History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

under the necessity of abiding by it. The southern Conference was considered at that time as a
convenience, and designed to accommodate the preachers in that part of the work and to do all the
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business of a regular Conference, except that of making or altering particular rules." It was a
crushing hug of the anaconda of an Episcopal regime. In what a simple and plausible way it is stated.
But how are the mighty fallen! Dickins, their champion, had retired at the previous Conference —
he was married and had to look to the support of his wife, it was said; but he was too valuable a man
to lose, if Asbury could prevent it. He did prevent it; for in a short time he suggested, and Dickins
inaugurated, a Book Concern in Philadelphia on six hundred dollars of capital, and continued for the
remainder of his life an ardent supporter of Asbury. It was one of the cases in which cooperation was
secured by promotion. It did not succeed with O'Kelly. There was too much iron in his blood. He
could not be prevailed on to sign away his convictions, and Asbury was too politic to attempt to
crush him at this time. He is willing to take an appointment, and is assigned to Mecklenburg circuit,
with Thomas S. Chew as helper. It was his old neighborhood and probably his own selection. The
other leaders under pressure had succumbed. The rank and file surrendered.
Is the work of utter demoralization of the Presbyterian trend accomplished? Not quite. The
lynx-eye of Asbury left nothing undiscovered to this end and the antidote applied. Turning to the
printed Minutes, various things are done and the breach is closed by the rigor of new laws. "How
shall we more effectually guard against disorderly traveling preachers? Write at the bottom of every
certificate: the authority this conveys is limited to next Conference. How must we do if a preacher
is found guilty and will not desist? Let the nearest Assistant stop him immediately. In brother
Asbury's absence let the preachers inform the people of these rules." The muzzle was made ready.
"By what rule shall we conduct ourselves toward preachers and people that separate from us?
Disown them." By "separate" here is meant, to differ with Asbury ecclesiastically, otherwise there
is no meaning in the answer — disown them. It is almost impossible at this day to realize what such
an excommunication meant to a devout Methodist. Whither could he go for spiritual food? There
was but one Jarratt in all the land. If within reach of some other denomination no such life-giving
doctrines were preached. He was shut out from the only visible source of communion with God! It
is the muzzle applied. "Shall we erase that question proposed in Deer Creek Conference respecting
the ordinances?" You turn to the Conference of 1777 and find that it took no specific action on the
ordinance question. Something else must be aimed at. It did appoint the Commission of Watters,
Gatch, Dromgoole, Ruff, and Glendenning to act for the societies. Answer, "Undoubtedly we must:
it can have no place in our minutes while we stand to our agreement signed in Conference; it is
therefore disannulled." It gave the quietus to the Commission and any permission it might have given
to administer ordinances at any time. And now a crowning act is done — a finishing stroke. "Do the
brethren in Conference unanimously chose brother Asbury to act according to Mr. Wesley's original
appointment, and preside over the American Conferences and the whole work?" It reaffirmed what
the Delaware Conference did, and coupled with it action making Asbury the judge of law and fact
absolutely after hearing what the preachers might have to say, and so crowned him autocrat of the
American Methodists. It did more: it virtually repudiated the authority of Wesley by taking the
selection and appointment of General Assistant out of his hands. It cannot be supposed that Asbury
did not see how far-reaching it was — indeed, there can be little doubt that it was done at his
instigation. The Conference had been reduced practically to an automaton — he pulled the wires and
the figures danced accordingly. He was vexed at the delay of Wesley in not reappointing him after
Rankin had retired. He knew what influences were at work in England from the returned