History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

was a man with a grievance, and his attacks upon Asbury and the American Church were so severe
that Asbury, shortly after the Conference, felt that he must defend himself: "I received an abusive,
anonymous letter (I believe from Mr. S.), on several subjects. My spirits were low; I came from my
knees to receive the letter, and having read it, I returned whence I came; I judged it prudent and
expedient, and I think I was urged thereto by conscience, to tell the people of some things relating
to myself. I related to them the manner of my coming to America; how I continued during the war;
the arrival of Dr. Coke, and the forming of the American Methodists into a Church; and finally why
I did not commit the charge of the society in Charleston to Mr. Hammett, who was unknown, a
foreigner, and did not acknowledge the authority of, nor join in connection with, the American
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Conference." He had appointed Daniel Smith to Charleston.
Before following Asbury to Georgia to meet that Conference observe what Dr. Coke is doing. He
spent a week or more in Charleston and then started to overtake Asbury at the Georgia Conference.
How many letters he wrote to O'Kelly and others of the disaffected preachers, who, learning of his
arrival, plied him with letters also, and were encouraged in their war upon the Council by finding
Dr. Coke one with them, must be conjectured. That he wrote such letters is evident from what
subsequently took place. Perhaps he prepared another letter famous in the esoteric history of early
Methodism, the contents and purpose of which he imparted neither to Asbury nor to the confederate
preachers against him. The conjecture that it was written in Charleston is based upon its elaborate
character. It is dated later, "Richmond (Va.), April 24, 1791." But whether prepared at Charleston
or some days later is immaterial. Sunday, March 13, at Georgetown, Ga., Asbury says: "Dr. Coke
came in time to preach, and then we opened a Conference. We sat very closely to our work, and had
some matters of moment to attend to in the course of our deliberations." They travel together, eat and
sleep together, confer anent local Conference matters, Asbury cautiously scanning his companion
since his change of mind as to the Council, and Coke, with a secret letter in his pocket addressed to
Bishop White of the Protestant Episcopal Church, now resident in Philadelphia. They alternate in
preaching, Asbury giving Coke the preference, as his preaching abilities were of a high order. Asbury
writes: "My body is weak, but my mind has heaven and peace within. We closely employed our
intervals of leisure in preparing different tracts for the press." Asbury always availed of the superior
education of Coke for such literary work. Onward they go to Salisbury in North Carolina, and hold
the Conference. They are in Virginia, April 10, at sister Walker's in Brunswick, "Dr. Coke went to
the barn and I preached in the house; the rain rendered our meeting uncomfortable." They reach
Petersburg. Asbury says, "We agreed to take different lodgings during the sitting of the Conference."
Why do these friends thus part? It may be a matter of personal convenience only, and it may be that
they differed so widely as to the Council that they felt more comfortable apart. They had met with
O'Kelly and others in North Carolina, and Coke was more and more enlisted on their side, and was
emboldened in his talks with Asbury, who says: "The business of our Conference was brought on
in peace. . . . The affair of the Council was suspended until a General Conference." Just after the
Conference, Monday, April 25, Asbury writes: "I found the Doctor had much changed his sentiments
since his last visit to this continent; and that these impressions still continued. I hope to be enabled
to give up all I dare for peace's sake; and to please all men for their good to edification."
The famous — or, shall it not be said in the interest of fair dealing of man with man, Asbury with
Coke and the reverse, and of impartial history, the infamous — letter which Coke had been waiting
a favorable opportunity to mail is subscribed, as already cited, "Richmond, April 24, 1791." It was