# Enoch George

Part of a series on :
Methodism :
John Wesley :
Background
History (in the United States)
Anglicanism
Arminianism
First Great Awakening
Moravianism
Nonconformism
Pietism
Wesleyan theology :
Doctrine
Doctrinal standards
Bible
Old Testament
New Testament
Creeds
Nicene Creed
Apostles' Creed
Articles of Religion
Sermons on Several Occasions
Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament
Distinctive beliefs and practices
Assurance of faith
Conditional preservation of the saints
Priesthood of all believers
Four sources of theological authority
Covenant theology
Substitutionary atonement
Imparted righteousness
Moral law
New birth
Free will
Outward holiness
Prevenient grace
Real presence
Sanctification (growth in grace)
Sunday Sabbatarianism
Christian perfection
Second work of grace
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Views on sin
Works of piety
Works of mercy :
Worship
The Sunday Service of the Methodists
Covenant Renewal Service
Revival service
Altar call
Mourner's bench
Camp meeting
Tabernacle
Tent revival
Brush arbour revival
Lovefeast
Watchnight service :
People
John WesleyCharles Wesley
Richard Allen
Francis Asbury
Thomas Coke
John William Fletcher
Orange Scott
William Williams Pantycelyn
Benjamin Titus Roberts
Walter Ashbel Sellew
Howell Harris
Albert Outler
James Varick
Countess of Huntingdon
Phoebe Palmer
George Whitefield
Bishops
Theologians :
GroupsChurches
Methodist Church of Great Britain
Free Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
World Methodist Council
Global Methodist Church
Other Methodist denominations :
Organization
Connexionalism
General Conference
Methodist Circuit
Pastoral charge
Class meeting
Penitent band :
Related groups
Holiness movement
Conservative holiness movement
Holiness Pentecostalism
Evangelicalism :
Other relevant topics
Saints in Methodism
Methodist views on alcohol
Methodist local preacher
Itinerant preacher
Circuit rider
Steward
Homosexuality and Methodism
Ordination of women in Methodism
Bishops in Methodism :
Christianity • Protestantism
Christianity portal :
vte :
Enoch George (c. 1767 – 1828) was an American who distinguished himself as a Methodist circuit rider and pastor, as a presiding elder, and as a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1816.

## Birth and spiritual re-birth

Enoch was born on March 10, 1767, or 1768 (his family records were destroyed by accident) in Lancaster County, Virginia. As a young person he was under the ministry of the Rev. Devereux Jarratt, a priest of the Church of England, who was one of the most earnest and effective preachers of his time. Enoch was the subject of deep religious impressions early in life. However, his father moved his family to a place where there happened to be no evangelical clergy, such that Enoch became negligent of his religious duties, neglecting the Christian ordinances altogether. After several years, his neighborhood was visited by a Methodist Circuit Rider John Easter, under whose exhortations young Enoch became connected with the little Methodist society established thereby, and again experienced the comforts of religion.

## Ordained ministry

Indeed, Enoch was soon called upon to the exercise of public prayer and exhortation. He soon thereafter entered the field of labor as a Preacher, though with great diffidence. The Rev. George was sent by Bishop Francis Asbury to assist in forming a circuit on the headwaters of the Catawba and Broad rivers, in North Carolina. The difficulties were so great there that Enoch wrote Bishop Asbury asking for a transfer to some other field. The good bishop replied that "it was better for him to become inured to hardships while he was young, that when he was old and gray-headed his task would be easy."
In 1790 the Rev. Enoch George was admitted on trial by the Virginia Annual Conference of the M.E. Church. He was ordained, both Deacon and Elder, by Bishop Asbury. Rev. George served for two years as the Junior Preacher on the Caswell Circuit. He then went to South Carolina, where in 1796 he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Charleston District. In 1798, because of impaired health, he temporarily retired from the active work of ministry and traveled to the North. But in 1800 he resumed his labors, and was appointed Presiding Elder of the Potomac District in the Baltimore Annual Conference.
The Rev. George's health failed a second time, and he "located". But again, in 1803, he resumed the work this time with great zeal and success. He was stationed, successively, in Baltimore, Alexandria, and Georgetown, then on the Baltimore and then the Georgetown Districts (as Presiding Elder)

## The preacher

Enoch George belonged to the "primitive" school of American Methodist preachers. Though many of these had little or no scholastic advantages, yet some became highly effective preachers of the Gospel, also attaining proficiency in Biblical and theological learning. George was especially distinguished for the fervor and pathos of his pulpit ministry.

## Episcopal ministry

After the death of Bishop Asbury, the Rev. Enoch George was elected and consecrated a Bishop of the M.E. Church by the General Conference, May 1816. He served with great zeal and effectiveness for the remaining twelve years of his life. He traveled, chiefly by private conveyance, through all parts of the country. He went as far as the frontier settlements of the west and southwest, usually preaching nearly every day at prearranged appointments. Remarkable manifestations of the influence that attended his preaching were regularly witnessed.

## Physical description

Bishop Matthew Simpson wrote of him:
   He was a man of deep piety, of great simplicity of manners, a pathetic, powerful and successful preacher, greatly beloved in life, and very extensively lamented in death.

## Death and burial

Bishop Enoch George died August 23, 1828, in Staunton, Virginia, and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Baltimore.