Book Review

Canada and the United States

In this book, Dee E. Andrews depicts the early years of American Wesleyanism. Andrews argues that understanding this period in Methodist history, from the arrival of the first missionaries to the dawning of the "Methodist Century" in 1800, is important because it proved foundational for the flowering of Methodism. Methodist success in turn significantly affected the outlook of Americans in general. After a look at Wesleyan origins in England, the book focuses on the Mid-Atlantic states, from Maryland to New York, and pays careful attention to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. Ethnically and religiously diverse, and an early center of Methodist strength, the Mid-Atlantic region provides an ideal setting in which to study early Methodist successes and failures. Separate chapters analyze the role of women and African-American Methodists in the area.

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Throughout the book, Andrews stresses that the "social complexity" of the new religious movement "defies typecasting" (p. 9). Social divisions deeply affected Methodism and prevented demographic or political uniformity within the denomination. American Wesleyanism appealed to members of all social ranks, including artisans, slaves, and ambitious businessmen. Local circumstances often determined the class balance of a congregation, with working people dominating New York's membership and the wealthier classes better represented in Baltimore. From the beginning, women provided most Methodist members, but men monopolized higher offices. Methodism attracted many slaves and flirted with abolitionism but also attracted slaveholders who pushed church leaders to weaken antislavery principles and to segregate black members.

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