History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

under present circumstances, to grant the prayer of the petitioners for a lay representation, yet he
seemed to think that some modification in the general outlines of the government might be usefully
introduced." Bishop George was unfavorably affected toward him on this account. His biographer
again says: "Having seen Garrettson only occasionally at the General Conference, and sometimes
being under the necessity of differing from him on some points of ecclesiastical polity, the bishop
had formed an idea that Mr. Garrettson was rather austere in his manners, and somewhat bigoted in
his views," but these opinions were dispelled when he saw him under his own roof. Having
necessarily digressed thus far to bring out the facts as to Asbury's dealing with him in 1787, it may
be made the appropriate place for a final disposition of Garrettson in these pages. Born in Maryland,
August 15, 1752, he early in life devoted himself to God. He entered the itinerant ministry, and
maintained a position excelled by few of his compeers. No one of them, it was believed, was
instrumental in the conversion of a larger number of people. He retired from active service after the
General Conference of 1824 and spent his days at his well-ordered home at Rhinebeck, near New
York City. He died triumphantly September 26, 1827, in the seventy-sixth year of his age and the
fifty-second of his ministry, being at the time the oldest traveling minister of the Church. He retained
the confidence and friendship of Asbury, though often differing from him, and with Dr. Coke he
maintained close relations until his death.
Dr. Coke was indefatigable in his labors while in England during this visit, but it is unnecessary
to follow him in detail. He was busy planning missionary advances, and finally concentrated his
labors upon Nova Scotia. While making preparations for his departure he had reprinted in London
the Sunday Service and the minutes of the Conference of 1754, with the title "The Methodist
Episcopal Church," inserted. The additional Article 23d, as ordered by the Conference of 1784, as
to the Rulers of the United States, was also inserted. The significant thing about this republication
is the fact that it bears the imprint: "The Sunday Service of the Methodists in the United States of
America, with other occasional services. London, printed by Frys and Couchman, Worship Street,
Upper Moorfields, 1786." This was not Mr. Wesley's press on which the Service of 1784 was
printed, and all other subsequent editions, except this under the supervision of Dr. Coke and at his
own expense. The unanswerable argument will be submitted in the McCaine-Emory Controversy
that no motive can be conjectured that will bear the slightest investigation, but that assigned by
McCaine, namely, the dissent of Wesley to have it thus printed upon his press because of the
implication, at least, that he gave his approval to the Christmas Conference proceedings in the
organization of The Methodist Episcopal Church. It may therefore be enumerated as the first of not
a few evidences that, as Moore has expressed it, "He never gave his sanction to any of these things."
There is no information how this new edition reached America; the presumption is that it was
shipped with Coke and his helpers, and from the West Indies was transmitted to the book agent, John
Dickins, in New York City.
Wesley's letter to Coke ordering him to convene a General Conference in Baltimore, May 1, 1787,
bears date September 6, 1756, and Dr. Coke left England for Nova Scotia September 24 of the same
year, so that it is quite certain that he bore it with him. Reaching Antigua, he found that Gilbert
deceased, had been succeeded by Baxter in charge of the Methodist work. Dr. Coke landed
December 25, 1786, and at once entered upon missionary work, the details of which make a chapter
of the most interesting reading furnished by Drew, his biographer, inclusive of the labors and
sufferings of Black Harry of St. Eustatius. Among both the blacks and whites the heart-witnessing