History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

averment of Moore's is boldly reiterated, and has been, from McCaine to this day, and not a syllable,
not a line, has ever been produced showing that he approved of the steps taken at the Christmas
Conference, but much that is emphatically to the contrary, all of which shall appear in due time. How
is it known that Wesley's plan was not followed? A mass of collateral evidence, which shall be
produced when these matters recur in this History, but to elaborate for introduction here, will answer.
Turning now to the official record, as found in the printed Minutes of 1775 to 1794, issued by
John Dickins for the Methodist Church, with the imprint of "Philadelphia, No. 44 N. Second Street,
near Arch Street, 1795," and inclusive of the minutes of the Christmas Conference of 1784, the
following statement is found as historical. The title is: "Minutes of some Conversations between
Ministers and Preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at a General Conference held at
Baltimore, January, 1785."
"As it was unanimously agreed at this Conference, that circumstances made it expedient for us
to become a separate body, under the denomination of the Methodist Episcopal Church, it is
necessary that we should here assign some reasons for so doing.
"The following extract of a letter from the Rev. John Wesley will afford as good an explanation
as can be given of the subject:"—
Here is inserted the Circular letter of Wesley to the American Methodists minus the paragraph
which in O'Kelly's reprint of the full text of it is numbered fourteen. And it may be observed, before
leaving it, that as these minutes were to come under Wesley's eye, it was a necessity that the truth
should be told, at least in speaking of the Circular as published as an "extract," or Wesley's
truth-loving instincts would have demanded an explanation of the mutilation of his letter. After the
circular letter these remarkable words are appended: "Therefore, at this Conference, we formed
ourselves into an Independent Church: and following the counsel of Mr. Wesley, who recommended
the Episcopal form of church government, we thought it best to become an Episcopal church, making
the Episcopal office elective, and the elected superintendent or bishop amenable to the body of
ministers and preachers." When and by whom was this historical statement made? It is obviously not
in the minutes as taken at the time. The minutes themselves say in answer to the third question: "As
the Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Affairs of these United States have passed through a considerable
Change by the Revolution, what Plan of Church Government shall we hereafter pursue?" Answer:
"We will form ourselves into an Episcopal Church under the Direction of Superintendents, Elders,
Deacons, and Helpers, according to the Forms of Ordination annexed to our Liturgy, and the Form
of Discipline set forth in these Minutes" (capitalizing followed). Nothing here about following the
"counsel of Mr. Wesley, who recommended the Episcopal form of Church government," etc.
Moreover, the historical statement is in the past tense, "It was agreed," "We formed ourselves," "We
thought it best," etc. So that the question recurs: When and by whom was it written? It will be
remembered that, a few days after the Christmas Conference adjourned, Dr. Coke hastened to
Philadelphia, and there had the minutes printed and bound up with the Sunday Service he had
brought over from England in sheets, and to his pen must be attributed the historical statement now
under consideration. That it was in accord with the impression made upon the Conference by Coke
there can be no doubt; for it is the traditional view held by the preachers as to Wesley's connection
with the new departure of an "Independent Church." Two other things will be observed of these