4 Preface. 



lation, especially the colored people, hitherto unreached by other 

 Churches, under the enlightening and elevating influences of Chris- 

 tianity. The other point presents Methodism as a witness for Christ. 

 The baptism of fire which attended the ministry of the early preach- 

 ers, the purity and zeal of the Church, sprung into more vital ac- 

 tivity the other sister denominations of the State, and have made" 

 Methodism a recognized witness for Christ before the Church and 

 the world. 



This History will call forth the profound gratitude of every serv- 

 ant 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 oc- 

 cupy 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 gen- 

 erously 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 appre- 

 ciation 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 col- 

 lection in aid of the worn-out preachers, and the widows and orphans 

 of those w T ho have died while engaged in preaching the gospel in 

 the South Carolina Conference. 



3. Resolved, That a committee be appointed, and is hereby em- 

 powered, 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, 



W. Martin, W. T. Capers, 



S. Leard, E. J. Meynardie. 



Under the third resolution of the report the same 

 committee was appointed to make suitable arrange- 

 ments for the publication of the work. 



Yanderbilt University, November, 1882. 



