History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

intimates the desire they had of my being ordained to superintend the work in the north. A few days
ago I received one from the Doctor [Coke] on the same subject." He also intimates his declination.
Under date of 1786, with the month omitted, a letter is given from Garrettson to Asbury in which
the sentence occurs: "I made bold to open matters to Mr. Wesley, and begged him to send one
preacher from England, as a number of people would prefer an Englishman to an American," etc.
Garrettson continued his labors until near the American Conference in Baltimore, of May 1, 1787,
when he met with it under summons from Coke.
Now the gist of all this preliminary matter is that Bangs, his biographer, further declares, without
giving either date or letter as authority, that "Mr. Wesley, having witnessed the sincerity, zeal, and
devotedness of Mr. Garrettson in the work of the ministry, had designated him as the future
superintendent of the Methodist societies in the British dominions in America. Dr. Coke, on his
arrival at this Conference, made known the wishes of Mr. Wesley in this respect, and the subject was
submitted to the Conference, and was by that body 'unanimously sanctioned.'" Evidently there is here
more esoteric Methodist history. It would have thrown much light upon this transaction if Dr. Bangs
had given the date of the letter Garrettson wrote to Asbury, and also the evidence as to date of
Wesley's designation to Garrettson of his appointment by him as a "superintendent" in the north. Did
it precede or follow Asbury's intimation of the same character of an appointment from him? The
suppressions give room for the belief that Wesley's designation preceded that of Asbury's and was
approved by Coke. Bangs says that Garrettson in his semi-centennial sermon gives "a fair and candid
narration of the facts in the case, with a view to correct an erroneous impression," but this correction,
instead, rather confirms the belief that Asbury resented the interference of Wesley and Coke, as a
presumption and arrogation of authority over himself, and thus is exposed the true inwardness of the
conflict. Quoting Bangs, let Garrettson speak in the sermon: "Dr. Coke, as Mr. Wesley's delegate and
representative, asked me if I would accept the appointment. I requested the liberty of deferring my
answer until the next day. I think on the next day the Doctor came to my room and asked me if I had
made up my mind to accept the appointment. I told him I had on certain conditions. I observed to
him that I was willing to go on a tour and visit those parts to which I was appointed for one year, and
if there was a cordiality in the appointment with those whom I was requested to serve, I would return
to the next Conference and receive ordination for the office of superintendent. His reply was, 'I am
perfectly satisfied,' and he gave me a recommendatory letter to the brethren in the West Indies, etc.
I had intended, as soon as the Conference rose, to pursue my voyage to the West India islands, to
visit Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and in the spring return. What transpired in the Conference
during my absence, I know not; but I was astonished, when the appointments were read, to hear my
name mentioned to preside in the Peninsula." The italics in both these citations are furnished. By the
Peninsula is meant the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as the minutes of this year confirm — Garrettson
is the Elder on that shore of the Chesapeake. Bangs, in his final observations on this subject, writes
like an unsophisticated brother, and may be he was in Methodist Church esoterics. He says: "It would
appear from this plain statement of Mr. Garrettson that some alteration took place in the mind of the
Conference respecting his appointment to the superintendency of the British provinces of America,
and that it was finally agreed among themselves that it was not expedient that he should go at this
time. . . . It is certain that it was a source of disappointment to himself, of some grief to Wesley, and
contrary to the wishes of many of his brethren in Nova Scotia;" and he gives letters from Black in
proof. Bangs' last words about it are: "Having thus relinquished the thought of returning to Nova
Scotia, and having received his appointment to preside in the Peninsula, as above stated, he entered