History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

question, he was not elected. In 1817 he first appeared as an author by "A Reply" to an essay of
Bishop White, entitled "Objections against the Position of a Personal Assurance of the Pardon of Sin
by a direct Communication of the Holy Spirit." The doctrine assailed is vital in Methodist theology,
and Emory defended it with an ability which fully disclosed his capacity for the future literary service
of the Church. He wrote a "Further Reply." The two pamphlets were noticed by White in a review
of the whole question, with which the controversy closed. In 1818 he was stationed in Washington
city, where also he issued, in a local controversy, a pamphlet entitled "The Divinity of Christ
Vindicated," etc. In 1820 he was sent as representative of his Church to the British Conference; in
1824 appointed Book Agent, with Nathan Bangs; and in 1832 elected bishop, positions which
identify him with important questions and advancements of the Church. In them all he showed the
qualities of an extraordinary man, down to his sudden death in 1835, when he was found, bleeding
and insensible, on the highway, having been thrown out of his carriage on his route from his home
to Baltimore. He died the same day without the restoration of his consciousness. In person he was
below the ordinary size, slight, not weighing over one hundred and twenty-five pounds, but well
proportioned, and etc. His features were expressive of tranquil thoughtfulness, firmness, and
kindliness. He was long a sufferer from gastric ailments, but was a persevering worker, a thorough
student, an early riser, and rigorously systematic. Down to his day the Church had not possessed a
more scholarly, a better trained, intellect. He was pre-eminent as a debater in Conferences, especially
in the General Conference, and his legal skill solved for it some of its most difficult legislative
problems. Withal he was remarkably versatile, and successful in all that he attempted. His writings
in defense of his denomination, both its theology and polity, were always authoritative and
conclusive. His piety was profound, steady, yet fervent. He saw in his own Church the mightiest
system of agencies for the evangelization, not only of the new world, but of the whole world, that
Christendom afforded, and he consecrated himself entirely to the development and application of
its force.
Jacob Gruber's labors in this period down to 1814 were beyond the western mountains, but after
one year more, spent in Baltimore, he had charge of the Carlisle District, Penn., which reached into
Maryland. In the latter state he held a camp-meeting in 1818, at which he preached before three
thousand hearers against slavery, no very uncommon thing among the leaders of the early itinerancy;
but a warrant was issued, and he was arrested at one of his quarterly meetings. The grand jury, at
Hagerstown, Md., produced an indictment against him, and in 1819 he was solemnly tried for felony
[3]
in the Frederick County Court. The case produced general excitement, especially among the
Methodists, now eminently influential in the state. Many of his chief ministerial brethren, especially
Roszell and Snethen, zealously sustained him. Ignatius Pigman, once an itinerant, now an eloquent
lawyer, and local preacher; Roger B. Taney, afterward chief justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and two other lawyers, were employed to defend him. Hon. J. Buchanan, chief judge,
Hon. A. Shriver, and Hon. T. Buchanan, associate judges, composed the court. The trial proceeded
with intense public interest. Roger B. Taney's addresses were eloquent and conclusive. He justly
affirmed that the Methodist Church "has steadily in view the abolition of slavery;" that "no
slave-holder is allowed to be a minister in it;" that its "preachers are accustomed to speak of the
injustice and oppression of slavery;" that "nobody could doubt the opinion of Gruber on the subject;"
and he "fully vindicated Gruber and his Church in this opinion and policy." "Slavery," continued the
distinguished lawyer, "is a blot on our national character, and every real lover of freedom confidently
hopes that it will be effectually, though it must be gradually, wiped away, and earnestly looks for the