A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

This motion brought on a long debate, the arguments for and against the proposal were weighty,
and handled in a masterly manner. There never had been a subject before us that so fully called forth
all the strength of the preachers. A large majority of them appeared at first to be in favour of the
motion. But at last Mr. John Dickins moved to divide the question thus, 1st. Shall the bishop appoint
the preachers to the circuits 2d. Shall a preacher be allowed an appeal? After some debate the
dividing the question was carried. The first question being put, it was carried without a dissenting
voice. But when we came to the second question, "Shall a preacher be allowed an appeal?" there was
a difficulty started, whether this was to be considered a new rule, or only an amendment of an old
one. If it was a new rule, it would take two thirds of the votes to carry it. After a considerable debate
it was agreed by vote that it was only an amendment of an old rule. Of course after all those lengthy
debates we were just where we began; and had to take up the question as it was proposed at first.
One rule for our debate was, "That each person if he choose shall have liberty to speak three times
on each motion." By dividing the question, and then coming back to where we were at first, we were
kept on that subject called the Appeal, for two or three days. On Monday we began the debate afresh,
and continued it through the day; and at night we went to Mr. Otterbein's church, and again
continued it till near bed time, when the vote was taken, and the motion was lost by a large majority.
The next morning, when the conference had assembled, we received a letter from Mr. O'Kelly,
and a few other preachers, directed to the conference, informing us, that they could no longer sit
among us, because the appeal was not allowed. The conference then pitched upon a few preachers
to wait upon the disaffected persons, and persuade them to resume their seats in the conference. But
all their persuasions were of little weight: for they would not come. After a day or two Mr. O'Kelly
had an interview with Dr. Coke, and raised many objections against the Dr. and against the
conference. Waiting in town a day or two longer, he and the preachers that were particularly
influenced by him, set off for Virginia, taking their saddle-bags, great coats, and other bundles on
their shoulders or arms, walking on foot to the place where they left their horses, which was about
twelve miles from town.
I stood and looked after them as they went off, and observed to one of the preachers, that I was
sorry to see the old man go off in that way, for I was persuaded he would not be quiet long; but he
would try to be head of some party. The preacher then informed me, that Mr. O'Kelly denied the
doctrine of the Trinity, and preached against it, by saying, that Father, Son and Holy Ghost were
characters, and not persons: and that these characters all belonged to Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ
was the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The preacher further said, that it was his intention to
have had O'Kelly tried at that conference for the false doctrines which he had been preaching; and
he believed that his leaving the conference was more out of fear of being brought to trial, than on
account of the appeal. But so it was, Mr. James O'Kelly never more united with the Methodists.
At that general conference we revised the form of discipline, and made several alterations. The
proceedings of that conference were not published in separate minutes, but the alterations were
entered at their proper places, and published in the next edition of the form of discipline, which was
the eighth edition.