55G History of Methodism 



rapturous emotions. In pursuance of his general 

 plan as an integral part of the system, he originated 

 the Mount Bethel Academy, in Newberry District, in 

 South Carolina. The immediate section of country 

 in which it was located was peopled by emigrants from 

 Virginia, among whom may be mentioned as perma- 

 nent the Finches, the Crenshaws, the Malones, and 

 others. They had become Methodists in their native 

 State, and when the subject of the school was proposed 

 by Bishop Asbury they entered heartily and with lib- 

 eral subscriptions into the project. Edward Finch 

 gave thirty acres of land as a site for the institution. 



Thursday, March 7, 1793. Preached at Finch's. I consulted 

 the minds of our brethren about building a house for Conference, 

 preaching, and a district school ; but I have no ground to believe 

 that our well-laid plan will be executed — our preachers are un- 

 skillful and our friends have little money. 



On the following Saturday, 9th, Bishop Asbury 

 preached in an open meeting-house near Union Court- 

 house, and observes : " We were closely employed in 

 writing subscriptions for the district school, and copies 

 of the constitutions." The buildings were commenced 

 this year, but for the want of the necessary funds 

 were not completed in time for the united session of 

 the South Carolina and Georgia Conferences in 1794. 

 They were finished, however, during this year, and 

 were formally dedicated by Bishop Asbury on his 

 next annual visit, March 20, 1795, with a sermon 

 from 1 Thess. v. 16: "Rejoice evermore." On the 

 succeeding Sabbath he preached again, and held a 

 love-feast which proved to be a blessed season of spir- 

 itual refreshing. The school was for six years under 

 the rectorship of Rev. Mark Moore, a man eminently 

 qualified for the post, assisted by two other teachers, 



