History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

are extant. There can be no doubt, however, that Coke confessed, promised to abandon O'Kelly and
the Reform movement in America, and put himself once more under the absolute direction of
Asbury. Otherwise it is impossible to account for the fact that he received Coke with an "embrace"
and "great love," and that Coke came to America at all at this time, despite his pledges to O'Kelly.
Asbury took the prodigal back and his vanity was flattered at the prospect of his reception, so that
he cannot restrain an overweening conceit, that the whole General Conference would wait ten days
for him, if necessary, dawdling away the time for this purpose. What light it would throw upon the
"weightier business " already agreed between them, if their letters could be read from the time of the
reconciliation to Coke's departure for America. If Drew found this correspondence in Coke's
posthumous papers he discreetly destroyed it, as the episode of this visit to America is dismissed in
half a dozen lines, telling, however, what Asbury does not, that, after the General Conference, he left
America for the West Indies, December 12, 1792.
Asbury had been closeted with "the preachers who were at Mr. Rogers'" for several days in
advance of the Conference. Who they were is not known. It may be taken for granted that neither
O'Kelly nor any of his ilk was of them. He held in his possession, however, two letters: that written
by Coke from Wilmington, already cited, and that written by Asbury about the same time and also
given, and of which more presently. Asbury had constituted the coterie at Rogers' a committee, and
they pre-planned the business of the Conference. Coke, when he arrived, shared the confidence. It
was a prudent arrangement, for O'Kelly had been diligent in mustering his forces, and no one knew
better than Asbury the strategic importance of holding the key to the position. It will anticipate but
slightly the order of events if O'Kelly be allowed to give his testimony, particularly as he is entirely
ignored in making up the case by the biased historians. He cites from Coke's letter to him, and also
from Asbury's, and says: "Just at the eve of business, the Dr. [Coke] appeared. His presence revived
me, for I thought my best friend had come to town. I perceived by the countenance of Francis
[Asbury] that he rejoiced to see Thomas [Coke]." He had not witnessed them embrace each other.
"And, after the salutation, fixed him in the chair. I began to think that Thomas had taken the alarm,
and rather than be expelled as John [Wesley] was, he had stepped over to the strongest side, and left
me to suffer: and it was so. Then proceeded Francis, according to his foreknowledge, predestination,
and sovereign power" (referring to the secret meetings at Rogers') "to choose out of Conference a
few men, which framed the privy council. Then he proceeded to read their names, and asked if there
was any objection to any of them. And it was so that my name was among them. He appointed for
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us to meet him (and Thomas) that evening in a private house. Conference adjourned." That will
do for witness O'Kelly for the time, while attention is directed to the General Conference which was
convened November 1, 1792, in the Light Street church, Baltimore.
Contemporary evidence is that it was the largest and most influential gathering of the preachers
from every section of the country ever assembled. Consulting the minutes it is found that there were
now 28 who were admitted on trial, 48 continued on trial, 45 admitted into full connection, 82
deacons, 78 elders; and omitting those on trial, a round number of 188 who were entitled to
membership. It may be assumed that not less than 150 of these availed of the opportunity of
attending. There are no means, however, of tabulating a roster of those who were present; even less
satisfactory, therefore, is the information than for the informal gathering of 1784. Lee, who gives the
most information in general terms, as O'Kelly gives the most in details, says: "On the first day of
November, 1792, the first regular General Conference began in Baltimore. Our preachers who had