A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

aptized his brother Henry Maynard at a spring, in 1762. Soon as Mr. Strawbridge commenced his
labors in Maryland, the Lord began to work in his hearers, and a society was formed as early as 1762,
or 1763.
Dr. Roberts speaks thus:
"Robert Strawbridge. -- I am gratified to be able to say also, that in reference to the labors of this
excellent and useful servant of God, our knowledge is not merely conjectural; I have in my
possession some letters, written by different individuals, at a distance from each other, and without
any concert upon their part, which disclose some interesting facts; I have space only to notice a few.
Mr. Michael Laird, who subsequently settled in Philadelphia, was born April 30, 1771. He obtained
his knowledge of these points from his father, who was intimate with Mr. Strawbridge, and fully
conversant with the truth of what is stated in his letter. Mr. Strawbridge came to America in 1760,
with his wife and children, and settled in Maryland. Immediately after arranging his dwelling he
opened it for Divine service, and continued to preach therein regularly. These efforts soon after
resulted in the awakening and conversion of several who attended.
"In another communication I ascertain that Henry Maynard was baptized (by Robert Strawbridge)
when he was but six or seven years old. At that time Mr. S. was preaching regularly at John
Maynard's, a brother of Henry. Henry accompanied his father to one of these appointments; and Mr.
S. Baptized him at the spring.
"Henry Maynard died in 1837, aged eighty-one years. This fixes his baptism as early as 1762.
John Maynard, at whose house Mr. Strawbridge was then preaching, was himself a Methodist. This
renders it positive that Mr. S. Had been engaged in preaching regularly prior to 1762, and fully
corroborates the statement contained in Mr. Laird's letter, viz.: that he commenced his labors in the
ministry immediately after his settlement in Maryland."
This society, Brother Hamilton informs us, consisted of "twelve or fifteen persons." After Bishop
Asbury was fully informed on the subject, he entered in his Journal, in 1801, soon after he ended the
business of the Baltimore Conference, which sat this year at Pipe Creek, his testimony on the subject;
he says, "here Mr. Strawbridge formed the first society in Maryland -- and America." See his Journal,
vol. Iii. P. 27. Brother Hamilton furnishes the names of a few of the original members -- "David
Evans, his wife and sister, Mrs. Bennett, now in her eighty-ninth year," with a few more, "embraced
the Methodist religion under Mr. Strawbridge." Mrs. Bennett says, from her knowledge, "the society
was first formed at Strawbridge's house." Soon afterwards, i. e. about 1764 or 1765, "the Log
meeting house was erected, about a mile from Mr. Strawbridge's residence, and the preaching and
meeting the class were at the Log chapel. This place, Mr. Hamilton. Avers, takes precedence of any
other Methodist chapel in this country, by about three years; it was built, through Mr. Strawbridge's
influence, on Pipe or Sam's Creek.
In the Autobiography of the Rev. James B. Finley, we have an account, on pp. 262-3, of two of
the early Methodists of Pipe Creek. He says -- "I was traveling a solitary path in the woods, between
Barnesville and Marietta, Ohio, and came upon an old man of the most grotesque appearance,
trudging along at a slow rate, half bent, with an axe and two broomsticks on his shoulder. As I