USA > New Jersey > Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey : from the foundation of the first society in the state in 1770, to the completion of the first twenty years of its history > Part 17
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ure. They had come to learn the way of salvation more perfectly. The doctrine to them was new, having been brought up under Calvinistic influences. He, of course, recalled his purpose to preach no more, and was encour- aged to go forward.
" About this time such was the excitement all through that part of the State, occasioned by Methodist preach- ing, that some of the ministers of the Presbyterian Church became alarmed. One of them, a young man, advising with an elder brother in the ministry, asked the question, ' What shall be done to counteract the influence they are exerting ?' ' Why,' said the elder brother, 'we must out preach and out pray them.' 'That,' replied the young preacher, 'is impossible, for there is Mr. Hag- gerty, he can split a hair.'"*
Chatham is about the oldest society in Morris county except Flanders, but whether there were any Methodists there at the time Mr. Morrell preached the sermon above mentioned we are unable to say. But very soon after- ward there was a society of Methodists there, and some time previous to 1790, probably about 1786 or 1787 they moved toward building a Chapel. But their number being small and their means limited, they were led to accept a proposal made by some persons not mem- bers of the society, but who appeared friendly, which
* Letter of Rev. F. A. Morrell to the writer.
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was that they would assist them in building the Chapel, providing it should be free to all denominations. To this the Methodists consented, and one person gave tim- ber, another boards, &c., and the house was accordingly erected. The Methodists held their public services in it for a considerable time, but in the course of years the free enterprise resulted in dissatisfaction and bickering, and at length the house was pulled down. In 1832 the present Methodist Church in Chatham was erected. Mr. Brainerd Dickinson was, we are informed, the leader of the first class, and the chief man in the society for a number of years. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and was engaged in the battle of Monmouth. He died about 1819. From this Church the venerable Manning Force, of the Newark Conference, went forth to the itin- erancy, and Mr. Isaac Searles, father-in-law of Rev. Dr. Whedon, was for years, during the first part of the pre- sent century, an important and useful man in the so- ciety. He died in December, 1856, in the city of Washington, aged about 80 years. The venerable Mat- thias Swaim, father of Rev. John S. Swaim, now about ninety years of age, has been a member there since 1803. He is still one of the chief pillars of the Church. He became a resident of Chatham in 1791, and to him we are indebted for most of the above facts.
An event of great importance to Methodism in
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America occurred this year. It was the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church as a distinct and inde- pendent ecclesiastical body.
"In 1782, by virtue of the Preliminary Articles of peace, hostilities ceased between the United States and Great Britain-and in 1783 the Definitive Treaty of Peace was signed, ratified, and carried into full effect. The Independence of the United States being acknow- ledged by Great Britain, and our civil and religious rites, liberties, and privileges, being established and secured, and peace being restored again to the land ; the state of things was amazingly changed.
"In 1784, Mr. Wesley, who had been applied to for advice and counsel, considered the situation of the Meth- odist societies in the United States; and on mature de- liberation, advised and recommended his American breth- ren, who were totally disentangled, both from the Brit- ish civil government, and from the English Church hier- archy, that it was best for them 'to stand fast in that liberty, wherewith God had so strangely made them free.' And he and us being at full liberty, in this mat- ter, to follow the Scriptures, and the usages of the primitive Church ; he being clear in his own mind, took a step, which he had long weighed in his thoughts ; and, not only advised and recommended his American breth- ren, but took a decided part in aiding them, to become a
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distinct and independent Church. Accordingly he set apart, and appointed THOMAS COKE, Doctor of Civil law, late of Jesus College, Oxford, who was a regular Presby- ter of the English Church, and vested him with full Epis- copal authority, to come over to America on this business ; and Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, presbyters, to come with him; and to confer ordinations, and to as- sist the Methodist societies in becoming, and organizing themselves an independent Church. At the same time he recommended the Episcopal form and mode of Church government; and that Dr. Thomas Coke, and Mr. Francis Asbury, be received and acknowledged, as joint superintendents or bishops. The same year, Mr. Wes- ley executed the famous deed of settlement, or declara- tion, of one hundred preachers, of whom Dr. Coke was one, and first on the list after the two Wesleys, as mem- bers of the British Conference in regular succession, to be known in law, and to hold the Chapels, preaching- houses, and other property in behalf of the connection in Europe. Next to his brother Charles, no man stood higher in the esteem and confidence of Mr. Wesley than Dr. Coke; and in America, no man stood so high with him as Mr. Asbury.
" September 18th, 1784, Coke, Whatcoat, and Vasey sailed from Bristol for America, and landed in New York the 3d of November following. Dr. Coke and
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Whatcoat, leaving Vasey behind, hastened on to the south with all expedition. On the 14th of the same month they met Mr. Asbury, and about fifteen of the American preachers, at a Quarterly meeting, held in Barrett's Chapel, Kent county, State of Delaware.
"It was at that meeting, at Barrett's Chapel, that by mutual consent and agreement of the preachers there, that the General Conference, was called to meet in Bal- timore, on the Christmas following, to take into consid- eration the proposals and advice of Mr. Wesley. Intel- ligence was sent off to every part of the connection. Brother Garrettson was appointed to go through Mary- land, into Virginia, and to give the information to the south and west, and to call the preachers together.
"The Conference met the 27th of December, 1784, and continued their deliberation and sitting until some time in January, 1785. It was unanimously agreed, that circumstances made it expedient for the Methodist societies in America to become a separate body from the Church of England ; of which, until then, they had been considered as members. They also resolved to take the title, and to be known in future by the name of THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. They made the Epis- copal office elective ; and the bishops or superintendents, to be amenable for their conduct to the body of preach- ers or to the General Conference. Mr. Asbury, though
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appointed by Mr. Wesley, would not be ordained un- less he was chosen by a vote, or the voice of the Con- ference. He was unanimously elected, and Dr. Coke was also unanimously received jointly with him, to be the superintendents, or bishops, of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. From that time the Methodist societies in the United States became an independent Church, under the Episcopal mode and form of government. Design- ing, professing, and resolving 'to follow the Scriptures, and the primitive Church, according to the advice and counsel of Mr. Wesley, and in perfect unison with the views, the opinions, and wishes of Mr. Asbury. This step met with general approbation, both among the preachers and the members. Perhaps we shall seldom find such unanimity of sentiment, in a whole community, upon any question of such magnitude, proposed to be adopted by them."*
The Rev. Thomas Ware was present at this memorable conference, and he speaks of it in the following language :
"Nearly fifty years have now elapsed since the Christ- mas Conference, and I have a thousand times looked back to the memorable era with pleasurable emotions. I have often said it was the most solemn convocation I ever saw. I might have said, for many reasons, it was sublime. During the whole time of our being together
-* Rev. Ezekiel Cooper's work on Asbury, pp. 102-3-4-8-9.
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in the transaction of business of the utmost magnitude, there was not, I verily believe, on the Conference floor or in private, an unkind word spoken, or an unbrotherly emotion felt. Christian love predominated ; and, under its influence, we 'kindly thought and sweetly spoke the same.'
" The annual meetings of the preachers, sent, as they hold themselves to be, to declare in the name of the al- mighty Jesus terms of peace between the offended Ma- jesty of heaven and guilty man, were to them occur- rences of interesting import. The privilege of seeing each other, after laboring and suffering reproach in dis- tant portions of the Lord's vineyard, and of hearing the glad tidings which they expected to hear on such occa- sions, of what God was doing through their instrumen- tality, encouraged their hearts every step they took in their long and wearisome journeys, and served as a cor- dial to their spirits. But never before had they met on so important and solemn an occasion as this. Fifteen years had passed away since Boardman and Pillmoor ar- rived in America, in the character of itinerants, under the direction of Mr. Wesley. This was the fifteenth Conference. During all that time, those of us who would dedicate our infant offspring to the Lord by bap- tism, or would ourselves receive the holy sacrament, must go for these sacred rites to such as knew us not,
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and were entirely mistaken respecting our character. The charge preferred against us was not hypocrisy, but enthusiasm. Our opposers did not blame us for not liv- ing up to our profession outwardly, but for professing too much-more than is the privilege of man in this life, in speaking with Christian confidence of the knowledge of a present salvation by the forgiveness of sins, and the witness of the Spirit. There were, indeed, a few who harmonized with us in sentiment and in feeling. But, in the general estimation, we were the veriest enthusiasts the world ever saw.
" Humiliating indeed was our condition. Not a man in holy orders among us; and against us formidable combinations were formed, not so much at first among the laity as among the clergy. But being denounced from the pulpit as illiterate, unsound in our principles, and enthusiastic in our spirit and practice-in a word, every way incompetent, and only to be despised-the multitude, men and women, were emboldened to attack us ; and it was often matter of diversion to witness how much they appeared to feel their own superiority.
" All these things, however, we could have borne with- out concern, as the work of God was prospering, and the societies increasing more rapidly than any other de- nomination in the country ; but the want of orders had a tendency to paralyze our efforts. Many, very many,
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who had been brought to the knowledge of God through our instrumentality, were kept from uniting with us be- cause we could not administer to them all the ordi- nances.
" At the Christmas Conference we met to congratu- late each other, and to praise the Lord that he had dis- posed the mind of our excellent Wesley to renounce the fable of uninterrupted succession, and prepare the way for furnishing us with the long desired privileges we were thenceforward expecting to enjoy. The announcement of the plan devised by him for our organization as a Church, filled us with solemn delight. It answered to what we did suppose, during our labors and privations, we had reason to expect our God would do for us; for in the integrity of our hearts we verily believed his de- sign in raising up the preachers called Methodists in this country was to reform the continent and spread scriptural holiness through these lands; and we accord- ingly looked to be endued, in due time, with all the panoply of God. We, therefore, received and followed the advice of Mr. Wesley, as stated in our form of Dis- cipline.
" After Mr. Wesley's letter, declaring his appoint- ment of Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury joint superintendents over the Methodists in America, had been read, ana- lyzed, and cordially approved by the Conference, the
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question arose, 'What name or title shall we take?' I thought to myself, I shall be satisfied that we be de- nominated, The Methodist Church, and so whispered to a brother sitting near me. But one proposed, I think it was John Dickens, that we should adopt the title of METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Mr. Dickens was, in the estimation of his brethren, a man of sound sense and sterling piety ; and there were few men on the Confer- ence floor heard with greater deference than he. Most of the preachers had been brought up in what was called ' The Church of England ;' and, all agreeing that the plan of general superintendence, which had been adopted, was a species of Episcopacy, the motion on Mr. Dick- ens' suggestion was carried without, I think, a dissent- ing voice. There was not, to my recollection, the least agitation on the question. Had the Conference indulged a suspicion that the name they adopted would be, in the least degree, offensive to the views or feelings of Mr. Wesley, they would have abandoned it at once; for the name of Mr. Wesley was inexpressibly dear to the Christmas Conference, and especially to Mr. Asbury and Dr. Coke."
A number of preachers were elected to elders' orders at this Conference and received ordination. Methodists could now receive the Sacraments at their own altars, and at the hands of their own ministers. The advantages
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resulting from this change in the economy of Methodism must have been exceedingly great. It was inconvenient to members of the societies to be compelled to go to the Episcopal Church to receive the sacraments ; and it was not a little repugnant to their feelings to partake of the emblems of the Saviour's passion, when administered, as was too often the case, by men who were known to be deficient, not only in religion, but in morals. The fact of their being in orders must have added, likewise, to the dignity and influence of the ministry, and to the general harmony and efficiency of the Church.
The preachers elected to the order of elders, of whom there were thirteen, were expected to visit the Quarterly meetings and administer the ordinances, which arrange- ment was finally substituted by the regular Presiding Eldership, an office necessary, probably, to the complete and successful working of the grand and powerful ma- chinery of Methodism.
Of the preachers appointed to labor in New Jersey this year, the name of SAMUEL DUDLEY stands first. His first appointment in the minutes was to Fluvanna, Va., in 1781. In 1782 he was appointed to Sussex cir- cuit, Va., with Pedicord; in 1783, Guilford, N. C .; 1784, East Jersey ; 1785, Dover, Delaware; 1786, Dor- chester, Md., with Joseph Everett as a colleague ; 1787, Philadelphia. In 1788 he retired into the local ranks
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in consequence of family affairs. Very little is known respecting his personal history, except that he was a good and successful laborer in the vineyard, and endured, during his period of effective service, his due share of the toils and sacrifices of a pioneer itinerant life.
WILLIAM PHOEBUS was born in Somerset county, Md., August, 1754. He entered the Conference on trial in 1783, and was appointed to Frederick circuit, Md. In 1784 he was appointed to East Jersey ; 1785, West Jersey. The minutes do not designate his appointment for 1786. In 1787 he was appointed to Redstone; 1788, Rockingham ; 1789, Long Island ; 1790, New Rochelle; 1791, Long Island, with Benjamin Abbott. In 1792 he located. It cannot but be observed by the reader, how frequently the word "located" occurs. The greater portion of the preachers in the first period of our history retired sooner or later from the itinerant ranks. There must have been strong reasons for this, as many of those who located manifested an ardent and abiding at- tachment to the work. One of those reasons was, the work required that the preachers should travel exten- sively, and consequently those who had families must either abandon it or else be almost perpetually from home. Another reason was, the severity of the labor, often taxing the strength beyond what it could bear, and hence many were compelled to retire on account of fail-
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ing health, there not being at that time any Supernume- raries. Another, and perhaps the chief reason, was in- adequate temporal support. The people were poor, they were contemned by the world and by many of other sects ; they were compelled to build churches in order to meet the exigencies of the cause, and consequently they were straitened in their pecuniary resources; and in many instances in consequence of their poverty, and the various pressing demands made upon them by the Church, they were not able to provide liberally for their preachers. Still, in numerous instances there can be no doubt that they might have given a better support to those who ministered to them in holy things, had they earnestly and faithfully endeavored to do so, and a more liberal course on the part of the Church would probably have saved to the ministry many, the value of whose services would have been beyond human computation. The last difficulty named had its influence in leading Phoebus to a location.
He continued to labor in the local sphere, practicing medicine at the same time, until 1806, when he again entered the regular work in the New York Conference, and was appointed to the city of Albany. In 1808 he was removed to Charleston, S. C., and in 1811 he was appointed to the city of New York. He continued to fill various appointments until 1821, when he became a
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Supernumerary. In 1824, he took a superannuated re- lation to the Conference, which he continued to sustain until his death, which occurred November 9, 1831, at his residence in the city of New York.
In the early part of his ministry, it is said, he was an earnest and searching preacher, proclaiming the truth often very fluently and successfully. In his later years his preaching was not of a very popular character, but this arose more from the dryness of his manner, than from a want of solidity and depth of matter. He was quite eccentric. He fancied things that bore the stamp of antiquity. The sayings and opinions of the old di- vines and philosophers had a great influence with him. He particularly admired Baxter. He could not pardon Dr. Clarke for his opinions concerning the Sonship of Christ, and his speculation about the serpent. He some- times expressed himself enigmatically. In speaking to the Conference on one occasion, he remarked "that the lease of his house had expired, and therefore he could not tell how soon he might be called to remove, as he was not certain that he could procure a renewal of his lease for any particular length of time ; hence he could not pledge himself for any special service in the min- istry." An old minister afterward said to Dr. Bangs, "I thought the doctor owned the house in which he lives ; but it seems I was under a mistake, as he says 21
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that the time of his lease is run out." The doctor re- plied, "You do not understand him. He speaks in parables. He is now three score years and ten, the com- mon age God has allotted to man, and therefore cannot calculate on living much longer at most." This he afterward explained to be his meaning.
He was a man of sterling integrity, and of deep de- votion to the Church and the work of the ministry. He well understood human nature and was skillful in adjust- ing Church difficulties. He possessed a large fund of varied knowledge, and his discourses were richly evan- gelical-the character and redemptive work and offices of Jesus being prominently presented in them. He maintained a lofty dignity of deportment becoming the ambassador of God.
Having attained the age of seventy-seven years, he came to the closing scene with a mind clear as the cloud- less day. He spoke of the merits of his Redeemer, and of his prospect through him of an endless and glorious life. " A short time before he died he quoted the words of St. James, 'Let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing,' and commented upon them with much apparent pleasure, and with great clearness of expression, exhibiting, at the same time, a lively exposition of the meaning of
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those expressive words in his struggles with his last enemy."*
The name of WILLIAM PARTRIDGE first appears on the minutes in 1780, and he was appointed to Pittsylva- nia, Va .; 1781, Berkeley, Va .; 1782, Lancaster, Pa .; 1783, Somerset, Md .; 1784, West Jersey ; 1785, Cam- den ; 1786, New Hope, N. C .; 1787, Yadkin ; 1788, Broad River. In 1789 the minutes report him as under a partial location, on account of family affairs, but sub- ject to the order of the Conference. He was a native of Sussex county, Va., and was born in 1754. He was converted when about twenty-one years of age. He re- entered the itinerancy in 1814, and in 1817 he died in Sparta, Ga. One wrote of him as follows: "I have lived a near neighbor to brother Partridge for upward of twenty years, and can with satisfaction say that he was the greatest example of piety that I have ever been ac- quainted with." He was a constant student of the Bible, but read other authors but little. He ceased nearly at once to labor and to live. He preached his last sermon from the words, "Walk in wisdom towards them that are without." The same evening he was taken ill. "His colleague asked him whether he was ready for the final summons. He said, ' Yes, for me to
* Bangs' History of M. E. Church, vol. iv., p. 134.
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die is gain.' His speech left him, and on Saturday night after he was taken he breathed his last."*
JOHN FIDLER was admitted on trial at the Conference of 1784 and appointed to West Jersey. In 1785 he was appointed to Redstone; 1786, Fairfax, Va. Ac- cording to Lee he located in 1787.
JOHN HAGERTY was born in Prince George's county, Md., February 18, 1747. He had religious impressions at an early age, and his heart would melt as he read the story of the Saviour's sufferings, but he did not experi- ence religion until he was about twenty-four years of age.
He was converted by means of the ministry of John King. Mr. King visited the town where he resided. He heard him, and liked the sermon tolerably well. The next time he heard him he was better pleased, and the third time the veil was swept from his mind, so that he saw his exceeding sinfulness and his exposure to wrath, and the necessity of obtaining the righteousness which is of faith. The depths of his heart were stirred, and he resolved " on the spot to flee from the wrath to come." After some months of distress and prayer, he obtained a sense of pardon. In 1772 Mr. King formed a society in the town, consisting of Mr. Hagerty and * Minutes, 1818.
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thirteen others, of which Hagerty afterwards became the leader.
Soon after his conversion he began to exhort, and under his second exhortation a man was deeply convicted of sin. This encouraged him to go forward in the work, and his hortatory exercises soon assumed the dignity of sermons. He labored as a local preacher for several years, giving much time to his ministerial labors, and sometimes "he would be away from home on his preach- ing excursion's for many weeks together." His heart was so much engaged in the business of saving souls that he could feel contented only when he was employed in it.
He entered the itinerancy in 1779, and was sent to Berkeley circuit, Va., to which he returned in 1780. In 1781 he was appointed to Baltimore circuit; in 1782 to Calvert; 1783, Chester, Pa .; 1784, he stands on the minutes in connection with Trenton circuit, N. J. At the Christmas Conference he was ordained an elder and was stationed in 1785 in New York. In 1786 and 1787 he acted as Presiding Elder. In 1788 he was stationed in Annapolis ; 1789, Baltimore ; 1790, Fell's Point ; 1791- 92, Baltimore. At the end of this year domestic afflic- tion required him to locate. But he did not remain idle. He preached in and about Baltimore with great accepta- bility. He was ready to meet any call for his ministe-
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