History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

presidency the Conference would not allow the title "the Methodist Episcopal Church," but
addressed it instead "To Mr. Francis Asbury, and all the conferences of the people called Methodists
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in America." If it is either a marked discourtesy or a purposeful correction to answer any address
otherwise than as claimed by the addresser, then this discourtesy or correction was frequently made,
as will be evidenced later in this History. Stevens also says of these last modifications, "The changes
admitted were purely ecclesiastical; they touched not directly the moral discipline of Methodism."
The sentences are pregnant. Well would it have been for American Methodism if the same liberality
had been exhibited in the days of O'Kelly and of the Reformers of 1820-30. All either asked was
ecclesiastical changes. The "moral discipline" is a catch-phrase, and occasion will offer for its
analysis and interpretation, specially by its wrongful application in 1820-30.
Another effect of the expulsion of Kilham was the organization of the "New Connection
Methodists." After his separation from the Wesleyan Conference his indomitable energy and pious
zeal sent him up and down the British Islands, everywhere arousing "the people called Methodists"
to an assertion of their equality of representation in all the departments of church work. His residence
in Scotland had imbued him with the Presbyterian polity as most scriptural, and he was bold in its
advocacy. The Dissenters opened their houses of worship to him, while the Wesleyans shut him out.
It divided societies and made parties everywhere. The Conference leaders set themselves against him
with all their power and influence. Kilham was now reinforced by William Thorn and others of the
preachers, who established at Leeds, the very headquarters of Methodism in Yorkshire, a periodical
organ, called The Monitor. In the thick of his aggressive fight, his devoted and saintly wife died a
triumphant death, and it was noised abroad, much to his advantage, so small are the circumstances
sometimes that further allied ideas. He preached three times on the day of her interment. One
hundred and sixty-seven leaders and other Wesleyans of Leeds espoused his opinions and issued a
defensive address. It spread to other towns, and the agitation shook the old Connection to its
foundations. Smith says: "There is a great appearance of disunion in the body now. How these things
will terminate God only knows. We are like chaos. But He can bring order out of confusion." The
unwisdom of Kilham's expulsion was thus demonstrated, but it was too late to recall it; and the
success of the movement he and his coadjutors inaugurated was in proof that the principles for which
they contended were not inconsistent with Methodism, and that no such disaster, as was firmly
believed and honestly declared by the Conference party, would have ensued if it had acceded to this
popular demand.
Let a friendly pen tell the history briefly. It is from Rev. J. C. Watts, D.D. (an honorary degree
conferred by Western Maryland College of the Methodist Protestant Church), in a symposium in the
New York Independent of March 5, 1891, on the Centenary of Wesley's death. The New Connection
Methodists, or the New Itinerancy, as it was first called, was organized by a Conference held at
Leeds in 1797, of which William Thom, a Wesleyan minister of twenty-three years' standing, was
elected President and Alexander Kilham, of eleven years' standing, Secretary, "the former the Nestor,
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and the latter the Achilles, of the great struggle for popular rights which then ensued." The
Conference started with seven ministers and 5000 members. The foundation principle of the
organization is thus formulated: "That the Church itself is entitled, either collectively in the persons
of its members, or representatively by persons chosen out of and by itself, to a voice and influence
in all acts of legislation and government." "Its notable characteristic is equipoise of power, cleric and
laic; and this is demonstrated in the regulations that all committees, district meetings, and