Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-05-12

Methodism came to America from
Irel'nd. When Louis XIV. laid
waste the Pe!stinate, large numbers
OF the Protessants were driven out
of the country into Switzerland, Ger
many and England, and about fifty
families found refuge in the Country
of Limerick, Ireland, and formed a
little community prepared for the
teaching of Wesley. When the
Methodist itinerants found them out
they had been for fifty years with
out pastors of their own, and were
much demoralized, but responded
cordially to the fervent preaching of
the new apostles. Wesley himself
visited them in 1853, and two wears
later a little band OF these "Irish Pal.
atines" emigrated to New York, in
GLIDING Philip Embury, class lead
Grand licensed local preacher, and
Mrs. Barbara Heck. In 1865 an
mother company from the same COM
munity followed the first emigrants.
Up to this time there had been no
special attempt to make Methodism
root in the new home colonists from
Ireland; but, some time in 1866, Bar.
bara Heck, coming into COM
pany of the new emigrants playing
cards, had her soul SO stirred
within her that she seized, and threw
into the fire, the cards, poured out
an earnest rebuke to the company,
and went instantly to Embury to
call upon him to set about preach
ing and stir up revival of religion
and holiness. This Embury did
La February Of next year, Embury's
little congregation was entered by
British officer, one Captain Thomas
Webb, who had heard Wesley in
England, and had enrolled himself
among the most jealous supporters
of the cause. Laying his sword on
the desk, Captain Webb discharged
with great JUNCTION and power his
office As lay preacher, and for sever
a years he was pillar of Metho>
dism in the New World. Meanwhile
Mrs. Heck had devised plan for
building chapel, and ON the Both of
October, 1868, it was dedicated, with
Embury as minister, and called Yves
ley Chapel. Very soon as many as
thousand persons at once were
gathered in aud around it to listen
to Methodist preaching. New York
had then q population of twenty
Thousand. Letters sent to Wesley
brought two missionaries in the au>
tumn Office, who took charge of the
movement.
About the time that Embury and
Mrs. Heck established Mcthodism
in New York, one Robert Straw-
bridge, an Irishman, who had
brought his yourg wife to the backs
wood of Frederick County, Mary
land. built on Sans Creek, the LOG
Meeting House" the cradle of South.
ern MethodiSm, and established him
self as a preacher, for Eastern Mary
land, Delaware, Pennsylvania and
Virginia. 70 his aid there soon
came ardent evangelists from Eng>
land, and from the converts made on
the soil. One of Wesley's mission,
aries. Francis Asbnry, was destined
to become the most eminent organi-
ger and propoga:er of Methodism in
America. His first work was to res
organize and fix the itinerant system,
which there was q disposition to
give up with many Of the American
Methodist preachers. The labors OF
Asbury himself as an itinerantucon.
stitute one of the greatest marvels in
the wonderful history of Metho-
dism.
In It'll "America" reported 316
members of the Society" as the
general Methodist movement was
designated. The first American Con-
ference was held in Philadelphia, Ju-
ly 18th, 18th and 10th, 1878. The
reports gave 1850 members of the
Society. The proceedings of the
session had chief reference TO tho es,
tablishment of Wesley's Rules of
Discipline. 1t was resolved that
Wesley's authority ought to extend
to America, and the doctrine and
discipline laid..down in the minutes
in his annual conference be the sole
rule, and that preachers deviating
from this should not be fellowshipp-
ed. 1t was further determined that
the preacher (being simply licensed
to preach but not ordained) must
strictly avoid administering baptism
and communion, and that all con-
verts should be enjoined to attend
Episcopal Churches to receive the or
dinances. Robert Strawbridge con-
tended stoutly for the right of the
people to the sacraments and would
not be retained from administering
them. Therefore the rules Just
mentioned were ADOPTED with the
understap ding that they should not
apply to the fervent Irishman.--
From 1771 to 1884 there was such
progress of Methodiem in America
that it was able to report in the lat
ter year nearly $4,000 members of
the Society, with "a preachers. OF
these only, 1907 were north Of the
line since known as Mason and Dig.
on's. At this time, however, the
regulations Of the body had been
vigorously anti-slavery. permitting
no fellowship with shareholders. To>
tai abstinence WAS equally insisted
on. The fact that seven-eights of
the preachers were celebrated is alone
striking proof OF the lfsacritice
practised by the early founders of
Methodism in America.
METHoDIsM.
There had been from time to time
a very strong disposition with many
American Methodists to break away
from dependence for the sacraments
upon the clergy of the Episcopal
Churches. In the conference of 1879