History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org
History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org
History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
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 />
-------------------------------------------------------