202 History of Methodism 



■nine hundred and seven members having been added 

 t< > the Church during the preceding year. From mobs 

 they met with no riotous molestation, as .at the last 

 session, but the public newspapers teemed with invec- 

 tives of the most virulent nature, and the bishops were 

 represented as men who were attempting to subvert 

 the established order of things. But "a soft answer 

 turneth away wrath." The irritation of the writers 

 was not inflamed by the replies which were given, so 

 that the tempest, having spent its force, a general calm 

 succeeded, and peace was once more established. 



After the Conference, Bishop Asbury visited the 

 Santee and Pedee circuits, traveling one hundred and 

 fifty miles within the first four days, and preaching 

 four sermons. He filled appointments at Gibson's, at 

 Bradford's, and at Rembert's, and preached a funeral- 

 sermon near Statesburg. He served the congregation 

 at Jackson's, and discoursed to the people on the way 

 to Threadgill's and to Handle's; and thus continued 

 on to McKnight's, on the Yadkin, the seat of the North 

 Carolina Conference. 



Richard Whatcoat and Ira Ellis accompanied Bish- 

 op Asbury in his visit to hold the fourth Conference 

 in South Carolina. They entered the State, calling at 

 Beauty Spot, and passing down through Marlborough 

 and Marion, crossed the Great Pedee at Port's Ferry, 

 and came by the same route as the year before to 

 Charleston. The session was opened on the 15th of 

 February, 1790, and the business was conducted in great 

 peace and love. The powers of the Council which 

 convened the year before, and which was expected to 

 meet again, in lieu of a General Conference, to give 

 uniformity to the administration o'f the Church, were 

 taken into consideration. It was determined, first, to 



