2G0 History of Methodism 



pilgrims, they were not unmindful of " a better coun- 

 try, that is, a heavenly." Morning and evening the 

 incense of prayer and praise ascended to God from 

 the altar of their devotions; and occasionally an experi- 

 ence-meeting, or love-feast, was held by night in their 

 camp. Such a meeting chanced to be held by them 

 on the banks of the Roanoke River, when it pleased 

 the Lord to visit and bless this pious band in a man- 

 ner so remarkable that the deep forest was made vocal 

 with their triumphant songs of joy, crying, Glory to 

 God in the highest! A planter of intelligence and 

 wealth, attracted by the sound, came with his servants 

 to investigate the unwonted scene. "Friends," said 

 he, "this is indeed a strange proceeding; what is the 

 meaning of all this?" John Turbefield, for the rest, 

 answered in the spirit of meekness and love: " Sir, 

 we are all professors of religion, members of the 

 Methodist Church, journeying to a new home; we 

 have been engaged in our accustomed devotions; the 

 King has come into our camp, and we have been made 

 very happy — glory be to God!" The planter was 

 overwhelmed by a divine influence; conviction seized 

 his mind, and a genuine conversion crowned his inves- 

 tigation of this experience-meeting in the forest — the 

 first he had ever witnessed among the Methodists. 

 Settled in their new home, they were without a preach- 

 er until the fall of 1788, when they were visited by the 

 Rev. Mr. Brown, a young local preacher, who came 

 out also from Virginia, to inspect the country with a 

 view to ultimate removal. On application, liberty was 

 readily granted him by the Rev. Mr. Miller to preach 

 to the people in the Old White Haven Church. He 

 spoke with great zeal and fervor; his words were in 

 demonstration of the Spirit and in power; the Meth- 



