CHAPTER X. From the beginning of the year 1800, including the third General Conference, to the end of 1803, In 1800, we had eight conferences; however one of them was a general conference. The 154th conference was held in Charleston, on the 1st of January 1800, The 155th, at Blunt's,(a) in Virginia, on the 9th of April. The 156th, at Holstein, on the 1st Friday in April. The 157th, at the Stone Chapel, on the 1st of May. The 158th was a general conference in Baltimore, on the 6th of May. The 159th, in Duck Creek, on the 2d of June. The 160th, in New-York, on the 19th of June. The 161st, in Lynn, on the 18th of July. The whole of these conferences were held in less than seven months time, at which we took in several new circuits which were as follows: Natchees in the Mississippi territory; Orange. burg in South-Carolina; Wilmington in NorthCarolina; Sciota in Ohio; Chenango west of New-York; Landaff in New Hampshire; Bethel in the Province of Maine; and Grand River in Canada. We admitted upwards of forty young preachers on trial this year, which was a great help to us. But on the other hand we lost 31 out of the travelling connection: 24 located, 3 withdrew (a) This conference which was held at Blunt's in Isle of Wight County, was appointed to be in Norfolk; but the small-pox was prevailing much in Norfolk at that time, so that we could not meet in the town with safety. X from our connection, and 4 died; viz. William Early, Thomas Haymond, Benton Riggin, and Robert Bonham. William Early was a native of Virginia, brought up in Bedford county. He acted as a lo cal preacher for a few years, and was then recei ved on trial, as an itinerant, in 1796. He was a zealous man, and a powerful preacher. His la. bours were greatly owned of God, and rendered a blessing to many souls. It was supposed that he took the yellow fever in Newbern, North-Ca. rolina; but he continued to travel till the fever came on him so severely that he was forced to lay down by the side of the road, where one of the neighbours found him and asked him to his house, where he went and took his bed, and after a few days died of the fever, in September 1799. Inthe hour of death it was said that he was happy in God. In him the church lost a faithful, labori. ous, and useful servant. and Thomas Haymond was admitted on trial in 1790, and quit the work, and located in 1796. After two years he entered into the travelling connection again, and after travelling a little more than a year, he died on the 13th of June 1799. He was a plain man in his manners, appeared to possess great goodness of heart. He was a solemn upright man, and often preached, and travelled more than his feeble frame could well bear. He exercised great patience under his last affliction, which lasted about fifteen days; he then died triumphantly. Benton Riggin was a native of Somerset county, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was of a slender habit of body, and had been accustomed to a sedentary life in his youth. He was a man of considerable abilities. He was a lively, useful, and acceptable preacher. He died at Fell's-point, in September 1799. He had been a travelling preacher upwards o: 12 years. Robert Bonham was son of Hezekiah Bonham. His father was a preacher of the gospel. He was a young man of an upright walk; was lively in his ministry, and active in his duties. He began to travel in 1793, but he was only a supernumerary for a few years before he died; he was lingering out his life in a consumption for three years before his death. At the general conference when he was almost gone, he said he was resigned to the will of God, and felt his soul happy in the love of God. He died in Baltimore in June 1800. Notwithstanding we took more preachers into the travelling connection this year, than we lost out of it, I considered ourselves not as well supplied as we were before: for we had only taken in young preachers; and many of them that had located were old and successful labourers in the ministry, and were well qualified to guide the Lord's flock. We added to the society this year 3543 members, which was very encouraging to those who laboured and travelled night and day for the salvation of precious souls. That the reader may see where our societies are most numerous, and where we have prospered most in the past year, I will insert the following account. The first row of figures against each state, shows how many there are in society in that state; and the next figures show how many each state has gained or lost in the course of the past year. States. No. Gained. 1655 121 This year we had 156 travelling elders, and their names were printed in the annual minutes in regular rotation: the oldest travelling preacher was set down first, and the next oldest, as they were found on the minutes, was set down next, and so on till the youngest elder was set down last. But those who had been part of their time located, were all entered at the bottom of the list, with this † mark to each name, that they may be known from the rest of the elders. There was an alteration made in the 6th question and answer, in the annual minutes this year, and it was printed thus: Q. 6. "Who are the Bishops? A. "Thomas Coke, Francis Asbury, Richard Whatcoat." This year we held our third regular general conference, which began in Baltimore on the 6th day of May, and continued until the twentieth. We had 119 preachers present, who were regular members of that conference. Some time previous to the meeting of the preachers in that conference, Mr. Asbury had said that when they met he would resign his office as superintendant of the Methodist connection, and would take his seat in the conference on a level with the elders. He wrote to several of the preachers in different parts of the connection, and informed them of his intention; and engaged other preachers to write to their brethren in the ministry, and to inform them of his intention to resign. Withal, he wrote his resignation with an intention to deliver it in to the conference as soon as they met, and to have it read in their first meet. ing. He said, he was so weak and feeble both in body and mind, that he was not able to go through the fatigues of his office. When conference met and proceeded to business, they first took up Mr. Asbury's case thus, Q. "Whereas Mr. Asbury has signified his intention of resigning his official station in our church on account of his weakness of body, what is the sense of the conference on this occasion ? A. 1. "The general conference consider themselves under many and great obligations to Mr. Asbury for the many and great services which he has rendered to this connection. 2. "This conference do earnestly entreat Mr. Asbury for a continuation of his services as one of the general superintendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as far as his strength will per mit." Mr. Asbury told the conference, that he was still feeble both in body and mind, but was much better than he had been for some time before; and notwithstanding he had been inclined to resign his office, he now felt willing to do any thing |