagement was entered into, and they did not consider themselves bound by it. Other preachers who had said they were "Ready to obey his commands," said they did not feel ready now to obey his command. The preachers at last agreed to depart from that engagement which some of the elder brethren had formerly entered into, and in the next printed minutes, that engagement was left out.

They had made the engagement of their own accord, and among themselves, and they believed they had a right to depart therefrom, when they pleased, seeing it was not a contract made with Mr. Wesley, or any other person, but an agreement among themselves. It was further argued, that Mr Wesley while in England, could not tell what man was qualified to govern us, as well as we could who were present, and were to be governed. We believed also, that if Mr. Wesley was here himself, he would be of the same opinion with us.

We then wrote a long and loving letter to Mr. Wesley, and requested him to come over to America and visit his spiritual children.

This step of receding from the above engagement, was afterwards considered by some disaffected persons, as improper. If there was any thing improper in the business, it was in entering into the engagement, and not in departing from it.

In the course of this year Mr. Asbury reprinted the general minutes; but in a different form from what they were before. The title of this pamphlet was as follows:

"A form of discipline for the ministers, preachers, and members of the Methodist Epis

souls were frequently converted at those meetings, even when there was no preacher present; for the prayers and exhortations of the members were greatly owned of the Lord.

The most remarkable work of all was in Sus. sex, and Brunswick circuits, where the meetings would frequently continue for five or six hours. together, and some times all night.

At one quarterly meeting held at Mabry's cha pel in Brunswick circuit, on the 25th and 26th of July, the power of God was among the people in an extraordinary manner; some hundreds were awakened; and it was supposed that above one hundred souls were converted at that meeting which continued for two days, i, e, on Thursday and Friday. Some thousands of people attended meeting at that place on that occasion.

The next quarterly-meeting was held at Jones's chapel in Sussex county, on Saturday and Sunday the 27th and 28th of July. This meeting was fa voured with more of the divine presence than any other that had been known before. The. sight of the mourners was enough to penetrate the most careless heart. The divine power was felt among the people before the preachers came together. Many of the young converts from the quarterly meeting that had been held two days before at Mabry's, had come together, and uniting with other christians in singing and praying, the heavenly fire had began to kindle, and the flame of love and holy zeal was spreading among the people, which caused them to break out in loud praises to God. Some when they met would hang on each other, or embrace each other in their arms, and weep aloud, and praise the Lord with all their might. The sight of those who were thus overwhelmed with the love and presence of God, would cause sinners to weep and tremble before the Lord.

By the time the preachers came within half a mile of the chapel, they heard the people shouting and praising God. When they came up they found numbers weeping, both in the chapel and in the open air. Some were on the ground cry. ing for mercy, and others in extacies of joy.

The preachers went among the mourners and encouraged them and prayed with them. The private christians did the same. Some were lying and struggling as if they were in the agonies of death, others lay as if they were dead. Hundreds of the believers were so overcome with the power of God that they fell down, and lay helpless on the floor, or the ground; and some of them continued in that helpless condition for a considerable time, and were happy in God be. yond description. When they came to themselves, it was generally with loud praises to God, and with tears and expressions, enough to melt the hardest heart. The oldest saints had never be. fore seen such a time of love, and such displays of the power of God.

The next day the society met early, in order to receive the Lord's supper.

While the society was collected in the house, some of the preachers went into the woods to preach, and while they were preaching the power of the Lord was felt among the people in such a manner, that they roared and screamed so loud that the preacher could not be heard, and he was compelled to stop. Many scores of both white and black people fell to the earth; and some lay in the deepest distress until the evening. Many of the wealthy people, both men and women, were seen lying in the dust, sweating and rolling on the ground, in their fine broad cloths or silks, crying for mercy.

As night drew on the mourners were collected

together, and many of them were in the most awful distress, and uttered such doleful lamentations that it was frightful to behold them, and enough to affect the most stubborn-hearted sinner. But many of these were filled with the peace and love of God in a moment, and rising up would clap their hands and praise God aloud. It was then as pleasing as it had before been awful to behol them.

Many of these people who were happily converted, left their houses and came to the meeting with great opposition to the work of God; but were struck down in an unexpected manner, and converted in a few hours. So mightily did the Lord work, that a great change was wrought in a little time.

Soon after this, some of the same preachers who had been at the quarterly-meetings menti oned above, held a meeting at Mr. F. Bonners, ten miles from Petersburg, where a large concourse of people were assembled; and the Lord wrought wonders among them on that day. As many as fifty persons professed to get converted at that time before the meeting closed, The cries of distressed sinners under conviction, and the shouts of happy christians were heard afar off. Some that were careless spectators in the begining of the meeting, were happily converted before the meeting ended and went home rejoic ing in God, knowing that he had forgiven their

sins.

They had another meeting at Jones- Hole church, about twelve miles from Petersburg, and many people assembled. They began to sing and exhort each other before the preachers.came, and the Lord wrought among them, and many were crying for mercy. The preacher began to preach, but it was with difficulty that he could