History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

METHODIST REFORM
Edward J. Drinkhouse, M.D., D.D.
Volume I
CHAPTER 25
Asbury traveling and feeling the pulse of the societies and the public as to the new organization
of the Methodists; appears in bishop's canonicals; natural history of them — Gowns and the Sunday
Service fall into desuetude together — June 2, 1785, Coke returned to England; how he explained
his doings to Wesley covered by an ingenious subterfuge, and what came of it — Wesley
hoodwinked, but when his eyes were opened was grieved, and rebuked the offenders, Coke and
Asbury — Garrettson in Nova Scotia as Wesley's superintendent; the appointment objectionable to
Asbury; he could not bear another so near his throne; cumulation of proofs; new evidence and
demonstration Coke in England, and again in America.
Resuming the thread of the narrative, the consequents of the Christmas Conference shall be farther
traced. It has been found that Superintendent Asbury at once took to the saddle, and he can be
tracked through his Journal down into Virginia with Hickson as a companion. He ordains Willis,
who had been elected an elder, at Carter's church. Sunday, January 9, 1755, he records a temptation,
"I am sometimes afraid of being led to think something more of myself in my new station than
formerly." The good man, firm in his convictions that the Episcopal office to which Dr. Coke, "joint
superintendent" in America, had ordained him, and which he assumed in palpable violation of his
instructions and understanding with Wesley, as abundantly discovered already in his ordination
sermon before the Christmas Conference and afterward, was the office of a Bishop; leaving his
hearers and correspondents to interpret the term as it only can be interpreted, except by a mere juggle
with the word, as a third order in the new Episcopal Church of the Methodists in America. No one
need hesitate to believe that both of them thought it was to the glory of God. If Coke had any
misgivings as to the legitimacy of the bastard thing there is no sign of it now. Later it will be
demonstrated that he had not a shred of confidence in Wesley's ordination of him. To Asbury it was
a temptation. He had a struggle with the concomitants of the new position, and presently it will be
disclosed how the temptation overcame him. He continued his tour down into South Carolina,
feeling the pulse of the people and of other denominations as to the departure of the Methodists from
the Episcopal Church of England, now in process of reorganization as the Protestant Episcopal
Church. He gives us a brief consensus of this outside opinion: "Nothing could have better pleased
our old Church folks than the steps we have taken in administering the ordinances; to the Catholic
Presbyterians it also gives satisfaction; but the Baptists are discontented." Capitals and italics are his
own. The deliverance is enigmatical in part. By old Church folks he seems to mean the
Episcopalians, but it is known that the tried friend of the Methodists in Virginia, Jarratt, the rector,
was much displeased at the separation and was never fully reconciled, though he resumed personal
relations of a friendly character with Asbury subsequently. By the Catholic Presbyterians he must
mean those of High Church leanings, while the dissent of the Baptists, ever protesting against kings
and bishops and the whole spawn of hierarchists, is easily understood. He meets with Jesse Lee, who
missed attendance at the Christmas Conference, "I was comfortable in brother Lee's company." [1]
Lee was quite a young man, now in his second itinerant year. Lednum, following Dr. Lee's History
of his uncle Jesse, makes record that, at Colonel Hindorus' in North Carolina, Lee was surprised to