ference of 1804-Abdel Coleman-Joshua Barnes-Joshua Riggin-William J. Thompson-Edmund Wilcox - James Axley-Peter Cartwright-Asa Shinn-Benjamin EdgeMiles Harper-George Askins - Samuel Parker-Death of Wilson Lee-Livingston and Hartford Circuit-Churches organized in Ohio county-Church organized at Thomas Stith's, in Breckinridge county-Thomas Taylor-Margaret TaylorLicking Circuit-Increase of membership-The Conference of 1805--Bishop Asbury present--Thomas Hellums--Henry Fisher -Samuel Sellers-David Young-Moses Ashworth-William Ellington-Richard Browning-William Houston-Joshua Oglesby-A small class in Louisville-Increase in membership -Conference of 1806-Bishop Asbury present-Abbot Goddard-Hector Sandford-Joseph Bennett-Frederick HoodZadoc B. Thaxton—Abraham Amos-Joseph Williams—John Thompson-William Hitt-Joseph Oglesby-The first deed of ground, on which to build a church, in Mason county-Increase of membership-The Conference of 1807-Bishop Asbury present-Thomas Stillwell-Mynus Layton - Josiah Crawford - John Craig-William Lewis-Jacob TurmanHenry Mallory-James King-Sela Paine-Milton LaddJoseph Hays-Elisha W. Bowman-The Silver Creek Circuit, in Indiana Territory, formed-Kennerly Chapel-Pond Meeting-house Increase in membership-Causes of locations— Our Review......

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PREFACE.

THE History of Methodism in Kentucky cannot be otherwise than interesting, if faithfully delineated. Organized in the District when there was scarcely a cabin outside of the forts in all its broad domain-its standard-bearers exposed to privations, sufferings, and dangers, the recital of which seem more like romantic stories, selected from the legends of fable, than the sober realities of historyplanted and nourished amid opposition and difficulties that brave hearts only could surmount, the extraordinary success that has attended it, growing up in eighty years from a single society of only a few members to a membership of nearly fifty thousand, with more than five hundred ministers, (traveling and local,) church-edifices in every community, schools and seminaries of learning in different portions of the State-its truths proclaimed in every neighborhood, and its vital energies and hallowed influence imparting life to other Christian communions, it is invested with an importance at once attractive and commanding. While the rich have sought its temples, and

to become possessed of all the information to be obtained. We have searched the records of the Church, and availed ourselves of a close and faithful examination of the General Minutes, the Methodist Magazine, Quarterly Reviews, and the weekly journals of the Church, together with several volumes of Church-history, biographical sketches, autobiographies, unpublished manuscripts of pioneer preachers, and extensive private cor respondence, that we might elicit every thing yet remaining that connects the present with the past.

That many facts, incidents, and matters of importance, in reference to Methodism in Kentucky, are lost to us for ever, we cannot doubt. Many of the most reliable sources of information are closed. Only one of the noble men identified with the fortunes of the Church in Kentucky, previous to the period at which this volume closes, yet remains. Bending beneath the weight of eighty-three years, he is still able to preach the gospel. We are, however, happy to believe that much may hereafter be discovered, that may invest a future edition with greater interest.

It has been for many years our anxious desire that some one would rescue from oblivion the names and the memories of the pioneer preachers of Kentucky, and place their lives and labors in a permanent and enduring form. The fact that no one else has accepted the task, is our apology for having undertaken it. For several years we have been collecting materials for this work, and amid the arduous duties of the Book Agency, we have prepared

this volume for the press, and now submit it to the members of the Methodist Church.

If in these pages we have contributed any thing toward the advancement of religious truth-if in recounting the difficulties under which Methodism was planted in Kentucky, its principles shall be rendered dearer to the Church—and if we have recovered the memory of any of those worthies to whom, under God, we are so greatly indebted for the rich inheritance they have bequeathed us, we shall feel that our labor has not been in vain.

NASHVILLE, TENN., May 1, 1868.

A. H. REDFORD.