History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

The Introduction to Whitehead, from which this Appendix is mostly quoted, sums up the case as
follows: "It is plain that though there were three trustees, there were but two parties. Dr. Whitehead
represented one, his associates the other. They wished to destroy; he to save. They to conceal; he to
expose. They had given him the materials, without knowing his design and firmness, expecting, it
would seem, to control the work; he, understanding their character and purposes, refused to surrender
his advantage. His work tells the rest."
To the student of biography there are a number of remarkable coincidental parallels between the
life of Rev. John Whitehead, M.D., and that of Rev. Samuel K. Jennings, M.D., the latter a
prominent Reformer in American Methodism of l820-35. Both of them were sound doctrinal
Methodists; educated gentlemen; physicians in high standing; local ministers of wonderful
popularity; advocates of popular rights in religion; persecuted for their opinions, and expelled for
the same from church relations; appointed by unanimity biographers, the one of Wesley, the other
of Asbury, and both of them hindered and hampered for identical reasons in the prosecution of their
work, — the latter successfully, as his opponents made it impossible for him to complete and publish
his work. The memory of both has been amply vindicated from the aspersions of their enemies.
These parallels will be farther developed when the life of Jennings is under review in this History.
Since the foregoing was written, Dr. Tigert's "History," 1894, comes under notice. It is altogether
a strong work, but there is much information he seems to know nothing about. He has a copy of
Whitehead's "Life," and he evidently thinks it relevant to give his readers in a foot-note the opinion
of the Methodist preacher who first owned it, then young, but afterward eminent, of this phenomenal
man, and it is this, "He was a bull-headed, self-conceited, prejudiced creature." Dr. Buckley,
reviewing the work, is struck with the extravagance of these young men, and says: "Translate
bull-headed, into firm to obstinacy; self-conceited, into a high opinion of his own abilities and
influence; prejudiced, into having his mind made lip on many things, — and you will have an
excellent description of most man of force. A biography of Whitehead would undoubtedly exhibit
many infirmities, but the lower he is placed, the lower Mr. Wesley, as a man of judgment, sinks."
This is fair and just. Tigert, the "young man, taking his cue apparently from this other "young man,"
styles Whitehead, "this venomous physician." These things are in proof that too much space has not
been given in this Appendix to a vindication of him. Tigert furnishes a fact, page 163, coupled with
a kick he makes at the "dead lion," nowhere else mentioned by historians to the writer's knowledge,
another evidence of the disposition to suppress any information redounding to Whitehead's credit
— "Poor old Dr. Whitehead, buried though he is in the selfsame grave with Wesley, must be allowed
his fling." Whitehead died in 1804, and Tigert does not pause to consider how great must have been
the honor in which he was held by Wesleyan Methodists, thirteen years after Wesley's death, as to
make this sepulcher deserving. He also furnishes the fact that an unexpurgated edition of Whitehead
was published in Boston, 1844, or one year before that of Stockton, who purchased the plates,
republished it, and from which these citations are made. One of Wesley's close friends, Rev. John
Richardson, was also buried in the same tomb with him, showing that he was held in like honor as
Whitehead in that day. Asbury records in his Journal, February 23, 1813, "I have looked into
Whitehead's 'Life of Wesley'; he is vilified. O, shame!" No other opinion could be expected of him.
Rev. Dr. Collins Denny, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, furnishes the confirmatory
information as to Whitehead's place of sepulcher. "Illustrated Handbook to City Road Chapel," etc.,