History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

interference was no doubt well known to his Conference friends before he reached Baltimore. The
line of action was already determined, and it developed so soon as Coke named his business with
this "General" Conference. Had he hoped that by assembling the preachers from Virginia and North
Carolina as well he would summon an element supposed not to be loyal to Asbury? If he had,
disappointment awaited him in this also.
For information as to the course of debate dependence must be placed almost entirely upon
Whatcoat's Journal, Lee's "History," and O'Kelly's "Apology." The latter says that the matter was
opened at the Rough Creek, Va., Conference, and he opposed the ordination of Whatcoat as a
Superintendent. Asbury shrewdly and wisely kept himself in the background of the debate. O'Kelly
says, "The chief speakers on the subject were Thomas [Coke] and James [O'Kelly]. Francis [Asbury]
was opposed to the Joint Superintendent, yet said but little, for he was under authority . . . I spoke
after this manner: that the free people of America were exceeding jealous of the growing body of
Methodists, because of the European heads. Moreover, I did not consider the person [Whatcoat]
adequate to the task because of his age; and that also he was a stranger to the wilderness of America,
etc. Above all I urged that two heads would produce two bodies. Francis proposed for the Baltimore
Conference to decide the dispute, to which we all agreed." Other reasons in opposition were brought
out at Baltimore. Lee says, "When this business was brought before the Conference most of the
preachers objected and would not consent to it. The reasons against it were (1) That he [Whatcoat]
was not qualified to take charge of the connection. (2) That they were apprehensive that if Mr.
Whatcoat were ordained Mr. Wesley would likely recall Mr. Asbury and he would return to England.
Dr. Coke contended that we were obliged to receive Mr. Whatcoat because we had said in the
minutes taken at the Christmas Conference when we were first formed into a Church in 1784, 'during
the life of the Rev. Mr. Wesley we acknowledge ourselves his sons in the gospel, ready in matters
of church government to obey his commands.' Many of the members of that Conference argued that
they were not at the Conference when that engagement was entered into, and they did not consider
themselves bound by it. Other preachers who had said they were 'ready to obey his commands,' said
they did not feel ready now to obey his commands. The preachers at last agreed to depart from that
engagement which some of the elder brethren had formally entered into . . . they made the
engagement of their own accord and among themselves, and they believed they had a right to depart
therefrom when they pleased, seeing it was no contract with Mr. Wesley or any other person, but an
agreement among themselves. It was further argued that Mr. Wesley, while in England, could not
tell what man was qualified to govern us as well as we could who were present and were to be
governed. We believed also that if Mr. Wesley were here himself, he would be of the same opinion
with us." There is something ingenuous in this statement of the case — a chain of specious reasons,
but not one of them sound, from the only legitimate premise: the Conference action of 1784. Rev.
William Phoebus, who was present, in his "Memoirs of Whatcoat," gives the summing up: "The
motion to remove his [Wesley's] name having a second, was debated and carried in the affirmative.
They soon turned their attention to his son, Coke, as he would still possess the supreme rule, and it
was feared he would abuse that power. To prevent the abuse of it was talked of in a desultory and
in a menacing way till Dr. Coke, to free them from their fears, or pretended fears, said he would
relinquish his power as Superintendent, as far as it respected supreme jurisdiction and supreme rule;
and that he would claim no authority but to preside when the Conference did assemble; so he
consented to become a mere moderator rather than to have his name left off the minutes. Seeing they
had prevailed so far, some asked more than his word, so he gave them his bond for the fulfillment