CHAPTER XI.

FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1800, HELD AT DUNWORTH, ON HOLSTON, ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN APRIL, TO THE CONFERENCE HELD AT BETHEL ACADEMY, KENTUCKY, COMMENCING ON THE SIXTH DAY OF THE FOLLOWING OCTOBER.

Local preachers-John Nelson-Robert Strawbridge-Francis Clark -Gabriel and Daniel Woodfield-John Baird-Benjamin Northcutt-Nathanael Harris-Philip W. Taylor-Henry Ogburn-William Forman-Joseph Ferguson-The Conference in the spring of 1800-The General Conference-William Burke-Thomas Shelton -Controversy with the Baptists-William Burke chosen Presiding Elder-The Revival-Sandusky Station-William Algood-Hezekiah Harriman-John Sale-Jonathan Kidwell.

We have now reached a period in the history of Methodism in Kentucky from which we may survey the chief instruments by whose influence it attained its position at the close of the last century.

For several years previous to the appointment of Messrs. Haw and Ogden to the District, Kentucky had been constantly receiving accessions from the older settlements, some of whom had been members of the Methodist Church in the States whence they came. They had, with reluctance, left the altars around which they had worshiped, and had come to the West, cherishing the hope that, at no distant

Local preachers-John Nelson-Gabriel and Daniel Woodfi cutt-Nathanael Harris-Phili liam Forman-Joseph Ferguso 1800-The General Conference -Controversy with the Baptis Elder-The Revival-Sandusk ekiah Harriman-John Sale

WE have now reached Methodism in Kentucky the chief instruments by its position at the close o For several years previ Messrs. Haw and Ogden had been constantly rece older settlements, some of of the Methodist Church came. They had, with around which they had to the West, cherishing t

day, their new homes would be visited by the ministers of Christ, of their own denomination. The Revolutionary war, which had been protracted beyond the expectations of the infant Republic, had greatly retarded the enterprises of the Church, and prevented, at an earlier period, the occupancy of this distant field. Indeed, the societies that, under the auspices of the preachers sent out by Mr. Wesley, and those who joined them, had grown up in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina, had, during the American struggle, maintained their existence and increased in strength, amid opposition and under difficulties, before which the standard-bearers of a cause less worthy would have yielded. "Persecuted, but not forsaken," they had lifted their colors, never to strike them; and, from the Conference held in Baltimore, May 21, 1776, to the one "begun at Ellis's Preaching-house, Virginia, April 30, 1784, and ended at Baltimore, May 28, following-covering a period of eight years, during which ten Conferences were held-the societies had increased from four thousand nine hundred and twenty-one to fourteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight, and the number of preachers from twenty-four to eighty-three; and during the same period the number of circuits had grown from eleven to forty-six "-this, too, while the nation was in commotion, and struggling to be free. It is but seldom that the Church, under such circumstances, has been permitted to record triumphs superior to those achieved by Methodism during this period. The war had closed favorably

had previously encountered for the motive that influenc leave homes surrounded, a of life, and embark in such ing ease for hardship, and humble cabin of Thomas S jamin Ogden kneel and o public prayer that ever fell in Kentucky, pleading for upon the cause he had com the generous family whose ing, and around whose alt find an answer to the inqui success that crowned their la organized in the cottage-l was seed sown in good gro of Mr. Ogden was "bread be seen after many days." commencement, it was the