Methodist movement – Focusing on Wesley’s brothers and Francis Asbury

Methodism was founded by John and Charles Wesley. Wesley was known to preached to Native and settlers. He was not very successful. There were multiple reasons. In Mark Noll book, he explained that he had a miscarried love affair and issues with local leaders. But it seems like the big hurdle to cross was the indifference between the Native and colonists. Mark Noll goes on to explained that this failure led to Welsey spiritual development, “for his lack of success seems to have driven him to a new reliance on divine grace”.

It was George Whitefield that introduce the brothers to practices which would lead to Methodist movement which included preaching out of doors and directing the message of salvation to common people neglected by the established churches.

The most important effect of the revivals was to cerate an alternative to the Church of England. Methodist missionaries would not appear until the 1770s and the organization would not follow for another decade after that, but the currents of revival that had entered the South by the 1750s were the harbingers of a great Methodist movement to come. The Methodist would soon become not just the Christian faith of the South but all North American Protestantism.

The reason for Methodist stall when first introduced by the Wesley’s was the War for Independence. Many Methodist Missionaries left colonies when violence started. One of the individuals who stayed was Francis Asbury. Many Americans felt Methodist were disloyal due to their relationship with the Church of England. It was Asbury who became the “super intendent” as Mark Noll describe in his book of Methodist. It would be the religion of the people. Asbury famous conference in Baltimore played a role in this growth. His message in a city and wilderness a like stressed traditional Christian themes with special emphases: God free grace, humanity liberty to accept or reject that grace.  He used Methodist pattern of organization – local classes, preaching circuits and general conferences to further the growth.

References

Mills, Frederick V. “Allen, Richard (1760-1831), American Methodist preacher and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal church.” American National Biography. 1 Feb. 2000; Accessed 15 Mar. 2020.

Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada 2^nd Edition. Michigan: William B. Errdmans Publishing Company, 2019

Rable, George C. God’s Almost Chosen Peoples: A Religious History of the American Civil War. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2010