CHAPTER XIII.

From the beginning of the year 1807, to the end of 1809.

In 1807, we had our conferences as follows: The 205th conference was held at Ebenezer, in Tennessee, on the 15th of September 1806. The 206th at Sparta, in Georgia, on the 29th of December 1806.

The 207th in Newbern, on the 2d of February

1807.

The 208th in Baltimore, on the 2d of March. The 209th in Philadelphia, on the 2d of April. The 210th at Coeyman's Patent, on the 2d of May.

The 211th in Boston, on the 2d of June.

This year we took in several new circuits.In the western conference we took in West Point, Missourie, Oachitta, White River and Licking. In the Southern conference we took in Ohoopee and Savannah. In the Virginia con-.` ference, Iredel and Rocky Mount. In Baltimore conference, St. Mary's and Canestio. In Philadelphia conference, Cumberland and HollandPurchase. In New-York conference, Schenectady. In New-England conference, Stanstead and Conaway.

At these conferences we admitted upon trial a few more than 100 young preachers; and lost out of the travelling connection thirty-seven. Thirty-two of them located, and three died: one left us, and one was expelled. Those who died were Richard Whatcoat, James Lattomus, and Peter Jayne.

1, Richard Whatcoat, was a native of England, born in Gloucestershire; he became a travelling

preacher, in the year 1769. He travelled extensively through England and Ireland; and in the latter end of the year 1784, he came to the United States of America; and at the Christmas conference, he assisted in the ordination of Mr. Asbury. He laboured among us after that, in various stations, in towns, cities, circuits and districts, until the year 1800, he was then ordained a bishop by the laying on of the hands of Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury, and some of the elders: after which he travelled at large till he died. He travelled and preached in Europe and America 37 years. He attended the conferences in the south in the preceding year, that is in 1806, and continued to travel to the north as far as Dover in Delaware state, and there he yielded to his afflictions, and could go no further, and did not attend the three last conferences for that year. About three weeks after the last conference met he died, and of course there was no account of his death published until the following year.

His last affliction was very severe; he lay at the house of Richard Bassett, late governor of Delaware state, then residing in Dover, for 13 weeks, and then departed this life in the full assurance of faith, on the 5th of July 1806.

He was a pattern of piety and of patience; he let his moderation be known to all men. He was always serious and solemn, and seldom complained of any difficulties that he met with. He was an excellent preacher, sound in doctrine, and clear and plain in his explanations of the scriptures, with which he was particularly ac quainted.

He might be ranked among the best of men, for meekness and patience, humility and sobriety for watchfulness over his words, and for a soth and even temper; and withal, for gifts and "ani

A

mation in preaching: especially in the latter part of his life. In his death the preachers have lost a pattern of piety, and the people have lost an able teacher.

He travelled 15 years in Europe, and 22 in America, which was 37 years in all.

He was born in 1736. Converted September 3, 1758.

Sanctified March 28, 1761. Began to travel and preach in 1769.

Came to America in 1784. Was ordained bishop in May 1800.

He acted as bishop 6 years, and died at Dover July 5, 1806.

2. James Lattomus, was born in Newcastle county in Delaware state; he began to travel and preach in 1796, and after six years he became a supernumerary, and continued so for four years before he died. He was a man of a feeble constitution, but was considered as a good pious man. He departed this life in peace in Septem

ber 1806.

3. Peter Jayne, was a native of Marblehead, in Massachusetts; born in 1773, and was converted when he was about sixteen years old: he began to travel and preach when he was about eighteen years of age. He died in Boston on the 5th of September 1806. He had travelled a little more than nine years before he die in which time he had been stationed in the province of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and NewYork states.

We added to the society 14020 members, which was a very great increase. The work of the Lord was very great during this year in most parts of the United States. Religion prospered greatly in the state of Georgia. At a camp meeting in Ilancock county, about three miles south of Spar

ta, which began on Tuesday the 28th of July, and closed on Saturday following, there were 176 tents, and we calculated on 80 souls converted. There was another camp-meeting at Cold Water, after the former, where there were about the same number of souls brought into the favour of the Lord. Other meetings of the same kind were held in the state, where many souls were happily converted; but not as many as at the meetings before mentioned. The work spread greatly through the circuits, and some hundreds were added to the society in the course of a few months.

On the 19th of April this year we formed a society in Savannah, which was the first regular Methodist society we ever formed in that city. It was just 70 years from the time that Mr. John Wesley formed a society, and in the same place, which only continued for a short time, during his stay among them.

The accounts from various parts of the connection respecting the prosperity of religion was truly pleasing. The Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia and the lower counties in Delaware, were remarkably visited of the Lord; and many hundreds of people were truly converted, and made the subjects of grace. The holy flame of love ran from place to place, and from heart to heart. Ministers and people were remarkably engaged with God both in public and private, and their preaching and praying was followed with a blessing from the Lord.

In the course of the year 1806, there was a plan laid which would have overset and destroyed the rules and regulation of the Methodists, respecting the election and ordination of Bishops. It was said that the plan originated in the NewYork conference, which was as follows: "To

call a delegated conference of seven members from each conference, chosen by the conference, to meet in Baltimore on the fourth of July 1807,to choose superintendants, &c." This plan was a dopted by four of the conferences, viz. New-York, New-England, the Western and South-Carolina conferences; and delegates were accordingly chosen. But when it was proposed to the Virgi nia conference, which met in Newbern, in February 1807, they refused to take it under consideration, and rejected it as being pointedly in opposition to all the rules of our church. The bishop laboured hard to carry the point, but he laboured in vain: and the whole business of that dangerous plan was overset by the Virginia conference. The inventers and defenders of that project might have meant well; but they certainly erred in judgment.

In 1808, we had eight conferences, the last of which was a general conference.

The 212th conference was held at Chilicothe, Ohio state, on the 14th of September 1807.

The 213th in Charleston, on the 28th of December 1807.

The 214th in Lynchburg, on the 2d of February 1808.

The 215th in George Town, on the 2d of March.

The 216th in Philadelphia, on the 20th of March, The 217th at Amenia, on the 6th of April. The 218th in New-London, on the 17th of April.

The 219th was the 5th general conference, held in Baltimore, on the 6th of May.

We took in several new circuits this year. In the western conference, Duck River, Marymack and Wills Creek. In the Southern conference, Tom-Big-Bee and Fayetsville. In the Virginia

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