History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

METHODIST REFORM
Edward J. Drinkhouse, M.D., D.D.
Volume I
CHAPTER 26
The tripartite contention of Wesley, Coke, and Asbury, for the supremacy — Burning of
Cokesbury College, with moralizings — The system of Asbury operative — Wesley calls through
Coke a General Conference for 1787; how the news reached Asbury: how he met it; and how he
circumvented both Wesley and Coke; the former's name left off the minutes, and the latter compelled
to abdicate his Episcopal powers; the incidents dramatic; Whatcoat rejected as a superintendent; how
it was brought about; Asbury pulling the wires — Fatal error of the preachers in 1784 — The true
contention of this History; proceedings of 1784 "questionable and unwarrantable" — Examination
of character; hero preachers of this day.
An ecclesiastical chessboard, figuratively speaking, lies before you. The illustration is employed
because nothing else is so apt. Wesley, the guileless and ingenuous, under the delusion of the
Christmas Conference resolve, to obey him in all matters of church government, is looking on as the
mentor, and at times directing the moves. Coke is the strategist, now consulting Wesley with much
obeisance, and now conferring with Asbury; but, mistrustful, he ventures to slide out his pawns with
an eye ultimately to win the game for himself. Asbury, conscious that he is securely master of the
situation, also looks on complacently, deferential to Wesley and watchful of Coke, with every new
move of either or both he plays a hand soft as velvet, and astonishes Coke and sets Wesley to
thinking, for he manages to turn every combination into a checkmate. It is the tripartite contention
mentioned in the opening chapter of this History, and is now being disclosed. Three conscientious
men, as each was, controlled by his educational convictions, are striving for the mastery, that they
may the better glorify God and save souls. Wesley, greater than any bishop, brushes aside from his
onward path musty traditions. A king, he makes another king, but never intended that he should be
greater than his maker. Coke, ambitious of the high-sounding title as any child of plume and sword,
accepts the minified thing, but never forgets, and loses no opportunity to make gold of the glitter,
— a real successional apostolical bishop. Asbury, when proffered it, kneels for the coronation, but,
like another Napoleon, he sets the crown upon his own head. History affords no more interesting
study of human nature than these three. But for the time it shall be incidental only to the spiritual
work of these twenty months. It is much more congenial to portray these chief actors and their
helpers as gospel preachers than as church politicians.
It will be remembered that after the rise of the Christmas Conference Asbury started upon his first
official tour, reaching Charleston as its terminus, having Willis and Lee with him. They opened
preaching in an abandoned Baptist church, and met with great success, Lee preaching the first
Methodist sermon, though Pilmoor had held service there on passing through the city. It was left in
charge of Willis, and this is the work Coke and Hammett found on their arrival twenty months after.
Asbury returned to Maryland and bid adieu to Coke, June 2, 1785, in Baltimore. On the 5th of June,
1785, he laid the foundation of Cokesbury College at Abingdon, Md. Strickland, his biographer,
says: "Attired in his long silk gown, and with his flowing bands, the pioneer bishop of America took
his position on the walls of the college" and preached the sermon. When finished the college was 105