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then receive him as a probationer, by giving him the minutes of the conference inscribed thus: "To A. B.

"You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make full proof hereof, and we shall be glad to receive you as a fellow-labourer.

"Observe, you are not to ramble up and down, but to go where the Assistant directs, and there only.

"Let him then read, and carefully weigh what is contained therein, and see whether he can agree to it or not. If he can, let him come to the next conference, where, after examination, fasting and prayer, he may be received into full connection with us, by giving him the minutes, inscribed thus:

"So long as you freely consent to, and earnestly endeavour to walk by these rules, we shal! rejoice to acknowledge you as a fellow labourer."

From this it may be seen, that Mr. Wesley and the conference at that time, only required a probationary state of one year, in order to be admitted into full connection among the travelling preachers.

However, in 1784, the conference thought proper to lengthen out the time of their probation to four years, before the young preachers could be admitted into full connection.

At that time all the travelling preachers were called helpers, i. e. helpers of Mr. Wesley; some were Assistants, and others Preachers.

1764. Mr. Myles says, "In the beginning of this year, Mr. Erskine re-published in Scotland Mr. Hervey's Eleven Letters, and spread them with all his might. They prejudiced the Scotch against the Methodists' doctrine, and hindered the prosperity of the work. These letters did no harm in England. Mr. Wesley and Mr. Sellon

It was after

wrote masterly answers to them. wards known, that a Mr. Cudworth, a violent Antinomian, had written the most virulent passages in these letters,"

Having considered a few particulars respecting the beginning and progress of Methodism in Eu rope, I come now to the beginning of Methodism in the United States of America.

CHAPTER II.

From the beginning of the first Society in NewYork in 1766, to the first Conference, which was held in America in 1773.

Previous to the year 1766, some of the members of the Methodist Society from Europe, settled in the United States (then British colonies) but were scattered about as sheep having neither fold nor shepherd. In the beginning of the year 1766 the first permanent Methodist society was formed in the city of New-York. Mr. Philip Embury, an Irishman, began to hold meetings in his own house, and to sing and pray with as many as would assemble with him. Soon after that, he collected and joined a few of them together in society, chiefly of his own countrymen. In about three months after, Mr. White, and Mr. Sause, from Dublin, joined with them.

They then rented an empty room in their neighbourhood adjoining the barracks, in which they held their meetings for a season: yet but few thought it worth their while to assemble with them in so contemptible a place. Some time after that, captain Thomas Webb, (a) barrack-master at Albany, found them out, and preached among them in his regimentals. The novelty of a man preaching in a scarlet coat, soon brought great numbers to hear, more than the room could contain. Some more of the inhabitants joining the society, they then united and hired a rigging loft to meet in, that would contain a large congregation. There Mr. Embury used to exhort and preach frequently.

(a) Captain Webb was a lieutenant in the army that conquered Canada, and took it from the French. He lost one eye in the battle on the plains of Abraham, at the taking the city of Quebec.

There are a few persons still living in NewYork, who formerly met with the society in the rigging-loft; and are pleased at the recollection of what the Lord did for them in their little society, when they were weak and ignorant in the things of religion; but were united together in christian love and fellowship, and were willing to be despised for the sake of their Lord and master.

Not long after the society was formed in NewYork, Robert Strawbridge, from Ireland, who had settled in Frederick county, in the state of Maryland, began to hold meetings in public, and joined a society together near Pipe Creek. Mr. Strawbridge was a useful man, and zealous in the cause of God; and spent much of his time in preaching the gospel in different places before any regular preachers were sent over by Mr. Wesley to this country.

The first Methodist meeting house that was built in the United States, was that in New-York. By the influence of captain Webb, the society purchased a lot of ground in John-street, for the purpose of building a house for public worship.The house was built in 1768, and was sufficiently large to hold twelve or fourteen hundred people. On the 30th day of October, 1768, it was first pened for divine service, and Mr. Embury preached the dedication sermon. This was about twelve months before we had any circuit preachers in America.

There was another meeting house built by Mr. Strawbridge and his society, near Pipe Creek in Maryland, called the Log Meeting House, which was erected for the use of the first Methodist society that was formed in that county.

The new meeting house in the city of NewYork, was first called Wesley's Chapel, which

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name it bore for several years after the itinerant preachers came to this country.

In 1769, Mr. Wesley says in his Ecclesiastical History, vol. 4, page 261," Tuesday, August 1, our conference began at Leeds. On Thursday I mentioned the case of our brethren at New-York. For some years past, several of our brethren from England and Ireland, (and some of them preachers,) had settled in North America, and had in various places formed societies, particularly in Philadelphia and New-York. The society at New-York had lately built a commodious preaching-house, and now desired our help, being in great want of money, but much more of preachers. Two of our preachers, Richard Boardman and Joseph Pillmore, willingly offered them selves for the service; by whom we determined to send over fifty pounds, as a token of our brotherly love."

Mr. Boardman and Mr. Pillmore came over to America from that conference, and landed at Gloucester Point, six miles below Philadelphia, . on the 24th day of October. These were the first regular itinerant Methodist preachers that ever came to these United States. Mr. Boardman had been an itinerant preacher in Europe for six years, and Mr. Pillmore for four years, before they came to this country as missionaries, a work for which they were well qualified, and in which they were owned and honoured of God, and made a blessing to thousands.

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Soon after the two preachers mentioned above had arrived at Philadelphia, Mr. Robert Williams came over. He had been a local preacher in England, and had received a permit from Mr. Wesley to preach in America, under the direction of the regular missionaries. Mr. Williams, however, was not sent over by Mr. Wesley.

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