History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

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It will be discovered that there are strong affirmations at least that he did give countenance to the
scheme which was incubating in Dr. Coke's fertile brain to circumvent Asbury and regain for himself
the lost crown of an undisputed and untrammeled bishopric. He was also in correspondence with
Asbury. What was its character? Friendly to a high degree, and diplomatic as any leader in statecraft
might wish. If this correspondence could be made available, it would leave no doubt that the
characters of these three men, Wesley, Coke, and Asbury, as depicted in the opening chapter of this
History, would be abundantly verified.
The last consecutive mention of Dr. Coke in these pages was on his arrival at Charleston, S. C.,
with Hammett. Resuming at that point will bring him and Asbury together again, the mind of the
former an arsenal of arch-plotting, and that of the latter fearless and so self-poised as never to be
betrayed into surprises, or off his guard. Inquire what Asbury says about it in the cold statements of
his Journal. "Wednesday, February 23, 1791. Long looked for Dr. Coke came to town; he had been
shipwrecked off Edisto. I found the Doctor's sentiments, with regard to the Council, quite changed.
James O'Kelly's letters had reached London. I felt perfectly calm, and acceded to a General
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Conference, for the sake of peace." There is a world of information in these brief lines. The long
expected Dr. Coke. They had been in correspondence, in which Coke could not have betrayed the
fact that he was also in correspondence with O'Kelly, and was urging him on with all his advice and
support; for Asbury makes a discovery in conversation with Dr. Coke in Charleston: I found the
sentiments of the Doctor, with regard to the Council, quite changed; sequel — James O'Kelly's letters
had reached London. It was no doubt a trial to Asbury. The situation was not unlike that of
Wellington and Napoleon at Waterloo. Everything depended upon Blucher. He arrived with his
reinforcements in time, and the die was cast against Napoleon. Asbury had gone down to Charleston,
it must be said, in hope that he should find Coke as ready to maintain him in the Council as he was
to further it at the first. Alas, the reinforcements are in time, but on the wrong side. Coke is against
him. He likely behaved as one who thought he held the coign of vantage. If he had been neutral, the
case would not yet be desperate. He was with the malcontents, and the struggle ended. "I felt
perfectly calm, and acceded to a General Conference, for the sake of peace." It was the first
downright surrender he ever made. One is moved to sympathize with him, though it is hard to
restrain indignant protest; after originating all this trouble by his arbitrary overreaching, he yields
for the sake of peace. It was honest; he had been badgered into submission; he was broken, and could
bear the strain no longer. The Conference is held. Dr. Coke preaches to "a very large audience," but
Asbury does not seem to enjoy the meeting. "I want to be gone into the country to enjoy sweet
solitude and prayer." And again: "I am somewhat distressed at the uneasiness of our people, who
claim a right to choose their own preachers — a thing quite new among the Methodists. No one but
Mr. Hammett will do for them. We shall see how it will end." "I left the city somewhat grieved in
mind." He left Coke with Hammett in Charleston, and from his country retreat, March 5, "I wrote
nearly twenty pages to Dr. Coke on the concerns of the Church." How often regret must be expressed
that none of these letters ever saw the light.
Meantime Coke and Hammett were comparing views, and found themselves still in accord as old
friends. It was in the following year that Asbury refused to reappoint Hammett to Charleston, and
the secession took place. He notes, just before the Conference of 1792 occurred: "Mr. Hammett had
three grand objections to us. 1st, The American preachers and people insulted him. 2d, His name was
not printed in our minutes. 3d, The nota bene cautioning minute was directed against him." Hammett