In South Carolina. 259 



as a bishop. In a word, lie was gifted with great 

 powers of sagacity, strength, energy, activity, and nsed 

 them well — enjoyed great opportunities of influence, 

 and was equal to them. Let his memory be ever hon- 

 ored by his successors in office, and let his name be 

 embalmed in the affectionate veneration of the Church. 



Methodism was introduced into Lincoln and the 

 adjoining counties in Western North Carolina by the 

 preachers from the Yadkin Circuit, which was formed 

 by Andrew Yeargin in 1780, and was made to embrace 

 the entire territory from the head-waters of the Dan 

 and Uwharie rivers, westward, to the French Broad 

 and Nolachucky. Among the pioneer preachers who 

 first occupied this laborious and trying field were 

 Reuben Ellis and Henry Willis, Philip Bruce and 

 John Fore, Daniel Asbury and John McGee, Henry 

 Bingham and Robert J. Miller. The last named was 

 sent in 1786 as a missionary from the Yadkin Circuit, 

 to occupy the territory west of the Catawba River, and 

 to form a circuit in the county of Lincoln. He visited 

 a large settlement of Germans, was kindly entertained 

 by them, and at length induced to become the pastor 

 of a congregation of LutheiTiiis at " Old White Haven 

 Church," on the Catawba River, about eight miles 

 south of Beattie's Ford. In a few years, however, he 

 became dissatisfied with his German friends, and, 

 changing his Church relations, became a clergyman 

 in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and settled and 

 died in the vicinity of Lenoir, in Caldwell county, 

 greatly respected and honored by the people. 



In 1787 a number of Methodists moved from the 

 Brunswick Circuit in Virginia, and settled in Lincoln 

 county, in North Carolina, near the Catawba River. 

 As they journeyed to a new home, in the spirit of true 



