Undated — A Letter of Bishop Coke to the American Brethren

FROM 1807 TO THE

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1808

February 2, 1807 - May 27, 1808

CHAPTER 10

A LETTER OF BISHOP COKE TO THE AMERICAN

BRETHREN

Coke again offers himself to the American connection. He is most anxious to travel in America. He indicates again that his wife will be able to travel, too. He hopes to receive a speedy reply. However, the brethren did not urge his coming. On January 6, 1807, Coke had written a letter to the Baltimore Conference which was much the same as his letter to the New York Conference of January 6, 1806.

TAUNTON,SOMERSETSHIRE

February 2, 1807

My dear brother:¹

Sometime ago I sent you a long letter, addressed to the Baltimore² Annual Conference, and after that a short letter which I wished to have added to the former letter. But I request you to add the following to the first letter, instead of adding the second letter to it.

Perhaps, dear respected brethren, you will now ask, “Why did you offer yourself to us?” I answer, It was your unanimous vote at the General Conference, that the episcopacy wanted to be strengthened. I had been consecrated by our venerable Father in the Gospel, the late Mr. Wesley, a bishop particularly for America. I had been the means of establishing your present form of Church government, which in a general view, (though it may admit of improvements) I prefer to any other. I consider your union of infinite importance to the continuation of the present revival. Your continent makes about a third part³ of the land of the world. When fully cultivated and peopled, it will contain and support, perhaps, a thousand millions of inhabitants, most of whom, I expect, will speak the English language. To preserve, therefore, your union, that the work of God may progress with the progression of the population, and at last leaven the whole continent, lies exceedingly near my heart.

I know that I am perfectly unworthy of the honor of merely preaching in all your pulpits; but it is my duty to meet the calls of God, however unworthy I may be. If you consider my living and laboring among you, will help to preserve this union, I shall think it the highest honor and happiness of my life so to do. My precious wife can travel, under the Divine blessing, 5000 miles a year, and I can travel 10,000. But considering the circumstances before mentioned it is my duty to have some explanation from you. I cannot come to you as a mere preacher. As to my Circular letter, I recall it entirely, acknowledging that I laid down conditions which were not included in our solemn reciprocal engagements. But I did not see things when I wrote it, as I do now. I hardly knew what to write, circumstanced as I was in respect to you. And you surely, my respected brethren, must be conscious that an explanation of some kind is really necessary. Am I to come to you in any sense as a bishop, and in what sense? I don’t want to act, if I come, but in perfect subordination to the General Conference, but yet still as a Bishop, and having a right to give my judgment in all Episcopal matters, unless I render myself unworthy of the office. Do write to me as soon as you have considered this letter. Send me duplicates; one by the British packet from New York, paying the postage to New York, otherwise it will not be sent off; and another by the first merchant ship. In this case, I believe, I shall hear from you before the next British Conference sits, which I particularly desire to do. And now I leave this whole business in the hands of my God and you. Pray for us. To God’s most holy keeping I commit you. May your blessed work flourish more and more; and your own hearts be ever full of Divine love.

I am, my dear friends and brethren, yours very affectionately and faithfully, THOMAS COKE

Alexander M’Caine, Letters on the Organization and

Early History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 155-56