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History of the M.E. Church, Vol. Ii WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library M. E. Church History HISTORY OF THE M.E. CHURCH, VOL. II By Abel Stevens, LL.D. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” Heb 12:14 Spreading Scriptural Holiness to the World Wesleyan Heritage Publications © 1998 HISTORY of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the United States of America By Abel Stevens, LL.D., Author of "The History of the Religious Movement of the Eighteenth Century called Methodism," etc. VOLUME II The Planting and Training of American Methodism New York: Published By Carlton & Porter, 200 Mulberry-Street 1868 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by Carlton & Porter, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York HISTORY of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH By Abel Stevens VOLUME II The Planting and Training of American Methodism CONTENTS VOLUME II -- BOOK II -- CHAPTER VI CONFERENCES AND PROGRESS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Annual Conferences before the Organization of the Church -- Their Character and Powers -- Philadelphia Session of 1775 -- Important Success -- John Cooper -- Robert Lindsay -- William Glendenning -- William Duke -- John Wade -- Daniel Ruff at Abbott's Family Altar -- Edward Dromgoole -- First Baltimore Session, 1776 -- Its Character -- Freeborn Garrettson joins it -- Great Prosperity -- Methodism tends Southward -- Nicholas Watters -- James Foster -- Isham Tatum -- Francis Poythress -- Richard Webster -- Session of 1777 -- Scenes at it -- Continued Success -- The "Sacramental Question" -- Caleb B. Pedicord -- John Tunnell -- Reuben Ellis -- Le Roy Cole -- John Dickens -- John Littlejohn -- Prominent Characters of the Ministry of these Times -- First Conference in Virginia, 1778 -- Troubles of the Times -- The "Sacramental Controversy" -- James O'Kelly -- Richard Ivey -- A Scene in his Preaching -- John Major -- Power of his Eloquence -- Henry Willis -- Philip Gatch retires -- Garrettson's Reminiscences of the Early Ministry VOLUME II -- BOOK II -- CHAPTER VII CONFERENCES AND PROGRESS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH -- CONTINUED The Two Conferences of 1779 -- The Sacramental Controversy -- followed by a temporary Rupture -- The Right of the Question -- Vindication of the Sacramental Party -- John Haggerty -- Nelson Reed -- Philip Cox -- He calls out Bishops McKendree and George -- Scenes in his Ministry -- Conference of 1780 -- Conclusion of the Sacramental Controversy -- William Partridge -- James O. Cromwell -- Thomas Foster -- Caleb Boyer -- George Mair -- Scenes in a Love-Feast -- Ignatius Pigman -- Reminiscences VOLUME II -- BOOK II -- CHAPTER VIII CONFERENCES AND PROGRESS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH -- CONTINUED Conference of 1781 -- Union confirmed -- Proceedings -Progress -- Sketches of Preachers -- Jeremiah Lambert -- Joseph Wyatt -- Philip Bruce -- His last Words to his Conference -Joseph Everett -- Character of the Ministry -- Sessions of 1782-- Asbury and Jarratt -- Prosperity of the Year -- Sketch of Peter Moriarty -- Woolman Hickson -- He introduces Methodism into Brooklyn -- Ira Ellis -- John Easter -- Illustrations of his Ministry -- Sessions of 1783 -- Continued Success -Proceedings -- Small Number of Married Preachers -- William Phoebus -- Thomas Ware -- Characteristic Interview with Asbury-- Isaac Rollins' Death -- Asbury's Letters to Shadford and Wesley VOLUME II -- BOOK II -- CHAPTER IX CONFERENCES AND PROGRESS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH -- CONCLUDED Conferences of 1784 -- Wesley's Counsels to the Preachers -- Proceedings -- First Obituary Notice -- Methodism Crosses the Alleghenies -- Mountaineer Local Preachers -- The "Three Bishops" -- Memorable Pioneers -- Historical Importance of the Local Ministry -- Sketches of Preachers -- Isaac Smith -- Wilson Lee -- John Smith -- William Jessup VOLUME II -- BOOK III -- CHAPTER I ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH -- PREPARATIONS FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Dr. Thomas Coke -- His early Life -- He is "chimed" out of his Church -- Joins Wesley -- Importance of his Services -- Sketch of Thomas Vasey -- He sacrifices a Fortune for Methodism -- His Services -- Richard Whatcoat -- His Appearance and Character -- His early History -- His Labors and Sufferings in Ireland -- Necessity of Wesley's Measures for America -- Condition of American Methodism -- Condition of the Protestant Episcopal Church --Wesley solicits Ordinations from the Bishop of London for America -- Fletcher's Interest for America -- Rankin's Interview with him -- Wesley's Consultation with Coke -- The Ordinations at Bristol -- Wesley's Opinion on Church Polity -- Voyage of Coke and his Companions to America -- Their Arrival at New York -- At Philadelphia -- At Dover -- At Barrett's Chapel VOLUME II -- BOOK III -- CHAPTER II BISHOP COKE IN AMERICA Coke itinerating before the Christmas Conference -- Sketch of "Black Harry" -- Scenes on the Peninsula -- Black Harry's preaching -- Ware's Account of Coke -- The Bishop meets his English Associates, with Asbury and Black, of Nova Scotia, at Abingdon -- They are received at Perry Hall -- Coke and Black's Account of the Place -- Preparations for the Conference VOLUME II -- BOOK III -- CHAPTER III THE CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE -- ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The first General Conference -- Lovely Lane Chapel -- Wesley's Letter to the American Methodists -- Coke and Asbury elected Superintendents or Bishops -- Whatcoat's Account of the Proceedings -- Coke's Sermon at the Consecration of Asbury -- Character of the Conference -- Preachers present -- Were their Measures in accordance with Wesley's Intentions? --Expediency of the Episcopal Title of the New Church VOLUME II -- BOOK III -- CHAPTER IV ORGANIZATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH -- CONTINUED Legislative Proceedings of the Conference -- Its Records -- Wesley's "Large Minutes" -- Wesley's Prayer Book for American Methodism -- Gowns and Bands -- The Articles of Religion -- Wesley's continued Superintendence recognized -- The "Slavery Question" -- The Functions of Bishops, Elders, and Deacons defined -- Printing of the Minutes -- Salaries, or "Allowance" -- "Fees"-- "The Preachers' Fund" -- "The General Fund" -- Baptism -- The Lord's Supper and Class-Meetings VOLUME II -- BOOK III -- CHAPTER V THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL CHARACTER OF AMERICAN METHODISM Wesley's Abridgment of the Thirty-nine Anglican "Articles" -- Its Positive Features -- Its Negative Features -- Papal traces effaced -- The Sacraments -- Wesley's Opinion of Baptismal Regeneration determined by his Articles -- Distinctive Opinions of Wesley not mentioned in the American Articles -- Wesley's Arminianism -- His Doctrine of Assurance -- "Christian Perfection" -- Dr. Whedon's Statement -- Doctrinal Liberality of Methodism -- Did Wesley design the American "Articles" to be a Term of Church Membership? -- Peculiar Theological Attitude of Methodism -- The Ecclesiastical System of the New Church -- Its Synodal Bodies -- The General Conference -- Its Early History -- The Annual Conference -- Its Primitive Character and Proceedings -- Reading of the "Appointments" -- The Quarterly Conference -- Its Original Festival Character -- Classification of the Ministry -- The Bishop -- His extraordinary Powers and Amenability -- The "Assistant" or Preacher in Charge -- His Functions -- The "Helper" -- His Duties -- His severe Regimen -- How a call to preach is to be determined -- Ceremony of Reception in the Conference -- General Ministerial Discipline -- Field Preaching -- Visiting from House to House -- Uprooting of Popular Vices -- Studies -- Importance of Knowledge -- Pastoral Care of Children -- Fasting -- Preaching Habits -- Conduct toward one another -- Self-denial -- Circulation of Books -- The Methodist Society -- The Class-meeting and Class-leader -- Other Officers -- Symmetrical Polity of the Church -- Its New Historical Position. VOLUME II -- BOOK IV -- CHAPTER I EPISCOPAL TRAVELS OF COKE AND ASBURY, FROM THE CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE TO THE FIRST REGULAR GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1785--1792 The New Church -- Its Statistical Strength -- Its Territorial Range -- General Approval of the New Organization -- Coke Journeying Northward -- Southward -- Perils and Adventures -- Jarratt and Slavery -- Primitive Quarterly Meetings -- Contests with Slavery -- First Conference in North Carolina -- Coke and Asbury Dining with Washington -- Position of the Church on Slavery -- Its Failure -- Coke Returns to Europe -- Asbury Itinerating -- In Charleston -- Lays the Cornerstone of Cokesbury College -- Sketch of the Institution -- Its Destruction by Fire -- Coke in Europe -- He is Attacked by Charles Wesley -- Vindicated by John Wesley -- Projects Methodist Missions -- The Weslayan Mission Scheme an Inspiration of the Christmas Conference -- Coke Sails with Missionaries for Nova Scotia -- Providential Adversities -- Sublime Results -- West India Methodist Missions -- "Emancipation Eve" -- Coke at the First South Carolina Conference -- Methodism in the Farther South -- Coke Itinerating Re-embarks for Europe -- Asbury Itinerating -- Is Mobbed in Charleston -- First Conference in Georgia -- Asbury Crosses the Alleghenies -- First Conference beyond the Mountains -- Conference
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