January 3, 1785 — A Plan for Erecting a College

EARLY YEARS OF THE

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

January 3, 1785 - December 8, 1789

CHAPTER 3

At the Christmas Conference, which was held in Lovely Lane Chapel, Baltimore, beginning December 24, 1784, one of the first acts of the newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church was to provide for the beginning of Cokesbury College. They took up a collection for the college, receiving 45 pounds and 16 shillings. Thus Coke and Asbury drew up the following plans for erecting the college.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

January 3, 1785

A plan for erecting a college, intended to advance religion in America, to be presented to the principal members and friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church:

The College is to be built at Abingdon, in Maryland, on a healthy spot, enjoying a fine air and very extensive prospect. It is to receive for education and board the sons of the elders and preachers of the Methodist Church, poor orphans, and the sons of the subscribers and of other friends. It will be expected that all our friends who send their children to the college, will, if they be able, to pay a moderate sum for their education, and board; the rest will be taught and boarded, and, if our finances will allow it, clothed, gratis. The institution is also intended for the benefit of our young men who are called to preach, that they may receive a measure of that improvement which is highly expedient as a preparative for public service. A teacher of the languages, with an usher, will be provided, as also an English master to teach with the utmost propriety both to read and speak the English language; nor shall any other branch of literature be omitted which may be thought necessary for any of the students. Above all, special care shall be taken that due attention be paid to the religion and morals of the children; and to the exclusion of all such as continue of an ungovernable temper.

The college shall be under the presidentship of the Superintendents¹ of our Church for the time being; and it is to be supported by yearly collections, throughout our circuits, and any endowments which our friends may think proper to give and bequeath, consistently with the laws of the respective States in which they are made. The buildings, if it please God, will be begun in next June, and the subscribers are desired to send in their subscriptions, as far as it is convenient, to any of our ministers or preachers in the intermediate space; but wherever it is inconvenent we will most cheerfully wait the subscriber’s time.

Three objects of considerable magnitude we have in view in the erection of this college.

The first is a provision for the sons of our married ministers and preachers. The wisdom and love of God have now thrust out a large number of laborers into his harvest; men who desire nothing on earth but to promote the glory of God by saving their own souls and those that hear them. And those to whom they minister spiritual things are willing to minister to them of their carnal things; so that they have food to eat and raiment to put on, and are content therewith.

A competent provision is likewise made for the wives of married preachers, and an allowance over and above for their little children. Yet one considerable difficulty lies on those that have boys, when they are grown too big to be under their mother’s direction. Having no father to govern and instruct them, they are exposed to a thousand temptations. To remedy this is one motive that induces us to lay before our friends the present plan; that these little ones may have all the instruction they are capable of, together with all things necessary for the body. In this view, our college will become one of the noblest charities that can be conceived. How reasonable is the institution? Is it fit that the children of those who leave wife and all that is dear to save soul or body? Ought we not to supply what the parent cannot, because of his labors in the Gospel? How excellent would be the effect of this institution? The preacher, eased of this weight, can the more cheerfully go on in his labor, and perhaps many of these children may hereafter fill up the place of those that shall rest from their labors.

The second object we have in view is the education and support of poor orphans, and surely we need not enumerate the many happy consequences arising from such a charity. Innumerable blessings center in it. Not only the immediate relief of the objects of our charity, but the ability given them, under the providence of God, to provide for themselves through the remainder of their lives.

The last, though, perhaps, not the least, object in view is the establishment of a seminary for the children of our competent friends, where learning and religion may go hand in hand; where every advantage may be obtained which may promote the prosperity of the present life, without endangering the morals and religion of the children through those temptations to which they are too much exposed in most of the public schools. This is an object of importance indeed, and here all the tenderest feelings of the parent’s heart range on our side.

But the expense of such an undertaking will be very large, and the best means we could think of at our late Conference to accomplish our design was, to desire the assistance of all those in every place who wish well to the work of God; who long to see sinners converted to God, and the Kingdom of Christ set up in all the earth.

All who are thus minded, and more especially our own friends who form our congregations, have an opportunity now of showing their love to the Gospel. Now promote, as far as in you lies, one of the noblest charities in the world. Now forward, as you are able, one of the most excellent designs that ever was set on foot in this country. Do what you can to comfort the parents who give up their all for you, and to give their children cause to bless you. You will be no poorer for what you do on such an occasion. God is a good paymaster. And you know in doing this you lend unto the Lord; in due time he shall repay you.

THOMAS COKE

FRANCIS ASBURY

John Atkinson, Centennial History of American Methodism, 187-90