Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/20

 12 EARLY HISTORY OF THE METHODISTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

��of years of life's experiences have left their impress here, yet the memory of that angelic face lingers as bright as a dream of Heaven.

But I was saying; these he left with a friend until time and circumstances should

��come for them, and then, sadly, but with hope and purpose strong, he stepped out to do and dare ; a man among men, in and of the world.

CONCLUDED NEXT MONTH.

��FOBGETFULNESS OF SOBBOW.

��BY MARY HELEN BOODEY.

Some precious moments of forgetfulness

I gain from out the web and woof of time, Faint snatches from the future's perfect chime, That fall upon the heart like a caress Given by the soul that's steeped In tenderness : Peace wraps me like a mantle, faith is mine, And all my hopes in greater beauty shine, Lit with a radiance that disarms distress, Such hours do seem strange notes of harmony

From heavenly choirs that reach me dwelling here ' Within the house of my mortality,

Blinded, yet listening, albeit the soul's ear Is dull and heavy, not what it will be When the whole glorious strain, sweet, soft and clear, Shall sound in ceaseless music through its sphere.

��EABLY HISTOBY OF THE METHODISTS IN NEW HAMPSHIBE.

��BY JOSEPH FULLONTON.

��There are different divisions of Method- ists, but those most common in this sec- tion of the country, and the largest body of them, are called Episcopal Methodists. The denomination originated in England in 1739, mainly under the labors of Rev. John Wesley. A society was formed in London, and one in Bristol soon after. The corner-stone of the first Methodist meeting house was laid May 12, 1739. The annual conference of their ministers is peculiar to the denomination, and the first commenced in London, June 25, 1744, and consisted of six members.

The first Methodist Society in this country was organized in New York

��City in 1766. It was composed of immi- grants from Ireland, who had been won to the faith by the preaching of Mr. Wesley. The first Methodist preacher in that city was Philip Embury. His first discourse was in his own hired house to five persons. As the congrega- tion increased, a rigging loft was occu- pied in Williams Street; and, finally, a house of worship was erected. This was what has been since called the Old John Street Church. It was dedicated in 1768. The first annual conference was in 1773, when there were ten preachers appoint- ed to six places, mostly cities, one of which was New York, another Philadel-

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