Page 6 - history-related-to-methodism-and-early-settlement-in-florida-(esther-bernice-howell-haworth)-1961

History Related to Methodism and Early Settlement in Florida (1961) Esther Bernice Howell Haworth

(This list is incomplete, but it is hoped that it will be enlarged in the future.)

EARLY ORGANIZERS OF “OLD BETHEL”
The main flow of settlement in East Florida was after the change of flags in
1821. It is known from Methodist History that in 1822 there were Methodist
itinerants in Florida, and it is known from records existing at this time that “Old
Bethel” had organized meetings prior to 1824 since THERE IS A CHURCH
RECORD PROVING THAT Z. R. ROBERTS JOINED IN 1824. Also, in 1824
Florida was made a district with Josiah Evans appointed as presiding Elder. The
people emigrated to middle Florida and the Indians “retired to the east and south of
the Suwannee.” Rev. Evans presided over the district- One of his sustaining
itinerant preachers was John L. Jerry, who received Zachariah Randall Roberts, on
profession of faith into “Old Bethel” in 1824. (Z, R. Roberts was the Uncle of Lake
City’s—Mrs. May Vinzant Perkins.)

JOHN L. JERRY AND “OLD BETHEL CHURCH
John L. Jerry, was bom May 11, 1793; was admitted to the South Carolina
Conference in 1818, and was one of the early missionaries sent to Florida. The
bounds of his work are known to have embraced St. Augustine. Crawford (Jax),
Fernandina, Newnansville, and Micanopy—and consequently must have included
“Old Bethel” Methodists priod to 1824-

It is stated on Page 34 of FIFTY-TWO YEARS IN FLORIDA by J. C. Ley
that “we have been unable to procure the minutes of the Conference prior to 1846;
hence the works who served them, and when, especially in the eastern part of our
Territory, we have to leave for revelation bfore the great white throne.” But a
published sermon by Rev. E. L. T. Blake preached upon the fifteenth anniversary
of that Church (Pensacola) has given much information upon which can be drawn.
And now, the old record book of “Old Bethel”.

It is known that John L. Jerry had married and settled his family and gave a large
part of his time to the east, and it is known from records at hand that he Christened
Ann Mary Lavinia Collins in 1839- So it is known that he was here in 1824 and 1839.

From the statements of old timers there were many Bush meetings. —In these
early years there was a need for the highest heroism and these early “OLD BETHEL”
members willingly met this need; they conquered the wilderness; preached and
prayed for the Indians; nursed and shared with their servants, and ministered to all in
need.

There seems to be no way of establishing the exact date when “Old Bethel was
built. It seems from Methodist history that it was common for two or three people to
meet and hold religious services in any dwelling or fort and one can very well
imagine from the facts of settlement that this was the case of “Old Bethel’s early
organization.

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