May 23, 1804 — to the British Conference
BALTIMORE, MD.
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 363
It was customary for the General Conference to address the British Conference. The addresses exchanged reports on the state of the church with felicitations each to the other. Here the chief question is where Coke should work.
BALTIMORE, MD.
May 23, 1804
[TO THE BRITISH CONFERENCE]1
Very dear and much-respected Brethren:
Your very kind and affectionate Address, from your Manchester Conference, dated August 5, 1803, was presented to us by our mutual friend and brother, Dr. Coke. We always have received, and hope we ever shall receive, such Addresses from our European brethren with the most cordial sentiments of Christian friendship: for it is our ardent wish that the European and American Methodists may improve and strengthen the bonds of Christian union, and, as far as possible, reciprocally build each other up in the great and glorious work in which they are both so arduously employed. And we pray God, that our adorable Jehovah and Redeemer may graciously be pleased to prosper both you and us, in the blessed work of proclaiming the honour of our God, and of saving the precious souls of mankind.
We truly rejoice in the information given us, that the Gospel of Christ continues to prevail among you; and that the mission among the native Irish is marked with hopeful and flattering prospects. Also we are much pleased with the account of your prosperous mission in the Principality of Wales, in the Welsh language. Whenever we hear of the prosperity of Zion, and of the success of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, it gives us a pleasure far superior to our powers of expression: hence we are ready, upon such occasions, with overflowing hearts of love and gratitude, to proclaim with shouts of joy and gladness, “Not unto us, not unto us; but unto the Lord,” be more than human ascriptions of praise, of honour, and glory! May the united labours of your hands be prospered more and more! We also feel peculiar satisfaction at the information of the union and harmony which subsist among you in doctrine and discipline; and that you, our elder brethren, are steadfast and persevering in the divine articles of the essential Divinity and efficacious Atonement of Jesus Christ, and of all the benefits and privileges flowing from and connected with the same. We cordially embrace the same important truths, and are determined to stand fast and immovable in the support of this essential foundation of all our hopes.
The Lord has greatly prospered our labours in these United States. We have at present increased to considerably more than one hundred thousand members; and the work still goes on in a great and glorious manner. Our brethren are much in the spirit of active perseverance in this blessed work; and, by the blessing of God, our hearts are cemented together in love, and are bound in the ties of harmony and unity.
With respect to our much-esteemed friend and beloved brother, Dr. Coke, he arrived among us last autumn, and was received by us with the sincerest sentiments of respect and affection. Since he came into these States, he has travelled about three thousand miles, visiting our principal societies, and preaching to crowded assemblies of our citizens. His time, we trust, has been profitably and acceptably spent among us, and we hope agreeably to himself. Your request for his return was taken into our most serious and solemn consideration; and, after a full and deliberate examination of the reasons which you assigned in favour of his return, we have concluded that there is a probability of his being more eminently useful at present in the way you point out, than for us to retain him; especially as our beloved Brother Asbury now enjoys better health than he did some years ago; and as we believe, with the assistance he can receive from our esteemed Brother Whatcoat, the work of superintending the Church and Societies can be accomplished in the absence of Dr. Coke. We therefore have consented to the Doctor’s return to Europe, upon the express condition that he will return to us at any time, when three of our Annual Conferences shall call him; or, at farthest, that he shall return to our next General Conference.2
And now, dear brethren, we commend you to our common Lord, and to the word of His grace; hoping that you and we shall ever remain in the unity of the Spirit, and bonds of Christian and ministerial affection, until we meet together around the throne of God. Pray for us.
We are, very dear and much-respected Brethren, truly and sincerely yours, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Signed, by order and in behalf of the General Conference, FRANCIS ASBURY
RICHARD WHATCOAT
JOHN WILSON, SECRETARY
Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, II, 155-57
Notes (2)
- Answer to the address of the British Conference. ↩
- This 1804 address was answered by the British Conference of 1807. “The Address from the British, to the Methodists’ General Conference in America,” signed by John Barber as president at Liverpool on August 11, 1807 (Coke was again secretary), again transmitted the quadrennial request: “What you have said concerning our present worthy Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Coke, is no matter of wonder to us, who have long known his value, the honour which our Lord has put upon him, and have enjoyed the fruit of his labour. By a vote of our Conference this day, he was requested to continue with us, in case his engagements with you, which he has repeatedly stated to us, should admit of it.” Coke did not return for the General Conference of 1808 and never saw America again. The address of the British Conference of 1807 did not mention his projected visit, nor did the American leaders endeavor to enforce the strict terms of his agreement with them. Though politely expressed, there is no real warmth in the letter; and Coke’s reception at the Georgia Conference at the outset of his tour in 1803 had convinced him that he was really not wanted in America. (See the letter of November 23, 1803.) (Frank Baker.) ↩