3d." Thomas Boyd was a deacon in the church. He was born in Europe, and died in Bedford county in Pennsylvania, in September 1794, and in the fourth year of his public labours. He was a man of a tender spirit, and was much afflicted before his death. After giving strong proof of his piety, by an innocent life and conversation, he went to his long_home in peace.

4th." Emory Prior, was an elder in the church. He was a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and died May 1795, having been travelling about six years. He was a man of a very slender constitution, and was much afflicted for four years last past. He was a man of an excellent spirit, and of a sound judgment. Being worn out with affliction, he closed his feeble life on earth, with a death answerable to his life, in sweet peace and consolation. He was about forty-five years old.

5th." Simon Miller, was a native of Pennsylva. nia, born in Lancaster county, a German by descent. He laboured faithfully for four years, through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware states. He was a man of deep experience and useful gifts. He could speak both in German and English. He departed this life at Milford, in the state of Delaware, in September 1795, and was much lamented."

We found our number of members was less this year by 6217, than it was last year. Such a loss of members we had never known since we were a people. There was a restless spirit in most parts of our connection and many were scattered by the division in the south of Virginia.

This year we had an alteration in the form of our minutes. The numbers in society were put down before the stations of the preachers. Which method has been generally pursued ever since.

In the close of the minutes there was direction given for a public fast, to be held by all our societies throughout the United States, on the last Friday in March 1796-And for a day of thanksgiving to be held on the last Thursday in October following.

In the latter part of this year 1795, we formed the first society in New-Hampshire state, and then for the first time, although we had laboured about 26 years we could say that we had societies in all the United States.

CHAPTER IX.

From the beginning of the year 1796, including the second General Conference, to the end of

1799.

In 1796, we had eight conferences; seven annual conferences, and a general conference. Two of these conferences were held in the close of the preceding year.

The 126th conference was held in Baltimore, on the 20th of October 1795.

The 127th at Salem Chapel in Mecklenburg, Virginia, on the 24th of November.

The 128th in Charleston, on the 1st of January 1796.

The 129th in the New Territory on the 20th of April.

The 130th in Thompson, in Connecticut, on the 20th of September.

The 131st in New-York on the 30th of September.

The 132d in Philadelphia on the 10th of Oc tober.

The 133d, being a general conference, was held in Baltimore, on the 20th of October.

We took in several new circuits this year: in the bounds of the Western conference, Shelby and Logan; and in the Province of Maine, Bath and Kennebec; and in New Jersey, Cape May. The circuit in New Hampshire we called Chesterfield, and that in Vermont, Vershire.

This year we admitted on trial upwards of thirty young preachers; and lost out of the travelling connection forty; twenty-eight of them located; nine died; two withdrew, and one was expelled.

Those who died were Jacob Brush, Stephen Da. vis, William Jessop, Reuben Ellis, Richard Ivey, Francis Acuff, John Jarrell, Zadock Priest, and Benjamin Abbott. We never before lost so many old preachers by death in one year.

1st. Jacob Brush, was a native of Long-Island. He had been a travelling preacher about ten years. He was an active zealous man of God, and a great friend to order and union. He exerted himself much in preaching and in praying. But being for a long time subject to an inflammatory sore throat, he could not labour as constantly as he would otherwise have done. He was greatly be. loved and esteemed by the brethren wherever he travelled. He died in New-York of the Epidemical fever, in the month of September, 1795, being about thirty-three years of age. Those who knew him have no doubt but he died in the Lord, and now rests from his labours.

2d.. Stephen Davis was a native of Gloucester county in Virginia. He died in Norfolk of the yellow fever, in August 1795. He was about 30 years of age. He had been a travelling preacher about seven years. He was a pious man, and possessed a very strong memory. He was persuaded to take part with those who made a division among us in the south of Virginia, but he was soon convinced of his error, and became a faithful and successful defender of the order and government of our connection, and greatly assisted in promoting the union of our body. He laboured frequently with his own hands, when he had it in his power; and when he died, he left his clothes and money to be divided among the travelling preachers belonging to the Virginia conference. We have. sufficient reason to believe that he died in the fear and favour of God.

3d. William Jessop, was a native of Sussex

county in Delaware state. He had travelled and preached about eleven years, and was a man of great simplicity and godly sincerity. He labour. ed beyond his bodily strength; and had travelled and preached in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey and New-York states He had also spent some years in preaching the gospel in the British provinces of Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. He was a tender-hearted preacher, and spake with great animation. He said some time before he died, that he had not heard a sermon from any Metbodist preacher for some years without weeping under it more or less; and yet, during that time he did not remem. ber that he had ever wept, while he himself was preaching. He died in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in the latter end of the year 1795. He appeared to be remarkably happy in the close of his life, and after taking something to moisten his mouth, he turned over and said," It is enough. Glory, glory, glory;" and died in peace.

4th. Reuben Ellis, had been travelling and preaching about 19 years, in which time he had preached in North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia; in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylva nia. His preaching was weighty and powerful; he was a faithful friend, who sought not his own ease, but the glory of God, and the salvation of men. He married in the last year of his life, but continued to labour in the word and doctrine. He was a native of North-Carolina, where he began his ministerial labours. He was a large man, but of a slender constitution. His last station was in Baltimore, where he ended his warfare in Feb. ruary 1796.

5th. Richard Ivey, was a native of Sussex county in Virginia; he had travelled and preached about 17 years. He had travelled pretty extensively,