History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

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is the material point. There is no evidence that Coke's credential as "superintendent" was read to
the Conference.
Perhaps the motive for the suppression of the liturgy paragraph may be found in the opening of
the letter, "Whereas many of the people of the southern provinces of North America, who desire to
continue under my care, and still adhere to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England,"
etc. It would have flatly contradicted any intimation that Wesley had given his consent, not to say
his approval, to the organization of an independent Church, which Coke and Asbury had
predetermined. Its suppression is the more remarkable from the fact that on its evidence Coke, in his
urgent letter to Wesley asking for some form of ordination, relied to overcome the objection of the
American preachers to his authority, which he assumed would exist. There is not the slightest
evidence that Wesley's "plan" for the government of the American societies committed to Coke was
exhibited. Unlike the credential, it never saw the light, and must have been destroyed by Coke. This
"little sketch," more than the credential, would have forestalled the organization of the Methodist
Episcopal Church as having the counterbalance of Wesley. With the aid of these side-lights a reason
for the mutilation of the circular letter of Wesley appears. It implicates with emphasis that Wesley
meant to continue his absolute direction of the American societies as such and not as a Church. The
first two of these facts, the mutilation of the circular letter and the suppression of Coke's credential,
are not denied, and for the reason that they could not be, are never referred to by the apologists of
Coke and Asbury. The third fact, the suppression and final destruction of the "little sketch," is never
referred to, except by Dr. Emory in his "Defense of Our Fathers," a reply to McCaine's "History and
Mystery of Methodist Episcopacy." It is so cogently put by the latter that it was impossible for the
former to evade it, and his absolutely puerile explanation shall be considered in the proper
connection.
Constructively, the reader and writer are spectators of the daily sessions. It will be remembered
that the American Conferences, like the British, were not voting but simply deliberative gatherings
of the preachers. Wesley for England, Coke for a series of years by appointment for Ireland, Rankin
and Asbury for America, — the method was the same. "On hearing every preacher for or against
what is in debate, the right of determination shall rest with him (the presiding Wesley or Coke or
Asbury) according to the minutes." So after the reading of the mutilated circular letter, what next was
done? The personnel of the body again invites attention. There are forty who had traveled less than
four years and do not average over twenty-five years of age. They are a ruddy, rugged class, mostly
dressed in "Virginia cloth," an excellent homespun. They listened eagerly and prayed fervently, for
this was their part; not one of them, perhaps, opened his lips during the Conference. Of the
remaining twenty-one it may be that a short dozen took part in the questions and answers which were
proposed, for that was a method also. Asbury was venerated; for most of them were his "sons in the
gospel," and he called them by their given names. He is a striking figure, an impressive presence,
as he sits with Dr. Coke, now "Superintendent in America," clad in full canonicals, and so the
cynosure of all eyes. He is genial, but authoritative. What was next done? Nobody knows. Stevens
says the next thing was "in accordance with this document" (the circular letter). "It was agreed," and
he quotes Asbury in his Journal, "to form ourselves into an Episcopal Church, and to have
superintendents, elders, and deacons." But certainly that was not done quite so precipitately. It must
be taken as preliminary that Coke opened his commission verbally, and a straight guess may be
made, from what did take place, that he informed the preachers of his new office, and that he was