100 RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS, 



impression. In 1800, John Garvin made an ineffectual at- 

 tempt to collect a society in Savannah, and though he suc- 

 ceeded after many difficulties in inducing a few^ to attend his 

 meetings for a season, yet he also abandoned the place in de- 

 spair. The next attempt was made by a Mr. Cloud, whose 

 improper conduct only increased the existing prejudices against 

 the Methodists. At a Conference held in Sparta, December 

 29, 1806, the subject of making another attempt to establish 

 Methodism in Savannah was presented by a forcible appeal 

 from some warm friends of the cause. Bishop Asbury selected 

 Samuel Dunwoody, at that time young in the ministry, but 

 humble, bold, and zealous. He laboured assiduously, and at 

 the end of the year, returned twelve members, five whites and 

 seven coloured. After hard toiling, the members succeeded 

 in erecting a house of worship in 1812, which was called 

 Wesley Chapel. Since that period, the Methodists have not 

 only increased in Savannah, but in every part of Georgia, and 

 next to the Baptists, are the most numerous denomination.* 

 According to the minutes of the last Annual Conference, there 

 were in Georgia 43,736 white members, 16,635 coloured, 139 

 travelling preachers, and fourteen superannuated, besides a 

 large number of local preachers. 



Presbyterians. — The compiler regrets that he has been 

 unable to procure a history of the Presbyterian Church in 

 Georgia. Mr. Sherwood, in his Gazetteer, says : 



"A church was established at Medway, Liberty county, 

 about 1757 ; minister. Rev. John Osgood. Their ancestors 

 had emigrated from Dorchester, in Massachusetts, many years 

 before, and settled at a place which they called Dorchester, in 

 South Carolina, whence they removed to Medway. 



" A Presbyterian church existed in Savannah about 1760 ; 

 minister, Rev. John J. Zubley. A new house of worship was 

 built in 1800, and another in 1819, the most elegant and costly 

 in the State. 



'• The first minister ordained in the up-country, was the 

 Rev. Mr. Springer, in 1790." 



The ministers of this church are highly educated men, 



* See Bangs' History of Methodism. 



