History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

ENDNOTES
1 Otherwise called the Poll-Deed, an act of Parliament which vested all the rights of property in
chapels, etc., as well as the right of Conference appointment of the preachers, before held absolutely
by John Wesley in person, in a close and self-perpetuating body of one hundred preachers named by
him. The plan was devised by Dr. Coke and his attorneys acting for Mr. Wesley.
2 Dr. Neely, fraternal messenger to the Wesleyan Conference of 1894, informs his readers through
the N.Y. Christian Advocate that the Conference was composed of 250 ministers and 250 laymen,
the Legal Hundred of course being the final legislative authority as legally settled by Wesley in the
Deed of Declaration. These laymen, it must be observed, however, were only delegates, not
representatives direct from the societies, but chosen by the Districts. What would be the amazement
of Wesley and Coke could they revisit the "Conference" and find these laymen ensconced? Verily,
the whirligig of time makes all things even.
3 The Rev. Devereaux Jarratt, rector of Bath Episcopal Church, Va., ardently cooperated with the
Methodists in the early days, and was well acquainted with Asbury; held him in admiration, and on
Jarratt's death Asbury preached a memorial sermon on his character and labors. Jarratt wrote his own
life in a series of letters. One under date August 2, 1780, says: "Mr. Asbury is the most indefatigable
man in his travels and variety of labors of any I am acquainted with, and though his strong passion
for superiority and thirst for domination may contribute but a little to this, yet I hope he is chiefly
influenced by more laudable motives." These pages will demonstrate that there was never a more
impartial judgment pronounced. See Rev. Dr. John Atkinson's "History of the Origin of the
Wesleyan Movement in America," etc., Jersey City, N.J., 1896, large 8vo, 458 pp., cloth. It is
exhaustive of American Methodism prior to 1773, and is of original research. It will be cited
hereafter. Present quotation on page 288.
4 Snethen on "Lay Representation," Baltimore, 1835, l2mo, 384 pp., for this and all other quotations
from him in the course of this work, unless otherwise noted. The book is a summation of all he wrote
upon this subject in the Reform periodicals of 1821-30.
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