evidence of an organized Methodist society or church in White Plains until alter the Revolutionary War, but there is unquestionable proof that there was a Methodist society in White Plains as early as 1741. At this time the people, who were Dissenters, had no regular minister of their own persuasion, and no means wherewith to provide a support for one, being compelled by taxation to sustain the Church of England, which they regarded as little better than the Church of Rome, and the pulpit of the White Plains Church was vacant.

In the fall of the year 1740 George Whitefield visited and preached in Rye, and altiiough he only passed through the town without stopping a night, the good seed sown by him on that October day brought forth an hundred-fold.

At this time John Wesley was organizing his followers in England in classes, appointing over each a leader who was to look after their spiritual interests ; and a Methodist society, as it existed in England in 1740, was composed of Gospel Christians in a town or village drawn toward each other by their common trust in Jesus the Christ, formed into a class, with a leader, and governed by the rules laid down by Wesley for their guidance.

The people having no acceptable minister, neglected religious worship, and a general decline and deadness in matters of religion followed. While in this sad condition the new Methodism in England, with its simple, social and informal worship, which was exactly suited to the condition of the people, naturally attracted their attention and enlisted their feelings.