GEORGIA METHODISM BEFORE 1866, by Marynell S. Waite File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Walker Winge . SOURCE: HISTORY OF THE SOUTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE The United Methodist Church 1866-1984, Marynell S. Waite, Editor, Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, TX, [no copyright date], pp. 12-18 In 1769, young preachers were heeding the call issued by Rev. John Wesley for volunteers to carry the gospel to the colonies. But when the American Revolution began the English lay preachers returned to England, all except Francis Asbury who believed in the American cause. Asbury established Methodist Societies and met with the American lay preachers in conferences even though there was suspicion and threats on his life.. Rev. John Wesley had always felt that.only ordained clergy should perform sacraments of the Church. And he was very concerned that American lay preacher were baptizing and administering the Lord’s Supper to gatherings. In 1784, after the American Revolution had ended, Wesley sent Dr. Thomas Coke, and ordained English minister, with Mr. Whatcoat and Mr. Vasey to American in order to appoint Francis Asbury the general superintendent of the American Societies. Asbury declined, stating that he would only accept the appointment if elected to office by his fellow preachers. The Christmas Conference was called. American was now an independent nation and a new Church needed to be organized for a new democracy. The same guidelines that Rev. John Wesley had established, and Asbury was elected to be the first general super- intendent, or bishop. His first directive to the new ministers was to go into the countryside and spread the gospel. Then he saddled his own horse and rode off to establish new churches. For forty-five years he traveled on horseback spreading the word of God. Until 1805 Georgia had been just one district, then it was divided Into two districts; the Oconee with Apalachee Circuit, Oconee Circuit and St. Mary’s Circuit, and the Ogeechee with Ogeechee Circuit, Augusta Circuit, Little River Circuit and Broad River Circuit. These circuits were widely scattered and it took a month for the Circuit-rider to make it to all of the preaching places. He sometimes preached two or three times a day, everyday except Monday when he was suppose to rest. Besides his preaching duties, he held class meetings, and met with societies. He carried his library in his saddle bags as well as Methodist books and tracts for distribution. If the collections went over $64 a year, he gave the overage to the conference to be shared with the preachers who did not receive a full amount… By 1831, there were six districts in Georgia; the Augusta, Columbus, Athens, Milledgeville, Oconee, and Tallahassee. The first annual meeting of the Georgia Conference convened at Macon in the white clapboard church on the site of the present Mulberry Street Church. At the conference, Rev. James O. Andrew emphasized the need for Sunday Schools; Rev. Lovick Pierce spoke of help with the education of young preachers. Funds were being raised by the women of Savannah, Macon and Columbus in “working societies” to provide housing for the preachers. A concern for colleges was expressed and $1500 was added to the Fund for Special Relief. This fund had been established by Bishop Asbury in 1806 to assist the “worn-out” preachers. Many of the preachers died before the age of 35, or were physically disabled due to the hardships of traveling…. By 1844 the Georgia Conference extended from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Key West and from Savannah to the Chattahoochee River. The number of circuits and preachers had grown so large that conference meetings were difficult to attend. There were 135 preachers and 18 retired preachers. It was decided to form the Florida Conference by including the churches in the lower part of Georgia in a new conference… The churches suffered greatly during the War Between the States. church buildings were used as hospitals or sewing rooms. Colleges and schools were closed. But the preachers still attended conference and went to their new assignments.