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

doctor preach and make motions and speeches in the Conference, but also of dining with him and
Bishop Asbury. The doctor was a short man, and rather corpulent. He had a beautiful face, and it was
full of expression, a sweet smile often playing over his features. His eyes were dark, and his look
very piercing. His voice was soft and full of melody, unless raised to a very high pitch, and then it
was harsh, discordant, and squeaking. His conversational powers were great. He was very
entertaining. He did a noble work for American Methodism, and should ever be remembered with
the liveliest sentiments of gratitude. He sleeps in the Indian Ocean, 'till the sea give up its dead.' "
Nicholas Snethen was elected secretary. Asbury, worn out by labor and disease, had designed to
resign his office; but the Conference could not think of so serious a revolution in their affairs, for
such would certainly have been the loss of Asbury's episcopal services. They not only unanimously
voted him their thanks, and "entreated" him to continue the "superintendency" as "far as his strength
would permit," but, besides electing Whatcoat as his coadjutor, authorized him to select a "traveling
companion" from the ministry, a relief which was continued during his remaining life. They also so
far conceded to the prayer of the British and Irish Conferences for the services of Coke as to allow
of his return to them, on condition that "he come back to America as soon as his business will allow,
but certainly by the next General Conference." They were two days debating this subject. "We have
lent the doctor to you," they wrote, "for a season."
The "allowance" of sixty-four dollars per year, besides traveling expenses, to the preachers, was
now found entirely inadequate to their support, as prices had advanced nearly fifty per cent. On
almost "every article of their consumption;" they were therefore allowed eighty dollars, their wives
or widows the same amount, and each child, under seven years old, sixteen dollars, each over seven,
and under fourteen, twenty-four. Their children over fourteen had no allowance. These pittances
were the "salaries" of Methodist preachers and their families down to the year 1816, when the sum
was raised to one hundred dollars a year, except for children, to whom the old rule still applied. The
provision of furnished parsonages was urgently recommended, and some other financial
arrangements devised, particularly the "Preachers' Fund," for the relief of the suffering ministry.
They repealed the rule requiring a report of all donations given by their friends. They enacted that
each Annual Conference should raise its proportion of the expenses of the bishops, which had
hitherto been met, quite casually, by private donations and occasional collections in particular
churches.
The whole Church was now divided into seven Annual Conferences. These bodies were required
to keep journals, and submit them to the examination of the General Conference. It was enacted that
no preacher should be a member of the latter who had not traveled four years, and been received into
full membership. The power of the preacher over accused members of the Church was amended, so
that the members trying the accused were to pronounce him guilty or innocent according to the
evidence, the preacher retaining the right to pronounce sentence, and also, if he dissented from the
committee, to appeal the case to the Quarterly Conference. Ezekiel Cooper was elected Book Agent.
There are some significant indications in the proceedings of this session which have hitherto been
unnoticed by the historians of the Church. On the second day a motion was introduced to authorize
the Annual Conferences to elect their own presiding elders. It was defeated, but was the beginning
of a controversy which, prevailed for years in the Conference, and throughout the Church. It was