History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

parent bodies will the mission of the liberal Methodisms on this line be accomplished. At the
Conference of 1803 the question "Should women be allowed to preach?" was revived. Without
denying the right, restrictions were placed upon them which guarded the privilege from possible
abuse.
The mission work of the Conference from 1799 onward received increasing attention. In its
management and enlargement Dr. Coke shines with zealous splendor. In meeting his personal
expenses and in liberal contributions to this cause he expended all of his private fortune of 1200 or
$6000 a year. In labors he was abundant, in sufferings he endured hardness. He was practically the
originator of the West India missions. After thirteen years, from 1799, 11,000 communicants were
reported with 50,000 or 60,000 islanders under instruction. In 1801 he was appointed treasurer of
the Mission Fund. He overlooked the work in Ireland and Wales. In 1804 the first missionary
committee was appointed, Coke's single agency not being sufficient to compass it, unflagging as he
was in his efforts and attentions. The collections were made permanent and annual. Coke was made
superintendent of all the missions. The financial support of the ministry, a kindred interest, received
special consideration. Laymen like Butterworth, Bulmer, Marriott, and others devised The Preachers'
Friend Society. It was begun, says Myles, "without solicitation from the preachers, and has been
attended with the happiest effects."
During the eight years under consideration, the obituary column of the Conference was greatly
enlarged. The notices, as was the vogue from Wesley's time, were short and pithy. William Hunter
departed in 1798, in his seventy-fourth year. He was a favorite with Wesley. His labors were marked
with success and his departure singularly triumphant. In 1799 William Thompson was sainted after
forty years' labor. His death was painful, but victorious. In the seven years' controversy he was the
balance-wheel of the Conference. Also, John Murlin and Thomas Olivers had deceased. The former,
a gritty Methodist preacher, the latter an able controvertist with a genius for poetry and music. A
number of his lyrics will never cease to be sung while Methodism and piety live. Alexander Mather
passed away in 1800. He had been ordained by Wesley superintendent for Scotland with probably
the same form and with the same purpose as he had ordained Coke superintendent for America
jointly with Francis Asbury, but he did not carry a bishop's bee in his bonnet, and even opposed
Coke's episcopal scheme at the Lichfield meeting, though a superintendency he believed both wise
and expedient. He was universally respected, and died after much suffering the death of the
righteous. He received the longest obituary notice ever inserted in the minutes to this time. In 1802
Christopher Hopper, a noble veteran, was added to the eminent dead. Many others, old and young,
died in the faith, whose record is on high, if well-nigh forgotten among men. During these eight years
no less than 213 were received by the Conference, an average of twenty-six for each year, as Stevens
summarizes. Edward Hare was entered upon the roll in 1798, and after twenty years' service died in
the flush of manhood. He was esteemed the ablest controvertist of English Methodism. 1799 two
names were added to the probationary list of the Conference which shine as bright particular stars
in its firmament: Jabez Bunting and Robert Newton. The former was a prince in Israel, a master
spirit, of marvelous personal magnetism and authoritative force for nearly sixty years. He was the
first man elected by the Legal Hundred to fill a vacancy, was made Secretary of the Conference ten
times, and President four times. After the death of Coke he was the chief representative of Methodist
missions. He was President of the Theological Institution for a series of years. While he was
intensely conservative, he did more than any other man to bring the laymen into recognition through