The Penn's Grove record., 1896-02-21
PLANTING OF ~METHQDnsM II
uPprp prwrs nEuK.

The first Methodist meeting recorded
rs ' Ell held in Upper Penns Neck was
by Benz. Abbott, a description Of which
is given in his life as folloy -
IAN appointment had been made in
Upper PENIS Neck, by John Firth, at
the house of John Stremple, a neigh
borhood famous for vice and immoral
ity, where they had no regular preach
ing nearer than ten or twelve miles, ex.
cept now and then a few words In q
small Quaker meeting, where very Few
of the vulgar ever attended. l was in
formed that when this appointment was
made, there were some present who
were nearly or quite men and women
grown, who had scarcely ever heard a
Gospel sermon in all their lives. When
the day came ]. f.. met me at Muir
phey's church, ~agreeably TO a former
appointment, and gave me notice theie-
Of; accordingly we set of, and on my
way thither my mind was solemnly Inn
pressed with these words, 81 have q
message from God unto thee," Judg.
Ill, 20. We went to William Barber's,
In Upper Penn's Neck, where we dined.
He used us kindly, and gave us infor.
nation that we might expect some in-
te%rruption from some dissolute people;
for there had been come talk Of running
horses on the public highway which led
through the mans land, where the
meeting had been appointed. and not
far from his house, and TO be at the
same hour of the meeting; but this fell
through. When we arrived at 1.-THE place,
we found a large congregation assem-
bled; for i. o~usequence Of the novelty
of a Methodist meeting, the talk Of an
intended interruption, &c, &C., the
people had generally got together.
When we went into the house, as many
people followed us as could well crowd
in, and stand on their feet; l took my
stand ear tie door, there being a con-
siderable number outside. Two men
followed us into the house, who ap-
peared III disposed; one Of them took
his stand near the middle Of the house,
where he remained during the meeting,
without offering any disturbance;
other stood about three feet from 5She
door with a luncheon in his hand about
two feet long, which he held by the
small end; three or four others remain
ed outside the door with the like weap-
OBS Ia their hands. l sung, and kneel-
ed down to pray before either Of them
offered any interruption; but when l
besought God to visit that part of his
vineyard, and to make it as famous for
virtue as it had been for vice, u Of
them replied, That it was as good al
ready as any other part he had known;
and made use Of several ether expires.
sions during the time Of layer. When
1 had done prayer, 1 asxed Linn IL he
knew that he had violates the laws Of
the land, and if put II teyce, that be
had forfeited twenty f1s, aid must
either give security ID, mis- future good
behavior, or 60 to jan, then charged
him at bis peal TO desit and give no
farther intery upbion: IA made several
replies, and appeared very vicious.
Mrs. Hews, an old Quaker woman, who
sat just at my elbow, seeing the mans
conduct. and hearing what had passed,
babe me not be afraid; and put me In
mind of the sufferings which their
friends had underwent for the n Of
God. 1 was truly glad to find her an
advocate for Jesus; though ! bless God
1 did not feel the fear Of man. l pro-
ceeded, and gave out my text, II have
a message from God unto thee, Judges
iii, 20. 1 had not spoken long before
he began again to interrupt me, raising
himself on his Toes to see II the others
were at hand; but the door being sur
rounded by a number of the most ie-
spectacle inhabitants, those club gen.
try were either ashamed Of afraid, 80
that they kept their distance. / soon
found that it would not answer TO dis
pute, and therefore, without any re-
gard to what he was saying, / began to
pour out the terrors Of the law upon
him, in the most awful manner / was
capable Of. 1 soon saw his countenance
| change, and he cried out, Is 1t me, sir,
you mean? Yes, said I, you are tina
very man, and nave a message from
God unto you;" which 1 delivered In
plain terms, and began to pray for him:
he quickly discovered q disposition to
get out of the house; but this he could
not hastily do, the crowd was so great
In the dour. His confusion was great,
and he cried out, Do not judged do not
judgel AT length he got out, and hal
looed Amen, several times; but be soon
gave that up. A Quaker gentleman,
being at the door, said to him as he
went out, Thou hast met with thy
match. / have since understood that
he had anchored his vessel in the Della
ware, two or three miles distant, in or
der to attend this meeting; and had
sworn that he never meant to weigh
anchor again until he had driven every
Methodist out of the neck. While l
was prayiDg for him, God convinced a
woman Of sin, who soon after got her
soul converted, and with her husband
Joined society. Blessed be God, not
w~ithstanding all the malice Of men and
devils, We had a solemn and profitable
time to many souls, who were broken
into tenderness. Soon after, q society
was formed, and they became a pre-
cious people"
A few citizens in the eastern part of
the Township. which also cOmDrised