Memoirs of Mr. Wesley's missionaries to America : Compiled from authentic sources

Front matter

MEMOIRS

OF

MR. WESLEY'S MISSIONARIES

Preface

The introduction and spread of Methodism in the United States of America are subjects every way worthy of the serious attention of the philosopher and statesman ; much more of the Christian ; and especially of the ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As these subjects deserve our serious attention, a knowledge of the instruments by whom the work was commenced and carried on during its infancy is of great importance. With this conviction, and with a view to communicate information on this subject, the agents and editor of the Methodist Book Concern, at New- York, determined to prepare and publish the present volume.

The sources from which the materials have been derived are as follows, namely : the Minutes of the conferences of the early preachers in connection with the Rev. John Wesley, in America, and of the Methodist E. Church ; — Rev. J. Lee's and Rev. Dr. Bangs' Histories of the Methodists ; — Rev. J. Crowther's Portraiture of Methodism; — the Journals of Rev. F. Asbury and Rev. R. Whatcoat ; — Rev. T Jackson's Lives of Early Methodist Preachers ; — the Arminian and Wesleyan Methodist Magazines ; — the Life of Rev. T. Coke, LL. D., by Mr. Samuel Drew and Rev. W H. Norris ; — and Rev. J. Wesley's Journals. A few of the facts mentioned in this volume are derived from other authentic sources, but most of them are taken from the above-mentioned works.

The readers of this volume will perceive that there are brief notices of several persons who were not known as

6 PREFACE.

missionaries, but who were concerned in the introduction and early spread of Methodism in this country ; and also, that some of the missionaries who were expressly sent over as such by Mr. Wesley are noticed with equal brevity : and it may be proper to remark here, that all those who are disposed of in the Introduction, were so done, because there were no materials at hand out of which to furnish more extended memoirs of them.

The remaining part of the volume is selected from the Journals of Bishop Asbury, not with a design to supersede or render unnecessary " a Life" of the bishop,* but to give some account of him as having taken an important part in advancing our beloved Methodism in this country ; — ■Memoirs of Messrs. T Rankin and G. Shadford, taken from Jackson's Lives of Early Methodist Preachers ; — the Life of Dr. Coke by Rev. W H. Norris, collated with that by Mr. Drew ; — and the Journal of Bishop Whatcoat, with some account of his death and character, from the Minutes of conferences for the year 1807-

As lives of the foregoing venerable persons, this volume would certainly be very defective : but as brief memoirs of them, it is hoped it will be both interesting and improving. With earnest prayer, that it may be instrumental in promoting the glory of God, and the salvation of man, it is presented to the notice of the public.

P, P. Sandford.

New-York, July 6, 1843.

* We are in earnest expectation of a Life of Bishop Asbury from the pen of the Rev. Professor Emory, of Dickinson College, which it is presumed will do ample justice to his memory ; and supply what is a real desideratum in Methodist literature.