History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

eady to break with Wesley at any opportune time, and he felt this to be such a time. Open opposition
allied to his mental protest in the matter would have revealed this secret purpose, as well as placed
Coke in an awkward predicament when he returned to face Wesley, so he was mute. It shall be
shown that it did answer Coke's purpose with Wesley, nor was he undeceived as to its hollowness
until, several years after, he attempted to exercise the authority they said, and he thought, had been
reposed in him, only to find that it was a resolution of unmeaning words. These are some of the
conclusions that must be reached as to this business. It may be dismissed, as it will again come under
review when the McCaine-Emory controversy over it shall be in place.
Asbury was ordained — to what? It will never be settled. Several views are entertained and
pressed by the respective advocates. The contention of these pages is that it meant nothing more by
Wesley than the appointment of Mather as superintendent in Scotland, yielding, in the former case,
to the over-persuasion of Coke as set forth in his letter of September 3, 1784, to dignify the
appointment with a form of "setting apart," that he might have the benefit of such seeming to his
authority in America. Another contention is, that it was an ordination to the bishopric in the sense
of the Alexandrian church, which selected its officer and ordained him bishop. And a third, which
aims for the American superintendents that they were bishops as a third order, as understood by
Episcopalians. Coke himself claimed to have made Asbury a Bishop. So he wrote in his Journal
while in Philadelphia in 1784, as may be seen from the American Magazine of 1789, p.291. His
words are, "I ordained brother Asbury a Bishop." It is true that in his Journal, published in London
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in 1793, there is no allusion at all to the ordination. This vexed question may also be dismissed
until the controversy of 1827-30. On the second day of the Conference session he ordained Asbury
a deacon, assisted by Whatcoat and Vasey. On the third day these ordained him an elder. On Monday
he was set apart as a superintendent, and by Asbury's request Coke invited Otterbein, of the German
Church, to assist. They were warm personal friends through life and had much in common. No
explanation, however, has ever been attempted of his participation on the theory that it was
understood as an ordination to the bishopric. Otterbein could not have taken part, by conviction, in
such a ceremony. No doubt it was a solemn and impressive service conducted by these godly men.
A modern painter of average ability threw the scene upon the canvas, and for some time it was on
exhibition in the historical rooms of the Baltimore Preachers' Meeting. Afterward it was exhibited
at the Woman's College in the same city, but subsequently claimed by the painter's executors and
removed.
The college, as Coke would call it, while Asbury was content to speak of it as a school, came
under consideration on Saturday the 1st of January, 1785, and the plan was matured, Dickins taking
large part in it. It was to be located at Abingdon, Md., and after much difficulty a name selected for
it, which Coke proposed — Cokesbury, a combination of the two names of the superintendents. A
considerable sum was soon subscribed by the willing and generous laity of the societies or Church.
They also responded to the appeals of Coke for assistance to the brethren who were to go to Nova
Scotia in the sum of $50. Coke's sermon prior to the ordination of Asbury was a fine effort, and
spiced with the assumption that he was now a brother with himself of high degree. It was printed and
widely circulated. One more item, and all that is known of the Christmas Conference will have been
considered. Among the regular proceedings of the Conference is the following minute: "It is
recommended to all our brethren to suspend the execution of the minute on slavery till the
deliberations of a future Conference; and that an equal space of time be allowed all our members for