PREFACE. 



The South Carolina Conference, at its session held 

 in Chester, December, 1876, formally requested the 

 Kev. 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 new 

 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 m 

 December following, presented the manuscript to tka 

 South Carolina Conference in session at Marion. A 

 committee of six members was appointed by the Con- 

 ference to receive it, and, after such examination of 

 the work as time allowed, made the following report: 



The committee appointed to receive the History of Methodism 

 in the South Carolina Conference, which has been prepared by the 

 Rev. 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 judg- 

 ment, it is in every way worthy the hearty indorsement of the 

 Conference. The plan is comprehensive. It runs back to the set- 

 tlement of the State, and takes into its general outline the religious 

 and civil histories of those early times; then stretches down to late? 

 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 Avhich 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- 



