Enoch Mudge
Encyclopedia
Enoch Mudge was the first Methodist
minister reared in New England
. He was born at Lynn
, Mass.
, was converted under Jesse Lee, the pioneer of Methodism
in New England, and entered the ministry in 1793. He labored as an itinerant preacher in Maine
until 1799, when his health gave way and he was forced to retire. He was twice chosen State Representative and had much to do with the passage of the Religious Freedom Bill. In 1814 he was chaplain to a militia regiment that participated in the Battle of Hampden
during the War of 1812
. In 1816 he resumed preaching. From 1832 to 1844 he was pastor
of the Seaman's Chapel at New Bedford, Mass
. He was the father of Thomas H. Mudge
and the uncle of Zachariah A. Mudge
.
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
minister reared in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. He was born at Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, Mass.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, was converted under Jesse Lee, the pioneer of Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
in New England, and entered the ministry in 1793. He labored as an itinerant preacher in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
until 1799, when his health gave way and he was forced to retire. He was twice chosen State Representative and had much to do with the passage of the Religious Freedom Bill. In 1814 he was chaplain to a militia regiment that participated in the Battle of Hampden
Battle of Hampden
The Battle of Hampden, though a minor action of the War of 1812, was the last significant clash of arms in New England, in this instance, in the District of Maine . It represented the end of two centuries of violent contest over Maine by surrounding political units...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. In 1816 he resumed preaching. From 1832 to 1844 he was pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the Seaman's Chapel at New Bedford, Mass
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
. He was the father of Thomas H. Mudge
Thomas H. Mudge
Thomas Hicks Mudge was an American Methodist Episcopal clergyman, born at Orrington, Me., the nephew of Enoch Mudge. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1840 and from Union Theological Seminary in 1843, and then entered the ministry, joining the New England conference...
and the uncle of Zachariah A. Mudge
Zachariah A. Mudge
Zachariah Atwell Mudge was an American Methodist Episcopal clergyman and author, nephew of Enoch Mudge. He was born at Orrington, Me., and was educated at Wesleyan University. He entered the ministry in 1840 and held various pastorates in Massachusetts. For three years he was editor of the...
.