The Newtown bee., 1889-04-12
FRIDAY, APRIL la, 1889.
METHoDIsM IN NEW ENGLAND.
WORK OF THE PAST AND OUT LOOK FOR THE FUTURE.

LOOK FOR THE FUTURE.
 The history of New England Metho- dism, beginning from it's planting on New England soil century ago and tracing its course down through the years of the past, until to-day we find it a well estab- lished, well proportioned organization, whose territory and field of action are rapidly broadening, is remarkable one. Whatever our religious prejudices and preferences may be, however much we may differ from our sister church in method of church discipline and form of church worship (for the work of salvat- Ion Is not rooted and grounded upon faith In this or that denomination, but rather upon faith in Him who is our Lord and Master, even Christ); laying aside party strife and bias and reviewing it simply as matter of contemporaneous history, the achievements of New England Meth odism during the past hundred years are varied and full of interest.
 In the fore front of New England Methodism stands the name of Jesse Lee, a name justly adored and honored by all true adherents to that body. Born in Prince George county, Virginia, March F, l75S, he early commenced evangelist ic labors and, having removed to North Carolina, he there preached his first ser mon at the age of 2l. When, in 17s0, the British invaded South Carolina, Lee was drafted into military service; but, refus- ing to participate in active engagements on the field, he received the appointment of chaplain, whose duties he performed four months. He afterward filled vari- ous appointments in the South, until, in 17s9, he was ordered by the conference to Stamford, Conn.,, circuit, whose terri tory embraced nearly the whole of Fair field county. His first halt in New England village was at Norwalk, where, as yet, no effort at founding Methodist church had been made, though Metho- dist sermon had been delivered by one Cornelius Cook, two years previous to Lees arrival. Here, June 17, l7s9, Jesse Lee preached his first sermon in New England and from that sermon dates the establishment among us of that phase of religion of which he was the jealous and untiring exponent.
 Being denied the use of house, shed or hay-loft for religious purposes, he gath cred, under the shade of an apple tree by the roadside, his little group of 20 listeners and talked to them from John III, z: "Ye must be born again." His sermon ended, he expressed his intention of preacoing there again in q fortnight, took fresh courage for the future and, in his diary, wrote: 'Who knows but l shall yet have place in this town where may lay my headF" His hopes were re- shortly after open to the thew doctrine" and services were held in it until 1S1G, when it Is recorded that remarkable revival took place" and the society gath cred strength to erect a house of worship on site still occupied by the First M. F. church of Norwalk.
 Pushing on from Norwalk and travel ing on horseback over stony road, the itinerant apostle rested at Bedding, June 24, 17S9. He was invited to the home of the Congregational minister; but, as it developed that their doctrines were not in unison, the Congregational brother had not the conscience to invite Lee to his meeting house to preach. Doubtless it was providentially so ordered; for such overwhelming courtesy toward the teach CT of the ''new doctrine" would certainly have been attended by fatal results. hu hnnGa af ic disposal, where, at 6o'clock of that even ing, the preacher assembled the people and exhorted them from Isaiah 30, G.: 'sSeek ye the Lord while he may be found" Though he presented the truth of the gospel with force and earnestness, he could not remain to see the effect pro- duced, but moved on to other villages. Twice again, July and September l6 of the same year, Lee returned to Bedding, but found none whom he could claim as his converts, until, on his fourth visit, December 2S, 17S9, he ''joined two in so- ciety for beginning" The two mem bers mentioned were Aaron Sanford and his wife's mother, Mrs William Hawley :; and by this act Mir Sanford became the first male member of the Methodist church in New England. Previous to this, three females, Mary Hall, Ruth Hall and Ruth Wells, had joined class under guidance of Mir Lee and, as the district where they lived was termed ssMutton Lane," these three new con- verts were recognized far and near by the title of 'Lee's three eve lambs.''
 History records that the organization formed at Bedding by Jesse Lee, Decem- Der 2s, 17s9, with Aaron Sanford and Mrs William Hawley as members, was the second Methodist society in New England, that at Stratford antedating Bedding n few months. The Bedding so- ciety extended it's borders, formed class es at Long Ridge, Boston, Sanfordtown, Hometown and Bedding Ridge and the cause began to prosper.
 Soon after his conversion, Mir Sanford built an addition to his dwelling house for s'preacher's place." dividing one room into two by partition suspended by clumsy l. hinges from iron hooks driven into the great beam, always so conspicuous in the houses of ye olden time. This house, which sheltered Lee, Asbury, Roberts, Smith, Brush and many others of the early Methodist itinerants, stands yet with massive stone chimney, far-sloping, ,moss-covered roof and wealth er-beaten, shingled sides, upon the brow of one of Redding's everlasting hills.
 The first house of public worship for