322 History of Methodism 



Returning through Montgomery and Anson* coun- 

 ties, in North Carolina, and Chesterfield, Kershaw, 

 and Sumter, in South Carolina, Bishops Asbnry and 

 Whatcoat reached Charleston on Friday, the 28th of 

 December, 1804. 



Tuesday, January 1, 1805. We opened our Con- 

 ference. I preached the ordination-sermon of four 

 elders: James Crowder, Henry M. Gaines, James H. 

 Mellard, and Hugh Porter. We had a sacrament and 

 some singing and tears, but for want of more and 

 closer exhortations there was nothing special done. 

 The intendant of the city has forbidden our prayer- 

 meetings with the blacks before the rising sun; nor 

 must the evening meetings be held later than nine 

 o'clock. The preachers are seriously occupied with 

 the work of Conference, and they are countrymen, and 

 do not speak boldly as they ought to speak; neverthe- 

 less I hope and believe real good has been and will be 

 consequent upon the sitting of this Conference. 



Tuesday, 3. We came off early and in haste, but 

 have fallen short in our calculations of reaching Lum- 

 berton on the Sabbath-day. 



Monday, 14. Lodged at Lumberton. 



Tuesday, 15. We had a cold ride to Fayetteville. 

 At the African meeting-house, I preached on Heb. x. 

 38, 39. I was invited to preach in the State-house, 

 but it did not suit my mind at all. The object of our 

 visit was a Methodist congregation and society. Home 

 is home; ours is plain, to be sure, but it is our duty 

 to condescend to men of low estate, and therefore I 

 felt justified in declining the polite invitation of the 

 Rev. Mr. Flinn to officiate in his meeting-house. I 

 must take the road again. O what sweetness I feel 

 as I steal along through the solitary woods! I am 



