Page images
PDF
EPUB

The first Methodist that is known to have entered this region was Captain Webb, of the British army. Having received a wound in the arm, and lost his right eye at the battle of Quebec, under General Wolfe, he returned to England, and in 1764, or 1765, was converted to God. He joined the Methodist society, and in 1765, or 1766, returned to this country, having been appointed barrack-master at Albany. Before leaving England, he began to speak in public, and "when he arrived in Albany, he regularly performed family prayer; some of his neighbors frequently attended. He often gave them a word of exhortation, and the encouragement he met with emboldened him to extend his labors." (Young's Hist. Meth., p. 235.) Thus began that work which has since so wonderfully spread throughout this and other regions of our country. It will be remembered that it was in 1766, that Mr. Philip Embury preached his first sermon in the city of New York, and organized the first Methodist society in America. Whether the honor of preaching the first Methodist sermon in America belongs to Captain Webb, or to Philip Embury, and whether Albany or New York was the place where it was preached, it may be impossible positively to decide; but that Mr. Embury organized the first society, may be considered a settled historical fact. Dr. Bangs says of Mr. Embury's first sermon, which was preached to five hearers in his own house in New York: "This, it is believed, was the first Methodist sermon ever preached in America." (Hist. Meth., vol. i, p. 48.) This is the general impression, and yet as this is a question of some historic interest, it may be well to investigate it.

66

"In the year 1765 or 1766," Dr. Bangs says, " Capt. Webb was appointed barrack-master at Albany. Here he set up family prayer in his own house, which some of his neighbors frequently attended, to whom he gave

a word of exhortation and advice. The blessing of God attending those incipient efforts to do good, he was induced to extend his labors, and he began to hold meetings among his fellow-soldiers and others who wished to attend. After the arrival of Mr. Embury in New York, Capt. Webb, hearing of their having begun to hold meetings, paid them a visit." (Bangs' Hist. Meth., v. ii, p. 257.) From the above, it seems that he began to hold meetings in Albany either the same year that Mr. Embury began in New York, 1766, or the year previous. Capt. Webb appeared among the Methodists in New York "shortly after they had formed themselves into a society," and before the rigging-loft was hired. (Young's Hist. Meth., p. 232; Bangs' Hist. Meth., vol. i, pp. 49, 50). A letter from the infant society in New York to Mr. Wesley, dated April 11, 1768, says, “The above appears to be a genuine account of the state of religion in New York eighteen months ago, when it pleased God to rouse up Mr. Embury to employ his talent by calling sinners to repentance, and exhorting believers to let their light shine before men." 'About fourteen months ago, Capt. Webb, barrack-master at Albany, found them out, and preached in his regimentals." (Bangs' Hist. Meth., vol. i, p. 53-4). Thus it appears that Mr. Embury was aroused to duty in October, 1766, i. e., eighteen months before the above letter was written, that Capt. Webb began to hold meetings in Albany in 1765 or 1766, and that he preached in New York about four months after Mr. Embury's first sermon, having previously preached in Albany, "first to his fellowsoldiers, and afterward to all that were willing to hear him." From the above evidence it seems highly probable that the first Methodist sermon in America was preached by Capt. Webb at Albany, or at least that he there held the first Methodist meetings for exhortation

66

and prayer. I learn also that he visited and preached. at Schenectady. No society, however, was formed in either of these cities until several years subsequent to 1766. Capt. Webb afterwards returned to England where his labors were greatly blessed. He died suddenly in 1796.

The Rev. Freeborn Garretson was the apostle of Methodism in all the region now occupied by the Troy Conference. At the Conference of 1788 he was appointed presiding elder of the district north of the city of New York, and extending from New Rochelle, near New York city, to Lake Champlain. At that time there were but six circuits in his large district, and but two of them within the bounds of what now constitutes the Troy Conference. The Lord had raised up a number of zealous young men, who had entered the field of itinerancy with hearts fired and filled with love to God and the souls of men. Several of these were placed under the charge of Mr. Garrettson, who was requested by Bp. Asbury to penetrate the country north of the city of New York, and form as many circuits as

he could.

66

"A great portion of this country was entirely destitute of religious instruction, more especially the northern and western parts of New York state, and the state of Vermont. There were, to be sure, some small scattered congregations of Lutherans, and Dutch Reformed, along the banks of the Hudson river, and some Congregationalists and Baptists in Vermont. It is manifest, however, that experimental and practical religion was at a low ebb; and in most of the places, particularly in the new settlements on the west side of the Hudson river, not even the forms of it were to be found." (Bangs' Hist., vol. i, p. 269.)

The following account of the exercises of his mind,

and of the manner in which he proceeded in the work of breaking up this new ground, is from Mr. Garrettson's own pen: "I was very uneasy in my mind, being unacquainted with the country, an entire stranger to its inhabitants, there being no Methodist societies farther north than Westchester; but I gave myself to earnest prayer for direction. I knew that the Lord was with me. In the night season, in a dream, it seemed to me that the whole country, up the North river, as far as Lake Champlain, east and west, was open to my view. "After Conference adjourned, I requested the young men to meet me. Light seemed so reflected on my path that I gave them directions where to begin, and which way to form their circuits. I also appointed a time for each quarterly meeting, requesting them to take up a collection in every place where they preached, and told them I should go up the North river to the extreme parts of the work, visiting the towns and cities in the way, and on my return, I should visit them all, and hold their quarterly meetings. I had no doubt but that the Lord would do wonders, for the young men were pious, zealous and laborious.''

Who can contemplate the scene here presented without emotions of admiration? In the spirit of the apostles, this band went forth, without money, without influence, without friends, trusting alone in God, to wage warfare against the kingdom of darkness, and gather souls to Christ. The strangest notions imaginable prevailed among some classes, as to the character and designs of these men of God. Some supposed they were the agents of the British government, and gravely predicted another

Embassadors of a foreign Prince they were, indeed, and a war ensued, but not such as was feared; their weapons were not carnal, their victories were bloodless. Others supposed they were the false prophets

who should come in the last days, and "deceive, if it were possible, the very elect." And while some of the settled clergy became alarmed lest they should lose their congregations, from many a pulpit the note of warning was sounded against the "wolves in sheep's clothing."

66

66

66

God, however, was with these heroic pioneers of Methodism, opening their way before them, supporting them amid their trials, raising them up friends among strangers, and blessing their labors. If, as on the day of Pentecost, some "mocked," others were pricked in their hearts, and said to " Father Garrettson, "and to the rest of the " preachers, men and brethren, what shall we do?" 'My custom was," says Mr. Garrettson, "to go round the district every three months, and then return to New York, where I commonly stayed about two weeks. In going once around, I usually traveled about a thousand miles, and preached upwards of a hundred times." (Garrettson's Life, p. 201.) At the close of their first year's labor, they returned over six hundred members. "So mightily grew the word of the Lord, and prevailed.”

The minutes of 1788 give the circuits and appointments within our bounds, as follows: Cambridge, Lemuel Smith; Shoreham, Darius Dunham; New City (i. e. Lansingburgh), Samuel Q. Talbot; Lake Champlain, Samuel Wigton. These appointments must be understood as indicating the places where these men were expected to form circuits, and not the actual existence of societies at that time.

The first Methodist society formed within the limits of what is now the Troy Conference, was at Ashgrove, in Washington county, N. Y. It was organized by Mr. Philip Embury. After having been instrumental in the organization of the first Methodist society, and in building the first Methodist church in America, he removed to Ashgrove, where he formed a society, consisting

« PreviousContinue »