History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

steps taken by Mr. Wesley and myself." It will be remembered how Asbury stamped it out. But it was
not dead; it could not be with American born men and women. Bangs cites Watters, "We became
instead of a religious society a separate Church. This gave great satisfaction through all our
societies." The italicized portion is by Bangs and with the same object. He calls Cooper, who, after
stating the fact of their becoming an Independent Church, says: "This step met with general
approbation both among the preachers and members. Perhaps we shall seldom find such unanimity
of sentiment upon any question of such magnitude." The italics are again by Bangs. Getting out of
these witnesses all that was possible by the force of italics, he sweeps the gamut and declares all was
harmony: "Nor has a murmur been heard, except from a few disaffected individuals, through all our
borders, on account of the measures which were adopted at that conference and the consequences
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which have resulted fully sustain the opinions above expressed." The truth of this averment will
come under review as this History progresses and the "Consequences" emphasized.
The year 1785 was a year of great spiritual success. The reinforced polity was at once put into
operation. Asbury took to the saddle after Coke left for England; the Sunday Service bound up with
the minutes was distributed, and the preachers settled down to work; and not a few of them to think
over what had been done. The Eldership was formally inaugurated, henceforth they were to be the
eyes and ears of the Superintendents with the circuit of a continent. So soon as Asbury came into the
territory of one he was expected to travel with him over his district and thus the hierarchy was
established; the bishop, the presiding elder, the elder, the deacon, the helper, the class leader: wheels
within wheels. There never was but one thing more efficient and centralized as a human polity: the
hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. Was it borrowed from it? Depart from the New Testament
principles — the equality of the brotherhood, the parity of the ministry — and a hierarchy is
inevitable. The people prayed, payed, and obeyed, and they did it with the loyalty of the truly
converted. Their overseers of every grade were held in affectionate reverence. The class leader was
a sub-pastor, and the appointee of the circuit elder; the exhorter and local preacher were in the next
circle, dependent also for renewal of license upon the quarterly conference, all of whom were also
dependent upon the circuit elder. The deacon served the elder and copied him; the elder was obedient
to the presiding elder, for on him his appointment depended as he represented him to the bishop; the
presiding elder was selected by the bishop and held office at his will and pleasure, so that virtually
every official from the highest to the lowest was an appointee of the bishop.
But did it not make a strong government? Undoubtedly. The officials of every grade had a
common interest and a common dependence, and Snethen has wisely observed: "Men who have the
same interests will be prone to act alike; and as long as they perceive that their interests are mutual
they will act together. It would be a miracle, that is, an event contrary to the course of nature, if either
priests or preachers, with the legislative and executive power of the Church in their hands, should
not manage the interests of others so as to promote their own." Again: "We are indeed free to declare
our disbelief in the omnipotent virtue of any system; as we know that ambition, as well as other evils,
come from within, out of the heart of man; but we cannot help prognosticating danger when the
system under which men act has a natural tendency to inspire them with a desire for the distinctions
of office. One may be habituated to climb until it shall be painful to walk on level ground. Every
office in our Church is so organized as to have one above it, on which it depends, up to the bishops,
who are equal among themselves. It is a problem which time alone can solve, how they, after having
been schooled on the step-ladder of inequality, will agree to manage their coordinate jurisdiction.