History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

concerned those who held the keys of power set themselves in opposition to all innovations on
Wesley's plan. But the sands cannot prevent the rising of the sea. The outcome will show that the
opening statement of this chapter was true; the times could not have been more inauspicious for the
Deed of Declaration as a peace measure among Methodists. Stevens' opening chapter for this period
admits in most eloquent sentences the inauspiciousness, but for opposite reasons. The bias of his
point of view leads to a denunciation of the French Revolution as a refutal of the political apothegm
that revolutions never go backwards. It serves his argument in a contrast he institutes with England
securing her Constitution by reformation, seemingly overlooking the revolution of Magna Charta,
seminal of all her liberty; and the world will be slow to admit that the principles of the French
Revolution, maugre its horror and blood, were a retrograde movement for popular enfranchisement.
He sees in the agitations of the times only the discipline of adversity, and a derivation of strength for
English institutions and Methodistic preservation through the Deed of Declaration. If indeed history
is philosophy teaching by example, the example cited, it is confidently affirmed, cannot be claimed
as demonstrating the wisdom of entailed Paternalism.
Stevens mentions as standard-bearers whom Wesley had left, Coke, Benson, Moore, Hopper,
Mather, Taylor, Creighton, Dickenson, Brackenbury, Pawson, Bradburn, Bramwell, Olivers, Adam
Clarke, Reece, Entwistle, and scores of others. Properly enough, he names first Dr. Thomas Coke.
He had gone again to America, one of a number of voyages he made to the far-off Republic, in
October, 1790. Wesley died March 2, 1791, and the news reached Coke while traveling with Asbury
at Port Royal, Va., April 29, and not the 20th, as Drew states it. In proof Asbury's Journal says:
"Friday, 29th April. The solemn news reached our ears that the public papers had announced the
death of that dear man of God, Rev. John Wesley . . . Brother Coke was sunk in spirit and wished
to hasten home immediately.
Dr. Coke, accompanied by Brother C_____ and Dr. G_____, set out for Baltimore in order to get
the most speedy passage to England; leaving me to fill the appointments . . . at Alexandria Dr. Coke
[1]
had certain information of Mr. Wesley's death." Stevens says he reached England May 14, 1791,
but Drew, his biographer, says he embarked from Newcastle, Del., in America, May 14, for London
direct. Drew is not reliable as to dates, but Stevens gives no proof that he is right, so that the exact
date of Coke's arrival is uncertain, but it is not material. Stevens, commenting, quizzically adds, "He
quickly perceived the public danger, by the 'severe and irritating trials' which he met from some of
[2]
his ministerial colaborers, who unfavorably suspected the motive of his sudden return." He is
borrowing from Drew, and what he says is, remembering that he is always partial to Coke, "The
supposed occasion of Dr. Coke's arrival in England at this particular crisis of the Methodistic
connection, though pleasing to some, was by no means gratifying to all the preachers . . . the wounds
which were inflicted by his associates at home were in a measure healed by the balm which grew in
[3]
the western world." Why his return should make such a sensation is thus adroitly parried.
An explanation might have been ventured; he was one of Wesley's literary executors, etc., but it
is evident that something else could be said, but is not. Drew knew what it was, and Stevens is not
so dull that he fails to see it, and after the manner of historians who have a preconceived theory to
maintain, he ventures a general remark as a justification for the skip-over, "It would be neither
interesting nor relevant to record the details of the internal strifes of Methodism which followed the
death of Wesley." Entwistle, one of the standard-bearers Wesley left, lets out the secret. The same