At the services held in St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church in the evening of December 14th [1921] in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the introduction of Methodism into New Rochelle, Richard Webber, the church historian and vice-president of the Huguenot Association, read an historical paper on "The Beginning of Methodism in New Rochelle."

Mr. Webber prefaced his paper by saying that Methodism was introduced into New Rochelle June 1770 by Robert Williams. In stating this, he said he felt like an iconoclast: he had shattered a cherished tradition, he feared, of the Methodists of New Rochelle. And in doing so he did not have the satisfaction that came to the early image-breakers: his sentiments were quite the reverse. Mr. Webber then read as follows:

The story has been that two Wesleyan missionaries, Joseph Pilmoor and Robert Williams visited this town in the year 1771 and found their way to the home of Frederick Davoue at Upper New Rochelle, where they had heard a religious meeting was in progress. It seems that Mrs. Davoue lay ill at the time and a few nights before had dreamed that she had lost her way in a swamp and had been rescued at a critical time by a man with a lantern who had led her out and to her home. . .

. . . It may be reasoned that this incident occurred at some time later when Pilmoor visited the Davoues.

I am led to believe that Mrs. Davoue did not die at this time or as the result of this illness. . . The death of Mrs. Davoue could hardly have occurred in '70 or '71 and her conversion can hardly be credited to Williams or Pilmoor.

. . . We are more than willing to believe that it was at Devoue's that Methodism was introduced into New Rochelle. Asbury's word may be taken as evidence to that effect. He refers in his "Journal" to "Frederick Devoue, whose house and family in New Rochelle, were the first to receive and welcome the Methodist preachers: and thus became the gate by which we have had such an abundant and permanent entrance into the State of New York."

Pilmoor very early speaks of Davoue's in an incidential way and suggests in no manner that it was a new place to the Wesleyans.

. . . Methodism was introduced into New Rochelle by Robert Williams in June, 1770. The authority for saying this is the manuscript "Journal" of Joseph Pilmoor now in possession of the Historical Society of the Philadelphia Conference.

Mr. Pilmoor, then in New York holding forth at John Street Church, records in his "Journal," June 15, 1770, "we were greatly comforted at the Intercession and likewise by the good news brother Williams brought us from the country. The work is spreading as far as New Rochelle among some French Protestants who fled to this distant country for the sake of religion." This would seem to be conclusive.

. . . Before the close of the year [1771] New Rochelle was favored by a visit of Francis Asbury. He tells us in his "Journal," December 10th, that he "rode to New Rochelle, and was received with great kindness by Mr. Devoue and his family, and preached there to a large company, and found liberty, and believe the power of God was among us."

On the following Sunday, the 15th, he "preached at New Rochelle in the church," he says, "and was satisfied." "I published myself to preach again in the afternoon, and those who had most opposed me before, came to hear, and behaved well. In the evening I preached in the house of my friend Mr. D." The next day he "preached again at Mr. D.s." This was on Monday, December 16th, and is the last we see of him that year.

Thus began Methodism in the Town of New Rochelle in the eighteen months ending December 150 years ago.