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

young preacher on trial for two years at least, before he is admitted into full connection. And at the
expiration of two years, if the conference have doubts concerning the piety, gifts, or usefulness of
the preacher, they continue him on trial for three years, or a longer time, as they may judge best.
But if the preacher is approved of, and there is no objection to him, after he is entered the first
year, admitted on trial, he is entered the second year, remaining on trial; and after he has traveled two
years, he is entered, admitted into full connection, and becomes a regular member of the conference.
For the first time the following question was asked: "Who desist from traveling?" Answer.
"Robert Cloud, William Duke." Previous to this year, no account had been taken of those preachers
who had left the traveling connection, or as it was termed, "desisted."
The preachers this year agreed to consider all the Methodist preachers who take money by
subscription, as persons excluded from the Methodist connection.
In the course of this year there were great troubles and distresses in the Methodist connection,
both among preachers and private members; owing to an unhappy division which took place among
the traveling preachers. Many of our traveling preachers in Virginia and North Carolina, seeing and
feeling the want of the instituted means of grace among our societies; (and there being but few
church ministers in that part of the country, and most part of them strangers to heart-felt religion)
concluded, that if God had called them to preach, he had called them also to administer the
ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. They met together at the conference held at the Broken
Back church this year, and after consulting together, the conference chose a committee for the
purpose of ordaining ministers. The committee thus chosen, first ordained themselves, and then
proceeded to ordain and set apart other preachers for the same purpose, that they might administer
the holy ordinances to the church of Christ. The preachers thus ordained, went forth preaching the
gospel in their circuits as formerly, and administered the sacraments wherever they went, provided
the people were willing to partake with them. Most part of our preachers in the south, fell in with
this new plan; and as the leaders of the party were very zealous, and the greater part of them very
pious men, the private members were influenced by them, and pretty generally fell in with their
measures. However, some of the old Methodists would not commune with them; but steadily
adhered to their former customs.
The preachers north of Virginia, were opposed to this step so hastily taken by their brethren in the
south, and made a stand against it, believing that unless a stop could be put to this new mode of
proceeding, a separation would take place among the preachers and the people. There was great
cause to fear a division, and both parties trembled for the ark of God, and shuddered at the thought
of dividing the church of Christ. The preachers in the south were very successful in their ministerial
labors, and many souls were brought to God in the latter part of that year; and the Christians were
very lively in religion. These things all united to confirm the preachers in the belief, that the step they
had taken was owned and honored of God. And at that time there was very little room to hope that
they would ever recede from their new plan, in which they were so well established. But after all they
consented, for the sake of peace, and the union of the body of Methodists, to drop the ordinances for
a season till Mr. Wesley could be consulted.