168 History of Methodism 



lina, and in 1785 labored in the Holston country. His 

 preaching made a deep impression in the Santee coun- 

 try, and his name has been handed down to the pres- 

 ent generation in grateful remembrance by those who 

 in early life were brought into the Church through 

 his instrumentality. The climate proved unfriendly 

 to the health of one brought up in a more northern 

 latitude, and after the Conference he returned with 

 Bishop Asbury to Virginia, where he labored with 

 success, and located in 1793. He reported a member- 

 ship of one hundred and seventy-eight whites and 

 twelve colored. 



Broad River Circuit had this year (1786) the services 

 of James Foster, elder, and Stephen Johnson. Mr. 

 Johnson was received on trial into the traveling con- 

 nection in 1785, and appointed to the Guilford Circuit 

 in North Carolina. He gave one year only to South 

 Carolina, and devoted the remainder of his ministerial 

 life to Virginia. He had large success on this circuit, 

 and more than doubled the membership of the Church, 

 reporting to the Conference four hundred and three 

 whites and nineteen colored. 



On the 10th of February, 1787, Dr. Coke sailed 

 from St. Eustatius, one of the West Indies, on board 

 of a Dutch ship that was bound for Charleston in 

 South Carolina. After a pleasant voyage of eighteen 

 days he landed in the city, and spent about a month 

 in preaching to the people in the church which had 

 just been erected on Cumberland street, and which 

 was first opened by him for religious service. Such 

 was the spirit of hearing excited among the inhabit- 

 ants that from three to four hundred persons regu- 

 larly attended the morning preaching. He was much 

 gratified by the information he received of the rapid 



