History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

. I leave you to make a prudent use of what I have written. I am yours as ever in Jesus.' Francis
Asbury." [6]
The reader having looked on that picture, now let him look on this; and while it allows Dr. Coke
to speak for himself touching some of these very things, it supplies the cue to the whole of the
negotiations of the Doctor with the American and the British Conference respectively during these
years. The following are extracts from two letters Dr. Coke wrote to McCaine, and which the latter
gives in full in his "Letters," 1850. He knew the intimacy of McCaine with Asbury and his
trustworthiness. The first was written from "Truro, Cornwall, Eng., Jan. 10, 1806," and runs in part:
"My VERY DEAR BROTHER: I wrote to you by the last packet, a letter for the Baltimore Annual
Conference, in conference assembled, in answer to their official letter sent to you by me." He
requests several paragraphs to be added to that letter so that it may quadrate with duplicates sent to
Cooper and Wilson, and gives a reason for it. He begs McCaine to write him immediately as to the
sentiments of the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York brethren as to his return, etc. Signed,
THOMAS COKE.
McCaine supplies the letter to the Baltimore Conference referred to, the gist of which is, his
willingness to "come over to you on this ground — to assist in preserving the union of the body. To
preserve that union I would think my life well spent, or well sacrificed, but I want you to indulge me
with some explanation, with respect to myself and my sphere of action, if I come over." (An aside
by the writer; he wishes to draw from them whether, if he come, the conferences will receive him
as a coequal with Asbury as a Bishop. Unless this is made clear to him, though he appreciates the
honor of preaching in all the American pulpits), "I could not, as the servant of Christ, sacrifice any
considerable influence in Europe, when considered in all its parts, for a sphere of usefulness
comparatively so small. . . . I have received letters from New England and Western conferences; but
I shall not be able to hear from them again before the British conference." [This paragraph as a
postscript.] THOMAS COKE." McCaine gives the second letter referred to, and says: "The next year
I received from Dr. Coke the following letter:
"'Taunton, Somersetshire, Feb. 2, 1807.
"'My Dear Brother: Some time ago I sent you a long letter addressed to the Baltimore Annual
Conference, and after that a short letter which I wished to be added to the former letter. But I request
you to add the following to the first letter, instead of adding the first letter to it.' (An aside by the
writer: why these changes? He fluctuated as variant information reached him as to the temper of the
American preachers, and he trimmed accordingly. This is what he now wishes added, in excerpts,
though McCaine gives the full letter): 'Perhaps, dear respected brethren, you will now ask — why
did you offer yourself to us? I answer — it was your unanimous vote at the General Conference, that
the Episcopacy wanted to be strengthened. I had been consecrated by our venerable Father in the
Gospel, the late Mr. Wesley, a Bishop, particularly for America. I had been the means of establishing
your present form of Church government, which in a general view (though it may admit of
improvements) I prefer to any other. . . .' Changing the phraseology of the former letter, he next
pursues the same thought about the union and his desire to promote it and the extent of the American
territory, etc., but now for the gist of this epistle.