History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

no longer." He was seriously sick during this period — diabetes threatened, but under treatment from
his faithful and confidential physician, Dr. Whitehead, it abated, though he suffered more or less
with it to his decease. His buoyant spirits at this time were remarked by many. He held his Irish
Conference, now numbering some sixty, of whom forty or more were present. He compliments them
in the strongest terms, and they have never ceased to be worthy of it. On the Conference Sunday
Wesley and his preachers attended service at St. Patrick's, and heard the dean preach, "a serious,
useful sermon." The Irish preachers were to a man true to the Church. On the 12th of July he bid
adieu to Ireland forever. The scene of parting was most affecting. — "Not a few fell on the old man's
neck and kissed him." About this time in a private letter occurs the sentence, "Dr. Coke made two
[12]
or three little alterations in the prayer-book without my knowledge." It is quoted as a pointer for
future use.
On the 28th of July, 1789, the forty-sixth session of Conference began in Leeds. Two hundred and
eighty-eight preachers received appointments. The societies continued to grow. Circuits and
missions, 109, not including Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and the numbers in society 74,254.
What may be called the Conference sermon was preached by a local preacher, James Hamilton,
M.D., perhaps the only instance of the kind in English Methodism. It was an able discourse, met with
Wesley's approbation, was printed and widely circulated. About 130 preachers were present,
according to Atmore, and of these 115 signed a paper favoring the settlement of the chapels
according to the Conference plan, and among them, Tyerman says, William Thom, Henry Taylor,
and Alexander Killiam, who were afterward distinguished as Methodist Reformers. Separation from
the Church was again discussed as it was at every Conference, and decided unanimously against it.
It was resolved that no books should be published without Wesley's sanction, and those to be printed
at his press in London and sold by his book steward. Now and for some time before his sermons
indicate his growing fears for the Methodists by becoming rich. He saw only the baleful effects, but
what would Methodism be today but for its consecrated rich men?
1790. Tyerman says: "Wesley's career is drawing to a close. He himself was on the 'Delectable
mountains,' basking in the sheen of the celestial city, but all around him, or rather beneath him, was
darkness and confusion." The French Revolution impended and England was filled with its alarms
and doctrinal divisions. January 1, Wesley wrote: "I am now an old man, decayed from head to foot:
my eyes are dim; my right hand shakes much; my mouth is hot and dry every morning; I have a
lingering fever almost every day; my motion is weak and slow. However, blessed be God, I do not
[13]
slack my labor; I can preach and write still." He staunchly holds to every autocratic principle of
his discipline. January 13, he writes to John Mason, the assistant at St. Austell circuit: "As long as
I live, the people shall have no share in choosing either stewards or leaders among the Methodists
. . . We are no republicans and never intend to be. It would be better for these, that are so minded,
[14]
to go quietly away." Historically this is of moment, as the sequel of this work will show, that the
principle here reaffirmed should be coupled with another laid down in the Dewsbury chapel case
already adverted to; in this, however, the affirmation is a fallacy to be hereafter exposed: — "With
respect to Dewsbury House, there never was any dispute about the property of preaching houses; that
was an artful misrepresentation; but merely the appointing of preachers to them." Again, "Observe,
here is no dispute about the right of houses at all. I have no right to any preaching house in England.
[15]
What I claim is a right of stationing the preachers." Yet the Deed of Declaration already entered
in the High Court of Chancery was enacted principally because all the Methodist chapels and other