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

A HISTORY
OF THE
RISE OF METHODISM IN AMERICA
by
John Lednum
CHAPTER 3
From the foregoing chapter we learn that Mr. Philip Embury was born about 1730, found peace
with God December 25, 1752, and came to New York, August 10, 1760. Mrs. Barbara Heck's stirring
appeal was made to him about October, 1766, when he preached in his own humble dwelling in
Barrack street, now Park Place; only six attended this meeting: Mrs. Heck, four others, and Mr.
Embury, the preacher.
They were formed into a class, and met in his house. He continued to preach and meet the class,
adding to it the names of such as wished to belong to it. Mrs. Morrell, wife of Jonathan Morrell, and
mother of the late Rev. Thomas Morrell, of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, had obtained religion about
1760, and now joined in with the Methodists.
After Mr. Embury had fed and guided the little flock about four months, he was refreshed by the
coming of Captain Webb, from Albany to New York. Among the first Methodists of New York there
were three who had been comrades in the British army, namely, Thomas Webb, William Lupton, and
John Chave. Mr. Embury's dwelling soon became too small to contain the people who came to hear
the preaching; and a larger room was hired near the Barrack, in the same region; this did not long
hold them, and the "Rigging Loft," at No. 120 William street, was hired: its dimensions were
eighteen by sixty feet. Captain Webb's popularity, as a preacher, soon filled it to overflowing, and
a still larger place was contemplated; and in the space of two years after the class was formed Wesley
Chapel was opened for worship.
Early in 1767, Charles White and Richard Sause, with their families, came from Dublin to New
York; these had been Methodists in Ireland. In October of the same year Thomas Taylor, who wrote
the famous letter to Mr. Wesley, signed "T. T.," arrived from Plymouth, England. When the ground
on which Wesley Chapel was erected, was secured by deed in 1768, it was conveyed to Philip
Embury, William Lupton, Charles White, Richard Sause, Henry Newton, Paul Heck, Thomas Taylor,
and Thomas Webb. We must regard these as chief men among the Methodists of New York, at this
time; James Jarvis also belonged. At the time of Thomas Taylor's arrival, in October, 1767, there
were two small classes -- one consisted of about seven men, the other of as many women. It was not
long before Samuel Selby, Stephen Sands, John Chave, and John Staples, were enrolled among them.
Thomas Brinckley, a native of Philadelphia, who married Mary, a sister of John Staples, and who
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and assisted in guarding Major Andre, and conducting him
to the place of execution, was an early Methodist in New York. See "Lost Chapters," by Rev. J. B.
Wakeley, pp. 92, 93.
The Dean family came to New York with the Heck family. Elkana Dean, and his daughter Hannah
Dean, were among the first Methodists in New York.