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

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

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O'Kelly was proportionally great. But this argument is unsupported by any facts we have been able<br />

to discover." [23]<br />

It was impossible, however, that a schism so badly managed could long succeed. It broke into<br />

parties; several <strong>of</strong> its preachers fell away from it, and formed a new "plan <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own in Charlotte<br />

County, Va.;" many individual members and preachers, tired <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conflict, sought peace again in<br />

<strong>the</strong> parent <strong>Church</strong>; and Lee, writing in 1809, says: "They have been divided and subdivided, till at<br />

present it is hard to find two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m that are <strong>of</strong> one opinion. There are now but few <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m in that<br />

part <strong>of</strong> Virginia where <strong>the</strong>y were formerly <strong>the</strong> most numerous; and in most places <strong>the</strong>y are declining."<br />

Ten years after O'Kelly's revolt Asbury met him again in Winchester, Va. The bishop notes in his<br />

Journal, August 20, 1802, that "Mr. O'Kelly having been taken ill in town, I sent two <strong>of</strong> our brethren,<br />

Reed and Walls, to see him, by whom I signified to him that if he wished to see me I would wait on<br />

him: he desired a visit, which I made him on Monday, August 28. We met in peace, asked <strong>of</strong> each<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r's welfare, talked <strong>of</strong> persons and things indifferently, prayed and parted in peace. Not a word<br />

was said <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> troubles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> former times. Perhaps this is <strong>the</strong> last interview we shall have upon<br />

[24]<br />

earth." Bangs supposes this interview was "near <strong>the</strong> close <strong>of</strong> O'Kelly's life," and expresses <strong>the</strong> hope<br />

that he died reconciled and "forgiven." Asbury's Journals, however, show that for many years later<br />

<strong>the</strong> energetic seceder still fought his hopeless battle. In 1805, <strong>the</strong> bishop, passing through Virginia,<br />

writes: "Mr. O'Kelly has come down with great zeal, and preaches three hours at a time upon<br />

government, monarchy, and episcopacy; occasionally varying <strong>the</strong> subject by abuse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Methodists,<br />

calling <strong>the</strong>m aristocrats and Tories; a people who, if <strong>the</strong>y had <strong>the</strong> power, would force <strong>the</strong> government<br />

at <strong>the</strong> sword's point. Poor man!" He survived till <strong>the</strong> 16th <strong>of</strong> October, 1826, when he died in his<br />

ninety-second year, retaining "to <strong>the</strong> latest period <strong>of</strong> his life unabated confidence in <strong>the</strong> purity and<br />

power <strong>of</strong> his system. In age and feebleness his hope in <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> his hands did not desert him. He<br />

went down to <strong>the</strong> grave, according to one <strong>of</strong> his followers, satisfied with <strong>the</strong> past, and peaceful and<br />

trustful with respect to <strong>the</strong> future." [25]<br />

Singularly devoted, romantically chivalric as were <strong>the</strong>se primitive itinerants, still <strong>the</strong>y were but<br />

men. Their human infirmities were <strong>of</strong>tener revealed in <strong>the</strong>ir personal or private relations, than in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

public connections with <strong>the</strong> great cause for which <strong>the</strong>y labored, and <strong>the</strong>refore come but seldom<br />

within <strong>the</strong> purview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> historian. It seems indeed providential that, uneducated, enthusiastic, not<br />

to say superstitious, as not a few <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m were, <strong>the</strong>ir individual weaknesses and eccentricities so<br />

rarely touched <strong>the</strong>ir public work. The extraordinary regime <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ministerial system doubtless held<br />

<strong>the</strong>m in check, and exhausted <strong>the</strong>ir superabundant energy in systematized and beneficent labors. The<br />

first and purest <strong>of</strong> men fell in Paradise; David fell at <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> God's elect people; Judas and Peter<br />

in <strong>the</strong> apostolic band. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se good men also fell. We have had to record examples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

downfall into fanatic insanity, schism, intemperance, and, in one instance, even into murder. Such<br />

cases were indeed surprisingly few, and quite exceptional to <strong>the</strong>ir general fidelity and sanctity; but<br />

to omit <strong>the</strong>m in our pages would be to write romance, not history, and to suppress <strong>the</strong> important<br />

lesson, taught not only in Holy Scripture, but in all ecclesiastical history, that "all <strong>the</strong>se things<br />

happened unto <strong>the</strong>m for ensamples; and <strong>the</strong>y are written for our admonition, upon whom <strong>the</strong> ends<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world have come. Wherefore let him that standeth take heed lest he fall." [The last sentence<br />

is a slight misquotation <strong>of</strong> 1 Cor 10:12 . The verse actually reads: "Wherefore let him that thinketh<br />

he standeth take heed lest he fall." -- DVM]<br />

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