Jesse Lee
Encyclopedia
Jesse Lee was an American
Methodist
Episcopal clergy
man and pioneer, born in Prince George's County
, Virginia
A preacher after 1783, in 1789 he visited New England
and established Methodism
from the Connecticut River
to the farthest settlement in Maine
. He formed the first Methodist class in New England, at Stratford
, Connecticut
, September 26, 1787. He preached his first sermon (outdoors) on June 7 or 17, 1789 in Norwalk, Connecticut
. He held the first Methodist class in Boston, Massachusetts on July 13, 1792. For his pioneer work in New England he was often called the Apostle of Methodism. He was a friend of Francis Asbury
, and served as his assistant from 1797 to 1800. He lacked only one vote of being elected Bishop
by the General Conference of 1800, but was appointed to be a presiding elder of the south district of Virginia in 1801. He wrote A Short Account of the Life and Death of the Rev. John Lee (1805) and a History of Methodism in America (1807), which has value for the early period. On May 22, 1809 Lee was appointed Chaplain
of the United States House of Representatives
He was reappointed on November 2, 1812 and served for two sessions. Upon leaving the chaplaincy of the House he was appointed Chaplain
of the United States Senate
on September 27, 1814 where he served until December 1815.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Methodist
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...
Episcopal clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man and pioneer, born in Prince George's County
Prince George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,047 people, 10,159 households, and 8,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 10,726 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
A preacher after 1783, in 1789 he visited 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...
and established 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...
from the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
to the farthest settlement 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...
. He formed the first Methodist class in New England, at Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, September 26, 1787. He preached his first sermon (outdoors) on June 7 or 17, 1789 in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. He held the first Methodist class in Boston, Massachusetts on July 13, 1792. For his pioneer work in New England he was often called the Apostle of Methodism. He was a friend of Francis Asbury
Francis Asbury
Bishop Francis Asbury was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now The United Methodist Church in the United States...
, and served as his assistant from 1797 to 1800. He lacked only one vote of being elected Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
by the General Conference of 1800, but was appointed to be a presiding elder of the south district of Virginia in 1801. He wrote A Short Account of the Life and Death of the Rev. John Lee (1805) and a History of Methodism in America (1807), which has value for the early period. On May 22, 1809 Lee was appointed Chaplain
Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
The election of William Linn as Chaplain of the House on May 1, 1789, continued the tradition established by the Continental Congresses of each day's proceedings opening with a prayer by a chaplain. The early Chaplains alternated duties with their Senate counterparts on a weekly basis, covering the...
of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
He was reappointed on November 2, 1812 and served for two sessions. Upon leaving the chaplaincy of the House he was appointed Chaplain
Chaplain of the United States Senate
The Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families. The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate...
of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 27, 1814 where he served until December 1815.
See also
- Second Great AwakeningSecond Great AwakeningThe Second Great Awakening was a Christian revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1800, had begun to gain momentum by 1820, and was in decline by 1870. The Second Great Awakening expressed Arminian theology, by which every person could be...
- Mount Olivet Cemetery (Baltimore)Mount Olivet Cemetery (Baltimore)Mount Olivet Cemetery is an old cemetery in western Baltimore, Maryland, on Frederick Avenue. It is known as "The Resting Place of Methodist Bishops."...
- Jesse Lee Home for ChildrenJesse Lee Home for ChildrenThe Jesse Lee Home for Children is a former orphanage in Seward, Alaska, United States. The orphanage was operated by the United Methodist Church from its opening in 1926 until the building suffered damage from a 1964 earthquake and operations were relocated to a new building in...
Literature
- Minton Thrift, Memoir of the Rev. Jesse Lee, with Extracts from his Journals (New York, 1823)
- L. M. Lee, Life and Times of Jesse Lee (Richmond, Va., 1848)
- W. H. Meredith, Jesse Lee, A Methodist Apostle (New York, 1909)
External links
- Jesse Lee United Methodist Church in Easton, CT established 1789
- Jesse Lee United Methodist Church in Ridgefield, CT established 1789
- North United Methodist Church in Manchester, CT organized 1790
- Cox Memorial United Methodist Church in Hallowell, ME mentions preaching by Jesse Lee in town on October 13, 1793
- Readfield (ME) United Methodist Church Jesse Lee Meeting House dates to 1795
- Duncan United Methodist Church in Georgetown, SC mentions Jesse Lee visiting in February 1785
- Jesse Lee preached at Dudley Chapel in Sudlersville, MD (est. 1783)
- The Jesse Lee homes in Alaska were Methodist run orphanages started in 1890 as a tribute to Jess Lee