Smyrna times., 1884-09-17

from the comparatively dense popula-
ton of Great Britain, to the sparse
population of our country. New York
city with its million of people, as it
now is, was then little more than half
as large as the city of Wilmington, Of
to-day. Philadelphia was also a city
of probably 10000 people. Wilmington
was likely less than 1000. And yet
Delaware, south of Wilmington, was
relatively much more populOus than it
is now. The whole State having now
10000, had then about 10000 people.
1t is quite certain that the centre of
population for the United States was
then on this Peninsula, not far from
Wilmington. These figures will help /.
us to realize something of the situation |
as to population. Between Philadel- |
phia and New York Bishop Coke and |
his companions found a wilderness, the |
country population increasing in densi-
ty as he left Philadelphia. This glance |
affords some estimate of the country
at to this item
But we may inquire as to what they
foresaw of these times. To the extent
they were able to look forward and
see something of the history made dur
ing the century, they were excited by
enthusiastic expectations. American
Independence-the birth of a nation
was an event calculated to lift the veil
a little, and lead to speculatiOns Of
coming greatness; and however i'm
possible it may have been to imagine
the actual progress, yet very much less
doubtless, seemed wonderful. The
! growth Of the nation was an Opportu-
nifty for church growth, and just as we
derive no little inspiration from what
we believe and hope, so, we do not
doubt, they found an elatiOn, born of
religious confidence and zeal, which
made them feel as if they stood upon
great stage, actors in affairs which had
world wide significance.
But we must take account of their
religious enthusiasm, especially in Or
der to estimate the Importance of this
meeting. They had religious charac-
ter and experience of a high order.
They could encounter the perils of the
ocean and the wilderness, and sing and
shout the praise of God whatever the
tempest might be- To ford rivers, or
to pillow their heads upon a stone, if
need be, were hardships not feared, nor
thought of as reasons why their travels
should be deferred. Such men, under
such divine and gracious influences,
cOnfiding fully in divine leadership,
anticipating great triumphs, halting in
the wilderness to settle some matters
Of organization and form, may excite
our admiration and account largely for
our spiritual and wonderful heritage.
As we read of the greeting Coke re-
ceiyed from Asbury, we cannot doubt
the embrace and kiss were begotten of
religious fervOr, more than courtesy or
any ordinary feeling of welcome. As
soon as the time admitted they ad-
dressed themselves to the work. Gar
rettson was despatched hither and
thither to inform the preachers of the
Christmas Conference, and work was
laid out for Coke and Asbury, and at
! once they went to the churches and
from church to church, preaching the
everlasting Gospel.
Six weeks thus spent together and
/, then they met the preachers of the
= American Methodist Church. The
! number was not large, only sixty being
: present. Before they left Barratt'S
q Chapel, we may suspect they had esti
mated the character of the gathering
q at the Christmas Conference, and the
q spirit of the men who were its mem
q bers. We may be sure that Asbury''
itinerant interviews with the preacher
n enabled him to appreciate their senti
> ments on ecclesiastical, as well as Othel
I subjects.
d At this conference Bishop Coke tool
If the chair, and presented his credential
n from Mr.. Wesley. 1t was agreed, say
n Asbury, to form ourselves into an Epis
o copal Church, and to have superinten
3. dents, elders and deacOns. In tn,
minutes of that time it is said, W.
II formed ourselves into an Independen
d Church, and following the counsel o
$ John Wesley, who recommended tn
Z, episcopal mode of church government
S. we thought it best to become an Epis
e copal Church, making the episcOpa
d Office elective, and the elected superin
d tendent or bishop amenable to tn
d body of ministers and preacher:
is They accepted, then the advice Q
g Mr.. Wesley, but it is significant, tina
of they appended a note to his letter O
re advice, in which they say: As tn
ID translators of our own version of tn
re Bible have used the English wor
er bishop, instead of superintendent,
ii has been thought by us that it woul
e. appear more scriptural to adopt the
ne term bishop" In the light of th
lis spirit of independence we can under
lv stand why Mr. Asbury declined to az
of cept the superintendency, on Mr. We!
of ley's appointment, unless, in additiO
i thereto, his brethren of the conferenC
I'd should elect him to that office; where
&C. upon, it is said, both Asbury and Cox
"a were unanimously elected.
70, Custom and sentiment have a grea
y, power sometimes, even when they al
not supported by common sense, {
ce any legitimate authority. The pr
r. ceedings in the organization Of the
be +. Church, however, were cOnfOrme
n as far as possible to custom, and al.
I'M to the prevailing sentiments Of the a
tors, and We're supported, as they b
~, lieved, by the highest and best autho
,ly ity. They fully believed that Il
al Scriptures justified their course. job
It's Wesley did not doubt that bishops al
". presbyters were of the same order al
ct. have the same right to Ordain. Hem
IN: in the credentials given Coke, he say
ev Il, John Wesley, Presbyter of Il
for Church of England, think myself to |
yer Providentially called at this time,
lid set apart some persons for the work
,ch the ministry in America. And, ther
fore, under the protection of Almigh
ey God, and with an eye single to
i'm glory, have this day set apart as a S
he perintendent, by the imposition of n
of hands and prayer (being assisted
eat other ordained ministers), Thorn
ers Coke, doctor of civil law, a presbyt
nv. of the Church of England, and a m;
nd whom 1 Judge to be well qualified
YES that great work" Hooker, who is
led high authority on ecclesiastical ord,
not says: There may be sometimes We
on Just and sufficient reasons to allow {
ern dination without bishop. The who
hat Church visible being the true origin
, of subject of all power, it hath not or,
sla- narily allowed any other than bishO
.lso alone to ordain."
The implication then follows IL
oat under extraordinary circumstances
ep- may do what it has the full power a
lew authority to do, namely, depart frC
five the ordinary way. The Christmas CC
/ of ference adopted as part of their pl
at ceedings the following question a
ent answer: "If by death, expulsion
ing otherwise, there be no superintel
and ent remaining in our church, WI
pro- shall we do? Ans.-The conferel
mel shall elect a suDarintendent and