History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

Conference, chief among its confederates in numbers, in a period of over sixty years it has been
resorted to but some half-dozen times, with varying results to the individual appealing; but every
man knows that his rights cannot be invaded, and that there is for him redress, if he can prove a
grievance. What was the upshot of this debate, of which Stevens says: "Coke, however anxious for
the issue of the controversy, sat in the chair rapt in admiration of the talent it elicited"? Lee answers
this question: "The next morning, when the Conference assembled, we received a letter from Mr.
O'Kelly, and a few other preachers, directed to the Conference, informing us that they could no
longer sit among us, because the appeal was not allowed." This act of secession, and the disastrous
consequences it involved to the Methodist connection, will be fully considered in the next chapter.
The proceedings of the Conference sequentially demand attention.
Stevens says, "After the withdrawal of O'Kelly, peace and the old brotherly spirit again pervaded
the Conference." Even so. Asbury says: "The General Conference went through the Discipline,
Articles of Faith, Forms of Baptism, Matrimony, and the Burial of the Dead; as also the offices of
Ordination. The Conference ended in peace, after voting another General Conference to be held four
years hence." The words, "went through the Discipline," mean more than they seem to imply. Asbury
was quick to discern the vantage, and with his adherents lost no time in strengthening the
Episcopacy. There were several weak places in the joints of the armor which the events of the past
few years exposed. Effective means must be placed in his hands for the arrest and disposal of
malcontents. Such scenes as those just exhibited must be no more. Lee gives a summation of the
principal changes made. The Annual Conferences as such were virtually abolished, and distinguished
as "District Conferences," one to be held in each presiding elder's district, their limits to be defined
by the bishop, "yet so as not to include more than twelve, nor less than three, circuits in each
district." The bishop has also power to appoint the times of meeting. Thus Asbury's method of
segregating the preachers had now the sanction of law, though Lee says it had been so unpopular
when episcopally exercised by him without law. The supernumerary preacher is defined. Provision
was made more definitely for the election, ordination, and trial of bishops, the latter feature being
open to serious objection as was afterward pointed out. The Presiding Elder took definite form, and
he was limited to reappointment over the same district to four years. This was to meet such cases as
that of O'Kelly, who had been reappointed by Asbury for some ten consecutive years to one district,
the only exception of the kind he ever made, and under stress of his great personal popularity, and
a disinclination not to disregard his wishes; for in influence he was second only to Lee. Stevens says,
"By the present Conference the presiding elder was virtually made a diocesan bishop." It became the
right arm of the Episcopacy. The powers of the office were great, but care was taken that the
subordination should be perfect. The transfer certificate of membership was formulated, without
which no one could be received on removal into another society. The trial of preachers and members
was made more specific. Cases of "improper words, tempers, and actions" were provided for, as well
as provision for trial of ministers or preachers "who hold and preach doctrines which are contrary
to our articles of religion." A backward step was taken touching Band meetings, which under
"needless self-indulgence" included "such as taking snuff or tobacco" among reasons for exclusion.
This was now rescinded. Tobacco was grown all over the Southland, hence this weak concession.
Lee quizzically says of it, "Some of them say it is an advantage to their teeth, and others, that it is
good for their health." In this year of grace, however, it is a condition of ordination in most of the
Conferences, and must ultimately come under ban as a habit a Christian man can indulge and be
blameless. Most of the new prohibitive regulations were made to anticipate O'Kelly and hold in firm