The history of Methodism in South Carolina.

Preface

The South Carolina Conference, at its pension held in Chester, December, 1876, formally requested the Eev. Albert M. Shipp, D.D., to write the History of Methodism in South Carolina. This he consented to do after the expiration of some four or five years deemed necessary for a due preparation for the no w work in Yanderbilt University, upon which he had entered the year before.

In the summer and autumn of the year 1880 ho was able to write the History as requested, and ja December following, presented the manuscript to the South Carolina Conference in session at Marion. A committee of six members was appointed by the Conference to receive it, and, after such examination o* the work as time allowed, made the following report:

The committee appointed to receive the History of Methodise in the South Carolina Conference, which has been prepared by the Eev. A. M. Shipp, D.D., at the request of the Conference, beg leav«* to report :

They have looked over the manuscript as carefully as their lim ited time would permit, and they are happy to say, in their judgment, it is in every way worthy the hearty indorsement of the Conference. The plan is comprehensive. It runs back to the settlement of the State, and takes into its general outline the religious and civil histories of those early times ; then stretches down to later periods, and weaves into the biographies of the heroes of the Church those glorious achievements and thrilling personal adventures which make the History of Methodism in South Carolina more marvelous than romance.

Two points strike the committee with force. The work sets forth in a strong light the contribution which Methodism has made to the civilization of the commonwealth, not only in the lives of her great and good men, but also in bringing vast masses of the popu-

4 Preface.

lation, especially the colored people, hitherto unreached by other Churches, under the enlightening and elevating influences of Christianity. The other point presents Methodism as a witness for Christ. The baptism of fire which attended the ministry of the early preachers, the purity and zeal of the Church, sprung into more vital activity the other sister denominations of the State and have made Methodism a recognized witness for Christ before' the Church and the world.

This History Avill call forth the profound gratitude of every servant of the Lord to the great Head of the Church for the glorious work wrought by Methodism in spreading scriptural holiness through these lands; and the fruit of this labor garnered in this History will become a strong appeal to the Church still to advance and occupy new fields "in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ."

The author has spared no industry in collecting materials. He has carefully sifted the data, corrected discrepancies, and has kept in view his aim to furnish a true, living, inspiring narrative of men and things in the origin and progress of Methodism for almost one hundred years, down to the period within the memory of men still living. The work has been to him a labor of love, and he has generously made it the property of the Conference.

The committee respectfully suggest the adoption of the following resolutions :

1. Resolved, That the Conference hereby expresses its high appreciation and hearty thanks to the Rev. A. M. Shipp, D.D., of this Conference, for his inestimable labor in committing to permanent record the achievement of our fathers, in the History of Methodism in South Carolina.

2. Resolved, That the Conference accept the generous donation of the History, and hereby turn over any profit derived from the sale of the book to the legal Conference, for a permanent investment, the interest on which shall be appropriated to the Conference collection in aid of the worn-out preachers, and the widows and orphans of those who have died while engaged in preaching the gospel in the South Carolina Conference.

3. Resolved, That a committee be appointed, and is hereby empowered, to act for the Conference, in consultation with the author, on the publication of the History, at such a time and place as may be deemed most expedient.

Respectfully submitted.

J. T. Wightman, J. A. Porter,

S. Leard, E. J. Meynardie.

Under the third resolution of the report the same committee was appointed to make suitable arrangements for the publication of the work.

Vanderbilt University, November, 1882.

Introduction

The author of this volume is entitled to the thanks of the whole Church for his careful, thorough, and valuable History of Methodism in South Carolina. One by one the fathers are passing away, and very soon their names will be scarcely known to the generation following. Books like this gather up the facts, garner the precious memories, and embalm them for all time.

To write a history is a most difficult task. To discriminate in the distribution of praises; to administer censure where it is deserved; and to connect the events of the past into a chain which gives due prominence to causes and effects alike, are duties of the historian which many recognize and few fulfill. Dr. Shipp has allowed the actors in the scenes to speak for themselves wherever their personal records were either essential to the narrative or explanatory of circumstances which could only be known to the witnesses themselves.

In two respects this book will commend itself to the thoughtful reader. The author has not followed the order of time so much as the order of his topics. The volume, whilst it loses the feature of a book of an-

6 Introduction.

nals, gains a far more valuable property in the historical development of its subjects. The beginning of an enterprise, its difficulties, embarrassments, and results, are traced in their connection with each other.

To this volume the lover of truth, wherever he may reside, can turn for a calm, clear, and absolute vindication of the Southern people in regard to the moral and religious welfare of the African race. In this respect the volume is not only a perpetuation of a record well known to many, but it will enable the present generation to defend the memory of their fathers, which has often been wantonly assailed.

W. P. Hakkison.

Nashville, Tenn., November, 1882.

Chapter I

Early Attempts to Colonize Carolina ; De Ayllon, 11 — Coligny, 12 — Raleigh, 14 — Heath, 15 — Lords Proprietors, 16 — Old Charlestown, 23 — First Ministers, 25 — Established Church, 26 — French Protestants, 33 — Presbyterians and Independents, 38 — Baptists, 43 — Quakers and German Protestants, 44 — Catholics and Jews, 45 — ■ Religious Freedom under Constitution, 46.

Chapter II

Holy Club, 49 ; four Missionaries fromr 50 — Settlement of Georgia, 51 ; OglethorperSecures the Wesleys for, 54 — Dr. Burton's Advice to Mr. Wesley, 56 — Ingham, 57— Delamotte; The Voyage, 61 — The Storm, 63 — Arrival ; Portraits of Wesleys, 64.

Chapter III

Plan of Operation and Scheme of Doctrine, 67 — Visit of Indians, 69 — Appointments for Savannah and Frederica, 70 — Class-meetings, 76 — Mr. Wesley at Frederica, 77 — His Fortitude and Courage, 79 — The Wesleys Visit Charleston, 82— St. Philip's Church, 83— Ln£ex^ est in the Negroes, 85 — Second Visit to Charleston, 86 — Last Visit, 89— Whitefield's Testimony, 91.

Chapter IV

Whitefield's Conversion, 92 — First Sermon, 94 — Offers to go to Georgia, 97 — Arrival and Valedictory Sermon, 99— Pastoral Letter, 102 — Trip from Philadelphia to Charleston on Horseback, 104 — Stevens's Account of His Preaching, 106 — Orphan House, 108 — Memorial Service, 114 — Cited to Trial by Commissary Garden, 118 — Results, 120.

Chapter V

Pilmoor, 122 — His Appointment by Mr. Wesley, 123 — Full Account, of His Visit and Preaching in South Carolina and Georgia, 125.

.CHAPTER VI.

Francis Asbury, 136 — Embarks for America, 138 — Mr. Rankin, 139 — Organization of Church, 141 — Pioneer Preachers for South Carolina; Mr. Tunnell, 142— Mr. Willis, 146— Mr. Allen, 147— Mr. Hickson, 148— Mr. Lee, 150— First Visit to South Carolina, 151.

8 Contents.

Chapter VII

Progress of the Work, 156 — Pedee and Santee Circuits, 158 — Mr. Asbury's Second Visit, 159 — Appointments for 1786, 161 — Isaac Smith, 162— Edisto Circuit, 164— Mr. Mastin and Mr. Hull, 165— Foster and Johnston; Dr. Coke in Charleston, 168 — Mr. Asbury's Third Visit and First Conference, 169 — Appointments for 1787, 170 — &reen~andT3IisrT7i— Iveftmd Mason, 173— Mrs. Wofford, 174.

Chapter VIII

Early Conferences, 177 — Mr. Asbury Holds Second South Carolina Conference, 179 — First Georgia Conference, 182 — Appointments 1788; Mr. Partridge, 185— Ellis and Smith, 186— Burdge, 187— Major and Humphreys, 188 — Moore and Herbert, 190 — Gassaway, 191.

Chapter IX

Mr. Asbury and Dr. Coke Visit Georgia, 199 — Third South Carolina Conference, 201— Fourth, 202— Sunday-schools, 203— Fifth Conference, 207 — Asbury and Coke Visit Catawba Indians, 209 — Hammett in Charleston, 210 — Sixth Conference, 212 — Seventh, 214 — Eighth, 215.

Chapter X

Sketches: Bruce, 217— George, 219— Randle, 230— Moore, 231— Jenkins, 232 — McKendree, 239 — Waters and Gibson, 241 — Tolleson, Fulwood, Cannon, Risher, and Clark, 243 — Henley, Russell Posey, George Clarke, King, Tarrant, Douthet, and Carlisle, 244 — Jackson, 245.

CHAPTER XL

Bladen Circuit, 246 — James O. Andrew, 252 — Address to Deacons 256 — Lincoln Circuit, 259 — Dj ' ~"~ ~'

- — McGee and Camp-meetings,

Chapter XV

William Capers, 397 — Methodism in Fayetteville, N. C, 404; in Charleston and Vicinity, 409; in Wilmington, N. C, 41;!; in Columbia, 419; in Savannah, Ga., 42(i — Southern Christian Advocate 431 — Missionary Secretary, 433 — Bishop, 43-1.

256 — Lincoln Circuit, 259 — Daniel Asbury, 263 — Richardson 267

gs, 272— John Fore, 276.

Contents. 9

Chapter XVI

Missions, 436 — Society Formed in New York and South Carolina, 439 — Original Cojantitntion) '41U— First Report, 443 — Mission to Indians, 445— iffission to Blacks/ 449— Report of 1832, 450; of 1845, 453; of 1854r458j ol 1866, 463.

Chapter XVII

Legislation on Slavery, 468 — Action of General Conference in 1836, 475; in 1840, 477; in 1844; Speech of Dr. Capers, 479— Report on Division, 493 — Declaration of Opinions in 1836, 497 — Last Pastoral Address on this Subject in 1865, 498.

Chapter XVIII

Conference Institutions, 517 — Constitution of Trust Fund, 519; of Society for Relief of Children of Members, 520; of Fund of Special Relief, 522; of Joint Board of Finance, 524 — Act of Incorporation, 529; of Tract Society, 532; of Book and Tract Society, 535; of Historical Society, 540; o*' Tithe Society, 544 — Orphan Home, 545.

Chapter XIX

Education; Mr. Wesley's Views on, 547 — Seminary for Laborers, 550; Mr. Asbury's Views on, 553 — Mt. Bethel Academy, 550 — Cokesbury School and Conference Address, 561 — Wofford College, 563.

Chapter XX

Purity of Methodism ; Doctrine and Early Mode of Worship, 580 — Essence of Methodism, how to be Preserved,' 583; Purity of in South Carolina Conference, 584 — Resolution of 1*34, 587 — First Pastoral Address, 588 — Preachers Held to Rigid Account, 594 — • Change in Later Years, 595.

Appendix

Conference Boundaries, 599.

List of Delegates to each General Conference, 600. Table of Sessions of South Carolina Conferences, 603. Biographical Sketches of Deceased Members, 606. Omissions in Original List Supplied, 649.

To tlie Menioers of tlie Soutli Carolina Conference

Of the Metlioclist Episcopal Clixircli, South,

In grateful remembrance of the many tokens of confidence AND AFFECTION SHOWN HIM DURING THE WHOLE PERIOD OF HIS MINISTERIAL LIFE AND ASSOCIATION WITH THEM IN THE WORK OF CHRIST,

This History of Methodism,

IN THE FIELD ALLOTTED THEM BY PROVIDENCE FOR CULTIVATION IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BY

The Authoe.

HISTORY

OF

Methodism in South Carolina.

CHAPTER I. I hear the tread of pioneers

Of nations yet to be,

The first low wash of waves where soon

Shall roll a human sea.

(Whittier.)

EIGHTY -THEEE years before the settlement was made at Jamestown, in Virginia (1607), and ninety-six years before the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth, in Massachusetts (1620), the first attempt was made, under the auspices of Charles V., to plant a colony within the present limits of South Carolina. Lucas Yasquez de Ayllon, having obtained from the Spanish monarch, in 1524, the title of Adelantado, or Governor, of Chicora (as Carolina was then called), embarked with a band of emigrants from St. Domingo in three vessels, under the command of Miruelo, to conquer and occupy the country for the crown. After various misfortunes by sea, the largest vessel was stranded in the Combahee River (then called Jordan), which they first entered; and the other two, sailing round to a capacious bay at the entrance of a magnificent river, affording one of the fairest and greatest havens in the world (afterward called Port Eoyal), De Ayllon resolved to found here the capital of Chicora, and selected for a site the ground now occupied by the town of Beaufort. The enterprise, however, was brought to a speedy and disastrous termination; for the Indians, at first feigning friendship with the new settlers, and thus throwing them off their guard, rose up suddenly against them, and putting more than two hundred to a cruel death, chased the rest in bloody strife to their ships, in terrible revenge of the perfidy of De Ayllon, who five years before had entered the Combahee with two vessels, and enticing a large number of Indians on board, quickly weighed anchor, and bore them away into slavery in St. Domingo.

If this first attempt to colonize Carolina under the auspices of Spain had been successful, it would have fastened upon the province the paralyzing influence of the Church of Rome.

After the expiration of thirty-eight years, another attempt was made to found a colony in Carolina, under the auspices of France. Admiral de Coligny, having long desired to establish a place of refuge in America to which his brother Protestants, the Huguenots, might repair from the growing persecutions of their mother-country, and having failed in planting a settlement in 1555 on the present site of Rio Janeiro, in South America, planned a new expedition in 1562, and placed it under the command of Jean Ribault, of Dieppe. Sailing along the coast in search of the Combahee (Jordan), he entered the same magnificent harbor which had attracted the Spanish colony, and to which he gave the name of Port Royal; and choosing for his settlement a site near the one which had been selected by De Ayllon, he erected a monumentalstone engraved with the arms of France, and built Fort Charles, the Carolina, in honor of Charles IX. of France, thus giving name to the country a hundred years before it was occupied by the English, and called by them Carolina in honor of Charles II. of England.

The situation of this second colony also soon became precarious, and, the love of their native land reviving in the midst of a distressing want of supplies and a growing dissension among the settlers, they constructed a rough brigantine — the first vessel that was ever built by Europeans on the American continent — in which, through untold sufferings and perils of the deep, they made their way back to the shores of beloved France.

If this enterprise of Coligny had been successful, and the colony had been protected and cherished by the King of France, soon settlers of another faith would have been added to the Huguenots, and Carolina would have witnessed the same scenes of persecution as those which cursed the mother - country. But Charles IX. desired not the preservation of the colony, but its destruction rather; for when Don Pedro Menendez captured the Huguenots whom Coligny sent out three years afterward to plant a settlement in Florida (1565), and hanged them on trees, with the inscription, "I do not do this as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans," it was not only without a word of rebuke or remonstrance from the king, but there is good reason to believe it was with the sanction and connivance of the royal court. And when Chevalier de Gourgues fitted out an expedition at his own expense, and capturing these cruel Spaniards, hanged them in terrible revenge to the same trees, with the counter-inscription, " I did not do this as to Spaniards, nor as to infidels, but as to traitors, thieves, and murderers," instead of being rewarded and honored by his own government, he was even persecuted and left to be pursued

14 His toey of Methodism

witli bitter malice by the authorities of Spain. He had indeed avenged the wrongs done to Frenchmen, but in doing so he had at the same time avenged the wrongs done to Huguenots, and Huguenots the Government of France meant to destroy.

It was the design of Providence that Carolina should be permanently colonized under better auspices, and that the foundations of her institutions should be laid under influences more favorable to freedom of religion than any that might emanate from the royal courts either of France or of Spain.

The third attempt to plant a colony in Carolina was made under a patent granted by Queen Elizabeth of England to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, which at his death in 1583 was transferred to his half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh. Under his direction a voyage of exploration was made in 1584 by Philip Amidas and Arthur Barlow, who landed in July on the island of Wocoken, in Ocracock inlet, on the coast of North Carolina; and taking back with them two natives of America, Manteo and Wanchese, they gave such a glowing account of the new-discovered land that no name was deemed so appropriate as that of Virginia, in honor of the virgin queen.

In the following year (1585) Raleigh fitted out a second expedition, under the command of Sir Richard Grenville, who left a colony of one hundred and eight persons on Roanoke Island with Ralph Lane as its governor; but such were the hardships which they encountered that the colonists were only too well satisfied to be taken home by Sir Francis Drake, who in June of the following year visited the island with a fleet of twenty-three vessels. Scarcely had they taken their departure when Grenville returned with supplies.

Having made a vain search for the colonists, and being unwilling to abandon the enterprise, he left (1586) fifteen of his mariners to keep possession until they could be reenf orced. This little band had disappeared, murdered it was believed by the Indians, when in the next year (1587) a fresh party of one hundred and seventeen arrived. Here soon afterward were laid, in honor of the proprietor, the foundations of the " City of Raleigh," and here the first English child destined to see the light in America was born. She was the daughter of Ananias Dare, and the granddaughter of John White, governor of the colony, who gave her the name of Virginia. The one hundred and eighteen disappeared like the fifteen mariners of Grenville, and, though sought for at various times, were never heard of more. Raleigh lost heart, as well as means, having expended about two hundred thousand dollars in efforts to plant his colony, and made over his patent to a number of persons (1589), who, with less enterprise than he, met with still less success; and Carolina continued but a waste as far as English settlements were concerned, and Virginia but a name.

In 1630 a patent for the territory between the thirty-first and thirty-sixth parallels of latitude was granted to Robert Heath, and in 1639 permanent settlements were planned and attempted, but without success. Some New Englanders, "in 1661, or thereabouts," entered the Cape Fear River, and, purchasing from the Indians a title to the soil, planted an infant settlement on Oldtown Creek, near the south side of the Cape Fear, but returning home after a few years, "spread a reproach on the harbor and the soil."

In the third year after the restoration of the royal government in England, all previous patents having been declared void, the Province of Carolina, extending from the thirty-first to the thirty-sixth degree of north latitude, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean was granted by charter of Charles II., bearing date of March 24, 1663, to Edward, Earl of Clarendon; George, Duke of Albemarle; William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton. At their first meeting, held in May, 1663, in order to agree on measures for executing the chief objects of the patent, the proprietaries formed a joint-stock by general contribution for the transporting of colonists, and at the desire of the New England people — some of whom had settled on the south bank of the Cape Fear River — published proposals to all who would plant in Carolina. It was declared that emigrants would be allowed to nominate their governor and council, to have an assembly composed of the governor and council, and delegates of freemen chosen by themselves to make the laws, and in particular every one should enjoy the most perfect freedom in religion. (Chalmers.) In subsequent instructions it was especially enjoined to make every thing easy " to the people of New England, from which the greatest emigrations were expected, as the southern colonies were already drained."

In 1662 George Durant obtained from the Yeopin Indians the neck of land to which he gave name in North Carolina, and in the following year George Cathmaid obtained a large grant of land upon the ' Sound, as a reward from Sir William Berkeley, who was Governor of Virginia, and joint proprietary of Carolina, for having established sixty-seven persons chiefly on the north-east bank of the Chowan River.

This oldest considerable settlement, in honor of Monk, received the name of Albemarle.

In letters of instruction to Sir William Berkeley, under date of September 8, 1663, the proprietaries say: "We are informed that there are some people settled on the north-east part of the River Chowan, and that others have inclination to plant there, as also the larboard side entering of the same river, so that we hold it convenient that a government be forthwith appointed for that colony, and for that end we have by Captain Whittey sent you a power to constitute one or two governors, and councils, and other officers, unto which power we refer ourselves; we having only reserved the nomination of a surveyor and secretary, as officers that will be fit to take care of your and our interests, the one by faithfully laying out all lands, the other by justly recording the same. The reason of giving you power to settle two governors— that is, of either side of the river — one is, because some persons that are for liberty of conscience may desire a governor of their own proposing, which those on the other side of the river may not so well like, and our desire being to encourage those people to plant abroad, and to stock well those parts with planters, incites us to comply always with all sorts of people as far as we possibly can." By virtue of the full powers thus conferred, Sir William Berkeley appointed William Drummond, a Dissenter from Scotland, first governor of Albemarle, and, instituting a Carolina assembly, left the infant people in freedom of conscience to take care of themselves.

In October, 1667, Samuel Stevens succeeded Governor Drummond, and was commanded to act altogether by the advics of a council of twelve, six of whom were 2 to be chosen by the assembly, and six to be appointed by himself. The assembly was composed of the governor, the council, and twelve delegates chosen annually by the freeholders, and was invested with power not only to make the laws, but also with a large portion of the executive authority, with the right of appointing officers, and presenting to churches the proprietaries, thus transferring to the infant colony the right of "patronage and advowson of all the churches " with which they were invested by the charter. (Chalmers.)

In August, 1663, several gentlemen of Barbadoes proposed to establish a colony south of the Cape Fear, and receiving from the proprietaries the greatest encouragement, and in particular the pledge of " freedom and liberty of conscience in all religious or spiritual things, and to be kept inviolable," they fitted out a vessel under the conduct of Hilton, an able navigator (the same that gave name to Hilton Head in the neighborhood of Beaufort), to explore the country.

In January, 1665, Sir John Yeamans was appointed governor of the territory then called Clarendon, stretching from the Cape Fear to the Saint Matheo (Saint Johns in Florida), and in the autumn of the same year, conducting a band of emigrants from Barbadoes, began to lay the foundations of a new settlement near that of the New Englanders. The same constitution was established, and the same powers conferred on this colony as those which had made Albemarle happy.

In good truth it may be said that in Carolina " the child of ecclesiastical oppression was swathed in independence," since three separate and distinct colonies were established upon the broad foundation of a regular system of freedom of every kind, which it was deemed necessary by the proprietaries to offer to emigrants to induce them to encounter the difficulties of planting in a foreign land.

In 1669 the proprietaries turned their attention to the settlement of a fourth colony in the southern part of the province. The limits of the province had been enlarged by a second charter, granted June 13, 1665, so as to embrace all the land lying between twenty-nine degrees and thirty-six degrees thirty minutes, north latitude — a territory extending seven and one-half degrees from north to south, and more than forty degrees from east to west — comprising the whole of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, much of Florida and Missouri, nearly all of Texas, and a large portion of Mexico; to which immense domain were added, by a third charter in 1667, the Bermuda Islands.

More than six years had elapsed since the royal signature had been given to the charter, and it was now deemed proper to establish a form of government commensurate in its dignity with the vastness of the empire which the germs of existing colonies encouraged their imagination to anticipate in the future. It must be agreeable to monarchy, free from too numerous a democracy, and pleasing to Dissenters. The Earl of Shaftesbury, who in the year 1662 was found battling in the British Parliament in opposition to the Bill of Uniformity, was deputed by his associates to frame a system of laws suitable for the province. He summoned to his aid, in this most difficult and delicate work, the celebrated philosopher John Locke, whose friendship he valued, and whose distinguished abilities he held in profound admiration.

Mr. Locke was a man of piety as well as of learning.

He chose the word of God as the book of his study and the rule of his life. He was the well-known friend and avowed advocate of religious freedom, and was accustomed to say that " at the day of judgment it would not be asked whether he was a follower of Luther or of Calvin, but whether he embraced the truth in the love of it." In the Fundamental Constitutions which he framed, the perplexing problem of a union between Church and State was solved not by giving a legal preference to one sect or denomination over another, but by making the national religion of the province broad enough to embrace in the enjoyment of equal rights and privileges each and every Church of seven or more persons agreeing in any religion, and subscribing to the three following terms of communion :

" 1. That there is a God.

" 2. That God is to be publicly worshiped.

" 3. That it is lawful, and the duty of every man being thereunto called by those that govern, to bear witness to the truth."

In his view, Jews, heathens, and other dissenters from the purity of the Christian religion, if not kept at a distance from it by legal discriminations against them, " would have better opportunity of acquainting themselves with the truth and reasonableness of its doctrines and the peaoeableness and inoffensiveness of its professors, and by good usage, and persuasion, and all those convincing methods of gentleness and meekness suitable to the rules and designs of the gospel, would be won over to embrace and unfeignedly receive the truth."

The proprietaries approved and signed, July 21, 1669, the Fundamental Constitutions, as drawn by Mr. Locke, and the original copy, which was given by them to the first band of emigrants, is still preserved — in the handwriting, it is believed, of Mr. Locke — in the Charleston Library (Rivers). Thus these statesmen, who successfully advocated in England the passage of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, and of the Five-mile Act in 1665, and were enforcing these laws with relentless cruelty in the parent country, gave their signatures in 1669 to a document that pledged to Dissenters perfect freedom of religion and worship, as an inducement to plant a fourth colony in Carolina. While they silenced men like John Owen, and filled the prisons of England with sucln victims as Baxter, Bunyan, Alleine, and John Wesley of Whitchurch (the grandfather of the founder of Methodism), they offered full liberty of conscience and ample protection to every variety of religious opinion in their province. Thus they impeached the wisdom and good faith of their home administration by the implied avowal that diversities of opinion and worship may peaceably coexist in the same society, and that freedom of religion is the surest means of making a commonwealth flourish and a country appear desirable to its inhabitants. In a subsequent revision of these Constitutions, Article XCVI. was interpolated (the authorship of which Mr. Locke disavowed), granting toleration to Dissenters, and making the Church of England the national religion of Carolina, and alone entitled to receive public maintenance from the Colonial Assembly. This change was a vital one to Dissenters, and the new Constitutions, because they violated original stipulations with the colonists, were promptly and resolutely rejected throughout the province. Four successive modifications of these Constitutions were made to render them acceptable to the people; but, claiming that the original copy was genuine and of binding force, they perseveringly refused to recognize the authority of any of them, till at length, in April, 1693, the proprietaries resolved, " That as the people have declared they would rather be governed by the powers granted by the charter, without regard to the Fundamental Constitutions, it will be for their quiet and the protection of the well-disposed to grant their request."