History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

METHODIST REFORM
Edward J. Drinkhouse, M.D., D.D.
Volume I
CHAPTER 18
Conference of 1774 — More English missionaries — Gough and Perry Hall — Conference of
1775 — The Revolution — Council of preachers to act in Asbury's absence in seclusion at Judge
White's — Memorable preachers from 1774 to 1779 — Asbury under suspicion — His motives in
biding excusable, but bad effect on the native-born preachers — Their persecution — Asbury as a
student; his habits and culture — A high churchman, and to what it led him — The questionable act
of Church organization in 1784.
The second Annual Conference met in Philadelphia at St. George's, May 25, 1774, and continued
four days. Seven preachers were admitted to trial, namely, William Duke, Daniel Ruff, Edward
Dromgoole, Isaac Rollins, Robert Lindsay, and Samuel Spragg.
Watters, Whitworth, Yearbry, Gatch, and Ebert were received into full connection. This
Conference adopted the question, "Are there any objections to any of the preachers? Answer. They
were examined one by one." This scrutiny into moral and official character was a marked feature of
the Conferences ever afterward. Space will not permit a continued republication of the Plans of
Appointments. Those who are curious can find them in the published Minutes as heretofore
described. Mention is made that under Rankin the changes during the year were made more frequent,
the city preachers every three months, and those in the country every six months. Stevens says: "The
system speedily killed off such as were weak in body, and drove off such as were feeble in character;
the remnant were the 'giants of those days,' morally, very often intellectually, and, to a notable extent,
physically." The Conference now numbered seventeen, and, despite the truthful words of Stevens,
there were always plenty of young men applying for admission, drawn not by the system, but by the
zeal engendered of their heart religion, a tongue of fire to tell the story of redeeming love. Nearly
1000 members had been added to the societies the past year, a total of 2073, two-thirds of them were
in Maryland and Virginia. Asbury hastened to New York, — his appointment, and at once set to
work, but, worn out with disease, he was compelled to succumb and take to his bed. His spirit's
glowing wheel was consuming his life by its revolutionary friction.
In November two more missionaries were sent over by Wesley, James Dempster and Martin
Rodda, accompanied by William Glendenning as a volunteer. Asbury was relieved and went
southward. The first was an educated man, but married and retired, joining the Presbyterians.
Disparaging allusions are made to him by the early annalists, but without reason.
The second soon exhibited such imprudent loyalty to the Crown that he was compelled to escape
to the British fleet, and thence to England, in 1777. The third remained in the Conference until 1786,
when he retired under a cloud. He traveled mostly in Virginia, and from the first appears to have
allied himself with the opponents of Asbury's Episcopal views, and he complains of him as
attempting to undermine his authority. He was a troubler in Israel. Jesse Lee insists that he was not
of sound mind, though his name is printed in the Minutes second to Asbury among the elders for