Smyrna times., 1880-02-11
For the Smyrna Times
Methodist History on the Peninsula.


Methodist History on the Peninsula.
Mr.. Thomas Coke was born ia I747 in
south Wales. His father was an eminent
Surgeon, highly respected and in affluent
circumstances. Thomas Coke had a Collie
gate education. At the age Of twenty
one he was chosen a common council. nan
Tor the borough of Brecon and at the age
OF twenty FIVE, he was elected chief magis.
trate of the same borough and filled the
office with great reputation. In 1875, he
took out his degree of Doctor Of Civil
Laws. Having received ordination from
the Church OF England, he was prepared to
enter upon the work of q clergyman"
. In l717 he connected himself witk Mr..
Wesley. In 177S he was stationed in
London where his congregations were
large, and his success very encouraging.
After he had labored with Mr.. Wesley for
about seven years, he met him at Bristol,
where he was set apart, by Mr.. Wesley.
assisted by Mr. Creighton for the office of
superintendent, or bishop, over the Metho.
dlsts, In the United States of America.
He landed in New York ON the Sd dav
OF November, and spent his first Sabbath
IN America, preaching fer DR.. McGaw at
St. Paul's, and for the Methodists at St.
Georges"
Coming down the Peninsula he stopped
at Duck Creek Cross Roads, and lodged
with Mr. John Cole, whose ashes now re.
pose in tho Peterson Cemetery near this
town. From hencs he went to Mr.. Bassstt's
at Dover, and from thence to Barrett's
Chapel. The Quarterly Meeting was on
hand at which the semi-annual changes
took place among the preachers labering
on the Peninsula. Most of the preachers,
and large attendance of the laitv were
present. DR.. Coke preached on, Christ
our wisdom, righteousness, sanctifcation
and resumption
"Oa Mr. Asbury's return from Snow
Hill, Md, to the Quarterly Meeting he
found DIR. Coke and Messrs. Whatcoat and
Nasey at the Chapel, which was tho first
knowledge he had Of their arrival in Amer.
lea. The Dr. had scarcely finished his dis.
course when Mr.. Asbury came into the
congregation. They were personally un.
known to each other" Mr. Ezekiel Cooper
IS ths author Of the following: "At the
close OF the sermon a solemn pause and n
deep silence ensued, as an interval for in
PRODUCTION and salutaton. Mr. Asbury
assembled the pulpit, and, without making
hllAself known by words, clasped the DR..
IN his arms, and accosted him with the
holy salutation OF primitive Christianity.
The other preachers participating in the
tender senslbilities of these salutations.
were molted into tears. The congregation
ceught the glowing emotion, and the whole
assembly, as if struck with a shock of
heavenly electricity, burst into hcod of
tears"
"Tho DR.. and eleven preachers dined at
the widow Barratt's. The object of his
visit was made known. The preachers
conferred together, and it was agreed upon
TO call all the preachers together in Balti.
more, on the following Christmas, to carry
out Mr.. Wesley's plan. Mr.. Garrettson was
sent oil to call the preachers together. In
about SIX weeks he travelled twelve hun.
bred miles, and brought about sixty of
them together"
As 1t was Mr.. Asbury's wish that the DR..
should 60 upon the route which he had
Just been over, he provided him with the
means OF conveyance, and Harry" to &C,
company him. He had one or two services
each day. The morning meeting began at
twelve, and lasted from three to six hours.
Evory day seemed like a .SaJbath.dau, on
account Of the large number of people
that came together to hear preaching, but
more especially to receive baptism and the
eucharist, which he administered each dav
where there was Methodist society. He
visited and preached at thirty different
places on the Peninsula and then went to
the western shore Of Maryland.
The week before Conference, DR.. Coke.
Messrs. Asbury, Whatcoat, Vasey, and a
few more OF the senior preachers met at
Mr. (Nn10hfc tn
and minutes Of Methodism. On the Oath
of December they left for Baltimore, where
they met a few preachers; and at ten
o clock A. NJ, Conference began in the
Lovely Lane Chapel. Before Conference
ended there were about sixty. ont of
eighty one present. DR.. Coke being in the
chair, presented Mr. Wesley's letter to the
Conference, in which he gave the reasons
of the course he had taken, in giving
orders to the Methodists of this country.
This letter was considered, and Dr. Coke
and Mr.. Asbury who had been appointed
by Mr.. Wesley, joint superintendent were
unanimously elected to that office by the
preachers present. They agreed and re-
solved to form Methodist Episcopal Church.
On Saturday, 25th, being the second dav
of Conference, Mr.. Asbury was ordained
deacon by DR.. Coke, assisted by Messrs.
Whatcoat and Vasey; en- the 26th, being
Sunday, he was ordained elder by the same
Presbytery; and on Monday 9th, he was
ordained superintendent, the Rev. P. w.
Otterbine, of the German Church, assisted
the above named Presbytery in setting him
apart. On Tuesday 2Sth, and two following
days the Conference was engaged in con.
sidering rules of discipline, and electing to
orders. On Friday 3lst several deacons
were ordained. The following day the
contemplated college at Abingdon was
under consideration, and ON Sunday one
deacon and ten elders were ordained, and
the Conference ended in peace and IOve
DR.. Coke preached every day at noon,
while the Conference lasted, and some one
OF the preachers, morning and night. The
preaching was in the chapels in tewn, and
Point, and in Mr.. Ottsrbine's church.
ST. II.
SMYRNA, Feb. LIST, 1880.
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