The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-13
METHODISM IN GEORGIA.
Rev. j. A. Smith Talked Upon Pro-
gress of the Denomination.

gress of the Denomination.
Georgia Methodism and the part Sa-
vannah has played in it, was the
theme of Rev. ]. A. Smiths sermon at
Epworth Methodist Church yesterday.
The passage, 1.-THE Lord has done
great things for US, whereof we are
glad" supplied the text.
The pastor followed the history of
Methodism in Georgia, especially in
Savannah, since the landing of Wesley
and his ministry. He dwelt upon the
personality of Wesley and other sue
cessfui, though not so distinguished,
Methodists who have followed him in
the fashioning of the great structure
of Methodism that now exists.
Whenever the Lord would do
great work." the pastor said, "a man
is prepared to do it," He then named
Noah, Abraham. Moses, Joshua. Isaiah,
jeremiah, Paul, Luther and Wesley as
examples.
A brief sketch of John Wesley and
his work in Georgia was given. The
coming of George Whitefield and the
work of that great Christian and phi
lantropist were described, the pastor
saying: ION March rs, 1740, he laid the
first brick of Bethesda Orphanage
which is doing agreat work to this
day under the presidency of Col ]. H.
Estill and a local board of trustees"
A summary of Methodism in Savan-
nah, showing those who have labored
here, was given, as follows:
1790-Hope Hull was the first Meth
odist preacher appointed to Savannah.
He met with strong opposition on ac-
count of his anti-slavery sentiments.
1791-Hezekiah Arnold.
1792-John Bonner.
1794-Hope Hull. At the end of this
year the appointment was discontinued.
1S00-Savannah and ST. Marys, John
Garvin. At the end of this year there
was not a Methodist in Savannah, so
the appointment was again dropped.
1S97-Samuel Dunwoody. This year a
Methodist church was organized in the
city, and at a conference, twelve mem
bers, five white and seven colored, were
reported.
1S0S-James H. Mellard.
1S09-10-John McVean.
1811-Urban Cooper.
1812-13-James Russell. Wesley Chap
ell was built in 1S13 on the northeast
corner of Lincoln and Oglethorpe ave-
nue., and dedicated by Bishop Asbury.
At this time there were fifty-two mem
bers, twenty-seYen white and twenty
five colored
1S43-Daniel Curry.
1S44-Josiah Lewis.
1S47-4S-Under the pastorate Of A.
T. Mann the church resolved to erect
a new building, and on Feb. IA, 1S4S,
the cornerstone was laid.
1S49-50-Under the pastorate of ]. E.
Evans the new church was completed
and called Trinity, and the entire
membership moved to the new build
ing.
1S51-W. r. Brannon.
1881. Pierce.
1s53-54-W. NJ. Crumley. In the lat
ter year Wesley Church on Lincoln
and Oglethorpe avenue was revived,
md j. G. Paine was appointed to the
charge, who died during the epidemic
of yellow fever in 1854. The charge
was continued until the end of 1860,
when it was dropped. The following
preachers served one year each: W.
M. Crumley, T. f. Jordan, David
Adams, John r Norris
1S63-64-6 GA. NJ. Wynn.
1868 &C.. G. N.MacDonell. The trus-
tees having purchased a building cor
ner Drayton and Gordon stretes, an
organization was effected in 1868, and
called Wesley Church-D. D. Cox, pas
tor. From this time on Wesley has
prospered and made an enviable rec
ord for herself.
In 1877 j. w. Simmons was sent as
city missionary. This year New Hous-
ton Street Church was built and dedi-
Gated. The following year the church
was organized with twenty members.
In 1890, with D. F. Riley as pastor. the
present building was begun; a year
later it was completed far enough to
be used, and its name changed to
Grace.