The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

preach his last sermon In America, and remarks
IN hia journal" that his own mind was "a
little detected, and he felt some desire TO
return to England, but was willing TO commit
his way to the Lord and should do nothing
that would separate him from his brethren. add
ing, Il hope to live and die a Methodist" Ran
kin left the capes Of Delaware In March, 1878,
and arrived at the Cove Of Cork in the following
April. Another English preacher. Martin
Rodda, having been SO indiscreet as to distribute
copies of the Kings proclamation, was obliged
TO escape to the coast, by the help OF slaves, but
reached Philadelphia and took refuge In the
British fleet. or the English preachers, only
Shadford remained with Asbury, and he urged
upon his fellow laboror to consider whether II
was not their duty to return homo. They
agreed to spend n day together in fasting and
prayer for q settlement OF this question.
but their impressions at It's close were
dissimilar. Said Asbury: my convictions are
as clear and strong as ever that 1t is my duty to
remain" Shadford said: My work In Amer
lea is done; I feel with as much certainty that 1t
Is my duty to return now, as ! felt II my duty to
como hithcr four years ago." Asbury, subsc-
quently referring to Shudford's departure,
wrote: II I'm under some hcaviness Of mind.
But II Is no wonder. Three thousand miles
from home; my friends have left me. / am con
sidered by some as an enemy OF the country,
every day liable to DO seized by violence and
abused. However, all this Is but q trihe to suffer
for Christ and the salvation OF the soul. Lord.
stand by mel" Almost all Methodists were now.
in truth, suspected OF being Tories. In
Maryland, where Asbury was now preach
ing. the test oaths required a pledge to
tsko up arms, II called upon TO do SO by the
authorities; this was against Asbury's con-
science rs a preacher Of tho Gospel. He, there
fora rptiroJ o., nntu ,alf, 1t. h,,,,a ,Vtth
Judge White, Chief Justice OF the Common
Pleas and a devout member Of the Church OF
England. In April, 1878, however, Judge White
was hlinself arrested on the charge of being a
Methodist and prcsumptivoly n Tory. Regard
ing himself as, to some extent. the cause OF his
hosts arrest. Asbury determined TO depart us
soon as possible. He took refuge in q swamp,
and was hiudon among strangers for q month.
Eventually White was acquitted, and Asbury
again took refuge with him.
Tho Conference of 1873 was held at Lecsburr,
Va; it, records show a decline In members OF s73,
and In stationed preachers ofscven. Nevertheless,
six new circuits in Virginia v,re added at this
Conference. md Tho circuit In North Carolina WAS
divided into three: on account Of the war, how
ever. Ave Of the old circuits were wholly omitted
from the minutes; these were New York. Phila-
dclphia, Chester, Frederick, and Norfolk. Al a
NAA ~ q . bb Nh' iiohoo
OF Judge White in Delaware. certain questions
were mooted which were destined to exert n far
reaching influence over American Methodists.
The first OF these questions was the following:
Ought not Brother Asbury TO act rs general
assistant in America T. Tho answer was: He
ought; first, on account OF his age; sec
ondly, because he was originally appointed
by Mr.. Wesley; thirdly, because he was subso-
quently Joined with Messrs. Rankin and shnd-
ford by express order from Mr.. Wesley" The
second question was: How far shall his power
extend q The reply given was that, after hear
ing every preacher for and against what might
be in debate. the right OF determination should
rest withlhim. AT a subsequent Conference, held
for the Southern stations in the same year. 1t mp
pcared that, owing to extensive ~revivals In parts
OF the country not directly affected by the war.
the number OF members had risen to s,577, an
increase OF ., 1872 over the preceding year; the
number OF preachers was 10. No statistics were
given for New York. Philadelphia was credited
with 80 members. the rest OF Pennsylvania with
only 40. and the whole State of New Jersey
with but 40; Delaware had 795. tho Bal
timorc circuit BOO. and nearly all tho remainder
belonged to Virginia and North Carolina. Dur
Ing the year named u779 troubles arose from
the desire Of the southern people to have
the sacraments administered 10 them. The Con-
Y VI khu toiAAtAh tshNiohb . ~
appointment OF a committee to ordnin ministers
for tho express purpose OF administering the
sacramento. Most OF the preachers In the South
and the larger part Of the members sym
pathized with the plan. Their arguments
were that the war had separated them from
Wesley; that most of the ~clergymen Of the
Church OF England had fed the country,
and that tho few who were left, with ono
or two exceptions, were destitute OF tho spirit
Of piety and had thrown OFF, In largo part,
the semblance. Tho result was that the Meth
odist people woro generally deprived OF tho
Lords Supper. and there was no'one to baptize
their children. The question OF recognizing the
innovation came up at the ninth Annual Confer
encc, held at Baltimore In April. 1880. The
business transacted showed that the society was,
in some respects, developing into a distinct de-
nomination. Provision was made for the APP
pointment Of trustees, and 1t was ordered that
every travelling preacher should take "a license
at every conference, 10 DO signed by Brother
Asbury. On tho other hand. the Conference voted.
first, that Methodist preachers should continue
in close connection with the Church OF Eng
land. and should press their people to q closer
communion with her; secondly. that the Con-
ference disapproved OF the step taken by the
brethren In Virginia thirdly. that the latter
could no longer be looked upon As Mcthodists in
connection with Mr.. Wesley and the Baltimore
Conference till they came back. II Is note-
worthy that this Baltimore Conference required
those travelling preachers who held slaves TO
promise to set them free; that 1t expressed dis
appreciation OF all Methodists who kept slaves,
and that 1t voted to disown any brethren who
would not denounce tho practice OF distilling
grain into liquor.
VII.
In tho spring OF 1880 Asbury emerged from his
compulsory retirement, which had lasted moro
than two years, and. after meeting with the
preachers In conference at Baltimore. made a
tour through Virginia for the purpose of sot-
Ting the differences concerning tho ordinances.
There were at this time no fewer than twenty