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The membership then amounted to one hundred and sixty-nine. From that period a favorable influence began to extend itself, and yet from time to time Methodism has there met with some serious reverses. Peter P. Sandford succeeded Mr. Merwin in 1814. Dr. Phœbus, Phinehas Rice and Tob as Spicer, were some of the men who administered the word and ordinances to that people from 1814 to 1825. Under the pastorship of the latter, a revival added about fifty to their numbers, and a burthensome church debt was much reduced. At the close of Mr. Spicer's labors, the membership numbered two hundred and sixty-five. About the year 1826 or 27, the question of renting the seats was agitated, and for two or three years was a cause of unhappy contentions. When the renting of pews became the settled policy, those who preferred the free seat system, organized another society. For a while, they met in a hall which they hired for that purpose, and subsequently purchased a large building on North Pearl street, that had previously been used as a circus, and fitted it up as a house of worship, under the name of Garrettson Station. This appointment first appears in the Minutes of 1829, and Rev. J. J. Matthias was their first stationed preacher. In 1851, that building was demol ished, and their present one erected in its place, the seats of which are rented.

About the year 1830, some difficulties arose in the Division Street church, then under the charge of Rev. Mr. Green, which resulted in the organization of a Protestant Methodist church in that city, which about fourteen years after ceased to exist.

In May, 1834, a part of the members of Garrettson station were organized into a church, and took the name of Wesley Chapel, and commenced worship on the corner of Dallius and Bleeker streets. Subsequent

ly they erected a house of worship at a cost of about ten thousand dollars, in Herkimer, near Pearl street, which was dedicated in September, 1837. That building was destroyed by fire April 20th, 1839. The Cameronian church in Westerlo street was then hired and occupied. The anti-slavery excitement which then divided the church prevented the erection of a new one. In 1839, a building, now used as a synagogue, was hired. In the spring of 1842, that was sold to the Jews, and the society being unable to rebuild, they disbanded, and went in classes to the two other churches in the city. Soon after, they hired a place for a sabbath school in John street, and in July of the same year reorganized and built the present church in Ferry street. In this enterprise, Mr. James Davis was specially active and influential. It was dedicated in December, 1842, and in 1852, was enlarged and improved. After having passed through many difficulties, that charge has acquired stability and strength,

In 1835, another church was organized, which occupied a building in State street west of the Capitol. God was with them, and prospered them. In 1842, they erected the Washington street church. It was greatly embarrassed with debt, so that it was sometimes thought it must be sacrificed, until 1849, when Mr. Thomas Schuyler purchased the obligations and rescued it, since which it has been relieved from most of its indebtedness.

In 1844, the church in Division street erected a new house of worship, fronting on Hudson and Plain streets. It is a noble edifice, the largest connected with the Troy Conference, and that charge is now known as the Hudson street church.

The same year preaching was commenced on Arbor Hill, in the north-western part of the city. Soon a con

venient building was erected, and a permanent society has been established. This is now our only free seat church in Albany.

A few years ago, a Wesleyan Methodist church was organized in that city, which still exists. Recently a Methodist German Mission was commenced there, and last year they succeeded in erecting a neat little church in the south part of the city. A colored Methodist church has for years existed in Albany.

At present, the Bethel is supplied by Rev. A. A. Farr, a member of Troy Conference; so that there are now nine churches in Albany, in which Methodist Ministers officiate, five of which are regular stations connected with our Conference. In these last, the Minutes of 1852 report eleven hundred and sixty-eight members, and ninety-seven probationers.

The work of God spread and prospered gloriously in 1824, in Chatham, Canaan, Sandlake and Coeymans. The following year several circuits on the Champlain district, of which Rev. B. Goodsell was then presiding elder, were visited in great mercy and power. In 1828, I find notices of an extensive work on Pittsfield circuit by which over two hundred were added to our num bers, under Rev. B. Silleck. Rev. S. Martindale reported a good work in Troy the same year, and Rev. J. Poor had the pleasure of adding over one hundred converts to the church in Burlington, Vt. Of the many honored men who were instrumental in establishing Methodism within our bounds, our limits forbid our speaking of but a few.

The dignified appearance, musical voice, and eloquent appeals of Rev. Samuel Merwin have left their indelible impression upon the minds of multitudes within our bounds. He labored upon Albany circuit in 1810–11, Schenectady in 1811-12, Albany station in 1812-13,

and again in the same city in 1820-21, and in Troy in 1828-29. After about forty years of devoted and successful labors in the Christian ministry, he peacefully bid farewell to earth on the 13th of January, 1839.

Rev. Laban Clark's first appointment was on Fletcher circuit, Vermont, in 1801. The circuit included the whole of what is now St. Albans district, and a part of Burlington and Plattsburgh districts, reaching also into Canada. He subsequently labored within our bounds at Plattsburgh, N, Y.; Adams, Mass.; Lebanon, Troy, Pittstown and Schenectady, N. Y. Indefatigable in labors, the patron of all the benevolent enterprises of the church, one of the founders of the Wesleyan University, having spent more than half a century in the ministry, he still lingers on earth.

Rev., Samuel Draper did valiant service for God and Methodism from 1801 to 1824, when he died suddenly at his post. Fletcher, Brandon, Vergennes, Plattsburgh, Saratoga and Cambridge circuits were the scenes of his labors, when those circuits unitedly embraced most of our present territory. He was presiding elder of Champlain and Ashgrove districts from 1810 to 1818. He was laborious and useful, though perhaps not always as grave and serious as becomes the Chistrian minister.

Rev. Seth Crowell deserves an honorable place among the heroes of our early history. He entered upon his labors in 1801; into rest, in 1826. He combined distinguished argumentative powers with great hortatory ability. God was with him, and his appeals were sometimes overwhelming. Amid great bodily infirmity and severe mental conflicts, he labored with uncommon zeal until utter postration laid him aside. He died honored and beloved.

Rev. Samuel Cochrane endured "hardness as a good soldier," during thirty-eight years of effective service.

extending from 1893 to 1841. Several years of his ministerial life were spent within the present bounds of Troy Conference. He died suddenly in 1845.

and converted to God Though much of the performed out of our

Rev. Lewis Pease was reared in our midst, in Canaan, N. Y. labor of this lovely man was limits, yet he began and terminated his work among us. · Brandon was his first circuit, and North Second street, Troy, was the scene of his last successful ministrations.

A host of other worthy names are associated with our early history, most of whom "rest from their labors." A few linger among us, the remnant and representatives of a former generation.

CHAPTER III.

PROGRESS AND PRESENT STATE OF METHODISM IN THE CONFERENCE.

Reference has already been made to the organization of the Troy Annual Conference in 1832, and its boundaries have been given. To give even an outline of the spread of the work of God in the various parts of our field since that period would require much more room than comports with the plan of this work. The early history of Methodism in this region is more especially the object of this sketch. The introduction of Methodism into various localities possesses a peculiar interest and the incidents connected with it are in more danger of being lost than those of a later date; and as the actors in the more recent scenes are yet living, and many of them comparatively young men, we can not speak of them at present with that freedom which will

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