History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

y the calendar, must be used wherever, in England, divine service should be performed on Sundays
in Church hours; that the appointment of preachers shall remain solely with the Conference, and no
exclusion of them from the pulpits by trustees be allowed; and that preachers shall be subject to trial,
under accusation, at the instance of a majority of the trustees, or stewards and leaders, before a
meeting of the preachers of the district and all the trustees, stewards, and leaders of the circuit, and
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can be removed from the circuit if found guilty." The Conference adjourned with mutual
congratulations. The net increase was 6188. Three hundred and ninety-one preachers were on the
roll. The Plan of Pacification had a tranquilizing effect, but did not arrest the discussion. Kilham was
not satisfied, — he could not be with any half measures. He issued a pamphlet signed with his own
name: "Progress of Liberty among the People called Methodists." It outlined a "Constitution" for the
Connection, which meant a revolution of its government. Coke, Adam Clarke, and Richard Reece
demanded that he be brought to trial. Kilham defied them. If he pushed matters to an extreme, — and
in view of the concessions already made this must be admitted,— it will be presently seen that the
Conference also pushed matters to an extreme by his expulsion.
The fifty-third Annual Conference assembled in London, July 25, 1796. Thomas Taylor, a
Conference hero, was elected President, and Dr. Coke Secretary. The notable event was the trial of
Kilham. Taylor, just elected president, Bradburn, Crowther, and other leaders who had been in full
sympathy with his ideas, now forsook him in his extreme measures, as they explained. Taking
Stevens' account of it, as not being colored in favor of Kilham, the trial is summarized as follows:
"On the first day Mather arose and asked, 'Is Mr. Alexander Kilham here?' The reply being in the
affirmative, he resumed, 'Before we proceed to business I wish, by permission of the President, to
put a few questions to Mr. Kilham.' The request being granted, Mather asked him, 'How long is it
since you were received into full connection?' 'Eleven years.' 'Who received you?' 'Mr. Wesley.' 'Did
he not at the same time give you a copy of the large Minutes with these words written on them, and
signed by himself: "As long as you walk by these rules we shall rejoice to receive you as a
fellow-laborer?" "'He did so.' 'Do you retract that agreement or covenant?' 'I desire time to consider
that question.' It was unanimously conceded, and he retired until the next morning, when he
presented a paper repeating the charges contained in the pamphlets, but not replying to those brought
against him by the Conference, nor answering Mather' s question. Before his paper was read the
Conference resolved to abide by the large Minutes of the Manchester Conference, or Mr. Wesley's
Plan as contained therein, both with respect to doctrine and discipline. Kilham voted for this pledge."
Stevens is a little obscure here, whether he means that Kilham voted for the pledge when made in
1791, which he certainly did, or that he voted for it now in its reaffirmation; for he was immediately
asked after his paper was read if he fully concurred with them respecting the rules of the Minutes,
and he replied, "I agree to them as far as they are agreeable with the Scripture;" to which vague
answer Moore replied, "We all agree with the Koran of Mohammed with the same limitations,
namely, as far as it is agreeable with the Scripture, but we agree to these rules because we believe
them to be agreeable with Scripture." Kilham offered no reply. The Secretary, Dr. Coke, then cited
passages from Kilham's various publications as charges which he made against the preachers and the
church government; respecting the former, he gave vague answers, and to the latter he raised
objections in accordance with his own more liberal political sentiments; after long discussion he was
desired to withdraw, and the Conference, having considered the case, ordered, "That any letters sent
in Mr. Kilham's favor should be read, but that no letters against him, in reference to the new rules
or plans which he desired to introduce, should be read." This has the appearance of being so ultra-fair