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 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
"I preached at a new place, where the congregation
130
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
consisted mostly of young people, from, 'The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.' Luke xix. 10. We had a wonderful display of the power of the Lord. After I had finished, the young people hung around each other, crying for mercy ; and I be- lieve many will praise the Lord eternally for that day."
Asbury records in his journal this year a remarkable account of the case of ACHSAH BORDEN, who appeared to be possessed of a dumb spirit. "From her child- hood," he says, " she was attentive to reading her Bible, and ofttimes had serious thoughts of eternity ; one day, reading and meditating, an uncommon light and comfort flowed into her heart. Her soul cried out, 'Sweet Jesus !' and was convinced Christ was her Saviour; her friends observing for a season that she was very serious feared a melancholy ; which to prevent, they gathered their friends and neighbors, with music and dancing, thinking to arouse her (as they said) from her stupidity, or charm off her religious frenzy. Through various temptations she was prevailed upon to go into company, of course, into sin. She lost her comfort, and afterward fell into deep distress. She had heard of the Method- ists, and was anxious to go to them that they might pray for her. Those with whom she was, paid no regard to her importunity, but locked her up in a room, and or- dered all the knives to be taken away. She knew their
131
DARK DAYS.
meaning, but says she was under no temptation to de- stroy or lay violent hands upon herself. Soon after this her speech failed her, so that she only spoke half sen- tences, and would be stopped by inability ; but by grasp- ing anything hard in her hand, she could speak with dif- ficulty and deliberation ; but soon lost this power, and a dumb spirit took perfect possession of her ; she said then it was impressed on her mind, 'The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' She heard the Methodists were a people that prayed much, and still retained her desire to go amongst them, and by signs made it known to her friends. And after about one year's silence, her mother was prevailed upon to go with her to New Mills, New Jersey, (about thirteen miles distant,) where there was a society and meeting-house ; they knew no Methodists, nor could get any one to tell them where to find any, notwithstanding they were now in the midst of them. Satan hindered; inquiry was made among the B-ts, who knew the Methodists, of whom we might have expected better things. They re- turned home, and after another year's waiting in silence, by signs her mother was persuaded to come to New Mills again ; they fell in with the B-ts again, but turning from them, with much difficulty, and some hours' wan- dering, they found one to direct them. They went where a number were met for prayer; the brethren saw into
132
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
her case, believing it was a dumb spirit, and that God would cast him out. Prayer was made part of three days; the third day at evening she cried for mercy, soon spoke and praised God from a sense of comforting, pardoning love. During the two years of her silence, she would not work at all, nor do the smallest thing."
Garrettson, in his journal, gives an account of this case, though he does not give her name ; but there can be no doubt of its being the same person, notwithstanding there is a slight difference in some points between the two statements; yet substantially they agree. Mr. Garrett- son says she was a young woman, brought up a Quaker, and that Mr. Ruff, one of the preachers, was present when she presented herself to the society. He says, "Sometime after, I came into this neighborhood and sent word to her mother I would preach such a day at her house. When the day arrived I took the young woman home, accompanied by many friends, and we were re- ceived like angels; some thought the Methodists could work miracles. Many of the friends and neighbors came, and could not but observe how angelic this young woman appeared to be; who was now able to speak and work as well as usual. I bless the Lord who gave me great freedom in preaching on this remarkable occasion. The people seemed to believe every word which was de- livered, and a precious, sweet season it was. The old
133
DARK DAYS.
lady was ready to take us in her arms, being so happy, and so well satisfied with respect to her daughter."
At the end of this year there were one hundred and forty members in New Jersey, which was a decrease in the two years last past of twenty. Yet from the slight information we obtain concerning its progress, we infer that the cause assumed a more encouraging and favora- ble appearance during the year. On the 7th of October, Bishop Asbury, in his journal, says, "I received a letter from brother Ruff; he says the work deepens in the Jer- seys." Again on the 24th of April, 1780, he says, "Received three epistles from the Jerseys, soliciting three or four preachers, with good tidings of the work of God reviving in those parts. The petitioners I shall hear with respect."
Those few words tell of prosperity, and they are about all we are able to learn in regard to the general condi- tion of the work this year, with the exception of what is indicated by the report of members given at the Confer- ence. It is evident that though there was strong oppo- sition against them, and their discouragements were great, the zeal of these earnest Christian ministers and Methodist heroes did not flag, but in the face of obsta- cles sufficient to cause the stoutest heart to shrink, un- less it were nerved by an apostle's faith, they bravely
134
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
prosecuted their labors, praying for and expecting suc- cess.
PHILIP Cox was a native of Froome, Somersetshire, England. He must have been converted about the year 1774, as Philip Gatch speaks of preaching at a certain place when he traveled Kent circuit, that year, and says, " At this place Philip Cox, who afterward became a useful preacher, was caught in the gospel net." He must have entered the itinerant connection in the year 1778, as at the Conference of 1779 he was among the number that were continued on trial. In 1780 he was sent to Fairfax, Va., and in 1781 to Little York. His subsequent appointments, so far as known, were as fol- lows :- In 1782 and 1783 Frederic and Annamessex Md .; 1784, Long Island; 1785, Northampton, Md .; 1786-7-8, Brunswick, Sussex, and Mecklenberg, in Va.
On this last circuit he had for his colleague the Rev. Wm. M'Kendree, who was in his first year in the ministry. In 1789 he received the appointment of Book Steward and was reappointed to the office in 1790. We are not able to ascertain his appointments for the last three years of his life. While Mr. Cox traveled as book steward, Enoch George, who subsequently became bishop, com- menced traveling with him. Cox treated his young companion with paternal kindness, for which the latter cherished, it is said, a sense of lifelong obligation.
135
DARK DAYS.
Shortly after he commenced preaching, while traveling with Mr. Cox, they met Bishop Asbury. Cox said to the bishop, "I have brought you a boy, and if you have anything for him to do you may set him to work." As- bury looked at him for some time, and at length called him to him, and laying his head upon his knee, and stroking his face with his hand, said, "Why he is a beardless boy and can do nothing." George then thought his traveling was at an end, but the next day the bishop accepted his services and appointed him to a circuit .*
Mr. Cox was a man of very small stature. At one time he felt badly and concluded to retire from the field. But on being weighed he found his weight amounted to an hundred pounds. He then remarked, "It shall never be said I quit traveling while I weigh an hundred weight."+
He was eminently successful as a minister of Jesus Christ. When he traveled Sussex circuit in Virginia, in 1787, the people were converted in multitudes. Having hurt a limb he had resolved to take a day's rest, but be- ing sent for to attend the funeral of a little child, he went and spoke to a congregation of a hundred persons from the words, "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." Although he was compelled to preach sitting
* Heroes of Methodism.
¡ Lee's Hist. of Methodists.
136
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
upon a table, and fifty of his auditors were old professors, thirty of the other fifty professed to find peace before the close of the meeting. The next day he sat in a chair on a table in the woods and preached, when "above sixty souls were set at liberty." At another time, at a Quarterly meeting held in Sussex circuit, he says ; "Be- fore the preachers got there the work broke out, so that when we came to the chapel, above sixty were down on the floor, groaning in loud cries to God for mercy. Bro- ther O'Kelly tried to preach, but could not be heard for the cries of the distressed. It is thought our audi- ence consisted of no less than five thousand the first
day, and the second day of twice that number. We preached to them in the open air, and in the Chapel, and in the barn by brother Jones' house, at the same , time. Such a sight my eyes never saw before, and never read of, either in Mr. Wesley's Journals, or any other writings, concerning the Lord's pouring out the Spirit, except the account in Scripture of the day of Pentecost. Never, I believe, was the like seen since the apostolic age: hundreds were at once down on the ground in bitter cries to God for mercy. Here were many of the first quality in the country wallowing in the dust with their silks and broadcloths, powdered heads, rings, and ruffles, and some of them so convulsed that they could neither speak nor stir ; many stood by, persecuting, till the power of the
137
DARK DAYS.
Lord laid hold of them, and then they fell themselves, and cried as loud as those they had just before perse- cuted. We are not able to give a just account how many were converted, and as we had rather be under than over the just number, we believe that near two hun- dred whites and more than half as many blacks professed to find Him of whom Moses and the prophets did write."
It was believed that nearly two hundred whites and more than half as many blacks professed to receive for- giveness of sins at this meeting .* In his Journal, Jan- uary 8th, 1788, Bishop Asbury says, "Brother Cox thinks that not less than fourteen hundred, white and black, have been converted in Sussex circuit the past year." Rev. Philip Bruce, in a letter published in the Arminian Magazine (American), dated nearly three months later, says : "Brother Cox informs me, that be- tween twelve and fifteen hundred whites have been con- verted in his circuit, besides a great number of blacks."
The last services of Mr. Cox were great, it is said, in circulating books of religious instruction.
The methodist preachers of that day were not content merely to preach the truth, but encouraged the people to read religious books, regarding the latter as a most im- portant auxiliary to the former. Instead of being op- posed to the spread of knowledge among the people, the
* Arminian Magazine, vol. ii. pp. 92-3.
138
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church have done more, probably, than any other single body of men, to promote the cause of literature and learning, by their example and their direct personal labors. By placing good books in the hands of the people, they were instru- mental in settling and fortifying the faith of those who were converted by their preaching, and of saving many more, perhaps, who would not have been reached by their public ministry.
Mr. Cox was delirious in his last illness, but on Sun- day, a week preceding his death, he said, "that it was such a day of peace and comfort to his soul as he had seldom seen." He died in peace on the Sunday follow- ing, the 8th of September, 1793. He was a man of great spirit, quick apprehension, and sound judgment.
He who was instrumental in turning so "many to righteousness" must have a brilliant coronet of stars in the day of the Lord Jesus.
JOSHUA DUDLEY must have traveled in 1778, as at the Conference of 1779, at which he was appointed to the Philadelphia and New Jersey circuit, he was contin- ued on trial, though his name does not previously appear in the minutes. In 1780 he was sent to Baltimore; in 1781 to Amelia; in 1782 to West Jersey ; in 1783 his name is not in the minutes. At this period, the ques- tion, " Who have located this year ?" was not asked in
139
DARK DAYS.
the minutes, and consequently when preachers, on ac- count of ill health or for any other reason, desisted from traveling, there is no mention made of the fact.
Mr. Dudley could not have remained very long upon the circuit this year, as in September he was employed in Delaware. On the ninth of that month, Asbury writes, "I was unwell and was relieved by Joshua Dud- ley who took the circuit." Nine days afterward he writes, "Brother Dudley being detained by his father being sick, brother Cooper is come in his place."
He received still another appointment before the close of the Conference year, as on the fourth of March 1780, Asbury records in his Journal that he had appointed Joshua Dudley for Dorset. He evidently occupied an honorable position as a preacher, but our information concerning him is excedingly meagre. When he trav- eled in New Jersey, Benjamin Abbott heard him preach, and he has left the very brief tribute to his effectiveness as a preacher, which is as follows : "The next appoint- was made at J. D's., for brother Dudley ; he came and preached with power."*
Thus have we passed the first decade in the history of New Jersey Methodism. We have witnessed its rise, its reverses, and at the same time some of its noblest tri-
* Life of Abbott. p. 81.
140
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
umphs in rescuing souls from the dark depths of guilt, who otherwise, perhaps, would never have been reached by redemptive agencies. With this decade passed its severest and darkest days, and though the progress of the movement appears inconsiderable, yet during this time the foundations were slowly but securely laid on which has since been reared that beautiful and majestic temple which is now the spiritual refuge of forty thou- sand souls.
The sufferings and labors of the preachers during this decade were great. They literally had no certain dwell- ing place but went to and fro, everywhere encountering hardship and obloquy, in order that they might save re- deemed but perishing men. The societies were few, and feeble both in numbers and means, and were nearly all without churches. This last fact alone was a formidable obstacle to the advancement of the cause. One of the arguments employed by the opponents of the movement was that as the Methodists were without houses of wor- ship and were not able to build, they would soon dwindle away, and by this means much of the fruit of Methodist toil and sacrifice was appropriated by other sects. Still, many in the face of poverty and reproach adhered to the Church which had travailed in birth for them. One whose devotion was unswerving, in reply to the predic- tion that the Methodists would soon become extinct, said,
141
DARK DAYS.
" Well, if they do come to nothing, as long as I live there will be one left." Both the preachers and people were looked upon as fanatics, as deceivers of the people, and tories ; yet in the midst of all God was with them, and through him they originated influences which are still potent with Omnipotent energy, and which will con- tinue to bless and elevate humanity until the final vic- tories of the militant Church shall be celebrated in the endless hallelujahs of the heavens.
9
142
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
CHAPTER VI.
METHODISM IN NEW MILLS.
IN the year 1826, the name of this village was changed from that of New Mills to Pemberton, but as during the period embraced in this volume it was New Mills, we shall use that name only.
There has long been a tradition that the first Method- ist society in New Jersey was formed in that village, but fidelity to the facts of history requires us to say that this tradition is without foundation. It is justly claimed by the tradition that the society was formed there in the year 1772, Methodism having been introduced during that year by Mr. Asbury. His first recorded visit there was in the early part of that year. In his Journal he says it was on the thirtieth and thirty-first days of Feb- ruary, overlooking the fact, doubtless, that February has never thirty days. This of course was merely a slip of the pen.
We have already shown that both the Burlington and
143
METHODISM IN NEW MILLS.
Trenton societies were formed previously to the year 1772, the former having been formed on the 14th of De- cember, 1770, and the latter in 1771. New Mills must therefore rank, at most, as the third society in point of time in New Jersey.
Ex-Gov. Fort of New Jersey, in a private note says, " The tradition was that the M. E. Church there was the first in the State and the third in the United States, in point of time. John Street, N. Y., being first; a Church in Maryland (Strawbridge's), second; and New Mills, third." This agrees with an article published by Gov. Fort in the Christian Advocate and Journal of February 14, 1834, in which he claims that the Church at New Mills was " the first Methodist meeting-house erected in the State." I am exceedingly sorry to dispel this pleas- ing illusion, which has been fondly cherished in many a devout heart, and transmitted from parent to child for perhaps three-fourths of a century, and I would not do it, did not candor require that I should present the facts of history as they are.
Asbury speaks of seeing the foundation of a Church laid in New Jersey in April, 1773. This could not have been the Church at New Mills, because its dimensions were not the same as those of the New Mills Church, and it is not claimed that that Church was built before the year 1774. Asbury gives explicitly the dimensions of
144
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
both these Churches. The former was 35 by 30 feet, and the latter (New Mills) was 36 by 28 feet. On Sat- urday and Sunday the fourth and fifth of May, 1776, Asbury was at New Mills, and says he "found brother W. very busy about his Chapel." The Church was then built, as he preached in it at that time, but from this re- mark it would appear that it was not yet finished. The deed of purchase, says Gov. Fort, is dated the 31st of December, 1774, the very last day of that year. The evidence arising from a comparison of these dates, and the dimensions of the Churches, appears conclusive in fa- vor of the priority of the former. Evidence adduced in a foot note on page 53 appears to fix the location of that Church at Trenton.
There is considerable ground for the opinion that there was a Church built in New Jersey at a period still earlier than this. Methodism was introduced at an early period into the township of Greenwich, Gloucester county, and on the 14th of May, 1772, Asbury, being in that locality, says, "Went to the new Church. Surely the power of God is amongst this people. Af- ter preaching with great assistance I lodged at Isaac Jenkins's, and in the morning he conducted me to Gloucester; and thence we went by water to Philadel- phia."*
* See Asbury's Journal, vol. i. p. 30.
145
METHODISM IN NEW MILLS.
That this was a Methodist Church is probable from the fact that he speaks of it in connection with the power of God being amongst the people, and with preaching there with great assistance. None will question, I sup- pose, that the people who were thus distinguished for their spirituality were Methodists, and if not, I know not how it can be questioned that this "new Church" was built by that people. Had it been any other than a Methodist Church it does not seem probable that As- bury would have mentioned it in the connection he does in his Journal, or if he did, it would seem probable that he would have said something to indicate that it was not a Methodist Church. The evidence thus presented sup- ports, we think, the following positions, viz:
1. That the first Methodist meeting-house, or Church, in New Jersey was built in the township of Greenwich, Gloucester county.
2. That the second Church in the state was built in Trenton in the year 1773.
3. That the third Methodist Church in New Jersey was built in New Mills in 1775. Gov. Fort says it was built in 1774, but as he also says the deed of purchase bears date of Dec. 31, 1774, and as Asbury speaks of finding it in an unfinished condition in 1776, we are in- clined to the opinion that 1775 was most probably the year in which it was built. Still, allowing it to have
146
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
been built in 1774, it must yet rank as the third Church erected by Methodists in the province.
Although New Mills cannot claim the priority which tradition has assigned it, it can claim the more import- ant and enviable honor of having been for years a strong-hold of Methodism in New Jersey. Some of the mightiest battles which distinguished the early history of American Methodism were fought there, and some of its sublimest victories were won. Most of the preachers of note, during the first years of its history, preached in this Church ; among whom were Asbury, Captain Webb Thomas Rankin, Strawbridge, Gill, Garrettson, Abbott and others.
The original trustees of the Church were John Budd, Eli Budd, Andrew Heisler, Samuel Budd, Peter Shiras, Jonathan Budd, Daniel Heisler, Joseph Toy, and Lam- bert Willmore. "They were only to permit the Rev. John Wesley, or the ministers delegated by him, to preach in it. After his death the like privilege was ex- tended to the Rev. Charles Wesley, and after the death of the latter, to the 'yearly Conference of London and North America.'"*
When Asbury preached his first sermon there, one of the above mentioned trustees heard it, and " remarked that he was a great preacher, but was afraid he might * Ex Gov. Fort's article in Ch. Advocate and Jn'l., Feb. 14, 1834.
147
METHODISM IN NEW MILLS.
be one of the false prophets. Such was the prejudice against Methodism at that time. Nevertheless numbers flocked to hear him; some from curiosity, some with evil, others with good intent, and many, through his instru- mentality and of those who followed him, became sub- jects of converting grace ; among the rest, the trustee and his associates."*
Daniel Heisler, one of the first trustees, came from Holland and settled on a farm near New Mills. He was the great grandfather of Hon. George F. Fort, and of Rev. J. P. Fort of the Newark, and of Revs. John Fort and John S. Heisler of the New Jersey Conference. The first represented Methodism for three years in the Executive chair of the State, while the last named are worthy and useful ministers in the Church.
Captain Webb was so imprudent when in this country in speaking against the opposition of the colonies to Great Britain, that he was compelled, it is said, to con- ceal himself for some months in the premises of a re- puted tory near New Mills, before he could make his es- cape to England.t
The fame of Abbott reached New Mills at an early period in his ministry, and they sent for him to visit them. He accordingly went, though he was but a local
* Ex Gov. Fort's article in Ch. Advocate and Jn'l., Feb. 14, 1834. ¿ Raybold's Reminiscences of Methodism in West Jersey. p. 197.
148
MEMORIALS OF METHODISM IN NEW JERSEY.
preacher, laboring without pecuniary reward, and the distance from his home in Salem county was about sixty miles. The first time he preached there, "God worked powerfully," he says. There was considerable weeping and one fell to the floor. This alarmed the people, as they had never seen such demonstrations before. "Next day," he says, "I preached, and the Lord poured out his spirit among us, so that there was weeping in abun- dance, and one fell to the floor : many prayers being made for him, he found peace before he arose. He is a living witness to this day. [Probably a number of years afterward.] I saw him not long since, and we had a precious time together."
He attended at another time a Quarterly meeting in New Mills. He says : "After our meeting had been opened and several exhortations given, brother C. Cotts went to prayer, and several fell to the floor, and many were affected, and we had a powerful time. After meet- ing, brother J. S. and several others went with me to I. B.'s, where we tarried all night. Here we found a wo- man in distress of soul ; after prayer, we retired to bed. In the morning brother S. went to prayer, and after him, myself. The distressed woman lay as in the agonies of death near one hour; when she arose, she went into her room to prayer, and soon after returned and pro- fessed faith in Christ. She and her husband went with
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.