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CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER XIH.

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INTRODUCTION.

MR. GARRETTSON was among the earliest Methodist preachers that were raised up in America. Being active and zealous from the commencement of his ministerial career, his life and labours are intimately connected with the rise and progress of Methodism in this country, and his name will therefore ever be associated with those self denying men who were instrumental in beginning and carrying forward that blessed work of God which has since spread so rapidly and extensively over this continent. On this account, it may not be amiss to introduce him to the notice of the reader by a sketch of the commencement of the work in this country.

The first Methodist society in America was formed in the city of New-York, in the year 1766, by a few emigrants from Ireland. About the same time, however, that Mr. Philip Embury and his associates were laying the foundation for such permanent good in this city, a similar society was formed in Frederick county, Maryland, through the instrumentality of Mr. Strawbridge, another local preacher from Ireland.

Those obscure emigrants, having been connected with the Methodists in their own country, and having tasted of the comforts of religion, not finding on their arrival here spiritual associates with whom they could "take sweet counsel," were induced to assemble by themselves in a private room. Here, by the earnest entreaties of Mrs. Hick, a pious matron, Mr. Embury very reluctantly commenced preaching the doctrines of the gospel as taught by the Rev. John Wesley, and God blessed his labours. Some, indeed, have denominated Captain Webb the founder of Methodism in America. This I believe to be a mistake. Though he might have been in America before Mr. Embury and his associates arrived, we have no authentic account of his preaching, much less of his

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