Smyrna times., 1884-09-17
HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY THE REV. J. B.
QUIGG.

w CHS; ulSiulSoGu ny HIS ICCbOI, anu
threatened by mob among his parish
toner's" He very soon identified him
self fully with the MethOdists.
For several years he acted as q sub
bishop for Mr.. Wesley in Ireland. His
means, activity and spirit were such
that he could not serve in any subordi-
nate position, and therefore he planned
and executed great missionary schemes
eXpending tens of thousands of dollars
from his own purse. Stevens says, HE
was especially the foreign minister of
NethOdism." Such was the man whom
Wesley ordained, assisted by Presby-
ters Of the Church of England, to come
to America, and take steps deemed ne
cessary to the organization of the
American Methodist Church. At the
time of his appointment to this work he
was only 81 years old
Francis Asbury came to America in
1771. He had been i'll the ministry five
years, and was only twenty-six years
of age when he came to the New
World. He was born in the parish of
| HandwOrth SatffOrdshire, about four
miles from Birmingham, on the Goth
of August, 1745, so he was just two
years Coke's senior.
/ His mother seems to have been the
chief influence in his conversion, and
i'll his introduction to the Methodist
ministry. He had been some months
under the impression he ought to 90
to America, and hence in III, when
at the Wesleyan Conference a call was
made, he volunteered his services, and
was appointed Mr.. Wesley's assistant
in America. At that time there were
ten preachers and about 600 members.
The contrast between these two men
was complete in almost every respect.
Coke was a child Of fortune Asbury
was penniless. The one was favored
with the largest opportunity for educa-
ton the other was stinted to the mar
roWest chance, and acquired what he
obtained, principally, alter he became
a preacher. The first was Of noble
blood but Asbury was Il plebeian. We
know how insignificant this is, but in
many respects, in that day, it made &
great difference. But this contrast was
notable in the subjects Of the great
revival under Wesley. 1t reached the
high and the low, the educated and tn,
ignorant, the rich and the poor. Is no
this fact proof OF its genuine charac
ter as great religious work ? Doubt
less the ignorant and more irrespOnsi
bic classes are more easily moved b,
any excitement. They have nothing t,
lose by change. Coke had position ant
/ standing. To become a Methodist wa
to incur Odium and hatred, and to los
the respect and favor of his friends
No doubt, men like Asbury, in humbl
station, had to feel something of tn
same dislike, for the Methodists wer
hated as a body.
Fourteen years elapsed from tn
time Of Asbury's appointmenttO Amer
, lea before the organization of the N
e | +. Church. This season was a perio
of great trial and difficulty, and yet c
great progress and prosperity. FroI
= 600 members in 177I the America
Methodists had increased in 1854 t
14,988. Now they had 50 preacher:
against only 10 at Asbury's coming.
American Independence had bee
won during these years and the Unite
States OF America were then fairly G.
tablished, as on the 18th of Decembe
1888, the President laid before Congres
, joint letter from the Ministers Of tn
United States, at Paris, accompanie
with the treaty between England an
the United States of America, signe
at Paris, September 3rd, 1888. Th
fact has a very important bearin
upon the ecclesiastical history
the NJ. +. Church, and therefor
needs to be particularly noted. BishC
Simpson said, in his address befot
Dean Stanley, that there is no 9th
J organization or communion on cart
. which so clearly and distinctly repr
sents the mind of John Wesley, as Il
NJ. Z. Church. We presume that tn
position was very justly and proper
assumed because the independence
the United States, cleared the way
all the distractions existing necessaI
T., ly in a union of Church and State, al
thus opened the way for the freest a
ton. Mr.. Wesley says in his remark
BILE letter, dated Bristol, September ]
1884, and addressed to " Mr.. Asbur
and our Brethren in America: BY
very uncommon train of PrOviden
. many of the provinces of North Anne
lea are totally disioined from t
~ mother country. The English COVER
~ ment has no authority over the
either civil or ecclesiastic."
:. He concludes his letter by sayir
"They are now at full liberty simI
- to follow the Scriptures and the prin
lo tive Church" There are no statemer
from the lips or pen of Mr.. WeslC
nor are there any facts in his condu
after this date, to qualify this positiC
we therefore conclude that Mr.. Wesl
considered his plan Of organization
the NJ. E. Church, embodied whate1
= was taught in the Scriptures, or col
be learned from the primitive chuI
"a, on this subject.
!, The providential relation of Wesl
as the founder of Methodism, gave h
justly very great influence over I
. work in this country. His control
the Wesleyan NJ. +. Church in Gru
s. Britain was absolute. The preach
at their conferences in this count
from time to time, until the Indepei
ence of our country, bound themsel'
g to obey John Wesley, and yield
- cheerfully to his dictatiOn. We cam
say what would have been their G.
duct if he had attempted to gov,
NQ them afterwards. 1t is manifest &
M, they comprehended the Significance
national independence upon their rt
tiOns to the English Church, and a
to Mr.. Wesley.
lW, Bishop Coke and Elders Whatc
- and Vasey set sail for America, S
tember 18th, 1884, and landed at n
ES York November 3rd, being forty-i
days on the passage. On the night
his arrival Bishop Coke preached
John street. Without delay he W
80 to Philadelphia, where, after hold
0h' services in the Methodist churches,j
reto. at st. Paul's Episcopal Church, he !
e .et OF ceeded southwark to Barratts Cha
The journey on horseback may h
required seven or eight days.
posing he left New York on the 5tl
November and speut two days in ]
ladelphia, his whole time is accour
for, arriving at Barratts Chapel on
and 14th
q on 81, We can appreciate this meeting
gans Coke and Asbury when we succee
.-u placing ourselves in some measur
the circumstances of these distingu
ed men at this time. It is quite
tain that not less than 10000 mem
.r for we're enrolled in the Methodist Chi
"a ! INV bv and the number may have TeaC
long $4,000. More than 14,O0O of these y