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“Redeeming the Time”: the Making of Early American Methodism

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“Redeeming the Time”: the Making of Early American Methodism “REDEEMING THE TIME”: THE MAKING OF EARLY AMERICAN METHODISM By Michael Kenneth Turner Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Religion May, 2009 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Dean James Hudnut-Beumler Professor M. Douglas Meeks Professor James P. Byrd Professor Dennis C. Dickerson Copyright ©2009 by Michael Kenneth Turner Al Rights Reserved To my ever-supportive and loving wife, Stephanie and To my father, Thomas, who helped every step of the way iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The idea for this dissertation took nascent form during my time as a participant in the 2006 Wesley Studies Seminar. I am very grateful for the fellowship from Duke Divinity School that enabled me to participate in the seminar and do early research on the dissertation. In particular, I would like to thank that group’s helpful leader and organizer, Dr. Richard Heitzenrater. I am also appreciative of the conversations, suggestions, and encouragement I received from Dean Laceye Warner (Duke Divinity School), Dr. Jason Vickers (United Theological Seminary), Dr. Sarah Lancaster (Methodist Theological School of Ohio), Dr. Rex Matthews (Candler School of Theology), and Dr. Steve McCormick (Nazarene Theological Seminary) both during and following the seminar. I am also thankful for all my colleagues and mentors at Vanderbilt University. First and foremost, I would like to thank the members of my dissertation committee. Dean James Hudnut-Beumler, my chair, is among the most knowledgeable students of American Religious History that I know. I am very grateful for his guidance through the program. Dr. M. Douglas Meeks not only possesses a rich and thorough understanding of theology and Wesleyan history, but is also a continual source of encouragement. He has been one of my biggest supporters at Vanderbilt. I am very appreciative of the opportunities and confidence he regularly places in me. Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson is among the most skilled historians I know. I am particularly grateful for his teaching me that Methodism in American cannot be fully understood until one takes into account the disenfranchised and rival Wesleyan traditions that appeared in response to the actions and shortcomings of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I would also like to iv thank the multi-talented, Dr. James P. Byrd. Beyond being a knowledgeable historian of American religion, Jimmy has been a helpful advocate and guide through the rocky terrain of graduate education. There are a number of professors and friends who have helped me both with this project and throughout my schooling. During my time as a student at Candler School of Theology, I received tremendous mentorship and encouragement from my advisor Dr. E. Brooks Holifield, Dr. Gary Laderman, and Dr. W. Steven Gunter. While at Vanderbilt University, I had the good fortune of working with a variety of talented faculty members and students. I am particularly thankful to Dr. Dale Johnson, Dr. Kathleen Flake, Dr. Patout Burns, the late Dr. Howard Harrod, Dr. Michael Stephens, Professor Miles S. Mullins, and Rev. Mark E. Reynolds. I am also thankful to my dear friends Fred and Teresa Dailey; they graciously allowed me to utilize their home as an office during a portion of the document’s writing. Nobody was as important to me in the completion of this dissertation than my family. I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I received from my siblings, Noelle, Nathaniel, and Seneca, as well as my parents, Fran, Dan, Nancy, and Thomas, and my late great aunts, Bea and Ruby. I have dedicated this dissertation to two people who were particularly helpful in its preparation, my wife Stephanie and my father Dr. Thomas N. Turner. Stephanie has supported me, suffering and rejoicing in ever step of the graduate process. My father, who teaches at the University of Tennessee, inspired in my love of history at an early age. He read every word of this dissertation and made innumerable suggestions that have helped shape it into a better document. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION.................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................. iv I. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................1 A. General Overview...................................................................................................1 B. Relationship to Recent Scholarship .......................................................................6 C. Contribution of this Study ...................................................................................16 D. Chapter Outline ....................................................................................................17 II. FOUNDING .............................................................................................................21 A. Methodism and the New World .........................................................................21 1. The Accidental Rise of Methodism ..................................................................21 2. The Cry for Structure.........................................................................................23 3. Challenges of the American Context................................................................26 4. The Ordinance Controversy..............................................................................31 B. The Architects of American Methodism .............................................................33 1. Wesley’s Plan .....................................................................................................33 2. Wesley’s Missionaries to the New World........................................................40 3. Asbury and Coke ...............................................................................................44 C. The Christmas Conference...................................................................................50 1. Christmas Eve Sessions .....................................................................................50 2. The Thirteenth General Conference.................................................................53 D. Conclusion: Consolidating the Movement.........................................................63 III. ENTHUSIASM ........................................................................................................65 A. Enthusiasm and Methodism................................................................................65 1. Worship and Enthusiasm in Early Methodism...............................................65 2. Quarterly Meetings and Methodist Enthusiasm.............................................69 3. Methodism and the Great Revival Trend in the Early Republic ...................72 B. The Camp Meeting Phenomena...........................................................................77 1. The Rise of Camp Meetings ..............................................................................77 2. Camp Meeting Excesses....................................................................................80 3. Defending the Meetings....................................................................................84 C. Enthusiasm and its Discontents...........................................................................85 1. The Formalists....................................................................................................86 2. Limits and Quarterly Meetings ........................................................................89 3. Correcting Excess...............................................................................................93 D. Conclusion: Enthusiasm Tempered ....................................................................97 vi IV. CHALLENGES.......................................................................................................101 A. The High Church Critique.................................................................................101 1. The Danger of Populism: Charles Wesley’s Critique ...................................101 2. Authority Sustained: John Wesley’s Response..............................................108 B. The Republican Critique.....................................................................................111 1. The Council ......................................................................................................111 2. James O’Kelly and the Presbyterian Critique................................................114 3. Authority Decried: Schism and the Conference of 1792...............................120 4. Authority Sustained: The Aftermath .............................................................123 C. The African Methodist Critique.........................................................................127 1. A Methodist Among Methodists: Richard Allen ..........................................128 2. Allen’s Critique................................................................................................130 3. A House Divided: The Formation of the A.M.E. Church.............................133 D. Conclusion: Denominational Methodism.........................................................135 V. THE WESLEYANS ................................................................................................137
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